12 years ago today.....

12 years ago today......I was super excited and absolutely terrified. My life was about to change forever! Andy made me a mother for the very first time :)

I was scheduled for an induction. Andy measured as a 9 pound baby. The Dr. said that based on his size, it was time for his arrival into our world. The morning of April 6th, I arrived at the hospital a nervous wreck! They started the medicine to put me into labor. I couldn't even feel the contractions yet, but there was a problem. My Mom saw it happening on the monitors. Andy's heart rate was dropping. The first time it happened, it wasn't so bad. The second time, the room suddenly filled up with various people doing different things to get his heart rate back up. I was given 2 choices: we could walk down to the operating room and do an emergency c-section right then, or we could try the meds again possibly have to run down to the operating room. I chose to walk. Andy was born a short time later via emergency c-section. He came out perfect. I know every parent says that, but he really did! 10 fingers, 10 toes, perfectly round head, and an adorable face. The nurses all thought he was absolutely adorable! He was also 6 lbs 1 oz. I call him my miracle baby. I couldn't even feel the contractions when he went into distress. Had things not worked out the way they did, he may have died before I even knew he was ready to enter the world.

Andy was a great baby! We used to call him Dennis the Menace when he was a toddler. He looked just like Dennis the Menace!!! He is growing into a wonderful man. As we go through the pre-teen years, we struggle with appropriate rules and following them. Of course, he thinks he should be allowed all the freedoms he wants. While we believe there are still many limitations. But, he is a good kid. He has a heart of gold. I wouldn't trade him for the world.

Happy Birthday my sweet boy! You are my heart!

One year ago today........

One year ago today, we took our sweet princess home from a week long stay in the hospital. Katie has come a long way in the last year.

It was a Sunday night, my Mom had the kids. She called me and said Katie's fever was 106, what should she do? I said "no way, take it again." Sure enough, 106. I met her at the ER of Children's Hospital. This would be the beginning of a week long stay. Katie was immediately stripped and cool rags were placed all over her body. She had her choice of Popsicles too. Of course, she was miserable and wanted no part in any of it. Her fever finally decreased. Her white blood cell count came back super high! They said she had a bad ear infection, the worst she has ever had. Just a month earlier she had her tonsils and adenoids out and tubes put in. This was supposed to help her not get ear infections. Yet, here we were with the worst ear infections she had ever had. Katie was admitted overnight for observation.

The next day, we went home with instructions to come back if her fever started to rise again. We managed to sleep in our own beds that night. The next day, the fever was back. After calling the hospital, we made another trip to the ER. The were concerned she might have meningitis. So a CT scan was done to check for brain abscesses before the spinal tap. A severe sinus infection was discovered on the CT scan. Her brain was fine, so they did a spinal tap and admitted her for the night. The next day (Wednesday) the spinal tap came back normal. I remember being really relieved, Katie's spinal fluid was perfect. But, what was wrong with my baby girl?

Finally on Thursday, we got a doctor who just started running tests. Katie could no longer leave her room because of some of the tests they were running. She was very disappointed to not be able to go to the playroom anymore. Turns out Katie had mono on top of the ear infections and sinus infection. To this day, I believe she got the mono during her surgery. We finally got to go home on Friday with instructions to follow up with the pediatrician.

When we followed up with Dr. B, Katie was referred to an allergist. The surgeries were supposed to help her not get sick so often. Obviously, we were missing something. The allergist, Dr. M, started us on the path to Cystic Fibrosis. Several tests, medications, and treatment plans later and Katie is doing great today!

I am so very grateful that Katie does not have full blown Cystic Fibrosis. It is a very hard genetic disease. Katie now takes 8 - 12 prescriptions a day, but is doing wonderfully! She has finally lost the dark circles under her eyes and is finally gaining weight :) While this will be a lifelong journey for Katie, I feel we have passed a milestone being a year out from her hospitalization.

On another note, Andy has 2 weeks left of his restrictions from his broken arm. He cannot wait to be able to jump on the trampoline and play football again! Just in time for his birthday :)

At karate this week, everyone has been attempting to break boards. After 3 days of trying, Andy broke his yesterday. Yay! Katie is still trying, but we are very proud of her for trying her best! It took me about 6 attempts and a really sore hand, but I broke through my board last night too. Yay!

This weekend Jay had a baseball tournament. But the kids and I don't have much planned. I think we will be lazy and enjoy the beautiful weather.

Oh, and we got a new SUV last weekend! My old one was on its last legs. It was about to start costing us a lot of money! So, we got a newer model. I love it! The kids love it!

Have a wonderful weekend!!!!!

Can I have my hour back?

Boy was it a busy weekend! I like to spend at least half of one day lounging around catching up tv shows or watching a movie or something. That didn't happen this past weekend!

Katie had an ENT appointment last Thursday. It went well. Her right tube has fallen out, but the left tube in still in place. So, now we count the ear infections she has over the next six months. If they become numerous, the tubes will be placed in her ears again. We are hoping that this does not happen and that the treatment plan the Cystic Fibrosis clinic has her on will continue to keep the mucus and infections at bay! Sinus surgery was mentioned again. Not as something that needs to be done now, but something that also needs to be considered as we monitor and count infections. Personally, I would prefer to not start Katie on the lifelong process of sinus surgeries. She is only 5. But, again we are hoping her current treatment plan prevents this from occuring.

Friday we had dinner at my Sister In Laws house. It was the first time I have been around smokers since I quit on January 3rd. All the smoke gave me a headache! How on earth did I breathe in a room full of smoke when I was a smoker?!?!?!?!?! There were a few moments where I thought about smoking a cigarette. Two things stopped me: 1 - It didn't sound as appealing as it used to. 2 - I have worked WAAAAAY too hard to mess it up now! The first month was so so hard, I don't want to go through that again! (and I don't think my family wants to go through it again either! Haha!) I guess I am going to become one of those reformed smokers who complains about smoking. Haha! It was amazing to me how much it choked up my airways. I actually had to step out of the garage a few times just so i could breathe. When I was smoking, I was right in the middle of all that smoking one cigarette after another. It looks so different being on the other side! I am proud of myself for not smoking. And I am excited that it no longer appeals to me like it used too. It is still hard, but getting easier :)

Saturday after Katie's tball practice, we spent the day car shopping. I have had my Explorer for 8 years! That car holds a lot of memories. I got married in that car. We brought Katie home in that car. And those are just two of the big memories! But as my sister pointed out, I will still have the memories even if I don't have the car. It was a long day, but at the end of the day we were signing paperwork for a newer Explorer. (I love Explorers!) Jason is picking it up tonight. I am excited! It has the tow package, so we can all go to the lake in one car this year :) And it has the third row seat so we can also fit 2 more people in our car. This will come in handy as we start toting around the kiddos friends. It is also 4X4. That doesn't mean a whole lot to me, but Jason was excited about it. So, out with the old and in with the new :)

Sunday we went to Mom and Dad's to celebrate Dad's 65th birthday. Dad got a smoker for Christmas. I think we are going to have to add that to our Christmas list. Lunch was delicious!!! After lunch, the kids rode the 4 wheelers for a while. Then it was off to Academy to get Katie ready for tball.

We were so busy this weekend, I didn't have a chance to sit down and relax. Not to mention do the household chores we needed to do!

This week is Spring Break. The kids are going to camp at Premier Martial Arts this week. Katie was super excited :) The nice thing for me is that the kids will get their classes during the day so I can go home after work. And I don't have to go back till it's time for my class to start. Maybe I will get to relax for an hour or two after work today........

Today is the day!

Andy gets his cast off today. He is so excited! It's funny.....at first, he was so excited and proud to get a cast. He couldn't wait to show it off! Five weeks later, he can't wait to get it off. His activity restrictions are still in place, and he will have some rehab over the next 4 weeks. But, he will finally be able to take a regular shower again :) Yay!

Poor Katie is still miserable. When we were at the doctor on Thursday, she had fluid in her ear. Dr. B thought she was on the tail end of the ear infection. Turns out, she was on the front end. She woke up during the wee hours of Sunday morning in tears because her ear hurt so bad. I turned on the heating pad and gave her some children's pain medicene. That afternoon, I filled the antibiotics that were on hold for her ear infection. Hopefully, they pain will lesson soon! She is also still miserable from the two flu's she has. I feel so bad for her, I wish I could make it better!

I went to a Scentsy party over the weekend. I think I am about to be addicted! I ordered two plug ins and one full size warmer. I can't wait to get them!!!! My house is going to smell yummy :) The party was a blast too. It was great spending time with some of my favorite ladies.

As of today, I have been smoke free for 9 weeks. I still think about smoking occasionally. It has gotten so much easier to not smoke though :) I was in Blockbuster on Saturday and this couple came in, they were smokers. I gagged on the smell! The sad thing is that I used to smell like that! I am sorry to all the people who had to smell me! LOL!

Well, it's just about time to take Andy to the doctor to get that cast off. Have a great Monday!

A little bit of normalcy

On Wednesday evening, Katie's temperature spiked to 102. Since the weekend was coming and she was getting a little worse everyday, I took her to the doctor. Her pediatrican and I discussed the treatment plan the CF Clinic put Katie on for the CRMS. Then Dr. B checked her out. Her ear was full of fluid, but her lungs were clear. Dr. B decided to run a couple more tests. Turns out Katie has Flu A, Flu B, and an ear infection.



The funny thing is, we were actually happy that it is the flu. Katie's treatment plan is working!!! She isn't getting the sinus infections and pneumonia she was frequently getting prior to the most recent treatment plan. One of Katie's tubes has come out of her ear, this is the one that is infected :( But, it is great that Katie has a bit of normal in her life. This illness is not a result of her CRMS!!!!!



Katie has also gained 6 pounds in the last 4 months. This is fantastic!!! She was stuck at 40 pounds for the longest time and is now at 46 :) She also looks so much better! Dr. B was so excited about how great Katie looked (and this is with having 2 flu's). It's fantastic that she looks so much better now being sick that she did before! We are so happy to see the constant circles gone from under her eyes and some color back in her face.

As for the flu's, she is up and down. One minute she is up playing with her toys or coloring and the next she is laying on the couch watching tv. Right now we are watching Bambi :)

Katie has a little bit of normal back in her life :) And we are thankful for it!



Andy is counting down the days until his cast comes off. 4 more days!!! He can't wait. I don't think he completely understands that he will still have the same restrictions as he did with the cast on. But, he will be able to take a regular shower again!!!! And he will be able to bend his wrist......I am afraid this is going to hurt. It has been in the same posistion for 5 weeks! But, I am happy for him that he will be getting it off. 4 more weeks of restrictions and he will be good to go right before his 12th birthday.

What is Family?

A friend of mine recently asked the question: What is family? My answer to her was "a group of people held together by bonds of love and affection." However, I think there are many answers to this question.

There is the obvious, the family you were born into. There is Mom, Dad, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.... We don't get to choose these people, they have been given to us by God (as stated by another friend of mine).

Then there is the family we build. The spouse we choose and the children we create. Blessings given by God.

Then there are the in laws. The family you marry into, given to us by God as well. There are also the in laws that marry into your family.

I also believe there is the family you create. Your close friends. Those that you have formed "bonds of love and affection" with. That small group of people you trust completely.
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As children growing up, our only thought of family is our Mom, Dad, Brothers and Sisters. It is what we know. If you are fortunate enough to live close to Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins then they will come to mind too. We rely on these people for everything and trust them implicitly while loving them unconditionally. I remember fighting with my brother all the time when we were kids. And some of our arguments even drew blood! But, no matter what I always trusted my brother. Even when he drew blood, it was accidental. He would never hurt me on purpose. My sister is 8 years younger than me. I remember her following me around and trying to embarrass me with crazy hair, or dressing identical to me. Turns out, we just happen to have a very similar sense of style. But, back then it drove me insane. As we have gotten older, we have gotten closer. 8 years isn't much of a difference anymore. I trust her implicitly, with my life and all of my secrets :) My parents have always been there for me. No matter what, even when they have disagreed with my choices. Unconditional love. The first family God gave to me.

Next comes the family we create for ourselves. The spouse we fall madly, deeply in love with. And the children created from that love. This becomes the first thing you think of when you hear the word family. A family created in love, unconditional love. I was lucky enough to meet my husband 13 years ago. We have been through a lot, and continue to grow closer and closer as the years go on. I can't imagine my world without him in it! We were blessed with two children. Two children whom we adore, and are so grateful to have the privilege of raising.

Of course, with the spouse comes their family. Through the bonds of matrimony, they become our family. My husband has a large family, a family that is very close. Growing up, I didn't have any cousins around to play with. We lived in Texas, and most of my cousins lived in Arizona. (And i have a lot of cousins :) Mom comes from a large family as well.) I remember going to visit a few times, and longing to have them closer by. I haven't seen my cousins in around 15 years. But, thanks to modern technology, I can now talk with them on a daily basis. My children are fortunate enough to have their many Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins from both sides of the family nearby. There are always ups and downs with a large family. But, I consider us blessed to have so many people in our lives that care about us and love us unconditionally.

Then there is the family we create, and there may be more than one. I am fortunate enough to have a couple of wonderful ladies that I consider my family. Friends who know all there is to know about me, the good and the bad. Friends I trust implicitly. Friends who I may not see or talk to everyday, but are always there for me. These ladies are my family "through bonds of love and affection."

There is also the family created around a common interest. I have my dojo family. These are the friends I have met through taking Martial Arts classes. These are the friends who encourage one another every step of the way, who never judge, and care about each other as individuals as well as classmates. I am still getting to know many of the people at the dojo, but I love every one of them. I went into my very first class feeling awkward and embarrassed. I left that very same class feeling encouraged and supported. And continue to feel that way today.

(If you are ever interested in Martial Arts classes in the Frisco area, I highly recommend Premier Martial Arts - Frisco/Little Elm)

There are many definitions to the word family. We can't always choose them, we don't always get along with them, but they are always around. I do believe that in order to be family, there has to be a mutual "bond of love and affection." There are many forms of love. The love I have for my sister is different from the love I have for my husband which is different from the love I have for my friends.

I consider myself extremely blessed. I hope you do too!

Quitting

Quit:

–verb (used with object)

1. to stop, cease, or discontinue

2. to depart from; leave (a place or person)

3. to give up or resign; let go; relinquish

4. to release one's hold of (something grasped).

5. to acquit or conduct (oneself).

6. to free or rid (oneself): to quit oneself of doubts.

7. to clear (a debt); repay.

(from Dictionary.com)

As children, our parents teach us not to quit. Quitters never win, winners never quit. As parents, we pass this down to our children.

On January 3, 2011 I quit. I am a quitter. And I am very proud to say that.

For almost 20 years, I was a smoker. It started out in my early teens with a cigarette here and there. But, it didn't take long for it to become a pack a day habit. I enjoyed smoking. Stuck in traffic, smoke a cigarette. Frustrated at work, smoke a cigarette. I would sit around in the garage talking with my friends and smoke one after another. At other times, I would sit in the garage with a good book. It was peaceful and quiet in the garage. I would lose track of time and the number of cigarettes I had smoked.

If I went too long between cigarettes I was grumpy. I needed a cigarette. I could associate smoking with every emotion. Angry, smoke a cigarette to calm down. Sad, smoke a cigarette to feel better. Happy, smoke a cigarette to celebrate. And on and on it went. I was a slave to smoking.

In April of 2010, I began taking Martial Arts classes at the studio my children attend. I went from the couch to the dojo. The first few classes were brutal. Did I mention that I have asthma? An asthmatic smoker, running laps and doing jumping jacks. It was not a pretty sight! I couldn't breathe, I didn't think I could make it. I stuck with those classes. I was taught how to breathe properly and how to put my hands above my head to try and help open up my lungs. It was still torture! As the months went by, the instructors constantly told me I needed to quit smoking. They were very encouraging, and firm.

Throughout 2010, my daughter was sick. It started out as constant ear infections/sinus infections. She had her adenoids and tonsils taken out and the infections continued. You can read previous posts to learn about all the testing that she went through. Throughout all this, I learned about a disease called cystic fibrosis. When she was sent for her first test, I didn't even know what it was. I have learned a lot this year. Katie does not have cystic fibrosis. She has a milder syndrome based on the disease. But, as I was learning about this disease I learned that there are people in this world who pray for healthy lungs to be transplanted into their bodies. And here I have a perfectly good set of lungs that I was destroying, and enjoying it. And then I began to think about what I was doing to my daughter's health. I always went outside to smoke, but it still lingered on my clothes when I went in. Was this causing her harm? Yes. Then she started to mimic me. She would put a pencil to her lips and pretend it was a cigarette. It broke my heart.

At the end of 2010, I got sick. No big deal. I got bronchitis and/or pneumonia every year. I accepted it as something that just happened. This year, I decided to ditch CareNow and find a family care doctor. I did, and was told my lungs were not in good shape. I was wheezing. After several rounds of meds, I was still wheezing. It was time to quit. I had tried to quit smoking several times over that last few years. I tried the patch and the gum. But, I never succeeded. I don't think I was ready. I enjoyed smoking.

I asked for Chantix. The quit smoking drug. I was wary, there were several negative side effects. But, in my mind, this was my last resort. Or maybe I was finally ready. Maybe I didn't enjoy smoking anymore. I was at a point in my life when I was thinking about how I want to be around when my children grow up and have families of their own. I was thinking about the example i was setting for my children. I was thinking about the damage I was doing to their health. I was really thinking about all the things we are taught about smoking. As a smoker, I ignored those things. They weren't going to happen to me. When I was in my early 20's I had a doctor tell me that there were two types of people in this world. People with the lungs to smoke, and people without the lungs to smoke. I didn't have the lungs to smoke. I was damaging my lungs. The doctor told me I would be dead by 40 if I didn't quit smoking. I blew her off. But, the closer I get to 40, the more I think about her words. I just hope it's not too late.

I was successful with the Chantix. I haven't had a cigarette in 2 months. I consider myself a non-smoker. I smell better. I no longer spend half of my evening in the garage, I spend it with my family. My lungs and body are healing. I still take Martial Arts classes and they are getting better. I got my Gold belt last month :) It's a slow process, I have 20 years of damage to repair.

I didn't do this by myself. It took a village. I couldn't ask for a better support network. Thank you to all my friends (old and new) who have been there in the last two months, and who have shared encouraging words. It made a difference in my life.

Keeping Healthy

At Katie's last CF clinic, it was decided that she would be on antibiotics for the entire winter season. A small daily dose. The hope was that this would keep the bacteria at bay and prevent the pneumonia she was suddenly frequently getting. I was also given a prescription of oral steroids to have on hand. When we hear the barking cough, we immediately begin steroids. We have had to do this several times, but each time it has worked! By the second day, the cough was much better and we were able to avoid pneumonia.

Sunday morning, Katie woke up with that horrible barking cough. Immediately she began breathing treatments every 4 hours and oral steroids twice a day. Today is day 2. Historically, the cough is much better by the second day. This morning it was not :( She will continue the treatment plan she is currently on. Praying that she is better in just a couple of days.

As parents, we all do our best to keep our children safe, protected, and healthy. Chronic illness makes that so difficult. Katie is sick at least once a month. Usually it is only minor, not worth mentioning now that we have a great treatment plan. But, every now and then it gets the best of her. The severe allergies aggravate the severe asthma. The CFTR-related metabollic syndrome amplifies it all. And we end up with a round of new meds. Getting back to healthy as quick as we can.

It has been almost a year since Katie was admitted to the hospital. At that time, we had no idea what was going on in her poor little body. Today, we know. Today, we do what we can to keep her healthy. It takes a village and a ridiculous amount of meds. We are usually successful.

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A month ago, our family had a round of martial arts belt tests. Katie tested for her purple belt and received it. I tested for my gold belt and received it. Andy tested for his blue belt/black stripe. Andy's test began at 1pm. At 1:30, he was sparring and blocked a kick that came in a little too hard. He was down on the mats. His cry was one of pain. His arm hurt, it was swollen. Andy was given the option to bow out of his test. He wanted his belt badly. He chose to tough it out. He was given some pain meds and an ice pack. Then back to the test he went, another two hours. Andy got his belt!!!

We went home that afternoon, wrapped his hand up and kept ice on it all afternoon. It hurt. The next day, we went to see the Orthopedic surgeon. Andy's arm was fractured. He did 2 hours of his belt test (including grappling) with a fractured arm!!!! He was super excited to get a cast on. That was 4 weeks ago. Now, he can't wait until he gets it off.
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Cystic Fibrosis: CFTR related metabolic syndrome & pneumonia

Just a year ago, i couldn't have even told you what cystic fibrosis was. In fact, when we were sent for Katie's first sweat test, I asked the doctor that very question. What is cystic fibrosis? Fortunately, Katie does not have CF. However, what she does have (CFTR-related metabolic syndrome) is a fairly new diagnosis. Not a whole lot is known about it. Basically, Katie has a lot of the symptoms of cystic fibrosis, but none of the bad parts of CF. But it is frustrating, trying to determine her treatment plan.

Katie's last clinic visit was at the beginning of the month. It went well :) Her test results for pancreatic sufficiency came back and Katie is no longer on enzymes. She is pancreatic sufficient! Yay! I discussed with the doctor about her ENT considering sinus surgery in the next 12-18 months. They agreed with me, that is should only be done if 100% necessary. I really don't want to start her on sinus surgeries at the age of 4! The only concern with Katie is that her weight isn't keeping up with her height, her BMI keeps decreasing. So, we are adding extra calories to her daily diet. She has also begun taking vitamins. So, it was a great visit! Our next clinic appointment is at the end of December.

This past Friday, Katie started getting congested and sneezed all day long! Her allergies were coming to life! On Saturday, she woke up with a barking cough :( I immediately put her on Xopenex every 4 hours. Sunday she woke up with a fever of 102. She was absolutely miserable. By the end of the day, I couldn't get her breathing completely controlled. It was a horrible night. I knew I should have taken her to the ER, but I was trying my best to keep her as controlled as I could at home to avoid the traumatic experience of a hospital stay. Monday morning I called the doctor's office as soon as they opened and got her an appointment with her pediatrician. The doctor confirmed that yes, I should have taken Katie to the ER the previous night. Next time, I won't hesitate. The dr did a CBC, and her white count was really high. So between that and the crackles in her lungs, we were sent for another xray. Sure enough, positive confirmation of pneumonia. Before we left the office, Katie was given a shot of a heavy dose of antibiotics and a prescription for oral antibiotics. After picking up her meds, we went home to snuggle and rest on the couch with the Disney channel.

This is the second time in three months that Katie has gotten pneumonia. And both times, it happened quickly. Allergy problems first, then the barking cough, and a fever on the third day. I called the CF clinic and left a message. Katie has had the pneumonia vaccine. I am hoping we can come up with a treatment plan to help prevent her from getting pneumonia frequently (and so quickly). Katie's pediatrician quickly taught me airway clearance to help get the gunk out of her lungs. I am supposed to ask the CF clinic to give me full instructions on airway clearance. So, it seems this has been added to her treatment plan.

Katie is doing much better today. The shot she got yesterday seems to have really helped! She is still on breathing treatments every 4 hours. We go back to the doctor tomorrow to see how her lungs are doing. Hopefully, much much better!

Icky!

This post is not for those with weak tummies (like me)........

At Katie's last clinic visit, it was decided to go ahead and run the tests for pancreatic sufficiency. In order for this to happen, I had to collect a sample of Katie's poop. The doctor gave me a "bucket" for her to poop in, a tongue depresser to scoop up the poop, and a container to put it in. We were all set! That was in July. Katie is ALWAYS constipated, and spends her days at daycare. Therefore, collecting her poop was not an easy task.

However, after much bribery (from multiple parties), Katie finally pooped in the bucket at home. Thankfully, she did it this morning rather than last night. See, the poop has to be refrigerated and kept cold until it reaches the lab. I did NOT want my daughter's poop in my fridge. Thank you Katie for pooping in the morning! As I step out of the shower this morning, Katie is at the door excitedly telling me that she has pooped in the bucket for me...."I finally did it Mom!" So, I gather the tongue depressor and container (very unenthusiastically.....why couldn't Jason be home for this part?!?!?!) and make my way to gather her offering. (Now, for those who don't know me, I don't do well with bodily waste. Mucus, vomit, poop....they all make me gag and vomit. When my kids throw up, I throw up. It's just a fact of life.)

Katie is standing in the doorway as I am gagging and scooping up poop with a tongue depressor. Suddenly, she takes off running and then Andy is hollering for me to hurry. Who would have guessed that Katie would have her Mommy's weak tummy. My tough, fearless, eat anything, plays with bugs daughter took off running for the other bathroom to throw up. Unfortunately, she didn't make it and it landed on my bedroom carpet. Luckily, she had not yet eaten breakfast. I had to collect poop and clean up vomit all before 8am!!!! What a way to start the day!

I will get to finish my day trying to get the stain of blue juice out of my carpet :(

Katie's hearing test

Thursday Sept 9th, Katie went to the ENT for a hearing test. Great news!!!!! Her hearing is perfectly normal. It was such a relief to hear that. She has had so many ear infections, that we were worried. She also talks very very loudly, and tends to not hear us when we talk to her. But, basically, she is just a loud mouth with selective hearing. LOL! Which is wonderful! The day after the ENT, she woke up with a horrible barking cough. She began breathing treatments immediately and was better by the next day.

This past Saturday was the first FFL football game of the season. Andy did fantastic on the field. Katie wore her cheerleader uniform, but wasn't really into cheering this time around. She can usually be found on the bottom of the stands right in front of the actual cheerleaders. She brought her pom poms but stayed close to us. The boys won the game 30-0. Hopefully this is an indicator to a fantastic season! This is the last year of FFL, then they boys have to play for the school they attend. Andy is a little nervous about that.

On Friday, Andy got his trombone in band. He is so excited about it. He pulled it out several times over the weekend to play for us. He needs lots of practice, but I have no doubt he will be an excellent player by the end of the year :)

On Saturday, Katie went to her friend Will's house to play. I dropped her off and then Andy and I headed home. (Jay was at the deer lease) This is the first time Katie has ever gone to a friend's house without me. She had a great time, but she did miss her Mommy! After an hour and a half of fun, I went and picked her up.

As some people know, the company I currently work for is in liquidation. I have been looking for jobs over the last couple of months. I had 3 interviews with one company in the last two weeks and 1 interview with another company. Got the news today that I didn't get the first one. It was a bit of a drive. The pay was going to have to be pretty good for me to take it, and I wasn't sure if it would be there or not. But, I didn't get it. Still waiting to hear back from the other company. Job searching in today's economy is not an easy task!

Family Weekend

What a great weekend! Friday night I went up to the dojo to practice for Saturday morning's belt test. Then I joined Jay at the ball fields to hit some softballs. The kids went outfield to get the balls. We all had fun :)

Saturday morning was my belt test. I got up at 5:30 in the morning. I don't even get up that early to go to work!!! It was a long, tough 4 hours. But, I did well and got my yellow belt :) And I have the bruises to prove it. LOL! I am still sore today from that test. But, I am very proud of my yellow belt! After that, it was naptime for me while Jay and the kids were at Andy's football scrimmage. That evening we all hung out at the house while Jay built his deerblind. Sunday was a lazy day. Jay finished up his deer blind, the kids played around the house, and I was lazy! I did go with Keryenne to get a pedicure to celebrate our new belts :)

Overall, it was a great family weekend with a lot of lazy thrown in :) We haven't been to the lake in a couple of weeks. So, hopefully next weekend we can make that happen. Katie has been healthy and Andy is feeling much better :)

I am terrible about updating this blog. I am still slightly confused on Katie's health. She had another CF sweat test. Her results were 56/58. 60 and higher is diagnosed as CF. But, she had a DNA test done and it indicates that she does not have CF. This is fantastic news! She is officially diagnosed with CRMS or Cystic Fibrosis related metabolic syndrome. The doctor says it is comparative to mild mild mild mild mild mild CF. She had another ear infection in July, it seems to be a monthly occurrence for her :( Just last week she had viral pneumonia. The doctor explained that with CF, children start out with GI issues, next comes the mucus (sinus issues), then the lung issues. Hopefully, the pneumonia was not the beginning of lung issues for Katie. She is feeling much better. Last Friday, the doctor released her to go back to daycare after a week at home. We did switch her from Albuterol to Xopenex. Wow! What a difference! On the Albuterol Katie was super hyped up and couldn't sit still at all (worse than normal!). The Xopenex is so much better. Her next scheduled doctor's appointment is with the ENT in September for a hearing test. Then in October at the CF clinic. She is still going strong in Karate. She really seems to love it :) She is on her second belt (white belt/yellow stripe).

On Sunday, Andy woke up feeling miserable. Took him to the doctor and he has strep throat. He had to miss the first day of 6th grade! He was able to go back on Tuesday. So far he loves all of his teachers :) Hopefully, he will have a great year. Football practice started a couple of weeks ago. Games start on Sept. 11th. I am excited about this football season :) And I know Katie is ready to cheer for her brother. Jay says Andy is doing really really well at practice. He is growing up so fast! He is a blue belt in karate now, and super excited about it. It won't be too much longer until he is a junior black belt.

I am still doing karate. I got my invite to belt test this weekend, my first belt test. I am absolutely terrified. I have heard that they really push you on endurance. My lungs can't handle too much. Hopefully, it won't be as bad as I fear it will be.

What a journey

I am so bad about updating my blog! Honestly, I don't even know if anyone even reads it. LOL!

This year has been quite a journey for us so far. At the beginning of the year, I took Katie to the pediatrician. She had a funny looking bump on her nose and I wondered if she had actually broken it when she was about 2 and fell into the cabinets. I wondered if it was the reason she snored like a freight train, was always breathing through her mouth, and sometimes seemed to stop breathing for a few seconds while she was sleeping. Our pediatrician referred us to an ENT. He nose was fine, and she will probably outgrown the funny looking bump. But, the said she had obstructive sleep apnea. Between that and her constant ear infections, the ENT recommended surgery to remove her tonsils and adenoids and to place tubes in her ears. We decided that this would be best for her. She had her surgery in February. Her adenoids were blocking 90% of her nose!!!! It was painful for her, and so hard to watch as a parent :( She handled it like a champ though! She is a strong little girl! The snoring came to an end and she began breathing through her nose. She made it through the recovery and was doing really well until Spring Break.

On the Saturday before Spring Break, she started complaining about having "hammers in her head." So, I gave her some Motrin to help with her headache. Jason and I were going out with some friends that night, and the kids were spending the night with my Mom. We went ahead and took them over there. Mom called a little while later to let us know that Katie's head was much better. Sunday Mom called to tell me that Katie had started running fever late Saturday night. But, that she was fine. Mom wanted to take the kids to the zoo on Monday. Sunday night, Mom calls.....Katie's fever is 105.5. I ask her to take it again, it's the same. So, we meet at Children's Hospital ER. The immediately strip her and put cold rags on her. Feed her popsicles and start her on an IV. She was so miserable!!! And the treatment wasn't exactly pleasant for her either. She was terrified of the IV, and they messed up the first one! Her white blood cell count came back extremely elevated (at 34,000) so they admitted her to determine why. Her ears were also severely infected. The next day the doctors said her white count had come down and they believed it was from running such a high fever. Katie got to go home :)

Tuesday morning, the hospital calls to tell me that one of her blood cultures came back with bacteria in it. But, the would need to run more tests to determine if it was a skin contaminant or a blood infections. They said if she starts running fever again, we should bring her back. Of course, later that night Katie started running a fever again. I called the nurse's desk at the hospital and asked them what I should do. They said to bring her in through the ER and they would have a bed waiting for her. When we got there that night, Katie was so miserable. She couldn't keep anything down. She was complaining about her neck hurting and her head hurting. The doctors suspected menengitis. Sadly, this required a spinal tap. But, from the research I had done, I agreed that this was a possibility. The had to do a CT scan first to make sure there were no lesions on her brain from the severe ear infections. This is where they discovered a pretty nasty little sinus infection. But no brain lesions!!! Then it was time for the spinal tap. Let me tell you, Katie is a tough little girl. She handled it much much better than I would have. You have to stay awake so they can watch for neurological symptoms. They gave her a local anesthesia and that was it. It was not pleasant. The staff at Children's was amazing with her. They will forever be my hospital of choice if the need arises. After the spinal tap, Katie was finally admitted to a room. The next morning the spinal tap came back clean. We were so relieved. But, also worried because something was going on with our little girl. Later on, the blood culture also came back as a skin contaminant in her blood. Great news, no blood infection. So, what was going on with our little girl? The doctor started running random tests. Finally, one came back positive. Katie had Mono! So, not a month after surgery Katie had severe ear infections, a sinus infection, and Mono. We got to go home on Friday :)

The following Monday, we followed up with the pediatrician who referred us to an Allergist. After her surgeries, she should not have gotten another ear infection. Especially so soon! A week later, we saw the Allergist. He did a skin test on Katie's back. She reacted to everything!!! She has an allergy during every season plus dogs, cats, and fire ants. So, he put her on three meds a day for the allergies. He also ordered a CF sweat test based on her chronic constipation, abnormal asthma, and constant infections. So, in April we did the first sweat test. The results came back in the 50's which is a gray area for CF. (Above normal, below CF diagnosis). So, a second test was ordered. This test came back in the 40's. Still in the gray area.

At the end up April, Katie woke up with a bunch of gunk draining from her ear. Yay for the tubes working! Boo for ANOTHER ear infection!

At the beginning of May we went back to the Allergist to followup from all the tests. He wanted to test her immune system. So, after the appointment we went and got more blood drawn :( Then had to go back to the office for a pnemonia vaccine. He also wanted to put her on a preventative antibiotic. Unfortunately, it was one we believed she was allergic too. So, the following Monday we go to the office for a drug challenge. They gave her the first dose and watched her for any reactions. She usually doesn't react to the drugs right away, so I wasn't surprised that she was fine that morning. The doses are small and only three times a week. So far, there has been no reaction :)

The following day, we had an appointment at the CF clinic at Children's in Dallas. They wanted to see her due to her elevated sweat tests. I was expecting to go in for more tests and have to wait for more results. But, they had a diagnosis for us that Tuesday. They believe Katie has CFTR-related metabollic syndrome. She does not have Cystic Fibrosis, but has some of the similar yet minor problems of cystic fibrosis. (If I understood it all correctly.) I was a little overwhelmed that morning. They are running a whole bunch of tests to determine the specifics. To see what her body is not absorbing and how different parts of her body are functioning. They are also running a DNA sequencing test. This will determine what genes are mutated to better treat her. They are also looking to see if she is a CF carrier. If she is, the we will have to get tested too to determine the possibility of any future children having CF. Another sweat test has been ordered, and we will be doing that next week. She also has several new prescriptions. She is on pancreatic enzymes, two new inhalers, and a few other things.

Overall, I am glad they finally have a name and a treatment plan for Katie. Hopefully, she won't get sick as much going forward. It's a lot of meds for her to take. But, as a great friend pointed out: She was always on meds because she was sick anyways. We are still waiting on more tests, and hopefully will know much more in a couple of months!

On a lighter note, our family has been as busy as ever! Jay and the kids are all playing ball. Katie's team is so comical to watch. They are just adorable! Even when they are playing in the sand. Andy's team is really good this year! I love to watch them play. And Jay's teams are still winning championships. We haven't been to any of his games this season and i miss watching him play. We did go out to the fields a few weekends ago and hit some balls. I hadn't hit the ball in over a year and I did really really well. Some of them were even going into the outfield! I kind of miss playing.

The kids and I are all taking karate classes now. Andy is the highest ranked out of all of us. Katie is doing really well in the classes. Much better than i thought she would. She begged and begged for us to sign her up. We finally gave in and are super impressed!!!

Well, that's about it for now. I will try to update again soon.

Wow! It's been a long time!

It's been a really long time since I have posted anything. The kids keep us pretty busy. Andy played football this past fall. His team did great! They made it through the second round of playoffs. It was a fun season and I am really proud of him. Both kids are about to start baseball again this Spring. Katie will be playing tball this year so it should be entertaining. Andy gets better and better every year! I can't wait to watch them play. Jason will also be playing softball this Spring so it will be a busy couple of months!

Katie has some minor surgery coming up. She is going to have her adenoids and tonsils removed and tubes put in her ears. She has a lot of ear infections and quite a few throat infections too. She was also diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. So, these surgeries should help her be a much healthier little girl. I am nervous of course.

Other than that, there isn't much going on........

Busy Busy Busy

Now that baseball season has begun, I think all I do anymore is transport children from one location to another! Katie is playing Blastball this season. It is a toddler's version of tball. The kids hit a foam ball off the tee with a foam bat. Then, the run to first base, jump on it and it "honks"! That seems to be their favorite part. For fielding, they are supposed to collect the ball and tag the runner with it. Katie's first practice was a couple of weeks ago. She did pretty good on the field. But, she wouldn't stay out there without me. Her second practice was yesterday evening. She picked quite a few flowers and then kept running off the field to give them to me. She did do good when it was her turn to bat. Although she colors with her right hand, it appears that she is a lefty at bat! Interesting....

Andy is also playing this season. He is doing really well. At his last practice, the Coach was working with him on pitching. Andy really likes to pitch. He got his first taste of it last Spring. He needs to work on it a little more, but he is pretty good. This season we will be traveling to Celina and Prosper for a few of Andy's games. Andy also had a belt test a couple of weeks ago. He now has the Orange/Black Stripe belt. I always enjoy watching his karate testing. It is so hard to believe that he can do all the things he can do! Andy is also doing very well in school! He had really turned a corner and we are so proud of him :)

Jay is also playing ball this season. We don't get to see very many of his games. Andy has practice the same night and by the time that is over, we have to go home, eat, and get ready for bed. I miss watching him play. But, the kids are having a blast!

As for me, I have been working out lately and am starting to see some small results. It was really encouraging this past weekend when a couple of people commented on my weight loss. I know that what I am doing is working! LOL! Hopefully, I can keep going. It is fun to work out with Jason each night. Even though we are both listening to different music and doing different activities, it is something we now share.

Our schedules are packed and we are having a great time! I will try to do better posting pics and stuff as the season goes on.

Family Update

It's getting harder and harder to keep up with my blog. There isn't too much going on in our family at that moment, but that will all change when the Spring season of sports begins. I signed Andy up for Spring baseball. This year he will be playing for Little Elm again. However, we will have games in Prosper, Celina, and Gunter this year. It is great that there will be more teams to play against, but I am not looking forward to driving to Gunter for a game! I signed Katie up for Blast Ball. It is a toddler's version of tball. I think she will have a blast and we will have a great time watching her. It will be neat for her to have something of her own rather than just watching everyone else. Jay will be playing again on his two teams. I am not playing this year. There aren't enough people interested at the office to form a team. But, I think it is for the best since we will have two kids and Dad with practices and games. I doubt I would have the time to play! I am looking forward to it all. I don't mind being the sports Mom and wife :)

Tomorrow is Jay's birthday. Tonight we are going to my parents house for his birthday dinner with them. Then tomorrow night we are having a small party at our house for him. Of course, it is also Valentine's Day so we will make a big deal out of that for the kids. Jay and I usually exchange small gifts. However, I feel that love should be shared year round rather than emphasized on one day. So, we make a bigger deal of Jay's birthday that we do Valentine's Day. Everyone deserves a great birthday! Tomorrow will be pretty busy. We have to get the house cleaned and ready for the party. Plus, I still have to go out and get his birthday gift. Nothing like waiting until the last minute!

Other than that, there isn't really much going on in our world right now.

A New Year

Wow! I didn't realize it had been so long since I posted. Christmas was wonderful. It is my favorite holiday of the year! The kids were super excited. Andy is on the edge of believing, he isn't quite sure which direction to go. So, he enjoyed the magic of the holiday this year. Katie was super excited about Santa this year. I took them to have their pictures taken with Santa like I do every year. This was the FIRST year Katie was not afraid of him and actually WANTED to sit on his lap and talk to him. She had a hard time understanding that he only comes on Christmas Eve. If it were up to her (and I am sure many children around the globe), he would come every night. We spend Christmas Eve with Jason's side of our family. It was a packed house and a great time. Christmas morning, we did our family Christmas. Every year I tell the kids that they are welcome to wake Mommy and Daddy up when they get up on Christmas morning and we will open presents. Well, Christmas Eve, Jason and I didn't get to bed until about 3am. Keep in mind that my children are not morning creatures. Andy sleeps until at least 8 and Katie will sleep until noon if you let her. So, you can imagine the suprise on our faces when we were jolted out of an hour's sleep at 4am on Christmas Day! Andy had woken up, gotten his sister up, and then proceeded to awake us. It was tough getting out of bed, but Andy was so excited there was no way out of it. Jason did his fair of grumbling, but he joined us in the living room as well. When I walked into the living room, Katie was patiently sitting in the living room floor staring at the tree. It was such a cute sight to see. I wish I had already had my camera in my hands. It didn't take the kids long to open their presents. Andy was much quicker than Katie. Then, Jason and I decided to steal a nap before it was time to head out the door. By this time, it is 5am. Back to bed we go. 30 minutes later, Andy is frantically waking me up because Katie is sick. She has thrown up twice. Her fever was well over 100. Poor baby, sick on Christmas Day. She spent most of the day being miserable. We left the house later than we intended (cleaning up constant throw up will do that to you.) When Katie's tummy seemed stable, we headed to my parent's house. Katie slept all the way out there while Andy played with some of his new toys in the back seat. We are very spoiled by my parents at Christmastime. I should have taken a picture of the living room when we first walked in. There was barely any place to sit. Katie suddenly felt better! Her and Andy found a place to sit and eagerly awaited presents. We had a blast opening thing. It is truly just as much fun to give as it is to receive (or at least for me). The kids received many wonderful things. They played happily all afternoon! One of the things I had repeatedly requested for Christmas was a GPS for my car. I had given up hope as I was opening the wonderful gifts that I received. Then suddenly, my Dad hands me a present from him. It's my GPS! I am so excited! Then a few minutes later, Jason opens a gift. He got one too! Come to find out, my Mom had gotten Jason one first. My Dad, knowing that I wanted one and that it would be difficult for me and Jason to share a GPS, had gotten me one too. I thought that was a really cute story. Jason and I laughed about it for a while. I truly am blessed with the wonderful family that I have. Not just at Christmas, but all year round. After presents, we watched a movie. Soon it was time to eat. After Christmas dinner, it was another movie. I actually fell asleep during this movie. I was exhausted! I only had about an hour and a half of sleep the night before. Katie had crawled into Mummum's lap because she was again not feeling well, and fell asleep. Jason woke me up about 5 so we could head home. I was so glad we were able to spend so much time with my parents (even though I was asleep for part of it). I know it meant a lot to them for us to be there all day. We then headed to Jason's Mom's house to visit. After a short time there, we decided we should get the kids home. Katie wasn't really doing very well and Andy wanted to play with all of his toys. With the exception of Katie being sick, it was a wonderful day.

New Year's Eve, we had some friends over to our house. We don't like to get the kids out that night, why take a chance of being hit by a drunk driver? It was a small crowd. We sat outide on the swing enjoying the new fire pit. Then we watched the motorcycle jumps, and eventually Dick Clark's countdown. It wasn't a crazy evening, but it was what we like. A relaxing evening with good friends.

Things have been pretty slow for us since the holidays came and went. It has been nice to just relax around the house and not have to rush off to one place or another. Katie has decided that she doesn't want to sleep in her room. She has been in bed with me and Jason for the past several nights. I know, I know.....I shouldn't do that. As much as I love cuddling with my daughter, I am about to start sleeping on the couch! With her in our bed, I don't get much sleep. When I put her to bed last night, I was determined to let her cry it out and eventually fall asleep in her bed. She won't get up unless you tell her she can. She went to bed a 9 and cried off and on for the next hour and a half. When we turned off the tv and headed to bed ourselves at 10:30, it suddenly sounded like someone was making a horror film upstairs. She wasn't only crying, she was suddenly screaming. My heart couldn't take it, I felt so bad for her. So, I told her to come on down to our room. I am exhausted today! Katie is a very wild sleeper, and she has to be touching me at all times. It doesn't make for a very peaceful evening. I guess I will have to figure out another approach for putting her to bed tonight.......

Preparing for Christmas

So, this week we started going through the kids rooms in preparation for Christmas. It is amazing how much they both have in their rooms. I have been known to hold onto things that I don't necessarily need to keep. I can find sentimental value in almost everything. So, Jason and Andy handled Andy's room. I made myself turn around as they began to carry things downstairs. Meanwhile, I started on Katie's room. I realized very quickly that I had not EVER gont through Katie's toys. I started with the clothes. I plan to make a quilt one day out of Andy and Katie's clothes, so I did hang on to several of her outfits. I also got rid of A LOT! Then it was on to the toys. I kept a few things since we do plan to have one more child. I have not finished her room yet, but I think she will enjoy it more once it is complete. I also plan to move her furniture around to give her more space to play. It may not look as cute, but it will be more functional for her. It has been fun to walk down memory lane. And you will never believe it but Andy has carpet in his room!

Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving is always a nice relaxing holiday for us. Granted, we have a bit of driving to do but we always enjoy the day. Our first stop was to my Mother's house. The kids had spent the night with her due to daycare being closed, so they were excited to see us when we got there. Jason, Andy, and my Dad hung out outside for a while when we first got there while my sister and I looked through the ads for Black Friday. Then it was time for a yummy Thanksgiving feast. After dinner, we celebrated Katie's birthday at Mom's house. Katie was so excited. She got a princess cake, and couldn't even wait until we finished singing Happy Birthday to blow out her candles! Then she got to open her presents. She got a baby cheetah from my sister which she carried around ALL day long! She also got some clothes and books from my Mom and Dad. Mom and Dad also got her princess purse that came with makeup, mirror, brush, sunglasses and a few other things. She carried this purse to EVERY store we went to this weekend :)

After the festivities at my Mom's house, we went to Jason's Mom's house. Of course, the boys watched the football game while the girls looked through ads and talked. Then it was time for another yummy feast. I couldn't eat much I was so full from lunch, but I did snack. Katie got to see her baby cousins (the twins) and she was so excited. We had to keep a close eye on her because she doesn't always understand the difference between her baby dolls and a real baby. But, she was so excited to see them. We spent the rest of the evening just being lazy.

Friday morning I got up at 3am to brave the crowds. Becca and I were at Kohl's by 4:15. This was by far the busiest store we went to. The line to pay was 45 minutes! But, we got some good deals. From there we moved on to Target, then the mall, then Walmart and Hobby Lobby. I got a LOT of my shopping done. Jason stayed home with the kids while i was shopping. I shopped until about 2 and then went home and took a nap. Jason woke me up about an hour and a half later to go shopping for bats. We didn't have much luck though. Friday night was lazy night.

Saturday was Katie's 3rd birthday!!! When she woke up I sang Happy Birthday to her and she was so excited that it was finally her birthday! We spent the morning cleaning up the house in preparation for her birthday party. Then we went to the store to pick up her cake. When we got back I wrapped her presents. She couldn't wait to open them. Finally, it was time for her party and her cousins and friends had arrived. After a few activities, it was present time. She opened them so fast it was hard to take pictures! Then we had cake. She got a lot of Ariel stuff for her birthday. The Little Mermaid is her favorite Disney Princess. She got the movie too. She has already watched it 6 times! She had a great birthday! I loved seeing the smile on her face all day long.

That evening, we had Becca's birthday party at our house. It was basically a typical get together at our house. I spent a lot of time with Katie that night though. Since it was her birthday, i couldn't tell her no when she asked me to watch mermaid with her :)

Sunday was lazy day! I got up and straightened up the house from the night before. Then, I took a nap after Jason got up. We all spent the day lying around the house! It was great!

We had a really nice holiday weekend! It is always nice to spend so much time with family. And my baby girl turned 3! They grow up so fast!