10/28/2012

Halloween Fun

We were able to hit a little Halloween fun last weekend. Thanks to the heat wave that was happening here, it was an amazing time to be outside. We started out spending part of the afternoon in Bayliss Park at the Midland's Humane society's Halloween Bash. So very fun to see all the animals dressed up, the agility exercises and of course the parade of animals.


We also hit Vala's Pumpkin Patch. Thanks to Respite Care hosting another event we were able to get a smoking deal on tickets that included dinner.

Parker was interested in posing with Aunt Bo. Payton not so much. 
 Apparently a hot dog cooked over a campfire just hit the spot for Parker. 
Not sure his mouth or eyes could get any wider!
 We stopped and checked out all the rabbits they had. I know this is not a great picture of the kids, but the look on Abby's face is hysterical.
 We were pretty fascinated with ponies. 
Sorry guys...maybe next year you'll be big enough.
 Payton hanging out with Uncle Dave.
 Look Bo, it's the great pumpkin!

 Our last stop of the evening was for a treat and to watch the pig races. Parker sat with Daddy and Uncle Dave and shared his M&Ms and root beer (yes, I promise that brown bottle is root beer).
 Payton sat between Aunt Bo and I and ate her pink ice cream (a.k.a. cherry nut) before the pigs made their big entrance.
Another event, another success and just another reason I so adore Respite Care. Happy Halloween!

We have a big week ahead, so that means updates to come! Picture day at respite care, the Halloween costume reveal and events, and something super special next Sunday.

10/24/2012

Another round...

of shameless plugs. That's right, there's stuff going on and I want to make sure everyone knows what's happening and can take part if they want to.

Saturday, November 10th Quiet Light Foundation is hosting a Preemie Parents Night Out. It's not just for parents, though. It's for friends, family and even anyone who works with preemies to come and celebrate Prematurity Awareness Month and all the preemie families go through. If  you are reading this and you are around on November 10th, I'd love to see you there. It's a cheap night out - about $30 per couple and includes the works, even entertainment (improv comedy done like Who's Line Is It), tip and being entered into drawings some pretty awesome giveaways. This is a super special event for me for many reasons. Come see me! Let me know if you want to reserve your table (yes, reservations are needed because there is only so much room!) or if you need more info. Hope to see you at The Pizza Shoppe Collective on the 10th!

The other even going in is Bling for the Holidays. November 17th from 9 - 4 at the Westside Community Center (108th & Grover). It will be everything fancy, sparkling, etc. that you might want for Christmas. It is free to get it. The great part of this event though is that it is also a toy drive for Respite Care. If you bring a new unwrapped toy for Respite Care you are automatically entered into the great drawings they are going to have that day. And I won't bore anyone with how much I love Respite Care one more time.

Ok...November is filling up. Mark your calendars! :)

10/14/2012

The best things in life are 3

Thank you to everyone who came to the birthday party (and we missed all of you that couldn't make it!), sent birthday messages this week, or shared a cupcake with us somewhere along the way to celebrate turning 3!!!










We've got new toys - including a drum set! - so come on over and play any time!

10/10/2012

The 3 year old run down

That's right...they're 3!!! People have been asking if I can believe it. Somehow it's all gone by in a blur, and at the same time every gray hair, moment of exhaustion and day with circles under my eyes is proof I've scrambled my way through every single day. There's been a few appointments the past few weeks so let me get out the latest.

Payton - the little diva is doing just fine. Things have been pretty quiet from her since she had her surgery in July. She's doing much better and the sleep apnea she was having is gone since surgery...yay!!! She's been battling a few allergies and colds but otherwise she's doing fine. I'm a little nervous headed into RSV and flu season with her. We'll be chatting more about that when we see pulmonology next month when we follow up with them. At our 3 year checkup today and she's doing just fine. When the resident that was following Dr. Woodford around came into our room today he said "these are my miracle babies, Payton and Parker". I love that he cares about them so much. She is 29 pounds today (with clothes) and 35.5 inches. That puts her at 15% for height and 31% for weight for average 3 year olds. Her development is going just fine and all her other numbers look good. We love Dr. Woodford, but I'm hoping Payton won't see him until next year when they turn 4.

Parker - the dude! It's been an intense couple weeks with the man. The results of his latest scope were good. The medicines he's on are helping the EOE. We will follow-up with the allergist in December and are taking his oral Pulmicort once a day instead of twice.

We had our appointment with the developmental pediatrician at Children's. It took 6 months to get the appointment and I was not as excited in the end as I'd hoped. We were lucky that our Occupational Therapist for Early Intervention came with us to be another set of ears and ask questions. I didn't feel as if the doctor completely understood what I was always saying. Not that I was looking for her to say "he's autistic/has ADHD/has....". But I wanted a little more than what I got. Despite it all she did diagnose him with disruptive behavior disorder and sensory integration dysfunction. We've been referred on for more OT for sensory issues, and have a behavioral person helping brain storm ways to help Parker deal with situations that cause him to completely meltdown. He was also put on another medicine, clonidine, for being a horribly restless sleeper. I guess more to come on all this as we sort things out and move on with some new things.

Today he had his 3 year old checkup too. We talked about his news from the scope and the new recommendations for sensory OT. Dr. Woodford is also recommending return to OT and speech therapy to work on drinking since that's a particularly horrible area for him. Parker's development is just slightly behind but there's nothing to be overly concerned with right now. We'll just be keeping an eye on it. We drew blood to test for allergies. Despite having me pay on his lower half and two nurses, he wiggles enough during it they could only get a half vial and he blew a vein. Not good buddy. Since we were there 6 weeks ago when he was sick, Parker has lost 2 pounds, putting him down to just 23 (with clothes). That's alot of weight when you're that little. That puts him at just .07% for weight while he's at 35 inches and 4% for height. All his other numbers seem to be fine. Because of the weight loss we quite possibly may soon be seeing the feeding and growth clinic at children's to add to our list too.

And so in the past week I've gained a few more of those gray hairs. Now you know why when you see me.

Onward and upward...with a very large cup of something caffeinated for mom.


10/01/2012

It's Time Again...

Today is a day that gives me a little of the queasy-tummy, make-me-nervous, I-just-might-hold-my breath-until-I-pass-out sort of feeling.

October 1st…the start of RSV season.

Their first actual winter we left the house to go to a doctor and that was it. That didn’t seem so terrible since Payton cam home in the middle of winter and Parker came home towards the end. And all I’d wanted for months was to be at home with them so it was really no big deal. We spent the past two years spending time at home during the winter. They went to respite care while I worked. They went to the doctor. That’s pretty much it. It was recommended by doctors. I asked other preemie moms for advice. I wouldn’t change being on lock down for the world. It’s what their little bodies with bad lungs, damaged from prematurity, ventilators, illness and bad immunity needed.

Last winter I was scared. The year before, while getting Synagis, Payton ended up in isolation in the hospital for a week and had pneumonia 6 times, along with other illnesses during the year. So the thought of having to go through that again…sheer terror.

Last winter was slightly better. A few ER trips and our only hospital stay was for one night observation. Slightly better but still makes me want to ask the ER nurse every time if they pass out Xanax to the parents.
So today it begins. The season that is already showing some signs it might be a bit of a rough one. I don’t think it’s really possible to keep two (soon to be) 3 year olds on lockdown. We can be careful and limit things to an extent, but full on winter lockdown seems a bit unrealistic at this point.

So into another season. We’re taking a deep breath, the sanitizer bottles are out and stocked and away we go. The allergies that are in full bloom have given me a quick re-sharpening of my micro-preemie mom senses.

Game on RSV. We got this.