Or in the words of my now 10 year old "Cray Cray". That seems to be my life lately.
I just began my second semester of nursing school. I felt like I barely skirted by the first semester! With dealing with the kids, and my normal "household" duties I felt like I was flying by the seat of my pants not knowing what I was doing, or where I was going. I did ok though. And boy have I enjoyed this month long break!
Andrew turned 3 in November and started preschool on his birthday :( Because of my classes I couldn't take him to school (he starts at 1:20pm, and I had to be on campus at 12:30) and I couldn't get him off the bus when he got home (he got home at 4:15 pm and my class doesn't end till 4:30) So I've really, really, enjoyed being able to get him off to school and be there when the bus gets home to drop him off. His smile and "Bye mom!" when I drop him off and the excited wave and "Hi mom, I ride the bus home!" when he gets off the bus is SO precious and I've soaked up every day I've been able to do that. The speech apraxia with him is still severe, and I'm thinking of asking for some type of AAC device for him at school, but not sure they'll give him one until kindergarten.
This semester I'm only taking my 2 nursing classes (plus clinical), and a math class. It's still 12 credits, but I took 15 credits last semester which I think was part of my problem. 2 nursing classes, clinicals, 2 biology classes, and a math class last semester and just my nursing classes and math class this semester. I've heard this semester is where it really gets hard though :/
Avery has had a LOT of autism related problems this month I've been on break. It actually started before my break, but it got pretty bad over break. The school STILL refuses to give him ANY supports, and at it's worst I needed 4 people to get him out of my car and carry him into the school kicking and screaming. They wrapped him in a straight jacket type hold and carried him into the school while he screamed "I'm hurt, please stop, you're hurting me!" Boy was THAT hard on me! I pulled out of the parking lot in full fledged hyperventilation, crying, panic mode. He just turned 7 on the 18th and couldn't even tell me ONE friend he wanted to invite to his party :( I ended up giving him 6 invitations and telling him to just give them to kids in his class he wanted to come to the party. He ended up having 4 kids come to the party. He is STILL not using the toilet either. sigh I'm just such at a loss with him. Makes me feel like a horrible mother.
Austin turned 10 on the 26th. He told me he didn't want to bring anything to school this year to celebrate (no cupcakes or anything)! Guess he's officially to old for that :( He's such a social butterfly. Always at a friends house or spending the night somewhere. He is on a travel baseball team this year and is just blossoming. Everyone tells me how we're going to have to beat the girls away with sticks when it comes to him.
Aidan is giving us a rough ride right now. He'll be 12 on Feb. 15th and he's acting every bit of it! Failing every class in school right now. We've had a meeting with each of his teachers and he's been lying to them, saying his work is at home or that we threw it away, and lying to us saying he has no homework, and not giving us notes from teachers or tests that need signatures. He's in all gifted/enrichment classes and I just wish he'd use his brain for once and realize his parents have "been there, done that" and we aren't just bring "jerks" (like he likes to tell us). The last few days he's been forced to sit at the dining room table after school and do make up work/homework from the time he gets home until dinner, then after dinner till bedtime. When he came home yesterday I asked how his day was and he said "Better than it has been" and I said "see what happens when you actually have the work that is due in classes??? The teachers don't yell at you, and you don't have to come up with lies about why you don't have it!"
There's my update! Hope everyone is doing well!
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Friday, May 3, 2013
A Great "Knight" Out!!
I was recently given the opportunity to experience Medieval Times and Tournament with my husband and boys. We've never been before and we were so excited to try it out! If you have no clue what I'm talking about, let me tell you all about it!
Medieval Times and Tournament is located right in Hanover, MD! Inside the Arundel Mills Mall and right by Maryland Live Casino. When you first arrive it looks like you're arriving at a castle!!
My boys immediately started yelling "We're going to a castle!" We got our tickets at the box office area and stood in line. (It is recommended you arrive at least an hour prior to show time.) Our tickets were "general admission", but you can upgrade to "Royalty" seating when purchasing your tickets. Royalty seating gets you a front row seat, plus a flag in the knights color at your seat and from what I saw they also get a piece of cake for dessert along with their pastry (or maybe they are given a choice of which they want, I'm not sure.)
While we were standing in line, my boys got a kick out of watching the knights and the king walking around inside the building.
When you are allowed in each person is given a crown that they wear with the color of the knight you are supposed to be cheering for. Our crowns were all for the "Black and White" knight! We went inside and had our picture taken with the king, then walked around the souvenir shop looking at the items they have available for purchase. They also have a torture chamber you can tour for an additional fee!
Once you are allowed into your seat you are really in awe of the set up. I didn't realize just how close we would be to the "action". I kept thinking concert style set up, so it was a really nice surprise how even with general admission seats you have an awesome view! The show starts while you are being served drinks and "Blood Dragon Soup" (aka Tomato Bisque Soup), and "Castle Bread" (aka Garlic Bread).
I received free tickets for my family to enjoy the show in exchange for my unbiased and true review of the experience. This is my own true review with my own thoughts and feelings.
Would you like me to review your product or show? Contact me at Heastarven (at) yahoo (dot) com with the subject "blog review".
Medieval Times and Tournament is located right in Hanover, MD! Inside the Arundel Mills Mall and right by Maryland Live Casino. When you first arrive it looks like you're arriving at a castle!!
My boys immediately started yelling "We're going to a castle!" We got our tickets at the box office area and stood in line. (It is recommended you arrive at least an hour prior to show time.) Our tickets were "general admission", but you can upgrade to "Royalty" seating when purchasing your tickets. Royalty seating gets you a front row seat, plus a flag in the knights color at your seat and from what I saw they also get a piece of cake for dessert along with their pastry (or maybe they are given a choice of which they want, I'm not sure.)
When you are allowed in each person is given a crown that they wear with the color of the knight you are supposed to be cheering for. Our crowns were all for the "Black and White" knight! We went inside and had our picture taken with the king, then walked around the souvenir shop looking at the items they have available for purchase. They also have a torture chamber you can tour for an additional fee!
Once you are allowed into your seat you are really in awe of the set up. I didn't realize just how close we would be to the "action". I kept thinking concert style set up, so it was a really nice surprise how even with general admission seats you have an awesome view! The show starts while you are being served drinks and "Blood Dragon Soup" (aka Tomato Bisque Soup), and "Castle Bread" (aka Garlic Bread).
They have a falcon show in the beginning which is amazing and then while you are watching competitions between knights involving getting rings while riding the horses, or hitting a bulls eye target you are served Roasted Chicken, a rib, and potato wedge. The food was absolutely DELICIOUS! There are no utensils used, you have to eat with your hands!
Then comes the real fun! The "Jousting" which is what my boys had been looking forward to! You are encouraged to scream and cheer for your knight and to also "Boo" the other knights! The look on my boys faces and to listen to them screaming at the top of their lungs and chanting "GO BLACK AND WHITE, GO BLACK AND WHITE" was just pure joy.
The entire show lasts 2 hours and definitely keeps your attention the entire time! Even my 2 year old was absolutely enthralled by the horses and show. This is definitely a place you need to go to! If there was ANY criticism that I could give it would be how many "extras" are pushed at you. The picture with the king is shown to you during dinner which is $20. Then they take another picture of you in your seats which is another $20 if you want it, they walk around selling flags for $5 and glow sticks and other things that the kids of course want. But the expense is well worth it to see the amazement on your kids (and yours!) faces!
This is definitely something we'll be going to again! And all that screaming and yelling and excitement ends with some worn out kids, which is every parents true intention ;)
You can also find Medieval Times at their facebook page: Medieval Times
and you can find them on Twitter: Medieval Times
I received free tickets for my family to enjoy the show in exchange for my unbiased and true review of the experience. This is my own true review with my own thoughts and feelings.
Would you like me to review your product or show? Contact me at Heastarven (at) yahoo (dot) com with the subject "blog review".
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Our First Cast...
There are three weeks left of the spring semester for me (if you count this week we're currently in!). I am SO happy to almost be done with this semester. I've done really good to keep my "A"'s in all my classes except Anatomy and Physiology. That class has been KILLER! I'm begging and pleading for a "C" in that class. If I don't get my "C" it looks like I'll be retaking that class in the fall. That really sucks and I'll be honest that it depresses me quite a bit. It is what it is though.
Last week Andrew went to his physical therapy appointment on Monday morning, and then we went about our day as usual. In the evening I was in the kitchen getting dinner together and all the boys were downstairs playing. Suddenly Andrew started crying. After a minute or so of him crying I yelled down the stairs asking what was wrong with Andrew. I kept getting the response of "we dunno he just started crying!" I called Andrew's name a few times and I saw him crawling his way up the stairs. I sat down at the stop of the stairs and pulled him into my lap where he cried for a few more minutes and started to close his eyes. My first thought was "oh you are NOT going to sleep now buddy!" I started talking to him and he had stopped crying so I put him back down and stood up to go in the kitchen. He stood up and immediately fell back to the floor and started crying again. I picked him back up and put him on my hip and walked into the kitchen. I was trying to get dinner together and hold him and answer the other boys and referree their fighting, and was getting frustrated. I put Andrew down again and I noticed it looked like he went to take a step and then fell to the floor again and started crying.
At this point I kinda turned my head and looked at him going "what the hell?" I carried him into the dining room and again tried to put him down. I saw him take a step and fall and scream again. I called my husband upstairs and told him I thought something was wrong with Andrew's leg and that he wouldn't walk on it. I showed him what I meant and tried to put Andrew down again. The same thing happened with him falling immediately. I squeezed up and down his leg and he kinda wimpered a little bit. I gave my husband a look and he said "Go ahead and take him to the urgent care" So I picked him up and off we went.
When we got there I told them that I thought maybe he had hurt his leg and of course they asked how he hurt it. My response was "I know this makes me sound really bad, but I have no idea. He was downstairs with his brothers and he just started crying and then wouldn't walk." The nurse said "You didn't ask your other kids what happened?" Well of course I did!! But it isn't like they said "oh you know, I hurt him." Or anything! I told her the only response I got was "he just started crying." She tried to watch him walk and he kinda limped around and then just completely stopped and started crawling. She manipulated his legs and said she wanted to get some xrays because she thought he may have a "toddler's fracture". She said they are very common in kids his age but they are also extremely hard to diagnose.
We took some xrays and she told me she thought she saw a fracture in one film, but didn't see it in any of the other angles. She said she wanted us to see a orthopedist and she splinted his leg before we left.
Long story short, when we saw the orthopedist he looked at the xrays and said he didn't see a fracture, but like the urgent care doctor said, they are very hard to see and diagnose and therefore most of the time you DON'T see them until they start to heal and calcify. For that reason and because he said Andrew's reactions sounded like a spiral fracture of the Tibia (a "toddler's fracture") he put him in a cast for 3 weeks.
He decided to go with a "short leg" cast for now, because at least with a short leg cast he can still walk/crawl and everything. He said at Andrew's age (16 months) they have a tendency to wiggle out of the short leg cast and if he does, then we may have to go to a full leg cast. For now though Andrew hasn't messed with the cast at all. It sure isn't slowing him down any either! He's walking/crawling/climbing/running etc with it!
Four boys and this is our first cast! I told the doctor I KNEW Andrew was trouble from the day he was born. First the NICU and now a cast! He's definitely trying to put me in an early grave!
Last week Andrew went to his physical therapy appointment on Monday morning, and then we went about our day as usual. In the evening I was in the kitchen getting dinner together and all the boys were downstairs playing. Suddenly Andrew started crying. After a minute or so of him crying I yelled down the stairs asking what was wrong with Andrew. I kept getting the response of "we dunno he just started crying!" I called Andrew's name a few times and I saw him crawling his way up the stairs. I sat down at the stop of the stairs and pulled him into my lap where he cried for a few more minutes and started to close his eyes. My first thought was "oh you are NOT going to sleep now buddy!" I started talking to him and he had stopped crying so I put him back down and stood up to go in the kitchen. He stood up and immediately fell back to the floor and started crying again. I picked him back up and put him on my hip and walked into the kitchen. I was trying to get dinner together and hold him and answer the other boys and referree their fighting, and was getting frustrated. I put Andrew down again and I noticed it looked like he went to take a step and then fell to the floor again and started crying.
At this point I kinda turned my head and looked at him going "what the hell?" I carried him into the dining room and again tried to put him down. I saw him take a step and fall and scream again. I called my husband upstairs and told him I thought something was wrong with Andrew's leg and that he wouldn't walk on it. I showed him what I meant and tried to put Andrew down again. The same thing happened with him falling immediately. I squeezed up and down his leg and he kinda wimpered a little bit. I gave my husband a look and he said "Go ahead and take him to the urgent care" So I picked him up and off we went.
When we got there I told them that I thought maybe he had hurt his leg and of course they asked how he hurt it. My response was "I know this makes me sound really bad, but I have no idea. He was downstairs with his brothers and he just started crying and then wouldn't walk." The nurse said "You didn't ask your other kids what happened?" Well of course I did!! But it isn't like they said "oh you know, I hurt him." Or anything! I told her the only response I got was "he just started crying." She tried to watch him walk and he kinda limped around and then just completely stopped and started crawling. She manipulated his legs and said she wanted to get some xrays because she thought he may have a "toddler's fracture". She said they are very common in kids his age but they are also extremely hard to diagnose.
We took some xrays and she told me she thought she saw a fracture in one film, but didn't see it in any of the other angles. She said she wanted us to see a orthopedist and she splinted his leg before we left.
Long story short, when we saw the orthopedist he looked at the xrays and said he didn't see a fracture, but like the urgent care doctor said, they are very hard to see and diagnose and therefore most of the time you DON'T see them until they start to heal and calcify. For that reason and because he said Andrew's reactions sounded like a spiral fracture of the Tibia (a "toddler's fracture") he put him in a cast for 3 weeks.
He decided to go with a "short leg" cast for now, because at least with a short leg cast he can still walk/crawl and everything. He said at Andrew's age (16 months) they have a tendency to wiggle out of the short leg cast and if he does, then we may have to go to a full leg cast. For now though Andrew hasn't messed with the cast at all. It sure isn't slowing him down any either! He's walking/crawling/climbing/running etc with it!
Four boys and this is our first cast! I told the doctor I KNEW Andrew was trouble from the day he was born. First the NICU and now a cast! He's definitely trying to put me in an early grave!
Friday, April 13, 2012
Being a person is getting to complicated. Time to be a Unicorn!
Busy, busy around here! There's 5 weeks left in the semester and I
can NOT wait for it to end! This semester is killing me. A&P is literally
kicking my butt from this side to the other. I'm reaching SO hard for that
C....if I can grasp it in these next 5 weeks I'll be freakin ecstatic. You'll
be able to tell if I get the "C" by the screams of joy you'll hear all the way
at your house.
Had an "odd" encounter with my math professor tonight though. See I'm doing SO well in the class (and I'm sure I've mentioned this) that he's asked why I'm even in the class. So everytime we have a "review day" before our unit tests he always tells me I can go home and I don't need to "stay and be bored" while he reviews with everyone else. Today was no different. He came up to my desk and said "Did you complete the review packet?" and I replied "yep" and he said "well then you're welcome to go home!" So I started getting my stuff together and he walked back to the front of the classroom. As I was walking to the door he came out from behind his desk and kinda raised his arms and started to put them around me like he was going to hug me. So I kinda gave him this quick hug and said "have a nice weekend" and he walked me to the classroom door and opened the door for me and was like "I don't even know what I'm doing this weekend." I said "are you still remodeling your bathroom?" (He mentioned in class he's been remodeling the bathroom). He replied "no that's on monday." So I just said "oh ok, well bye" and walked down the hallway.
It was.....odd
Of course the thing that is going through my mind was "OMG why did he HUG me??" and "I can just imagine what everyone else in the class is thinking "Gee no wonder she's doing so well..." "No wonder she gets to leave early" GAH! And it's not like he was flirting with me (I mean he's like in his mid to upper 60's!) Then I am thinking "what if he WASN'T going to hug me and I hugged him taking it that way?? Now he's probably sitting there going "why did she hug me? That's odd!"
AHHHHHH now I'm gonna think about this constantly, and it's going to be weird going into class on Tuesday!
In other news, I had Avery's annual IEP meeting this afternoon. It went really well all things considered. They've removed everything from his IEP except speech. They've added some goals for Articulation, and also some "correct speed of speaking" goals because Avery tends to talk a mile a minute, which makes him VERY unitelligible! For a kid who has Apraxia, speaking a mile a minute only makes things a million times worse! They've decreased his frequency of speech sessions from three 30 minutes sessions a week down to two 30 minute sessions a week. This was because she said in kindergarten she really wants Avery to be in the classroom as much as possible. With this schedule he'll spend 80% of the time in the classroom. We're all concerned about spelling (if you can't pronounce the word, you can't spell it!) but she didn't put that on his IEP as of right now because spelling isn't a kindergarten objective. Just something for us to keep an eye on. She thinks he'll do very well in kindergarten and just kept telling me that my concerns are just my "mama bear" coming out and for me to focus on how far he's come, not how far he has to go.
Andrew is now fully walking! It's only taken 16 months and 3 months of physical therapy, but he's now walking! And now that he's walking he screams absolutely bloody murder if you try to carry him! And forget about putting him in his carseat! Oh he HATES being in his carseat now! It seems now that he's mobile he wants absolutely nothing to do with being caged in! Lemme see if I can remember how to post a few pics before I sign off of here!
Me tonight....bored
The three older boys Easter Sunday heading to church with Grandma (mother in law)
Andrew Easter sunday outside running around at Grandma's (mother in law's)
yay! It worked :) Wow the pics are HUGE!! Sorry!
Had an "odd" encounter with my math professor tonight though. See I'm doing SO well in the class (and I'm sure I've mentioned this) that he's asked why I'm even in the class. So everytime we have a "review day" before our unit tests he always tells me I can go home and I don't need to "stay and be bored" while he reviews with everyone else. Today was no different. He came up to my desk and said "Did you complete the review packet?" and I replied "yep" and he said "well then you're welcome to go home!" So I started getting my stuff together and he walked back to the front of the classroom. As I was walking to the door he came out from behind his desk and kinda raised his arms and started to put them around me like he was going to hug me. So I kinda gave him this quick hug and said "have a nice weekend" and he walked me to the classroom door and opened the door for me and was like "I don't even know what I'm doing this weekend." I said "are you still remodeling your bathroom?" (He mentioned in class he's been remodeling the bathroom). He replied "no that's on monday." So I just said "oh ok, well bye" and walked down the hallway.
It was.....odd
Of course the thing that is going through my mind was "OMG why did he HUG me??" and "I can just imagine what everyone else in the class is thinking "Gee no wonder she's doing so well..." "No wonder she gets to leave early" GAH! And it's not like he was flirting with me (I mean he's like in his mid to upper 60's!) Then I am thinking "what if he WASN'T going to hug me and I hugged him taking it that way?? Now he's probably sitting there going "why did she hug me? That's odd!"
AHHHHHH now I'm gonna think about this constantly, and it's going to be weird going into class on Tuesday!
In other news, I had Avery's annual IEP meeting this afternoon. It went really well all things considered. They've removed everything from his IEP except speech. They've added some goals for Articulation, and also some "correct speed of speaking" goals because Avery tends to talk a mile a minute, which makes him VERY unitelligible! For a kid who has Apraxia, speaking a mile a minute only makes things a million times worse! They've decreased his frequency of speech sessions from three 30 minutes sessions a week down to two 30 minute sessions a week. This was because she said in kindergarten she really wants Avery to be in the classroom as much as possible. With this schedule he'll spend 80% of the time in the classroom. We're all concerned about spelling (if you can't pronounce the word, you can't spell it!) but she didn't put that on his IEP as of right now because spelling isn't a kindergarten objective. Just something for us to keep an eye on. She thinks he'll do very well in kindergarten and just kept telling me that my concerns are just my "mama bear" coming out and for me to focus on how far he's come, not how far he has to go.
Andrew is now fully walking! It's only taken 16 months and 3 months of physical therapy, but he's now walking! And now that he's walking he screams absolutely bloody murder if you try to carry him! And forget about putting him in his carseat! Oh he HATES being in his carseat now! It seems now that he's mobile he wants absolutely nothing to do with being caged in! Lemme see if I can remember how to post a few pics before I sign off of here!
Me tonight....bored
The three older boys Easter Sunday heading to church with Grandma (mother in law)
Andrew Easter sunday outside running around at Grandma's (mother in law's)
yay! It worked :) Wow the pics are HUGE!! Sorry!
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Changing things Around!
Whoa! Sorry for being so quiet lately! Things have been CA-RAZY! here. I'm gonna be changing some stuff around and getting back to writing hopefully today! Stay tuned!
Monday, October 17, 2011
Feeling Very "deja vu" right now
I'm thinking of adding another online class next semester. Yes I'm crazy I know ;)
I took Andrew back to the doctor today because he STILL isn't any better from this cold he's had. It's going on 3 weeks now and he's still crying constantly and pulling his ears and is SO snotty. Low and behold the ear infection STILL hasn't gone away. After 2 rounds of antibiotics she said "it's the worst ear I've seen in a while" greeeeaat. She's doubling up his antiobiotics this time (he'll be taking 2 different ones) for the next week. If it's not any better after that (or if he gets another one soon) we'll be talking tubes. He's had 6 ear infections and he's almost 11 months old. Deja Vu... We went through this with Aidan AND Austin. They both ended up with tubes. So I'm totally expecting to have him seen for tubes soon.
Then I was talking to the doctor today about Andrew not using his legs when he crawls. He just kinda drags them behind him. And he doesn't pull to a stand or even stand while I'm holding him at all. Being that all 3 of my other boys were walking by 11 months I was/am curious if it was ok. She tried to get him to stand and then she kinda got this look on her face and said "hmm maybe we should have him looked at by early intervention" I said "really? Do you think that's necessary?" and she said "better to catch it early if it is anything, and it's free and they'll come to your house."
Yeah.....I know all about early intervention. A little to well if you ask me. So of course now I'm all flipped out because AGAIN I feel like this is Deja Vu. I just have the gut feeling they're going to come to my house, run their evaluations on him and then they'll say something about his speech (all he does at this point is "eh") and they'll say something about his gross motor (OMG I just totally typo'd "gross mother") because of his lack of leg use.
Deja Vu.
My first response to the doctor was "great, just what I need...another kid needing therapy" I know it probably wasn't the "politically correct" thing to say. But it's how I feel/felt. I haven't even gotten him evaluated and all I can think about is "I can't go through this again."
I just can't.....
I took Andrew back to the doctor today because he STILL isn't any better from this cold he's had. It's going on 3 weeks now and he's still crying constantly and pulling his ears and is SO snotty. Low and behold the ear infection STILL hasn't gone away. After 2 rounds of antibiotics she said "it's the worst ear I've seen in a while" greeeeaat. She's doubling up his antiobiotics this time (he'll be taking 2 different ones) for the next week. If it's not any better after that (or if he gets another one soon) we'll be talking tubes. He's had 6 ear infections and he's almost 11 months old. Deja Vu... We went through this with Aidan AND Austin. They both ended up with tubes. So I'm totally expecting to have him seen for tubes soon.
Then I was talking to the doctor today about Andrew not using his legs when he crawls. He just kinda drags them behind him. And he doesn't pull to a stand or even stand while I'm holding him at all. Being that all 3 of my other boys were walking by 11 months I was/am curious if it was ok. She tried to get him to stand and then she kinda got this look on her face and said "hmm maybe we should have him looked at by early intervention" I said "really? Do you think that's necessary?" and she said "better to catch it early if it is anything, and it's free and they'll come to your house."
Yeah.....I know all about early intervention. A little to well if you ask me. So of course now I'm all flipped out because AGAIN I feel like this is Deja Vu. I just have the gut feeling they're going to come to my house, run their evaluations on him and then they'll say something about his speech (all he does at this point is "eh") and they'll say something about his gross motor (OMG I just totally typo'd "gross mother") because of his lack of leg use.
Deja Vu.
My first response to the doctor was "great, just what I need...another kid needing therapy" I know it probably wasn't the "politically correct" thing to say. But it's how I feel/felt. I haven't even gotten him evaluated and all I can think about is "I can't go through this again."
I just can't.....
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
On IEP's and Therapy
Avery's preschool teacher has been basically "hinting" to me for the past week that the IEP meeting I have scheduled for Avery this Thursday is going to be tough for me. She has told me on more than one occasion "I can't find a single thing to put on Avery's IEP as a goal" and "I don't know if he's going to qualify on Thursday, since speech is his only issue." and also "He's a smart cookie! He knows everything! There's nothing on the 4 year curriculum that he needs to work on next year on his IEP"
What?!?! Are they serious??? That's awful funny, because both his private therapists and I disagree with that!
He has social issues! He wouldn't be in a social skills therapy group if he didn't have a problem socially with other children! Even the preschool teacher has said that Avery will choose where I wants to play and with who he wants to play with. He doesn't play WITH other children, but will play NEXT TO the other children. But because he'll go over to the same play area with them there's no social issues??
Avery's private therapist has said she would write up a paper to say what goals they need to include on his IEP for social issues, but we all know the school doesn't HAVE to accept her evaluation.
Avery has a diagnosis of Apraxia. But according to the school they don't accept any "diagnosis" until the kindergarten year. So are they saying that because they won't accept the diagnosis they don't have to give Avery the therapy he needs on his IEP?? I don't think so! "Speech isn't enough to qualify him" No "Speech" isn't, but APRAXIA is! His speech therapist at the school claims Avery is hitting sounds with "80-85% accuracy." Which would means he's met his "IEP goal" because they're "goal" is 80%. Except the fact that that is completely UNTRUE! The way they have worded it makes it seem that he's met his goals. In reality yes he does make certain sounds with 80-85% accuracy in a face to face therapy setting. In spontaneous speech and in more than 2-3 word sentances that drops DRAMATICALLY!
And I don't know how to argue anything they say because I don't know what they are going to say!! They sent home a "draft" of Avery's IEP for me to review before the meeting. But what they sent me is the same exact IEP I have from last years IEP meeting! I can't bring "proof" or any evidence to back what I'm saying if I don't know what proof or evidence I'm going to need!
Grr I'm so frustrated and feeling totally unprepared for his IEP meeting thursday.
What?!?! Are they serious??? That's awful funny, because both his private therapists and I disagree with that!
He has social issues! He wouldn't be in a social skills therapy group if he didn't have a problem socially with other children! Even the preschool teacher has said that Avery will choose where I wants to play and with who he wants to play with. He doesn't play WITH other children, but will play NEXT TO the other children. But because he'll go over to the same play area with them there's no social issues??
Avery's private therapist has said she would write up a paper to say what goals they need to include on his IEP for social issues, but we all know the school doesn't HAVE to accept her evaluation.
Avery has a diagnosis of Apraxia. But according to the school they don't accept any "diagnosis" until the kindergarten year. So are they saying that because they won't accept the diagnosis they don't have to give Avery the therapy he needs on his IEP?? I don't think so! "Speech isn't enough to qualify him" No "Speech" isn't, but APRAXIA is! His speech therapist at the school claims Avery is hitting sounds with "80-85% accuracy." Which would means he's met his "IEP goal" because they're "goal" is 80%. Except the fact that that is completely UNTRUE! The way they have worded it makes it seem that he's met his goals. In reality yes he does make certain sounds with 80-85% accuracy in a face to face therapy setting. In spontaneous speech and in more than 2-3 word sentances that drops DRAMATICALLY!
And I don't know how to argue anything they say because I don't know what they are going to say!! They sent home a "draft" of Avery's IEP for me to review before the meeting. But what they sent me is the same exact IEP I have from last years IEP meeting! I can't bring "proof" or any evidence to back what I'm saying if I don't know what proof or evidence I'm going to need!
Grr I'm so frustrated and feeling totally unprepared for his IEP meeting thursday.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Not enough hours in the day!
There just never seems to be enough hours in the day! The boys are supposed to be in bed. I say that in italics because I can hear them talking and their bed creaking so I know they aren't sleeping and it's 11pm on a school night! UGH!
My niece has been in the PICU for just over 2 weeks now. It's to long of a story to get into, but my sister asked me to start a blog to keep everyone informed so if you haven't been keeping up with that blog you can read about the situation (from the begining) here...
Hailey's Healing Blog
Because of this I've spent a couple hours every other day at the hospital with my sister and my brother in law and niece. Add in the hours upon hours I spend at therapy with my 4 year old every week and the typical daily household chores and my other 3 boys and I'm getting burnt out quick. The house is suffering the boys are complaining because they want to go to the park or do something else and I just don't have the time to take them. I need more hours in the day!
Avery has started a social skills class now also on Monday nights. Because of the time of the social skills class I hit traffic both ways and I end up gone for almost 4 hours for a 1 hour class for him.
I think I'm totally due for a vacation!
Andrew flipped himself out of his swing tonight. He's now at the point where he needs to be strapped into everything because he just flips and rolls and wiggles. I can't believe I'm about to have to start baby proofing again! He's getting so big so fast!
Austin is acting out and I'm sure it's an attention thing with him. Not sure how to handle that either.
I think I'm just gonna end this blog entry before it gets into a pity party! It's just been one of those nights I guess.
My niece has been in the PICU for just over 2 weeks now. It's to long of a story to get into, but my sister asked me to start a blog to keep everyone informed so if you haven't been keeping up with that blog you can read about the situation (from the begining) here...
Hailey's Healing Blog
Because of this I've spent a couple hours every other day at the hospital with my sister and my brother in law and niece. Add in the hours upon hours I spend at therapy with my 4 year old every week and the typical daily household chores and my other 3 boys and I'm getting burnt out quick. The house is suffering the boys are complaining because they want to go to the park or do something else and I just don't have the time to take them. I need more hours in the day!
Avery has started a social skills class now also on Monday nights. Because of the time of the social skills class I hit traffic both ways and I end up gone for almost 4 hours for a 1 hour class for him.
I think I'm totally due for a vacation!
Andrew flipped himself out of his swing tonight. He's now at the point where he needs to be strapped into everything because he just flips and rolls and wiggles. I can't believe I'm about to have to start baby proofing again! He's getting so big so fast!
Austin is acting out and I'm sure it's an attention thing with him. Not sure how to handle that either.
I think I'm just gonna end this blog entry before it gets into a pity party! It's just been one of those nights I guess.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Ultimate Blog Party 2011
Well Hello There!!
Welcome to my "hiding spot"! Please close the door behind you and make sure not to let any kids in here! This is MY area! I sit in here and whisper so no one can find me.
My name is Heather and I'm a 30 year old mom to 4 boys. Aidan is 9, Austin is 7, Avery is 4 and Andrew is 4 months. All boys. All A names.
My 4 year old has speech apraxia, sensory integration, and social anxiety. His therapists go back and forth on whether he has an aspergers diagnosis or not. It will probably be a while before we truly know or not. Right now I spend a lot of my life at his therapies. He also attends a special needs preschool 4 days a week in the mornings.
Andrew was born in November and spent almost 2 weeks in the NICU. Although he was born "on time" according to my dates, the NICU team thought he was closer to 35-36 weeks and his lungs were not ready. He was on a ventilator for a while, then moved to a CPAP, then finally to nothing. It was a scary time for me. And it was absolute torture leaving him at the hospital when I was discharged. We made it though and now he's growing like a weed and doing so well. Just today he rolled from back to belly!
I participated last year in the UBP and couldn't wait to participate again this year! I LOVE meeting new people and especially new mom bloggers!
Grab a cup of coffee and stick around! I've been a slacker at posting lately, but I promise that will change!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
The Austin Entry
Austin had an appt today with an Oral Surgeon. At his dental appt a couple weeks ago the dentist noticed an "extra" adult tooth in the top front of his mouth. This tooth is facing the wrong direction (up towards his brain as opposed to pointing down into his mouth) so this tooth will never come in. Had they not taken an xray of that area (he was having pain up there) they would have never known it was there. So they referred us to an oral surgeon to see when/if it needed to be removed.
We went today and the oral surgeon actually believes looking at the xray that there are TWO extra teeth. What needs to happen though is he'll need to be put completely to sleep for them to take it out as they are in the bone requiring them to cut his upper palate open to get to them and remove them and then stitch his palate back shut. The oral surgeon thinks we should do the procedure sooner rather than later because he's afraid the extra teeth are preventing the adult teeth from coming in. He's also afraid the extra teeth COULD be fused to the adult teeth. If that is the case Austin would have to lose both adult front top teeth.
Not sure what would happen if that is the case. Hoping for best case scenerio right now and just that they go in, take out the extra tooth/teeth, and no issues come up.
We'll go in on March 17th and they will give Austin some nitrous. Then insert an IV to put him to sleep and do the procedure and then he'll be in the recovery room for 30-45 min and then come home. He'll have to miss 2 days of school. I scheduled the appt on a Thursday so that he would be home thursday and friday from school but it would still give him an additional 2 days to recoup. I also got a prescription for pain meds and an antibiotic for him to use after the procedure.
I think I'm more nervous then anything. He's completely and totally excited about it. The oral surgeon told him he will need to miss 2 days of school, eat ice cream and pudding and jello that first day and play video games or watch movies all day. That sold him! LOL
I'm gonna leave him being excited about it, because hopefully that will help the start of the procedure anyway. But I know what kind of pain he's going to be in afterwards (I had all 4 wisdom teeth out and had to be put completely to sleep because they were completely in the bone and not going to come in). So I am NOT looking forward to his recovery. I'm going to ask my MIL to come down and stay that weekend (thurs-sun) because Roy has already said he'd rather not take off work and I NEED someone to get the other boys off to school and stuff when I take him.
Never a dull moment huh?!
We went today and the oral surgeon actually believes looking at the xray that there are TWO extra teeth. What needs to happen though is he'll need to be put completely to sleep for them to take it out as they are in the bone requiring them to cut his upper palate open to get to them and remove them and then stitch his palate back shut. The oral surgeon thinks we should do the procedure sooner rather than later because he's afraid the extra teeth are preventing the adult teeth from coming in. He's also afraid the extra teeth COULD be fused to the adult teeth. If that is the case Austin would have to lose both adult front top teeth.
Not sure what would happen if that is the case. Hoping for best case scenerio right now and just that they go in, take out the extra tooth/teeth, and no issues come up.
We'll go in on March 17th and they will give Austin some nitrous. Then insert an IV to put him to sleep and do the procedure and then he'll be in the recovery room for 30-45 min and then come home. He'll have to miss 2 days of school. I scheduled the appt on a Thursday so that he would be home thursday and friday from school but it would still give him an additional 2 days to recoup. I also got a prescription for pain meds and an antibiotic for him to use after the procedure.
I think I'm more nervous then anything. He's completely and totally excited about it. The oral surgeon told him he will need to miss 2 days of school, eat ice cream and pudding and jello that first day and play video games or watch movies all day. That sold him! LOL
I'm gonna leave him being excited about it, because hopefully that will help the start of the procedure anyway. But I know what kind of pain he's going to be in afterwards (I had all 4 wisdom teeth out and had to be put completely to sleep because they were completely in the bone and not going to come in). So I am NOT looking forward to his recovery. I'm going to ask my MIL to come down and stay that weekend (thurs-sun) because Roy has already said he'd rather not take off work and I NEED someone to get the other boys off to school and stuff when I take him.
Never a dull moment huh?!
Monday, February 14, 2011
You know it's bad when...
You know it's bad when you have to read your last entry just to figure out what you have or have not told yet!
So after that last entry two days later Andrew started having another breathing episode. Another one where it scared me that he couldn't breathe. I called the new pediatrician and she told me to bring him right in. I called Roy and told him I needed him on standby incase I couldn't be at the boys' school in time to pick them up and off I went to the doc with Andrew and Avery.
She listened to his lungs again and said he was definitely noisy and having trouble. She said his breathing rate was up again and with the way he was crying she felt it was time to take the next step. She set him up with a breathing treatment right there in the office. She warned me that he would probably hate it and would most likely scream the entire time. We put the mask on him and turned the machine on and he suddenly went calm and still. So calm in fact that he fell asleep! After the treatment was over she told me "that's how you know that he needed the treatment. It helped so much he fell asleep!" She listened to his lungs again and said it was nice and smooth now. She sent me home with a nebulizer, a prescription for Albuterol (enough for 4 months!) and a prescription for prednisone (steriod). Told me to give him a treatment every 4 hours for a couple days, and give him the steriod too.
She called me this morning to check on him and told me that RSV can last up to 6 weeks and even longer in a baby with lung issues to begin with. She said to stop the breathing treatments and now only use them when I felt he needed them.
He seems to be breathing better that's for sure. He's still really congested in his nose though.
Spring's right around the corner right?!
The boys all had their Valentine Parties at school today. I felt bad because I emailed Avery's teacher to see if Parents could come to the party and got a response saying
"well we're going to do valentine's at circle time and IF Willow's mom shows and IF she brings the cookies we'll decorate cookies at 11am."
Well to me it didn't sound like parents were going, so I didn't go up to the school. When I went to pick Avery up I was sitting outside the school saying to myself "wow I can't believe no parents are here yet!" And when the door opened and they started coming out I thought "I'm the only parent here so far still." Until I realized the kids were coming out WITH their parents!!! UGH! I felt HORRIBLE! I couldn't believe I didn't go to Avery's party because I didn't think parents were going and then parents DID go! I'm sure Avery didn't care. I mean he didn't say anything to me, but I knew it ya know?! UGH!
Went this afternoon to the other Elementary School to attend Aidan and Austin's Valentine's Parties. Their parties were from 3-3:45pm. I had Roy come home and watch Avery and Andrew since siblings aren't allowed in their school. Again I felt bad because I had to split the time between both boys. So of course when I went to Aidan's class from Austin's class I got the "where WERE you?!" and vice versa. Only nice thing was I was able to bring the boys home at 3:40 when I left instead of having to wait till 3:55 when they get out, so I beat all the after school traffic.
My boys have 1/2 days wednesday and thursday and no school Friday or Monday so I made plans for us to go to my mother in laws on Thursday after school. I'll drive us up there (since Roy has to work Thursday and Friday) and I'll stay there till Friday afternoon at some point. The 3 older boys will come home Monday at some point. I figure this way she'll get to see Andrew for a little bit since it's been a while since she's seen him. And the 3 older boys will get some time away from having to share the spotlight with Andrew.
We're thinking about moving Aidan into the toy room in the basement. Of course we'd take the toys out of there and everything, but with him turning 9 tomorrow (OMG is he seriously turning 9 tomorrow?!?) we feel like he deserves his own space. Him and Austin have really been fighting like cats and dogs lately and maybe not having to share a room together will help that situation some. It just makes me nervous him being on a different floor than us at night.
Alright it's almost midnight...I'm off to bed.
So after that last entry two days later Andrew started having another breathing episode. Another one where it scared me that he couldn't breathe. I called the new pediatrician and she told me to bring him right in. I called Roy and told him I needed him on standby incase I couldn't be at the boys' school in time to pick them up and off I went to the doc with Andrew and Avery.
She listened to his lungs again and said he was definitely noisy and having trouble. She said his breathing rate was up again and with the way he was crying she felt it was time to take the next step. She set him up with a breathing treatment right there in the office. She warned me that he would probably hate it and would most likely scream the entire time. We put the mask on him and turned the machine on and he suddenly went calm and still. So calm in fact that he fell asleep! After the treatment was over she told me "that's how you know that he needed the treatment. It helped so much he fell asleep!" She listened to his lungs again and said it was nice and smooth now. She sent me home with a nebulizer, a prescription for Albuterol (enough for 4 months!) and a prescription for prednisone (steriod). Told me to give him a treatment every 4 hours for a couple days, and give him the steriod too.
She called me this morning to check on him and told me that RSV can last up to 6 weeks and even longer in a baby with lung issues to begin with. She said to stop the breathing treatments and now only use them when I felt he needed them.
He seems to be breathing better that's for sure. He's still really congested in his nose though.
Spring's right around the corner right?!
The boys all had their Valentine Parties at school today. I felt bad because I emailed Avery's teacher to see if Parents could come to the party and got a response saying
"well we're going to do valentine's at circle time and IF Willow's mom shows and IF she brings the cookies we'll decorate cookies at 11am."
Well to me it didn't sound like parents were going, so I didn't go up to the school. When I went to pick Avery up I was sitting outside the school saying to myself "wow I can't believe no parents are here yet!" And when the door opened and they started coming out I thought "I'm the only parent here so far still." Until I realized the kids were coming out WITH their parents!!! UGH! I felt HORRIBLE! I couldn't believe I didn't go to Avery's party because I didn't think parents were going and then parents DID go! I'm sure Avery didn't care. I mean he didn't say anything to me, but I knew it ya know?! UGH!
Went this afternoon to the other Elementary School to attend Aidan and Austin's Valentine's Parties. Their parties were from 3-3:45pm. I had Roy come home and watch Avery and Andrew since siblings aren't allowed in their school. Again I felt bad because I had to split the time between both boys. So of course when I went to Aidan's class from Austin's class I got the "where WERE you?!" and vice versa. Only nice thing was I was able to bring the boys home at 3:40 when I left instead of having to wait till 3:55 when they get out, so I beat all the after school traffic.
My boys have 1/2 days wednesday and thursday and no school Friday or Monday so I made plans for us to go to my mother in laws on Thursday after school. I'll drive us up there (since Roy has to work Thursday and Friday) and I'll stay there till Friday afternoon at some point. The 3 older boys will come home Monday at some point. I figure this way she'll get to see Andrew for a little bit since it's been a while since she's seen him. And the 3 older boys will get some time away from having to share the spotlight with Andrew.
We're thinking about moving Aidan into the toy room in the basement. Of course we'd take the toys out of there and everything, but with him turning 9 tomorrow (OMG is he seriously turning 9 tomorrow?!?) we feel like he deserves his own space. Him and Austin have really been fighting like cats and dogs lately and maybe not having to share a room together will help that situation some. It just makes me nervous him being on a different floor than us at night.
Alright it's almost midnight...I'm off to bed.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Letters of Intent Friday!
It's time for a few "letters of intent" today! It's been a while since I've done an entry like this! I'm linking up with Foursons for my letters today!
Dear Old Pediatrician,
After hearing you tell me "let it run it's course" for over 3 weeks I had my 2 month old seen by a different pediatrician. It was then that he was diagnosed with RSV and Bronchialitis. That was your last straw. We will now be seeing the new pediatrician.
Goodbye!
The lady who is sick of feeling like she's going crazy when she calls you and is told nothing is wrong.
Dear Preschool Teacher:
It's been 2 weeks and I'm still upset About Avery having his snack taken away for "not saying Hi to his friends". When a child has a communication disorder like Apraxia the last thing you should do is take away his snack for not talking. Don't let me hear that it happened again, or there will be hell to pay.
Signed,
A mother you don't wanna mess with
Dear Refridgerator repairman:
Seriously where do you get off telling a mom of 4 boys that I don't know true love until a daughter climbs up in your lap and says "I love you." I guarantee you that it's pretty much the same as when one of my boys do it, just in a higher pitch voice.
Jerk!
Signed the woman who has to pay your invoice so I'd watch your mouth.
To read more "letters of intent" Click the picture at the top of this entry!!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
New Pediatrician and a Cardiologist update
So I switched the kids to a new pediatrician. I researched and researched and looked for a pediatrician who is a small office. I'm sick of the offices that have 9 doctors and 4 nurses plus a whole office staff. I feel like we don't get any kind of personalized care. They kept telling me to "let it run it's course" with Andrew and then look what happened. They told me they only vaccinate their way, and there was no way around that.
So I found this pediatrician nearby (closer than the other office!) and set up a consultation with her. I saw her and she looked at Andrew the very same day. Gave me meds for him and talked to me. I set up his 2 month well check (although 2 weeks late!) with her. I took him yesterday for his 2 month well visit.
12lbs 12oz and 21 1/3 inches long. His head was 17cm and she asked me about any concerns I had about him. I told her about the congestion that he STILL has and she agreed with me that it's still all in his nose and at least for now his lungs and everything sound much better and are clear. She said that RSV can last up to 6 weeks so she wants to give him 2 more weeks to try to clear up. If he's not better then, then we'll talk more. She mentioned how she looked in his nose to see if the boys might have put a bead or something in there. I can promise you they did NOT. First of all we don't have any beads or anything small enough to put in his nose. Second of all I pay way to close of attention to them when they are with Andrew for that to happen. She didn't see anything in his nose (told ya!) and said maybe because he has such a small nasal passageway it's causing him to remain congested.
She asked me what we were doing about vaccinations and I told her we wanted to follow the delayed vaccination schedule and without even blinking an eye she said "no problem." and went to the front desk and grabbed the delayed schedule and showed me it to see if it was the one I wanted to follow. It was, and she stapled it to his chart. She said "Today he'll get the DTAP then!" and I said "and the rotavirus right?" She then told me that she doesn't give the rotavirus vaccine. She said she has found that the risks outweigh the benefits in that vaccine. She went on to say that everyone gets rotavirus and even with the vaccine you still get the virus. She said that they feel that we have great access to medical care with her and the hospital and urgent care that the risk of the children getting dehydrated with the virus are very minimal. She said that most children get a gastrointestinal effect from the vaccine and they just don't feel it's worth it.
Fine by me! So Andrew got his DTAP and will go back next month for 2 more vaccines. He'll be seen monthly basically with every other month just being a vaccine appt. He'll only get 1-2 vaccines at a time. Which is exactly what I wanted.
And now he's crying so I gotta go!
**
Ok back....I also went back to the cardiologist last week. They ran another EKG and told me my ECHO that I had done a few weeks before didn't show anything. Everything looked normal on it. The only thing they say was some "gurgling" or something or other in some part of my heart. I asked what that meant and she said "it's basically heartburn" But because I was only a week out of having Andrew she wasn't concerned because I had HORRIBLE heartburn at the end of the pregnancy. She will re-do the ECHO in 6 months to see if it's gone away completely. I was told I'd get a call the next day with the results from the EKG they ran. I never did get that phone call. It took them a full week to call me back. When they called back she said "Everything looks normal" I said "so the extended QT is gone?" And she said "Everything is normal". Why don't I trust them?! Roy says that they have to be telling the truth or it could be a lawsuit. But I still don't trust them. Nothing I can do though. So as of right now it looks like everything was caused by the pregnancy and the fluid retention afterwards.
So I found this pediatrician nearby (closer than the other office!) and set up a consultation with her. I saw her and she looked at Andrew the very same day. Gave me meds for him and talked to me. I set up his 2 month well check (although 2 weeks late!) with her. I took him yesterday for his 2 month well visit.
12lbs 12oz and 21 1/3 inches long. His head was 17cm and she asked me about any concerns I had about him. I told her about the congestion that he STILL has and she agreed with me that it's still all in his nose and at least for now his lungs and everything sound much better and are clear. She said that RSV can last up to 6 weeks so she wants to give him 2 more weeks to try to clear up. If he's not better then, then we'll talk more. She mentioned how she looked in his nose to see if the boys might have put a bead or something in there. I can promise you they did NOT. First of all we don't have any beads or anything small enough to put in his nose. Second of all I pay way to close of attention to them when they are with Andrew for that to happen. She didn't see anything in his nose (told ya!) and said maybe because he has such a small nasal passageway it's causing him to remain congested.
She asked me what we were doing about vaccinations and I told her we wanted to follow the delayed vaccination schedule and without even blinking an eye she said "no problem." and went to the front desk and grabbed the delayed schedule and showed me it to see if it was the one I wanted to follow. It was, and she stapled it to his chart. She said "Today he'll get the DTAP then!" and I said "and the rotavirus right?" She then told me that she doesn't give the rotavirus vaccine. She said she has found that the risks outweigh the benefits in that vaccine. She went on to say that everyone gets rotavirus and even with the vaccine you still get the virus. She said that they feel that we have great access to medical care with her and the hospital and urgent care that the risk of the children getting dehydrated with the virus are very minimal. She said that most children get a gastrointestinal effect from the vaccine and they just don't feel it's worth it.
Fine by me! So Andrew got his DTAP and will go back next month for 2 more vaccines. He'll be seen monthly basically with every other month just being a vaccine appt. He'll only get 1-2 vaccines at a time. Which is exactly what I wanted.
And now he's crying so I gotta go!
**
Ok back....I also went back to the cardiologist last week. They ran another EKG and told me my ECHO that I had done a few weeks before didn't show anything. Everything looked normal on it. The only thing they say was some "gurgling" or something or other in some part of my heart. I asked what that meant and she said "it's basically heartburn" But because I was only a week out of having Andrew she wasn't concerned because I had HORRIBLE heartburn at the end of the pregnancy. She will re-do the ECHO in 6 months to see if it's gone away completely. I was told I'd get a call the next day with the results from the EKG they ran. I never did get that phone call. It took them a full week to call me back. When they called back she said "Everything looks normal" I said "so the extended QT is gone?" And she said "Everything is normal". Why don't I trust them?! Roy says that they have to be telling the truth or it could be a lawsuit. But I still don't trust them. Nothing I can do though. So as of right now it looks like everything was caused by the pregnancy and the fluid retention afterwards.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Thursday, December 9, 2010
A Rough Start
So Andrew is 2 1/2 weeks old now. He's been home for a week and a half! Seems like he's been here a lot longer though.
We've had quite the rough start though. First his whole NICU stay. Then it took a lot longer than usual for me to feel "back to myself" after the c-section. The doctor said it was because I spent the first week of my recovery back and forth to and from the NICU instead of recovering at home. Ended up back at the doctor due to swelling in my legs and a pain in my calf. After that appt I ended up in the ER because they were afraid I had a blood clot in my leg. No blood clot, but the ER found something wrong with my heart. Seems my heart rate is extremely low. By low I mean instead of the average 79 beats a minute, my heart is beating at 38 beats a minute. They haven't been able to find a blood pressure on me. When they do find one it's extremely low at 96/70 or something like that. ER ran a bunch of tests and everything came back fine. I was then referred to a cardiologist. The cardiologist wanted to put me on a heart monitor for 24 hours and do an Echocardiograham. They also did an EKG on me too. During the EKG they found an extended QT interval. I did the 24 hour heart monitor and when I went back to turn it in they did the Echo on me.
I got a phone call this morning saying they couldn't get anything off of the 24 hour monitor because there was to much "interference". I went back this afternoon to have a new 24 hour monitor put on and was then told that they couldn't do another 24 hour monitor because it was the breastfeeding that was causing the interference. They talked to the doctor to see if there was another monitor they could put on me. They said that me lifting the netting on the monitor to nurse Andrew and my milk coming in caused the interference. They asked if I had thought about not nursing. I told her "the baby is only 2 weeks old." At that point I was told until I stop nursing there wasn't anything they could do. They told me to call back when I stop nursing to have a new monitor put on. Until then "if you experience any symptoms of heart problems go straight to the ER"
I know my health is more important than breastfeeding Andrew, but he's only 2 weeks old!
*sigh*
I'm really having a rough start here. I'm sure Andrew senses it too cause he's been crying constantly the last few days. I'm up every hour and a half to 2 hours with him at night and still getting up to get the boys off to school even though my mother in law has been here helping out. She's doing all the running around taking them to and from school and cleaning and cooking and everything, but I just feel like I'm not getting any breaks.
My Mother in law leaves Saturday morning and in one sense I'm looking forward to getting into our own routine and figuring things out on my own. On the other hand I just don't know how I'm gonna handle it all on my own.
I feel like the world is leaving me behind. I haven't had time to get online lately and it's almost like no one calls me anymore "just to talk".
I know this entry sounds like I'm depressed or have a touch of the "baby blues" but I promise I don't. I'm just trying to find my way with all this stuff going on.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
My NICU baby
So after what seemed like an eternal wait Andrew Jacob was born on Friday November 19th 2010 at 1:45pm.
The c-section went well. We are glad that we had the baseball team of specialists in the OR as I did have a lot of scar tissue and I did have a lot of adhesions. I had signed the papers to agree to a tubal while in the OR but it didn't matter anyway as they were not able to get to my tubes. The doctor said there was to much scar tissue and because Roy has had a vasectomy already he had told me beforehand that he would just do the tubal if it was easy to do. He wasn't going to add any risks to me or fight his way in there. He told me after the c-section that he basically just did what he had to do. He got me open, got to my uterus, got Andrew out and closed me up. He said that was the most important thing and he wasn't going to add any risks to me without needing to. I was SO happy that things went so well.
Going into this c-section I was SO scared. I knew the risks, I knew what could very possibly go wrong. Before I went in I made sure I had kissed my kids and told them I loved them. I made sure I told Roy what to do if something happened to me. I was just very nervous and everything about this c-section. So when I was on the table and they said they were done and were closing me up I started tearing up.
We joked during the entire c-section about how everyone was to yell "It's a GIRL!" when Andrew was born even though he was a boy. I told my doc that I'd never heard that said during a c-section and I wanted to know what it sounded like. LMAO One of the nurses told me she was going to tell me "Surprise it's triplets!" I told her "that's fine as long as at least one of them is a girl!" LOL
When Andrew was born my doctor said "ok here you go, even though it's not true...."It's a girl!" LMAO! The other specialist was like "OMG is it really?! I didn't see what it was when we pulled the baby out!" And we all said at the same time "Nope sorry to disappoint you, but it's a boy." LOL
Andrew came out screaming. I listened to him crying for a minute and listened as the nurse's said how HUGE he was, then listened as they said how small he was. I was telling Roy I didn't understand. One of the nurses came over to me and said they were bringing the NICU team in to take a look at him and my face must have dropped because she looked me in the eyes and said "I'm calm, you're calm." "you don't see me running around do you?" "You don't see him being rushed out of here. The longer he stays in here the better!" And I just started crying and nodding my head.
I saw them wheel an incubator by my head and started saying to Roy "what's wrong with him? what's going on?" and Roy told me he didn't know that he couldn't see the baby because there was to many nurses around him. The nurse came back over to me and told me that they were going to take the baby to the NICU as he was having some trouble breathing. She said they would bring him over to me and let me see him first but that the NICU team thinks he's actually a lot younger than we think he is. I asked what that meant and she said my chart showed me as 39 weeks, but the NICU team thinks Andrew is closer to 35-36 weeks. He was having trouble breathing and that his "features" were premature even though he was 8lbs 4oz. When they brought him over to me I could immediately see what they were talking about. Although he was a good size baby his face just seemed a lot smaller. He had lots of wrinkly skin and just looked tiny.
I went into recovery and my dad and stepmom came in and I started telling them what was going on. We said how much sense that makes because the amnio had come back SO immature that we were questioning it. I had asked my OB "could something be wrong? It doesn't make sense for the levels to be SO low this late in pregnancy." Well it DOES make sense if I was actually only 31-32 weeks along at the amnio instead of the 36 we though I was.
Andrew has been in the NICU since.he had to be intubated and put on a ventilator. He has been given two doses of surfactant and was requiring pretty significant help breathing.
Let me tell you it has been the hardest thing I've gone though EVER I think. I've broken down more times in the last 4 days than I've done my entire life. Just seeing another baby being wheeled into the room next to me was enough for me to break down. A nurse walking into my room and asking where my baby was would cause me to start crying. I told Roy "do you realize how hard it is to hear a baby crying in the room next to you and knowing your baby isn't with you?" Just looking at Andrew with all the tubes and wires all over him just caused me to break on more than one occasion.
Andrew received his second dose of surfactant (which required him to be intubated again to do) and has gotten a spinal tap to check for menengitis, and a head ultrasound to check for brain bleeds. He had an umbilical line placed to be able to draw blood for blood gas level checking without having to poke him a million times each day. He was put on an IV to give him vitamins and minerals. He had a feeding tube placed to be able to remove fluid and air from him belly (which gets there due to the oxygen they have him on). He is now on a CPAP machine and making tons of progress. If you're on my facebook you already know all the nitty gritty details. If you aren't on my facebook go ahead and add me to find out! You can find my facebook on the front page of my diary.
It's now 5am and I just finished pumping. I am home now, without Andrew. And again it's been SO difficult. But I just keep telling myself "he'll be home soon."
I wish I knew who to "blame" for all this. But then I tell myself "having someone to blame isn't going to do anything to help Andrew." Roy keeps saying if Andrew IS only 35-36 weeks and was 8lbs 4oz he almost certainly would have ruptured me if I had gone full term.
SO I'm gonna end this now and just ask for any thoughts and prayers as we continue our NICU journey and pray that Andrew can come home soon and be with us like it should be.
That last pic was taken during the rare 5 minutes they remove all the tubes and wires to rub him.
The c-section went well. We are glad that we had the baseball team of specialists in the OR as I did have a lot of scar tissue and I did have a lot of adhesions. I had signed the papers to agree to a tubal while in the OR but it didn't matter anyway as they were not able to get to my tubes. The doctor said there was to much scar tissue and because Roy has had a vasectomy already he had told me beforehand that he would just do the tubal if it was easy to do. He wasn't going to add any risks to me or fight his way in there. He told me after the c-section that he basically just did what he had to do. He got me open, got to my uterus, got Andrew out and closed me up. He said that was the most important thing and he wasn't going to add any risks to me without needing to. I was SO happy that things went so well.
Going into this c-section I was SO scared. I knew the risks, I knew what could very possibly go wrong. Before I went in I made sure I had kissed my kids and told them I loved them. I made sure I told Roy what to do if something happened to me. I was just very nervous and everything about this c-section. So when I was on the table and they said they were done and were closing me up I started tearing up.
We joked during the entire c-section about how everyone was to yell "It's a GIRL!" when Andrew was born even though he was a boy. I told my doc that I'd never heard that said during a c-section and I wanted to know what it sounded like. LMAO One of the nurses told me she was going to tell me "Surprise it's triplets!" I told her "that's fine as long as at least one of them is a girl!" LOL
When Andrew was born my doctor said "ok here you go, even though it's not true...."It's a girl!" LMAO! The other specialist was like "OMG is it really?! I didn't see what it was when we pulled the baby out!" And we all said at the same time "Nope sorry to disappoint you, but it's a boy." LOL
Andrew came out screaming. I listened to him crying for a minute and listened as the nurse's said how HUGE he was, then listened as they said how small he was. I was telling Roy I didn't understand. One of the nurses came over to me and said they were bringing the NICU team in to take a look at him and my face must have dropped because she looked me in the eyes and said "I'm calm, you're calm." "you don't see me running around do you?" "You don't see him being rushed out of here. The longer he stays in here the better!" And I just started crying and nodding my head.
I saw them wheel an incubator by my head and started saying to Roy "what's wrong with him? what's going on?" and Roy told me he didn't know that he couldn't see the baby because there was to many nurses around him. The nurse came back over to me and told me that they were going to take the baby to the NICU as he was having some trouble breathing. She said they would bring him over to me and let me see him first but that the NICU team thinks he's actually a lot younger than we think he is. I asked what that meant and she said my chart showed me as 39 weeks, but the NICU team thinks Andrew is closer to 35-36 weeks. He was having trouble breathing and that his "features" were premature even though he was 8lbs 4oz. When they brought him over to me I could immediately see what they were talking about. Although he was a good size baby his face just seemed a lot smaller. He had lots of wrinkly skin and just looked tiny.
I went into recovery and my dad and stepmom came in and I started telling them what was going on. We said how much sense that makes because the amnio had come back SO immature that we were questioning it. I had asked my OB "could something be wrong? It doesn't make sense for the levels to be SO low this late in pregnancy." Well it DOES make sense if I was actually only 31-32 weeks along at the amnio instead of the 36 we though I was.
Andrew has been in the NICU since.he had to be intubated and put on a ventilator. He has been given two doses of surfactant and was requiring pretty significant help breathing.
Let me tell you it has been the hardest thing I've gone though EVER I think. I've broken down more times in the last 4 days than I've done my entire life. Just seeing another baby being wheeled into the room next to me was enough for me to break down. A nurse walking into my room and asking where my baby was would cause me to start crying. I told Roy "do you realize how hard it is to hear a baby crying in the room next to you and knowing your baby isn't with you?" Just looking at Andrew with all the tubes and wires all over him just caused me to break on more than one occasion.
Andrew received his second dose of surfactant (which required him to be intubated again to do) and has gotten a spinal tap to check for menengitis, and a head ultrasound to check for brain bleeds. He had an umbilical line placed to be able to draw blood for blood gas level checking without having to poke him a million times each day. He was put on an IV to give him vitamins and minerals. He had a feeding tube placed to be able to remove fluid and air from him belly (which gets there due to the oxygen they have him on). He is now on a CPAP machine and making tons of progress. If you're on my facebook you already know all the nitty gritty details. If you aren't on my facebook go ahead and add me to find out! You can find my facebook on the front page of my diary.
It's now 5am and I just finished pumping. I am home now, without Andrew. And again it's been SO difficult. But I just keep telling myself "he'll be home soon."
I wish I knew who to "blame" for all this. But then I tell myself "having someone to blame isn't going to do anything to help Andrew." Roy keeps saying if Andrew IS only 35-36 weeks and was 8lbs 4oz he almost certainly would have ruptured me if I had gone full term.
SO I'm gonna end this now and just ask for any thoughts and prayers as we continue our NICU journey and pray that Andrew can come home soon and be with us like it should be.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
It was a "no go".
So Monday morning I woke up and got all the boys off to school. My husband had taken off work that day to be able to attend my son's "pumpkin run" at school and also because of my amnio that afternoon to check on the lung maturity of the baby. If his lungs were ready we were scheduled to deliver Tuesday afternoon.
After taking the boys to school, hubby and I went to Target and I got 2 new nursing bras and 1 new nursing tank top. We then went to Costco and got a couple items. After that we came home and I sat down at the computer and got on facebook. My Mother in law called then and I was talking to her and all of the sudden I went "OH CRAP!!!!" My husband came running out of the bedroom and I looked at him and said "Aidan's pumpkin run!!" I looked at the clock and it said "11:06". My son's pumpkin run was from 10:45-11:45am. I don't know why or how but somehow I had COMPLETELY forgotten about it! We talked about it all weekend, hubby stayed home to go, my son had said to us that morning how excited he was that we were gonna be there and now we had forgotten! We jumped in the car and I thanked the heavens above that we live literally 2 blocks from the school. We got to the school and got out of the car JUST in time to see him run by us. We yelled "Go Aidan!!" and he looked over and smiled and started running as fast as he could. We walked up the field and saw him cross the finish line. He came over to us all out of breath and told us he had gotten 116 "points" but didn't know what place he was. He said over and over "thank you for coming to cheer me on!" Talk about guilt!! I was SO upset that I had forgotten. He then went inside and I looked at my husband and said "Are you serious?? We got here just in time to see him cross the finish line and now I have to walk all the way back to the car?!"
We got back home and I sat back down and called my mother in law back. My husband left to go to the gym. A little bit later I look at the clock and it said "11:49" "OH MY GOD!!!" I have to pick up Avery at 11:50 from preschool!! What in the world was up with me?!? I jumped up and took off out of here and thanked the stars above AGAIN that we live SO close to his preschool too! Got to the preschool and got out of the car as the front doors opened and the teacher walked them out. Seriously, what else was I gonna forget that day??
Got home and fed Avery some lunch and folded some laundry while talking to my sister on the phone. My dad showed up at 1:45 to watch Avery and he was also going to pick up my older two boys from school while I was at the amnio.
Hubby and I left the house and headed to the hospital for my appt. When we got there and we were called back my heart was pounding. I seriously didn't know what to expect and all I could think about was how I wonder what the chances are that his lungs are mature at 36 weeks. They did an ultrasound first and measured him and guesstimated his weight at 7lbs. They then decided the best place to "go in" was at the very top of my stomach right under my boobs. Since the baby is taking up SO much room in my belly this was the one spot where there was a pocket of fluid (between his legs) where they felt they weren't gonna risk him moving and sticking him with the needle. They covered my belly in iodine, put sterile drapes around my belly and told me "don't touch anything!" At that point there I closed my eyes (I was told not to look at the needle by multiple people who had amnio's before!). She said "a little pinch" and I felt the pinch of the needle. That didn't hurt. I'm used to needles and they don't bother me. But with an amnio I kind of describe it like an IV. First the needle goes in, but then they remove the needle and it's a little catheder type straw that is what they suck the fluid out with. The needle didn't bother me. When they were pushing the straw threw my belly is when it bothered me. Not really "painful" but definitely not comfortable. I could feel myself tensing up and just kept repeating "relax it will hurt less." 30 seconds later the procedure was complete and she showed me the fluid they had taken out. I was then taken to another room and put on monitors for an hour to make sure I didn't go into labor and the baby tolerated the procedure well. I was told I'd have results that evening and the nurse said if I didn't hear by 9pm to call the doctor on call.
We went home and I spent the rest of the evening just waiting for the phone to ring. I am SO not good at the waiting game! At 9pm I STILL hadn't heard anything so I called the answering service at my OB's office. The doctor on call ended up calling me back and of course the doc on call is one that I have NOT liked the entire pregnancy. The first thing she said to me was "you are so impatient". Excuse me?!! My procedure was at 2pm and it was now 9pm! I was TOLD to call by 9pm if I hadn't heard, I don't think I'm impatient at all! She then told me she had just gotten the results back and they came back "immature" she said "I was going to talk to the other specialist but since you're so impatient I called you first. At this point I do not think you should have your cesearean tomorrow."
I hung up with her and cried. I cried because I am SO uncomfortable. I cried because she was SO rude to me. I cried because I just had this feeling he wasn't going to be ready. I just cried.
Tuesday morning I woke up and prepared to go to my regularly scheduled OB appt. Before I left I got a phone call from my regular OB. She said she was "so disappointed". I said "you are!?!" and she laughed and said "well disappointed for YOU!" She then told me not only did it come back immature, but it came back "VERY immature." She said a typical maturity level is 55 and his was a level 6! She said "at this point here we don't even think we should deliver you NEXT week! I think we need to wait till 38 weeks." She said she needed to talk to the whole baseball team of specialists they have scheduled to be in the OR and we would see if we could schedule everyone for either the 16th or 17th.
Again I just felt crushed. Now not only was I not having my baby that day, but I wasn't even going to have relief in a week! I mean don't get me wrong, I don't want him born if he isn't ready, or if he's going to have problems, but I am in SO much pain!
But I'll suffer another 2 weeks to make sure I have a healthy baby.
After taking the boys to school, hubby and I went to Target and I got 2 new nursing bras and 1 new nursing tank top. We then went to Costco and got a couple items. After that we came home and I sat down at the computer and got on facebook. My Mother in law called then and I was talking to her and all of the sudden I went "OH CRAP!!!!" My husband came running out of the bedroom and I looked at him and said "Aidan's pumpkin run!!" I looked at the clock and it said "11:06". My son's pumpkin run was from 10:45-11:45am. I don't know why or how but somehow I had COMPLETELY forgotten about it! We talked about it all weekend, hubby stayed home to go, my son had said to us that morning how excited he was that we were gonna be there and now we had forgotten! We jumped in the car and I thanked the heavens above that we live literally 2 blocks from the school. We got to the school and got out of the car JUST in time to see him run by us. We yelled "Go Aidan!!" and he looked over and smiled and started running as fast as he could. We walked up the field and saw him cross the finish line. He came over to us all out of breath and told us he had gotten 116 "points" but didn't know what place he was. He said over and over "thank you for coming to cheer me on!" Talk about guilt!! I was SO upset that I had forgotten. He then went inside and I looked at my husband and said "Are you serious?? We got here just in time to see him cross the finish line and now I have to walk all the way back to the car?!"
We got back home and I sat back down and called my mother in law back. My husband left to go to the gym. A little bit later I look at the clock and it said "11:49" "OH MY GOD!!!" I have to pick up Avery at 11:50 from preschool!! What in the world was up with me?!? I jumped up and took off out of here and thanked the stars above AGAIN that we live SO close to his preschool too! Got to the preschool and got out of the car as the front doors opened and the teacher walked them out. Seriously, what else was I gonna forget that day??
Got home and fed Avery some lunch and folded some laundry while talking to my sister on the phone. My dad showed up at 1:45 to watch Avery and he was also going to pick up my older two boys from school while I was at the amnio.
Hubby and I left the house and headed to the hospital for my appt. When we got there and we were called back my heart was pounding. I seriously didn't know what to expect and all I could think about was how I wonder what the chances are that his lungs are mature at 36 weeks. They did an ultrasound first and measured him and guesstimated his weight at 7lbs. They then decided the best place to "go in" was at the very top of my stomach right under my boobs. Since the baby is taking up SO much room in my belly this was the one spot where there was a pocket of fluid (between his legs) where they felt they weren't gonna risk him moving and sticking him with the needle. They covered my belly in iodine, put sterile drapes around my belly and told me "don't touch anything!" At that point there I closed my eyes (I was told not to look at the needle by multiple people who had amnio's before!). She said "a little pinch" and I felt the pinch of the needle. That didn't hurt. I'm used to needles and they don't bother me. But with an amnio I kind of describe it like an IV. First the needle goes in, but then they remove the needle and it's a little catheder type straw that is what they suck the fluid out with. The needle didn't bother me. When they were pushing the straw threw my belly is when it bothered me. Not really "painful" but definitely not comfortable. I could feel myself tensing up and just kept repeating "relax it will hurt less." 30 seconds later the procedure was complete and she showed me the fluid they had taken out. I was then taken to another room and put on monitors for an hour to make sure I didn't go into labor and the baby tolerated the procedure well. I was told I'd have results that evening and the nurse said if I didn't hear by 9pm to call the doctor on call.
We went home and I spent the rest of the evening just waiting for the phone to ring. I am SO not good at the waiting game! At 9pm I STILL hadn't heard anything so I called the answering service at my OB's office. The doctor on call ended up calling me back and of course the doc on call is one that I have NOT liked the entire pregnancy. The first thing she said to me was "you are so impatient". Excuse me?!! My procedure was at 2pm and it was now 9pm! I was TOLD to call by 9pm if I hadn't heard, I don't think I'm impatient at all! She then told me she had just gotten the results back and they came back "immature" she said "I was going to talk to the other specialist but since you're so impatient I called you first. At this point I do not think you should have your cesearean tomorrow."
I hung up with her and cried. I cried because I am SO uncomfortable. I cried because she was SO rude to me. I cried because I just had this feeling he wasn't going to be ready. I just cried.
Tuesday morning I woke up and prepared to go to my regularly scheduled OB appt. Before I left I got a phone call from my regular OB. She said she was "so disappointed". I said "you are!?!" and she laughed and said "well disappointed for YOU!" She then told me not only did it come back immature, but it came back "VERY immature." She said a typical maturity level is 55 and his was a level 6! She said "at this point here we don't even think we should deliver you NEXT week! I think we need to wait till 38 weeks." She said she needed to talk to the whole baseball team of specialists they have scheduled to be in the OR and we would see if we could schedule everyone for either the 16th or 17th.
Again I just felt crushed. Now not only was I not having my baby that day, but I wasn't even going to have relief in a week! I mean don't get me wrong, I don't want him born if he isn't ready, or if he's going to have problems, but I am in SO much pain!
But I'll suffer another 2 weeks to make sure I have a healthy baby.
Friday, October 29, 2010
It's an update on my other boys!
Ok so in the last entry I updated you guys on the pregnancy/new baby. Now it's time to spend some time updating about my other 3 little men!
Aidan is enjoying 3rd grade. He's actually being sent to the 4th grade pod for math because he's been moved up to 4th grade math!! His teacher has nothing but praise for him whenever I talk to her. He's at the age though where he wants his own "space" and his own "privacy" and he spends a lot of the time telling us to ask Austin and Avery to leave him alone. I try to be understanding of that. I remember when I was his age and my sister and I shared a bedroom. We used to put actual duct tape across the carpet on our bedroom floor and did the whole "this is MY side and you can't come over here." As we got older we did more of that and even tried to hang sheets and stuff between our beds to give us our own rooms and everything. So I completely understand his feelings. At the same time though he ISN'T an only child and he DOES share his room. I can't tell Austin he needs to stay out of his own room, and I can't always make Austin leave wherever he is at because Aidan wants to be in the basement or watch TV by himself. It just doesn't work that way.
Austin is doing well in 1st grade. He's getting used to having homework. That took a while to get used to! LOL I finally have it now to where he comes in from school and immediately sits down at the table and does his homework at the same time that Aidan does HIS homework. It took a lot of doing though because he always told me he didn't have homework or he would "do it later". He seems to be a pretty popular boy at school! LOL Everytime we're walking through the halls or at a school function everyone seems to be yelling "Hi Austin!" he says Hi back and then I say "who was that?" and he'll shrug and go "I dunno, a 4th grader" or "oh he's in kindergarten" or whatever. I always say Austin is the typical "middle child" Nothing is ever "fair" and he gets great pleasure in picking on Avery. Tonight for example I gave Avery his 10 minute warning before bed and Avery decided to tell Austin "Aussie, 10 more minutes!" and Austin started yelling at Avery for talking to him or whatever. Avery started crying and Austin said "oh yay, Avery's crying!" It's kinda like Aidan picks on Austin so Austin has to pick on Avery. Totally to be expected, but also totally "middle child syndrome" LOL.
Avery is making a lot of progress finally! I think getting him back to school and back into Occupational therapy and regular speech therapy is really making a difference. He's also seeing a therapist for Anxiety and she's doing a lot of work with him on not only his anxiety but also getting him ready for the new baby. She's been also consulting with a behavioral therapist for potty training issues with him. He is finally really enjoying school and no longer screams bloody murder when I take him in the mornings. I recently had to drop his therapy from 3 days a week to 2 days a week. With all my OB appts and everything going on recently having to get ready for the baby and still take the other boys to and from school and other appts it was just getting to be to much. I dropped him back down to 2 days a week and said once the baby got here and we got into a routine we would talk about increasing it again. He really enjoys these therapists and I really like them so I think we've found a great place for him there. And he gets all of his therapy in the same place, so they all know what is going on and talk about his treatment so everyone is on the same page.
All 3 boys have their halloween parties at school today and their halloween parades too. All three of them have decided to be "ninja's" again this year (3rd year in a row!). I can't complain, those costumes are only 9.99 a piece and are really simple. Thankfully Avery's parade and party is in the morning and the older boys are in the afternoon, which makes it so I can attend all of them and no one gets "left out." I went yesterday and bought all the stuff the teachers had requested for their classroom parties so I could send them with the boys this morning. Saturday the boys have been invited to a halloween party in the afternoon and then sunday we'll be heading to my dad's house and spending the day and trick or treating with my sister and stepmom and dad.
Gonna be a busy weekend! Nothing new about that though!
What's your plans for halloween?
Aidan is enjoying 3rd grade. He's actually being sent to the 4th grade pod for math because he's been moved up to 4th grade math!! His teacher has nothing but praise for him whenever I talk to her. He's at the age though where he wants his own "space" and his own "privacy" and he spends a lot of the time telling us to ask Austin and Avery to leave him alone. I try to be understanding of that. I remember when I was his age and my sister and I shared a bedroom. We used to put actual duct tape across the carpet on our bedroom floor and did the whole "this is MY side and you can't come over here." As we got older we did more of that and even tried to hang sheets and stuff between our beds to give us our own rooms and everything. So I completely understand his feelings. At the same time though he ISN'T an only child and he DOES share his room. I can't tell Austin he needs to stay out of his own room, and I can't always make Austin leave wherever he is at because Aidan wants to be in the basement or watch TV by himself. It just doesn't work that way.
Austin is doing well in 1st grade. He's getting used to having homework. That took a while to get used to! LOL I finally have it now to where he comes in from school and immediately sits down at the table and does his homework at the same time that Aidan does HIS homework. It took a lot of doing though because he always told me he didn't have homework or he would "do it later". He seems to be a pretty popular boy at school! LOL Everytime we're walking through the halls or at a school function everyone seems to be yelling "Hi Austin!" he says Hi back and then I say "who was that?" and he'll shrug and go "I dunno, a 4th grader" or "oh he's in kindergarten" or whatever. I always say Austin is the typical "middle child" Nothing is ever "fair" and he gets great pleasure in picking on Avery. Tonight for example I gave Avery his 10 minute warning before bed and Avery decided to tell Austin "Aussie, 10 more minutes!" and Austin started yelling at Avery for talking to him or whatever. Avery started crying and Austin said "oh yay, Avery's crying!" It's kinda like Aidan picks on Austin so Austin has to pick on Avery. Totally to be expected, but also totally "middle child syndrome" LOL.
Avery is making a lot of progress finally! I think getting him back to school and back into Occupational therapy and regular speech therapy is really making a difference. He's also seeing a therapist for Anxiety and she's doing a lot of work with him on not only his anxiety but also getting him ready for the new baby. She's been also consulting with a behavioral therapist for potty training issues with him. He is finally really enjoying school and no longer screams bloody murder when I take him in the mornings. I recently had to drop his therapy from 3 days a week to 2 days a week. With all my OB appts and everything going on recently having to get ready for the baby and still take the other boys to and from school and other appts it was just getting to be to much. I dropped him back down to 2 days a week and said once the baby got here and we got into a routine we would talk about increasing it again. He really enjoys these therapists and I really like them so I think we've found a great place for him there. And he gets all of his therapy in the same place, so they all know what is going on and talk about his treatment so everyone is on the same page.
All 3 boys have their halloween parties at school today and their halloween parades too. All three of them have decided to be "ninja's" again this year (3rd year in a row!). I can't complain, those costumes are only 9.99 a piece and are really simple. Thankfully Avery's parade and party is in the morning and the older boys are in the afternoon, which makes it so I can attend all of them and no one gets "left out." I went yesterday and bought all the stuff the teachers had requested for their classroom parties so I could send them with the boys this morning. Saturday the boys have been invited to a halloween party in the afternoon and then sunday we'll be heading to my dad's house and spending the day and trick or treating with my sister and stepmom and dad.
Gonna be a busy weekend! Nothing new about that though!
What's your plans for halloween?
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Wow I've neglected you!
I can't believe it's been SO long since I've written an entry! Time has just completely gotten away from me!
I am now almost 36 weeks pregnant. I don't know what it is, but this pregnancy has really done a number on me. I don't know if it's because it's my 4th pregnancy, or if it's because I'm chasing 3 boys also while so hugely pregnant, or what. But this has been the hardest pregnancy for me yet! I've had quite a few "complications" with this pregnancy. I failed my 1 hr glucose test and had to take the 3 hour test. I passed the 3 hour test though. I've been diagnosed with polyhydramnios (excess amniotic fluid) and had to have quite a few more ultrasounds done to keep an eye on my fluid levels. Although my level HAS dropped, it's still on the high side of normal so they're still keeping an eye on it. I'm having extreme back and hip pain and it's made it very hard to walk.
At my last sonogram last week (35 weeks) the baby was estimated to weigh 6lbs 9oz. My OB has scheduled an amnio to be done on Monday (at 36 weeks 2 days) to test lung maturity. I've got a c-section scheduled for Tuesday afternoon if his lungs come back as mature. If they don't come back as mature then they will reschedule the c-section for the following week. I've been flipping out wondering just what the chances are that his lungs are mature. I slept like absolute crap last night cause it's all I could think about. I've googled till my fingers are raw and basically haven't come up with anything but it being a "50/50 chance". I'm just in so much pain that I think it would devastate me to have to wait another week! Of course I will if I have to because I want him healthy and fine, but I really hope the amnio shows his lungs are mature.
There is still so much for me to do to be ready though. I haven't packed a hospital bag, the carseat hasn't been installed (we do have it though), I still need to clean the house and make sure everything is done so if I DO have the c-section Tuesday everything is caught up when I am in the hospital next week. I need to make a list of schedules and times and everything for my mother in law for her to take care of the boys while I'm in the hospital. The list goes on and on.
I want to update on the other boys also, but I don't want to make this entry to long, so I'll write another entry about them :)
So tell me....what's new with you?! What have I missed?!
I am now almost 36 weeks pregnant. I don't know what it is, but this pregnancy has really done a number on me. I don't know if it's because it's my 4th pregnancy, or if it's because I'm chasing 3 boys also while so hugely pregnant, or what. But this has been the hardest pregnancy for me yet! I've had quite a few "complications" with this pregnancy. I failed my 1 hr glucose test and had to take the 3 hour test. I passed the 3 hour test though. I've been diagnosed with polyhydramnios (excess amniotic fluid) and had to have quite a few more ultrasounds done to keep an eye on my fluid levels. Although my level HAS dropped, it's still on the high side of normal so they're still keeping an eye on it. I'm having extreme back and hip pain and it's made it very hard to walk.
At my last sonogram last week (35 weeks) the baby was estimated to weigh 6lbs 9oz. My OB has scheduled an amnio to be done on Monday (at 36 weeks 2 days) to test lung maturity. I've got a c-section scheduled for Tuesday afternoon if his lungs come back as mature. If they don't come back as mature then they will reschedule the c-section for the following week. I've been flipping out wondering just what the chances are that his lungs are mature. I slept like absolute crap last night cause it's all I could think about. I've googled till my fingers are raw and basically haven't come up with anything but it being a "50/50 chance". I'm just in so much pain that I think it would devastate me to have to wait another week! Of course I will if I have to because I want him healthy and fine, but I really hope the amnio shows his lungs are mature.
There is still so much for me to do to be ready though. I haven't packed a hospital bag, the carseat hasn't been installed (we do have it though), I still need to clean the house and make sure everything is done so if I DO have the c-section Tuesday everything is caught up when I am in the hospital next week. I need to make a list of schedules and times and everything for my mother in law for her to take care of the boys while I'm in the hospital. The list goes on and on.
I want to update on the other boys also, but I don't want to make this entry to long, so I'll write another entry about them :)
So tell me....what's new with you?! What have I missed?!
Monday, September 13, 2010
You could WIN and help out too!
The Childhood Speech Apraxia walk is this saturday! As I've said many times lately, We will be walking in support of my son Avery who was diagnosed with Speech Apraxia almost 1 year ago. There is an Auction going on right now for this bow/clip:
You can participate in the auction to win this bow by clicking HERE. All proceeds are being donated to my son's walk and Childhood Speech Apraxia Association!
You can also go to THIS website. Hailey's Hair Clips is having a raffle in which all proceeds are being donated to my son's walk and Childhood Speech Apraxia Association. You can enter the raffle and win a $50.00 gift certificate to the website!!
If you don't have a little girl and would still like to help support my son and children like my son in learning to speak you can go to AVERY'S ARMY and make a fully tax deductible donation!
To learn more about Speech Apraxia and this cause follow the link below :)
Please check out this important Blog Entry! Click HERE to read about something near and dear to my heart!
You can also go to THIS website. Hailey's Hair Clips is having a raffle in which all proceeds are being donated to my son's walk and Childhood Speech Apraxia Association. You can enter the raffle and win a $50.00 gift certificate to the website!!
If you don't have a little girl and would still like to help support my son and children like my son in learning to speak you can go to AVERY'S ARMY and make a fully tax deductible donation!
To learn more about Speech Apraxia and this cause follow the link below :)
Please check out this important Blog Entry! Click HERE to read about something near and dear to my heart!
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