Happy 6th Birthday Isaac!

Happy birthday to my oldest peanut! It's hard to believe he is already 6. Wow. Last weekend (during the snowstorm) Isaac had some of his classmates over for a party. It was a fun time, but I couldn't believe how loud it was in here. There were a few kids that were plugging their ears! HA


Yesterday, we had the grandparents over for lunch and cake. 2 parties in one week! Lucky kid.






Today, his actual birthday, I'll be picking him up from school and driving into the cities. We'll meet Todd and go for a quick dinner to celebrate Isaac's birthday. Then I am off to class. I wish I didn't have class tonight. I missed Halloween with the kids and Santa's visit because of class too- bummer! Oh well- only 1 more week left of fall semester!b Hopefully spring semester will work out differently.

This is what goes on when I am at class...

Todd feeds Isabella a BOWL of whipped cream, which she proceeds to stick up her nose, and everywhere else!

friend...

I really am going to update this thing soon. A friend asked me recently if I was swallowed by my textbook. Yes, I think I have been. Anyways...

Last night I found out a friend of mine has been diagnosed with cancer- Hodgkin's lymphoma. She is 28 and full of life. I am so sad for her and everything she will be going through in the coming months. She has one of the best attitudes toward life than anyone I know. She will be starting chemo on Friday- please keep her in your prayers...

update

We are on day 7 of Bella's 102-104 degree fever. If it doesn't break today, we'll be back in for more testing tomorrow...

Sorry for no update- we've had a very sick house!

Well, I am really behind now. I'll maybe have Halloween pics up by Thanksgiving-ha. Thursday of last week I had all 3 kids in to the doctor. Bella had an ear infection and got antibiotics, Savannah had croup and got put on steroids, and Isaac needed an antibiotic for his cough. Bella finished her antibiotic on Sunday. By Monday morning she had a 103 temp again. I brought her in and her ear had cleared up, so the doctor figured it was a virus. By that night I got the fever, but still kept plugging as I had a Powerpoint presentation on Wed night for class. Today is Friday and Bella sits with a 102 temp WITH Ibuprofen. I brought her back in this afternoon and the doctor thought it could be influenza, even though she got the shot. She thought this b/c the fever broke yesterday, but was back with a vengeance today, and that is how influenza presents. So, we did the flu test and doctor just called to say the influenza came back neg, but she thinks its parainfluenza. So, if she is worse this weekend we will go in, otherwise if nothing has changed by Monday we will go back in- that will be 9 days with a 103 fever. So, hopefully this weekend it breaks. I also still have an on and off fever. Hopefully everyone is well by the end of the weekend. This is our first year out of winter "isolation" since the girls were born. Hopefully, this isn't a sign or we may have to start being more selective about how much and where we go out again. UGH!

Fall Harvest Orchard

A few weekends ago my dad came up for a trip to Cabela's with the boys. Before they left for their big shopping trip we hit the Fall Harvest Orchard. It's actually a big farm that these people open up to the public. It was SO much fun. The kids had a blast! I know I am long overdue for an update on the kids, but it's been so busy lately and I want to share these pictures of the orchard. I will try to do an overall update soon, maybe tomorrow.

The day started with papa showing up at 7:30 to make pancakes with the kids:


As soon as we got to the orchard, Bella started chasing the turkeys:


Feeding the goats (this was a big hit!):




Holding baby chicks:




Three Little Pigs


Savannah talking to the pot bellied pig:


Bella going for the goat kiss (YUCK!):



Mooooo:



Papa helping Savannah feed the cows:


Pumpkins:


Bad hair day:


Corn pit:


Taking off:

What's that saying? When it rains, it pours.

Man, what a streak of bad luck. So in the midst of dealing with all this house damage from the hail storm we managed to get rear ended in our van. It was some high school kid that wasn't paying attention. His excuse was "I'm a senior and high school and I'm just so busy!" OK...

So then the brakes in both cars start squealing- both need new brakes. On top of that the water pump in the van is leaking so it needs to be replaced within a week! HA. Right.

Among all the chaos, Bella continues to not sleep at night and all of a sudden her reflux has really flared back up. The other night we were up with her until after 4am and we could hear her refluxing every 30 seconds. She was just screaming and wouldn't even take a bottle. I took her in that morning and sure enough the reflux had caused an infection in her nose, which in turn led to an ear infection. She is on antibiotics now and we will more than likely be upping her prevacid. I need to call back on that.

We are looking forward to an uneventful weekend. Maybe the pumpkin patch?

Happy Birthday!

Happy 35th birthday daddy!! We love you!!

busy

Well, I haven't been very good about updating lately. It's just been soooo busy around here with appts, ST, PT, and my school on top of it all! Hopefully,I can get on here soon and post a better update. Until then, this is a picture of the kids at Como Zoo the weekend (beginning Sept) before school started.

It's raining...golf balls? Baseballs?

Yes, those are holes in our house. The siding is riddled with holes from the hail storm last night. The hail ranged in size from golf balls to baseballs. I was home alone with the kids. We went to the basement and it was so loud I thought the top of the house was being taken. It turns out I was hearing the hail hitting the house. Some of the hail bounced almost as high as our swingset. I have never seen anything like it. A car parked across the street was missing it's windshield when all was said and done. Thank goodness it's just the house. Now, if only our insurance deductible wasn't so high!

Today, Savannah keeps asking where all the balls went, and when are more balls coming. And her new word, "Why? Why? Why mom?"

Proud

Our little man is so proud of himself. He learned how to tie his shoes last week! He taught himself, with a little guidance from mom and dad. We had been talking about him learning it, and when I called on the way home from class last Wed night he informed me he was tying his own shoes! The next day he came home from school and said that he helped someone else tie their shoes. It's fun to see how excited they get at this age over something so simple. :)

Have to include some pics of my girls in their matching sleepers. It was COLD here last week.

Thank you!

I wanted to take a minute to thank my family, friends from the preemie forum, and our friends we made while at Children's. You have been so supportive through all this with Bella, and actually the past several years with all the tough times we've gone through with both girls. It is appreciated more than you could ever know...

Things seem to be going around here. Isaac is adjusting better to school now, although I think he'd still rather stay home;) He has talked about some friends he's made and still loves music class. I will update more later about an exciting milestone of his!

Bella is moving right along and is LOVING to tag along with Savannah when she plays dolls. They both have their own dolly stroller and love to push them around the house. Now that Bella has gotten the hang of walking it is starting to become more apparent that she drags her right foot/leg, moreso towards the end of the day, or when tired. It is causing alot of tripping. I will bring that up again when we see her PT, or at her 18 month appt.

Savannah is doing good and has graduated from the pulmonologist (lung doc). We will be able to manage any asthma, or other lung issues, thru her regular pediatrician. YAH! Savannah will see the cardiologist this winter when she turns 3, just to do an echo of her heart to recheck a few things, but hopefully all will be fine and we can cross them off our list too:) That would be so great!

Results!

The doctor just called with Bella's CT results, and her brain ventricles are NORMAL size! This means no fluid build-up and no hydrocephalus!! YAH!! It doesn't explain the issues she's had, but does tell us that she just has a big head:) Some of her issues could still be her reflux, but she is still on Prevacid for that, and the doc said it's a good dose. But the happy news for the day is NO HYRDO!!!

Isaac's first day of Kindergarten!

My big boy started kindergarten last Tuesday. He goes all day, everyday. So far it has definitely been a hard transition for him, but hopefully it will get better soon. On a happy note, he loves music class and really looks forward to it. He asked me the other night why the lady presses the pedals under the piano:)




The girls waiting for Isaac (above)

(No results on the ct scan. They said her ped could call that afternoon to get the results, but unfortunately she is on vacation till Tues, so we will have to wait)

CT Scan

Bella's CT Scan is scheduled for tomorrow AM. I'll update more later.

Isabella

Look how far I've come:

Bella next to a Beanie at 2 lbs 2 oz

Bella at 24 1/2 lbs!
Yesterday Isabella was in to the doctor for her 15 month check-up and also a head re-check. First, the totally awesome news of the day. She weighed in at 24 1/2 lbs AND was 30 3/4 inches long!!!!!! That is incredible. For the first time I heard the doctor say, " She has done a nice job of catching up on size. She is about average on the curve for a 15 month old." The word average is something every preemie mom loves and waits to hear! She is completely caught up on size, not even adjusting back to 12 months for being born 3 months early. In fact, she weighs nearly what Savannah does at age 2 1/2 (Savannah still being small for age). There is only about a pound or two difference in the girls.

Apparently Bella wasn't nearly as excited as I was about her growth. She cried and moaned the whole hour and a half we were there.

Next, was the not so hot news. Her head is still over the 100% (big) for her age. This is for her actual age of 15 months, so comparing her to kids that were born at term that are her age. For her adjusted age of 12 months, it's even further off the chart >100%. For a peanut that started out with a head smaller than your fist, this is huge. The doctor said it's not so much the size that's concerning, but the rate of growth and that she's concerned about hydrocephalus. She has had some large spikes in her head growth, where it's not really following a curve. As some of you know, we have been going in more often to get her head measured, as it's been of concern to the doctor. I've also mentioned before the trouble with head jerking and the investigation into whether or not she was having seizures. She also is still not sleeping at night and tends to cry and scream alot unless she has constant action to keep her distracted. The doctor said she would like to get a look into Bella's head, but that the soft spot is too small to use ultrasound at this point. The other way to get a look is with CT scan, but as she could see Bella is a very irritable girl, so she would need to be sedated. When we left the appointment she said she would call that night after talking with a few of the other doctors about it.

Last night I did get a call from her. She said the other doctors agreed that the CT scan should be done. She went on to say she is a little apprehensive b/c of the sedation portion (not sure why??). Anyway, as she was talking she said she has rounds next week at Children's and would like to run it by the NICU follow-up clinic to see if they see any other options. So now we wait. Again. Until next wee for the doctor to call back. Obviously sedation comes with risks, but I guess I don't really see the major deal. It needs to be done so why drag it out? We'll hear more next week. Worry, worry, worry.

Developmentally, not much has changed. She is doing ok motor wise, but is still at the level of a 6-8 month old as far as language goes. I'll be honest, I'm a little bummed, but we'll address it more in September when her Early Childhood teacher starts coming out again.

Lipstick

My Savannah is such a little lady. Savannah was sitting at the breakfast bar last night while I was cooking dinner. When I looked up this is what I saw. She had taken a blue marker and colored her lips and teeth. She told me it was "lipstick." Ahhh, life with a 2 1/2 year old.

Community on edge

Right now our neighborhood is very much on edge. Not far down the gravel road from our housing development a house was broken into and a lady was killed this weekend. The suspect is still on the loose in the victims car, and surveillance video was just released of him in the area. We also found out from our neighbor that a few days before a house IN our development was broken into and things were taken, including guns. Thankfully, the people were not home. Needless to say I am totally paranoid when leaving the house. I will be sleeping with my eyes open tonight.

Please pray they find this nut job, and soon. That way they can lock him up and throw away the key.

Noisy house and a Bella update

Wow. The noise in here is giving me a headache! It is normally a pretty big circus around here, but now all three of my peanuts are teething. Isaac is getting his 6 year molars, Savannah is finally getting some 2 year molars, and Bella is getting 6 teeth (yes SIX) all at once. This will be a nice addition since she only has her bottom two. The older two kids are pretty good about the teething. Isaac only complains when he eats, and Savannah just chews on everything in sight. Bella, on the other hand, moans continuously. Day and night. I am really starting to wonder when she is going to sleep at night. I can count on two hands how many times she has slept thru the night. Eight. And by sleeping thru the night I don't mean a nice 12 hour stretch. More like seven on those sleeping thru the night times. I know at one point her doctor kind of wondered if all this has something to do with her head jerking issues.

Speaking of Bella's head, I mentioned before we had it measured and its well off the charts (large) for her age and her adjusted age. The doctor is watching for more spikes in the chart. We go in again August 22. At her last checkup her iron was checked again and is finally on the low end of the normal range. She is no longer anemic (YAH), so are able to try taking her off formula and onto whole milk. We have tried several times unsuccessfully. Her reflux is aweful when we try the milk, even with her Prevacid. Tonight I was at the grocery, so I picked up some Lactose free milk to try. Maybe that is the problem. My kids and their immature GI systems. Why can't it just be simple for once?

Bella's left eye still seems to be turning in every so often. Both girls are still set to go back to the ped ophthalmologist in early Oct.

Tomorrow morning Bella's Physical Therapist comes to the house. I am excited for her to show off all her new skills to Margaret. I am hoping she will maybe get discharged soon from the PT portion of her Early Intervention Program. The only concern I have is she is starting to walk and turns her right leg out when toddling. I've had concerns before with her right side, so I am hoping it's nothing. Come early September, her teacher will start coming out again and working on cognitive/language issues. I'm interested to see what path this takes.

I hope you are all enjoying the last part of summer. It won't be long and we will be heading back to school. My classes start up again August 27, so I am trying to pack in as many things as possible, before I add that back into the mix. :)

Last weekend

Isn't this the ultimate picture of SWEETNESS???

Last Saturday we were able to get together with Bella's little buddy from the NICU, Ashlyn. Ashlyn was also a 28 weeker, and was born about 3 weeks, or so, after Bella. They were in the NICU together and then in the ICC at the same time. Her, and her family, were camping not far from our house, so we went out to their site for the day. It was a great time! They are a wonderful family. The kids had a great time playing and us adults had a nice time hanging out and relaxing. We are so fortunate to have met such great people that share a common experience that has been such a big part of our lives. Not many people can fully understand the NICU experience and the fear that comes along with it.
Here are some more pictures from out fun day:




Sunday we headed to my parents house as my aunts Lynnette and Janet were there for some lunch and swimming. It was Janet's first time seeing both of the girls too!
This is a picture of my two aunts with Bella, Isaac, and my brother Ben. Savannah was crashed, so she missed out on the photo op.

This next picture is thrown in for good measure. My brother and I.