Well, I think Jenna is starting to transition from two naps to one nap a day. I've been putting her down at 1pm instead of 11am. She's proving to be a stubborn kid! Darn, I thought I was going to only have one head strong child! Oh well... maybe one of them will be president one day and return this nation to the nation we once were :-) Hey, a momma can dream, can't she?
Last night was my friend's personal shower. She received a ton of cute things and some... well, let's just say that they were interesting and leave it at that ;-) Preparing for the fun night was an all day event. I left the house at 8am with two kids in tow to run some last minute errands before meeting the other hostesses at 10am to start cutting fruit and decorating cup cakes. After a few hours of prep work and much appreciated kid care by one of the fellow hostesses parents, we were off to drop off the food and decorations and get ready for the night. I was able to trade off the kiddos with Nick at around 3pm while I was at a friend's house getting cleaned-up. We went back over to the party destination to finish decorating and make final touches for the party following our 6pm dinner-out at Zio's. It turned-out really adorable. One of the other girls took pictures, so hopefully I will get them sent to me so I can share. We had a watermelon bowl filled with cantaloupe, honeydew, grapes and strawberries; a tray of chocolate dipped strawberries and pineapple; homemade cupcakes; strawberry virgin daiquiris (complete with whipped creme, fresh-cut strawberries, and little umbrellas in very cute cups). The bride's flowers are gerber daisies, so we had them everywhere in cute, little glass vases; the outside/pool area had flower lights and more gerber daisies. It was quite a party...26 in attendance!
Tonight, we're celebrating my grandmother's birthday with my brothers and their families next door. Looking forward to family time! We've had it quite a bit lately and I'm lovin' every minute of it :-) Tomorrow, we're trying a new church. One of my friends from my mom's group is going too; that way, we both know somebody there ;-)
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
transparency time
Sometimes I wonder if I'm truly fit to be a mother. Joshua is driving me crazy and I just want to strip myself of all responsibility and be alone. Waking every three hours during the night is eating at me too. I wake-up and just totally dread doing everything. Ugh! Maybe I'm just being over emotional because I'm due for a visit by "the monthly visitor." I don't know. I'm just tired and frustrated. I love my kids, but I feel like such a bad mom. Lately, all I do is get onto Joshua. I use to enjoy reading books to him and now I'm lucky to crack one open once during the week. I guess I could be doing that now rather than ranting on my blog, but whatever. Just once, I would like to have a day to myself and not worry that Jenna might not be receiving proper care while I am gone. I hope I'm not scarring my kids for life. I want to be the cool, crafty mom that my SIL and many of my friends are. Instead, I'm just fat, depressed, and completely worn-out. I know it will be helpful to have a church to call home.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
jenna update and other stuff
Jenna seems to be doing much better! She's so bubbly and joyful :-) I'm praising God this medicine is doing the trick and pray it stays that way. As we speak, she's spanking herself with a wooden spoon. Hmmm...a form of self-discipline? Too funny.
So, for dinner tonight, we're having smoked chicken breasts, smokes mozzarella, and ranch mashed potatoes infused with mixed veggies. Yummo! I got the mashed potato idea from Rachael Ray. What a great idea! Nick wasn't too thrilled about my decision, but we have to eat healthier and this is one way he has no choice. I bet you he tries to eat around the veggies. I did my best to make sure they were well cooked so most of them would mash into the potatoes. We will see :-)
So, for dinner tonight, we're having smoked chicken breasts, smokes mozzarella, and ranch mashed potatoes infused with mixed veggies. Yummo! I got the mashed potato idea from Rachael Ray. What a great idea! Nick wasn't too thrilled about my decision, but we have to eat healthier and this is one way he has no choice. I bet you he tries to eat around the veggies. I did my best to make sure they were well cooked so most of them would mash into the potatoes. We will see :-)
Monday, June 22, 2009
pictures
Joshua kills me with his gorgeous eyes!
So cute and innocent...
Ladies & Gentlemen, lock-up your daughters!
Jenna's swallow study...she actually enjoyed it!
Quite possibly the cutest picture ever!
Jenna's future is soooo bright...shades are a must!
The youngest of my brother's kids. 2nd place for cutest picture ever!
Bath-time buddies!
My friend Jennifer came for a visit. Joshua was actually falling asleep while she gently stroked his cheek. Neat trick, eh? Learned it from my SIL :-) She's a genius!!
Jenna's 1st swim! Adorable suit compliments of her aunt and cousins :-)
"You're kidding, right?" (baby S again)jenna update
Jenna's GI Doctor, Thomas Sferra, called today. Jenna does in fact have C-DIFF. She will be taking a very potent antibiotic over the next week (every 6 hours) and then she will be re-evaluated on July 2nd to see if the medication performed its job. I am also giving her acidophilous to help restore the good bacteria which the antibiotic will take away. Thankfully, Jenna is still in good spirits. Her only obvious symptoms are her stool and bloated belly (I have been having to vent her Mic-Key button much more often than normal). Below is some information I read on an informative site about C-DIFF...
Other names that the disease can be known as are:
Clostridium Difficile Colitis, Antibiotic-Associated Colitis, C. Difficile, C. Dif, C.D., A.A.C.D. and C.D.C.
What is Clostridium Difficile - in easy terms to understand?
C - difficile is a bacteria in your intestines. It is found normally in healthy and ill people alike. There are millions, perhaps billions of different types of bacteria in your body. Bacteria are an important part of your health. They help break down and digest food. They also ward off many "bad" or foreign bacteria that you may come in contact with. In fact, the "good" or normal bacteria on your hands can kill certain bad bacteria which you may pick up handling food or touching everyday items and fixtures.
How do I get Clostridium Difficile Colitis or Antibiotic-Associated Colitis?
Your body has lots of "good" and necessary bacteria. It also has some "bad" or dangerous bacteria. Clostridium difficile is a "bad" bacteria. Fortunately, when you are healthy and not taking antibiotics, the millions of good bacteria in your system keep the c - diff under control and in smaller numbers. However, when you take an antibiotic, the levels of good bacteria are reduced down to a smaller number. If your c-diff is strong and doesn't get killed by the antibiotic along with the good bacteria, then it is possible that the c-diff will overpopulate inside your intestine or colon. When this happens, you may get the illness called clostridium difficile colitis. When you have an imbalance of bacteria and c-diff takes over, it creates two main types of toxins that affect your body and give you the symptoms of the actual disease. The toxins attack your intestinal wall and left untreated may cause ulcerations. Your symptoms may include diarrhea and cramping at first. The later stages are commonly flu-like symptoms of weakness, dehydration, fever, nausea, vomiting and in advanced stages - blood in your stool / feces. If a patient is left untreated, they can die from it. This is rare.
Other names that the disease can be known as are:
Clostridium Difficile Colitis, Antibiotic-Associated Colitis, C. Difficile, C. Dif, C.D., A.A.C.D. and C.D.C.
What is Clostridium Difficile - in easy terms to understand?
C - difficile is a bacteria in your intestines. It is found normally in healthy and ill people alike. There are millions, perhaps billions of different types of bacteria in your body. Bacteria are an important part of your health. They help break down and digest food. They also ward off many "bad" or foreign bacteria that you may come in contact with. In fact, the "good" or normal bacteria on your hands can kill certain bad bacteria which you may pick up handling food or touching everyday items and fixtures.
How do I get Clostridium Difficile Colitis or Antibiotic-Associated Colitis?
Your body has lots of "good" and necessary bacteria. It also has some "bad" or dangerous bacteria. Clostridium difficile is a "bad" bacteria. Fortunately, when you are healthy and not taking antibiotics, the millions of good bacteria in your system keep the c - diff under control and in smaller numbers. However, when you take an antibiotic, the levels of good bacteria are reduced down to a smaller number. If your c-diff is strong and doesn't get killed by the antibiotic along with the good bacteria, then it is possible that the c-diff will overpopulate inside your intestine or colon. When this happens, you may get the illness called clostridium difficile colitis. When you have an imbalance of bacteria and c-diff takes over, it creates two main types of toxins that affect your body and give you the symptoms of the actual disease. The toxins attack your intestinal wall and left untreated may cause ulcerations. Your symptoms may include diarrhea and cramping at first. The later stages are commonly flu-like symptoms of weakness, dehydration, fever, nausea, vomiting and in advanced stages - blood in your stool / feces. If a patient is left untreated, they can die from it. This is rare.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
more catching-up
About 2 weeks ago, Jenna started having questionable stools. I called her GI doctor after one week and from my description, he feared she could have blood in her stools. We collected a stool sample last week and it was confirmed to have blood, so now we're waiting to hear back on further testing. Sometimes the antibiotics given in the hospital can have this affect...causing a virus called C-DIF. Don't ask me what that stands for or means, I just know it's an icky virus that wreaks havoc on little bodies :-(
Jenna started waving a couple of weeks ago too. It's so sweet! However, she has figured-out that we think it's cute; she uses this to her fullest advantage!! Little stinker :-) She loves to play with my phone, so if she wants it, she does her little wavy and uses the other hand to gently sneak the phone away. Talk about naughty!! Oh, she also now has 4 teeth (2 upstairs, 2 downstairs). I'm curious to see how it affects her eating since the teeth don't line-up due to the cleft. Speaking of eating, Jenna had her swallow study a week ago and passed with flying colors :-) We're just waiting for our GI appointment on July 2nd to find-out what we need to do as far as adjusting her continuous feeds to allow for more room in her tummy, as well as find-out which foods she will best tolerate. I am so thankful to the Lord for this awesome blessing! We actually got to watch her swallow on an x-ray...too cool!! I took some pictures on my phone, so I will do my best to sync them to the computer soon.
Joshua is improving more and more on his speech...putting together long sentences and speaking more clearly. He still likes to jabber, but that is becoming more and more less of a normal occurrence. Poor Joshua is sick right now. He's been throwing-up since about 5pm today and has a temperature of 102.1. We can't keep any fluids down him. Every time he wakes from being asleep for a bit, we try to offer him just a sip, but it only stays down for a few minutes. I'm hoping he's better by morning. I hate having to take him into the doctor...it's definitely not one of his favorite things :-(
Joshua and Jenna take baths together now :-) Jenna loves the company and Joshua thinks Jenna is hilarious! They make little noises back and forth at each other and just laugh as they play with their bath toys. I found a bubble bath that is safe enough to use on a daily basis, so the kids really love playing with bubbles :-)
It has been so hot lately! Joshua has enjoyed playing with his cousins in the water. Jenna doesn't tolerate the heat very well. She turns beat red even in the shade and becomes lethargic. Everyone comments on how pale she is, but we don't have much of a choice right now. I will be glad when Fall arrives because Jenna loves to swing. Nick put together an awesome play center for the kids with two swings and a slide, but we only have one tree offering shade in the mornings. The afternoons it's completely exposed to the sun, but later in the evening, our neighbor's tree offers some comfort.
This post was mostly for family, but perhaps some of you learned something you didn't know :-) I'm going to try and post once a week. Once I have that down as a routine, perhaps I will be adventurous and post twice a week...woo!
Jenna started waving a couple of weeks ago too. It's so sweet! However, she has figured-out that we think it's cute; she uses this to her fullest advantage!! Little stinker :-) She loves to play with my phone, so if she wants it, she does her little wavy and uses the other hand to gently sneak the phone away. Talk about naughty!! Oh, she also now has 4 teeth (2 upstairs, 2 downstairs). I'm curious to see how it affects her eating since the teeth don't line-up due to the cleft. Speaking of eating, Jenna had her swallow study a week ago and passed with flying colors :-) We're just waiting for our GI appointment on July 2nd to find-out what we need to do as far as adjusting her continuous feeds to allow for more room in her tummy, as well as find-out which foods she will best tolerate. I am so thankful to the Lord for this awesome blessing! We actually got to watch her swallow on an x-ray...too cool!! I took some pictures on my phone, so I will do my best to sync them to the computer soon.
Joshua is improving more and more on his speech...putting together long sentences and speaking more clearly. He still likes to jabber, but that is becoming more and more less of a normal occurrence. Poor Joshua is sick right now. He's been throwing-up since about 5pm today and has a temperature of 102.1. We can't keep any fluids down him. Every time he wakes from being asleep for a bit, we try to offer him just a sip, but it only stays down for a few minutes. I'm hoping he's better by morning. I hate having to take him into the doctor...it's definitely not one of his favorite things :-(
Joshua and Jenna take baths together now :-) Jenna loves the company and Joshua thinks Jenna is hilarious! They make little noises back and forth at each other and just laugh as they play with their bath toys. I found a bubble bath that is safe enough to use on a daily basis, so the kids really love playing with bubbles :-)
It has been so hot lately! Joshua has enjoyed playing with his cousins in the water. Jenna doesn't tolerate the heat very well. She turns beat red even in the shade and becomes lethargic. Everyone comments on how pale she is, but we don't have much of a choice right now. I will be glad when Fall arrives because Jenna loves to swing. Nick put together an awesome play center for the kids with two swings and a slide, but we only have one tree offering shade in the mornings. The afternoons it's completely exposed to the sun, but later in the evening, our neighbor's tree offers some comfort.
This post was mostly for family, but perhaps some of you learned something you didn't know :-) I'm going to try and post once a week. Once I have that down as a routine, perhaps I will be adventurous and post twice a week...woo!
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