Tuesday, July 24, 2012
busy...
So, I haven't blogged in a while. Come to think of it, there are many things I haven't done in a while! But at least I can say that spending time with my children is not one of them!
The kids are growing like weeds! Erin turned 5 1/2 the other day...it was as monumental of a day as turning 5 was! No one prepared me for the phase that follows 5 1/2, though! I. Had. No. Idea. that turning 5 1/2 really meant turning 15!! Phew!! Holy hormones, Batman!!
It seems like over night my sweet, spirited little girl turned into someone I hardly recognized...
Man, the attitude!!
After a talk (or two!) with family, friends and co-workers, I think I might be able to survive this phase with dignity and grace...or maybe just dignity! As we speak, Little Miss. Sunshine is on "punishment" and is quickly starting to learn that Mommy ain't no pushover anymore!!
Anywhoo...on to Magoo and the little copy cat that he is currently! He is SO observant, quick and has a great memory! His favorite things to do is sweep like Mommy, use Mommy's cell phone, help Mommy with laundry, carry Mommy's pocketbook, use Mommy's debit card, make Erin's bed like Mommy...see a pattern here?!! He's just too funny!
He isn't "talking" much but does tend to babble quite a bit! We know he has a lot to say! He LOVES to read books before bedtime in his crib by himself and always falls asleep with a blanket, usually his "Puppy" on his face!
I've been trying to create some "me" time for myself and have taken up running again. I've already been in a few road races and love the feeling of clearing my mind all while putting some miles under my belt...it's a great stress relief and I miss it when I can't get out there.
I've also been trying to make some time for just Greg and myself at the end of the day, because really, at the end of the day some day he'll be all I've got and I need to ensure that or relationship will be built to last!
I haven't taken many pictures of the kids with my camera (flipping camera phones take all the glory now a days)but hopefully soon I will take more than mental shots to document their growth!
Happy Summer!!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
CHD Awareness...Re-posted
I first posted this in February 2010...
This is my little survivor...
Erin Alissa was born January 19, 2007...
She weighed 6 lbs.5 oz. and was 19 in. long...
When Erin was 10 days old we took her for her first office visit with her doctor...
That is when he heard a murmur.
Because I have a faint murmur that has never been treated with any medication I was not worried when he referred us to see a Pediatric Cardiologist. We visited Dr. Rotondo on a Monday 3 days later...
After careful testing, observation and an echocardiogram we learned that Erin had a congenital heart defect.
"Approximately 40,000 babies are born each year in the United States with a CHD. There are 35 different types of CHD's."
Erin was diagnosed with a Ventricular Septal Defect and an Atrial Septal Defect
Often, VSD's close on their own. This would not be the case with Erin.
We decided that it would be best to put a call in to Children's Hospital Boston and start the process of scheduling open heart surgery. In the meantime Erin needed to gain weight for her upcoming surgery...
We had Erin baptized on February 4, 2007 with only a few close family members present. We had to keep Erin as healthy as possible.
On February 7, 2007 Erin was taken by ambulance to our local children's hospital. She had an episode of shallow breathing. She was admitted, treated and then released 4 days later. She would be taking daily doses of the medications Digoxin and Lasix.
We waited for the call from Boston and in the meantime Erin lost weight due to her lack of eating. She would fall asleep during feedings. She wouldn't wake during the night like typical infants when they are hungry. Erin had no energy and was frail. We were very worried as we leaned on family for support...
Erin was admitted to our children's hospital again on February 17th. She was in heart failure.
We stayed at the hospital until February 19th and then were transported by ambulance to Boston for pre-op testing.
On Wednesday, February 21st, Erin underwent open heart surgery.
A week and a half later we were on our way back home. Erin still required daily dosed of Lasix to rid her body of excess fluid and we had to be very careful when holding her but you could tell only 2 days after her surgery that she was on a fast track to recovery.
Today Erin is a happy, healthy 3 year old! She will visit her cardiologist once a year for some time but requires no medication and has no physical limitations. The sky is the limit for Erin...
.jpg)
and somehow, I think she knows it!!
***UPDATE***
Erin just celebrated her 5th birthday in January and will not visit her cardiologist (knock wood) until she turns 8!!!
This is our story and sadly most stories of babies born with a CHD don't have as happy an ending.
Congenital heart defects are the #1 birth defect in the United States. Nearly one of every 100 babies is born with a CHD. Heart defects begin in the early stages of pregnancy, usually in the first 8 weeks. Most women don't even know they are pregnant. In most cases there is no known genetic causes of CHD's and there are 35 kinds. One out of 125 babies will be born with a CHD. There are prenatal tests that can be done to detect heart defects.An echocardiogram can accurately detect many heart defects and are performed by a specialized doctor and not an obstetrician. Some heart defects can be detected by ultrasound. Most heart defects can be corrected or helped with surgery, medicine or devices such as artificial valves or pacemakers. In the last 25 years, advances in treatments of heart defects have enabled half a million children U.S. children with significant heart defects to survive into adulthood.
For more information, visit www.littlehearts.org. If you are pregnant, talk to your doctor about your prenatal testing options.
Happy "Heart" week!
This is my little survivor...
Erin Alissa was born January 19, 2007...
She weighed 6 lbs.5 oz. and was 19 in. long...
When Erin was 10 days old we took her for her first office visit with her doctor...
That is when he heard a murmur.
Because I have a faint murmur that has never been treated with any medication I was not worried when he referred us to see a Pediatric Cardiologist. We visited Dr. Rotondo on a Monday 3 days later...
After careful testing, observation and an echocardiogram we learned that Erin had a congenital heart defect.
"Approximately 40,000 babies are born each year in the United States with a CHD. There are 35 different types of CHD's."
Erin was diagnosed with a Ventricular Septal Defect and an Atrial Septal Defect
Often, VSD's close on their own. This would not be the case with Erin.
We decided that it would be best to put a call in to Children's Hospital Boston and start the process of scheduling open heart surgery. In the meantime Erin needed to gain weight for her upcoming surgery...
We had Erin baptized on February 4, 2007 with only a few close family members present. We had to keep Erin as healthy as possible.
On February 7, 2007 Erin was taken by ambulance to our local children's hospital. She had an episode of shallow breathing. She was admitted, treated and then released 4 days later. She would be taking daily doses of the medications Digoxin and Lasix.
We waited for the call from Boston and in the meantime Erin lost weight due to her lack of eating. She would fall asleep during feedings. She wouldn't wake during the night like typical infants when they are hungry. Erin had no energy and was frail. We were very worried as we leaned on family for support...
Erin was admitted to our children's hospital again on February 17th. She was in heart failure.
We stayed at the hospital until February 19th and then were transported by ambulance to Boston for pre-op testing.
On Wednesday, February 21st, Erin underwent open heart surgery.
A week and a half later we were on our way back home. Erin still required daily dosed of Lasix to rid her body of excess fluid and we had to be very careful when holding her but you could tell only 2 days after her surgery that she was on a fast track to recovery.
Today Erin is a happy, healthy 3 year old! She will visit her cardiologist once a year for some time but requires no medication and has no physical limitations. The sky is the limit for Erin...
.jpg)
and somehow, I think she knows it!!
***UPDATE***
Erin just celebrated her 5th birthday in January and will not visit her cardiologist (knock wood) until she turns 8!!!
This is our story and sadly most stories of babies born with a CHD don't have as happy an ending.
Congenital heart defects are the #1 birth defect in the United States. Nearly one of every 100 babies is born with a CHD. Heart defects begin in the early stages of pregnancy, usually in the first 8 weeks. Most women don't even know they are pregnant. In most cases there is no known genetic causes of CHD's and there are 35 kinds. One out of 125 babies will be born with a CHD. There are prenatal tests that can be done to detect heart defects.An echocardiogram can accurately detect many heart defects and are performed by a specialized doctor and not an obstetrician. Some heart defects can be detected by ultrasound. Most heart defects can be corrected or helped with surgery, medicine or devices such as artificial valves or pacemakers. In the last 25 years, advances in treatments of heart defects have enabled half a million children U.S. children with significant heart defects to survive into adulthood.
For more information, visit www.littlehearts.org. If you are pregnant, talk to your doctor about your prenatal testing options.
Happy "Heart" week!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
All I want for Christmas is...
Some days I feel like he isn't even mine. When he awakes it is time to start the day. The morning flies by in the blink of an eye and before I know it, we are out the door and on our way. Then after 8 hours I rush to pick him up, get home and make and feed dinner and get him ready for bed. There really isn't time to play or spend quality time.
I am looking forward to having next week off for vacation (although it is not a paid vacation) to spend reconnecting with my little man. He has grown up way too fast and I need to save this time in a bottle before it is over with.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
Some days are hard...
From outside the bathroom door, strangers could hear the desperate plea from a new mother. She only wanted Him to hear her and didn't care if anyone else did. Her daughter would be one month old in two days. During the next month she should be reaching new milestones. Holding up her head, smiling for the first time, meeting extended members of the family.
Gain weight. Rid the body of excess fluid. Maintain strength long enough to finish nursing or a supplemented bottle. Instead of a monthly goal, her goals were daily and hardly ever achieved.
Each day was recorded in a journal. How many wet diapers? What time were the medications administered? How long was the feeding and how much was eaten? The team of doctors we visited twice a week were seen more than family members. Only a select few could come visit. Did they just sneeze? Was that a cough? Infants at one month shouldn't be sleeping through the night yet. Under normal circumstances a new parent would be happy. This was far from normal. In and out of the hospital. Those chairs are uncomfortable to sleep on. We have had no privacy. We rushed a baptism.
Trauma doctors are now in and out of the room trying to stabilize her. The twenty-first is 5 days away. Are we going to Boston tonight? Will she live to see Wednesday? Will she live to see tomorrow? Will she be gone by the time I leave this bathroom? If I stay in here long enough pleading with You more, will I wake from this nightmare?
How did this happen? Why her? Why us? Why?
I will do anything You ask of me! Take me! Spare her life! If You just give her a chance at this life, I promise I will not take one day for granted! I will be a better person! I will be a better wife! I will be the best mother! I will let her know how loved, appreciated, special she is! She will know how much she was wanted! I will be forever grateful to You! Please God, let her live! Let her live! Take me...just let her live!
Some days are hard...and on those days, I reflect on how they could be much harder.
"Her name means peace. Her passion for life is remarkable. She is extremely dependable in all situations. She has a terrific smile. Adventure is what she is. Supports any cause that is noble and worthy. Everyone admires her positive attitude. Fanatstic things are accomplished by her." The Historical Research Center, Inc.
Gain weight. Rid the body of excess fluid. Maintain strength long enough to finish nursing or a supplemented bottle. Instead of a monthly goal, her goals were daily and hardly ever achieved.
Each day was recorded in a journal. How many wet diapers? What time were the medications administered? How long was the feeding and how much was eaten? The team of doctors we visited twice a week were seen more than family members. Only a select few could come visit. Did they just sneeze? Was that a cough? Infants at one month shouldn't be sleeping through the night yet. Under normal circumstances a new parent would be happy. This was far from normal. In and out of the hospital. Those chairs are uncomfortable to sleep on. We have had no privacy. We rushed a baptism.
Trauma doctors are now in and out of the room trying to stabilize her. The twenty-first is 5 days away. Are we going to Boston tonight? Will she live to see Wednesday? Will she live to see tomorrow? Will she be gone by the time I leave this bathroom? If I stay in here long enough pleading with You more, will I wake from this nightmare?
How did this happen? Why her? Why us? Why?
I will do anything You ask of me! Take me! Spare her life! If You just give her a chance at this life, I promise I will not take one day for granted! I will be a better person! I will be a better wife! I will be the best mother! I will let her know how loved, appreciated, special she is! She will know how much she was wanted! I will be forever grateful to You! Please God, let her live! Let her live! Take me...just let her live!
Some days are hard...and on those days, I reflect on how they could be much harder.
"Her name means peace. Her passion for life is remarkable. She is extremely dependable in all situations. She has a terrific smile. Adventure is what she is. Supports any cause that is noble and worthy. Everyone admires her positive attitude. Fanatstic things are accomplished by her." The Historical Research Center, Inc.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Magoo...
My slobbery, gummy, hungry, can't sit still, no nap for me thankyouverymuch, happy, sitting up, smiley, teething, 95th percentile for height and weight, stuffy nosed, spiky haired, chapped cheeks and chin, handsome 7 month old little man...
I love you, VERY much!!! XOXO Mommy
I love you, VERY much!!! XOXO Mommy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)