The Infermary

I know it's been quite some time since I've actually blogged. I'm blaming it on the fact that over the last couple of months our family has been so busy. Work has been hectic, Mark just finished the winter semester, and a bout of MANY illnesses have kept us less than eager to get much accomplished.
Mark and I have been back and forth with the kids to the doctors all winter. I swear we see them about once a week. Anyways, it was just little colds, ear infection, etc. however Liam has not been able to "get over it". In the beginning of March both boys got ear infections and colds, but Liam was wheezing and needed Albuterol treatments every 4-6 hrs. Well, he would improve so the meds. would stop and a few days later he would be wheezing again. Then he was treated with Predisolone steroid for five days to help him breathe better. When that was finished, he was better. Then Julian woke up in the middle of the night the day of his 3rd birthday party puking! Oh goodness! Well, he made it and the party was a great success!! Then a couple days later Liam fell sick again and began the albuterol treatments again. That seems to work for awhile.When everything was good we realized one night that we had forgotten to give him his Prevacid medicine (to treat his acid reflux). He seemed fine without it and we thought he had finally grown out of it. Once again he began wheezing and the Dr. said to put him back on the Prevacid because acid reflux can cause wheezing. We did and it seemed to pass for a few days. Then he got sicker and was taken in to the doctors again. This time they thought he was just catching the same respiratory virus from before. A week passed and he could barely breathe. He sounded horrible!!! This time he had another ear infection and the Dr. diagnosed him with asthma. He began another round of albuterol treatments and Predisolone (liquid steroid). The Doctor also seemed to notice that despite that fact that he eats a lot, he is below the fifth percentile for his weight. That combined with the fact that he has had so many breathing problems caused some concern and she ordered a sweat test to be done at Children's Hospital. This would confirm or deny him having cystic fibrosis.

Which leads us to where we are now. This week, him and his big bro went back to the docs. Julian was doing well, however, had a bout of pink eye this week along with his ear infection. Liam is on 2 different asthma steroid medications after another 3 days of Prednisolone and still wheezing. On Monday morning we take him to Children's for the sweat test.

So forgive me for all the typos and spelling errors. I'm writing this at 5am after being up since 1:30am. I can't sleep after getting up with Liam and hearing him wheeze yet again!! Can't wait to have happy, healthy kids again :)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day

Christmas Memories

Reflecting on 2008....

This year has gone by so quickly for us, just like so many others in the past. I spent so much of this last year waiting for the next big moment. It started with me wishing for the end of the school year. Let's just say I had somewhat of a "handful" for a class last year. Each day was a struggle. Once school was out, Mark and I were laid off again, and I was just anxious to be finished with my master's degree in July. Once I finally finished my degree, I was only weeks away from giving birth to Liam. Liam was born, we got our positions back, and life has now brought us to this moment.
We're not sure if Liam will be our last child or not (although with all of his issues he is really trying hard to gain that last spot in our family), but I have realized from watching Julian grow that this time is so short. I'm making 2009 my year to slow down, relax, enjoy my friends and family, and stop wishing for time to go by just so that I can reach the next milestone. I really need to look at all the good things in my life! So this is my year to finally just be me and not define myself by the next "thing" that I am working on. It's time to really start living.

Merry Christmas!

Thanksgiving everyday!

In the past year so much has happened in our lives: I'm back to work full time from part time, paying out the whazoo for daycare (I could probably afford 2 or 3 vacation homes for this price), finishing my master's degree (finished 21 credits in a year), Mark went back to school and is gone more, I've been battling fibromyalgia, Julian is two (need I say more), we had to replace the air conditioner, furnace, all outter doors and storm doors, repairs to the car, we got our landscaping finished and patio poured, and Liam has colic and acid reflux (so much screaming and puke everywhere)! Needless to say, it's been a rough go at times.
I've realized over the past few weeks that I need to change my thinking and appreciate all the goodness and blessing that God has brought into my life. Thanksgiving should not just be practiced one day a year, but everyday. I know we've all recieved email forwards that remind us of this, but I'm making it part of my daily routine. How can I not when all we hear are stories of our nieghbors, friends, and family loosing their homes and jobs. I've come to see that I'm fortunate to have a job, I thank God everytime I pay a bill (because I can), I'm fortunate that my kids have the best care in the world (they did take care of me after all), I was given the opprotunity to get a master's degree, Mark was able to get most of his master's degree paid for by a grant, I could have a disease that is much worse than fibromyalgia, and I have the two most beautiful boys in the world! And even though it can be difficult dealing with Liam's colic and reflux, I'm fortunate to know that I don't have to hesitate taking him to the doctors because I don't have insurance.
So on Thanksgiving this year, I enjoyed a day to sleep in, enjoyed wonderful cooking with our family, and really became thankful for everything in my life!