Addy update

Addy was put on medicine for CVS in December.  We have noticed a slight improvement.  When she has been sick it hasn't been as bad.  There have a been a few times when she is showing her signs of getting sick that she hasn't actually thrown up but sleeps instead.  Her  time between episodes seems to be getting longer.  It was usually 2-4 weeks and she recently went from 2/7/12 to this past Sunday night, 4/1/12 and that is the longest she has gone! 

We had a follow up with the GI DR the first part of March and he was happy to hear that she hadn't been sick in a month and she had also gaine 4 1/2 lbs since the last time we saw him 3 months before. The DRs have been worried about her weight for a while.  She has been maintaining 30 lbs for a long time.  But she hasn't lost weight but wasn't gaining and now she is gaining!  So we are staying on the medicine and another check up in 3 months. 

We also saw the allergist in March and I basically paid $60 to hear that we are on the right track with the GI dr.... and we don't need to see him again unless I see a reason to.... I guess that's how things go sometimes!

Another thing is we go back to the urologist for an ultrasound to see her kidney and ureter.  And then we find out more about surgery then.  In December the kidney and ureter had grown from the time before and the DR said that once it shows growth  it continues to grow and doesn't go back to normal so she would need surgery.... However... I'm believeing that everything will be the right size!  Because our God is a healer!  I truely believe that!  Can I get an AMEN!!!

This is what Addy does when she is having an episode... she sleeps (when she isn't throwing up and having diaherra)... almost coma like.  It can be scary how out of it she is. :(

This is what happens...

when you have a nursing newborn AND a toddler...

This was a brand new thing of grapes too....

He knows when I'm nursing and I can't do anything about him getting into stuff.  I will hear the chair slide in the kitchen.  He moves them around so he can get to food!  He has walked into the living room (while I'm nursing) with chocolate all around his mouth and laugh and run from me.  LOL!  He's a mess but a cute mess!

Family of 7

Adjusting to a family of 7 was pretty easy.  I think after 3 kids it's easy to adjust.  You're already out numbered so what's 1 more?  For us it was a harder transition when we had Addison (our 2nd baby).  Most days are the same just have a nursing baby.  We took about a week break from homeschooling.  My MIL, Boo was in town for 2 weeks to help out and that was a huge blessing.  She kept the laundry going and fed us! My mom came over to help too.

I love seeing Nathan hold our children...

Nora my little sister and Miley

Nora, Gramma (my mom) and Miley

In this picture below, Miley looks so much like Addison. Seiously I need to get our Addy's baby pics.

Addy really loves Milye :)

I love this girl!

Miley Sunbathing

We had to make sure to keep Miley in the sun at all times.  (this was before she was admitted to the hospital for jaundice)

Miley and Daddy... She looks so peaceful sleeping...

Miley's 1st Bath

Miley was over a week old when she got her first bath at home.  I felt so bad.  All our babies were bathed the next day after we came home.  But I guess being baby # 5 and having to  keep going back to the hospital for jaundice checks and then being admitted for a night played into all that.

Miley finally gets clean....

I remember when we did Taylor's 1st bath and I was so nervous to bathe her I made my mom do it.  I'm old pro by now I guess!

TODAY...

So I still haven't updated my blog since Miley was born... I'll get to that, one of these days!  But today was a day...

So it all started last night actually... Addison was sick.  (she hasn't been sick since 2/7/12 and this is the longest that she has ever gone in between each episode)  She threw up multiple times and through out the night.  Thankfully Nathan stayed on the couch with her since Miley still wakes up twice each night to eat.  We had a follow up with her GI DR about a month ago and wanted me to get labwork done the next time she is sick to see if her results would be different. 

That meant I had to go today...  We all woke up got dressed managed to get a homeschool lesson done with Taylor, fed the baby and out the door we were. 

We have a new van, a 12 passenger van... I call it The Beast... b/c it's huge!  I love it but it's HUGE!  I realize on the way to the Children's hospital I'm going to have to park The Beast in a parking garage.  I call Nathan and he assures me that it will fit and not to worry.  Guess what?  It didn't fit.  I literally drove up and could NOT pull through because the clearance sign was almost at my eye level... Reverse.  I call Nathan he laughs at me, reassures me there has to be parking for large vehicles.  So I happen to find where we can park The Beast.  I successfully park it in the large vehicle area (which I chose the top of that garage b/c I'm scared to get out of the parking spot) I need to practice....

Anywho... now we have a long walk to the children's hospital. We make it to where we are suppose to be.  We waited forever to be called back for them to do the lab work, 45 minutes to be exact. Kids did pretty good.  Which means we had several bathroom trips, Jackson running away from me down a hall while my back was turned helping Payton go potty.  Get him back in the stroller strapped down and will not let him out again!  It is passed the kids lunch time now.  They are hungry... not complaining but I'm hungry and I'm complaining.  Miley has been happy until now... baby starts to scream....  I'm holding her and we are FINALLY called back. 

I have to put Miley down, which means she starts to scream again. I am holding Addy to comfort her while they draw her blood.  Blood draw is done, baby is still screaming. 

I'm assuming the baby wants to eat early since she has been screaming her head off, go back to the waiting room and feed the baby.  She should be happy now... but she's not. 

Gather up all the kids again and head to the hospital cafeteria for lunch b/c I'm HUNGRY!  Their fryer was broken which meant I couldn't get chicken tenders like I planned. (BABY IS STILL SCREAMING) Out of  desperation I order 2 chicken quesadillas. 

We find a seat (which a very nice man helped carry our food to b/c aparently I have my hands full)  Taylor is complaining that she doesn't want to eat b/c it looks gross.  I can't blame her b/c I don't want to get it b/c it looks gross.  I take a bite... it's gross.  So we go back to the food area and I ask if I can just get a cheese one b/c it's gross.  They agree (thank goodness!)  Oh and the baby is STILL SCREAMING!  There are a lot of people in line... and we're waiting.  I have to give our life story and ages of our children to these nice nurses in line.... b/c they can't believe all these children are mine.  (really it's 5 only kids people!)  Now... Addy throws up. I take a deep breathe.  I feel so bad for her.  She had been fine all morning.  Not sure if it was the blood work or what?  I ask the cashier if I can get my money back b/c we just need to go home.  (It's now 1:30 and kids with no food or me for that matter) The baby FINALLY stops screaming.  I get my diaper bag for my wallet to get our refund... and realize Addy threw up in the diaper bag.  I take another deep breathe... clean up the best we can. 

We move along to walk the long walk back to The Beast.  We are going by some elevators where they are moving patients in beds and such... Addy throws up again!  It splatters on Taylor's leg.  She is saying "GROSS MOM!!!"  Clean up again.   We finally made it back to The Beast where I take another deep breathe.

And that was my day so far!  We are home kids are fed and Miley and Jackson are napping. 

Miley

Gotta catch up on my blog!

So we came home from the hospital the evening of 1/12/12.  Miley's jaundice levels were low but we had to go back for a recheck.  We went back 3 days in a row and her levels kept going up.  So on Sunday 1/15/12 she had to be admitted to the hospital and put on the bili lights.  This was rough with 4 other kids at home.  I felt so bad for them b/c we just got home.  So we decided that I would just go with Miley to the hospital instead of Nathan and I. (my in laws were in town)  Plus the fact that Nathan also threw his back out that morning helped with that decision. 

So Miley and I went to Children's and it was a very long night.  They initally started her on the bili blanket and then brought in the big lights to go on top of her as well.  With all the rechecks and the nurse not knowing how to prick a baby's heel... I think I got 2 hours of very interrupted sleep... and was so ready to go home.  Thankfully we were able to leave the next evening! :)  The pediatrician had prepared me to stay 2 nights.  So I was so glad that her levels came down quickly!!!

I had more pics from my phone but lost them all when my phone landed in bubbles :(  I tell ya me and electronics have not gotten a long lately!  More on that later!