People sometimes ask what my favorite part of being a mom is. It took me a while to pick one because, well this babe is so dear to me there are many wonderful things. But I think I may have decided on one, for the moment at least, until the next heart melting thing he does. When I nurse him he will often stop and look up at me, when he sees me looking back at him he grins, you know the kind where it starts with his mouth then the eyes light up and pretty soon his whole body is wiggling from pure excitement. He is so happy to see me and that I came to hang out with him while he's eating that he cant even contain his joy. Now if that doesn't melt your heart I don't know what will.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
House Progress
Things are moving along at the new house. And this next two weeks will see things go together at warp speed (at least that's the hope!!!)
Since I last showed some pictures, we've finished ripping out all the drywall in the upstairs bedrooms, re-hung the drywall, got it all taped and Charlie has been a wizard at getting all the mud on the walls. We'll finish texturing the last bedroom in the next day or two. We've gotten one room primed, so it is almost painting time and time to start seeing these bedrooms coming together!
In the basement we've ripped out all the disgusting carpet. Don't worry Rachel, we left your bowling alley carpet in that room for now as it seemed to be in good condition. The previous owners had two dogs and two cats and by the looks and smell of the floors, they weren't very good at letting them out to do their business! The house is finally starting to smell decent, love it!!
This is the mural wall that had mold on it. Everything has been taken off and the walls and insulation disinfected and it now airing out.
Upstairs we got the main living area painted. It's hard to get a good picture of the color, but it is a fun gray color. Thank you to our families who came out in force one Saturday to knock off a huge list of to-dos! It was amazing how fast things got done with that many people. We are blessed to have such great families.
In the next two weeks we are going to have to:
- Finish texturing
- Finish priming the bedrooms
- Another coat of paint on all the ceilings
- Paint the bedrooms
- Install hardwood laminate floors in the main living area
- Prep bedrooms for carpet install
- Get doors hung
- Install trim
- Decide on light fixtures
- Build pantry in back hall
- Get our new appliances installed
- The list keeps going on and on but we're nearing the end
- MOVE IN!!!!!!!! ok that probably wont be in two weeks, but it is getting closer
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Kidneys Strike Again
Last Monday I took Elliot to meet a new urologist here in our new town. I had thought that this appointment was just going to be a meet the new dr. and set up tests in a neighboring larger town as our previous urologist had wanted. Nope that wasn't to be. Before he even came in the room to meet us he had an ultrasound set up for us that day and was prepared for action based on E's medical history. He threw so much new information at me that day I felt like I was on emotional roller coaster. He would go from saying that his kidneys and urinary tract were so bad that he will lose them within a few years, to saying I don't want you to worry we have time on our side and don't want to rush into anything. Seriously?!?! My child could lose his kidneys and you don't want me to worry? We went to the ultrasound where E totally charmed the sonographer and tried to help her out by moving the wand where he wanted it. Back in the dr's office we learned that things have gotten worse in the two months that we had a scan done. He ordered E to be on antibiotics for the foreseeable future (since he is at a high risk for a UTI with his urinary complications) and said that he is going under as soon as possible. After going back and forth to the clinic to meet with the urologist and a pediatrician a couple of times we were cleared for the OR.
Monday this week the three of us were at the hospital bright and early and about to send my baby into a strangers arms to be put under, scary like none other! The test he was having done was very similar to what he had done previously but he has to lay perfectly still so that is why they put him under, there was no cutting or surgery type thing involved. They inject a radioactive dye into an iv and take pictures several seconds apart to watch his body process the dye. The test didn't tell them all the wanted to know. We still didn't know where the blockage was or what it is. So we had to go back in yesterday to have round two of anesthesia. This time they put a scope up him to take a closer look at the urethra and the ureters to hopefully determine where the problem was. The Dr. was thinking that the blockage was in the urethra and that it could be valves (flaps of tissue that look like sails that would obstruct the flow). If that was the case he could cauterize them and get rid of them right there. Turns out they looked beautiful, no problems there. When he got to the ureters he couldn't get the scope up them they were so restricted. So this is sort of good news. We at least know where the blockage is happening. We know that it is not problems with the kidneys, just the pipes leading from the kidneys which is causing extra fluid to hang out in the kidney. This issue is also much more likely to correct itself, so we may not have to have surgery after all! We will have a follow up scan next week, and then monitor the situation monthly with ultrasounds. If things do not get worse, we can just let it be.
Elliot did wonderful throughout all of this craziness. He is such a trooper. He had no issues with the anesthesia. Made all the nurses fall in love with him with his gorgeous smiles. He had to have a breathing tube both times which made his throat pretty sore. That was difficult to listen to! Yesterday's procedure with the scope made it painful for him to go to the bathroom so he would moan/whine every time he had to pee.That was the worst part. But he is starting to be my happy smiley baby again this morning.
So that is where things sit for now. We are just hoping his body will grow out of this and will not get worse and warrant surgery. Whew, I'm ready for a nap after all this stress!!
Monday this week the three of us were at the hospital bright and early and about to send my baby into a strangers arms to be put under, scary like none other! The test he was having done was very similar to what he had done previously but he has to lay perfectly still so that is why they put him under, there was no cutting or surgery type thing involved. They inject a radioactive dye into an iv and take pictures several seconds apart to watch his body process the dye. The test didn't tell them all the wanted to know. We still didn't know where the blockage was or what it is. So we had to go back in yesterday to have round two of anesthesia. This time they put a scope up him to take a closer look at the urethra and the ureters to hopefully determine where the problem was. The Dr. was thinking that the blockage was in the urethra and that it could be valves (flaps of tissue that look like sails that would obstruct the flow). If that was the case he could cauterize them and get rid of them right there. Turns out they looked beautiful, no problems there. When he got to the ureters he couldn't get the scope up them they were so restricted. So this is sort of good news. We at least know where the blockage is happening. We know that it is not problems with the kidneys, just the pipes leading from the kidneys which is causing extra fluid to hang out in the kidney. This issue is also much more likely to correct itself, so we may not have to have surgery after all! We will have a follow up scan next week, and then monitor the situation monthly with ultrasounds. If things do not get worse, we can just let it be.
Elliot did wonderful throughout all of this craziness. He is such a trooper. He had no issues with the anesthesia. Made all the nurses fall in love with him with his gorgeous smiles. He had to have a breathing tube both times which made his throat pretty sore. That was difficult to listen to! Yesterday's procedure with the scope made it painful for him to go to the bathroom so he would moan/whine every time he had to pee.That was the worst part. But he is starting to be my happy smiley baby again this morning.
So that is where things sit for now. We are just hoping his body will grow out of this and will not get worse and warrant surgery. Whew, I'm ready for a nap after all this stress!!
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