An Appreciated Prayer {& a Praise}

Another melancholy post is on it's way..just to let you know. But this time it isn't Me, Me, ME!

Someone I know is going through something major in her life right now. She has been on the "wrong path"for a few years now. She chose the wrong crowd and became addicted to some things. Her daughter was born in 2007 and she is a sweetie! We all love her dearly, especially Miss Priss. They are besties. We all thought having her daughter would change her ways, but it didn't. She has been to numerous rehabs and counselling appointments, but always ends up in the same places.

This time though, it's gotten bad. She is 6.5months pregnant with a little boy. She didn't know she was pregnant with him until she was 4.5months. How? I have no idea. But she didn't, until she showed up in the hospital for trying to OD(allegedly)

Well, it happened again. She is 6.5mos. and ended up in the hospital with 3 different meds in her system. The baby's heartrate was to high. They did an u/s and found out that HE has a hole in his abdomen and brain and possibly has chromosomal defects. {sad face}

I'm sick. Literally sick. It disgusts me. I have no other words. Just please keep your opinions to yourself and say a prayer for this BABY! He does not deserve this.

{ps. If you know who i'm speaking of IRL, please, please DO NOT go around gossiping!!!! This does not need to be known. I decided to post it here for prayers.}

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Now for the Praise!

I think I got a JOB!! Are you silently saying "You think??" Yeah me too.

Well, here's how the phone call went.
"Hi KC! Can you come in at noon tomorrow?"
Me. "YES absoloutley!"
"Great. We want to introduce you to the doctors and staff and have you fill out some paperwork."
Me. "Okay great. Thank you!"

Now, hmm. Does that sound like I got the job or just an interview? She sounded very positive and upbeat, so i'm praying that I got it! Woo Hoo!! Don't want to get my hopes up to high just yet though.

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Care Bear Opthamology Appt 4

We had to take Care Bear in for her fourth Opthamology appointment at Children's. It was another scheduled routine visit. Both C and I were anticipating this visit as the visit where they'd schedule "the surgery."

We were right. I'm not sure if that's unfortunate or fortunate. It is fortunate because she needs it. Her poor little right eye is slowly failing. It's lagging behind the left eye quite noticeably. Last time we were there was in October and both eyes were equal, but now, three months later, her left eye is much stronger. It is unfortunate though, because I don't want my baby to have to undergo surgery. It's such an intense feeling of anxiety and it's still 2 months away.

I've waited for this day, for when they told us she needed the surgery because I want her to have it. I don't want her eyes to continue crossing and have even more reason for hateful kids to pick on her. I don't want her to lose vision in one of her eyes. However, I also don't want her to have to be put under with anesthesia. {sad face}

They gave us more patches {sigh} and this time they sent us home with Teragard tape that you put on top of the patches so that she can't rip them off as easily. Oh and if that doesn't work,they sent us home with arm braces that won't allow her to reach up and pull the patch off. Cruel much? I know.. right? That's what I thought, but if it helps to strengthen her right eye, I will do it.

For some reason, i'm emotional today. Everything sort of hit me hard. I'm excited to start a new chapter of my life, but at the same time on days like this when CB or MP need both of us, it's difficult to think of what you'll do at the next visit. Will we be there together? Will we still be on friendly terms? I hope so. For today though, we were. It was all about CB today. Lil princess as one of the nurses called her.

Stinker. She was so good through the entire process. They had to dilate again and that is just terrible for a 14 month old. Especially one who is already sensitive to the sun. She couldn't even open her eyes in the car, but she was a trooper and decided to just fall asleep. {smiley face}

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A Rough Week

I know it's been a minute since i've posted. We've had a really rough week around our house.

Wednesday, Care Bear woke from a nap around 4pm and was burning up! I took her temp and it was 102. She had no other symptoms though. By that evening, it had risen to 103.5!! I freaked out of course. Neither of our girls have ever had a temp that high. {We took Bear to the ER back in Sept for a fever of 103. It was a "virus"}I told C that we needed to go to the ER immediately. They got us in pretty quickly. The doctor came in and did nothing! She briefly looked in her ears and attempted to look in her throat, then laughed and said "Mom, I think you may have overreacted a little. Go home and let her sleep it off. It's just a fever illness." I was pissed!! We went home and were up all night. Care Bear didn't sleep at all!! Her fever went down alittle, but shot right back up after a little while.

Fast forward to Thursday morning. She still had fever and was acting unlike herself. She wouldn't shut her mouth and she was profusely drooling. She would not drink a drop of anything or take her paci. That's when I knew somethign was really wrong. Her paci is her comforst and for her not to want it, something has got to be going on. Like I said, she didn't drink one drop of anything and only had two wet diapers all day long. I was so scared that she was going to dehydrate.

Around 6pm Thur night, she became extremely fussy and was drooling everywhere! She has never drooled, so that was really weird to me. I called her on call nurse from her Pediatrician's office and told them what was going on. They said go back to the ER now! Oh.My.Gosh! I could not believe it was happening,but I figured it would come to that.

When we got there, the again took us seriously and got us in quickly. The nurses were much nicer than the night before. So.Was.The.Doctor!!! They came in and evaulated her and said "she does not feel well. You can see it in her eyes." They checked her throat {like I told the dr the night before to do!!} and guess what they saw? Big sores all over the back of her throat! I started crying and told the doctor I was so angry because I had just told the other dr to check her throat and she said it looked perfect. Ugh! She was also pretty dehydrated. =( I knew she would be. They came in to do an IV so I stepped out of the room. I heard her start screaming and I almost fainted. The doctor came by and gave me a char and some gatorade so I wouldnt pass out.

Once they got the IV started, they started fluids and let them run for 2 hours. Then they did an Xray on her throat to make sure it was swelling and the virus wasn't moving down her throat. {It wasn't, praise God!} After that they gave her more Motrin because her fever kept going up. She was laying there like a limp noodle. We just held her and rocked her. It was so sad, she looked pitiful. Oh I forgot, they also drew blood when they started the IV. When it came back, her white cell count was a lot higher than they were "comfortable with" so they also started her on an antibiotic.

We got to the hospital at 7pm and didn't get to leave until 12:00am. Then guess what we had to do this morning? Wake up at 6am to get Miss Priss back to Children's for her 2 year Cardiology appt. Snoooooooze! I'm so so tired.

Care Bear is doing well this morning. I've been alternating Motrin and Tylenol every 3 hours. Antibiotic every 8 hours for 10 days and Pain meds every 6 hours. Whew. Long.Long.Week! Please pray that Care Bear starts feeling better and will start drinking some fluids. If she doesn't, she will have to be admitted to the hospital.

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To Me, November Means Thankful

Sometimes, I tend to get wrapped up in our wants {and needs too} and forget to mention the things i'm {so very} thankful for! I've never been one to think my life was great because i've been through a lot, however, recentley i've begun to realize that my life is great. It isn't the worldly things that makes life great like I used to imagine, but rather the people and blessings in life. I know this is sort of a deep post for me, but I feel that God has blessed me in more ways than I am worthy and the least I can do is spread the word about Him.

I'm thankful for so many things in my life, but I will only name a few today.

Obviously, my family. They are my WORLD. I can't imagine where i'd be today without them. Probably.. well I honestly don't know and i'm glad I didn't have to. I do have them and that's what is important. I found a wonderful guy, whom I married, bought a house, and built a life with. My girls are so much more than my children, they are my heart. They are what I wake up for every morning. I.Love.My.Family.More.Than.Words! Thankful.

C came home from work tonight and immediately{after eating supper} x started working on our 1/2 bathroom. We had to gut it a while back and are just now getting to redoing it. We decided that we would finish it this weekend, so we could put our house up for sale. He was a trooper. The only Kilz we had was oil based and he stayed in there painting with the door closed so the girls wouldn't smell the fumes! He almost passed out before he took a breather outside, but he got it done. Thankful.

A few days ago, I received a letter in the mail from Arkansas Children's Hospital. We have many many bills due to them and I sighed as I opened it as I just knew it was going to be that $1134 bill staring me in the face. Much to my disbelief, it wasn't. We had applied to a program that ACH generously offers to help with bills and we were approved..100%!!! All of Bear's outstanding bills will be covered as well as bills that we may have in the next 6 months. This is completely of God yall. I have been struggling for the longest time trying to figure out how we can pay this bills. Finally, I just quit stressing and gave it to God in prayer. Not long at all after that, I got this letter in the mail. Thankful.

Speaking of Care Bear's bills and Children's Hospital and all that jazz, we are doing well with the patching of her eyes. She doesn't mind the patches and actually sits still while I put them on. She'll wear them for over an hour and never bother them until she is tired. She amazes me every day. To think that a year ago this time, I thought my baby was blind. I was angry all the time because she wouldn't look at me and her eye movements confused me, but now she is the most fearless and happy child I know. Thankful.

It's the Holiday season and my family is healthy. I will be drinking yummy coffee while shopping this season's sales. I will see my realitives. I will watch my girls giant smiles on their faces when they see their new gifts. I will say a prayer for all of the children who wont have as wonderful a holiday season as us. And most importantly, I will thank God for making this Christmas verse possible. I John 4:9 "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into this world, that we might live through Him."and I John 4:10 "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." {So incredibly} Thankful.

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"Shots on My Birthday? Someone's in trouble!"

This is Care Bear first thing this morning after her morn nap. I told her she had to have shots and she started jabbering, I think she was letting me have it in baby language.

I got a few cute pictures of her, but she is just to busy to stay still for the camera.

I took her to the doctor and her ear infections are already starting to improve after only 2.5 days on the antibiotic. Yay! {yes I will continue to give them to her for the full 10 days}

She weighed 20lbs 9oz and was 30.5in long. She has consistently stayed right above average for her age. She also had to get 3 shots plus the seasonal flu shot, so four altogether. That has got to be one of the most traumatic experiences for mother and child. Man, I hate the act of shots, but i'm thankful for their purpose. {no debates!} She was so worn out, she crashed in the car on the way home.

Miss Priss is so excited that today is Care Bear's birthday! She thinks the party is today even though I keep explaining that "no it is Saturday.."

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A 'Lil Sugar for your Morning Coffee

Today is Care Bear's Opthamologist appt at Children's. I'm really nervous. I don't want them to to say she needs surgery, but i'm sure it will come to that. The nurse from the eye clinic called yesterday {one day before her appt mind you} and asked
"Is there any way we can reschedule for Wednesday?"
I said "No, we already planned our week around this appt and my husband took off work."
She said "Ok, i'll tell him."
Well, I get a call back on the voicemail saying "He can't make it at 1:00, you'll have to wait and come at 2:45. He has a meeting and this isn't his normal day to see patients."
Well WHY would they schedule us for that day? That makes no sense to me! Oh well, i'm going to call this morning and make sure they wont send us home without being seen.

Loving her baby! She says "Awwww" and snuggles it really close =)

She also has her 1 yr check up next week. I'm excited to see how much she weighs. It seems like forever since we've been to a check up. I'm so not looking forward to the shots though. I still haven't decided about H1N1.. I've heard contrasting advice.

See the pumpkin?! I love the old school trick or treat pumpkins and was thrilled when Miss Priss just had to have one! She picked purple {her new favorite color} and chose pink for Care Bear. I wish I would have had it in the room for this pic!

Me and my Bitty Girl!
This was last week when Miss Priss was at Mother's Day Out! I dolled her up in pink!!

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Oh What a Day

Yesterday when I went in to get Care Bear from her crib, I noticed that she was warm. I took her temp and it was 101.3. I didn't think much about it because she has ran that high with her teeth before. Then last night she felt hot, not just warm, so I took her temp again and it was 102.7! I called the on call nurse and they told me teething temps do not get that high and to take her in to the doctor's office in the morn.

I slept with her all night last night because I wanted to keep a good check on her. She breathed heavily all night and felt hot! This morning she was as hot as fire. I took her temp and it was 103.2!! I freaked out and called C. He rushed home from work and his mom came over to watch Miss Priss. We took Care Bear to Children's Hospital because the first thing I thought was flu. I'm so scared of the stupid Swine Flu. A death was reported here last night. It was a six year old girl who had no symptoms other than fever.

We got to ACH and were immediately taken back. They checked everything and said since she had no other symptoms of the flu, but had a high fever, they wanted to take every precaution available. A chest xray was done as well as a catheter to do a urinalysis. Both of those things came back normal. The diagnosis was "Fever Virus." We were told to alternate Tylenol and Motrin every four hours and keep her well hydrated.

I'm still really scared it may be the flu. They didn't test for it at all because "the flu tests are only 50% accurate" Doctor said since she has no underlying medical issues and since she has had the fever two days, there was no special treatments they could give her for the flu anyway. Ugh. I still don't know what to think. I guess I should trust them and believe it is a virus. My poor girl. She looks pitiful. It's written all over her eyes that she doesn't feel good.

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