Monday, June 13, 2011
Grandad
We had a good time in TX remembering Grandad (my Dad's Dad). He lived to age 96, and by God's grace was ready to go. He was able to be at home during his last days in his earthly body. It was a blessing to remember his generous heart and be amazed at how many will miss him. I remember:
*When I was young (apparently just 5 or 6, I don't remember being THAT young...) Grandad let me drive the golf cart. That was a mistake he only made once, as there were disastrous consequences.
*Grandad would always let me help pick the figs. Figs and Grammy's fig preserves were one of the highlights of seeing Grammy & Grandad in the summers.
*Grandad patiently taught me how to play Kings on the Corner and Skipbo and 42 (a domino game).
I am thankful that the Lord gave me such a wonderful Grandad. He will be missed.
*When I was young (apparently just 5 or 6, I don't remember being THAT young...) Grandad let me drive the golf cart. That was a mistake he only made once, as there were disastrous consequences.
*Grandad would always let me help pick the figs. Figs and Grammy's fig preserves were one of the highlights of seeing Grammy & Grandad in the summers.
*Grandad patiently taught me how to play Kings on the Corner and Skipbo and 42 (a domino game).
I am thankful that the Lord gave me such a wonderful Grandad. He will be missed.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Texas Update
We are having a wonderful time in Houston, TX. I am particularly enjoying shorts, tank tops and feeling warm! My sister has the same family we do: boy-girl-girl, same spacing, except she had her first child 18 months before we did. Our 2 boys are loving playing together, and Katie and Julia (3 weeks apart in birth) are also enjoying each other. We can definitely tell Katie is 2nd born. She's doing her best to do everything the boys do whereas Julia is more content to just do her own thing (Julia's older sister Lydia stayed home with Daddy. Lydia is the one to hang with Jacob at home). We will definitely upload some pictures when we get home.
We are enjoying time with my Dad's brother and his family, and we'll see some more cousins and extended family tomorrow morning and in the afternoon at Grandad's funeral. We have been abundantly blessed by Grammy's friends and my Aunt & Uncle's friends. More pies than I can count have been delivered and lots of delicious food. I am REALLY looking forward to the BBQ for dinner tonight, can't wait! We had some delicious tuna fish sandwiches for lunch yummy mayo).
Jeremy made it through is red-eye and arrived here this morning. The last time he took a red-eye it was his first time to meet my parents. That time he had the misfortune to sit next to a sun-burned body builder who radiated heat and "squished" Jeremy during the flight. This time, however, he was able to catch some sleep. While I haven't acquired too many other details, I did ascertain that a sunburned body builder was not next to him =)
Kara is doing well, and many who have prayed for her are thankful for the opportunity to let friends and family see her.
We are off to go swimming with the kiddos, so I'll have to post pics and more updates later.
We are enjoying time with my Dad's brother and his family, and we'll see some more cousins and extended family tomorrow morning and in the afternoon at Grandad's funeral. We have been abundantly blessed by Grammy's friends and my Aunt & Uncle's friends. More pies than I can count have been delivered and lots of delicious food. I am REALLY looking forward to the BBQ for dinner tonight, can't wait! We had some delicious tuna fish sandwiches for lunch yummy mayo).
Jeremy made it through is red-eye and arrived here this morning. The last time he took a red-eye it was his first time to meet my parents. That time he had the misfortune to sit next to a sun-burned body builder who radiated heat and "squished" Jeremy during the flight. This time, however, he was able to catch some sleep. While I haven't acquired too many other details, I did ascertain that a sunburned body builder was not next to him =)
Kara is doing well, and many who have prayed for her are thankful for the opportunity to let friends and family see her.
We are off to go swimming with the kiddos, so I'll have to post pics and more updates later.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
We made it to TX
We are in TX . Hooray! Thanks to my Mom, who traveled with me and the kids, we did great. It was a fast trip (30 min layover, yikes!). God orchestrated all our feeding/pottying/pumping needs beautifully, and now we can relax and enjoy being here.
Our children are being loved on by our extended family, and we are loving it. Jeremy flies red-eye Wednesday night and will be here Thursday. Hooray!
We are going to take full advantage of the (hot) weather. Connor and Katie already made good use out of my Grandma's birdbath (splish, splash) and sprinklers. We've heard rumor of a few spray parks, so we'll see what the next week holds. Thanks for your prayers.
Our children are being loved on by our extended family, and we are loving it. Jeremy flies red-eye Wednesday night and will be here Thursday. Hooray!
We are going to take full advantage of the (hot) weather. Connor and Katie already made good use out of my Grandma's birdbath (splish, splash) and sprinklers. We've heard rumor of a few spray parks, so we'll see what the next week holds. Thanks for your prayers.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Whirlwind
This weekend was quite full. Saturday I went to the chiropractor (hooray! Long overdue) and then to a soccer game in Redmond. The pastor who married us (from Albuquerque, we were married in So Cal) was in town with his wife and son for the son's soccer tournament. The son has given a verbal commitment to play for UW, so this was high level soccer. It was a gorgeous day, and we were so thankful to spend it on the field with our good friends. The kids did great despite the lack of naps (God was gracious in allowing Connor a long nap Fri and Katie to sleep in Sat.)
We then went to McDonald's to spend our "extra time" before a Sunday School activity. This is the first time they've been to the McDonald's Play Place. Highlight for Mommy: $1 sundaes. YUM!
Saturday evening we were at a church good-bye BBQ for the Abrams family. We will miss you but are excited for what God has for you just around this bend in the road.
Sunday morning, Kara woke up to eat at 6 (actually she woke up because her nose was too full of boogers. She ate a tiny bit but went back to sleep). We heard Connor go potty at that time and get back in bed. Later, when we all got up for reals (8:40... unreal at our house!! 6:30 is usually sleeping in). We asked Connor (knowing the answer) if he had gone potty already this morning. He answered "No, I went potty in the middle of the night." Somehow we succeeded in communicating that in the NW daylight does NOT mean daytime. What a huge achievement!! =)
Then it was to church and home again. We were hoping our friends, the Schmidts, would be abe to come to our home for dinner, but that did not work out. I felt like a kid who could not understand why Daddy said "no" for an ice cream cone. "Why, God? Isn't his a good thing?" Thankfully, unlike a child, I can KNOW for certain that my heavenly Father knows what's best (while we earthly parents do our best, we do fail)
Tomorrow early a.m. the kids and I are going to Baytown, TX for a Memorial service for my Grandad. He was 96 years old and has been ready to "go" for a while, so we are thankful for that. We are thankful to have the opportunity to see my sister, Liz, and 2 of her children. (They live in Asia so we do not get to see them often). Please be praying for anything and everything you can imagine. Particularly traveling with Kara, her breathing on the airplane (she is getting over her cold in the nick of time, thanks God!) and all her and my paraphernalia with NG tube, pumping gear, etc. I'm sure you can imagine... Thank you!
My Mom graciously stayed in Washington so she can fly down with me, and Jeremy will join us on Thursday.
Kara ready for a sun-filled day!
We then went to McDonald's to spend our "extra time" before a Sunday School activity. This is the first time they've been to the McDonald's Play Place. Highlight for Mommy: $1 sundaes. YUM!
Saturday evening we were at a church good-bye BBQ for the Abrams family. We will miss you but are excited for what God has for you just around this bend in the road.
Sunday morning, Kara woke up to eat at 6 (actually she woke up because her nose was too full of boogers. She ate a tiny bit but went back to sleep). We heard Connor go potty at that time and get back in bed. Later, when we all got up for reals (8:40... unreal at our house!! 6:30 is usually sleeping in). We asked Connor (knowing the answer) if he had gone potty already this morning. He answered "No, I went potty in the middle of the night." Somehow we succeeded in communicating that in the NW daylight does NOT mean daytime. What a huge achievement!! =)
Then it was to church and home again. We were hoping our friends, the Schmidts, would be abe to come to our home for dinner, but that did not work out. I felt like a kid who could not understand why Daddy said "no" for an ice cream cone. "Why, God? Isn't his a good thing?" Thankfully, unlike a child, I can KNOW for certain that my heavenly Father knows what's best (while we earthly parents do our best, we do fail)
Tomorrow early a.m. the kids and I are going to Baytown, TX for a Memorial service for my Grandad. He was 96 years old and has been ready to "go" for a while, so we are thankful for that. We are thankful to have the opportunity to see my sister, Liz, and 2 of her children. (They live in Asia so we do not get to see them often). Please be praying for anything and everything you can imagine. Particularly traveling with Kara, her breathing on the airplane (she is getting over her cold in the nick of time, thanks God!) and all her and my paraphernalia with NG tube, pumping gear, etc. I'm sure you can imagine... Thank you!
My Mom graciously stayed in Washington so she can fly down with me, and Jeremy will join us on Thursday.
And to close, isn't Katie's hair just adorable? This is fresh after a bath. I couldn't resist taking (and sharing) this picture.
And our Kara-beara, if she's tired, she sleeps. I have to be QUICK to get her in her bed.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Kara, 3 months
We can hardly believe it's been 3 months. Wait a minute, YES we can! What a journey.
Kara continues to grow. She is smiling, "talking", can hold her head up for a few seconds during "tummy time", and sleeps like a dream. This week has been a tad bit tougher in the sleep department because she has a cold (and I'm sure many of you can remember or imagine how frustrated a little baby is when they can't sleep due to their boogers). Jeremy and I have been using the booger-bulb frequently.
Health-wise, she just needs to grow. Her oral feed volume is not improving and is fairly sporadic. We continue to keep feeding her so she will still "get" eating and not develop food aversion. We are thankful we can give her the calories she needs, regardless. I think that Kara, due to her limited lung capacity, only has a certain amount of energy (lower than most her age). If she did choose to eat all her food (and she could), I don't think she'd have energy to push up, move her head, chatter with Mommy and Daddy, etc. We can give her extra calories, we cannot help her muscles and brain develop. So God is graciously enabling her to "choose" to do the latter on her own, at the expense of the former. Blessed be the Lord!
Jeremy and I continue to navigate the new normal. I am running (o.k.... plodding!) about 10 min 3x a week, and that has gone a huge way to improve my outlook. We are also heavily dependent on the Word to fortify our defenses against frustration, depression, and exhaustion!
Thanks for your support these 3 months (and long before, when the CCAM was first found). We are abundantly blessed.
Katie has just started to ask to "hold" Kara and help bottle-feed her.
What would I do without my helpers?
Ask Daddy... not sure when or why... =)
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
How many...
How many times have we changed Kara's NG tube?
Including yesterday morning, at a friend's house on the way to a doctor's appt (thanks for helping and for watching Connor and Katie, Megan!!)
- 8 times in 2 months. This does not include the times we've simply "put it back in" after being pulled out (if the facial tape still has good adhesion).
How many ketchup packets does it take for Connor and Meg to share a small Burger King french fry? (Hint: it's the same as the # of times Connor dips a single fry into the ketchup).
-8 ketchup packets. Jeremy went to Burger Master while we were at Children's, got his burger and condiments, sat down and realized... he got probably 3x the ketchup he needed because he's used to getting ketchup for both of us since we've been married.
How many times do we use a syringe to put different liquids (not milk) in Kara's NG tube each day?
- 12 times. 7 syringes of water (1 after each feed). 2 doses of Renitadin. 2 doses of prune juice (beats suppositories!). 1 dose of poly-vi-sol... oh yeah! NG tube bonus! Not in the mouth =) But it does still get spit up occasionally.... =| Technically when we give a med we're supposed to "flush" with water before and after, so we should be giving even more than that. Just a "day in the life"
Including yesterday morning, at a friend's house on the way to a doctor's appt (thanks for helping and for watching Connor and Katie, Megan!!)
- 8 times in 2 months. This does not include the times we've simply "put it back in" after being pulled out (if the facial tape still has good adhesion).
How many ketchup packets does it take for Connor and Meg to share a small Burger King french fry? (Hint: it's the same as the # of times Connor dips a single fry into the ketchup).
-8 ketchup packets. Jeremy went to Burger Master while we were at Children's, got his burger and condiments, sat down and realized... he got probably 3x the ketchup he needed because he's used to getting ketchup for both of us since we've been married.
How many times do we use a syringe to put different liquids (not milk) in Kara's NG tube each day?
- 12 times. 7 syringes of water (1 after each feed). 2 doses of Renitadin. 2 doses of prune juice (beats suppositories!). 1 dose of poly-vi-sol... oh yeah! NG tube bonus! Not in the mouth =) But it does still get spit up occasionally.... =| Technically when we give a med we're supposed to "flush" with water before and after, so we should be giving even more than that. Just a "day in the life"
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