The J's

This is Jason!

2012-01-28T21:48:00.002-05:00

2012-01-27T14:15:00.001-05:00

So we decided that we ARE going to have a shindig to celebrate Jackson's first year.
We all deserve a party!!!
I sent out invites only online - we'll see how it goes!!
Should be fun!!!!

http://new.evite.com/?utm_source=msnlive_mail&utm_medium=email&utm_content=text&utm_campaign=host_conf&eml=h_conf#view_invite:eid=026DAAPMT7NZ5QB5CEPBJFRI5OV3EY

Poem for Jackson

2012-01-25T23:20:00.001-05:00

~Still Would Have Chosen You~

If before you were born, I could have gone to heaven and saw all the beautiful souls
I still would have chosen you

If God had told me, "This soul will one day need extra care and needs"
I still would have chosen you

If He would have told me, "This soul may make your heart bleed"
I still would have chosen you

If He had told me, "This soul will make you question the depth of your faith"
I still would have chosen you

If He had told me, "This soul will make tears flow from your eyes that could fill a river"
I still would have chosen you

If He had told me, "This soul may one day make you witness overbearing suffering"
I still would have chosen you

If He had told me, "All that you know to be normal will drastically change"
I still would have chosen you

Of course, even though I would have chosen you, I know it was God who chose me for you

(By Terri Banish)

*I WISH I had written this*

Jennni's 4th tooth

2012-01-19T21:07:00.000-05:00

"Mama... I think my tooth is loose...

I don't want it to come out...

this is now the worst day of my life!!!"

And five minutes later...

"This is the best day of my life!!"

Jackson's 3rd Surgery

2012-01-10T20:56:00.031-05:00

Tues Jan 10th 8pm
In 12 hours, Jackson will be lying on a table, not breathing on his own, with his penis degloved.

Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!

The girls headed off to Nan and Poppop's for two days.

Jason said that he and Jackson had a great night together...

Jackosn was laughing, wide awake and happy.

He got his antibacterial soap bath and then was asleep by 8.

We'll wake him at midnight for his last feeding before surgery.

In the morning, we'll be up at 4, on the road by 5, check in at 7 and off to the OR at 8.

See you on the other side!!!

****************************

Weds Jan 11th 5am

He must have been excited for surgery today because he's been up since 2:30am!!!
He sleeping now in the car.
I will not be surprised if we all die one day in a car wreck with Jason behind the wheel!!
***************************

8:12am
There he goes...
My son, my heart...
There he goes with complete strangers.
There he goes because I sent him there.
There he goes confused as to why we are not following.
There he goes...
There he goes to sleep.
There he goes to be invaded.
There he goes to heal.
There I go to cry.
There I go to eat.
There I go to wait.
There I go to cry.
There I go but I want to be with him, where a Mama belongs.
There I go to wait until I can go see him.
*************************

8:58am
The procedure has officially begun...
there is now a picture of a scalpel next to his assigned number on the illuminated board...
How comforting (insert sarcasm).
Not sure WHY it too them 45 minutes to actually get started, guess we'll find out soon enough.
************************

9:29 am

First call from the OR:

They are starting the reconstruction repair!!!

YAY!!!
Good thing I took a pre-op picture!!

************************

10:53 am

Why haven't they called us?

they said they'd call every hour.

**************************

11:20 am
He is in PACU and doing remarkably well!!!
Seems that the Caudel block worked this time.
Boy is "it" U-G-L-Y
But, he is awake, sipping TINY sips and looks good.
Praise God.
They did find a small stricture which they fixed (seems the stricture from before came back).
They did a test that showed that he did NOT have reflux.
His bladder is almost the right shape now, no more snowman!
YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY!!!!!
*************************

12:46 pm
Waiting for Tylenol #3 and D/C instructions!!!!
**********************

4:05 pm
Home, ate a total of 5.5 ozs.
Relaxed and hanging out of his baby swing watching TV.
Was very flushed, but it has gone away - not sure why.
********************

9:00 pm
Little man just fell asleep after a very rough evening.
Grateful for Tylenol #3 right now.
Changing his diaper is actually terrifying!!
He's eaten good all evening.
*********************

Thurs Jan 12th 8 am
I'd say that we had a successful night.
Jackson slept with us and slept quite well.
We woke 4 times for feedings.
We didn't change his diaper b/c he was sleeping well and now the bed is soaked.
Changed up our dipaering technique and I think this will be easier.
He is quiet bruised up today.
He just spent 45 mins playing in th efloor with his toys...
crawling and pulling him self - like he never had surgery.
Makes me nervous!!!
Now he's drifting off to sleep in his crib.
Still no dirty diaper, so we'll try plain Tylenol next time and see if the pain is still controlled.
Time for a nap...
Pic of Day 1 post-op:

**********************

3:50 pm
The pain medicine keeps him comfortable, but as soon as it wears off, he stiffens up and whines.
He is truely remarkable...
you look at it and cringe, then redipaer him...
and he takes off to play.
The girls came home for the afternoon but are going back to Nan and Poppop's for the night, which is really helpful!
We have an appt on Weds to have the catheter removed.
************************

7 pm
Jax spiked a fever of 103 - off to LGH ER we go...
prob a pneumonia (breathing fast, retractions, wet cough sometimes)
***********************

Fri Jan 13th 12:42 am
We were D/C'd with the explanation that the Drs don't know what is causing the fever... yet.
So... they would not do any sort of treatment yet so we decided to NOT be admitted, for now.
Poor poor poor boy. Last surgery a similar thing happened - turned out to be Roseola.
How does a kid get so unlucky, that he catches a terrible virus after 2 surgeries in a row?!?!??!?!?
Good thing is that labs were Perfect!!!
(cr 0.4, BUN 7, Na 138, WBC 11)
Fever stayed abov 102 the whole time, even though he still gets Tylenol #3 Q4.
In site is looking worse... not it's more swollen and bruised (Ouch) THOUGH it does not seem to hurt too badly!!
We also ended up giving him a Glycerin suppos since he hasn't had a dirty diaper since the 10th and seems to be struggling with lots of gas.

My heart is once again broken...
there is nothing I can do and I am again reminded of the guilt I live with every single day.
*************************

11:45 pm
we arrived on LGH's pediatric floor.
I can honestly say that I enjoyed our 3 months away from this place!!
Here's hoping things go well...
*************************

3:36 pm
Jackson has mastered the
"Why are they doing this to me Mama? Please make them stop!" eyes.
Those eyes are forever etched onto my heart.

On a good note, the IV was successful on the 2nd stick, His Salt levels are staying normal despite eatting only 5 onces in 18 hours, his creatnine is only up to 0.5, his fevers are down to 100', his breathing has improvevd and he's been able to nap They are treating a possible UTI until the culutre comes back tomorrow.
*************************

Sat Jan 14th 6:30am
I HATE having to go to work when my kids are sick.
I live with guilt about leaving my sick kid to go take car of someone else's kid
And even more than that, I HATE coming back to the hospital to find him a mess.
It's not Jason's fault... they got ZERO sleep until 4am...
Jackson has bad diarrhea, his diaper was full, he was naked and freezing, his Tylenol at 5am was never given, he drank only 1/2 oz through the night and his bed linens were covered in a poopy residue.
His fever is now only 100.5, we gave the Tylenol, his diaper is changed and they got his morning labs on the first stick.
Doesn't look like we'll be going home today - he only took 1 oz of fluids by mouth last night:(
*********************

10:00 am
I was thinking...
maybe this is a blessing and God's way of giving Jackson a break -
I KNOW that sounds crazy BUT...
He is an active little boy that likes to be on the go SO maybe if he wasn't feeling completely crappy and needing to sleep all day, he'd just be miserable from not being ablt to get around and in pain from his wound.
Maybe...

The wonderful folks here at LGH have LOST HIS URINE CULTURE SPECIMEN so
the Doctors have no choice but to treat him for a UTI.
(This only stinks b/c the Rocephin has given him terrible diarrhea!)
The Dr also thinks that he may have RSV, so they'll be here soon to swab his nose for that test.
He did just eat 2 ozs for me!!!!!

I am waking Jason soon and heading to my parents for some home made soup and muffins (yum).
I wish a certain someone would stop calling me with her problems right now, when my week isn't going so great itself. Though I think she's figuring it out on her own, since her last phone call started with "How is he doing?" before shotgunning straight to her issues.
Oh well...
**********************

2:20 pm
RSV
As far as I am concerned, we could have and should have known this before we were d/c'd from the ER on Thurs night. But, it's not like it makes a big difference anyway. There is no treatment. Perhaps though, they would not have been so aggressive with the UTI treatment.
We'll never know!

The girls were here, but had to leave b/c we're in isolation now (fun!!!).
Jenni takes it so darn hard when our family is split up -
no matter how exciting we make "vacation week at Poppop's" sound.

Jackson still has not eaten a thing in hours...
the nurses will try to feed him later -
Good Luck with that,
Little man is very anti-anyone-but-Mama-or-Dad right now!!
Looks like we'll be here a few more days.
*************************

8:45 pm
Jackson is struggling to breathe now - very coarse breath sounds, he's also cool and clammy.
The Dr is coming in to reassess him.
Definately stable, just not as good as he was a few hours ago (After his pain pill when he decided to eat 5 ozs and start playing!!!)
It's gonna be tough leaving for work in a few minutes!!!
************************

Sunday Jan 15th 6:15 am
I just got back from work. Not hearing anything from Jason after midnight is a GOOD thing.
Both boys are sound asleep, and Jackson is not struggling at all.
They'll be in at any moment to do morning labs.
Now, I need to join them in dreamland...
***********************

12:30 pm
He's been nibbling at his bottle since they D/C'd his IV fluids.
In 5 hours he ate 5 ozs!!!
No longer having fevers.
If he conts to eat, he'll go home tomorrow.
They D/C'd UTI antibiotics b/c of terrible diarrhea and today's CBC pointed towards a virus only.
Creatnine is back to 0.4 , THANK GOD!!!
He still requires Lortab pain meds for uncomfortability.
Jennibelle is a mess with us being a part:(
*************************

Mondy Jan 16th 9:24 am
We were os happy to come yest around 5pm... we even stopped and got dinner on the way.
When we arrived, however, he went bananas...
screaming, crying so we had put him in the tub only to have him turn that horrble mottled look but 10x's darker than I've ever seen. I was in true panic mode at that point.
We fianlly go thim calmed down and eventually even to sleep, but through the night he::
*re-spiked a fever of 101.4, *drank 3 ozs than vomitted it all back up, *drank only another 4 ozs as of now, *was obviously uncomfortable despite Tylenol #3 and *slept only for 1 hour at a time.
So, his Urologist is aware and we have an appt with his Ped at 1240.
EXHAUSTION is in FULL effect.
Lickily, my parents kept the girls another night.
Pic pf day 6 post-op:

*****************************

1:52 pm
I can not wait until this is a distant memory!!
Our Pediatrician removed his catheter so that we didn't have to make the trip up to Geisinger.
We're hoping this will help with his overall comfort,
I'm excited for the girls to come home in a few hours, though I am not excited for all of their energy.
Maybe I'll have them put it to good use and help get this house back in order!!
Hopefully he eats a little something in the next hour or so, so that we can stop worrying about dehydration - again.
*************************
Tuesday Jan 17th 1 pm
I am happy ot say that Jackson is "better"
Still not good, but not real bad anymore.
He's more junky in his nose and lungs than he had been, as the virus workes it's course.
He's not eatting/drinking enough, but I think that he is taking in enough to keep from another hospital admission today.
He is no longer feverish, actually feels a little cool to me.
He has not had pain meds since the middle of the night.
He is definatley in better spirits though... was smiling, playing and eatting soup at noon.
We go to Geisinger early tomrrow morning for another eval.
It was so fun last night having the girls home and playing charades!!!
********************

Wednesday Jan 18th 4:15 pm
We got the A-OK from Jackson's surgery.
So we do not go back to Geisinger until the end of May-
YAY YAY YAY!!!!
His breathing is still rough... very wet cough that sounds like whooping cough.
He also has terrible slimy diarrhea, Which the Drs say is from all the mucous he's swallowing.
BUT he ate close to 30 ozs and was very playful today also:)
Hoping the diarrhea does not dehydrate him and we can soon be done with this whole mess!
*************************

Thursday Jan 19th 7:42 am
Well... he slept well through the night, so hopefully today will be the day!!!
*****************************

10:08 am
Fevers are down to 100!!!!
Cough is less and less (though it still sounds bad)
Nose is running and he's biting everything and whiney at time, but I think that it has to do with the FOUR teeth budding through the top all at once, poor kid!!
Off to get some grocery shopping done!!
Pic of his treat from the grocery store:

**********************
Friday Jan 20th 8:44am

BAD night for Jackson!!! He went to bed at 6:30pm very whiny. He was wimpering at 10:30pm and COLD.
COLD .
COLD.
COLD.
COLD.
COLD.
I got sooo sick to my stomach when I touched him.
Memories came flooding...
tears came flooding...
heart started to race...
and nausea hit me like a punch to the gut.
He was pale, cold, clammy-ish, whiney and wouldn't eat.

Off to LGH we flew.
He started to warm up and act better once we were settled in our room.
Ears were normal, Chest xray was either a pneumonia or RSV infiltrate, temp was stable at 98.4, and cath urine was norm.
The ER Dr and Hospital Pediatrican saw him and did not think that blood work was needed -
good and bad thing.
Bad, he gets stuck.
Good, we actually know that it is NOT pneumonia and that his levels are ok AND Mama can calm down.
So, we went home, relieved yet cery confused.

Jump to 6am when he woke very whiney again.
And...
his

diaper

was

completely

DRY.

That is 5.5 hours of not peeing from a boy that just-last-week would pee every 30 mins or so.

What the Heck???

We called LGH - "Go to the nearest ER"
So we headed to Heart of Regional Medical Center.
While answering the DUMB questions and signing 12 papers during registration BEFORE a medical person evaluates you, he obviously peed b/c he became much calmer.

So, the ER Dr that came in 45 mins later says "What do you want me to do for him then?"
Not rude, but more jokingly.
Perhaps I have become a crazed Mama who is terrified of having her son die??
Perhaps I have lost all forms of nursing judgement??
Perhaps I have become a basket case??
Or, just perhaps, I know my son better than anyone else on this really-quite-huge planet and I think that something is wrong. Perhaps...
So, they did a Flu swab (neg), told me that b/c he was once again 98.6 degrees and very playful, blood work was not needed. He had another huge bought of Diarrhea while there and I had them weigh him - He has lost 14 ozs since Monday. She said that it is obviously b/c of the diarrhea and the fact that he is still only eatting 1/2 of what he usually does.
Still, 14 ozs seems like a lot to me and I am worried enough that he will see yet another Dr at 9:50.
I am praying that she will agree to bloodwork and that it will NOT reveal dehydration.
Will anyone out there reading this pray too????
**********************
9:55 pm
Blood work showed that WBC increased only to 12.8 and still leaned towards a virus.
Na, cr and all other labs were WNL.
Thank YOU, Jesus!!!
Jason just texted me... Jackson has eaten 16 ozs since I left for work 6 hours ago!!!!
********************

Saturday Jan 21st 10:30 pm
Jackson had a darn good day today.
I hope this is my last entry to this never-ending-string-of-bad-helth-luck-for-him!!
********************

Love

2012-01-08T23:52:00.000-05:00

In 5 hours today, I witnessed so many acts of true love...

Our adventure to the Farm Show was a...

Success!!

Amen

2012-01-08T00:03:00.003-05:00

2012 so far...

2012-01-07T00:15:00.001-05:00

It's been an exciting year!!!!

And now I'm ready for 2013, LOL.

Us girls have been busy wedding dress shopping with Meg.

Jason has been busy busy busy playing Lineage every night.

And now Jackson has to go for surgery next week, rather than on March 1st.

You'd think we'd be panicky, but we're not.

Drs appts,

blood draws,

surgeries...

these are our norm now.

So, well find out Tuesday what time we are to report to the hospital and so on and so forth.

Blah blah blah...

Oh yeah...

the REASON they moved up his surgery...

It may be something serious or it could be a fluke and I am way too overprotective.

I guess we'll find out.

Since Christmas time I've noticed that we can tell when Jackson is peeing b/c he concentrates a little and pushes more than I'd expect. And then yesturday he did not pee for almost 2 hours and you could tell he was hurting -

He was fussy all morning and finally fell asleep in my arms, only to wake SCREAMING 20 mins later... and then he PEED.

He peed on and off for over 5 minutes!!!

So, I emailed his surgeon and here we are.

He's one active little kid... walking along anything and everything that he can get his hands onto - EXCEPT for the walker we bought him!!

He loves to climb up stairs, under coffee tables, and over everything on the floor. He is the snuggliest kid you could imagine... always coming up to you and burying his head into you while he holds you tight.

Boy do I love him!!

The girls are back to school, much to their shagrinn.

Jennibelle is an EXCELLENT reader! She has really blossomed from a K/1st grade level to probably a late 2nd/early 3rd grade level. Good for her!

Jaylee had her yearly physical where they told us once again that she is overweight and needs to watch what she eats. I think some people obsess too much on the numbers. She has always been thicker... she is built just like Jason. We really didn't need the 30 minute conversation on what is healthy... esp when I've taken the nutrition classes and teach others the same topic everyday at work. Atleast this Dr was nice about it though.

The girls and I have been spending many nights karaokeing together!!! Jason posted 2 videos to facebook but I can't figure out how to save them to blogger. Hmmm...I'll ask him in the AM.

Here it comes... ready or not!

2011-12-31T23:39:00.004-05:00

2012

It'll be 2012 in just a few minutes.

Is it me or do the years go quicker and quicker??

2011 was a "different" year for us...

*We moved to a farm in a GREAT town and met some good friends.

*The girls changed schools and fit right in- and now have some close friends.

*Jenni gave soccer another try and is great at it!

*I gave birth, knowing our lives would be changed for ever, but going into the OR, literally, not knowing how.

*We found out how loved we are by so many family members helping out.

*We fell in love with Jackson and watched him overcome multiple infections, grow, crawl, stand, laugh and love.

*My son almost died.

*We were introduced to the world of Hospital Pediatric Floors.

*Maria and clan came for the best visit ever.

*Jennibelle overcame her fear of the ocean, learned to ride a bike and lost her first tooth.

*Jaylee went away to camp, got braces joined choir and ran for Student Counsel.

*Friends had heart attacks, Aunts had strokes, Cousins had cancer and so on and so forth.

*Meg got engaged

*I learned that to be a better Wife and Mother I needed to stop trying to please everyone else and focus more on "us"

So, what will 2012 bring???

*We know that it will bring me and the girls new fancy dresses for a wedding.

*Jackson will have reconstruction surgery.

*Jason and I will be married for 10 years.

*We will have a double-digit daughter.

*I WILL get back into shape.

*Jaylee wants to be Baptized.

And it will bring SO MUCH MORE!!!

I KNOW there will be heartache... Jackson has surgery, Mommom and Poppop are over 90, Mandy's life is still in limbo, the world will end on Dec 21st...

I also KNOW that there will be excitement and fun - and I am excited!!!!

Christmas Day

2011-12-25T23:47:00.015-05:00

Christmas Eve started at 6 am on the 24th when I got home from work and the kids were up, begging to open their Christmas Eve (Stringham family) gifts. So... we let them open Gma and Gpa's!!

Jackson seemed to "get" unwrapping!!

Then we went to dinner at Nan and Poppop's at 2.

Jackson love to watch football with Jason!!

And he's starting to love to climb too.

The girls were so excited that they were sitting with their first gifts before we even finished dinner. They were ecstatic when we finally told them they could start unwrapping...

The Liounis grandkids...

Jaylee 9, Jennibelle 6, Morgan 2, Cole 16m, Jackson 9m

Jackson and Cole love to play together and give each other kisses!! ;)

After we heard Santa's sleigh bells, we headed out to do our Traditional Christmas Eve sneaking around!!! Then we got home and baked Santa some cookies, left out carrots for the reindeer, wrote Santa Thank you notes, opened Uncle Brian's gifts, read Twas the Night Before Christmas and the story of Jesus' birth, sang some Christmas carols and got the kids into bed by 9pm. Then Jason and I put together Jackson's gift (see below), brought down all the gifts from the attic, cleaned up (b/c I like the house to be clean in pictures and Jason is nice enough to humor me) and got to bed by 11pm. Successful Christmas Eve, in my book!!!

Here's what Santa left us:

And here is what we left at the end of the fun...

And here's some in-between pics...

Everyone seemed to love Jackson's BIG gift!!!

and Jackson seemed to love his keys:

Jaylee gave Jenni a Queen sized bed:

Jenni got Jason Linoln Logs b/c she knew that he loved them growing up!!

Jason also got a "Dad's Against Daughters Dating Democrats" Tshirt, Hot Sauce, a Gun Cleaning Kit, a Wooly Hat, a Mousepad, a Coffee Mug, Slippers and a Blue Tooth Ear piece.

Jackson's truck is almost as big as him!

Jenni' Barbie Furniture box was bigger than she was!

Jenni got me neclaces, Jaylee got me a few cake mixes and accessories since we have our island to bake on now and Jackson got me a zoomier lens for my cool-girl camera. Jason also got me karaoke stuff. I made out:)

Jaylee's gifts included:

Monster High dolls x2, Crib Life doll, American Girl doll and clothing, Alligator head, Bike, Book, Tackle box w/ supplies, Hello Kitty shirt, Walkable LPS, Chuckee Cheese and Target gift card and a Crayola Art Board.

Jenni must have been on the "Nice" list as well...

Moxie girl and boy doll, Walkable LPS, a Gameboy, Barbie Furniture, a Robe and Slippers, a Queen sized bed, a Doll from Nan, a colorable Bear, Chuckee Cheese and Target gift cards, and a Book!

And then there is Jackson...

Big Jungle Gym, Truck, Clothes, Ball, Bubble blower, Electronic House and Turtle Book, Keys, Shaving kit, Elephant game, Shape sorter and Follow that Bird movie.

Plus... he literally woke up with HIS TWO FRONT TEETH barely poking through the gums!!!!

After a breakfast from Jason and a long parent's nap, we took our Nativity pictures...

Jaylee- Wise man, Jenni - Shepard, Jackson - Joseph

Dolls - Mary and Baby Jesus

Nan and Poppop stopped by to see all of the kids' goodies...

Home made Christmas meal...

Ham, Mashed potatoes, home made stuffing (YUM!!), gravy and corn...

Started out great, until Jackson really choked on mashed potatoes and then proceeded to VOMIT all over the highchair!!!!!!!

Does he not know that for the past 15 months, I wake every morning praying that he will make it through another day and then he goes and chokes whenever he gosh darn feels like it?!?

Tonight I got to "play" with my new lens....

Jenni painted this Santa... I LOVE IT!!!

Jaylee and her American girl doll from Nan and Poppop...

looks just like her!!

Jaylee made a lot of her family Jaylee-made ornaments this year...

mine is the "M" one...

MERRY CHRISTMAS Y'ALL!!!!!

HEALTH RECORD

2011-12-23T22:57:00.008-05:00

Jackson's Cheat Sheet

3/1/11: Born
3/3: Vesicostomy surgery
3/5: Home
3/14: recheck w/ Sumfest for fussiness, red vesicostomy
3/16: Home nurse - no wt gain
3/18: Dr recheck (fussy, maintained wt)
3/19:Dr recheck (mottled, fussy, urine thick/cloudy)
3/19: ICU at Hershey Na 108, K 9.8 Dx. urosepsis (Enterobactor), dehydration, shock treated w/ Gent/Vanco blood transfusion
3/31: D/C from Geisinger on Salt 4meQ QID
4/20: routine labs (platelets now high (489) creat 0.5)
5/4: 2 month appt - shots with fever x 24'
6/8: Nephro appt (Creat 0.4, platelets 560) F/U in 6 mos
6/22: pink (Right) eye, rx. eye gtts
6/27: fussy x 2 days dx.UTI (Staph Epidermis) rx. Augmentin
6/28: more tired, CBC/BMP ok, recheck with Dr
7/7: fever and diarrhea, last (10th) day of Augmentin, saw Dr, urine/c-diff stool OK.
7/8: 4 month appt - shots with fever x 48' (no more diarrhea)
7/13: bad pink eye (Right) rx. Amox x 10d
7/18: dx UTI (E.Coli), fever 101 x 3 days, happy D/C Amoxil, rx Augmentin
7/19: Dr recheck, fever still 101, D/C Augmentin rx Bactrim, Dr NOT concerned w/ platelets
7/29: Admit LGH dx UTI (Enterobator)/pyelo/dehyd WBC 27k, cr 0.5, BUN 22. IM Rocephin x 3d
7/31: D/C
8/1: f/u ped - rx Cipro x 10d for UTI, decrease intake, Udip neg, fever 100, looks sick, conts D
8/9: sleepy but happy, u dip +WBC, culture sent at Dr appt (cult neg)
8/12: sudden fever 100.2, sort of fussy, u dip +, Dr appt, dx UTI rx Cipro
8/13: admit to GMC dx UTI (E.Coli) (cr 0.4, BUN 10, Na 140, WBC norm) IM Rocephin x3 then Bactrim BID x 4d then start Bactrim proph. Uro f/u 6 wk; Nephro f/u 4 mos. rx Prevacid
9/7: 100.1, udip +WBC, protein, blood, ER @ HOL d/t weather dx UTI (Enterococcus Faecalis) (WBC 17.2k, K+ 7.1, cr 0.5) Rocephin IM
9/8: f/u @peds Rocephin shot, rx Augmentin x 8d. (Uro/Nephro N'd GMC closed d/t weather). No fever.
9/12: 6 month appt - shots held for 5 days. Vomitting, weird coloring, no fever, urine dip neg. GHP n'd 2nd opinion.
9/21: admit LGH dx UTI/pyelo (E.Coli - resistant to Bactrim) IM Rocephin x2, rx Suprax WBC 13.7, cr 0.5, BUN 30, K4.4.
9/25: 6 mos shots and flu shot - fever x24'
9/28: Appt w/Sumfest - surgery 10/13.
10/3: Fussy, no fever, Udip +WBC, protein & blood. Dr appt (DR Curry)- cult sent "Wait and see" "cont Suprax" (Day 12 of 14)
10/4: 101.3, Udip +, Dr Sumfest N'd direct admit to GMC. dx UTI (Enterococcus species) D/C Suprax, Rocephin IM x2, WBC & Na+ WNL BUN 16 Cr 0.4. US showed debris in B/L ureters. Ucult resist to Rocephin
10/8: D/C from GMC after neg urine cult. Rx Amoxicillan x 14 days
10/13: Urethral Reconstruction Surgery. PUV snipped, Urethral stricture dilated, Vesicostomy reversed. Croup and D.
10/15: D/C'd from GMC with decreased input, D & abd cramping. WBC 18.22. Rx Tylenol #3 and "cont with Amox (day 12of14)"
10/15: PM suddenly cath bloody, not draining - to HOLRMC ER for irriagation (sm clot). xfer to GMC ER. Uro Resident irrigated ALOT and did US.Contd with decrease input & D. D/C'd ER at 0500 10/16
10/17: Direct admit to LGH for D/dehydration/? UTI (cult neg). No CBC done. Na/K WNL. Glucose 52, CO2 16, BUN 8, cr 0.6.
10/18: D/C from LGH. Rx Omnicef and Amox.
10/19: Sumfest d/c cath. Rx ONLY Bactrim. Ped Rx Soy formula x 1 month
10/25: Slimy D, decreased input, wt loss, fussy - Dr appt "ok"... Flu shot
10/27: 103 fever - LGH ER. UA, CBC, BMP & CXR WNL. Cr 0.6
10/28: 102.7 fever, whiny, tired. Direct admit LGH for 1 night. Labs/UA WNL cr 0.5. Dx virus
10/30: No fever, blotchy rash. Dx Roseola D/C'd Prevacid
11/7: Urology Appt at John Hopkins
11/15: decreased intake (Jaylee has bad cold) - Dr appt, u cult sent. (NEG) prob teething.
11/28: conts with only trace amt protein in U dips, happy as can be, eats 30 ozs/day + table food, crawling and pulling himself up
12/15: 9 month well visit. Hep B shot. Teething (top 4)
12/19: STINKY urine when he woke (+leuks/trace protein) - rx Augmentin, cult sent (NEG) abx d/c'd
1/5/12: "straining" more to pee x 2 wks. Had 1 episode in AM of no void x 2'. Woke from sleep screaming, then peed intermitt lg amts x 7 mins. Uro N - cysto in OR scheduled 1/11. (*Also 2 weeks of teething - 100' intermitt D, drooling, diaper rash.)
1/6: Pre-op H&P appt at Drs office.
1/11: OR day: Stricture fixed, cystogram shows NO REFLUX, bladder almost a full circle now, hypospadia repair done. Rx Bactrim and Tyelonl #3. (18lb 10oz)

1/12: 7pm spiked 103 fever - to LGH ER. CBC, BMP, CXR OK. D/C'd (cr 0.4, Na+ 138, BUN 7, WBC11)
1/13: NOT eatting, 102.5'. Direct admit to LGH dx. Dehydration. BMP OK(cr 0.5, BUN 11) UA dirty, IV fluids, Rocephin
1/14: NOT eatting, 102' U cult was lost, cont Rocephin, RSV+.
1/15: eats a little, no fever, Rocephin D/C'd, D, D/C'd from LGH @ 1700 after being playful.
1/16: fussy, Ped removed cath, wt 19lb 0oz
1/17: Post-op appt at GMC. f/u 4 mos Wet cough, diarrhea
1/19: in PM: Cold (96.5'), pale, fussy, out of it - LGH ER ?pneumonia?UTI (cult sent); offered admit to "observe" D/C 0200
1/20: 0600 to HOLRMC ER for cold (97.2'), fussy & dry diaper. flu (neg) - D/C. wt 18lb2 oz. then 0950 Ped appt for decreased input, cold, wt loss. CBC, BMP, bld cult (WBC 12.8 - viral, Na+ 141, cr 0.4) ?R otitis media - "just watch for now"
1/25: 6 top teeth coming in -fussy, runny nose, still has wet cough. saw Dr to check ears - A OK!

Summary from his admission 7/29/11:

"The patient was born at 37 weeks and 2 days to a G5 P3 mother by low-transverse c-section. Prenatal course was complicated by suspected pseudo-prune belly syndrome. At 19 weeks the bladder was very massively enlarged, and there was oligohydramnios, and, therefore, bladder decompression in utero had to be performed. The patient was born with apgar scores of 8 and 9 and with birthweight of 3.917 kg and was large for gestational age. He underwent unsuccessful urethral catheterization while in Geisinger NICU and, therefore, urethral stricture was eventually diagnosed. He had to undergo a vesicostomy at Geisinger on day of life #3. He was discharged then to home but was admitted at 2 weeks of life to hershey med and had a diagnosis of urosepsis with Enterobactor cloacae sensitive only to Gent growing out of his urine. He also had septic shock and required dobutamine drip, and his blood culture grew out Enterococcus faecalis that was sensitive to Ampicillin. He required intubation temporarily for a central line at that point and was severely hyponatremic and hyperkalemic, which had to be corrected. He had been seen by Ped Infectious Disease and nephrology while at hershey Med and was subsequently transferred to Geisinger for further care. The pt has continued to be followed as an outpatient by Geisinger ped Uro and Nephro. His formal diagnosis are bilateral hydronephrosis, hydroureters urethral stricture/bladder outlet obstruction, bladder wall thinkening, hypospadias, chronic kidney disease stage 2, and the appendicovesicostomy. The urinary system abnormalities do give him a diagnosis of pseudo-prune belly sysndrome."

Meds

NaCl 4mEq PO QID

Bactrim Susp 2cc PO Qday

Acidophilus 1 pack PO BID PRN D

Flouride 1/2 dropper PO Qday
ON HOLD Prevacid 7.5mg (1/2 solutab) PO Qday

Diagnosis

Hypospadia - repaired 1/11/12

Chordee - repaired 1/11/12

Urethral stricture - repaired 10/13/11 and 1/11/13

Vesicostomy - reversed 10/13

Bladder Wall thickening

B/L Megaureter

B/L Hydronephrosis

Chronic Kidney Dz Stage 2

Hyponatremia

Nephrogenic Diabetes insipidus - Kidney concentration deficit
Roseola 10/2011
RSV 1/2013

Doctors

Pediatrician: Eden Park Peds - Dr Colleen Cooke-Moine

1725 Oregon Pike, Ste. Lancaster, PA 17601-4206

717-569-8518

Urologist: Dr Joel Sumfest

Urology, Geisinger Medical Center 100 N Academy Ave Danville, PA 17822

570-271-6211

Nephrologist: Dr Dianne Muchant

Pediatric Nephrology F6, GMC 100 N Academy Ave Danville, PA 17822

570-271-8055 :

Meg's Engaged

2011-12-18T01:18:00.002-05:00

I got the text 6 minutes ago...

My sister Meg is engaged.

Then I chuckled...

She decides to commit her life to George...

and all I got was a lousy text!

Sometimes I love technology, sometimes I don't.

I am soooooooooooo happy for them right now though.

They had a romantic evening in a limo driving through Hershey Park's Christmas lights with snow lightly fallling to the ground.

It's like a movie.

Planning a wedding is fun (I think... I never had to plan one, Thanks Mom!!)

I just hope she can plan the day that THEY want, and not what everyone else wants!!

This is the picture from FB that she posted BEFORE their date...

George and Meg Heller to-be.

I just found out that I will be the Maitron of Honor this Spring!!!!!!

YAY!!!!

A Day at Geisinger

2011-12-06T20:10:00.000-05:00

Oh, how I did not miss spending whole days at the hospital!

And we've been lucky, that it's been about 4 weeks since we've had to!!!

So Jackson had a BMP and UA done-

TOTALLY NORMAL!!!

(creatnine 0.4)

Then he had a Renal US-

Dr Sumfest was more than happy with the amount of "schrinkage" to the overall size of the kidneys and ureters. Each kidney was appx 5 cm but the hydronephrosis had decreased also. The ureters remain real big, but are smaller. He is not worried if Jackson has reflux, because there is nothing to be done at this time anyway (Surgery is the answer, and Jackson will have to be a few years old). So, he will check for scar tissue from the last surgery and then reconstruct his hypospadia in early Feb sometime. YAY!!!!!

Dr Muchant was please with the US also, except she again mentioned that the tissue of the kidneys does not look promising for a long term prognosis. She says the kidneys are the same color as the kliver, and they should NOT be. However, as shown by his creatnine, they are working perfectl right now. So, I will try not to dwell on this for the next year or so.

Jackson is remaining to be in the 25% for height and weight. You can tell by looking at him, that his belly is not as unproportionably big as it had been!!!!

His BP was a little high (like usual) 116/74 and 106/76 (should be less than 100/) but it is not alraming... we'll just check it more often.

And now I must spend all day tomorrow trying to figure out insurances again b/c now Geisinger will no longer take Jackson's secondary insurance... aaarrrrggggg!!!!

Great Song

2011-12-03T23:31:00.000-05:00

This song has been around for a few years now BUT I still love it!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LMgO4JyBp4&feature=related

Need You Now by Lady Antebellum

Santa Pictures

2011-12-03T23:27:00.001-05:00

We had a great time at Merry Lititz Christmas and got to see Santa and Mrs Clause on the Caboose!!!

The kids took their lists with them.

Christmas 2011

Jaylee 8, Jennibelle 6, Jackson 9mos

Jaylee's list...

Jennibelle's list...

Jaylee wrote Jackson's list for him...

Fall fun 2011

2011-11-28T22:38:00.003-05:00

We have had some FUN...

like usual...

Jaylee was the Narrator in her class' Thanksgiving play...

This inspired her to write her own play that we all acted out on Thanksgiving for the Liounises...

You'd think by now I'd know how to write "Liounises", but I'm not sure if this is the right way!

Jennibelle had fun (the same day) at the first grade's Thanksgiving Feast...

(Pink, B&W outfit)

Jackson LOVES going to school to see the girls and also LOVEs seeing Cole...

Here is he is giving Cole kisses!!!

He is technically a crawler, which is weird

b/c both of the girls were too fat to crawl and just learned how to walk!!

But NOT Jackson...

thin, lean and a fighting machine...

We attempted some home-made family Christmas pix.

This is what we got...

I LOVE the first pic but I am not in it so I felt bad mailing it out... if only!!!

It is one of my favorite pix EVER....

SO, this is the one that got mailed out...

The girls and I decorated a door for their school's Christmas season...

I had a fancy 3D snowman idea but we found these cute stickers and took the easy way out.

It turned out pretty cool though...

We LOVE these Rudolph noses...

well, everyone EXCEPT Jackson loves them!!

And JB decided AGAIN that she wishes she needed glasses.
These are Jason's...

Jackson LOVES to play!

Every time I look at him, lately, I get sooo mad at the Drs that suggested we to abort him...

JERKS!!!! (and that' the nice word I want to say)

He is one really good looking kid....

I am a sucker for blue eyes though:)

Jason, AGAIN, saved our Jeep and saved us from spending thousands at the shop.

Not sure he enjoys working on cars anymore though!!!

The girls were so excited to decorate outside for Christmas that they undid all of my decorations and redid them themselves... They are super proud and happy of them though so it is OK. It was 70' while they were decorating!!!

What would Fall on a farm with 2 huge 200+ year old trees be without a BIG pile?!?!?

We don't ever want to find out...

Happy End of Fall Y'all!!!

Black Friday

2011-11-26T19:44:00.000-05:00

What a disappointment!!!

By the time I got home from work, the girls and I were basically just shopping with some not-so-great deals!!

Next year I will be SURE to request off of work!!!

2011-11-19T00:27:00.001-05:00

Jaylee's Student Counnsel Campaign

2011-11-16T23:50:00.000-05:00

Jaylee decided to run for the postion of Student Representative of her 3rd grade class for School Counsel this year.

Like everything else she does, she got VERY into it.

We made lots of posters...

This one was NOT approved to be hung...

She also made fake money to hand out...

I'll get a copy of her speach that she wrote by herself.

She did not win, though she truelly believed that she would!

She was pretty bummed, but was just fine the next day!

JB was in tears when she found out Jaylee lost!!!

I'm very proud that she gives all of her little projects her best!!

Random

2011-11-06T00:19:00.003-04:00

1. I SERIOUSLY forgot how much I LOVE The Dixie Chicks.

2. I had to perform the Heimlick Meneuver on Jackson yest - he had a hair scrunchie blocking his airway.

Talk about scary!!

3. I got info about Winter Basketball - starts in January... Oh Boy, should be interesting!!

4. I'm surfing Youtube.com tonight - it's great how songs can bring back such vivid memories!

5. Does anyone out there have a picture of me in college when I was the black Spice Girl for Halloween... I must have one somewhere in my attic!

6. Why are curtains so dang expensive... and why don't I know how to sew?!?

7. Wish we had money to take a fun fun fun family vacation - right now!

8. How come every eyar I forget to ask off for Daylight Savings Night????

9. I've been nauseated for a few days and last night I told Jason that if I was pregnant, I'd kill him! Jenni overheard and told us matter-of-factly "OH!!! That means that you did S!!!" Then she got a bewildered look on her face... Guess we have to watch what we say around our big girls' ears!
10. I'm seriously considering decorating for Christmas this week!
11. Who would think you'd have to buy your 8 year old a training bra?
12. After watching family videos the other night, I feel really bad that there are minimal videos of Jenni as a baby - it seems the "middle child syndrome" is NOT BS!
13. I am super excited to see the new twilight movie... just wish I had someg girlfriends close by to go see it with!

Baltimore visit

2011-11-02T15:37:00.002-04:00

Questions for upcoming Urology Appt in Baltimore...

1. Always "trace" protein in urine dip

2. Check for Reflux? (VCUG)

3. Age for reconstruction

4. IF infection occurs again...

5. Will ureters get smaller - what is plan?

6. Who can give Kidney

7. TAKE cheat sheet

8. Where can we get pediatric urinary collection bags in PA?
9. Chance of stricture returning
10. Normal urine stream?

Fall fun 2011

2011-10-30T00:40:00.000-04:00

Fall is a fun time of year!!!!!

It always seems to start with the Pig Race.

Though it was great that Jaylee caught the pig again and it was fun to watch Jenni sprint to the pig only to give 1/2 an effort to actually catch him, the real high light of the evening was Morgan... she walked soooo slow up the field while everyone else was sprinting around. her video is hilarious: (Don't mind Jackson SCREAMING in terror in the background)

GO SEAHAWKS!!!

I had a fun 33rd birthday!!
Jason totally surprised me with cake & a Laptop!!!!
Mom and Dad got me flowers and my car detailed.
Meg and Mandy got me Pajama Jeans, some shirts & shoes.
I got spoiled!!!

Here is our scarecrow and our pumpkins:

Grandma was able to make a pumpkin with us!!

Jason is the big one that he carved and then Jenni decided it needed some paint also! I decoupaged mine. Jackson's is plain b/c he fell asleep. Jenni painted a rainbow and pot of gold on hers. Grandma painted her pumpkin a face. And Jaylee carved out a face and painted it. We tried to roast the pumpkin seeds but they got burnt this year :(

We spent an afternoon with Katrina and Serenity at a fall fest, where they designed and built the scarecrow. The girls named him Farmer Reid!!

The weather has been colder than usual and Jackson has been fighting virus after virus since his surgery so he's not been outside too much. JB and he got out to blow bubbles the other day...

I was a little stressed out about Jackson's health/impending surgery so there was only one thing to do...

KARAOKE PARTY!!!

Layla Bryan lives in the next farm house. She and Jenni have become really good friends. She had a Halloween party in their barn...

This year Jaylee was Cleopatra, Jenni is a butterflly, Jackson is a doggie, and Jason/I will be Pirates... IF it stops snowing and warms up so that we can trick-or-treat this year!

Jackson in his PJs

DARN... you found me!!

Jaylee's fall fest party at school,

with her friend Amelia Blevins.

Jenni's is Monday...

2011-10-29T23:39:00.001-04:00

Yay... NOT another UTI!!

A few days of a 103 fever has been found to be a virus for Jackson.

Yay yay yay.

After an ER visit, tons of tests, a pediatrician visit and a 1 night admit to LGH, he's back home feeling a little better.

Jaylee had strep 1 week ago, JB found out this morning that she has strep and Jackson's virus...

what a week!! Tonight it snowed 1 foot... yes, it IS October! So, we lost electric for 7 hours before we decided to crash at Nan and Poppop's.

Glad tomorrow starts a fresh week!!

Update... Jackson later broke out in a weird rash - was diagnosed with roesola... that explains the high fevers!!

Thank God for...

2011-10-21T22:52:00.000-04:00

Thank God for...

Grandma!!!!!

Grandma, Grandma, Grandma...

where do I begin?!?

She picks up and flies to PA when we need her the most.

She not only holds down the fort while Jason & I are off at hospitals, but she does our laundry, runs the dishwasher, makes meals, bathes the kids, grocery shops, vacuums, helps with homework, gets the girls off to school and even has story time each night with them.

But that is just the tip of it!!!

She offers peace to a very stressful situation.

She offers love and time to the girls when we are not around.

She offers nursing views aside from what I see as the Mom.

She offers cheers as she joins us on all of our extracuricular events.

She offer PEACE OF MIND.

And there is nothing that Jason & I need more than that right now.

I HONESTLY don't know how we would have survived this year without her.

I can't put into words my appreciation and love for her.

I just hope she knows how much Jason and I lover her and what an impact her actions of already made on our children.

What great memories they will treasure forever!!!!

Thank you, God, for Grandma!!!

And thank you, Grandma, for the love you show us all!!!

ANOTHER admission

2011-10-18T16:57:00.004-04:00

I am soooooo bored of hospital posts!!!

Sooooo bored!!!!

BUT... I want to keep track of things while they are fresh in my mind.

So... no fancy sentences, just the facts...

Urethral reconstruction surgery on Thurs 10/13...

D/C'd on Sat 10/15 with croupy cough, Pox 100%, LCTA, decreased input, diarrhea, irritability, and abd cramps 4 -5 x's and hour.

Sat night his cath suddenly stopped draining and was full of blood - straight to ER at HOLRMC where it was irigated by nurses and a small clot was removed. Bladder scanner read 234cc but unable to get any more out, so transferred to Geisinger ER in the middle of the night. We saw Ped Uro Resident who irrigated catheter ALOT and used an US machine to show that there was no urine in bladder. Aware of pain, spasms, diarrhea and decreased input. He is an idiot... he told us that our Nepho Dr was wrong and that no kids concentrate urine, and that we over reacted when he suddenly had a decreased in urine output of cather, even though clots were removed and then it began to drain again. He explained that Jackson should only urinate 4-8 cc/hr. D/C'd home 0500 on Sunday 10/16.

On Monday 10/17 Pediatrician was notified that Jackson had barely eaten thru the night and was dehydrated - Direct Admit to LGH. A NG tube was placed to correct dehydration with Pedialyte. Diarrhea and terrible cramping cont'd thru teh day. BMP showed Na and K stable, CO2 very low at 16 and creatnin up to 0.6. Cdiff was neg, UA was dirty and Urine culture is still pending. He was kept on Amox to treat his last UTI and started on Omnicef to treat the probable new UTI. On Tues, 10/18 he was less crampy and irritable, able to take a few ozs orally and was D/C'd home. To see Dr Sumfest and have his catheter D/C'd on Weds 10/19.
Jackson and his NG tube...

I have sooo many complaints about the "Pediatric Urology" staff at Geisinger that I am looking forward to our second opinion in Nov at John Hopkins.

Update 10/19: Urine culture was negative so Urology D/C'd all antibiotics and restarted daily Bactrim. Will have f/u US and appt in 4-6 weeks. Dr D/C'd catheter without problems... peed twice and then we were sent home. We also saw Pediatrician for cont'd diarrhea and decreased intake - will switch to soy formula x 7 days.

Jackson's Second Surgery

2011-10-13T14:36:00.005-04:00

OMG

I am so scared/excited/nervous/anxious/happy...

Jackson is IN surgery and we're hopeful that this will stop his UTI problems.

Think Jason was nervous in pre-op?!?!

We took some pix of Jackson VERY naked last night -

I will miss his blow hole!!!!

I will miss his "Gonzo"!!!!

I will miss him being different!!!!

And
I am sooo happy that he will be "normal" and that this will be behind him/us!!!!

Disclaimer...

These are VERY NAKED pix for the purpose of a record for him when he is older.

**
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**
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*******
******
*****
****
***

BEFORE SURGERY 10/13/11:

Hypospadia, Chordee, Uncircumsized, Vesicostomy

**********

RIGHT AFTER SURGERY 10/13/11
*Surgery did NOT go as planned... He had a post-urethral valve and a stricture. The stricture was, apparently, scar tissue from the "injury that ocurred during his last surgery"... Um.... WHAT?!?!?
So, they used a thin wire and dilated it to almost a normal-sized urethra. They spent so much time doing that that they were not able to do the reconstruction. They did also close up his vesicostomy (stitches on the inside, glue on the outside). So... now he has a hypospadia, chordee, is uncircumsized and is catheterized (temporarily). He is also in a lot of pain!! Poor poor Jackson!

10/14: He had an OK night. He was sent to the floor from PACU 1 hour after surgery withOUT a pain med order, so, after screaming for 1 hour straight, we got his pain under control and he got Tylenol #3 every 4 hours. He is peeing only small amounts of blood now. He's puffy from is IV. He seems comfortable. His throat is really irritated though and he is breathing very Coarse. Dr Sumfest wants to keep him until tomorrow to watch his bloody urine and use his IV for antibiotics.

He's so "chubby" now from the IV fluids...

Right before D/D he was also very dopey from the Codeine!!

10/21: He has recovered. His penis looks the same, but his vesicostomy site is healing well...

pic to come

Resistance

2011-10-06T15:51:00.002-04:00

Resistance is such a scary word these days!

Jackson is in the hospital... again... and his infection is resistant to the IM meds he usually gets.

My girls are home with Nan and Poppop and my heart is broken that our family is not together...

again.

I should be getting them off of the bus in 15 minutes - I promised them I'd be there to get them today. (We were supposed to be D/C'd last night).

But, I am here at the hospital still because Jackson now needs 2 days of IV antibiotics and they have been unsuccessful at getting an IV, thus far.

Jason is here too, yet I feel disconnected from him, almost alone.

I realize that I am stressed out...

Gray hair, 30 lbs overweight, acne, shedding...

I often think about running around the hospital while he's sleeping,

or doing sittups while he's playing in bed.

But instead, I sit here dwelling on the issues, searching the internet for more info, drinking my Cokes and eatting my chips.

Just think... I could have burnt 50 calories by now!

And my house... oh golly, oh geez.

Makes me actually feel like a "failure" that I can't keep the dang thing clean.

This is my fault.

I keep telling myself "I should've raised these kids right" to put their stuff away.

I get more than frustrated with Jason.

But I, myself am a slob, I've learned.

We are so dang busy that nothing gets put away, the floors haven't been mopped in weeks, and the laundry: it piles up dirty and then it piles up clean.

Mom is coming next week... Boy would I be embarrassed if she showed up early, And my poor Mom... she's picking up the girls for me and has to TRY to find them a clean matching outfit at the house. uuughhh

So, if anyone out there knows the secret to successfully being a good Mom, having time to have fun with the family, working, being involoved with the girls' school, making dinner each night, cleaning up dinner each night, keeping the house actually clean (not just straightened up), picking up everyone's dirty laundry, cleaning and folding the laundry, feeding the baby his bottle every-other hour around the clock, getting the kids to their activities and having time to hang out with your husband... PLEASE let me know!!!

They're here to try an IV again...
Guess that means my pity party is over...
and I was just getting started;)

My Kiddos

2011-09-25T18:23:00.001-04:00

Jaylee Age 8

Best Friend: Katrina Gerovasilis & Amelia Blevins

Favorite Subject: Math

Favorite Color: Light orange

Favorite thing to do: Play soccer

Favorite TV show: Good Luck Charlee

One thing you WANT: Another baby sister

Favorite song: White and Nerdy

Favorite food: Dino Chicken Nuggets

What you are most excited for: "Mom to have another baby girl"

Clothes size: Lg 10/12

Shoe size: 4

What you want to be when you grow up: Nurse and then Elem School Teacher

Where will you live: Savannah and Lititz

***************************

Jennibelle Age 6

Best Friend: Serenity Martin & Natalie Wenger

Favorite Subject: Art & Music

Favorite Color: Tourqouise & baby blue

Favorite thing to do: Hang out with my family

Favorite TV show: America's Funniest Video

One thing you WANT: "My own house"

Favorite song: Brown Eyed Girl

Favorite food: Candy

What you are most excited for: Jackson not being sick anymore.

Clothes size: 6

Shoe size: 12

What you want to be when you grow up: Veterinarian

Where will you live: Savannah & beach house & Mountain cabin

***********************

Jackson Age 6 mos

Best Friend: Sisters and Cole

Favorite Subject: Watching everyone

Favorite Color: All

Favorite thing to do: Play with sisters, roll over, sit up, talk

Favorite TV show: Sponge Bob

One thing you WANT: everything

Favorite song: You Are My Sunshine

Favorite food: Formula & Mashed potatoes

What you are most excited for: Crawling

Clothes Size: 6-9 mos one piece outfits

Shoe size: None yet

What you want to be when you grow up: Urologist

Where you will live: With Mama

**********************

(It was fun so Jason & I chimed in...)

Jenn Age 32

Best Friend: Mandy and Debbie

Favorite Subject: Couponing

Favorite Color: Green

Favorite thing to do: Decorate, Yard Sale, TV

Favorite TV show: NCIS, Reality shows

One thing you WANT: Jackson not sick

Favorite song: Too many to name

Favorite food: Pizza & Mashed potatoes

What you are most excited for: Jason's raise so I don't have to work alot

Clothes Size: too big

Shoe size: 8.5

What you want to be when you grow up: Stay at home Mom

Where you will live: Lititz or beach

***************************

Jason Age 35

Best Friend: Jenn

Favorite Subject: History

Favorite Color: Blue

Favorite thing to do: "Hahaha..." & Go to Ritas on bikes

Favorite TV show: Mentalist

One thing you WANT: Nothing

Favorite song: The Cave

Favorite food: Pizza

What you are most excited for: Jackson getting better

Clothes Size: "Chubby"

Shoe size: 11

What you want to be when you grow up: Dad

Where you will live: Lititz

Questions for Urologist

2011-09-24T22:42:00.003-04:00

I think that the title is self-sufficient for this one,

we finally get to see him again this Weds.

So here we go...

Jackson waws admitted to LGH last week for another Kidney infection. This week we see his urologist...

1. What is Jax dx? Pseudo prune belly? PUV?

2. Does he have reflux? When will we do VCUG?

3. Is plan to do Ureterostomy? Then what?

4. Should we try stronger abx first?

5. When do we reconstruct penis?

6. Isn't he the cutest pt you've ever had?

7. Did last US show anything different?

8. Can we do a routine UA to check protein spilling?

9. Why not just taper ureters?

10. Babysitting planning?

11. Why Cr and BUN up?

12. IV difficulty.

13. Urine test strips

It's all about me!

2011-09-17T02:31:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday Month to...

ME!!!

Here's my list for Jason (in no particular order):

1. Sports umbrella for soccer games and the beach.

http://sport-brella.com/sport-brella-xl

2. Dinnerware set that is microwave/dishwasher safe.

3. Dinner at Carabba's.

4. Laptop.

5. Zoomier camera lens.

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-55-200mm-VR-Vibration-Reduction/dp/B000O161X0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1316240877&sr=8-2

6. A clean house.

7. A full nights sleep.

Schools' Cool

2011-09-10T23:20:00.000-04:00

And, we're back to school - Already!

Jaylee is in 3rd grade and Jenni in first.

The first day was dreary, super rainy and cold.

And then the rest of the week was cancelled due to flooding.

So, really we're not yet back to school.

But here's their shots...

(

Natural Disaster Numero 3

2011-09-10T23:01:00.002-04:00

The past few weeks have brought mulitple natural disaters to our little home of Lancaster County -

Earthquake, Tornados, Hurricane and now Flooding...

We've been lucky and spared -areas within 30 mins have been completely destroyed!

Here's our little 6 inch stream -

4 feet higher and 20some feet wider than it should be...

Luckily, our only complaint from the storms has been that we've been without CLEAN spicket water for 48 hours - if we wanted muddy water, we'd be in luck.

Also, Geisinger Med Center is underwater and evacuated - made it hard to see Jackson's specialists when we needed to this week - maybe we'll get up there in the next few days!
The girls have NO complaints... they started school Weds and Thurs and Fri were cancelled due to flooding!

Farm Photo Shoot

2011-08-30T22:38:00.001-04:00

Photo shoot with the Mendenhalls.

These are unedited -

**Becca if you see any you're dying to touch up, just let me know;)**

The "Observer"

Doing the "Becca Jump!"

Where do you sign him up for Gap?!?

Jenni was soooo into - doing many different way-too-old and way-too-sexy poses! Oy vey!!

He'd leave his paci sitting there and then lean into it when he wanted a few sucks... comical!

Action shots are quickly becoming my foavorite poses!

"Give me an 'S'..."

Jaylee took the rest of the pix... I think she has real talent!!!!

The Best Week Ever!

2011-08-30T21:51:00.002-04:00

Ware so lucky to have just had THE BEST WEEK EVER!!

Where to start?

Chronologically, I suppose...

here we go!!!

The girls and I, I mean KIDS and I, headed down to the beach with Nan and Poppop late Sat night.

We spent Sunday doing the traditional things... Uncle Bills Pancakes, Playing on the beach, Mac & Manco's pizza and rides on the boradwalk. We found out this year that Jenni has NO fear of the ocean and waves and that Jackson LOVES the whole beach experience! He sat on his bumbo seat and the waves would crash around him - we even put him and his Bumbo on a boogie board and pulled him around! Monday JB and I (with Mandy & clan) went to the seashell museum and back to the beach for the afternoon. Jaylee spent that morning with Nan and Poppop riding bikes all over Ocean City. That night we "celebrated" Meg's birthday with a horrible, expensive dinner that she ended up walking out on!! Good times... Then Tuesday we rode bikes on the boardwalk with Jenni on her own bike and Jackson on my bike. Again we spent the afternoon on the beach but ate at the house, when Jason met up with us. Grandma, Grandpa & Maria's family arrived in New Jersey at 9 that night and we met up for McDonald sundays. They met up with all of us on Weds morning and we had the greatest day at the beach - perfect weather, all the kids played together wonderfully, and the waves were fantastic. I boogie boarded more on Weds then total the past 10 years! On Thursday, we had some rainy weather as Hurricane Irene headed north and New Jersey started to evacuate - Jaylee and I stopped by the sea shell museum and we all managed to do rides/shopping on the boardwalk (Tommy could NOT WAIT to spend his money) and spend an hour or two on the beach, before heading back to PA in torrential downpours. !! Here's some of my favorite beach pictures in no particular order...

Mmmmm.... Mac & Manco's!

Finally... Jennibelle on bumper cars!

She thought she was cute bumping Brody and Blake!

Waiting for the tide with their sandwiches...

Always. On. A. Boogieboard.

One of the cutest couples I know...

Oh, the Gravitron - you used to be my friend,

but we are friends no longer, in my old age!

Jaylee still loves you though!

He stayed awake smiling for the entire 1 hour ride.

The one-breasted midget mermaid?!?

Good habits start early!

Best Buds already!

Sooo... we spent Friday on the farm relaxing, recovering, and letting the kids just run and play. They stayed busy! Tommy & Blake tattled on poor Brody for playing with "naked dolls"!!! (ALL of our Barbies are naked, like every other house with Barbies, I believe.) There were trips to the creek, animals caught, arrows & bbs shot, hiding and seeking games, and much more! Saturday we packed into our cars again and headed to Dempsey's Family Day at Knoebels. We were literally racing Hurrican Irene but we had fantastic weather until 7pm when we were heading out of the park!! Here's some Knoebel's pictures...

I was hpoing someone from Seattle would break the news to Jaylee that these glasses are hideous, instead they all told her how cute she looked! She WILL regret this 10 years from now!

Everyone's favorite ride...

The Footsy Wootsy.

These two were daredevils!

Sooo... Hurricane Irene showed up on our drive home late Saturday night and kept some of us awake on and off throughout the night. The wind was crazy strong!! We got rain, but not ridiculous amounts. Luckily, the kids slept straight through it. This is what we found when we got ready for church in the morning...

The field of corn is bent to the side now.

Our sunflowers were uprooted.

A few shingles are poking up.

Just a little windy!

What did you do in the Hurricane?!?

Jason flew a styrofoam plane!!

And destroyed a styrofoam plane...

all at once!!

You would never beieive how beautiful the day ended though! We spent the afternoon eatting delicious pot roast that flavored beautifully with sugar rather than salt... whoops!! Not sure HOW Grandma thought this was salt... Crazy Grandma!!

Then we spent hours having a photo shoot around the farm with the bigger kids (Brody was napping and Jackson just observed.) I have tons of pictures from the shoot, but I'll do a seperate post of it next.

Monday morning we packed the kids into cars again and drove them to Hershey's Chocolate World!!

Eric, Maria & I got to take an Amish tour right before it closed.

Think they could pass as an Amish couple??

Then we headed home for our last night together - we ate, boxed Jason, had a blessing for Jackson, walked to Rita's Italian Ice and just hung out, laughing at each other!! I have no pictures from Tuesday because they left at 0630 for their flight and I spent until 0730 consoling Jaylee!! Here's pictures of us just hanging out all week on the farm!

Lots of XBox playing.

Blake fighting the "bad guys" for Brody.

All dinners were outside... the weather was cool and perfect for our guests!

All the kids shared a room and they were so well behaved!

Notice Blake 1/2 on the floor!

BB practice with Uncle Jason.

They attempted to get all four on the swing for a picture!

The kids helped me clear the big bushes down to the fire pit after the storm.

It's sucks not being able to have the girls grow up surrounded by ALL of their cousins! As Maria said, "all the kids made memories this week that will last a lifetime!" We feel so blessed that Jason's parents, brothers and sister have spent their time and money to come visit us. Can't wait unti lthe Mendenhalls come again (even Maria;))! And can't wait to see Grandma and Grandpa in the next few months!!!

Tough!

2011-08-20T16:47:00.000-04:00

Jason says "In case anyone doubts Jackson's toughness..."

"Yeah, he drinks nails and poops bullets!"

;)

Lititz Airshow!

2011-08-20T16:36:00.001-04:00

Lititz Airshow

August 20, 2011

seen from our own front yard!! :)

The jets were so close! Here there over our corn...

And over our house...

Jaylee thought she might be able to catch one.

I feel embarrassed to say that we drove there...

it's at the end of our driveway!!

Actually, we drove to the airport but the traffic was so bad so we turned around and parked here...

Climbing the silos were just as exciting for the girls!

GMC admit

2011-08-14T12:38:00.003-04:00

And there's a whole lotta nothing going on around here!!

Even though we are in the hospital for the second time this month.

Oh well...

Here's the details... Jackson stopped the Cipro from the last hospitalization Weds night, by Fri afternoon he had a fever, was a little fussy and had another UTI. His pediatrician started him back on Cipro while we awaited the urine culture results. He was up all night Fri-Sat with fevers of 101 and whiny so Sat am, we headed to Geisinger. We had to go through the ER which was literally a waste of time! (4 hours and all they did was lose the urine specimen that it took ME 30 mins to get). Anyway, I digress, we were admitted and at first told that he would receive an IV and NOT see his specialists. We were NOT happy with this plan. 2 IV teams later (only 4 sticks this time), the plan changed... he would get IM Rocephin since his urine culture from the Drs office showed gram negative rods, and we WOULD see his kidney Dr in the morning. Luckily, when she came today she insists that we stay the night for another dose of antibiotics, results of the urine culture and to talkt o Dr Sumfest (urology surgeon). YAY... this is what we wanted!! Everyone wants Jackson to start prophylactic antiobiotics at this point, though ultimately, it is Urology's decision. We are told that no suregeries can be done until there is no more infection, so we'll find out a real plan tomorrow when we see him... I am nervous, he holds all the plans for Jackson's life right now!!! Please pray for guidance and for his decision making tomorrow! I am getting a little nervous that surgery may fall around the time of family vacation - that would STINK!!! But... no reason to fret until we get the facts tomorrow!

*********
So we met with Dr Sumfest - he's sorry that other Drs made it seem like Ureter tapering surgery was an easy answer... apparently it is a huge surgery that Jackson would have a hard time tolerating and often time ends up with scarring and more kidney damage. Soooo... he starting Jackson on prophylactic Bactrim. If we get another UTI, we are to report to him ASAP for an ultrasound to see where all of the sludge is and then he'll have a better idea of what to do next. Hopefully, we'll just follow up with him in 6 weeks to discuss the reconstruction surgery. Jackson was also started on Prevacid with hopes that it would help him eat more at a time, rather than 2 ozs every other hour. He's poor bum is soooo red from diarrhea, it breaks my heart!!! We were d/c'd Mon night and follow up on Weds with the pediatrician.

Th th th th that's all folks!!

Better now!

2011-08-12T20:02:00.001-04:00

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

Teeth

2011-08-11T19:25:00.001-04:00

Teeth,

One day they're here,

And the next,

they're gone!!

JB's front tooth will probably be out by bedtime tonight...

I'm sure the tooth fairy would love to make only one trip!

(It finally fell out on August 15th - she didn't even realize it b/c she was wrestling Jaylee.)

Jack rolled

2011-08-08T01:00:00.001-04:00

I am happy to say that Jackson rolled over yesturday from back to front.

Though this may seem mundane and expected, perhaps even a little "behind", this is a big step for my little man. His belly is bigger and weaker than other babies his age.

He has also been busy fighting off life-threatening infections, rather than conserving energy to grow.

I am happy for him, for as sick as he is, he continues to grow and learn and conquer.

He is an inspiration to us all.

****************************

I've spent many hours the past week researching kidneys, megaureters, vesicostomy and pseudo-prune belly syndrome with hopes to finding tips to decrease the amount of UTIs he's been getting... We 're told that there is not much more we can do to avaoid them BUT that is just not good enough for me. I have begun changing his diapers more often, rolling him from side to side (with the hopes that it gets the stasic urine moving through the ureters), and testing his urine frequently. We are going to the beach in 2 weeks, I plan to not keep him on the beach for too long each day, sneak in some pedialyte to help avoid dehydration from the heat, and change him often. If anyone out there has suggestions or ideas... SPEAK UP - I am begging for "help"... the thought of losing him to something as silly as a UTI is terrifying, though a reality. The UTIs that he's fought off so far have already been resistant to many antibiotics.

That being said, it's tricky knowing what's up with him - he is still on Cipro for his last infection, but was fussy again today - he is growing boy who has teeth forming. There's a fine line between being overprotective and justly concerned! We are learning how to walk a tightrope.

Reading over all of the Prune Belly Syndrome info out there again this weekend made me realize how lucky we are, but then again there are so many scary statistics about kidney failure and death from sepsis that worry me. I need to pray more that God will give me peace of heart so that I am still fully enoying this blessing, and that I am not letting his illness define him... this latter is tough for me at times (esp when I sit her typing!) Feel free to add me to your prayer list, I am not to proud to ask!!

Jenni and Daddy

2011-08-07T23:22:00.001-04:00

Jenni had a great time hanging out with Daddy this weekend.

On Saturday she helped fix the Jeep

and on Sunday he took her to see The Smurfs.

As Jenni would say...

"I liked helping Daddy fix the car BUTCEPT when I wanted to go eat candy -

I like candy so much because when I was born my sugar was low!!"

Tour of Hospitals

2011-07-29T23:31:00.000-04:00

I want to take a moment and thank my son, Jackson Stringham, for introducing us to every major hospital in central PA! LOL. I'm soooooo tired but want to document (of course). Let's see...

Weds 7/27 Jackson was a tiny bit fussy in the morning and still on Bactrim for a UTI. I dipped his urine at home but it was negative. Thursday 7/28 he was just fine. Around dinner time he got a tad bit fussy but was also very tired. He cont'd with a little diarrhea that he's had for about 1 week, so I changed his formula back to Nestle Good Start. He woke at 11pm screaming for 1 hour straight!!!!!!! bing bing bing... something was wrong. We dipped his urine for WBCs and blood - both positive. We called his pediatrician who said to go to hospital. Meg came to sleep at the house while the girls were sound asleep. Arrived at LGH ER by 1 am, was told we were the only patient to be seen on that side of the ER, 45 nins later our nurse came in and 20 mins after that, the Dr showed up. Phlebotomist was seriously an idiot and couldn't get blood from his heel stick (we could tell he was getting dehydrated at the point) - 2nd phlebotomist had successful heel stick. WBCs 27,000 so Pediatrician came down to admit him. he said they'd start an IV upstairs on Peds floor, we warned that he was already a hard stick, and now is dehyrdating - told we'd be upsatirs in 30 mins. 2 hours later, taken up to room 3811. Peds nurses mad that ER never attempted IV to get fluids/antibiotics going. (Me too!!) Multiple IV attempts by Peds and IV Nurses. No longer really eatting. Told day shift will try. 1 hours later, more failed attempts. Day Dr Solosko came in - Loved her from the start!! She attempted multiple IV sticks... scalp, extremities and multiple jugulars. We thought 1 jugular was good, started the fluids and then it inflitrated (Nurse blew off our infiltraiotn concerns, grr....) Jackson appeared to be crashing - too tired to eat from 2 hours straigt of IV sticks. We asked if we could start IM antibiotics a while b/c urine was now pure milky. 90 minutes later antibiotic arrives and Tyelnol given for rectal temp 101 (they kept telling us he wasn't hot b/c his ear temp was 98.3 - REALLY?!?! A septic kid deserves a tympanic temperature?? I appreciate CNA's - I was one for years - but some nurses need to take control of their patients and not leave it in the hands of a CNA.) Prayer chain was started, Liounis' came to visit at 10 am, Jackson started eatting more and more slowly. Finally at 3pm, the antibiotics seemed to be helping... smiles, talking and sleeping. Jason and I were able to finally get some sleep too!! Geisinger Nephrology wants us to f/u with his surgeon ASAP. Hopefully, we'll cont with IM antibiotics, he'll keep drinking so we don't need to try IVs again, and we'll go home Sun or Mon but on 3 WEEKS OF ANTIBIOTICS!!!!!

He was soooo happy when the girls came to visit tonight!!! BIG SMILES!!!!!!!

Kids were here

2011-07-28T22:09:00.014-04:00

I totally stole this idea from a photographer on Facebook, but it looks fun... The goal is to document the details of my children's lives daily without actually seeing them in the photos. I'm going to try to do it for all of August, not sure if I'll actually get the pix posted each night though. I'm hoping some friends will do it with me!! It's only July 27, but I'm excited to get started, so here I go... :)

************

July 27: When it rains, it's fun to get the chalk wet and paint with our hands!

July 28: We explored the corn field today

July 29: Jackson's in the hospital

(Diarrhea diaper and our HOME rectal thermometer)

July 30: White board in Jackson's hospital room.
His feeding count and notes from the girls.

July 31: We have one week to cram in a whole
summer's worth of reading to win the prizes...

July 31: FINALLY unpacking Jaylee's camp

bags (9 days after she got home) STINKY!!!!

August 1: Weeds on the back of my Jeep - ?

August 2: Happy Birthday Cole Party

August 3: Need I say anything?

August 4: Pillow Pile

August 5: We spent the day at Hershey Park without a camera.
Jenni tried Trailblazer

Jaylee loved The Claw

August 6: Nice Clean lawn and porch!

August 7: Oh Jaylee!!!

August 8: 2 big bags, many boxes, a few tears, and 3 hours later...

the girls' rooms are clean

Aug 9: Always... home made LPS Vet centers

August 10: The girls LOVE treasure hunt games

(this is Base 2 with another clue)

August 11: Jaylee's K9s

August 12: Before kids, I took different things to bed with me...

August 13: Spending the day at Geisinger Med Center

August 14: Keeping busy in the hospital

August 15: Jenni's front tooth

August 16: Why when friends are over, do my kids forget where the trsah can is?!?

August 17: The girls' Salon

August 18: Jackson like to entertain himself

August 19: How tough is Jackson?!?!?!

(Yes... they're bullets in his diaper)

August 20: Air show!

August 21: (We're off to the beach... be back in a few days!)

Beach day

2011-07-25T01:01:00.001-04:00

Finally... I got to the beach this summer... Finally!!!

Mr Cool Guy Jackson's first time...

Jaylee was at camp so Jenni LOVED having all the attention...

She was fearless!!! Here she's getting wiped out on her boogie board...

It was 100' out but the water was freezing -

too cold to take Jackson out swimming!

Mac N Manco's

Take 1...

Me and my Baby...

Poppop had him ROLLING!!!!!!

I don't even remember what was so funny.

We burried Poppop

And then he burried JB

JB tried some bigger rides this year.

Her FAVORITE is the The Scrambler.

She worked up the courage to go on her first "Roller Coaster"

She seemed to be enjoying it, until it broke and we literally had to be pushed back to the loading dock!!

So... she decided to try one more "Roller Coaster"...

This ride was a DISASTER!!!!!

We go back with everyone in August...

can't wait!!!!!!

Gravel drive II

2011-07-16T01:29:00.002-04:00

I'm loving my gravel "tunnel" even more than I did a few weeks back...

no one can see me and I can't see anyone -

except for the deer that are always hanging out here!!

SO no one can see when my kids are driving...

The newest view from the road...

too bad it's not sweet corn!!

My driveway is better than yours!!!

Weird Al

2011-07-15T23:55:00.000-04:00

The kids got to go to their first Rock Concert last night...

WEIRD AL YANKOVIC

And it was AWESOME!!

He is so entertaining!!!

And his band mates are just as entertaining!

It was worth the money just to see Jenni rocking out in her seat and getting excited for the songs she knew.

Jaylee enjoyed herself, but is now too cool to let loose!!

Jackson enjoyed the first 2 minutes before he fell asleep in our arms for the rest of the show -

not sure how - it was SO loud!!

I think this was the best birthday gift we've ever gotten him!

He was absolutely fantastic on his accordian.

The other band mates gave "solos" on their instruments which lasted exactly 1 second.

Then he yelled like he was Gene Simmons...

"Are you Ready to Rock?!?"

followed by

"I was afraid of that"

He sang blips of popular songs, with funny videos behind him.

He sang some of his newer songs: The performance of "White and Nerdy" was one of my favorites, as well as his sexy dancing out in the audience for an R&B song.

He finished the show with "I'm Fat" and then encored the show with "Star Wars Saga" -

His two best performances, by far!!!!

Oh, what a great night...

Fear

2011-06-30T23:12:00.003-04:00

So we were looking back at pictures of Jackson tonight and it kind of hit me...

having a sick kid is really quite terrifying!!!

You double guess everything...

You think that any change in personality is a "problem"...

You hear things...

like about a 3 year old hearing for the first time

and you feel grateful that he has heard my voice and my HORRIBLE singing all this time

and you hear about a 4 month old going home for the first time after abd surgery
but will live (God-willing without any difficulty)...

and you think..

is he REALLY that sick...

but YES...

he IS that sick and

yes, he DOES need you to be paranoid

and YES he does need extra special care

and you realize...

my life is not like yours...

my kid is NOT like yours...

I AM NOT LIKE YOU!!!

I AM his eyes,

his ears,

his mouth,

his voice,

his changes,

his spokesman,

his survival...

I AM HIS MOM.

I did NOT ask for this,

I do NOT want this,

but this is what I am...

it is more than I thought I could be,

it is more than I wanted to be...

I am lucky enough to hold this position

and I am grateful...

God has led me through the past years to gain knowledge through my work,

to marry a man who speaks his mind

and to learn how to speak up...

I AM JACKSON's Mom

and I LOVE every minute of it!!!

Tough

2011-06-30T20:26:00.000-04:00

So, Jason got a new phone and has been playing with ringtones and pix...

When we call him from the house, this is what you get...

If You're Gonna Be Dumb, You Gotta Be Tough...

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TcOhIhY_s8 )

Along the same lines, Jackson is fighting his second UTI...

he was acting fussy for 2.5 days and luckily his new Drs listened and tested.

Jaylee's Charity

2011-06-30T20:22:00.001-04:00

Jaylee with her aluminum tabs that SHE collected for the Ronald McDonald House in Hershey.

She organized a contest in her class to get kids to bring them in...

and gave out prizes that were own posessions.

She also asked our neighbors and fmaily to help out.

We counted to 600 before quitting...

I estimate 1500 tabs!!!

She got to deliver them today.

I am VERY PROUD of her!
We're thinking they're worth 2 cents a piece...
$30!!!!

Jackson the Bumblebee

2011-06-26T00:05:00.000-04:00

Apparently Bumblebees defy all sorts of odds when they fly...
In the rules of engineering and flight, it should be impossible for them to fly...

Well, as Aunt Maria pointed out, Jackson is our little bumblebee and he will always keep on flying!!!!

He's almost 4 months... such a pleasant, content baby. He's mastered his smile and even flirts with a one-sided smile sometimes (Like his Daddy). He's laughed a few times - once when they stuck him for blood last month and when you move your index pointer quickly towards his nose like you're going to hit him but then stop abruptly. He's starting to figure out his hands - he definatly knows that they are his but hasn't mastered how to move them. He's teething terribly... for the past 3 weeks he slobbers like you wouldn't believe - but he never complains. He's rolled from his belly-to-back and enjoys tummy time. He even "tried crawling" last night when he was on his belly. He prefers to sleep on his belly, he has since he was 1 month old. He enjoys quiet time in his crib each day, just watching his mobile. He adores his sisters... he just stares and smiles at them and does not mind when they "toss" him around. His vesicostomy has healed nicely (see below). This week he had pink eye without the pinkness, just the gook. The Dr weighed him at 13 lbs 4 ozs, already! I rock him to sleep each night watching NCIS... we'll know "why" if he becomes a serial killer!! He's my love bug. "Jack Jack Attack" is definately loved by us all, and we are definately loved by him.

Summer

2011-06-25T23:36:00.001-04:00

This summer is FLYING by already!!!

The girls have only been out of school for 1 week but we have been BUSY!!

We've helped Mandy move out of her house, went to Dutch Wonderland with the girls' old classmates, took Jason to Hershey Park for Father's Day, the kids explored and swam in our creek, Jaylee had a sleepover and spent the day at the pool with Katrina, Jenni had a playdate with Serenity, hot a few yard sales, Nan took the girls to a Little Mermaid play in Lancaster, Jackson has found his hands and learned how to talk our ears off, Jennibelle will soon lose her first front-top tooth, Meg gave all 3 of us girls red highlights, Jason turned 35, I've beaten Jason in our etoh-induced late night sprints around the house, Jaylee and Jackson had pink eye, we've spent many hours playing soccer in the yard and catching lightning bugs, taken many walks, and even bombarded Jason with a water fight when he got home from work yesterday. We're now finalizing Jaylee's first trip to camp, we're making beach plans and plans for when we have visitors from Seattle. I swear school will be here before we know it!! Here's a few of my favorite shots so far...

JB regretted not doing any roller coasters at Hershey Park,

so Jason gave her the next best thing!

Jason's 35th Bday.

Apparently, I need to buy some boy gift bags!

Aunt Jamie made his Seahawks onesie!

Lightning Bugs!!

Jenni still not quite brave enough to catch them in her hands.

Jaylee is quite the little babysitter!

MAN TALK...

Soccer Awards

2011-06-05T00:55:00.000-04:00

And The Little Engine That Could Award goes to...

Jennibelle!!!!!

And The Team Spirit Award goes to...

Jaylee!!!!!

This soccer season turned out to be quite fantastic!!!!

Facebook

2011-06-05T00:29:00.000-04:00

So I am back to work and get to spend countless hours on line... mostly craigslist browsing and Facebook surfing. It left me thinking tonight: As I added some new friends from our "new life" in Lititz... I was thinking there have been sooo many people that have come and gone... some have come again... and some are gone forever.

It's funny how I've been addicted to Facebook for about 2 years... I was not interested in it at all but joined at the insistance of the Stringhams. It's such an easy way to keep in touch, especially with family all over the country!

When I frirst joined, I looked up everyone I've ever known... Brookhaven neighborhood kids, The Christian Academy classmates, Sun Valley classmates, Etown and York College buddies, Friends in Savannah, Lancaster friends, Jason's family in Seattle and beyond, and of course all of my cousins!! I was so curious as to who was doing what!! My "friend" list was hundreds long...

Then we got all the bad news about Jackson, and I found that it was much easier to update family on FB so I went through my Friends List and narrowed it down to family and close friends, so that I wasn't sharing all the details with people wo didn't really care.

Now, I have "refriended" many of those acquaintances and realize that I love having a large friend list:

I like reading about everyone's lives,

I like being nosy,

I like the "relationships" that have started and strengthened over FB,

I like showing pics of my fantastic kids to everyone,

I like reading when friends are asking for help or prayers,

I like seeing pix of everyone (when' I'm checking out the backgrounds to see how everyone lives),

and I like having something to do at work!!

What I like most though, is the friends that have stayed on my friend's list since the beginning...

friends that live close by,

friends that I only spent a year or two with but have continued to stay in touch,

family on the west coast that I've never actually met but feel like we're real friends now,

and people from the past that I was not friends with but now feel that I am!

What I also like is all the support that I received from people through FB when we were learning about Jackson's conditions. It was so great to sit in front of the computer and read kind words and optimism. It was wonderful to know that because of FB, Jackson received 10 thimes the prayers that he would have.

So, now that I have checked FB, searched Craigslist and freecyle, and blogged, I guess I'll check my junk email account!!

His son

2011-05-27T14:08:00.000-04:00

Jason and his SON...

Watching TV together last night.

and we're home!

2011-05-27T12:24:00.000-04:00

I will never live in a house without a gravel drive again...

LOVE the sound of the rocks under my tires...

It tells me...

I'm home:)

The Three Amigos

2011-05-27T12:10:00.000-04:00

The 3 Amigos

Our Songs

2011-05-27T00:32:00.004-04:00

Here's our Favorite Songs...

Mumford and Son's: The Cave
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KkUeRPjc-Y

Mika: Grace Kelly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CGVgAYJyjk

The Calling: Wherever You Will Go
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAP9AF6DCu4

Bryant Oden: The PeaSong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q6DdTcqGy8

George Strait: I Cross My Heart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY-Z9kdSMXU

Tim McGraw: My Best Friend
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRJ0lpu6XaU

Flogging Molly: Salty Dog
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NW29q6C4Do

Twisted Sister: We're Not Gonna Take It
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WT1LXhgXPWs

Queen: Bohemian Rhaposody
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ9rUzIMcZQ

Weird Al: I Need a Nap
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEXEXPNwlPc

Weird Al: I'm Fat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2mU6USTBRE

Weird Al: The Saga Begins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEcjgJSqSRU

Sir Mix A Lot: Babies Got Back
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY84MRnxVzo

You are My Sunshine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_TGFXc5XQo

Ugly Kid Joe: Cats in the Cradle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B32yjbCSVpU

Carly Simon: You are so Vain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQZmCJUSC6g

Temptations: My Girl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltRwmgYEUr8

Chariots of Fire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9myoXFk-O4U

Rocky Theme Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvEnIkz82A0

Black eyed Peas: Boom Boom Pow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m48GqaOz90

Great Grandpa Lee: Little Joe the Wrangler
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVqpAIK-j7w

Mormon Church: Love At Home
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkVRLuBJmyo&feature=related

Aqua: Barbie Girl
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyhrYis509A

Aqua: Dr Jones
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buXJlBd3Mf8

Steve Holy: Good Morning Beautiful
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHUxogmXob4

Billy Joel: My Life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3JFEfdK_Ls

Hampton the Hampster: The Hampster Dance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3G5IXn0K7A

Tom T Hall: I Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65AuuFpNFxY

Roger Alan Wade: If You're Gonna Be Dumb
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rST04LvIMg

Ray Parker Jr: Ghostbusters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvkKX035484

Iggy Pop: Punk Rocker
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P09rxVaQAM

Willie Nelson: Maria Shut Up and Kiss Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPKGLPPjWrs

And That's Us!!!!

Tornados

2011-05-26T20:25:00.001-04:00

AGAIN we have tornados...

5th or 6th time this Spring!!!

Can't say I'm a fan!!!!!

It's cool to watch on the farm though... you can see it rolling in.

And everything on our porch goes a-blowin!!

Wish us luck!!

Kissell Hill Elementary School

2011-05-21T05:37:00.001-04:00

A busy week at school for the girls...

JB's field trip, Open House and then the Carnival.

They were both very excited and had a blast.

Jaylee loves George Washihngton,

since Jason loves George!

Jaylee's class room jelly fish.

This made me feel special...

Jaylee's teacher's desk has a pic of Jackson

and a pic of Jaylee when she was a baby!

A poem Jaylee and her friend Amelia wrote...

Jaylee's Flat Emma visitted Audrey in Seattle!!!

I liked this picture b/c Jaylee looks so grown up, with her chart!!

The three Amigos!!

They each begged to carry around their brother!

The Music room...

Yoda and the piggest SpongeBob collection I've ever seen!

Each of the girls made a card for their teacher before we went.

Jenni's cow and pig.

The Carnival was a blast and after a quick shower, we saw the most bright double rainbow!

2011-04-10T19:45:00.000-04:00

Hello Blue Eyes...

It's good to see you awake and looking around!!

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are gray

You never know dear, how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away

I once was lonely, but now I found you

Beautiful Jackson, you are my son

Stay with me always, and leave me never

In this life, you'll have so much fun

Jennibelle's Soccer

2011-04-10T19:40:00.000-04:00

Oh, I am sooo glad Jenni asked toplay soccer this year.

She is a blast...

she NEVER stops smiling when she is out on the field.

She is so quick, has great endurance, always cheers her teammates on, and (so far) has scored every game. (Sshh... it's only her 2nd game!)

Here are some shots that I captured at todays game while all the Liounis were there cheering her on too.

Always smiling...

She's left-footed...

Here's her GOAL!!!!

Always volunteering... to do everything...

She's number 1 in my book!!

Taking her turn as a sub...

"Why do you ALWAYS take pictures?!?"...

Chasing...

In the pack...

Being physical...

2011-03-28T16:52:00.000-04:00

Jaylee's Art Show

Jaylee's Art was one of tow pieces chosen to be in the Warwick School District Art Show this year. Grandma and Meg went to see it on display with us.

She wrote her name in a collage.

(we were interpretting her art in this last picture!)

2011-03-23T15:10:00.002-04:00

My week in pictures...

March 16-23, 2011

By Jackson Lee Stringham

2011-03-23T14:52:00.000-04:00

Life Sucks Sometimes!!

Just ask Jackson!!! From age 12-20 days, he slowly became sicker and sicker. Luckily, he is a fighter and his body was compensating wondrefully, which saved his life... again!! We knew something was wrong, just couldn't figure out what it was... I thought for sure his vesectomy site was infected. But after a trip to the Urologist on day 14, we were reassured that we were just "paranoid". After cutting dairy out of my diet, because of his fussiness and lack of interest in eatting, we found out from the visitting nurse that he was not gaining weight appropriately. A trip to the Pediatrician found that he had LOST 3 ozs in 7 days, so we started on Soy Formula and returned the next day for more unuseful suggestions. I was very frustrated, "knowing" that something was wrong but not knowing what it was. I also felt that Jason thought I was just being way to overprotective... so I retreated to my room to watch TV and clean all day long. By the evening on day 20, we decided to take him to the ER, even though we had been constantly reassured that he was not sick and we would prob be sent home to follow up with our Nephrologist after the weekend. We watched and watched for signs of dehydration... there were none. He was just irritable, not hungry, and pretty sleepy. His mucous membranes were pink and wet, his fontanel not sunken, skin turgor good, and of course he was still peeing lots. He looked "good" for being so close to death! The ER staff kept saying that he wasn't all that sick, and after 20+ IV and blood draw attempts, they placed a NG tube to try to give "just a little fluid to see if it perks him up". When his inital lab results came back, they were so off kilter that they were dismissed as hemolyzed and new labs were drawn. All the while, internally, Jackson was crashing. When he finally went limp in my hands and we screamed for the nurse, we were told that he was just fine, just exhausted from fighting the hospital staff. I KNOW MY SON and knew things were not right. When the repeat labs were just as bad, the PICU Dr came down with his staff, attempted 2 IV sticks and then literally ran him up to the PICU. Dr Bob Tamburro was completely awesome, but being left in the waiting room for 1 hour after being told how serious the situation is, is unexplainable. But, I will try...

Your heart races constantly, your mouth is dry, you can't cry, you can't think, your belly feels ill, you feel like your floating in a surreal reality, your mind races from important details to mundane thoughts, you can't keep still, you pace the floor, you try to drink water to keep hydrated but it just makes you want to vomit more, you call your parents to update them on the seriousness, you pray, you pray and you pray, you beg to wake up from the bad dream, you worry about your older kids, you fall the the ground feeling completely helpless.

We were informed of everything by Dr Bob... Jackson's sodium was 108 which caused brain swelling and irritablilty. His potassium was also at a lethal level of 9.8. He was tachycardic at 200-210, but afebrile. He had been cool, clammy and mottled all week. (Again, I had been reasured that his color was normal for an infant mulitple times) He was started on albuterol neb treatments, kaexolate via NG tube, and iv Glucose/insulin to lower his K+. They were only able to get a 24 g in his R AC at first so they kept treating his hyperK+ until it lowered enough to a level that would be safe for sedation and intubation and eventually a central line placement. Dr Bob's critical thinking process was perfect!!! Guess that's why he is a PICU Dr. 4 hours later, he was able to be sedated - it then took TWO hours to get him intubated and a central line in b/c his system was so collapsed, due to dehydration. He was stuck mulitple times in the groin and then they were successful in his R IJ. Saline bolus were then rushed into his little heart!! You know Jackson... he ended up being over corrected - his Saline levels were increasing too quickly for Dr Bob's liking and he eventually needed IV K+ b/c his levels were too low!!! You go Jackson!! He did, however, need a blood transfusion after being HYPERhydrated - he has gained over 1 lb of pure water weight and looks almost unrecognizably pudgy. He, again, was not able to open his eyes b/c of the swelling!!

He is now 22 days old... we've been moved to Hell, I mean the Pediatric floor, and he is stable. He still is receiving BIG antibiotics since is urine and blood infections were resistant to many antibitoics!! We cont to monitor his CMPS Q12' and he is receiving less and less IV fluids, as his PO intake increases. We still have to "force" him to eat more than 1 oz at a time though. He had spiked a 101' fever on day 21, but it has subsided. His urine remains slightly coloudy (had been clear at home until day 19 but the Pediatrician felt that it was healing skin cells from his ostomy) but the Nephrology team thinks that it is just b/c his kidneys and ureters are still being cleaned out. Of course, Dr Muchant called from Geissinger and talked to us for 1/2 hour - love that lady!!

It's hard to keep everything straight now, just a few days and a few hours of sleep later. The Ronald McDonald house is so very nice and I will start leaving my coins in their silly coin collector boxes from now on.

I'm completely annoyed by the two other roommates and their families sharing Jackson's room. I'm worried about how long we'll be stuck in the hosp with IV antibiotics (prob 14 days). Im worried that it will be a scary couple of years trying to maintain a healthy balance btwn his intake, output and Na+ supplement amounts. I'm terrified that I'll let him get this sick again. I'm exhausted. But, of course I'm here typing away so that years from now I can remember the night we thought we lost Jackson...

Sunday March 20, 2011 @ 4 am.

The single worst day of my life.

My Twins

2011-03-05T09:06:00.000-05:00

No one seemed to believe me when I said how much Jackson looks like Jenni...

atleast not until I found some of Jenni's baby pix.

He reminds me A LOT of his big sister... just look...

Jenninblle 2005

Jackson 2011

Jackson is Here!!

2011-03-03T17:55:00.009-05:00

Jackson Lee Stringham3-1-2011

3 pm

8lb 10 oz

20 1/2 inch

*37 weeks 3 days

*Amnio to check for lung maturity at 0800

*Lots of contractions while waiting in L&D

*Csection scheduled for 1300'

*Nurse Anesthesist used to be hypnotist

*Spinal left me "numb" up to T4 - caused my BP and HR to bottom out, but it was great and only allowed me to feel pressures

*I heard the clamp clang together... yuck!

*Room was dead silent as they got ready to pull him out

*Jackson SCREAMED before he was even out of me!!!

*Jason peeked and almost jumped for joy when his belly looked "normal"

*Jason got to cut his cord

*I got to see him before he went off to NICU - I could NOT believe how big his cheeks were!

*We were told right away that he had a hypospadia but otherwise looked great. There was no evidence of a patenet urachus.

.*It took 45 minutes for Dr Muller to sew me back togehter, but my sutures have gotten many praises by nurses!

*Jason wheeled me over to NICU at 1700

*The girls, Grandparents, Mandy and Brian got to peek quickly at him in the NICU around 2030

*Jennibelle had been cleared by her Pediatrician to go see him with a dx'd sinus infection but she had gotten sicker on Fri so she struggled to not look or act sick in the NICU. (She was so cute!!)

*Jaylee seemed a little nervous, like she would break him!

(You can see how sick Jenni is feeling!!)

*On Weds morning (3/2/11) he was moved to the step down NICU. I got to breast feed him.

*His creatnine went up to 1.1 after being 0.7 initially. Our AWESOME Nephrologist (Dr Muchant) explained that it could take 2 weeks for his Creatnine to level out.

*Jackson had 4 or 5 dirty diapers within the first 24 hours!

*He was peeing - Jason saw an actual pee stream when he was first born, I only ever saw drops on his penis.

*The Urologist (Dr Semfest) did a stat US and believed that he had a Post Urethral Valve and orded a VCUG for 3/2 to confirm the diagnosis

*The VCUG could not be done at 1500 b/c Dr Semfest could not advance the catheter up his urethra. We were informed he would need surgery the next AM (3/3/11)(cystography with probable PUV clipping).

*An IV was started and he was NPO after MN before surgery

*He was so sweet before surgery... he is patient and gentle and he never cries!! We got to old him in the pre-op area before they took him away. We were both obviously nervous for him!

***********

*Surgery lasted 1 1/2 hours... Dr Sempfest came to tell us that he did not find a PUV, like we expected... He found that his urehtra was a dead-end "urethral atrasia". He then said "It is a lethal diagnosis, I don't know how he survived being a fetus" Becuase of this, he had to make a vesicostomy... A hole in his lower belly that allow his urine to literally drip out of his bladder continuously. The plastic surgery to repair his urethra and penis will be done around month 9 and then eventually his stoma will be closed up. They are expecting that his urological swelling and dilation will subside some on it's own, now that the blockage has been relieved. The hole is about the same size as his belly button.

***********

*We will cont to monitor his Creatnine daily until he's D/C'd (3/4 or 3/5) Then we'll have out patient lab work done in Lancaster every few days and follow up with Dr Muchant weekly for a while.

He was in A LOT of pain after surgery (HR 200s, Resp 50, BP in the 80's, Arching back, crying...) The first thing his NICU Nurse said was "I will NOT ignore your son's pain", right before she sat on her big fat butt for 2 hours charting and never giving him his Tylenol. Luckily, the next Nurse administered it right away!!

* It's 8 hours post op, he looks much more comfortable and has some bowel sounds so I will be able to feed him again soon. He is not nearly as mottled and his color isn't as dusky. It's obvious he feels better.

*Though this diagnosis is not a great one, it IS a diagnosis and it IS fixable and we finally have some answers. I can't explain how good that is to us!!!!!

/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Jaylee and Jennibelle absolutely LOVE him already!!! They have been very gentle with him and can not wait for him to finally come home!

Grandma and Grandpa flew in from Seattle to spend some time with us and to care for the girls while we are here in the hosp. They stayed up here in Danville for 2 nights at a hotel with an indoor pool

Nan and Poppop came up and spent two nights in the hotel too.

Mandy and her family came up for Jackson's delivery and ended up staying the first night so that Morgan could play with the girls and so that Mandy and I could hang out.
Meg drove up late at night on the 1st after work. She came to the hosp early on the 2nd to meet Jackson.
Everyone in Seattle has been calling and facebooking me to keep updated.

It is just amazing to me how many people care about this little boy and the rest of us. People I barely know and have never even met have been diligently praying for us. I honestly don't believe that I would be here, holding my son, without it.

I am exhauseted but want to keep everything straight. I am already mixing things up and he's only 48 hours old. I hope that he will one day realizes just how lucky he is to be here, and that we will never take our little miracle boy for granted!! We hope to go home tomrrow evening!!

#################

I got to feed him tonight at 2000 and 2230. He was awake for a little bit and just stared at us, taking us in while we inhaled every detail about him. He's lost 14 ozs since birth, and looks a lot different. is face is not nearly as swollen, though he's obviously parched from the anesthesia and it beaks my heart to see his dry lips and tongue. We're hoping to go home tomorrow so, he'll be bottle fed tonight while I sleep and hopefully tomorrow my milk will come in and we can head home, as a family... JUST 4 days after he is born. I've been wondering WHY God has blessed me with this boy. Why did I get lucky enough to be his Mom? Usually after I have a baby, I toy with the idea of L&D nursing. These days I find myself wondering WHERE God wants me to go from here. I feel like I make a difference at Bayada and love the realtionship I have with Emily and her family. But maybe I could use this experience to help people in another foled of nursing? Maybe all this is just eh pain pill typing? Who knows... I am terrified that my Short Term Disability will be rejected and I'll have to return to work sooner than expected. This is one of those days that

I WISH MONEY GREW ON TEES!!!

We filled out the paperwork to have Home Health Nursing for a little while, though I'm not sure what the nurses would do, other than check on his stoma. We've met with the Nurse Case Mgrs and have gotten and given lots of information regarding Medical Assistance Health Insurance and Social Security Disability Benefits. This is all so new to me and it is so very confusing!!!

G'night!!

2011-02-25T23:27:00.000-05:00

I have 3 whole days left of being pregnant... the last three days that I will EVER be pregnant in my life. I really want to enjoy them and relish in the simplicity of it and eat it up. I want to always remember how active Jackson is... I'm told it's a boy thing! He is constantly moving way up on my belly - sometimes I can grab his foot!!! I love having Jason and the kids see him dancing inside of me and my belly going from side and side and then hooting about it. I loI love how everytime I seem to get nervous that he's not moving, he senses my fear and voila... starts to dance. I love how he kicks and punches everytime I sing... I used to think he loved my singing, but then the girls pointed out that he's probably trying to get away from the noise!! Haha.
I even love that I have started to wear snore strips b/c I apparently ahve been snoring SOOO badly the past few weeks... how can I NOT with a belly this big and no room for my lungs? I will misss these Braxton Hick contractions that I hav ehad prety much constantly for the past 6 weeks or so. They start up high in my belly and squeez down my uterus, taking my breath way. They happen even if I exert the littlest amount of energy.
I love that the girls feel so comfortable with my belly - they kiss it and hug it and talk to Jackson. We joke that he will come out all bruised up from us rubbing on my belly and pushing on him all the time.
I love that I can tell when he has the hiccups (methodical movements) and when he's just going nuts. I don't remember ever knowing or thinking that the girls had teh hiccups.
I even love my stupid little waddle walk... It's really quite ducky!!!! It's probably b/c he is so big and causes so much pressure down below!
I absolutely will NOT miss the heartburn I've had this time around... oh the heartburn!!! It has deprived me of sleep some nights, literally woken me up with a mouth full of stomach acid a time or two, and caused me to swallow many a Pepcids and Tums. But... in 4 days, it should be gone... hopefully for good!!
I'm hoping that these last 3 days will be sciatic pain-free, heart burn-free, full of energy and just plain fun!!! I've been having a terible time sleeping the past few nights with nightmares, uncomfortablity and a hubby who wakes me when my snoring gets outta control... I'm hoping these next few nights are quite different.
I also love how Jennibelle now calls Jaylee "Sissy" or "Sis" at all times. It was always annoying to me when I heard othere kids saying this, but with her it's just darn cute. And Jaylee doesn't seem to mind at all... will Jackson be "Jackson" or "Brother"?!?!

70 degree Feb days...

2011-02-18T18:25:00.001-05:00

What did YOU do today?!?!

It's Feb 18th and we had 70 degree weather for two days,
so we...

explored the corn fields to find bones!!

helped Dad maintain the car

lost our shoes in the mud in the corn field,

so Daddy had to help rescue us!

then we used heh mud on our shoes to paint the tree!

of course, we swung a lot!

We even had a mud flinging fight!!

We THINK it's mud, anyway!

Daddy cleaned up the grill and cooked out!

We played and played and played in the mud.

We finally got to explore the basement...

Mama is still NOT allowed down there.

Jenni painted herself to be a kitty!

Morgan and Cole came over and we got to show her the steer!

We biked, scootered, took a walk, chased, drew with chalk, blew bubbles, had a picnic and more!

Nan even came over on her lunch break with pizza!

Morgan got to try out our swing too!

Can't believe it's going to snow again in 4 days!!!!

We are READY FOR SPRING!!!

Locks of Love

2011-02-15T23:33:00.002-05:00

The girls were pretty much forced to donate 10 inches of their hair to Locks of Love tonight. I wanted it chopped and figured someone should benefit from it... and it made it a little easier on the girls knowing they were helping some sick kids!!!

Jennibelle decided to go first. She was not excited at all and burst into tears when Meg made the big cut. She cired for most of the hair cute but after Meg blew it out and styled it, she realized that she loved it!!! She admired herself the rest of the night in all the mirrors... we'll see how she feels when she wakes up in the morning. I had wanted it shorter around her face but Meg said we can always go shorter in a few days, we can't go longer... and I really like it!!!! here's her before/after. She's still sad in the after pix and you can't see how great it looks in the back. BUT I'm sure that I'll be taking another 1,000 pix in the near future and will update then...

Then we had to take a break so Meg could deal with her paying customers. Jaylee loved Jennibelle's hair so much, that she was super ready when it was finally her turn. After the 10 inch cut, she was left with hair a timy bit longer than Jennibelle's. She had wanted to cut her bangs but decided to hold off for right now. She's so funny how grown up she is at times, when she explains rationales!!

I had forgotten my camera so Mandy came up to the salon with hers, but her battery died as Jaylee was getting chopped, so I'll have to take and post and after pic of her in the morning, sorry. She does look super cute though!!! Not sure why the goofy faces, I guess 7am is just NOT photo time!!!!

baby shower

2011-02-11T23:04:00.000-05:00

Surprise Baby Shower!!!

Mom, Mandy & Meg threw me a surprise baby shower on Sunday, Feb 6th at 1:30 at Mom's house.

It was fun and relaxed... my kinda party!!!

There were tons of kids who seemed to have a really good time!

Debbie, Diane, Nicole, Dorcas, Mrs Constein and Mrs Esh were there.

We had delicious chicken salad and ham-and-cheese sandwiches for lunch, then the kids made a "Bouquet" for Jackson's hospital room and then we opened gifts.

The finished bouquet:

Jennibelle working on her flower:

Everyone like the project!:

The food:

I had lots of help opening gifts:

My new diaper bag from Mom, Mandy and Meg.

They also got me a neat voice recorder for Jacksons NICU bed:

It was so nice to get together with everyone and celebrate Jackson!

Hope my sisters and friends know how much I appreciate it!!!

Now it's about time to write my Thank you notes!!!

BTW...

March 1, 2011 is the day of my c-section.