Family Favorites

Family Favorites
The love of a family is life's greatest blessing

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

PEG Surgery




After much thought and prayer and many doctors recommendations I have decided to go ahead and get a feeding tube (PEG) placed in Nathaniel. I have struggled and worried for 21 moths about his eating and his failure to gain adequate weight. My little guys is 21 months and only weighs 14 pounds. In fact, he has weighed 14 pounds for months. The surgery was scheduled for March 16th then an estimated 7 days of hospitalization to get used to eating.

Thank God the surgery was a success. It took about 45 minutes to get the PEG in place and then about an hour or more for Nathaniel to wake up. When he first woke up he was extremely upset. He was given pain medication and then he went back to sleep. We then were transported to room 3135 where he was to recover. The first few days were especially hard. We were away from our family and the only visitors allowed upstairs because of the flu and cold season were parents. JJ had a volleyball tournament and he left the day after surgery and didn't return until Sunday night. I was on my own doing 24 hour care in the hospital while my sweet mom in law took care of Olivia and Kaleb at home. What a blessing for me not to have to worry about my other two. I was able to focus my 100% attention and time to Nathaniel's care.
Day 2 Nathaniel caught pneumonia and was having a hard time recovering. Poor little guy had to have labs drawn every six hours. We started a slow and steady rate of feeding on day 2. Once the feeding began his body got shocked from the calories and nutrition and thus got re-feeding syndrome. This is common for children who are malnurished. His phosphorus levels dropped dangerously low. This took a few days to get used to but once his body was balanced and became adjusted he perked up and was himself again.
Day 3 We discovered a new fun way to entertain ourselves while feeding- a little red car that Nathaniel quickly became way too attached to. In fact, we clocked in 25 laps around the floor in the red car while he received his feeds.
Day 4 we finally were able to take Nathaniel downstairs in the red car to the lobby where he was able to visit with Nana, Olivia and Kaleb. Nathaniel was thrilled to see his siblings. I was so happy to see the kids together again. 50 laps clocked in on the red car.
The rest of the days were pretty routine - feedings, bloodwork, doctors visits, downstairs visiting with our family and many more laps around the 3rd floor.
Day 6 he was discharged. Nathaniel was so happy not to get poked anymore and to be going home.
Overall, the surgery and hospital experience was not so bad. It was a great time for me to bond deeply with Nathaniel and give him my 100% attention. There was no housework to do, no kids to take to school or pick up. All my time was just devoted to him. We sang all his favorite songs about 100 times, played cars, cuddled, slept together, and just loved each other.

Friday, March 4, 2011

Selling our Home


This is such a hard post to write but I feel as if I have to write about it - therapy. We moved into this house four years ago it closed March 31st 2007. I was in my second trimester pregnant with Olivia. During that time buying a house represented so much for me. It meant a new
beginning for JJ and I, a renewing of our commitment to our relationship after two and half years of being separated. A fresh new start. During the last four years, we've built a life together in our home. We've been pregnant five times - we've lost three precious angels and two babies have been brought home. We've shared many holidays, birthdays, and family events. So many memories and traditions have been built together in our home. Yet, we've come to the point where we have to sell the house - our home. It's so hard for me to let go of the house mainly because of the meaning built around it and the dreams I once had that are now lost. Friends and family have tried to comfort me by saying, "it's only a house." Most the time I would agree with this statement because truly it doesn't matter where you live as long as you have your family healthy and happy, however, I don't think they realize how much meaning the house had for me. It's not so much the value of the house, the walls, the rooms or anything like that but rather the commitment that was made from purchasing the house after such a devastating separation. And now watching this dream of our home come to an end - knowing that very soon it will no longer be ours makes it so very hard for me. So, here is the official "for sale" sign and the little angel that brought all this together for us. Our little princess Olivia hugging the sign that is advertising the selling of our home.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice - Girly Playdate




I am extremely blessed to have my three children. I recognize this daily and thank God for it many times a day. But, wow I am just tickled pink to have Olivia my sweet little sunshine! She is truly my sugar and spice and everything nice. She brings so much fun, adventure, creativity, laughs, and most of all so much GIRLYNESS to my life. Today, she had Paloma and Sophia over for some serious girl time. The playdate began with dress up. The girls turned Olivia's dress up closet upside down searching for the perfect outfit. Once the girls were dressed they insisted I take some pictures of how beautiful they looked. Then they sang and danced, and then the festivities led to a tea party. We set up Olivia's fine tea set and poured some juice, fruit and cookies. It was the perfect way to end a girly day. The girls had a blast and I just loved hearing the giggles, and helping them create such a special memory.