May 19,2012

I cannot believe i haven't updated since january!!!! So let's get started:)

  February: We went to seminole to hear our brother-in-law preach for the first time. We are very proud of him and he did an awesome job:) We left Joseph at home and one of my wonderful sister's from seminole, made the trip up to stay with him for us. We wanted to protect him from getting sick. It was difficult to leave him, even though i had done it countless times before, when he was in the hospital, and he was in great hands. He did better then i expected, which made it easier for me to be away. When my sister left, she left in tears and said" I don't know how you do it, I don't think i would be able too." My reply was simple, " i just do." To me Joseph was easier to take care of now, even on his tube feeds, then when we first brought him home. I remember those first few day's, I would have brought him back to the nicu in a heartbeat if i could have. But that wasn't an option, I finally had my "healthy" baby, that i had been wanting home so bad for six months, that i had to power through. That's what i did, so much so that i isolated myself from the people that come into my home to help me. They have not been consistent, so i try to be superwoman even when given a sidekick. It is a struggle to release the care of my child to someone, when that is all i waited for all those months.

  March: Brought back so many memories, heartbreaking and wonderful, all within the first 20 days. Early march we thought back on that day when joe's patch had come undone and he had his 6th surgery, Then just a few days later we celebrated the one year anniversary of his "breaking out of the NICU day." We also went back for his swallow study update and he passed with flying colors:) Back to solids we went and he did awesome. He did catch a 24hr bug, but handled it like a pro.

   April: We got to go spend easter with the family in seminole. Had an awesome time and Joseph learned to pull upto standing:) Also had another 24hr bug. His yearly evaluation with ECI, which he did great in all, except physical, which he continues to improve in daily. We had field trips for the boys, which made for a few busy day's.

   Now for this month, i can't believe it's already may, and that it's almost over. We have had a busy month, doctor visits, therapy visits, school things and best of all the company has been great:) Joseph has learned to cruise and climb on things, right about now i regret always calling him monkey, he is turning into my most daring child. I believe he thinks he has over come so much that he is invinceable to any and all things:) He's been sick again, i'm thinking with strep, although his blood work came back negative. He had high fever with throwing up(Or severe gagging because his nissen, resulting in me using his button to get it out) followed by refusing to eat or drink anything by mouth for 2 day's. Thankful we still have his mickey, or we would have ended up in the hospital. The dr want's to leave in his mickey till he's 2 since they had to put it back in a second time. Frankly i don't care if they leave it in longer, i don't know how i will get through next winter without it. He started standing by himself for 5 seconds in the middle of the room today, so walking is just around the corner. I'm so ready for him to do it, but at the same time it makes me sad:( He's blowing me away with how far he has come, so many day's we wondered if he would ever make it this far. I know we are in a quiet place right now with his CDH, that he could in the blink of an eye take a turn for the worse, but i'm enjoying it and taking one day at a time.

  It's hard for me to believe that Isaiah is going to be 7 in a few days:( I feel so unconnected with my kids since joseph was born, i spent so much time away from them, it breaks my heart to see the pain it's caused them. I see it most in chloe, she was a baby when joseph was born and by the time he came home she had grown up so much. I'm hoping this summer we can do alot of bonding and one on one time with mommy, as you can see on my pinterest page, i've got lots of ideas:) Until next time:)

January 28, 2012

Joseph has been doing wonderful lately and we are enjoying it:) We have to do the occasional breathing treatment, especially when i forget to turn the humidifier on at night. He is scooting all over the house and will kick and squirm to get down when being held. Physical therapy is coming 3 times a month and every visit is getting better then the last. She said this past week that he is getting stronger everytime she comes:) He likes to tease me by making it look like he's going to get in the crawling position, but then quickly pushes back to sitting, tilts his head and gives me a smile while clapping his hand's. He love's attention and praise for something he does, can't recall if my other kid's did or didn't. I find myself constently having to go search for him, he's getting pretty fast at scooting, and he loves it. His speech is getting good too, he say's mamma, dadda, ball and waves bye-bye, and almost say's it too. He blow's kisses and gives hug's:) He gets mad and either growls or screams when his brothers or sister tell him no or take something away when they are playing. He is still loving music and listening to us read. His dietician was here yesterday and he weighs 20 lbs 13 oz, he sure feels it to. He had gained a whole pound from her last visit. She also gave the go ahead to give him some solid food's, which joseph is very appreciative of. Making appointments for him on monday, hopefully his dr won't be to mad for not waiting on him. I feel like he's good with it and am watching him closely when he does eat. She also say's that the drs he had in amarillo are big pushers for feeding tubes. She also think's that the swallow study they did was not accurate, cause he had just been intubated and was still on some sedation med's. It upset me yesterday and had me second guessing if the surgery was something that he would have needed. But it's in the past, no sense in wasting away my time worrying about thing's that can not be changed. I have come to the conclusion that i'm going to look into the cost of optaining all his medical record's and hopefully understand more about how his inside's work and look, to be better prepared next time he goes into the hospital. Thanks for reading and Know that no news means good or great news. Until Next Time:)

Shutting down share site.

Shutting down shutterfly share site. I will be posting all the updates from there to here. Also making changes to this one.

Joseph's first Christmas sorta:)

We have spent the last 3 days doing nothing but enjoying ourselves and hanging out in our pj's:) of course i still have to cook and clean, but i have not minded. I feel so much better when i can stay on top of the cleaning. The cooking i could do without, but then we would starve or worse have to eat alsup's burritos, which are ok every now and then, cause eating anywhere else costs almost an arm and a leg these days, with the boys growing so fast:( Enough jibberish on with the fun stuff:):):):):):)

Isaiah's favorite line all weekend was " this is the best Christmas" i'm pretty sure he will be saying it next year as well;) We got him an optimus prime jetfire transformer, a lego ninjago dragon set, and a batman bat wing for there ever expanding collection of batman toys. We had the kids draw names this year and chloe bought him a obi one knobe lightsaber. He has been playing with one after another:) They kept asking to go to grandma's:(

Zachery, not as enthusiastic as Isaiah, but still excited:) We got him a transformer firestation house, a lego ninjago skull truck, and a darth vade lightsaber. Joseph (aka: Mommy) got him a bumblebee to go with said station and r2d2 and the gold guy (as zack refers to him) to expand there star wars collection they will soon have:)

Chloe has been watching christmas cartoons alot lately, so she is all about santa. Tonight she approached me and said" santas not coming cause there's no snow:(" then as she was laying down to sleep, she threw this out there " santas going to bring us more presents" Never a dull moment with that girl:) She got a kitchen with 101 pieces of food, a shopping cart, and a pack of play-doh. She runs around with her shopping cart and yells, " going shopping cart, going shopping cart," like i said never a dull moment:) Zachery got her a strawberry shortcake treehouse, while she was opening it, he informed her he had wanted to get her a lalaloopzy one, but it had been to much money. She copied isaiah's saying  alot:)

Joseph got to celebrate Christmas as it should always be celebrated, at home and not in a hospital:) For that i'am very thankful. Of course he is still little, so he didn't dig in and tare open any gifts, but sat, chewing on his paci, as the boys very enthusiastically tore them open. He got an activity walker, a fisher price lil' zoomers, which his older siblings have really enjoyed, and a leapfrog drum. Isaiah got him a hippo that tips over and drops out balls, which is his favorite so far:)

Wonderful Christmas:)

Busy, Busy, Busy!!!!!

Joseph has been in and out of the hospital for the past month:( Which makes for a TOTAL(brace yourself) Almost 9 months altogether:( So this week as i was getting the house ready for Christmas and amidst all the dr and therapy appointments. I have been enjoying the cleaning and chaos of our everyday life:) Because they are so much more fun then sitting in a hospital room. I'm trying my best to let things go that people are having a hard time understanding. So i'm going to vent a little bit, if i upset anyone, i'm sorry it is not my intention, i'm just having a hard time crasping why it can't be left alone that we aren't coming to seminole for Christmas. It is very hard on us not being able to be with family, especially at this time. We miss everyone and Love all of You!!! I don't want Joseph to get sick, he has been battling something for the pass 6 weeks and is finally his happy self again. I know he can get sick here as well as there, but the difference is here he only gets out of the house for dr visits and only if the weather is decent, to get there we have to take him out in freezing cold air which irriates his lung diesease, he's already wheezing a tiny bit by just getting out for yesterdays visit. So PLEASE stop asking us to come our mind is made up!!!! and you just make it so much harder on us by not letting it be. If you want to see us so bad come visit us, we would be glad to have you. Be thankful for your healthy kids each and every day!!! I know i'am, because it is very hard when they are not:( Merry Christmas and have a blessed and happy new year:)

I'm going to be enjoying some much needed quality time with my kids, after all 9 months of the past year they haven't had a mommy and also some time with my hunny who also has been without a wife:(

Stationery card

Count Our Blessings Religious Christmas Card

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Happy Thanksgiving:)

Happy Thanksgiving:) lots to be thankful for, God, health, husband, kids, family and friends:) Had hoped to be home by now, but it is right around the corner. Many of you know that Joseph went to surgery( number 7) on Monday. Well he had a Nissen fundo, which is where they wrap the top of his stomach around his esphagus. They also put back his Mickey button:( He also had a hernia in his private area, so he had that fixed too. He did good, very little scar tissue, which has made for a speedy recovery. He is up to full feeds:) they have also taken off his oxygen:):)Praying it will be for good this time, it's been off since 4 yesterday, but we will see. Last time it lasted for 24 hours:/

Thank you Lord for giving us Joseph he has taught us so much in his short little life. Not only in our physical life but our spiritual life as well. For my wonderful husband who has done an excellent job of holding down the fort. For my mommy who has been there for us so much. For the health of all our children, Joseph has his issues but you have always healed him for us. For drs, nurses, paramedics, flight for life and fast responders. If it wasn't for God and all those people, Joseph wouldn't be with us today. For Your constant watchful eye over us and always knowing what we need. You have blessed us so much, and we are so grateful for everything. Thank you:)

Have a happy thanksgiving:) Eat some turkey and fixin's for me:)