Early Release Day

March 3, 2009 By

It’s early release day for our public schools. That means Miss Macey will be coming home early today. Yay!! Actually, I plan to pick her up even before the regular release time so that we can have lunch together as a family. On early release days, they still feed the students lunch, only they move up the lunch times so that every grade gets to eat before leaving. Macey’s class normally eats at 12:53, but today they will go to lunch at 11:32. After a half hour for lunch, they go back to their classroom and have about 20 minutes before packing up to leave for the day. So, Macey won’t miss much (if anything) at school by leaving  a bit early AND she’ll get to have lunch with her family. What a treat!

Speaking of treats – Macey had two pretty amazing treats yesterday courtesy of her daddy. First he was “mystery reader” in her classroom yesterday morning. I wish I could have been a fly on the wall because Mickey told me all about how excited she was that he was there!! He read a Veggie Tales alphabet book first. Then, because it was Dr. Seuss’ birthday, he read The Foot Book which Macey and her teacher picked out for him to read. He and Macey have been reading that book together for a long time, so that was really cool.  As if having Daddy be mystery reader wasn’t enough, Macey got another surprise when Mickey went to have lunch with her at school yesterday. He said he tried to stay hidden so she wouldn’t see him when she came into the cafeteria, but she spotted him right away and practically hopped all the way over to him. She was THRILLED that he was there. Yesterday was not only her favorite school lunch (cheese stuffed bread sticks – yum), but she also got to have a lunch date with her Daddy. What  a day!! In true Macey form, she said the only thing that was not good about it was that some kids might be sad that their daddies didn’t get to come to school two times. What a sweet, compassionate child she is!! The girl has such a big heart. 

I took Mariana back to the pediatrician’s office yesterday. I had scheduled an appointment to see one of the pediatricians at our practice that is most familiar with her, but he was running way behind and we opted to see a nurse practitioner instead of waiting. The short version of the story is that it took some doing, but I got the NP to listen to my “mama’s intuition” about changing Mariana’s medication. She was on an antibiotic that is penicillin based and it didn’t seem to be helping her. I requested a change. I know the seriousness of antibiotics and I know not to “fool around” with them, certainly. When one is not working and the symptoms are worsening, it’s time to reevaluate. So, we did. We changed her meds and she is doing much better today, on the whole. Praise God!! Mariana is seeing her ENT next week and hopefully we can come to a good plan to help her get well and stay well. Fortunately, I have to say that this winter has been far and away better than last, so that is a HUGE praise. Maybe we can get her on the right track and keep it that way.

After taking a day off to rest on Sunday, I got back on my work-out schedule last night. This is my last week on the first level of Biggest Loser Boot Camp. Need I say again that this is a GREAT work out?! Whew! It works up quite a sweat and has me out of breath in points, but I love it.

I have a ton of fresh strawberries and need something to do with some of them. The girls are eating them like crazy, which is great, but I don’t want any to go bad. I was thinking of looking for a good bread recipe. Any other ideas? Please share if you have any recipes using fresh strawberries. Preferably something that keeps nicely. 

Happy Tuesday,
Kelly

Filed Under: Daily Life, Family, Health, Health & Fitness, Kelly, school

More sickies…

February 27, 2009 By

Macey is just getting over a bout with “the crud.” Last week she didn’t feel well and the pediatrician diagnosed her with an ear infection and sinus infection. She missed two days of school and just felt terrible. Well, instead of getting better once she was on medication, she progressively got worse. Both ears were infected and her sinuses were a mess. Fortunately her pediatrician called in another prescription and that did the trick for her. (Well, PRAYER and meds are what did it for her, honestly…) This week she has felt so much better. She is back to herself again. YAY!! However…

Now Mariana is sick. I was holding off on taking her to the ped in hopes that she was just experiencing allergy symptoms (so many trees and flowers are blooming here already), but yesterday she was very laid back and by afternoon she was crying with her ears and “mouth” (back of her throat). So, off to the ped we went. Turns out that both of Mariana’s ears are infected. She had ear tubes put in back in January ’08, but the one in the left ear has already come out. So, this is her first post-tube infection in the left ear. Unfortunately it’s about her third infection this year in the right ear. Her sinuses are also congested and she’s had a fever. So, now she’s on medication plus ear drops. She had kind of a rough night last night as well. She’s having trouble breathing around all the congestion. Poor kid. Fortunately she has done pretty well this morning. We kept her home from preschool so that she has time to recouperate. Looks like a return visit to the ENT may be in order, but MAYBE these ear infections are just a random occurrence and she’ll be fine going forward. We hope and pray.

Seems like a lot of “crud” is going around, especially amongst kids. Guess it’s that time of the year.  We give our girls multi-vitamins and these gummies each day:

immune_c

We also need to pump up their antioxidants. Good thing Mariana loves blueberries. Now we need to find something that Macey loves that much. Anything to keep these girls healthy!

Come on, Spring!!

Filed Under: Health, Kids

Quick Post-Op Report…

September 6, 2008 By
  • Macey’s surgery was yesterday.
  • The abridged version of the story is that the surgeon was pleased with everything. He confirmed that the cyst was a benign Thyroglossal Cyst and he was able to remove all of it in addition to a piece of bone where it was attached.
  • Macey did extremely well through the surgery and her recovery is going great as well.
  • She still has some swelling in her neck and face, but that is going down nicely. Her energy level is great, her appetite is almost normal again and she is really doing extremely well.
  • PRAISE GOD!!!
  • Thanks to those who posted and who supported us with prayer. Continued prayers are appreciated as Macey heals and recuperates fully.
Filed Under: Family, Health, Kids, Prayers

A Quick Update…

September 4, 2008 By

It’s been awhile since I have posted. I hate to be so far behind on my blog. I have book reviews and other posts just waiting for me. But, I have been SO busy with life in general. I’m on the Parents Council for preschool this year and that has been busy, but fun. Macey has her after school activities and we have church activities, etc. But, I am hoping that once we settle into routine now that both schools (elementary and preschool) are in session I can find my blog groove again. I miss it.

Macey’s surgery is tomorrow, September 5th, at 10:25AM (EST).

The surgery will be done atat a local childrens hospital where I used to work several years ago. Macey got to visit there yesterday. She saw a Child Life Specialist (CLS), who talked her through things and gave us a tour of day surgery. Macey was extremely shy around the CLS, but was absolutely taken by the toy/game room they had there. She barely talked to the CLS, but she talked about her new friend to me all evening and even made  a poster to take in for the CLS on Friday. The hospital has been renovated and new buildings have been built since I worked there years ago. It is SO nice!! I took Macey to the gift shop after we met with the CLS and let’s just say that the gift shop was a HUGE hit!! While she is in surgery tomorrow, we plan to go down and get balloons to have for her when she wakes up.

Besides the time, here is what we know about tomorrow:

  • The surgeon has already told us the surgery will last about an hour.
  • Child Life Specialist (CLS) told me yesterday that Macey will get the “loopy juice” (a pre-sedative drink with the drug Versed) and will go back for anesthesia without us. She will go to a recovery room post-op,but will be brought to us in a room as soon as she wakes up. She said that most kids have no memory of being in recovery.
  • We’ll be in a room with Macey for at least two hours post-op to make sure she wakes up well, gets rehydrated, etc. Pending any complications, we’ll be home in the afternoon. If any complications are present (unlikely per the surgeon), she’ll be admitted for observation.

So, that’s what’ going on here, at least the biggie. Prayers for our family and especially our sweet Macey are much appreciated. Mickey and I have a real peace about all of this and we trust that God has this all in His hands. The butterflies in our stomaches are fluttering, but we have every faith that Macey will come through this with flying colors.

Kelly

Filed Under: Family, Health, Kelly, Kids, Prayers

Surgery Date…

August 22, 2008 By

The scheduler called me this morning and Macey’s procedure is now scheduled for Friday, September 5th. We’ll call the hospital the day before surgery to find out the time and get instructions, etc. Dr. B will have only a few cases between 8:30a-12noon that day and will operate on the youngest first then work through. We’re working on getting Macey in for a visit and tour with a Child Life Specialist.

This is becoming so real. I’m still at peace about it, but…well, my heart is just a little edgy. I have faith and I believe that all will be fine, but the old nerves still kick in when I least expect it.

We are still processing all of this and praying our way through it. We are grateful that it’s not major and have every hope that things will go smoothly and uneventfully. As always, we appreciate the prayers more than words can express.

Kelly

Filed Under: Family, Health, Kids, Prayers

Updating On Macey…

August 21, 2008 By

We met with the surgeon this morning regarding Macey’s cyst. He feels that it is a Thryroglossal Cyst. This is a benign cyst that is congenital and actually pretty common. When the thyroid starts to form, it begins at the base of the tongue and as it develops, it moves down into the neck region. What causes these cysts to develop is that sometimes, for some reason, some of the tissue from the thyroid is “left behind” and it encapsulates in a “knot.”

Dr. B (the surgeon) feels that surgery to remove Macey’s cyst is the best option and after talking with him this morning, Mickey and I agree. He said that if we leave the cyst alone, it could actually grow and start to cause pain OR if it ever becomes infected, it is then really difficult to remove completely and could cause more residual issues.

The surgery is outpatient and done under general anesthesia. The surgery lasts, usually, about an hour. They will remove the cyst and take some of the bone as well.  Once they remove the cyst, it will be sent to the lab to be analyzed and biopsied. Macey will have a small incision on her neck and will have dissolvable stitches. Assuming there are no complications, she will come home the day of surgery.

Dr. B is incredibly nice. Mickey and I both got a real sense of peace after meeting with him and talking everything over. We are all on the same page that this is the right choice of treatment for Macey because it’s best to go ahead and remove it before any complications potentially arise. The surgery scheduler will call us in the next few days and we’ll get it scheduled. We are hoping to have it on a Friday so that Macey can recouperate over the weekend and return to school on Monday. (She really dislikes missing school.) The surgery will be at the hospital where I used to work, so that is comforting as well. I know Macey will be in great care and is always in God’s loving embrace.

Please continue to lift up prayers for Macey and our family. We are still at peace about this, but it’s still hard to thinking of a child undergoing surgery. Still, we know that God is with Macey and will see her thought every step of this journey.

Kelly

Filed Under: Family, Health, Kids, Prayers

Prayers for Macey…

August 21, 2008 By

Good morning!

I wan’t sure if I would post about this on my blog because it’s such a personal prayer request and this blog is public. But, then it occured to me that God’s people everywhere can be connected in prayer. So, I am posting today to ask for prayers for our Macey.

Back in May, Macey was spending a week with my mom. While they were playing one day, Mom noticed a knot on Macey’s neck. She alerted me to it and we decided to have it checked out by the pediatrician. I didn’t want to alarm Macey, so I didn’t make a special appointment to check out the knot since her check-up was due in July anyway. When we saw the pediatrician in July, she examined the knot and told us that her guess would be a cyst (which is quite common), but that she wanted to have an ultrasound performed to get a better look. So, last week we went for the ultrasound appointment. The pediatrician’s office called to let us know that Macey’s thyroid is fine and that the ultrasound detected a 1cm mass that they believed to be a benign cyst. So, her pediatrician recommended that we see a surgeon for a consultation. I got on the phone immediately and got an appointment for that consultation. The appointment is this morning at 11AM (EST).

We have a real peace about all of this. Neither Mickey not I have really gotten scared or otherwise freaked out by this. Apparently this type of cyst is common in children. It hasn’t changed in size since it was discovered and it doesn’t hurt Macey, so those facts are reassuring. Also assuring is the ultrasound result that it is likely a benign cyst. Still, we are seeing the surgeon today to determine if it should be removed. Mickey and I want to do what is best for our daughter, so we pray for discernment as to her medical treatment. We don’t want her to have to have surgery, but if it’s for the best, that is what we will do.

So, I’m asking for prayer today. For continued excellent health for Macey, for the mass to be benign in certainty, for continued peace and for guidance in making the right decisions. I will update this afternoon.

Kelly

Filed Under: Family, Health, Kelly, Kids, Prayers

Cloth Diapering…

May 28, 2008 By

When I say that I have gotten into CDs again, I don’t mean music. This time I mean cloth diapers. I started using cloth diapers for Mariana last summer and really liked it. Somehow I got away from it and started using disposables through the fall and winter. Well, I hate buying disposable diapers for a number of reasons and I had a whole stash of cloth diapers here at home, so I decided to get back to cloth diapering and it’s been great again!

I’m willing to bet that some of you reading this are wrinkling your nose and thinking “cloth diapers…ewww”, but it’s really not nasty at all. Long gone are the days when all there was to cloth diapering were white cotton diapers and safety pins. Well, it’s not actually long gone, you can still do that if you like, I suppose, because the option does exist, but there are other solutions. My favorite diapers are called Fuzzi Bunz and they are pocket diapers. What that means is that the diaper has a “pocket” in which to insert a liner for wetness protection. Fuzzi Bunz come in several sizes and colors. They fasten and are adjustable with snaps. Easy and cute. What more could you want in a diaper? The others I often use are called Bum Genius and I have version 2.0 which is last year’s version. This is a one size diaper and also has a pocket for a liner. I don’t like them quite as much as I like Fuzzi Bunz, but they pull up a close second. I’m also looking into other brands and kinds of diapers. A boutique near us just started carrying cloth and I got an email with a $5 off coupon, so I’ll be taking that in soon to see what they have. We have several diapers in Mariana’s “stash” right now – enough to keep her in two days worth of diapers between washes if need be, so that’s nice too. I’d love to have more, so I’m always looking around. It’s hard to believe that diapering can be fun, but with all the options available out there, it really IS a lot of fun. No, really…it is!

There are many benefits to cloth diapering and these are the things that I appreciate most about doing it.

  • It’s environmentally friendly. We only use a disposable on Mariana at night right now, so that is far less junk that we are contributing to the landfills.
  • Less diaper rash. Cloth is friendlier to little bottoms than plastic and chemicals.
  • More cost efficient. Sure, there are start-up costs to getting a cloth diaper supply established, but they are washable and can be used for such a long time. No running to the store every week for a pack of diapers. It’s great!
  • They’re cuter than ‘sposies. There is nothing cuter than cloth diapers on a little one’s bum. Seriously.

Another reason we decided to go back to cloth is to hopefully help with Mariana’s potty-training. We discovered back when Macey was this age that disposables aren’t the greatest for potty-training at all.  Toddlers can’t feel wetness in the disposables, so it’s hard to teach them about not wetting. With cloth, they can feel the wetness so that can help alert them better to when they need to go. While cloth does wick away the moisture, it’s not the same as disposables. No chemicals to harbor all the wetness. Mariana has shown some potty interest, so maybe (JUST MAYBE) cloth diapering will help guide us in that direction.

So, yea…I’m excited about our re-entry into cloth diapering. If anyone has any diaper recommendations, please let me know. I’d love to know more. And, if anyone has any questions about cloth diapering, please let me know that too. I didn’t go into specifics about diapering, but I’d be happy to share if anyone is interested.

Filed Under: Daily Life, Health, Home, Kids Tagged With:

Sick Girl…

May 5, 2008 By

Poor Mariana is sick. She caught a cold while we were away a couple of weekends ago. We thought it was nipped in the bud, but it wasn’t. She has RAD (reactive airway disease) and whenever she gets colds, she always winds up with terrible bouts of coughing, etc. And, she typically develops sinus infections secondary to colds too. The poor girl can’t ever have “just” a cold. So, we’re in the throws of a cold/RAD flare/sinus infection these days. She’s going to the pediatrician tomorrow. I have to hand it to Mariana, she’s being quite a little trooper. Kids are so resilient, aren’t they? I always think that I have so much to teach the girls, but I could really learn from them a lot of times too. Anyway, I just pray that our girl is all better soon. And, if you care to join me in that prayer, we’d greatly appreciate it.

Filed Under: Health, Kids, Prayers

Ear Tubes…

January 8, 2008 By

I couldn’t think of anything more original to title this post. So, it’s just “ear tubes.” That’s because our baby girl, Mariana, is having ear tubes put in tomorrow. Last fall and winter she had a rough go of it as far as colds and ear infections, etc. She finally got some relief through spring and summer, but as soon as fall rolled back around this year her health troubles started again. The worst of this year’s bouts started around Thanksgiving. She got sick then and just could NOT shake it for a long time. It’s a long story, but the general gist is that we wound up changing pediatricians and got one that will listen to us. Her old ped was pretty insistent that her colds and such were asthma related and I insisted they were sinus related. The only time she had any relief was on antibiotics and she just can’t live on those, as we all know. Anyway. Cutting to the chase, she is getting tubes put in tomorrow to help with all the ear infections and chronic fluid she has in her ears. The surgery is “simple” as surgeries go. I’m not at all worried about that part. I’m nervous about the anesthesia. But, we will pray our way through it and continue to have nothing but hope that our girl comes through it feeling MUCH better and relieved on the other side.

Filed Under: Health, Kids
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