#1 Reason to NOT let your child play with diaper wipes...

Yeah, it's not pretty.

I go in the kitchen to get Lillian's eleven oclock feeding, leaving her in the living room finishing her breathing treatment. When I return to LR I get the faint smell of poop and think oh man, she must have pooped again (having just changed a stinky dipey) only to find Miss Thing ----

**********WARNING********WARNING*************WARNING************
the following information may possibly gag weak stomached readers


chewing on a diaper wipe. Upon closer examination (conjuring previous smell into memory) I realize she has, somehow, gotten her hands on dirty dipey and is chewing/sucking on poopy diaper wipe. *pauses for gagging*

Now-I ask you- how you gonna get poop out of mouth, can't very well wash it out???? *gags some more*

*shakes head and blechs*

Aren't you glad for once I didn't take pics of this lovely occurence? UM no, the camera not at the fore front of my brain in those exact moments....

So, onto infinitely nicer topics...yesterday during Lillian's developmental therapy and today during speech when given to choices of animals on flash cards, Lillian repeatedly chooses the right animals over and over again!! (different animals of course) It was TOTALLY awesome. There has been/is so much fear deep within me about the capabilities Lillian will hold from a developmental standpoint and to see her doing things that are "normal" as well as improved is just a feeling I can' t even describe. You know how it feels when your babies start to walk or that excitement of potty training? Multiply that by about a billion. Indescribable!!

Recapping

Lillian has palate repair surgery coming up on May 19. We will also have to travel down to Louisville on the 15th for a preop visit with anesthesia. I am more than ready...but still somewhat anxious. Surgery is never one of those things you really look forward to if you know what I mean. Today, Lillian's nose is draining big time and while part of me is like---oh well it's probably allergies, another part of me is thinking here we go again. *sighs* Better start up the claritin again. And (i know you aren't supposed to start a sentence that way-but hey, this is my blog and I'll AND if I want to..lol) small attempt at a joke... don't even get me started about the swine flu epidemic. Seriously, I feel like she is really at risk. AND and I'm really irritated at the news reports and government (I mean you Mr. President) about the whole thing right now. I mean, I would just hate for Lillian to go through this year without yet another strain of the flu virus......NOT.

In other health reports, Lillian will be having her Urology appointment to follow up on her reflux in the kidneys. She will have a VCUG as well as an renal ultrasound coming up in June as well as seeing her cardiologist in June to follow up with her remaining heart hole. Oh yes, and my favorite one of all Developmental Peds in June. We revisit pulmonary in May and I was supposed to take her to the pediatrician this week for hospital discharge follow up, but it is not happening I think. All of these dates subject to change due to KY trip where I will make the final decision about moving her care there. Oh by the way- did I mention we are moving in June and Bethany has a birthday in June?? Let's see, I never rescheduled her genetics appt. What's the point, its for them, not us and although I really like the doctor, I never feel really good after leaving that office. I also have to reschedule her opthamology appt bc she missed that while in her last hospital stay. IF, her reflux is still present in her kidney, she will have to have surgical repair for that as well. Goodness, just writing it all out makes me nauseous.

Look up overwhelmed in the dictionary, pretty sure it has my picture and phone number.

Therapy wise, there are many decisions to be made soon. She will age out of First Steps when she is three so trying to transition everything right now. Our upcoming move is complicating those matter as well. We'll have to take on some new therapists, say goodbye to some current ones (whom she's had her whole life basically) and then decide if I want her in a developmental preschool program....GAHHHHHH.

Oh yes, and there's just a little matter of four other girls to transition to new schools and new house and figure out where they will go when the surgery happens and the list goes on and on.

Wonder why my house is messy?? Reread from the top.

*insert serenity prayer here*

I think that just about covers most things as far as Lillian is concerned.

Photo Shoot-NOT

This is what you call non-cooperative.

I like this one because I LOVE profile shots, but I was still trying to get her to look at me and smile.(take note of my goose, I always wanted a goose for my front porch, now she just needs more wardrobe)This is her getting tired of me bugging her and wanting to see what's going on in the 'hoodThis one is a total bust-except...Look how darn cute her little pony tail curled up...This is me, giving up and going back into the house with her.

New Loves

So Lillian has some new obsessions...voca people, picking flowers and smelling them.

My mom sent this to me and Lillian makes me play it over and over and over again....so funny, I guess I know where she gets it. The apple don't fall far from the tree!

Still Vomiting

Lillian is still puking off and on with her feedings which is quite discouraging, but she is still in a great mood. I believe her ears need to be debrieded (sp) as they were last year. They went in and suctioned out the tubes (which was terribly unpleasant) but it made some difference. I believe that is why the puking lingers on.

I went back through re-reading some posts talking about what I miss, I hope it is a given that I miss my family terribly when I'm gone, though I don't always mention it. I wonder how my girls are doing, if they are coping with all this ok. Kids take things so easily in stride, it's difficult to tell how they process everything internally. Generally, I try not to think about not having my husband and kids around everyday as we wait it out at Hotel Riley. Just another issue that goes with the territory.

Today we managed to all go out for lunch which is a major feat. It is rare for us to do such a thing and it turned out very ejoyable. The weather is lovely and Lillian has been outside off and on all day. She loves to pick the flowers and smell them and make us smell them. Yesterday her nostrils were all yellow from sniffing dandelions. Photo op missed...but it was adorable.

Hope everyone is enjoying this lovely day!

In My Womb

In My Womb
Began your life
A token of love
Between husband and wife

In my womb
You formed and grew
What lie ahead
Noone knew

In my womb
Safe, nestled, and warm
Days passed by waiting
For you in my arm

In my womb
No battles to fight
No struggles for you
You were alright

In my womb
Is the very place
I wanted you back
When we met face to face

In my womb
You were no more
The fear settled in
The guilt to my core

In my womb
The silence cried
It seemed as though
A part of me died

In my womb
God made a home
For a blessed angel
On this Earth to roam

In my womb
His work not done
He sent you along
So I'd rely on the Son

In my womb
The journey did start
I'll never regret it
You have my heart

In my womb
Began your life
A token of love
Between husband and wife.


Michelle Halcomb 4/23/09

Glad to be home

Lillian is still vomiting off and on, however I do believe her cough is improving some. Matt returned to work today, he stayed home yesterday to help me as Lillian thought it would be a good idea to stay awake several hours through the wee hours of morning. I think there is adjustment to be made because it's dark here and she finally gets adapted to sleeping at the hospital with all the light. Last night was better, but she was up at four, ugh. This did not deter her from waking at eight this morning. It wouldn't be so bad if I got in bed at a decent hour, but I stay up pretty late to give a late breathing treatment. If you know me at all, I'm one of those people that needs more sleep than less. It's never good for me to not get sleep, I eventually wind up sick (which I am now) I digress...enough about me...how'd I get on that tangent...lol. Aside from her lingering virus, she is so happy to be home. She is just eating Matt up. It is obvious that she missed him. She is dying to wander around the house and get into everything. It is so heart warming to see that sparkle in her eyes and know she is feeling better. Hmm, maybe that is a rotten streak I speak of???