Ka Ka Ka Katy!

Your timing is impeccable.

You wanted to kick off HEART month right here on the cardiac floor of Childrens Hospital.  Seriously?! I am thinking we all could have sported a red shirt tomorrow and it would have been enough… but not Kate… remember she is the one who got her heart transplant on February 13 2013 ( yes almost a YEAR ago) in honor of Congenital Heart Defect Awareness although she was certain not to have to share the day with Valentine’s Day.

Anyway a quick recap.  Oh you know life was going too well for us! So life threw us a curve ball… just to make sure we were awake… we are and we are bunting that ball.  ( OK I have no idea where the baseball metaphor came from I blame it on my longing for Spring and the fact the Red Sox pitchers and catchers report in 15 DAYS!)

Katy has had a runny nose (clear but runny sometimes stuffy) I call it the plague of Kindergarten.  We took her to the pediatrician on Wednesday to ensure that her previous ear infections had cleared completely.  The reason for this visit was that we had noticed that she was having an extremely difficult time hearing us and no it was not just selective hearing.   Pediatrician said that she still had fluid but no infection and everything else seemed fine.

Went to school on Thursday, school nurse called at 1pm to report that Katy’s gym teacher said that she seemed a bit “off” and was rather pale and that she took her 02 sats and they were 99 but that Katy didn’t seem like herself.  Mike went to pick her up and the moment they walked in the door I knew something was up.  Katy was extremely lethargic and felt as though she was on fire.  She immediately fell asleep the moment she laid down on the couch.  I took her temp and it was 103.7.  Gave her Tylenol and let her rest.  She woke up around 5pm and was hungry had a little dinner and then asked to go to bed.  Retook her temp at 6pm right back up gave more Tylenol.  Decided to have her sleep in my bed so I could keep an eye on her and give her Tylenol around the clock if needed.  She needed and had another dose at 130 and although she was mouth breathing she sounded good from a respiratory point so I wasn’t too worried at this point.  But when I woke up at 530 to Mike taking her temp and another 103.4 reading I thought we should call… Mike thought we should wait until 7 and we did and the team said head in and we did…smack dab in rush hour traffic.  We dropped Patrick off at school and Katy and I slept as Mike navigated his way to the hospital.  One plus is that post heart transplant and a 104 fever fast tracks you through the ER. 

Blood Draw – Typical white blood count etc. CMV… regular labs for levels etc. ect.

Nose Swab- Possible Flu I highly doubt it.

Wait for results before we make a plan

Results come back her White Blood Cell is extremely high so something is brewing question is, is it viral or bacterial? or the Flu waiting for transplant attending to decide what they want to do (at this point I know we are being admitted and I try to gently break the news to Katy)

Yup we are admitted to start IV antibiotics… IV was a traumatic event for all involved most especially Kate and it looked like an episode of Dexter when they were done I mean really.

Finally up to the floor… gorgeous suite on the new wing. YAY for small things. Best part the kitchen isn’t locked so I don’t have to bother the busy nurses every hour when I need ICE!

Up here tell the story for the umpteenth time Mike goes to get Patrick to bring to my mom and George! (Thank you mom and George don’t know what we would do without you! love you!)

Katy loses said IV and nurse and I squabble over putting another one in… needless to say Kate doesn’t have an IV in as of right now.  We can deal with that in the morning when it is actually needed for the meds.  Pokes cause her so much stress and anxiety and I was not putting her through that again  after the miserable time they have had today.

Echo was good… lungs look and sound good… heart sounds good.  My guess viral and we will go home on Sunday feeling good as new!

Thanks for the love and prayers your texts and messages on FB are much appreciated and bring me peace at the end of a day like today. 

XOXO

 

 

Balance

I find myself trying to find balance both in the figuratively and literal sense of the word. It seems it has been a great topic of conversation within myself.  Oddly enough Real Simple Magazine had many great articles on the very thing I was struggling with. The entire issue was related to Balance. Finding it physically, mentally and emotionally.  It was the first magazine I read from cover to cover… it was as though it was written to me for me.

I have so much I want to do… my to do list is a mile long and I am often intimidated by it which often truth be told has led me to be detracted by something else.

So how do we balance it all… How can I be the PTA Mom, the loving mommy with home baked cookies, the mommy not begging her husband to take Katy to labs so I can sleep in.  The wife who can stay up past 11PM to cuddle up and watch a movie with my husband… and cook a dinner that may require more than a microwave.  Add to that time to exercise and do the things that I want to do… I am left with a HUGE to do list and at the end of the day which leaves me frustrated and annoyed and wondering what the heck did I do with my day. 

So instead of ending my day on that note… as I have for every single night for as long as I can remember I am going to end it with a What did I do today?  Maybe it didn’t get crossed off my to do list but I am pretty certain I did something with the 14 hours I have been up for.

1. I made Patrick lunch (3 times) man that boy can eat.

2 I played a game of Candy land and won

3 I listed unwanted craft supplies for sale both gaining our family money and space'

4. I talked to my mama

5 I organized our cookie orders and prepared for delivery day

6. Organized my scrap desk

7. Worked on getting the ball rolling on some changes for this very blog space.

8. Printed and practiced Sight Words with K & P

So yeah on any other day I would have thought I was a lazy sloutch… after looking at what I did today! Maybe I did bake homemade cookies and maybe I am writing this as Mike sits across from me staring at the ipad… but we are together in the same room.  I am feeling OK…and tomorrow is another day!

Happy 5th Birthday Patrick Michael

Happy Birthday My Beautiful Boy

Patrick how is it that you are five years old! Time is flying by faster than I could have ever imagined. It seems like yesterday that I was holding you in my arms for the first time after 15.5 hours of labor and a threat of a c-section. I fell in love with you the second I laid eyes on you, and continue to fall more in love with you every day.

The past five years have been a whirlwind and I find myself fighting to embrace every moment with every part of me because it  is going by too fast. You astonish me with your enthusiasm, spirit, energy, and just plain awesomeness. I could not be more proud of the little man you are becoming.

 

Over the past five years, I have watched you grow into an amazing bright and inquisitive child. You amaze daddy and I every day. You have learned basic addition and subtraction, you can recognize approximately twenty sight words you can do puzzles with ease. All this before even entering Kindergarten. You love to learn and are constantly trying to figure out why things work the way they do. I love listening to you explain a new word… today it was avalanche, or how something works.  You are always analyzing.

You have a magnificent sense of humor, your timing is impeccable. Your favorite books at the moment, The Magic Tree House Series, although we still have a love for Froggy books at bedtime and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. You have a love for technology. Every chance you get, you are downloading apps onto your ipads.

You are sensitive and sweet. You are so kind and caring and especially aware of Katy and her special heart.  You are so helpful to Daddy and I always willing to help with cleaning up or making dinner.  You are just an all around great kid.  You are loved by many, this world is a better place because you are in it.

Daddy and I are so blessed we have the opportunity to be your parents.

I love you most and more.

 

 

 

Hello Monday

“Hello Monday is where I greet the new week with an open heart and a fresh perspective. It’s a new beginning–and there’s so much to be thankful for!” inspired by Lisa Leonard.

Hello writers block. Hello looking for ways to keep my commitment to myself and better document our days on this blog.

Hello cold morning walks to the bus stop.  Usually Mike does bus duty… today it was me felt nice to have a brisk early morning walk.

Hello quite albeit a bit messy house…after a fun weekend.

Hello to a fun weekend with cousins.

Hello to creative dress up play.

Hello to yummy wine.

 

Hello to Patriots and the guys watching the game.

Hello to cousin snuggles.

Hello to Shameless Season 4!

Hello to getting back to scrapbooking and catching up on our books.

Hello to a brand new week.