Spring Break Has Come To An End

After a week of everyone being home together, spring break finally ended, thankfully and everyone GOT OUT and went back to school. I even packed Gabi up for the day and let her go to the daycare for the day. Of course, that doesn't mean I sat around being a lady of leisure. I had an early morning doctor's appointment and had to take the Glucose tolerance test. Can you say "YUCK"? That did it I felt sick for the rest of the day. Then I had to visit the other side of the hospital to see my father in law who had knee replacement surgery this morning.

Now, here with the girls and cooking dinner so we can go back up to the hospital later so they can see Paw Paw. Tomorrow we start back on our therapy schedule and I also have a few candle deliveries to make. Hopefully I will get some sales/leads.

I've learned a lot about Chiari over the weekend and Thank God Gabi is the exception. I hope that we can get a local support group started here in the near future. That would be so great for us and maybe even bring me some recruits since many Chiari parents are also SAHM's. In the meantime, I am also working on my Mocha Moms charter. I am so ready to get that rolling.

It's Spring Break... After All

Even though I am at home full time, I decided to take advantage of Honey being home from school for a week. He has taken Gabi to therapy this week and I've taken the time to enjoy the blissful silence and put my swollen feet up. Today, we saw the perinatologist. I have gained 5 pounds since my last visit 2 weeks ago! Whoo Hoo! We got measurements and baby Gracie is looking good! 2 pounds and 8 ounces. So far so good. At this point, he doesn't see anything that points to a premature delivery but I am only 26 weeks and anything could happen between now and then since I have a history of premature deliveries.

Gabi had a weight check today. She has hit a plateau of 27 pounds, she's almost 28 now. The feeding therapy is going okay. Hard to really get a good feel fo it since she is so full from her tube feedings. GiGi is really trying to make sure that we don't forget her in the shuffle. She knows the baby is coming and she is clinging hard for Mommy and Daddy.

We've been doing a lot of special things this week. Saturday, I took the girls to have pedicures! They loved that. Of course, GiGi had to mess hers up no sooner than they were finished. Gabi, being the pretty girl she is wouldn't put on shoes for the rest of the day for fear she would ruin them. Monday after therapy, we went to the park on the riverfront. It was so good to see Gabi run and play. GiGi had a ball! She climbed hills, ladders, did some rock climbing and made me a nervous wreck on the slide. She came down face first and landed on her head and her neck was bent backwards! That was it, it was time to go! We have 2 more days to go for this break. Wonder what we'll do before the week is over? This is also the first spring break that Honey and I haven't gotten on each other's nerves. Well, the first spring break was the week of our wedding. The 2nd spring break we had a new baby. 3rd spring break we found out we were having a girl and last year we drove each other crazy. This year, we've been out to eat and just hung out. The calm before the storm. Soon there will be 3 little girls under the age of 5... Uh Oh!

Chiari Therapy is Never Ending

Of course when I made the decision to stay home with Gabi it was because she needed round the clock care, and as her mommy no one could or would do what I do. She has several developmental delays, is NPO and receives 5 bolus feeds during the day via a feeding tube, and goes to therapy twice a week. But with my growing tummy and fading energy, the addition of speech therapy is physically overwhelming. Finding out she has Chiari Malformation was like the answer to a great mystery.

Before she was discharged from the hospital, the clinical speech pathologist said that the speech therapist would come to the house. Well, we didn't contact them and set anything up until a couple of weeks ago because of all the doctor's appointments. When I finally called them you can imagine my surprise when I was informed that we go to their facility as well. Twice a week! So, today was her 1st day. Not only were we 30 minutes late because I had the directions wrong, but Gabi got sick from her feed. Ugh!

Afterwards we picked GiGi with the intention of having a girls day out. She has been so clingy and attention seeking since Gabi is home with me all day. We didn't get to go anywhere or do anything. She just wanted to cuddle with mommy and go to sleep. I guess we will try again tomorrow- they want to get their toenails done. In addition to going to a birthday party for a friend's son.

I did get to join to 2 online Chiari Parents groups. I've met a few parents at the hospital who also would like a local support group because this is very stressful to deal with. My business is suffering. I was planning to visit some hair salons and car dealerships today. But, at least the girls are happy, staying healthy and know I love them. And as long as they're doing well, Honey is happy too. In this economy, not many husbands would welcome their wife giving up an income. I am so thankful that I can, I'll be glad to gain a bit more energy. When will that be?

Spring has Sprung

The temperature has gone up and down (mostly down) so much this year, that when the thermometer proudly displayed 81 degrees, we ran to light the grill for the first BBQ of the season. Nothing major, just a few hotdogs and two
steaks. Being out there felt good, but I also realized just how much work needs to be done on our back yard. So now, in addition to trying to remain pregnant for as long as possible, I am going to direct my attention to creating a relaxing backyard that we can really enjoy this summer. (via the internet of course!) I am determined to have an outdoor dining area and swing before the end of May. We'll see about that...

It was so nice to have warm weather. I've only been in Arkansas a little over a year and a half, but the weather here is truly unpredictable. Friday morning it was 33 degrees outside and today it's 57!

Gabi had PT today and as usual she was the life of the rehab center. She sang and danced and kept everyone laughing. The child was functioning in full delirium. All this was following an overnight sleep study at the children's hospital. She politely passed out in the backseat as we were on our way to sign GiGi for T-Ball. Needless to say, we're home for the evening.

Meet the Gs

From December 19, 2008 to January 19, 2009 I went from being a 6th grade English teacher to a Stay At Home Mommy/Chauffer to my daughters Gabi and GiGi.

The bell rang at 3:45 p.m. on December 19th and like all the other teachers and students I thought I was going home for two weeks of peace and quiet with my family. Then, I discovered I was 2 1/2 months pregnant! Then, Gabi was admitted to the hospital totally dehydrated, malnourished, and miserable. She weighed 19 pounds when she was admitted. She is up to 28 pounds now and recently celebrated her 4th birthday as a normal, happy little girl!!! Over the next 22 days, Gabi had an NG-tube inserted, then a G-tube placed surgically, and ultimately a Chiari Decompression after being diagnosed with Chiari Malformation. http://www.asap.org/

After Gabi was discharged from the hospital on January 19, 2009; GiGi had out patient surgery to place her 3rd set of tubes in her ears!

Gabi's schedule is OT/PT on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Speech Therapy on Fridays, and other doctor's appointments in addition to my own prenatal and high risk specialist appointments. I'm 25 weeks along now and tire easily, but still going. The decision to come home full time was a no-brainer. I also decided to pursue my candle business full time through vendor booths as the opportunities came. Whew, am I tired!