We're Home

We are home and Maggie is doing great. She is a bit clingy and wants only mama, but she is doing well. She was the perfect patient and we LOVED the doctor. We are truly blessed! Maggie will need to have an Echo in May to make sure all looks fine, but we anticipate no problems and no follow-up after that.

Thank you all for your love and concern. We appreciate all the prayers in our behalf.

Aaron & Sassy

Media Free Week Results

This week was so nice and for a couple of reasons. #1 - it was a doctor free week! We didn't go to a single doctors appointment!! Now, I did talk for quite some time on a couple of occasions to doctors regarding Maggie's procedure on Tuesday, but I didn't have to sit in a waiting room. That always makes for a great week!

The media thing couldn't have gone much better. The boys actually played with their toys and each other all week. There was less fighting, less crying and less tension. They finally realized on Tuesday that they really didn't get to play the Wii and moved on with life instead of asking me ever 10 minutes. We had enjoyable dinners instead of the boys inhaling their food so they can play the Wii. If you want some good family time, try doing this for a couple of days. The TV stayed of for most of the night and we played as a family. SO FUN!

So, what happens next? We make it through this week. We head to Cincy tomorrow and should be back Tuesday night. Please pray for us. My emotions have some-what kicked in and could really use the prayers right about now! After this week, the boys will have to earn the Wii time. We will have a new job chart and a daily behaviour system where they can earn media time and extra snacks. I haven't gotten that all put together yet, but when I do, it will be FAB!! I will try and post Tuesday after Maggie is feeling better. Thank you all for your love and concern. We really appreciate it!

Aaron & Sassy

Fast & Prayers for Maggie

We interrupt this media free week (which is going VERY well) to bring you breaking news!! Haha! Maggie's procedure has been scheduled. We will head to Cincinnati the afternoon of the 26th for her appointment with the Cardiac Cath Clinic. We will stay in Cincinnati that evening and she will have her procedure done the morning of the 27th. (This is all in January, FYI.) Her Pediatric GI appointment for Celiac's Disease is scheduled for the 29th of January.

A few have express interest in fasting for Maggie, so if you would like to join us in fasting her her, we will be fasting Sunday (January 25th.) If you can not fast (pregnant, nursing, medication reasons or any other reason), please don't feel an obligation to fast with us. (I can't fast! I'm nursing.) We are thankful for all of your thoughts, prayers and concerns for us during this time. We are overwhelmed by the love and support we feel and are so Thankful to our Heavenly Father for surrounding us with so many loving and caring people. It is more clear to me each day that He knows each one of us and our needs and will provide for our needs if we have Faith in Him! Thank you again for your thoughts, prayers and concern. We will for sure let you know how things go!

Media Free

Just a heads up. We are going media free (kinda) this week. It starts in 45 minutes and will go through Saturday night. What does this entail? No computer, TV or Video Games at all. I know Aaron will need to use the computer after the kids go to bed some nights, but for the most part, we will try to keep them all turned off.

Why? The kids are too dependant on media. They need to remember what it is like to play with their toys, read their books and play board games with the family. After this week, they will need to earn media time. We are starting a system this week for them to earn rewards and they will have the choice of media (Wii and computer) time.

The exception will be if I hear anything about Maggie. I will break the rule (after the kids are in bed) and post any updated information on the blog. Have a great week and I will "see" you all next week!

Sassy

Cute Maggie

So, I figured we needed some cute pictures of Maggie. She has started kinda crawling, so I took some pictures. See below.

Also, I got a call from Dr. Troy (pediatrician) this morning. Maggie's Celiac panel came back positive. What does that mean? It means there is a really good chance Maggie has Celiacs. What is Celiac's Disease? Click here to find out more. Anyway, we meet with the Pediatric Gastrointerologist on the 29th of January and will probably do a scope and take a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. I am a little overwhelmed right now, but we are all doing okay.

Also, I talked with the Pediatric Cardiologist's office today and they said there was a good chance we could get Maggie's "procedure" done this month. We should be able to set up the date by the middle of next week. I will post when I have more info. For now, we are just trying to make it through our days. There has been no school the last 2 days because of snow and below 0 degree temperatures. There is no school on Monday due to Martin Luther King day.

Another Maggie Update

We meet with the pediatric cardiologist tomorrow morning for a more detailed echo. She should have her "procedure" done hopefully by the end of January at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. I will post again when we have more info!

Cheater

I overheard a very funny conversation while getting ready for church today. Kennie and Justin were standing at the game closet (because we have too many games!) This is how the conversation went.

Kennie: "Justin, which game should we play?"
Justin: "How about Chutes and Ladders?"
Kennie: "Are you going to cheat?"
Justin: ponders for a moment and says, "Yes, I always cheat at Chutes and Ladders."
Kennie: "Well, then I don't want to play Chutes and Ladders!"
Justin: "Well, which game should we play?"
Kennie: "Justin, will you cheat at Cootie?"
Justin: "Umm, no, I never cheat at Cootie."

It was decided and they played Cootie. A funny side note, I sat and watched them play Cootie while feeding Maggie and Kennie cheated the entire game! I think my kids learned how to play games from Sharon! (Sorry babe!)

Update on Maggie

We went to the Pediatric Cardiologist today and most of our fears were put to rest. I was originally told she might have a hole in her heart. She does not. Thankfully! However, she was diagnosed with PDA (Not public display of affection). I have found what PDA is for those of who you would like to read up more. You can read at the end of the post. We won't know for a few days when or if we will be doing surgery, but I will keep you updated. The last few days have been very taxing on me. I wasn't sure what was going to happen and it's been very emotionally taxing on me. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers on our families behalf!

Patent ductus arteriosus
The ductus arteriosus is a blood vessel in a fetus that connects the pulmonary artery, which carries blood to the lungs, and the aorta, which carries blood to the body, so that blood flow bypasses the lungs. Normally, this blood vessel closes shortly after birth; when it does not, it is known as a patent (open) ductus arteriosus.
A patent ductus arteriosus allows some oxygen-rich blood to flow from the aorta back into the pulmonary artery and to the lungs instead of to the rest of the body. Because some of the blood intended for the body returns to the lungs, the left side of the heart has to pump harder to get enough blood to the body. This can enlarge and weaken the heart.

Although some babies do not experience symptoms from a patent ductus arteriosus, this abnormality often causes a variety of symptoms, such as poor feeding and shortness of breath. Eventually, if the patent ductus is not closed, a baby may develop an infection of the heart's inner lining (infective endocarditis) or heart failure. The severity of the symptoms and whether complications develop depend on how much blood flows through the ductus.
Treatment for a patent ductus arteriosus may include medication or surgery. Surgery usually is not attempted until a baby is at least 6 months of age, unless serious problems develop before that time.

Maggie's 7 month check up

Even though Maggie is 7 months old, we just got her 6 month check up and shots. I will say this is the worst doctors appointment I have ever had. I am going to with-hold some information until I get test results back, but for now, I can tell you a few things.

• Maggie is 13 lbs 4 ounces. I was so excited to see this. That is a 1 lb and 4 ounce gain from the 6 month weight check. Only to find out that she has fallen from the 6% to the 1%. Thankfully Troy (Dr. Baker) thinks it's just Mags and that she has Aaron's genes. I will express my thanks to my Heavenly Father again that Maggie's pediatrician is in our ward and knows that I am doing all I can to help her grow and develop.We are going to try to fatten her up a bit by feeding her oatmeal with everything, even her formula. I think she is just going to be skinny!
• She doesn't like shots. We haven't had a good experience with her and shots but today it got even worse. She kicked the shot lady right in the groin. There were tears in her eyes and she had to sit down. I couldn't help but laugh. Maggie cried for about 25 minutes before I was able to calm her down so I could head for home.
• Maggie had her 1st EKG. She has a slight murmur so Troy wanted to make sure everything looked good. I won't get the results back for a couple of days, but this was extremely hard. The worst part is I had to take the SUPER sticky leads off Maggie and then clean her torso off. She screamed the whole time and Sol was in break down mode because he hadn't had a nap.

A big super thanks to Cynthia and Deborah for watching Kennie, Justin and Nate so I didn't have to deal with them on top of everything else. I am ready for a nap. Too bad I won't get one.

It's amazing to me that Maggie is 7 months old. She is so cute and I am so lucky that she came to our family. She continues to stop the show where ever we go. It is inevitable that every person we encounter will comment on her huge eyes and she has the most perfect timing. She always makes her eyes bigger when someone comments on how big they are. Here is a few things she is doing.

1. She is so close to crawling. She can now get herself up in the position and has the legs down, but is still working on how to move her hands. She will scoot herself across the room and then roll herself back!
2. She is getting better at laying on the floor and playing with toys. She is at the stage where she puts everything in her mouth and is still pretty puky so most everything in our hosue is covered in throw-up.
3. She is almost sitting by herself. She can tripod really good. She is so skinny that it is hard for her to strengthen her stomach muscles, but she is really close.
4. She LOVES her brothers. She laughs and talks to them and gets so excited to see them. (I think she thinks that Sol is one of her brothers because it is the same with him.)
5. She is probably teething. She has a constant string of drool hanging from her mouth. (Really attractive, huh?)
6. Is doing so much better with sleeping. For the most part, she gets up once a night. She sleeps until about 7:30ish in the morning and is asleep by 8:30ish at night. She mostly takes 2 good naps a day. This has saved my behind! When she wasn't sleeping, I was having a difficult time functioning.
7. Still loves her mama! She has a hard time being away from me, but has gotten to a point where (if mom isn't in the room) she is happy with daddy! She sometimes is okay with Mrs. Shelby, but sometimes is not. She smiles at Cynthia more and a few others at church, but is still pretty reserved about strangers.
8. Is still wearing size 3-6 (or 0-3) month clothes. She is in a size 1 diaper during the day, but needs a size 2 diaper at night. (I can't believe it!! The boys were in at least a size 4 by now.)

New Crockpot recipe

With church now from 1-4, I will be trying a variety of slow cooker recipes. We started the New Year on a GREAT foot. I made this recipe last night and it was a hit. I doubled the recipe, and it turned out great!!

Beef in Onion Gravy

1 can (10 3/4 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
2 tablespoons onion soup mix
2 tablespoons beef broth
1 tablespoon quick-cooking tapioca
1 pound beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes

In a slow cooker, combine the cream of mushroom soup, soup mix, beef broth and tapioca; let stand for 15 minutes. Stir in the beef.

Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until the meat is tender. Serve over noodles or mashed potatoes.

Sassy's notes: I cut the 1 inch cubes in 4 smaller pieces because I have to cut them up for the kids anyway and this way I think they were more tender. Also, I was scared by the quick-cooking tapioca. I bought the Minute Rice brand tapioca because I couldn't find anything labeled quick-cooking. I was scared because I could only find tapioca by the pudding. It worked just fine. DON'T buy the pudding, the tapioca is near the pudding. I served with Egg Noodles and a side salad. Once we got home from church, it took me 20 minutes (10 minutes of that cooking time for the Egg Noodles) to get dinner on the table. PREFECT!!!

Really?

Really? Does this mean my 2009 will be bad? I started my year throwing up and was drugged all day yesterday(Aaron gave me something so I didn't feel so nauseous.) I hope that doesn't mean my year will be like that! I know it's going around, but really?