The Finer Things of Life

Someone recently said I was "loopier" now with two kids. The fact is that I have always been a bit silly, but supress it around most folks. ;)

Today Avery had a check-up with her cardiologist in town. Everything looked as good as can be expected. I did ask about possible dates for her next surgery. I had been told by Avery's heart surgeon that it'd likely be around her 6 month mark (end of Aug.), but today, the doc said it could anywhere from then til when she's turns one. I like to plan ahead, but there's only so much I can do (bug my doctor). There are a couple of factors to consider, but I'm still hoping to have it done no later than October to recover before the cold & flu season starts, and for insurance purposes - before the end of the year. Anyhoo, overall things are okay!

Zachery is doing well, too. He is getting better everyday with a couple of things we're working on. He constantly amazes me with the things he says and finding out how much he picks up and understands different things going on around him that I miss.

No news on the house. Still waiting to hear back on a closing date, ect.

Does anyone remember a book/story from grade school called, "The Phantom Tollbooth"? I had the fine priviledge of being in it with my 6th grade english class. I remember only a few things about it. First, the part I played with a friend, Sarah Forbush (Davis), we were Sweet Rhyme and Pure Reason. Secondly, in the beginning of the book there's a voice calling out, "Yooooo Halloooo!" and that has never left me and I use it often. Lastly, once during a rehearsal at school, I had a bit of a shock. I was sitting in the back of the room and happened to glance over just in time to see a boy in our class "moon" the teacher. Ahhh, memories.

My dear husband, Eric works hard for our family and doesn't have time to read our family blog, or any others for that matter. One exception was this past weekend, Eric read my last post and offered some "suggestions" including that I should proof-read the posts before it goes out. :) I hate to proof-read, so that one's out. He did say that I wrote the silliest things, like yoooooo halloooo, but he never had the pleasure of reading the story in school. Some people miss out on the finer things of life.

What's in a Name?

Holla, holla, holla. It's 10:30 pm and I'm dog tired (poor dogs being so dog tired all the time and never regular tired). It was a beautiful day and I took Zach and Avery out to walk (they ride and I walk) in the park and then to chat and play. It was nice and I thought that'd get Zach through the day, get the wiggles out. Apparently wiggles are regenerated.

Avery has been doing alright. My favorite thing about her is her big smile. Her eyes smile and I get the wide, gummy smile. :) I hope to post a photo of it next week. Avery weighed in today at 9 lbs. and 7 oz., yay, growing steadily!

I am growing increasingly nervous about Avery's name. I loved it and still am loving it, but she's been called "he" a lot. Today a woman from our insurance company even said they had Avery listed as a boy, and when I asked her if the name sounded feminine to her, she said no! What?! Apparently on the sitcom "Murphy Brown", Murphy's son was called, Avery. ugh. My consolation here was this otherwise nice lady is older and most of my peers associate Avery as a girl's name. The comments are almost daily. Avery sounds feminine to me! I'll try my darndest to make her at least look like a girl.

What's in a name? Coming up with a name for your child is hard. A name lasts and you don't want it to cause any kind of mocking because of it. With the name "Zachery" I am completely happy with. I was also happy with Avery, but now, each time someone thinks she's a boy (just from the name and not the pink/girly clothes she wears) it makes me re-think my choice. I guess if it gets bad, she can go by her middle name, Alyse. :) My maternal grandma was one of 14 kids (hello!! 14 ) and they all went by their middle names, which I think is so cool.

Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Home Again, Home again, giggity gig

Avery is home, she was discharged Saturday. Sleeping at the hospital wasn't so bad, for one night. Avery slept til 6 am!

Avery got a blood transfusion and her oxygen level came right back up. They tested for different things, (poked her numerous times, trying for blood - ugh) including seeing if she had outgrown her shunt and was needing her next surgery! . Thankfully, it was just low iron. She's on iron supplements and much pinker now.

She had gone in for a scheduled bronchoscopy and found out her oxygen level was low. They asked me if she was this pale at home and I hadn't noticed she was pale. yikes. I don't know what would have happened these next couple weeks before her next appt., if they hadn't found out. It all worked out. :)

I got to see some of the great staff who had helped Avery before, which was nice. Thus far the med students who have "overseen" Avery have been very nice and extremely helpful. The residents, poor things, seem overworked and run ragged, still helpful, less friendly. Maybe it's the sleep ratio. Someone can fill me in.

We're so glad to be home. Saturday, Avery coughed out her feeding tube 3 times! ugh. I prayed Sat. night that I could give Avery all her meds orally, sans tossing her food. They all went down, thankfully.

I am now trying to keep the family healthy and happy.

A wonderful song was sung today at church by four talented ladies. It was just beautiful! The song was, "Did You Think to Pray" from our hymnbook. "Ere you left your room this morning, did you think to pray? In the name of Christ, our Saviour, did you sue for loving favor as a shield today? Oh how praying rests the weary! Prayer will turn the night to day. So, when life gets dark and dreary, don't forget to pray."

Let Our Avery Go!

It's been awhile since I've updated on the family. Life has been really good for us, not without bumps in the road, but good. I feel I've gotten into a routine and had ventured out, even with both kids (imagine that).

Avery has been gaining weight and smiling at our voices. As her chins increase, so does our love for her. People have said Avery looks like Zachery, but I can't recall how he looked back then (so long ago :) . Sometimes I think she's just a normal little girl, and she is. She thinks, smiles, sleeps, eats and cries like a small person. Then, when she spits up and the feeding tube comes out (that's happened too many times for me), or goes to the doctor, I'm reminded her heart works different.

This morning, dark and early I got up and took Avery up to Univ. of MI to have her airway looked at- to make sure it wasn't closing up. That all went well, thank the goodness. But, when they were taking her vitals, her blood oxygen levels were low. I was surprised, she seemed fine at home. Now, since her levels are still low, they need to find out why. Her hematocrit (blood level in general) is lower, so she's going to get some blood today. They said it could be her shunt isn't working as well, and maybe it's getting closer to needing to have her next surgery, the hemi-Fontan. I joked that I'd run out of here with Avery, that I wouldn't let them keep her. As disappointed as I am that they're admitting her, again, I acknowledge that if there's something going on it is very fortunate that they found out here and not at home when it would surely be more critical (and when we were sleeping).

I think I try and assimilate a "normal" for my life, my family, ect. and whenever something happens that I'm not expecting, I get disappointed and it takes me a bit to adjust. I suppose I need to stop expecting smooth sailing and plan for storms or just windy days. After all, at least we're still sailing!

One great bonus is, Avery took a bottle last night at 10:30 pm and only started fussing at 5 when I was getting her ready to leave. That means she could sleep through the night! Yay. I did have to feed her about every 2 to 2 1/2 hours, but I'll take it. Here I go again, expecting too much, but it does give one reason to hope. :) The night before she woke up hungry 3 times, so up and down - that's life.

I'm up at the family center at the U of M hospital. Avery is sleeping and she'll be admitted to general care to watch and hopefully figure out why her oxygen is so low.

I went out to get some food and saw a "butternut squash soup" and thought that sounded yummy and healthy. Well, watery and bland is more like it. I also drank a fruit smoothie and finished the water in my cup. (This is so interesting, I know, what will she write next?!) Anyway, I'm Soooooo full!!! Who'd a thunk. It's worse than thanksgiving.

I hope she doesn't need surgery this soon. She weighs 9 lbs.!! tchau

5's

I wish I had some wonderful tale of the day to share. Oh well. I had good intentions of going places, but ...dear Avery coughed out her ng tube and it took several hours and about eight tries, but it's in. I had it in earlier, but I couldn't get air in it and I kept thinking that it may have gone down her windpipe, so I pulled it out. really do like the tube. I could get one and if I tired, I'd just pour the food down to my stomach. Lazy man's tube.

I'm having second thoughts about the house we had an offer accepted on. I like so many things about it, but the location is a huge negative. Hmmm things to ponder before anything is signed. I want to be content about this. It's a big purchace and commitment. We would love nothing better than to move into a bigger space, with a yard to call our own. It'll happen, somehow. :)

I read a friend's blog today, Michelle, and she did something neat that I'd like to copy here.

5 years ago today:
I was still a newlywed, working at Harborside of Sylvania as Activity Director, and thawing from my first Ohio winter.

5 months ago:
I was preparing for Christmas, had just celebrated Zachery's 3rd birthday, and was in the throes of lots of prenatal visits and pondering what will be.

5 days ago:
It was May Day. I spent the day inside, but watched the blossoms from our picture window. Avery had a nurse's visit and Zachery had a great time at walking group, thanks to Emilee Wells for taking him.

5 hours ago:
I was trying to get Avery's tube down her nose and pondering if I'd know if it went down into her airway.

Thank goodness time passes. Good or bad, it goes and then we just have the memories. Make it good.

Whistle a Happy Tune

I'm sitting here with a sleeping Avery on my lap. I've tried to lay her down, but each time she senses that she's not being held and wakes up. Sensitive creatures (we used to be). :)

I am in awe of some blogs out there, or rather, in awe of those writing them. So interesting or poignant or funny, and pictures rule- they say so much. I love getting a glimpse into friends' lives and catching up, so to speak. Kudos for blogs and email.

Since I am neither creative nor funny, except when Aryn is around, she seems to laugh at my jokes, if I happen to make any. ;) I will write something positive and someday we'll have some high-speed internet and get some lovely photos here again.

We walked in, a little late, to church and a friend said, "You're all here!". Yay, we all got to church and it felt great. I've wanted to "get back to normal" but what does that mean, really. I have been wanting to get into a routine that included fun stuff for Zach, daily household stuff, and showering. :) it's the little things, and church together.

Avery seems to be doing well. We're thankful for that. Her smile can light up our little room. Zach is still extatic (still) about having his family around. I love the blossoms out and the fragrance of it in the air. Someday I want to have a big lilac bush and I would sleep under it to drink in the loveliness each night for that short period. Or just snip some off and keep it near my soft bed at night.

We have been "on our own" for several days now. That means our mothers have both gone home. They were both great help and much appreciated. Since being "on our own", I realized that it's not true. We've been blessed to have wonderful people around us, or be near wonderful people who have brought in food (thank you, thank you!) or picked up Zachery for some playtime, and calls, emails and just plain lots of support. So, we are not alone, thank goodness!

Zachery

Zachery is 3 years old and to us, cute as can be (most of the time).

My friend, Tanya Dunn, took some great photos of Zach when he stayed there overnight. As always, Tanya did a stellar job.

So many posts are all about Avery and so this will be all about Zach.

He is a great big brother and gives great hugs. He loves trains, watching Chip n' Dale,
playing at the park, playing with water in the kitchen sink. Full of life and very observant. We love Zachery.