Poor neglected blog.........

Goodness, can't believe how long it has been since I have updated. Our internet was down for over a week so that is part of my excuse:-)
What's happened with us this past week or so:
-Results of Sam sleep study: NORMAL!!!! Praising God for this wonderful news
-Sam had some pretty significant GI bleeding last friday into saturday, but
again praising God that it has resolved. His GI doctor is believing that
he has probably a collection of blood vessels close to the surface of his
colon and that they are prone to bleeding. That being said, if his
platelet dysfunction (bleeding disorder) is not bad at the time of the
bleed, then it will resolve on it's own. If he isn't clotting properly
then something will have to be done.
-Our basement flooded last week:-( Thankfully although our washer/dryer and
boiler were all in the water, they weren't damage
-I started back to work!!! As a real nurse! It was so fun to actually take
care of patients again. My back did bother me some but it was totally
tolerable
-I had my re-eval for PT, they said that I still have significant decreased
mobility between the vertebrae in my lumbar reason, muscle weakness on
the left, and continued muscle spasms. So they are recommending to
continue PT twice a week still.
-I went to a webinar last week regarding Pre-eclampsia diagnosis and
treatment. I have always known how sick I was when I had Sam, but
actually seeing the data in front of me was truly terrifying. EAch
of the people that was at the webinar had some experience with me when
I was pregnant with Sam, and each shared how scary it was....Thankfully
MY GOD is bigger than Pre-E and HELLP and He kept us both safe:-)
That is what has been going on here in the last week or so. Sophia turns three this week! I still can't believe my little baby is going to be three. She is doing great with the Potty training TODAY:-) yesterday was a different story. We actually had a Potty Dance Party two weeks ago which was really fun:-)

The plan for today

My niece and nephew are home from Florida!!! My kids just absolutely adore these guys as do I:-)



Waiting to hear the timing of the scope next week, was told I would hear today. They had said that if he was doing better with gagging or the complaint of food being blocked that we wouldn't have to do it. So I am praying that he stops.
He gets to go to the lake with my in-laws for the day. I am happy that he gets to do somethign so fun before the craziness begins next week. His new medicine prilosec is making him gag like crazy, and he is crying with it, but if it works then it is worth it right?
As for me I am out of work for another week! This will make five weeks which just seems crazy. I am so frustrated with this whole back thing. It is getting so old. But hopefully healing is on it's way.
Sophia is doing fabulously with potty training. She didn't have any pee accidents yesterday! She did poop but we are making progress

This little lady...

ONLY had ONE ACCIDENT IN HER PANTS TODAY!!!!

Odd Pine Farm

The second time we filled the bucket, after Sophia dumped it out the first time


The munchkins and I


Auntie Deanna with the kiddos



Today we went blue berry picking at Odd Pine Farm. This farm is quite a cool place and has been around for 51 years! They had several varieties of blueberries, and they were pretty tall so there was no bending involved, which was great for my back, which has really been pretty uncomfortable the last few days.
There was a little old lady that was also picking. The kids absolutely loved her and kept talking with her while we were there. She really seemed to enjoy them, and the kids really enjoyed her.
We got quite a few blueberries but I plan to go back one more time to get more.
Potty training has gone well on day 6. Sophia has done well getting to the bathroom multiple times. She did have two accidents and also a stool but we are making progress slow and steady.

Potty Training Chronicles Day Five and Heywood IVIG

Sammy and Carol (at his birthday party)

Today was NOT a good potty day! Sam had his IVIG today at Heywood, and therefore Sophia was with a friend. She didn't go on the potty once while there.:-( I am disappointed but oh well.
Sammy did well today with the IVIG. Nurse Carol was there and he just loves her. He went running down the hall and jumped into her arms, it made me so nervous, since her due date with baby number 3 is tomorrow, and I was afraid that she would get knocked over. She got the IV in on the first try, the labs were drawn easily. Sam complained all day that he didn't feel well, and actually stayed in the bed all day. He said he was so sick everywhere. He had a period where both his temp and heart rate increased but then they normalized again. I am not sure what will happen with the IVIG, if we will end up switching brands or something else.
Poor little guy stayed in the bed all afternoon, but when my sister Deanna got there he totally perked up and climbed all over her for a few minutes. Hoping that whatever is brewing will be averted since we got the IVIG today.

Potty Training Chronicles Day Four

Number of Accidents today= 3
Number of trips to the potty= 14!
Frequnecy= every 20-30 minutes

She did well today, and even made a couple of trips without me telling her to go. She is starting to catch on, although she certainly complains when I make her get up from playing to go to the bathroom.

Potty Training Chronicles Day Three

Number of Accidents: 3
Number of Times she peed in the potty: 6
Frequency: I asked her about every 25-30minutes

She woke up dry this morning! We didn't make it to the potty completely but I am still so happy with a dry night, she just couldn't make it all the way there. But is doing well. Today was certainly a better potty training day then yesterday. And hopefully tomorrow will be even better.

Potty Training Chronicles Day One

Number of Accidents= 3 (two were just in process of getting to the potty and not
quick enough, one was just a true accident)
Length between Attempts= 20minutes
# of stickers and M&M's= 6
Number of times I attempted the potty dance= too numerous to count

Sophia cried when I put her panties on this AM, but she quickly became okay. We sat on the potty as soon as she got up and she peed! She acted shocked. Sammy jumped up and down and clapped for her. I shouted and clapped. She then got to pick her sticker and an M & M. I then set the timer to go off every twenty minutes throughout the morning. She had one accident, in the attempt to get to the potty.
Then we drove to the playground and played for about 30-45minutes, I offered her to go potty here but she didn't go. She made it all the way home from the playground without an accident and went when we got home. I was so impressed. Sammy ran around the house yelling "Go Sophie Go Sophie!!!"
WE played outside and she did have a little accident while we were out but still did well. She also came with me to the chiropractors office and didn't have an accident that trip either! She did have an accident while eating supper, but not during nap. All in all day one was a success!!!

Potty Training Chronicles

Does this face look willing to potty train?

THE SUPPLIES:


Stinkers (smily faces for pee, pony's for poop)


New panties, that she picked out her self


Plastic pants to help protect my rug


A "My Little Pony" for our first NO ACCIDENT day


A sticker chart to keep track of her progress


And last but not least: our pink potty:-)

I have been after myself for days/weeks/months to potty train Miss Sophia but she has been so against it, and I have been overwhelmed with many Doctors appointments that I just couldn't motivate myself to do it.
Today as we were discussing making a trip to BJ's I decided I didn't want to spend the nearly $40 it costs for another box of diapers. So tomorrow will be day one! Sophia and I had some special mommy and Sophia time, as I took her to the store to pick some new undies and rewards, and we made a potty chart:-)
What are some things that worked/didn't work for you? Any recommendations?

Tornados, thunderstoms, and rain

Goodness what a crazy week of weather we have had. We have had two tornado warnings, multiple thunderstorms and lots of rain! I can't imagine if we lived like this all the time. God bless those people in the midwest who have to deal with the tornados so often!
We are doing fairly well. I can't help but think there is something going on with Sam, but it hasn't quite declared itself yet. He is so irritable and has been complaining of random things that hurt. Low grade fever, a cough that started last night, a tummy ache...We shall see
I am trying to work up the courage to potty train Sophia. She is probably ready, but I just don't know if I am, for the accidents part. But I am just praying to get the courage to just go with it, and see where it takes us.
I am still battling these crazy back spasms but this morning praise God they seem to be getting better. I go back to the doctor today to see when they are going to let me go back to work...
We have the much anticipated cardiologist appointment tomorrow at Children's. I am certainly not sure what to expect tomorrow. I am not completely sure what the concern is here. I am praying for lots of answers tomorrow. I am starting to really wonder if we should see a geneticist with Sam. It just seems that there are so many random issues with him, that maybe there is a genetic condition that ties them all together? I don'tknow just a thought.
Have a blessed day!!!

Chronicles of Potty Training- #2

This is the conversation I had with my SO BIG almost three year old...
"Mommy, mommy come quick." (screaming from the other room) I go running in. He is sitting on the potty.
"Mommy there is a big snake in the toilet!" "What?!?!"
I grab him off the toilet, and he says "I did a big poop snake!"
Seriously he is so funny! This is his first poop on the potty and I couldn't be happier with him. He is doing awesome with this whole potty training thing this week. We haven't had any accidents in five days and counting...
I am praying we hear from the new specialist tomorrow and that we can figure out what all these high fevers, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hives and rashes are all about.

Chronicles of Potty Training

Our potty training necessities....

A sticker chart, this is the best, Sammy gets to pick a sticker of his choice and LOVES to show everyone his chart.


A variety of stickers


Big boy underwear, we are partial to Buzz Lightyear, Cars, fireman sam, and The Incredibles


Toddler wipes (these are flushable) HE again really enjoys doing this himself.


Of course you need a potty, and yes he is sitting backwards. My friend shared this with me, as if they sit backwards they don't spray everything. Daddy will have to teach him the whole standing up thing down the road


And of course you have to have a happy and willing toddler. And he is!!! He is so proud of his big boy undies and doesn't want to wear shorts to cover them up:-)


Today is day 3 of attempt #3 to potty train Sammy. And my friend had a great piece of advice, I think I might take her up on it, her goal was to have her kids potty trained by the time they move out to go to college. I am pretty sure I can obtain that goal. Seriously this potty training stuff is rough. Today has been great with the pee, but the stool has been another whole issue....
Well anyways we woke up dry this morning!!! I was so excited, and he went to the bathroom and peed an unbelievable amount and then when he was done said "Phew that was a close one!" He is so funny. So this is what you need for potty training in my house, feel free to share with me what you need at your house, things that worked or didn't work, any and all advice is greatly desired. Thanks for your help

New England Aquarium

Look at the size of the shark

Can you see the shark? This was Sammy's favorite



Penguins: our favorite exhibit





Sophia and Daddy enjoying the fish


Daddy and the kiddos



We road the "T" from Alewife. It went really well, and Sam loved the train.






The Seals, we ended up getting out there just as they were being fed. So they put on a little show. They danced, spun around, and went after toys.




Oh my goodness, we had such a wonderful time yesterday. The kids were both fantastic. Sam loved the train, and was so excited at the aquarium. When we first got to the aquarium he was so excited he was stuttering! It was so cute. His favorites were the sharks, Myrtle the turtle, and of course the Penguins (the PENGU's according to Sam) Sophia was squealing with delight and banging on the glass when she was held up to see the fish. Both Matt and I were suprised at her reaction. She too was wonderful. It was such a wonderful time for all of us. It was fun to do something as a family.
Sam continues to do fantastic with the potty training. I am pleasantly SHOCKED at how well it is going. He didn't have one accident today until just before bed. WE had two twenty minute car rides, one in which he fell asleep and he still didn't have an accident. I am so proud of him