Plodding Along

We've been absent. Yep. Blame it on sickness. After grandpa left us, everyone came down with something. Rachel had the snotty head cold, Charlie another ear infection, Stephen had some viral thing that we think may have been the flu and I got the flu for sure. Christmas was kind of a bummer this year. We've also been holed up in this house because the weather has been terrible. So, needless to say, we're tired of being sick (and tired). Unfortunately, things are still not completely better. Charlie went back to the pediatrician today and has an ear infection in both ears. Rachel has a fever and her runny nose and eyes are back. Sigh. Is it summer yet? Here are some pictures from Christmas morning. The kids did love to open gifts. Rachel really knew what to do this year. Charlie just liked to eat the paper.

I hope 2013 brings wellness and energy. Lord knows the 3 cups of coffee just aren't doing it anymore!

Santa!

Rachel was all about the big guy this year. She had a very hard time waiting her turn and photo bombed a couple other kids photos just to get near him. The pictures below don't adequately reflect her joy but she did thoroughly enjoy herself. Noticed how she carefully checks out his ensemble. Poor Santa, on the other hand, had to be sweating buckets in that suit. It was warm in that room (notice my pulled up sleeves) but he was very friendly and kind to all the kids. Charlie did not get down on the Santa action this year. He's not too keen on strangers and I can only imagine his reaction to Santa. Plus, he was napping during that time and you know you shouldn't wake sleeping babies.

Fun with Grandpa...

In their defense, Rachel has a case of a sickness and Charlie is teething again, hard. Sorry, Grandpa, maybe another trip!

30 Blankets in 30 Days Update

Rachel in her hand made hat and cuddled up in a blanket.

I received the last blanket for "30 Blankets in 30 Days" last Thursday. That blanket rounded out the total to 70. Yes, seventy. 7-0. More than double what the original goal was! I could not believe it as I saw blanket after blanket come to my door and pile up in our room. It got to where it was overflowing the huge box I had saved in hopes that we would at least get it half-way filled. You guys came through in a big, BIG way. I never knew so many people cared and the families in the NICU will know as well that people DO care about them. Thank you! Thank you all so very much. I have truly been touched by your generosity.

Rachel and the Booger Man Update

First up... Rachel. She had her follow up appointment with the GI doctor. They took more stool samples to check the inflammation. Her last sample had high inflammation. If it comes back high again, the doctor thinks it's allergies and then Rachel will be tested for allergies and also have an endoscopy. If the stool test comes back normal, he is leaning towards a sugar intolerance and she will be tested for that. I'm happy we have a direction but at the same time I'm scared nothing will come out of all of this and he'll send us on our merry way. We'll see what way we are headed by the end of next week when the test results come in.

Charlie, AKA booger, is having some intestinal issues of his own. He is already intolerant to diary and soy protein, but now we have added bananas to that list. Since bananas were one of the only finger foods he liked, this depresses me. At first I thought it had something to do with the beef puree meal he had since he vomited after having it. But then he did again the next night. We skipped a couple days without him vomiting (turns out it's because we had no bananas) but then again yesterday at lunch and today after he had some in the morning. I guess it just needed time to build up in his system to cause the issue. Just like what happens with milk. Crap.

Charlie is also going to be getting speech therapy like I figured he would. Hopefully we'll be able to coax some words out of this boy! If we are still dealing with feeding issues by the time he's 18 months, I will have him re-evaluated for OT. 

Thought you would enjoy this last picture. Rachel was exhausted last week one day after school. She slept from 2 until 6 in the evening!