Inroducing Miss Grace

{only 5 weeks late on this post}

My best friend, Holly, gave birth to her rainbow baby,

Grace Gillian

on 

August 24

She is one of the most beautiful babies I have ever laid eyes on

Within a couple hours of her birth, during her bath, one of the nurses noticed that Grace was breathing rapidly. They took her to the nursery to evaluate her and then she spent the next 11 days in the NICU. After a few scary moments, one dose of surfactant, many sticks, pokes and prods, Grace told the NICU it was time for her to go home because she didn't belong there.

Grace is home and capturing everyone's heart. She is so easy and so loveable. Now, I just need to find some time to hop on a plane up the East Coast to go snuggle, love and kiss this sweet baby girl. Isn't she stunning?

Choo... Choo... Someone's THREE!

I remember that morning, December 27, 2007 when I I held the first pregnancy test up to the light in the strangest way because I was certain I could see the faintest line if I held it just like so... and then taking another test and after what seemed like hours that word popped up "pregnant."...

I remember anxiously calling my doctor and getting bloodwork... I also remember that sick feeling when they called back and said things didn't look so good...

I remember impatiently waiting for the next 2 days to go by and getting another beta done and my hcg level being 39 (it had tripled!)...

I remember the first time I fell in love with you...

I remember the days you lived within my womb...

I remember seeing you for the first time at 6 weeks - a little teeny, tiny sak - we couldn't see your heart beating yet...

I remember seeing your heart beating and I remember hearing it beating for the first time...

I remember at 15w2d pregnant, finding out that you were a boy and not being able to control my tears of pure happiness...

I remember your first moments of movement that I could actually feel - it felt like 3 little knocks. I wasn't sure if I was really feeling you but then you did it again and I knew it was you...

I remember waking up at 2:45am on August 28 to a very odd feeling - upon going to the bathroom I realized my membranes had ruptured and I will always remember the way your daddy flew out of bed when I told him...

I remember driving to the hospital because I am a control freak like that...

I remember waddling with a towel between my legs through the parking garage... through the hospital... to the elevators... into Labor & Delivery...

I remember having to pee in a bedpan... and on the 4th time, coming down too quickly causing your daddy to spill my pee everywhere...

I remember reading all of the well wishes pouring in from our friends and family... and then

I remember them saying it was time to have a baby...

I remember going into the OR... and more importantly, at 10:11 am on August 28

I remember your first cry

I remember the first time I saw you

I remember the first time I fell in love with you all over again

I cannot believe that my baby is already three (well 3 years and 1 month ;) )










Baby boy... I mean BIG boy - I love you so much. Happy 3rd Birthday!

Appointments Galore!

So I 110% dropped the ball this morning... I forgot about Pierce's neurology appointment... and it was written in my planner :( I am a bit frazzled at the moment and I am sick on top of it all. I think I need to invest in something like this:

source

 We had a nice break from running the doctor circuit but it's about to start back up --- here is a glimpse:

Fri Sept 30 --- 9:30 --- Pulmonology (Pierce)
Mon Oct 3 --- 9:00 --- Pediatrician (Brice - 3 year well-visit {super late!})
Wed Oct 12 --- 9:15 --- GI (Brice)
Wed Oct 12 --- 11:00 --- Neurology (Pierce)
Tues Oct 18 --- 9:15 --- Orthopedics (Pierce)
Wed Oct 19 --- Tosillectomy, Adenoidectomy, Bronchoscopy, Laryngoscopy (Brice)
Mon Oct 31 --- 9:45 --- ENT (Pierce)
Wed Nov 16 --- 1:45 --- ENT (Brice - post.op)
Thur Nov 17 --- 10:30 --- Swallow Study (Pierce)
Tues Dec 13 --- 10:00 --- Immunology (Brice & Pierce)
Mon Dec 19 --- 10:30 --- GI (Pierce)
Tues Dec 20 --- 8:30 --- Genetics (Pierce & Brice)
Tues Dec 20 --- 3:30 --- Opthamology (Pierce)
(And Pierce will have his 2 year well-visit at some point after December 18)

And in between all of those doctor appointments/procedures/surgeries, we have several birthday parties, 1 wedding, a cute little red-head's Pumpkin Palooza at school, a USMC Boot Camp graduation, an engagement party, some Black Friday shopping, a much-needed trip to Baltimore to kiss and love on a sweet new(-ish) baby, a wild little blonde's 2nd birthday and the holidays! Fingers crossed that I make it to January 1, 2012 all in one piece ;)

Pertussis, Maybe?

The last 36ish hours have been strange. It all started off after Brice's shot yesterday. He didn't walk from the moment he got it until 24ish hours later (that would be today) in the ER... to fill in those hours, here is a brief synopsis. Brice gets a shot --- I assumed it was antibiotics --- Brice asked me to carry him because he hurt --- we went home --- Brice and I went to the pharmacy to pick up the boys antibiotics --- Brice peed on himself in the car --- we snuggle on the couch --- Brice pees on both of us --- we go to bed --- Brice wakes up screaming/crying that he is peeing... he wasn't so I raced him to the bathroom --- Brice wakes up this morning and wants to be held because he is still hurting --- Brice spend his morning on the couch... not moving... asking for help to sit up --- we get Brice dressed so go visit G's dad and then my mom --- Brice pees on the couch (yay for leather) --- I send an SOS to other moms on FB --- I call our immunologist and she recommends taking him into the ER for a chest x-ray, scans and bloodwork --- we go to Children's, get triaged (Brice FINALLY WALKS after they made me leave the triage room) and wait in the super packed waiting room --- I page our immunologist (because she is awesome like that and gave me her pager #) --- I tell her it's packed and she said she was happy to hear that he walked --- I explained that I was okay with leaving but his cough was changing (yet again) but becoming less frequent (!)... he gets into these coughing fits where he is coughing so much that between coughs he makes this strange, almost exaggerated sound upon inspiration - it sounds like he is gasping for air --- she mentions the possibility of pertussis but I don't think much of it --- we all go to my mom's --- I run to the store and while I am sitting in Hobby Lobby's parking lot I decide to google pertussis sound clips --- sure enough, that is EXACTLY how my kiddo sounds --- I page her again --- we talk about pertussis at length --- basically, at this point there isn't much more that we can do but ride the wave --- we have him (and Pierce) on antibiotics --- it's more of a concern in kids younger than a year (but primarily younger than 6 months) and elderly that have waning immunity --- I am super concerned about other people we've been in contact with --- we will be taking him to the pediatrician on Monday to get swabbed and it takes about a week or so to get the results.

Okay - so a few other things - our immunologist's husband is a pediatrician (what an awesome team!). He is fairly certain that Brice received a shot of Decadron (steroids) versus antibiotics (Rocephin). He thinks that is what caused Brice to not want to walk - well the pain involved with the steroid shot. As for the incontinence, we are thinking that is somehow tied into the pain. He is back to using the toilet successfully and his temperament has changed, for the better, this evening. We are keeping everything crossed that he continues up this slope! If you don't mind, keep the kid in your prayers - specifically, that he does not have pertussis. Thanks!

Now I am off to finish watching LSU win - Geaux Tigers!

Welcome Lung Season

So Brice had croup on Monday. He was fever free on Wednesday and Thursday. We sent him to school yesterday, but an hour after I dropped him off, his teacher called and said that he was crying a lot. When I picked him up she stated that he was not acting like himself. Last night, his cough (which sounded less barky) was much more frequent. He would have moments in between coughs where he was gasping for breath. He couldn't sleep and was very miserable. We gave him a breathing treatment and eventually he was able to fall asleep.

First thing this morning, he said "mom, I need to go to the doctor." Our ST came at 8am and I scheduled a pedi appointment for 1:30pm. He started feeling warm so I took his temp --- 101.3* --- after taking his temp, ST stated that Pierce felt a little warm --- his temp was 100.7* --- yay ;(

The pedi examined Brice and spent a good bit of time listening to his chest... his bout with croup moved into this chest. He now has bronchitis. She could hear crackling sounds throughout his lungs but no focal spot. She gave him a shot in the hopes that if this is a pneumonia trying to occur, maybe it will won't happen. He also has an ear infection (right ear) and is on azithromycin for 5 days. While there, I mentioned that Pierce had a fever this morning and I could hear him coughing during his nap. She listened to his chest and examined him --- he also has bronchitis and is on azithromycin for 5 days. If Brice gets any worse over the weekend, she said to take him into the ER and if he isn't any better by Monday, she is ordering a chest x-ray.

I spoke with our immunologist about our appointment. We are just to keep track of everything. For now, we are still scheduled to see them in December. If infections start happening more frequently, we will be seen sooner. IVIG talks happened (very briefly mentioned but still) and possible prophylactic antibiotics again. Thankfully, if we do wind up on the ER, she is on call this weekend!

Here is to hoping my boys feel better quickly - especially Brice because he is FLAT MISERABLE. It breaks my heart that I can't do anything more to make him feel any better. I am really hoping that he makes some progress over night! I am also hoping that lung season is a little less eventful!

Have a great weekend!

"If..."

• If I were to get pregnant again I would be VERY wealthy considering I can't get pregnant (seeing as how I have no uterus)
• If I could have any job in the world I would continue staying at home but actively pursuing custom designs, party/event planning and photography or being a surgeon (ha! talk about two different jobs!)
• If I had a day to myself I would have brunch at Court of Two Sisters, sleep, get a facial, sleep, get a manicure, sleep, get a pedicure, sleep, shop, sleep, have dinner with a margarita (with Patron) and sleep some more ;)
• If I could get married all over again I would do it the way I originally wanted to (but the husband vetoed me)... elope.
• If I could live anywhere in the US I would probably stay right here - NOLA just doesn't leave your blood and doesn't let you leave her easily.
• If Brice were a girl he would have been named Ellie and if Pierce were a girl he would have been named Fiona or Lillian (I, again, got vetoed on Fiona because of our last name). But if I could re-name Pierce (a boy name) it would be Barrett (guess what - another veto - I am surprised I got away with Pierce Benedicto!)
• If I could have any talent in the world I would be supermom - I swear, some moms do it all... I just don't have that trait - I get done what I can and the rest, eventually, falls into place - I wish I could say my house was spotless 100% of the time but it isn't!
• If you met me in real life you would definitely want to be my friend ;) haha - how arrogant but in reality, I am fairly easy to get along with
• If I could go back to school and get a different degree I would go to med school and specialize in pediatrics, specifically, neonatology.
• If money were not an object I would have absolutely no medical debt/student loans, new but practical/reasonable vehicles, and a live-in chef and personal trainer!
• If I could meet one celebrity ugh I have no clue - maybe Chelsea Handler because she says everything I would like to say to people but am too nice to say...
• If I could only shop at one store for the rest of my life if I had to pay and it was the only place I could shop for every facet of my life... Target (<-- what a total mom answer) --- but if money were no object, Saks.
• If we get another pet I would get a handler to take care of our pets... seriously, we are at our limits with two boxers, two cats and three turtles - no other living, breathing non-two-legged beings are allowed
• If I could go on a trip, RIGHT NOW, I'd want to go to Ireland.
• If I had to chose between a house cleaner and a personal chef, I'd pick the personal chef (remember my answer above about money not being an object!)
• If I had the option of plastic surgery I'd get the girls' lifted because breastfeeding did NO justice to me and a tummy tuck because pregnancy, well it was pregnancy...

(The "If..." post was found on Heather's blog )

all over the place...

Blah... I suckity-suck at blogging again... I mean, I've pulled out the laptop several times to blog but then something takes away my attention... oh well...

Both boys look like they've responded to the Pneumovax23 vaccine:
BRICE


Pierce


We follow-up in December for more labwork - fingers crossed their levels remain stable! If not, IVIG talks will resume. But for now, we are loving the fact that things are looking positive!

A very cute little redhead that made me a mommy had a birthday on August 28 --- we had a blast! Brice's party will have a post of it's own :)

Speaking of Brice, he saw ENT today and is scheduled to have a tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, bronchoscopy and laryngoscopy in mid-October. Our ENT said that Brice's history has way too much substantial evidence in support of the above surgeries/procedures, He is fairly confident that Brice stands to benefit quite a bit from having his tonsils removed. Given B's history with pneumonias, bronchiolitis, wheezing, croup, etc, he wants to scope his airway/lungs to make sure everything's ok. He doesn't anticipate seeing anything off per say but since Brice will be under general anesthesia, he said he may as well do it now.

We were in the ER last night with Brice... he has a pretty nasty case of croup :( Poor kiddo is in quite a bit of pain and his cough makes my lungs hurt. He started with a low fever (100*) on Sunday evening. I gave him a dose of Motrin to prep for a nighttime spike... 12:15am = 103*... 6:45am = 102.3*... 11:45am = 102*... 5:45pm = 102.3* --- between his Motrin doses, he would stay in the 101s --- in the ER, around 11pm, he was 103.8*. They did a chest x-ray (and included his neck in the field) --- no focal pneumonia (!) but it did show some viral patchiness in his lungs and steeples sign (consistent with croup). They administered a dose or OraPred (oral steroids) and gave an Rx for two more doses. Today was rough on him... any time he coughs, he cries. He sounds like he is wheezing but apparently it is stridor since croup is upper respiratory. He is hoarse but fever free as we speak :)

Pierce had a GI appt today - some other doctors on his case were marginally concerned about his lack of weight gain but his GI isn't. Pierce had a swallow study on August 23 --- it showed pooling in his valleculae - the good news is that he clears it with a swallow... the not so good news is that it puts him at a much higher risk for aspirating. The speech pathologist noted that he has inadequate tongue base retraction. Dr. A said this is unfortunately something he can't fix and that will never fix itself. Pierce will eventually learn to accommodate this issue on his own - he will probably eat slower, etc. We have a follow-up swallow study in November and Dr. A plans on repeating swallow studies every 3-4 months for awhile. For now, we are thickening and fortifying his feeds (5oz coconut milk + 1 scoop of Neocate, Jr + 1tbsp oatmeal). He is not allowed to drink out of straws as it presents liquid at a greater force of speed and really ups his chance of aspirating.

Overall, Pierce is doing VERY well. He climbs non-stop and has an amazing amount of energy for someone that is barely 24lbs and 32" tall! We are amazed at his ever-expanding vocabulary. Lately, he gives the BEST squeeze hugs and big open-mouthed wet, sloppy kisses!!

Brice started school --- another post of it's own --- he goes two days a week from 8:45-2:45 and L-O-V-E-S it!! I have days where I just stare at him and think "you're not a toddler anymore - you really are a little kid" - how has time gone by so quickly?! It's very bittersweet - I love the kid he is becoming but I dearly miss the baby/toddler he once was.

As crazy and chaotic as things are lately, I am really enjoying life. I am happy and learning how to fully embrace being perfectly imperfect. It's tough but I have a great group of guys in my life - from the daddy down to the littlest man... life is good.