Tube surgery = SUCCESS

It was a nerve-wracking day that's for sure!
We had to be at the surgery center at 6am for check in. The staff was EXTREMELY nice and was super kid friendly to Remi. The had a teddy bear waiting for him on his bed and sponge bob stickers. Every one of the staff members came and said Hello to us and told us what their 'role' was.

Before we knew it, it was time for him to go back into the OR. One of the lady nurses came to take him. Remi didn't cry when they took him away (which helped ME alot) He seemed more confused then anything. We waited in the waiting room for about 15 mins when the Doctor came and got us. We all went into a tiny room where he explained that Remis ears were super bad. They had tons of fluid and puss behind the ear drums so tubes we're an excellent choice. A few mins later, they called us back to see Rem.
That was hard.
A nurse was holding Rem. His eyes were closed, his head a floppy as a newborns and he was making the most horrible sounding cry. I sat in the recliner and held him. He was not happy, still out of it and sounded so scared. Took him about 30 mins to wake up fully and when he did, he was ready to walk around! After a few sips of apple juice, we were allowed to go home.

We were warned that Rem would be super sleepy once we got home and would most likely sleep the rest of the day. WRONG. Long story short, he was more energetic then he was the day before! All he wanted to do was play outside, eat, and dance! We even went to Lowes to get stuff for the back yard.
In just a few hours, he learned the word "truck" and "yes" ~ He seems SOO much happier already!! Tubes were a SUCCESS!!

Tomorrow is the day!

Remington gets tubes tomorrow morning. This is a long time comin'! Gosh! We've been dealing with ear infections since he was 2 months old. We knew eventually he'd need tubes so this isn't a shock to us.

Met with the ENT yesterday for his pre-op . We happen to LOVE him and the staff.  We have to be at the surgery center at 6am and his surgery time is at 7am. They said we should be home and happy by 830a.

I'm so anxious (and scared) but more or less ready to see how this will help him. I can't wait to not have to deal with bad ear infections a few times a month. I hope the tubes help his speech and prevent him from getting sick all the time.

I'll update tomorrow night :)

It's Time......

For the past week, Remi has been super sick yet again. He had a fever of 103 for 5 days straight!!! He wouldn't eat, hardly drank anything and was super lethargic. Took him to urgent care on day 4 and was diagnosed with ..and I quote " A REALLY bad double ear infection".  *And lets take note:  this is now his 12th double ear infection.....his 2nd in just one month* Back on antibiotics (We had just finished antibiotics a week and half prior from another ear infection). The doctor recommended tubes ASAP 'cause she was concerned about his ear drums and hearing. (Again, we've seen an ENT back in September but he was hesitant to give Rem tubes at such a young age -9 months)

So I called a different ENT then who we saw in September and got an apt scheduled for the following week. That night, Rem was falling over every few seconds, had no balance at all, basically walking in circles. By the next morning, he would fall flat on his back randomly and just lay there. My mom was here and suggested we call the ENT to see if we could get in sooner. I called and they said to bring him in within the hour!

The new ENT said that the infection was effecting his equilibrium, listened to us explain his history (and actually gasped when we explained Rem being on IV antibiotics for an ear infection at just 2 months old) looked at his ears and said "Lets get you in for tubes ASAP" - Long story short - we have the surgery scheduled in 5 days!! Talk about quick!!

So this coming Friday, Feb 17th, we will go in for tubes!! I'm really nervous of course but can't wait to see how well this helps Remington. I'm so pleased knowing that if he does get anther ear infection, it won't be half as bad as what we've been through the last 12 months.




I'll keep you all posted on Friday. Pray for Remi that he gets through the procedure fine.

Check this out!!!

I always knew that Mike and Remington looked alike --- Look what I found! No mistaking them now!

And I've been told numerous times that Remington looks like me too but I never saw it.....until now......

Pretty Crazy huh???

Wordless Wednesday ( a day late)

Water bowl Fun

Kids love water right?? I mean, its a given!! So it wasn't a shocker that Remington loves to play in the doggy water bowl. We usually tell him "no!' but today, I was feeling care-free :) It was the best time of both of our lives. I think I was having more fun watching him...... I love him!

Haircut and Naked-ness

Rem has super duper fine fuzzy hair .....basically hair that needs to be kept short. I did, however, try to let his hair grow out in hopes that it would be this super cute boy hair-do. Nope! Just made him look super scraggly. My sister is a hair stylist so while I was there babysitting her kids, she cut his hair! He looks super cute now :) **Although I don't technically have a post picture of it yet, here is the hair "in the makings"**

 

For awhile now, its been really difficult to get a diaper on Remington. He flips, and turns, and arches his back like no other to avoid getting changed.
Today was different. We got it on him but couldn't keep it ON!

My silly boy :)

Having fun being a kid

Remington sure knows how to live it up! The last few weeks have been nothing but great!! His health is back to %100 normal - no more antibiotics!!!  He has been off the bottle for a whole week now. He still drinks Milk but now just from his sippy cup.  He's sllllooooooley learning how to eat with a fork at dinner. And as I say every time, he LOVES being outside :) He points at everything with his finger and 'talk' or more or less mumbles but its cute and fun to try to figure out his words.

We go to the park a few times a week now and he loves sitting and running the sand through his fingers. He talks like crazy at the park, running to each piece of equipment and laughs.

 

 Every Thursday at the mall there is a free Kids Club. They set up a stage and put on singing and dancing show for all the kids. The parents and kids all pile up on the floor with mats and we let the kids run wild. Remington and I go every Thursday and today, Daddy got to come! We get a free carousal ride as well so daddy got to take Rem on the carousal for the first time!

I love this kid more then words can say :)

Healthy vibes

Rem has been trying to get over this yucky pneumonia/bronchitis crap for awhile now (he had it back in early November and it came back this month-not as bad though)

He was getting breathing treatments 4 times a day for a week. We then stopped treatments once the antibiotics ran out. But he's getting worse again, can hardly eat without coughing and hasn't sleep 'cause he coughs non-stop. Luckily, our doc gave us a stand by antibiotic to fill whenever we deemed necessary. Two doses later, he's already sleeping better! YAY!! Back on breathing treatments though. We just pull up his favorite cartoon "Doodle Train" on youtube and let him control the play/pause button. Keeps his mind off the huge mask on his face.

Yes!!!!!

Things are AWESOME!!

Just started my weight loss compitetion tonight!! We have 16 competitors! I can not wait to get back in shape! I have so many plans for my 'new body' once I'm down some lbs.

My photography business is doing FANTASTIC!! I have so many sessions booked already for this coming as well as being hired on as a photographer for a local teen beauty pageant in April. I already have work published for 2 different restaurants (Macayos and Bowl of Heaven, Mesa) and so excited to see if beauty pageants become my next 'big break'.

Remi is doing much better. His lip is healing nicely and his cough from the pneumonia is starting to fade. He has been soo many hours outside in the backyard filling up his red wagon with rocks and dirt.

I LOVE my life!!! Couldn't ask for more <3

Baby????

Not right now.

Just not the right time. I know I know....I go back and forth about this every month but I've made my final decision and super happy with it!...and excited!!

I have stage 5 endometriosis and my husband has poor/low sperm count so it takes a lot for us to get pregnant (1.5 years of trying for Remi). We have already tried for #2 for 5 months now and well...its just not happening. I've already had a few surgeries, been on Lupron, 2 failed IUIs and about 8 cycles of Clomid to get pregnant with Remi. I'm not sure I'm ready for all of that yet so I've decided to take a break for 5 months. And let me explain why -

If this is my last pregnancy, I want to feel and look my best while pregnant!! I envy those cute girls that look like "magazine covers" walking around with there cute bellies. I only gained 12lbs while pregnant with Remi but I started out "bigger" then normal. I'm a few pounds up from my pre pregnancy weight so I feel if i start working out now, It will be easier then getting pregnant, gaining more weight THEN trying to lose it all. Plus - I feel if you have a healthier body/weight getting pregnant becomes easier. Its amazing on how much weight effects fertility.

I started a weight loss group/competition and its held at my house every Monday. We have 13 people, including 3 men, in the group. I'm so excited to get back into shape and become healthier.

I don't have a goal weight I want to be at, but just want to lose 30 or more lbs.

I'm super excited with this decision because I know in my head, I'll feel better physically, look better, and hopefully I'll get to skip a the infertility stuff!


Wish me luck!

Our last 72 hours -

Well, to re-cap...Rem fell down the stair Christmas morning and got a bloody nose and fat lip.

Thats where it all started.

Jan. 3rd he fell and hit the corner of the coffee table and ripped his lip open. I've never seen so much blood in my life. To the ER we went.

The next day, he didn't sleep more then 4 hours total. Developed a horrible cough and yucky boogers.

Today - he was having a hard time breathing, dry heaving, horrible sounding cough, not eating well. I figured I'd call the doctor since he has a history of pneumonia. They requested I bring him in just in case. Sure enough, he has the start of pneumonia (2nd time in 2 months) AND....drum roll......double ear infection!! But hey...good news was that we made it 5 months with out an ear infection. I think this is now his 6-7 ear infection?? And is now on his (roughly) 13th antibiotic. Yea..this kids immune system sucks ass!

We get home, dinner time, bath time, story time...bed time. 2 mins after we put him down and shut the door behind us- we hear a "thump" and a scream. Hubby goes to check on him and screams "OH MY GOD!" Remi was face down on the FLOOR! He somehow fell out of the crib. He wasn't moving much which only terrified this sh** out of us. He then just layed on my chest and didn't want to be anywhere else. His voice is almost gone already due to his cough so it made his cry that much more poor. 20 mins later he vomits on the ground. Not a good sign after falling from 3ft. So tonight, I will pull another all nighter (3 in a row) to monitor him.

Good Grief - we sure are staring out this year with a "bang!!"

Happy New Year 2012

We had some great friends come visit from Texas. They got us the BEST Christmas present EVER--- tickets to the Guns and Roses concert. We all had a BLAST together!!! Thanks again Dom and Travis for such a great time!

As for New years - We spent the first half of the evening with our friends Dom and Travis and family. We both have boys and so it was super fun watching our boys play.

The rest of New Years was spent at my parents house. They host a block party in the neighborhood complete with a live DJ, tons of food and lots of booze. We spent the night at my parents (to avoid all the crazy fools on the road).

It was an awesome end/start to a new year!

WAY behind

I have been neglectful this month!

Lots has been going on this past month.
I will post about it all but to keep you on your toes, here's a summery:

We hosted Christmas dinner
Rem fell down the stairs Christmas morning
New Years Eve was awesome
Friends visited from Texas
Day at the River
Trip to the ER -lots of blood
Baby making- Go or No go?
"Gut Busters" competition
Infertility/Clomid
And last but not least-- cute pictures of all of us :)

Will update all of this tonight!

An 81* day in Janurary

One of the great things about living in Arizona is that it doesn't get all that cold here. Today was a great example. Jan. 3rd and its 81* today. Whats this mean?? This means its a perfect day for a pic nic at the river!!!
Remi LOVES being outside and has never been to the river. Perfect opportunity! We picked up some subs on the way and had a marvelous lunch in the grass.
We then let Rem lose and let him explore everything he wanted to. We followed him around with the camera and caught his cute little curious face checking out the new scenery.
It was such a picture perfect family day :)

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas was here and gone!! What a great 2 days it was!!
Christmas Eve dinner was hosted at my moms house. We had my family there, my In-laws and well as my sisters In-laws there to share the special day. We then all played Bingo after dinner and my 9 year old niece drew Christmas pictures as the 'winning prize'. She did such a great job!

That night, we tucked Rem into bed in his Christmas PJs and explained that Santa was coming.

We woke up around 6am and opened presents - just the 3 of us. Rem LOVED it and new exactly how to open all his gifts. It was such a fun morning and special. Mike and I just sat back and 'took in' the moment. We kept explaining how amazing it was to see Remi that day and compare him to last Christmas, when he was just 2 weeks old.

Then as our family tradition continues - we all went out to breakfast at IHOP. We've done that over 15  years every Christmas morning.

Back to my moms for some more present opening. And to make it more excting, Remi fell down the stairs. No one knows for sure how many steps 'cause we were all too busy playing with our new toys. But he ended up with a bloody nose and huge fat lip. Oh boy!

Later that day, it was our turn to host Christmas dinner for my husbands side of the family. His parents, both his sets of grandparents, his aunt and uncle and brother....AND my parents all joined us.

It was a great time filled with tons of laughter! We were so worn out by then end of the night.

This was one of the best Christmas's we ever had!