Tubes {take two}

On Monday, December 2nd, both of the kids got a set of tubes {this was Jordyn's second set}.  I was alittle concerned that they weren't going to start surgery until 8:30a since the kids couldn't eat or drink anything after midnight {I actually called about this since Cully is only 8 months, I didn't feel like he should be going without a bottle for 12 hours, so they allowed me to wake him and give him one last bottle at 2:30a}.  They ended up doing great.  They took Cullyn back and were done with him before they started on Jordyn, so we weren't ever away from both kids.  It was wonderful.  They sure have this procedure down to a science at this surgery center.  Jordyn ended up coming out of anesthesia MUCH better than last time.  We spent the afternoon cuddling and lounging around home as a family. 

As for follow up...both of the kids took their ear drops like a champ {twice a day for five days}.  Jordyn actually asked for them each day {an improvement from last time--although she did good last time too}.  

We went to the clinic for a follow up last Friday morning.  Cullyn's ears looked great.  So follow up in 6 months.  Jordyn on the other hand had dried drainage in both ears {again}.  They swaddled her and I had to lay on her {again} while the nurse held her head so they could suction both ears out.  :(  My poor baby!  {See also: This is when having Friday's off is a downfall, because I'm stuck taking the kids to all their yucky appointments--by myself!} :(  Anyways...they told us to mix equal parts water and white vinegar together and syringe it in her ears, dry them, and then give her the prectription ear drops in both ears, twice a day for another week.  We go back tomorrow for a {hopefully, FINAL} follow up. 

Sick Little Boy

You guys, I am not one to ask for help, but I'm about at my breaking point.  At first I felt like I was treading water, now it's more like drowning.  Cullyn has been sick for 10 days.  Not eating. Nothing but diarrhea. Spitting up.  Not Sleeping,  HORRIBLE diaper rash.  Crying.  Oh, the crying.  Sometimes a whimper, often times a scream. Mostly at night {of course}.

It started on Sunday night.  By Wednesday, my sister convinced me to take him in.  In an effort to night miss work, again, we took him to Urgent Care.  Long story short, we got a horrible doctor that told me he had a diaper rash from teething {although we all know you don't get diaper rashes from teething, but whatever}.  We got Monistat from the drugstore and went home.  {ears looked fine, which was my biggest concern}.  so his ears look good, I'm told he's teething and essentially 'suck it up' from the lovely doctor we saw.  fine.

Friday night we were at the lake house.  My {super amazing, what would I do without her?!} mom too the night shift {like she has every.single.night. since we've had kids}.  That night?  Cullyn didn't sleep. Like maybe a hour all put together.  Saturday morning we decided he should be seen, again.  I quickly called one of the doctors I worked for {just to be sure I wasn't overreacting} and he said to have him see at the Pediatric Urgent Care Clinic.  So we head back home to see another doctor.  This one was good.  He told me Cullyn was 'just teething' and took a blood sample. His ears still looked fine.  He thought it was viral and said our biggest battle would be keeping him hydrated until it runs its course.  The blood test {white blood cell count} came back good, ruling out any major, horrible issues.  so his ears still look good, not 'just teething', not overreacting  he needs 13 ounces of fluids a day to stay hydrated-if not go to the emergency room, give Tylenol and Motrin.

Sunday night he sleeps great.

Monday the sitter calls and says he isn't happy.  Adam leaves work and picks the kids up.  He does pretty good at home.  A little needy, but can be calmed.

Monday night he sleeps good

Tuesday the sitter texts at 9a.  I leave work and take Cullyn to our pediatrician.   His ears still look fine.  She gives us Cavilon {once a day}, burn cream {twice a day}, soy formula {to give his tummy a break}, and start his probiotic again.  Takes a stool sample to rule our Rotavirus and C-Diff. She thinks he has a virus because of the medications he was on for his {ongoing} ear infection.  He's acting quite a bit better.  He is pretty happy unless he has a dirty diaper.  {which is every 30-60 minutes}

Tuesday night he doesn't sleep well.

Wednesday my MIL {bless her soul!} watches both of the kids.  He's pretty happy all day.  Our pediatrician calls to confirm that he does have C-Diff {I was told not to google it}.  The medications he was on for his ears killed all of the bacteria {both good and bad}.  She prescribed Flagyl {a different antibiotic} and said we should start to see results in 3-5 days.

Wednesday night he sleeps horrible.  I don't mind being up with the kids when they're sick and they just wanted cuddled and rocked by their mam, but they are up all night and I can't do a dang thing to soothe them?  It fricking SUCKS!  Last night Cully would only calm down with Adam.  {breaks my heart even more}

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And now you've been caught up.  If you read all of that you're amazing.

Basically?  If you want to test your marriage, have a sick boy that nobody thinks is really sick and you don't know what it is.  Of course every time we were at the doctor he was happy as a clam.  I swear I'm going to start recording what it's like at home and bringing it to the doctor!

To say we're all worn down is an understatement.  I left work Tuesday and just bawled in the elevator.  I'm sick of having a sick, sad little boy.  I am SUPER behind at work.  I have TONS of photoshoots and editing to do.  And to top it off?  I have some sort of bug now.  What I wouldn't do for a night at a hotel {haha!}

Before you feel too bad for us, my parents are coming down so we can go to a concert with friends on Saturday night.  And while I know this sucks, I know this too shall pass.  I'm just whining because this is my space and I can.  It sure does make me thankful to have healthy babies.  I don't know how parents do it with chronically ill children.  My heart goes out to you for doing this day in and day out.

Jordyn's First Surgery {tubes}

Well we survived Jordyn's first surgery.  Luckily  it was planned, and minor {5 minutes long & outpatient}.  It went smoother than I had anticipated {read: they didn't have to rip her out of her sobbing mother's arms!}.  We really like our ENT and the anesthesiologist & the team of nurses have the process down smooth.  It's quick.  Before you know it, it's done.  

I didn't quite realize how groggy she would be when they brought her back to us, but I'm glad they gave her back to us early so she could 'wake up' in our arms.  We also learned that anesthesia makes Jordy a bit agitated {well that and little sleep combined anyways!}.  Once she took an afternoon nap and had supper she was back to herself! :)  She is so tough!

Although she did come into our room in the middle of the night last night {which has NEVER happened!}  She 'snuggled' with us for a bit.  Since this was the first time that has ever happened, I was thrilled!  

Drops twice a day for 5 days and a recheck in 2 weeks.  Hopefully she won't have anymore ear infections after this!!

Jordyn's Dog Bite

Four weeks ago, I got a text from my sister asking if we had bandaids.  It was two days before we left for vacation {which I'll post about one of these days!} which my sister was going on with us to help with the kids, so she was already in town and watching the kids for us that day.  I didn't think much of it and responded where they were.

I couldn't get a great photo showing how deep it was.  {All iPhone photos}

About 10 minutes later I get a phone call from my {upset} mom saying that Jordyn was okay, but that she was bit by the neighbor dog.  I ran out of the office and flew home to take her to Urgent Care.  At Urgent Care they gave me the option of stitching it, but we both decided it would probably be more traumatizing to do that instead of just letting it heal on it's own.  Also, since it was on the back of her calf, I wasn't as concerned with a scar.  They also sent us home with antibiotics.

We joked that she did this just so that mama would let her have a sucker {something very much not allowed on a normal day}

 To say the homeowners didn't respond well would be an understatement, but since I have nothing nice to say, I'll say nothing at all about them.  Other than... ANYONE that is a pet owner should take responsibility of their pet's actions {as you have to with children's actions} and if you don't {or won't} you shouldn't have a pet at all!  {/rant}

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It should also be noted that it's healing beautifully and she handled all of it so well!  :)

The Ugly Side [Pregnancy Pains]

I didn't want to post about this stuff, I kind of thought if I ignored it, it would just go away.  Well it hasn't, so for documentation purposes, here goes...  [but if you don't want to hear about all the aches and pains of pregnancy, you should probably skip this post!]

[Round Ligament Pain]
At the end of my first trimester or beginning of my second trimester I began having sharp pains in my right side [just above my hip bone].  Sometimes they last longer than others.  On bad days the pain shoots into the front [low, like pelvic bone area].  It seems to hurt the worst when I get into my car or when I hold Jordyn too much [is that even possible?!].  My OB diagnosed this as Round Ligament Pain.  She said stretching can help, but pretty much it's common in 2nd pregnancies [and on I suppose] and will stay until I deliver.  The scar tissue from my Appendectomy earlier this year is likely to increase this pain.  Rest is really the only thing that seems to help.   

But it kept going.  Getting worse.  More frequent and more intense.  Like quit talking mid sentence and hold my breathe.  And then, hold my breath and grab my side.  But now it was higher, like right under my rib cage.  So I called the OB Office again. 

[Gallbladder]
After much discussion, we're pretty sure it's my gallbladder.  Looking back it tends to happen more after I eat or drink.  This pain is higher up.  More cramp like than the ripping feeling I get with the round ligament stuff.  It goes into my back and right shoulder blade area.  I'm sure it was worse with the holidays because the junk I was eating.  [Foods that make it worse...meat, grains, fried foods, soda, water, chocolate -- insert pretty much every other food I ate this weekend!] :(  Other symptoms include low Thyroid, foggy brain* [haha--all this time I was blaming it on being pregnant!], nausea, constipation [did you want to know that?!], oh and weight gain [yes, just a little! :]

So obviously I'll talk to them more about it at my next OB appointment, but for now I'll try to watch what I eat and see if it helps at all.  Obviously, we'll do whatever we can to wait until after I deliver H2 to do surgery [if that's what's necessary].  I guess the people that told me [after my surgery of course!] they should have  removed my gallbladder when they removed my appendix were right.  [::sigh::]

And for the record...when my round ligament pain and gallbladder aren't acting up, my acid reflux flares...do I sound like a whiny, pregnant, wuss or what?!  Ya, so that's why I prefer to give everyone the 'I'm great!' [with a big smile] when they ask.  It's way quicker & nobody wants to hear about everyone's aches and pains...we all have them! :)

*Speaking of foggy brain, I'll post this with my Christmas post too, but after we were done opening presents on Christmas morning, when I started putting the Christmas decor away [because I'm a scrooge like that] I found SIX more presents that I forgot to wrap and put under the tree for Jordyn!  Mom FAIL!  :(