Update on Addison

Well, I have to say that I never would have guessed we would still be here at Texas Children's with Addison. She is doing better today than any day so far. They have stopped giving her fluids through the IV now. She has had more of an appetite today too. She actully had a half bowl of Cheerios and a little applesauce for breakfast, a bagel for lunch, and a mini muffin this afternoon so far. She needs to pick up the fluid intake more but has had a little Gatorade and probably 2 cups of water. She is having less diarreha which is good. Her fever still gets up there unfortunately. The last high fever was today at 10ish - it was around 102.1 under her arm (103.1 adjusted). We gave her Motrin and it has helped.

The majority of the day, she has been sitting up on the bed or couch. We have been reading books, making wooden jewelry with me, watching movies, doing her sticker book or playing I spy out the window (we are on the 12th floor and have a pretty far view). She actually even let me brush her hair and teeth today which has not been important over the last several days. She even looked like she was happy at some points. Even had enough energy to act silly with me and pose for a picture as seen here...also notice our beautiful necklaces!







Yesterday, the nurse suggested that we give her a little Sprite to help with her tummy and she seemed excited to try something new. It was the first time a carbonated drink has touched her lips and boy, did she HATE it! She screamed like we were putting needles in her tongue or something! She kept saying with her tongue hanging out, "It's still on my tongue, it's still on my tongue!" She made us wipe her tongue with a napkin and wash it down with water. It was a very strange reaction!



We are hoping that we will be able to go home tomorrow. Kevin stayed home with Cooper last night and for the morning untill her woke up from his nap. He came up here and my parents met us here to take Cooper to the Children's Museum and an afternoon of playtime. Here is a funny picture that Addison laughs at each time she sees it of her little brother who she misses so much.

Addison's crazy week

On Monday, Miss Addison started having "crusty" eyes so she stayed home from school with Kevin, assuming she had pink eye. She played and ate as if she was feeling normal. That evening she started complaining about her stomach and head hurting and around 8ish, we realized she was running a fever. By 10:30, it was 104. The rest of the night she was very restless, crying out, and running a fever. We went to the doctor on Tuesday morning first thing and she was tested for strep (negative) and flu (negative). They also took blood (which was terrible!).
We left the doctor and ran an errand and got a call that the blood work was back and she had a very elevated white blood cell count (average is 4.8 and she was at 22). She asked us to come back in and run another blood test, get a urine sample, and have a chest xray. On the way back in the car is the first time she threw up. Getting blood drawn the second time was even more terrible for her and us! She was so upset - poor Addi! Also, getting a 4 year old to pee on demand is not easy - let's just say we were in the restroom for 30 minutes trying to get this accomplished.
The urine sample results showed that Addi was dehydrated. The radiologist thought that there was a spot on her lungs that showed signs of pneumonia. Our instructions were to get her hydrated and get on the antibiotic and return to the doctor Wednesday morning with another urine sample. We did all of that as best as possible, but she was not showing improvement and still had a vey high fever when the Motrin or Tylenol was wearing off. Not to mention, that she was throwing up, or at least trying to, more often (even though it didn't have much consistency). They told us to take her to the ER at Texas Children's Hospital.
This is where we have been since Wednesday at 11am. After IV fluids were given, she still wasn't showing much improvement. They ran more blood tests, flu test, and another chest xray. They didn't agree about the pneumonia, but also weren't able to determine what else was wrong. They gave her some strong antibiotics, anti-nausea med, more motrin for fever, and decided to keep us around longer for observation. She perked up for about 1-2 hours yesterday afternoon before Kevin left and we were really hoping for a good night.
That wasn't the case, unfortunately! During the night, she had periods of very high fever (104.7) and most of the night, the battled lots of diarreha. I only brought 3 pairs of panties for her and that was used up really quick. We had to resort to what the hospital had - diapers. She was not happy about that at all, but I wasn't going to leave the hospital to buy underwear in the middle of the night with her under any condition, but especially in the condition she was in. It was a very long night for her and I just hope tonight will be better.
Today, it has been more of the same. They finally gave her some anti-diarreha meds too and that seems to help some. She still has high fevers and they are still running more tests. We are waiting on the results of some of them still. Some of the tests have come back with better results - she's not as dehydrated and her white blood cell count is practically cut in half. They think all of this is a virus, but don't know much more - which is so FRUSTRATING! I would love to figure out what it is, to determine what treatment she needs, and get her back to normal. She has been through the ringer this week, but she has been very brave. Unfortunately, it looks like she is traumatized with the blue rubberband that they use before they take blood/give an IV and she not hates any and all medicine taken by mouth - even they yummy cherry Tylenol. Looks like we will be here again tonight, but we are hopeful that she is well enough to go home soon. I will be going home with Cooper this evening, while Kevin takes a turn here. Let's just hope it's much better than last night!
Please say a little prayer for our sweet girl!

Ever since we started having computer problems back in the fall, I haven't done too much with all the pictures we have taken. But, for Christmas this year, we got a new laptop from Kevin's parents (thanks!). I have been dragging my feet in trying to get pictures from my camera to the new computer, but I finally took some time to organize and upload them today and it feels great!!! Here are just a few pictures from the past month or two!

Celebrating Christmas in Lufkin with G-Pa, KK, Uncle Scott, Aunt Katie, Dylan, Maw maw, Aunt Sharon, and Kaylon. Celebrating Christmas with Nana, Grandad, cousins Trey, Kendra, Emorie Claire (and of course, Aunt Jennifer and Uncle Rob who aren't pictured).

A visit with Margie at her house in Lufkin.

Cooper's new ride from Mr. Claus.

All dressed and ready for Christmas Eve service.

She looks like a little old lady with the curlers and robe!

Cooper playing at Discovery Green in December.

Addison playing at Discovery Green.

Our family before Christmas Eve service.

Look forward to learning how to more easily post these pictures...I really don't think it should have taken as long as it did...still learning!

2 years ago

It's easy to remember what happened two years ago today...not only was it one of my best friend Ursula's birthday (Happy Birthday today, Urs!), but it was the day that changed the path of my second pregnancy. I woke up that morning and noticed I was bleeding (TMI for some people - sorry) after experiencing cramping and stomach pains earlier in the week. I noticed the stomach pains enough to stop what I was doing, get through it, and mention it casually to Kevin after it happened a few times. But on that Friday morning, I called the doctor and she asked me to come straight in, even though I had a Monday appointment already scheduled. I took my time, getting myself ready and getting Addison ready. I took her on to school and drove myself over to the doctor. I just knew she was going to say, "You need to go home this weekend, take it easy, and stay off your feet."
That is not what she ended up saying at all. Come to find out, I was dialated 1-2 inches and contracting 6-8 minutes apart at 25 weeks along. After she checked me out, the doctor told me all of this very calmly and said she would call the ambulance to transport me to the hospital. I was in total shock..I was scared and worried and started tearing up. I remember telling her, "Are you sure I need to go in an ambulance? I can drive myself straight there...or my mom works right down the street, I am sure she can pick me up and take me..." But she wasn't having that. Since I was upset, she asked me to dial Kevin's number and she got on the phone. When she started talking to him and telling him what was happening, Kevin was very worried! Imagine knowing your pregnant wife is going to her doctor because she is having some issues and getting a call directly from the doctor a few minutes after she is being examined...he thought I was in such bad shape at that point that I couldn't talk. Luckily, I did talk to him and let him know that I felt fine but I needed more medical attention. He hopped in the car immediately and ended up pulling into the hospital behind the ambulance that I was in...and he was coming from Katy! After arriving at the hospital, I got situated in my room with no idea what the plan was, how long I would be staying, or what the future held. I was put on a heavy dose of magnesium that evening and at some point, I was given a steroid shot to help strenghen Cooper's lungs.
January 18, 2008 was a day I will never forget.

Friday Funnies

The kids make me laugh a lot...they also make me do a lot of other things (like repeat myself, get frustrated, etc), but laughing is by far one of the best. Here are just a few things that bring a smile to my face just thinking about them:

-We were in the car the other day and Addison said, "Mommy, look at that truck. It looks like it has wrapping paper on it." I glanced over a few lanes and low and behold, there was a decked out Kelly green truck with orange flames all over the side! I had to laugh...where did the wrapping paper comparison come from???

-I have said it before, but I will say it again...Cooper LOVES to dance! At school, they sing a song that goes like this: "Cooper, Cooper, Cooper's in the middle. Let me see you dance and let me see you wiggle"...it also says other words and ends with "turn around and please sit down!" The other day, his teacher said that she was singing this to Cooper on the playground while he was riding one of the tricycles. He starts moving the handle bars back and forth to the beat with a huge smile across his face and when she sang the last several words, he put his feet on the ground to stand up and sat right back down with the words. He began clapping for himself and patting himself on the chest because he was so proud! The teachers were all dying laughing!

-Addison, Cooper and I were in the car headed home after work/school and we were stuck in horrible traffic. I was getting very annoyed and frustrated and apparently, I was making that well known to the kids. I said something like "This is so annoying. That person is not very nice because he won't let me over." Addison perks up and says "Just toot your horn at them Mommy!" Great, already have a backseat driver...just what I have always wanted!

-Usually when we wake Cooper up for school, he stands up in his crib and throws his paci back down in the bed. This morning, he didn't want to give the thing up...in this case, it was actually 2 pacis. He was holding onto them for dear life...through the diaper change, clothing change, putting shoes on. If he doesn't throw it down before he gets out of bed, he usually listens when we ask him to put the paci back in bed. But not today...as I was busy getting Addi going, I look over and the little man had the 2 huge Soothie pacis stuck in his mouth at one time! It made me laugh so hard - I just wish I could have gotten it on camera!

I love to write these things down because so often I laugh when it happens, but then I forget about it and never think about it again. But, when I do think about it, it always puts a smile on my face...I love that about my kids!

Our family

I am just trying to find my way around how to use the blog and post pictures and make it somewhat presentable. You'll have to bear with me on this! I am slowly learning.

Addison just celebrated her 4th birthday at the Children's Museum in Houston in December. We all had a fun time and she was thrilled to have all her friends around to celebrate. She enjoyed Christmas this year a ton! She loved all the activities that surrounded it, but still didn't like going to visit Santa. She acted like she was going to be fine, until we got close to him and decided she didn't want to have anything to do with the Jolly ole man. I guess she just relied on our friendly Elf on the Shelf, Buddy, to pass along the message to Santa about her wish list. Luckily, Buddy did just that and Addison had a very merry Christmas. She also got to go on a date with Daddy to see Princess and the Frog - this was her first outing to the movie theater with us and she had a fun time. She was also lucky enough to see the Nutcracker Ballet with Nana and Grandad and her two cousins, Kendra and Emorie Claire. Nana said she was intrigued by the ballet! Who knows, may have a prima ballerina in our future? :)

Our little Cooperman is about to celebrate the birthday #2 in February! I cannot believe it's already been two years since his eventful birth day! Cooper was born 12 weeks early, weighing in at 3 lbs, 6 oz and 16in long! He surprised us all by arriving in February rather than April, but he has come such a LONG way! We are so thankful for the doctors and nurses that have cared for him (and us!) during his life. He is an active, playful, loving boy who keeps us on our toes. He is so outgoing and just adorable in so many ways. He has blossomed in his speech and can name all of his friends in his class! He loves his teachers and "talks" to them on his play cell phone all the time! Christmas was very fun for Cooper this year too - along with his sister, he refused to sit with Santa, but Buddy the Elf helped him out too. I loved it when the kids would wake up every morning during December and search the house for Buddy and when they spotted him, they were thrilled and had huge smiles across their faces! We hope to get Cooper involved in the next few months with a parent/child class at a local gymnastics - I think he would have a ball in this type of class (and I would be worn out chasing him around!).

Jumping into the world of blogging!

Since I have been reading and following so many blogs for so long, I figured it was about time for me to create my own. Some of you know that I have kept a online babysites journal for the kids for a few years, but I wanted a change. Not to mention, I wanted something different than what I have been doing. I will do my best to post every week or two about my kids (majority of the time!), my husband, my family, being a working mom, and all of the craziness that we experience in our everyday lives!