Monday, April 4, 2011
Welcome Jax!!!!
On Saturday we welcomed Jaxon Asher Cole Kelsey into the world. I cannot put into words how overjoyed I am for Chasity and Jason!! The road to parenthood was not easy for them.I prayed that one day she would be able to hold her sweet child in her arms and know the pure joy of it. Don't get me wrong, we love Aunt Cha, but I know how bad she wanted this. Sometimes those of us who do not have fertility problems take it for granted. Anyway, he is absolutely beautiful and perfect. We always joke that Jax and Emmy are going to get married one day, but Emmy is ginormous compared to Jax--its like Jack Sprat could eat no fat, his wife could eat no lean...
Monday, March 14, 2011
Time Flies!
Wow! Its hard to believe that 3 weeks have flown by since we welcomed Miss Em into the world. Life is beginning to settle down here (thank goodness!) and we are finally getting into some semblance of a routine. Today was my first day to have all 3 kids by myself-- not too bad if I do say so myself.
Carson is doing well. All of his follow up appts have been great. Chest Xray looks good, labs look good, he is eating and playing like crazy:) He can't wait to go back to school after spring break.
Olivia is the best big helper, although sometimes she likes to help a little too much..the other day I got in the shower and told Liv to come get me if the baby woke up. Well, I got to the living room to find the baby on the couch instead of the swing where I left her. Hmmmm. wonder what happened between the swing and couch. But I love to watch her in her "big sister" role.
Emerson is growing like a weed. She wasn't gaining enough weight at first, but I think we fixed that problem. I should find out today or tomorrow when her appt is with the genetic specialist. She appears to have a partial biotinidase deficiency--an enzyme produced by the body that aids in the breakdown of biotin. Many things can happen if the deficiency is left untreated, but luckily in Texas, its one of 28 rare disorders that an infant is tested for within days of birth. early detection=early treatment. She loves just laying on her back looking around. She smiles a lot and even chuckled at Carson a couple days ago. She mostly sleeps through the night. She wakes up once and eats, then goes right back to sleep.
Life is definitely crazy right now but I wouldn't trade a minute of it!
Carson is doing well. All of his follow up appts have been great. Chest Xray looks good, labs look good, he is eating and playing like crazy:) He can't wait to go back to school after spring break.
Olivia is the best big helper, although sometimes she likes to help a little too much..the other day I got in the shower and told Liv to come get me if the baby woke up. Well, I got to the living room to find the baby on the couch instead of the swing where I left her. Hmmmm. wonder what happened between the swing and couch. But I love to watch her in her "big sister" role.
Emerson is growing like a weed. She wasn't gaining enough weight at first, but I think we fixed that problem. I should find out today or tomorrow when her appt is with the genetic specialist. She appears to have a partial biotinidase deficiency--an enzyme produced by the body that aids in the breakdown of biotin. Many things can happen if the deficiency is left untreated, but luckily in Texas, its one of 28 rare disorders that an infant is tested for within days of birth. early detection=early treatment. She loves just laying on her back looking around. She smiles a lot and even chuckled at Carson a couple days ago. She mostly sleeps through the night. She wakes up once and eats, then goes right back to sleep.
Life is definitely crazy right now but I wouldn't trade a minute of it!
Monday, March 7, 2011
Life's Little Curve Balls
To say the last few weeks were eventful in our family doesn't even begin to cover it!! I can't say its all bad though because in the midst of all of the madness we were blessed with our beautiful baby girl. It all started on the night of February 18th...
I'd been having contractions all day, but they weren't exactly strong or close together so I wasn't concerned, but I was really beginning to doubt that I would make it through the weekend to my scheduled c section on Monday. I was really hoping I could get through until Saturday night so that we could attend Daniel's great grandmother's funeral. She passed away on the 16th, just 2 days after my Grandad. Well, Emerson had other plans. At around midnight, Daniel and I decided to head to the hospital as my contractions were a whopping 2 minutes apart. At around 5, the jerk doctor that happened to be on call decided he would deliver by c section at 7:15. Daniel went and picked up my mom and the kids and got back just in time to gown up for the delivery. At 7:45 we were blessed with a beautiful 9 lb 12 oz (ok Dr. Kaye was right, she was big) 20 inch long baby girl, Emerson Grace Mack. She is such a sweet baby and she totally makes everything I went through during this pregnancy (even the face smashing on the concrete) worth it.
In the meantime.... I knew when we left for the hospital that Carson was running a fever, but it wasn't alarmingly high. We left him with my mom and didn't think twice. After I got to my room after the baby, Carson was sleeping on the couch. Again, I just assumed he had whatever virus or junk was going around this week. All of my younger cousins had been sick the week before and they had spent they whole week together. By Monday morning when Carson was still running a fever, I called first thing and made a dr appt. At this point, he was beginning to complain of abdominal pain. By the time Daniel got him to the Dr, his temp was 105.7 and he was in excruciating pain. Dr Kim sent them immediately to the ER because he was sure he had an appendicitis. Oh, how I wish that was the case. Nope, he had pneumonia. He needed to be admitted for IV antibiotics. My child that never spends the night away from home was in the hospital and I was helpless to do anything for him. Tuesday showed no signs of improvement, and by Wednesday, a pediatric surgeon was consulted. Then Infectious Disease dr, then a Pulmonologist... his antibiotics were changed but showed no improvement. Finally by Saturday, it was obvious that surgery was necessary and he was transferred to Medical City Children's Hospital. He had surgery that night to clean out his lung and place a chest tube, and by the next day, you could already tell that he was feeling sooooooo much better (aside from the pain from surgery). 8! excruciating days later, he was finally able to come home. I have never been so happy about something in my life. I would have gladly taken his place so that he didn't have to go through any of this. Daniel stayed with Carson the entire time, other than small breaks to pick Olivia up from school and spend a little time with her. He is finally able to start bonding with our sweet Emmy. I love, love, love the sound of Carson and Olivia playing together. I had no idea how much I missed it. Our house was so empty without the boys.
Of course in times like these, you realize who is going to be there for you. Sometimes its the most unexpected people that step up. I am so thankful for the many many thoughts and prayers (I know there were a lot) that got us through this, the meals, the babysitting, everything. It was truly one of the most gut wrenching experiences of my life, and we are so blessed to have so much support and that it had a happy ending.
Sitting here tonight with my sweet family of five, I am thanking Him dearly for the blessings in my life. I may not understand why everything happened this past month, but I know its a part of a plan I may never understand.
I'd been having contractions all day, but they weren't exactly strong or close together so I wasn't concerned, but I was really beginning to doubt that I would make it through the weekend to my scheduled c section on Monday. I was really hoping I could get through until Saturday night so that we could attend Daniel's great grandmother's funeral. She passed away on the 16th, just 2 days after my Grandad. Well, Emerson had other plans. At around midnight, Daniel and I decided to head to the hospital as my contractions were a whopping 2 minutes apart. At around 5, the jerk doctor that happened to be on call decided he would deliver by c section at 7:15. Daniel went and picked up my mom and the kids and got back just in time to gown up for the delivery. At 7:45 we were blessed with a beautiful 9 lb 12 oz (ok Dr. Kaye was right, she was big) 20 inch long baby girl, Emerson Grace Mack. She is such a sweet baby and she totally makes everything I went through during this pregnancy (even the face smashing on the concrete) worth it.
In the meantime.... I knew when we left for the hospital that Carson was running a fever, but it wasn't alarmingly high. We left him with my mom and didn't think twice. After I got to my room after the baby, Carson was sleeping on the couch. Again, I just assumed he had whatever virus or junk was going around this week. All of my younger cousins had been sick the week before and they had spent they whole week together. By Monday morning when Carson was still running a fever, I called first thing and made a dr appt. At this point, he was beginning to complain of abdominal pain. By the time Daniel got him to the Dr, his temp was 105.7 and he was in excruciating pain. Dr Kim sent them immediately to the ER because he was sure he had an appendicitis. Oh, how I wish that was the case. Nope, he had pneumonia. He needed to be admitted for IV antibiotics. My child that never spends the night away from home was in the hospital and I was helpless to do anything for him. Tuesday showed no signs of improvement, and by Wednesday, a pediatric surgeon was consulted. Then Infectious Disease dr, then a Pulmonologist... his antibiotics were changed but showed no improvement. Finally by Saturday, it was obvious that surgery was necessary and he was transferred to Medical City Children's Hospital. He had surgery that night to clean out his lung and place a chest tube, and by the next day, you could already tell that he was feeling sooooooo much better (aside from the pain from surgery). 8! excruciating days later, he was finally able to come home. I have never been so happy about something in my life. I would have gladly taken his place so that he didn't have to go through any of this. Daniel stayed with Carson the entire time, other than small breaks to pick Olivia up from school and spend a little time with her. He is finally able to start bonding with our sweet Emmy. I love, love, love the sound of Carson and Olivia playing together. I had no idea how much I missed it. Our house was so empty without the boys.
Of course in times like these, you realize who is going to be there for you. Sometimes its the most unexpected people that step up. I am so thankful for the many many thoughts and prayers (I know there were a lot) that got us through this, the meals, the babysitting, everything. It was truly one of the most gut wrenching experiences of my life, and we are so blessed to have so much support and that it had a happy ending.
Sitting here tonight with my sweet family of five, I am thanking Him dearly for the blessings in my life. I may not understand why everything happened this past month, but I know its a part of a plan I may never understand.
Friday, February 18, 2011
long week
Monday morning we got the news that we have been dreading for a while now. My Grandad finally lost his battle with lung cancer. As heartbreaking as it was, and still is, I was relieved to know that his suffering was over. Its been difficult to see such a proud, robust man like him withering away into nothing, losing all of his autonomy, and worrying so much about everything.
The thing about losing a grandparent is that it means a chapter in your life is over. So much of my life involves memories of him. I think about the silly names he had for all of us--Bird, Princess, Tooter, Firecracker, Boxcar Annie (yep that was me!) or the dirty jokes that he loved to tell. Or how he could go on and on (and on) about the latest horse race. or how he sat on the back porch listening to the Rangers games (we were thrilled that he lived to see them make it to the World Series). Or how you didn't dare tell him your tooth was loose or it was gonna come out right then ("see this here string on the door.."). Or the five dollars that we got for a good report card. or the time he gave my husband a spoonful of chow chow--Daniel should have known better than to take something like that from him:) or how proud he was as he showed you the latest flowers he had planted in the yard. You get the point...
I am so grateful and blessed that I was able to have him in my life for 30 years. I got to see how proud he was of me when I graduated from high school and then later from college. He was there when I married the love of my life. I was flattered that he thought highly enough of my husband that he was included with the grandsons as one of the pallbearers. He got to hold my first born child, and then later my second. It makes me sad knowing that Emerson will never get the chance to know him, but I have no doubt he will be looking down watching her grow up.
He was not a perfect man by any means, but I loved him dearly nonetheless. I can't wait to see him again.
The thing about losing a grandparent is that it means a chapter in your life is over. So much of my life involves memories of him. I think about the silly names he had for all of us--Bird, Princess, Tooter, Firecracker, Boxcar Annie (yep that was me!) or the dirty jokes that he loved to tell. Or how he could go on and on (and on) about the latest horse race. or how he sat on the back porch listening to the Rangers games (we were thrilled that he lived to see them make it to the World Series). Or how you didn't dare tell him your tooth was loose or it was gonna come out right then ("see this here string on the door.."). Or the five dollars that we got for a good report card. or the time he gave my husband a spoonful of chow chow--Daniel should have known better than to take something like that from him:) or how proud he was as he showed you the latest flowers he had planted in the yard. You get the point...
I am so grateful and blessed that I was able to have him in my life for 30 years. I got to see how proud he was of me when I graduated from high school and then later from college. He was there when I married the love of my life. I was flattered that he thought highly enough of my husband that he was included with the grandsons as one of the pallbearers. He got to hold my first born child, and then later my second. It makes me sad knowing that Emerson will never get the chance to know him, but I have no doubt he will be looking down watching her grow up.
He was not a perfect man by any means, but I loved him dearly nonetheless. I can't wait to see him again.
Monday, January 31, 2011
getting ready...
Well, as of this week, we have just about finished up getting things ready for Miss Emerson. I think Olivia is the most excited. She has big (did I mention BIG) plans for her little sister. Carson alternates back and forth between being excited and completely jealous. This is the first time that we have been able to have a complete nursery, so we admittedly went a little crazy. I have to give most of the credit to my husband though, and not just for putting the nursery together for me, um, I mean Emerson. He has picked up all of my slack and shortcomings the last few months (and trust me, he has had to do a lot!) Anyway, we are all anxiously awaiting her arrival. If I can figure out how to put pictures up I will:)
Friday, March 19, 2010
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