Well, I've done it again. I have gone too long without blogging until my mind has a hard time focusing on what to even write about. I'm blaming it on the fact that I'm in the last few weeks of my pregnancy, and I am seriously lacking in the energy department. Actually, many days I wake up with a to do list as long as my arm and feeling ready to go, but it doesn't take long until I run out of steam. This is where I am today. I took Avery out for labs today, made a stop at the store, got home and did some laundry, light housework, and attempted to pack my hospital bag. I think I'm spent for now, so I'll try again later!
Along the lines of pregnancy, I am getting bigger and slower by the day. Some women talk about the glow of pregnancy or how they felt so beautiful the bigger they got. Let's just say that I am NOT one of those people! I'm outgrowing many of my maternity clothes, and I'm not about to buy one single maternity item right now, so I'm wearing the same couple of things every day and lounging in Phillip's t shirts at night. The good news is that I'm still measuring on target, which because of my previous pregnancy has been a major concern for me. It appears everything is going well, and in less than 3 1/2 weeks, Emerson Rose will be here!! I'm starting to stress a little about what I'm going to do with two little ones in diapers, bottles, and who are immobile. I guess it will be about like having twins for a while...just one about 33 lbs, and another a newborn.
Last week, we actually went on vacation. It wasn't extravagant, just a trip to Tennessee to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg, but we had a lot of fun. We went to the Aquarium, Rainforest Adventure Zoo, took Bryson to the rides, and Phillip and B went to a car show. I got a little bit of shopping in, and we spent a lot of time at the waterpark at the resort. It is such a cool place with something for all ages, and the boys both loved it! It will probably a very long time before we get to take a vacation again with a baby coming and Avery having a transplant.
Yesterday was our 9 year anniversary. I can hardly believe it has been 9 years since Phillip and I started our life together. In some ways, I feel like it was just yesterday, but when I start thinking about some of the things we've been through together, I'm thankful we don't have to do that time over again. I can't even express how blessed I am to have such a great husband. When we got married, I knew that he was a good one, but I didn't realize how kind, generous, long-suffering (yes, he must be being married to me), and caring he was. We've had our moments when we didn't see eye to eye, but I can honestly say that our marriage has not be difficult. Now life has been difficult, and that has caused some strain on us as individuals and as a couple. But thankfully, we have been able to unite during some of the toughest times and get through it together. I don't know what I'd do without him, especially the last few years dealing with Avery's special needs and declining health. There have been many times when I felt so overwhelmed or like I just couldn't physically or mentally cope with the worry of the future or being in a moment when Avery was so sick or enduring a procedure that I was supposed to be strong for. Phillip has stepped in and been the strong one for both of us, taken time off work to give me a break, or just shown up and offered his calmness even though I know he doesn't always feel it. I love and appreciate him more than ever!
I'm enjoying spending the summer with my boys. Bryson is so full of energy that I have a hard time keeping up with him, but he makes me laugh by saying the funniest things. Today, he came looking for me but didn't see me. I heard him say, "Mom! Mom! Did you go invisible??" And Avery is still doing his thing. He's had some really low blood counts, and last Sunday night gave me quite a scare during a transfusion. His port infiltrated and he bled all over the bed. With platelets of 5 and a hemoglobin of 4.5, he didn't have anything much to spare. We had every nurse, supervisor, and resident we could find in the room trying to determine how to deal with this. Then there was worry that his port clotted. This mama was praying with all my heart, leaning on my husband, and broke out in hives. But he seemed to bounce back in a couple days as usual. He's heading back in the morning for another transfusion. I sure wish we could slow them down a little. We're still waiting for a donor to be found for his transplant. This week we were told that of the 8 initial perfect matches they thought were in the registry, 5 have responded to the request for additional HLA typing, and they are no longer matches. So they're now looking at 7/8 matches. We're hoping they'll be able to find one that will work.
Well, it is time for me to start dinner so I should probably quit my rambling. I will try to put a little less time in between my blogs so perhaps they'll be less random and more productive!
Blessings to you all!!
Bethany
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
The First Monday in June
June is here already!! Time is just ticking away, and 6 weeks from today, I'll be a mommy to a little girl. I'm getting more anxious by the day to meet her!
I just got home today from a week long trip to Alabama. It was somewhat of a spontaneous trip, but I was so glad to be able to get away. My parents were planning a trip south and offered to let the boys and me ride along. I cleared it with Avery's doctors and took off! Rebecca is 35 weeks pregnant and I'm 33, so it was fun to sit around and talk about babies and the woes of pregnancy. Of course, between our swelling feet, large tummies, and intense Alabama heat, we chose to stay home and just stay cool most days. But we sure had fun. Next time we see each other we'll both have little girls.
Here's how we look right now.
Some noteworthy news that is now a little over a week old is that my little Bryson lost his first tooth...well in the conventional manner that is. He did knock one of his four teeth out when he was 9 months old. I knew then that I had my hands full with this one. But he came in the kitchen a little over a week ago and asked me what was wrong with his tooth. I stuck my finger in his mouth and was shocked to see that it was wiggling back and forth. I told him to leave it alone, that it would fall out when it was ready. Of course, he couldn't leave it alone, so within an hour it was even more loose and bleeding. With some convincing, I got him to sit still, and with a little tug, it came right out. He cried for quite a while, not sure exactly why his tooth came out. I got a little misty eyed myself. Losing a tooth just seems like a rite of passage, marking one more step of moving from toddlerhood and a little closer to adulthood. I'm pretty sure that four is a little young to be losing teeth, but I figure the root was probably damaged from the loss of the tooth next too it. Who knows, but he did get some money from the tooth fairy!
Tomorrow it's back to the old routine with two appointments for Avery. I guess I better get off here because I've got some unpacking and laundry to do!
Take care, my friends!
Bethany
I just got home today from a week long trip to Alabama. It was somewhat of a spontaneous trip, but I was so glad to be able to get away. My parents were planning a trip south and offered to let the boys and me ride along. I cleared it with Avery's doctors and took off! Rebecca is 35 weeks pregnant and I'm 33, so it was fun to sit around and talk about babies and the woes of pregnancy. Of course, between our swelling feet, large tummies, and intense Alabama heat, we chose to stay home and just stay cool most days. But we sure had fun. Next time we see each other we'll both have little girls.
Here's how we look right now.
Some noteworthy news that is now a little over a week old is that my little Bryson lost his first tooth...well in the conventional manner that is. He did knock one of his four teeth out when he was 9 months old. I knew then that I had my hands full with this one. But he came in the kitchen a little over a week ago and asked me what was wrong with his tooth. I stuck my finger in his mouth and was shocked to see that it was wiggling back and forth. I told him to leave it alone, that it would fall out when it was ready. Of course, he couldn't leave it alone, so within an hour it was even more loose and bleeding. With some convincing, I got him to sit still, and with a little tug, it came right out. He cried for quite a while, not sure exactly why his tooth came out. I got a little misty eyed myself. Losing a tooth just seems like a rite of passage, marking one more step of moving from toddlerhood and a little closer to adulthood. I'm pretty sure that four is a little young to be losing teeth, but I figure the root was probably damaged from the loss of the tooth next too it. Who knows, but he did get some money from the tooth fairy!
Tomorrow it's back to the old routine with two appointments for Avery. I guess I better get off here because I've got some unpacking and laundry to do!
Take care, my friends!
Bethany
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