Crazy fun!

Can I just start by saying - I am SO tired today! Anyone want to jab at why??? You guessed it. I was one of the crazies standing in line in the middle of the night.

Last year was my first year shopping on Black Friday, and I have to admit, it was sort fun - crazy fun! But last year I only started at 6am. This year I got a little more adventuresome and was in line at Kohl's at 3:45 am! There must have been 1,000 people plus by the time I got in line. I just couldn't believe it. Luckily, it really wasn't all that cold, only like 20 degrees.

As they opened the SINGLE door, trying to get everyone to form a single line, I thought, "by the time I get in, the 2 things I came for will be gone. Would it be worth standing in this line? Sure it would."
It took a good 10 minutes to squeeze my way through the single door - the single file line, NOT happening. I rushed to the toy department and there they were - only 2 left......MINE! It was a success!!!
On my way to check out I also browsed through my department and swiped up at pair of jeans and sweater, too!
So now, my buns are dragging, BADLY.

Come Christmas, it will be all worth it!

Anyone else have any good Black Friday stories?

Weigh in Wednesday

Oh my, I can't believe a week has gone by already and I haven't posted. Seriously - the days need to SSSLLLOOOWWW down!

Not much has been going on this past week. I have sick kiddos - Keegan missed 2 days last week, Cooper is coughing up a storm, which means his asthma is kicking in. Carson is the last to get it. Her eyes are all blood shot, runny nose, crankies.......
Keegan also mentioned to me that his ear hurts, so after hair cuts today we will be making a (which seems to be a weekly trip) to the doctors. UGH.

As for me, not much is going on. I have been living at the Y getting in as much cardio as possible. My mom and I try to get a workout in together at least once a week, but sometimes that isn't even possible. She is doing a great job. I am proud of her for going.

So, today is Weigh in Wednesday.

This week = -4lbs

Total weight loss= - 9lbs

ONLY 54 more to go!!

A little update on Carson. After her lumbar puncture 2 weeks ago, she seemed to do real well for about 24 - 30 hours. Then she seemed to have gone down hill a bit. She is hardly sleeping, rocking all hours of the night, and truthfully, I don't know how Riley sleeps through it, irritated, and complains that her head hurts. So, I emailed with Frim and he wants to talk about what options we have for her. So, until he calls, we will just have to wait and watch.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I know I have a lot to be thankful for - starting with my family, our friends, and our medical teams at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin and University of Chicago.

Thank you, all of you, from the bottom of my heart!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

Weigh in Wednesday

So, it's been a LONG week. LAst week was a great weigh in. I had lost 5 lbs. This week I have been up and down - leaving me a ZERO!

Last Wednesday we were in Chicago for some tests and a doctor appointment. That trip turned into 2 days. We finally arrived home on Friday at 6pm. Then, Saturday was Carson and Cooper's 3 rd birthday party - which was a blast, but not so good for the diet.

So, my scale went like this =>

Wed - Sat = + 3lbs

Sun - Wed morning = -3 lbs.

So - here I sit at ZERO!

Week 1 - 5lbs

Week 2 - 0 lbs

Here's hoping for a kick ass week!!!

Christmas

My friend Kelly (who's son also has Chiari) sent this to me. I thought it was kind of cute.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping

2. Real tree or Artificial? Fake normally, hoping for a REAL tree this year

3. When do you put up the tree -the weekend after Thanksgiving - LOVE Christmas time!

4. When do you take the tree down? New Year's Day

5. Do you like eggnog? It's alright

6. Favorite gift received as a child? my blue schwim 10 speed bike

7. Hardest person to buy for? Matt

8. Easiest person to buy for? The kids

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes : Veggie tales for the kids and 1 for the adults.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? ???

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? While you were sleeping & Polar Express

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually November

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? You bet

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Mom's golden gram mix

16. Lights on the tree? White lights

17. Favorite Christmas song? When my heart finds Christmas

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yes

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We start Christmas Eve (family gifts) and Christmas morning from Santa

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Nothing, I Love Christmas

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? The kids ornaments

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? BBQ ribs, ham, mashed potatoes.......

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? For my children to be healthy

Prayers needed please

Today, my friend Jo's little girl, Abby, underwent her first (and hopefully only) cranial vault repair at Children's hospital of Wisconsin. Her surgeons were the same as Carson's.

Please keep this family, especially Abby, in your prayers. We personally know how hard the next 72 hours can be on the child and family.

I have not heard from Jo, but I can only assume that Abby is resting in the PICU tonight.

Here's to Jo, Abby, and the rest of the family - Hang in there, she will turn the corner soon!
Call me if you need to chat!
Hugs!

Happy Birthday Carson and Cooper!!!

With all that has gone on in the last few days, I was not able to get birth pics up of the kiddos.

I know I am a POOPY mom for doing this, but click here to see pics.

Happy Bithday KIDDOS! It seems like just yesterday we were living at the NICU!!

Thanks for all the great memories over these past 3 yrs!

LOVE YOU!!

I watched it!

Today, I put my stomach to the test and watched Carson's lumbar puncture. O.M.G.!!! Is all I have to say about that.

Carson did alright. Even though she was put out, and the area they poked was numb, she still squirmed when the poked her. It was hard to watch, but I thought if she and Riley are tough enough to go through it, I need to be tough enough to watch what's being done.

So yesterday, Riley was at 12, and they lowered her pressure to 6. This morning, Carson was at 18 and they lowered her to 8. Because she was a bit higher than what Frim told us she should be (btwn 5 - 15), we will watcher her for a few days to see how she reacts to her pressure being lowered. I will contact Frim and crew in about a week to see where we are at.

We are hoping to see some improvement in behavior and rocking.

Today, we also met Anne, our all time favorite child life specialist. She talked to us about an AWESOME new program that they have started Thursday with just a few departments at Comer - Neurosurgery being one of them.

They started a program called "Beads of courage". Here is a picture of what I am talking about.

Every child with a serious illness, who goes through hell and back, gets beads. As a chiari patient, she gets beads. Each colored bead represents a single procedure. She has 2 stars for 2 surgeries (1 surgery because of an OOPPS from the 1st one), in the bag, she got a COURAGE BEAD, the ladybug bead is very SPECIAL. I will not say what it is for, but MANY of you can guess. It's from an incident that happened during her surgery. Each time from here on out, for every poke, scan, NPO, etc.....the kids will get a bead.

I think it's a very cool idea and it shows how tough these chiari kids can be! Carson and Keegan also received a few beads as well.

Thanks ANNE, and the rest of you for getting this program started. The kids just love it.