Molly's Diagnosis

So we have come to find out that our little Molly has been born with a few medical challenges to overcome.  The big things are she has a complete soft palate cleft (not the lip, just the palate) and extremely low muscle tone overall.
Right now she has to have a feeding tube because she aspirates (fluid goes into her lungs) when she tries to eat.  Down the road she will have to have surgery to fix the palate, but that will be closer to about a year old.
We don't know exactly what this road has in store for us, but we are just hanging on and enjoying the ride!

Our family grows again: Welcome Molly!

Big Sisters Becca and Piper 

meet their new little sister, Molly!

July 26, 2011

Hendricks Regional Hospital

Just Fishin'

Fourth of July Weekend at 'Grapes & Nana's' house!

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Big changes in 6 short months!

Piper's low muscle tone created a bit of a lag of her gross motor development.  At a year old she was not able to crawl.  Fast forward six short months and she has made HUGE improvements!  She is not only crawling, but just started walking!  GO PIPER GO!  

Add one more... Now a family of FOUR!

Welcome Baby Piper!

April 22, 2009

Hendricks Regional Hospital

So easily distracted!

Every evening that I give my adorable daughter a bath, I think to myself, I should take a nice relaxing bath myself. Well tonight I decided I had waited long enough for the sweet indulgence of a bubbly treat, so I prepared for my watery delight. The baby was fast asleep, the silly boy was in the cold garage engrossed in doing who-knows-what to his four wheeler, dinner was cleaned up (ok, so the sandwich wrappers were in the garbage, you gotta love drive thru’s!) and I was ready to relax!

As I was preparing for my mini spa experience, I removed the baby bathtub from the real tub. I noticed the baby tub needed wiping down (who knew that someone so small could leave ‘ring around the tub’!) So I am at the sink and the cat lets himself into the bathroom. He then calmly jumps into the tub and proceeds to relieve himself. I am staring right at him and he pees in my tub! What the….. Ok, so as I yell at him and chase him out of the bathroom he bombards me with meowing and attempts to claw down the bathroom door. This can only mean one thing…. Sure enough, his food bowl is empty. So, I honor his so subtle request and refill his bowl. Now, back to the bathroom to clean out the tub! As I rise out and disinfect the floor, I realize that the rest of the shower and tub could use to be cleaned as well. I finish with that task and figure as long as I’m at it I might as well go ahead and clean the rest of the bathroom. Now I have successfully cleaned the toilet, the sink, and shined the mirror.

It is FINALLY time to actually take my nice relaxing bubble bath. As I fill the tub my excitement grows! In just moments I will be lounging in warm peace. Just as the water reaches the desired level, my loving husband sticks his head in the bathroom. “Do we have a turkey baster?” Now, most normal people would probably inquire to WHY he would need this. I have learned it is just best not to ask! Although as I am rummaging through the kitchen drawer I do question weather I will be getting this back. His reply, “I don’t think you are going to want to use it for cooking when I get done with it!” I find the turkey baster and he disappears back into the garage. I don’t even want to know!

On my walk back to the bathroom, I pass the dryer and remember I need to fold the clothes before they become permanently wrinkled! Fold, fold, fold… always so much fun. It isn't until I am putting the clothes away that remember I was actually getting ready to relax!

Finally it is really truly time to enjoy my bath! I slip into the tub and begin my simple retreat. Of course, what I failed to realize until this moment was that quite a bit of time had passed since I had actually filled the bathtub. I was sitting in an ice cold vat of water! Ok, simple enough, drain the water and refill with WARM water. This won’t take too long, and I vow not to begin any new task that will distract me this time!

Bubbles now surround me in my little piece of paradise. I have just slipped into my tranquil escape when I a thunderous roar erupts. What is my husband up to?!? I jump out of the tub, wrap my robe around me and head out to find the source of this noise. Sure enough I look out the front window and what do I see? The boy is tearing up the front yard cutting donuts on his four wheeler! It must have been some sight to see, snow and mud flying everywhere and I am standing on the front porch in my robe hollering at him! Just in case you weren't aware, we live in town, in a neighborhood with houses all around us. Apparently my brilliant husband had forgotten that neighbors really don’t appreciate his loud beast of a machine firing up at all hours of the night. As I ever so calmly explain to him that he needs to put that thing back in the garage NOW, he just stares at me with that ‘you just killed my dog’ look but obliges and sulks as he returns the machine to its rightful place in the garage.

Luckily this stray from my relaxation plan didn't take much time and this time I checked the water temperature BEFORE immersing myself completely! The water is warm, the bubbles are high, relaxation time has come!

Oh you have got to be kidding me… the baby just woke up! Well I was too tired to relax now anyway! I guess the bath will just have to wait until another day.

Six month check up

This morning started like any other… running around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to get to the pediatrician’s office on time for our appointment!

We did manage to make it to our appointment in plenty of time, actually had a few minutes to spare. But of course, after about 30 seconds in the waiting room, my sweet daughter decided she was DONE sitting in her car seat. So after a very short time of trying to appease her without freeing her from her torturous restraint, I gave up and granted her freedom. As soon as she was up looking around the room, she was happy as could be...nosy little booger!

Her 6 month check up was pretty uneventful after our initial outburst. Of course, she didn't care much for her shots, but that is fully expected! The doc said she looked wonderful and was healthy as a horse. After another short winey outbreak due to her return to her car seat, we were on our way.

I had a few errands to run, so I figured I better get them out of the way because I suspected that one of us would get cranky before too long because of the shots. Our first stop, the post office, always a fun place to visit. So after fighting my way through the parking lot and somehow balancing carrying a baby, the diaper bag and the package I am trying to mail, I navigate my way into the Post office. There is a line, of course, so now I get to entertain my daughter while I continue to try to balance my hefty load. Finally it is my turn. I sling my package up onto the counter and I reach into the diaper bag to withdraw my wallet so I can complete the transaction and get the now very fussy baby out of the very busy establishment. One problem, my wallet is no where to be found. Now not only do I have a infant who is throwing a fit, a package that is still not on its way to its destination but also feeling extremely embarrassed as I try to collect all my worldly goods to pack back into the diaper bag. I am just about all put back together ready to quickly leave and I just about jump out of my skin when my cell phone in my back pocket starts ringing. The call will just have to wait! I get back to my vehicle, strap in the car seat and return the package to the trunk where it will just have to wait for another day. I begin my drive home, simultaneously trying to appease the screaming child in the back seat, attempting to think clearly enough to figure out where my wallet could be, and listen to the voicemail message left on my cell phone. The pediatrician’s office was responsible for the voicemail message, and the mystery of my missing wallet was solved. Apparently I had absent mindedly left my wallet behind on the counter at the doctor’s office while I was checking out.

Next stop, returning to the pediatrician’s office. At least my baby was now content riding in the backseat of the car. So after a short drive back to the office, I pack my wonderful daughter BACK in to retrieve my precious wallet. By this time it is afternoon, and although I now have the means to complete the remainder of my errands (and go back and try again to mail my package), I decide that returning home would be the best option.

Aaaahhhh, back home again, but the peace doesn’t last long. My darling daughter reminds me that it is time for her to eat again. Bottle, burp cloth, and baby in tow, I retreat to the couch to sit and relax while she enjoys her feeding. After slurping down her scrumptious meal and giving an ever so lady-like belch, my daughter smiles at me and proceeds to spit-up right down the front of me. Well I guess I should be grateful, it was early afternoon before I was no longer wearing clean clothes! She did manage to dribble down the front of her clothes too, so it was time for a change of clothes for her. After a short session of playing and singing while lying on the changing table, she was clean, dry, and showing signs of being VERY sleepy. A nap sounds wonderful at this moment! I scoop up my drowsy daughter, cuddle her, and plan to rock her gently off to sleep. Apparently my baby had a different plan in mind, and it did NOT including rocking. Ok, no problem, we will just walk a bit around the house and sweet sleep will come.

One hour later…still walking, and not showing any signs that sleep is eminent. Although she is very happy to be awake walking around the house, my arm is not so happy. Time to break out the baby carrier. (We did try several options besides walking, but none of these were acceptable to the princess!) After a bit of interesting gymnastic maneuvers, I now had my baby strapped to my chest to continue my stroll around the house. Lap after lap around the house I was sure she would drift off to sleep at any moment. On one trip through the kitchen it occurred to me that my hunger was growing stronger every trip through. One of us did not appreciate stops on our walk, so I found myself grabbing a handful of mini-marshmallows from the open bag on the counter to munch on while we continued to walk around, and around, and around, and around, and around. Mmmmm, the nutritious meal of marshmallows, now that is fine dining!

Finally her little eyelids are very heavy. Not to mention her little body has become very heavy too! Although having the baby carrier was very helpful, my shoulders and back are aching from our several hour little stroll. She finally succumbs to the sandman. A sleeping baby is VERY welcome sight! Now, the task of removing her from the carrier and placing her in her crib without waking her. I am sure that moves I came up with to keep her asleep while untangling her from the carrier now qualifies me as a professional circus performer! As I peer down at my sleeping angel, my whole body is extremely grateful for this much needed break.

I am sure by this time you can guess what happens next. After about a 45 minute nap, the sweet sleeping baby disappeared. Out of no where the screaming infant returned. Since we had walked for so long, and taken a short nap, it was again time to feed the ravenous beast! She slowly savors every drop of her gourmet dinner in a bottle. Luckily in the middle of her meal, Daddy has returned home from his long day of work. After polishing off her dinner and releasing a bit of excess air without leaving any presents on my shirt this time, she quietly enjoys a few minutes relaxing on the couch. The calm doesn’t last long. We decide on a change of scenery and move our operation to the front porch.

Our inquisitive baby is intrigued for a short period of time by the trees, but then requires a different form of entertainment. I am sure our neighbors and any passersby thought we had completely lost our minds, but somehow two grown adults making funny faces and even funnier sounds kept the grumpy baby girl giggling instead of groaning!

After our amusing session on the porch, we retire to the kitchen to try to calm Mommy and Daddy’s grumbling tummies while still entertaining our daughter. We resort to the ever so popular handoff method to try to accomplish making dinner. On the menu tonight, the very elegant barbeque chicken and lima beans. Even this seemly simple dinner turns into a monumental task. The first problem, our outdoor grill has gobbled up all of the propane so there is no gas left to cook tonight’s chicken. No big deal, we will use our handy dandy George Forman grill, just plug it in and it is ready in minutes. The next problem arises, where IS the Forman grill? I am sure I put it back on the lower shelf in the pantry, but it has disappeared. Ok, I’ll just get out the skillet and cook it that way. As I turn on the stove to heat up the pan, our lovely cranky baby is handed back off to me. Daddy is sure the Forman grill is in the pantry and sure enough he pulls it down from the top shelf. So, I turn off the burner and return to the Forman plan. Hand off, baby back to daddy. As I plug in the grill and lift the lid there comes a loud clunking noise and I see a couple screws now lying on the counter next to the grill. Apparently those screws held the top plate of the grill on and they are a pretty crucial component of the Forman! Our baby is handed back to me and Daddy analyzes the situation…yup, it’s broken. Back to the skillet plan. The chicken is now cooking, the lima beans are being steamed in the microwave and our daughter is screaming at the top of her little lungs.

She now feels that it is necessary for both parents to give her their undivided attention. She is back to grinning and giggling when I realize our scrumptious dinner has turned into hard clumps of charcoal burning on the stovetop. I remove the smoking disaster from the heat and resign to preparing our precious daughter’s bedtime bottle. Daddy lovingly feeds his precious daughter while I return to the blacken chicken to see if I can somehow manage to save dinner. Mommy’s assessment of the situation….total loss! 

After feeding, it is time for a diaper change and change into pajamas. Now after 6 months you would think that we would have this diaper thing down pat. It turns out that our daughter’s new found love of wiggling around on the changing table brings a new twist to the simple change. Daddy has very kindly taken the task of changing her stinky diaper, but gets a very unwelcome surprise when he gets her all clean and she decides she wasn’t quite done making him presents! He was so busy trying to get the stinky diaper thrown away and keep her from rolling off the changing table that he somehow failed to notice that she had deposited another present and was now wiggling around in it! Operation clean baby commences…again. Finally clean, diapered, and warm and cozy in her pj’s, our daughter is ready for bed. But of course, we have to have one final round of fussing before it would be sleepy time.

Finally. our pissed off little firecracker has given up her fight and has resigned to sleep for the night. It is now 10pm, dinner is burned beyond being eatable, my package never got mailed, dishes are stacked up in the sink, my shoulders, back and feet are screaming in pain, the pile of laundry that was slated to be washed during afternoon nap time is still in a heap on the floor, toys are strewn across the house from all of our efforts to appease our daughter and we are enjoying our meal of peanut butter sandwiches and cold lima beans. Could life get any better than this??