Oh y'all, what a difference a year makes!  Little Miss Thang is already sounding better.  We went in yesterday and although part of her left lung (the bad one) was collapsed and we ended up on treatments around the clock, a shot of Rocephin, oral steroids, and a new antibiotic, she really is already on the mend!  Do you recall how long we were on 24 breathing treatments and going back to the doc EVERY am at 8 for the decision about hospitalization last year?  Her doc was pretty cool cat too about returning, said she was confident that either she would improve or I would be able to make the call about coming back in.  Love it, just love it. 

 

Of course I worry now that I may have just totally jinxed her by typing this, so keep your fingers crossed and such!  I love that sweet girl so much, just love her. 

 

Now, head over to Look Through our Eyes, a recommendation from Minivan Mom, for a great giveaway of this cool addition to dinnertime or just to read about a great family!

 

 

You'd think with all the New Year's Resolutions crap everywhere that I'd be excited about dropping my last ten pounds.  Problem is, it's turned into 15 now.  Damn the eggnog, wine, cookies, etc etc etc!!!  Speaking of holiday yummies, per Suzi's recomendation, I made the most amazing sweet potato dish EVER for xmas.  The recipe was compliments of The Pioneer Woman (if you want to add a blog to your list, she's a fun read) and let me tell you, it was heaven on a fork.  THE. BEST. HOLIDAY. SIDEDISH. EVER.  Make them just for the bliss of it and them add them to your Easter Dinner.  If my children ever lift their embargo on vegetables, this will be the dish they will come home for the holidays for.  It's going to be the ONE dish mom will be known for as dad does all the appreciated cooking around here.  Just this week, Jason asked Nathan why he always uses the pots and pans when mommy just uses the microwave, nice.  Anyway, see how sidetracked I get by yummy food, ugh!  I have been to the gym everyday this week but can't say much about the intensity of my exercise. 

 

Not much else going on. Audrey is fighting some nastiness in her lungs but seems generally happy while doing it, even helps with her treatments. 

 

We're going back to the doc in the am though as it seems to be getting a little worse today and her ears are a mess too--bloody drainage from one and lots o pulling on the other AND we're on antibiotics already, I hate it when something doesn't work!

 

Jason's best little girlfriend had her tonsils and adnoids out today, send some healing thoughts the Bengis way if you could.  We got her a cute princess magnetic book thing that Jason was a teensy bit sad to give away, he's so in touch with his feminine side!  I wish I had the photos from their last playdate where Jason had on the most beautiful princess dress, shoes and bling.  Everytime we are headed to their house, Jason asks, "do you think we'll get to play with the hair dryer and princess clothes?!!"  Nathan is SO proud. 

 

Ethan recently got his "15" shoe tag for running his 15th mile under 12 minutes in PE.  He's pretty Joe Cool about it but I know he's excited.  He'd be much more excited if I told him that running a mile in under 12 minutes is a feat for me, but I can take only so much humilation and running slower than a 1rst grader is just too much for me right now! 

 

Finally, I have a new CDH site to share.  Today, Baby Ella marked her 175th day (25 weeks) of  fighting the effects of this horrible birth defect.  I just found their site last night and couldn't stop reading until I had gone through it all.  I immediately emailed her mom to share how touched I was by their story.  Her and her family are just precious.  Please take a second to send thoughts or prayers to this amazing family. 

 

 

Oh yeah, I made it!  I'm really going to keep up with blogging, really, I am. 

 

Amy/Amanda is doing great, still weak and in pain, but home and great.  Just got off the phone in fact, she called just as I was typing "Amy/Amanda" and we had a good laugh over her many aliases (is that the correct plural of alias? I'm too lazy to look it up).  The quick story is this, she went by Amy in college and her college roommate (Natalie) is who introduced us, so I've always known her as Amy.  The first time we met I got clued in to the alias though as she was telling me about some CDH support groups where they only know her as Amanda.  It has continued to be complicated as she meets my friends and family because she introduces herself as Amanda and so I follow suit but still can only call her Amy--she only calls me "Audrey's mom"!  Seriously, I met several of her crew this weekend at the hospital and that's how they knew who I was!  What's in a name anyway?!! 

 

A few quick holiday highlights just because I have to share but now that the holidays are SOO yesterday it's only appropriate to do it in a quick list....

 

-our night away was fabulous, had a dicey start (knock-down-drag-out-fight over old issue, a quick trip to Kohls for shoes HE forgot, and a get ready quick because we're running late now) but turned out completely fantabulous--awesome party, slept past 8am, read the paper, had brunch, ALL BY OURSELVES--bliss!

 

-my dad turned 60 and we (the boys and I) flew in just for the day to celebrate with him and let the boys experience flight (affordable with miles and cheap airfare).  Jason still talks about his "airplane ride to see Papa", greatness!

 

-Nathan experienced heart palpatations when Jason went missing at the mall on the Saturday before Xmas--15 minutes and mall security to be reunited.  Nathan saved me 10 years off my life by not calling me during the ordeal, my stomach still turns when I think about it though.  Jason, however, just talks about how Daddy and Ethan got lost and the police man found them.  UGH

 

-Audrey's oral intake increased significantly (nearly 50% of her calories, she had been at 10%); she even ate an entire applesause serving in one sitting!!!!!!!!!!!!  (Seriously, this is a whole other post, but it was truly a highlight of the holiday!)

 

-Ethan's anticipation of Christmas may have been the sweetest taste of pure joy and innocence I will ever experience (a little annoying at 10pm xmas eve when he "just can't close my eyes" and we're so tired we could die, but sweet nonetheless)

 

-Audrey's unbridled excitement over a baby stroller that allowed her to forego any other gifts and just lap the circle connecting our kitchen, living room, and den about 10,000 times despite the boys' pleas for her to open the other gifts (they eventually gave up and opened them for her.  She just piled them on the stroller and took off)

 

-Papa's patience with the never-ending requests to "open this one for me Papa" (I hope there was a please in there sometimes, but I just can't confidently insert it!). 

 

-Grandma's willingness to play with everything they brought to her.

 

-Rock Band rules!  NEVER did I anticipate enjoying this crazy, XBOX game but seriously, IT. IS. SO. FUN.  If you have the chance to try it, you should.  In fact, let's schedule a night out at the Millers to play, really, email me, we'll set it up.  We'll play Scene It too, I love it just as much.  Who knew the XBOX would get so much mommy play, NOT me!

 

-several playdates/visits with the Crowe clan; seriously, I think I saw them 3 days in a row once even, it was super dooper! Stacy's "What not to wear night" was great fun--I highly recommend it!  She had sweaters from the 80's, people, the 80's!

 

-New Year's in San Antonio--all seven cousins together for 2 days in a row, no injuries and everyone still loves everyone, greatness! 

 

-playdate with a friend I haven't seen in too long and the kids getting along beautifully

 

-back to school!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Does it make me a bad mom that I did a jig when Nate and Jason walked out the door Monday morning (E was already gone)??? 

 

There they are, the highlights! 

Now bring it on 2008!  I hate to spark bad juju, but did you know we didn't have a hospital admission in 2007?  We spent lots o time in the hospital for diagnostic reasons, even had a few sedations but no one was admitted, YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I could have NEVER anticipated that after fall 2006, never. 

 

Happy New Year! Yes I really did just write that on Jan 9th, I'm such a blogging loser. Good night!

My friend Amy is in the hospital, y'all know her as Amanda, or Connor's mom; but to me she's just my buddy who's having a crappy first week of the New Year after a pretty rough 2007.    I'm not going to share the whole story as it's not mine to tell but I will tell you she had unexpected surgery for a hernia gone bad (it caused a malrotation and bowel obstruction) and is now missing some bowel and has an NG tube for drainage while the rest of the bowel heals.   It's not going to be an easy recovery (although her superstar performance on Skinny Cow--regular exercise for the past 4 months-- that she's been keeping up better than me, should help!) So, send her some thoughts for healing and moreso for a spectacular 2008, no one deserves it more. 

 

Yes, I did say "hernia, malrotation, bowel obstruction, and NG tube" all not related to a CDH baby, craziness I tell you, just craziness!

And a late wish that your holiday was wonderful!  I've tried several times to get a post out but it just never seemed to come to fruition.  We've had an amazing holiday season, just wonderful; well, crazy and a bit of sickness, but glorious nonetheless.  I have oodles of pictures, stories, and milestones to share!  I'm making blogging a priority for 2008 (NOT a resolution--I never keep those) as it really is a great outlet for me.  My slacking hasn't been good for my mental health so my plan is committ to at least 2 posts/ week.  Feel free to remind me of that committment. 

I'm off for now but want to leave you with a few of my favorite Christmas moments and a promise to return very soon with all the stories of the season...   

 

 

 

Look carefully at E's face, he's about to dissolve in happy tears over receiving Star Wars Legos 2 (his was accidentally destroyed awhile back and he's been dying for a new one)

 

This is my Christmas dinner-- I had nearly finished my plate with the family when Audrey decided she wasn't so interested in being at the table anymore (ie threw her entire plate over her head requiring serious splatter cleaning), by the time she was back from time out, cleaned up and then bolused, somehow dinner was over.  Not deterred, I refilled my plate and glass and finished in peace.  It wasn't pretty anymore, but I had the most delicious food, wine and QUIET!  Nate took in the scene and then grabbed the camera.  

 

Finally, Jason and Audrey grabbing the Rock Band helm--this was Audrey's transition outfit (ie she threw a fit when I tried to change her after her dinner fiasco so I chose not to fight the battle and let her go sans dress for a while!)