Feb 9, 2010

Name

Isaak has been learning to write his name at school. He found my notepad that I write my grocery list on and made it his own:
Now each time I write my list I get to see his cute name at the top of each page.

True story: when I learned to write my name, I penciled, "Amy S." all along the baseboards in my room. Maybe it's a genetic thing.

Feb 3, 2010

Cowboy


Isaak got to dress up for western day at preschool. Yee-Haw!

Jan 25, 2010

Kayla's baby photos

Thanks to my good friend Julyssa for taking these beautiful photos of Kayla when she was just 7 days old. To see more of Julyssa's photography check out her blog: www.julyssaschenk.typepad.com/photography/












Jan 22, 2010

Hospital Stay

It all started with Noah catching a cold- after about a week he shared it with Kayla. The first day or so wasn't too bad, but by Saturday night, poor Kayla was really struggling. Sunday morning she seemed to be improving, but was actually much worse. Because she hadn't been eating much, and her breathing was so labored, she basically slept all day and was limp and pale. I took her to urgent care, since it was Sunday. The doctor there was very concerned for her and insisted we call an ambulance. We went to Mercy Gilbert Hosptial, very close to our home. The doctor there started her on breathing treatments and antibiotics, but wanted us transferred to a children's hospital. So after 6 hours or so in the ER, we took another ambulance ride to Cardon Children's Hospital. This was around 1am Sunday night. They diagnosed her with brionchiolitis. Her oxygen saturation was very low and her respirations were very high. They wouldn't let me feed her for the first 5 or 6 hours because her breathing was too rapid.

She had a respiratory therapist come in every 2 hours and do breathing treatments which included a steroid mist, CPT (which was pounding her chest and back to loosen the mucus) and deep suction of her lungs and nasal passages. She really hated the suctioning. She was too sick to cry much the first couple days. As she got better, she could express how much it bothered her.
The hospital room was nice, it had everything she needed. The hospital just opened in November, so it had a great design and technology. Not fun to be in the hospital, but grateful for the high quality of care we received.
All the tape and gauze on her arm is just to keep her IV in place. Her arm is just so little it takes up her whole forearm.
She mostly slept for the first couple of days. It was so wonderful to see her open her eyes and be social again.
Dano was able to stay at home with the boys, and with the help of Aubrey and Olivia, come to the hospital to visit each day.
I missed my little boys! They weren't allowed past the lobby, but it was so fun to see them for a few minutes. This is me with no shower or make-up and wearing the same clothes for 2 days.
Daddy got the first smile out of this little girl. I think this was taken on Tuesday night.
This was my 'bed' at the hospital. I really can't complain. The rooms had their own bathroom with a little shower, and they brought me 3 meals a day, since I was breastfeeding. So I didn't even have to leave to room to go eat. It was a blessing to be by my baby's side and give her all my attention.
This was her heart rate and oxygen saturation monitor. It would beep really loud if the levels got too low. It kept me awake a lot the first night.
This is Kayla Thursday morning, right before the doctor came in to say we could go home. She was almost back to her normal happy self. They brought in a little swing for her to sit in. So great to see her without the oxygen and IV tubes. The only wire was the monitor on her foot.

Jan 21, 2010

Going Home

After 4 long days, Kayla is being released from the hospital. It has been a blessing to watch her get better so quickly, and we are so grateful for the wonderful care she received at Cardon Children's Hospital. She is back to her normal smiling self, just has a lingering cough and runny nose, along with antibiotics. We really didn't realize how sick she got so quickly, so it was a little scary for a while. She is a strong little girl, and as beautiful as ever! i'll share some pics of our hospital stay after we get home.

Jan 18, 2010

Kayla Update

Sunday afternoon we took Kayla to Urgent Care because her viral infection was getting progressively worse- Long story short- after 5 hours at the ER and 2 ambulance rides, here we are at Cardon Childrens Hospital. They are mostly concerned with her labored breathing and oxygen saturation. They have been giving her steroid breathing treatments and suctioning the secretions out of her lungs and sinuses. She seems to be progressing well. She is eating well again and looking a lot better. She is still working hard to breathe. It is just so hard on them at this young age. I am hoping she will be released tomorrow, but they haven't really let us know yet. We'll keep you posted!

Jan 15, 2010

You have to laugh

Or else you might cry. Things have been hectic. Noah has been sick for over a week. Not sick enough to sleep all day, just sick enough to whine and cry about nothing. A couple of days ago, Kayla and I finally caught his cold. But it's really not that different than our normal sickness-free lives. I suppose that is life with 3 kids 4 and under.

One of the challenges I faced after Kayla was born was taking & picking Isaak up from school. It seems simple enough-
Park in front of school
Walk a few yards in the door
Sign him in & out on a clipboard

But add a 2 year old and an infant in a carseat into the mix and it gets a bit challenging- I like to think of it as part of my daily exercise.
Then add the hundreds of other parents and kids going in and out, along with a crosswalk and not so cautious vehicles.
Did I mention the autistic kid who is ALWAYS standing in front of the door and likes to grab my baby's carseat and try attacking her face.
Then there are the times when my 2 year old decides to make a run for it- right into the road of course. (Chasing a 2 year old while carrying my newborn, piece of cake).
Meanwhile my 4 year old is getting frustrated and has asked me the same question at least 5 times.
On the other hand, I am so grateful for my van with automatic doors.

Mom of 3 small kids-No worries, I totally got this.



*****other young moms out there- what are the challenges of your day? It's not just me, right?