Easter pictures

We did an Easter egg hunt at my oldest sister Nicole's house.

It rained off and on through out the day.

We ran out when the rain stopped so we could put them out. 

It was still fun though.

Megan on the hunt. She was so cute. 

She just wanted to stop at every egg and look inside.

Abby wouldn't hold still long enough for me to take a good photo. 

She was just having too much fun looking for the eggs.

Bye Bye Diapers!!

Well, Megan has official said bye bye to diapers. Two weeks ago I decided to go for it. I'll be honest I was a little reluctant. Abby wasn't the best experience for me with potty training. It took me more than a year to get her fully potty trained.

When I decided to give it a try. I took Megan to the store while Abby was at school and let her pick out her very own potty. She picked this one:

it plays music when she goes. Then I let her pick out her very own panties. She really like Minnie Mouse. So she picked out Minnie Mouse panties. After this we were set. Later that night while she was asleep I went and picked up some juice (she loves it) and some candy, otter pops and stickers to reward her. Every time she sat on the potty I gave her an otter pop and told her to sit on the potty and eat it. It takes her a few minutes to eat it so she would usually go. Plus she had a lot of juice that day so she went more often. This was very effective for Megan.
The first half of the day wasn't very great. She just kept having accidents, but she did get it and now we are done with diapers. It's nice, not to have to change diapers.

There you go Megan is potty trained.

Just not pretty enough

I just couldn't believe that Megan said this.
We wanted to go outside and play so we put some shoes on. Megan had a pear of cute sandals on. While waiting for Abby to get hers on, all of a sudden Megan declares "These just aren't pretty enough" I responded out of shock mostly, "What Megan" She repeated herself and then pointed to her pink glitter shoes that she got for Christmas from Kathleen (Grandma) and said "Those Moo Moo Mouse (Minnie Mouse) shoes, they pretty enough"
I just don't know how she can tell if something is pretty enough. She's only 2 years old.
I do have to say I am glad that she cares because I wish I cared more.

They are similar to these with out pock a dots though.

 I would put a picture of the real thing but they are absolute favorite shoes and they are so warn out they aren't pretty anymore in my opinion.

Interesting!!

Rob just sent this to me. In a cave in Jordan they found an ancient collection of 70 tiny books made of soft, malleable metal. That contain a sealed section. Hmm how interesting!

Link to the article

 

Thyroid Cancer

Well I thought I should update my last post.

I was released from the hospital on Monday, January 31. I had been home for maybe an hour and got a phone call from my doctor. He said that the pathologist report came back  and they found a parathyroid gland in each side of my thyroid. That explained the drop in my calcium. I now have only 2 parathyroid glands instead of 4.

The doctor also told me that in the right side of my thyroid they found a benign tumor and on the left side they found a malignant tumor. Malignant is cancer. The caner is papillary, the less aggressive kind. I wanted to cry, I was convinced that it wasn't cancer and that my life would soon go back to normal. I was very wrong! The doctor explained to me that I now have to take a  Radioactive Iodine (RAI) pill and that Dr Materlo (Endocrinologist) would oversee that. The appointment was scheduled for February 22. That seamed so far away to me but that was to soonest they could get me in.

After 3 weeks we met with the  Nurse Practitioner at the Endocrinologists office  She had me do a blood draw to see what my TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) levels were. They needed to be above 30 in order for them to do anything more. The TSH is a signal your body is sending to your thyroid to produce more thyroid hormone. So if your TSH levels are high you are Hypothyroid (under active). They needed me to be hypothyroid so that what thyroid tissue I have left will absorb the iodine. Your thyroid needs iodine to make the hormone that is released. So in addition to the blood draw they started me on a low iodine diet. Basically I can't have any milk or dairy products. I can't have food made with dairy or salt (iodized salt or sea salt). No fish, basically anything that comes from the sea I can't have. Other restrictions are red die #4 , rhubarb, maraschino cherries, no more than 4 serving of grain a day, no more than 6 oz of meat a day.
They want to starve my body of iodine so that when they give me the RAI it's absorbed into the thyroid tissue.

I received my first RAI which is a small dose. This small dose is just to make what thyroid tissue is left radioactive so that they can do a body scan to determine how much is left and how active it is. The dose of high RAI is determined by the scan. I go in on Monday and get scanned and hopefully will find out when they'll do the high dose of RAI. When they give me the high dose I can't be around anyone with in a 12ft radios for 7 to 10 days. This includes walls. I live in a town home so I have to go somewhere else so I don't expose my neighbors who have little kids to radiation.

That's basically all we know right now. Hopefully on Tuesday we'll know more.

I also want to say thank you to all of you who have helped us out over the past few months. I greatly appreciate it. This would be so much harder to deal with if it wasn't for all of your help. From watching my kids to the meals that have been brought in to just calling and seeing how I am. I really appreciate the care and concern. It helps so much. Thank you.

Thyroidectomy

So I've been debating whether to post about this but decided I should sense my blog has become basically my journal. Not a very good one I know. Plus I'm bored and have nothing to do. You'll understand this later.

I had a growth on my neck that just kept getting bigger. I had it looked at the beginning of this month. After an ultrasound that confirmed it was on my Thyroid they did a biopsy. This consisted of the doctor inserting a long needle into my not numb neck to extract cells of the growth. After waiting almost a week they said that my growth was follicular, so it was impossible to tell if  the growth was cancer or not by looking at the cell structure. They had to look at the tissue. After much thought,a day of fasting and discussion with the doctor, we  decided to just do a total Thyroidectomy (remove my entire thyroid) and just be done with it.
The surgery was scheduled for Tuesday January 25th. The surgery went fine. I honestly thought it would be a no big deal kind of surgery. Basically that I would just stay the night at the hospital one night and go right back to my normal routine.

Was I ever wrong. The night before I came home from the hospital I started feeling some tingling in my feet and hands. They did a blood draw and my calcium was 7.9 (normal is above 8.0) so it was just barely low. They gave me some tums and checked my calcium levels again at 4:00 am. After more blood draws and more tums they decided to send me home on instructions to take 2 tums 4 times a day and come to the lab by 3:00pm the next day to do another blood draw.  My calcium level was 7.7 so the doctor doubled my tums to 2 - 8 times a day. All that day and into the night I had tingling in my hands and feet and around my mouth.

Thursday night my left hand clamped up. It was the weirdest feeling ever. So I called the doctor in the morning and he sent me to the hospital for another blood draw. My calcium levels were 7.4 so he told me to go the the hospital and he would call them and have them admit me. Shortly after he hung up he called back and told us to go to the ER so that they can do a EKG on my heart. We got to the ER at 7:30pm. They came and did the EKG very quickly. The EKG was fine. They put me on a drip of calcium glucomate (not exactly sure what it was called, something similar to that), basically calcium through an IV. they took another blood draw this time of my ionized calcium. Wich was 1.05 (normal is 1.12 - 1.35) so they told us they were going to admit me which we already new. Finally at 1:30 am they took me up to a room.

I do have to say thank you to Bekah for canceling her date so she could watch Abby and Megan. I really appreciate your help Bekah. I called several family members and they were ether out of town or didn't answer there phone. So thanks for all your help.

At 1:30 I was rolled up to my room in the bed (a really weird feeling I must say). They got me to my room and gave me another vile of calcium glucomate through an IV. While that was being done I was put up to another EKG so the nurse could monitor my heart. They said that your heart can be affected when your calcium is low. So they wanted to keep an eye on it. They also turned on the seizure alarm on my bed, because you can have seizures as well. It would go off anytime a lot of movement accured or I got out of bed. They also padded my bed so that if I had a seizure I would hurt myself. I was scared at this point but new that I couldn't be in a better place. After another hour of asking questions and pocking me with needles (drawing blood and giving me an IV) I was finally able to go to sleep.

Then at 4:30 am the nurse came in again and drew my blood game me more tums to take. She also checked my vitals, etc. I asked her what my calcium levels where at from the blood draw last night. It was 1.08. So she gave me another vial of calcium glucomate through IV.
Then she came in again at 6:30 did another blood draw. No sleep that night. But I really hadn't had much sleep sense I left the hospital anyway.

Basically to make this shorter they got my levels up to 1.13, on Saturday, which is barely normal. Saturday evening the doctor told me she didn't want to release me with them being barely normal.She was nervous that they would just drop down once I went home so they wanted to monitor me some more.Saturday night I felt tingling again so I told the nurse.They did another blood draw. It had dropped a little (1.12). Because it dropped again they wanted to keep me another night in case it drops again. NNow it's Sunday night and I am hoping I can go home Monday. They are going to do another blood draw in the morning. If it's the same or better they might send me home.

The crappy thing about this is I feel fine now that my levels are with in normal range. So sitting in a hospital all day is so BORING. Oh well, it's better for me to be here where they can monitor me.

Fun week for us!!!!

This is why I'm doing a blog post because I am bored out of my mind sitting at the hospital with nothing to do but watch TV, read a book, or surf the web.

Happy Birthday Abby!!!

I did my best to make it a special day for her today but still take into consideration that we just got over the flu.
First thing we did was go to Wendy's for lunch. Misty and Brad sent her a gift card to Wendy's. Abby lovedthat she got a wallet (from Aunt Bekah) for Christmas and was very excited to put her gift card in it.
We then went to the Red Box and rented Barbie a Fashion Fairytale. Abby has wanted to see it for a while now. She loved it and I even thought it was quite cute. One of the better Barbie movies.
We also made invitations to Abby's Birthday party for her friends. She wants to have a Pajama Party. So we are. We then took them to her friends that live near by.
When Rob got home from work we took Abby out to Two Jacks Pizza.
Came home and Abby opened her present from us.
A barbie scooter. Which she loved.
Then last of all I let her watch a movie in her bed on my lap top to go to bed. I never let her do so. So this was a treat.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ABBY!!!!
We love you.

Best Christmas Ever!

Quote from Abby "Best Christmas Ever"
It sure was a lot of fun this year to watch the girls open there presents. Abby was the best. At first she would just do her try not to smile bit but then by the end she was jumping up and down with excitement.
It was a fun Christmas.

My family had a party Christmas Eve:
It was a blast and we very much appreciate all the gifts.

Rob's Family had a party on Christmas. It was fun as well. Rachel and Jeff were in town so we got to spend Christmas with them. Matt and Amy we missed, but we did get to see them via Skyp that was nice.
Thanks for all the wonderful gifts. It was a great Christmas this year for all of us.

Rob did take pictures I'll put them up soon.

Monday Snow Photos

These are photos that I took on Monday. It continued to snow all day Monday and Tuesday. We ended up having 20 inches of snow.

More Photos to come.

Santa Sent Abby and Megan a Video

Abby’s Video:
http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/watch/rmCIfbrmGVRdw65_IlQWbg
Megan’s Video:
http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/watch/z7LvODSDtQnc9DHPCEpr3Q
I wish I had recorded how excited they were to see these.

MEGAN’S NEW TOY

I’M TWO!

IF YOU ASK MEGAN HOW OLD SHE IS SHE LOOKS JUST LIKE THIS.

I’M TWO!!

SORRY ABBY!

WHENEVER MY KIDS DO SOMETHING THAT HURTS OR MAKES THE OTHER CRY THEY HAVE TO SAY SORRY AND GIVE KISSES AND HUGS.

MEGAN TRIES SO HARD TO FULLFIL MY REQUEST AND ABBY MOST OF THE TIME JUST TRIES TO MOVE AWAY.

MEGAN’S DREAM COME TRUE

I WATCHED MY FRIENDS NEWBORN BABY THIS MORNING AND MEGAN LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT. I LET HER FEED THE BABY AND SHE WAS DELIGHTED. ROB TOOK A PICTURE SO WE COULD REMEMBER IT.

ABBY DID A GREAT JOB HOLDING HER TOO.

THE BABIES NAME IS CLAIR AND SHE WAS BORN IN THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER.

I’LL BE HONEST HOLDING AND WATCHING A BABY MADE ME REALIZE THAT I LIKE HAVING KIDS THAT HAVE LESS DEMAND ON MY TIME.

To cute to not share

Megan likes to say the dinner prayer. Last Thursday we were eating dinner and Megan wanted to bless the food. So she starts by blessing Abby (calling her Raydough) and goes through the family. So I step in to help her by saying please bless the food. Megan says " please bless that" and points to her food on the plate. Then continues on with the rest of the prayer. She has such a cute personality. Kids are so much fun.

North Park Carnival

Everything was FREE. You know me I love a good deal. So of course we went. We got Free Hot Dogs, Free Chips, Free Bottled Water or pop I chose water, a ball, and rides. I even put my name in for a raffle to win something and what do you know I won. Funny thing is I had just told my friend that I never win anything. What did I win, a bag of suckers. Hey at least I won something, finally!

Just so you know. This Carnival was back in August. I had to post it though it was too much fun. Plus this blog has become my journal. Not a great one but at least it’s something right?

 

Abby had a blast and asked to go back many times to this Splash Pad. We did a few times.

Mommy Megan

Megan is such a little mom. She’s wiping Abby’s face off because she has food on it.

Very Patient Megan

Yes Abby is doing Megan’s hair. I tried to come to the rescue but Megan wanted Abby to do her hair. So I took pictures.

Abby’s first day of School

 

This was a month ago but here are some pictures of Abby’s first day of school.

Loves to push these. Why not it makes it so much easier to open doors.

She was so excited. I got a little sad not bad I just thought about the fact that Abby is growing up. I know she’s only going to preschool, but still. In two more years she starts her trek down the Elementary life, then Junior High and then High school. I am scared to death to be a parent to a Teenager AHHH!! Reality check that is still along ways away.

Abby and Tyler waiting for the door to open so they can enter there class room

Abby playing with block while all the other kids come to school.

Fun stuff. She truly loves to go to school.

Abby’s Swimming Lessons

 

Abby and Megan waiting for the lesson to start.

Very First Day!. A little nervous but excited too.

She did finally get in and she smiled the entire time. I am not sure if the smile was from being cold or just excited and having a lot of fun.

Look at her go. She is getting so much better. She is learning how to actually get somewhere swimming now. When she first started she kept saying “I’m going backwards” when she was trying to go forward. She now books it. My little swimmer, at least with a life jacket on.

The teacher was trying to get Abby to blow bubbles. She hates to get her face wet. She has improved a ton by taking these lessons.

 

Abby’s second set of swimming lessons with her friend Zoe.