Quotes from EK...

Lately the things that come out of EK just make me laugh!

Her new adjective is "stinkin"! Mostly used to say someone is "so stinkin cute!".  Best the best was last week she came into our bed at 5:00am and wanted to cuddle with poppa.  She falls right to sleep and about 30min later I hear her say "oh man poppa I stinkin wet!" Needless to day we got up fast.  

Almost 3 and sometimes she is dead on with her age but then when I round the corner and she has changed Maugie's poopy diaper by herself (all cleaned and diaper rolled up), she seems wise beyond her years.  

Our EK, peanut, CEO of the house, mother hen. You love to dress yourself!! Love the colors pink and purple.  Request 2 ponies every single day with bows and you like them tight (we fix throughout the day).  You are excited about your birthday in May.  You can write your name, count to 20 and love reading books as the teacher.  You are so loving but can throw quite a fit as well.  Getting so close to 3 and getting so big (tear from momma).  Hope you never stop wanting to cuddle because your pat, pats at night make my day end on a good note no matter what kind of day it's been.  34 months, time is flying!  We love you so much!  

17 months -note to littles

17 months has been a blooming month for both of you.  You have taken off walking and talking.  Matilda you walk 100% and prefer to walk not be carried.  Maugs your so close to 100% but still have the fastest crawl in town! Both great eaters! This month new favorites are nutrigrain bars and pop tarts (yes a preggers momma may have bought after having with mm in hospital!).  You can find your head, beebo, and nose.  Love waving goodbye, blowing your noses and both love to clean anything with a wipe.  We found 2 fruits MF will eat, oranges and watermelon! MM you will eat any fruit.  Animal noises are being added daily; cow, dog, duck, tiger.  Still great nappers, 3+ hours an afternoon.   You both are full of energy, laughs, and smiles!  We can't imagine life without you!!! 

Margaret-

You just make us and others smile.  You are so laid back.  You take it all in and get involved but then happy to go play or read a book alone. Love this about you!  You are your so fine with doing things your way.  Your sure to tell your sisters when you got it and don't need their help (or bossing !).  You are a dare devil and love to flip and roll.  As you get older I hope you keep all these qualities, be part of the group, be you, don't let others walk all over you, and take risks!!! But most of all keep that raspy laugh ... My favorite! You are our Margaret, Maugs, Maugie, tater tot!!! Love you so much! Momma 

Matilda-

You are a firecracker.  You are on a mission and not much is going to stop you.  There are days that I think you don't even see walls when your walking/ running!  Lately this gives your momma and poppa gray hair because of the ITP but nothing stops you.  I love that about you. Your loud, very vocal, and determined to get what you want.  This month we continue to face a challenge and these will come in life but you got the right attitude ...no wall stands in your way.  We will beat this and maybe April you won't have a bruised forehead.  Your our Matilda, Manya, pork chop! Love you so much!! Momma 

Yes MM had a normal fall last night and head hit a toy just right.  Blessed to have the best pediatrian ever, text and call later there was not enough impact and bruise looked normal for ITP so no hospital  visit. Let me tell you this ITP makes you feel like parent of the year, not.  I update this because I think so often we only want to show good (which is better to read then gloom) but this blog is where I go back and remember. This is reality right now and our challenge, keeping a walker and turning runner from falling.  Laugh! Quite a challenge makes my work at work seem easy!! 

17 months!!!!

Still Waiting

Just like everyone we are still waiting for Spring over here! In the meantime it's just been busy life.  I have a huge work project that has been quite the challenge but going well.  Always seems to happen when I'm going to be out for leave in a few months.  

My girls love Panera as much as me.  Dead quiet lunch table as they eat their own macaroni and yogurt.  Ask EK where  she wants to go to lunch, Panera! Imagine Poppa just shaking his head!  Happy momma!

EK and Poppa had Dad night at school last week.  Dr.  Suess theme.  Poppa and EK said it was fun!  Look who wrote her own name!!!

 

Matilda update fits the still waiting theme.  Levels this week did go down to 28k.  Boo. She is still battling common cold and ear drainage so was not surprised we did not go up but was hoping we wouldn't drop. Docs say this can continue and hardest part of ITP.  I so want it to go away.  Hardest thing to keep a new walker from just taking a normal fall or trip.  Poppa and I are going to have a head of gray hair...go away ITP.  Still focused on it could have been worse and thankful we are just dealing with ITP.

And still waiting for Tiny! Big milestone for me last week, getting past 27 weeks and tiny is still cooking!  28 week appointment went well and all looks good.  Drank the juice, measured well, and strong heartbeat.  We are so thankful to still be waiting for Tiny's arrival.  Enjoying all the kicks and flutters, we have another mover!  Some room progress this weekend, we have a rug and shade.  Can't believe how fast it's approaching.  Next up is getting the clothes washed and organized.  What will the accent color be, boy or girl?!!!
 

 

Happy St. Patty's Day!

We are not Irish but love holidays! Fun day full of green!

Started with Lucky Charms and green eggs!

Festive lunch for school.

Matilda Monday Update:  levels remained at 38k today. Maintaining is still a good thing.  Doc said her running nose and little cough could be reason for no change but big positive no drop.  So all is good and they will check next Monday again.  

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Spring is coming!!

This house could not be more excited!! Playing outside, yard work, lots of sun and NO coats!!! 

We are ready for green and the Spring temps to stay.  For now we will soak up each day we get!

Dinner outside makes me happy!!

Off to swimming in our new glasses from our friend George!!  Swimming lessons are going great! I took all 3 to open swim today and pretty safe to say I have 3 girls that love the pool!!! 

Another big first this weekend, soccer!  

Big girl ready to go! She picked out the socks!  

Started off with some tears and hesitation but then joined the fun.  Pretty impressive the drills the run with 2.5 and 3 year olds.  

Cheer to end the practice!

Friends!!! Look so big!!!

Matilda update:  this past Monday her levels were up again, 38k!! She is a full time walker, happy, and bruise free!!! No more blackeyes!  Smiles all around this weekend!!!

Sunshine

So on top of everything we faced the past few weeks, I was faced with another hard decision.  Nothing compared to what we had faced but one of those, not sure there is a right or wrong and I have to make a decision. 

I did on Tuesday afternoon after getting Matilda's count.  She was 18k and we had decided to just let nature runs it course.  ITP has no cure and at this point Poppa and I are not comfortable with treating her with a steroid.  She would need a steroid and a stomach calmer, etc.  We spoke to the doc and they 100% support the decision which was nice to hear.  They said in Europe that is exactly what they would do, monitor.  So we will go each Monday for the next 6 months or so.  All depends on how long ITP wants to hang around.  

So back to the decision, on Tuesday at lunch time we felt good about everything and decided it would be good for us to attend the Founders Club trip that I had won with work.  Not an easy decision and yes I went through the guilt, what would others think and then really I just stuck with our motto from the start of all of this "keep on, keeping on". So fast packing and organizing and we left for Mexico  on a 6:30am flight the next day.

This room and this view was the relaxation and peace we needed.  I really felt like the time allowed me to connect with Tiny and really soak in this pregnancy that is flying by.  The place was amazing and the weather could not have been better.

Tiny loved the beach! So much that one day we got there at 11 and left around 4. Books, umbrella for shade, ocean, waiter bringing anything you can imagine ...what more could you want!

On top of all that I got to catch up with and connect with friends and coworkers that sit nationwide .  

It had been so long!!

There were events each night.  Starting off with a beach party on Wednesday that concluded with fireworks.  Each event had more good food and drinks then you can imagine (tiny and I stuck to bottle water!!). 

Friday night was the award ceremony.  Biggest one yet!! 

I was surprised with the biggest career accomplishment of my life.  I had no idea this was coming and felt so honored to accept such an award.  I was named the Infrastructure  Employee of the Year for 2013.  I was so surprised and had to fight back the tears.  For me this meant so much and I was so happy to be there in person to accept.  

Without this boss I would not be where I am today in my career.

We were so thankful that A helped us bring in Tootie last minute and that UU and Poppy could still take time off work to come in and stay.  The girls had a blast and we came home relaxed and recharged.  

Loved spending time with my best pal! 

Best news!

No Luekemia!!! I will be honest waiting all day and then hearing the doc has to call made my heart sink.  We have received the best news of our lives to date! Long wait but worth it for good news!

Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers.  BIG hug to all!!!!

33 months/16 months/24 weeks

This week we all got older!

24 week check up:

As I sat to have my blood pressure Thursday I thought for a quick second not sure this is a good day for this, normal check! This tiny is so good and makes check ups so quick and easy.  Strong heart beat and good tummy growth.  This was a much better 24 week check then last time.  The kicks and constant movement are loved and calmly to me.  The movement has been big enough for poppa to feel as well.  As I dressed a few days ago and was trying to wear my jeans, EK looks at me and says, " that hurt the baby"?!!! I laughed so hard and said yes may have to not wear those anymore.  EK thinks this babe is a girl and has not changed, her response to why "because we have girls in this house".  ..time will tell but we can't wait for this tiny baby in June as EK says!

16 months:

Note to Littles:

Again this month you two amazed me.  Matilda this month was a challenge and you pushed through giving us your smiles to assure us you were ok.  Margaret you rose to the occasion and just took off this month.  Happiest baby on the block which was exactly what we all needed with everything going on.  You two are so strong and at such a young age can read a situation and help others through it. May sound crazy but I swear you all know when to give a smile, a Margaret hackle, a kiss, a Matilda snuggle.  The strength keeps us all going.  We love you so much!

Matilda is going to be bruise free in March! 

Loves:  Both of you are great eaters.  Maugs still doesn't each much fruit, loves meat.  Matilda you could eat a whole thing of blue babies (blueberries ).  You both are standing up and taking steps.  Matilda a few more than Maugs.  Once you both got pink chucks this month you have took off.  My guess is full walkers by end of March.  You both love dipping your food, you have learned this from ek, ketchup is your favorite.  New game is buildIng forts, Maugs will stay in fort for ever.  New favorite chore, feeding Otto!  Lots of sounds and both of you love the word, UHOH! Climbing....now you both climb anything and everything! Climbers!  Matilda is a Momma's girl and Margaret a Poppa's girl.  You both are so much fun!! 

3 best pals! EK loves calling you Maugie Frances and Mary Matilda.  She makes sure I use the correct name on the towel each night, she picks out 3 matching outfits, she changes diapers, plays some great games with you both...calls you both best pals!

33 months:

Best negotiator, her own stylist, full of personality, lots of spunk, best cuddler, big sis beyond her years. Lots of love EK!

Matilda Update

I wish this update was that this medical situation is behind us but reality is reality.  Friday brought low counts again and we had to go to the next step.  Ugh.  I am still optimistic and staying positive but the delay in this update is because I am over it, tired, crabby, frustrated and want this to go way.  So you all know me, I am not into pity parties so we woke up today and working through all of this.  

When you can't take real bath EK will help make a sink bath so fun! Maugs loved the tub to herself!

Friday was a tough afternoon on this momma.  The feeling of your child being put to sleep in your arms is something I never want to experience again.  We are still fighting ITP and the next step since the IVIG did not help is steroids.  But in order to do steroids they have to do a bone marrow test to rule out luekemia entirely.  The doc still says she has no signs but if there is something there a steroid would progress it faster than desired.  This was a procedure they did in the blood doc office (no clue what you call it!), they are connected to the hospital should there be an issue.  Poppa stayed by her side the whole time and I cried in the other room.  Yes this day took the air out of me.  No surprise, she did fabulous and recovered as expected.  One positive is you head home an 1hour after recovery.  So back home and we have to wait the weekend for the update on Monday.  Yes, even in the medical field people don't work a whole day on Friday.  The update we want is that we can move forward with steroids but I'll be honest that is where I am really struggling.  I am not a fan of the side effects these can bring and so on.  We have done a lot of research and as you read about ITP and talk to the doc the hardest part is the body has to get rid of this disorder on its own.  If her levels were not so low we could let it run its course, but with the very low levels she has the risk is too high.  So that is where we are.   All the thoughts and prayers are very much appreciated.  We will get through this just like we will get through the winter storm headed our way tomorrow...8-12 inches of snow, really?!!!

Donuts make things better !