I posted this on my facebook and for the sake of saving my aching fingers I am copying and pasting most of it.  If you read it there… feel free to skip it here!

Yesterday was another “fun” day in Cincinnati. We had a day full of VCUG, Renal Scan, labs and appt with Dr. Alam. Here are the results of the testing and decisions made:

1) The reflux in her left kidney is persistent and NOT being positively affected by our extreme measures in cathing, meds etc. She WILL, without a doubt, need a ureter re-implantation within the next year or so.

2) Her bladder looks MUCH better than it used to meaning that the Gent. bladder irrigations are doing good work on it. Downside is that her bladder still holds nearly TWICE what a 4 year old’s bladder SHOULD hold. As a matter of fact, she nearly has the capacity of an adult. This is a double edged sword because it gives her the tendency to hang on to urine much longer than necessary and increases her risks for infection. BUT because it IS so big she also will likely NOT need a bladder AUGMENTATION unless other factors happen after her other urology surgeries. That is a huge THANK GOD, AMEN, HALLELUJAH!!!! Because augmentations are NOT nice surgeries.

3) Even WITH her big old bladder she still CONSTANTLY leaks urine meaning that her bladder neck needs tightening (surgery required for this also) and after that is completed she will LOSE the ability to void on her own … ever.

4) Which will require ANOTHER surgery – Mitrofanoff (tract made through the belly button for her to be able to cath from there instead of below).

5) Good news is that Alam can do all of these things in ONE SURGERY! We also have decided that it is HIGHLY likely that Kyleigh will get a MALONE while she is in the OR. Trying to put a malone in AFTER the grand scale of the urological surgeries is NOT a good idea so we will get the malone. Kyleigh is also proving to us that her bowels, intestines, GI system is going to stump everyone. Theoretically she should be able to eat, but she can’t, won’t doesn’t… She stays constipated and battling that is tiring and dangerous for her because she literally backs all the way up… If for some reason we don’t use the Malone (another surgical procedure that creates a pathway to allow for enemas without using the rectum) it can be removed relatively easily. It is likely that Dr. Levitt will end up installing this during the round of urology surgeries.

So… her surgery will be long and the recovery is TOUGH. Alam has told us to plan to LIVE IN CINCY for up to 4-6 weeks depending on Kyleigh’s healing. Kyleigh will be inpatient for a while and on TPN after surgery until the Malone and Mitrofanoff can be used.  This will still be problematic because Kyleigh will eat… especially when you tell her no!  She just doesn’t consume enough calories to sustain life.  This will not be easy for our family but we know that our upcoming move will make it a lot easier. We also are ALL in agreeance that Kyleigh will need this done within the next year or year and a half. We advocate having it done, and healed BEFORE she goes to school just because that will be BEST for her…. to have her new routine, know it well and NOT have to be pulled out of school for more surgery.

We are FINE even HAPPY about this because we have come to terms with the fact that Kyleigh will NEVER be naturally continent. We know this… we held out hope as long as we could and we now know that her body is going to do whatever it wants and what it wants is NOT to be continent… LOL. We want to do what is BEST for Kyleigh to grow up and have as normal a life as possible. We know that she will cath for the rest of her life, and we know that without these surgeries she will not be “dry”. We don’t want her to go through the emotional strain of that when we know that this is inevitable anyhow. So… we will see Alam again at the end of August / beginning of September, after wedding season calms down a bit, and we will schedule this surgery for October / November.

This will NOT be easy. It will likely be HARDER than the month we spent in the CICU because Kyleigh is OLDER and WISER and understands more now than then. Kyleigh will not be allowed to have anything by mouth for a long period of time and although we say she doesn’t eat… she is NOT orally averted. She LIKES to eat she just cannot consume enough calories each day to keep herself alive and healthy so we will be depriving her of food and we ALL know how fun that will be. It will not be like CICU when she was unconscious for weeks and all we had to do was watch the monitors and pray…

It is also likely that Troy will NOT be able to be in Cincy with me the entire time so I am trying to get myself “psyched” up to handle this on my own! Kyleigh can be a handful and very much reverts to being a “baby” when she is hospitalized.
I know the first question I will get from everyone is “What can we do?” -

Well we will be making a calendar of fun things to do and people to who will volunteer to make some time fun for the boys here at home.  We also are busy trying to collect a large number of DVD’s to keep Kyleigh entertained.  If you have ones that you would be willing to put on loan to us for a month (I promise I will Lysol the cases before I bring them back!) or you have extras of the girly movies like the Barbie series or Disney Classics (or Princesses especially) that you would be willing to sell cheaply… please let me know!  I am also looking for ANGELINA BALLERINA and Spongebob.  We were only in KCH for a FEW days in January and 4 DVD’s were just not enough!!!  I am looking at a few lots on Ebay but some of those are getting HIGH on the bids!  I have to wait for them to be CHEAP!  LOL

Another way to help is to help me think of activities and items for Kyleigh to play with while in the hospital.  After she is released we will be able to do things like the zoo and acquarium etc… but while she is inpatient we will have to have lots of fun things.  From previous hospital experiences I know that Ky loves:

STICKERS – these are doctor’s office and hospital reserved treats because at HOME they end up on the furniture and then I have to threaten people’s lives… it just doesn’t work out … LOL

PLAY DOH- At home this stuff gets left out on day 1 and then its all crusty after that.

COLORING BOOKS and MARKERS- Ky is not allowed to use markers at home without direct supervision… you can use your imagination to figure out why.  So when she GETS to use them in the hospital she thinks they are magical!

BOOKS- particularly anything pink… and princess… or Barbie.

TEA PARTY- We will take her Tea Set for all those days when she cannot eat.  Hopefully that will pacify the beast for a bit.

IPHONE games- Kyleigh has really gotten into a matching game and a puzzle game on my iphone.  I will likely put a handful more on there for her NEW before we go… you know the novelty of NEW things is always best!  So if you have suggestions let me know!

Any OTHER suggestions would be GREAT!!!  I know I will likely pack the entire house but hey.. a woman’s got to have options!

For our friends and family here… we will need your help and support in helping our boys to continue their lives normally. Ross and Owen will BOTH be in school and we do NOT want them to have to miss anymore life events or school for Kyleigh’s issues. Its not fair to them… so anyone who is willing to help out with our boys at home for a few hours one or two nights a week, that would be awesome! That way my parents can come to the hospital and relieve me or so Troy can come…. we know that this will be an undertaking by everyone but you know I believe one of the truest statements ever made was “It takes a village to raise a child”.
For our friends far away… I know that you all are SO willing to help because most of you have BEEN where we are going be it with urology, PSARP, or other surgeries. What can you do? PRAY! Call… write… keep me entertained while I am cooped up in the hospital room! LOL If you are going to be in cincy (once we know our dates) feel free to stop by and say hi!!!

Most of all we are asking that everyone join in with us NOW in praying that the PERFECT path be paved toward this surgery. We ask that you would pray for peace for our families and for strength for Troy and I. Pray that Kyleigh’s body would be perfectly prepared for the upcoming trauma and that God would speed the healing process.

Just as we always ask during surgeries we ask that you pray for our medical professionals. Pray for Drs. Alam and Levitt ( and ANY of their staff ) that their lives would be BLESSED. That their families would be BLESSED. That their paths would be made straight and that any stresses in their lives would begin to absolve themselves. Pray that their minds would be clear, that their purpose and intentions would be upright, that they would receive clarity and WISDOM beyond measure to handle ANY surgery, complications etc. that may arise. Pray that they would understand Kyleigh’s issues with pain management. Pray most of all that their hearts and ears would be OPEN to HEAR from us as parents when we tell them things that we “know” because there are times when I cannot REASONABLY explain how I know things… other than divine knowledge… but I do. I know Kyleigh and God has given me a gift to be able to be so in tune with her.. but it doesn’t do much good if it falls on deaf ears…

Start praying now and I know that our journey toward this will be smooth.Recent Comments:

• Holly says This post was a blessing to me. THANK YOU for putting into words something that I am also learning…Lord [more]
• Dawn isaac says I was just diagnosed with chiari and live in louisville. I have not found a nuerosurgeon or a neurologist to [more]
• Tricia says Learning to be joyful in the sufficiency is a great place to be, rather painful at times, but still wonderful. [more]
• Carla says email me the amount you don’t want to go over on DVDs our HUGE consignment sale is next week, and [more]
• Danielle says Agreed. Send me your address and I’ll get a little care package put together for the patient. I [more]

• December 15, 2009 -- One Day closer…
• October 26, 2009 -- Do not be anxious about anything…
• January 12, 2010 -- Coming Home!
• November 22, 2009 -- Making Peace…
• November 17, 2009 -- Tomorrow is yesterday and now today is here.

Yes, Ky is now sporting a bit of a pixie look.  I was honestly ready to cut her hair anyhow but she hastened the process when she took two huge CHUNKS out of it herself with the surgical scissors from her bedroom drawer…  Why? One might ask, does one keep surgical scissors in a 3 year old’s room.  Well lets see… there was the ostomy and then the broviac and then… you get the point.  The scissors are kept on a LOCKED shelf about 3 feet ABOVE her changing table so she was houdini to even get them in her hands!

I was pretty upset when I first saw the carnage.  I panicked for a minute and then decided we had to find some way to straighten it out!

At any rate I found a little style that I thought I could cut around the damage she did and I think it turned out pretty cute!!!  What do you think???

She was obviously devastated by the hair carnage… or not.

Recent Comments:

• Holly says This post was a blessing to me. THANK YOU for putting into words something that I am also learning…Lord [more]
• Dawn isaac says I was just diagnosed with chiari and live in louisville. I have not found a nuerosurgeon or a neurologist to [more]
• Tricia says Learning to be joyful in the sufficiency is a great place to be, rather painful at times, but still wonderful. [more]
• Carla says email me the amount you don’t want to go over on DVDs our HUGE consignment sale is next week, and [more]
• Danielle says Agreed. Send me your address and I’ll get a little care package put together for the patient. I [more]

• February 23, 2010 -- So it begins, Kyleigh’s next medical journey.
• January 12, 2010 -- Coming Home!
• January 6, 2010 -- First SNOW!
• December 15, 2009 -- One Day closer…
• November 11, 2009 -- If only I were martha……..

So by Saturday AM, Kyleigh wakes up puking her guts up, followed in suit by Ross, then Troy then me.  Luckily I really hadn’t eaten anything for a few days so there was not much there for me, but Troy was violently ill.  He said it was the closest he had ever come to calling 911.

By Saturday night it was apparent that Kyleigh was NOT going to make it through without intervention.  Even with pedialyte in her g-tube she was still dry as a bone and puking.  So, I did what I always do… called Joe.  Mom and Dad took Ky to the hospital and met Joe’s resident (whom he had already briefed on the situation) and I took off to Kroger to get the amazing, wonderful, awesome, beautiful ZOFRAN that Dr. Y called in for us!  Can I just tell you how incredibly thankful I am to have Drs on my speed dial?  I mean really God has BLESSED us with these doctors!

While I was gone, praying all the way that I could even MAKE IT, to Kroger and back, Troy was at home and he said good thing he had passed out because he might have had to call 911 otherwise.  Kyleigh was already gone with Mom and Dad, Owen was with me, and Ross was out cold after a day of being as sick as Troy… so we all took Zofran and went to bed!

I was able to get up Sunday morning and head to the hospital and felt much better.  I arrived just in time for rounds and Kyleigh already looked better!  Which, why wouldn’t she… I think Joe said that she had had 6 or 7 boluses of fluid by that time.  She was STILL barely peeing.  I, of course, was worried about the kidneys, and two hours later Kyleigh removed all doubt and FLOODED her bed, about 5 hours in a row!

All was well, Ky got to eat her B.R.A.T diet and Joe let us come home last night after she lost her IV.  Once again, thank God for him, one of his flock told our nurse that she needed to put the IV BACK IN!  I was like… hold the phone… I am calling Joe!  LOL

At any rate, it was another crazy weekend.  We are home now, Owen is back in school, Ky and Ross are downstairs playing, Troy is at work and I am here, doing what I do… blogging!  All is right with the world I guess!Recent Comments:

• Holly says This post was a blessing to me. THANK YOU for putting into words something that I am also learning…Lord [more]
• Dawn isaac says I was just diagnosed with chiari and live in louisville. I have not found a nuerosurgeon or a neurologist to [more]
• Tricia says Learning to be joyful in the sufficiency is a great place to be, rather painful at times, but still wonderful. [more]
• Carla says email me the amount you don’t want to go over on DVDs our HUGE consignment sale is next week, and [more]
• Danielle says Agreed. Send me your address and I’ll get a little care package put together for the patient. I [more]

• August 28, 2009 -- Another few faves from Gulf Shores…
• October 31, 2009 -- Carving and Couponing…
• August 24, 2009 -- What the world needs is people who have come alive…
• January 6, 2010 -- First SNOW!
• November 22, 2009 -- Making Peace…

Yes…. the first snow of the season!!!  It came EARLY this year!  Normally, its well into January before we see any kind of accumulation.  The kids were, of course, elated and DYING to go outside.  We obliged since it was 30 something (thus their poorly dressed status!)….

Recent Comments:

• Holly says This post was a blessing to me. THANK YOU for putting into words something that I am also learning…Lord [more]
• Dawn isaac says I was just diagnosed with chiari and live in louisville. I have not found a nuerosurgeon or a neurologist to [more]
• Tricia says Learning to be joyful in the sufficiency is a great place to be, rather painful at times, but still wonderful. [more]
• Carla says email me the amount you don’t want to go over on DVDs our HUGE consignment sale is next week, and [more]
• Danielle says Agreed. Send me your address and I’ll get a little care package put together for the patient. I [more]

• January 12, 2010 -- Coming Home!
• November 8, 2009 -- Christmas Card Preview!
• October 31, 2009 -- Carving and Couponing…
• August 28, 2009 -- Another few faves from Gulf Shores…
• August 26, 2009 -- Wordless Wednesday

Our neighbor’s child is a full year younger than Ky.  He is still very baby like in his actions and speech.  He is cute as a button but still very much a baby.  When I look at Ky now… she is not.  She will be FOUR this coming year.  She speaks in sentences and ponders life.  She orders her brothers around and demands explanations.  She can be reasoned with although at times she is, like every 3.5 year old, unreasonable.  She is smarter than most, I would venture to guess.  I choose to see my daughter, not as the child who cannot be continent, cannot hold her own stool, has the inability to keep herself hydrated, or consume enough calories to live.  I see her as this amazing miracle.  This beautiful person who we have fought so hard for.  I rarely think about things that WERE without also seeing how wonderful and miraculous those times were.  So even in looking at the “horror” of her life I see beauty, wisdom, grace and miraculous things.

But that single comment and the tone with which it was said was like a dagger.  It hit me without me even seeing it coming.  I had no idea what to do with it once I did see it.  It wounded me.  I realized… that day was one day closer.  To Kyleigh realizing…. that she is not normal.  What will I do when that day comes?  How do I explain to her the reasons why she cannot wear those big girl Ariel panties that she loves so much.  Instantly this glass house that I have created around her illness, that it is positive and good things have come from it and we have been shown miracles and and and…….. it all came crashing down.  How can I ever explain this to her and make it positive?  I can’t.  There is nothing positive about it.  There is no hope for a cure, no meds to coincide, no treatment plan that we haven’t already tried, no surgery that will help, no doctors to consult… I have nothing to give her.  I have nowhere to go and no one to seek help from.  That hurts.  A lot.

Just today, Ky had her morning poop.  Yes… she usually has one a day, unless her meds are off or she is sick… in the late morning.  (these are all things that are very commonplace to talk about in a family with an IA kid… I apologize if they are TMI for you…)  I went to reach for the wipes on the changing table and of course… nada… I go to the armoire… none there either.  I try and send Ross for a new box… hah!  Yeah right.  I really miss my Owen to grab things for me in a pinch situation.  So I left her laying there, half covered in poo (you IA moms KNOW what I am saying here!) and went running to the stockpile room to retrieve new wipes.  I came back and Kyleigh was sitting in the crab position on all fours trying not to put her bum down and get the changing table cover messy yet she was covered… she had poo from end to end and in the course of her panic had peed all over everything.  I could see it in her face… the look of panic.  She had NO idea what had just happened that she peed on herself and her own changing pad.  She was upset and in a way scared because she did not understand it all.  I was upset because I have no conception of how to try and explain.  We both cried.

As I put her in the bathtub I kept thinking… its becoming so painfully apparent now that she is not normal.  Soon she is going to know too and all of the “shadow of doubt” or hope or whatever you want to call it will be shattered.  Right now, Kyleigh believes that she is perfect… and to me she is, but how do you explain to her that she is not perfect in the “eyes” of the rest of the world… and that this problem, this issue, is somehow abnormal.  I worry about people and their painful glances as they realize that an almost 4 year old still wears diapers.  I think about words that are unintentional and just as painful nonetheless.  I am NOT prepared.  I am not prepared to hold my daughter at night when she cries because she wants to be like the other little girls at school.  I am not prepared to watch her run from the school and tell me about kids who said hurtful things.  I am not prepared to try and explain to people in the outside world what is “Wrong” with Kyleigh without also horrifying them.  (because up until now our world has consisted of 90% medical people and they all at least understand the physiology of it all)  I am not ready to accept that this is how it has to be for her.  The surgeries, the hospitals, the years, the meds, the long hours, the monitors, the pumps, the research, the tests, the doctors, the appointments, the traveling… I can do that.  Those things are things I know.  Those things I am ready for.  Another doctor, another hospital, another diagnosis… I can handle that.  This… I cannot.

To be honest with you, there is nothing in the world that has ever SCARED me about this child and I have finally found the one thing.  I find myself aching and paralyzed with fear at this moment that we are one day closer to THAT DAY when she realizes that she is not like everyone else.Recent Comments:

• Holly says This post was a blessing to me. THANK YOU for putting into words something that I am also learning…Lord [more]
• Dawn isaac says I was just diagnosed with chiari and live in louisville. I have not found a nuerosurgeon or a neurologist to [more]
• Tricia says Learning to be joyful in the sufficiency is a great place to be, rather painful at times, but still wonderful. [more]
• Carla says email me the amount you don’t want to go over on DVDs our HUGE consignment sale is next week, and [more]
• Danielle says Agreed. Send me your address and I’ll get a little care package put together for the patient. I [more]

• February 23, 2010 -- So it begins, Kyleigh’s next medical journey.
• October 26, 2009 -- Do not be anxious about anything…
• October 12, 2009 -- Preppy Pumpkins
• January 12, 2010 -- Coming Home!
• November 22, 2009 -- Making Peace…

I would TOTALLY make this outfit for Ky for turkey day… I mean REALLY!  Have you EVER seen anything so cute in all your life?  Ky would TOTALLY rock this!  I am in love… maybe my FAVORITE set of clothing that I have found this year!  If I were not saving up for my VICTORY that God is giving us I would SO buy this!  LOL  Alas God’s victory wins out… maybe next year!Recent Comments:

• Holly says This post was a blessing to me. THANK YOU for putting into words something that I am also learning…Lord [more]
• Dawn isaac says I was just diagnosed with chiari and live in louisville. I have not found a nuerosurgeon or a neurologist to [more]
• Tricia says Learning to be joyful in the sufficiency is a great place to be, rather painful at times, but still wonderful. [more]
• Carla says email me the amount you don’t want to go over on DVDs our HUGE consignment sale is next week, and [more]
• Danielle says Agreed. Send me your address and I’ll get a little care package put together for the patient. I [more]

• February 23, 2010 -- So it begins, Kyleigh’s next medical journey.
• January 14, 2010 -- Ky’s new do…
• January 12, 2010 -- Coming Home!
• January 6, 2010 -- First SNOW!
• December 15, 2009 -- One Day closer…

Yes yes… I promise I will post the FULL christmas card after I get them mailed for all of you, my bloggy friends, who I would SO be friends with if I knew you IRL!!!  I managed to have a brilliant idea this year of a method to photograph my kids!  One day, about an hour before Owen got out of school, we dressed the two little kids and took them to Keeneland.  We photographed them individually and together.  THEN we picked up Owen and threw him into the mix getting the pics of the THREE together first before the little kids melted down.  Troy put the little kids in the van to watch a movie and I finished up with Owen’s individuals.  It was a SUCCESS!!!  I was able to get some of the best images I have been able to capture of my kids EVER!!  I keep holding on to hope that it will get easier to photograph my brood but with them all having a wicked case of PCS (photographer’s child syndrome) I don’t if it will ever be EASY!  LOL

This is what resulted!  These are not images that will be included in the card but a few that I thought were really cute also!  Can you guess my Christmas card theme?  Leave me comments and if you DO guess my theme I will send you a little something to get your holidays started off right!!!

Thank You, Thank You… yes we agree…. they are incredibly cute!  I have to say I am pretty proud of their outfits also!  I pride myself on being a thrifty nickel and these outfits cost me, in total, less than $30!!!  How?  Well Ross’s pink tie was OWEN’s pink tie from two years ago.  His tan vest and white shirt were two things he has had in his closet since.. forever maybe!  Both of the boy’s corduroy pants are from yard sales at $2 each (both Gap adjustable waist at that!).  Shoes are from consignment including Ky’s.  Ky’s dress is a yard sale find that I paid $8 for (but actually I probably didn’t pay that much because I bought a LARGE lot of gymboree stuff and if you divide this dress into that lot I ended up paying like $1 a piece for the clothing….).  Ky’s hairbows I hand made.  Owen’s sweater is a yard sale find for $4 and his pink polo underneath is from Ky’s part last year (the boys wore pink and green!).  How’s that for throwing it together?  I think I did pretty darn good!

Ky had a little cream sweater (that was sent to her from a coupon friend of mine… HI DREA!!!!) that she will wear at the holidays but it was warm enough outside this day that she really didn’t need it and I really wanted the pink on her dress to show.  Nothing like taking Christmas pictures when its 70 degrees outside!  LOLRecent Comments:

• Holly says This post was a blessing to me. THANK YOU for putting into words something that I am also learning…Lord [more]
• Dawn isaac says I was just diagnosed with chiari and live in louisville. I have not found a nuerosurgeon or a neurologist to [more]
• Tricia says Learning to be joyful in the sufficiency is a great place to be, rather painful at times, but still wonderful. [more]
• Carla says email me the amount you don’t want to go over on DVDs our HUGE consignment sale is next week, and [more]
• Danielle says Agreed. Send me your address and I’ll get a little care package put together for the patient. I [more]

• August 14, 2009 -- “Never a ship… sails out of the bay
• November 9, 2009 -- HOT DEAL- FREE photo Christmas cards!!!
• August 28, 2009 -- Another few faves from Gulf Shores…
• August 24, 2009 -- What the world needs is people who have come alive…
• July 8, 2009 -- From sea to shining sea…

So its Halloween already!  Where on earth did the time go?  Oh that’s right… the past THREE weeks have been eaten by rancid illness that has overtaken our house!  First Owen, then Kyleigh, then Ross, then me… now Troy.  Geez……..

Maybe we will see the light of day soon!  LOL  I am still really weak and “swimmy” in the head.  I managed to loose a few pounds over the past week (maybe like 3-4!!) so I cannot complain but man the nausea from all this drainage sucks!  (TMI.. I know.)

So on to the better stuff! Last night was the annual pumpkin carving.  Troy made my perfected polka dotted pumpkin by drilling holes… easy schmeasy.  Owen carved his OWN creation… and did a DARN good job.  Ross pouted a lot and tried to get into everyone else’s business and Kyleigh was more interested in “cookin up some dem seeds”…  Yes she played in the pumpkin guts and was perfectly happy.  Glad it doesn’t take much to please my kids!

Yes…  every now and then we acquire additional children from over the fence!  LOL

So much whining… (please tell me that the whining stops at 5???)

And THEN… because I am STILL sick, STILL wiped out, on day 3 of my Zithromax and STILL not feeling much better… Troy decided to keep up with the coupon shopping for the week.  It was a big week because of the Mega Sale at Krogers.  Lots of FREES and super cheaps on stuff that we needed to stock up on.  I traded and ordered Q’s online so some of them did not arrive until yesterday.  Tonight we still have one more run to do but we are almost there!

This is Troy and Owen’s booty from Kroger last night:

Shown in the picture:

10 steamfresh veggies (either 25 or 50 cents),

10 Land O Lakes Butters (17 cents each), $0.99 (Mega Sale) -

15 Glade Scented oil candle refill packs (50 cents each… yes I could get them free elsewhere but I would rather pay 50 cents for the refills than to get the entire candle holder and such free because it just seems like such a waste to me…),

20 Bumblee Tuna envelopes (FREE + $0.06 overage), $0.49 each (Mega Sale) – $0.55/1 Coupon = $0.06 overage

20 Krusteaz Pancake mixes (yes we REALLY like this stuff!) $0.17 each,$1.17 (Mega Sale) – $0.50/1 (doubled) = $0.17 each

10 Quaker Chewy Bars $0.99 each,

12 boxes of Cheez-its $0.25 each,

8 boxes of Betty Crocker Potatoes ( a few cents each… I totally honestly couldn’t tell you how much now but they were CHEAP… rest assured!  LOL)

Troy SAVED $192 and spent $44 ($10 of which was mucinex and more sudafed… blas it all this stupid sickness!)  ……….. nice right?Recent Comments:

• Holly says This post was a blessing to me. THANK YOU for putting into words something that I am also learning…Lord [more]
• Dawn isaac says I was just diagnosed with chiari and live in louisville. I have not found a nuerosurgeon or a neurologist to [more]
• Tricia says Learning to be joyful in the sufficiency is a great place to be, rather painful at times, but still wonderful. [more]
• Carla says email me the amount you don’t want to go over on DVDs our HUGE consignment sale is next week, and [more]
• Danielle says Agreed. Send me your address and I’ll get a little care package put together for the patient. I [more]

• January 12, 2010 -- Coming Home!
• August 28, 2009 -- Another few faves from Gulf Shores…
• January 6, 2010 -- First SNOW!
• November 15, 2009 -- Ten Commandments of Couponing!
• November 8, 2009 -- Christmas Card Preview!

I have been pondering what it is that God wants me to learn from these “trials” He has allowed in our lives.  I have realized that many times when you pray for something, instead of being handed, on a silver platter, the thing that you prayed for, you sometimes receive the “opportunity” to learn.  Often that can come in the form of some hardship or other trying incident in your life.

As my mother used to tell me “If you don’t learn your lesson the first time, you get to repeat it”.  I feel like I am repeating so many events in my life which means that I am not listening and learning.  I have made my fair share of mistakes and will continue to I am sure.  It is the human nature and condition to be imperfect but I will, through my Heavenly Father, one day be with Him in heaven regardless.

I am a very anxious person by nature.  I have issues with needing to keep things in order and under control.  I like to strive for “perfection” and often feel that I have failed when I do not live up to my own standards.  I know that God is trying to break that habit of mine but man is it rough when God tries to “get a hold of you”.

In the past 2 weeks we have had some “bad” which have each turned out for the “good”:

Owen brought home the “Influenza A”, which promptly infected Kyleigh.

Then the both of them turned up with a rash that looked eerily similar to the chicken pox but they have both had the vaccine and never itched for a minute.  (Megan said it didn’t look like chicken pox to her but it could very well have been as the chicken pox virus is morphing now that the shot exists).

I had to “have words” with Owen’s school about their lack of sanitizing and poor cleaning habits.

We had to haul all over town and take 2+ hours to even find and receive the compounded Tamiflu for Ky.  (lucky for us Owen learned to take a pill this month!)

Ross seemed “okay” until Friday night at 7 pm when he started screaming that his ears were hurting.  (Why is it that my children have the inability to get “sick” Monday through Friday 9-5?)

Then Saturday Kyleigh comes up with snotty nose, nasty green stuff, and goop coming from her eyes.

By Sunday Kyleigh’s temp was at 102.5 (101 with tylenol) and Ross was at 101 period.

Then Ross pukes all over our bedroom floor.  (Owen has luckily learned that he needs to head to the toilet or tub and FAST when the feeling hits!)

Today we go to Megan’s office (which is a complete madhouse… I felt like I was walking into the plague) and she says that both of the babies are bad off.  Double ear infections, upper respiratory and Kyleigh sounds really “wet and junky” inside.  Great….

Off to the pharmacy.  It was totally my fault because Megan asked me where to call in the scripts and with Ross there I neglected to have her call Ky’s into the clinic and ended up with it at Kroger.  Of COURSE they cannot compound it… that would be too easy.  So it was 4 frantic phone calls between Kroger, Megan’s office and Clinic Pharmacy to get it straightened out just 10 minutes before the pharmacy closed…

Now both babies are in our bed knocked out on sudafed, abx and tylenol.  Owen has been “off-sited” as I affectionately call it and was quarantined on the joint decision by Megan and us.  He will not return to school this week until both of his siblings are well.  We are just bouncing these illnesses back and forth and the hit to the immune systems came from the flu that he contracted at school.

BUT… where I was going with this IS… I am starting to SEE God’s everyday miracles.  I am trying to be STILL and watch how He is working and blessing us each day.

Because Owen got the flu early enough, the Tamiflu was actually available and we managed to even FIND a pharmacy to compound it for Ky.  That SAME pharmacy was also able to override some issue with her Medicaid and Insurance to MAKE them pay for the nearly $40 script.

The rashes, even if they were chicken pox… only appeared on the kids’ trunks and did not itch at all.  If it WAS chicken pox they got off REALLY easy!

I was NOT met with opposition as Owen’s school and was very impressed and relieved when both the counselor and assistant principal met with me, heard my concerns AND took a course of action to help alleviate my issues!  It was GREAT.  I love Owen’s school!

We managed to make it all the way through wedding season and never got ill!  The kids managed to always be “okay” until Sunday making it less stressful on us to be away.

Ross’ puking was NOT the flu.  He never GOT the flu.  The puke came from too much snot, too little appetite and too much pain in the ears.

BECAUSE we were at Megan’s office TODAY we were able to ALL get the H1N1 shot (Owen will go back this week for his) as it JUST arrived to their office today.  Now THERE is God’s perfect timing for you!

BECAUSE the Kroger pharmacy could not compound one of her meds I ended up having them sent to KY Clinic which SAVED me the co-payments.

BECAUSE we had to WAIT a long time at the pharmacy I was able to go through the Kroger store and find some amazing deals that I had been WAITING for and hoarding my coupons until the Mega Sale came around!!  (coupons have been such a HUGE blessing… I get all choked up about how God placed Ali back in my life to teach me this method… without her and God’s hand in our meeting back up we would be struggling even more than we are now!  At least I know we can put food on the table no matter what!)

BECAUSE we were in Megan’s office I had the opportunity to talk to her about Owen’s school situation and she agreed and was glad to write a note explaining why he is absent.  So now his absences are justified and we don’t have to worry.

Also we had a lot of peace and quiet today with the kids being sick so I was able to spend Troy’s sick day with him and getting my coupon run ready!!

Overall its been a GREAT day.  Amazing that its all in how you look at things.  Today my cup is not “half full” it “runneth over”……..

PS… our church has been so amazing in bringing meals and preparing some quick foods like fruit trays and soup to freeze… our bellies have been full and our hearts warm knowing that they are there and praying… thank you everyone!!  We love our church family SO much!

Recent Comments:

• Holly says This post was a blessing to me. THANK YOU for putting into words something that I am also learning…Lord [more]
• Dawn isaac says I was just diagnosed with chiari and live in louisville. I have not found a nuerosurgeon or a neurologist to [more]
• Tricia says Learning to be joyful in the sufficiency is a great place to be, rather painful at times, but still wonderful. [more]
• Carla says email me the amount you don’t want to go over on DVDs our HUGE consignment sale is next week, and [more]
• Danielle says Agreed. Send me your address and I’ll get a little care package put together for the patient. I [more]

• February 23, 2010 -- So it begins, Kyleigh’s next medical journey.
• January 12, 2010 -- Coming Home!
• December 15, 2009 -- One Day closer…
• November 22, 2009 -- Making Peace…
• October 31, 2009 -- Carving and Couponing…

I give up.

So I called yesterday to the Peds office and asked them to have Megan CALL IN the Tamiflu for the other two so that IF we needed it we would have it.  The lady on the phone was EXTREMELY rude and said that they could NOT do that because the CDC recommendations blah blah blah.  I was thinking to myself… yeah but I bet the CDC didn’t account for kids like Ky either?

Some days I hate being right.  Owen is still down with a fever, Ky is now down and I am counting the hours until Ross goes down.  At LEAST Troy was able to take Ky to see Megan today and she DID write for Ross also.  I feel like crap but I honestly couldn’t tell you HOW bad I feel because I am on pain killers anyhow so its just a stuffy nose and my normal old headache.  Worst of all… we have to shoot a wedding tomorrow!  Its not like I can call the bride and say “Hey sorry… we can’t spread the flu and come to your wedding…” I swear I feel like wearing a mask but I know that would freak people out.  LOL

So another amazing weekend of sickness.  Thank you Fayette County Public Schools for not sanitizing the rooms.  Yes, I think its totally unnecessary too! (rollseyes……)

Just pray that Troy and I make it through tomorrow before we crash with this thing.Recent Comments:

• Holly says This post was a blessing to me. THANK YOU for putting into words something that I am also learning…Lord [more]
• Dawn isaac says I was just diagnosed with chiari and live in louisville. I have not found a nuerosurgeon or a neurologist to [more]
• Tricia says Learning to be joyful in the sufficiency is a great place to be, rather painful at times, but still wonderful. [more]
• Carla says email me the amount you don’t want to go over on DVDs our HUGE consignment sale is next week, and [more]
• Danielle says Agreed. Send me your address and I’ll get a little care package put together for the patient. I [more]

• February 23, 2010 -- So it begins, Kyleigh’s next medical journey.
• January 12, 2010 -- Coming Home!
• December 15, 2009 -- One Day closer…
• October 26, 2009 -- Do not be anxious about anything…
• October 12, 2009 -- Preppy Pumpkins