What Am I Going To Do With Myself?

Holy cow! Since we got back from Tommy's bronch, He doesn't have ANY doctor's appointments! Our next one isn't until September 29 when he has his one year well baby check. I am so excited to not have to run, run, run this month. Since Tommy was born, the longest I have been away from the hospital is only 10 days. Now I get to take an entire month off.

I am happy that now Rob can work all month instead of taking a day off every week (which means we lose money). We really need this break. We still have therapy several days a week, but I don't have to go anywhere. I still have to get Tommy out of bed every day, so I am not doing any extra except changing out of my pajamas.

Tommy is doing beautifully. He got another tooth and I didn't even know he was teething! He's been in such a fantastic mood. I think since he started the antibiotics for whatever was in his trachea really made him feel better. He is being lazy with his therapists, though, so I have been keeping an eye on his coloring and demeanor. I've determined he is just a night owl! I can get him up at 8 and he still wants to sleep all morning and play all night. The therapists can't change their times, so this is the best we can do. Hopefully I can get him to change his ways and stay awake when they are trying to work with him!

So now we are doing the birthday countdown dance...It's almost here! What a year we have had!

Catching Up For The Week

Well, we've had quite the week! Tommy had a routine bronchoscopy done by his ENT Friday morning. It went very well. I have all the medical mumbo jumbo on my carepage if anyone cares for technical details. It all comes down to his airway has grown. That's a mixed blessing, because it means yes, he has more of an airway, but it also leaves him wide open to aspirate more. Ho-hum...His doctor is sure it can be handled eventually and we have a 95% chance of getting his trach out once an for all. I've come to learn this past year to NEVER expect anything from Tommy! Good or bad!

So that leads up to Labor day weekend. We were lazy pretty much the entire weekend. Rob took Matthew fishing on Monday, but they ended up home after just a few hours because nothing was biting. At least they went and made a memory together.

Today was our first day of homeschooling for this school year. I think it went very well. Brandon learned what the letter "A" looked and sounded like, so that is a great thing. I think we will do a letter a week. Matthew wanted to be in Kindergarten instead of fourth grade today! He eventually settled down and had a really good day as well. Now I am trying to get them to go to sleep. It's a little after midnight and the little monsters just won't drop! I guess I will just have to keep getting them up at 8 in the morning and pray they start sleeping at night!

A Real Hero

Well isn't it great when you learn something new? I spent all night teaching myself a new feature I found bundled with my Windows Vista Media Center. Literally...I never went to bed. I guess it is time to "reset" my internal clock. I hope you enjoy the video. Here it is...

Do You Like My New Page Layout?

Today, I decided to update the look of my blog. I like the new look better. It makes it easier for me to look at the page and see his slide show and ticker. Today begins the countdown to Tommy's first birthday. In less than a month, my little fighter is going to be a year old! It does not feel like a year. It feels like weeks ago he was born. Maybe it's because wee one still sleeps beside me in a bassinet. I know he isn't going to be in there much longer. He is starting to get too long. I don't want him sleeping with his legs curled up after all of the physical therapy we have done to stretch him out! Speaking of PT, he's been doing remarkable in that area! Look what we have accomplished this week.

Here he is sitting up for a few seconds on his own. Not long, but he did hold his balance for the first time!


This is him playing on his tummy for the first time! He even lifted his head a few times!


The tummy is a really big deal. When we started therapy six months ago, he would hyperventilate the second we tried to roll him over. It has been a lot of hard work for all of us, especially him. I hope by his first birthday, he will be able to lift his head and play on his tummy, and be able to sit on his own. He will probably get a crib for his birthday. I've never made a big deal out of any of my other boys birthdays, but after all we have been through with Tommy, I wouldn't feel right without some sort of celebration. I've got a few more days to plan it!

Ramblings

Tommy went to the endocrinologist today. Just another "ist" to add to my already long, long list. My sleep schedule is completely screwed up. I end up being up til 5 in the morning, and sleeping until 11ish. Matthew and Brandon stay up so late and no matter of approach will sway them to lay their heads down and sleep! I have always been a night owl, but when Brandon can survive on 4 hours of sleep a day and go like a freight train morning and night, I am having a hard time keeping up with him! I need a week of sleep! I have been given a respite opportunity...I can choose whatever it is I would like to pamper myself. Tough call. I just don't know!!! I thought about checking into a nice hotel for a weekend and ordering room service and going on a garden tour. Problem is, I have to train Rob how to care for Tommy, and it's just not working out. The point is to get away from Tommy for a little while, but if I have nobody is this whole world that knows how to care for him but me, then how can I ever get away. Maybe my respite should be to send Matthew and Brandon away for the weekend instead!

Time For A Change

Today was a day for me. Well, I should say yesterday, since it is almost 3 in the morning...anyway...I took myself to the doctor. Not Tommy. Me. I have been worried since Tommy was born that my gestational diabetes was not under control. At my 6 week checkup after he was born I was told it was a little high and to see my regular doctor. I didn't have a regular doctor, and my insurance ran out very soon after that appointment.

I ended up finding a free clinic last week and made an appointment. I was not far off track in needing myself checked out. My fasting blood sugar was 131. Not terribly high, but enough that the doctor started me on some oral medication and is having me monitor myself for a month. I will then go back and see if there is any change.

Now, Today today, (because it is almost 3 a.m.) well, that is another story. It's my birthday. I am 36 years old today. So I guess my birthday gift to myself was to get on track to getting healthy. I am going to celebrate by putting a roast in the crock pot when I finally get up so there will be no cooking on my part for my birthday dinner. I am going to watch High School Musical Part 2 and just relax. I am hoping hubby can take the older boys to a friends and all of them spend the weekend. I could really use the peace and quiet. Of course, Tommy would still be here, but he alone isn't really that much work. It's when you add all of his work in with cleaning house, cooking, taking care of the other boys, blah, blah, blah that is gets tough!

So. Happy Birthday to ME!

Decorations By A 4 Year Old!

Silly Brandon! I walked into his room today, and look what I found! They have bunk beds and Brandon has the bottom. I guess he needed decorations!