quick update- test on Brody tomorrow

Tomorrow morning Brody will have a pretty invasive test on his gut. It is outpatient but I can only imagine the discomfort he will have. Please keep him in your prayers.
This is the last test until his surgery on November 10th.
Thanks!

Krista

BOO!

Happy Halloween!!! I'll post pics of the kids tomorrow.

Sunday was such an amazing day!
Madi slept until 12! That is crazy for her. After she started moving around, I made my way to the back yard. Our fence fell down a while back so I had to finish taking it down, taking all the nails out of the boards, etc.
Well that got me thinking..... well really I wanted to build something!!!
I've wanted to do a mini garden for a while now but have not had the time to do it. Today was the day. I made two above ground beds, one for veggies and a small one for fruit. I know now isn't the time to plant anything so I'm going to take my time getting the soil and fertilizer just right for both beds.
I wasn't done "building" so I decided to make two flower boxes for the patio. They turned out really cute! I didn't want to stop but 1 my back was killing me and 2 it was getting dark and I still needed to mow the yard. Wouldn't you know I broke the main water pipe that sends water to our house :( I hit it with the mower just right. Anyway, Ricky had to run to Lowe's and 2 hours later we had water again.
I had to finish one assignment for my computer class which frustrated me to no end. I cannot wait until this class is over! and at this point, I hope for a B.
Anyway, Monday starts our very busy two weeks ahead. Wish us luck!!

Krista

"No matter what you've done for yourself or for humanity, if you can't look back on having given love and attention to your own family, what have your really accomplished?

I must ask why....

Here is the deal, I know that the Patton's visit our blog. What I don't know is why. So, why? We really feel like not one of the Patton's deserve or have a right to know about or see our children. You were never there for them during the fight of their lives so why do you think you should know about them?
I tried to make our blog private but it was blocking my family and our friends that we do want in our lives. Please if your last name is Patton and your first name is not Christina or Klayton, stop coming on our blog. Just stop. Please just leave us alone stop snooping in on our lives and live your life.
Yes, our kids are amazing and you really are missing out but that ship has sailed... without you.

You laugh because you think I'm different I laugh because you guys are all the same.

"Whatever they grow up to be, they are still our children, and the one most important of all the things we can give to them is unconditional love. Not a love that depends on anything at all except that they are our children."

"Children will not remember you for the material things you provide but for the feeling that you cherished them."

We've had a pretty slow week around here and I couldn't be happier.
Brody's VI teacher and the lady that will teach him to use a cane were out Thursday. Ricky dealt with them as I was in bed not able to move because of my back. He said everything went well. Thankfully, I was able to start moving around later that night. I will be going to the Chiropractor again this morning. The doctor's assistant say sometime women have problems with their backs after epidurals.... great. At any rate, I just need to get it fixed.

They know me in a way no one ever has
They open me to things I never knew existed
They drive me to insanity and push me to my depths
They are the beat of my heart, the pulse of my veins, and the energy in my soul
They are my kids

"I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish He didn't trust me so much." - Mother Teresa

Kitchen on lock down...
Yes, that would be our house and every cabinet that Madilynn Faith can try to open now has locks on them. I'm still not use to it and just about every time I open a cabinet door I'm afraid I'm going to pull it off.

My Uncle James made it through bypass surgery, praise God and is recovering in ICU. Please continue praying for him and my Aunt Cathy.

We are still adjusting to Ricky working nights. The days seem to fly by and a night I tend to get myself in trouble with "projects" around the house while the babies are sleeping. Between the "projects" and all this school work, I stay very busy.

I think I have the perfect costumes for the babies!! I'm not saying yet though. I don't want anyone copying LOL!

Anyway, I have another MUST try for the crock pot...... ATTENTION MEME...... Chicken and dumplings!!

4-6 boneless skinless chicken breasts 

2 tablespoons butter 

2 cans cream of chicken soup 

1 can chicken broth 

1/2 onion diced 

1 tablespoon dried parsley 

Bisquick: 2 1/4 cups Bisquick, 2/3 cup milk 

Put the chicken, butter, cream of chicken, chicken broth, parsley and onions in the crock pot and cook on high for four to six hours. 

As the chicken cooks and gets tender, break it up with a spoon or fork, whatever. I like to shred mine which is easily done when chicken cooks all day. 

Prepare your dumplings with the Bisquick mixture. Roll small balls of dough and drop them into crock pot. Stir into chicken mixture and cook for another 30 minutes to 1 hour.

This is hands down our favorite crock pot dinner right now. 

**** MEME: you HAVE to give me your Christmas list now! HA!.... no seriously! 

I think this is all I know for right now. Brody's VI teacher comes out tomorrow morning and we have to go back to the Chiropractor Friday.

Does anyone think it is INSANE!!! that its a few days shy of NOVEMBER? The babies' birthday was just a month ago, at least it feels that way. 

Krista 

“Whatever they grow up to be, they are still our children, and the one most important of all the things we can give to them is unconditional love. Not a love that depends on anything at all except that they are our children.”

Tonight is Ricky's first night working nights. It's great to have him home during the day but very strange to not have him here right now. Please keep him in your prayers every night. He really isn't a night person so I worry about him driving in the middle of the night.
Madi woke up screaming so I'm up now.
So far we've not seen any results from Gracie's surgery. I called the doctor yesterday to let him know and ask why. He told me to give it a few more days. He said sometimes the swelling stays around a bit longer. This surgery really needs to work. She didn't go through all that for nothing.
Two more classes started Monday for me. I'm not 100% sure how I'm going to do it but I'm going to. I did finish one out of 4 already and made an A. One class is super annoying, the professor gives any where from 4-7 assignments per week- for one class! Right now I have Government, Art, and Computer Business. My art teacher actually expects me to draw.... ha! that is so funny! I'll post my stick figures when I turn that in.
My uncle is having bypass surgery today. Please keep him in your prayers. His name is James.
Next week looks to be super busy and won't stop until after Brody's surgery.
It's kind of crazy to think that Thanksgiving is a month away. Speaking of Thanksgiving, Ricky wants to just go to Crackle Barrel. If you remember, last year he was out of state in PA for a month and ate Thanksgiving at Crackle Barrel. We may or may not do that. Meme would not like that very much but Meme, sometimes we should just do simple things....  :)

Brody fell asleep like this tonight... so exhausted he forgets he was playing with his foot and falls asleep.  And in a puddle of drool. 

Madi was eating lunch and decided she need to prop her leg up and get real comfortable. This kid is a mess! 

"Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children." 

There comes a point in your life when you realize who matters, who never did, who won't anymore, and who always will. So don't worry about people from your past, there's a reason why they didn't make it to your future.

Gracie before surgery

We had a pretty uneventful weekend.
Saturday I did homework in the morning while Ricky got the Suburban inspected and washed. I let the kids play outside for an hour or so. Madi is now riding a little toy around the driveway. We went to lunch at a really good authentic Cajun restaurant and funny thing is we saw Jennifer, Rhonda, Kelsey, and Brooke there. John later joined them. We did a little Christmas shopping. Very little. We bought 3 things.
Today we went grocery shopping and I finished my homework. I've got 2 more classes starting tomorrow.
Tomorrow is Ricky's first night to work nights. He is trying to stay up until 3am tonight.
Gracie's voice is not what we thought it would be. I'm actually very disappointed and if this is what the results will be, we will never do the procedure again.
I just checked our calendar and we have nothing scheduled! WHOO HOO!!!!!!

Outside eating pumpkin cookies 

she started from the front door!! 

Krista

Gracie's surgery

Gracie's surgery went great.

This time around the surgery was on a floor just for surgeries. It was very busy in that floor. They had a ton of kids going back at the same time so families were everywhere. I was not to thrilled with the set up to say the least. I was looking for a more calm setting. At any rate, we met with the ENT and Anesthesia doctor, signed the releases, and Gracie went to the Anesthesia doctor- kind of like she had known him all her life. That just the thing about her.... she keeps that light bulb smile.

whats crackin'.... me and Brody LOL

I almost forgot...

Mr. Man had his first appointment with the Chiropractor today. All of the x rays of his spine and neck came in and the results are better than we thought. Apparently, in your neck you have vertebrae number L1-L5. Brody's L2 is forward and pressing down on his L3. The good news is we can help this! WHOO HOO! So, my sweet boy will go weekly until we see some results. This doctor is so amazing.

Perfect!

I am not your friend, I am your parent. 

I will: flip out on you, stalk you, lecture, drive you insane, be your worst nightmare, and hunt you down when needed. BECAUSE I LOVE YOU. 

When you understand that, I will know you are a responsible adult.

You will never find someone who: LOVES, prays, cares, and worries for you more than me.

Love, 

Mom

Random pictures

for real

She's standing on a line between giving up & seeing how much more she can take.

Powerful

I don't think the worst thing that could happen to me is raising a child with special needs. 


I think the worse thing is to raise a child who is cruel to those with special needs.

Pumpkin patch and everything pumpkin

things you must try....

 Cheerio Treats
1 cup sugar
1 cup corn syrup
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
5 cups Cheerios

In large sauce pan, combine sugar and corn syrup. Bring to boil over medium heat.
Allow mixture to boil for one minute and remove from heat.
Add peanut butter and vanilla to mixture and mix until smooth.
Add Cheerios and mix until coated.
Drop mixture by spoonful onto waxed paper and allow to cool.

What you get is the most yummy cereal treat EVER! Our ECI workers and VI teacher LOVED them!!

just an ordinary day in a BL3SSED life

The babies had their first dental appointment yesterday. It went well. The dentist said we are doing everything right :) and he won't need to see them back until they are 2. He did say they should have a lot more teeth than they do but it is common for preemies.

2 am conversation? Anyone?

Since I don't sleep anymore, I have a lot of time on my hands to think about things. Most of the time this is not a good thing but sometimes it is. 

Sometimes I try to remember what life was like before the babies. I remember making good money, buying whatever I wanted, never being home, going out to eat with just Ricky, VACATIONS, you know freedom. But with that was also taking care of a boy that no matter what Ricky and I tried, was never enough, the extreme discipline issues that came with that boy, the drama. I don't miss that part one bit. 

craziness

Today the babies would be one year old if we made it full term. It is so crazy how early they were but how well they are doing today!

KP

Surgery for Brody

Brody will be having surgery in November. It is more exploratory to figure out what is going on with his stomach issues. In the meantime, he will be tested for Celiac disease, and a slew of other blood test, we also have to contact our surgeon that did his intestine surgery in the NICU for a test on his lower intestine that will be done as an outpatient test.
In other news, today Brody had a spell where he couldn't see at all. It actually happens all the time but this time was different. He stayed happy, giggling and smiling and he took his right thumb and felt my face. It was more the outline of my nose and lips. He is so smart! I just loved that he didn't get scared this time.
We broke up with our therapy team at TCH. I hated to do it since they personally really like the kids but the traveling was too much on them. We had to promise to visit them when we are there for other specialist appointments which we will do.

KP

For my little boy

Why do we close our eyes when we pray? When we cry? When we dream? Or when we kiss? Because we know that the most beautiful things in life are not seen, but felt by the heart.

I love you,

Mommy

Ladies and Gentlemen....

It only took 15 months but Gracie finally has a tooth coming in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Funny thing is I found it while we were at the Pedi right after I told the nurse how concerned I was that she was 15 months old and had none. When the doctor came in I quickly told him I was just kidding.

Their checkup went good. They got two shots which is never fun. When we walked in the room Madi started screaming so loud and would not stop. She knew where we were for sure.

A couple of things we are working on: Madi has had some uncontrollable shaking spells. When it is her arms it's not so bad but when it is her head, she seems very disoriented. Dr. Leach wants to be keep up with these because we may need to see if these are silent seizures.
Brody has a ton of issues going on right now but it is all related to his gut and nutrition. Dr. Leach said if our Gastro doc doesn't do more on Monday than he wants to run a bunch of test and rule out Celiac. If he does have Celiac then he would need to be on a very restricted gluten free diet. Won't know anything on that until Monday.

I scheduled Gracie's surgery for Friday, October 21st. If you can please mark your calendars and keep her in your thoughts and prayers that day I would appreciate it.

Since we found another company for therapy, we have a little break while the company checks our insurance. I'm excited for a little break. Next week looks like this:
Monday- Brody's Gastro appointment
Tuesday- NOTHING!!!!!
Wednesday- Triplets' dentist appointment
Thursday- Brody's VI, Speech evaluations
Friday- 4 hour appointment to re certify the kids for ECI (Early Childhood Intervention)

I went back to the Chiropractor yesterday and he wants me to go in 3 times a week for 1 month to fix all the spasms in my back. I'm ok with that because I left feeling like a million bucks!!

I think that is all I know for now. I'm spending the day doing homework and cleaning the house. Sound fun? I didn't think so.

Krista

Much needed

It is well past time for some GOOD news!

But first with some whatever update...

I woke the kids up this morning, this made the in a great mood- NOT, got to the dentist, waited 30 minutes, and realized this: they do not allow parents to go back for treatment, cleaning, etc. with the child. I kindly told them that I would never be away from my kids like that and their practice is not a "right fit" for us. Call me controlling or whatever but I don't see a day where I would do that. OK, maybe when they turn 20.
On the way home I stopped in another dentist office and they actually showed me around the entire practice. We have an appointment next week.

On to the GREAT stuff!!!

Went to the ENT for Gracie. Her vocal cord is still paralyzed but whatever because....................................................................... we have a SOLUTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As soon as I schedule it, Gracie will have an out patient surgery where they will inject natural ingredients into her paralyzed vocal cord and.... are you ready??????????????????? SHE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE A NORMAL....... YES NORMAL VOICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
Now, this will last 4 months or one year so she will need to have a couple of these injections BUT when she is a little bigger (squeakers is still tiny) they will do a major surgery that will connect damaged nerves to very healthy nerves and her voice will come back permanently!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you remember, last year they told us that we would have to wait until she was a teenager to do surgery, and they would insert a foreign object into her cord to make it move over. Well, this surgery is a lot better because they won't put an object into her body, but making her own body fix the problem. The doctor said this is state of the art surgery. He actually had another ENT come in that does not work at his practice for a second opinion and that doctor think we should do the injections and then around 3-5 the major surgery. I also liked how the second doctor didn't repeat the exact same words as the other doctor and was very easy to talk to and bounce ideas off of regarding her speech therapy.
Now the question of "why even do the injections if it will wear off" The "problem" is Gracie makes growling noises which at first we thought was so cute until we were told it is a problem and would be socially unacceptable. She basically does it because that is how she can be her loudest. We want to do the injections so she has a "normal" (hate that word) voice so she can learn to speak since their vocabulary is expanding. It will make it easier and we wouldn't have to break her of bad habits if she can talk "normal".
We are doing the surgery pretty quick. No latter than December.  I will call tomorrow to schedule it. There are risk as with any surgery but the pros far out weigh the cons.
Look out world, little miss sassy diva will be able to tell us what she really thinks.... kinda scary :)

In other great news, I have a new therapy team to start with the kids.

Krista

Just a Wednesday

It is said that God will never give you more than you can handle. I must believe that to be true.

Brody failed his hearing screen today.
Brody has only gained less than 3 pounds since he came home in December.
Brody is now considered "Failure to Thrive"
Brody went to the Chiropractor today and he believes something is wrong with his neck/ back but won't touch him until x rays are done.
Brody's amazing Occupational Therapist is moving to Austin.

Yep, all this and today is only Wednesday.

We will have to have Brody sedated so they can retest his hearing another way. We cannot do this until a doctor that has sedation clearance writes the order. We are not sure what doctor that will be.
The Nutritionist and I are both dumbfound as to why he has not gained weight since he is getting more than enough calories every day. He actually is getting 300-500 more than required. Nutritionist thinks it may be malnutrition. We are going to the Gastro on Monday.
We go to the Pedi on Friday so I will ask for them to do an  x ray for the Chiropractor.
I've found another company to provide therapy service since TCH won't be able to provide OT services for a while.

I don't get it. I take the kids to every appointment without fail. I make appointments with specialist if something seems off and I would probably come off crazy if the number of times I've taken them to the Pediatrician was ever shared. This breaks you. I don't know what I  can do better. I don't know what to do.

All I can do is try my very hardest to stay positive.

The kids have their first appointment with the dentist tomorrow. That should be interesting. After, Gracie has her appointment downtown with the ENT.

One good thing came out of the Chiropractor today. While we were there he adjusted my back and neck.  He said my back was pretty messed up. I'm going back on Friday. Lifting the kids, the stroller, and car seats is a lot. The doctor is so nice. He is a Christian man. He told me that  I should always trust my intuition and he feels like I am right about Brody. It was so nice for someone to actually listen and see my concerns. He didn't even charge us the copay for the visit and they told me they wouldn't be charging me my copays for my treatment either. Wow, that is such a blessing.

We could use some prayers right now.

Krista

Sunday

Today was such a great day. We had the parent/ child dedication today at church. Michelle and her kiddos came as well as Meme.  Madi managed to take one of her shoes off but other than that, it went very well.
The weather is amazing and I took some time off from school work to mow the front yard and plant a mum in the planter that is on the front porch. I wish Texas weather could always be like this.
Brody is having his outpatient test on his gut this week. I hope we get some good results but I'm not sure. Something is going on with his stomach so I kind of want them to be able to say this is why and this is what we can do about it.
All three of the babies have their hearing test on Wednesday. They have always passed their hearing screens with no problem but Audiology wants to follow them since they were all on oxygen for so long.
Gracie will be seen by the ENT on Thursday to follow up on the paralyzed vocal cord.
Friday Brody's VI teacher will be out to finish up her testing.
We also have an appointment with the Pedi on Friday for their 15 month check up which is code for shots. They got their flu shot last week and soon the RSV shots will start. Poor babies. This is why Ricky and I have no patience for people who are adults and refuse to get a flu shot. Our babies get shots non stop in the fall and winter season!
Anyway, it is another busy week!

Krista