Took Abby to the neurologist on Monday. The doctor was pleased with how she's doing. Her MRI was normal. He recommended keeping her on phenobarbital for at least another 3 mos - until the main cold and flu season is over, reasoning that she may have additional seizures with all the bugs she's having otherwise. And speaking of bugs, we're passing around another cold, and Joshua was throwing up this past Saturday. I think we've had about 5 days since the first of January when we've had the kids semi healthy! I'm sooooooooooooo ready for spring!

And speaking of spring, it was close to 80 degrees here today. We kept Rachael home from school because she was coughing so much last night. I planned that we would stay outside most the day - we would do some more work in the garden, break out a seed starting kit with Rachael (and let Abby 'plant' beans from the kitchen, go for a walk, nurse Daniel in the sun.. have a blissful day in the sunshine. Bwaa haa haa! You'd think I would learn by now. Rachael pooped in her underwear while I was nursing Daniel in the living room. Instead of telling me, she hid under the covers in her bedroom. Abby wanted to play with sissy Rachael, so she followed her back there. I thought the girls were playing nicely - Abby was (sort of), if you count treading through poop on the floor in the category of 'playing nicely.' In her defense, I don't think she did it on purpose. It kind of camouflages into the flooring. While I cleaned up Rachael, Abby attacked the humidifier in her room, dumping about 1/2 gallon of water on her floor. And while I mopped the house the girls traveled from one toy box to another, dumping all the contents out.

So we stepped outside about 1 pm, and by that time it was pretty warm. Abby had tired herself out, between her cold and her a.m. exploits. I sat down to nurse Daniel, and she threw a whopper fit because I wouldn't push her in the swing. I hauled her inside, still screaming (Abby, that is). She passed out on the floor in the hallway while I nursed Daniel. After I nursed Daniel, I put her and Rachael in the stroller. Rachael fell asleep. Abby woke up, took all the toys Rachael had in her hands and threw them out of the stroller, and poked and prodded her unconscious sister the rest of the walk.

..not the day I had planned, but who am I to think that I call the shots?

Well our little giggle boy is now also a raspberry boy! He's been blowing raspberries left and right this week - too cute! The OT from ECI was here today. She said "Just wait until he does raspberries with a mouth full of baby food!" That brings back memories of Miss Abby. Speaking of which.. her stomach is still upset off and on - don't know why - maybe the seizure medication is causing a more or less constant low grade nausea?? She will eat, then sound like she's going to throw up. She says "Bucket!" and runs and gets her barf bucket. Poor peanut.

Activity wise, she's full speed ahead. She's driving Deren crazy. When he gets home from work she wants all his attention, so she gets into one scrap after another so he'll come rescue her. Last night she danced on top of the boys' dressers, the back of the couch, the high chair.. all within about 1/2 hr time span. I thought Deren was going to have a nervous breakdown. I'm thinking we should put her in her crib for a bit while we eat dinner (she can climb out of her high chair), then get her out and play. It's that or have Deren go nuts every night.

While Rachael was at school today, Abby walked around the house, saying "Where's sissy?"

Abby had her MRI Tuesday morning. Still haven't heard about the results. I guess no news is good news.

It's official - he's a giggler! Daniel giggled at me today during a flirt session. He is such a sweet baby. He has had a temperature for days now with his ear infection, but he still has a smile for all.

Abby had another rough week last week. Last Sunday (Jan 28th) she started throwing up in the evening. She threw up off and on all week long, until she got some phenergan at the dr's office on Friday. She spent a couple days crying the whole day long. Deren took off 2 days (that he didn't have) to help at home. My neighbor Monique - God Bless her - also came and helped. Abby's doing better now. She's still not eating a lot, and all her pants are sliding to her hips because she's lost weight. Providing tonight goes well, she has an MRI tomorrow morning. Please keep our baby girl in your prayers.

Joshua got sick with the current stomach bug last Friday. He seems to be doing better today. Although I'm a bit nervous about the variety he's eaten. I'm hoping it won't come up tonight - ugh!

We see little of Jacob since he's learned to surf the net. He will stay at the computer until he pees on himself. He doesn't want to leave the computer and have a sibling take over. He loves to watch movie trailers online, and he's quite industrious at finding them. Deren said he was scary himself silly watching a trailer for Snakes on a Plane. But he'd come right back to it and watch it again! We've blocked many sites, but as I said, he's quite industrious. He'll see me coming around the corner, quickly exit the site he's on, and pull up the Disney website.

Miss Rachael is halfway potty trained. She refuses to poop on the potty. Although she did poop on the potty twice for Grandpa David when he was babysitting her in January. We decided that, on some level, she knew that Grandpa wasn't up for the job of changing out poopy underwear! All bets are off for mommy and daddy, though. She goes and hides and does her business. No amount of bribery thus far has worked. David plied her with so many chocolates yesterday she looked positively green.

..better go. Miss Abby is feeling better today and sowing her oats. She's running around the house with a ballpoint pen.

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Pics of the boys sick & Abby on the mend

January, Oh January..

It's been a bit crazy around here. We were surprised when the kids stayed healthy over the 2 week Christmas break. Jacob, Joshua, and Rachael returned to school on Thursday, January 4th. Over the next day all the kids, including Daniel, came down with what seemed to be a cold. Rachael started throwing up over the weekend, so we were thinking maybe a bug with respiratory and stomach symptoms. I took Rachael and Daniel to the doctor Monday, Jan 8th - Rachael because she still wasn't keeping things down, and Daniel to have his ears and chest checked. The doctor said it was probably viral for both, so nothing much to be done (Daniel's ears were okay). That evening Deren started throwing up, so we knew it was probably a separate cold and stomach bug being passed around. On Wednesday evening, Abby, and later Jacob, started throwing up. On Thursday, I felt bad, but I didn't throw up (Thanks be to God!). Because later that evening Joshua got sick, and Abby was doing pretty bad. She had thrown up more than anyone, and was still having dry heaves. Around 11pm that night I took Abby to an after-hours pediatric urgent care clinic, Acute Kids. They gave Abby an anti-nausea suppository, and sent us home, saying that if she threw up anymore take her into the ER. She woke up around 4am with more heaves, so I left Daniel sleeping and took her into the ER at Presbyterian Hospital of Plano. They gave her IV fluids for a couple hours. My neighbor Monique brought Daniel to the hospital later in the morning for his breakfast. I nursed him and napped with him in my arms. I was coming down with a respiratory bug by this time, and had lost my voice - Deren didn't recognize my voice when he called. After a couple hours of sleeping Abby seemed better, so they sent us home around 11am.

About 1/2 hour after we got home, Abby had her first grand mal seizure. The paramedics came and took her back to Presby Plano. She didn't have any more seizures that afternoon, so they sent her home. About 1/2 hour after she was home - another seizure, another paramedic visit. We talked with the firemen (there were about a dozen in the house, and we were getting friendly by this point). They said they could take her in, but we would probably go through the same scenario. This was exactly what happened with Jacob in January 2003. He wasn't running a fever (ruling out infantile seizures); they would hydrate him, get ready to discharge him, and he would have another seizure in the ER. We decided to wait until the next morning (Sat, Jan 13th) and take her to the pediatrician. She had another seizure early in the morning. Deren bundled up Abby - by that time a nasty cold front was coming through the area - and got a couple blocks before she had another seizure in the car. He pulled over, then started off again. I called the office when it opened, and they said to go to the hospital. The doctor called ahead and asked them to admit her. I stayed at home. By this time, Jacob was come down with the respiratory bug I had, and Joshua was still recovering from the stomach bug. So between the weather and the nasty viruses we were passing around, no one could come and help.

Abby was in the ER until late afternoon, when she had another seizure. She was admitted into the pediatric ward. The cycle became - a seizure, several hours of sleep recovering from the seizure, awake for about another 1/2 hours, then another seizure (with each increasing in intensity). They started her on phenobarbital Sunday morning, and she has been seizure free since the 14th. They kept her until Tuesday, because she started a fever Monday evening (she was coming down with the respiratory bug that Deren, Jacob, Joshua, and I all had at that point).

Deren's father made it into town Monday afternoon. The trip had taken him several hours longer because of the bad conditions on the road with all the freezing rain. He helped Deren out of the hospital with Abby. When she got home she was really weak, and sick with the new bug. They also diagnosed her with a UTI at the hospital, and she started on antibiotics for that. On Wednesday, she looked awful - cried all day long, didn't want to eat or drink, and was totally weak and listless. We took her, Daniel, and Joshua to the pediatrician the next day. Daniel was having diarrhea and bloody stools (from the antibiotics I was taking), Joshua sounded like he was going to keel over from coughing. Joshua's exam went fine - he was doing better, and we should have just kept him at home because he was so excited to be out of the house he was a wild man. Daniel was doing okay. Abby had a breathing treatment at the office and a chest x-ray - she had pneumonia. We took her home, continued on the breathing treatments and antibiotics.

I'm so grateful to say she's doing much better. She's still taking the phenobarbital. She has an MRI this Tuesday (the 30th); an ultrasound and dye test on her urinary tract and kidneys this Wed. But she's just been full of herself at home. She's back to being a total daredevil. I have to tell myself "I'm grateful, I'm grateful!" as she launches herself from the couch or bed or kitchen table. She's so full of life - it was horrible seeing her so sick. She will see the neurologist after the MRI. We're hoping she can be weaned off the seizure medication. Her eeg at the hospital was abnormal. They did it after a strong seizure, and it showed slower than normal activity. The neurologist said that wasn't surprising. She'll have another eeg before they decide about the meds.

Daniel, meanwhile, has the respiratory bug. Good news - he doesn't have pneumonia. Bad news - he has an ear infection and needs breathing treatments because of the inflammation in his lungs. AND I've come down with another cold bug, which means the kids will probably be getting sick in the next week. I'm praying for Daniel and Abby's health. I'm taking Daniel to the chiropractor tomorrow. I really don't want him to be on one round of antibiotics after another. I've been putting breastmilk in his ear, and taking herbs myself, hoping some of it will make it to him.

And if we don't have enough appts scheduled for next week, on Thursday ECI comes to the house to assess Abby for further services, esp. after her seizures. And on Friday (Happy Birthday to You, Deren!) Rachael has an appt with the eye specialist. She's been crossing a lot, so I'm kind of nervous.

So now you know what we've been up to. Today is a special day - Daniel is 3 mos old. He's fussing at me as I type. He really filled his diaper, and now that daddy changed him he's ready to nurse again.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your concerns be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:6 - I typed it from memory, so please forgive me if I didn't get it exactly right)

A picture extravaganza. Featuring Abby sitting on sissy's potty, painting outside with brother Joshua; Our budding socialite, Daniel; Miss Rachael before church a couple weeks ago

It's been pretty hectic this week, so I'll catch everyone up on our Christmas. We had a pretty low -keyed holiday. We didn't have any family come, so it was all quiet with just us (and if you believe the 'quiet' part, I've got a bridge to sell you!). I guess I'll back up to the week before Christmas, when the kids were out of school and Deren was at work. We had a traffic jam of boxes in our front hallway, so I started opening (doing away with Rachael & Abby's playground in the process!). Rachael just loved the dress-up clothes she got from Grandma and Grandpa. Her favorite is a purple princess dress and matching hat. Jacob and Abby joined in on the fun. Jacob picked out a pair of heels that he is quite partial to. I'll say "Get your shoes so you can go outside, Jacob," and he'll come running with his pink & purple heels in hand! And for the record, I think it's really cute! If he was 20 yrs old and still partial to heels, I would be worried. But he's my big cutie for now.

We also finished putting together our "geo-dome" for the kids in the backyard, with Deren doing most the work. Jacob really enjoys climbing, so he likes it. The girls are still a bit little for it, but with daddy's boosting hand they are right there with big brother.

So on Christmas day we still had 2 boxes full of wrapped presents from Grandma and Grandpa, as well boxes from Mamaw and Papaw. Rachael got some more horses - about 15 in all. And, of course, she horded them all in a corner, and snarled at Abby every time she got in the vicinity. Deren & I got some neat electronic presents from his parents. I got a digital photo frame, which in theory is really nifty. But, so far Mr. Jacob refuses to let it cycle through the pictures and keeps turning it off. Deren got an ipod and a play station portable, so he's good to watch movies anytime anywhere. Just yesterday Jacob figured out that the small little ipod can play movies. Needless to say, it's currently hidden in my underwear drawer! That child would take it out for sure.

Soooooo, after all the unwrapping, Jacob figured out he didn't have any dvd's under the tree, and he started bawling and throwing fits. A pretty typical Christmas, all-in-all, wouldn't you say? With the kids tearing through their gifts and then crying because they didn't have more?! At least that's what I did when I was younger, and it's apparently coming back to haunt me!

Mr. Daniel update. Our little/big man turned 2 mos old 2 days ago!! Time sure is flying. He is turning into such a little cutie pie socialite. He smiles and cues quite a bit now. His other love (besides nursing) is his baby swing. The swing we have swings side to side or back and forth. He likes going side to side, with the music on and the mobile going - he's an all out kind of guy. The more noise the better, in fact. The other kids will be making such a ruckus, and Daniel will be asleep - happy as a clam. When the noise is gone and the swing stops, he is not happy. Speaking of which, the girls are down for a nap right now, and the boys are off watching movies, so it's quiet and Mr. Daniel is fussing at me, so that's all for now!

Presents?! Who wants presents?! The boxes will do!

I haven't been able to post pics in the past couple days. Maybe after Christmas.

We went to Christmas Eve services at the church this morning at 9:45. I had assumed that the nurseries would be closed, so we kept the girls with us. They had volunteers to watch the boys at the service, so they were fine. Can't say we got much out of the service. Abby was a wild woman. She wanted to run up and down the aisles. Deren finally took her out of the sanctuary, leaving me with Daniel and Rachael. Rachael collected all the pencils from the pew. I spent the rest of the services quieting Daniel and praying that Rachael wouldn't stab one of us with a sharp pencil. I nursed Daniel, and have a cover-up for when I'm in public. He's already getting fed up with it (no pun intended!). He will fling it off, or wiggle out of it. In another month or two I'm going to have to come up with another plan. Maybe he'll be the first to take a bottle, who knows.

I ran into a friend after the service. She was saying that her 4 yr old was acting up, so they left her in the nursery this a.m. What?? You mean the nursery was open? Whoops! Deren wasn't so thrilled with me. He was looking like he was going to pop and vessel trying to rein in Abby earlier. Again - "whoops!" Maybe next Christmas we'll get to pay attention - a lofty goal for parents with multiple toddlers, don't you think?

I'm supposed to be cooking dinner now, so I'll post more later. I'm roasting a chicken in the oven. Deren's mother taught me how to when she was here 2 mos ago. I was going to crock-pot it, but I forgot 3 mornings in a row! I have no attention span as of late. I put a bottle of ketchup in the cabinet with the dinner plates a couple days ago, and about lost my mind trying to find it. A bottle of ketchup is not something you can leave out and about with Abby and Joshua on the prowl!