SCARY stuff.....

Well this week has started with a bang. I was on my way to pick my oldest up from school, my two little ones were in their carseats in the back. My toddler started crying, this isn't to unusual for him, he hates being in the car. When I got to my oldest son's school the crying had turned into screaming and he was beating himself in the face. I took him out of his carseat and noticed his right eye was swollen shut. He face began to swell, by this time we were well on our way to the ER. The wheezing began and he sort of went out on us and his big brother had to keep telling me that he was still breathing.

It seems like he had a severe allergic reaction to something. He does have a peanut allergy but I don't think he came into contact with peanuts, but you never can tell. He is doing okay today after loads of medication and a shot yesterday. The steroids make him grumpy, and MEAN!

Keep us in your prayers. We have to travel more this week for Elijah's DOC band appointment, it is a loooooong drive!

I may be renting a little house for me and the boy's, money will be very tight but I am used to that, I just worry about my travel expenses, more on all of that later....

Update on Elijah's medical stuff and BIG changes....

Well we have been traveling like crazy for the past two weeks. Elijah saw the Developmental specialist, pulmonologist, and cranial tech last week. This week we did the eye doctor. All of these appointments require travel, so I am tired, and broke. I actually spent almost $100 in gas in just three days last week!! My husband and I recently separated so now I am sort of doing this on my own. It is extremely hard! We have had to leave our home and are currently staying with relatives, I am so wanting to rent a small house that has come available! I want my children to have a nice home, I want things to be normal for them!

Back to Elijah, the developmental specialist said that Elijah is showing development appropriate for a 5-7 month old child in most areas. I didn't like to hear this since Elijah's corrected age is 9 months. It was also confirmed that Elijah has "low tone" mainly in the upper part of his body, this is why he can't sit up yet and why he hates to be put in his Bumbo. This low tone is caused by a brain injury he suffered either before birth due to the TTTS surgery or during or shortly after birth. No one has said Cerebral Palsy yet, but I'm waiting for that shoe to drop. Elijah's Pulmonology appointment went well, as did cranial tech. Elijah's eye doctor wants to do Botox Injections for his eye to see if that may help the crossing over time, otherwise it will require surgery because it can't be corrected with glasses.

Some days I feel so hopeful for Elijah and for my family's situation and others, like today, I feel like I could just plunge into the depths of despair, but I dare not, because there are so many little people depending on me.

Please keep me and my children in your prayers for our situation, medical and financial. My 3 year old is having such a hard time dealing with everything and is showing some anger, which I am sure is normal.

I know I have to keep my eyes on Jesus, not looking to the right or left, there are many days I feel so alone and like he is the only one who cares about me, my children, and our situation. Sometimes I just feel so lost in this world of staying at home, medical appointments, therapies, and now dealing with the sadness and loneliness of a broken marriage.
Please keep us in your prayers....

Birthday's and Well Visit's

Both of my oldest celebrated birthdays this month! They turned 14 and 3!

Big brother A. playing on his bike.

Baby brother in his new DOC band, enjoying his Baby Einstein Jumper.

Elijah and brother both had well visits last week. Over all Elijah got a good report. He now weighs 16 lbs 9 oz, that is a long way from 1lb 8oz a little over a year ago. His weight gain has slowed somewhat, so the doctor is wanting me to really push the calories. I should have no problem with that, thankfully there are no feeding problems and Elijah loves to eat. Elijah still seems to have an allergy to milk though, and that is to bad, considering the doctor wants him to drink milk with instant breakfast instead of formula. The doctor is also wanting Elijah to get more intense therapy so I am waiting on a call about referrals to speech, occupational, and physical therapy. Right now he is just getting one day a week at home.

Brother's check up went really well, he is healthy and developing good. Unlike baby brother though, big brother has to start eating better, he is a little in the chubby department. I think he is adorable, but I do want him to be healthy. All of this traveling and eating out has took a toll on all of us over the past year, I am getting ready to start a diet myself!

This will be a very busy week for us, and probably not a good week to start a diet. I have to take Elijah to three appointments this week, two of them will require an overnight stay and the other a 6 hour round trip. Yes, it is back to Cranial Tech again this week so Elijah's DOC band can be checked and adjusted.

Pictures of Elijah's DOC band

After I painted and decorated.......

DOC band

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. There has been so much going on in my life, I may post more about that later. Elijah got his DOC band Thursday and is doing well with it. Every once in a while he will realize it is up there and try to pull at it. It really doesn't seem to bother him at all though. I am going to upload some pictures today so I will post them later.

I have such a busy week next week. Elijah has a appointment with his Pulmonologist on Tuesday and then with Developmental on Wed. Both of those appointments are in the same town, so that will require an overnight stay. Then I will be coming home on Wed. evening and leaving for Charlotte again on Thursday. Busy, Busy, Busy. I hate to complain but financially this is hard, and I hope my old van can make it, it has to last me for a few years, realistically I don't think it will. Unless they have been there I don't think anyone can understand that the financial hardships of having a premature infant REALLY begin once the baby comes home from the hospital and lasts for months, even years, depending on the child's condition.

Well I have to run now, lots to do, pictures coming soon though!

Pray for me... Pray for Others

We participate in "Pray for Me... Pray for Others" on the Riggs Family Blog. Check out their blog to add your prayer request. Join a community of friends who care about you, and hope you will care about them.

Happy Mothers Day!

I want to wish all mothers a very Happy Mothers Day! Last year at this time I was in Florida, unsure if Elijah would live to celebrate another Mothers Day with his mommy, and I was coming to terms with the fact that I would never spend mothers day with Lucas and David on this earth. I am so blessed this year to be home with my three boy's and to know that I have two precious angels waiting on me in heaven.

God Bless You and have a great day, be thankful for your children and never take a moment with them for granted.

We also celebrated my two older boy's birthdays today! Pictures coming soon! :)