Rain Rain

Wow, I can’t believe that it is almost February! Things with us are going great. Jordyn continues to grow and change and get more mobile every day. Mark and I are doing well. This week was busy with meetings after school for me and Sergeant School for Mark so, this weekend is a much needed family weekend. They were calling for snow and ice but all we got was lots of rain, so today the P’s are going to have a PJ day.
I know a lot of you have been wondering about the 1st birthday party. I am working on the invitations that my very talented graphic designer cousin is putting together for us. I should be able to get the pictures to her this weekend. I am so excited. We might even go and get some professional photographs done for the big occasion. Our little one is starting to wake up from her morning nap so I am off to see what kind of mess (fun) we can get into on this very rainy day.

Really

Life here has been slowing down a little for the P’s. This week I had some teacher work days at school which was much needed. Mark has been doing very well at Sergeant Course, and should finish up at the end of February. As for Miss Jordyn, she is doing great. Grandmonkey and I took her to get her ears checked yesterday. As a follow up to having them checked when we were at Duke. Everything is fine. She has great hearing but come to find out she has an ear infection in one ear and getting over one in the other... really. That’s right, I am now one of those moms that did not know her child had an ear infection. Jordyn had no fever, she was not grabbing at her ears and still acting like herself. She was just sleeping a little bit more. Nothing to be concerned about right, she’s getting more teeth and growing, what’s a little more sleep? I am sure next week I would have caught on and took her to the doctors. So needless to say, we are just going to have a low key weekend here. Speaking of the weekend. Last weekend Jordyn and I went to the park, she loves the swings and then we took a nice long walk on the beach with the grandparents, where we saw a baby seal. He was just lounging on the beach basking in the sun. I tried to get a picture with my phone but I did not want to get too close so it’s a little blurry. He was so cute. Earlier in the week Jordyn had feeding therapy. The girls said that she is making great progress and developmentally she is right on track. But we already knew that this little one was a rock star.

Being a "Heart Mom"

Here is something I found on another heart mom's website. Just wanted to share with all of you. It's amazing how true this really is. What does it mean to be the parent of a child with a heart defect? It means going into your baby’s room a dozen times a night just to check to see if he’s still breathing. It means standing over the crib to watch the chest rise and fall and when you don’t see it move, you begin to panic and put your head down close to your baby’s face to try and hear him breathe. It means that when you don’t see the chest move and you don’t hear him breathing (because your own heart’s beating is drowning out any other sound in the room), you put your finger under the baby’s nose to feel the air on your finger – until you wake the baby and it stirs – and you’re thankful, so thankful that he’s still with you. It means feeling a huge sense of relief when he hears you and opens his eyes and smiles. It means saying a prayer of thanks for another day. It means measuring out his medication and panicking if he spits some of it out. How much did he spit out? One cc? Two or three? Then wondering if you should guesstimate how much more he should have and if you’d overmedicate him. It means checking his nail beds against your own to determine how blue he is today. It means asking your husband, your mother, or your sister, “Do his lips look blue to you?” It means snuggling him in an extra blanket for fear he won’t be warm enough. It means worrying that even a sniffle could cause an infection that could harm his heart. It means taking your baby to the doctor and worrying that he will catch something in the waiting room, so you walk back and forth in the corridor until the nurse calls his name and takes you straight back to the examination room. It means knowing that everyday is a blessing and a gift. It means knowing that you are the luckiest person in the world, just to be a parent. It means cherishing every moment, every breath with such intensity that you feel tears come to your eyes for no apparent reason. It means praying for a miracle to save your baby’s life. It means praying your marriage is strong enough to endure the hospitalizations, separations, and grief. It means praying for the will to live, even if your baby doesn’t. It means your own heart knows a pain, no parent should know. It means feeling weak, helpless, angry, and depressed because your child’s fate is out of your hands. It means feeling strong, determined, and brave because you know you have to be. It means your love knows new unlimited boundaries. It means your pride in your child’s accomplishments is unparalleled. It means your pain has taught you a deeper sense of compassion than you ever imagined. It means we are all united by the same feelings. It means that we all know the mixed up emotions of dealing with death – but more importantly of living with life. It means that even though we are strangers, we are more to each other than friends could ever be. Anna Jaworski

A Box!!!

Lori, you are right!!! Our little one is chillen in a box. Jordyn gets to spend the day with my parents (while I work), but to Jordyn they are her playmates!!! The box is just one of the few things that the three of them get into during the day. Here are just a few pictures of the different objects they let my baby get into.

As you all know we are still working on eating foods. But that does not stop her from licking foods. Some of her favorites are sugar donuts, bananas, pudding, yogurt and chocolate and let’s not forget drinking apple juice out of her shot glass.



Jordyn latest milestone is shaking her head no. You can say Jordyn you stink, her head shakes no. Jordyn do you want your bottle, again a shake no. Its all cute and fun until Mark says Jordyn do you like mommy, a shake no. I just said that’s right you love mommy.


So my other bloggers, how do you do it? How do you find the time to blog? There is always so much I want to say but like this blog it took me on and off for 3 days to finish. Oh well it’s my crazy world and I would not have it any other way. We have a three day weekend oh how I love them. I have been trying to teach Jordyn that Saturday means sleeping in. Haha ya right mom I want to play at 0500. We had a nice Saturday here. Jordyn spent the afternoon with gramps and grandmonkey so that mark and I could go out to lunch and then came home and took a much needed nap. It’s off to friends for football tomorrow and I think a girl’s day might be needed on Monday. Maybe if it’s nice a trip to the petting zoo would be fun. We will have to see what trouble we can get into. Until next time, I will leave you with a poem I recently found.

The Chosen Mothers
By Erma Bombeck

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures, and a couple by habit. Did you ever wonder how mothers of children with life threatening illnesses are chosen? Somehow, I visualize God hovering over Earth selecting His instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger. "Armstrong, Beth, son, patron saint Matthew. Forrest, Marjorie, daughter, patron saint Cecilia. Rutledge, Carrie, twins, patron saint Gerard." Finally, He passes a name to an angel and says, "Give her a child with cancer." The angel is curious. "Why this one God? She's so happy." "Exactly" smiles God, "Could I give a child with cancer a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel." "But, does she have patience?" asks the angel. "I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she will handle it." "I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has it's own world. She has to make it live in her world an that's not going to be easy." "But, Lord, I don't think she believes in you." No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness." The angel gasps -"Selfishness? is that a virtue?" God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take anything her child does for granted. She will never consider a single step ordinary. I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice...and allow her to rise above them." She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing My work as surely as if she is here by My side." "And what about her patron Saint?" asks the angel. His pen poised in mid-air. God smiles, "A mirror will suffice."

HMMM

Can you guess what Jordyn is sitting in??

Here's to 10 months

I know I have been slacking the last few days, so let me fill you in on the last few days at the P’s. On Friday school was on a 2 hour delay because they thought that it might snow ½ inch. I know, I know, all of you living in the north are laughing your butts off right now. But down here in the south they just don’t know what to do if it snows or if it might snow. I am not complaining. I got to sleep in and have some Mommy and Princess P time. School is going good. It's never a dull moment. On Saturday the girls went shopping while Daddy slept after a night on duty. Jordyn loves going shopping, there is just so much to look at. She is making new noises everyday. Check out this short clip to hear some of our new ones.

Jordyn is 10 months old today
Can you believe that 10 short months ago, we were all awaiting the arrival of this little one. No one knew what to expect or what the next months would bring, wow! How we have all grown. It’s amazing that in 10 months Jordyn has gone through things and experienced things that some adults will never in a lifetime. Now 10 months later, she is doing great. She is using the couch and her toys to walk around now. If she can’t reach one of her toys she will either roll to reach it or low crawl to get it. It is too cute. I love this little one and her smile that lights up a room. Jordyn you are my hero. I am sure that your guardian angel, Aiden, is looking down at you and smiling.

Here's to you Princess P Happy 10 Month Birthday!!!!!!!!

Home from the cardiologist

It was a road trip today for Princess P, Grandmonkey and mommy as we traveled the 3 long hours up to Duke for a heart check up. Princess P is now 16lbs 10oz and a little over 26 inches long. After many tears from our princess, because we are scared of stethoscope, and she thinks nothing good ever comes from being naked in a doctors office (but who can blame her) we were given the great news. We are now on only one heart medicine!!!!! That’s right only one. Dr. M stopped our lasixs which helps remove extra fluid from the body. Also to keep the good news coming we do not have to go back for another two months. Wooohooo :0) Dr. M said she looks great and he loved her pink skin. So to celebrate we had to stop and go shopping at the outlets :P) A princess can never have too many cloths. While the girls were out shopping, Dad had his first day of sergeant school. He left this morning in one of his dress uniforms looking very hot. He will be in school for the next 6 weeks or so. This will help him pick up Staff Sergeant :) this is an old picture but he still looks hot.

All in all the P’s had a great day. With that,I'll leave you with a few pictures.

Daddy and Princess P

Back to school

Its back to work for me tomorrow. I have to say I do miss my school kids and all their craziness. I had a great break seeing family far far away and spending tons of time with Mark and our little one. The next few weeks are going to be very busy with Mark having classes, work for me and some doctor appointment's mixed in. Princess P had a great day of jumping, climbing, rolling speed walking with help from mom and spending a few hours with Grandmonkey and Gramps. It is now 8:30pm and she is just kicking away in her crib and talking to herself. What a ham. Have a great night everyone.

What Mom

I SEE YOU

Goodnight my princess

I DID IT

Well in order to help keep my new years resolution (To keep in touch with family and friends more) I have started a blog. I have always thought that blogs were silly, but its a great way to share with family and friends what the P's are up to. So here we are. My goal is to write at least once a week. But who knows maybe I will become one of those crazy bloggers. We had a great Christmas up in the cold aka WI visiting Marks family. We miss them already. I hope that by writing this blog our families will not feel so far away. I am still getting use to all the things you can do on here. To all you other bloggers any help would be great. Here are a few pictures of our Princess P. She is doing great. We are standing now and going from laying down to sitting up all by herself. I can not believe in how much she is growing. I start back to school on Monday and then on Tuesday we are heading up to duke for a heart check up.