Archive | July 2011

Life Getting Back to Normal… For Us

So reality is coming to roost and the questions are starting to form in my mind… how will this whole heart issue play out with Echo? Will it be easy for her to have to go to a cardiologist every year for basically the rest of her life? Is the entire procedure as simple as it was explained? Can I work it out so Ken can be with me while we wait for our Echo to get through surgery? How long do we wait for the surgery to be scheduled?

Sweet as always

Thankfully yesterday I was blessed with visits from friends. Kathy came into the city to hang out and take me on a walk around Costcoto peek at the pricing of items we buy often. I picked up two items – a large flat of water for only 5.00 and a big box of Arrowroot cookies for only 10.00 (they are a favourite of EVERY member of our family from the oldest to the youngest, though Echo does do the best job at wearing them).

A quick story with Aunty Kathy

We also stopped off at one of the malls to get my favourite face soap from The Body Shop. I finally ran out completely. I haven’t found anything that works better on my face than their tea tree oil products.

I now have ALL the things I need for Echo’s birthday tutu dress. I was even able to get my hands on an affordable strand of the marabou, in black of course. I had a 25% off entire purchase coupon at Michaels so I picked up some 12X12 sheets of purple and one of white cardstock until I can price out the 8 1/2 by 11 at Staples. I do use the white for a lot of the boys’ school activities.

Ken on the other hand, stayed home. Jeff was here until after an early supper and gone before Kathy and I returned. Someone had to stay home with the kids and there was a lady coming by to pick up one of my scrapbook related Kijijiitems. Lucky we had someone home as Karyn came over after work to join in on the fun. That had us 3 (Karyn, Kathy and myself) off to Macs for a snack before settling down for some visiting. Again, all this possible due to our move to this new place… a good reminder of how good things are compared to the old place.

He's surrounded!

I am still brainstorming what to stitch for the lovely family that assisted us on Wednesday… it needs to be something special. In the meantime I have moved onto the characters on the stocking. I am hoping to get one done tonight… if I can focus on that and not the tutu dress, it is a toss up!

The boys spent most of yesterday working on math and then moving onto pictures of things that happened on our adventurous two days… one drew a picture of playing at the den Otter’s and the other the waiting room at the hospital. I tried to explain to them about the surgery their baby sister is going to have to have… that she has to go in and have a sleep while they fix something in her heart and that Mommy would go with her. I think I have some more explaining to do but they did seem to understand that there was something important we had to do for Echo.

Art AND working on words

Today was a pretty quiet day… until Ken ran up the stairs while on the phone and broke one of his toes (or at least mangled it horribly)… he is still able to walk and it is not his driving foot but I am told it hurts BADLY (I won’t repeat the words HE used)… most of the day was actually spent with Ken working as he had to make up for Wednesday and Thursday. 

I spent my time catching up on dishes, laundry and cleaning… our bedroom is still not done BUT the kitchen is all clean, banana cookies and bread were baked and the floor swept and mopped. 

Ken did take the twins out with him before supper to run some errands… my sunglasses are officially returned… and the boys managed to get us some groceries and Ken some pharmaceutical advice (pain killers). I needed butter… we have soft bananas and needed to bake – cookies AND bread! YUM.

I filled the little pool, mowed the front lawn and some of the back and drug all 5 kids outside today as well. The weed wacker isn’t working yet but the owners sprayed for weeds last weekend so some of the nasty ones to mow were totally fried. It was a nice dry day at least. I even brought Echo out to sit on her blanket in the shade by the fence. (in her bunny themed overalls of course) She is still not overly interested in touching the grass but was quite happy to crawl all over her blanket and watch the other 4 running around.

Fun in the sun

Sunshine baby

I decided against putting the kids into swimsuits since we had plans to go out later in the day. So Trinity had a bit of a temper tantrum about not having her swim clothes. She got over it in time.

In fact, while Ken and the twins were gone the rest of us set out to the convenience store for a slurpee (brown) and nickel candies (2 each). Trinity was a bit disobedient on the way home and refused to STOP when I told her to… luckily there is one road to cross (we already had) and then just down the street. Though there ARE driveways. 

Eating a candy on the bench

Echo was in her peapod baby carrier. And going solo it was impossible to get a good picture. She seemed to enjoy it.

Best picture I have

In the evening Kristen and Fydo came over with a new boardgame to try out. We played twice and had a nice visit. We are working on planning some boardgame time on the 30th while the guys have their LAN party. Tonight’s game was Betrayal at House on the Hill. It is partially cooperative, well at least until a certain point.

Boardgame time

So with today’s successful van driving and a laundry list of contact numbers the plan tomorrow is to go collect my nephew and bring him here until Wednesday when my mom will pick him up for the remainder of the week. I even found a babysitter so Echo and I can go with. We have a phone Adam gave us since his blackberry was replaced so if we buy minutes we WILL have a phone for emergencies. Lauralee is the sweetheart who has agreed to watch our 4 big kids. She may regret it later…Now to get back to the cross stitching and tv watching – Red Dwarf… I am onto season 6.

Attempting to figure away AROUND the grass with no luck

This entry was posted on 24/07/2011, in Uncategorized. 1 Comment

Adventures, Medical Education and So So Much MORE

Three days in one once again… the day just zipped away Tuesday and Ken got in a long day with work so we didn’t have supper until past 9 and the kids almost 8. I spent a nice chunk of my time fiddling with the new camera and comparing it to the limping predecessors… final reaction – I have a ways to go when it comes to settings but I am already enjoying it.

Sunny room with active kids

Not so good of me but the baby is cute

Each of the twins chose either math (Gavin) or sight words (Zander) and did a days’ worth of work before being cut free. I am hoping to start up with more activities shortly. 

Math time

The weather certainly helped along the wish to do some school stuff – pouring rain. So either hot or rain… which means MORE mosquitoes… ugh.

Sudden downpour that actually flooded one of the malls and their parking lot!

I have started work back up on the stocking for our god-daughter Anna. The hope is to complete it before August, the cross stitch portion at least. I still need to hunt down fabric for backing (carefully checking for colour fastness!). It is fun to do something so completely different in a stocking from the norm. I have to say I do harbour a wish that maybe someone will commission another for a little girl somewhere else… it could be a fun repeat! 

Not the best picture... this fabric IS white

It is a good feeling – stitching again. I have missed it. I have a few other ideas if we can find the time to design… IF. But enough about that… now onto what I am SURE everyone is wondering about – Echo’s cardiologist and specialist paediatrician…

Well we got out the door HERE at 6:30 am or so with 4 cranky and tired big kids… we made it to the city and then the hospital with little or no fuss after a brief stop to get gas and breaky at McD’s… that got us to the first appointment right on time. That was her specialist paediatrician Dr Lee… we didn’t have to wait too long (and with a 9am appointment not a huge surprise) but that was made very simple with the children’s computer available for play… though LEAVING the computer was a bit of an issue. 

Rather a cool set up! There were a few options to play.

The actual patient

Of course I had crayons and paper (remember over thinking mommy)… which helped with the wait in the actual examining room.

Trinity most likely drawing more o's

There was a student doctor at our appointment, a nice man who examined Echo first. Our doctor was very happy with everything… but her weight of course. Again the in proportion but not the right size issue reappears. She gave us a requisition for some more bloodwork that will be done when we go in in August for her genetic testing, absolutely no rush just wanting to get rid of any and all possibilities. This was along with a needed urine sample where Miss Echo was MOST accommodating. As the nurse was showing me how to put the bag on to catch the pee (not easy with a girl I tell you!) she peed and the nurse caught enough for the test (thank goodness I did NOT want to be responsible for that little job later). They are planning on testing for potassium as she still had a smidge bit high on the retake and then testing regarding kidney if necessary… but the doctor was happy and felt we shouldn’t worry… but find ourselves a local paediatrician and go from there. YAY. 

They directed us to the cardiologist and off we went. We got there right at 10 (our appointment time) and here is where the massive wait started. Honestly if I had thought it really WAS going to take 4 hours I would have brought in snacks… BUT they did have tv (YTV station) for the kids which helped… and a bathroom we could use. 

Waiting waiting waiting

First was ANOTHER ECG test. That wasn’t too bad, but when they tried to take her blood pressure she FREAKED so they just wrote that she was upset. Thankfully her SAT was great – 100 so she is getting plenty of oxygen. Then after that test we went BACK to the waiting room to… well… wait. Next came the Echocardiogram… (ok I DID giggle that Echo was getting an ECHO… so did the nurse actually). They had a video player (that played VHS of all things!) there so the kids picked out a Diego movie to watch while they did the process. She did pretty well for most of it, we bribed her with binky, cookie AND Petite Sheepette (who was along for the ride). She did play around with the wand they use to do the scan and at times tried to get it to a different location but the staff at the hospital is amazing and calm so it is always easier to do stuff there. I absolutely ADORE the people at the Stollery… we donate there when we can… and would love it if other people did too! 

Where was I… ok after her Echo Echo and family headed BACK to the waiting room and by then the kids wanted to GO HOME. Of course the plan was to head to H&W AFTER to get fruits and veg so no food still. Then they put us into the examination room saying the doctor would be there shortly… apparently SHORTLY is like 45 min! Which left Ken and myself one step closer to madness after that stint in the small toyless (except for what we brought) room. I swear both of us were exhausted to the point of curling up on the floor almost to nap! 

Checking out all the stuff that never touched her!

Eventually the doctor came in… he was a rather good looking Asian man with an AUSTRALIAN accent… he had forgotten his stethoscope and when he left to get it Ken and I had to giggle. Anyway he came in and was very happy with how Echo looked (again beyond the weight), checked her out (with fore mentioned stethoscope) and then got down to the nitty gritty where he drew us this little picture below…

So the extra ventricle is top centre, the two options are on the left and lots of other fun stuff...

and then walked us through what she has – Patent Ductus Arteriosus or PDA of all things. Basically her extra ventricle STARTED to close up (the one that bypasses blood when you are in the womb and not using your lungs) and then didn’t so her left side of her heart is working harder and slightly swollen… not life threatening but not something you want to leave. There are TWO options to deal with it – an incision in the side (scar ick) where they tie off the extra ventricle and not the one the doctor wants done, or through a vein in the leg with a catheter thing that is the better option (like no scarring and not overly invasive). They leave a piece of metal in there that either is like a spring with prickly things that makes the blood clot there and close it off OR a metal piece with a shape memory that when released would go back into shape and close it off (the little drawing on the right UNDER the spring on the above picture). Either way she will have to go back to the cardiologist once a year or so for the rest of her life as they would want to check up on it (no biggy) and best of all – only in the hospital 24 hours! So relatively easy on baby AND easy on mom… as I get to stay there with her (not during surgery of course). 

So while it is not what we hoped for best case (same thing as Emanuel VSD and not requiring surgery) it is far from the worst (open heart OMG dying). I feel oddly ok about it… it is not rush rush and actually they may want to wait just for her to grow some (she is a whopping 12lbs 9.5 oz or so… good for her not great for most anyone else)… so when we asked if it was awful to NOT have it done in August (wedding, birthday party – hers AND in-law visit – first in almost a year due to Baba’s medical concerns)  the doctor was just fine about it. In fact, now we wait on their call and he left a note for NOT August. We go back to see HIM in 6 months regardless, and do the whole series again, this time WITH snacks! 

So we made it through in one piece and on the way out the door were complimented on our children’s behaviour (WOW) and each of the kids was offered a sweet. In fact they also got a lollipop after the Echocardiograph, which is funny because all those 4 did was sit there and watch tv.

Petite Sheepette with the lollipop... not sure if they were sharing with her or not

So we packed everyone up, paid our parking and headed over to the old place to collect mail (still not sure why the forwarding is screwed up) and then to the bank (government cheques to cash), H&M (nummy food for GREAT price) and then drive through (late lunch) and then… and then… well Ken had some nasty swear words to say and the van smoked in reply and OVERHEATED! Thus the beginning of the next great Reinsch-Johnson vehicle related adventure (though not the words KEN would have used).

Soooo we get onto the bridge that has been under construction for like TWO years to get to the south end of the city and smoke starts to come from the hood… Ken turns on the heater to try and cool down the engine and smoke comes in the van! ACK! We couldn’t just pull off on the bridge so had to CAREFULLY drive to the nature centre/fort parking lots… while being behind almost every slow and crazy drive in the city I swear! Thankfully we got to the parking lot and pulled the kids out of the van… Ken then opened the hood to peek in and see coolant coming from a DIFFERENT place this time… so we took the kids on a walk on the side walk (so many mosquitoes so no grass and lots of our bug repellent lotion that seems to be working), fed the baby her cereal (yay for buying that BEFORE hitting the hospital) and generally sat for a bit while the van with hood up cooled as much as we could in the warmth of the day.

Looking for sticks, bugs, leaves, you name it in the sun

After that adventure we got back in the van to return to the middle of the city to try and gingerly get to the Canadian Tire that did the previous coolant repair and possibly did mess up (we didn’t know at that point)… we made it… well MOST of the way before and awful sound and smoke so we pulled into a residential area and turned everything off… now comes the AMAZING part of the adventure…

We stopped right across from a house that had a FOUNTAIN Tire truck in front of it AND a man wearing a workshirt from there coming out of it. When he noticed us stopping and sitting there he came over to help. His mother-in-law lent us a phone to call AMA (again no cell phone yet…) and then he had to leave but said he would be back in 15 min to lend us a phone again and help out.

So Ken took a little walk while waiting for the tow (projected to be an hour) to try and get internet on the netbook and get ahold of someone on the online chat (IRC) that the guys use daily with no luck. That is when the wife of the OWNER of the Fountain Tire (the man previous) came across the street to offer further assistance. And this is where it gets amazing!

She came over with their house phone and an offer to let our kids play in their backyard, to have snacks and simply wait for our ride. Talk about life saver… so we unpacked everyone and cleared out the van onto their front porch and went into the backyard where their 2 days away from 7yrs old son Christopher was bored and wishing for playmates. And thank goodness she did!

Our ride to a place to crash overnight was Alan (of the den Otters) who BUSED to work and was currently on the bus AWAY from us to home. He actually works about 3 blocks from where we were stranded. He and Xinny are the ONLY people we know who have a big enough vehicle for all of our family and one of them to drive (they have an Odessy). AND to top it off she had wireless internet Ken could use as I only had two numbers with me – the new home number for Chris and Chris (the wrong direction from where we needed to be) and Xinny’s cell phone. So Ken was able to get onto IRC and chat with the guys, call Xinny and then Alan and call Canadian Tire to make sure we got everything sorted.

It took hours to sort everything out and get Alan turned around. The kids had fun, had a washroom to use, a new playmate and later SNACKS and we had a lovely visit with the wife and a chance to let Echo out to stretch and be cooed over. On top of that THEIR son also has a weight issue that is unresolved but not hurting him so we could commiserate together. It was so wonderful to have to have that news in the morning and then talk to someone who is dealing with a similar situation and able to share and understand.

We had a bloody nose (Gavin spontaneous) and a poopy diaper (Trinity) and tired kids but they had FUN, in fact they didn’t want to go. So it was like an adventure for them. Something positive and exciting.

Playing with their new friend

Alan got to the house with little or no trouble only to realize he had not added his 8th seat so we called SEAN who has a truck. Even before Alan got there the husband returned and in celebration of a friend’s deal had some wine with Ken and more chatting and sharing of funny stories. While waiting for Sean Alan was offered a drink (non alcoholic as he hadn’t eaten in AGES and had to drive) and was brought in on the fun. Really this was the most amazing and positive way to be stranded WITHOUT a phone we have EVER had!

With Sean getting there and saying good bye to the most wonderful strangers we have EVER met we were on our way to the NEXT adventure – a night at the den Otter house. The kids were sad to leave the new friend but excited to see Isabella and Alexander. It was already pushing 8pm when we got there so not much play time before bed (the boys and Trinity in Alex’s room, Ken and myself with Echo in Isabella’s with the two in the basement cooler room with their grandma). BUT Sean stayed to hang out (been ages) and I had a lovely visit with Xinny and Izaac who is one of the cutest not so little babies EVER.

Meeting of the minds?

I crashed early (for me) at around 11pm as the night before I had gotten only around 4 hours of sleep. Ken stayed up to work (thank goodness he can work from anywhere with an internet connection). He had already called Canadian Tire to ensure they had the van and push them to look at it ASAP. It was nice to hang out with the guys again for Ken. We have missed them here over an hour away.

In the morning it was play play play and PANCAKES for breaky. We had until 11 am with all the kids running around, babies included. Then Xinny had to take Isabella with Izaac in tow to piano lessons. So the boys, Trinity and I kept Alex company while Echo had a nap. And then Xinny took Isabella for skating while Ken called Canadian Tire, confirmed its repair and left with her to get our van. In the meantime Xinny’s VERY sweet dad made the kids noodles (they were AMAZED by his chopsticks) and Ken and myself absolutely yummy sandwiches that Trinity and Echo stole pieces of. I love Xinny’s parents. They do not speak  the best English but they are the absolute nicest people and totally kid people.

Playing in the sunshine... indoors

We left their place around 2 or 3 I think and headed home with a van that was driving rather well and managed to drive rather well all the way home. Canadian Tire was very kind with the bill ending up charging us only 120.00 (we figure that is cuz they cannot be sure if it was a missed issue or their error as all they charged us for labour wise was diagnostic). Small price to pay compared to any time the previous and way newer van was repaired!

Come on tell me this isn't one of the CUTEST baby pics !!!

... and another

We got home worn out but victorious… we met kind people (Ken and I are brainstorming a cross stitch to mail to them), learned about our Echo and that even with this issue she is still basically a medical mystery, brought home yummy fruit and veg AND had a whole series of major and minor adventures. As it is for the next two days I am not going far from home… I simply DON’T want to!

Tonight Ken has Jeff over – he has moved to California years ago and is back up visiting family! So he has spent his evening with a beer, online gaming and a good friend. Perfect way to wind down after a VERY stressful two days. We want to drive the van some more before we finalize plans to pick up my nephew for a few days, I have to  get to Michaels with a coupon for Echo AND for the August wedding decorations… Ken has work to catch up on, I have housework to catch up on and the boys have to get back to their schooling… it never stops but we do make it fun, er, interesting. So for the rest of tonight I am going to curl up and play with my camera or sew or something but one thing I am NOT going to do is worry about Echo’s unscheduled as of yet surgery… and you know what? For once the worrying Lisa Mommy may just do that. The Stollery is the BEST hospital in at least Western Canada and I have faith in the people there. If they say it will go well IT WILL! There I think I have spilled it all… hopefully everyone has not walked away half way through bored to tears!!!!

Our medical mystery... or is it miracle? She has absolutely none of the negative symptoms of anything, nothing slows her down and she is perfect for our family. I couldn't ask for a more amazing baby to finish our family with!

This entry was posted on 21/07/2011, in Uncategorized. 2 Comments

Monday Once Again

Well by request we have taken an extra day off of our schooling. Instead the boys spent the morning recreating their version of the party piñata using Pepsi boxes. Restful and apparently great fun. It was just too hot for our kids to be out after the weekend we had.

Our Pepsi box pinata apparently

 

I have been working on the bows for the wedding. There is a minor problem – out of the two bags of ribbon I was sent only two rolls work… so I will have to get around to running to the store and sourcing out some more… at least I KNOW that Walmart has the satin I need for the secondary smaller bow. I am, of course, using the stacked bow that I do for Trinity’s stuff only instead of 3 or more ribbons doing just 2. I checked today while out with the family… they had something like the regular white satin I used in my prototype at the larger Walmart. I need to make 60 in total (so 120 bows) and I am thinking I may get almost 20 out of the red and gold… but at least it is a start! 

A lovely pile of bow shaped ribbon

 

I took the leap and used the last of my birthday money, and some out of my fix the iTouch fund and got a new (and relatively inexpensive) camera. Definitely NOT a Canon, but a 14 mexa pixel Olympus. It is currently charging but I feel much… safer… having a new and 100% working camera. I also sold another Kijiji item so that will go back to building up my iTouch fund!

We actually ran a few errands before Ken had to be off to meet up with Fydo and go to a boardgame night. We stopped off at Walmart to get a different version of the “prinpress” shoes. Not sequinned but pink and shiny enough to make our Trinity happy!

Not the best picture sorry

 

We also picked up my KodakGalleryprints. 50 free prints. So now if I can clear my table off of  the card making stuff I should be able to get some work in on the kids’ books.

My pictures!

 

That just leaves the appointment on Wednesday for me to worry about… we got our confirmation call so that is all good. There are a few OTHER things for the week but that is what weighs the heaviest right now. At least my sunburn is less.. burny!

Snack break!