A Weekend of Fun

Parker's visit to the GI on Monday was a plus in the fact that his liver now seems to be in normal range, but the GI was very concerned with the continued weight lose. Because of this, he ordered a number of blood test which included a few more allergy test, to be completed with a follow up visit scheduled on the 12th of July. Well, I received a call yesterday afternoon from Dr. Sanjay (the doctor himself, not the office staff) and Parker's blood work come back with a number of concerns, as well as he is allergic to everything they tested him for (these in addition to all the items found last week - shrimp, wheat, egg whites, egg yolks, cows milk and soybeans, macadamia nuts, almonds, shell fish and peanuts). The doctor is very concerned and has ordered Parker to go in for an endoscopy on Tuesday, July 6th. This out patient procedure will be done at Florida Hospital for Children. He will have to be put totally under. They will go in through the throat and down in the tummy area and take good look at all his organs and intestines. Once we have some results regarding the procedure I will let you know.

We have had such a great few days. Our nephew, Josh, got here on Thursday and will be staying until Tuesday (that is if Parker doesn't scare him off). Yesterday he went to work with Justin and did some golfing while Justin worked. Once Justin got off work they went and took a look at baseball stadium and then headed to Brevard Community College to take a look around. Today, Josh, Parker and I headed out early to hit the beach. From there we went to Ron Jon's. Josh had never been. When we pulled up to the place he was amazed. He said he had just pictured it to look like an old surf shack. Once we left there we headed home for Parker and Josh to swim. After they got done swimming they headed out to hit some baseballs. We wrapped up the day by having mom and dad over for some ribs on the grill and baked potatoes.

For those of you who think Parker never talks, just ask Josh what he is like in his own environment. Parker is never silent. Today Josh told him that he asks more questions then any one he knows and he is in awe that he never stops....Parker is always on the move. Poor Josh can't even go to the shower with out Parker having to know where he is. I love it!!!!!

Tomorrow is the 4th of July and we are having a cookout with some friends and family. It will be such fun. Nothing is better then friends, family and food....hahaha. Hope you all enjoy your 4th!!! I will chat with you again soon.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY USA.......

Taking a City Boy to the Country

So we took a city boy to the country last week and he fit in pretty well. You would have had no idea he was from the city except for when he was eating blueberries and he found one with a stem.....this was his response, "Gama, this blueberry has mulch on it." Too funny. Gama and I couldn't stop laughing.

Would had a great time visiting our Chiefland family. Parker just thinks that uncle Chuck is the coolest thing ever, especially when uncle Chuck made him a ramp for all his monster trucks. Parker also had the best time playing and swimming with Bridget. We could barley get the two of them out of the pool. They were like little fish. Parker also let her play golf and baseball with him. Us adults decided that Bridget better stick to dancing...hahaha. After that, Parker busted out his four wheeler. Bridget rode on the back while he drove. All was going well until they discovered the edges of the concrete. No, they didn't fall, they went up and down like there was no tomorrow...actually until it broke the four wheeler. As of today, the four wheeler is in the repair shop waiting for Papaw and daddy to check it out.

Yesterday (June 24th) Parker went for a follow-up visit at the pulminologist. She said his lungs sounded great. He is scheduled to go for another chest x-ray to check the progress of the pneumonia. They said it can take six to eight weeks, if not longer, for pneumonia to clear in the chest x-rays. They also did a number of allergy test. We found out that he is allergic to macadamia nuts, almonds, shell fish, peanuts (not enough for anaphylactic shock, but will cause rash and itch), ragweed, dust, dander and pollen. We are so glad (I am so glad) he is not allergic to Hunter. She said that according to his allergy test the fall and winter months will be the hardest for him. We also found out yesterday that he has lost another two pounds bring him down to 31 lbs, which means he has lost 7 lbs in less then two months. She did inform us that the liver has a lot to do with the enzymes that handle digestion and all. We go to see the GI on Monday and will discuss further. My hopes are that the liver has no permanent damage from the illnesses.

I hope that you all have a great weekend and I will update you again after Monday's visit to the GI.

The Big Heat Wave

Ok, it is only the middle of June and we have already ready hit 100 plus degrees outside. Since we still need to be tender with Parker's liver the poor guy is still home with family and can not attend school. What does this mean? This means mommy, daddy, Nana and Papaw are the ones playing outside with this little guy in this heat wave. Last Thursday I decided I couldn't take it any more. Parker and I had been on a walk early that morning. Then, before it got to hot I thought that I would go ahead and mow the yard so that Justin wouldn't have to do it when he got home. After that Parker and I played a little baseball. Later that afternoon, once Parker got up from his nap he wanted to go back outside. This is when it happened....it came to me that we needed a pool that was not only big enough for Parker, but also big enough for his mommy, daddy, Nana and Papaw. So, I called mom and Justin and ran the idea by them. They agreed, so Parker and I made our way to target to make the purchase. It is amazing. Now, Parker wants to swim all of the time. Plus for me because I get to work on my tan and plus for Parker because it is much cooler then playing baseball and golf in the front yard.

Yesterday, when I got home from work, Parker and Justin were out in the pool so I went and put my suit on and joined them. After I got in and went under water Parker got this look on his face and then said the following, "Mommy, turn around. Where did your work hair go?" I about lost it. To make things even better, I was getting ready for work and after putting on my make-up I went to make the beds. When Parker saw me he said, "Mommy you got your work face on now." He is too much. He knows that when mommy is home she is home to play and there is no make-up on and no time to do her hair.

It's hard to believe, but it is coming up on Parker's third birthday and after what he has been through over the past couple of months I want to celebrate his birthday like there is no tomorrow. This year we have decided to have his party at our house. I have rented a big bouncy castle and slide combination. I think the kids will love it. The theme for this year is cowboys. It started out with monster trucks, but since we went to the rodeo in January he has been all in to cowboys and bull riding. His invitations are so cute. I begin working on them the other night and it brought such a smile to my face. I love planning his birthday party. As a mom, celebrating your child's birthday is always fun, but I think as a mom who wasn't sure what life was going to be like for her little boy due to her on health issues while pregnant with him makes birthdays even more of a blessing.

For an update on Parker's health, things are going well. We return to the pediatric pulminologist on June 24th for a check-up and a number of allergy test. On the 28th of June we will go back to see the pediatric G.I. to check out his liver. Our little guy is still not eating like he used to. He used to eat none stop. Now, he will eat here and there. He is even happy if you say, "If you don't eat you can not have any snacks." Before, he would eat his meal, have seconds and then still be ready for a snack. Oh well, healing takes time. If all goes well at his upcoming visits he will be able to return to school after the 4th of July weekend. We ask that you continue to keep him in your prayers.

Will chat with you again soon .........

.... and the Journey Continues

Ok. So I am guessing that you thought I fell of the face of the earth ....... not so much. Things around here have been very crazy, especially since the end of April...... Let the story begin....
It all started the last week of April when our little guy once again got croup. This is not unusual for him, but this time I was not able to get it under control, nor could the meds get it contained. A week after being diagnosed with the croup, Parker was admitted in the hospital were we would spend the next ten days. While there we learned that the baby had two forms of pneumonia, mono, sever asthma, an enlarged liver and then he ended up with a staph infection on his left hand.
As a mom, I thought that my worse nightmare would be the constant fear of always worrying that something would happen to my baby. Well, I found out that it is actually when something does happen. As I stood by Parker's bed as he laid so helpless I as a mom felt so helpless. There was nothing I could do or say that could make my little guy better. As he laid not being able to lift up his little head or open up his beautiful blue eyes I filled up with tears on the in and outside. It was the most awful feeling in the world. On day number ten of our hospital stay Parker actually started to come around - not much, but we would take anything at this point - he eat something for the first time in two weeks and he begin to walk very short distances for the first time in over a week.
Once he was discharged from the hospital we begin our journey to wellness with a number of new pediatric specialist that were apart of his team of doctors during our stay at Florida Hospital for Children. As of last week things were progressing nicely. His enlarged liver was down in size by about 60%. Dr. Sanjay feels strongly that this enlargement was caused by the mono and all the other infections in his small body. We go back in a month and we are hoping that the liver will be back to normal. Until then, we must try to keep this very active two year old little boy from engaging in any contact type activities (almost impossible). We also met with the pediatric pulmonologist last week. Dr. Verma has taken him off the pulmocort via nebulizer that he was on (keep in mind it was five times the normal dose) and has replaced it with an inhaler that is just as strong, but only takes less then a minute. He will remain on his albuteral via nebulizer for whizzing (as needed). Before returning in a month he is to have another chest x-ray to see if the pneumonia has cleared the lungs. As well, at our next visit he will receive a number of allergy test. His staph infection on his hand is doing very well. I must say, it was one of the weirdest things I had seen. He is now using his had on a regular basis, but will still treat it tenderly at times.
As we continue our journey through the heeling process I will keep you posted. I want to thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, visits, calls and cards. God is truly a miracle working and Parker is a sign of that. God bless my little boy!!!!!

Can I do it? Yes I Can ......

Ok. So my boys were out of town for 10 days and arrived back home on Saturday night. Yes moms. I let Parker go on vacation without me for 10 days. While Justin went hunting in Virginia Parker stayed in Chiefland with his Gama. I missed him very much, but I must say, the break was much needed. As for Justin, he too must have enjoyed his time away because he ended up getting one doe and three bucks (one of which was an eight point and is currently being stuffed to hang on the wall). While Parker was gone I thought that I would take care of something's that can't be done while he is home like clean with bleach (Parker helps with all of the cleaning and I don't feel it is safe for him to handle bleach), grocery shop, make fudge and decorate the house for Christmas. Yes. That's right, decorate the house for Christmas. You see, I have heard the stories from my sister about trying to decorate the house and the tree and how crazy it can be with the boys. So, I decided to do all of it while Parker was gone, except the outside decorations. I must say, all went well. I even set up a little tree in Parker's room with all of his John Deere ornaments and I also hung his John Deere stocking next to the tree. I used one of his John Deere blankets as the tree skirt and set some of his tractors next to the tree. It is so cute. Parker actually loved it so much that yesterday when I went into his room (keep in mind that I hadn't seen him in 10 days) he said, "were my cismas lights on my cismas tree go?" Seriously. Love you too. For those of you who don't know, cismas is how he says Christmas. I also bought him these little reindeer antlers from the dollar bin at Target and they were a huge hit. This year I decided to be brave and set out all of my precious Christmas items, as well as but the Christmas balls on the tree. Well, yesterday while cooking breakfast in the kitchen I turn around to see my son using his golf club to bat the balls off the tree and say, "yook (aka - look) mommy, I play baseball." I almost died. Once I had breakfast in the oven we walk into the living room were I have one of my most treasured Christmas decorations. It is a snow globe with a nativity inside and the Wiseman and all on the outside and a star on top. My parents got it for me one year and it is so beautiful. Well, after talking to the snowmen on the entertainment center Parker decides to check out the whole snow globe thing. Low and behold, with me sitting right there the turkey tried to pull the star off of the top of the snow globe. Seriously. Most kids would be in owe of the snow falling on the inside and the music. Nope. Not mine. That's not all. After he goes to bed last night I walk into the kitchen to get a drink and as I walk into the family room to look at the Christmas tree laying under the tree placed just so is a handful of balls off of the Christmas tree. I couldn't believe it. It would be one thing if he just took them off of the tree, but no. He pulls the balls hocks so I have to look over the whole tree to find were the rest of the ball before I can put it back on the tree. To top things off, this morning while I was putting his lunch in his lunch box I hear the balls on the tree start moving.....here is how the conversation went, "Parker, you better not be messing with the balls on the tree." "They not balls mommy, they ornaments." Ok. so maybe he was listening yesterday when I repeatedly told him that ornaments are for the tree and are not to be used as balls. I can't even imagine what is going to happen when I put a present or two under the tree. I thought that Hunter and her tail were a challenge with the tree and all. Please. That was only the beginning.

So you know that it is time for your little boy to start spending more time with daddy and the boys when he takes a decorative washcloth that is folded just so and holds it in the air and yells, "flower power." I nearly had eyeliner all over my face when Parker said those words this morning. My response, "Seriously son. You have got to hang out with daddy more. You can have power, but without the flower." I mean wanting to put on make-up when I put on my make-up is one thing, but when you start getting flower power you have crossed the line.

To top things off, we are trying to work on the whole potty thing. Well this morning he went potty on the potty and after he was done we put on his dinosaurs (aka - big boy undies). When it came time to get dressed for school you would have thought the world had come to an end. I told him it was time to put his diaper on and he lost it. He said, "I potty, so I wear dinosaurs." It was bad. After I got him under control and explained that we would put them back on after school all was good, I thought. I left to get myself dressed and Parker followed me. Well as we went in the room I turned around to find Hunter following us carrying Parker's underwear. Apparently she was on his side and thought that he should be able to wear them to school. My kids. What am I going to do......

Better be going. Chat with you again soon.

Before I was a Mom

Recently, my baby and I have been going head to head which has been very trying for me. As long as I can give Parker my undivided attention he is the most wonderful angel ever. It is when I am not able to play that things become ugly. It is almost as though he gets angry at me. After a few very hard days I received the below in an email. This poem brought tears to my eyes and I have printed it out and placed it at my desks. I hope you enjoy as much as I did.......

Before I was a Mom, I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.Before I was a Mom, I had never been puked on. Pooped on. Chewed on. Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts. I slept all night.Before I was a Mom, I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.Before I was a Mom, I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.Before I was a Mom, I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.Before I was a Mom, I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom .

Jamie's Little Pumpkins.....

As I told you last time, I had to head up to Shands last week for my annual check-ups. I am proud to report that all went well and I don't have to go back for another year. Yeah for me!!!!! Although we were only there for a couple of days, it was nice to see Justin's family and Parker had a great time with Gama at preschool.
Since my nephew Isaac has gotten to be such a big boy, he was able to come to Florida with his daddy for a speaking engagement. Because of this, Isaac was able to come down and spend the whole day with us on Saturday. We had so much fun. At 7:30 Saturday morning I get a phone call, "Jamie come and see me." Well, from there things just kept going. The boys played all day and got along so well. The only bad thing is that since Parker can really talk now he and Isaac can communicate which just causes double trouble. Mid-morning we decided to take the two of them to the pumpkin patch.....nana, papaw, myself, Isaac and Parker. The boys were so very cute. They each wore their little fall customs to the pumpkin patch. Isaac was Iron Man and Parker was an Indian (I have attached some pics). After we left the pumpkin patch we headed to Lowe's, and yes the boys wore their customs there as well.
Later that evening we had a bond fire and roasted hotdogs and smores over the fire. I believe one of the funniest things was one dad lit the fire and Parker tried his best to blow out that big flame. He would puff and puff until he had no puffs left. Isaac decided that since Parker didn't know how to roast hotdogs and smores over the fire that he would show him how it should be done. Too cute I tell you. We had so much fun!!!!
Yesterday, while at work, I get a phone call, "Jamie. This is Kiddie Kove (Parker's preschool). We just wanted to let you know that Parker has an incident report today and since his grandma is picking him up today we wanted to call and give you a heads up." So am I thinking.....self, what has he done..did he throw something? did he hit someone? Well, it ended up that he had been sitting on a chair reading a book and when he went to get down he fell and cut his eye. Lucking for us it did not need medical attention.
Well, Justin and I are heading out to Texas for our friends wedding. Justin is actually the best man. It is only the two of us. Parker is actually going to South Carolina with Nana and Papaw to help celebrate Isaac's 4th birthday. Please keep us all in your prayers for safety as we travel.