Once your youngest child turns one everyone starts to ask the big question, "when are you going to have more kids?" Or if you are a mother of two boys this question is phrased, " So are you going to try for a girl?" This is my least favorite question to be asked, as though my two boys are obviously a huge disappointment and there is no way I could ever be happy if I don't have a girl. Don't get me wrong, when I found out I was pregnant a second time I really wanted a girl. I felt sure Rowan was a girl, right up until the moment they told us he was a boy. However, now that I have been the proud mother of two boys for almost two years this question is just annoying. Do mother's of two girls get asked, "are you going to try for a boy?" the moment they find out they are having another girl? Do mothers of two girls get the sad smiles from the check out ladies and complete strangers, followed by, "oh poor thing, and you have two of them." What the hell does that even mean? And it happens all the time!!! Maybe it's just my kids, not that they are boys?
The worst part about this question is when I answer it honestly no one believes me. My answer is always, and truthfully, I would really like another boy. Not that I would be sad if we had a girl, that would be cool too, but at this point I have everything you could ever need to raise a boy, clothes, toys, furniture, ect. I know how to do it, I enjoy it, they could all be boys together and have a gay old time. I don't have a deep longing to mother a girl, frankly I'm kind of terrified of it. I am not an extremely girly person, I have no super girly things I really want to share with a daughter. However, when you tell people that they laugh at you, kind of roll their eyes, as if to say, "yeah right, every woman is dying to have a daughter."
There was a brief moment a few weeks ago when I thought I might like to have a daughter. After buying all sorts of T-ball things for Zane Zach and the boys were in the yard playing catch and I was inside cooking dinner. Zach was beyond excited at the thought of the boys being able to play catch with each other one day and about the baseball fun that lies in our future. And while I was inside cooking I did think, it would be nice to have a daughter to hang out with while the boys play baseball. And then I spiraled into sadness about how Zane & Rowan will never talk to me when they are grown up and forgot all about it.
But the root of the question everyone is asking is, are you done having kids? On a good day, when no one is sick, or sleep deprived, or feeling overly emotional, the short answer to this would be no. We most definitely want to have another child. Shoot I would have a handful more if I was younger, didn't hate being pregnant so much, and somehow came into a ton of money. But for where we are in our life I think one more would be about the max we could handle. I am the third of three children so to me it feels like one is missing. I cannot bare the thought of never going through the baby baby phase again. The tiny clothes, their tiny bottoms, the squeaky cry, the sleeping all day, the smell, all of the baby phase is my absolute favorite thing in the world. I am not quite sure what I'm going to do when my last child learns how to walk, probably going to have a mental breakdown. But for now the sadness I feel as I watch Rowan grow into a little boy is tamed by the thought that we will get to do all the baby stuff one more time.
But as much as I can't bare to think of never getting to cuddle a tiny baby to sleep again or sing songs to a little boy before bed, there are days that I equally cannot bare the thought of going through the emotions of a two year old again or potty training another kid. There was a moment this week when both BOYS, supposedly the less emotion gender, were hanging on me, weeping, huge puppy dog tears, for God only knows what reasons (seriously still have no idea what happened), and I thought to myself, "this could be enough." I can't handle the emotions of boys so I'm quite certain I couldn't handle the drama of a girl.
As Rowan is fast approaching two I keep thinking what in the world was I thinking when I got pregnant with a second baby when Zane was only two?? Was I insane?? I wouldn't get pregnant now on a bet, Rowan is still such a baby. But with your first child two really seems bigger, they can do so much on their own, they can talk, they can walk, they seem so independent when you haven't seen any bigger than that. So now is not the time, I need to draw this out for as long as possible, hold onto that hope of another baby phase, but I am all to aware that before I know it that will have pasted too. Such is life!
Friday, January 30, 2015
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Ten on Wednesday
1. Well in not shocking news I am now sick after spending last week with my coughing, sick, boys. I can't breath, am coughing continually, have zero energy, and can't sleep because of the coughing. One of the many joys of parenthood I guess. In good news the boys are feeling better, though still have little coughs, but went back to school today while I laid on the couch and coughed.
2. Speaking of schools, the research and planning has begun for what to do with Zane next year since he won't be going to kindergarten. I am hoping to get him into a pre-k program of some kind, we will see how that goes, and if we can iron out all the details. I'm stressed out about the whole thing, but such is life.
3. Arctic animal crafts continued this week, every day. Every morning during breakfast Zane would have me make a list of whatever animals we needed to make that day. We made two different kinds of seals, penguin masks, and the northern lights. However, as I began to feel worse I couldn't face doing anything else on the list, much to Zane's dismay. We still have an ox to make, baby polar bears, and so much more. Here are the boys in their penguin masks, which I think were terribly adorable.
He can be so happy, see picture above, or a complete mess, picture below post fit over HAVING to have his bowl, spoon, fork, and a box of pudding with him, in his car seat, on his way home from the store. AAAAHHHHH
2. Speaking of schools, the research and planning has begun for what to do with Zane next year since he won't be going to kindergarten. I am hoping to get him into a pre-k program of some kind, we will see how that goes, and if we can iron out all the details. I'm stressed out about the whole thing, but such is life.
3. Arctic animal crafts continued this week, every day. Every morning during breakfast Zane would have me make a list of whatever animals we needed to make that day. We made two different kinds of seals, penguin masks, and the northern lights. However, as I began to feel worse I couldn't face doing anything else on the list, much to Zane's dismay. We still have an ox to make, baby polar bears, and so much more. Here are the boys in their penguin masks, which I think were terribly adorable.
Rockhopper penguins, obviously!
4. One of my favorite highlights of the week happened during science time. After doing a few of the experiments that came in his kit Zane decided he wanted to make up his own. "Mamma I have a big idea!" His big idea was adding everything we had on the table into his big beaker, this included water, oil, vinegar, blue food coloring, and baking soda. He put the lid on it, shook it, and wait for it, the lid popped off!! It was the best case scenario and he was oh so proud, "Mamma my big idea worked!" This was followed by me telling him that my dad was a scientist and did experiments all the time. Zane was sooo excited to learn this and proclaimed "I want to be a scientist when I am bigger too!!!" Love it!
5. The weather has been gorgeous here this week, felt a little bit bad about it since the rest of the country was getting covered in snow. I've had the windows open every day while I've been laying on the couch. I'm devastated that I haven't been able to enjoy it more. We have made quite a few trips to the neighborhood park, which Zane loves, and have gotten to play in the back yard which has been lots of fun as well.
How big does Rowan look in this picture with his little hands in his pockets. He is growing up way too fast!
6. In other very exciting news Uncle Adam is a Daddy!!! Adam and his wife Rebecca welcomed their first child, Gregory Mack Kingree, into the world on Monday afternoon. Mother, baby, and Daddy are all home and doing well. I have been looking at pictures of tiny babies for days now and have decided we need to go meet baby Mack ASAP so I can cuddle a baby and not make the rash decision to have another one because I miss their tiny cloths. Little Mack is adorable and we are so happy for the whole Kingree family.
Proud Daddy and Grandpa with little Mack.
7. This week Rowan has been in a glass box of emotion, to quote Anchorman. He will melt into a puddle over pretty much anything. Most of the time he is loosing his mind and I have zero idea why. He wants Mickey Mouse, or his Gary shirt, that is dirty, or he can't decide what beverage he wants to drink, or I demand to help tie his shoes BECAUSE HE CAN'T TIE HIS SHOES!!! Psycho path! I am really hoping he has gotten more emotional because he is still kind of sick and not a preview of the year to come. I can't handle it!!!
8. Rowan also has decide, as of late, that he must be in the middle of all cooking that I am doing. Usually I mean quite literally in the middle, standing between me and the cabinet or stove. I have started to try to let him help. It is a work in progress, but he is getting better. It's very cute hearing him say things like "I stir" or "My turn bobo" "I do it." I have another little cook on my hands for sure. Here he is helping me make pudding, that ended up falling out of the fridge, breaking the bowl, leading to Rowan eating it off the floor, probably eating some glass in the process. Just another day at my house. Try explaining to an already emotional basket case that he can't actually eat the pudding because it is all over the floor. Disaster!
9. Needless to say my training for the relay has been non existent this week. I ran on Sunday, which might have been a terrible idea. Since then I've been struggling to breath on the couch. And this is the story of all my previous training plans. I do really well then get a horrible respiratory illness and have to start over. Sigh.... Sorry teammates
10. Happy early birthday to my brother in law Brent, whose bday falls on super bowl Sunday this year. Brent's bday means it's February, which means my baby is almost two. I am not okay with this, but have started planning for his woof woof party. Should be lots of fun!
Saturday, January 24, 2015
Welcome to the Arctic
Zane's fascination with penguins started at the St. Louis Zoo where the penguins were always his favorite exhibit. It was the perfect place to cool off, the animals were always really close to you, meaning that sometimes, if you got lucky, they could even splash you. Ever since we left St. Louis Zane has begged me to go see penguins again. The thing is the penguins aren't actually there now, since their exhibit is currently being redone to add polar bears as well. Don't tell Zane but I have it on good authority that the penguins will be returning in March and we'll be making a trip to STL as soon as they are back.
In the mean time Zane wants to learn about all things penguin and play penguins everyday. This love of penguins led us to find Wildest Arctic on amazon, which turns out really doesn't have any penguins in it, but we have learned a lot about all sorts of different creatures in the arctic (in these films the arctic encompasses anywhere that it is freezing cold, northern and southern hemispheres). Zane wants to play arctic a lot, which we can do since we have all sorts of stuffed arctic and ocean creatures. We have learned all sorts of fun facts like the reindeer are the most energy efficient animals on the planet, or that the arctic fox has the most babies at one time of any land mammal. All sorts of fun facts like this.
On Friday we were home all day, for what I thought was going to be a sick day, but turns out Zane was feeling much better. Our adventure into making all the arctic animals started with just making penguins, but over the past two days it has turned into making ALL the arctic animals. Zane's imagination never stops, the moment I think we have made every animal we have ever seen in any arctic film or book he remembers something else. He had me write lists of all the things we needed to make. He meticulously choose where each animal should be hung. Zane was in charge of all cutting and gluing, usually after I had drawn something for him to cut out. His cutting skills are greatly improved and he informed me yesterday that "trimming is the most important part of cutting skills." He is a bit of perfectionist.
Of course making every animal wasn't enough, we also had to make snow flakes, to be hung in every room. Zane originally requested we make eleven snow flakes, but his enthusiasm began to wain after nine. We hung the glitter snow flakes, all painted by Zane, up in all the rooms before Zach got home so we could have a "arctic dinner." Of course an arctic dinner consists of fish sticks, since penguins eat fish.
This morning as soon as we woke up Zane was asking what other animals we needed to make. I had exhausted all the pinterest ideas before nap time yesterday and had been free styling ever since. Zane came up with a few more for us to make today, all hung up in the perfectly chosen spot by Zane. This evening he wanted to have a "ocean party" which turned into a blue bath, pretending to be penguins. Who knows what tomorrow will bring, but so far here is the list of what we have made.
How did we have to much time to do all this yesterday, you might ask. Well usually when Zane wakes from his nap there is about an hour or hour and a half until Rowan wakes up that I do something fun with just Zane. So on Friday when Zane woke up and wanted to make more arctic animals I said, "we can do arts and crafts until Rowan wakes up." Cue Rowan sleeping for almost three more hours, thanks to him still being sick. Every time I tried to go do something, like laundry, the dishes, or any number of other things I needed to do Zane would say "but you said that we could craft until Rowan wakes up."
We had lots of great conversations during our crafting as well, like about what Zane wanted to be when he grows up, currently landed on a dentist, a nurse, and an art teacher. All noble professions. He asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, which almost made me cry since this is the question I have been asking myself for about a decade now, ever since I didn't actually want to do the thing I thought I wanted to do my whole life. My answer was that I wanted to be a mommy. That's all I've been able to come up with after years of thinking about it.
Zane also asked me a lot about death, which is a frequent topic in the four year old mind for unknown reasons. In good news he doesn't get sad about it since he doesn't truly understand it's permanent. I do get sad about it and really wish we could talk about it less. We talked about the movie Zach and I saw last weekend (Selma) which Zane wanted to know what it was about. So we talked a lot about being nice to everyone, even if they are different than you are. To which my brilliant four year old said, "yeah, like how I'm different because I have a stripe, and I want people to be nice to me too." Exactly!!! He told me about all his friends at school who have, "different colored eyes than me." Isn't that precious, not that they have dark hair, or dark skin, but that they have brown eyes. Perfectly naive and beautiful. It was a wonderful three hours, watching Zane's imagination at work, being "berry workers," having very deep conversations. And now we have the added bonus of a house completely decorated for winter! Love my life!
This love started early, here is Zach and Zane with the penguins in St. Louis.
We saw penguins at the aquarium in Chicago and Zane got to dress up as one. Look at that baby face.
And of course he had to hug the penguins before we left.
On Friday we were home all day, for what I thought was going to be a sick day, but turns out Zane was feeling much better. Our adventure into making all the arctic animals started with just making penguins, but over the past two days it has turned into making ALL the arctic animals. Zane's imagination never stops, the moment I think we have made every animal we have ever seen in any arctic film or book he remembers something else. He had me write lists of all the things we needed to make. He meticulously choose where each animal should be hung. Zane was in charge of all cutting and gluing, usually after I had drawn something for him to cut out. His cutting skills are greatly improved and he informed me yesterday that "trimming is the most important part of cutting skills." He is a bit of perfectionist.
Of course making every animal wasn't enough, we also had to make snow flakes, to be hung in every room. Zane originally requested we make eleven snow flakes, but his enthusiasm began to wain after nine. We hung the glitter snow flakes, all painted by Zane, up in all the rooms before Zach got home so we could have a "arctic dinner." Of course an arctic dinner consists of fish sticks, since penguins eat fish.
This morning as soon as we woke up Zane was asking what other animals we needed to make. I had exhausted all the pinterest ideas before nap time yesterday and had been free styling ever since. Zane came up with a few more for us to make today, all hung up in the perfectly chosen spot by Zane. This evening he wanted to have a "ocean party" which turned into a blue bath, pretending to be penguins. Who knows what tomorrow will bring, but so far here is the list of what we have made.
The snow owl, designed based on what Zane's stuffed snow owl from Santa looks like. The arctic fox, and a walrus, which is pretty darn cute.
This is my absolute favorite, the blue whale, made from a paper plate, very simple, 3D, super cute!
Reindeer, Zane's take on a snow flake in the blue, and our three penguins. Two Rockhoppers, just like the ones on the cover of Ranger Rick last month, and then a "regular one" like in the zoo. Spiderman had been up on the wall for weeks.
Snow flakes
Norwhal
Polar bear
The Snow leopard, which in 2006 there were only thirty left of in the wild, so they might be extinct by this point. It is below Zane's picture of the earth on the left, with the light blue area on earth being the arctic. The other two framed pictures are family portraits, obviously.
How did we have to much time to do all this yesterday, you might ask. Well usually when Zane wakes from his nap there is about an hour or hour and a half until Rowan wakes up that I do something fun with just Zane. So on Friday when Zane woke up and wanted to make more arctic animals I said, "we can do arts and crafts until Rowan wakes up." Cue Rowan sleeping for almost three more hours, thanks to him still being sick. Every time I tried to go do something, like laundry, the dishes, or any number of other things I needed to do Zane would say "but you said that we could craft until Rowan wakes up."
We had lots of great conversations during our crafting as well, like about what Zane wanted to be when he grows up, currently landed on a dentist, a nurse, and an art teacher. All noble professions. He asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, which almost made me cry since this is the question I have been asking myself for about a decade now, ever since I didn't actually want to do the thing I thought I wanted to do my whole life. My answer was that I wanted to be a mommy. That's all I've been able to come up with after years of thinking about it.
Zane also asked me a lot about death, which is a frequent topic in the four year old mind for unknown reasons. In good news he doesn't get sad about it since he doesn't truly understand it's permanent. I do get sad about it and really wish we could talk about it less. We talked about the movie Zach and I saw last weekend (Selma) which Zane wanted to know what it was about. So we talked a lot about being nice to everyone, even if they are different than you are. To which my brilliant four year old said, "yeah, like how I'm different because I have a stripe, and I want people to be nice to me too." Exactly!!! He told me about all his friends at school who have, "different colored eyes than me." Isn't that precious, not that they have dark hair, or dark skin, but that they have brown eyes. Perfectly naive and beautiful. It was a wonderful three hours, watching Zane's imagination at work, being "berry workers," having very deep conversations. And now we have the added bonus of a house completely decorated for winter! Love my life!
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Ten on Tuesday
1. On Friday one of Zach's dreams, since we found out that we were having a boy, finally came true. We signed Zane up to play T-Ball. Zane is pretty excited, but Zach is unbelievably excited!!! So this weekend we headed out to drop way too much money on T-ball supplies, bat, glove, balls, bag, all sorts of fun things.
9. Zach and I finally accomplished a date night. Turns out it was as simple as a text to my mom, not sure why we don't do that more often. Definitely picking a less depressing movie next time. There should not be tears on date night. We went and saw Selma, what with it being MLK weekend and all. I'll try to stay off my soap box, but I find it unbelievable how recently those horrific events took place, cannot wrap my head around it. However, I also have to say a lot of it seemed so painfully familiar to exactly what I've seen happening recently. We aren't that far removed from it. It breaks my heart. I cried every time the old man whose Grandson was shot for no reason, and who was horribly beaten himself, then finally got to register to vote, came on the screen. So I desperately try to be the change I want to see in the world and raise my children the same way! And be nice, be nice, be nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
10. Lastly Zach and I are anxiously awaiting the birth of Uncle Adams baby. Uncle Adam, is Zach's best friend and is going to be a father any day. I am so excited and have had so much fun watching Zach give Adam dad advice. It is all spot on of course, it will be so fun for them to get to be dads together. Adam, and his wife Rebecca, are expecting a little boy any day. We're sending prayers over to Arkansas for a safe delivery and a happy, healthy baby boy Kingree!!
The happy face following sign up!
Next Yadi
Playing catch at last!!
Zane working on his Albert Pujols high kick and swing.
And of course Rowan had to get a little glove as well, making the father son fun that much better.
2. In other fun father son news, Zane was finally able to sit down and put together a Lego set with Zach. It wasn't anything big, just a small little truck, but Zane's attention span has greatly improved, he could put everything together, and was so proud of himself once he was all finished. Baby steps for the boy with no attention span. Rowan built with his Legos with a great attention span for a two year old, Zach thoroughly enjoyed it, and I took pictures!!
Rowan's zoo
Zane's little construction truck and worker man.
3. Saturday was Brendan's lazer tag birthday party, but Mom and I were in charge of the little kids. We took them to Otto's house, actually saw Otto, but Zane was randomly terrified. We had lots of fun including nature class and music class outside, lunch, and choo choos for the little kids!!
Nature school
Choo Choos
Music class with Grandma
Itsy, bitsy, spider
4. In other very exciting news my little Ro baby gave up his binki this week. We had been kind of planning it and dreading it for a while now. But it turns out that things which unbelievably smoothly with little to no complaints or sadness/fits. We forgot to give him his binki one night and he didn't even care, amazing compared to Zane's 2.5hrs of screaming his first night without his pacifier. Hooray!!!
The celebrations included a new fire truck, Yogurtland frozen yogurt, and lots of Mommy cuddles!
5. Since I have been going to the gym in the morning on my days off we haven't got to meet Uncle Able for breakfast in a long time. So Friday we met up at his friend's restaurant for amazing breakfast followed by lots of fun, buying my new bedroom furniture!!!!!!!!!! Yes, that's right after 32 years of life and 8 years of marriage I finally have a head board, not to mention my beautiful side tables! I am still rocking my Target chest of drawers though, so maybe not really a grown up.
I have to get some classy lamps ASAP!
6. Today my nephew, and God son, turned eight. Eight is the age that whenever anyone asks me how old were you when such and such happened I always think I was eight. I am not sure why, but I remember it as a great age, I'm sure BW will love it. We had a little shin dig tonight, cake, ice cream, singing, presents, the whole nine yards. Here I am with the bday boy himself. One of the highlights of my week was when Abbey told me that after he fell and scrapped his knee, and she was bandaging it he said, "This would be a lot better if Aunt Audra were here." That's high praise from BW, melts my little heart. Love him, Happy Bday BW!
Doesn't he look one hundred percent eight, with his spiked up hair and serious face. Love it!
Yep, I got him a Minecraft calendar,per his request!
7. After being outside all weekend in the beautiful, though very windy, weather both of my boys are now sick. Rowan has double ear infections and they both have a horrible cough. I'm not sure what that is all about, but it sounds terrible around here. They both have "an ear down" as dad would say. Rowan was very emo all day, which meant he actually would cuddle me, ever so briefly. It's the best part of a sick kid, especially when they never want to cuddle you. Here we are at the doctor where we had this conversation for thirty minutes, "I wanna go, I wanna go, I wanna go, car, I wanna go." "We can't go baby we have to see the doctor." "O-tay" Rinse repeat. He also found the hand sanitizer on my diaper bag and said "I drink it?" Kids got real problems.
So sad before he found the hand sanitizer.
8. Training for the race is coming along very slowly. I did get to run outside this weekend which was better, but I think emphasized my slowness even more somehow. I did injure myself during a dance party with my boys so I took a day off and then was home with sick boys today. Sure to have lost all my training by Friday. Took my first running selfie, because you have to. Zach also has started his training and his feeling the pain two days in.
9. Zach and I finally accomplished a date night. Turns out it was as simple as a text to my mom, not sure why we don't do that more often. Definitely picking a less depressing movie next time. There should not be tears on date night. We went and saw Selma, what with it being MLK weekend and all. I'll try to stay off my soap box, but I find it unbelievable how recently those horrific events took place, cannot wrap my head around it. However, I also have to say a lot of it seemed so painfully familiar to exactly what I've seen happening recently. We aren't that far removed from it. It breaks my heart. I cried every time the old man whose Grandson was shot for no reason, and who was horribly beaten himself, then finally got to register to vote, came on the screen. So I desperately try to be the change I want to see in the world and raise my children the same way! And be nice, be nice, be nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
10. Lastly Zach and I are anxiously awaiting the birth of Uncle Adams baby. Uncle Adam, is Zach's best friend and is going to be a father any day. I am so excited and have had so much fun watching Zach give Adam dad advice. It is all spot on of course, it will be so fun for them to get to be dads together. Adam, and his wife Rebecca, are expecting a little boy any day. We're sending prayers over to Arkansas for a safe delivery and a happy, healthy baby boy Kingree!!
Monday, January 19, 2015
Tales of a TET Baby: Rock Your Scar
After my immersion into the world of congenital heart defect awareness I learned that this week happened to be the #RockYourScar contest on Mended Little Hearts. Turns out I think I have to be on Facebook to actually enter the contest, and I have no desire to ever be on Facebook. However, I don't need to enter the contest to know who my favorite heart warrior, rocking his scar is.
Yesterday I told Zane about how there were going to be a lot of people taking pictures of their scar to show that they are proud to have them. When I said this his response was, "What is a scar?" I loved this response, because to me 'scar' seems like such an intense word with so many negative feelings associated with it. Zane has always called his scar his stripe. I'm not sure where or how this started, but it is how I always remember us referring to it. As I have mentioned many times Zane loves his stripe. He shows everyone he meets, with great pride, like it's his badge of honor, as it should be. Zane most definitely rocks his scar, everyday, in every way!
So even though we aren't officially a part of the contest here is my heart warrior, rocking his scar, most appropriately in his doctor's outfit.
Yesterday I told Zane about how there were going to be a lot of people taking pictures of their scar to show that they are proud to have them. When I said this his response was, "What is a scar?" I loved this response, because to me 'scar' seems like such an intense word with so many negative feelings associated with it. Zane has always called his scar his stripe. I'm not sure where or how this started, but it is how I always remember us referring to it. As I have mentioned many times Zane loves his stripe. He shows everyone he meets, with great pride, like it's his badge of honor, as it should be. Zane most definitely rocks his scar, everyday, in every way!
So even though we aren't officially a part of the contest here is my heart warrior, rocking his scar, most appropriately in his doctor's outfit.
Borderline serious Zane, with his half fake smile.
Zane smiles with his whole face and loves with his whole, very special, heart! He is my heart warrior, the bravest little boy I know. He has no idea all that he has overcome and I'm so proud to be his heart mom!
This most accurately sums up Zane's personality, silly, fun, crazy, little boy!
"Never be ashamed of the scars life has left you with. A scar means the hurt is over, the wound is closed, you endured the pain, and God has healed you."
Saturday, January 17, 2015
Tales of TET Baby: Heart Mom Club
When Zane was diagnosed we made a hard and fast rule at our house that there was to be absolutely no Googling of anything to do with TOF, TET babies, congenital heart defects, nothing at all. Google holds a wealth of knowledge, but with that comes horror stories, worst case scenarios, and all sorts of things that just aren't true. It's difficult to sort through all of this on a normal day, but impossible when we are in going through something terrible. When every night you are going over the worst case scenarios in your head, you don't need a computer screen to back all those things up. I was determined to live in the moment, dealing with whatever our scenario was, not all of the other terrible possibilities. I stand firmly behind this rule now and always advice parents of patients getting a new diagnosis to do the same.
I never Googled Tetrology of Fallot until about a year ago when I had a nursing student with me and I couldn't remember the fourth thing that was wrong with my son's heart. That in itself was truly unbelievable and made me strangely happy to have come so far. But I was trying to teach so I Googled it. Wow, the search results were horrifically frightening. Multiple surgeries, staying in the hospital for months, brain injuries from lack of oxygen, death, the whole gamete of terrible things that could, and have, happened to TET babies. I quickly shut all screens and went back to my never Googling TET policy.
Then this week, when I was posting things to Instagram with the hashtag tetbaby, I clicked on the hashtag, just to see what was there. And I was opened up to a whole new world that I am sad to say I had shut out. A world that wasn't trying to terrify you, but that was trying to bring support and hope to other families who had children with TOF and all sorts of other congenital heart defects. There were shirts and beautiful quotes raising awareness that congenital heart defects are the number one birth defect in the US. That every fifteen minutes a child is born with a CHD. Tons of pictures of survivors, heart warriors, as they are called. Heart mom t-shirts, heart mom poems, websites where parents can go for support, to connect with parents who have children with the same condition as their own.
I never looked into any of this out of complete fear of what I would find. I have always known that Zane's story is the absolute best case scenario. He was a rock star CICU patient. He had zero complications, he never turned blue, he isn't on any medications, he never needed a feeding tube, he never got sick, and on most days we can pretend that his heart condition just doesn't exist. I think it's because of this that I never tried to find forums or some sort of CHD awareness sites to share our story on. I guess I felt like if I shared my story, of the perfect case scenario, I would feel like I was bragging or feel like a jerk when there are so many worse, horrible stories there. People who have lost children, people whose children have spent most of their life in the hospital. I guess I felt like my story just wasn't bad enough to share.
Turns out, after immersing myself in the CHD world for a day, I realized that our amazingly perfect case scenario is the one story that is never being told. I am confident that Zane is not the only child whose TET story played out this way, but that story isn't being told. So I am now firmly and proudly a Heart Mom!!! I am a mother of a Heart Warrior, I've taken up the cause, and am ready to spread the word. The good news that though not all CHD stories end as well as ours, they can.
This doesn't mean I regret not Googling TOF while I was walking through our journey. I don't, I was coping the best I could, I know it was self preservation, and it worked for me. My advice would be Google Congenital Heart Defect support groups or websites. The one I found that I really enjoyed was Little Mended Hearts. This site offers a way for parents who have kids with CHD to connect with other heart parents. It shares resources, support groups, and knowledge that I know would be really helpful to other heart parents. I signed up as a heart mom, ready to lend support to anyone I might be able to help.
So now I'm a proud member of the Heart Mom club. This is a club no one really wants to be in, one that everyone would gladly give their membership card up in exchange for a healthy kid, but also one that we are all stronger for being a part of. My first act as a member of this club was to buy multiple CHD awareness shirts. But a close second was signing up for the Roar-N-Run virtual race. This race benefits Mended Little Hearts and is the best kind of race because you don't have to go to an actual event and you have the entire Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week (Feb. 7-14) to finish your distance. I'm sure all my ELMS Foundation team members will be joining me in this event and I highly encourage everyone else to do the same. If you are already going to be running or walking, why not join in the fun and help raise awareness of CHDs and help a site that provides support to all my fellow Heart Moms!!! Leave a comment and let me know if you are going to be part of the fun. I'd be happy to hear about and thank you in advance!!!!!
**Stay tuned for Zane's #RockYourScar photo. The contest goes on all week, though I don't know that I can officially enter since I refuse to join facebook, but God knows Zane rocks his scar everyday!!
I never Googled Tetrology of Fallot until about a year ago when I had a nursing student with me and I couldn't remember the fourth thing that was wrong with my son's heart. That in itself was truly unbelievable and made me strangely happy to have come so far. But I was trying to teach so I Googled it. Wow, the search results were horrifically frightening. Multiple surgeries, staying in the hospital for months, brain injuries from lack of oxygen, death, the whole gamete of terrible things that could, and have, happened to TET babies. I quickly shut all screens and went back to my never Googling TET policy.
Then this week, when I was posting things to Instagram with the hashtag tetbaby, I clicked on the hashtag, just to see what was there. And I was opened up to a whole new world that I am sad to say I had shut out. A world that wasn't trying to terrify you, but that was trying to bring support and hope to other families who had children with TOF and all sorts of other congenital heart defects. There were shirts and beautiful quotes raising awareness that congenital heart defects are the number one birth defect in the US. That every fifteen minutes a child is born with a CHD. Tons of pictures of survivors, heart warriors, as they are called. Heart mom t-shirts, heart mom poems, websites where parents can go for support, to connect with parents who have children with the same condition as their own.
I never looked into any of this out of complete fear of what I would find. I have always known that Zane's story is the absolute best case scenario. He was a rock star CICU patient. He had zero complications, he never turned blue, he isn't on any medications, he never needed a feeding tube, he never got sick, and on most days we can pretend that his heart condition just doesn't exist. I think it's because of this that I never tried to find forums or some sort of CHD awareness sites to share our story on. I guess I felt like if I shared my story, of the perfect case scenario, I would feel like I was bragging or feel like a jerk when there are so many worse, horrible stories there. People who have lost children, people whose children have spent most of their life in the hospital. I guess I felt like my story just wasn't bad enough to share.
Turns out, after immersing myself in the CHD world for a day, I realized that our amazingly perfect case scenario is the one story that is never being told. I am confident that Zane is not the only child whose TET story played out this way, but that story isn't being told. So I am now firmly and proudly a Heart Mom!!! I am a mother of a Heart Warrior, I've taken up the cause, and am ready to spread the word. The good news that though not all CHD stories end as well as ours, they can.
This doesn't mean I regret not Googling TOF while I was walking through our journey. I don't, I was coping the best I could, I know it was self preservation, and it worked for me. My advice would be Google Congenital Heart Defect support groups or websites. The one I found that I really enjoyed was Little Mended Hearts. This site offers a way for parents who have kids with CHD to connect with other heart parents. It shares resources, support groups, and knowledge that I know would be really helpful to other heart parents. I signed up as a heart mom, ready to lend support to anyone I might be able to help.
So now I'm a proud member of the Heart Mom club. This is a club no one really wants to be in, one that everyone would gladly give their membership card up in exchange for a healthy kid, but also one that we are all stronger for being a part of. My first act as a member of this club was to buy multiple CHD awareness shirts. But a close second was signing up for the Roar-N-Run virtual race. This race benefits Mended Little Hearts and is the best kind of race because you don't have to go to an actual event and you have the entire Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week (Feb. 7-14) to finish your distance. I'm sure all my ELMS Foundation team members will be joining me in this event and I highly encourage everyone else to do the same. If you are already going to be running or walking, why not join in the fun and help raise awareness of CHDs and help a site that provides support to all my fellow Heart Moms!!! Leave a comment and let me know if you are going to be part of the fun. I'd be happy to hear about and thank you in advance!!!!!
**Stay tuned for Zane's #RockYourScar photo. The contest goes on all week, though I don't know that I can officially enter since I refuse to join facebook, but God knows Zane rocks his scar everyday!!
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Ten on Tuesday
1. All of our Christmas celebrations are finally over. We spent a wonderful weekend at the farm celebrating Christmas with the Blakley family. It was lots of fun and lots of food. We had a roasted goose, which was surprisingly delicious. As well as beef Wellington that I don't think I could fully appreciate since I don't really like mushrooms.
Kari made two different, beautiful, fruity jello molds.
Oh did I mention the figgy pudding, that is it on the left. It was amazing. I completely understand why they won't go until they get some. Ro loved it as well.
Zach enjoying the goose leg.
2. Everyone got/gave wonderful gifts. Zane got some more doctor tools to go with his doctor outfit. He also got a science kit which is perfect for "doing science" as Zane calls it. Rowan got a dog guitar, new choo choo jammies (his favorite) and an awesome coloring pad that only involves water not actually markers so he doesn't make a huge mess. I loved all my gifts as well, all things I really wanted. It was lovely!
This face is too much.
Doing some science with Uncle Brent
3. It was freezing cold outside, which really takes a lot away from the farm, where most of the fun is outdoors. But we braved the elements a few time for adventures. The ELMS Foundation running team went on a freezing cold jog and the kids took a few quick trips outside for exploring as well.
Zane rocking dad's favorite OSU stocking cap.
Maggie found some icicles to eat while we were outside.
Batman E!
Of course we had to come in and warm up with some hot chocolate out of Grandma Dotter's Santa mugs.
4. Rowan and Everett's relationship continues to evolve and I see glimpses of them being friends. Usually they are just in the same space, but they did love riding horses together this trip. It was so adorable, I can't wait for them to be best buds.
5. On Sunday morning Rowan helped Grandma make biscuits. He was very good at the cutting out part and got thoroughly dirty in the process. There was a bit of a meltdown when we had to take off the Choo Choo jammies, no worries Grandma had another pair.
6. Now that Zane has a doctor bag full of toys we have spent a lot of time playing doctor at our house. I spent, I'm pretty sure, my entire childhood upstairs in my hospital, tending to all my stuffed animal's needs, doing surgery, making my rounds. So you can imagine how much I love watching Zane play doctor. Some of my patients have made the circle back around to be Zane's. Of course Rowan is a great patient as well.
Zane's specialty is heart surgery, obviously. "Rowan you want to have heart surgery like me?"
This is Colored Bear, one of my former patients. He has a stripe just like Zane, where his two colors meet.
7. Today was the big day, Zane's cardiology appointment day! We had a lot of conversations about what was going to happen, what his jobs were going to be, and exactly what he could expect to happen at his appointment. And in great news he did AMAZINGLY well. There were no tears, no fits, no hiding behind mom and not talking to people. He was such a big, brave, boy. I could not have been more happy and proud of him.
First up breakfast with mommy and daddy,
then he rocked the waiting room, almost falling asleep on this little couch. He is such an old pro, I couldn't believe it.
Ready to show off his stripe. He talked to the doctor like a big boy and held perfectly still for everything!!
Once he was done with everything it was time for Mommy and Zane's day of fun. There was a trip to the toy store, lunch out, Big Hero 6 in the theater, and then a trip to the Disney store. Turns out the Disney store at the mall is closing and had some wonderful sales.
8. The news from the doctor was that all looks pretty much the same. His pulmonary artery valve still doesn't function, but he seems to be doing fine so far. We talked about the need for an MRI in a few years and of course the fact that he will eventually need a valve replacement. My favorite line was when Zane was spinning around the room, while the doctor was talking, and the doctor said, "So energy level doesn't seem to be a problem, possibly excessive energy." Yes, excessive energy for sure! I know that at some point this appointment isn't going to end with no news, I'm terrified of it, but today went well.
9. My favorite part of Zane and I's days of fun is always the point when Zane says, "Can we go get Rowan now, I miss him?" So adorable. I can't wait until Rowan has to go to the dentist or something so we can have a day of fun together. Or I guess at some point Zane will be in school and every day will be Mommy and Rowan's day of fun. Sad face!
10. Once we picked up Rowan we came home to do a little bit more science. What I have realized from our science kit is that it doesn't need to be a new experiment every time, it really just needs to be baking soda and vinegar over and over again. Rowan and Zane both loved it. It was a huge mess, but nothing can really beat your son saying, "But Mamma, I just really need to do science, I love science." Oh his Grandfather would be so proud!!
And then Zane helped Rowan find all the woof woofs in the house and line them up by Ro's bed. Rowan was beyond excited and petted, fed, and cuddled them all for quite some time.
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