Happy Easter!

Hello!

Well yesterday was Easter and we had a great time here in the Chittle household.  We woke up to start our search for Will and Henry's Easter baskets.  Will did great finding his and brothers too.  Will must have been a good boy this year, because the Easter bunny brought him lots of fun stuff.  Like a Cars sleeping bag for camping this summer, swimming trunks for him and Henry that match, socks, a book, a movie, frisbee, harmonica, etc.  Then we all went to the park and played.  We came home and cooked dinner and had an Easter egg hunt.  Will and Henry both got change in their eggs to put in their piggy banks.  We have had to come up with different ways to celebrate the holidays since food isn't something we can focus on with the boys.  We didn't color eggs this year because Will is VERY allergic to them.  Next year I will order wooden ones to decorate though.  EoE sure makes you think outside of the box!  Here are some pictures from our day!

There is Always Something...

So it has been awhile since my last post, no surprise there.  I seem to turn to this blog when things get the most rough.  Now seems to be another one of those times.

For anyone who didn't know, we had our sweet Henry on 12-7-11 via scheduled c-section.  I had gestational diabetes pretty bad and it was safer for him to be born earlier rather than later.

We only got to see him for about a minute after he was born.  He wasn't breathing well on his own and had to be taken immediately to the NICU and put on a ventilator.  We also had to monitor his kidney function since we knew one was enlarged.  He later developed jaundice and pneumonia.  Despite all of that, our little fighter was able to come home exactly one week later.

Everything went well for a couple of weeks, but then, due to no lights being turned on in the living room and Wills toy truck being left on the floor, Henry was dropped by someone who tripped and now has a broken femur.  He is in a harness now and will be for about another month.  I have to take him to Traverse City, where the nearest pediatric orthopedist is, every two weeks until he is healed.

Then, as if that wasn't enough, I started noticing bruising and petechial rashes on him.  We took him to the doctor where they ordered bloodwork.  The blood work came back and shows some inconsistencies.  He now has to go through further testing.  They are looking for things like clotting disorders, hepatitis, etc.  Honestly, I don't even want to speculate.  Will has had numerous petechial rashes as well, and we have never gotten an answer as to why.

I am trying to stay strong for my boys, but I am too jaded by my experiences with Will to think that there is probably nothing wrong with Henry.  Bad things can and do happen to us, not just other people.  When I do vent to family and friends they seem to brush it off and say things like; "it will be so much easier now because you have been through it all with Will."  and "don't worry, you can do it, you've done it before." and my personal favorite, "this is why you weren't going to have more kids, because you knew there was a distinct possibility something could go wrong."

I know everyone means well.  But these statements hurt me more than they help.  It ISN'T easier just because I have one child with special needs already and hearing that I should not have had Henry, doesn't help me either.  He is a blessing that I adore and couldn't imagine my life without.  Reminding me, at a time like this, that he was a surprise, ISN'T helping the situation.  Things happen in life for a reason.

Again, I know everyone who has said things like this means well.  No one intended to be insensitive.  I think sometimes that if you have never been through anything significant with your child, you can never understand how someone else feels who has.  This is just my place to vent about how I am feeling.

I do also want to add, that I have met some pretty amazing people through Wills illness that are now supporting me through what is going on with Henry.  Thank you all so much.  I don't know how I could have gotten through these last couple of years without you.  I also know, that I have some amazing friends that have stuck by me for a long, long time that I rely on so much.  Jill Evans especially.  I love her so much and am still trying to figure out why she has stuck around for the 16+ years that she has.  ;)

Okay, vents over.  I got to get it out here so that I can be upbeat for my boys in 'real life'.  :)

Ahhhhhh!

So much going on these days, ahhhhh!  I swear, I really do want a boring, normal life.  It is what I strive for in life.  
The gestational diabetes isn't going as we had hoped.  I keep increasing my insulin, and am watching everything I eat, and my sugar levels still continue to rise.  So, right now I am scheduled for a c-section on 12-7.  That will put me at 37 weeks gestation.  At my last ultrasound appointment, with a specialist with a specialized ultrasound machine, baby was weighing in at 6 lbs (33 weeks gestation).  Its head was in the 50th% and its body was in the 92nd%.  All of this means that it is too dangerous for me to try a vaginal birth, dangerous for me and baby.  
At that same appointment we got some more news on the baby's kidneys.  The doctor still thinks that the problem could correct itself in the next 2 1/2 weeks, so that is great.  If it persists, which we will know by an ultrasound on the baby a day or two after birth, it is either kidney re flux, or a 'kink' in the tube that the urine leaves the kidney through.  This is making the urine drain slower than it should.  The re flux would be cured with a years worth of antibiotics and the kink would be fixed through surgery.  I am optimistic about it though.  Praying the problem just corrects itself.  
The last couple of days have been stressful because Wills insurance company is all of the sudden refusing to continue to pay for a medication that he needs.  He has been on it for a year now.  They want to do a cheaper medication (surprise, surprise).  I have had to fax medical records to prove that he has tried all of the cheaper ones and that they didn't work.  They don't care though.  They said the only way that they 'might' pay for it is if this new one makes him sick.  Then they will consider switching back.  Mind you, this is an insurance company specific for children with special needs.  Maybe they should be the ones that have to sit here and hold him while he is sick and miserable because of their greed.  Nevermind, the big wigs that make those decisions probably have no hearts anyway and that probably wouldn't sway their opinion at all.  Can you tell that I am pissed off by all of this?!  I am usually pretty calm and collected person, but this just gets me going.
I guess that is all for today.  We are going to have two kids in less than 2 1/2 weeks, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Almost 31 weeks!

I can't believe how fast this pregnancy has been going the last month or so. It is sure flying by. It has also been quite eventful which may be why it seems to be going so fast.

I had my follow up ultrasound on Monday to check the babies weight, fluid, and kidneys. They have been checking on the kidneys because one is really large. Well, the one is a little larger now, and now there is also fluid in the kidneys. The baby is also almost 5 lbs now. So, I have to see a specialist in Grand Rapids when we bring Will down for his next biopsy. I am trying not to worry too much, I think I am actually doing pretty good about that.

I also just found out that I probably have gestational diabetes. So much fun! (Does the sarcasm come through well on here?)

Will is doing really well with the buffalo so far. It was hard to get him to swallow any of it at first since he isn't used to textures like that. But he is getting the hang of it now. I am keeping my fingers crossed that buffalo is a keeper!

We are going to a Halloween party on Saturday. We are also going to take Will trick or treating in downtown Marquette. His costume is so cute if I do say so myself! I just have to make the suspenders and he will be the cutest Gnome ever! Matt is being Charlie Chaplin, and I am being a gumball machine!

Be on the lookout for cute Halloween costume pictures coming soon! Here is a sneak peek below...

Update Time!

Okay, I suppose it is time for an update. Life has been pretty good. Wills last biopsy was clean, so peas are a keeper for him. We are currently trialing buffalo. I am nervous about this trial because he didn't do so well with his last protein trial. I am being optimistic though!

I am 27 weeks pregnant now. Time has flown this pregnancy. Chasing around a two year old will do that to you I guess. I was on bedrest for awhile due to a soft cervix, but now am just restricted on what activities I can do, like no more gym (boo!). But, as the saying goes, this too shall pass.

Baby Chittle number two is doing very well. I can't wait to meet him or her come Christmas time. I am trying not to wish away this pregnancy though, as hard as it has been on me physically, as this will be it for our contribution to the expansion of the Chittle clan.

I also am not allowed to drive until January due to seizures. They are so pesky. I haven't had one since June, so I am hoping it stays that way because you have to wait six months after an episode before you are allowed to drive again. It hasn't been all bad though. I have been baking more (mmmmmm, bread) and doing more crafts. I am teaching myself how to knit as well. I just got the fabric for the new nursery, so I am going to start the quilt and curtains sometime this week as well.

Will is talking in sentences now, he loves numbers, cars and colors. He is growing up so fast and is such a blessing to me. Everyday brings something new. He is such a special little guy.

Matt is doing well. Trying to squeeze in a few more rounds of golf before winter is here, working and playing with Will.

I guess that is all for now. I will leave you with some pictures from all of our adventures this summer. Have a great day!

Time Sure Flies...

How is my boy going to be two tomorrow?! It does not seem possible. I was watching videos of him from when he was a baby the other day. I had already forgotten how small he was and the funny faces he used to make! He is doing better, medically speaking, than he ever has. So I am so thankful for that, but even though he was more sick when he was younger, I am sure going to miss him being my baby. Now I have a toddler on my hands who is too smart for his own good. He is starting to speak in sentences already, we are embarking on the potty training journey, and he loves to help me do chores around the house. And he really is a help with them!

So, enough of that. Matt and I are going to celebrate Wills Birthday today since Matt has to work most of the day tomorrow. We are going to go to the beach, the playground, and maybe to the YMCA so Will can go swimming! Then tomorrow I will make him his 'cake' for dinner. Then the 21st we are having his Birthday Party. It is a vehicle theme party. I am having so much fun getting ready for it. It is going to be pretty nice if I do say so myself. If you are in the neighborhood that day, drop on by!

This weekend we are also going to go to Greenbay for the night with some friends. They have a little boy who is about 6 months younger than Will. There we will take the boys to the zoo and to Bay Beach. It should be fun!

Well, that is everything that is going on here. How has your summer been going so far?

Been Busy...

So, it has been awhile since I have updated again. This summer is just flying by and things have been pretty busy around here.
Will had another scope and biopsy done last week. We are still waiting on the results. This one was a little harder for him to recover from then the ones in the past. He wouldn't eat much and I had to use his feeding tube quite a few times in the three days or so following the surgery. He is doing good now though.
Will and I went to my Moms after the trip to DeVos and Matt met us there on Friday. Then Matt and I went on a much needed mini vacation to Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island from Saturday to Monday. We decided that we need to make time away together more of a priority. We didn't even realize how much we had grown apart until we were with each other alone for a few days.
For the last month or so, we have been working on our backyard. It was pretty much an unuseable space before. The previous owners had one of those inflatable pools in the back, and instead of just draining it the right way, they popped it and all the water washed away the top soil in the back into the neighbors yard. That made for a very sunken in, rocky backyard. So, we have it evened out, removed a MILLION rocks and are using them to create raised gardens, and we have a picket fence in. I put down grass seed so we are waiting on that to grow and Matt is going to put in a small patio so we can have a fire pit and a place to put our chairs. I have started painting the fence white, that is going to be a time consuming project. Our deadline is to have it done before Wills birthday party on the 21st of August. Hopefully we make it!
Let's see, what else is going on....oh baby number two is doing good. We have our ultrasound and 2o week appointment coming up on Monday. It will be nice to see the little bugger again. Matt hasn't been able to come to an ultrasound yet, so it will be his first time seeing the baby moving around in there and he/she sure does a lot of that these days!
Okay, I will try once again to be better about keeping this updated. Hopefully I will have some news in the next couple of days about Wills biopsy results so we know if he can keep eating pears or not. Keep your fingers crossed!