When Life Gives You Lemons...

I started writing this post yesterday, but I was too tired to finish it.

Dad, Mia, and Bret have been battling pretty bad colds for the past two weeks. Mia started it, then Bret got it, then dad. Mia went into surgery and dad got it BAD. He shared his drink with Bret then HE got it bad. Mia came home from the hospital, Bret coughed on her, then SHE got it bad.

It's been over two weeks though and the kids aren't getting better. Especially Mia. I called the pediatrician's office yesterday because her pee has been different since Friday (every time I straight catheter her), and she threw up her milk in the morning. She was too phlegmy to keep it down. They said that since she is "high risk" I needed to take her in so they could make sure everything was okay.

Getting a kidney and bladder ultrasound on Friday before SB clinic. Everything seemed fine then

At the pediatrician's office, we cathed her again to check for a UTI and the doctor told me she had an ear infection in both ears. My heart dropped, skipped a beat, stopped beating and I cried a little. If Mia has ANY type of infection, especially so close to her shunt surgery, it can cause a shunt infection. That is one of my worst fears. It means a two plus week stay in the hospital, another  brain surgery, and some permanent damage to parts of her brain. NO!

But, I try to stay positive and think of the best case scenario (after my brain has gone through all THE WORST case scenarios). We were given antibiotic and sent home.

Meanwhile, Bret went to work with dad. They got two lawns mowed and trimmed while Mia and I were at the pediatrician's office and getting her medicine.

Bret has been feeling crabby as well. Crying a lot and wanting to be held all the time, but not, but yes, but not. So, we've watched Ice Age, Tarzan, Brother Bear, cuddled, cried and slept. The kids took a LOOOOONG nap that day. Several actually.

Bret and his bear, Oso Moreno, are inseparable

They told me to take him to the pediatrician's office too to check for an ear infection as well. So, Grandpa came over to watch Mia and I took Bret to the pediatrician's office. We joked about me getting a "frequent customer" card. Then maybe after 10 visits, I can get a pedicure or something!

Besides a bad cough, he's doing great!

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Today, Mia woke up and drank her morning bottle then, she went to sleep. She slept from 8:30 am-1:00 pm. I was concerned about how long her nap was. Then, when she woke up, I noticed some swelling behind her ear along her shunt. My heart dropped. I had called the Spina Bifida clinic yesterday and the nurse in charge of the clinic told me she was concerned about her ear infection and how that might affect her shunt. She was already red flagged because of her ear infection, now the swelling? The pediatrician, Spina Bifida Clinic, and neurosurgery were all informed. I was advised to take her in to the E.R. to be evaluated.

The swelling went down while we were there, but it keeps swelling and shrinking, then swelling and shrinking. So, we have to watch it and watch out for symptoms of a shunt malfunction or an infection then follow up with neurosurgery next week. 

Heath took Bret with him to class, then grandma and grandpa picked him up until I was done so Heath could go to his evening class. 

I worry about Mia a lot. I don't want to lose her brain. All the progress that we've made. There's a lot of things in her future that are so uncertain and I worry about. So, making sure I catch a malfunction or an infection in time, makes me feel like I can save her. Save her brain. All the E.R trips and phone calls are worth it, as long as I can see her eyes look at me, and her hands reach up to grab my face. As long as she can laugh, recognize those around her and not worry about seizures and other things. 

Our family, friends, neighbors, church members, and team of doctors have helped SO much! I am so grateful for all the people we're surrounded with who have helped and ARE helping us. Thank you for watching Bret with such short notice and for long periods of time, for coming over, keeping me company, letting me vent. Doing fun things as moms. For loving our family, especially my kids. For killing spiders for me when Heath's not home. For all the dinners that have been brought (I'll give you back your dishes I promise!). For your texts and calls. For those who live far away, your support and words of encouragement mean the world to us. To me. I love each an every single one of you. Thank you!!

So I guess, when life gives you lemons, 

Thank the high heavens there are people around you who bring water and sugar. Then you can actually make a pretty descent lemonade. 

My current favorite song. Besides being great for the Olympics, it makes me want to try harder at life!