Life As We Know It

It's truly amazing how much you can love someone so small. My heart grows every time I look at Wendy. It's hard to believe something so perfect is a part of me, that she is mine. But she is.

I spend most of my nights and days tending to her every need and want. Seeing as she is a very special child, she has quite a few needs. My afternoons are spent preparing formula with lots of extra calories, changing her dressing around her g tube, and administering medicine. It's weird to think that other parents don't do the same thing. For us, this is normal.

After reading a book about raising special children, I realized not all parents handle it well and gracefully. I like to think I am one of those that handle it fabulously. As difficult as some days are, and believe me, some days are I-want-to-rip-every-strand-of-hair-out kind of days, I wouldn't change a moment of it. Every minute my baby spent in the hospital, every syringe I have washed, every colostomy I have changed has shaped me into the loving and caring mother I see myself as. Some people may pity my family. If you're one of those people, it's you I truly feel sorry for. Because if you feel one ounce of sadness for my beautiful family, you obviously can't see the joy, love, and happiness that our life is filled with. Prayers we will take. Sympathy, we can do without.

Nice And Long!

It's been a while since I have had a long, detailed blog.

I am planning on correcting that right now!

As I've said in a few of my recent short posts, it's difficult to blog on an iPhone. The internet isn't the fastest. Blogspot freezes. And I often get misspellings or weird autocorrects and sometimes they're so bad that my sentences don't even make sense!

I am now back on my big obnoxious iMac. Wendy is laying on a blanket on the floor. Ares is on the couch, eating a sock. And I am sitting beside Wendy typing away, while Gone With The Wind is playing in another window at the corner of my screen.

Wendy has been doing really well lately, as far as making progress. She's smiling and laughing so much more. Sometime she laughs at absolutely nothing, like right now she's rolling around giggling like there's no tomorrow. She's been rolling to her sides often and doing it well. She's even rolling to her left side now, which she wouldn't do before because of her g tube and colostomy being on that side. Wendy has been sleeping in her own crib, in her own room, for about a week or so now. She's been sleeping from about 7:00pm to usually 2:00-3:00am. Which at that time I come get her up for a diaper change and then I lay her in her vibrating boppy seat beside the couch in her room and she and I watch a movie or tv show on my computer until we both fall back asleep. Then at 7:00am we are up for the day. At that time, I'll put her on the floor to roll around and we'll work on her reaching for toys. Once she's wore out, she usually takes a nap.

It has taken a while, but we have finally settled into a routine.

As for her doctors, we have met her pediatrician and surgeon. Dr. Melissa Martin, in Athens, as I've mentioned before, is her new pediatrician. She was amazing, and absolutely adorable. We were waiting in the exam room and in walks a sweet, very tiny, lady, even shorter than myself, in a teal colored dress and wedges. She had short dark grey hair and very stylish glasses. I couldn't help but smile. And when she opened her mouth to talk, I was even more thrilled. She was so nice and completely focused on helping Wendy. She didn't point out Wendy's flaws. Needless to say, I was impressed and very happy with my choice, and Dr. Martin was appalled that other doctors didn't want to take Wendy because of her special needs.

Yesterday we met Dr. Mark Wulkan, Wendy's pediatric surgeon. As with most specialists, he didn't have a really big personality. But with a surgeon, I don't care about his personality. I care about his qualifications and his ability to fix my baby. He seemed knowledgable and acted like this was a fairly common surgery and told us Wendy should heal quickly. The only thing I did not like, was his office. I'm used to the doctor's office being attached to the hospital. Wendy will be having surgery probably June 28. The reason I say probably is because the lady that scheduled it said on one calendar it said Dr. Wulkan would be in that day, on another, it said he would be gone that day. So if not June 28, it will be July 5 or 12. She is going to talk to Dr. Wulkan and call me this week to let me know for certain. Wendy's surgery will be at the Children's Hospital at Egleston.

I would post more, because I feel like I have so much to catch up on, but Wendy is getting tired of entertaining herself, so mommy is needed!

Be Back Soon!

We were supposed to have Internet in our house today, however the guy from HughesNet did a terrible job with installation so we called, complained, and cancelled. We are going to go through Comcast now. So for now, short blog posts will be all I can manage from my iPhone. Wendy has an appointment with her surgeon Aon Wednesday. And Monday she sees a neurologist. I will definitely update after we get any news or schedule her surgeries. Just bare with me for now with the crappy posts because it's just a very hectic time right now- moving, getting settled, changing Wendy's doctors, etc. Until next time.

7 Months Old

I haven't written much since moving back home. Simply because we don't have Internet yet and I hate posting from my iPhone.

Wendy turned 7 months old today so I had to suck it up and post. On May 3rd, 5 days before she turned 7 months, her first tooth broke through! It is right in the center on the bottom and it's super sharp. She's into biting now!

Also, today was her first appointment with her new pediatrician, Dr. Melissa Martin. She is fabulous. She was very thorough and extremely friendly. She made me feel like Wendy was a priority, not just another file, like so many other doctors. Little miss was weighed today and she weighed 10lbs 3oz. She has to go back for a weight check in 6 weeks because she only gained 4oz in 2 months.

Another big milestone? Wendy is sleeping without her heart monitor, for the very first time! Mommy is a nervous wreck. I actually plan on sleeping on the couch in her room for tonight since its the first night without it. Hopefully it all goes smoothly and I will be back in my bedroom soon!

Yes, My Life Is Just That Great

When it comes to havin a sick kid, yes, that sometimes sucks. I say sometimes because Wendy is an absolute joy, but her feeding pump, medications, and constant doctor visits are a pain.

The rest of my life is pretty spectacular at the moment. I have a roof over my head, a very big, beautiful roof. I have a husband who loves me and who is one of mOst amazing fathers I know. I have family and friends who are eagerly waiting to help me. And finally, I am thankful for my beautiful miracle who is almost 7 months old now.

Reunited.

After being away from my husband and Wendy away from her daddy, we have been reunited. Zed and I have not been apart do this long since Wendy was born. It's been strange being apart (even though only for five days) and quite difficult. I am so used I having his help with our baby that it wore me out taking care of her alone. I had my mom, of course, but she doesn't know how to use all of Wendy's equipment or change her colostomy bags yet. So here is my little family, minus Ares and Peanut (who are still with my parents until we unpack), all sleeping in the master bedroom of our house. Wendy in her travel crib. Pandora on a blanket beside her. And Zed and I on the new king size bed we just got put together. Our tv is sitting on a box and we are watching a DVD on the Xbox because we don't have tv yet. You know, my life may not be exactly simple, but it's pretty damn amazing.

Wendy Lee, Home Sweet Home

This morning when I woke up and felt Wendy's gums, I realize her first tooth has finally broke through! She has gotten her first tooth 5 days before she turns 7 months old. I can't believe how fast my baby girl is growing up. It's a good thing she's still so tiny or I really would be heartbroken!

As long as Zed gets home today like he is supposed to, we will all be staying at our house together tonight. It's still not completely unpacked, but it's unpacked enough to stay in. I still need to go grocery shopping. Maybe I will get that done today. But I think it's safe to say that Wendy will be home sweet home.

Also, I just wanted to say, this blog has had almost 15,000 views! That is so amazing!