You know you're a PCH mom when...

Today on my support group we played a game. You know you're a PCH mom when...

Here are some of my favorites...

-your pretty sure the new addition to your pediatricians office is funded by yours truly...

- you can multitask with the accuracy of a Ninja on three broken hours of sleep

- you can administer G-tube meds in the middle of the night, in the pitch black, half asleep, without spilling a drop

-your child makes choking sounds in a restaurant and you don't even flinch

- your child is seizing and your like "don't worry, that's normal"

- sleep is always more important than a shower

- your babies feeding and medical supplies take up more space in your pantry..... than the food for the rest of your family.

- the so-called experts refer to you (no pressure btw)

- you're often asked if you are a doctor or a nurse

- you have more emergency supplies in your diaper bag than an EMT in their medical bag (I especially relate to this one as I've been in the ambulance and actually handed them my own supplies)

- YOU'RE coming up with all the good ideas in the emergency room (that one was mine)

- purchasing a vehicle you don't care about the color, or the luxury, only the space

- you get excited if you have a day that you DON'T have to wash every single piece of bedding

- your house has so much medical equipment it makes company uncomfortable

- you can hear every piece of medical equipment in the house beeping in the night.....and you know which one you should get up for

- your carpet is so covered in spit up you don't even bother properly cleaning it up anymore

- going out is a military operation

- you read "this medication may cause drowsiness" on a bottle and think "yeah right..... if only....." (that one was mine too....neurokids don't always sleep ;-)

-you're running in circles and getting nowhere

And my personal favorite...

- your phone is full of pictures of poo! (and I would add vomit!)

It's so validating and supportive to be a part of a group of people that understand exactly how stressful my life is :-) It took me 6 months to join the group because I was afraid seeing the children dying would scare me. But I have found benefit in ALL of it and feel so supported by my new friends :-)

Sophia had another hard day with her cold BUT...... she IS getting better :-)

Thank you for your prayers / another PCH child (NOT Sophia) returns

First if all let me say....every time I post and ask for prayers I can feel them and they work. Last night Sophia slept beautifully and did not throw up. Thank you so much. Then this morning was very difficult....but I was somehow buoyed up....and I believe it was your prayers that did the trick 😇

In other news. A beautiful 5 year old girl on my global support group returned home to her Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. She died peacefully in her sleep without warning. My heart breaks for a family who lost their beautiful little girl. In her eulogy I read that she likes some of the same things Sophia likes.....lying under the trees in the breeze and talking about life :-) I'm grateful that she is safe with our Father and Mother in Heaven.

And I'm grateful for dear Sophia today :-)...

Better but still not great

Sophia is feeling better than she was in the hospital but she's still not feeling great. Please pray that we can figure out how to help her. Today she threw up probably more than she ever has in 24 hours :-( I'm getting to be a pro at the suction machine. Also she's congested which can be dangerous for her so we have to thin out her milk with Pedialyte. So she's not getting the nutrition she needs. It's incredible how a tiny little cold can wreak so much havoc on her :-(

On the bright side we still get to see her smile because she often does so after vomiting :-) and she absolutely loves to clean off in the bath with mom :-)

Home again

Yesterday we spent the day in the hospital running tests :-( It was the perfect storm of a few things that kept us guessing as to what was wrong with Sophia, but we have figured it out :-) She has the common cold, she's teething, and as I mentioned we had taken her off one of her reflux meds that she apparently needed. Her heart rate was high for a long time, and even after we left the hospital it stayed above 200 for a few hours last night, but it's finally starting to stabilize :-)

The highlight of the day yesterday was meeting my friend Nicole! We've been "penpals" of sorts for a couple months. I've mentioned her before...she has adorable twin girls with PCH, Macy and Lucy :-) Our families were supposed to go swimming together but she came to visit me outside the hospital instead :-)

In the hospital again :-(

My dad tells this funny story about driving around in the Vegas heat and thinking that his air conditioner wasn't working because it was like 90° in his truck. When he stepped out of the truck into the 120 degree heat.... he suddenly realized his air conditioner WAS working!

So..... THIS was kind of like THAT :-(

Sophia's medication for reflux didn't seem to be working so we took her off it. The logic being that we don't want her on "extra" meds. Within 24hours she was vomiting more than ever and her HR was high for hours so.....here we are at the hospital again.... :-( Sorry sweetheart :-(

I've had a rich experience bearing children

Today I went to a baby shower for my cousin's wife :-) It's her first baby and there was a lot of young moms there. It was fun. It reminded me of a long time ago when I was pregnant with Michael :-) I feel grateful :-)

My experiences in life have been rich. I've had plenty of babies :-) I've had boys and girls. I've had three healthy babies and one angel :-)

I'm really glad that I had Sophia when I did. I think I'm mature enough to handle this now but I'm not sure I would have been when I was 22. I think the Lord knew that.

Life has many seasons. I am growing out of  the season that I most looked forward to as a little girl :-) I will look back with fondness now and watch my children grow :-)

Sophia and Daddy today...

And now the plague?

Hurricanes....earthquakes.....mass shootings.....fires......and now the plague? I'm so sorry for the trials in the world. So many people facing very hard circumstances. It really makes me grateful that we are safe here with our Sophia :-)


Mama.....

 

Little Mama...