Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Vote for B!!!

I entered him in a photo contest! He must get the most likes!

You must first "like" modern bird studios before you "like" B's photo. They do lots of giveaways for their art work! Take a look at what they do with pictures!

Pass the message along so he has a chance to win!!

Here is the link to B's photo : Vote for B!!

http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=450226771894&set=a.450225856894.242983.247594796894

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

November 1st!!!!

This video explains it all:

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Get to know B

B is growing...and fast.

Here are some of his likes:



*Slides- he goes up them and down them. The face he makes is hilarious when going down them.


*Swings- he loves to look at the sky while he swings.




*Woodchips- he seriously will play with them for 20 minutes straight.


*Tunnels- if a park has a tunnel then it's alright by B.


*Rogue - They are BFF's. He feeds her and she loves food. It's a match made in heaven.

*Stairs - he loves to climb the stairs. He has now figured out the huggies box I have as a gate is very easy to move. It's been a rough week with that one.

*Cars - he loves to play with anything that has wheels.

*Music - he loves to bop and bang on his drum.

*Strawberries- its the only food he doesn't share with Rogue.


Things that I love about B:

*When he puts his little head on my chest. He only does it every now and then he is so not a cuddler. When he does it im like awhhhhhh.

*The way he crawls with his head down. He sort of looks like a rushing bull. He has ran into the wall and cabinets.


*His laugh and smile.


*He always shares his cheerios with me.



*His lil' butt and feet when he is escaping out of the dog door.

*The way he looks at random strangers when they tell him he is such a cute boy. He gives them a look of disgust. See picture:

Monday, October 11, 2010

B's surgery story (long)

I love fall. I love fall almost as much as I love summer. I haven't wrote in a while but I have been so busy chasing Mr. B around and he loves to play. So we have been playing:) This post is about B's surgery. I only write all the details if there are any other mom's that have to go through the same thing and for family. They have been wanting details but that whole week was kind of draining.

Let's rewind a few months:
In August, B had his kindey removed. We had to stay 4 days in the LA Children's hospital. Tuesday, August 24th was the day of his surgery. We had to get there by 5:30, his surgery was scheduled at 8. We waited in 8 different waiting rooms that day. I counted. I was pretty calm the whole morning until they put us in the Pre-op room. They gave B some purple juice and that really made him calm. I think I needed some. We held him until it was time for him to go. We walked with him down the hallway when they told us this is where we take him. That's when the tears started flowing. Then we were escorted down to stay in another waiting room. Where we waited for 4 hours. Finally, they said we could come up. Only to be put in a smaller "conference" room (the final waiting room of the day). The doctor came in and told us everything went well after he left we waited there for an hour and half until I started to get too anxious. I wanted to see my B. So I inched my way to the door...no one...went out into the hall...no one. So I just decided I would have to just go into the recovery area. There he was! I heard his little cry. He was still trying to wake up. He had a catheter, Iv and heart monitors all attached. The nurse seemed a little upset that I just came in but I *politely* told her we were left in a conference room for over an hour with no updates. So she let us sit back there until we got a room. We were able to hold him. We got to our room. It really wasn't much of a room. We had to share with a 11 year old girl. She had the majority of the room with her own private bathroom. We basically had a corner of that room. It was big enough for his crib and a recliner. I wasn't expecting deluxe accomidations but access to a bathroom would of been nice. Especially because we really couldn't leave him without him melting down. That night was pretty rough. He was uncomfortable and didn't sleep. He just wanted to be held. J told me to go back to the hotel so I could take over in the morning. That's how we got through it. J took nights and I took days.

Oh this is a fun story. So I make it back to the hotel. By now its close to 10pm. I go to our room. The key doesn't work. I try it again...nothing. I call J to make sure I got the right room. He said yes. I start to hear voices coming from our room. Im like HUH? So I go down to reception. Here is the conversation:
Me: Yah, Im staying in 826 and my key isn't working.
Check in Guy: Let me check your key. *checks key* Oh you were checked out this morning.
Me: BY WHO?!?!?!?!!?!?!
Guy: The manager. The maid called and said there were no bags in the room so they checked you out.
ME: WHAT???? Since when do I have to leave bags in the room that I have a reservation for??? The reason why we had no bags in the room is because my son had surgery today. We took everything because we didn't know what our situation was going to be like at the hospital.
Guy: Oh I am sorry about that.
Me: Well I need another room. We did have a reservation for this room.
Guy: *checks reservation* oh yes I see you did. We don't have any rooms available tonight except 1 smoking room.
Me: WHAT???!??!?SDpuOIUOIFDHFLKJDHSKJAIOSD (vein in neck blows) You better find me a room. This is your managers fault, he should of called our number before cancelling our rooms. (Im sure I said some other things to which I am not proud of).
Guy: Let me see what I can do (has the look of fear all over face) Go sit down and I will try to work things out. *comes back* I found a non-smoking room for you and I have comp you two breakfasts. Sorry about that. Would you like to help me with your bags?
Me: Thank you. No.
Go to elevator... started crying. Everybody on elevator gives me a "awhhh poor thing" look.
So I finally made it to our new room. Tried to sleep and couldn't. Decided at 4 to just go back to the hospital so J could at least get some sleep. Of course I left a note on the bed: Yes, I know, there are NO BAGS...Please don't CHECK US OUT. Thank you.
Wednesday, August 25th:
Make it back to hospital. J said it was a rough night and he didn't really sleep. He left and I took over. He was pretty much miserable the whole day. His bowels were backed up. Our neighbor was really loud that every time he started to go to sleep there would be a noise. She had a TON of visitors. So at about 5pm I had enough. She had two of her friends visiting her and it was so loud. So I skyped my mom so she could see what was going on. She was mad about 5 minutes in. So she started calling the hospital to complain and I started complaining to the nurse. Finally, at about 8 p.m. and a couple of run in's with the rude charge nurse later we got switched. The room was quiet. We still only had a corner but it was a quiet corner. That night the doctor came in and was a little concerned. They thought bowel obstruction. So they did xrays and blood work. It was the worse night. He was so uncomfortable and so afraid of the nurses. Everything came back normal. The doctor said it was something called sleepy bowel. They would have to do suppositories until it woke back up. J finally arrived at the hospital around 9. I was happy to see him. We said hi and I left to go back to the room.
Thursday, August 26th
I arrived at the hospial at 7 to a happy baby. J said that he finally got some sleep. J left to go back to the hotel. B wanted to play. So we went to the playroom for a while. They had a toy closet where we could borrow toys/dvds for the room. So we brought back a ton of toys and a wiggles dvd. He loved the wiggles dvd. We had it on loop the whole day and I think I know every one of their songs by heart. He was pretty much back to normal on Thursday. They wouldn't let him eat so he seemed kind of bummed about that. Later that day, we went on a wagon ride throughout the hospital. He loved getting out and they had a nice garden area to stroll around in. J came back around 7:30 that night and I left to go back to the hotel. It was a very good day.
Friday, August 27th.
The doctor took out the catheter and said we could leave once he went number 1. So we waited and waited. We went on another wagon ride. Waited some more. When we got back to the room, he went! We were discharged around 10:30 and went home!

He is now a very happy baby and part of the O.K. club (one kidney club). We are so glad to have it all pretty much behind us.

We had his 1 month check-up a few weeks ago. The doctor said everything looks ok but there is swelling in the right kidney. He said there is Hydronephrosis in the right kidney but it is very mild. He said B should out grow it. He wants us to come back in 3 months to check on the swelling.
Not exactly what we wanted to hear but the doctor seemed pretty optimistic about this not being a issue.

That's our surgery story. :)

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Fun times






Hi everyone!

It's been a good week! :D This past weekend we spent some time on Lake Nacimiento. It was nice to get away for a few days. Our friends John and Gina invited us to a house they were staying in. On Saturday we took a boat ride around the lake. I was a little chicken to try wake boarding. I wanted to but I'm so clumsy. I can't imagine what I would look like on a board! Brendan had a great time hanging out with Ava.

This week we are counting the days until his surgery:( Tuesday the 29th is the big day. I know he will do just fine. It will be nice to have this behind us. J's parents are headed down now and should get here by Saturday. My mom is coming in on Monday, so we will have alot of family support. He is a strong little man and I know he will do well.

Other than that I have been working here and there on some sewing projects and planning B's 1st birthday!! I can't believe he is almost one!! I'm so excited to plan his first party. I know that he won't remember a thing but I think it's more of a celebration for us all. HEY! We made it through a whole year!! whoohoo. J has been super busy at work...and when he isn't at work he is at school. Wednesday's and Thursday's are rough. I see him Tuesday night and I don't really see him again until Friday night. He has also been playing basketball in a league on base. I've gone to some of their games. B likes to cheer them on.

Enjoy the pics:)
Tori

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Florida





Hello!!! I made it to Florida and now I'm back! We had such a good time. I even made it through the plane ride, most importantly B made it through the plane ride. He was such a good boy. He slept for most of it. My only fear was how I was going to go to the bathroom on the plane. It made for a good time. Me plus a 24 pound baby in a small airplane bathroom. It's a good thing I'm flexible and creative.
My sister's baby shower turned out great! I think everyone had a great time. I got to see my friend Katrina that I haven't seen in years! We visited my Dad over at his new house. B was able to go on his first boat ride! We also had a wonderful weekend at the Portifino Hotel in Orlando! We had a jam-packed itinerary!

Going back home made me realize how much I miss in a year. Things change so fast and even though we live in a age with facebook and skype it really isn't anything like being there with your family. Hopefully, one day we will move closer and if not there are always planes. :)

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Clean sheets

So my back went out Saturday night. It really stunk. I was on a really good workout kick and BOOM. Done. ON YO BACK. Anyways, yesterday I was feeling better and decided I was going to do the laundry. It's quite a task when your back is out let me tell you. So J got home last night and I was so excited. I was like I did the laundry!! I cleaned our sheets and my big comfy comforter. We put the sheets on the bed and got all snuggly in the bed. SOOO NICE. I love sheets right out of the dryer. Just as we were settling in our little pug jumps on the bed all crazy like and starts bouncing around spaztasically. Then it hit us. The most awful horrible smell I have ever smelled. Rogue had poo ALL over her paws, rear, and tail. There it was all over my white comforter Poo Paw marks. I start screaming/gagging she jumps off the bed and ran down the stairs. J jumps out of bed chasing after her. He is yelling all the way down "I NEED HELP". I am yelling behind him "but my comforter". Thinking it was all a fun game Rogue was running around the kitchen table until we finally cornered her. J ended up giving her a bath and I got to change the sheets again and clean the floor.


Brendan Update:
We went to the doctor for the results. His left kidney is functioning at 9% so we will be removing it. His surgery is scheduled for June 29th. :( Will keep you posted!

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

My Little Trooper



Today we had Brendan's renal scan done at Children's Hospital of LA. I have been dreading this all week. I knew they would have to put a foley in. We had such a bad experience at the last hospital, J and I were both nervous going in. We met the staff and our fears were calmed. The radiology and nurse staff was amazing. For the first time in almost 10 months we had felt we were finally being listened to and not rushed. They answered all of our questions and explained everything. They kept asking us over and over if we were doing ok. The even played peek a boo and other games with Brendan.
They tried to put the Foley into Brendan. Because of his extra valve they couldn't make it in. They tried twice and decided it was a no go. J and I thought 'well I guess we are going back home'. One of the nurses had an idea for a condom catheter. (insert joke here, we did). It worked! We were able to go forward with the test. Once the IV was in place we went to the radiology room. They put B on the table and wrapped him in this Velcro papoose. He had to hold perfectly still for an hour. He didn't like that at first. Then the nurse put on a Baby Einstein DVD and turned off the lights. He was out for the rest of the test.
Because they weren't able to put a foley in we had to wait for him to pee. Little stinker took almost an hour to pee. After one last picture we were able to go home. :) Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. It turned out to be not such a bad day.

Monday, April 12, 2010

flying.

Those who know me well know that I have an irrational fear of flying. It's crazy I know and I tell myself this all the time. I swore off flying on my last flight back in July of 2008. We flew back from Pittsburgh and that flight was one of the worst. We had so much turbulence and flew through a serious storm. How my husband put up with me through that flight I still do not understand. As we landed, my eyes filled with tears, I told him I would never fly again. Flash forward to 2010...I just booked tickets to Florida. In my undergraduate Psych Major way I would like to start at the beginning of where exactly my fear started. I remember my first plane ride when I was about 14. We flew to Maryland. It was my first flight and I didn't know what to expect. The flight was very smooth but I was aware of every bump or sound. It drove me crazy. Although, I had a great trip I still had a nagging thought "I still have to get on a plane to go back home." The trip back home, I was ghostly pale and clutching to the seat. Even though it was a great flight! I didn't fly for a while. I managed to muster up the courage to go on a few flights and all uneventful. When we moved to Utah I knew that going home was going to be a must. So I became an avid flyer. I went home for every summer vacation and remember flying to Florida, New York and Hawaii all in the span of a month. I thought I had overcame my fear! Yay. Well, it was just lying dormant waiting to freak me out again. Flash forward to July of 2008. We had tickets to go to Pittsburgh and every fiber of my brain was telling me to stay home and the flight was going to be horrible. I started having small panic attacks and the night before I was seriously contemplating staying home. I had literally made myself sick with thoughts of a horrible plane ride. I did get on that plane and the trip there was fine and we had a great time. However, you know how the trip back went. I really didn't think I was going to fly again. So far I have managed to not.

Now that my impending flight is lingering over my head I'm starting to get that brick on my chest. I know in my head that I will be fine and I will see my family smiling faces when they pick me up. (You better be smiling...Big!)
I don't know really why I am so afraid to fly. It really isn't a fear of crashing or heights. I know I hate turbulence. I know I hate when they close the door and you feel kind of trapped. I really hate take off and landing. I guess it may be a control issue or claustrophobia?
Anyway, I booked the tickets, we are going. I am doing something a little different this time. I'm bringing B. I hope that I am so busy with him that I do not worry about the ride. I have already started...I've never flown with an infant! I'm going to have to research on what I can bring!

I'm not going to let this fear stop me from doing things in life or miss my sister's baby shower. Just from now until the ride, my prayers will now include a part for a safe, smooth plane ride.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Bath Time in San Diego!

He LOVED his new duck bath!!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Brendan said MAMA and meant it!


When I got home today Brendan looked at me, raised his arms and said Mama. He has been saying momma while babbling but today I think he really made the connection! It was the sweetest! Just thought I would share!!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Play dates...

Cute video of Brendan and his new friend Ava. They are too cute together.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Me being Crafty

Well...It's been forever since I have updated my blog! We have been doing great. Chugging along. We go to LA on Tuesday to get a kidney update. I am really hoping that everything is still fine. It was so good to get that news in December it was like a weight lifted off of our shoulders. Now I'm finding as it is getting closer to Tuesday that weight is getting heavier.
Brendan is really doing great. He is sitting pretty well by himself. He is still trying to find his balance. His little personality is shining through. He is somewhat shy. When people say hello to him he will smile but then look down. When playing with other babies he sort of just observes or stares at them. When he is home with us he is quite the nut. He loves to bounce in his jumperoo and Jeremy can get him laughing. His new thing is making all kind of wierd sounds. I swear he has said MAMA. J thinks Im just hearing things!
I've been keeping busy as well. I have made a lot of great new friends in the area. It's so nice to get together with them!! I have also been doing alot of crafty things! I have made Brendan a little lovey. He likes to pull on the tabs. I have also made this "G" for the kitchen. The new valance for the kitchen window. New vinyls placed above the door.
I will leave you with some really cute pics of B!!


Brendan loves his Daddy, Nikes, and PEAS!

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