Mono Man-Child

Did I really just order Parker's 2nd birthday party invitation?!?! Yes I did... holy moly time flies.
This sweet little face will be 2 in March which sounds forever away but it's just next month! 

Can you tell we took him to the park the second he woke up from a nap?! Major bed head!

Thankfully, it's not until the end of March because I'm not ready for him to be 2. I cried a good portion of the day he turned 1. This is making me anxious so we have to change subjects!

I suppose I need to fill you all in on the ups and downs from Thursday-Saturday with Daniel. The saying "life is a roller coaster" was written about my life. You thought it was about yours? Nope... Where did I leave off? Basically, his ultrasound came back that he had an enlarged spleen and liver. His test results confirmed mono which was the BEST CASE scenario and we were praising God (and still are) for that diagnoses! The next day (Friday) his lever function test came back that he had elevated uric acid and LDH levels. SO the doctor wanted to have a full body CT scan to look for lymphoma and leukemia. Breathe in, Breathe out! While this was tough news, Daniel and I both had peace about this. We figured the scan would come back clean but if it didn't... we'd deal. We've conquered cancer before and if we had to, we'd just do it again. THANKFULLY, Saturday afternoon, the doctor called with the GREAT news that his scans were clean! PRAISE THE LORD! He'll have a few more blood panels run throughout the coming weeks to make sure his uric acid, liver enzymes and LDH all go back to normal. So for now... Daniel is like a newborn (great practice for Avery!).... he sleeps, eats when he wants, whines (only occasionally), poops then goes back to sleep!

All things considered, the events of this week have definitely made me realize that I will take my mono ridden, man-child of a husband ANY DAY over the thought of life without him! Prayers for continued strength for Daniel, rest and healing. For me... patience, empathy, sympathy, strength, the ability to handle everything that Daniel can't while he's sick, super mom abilities, a maid (what? how did that get on my prayer list?!) :) Thank you again for all of your prayers and sweet messages throughout the last week! I think we're finally off the major scary roller coaster and back on the kiddie one!

Daniel update

We're back from the ultrasound and Daniel is "resting" as he calls it.... he tells me this every night since he's been sick(between 5pm and 6pm) and then I wake him up the next morning when the alarm (that I set) goes off. According to Daniel, the ultrasound went well. They focused on his liver but also scanned surrounding organs and in between his ribs. He said he felt tender in some places so I'm assuming something is probably swollen... but that's my very non-medical degree assumption.

After the ultrasound he asked to go to eat at our favorite Mexican restaurant since he hasn't been allowed to eat all day. He ate a few chips and about 5 bites of his dinner and said he was full and was getting hot flashes so he drove himself home while I paid the tab and went to go pick Parker up. I won't lie... I'm worried about him BUT being able to see him (since he's been at work all day) is comforting. I like being able to look into his eyes to gauge if he's telling me the truth. I like the jokes he said at dinner and I knowing he isn't overdoing himself. If it were up to me, he'd stay in bed until I we had appointments so I know he isn't stressed and where he is!

The doctor reffered us to the Mayo Clinic site to give us an idea of what elevated liver enzymes mean and what they're going to be testing for. Some items are already ruled out and others are not but I'm not sure what they are. Tomorrow morning I plan to take this list to the doctor's appointment with us to cross off each one that's been ruled out. Each one that isn't ruled out yet needs a "plan of action." I have a feeling this doctor may get irritated with me but I bet if she were in the same situation with her husband, I bet she'd be just as proactive. Elevated liver enzymes can often resolve themselves and be minor. This COULD be the case along with a secondary infection that's causing his other symptoms but then we'd have to start the hunt for the other infection and finding his elevated enzymes would have been a fluke from checking his blood work. SO... they're going the path of the infection and elevated enzymes being caused from the same problem. I'll keep you all informed about the results tomorrow! Prayers until then!

To lighten the mood... while we were in the hospital, Parker was giving himself and a female companion a bath! Apparently Holly had Brooklyn, Piper and Parker all upstairs and Piper and Parker climbed in the tub fully clothed and gave themselves a bath! haha. I wish I had a picture of that! Thankfully, I packed him a 2nd outfit just in case of an accident but i wasn't expecting that to be the accident!  Silly boy!

I promise this blog isn't going to turn into a caring bridge site. It will resume to its usual lighthearted banter and pictures of my silly boy soon but this is just where we are in our lives right now. My life isn't all cupcakes and sunshine but I certainly prefer the days that are! I appreciate everyone's sweet messages and prayers while we go through a little "brussel sprouts and rain." Maybe brussel sprouts doesn't make sense if you like them... but you get the point!Tomorrows forecast: Hopefully back to cupcakes and sunshine!!!

Calling on my prayer warriors!

I should be sweeping... or dusting...or doing laundry but none of that seems near as important as this. I need help. I need prayers and I will be the first to solicit them when needed. My life and my children are without a doubt the result of the power of prayer. SOO... without further adieu, I'm calling my prayer warriors again (who at this point should have skinned knees as much as I've had my prayer warriors on them in the last 3 years!)

As you may know, Daniel has been sick for over a week. He can usually rally during the day but is in bed within 30 minutes of being home/done with work. He's fatigued, feverish, has no appetite, has night sweats and feels in general yucky. He had a chest x ray that came back normal but his blood work came back abnormal. Daniel JUST called me (as I began paragraph number 2) to tell me that he called the doctor to discuss in more detail what exactly was "abnormal." Apparently his liver is producing more enzymes than it should. I have no idea what they means but Daniel told me it was not a huge deal. I'm 95% sure he told me that because I just puked in the toilet because I'm anxious and he wanted me to feel better but either way... it's worked. My heart feels somewhat less heavy after hearing that we at least know what "abnormal" is.

This morning I made the HUGE mistake of "web md-ing" his symptoms along with why they would ultrasound a liver and pretty much got the resounding answer of "liver cancer." I'm praying that elevated enzymes isn't something that would lead doctors to think "liver cancer" but I promised Daniel that I would stay OFF web md so I can't check.

Enough speculation... as it isn't helpful... at all! So here's the deal. I'm soliciting prayers for the follow:
1. Healing from whatever he has.
2. A quick diagnoses
3. Wisdom for the doctors
4. Peace for my spirit and Daniel's (who acts like everything is fine but I don't think he believes it.. such a strong man!)
5. That I'm able to stay calm for Avery. My blood pressure can't go up because once it does, it doesn't easily go back down which could lead to pre-eclampsia again and we're just NOT having another preemie birth!
6. For Parker that he stays ignorant to anything going on.. I don't want him to worry. He's at my amazing friend Holly's house (not napping and torturing her with Barney) so I can be with Daniel. I can't thank her enough for her help!
7. That I can be sympathetic, empathic, patient, compassionate and all things that I'm not. I'm a pull yourself up by your boot straps kind of girl and I know these are areas where God is growing me. Poor Daniel has to be my guinea pig.

That should be good for now... Thank you in advance for your prayers! I'm off to meet Daniel at the hospital. We have a 3:30 ultrasound today and an 11:45 appointment tomorrow to discuss the results.

Weekend Recap

Good news... Parker is alive and thriving! The annual girl's beach trip was a huge success and Daniel and Parker made due at home for the weekend! I made it the whole weekend without a single shed tear for my little man and managed to keep my phone calls to a reasonable every 4 or 5 hours.

It's super late and I'll revisit this topic tomorrow but here's a few highlights/lowlights:

*Daniel took Parker to church and dressed him all by himself (even though I set out a church outfit). Daniel's outfit of choice for Parker you ask? A Blue and white Polo romper (an outfit in itself), buttoned ALL the way to the neck (how did you breathe little man?), with... wait for it.... brown corduroy pants (uber hot!). I asked Daniel if it felt weird stuffing the legs of the romper into the extremely thick winter pants but he swears he thought it was a onesie. I'm 100% sure Parker hasn't worn a onesie in at least 8 months but hey.... I what do I know. ha ha

*Hot Dogs equate to a balanced meal.... every meal... who needs veggies when you have turkey dogs? Bless Daniel's heart, today Parker ate broccoli, carrots, fiber and blueberries in attempts to offset his massive intake of processed foods and sodium.

*Did you know being a stay at home dad ONLY means playing? It's amazing! I want that job! Apparently cleaning, straightening, laundry, dishes, etc are NOT part of a stay at home dad's tasks. How cool is that.... except if you're the stay at home mom who gets to clean it up. We had to have a little chatsky about that! I love my boys but WHEW are they messy! At least they're supportive of my girl's weekends! I guess a "close to condemnable house" is a small price to pay for a much needed girl's weekend!

*Do people actually take those old timey photos seriously? Umm... yes... the photographer does. Apparently, asking to dress in the rebel flag and lay on a bar with a shotgun is offensive to some. Kidding... we thought it was a super good idea at midnight though.

*I was meant to drive a big ass truck. I rocked the socks off that king cab silverado all weekend stuffed with 7 cuties!

*Staying at home and playing silly games with your girlfriends is WAY more fun than going out... at least it is now... which I believe means we're old. I don't care, it was fun, MONSTER TRUCKERS! (I just love you, Erin Reid)

*Nothing in the WHOLE WORLD beats seeing your child for the 1st time after being away and hearing that sweet sound "MOMM-E!!!" His face was so tasty. I made out with it. Man did I miss him!

Pictures to come... tomorrow (hopefully)! I hope you all enjoyed your weekend!

Testing Parker's Survival Instincts

The time has come..... my 1st trip without my appendage, I mean baby. While, of course, Parker is a baby genius, he has yet to deduct that the suitcase in my bedroom is only filled with MY clothes.... not his. He's so used to coming with me everywhere (or should I say I'm so used to HIM coming everywhere with me)! I can only imagine he's in his crib dreaming little baby dreams of the beach, hot sand, staying up late and torturing me for hours on the car ride. Well this time, he doesn't get to come! It's just me and the girls! 7 of us to be exact!

I should be excited right? Every mom I've told about my impending girl's trip drops her jaw and immediately says, "Aren't you just thrilled?!?! Lucky you!" Lucky, yes... I am. My hubby encourages me to take these trips and I'm blessed to have such wonderful lifelong girlfriends to do this with. Thrilled on the other hand, not really. Sorry ladybugs, I love ya.... but I love my buddy more. I'm kinda fond of him! I know this is good for me. I know I should go. I know I'll have a great time once I get there.... But my life is so much fuller with Parker in it. Every moment is more exciting. Seeing cool things through his eyes is so much more rewarding than seeing them through my own! I sorta feel the need to be medicated. I've literally been dreading this day (well technically my embarkation date... tomorrow at 7am) for a year. Seriously... since last August when we set the date while my pee wee basked in the sun with us at girl's (+Parker) weekend. Since I don't do drugs... wine will have to do.

I wish I could be a fly on the wall this weekend at home. I'm testing Parker's survival skills by leaving him with his daddy. Bless my husband's heart, I love him to death but this toddler stuff isn't natural for him! Lets just say under daddy's watch, Parker's worn jammies in public, church shoes to the park and diapers on backwards a time or two. Daniel tries... this just isn't his forte. SO... I've left him bulleted lists, a schedule, meal ideas, stocked up on easy foods like uncrustables, eggos, nutragrains and buddy fruits, labeled a diaper "front" and "back" and even set out 6 outfit choices and matching shoes. I also packed a diaper bag for him that is less "girly" (who knew blue polka dot ribbon bags weren't manly?). ha ha

Basically, they should be set. Parker should still be alive... possibly even thriving when I come home. Hopefully Daniel will still have his sanity.... and maybe even a greater appreciation for what I do on a day to day basis! And me..... my goal is to come home Sunday having had loads of fun with the girls, feeling, rejuvenated and looking latinoish in color.

If all else fails, I also left a long list of emergency contacts! You're probably on it.