I decided to do an update on all of us. We always seem to have something going on and I never can remember what we have shared and what we haven’t!
Dave: Dave is super busy with work right now. He is still working from home, which has been a HUGE blessing. His Starbucks habit has taken a hit but he is surviving! Dave took a picture of Carmen that was chosen for a photography exhibit. I’ll post more on that later.
Lauren: Lauren has been her usual delightful self lately. Here are some of her recent “gems”:
Lauren and I were talking about initials and I told her that my middle name starts with an “L”. She looked totally shocked and said, “Mom, I thought your middle name was Banana!!!” (OK, yes, I have been called Lana Banana but it never entered my mind that Lauren would think that was my middle name!)
I scheduled back-to-back eye doctor appointments for Lauren and Dave next week. I mentioned to Lauren that she can help Daddy pick out glasses. Lauren said (completely seriously), “I bet he goes for the Spiderman glasses!”
Lauren and I were talking about what she wants to be when she grows up: mommy, nurse, photographer. Then she said, “A Christian. I’ll be a Christian when I grow up too.” Lauren invited Jesus into her heart a couple of years ago but this was the first time she referred to herself as a Christian.
After Lauren went to bed a couple of nights ago, I found a piece of paper on the coffee table that read, “Dear Mom and Dad, I’m so excited for my new baby sister Hope.” (Spelling was a wee bit different.) This made me cry!
Carmen: Carmen continues to have seizures every day despite increasing her seizure medication. They are short, screaming seizures that last 10-15 seconds each. She sometimes has them 6 times a day. Her once hearty skin has changed in the past few months. Her oxygen tubing left a row of blisters on her cheek. We’ve asked all her nurses to make sure the tubing is loose. We have to be careful to rotate which fingers and toes we put the pulse oximeter sensor on as, after one night, Carmen has skin breakdown. She still struggles to maintain her body temperature but we’ve figured out what works to keep her warm yet not overly warm. Despite everything, Carmen seems comfortable.
Hope and Me: I will be 36 weeks pregnant this Sunday! On Monday, I will stop taking Terbutaline and be off bed rest! I’m sure I will feel like I’ve run a marathon, just moving around, but I’m so very relieved to get this far. I just can’t believe that 3 months ago I was in the hospital, wondering if I was going to deliver a micro-preemie. Thank you, God, that Hope stayed put! I am 2cms dilated so we shall see. I suspect Hope will either be born next week or I will have to be induced at 41 weeks!
Well, that’s all I can think of for now. If you want to share how YOU are doing, please do so!
Lauren sounds like such a funny, yet serious little girl. My oldest was the same way (and still is at 18 years old). So glad to hear you’ve made it so far (36 weeks… woo hoo!) and will be paroled soon
Banana! That made me laugh outloud. Thanks for the updates!
I am 33 weeks with baby Sammy. Can’t wait to see him with big brother Max, but nervous about being sleep deprived again. How I love a full night’s sleep. Max didn’t sleep through the night until he was 16 months old.
Keep the updates coming!
Me too! I LOVE a goodnight’s sleep!!!!
Great to hear all the updates. Love that Lauren called herself a Christian…that is music to any parent’s ears! Can’t wait to hear about baby Hope’s arrival
Good morning Lana, I am glad for things sound good and especially Carmen is comfortable, she is so loved. “Lana Banana” is so much better than “Joe Schmo” HAHA!! I got to go see Isaac wrestle last night, I dont think I saw him since Christmas day. I can’t believe how big he is and strong. He picked his opponent up and pinned him in about 5 seconds, accidently kicking the ref. in the face so he missed it and then got pinned just as quickly which the ref. saw. Boy people were mad. It actually happened so fast the person who took me told me what happened, I couldn’t know. The best part is my son shook his opponents hand and the guys sitting below me said “That kid (Isaac) is a beast, once he gets some experience he is going to do great” I didn’t know but wrestling is bigger than football around here. OK just wanted to brag a little
) Love to you all. In Christ, Joe
Brag all you want!
Thanks Lana. I finally got a picture of us I put on face book. His giggly girl friend was taking pictures, most were blurry but we had fun. He is big as me.
Glad to hear you’re all doing well. Sooo glad to hear you’re 36 weeks this weekend!!! Enjoy your new freedom and I’ll keep praying that Hope stays put.