Christmas, More Christmas & An Early Birthday!

We have had a wonderful weekend but I am just a little exhausted.  Ok, a LOT exhausted.  I love Christmas but as this year approached I felt overwhelmed and anxious because I was not prepared and was concerned about when we would find the time to finish our shopping.  Every year we say that we are going to take care of the shopping early but we always seem to be hitting the stores on Christmas Eve.  This year was no exception, it was not as bad this year though because I started the day with breakfast with my wonderful friend Raquel and then I got my "hair did".  Regardless, next year I hope will be the exception!  Anyway, eventually all gift shopping, wrapping and grocery shopping was done and the festivities began.  It was a wonderful weekend.  From Christmas Eve with David's family, which I snatched a beautiful bird feeder made by his uncle, to a great Christmas morning with Miller and Steven, late morning was celebrated with my family and then we were joined by David's family and friends for more fun.  It was a wonderful time.  Last night, I was on the computer with Steven asleep on me and Miller right next to me, it was the perfect ending to my day...Christmas is always special but this year was just a little more special. 

Today we went over to my parent's house to have lunch with everyone again and David's parents also came.  It was a great time to celebrate his birthday even if we are a day early.  Happy Birthday David!!!  There is so much I want to say about David but well, he might kill me if I do :-)  But here are a few things about him that I love:  he loves me unconditionally, has more compassion than anyone I know, loves two little boys in a way that melts my heart and brings tears to my eyes and he is a wonderful cook :-)  Again Happy Birthday David, we love you!!!! 

I hope that everyone had a wonderful and merry Christmas!  I plan on sharing some pictures this week of our weekend, I am just too lazy to go get the camera right now, at least I am honest...until then!!!!

Tis The Season To Be Busy!

We have been enjoying some family fun so I have stayed away from the posting.  We had a wonderful trip to Acadian Village for lights, rides and funnel cakes last weekend.  The trip has become a little family tradition for us.  I love watching Miller get excited about something and Acadian Village is one of those things.  We also took a little trip around town to look at Christmas lights, Miller enjoys that but not near as much as I do.  Since this was Miller's last week of school, he had his first real Christmas party.  I am not sure who enjoyed that more, I know that he had a blast and I had a great time too.  I cannot believe how much he has grown, I wish I could slow things down!

Steven had a first this week, we did not make any adjustment to his medication!  His bp was still at a comfortable level so no changes.  I am praying that tomorrow it will still be good.  It is a wonderful blessing to start to see some control on it.  Happy Dance!

I hope that everyone has finished with all of their shopping for this next weekend.  Because if everyone is finished then David and I will be the only ones hitting the stores through out this week to get things taken care of.  I know, not very likely but a girl can dream, right?  We did get a lot done this weekend but still not finished!  Every year I say that we are going to start early and every year I am freaking out because we are not finished, ha!  Needless to say, I need to go check my list again and map out my lunch breaks for the week. 

Hope everyone has a great week, I hope to post before Christmas but if not I hope that everyone has a wonderful Christmas. 

Someone is having a baby....

and it is not me!  Today Shelby Layne is the fourth and final baby of the year being born on David's side of the family. Did I mention that she will also be the only girl out of the 4?  I am so excited and I cannot wait to meet her.  Her dad and David are cousins, their other cousin and his wife had a little boy in April and of course Brandt, our nephew was born in March so our family gatherings just got a whole lot more chaotic!  Praying that everything goes well and that both Shelby and her sweet mom will do great.

Now on to Sweet Mess, he has hypertension and it is not a result of any damage to his kidneys.  That is from the test yesterday.  Now that leaves me a little frustrated, not because I want something else to be wrong but because I think in a cause and effect way.  But there is no known cause at this time.  So we will just continue to monitor his medication and blood pressure so that he is comfortable.  Maybe one day it will be improved, however I do not really get that impression.  Our insurance will only pay $4 a month for a machine, which is not a deal for distributors or we can purchase a refurbished one.  We will be hosting blood pressure testing parties soon!  We have decided at the recommendation of the doctor to purchase one.  We will need to check it daily and I cannot see myself taking him somewhere every day for it.  Weekly visits are ok but not for the time frame we are talking about.  If this was a need for a couple of months then yes I could see myself taking him in everyday but since we are expecting more of a long term issue it is easier to use the machine at home to monitor it.  Any growth spurt will most likely cause the need for his medicine to be adjusted and we have plenty of spurts coming ahead.  So just call me Nurse Melanie!  haha 

Well I hope that everyone has a great weekend.  We plan on checking out some Christmas lights and enjoying some good ol Family Fun!  I am not sure David will know how to act on a Saturday without college football but we have some other things planned to keep his mind off of it, ha!

Inconclusive Test So On To The Next One

Well no news is good news?  Not so sure but at this point we are continuing to rule out things that could cause Steven's hypertension.  The results from last weeks pictures show that his kidneys are the same size and seem to function properly.  Which is good but still leaves us trying to find the source.  It could be genetic but generally the signs do not show this young.  So our next test will be on Thursday at TCH again..going for the 3rd week in a row.  I am a Texas Girl but going every week makes it hard to miss :-)  This next test will show if he has any narrowing in his vessels leading into his kidneys.  This is another CT angiography (he had one prior to his VSD and ASD closure) that will also show if he has any vessels branch off differently.  Since his pulmonary vein was narrow and his aorta branches off differently that normal, no telling what we will find.  After all he is our Sweet Mess for a reason.  Now, as for what happens if one is narrow or branches off differently...I have no clue! I am thinking that if there is narrowing it will be opened during an angiogram, which is the test that they initially considered but they all believe that he is still too young for that.  We went yesterday to Dr. K for his blood pressure to be checked and sure enough 110 the first time and 112 the next, so we have increased the dose for one of them and we return next week.  We were also told that if there is not a specific cause, that it is a real possibility that he will be on medication forever.  Not exactly what I want to hear but as I have said before, I do not mind the medication if it is doing the job.  Only time will tell and test after test after test....

Now on to something fun, Bryan has not been very good.  This Elf is nothing but trouble from eating cupcakes in the fridge, playing with little cars all over the living room, to emptying the toothpaste in the bathroom sink.  I have never enjoyed something so much.  Miller has the most wonderful laugh and every morning, I get to hear it.  I think I am going to be so sad after Christmas when Bryan goes back to North Pole.  I wonder what else I can hide for Miller after Christmas??? 

So have you heard who is playing in the BCS Championship Game???  In case you haven't...LSU, oh and another school Alabama.  We stayed home and watched the SEC Championship game, just us...which never happens.  Alone or not, I am pretty positive that David could be heard through out our neighborhood yelling during the first half of the game.  I am pretty sure I could be heard cheering during the second half.  David gets mad when they do not play well but I am the always positive one.  I was starting to get a little nervous though.  I am not real sure how I feel about the repeat of the game of the century but as long as LSU beats Bama twice then I do not really care.  GEAUX TIGERS!

Someone was ready to play!!!  FYI, I do have shirts for him but he spit up on all of his LSU shirts so shirtless was the last option. 

Update...If Only We Had One

Well I was hoping that this week I would have some news but still nothing to share on Steven's blood pressure.  But all I have is that it is still high and we are still not sure why.  We have not been sent a bp machine because of insurance balking on it so we are still going to Dr. K weekly for them to check it.  On Monday it was 110 so we increased the dose for one of his medications.  The test was set up for Dec. 12th but Dr. K called Dr. R (Renal Center doctor) and on Tuesday morning I got called saying the test was moved up to tomorrow, as in Wednesday.   So David and I left Tuesday evening for Houston and were there bright and early in the Nuclear Radiology waiting area.  He was given his "dye" and two hours later he smiled and "talked" while they took his "pictures" but I haven't heard the results yet.  Praying that we hear something today or it will be a long weekend.  We will go back on Monday to Dr. K and have his bp checked again and we will see if the increase is helping.

Now, more for me to remember I want to write a little about our Thanksgiving holiday and Bryan the Elf.  We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend, it included 4 of our favorites: Family, Friends, Food, and Football!  Since we live not far from my family we go there in the morning and have lunch with them and then in the evening have dinner with David's side.  So we get LOTS of FOOD!  On Friday, we had our first of hopefully many "Friendsgiving"  Miller was with his dad and my parents kept Steven so we were kid free!!!!  David had to work so I was kid and husband free and since there was a LSU game on I went over to my friend's house to visit and watch the game until David got off.  Then we went to his friend's house to watch the end of the game and visit.  It was my favorite day of the entire weekend.  We rarely have the chance to do whatever and not be on some sort of time constraint.  It was wonderful!!!! 

While I was enjoying my free time I picked up, what I thought would be "Ricky the Elf" but I was wrong. You see, last year Miller got the Elf on a Shelf over at his dad's house.  He comes home one weekend talking about Ricky, which left David and I asking, who is Ricky?  Miller explains my elf!  This left us laughing because why would Miller name his elf Ricky???  I thought most kids made up a name for their elf, not use a name of someone they know...because for those of you that do not know, David has an uncle named Ricky!  Well this year I decided maybe Ricky should come see us so I asked Lara what color hair and eyes Ricky had so that I made sure to get the right one.  Last Saturday morning, "Ricky" was waiting for Miller when he woke up.  But guess what, it wasn't Ricky because his hair was too dark...so as I am fumbling with what to do next Miller, all excited says "I need to give him his own name, I think I should name him Bryan!"  Really, Bryan?  And again David and I are left trying so hard to keep a straight face because why, Bryan....because for those of you that do not know, David also has an uncle named Bryan!  The Elf is for him to have fun with so we are thrilled to have Bryan come and visit us everyday.  I know that having Bryan here is creating some of the best memories for us to have of Miller at this age and the fact that his name is Bryan is just icing on the cake for our sense of humor!!

Well I need to got wake up Miller to find Bryan so off I go...wishing everyone a great weekend and of course....GEAUX TIGERS!!!!