We have a date

The endocrinologist office called this afternoon - we have our appointment. The referral went through and they will see us October 29th @ 10:30. I am so happy that they got us in early. Our packet should come in the mail on Monday and I need to get that filled out and back to them. Now I just need to find some words to describe this all to Cody. Any suggestions?

Now just my luck, that will be the day they have school pictures and that will be the day that Kristie will have Jack. But I can't miss this appointment. It's so important to get Cody back to feeling good and answer some of my million questions.

Pumpkin Family

Let me explain the picture: Tyler made this in speech today with Ms. Tish. Of course Tish did most of the work - but Ty glued the heads on and told Ms. Tish what we should all wear. From Left to Right: Gimmie (wearing bracelets cause my mom wears 2 every day), Daddy (wearing his ref shirt), Mommy (wearing a necklace as I do most days for work), Dylan, Cody and Tyler (his order) Isn't this so cute???? I love it!

Talked with some doctor's today regarding Cody. The pediatrician called me back and is in full agreeance with having Cody see an endocrinologist. The referral is in and we just wait to see when our appointment is. I actually am going to call tomorrow and see as I want this before we see Dr. Tatum in November. Then I talked with Eileen (ST on team) and she really wants to wait to have any procedures done to test the adenoids. She said she has seen to many kids go from having great speech, to adenoids removed, to horrible nasal speech and a surgery to correct it. I agree and really think that the tiredness problem is from the thyroid issue. However, his airway is small so I really have no idea what we do. I will wait to talk with Dr. Tatum and then we need to make the best choice for Cody. That is the hard part - making the right decisions knowing that if we screw up it's Cody's future we are messing with! This part of parenting sucks! :) To put it bluntly.

Field Trip!

Today was the first school field trip of the year. We went to Fiato's Apple Orchid to pick apples, take a hayride, play in the hay maze and eat donuts and cider. We are having some great weather so the day was perfect. When we left we actually turned the air on in the van. All 5 of us went. The boys met up with all their school friends. Tyler kind of stuck with us but the groups were divided so he did have some of his classmates with us. It was nice for me to meet some of these parents. I am so out of the loop with Tyler's class as Brett takes him/picks him up. So I got to chit chat with the parents and start to learn a whole new group of kids names. We did get the orchid early and was able to buy new pumpkins for the boys. They got some good ones. These pumpkins will be kept inside until Halloween and then once put outside we will bring them in every night. Halloween pumpkins this year have cost me $36 this year. Way to much if you ask me!

The leaves are so pretty this time of year!

Tyler's first school field trip. Hard to believe he is my baby and is 3 now. Sniff, sniff! They grow to fast. On the hay wagon and ready to go! Dylan and Nathan.......One thing about today was I saw who the boys "paired up" with. It wasn't each other. They both had their "groups". That was neat to see! Last year it was just the two of them....this year they have expanded. Big step for them I think!After fun and games - it was time to pick our apples. They have all learned the proper way to pick an apple. (Twist and pull) The farmers were very happy. The trees that were ready had a tag on them and the kids were told to look for the colored tag. Then it was in search of the BIG apple. Dylan found his.....After some examining - Cody found his too......Tyler decided that he would get right down, sit down and pick out the perfect apple! Oh and they were only supposed to get 2 - Tyler is still learning and took 4. Oops!

UGH, UGH, UGH

It appears that somebody else needed our pumpkins more than us because somebody helped themselves to them last night. They have been on our steps since 2 Sat. ago. We put them out for the past 4 years and nobody has touched them. They were gone this morning. The boys are so mad. Dylan wanted to call the cops. Me to but honestly they have better things to do than track down pumpkins! :) So I told them we would tell Uncle Kevin. They were satisfied with that. It just really irks me that somebody took them. They aren't yours - you didn't spend your money on them - leave them alone. I hate stealer's. So.....we have to go get more pumpkins. My niece was a doll though and once my sister told her, she called me at work and said "Auntie, we have an extra pumpkin and you can have it". Very sweet of her! So I've learned my lesson and will bring them in from this point forward. I of course tried to give a teaching lesson about not taking things that don't belong to you - but really not sure if my 4 and 3 year olds understood that. :) I can try!

Tomorrow we go to Fiato's Apple Orchid for a school field trip! I told Brett these are like mini free vacations for us as all 5 of us will be going. I'm torn though as to who to go with. One of us will go with Tyler and his class the other will go with Cody and Dylan and their class. Only one camera. Tomorrow also marks 39 weeks for Kristie! We are all hoping to have a baby by the end of the week. Only Jack knows when he is going to make his entrance. I'll keep you updated.

Football Luck

Weird title I know. By the end you'll see how it goes together, promise!!! Today we did the homecoming parade. The kids all got lots of candy (although I think they got more last year) but still plenty to get them by till Halloween.

Waiting for the parade to start!

My boys!Then after a complete day of playing we all went to the football game. We had a great night and the kids had fun. Go Tigers!

Last night Brett had a football game. Apparently the finger that he used his finger whistle on is the same finger as his wedding ring. So for games he takes it off. Usually leaving it at home. Last night he wore it to the game and took it off in the locker room, put it in his shorts pocket and basically forgot about it. Till he got home from the game and went to put it back on. "oh shit, Kelly...>I can't find my ring". Panic struck him. He was convinced the ring had fallen out in the car he rode in. So he called the guy and he looked - no ring. We checked pockets, the bag, the laundry....where did it go. He had a call into the Athletic Director of the school and they would look for it. So basically we figured it was gone. He kept saying last night - I should probably go back to Wendy's parking lot (where he parked his car) to see if it fell out when he got out of the car and into his own. But seriously what are the odds of every finding it if it did fall out there. Well.........the odds are pretty darn good let me tell you. Almost unbelievable. He didn't go back last night. He didn't drive back by that same parking lot until almost 5pm tonight. Sun out - he said he drove super slow and something caught his eye. Wouldn't you know - it was his wedding ring! OMG!!! He was shocked, so am I. Can't believe nobody saw it and picked it up. The ring looks like it might of been drove over as it has some blacktop stuff embedded in it. But I think a good professional cleaning will take care of it. He is super Lucky!

A better day

Well after my pity party yesterday and into the night when my brain finally decided to just go to sleep....I woke up feeling much better. Still nervous as to what is to come with Cody. After doing some research and talking with others a lot of what Cody does is making light bulbs go off. I think the hardest part is I am in limbo until Tuesday when I can talk with our pediatrician and that is the hardest part for me. So while I can still say "why us, why Cody" I know that we will get through this too. The best part is I know I have lots of friends and family that will be there to cheer us on! And to them (they know who they are) a big ole thank you!!!!! HUGS....

I am so glad it's Friday. I'll get to see my husband tomorrow. :) He's only got one game tomorrow so what do we plan to do tomorrow evening you ask.....why go to another football game! But at least he doesn't have to ref it and we can all watch together. The boys are anxious and it's homecoming with two big rival schools playing so it should be some good high school football. Tomorrow afternoon is the parade and because we are experiencing an Indian Summer right now - I get to get back out my flip flops and the boys will be on a sugar high from all the candy that will get thrown.

Still waiting for my brother to call us and say "it's time". Kristie will be 39 weeks on Tuesday and we are all patiently awaiting the arrival of Jack. Patiently is the key word - is there such a thing when you are anxious for a baby to arrive!?? I text them today and said I was "up for a drive" but........we must wait.

Oh yah....one thing that helped today - Retail Therapy! I got a new purse for winter and I love it! :)

Emotional Day

Today has been an emotionally draining day. It started out early. Got to work and had the pit in my stomach that I had to call the pediatrician today to find out the results of Cody's blood work. So I called and waited for them to fax me a copy. I was on the phone with my sister when our receptionist came in and handed me the paper - my words were "wholy shit". In front of me was clear evidence that Cody has a thyroid problem. His levels are severely elevated, TSH coming in at a 9.06 (normal range is .4 - 4.0) . In June this same level was 9.10.......so we are back to where we started. There is something about talking to family on the phone that can make me cry. So yes, I threw myself a pity party today. My good friend Jeff went and got me a Dew to help. It did! I had a feeling this is what the blood test would find but I really was hoping I was wrong. Just once I want my mommy gut to be wrong! So.....I called our ped back to let them know I got the fax. First thing she said to me was "his levels are pretty high" and that was coming from the girl that answers the phone. Our doctor is on vacation till Tuesday so I have to wait to talk with him. I told her our history and asked for the pediatric endocrinologist number and I called their office. Apparently you have to have a referral from the treating doctor - not because of insurance but because I guess they don't want every crazy mother bringing their kids in based on a mommy gut feeling. I can understand. So I called our ped. back and she said they would make the call. I verified that this afternoon and the doctor has to sign something and fax over to them on Tuesday. Hopefully our first visit will be within the next couple of weeks. I want to get Cody seen and started on a treatment course ASAP. For his sake! He is so not himself and I have to remind myself to give him a little more patience as he can't help it.

While I was in the mood today, I also called and got our appointment with Dr. Tatum moved up to November. We have to discuss the adenoid issue and what our course of treatment will be. That will be 11/20.

I've done lots of crying today. Thankfully my mom and sister were down tonight and I could talk it over with them. I really want to yell "why us, why Cody" as I did the first few weeks of his life. Isn't having a cleft enough. I don't really know what our future holds and that is probably the worst of it. I am guessing medication but not sure. That tends to be the standard. I have a lot more questions as the thyroid controls the pituitary gland and that is a midline organ - same as a cleft. Midline defect. Along with this comes more doctors visits, more co pays, more money to come up with for medication, more who knows.......The other side of me is saying "bring it on", I can do this, I don't really have a choice as I didn't have a choice with the cleft and what that has to offer us. We will get through this just might shed a few more tears along the way.

So tonight as I held Cody a minute putting him to sleep I am trying to figure out how to "explain" this to him. Unlike his lip that he can see, he can't see this. I have to search within me to find the right words for a 4 year old. And then I read this poem and realized yet again I am in Holland! http://www.luckysmiles.org/inspiration.htm