Returning to the Work World

It's back to the real world - work world that is! The last couple of weeks have been filled with appointments and preperation for returning to work. While it is hard to leave the little guys to go to work each day, I have met another 125 or so soon to be brilliant 7th graders that need a little "Dawn love" in their lives ...aka. structure & laughter not to mention writing and grammar instruction! Work (and more importantly insurance) is a necessity for us; Andy's doctor bills keep coming in and we have far surpassed the $70,000 mark at this point - mind you he is now 3 months old! It's crazy to think of what we would do w/out insurance.

Thank God for awesome family that will help watch the boys while Tom and I are at work. We love you!

Robby is off to a ENT (ear, nose, and throat) appointment today. We'll see what they say about his tonsils and annoids; although between him & Tom I think I'm about to be drowned out by snoring at night. Not a good thing!

Andy's had another renal ultrasound & VCUG (kindey ultrasound & bladdar test) done last week. Apparently he was the first person to use DeVos' new machine for the VCUG test, so they took a bit longer than usual to do while the person learned how to use the equipment. He continued to flirt the entire time though; I was more tired than him after 5 hours of sitting in the hospital. Quick results show that his kidneys look good & his bladdar is nice and smooth. It also showed that he didn't empty his bladdar the entire way which could be a one-time thing or that he doesn't have much sensation to know that his bladdar wasn't completely empty. We'll find out more next week when we meet his urologist.

I've also decided that as hard as I try to maintain order & control the medical world is out to upset the apple cart each time. With going back to work, I now have to arrange for Andy's PT each week and arrange time off for all his doctor's appointments. School has been great about saying just go, but that also means sub. plans, leaving early, and no pay! Once I get everything all set for an appointment, the offices will call and cancel and reschedule at wierd times w/out even asking if that time slot will work. I just want to scream, "Are you serious? Do you realize that your faulty planning is no going to cost my family an entire day's worth of pay?" But they don't care. You simply go when they say b/c that is what Andy needs, and you know that you will do whatever it takes to help him. Talk about frustrating!

So, it's Thanksgiving break, and I'm truly thankful that our entire family is together to celebrate. We are blessed beyond our wildest dreams. That is what matters in the long run!

Rooooaaaarrrrrr & Meow!

Happy Halloween! Who knew a cat & dinosaur could be friends? Both boys had a fun-filled weekend at the Halloween mass at church & trick or treating w/ family. Robby's been busy "fixing" things and "harvesting" crops! I think we have seen every tractor, combine, and grain bin throughout all of Alpine & Marne. Here he's harvesting our squash collection! He definitely makes dad proud (my other farmer).

I hope we're on the road to recovery w/ Andy's ear infection - poor guy! His latest head ultrasound came back "great" as the neurosurgeon said (this after 1 1/2 hour wait - it is kind of satisfying that they know me enough in that office that when I walk in, they appologize for the wait before I even sit down. I actually asked his secretary if they overbook too often or does he just not know how to read a clock. While I explained it was "fine" again this time, I start back to work in two weeks & it will no longer be "fine" once I am taking time off to see him for less than 5 minutes). We'll see what happens in December.

Here's Andy making his mom proud. He has such good head control; he can now sit in the Bumbo seat for short periods of time. He likes to grab the rings on the tray. Tom swore we would throw this seat out after Robby flipped off a chair in it (go figure, my child that can't sit still for 30 seconds), but I'm glad we kept it! Andy loves sitting up! Andy's PT is going really well. He continues to kick both legs and rocks from side to side. Hopefully our lucky streak continues through Nov. Andy has another renal ultrasound and VCUG test (bladder & kidneys) done before Thanksgiving. While most kids w/ SB are unable to control their bladder & bowels, Andy might just prove them wrong - he has so far!