So we're in the hospital (day #2) with our little man, who's 2 week viral infection has turned into pneumonia. He's on IV antibiotics and breathing treatments, so he's starting to feel better. He's just not Aidan yet. VERY tired, yet won't sleep, just stares at the tv and/or toys. Please give a little prayer (or 2 or 4) for my little man that he starts feeling better and we can go home and celebrate Christmas!!

Thankful

I am so thankful for this little boy and his daddy who loves us so!!

Happy Time and Sad Faces

We had a great weekend. Lots of family time and Kip and I actually got the chance to go out by ourselves! I think my exact words to Kip while in the car were, "So when I get to the restaurant, I don't have to get the kid, and all his bags and the stroller?!?!?!?" Now, I do love my baby, more than anything, but I soooooo enjoyed just walking in to a restaurant and having a conversation with my husband.

Kip left today for a training camp in western KY for the week. It was a sad day, full of tears for us all. Aidan cried crocodile tears when Kip picked and said "Bye, Putter. Be a good boy for Momma and I'll see you soon!" He cried for a good half an hour after Kip left too!! And yes, Momma cried too, then the new baby got all upset - no one likes it very much when Kip leaves.

Have a good week, Kip! Aidan, the baby and I can't wait to see you this weekend!!

Amazing!

Aidan had an AMAZING day today! He woke up in a great mood. I let him play a little in his bed before getting up for the day, then we relaxed and watched some Spongebob (of course!). Aidan had a therapy appointment this morning and just blew me away!! He let his OT stretch his foot, arms and hands without so much as a wimper. We worked with his speaking valve for a while. Instead of getting maybe a minute, he let it on for over 6 minutes!! Then we had some tummy time - my boy lifted his head the ENTIRE time!! I was speechless!!

Once Kip got home tonight, I wanted to show off Aidan's new talents. So we played on the floor for a while and again, Aidan was looking up at his toys the entire time!! Then we sat him in his chair and he was so happy watching TV and playing, I had to take his picture. Sorry for the bad quality, I used my phone not the camera.

Aidan Update

We met with Aidan's nutritionist today. Aidan is doing really well with his feeds, so much in fact we were actually able to stop his antacid! He has also regained all of the weight he lost while he was in the hospital. Here are his stats:

22lbs 4oz
33" long

Way to go Aidan!! Still under the growth chart, but gaining steadily on what we like to call "Aidan's curve."

Aidan also had an appointment with the spine doctor last week. Unfortunately, Aidan's curve has gotten worse, he was scanned at 61%. The good news is that it is NOT affecting any of his organs or hindering his breathing. The doctor said that while he will definitely need surgery one day (they normally like to wait until 12 or so for the last growth spurt), we have 3 options. One is to do nothing and watch him. Two is to brace him and watch him. Three is to do surgery. After major discussion, the doctor told us he WOULD do the surgery, however Aidan really doesn't have enough meat on his bones to do well with recovery. And we're just not ready for Aidan to have yet another surgery, so we decided to get a new, bigger back brace and see how it works.

Aidan has been making big progress in the head control area. He now will lift his head while we carry him and look around at his surroundings!! Yay - Aidan!! He has also started back with vital stim therapy to try and improve his swallow. We had an appointment today and he was just loving the whipped cream that we bought for him :) Boy after my own heart!! As for hippatherapy (horse riding), we have decided to wait until spring, hoping to steer clear of cold and flu bugs!

Finally, I'm SOOOOOO happy to report that Aidan has not needed his vent for the last two weeks!! WHOOOOO HOOOOOOOO!!!!! He does use his trach collar, which provides some moist oxygen, at night. But he is 100% breathing on his own - 24 hours a day!! I am so proud of my little man - he never ceases to amaze me!!

Waiting

Aidan and I had an appointment today. We rushed to get there early, hoping we could get seen early and maybe get to run some errands. But, of course, I was wrong. Like all other doctor appts, we sat and waited. Even Aidan's favorite toy was no longer a comfort. But we survived...barely.

Happy Halloween!!

Aidan has been a little under the weather today (and so have mommy and daddy), so we've decided to stay in and pass out candy instead of trick or treating. But he still looks so cute in his halloween pajamas!! Happy Halloween everyone - hope you all get lots of good treats!!

Pumpkin Time

Kip and I took Aidan to Huber's Farm this week and picked some pumpkins. Not just any pumpkins - we got a 30lb and a 40lb pumpkin!! We left one for Fall decorations and Kip carved (or drilled - isn't everything better with power tools?) into a Spongebob!! Oh I can't wait to see the look on Aidan's face when he sees it tonight in the dark!!





Didn't he do a great job??

Mixed emotions.

I am so super excited to tell you all that I got a call today from the Rett clinic, the international Rett Syndrome Foundation (IRSF), just received a million dollar match gift!! AND they asked if we would be willing to do an interview with the media regarding our special little man!! OH, I can't tell you how excited I am!! If you would like more info on the gift, please go to the website listed below:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-10/So irsf-ir1102309.php

However, two of my dear friends have received some bad news this week. One's grandma fell and had hip surgery on Sunday. She is doing well and starting rehab today. The other friend's grandma had a stroke last week and is not doing very well. Please pray for my friends and their families!!

How things change in a matter or minutes

I had to make my first 911 call yesterday morning. Aidan's trach came out (while still attached to his trach ties), and his nurse and I were unable to get it back in. Aidan was turning a little blue, however with a little help he was able to breathe on his own some. We were rushed to Kosair, with the mindset that he would go to surgery to get it replaced. (I won't tell you many times I almost called 911, from the ambulance, on the way in because NO ONE seemed to care that a rushing ambulance with lights and sirens blaring, was coming down the highway!!)

Luckily, his surgeon was the one on call today (oh, how we LOVE Dr. Downard!!), and she was able to replace the trach without going to the OR. Aidan has been fighting what we think might be a cold or flu bug for the last 24 hours and he had a slight fever, so we decided to stay in the ER for a little while to see how things went.

Aidan's fever was coming down, however he still required some oxygen, so we were going to be sent home via ambulance. While waiting for our ride home, Aidan's oxygen stats started to fall and we were awarded the golden "welcome to the PICU" pass for the night. We were soooo hoping to go home and not have to stay longer to get any germs. But, so is life.

We are hopeful, that we will get sent home today. Tests are still out, and will take a couple days, to see if he has a bug or not. But the doctors are being proactive and treating him with meds.

What we've learned in a week...

We've been home a week now - and MAN does it feel good!! We're definitely learning a lot this week, and I'm sure we'll have even more lessons under our belts in another week!!

*Aidan is a fast healer!! His trach site look GREAT!

*Night nursing is a blessing!! It really wasn't as bad or invasive as we thought it would be.

*Aidan is still (and understandably) scared of nurses, even at home!!

*We aren't suctioning as much as we thought.

*But we're still suctioning a lot!!

*Getting a routine down is still not very easy in this house!!

*We CAN still go out with a trach.

*We have a LOT of extra baggage when we go out!!

*As long as we take things day by day, hour by hour or minute by minute, we'll be ok!!

*Aidan is cuter than EVER!!

Where does the time go?!?!?!?

My little man will be two in an hour...where does the time go?!?!?!? I was looking through pictures today of my baby shower and Aidan's birth. I remember those days so vividly, just like it was yesterday. But, looking back on these two years...so much has changed!!

Aidan was the perfect baby!! He never cried, slept through the night from the very beginning (yes, looking back, this should have thrown up a red flag!!) and cuddled all day long :) But we also had some hard times, Aidan got sick. We got his diagnosis of Rett Syndrome and started to accept the fact that we have a "special" child.

The second year started pefectly - we celebrated Aidan's birthday all weekend long!! It was a great time :) We moved into our home (looking back, this was one of the best decision we ever made!), adopted a puppy and decided to make Aidan a big brother!!

Even though we've had what I think are a few of the worst days of our lives recently, we are so happy that we are able to be home to celebrate Aidan's birthday! Not only is tomorrow is birthday, but a start to a brand new life!! We definitely have a lot of hurdles to overcome in the next few days, weeks and months. But we're a strong family and we'll do it together, with our heads up!

We're home!!

We got home around 12:30pm. We had a steady stream of visitors of nurses and medicaly supply workers. But Aidan is now asleep, in HIS bed, peacefully dreaming of Spongebob :)

It's good to be home!!!!

Almost home!!

We complete our ventilator training today!! Yay!! Tomorrow we will meet the supply company at the house and they will bring all our supplies. So we can everything set up and ready to go for when Aidan comes home on THURSDAY!! As you can imagine, we CANNOT wait until Thursday gets here. Two more nights and then our little man will be home with us...exactly where he belongs!!

Aidan will have spent an entire month in ICU by the time we are discharged on the 24th. He'll be so happy to be home in his own bed...after he remembers where he is :)

Steps in the right direction!!

Today has been our best day yet!! Kip and I have scheduled all our ventilator training classes for next week. Unfortunately, this will push our discharge date back a little. But fortunately, we will have night nursing in place and will be able to go home on Thursday!! Just in time for Aidan's SECOND birthday!! Can you believe our little man is going to be TWO?!?!?!?

Aidan worked soooo hard today!! He has been off the ventilator all day, even was on room air - with no humidification for almost an hour!! I'm so proud of him!! We are working on getting him comfortable with a moisture valve which will fit over his trach - kind of like a barrel on a st. bernard (but without the whiskey!!). With this, he can go out and about without the need for humidified oxygen. Making our lives just a little easier :) Did I just say easier?? I really thought we had thrown that word out of our vocabulary!!

Kip and I had our trach and cpr classes today. I was so surprised how much we have already picked up in the last week! I feel like a little Spongebob, soaking up all information. I remember coming into the hospital...almost a month ago...and thinking "what's this entitle crap they keep mentioning? and why is it do damn important??" Now we ask on a daily basis what he's measuring. (FYI - it is a monitor they place on his vent tube to measure his carbon dioxide rate).

I'm still in shock that we may get to go home next week!! We have been in the hospital so long, that I'm forgetting what a normal homelife is like! I am longing for those mornings where I can walk into Aidan's room and pick him up and squeeze him good morning. Watching Spongebob on the couch together. Or getting a meal without having to hand the man at the register a $20 bill....yes, hospital food is NOT cheap!!

I think we are slowing accepting our new path in life...but still knowing that we will have a lot of hurdles to overcome once we transition back to homelife. But it will be so nice to have our little man home with us, in his bed where he belongs. Just with another tube to take care of, a lot more equipment!! But....there's no place like home!!!!!

My heart feels good!!

Aidan is improving so much with each passing day - actually each hour!! He is breathing so much easier on his own. We are still using the ventilator while he is asleep, but when he is awake, he's happy and alert!

And watching Spongebob!! Aidan is breathing on his own here, the blue tube is just giving him some humidified air so his throat doesn't dry out.



It was so hard to see Aidan suffer with that darn tube down his throat (and why it was so difficult to hold him!). But he's such a fighter, he must have known that his daddy and mommy really needed to see him smile, because he tried so hard!! Here is a picture of Aidan with his breathing tube getting his hair washed.



This shower cap is AWESOME!! It has a cotton layer to it that has shampoo and conditioner, after a 5 minute scalp massage (I know, the torture!!), your hair is clean and doesn't even need rinsed!! I REALLY need one of these for home :)

I'm so proud of my little man - he's definitely a fighter!! He is an inspiration to me and makes my heart feel good :)

Aidan Update

Aidan had his surgery yesterday. It took about an hour and he did fantastic!! We gave him a rest day yesterday, but this morning he is up giggling and breathing like a champ!! And I am so relieved, I did feel the immediate peace and relief when I could see his precious face and he was breathing on his own :) Kip and I couldn't be more proud of our precious little man!!

Thank you all for your love, support and prayers!!

Tomorrow is the day...

Aidan's surgery is scheduled for 8:30am tomorrow. I'm so nervous, scared and sort of happy all at the same time. I'm praying I feel the peace everyone talks about when I see him breathing on his own and he doesn't have a tube down his throat. Kip and I are asking everyone to pray that he recovers fast and well from his surgery, because we are so anxious to have him home for his birthday!! I can't believe my baby is going to be 2 already!!!!

Decision

Decision has been made...Aidan will be getting a trach. Aidan actually made the decision for us, he just couldn't tolerate CPAP at night, it just wasn't enough support. This was by far the HARDEST decision Kip and I have had to make, but was it really a decision? What was the alternative??

Thank you all for you love and support - we couldn't have made it this far without you!! And it will be greatly appreciated in the weeks to come!!

Tuesday morning

Kip and I were a little late getting to the hospital this morning. We are just so exhausted from the late nights and early mornings that we had a rough time getting started today, plus we had some errands to run. (Not to mention the LOADS of laundry laying on the floor begging to be washed!!) So, we missed rounds this morning, and were told by the nurse that the doctor wants to schedule a meeting with us today. We're are assuming today is decision day...do we trach Aidan??

His respitory therapist just came in and asked if we were going to have the surgery? So, that just solidifies our gut feeling that this is probably going to have to happen...

So now what??

So what do you do when you can't cry anymore? When ripping your heart out so it can't feel your child's pain anymore really isn't an option? I guess I have to put on my big girl pants and realize we are opening a new chapter in our lives and we (like many times before) will survive. I am proud to have the O'Rourke name, we are a strong bunch, we are fighters, we will survive!!

Prayer Request for Aidan

As most of you might already know...we are in the hospital. Aidan and I went to PA for a family visit last month while Kip was traveling for work. We were having a great time the first two weeks, but the last weekend, while in Scranton, he came down with a high fever and vomiting. We went to a local ER, got admitted bc the fever wouldn't break and then all hell broke loose.

Aidan fell asleep and wouldn't wake up. He started destating and needed to be intubated to breathe. Then he started having seizures. He was then flown to the closest children's hospital in Danville, PA (population - not many!!)

Doctors have tried to extubate Aidan twice, unsuccessfully. We are on the third intubation and were transferred back to Kosair yesterday in Louisville. Aidan is taking very shallow breaths that doesn't allow enough carbon dioxide to escape his body. He is also fighting a lung infection.

We are trying to be optimistic that he will recover from the infection and be able to be successfully extubated. We are on day twelve of our hospital stay and although we are finally in our hometown and Kip and I can go home to sleep in our bed...it was extremely difficult to walk in and see his empty room.

We are asking for prayers that Aidan turns the corner and can come home soon with us!!

Drawing and Baking

It's good to be Aidan!!

Playing outside CAN be fun!!

I have had it up to here with...

But tomorrow is a new day!!

How are we feeling and what are we doing??

Pictures really are worth a thousand words!!

Rough Day!!

Aidan woke up screaming this morning, gagging on his secretions and retching. So after unhooking his pump, I vented his belly and he expelled 2 ounces of formula. He then continued to retch, so I let his belly drain. After about 3 hours of retching and screaming, I decided to call the pediatrician for advice. I really didn't want to bring him in, but they said he would have to be seen and made an appt for 2pm. So I called the GI specialist. They said if he didn't have a fever the doctor would call me after he returned to the office at 1pm. After hanging up, I felt Aidan again and he seemed really warm. He had a low grade fever of 101.5. So I called the GI doc back and I was instructed to take him to the ER.

When we walked in the hospital, it looked like a ghost town!! There was no one waiting!! Well, come to find out, they were ALL back in rooms waiting to be seen. But when is a trip to the ER ever quick??

Aidan had a UTI a few weeks ago and the only symptoms were a horrible cough that lasted 9 days (!!) and a fever. After 10 days of antibiotics he was retested and it was gone. But the last two nights he woke up coughing a few times so I was beginning to wonder if he had another UTI?

Aidan got an IV, strep test, belly and chest x-rays, and blood and urine cultures. And they confirmed he did have a UTI. They were going to admit us and have an ultrasound of his kidneys done tomorrow to test for reflux. But first, they had to call the pediatrician and get their approval (guess ER docs can't admit kiddos on their own). UNluckily for us, the doctor on call at our practice was the one we do not like (due to many bad experiences in the past). He decided we should go home and come see him in the morning. And wanted to wait ONE MONTH to have any tests ran. (Did we mention we DO NOT like this guy?!?!?!).

So, prescriptions in tow, we headed home and Aidan is finally asleep in his bed :) We're feeding pedialyte until the morning and praying for a good night!!

And yes, Kip has been out of town for the last couple of days!!

Heaven has a new angel named Kayleigh

My heart is saddened this morning as I read the post of little Kayleigh Anne Freeman. She gained her wings in heaven last night and lost her 11 month battle of life since birth. Her story has touched my heart and changed my life forever. Please say a prayer for precious baby angel Kayleigh and her family. Click on the picture below to read her courageous story.

Snuggle Time

Aidan had a good nap yesterday and woke up so happy! He smiled and giggled all night! Kip and I can't remember a night when he was so happy. Kip pulled a muscle in his neck and didn't feel well, so we spent the evening watching tv in bed - all three of us (Charlie and Parker too!). Aidan played with Elvis (his lion from Vegas) and giggled almost the entire time!

Crazy!!

That's what life has been like in our house for the last couple of weeks. I am almost out of the endless mounds of laundry that consisted of just about every article of clothes that we own! Aidan is back on the therapy circuit. And I have been eliminated from the Swine Flu epidemic. Turns out after four years in Kentucky, I have finally developed allergies to the Ohio Valley crud.

Lots of posts and pics to come of our journeys over the last couple of weeks. Vegas, Grandma's, Derby. It's been so much fun!!

But I did want to leave you with a post of my little man - this was taken exactly one year ago yesterday. Since Aidan is doing so well with eating right now, I thought an "eating pic" was appropriate. Enjoy!!

Pray for Kayleigh!!

Sweet little Kayleigh has been fighting for her life for the last 10 months - her entire life!! She has never seen the outside of the NICU walls. Kayleigh is a fighter, to say the very least!! We have been following her story for months now. The Freeman family have been hit not only with her daughter's illness, but by the economy. Both parents are real estate agents and we all know how bad the housing market is right now. Not only are they fighting for Kayleigh's life, but are being faced with foreclosure (date is next month)!

Kayleigh has now took a hard turn for the worse, doctors saying she is brain dead and not likely to recover. Please pray for this beautiful, strong, adorable, sweet, precious baby girl. And her parents - Adam and Aimee who have had to endure so much more than 2 parents ever should have in 10 lifetimes!! Also pray for her two siblings, Allyson and Brandon, who have had limited contact with Kayleigh since she's been born because of the NICU precautions.

Click on the link below to check out Kayleigh's site:

Before I was a "Special" Parent

Before I was a Special Parent...I actually had a savings account. I didn't know that I should have invested heavily in paper towels, hand sanitizer, velcro and tape.
Before I was a special parent...MOOD SWINGS came only with PMS. STATUS was something you earned, not dreaded. And when you got it, MOBILITY was usually upward. FINE MOTOR ACTIVITY was taking the car for a drive on a nice day and GROSS MOTOR MOVEMENT was the universal one-finger salute.

Before I was a special parent...I thought BUTTONS went on your blouse, not your belly. GENES were labeled Levi or Guess. And MUTATIONS were confined to the Incredible Hulk.

Before I was a special parent...GUILT came from something I did, not something I didn't do. COMMUNICATION was about saying all the right things. ADAPT ment telling someone to get over it already. And ASPIRATION meant Ambition.

BUT ALSO
I didn't know that SORROW never leaves you where you found it.
I didn't know unbridled JOY could come from heartbreak.
I didn't know my baby would be my TEACHER.
I didn't know the meaning of UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.
I didn't realize that the little stuff is really THE BIG STUFF.
I didn't realize how well someone can COMMUNICATE without words.
I didn't know that milestones are not as important as SMILESTONES.
I didn't know that my baby would TOUCH the world not from what he has done, but from what he cannot do.
I didn't know the POWER of his powerlessness.
I didn't know that I have so much to LEARN.

My son, my inspiration!!

I have learned so much from my beautiful baby boy in the last 18 months. Even though I should be calling him a toddler, not a baby. But he'll always be my baby. I admire the strength he has when we're pushing him in therapy and he's so tired and sore, but he keeps on working for us. I cherish his cute little smiles and giggles and especially the way he sticks out his little tongue when he's really happy!! It melts my heart the way he looks for recognition when he watches something funny on tv, "Mommy, did you see that, did you??" God has blessed me with such a wonderful gift, way beyond what I have earned and deserve and I'm so greatful for the opportunity to be the mommy to this amazing, loving and beautiful little boy named Aidan.



I came across this poem awhile ago and each time I read it I can't help but smile and realize how wonderful it is to have such a special little boy to call my own!!



"Sometimes I see you stuck for such a long time, a daily nothing new, pretend I don't mind, with lists of things you'll never do until somehow you do and you do, you shine.
The days and months and years, they run together. Is it just one day? Or is this forever? You've taught me in your lifetime more than I'd learn in mine, and you do, you do, you shine.
Shine your light on me, everyone will see, I'm so glad you are mine and you'll shine in your own time.
Well, maybe I'm too close to see you clearly, or is it now my role to simply believe? You're just one of those mysteries that may never be solved in time, but you do, you do, you shine.
And Sammy will do what Sammy will do when Sammy is ready to do it.
And Trevor will do what Trevor will do when Trevor is ready to do it.
And Lucy will do what Lucy will do when Lucy is ready to do it. And they'll do it in their own time.
Yeah, they'll shine, shine your light on me, and everyone will see. I'm so glad you are mine, and you'll shine, and you shine."
Music from Signing Time. Lyrics by Rachel de Azevedo Coleman.

The Luckiest Woman In The World!!

Yes, this is exactly how I feel when I think about my hubby, my baby and the road we are traveling down together. Yesterday, (April 2nd) Kip and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary!! He made the day so special for me! We woke up early (well, early for a day off work) and relaxed on the couch waiting for Aidan to get up - the sleepyhead!! Then we were going to take Aidan to the zoo because it was just so beautiful outside. But when we got to the zoo we remembered it was spring break for most of the schools in Louisville, plus the first really nice day in awhile. Needless to say, everyone was at the zoo. So we decided to take a walk down along the riverfront instead.


We saw a couple of ducks.


Watched some of the workers getting the lawns ready for Thunder!!


And a bunch of beautiful little play areas along the path. The flowers were just gorgeous!!


And Aidan napped while Kip and I enjoyed the scenery and sat on a swing.


Aren't they so cute?!?!

Later we dropped Aidan off and Grandpa and Grandma's house and we went for a nice dinner at the same restaurant were we had our wedding dinner. However, right before we decided to leave for dinner, Mother Nature decided we needed a nice, heavy rain. I know it's good luck if it rains on your wedding day, but what about your anniversary?? Luckily, it was over in a few minutes and we got a picture before it started back up and we got soaked!!



Happy anniversary Kippy!! Thank you for making me the luckiest woman in the world!!

New nephew!!

I'm going to be an aunt again today!! Yay!! And I would have known a lot sooner if I hadn't left my cell phone down stairs last night :( My brother and his wife Tiffany are adding #3 to their family!! Zachary and Zander are going to have a new little brother - we only know how to make boys in this family I guess!! I was really wondering if the little guy was ever going to make his enterance into the world, she was due last saturday and being late with #3 is odd! Especially when she was 2 weeks early with the first two!!





Here are two pictures of Zachary and Zander at the Louisville Zoo when the came to visit Kerrie and Uncle Kip (Zack has NEVER called me Aunt Kerrie) over Christmas!!



My brother, Jason, and Zander



Aunt Tiffany took Aidan down the slide - his first time on a slide!!

TGIF!!!!

I have never been so excited to see a Friday before!! Aidan had four therapy sessions this week. Kip was sick (he was better, but turned this weird shade of green tonight again) and I put many more miles on the car.

Thursday Aidan and I drove to Nicholasville to pick up the electrical wire so Kip could finish the hot tub. I have never been to Nicholasville - heck, I never really get out of Louisville, so I had no idea where it was. I was told it was about the same distance to Lexington (45 minutes). Yeah, no. It was more like and HOUR and 45 minutes!!

The great part about yesterday was I finally got to go out for a "girls" night!! Yay!! Kip kissed me goodbye and told me "not to call" and I was off for dinner, wine tasting, comedy, a little drama and then staying out WAY too late!! Luckily, Aidan was in a sleeping mood today :)



I met a new friend at Starbucks today. She has a special little man with a rare syndrome like Aidan. It's always so nice to meet special mommies, they really understand what day to day life is like in a special needs home.

Tonight we were supposed to have dinner with friends, but they all have the flu bug that just won't go away!! I swear, everyone I have spoken to in the last 2 weeks has been sick at one point in the last month!! We really hope they feel better soon, Aidan really likes hanging out with their little girl :) She has the most beautiful smile and a headful of brown curls!!

The highlight of the weekend is going to be the hot tub!! Kip finished the wiring last night and we gave it a test run this afternoon - it was amazing!! I recommend EVERYONE getting one - or at least coming over and hanging out in ours. I can foresee many bbq's in our future!!

Busy, Busy, Busy!!

It's been a LONG couple of days, and a lot of mile on the car!! Kip and I had our second overnight without Aidan this weekend. We dropped him off at Grandpa and Grandma O'Rourke's on Saturday morning and set off for Cincy for the weekend with a group of friends. We had such a good time! I can honestly say I had completely forgotten what life was like before becoming a mommy!! Out of the 14 people in our group, only Kip and I along with one other couple had kids. We had planned to party like we were in college again, but by midnight the four of us (with kids), were REALLY ready to go to bed!!



Sunday we woke up, ate lunch and headed for Louisville. I don't know if Kip ate something or got a stomach bug or both, but he started throwing up and it never stopped!! After many stops, we finally made it home and picked up Aidan. I dropped them off at home and left to pick up Parker. He was in Doggie Day Camp at Petsmart and had a GREAT time!! When I picked him up, he had a report card with straight A's!! What a difference a few months can make in a puppy!!



So after Parker and I made it back home, I got Kip in the shower and tried to put him to bed, but he was still so sick. So I convinced him to let me take him to the immediate care. They did an EKG and sent us to the emergency room. Around 1130, I took Aidan home and Grandpa came over to watch him so I could go back with Kip. (Aidan had a lot of quality grandparent time this weekend!!) Finally after many tests, IVs and scans, we were told that he had inflamed lymphnodes in his stomach and given a prescription and sent home around 4am.



It's been a long couple of days filled with good times and not so good times. But the best part of the weekend was being able to spend quality alone time with my hubby and knowing Aidan was well taken care of and I didn't need to worry!! Now, on to VEGAS!!!!

Happy Thursday!!

What started off as a rainy gloomy morning turned into a beautiful, sunny afternoon. Aidan had therapy this morning, and did great!! He's really starting to pick up his head a little and find toys. Yay!! Then I had a doctor appt. Aidan kind of looked confused when the doctor paid more attention to me then him :) But I'm sure he was thrilled that he didn't have to get a shot for once!

When we got home, we had an email from a friend waiting for us that mortgage rates had gone down and we going to refinance our rate - yay!! You can't get a much better day - good therapy report for Aidan, clean bill of health for me and saving some money!!

We're waiting for Daddy to get home and we'll grill out tonight and spend some more time in the swing.

Spring has Sprung!!

The weather was so beautiful today!! Aidan was quite grumpy inside while Miss Kelly (Aidan's Speech Therapist) was over this morning, so we decided to go outside and enjoy the swing! We went back inside for Miss Shawn's visit (his Occupational Therapist), where we worked on feeding again. Aidan wasn't really into feeding today, but still gave us great swallows!! Between the sunshine and therapy, he was exhausted and I had to wake him up from a 2 hour nap!!

We went back outside and had a little picnic in the yard with Parker (the pupppy). Then hit the swing again. We swang for about 15 minutes and then I stopped him to ask if he was ready to go in and - he started crying!! As soon as I started to swing again, he smiled and giggled. What a little turkey - last summer he would scream and cry if we set foot outside, now he cries if I try to take him inside!! He's so precious :)

Kip and I decided to grill out some burgers last night. It was so nice to sit outside and smell the fresh air. We are definitely not used to all this outside activity - all three of us slept like logs last night!! Being able to be outdoors has definitely made the days more enjoyable!!