Nebraska

Let me start out by saying, I may not explain things very well in this post... if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Also, I'm adding quite a few pics., so I'll just write short paragraphs in between :oP --- Breeann and I recently spent about a week in Omaha, NE. At the end of March, we found out that she only has one IV access site left. Her team in NE asked that we go back and to have her re-evaluated for an intestine transplant (she was evaluated last year).

On the plane going to NE

So an intestine transplant evaluation is an extremely long week of testing and meetings. Strong little Bree handled it like a champ... for the most part. As long as we didn't make her hold still she was okay.

Waiting for the nurse to come take some blood

In the end, her team decided to be as gracious as they could. She is NOT listed for transplant YET!

waiting for a barium enema

They decided to give us two months to increase how much she gets through her feeding tube and how much she takes through her mouth.

fell asleep during the echocardiogram

The reason they are pushing that is because... with her frequent line infections and with her now having only one IV site left... we have to get her IV out as quickly as we can. If we aren't successful at being able to take her IV out for good, that just proves her intestines are THAT bad and she needs the transplant. And with one site, we don't have much time to waste to decide.

making sure the abdominal ultrasound was okay 

Her NE team is really encouraging us to come back so Breeann can be part of a two week intensive, inpatient feeding therapy program.

just being cute

We're still doing "homework", deciding if that's what's best for her and our whole family. As I write this, we aren't sure what goals we have to meet and we also don't know what exactly they'll do for her in that program that we couldn't do here at home.

waiting to go under anesthesia... while she was under they did a colonoscopy, EGD, and MRI (which should've been a MRV, but somewhere, someone got mixed up. oh well)

Since we've been home, we have been able to increase her tube feedings by a teaspoon an hour... and ... i'm too tired to do the math... but she now gets an extra 2 ounces, 4 times a day.

upper GI

I really think our main problem is going to be getting her to eat more. I don't know if it's her strong personalty, if its because she has no hunger drive, or what... but it is harder then pulling teeth to get that girl to eat!!

fell asleep while i was eating lunch the last day of appointments

And it doesn't help that she's limited with her allergies and... so with her SBS, she can't tolerate too much sugar. Like, even almond milk has too much sugar for her.

on our way home!!

So... in short, this summer will be an interesting one for us. Hopefully it'll all work out how we want it too. But to be honest, we're prepared for her to get listed too... well, as prepared as you can be.

OOOO!!! So I end this post on a bright now... this little angel has FINALLY decided to be a full time walker!!! Every once in awhile we catch her crawling, we tell her to stand up, and she will start walking for us. She's a strong, determined little angel. 

Mother's Day 2014

This Mother's Day was pretty much absolutely perfect. Other then pretty much the typical 2 1/2 year old and 20 month old attitudes, the kids were amazing and Jared spoiled me rotten!

This one was taken a couple days before  mothers day, but I still thought it was sweet. Breeann's feeding me french fries.

We started off the morning with presents

we're mickey mouse fans around here ;)

mickey mouse pj bottom

white comfy pants... yes, I asked for comfy pants

black comfy pants

Jared made so extremely yummy waffles. They made with a different batter and a different sugar. You'll have to ask him. But they were so good!!  

Yeah, then I slacked off on having Jared to take pics, taking them myself. But after church, we had a low key lunch, kids took a nap while I bathed and Jared cooked. When they got up, I took Ayden to see his bio. grandma's while Jared finished up cooking. My friend and her kiddos joined us for dinner. After we ate, we just talked and then it was bed time. After we got kids in to bed, we cleaned up, got Bree hooked up to her IV, and then I took another nice bath.

Like I said, pretty much the most perfect day. Jared spoiled me and it was so nice to relax.

I am so grateful to be the mom to these two babies. Is it hard? Without a doubt. Most days I just want to cry, scream, or pass out tired. But I couldn't imagine life without these two. They really are my everything. I am so blessed to be able to be their momma. I am so grateful to their two strong bio. moms that made it possible for me to be a mom. I wish we could have celebrated with them, but unfortunately circumstances didn't allow that. I thought about them, as well as my mom, non-stop Sat. (which is birth mom day) and yesterday.

Which brings me to wanting to say a little bit about my mom.

She is my hero! All she does, her faith, and her strength... I know I wouldn't be here or half the woman I am without her. I am so blessed to have such a great mom and best friend! She has definitely been there for me and has lifted me up when I felt so burdened with my two. I just love her.

Next, I want to say a little bit about my incredible mother-in-law

She is amazing. Her patience, her knowledge, and love. She's got 10 kids, 7 of them married, and 20 something grandkids... but she can tell you what's going on with all of them, makes each grand-baby a quilt when they come into the family, and she is now working as a nurse. She's just so admirable.

Last one, promise.

my three sisters. I wont lie, they drive me absolutely up the wall sometimes. They are relentless too. But they are always there and I know I can count on them no matter what. They are incredible women and I couldn't ask for better sisters.

I wish I could talk about my amazing sister-in-laws... all 9 of them... but I think I'd loose all of you. But trust me, they are all top notch too.

I hope this mothers day found all you women spoiled and you all felt appreciated for all you do, like I did. Love to all!