HUGE thanks to my mom, who gave up the weekend to look at homes on our behalf... if she hadn't been there this weekend, the house would have been snagged up by someone else today! It happens to be the house John spotted on our quick trip two Saturdays ago... so we have seen the exterior, the floor plan and the photos from the MLS listing (from when it sold over a year ago), but only my mom has seen the inside! It is, she promises, by far the cleanest rental we've seen to date... and we've seen some real dumps for a small fortune. It is older and not yet been significantly updated, but it's in very good condition. The location is really important to us - - we love the neighborhood - - tree lined street, parks, families everywhere, walking distance to shopping and coffee (a MAJOR must have for this household given the lack of sleep!) and the school district is wonderful. It is also five miles from the driveway to the pier at Seal Beach. We are very much looking forward to seeing the ocean on a regular basis!
Thanks to all who posted and emailed regarding Miss Gracie... the support is something I carry with me always. And, thanks for the suggestions, too... that's exactly what I need now... to make sure we have thought everything through and exhausted all possibilities. Thank you!
Gracie girl had a really great afternoon yesterday (Sunday) - - mainly because we skipped her late afternoon feeding to give her a break. I know... not a good choice because of her need for calories and fluid, but a great four hour stretch of time where she had so much fun and didn't fuss about anything at all. She rode the tricycle, wanted to walk, play and be upright... she signed more during that part of the day than the whole rest of the day put together. Interesting. Like I have said for years, it would be so much easier if we didn't have to feed her.
Today, because of the difficult weekend, I opted for very diluted formula and no added fat. She had a much better day... but oddly enough, her most difficult times were with her two smallest feedings of the day. She has school tomorrow and I never push the limits on school mornings because I want her to have a productive experience. (To answer Lisa's question about the TPN (IV nutrition) option, it has been discussed, but is a last resort... more on that later.)
My hope is that we can stabilize her loss enough to avoid TPN and then get in with new doctors. This move could be a really good opportunity to get new, fresh perspectives and heads in the game. That is my hope...
AND FINALLY... DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!!!
Been so wrapped up in our own stuff that I forgot to share the good news of others!!! (Not to mention I had been sworn to secrecy until my brother had a chance to tell our mom in person himself, that I almost forgot I finally could share!)
OK... so that sounds like it's about me! Oops!
My brother, Brian (my only sibling), and his wonderful long-time girlfriend, Vanessa, are going to be parents! (...of a human baby! They do have three four-legged babies already!)
Their sweet bundle of joy is due April 10th and they will find out the baby's gender (provided he/she cooperates!) on November 16... just three days after Brian's 40th birthday!
Congratulations, Brian and Vanessa! We are so happy for you!
7 comments:
Hopefully when you get moved and settled in with the new doctors they will have some new ideas for Gracies feeds. The only GI issues I had with Christopher was keeping food down. He never got upset with me the way Gracie does about not wanting to eat. It didn't matter how slow or how fast we fed him he would vomit mouth full after mouth full of formula. Then when he got sick right before the last time we were going to check in to having his fundo done for the third time and we switched to soy we havent had any issues since. He does vomit on occasion but it is usually related to being full of snot and it makes him sick to his stomach. I just took him to the doctor for that to get him back on allergy medicine. How many times has Gracie's fundo been done? If I can come up with anything else we have done with Christopher I will let you know but it sounds like you have really been trying all the options so with the move and new opinions I know Gracie will get help for her feeding issues :) Have a great day and I will talk to you again soon.
So glad you've found a place to call home. It's such a challenge here in LA, we can identify! Thanks for all your help at the weekend esp when you have so very much on your plate right now.
I saw that you are coming to OC in your post to my blog! I am excited for you, hopefully the GI's at CHOC can help Gracie. I would love to talk to you more personally, since almost all of our doctors are at CHOC. Plus I would love to just talk to you, since you are going to be SO close to us! :) Send me an email when you get a chance ... waffle1313@gmail.com.
Congratulations on finding a home! I'm sure that's a big relief for you. Glad to hear, too, that Gracie has had some improvements in the past couple of days with her feedings. Hoping you can get some answers for her once you more to LA.
Kristi wow so much going on...congrats on the house must be a huge relief, congrats to John on his graduation (hoping for one of those next year) and great news for your brother and girlfriend on being 'expectant to be parents' of a human kind (lol).
Big loves to Gracie and you all xx
Oh, my! How did I miss this post til now?
I am SO, SO happy you've found a place to live! By the way, Seal Beach is where we always went when I was little and visiting my grandma, who lived down there - happy memories! I'm so glad to know your family will be making happy memories down there as well.
I'm so glad Gracie had a happy afternoon - she needed that, but I know you did, too, Kristi - to see her active and signing and in her skin. I am so hopeful that fresh perspective from new-to-you doctors in LA will provide some answers and comfort for Sweet Gracie!
And congrats on aunt-hood!
It was so good to see you and the whole family yesterday! Even with all of Gracie's issues as of late, I can't believe how much she has grown, not just physically but otherwise since I last saw her! I am so glad to have had the opportunity to see you before your trek to the southern half of the state! Congratulations to John, I am so proud of him, and of you for getting through such a difficult period! Not that you haven't been through equally if not more difficult times before, but I know how hard this was on everyone. I am so sad that you are moving away but so excited for you on your new adventure and can't wait to come visit!
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