FIVE

Happiest five years to my princess!

I love this little 5 year old more than anything.

As sad as I am that she is getting older I am so proud of the amazing progress that she has made.

Nothing is better than being her mom!!!

Preschool

February 13th was Carly's annual IEP. Carly's team of therapists and teachers said she has met all her goals and is above a 5 year old level and would be dismissed from services. 

It's bittersweet. 

Carly started March 2011 and at her first evaluation she was behind by almost a year. 

And now in 2 years she is above a 5 year old level. 

Amazing. This girl never ceases to amaze me!!

February 19th we celebrated graduation in her class and her last day will be February 22nd.

Time to celebrate!!

Toy donation

In September I volunteered with the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation to be the Arizona State Chapter Director. As the director I hold fundraisers and do things to benefit our hydro community.

 We held our first toy drive in December and along with books donated by a Barnes and Noble in New Jersey we donated over 100 toys and 60 books! A couple days after Christmas I brought Carly and Cayson and a couple nieces to Dr. Moss' office to donate everything. Toys and books will be distributed to hydro patients in the hospital. I am so excited for everything we can do!

Christmastime

The kids got their own christmas tree this year to decorate since I decorate the big tree. 

They were so excited!!!

Carly telling Santa what she wants for Christmas. Pretty sure it's a Princess and the Pop star barbie.

Christmas day!

We went out in a plane a few days before Christmas to see the lights. I was a nervous wreck but the kids had a great time sitting in the back of the plane.

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

Pictures

Swimming lessons!

Hello doorknob.

Movie night in mom's bed!

Halloween hell

Halloween day Carly started wheezing. I got her an appointment with the doctor and she was diagnosed with bronchitis. She was given 2 breathing treatments at the doctors office and started feeling better. By halloween night she seemed to be feeling well enough to trick or treat so we went out for about an hour. Before bed I gave Carly another breathing treatment and let her go to sleep in my bed.

About 2 hours later I'm watching tv on the couch and hear wheezing. I went to my bedroom and Carly was struggling to breathe. Quickly I took Burke to his bed and grabbed the nebulizer. Her wheezing was bad...the worst I've heard. As soon as I turned on the machine and she woke up it went from bad to worst. She was hardly getting any oxygen in and her lips started turning blue. I didn't know what to do and called Thad in Florida. Of course he said to call the paramedics. I called 911 and told them my daughter can't breathe. Holding Carly against my chest I could feel her struggle to get air. She looked at me and I could see how scared she was. I continued to hold the albuterol up to her face just so she could get a little and hoping it would open up her airway. The 911 operator tried to keep me calm until the paramedics got to my house. Finally I heard the truck and ran to the door to let them in. It was firemen. They could hear her from the door and ran to my room. I had the albuterol by her face and she was sounding better but still really struggling to get air. Her blood ox was in the low 70's and her lips were still purple tinged. They said they needed to take her in to the hospital. Who was going to stay with my other two kids? I grabbed my cell phone and hit contacts. My finger went straight to my great friend Laura. At about 12:30 I called her and immediately broke down. Within 5 minutes she was walking in the door as the paramedics were getting Carly out and into the ambulance. I was adamant they take us to Thunderbird hospital so off we went.

In the hospital they gave her straight epinepherine into a breathing treatment. They diagnosed her with croup as well. They also started her on a steroid. Jack (my brother) came and met us at the hospital and stayed with us until they let us leave at 5am and then drove us home. My amazing friend slept while I was gone and stayed to talk for a while before going home. A few hours later she came and got Burke so Carly and I could sleep. Sleeping was not easy without Carly right up next to me. I don't know how I'm going to sleep tonight!

I've been through 2 brain surgeries, tonsils/adenoids/tubes surgery, bladder surgery and plenty of sedated procedures. 

Never have I been as scared as I was with this experience.

 I was alone to deal with it all. 

My mom is in Hawaii, Dad in Idaho and Thad in Florida. 

This was the first time I thought I could have lost her.

And if I didn't have the nebulizer....I don't even want to go there.

So thankful she is feeling better. So thankful I had the nebulizer and albuterol. So thankful for the fire station 3 minutes from my house. So thankful Carly is sleeping in my bed right now breathing normal.