Jumbled Mess

This post isn't like the usual post. It is, instead, a jumbled mess of what is going on at our house.
The psychiatrist increased Bubba's dosage again, and he seems to have made great strides with it. It is almost like he wakes up, every now and then, and notices what is around him. He has been asking questions like never before. He wanted to know where we bought Lambie, and where Mimi lives. He asked about our chimney and Santa Claus. It has been amazing to watch.
Now, Bubba has croup, an ear infection, and a sinus infection. I'm expecting to have to return to the ENT for a discussion about tubes again, but we will see.
Baby has submerged deeply into the terrible twos. I'm not sure if she will ever return!! Seriously, though, she has decided to assert her independence like never before, and she doesn't take no for an answer. She is the girliest 2-year-old I have ever seen.
We got a swing set at our house (thank you Mimi), and it has been like heaven. The kids have been outside every chance they get swinging, sliding, and playing. They LOVE it, and so do I! It gives me a chance to sit down.
This post is kindof how my thoughts and life have been lately, so that is really the only way I knew to post. We have been everywhere, doing a little bit of everything.

All Clear

"You're going to the doctor, Baby" Bubba said to Baby as she passed by. Baby ran to me and said "I going doctor, Mommy?" I had decided not to tell Baby she had a doctor's appointment until we were almost there because I knew she wouldn't be happy. Ever since she was in the hospital, she has been a little afraid of doctors, and who can blame her? "Yes...we are going to the doctor but no boo boos" I reassured her. Still puzzled by how Bubba even knew she was going to the doctor, I scurried around trying to get everything ready.
Finally, after over 1 1/2 hours of hearing Baby whine about the doctor in the car, we arrived at Cook Children's Hospital. We had just minutes to spare, so I snapped a quick photo of my parking spot (so I would remember where I parked), and rushed inside. Through the myriad of signs, arrows, elevators, and sky walks we found our destination ... pediatric neurology and neurosurgery. We were quickly called back, but experience told me that meant nothing.
Forty five minutes after we sat down in our room, the doctor waltzed in. Don't get me wrong, I really like him, but he is a pediatric neurosurgeon. He is a bit cocky, slightly quirky, and just a smidge awkward. Baby immediately furrowed her eyebrows, stared straight into his eyes and said, "I don't want to do that!" "What?" I said. "I don't want to do THAT!" she exclaimed, still staring sternly at the doctor. "What? You don't want to do what?" I questioned. He laughed and said, "Anything I want her to do!" And with that, she turned away and began to pout.
We talked about any symptoms she was having related to the possible hydrocephalus or tethered spinal cord (which are none) and symptoms that we should still watch for. He, then, went on to explain that he believes her large brain ventricles and sacral dimple is just who she is. It is how she developed and is really a fluke. He does not believe there is anything to worry about and gave her the all clear. He does want us to follow-up in a year with an MRI and appointment (which we will probably have to do for a few years), just to be certain. I also asked about the baby (if there was anything we should be concerned about or I should be tested for in regards to all this), and he said that he thought there was no reason for it.
I was SO glad to hear all of this. While I didn't think about it every day, it was always in the back of my mind and probably always will be. I would jump everytime she bumped her head or question why she was walking on her tippy toes. I immediately became concerned if she said anything in her back or legs hurt and would run to her anytime her head was involved. Hopefully now, I can relax a little and know that her leg hurts because she fell earlier in the day or the bruise on her head is from her brother hitting her. No worries, at least for the moment!

I Found It!

After months of searching, I finally found it. What is it? GFCF bread that will actually toast. Yes...it's true. Kinnicknicks (spelling might be wrong but I don't want to go look it up) white sandwich bread is GFCF and it will toast. Now, it does take longer than the average slice of bread, but it will eventually turn brown. YEAH!

NOTE #1: Baby's follow-up appointment with the neurosurgeon is Wednesday, so I will post and let everyone know how that went.

NOTE #2: I, in no way, meant to offend anyone by answering the questions at the bottom of my pregnancy post. There are many people who read the blog that I don't talk to on a regular basis. Because of this, I knew they would have the same questions that others have had. I don't mind questions at all. I would rather you ask, than assume you know the answer! LOL!

The Third Gregory

In July of 2006, Evander and I went to visit Bubba in Guatemala. Evander's parents joined us for a week. Then, Evander and his parents left, but I stayed and my mother and aunt came to visit. The first week wasn't so bad, but I was exhausted. I put it off on the travel and the sleepless baby, but by the second week everything was changing. I would wake up starving, but when I met my mom for breakfast, it was all I could do to eat one croissant. Since I threw caution into the wind when eating in Guatemala, I assumed it must have been something I ate (even though it only happened EVERY SINGLE morning). Next, I began to smell the water. Yes...the water smelled horrible. I kept asking my mother "Do you think it's ok to bathe Bubba in this? It smells terrible!" She never smelled anything! Then, I became exhausted. My mom and aunt let me take a nap almost every day because I couldn't keep my eyes open. I decided I must be coming down with Mono, again.

Back at home, without a baby demanding my attention, I began to notice a pattern. I had every possible classic pregnancy symptom in the book, and my doctor confirmed that I was 5 weeks pregnant. I was certain that, if I ever got pregnant again, I would know. Well... I was wrong! I am now 15 weeks pregnant and have only known for one week. Looking back I think I can see some of the symptoms but I was just too busy to pay attention.

For two weeks of this pregnancy I was at the hospital with my dad. I now realize I was eating an awful lot of food, but oh well. I came home from those trips exhausted, but who wouldn't be? Then, Baby got sick, so I slept on her floor for 2 weeks, waking up every 3 hours to give her breathing treatments. Exhausted was an understatement. I also started gaining weight, but that had been my goal since before Christmas, so I thought all of my working out was starting to pay off. I had also been eating like crazy. I knew something was up, though, when 3 things happened.

First, I went to get the ground turkey out of the fridge and almost lost my lunch. The thought of touching raw turkey...I can't even continue the sentence. With Baby, it was pork. I couldn't even think about it or it would make me sick. Second, I smelled the dishwasher detergent INSIDE the dishwasher and the laundry detergent INSIDE the washer, all in the same day. Third, I woke up one morning with a pouch. I am not joking! I went to bed with a flat stomach and woke up with a speed bump. With that, I went for the pregnancy test.

I will now take a moment to answer many of the questions I have been asked:

• Yes, I will have to get a new car. Unless you would like to be responsible for suggesting that Bubba or Baby be the one to sit right next to the newborn.


• No, we are not moving. We will convert the office into a nursery and deal with it for at least another year. Bubba cannot handle having new sheets, much less a new baby and new house in one swoop.


• Yes, this was somewhat planned. Evander and I had been trying, but after my dad was so sick, we decided to hold off (but it was too late).


• Yes, the kids know. Yes, Bubba gets it. He tells everyone about the baby in my belly.


• Yes, we know things will be hectic and probably crazy, but that is how we like it. What would our house be without a little insanity every now and then?


• Yes, we are aware that our children are close in age. That is how we wanted it.


• I will find out at 20 weeks (5 wks from now) what the sex of the baby is. The perinatologist believes it is a girl (from the early ultrasound).