Sad Monday

Yesterday morning we woke to feed Arianna at 5:30, just like everyday, Matt found our sweet dog Ginger had passed away in the night. She had gone into the bathroom, her favorite spot in the house cause it gets so cool, and had laid down and went in her sleep. This was really out of the blue for us, yes she was 11 years old but she had spent the evening out with Matt, Kenna and some neighbor kids walking and running through the neighborhood. She was so happy and really seemed fine when we went to bed. I heard her go into the bathroom at about 3:30 and get settled in, she was a little slow and acted like her hips might be hurting, I was thinking I should call the vet in the morning to get more pains meds for her. She was really panting like she was hot, I now realize that she probably was in heart failure at that time and she passed quickly after laying down. Matt took her to our vet where they made an imprint of her paw so that we would have her with us always.

I will really miss her, Matt and I got her as a puppy when we were newlyweds, our first kid we always joked. It has only been 8 months since we had to put our other dog Jax down because she was so sick with cancer. It is strange not to have them curled up by you feet when sitting on the couch, and I keep hearing noises at the back door like Ginger is scratching to come in. I have gone to the back door to let her in several times now.

Kenna and her friends drew pictures and wrote things like 'we miss you Ginger' out on the driveway with chalk, kids can be so sweet. Kenna also asked if we could get a new dog for Arianna's birthday present from her, I don't think I am up to house training a new dog just yet.

I told her that we would soon enough, and she seemed okay with that.

On the move

I thought I would show you all just how mobile Arianna is getting. She rolled into my room the other day. She started way back by her dresser and just kept moving and roling over until she got to my door, there she took a bit of a rest. She then moved on in and got stuck under my bed, I quickly got her out, while I laughed.

I am in big trouble when she finally learns to crawl, which by the way she is doing really well at getting up on her knees and pushing up on her hands, most of the time she is on her forehead though.

Juls

All's Well

I thought I throw out a quick update. Arianna is doing so good, I am amazed. She does require a lot of suction, but I am handling it. She is really happy just to roll around the house, I am having a hard time keeping her oxygen from getting tangled up around her. Her pain level is good, I have managed to keep her feeling good on just Tylenol.

I am looking forward to our birthday, Arianna is almost 2, just ten days away. I wont tell you all how old I will be. I am planning to have a big bash this year, I have spent the last two birthdays in the hospital and I am ready to party.

Kenna is getting ready for her ballet recital this Friday, I hope she will dance this time, last time she just bounced up and down and smiled. I will post pics of how cute she is in her costume.

I will try to keep up on posting, Matt takes my computer to work sometimes and I have to suffer with out.

Juls

WOW

So Arianna had her surgery on thursday and came home on Friday. I am not completely sure that this is my kid, she never recovers this quickly. Her surgery took just over an hour, where they removed her tonsils, adenos, placed ear tubes and Botoxed her glands. It went so well and she was extubated before leaving the OR. She spent just one night in the PICU, where she did little sleeping and a lot of playing, so in the morning they gave us the okay to come home. I admit that I have to suction her a bit more but I perfer that over a long hospital stay.
She sure has surprised us all.
She slept real well last night, only waking once for some more pain meds and then right back to sleep. She has had a good day and has napped well and is generaly happy and playful.
I am glad to be home.

Surgery Update

Our docs have been talking and they don't want to wait another 3 weeks, the risk of Arianna getting an infection in her PICC line are to big, sooo surgery has been moved up to Thursday May 29th. This is also Kenna last day of pre-school and her program is that evening. I feel so rotten that my attention always seems to be taken away from her when she needs me the most. I can only hope she will grow to understand what a blessing Arianna is, and that we do all we can to keep her with us. She is a pretty understanding kid, but really just wants to be home with the whole family watching movies and eating pizza together.

I can't believe Arianna is almost 2. We never thought we would have this much time with her, what a special kid.

I will try to keep updates coming, things a getting crazy.

Who needs them anyway?

So we had an appt with our ENT on Friday, he has suggested in the past that we should remove Arianna's tonsils when she turns 2. Well he feels it is now time to do it, she has grown so much and is big enough to under-go this procedure. We are scheduled for Monday June 9th, I was hoping that we would not spend another birthday in the hospital, and we still may not, but Arianna does things at her own pace but maybe she will be home by the 19th. We are very hopeful that this will help her airway improve and that she will no longer aspirate, she will have Botox injections in some of her salivary glands to decrease the amount of spit she makes, this should help her a great deal.

Happy Mother's Day!!!

What's up Lungs and a Good-bye

We have been in to see many docs to figure out why Miss Arianna continues to struggle with pneumonia. Her chest x-ray is looking better, but not 100%. Her pulminology doc wants to continue with her antibiotics so we still have a PICC line. We will be discussing Botox injections for her salivary glands to decrease the amount of spit she makes. I thought about asking for a few shots myself, my forehead looks bad(jk).
Really there isn't much going on right now, same old stuff different week. We are trying to get the backyard looking better, and Matt is working hard to get the garden ready to be planted. I can't wait for my own fresh veggies.

On a sad note, my Aunt Stephani passed away unexpectedly on Saturday May 3rd. She was too young, only 66, ready to start the best years of retirement with my Unlce Dallas. She was battling cancer and seemed to be winning, her heart although was weakened and she went peacefully in her sleep. She will be greatly missed. She was the oldest of three girls, my mom being the youngest, and she was like another mom to us. I admire the strength she displayed. My heart and love are with her family. Please pray for them too.