Pulse Ox. . . What Pulse Ox?

We spent the better part of this week in North Carolina enjoying the company of our good friends and warm weather. It was meant to be a business trip for daddy and a mini vacation for the rest of us. Prior to leaving, Lila Grace had been sick with a significant cough, congestion, and fever. Of course it was only a matter of time before she gifted to her sister.

Knowing this, we continued on with our plans and packed the kids up for the seven hour drive which goes to show we are moving past the fear of illnesses. The first day was rather uneventful but beyond that, Adeline was battling a fever and cough that were eventually joined puking. I was very surprised that it hit her so hard. She was a tough patient to read because she perked up nicely at least once a day and was in pretty good spirits even if laying on her daddy's shoulder. The fever always spiked with sleep and did a number on her heart and respiratory rates. Yes, this is a typical reaction but was accentuated by her prematurity. Just when I was ready to tell Alex to hook her up (to the pulse ox), I realized that we forgot it. I was very surprised. So I laid by my girl while she slept and watched her chest rise and fall, her chin tuck into her chest, and nostrils flare with each breath. She was contracting at the top of her sternum but between the ribs seemed fine. Her heart was beating out of her chest too. It would have been much easier to hook her up and KNOW that she was fine and not headed down the road of hospital admission but I finally have the confidence in myself to know. Dr. Chidekel has used the, "you will know," phrase time and time again and a few years ago, I really doubted him. He was right. I knew. I knew she was fighting to breath and her heart was working double time but I also knew that she wasn't in a dire situation. Just for the record, I would have been much happier with the pulse ox and, subsequently, strapped it on her the moment we got home. In between the coughs and dry heaves the little girl said, "on my toe," in a very faint voice when I pulled it out.

I guess we aren't footloose and pulse ox free yet. . .

Here is a picture of Adeline after driving through the night to home, puking and dry heaving in our bed all morning, and fighting a fever to boot.  She was pretty confident that she could take her temperature without any help from me.

From the Mouths of Babes. . .

While driving Savannah home from school this week, I have enjoyed some no movie in the car time.  Instead, I listen to NPR which has a heavy focus on Haiti. A few segments have caught Savannah's attention which has given me the opportunity to broaden her horizons. The initial questions where simple like how does a building just fall down or what makes the earth shake. As time went on, her little mind dug deeper into the matter.

Here is today's conversation. Please note that I haven't turned on the TV since the quake and don't know much about the details. I have only caught bits and pieces on NPR.  I tried to respond to her questions the best I could.

S: Are the people, there helping, starting to build new house for the Haitians?

M: Right now they are focused on what the people need most, for example water?

S: Well, what are they going to do with all the stuff from the broken buildings? Don't they have to move it so they can build new ones?

M: That is one of the numerous problems that is not easily solved. It is going to take a long time.

After hearing a report of a child who lost his parents in the quake. . .

S: So that baby doesn't have any parents?

M: Yes, and there are many children that are in the same situation or separated from their parents.

S: I can't imagine being separated from you Mommy.

M: I don't want to think about it either.

S: I want to help the kids that don't have any parents. What can I do?

M: That is another one of the problems that the people, who are flying to Haiti to help, are trying to figure out. They are trying to decide the best way to help heal the children and their broken hearts.

S: We can do that. We can be their new family and maybe after a really long time, the children (meaning one child) will love us more than their first parents. Well, probably not, but maybe they will love us the same. But that is going to take a really long time.

M: How are we going to become a child's family? We are here and the child is in Haiti.

S: There are planes mommy. They children can fly here. We have a lot of extra love and we have a really good family because we are all so sweet. I think we can fix their broken hearts. Should we do that mommy?

M: It isn't that easy. The helpers in Haiti have to know for sure the child doesn't parents and then someone would have find a way to get the child onto the plane. It would also take a lot of effort from our family. Mommy and Daddy would have to spend a lot of time trying to make the child feel loved and safe.

S: Well, I know we can do that mommy.

M: Right now I am just giving money so that the doctors have the medicine they need to give to the sick people and that every person is able to drink clean water.

S: You mean a lot of the kids have to get shots (showing her age here)?

M: Yes, but they don't even care because things are so miserable for them right now.

S: Could you show me pictures of the earthquake because I am imagining something really bad in my head but I bet it is even worse? Are the news people still there taking pictures? I mean, I know they aren't happy pictures like we take. They are taking them so we know how bad it is right Mommy?

M: Yes, they are.

S: Mommy, I am going to give all my money to the WaWa (where I donate each day to the Red Cross). I mean, I don't really care about toys. They aren't important right now. I have $19.00. Don't you think that will really help the people. Of course I can't send my $9.00 Toys R Us coupons because those won't really help them. Even if there was a toy I really, really, wanted, I am still going to send all my money. Don't you think that is a nice thing for me to do?

M: I kiss and hug her and am humbled by her compassion.

Upon arriving home. . .

S: What envelope should put this money in so I can donate it tomorrow?

First Dentist Exam

Lila went to the dentist for the first time today.  She was a super star.  Miss Sara (a mom of Lila's classmate) made sure to make her feel extra safe and comfortable.  She explained everything and asked before she did anything.  Lila Grace was thrilled to get up into the chair and felt super important when Miss Sara let her wear a rubber glove.  Soon, she was laying back with sunglasses on to block the bright light.  She opened wide and proved to be a pretty good brusher.  Her teeth look great which is nice to hear since I let Miss Grace to most the brushing these days.

On the flip side, she has a super high palate which will likely need expansion and a fairly large open bite accompanied by a tongue thrust.  No surprise there.  We noticed her forward, lower jaw and tongue immediately after bringing her home from the NICU.  Although she still uses a binki, it is likely that the ventilator tubes and all the various equipment she had in mouth during her NICU stay were the culprits.  Since Adeline suffers from the same problem, we might want to start socking some money away for our more than likely long relationship with orthodontia.

The Bus

Many people already know my thoughts about a school bus.  I am not afraid to state that I don't think anything good can come from riding a bus.  Having been teacher and having been on many buses with students, I feel as thought I have substantial evidence to back my opinion.  Thus, I don't expect my children will ride a bus unless it is absolutely necessary.


The one exception is Adeline's bus home from her IU classroom.  This bus is small, transports four children from her classroom, and has car seats.  The teachers strap the children in and the parent unstraps them when dropped at their house.  I feel that there are few transgressions that can take place with three and four year olds are strapped into car seats on a bus.  I still take her and pick her up every day that I can.  But, in order to allow Lila Grace to take dance, Adeline must ride the bus home on Tuesdays. 

Today was her first day and boy was she excited.  I even got a note home from her teacher telling me so. 

Ahhh. . . .

If you heard a strange noise this weekend, it was our audible sigh of relief when entering the outdoors.  Yes, we played outside!  A much needed break from the severe temps we have been experiencing.

Later that evening we had the first official Wolf Shaw game night - Savannah's idea.  It entailed making edible necklaces (a little fine motor activity to give the little girls practice which somehow was accepted as a game) and a much less successful board game.  We might stick to craft nights and bag the board game idea until another couple of years.  It was enjoyable nonetheless because the five of us sat around the table with the sole purpose of being together.


Notice Savannah's tricky pattern

Of course the best part of edible necklaces is EATING them!

Following in Her Little Sister's Footsteps

Somebody else wanted to take dance after hearing about how much fun Lila Grace is having.  At first Savannah only wanted to take dance if she could be in Lila's class.  I convinced her that there is no such class.  Thus, she started ballet all on her own and loved every minute of it.  The class is composed of 6-9 year olds and all of the studnents have been in the class since September.  I would have been sweating bullets and hating every moment of it, considering all the girls knew what to do and how to do it.  Even though Savannah is way behind in her knowledge, she tried very hard to hang with the group.  I am just thrilled that she had a beaming smile on her face when the class was over.  She felt that she did a great job and that is my number one reason for signing her up for extra curricular activities - building confidence.

Here she is warming up with the other girls.  They were instructed to spin on different levels.  (notice the tongue out look of concentration)

A Tearful Goodbye

After five wonderful weeks, we had to say goodbye to Grammy and Papa. The girls absolutely adore my parents and I adore having them here. The help, extra one on one time with the girls, and stronger since of family during the holidays is a wonderful blessing for all of us.

It was a hard goodbye at the airport. Lila Grace thought she was going to go with Grammy and Papa to their house. She doesn't get that she can't just get on the plane with them or that there is a significant distance. Adeline was just plain mad that she drove the airport without getting on a plane. Savannah, well to no one's surprise, was a sobbing mess. It is very hard to stand back and watch your child hurt while knowing there is nothing that can be done about it. The distance is always going to be there and random drop-ins aren't an option. We all wish it was different.

Here are some pictures that sum up their stay: