The Christmas Letter-like Post.

Well life is speeding along and and I'm just trying to enjoy the ride. A quick update on my family members.


Me: Still loving my job. Have a great "family" I work with. So happy I changed hospitals! God has blessed me numerous times over with this change, and I am forever grateful.
I am starting a New Year's Resolution. Like most I am going to try to lose some weight. I really want to do good at this. I hope I am not setting myself up for failure. I am joining 2 weight loss "programs." The pound plunge, and Healthy Lifestyles Nebraska. Both which do weekly weigh ins, and awards prizes for losses. We also have purchased a elliptical workout machine, which, once it arrives will be a giant eye sore and uncomfortable piece of furniture in out living room. So if you are coming over for a visit, I apologize now, I promise not to make you sit on it though! ;) Currently I have a little cold/throat bug bothering me but that will soon subside with the nice meds I was given to day!


Ryan: He is still working a Weathercraft. He got a new company truck. Its white, so now all the vehicles in front of our home are white. Ryan's, been working on the siding and upstairs bedroom in his free time, which is a rarity with our little ones running around. Cancer stuff is still int eh clear. Hopefully in the next 18 months he will be completely done with it all! PTL!

Luke: My little school boy. He learns new fun things all the time, and (I'm a little biased) he remembers things SO well. He can still tell me what each of his and Adalei's birthdays were (minus his first), what he/she got, what he/she ate for their birthday and who was there. I will say that there are pictures there that might have triggered these memories, but none browsed through in a LONG time. I hope he keeps that capacity to remember things! Its all about letters and number for him right now. Some were a struggle, and in the process of working with Luke Adalei has picked up on a lot of it and actually can count better than her big brother.
Adalei: Speaking of Adalei, my little sweetie is getting so big, she and Luke wear the same size!!! She is just 2 inches shorter than Luke too. My little talker. Right now her brain is moving faster than her mouth can catch up and she has started to stutter a little, but what from what I have researched, she should grow out of it before she is 4, and not to worry about it until then. Adalei's biggest accomplishment is the potty! She is almost completely day potty trained for Mommy (won't go at all for Daddy), and stays dry 1/2 teh time during naps. She wants to be a big girl and "do it self." Adalei has her yearly heart check up right around the corner. I don't foresee any complications arising either. Adalei is a growing weed and her heart seems to beat strong with her!

I hope all my friends and family had a lovely holiday and I will try to share more frequently.

Love,
Cindy

Just another day.

Not really much to share right now. I haven't done any shopping... Bummer! I have acquired a little stockpile of coupons, but I want to stack them and the spreadsheets I have looked at confuse me. I hope to make Walgreen's my coupon deal place. I really was all excited to print out the specials I found (took me 45 minutes to apply them to my list), then they deleted themselves.... Ugh! So now I need to try to find a ad, physical not electronic. I am hopeful that this next week I can figure it out. I also haven't figured out the rewards system there. In due time I suppose.

Other news..... Ryan has started putting the siding up on our house. I am getting so excited! It will look so much better! I need to make a before and after pic!

Luke is becoming such a good helpful big brother, he is amazing me! Adalei loves babies. I am a little scared to say this, but I think she will be a good big sister someday. Not NOW! But, someday. Maybe in year we might think about it.

Getting geared up for a busy summer. No definite plans, but I am trying to get fun activities for the kids and I to do, Ryan will be super busy with the siding most of this summer, so I hope it goes fast for him and that he will be able to actually enjoy the summer with us.

Well, I promise to give you the run down on my coupon adventure whenever it does happen. Have a safe and fun Memorial weekend.

Coupons/Freebies

Do you Coupon?

I haven't really. Every once in a great while I will remember that I have a coupon wedged in my purse that can be used. After seeing previews of the TLC show Extreme Couponing, I became intrigued. Now these ladies/couples that get all or most of their grocery items for free amaze me. What amazes me more is their stocked room full of items that they have received/purchased for free or next to nothing.

So I am checking into things. Around these part the double/triple coupon thing does not exist/not honored, at least in places that I shop. That being said, I don't shop often. Rarely am I near a store these days. Since I took the job in Callaway, I can honestly say that my visit to a department store is monthly. Ryan, (bless his soul) gets most of our groceries. Walmart is our main grocery provider. We do have a store here in Arnold, but small town grocery stores don't have small prices. I still stop in if I need an item for a recipe/meal that we don't have at home.

I am going to go to Walmart on Friday and am going to try to search a few more deals. Unlike most of the extreme couponers, I probably will only seek out items that we will use and not every great deal available. So I am searching for coupons. Its rather a daunting task. There are so many sites that have them. I love www.Coupons.com but right now the new computer and old printer aren't friends yet. So I am searching the newspapers, hoping to score some. I also wanted to share the page www.SampleStuff.com I have gotten so many good freebies from this site. It rocks! I have gotten many hair care samples, a box full of cleaning supplies, numerous coupons, some food products, and body care samples. A must to check out. If you are on Facebook, like their page and every time they locate a new freebie they have a new status update on it with a link to go right to it. I have also been going directly to store websites and searching for freebies/samples off of there sites. Target and Walmart mostly. I have gotten a few.
I hope to check out Walgreen's now though. N.P. got one about 2 years ago, and I've never stepped foot in it. That might be a good place to try my hand at couponing too, but from what I read from the experts; I should be comfortable with using coupons first and know the rules... and that, my friends, is why I never have done much couponing yet. It makes me nervous and I don't want to be that lady with 50 bazillion coupons flying everywhere with a line of 12 people trying to check out behind her. So, slowly I will ease into this new territory. I'll let you know how my first couponing adventure turns out.

Anyways, I'm going to get back to my searching and hunting for coupons!

Have a splendid day!

Cindy

Abra Cadabra

As you can see I changed thing up here a bit. Was SUPER excited when I realized you can change the font of your blog. Let me know if the color/ font changes make it hard for you to read. I'd hate to lose any of my few readers because of it! Anyways, planning on doing some laundry this morning and watering the berry patch (that is if we don't get the rain that hopefully will be showing up here soon.)

Loving life right now. I am so excited to work on my daughters quilt. Maybe tomorrow. I am nervous about the actual "quilting" part of it. Before, I just placed yarn holders in the childish quilts I made. Hope this one turns out OK.

This Friday I hope to have my little sister and my nephew spend the night. Park, pizza, and a movie are the line-up. Saturday I am going to go to my Great grandmas and help sort through things. Excited to see family, but the task I am sure won't be that exciting. And Sunday is branding at my in-laws. I will get to see my nephew and nieces, and give cows shots. I love brandings.

Please let me know if the blog changes are hard for you to read.

Well goodnight all.

Cindy

Hearts desires

I had an amazing Mothers Day. I worked on Sunday, it was a quiet day. One of my co-workers gave 2 roses to each of us working. So, sweet of her. After I got home I was welcomed with hugs and kisses galore, and my fabulous husband made me supper: goobers (cut up and fried breaded stew meat), fried potatoes, creamed corn, and cottage cheese. Yummo!And for dessert he made me brownie pudding! Yum. I couldn't of tasted any better that is unless my Momma had made it! :) I also got two homemade card and two colored pictures from the kids, and chocolates and a Glee CD and the blue-ray of Notebook! We watched the notebook and i cried and then I read and played with my babies and then it was bedtime. Great day!

Friday night I talked to Ryan about my unsure calling. The end result was what I thought it was going to be. Keep praying, our family probably can't logical do that right now, but if God want us to continue with that that he will figure a way for us to be able to do it. I will also mention that prior to telling him I prayed again as to if this is what He wanted. After I talked to Ryan what I may have thought was Him telling me that our next baby would have DS, Ryan said that I maybe am just letting my subconscious fears rule over. I really don't know what is Him and what is me. So anyways, I am still seeking. However, I did tell Ryan to open his mind to a calling. He hesitantly said he would.

So thus, hearts desires or God's desires? That is the question.

No news, just wasted time.

So here i sit to waste more time. Don't get me wrong I would rather be blogging than organizing the basement or outside in this splendid heat spell we have right now mowing my lawn. I waste so much of my time with meaningless things, and gain hardly a thing from doing so. What I mean by this is mostly my facebook/game time and TV. I have been trying to cut back but not doing well at that. The T.v it can be paused, and that has helped babies want books read to them. Thus, pause button is nessessary. but why whay should it even matter. I was sad we got rid of the TV last year, but you know I really wouldn't mind having it postponed until football season again. Its just wasted time.... my gaming habits are improving. I just get bored of them and have tried hard not to find new games to addict myself with. That being said I still have like 1 hour time spent on facebook revolving around games. Slowly I will be better... I hope.

Switch gears here,
I haven't had any astonishing revelations about my last post. Ehh.. not really. I am scared to even mention my thought of adoption out loud to others because in reality, with what money could my family afford to suit a child like that, or all of the specialists he/she would need. We are not near anyplace like that. That being said I haven't looked too much into my options. Nor have a I discussed this with my hubby. That really should have been my first stop. But I just needed to voice my nerves here, hoping to make the dream more realistic, or have it knocked out of my head completely. I did find two books about living your life to the fullest in my basement when I was cleaning there Wednesday...... Coincidence? I think not. Cracking them open today!

Have two projects that I really am wanting the work on. Adalei's baby quilt (Gasp! She is almost 2 and you don't have it done yet... Nope.), and organizing our old computer desk into a craft/kids art supply /my sewing storage spot. Hopefully some horrific pictures of the before and the after will follow. We shall see. (No promises.)

Its time for Adalei's potty break (me changing her out of her wet undies into clean ones). No matter how many times I take her no pee pee in the potty just on the floor. I think she is not ready. Still trying on my days off.

Welp, Toodles!
Cindy

Restless

Have you felt it? Why? I feel like I am going through a mid-life crisis at the ripe ol' age of 27. How is that even possible?

I really have been reflecting on things I miss from my past. Friendships that haven't changed and those that have. Freedoms that I once had that I don't have anymore.

I feel unsettled.

I feel the Lord wants me to do something, not sure what he is guiding me to. I never have felt he has pushed me to do missionary work, but maybe I am just being ignorant to His calling and not wanting to step out of my comfort zone. I really can't place my finger on it.

I have prayed, and I really am confused.

I don't have great patience, I have found that out with my children, I did have really good patience before them though. I used to think I would be an adoptive parent to a Down Syndrome child, but now I am not sure. I still feel maybe a tweak of a pull that way, but I am not sure how great of a parent I would be to them. I have a lot to work out with my parenting skills with my own children.

Persisting Restlessness

I would love to hear any of your thoughts on restlessness/unknown callings.

God Bless,

Cindy

Phew.

What a day! It was a crazy day today. We had scopes and inpatients. I am took care of an insulin drip on a patient and frequent call lighters, and wonderfully nice patients and nervous nellys and sick sick patients. I really enjoyed my day until 1600. Then it was time to chart and my brain was swimming!

In addition to this I got hand sanitizer in my eye and poked myself with a needle. Argh.


I think my brain could have coped better if I would have slept better last night. Praying for a good nights rest tonight, and focusing on my getaway with the hubs later this week!


Sigh of relief.

Thanks for allowing me to vent a little.

Have a great night!

Oregon Pics

Just some pics of our trip to Oregon a few months ago. Enjoy. The view from outside our suite. Breathtaking isn't it? Our favorite spot to go when we visit. Cape Perpetua. One of the first spots we could see the ocean. So we stopped for a photo op and then a few miles later a nature walk. It was great! Ryan took this photo. Such amazing beauty God created for us to enjoy. Have a great day! :) Cindy

Life Cyclical

I feel like this time in my life is repetitious. I am aware that I have added another child into the mix, but I feel like things are in a way deja vu to me right now.
I am creatively in tune, and trying to find outsources for it.
I feel the absolute need to lose weight and exercise, and by ends day haven't accomplished much into that.
I feel more need to share more thus blog more. Which is good for this page, because to be honest, about 2 months ago I was very tempted to just delete my blog. I was certain my lack of post had resulted in no readers anymore. I am glad to see I still have one reader. :)


Another cyclic event is the potty training of my Adalei. No go yet. She has been going pee-pee following our q 15 minute potty breaks. I am going to keep trying, but if she doesn't get it over this weekend I might give her some more time to figure out things before pressuring her. She know when she does go, she says "potty, yucky." just getting her there before an accident happens hasn't happened. Yet! Sigh.

The need for organization and cleanliness is pressuring me. I really want some motivation and ideas on how to organize things.

Lastly but not least, is my feelings of the need to show kindness and love to others, yet not smothering them. I think I miss having time with friends outside of work that I seen to bother those that I work with a little bit. I have a overwhelming need to be liked, that I am very paranoid at times that everyone hates me, and am way to sensitive, however, in trying to not be so sensitive I become unkind. Ugh. I need a happy medium!

Phew. That felt good! Cleaned and organized my brain a little at least. Alright nap time for my babies are in order, now I will work on cleaning and other fun things I need to tackle!!

New Blog header

I have been excited to work on this. I love Scrapblog. Although most of it is not free anymore, there are still some fun things to put together to make it work. Plus, I am sure many of you (ha) were looking forward to seeing post-fetus pictures of Adalei in the header. Faster Internet connection has blessed me with that being a possibility again! :) Well this Momma needs some sleep. The babies are resting and so shall I! Have a great day!

Spring. Happy that its made its way here. Temp is in the 50 and 60s. Unfortunately haven't been able to enjoy it. Bummer! Night shift work. I am off Thursday until Monday. Hoping to enjoy the sunshine. Luke's birthday went well. He had a blast. Can't believe he is 4! It was humorous the night before his actual birthday I was telling him what was happening 4 years ago that day. I got a little teary eyed. Luke looks up at me and says, "Mommy, why you got sad eyes?" "Cause I'm a man?" Ha ha. I stifled a half laugh/cry and hugged my little 'man.' I love him! I hope tomorrow I can try to update my blog, but no promises. Oh yeah, our trip to Oregon was fabulous. Cold, but good. We are already missing it, and threw the idea of another trip back there up just tonight! Could you please pray for some dear family friends of ours. They are experiencing some medical issues, and have had a hard past 9 months. Pray for the Great Healer to place His hands on this sweet family, and heal all of their ailments. Thank you. Thanks for stopping in. Have a great day!

Howdy

I bet I don't even have a sole reader out there anymore. Sorry I have taken a hiatus from blogging. Life and a slow Internet connection can do that to a girl.

So this is going to be very random and all over the place.

We are leaving for a trip to OR soon. Very excited for said trip. WE are driving there. Ryan and I and the kids. Happy about going there with them. Not so excited about the 3 days of traveling to get there. Plan on doing some rock climbing (beach climbing) if kids are able. Beach combing, sandcastle building and eating tons of seafood, and Marion berry anything. Also in our plans is to get wine and starfish that we couldn't bring back with us on our last trip. We plan on going to the Tillamook Cheese factory, and if I can get it arranged, the Portland Children's Museum, and maybe a zoo also. Have read online that both zoos I could find were not so great; so I am going to ask some locals for their opinion.

We LOVE Oregon.

Most likely we will scope out further info to build our dreams of moving there someday. This trip will prove if I can handle the mostly cloudy/rainy weather. The average high there is 45-50 degrees, and 40% chance of precip. Hopefully it will be relaxing, and memorable at least for Luke. He asks us everyday if "today we going to the ocean?"

Speaking of Luke, he is getting very tall. And very independent. And stubborn. Ha ha ha. He is full of life and is inquisitive about everything. Is all about the rules and order of things, unless it applies to him following such orders and rules.




Adalei is growing like a weed. She will soon weigh as much as her brother, and if Luke hadn't decided to sprout up in the last month, I think she would have been close to the same height. Adalei, is my happy, smiley, funny girl. Almost always has a smile for you and, offers lots of hugs and kisses. She is a snuggly girl. Loves her "baby," and "blanky." Talks up a storm. Everyday is a new word. We are introducing her to the potty. She seems interested, know what it is, but I am not sure if she understand the purpose, of except making funny faces while on it in which makes her mommy laugh hysterically.

Ryan is working hard on remodeling the upstairs bathroom. He just has the trim and fixtures to place.

Well, I don't think I have redeemed myself for me absence, but I am going to bring this post to a close. Have a beautiful day!

Pretty much me trying to stay awake

I don't have much to share. Adalei's birthday party was a blast, I'm not going to promise it but maybe I'll try to post some pics.

Loving work right now.

Reading a lot right now. Mostly christian historical fictions. Comfort reads. I joined into a Beth Moore Bible study over the book of Daniel. Just gone to the first meeting/study. And well as of right now I'm hooked! Its wonderful. I can't wait for the next meeting so I can delve in deeper into my knowledge.

Later today I am going to go to the park with the kids and try to take some amateur nice photos of my kids. We will see... (maybe I'll post some of those too.)

I have to get my rear in gear for the next meeting of the Rialto theater board. I have to get several coupon books ready for sale. I still have to design the concession ones. Hopefully that won't be too time consuming. I then need to start looking into plays that I want to use for the Christmas play I will be directing. This winter will be busy I believe.

I really want to focus on being more healthy and eating right. I am trying to stay more active with the kids this summer. Its working well, but I haven't lost weight like I thought. I need to get more focused. The clothes are starting to get tight again. I can't go up anymore. I already am at the point to where I once said someone please help me if I get that big. Vowing that I wouldn't let myself get to that point. Yep, so I finally admit it. I'm there. I'm hideous, and don't feel attractive anymore. I just need to duct tape my mouth shut. Argh. Okay no more of this talk. I wanted to remain positive.

Big dreams are growing. We are hoping to move to Oregon someday. It used to be when we retire, but now, we are thinking sooner than later. No definite plans, just dreams, and goals.

There that's better. *thinking of the ocean breeze hitting my face*

Have a great day!

Randomness

Well, Adalei will be 1 in less than a month! Totally astounds me. Where has this time gone? She is a mover. Crawls everywhere, walks along all the furniture, and will stand briefly on her own. If she's not walking by her birthday, it wont be long!!!! She has four top and four bottom teeth. And is a biter. That girl! She is all smiles most of the time, but when her bro makes her mad or she is tired and hungry... Watch out! She wears size 18mo. clothes, but now that she is moving more she seems to fit into 12 months a little better again. I have to get her in for a well baby check up and shots... been kinda delaying those, she has had some though. She is just my sweet Adalei.

Got to get lots of pictures taken. I always wanted to be the take your kids to the pros to get pictures done. Never have done that yet, so.... Maybe I need to threaten my Hubby again. Because you know "that's why we bought the nice camera...." I can't hold down a 1 year old and then get the camera already... she'd move by then. I see Pros that take there kids pics with such ease. But they probably have the camera glued on them. I just don't want to waste these times and not be able to look back, because I didn't have the pictures to look upon.

Adalei's Birthday-- no real theme. Just purple, and stars probably. Worked on her invite today, only to have half of it erased. Grumble. Extended family for the big 1 party. It will most likely be an evening party so Papa and Aunt Tricia can make it. I'm deciding on whether to have the week before or two weekend after. The weekend before is my sweet niece Bella 2nd birthday, and the following weekend is busy.... I want to do something cute for her cake..... Maybe I will look at star shaped cake pans and make a layered star cake. Maybe a smaller version too for her?

Luke is a ornery red headed little boy. Always looking for something. He had swimming lessons this week. Day One: Cried. Day Two: Scared but went in the big pool and kicked his legs. Day Three: Stood all by himself for 2 seconds in the shallow end of the big pool. Not that he loved it but he did it. The next two lessons are Mon. and Tues. of next week. I hope that he continues to progress. I'm thinking of seeing if the babysitter will watch Adalei for awhile next week so I can take Luke to the pool. We were swimming fools this week. My nephew was here and went swimming three days in a row with us. Luke loved it! I did too! I had forgotten how much I miss swimming. I think Luke learned just as much from our swimming fun as he did at his lessons. Bryce got him to blow bubbles, and hold his breath in the water (a little bit), and (in the baby pool) lower himself down in the water to his chin. All things he wouldn't do prior to Tuesday! Next year I may see if Ryan would go swimming and make it worthwhile to get a family pass. Otherwise I guess the kids are free still, I could get an individual pass. I feel healthier and more playful after this week. I think I really needed that! I would go swimming everyday if time allowed!

Well that should do it for now, more randomness later! :)

Ramblings

Things are going well with work. I really enjoy my job and am learning quite a bit. And quite a bit about myself. I have doctor-phobias.... I really don't talk to them well because I let myself become intimidated by them. Well the Dr.s here are wonderful and open and friendly and that has allowed me to slowly get over this phobia, hopefully sooner than later. I am really trying to overcome my my fear of emergency too.... Hopefully one day my knees won't knock and I won't get flustered when we get emergencies. Seriously!

I will tell you that I am not adjusting to the day/night sleep thing. I am SUPER sleepy all the time, and lack any motivation to get anything done! I feel very neglectful of my home. Night 5 of the nights rotation during this month. Once, this month is over than I can go back to mostly days and only a few night shift. It will work out SO much better.

I do feel kind of isolated now. I really don't have much for friends..... Or any desire to leave my house to visit them. I rarely leave Arnold, so my N.P. friends/family that I only saw for events and work are neglected. I really want to fit in at work and have friends here, but I feel like maybe I am pushing too much. Sigh.

Oh yeah, my sis -in-law is preggers. I am beyond happy for them. Ryan told me that I am going to end up with baby fever by the time the new little one joins the Tullis clan, but I'm already there. However I get in a panic when the prospect of that actually happening is a possibility. And then once the "scare" is over, I am truly disappointed! Argh! I really want to wait until Adalei is 2 and/or potty trained. If it happens before, I will be very happy. If it doesn't.... Not concerned either. But let me clarify, we are NOT trying.

My sister is getting married next week, I am so happy! Not excited about my "heavyweight" body going into the bridesmaid dress, but exuberant for her and excited to celebrate the momentous occasion with her!!!

I am sorry this has been so long to get an update, but to tell you the truth the whole Adalei's Journey is sticking out like a sore thumb, and I really am lacking the memory on most of it. So If I finish it I do.. If I don't I'm sorry. Maybe it would just be easier to copy and paste my facebook statuses to this and them you can see all of it..... Hmmm? It would lack the emotion though.
One thing that I will say about that now, is that at my new job they have the soap we had to use before we could go back to see Adalei, every time I smell it it takes my right back there. Deep, DEEP emotions overwhelm me. I never experienced such nostalgia from smells like that before. I think of holding her for the first time after her surgery, breast pumping, remember the beeps of the machines, all the tubes. It swirls through my head in a millisecond, and I am briefly sad and then I rejoice, because my miracle baby survived all of it. Thanking God every time.

Have a wonderful day! God bless you all!

My sweet Adalei. 6 months

We are 3/4 done remodeling Lukes room. I am keeping busy getting his room done, sewing Adalei's crib bedding for her new room (Luke's old room), and just keeping up with the house chores and the kids!! In addition to these I am also starting a new job in April. It is 1/2 the distance and I am getting very excited, and also kind of nervous too. This will mean though that we picnh the pennies for a awhile. Its a pay deduction on my part, but hopefully it will be better for my family, I will be home sooner and different hours. We will see how well it all goes. my last day in N.P. is the 31st. I really don't want to talk about it too much right now, butI am going to be missing some friends. I know the 31st is going to be a hard day. Ugh.

Well I really need to stay focused if I plan to get the house clean, and finish the crib skirt by the end of today. I will at some point post more on the Adalei Journey, get that to the end of her hospital stay. My to-do list seems never ending anymore.

Adalei's journey Part 4

We landed in Denver at 1236 am on the 12th. And made about a 40 minute trek across Denver to get to Presbyterian/St. Lukes. I stood outside while they unloaded Adalei out of the ambulance, and stumbled along as they pointed things out to me on the way up to the NICU.

My contacts were beyond blurry. I couldn't see anything. They took me into the room where Adalei and about 6 other premature babies were temporarily calling home. It was a fairly large room and Adalei was in the far corner, but with all the equipment and such that where in there with her, there wasn't much room to even be near her. I felt like I was unwelcome there at first. Nobody said anything to me, barely acknowledged I was there except the glances casted toward me. I thought that maybe I wasn't supposed to be back there or something, but I was going to be whether they liked it or not! About 20 minutes later someone offered me a seat, and asked if I needed anything. I asked for a saline syringe and the bathroom. She kindly showed me the way back out the door, and to a old and, in desperate need of renovation, bathroom. I spruced up my contacts a little and headed back to the room.

When I returned I met the in house NICU doctor. I believe he introduced himself 3 times but I don't remember it now. He told me that the cardiologist would be arriving soon and that he is VERY good, and that my baby girl is in good hands. He also asked me several questions about when things started with Adalei deterioration, things I wasn't sure how to answer. They had Adalei all hooked up to the monitors there, and the numbers where not looking any better. Now that I am familiar with it all, I am sure the sats being lower had to do with the altitude, but at that time, I had a horrible feeling things were going south --fast.

Mom and Dad showed up soon after. I believe they showed up just as I was talking to the doctor, but I am not really positive. I told Mom what they said, and I think the Cardiologist showed up as I was talking to mom. The Dr. introduced himself and said that he was going to be a while, looking at all the things going on with my daughters heart. He preformed the ECHO himself. It took forever. I stood beside Mom, and then I think Mom went out and let Dad come back during that time. I think? We didn't get to close still, I think we stood about 10 feet away from her isolette. Then Adalei had a coughing spell or something, her numbers went all crazy and the nurse came over and adjusted stuff. The lights and alarms were going off, Adalei still looked like crap. The prostaglandins they gave her were taking effect and made her really splotchy red. Dad stepped out after Adalei's little fit, and I don't remember much, but Mom came back in and then it wasn't long then Ryan and Ed, and Chad were there. Soon Ryan was at my side again and Mom stepped out.

I was glad Ryan was there. I felt a relief. I was worried about him making it there safely, and then even just being there in time to hear all the answers to all the many questions we had. It seemed like minutes after everyone except Kim and Chris had shown up the Cardiologist had the diagnosis. We all stepped into a Conference room, and Dr. B drew a diagram for us. He explained the condition and the procedures that would be done to fix it and the follow up things afterward. Kim and Chris showed up sometime around now. He gave us the news we had hoped to hear. "She will come out of this and be a normal kid. She will play volleyball, and cheer lead. This is a fixable problem. " Oh thank you sweet Jesus! I was hopeful, but still scared. The plan was to do a Septostomy, the following day, and then get her to Childrens hospital the day before her open heart surgery to reverse her transposed vessels. If her conditioned warranted, they would do the septostomy in the morning/afternoon, and then 2 days later get her to Children's and that Friday do the surgery.

Open heart surgery on a 4 day old, wow, what a scary thing. I was astounded that they could do it.

After our meeting and question session was over, Everyone except the aunts and uncles took turns seeing Adalei. You see, in the P/SL NICU only parents and grandparents could visit the patients. With all the swine flu going around ,and the HIPPA restrictions, they were very cautious. Adalei was next to two very tiny babies, less than half her size. I prayed for healing for them also. I was amazed at how big they made Adalei look. The nurses stated that Adalei was one of their biggest babies to take care of.

We soon were feeling very fatigued. I think it was 3 or 4 in the morning our time? The hospital graciously found spare rooms for Ryan, myself, Chad and Ed to stay in. My folks and Kim and Chris went and found a hotel. I was completely zombied by now, the contacts were blurred over again. I was relieved to get them out. I decided then that I better go with out them for a few days. Once I changed my clothes and took some more pain medication I tried to lay down, but I couldn't stop crying, I felt horrible. Like it was my fault. I just couldn't stop. I was distraught. Ryan eventually came to my bedside and made me lay down, I don't remember trying to go to sleep, I think I cried myself to sleep. (I think I look back to this part of the day the most. The hopelessness I felt, and my strong supportive husband comforting me. His love and care for me, it really moved me when I thought back on this day. I love him so much!)

A new day for another day.... Stay Tuned.

Holiday fun!

Daddy and Luke getting ready to cut or Christmas tree (we ended up not using it though. It was only half a tree adn looked pretty sparce. We bought a live one. Which was a first for us, but it was pretty and I liked ecorating it much better, not so smelly and pokey. :)


Eating candy canes in the country on our christmas tree hunt. Singing Christmas songs and drinkng hot chocolate!! So much fun!



Adalei talking to us by the christmas tree.

Christmas cuties!

Adalei loves the bath! She's so cute! I thought maybe some of you might want to see how well her incision is healing too.

Quick Pic

Aren't these two simply adorable! I just love my Addie-bug's smile to her BIG brother!


Love you all!
Cindy