The Big Move!

We moved in to our house on Saturday.  It was a rainy weekend so it was not the best weather to move but we managed.  It was much more organized this time because we had 2 weeks to get prepared and not do everything last second!
We are really liking the new place.  It's smaller than our old house but we really like the layout a lot better and we have a garage!  That made moving so much easier!!
I can't post pictures yet b/c the yard is awful!  Just in need of some TLC and with all the rain we haven't gotten to that yet.  But I will post some pics as soon as I can.
Ayla's room is done, I have 2 shelves left to hang but have learned my lesson on trying to hang things.  Our room is close too with some curtains to finish.
Ayla has been doing really well...She started swimming without floaties last week, she is growing so very fast!  She's feeling well and we are looking forward to starting school in our "classroom" I have been working on that too and it's almost ready!
Just wanted to do a quick post since I haven't posted much recently...so much going on!!

~krista

Moving.....again!!

So this time last year we had just moved into our house...and here we are again preparing to move next weekend.

We are really excited to have found a nice, clean home in a great location.  This week is going to be crazy! I still need to get over to the house and clean it from top to bottom, my husband and I are going to tag-team it one night this week.  Hopefully early this week so we can get some stuff moved in before the big day!

I can't wait to organize and arrange every room just the way I want it.  I will be playing in there for days.  We are really excited about moving the house is a bit smaller and older but has a real-homey feel and has been well taken care of.

The bathrooms in this place are very UGLY!  They are old-school retro green tile (which I like) but the wallpaper is hideous.  I am pretty sure it will come off easy and that's going to be a project happening soon.  There is nothing I can do to save them at this point in time...LOL...

Probably the thing we are most excited about is having a Garage!  My husband and I have never had a garage in any house we've lived in...so you can imagine the gleam in his eye when thinking about having a "man-space" LOL...He's already requested a ping-pong table!

So let us know if you have nothing better to do on your Saturday...we would love help moving!!

Pics to come of the house....

~krista

Update from Ultrasound

Dr.'s office called today and said that everything looked perfectly normal!!

I was so very relieved, your mind can play major tricks on you when waiting for some news like that.

The best part is that after that test which looked at her liver, spleen, stomach, intestines, and kidneys...we know everything is looking just the way it should..

So this has been a "great news" day!!

Thanks for all the prayers and kind words,

~krista

"Worry-Way & Angst-Alley"

I got a call this week from Shands Liver Clinic about Ayla's labs done on June 30th...Apparently some sort of protein came back elevated and they have ordered repeat labs and best of all...an Ultrasound of her Liver.
I got the orders in the mail today and it said:

ABD U/T-

Evaluating for Liver Mass

(Mommy begins to worry after reading that)

I was invited to go on a Girl's weekend with a group of ladies from my church to the beach @ Seaside.  When I first called the hospital to get this done, it looked like it would be Monday before they could get her in.

I made the appointment but knew that I would not be able to enjoy this weekend with that weighing on my mind.  So I called back...and begged...It's scheduled for tomorrow at 3pm.  She has to fast after 11, so we will be getting up early to be sure we get breakfast and lunch in before that.  

I just hope that "Dr. Krista" doesn't over-analyze this test and make myself believe I see something that's not there.  Last time the radiologist actually performed the Upper GI and was kind enough to give me play-by-play updates.  

Every time a parent with a child who has any sort of illness sees the name of their Dr on caller ID your heart stops.  Ayla dealing with Cystic Fibrosis and Billiary Attresia has me always on edge...looking for signs of things going wrong.

  

Why must I do that?  Why do we look for the bad instead of count on the good?  I guess it's because as parents and caretakers it's my job to diagnose problems at first glance...make the call whether or not to alert any "back-up" or take it on myself.  

The thing is I know CF, I know Billiary Attresia, I've read the reports- I know the signs of sickness.  And I don't care who you are....or how much faith you have....when your child has a illness....the "bad thoughts" are always in your head.  It's an act of faith to tuck them away in a place where you won't forget the fear but won't allow it to take-over either.  

Thats where mine is...it has taken up residence at the corner of "Worry-Way" & "Angst Alley" and it's not going anywhere for quite some time.  But I don't think I would want it to, I think that fear manifests itself in an intense sort of "instinct" that takes over in times of need.  It allows me to "feel" the difference in a common bout of upset stomach or an actual problem...I'll feel that fear come over me and I know not to dismiss it.

This test tomorrow is likely to be nothing...and I will have to tuck my fear away again in it's place and go on with my life.   

But that's just the way I'd prefer it....not forgetting just believing....

Please pray with me, that's the case-and that Ayla's liver looks better than normal!

~krista

Ayla's First PFT Test....

PFT (not Ayla but you get the idea)

This morning Ayla had her very first PFT (Pulmonary Function Test).  I called and arranged to have this test done.  Not because any Dr. ordered it-just because I wanted to get a baseline.

Typically these tests aren't done on kids before the age of 4-5 but some hospitals are doing them on infants and I wanted Ayla's Dr's to know exactly what's going on inside of her body.

I knew going over there that there was a good possibility we would not get any good data but I thought if nothing else- it would be good practice for her!  Most 3 year old's won't sit there and blow the way that they need to for the test to be accurate.       ~~NOT MINE~~

She shook the techs hand, told him her name, birthday, how old she was...and was stoked about playing the games....They make it into a game like blowing out a candle or making a bird fly higher the harder they blow...she did amazing!!

Her loops were all really good and although they don't have a lot of data to compare it to....her #'s were well above the average results.

So all in all it was a great day and she got rewarded with a Ring-Pop!

After that we came home, had lunch with "Aunt-kim" and now she's napping from a hard day.

~krista