The Charons

Many of you have been asking about how the ol' ticker is doing, and I know I haven't posted about it in awhile, so here is the official, "out of Barb's mouth" update:

Let's start at the beginning, so you can follow along :)

Dec: had little Miss Maddy, joy of our lives, cutie pututie. Of course the "not feeling well" started a week before I had her.

Jan: They discover I have PPCM (Peripartum Cardiomyopathy- a swollen heart) They do an echo and show my ejection fraction rate at 20-25.

May: another echo shows improvement at 35-40. Yeah for improvement!

August: Traveled alot, didn't feel so great, EF rate dropped back to 30-35 (bummer) They tried to up the Lisinopril, but my blood pressure dropped too low :(

September: still not feeling well, no change in EF.

October: This month I have been feeling ok. Maintaing but not feeling great... frustrating actually. The Dr. and I have been talking about new meds. I hate the idea of new meds, the med that I am being put on makes me oh so sick... it's called COREG. They are hoping to see more improvement (we are all hoping). I will let you know.. you will probably see less of me and hear less of me when this happens, just because the side effects of this one are BRUTAL!

Regrets: I don't have any regrets about having my little girl, at the beginning though I did put off taking the meds because the thought that I couldn't have any more little ones and not being able to breast feed my last one was overwhelming, so I skipped out on the meds to feed Maddy just a few more weeks. Would those weeks made a difference? Not sure, but I know and my Dr. know that my EF rate isn't a great number right now.

Up next: I have another echo next week.

other thoughts: Never knew about this before I had it, and never knew how much it could change my life. I love my life... don't get me wrong. I just think I would have been able to run as Obama's Vice, if I were feeling a little better, I mean what does Sarah Palin think, she is the only women that would look good in a $150,000 dollar wardrobe. I could look dang good in that (wink, wink)

so hope that helps. and for the record let me just say: THANK YOU to my parents who have been oh-so supportive. To all my extended family who have helped us financially afford house keeping and other help. All those who have watched Riley because I didn't have the energy or brought in meals on the nights David had school, or for those of you who have just said a prayer in my behalf. I WILL beat this. I WILL have a healthy heart one day. I will. and right now i WILL get back to bed... gheesh, it's 1:48 in the morning!

There has got to be something wrong when you see snow on your pumpkins. two words: Global Warming! Just kidding, I just think it's funny that in October we are getting an inch or so. This morning when I went to start our car the doors were frozen shut. Hello Winter, I've missed you :) Guess I will be cleaning out the garage today. yippee!

Like every other Mormon house in America we carved pumpkins last night for FHE. We always have a good time planning and carving the pumpkins, and I love that the kids hate the :slime: I hated it too when I was younger. The pumpkins all turned out pretty cute. David's pumpkin he called B.Charon and then he turned it around and I found out why... It has a HUGE mouth. sad but true isn't it! That's ok... I will get him back soon enough. Enjoy the pics!

WARNING: There are NO cute pictures of babies on this post... but there will be some soon!

This week has been a LONG one. Besides hanging out at the grocery store for HOURS (and not because I wanted to) We had our ward craft day this past Saturday and I decided to make atleast one of everyone's project.. ask me why? I HAVE NO IDEA! By the time Wednesday rolled around I had to call in re-inforcements. A few of my friends (thank you friends!) came over and helped me paint, sand, stain and embelish. I (to say the least) am completely B.e.a.t!

My Mom flew is Thursday, it's always fun when Mom comes.. actually usually she bans me to bed within 30 seconds of being here, but this time she didn't. We actually walked around downtown Flag (so cute!) We enjoyed a SUPER yummy lunch at Pato Thai. We had the Yummiest soup (Tom Ka) and Pad Thai. Delicious. We organized, visited and craft. success!

Last night (Sunday) Maddy hit a mile stone, two actually: She did a full-blown crawl and (drum roll please) Broke in her first little tooth! (Pictures soon.. promise)

Last night I feel asleep at 7pm, yes, before the kids and woke up this morning at 5:30 to sniffling and sneezing. Hello head cold! This week is going to be low key (lets hope) pumpkin carving tonight and pizza with friends on Friday. Then Halloween, geesh.. better go figure out costumes. Hope you all had a great week.

I would LOVE Halloween costume ideas (hint, hint) :)

Barb

Maddy is in my most favorite stage! She is not yet a full-blown crawler, but she gets around then looks at you like, "how did I get here?"

This past week she managed to find the kitchen, and more specifically the cereal boxes. Cereal + Maddy = BIG FAT MESS!


This picture was taken after the clean-up which, you guessed it, she dumped out the basket moments after the picture was taken. If she didn't have such kissable cheeks, animate eyes and her little crooked smile she would be in trouble all the time :)



Sunday Photos:

Yes, I took pictures again on Sunday... I think that is the best way for me to keep an updated family photo... well, we only have pictures this week of Keagan and Riley, Maddy was sound asleep.



yes.. I am wearing the SAME sweater as last week (fashion no-no, I know!) and our house is an ABSOLUTE PIT! As you can see in the background.

one more thing... Thanks Craig and Julie for the hand-me-downs, we are LOVING them!

I can't believe how fast the weeks are coming and going. Since it's my favorite time of year, I want things to move in slow motion, I know... not happening.

A lot has happened this past week, I will give you the run-down. David got a new calling, he is now 2nd counselor in the Elders quorum presidency, he had to say goodbye to his 12 year old Sunday school class and yes.. he is still sad.

I have been up to my neck in Craft day projects. What possess me, I have no idea! I am running on zero energy, but it is always fun to decorate your home, right?!

Keagan is doing AMAZING in school. I met with her teacher at parent teacher conferences and she is excelling. We love her teacher and from what I can tell, her teacher loves Keagan (who wouldn't!)

Riley has been my little side kick... never likes to leave Mom for too long, I am always amazed at how much this little man tells me he loves me. Love you too Riley! We have been talking alot about potty training, and the other day he asked me if there were really Potty Trains, and if he could have one.

Maddy got her shots last week, if you couldn't tell by her post. What a smart girl to know how to use the computer! She is getting very "grabby" you can tell by the pictures alone. Over 1/2 of them have her grabbing someone or something.

Here are the pictures from this week.









have a great week everyone... and remember to check out Barb bakes, there is a link over there ------------> on the top.

Hi. I'm Maddy, I thought I would tell all of you my terrible experience that happened yesterday. My Mom said I had to go to the Dr. I go there a lot, so I didn't think much of it, so off we went. She buckled me into the stroller and Riley pushed me in (I hate it when Riley pushes me)

Anyhoo... My Mom was giving me lots of loves, so I got suspicious. The nurse called us in and my Mom started taking off my pants. I wasn't having it! I knew what was coming. They put me on this machine and she said some numbers, "my little girl is 18lbs, how could that be? Her head is 44 1/2 inches, she is in the 40th percentile" I don't know what any of it meant.

They started talking flu shots, Hib shots, and some others. Then WHAM! Out of now where this lady is shoving little sharp things in my husky thighs, who does she think she is? And my Mom just sat there? crying? Why the heck are you crying lady, I am the one getting sticked! Needless to say I was so tuckered out after that I took a two hour nap.

The End.

P.S. I paid her back by being up all night. hee hee.

I love this time of year (that really is no surprise I am sure). This year, like every other David makes me wait until the 1st of the month to put up the decorations. So you guessed it, on the 1st our home was decorated. Take a look.