The appointment

I called Arnold Palmer today. Aislinn goes in Friday at 2 for her test. Please pray that she will find comfort and cooperate.

The weather here was awful this afternoon. There were tornado warnings and more is to come. All church activities were canceled and I didn't even go to the gym. Now you really know it was bad for me to miss the gym...

They say tomorrow will be worse than today.

All clear

I took Aislinn back to the pediatrician today for a recheck on her ears and the urine. Her ears looked great, her lungs sounded good and her urine was normal. So, I will call Arnold Palmer tomorrow to schedule her VCUG before she gets sick again. I'm not looking forward to her having to do the test, but I know that it needs to be done since she keeps coming down with the UTI's.

Cavities

We had only our second and third cavities this time at the dentist. We have been really blessed to do well with our dentist visits. Brennan had only one cavity years ago, so I guess we're doing okay. Lauklan had a cavity on one of his molars on each side on the bottom. They said he really needs to floss and he proceeded to tell them that we don't have floss at the house. WHATEVER! I most certainly have floss...

Anyway, I took Lauklan back to Dr. Ingalls today to have one of his cavities filled and Kerstyn had sealants done on her new molars. The other side is planned in April and Lauklan did really well, so I was glad.

It's warming up!

After a morning at the gym, we headed home to soak up some sun and relax. Well, we relaxed as much as you could with kids in the pool... ;)

Love them!

We had a wonderful dinner with the Carters tonight. They will be leaving to serve in Argentina the middle of June and we were blessed to spend the evening with them tonight. We will also keep an eye on their wonderful home while they are gone.

We are glad that we can help while they are gone.

2 big things

First big thing was it was Youth Temple Night tonight for our ward and Kerstyn got to go for the first time. I got to go with them and it was nice, and a first, for me to be in the temple with Brennan and Kerstyn. It was a special night for all of us.

Second big thing... Today is the first day in 8 days that Aislinn hasn't run a fever! Yippee!

A text in the night

Aislinn continues to run a fever after 6 days on antibiotics and being on 2 different types, so I sent a text to our trusty home teacher tonight after Chris got home and asked him if he was in town. He replied, "Yes, I am at home. What can I do for you?" It made me tear up. Here it is after 8 p.m. and he is ready and willing to serve our family. Chris tried to get me to just let it go another day, but I felt it was important to have it done tonight. I knew that it wasn't coincidence that President Carter actually saw the text that late at night. I knew that it needed to be done sooner as opposed to later. He arrived a little after 9 and he and Chris administered to Aislinn. I know she will be okay, we just need to stay proactive and not stop until they figure out what is ailing our little girl.

We are blessed by the gospel in our lives. We are blessed to have the priesthood in our home. We are blessed by a home teacher who is there whenever and wherever we need him. We are blessed.

Back to the doctor

I took Aislinn to Dr. Soto this morning and she was running a 102 fever when we got there. They tested her urine and it looked better, but her left ear was infected so the doctor put her on Zithromax on top of the antibiotics that she is already on. Dr. Soto confirmed that the first antibiotic should have been working, but for some reason, it isn't addressing that, but seems to be helping the UTI. Now, we just wait and see.

Doesn't this sound like a fun spring break to you?

Not looking good

Aislinn woke up around 3 a.m. telling me her ear was hurting and running a fever. I put some ear drops in and gave her some Motrin and she went back to bed. When the time came to get up and go to church, we all did that but right at the beginning of the third hour, Aislinn was brought to me and her ear was hurting again so I took her home and did the drops and Motrin again and then went back to pick up all the other children. This isn't looking good. The antibiotics she is on are supposed to be working for all of these issues and it looks like it isn't doing its job.

Church however, was very nice. It was ward conference and I was bummed that I didn't get to hear the message that President Ingalls had for the women in Relief Society, but mommy duties prevailed. The choir sang prelude music and I thought it was a nice way to start the meeting.

Pool time!

Greyson was in today and I laid out by the pool. The water is too cold for my taste, but the kids like it. Now, the pollen and stuff can go away so I can enjoy myself out there too.

We had Taylor with us today and he and Brennan raked leaves for several hours then Chris, Brennan and Taylor went to the Stake Court of Honor.

Aislinn continues to run a fever, so we'll see what is going on.

Field Day

Aislinn probably shouldn't have gone to school today. But, there really isn't anything that I can do for her that I'm not already doing. AND, it is field day for K - 2 and of course, she didn't want to miss that! I stopped by for a few minutes to see how she and Greyson were doing.
They were having a blast!

Greyson's teacher made these cute shirts. Greyson was telling me about it this morning and explaining his number. He is number 15 in line. He proceeded to tell me that it is 3rd from the end or 3rd from the front, depending on if they go backwards or forwards. Cute!

I was hoping that Aislinn would be MUCH better by today. That is not the case and I am concerned. She was still battling a fever last night. This morning, she was doing a little better, but she did not have a good night with her asthma. I'm thinking that it might be possible that the UTI is being treated by the antibiotics, but not the sinus issues? Maybe? I sure hope that she is doing much better by tomorrow morning. She said she felt fine when I checked on her at school, but she always feels fine when I have Motrin in her.

Not my friend

VESICOURETERAL REFLUX

The term above is most likely the root of our trouble for our spunky Aislinn. You can click on it and hopefully be directed to a link to explain the condition. She developed this the first time after her removal of the top portion of her right kidney and the removal of most of that duplicate ureter. Apparently, the first time, the urologist was not surprised that she had this condition. He told us that the ureter that they removed, which was dilated, was putting pressure on the bladder and that when he removed it, it wasn't there to put the pressure any more so he thought that she might develop the condition.

She did and he went in about 6 months later and did some outpatient procedure where they put something like botox between the bladder wall and the ureter. This helped, but apparently it isn't working any more.

She has experienced a few Urinary Tract Infections since, with about 6 months after the procedure being the longest run without one. Well, now, it was just 2 months ago where she had one and tonight we were back in urgent care with another infection. Blood, white blood cells and protein were all present in her sample. Her fever spiked to 103.5 and would not respond to the Tylenol.

The doctor at the urgent care gave her the same prescription as her nephrologist did 2 months ago and after I got home, I spoke with her nephrologist. She said to call her if Aislinn isn't much better in 24 hours and she would change the antibiotics. However, they, her and the urologist do believe that she most likely has developed the reflux again and depending on the severity, she may have to undergo surgery AGAIN!

I can't get the test done, to see what is going on, until she doesn't have the infection. So, now, we pray and wait for her to get better.

Aislinn is a fighter.

She is a blessing to our family and an example of great faith, strength and courage.

Stanley is here visiting

Stanley came all the way from Germany to visit with us for a few days. He went to school today. I sure hope he is behaving...

Am I odd?

Is it odd that I look forward to going to the gym? (most days)

Is it odd that I want it to be sore the next day?

Is it odd that I won't leave until I look like I've taken a shower with my clothes on?

Is it odd that I monitor my heart rate to make sure I'm working out hard enough?

If so, then I'm certainly 'odd'. I dig that stuff.

Not a shining moment

We stayed out too late last night.

We skipped forward one hour this morning.

We didn't get up on time.

We couldn't find a tie that needed to be worn.

I don't like being late.

I don't like mornings.

I don't like messiness and disorganization.

All of the above equal a G.R.U.M.P.Y. Melody.

Not good. Not good at all.

Magic Kingdom with Mich and CJ

I gathered up all the kids this morning and headed to get all the boys haircuts. Following the haircuts, we headed to Magic Kingdom to meet Michelle and CJ.

Michelle and I went to Magic Kingdom several times together when we were children and it was neat to go there together with our own children. I would never had guessed when we were there as teenagers that we would be there in our mid 30's with our kids. Odd...

It was a L O N G, but great day!

Peas and Carrrots

It is a blessing to our lives to be able to have date night almost every Friday evening. Tonight was no exception.

Birthday Bash

These girls know how to make me feel loved!

We partied at Chili's tonight in typical Mormon style!

I feel blessed to have such great friends who shared one of their evenings with me.

Not another one

Aislinn complained Saturday that she feels like she needs to urinate, but then can't. She said this before we left the house for Typhoon Lagoon and I looked at Chris and said, "that's not good". He nodded in agreement. Today, she complained of it again before we left for school. The good is that she isn't running a fever, but I went ahead and called her pediatrician, to have her urine tested.

I took her in at 10:15 and the urine tested clear except very concentrated. I'm hoping we're not at the start of something, but right now, we're good. I'll pray for that to continue, but it isn't looking good.

Poor girl.

Choir

I'm still the Eustis Ward Choir director. We took February off though, so today was our first time getting together since the middle of January and my numbers have dwindled. I am praying and encouraging the members to invite others to join us. Music is such a neat way to share the gospel and bear testimony. We have another practice next Sunday and will be singing prelude and a special musical number on the third Sunday of this month, if we don't get trumped by ward conference. Either way, we're back and I would LOVE some more singers.

Get away

We like to escape our reality on the weekends and we do it by going to Disney.

Today, we ventured to Typhoon Lagoon and had a nice time. It was a little chillier than last time, but we prevailed.

The kids absolutely LOVE the sand pail ice cream sundae and it is a 'deal' for only 9.95.

Date night

I love him.

I love our dates.

37! Oh my!

Today is office lunch day and I got to pick since it was my birthday. I chose Vincent's and they ordered me a garlic knot birthday cake!

Before I left for the day, the office and I got to eat my Carvel Ice Cream cake. Yummy!

We had a great time and I have more fun stuff to follow.

37? Really? I thought I'd have life figured out by now...