Happy Birthday Mom!

First of all I would like to thank all the friends and family out there for the many birthday wishes today, such a blessing to have so many awesome people in our life! Molly has been very sick all weekend. St. Louis made it very clear to us that they do not want her on any more steroids.  When she would get sick like this in the past we would run her to the Dr. or the ER if it was the middle of the night, they would give her steroids and fluids and she would come right around..................now.................we don't! We stay home with her and in between all the breathing treatments and inhaler moments we hope and pray that she maintains a tolerable oxygen level! She has an inhaler that she has now requested so I know that it makes her feel better! She gets three short bursts of the inhaler sometimes every hour and during that time she sings her ABC's...........so yes, my 22 month old knows her ABC's by heart! For the last week she hasn't slept but maybe 1 or 2 hours at night at a time. She can't stand to lay on her back when she is struggling to breathe...........who can? We don't even fight it, we get up w/ her amidst the coughing fit and pop a bag of popcorn in the micro, put Disney Clubhouse on the DVR and we sing, dance, eat popcorn and veg! She also makes us read books while the show is on, concentration at 2am w/ the hot dog song in the background is difficult at times! Some feel sorry for us and some want to help but really now that we know what we have to do we are managing quite well. Molly hates it, she stomps her feet when the asthma attack (coughing incessantly) starts and the whole time during. How do you coach an almost 2 year old to role with it............to embrace it................to calm down? I still freak so its probably some of momma's anxiety coming out as well! She coughs so hard at times she pukes which completely freaks me out! Ok so why the blog on my birthday? I went to get Molly out of her own bed this morning and I told her I was so proud of her for sleeping all night in her bed..............and she looked at me and said with her paci in her mouth.............."Happy Birthday Momma, I love you."  May seem pretty minor but this was the world to me. All 3 of our kids are a blessing but it wasn't until Molly that I was aware the magnitude of the blessing! Everything happens for a reason! The best birthday gift of all...............a full night sleep which is definitely indicative that she is feeling better! YAY!

Molly-maintenance!

Hello All:
Hope this "blog" finds you well!  It's been a very rough week in the Moran house so I thought I would blog about it.  For some reason I feel like the fog that shadows daily living is back.  I find myself pre-occupied w/ thoughts of Molly and now my dad. For those of you not aware, my dad is suffering in the late stages of emphysema.  He has struggled since 2004 and this last hospital stay was a very rough time for him.  Mom and Deb and I have decided hospice care would be best for dad and all involved.  The Dr. wanted to make sure that he would never be alone and recommended a nursing home, we couldn't make that jump.  Here lies a dad that would walk through hells fire for anyone, not just family, anyone..........he should get to be at home! He should get to spend his time surrounded by friends and family and so it is!

Dad went to ER on Friday and Molly followed close behind on Saturday morning at 4am!  I swear those 2 have sympathy lungs! When 1 goes down they both struggle!  Dad hadn't been in the hospital since March, 2010..........when Molly was born!  Now he returns and Molly follows suit!  My mom has always said that Molly is his favorite because she has a special connection and loves to sit on his lap and jabber with him all day long!  Perhaps the nasal canula's don't intimidate her like they do most kids..................she knows what those are about!  Who knows but it's a real connection and I'm not sure what binds them but its true and real!  Molly has had trouble keeping her oxygen numbers up lately!  She was real low when we got to ER and she still seemed to struggle yet yesterday!  I took her to Cardinal Glennon yesterday to get their insight and Dr. Sadiq was lost as to her struggles.  He couldn't imagine that she would have asthma as bad as she does.  He couldn't believe her "radiant beauty" as he kept saying!  He said that she is the most beautiful baby that he has ever seen and just melts his heart! Too precious...........bet he says that to all the girls! LOL  I hate going to Cardinal Glennon, its just not my happy place but it's always a very good life lesson!  I go in there w/ the "I can't beleive we have to keep coming here Molly" attitude and I leave there feeling so blessed and lucky!  You can't imagine what you see throughout the course of the day inside that facility, some very sad little kids! So if for no other reason but to remind me that my child is AWESOME and we have life by the tail if we would just realize it, then lesson learned!!! She will struggle w/ a pretty severe case of asthma, that's the diagnosis! No, we don't know if its from her stint in NICU or if she would've been born w/ it regardless, nor do I care!  That's the nature of the game.............If I didn't want stretch marks I wouldn't of had kids, if she didn't have chest tubes........she wouldn't be here!  That's the fruits of war! 

Molly is a completely different child then most, her attitude is strong and sweet, her behavior is obediant but ornery and she is very very strong but an amazing gentleness consumes her!  She will beat her big sister up but kiss her at night w/ the greatest of ease........she knows no stranger, no enemy and no mountain too big...................sounds like my dad really! Weird how our Great God will take one but replace one w/ just the same!  Please keep my family in your prayers, my mom is strong but has been hit with a lot lately in regards to dad.  Thank you and have an awesome Christmas...............hug those babies!

Summer..........it's the RUNNING time of year!

Wow, never was a runner until I had kids. I don't mean jogging down the road and sweating my butt off either, who has time for that? Plus, I'm not quite sure how I would jog w/ a 27 lb toddler attached to my calf!!!  It seems we are gone every evening, either working or playing, nonetheless GONE!

All kids are having a ball so far this summer and we haven't left the County, LOL!  Summer ball is in full swing and Macy actually has her 1st game tonight. She has asked to stay home though, said she feels a little bit nervous. I'm sure it's not the butterflies I experienced in Highschool games..............but more like "who is gonna help me get my helmet on and which base is 1st???!" She will do fine once we get there but it will be a very new experience for her.  Mitch will also experience something new tonight...............watching from the sidelines.  Sis usually has Bubba pave her way and he takes that task willlingly, but today she will be flying solo w/ him supporting her from a distance. It will be very interesting to watch!

Everything happens for a reason and I try to remember that but our family continues to have life lessons thrown our way and I beleive on a daily basis we are becoming a better family for it. Several of you wonder how Molly's appt went in St. Louis..................we will know more after June 28th when she will see a lung specialist at Cardinal Glennon. Keep her on your prayer list, there are still struggles but with prayers and support we will conquer them! She is also starting to take steps..............which is the cutest thing I have ever seen! She cracks herself up when she does it!

Everyone have a safe and happy Summer.....................I know that is on our agenda!!!

THANK YOU for everything you do!

I heard this today from a little old lady from the community.............she wanted to call me and let me know that she sees me out in the community on a regular basis and sometimes late at night doing my 'probation' work and she just wanted to thank me!  It just so happens that I am perhaps more noticeable then most, by that I mean all my glory and gear (vest, badge, gloves, light, etc), more noticeable is not to be confused with more important! I got to thinking today after this phone call.........there are just a million people out there that do so much on a daily basis to either protect, nurture, heal or provide services for and they are all pretty thank-less jobs! It meant alot that this lady took time out of her day to call and thank me for being in her community and doing my best to help keep her safe..........but all of you that are reading this, do something just as important, I am sure of it! You may have a nice outfit or uniform to do it in, perhaps even a marked car but chances are, you don't.....but you do it anyways and for that .......... THANK YOU! I try to say thank you to everyone that I run into, sometimes I wonder if I say it so much that it makes it less meaningful but the other day when I got Macy her vitamin before bedtime (a rather meaningless task) she said, "Mommy, thanks for getting my vitamin, it means alot."  I knew at that point, she has learned through osmosis that the way to anyone's heart is GRATITUDE! Lessons like this are very difficult to teach anyone, children especially so probably the best way is to do it is through example! So thank you out there to everyone for the day you put in today and if it's a disappointment or you would like a "do over"..........I am sure (eventhough we are never promised tomorrow) you can try your hand at improving tomorrow! Thank you!

14 months!

Today Molly is a fantastic 14 month old.............I say FANTASTIC loosely because any given day she can be found yanking out Macy's hair, biting my big toe (gross I know, but it is her fav) or slapping the sitter in the face! She is 14 months old today and wow what a personality this gal has! She is definitely our dare devil, however; that hasn't crossed over into her venturing out and taking a few steps. She seems scared to death to walk and will 'hunker' down anytime we try to lead her! Mitch and Mace are on the verge of starting coach pitch and tball (respectively) real soon and I'm not sure who is more excited. Mind you Mitch is pumped about hitting a homer and Mace is pumped about her pink spikes and pink helmet, so for very different reasons they can't wait to hit the field! Paul and I were able to take a cruise this last month over our 9 year anniversary and it was a very anticipated break from the craziness of it all............but man we missed our kiddo's! Macy is still recovering from our absence and hates to have mom out of her sight but she will be back to her ol' self soon (at least I hope)! Molly did well on all of her screenings and developmentally is getting right there w/ kids her age! We travel to Cardinal Glennon again May 31 and she will run a battery of tests there but I am sure her smile will win them all over to her way of thinking! 

Winner Winner, Pot Roast Dinner!

Yesterday was the day Molly had all of her physical therapy screenings................and she was found to be in-eligible for services. That's SO AWESOME, another battle won! It wasn't the idea of her needing therapy that made mom and dad a nervous wreck, it was the idea that we would have to find time to fit more in our crazy daily life!  I know it's no different out there for any of you reading this but scheduling therapy in the midst of late nights with work, t ball and coach pitch games definitely had us a little anxious!  She needs some support in areas but the therapists were certain mom and dad could work w/ her and accomplish her needs!  She really is amazing, as are all of our children!  Its days like yesterday that we know God has an awesome plan for our family! We are blessed beyond measure.................and we know it!

So w/ that great news I had a huge supper of roast, potatoes, carrots and butter breads in celebration!  After supper we signed Mitch and Mace up to play ball this year for the park league............they are both so excited. Sis requested shoes that weren't ugly....perhaps some light up or sparkly spikes and Bub's requested that sis not be on his team!  LOL

Moran milestones!

Some people have wondered what would possess a person to create a blog, well it's easy..... I love to write, it's thereapeutic for me.  I found that out very quickly at Cardinal Glennon.  It's not a brag letter, a poor me letter, an attention thing..............it's therapy for me. 

The end of last week into this week has been very busy and full of some milestones.  Molly celebrated her birthday yesterday and some amazing people stopped in to show her support! Thank you all for the cards and well wishes.......I have kept all the greeting cards for each child's first birthday and Molly is no different! Thanks again.  We served a fantastic meal (if I say so myself) and all the desserts one could want................Macy even had like sevenths I think!  That girl and her sweet tooth, dad can't wait until the tooth fairy adds that one to the collection! 

Tonight Molly experienced the swing in the yard for the first time and she couldn't stop giggling, music to our ears. I was afraid she would stop when I sent Paul in after the video camera but she didn't.  Mitch was right there to get her going again!

Macy went to preschool screening tonight and she was so excited.  Mitch was certainly worried when they brought Macy to a seperate room, he asked how he was supposed to protect her if he couldn't even see her.  Such dilemma's in a 7 year old's life! She will be starting pre school next year and Mitch will be in 2nd grade............that is if he can continue to behave this year! He has a very hard time raising his hand before he speaks!

Molly has physical therapy coming out Monday (possibly developmental therapy and occupational therapy as well).  She is behind in some areas but nothing of great alarm.  Say an extra prayer that she meets them with some patience and not much resistence.  She is at that stage where only mom and dad will do at times.

All 3 shorties are in bed and snoozing away and Paul is in the shop..............perfect time for me to get something done, like finally eat supper! Have a good evening