Sadie

Again, looking for somewhere to rant and the blog seems so ideal. At Sadie's 9-month check; while she had gained height, so hadn't gained weight over her 6-month appointment. Considering that she is also a little bit behind on some of her large motor skills, the doctor recommended a barage of tests. So, we went over to Children's to start the process. I honestly am heartbroken for parents who have to spend a lot of time there. It's so slow and everything is a process. While we have been waiting for test results, my pediatrician also recommended starting physical therapy.
We started physical therapy (PT) this week and I think it will go well. The PT I am doing at home already seems to be helping her out. Also this week, we got back some abnormal test results. From what I understand, genetically she is having metabolic problems. The metabolic disorders are so varied, that they can't really give us any details as to the test results at the this, other than to say there is an abnormality. Of course, I looked things up on the internet (the night Jake is at school). Big mistake. The severity of metabolic disorders can apparently vary widely; it could be the cause of Sadie's delayed growth, but other disorders present serious symptoms such as comas and seizures. I lost it that night. Cried for two hours until I fell asleep.
This weekend, I'm feeling better about things. We are getting into a geneticist at Children's Hospital that can tell us more about what Sadie has. She will be continuing PT and we will also be taking her to the developmental center at Children's. I'm still really worried. She's my baby. I'm scared but I'm so grateful for first, my pediatrician. I really wasn't worried about her. I'm a mom with three kids and I've kind of become of "wait and see" kind of mom. I knew that if we had to diagnose a problem, it would involve a lot of tests and time etc. Not that I wouldn't do anything to help a sick child, but I didn't honestly feel in my gut that anything was wrong. So, I didn't want to put Sadie through needless pokes and tests. Second, I am grateful that I live mintues from good healthcare. Children's isn't perfect. It's hard to get in, it's long waits once you're there...but I understand the care is good. Third, I'm immensely grateful for the family and friends who have rallied around me. I'm not alone, that's huge.
Anyway, I don't write this to complain, I just need to keep track of my feelings and maintain perspective. I guess I also would have those who know me and read my blog that if I seem a little extra stressed out or teary-eyed...there's a reason. No worries though. I'm honestly feeling good about things. Everytime I go to Children's, I walk in the door with wet eyes in anticipation of what is happening with my child. Everytime I walk out the door, I walk out with wet eyes because I see how much other families cope with. It's amazing.

The True Cost of MPM "Free" Day

So, just as a warning, for my fellow thrifty moms; Milwaukee Public Museum "free" days for residents on Mondays are not actually free...if you could the real costs...
1. $8.00 for parking in the parking structure...surely had we braved parking on the street we would have paid a parking meter and risked life and limb getting into the museum
3. $2.50 ATM fee to get cash so I can get out of the parking lot...puntitive damages getting my kids back into the museum to find an ATM, say $2.00 worth of headache?
2. $1.00 extra parking fee incurred when the parking payment machine was rejecting everyone's credit cards and I had to find the afore mentioned ATM...add some damages here for personal humiliation of running several cards and having them all declined.
4. $3.99 price to replace die cast "Lightning McQueen" -- Ty's one sacred, can't live without it toy -- that was lost in the mayhem that was getting back to the museum
5. $2.00 for a small diet Coke and a few chocolate chip cookies to serve to calme me down so that my kids and I can make it through the rest of the day...again, we're not even talking about the damage that was really done, just the actual money that came out of my account...I'm still recovering!

ACTUAL COST OF A FREE TRIP TO THE MUSEUM $17.49...PLUS PUNITIVE DAMAGES!

Girls, it was good to see those of you who were there...wish I could have talked more, but as you all know; not only was getting OUT of the museum a fiasco, but getting through the museum was not a good thing for my kidlets. Brooklyn was going one way, Ty was running the other...oh goodness, we need SPRING and grass and swings and parks and somewhere to run where I don't have to chase!

Guilty Mom

This is a picture I took of the kids on the way to Ty's big accident. Jake reminded me that this is the last picture of my adorable boy without a scar on his noggin. Feeling so guilty...

Trippin'

Just a few pictures of our trip to see Grandmas and Grandpas in sunny St. George. It was so wonderful to remember Mr. Sun. He's in Southern Utah...wish he could find Wisconsin. The kids loved being outside. As you can see, they were playing in the water when the weather was only 60 degrees. All the locals thought we were nuts, watching us in their parkas; but there were several out-of-towners taking in the very nice rays. It gives me some glimmer of hope for springtime.

Sad Happy Birthday

Today was Ty's birthday, and it was kind of a sad one. We decided to meet Jared and Katelin and their kidlets at StoneFire Pizza. We were very excited. So, we get there and while we were waiting in line for them to open; Ty was running all over the place. I'm standing with the other kids and hear someone from the back of the line saying "Nicki Morton!". I go to the back to hear Ty screaming. I turn the corner and Jake is holding him and there is blood everywhere. Naturally, I freak out. Most everyone around us is freaking out, we're the center of attention...everyone is asking what happened...offering to call 911. Apparently, Ty was running and tripped and cracked his head on the corner of a door. His head was split probably 1 1/2 inches all the way to his cute little skull (which I got to see). Anyway, we handed off Brooklyn to the other Mortons and while they celebrated Ty's b-day we went to the ER. Two hours and seven stitches later, Ty is feeling fine. We were going to go back for pizza, but he was exhausted from crying. He actually did really good. He only cried when it first happened and then when they strapped him into the papoose (I would cry too, I'll post pictures). He was super brave and eager to say "bye" and thank the nurses when we left. He was most excited to show Brooklyn his "ticket" (the bracelet on his arm from the ER) and head home for a nap. Poor Ty Guy. What a rotten birthday. We're all recovering now...I'm not sure if it was more traumatic for mom or for Ty. I cried with him when they stitched him up. It was so cute, at first he was singing Old McDonald with me while the papoose was on. They he freaked out as they started the stitching. However, for a few sweet mintues whil they were stitching him up the room was silent as I sang "Jesus Loves the Little Children" to him. Kids are precious...so hard to watch them get hurt! Pictures are coming...my computer hates me.

Tagged...thanks Linda!

Blogging...love it, but I'm somewhat sporatic. Thanks for getting me going Linda!

What is his name? Jake
How long have we been married? 7 years
How old is he? 29
Who eats more? You know, at the beginning of our marriage it was Jake...but as I have spent the last almost FOUR years pregnant and/or nursing; and he has had much less time to do anything but sit at a desk...I don't know!
Who said I love you first? You know, I don't know...weird. Guess I should. We were best friends before we dated, maybe Jake will remember
Who is taller? Jake
Who sings better? Neither, we're both awful.
Whose temper is worse? Probably Jake, unless I have PMS or I am pregnant
Who is smarter? Jake? I don't know. We're different and smarter in different areas. In our classes at BYU, on average, he got better grades. Does that mean he's smarter? He married me? That makes him brilliant! He's better at math stuff, I'm better at writing, literature stuff
Who mows the lawn? We haven't really had a lawn before now...I'm sure I'll do a lot of it (he has been out of town for all but ONE snowstorm in the past two months!)
Who pays the bills? I do. I agree with Linda, I'm a control freak on it. Jake could do it, but doesn't have a lot of free time and I'd rather he spend his free time doing something else.
Who does the dishes? Depends. Jake does them when I make a good dinner. (Which isn't every night)
Who cooks dinner? I do mostly. Jake loves to cook though and gives lots of input.
Who drives when you are together? He does. I like it. I can talk on the phone, do my makeup...
Who is more stubborn? Jake. Hands down.
Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Hmmmm...Jake's good when he thinks he's wrong, he just never thinks that he is (see above)
Who has more friends? Me, I guess. He's so busy right now, all he has is coworkers, classmates, managers...poor guy.
Who wears the pants in the family? I'm the boss but Jake would kill me if I didn't say HIM. I've heard it said best by saying "he presides, I conduct"

Baby It's Cold Outside!

You know, I really made an effort this year. I was determined from the get go that I wasn't going to get mired in complaining about the weather. You usually start to hear it in about November. I've been very restrained. I live in Wisconsin. I've lived here for almost FOUR years (really? now I am asking myself, "why?") I know that winter is cold and that my personal version of damnation would not be fire and brimstone; but bitter biting awful windy cold. Honestly. Warm sounds so wonderful right now. Anyway, I'm failing miserably at this point and I've joined the crowd that is complaining about the weather. Here's some pics from the most recent 12 plus inches!