Long weekend

This past weekend felt very long. Kris and I spent Thanksgiving with Troy and Rylee. We made a turkey, stuffing, cheesy potatoes, green bean casserole, corn, pumpkin pie, deviled eggs. All of that for the 4 of us, well only 3 of us ate. All homemade and full of love. It was awesome! I think we may have just made ourselves a tradition. It was nice to spend a major holiday at home, not rushed. We ate when the food was ready which was right at noon. We didn't have anywhere to be at any specific time. It was so nice!

I have a meat phobia. I can't touch raw meat so I was not about to stick my arm in the stomach of a turkey. My wonderful husband did that part. However, instead of us following the directions, Kris just pulled the bag of neck out and stuffed it. After it was all stuffed he said, Opps, we were suppose to turn it breast down and stuff it that way. We found out why when the turkey was all done and we were cutting it apart. We didn't pull the turkey's secret parts out. Good thing that were in a package. That was the only major (which isn't even major) mishap. I consider that pretty good.

I did go over and visit with my dad's family. My dad was in Hawaii with his girlfriend Deb and her mom and step-father, Doris and Bob, for the week so they missed Thanksgiving with us. I also visited my Grandma Dodds and Uncle Tim and Aunt Jean were there.

My dad and Deb called me late Thursday evening with some "news". My dad proposed to Deb just after sunset on a beach in Hawaii. Those of you who know my dad or don't, he is 55 years old, never married so this is a BIG step for him. He always said he was too short to get married. Well apparently he has grown.

My Uncle Tim and Aunt Jean's daughter just had a baby a few weeks ago. On Saturday we stopped in and met her. She is the most cuddly little girl. My kids were never that cuddly. Anne and Matt were on their way to Madison. Matt's doing a residency in Chicago and that is over in June. He got a job offer from St. Mary's in Madison. So they were going to look the city over to see if they would like to live there. He has to make a decision by to today so hopefully they'll move her and we'll get to know Frannie all the better!

Saturday morning my sister Erin called and said they were on their way down to Cuba City and wanted to know if we would like to go to Jumpin' Janes later on. So Erin, Dave and I took Troy, Jalyn, Jared, Lexie and Avery to jump off some energy. After an hour, we were all sweaty, stinky and the adults were worn out completely! Troy had fun! We met, my brother Craig, SIL Jen, niece, Isabelle, brother Scott, sister Carmen, and BIL Joe at Uno's. We had 14 in our group. It was rather large. My sister Erin wanted to know if that counted as our Thanksgiving since we were all together. Kris and Rylee stayed home and snoozed. Scott GF Aubrey showed up just as we were all getting done.

Saturday we also visited my sister Carmen at their house. They are almost ready to move back in. It is absolutely gorgeous. Kris hadn't seen their house since right after the fire so it really looked different to him. I can't wait until they are all moved in and comfy.

Rylee wasn't feeling to well over the weekend. She had a stuffy nose and watery eyes. She had a hard time breathing when she ate. It seemed to be much worse at night.

However, all in all, we had a great holiday. Next one is a big one. Due to the extra precautions that we have to take, we are doing Christmas differently. Kris and I decided that it wouldn't be fair to our family and Troy if we completely skipped out on all the christmases. So when Kris's family (his mom and dad, brother, SIL and nephews) have christmas just he and Troy will go and Rylee and I will stay home. When my family (my dad, deb and family) and (brothers, sisters, families, and mom and Rich) get together, just Troy and I will go. We thought that way we are each with our family while Rylee stays happy and healthy.

Hope ya'll had a great holiday also! We are down to 26 days until Christmas!

It's Beginning to feel a lot like...

CHRISTMAS!
Once upon a time, my nephew Jared told me that he knows why Christmas is my favorite holiday. Because my name is Mary and I am married to Kris which equals Merry Christmas! Funny but I completely understand.

Christmas is popping up everywhere. However, we're focused on Thanksgiving right now. We got our turkey. We've got all of the other fixings! We're ready. Wednesday night will be full of baking and prepping. Thursday will be stuffing, roasting, thanking, eating and FOOTBALL, of course!

We're spending Thanksgiving as just the 4 of us. It will be nice. My sister and her family normally do the same thing and love it. It's the only major holiday they spend just as them. We're not suppose to have any visitors in our home so we're couldn't invite anyone. So it'll just be us.

On a much sadder thought, it came to my attention early yesterday morning that a guy I went to school with, well 1 year younger, passed away in the early hours as result of a car accident. He was 24. The amount of death that has happened to so many of the same age, meaning the graduated class of 2004, is awful. My husband is the same age and it just floors me at how many have passed from his class. Greg's life was taken way to soon. It just makes me sad but reminds me that everyday is precious. We've learned that and try to live like it.

I am also excited to tell you that we had Christmas photos taken and have our christmas cards ordered. I saw on the Frugal Mommy's website that with a special promo code you could get 50 photo christmas cards for free. So last night I ordered those and paid $3.19 for shipping. That comes out to 6.38 cents per card and I personalized them with 2 photos! Enjoy the photos.

Prematurity Awareness Month

On June 28, 2008 my baby boy turned 7 months old. On that day, I also found out that I was pregnant.

Two weeks before Thanksgiving 2008, I found out that our little baby was a GIRL! Everyone was super excited. This double confirmed that feeling that our family would be complete after this baby.

It was the easiest pregnancy ever...until...

January 15, 2009. After a stress packed day, my water broke at 3:15 pm. Since it wasn't a flood of fluid, I just thought I had wet my pants. I had a doctor appointment with Dr. Mehta at 8:45 am the next morning.

On January 16, 2009 Dr. Mehta confirmed my worst nightmare! I was exactly 29 weeks that day and found out that 17 and a half hours earlier my water had broke. I had an ultrasound done in the clinic to determine that amount of amnotic fluid left and the ultrasound tech discovered that my baby had enlarged kidneys. I was instructed to go to Mercy Hospital in Dubuque, IA for steroids, iv fluids and find out what we would be doing from there. Dr. Berger, my primary OB/GYN met us at the hospital and told me I would be headed to University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics in Iowa City, IA because Mercy's NICU couldn't support a baby as premature as ours would be. I was loaded in an ambulance, which was my first ride in one ever, and headed to Iowa City, IA with my mom and Rich and Kris and Troy in toe.

My first belly shot 29 weeks, 3 days

I was on restricted bed rest meaning I could only be up and about for 30 minutes per day. I missed Troy and Kris more than ever and I am sure they missed me too.

We decided that we were going to name our baby girl, Rylee. Rylee had been in the breech position for pretty much the entire pregnancy. On January 28, 2009, she was very active all morning. This movement came to an abrupt stop after lunch and I had 2 fetal stress tests and a plethora of heartbeat checks. Everything looked fine.

At 7 pm, I talked to my sister for about an hour. I told her I thought I was having a few contractions but that was nothing out of the normal. Once I got off the phone with her, I felt just plain awful. I decided to shower, which didn't help. After I got dressed, I called the nurse. After 30 minutes of non-stop contractions, I was taken to labor and delivery to have an ultrasound because the doctor couldn't get the speculum open to do a sterile exam and she wanted to know what all the pressure was. As it turned out, all of Rylee's movement in the morning was her turning around. This in itself was a miracle because she hardly had an fluid to move around in.

I spiked a fever and my heartrate picked up to 170 beats/minutes. I had developed an infection which is common when there have been ruptured membranes for 14 days. It was confirmed that I would definitely be having my baby soon.

Kris and his mom, Linda, drove down to Iowa City while my sister, Carmen, took care of Troy for the night.

Rylee graced us at 1:55 am, January 29, 2009.

She weighed 2 lb, 15 oz.


She was 15 inches long.

She had apgars of 5 and 8.

She was intubated while still in the delivery room.

After 2 hours, she and I were each stabile enough to see each other. This is her first touch from me.

After 24 hours, she was extubated and put on CPAP. Kris went home and brought Troy back with him on the next day. This was Troy and Rylee's first meeting.

For 5 days, she was on and off the billi lights to ward away jaundice. Her first feeding was 1 cc of breastmilk via a feeding tube.

She had a PICC line put in a vein in her leg. She had 2 lines through her umbilical tube. There were leads stuck to her measuring her oxygen saturation and heartbeat. She also had a pulseox wrapped around her foot.

The lines in her belly were removed as well as the PICC line after about 6 days. They encouraged her to suck with the pacifier during feedings to help with her suck reflex.

At 7 days old, I got to hold her for the first time. It was only for about 15 minutes but some was better than none. She had a brain scan done that day which determined a pin point, grade 1 hemrrage.

A few days later she got to be held by her daddy.

She was moved from the open air bed to an incubator. It was quieter for her and would help keep her warmer so she didn't have to work so hard to do it herself. It was proven that the warmer babies are, the better they recover.

1 month old. She was moved into a bassinet. She was also able to wear clothes. She was also switched from CPAP high flow to regular oxygen via nasal cannula at a quarter of a liter per minute.

She was moved to Bay 4 at 5 weeks old.

5 weeks, smiling, which was probably just gas. I left her this night and got a frantic call the very next day. Kris and I rushed down to find her like this....

She had sometime developed an infection of some kind. She had IVs put in that would only last a few hours before they failed. She retained fluid like crazy. She was put back on CPAP high flow. We had come so far in six weeks to be set back for another six weeks was going to be huge. She was quarantined from everyone to help her compromised, weak immune system try to ward off these awful germs.

We had to dress in yellow gowns, gloves and masks to see her. Example, Dr. Dad above.

2 months old! She's a badger fan living in Hawkeye country.

April 3, 2009 the feeding tube was removed! This was also Rylee's due date. She was 9 weeks, 1 day old.

Happy Easter, April 12, 2009.

After 79 days, we got to take our baby girl home. April 18, 2009 was a much awaited and anticipated day!

This is Troy and Rylee's first meeting at home!

Mother's Day 2009 and I have both babies home with me. May 10, 2009.

May 19, 2009 Rylee was taken to the hospital because her pulse ox was low. She spent 2 days and was released to go home again.

Father's Day, June 21, 2009.

5 months old photo, We removed the oxygen nasal cannula just for the pictures. June 28, 2009.

June 29, 2009. We got the OK from Dr. Lindower in Iowa City to quit the continuous oxygen! Happy 5 month birthday!

6 months old. Enjoying a nice summer day outside. This also when she started sucking her thumb.

Rylee and Troy, September 6, 2009.

Rylee's baptism, September 13, 2009.

September 18, 2009 Rylee was diagnosed with Hydrocephalus, she had 12 times the normal amount of fluid on her brain. We were rushed up to the University of Wisconsin Madison's ER. After 3 hours, we were sent home to process that in 3 days, Rylee would have surgery.

September 19, 2009. Rylee's last outing before her surgery. I had to get a picture of her cute hair before it was shaved.

Waiting to go to surgery. Dr. Albright and his team would be inserting a camera in the top of her head in her soft spot area to see if the tube running between quadrant 3 and 4 was blocked. Essentially if this was the case, they could put a small hole in the thin membrane in quadrant 3 to drain the fluid. If it was open, they would have to insert a shunt from her brain to belly to drain the fluid. We didn't know which outcome it would be until she was out of survery.

Her tube from quadrant 3 to 4 was completely open. Dr. Albright inserted the shunt leaving her with a horseshoe shaped incision on the top of her head, a small incision on the back of her head and an incision on her abdomen.

She is home, healed and full of life. She is our miracle. She is our princess. She is here.

Rylee has been diagnosed with a plethora of things, some of which include, Hydrocephalus, Chronic Lung Disease, acid reflux, Grade 1 brain hemrrage, Retropathy of Prematurity, a hole in her heart, enlarged kidneys, Chromosome 6 q25.1-25.2 deletion...to name a few. She has been hospitalized 3 times since we've had her home, twice for just the common cold. We keep a continuous oxygen machine and tank in our home for those times we need it. She was 2 lb 15 oz and15 inches when she was born, 7 lb, 4 oz and 20 inches when we brought her home and today she is 12 lb, 4 oz and 23 inches long. She is on one daily medicine she takes twice a day.

We have much to be thankful for. We have many that we could never thank enough. My mom and Kris's parents have been there for us to lean on, cry to, support us, just sit with us every step of the way. We are forever greatful of the doctors and staff at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, University of Wisconsin Madison Children's Hospital, Mercy Hospital of Dubuque, Southwest Health Center in Platteville, WI and Medical Associates Clinic in Platteville and Cuba City, WI and both the East side and West side clinics in Dubuque, IA. Dr. Olk, Dr. Lindower, NP Diane, Dr. Albright, Dr. White but most of all Dr. Connolly have special places in our hearts. We plan to thank the University of Iowa NICU and Ronald McDonald house by donating in the future.

The reason for Rylee's prematurity is still a mystery today. Support the March of Dimes today to help fight for premature babies.

Job and Charity

I have many a job but as I was reading blogs that I follow last night, one reminded of a reason to be thankful and got me thinking about my job. My official title at work is "Loan Processor/Bookkeeper" and that is what I do in a broad sense. My job includes many things. But I have a job. I am thankful that the Clare's gave me the opportunity to join their company 8 and half years ago. I am thankful that I have my job today. In every sense of the word, I love my job. Some of my co-workers and customers can be a little tough to handle at times, but I am always up for a challenge. My job is structured pretty much the same everyday but there is always something different everyday. I have come to appreciate that people are always in a hurry and make mistakes. One of my favorite parts of my job includes my one-on-one with the customers. But, my favorite part of my job is the balancing and problem solving. I work closely with almost every employee at Clare. I work with every single teller of all 8 branches on a very regular basis when I balance cash everyday. I work with the loan side every single day because I have my foot in a few different aspects there. I work with Brenda, who opens accounts primarily but I am her main back-up. I can say that I talk to just about every single one of my 15ish co-workers at the Platteville branch. I also talk daily to at least 1 or 2 of the 7 branches. 8 and half years ago, I walked into Clare Bank, Bloomington, not having a clue about banking at all. Today, I am much wiser, have learned alot and am extreme grateful for the opportunities that I have received from Clare Bank and the Clare family. If it wasn't for my job as a teller 8 and a half years ago, I don't know what I would've been doing right now. To sum it up, Clare Bank has provided me experience and knowledge that I will carry with me through the rest of my life. Everyday things, like balancing a checkbook that so regularly comes about that many don't even have the foggiest clue how to do correctly. I love my job! It is my job. I am unique in that I have vast knowledge in many different parts of the bank's functioning. However, I don't know it all and look forward to learning more! My brain is knowledge crazy and I love learning new things. I guess what I am trying to say is that in this horrible economy when so many people are working jobs they hate, don't have a job at all, taking jobs just to have a job....I am employed, doing something I love. And for that I am grateful. I have a steady paycheck now that I am back to work full time. Next year, I will actually get to take my 11 paid days off to use as I please and not have to make up the hours. Most importantly, Clare Bank has provided me and my family health insurance. This has turned out to be our best investment ever!

Speaking of investment...At McDonald's around the country, they are taking dollar donations for the Ronald McDonald houses worldwide. If you can afford to spare $1, please stop in at your local McDonald's and donate. The Ronald McDonald house of Iowa City provided us a place to stay, a meal, hot shower and comfy bed for 80 days. Due to the fact that we were a 2 income family going to a 1 income family, Ronald McDonald donated our room to use for the entire 80 days we were in Iowa City. They provided a place for us to play with Troy and books for us to read to him. They provided us a home away from home. And for that, we are eternally grateful for. Some day we will donate back to Ronald McDonald house of Iowa City in some way. Needless to say, this is an awesome opportunity for families of children in the NICU and PICU who are fighting for their lives. They provide a shoulder to cry on or even something as small as a hot shower when you haven't gotten one in 3 days (and believe me when I say that that does happen when you're totally consumed in a sick child who depends on you). So stop into you local McDonald's and donate a dollar if not for you then for us, The Klauer's.

Remember to stay tuned for November 17th when Bloggers Unite for the day of Prematurity Awareness month for the March of Dimes. Join in by blogging about a premature baby's story that is close to your heart. I look forward to reading those! Love to you all.

PS I am in the midst of changing my blog's appearance so bare with me as my blog is a mess right now. I so desperately need my husband to help me fix this mess!

TGIF!

This has been one terrible week for me anyway. BUT, not for the Dodds/Lazio family. Baby Francesca was born late Wednesday night. Her dad is very proud with the fact that she was born the same day that Iowa was on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Matt went to University of Iowa and even worked at UIHC. YAY for Anne and Matt and Grandpa Tim (haha, that sounds funny!) and Grandma Jean. So in the last few months, Kris and I's families have been blessed with 4 new members. Babies are so much fun!

What is not so fun is my babies being sick. GRR! I had a terrible day yesterday. Rylee had a doctor appointment in Cuba City. Now I am pretty sure I told Kris the appointment was in Cuba City but there must have been a communication error somewhere because he took the kids to the Platteville Clinic. Oops! Oh well, we met half way on Cty D. All was well in the end. The appointment went just as terrible. Troy was a turd. He was climbing on things, opening drawers and doors, pulling at stuff. OH MY GOSH! The nurse gave him stickers. He stuck them on his shirt, pants, shoes and arms. He proceeded to pull them off and stick them on Dr. Connolly's pants. Oh man. Dr. C even asked me if ADD runs in either side of the family? SAY WHAT??? He's a 22 month old pure little boy...I think the spunkiness is just his age and I'll be damned if I put him on medication for ADD. He was just curious because he was so observant and couldn't sit still. Um , I don't know a 22 month who can sit still when there is nothing to play with or do. So it was the worst hour of the day. GRR, again! ADD my rear end. And that is what I have to say about that.

Other than that, work has been AWFUL. For more reasons than I care to share but many because the cleaners blew a fuse on Tuesday night and my side of the room lost power. That was fine and dandy (other than they did that the week before too) EXCEPT that it fried my computer AND the IT Matt was out of work sick until today! It makes for a very long day when you constantly have to borrow someone else's computer all of the time. Then whenever I got a customer opening a CD or new account we had to run into another office where I didn't know where anything was and none of the things I needed were in there and I had to run all over to make copies and get to the printer. Just plain rediculous. Thankfully, Matt came back today (though, I really think that he should be at home and made sure to let him know he had a full bottle of Purell on his desk for a reason) and fixed my computer. Now it works great! It just had a 2 day vacation.

Next week is rather quiet. Wednesday, we are off for Veteran's Day. Unfortunately, we can't attend a Veteran's Day program. I think we are going to stay home and, if it nice out, we'll wave our flag. We have our flag out today for sure! I think with Veteran's Day approaching and the recent events in Fort Hood we should thank our Military personnel for the great job they do for us. I know we care a lot about our Marine, Uncle Nick. We praying for the injured and families of the deceased from yesterday's shooting at Fort Hood. It's too bad that someone serving our own country, treating those with the same distress, laid fire upon his own, his brothers and sisters, for who knows what reason. It's a shame. And my heart goes out to all of those 43 people.

Have a great weekend all.

November already

November was a month that scared the living daylights out of me and it's already here. November 1 is the start of the cold and flu season, though we are all aware that the colds and flus have been around for the last month already! But November is officially the start of it all. Dr. C told us he even dreads seeing November come for Rylee's sake.

November 1st, we went to a hockey game for my niece's birthday and made a quick stop at my brother- and sister-in-laws house since we were in the area. Other than a little bit of a runny nose, Rylee was fine!

November 2nd, Rylee woke up with a temp of 99.3°F, runny nose and red, watery eyes. I had to take her to the doctor anyway for a weight check and talk a little about her new medicine she is on so she would be looked at then. I checked her temp right before we left and it was 99.7°F. When we got to the doctors office I took her out of her carseat and once in the exam room, undressed her for a weight check. That girl hardly opened her eyes the entire time. I told the nurse about her low grade temp and she ran to get a thermometer. A half hour after I got the 99.7°F, she was 103.3°F. The nurse did it twice. I had taken her temp over 3 times while at home that morning. It was always in the 99's. I got a dose of tylenol in her right away. The nurse went and got Dr. C. While he checked her ears, her eyes started rolling and we had to stimulate her to bring her out of it. He wanted to swab her nose for H1N1. He was almost sure that was what it was. It ticked her off so bad! Her strong cry was a good, reassuring thing to hear. As he left the room to get it tested, I soothed her to calm her down. Then bloody tears were flowing out of her eye. He swabbed her right nostril and it was the left eye bleeding. I was freaking out. I ran out to show her to a nurse or someone. There was a PA standing at the desk that looked at her and Dr. C came walking down the hallway. He looked in there and said it was fine, it was from the swabbing he just did. That WAY freaked me out. UGH! To both of our surprise, the test came back negative. He diagnosed her with the common cold and put her on antibiotics. He wants to recheck her on Thursday and told me to call anytime, he would make himself available if we needed him. Now, not every doctor is like this, that is why this man holds a special spot in my heart. So November 2nd, my daughter turned from a happy baby one evening to alathargic, sick baby the following morning. This is how fast and how bad just the common cold affects her. Her breathing was extremely labored so oxygen was used to help her along. This is the reason why everyone who wants to touch her has to wash their hands before touching hers. This is also why no one but our family of 4 and medical personnal are able to be in our home until May 1. This is another reason why we will be staying home during the holidays and why Rylee's 1st and Troy's 2nd birthday party won't be until the summer. We are avoiding germs like the plague.

She woke up this morning with a temp back down to 99. She even sat and watched us this morning. **SIGH** Hopefully, the worst has passed.

On a much happier note, she rolled over from tummy to back on Saturday and tried like the dickens to get from back to belly. Kris and I were clapping and making a big deal about her rolling over. So the rest of saturday and most of sunday, every time we laid her down, she tried to roll over. Therapy starts back up this Friday after being off for 2 months. They'll be so so happy to see her.

Another mommy's blog that I read puts up a photo of her daughter and tidbits of what she is doing at that point in time when she has her month birthdays so stay tuned for Troy and Rylee's. I have the cutest video of them on their 9th and 22nd month birthdays! Rylee loves her brother and he sure loves her! We're so so blessed.

By the way, remember Stellan, the baby with the heart that beats too fast? He was in the hospital last week and was very very ill. He came out of it. During his stay, he turned 1 year old. He got to go home yesterday but will be going to Boston on Thursday. On the 10th of November, he is tentatively scheduled for another ablation of his heart. This, from his mom's past posts, means that he will more than likely end up with a pace maker. It's sad that the little 1 year old boy has to suffer that much. It shouldn't be. Hopefully, though not likely, he will get a new cocktail of drugs that will help him stay out of SVT until his 40 lb. That was the goal and still is I think but rather unlikely. Keep Stellan and his family in your thoughts and prayers on the 10th.

Also, if you have a blog of your own, don't forget to publish a post about a preemie that is close to your heart for November 17, Fight for Preemies for Prematurity Awareness Month through Bloggers Unite. I have my extremely long post started. So watch for that to come November 17th!!

Enjoy the sun today!