Isabella Goes In For Surgery at 4 1/2 years old

Did you know that the tonsils and adenoid play an important role during childhood as a major defense system against infections in the upper respiratory tract?  The tonsils are lymphoid tissues located in the back and on each side of the throat.  The adenoid tonsil is also made up of lymphoid tissue and is located in the upper back part of the throat behind the nose.  They work together to "catch" and trap incoming infections.  Unfortunately, the tonsil and adenoid may and can become the source of infection itself like a plugged filter.

And this was Isabella's case, she was a "plugged filter" if you will.  Every month, I was taking her to the doctor for either reoccurring ear infections or sinusitis.  I just chalked her constant sickness to all of the germs in daycare.  They pass it around and around and around it goes.  Most often times, she was crabby.  She would sleep at night, but then she would take 4 or 5 hour naps during the day, which I thought was odd.  She always breathed heavy through her mouth, never through her nose and she snored really LOUD. 

About a month ago, I had received yet another call from the school to pick up Isabella and I had just walked into work.  I told my boss that I had to leave work to go get Isabella, that she was sick.  My words to her were all too familiar and often coming out of my mouth.  I saw the look in her eyes, as she said to me.”Isabella is sick ALOT."  I looked back at her, said yes and walked out the door to go get my sick child.

Part of me was really mad that my boss said that to me and the other part of me knew what I needed to do about it.  A year ago, her doctor told me that she needed to see an ENT surgeon, but I let his words go in one ear and out the other.  I didn't want to put my daughter under the knife and most importantly, I didn't want to see her in any pain.  I thought that in time, Isabella would get better on her own terms without any surgery.  

As I drove home that day to pick up Isabella, I picked up the phone and made that appointment to see the ENT surgeon.  He checked her all out; looked at me and told me her quality of life was not that good right now.  Her tonsils were the size of golf balls restricting her airway, her adenoid tissue was blocking 90% of her airway AND that she needed to get ear tubes inserted.  My heart instantly broke as I listened to his words.  I took a deep breath in and started asking my 50 questions and taking notes.  I must have had a "look" on my face because after the appointment, he pulled me aside and wanted to know if I still had additional questions and then assured me that everything was going to be all right.  

On April 25th at 1:30 p.m., Isabella had tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy surgery at Silver Cross Hospital.  We elected not to have the tympanostomy (ear tubes) surgery.  SHE WAS A ROCK STAR and our girl is so strong and such a fighter!!  Surgery went well and she is at home recovering for the next week and should be completely healed in three weeks.  Last night, I watched her sleep gracefully and it was the first time in years I witnessed her actually breathing through her nose instead of just her mouth.  

Thank you to all friends and family for brightening her day with your love.  Here are a few pictures from before the surgery that were taken and also Isabella's self-portrait.  There is also a drawing that the doctor sketched for us to see how blocked her airway was. 

Hippity Hoppity Easter Fun

What a fun Easter weekend spent with friends and family!  The girls went to see the Easter bunny at Bird Haven greenhouse, in which Isabella ran up to the Easter bunny and gave him a BIG HUG!  Giselle was scared of the Easter bunny but wanted to pick an egg out of his basket.  Maybe next year when Giselle is 3 she will not be so scared.

On Good Friday, we went to Monica's house and enjoyed a traditional meal with her and her family.  We had homemade enchilada's, stuffed poblano peppers and rice.  I made a PEEP cake to take there along with a dip.  All of the kiddos played together until almost midnight.

On Saturday, the weather was gorgeous, so we took the girls to meet up with their cousin Tristan and play in the park.  These three love each other so much and I could watch them play together for hours.  Afterwards, we all enjoyed a nice lunch together.

And then there was Easter Sunday.  Giselle slept until 8:30 a.m. and Isabella didn't wake up until 9:50 a.m.  I didn't think those girls were ever going to get out of bed and that is the latest Isabella has ever slept in!  Any other time they are up by 6 in the morning! The Easter bunny visited our house for the girls and even Baxter!
During the day, we enjoyed getting a few things done around the house while the girls played inside and out.  By afternoon, I had made another cake - this time a jellybean cake and some baked beans.  We went over to the neighbors house and enjoyed ham, cheesy potatoes, baked beans accompanied with a salad.  There were about 6 kiddos there and they all enjoyed running around the yard for their Easter egg hunt.  All in all, the weather was beautiful out, it was a nice relaxing weekend filled with family and friends and I thought about those near and close to our hearts.  Hope you all had a nice Easter as well!  Enjoy the pictures.

Priceless

A brand new pastel colored dress, size 5 from Marshall's = $24.99. A fresh new pair of tights, pastel colored = $5.99. A tray of Jimmy John's subs for the "after party" = $53.00. A bouquet of bright, beautiful colored flowers from the flower shop = $10.99.

I watch Isabella's face as she gets ready to sing her musical….She looks really nervous, but even more nervous that she doesn’t see her family right away. I see the fear in her eyes and secretly HOPE she sees us really QUICK.  I patiently watch her as she "eyes" a room full of crowded people and it feels like forever.  I just want to scream HERE WE ARE ISABELLA!!!  LOOK OVER HERE HONEY, but I can't because the room is completely silent awaiting the show to begin.  And then, it HAPPENS.  She SMILES really BIG when she finally FINDS mommy, daddy and little sister.  Her eyes begin to GLOW again = Priceless.  Her performance tonight = Priceless.

Isabella had her Easter musical tonight at the school in which she sang a handful of songs, wore wings and even bunny ears. We watched about 48 little 3 and 4 year olds sing at the top of their lungs. Once they were finished, they were all still standing in a circle waiting to be dismissed when Giselle busted out of my arms and ran all the way across the room to give her big sister a HUG and smile at her. While I thought Bob and I might get in "troubs", I was thankful when the whole room went "AWE" and smiled at the two sisters loving up on one another. (Whew!)

We are so proud of Isabella and her performance this evening for the spring musical.  GOOD JOB IZ KID.  XOXOXOXOXOX

3.13.13

So many 3's today!  We should buy a lotto ticket!  This day was filled with SUNSHINE and there was not a cloud in the sky.  The day started out at 5:15 a.m. with both my girls wishing me a HAPPY BIRTHDAY.  Followed by LOVE, WARMTH, & HAPPINESS sent my way by friends and family.  I felt the LOVE all day long and I EMBRACED it.  By lunch, I was on top of the City of Chicago with my best friend taking it all in, 103 floors up. 

Reminiscing, as I looked out the big windows thinking about when my father would take me to the big city on the weekends as a little girl and how I lit up like a Christmas tree.  And the Chicago Style Hot Dogs.....yeah baby!!  Even Isabella LOVES THEM!!  Being an adult and still lighting up like a Christmas tree in a city that holds a dear place in my HEART.

By night, birthday cake and presents!  The presents tugged at my HEART strings this year!  Thank you to all!  I am very thankful for this day and my girls are teaching me to SLOW DOWN.  To take IT ALL IN.  and most importantly ENJOY THE MOMENT because life moves too fast, you don't need to rush it.  I am so thankful for all of the love and warmth I am surrounded with on a daily basis but most importantly, I am thankful that we are all happy and healthy.  I love you ALL XOXOXOXO  Thank you Thank you Thank you

Life in the BIG CITY

Last night we took the girls to the city and boy did they have fun.  We were lucky enough to get the penthouse suite - the 26th floor.  Here a few pictures of their night in the BIG CITY of CHICAGO.

Isabella's Celebration

Today we celebrated Isabella because it marked a very special moment in time.  Let me take you back.  Isabella was fully potty trained a little before the age of 3, however we could not get her to stop wetting the bed. After several weeks of washing her sheets and changing her bedding daily, I had decided that she should wear a pull-up to bed.

About three weeks ago, I told Isabella to go upstairs, put her pajamas on, brush her teeth and put a pull-up on.  When I arrived upstairs, she had her pajamas on and had brushed her teeth.  With her big eyes, she looked at me and said "Mommy, I don't want to wear a pull-up to bed, I don't need it." 

With a little hesitation, I listened and said OKAY, no pull-up.  Off to bed she went.

3 weeks later, she has not wet the bed once and we felt she deserved a reward for such an accomplishment!  So we took her to lunch at her favorite place - Portillo's and we even let her pick out a new toy as a reward.  She picked out a pair of sunglasses, a cell-phone, a debit card and a purse.  Additionally, she picked out a musical keyboard for Giselle - because Giselle loves music.  (We were all the way through the store and Bella said, Mommy - we should buy a present for Baby G too!  I smiled and said GREAT IDEA ISABELLA!)  She was SOOOO EXCITED and we tell her daily how proud of her we are.  Keep up the good work Bella!  YOU ROCK!

SNOW on SuperBowl Sunday!!!

At 7:30 a.m. this morning, Isabella crawled into the bed with Bob and I and said, "MOMMY, it's snowing outside."  "I want to make a snow angel!!!"  We all just laid there and looked out the window and watched the beautiful snow flakes touch the trees and hit the ground.  Shortly thereafter, I told her I would take her and Baby G out to play (once Baby G woke up because she is my sleeper) in the snow and make snow angels, but that mommy needed a cup of coffee first.

After breakfast, Bob and I bundled the girls up, rounded up Baxie and out the door we went to play in the snow.  Both girls like the snow and how it looks however they are not big fans of playing in it.  Isabella proudly made a SNOW ANGEL but then as soon as she got up, she cried because she had snow on her.  Baby G took a digger in the driveway with her Mickey Mouse and again, it was tears.  As soon as I got them in the sled - GOLDEN.  BIG SMILES from EAR TO EAR.  (Whew!!)

After about half an hour, they both told me they wanted to go inside.  We manually pulled the sled around the yard and tackled the hill in front of our house but I couldn't help but think that it would be way COOLER and MORE FUN if I had chains around the tractor and pulled them around behind that.  Or even a snowmobile or four wheeler - going slow of course : )   Maybe next time!  When we came in the house Bob asked Isabella if she had fun and her response was - Daddy, yes, you went fast when you pulled the sled but Mommy didn't!  And Bob just grinned.  Baby G flew out of the sled about 2 times while Bob was pulling them which resorted in drama and I decided to take it slow so neither of the girls would fly out.

After that, I headed off to the girls school, as today was parent teacher conferences.  All is well with school and the girls.  Their teachers said they are doing great.  Isabella loves to color and is great coloring in between the lines and Giselle is a big helper to her teacher and always helps her classmates and is full of smiles.

Now that the girls are napping, I thought I would sneak in a quick blog and make the appetizers for the football game.  Bob told me I am in charge of the appetizer's and he will make dinner.  So I made a homemade fruit salsa with pineapple, kiwi, strawberries, jalapenos, cucumbers, onions, sweet yellow pepper, lime juice and oranges to be served with chips.  Then we have a wine and cheese port ball to be served with crackers and a homemade Soppressata (from Bob's Italian friend).  As I sit here and type, I am still contemplating what our other appetizer will be.
Hope you all have a great Sunday and enjoy the game.  I am rooting for Beyonce!