Things that I've learned...

1. Wearing two hospital gowns is the way to go. Most of you know that hospital gowns open in the back, leaving you feeling a tad bit exposed. So yesterday I put on two, one opening in the back and one opening in the front. Wow, I sleep like a baby last night.

2. Saying Thank you to the nurses, they will let you do almost anything. For instance, I can take a shower every day if I want. I can now walk the halls in my cool outfit. Picture, socks, two gowns, yoga pants, girl with iv stand walking the halls. It's a sight.

3. I liked my old roommate! When I first arrived at the hospital earlier Saturday morning I placed in a room with another patient, who reminded me of my grandmother. We joked, talked about food, or food that we wanted to eat, what was on TV and life in general. She went home yesterday (Monday), I was alone for a few hours and then bam four hours later I have a new roommate. Who does the following things I can't stand: SNORES, COMPLAINS about not being about to reach the remote, SNORES, complains about the IV. Okay, I happen to over hear that she smoked like two packs a day, and so I guess that's why she SNORES. It's highly annoying. I want a new roommate. To bad I can't ask for a new room.

4. Hospital Food is not that bad! I've heard people complaining about the food. The two meals that I've eaten were yummy. Chicken w/gravy and mashed potatoes and french toast and a bowl of fruit. Those were the only two full meals I've had. I've also had several bowls of jello, pudding, chicken broth, beef broth, Italian ice. I can't wait to a crab cake sandwich.

Things we seem to take for grant!

When your stuck in a bed for days and can't be released your mind tends to think of other things you could be doing, or wish you were doing. Here are some of the things I really wish I was doing these past three days.

1. Showering
2. Eating whatever we want, when ever we want.
3. Hugging your family.
4. Using the restroom alone (not having to take your iv pole in the restroom)
5. Sharing your room
6. EATING PERIOD!

I may add more to this list later.

NOT my idea of a vacation!

Everyone has their ideal vacation planned in their head. Laying on the beach somewhere with a cold drink in their hands, heading to the mountains to hike for miles, road trip to the grandparents house. Our plans for Labor day 2010 weren't set. We talking about going hiking with Annabelle, possible cookout with friends, or just relaxing at home. Well that all changed on Friday night when I woke up with severe back pains. I walked downstairs to inform Tim that we needed to call Aunt Linda and we needed to head to the hospital. Earlier in the day we had visited the local express care in hopes of an answer and were shocked to learn that my liver levels were off the chart. They requested I get a CT scan immediately, which I did. But being that this was a Holiday weekend it didn't look promising for a quick turn around.

Off to the ER we went. After 2 hours in the ER I was admitted to the 2ND floor with gallstone attack. Saturday my day consisted of three MRI scan. The first one I spent an hour on my back, while the machine took pictures of my liver and gallbladder. They shot this dye into my IV line, hoping to get a picture of gallbladder. Well after an hour, my gallbladder decided not to participate in this test. So I was sent back up to my room. You also have to remember that I had not ate since 5:00 pm on Friday night and not had anything to drink since 11:00 p.m. I went back down for a second time for a shorter MRI scan that lasted 30 minutes, but again, the gallbladder didn't want to play. So around 3:00 p I was sent down for the third and finally time and finally the gallbladder made it's present. So I spent a total of 2 hours laying on a cold, metal bed. Finally after several hours of bitching to nurses and doctors I was able to drink my meal down. Doctor B wanted my liver enzymes levels to come down before doing surgery.

Sunday more blood was taken, levels were down to 400, and I was scheduled for another MRI scan on Monday.

Monday morning I had my blood drawn, was taken down to MRI for my 20 minute scan. This scan involved me laying in a tube for 20 minutes holding my breath every few minutes. It wasn't a fun and I really hope to never do it again. After my scan I return to my room where I had ate french toast and a fruit bowl. Then my entire world turned upset down. My blood test came back that my liver levels were working their way to the normal level. I'm at 300 today. Doc B arrived with depressing news, I wasn't going anywhere. A gallstone has lodged itself into my bile duct and before I can have my gallbladder removed I must this stone removed. I seriously lost it in front of the doctor. I've been away from Annabelle for three days and I was missing my little terribly.

Hopefully tomorrow (if they can fit me in) I will have this procedure called endoscope. This where a camera will be put down my throat, and then a dye will be injected into my iv line and then a cathered will be put down the line and remove the gallstone. I should only be in surgery for an hour, put under, and hopefully that will be it, but obviously there could be complications, of panceratis, which obviously would set back my gallbladder surgery. I really like to get out of here as soon as possible.

I could really use some prayers.

Lots going on...

We've been busy this month. Annabelle and I went to the Baltimore Zoo last Friday. We spent the day with Rachel and Treith and lots of animals. Although most of the time Annabelle just sleep or ate, but she still had fun. We got a few pictures as well. Last Sunday Annabelle tried out her new pool and hopefully this weekend she will be trying it out again. Tomorrow we are heading down to Baltimore the National Aquarium to send a few hours with Nana, Grandpa and Katelyn. On Sunday we will be celebrating Tim's first Father's day.

Last night we finally purchased new shades for the living and kitchen and nice valance. Although I've told Tim that I would like to replace the kitchen counter tops, flooring and cabinets. A girl can dream right??

Here are a few pictures of Annabelle enjoying her summer.

Annabelle's Photoshoot

For several months I've been debating if I wanted to get Annabelle's pictures professional done. We had plans to have newborn pictures taken of her, but Miss Annabelle had other plans in mind, when she arrived 7 weeks early. So we decided not to have a professional come to our house and just have the Hospital take her pictures a few days before she was going to be released from the NICU. I'm so amazed at how much my precious sweet girl has changed from the tiny preemie to a happy sitting 7 month old. My friend Charlene came to our house a few weeks ago and to take photo's not just of Annabelle, but of Ashlynn too. Ashlynn and Annabelle have been friends before they were even born. Michelle (Ashlynn's mommy) and I have been friends for several years and I was just overjoyed when they announced they were expecting a few months after Tim and I.

Here's the link to Annabelle and Ashlynn's photos.

If anyone is looking for a photographer in the Maryland area, please contact me, I'll be happy to pass Charlene's information along.

We have a sitter!

Not a babysitter but a sitting baby. Annabelle finally has decided to sit. It's so wonderful. I knew she would get it some day soon, but I'm so happy to share another milestone with you all.

Happy Memorial Day to everyone!

Sorry it's a tad bit fuzzy (taken on a camera phone yesterday)

6 months old

Yesterday, Annabelle turned 6 months old. Tim and I can't believe how much she has changed from that little baby we brought home just six months ago. Tomorrow she has her six month appointment with the doctors. She will be getting her last synasis shot too. I've been very thankful for six shots that she's received to protect her from RSV. I'm also happy that she made it through the flu season with only one cold. Two weeks ago she came down with the sniffles and cough, was just plain miserable for days. Although I didn't mind cuddling with her, but we lost a lot of sleep. We knew something was wrong, when she was waking every 2-3 hours, wanting to eat. But she kicked the cold with lots of cuddling with her favorite person, Daddy.

Check out some of Annabelle's milestones so far:

-Sleeping through the night since she was 3.5 months old.
-Rolls from back to belly
-Rolls belly to back (new accomplishment)
-Smiles and laughs
-Talking non-stop
-puts her hands in her mouth
-puts toys in her mouth
-drops and throws toys
-Sleeps un-swaddled
-Eats rice cereal
-Love sweet potatoes
-Love applesauce
-unsure on green beans
-unsure on squash
-Like carrots
-Likes snap peas
-Like Bananas

Still to try:
-apples
-pears
-peaches
-any so much more.