Battle with Right-Sided Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH)


Daisypath Anniversary tickers

Daisypath - Personal pictureDaisypath Anniversary tickers

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Whitney's 1st Vacation to the Beach!



Thursday I was busy packing and taking care of Whitney.  When Thomas got home from work he loaded the car.  We ate at Subway and then were off to the beach in Oceanside, California.  Whitney slept almost the whole way!  I drove the first half, and Thomas drove the second half. I get car sick when he drives, haha, so I slept while he drove.  We made one stop for gas and a potty break.  We got there around 12:30 AM. 

While driving we got a text from my mom saying that my sister Brianna fell on her face and broke her nose! They took her to the ER, got some xrays and pain meds.  I got chills and that sick feeling.  The same feeling I got when my dad collided with a truck on his ATV and broke his arm.  That same feeling that I got when Whitney was sick.  Anyways! back to the awesome vacation.....














June Gloom.  The mornings are cool and cloudy so we don't go to the beach till afternoon.  My parents time share condo is so close the beach it's amazing!  just a walk across the street and down the hill.  Unfortunately there was no beach this year...the city couldn't afford to put the sand on the beach, so the water came up to the rocks.  While every one was sleeping Thomas and I with Whitney went for a walk on the pier. It's five minute drive. 

I love the smell of the ocean and beach!  My family goes to the beach once a year!  It's the highlight of my summer.  It's a great vacation spot!


















At the end of the pier is a resturant called Ruby's.  We decided to try it and got breakfast.  We had an awesome view of the ocean! It was so fun!


















Family pic walking on the Pier. We bought a magnet that says Oceanside to add to our collection.  We've vacationed here twice before.  Whitney loved it and fell asleep after eating at the resturant on the walk back to the car.  We put her to bed and she took a long nap.  We watched a movie and got ready to go to the beach.  My family left about an hour before us.  It's only a 5 min drive to the beach, which isn't bad, but not as good as just walking!














I'm ready! Let's go! 











Just got to the beach for the first time!  Whitney K. with Gramma P.  













Sitting in the tent with the turtle.














Family picture on the beach.  So glad the sun came out to warm us up! It was so windy and cold!

 









I held Whitney's hands as she walked all over the beach.  Loving the smells and sights and sounds!  Getting us to the feeling of wet sand.   We took a ton of pictures! They pretty much speak for themselves!  Eventually Whitney wanted to sit and then play in the sand and waves.













































































































We went back to the tent and warmed her up.  Then I went to boogie board and  swim in the ocean with my dad and colton, while my mom and thomas and clayton stayed on the beach with Whitney.  Later Brianna came.  She obviously wasn't feeling well and couldn't get in the water.  She wanted to see Whitney at the beach and play with her.





















































When we were done playing at the beach we walked around some shops at the harbor.  Bought a souvenir magnet with Whitney's name on it.  Drove back to the hotel we put Whitney in the swimming pool, also a first.  She loved it but it was kind of cold so we splashed warm spa water on her. 














The next morning, Thomas, me, and Whitney walked along the beach.  Did I mention I love the beach?  I don't want to live there or anything but I love to visit!  We enjoyed this lovely day with our daughter!    She took another long nap when we got home and then got ready to play on the beach again.  My dad loves to go deep sea fishing while in Cali.  We left for the beach and again Whitney loved to play in the sand and splash in the water.  The water was freezing I didn't want to get in!  (so unlike me!)  Thomas and I went for a long walk while my mom held my sleeping baby.  We saw a huge 'village' of sand crabs.  When we got back I decided I wanted to swim in the ocean one last time.  So me and Colton braved the cold waters.  After a while you get numb and it's way fun!  Surprisingly, I saw Thomas on the shore kind of getting in. so I waved him on and he actually got in with us! 













































































































After we got home and showered and put Whitney to bed, Thomas and I went out to eat at Harbor Fish and Chips.  Got the classic fish and chips. That fish was huge and yummy!  It was perfect weather to eat outside by the heat lamps.  I love my husband!  He even got me ice cream!  Then we went back to the condo and walked down to the beach. Sat on a rock and watched the high tide ocean splash on the rocks and even get the street wet!  It was perfect and romantic :) But it got cold and late so we went back home.





















My mom took these pictures on Sunday morning.  Whitney slept in her portacrib upstairs in the huge master bedroom closet. 


















 Getting ready to go back home.  Her I love daddy shirt is a 6 month size, it was the only one they had and it was on sale.  It didn't fit her head so my mom cut a slit in the neck! haha.  It worked really well! 





























 Whitney crawled around till she found the books! She's so smart ! :)



























Very nice view from our window.








After the car was all packed up and ready to go, we checked out of the hotel and looked at the ocean one last time.







































 My amazing parents!









Whitney loves to snuggle and give hugs.








Colton & Clayton














This pic is of them before we got there, I just thought is was really funny. 







We drove home the same way we drove there.  My sister Jessica and her husband Tim invited us over on our way home to eat dinner.  She made delicious bbq chicken with bacon and cheese.  We hung out with them for a while then finally got home.  It was the perfect vacation.  



We even did a prett good job of keeping Whitney feed the whole time.  She only spit up once too!  But for some reason she didn't gain weight this week... so that was pretty sad.  I just don't know what else to do.  I'm afraid she'll need the NG Tube forever...



My sister in law Mindy gave birth to a beautiful baby girl at 1:45 PM today in Orem? Ut.  Alyssa Gayle weighed 6 lbs 5 oz and 17 1/2 in.  I'm so excited to have a niece! They have a son, Bradley, who's 2 /12 years old and is so fun!





Monday, June 20, 2011

Picture Update of Baby Whitney

Whitney will be exactly 11 months old tomorrow, June 21, 2011.  Also tomorrow I hope to have my first niece from my brother Derek and sister in law Mindy!  I'm so excited to see them!

Also, I apologize if I offended anyone from my previous blog post.  I am glad that every one reads my blog..even stalkers haha!  But hey, sometimes you just gotta write what's on your mind every once in a while so that you can move on!  Thank you all for caring about us! 


Whitney K. loves to help Gramma P.!  They always cook and clean together!







Aunt Brianna pushing Whitney on her train! She always laughs and loves riding on her train!





Whitney K. chasing after the dog, Xanthia.




She has been pressing the switch for the fan lately. She can only turn it off.  I always have it on but recently every morning it's already off! It was so cute, but when she was able to reach the light switch I had to move the crib! 








When she won't fall asleep, I wrap her up in the blanket and but some stuffed animals around her.  She didn't move from this position and fell asleep like this.  She smiling behind her pacifier in this picture.






11 months old!  wow, time flys!  She is growing so much and getting smarter everyday!  She is getting her top front teeth in too!  Today I was planning on replacing the NG tube but she actually threw it up this morning.  Poor sore face. Hopefully that will get better by our next vacation next week! 

Stay tuned for my next story about Whitney's 1st Beach Vacation!





Happy Father's Day!

I love my Dad and my Husband!  Yes I got all of the Father's in my life the same World's Coolest Dad shirt!  Also I love Thomas's Dad's, William & Adam!  Wish I could have seen them today!  They are all so amazing and inspiring!  I am so blessed to have them in my life.  Thomas is such a great Daddy to Whitney!  It's very important to have a strong, supportive male figure in your life.  I love being a daddy's girl and I know Whitney will too! Happy Father's Day to all of you!








Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Results


I know it's been a long time since I've written and you all are dying for the results of Whitney Endoscopy.  Well, actually, I only know of three friends who have really cared about it.  They simply messaged me on the internet and I gladly told them (R. S. & E. thankyou :).  And that is the extent of my friendships.  I was delaying writing about it to see if anyone really cared to know anything about it... Owell!   But I remind myself that this blog is for my daughter and when I get it printed in a nice book and saved to an external hard drive...it will be deleted! Yeah I know it's really late and I might delete this post in the morning OR just add some pictures.










Basically the Results were all normal!  There is absolutely nothing wrong with Whitney's insides.  No allergies, no severe reflux damage, no nothing.  I am relieved I guess...the Dr. says just continue with the speach therapies...Well we've been doing THAT since she was born!  He'll see us in a month to do nothing but waste money....


I bought Whitney a new toy to play with at the hospital.  I just feel like she needed a nice new toy for being put through so much and for being so brave...just a little reward I guess.  The hospital had a really nice play room with tons of cool toys.  We waited for over and hour for them to be ready for us so we took her to the play room.










Today was super busy....Speach therapy, cardiologist/echo, and a weight check (15lbs 13oz).  I kept Whitney on a slow drip of formula all day so that she wouldn't starve. My mom and family are on vacation so I went solo! 


Whitney came home the same day as the procedure...only stayed there for about 6 hours.  "I'm so glad when Daddy comes home! Glad as I can be!"

Monday, June 6, 2011

Day before



Tomorrow morning we go to the hospital for Whitney's endoscopy (Upper GI).  Been packing all today so we are all ready and can wake up really early and just go!  Taking all her toys and books, a day's worth of formula and snacks, stuff for me, and a ton of other random just in case items. 

This procedure should only take 20 minutes! Her GI, Dr. M. will actually perform this procedure.  Whitney has to be asleep during this so that she doesn't move.  They basically put a camera down her throat to take pictures and see everything inside the esophagus and stomach.  We are seeing if there is anything thing "mechanically" wrong inside that could answer our question..."why is she not eating well enough to gain weight!?"  Afterwards, they will monitor her. Normally for an hour but with 'cardiac kids' it's 3-4 hours.  So we (my mom is coming)  will be there all day, but luckily won't have to spend the night! Hoping Whitney doesn't get a fever or vomit too much!  I think she will just have a very sore throat. 







I put Whitney's hair in a pony tail then decided it was long enough for a small braid!  I'm really not good at doing hair... I hardly spend time on my own hair. Whitney's hair is thin now but I would still love to learn to braid better!
On Saturday I spent all day shopping!  I bought a ton of decorations for Whitney's 1st Birthday Luau!  I've been planning for a long time and I can't believe it's almost here!  I came back home to take Whitney to the grocery store so that Thomas could study.  She loved it! My family came back from thier Lake Powell trip with the youth in our ward.  It was lonely without them but I'm glad they had a blast! 





Sunday was amazing, I really enjoyed church.  We also went over to my friends lucheon for her baby girl's baby blessing.  We had so much fun hanging out with a bunch of friends!  Whitney also really enjoyed playing with all the kids!  Kendal (almost 3) was really nice to Whitney and very curious about what was on her face.  We said it's a bandaid  and that it helps her eat.  She kept saying, "does your tummy hurt, it's okay." We had to remind her that Whitney was okay :) Adorable. They also had a couple of dogs there and Whitn could not stop saying "dog" and crawling to pet them! 
In this pic she is playing with Ammon.  His mommy and I went swimming together when we were big preggos!  He is a month younger but about 8 pounds bigger! 




Then we went to celebrate Thomas's sister's Birthday. They made delicious teriyaki beef skewers.  I made an awesome tasty angel food cake with strawberries and blueberries!  Here she is blowing out the candles but she missed one!  The room was all smokey!




Just some adorable pictures I took of Whitney today!