I'm a proud aunt!!!

Congratulations, Stubbs Family!!!

Bennett Brown Stubbs (named after his Great Grandfather, Harold C. Brown)
September 26, 2012
8 lbs. even

My Birfday-

My birthday was on a Sunday this year.  On Saturday, the 8th, I helped give Joy a baby shower.  When I got home from the shower, Bryant had cleaned the house.  And he told me to pack my bags because we were going away for my birthday!  His mom was already on her way over to watch the kids.  (Thanks for babysitting, Gwen!)

So we ended up going across town and staying at this really cute new Marriot at Chandler Mall.  Saturday night he took me to dinner.  I had him park at three different restaurants because I was overwhelmed with all of the awesome choices...PF Changs, My Big Fat Greek, Cheesecake Factory, Mimi's, but I finally settled on The Keg Steakhouse, and I'm so glad I did because I had the best lobster ever!!!  Then we went to a movie.  And we went swimming.  And we had breakfast in the morning and came home.  And the girls had made me some delicious Red Velvet Cupcakes!  Thanks, my sweet girls and my sweet husband for making my birthday super dooper special this year!

For my birthday,

Bryant bought me this old, bentwood rocking chair.  I love it!  I've been wanting a rocking chair for a long time, but it's hard for me to find one that fits my short self.  So I picked this one out on Craigslist and he took me to see it.  I sat in it and it fit me perfect.  Sadie loves that I can rock her now.  Thanks babe!

Last week I took Skyler in to her pediatrician. I told the doctor I wanted to have Skyler tested for my disease (hypogammaglobulinemia). She looked at me like I was crazy and said she highly doubted Skyler had my disease, because Skyler isn't always in the office with infection issues. I told her I didn't care about that, that I needed to have it done for my peace of mind, and that I recognize ...

several symptoms in Skyler that I had when I was a child. So I made her order the test anyway, and we went to the lab that very day. The nurse assured me that I wasn't crazy and that no one knows my child better than I do. Well, this is one thing that I really hoped I wasn't right about. But the doctor's office just called and said they got her lab results and her Immunoglobulins were low, just like I suspected! At least she won't have to struggle for years and years trying to find out what is wrong with her. I'm glad I could at least take that part out of her life for her.  I'm hoping Skyler's CVID won't be as severe as mine.  Right now her iron is okay, so that gives me hope.  At her age, my iron was already very low. 

 

I'm going to have my other girls tested soon.  I joined a couple of online support groups and it has been so great!  They've been incredibly helpful and welcoming to me.  So many of them have had similar journeys to mine...years and years of trying to convince doctors that something is wrong with them.  Another thing I've noticed is that a lot of them first get sick with Interstitial Cystitis first, just like I did.  Also, I finally chose to accept this past week that I will probably not be able to go back to work.  They've asked me to sub a few times already this year and I've had to turn them down because I've had a UTI.  I just finished my third round of antibiotics for that same UTI last week, and I already think I have another one.  I go back to my doctor on October 16th for more testing and to hopefully talk about starting infusions. 

Dear Sadie,

Your new favorite toy is "pway-doh."  You always ask me, "Mom, will you pway pway-doh with me?".  How can I say no to that?

You are very particular about songs on the radio.  When a song comes on, you immediately know if you like it or not.  And if you don't like it, you tell us, "I don't wike dat one!".  And if you do like it, then you yell at all of us to "Sing!".

You still love nursery.  Today when we got home, you said "I wanna go back to church!".

You have been pitching some serious two year old fits lately.  The new Sadie makes the old Sadie look very well-behaved.  Update:  You cried so much this morning that I knew something had to be really wrong with you, so I felt in your mouth andyou're getting a molar.  No wonder!!!

You love to play with our neighbor, Giana.  Here's a picture of you two in the kitchen.

You're way into taking pictures these days and you like having  your picture made too.  Here are a few snapshots you took with my phone this last week...the turtle, your plate, an extreme close up of me, and a picture of me at Ross.  (You love this one of the turtle.  You keep telling me, "Mama, look at his eyes!".)  You love to play with this old doll of mine that Minnie gave me.  She has a yellow crocheted outfit and hat.  The one of me at Ross really cracks me up.  I didn't even know you had my camera.  I was sniffing the soaps and you sneakily got my phone and took my picture!

Here's a translation of some of your common phrases and words:

farties=smarties  (You're still a candy fiend.)
I suck.=I'm stuck.
mys=mine
calk=talk
cwokwat=chocolate

And this doesn't need translation, but when I ask you if you're hungry sometimes, you say, "No, I'm good."  I'm not sure where you got that from.

Dear Sadie,

Today your daddy said, "I had to go out front and throw away somebody's poopy diaper," and you said, "It was Skyler's."

The other day you picked up the cat and dropped her in her plate of milk, and I said, "Sadie!  Why did you pick up the cat and throw her in her milk?".  And you said, "It's okay.  I'll get her a napkin."

You're getting so big.  You can wear a 3T.  You love riding your "bike-cycle" in the house.  All the time you tell people to "scoof over!". 

I finally have a diagnosis...

CVID Disease (Common Variable Immunodeficiency Disease)

I should start blood transfusions, or more specifically Immunoglobulin transfusions, in the near future and that should help my body fight infection and painful inflammation.  Transfusions should be every 3 to 4 weeks.  I'm glad to have good SRP insurance because each transfusion will cost between 5,000 and 10,000 dollars.