Kidney Reflux.......GO AWAY!

Wednesday Emma had her VCUG at CHOP in King of Prussia, and our worst fear was confirmed, she has kidney reflux too! When we first received the results Dan and I just looked at each other and said "Both of them"! It came as quite a shock! On the bright side we know that this is treatable, and the issue can be corrected. However, we wish that both Emma and Teddy did not have to go through any of this at all!


For now both Emma and Teddy are on antibiotics to prevent infection. Our concern with Emma is the fact that she has had four UTI's in a year, and was hospitalized for one. Teddy has to have a renal scan done to make sure his kidneys are not damaged, because he hadn't been on any medicine in two years following a procedure to correct the issue. We have since learned that his procedure fixed the reflux on his right side, but that his left side did not respond.

So now our goal is to get these two kiddos well. Hopefully one day this thing called kidney reflux will be a thing of the past, and a very distant memory!

Snowy Days, How They Have Changed

So once again the area is having snow dumped on it, which means no school for the kids, and lots of togetherness (hopefully my children survive it). As I was watching the snowfall, vivid memories of past snow days came fluttering back.





I can remember being so excited when that first snow flake fell from the clouds. Then every child in Chester County would watch WCOJ on channel 7, and anxiously await Art Douglas say your school would be closed! I can remember being so excited when he said "Coatesville Area School District, closed".





As adults it's funny how it has all changed. WCOJ is a thing of the past, and so is Art Douglas' voice. We don't look forward to the snow as we once did. I know today I found myself grumbling like my parents used to when school would be cancelled.





Ah, how things change when you grow up. As children we used to play in the snow, and as adults we are now the ones shoveling it. We are the ones having to put the millions and millions of layers on our kids to go outside to play, and are the ones that are frustrated when after all the work it took to get them dressed, they decide to come in after being outside only five minutes.



Even though having another storm is very frustrating, and pretty annoying, our children are making their own memories now. Will one day look back at 2010 and the endless winter with many memories of snowforts and friends!

A Grandmothers Gift

Today my thoughts shifted to my grandmom, she has been gone for nine years, but my thoughts often float to her. There are so many memories of my childhood that include her, and how lucky I was to have her in my life! She taught me so much in life! My brothers and I were the youngest of her 17 grandchildren whose ages ran from 50 to 16 at the time of her death!



When I was a little girl my dad's sister Marie who I called Aunt Em(she was called this because one of my favorite movies was the Wizard of Oz) would watch me while my parents worked. Aunt Em and I would often spend our days with Grandmom, and we would often go on car rides to Shady Maple or my favorite Kitchen Kettle and take a ride on the horse and buggy. I have to say my fondest memories of Grandmom were when we sat in her sitting room, and listened to the tapes she played on her tape player.


Listening to her music I would try to imagine what was happening when back when. I can still hear the voices of Bobby Vinton, and Connie Francis filling the room! It was magic to me, and those old songs have so many memories tied to them! When the Glenn Miller Orchestra would play Moonlight Serenade I could picture the men coming back from WWII as their wives and girlfriends were greeting them as they came off their ships. It all seemed so real to me! Grandmom would tell me stories as these songs played about the 1920's and what it was like trying to feed children during The Depression in the 1930's. Her stories were brought to life with the voices behind those beautiful songs!



When I was 18 Grandmom died at the age of 91, but those memories of her have stayed with me, and now as Emma, Teddy, and even Dan and I all listen to the music together, we talk about Grandmom, and I share the stories with them that she used to share with me.





PS: I have decided to share some of those songs with you!

Happy Birthday Lois!

For those of you who know my mother-in-law Lois, she is very straight forward and to the point, and doesn't mince her words! We have a very unique relationship for daughter-in-law and mother-in-law. However, that was not always the case.....in the beginning she (unknowingly) intimidated me just a wee bit. Afterall Dan is her only baby. As time went on we have formed a very loving and special relationship, and she is like a second mother to me. I know this is a week early, but I would like to say Happy Birthday to the most wonderful mother-in-law any daughter-in-law could ask for!

Lend Your Voice to Mans Best Friend!

Okay everyone, I always swore that my little mommy blog would not turn into one of those blogs that would rant and rave about little annoyances. However, there is something that I really need to vent about! That HUGE something is the cruelty to animals. I have put it off way to long, and now as my husband would say my hot headed "Italian" temper is coming out!

There are number of animals in this country and all over the world that are used for gambling and money making purposes. A number of them are in fact dogs.

Dan and I adopted our 8 year old cocker spaniel last year from the S.P.C.A in West Chester. We were informed that she was used as a breeding dog, and that she could no long produce a "profitable" number of puppies as she once could, and was surrendered to the shelter. When she came home with us she was in terrible shape. She had a cataract in her eye the vet believes was caused by some kind of trauma, a horrible ear infection, and a prolapsed uterus from having at least 2 litters of puppies a year. Her ears we are told will never be better because whomever had her before us never took care of them! She has thickened ear canals, that can only be fixed with surgery, and because of her age the vet is afraid it could stress her! We would later come to find out that Lissie was rescued from a puppy mill. She was used so some cruel and heartless person could make a little cash selling her offspring! What is this country of ours coming to?

Who can also forget Michael Vick? He used dogs as pure entertainment! How entertaining to watch dogs tear each other apart limb from limb, so a bunch of good all boys can sit around and shoot the breeze while winning some money if the dog they bet on won the fight! Some celebrity he was. He got a small slap on the wrist, and our own Philadelphia Eagles signed him this year! Some punishment for murdering what is supposed to be "mans best friend" What a joke!

We also use greyhound dogs for gambling purposes! These animals start when they are 18 months old, and by the time they are 3 years old they are retired. Most of them are in poor shape from abuse when racing is done with them! It's a total and utter disgrace! Dog racing is not just an issue in the United States, but in England as well.

As "dogs best friend" we should be protecting them not using and abusing them for monetary gain! They are living breathing things just like us, so where are their rights? We need to be their voice, and stop the cruelty! There is no sense in it!

Thank you so much for listening to my rant. For more information on dog racing in the UK (if interested of course) read Annette Crosbie's blog.

Theodore

Tonight Dan and I had to force Teddy to take his medicine for his kidneys. I hate it, and don't how much more of it I can take! All the tears, and screaming, I really feel for him! I wish I could take it for him. It is so awful, and wish that we could get his renal scan scheduled so we can find out exactly what is going on! He is only 3 years old, no child should have to put through pain and suffering. Teddy always has a smile on his face, and has such a terrific personality, and I thank God everyday for making him such a wonderful little boy! No matter what he will always be the shining light of my life!

Justice for Emma and Luna

Emma and Luna two family pets were found shot to death in Pennsybury township. This is dispicable act! The person or persons who committed this crime should be tried for first degree murder! It's bad enough human beings murder each other, but now they have to hurt two innocent animals that did nothing to them!

If you have any information on this crime please contact The Chester County SPCA 610-692-6113 ext 213.

Blizzard of 2010

The Philadelphia area was hit with it's first blizzard since 1996! Emmy and Teddy loved watching the snow fall. I have it say it does look very pretty on the trees, but, Yes, there is a but. I can surely do without seeing anymore of it for the rest of winter!

Dan shoveled yesterday for hours! Poor Lissie (our cocker spaniel) hates the snow! She can barely walk in it, and doesn't like to get her feet at all!

I don't ever remember the national guard being brought in to keep people off the roads, but in '96 I lived out in the middle of nowhere and when the first snow flake hit we lost power! We have a has over 70 inches of snow this winter! We are supposed to get more Tuesday into Wednesday! Where is it all going to go?

The kids are dying to get out and play in it! I feel a little guilty not letting them go out, but they will get lost in it! Maybe tomorrow we can get out and have little fun now that we are out from under the snow!

Teddy!

After many months of pushing, and switching doctors we finally got the test done for follow up on Teddy's kidney reflux! Teddy went to DuPont Hospital today, and had a VCUG done as a follow up on his deflux procedure almost 2 years ago!



Dan and I had been uneasy because the doctors didn't think there was a need for the test, but after a year and a half of pushing, we finally got it. The result today was that Teddy still has grade 4 reflux on his left side, and that his right side is clear of refulx. However, because the doctors had a need to be right for so long he has to have a renal scan to make sure he has no kidney damage.



The emotions that are being felt right now are shock, frustration, and anger. I think it's mostly anger right now that I am feeling! These people went on for months that it was constipation, potty training issues, not sure if he really has reflux, to finally the parents namely mom is a "nut job"! I just don't get it! Today we find out that he really does have a problem, and that Dan and I were right on with our instincts!



We are not going to dwell on the past, we are just happy that we finally have some anwers about Teddy! The question now is what do we do know for him! Teddy is g0ing to be taking primsol which is an antibiotic that treats infections of the kidneys and bladder until we get the results of his renal scan which has to be scheduled. From there we determine what kind of treatment will be best for him which could range from antibiotics to surgery.



For now keep Theodore Roosevelt Miller in your prayers! He is one tough little guy!

Karate

In December Teddy won a free month of karate at Family Martial Arts Center in Downingtown. Last saturday he was very excited to give it a try. When we got there, he didn't want to do it, we tried everything! Nothing seemed to make him want to go out onto the floor with the other children. Finally, he said he wanted Sissie (Emma) to go out with him. To make a long story short Emma is now taking karate with Teddy. Both of them really seem to enjoy it! They look really cute in their uniforms too!

Hannah Who....

Sadly Emma has said good-bye to her BFF Hannah Montana. Yes, Hannah was quickly replaced by Taylor Swift! Can you believe it! Don't get me wrong, Taylor is a nice girl and all, it just seems a little odd listening to Emma sing Love Story, and You Belong to Me instead of Best of Both Worlds, and Life's What you Make it! Taylor has even taken Hannahs place on her bedroom wall!



Hannah you are in our heart, but not forgotten! After all she is growing up, and will look back in time at the many fond memories you gave her!

Bloggitty, Blog, Blog.....We Have Some Serious Catching Up To Do!

Dear Blog,



How have you been? I know it's been awhile. Have been so busy here in the land of Mommyhood, that it seems that I have forgotten about you. Can you find it in your HUGE cyber heart to forgive me?



Yours Truly,

Lesley



P.S: A few entries will immediately follow!