Drivin' Miss Addie

Pics from a while back when Allie gave Addie a ride in her jeep.

Addie making sure everything is as it should be.

pictures from this week

We didn't take many pictures, but here's a couple, anyway.
Addie showing Poppy how to dig and rake in the dirt.
Sassy pants sportin' her new cowboy hat that Mommy and Daddy brought back from their trip for her

Whew! We're done!

We are so happy to announce that Addie sailed through her endoscopy this morning like a CHAMP! She was so brave during admitting and while getting ready for the procedure (VERY quiet and watching EVERYTHING, but brave). She bravely rode away in the hospital bed down the hallway, while Mommy and Daddy tried to be brave watching her go. Ugh.

Just 30 minutes later the doctor came out to let us know it had gone well. He biopsied several spots from her stomach and we'll hear the results either tomorrow or Monday. We got to sit with her until she woke up. She was groggy at first, but soon was smiling. No panic, no throwing up, so I was THRILLED. Pretty soon we got to get her back in her clothes and take her home! She's spent the day being pretty sleepy, but happy, and we think that's great! And what a relief to have it over with!

Most likely the doctor will let us know that he saw nothing of concern. The whole point of doing this test was to make sure that after 3 years of reflux, the medications are doing their job and preventing any damage to her stomach or esophagus. So what we want to hear and expect to hear is that everything looks fine in there. This opportunity gave us a peek into how difficult it must be for parents of very ill children. Addie's test was minor and easy, yet still scary for us, and we couldn't imagine how hard it would be to be in a hospital with your child if there was a serious health concern going on. We are so thankful for the measure of health we've been allowed.

In other news, my parents have gone home after a week of grandparent time. We all enjoyed having them, but probably we didn't enjoy it as much as Addie, who was in grandparent heaven. She had a blast with Poppy and Grammie, and vice versa.

Also, Greg and I got to spend a night away in Palm Springs. It was a lovely, peaceful break from the busy life we've been living. My favorite part was sitting in the adults only pool at the resort and feeling weightless. THAT is a good feeling when you are 7 months pregnant! Greg's favorite part was sitting on the terrace of the mexican restaurant where we had dinner, eating chips, talking, and enjoying the warm evening air. Our days were also enhanced by our visit to Galco's Soda Pop Stop, which we'll talk about more thoroughly in another post.

Oh! And I (Niki) also has my 30 week check-up with the doctor this week. Scotty seems to be doing really well and growing right on schedule. I've had some new aches and pains, but evidently they are all really "normal" for a second pregnancy. Two more weeks and we'll get to do another ultrasound and see our little guy! He had his first round of hiccups today, and is giving me big kicks now.

I think that just about updates everything! We are really looking forward to a peaceful week ahead- free from doctor's appointments, travel, and other busy-ness!

1st Test Done and Helpful!

Yeah! Addie was a rock star through the gastric emptying scan and it is done! She laid still and sailed right through. The doctor called us last night with the results and the test actually gave us some helpful info! (That is more than I even hoped for). It turns out her stomach is emptying a little slower than normal. It's not extreme by any means, but it does prove that reflux is still going on. Up until now, all diagnoses and prescriptions were based on educated guesses (granted, by very experienced drs, but still), and me being the kind of girl who likes PROOF, I was very excited to see some hard facts. Of course, I'm also relieved to know we're not seeing anything really alarming going on. We can only hope next week's test will be so helpful!

Greg and I leave tomorrow for Palm Springs- to sit by a pool and read and rest. Sounds pretty good, doesn't it?

The Calm Before the Storm

We are enjoying a nice, quiet week here at the Spangler home. FINALLY, no one has a cold or ear infection (we've spent the last three weeks or so taking turns). We spent most of last week at doctor's appointments- checking in with Addie's tummy doctor because it has been awhile, and finding a new endocrinologist that will keep watch on my misbehaving thyroid after Scotty is born. In addition to that, I got to go in for my gestational diabetes test, which is no big deal, just one more appointment to work in. Then Greg got an ear infection, so we went to a doctor's office for the fourth time in a week! Needless to say, we got nothing else done all week. We did have extra gratitude for good health insurance though.

So this week seems quiet in comparison. The weather is warm and lovely, and all is well. We are soaking in the calm as we look forward to the next several weeks of craziness.

Next Tuesday will be the big day it all begins. Addie will be having a "Gastric Emptying Scan" first thing that morning. It shouldn't be a big deal because it doesn't require anesthetic or anything. We have to be in Northridge at 7:30 that morning, which will probably be the hardest part of it all. Ads will eat some food with x-ray material mixed into it, then her tummy will be x-rayed over the next hour and a half. She has to stay under the x-ray machine during that time, but Greg can be in with her the whole time and they can watch a movie, so we think she'll do great. Hopefully this test will tell us if her food is coming back up, and/or how long it is staying in her stomach. We might not get any helpful info, but it's a test worth doing since she still complains of her stomach hurting all the time.

Anyway, that evening my parents arrive from WA for a week-long visit, which is always a busy time! Later in the week, Greg and I are planning to get away for an overnight alone, utilizing the free grandparent babysitting. I think Addie and her Grammie & Poppy will have a blast.

The following Tuesday my parents leave and I check back in with my OB. Then Thursday Addie has another tummy test- an Endoscopy- and this one I am not looking forward to. It is relatively mild as far as tummy tests go, I am just not looking forward to the anesthetic it involves. Addie will be knocked out and the dr will be looking down her esophagus to check for damage and taking some tissue samples. We have talked about doing this test for over a year now, but it has been left on the back burner. Now with the impending arrival of a new baby, we decided to move it up to the front burner! Again, we don't expect to get any new info necessarily, just rule out that anything terrible is going on. (Her dr has been saying we should do it for a long time). Based on my own reactions to anesthetic and Addie's previous experience, I am expecting the procedure to be a piece of cake and the recovery to make for a long day or two.

And by the time we get through all of that, it will be June! I can hardly believe it! We'll try to post updates as we go, but no promises. Hopefully in June we'll let you all know that both tests went fine, we had a great time with my parents, and a nice time alone as a couple.