Summer fun!

I just looked at my blog and I can't believe it's been since June 2nd that I last updated! In some ways that feels like a really long time ago! In others, time just flies!

I am going to work a bit backwards, or not in order of events. Just how I am thinking of things tonight.

Tonight we went to the zoo for their members appreciation night. It was open to all and any members of the zoo. We went to one YEARS ago, and have skipped the last few years of them. But finally our kids are of the age that they can stand to stay up a bit past normal bedtime, and it would be some good family time. And you know what? It was! Today was the hottest day we have had so far in 2011, it hit the low 90's. And early afternoon the wind picked up and it looked like big storms were brewing over the mountains. But we decided to go ahead and press on with our plans to go to the zoo. By the time we got their, any hint of a storm had left, and the wind had really died down. As of now (almost 10pm) it's picking back up again. And because it was evening, the temp had dropped a bit, but it was still really nice out!

We went to the monkey house first (that is Courtney's favorite!), from there we went to dinner. They had a big "cookout" for the members. We still had to pay some money, but it was a good dinner. (Hamburgers, hot dogs, and stuff to go with that). I am sure I have mentioned before that our head chef at the zoo is award winning (at least here in town). So, even the hot dogs tasted really good!

After dinner it was on to pony rides for both girls, (Kasey rode all by herself for the first time! No one walking beside her to make sure she didn't fall off!) then on to the merry-go-round. Merry-go-round rides were 1/2 off tonight! Desserts were also 1/2 off, so we got dessert after merry-go-round rides. Of course we saw several people we know too! We tooled around the zoo, and met up with several groups of friends and we all started traveling together. We didn't really see anything new and exciting, but I just love evenings at the zoo! I just love summer evenings in general, so add the zoo on top of that and it's a major bonus for me! It felt like such good family time!

One of the funniest parts of the evening was watching one of the keepers try to wrangle the bunnies! She knew the sprinklers would be coming on soon, so she was doing it as fast as she could, but they bunnies did not want to co-operate. There is a HUGE flowerpot in the middle of their enclosure, so they bunnies kept running around it, and she was running around chasing them. It was quite entertaining to watch!

We left as it was closing up for the night, so it was a long late night for the girls, but so worth it! Isn't this is what summer is all about! Staying up and doing special family things?! Man do I feel lucky!

Ok, on to a Kasey update. She failed her first pulse/ox test (the one I was telling you about on my last post). So, she had to do another week on oxygen. She did finally pass the one a week later! All in all she was on oxygen for 3 weeks!

She went in for allergy testing on Tuesday. I made Hubby take her, I just don't think I could do it. Anyway, she tested negative for any allergies! We could believe it! We thought for sure she was suffering from them! They also took an x-ray of her sinus and the doctor suspects she has had a chronic sinus infection! So, he put her on antibiotics. When she was in the hospital, they never put her on them! So, she may have had all this trouble, all this time, due to a sinus infection!

Hubby came home with 3 new meds for Kasey, in addition to all the ones they started at the hospital! She is now on: an antibiotic for 20 days, zantac for her tummy (they want to rule out silent reflux), flonase to assist with the sinus stuff, some other super powerful zyrtek like medication that is expensive and prescription only to help with the sinus stuff, and her flovent (her inhaled steroid). (sorry I don't know all the correct spelling of her meds). Plus we have to use saline as much as possible, and keep her humidifier on overnight (which we already do anyway). Prior to her going to the allergist, she was starting to go down the road of clear drainage and coughing again. After the meds that the allergist added, it's like she is a whole new kid! The nose stuff is gone, the coughing is gone! YAY!!!

So, now we wonder if maybe she doesn't actually have asthma like suspected! At this point we still have an appointment to see the pediatric pulmonologist in Denver at Children's Hospital, but if she continues be well, we will discuss canceling that appointment with her pediatrician!

Update time for Courtney. She got over her bout of croup really fast, but she too has had an ongoing problem with clear nose drainage. I am giving her Zyrtek daily and that seems to be clearing it up, so now I am wondering if she has some allergies.

She is currently in a feeding clinic once a week to help her try new food, and help teach us as parents how to help her eat better. The girl stopped eating most foods. She used to love steak and chicken and fish, and now won't touch them with a 10 foot pole. And she will not touch anything that is mixed together, such as a casserole or pizza. (the list goes on, this is just a snippet of items she won't touch) Her menu of what she WILL eat is very limited. She was evaluated a few months ago, and it was determined that she did need a feeding clinic to try and help with her eating habits. It's very interesting to watch. The parents sit on the other side of a one way mirror so we can watch and listen. And there is a therapist in the room with us as well who is helping us to understand how to help our kids at home. It's a lot of work and it's going to take a lot of time. Hopefully I can do everything correctly and we can get her eating back on track and have her trying new things too!

She is having an MRI on Monday. We really don't expect to see anything wrong, but it's a good follow up from the one she had when she was really young to make sure that all areas of the brain are developing correctly. Plus she had some blood drawn for some tests that her new neurologist wants done. That was not a fun thing. But, she got though it! It will be interesting to see how all these results come back. I am anxious to find out what her new diagnosis will be.

Other than that, we are all hanging in there ok. I now realize just how much of a trouble maker Buddy was even up until close to the end. He was the dog that always got in the trash if we left it down when we left the house (we used to have to put it up on the counter). And if a bathroom door was left open, he would get into the bathroom trash! And if the pantry door was left open (not latched shut), he knew how to get it open and then into the dog food container! I always thought Maggie was also a big part of that. She will steal food from the counter, so I always assumed she "helped" buddy with the trash. But since Buddy has been gone, we can leave the trash down! And the bathroom doors don't have to be shut all the way, if they are mostly closed, but not latched, Maggie stays out of the trash. If the door is left wide open though, sometimes that trash apparently is just too enticing for her.

But then again, looking back over the life of Buddy, I should have known it was all him! This is the dog that ate a pack of cigarettes once, and ArmorAll, and a small dead bird in one swallow, and many many other things that made us shake our head. He was quite the mischievous little fellow. Lucky for him, he always had that cute innocent look on his face.

He was also the dog that got me through a lot of hard and sad times. Granted, he suffered too, and let me know by peeing on my pillow in the middle of the night, when I was sleeping on it! But he and I got though it together. I miss my little Buddy. I can't wait to see him again one day (don't worry, hopefully a long time from now).

Hubby has been on a low carb diet at the doctor's order and he has lost about 20 pounds just by cutting way back on carbs! How fabulous is that?!

The girls and I are enjoying summer. We have had play dates, including one at a park, Courtney just finished her first round of swimming lessons at the Y for the summer, we are outside daily, ahh, it's so nice. Honestly, going into summer I was so worried about what we would do every day?! Some days we do have days that the girls watch too much TV, but mostly I do find we are on the go! Courtney started her OT up again, so now she has her feeding clinic, PT and OT every week. That also occupies our time. Hopefully next week the girls and I can get some swimming time in together at the Y.

Well, it's late and I am exhausted. So, I better run. Hugs to all of you!