Just a note, this is where we were this time last year!! So crazy when I think about it.
Anyways, all is well in Piper-land. We measured her on the wall the other day, and she has almost grown 1/2 inch in a month! So something is working right ;)
We now have all sorts of dates booked, and as usual, they all happen around the same time.
November 2nd, we'll go for Piper's Cardiology appointment at 10:30, followed by her Hematology appointment at 12:30.
I am not too nervous or anything about those, as it feels kinda routine now. I am looking forward to a nice, normal echo and no surprises. She might have to be sedated for her echo this time, as last time it was a no go, due to her being a maniac. We'll see how it goes... it only involves a little bit of starving beforehand (fun!).
The cardio team has been great, and I look forward to seeing them again.
Then hematology, which for some reason, just makes me a tiny bit more nervous. I know I shouldn't be, but I am. There: I admit it. Piper will be almost 1 1/2 this time, which means her neutropenia could be totally cleared up, but I don't think it is. She has been sick pretty much constantly since September or earlier. I am sure all parents go through this with their kid: one cold after another after another, but I secretly worry that Piper just takes forever to get better because her blood is working extra hard to make things happen. Or nothing does happen.
This latest cough that she has, which is different than the one she got rid of just before Thanksgiving, is lingering and not changing. Just hanging around and sounding like she is dying. You get quite the looks from people when Piper hacks like that in public. Like I should be putting one of those masks on her or something. Yikes.
The strange thing is, Matt or I haven't been sick yet, or not the same sort of sick. Matt usually feels it slightly in his through maybe, but never a cough. And I just haven't been sick in, well, a long time (knock on wood!!). So that makes me wonder if it is just Piper holding onto that cold, after it's lost all of it's contagiousness, due to her inability to fight it.
We might never know. I am just hoping these appointments go well, which I am sure they will.
Next will be her 12 month shots which she is cleared to have. Nothing to worry about, but I am glad we got it checked out. Those happen later that week, on the 5th. Hooray. Then she'll have to be booked for her 18 month shots probably for the next month.
Otherwise, Piper is just like any other kid. Her heart never seems to slow her down, and her colour is always great. She eats awesome, no allergies or crazy food aversions, she is still interested in breast-feeding though also liked her cows milk.
Piper's favourite things lately:
* water: she often gets in the shower with me in the morning (I have no say in the matter) and ends the day getting into the tub with Matt.
* books: again, will often start and end her day reading, and any amounts of quick reads inbetween
* pencil crayons/pens/pencils: anything that she can make a mark on something, usually paper, but out magazines and some cookbooks have been victimized.
* dried fruit: those raisins in the little red box... don't tell the dentist.
* getting dressed: almost every day Piper will put somebodies clothes over her head. My underwear, her shirts, undershirts, headbands... anything. If it's got a whole in it, it's going around her neck. We have pulled off at least 11 layers of clothes from her at one time.
We wouldn't trade her for anything. We are so glad to be entering this next toddler phase and putting the drama of this year behind us. It feels good to be moving forward.
In other news, Matt has quit his job of machining cabinet doors and is currently taking a semi break from work-searching. He has some work lined up for the month of November, here and there, but he is just taking it easy. There was some emotional stress happening at his job that wasn't worth sticking around for, so we are taking a bit of a risk, stepping out of a job into a not-so-secure future. I can work more for my own business, but we will still be cutting back life costs a great deal. We'll see how we do. Already, even in this short amount of time, God has provided some great opportunities for us both. We have no reason to be worried in the slightest. And we are both secretly looking forward to this time to really be a family and consider the things that we truly need to function. It's going to be a good reflective time.
And here, are some pictures that a friend of mine, Winona, took of us in September, and I am finally sharing them. We both love how they turned out. Winona did a great job :) I wanted to get some good ones of Matt and I, as we celebrated our 5 year anniversary this July!
Enjoy!
