Chicago part II

 

The second museum we went to was Adler Planetarium

We went on a "Pirate Life" cruise and it was so fun! it was john and my first time being on a ship that big and it was so fun!!

we found a delicious bakery in downtown Chicago. This was red velvet cheesecake!! so yummy!

Chicago Part I

 

 

John and I were able to sneak away to Chicago, Illinois for a few days for our anniversary. Even though our anniversary is in March between surgeries and school we were unable to go until July

.

 

 

 

We were there July 2nd-july 5th

 

This was the view from our hotel room, we stayed in the Hotel Congress near downtown

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were on level #13 of 14 levels

 

 

 

 

Our hotel was also right across the street from Buckingham fountain. We did not get to our hotel until 4:00pm so we didn't do much on the 2nd other than walk across the street to this fountain and order some deep dish pizza for dinner.

 

 

 

 

Thursday we did all of the museum's. This is the field, its a history museum

 

 

Totem polls

 

 

Shoes

 

 

Women's "Fancy Shoes"

 

 

 

 

"Binding" shoes

 

 

 

 

 

This is what Native American's used to carry their kids around in

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Sweet Girls Health

We have been so blessed with Mikayla's health because of her prematurity. She has not had a lot of major health problems, had a pretty uneventful NICU stay. Almost one week ago [Tuesday of last week] I had taken her into the doctor for being sick [turns out she had RSC & double ear infection] and the doctor decided to do a full blood panel on her. Her glucose was pretty high, so they had me bring her back in awhile later to recheck it and it was still high. I then heard the words that I was fearing the most: Diabetes.

I was not sure how this would affect my sweet girl. Juvenile Diabetes at 16 MONTHS?!? What kind of childhood would she have growing up?

We were able to get into a specialist at Children's Hospital in Omaha the next day! The doctor up there thought that maybe this was due to her pancreas being underdeveloped from her prematurity. We go back up to get testing done on her pancreas in June to see what is going on with it. If it is due to her pancreas, there may be medications available to help, or a possible pancreas transplant. Since everyone needs one of those to survive, it is a harder one to get. The other possibility is that our sweet girl is diabetic and it is something that we will have to deal with.

So far she has been an excellent little patient. In fact, she LIKES to play with her glucose meter. She has done so good in letting us take her blood, she doesn't even cry anymore when we poke her to get the blood drawn on her little fingers.

So far we have been able to control it with her diet, which is a HUGE blessing. I'm sure she would be fine with insulin, I am not so sure I would be!

First Hair cut!

 Mikayla had her first hair cut yesterday! her hair was getting pretty long and she had a few un-manageable curls.

 She did so very well most of the appointment until the end.

So we gave her John's phone and she started taking pictures.

Just the last few days....

 

 

 

 

Thing's have been kind of crazy with this little family the last few days.

 

#1- we had to put Mikayla into daycare

#2- John and I went back to school & have the craziest schedule

#3- Mikayla's post-operation appointment

#4- Mikayla turned 15 months on April 2nd!

 

#1- Mikayla started daycare! John and I have done really good juggling our school schedules and Mikayla. This quarter our schedules overlap all day long Monday, Wednesday and Friday's. So, off to Daycare our little girl went! I searched all over Lincoln for the best little center to care for Kayla. We toured many places, then as I was driving home I saw a daycare just up the street from us. I gave them a call, we got in for a tour and they just happened to have one spot left! All the other center's I had an uneasy feeling about, but immediately upon entering into her center I felt an easiness wash over me and I felt okay about her going to daycare. Obviously not the first choice after her being home with mom & dad & grandma when needed for 15 months- but we took the plunge! she did so great her first day (which was yesterday!) she did ladybug art, and played really well with the other kids! Thank goodness it is only for 3 days a week!

 

#2- John and I are both back in school after a way too quick quarter break. Our school schedules are crazy! I am in class Monday-Wednesday-Friday from 9:30am-7:30pm, and john Monday through Friday,  8am-5:30pm. We both have about an hour in between one of our classes in which we are able to see each other and actually eat lunch together! It will be well worth it in the end though!

 

#3- I took Mikayla to her first after surgery eye appointment. As I said in an earlier post, her surgery didn't go as it was planned. Well, the surgeon today wasn't exactly thrilled with how her eyes looked. I have to take her back in 6 weeks so reevaluate and see what the surgeon wants to do. But further, more extensive surgery will most likely be needed.

 

#4- Mikayla turned FIFETEEN MONTHS on April 2nd. How do we almost have a 1 1/2 year old?!? She is 18 pounds, 29 inches long & talking a mile a minute and walking just as fast! She took off like a little rocket! She is into everything, I just LOVE this stage. It is so fun watching her little [okay- BIG] personality coming out more and more every day!!

 

So for now- it is school, homework, hanging out with Mikayla, more homework, then some more homework, and anxiously awaiting the arrival of my little niece!