It sure has been an eventful month! Our family has had so many changes in the last few weeks and we've all been very busy! I still can't believe it, but we have moved back to Georgia. This is a change we made due to Brooks' job and it is wonderful. He is now working from home and traveling more, but he's still working for the same company. It's really nice having him around during the day. I know he's enjoying it, too.
We left Alabama the last weekend in August. It was a pretty uneventful move, but like anyone knows, moving is stressful in and of itself. This is the first move we've had to make with kids, which makes it that much more complicated. Anna Brooke is still asking when we are going back. Poor thing--it seems as though she is not a fan of change. Emma Kate is doing well, other than having an ear infection at the moment. We met with her new cardiologist and pediatrician a couple of weeks ago. I'm so glad we went ahead and made appointments with them as soon as we got here. I just wanted to be sure we knew our new doctors, in case something were to happen.
I am glad to be back in Georgia. We're a lot closer to family and friends, which is wonderful. It kind of felt like we were on an island when we lived in Birmingham, even though we had my sister nearby. Other than that, our closest family members were at least two hours away. Now they are no more than two minutes, which is super nice! (We do miss our friends, though! Hi, Reynolds!)
Part of me lately has been kind of missing Birmingham. I guess it is not really the place, its more the events that happened while we lived there. Brooks and I spent the majority of our marriage there; both of our girls were born there. Anna Brooke and I spent so much good quality time together for her first two and a half years while we lived there. It was such a fun time! I think about that pretty often now. Hopefully I will be able to get AB in to a preschool pretty soon (if there are still any openings) and that will give Emma Kate and I some focused time together. That has always been really important to me. I realize a lot of moms aren't able to be at home with their kids full time, so I never want to take that for granted and spend as much time as I can with my girls.
Today we discovered our local library. It was fun! We made it just in time for story time. There was another little girl there, who was maybe a year and a half I guessed. The woman with her (who I assumed was her grandmother) asked me how old EK was. When I told her 13 months, her mouth fell open and she just stared. Seriously. Finally, after what seemed like five minutes of staring, she said, "But she's so tiny!" I just said, "Yes, she is." But what I wanted to say was, "Uh, yeah!! She's also had two lifesaving operations, not to mention another stint in the hospital for almost a month!" She also asked a series of other annoying questions, such as how many teeth she has (does this really matter?) and blah blah...
I don't know why it got under my skin so badly. Maybe its because I actually am a little worried about her size. She's about 17 pounds and she's 13 months old, which apparently is not even on the growth chart, according to the doctors. But she's come so far, so its hard for me to feel bad about it for long. And actually, I secretly like having a small baby. It just makes me feel like I can hold her for longer. Is that silly? I better wrap this up because it is storming pretty bad. Did any of you other heart moms have smaller babies and get annoyed with people for commenting on their size?
Oh she is just perfect. I often find myself annoyed when people ask random things about Grant, but then I have to step back and remind myself that the world in general has no idea about heart problems and most cannot truly even digest the information if you were to try and tell them! We usually get comments on the feeding tube and oxygen (for some reason, oxygen in a baby equals a preemie.... no... this is very very different!). No idea on the size question though.... 6 months with an NJ tube and Grant's weight is on the smaller end of the charts, but he still looks chunky to me. I hope you guys enjoy being closer to family again!
ReplyDeleteI got that comment just the other day at the pharmacy about Aly! Of course, she's fussing and I'm trying to hurry and get us out of there fast cuz it's getting to be cold season here in Michigan and this women won't stop about "she's so small!! I can't believe it... " on and on and on. Seriously people!! But, I try and remember that until about 4 months ago this was a world I knew nothing about either. (still.. a little tact please, right? :P )
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the move! It's great to have family close by.
Carlie was very small as well. I remember her wearing 12 months clothes at 18 months. She also didn't weigh 20 pounds until she reached 18 months. I think until after the Fontan, they tend to be small because their heart is working so hard. I remember Carlie weighing 21 pounds when she went in for her Fontan (which was performed at 21 months) and 20 months post-Fontan, she weighs in at 30 pounds. She is still on the smaller side, but has obviously done well in the weight gain area since the Fontan.
ReplyDeleteHappy to hear that the move went well and that you are closer to family...always a blessing! Best wishes!
So good to hear your update and sooo good to see you on Saturday! I love my bethany! It just so happens that John Ross' babysitter was talking about her 3 year old niece who happens to have HLHS. She was actually talking about how small and petite she is. I mentioned you and your sweet EK! So it sounds pretty common. Love you girl and can't wait to see you!
ReplyDeleteA close friend of ours has a baby the same age as Hazel and she was born on time with no health issues and she has been around 18 pounds for the last few months (she's 15 months)- I totally understand liking your little EK, they're only little once, and she's perfect the way she is :)
ReplyDeleteI am thrilled that you are happy to be back in Georgia, but from the family you left that was 2 hours away, I am heartbroken! I don't know why you feel so much farther away, but you do, and we miss knowing you are "merely 2 hours away." Just don't forget your Alabama family, sweetie ... we still want to see those baby girls grow!
ReplyDeleteAnd this will be hard for you to imagine, but Marti was only 24 pounds when she was 2 years old, so I think EK is doing GREAT ... and all those comments about how perfect she is are RIGHT ON!
We love you so much! Please continue to share photos of BOTH of those precious baby girls!
From their Great-Aunt Proxy!
I'm excited about your move, but sad we won't see you guys when we visit B'ham. It was always a special treat to hang out with you guys.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Sarah is perfectly healthy & only weighed 18 lbs at a year. No worries. EK is perfect the way she is!
Yes my son has HLHS and he is 14m and weighs about 16lbs too. I also hate, the "wow, he is so tiny" Is he walking?....Glad to hear you are doing well. What part of Georgia are you in? I live i Augusta.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are moved and settling in! My Mary Clare is still a petite 23 lbs and she is 26 months old! I, too, get the "she is so tiny..." comments. (Although her cheeks must be at least half of her body weight!) I just smile and think that one day as an adult she'll be happy to be a "tiny one." By the way, the only measurement of Mary Clare's that has EVER been on the "typical toddler growth chart" is her head!! She has a huge noggin to go on top of that tiny body!
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