Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Sweet Relief!
As you know it has been a brutal 2014 for the Jurbala family. Well in the past few weeks we have had some good news!
1. Leo had blood tests to determine the severity of his allergies. What we found out is that they aren't severe at all!! He has outgrown his fish allergies altogether. Some of the allergens that effected his skin, did not show up in his blood. His peanut/almond allergies are super low at a .85. The cutoff is .35 and those with severe allergies are in the hundreds. He's not allergic to cashews or hazelnuts (hello Nutella). The allergist was very excited by these results and there is high hopes that he is going to outgrow them all!! We aren't changing his diet based on these findings.........just yet. We are going to scope him again in a few months then determine a course of action. Fingers crossed!
2. Mike got a job!! He is finalizing the details but this is great news. Big changes with him finally going into the office. We barely had to touch his severance so that is great news. We already bought a new fridge and dishwasher to celebrate. Next up.........new carpets, new paint, and new couches!!!
3. Mom starts radiation on Tuesday. She will go through 5 weeks of radiation. She then has 2 weeks off before she starts 3 weeks of internal radiation. She is stronger than she thinks she is and has a huge support system. We wish her the best of luck and can't wait to see her soon!!
1. Leo had blood tests to determine the severity of his allergies. What we found out is that they aren't severe at all!! He has outgrown his fish allergies altogether. Some of the allergens that effected his skin, did not show up in his blood. His peanut/almond allergies are super low at a .85. The cutoff is .35 and those with severe allergies are in the hundreds. He's not allergic to cashews or hazelnuts (hello Nutella). The allergist was very excited by these results and there is high hopes that he is going to outgrow them all!! We aren't changing his diet based on these findings.........just yet. We are going to scope him again in a few months then determine a course of action. Fingers crossed!
2. Mike got a job!! He is finalizing the details but this is great news. Big changes with him finally going into the office. We barely had to touch his severance so that is great news. We already bought a new fridge and dishwasher to celebrate. Next up.........new carpets, new paint, and new couches!!!
3. Mom starts radiation on Tuesday. She will go through 5 weeks of radiation. She then has 2 weeks off before she starts 3 weeks of internal radiation. She is stronger than she thinks she is and has a huge support system. We wish her the best of luck and can't wait to see her soon!!
What They Must Think of Us.....
The big thing to do for Mother's Day and Father's Day is to ask kids a bunch of questions about their parents. The answers the kids give are either read aloud at a celebration or given to the parents to read at home. Based on Gwen's answers this year, I am kind of concerned as to what the teachers must think of us:
What is your mom's favorite thing to do? Stay at home and sit there because she's tired most of the time
What is your dad's favorite drink? Beer
What does your dad do for work? Looking for work is what he does for work
Let me summarize: Dad is a deadbeat that sits around drinking beer all day, without a job. Mom just lays around exhausted all of the time.
What is your mom's favorite thing to do? Stay at home and sit there because she's tired most of the time
What is your dad's favorite drink? Beer
What does your dad do for work? Looking for work is what he does for work
Let me summarize: Dad is a deadbeat that sits around drinking beer all day, without a job. Mom just lays around exhausted all of the time.
Thursday, May 22, 2014
It's Official.......
Gwen is FINALLY a Kindergartner!!
We had her Pre-K graduation today. It was so sweet. They walked in to Pomp & Circumstance and then sang songs. They had a montage of pictures from the school year and at the end they had pictures of what the kids wanted to be when they grew up. Gwen said "a mom". So cute! Afterwards they had a little reception for the kiddos. I thought I would cry, but I didn't. I think because Gwen is more than ready for Kindergarten and I am more than ready to have my daycare money back!
What's surprising about all of this is that Gwen is actually really nervous for Kindergarten. She always asks me what it is going to be like. She has a lot of big changes coming up with Mike going back to work after spending a lot of time with the kids, leaving Kindercare and the the teacher she has had for 3 years, starting Kindergarten.......etc. I know she will be fine, but I really don't like seeing her so upset about something.
We had her Pre-K graduation today. It was so sweet. They walked in to Pomp & Circumstance and then sang songs. They had a montage of pictures from the school year and at the end they had pictures of what the kids wanted to be when they grew up. Gwen said "a mom". So cute! Afterwards they had a little reception for the kiddos. I thought I would cry, but I didn't. I think because Gwen is more than ready for Kindergarten and I am more than ready to have my daycare money back!
What's surprising about all of this is that Gwen is actually really nervous for Kindergarten. She always asks me what it is going to be like. She has a lot of big changes coming up with Mike going back to work after spending a lot of time with the kids, leaving Kindercare and the the teacher she has had for 3 years, starting Kindergarten.......etc. I know she will be fine, but I really don't like seeing her so upset about something.
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Happy Mother's Day!
A midst a horrible weather day (cold, rain, snow) today, a ray of sunshine was my life. I had an AMAZING Mother's Day!! The kids surprised me with a vegetable garden as my gift. I am so excited!! The family then took me out to a great brunch at Linger (my meal was amazing and the mimosas went down very smooth). The kids loved the fact that we had a "pirate" as a waitress. Let's just say they weren't shy asking why she had a patch (she actually had an issue with her eye).
We had friends come over in the afternoon for more mimosas, then dinner and in bed by 8:30! Couldn't have asked for more! I do have to say that most Mondays after Mother's Day are a bit fuzzy. I love me some mimosas!!
Here are a few pictures of the day!
We had friends come over in the afternoon for more mimosas, then dinner and in bed by 8:30! Couldn't have asked for more! I do have to say that most Mondays after Mother's Day are a bit fuzzy. I love me some mimosas!!
Here are a few pictures of the day!
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
An Arrow
An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward. So when life is dragging you back with difficulties. It means that it's going to launch you into something great. So with hope in your heart, just focus, and keep aiming.
As seen by my lack of posts so far in 2014, it has been a brutal year so far and it is only April.
1. In March, Mom was diagnosed with Stage 3C1 Endometrial Cancer. She had a full hysterectomy and they took out her appendix, fatty tissue, 2 tumors, and tested lymph nodes. The big issue is that 1 out of the 8 lymph nodes tested had microorganisms of cancer. This means that cancer has entered the lymph system which is directly linked to the blood stream. It also spread into her fatty tissue within the pelvis. Her protocol was chemo, radiation,and hormonal therapy. She does not want to do chemo for quality of life reasons. Instead I am having her eat more healthy and look into holistic options. She will hopefully move forward with 5-8 weeks of radiation and 2-4 weeks of internal radiation soon. I don't think I have ever been so scared in my life. My mom has been such a stable support person in my life and I hate that she has to go through this. She is stronger than she will ever know and is surrounded by so many people that love her. I just want her around as it is FAR too early to lose her, so I hope she fights the fight I know she can.
2. In March, Mike's job with Facebook got relocated to NY. He had a high paying job where he worked from home and wasn't all that busy. I guess all good things must come to an end. I stress because of the unknown. How long will he be unemployed? What will the future look like when he finally has to go into the office? How will the kids and dog adjust to all the change with him not being around all the time? How will I adjust to it? In all honesty, I think this is good for him. He is networking with tons of people including CEOs. I haven't seen him so happy and hopeful in years. I hope something fantastic comes his way. He deserves it.
3. Leo was diagnosed with Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE). Something in his environment is causing his esophagus to swell and white blood cells to clump together causing a scabby-type environment. We have done another round of allergy testing on foods and have another round on the 23rd. Once we gather all the data, we will work with Dr. Atkins (our allergist) to determine a course of action. We are learning that Leo is eating for what makes him feel good......mushy foods like Mac/Cheese, spaghetti/meatballs, applesauce, oatmeal.....etc. I just hate that he has to go through this. He does it like a champ and all the doctors/nurses love him!! I keep hope that most kids grow out of their allergies between the ages of 3-4. I am just going to attempt to hold tight until then, follow doctor's orders, and hope that he grows out of most of his allergies. I am assuming he will always have EoE since Mike was diagnosed recently too (this would have been #4, but it is the least of my worries these days), but hopefully he can outgrow some of the more severe reactionary foods (peanuts, tree nuts, fish).
Needless to say I have been struggling. I don't think I have ever felt the weight of the world on my shoulders as I do right now. I have such strong anxiety attacks that I was given Xanax to control them. I have been put on another short term medication to take the edge off the constant anxiety I feel. I am constantly worried about what the "black cloud" holds next. I also meet with a counselor to talk things out. I've taken a break as I can't hear "do your imagination exercises" anymore. I'll imagine my foot right up her ass. I do try to find the positives in things. I am surrounded by the best children, husband, family, friends, and co-workers, that anybody can ask for.
I got this arrow tattoo as a reminder that there will be very trying times in life. One must remain hopeful that they will get better. One must make sure that they don't wait on happiness/good times, but try to find the joy/love/happiness in their current lives. It's easier said than done. Trust me. I think in the past few months I have shed more tears and felt more lost than I ever have in my life.
As seen by my lack of posts so far in 2014, it has been a brutal year so far and it is only April.
1. In March, Mom was diagnosed with Stage 3C1 Endometrial Cancer. She had a full hysterectomy and they took out her appendix, fatty tissue, 2 tumors, and tested lymph nodes. The big issue is that 1 out of the 8 lymph nodes tested had microorganisms of cancer. This means that cancer has entered the lymph system which is directly linked to the blood stream. It also spread into her fatty tissue within the pelvis. Her protocol was chemo, radiation,and hormonal therapy. She does not want to do chemo for quality of life reasons. Instead I am having her eat more healthy and look into holistic options. She will hopefully move forward with 5-8 weeks of radiation and 2-4 weeks of internal radiation soon. I don't think I have ever been so scared in my life. My mom has been such a stable support person in my life and I hate that she has to go through this. She is stronger than she will ever know and is surrounded by so many people that love her. I just want her around as it is FAR too early to lose her, so I hope she fights the fight I know she can.
2. In March, Mike's job with Facebook got relocated to NY. He had a high paying job where he worked from home and wasn't all that busy. I guess all good things must come to an end. I stress because of the unknown. How long will he be unemployed? What will the future look like when he finally has to go into the office? How will the kids and dog adjust to all the change with him not being around all the time? How will I adjust to it? In all honesty, I think this is good for him. He is networking with tons of people including CEOs. I haven't seen him so happy and hopeful in years. I hope something fantastic comes his way. He deserves it.
3. Leo was diagnosed with Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE). Something in his environment is causing his esophagus to swell and white blood cells to clump together causing a scabby-type environment. We have done another round of allergy testing on foods and have another round on the 23rd. Once we gather all the data, we will work with Dr. Atkins (our allergist) to determine a course of action. We are learning that Leo is eating for what makes him feel good......mushy foods like Mac/Cheese, spaghetti/meatballs, applesauce, oatmeal.....etc. I just hate that he has to go through this. He does it like a champ and all the doctors/nurses love him!! I keep hope that most kids grow out of their allergies between the ages of 3-4. I am just going to attempt to hold tight until then, follow doctor's orders, and hope that he grows out of most of his allergies. I am assuming he will always have EoE since Mike was diagnosed recently too (this would have been #4, but it is the least of my worries these days), but hopefully he can outgrow some of the more severe reactionary foods (peanuts, tree nuts, fish).
Needless to say I have been struggling. I don't think I have ever felt the weight of the world on my shoulders as I do right now. I have such strong anxiety attacks that I was given Xanax to control them. I have been put on another short term medication to take the edge off the constant anxiety I feel. I am constantly worried about what the "black cloud" holds next. I also meet with a counselor to talk things out. I've taken a break as I can't hear "do your imagination exercises" anymore. I'll imagine my foot right up her ass. I do try to find the positives in things. I am surrounded by the best children, husband, family, friends, and co-workers, that anybody can ask for.
I got this arrow tattoo as a reminder that there will be very trying times in life. One must remain hopeful that they will get better. One must make sure that they don't wait on happiness/good times, but try to find the joy/love/happiness in their current lives. It's easier said than done. Trust me. I think in the past few months I have shed more tears and felt more lost than I ever have in my life.
No More Diapers!!!
One night Leo and I decided to throw out his diapers. It was very ceremonial as we threw them over the 2nd floor ledge while Leo yelled "NO MORE DIAPERS!!"
He has been doing AMAZING. He went through a phase where he either pooped his pants or had to poop in a diaper, but now, it's 100% potty!! Mike has even taught him to stand up to pee (no pics to show as we have to hold his wiener). That's a lot of fun let me tell you!
He will still wear swim diapers for a bit and sleeps in Pull Ups (we call them sleep underwear). Other than that, we can call him potty trained!! Only took around 3 weeks or so. We were lazy and in no rush, so we really waited until he was ready. I guess we picked the right time. Considering everyone told me it would be horrible, I am very pleased at how amazing he did! Surprisingly I am sad that now my baby is truly a "big boy".
He has been doing AMAZING. He went through a phase where he either pooped his pants or had to poop in a diaper, but now, it's 100% potty!! Mike has even taught him to stand up to pee (no pics to show as we have to hold his wiener). That's a lot of fun let me tell you!
He will still wear swim diapers for a bit and sleeps in Pull Ups (we call them sleep underwear). Other than that, we can call him potty trained!! Only took around 3 weeks or so. We were lazy and in no rush, so we really waited until he was ready. I guess we picked the right time. Considering everyone told me it would be horrible, I am very pleased at how amazing he did! Surprisingly I am sad that now my baby is truly a "big boy".
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