I can't live without ...

As a mother, I am always on the hunt for ANYTHING to help make life easier. There are definitely some things out there that do the job. I've decided I need to make sure everyone else knows about these gems too! The plan is to post each Thursday about something I just can't live without - or don't want to live without! Hopefully I can stick to the plan. Of course Darby updates and things about her will still be thrown in, but I'd also like to branch out a little and have more variety in my posting.

First things first. Diaper trash bins. Some people swear by the Diaper Genie - but I don't want to hassle with having to buy specific trash bag refills. I feel like a regular trash can would stink up the house to high heaven. We have a Diaper Champ but even still sometimes when you walk into the room you can tell there are dirty diapers lurking. Well, not anymore! I discovered these babies:


They WORK! It's amazing. Dirty diaper smell no more. I'm almost positive if you just used these with a regular trash can in the baby's room, the smell would be significantly less. Another reason why spending money on the Diaper Genie refills isn't worth it. Unless they make scented refills ... and if they don't they probably should!!

I know it's not that complicated to put some Johnson and Johnsons No More Tears shampoo on a washcloth. It takes 2 seconds, if that, and it's probably more cost effective then these:



BUT I can't live without them. I keep a pack of these (and a spare) under the sink in the bathroom. I don't have to remember to grab a washcloth before I stick Darby in the tub. All I have to do is reach into the cabinet, dip it in the water, lather D up, rinse her off and toss the washcloth. There is always enough soap on it, it doesn't irritate her eyes just like the normal stuff and simply put - it just makes life easier!!

10 Month Old Time Outs & a Julie Update

I have to say Darby is certainly wise beyond her months, and not necessarily in a good way! 10 months old and she already knows how to throw a tantrum - I'm talking head whipping back, body turning into jelly, scream filled, TANTRUM! I always thought tantrums happened later, at least after their first birthday! Darby knows what the word "NO" means, she hears it a million times a day because she LOVES getting into everything she shouldn't, even if she has just freshly heard the word "No". She will look at you when you say "no" then go back to doing what you told her not to! Naughty little thing!

Today, she was attempting to get into the cabinet in the living room (for the millionth time I might add). I've decided that once I've said "NO" and removed her from doing what she shouldn't be, if she goes back to it, she will get a time out. Yes, time outs at 10 months old. I think if she is old enough to know what she is doing (which she DOES), she is old enough to be corrected! Obviously I am not expecting much from 10 month old time outs, but I have to start somewhere. I've decided to stick her in her packnplay immediately after saying "NO" for just a few minutes. Hopefully she starts connecting it all and we get somewhere.

Saying "NO" a thousand times a day is exhausting. I'm sure only to get worse before it gets better!


With Julie's lung transplant it is all about baby steps. She is making improvements daily, but there are also set backs. All in all, she is doing great. Right now she is breathing on her own (with some extra oxygen) and no longer with the help of the ventilator. They have taken her out of bed and she was able to sit up right in a chair. Of course she is still in pain and has a ways to go, but being a week out from such a massive surgery, she is doing wonderfully. Her lungs are working 100% and she is fighting with everything she has. We love her so much and ask for your continued prayers!

Some Complications

I am sorry to say Julie isn't doing as well as she was. The bottom of both lungs are not functioning. This morning they had to place a tracheostomy tube and of course she has not come of the ventilator yet. Please continue your prayers. We are hoping to go for a quick visit later on today if she is up for it.

Yesterday I had these made. Since Julie is in the ICU she obviously isn't allowed any flowers to cheer up the room. I figured being able to see Darby (and since Darby isn't allowed in to see her) might help lift her spirits a bit. I got them blown up to 12x18 so no matter where they are in the room, she can't miss them!


I really just wish it was 4 months from now already and she was home and everything was perfect. I am REALLY so very lucky to have such a great Mother in Law in Julie, and to have married into such a close knit family.

I will post another update when I have one.

Julie Update & D's New Doll

Today Julie's progress has slowed down slightly, but she is still doing well. In order for her to be taken off the ventilator, some of her pain medication has to be reduced - so she has feeling in order to breath properly. Of course this causes lots of pain and discomfort for her. Also, she was so used to breathing with little quick breaths that breathing at a normal pace (with the help of the ventilator) has caused her some anxiety. Yesterday evening when Eric and I were in visiting her she wrote a note to us saying that for so many years she was used to breathing faster that having such controlled slowed down breathing feels odd. It will take some time for her to get used to breathing the right way again.

We are still hopeful that tomorrow she will be taken off the ventilator and breath on her own for the first time in years. If it doesn't happen tomorrow, we will be hopeful that it will be the next day. At any rate, she is still doing well - much better then expected. She is in the most capable hands ever at UCLA Medical Center with the BEST doctors, and has about a million people saying prayers for her!!

While we were at the hospital, Eric found his way into the gift shop. He found the cutest baby doll - that is almost the same size as Darby - and just couldn't pass it up. She has fallen in love with the doll and will not let it go! I can lay her down for her nap with the doll and she holds on to it and doesn't fuss! Today when I laid her down for her nap I snuck back in a took a quick picture, then took one of the baby monitor. It is just took cute not to share with the world!

The Latest

I am sorry for the delay in updating everyone. I just wanted to wait to post until I had something uplifting and positive to write.

After a long day (Tuesday) filled with lots of waiting, the double lung transplant surgery finally got started around 11:30-ish, I think the donor lungs arrived somewhere around midnight. It lasted about 6 hours. Time could not have moved slower during those hours. We received an update around 1:30am that the new lungs were being sewed in. The next update wasn't until around 5:30 when they were finishing up.

After a long morning filled with not so great news on Julie's progress (I don't want to go into too many details, because I really have no idea what she is comfortable with me writing for the world to see), the afternoon brought much needed HOPE.

In the morning, Julie had been requiring 100% oxygen to breath with help of the ventilator. By the early afternoon, she was down to 80. By the late afternoon she was at 40! A normal person breaths at a 20, that is not far off. Once she is down to a 20, her breathing tube can be removed. This morning the Dr was saying she would need to be kept out for days. But by the afternoon she was awake. She looks great (given the circumstances) the difference from the morning and the evening is nothing short of amazing. She is writing notes, asking questions and communicating. Still, of course she needs rest, is in pain and there is still a LONG ways to go. It's all about baby steps.

Thank you God, for this wonderful gift for my amazingly strong Mother in Law, whom I love with all my heart.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. Please keep them coming!

Update

The transplant surgery is scheduled for around 7 or 7:30 tonight. From what we've heard it can take anywhere from 6-10 hours. We will be here every minute until the surgery is over and we know Julie is doing ok.

Darby is having a great time getting lots of attention from her Grandma, Grandpa, Great Aunts and Uncle, Uncle Ryan and Great Grandpa and Nana!

Awhile ago Darby and I were in with Julie and a girl popped in that had a successful double lung transplant a year ago. She ran a MARATHON in March. Darby might be the only one who will be able to keep up with Julie once she's recovered!

Please keep the prayers coming!

Prayer Request

Some of you might already know that my Mother in Law, Julie, has been waiting for a lung transplant since December. This morning the call came in and right now we are all camped out at the hospital. The surgery probably wont actually be until later this evening - they have to run some tests on the donor (a 17yr old on life support) before the organs can be harvested.

Please pray for Julie, for the success of the transplant surgery and her recovery. I will post an update when I have one.

Thank you all!