Where have we gone?

So it's been almost a year since I posted anything to the blog, and I know why. I think with so many ways to share, and some of them much easier to do from my phone... this just fell by the wayside. Facebook and Twitter are just more convenient, there is just no other way to say it.

So maybe until I get a whole bunch of free time back. You can also find out about us at
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.brownsen
http://www.facebook.com/mars.brownsen#!/profile.php?id=1549865289

and
Twitter:
@elightful

Macy Update

So no surgeries for Macy yet. Right before the ear tube surgery we went in for a pre-op appointment, and her ears were clear for the first time in months. So the surgery was canceled, but the doctor told us there were no guarantees... "she could walk out the door catch a cold, and have another ear infection before three days had gone by." And so with those instructions that is exactly what she did.

Alright back to Plan A, we are now waiting for ear tube surgery to be scheduled again.

Yes, really.

But she is still cute and sweet as can be.

Macy Issue One

So at some point it seemed that Macy would need to have toe surgery (to remove her little extra toe) and then while all of her ear infections are going on the doctors started telling us that she would most likely need ear tubes. So, you would think logically, we looked into doing both surgeries together. But that is not too be.

See the ENT is fine with it, but didn't do surgery where the pediatric othopedist did surgery, so he referred us to an ENT at children's hospital LA. The ENT talked to the orthopedist, and he was okay with doing the surgery together, but the ortho wasn't. So here is the catch 22, if Macy has an active ear infection or fluid in her ears the ortho considers that an infection risk for the foot surgery, if her ears are clear with no fluid, she doesn't need ear tubes. So two surgeries it is

Next Tuesday she has the ear tube surgery scheduled. And I am preparing for the fact this is the first of two surgeries over that next few months. With any luck, before she starts walking. I know for sure before the toe surgery we will take pictures to commemorate her soon to be 5 toed foot, but what do I take a picture of for her soon to be be-tubed ear drums?

Macy's Smile

So right now Macy is great. She is growing into her own personality, and one thing you have got to love is that she spends most of her time smiling and singing (with no words) and cracking us up. But she also can get mad/ panic-y if she gets hungry. This below was taken right after she finished eating, and check out that growl/ smile/ snarl.

Stars Are Born

This video is of Macy and her cackling laugh at her big sister Jane.

Late Updates

So for all of you blog followers who thought we might have fallen off the face of the earth. We are all okay, in fact we are much better. Macy is still struggling with her ear, but it seems like tubes might be in our future, and right now she is feeling okay, and we are just in a wait and see mode. Jane on the other hand is hilarious. She says the funniest things right now. She told us a few days ago that she knew that talking to strangers was bad, and then let us know that a cheetah was a stranger.

Mars had had some struggles at work, with not knowing if he would have a job next year, and at this point it is still up in the air. He is proud of the teaching he is doing, so if they don't ask him back, it is their loss. I got a promotion at work about a month ago, and my job though very hard, is increasingly rewarding.

I plan to update the blog more, now that life seems a bit more stable, and know I miss all of you.

Nothing to say

So... Macy is sick again. I don't even know what to say ... except I am just so sad.
Since she was 3 months old she has just been sick. All the time.

- 6 rounds of antibiotics
- 1 nebulizer with 3 medicines we alternate through
- 4 failed attempts at sleep training, because you can't sleep train a genuinely sick child
- endless coughs, runny noses, and fevers
- 3 eye infections and 3 ear infections
- missed days of play school (don't even know how many)
- I counted... 10 pediatrician appointments (that is one every other week on average), 1 chest x-ray, 1 pediatric pulminologist, 2 ENTs

Everyone just says it is a tough year all around, and there is nothing specifically wrong with her. Mars and I hold on to this little hope that she is just getting everything in one year and she will be the healthiest toddler there ever was. But we are tired and spring/summer can not get here soon enough for us. Sorry to whine.