Introducing our 4 legged family!

LONG POST, But if you like animals you will enjoy reading this.

Maria and I have been parents for over eight years now. Yes, I consider ourselves parents because we have our two little four legged babies.  They are Bichon Frise’s JJ and Mia, but they are more than just our dogs they are our kids.  Maria and I would do anything for our dogs/kids.  They have become a part of our family from the day we brought them home.  They love us more than anything and we love them just like our own kids. One of my favorite things about our dogs is when I come home from work the first thing that is waiting by the door is JJ and Mia. 

Our first dog that came into our life is our son JJ.  He was so adorable the day that we saw him at his parents’ home.   He looked like a little fur ball as a puppy and was so happy to see us.  JJ even has his own little trademark and he started doing that the first day we met him.  He sat on his back legs and would sit up like a squirrel would do. In fact, that was how we fell in love with him.  Maria said I want that one he is so adorable!!  JJ still does this today and he knows how to use it to his benefit.  For example when he wants a treat or human food he will sit on his little butt.   

We had JJ for a few months and we wanted to complete our four legged family with another Bichon.  So we looked through the newspaper and found a breeder that had a female Bichon.  We brought JJ with us to meet his new playmate and he found his life companion that day.  We brought our little girl Mia home that day.  Mia was really from a puppy mill and we actually turned the breeder into animal services but never found out what happened to them.   I told Maria that we had to take Mia home that day because there was no way we were going to let her live one more minute at that home.  I think Mia would agree that she found the best home any dog could ever ask for.  She is loved unconditionally every day just like JJ. 

Both JJ and Mia have very different personalities.  JJ is the mellow laid back little guy.  He mostly never plays ever.  He doesn’t play fetch but when his sister Mia play’s ball he thinks it’s time to tackle her like football.   JJ is the most attached to Maria he follows her wherever she goes bathroom, downstairs, kitchen, just about everywhere she goes he has to go. 

Mia is definitely a little diva girl.  She is full of energy even at eight years old.  She loves attention and loves to be petted.  One of her favorite things is her little pink ball.  If you ask her to get her ball she will search and find that pink ball wherever it is in the house.  When she does find it you will be playing with her till she passes out.

 Mia is also a lover and she loves her JJ.  When JJ will be lying on the floor she will walk over to him and bath his face and lay by him.  These two dogs are inseparable even at the groomers they have to be bathed together and caged together.   Talk about true love and best friends forever.

That’s the background on our little four legged kids but I want to talk about their health.   Mia is super healthy.  She has been to the vet for numerous things.  She knows how to knock over my in laws trash can when she grew up there for the first couple years of her life.  She ate corn on the cobs, meat package wrappers and she has even eaten pills.  Yes all these events were scary but she lived through every single one of them. 

JJ he is our little warrior dog!!! He has been a trooper that’s for sure.  About 2 years ago, around mid December he was acting funny. (My timeline maybe off as it has been over 2 years)  We knew something was bothering him because he isn’t the type of dog to just beg for attention or show us he is in pain.  He went to his first Vet checkup of many that month and they told us that he was fine nothing was wrong with him.  He was just limping and holding his leg up.  Another day went by and he was doing more of the same acting like something was bothering him when he walked.  So back to the Vet he went and they said oh maybe he has a sprained leg or just pulled a muscle.  We went home that day with pain pills and steroids for him. 

We administered his medicines for the next few days and we noticed he didn’t want to hold his tail up?!?!  Mind you this little guy loves wagging his tail around even when you yell at him for something.  We knew in our hearts that something was still wrong.  Back to the Vet he went and we finally were able to see our regular Vet after he took a vacation for a week.  Of course something like this happens when the Vet you use is gone for a week.  JJ had many tests done and everything checked out so we gave him more pain medicines and steroids but we were told if he doesn’t improve in the next few days we had to see the Vet specialists.  We had enough pain pills to get JJ through Christmas and the next day his body told us the pain pills were not working. 

I took JJ outside and as soon as he came back in he ran into his bed and stared at the wall crying in pain.  We knew it was time to take him to the specialists.  That night we packed him up in the car and admitted him to the doggie emergency room.  They kept him overnight and they told us to come back in the morning to talk to the surgeon about his back!!! We spoke with the surgeon the next morning and he informed us JJ would need an MRI and if the MRI showed anything wrong with his vertebrates he would be having surgery. 

JJ had surgery that day to repair his slipped disc and was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease.   He made it through the surgery just fine but the surgeon told us he was surprised JJ was even walking when we brought him in to the emergency room.  The surgeon explained to us that his spinal cord was almost severed in half!!! WOW really!!!  We brought him home the following day and Maria and I lived in our living room for the next two months.   We did this to confine JJ so he could rest and recover properly. 

After the surgery, JJ was like his old self except he lost control of his peeing and his pooing.  He can no longer pee on his own and poo will fall out of him just like when u take a dog on a walk.  I know many of you will say ewwww gross. But really it isn’t bad at all.  JJ wears a diaper around his waist so he doesn’t dribble all over the place and sometimes there will be poo on the carpet and I just pick it up and throw it in the toilet.  In order for JJ to go pee, Maria and I have to manual express his bladder.  To do this we just squeeze on his abdomen on a puppy pad four times a day.  He doesn’t mind it all in fact when you tell him to go to the bathroom he goes to his room and waits for you to drain him.  He is such a good little boy. Through his surgery JJ has returned to 100% minus his other two issues. 

But this past week and half ago JJ was acting the way he did two years ago before his surgery.  He was in pain not wanting to get up and walk.  So we took him back to the Vet specialists and they assured us it wasn’t it his back.  He had no pain or any discomfort.  But we didn’t believe them.  So they ran a bunch of tests to check all his functions liver, kidneys, urine test, etc. and everything came back normal.  JJ is currently on pain medicines and he seems to be acting like his old self.  They have given us instructions to keep him rested so if it is his back it can hopefully heal on its own.  But again during this episode the surgeon that operated on JJ was on vacation for a week.  We have an appointment with him this coming Thursday and we hope our little son will be ok. 

This of course is the worst possible time to be having a flare up of JJ ‘s back because Alayna will be here any day now.  But if he has to have another surgery we will be doing whatever it takes to get him back to his normal health.  I think that we are some pretty awesome parents and we have demonstrated that through our four legged family already.  So with this I think Alayna will be born into a household that will never give up on their children!!!

 

Beautiful Mia!

 

Handsome JJ! 

 

 JJ and his diaper.

 

Best friends forever!!!

 

 

 

Pregnancy: Final Trimester Week 37

Another week down as we get closer and closer to the big day. Here is the weekly update!  IT’S OFFICIAL LESS THAN A MONTH TO GO, 21 DAYS!!!!! UNBELIEVEABLE IS ALL I CAN SAY!  

But before I get to the weekly update our family is going through a stressful time right now so keep us in your thoughts and prayers I would appreciate it.  We have a sick dog that has been very painful and may have what is called pancreatitis.  We hope that it is only pancreatitis and not a disc problem that we experienced 2 years ago. I will blog about this one day because our dog is truly one miracle.  

Also my brother is having some medical tests done in the coming days and we are keeping our fingers crossed that everything turns out fine!!
How far along:  We are currently in week 37.  As of today, we have 21 days to go! She is going to be here very soon.  Almost any day now!  Maria and I hope now that Alayna stays in there as long as possible. We want to get our dog back to health and see the family improve before Alayna makes her entrance.  I know it is the worst possible time to go through a crisis with the dog and my brother’s health but it is what it is.  

 How big:  Depending upon which baby app I reference…..She now weighs 6.5 lbs and  19 inches from head to toe. She is almost to my guess of 20 inches.

Developments and Milestones:  If Alayna were to be born now, she would be considered full term.  Yippee!!

In preparation for life outside the womb, Alayna continues to practice breathing, moving around, sucking her thumb and blinking.  Alayna is practicing her movement as well.  She will move from one side of Maria to the opposite.  

Many babies will come out with a full head of hair at birth, with lengths of ½ inch to 1 ½ inches long.  WARNING do not be surprised if Alayna comes out with a different color hair than ours.  Maria has brown hair and I have Black with a little silver mixed in.  I assume she will have dark hair but I guess we will not know until she is here.  But on our 36 week ultrasound they said she has a lot of hair!!!

Interesting fact for everyone Alayna’s head will, at birth, be the same size circumference as her hips, abdomen, and shoulders.  This in fact is why men could never ever have a baby!!
What Mom and Dad Notice:   Alayna continues to move and the movement is very low these days.  She has been kicking Maria’s bladder and laying on Maria’s back.  So guess what John gets to do……….back rubs through the night.  I have even given a back rub at 4 am.  Not only is Maria not sleeping I am not sleeping as well.  I guess this is practice for the real thing. 

Alayna’s movement has been very noticeable these past few weeks.  You can see her move from one side of Maria’s belly to the next.  We can also feel her bone structure very well.  We are still not sure what we are feeling though.  Soon we will be able to feel these bone structures when she arrives!

Alayna's Bedroom Finally!!

I promised I would upload some photos of Alayna's bedroom a few weeks back so I am finally getting around to it.  Life has been very busy lately.

First lets start talking about painting her room.  Yes, that was a major project just painting.  I found out through Alayna's bedroom that I hate painting.  There is no way I could make painting a career or let alone find enjoyment in.  The main reason is I have a trait called perfection!!! This really is my worst nightmare.  I think I inherited this trait from my Dad.  But anyway, I honestly painted a few of the walls four times.   A wall had to be painted at least a minimum of two times to cover the previous color though.  One of the paint cains caused the paint to bubble on one of the walls which required me to sand out the entire wall.  The other walls had paint streaks from the rolller.  Like I said perfection.  But many people probably would have said the walls were fine.  

Maria and I debated for a few days how we wanted to paint the room.  Should we do an accent wall or just paint the entire room one color?  Well after many paint swatches and buying test paint cans we decided on painting the wall where the crib will be placed the accent wall.  I know a big step in the room was completed.  We were nervous to do an accent wall as we are not the most decorative people or risk takers when it comes to home interior decorating.  But I have to say the paint colors we chose and the accent wall look amazing.  Lets just hope Alayna likes the colors!!!

The theme of her room is butterflies. Maria and I both wanted a theme that she could use for more than just a few years and I think we found a great theme!!!  Every single wall has some form of butterflies.  The wall that the crib is on has her name spelled out above her crib.  Maria spent a lot of time painting the letters and adding a stencil design to each of them.  We both think the name turned out awesome.  The other three walls have butterflies hung.  We did an array of five mirrored butterflies above her dresser.  Yes I made sure they will not fall down on her head as Alayna will be changed beneath them.  Another wall has three butterflies that are purple and pink and match the color of room.  The last wall has two butterflies that are purple that look amazing when you wallk into the room.  Even the ceiling fan has pull strings that have butterflies on them.  Alayna I hope you love butterflies!!

We are both so glad that we finished her room and we cannot wait till little Alayna is here with us at home!!! Enjoy the pictures below.

So what do you think of her room??



 

Ultrasound Pictures!!!

Yesterday felt like Christmas eve for Maria and I!!! We were so excited to see ALAYNA or ALAN on the ultrasound.  The last time we were able to see our little miracle was at our 20 week ultrasound which was way back in April!!  

I was super excited and I left my office 45 minutes early for the appointment. The doctor office is only a 15 minute drive but I wanted to make sure there was no accident on the highway. I actually arrived before Maria left our house.  So as you can tell I was EXCITED.  Maria arrived and we waited for over 45 minutes to have our ultrasound.  But the time went fast though which was weird. 

The first thing Maria asked the ultrasound technician was “Please make sure we are still having a girl!!”  She laughed and said “Whatever sex we told you back on your 20 week ultrasound should still be the same!!” It was confirmed she is most definitely a little girl.  So she is still Alayna and not Alan.  I guess that joke is finally over Maria.   

The technician that we had perform the ultrasound was very good.  She got many pictures of Alayna.  Our little girl was on her best behavior not moving very much at all which was great so they could get all of her measurements.  She was measuring right on schedule coming in at a whopping 6 pounds and 2 ounces.   Her legs were in the 70^th percentile, stomach 30^th percentile, and head 60^th percentile.  The doctor informed us that she will be roughly 7.5 to 8 pounds when she is born and she will be in the 40^th percentile overall.  He also said everything looks good and healthy and she has a lot of hair!!!  So looks like she will be an average sized baby.

During the ultrasound, the technician turned the ultrasound on 3D and it was amazing!!!   Alayna looked so precious and cozy in there.  She was sleeping peacefully with her hand near her face for comfort.  She did give us a smile and she even yawned and swallowed. As far as her facial features it appears that she has Maria’s nose.  The rest of Alayna’s face was hard to predict who she looks like.  But seeing her like this made us both more excited and we cannot wait to hold her in our arms soon!! 

 Sleepy Alayna with her hand near her face! So precious!!

 Look at my head mom and dad!!

Just chillin!!!



Pregnancy: Final Trimester Week 36

Another week down as we get closer and closer to the big day. Here is the weekly update!  IT’S OFFICIAL LESS THAN A MONTH TO GO, 28 DAYS!!!!! 

How far along:  We are currently in week 36.  As of today, we have 28 days to go!  She is going to be here very soon.  Almost any day!  Maria hopes it will be sooner than later that Alayna makes her entrance in this world.   

How big:  Depending upon which baby app I reference…..She now weighs almost 6 lbs like the weight of a Crenshaw melon.  I guess we are still in the melon stage. Eventually, we will graduate to an actual baby very soon.   Alayna currently measures over 18.5 inches from head to toe. She is almost to my guess of 20 inches

We are a day away from our 36 week ultrasound and we cannot wait! Alayna will be in 3D as well during the ultrasound where we will be able to see her facial features.  I will be asking to make sure we are still having a girl and not an Alan!!  

Developments and Milestones:  Alayna is still packing on the pounds!!! She is gaining approximately an ounce a day.  Hmm that’s how I feel every day.  I have gained a few pounds since Maria has been pregnant.  

Alayna is shedding most of the downy hair that covered her body, as well as the vernix caseosa.  This is a waxy substance that protects the skin during its nine month bath in amniotic fluid. Alayna actually swallows these substances, along with other secretions, and they form a tar like black substance called meconium. The meconium is what Alayna will pass in her first bowel movements.  So this is what that first diaper is made of!!! No wonder why its an awful diaper.  Looks like daddy will be changing that diaper.

For the most part all of her crucial internal organs and systems have formed except for her digestion.  Alayna has relied on the umbilical cord for nutrition, meaning that the digestive system though developed hasn’t been operational.  Alayna will take the first year or two to bring the digestive system up to speed.  

At the end of this week, Alayna will be considered full term!!!! Babies born before 37 weeks are considered pre term while babies born after 42 weeks are post term.  

What Mom and Dad Notice:   Alayna continues to move and the movement is very low these days.  She has been kicking Maria’s bladder.  I wonder why you have to go to the bathroom more!  The Braxton Hicks have been continuing this week as well.  I have felt Alayna performing hiccups or what they call practice breathing.  It is really neat to feel this as I will never be able to feel what it is like to carry a baby.  Also, from these Braxton Hicks Maria’s belly has been rock hard.  Literally its like a rock!!!

As many of you can guess Maria cannot wait to deliver.  She is experiencing pain and sleepless nights. Heartburn is another trend and it is not triggered by spicy food.  Actually its almost anything Maria eats that will trigger heartburn.  For example she ate Doritos and had heartburn. 

We are very excited to see her in the upcoming ultrasound tomorrow!!! We will be making sure we are still having a girl. Lets keep our fingers crossed as the baby room is complete. I know I promised pictures of the room and I will post them this week so stay tuned.

Favorite Way To Get Mucus Out

As you have read by the title of this post its going to talk about MUCUS!!! So if you do not want to read about what us CF patients go through then close this post.  But it really will not be a gross post I promise.

My favorite way or the way that works the best for me to move mucus out of my lungs is obviously the VEST and my hypertonic saline.  But I would like you all to think of what is your favorite way to cough out that junk WITHOUT using the VEST or HTS.  I know a lot of you will say exercise which makes perfect sense to me.  You breath a lot harder and deeper which will induce cough and move that junk out. 

Without using the VEST or HTS for me it has to be laughing.  That's right laughing one of my favorite things to do.  If you are reading this and are not a CFer then you might not understand this.  Every time I go to clinic they ask do you have laugh cough?  I always answer yes.  When I laugh it puts a lot of pressure on my chest and lungs and moves that mucus around causing me to cough. 

So with that said I love to laugh and it helps me move that junk out. So a double bonus I get to laugh and make my mind feel good plus I get to cough junk out and make my lungs feel good.   Sometimes this can be very annoying especially in a movie theatre.  But I do it anyway, I don't care what people think except Maria will say I couldn't hear what they said.  I try to keep the coughing to a minimal if possible in a movie theatre but that doesn't always happen. But when I am at home I let it rip.

For anyone that may be wondering what shows or movies that produce the most mucus for me are the following.  I will start with my favorite shows on TV that make me laugh to no end.

Impractical Jokers - This is one of the greatest comedy shows on TV but is also probably one of the least watched.  My wife and I started watching this after my mother in law told us to watch an episode because she knew we would love it.  She was definitely correct.  This show is about 4 friends who have to break many social norms.  They will have to do or say whatever the other 3 friends tell them to do.  If they do not they get a strike.  At the end of the show the person with the most strikes has to perform some crazy skit that is to no end hilarious!  I know I didn't explain it that well but you need to really check this show out on truTV on Thursday nights. The new episodes come on at 10pm eastern time. 

Here Comes Honey Boo Boo - We just started watching this show recently with the recommendation from one of my good friends.  He told us that we would die laughing from this show.  Another person was correct on that.  I don't really know how to explain this show but it is so hilarious.  The first time we watched an episode we watched every rerun after that. So its about a family who is basically what you would call hillbilly and they do some stuff that just cracks me up to no end.  I am in no way making fun of anyone who is hilly bill but this show is just downright hilarious.  If you have seen this show one of my favorite episodes is when they play the "Breath Test Game"  I literally think Maria and I laughed for 5 minutes straight.  We still laugh when we think of this.  If you haven't seen this show you need to check it out on TLC on Wednesday nights at 10 pm eastern time.

Modern Family - We all know about this show if you have ever watched ABC.  If you have yet to hear about this show you are truly missing out.  Maria says I am Phil Dumphy so next time you watch this show think of me.  I am no mister fix it in this house that's for sure.  But this show has to be one of the most watched on TV right now.  It is full of laughs and makes me cough so if you are a CFer watch it.

I also love comedy movies.  My favorite one of all time is Hangover. My wife and I could watch that 100 times and never get bored!!!


So what is your favorite way to get that junk out besides the VEST??? I am looking forward to reading your responses!!!

Pregnancy: Final Trimester Week 35

I have been super busy lately at work and at home so if you have been wondering where the update is that is my excuse. Another week down as we get closer and closer to the big day. Here is the weekly update!  I still cannot believe how close it is to the big day! Its almost under a month!

How far along:  We are currently in week 35.  As of today, we have 33 days to go!  She is going to be here very soon.  Almost any day!  

How big:  Depending upon which baby app I reference…..She now weighs 5.25 lbs like the weight of a honeydew.  Alayna currently measures over 18 inches from head to toe. I think she has almost reached her full length by now. My prediction is that she will be around 20 inches. 

So Maria came into my office yesterday and everyone said she is all belly.  I would concur with all of them.  She is all belly and still has tooth pick legs and arms.  When you hear it looks like someone swallowed a basketball Maria fits that definition.   

We are less than a week from our 36 week ultrasound and we cannot wait! Alayna will be in 3D as well during the ultrasound where we will be able to see her facial features.  

Developments and Milestones:  The trend continues from last week that Maria will be gaining about a pound a week and half of that goes right to Alayna.

Alayna’s kidneys are now fully developed and her liver can process some waste products.  Her basic physical development is complete as well.  I guess we will get to see that next week!!! Alayna’s main job over the next few weeks is to put on weight.  The added weight will make her skin appear less wrinkly.  I guess that means more Chipolte in our household.

Alayna is head down now!!! She is preparing for her exit in the coming weeks.  Ready or not here I come mom and dad. She is moving less but she does remain active still.  

Studies show that if Alayna was to be born at this stage she would probably do very well.  She would have little to no long term health issues.  But PLEASE Alayna stay in there longer and fatten up.  You will have plenty of time to meet everyone once you make your entrance in this world.  We are all patiently waiting for you!!

What Mom and Dad Notice:   As I said above her movement is not as dramatic or in other words not as much.  But she is still an active little girl in there.  I assume this is a sign of how she will be when she comes out. 

We are very excited to see her in the upcoming ultrasound next week!!! Maria and I have had many conversations as to what she will look like.  Who’s nose she will have, lips, ears, eyes, and hair.  I know we will not get the full impact of what she really looks like until the day she is born but this will tie us over until she arrives. 

So I have been tasked to find the best place to eat a rare prime rib once Alayna arrives.  Yes, Maria has been longing for rare meat since she isn’t allowed to eat anything rare while being pregnant.  Some other items Maria wants to eat when Alayna is here include an Arby’s roast beef sandwich and a ham and mustard sandwich.  I guess when you cannot have it you want it!!