Two weeks ago, we took a trip to the zoo with Addison’s school. Both kids enjoyed themselves and loved seeing the animals. They were both able to feed the giraffes, walk around the petting zoo and run wild when there were not too many other people around us. Ethan amazed us all with his stories about Lemurs and Addison screamed “Roo” every time we walked past something that bounced. By the end of the trip, I was making mental notes about various other zoo’s I would like to take the children to this summer.

Last week, I took the kids to our local park. We had hours of fun up town at the park and Ethan made a new friend, who politely informed me that he would be there every Wednesday afternoon. I watched Addison try to climb up the slide the wrong way, Ethan jump from fort balconies and both kids laughing from sheer excitement to be there. Our park is nothing magnificent, but it is a very nice park still. There are lots of things for children Ethan’s age and up to do, which is great, but for the younger ones, not so much.

Taking the kids to do something special each week is a big goal of mine right now. With them gone on the weekends and me gone all day long on Tuesday and Thursday’s, I feel as though I am missing out on a lot of their life. And the guilt of being gone haunts me every time I apply for a job. I am literally developing stress wrinkles (oh, prototype 37c. how i need you.) and stress lines. I just have to keep reminding myself that several single mothers before me were able to do it.

Addison, wanting to take part in the ball bounce.

Ethan riding the barrell bull with one of

the early intervention teachers.

Ethan shooting water at the llama poster.

We had such a great time at the picnic, visiting with Addie’s EI teacher, playing with the small farm animals and taking part in crafts and games scattered about throughout the school. Lunch was delicious and was nothing like I expected. By the end of the day, the kids were ready to come home and crash, which they did, for about two hours.

One of Addison’s new talents?  She greets us every morning

by climbing out of her crib, then trying to climb back

up into it when she sees us approaching.

After months and months of fighting with doctors to get my daughter the help she needed, we finally got somewhere. Mott’s Children’s Hospital was able to help us out and then some. We are officially parasite free and overjoyed! I have known for a while, but did not want to update y’all without telling everyone in the family first. We got the phone call last Wednesday that Addison’s test results, had in fact, come back negative this time around. Hallelujah!

Despite her “clean” bill of health, the doctors are still concerned about her weight loss and that possibility that she may or may not be malnourished do to those unwanted visitors, so they are going to try out a few things in hopes of putting the weight back on her. Our available options are: a weight gain supplement, increasing her caloric intake and switching her from drinking formula* to drinking a couple of Pediasures per day.  Obviously, we want to do what is best for her and think out each of these options carefully.  I am against the weight gain supplement and worried about increasing her caloric intake.  My fear with the increased caloric intake is this: what if we increase it and cannot get it back down within normal range?  Will it cause her weight problems later on?  The doctors assured me that with the help of a dietitian, we can avoid the worst case scenarios.  We have an appointment with a dietitian next week, so I shall see.  As for the Pediasure option– I’m just not sure.

* It was recommended to us that Addison stay on formula through the duration of the parasite in hopes of pumping her full of nutrients she may/may not be getting through her normal diet and because she was on a lactose free diet.  However, I am happy to announce that I think we may *finally* be able to start her on milk again!