“On the day that you were born the angels got together, and decided to create a dream come true!”

Happy August everyone! By now you probably already know our big news…. Caleb Michael Tirado was born on July 15 at 10:35am, weighing 7 lbs 12 oz! A TERMIE! And a big one!! We’re so proud!

Let’s talk about the night I went into labor…


Adam works nights, so we’ve had a lot of talks about what if I went into labor while he was at work and it was the middle of the night. We spoke to Yvonne, and she was our back up in case that happened. But I’ve told myself a million times, labor hardly ever happens out of the blue. I’ll feel lousy for hours before anything happens, I’ll have plenty of time to tell Adam that we’d probably have to head to the hospital later in the day, or the next afternoon. Of course that is exactly what DIDN’T happen.

At 2 a.m. I woke up and realized I was bleeding, pretty badly, but not having any contractions. After my heart almost stopped, I called the doctor who reluctantly told me to come to the hospital, but said that, “It’s probably nothing, I’m sure it’s fine.” This had never happened to me before, and I’m no doctor, but I was pretty sure this meant the baby would be coming sooner than later. I called Adam. No answer, no response to text messages. I called Yvonne, no answer, no response to text messages. I called Yvonne 6 MORE TIMES, no answer. Who could watch Sarai?? I called my neighbor (who didn’t even realize she was a back up, heck, I didn’t either!), she’s in Maine on vacation! So I called my principal, she lives right in the village and gave me her number in case of emergency… disconnected!! (She just retired and had moved to NC the day before!) I called 3 more coworkers and friends… automatic pick-up. Doesn’t anyone leave their phone on in the middle of the night???

In all this chaos, I called Adam’s job. He was napping somewhere in the building, they found him, he called, and headed home. My doctor called me back, twice, now suddenly more concerned and wanted me to go to the nearest hospital instead of going to my hospital (a difference of about 10 minutes). I scrolled through my phone looking for someone, anyone!, who lives close who might answer their phone. I called Rose, she was Sarai’s OT temp for a few weeks, and she lives right in the village. She answered! And she headed over to watch Sarai. She tried to convince me to drive me to the hospital, but I said I could drive myself. I still wasn’t feeling contractions, I felt fine really.

At the hospital I was hooked up to the monitor right away, I was having contractions and was 4 cm dilated. The bleeding didn’t really alarm anyone, and in fact, no one really had an answer for where it was coming from. An ultrasound didn’t show that I had a placental abruption. Adam got to the hospital around 4 a.m., contractions suddenly got stronger and things really took off. We called my mom, who headed down from Syracuse right away. I got an epidural… (Halleluiah! The best epidural on the planet!)… suddenly, 7 cm dilated… I had some ice chips…. Suddenly 10 cm dilated! I pushed for a while, and my mom made it! 15 minutes after she got to the hospital, Caleb was born!

With blonde hair and blue eyes, he looks NOTHING like Sarai.

Know who he DOES look like?? My dad! I don’t have a good picture to show you the similarity, but trust me, they look a lot alike! It’s very weird, and very cool.

The transition to two kids has been pretty good. Adam has been home, thank goodness, and will be home for a couple more weeks. That has made things much easier. Sarai has been pretty good with Caleb, and Caleb is a perfect baby! He’s calm, he’s a good sleeper, I didn’t know babies could be this good! It’s not easy to be alone with both kids. Today I took them both out alone for the first time, and just getting them both in and out of the car is VERY difficult. But it’s something we’ll all have to get used to.

We’re trying to keep Sarai to her schedule as much as possible, keeping her therapies and taking her to playgroup. She recently got new braces, AFO’s, that seem to help keep her toes from dragging when she walks. The botox has made her muscles more loose and she scissors her feet less when walking. And we got her cool kitty-crocs to jazz-up the AFO’s!

Super cute!!

Reading stories and doing art projects keep her busy too…

Outing at the park…

She is officially off of Sabril… no more meds for her! Whoo hoo!!

We’ve had lots of visitors come to visit our new little guy, and our old big girl!

We’re still looking into alternative therapies for Sarai. We’re still considering acupuncture, we will be starting swim therapy through early intervention in September, and I’m trying to work on getting insurance to maybe pay for hippotherapy. Hippotherapy is on a horse, and is supposed to be very beneficial for kids with CP in improving muscle tone and balance. I’ll keep you posted!

I hope you’re all staying cool out there and enjoying your summer!

Love and kisses to you and your families! Muuuuah!!

“In a world that keeps on pushin’ me around, but I’ll stand my ground, and I won’t back down…”

That song came on the other day when I was doing some work around the house and I totally felt like that is my theme song for the past few weeks! Thank you, Tom Petty. You put a little pep in my step.

So HI! I’m here, I’m home, and I’m 39 weeks pregnant!

I think we all thought I’d make it to 37 weeks with a wish and a prayer, and here I am just days away from 40 weeks. I can’t believe it. I feel pretty good, not much swelling or anything. I’m trying to drink lots of water and keep moving and hopefully get things going here sooner than later. My mom came down last week to help out and to be here in case the baby came...

 (thank you, Mama!)

...and he decided to wait it out. I’m getting anxious! I’m wasting my summer away! Let’s go, baby whatever-your-name-is!!

What’s new with Sarai… it feels like a TON! First of all, my tiny little baby turned TWO!! We had an itty bitty little celebration at home.

Yvonne is threatening to call child protective services because we didn’t throw her a party, but I just couldn’t do it right now.

(And for the recrod, Adam is threatening to call child protective services on Yvonne for the Yankee's cheerleading outfit she got for Sarai!)

Sarai got a couple pop-up books and books with sound buttons, a suggestion from her OT, and she really seems to enjoy reading them. Whenever I say to her, “All done book,” she starts to whimper. She loves books like her mama.

Sarai has recently seen just about all of her doctors for check ups; pediatrician, neurologist, neuro-ophthalmologist, developmental pediatrician, who am I forgetting? Ugh. Everyone is happy with the progress she’s making, of course she’s still very behind, but she’s made SO MUCH progress in the past year it’s amazing. And, if all goes well, she’ll be off the Sabril in just two weeks!! This will be the first time in her life she hasn’t been on medication! Woo hoo!!

I have recently been very worried about the high muscle tone in Sarai’s legs. She is trying so hard to sit, and she gets herself up about half way and can’t get past her legs. They just don’t bend. We stretch her, and it just seemed to be getting worse. She loves walking in her walker (we still have the loaner, still no approval from early intervention on that, don’t even get me started) but her legs are crossing so badly, sometimes she can’t even get one leg in front of the other. The OT and neurologist suggested we go back to see a physiatrist. We saw one last year and it was a total waste of time, not to mention insulting and inappropriate. (Long story.) So we went to someone new, someone close, and she was an absolute doll. I had prepared myself for her mentioning that we should put Sarai on some medication for her high tone, or begin Botox injections. I’ve been doing a lot of research on both of these approaches and haven’t been terribly impressed with what I’ve found. The medications would reduce her muscle tone all through her body (not just her legs) and would make it harder for her to use her hands and sit up. The Botox is temporary. Works for, at most, 2-3 months. I haven’t heard from families who have had great luck with either option, but we were convinced by the doctor that Botox was the right road to take. She said that she’s seen some wonderful, and long term, results if we are aggressively stretching her everyday. So we caved, and made an appointment.

Yesterday was Botox day… and it was, traumatizing, but over fast. Sarai got 14 (FOURTEEN!!!!) injections, 7 in each leg. She screamed, cried, sweated. I held her hands and her face, Adam held down her legs. She bent the doctor’s needle, the doctor said that’s only ever happened to her one other time. The doctor was super sweet, apologizing repeatedly, as upset as we were. On our way out of the office, Sarai with a wet and sweaty face, leaned over and kissed the doctor… twice. She doesn’t hold grudges. : ) We go back to see the physiatrist in 6 weeks, more Botox (probably, maybe) in 3 months. I’m worried about how it’ll feel when her tone gets great, and then before I know it, she’s tight again. Will it feel like a cruel joke? Probably.

Sarai also got her orthotics the other day…

but the physiatrist says she should have bigger ones, that go up just under her knees.  So, another appointment, another fitting, and we’ll be getting the new ones by the end of the week.  Pink camo designs, thank you very much.

So here we are, with a baby coming any day, and I’m scared to death that we won’t be able to give Sarai everything she needs. I’m trying so hard to stretch her, read to her, practice eating on her own, do puzzles that she doesn’t understand, paint, draw, whatever anyone suggests. I’m having a hard time sleeping. It all just feels very overwhelming right now. And when do I get overwhelmed?? Today I guess.

So keep my little lady in your prayers, I know she probably already is. And as soon as there is any baby news, you’ll know!! Love you all!

The belly makes a good pillow when watching TV.

She may look innocent, but this picture was taken seconds after she just threw her toys all over the floor!

“I'd like to walk you through a field of wildflowers, And I'd like to check you for ticks.”

(Peek-a-boo!!)

Happy spring everyone! Finally, some nice warm weather. We’ve even seen a little bit of sun in the past couple days. Sarai is enjoying the ice cream…

Please sir, can I have a bit more??

And I’m enjoying the…
                                 

TICKS!!! Yep, found this tiny little deer tick in my arm (after not even being outside) the other day. Really?? Really. Just my luck. I got him right out, I let the doctor know, no reason to be concerned.


I’m feeling totally great. The baby is getting HUGE! Check out this “little” Pillsbury dough-boy…

He reminds me of Sarai on ACTH! Of course we’re not without bumps in the road for this pregnancy. That wouldn’t be any fun!! Yesterday I had a few contractions close together and ended up staying the night in the hospital for monitoring and getting some IV fluids. I’m sure I just didn’t have enough to drink in the morning and the sudden heat and humidity just got the best of me. All is good, the baby is very active, I’m having a few little contractions here and there. I’m 32 weeks now, so that’s totally normal, but since Sarai was already born by this point in my past pregnancy, everyone is being super cautious.

I haven't said much to you guys on here about names, but I thought maybe you could give me your input.  We thought we were settled on Cameron a while back, and I'm suddenly starting to waffle.  What do you think about Cian?  (It's pronounced Key-in, it's Irish.)  I kind of like it!  Then I wrote a limerick with it...

There once was a boy named Cian,

Who went looking for a lake he could pee in.

The cops finally found 'um,

And with handcuffs they bound 'um,

Cause he couldn't find a car he could flee in!

What can I say?  Being in the hospital brings out my inner poet.  What do you like, Cameron or Cian??


So you guys know that Sarai was supposed to be getting a walker and that we’ve got a loaner right now. Turns out, early intervention actually denied the walker saying that it’s a medical issue, not a developmental one, and that makes it an insurance issue, not theirs. This is the first time we’ve ever had a problem with early intervention. This is all coming from all the cutbacks from the state, they are apparently denying a lot of things these days. The funny thing is they approved orthotics for her feet to help in foot placement and walking, but denied the walker. How can she use the orthotics without being able to walk?? I said, it’s like they approved her floating devices, but denied her access to the pool. People just don’t think. But of course our Vanessa came in, saved the day, fought like crazy, and I think we’ll be moving forward with the walker after all. Vanessa is the best!! LOVE HER!


Sarai had an EEG the other day, I hate those tests. Adam and Yvonne brought her in.

(Just look at that itty bitty hospital gown!!  I can't take it.)

Within just a few hours the neurologist was calling me to tell me it’s normal! So we’ll continue to wean her off the Sabril. We’ve been doing that each month. She’s now down to just 3ml 2x/day. We used to put her Sabril in a bottle to let her drink it down because sometimes she would fight it, but now it’s such a small dose we can only put it in the nipple and it takes 2 seconds. Adam will get two nipples dirty at the same time, one for the med and one for milk, but I like to use the same one so we only have to clean one. What’s the point in cleaning two nipples if one will do the job for both?? But, Adam likes to use two nipples at the same time, so I let him.

Get your mind out of the gutter.

I wanted to ask you all if you could to please include one year old Gracie Lawton in your prayers. She is the granddaughter of a former coworker of my Aunt Kathy and she’s fighting stage 4 cancer. I’ve subscribed to her caringbridge page to keep myself updated, here’s the link if you would like to do that too… www.caringbridge.org/visit/gracielawton. God bless you, Gracie. I’m praying for you every night.


I haven’t updated in ages, so here’s a few Easter pictures. I hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend, and let's keep our fingers crossed that baby boy Tirado stays right where he is for at least another 5 weeks! Smooches!

That is Sarai's great-great Aunt Olga

Tonight, tonight, I'm on my way, just set me free, home sweet home!

And here we are!

With the help of about a bakers dozen worth of Tirado's, plus Katie and Steve, then mom coming out for a whole week, one broken foot, lots of sore bones and muscles, 3,000 trips to Lowes and Home Depot, and two very confused cats....

...we're moved in!  Moving was, in a word, AWFUL!  And settling in has been, in a word, taking lots of time (wait, that's 4 words).  Our house has needed lots of work and we've had lots of projects going on so far.  I think we're about done with projects and the house will be what it is for the next year or so, but here's some before and after shots of some of the rooms we've been working on.

kitchen

living room

family room

(OK, so maybe we'll work on those bricks as a project!)

Sarai's room

(This picture does not do justice to how adorable her room is!)

We even have our new little boy's room mostly done.  He's inherited furniture from Sarai, but look at this adorable bedding!

   Not everything has come together yet.  Some rooms and spaces still look like this...

But hey, we're getting there!

We're busy back at work, Yvonne is back with Sarai and everyone is starting to settle into new routines.  Sarai started a playgroup that we'll now go to every Saturday through early intervention.  She doesn't interact much with the other kids yet, but she loves the songs (she knows most of them) and she keeps smiling the whole time!



I hope that it will help her to start to get more comfortable around other people, because this stranger danger nonsense is getting to be too much.

She also got a walker the other day.  This one is a loaner until hers comes in, but so far she seems to really like it, and her PT keeps saying she's doing AMAZING walking!  So the only news to report there is that, Sarai rocks, as usual... so... no news really!

Of course you guys know that we're having another baby in July...

...and you must have guessed that OF COURSE we'll be banking the baby's cord blood and OF COURSE we'll be banking with CBR.  I honestly can't say enough wonderful things about that company and their staff. 

I decided to set up a registry with CBR so if friends or family would like to contribute to our cord blood registry that'd be great.  If not, please please please don't feel pressure to do so!  We've been very lucky to get lots of baby boy clothes and supplies from our friend Beth, and I've had lots of other offers also that I'll probably  be taking people up on (I adore hand-me-downs!!).  So we're pretty well covered with supplies, thank goodness.  But if you felt you wanted to send a gift, maybe this will take a little pressure off  you and give you an option.  No biggie, no pressure, really.  But here's the link if you're interested... just click here,  type my name (Amanda Tirado), and that we're in NY and it'll take you right to me. 

So I think that's all for now.  The pregnancy is going well.  We had a tiny bump in the road (low-lying placenta), but that seems to be resolved, or is resolving.  They're telling me that the baby is looking pretty big on the ultrasounds, good news in case I go into labor early (heaven forbid) bad news if I have a termie!  I'll be 7 months this weekend, time is flying!!  The school year is winding down and spring is here!  Looking forward to sunny, warm days!

Gotta love that little face!!