not the size of a baby

I know I have said this many times but...

to me Hudson is a baby. A big baby, but a baby nonetheless.
I look at a healthy, active 3 year old, and my mind can't even comprehend Hudson is the same age...
I don't see H upright, on his feet, straight and tall. I see him  as a baby...lying on his preferred backside, kicking his legs and arms...like a baby!
Cognitively...BABY...that's what seizures and a hefty cocktail of meds has done to him, kept him my sweet little newborn...but technically he is the same size as a three year old...cuz he is three!

Anyways, it is a hard, weird, thing.
I think those in my shoes know what I mean.
I cringe at incidences as yesterday ....
at the grocery store with all 3 kids...
Huds in his stroller, Hunter pushing the cart, Hailey tootling along.
The friendly shelf stocker comes walking down our isle. Hudson had just had a seizure and was in his sleepy mode. Grocer guy takes notice of Hudson and mentions how "sleepy baby is", and then asks the question I hate..hate...HATE...

"how old is he?"

thoughts of lying swirl through my head...but my other 2 are standing right next to me and I am certain I would be corrected in front of mr grocer if I dare lie...so I truthfully tell him 3, and try to look busy looking for syrup....mr grocer just stands there looking at Hudson...I could read the bewilderment all over his face...
lying would make it so much easier...but I also know I would get the same bewildered look if I said "he is 1"
so there is no easy answer.

Anyways, purpose of my post was really to blog about the fact that there are difficult issues being away from home with a "big baby"
I couldn't bring Hudson's bath chair to Vegas. We have a bathtub, but I can't use it because we have a "renter" renting a room here in this house and his bathroom has the tub. He is suppose to move out this week, which will help bed/bath issues with the kids, but until then I have had to bathe H in the master shower....no tub there!! I nearly drowned him trying to put him on a $2 blow up pool mattress....he slipped all over and water was pooling...it was a nightmare. I tried giving him a sink bath...what a joke...his baby behind barely fit into the sink, then his arms and legs flailing everywhere, knocking down everything in sight and Hudson screaming in terror.

So...what to do...how to bathe him until the bath is available....

found this at Target yesterday

I guess Hudson is not quite the same size as the baby on the box!

but what a trooper he is

then I got him "criss-crossed-applesauce" and he fit!

sorta...

can you see the sweat dripping from face after his ducky bath?

Well, it was by far the best and easiest way to get his clean yet...until the bath tub becomes available!

**********

getting ready to head out for another day of pool and sun

Hudson had another great day yesterday lounging at the pool...

something tells me he doesn't mind this "vacation" from PT, OT, speech, dr's, etc.

HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY WEEKEND!!!!

The last 2 days...

Hudson has been poolside with us!

This does my mommy-heart flip-flops of joy! Having all 3 in the pool, all of us together, not having to worry about finding someone to sit with Hudson...I am so thrilled!

I realized this morning the floatation device is on wrong...the slit is suppose to be on the backside of his head, whoops! We don't have the aqaua jogger yet, which would go around his torso.

The cooling vest has done wonders, and the corner of shade at the pool was made for Hudson!

Yesterday we were out there from 2-5 p.m.

I am so grateful to God he is doing so well, and praying the trend continues!

pics and stuff

We had a pretty mellow day...

I did a little cleaning...

I worked out on the eliptical.
I could have caved and thrown in the towel.
Hudson had a small seizure right when we entered. It set him off to cry/whine the entire 30 minutes I was on the eliptical.
Hunter and Hailey were on treadmills and bikes and they were so chatty and loud and goofy.
Thankfully we were the only ones in there.
I do like to get in my "zone" if I work out. I don't want to have chatty talk with my kids, or listen to Hudson scream, or watch Hailey do tricks on the treadmill....I was envisioning a trip to the E.R. with a broken limb.
I powered through though and I did it. Even managed to lift some weights.
I am tempted to leave them all as they sleep and go get my work out in now...peacefully, so I can get in my zone, but I know I can't leave 'em darnit!

Paul found us in the work out room and had lunch with us. He is only 5 min. away from his office.
Never have we had him work so close to home.
Nice treat, AND...
he found my phone!!!!!

The pool was closed for cleaning so we hung out inside. Hunter did a little skateboarding and scootering, but it was too hot to last to long.
110 yesterday.

So far Hudson is managing well. Yesterday was a very good seizure day. Only small ones, no vomiting. He has been a little "whiny" at times, but nothing too bad. After dinner last night we sat on the patio. Hudson quieted down. It seemed as if he liked the heat? weird. Anyways, as long as the sun is not beating on him and he isn't out too long he is doing just fine in the heat.

It is an odd thing....
I am so used to having therapies, and so much to do in a day, it is weird not to have our regular routine. I think I could get used to having this sort of break for a while. Sometimes all the therapists and things to do and people to see back home becomes too exhausting....but I am always in that mode so I really don't know any other way...till now...a break is good I think. For me anyways. For Hudson...probably not. He needs PT, OT, Speech, etc, etc. I am sure the guilt will settle in if I don't find someone to work with him out here. For now I will stretch him and do my best.

Today will be spent at the pool...after another work out. Paul will come home for lunch at noon and then home around 4:30 ish. Really great to just be together as a family.
**************



A FUNNY.....

Hunter just woke up and asked.....

"Mom, is this possible, because this is really weird.....
is it possible that your butt can sweat? because I just woke up and I know I didn't pee the bed, but my but is all wet and sweaty!?!?!"


************

and now pics....

Road-tripping

boys time at the hotel

kids made a new friend during our stay in Vallejo

Vallejo, CA at Paul's childhood friends house.

Petra made us homemade chicken tamales...they were amazing!

our last stop before hitting Vegas

the view for 4 hours til we hit Nevada

kids hit the pool as soon as we get unpacked!

this was taken off our patio...the kids are raczoring the walkway. (Hailey is trailing behind)

Hudson dangling his toes in the pool

 with daddy

Settling in....

I have had a request to update my blog, so here goes.....


holy heat-wave!!!!! It is H-O-T! DOUBLE DIGITS..... (108 today)

No, I am not complaining....at home....60's and clouds and rain....sun is a foreign substance to our pale WA bodies, but it feels soooo good.

We arrived on Saturday afternoon. We drove the strip coming into Vegas, and the kids were sooo excited. They have never seen anything like it. They love the new house, and of course Day 1 they were in the pool.
We met some interesting folks at the pool. There was actually a bit of a party going on. Apparently these people were moving out this week and were having one last harrah! We started talking to this guy whom we found out is a pediatric respiratory therapist. We told him about Hudson and he told us about one of his best friends who had a son with mito.
Yes, had. Apparently he died at 8, but they were told he would only live til 3, so he did better than expected. I met his wife, mom to 4  year old twin girls and a 7 year old girl. She also said she had a cousin who had epilepsy and was very familiar with seizures.
Sounds like a match made in heaven for us huh?
I wasn't so excited about this meeting...it may sound like a amazing coincidence, to find folks who could understand our little Hudson, and told us several times they would love to "help" us.
But....I felt, and still do, a little uneasy.
Probably because he was pretty wasted. Slurring his words, repeating himself over and over. He was one of those that was just annoying after a short time....probably due to excessive drinking.
He apologized. He knew. He said this was not their norm....but still....not a great 1st impression. Especially when I am suppose to consider leaving Hudson with his wife. I am not even sure we will hear from them. We did exchange numbers. I won't call her, but if she calls me, I may try her just to sit in the house with Huds while I am at the pool. I admit, I am not a very trusting person, and I need to go with my gut...especially when it comes to any of my babies!
 For now, we have been able to leave Huds in the house when the kids want the pool and we just check on him. He is such an angel. He looks at the t.v. and seems happy.
The kids can't last more than 2 hours outside because of the heat, so it works o.k. Today, with paul at work, will be the true test!

Hudson did amazing on the drive. His seizures rampt up a bit since the firsday we left, but we had not 1 vomiting episode in the car. We had no crying episodes as well. The 2 things I was concerned about prior to leaving.

Yesterday we headed out and went to Target and Costco. We did our best to get Hudson in and out of the car quickly, and into the air condition. We used his cooling vest and I actually think it helped. It's a weird thing, but his cheeks lost the red-heat color once he was wearing it, so I think it will help when we do need to take him out.

For now all 3 kids are sharing a room. Paul has had a "renter" and he will be moving out this weekend. His room will be Huds room. For now the kids have to use our bathroom as well. Not fun. I had to try and figure out how to give Hudson a bath in the shower.....lets just say he was screaming! I bought a cheap pool raft and tried putting him on it and used the shower head to bathe him...it was a nightmare! It will be nice when I can use the other bathroom with the tub.

Today Paul is back at work. I plan to stay here all day, especially after venturing off on my own and going to Trader Joes, I got a bit lost. I am directionally challenged and I hate driving where I don't know where I am going. My plan....relax, clean house and do laundry, pool time...WORK OUT!!!! I have absolutlely no excuse....the clubhouse is right across from us and I am taking all 3 monkeys over there at some point and get a good work out in....maybe they can too!!!

I feel like I lost a limb....
I can't find my phone. We don't have a landline. I had it last night. I have searched everywhere in this house. Even garbage cans. My phone is my email, txt messgaing, EVERYTHING....so please cross your fingers that it mysteriouly shows up soon...I am sooo lost without it! Plus, I would need it in case of an emergency, so it has to show up soon!

That's it for now....need more coffee and time to feed the little people!