Welcome Baby Amelia!

Baby Amelia has arrived.  She was born Saturday, April 27th (she's now 3 weeks old).  She's a real sweetie, just like her big sis. Rachel adores Amelia and keeps saying, "I can't believe I have a baby sister!"  Rachel is constantly giving Amelia kisses on her head and toes.  I thought I'd share a few pictures in this welcome post.  

Shaka and smiling...
obviously after the epidural!

Rach holding Amelia.
Amelia is wearing the dress Rachel came home in.

Flowers Rachel gave me
while in the hospital.

Baby Amelia at home.
9 days old.

Rach and Amelia
chillin' in their pjs.

The proud big sis.

Baby Amelia
10 days old

Rachel's First Hospital Admission

   After Rachel's February clinic visit, the doctor called to tell me that she had cultured a bacteria.  We treated with an oral antibiotic and went in for a follow-up throat culture.  The next throat culture grew the same bacteria plus another.  So, to make a long story/phone conversation short,...it was decided that for Rachel's best interest she would be admitted for iv antibiotics.  I was a mess.  She had managed to make it 7 years without having to ....go there.  It was kinda funny that most of the Pediatric Ward staff thought we were new to the island because they've never seen us.
   We get to Tripler around 10am on March 19.  We had an awful start to our first experience with this admission.  The computer system went down and the admissions staff acted like they wanted us to leave because they couldn't get their computer to work.  I told them that we weren't going anywhere, the Pediatric Ward was expecting us, and for them to get out the pen and paper & do it the old fashioned way.  The person that was supposed to be working our admission didn't care for that, but you know what....it's her job whether her computer is working or not!  You don't turn patients away.
  After the first day of  Tripler's computer chaos, things went pretty smoothly with the Pediatric Ward care Rachel received.  I had issues with other departments within the hospital.  I won't bore you with those details; Tripler has received my 6 page write-up on that.  Tripler probably has a photo of me that they throw darts at!  hehe.  
   I wanted to share some pictures of Rachel and her stay.  I wanted to share how she passed the time and tried to make the stay fun.  Rachel was able to have friends visit and she got several passes to leave the hospital.  She absolutely LOVED talking to her friends on "her" room phone.

Talking on "her" phone.

Painting while getting iv's.

Child life took Rach to a "secret" garden.
Rach being artsy with sidewalk chalk.

A window marker drawing of a rattle snake
eating a hotdog.
Who knew?

Music therapy came by.
Rachel had to use her feet too!

Chest theapy, watching a dvd, and about to
open 3 new toys that child life gave her.

Rach with the iv pole....well,... being
silly Rach.

Doing nails with child life.

Shhh.....nobody knows about this...
Rachel figured out how to turn her bed
into a slide.  

Sliding down.

Down and ready to go again.

I believe it was Tripler's nursing department that put on
an Eggstravaganza the day before Easter.
Rachel got to go and have fun there.
Here she's doing the bunny hop with her dad.

I'm with Rach at the water balloon toss.
It was about the only thing I could do.....
hopping, running, and jumping is out for me.

Rach wasting no time making the
cotton candy disappear.

At the Easter egg hunt.

She found a prize egg!

On Easter morning.....the Easter bunny
found her at Tripler.

One of the many picc line covers
we decorated.  We just couldn't have
plain white. 

Rach flying a butterfly kite. 

   I'm praying for another 7 plus years of no hospital stays.  It was "ok" for a hospital stay
 but it sure wasn't home.

Rachel's 7th Birthday

It's been....forever....since my last post.  Things have been crazy and I've been exhausted.  Let's go back to February....Rachel turned 7!  Yay!  Happy Birthday Rachel!  All she wanted for her birthday was to have breakfast in bed, go to Germaine's Luau and have her friends over to the house to play & eat cake/ice cream.   So, that's what we did.  A week before her birthday she had a clinic appointment and the the CF care team surprised her with happy birthday decorated room and a chocolate birthday cake.  

Thinking about her wish.
This is the cake from clinic.

Breakfast in bed.

Balloons and flowers from us.

Miss Rach doing the hula at Germaine's Luau.

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!

Upcoming Great Strides Walk - 2013

Great Strides is coming up in May.  After a couple of months of trying to decide if I should be the sole organizer, I finally decided it's best for me and the pregnancy if I took this year off.  I asked a few friends if they would be interested in taking over (at least for 2013) and had one step up and say yes.  What a relief! I wanted to see the walk continue but thought I just couldn't do it this year.  I am still involved and am still helping with the walk.....  I couldn't completely let go!    I just don't have to deal with the stress of it and am not the "go to" person.  I thought I'd be sad or feel guilty, but I actually feel really relieved.  I can concentrate on the pregnancy and fundraising.  Below are pictures starting with the first Great Strides Walk Honolulu where I was the organizer/main local contact.

Great Strides 2009

Great Strides 2010

Great Strides 2011

Great Strides 2012

If you have a few dollars to spare and it's in your heart to donate, you can do that securely online through the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Great Strides website on our Rachel's Rangers homepage or you can click the Great Strides Donate button on the top right side of my blog.  If donating is not in your budget, it would mean a lot if you could keep Rachel and the CF community in your prayers.

We hope to see you at the walk!

Gotta Do a Little Braggin'

Little Miss 

The past week or so I've noticed some changes with Miss Rachel.  I felt the need to brag just a little about her.  So, here goes, in no particular order......#1.  She's doing a fantastic job in AWANA (bible club for kids).  She'll finish her book early (by about 4 months) and start review, when we go back on Jan. 21.  #2.  She got her very first library card this past Monday, checked out 12 books and has already read all of them.  She's really loving reading books on her own now and really enjoys the funny ones!  #3.  Rachel had to have some labs done Tuesday and when the lab tech. asks "name and birthday", she answers quickly with both.  As far as the blood draw went,......not a tear was shed!  She is awesome....all I heard from her was "Ow!".  For about 3 years now, I've been telling her to talk to the doctors about how your feeling and have her answer a lot of the questions.  She's been listening and is becoming more and more independent in her health care.  #4.  She's beginning to like shows on Disney that aren't cartoons.  #5.  When I ask a favor from Rach. she almost always answers, "Sure, no problem."  I love that.  #6.  Rachel has been extremely helpful in  preparing the baby's room.  She's very excited and happy to shop and do things for her soon to be here little sis.

God blessed me beyond my expectations when he gave this girl to me!

My One December Post In January

Wow!  It's been a while.  December was a very busy month.  December 1 : we participated in a CF 5K Fun Run on North Shore.  December 2 : Rach and I went for our traditional Christmas tea at A Cup of Tea tearoom.  December 7 : we went to see Rachel's friends perform.  December 8 : Miss Rach went surfing with the Mauli Ola Foundation.  December 12 : Rach and I took a peppermint cake and sausage balls to the CF clinic for Christmas.  December 15 : we set sail for our 7 day Hawaiian island cruise.  December 22 : back from cruise but no time to waste.....had to hit the commissary.  December 24 : nice quiet evening at home resting and waiting for Christmas.  December 25 : woke up, looked in our stockings, Rach saw what Santa left for her, did chest therapy, sang "Happy Birthday" to Jesus, opened presents, ate breakfast (or shall we call it lunch!), and just took it easy the rest of the day.  December 26 : I had my 20 week ultra sound.  December 27 - I had an OB appointment.  December 31 : we all 3 managed to stay awake to bring in the new year....celebrating with sparkling apple cider! 

CF 5K Fun Run

Rachel surfing with Rochelle
Mauli Ola Foundation

On the cruise....sail away pool side party.

On the cruise....sail away pool side party.

On the cruise....sail away pool side party.

What a way to kick CF butt - on the balcony of a cruise ship!

 

Silly Rach at the Seahorse Farm on the Big Island.

Seahorse Farm, Big Island.

Rach holding a seahorse.
Seahorse Farm, Big Island.

Rach found a nice wahine to hula with.

At Keoki's Donkey Balls
(chocolate mac.nuts).

Rach found a fake person to get a pic with.
It's just what she does!

In the beautiful dress Nana gave her.

Sunrise and chest therapy
out on the balcony.
Being funny.

Sea arch, Kauai.

Waimea Canyon, Kauai

Rachel's favorite towel animal.
The Snake!

It wouldn't be a Hawaiian vacation
without shave ice.

View from our balcany
leaving Kauai.

Family photo.
Dressed up for dinner.

Rachel on the red carpet.
Everyone wants her picture!