Life

I have thought about writing more often but I find it hard to to catch my breath. Our lives are more busy then I have ever imagined, with Natalie and Charlie running around and baby Willa in tow. Everyday has its challenges but at the end of the day we are grateful we have each other. 

Natalie is growing up so fast and becoming her own person. She knows what she likes and asks over and over to do things that she likes and if she doesn't like something she will let you know with a tantrum. We are working on her to show her emotions in a different way then tantrums but it takes time to train, some days she does great and says "Mom I'm sad we have to go!" When she says that it makes me so proud of her because I know she wants to throw that tantrum and she is trying not to. She is also loving being able to pick out her own outfits everyday. Right now she loves to put little books in her bag and to set up picnics with her play food. She also loves to play with Charlie and to help me out with Willa. At almost 4 she is such a little adult at times, just growing up so fast.

Charlie is amazing! With everything he has gone through the last few months he still manages to find joy in everything he does. I love hearing him laugh when he is really into a movie.  Everyday he is learning more and you can see his pride in it when he does something new. During the day he seems like a normal kid without any problems, he is walking, running, climbing and talking. Just last week he started going up the stairs again now I can't keep him off. When just a few months ago he couldn't do that because he was so sick and swollen that he wasn't moving and had stopped talking. Since starting dialysis he has re-learned everything. Even though Dialysis keeps him going its still challenging for everyday life. Charlie has to be hooked up everyday for 12 hours, that means we have to start giving him his meds and doing vitals by 7:30 so he can be hooked up and in bed by 8 pm so he can be unhooked by 8 am. If we have to leave in the morning everything is rushed, we have to unhook Charlie then give him his meds and do his vitals, not to mention getting everyone else ready fed and out the door. Dialysis helps Charlie to live right now but he needs a kidney transplant to save his life.  When he goes to his Dr appointments he says thank you to the lab tech after he/she draws blood from his arm so they can test it. If its a girl he will blow her a kiss good bye if its a guy he will give knuckles. Even though he knows that the lab people cause pain I want him to still have manors and because he says thank you and blows kisses EVERYONE knows who Charlie is. They also know who Charlie is from his scowl. He hates being touched by medical people and will let you know with a scowl as they walk in the room and a tantrum when the touch him, but he will always say thank you and if its a girl he will blow kisses and if its a guy give knuckles. 

Willa is a easy baby till about 8 pm. She sleeps most of the time. She is a very happy little girl during the day. She is fussy from 8 to 10 or 11 pm then sleeps most of the night waking once or twice to eat. At her 2 month appointment she was 100% in height and 90th% in weight. She is a little blessing.