It’s been 6 months since I’ve last updated. How fast time flies. Ryan is finishing up his last few days in kindergarten. It’s amazing how fast children learn. He could not read anything except his name at the beginning of the school year. Now, he can read a whole book for his level all by himself. He has learned so much and I am very grateful to his Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Choa.
Trinity has finally readjusted back to preschool. After her hospital stay back in October, she jumped right back into things. She loves school and has developed a lot herself. She can read and write her name. As for her potty situation, she is doing much better. She is still on Miralax, but we only give her 1/4 capful once a day, sometimes twice a day if her stool seems a little harder. She goes to the bathroom by herself and has no complaints.
As for Tony & I, we are still struggling with both of us working full-time and having two active children. Ryan is doing Kung-Fu twice a week now and we are planning on signing Trinity up for Gymnastics. We feel there is not enough hours in day to juggle everything. I thank God everything for helping us manage right now. I know as they get older there will be more obligations and things will get even more hectic. How do other parents do it?
Trinity has been home from the hospital for almost 2 months now. We are still constantly struggling with her going to the potty. As she says, she wants “medicine” to help her go. We do edema & irrigation to help her go every other day. At preschool, the teachers would try to get her to sit and go, but all she does is cry. Her reward at home to get her to sit and go are gummy bears. I don’t know how much it will affect her teeth with all that sugar. I need to find another alternative for her.
The holidays are right around the corner and my only wish is for her to be back to normal in her daily potty schedule. She is well adjusted to preschool now. She happliy looks forward to it every morning. She thrives and loves to sing everything she learns at preschool.
Ryan is thriving in Kindergarten. He has been doing much better with listening and learning. It is so hard for me to see my two children growing up so fast while I have to work and not be able to spend so much time with them. Everyday, I tell myself how truly blessed I am with what I have and not regret anything.
Ryan turned 5 last week. He has grown into such a big boy since he’s started kindergarten. He adjusted so well. We were very surprised because he had a really hard time adjusting to preschool.
Trinity started preschool in September. We were shocked that she didn’t adjust so well. She cried every morning when I dropped her off. Within the first month, she caught two colds and broke out in hives twice. I am hoping she will get immuned to the germs by the time she starts kindergarten.
During the past week and a half, Trinity has been complaining of stomach pains and having a hard time having a bowel movement. We took her to two different doctors and even the ER to try to pin point exactly what was going on. We all thought it was due to constipation. As parents, I am so glad we are persistent. It turned out she has entrocolitis. It’s HEC – Hirschsprung Associated Entrocolitis. Her colon and intestines had an infection and were inflammed. It was very hard on me seeing my baby girl in so much pain. It went from minor stomach pain to really bad cramps lasting 3-5 minutes apart. I cried for her when she couldn’t cry. She was admitted to Oakland’s Children Hospital. It is the same hospital where she had her pull through surgery when she was a newborn.
We had no clue it was Hirschsprung related. The doctors said it can happen again. At least we now know what to look for in the future, but hopes that will never happen again. Her stomach was very hard and ascended. She couldn’t have a bowel movement and was in a lot of pain. As doctors and as parents, it is truly hard to pinpoint exactly what really caused it. In my opinion, I think diet change, stress and potty training had a major role in it. The diet change – she started preschool and her body did not adjust to the lunches they served. Stress – starting preschool took a big toll on her every morning and Potty Training – I think we were trying to push her too hard on potty training and that also lead to stress. I just thank God that even through all her sufferings, the doctor was able to give us an explanation for her pain and can make her feel better and normal.
Thank you to all the family, friends and church family who prayed for her.
Today would of been my due date for our 3rd child whom I conceived naturally. I’m a little sad, but knows everything happens for a reason.
Someone noted that everything that has happened to me is due to KARMA. I don’t let that get to me. I speak my mind and am a strong person. If going through infertility, cancer and a loss of a child is what I deserve because of my past, then that’s life. I feel God gave me all this trials and tribulations to become a better and stronger person. For me, the past is the past and I have the future to look forward to. I feel if people dwell on the past, it will only cause more hate and anger. I know I am not a perfect Christian, but I do try to live my life the best I can for God. As long as I have his forgiveness, I am content.
LIVE WELL, LAUGH OFTEN LOVE MUCH
Late in July. I turned 36. Sometimes I feel OLD!!! All I can say is that I’m proud to be 36 years old. I have so much to be thankful for – my husband, my two beautiful children, a job, a roof over my head and most importantly, my FAITH. To me, my birthday is just another day and the age is just a number.
I feel I have accomplished and succeed in a lot in my 36 years of live. I’ve accomplished by having a good career without a degree-which I still feel is important to have. I’ve gone through infertility and ended up with my two kids and even succeed with a failed natural pregnancy after 10 years with Tony. I’ve been diagnosed and beaten cancer. Sometimes I ask myself, how could one person go through this much and still hold their head up high! All I can say is that – I DID IT!!!! I know GOD is watching over me and gave me all these challenges because he knew I was strong enough. I thank God everyday for everything he has given me and without him, I would not be who and where I am today.
Summer is here and I keep wishing I could spend my summer with the kids. They are growing up so fast. Ryan is excited to start school. In the past month, he has had his moments in being bad. He has stopped taking naps at school and would fall asleep in the van when I pick up in the evening. Once he gets home, he would whine and cry for about half and hour. This week has been a long week for him – all day at summer camp and then to Vacation Bible School at our church in the evening. The 12 hour day has kept him going, but I am so proud of him for not being too tired and cranky. I try to reward him as best as I can when he is good, but sometimes Tony thinks I am over-rewarding him at times. I guess we think differently. I feel if he doesn’t get rewarded enough, he would think that we don’t notice his changes. He is very proud of himself when he is good at school and proudly shows me his “star” when I pick him up.
As for Trinity, my little girl is not so little anymore. She talks up a storm and already knows how to give us an attitude. She has been a real angel since she was born and is starting to have her terrible two’s at this late stage. When we playfully spank her, she would just scream and cry as if there is no tomorrow. She picks on her brother and would say things like “Ryan is a bad boy and I’m a good girl”!!! I think if she really concentrates on things, she will be top of her class. My only concern with her is potty training. She has no interest in it. She will be three in August and I thought girls normally potty train faster than boys. We have not had a free weekend at home to let her roam around bare naked so she can have accidents and know that it is wrong. Hopefully, she will be trained by the time she starts Preschool. I’m just glad that the preschool she will be going to will help ease the process and hopefully she will learn faster then.
We started our vacation early – before all the school kids were out for the summer. We went to San Diego the week before Memorial Day. The kids were really well behaved, which wasn’t expected. Ryan & Trinity really enjoyed Sea World. They really loved watching The Shamu show and even picked up the hand movement for how the trainer make Shamu splash water into the audience. Legoland was more enjoyed by Ryan because Trinity was still a little too young, but at that same time, she was scared to ride some of the rides. This trip was the longest we’ve been away from home – 8 days. It was great because we actually enjoyed it. It was hard for me to come back to work. Tony got sick the night we came home and ended up with Strep.
Tony & I have been struggling on deciding if we should have another child. Tony is very against it, but I am unsure. When I found out I was pregnant earlier this year, I was in total shock. Since I now know that I can get pregnant naturally, I really want one more. I just want to feel the joy of having a natural and hopefully a healthy one. At the same time, I am enjoying the kids as they are getting older. They get along very well together. Ryan will start kindergarten this fall and Trinity will start preschool. I want them to have a close relationship because I come from a big family and I don’t have that with all my brothers and sisters.
I went to the doctor today for my yearly physical and he told me that I’m like a superwoman. A lot of people who has gone through what I have would have just given up. I see myself and I don’t feel like a superwoman. I am just blessed with a wonderful husband and two beautiful children and they are the reason I wake up each morning. My renew faith has also helped me tremendously. I have met many wonderful women from my Bible Study Group and hearing their stories and struggles has made me a stronger believer. Thanks Ladies!!
As each day passes, I can see my two kids are growing up. Ryan will start kindergarten this fall and Trinity will start preschool. I can’t believe how much they have grown. Sometimes I feel like because I am a working mom that I’ve missed out on a lot even though I see them everything. It’s true when other moms tell me that I should cherish every moment with them while they are still young because once they grow up and become independent, they won’t need you as much.
After my miscarriage earlier this year, I keep telling myself that I really want to have one more, but at the same time, I can’t admit to myself that I can settle for my two precious miracle. I guess it is due to the fact that I know I did get pregnant naturally makes me want to have and carry a pegnancy to term. My hesitation is my health and teh health of the baby. I keep telling myself I’m waiting for just that one sign from God to let me know where things stand… I haven’t felt or seen the sign yet and am hoping to know sooner than later. But at the same time, I know everything in life is given to me in his time.
The weather has been warming up so the kids are excited to go out to play in the yard and at the park. Ryan and Trinity both got a scooter for Christmas and they are enjoying it. Trinity prefers her brother’s old tricycle because she got to learn riding one indoors at her daycare this winter.
Ryan & Trinity
Ryan started learning basketball this month. He really likes it so we are going to let him take more classes. I know he is really looking forward to swimming this summer too. He loves the water and the sooner he learns to swim, the safer it will be for us.
Tony, Jennifer, Ryan & Trinity
Tomorrow will be my last Rituxan Chemo Treatment!! I am so excited!!! Though I was very lucky to not have much side affects from it, it’s a big relief to know that I do not have to worry about the treatments anymore. I can look forward to doing whatever I want now without worrying about the timing…
With all the medical issues that has been going on for the past 2-3 years, it’s feel good to finally know that everything is going to be ok with not only myself, but my kids. We’ve had a few scare with both Ryan and Trinity, but I thank God everyday for our health.
All I can say to all those who are fighting the same battle, stay strong and positive. Everything will work out as long as you believe and live your life to the fullest!!!