Yes, I'm still here :)

By now I am sure you have all stopped checking the blog b/c my updates are so infrequent.  I guess after 5 yrs. of blogging, it's nice to take a break every once in awhile.  It's weird b/c if I run into someone that I have not seen in awhile, I start giving them a recap on our life but they already know it b/c they read the blog.  So sometimes it's nice to not have my life so public.  After all, there is nothing too crazy going on around here.

From a medical standpoint, Isaiah has had a really rough April.  He did this last yr and it ultimately landed him inpatient for some answers.  So at this point I am thinking April is typically going to be a bad month for him.  He basically spent his entire spring break retching his guts out.  Poor kid.  I honestly don't even know what to do when he is so bad like this.  We have basically tried everything over the past 6 yrs and sometimes he is better and others not so much.  This unfortunately is his cross to bear with this horrible disease.  It is just so hard to see him when he is like this though.  I cannot imagine feeling the way he does. But the minute he feels better, he is back to crazy octopus boy.  He has really mastered pulling out Avery's j tube of the past few wks.  You cannot leave him with Avery for even a minute when he is feeling good.  Such a typical brother :)

Avery has lost yet another tooth.  This now leaves him with four missing from the bottom and his two top ones.  Yet another sad sign my boy is growing up :(  He has been struggling for the past week and a half with respiratory issues and low grade fevers.  We are all waiting for the other shoe to drop and I am thinking that will be around his birthday next Monday.  We all know how Avery likes these little holiday's inpatient.  Unless he decides to get better on his own.  He is such a trooper and has really been holding his own, I just don't know how long it can last.

With all this me and my friend Debbie have been planning to go to Florida next week with Janessa and her son.  It just seems like the deck has been stacked against us, more so her :(  Her daughter Jaiden has been in/out of the hospital for the past few weeks with some serious issues.  They really do need a break and I am so sad for them.  I know all too well how it is to be back and forth inpatient and have other kids at home including another special needs child with just as many health issues.  It is still up in the air right now with our kiddos and wondering what path they will take over the next week.  If she is unable to go then Rick will go and that is given that Avery stays well.  So I guess we will see.

I have also been dealing with getting a handicapped accessible van for the boys.  Such a HUGE undertaking financially.  My van still has another yr on it so I decided that I will pay it off then get the van.  I just don't want to have these crazy high payments and still need another vehicle to drive to work. So for now it can wait another yr. 

Other than that I have been busy getting myself into shape and it feels really good.  I need to keep myself healthy and feeling good, otherwise this crazy household will just be more crazy.  Rick and I are even considering doing a mini sprint triathlon.  Well I am trying to convince him and myself :)  Guess we will see.....

I have been informed by many people that is has been awhile since I have last posted. I guess I should take that as a compliment that I have so many readers. As I have said before, no news is good news. I find myself shutting down after hospitalizations. Each one gets harder and harder. Since we only go in when Avery is really sick , it just means that they are more draining. So I try to take some time off all the medical madness.

Avery has been doing great. He has lost another few teeth and looks like a jacko lantern. It's pretty funny actually. He has some days that he is a bit respiratory but nothing too crazy. I am actually impressed with his stamina lately. We have been putting in his stander (a device that puts him in the standing position), he is tolerating up to an hour a day. Whereas Isaiah is throwing a fit after 10 mins. I definitely feel it's helping the major curve in his back. He also looks so big in it :(. Really I am just enjoying my soon to be 5 yr. old and celebrating all the obstacles he has overcome.

Isaiah had a really rough week and a half. His migraines have been bad. I don't know if it's the change of the seasons or what. Everytime we think he is getting better, it comes back worse :(. Outside from that he has gotten sooo good with his hands, in fact he pulled out Avery's j tube last week. Ugh. I just continue to be in awe with how far he has come and how smart he is. My unsung hero!!!!!

Janessa has gone from a 10 yr old to a woman. Ahhh!!! it's so depressing. She now can wear all of my clothes and even has a bigger shoe size. I have no idea how & when that all happened.

And Milo, hmmm...what can I say. He is cute as all heck and has truly turned my life into a reality tv show.


So today is Our 13th yr. Anniversary and I thought it was jinxed especially given the number and bc the diamond fell out of my ring last week and I have no idea when & where I lost it. Turns out I have the best husband who replaced the ring with a gorgeous new one. Meanwhile all I got him was a 6.99 lovers coupon booklet. Lol. All kidding aside, I could not ask for a better husband and father to our kids. I know many guys could not handle the kind of family we have but there is never a question in my mind of the amazing dad Rick is. He is so supportive and loving. We have been through many struggles over the past 20 yrs. and always come out stronger. That is just who we are. Now he may still need that coupon booklet for the "End the Argument pass". But hey, no couple is perfect.

So that is what has been going on in the Nault household. Nothing too crazy just our normal life.