My Husband Saved my Life

We had an eventful weekend around here. It has a good ending though.



All last week I was having bad headaches. So Brian took me in on Friday but we were told just home home and let me sleep it off. The next day, Saturday, I had trouble moving the left side of my body. I couldn't walk or use my left hand. Then, I couldn't see. I had white sopts in my vision, like I had been staring at the sun. Brian was worried and took me to the ER. What an andventure that turned into.

At the ER, the admitting nurse was asking me tons of questions. That is when I lose the ability to speak. I could not make the words. I could think them, but I could not form them and speak them. The nurse looked at Brian and said,"Don't be alarmed by what I am about to say," then she radioes for assistance, and says, "I need a consult for a possible stroke patient."

So the doctor comes, hears headache and assumes I am having complications for an epidural from baby a month ago. Only problem, I didn't have an epidural!! He gave me some sedatives and I was given migraine medications which didin't really help. He again told us to just go on home. By this point, Brian was over it. You don't just lose the ability to speak for no reason. He insisted the doctor run some more tests. The doctor told Brian it would be a waste of time. Brian said a few choice words to the doctor, who finally agreed to do the test, a spinal tap, while making sure that Brian knew he thought it was unnecessary.

I was given more sedatives which were supposed to help me with the pain and to help make me a more cooperative patient. Unfortunately all it really did was remove my censor. I was apparently not more cooperative. I was a good girl about having an MRI and CT Scan. I was not nice about the painful spinal tap. Can you blame me? However, Brian felt responsible to make me agree to it. So he balled me up on my side so that they could stick a NEEDLE between my vertebrae. Thank goodness they did that because I had VIRAL SPINAL MENINGITIS. The nurse who was with us heard the results and started bawling, saying to Brian, "You just saved her life." And she and the other nurses had a sideline conference and all were teary. Next thing I know, I am being admitted and taken to the ICU in the hospital. Apparently this was serious enough that they almost life flighted me to Salt Lake.

Two days of IV's poking out of me everywhere they realease me and I happily head home.

Sometimes when I am having a rough patch with the kids, or really lacking in sleep, I think of how nice it would be to just have no responsibilites for a while, a couple of days solid nights of sleep and someone else to cook and clean. I got exactly that, but I missed my family so much that all I could think about was coming home. Lucking Dallin took formula just great while I was there and has switched back without problem.

All of this has helped me feel so very grateful. I was so happy to see my boys, my healthy baby and my cute little house. I once again feel grateful to my husband for all he does for me. He is my hero. He ran the house perfectly and ALL the laundry was washed and put away. How does he do that? And I am grateful for my good neighbors, friends and family. I feel like I would have to cook dinners for each of them for a week to make up for it.

And of course gratitude for my Father in Heaven who gave me this life and who shows his love and patience.

THANK YOU!

Happy

I went to pick up Kyle from school this week, just waiting in my car like all the other moms. I see his teacher come out the door and behind her all the kids following like little duckies, single file on the sidewalk. All the kids that is, except Kyle. Kyle hits that door and says to himself, heck with single file. Running through the grass, jumping around the light pole and kicking rocks looks so much more fun. So while every other kid is waiting by the fence, Kyle is having fun. After a minute, he looks around, sees me waiting for him, and gets so excited to see me! I love it! He waves, big happy smile, and even though I can't hear him yet, I see him saying "HI MOM!" Then he says goodbye to his teacher and skips happily over and gets in the van.

Sometimes you appreciate your kids for things that are different that yourself. This is definately one of those times for me. I am very much a by the book person. But Kyle is an out of the box thinker and I just love it. Sometimes I let it frustrate me, but I can see that it is such a blessing and an amazing talent to have.

Kyle is also very sweet to his brothers, both of them. In fact, every day Blake's greeting to Kyle is, "Whatcha got Kyle?" because if Kyle ever gets a treat at school, he always saves it for his little brother. How sweet is that? And of course he is loving the new baby. What a wonderful big brother he is.

I love you Kyle!

Two Weeks Later

I thought maybe I would document Dallin's entry into the world. I will try not to go into too much detail for anyone who is feeling squeamish, but this is a labor/delivery story, so read on at your own discretion.

Induction is right for me because I am strep positive and need antibiotics for at least 4 hours, once I am in labor things happen fast, I have two boys at home that I need to make arrangements for and who knows where Brian will be working when it's time. So it is nice to have things calm and planned out.

Tax day, April 15th, 6:30am, I call the hospital to see if they have room for me to be electively induced. The hospital says, can you be here by 7:30? A shower and blow dry later, I am checked in. My nurse asks, "Are you ready for this?" Because this is #3 and I realize a little of what I am in for, I smile and say, "No."

At 8:30am, after a million questions, an IV is started with antibiotics and pitocin. Shortly after, Brian, who was waiting for his mom to arrive to care for the boys, arrives. Just a note about the IV, it was supposed to be the medium for pain relieving drugs later on, but that didn't work out.

The 1st 4 hours were easy and relatively painless. Then, of course it is time to break my water which is when things start moiving and hurting. An hour later, lots of pain. Probably a 9 on the scale of 1 to 10. But I still have a 20 to 30 second break between contractions. So I want to wait to save the medication until closer to the end. At just after 2:30, with Brian's persuasion, I am ready for DRUGS. Brian goes to get the nurse, when all of a sudden, something is changing. Baby is moving down. WHAT? You mean it gets worse than a 10??!! Nurse comes in, checks me, I am almost fully dilated. My wonderful supportive nurse suddenly turns on me, "You can't have any medication now because the baby will be born sleepy." Luckily my doctor just happened to be there, comes to check me but doesn't bother because he can see that it is time to push. He leaves to get scrubbed and dressed, and I am panicking. So bad, "I can't do this! Where is Dr. Strebel?!" Pretty sure I scared some first time moms who were laboring away down the hall. I am hyperventilating, sweating, shaking, finally the doctor is back, time to push. Did you know there is a whole next pain scale after the 1 to 10 scale? Now you do. But Brian is awesome, encouraging me and holding my hand.

2:59, baby boy is born. My doctor says "Look down, Tara," and there he is. Fingers, toes, hair! He is beautiful, 8 lbs 1 oz! I get to hold him right away which is so special. Within an hour brothers meet him.

Without an epidural, I can walk right away and I actually feel really good. And I avoided the needle in my back and all of the scary complications that can arise from that. I am not anti-epidural, I just didn't want it this time.

I am glad I did a natural child birth this time. But If I had to do it again tomorrow I would have had the drugs earlier. I think my nurse said it right, it is not the amount of pain, but the length of time you are in pain. For me, it was relatively short. But if I had to do that for hours and hours, an epidural would have definately been a possibility.

Dallin is getting bigger already and has been a huge blessing in our home. We are lucky to have him. His older brothers love him and are very sweet to him.

Dallin Brian Schwab

He is here! Born April 15, 2:59 pm, 8 pounds 1 ounce.




As you can see, he has hair! Kyle and Blake were mostly bald. Everything went really well, he has all his fingers and toes, and big brothers love him very much.

Spring

I have gotten behind on posting, so here is a mass update.

Kyle's 6th birthday party was really fun. He got lots of cool stuff.




I have always wanted to do a pinata. So, we did one. But I will probably never do one again. First of all they are not worth the money and second I think we were lucky to not have any injuries. But the candy was fun for the kids.

With all the beautiful weather we were having, we spent quite a bit of time outside. We even went to the Hogle Zoo.



Blake got tired.


Also, the boys have been helping me with spring cleaning.


What good kids they have been!

And the boys have discovered yet another use for their beloved dump trucks: Riding them down the hill at the park.



The best part of this was that they could push their trucks back to the top of the hill. So they were the ones getting worn out.

We are covered in snow now. But the warm weather was a nice break. So excited to start having my bulbs flower in my yard. Summer is coming!

It's All About Food

From The Lord of the Rings:

"Aragorn: Gentlemen, we do not stop till nightfall.
Pippin: What about breakfast?
Aragorn: You've already had it.
Pippin: We've had one, yes. What about second breakfast?
Merry: I don't think he knows about second breakfast, Pip.
Pippin: What about elevenses? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper?"

I think the way Pippin does right now. I love food. And, most days I am in fact having "second breakfast." In a few months I will have to undo the damage I am causing, but in the meantime, I am enjoying an extra helping or two. It's all worth it. Next month, I hope I have a healthy, chubby baby...one who sleeps a lot would be nice too.

Kyle is 6!

Kyle is getting so big! I can't believe it.

The difference between age 5 and age 6 has been amazing. He had become such a big help around the house and is so good to his little brother. I am lucky to be his mom and watch him grow up. He is a special little guy. I Love you Kyle!

I Have to Write That Down

Some funny things that have been said at our house lately:

Blake after hearing me explain that he will soon be a big brother: "I can't wanna be a big brother. I wanna be Darth Vader."

Me: "Who threw an apple in the light fixture?"

Kyle: "Blake did it!"

Blake: "Kyle did it!"

Hear this one in a really happy excited voice. Kyle wanting to play light sabers with Blake: "Hey Blake! Let's kill each other!"

Me: "Why are the pickles in the living room?"

Blake in the middle of the night as I was covering him with a blanket: "Don't fall in the lava."

Kyle after feeling the baby move: "WOW! Cool! Hey Blake, come here! Do you wanna get kicked?"

Aquarium

For Blake's birthday we took the boys to the aquarium in Sandy. It has been about a year since we last went. The drive was long but it was worth it. There are so many fun things to do.

The boys favorite was probably touching the sting rays. The first time Blake touched one, he pulled his hand back quickly because it surprised him how slimy it was. I think my favorite was the cute little frogs, even though they are poisonous.


You can touch a sea urchin...


and a star fish.

I am glad we went when we did, the following day I got so sick. This winter we have been sick a lot at our house. Spring can't come fast enough!

Blake is 3!!!

They really do grow up fast!











I can hardly express the joy this little person has brought into our lives. My heart is truly full.

I love you Blake!