Monday, May 15, 2006
TWO BIRTHDAY PARTIES!
Sorry for the confusion, there will be TWO parties celebrating Maxwell's upcoming birthday...one on the east coast and one on the west coast. The Wheeling, WV celebration is tentatively planned for Sunday, June 4th from 2 - 4 p.m. And the Bellingham, WA celebration is scheduled for Saturday, June 24th.
*** A BIG ADVENTURE ***
As you know, I have been stressing out these past few months in preparation of when I leave to WV for the divorce hearing. I was so concerned about what to do with sweet lil' Max. I didn't want to leave him but didn't think it was possible for him to come with me. I looked into full time nursing but the cost was over $1000 a day! And I would need to be gone for at least four days. Plus no one "knows" him like I do, so I was nervous something would be missed. And every minute away I would be freaking out and missing him like crazy.
Sooooooo after MUCH deliberation, I have decided to have Max come with me! YIKES! I am very, very excited but incredibly nervous at the same time. It took weeks and weeks (literally) to arrange this. From getting special permission from the various specialists involved to preparing for all the equipment and oxygen needs on the flight...WOW! Lots and lots to arrange. Traveling with an infant on oxygen is extremely complicated and expensive! Some airlines could not even have him because of the type of equipment they use.
Even with the airline we did choose, I will have to hold a mask up to him the entire trip because their meter flow is so high and he doesn't require that much oxygen. Hmmm...this should be a very interesting trip. And the airlines don't provide oxygen at the airport or during your layovers, so I still have additional planning there.
It cost $400 for the oxygen and I also had to purchase an extra seat for him. Any one on oxygen has to have their own seat.
So lots of money and lots of planning, but at least my lil' man will be with me! Can you imagine how OCD I will be on the plane? If someone even sneezes within ten feet, I will be hosing them down with Purell!
Eliz and Thomas might be joining us on the plane trip too, so that could be fun! And then Jim and Jackson will meet us a few days later in Wheeling.
*** And since Maxwell is returning with me, we decided it was a perfect opportunity to celebrate his upcoming birthday (and possibly a baptism)! What an event/s to celebrate!!!! :) I will be posting details soon (most likely it will be the afternoon of Sunday, June 4th) and we also will be sending invites out to family and friends, but if I miss you, please just email me (amysmckinley@aol.com) and let me know! I definitely want to thank his fan club in person for all the love and support and I know you would love to meet Mighty Max! :)
Sooooooo after MUCH deliberation, I have decided to have Max come with me! YIKES! I am very, very excited but incredibly nervous at the same time. It took weeks and weeks (literally) to arrange this. From getting special permission from the various specialists involved to preparing for all the equipment and oxygen needs on the flight...WOW! Lots and lots to arrange. Traveling with an infant on oxygen is extremely complicated and expensive! Some airlines could not even have him because of the type of equipment they use.
Even with the airline we did choose, I will have to hold a mask up to him the entire trip because their meter flow is so high and he doesn't require that much oxygen. Hmmm...this should be a very interesting trip. And the airlines don't provide oxygen at the airport or during your layovers, so I still have additional planning there.
It cost $400 for the oxygen and I also had to purchase an extra seat for him. Any one on oxygen has to have their own seat.
So lots of money and lots of planning, but at least my lil' man will be with me! Can you imagine how OCD I will be on the plane? If someone even sneezes within ten feet, I will be hosing them down with Purell!
Eliz and Thomas might be joining us on the plane trip too, so that could be fun! And then Jim and Jackson will meet us a few days later in Wheeling.
*** And since Maxwell is returning with me, we decided it was a perfect opportunity to celebrate his upcoming birthday (and possibly a baptism)! What an event/s to celebrate!!!! :) I will be posting details soon (most likely it will be the afternoon of Sunday, June 4th) and we also will be sending invites out to family and friends, but if I miss you, please just email me (amysmckinley@aol.com) and let me know! I definitely want to thank his fan club in person for all the love and support and I know you would love to meet Mighty Max! :)
Sunday, May 14, 2006
THANK YOU JIM!!!
My brother in law surprised me with a VERY special Mother's Day gift today! Eliz and I are being treated for a night at a luxurious hotel suite with all the trimmings...champagne, chocolate, and massage. Soooooooooooooo excited! :) Thank you, thank you, thank you Jim! This is very, very much needed and appreciated! :) YAY!!! Hopefully we can make arrangements with a nurse and make it happen soon!!! :)
And thank you again Eliz for the special delivery this morning and for all the wonderful cards and emails that I received from friends and family this week "from Max"! Very sweet of you!
And thank you again Eliz for the special delivery this morning and for all the wonderful cards and emails that I received from friends and family this week "from Max"! Very sweet of you!
MOTHER'S DAY
Apparently Maxwell did not get the memo that today was Mother's Day and getting a good night's sleep is the best way for mommies to celebrate! :)
Unfortunately Max was not feeling well and we were up most of the night. He was trying to cough up his secretions and was having a difficult time clearing his airway, and then he would get very upset. So the night was filled with a lot of suctioning and a lot of comforting...and definitely a lot of begging. "Please Maxwell please...let's go to sleep. Just an hour, just an hour Max." It's amazing how good an hour of sleep can sound when you're tired, isn't it???
So I started our special day quite exhausted...however, I quickly got a ring at the doorbell with a Starbucks and breakfast delivery by my sister Elizabeth!!! She knows how much I love my Starbucks!!! What a sweet way to start the day. Thanks Eliz!!! :)
We all went to church together, and Maxwell actually was "talking" enough that we had to leave the service! It was so funny but I definitely didn't want to discourage his "verbal development" so we just headed out. Then we went to a friend's for a Mother's Day brunch to celebrate and enjoy some yummy food. It was fun but difficult at the same time. Seeing all of these healthy children running around and laughing...all healthy and strong. It can be bittersweet to be around other children. I am so happy for them, but I just want the same for Maxwell and I have no idea what the future holds for him.
It was a wonderful day but I have to say it was A LOT more emotional than I expected it to be. Being a single mom with a special needs child was certainly was not what I envisioned motherhood to be. This new life, this new path that God has presented to me, has challenged me and rewarded me more than anything in my life.
And on a day like today I find myself reflecting...what will next Mother's Day be like? Will Max actually be able to play with the other kiddos? Will he be sitting? Will he be able to crawl? Where will he be developmentally? And most importantly, will he be happy and healthy?
So many unknowns await us, but one thing I know for certain...I was hand chosen to be Mighty Max's mommy and for that I am incredibly grateful. :) I feel so truly blessed on this Mother's Day to have him in my life and will do every thing possible to give him the very best life has to offer! And whenever I get down, hopefully Max will learn that a quick "happy dance" does the trick and I'll be good to go again!!! :)
Unfortunately Max was not feeling well and we were up most of the night. He was trying to cough up his secretions and was having a difficult time clearing his airway, and then he would get very upset. So the night was filled with a lot of suctioning and a lot of comforting...and definitely a lot of begging. "Please Maxwell please...let's go to sleep. Just an hour, just an hour Max." It's amazing how good an hour of sleep can sound when you're tired, isn't it???
So I started our special day quite exhausted...however, I quickly got a ring at the doorbell with a Starbucks and breakfast delivery by my sister Elizabeth!!! She knows how much I love my Starbucks!!! What a sweet way to start the day. Thanks Eliz!!! :)
We all went to church together, and Maxwell actually was "talking" enough that we had to leave the service! It was so funny but I definitely didn't want to discourage his "verbal development" so we just headed out. Then we went to a friend's for a Mother's Day brunch to celebrate and enjoy some yummy food. It was fun but difficult at the same time. Seeing all of these healthy children running around and laughing...all healthy and strong. It can be bittersweet to be around other children. I am so happy for them, but I just want the same for Maxwell and I have no idea what the future holds for him.
It was a wonderful day but I have to say it was A LOT more emotional than I expected it to be. Being a single mom with a special needs child was certainly was not what I envisioned motherhood to be. This new life, this new path that God has presented to me, has challenged me and rewarded me more than anything in my life.
And on a day like today I find myself reflecting...what will next Mother's Day be like? Will Max actually be able to play with the other kiddos? Will he be sitting? Will he be able to crawl? Where will he be developmentally? And most importantly, will he be happy and healthy?
So many unknowns await us, but one thing I know for certain...I was hand chosen to be Mighty Max's mommy and for that I am incredibly grateful. :) I feel so truly blessed on this Mother's Day to have him in my life and will do every thing possible to give him the very best life has to offer! And whenever I get down, hopefully Max will learn that a quick "happy dance" does the trick and I'll be good to go again!!! :)
Friday, May 12, 2006
PRAYER REQUEST
Cedie is a sweet lil' girl with CHARGE, who was born just one week prior to Maxwell. She has spent her entire life (minus one week) in the hospital...yet she continues to smile for her mommy and give love to everyone around her. These CHARGE kiddos have quite the spirit about them!
Today Cedie is undergoing an open lung biopsy. Her mom is asking for prayers for her baby, the surgeons, nurses, and family. Thank you everyone! I know your prayers worked amazing wonders for Maxwell...let's do the same for Cedie! :)
* After following Mighty Max's blog, Cedie's mommy decided to do one for her baby too. YAY! You can read all about Cedie at http://cedielynn.blogspot.com/
Today Cedie is undergoing an open lung biopsy. Her mom is asking for prayers for her baby, the surgeons, nurses, and family. Thank you everyone! I know your prayers worked amazing wonders for Maxwell...let's do the same for Cedie! :)
* After following Mighty Max's blog, Cedie's mommy decided to do one for her baby too. YAY! You can read all about Cedie at http://cedielynn.blogspot.com/
