Here we go...

So I need advice once again from you more experienced mothers. Until this point I have never had a mixed up baby. You know when night is awake time and day is sleepy time. I like it during the day because I can play with Joe and Sophie but I dislike it during the night when I try and try to get any sleep. Maybe I should look at it as a blessing that not much as changed, and the adjustment is easier. But right now I am only feeling tired. Please Help.

Home...

There really is no place like home. I always got homesick for my mother growing up. One night away was like an eternity for me. I would cry for her at sleep overs. I thought I would never be able to be married because I would get so home sick. I must admit I talk to my mom frequently on the telephone and go to her house probably once a week. But when all is said and done, there is no place I would rather hang out than at home with Joey and the kids. We came home today and I have been so pleased to be here. Home I think is the only place we have our independence. My parents have been great letting us stay at there house while recovering, they were so wonderful and supportive. My mom now believes me that I would be okay going right home from the hospital. It is amazing so far how much easier of an adjustment 3 is over 2.
Gus is such an awesome baby. I wish that I knew how to post pictures but I have no idea how.

Baby Gus

Just have a minute now to post because Sophie is downstairs with me but I thought I would share a picture of Gus or two to tide you over while waiting for Joey and Michelle to put theirs up. I have a bunch on my blog also if you want to see more. http://zrfitz.blogspot.com/ There will be some duplicates and some the same.

Gus about 8 hours old!

Mommy helping Joe hold Gus for the first time.

Daddy introducing Sophie to her baby brother Gus.

Gus 3 days old!

Sophie welcoming Joe home to Grandpa's and Grandma's house.

Sophie and Gus

Daddy, Joe and Gus


PS---So far Mommy and Gus are doing very well! Sophie and Joe are also doing better having their whole family back together. And to answer a few questions...March 3rd about 7:15 am, 19 1/2 inches long and 7 lbs 15 oz, and the name Agostino Anthony Di Regolo ...Rycer got changed last minute because Aunt Nannie is getting anoth nepher named Rycer in July ( And by the way I am not sure about any of the name's spellings but I know that Agostino starts Ago so Gus isn't even really in his name but we've been calling him it so it will remane his nickname!)
---Aunt Nannie

Baby Gus Has Arrived!

I hope Chel and Joey don't mind but I know a lot of people are anxious to hear that baby Gus is here! He came by C-Section at 7:15 this morning. I have only talked briefly with Mom, but she said that Chel and the baby were doing good. She hasn't seen him except through glass yet and I know Chel and Joey will want to be the first to share more but I wanted everyone to know that they are okay!

---Aunt Nannie

Dog Lover, or Maybe Just TROUBLE

What to call my little girl. As I am preparing dinner, yes at 8 o'clock, Sophie is running back and forth with one cracker at a time feeding them to the dogs. The crackers were disgusting so no wonder she gave them up so quickly, but I should stop her but it is so endearing. My mother-in-law says that her first word was dog, and she is one of the biggest dog lovers I have ever met. I secretly admire it in her, because she shows the dogs she has so much love, and I just can't quite get attached to animals. (We did lose 3 animals in 2008. Thus for another blog.) I love to hear Sophie run across the kitchen floor. The little feet scampering is such a delightful sound.
As for the name of trouble. Joey was is so good to me and knows how I cring at spending money on things that will be gone only tomorrow, like a bouquet of flowers or a trip to the massage salon. So for Valentine's Day he has his work cut out for him due to the fact that I am possibly the fussiest candy eater alive. I don't care for most chocolate, or any sweet that is store bought, so he has to look pretty hard. He knows I will be thrilled just by the thought, or maybe he doesn't I should reassure him, anyways. He went with Sophie shopping and got me a mini potted rose plant (which is perfect), a box of chocolates that had a stuffed dog on top with a cute pair of socks. Sophie picked out a huge monster balloon that is adorable. Not to brag but I feel pretty spoiled. So back to TROUBLE, she couldn't wait any longer for me to open my chocolates, which honestly if she hadn't just taken it upon herself to open and enjoy them they probably would be around next Valentine's Day. So there you have it she knows that a heart shaped container is a box of chocolates and she is a girl after her daddy's heart, she loves chocolate, video games, dancing, singing, playing hard, getting dirty, and making people laugh. I think she is the girl version of the man I love. How can I possibly resist her cuteness?

School

I haven't been to school for over 5 years now and won't be back for another 5 until the baby is in kindergarten, but all I can say is I am so grateful for it. Joe has the best home hospital teachers who come over and play and work with him to help him with so many things. They get him to go things that I can't, due to the fact that I am learning about what an enabler I have become. I think that it is my way of controlling. I dislike when people are controlling but I have found that I have some very controlling tendencies. My biggest would be the enabling. I do it thinking that I am making life easier for my husband and children, yet I do not believe that it makes life better for them because I end up getting frustrated by doing somethings by myself.
Back to the school thing. Joe is having a lesson as I am writing this and the teacher is just so great with him. I try to stay out of the way because otherwise I end up talking the teachers ear off.
Joe has been feeling really good so far this week. He has decided to try to eat again and even is tolerating all his feeds through the g-tube. I am so grateful that this week is so much better than last. Tootles.

HMMM...

I do not remember the last month of pregnancy. I am having a heck of a time with the stretching and changes that my body thinks it needs to make. But enough about me.
Our house is pretty dull when it comes to doing adventurous things. We simple live like recluses and do chores everyday. I hope my kids turn out socially happy. Just kidding Sophie is the most social baby girl I have ever seen. I think we just have the winter camped in feeling.
Last week we had a scare. Joe was in the hospital all week with a fever that just wouldn't go away. But the last spike was on Thursday so we were able to come home and be a family together again on Saturday night. I always thought I could be a military wife but this last week has proved me wrong. I missed Joey so much. I think that it is good to realize that I need him. I get so strong willed and hard headed sometimes that I think I don't care if he is gone to work for hours on end. But just about right now it is like I want him to hang out with me and the kids all day.
It is true what they say, Trials truely make you stronger.

Help! Please.

So I think Sophie is ready to potty train but with just weeks until the baby is born I don't want to make the effort and have to do it twice. As I am typing this she is running around the house without any pants on this includes a lack of diaper. She will go in the diaper and then take off her pants and diaper and bring me the diaper then want to sit on the toilet and flush it for fun. I would love for her to potty train but is she ready? Please all you parents who ready this and have potty trained give me some advice on how to get her to take off the diaper first then go in the potty. She has done it before but then went on the carpet and got scarred into not doing that again.
I have decided to not write strictly about the cancers effects on Joe. So I write about Sophie more because she is so full of mischief. I love have to very different children. They keep me going and if this baby is anything like while in the womb. I am going to have a handful. Anyway, I feel I never make sense but, oh well.

Bugs and Keys

Sophie is completely fearless. While at the zoo on Friday we encountered a stink bug on her stroller seatbelt when getting off of the carousel. I reached in to get it out but just couldn't for some reason stand the thought of touching it, so Sophie being the studious student that she is at 1 year old, reached into the stroller grabbed the bug, without any fear, and threw it to the ground. I guess you could say she has now killed her first bug, yet she had no idea that she had hurt it. I believe she would have felt bad.
Today we came home from chemo and I got the kids out of the car and Sophie was walking to the door and decides that she needs to unlock the door and so she finds the hidden key outside, which now needs a new home, and tries to unlock the door. I was laughing because what 1 year old knows where a hidden key is and what it is for? I am afraid, yet tickled, that I have a very smart child on my hands. I hope I can keep up with her.

Hanging out at chemo!

Yesterday, Joe and Michelle went to the hospital for another round of Joe's chemo. This one is a different one than the previous drugs used and he's not having an easy time at it. He is such a trooper and so is the rest of his family since it causes them each stress and pain in different ways. Hopefully, Joe and Michelle will get to come home tomorrow, it's really hard on them being cooped up in a hospital room. Please keep them all in your prayers. Sophie has been in really good spirits this time around with us which has made it a blast to have her...she keeps Mom and I laughing constantly. Today, we took Sophie up to see her Mommy and brother and then while Grandma sat with Joe, I took Michelle and Sophie to the zoo to get them out of the hospital for awhile. Michelle said it was nice to stretch her legs and Sophie loved the animals which according to her either growl or moo. If you want to hear more about our trip to the zoo visit my blog at http://zrfitz.blogspot.com/ there is a link on Michelle's to get there under Z and R Fitz. But in case you don't want to visit my blog, here are a few of the pics from the hospital and zoo.

At the Hospital!





At the Zoo!

So Scarry

A week ago Sunday I got a call from the bishopric to give a talk in church. I accepted and Joey was furious, due to me being only 6 weeks away from delivery. Anyway, Joe's blood counts were up and Joey wanted to hear me speak in church so our whole family got ready and headed to church. We haven't gone to our ward as a family since August due to isolation with the cancer. So again anyways, all week I had prepared my talk which is unusual for me a procrastinator. I really enjoyed all the learning and insights the Lord was giving me on how I can improve. I even wrote my talk so that if I got nervous I could read it word for word. Well, as we pulled into the parking lot and parked, Joey openned my door then went around to get Joe out of the carseat. As I finished getting Sophie out I hear Joey say, "Oh no!" I looked over and Joe's GT Button was hanging out of his stomach. I was in shock, I have almosted pulled that thing out so many times on accident and the thing seemed in so tight. So just this last Thursday I had taken the hospital bag out of the van because we hadn't needed it for a while. (Always be prepared should be a motto I live by, but I seem to never quite pack a diaper bag right.) So Joey had to run home to try to save the hole before it closed up to tight. When he didn't come back by the sacrament song I kept hearing the promptings to go now so I got up and left the stage without any notice. I get tired of feeling like when we have something go wrong it is all in the public eye, but I guess here I am posting it for the whole world to see. So I never gave my talk and the ER was a bunch of fun at PCMC. Everything is okay, GT buttons need to be immediately put back in but it is by no means life threatening to Joe, just a lot a pain, the cute little guy is a champ and one of my heros. So for the scare, but all is good.

Yellow

Joe just finished his blind therapy for the week and today he learned the color yellow. She is an excellent therapist and no complaints by me on how great she is with helping Joe overcome his vision impairment. She started by having him play with different yellow colored toys. Then she introduced red toys. After both had been played with she brought one of each infront of him and asked him to touch the yellow toy. He did so 9 times out of 10 and the 10th time he was kicking the yellow toy but she said that feet didn't count. I am so proud.
Sophie today has been so cute, yet something scary happened. I put on ELMO so I could shower in peace for 5 minutes when I heard a scream. Sophie came running in crying so hard because she had taken her baby dolls pacifer and put it in her mouth and it had gotten stuck. Luckily she is unharmed but the pacifer is now on a trip to the dump in the garabage can.
Joey is helping out up at the auto show and if anyone wants to go we may or may not be able to get discounted tickets. Let us know.
As for me I am busy as ever and still hoping that I will continue to find projects to fill my time. Right before Christmas I rearranged the family room, last week I did Sophie room and this weeks goal is to get Joe and babies room all ready for the big day. Say I am crazy but if I ever paid and interior decorator it would be a wasted because within six months I would rearrange everything again. I love to rearrange is anyone else like that or is it something I only do?

Very Interesting

So yesterday my sister posted a very interesting and could be controversial blog on her blogspot. zrfitz.blogspot.com (pet peeves). I loved it. I think she makes very valid points and it made me stop and think if I am doing everything that I can do to be the best wife to Joey and best mother to my very beloved children. I think everyone has room to improve but I think if you go and read it (which is highly suggested, even if you just want to have your husbands read it to see if they agree, mine did) you will enjoy. We all have room to improve and sometimes we take offense to quickly when we should look at things in the light of what can I take from this to improve myself.

Blood

Yesterday we had our home health nurse over to do a blood draw and I was telling her how lucky I felt that Joe hasn't needed blood this round. Well, two hours later the doctors office called and gave us an appointment for today to go and get blood. Getting blood is a whole day experience. I left the house with Joe at 9 o'clock and we got home just before 6 o'clock.
Luckily for us Joey had a day off today and he and Sophie spent a lovely day together (Joey even did Sophie's hair very cute). While Joe and I just sat and snuggled in the doctors office. I can only speak for me, but I had a great time bonding with Joe one on one.
I want to remind everyone that God only closes a door when another one has been openned. So always look for where that new door is.

Holiday Vacation

Our family had such a wonderful Christmas and New Years.
Joe has done so great this round of chemo. He is still eating (but only like a bird). His hair is coming back but his eyelashes and eyebrows just can't quite stay in place. He is feeling good enough to even tolerate 10 or so minutes in the gait trainer. This is a walking device we got for Joe two weeks before the cancer was found. Sophie loves to push him around and play with him when he is in the walker. I think she likes the fact that at those moments he can get around like her.
Sophie is quite the little princess. She has found her first love. ELMO. If we want her to do something and it doesn't work to bribe her with visits to her beloved Aunt Nannie then Elmo is the best bribe. We are trying to get her to go potty again. She does most of the things she needs to, to be potty trained, except go on the potty again. She did great for about a week of mornings but lost interest. I am hoping for June.
Our family found out the gender of the baby. We are still trying to decide if we should tell. Just Kidding, He is a boy. Joey is about as excited as he was with each of the other kids. He was glowing when he found out. As for me I just hope that he is healthy and happy. I could really use a good baby again this time. He kicks all the time especially around 10:30 at night, hopefully we don't have another night owl on our hands. Joe is a night owl for those of you who don't know, he could go to sleep at 10 or 11 and still wake up happy at 7:30 in the morning. Needless to say we have crazy hours at our house.
Until next time thanks to everyone for your love and support.
Di Regolo Family

Chillin' With Joe

So last Thursday Joe got to go into the hospital again to start his next round of chemo. It went pretty well from what I hear, but he really needs our prayers since his kidneys are already beginning to fail. He will have chemo again this week and next week and then it will be a couple weeks again for a much needed break to help him regain energy. He hasn't been throwing up yet with this round which is nice but he is has been kept pretty medicated. He is such a good sport! We all love him so much! We are thankful that it is looking like he won't be spending Christmas in the hospital!

Update on Joe

Our cute boy Joe is acting pretty good lately. We still don't know how his counts are since the scare but we're praying for the best. He is such a good sport he still puts on a big grin and "aahhhh"s at us in delight. He is such a little angel in our li8ves nothing but joys! He is starting to get his hair back in which is exciting, but secretly Michelle likes him bald because it reminds her of the bald baby she always wanted and got with him! Sophie tries so hard to help her Mommy with Joe...today she tried to pick him up to take him with her...it was so precious! Of course we had to stop her so she wouldn't hurt him...but she loves her brother VERY much and he loves her just as much...it doesn't take words between them to see and know it!
---Aunt Nannie

Christmas Trees

Today Sophie came for a visit and loved the Christmas tree. Michelle says that at their home she does too and while on the phone with her awhile ago Sophie went and tried to plug in Michelle's tree to see the lights. Sophie says "wow" over and over again while looking at Christmas trees. When she saw mine she went over and "wow"ed at it then just sat on my lap looking at it and giggling. I told Michelle that we may need to secure our trees to the walls with such a curious little helper around! I bet Sophie will be a blast for Michelle and Joey this Christmas!



---Aint Nannie

Highs and Lows

Yesterday was one of the highs for the Di Regolo family. Make-A-Wish started installing Joe's new playground. Joe was cheerful and eating really good for a change too. It seemed like a really good day...

But last night, Michelle called Mom and I and told us Joe had a fever of 103 which means a trip to the hospital. So off they went and discovered that Joe's white blood count was zero...which is not good at all. So he's back in the hospital...but thankfully he is doing well there and should get to be home by Thanksgiving, but they can't be around anyone. Please keep them in yur prayers this Thanksgiving time. And if you get a chance call and send your love since it's the only contact they will be having until Joe's count is up from what I understand.

---Aunt Nannie

Lately...

Lately, we have been staying home and getting healthy. Joe and Michelle got sinus infections and a cough. Lucky Sophie and Joey stay healthy pretty much all the time. Good news is that Joe has gotten his appetite back and is loving to eat anything that is crunchy. We have switched his peg to a button and hope that we will like it as much if not more soon. Joe set up a trunk or treat for Doug Smith where he works and it was a huge success for them. Next year it will be even bigger and better. Sophie amazes us with all the words she is picking up everyday. It is true how every child learns at their own pace. We really enjoy Sophie's super fun personality. She is such a big helper for example: she loves Joe better when he is sad, she throws garbage away, she picks out shoes and jacket to go bye-bye, she picks up her toys (with some prompting), to us she is the best Sophie she can be. We feel so blessed that Heavenly Father has sent us two wonderful, precious, sweet, children to love and learn from. For those of you who do not know we are now 5 months pregnant (as of tomorrow). But we are not finding out until Christmas. As for now Toodles.;)

BIG girl!

Sophie did it! Today and Grandpa and Grandma B's house Sophie went potty in the toilet! It was her first time and Mommy, Aunt Nannie and Grandma made a huge deal out of it. Sophie was so proud of herself when she saw what she had done. We just thought that anyone following the blog might want to hear about this little triump in the Di Regolo house! Also, Sophie is finally broken of her bottle also!

Eating with the DiRegolo's

So meal time at the DiRegolo home has gotten quite interesting...according to me (Aunt Nannie). Which anytime you have little kids mealtime tends to be! Michelle is an excellent cook and loves to bake which she has a free chance which isn't often these days. A few weeks ago while Joe was getting a feeding tube put in, I had Sophie over and learned just how much fun Michelle has now days. Not only is she t;ube feeding Joe and working on his ever changing taste likes and dislikes due to chemo and radiation but Sophie keeps her hopping! Sophie at the VERY OLD age of 17 months and at the time of these pictures even younger insists upon sitting in a barstool instead of her special counter chair and feeding herself or she won't eat. I fed her and had a HUGE mess to deal with...both she and the kitchen needed a bath before she was through. But I thought she was so cute that I had to post some pics of her on here. Honestly I don't know how Michelle and Joey do it all!

Sophie covered in dirt!

The day Joe got his feeding tube put in Sophie stayed with Aunt Nannie...aka Rachael. Sophie had a blast...and so did Rachael! Sohpie's favorite thing though was playing in the sandbox! She loved to throw the dirt up and since it was just her I let her do it! Because he was laughing so hard she drooled a bit creating a muddy mess that I thought was so cute!

Joe Update

So Joe is done with chemo and radiation for a month! He doesn't have to go to chemo again until November and he's all done with radiation. Apparently their was a misunderstanding at the hospital and his treatments won't be weekly as last reports...they will be every 6 weeks so they will be going until about next November if all goes well. He is being such a brave little guy through it all! We love him so much!

Halloween Party

This is Rachael again but I thought you'd enjoy seeing pics of the kids from our Halloween party we had last night. It was SSSOOOO much fun! We had it a little early so that Taylor and MaKaylee could be their and so the kids would have plenty of time to wear their new Halloween outfits before Halloween. We were so thankful that no one was sick so that Joe could come to the party! If you'd like to see more picture from the party check out Rachael's blogspot at http://www.zrfitz.blogspot.com/ their are pictures of our fun menu we ate!
Mommy and Joe in his new shirt from Grandpa and Grandma B.

Sophie with her cousin MaKaylee...they look just like sisters in their matching outfits!

Daddy and Sophie hunting for balls to get their outfits.

Joe! Our handsome and sweet boy!

Sophie! As a little pirate she steals everyone's hearts!