Bangladesh January 2014

Immediately after the holidays I shipped off to Bangladesh, Shanghai, and Hong Kong again for the first few weeks of the year.  Leaving the hubby and babies alone.  I rescheduled all of Haven's appointments around my trip and even had to schedule Weston's surgery immediately following my return.

This trip was a bit stressful.  Due to Bangladesh holidays and such I had to reschedule them to the front of my trip instead of the end.  This caused me to have to start the trip with 6 flights and 40 hours of flying/airports and no hotel or shower!  It was a very very long trip.

We went straight to the factory after I arrived.  On the second day of the factory visit we went into lockdown due to riots and protests.  People had been shot and people were making homemade bombs and throwing them at cars.  It was pretty crazy.  Not what I'm used to in Hong Kong or China.

Thought I'd share a few photos.   You can always click on the pictures to see a bigger photo.

The beginning of a two week trip is a daunting thought……I have traveled overseas for two week periods on three different occasions since October.  My only hope is the chance to watch new movies……by the third trip I had seen everything!

This is along the route to the factory. Due to so many protests and riots we are still taking ambulances and boats while under police guard.  This is just a "community" I guess you would say.

I had never driven by this factory before.  These are factory workers heading in to a shoe factory.  The factory looked very very nice.

There are just thousands of people walking from everywhere to come to work.

I am actually amazed at them.  And all in flip flops!

Bangladesh Navy….slightly different than the US Navy

Not exactly on guard and read to go at a moments notice

 If I could only do this I could get so much done!

One of the cabby rides around town.

This guy was selling his eggs along the side of the road

I'm not sure what he was selling but I'm pretty sure the lady didn't like the smell!

Another little taxi cab.  The Tuk Tuk

This is always parked in the same spot when I visit.  It's near the boat docking area.

This was the view out of my window at the dorm this time.  I was only able to stay at the dorm on the first night.  Looks like they have a little garden growing there.

Another look out my window at a little lake out back.

Prior to getting on the boat we have to take a little 4WD adventure to the boats.  This helps to get us around all the protestors.  

South Korean flag because the owners of the factory are from South Korea and the Bangladesh flag as this is the people and country we are in.  Done with rocks.   

Due to the protests we had to stay in the shoe factory side.  So of the factory people had to stay there with me as it was unsafe to go back to our dorms.  Yes all of my bags were at the dorm!  Everyone stayed up playing poker.  I watch CNN and Bridgegate happen.  

Bed in the conference room at the factory.

Yep - everyone needs a little Doreo!

Beautiful early morning photos from the boat.  

Again the people just amaze me.  I wouldn't be standing on that thing for anything.

Sunrise photo I took while on our way to the factory.

A little bit of downtown-ness

Streets were busy on my way back to the airport - but the factories close down on Friday's so you can expect that everyone would be out.

Street side vendors and some cows!

Definitely an exhausting trip and most of my element.

IVIG for Dad's Birthday

We were finally able to set up Haven's IVIG at a hospital closer to the house.  We've been driving over an hour every time to get Haven to the hospital.  Now we only have to go 20 minutes.  When we got there this time the trees were decorated for Christmas.  I love being in a place that isn't afraid of Christmas and Christmas trees!

We didn't know Santa would be there or that elves would be present.  But when we got to the hospital there they were.

Haven was so excited to be able to get with Santa one more time.  She kept telling me every time she got with Santa there was something else she would remember that she needed.  

When we got to the hospital Haven's nurse had set up her bed with a little gift bag.   Danielle is super cool and Haven just loves her.

Ohhhh….IVIG….how we do not love thee!

Haven hanging out while we wait for the 6 hour treatment to end and then we get to go home and celebrate dad's birthday.

Happy Birthday Daddy ------ Love your clan

Endocrine visit!

Well Miss Haven has been on the growth hormone shots for about 2 months now.  We went in to meet with Endocrine the week before Thanksgiving.  This was to make sure Haven was responding the medicines and if she was having any reactions.  

I was most concerned that she had gained 2 pounds but then again I wasn't sure if it was the medicine or not.  So they took all her numbers and vitals and then we reviewed.

Since her last visit to Endo in July Haven has gained 2.2 pounds.  Keep in mind Haven hasn't grown even an 1/8th of inch in two years.  She just stopped completely.  No hormone to do it.  Also affects teeth and muscle mass.  Since starting the medication in October Haven has grown 1 complete inch!!!!!

1 INCH

Not only has she grown an inch in 2 months but her weight percentile has gone from 87% to 85%.  Even though she has gained 2 pounds she has gone down in percent.  Doctor informed me that Haven has no muscle and this will help her with that - which also adds weight but not fat!  :)  I'm so happy.

This definitely makes taking the medicine worth it.  Since Haven is responding so well they increased her dose and now we will see the doctor on May 1st for another review of where she is.  I have already bought her new clothes because her old pants are about 3 inches above her ankles and look a bit funny.  

Next up is Pulmonary and a sleep study on December 21 - we're a bit concerned here but hopefully we'll get some good info at the study.  And she has her IVIG coming up on one of these Saturday's in December.  

Thanksgiving Dinner 2013 --- Mom's first try at turkey!

This was our first Thanksgiving dinner on our own - no parents to cook for us.  Time to figure out our own traditions and what we like

Haven started the morning off with Deviled Eggs

Then came the roasting of the bird!  We filled it with lemons, oranges, onions, garlic, parsley, sage, and thyme leaves.  Then rubbed our garlic butter mix all over him!  

He came out BEAUTIFUL!  We checked his temp and he was ready to eat at exactly 4:45pm!  :)  mmmmmm mmmmmmm

Haven also researched a good cranberry sauce that we all might actually eat.  We bought some fresh cranberries - cooked them until they popped and then added all the goodies.

At the end you add blueberries --- OH IT WAS YUMMY.  I've never eaten cranberry sauce and this was amazing!  Great job Haven.

After dinner we started the decorating of the windows.

Rohnin is always a huge help with the decorating.

Finishing windows to move on to the doors.

How high can we get the stickers so Weston doesn't destroy them?

Everything gets moved up the next morning!

Taken by my Haven.  She put this Nativity scene together with the window stick ons.  

Fun time at the mall

Got the kids to sit with Santa and tell him what they want!  Weston was more worried about what the elves were doing.

They love going and climbing in the play area

Rohnin has no fear!

My boy

This is a great map for weekend energy release.  Lots of parents just come and watch the babies play….makes the rest of the afternoon much easier!

Christmas List making

We took the babies out to see what they like at the stores….plus it wears them out to spend 2 hours in Toys R Us!  We always try to get them stuff that is slightly over their age so they can grow and learn with it.  

 Weston LOVES trucks

yea Spidey was in there

Now I know Rohnin loves these castles and houses to play with

Weston loves them too

My girl really wants her own chair…..hhhhmmmm

This was a fight to get them out of!

Truck heaven for Weston

Oh doll houses!!!!

Immunology update

 Just a vital check…heart rate was a bit high but everything else is good to go!

 Accessing the port - we had to do this twice because her port clotted up half way through.

When I got back from Bangladesh I took Haven in to the hospital the next day to get her labs done.  We had a lot of extra labs taken this time for Immunology.  I have been sick since my arrival back home and haven't really been able to connect with the doctor so I do not have the results of the labs.  But I did receive confirmation that she would be transferred to Immunology - which will allow us to do her IVIG treatments on Saturdays instead of during the week.  WHICH IS AWESOME!   When you seen 5 specialists almost monthly it's very hard to continually take off work - especially when some of the treatments are 6 hours long!

I will hopefully be able to connect with Immunology this week and get everything set up and finalized.