Teens X 2 - Memory 4

In a few days, my middle man, Riley Lance will be 13 years old. I blinked and my rambunctious boy has become a teenager. Join me over the next several days in a walk down Riley's memory lane as we lead up to this special birthday...

Memory 4.  I debated about adding this memory.  Between Riley's food allergies, asthma and other situations, I did not want his 13th birthday blogs to be full of gloom and doom.  However, this is such a part of Riley's life that it just needed to be added. 

Riley started having colds and ear infections at such a young age.  It always took about 3 rounds of different antibiotics before the doctor was able to clear his ears of infection.  I remember feeling so frustrated and so sorry for my sick little baby.  I am thankful I did not know the road ahead.  Riley was diagnosed with asthma before he turned one.  We were very familiar with prednisolone, steroids, and breathing treatments.  The emergency room visits became more and more frequent.  The doctors could not get his asthma under control.  They actually knew us at the Jackson Madison County General Hospital.  We would walk in the doors and almost immediately be taken back to a room.  They would soon start Riley's IV's and it took several of us to hold him down.  He screaming broke my heart.  We used to call it his "Buzz Lightyear," because the nurses would wrap it up so that he could not pull it out.  He thought it looked like the laser on Buzz Lightyear's arm.  After awhile, the novelty of the laser wore off, and as we would enter the hospital he would plead, "No Buzz Lightyear, Mama."  Each time we went to Illinois to visit Mom and Dad we would end up at the ER, because the weather change would affect his sinuses and set off his asthma.  It was a hard time for my boy.

By the time Riley turned 2 we had been admitted to the hospital several times.  I always thought it was ironic how they would pump him full of steroids and breathing treatments and tell me to keep him as calm as possible.  HA HA.  My two year old, confined to a bed and many wires, and calm?  We were up to 8 medicines a day ($$$)  to keep his asthma in check, and our pediatrician finally said he did not know what else to do.  He was unable to help us any longer, so he sent us to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville.  This was hard.  Clark was trying to continue to work and Avery spent much time with Nana and Papa Presson.  Riley went through more tests and doctors than I can remember, but we had such wonderful doctors that helped begin the slow journey of controlling his asthma.

I felt the Lord's presence with us so strongly during all of this time.  So many were praying for us.  Each time we would head off to the ER I would call my family in IL, and they would begin to pray.  Many times, I could see a difference in Riley's breathing even before we would get to the hospital.  Often, I would have to take him in the middle of the night and Clark would stay home with Avery.  Many times I sat in the hospital room and did nothing but pray the oxygen numbers up and up and up until they would get into the 90's.  And then, sit and cry when they leveled off and Riley's chest would stop heaving and begin to rise and fall normally.  Sometimes it is good to go back and see how the Lord has walked with us through life's trials. 

Sleep was only a dream during those years!  :)  One weekend, Clark was in Texas for a meeting and my in-laws were in North Carolina. Of course, Riley's asthma started to rattle in his chest.  Avery, Riley, and I ended up at the ER on Friday night and back home in the wee hours Saturday morning.  By Saturday night I was exhausted.  I was determined to get a bath in between breathing treatments.  I filled the tub and relaxed in the water.  It was then I realized that I had also filled the tub with all of Avery and Riley's bath toys.  I was so exhausted that I just left them floating in the water!  I have laughed about that so many times.  All I could think about was that I needed sleep, my husband,  and my mom and dad!

I was diagnosed with cancer when Riley was almost 2.  The night before I went in for my second surgery we were in the ER with Riley.  He was limp in my arms from struggling to breath and the doctor told me that he was going to have to admit him.  I begged him not to.  It was midnight, and I was supposed to leave at 5:00 a.m. for the hospital in Memphis.  He told us that if Riley's oxygen levels could reach 95 then he would send him home.  That was one of the times that Clark and I prayed the numbers UP!  I could not imagine being in one hospital and my baby being in another.  Thankfully, the numbers went up, we were released!  Nana took care of Riley at home, while MY mom took care of me in Memphis!  God is so good!

Good news!  Riley's asthma is better than it has ever been.  We are down to only 3 meds which is GREAT for Fall!  We still see the specialist every six months.  Riley gets a bit frustrated because he is unable to pass the breathing tests without two breathing treatments each time.  At his last appointment, his lower lungs were only working at 50%, but we are believing that they will be at 100% at our next one.  The doctor is also considering taking him down to 2 meds which is also good news!  I thank the Lord for how far he has brought Riley!  I am so thankful that He never leaves us nor forsakes us, and as I look back I see that He has been with us every step of the way!

Teens X 2 - Memory 3

In a few days, my middle man, Riley Lance will be 13 years old. I blinked and my rambunctious boy has become a teenager. Join me over the next several days in a walk down Riley's memory lane as we lead up to this special birthday... 

I failed to mention in my previous "Riley" blog that although he had serious stinker tendencies, he was also sweeter than sweet.  He knew how to turn on the charm and make this mama's heart melt!  We soon discovered Riley had a few more serious problems than his stubborn mean streak.  Grandma Widener came to Jackson for a visit, and I took her to my favorite downtown restaurant.  It was a quaint, little, hole in the wall place that had the yummiest chess squares in the world!  I realized that I did not have any baby food with me, so I asked for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  My little guy was only 9 months old so I tore off a few teeny tiny bite size pieces for him to snack on while we enjoyed our lunch.  On the way home, I noticed that Riley was coughing.  Upon closer inspection I realized his skin was getting rashy and his face was starting to swell.  I still had no idea what was happening.  We were completely unfamiliar with food allergies. 

Mom and I were growing more concerned by the minute.  By the time we arrived home, all of Riley's symptoms had worsened.  I thought perhaps he had gotten a cleaning product from the restaurant on his skin, so I put him in the bathtub.  I then realized that all of his little body was swelling to unrecognizable proportions so off to the ER we went!  We soon found out that peanut butter was the evil culprit.  This began a series of tests in which we found out that Riley was allergic to several other foods.  We also began carrying epi-pens and benadryl with us everywhere and still do today.  Thankfully, Riley outgrew the majority of his food allergies, but not peanuts or other tree nuts. 

Later, in 3rd grade, Riley began having more rashes around his mouth with swelling and numbing in his throat.  We found out that he had developed an allergy to all soy products, and peas.  Food allergies are a very scary thing, and they have caused much fear in Riley's life.  It has gotten harder as Riley has gotten older.  He is often away from me socially with friends.  However, I am thankful that the Lord has His hand upon Riley and can be with him even when I am not!  The Lord promised that He would build a hedge around Riley, and in Him I put my trust!

 

This picture was taken three days after Riley's first allergic reaction.  Mom and I were so shaken up that we didn't think to take any pictures before that.  My sweet baby boy. 

"But let all who take refuge in you be glad...

Spread your protection over them,

that those who love your name

may rejoice in you."  

Psalms 5:11 NIV

Teens X 2 - Memory 2

In a few days, my middle man, Riley Lance will be 13 years old. I blinked and my rambunctious boy has become a teenager. Join me over the next several days in a walk down Riley's memory lane as we lead up to this special birthday...  

Memory 2 - Riley was such a sweet, happy baby!  His face lite up in a smile if you just looked his way.  I wrote in his baby book that he had "miles of smiles" and his smiles were "big, bright, and contagious."  I nicknamed him Smiley Riley... 

 

    Alas, all good things must come to an end. Riley hit his terrible twos at the early age of 15 months and my, oh my they lasted a llllooonnggg time.  I changed his nickname from Smiley Riley to Riley Roo, because he was like a little bouncy kangaroo.  My beautiful boy became quite the terror.  I cried myself to sleep most nights wondering what I was doing wrong, and thinking I was raising a menace to society!  Riley knew how to throw a professional temper tantrum.  The roll in the floor, scream to the top of your lungs, kick, bite, and fight kind of tantrum.  He felt quite comfortable to do this anytime and anyplace; church, the doctor's office, the store, relatives homes, friend's homes, and especially restaurants.  I remember several times when we would order our dinner and Riley would decide that he did not want to be there.  After letting the entire restaurant know how unhappy he was, I decided to sit in the car with him while Clark enjoyed his dinner and fed Avery.  Of course, I sat out there and cried.  We finally gave up on eating out.  Riley attended a Mother's Day Out program 2 days a week, and sadly, they asked us to leave due to Riley biting everyone in his class including his sweet elderly teacher.  I can laugh about it now, but I was not laughing then.  I was crying.  ALL the time.   Riley's Grandma and Nana were praying, for both Riley and me.  And guess what?  We made it!!  At the age of 3.5 my mean, cute, little monster was replaced by the calmest, sweetest boy anyone could ask for.  As Nana Presson always says, "This too shall pass."

A few pics of my lil' menace.

 

 
Can't you just see meanness all over that face?  I would love to be able to give it a smooch one more time!

 

 

 

Teens X 2 - Memory 1

Thirteen days from now my middle man, Riley Lance will be 13 years old. I blinked and my rambunctious boy has become a teenager. Join me over the next several days in a walk down Riley's memory lane as we lead up to this special birthday...

     Clark and I were so excited to find out we had another baby on the way! Morning/all day sickness set in and the excitement dimmed a bit. We told our happy news to our families on Mother's Day of 2000.

     We decided to find out if this baby would be a boy or a girl, and I was so excited to find out it was another boy! The thought of 2 little boys growing up together seemed so sweet. Little did I know of the energy that 2 little boys could create!
     My pregnancy with Riley seemed long! I had a busy 2 year old and it was a HOT summer in Jackson, TN. Avery made a 6 week early appearance so the doctor checked often to see if this new baby would do the same. All signs pointed to delivery being about 5 weeks early, so my mom made the trip from Illinois to Jackson, TN to help take care of me, Avery, and the new baby. Once she got here, the baby decided he was comfortable right where he was. The closer his September 18^th arrival date came, the more I walked the neighborhood in hopes of getting something started. My neighbors cheered me on each day as I walked and walked. They were as happy as I was when my due date arrived. The date of arrival came and the doctor said that nothing was happening so we would WAIT and come back in three days! What? I was one, BIG, unhappy Mama!
     Three days later I went back and was immediately sent to the hospital. I checked in at 11:30 and four short hours later at 3:26, Riley Lance Presson made his grand entrance. My heart was so full and I fell deeply in love with my second boy. He weighed in at 7 pounds, 14 ounces, and was 21 inches long. He had a headful of thick dark brown hair, deep dimples, and was an armful of perfectness.

Dear Riley, I would have wept with sadness on that day if I would have known how fast these 13 years would go by. The Lord made you in such a unique way. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that one day I am going to have to let you go and let Him have His way in your adult life. I am thankful for the few short years that your Dad and I have left to mold you into the man that the Lord plans for you to be! I love you with all of my heart!  Always remember, I loved you first!
Love, Mom