Happy Unbirthday Zoey

It sucks that Zoey's birthday is in the middle of all this. We were not planning to celebrate her birthday on her birthday anyway cuz Chris works Sundays. But I have rescheduled the cake for Friday after we get back to Gillette so that she won't feel that she missed out or that something else was more important. But I thank god that she is still young so she won't know her birthday is getting postponed 5 days. She will be pissed if you tell her her party is being moved. So please don't. Chris and I both have told her that she needs to act big to get a birthday party and I don't want her to feel like she did anything wrong. But with her presents and cake still in Gillette it will have to be next Friday. Thanks

could it get any colder?????

BBRRRRRR.....It is so cold outside. I think the weather guy said only negative one but it feels more like Gillette's current -17. And the thing is its cold everywhere. Its cold at the Ronald McDonald House and its freezing in Isaac's room. Chris sleeps with three blankets on and he is still cold. Isaac on the other hand doesn't like to be covered up so therefore he is not.

I was nervous to leave him last night. He had such a rough morning and even though he had started out well on his way to recovery-yesterday was a bad day. But Chris and I needed some time to talk to eachother so we ate supper together at the Ronald McDonald house with supper provided by DeVry University. Afterward Chris went to stay with Isaac while I took Zoey duty. This morning was laundry day so Zoey and I found some breakfast and did a couple loads of laundry. We spent some time in the different playrooms. She does not miss her brother or so she says. Really its a lot like living in the dorms except that I brought a lot less stuff with me. I am not used to preparing breakfast with three other families in the kitchen but Zoey plays in the playroom with the other kids while I try and figure out where everything is. McDonalds provided lunch today so I had Chris swap out with me then so we could each eat.

It felt wierd being away from Isaac for so long but things went well last night. Yesterday they took him off the paralytic so even though he is still sleeping he can hear us and sometimes respond a little. Because of this they make sure that his restraints are on tight enough that he can't mess with all the tubes. They started him on some IV nutrition through his pic line. They changed out the NG tube which is a nasal gastric tube that kept yucky things out of his stomach and traded it for a TP tube which goes from his nose to the intestine so they can start feeding him that way instead. He has an infection that is secondary to the the croup and he is on good antibiotics for that. His stats are back up today. He is on 40% O2 instead of 100% like yesterday. His heart rate, breathing and blood pressure are back to normal limits. I am still praying for the tube to come out tomorrow night but the doc thinks it will take til thursday or friday before his lungs are clear enough and he doesn't require as much oxygen.

So I bundled up today to walk the three blocks to the hospital and it was so cold out that my fingers wouldn't move by the time I got here. I answered three or four phone calls and as I am hanging up my cell phone and answering the room phone Isaac wakes up and sits straight up in the bed. AAHHH what do I do? He shouldn't be moving and really you would think that with all the stuff he's tied to he wouldn't be able to. FREAK. ME. OUT. I yelled for a nurse --my hands were full putting down the phones and holding down Ike at the same time so I didn't even think to push the call button. Thankfully nothing was undone and he is sedated again.

When Isaac and I first arrived in Denver we were still a ways from the hospital. So we split up. Isaac got a fabulous helicopter ride while I took a cab. The air crew had called ahead for me and the cab was right there waiting for me. The cab driver was a man from India wearing a blue turbin. He was a chatty fellow telling me not only how my insurance works but how in India only the rich get treated. He was so impressed with how there is no discrimination in regards to who gets treated. He also let me know that I should pray for my children and husband. I was very unware that men are not allowed to pray for their families and that was a job reserved only for women. He noted that I should have prayed in the plane cuz the air was clear up there without dirty souls (plus I would have been closer to God).

This is day three of Isaac being in the picu (pediatric intensive care unit). Yesterday was a really good day. Isaac seemed very healthy and even the nurses were amazed at how good he was for being in the picu. Chris and Zoey drove down through some snowy weather and it was great to see them. The social worker stopped in right away and gave me a few vouchers for the cafeteria and set us up at the Ronald McDonald house. I was really surprised at how wonderful it is. Our room is very similar to a hotel room but the house itself has a very large kitchen where we can keep our food and they also have some community items which was helpful since we have not been anywhere other than the hospital yet. Zoey is having so much fun there she doesn't even want to leave. They have TV, movies, books, toys, games, a Wii, an X Box. And I think Zoey is a little upset there is no swimming pool but for $15 a night I have no complaints. Once they got here Chris and I were able to swap out. He stayed with Ike overnight while I took a shower and changed out of the clothes I had been wearing for 2 days. Sleeping in a bed didn't hurt anything either.

Today is a different day. Early this morning they were able to change out his tube for one that is much more appropriate for his 7 year old size. He quickly gained an infection in his lungs which caused his lungs (especially on the left) to fully fill with a thick white mucus. This caused all of his stats to decline and was very difficult to maintain. We had a pulmonologist come in and clean out his lungs. The junk plugged her scope. But his chest is clear again and his stats have returned. After that we gave him a pic line so that we don't have to poke at him so much. The 2 IVs he already has will stay for now. So now I am sitting in a cool dark room trying to just let him relax from his big day. He will now need to keep the tube in longer due to the lung infection. Honestly I can't wait for respiratory to come in and beat the snot out of him. Litteraly. This is good massage and I want to see it work first hand.

My phone is charged now so I take calls on my cell phone if you have any questions. Ike isn't all that talkative so I don't mind the calls.

Isaac

So Here's the Scoop. Isaac got a cough about Friday when we were in MN no other symptoms. On wed after we came back he was not doing so great. His breathing became labored, he lost his voice and he threw up. He was in the hospital for almost 24 hours, but was sent home feeling great. No school Thrusday/Friday and icecream often. Friday night he didn't sleep much. Some due to coughing, a lot cuz he said his teeth hurt (another absess). By morning his breathing sometimes was good sometimes not. I wanted to just get more steroids but can't on the weekend. So I kept asking him how he felt and by noon he had quite a bit of strider (seeing those muscles work for breath). We went back to the ER but this time the medicaions did not work. I suppose they did work, but not nearly as effectively and he had two breathing treatments and a couple kinds of intravenous steroids and his breathing was still terrible. So we called in the specialist. We all were very concerned that he was getting enough O2 but not pushing out enough carbon dioxide which was making him sleepy and do wierd things also because we were not opening up his airway we were concerned that we should protect the airway with a tube. If we waited we might not be able to get one in at all concidering how swollen he already was. Putting in the tube was a surgical procedure and went well but they did have to use more of an infant tube due to the lack of diameter in his throat. Yes I want to protect his airway. But what they don't tell you is what being on an airway really means. Such as 7 year olds should not be intebated for croup therefor we have to be life flighted to denver so they can A)find out exactly what is causing this inflammation B)give him better drugs to reduce inflammation in his throat and C)remove the tube without complicaions. Gillette does not really have a pulmonary program of any kind which is why not only are we here but one of my personal training clients had bilateral blood clots in his lungs and he wants me to get him back to work by the 20th. Crazy huh? So we waited for the Leer Jet to come pick us up. It is the smallest vehicle I have ever seen and was a little nervous. Honestly I was surprised we got all six of us in there, but it was a good ride. I even got snacks and better yet they gave Isaac the best care he's had yet. He was doted on every minute. So now that we are here I now realize that protecting his airway means a lot of scary yucky things and all are done to create a perfectly controlled situation. He is sedated and paralized and restrained so that he won't mess up or pull out the tube. He has a machine breathing for him to help him rest and make sure that the carbon dioxide is not building up in him. He has an NG (sorry I'm not too medical at 1am) down his nose to prevent bad things from going into his stomache. He is cathed. He has an IV in his Left arm and his right hand and has been pricked more times than I can count today. It took three nurses and three different pokes to get his first IV started and it was difficult to get him poked just right for his blood gasses. He dislikes that part so much that even after they sedated him they had to give him extra meds before poking cuz he would wiggle and squirm when they just used the alcohol wipe. So really things look tons and tons worse than they are. Oh yeah and he had a c collar on to restrict head movement (so not to mess up the tube) and now they are mostly just using towl rolls. We are hoping to get the tube out in the next day or two. But I have no idea when we get to go home. I really think it should fit into my schedule but have a feeling it will take a lot longer. Like when they told me Wed that he would just be there overnight and I'm thinking oh he'll leave right away in the am but he was there til 4:30pm. He has been fabulous throughout the whole thing. He is tough and as long as you don't stick him with a needle or put a tube down his nose while he is napping he will be his fabulous self. Its tough to watch. He has been through so much and I just want him better and smiling again.

Happy Thaksgiving!

So as it turns out I don't really like to blog from my phone. Don't really know why--I do everything else from my phone.

I have had an insane week or two--I don't know how long its been. Isaac had a fun thanksgiving program and most got to see the video when we went back to minnesota. The trip was great. I haven't celebrated thanksgiving with anyone except Isaac and Zoey in the last eight years so it was a bit overwelming to have four celebrations. Very yummy:). Also while I was there I had my 15 year class reunion and that was fun.

However, while we were there Isaac got his usual MN cough. I thought nothing of it and figured it would be gone by now. I didn't give him any meds today and he didn't get sent to the nurse's office for a mint to calm his cough. Well I went to pick him up from Active Kids and he was crying and freaking out cuz he lost his voice. His breathing wasn't great, but I calmed him down and we went home. The doc's office was closed, but I got the ER to call her. We decided to start steroids in the morning for croup. Well he threw up and had another lack of breathing attack all while not being able to talk to us. So we went to the ER, had a breathing treatment and a few xrays. I find the whole "let's stay at the hospital" thing incredibly irritating. I suppose its not to be fun so you don't want to come back soon but come on. The ER wasn't bad but the nurses on the floor could really be more attentive. I know we are not the only ones here, but could they attempt to get things done when we get up here? They said they would bring in his meds and a popsicle (since he has had nothing to eat since lunch)right away before he is sleeping for the night. Two hours later (after 11pm she brings the meds and of course has to wake him)and doesn't bring him a thing to eat. What time does she think a sick 7 year old goes to sleep? She aslo told me she would bring a cot-I told her it would be fine when she suggested it but I really don't think its comming (got a pillow and blanket at 12:30). And since I'm venting--its freezing in here, cartoons weren't on while Ike was awake, the shows I wanted to watch were over after he fell asleep and I still get to clean up after him. I have to wonder if they would have even known he threw up if I hadn't said anything. Also if he is taped to a pulse ox-- is it really necessary to wake him every couple of hours to take it on the other hand? Really? However, as frustrated as I am, Ike is doing much better now than when we came in. He has croup and his airway is pretty swollen. We are going to swab him in the morning to make sure he doesn't also have strep.Hopefully he will have a good night and most of the inflammation in his throat will go down by the morning so he can go home. But probably a couple days off school. He has been great even though plenty freaked out. Don't think I'll sleep much and just watch reruns of the late shows.

you fill my heart with happy

Isaac had conferences this week. I hate report cards because I think they mark him too low on things I KNOW he knows. But they do it because its early in the year. So I go all fired up just so they can tell me that he is right where he should be. He is in excelerated math, but wasn't able to get into the gate program this year because they cut the numbers of kids who could go. Only 4 from each classroom. His teacher encouraged the kids to attend conferences, but it really confused him. He was convinced that he needed to attend conferences and since they were on thursday and friday he wouldn't believe us that he had any days off from school. He was pretty concerned. The other night I heard him wish upon a star. When he was finished he told me he had made a wish and I asked if he could tell me what it was. He wished for a weiner dog that would go to school with him and the ability to jump as high as houses so that if anyone gets a ball stuck up there he could just jump up and get it. His face has healed up from his bike crash earlier this fall, but fell again at the Rec Center-- two days before christmas pictures! When Ike told the dentist that he falls a lot he really wasn't exagerating.

Zoey Lynn has been doing well also. The other day it started to snow and she says "Mom, its raining white gumballs!". Yesterday we were driving to Solem's and she noticed christmas angels in someone's yard. "Mom, I really saw angels!! They weren't invisible!". She was extremely impressed. Today we went to a princes birthday party and I have been surprized lately at how concerned she is about accessorizing. She does like to dress up and make sure she has her rockstar purple hair, tierras, rings, earings, bracelets, neclaces, shoes--the whole nine yards. She is unofficially done with speech which is great. She stills has to be reassesed in Jan, but no forseeable issues.

This is going to be a crazy week with something going on every night. The first graders have a thanksgiving program on mon, Zoey starts ice skating lessons this week, christmas program practice for church starts this week. While I don't have any set in stone holiday plans--I have a feeling that the next six weeks are going to fly by and 2010 will be here before I am ready!

After eating chocolate you feel godlike, as though you can conquer enemies, lead armies, entice lovers. ~Emily Luchetti

So here is the pic of Isaac's cake I forgot to post earlier. He was pretty impressed.

Friday night we carved pumpkins.

These are all in backwards order. But this is Miss Candy dressed up for the Halloween party at Just 4 Kids reading them a story.

They played some musical chairs.

Played a little bean bag toss.

Earlier in the week we went to Fright Night at the Library. It was fun for the kids. Zoey dressed up as TinkerBell that night. For her school party she dressed up as Spiderman. But they had face painting that day so she was Spiderman with a clown face. They also got to paint pumpkins.

Later that same afternoon we stopped by Isaac's party. They had treats and read a pumpkin story.

The night of Halloween Zoey chose to dress up as a firefighter. Isaac LOVED being Anikin Skywalker! Looks like Dorothy and a pink kitty cat stopped by for some candy. Too bad Chris still had it in his truck while he was turkey hunting. We went to a party hosted by one of Isaac's friends. We went trick or treating just along Tonk which was more than enough to get the kids candy. Afterward we went to a friend's house for pizza and movies. The weather was nice, we didn't even have to wear winter gear!

Here's his antelope.

And Zoey with it too!






A lot of this and that going on. Work is busy, plus I just put in my first grant so I can run some more fitness programs. I don't yet know if I will actually get the money.

The other day Zoey was going on and on about moving back to MT. Isaac says "Just let her go Mom."

That same day I was dropping Isaac off at school and making sure he had all his winter gear. His hat was on his head but he couldn't find his mittens. I was slightly annoyed, but as he got out of the car I noticed his head was very oddly shaped--"Isaac what is in your hat?" He looked and was excited to find his mittens.