Kenner's leak has stayed and if it continues to remain a leak then tomorrow at 4:00 am they will begin taking him off his sedation medicine and putting him on a drip type of sedation. This will allow them to immediately take off the sedation medicine when they take out his tube.
They will also stop his feeding and gradually ween him off the ventilator. Hopefully this will happen in a matter of 6 hours and about 10 am he will be off the ventilator and be able to breathe smoothly. He will be hoarse and will have morphine to help him with any pain that might linger.
The morphine part was a huge relief for me as I saw first hand how much pain he was in before they vented him when he attempted to clear his throat. I was afraid of this happening again. I will be rest assured that he will have to be breathing without stidor, eating well, and healthy before he leaves.
This will mean that he will be in PICU for 12-24 hours, then upstairs for 2-3 days until he is completely healed.
God is good! Pray that this plan is God's plan and that we have a talking little boy tomorrow.
Thanks for all your support and continued prayers!
Love - Rhi on behalf of Kenner and the Svitak's
Sunday, August 31, 2008
MORE AIR and responding!!
Kenner is really wheezing now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After his last breathing treatment, he was kind of awake and I asked him if he wanted me to read him his Sally book and he shook his head yes.
God is good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After his last breathing treatment, he was kind of awake and I asked him if he wanted me to read him his Sally book and he shook his head yes.
God is good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hearing him breathe!!
I have heard his tube leak a few times this morning! This makes all the drowsiness of not sleeping for a couple days go away. Hopefully we will be hearing more and more and they can get that tube out!!! PRAY PRAY PRAY
Sunday morning
The breathing treatments that they have been giving aren't showing much progress and no opening in the vocal cords yet. The dr said that if he doesn't start showing a hole they will need to get an ENT in and either look at him in our room or in the Operating Room. This could be Mon or Tues. The reason for the operating room would be so that they can put the tube right back in if need be.
He is quite stubborn (hmmm I wonder who he gets this from) and closes his teeth when they are trying to suction him. He loves the "massaging," but does not like the suctioning.
Pray pray pray that his vocal folds start to open up. Several of the resident doctors came into and asked how many days he has been on the ventilator...that makes a person think? They have also said that kids are on ventilators for long periods of time.
They will be doing his breathing treatments every 2 hours now in order to get more out of his lungs to prevent pnemonia.
Rhi
He is quite stubborn (hmmm I wonder who he gets this from) and closes his teeth when they are trying to suction him. He loves the "massaging," but does not like the suctioning.
Pray pray pray that his vocal folds start to open up. Several of the resident doctors came into and asked how many days he has been on the ventilator...that makes a person think? They have also said that kids are on ventilators for long periods of time.
They will be doing his breathing treatments every 2 hours now in order to get more out of his lungs to prevent pnemonia.
Rhi
Deep Thoughts from PICU
What does a parent do or think as their child gets better in PICU?
- Try to be put in the shoes of a Resident by attempting to stay awake the entire time they have to (30 hours)
- Learns to be patient and overcome your fears as each step in the healing process changes your level of comfort (my apologies to the night staff in my previous post...a Resident came in after my post and discussed the reasons for his low heart rate and sudden change in the way he reacted to breathing treatments, suction, etc). No he didn't read my post, but we were asking so many questions the nurse went and got him:).
- Recaps and revisits her anatomy of the speech and hearing mechanisms and neurology class(Thanks Dr. Healey and Dr. Hux) knowledge learned in Grad school 6 years ago. *The vagus nerve when activated causes the heart rate to go down and not up and now that his paralytic gets out of his body, his body will be feeling and reacting. This causing his heart rate to go down and not up. Ahhh...I get it! I am relieved, but not enough to sleep though.
- Thinks she is big stuff looking out on the lights of downtown Omaha and feeling like I am in a big town...too bad Kenner and I can't experience the aura of it.
- Takes nursing 101 and feels that she could do almost all of this stuff herself...except changing the diapers. I am paying them, so I will sit back and watch that, right?. I did my job potty training him:)
- Determines that no matter how much or how little a person sleeps their morning breath is still horrendous no matter if you sleep or not. *hope you aren't eating your morning breakfast!
- Finds out the mini favorites of Kenner's mind and body (he prefers to sleep on one side and will automatically move there after the RT says, "All done Kenner, time to go to sleep." Almost instantaniously he moves and relaxes.
- Discovers how much her children make her laugh each day and when that is taken away how much she misses that. *Kenner was uncomfortable earlier in the evening and I asked him if we should read him a book and he did a little "bubbi" nodd. All of us (2 nurses, Grandma Carlece and I) looked at each other. Thanks Kenner for making mommy and Grandma laugh. We hope more come today.
- Finding the positive in everything is easy to do when you know you have our God on our side. Thank you Jesus (as Kenner would say) for all that you have helped me through and continue to work to help heal Kenner!
- Knowing that there are more family and friends out there that really care than a person could ever imagine. Kenner is the most popular kid up here with a window full of 16 balloons (I know specifics aren't needed...but really what else is a person going to do at 4:55 in the morning), candy, toys for when he wakes up. I am very sorry if I don't sound thankful or have things I need when you ask. I am not usually in these shoes nor do I know how to accept help. I appreciate all the prayers and little things that people have helped with: drying my laundry that I started while at home on Monday, picking my garden, mowing our lawn, helping with our kitchen, putting our trash out, and the snacks and games brought to me. There aren't enough words nor I am I sure how to describe the thankfulness I have for such a great support.
On another note: Dillon (boy from Sutton who had a heart attack) was moved up to a recovery floor AMEN! New prayer request: Ridge - he was born with a 1/2 a heart from Paxil that his mother was taking, which she found out a day after he was born that 8 out of 10 women have children with heart defects when taking it during pregnancy. His mom told me that all her friends are in the PICU, because she doesn't get out much. Pray that his little body would slow down enough to heal, so he may become strong again. Once strong, his family has to make a decision to move to St. Louis and wait for a transplant. Difficult decisions when they already picked up their family and moved to Omaha and when they have a 1 year old and 7 year old girls. He is 2 and looks just like Kenner.
I will post more later - Rhi
- Try to be put in the shoes of a Resident by attempting to stay awake the entire time they have to (30 hours)
- Learns to be patient and overcome your fears as each step in the healing process changes your level of comfort (my apologies to the night staff in my previous post...a Resident came in after my post and discussed the reasons for his low heart rate and sudden change in the way he reacted to breathing treatments, suction, etc). No he didn't read my post, but we were asking so many questions the nurse went and got him:).
- Recaps and revisits her anatomy of the speech and hearing mechanisms and neurology class(Thanks Dr. Healey and Dr. Hux) knowledge learned in Grad school 6 years ago. *The vagus nerve when activated causes the heart rate to go down and not up and now that his paralytic gets out of his body, his body will be feeling and reacting. This causing his heart rate to go down and not up. Ahhh...I get it! I am relieved, but not enough to sleep though.
- Thinks she is big stuff looking out on the lights of downtown Omaha and feeling like I am in a big town...too bad Kenner and I can't experience the aura of it.
- Takes nursing 101 and feels that she could do almost all of this stuff herself...except changing the diapers. I am paying them, so I will sit back and watch that, right?. I did my job potty training him:)
- Determines that no matter how much or how little a person sleeps their morning breath is still horrendous no matter if you sleep or not. *hope you aren't eating your morning breakfast!
- Finds out the mini favorites of Kenner's mind and body (he prefers to sleep on one side and will automatically move there after the RT says, "All done Kenner, time to go to sleep." Almost instantaniously he moves and relaxes.
- Discovers how much her children make her laugh each day and when that is taken away how much she misses that. *Kenner was uncomfortable earlier in the evening and I asked him if we should read him a book and he did a little "bubbi" nodd. All of us (2 nurses, Grandma Carlece and I) looked at each other. Thanks Kenner for making mommy and Grandma laugh. We hope more come today.
- Finding the positive in everything is easy to do when you know you have our God on our side. Thank you Jesus (as Kenner would say) for all that you have helped me through and continue to work to help heal Kenner!
- Knowing that there are more family and friends out there that really care than a person could ever imagine. Kenner is the most popular kid up here with a window full of 16 balloons (I know specifics aren't needed...but really what else is a person going to do at 4:55 in the morning), candy, toys for when he wakes up. I am very sorry if I don't sound thankful or have things I need when you ask. I am not usually in these shoes nor do I know how to accept help. I appreciate all the prayers and little things that people have helped with: drying my laundry that I started while at home on Monday, picking my garden, mowing our lawn, helping with our kitchen, putting our trash out, and the snacks and games brought to me. There aren't enough words nor I am I sure how to describe the thankfulness I have for such a great support.
On another note: Dillon (boy from Sutton who had a heart attack) was moved up to a recovery floor AMEN! New prayer request: Ridge - he was born with a 1/2 a heart from Paxil that his mother was taking, which she found out a day after he was born that 8 out of 10 women have children with heart defects when taking it during pregnancy. His mom told me that all her friends are in the PICU, because she doesn't get out much. Pray that his little body would slow down enough to heal, so he may become strong again. Once strong, his family has to make a decision to move to St. Louis and wait for a transplant. Difficult decisions when they already picked up their family and moved to Omaha and when they have a 1 year old and 7 year old girls. He is 2 and looks just like Kenner.
I will post more later - Rhi
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Change of Meds and looking at Mommy
We are changing his antibiotics again, because he is getting a red face and feet. Pray that he is not going to be allergic to all antibiotics! He is being an EXCELLENT listener. The respiratory therapist told him to lean toward her so she can "massage" his back and he moved toward her....it was very cute:)
Keep praying! It has been a hard night, because his heart rate is just below or right at 95, which is low for him and we need to talk to the doctors about this. His oxygen levels have had to be risen to 45% instead of 30% like this morning. They tell me it is because all the flemm in his lungs. His nurses and RT are nice, but not as good as the other nurses. We never heard, "Um I don't know I will go ask the doctor." We have heard this more than we have heard an answer out of them...so it is testing my patience and my ability to be calm. I don't think sleep is in the plans tonight with the crew we have. Pray that we get a better crew tomorrow.
Rhi
Keep praying! It has been a hard night, because his heart rate is just below or right at 95, which is low for him and we need to talk to the doctors about this. His oxygen levels have had to be risen to 45% instead of 30% like this morning. They tell me it is because all the flemm in his lungs. His nurses and RT are nice, but not as good as the other nurses. We never heard, "Um I don't know I will go ask the doctor." We have heard this more than we have heard an answer out of them...so it is testing my patience and my ability to be calm. I don't think sleep is in the plans tonight with the crew we have. Pray that we get a better crew tomorrow.
Rhi
Saturday Update
Thanks to all the visitors and phone calls in the past days. Kenner was taken off his paralytic this morning in order to get his lungs and the rest of his body to stay limber. Hopefully this will assist with his vocal cords to get moving as well. It is a bit nerve-racking for me, because I do want him to get better, but not before his time. I do not want to see him suffer and suck for air like we did a few days ago. They also put him on Lasik (sp?) in order to take the swelling down and get the fluids out so that his vocal folds will maybe less moist.
It is assuring to see some movement with him, because he looks more like a little boy with movement...but still no air leak with his vocal cords. He is 'coughing' more. Coughing means that he looks like he is coughing, but until we hear the leak we won't hear the cough. This is helping him clear his lungs, which he has alittle fluid in but it isn't anything they are too worried about. It is just something that he gets to have this "massager" on his back for a couple minutes every 4 hours to help break up the things in his lungs.
His coloring is great. He did develop a very red rash last night, due to the change in his antiboitic (a weaker version), but he must be somewhat allergic to penecillin. All they had to do was switch him to the previously used antibiotic and then his rash went away.
Patton is doing better at Elge's house with multi-symptom cold medicine. Thanks to Grandpa and Grandma Elge, Patton now knows how to say 4 wheeler. Oh I can't wait for the day that Patton and KENNER can go back and ride it all around.
Thanks for all the continued prayers and thoughts.
We have had several visitors today - Bob and Marilyn, Grandma Carlece, Kendra, Craig, Justin and Channel (sorry I killed the spelling!), Bella
Love you all!
8:00 pm update NEW
I got to see Kenner's beautiful brown eyes for the first time in 3 days. This does not mean any more progress except that he is just sleeping (like you feel before a surgery) and when he coughs he sometimes opens his eyes. He calms down with a soft touch and some nice words. I feel like I am helping a little bit with him being able to be calmed.
It is assuring to see some movement with him, because he looks more like a little boy with movement...but still no air leak with his vocal cords. He is 'coughing' more. Coughing means that he looks like he is coughing, but until we hear the leak we won't hear the cough. This is helping him clear his lungs, which he has alittle fluid in but it isn't anything they are too worried about. It is just something that he gets to have this "massager" on his back for a couple minutes every 4 hours to help break up the things in his lungs.
His coloring is great. He did develop a very red rash last night, due to the change in his antiboitic (a weaker version), but he must be somewhat allergic to penecillin. All they had to do was switch him to the previously used antibiotic and then his rash went away.
Patton is doing better at Elge's house with multi-symptom cold medicine. Thanks to Grandpa and Grandma Elge, Patton now knows how to say 4 wheeler. Oh I can't wait for the day that Patton and KENNER can go back and ride it all around.
Thanks for all the continued prayers and thoughts.
We have had several visitors today - Bob and Marilyn, Grandma Carlece, Kendra, Craig, Justin and Channel (sorry I killed the spelling!), Bella
Love you all!
8:00 pm update NEW
I got to see Kenner's beautiful brown eyes for the first time in 3 days. This does not mean any more progress except that he is just sleeping (like you feel before a surgery) and when he coughs he sometimes opens his eyes. He calms down with a soft touch and some nice words. I feel like I am helping a little bit with him being able to be calmed.
Friday, August 29, 2008
BM here we come!
Kenner has gone #2!!! This means his body is working well and maybe the infection can go out with the rest of the "junk" in his tummy!
If visiting Kenner and you see his heart rate really go up...we figured out what he is doing:)
Maybe the vocal folds will be next...
If visiting Kenner and you see his heart rate really go up...we figured out what he is doing:)
Maybe the vocal folds will be next...
Education Minute Re: Croup
Please go to this website regarding CROUP The author of this article could have written Kenner's story this last week! Omit pnemonia and but in tracheotitis instead and that is what we went through without the viewpoint coming from an emotional mommy!
Patton is showing signs of a cough at Grandpa and Grandma's house in Aurora...so pray that his will be healed with love from them and a hot shower.
rhi
Patton is showing signs of a cough at Grandpa and Grandma's house in Aurora...so pray that his will be healed with love from them and a hot shower.
rhi
Friday update
Hello all! Kenner is getting breathing treatments today (alittle troublesome for me, because that is what they were doing before and it didn't work...patience and trust I know God...help me with this!)
This causes the mucus in his lungs to break up, which causes him to be suctioned more so that his oxygen levels go up. This requires the respiratory therapist to put a machine on him that vibrates his lungs to break up all the mucus even more. If Kenner were awake, this would cause him to go into a tickling frenzy.
He is looking more puffy everyday, but that is because he isn't moving around. They said once he moves around when he gets better it will all go away.
No leak in his vocal cord. His official diagnosis is (please bear with me with my spelling) tracheotitis (inflamation of the vocal cords or trachea). It is a waiting game and thanks to Uncle Craig and Uncle Trevor I now have wireless internet by his bedside. This has helped make this afternoon go tremendously fast...so post anything and it will help keep me busy:) I can also check my email crsvitak@windstream.net.
Thanks for everything and your continued prayers!
Rhiannon
This causes the mucus in his lungs to break up, which causes him to be suctioned more so that his oxygen levels go up. This requires the respiratory therapist to put a machine on him that vibrates his lungs to break up all the mucus even more. If Kenner were awake, this would cause him to go into a tickling frenzy.
He is looking more puffy everyday, but that is because he isn't moving around. They said once he moves around when he gets better it will all go away.
No leak in his vocal cord. His official diagnosis is (please bear with me with my spelling) tracheotitis (inflamation of the vocal cords or trachea). It is a waiting game and thanks to Uncle Craig and Uncle Trevor I now have wireless internet by his bedside. This has helped make this afternoon go tremendously fast...so post anything and it will help keep me busy:) I can also check my email crsvitak@windstream.net.
Thanks for everything and your continued prayers!
Rhiannon
Thursday, August 28, 2008
update
Kenner had a great day today! He is still on a vent and is in a medical induced coma, BUT he didn't have a fever all day, his white blood count that fights the bacteria went to 25 from 100, his heart rate was around 100-110, and his rash is GONE! We will still wait to hear for snoring coming from a leak in his throat. His throat or vocal cords is/are swollen, so it will just take time for the inflamation to go down in order to get off a vent.
The doctors are very positive and tell us it is just a waiting game. Keep the prayers coming. THEY ARE WORKING!
Good night! (another positive I got to sleep for 3-4 hours in his room today!...so that could be a reason why I have such a positive outlook too...sleep does wonders.
Thanks for visiting Grandpa Dennis, Grandma Kelly, Uncle Levi, Aunt Lucy, Uncle Craig, Uncle Trevor and Aunt Kendra, Aunt Annie, Jenny Piening, and THANKS to Grandma Carlece for taking Patton today. Patton is in Aurora with Casey's parents. He tried to move Kenner's bed and pull a few things today, which almost sent me over the edge:) Praise that he is active:)
Also HUGE PRAISE for the 15 year old boy who was waiting on an MRI to see if he had brain activity. They got the results back and he is awake!! AMEN!
Thanks to all the visitors yesterday, Grandpa Pat, Craig, Kendra, Trevor, Carlece, Annie, and many others.
Love you all - Rhiannon
The doctors are very positive and tell us it is just a waiting game. Keep the prayers coming. THEY ARE WORKING!
Good night! (another positive I got to sleep for 3-4 hours in his room today!...so that could be a reason why I have such a positive outlook too...sleep does wonders.
Thanks for visiting Grandpa Dennis, Grandma Kelly, Uncle Levi, Aunt Lucy, Uncle Craig, Uncle Trevor and Aunt Kendra, Aunt Annie, Jenny Piening, and THANKS to Grandma Carlece for taking Patton today. Patton is in Aurora with Casey's parents. He tried to move Kenner's bed and pull a few things today, which almost sent me over the edge:) Praise that he is active:)
Also HUGE PRAISE for the 15 year old boy who was waiting on an MRI to see if he had brain activity. They got the results back and he is awake!! AMEN!
Thanks to all the visitors yesterday, Grandpa Pat, Craig, Kendra, Trevor, Carlece, Annie, and many others.
Love you all - Rhiannon
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Pray for me!
Here is a recent picture of Kenner enjoying some cotton candy on Sunday while at World's of Fun with Grandma Carlece and Grandpa Pat. My how three days can really change a kid.We can't wait until we can see that crazy, funny, loveable little boy running around causing trouble (yes you all can quote me on that in a a couple weeks when I am talking about the craziness of having two healthy boys).
Love you Kenner!
Kenner at Children's Hospital in Omaha (updated 8/28/08)
Wow! This has been quite a week. Praise GOD for all the medical professionals and medicine out...they have saved my baby:) Here's the story:
Kenner went to World's of Fun with my mom and dad this weekend. I met them in Beatrice on Sunday night and then we went home. He woke up on Monday morning with a very barky cough. Thanks to my babysitting days, I put him in the shower and thought that is all I had to do. He was fine, but just a bad cough. I got a call from daycare saying his cough was worse and he had diaherha (sp?). I ran over got him and made an appoitment in Crete...because I didn't think it was too bad. The doctor didn't notice anything wrong and I had to point out that he sounds like a monster breathing and a dog when he breathes. Oh she said and she gave us breathing treatments with a nebulizer. He had RSV before so again I was thinking this was a routine thing. Never think you child being sick isn't too bad...a cough can turn into this story!
We got breathing treatments to do every 4 hours with Mucinex and Tylenol every 4. Both Casey and I were up all night on Monday night with two boys who weren't feeling well (Patton just needed Tylenol to get rid of his fever). I left for the pediatrician's office at 7:15 sharp without an appointment...I needed more answers to his difficulty breathing. He was not breathing well. Not seeing Kenner for more than 2 seconds the dr said he has croup and we need to take immediate action.
They gave him 6 mil sternoids and an "eppy" something breathing treatment. He seemed to get a little better. We were there for 1.5 hours and then sent home. My grandparents Jim and Jan came to help Casey put in windows* and my Grandma was there to help me with two boys.
Kenner continued to have diffuculty breathing and called back to the dr's office two to three times. They said if he isn't getting better to take him to the ER, so I had it and took Kenner to the ER at 8:00 pm. I was raised in a house that you only went to the ER when you broke something (love you dad!), so I was very unsure to take him BUT I was sure that he wasn't breathing!
The ER immediately got things going and he would get better with a breathing treatment, but then 40 minutes later he would get worse again. His doctor Walsh came in at 11:00 pm and said that we needed to keep him in the hospital to continue to give breathing treatments. Everyone would tell me, "Once we get these steriods in him and a breathing treatment...kids just pop out of it." So I am thinking great! One hour or two and we will be back home and Kenner will be better.
EMAIL FROM MY AUNT KENDRA:
I just got off of the phone with Rhiannon and if you don’t already know they put Kenner in the hospital last night because he was having problems breathing. He is at Saint Elizabeth. They thought it might be croup (sp?) but they gave him the steroids and it doesn’t seem to be making him better so the doctor just came in and said that they are going to start a new antibiotic through his IV and it might be a step virus that is making him so sick because he has a rash that is coming out of his body at this point.
Poor little guy when I was talking to Rhiannon I said what is that noise and she started to cry and said it was Kenner trying to cough. She said it just hurts him to swallow or cough and it sounds like a little calf trying to cough when they are first born.
Please pray and pray for Rhiannon as she has not slept for two days now and she is a bit emotional.
I will keep you posted as I know more.
Kendra
Kenner just kept saying, "Mommy I go nigh-night?" He didn't want any more shots, breathing treatments, nor an IV!!! Those were the most words he said all day and note that he said only one word per utterance...due to lack of breath. Every treatment helped less. Around 9:00 am this morning (Wed), Kenner's room began to be that "ONE" room. Have you ever been in a hospital and saw that "one" room and thought, "I sure hope everything is okay in there! There are more and more people coming in and out, quicker and quicker." I was there by myself, because we had the thinking - one more hour and he will be better, one more steriod and he will be better. I am not sure what I would have done without Trevor. Thanks to my new Uncle Trevor (who works at St. E's)! He was there at the right time. I could see him briefly through all the people and I summoned him over with my finger aka GET OVER HERE NOW! He was there for me, because Casey was taking a break at home. I was there by myself when things got really really bad.
Trevor was there to be my support. All the doctors were talking code (that they were trying to talk over my head but thanks to my great education at UNL I knew what they were talking about unfortunately). I was freaking out but trying to stay calm...calm and Kenner not breathing...I DON'T THINK SO! Casey got there and my Aunt Kendra also was there.
Kenner at this point was literally drowning in our own air. It was the most horrific face and part of my life that I will never forget! He was climbing all over just like he might find a pocket of air somewhere.
The team of nurses and doctors (I say team, because there were 8-10 at this point!!) clearing the way to the Critical Care Unit and FAST. They intubated him and as much as it hurt to see him lying there I was relieved to see him get a good breath! The nurses described his breathing as his sternum touching the his back...his breaths were so hard.
They intubated him around noon and supposedly had an ambulance waiting for him, so everyone left and I was there to ride in the ambulance. Then we had more trouble with logistics....The 1st ambulance didn't have a medic...um not okay with my son who is relying on someone to breath for him. I stayed calm and waited with my Pastor Keith (another God story...he showed up the second my family left for Omaha thinking I wouldn't be there very long by myself). 2nd ambulance came with 2 medics, but they weren't confident hand bagging my son!!! for 40 minutes...neither was I. FREAKING OUT IN SIDE, BUT TRYING TO STAY CALM. Finally one of the medics asked if they had called the Helicopter from Omaha....no they had just called the helicopter in Lincoln. Another God thing, there was one in Omaha and enroute. My son would be able to be put on a machine ventilator for 20 minutes in the air versus 40+ minutes being hand bagged. PRAISE GOD!
The nurses said he was the most popular kid there with visitors already there when he had only been at Children's Hospital for 30 seconds. We were told that he has a bacterial infection and once the culture grows more each day we will begin to find out more about what is going on. We do know that his vocal folds are very swollen. So swollen in fact that they had to put a smaller tube down his throat due to his inflammation. Thank God that they were able to put a tube....or we could be even worse. Kenner is on a ventilator for 4-5 days in order for him to get rid of the bacterial infection that he has somewhere in his body. We hope it is in his vocal cords. He is unable to breath on his own and his body isn't able to relax, because his vocal cords are very swollen. I have been praying for all those families and particularly mothers that have to see their own child receive medical treatment like Kenner. It is extremely hard to see your vibrant little boy laying down in a bed with this monsterous system looming over him with cords running all over. Praise God that we are Children's not because of an accident or missing or bad body pat (heart, etc). Kenner looks peaceful and will just be taking a nap for 4-5 days. I may remember praying for this a month ago, when I just wanted to have some time by myself (jokingly of course). I can't wait to see Kenner run with his McQueen shoes, have his brother repeat words in order to teach him how to talk and read books together with him.
At this point we don't need anything (except sleep) and PRAYERS!!! Please pray for our little guy that the doctor's will have the wisdom and God will lay his hands on Kenner to protect him from any other difficulties.
Also pray for the other families on this floor...Freshman boy who collapsed with a heart attack, a 2 year old boy with heart failure.
Praise God for your healthy children and give them all a special hug and kiss from the Svitak's. We appreciate your prayers! Check back for more updates...because this is the easiest way to keep the stories straight:)
Love you all and good night! Rhiannon
*We ordered new kitchen cabinets on Saturday and began to tear down our kitchen (plaster, lathe and all) on Sunday. So Casey had been working tirelessly on getting that done in our 3 week window of cabinet making. Our yard is also 4 feet tall, because we were waiting for the time to be right to kill the entire yard, till, and plant grass. We have sprinklers, so if you drive by our house. It might look like no one lives there at the moment:) All things happen for a reason and we know that there isn't anything that we can't handle without the strength of God!
Kenner went to World's of Fun with my mom and dad this weekend. I met them in Beatrice on Sunday night and then we went home. He woke up on Monday morning with a very barky cough. Thanks to my babysitting days, I put him in the shower and thought that is all I had to do. He was fine, but just a bad cough. I got a call from daycare saying his cough was worse and he had diaherha (sp?). I ran over got him and made an appoitment in Crete...because I didn't think it was too bad. The doctor didn't notice anything wrong and I had to point out that he sounds like a monster breathing and a dog when he breathes. Oh she said and she gave us breathing treatments with a nebulizer. He had RSV before so again I was thinking this was a routine thing. Never think you child being sick isn't too bad...a cough can turn into this story!
We got breathing treatments to do every 4 hours with Mucinex and Tylenol every 4. Both Casey and I were up all night on Monday night with two boys who weren't feeling well (Patton just needed Tylenol to get rid of his fever). I left for the pediatrician's office at 7:15 sharp without an appointment...I needed more answers to his difficulty breathing. He was not breathing well. Not seeing Kenner for more than 2 seconds the dr said he has croup and we need to take immediate action.
They gave him 6 mil sternoids and an "eppy" something breathing treatment. He seemed to get a little better. We were there for 1.5 hours and then sent home. My grandparents Jim and Jan came to help Casey put in windows* and my Grandma was there to help me with two boys.
Kenner continued to have diffuculty breathing and called back to the dr's office two to three times. They said if he isn't getting better to take him to the ER, so I had it and took Kenner to the ER at 8:00 pm. I was raised in a house that you only went to the ER when you broke something (love you dad!), so I was very unsure to take him BUT I was sure that he wasn't breathing!
The ER immediately got things going and he would get better with a breathing treatment, but then 40 minutes later he would get worse again. His doctor Walsh came in at 11:00 pm and said that we needed to keep him in the hospital to continue to give breathing treatments. Everyone would tell me, "Once we get these steriods in him and a breathing treatment...kids just pop out of it." So I am thinking great! One hour or two and we will be back home and Kenner will be better.
EMAIL FROM MY AUNT KENDRA:
I just got off of the phone with Rhiannon and if you don’t already know they put Kenner in the hospital last night because he was having problems breathing. He is at Saint Elizabeth. They thought it might be croup (sp?) but they gave him the steroids and it doesn’t seem to be making him better so the doctor just came in and said that they are going to start a new antibiotic through his IV and it might be a step virus that is making him so sick because he has a rash that is coming out of his body at this point.
Poor little guy when I was talking to Rhiannon I said what is that noise and she started to cry and said it was Kenner trying to cough. She said it just hurts him to swallow or cough and it sounds like a little calf trying to cough when they are first born.
Please pray and pray for Rhiannon as she has not slept for two days now and she is a bit emotional.
I will keep you posted as I know more.
Kendra
Kenner just kept saying, "Mommy I go nigh-night?" He didn't want any more shots, breathing treatments, nor an IV!!! Those were the most words he said all day and note that he said only one word per utterance...due to lack of breath. Every treatment helped less. Around 9:00 am this morning (Wed), Kenner's room began to be that "ONE" room. Have you ever been in a hospital and saw that "one" room and thought, "I sure hope everything is okay in there! There are more and more people coming in and out, quicker and quicker." I was there by myself, because we had the thinking - one more hour and he will be better, one more steriod and he will be better. I am not sure what I would have done without Trevor. Thanks to my new Uncle Trevor (who works at St. E's)! He was there at the right time. I could see him briefly through all the people and I summoned him over with my finger aka GET OVER HERE NOW! He was there for me, because Casey was taking a break at home. I was there by myself when things got really really bad.
Trevor was there to be my support. All the doctors were talking code (that they were trying to talk over my head but thanks to my great education at UNL I knew what they were talking about unfortunately). I was freaking out but trying to stay calm...calm and Kenner not breathing...I DON'T THINK SO! Casey got there and my Aunt Kendra also was there.
Kenner at this point was literally drowning in our own air. It was the most horrific face and part of my life that I will never forget! He was climbing all over just like he might find a pocket of air somewhere.
The team of nurses and doctors (I say team, because there were 8-10 at this point!!) clearing the way to the Critical Care Unit and FAST. They intubated him and as much as it hurt to see him lying there I was relieved to see him get a good breath! The nurses described his breathing as his sternum touching the his back...his breaths were so hard.
They intubated him around noon and supposedly had an ambulance waiting for him, so everyone left and I was there to ride in the ambulance. Then we had more trouble with logistics....The 1st ambulance didn't have a medic...um not okay with my son who is relying on someone to breath for him. I stayed calm and waited with my Pastor Keith (another God story...he showed up the second my family left for Omaha thinking I wouldn't be there very long by myself). 2nd ambulance came with 2 medics, but they weren't confident hand bagging my son!!! for 40 minutes...neither was I. FREAKING OUT IN SIDE, BUT TRYING TO STAY CALM. Finally one of the medics asked if they had called the Helicopter from Omaha....no they had just called the helicopter in Lincoln. Another God thing, there was one in Omaha and enroute. My son would be able to be put on a machine ventilator for 20 minutes in the air versus 40+ minutes being hand bagged. PRAISE GOD!
The nurses said he was the most popular kid there with visitors already there when he had only been at Children's Hospital for 30 seconds. We were told that he has a bacterial infection and once the culture grows more each day we will begin to find out more about what is going on. We do know that his vocal folds are very swollen. So swollen in fact that they had to put a smaller tube down his throat due to his inflammation. Thank God that they were able to put a tube....or we could be even worse. Kenner is on a ventilator for 4-5 days in order for him to get rid of the bacterial infection that he has somewhere in his body. We hope it is in his vocal cords. He is unable to breath on his own and his body isn't able to relax, because his vocal cords are very swollen. I have been praying for all those families and particularly mothers that have to see their own child receive medical treatment like Kenner. It is extremely hard to see your vibrant little boy laying down in a bed with this monsterous system looming over him with cords running all over. Praise God that we are Children's not because of an accident or missing or bad body pat (heart, etc). Kenner looks peaceful and will just be taking a nap for 4-5 days. I may remember praying for this a month ago, when I just wanted to have some time by myself (jokingly of course). I can't wait to see Kenner run with his McQueen shoes, have his brother repeat words in order to teach him how to talk and read books together with him.
At this point we don't need anything (except sleep) and PRAYERS!!! Please pray for our little guy that the doctor's will have the wisdom and God will lay his hands on Kenner to protect him from any other difficulties.
Also pray for the other families on this floor...Freshman boy who collapsed with a heart attack, a 2 year old boy with heart failure.
Praise God for your healthy children and give them all a special hug and kiss from the Svitak's. We appreciate your prayers! Check back for more updates...because this is the easiest way to keep the stories straight:)
Love you all and good night! Rhiannon
*We ordered new kitchen cabinets on Saturday and began to tear down our kitchen (plaster, lathe and all) on Sunday. So Casey had been working tirelessly on getting that done in our 3 week window of cabinet making. Our yard is also 4 feet tall, because we were waiting for the time to be right to kill the entire yard, till, and plant grass. We have sprinklers, so if you drive by our house. It might look like no one lives there at the moment:) All things happen for a reason and we know that there isn't anything that we can't handle without the strength of God!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Birthday at KFC
Tonight was a great night to go out to eat. It was beautiful and the NEW KFC buffet was awesome inside and had a great patio that we could eat outside and not feel guilty about making a big mess!
Today was a day for cops and breaking the rules. I got the pleasure to receive a knife as a gift from one of my students. Yeah he won't be going to school for a day, because he didn't threaten anyone for it. It was bigger than my hand and a switch blade. Not a little pocket knife. I can't believe how calm I was as the entire thing went on. If you want more detail...I will share, but not on the blog. If that wasn't enough, when we went to KFC the cops were called on a mom, because she paid for her 4 kids, but didn't pay for her buffet. The manager warned her, but she kept on doing it. The manager called the cops! 5.00 dollars lady!! We weren't sure the conversation of the cops, but I am sure she got a slap on the wrist. Ahh the memories! Had we gone somewhere else we wouldn't have had that memorable story!
I did talk with my mom and she verifies my story and still feels bad about the KFC experience on my birthday:) She is making up for it by taking Kenner this weekend to World's of Fun. Bubb gets to stay home and have mom and dad time in the dirt while we either get sod or smooth out our dirt for seed. Fun times.
It was a great birthday! My friends in the mild-moderate Special Ed room made me peanut butter rice krispie treats with sprinkles. It was awesome to all work together, an autistic boy, a blind boy, and a boy who has trouble learning and talking....all working together to make something for me. It was awesome and they were very good! Thanks Jenn for organizing it!
Good night!
Today was a day for cops and breaking the rules. I got the pleasure to receive a knife as a gift from one of my students. Yeah he won't be going to school for a day, because he didn't threaten anyone for it. It was bigger than my hand and a switch blade. Not a little pocket knife. I can't believe how calm I was as the entire thing went on. If you want more detail...I will share, but not on the blog. If that wasn't enough, when we went to KFC the cops were called on a mom, because she paid for her 4 kids, but didn't pay for her buffet. The manager warned her, but she kept on doing it. The manager called the cops! 5.00 dollars lady!! We weren't sure the conversation of the cops, but I am sure she got a slap on the wrist. Ahh the memories! Had we gone somewhere else we wouldn't have had that memorable story!
I did talk with my mom and she verifies my story and still feels bad about the KFC experience on my birthday:) She is making up for it by taking Kenner this weekend to World's of Fun. Bubb gets to stay home and have mom and dad time in the dirt while we either get sod or smooth out our dirt for seed. Fun times.
It was a great birthday! My friends in the mild-moderate Special Ed room made me peanut butter rice krispie treats with sprinkles. It was awesome to all work together, an autistic boy, a blind boy, and a boy who has trouble learning and talking....all working together to make something for me. It was awesome and they were very good! Thanks Jenn for organizing it!
Good night!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Happy Birthday to me!
If you haven't yet checked out my blog friend, Shawndra Turner's blog, then please do. She has helped me keep a perspective on life and birthdays. Pray for her healing!
She was so thankful to live another year when she reached her 31st birthday this year. I have always loved birthdays...just ask Casey. He thinks I am a little over the top when it comes to birthdays...but it is my only day:)
Tomorrow I have survived in this world a whole 29 years. I am so lucky to have had met the people I have met, done the things I have done, traveled the places I have traveled and to begin to raise two beautiful boys at such a young age. In celebrating my birthday I get to celebrate my life and see how blessed I am to have the people that I have in my life.
Tonight I had a Pampered Chef party at my sister's house (technically my uncle's, but she lives with him). It was fun to see the family and friends and just hang with some gals. Thanks to Casey for watching the boys!!
I will be celebrating my birthday with a birthday supper at....drum roll please...The NEW KFC buffet in Lincoln. Yes you might have to read it again it is the KFC buffet. We are going there, because 20 years ago my mom, aunt, and grandma decided to take all of us girl cousins school shopping in Omaha. I really don't and didn't ask for much for my birthday, but when my mom asks, "Where would you like to go for your birthday for lunch?" I felt that if someone is going to ask then they need to follow through with it. (yes I was MUCH MUCH more stubborn then as opposed to now...believe it or not!) I said, "KFC." I remember traveling in the suburban, when my grandma asks a person in another vehicle where the nearest KFC was. He explained that it was clear across town. With the power shoppers that we have in our family...that would take too much time out of day just for lunch. So my mom proceeded to promise that we would get there for supper. Okay I think...she can't promise me something and not follow through with it on MY birthday. The rest of the day lingers on as my littlest sister gets a cool mini reclining chair from Mrs. B's furniture mart (which she and I shared the same birthday), and my middle sister gets a gerbil. What did I get....nothing just a promise for KFC. Day turns into night and we leave Omaha and my mom says, "I just where there is a KFC in Lincoln." GREAT!!! FINALLY I GET SOMETHING FOR MY BIRTHDAY....food:) We pull up at 9 o'clock and I say, "POPEYE's!!!!" I had it. Everyone else enjoyed a cajun chicken meal from Popeye's while I sat pouting in the car beside the recliner for my sister and gerbil for my other sister. I remember that my Grandma Jackie came out with some food to see if I wanted it and she talked me out of letting my sister's gerbil out of its cage and into the city of Lincoln.
Needless to say, I will be getting my meal at KFC for my birthday but only 20 years later (now that makes a person feel old:))
Good night and have a great Thursday!
She was so thankful to live another year when she reached her 31st birthday this year. I have always loved birthdays...just ask Casey. He thinks I am a little over the top when it comes to birthdays...but it is my only day:)
Tomorrow I have survived in this world a whole 29 years. I am so lucky to have had met the people I have met, done the things I have done, traveled the places I have traveled and to begin to raise two beautiful boys at such a young age. In celebrating my birthday I get to celebrate my life and see how blessed I am to have the people that I have in my life.
Tonight I had a Pampered Chef party at my sister's house (technically my uncle's, but she lives with him). It was fun to see the family and friends and just hang with some gals. Thanks to Casey for watching the boys!!
I will be celebrating my birthday with a birthday supper at....drum roll please...The NEW KFC buffet in Lincoln. Yes you might have to read it again it is the KFC buffet. We are going there, because 20 years ago my mom, aunt, and grandma decided to take all of us girl cousins school shopping in Omaha. I really don't and didn't ask for much for my birthday, but when my mom asks, "Where would you like to go for your birthday for lunch?" I felt that if someone is going to ask then they need to follow through with it. (yes I was MUCH MUCH more stubborn then as opposed to now...believe it or not!) I said, "KFC." I remember traveling in the suburban, when my grandma asks a person in another vehicle where the nearest KFC was. He explained that it was clear across town. With the power shoppers that we have in our family...that would take too much time out of day just for lunch. So my mom proceeded to promise that we would get there for supper. Okay I think...she can't promise me something and not follow through with it on MY birthday. The rest of the day lingers on as my littlest sister gets a cool mini reclining chair from Mrs. B's furniture mart (which she and I shared the same birthday), and my middle sister gets a gerbil. What did I get....nothing just a promise for KFC. Day turns into night and we leave Omaha and my mom says, "I just where there is a KFC in Lincoln." GREAT!!! FINALLY I GET SOMETHING FOR MY BIRTHDAY....food:) We pull up at 9 o'clock and I say, "POPEYE's!!!!" I had it. Everyone else enjoyed a cajun chicken meal from Popeye's while I sat pouting in the car beside the recliner for my sister and gerbil for my other sister. I remember that my Grandma Jackie came out with some food to see if I wanted it and she talked me out of letting my sister's gerbil out of its cage and into the city of Lincoln.
Needless to say, I will be getting my meal at KFC for my birthday but only 20 years later (now that makes a person feel old:))
Good night and have a great Thursday!
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Crazy Week!
This week was the first full week of work for me. We had our first day of school on Thursday. It was the longest week of my life. Ever since I had Kenner it has felt as if life has blown by...not this week! I have never had a week this long in a long time!!
Today the boys and I recovered from a long week by helping me clean the house, sort through the piles that have been accumulating around the house, moving around furniture (it is a bad habit that Casey does not particularly like!), and just playing!
The boys will be going to a new daycare/preschool on Monday, so you can all say a little prayer that the transistion goes smoothly. I had to make switch for several reasons. To name a few: breakfast being served at daycare at 8:00 and not 6:30 at home, not having to travel out in the country during bad weather (my car will stay clean!!!) and challenging Kenner more with a structured preschool in the daycare. If you ask Kenner about his new "school" he will tell you that he gets to bring his backpack and will have a lot of new friends.
If anyone knows me, you know that me taking a break from life and sitting down to read a magazine or my Pampered Chef newsletter is a bit odd...but tonight I did (and to watch the Olympics). Casey had to do make up a guard drill and then went scuba diving with his friend Jesse, so it was just the boys and I all day. I got the boys to bed and instead of going back down stairs to finish my banana pepper freezing process I decided to sit, turn on the light and read a couple articles. I don't sleep on the side of the bed with the light, so I don't turn it on very often. I turned on the light and this is what I saw....
Today the boys and I recovered from a long week by helping me clean the house, sort through the piles that have been accumulating around the house, moving around furniture (it is a bad habit that Casey does not particularly like!), and just playing!
The boys will be going to a new daycare/preschool on Monday, so you can all say a little prayer that the transistion goes smoothly. I had to make switch for several reasons. To name a few: breakfast being served at daycare at 8:00 and not 6:30 at home, not having to travel out in the country during bad weather (my car will stay clean!!!) and challenging Kenner more with a structured preschool in the daycare. If you ask Kenner about his new "school" he will tell you that he gets to bring his backpack and will have a lot of new friends.
If anyone knows me, you know that me taking a break from life and sitting down to read a magazine or my Pampered Chef newsletter is a bit odd...but tonight I did (and to watch the Olympics). Casey had to do make up a guard drill and then went scuba diving with his friend Jesse, so it was just the boys and I all day. I got the boys to bed and instead of going back down stairs to finish my banana pepper freezing process I decided to sit, turn on the light and read a couple articles. I don't sleep on the side of the bed with the light, so I don't turn it on very often. I turned on the light and this is what I saw....
What are you thinking...bat, dead rat? At first I was not the brightest cookie and tapped on the lamp shade. Then I thought...THIS IS AN ANIMAL! STUPID ME!!! I did not have the courage to actually look at the animal. My SPED director called to confirm some things for tomorrow and she told me to put a garbage bag around it and take it out side. Yes GREAT Idea....that is if I had the courage to put the bag over the light. I know...wimp! I peered into the lamp shade and this is what I saw...
Can you see the little brown tail? Yes I thought it was a tail. I was trying to process all the animal knowledge that I had and no animal was checking out. Bats hang by their feet, possums are too big to be hanging in my lamp. One thing I knew for sure was that I REALLY didn't want to find out what type of animal it was. I met Casey on the porch and told him about the situation. He went up and BRAVE HUSBAND peered into the lamp. He said, "Oh it's a BAT!" I proceeded to shove the bag into his face and run into the boys' room and shut the door. Then I peered out the door and this is what he showed me...
Hmmm...where is the brown tail? I guess I had a rude awakening to living in a house with boys! I bet the boys threw this around and it got caught in the light. Thanks to my brave husband though!!! Fun times in our house!
Other things I did today: put up 2 quarts of peaches(it could have been 4, but Kenner ate them as I was blanching them), made a huge batch of homemade applesauce, cut out 20+ banana peppers to freeze tomorrow, oh and painted my bathroom...YES RANDOM!!
It looks so much better and know I have put my painting skills to work in all the rooms in this house. Doesn't it look better than yellow walls and trim?
And to end the night on a good note...here are my two boys on the first day of school!
I hope everyone has a great week! Thanks to my loving family for all the support they gave me this last week with taking the boys, to talking with me, to all the fruit we got! We love you!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Back to School
Well the routine has started again...of not blogging for days:) School has begun. It is fun to get back to work to see all my friends again. The boys are adjusting to their early bedtime and early rising. We have had fun eating out on the back porch for breakfast, while I hang the clothes on the line.
We were able to go to Hebron/Deshler this past weekend for the big Thayer County Fair! The boys were able to ride more rides than they did in Aurora, because they knew what they were doing and had more confidence. Thanks to my mom so that I could work the Pampered Chef booth, which was fun to share PC with more people.
Kenner and Patton have learned to share even more this week. I have tried to find my camera, but I have not found it since this weekend. We finally got our FREE John Deere kid's tractor charged and Kenner has worn tracks around our house riding it round and round. Bubbi also loves it, but there is only one...so I put Bubbi behind Kenner and Kenner drives Bubbi around. I promise pictures...it is so cute!!!
Back to this weekend...Becca came home and we helped my mom do a massive cleaning of her house. If you need anything to go Blue Valley in Hebron to pick up some great things that have been stored in my mom's basement for a couple years. The biggest feat of the weekend was removing her 500+ pound entertainment center. I am really not sure of the weight, but it is all oak and even with removing all the doors, glass shelves, and drawers...IT WAS STILL VERY VERY HEAVY. God was looking over us as we went one step at a time UP stairs and out our front door into a trailer. It looks so nice at Meryl's Auction and not in our basement. Mom told us all to remind her that she is to buy nothing that two people can carry easily:)
It was nice to help my mom, because she does so much for me. I hope to get PLOOBing soon...but no time. Patton's scrapbook has not been doing itself either...grrr! I have a few tshirt quilts on the to do pile as well. Casey is determined to get grass by the end of this weekend (or atleast seed our yard), so that means a lot of rock pick up for the boys and I. Anyone have any extra time...come and pick up rocks:)
10:30 is my bed time and I see that I have passed that mark...Good Night! Pray that I may be more approachable and flexible when working with others:) Love you all!
We were able to go to Hebron/Deshler this past weekend for the big Thayer County Fair! The boys were able to ride more rides than they did in Aurora, because they knew what they were doing and had more confidence. Thanks to my mom so that I could work the Pampered Chef booth, which was fun to share PC with more people.
Kenner and Patton have learned to share even more this week. I have tried to find my camera, but I have not found it since this weekend. We finally got our FREE John Deere kid's tractor charged and Kenner has worn tracks around our house riding it round and round. Bubbi also loves it, but there is only one...so I put Bubbi behind Kenner and Kenner drives Bubbi around. I promise pictures...it is so cute!!!
Back to this weekend...Becca came home and we helped my mom do a massive cleaning of her house. If you need anything to go Blue Valley in Hebron to pick up some great things that have been stored in my mom's basement for a couple years. The biggest feat of the weekend was removing her 500+ pound entertainment center. I am really not sure of the weight, but it is all oak and even with removing all the doors, glass shelves, and drawers...IT WAS STILL VERY VERY HEAVY. God was looking over us as we went one step at a time UP stairs and out our front door into a trailer. It looks so nice at Meryl's Auction and not in our basement. Mom told us all to remind her that she is to buy nothing that two people can carry easily:)
It was nice to help my mom, because she does so much for me. I hope to get PLOOBing soon...but no time. Patton's scrapbook has not been doing itself either...grrr! I have a few tshirt quilts on the to do pile as well. Casey is determined to get grass by the end of this weekend (or atleast seed our yard), so that means a lot of rock pick up for the boys and I. Anyone have any extra time...come and pick up rocks:)
10:30 is my bed time and I see that I have passed that mark...Good Night! Pray that I may be more approachable and flexible when working with others:) Love you all!
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Funny Kenner
Kenner is doing and saying so many funny things...that I am GLAD that I have a blog so that I don't forget any of them. This way when I finally get around to this page in his scrapbook (around graduation) I will have it in his words and not my words that I recalled 14 years later:)
Kenner walked out of his closet today (after only being up for 2 minutes) and said, "Wook mom, I'm a cwown." (Clown) He had two hats on. He is so creative these days!
Today on the way home, Kenner likes to play the game - Say what I say game. He tells Bubbi, "Say ...." and then Bubbi repeats. I was having Bubbi identify his body parts, when Kenner took over. After the facial parts were completed he said, "Say Amy." Say Curtis. Say Jasa. Say Simon. Say Kris. Sorry for other family members...but he was out of names at this point. I thought it was crazy that those were the last people we played with in Hebron, so he thought he needed to refresh Bubbi's mind, because we are going to be seeing them this weekend at the fair.
Well I better hit the sack. My finger is all better, but with going back to school life is so compact. Luckily God has given me a lacidazical (sp?) attitude with school. Not lazy, but there are things in life I can't control and until some one or thing figures it out...I won't worry about it. ALTHOUGH this whole scrapbook thing is getting to me. I need to get them done! (yes I need to go and re-read the sentence about school and my attitude:))
Good night and have a great weekend! We are headed to Thayer County (Hebron) for the fair in Deshler. I am working at the Pampered Chef booth. Anyone needing anything...or want to have a party? They are fun and the knives are 60% in August, the pots and pans 60% off in Sept and the dishes and serving pieces are 60% off in October!!!!!
Kenner walked out of his closet today (after only being up for 2 minutes) and said, "Wook mom, I'm a cwown." (Clown) He had two hats on. He is so creative these days!
Today on the way home, Kenner likes to play the game - Say what I say game. He tells Bubbi, "Say ...." and then Bubbi repeats. I was having Bubbi identify his body parts, when Kenner took over. After the facial parts were completed he said, "Say Amy." Say Curtis. Say Jasa. Say Simon. Say Kris. Sorry for other family members...but he was out of names at this point. I thought it was crazy that those were the last people we played with in Hebron, so he thought he needed to refresh Bubbi's mind, because we are going to be seeing them this weekend at the fair.
Well I better hit the sack. My finger is all better, but with going back to school life is so compact. Luckily God has given me a lacidazical (sp?) attitude with school. Not lazy, but there are things in life I can't control and until some one or thing figures it out...I won't worry about it. ALTHOUGH this whole scrapbook thing is getting to me. I need to get them done! (yes I need to go and re-read the sentence about school and my attitude:))
Good night and have a great weekend! We are headed to Thayer County (Hebron) for the fair in Deshler. I am working at the Pampered Chef booth. Anyone needing anything...or want to have a party? They are fun and the knives are 60% in August, the pots and pans 60% off in Sept and the dishes and serving pieces are 60% off in October!!!!!
Monday, August 04, 2008
Fat Finger
I took some great pictures of the boys yesterday during popsicle time...don't you love them?
How do you like the blog? I have SO MUCH TO DO with today being my first day back...but what do I do...update my blog:) hmm priorities:)
Today was a fun day back at work. We didn't have beginning of the year meetings, instead it was a casual day that we listened and were trained in our new reading series. Since when do a bunch of teachers get to sit around, laugh, joke, and sit back and listen during the first weeks of school...NEVER. Everyone is always so busy getting everything ready. That will be next week, but for now it is nice:)
I had so much planned to do tonight, but all of those plans changed when the first thing on my list was to check my garden.
Kenner and Patton had the basket and wagon ready for garden produce. I went for the first tomato and (no not a snake) I got STUNG! This would be the 2nd time in a month. Ugh. I am allergic to them, so I told Kenner to get Bubbi and run into the house. They were really mean today. I praise the bees for a great garden harvest and then run them into the ground for stinging me...?!?
So my finger began to swell as big as a cucumber. I thought maybe I should do something. Meat tenderizer works great for this...if you have the right tenderizer. I am so thankful for living in such a great small town. I went over to my friend Pat Smith's house (her daughter has the Chelton family blog), whom I always go over there for emergencies:) THANK YOU PAT! Her tenderizer didn't work, neither did our other neighbor's the Brandt's, so I called trusty Aunt Kendra and Uncle Trevor. At this point I couldn't even bend my finger:) I drove into town and Kendra got different things from Russ's.
What came out of this...a great home cooked dinner for Patton, Kenner and I (Casey was working late), a minimally fat finger, and great love for all the support I have around me. So many people were baffled that I was doing a lot of the little things for Kendra's wedding...words can't explain the love, support, and friendship I have with Kendra. Thank you Kendra!!! I really don't know what I would do without you!
After dinner and the bee incident, we came home, gave the boys a bath, put them to bed, mowed the yard, and updated my blog! SO MANY OTHER THINGS TO DO...but for some reason blogging is much more fun!
Friday, August 01, 2008
ER - in and out
Today was quite eventful with our first day waking up at 7:00 for a long time in order to get to Crete to set up and ready to "open" our garage sale at 8:00. Day was going well, I had snacks, lunch, drinks, rest of the garage sale things packed. I woke up the boys, gave them some chocolate chip banana muffin bread and milk on the porch and we were off to Crete.
We got to Crete at 7:45 and we were frantically setting up with all the people coming. Around 9:30 things were getting settled down and Kris, our babysitter came. I brought things I had boughten for the daycare in my car and I went to get them and I discovered the chewable fruity pills I took last week for my vertigo were spilled all over my front seat and there were some that were wet and looked as if someone has spit them back in. I took the jar and conversed with everyone about what they thought I should do. I estimated that he took from 10-30 of them.
I called poison control and they told me to take him to the hospital. So leaving Heather high and dry at the Garage sale, Kenner (who opened the child proof cap and ate them) and Patton and I went to the ER.
They have an excellent staff there and they were able to get Kenner to drink 20+ ounces of a sprite, cherry, charcol (sp?) mixture first with a little cup and then a sringe. I wasn't taking this too serious, because the pills are really fruity so the fruit smell decieved me that they weren't too good in a quantity of 13 at a time. I did reach for my camera to get a pic of his black teeth, because that is all I thought they were going to do. Fooled both Kenner and I! They had to put an IV in him to get him some fluids to wash it out.
I was really good holding him down...he is a strong guy. But it took forever, because he has such little veins. Once they had it in him and he was able to be in my arms....the flood gates opened! I felt so bad and I couldn't stop crying.
Daddy came to pick up Patton and they hung out at home all afternoon, while Kenner and I hung out at the hospital until 6:00 tonight. Kenner got to watch cartoons ALL DAY! I am glad now that we don't have cable...there are cartoons available all day long on cable! I don't remember the last time I sat and did NOTHING for 6 hours. It was very hard for me, but Kenner and I talked about the cartoons and just had fun - BUT NOT TOO MUCH FUN. Whenever we would laugh I would ask him, what is something you will never get into anymore. Kenner's answer with tears, "Mommy's Medicine." We toured the hospital SEVERAL times, got fed snack (me included:), and just vegged.
On the way out the doctor told Kenner that she would give him a beanie baby. He picked the penguin (except that it was an eagle...new vocab word for the day - eagle) and he said, "Thank you, can I get one for Bubbi?" That just melted my heart and I knew that Kenner was okay.
I did stop and pick up my camera at the place of the garage sale and took a pic of Kenner on the way home. Poor guy was so tired. But you can see his eagle and then the Looney Tunes rooster for Bubbi! See his purple bandage. He got to play doctor after they put the IV in. I got a purple bandage just like him from Dr. Svitak.
Praise God for great doctors, willing patience, and a healthy little boy!
We got to Crete at 7:45 and we were frantically setting up with all the people coming. Around 9:30 things were getting settled down and Kris, our babysitter came. I brought things I had boughten for the daycare in my car and I went to get them and I discovered the chewable fruity pills I took last week for my vertigo were spilled all over my front seat and there were some that were wet and looked as if someone has spit them back in. I took the jar and conversed with everyone about what they thought I should do. I estimated that he took from 10-30 of them.
I called poison control and they told me to take him to the hospital. So leaving Heather high and dry at the Garage sale, Kenner (who opened the child proof cap and ate them) and Patton and I went to the ER.
They have an excellent staff there and they were able to get Kenner to drink 20+ ounces of a sprite, cherry, charcol (sp?) mixture first with a little cup and then a sringe. I wasn't taking this too serious, because the pills are really fruity so the fruit smell decieved me that they weren't too good in a quantity of 13 at a time. I did reach for my camera to get a pic of his black teeth, because that is all I thought they were going to do. Fooled both Kenner and I! They had to put an IV in him to get him some fluids to wash it out.
I was really good holding him down...he is a strong guy. But it took forever, because he has such little veins. Once they had it in him and he was able to be in my arms....the flood gates opened! I felt so bad and I couldn't stop crying.
Daddy came to pick up Patton and they hung out at home all afternoon, while Kenner and I hung out at the hospital until 6:00 tonight. Kenner got to watch cartoons ALL DAY! I am glad now that we don't have cable...there are cartoons available all day long on cable! I don't remember the last time I sat and did NOTHING for 6 hours. It was very hard for me, but Kenner and I talked about the cartoons and just had fun - BUT NOT TOO MUCH FUN. Whenever we would laugh I would ask him, what is something you will never get into anymore. Kenner's answer with tears, "Mommy's Medicine." We toured the hospital SEVERAL times, got fed snack (me included:), and just vegged.
On the way out the doctor told Kenner that she would give him a beanie baby. He picked the penguin (except that it was an eagle...new vocab word for the day - eagle) and he said, "Thank you, can I get one for Bubbi?" That just melted my heart and I knew that Kenner was okay.
I did stop and pick up my camera at the place of the garage sale and took a pic of Kenner on the way home. Poor guy was so tired. But you can see his eagle and then the Looney Tunes rooster for Bubbi! See his purple bandage. He got to play doctor after they put the IV in. I got a purple bandage just like him from Dr. Svitak.
Praise God for great doctors, willing patience, and a healthy little boy!