tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30752585364653583412024-03-05T12:25:44.074-05:00Christina and FamilyChristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13804701477974361392noreply@blogger.comBlogger275125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075258536465358341.post-757894589489755652016-07-31T13:29:00.000-04:002016-07-31T13:29:26.574-04:00Two Years (and still going!)<span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Well, it's been over two years now that I began one of the greatest struggles of my life. And how am I doing? Great! Am I cured? Far from. I feel blessed to be stable. A little over medicated, but I'm ok with it right now as I'm going through a lot of stresses in my life. We moved from San Antonio, Texas up to the great state of Washington. Uprooting myself has been a hard thing for me. I had a great therapist and a good psychiatrist. He empowered me to take control of my medications. And then there was the comfort of the psychiatric hospital pretty much in my backyard. Moving has been a great leap of faith. "Faith is not faith until it's all you're hanging onto" a great friend once said. And here I am living in a tiny town. And I am ok with it. Drugs, therapists, they all help, but the biggest thing that brought everything together to make it mesh was faith. I had to practice having faith that I could be content and that I would feel better one day. That was the biggest help for me. But like I said, it was in a combination of the three. I believe in meds. I believe God has blessed us with that knowledge. Does it take time to find the right mix? Absolutely. My heart goes out to those still struggling. I feel blessed that it only took two years to get me where I am today. But I'm not through. I am still over medicated, meaning I don't have much emotions one way or another and I sleep too well. I love sleep. So I have things to tweak. But most of what I want to say is that I've discovered that there's hope and there is a light in that dark tunnel of problems and trials. Take each day one at a time if you have to. I remember thinking that I would never be able to stop thinking about being depressed. It consumed my thoughts every day. But I don't worry about it now. It was work, but I got through it. So work on! You can survive until tomorrow. You don't have to worry that you're going to feel crazy for the next five years. Seek all the help you can get. And just try. Trying felt so hard at first. But take it one day, one hour at a time. </span>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13804701477974361392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075258536465358341.post-27479410576503632762015-06-07T19:25:00.000-04:002015-06-07T19:26:40.474-04:00CourageCourage. What is that?<br />
<span style="color: #223645; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #223645; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">mental or moral strength to </span><a class="d_link" href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/venture[1]" style="color: #10529b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;">venture</a><span style="color: #223645; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty</span><br />
<span style="color: #223645; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #223645; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">When I hear the word courage I always think of the song from Frozen that Anna is singing to Elsa.</span><br />
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<div class="verse" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: proxnov-reg, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">
Elsa?<br />
Please, I know you're in there,<br />
People are asking where you've been<br />
They say "have courage", and I'm trying to<br />
I'm right out here for you, just let me in<br />
We only have each other<br />
It's just you and me<br />
What are we gonna do?</div>
<div class="verse" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: proxnov-reg, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">
Do you wanna build a Snowman?</div>
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: proxnov-reg, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />I love Frozen. I think it's because I see myself as Elsa, cursed or blessed with something that you are afraid of because you don't know what it's going to do to you. And then she runs away and feels free from the pain she'd been dealing with all her life. Yes, I've thought of running away. But I come back. Then, when Anna finds Elsa, Elsa realizes she hasn't changed a bit and she can't run and hide from the pain she was dealing with. But what happens in the end? Elsa accepts what she has a blessing and something good and she is able to make people happy. I want to be an Elsa. I also need an Anna. And I have many Annas. There are lots of snowmen to be built. I just need to open that door and realize that love is what it takes. I'm gonna make me an Olaf as well. Ok, I'll admit he is a big reason I watch Frozen so much. Everyone needs a laugh. I also love warm hugs. </span>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13804701477974361392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075258536465358341.post-10556083763613604352015-04-16T10:25:00.000-04:002015-04-16T10:25:40.926-04:00Good vs EvilI think we can all agree that there are two forces in this world: good and evil. Good being whatever you want to call it: God, Budha, Allah, or just a moral purpose. Then there's evil. Most call it The devil, or Satan, or also the opposite of living in peace and tranquility. Anyways, I believe in God and that God wants us to be happy. I believe in Satan and that he wants us to be miserable. This is one of my coping mechanisms. If I start to feel lousy and miserable I try to remember where that source is coming from. This doesn't guarantee that I'll feel happy right away, but it brings things back into perspective. It's irrational to think that you can be happy every day. But it is not irrational to be content and at peace no matter what you are going through. When you are going through a particularly hard time, challenge those negative thoughts. For example, one of mine is the thought that I will never be happy again because of my mental illness. Well, this miserable thought isn't put into my brain by God because God wants me to be happy. So I write down why this feeling of never being happy again is a lie. (It's best to write things down because your brain is going a million miles an hour and when you have to stop and think to write it slows it down and causes you to think and be more rational.). I write down every moment in the past week that I've experienced some happiness. This shows me that I have been happy while dealing with my anxiety and depression. Sometimes when you're in the moment, you over dramatize things or catastrophize things. This works for anything. Remember, the good forces in this world are happiness, contentment, and joy. The evil forces are unhappiness and misery. Remembering that can help as you struggle with anything in this life. If you are confused with what I'm talking about or disagree, give me an example and I'll help you figure it out!Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13804701477974361392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075258536465358341.post-18017945538025198942015-04-02T09:35:00.000-04:002015-04-02T09:35:13.668-04:00On the Road to Recovery (and a confession)So the number one thing about a mental illness is acceptance. If you don't believe one doctor, get a second opinion. So after 4 doctors telling me that I have Bipolar 2, I think it's safe to say I need to accept it. Yes, I spent another week in a psychiatric hospital after my mood swings were getting to intense to handle. I was in denial about the Bipolar. I had myself convinced all it was was anxiety and depression. A lot of it is stigma. But it's the stigma I've created myself. So while I agree there is no magic pill to make us happy, for those of us with Bipolar, psychosis, or schizophrenia, there are drugs to help manage it. Therapy is still key in dealing and thriving. I feel more in control now. It took me three days at the hospital to accept the fact that I needed to accept my Bipolar. After that, and a positive attitude, things started to get better. I've been able to function. I was scared to come home because of the stresses of life. But I was wrong. I feel so much better at home, like I can handle things now. I'm also beginning to feel more satisfaction in the things I do. Is everything perfect now? No, I still get anxious. But it's not nearly as bad. I'm excited for the future. I believe I am on the road to recovery.Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13804701477974361392noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075258536465358341.post-74110141391022644072015-03-19T13:21:00.000-04:002015-03-19T13:21:12.759-04:00Anxiety and DepressionFor the past year I have been struggling with anxiety and then depression reared it's ugly head and decided to join the party. I went to a mental hospital last year to get help. I spent 10 days there and then 3 weeks in outpatient therapy. The whole time I was thinking, all this therapy is nice, but the medication I'm taking will take it all away so I don't need to worry. Boy was I totally wrong! Does anybody else think like me? Take a pill and all your symptoms will magically be gone! Like there's some happy pill out there. I was told after I left the outpatient clinic to get a therapist. Well, I really didn't need one, my medicine was going to do the trick and I'm not so bad off. So six months pass and I am still suffering with anxiety off and on. Each time it would flare up, I run to the doctor asking for help. She just tweeks my Meds. Finally, she suggests I go see a physciatrist. So I go to him thinking he will have a magic pill for me. He diagnoses me with Bipolar 2. Ok, whatever, give me your magic pills! You know what, I started taking the new medications and immediately felt good! (Placebo effect? How does a medication that's suppose to take a few weeks to kick in make you feel so good right away?). I felt great for six weeks! Best I had in a while. It was great! Then my friend commits suicide. Holy cow! What?! He was suffering worse than I with PTSD, anxiety, and depression. This sends me into a troublesome depression. Am I next? Is this what's eventually in store for me? Why go on living then? Why even try? So what do I do? Run back to the doctor. He just prescribes me more pills. I look at him and ask, what am I suppose to do? I'm so depressed, what do I do now? He tells me to get a therapist. My bishop had given me the name of an LDS therapist several months back, you know when I didn't need one? Haha. So I call this lady up and get an appointment two days later. This began my journey of recovery. During the month of December, I tried Wellbutrin twice and was put on lithium. What the heck?! Worst side effects ever! Where is that magic pill?! Reality check: there is no magic pill. Medications may or may not help to stabilize your moods to a certain extent, but they don't cure or take things away. No matter what, I've learned that I have to accept what I have and do all I can to get myself better. It is the hardest thing I have ever done. I have wanted to die so many times in the past three months. I have wanted to go back to the mental hospital. All these things because I am seeking peace and relief. But do you know where that peace comes from? Acceptance. I am struggling with this. Like I said, hardest thing ever. But today I am feeling ok. Tomorrow I may be a mess again and have to start the whole acceptance process over. I cannot fear it, I cannot wish it away. Will I ever have a day where I will just need to drug myself up to get through it? Sure. But things will get better. I'm past the point of wanting to die, at least for now. I feel stronger. Maybe I'll regress, who knows. Why haven't I taken my life yet? Because I can't stand the thought of the hurt I would cause my family. I can't stand the thought of thinking I sold my birthright for a mess of pottage. Plus I realize that I am a daughter of a Heavenly King. He loves me more than I can imagine! I am of great worth and have a great purpose on this earth. Does this always make me feel better? No, but it helps to bring hope. I think this whole process is compare able to the grieving process. There's denial, there's the sadness and despair, there's the anger, and finally when I get to it, acceptance. I will have to deal with anxiety and depression (heck, maybe I really am bipolar too! Add that to the list.) for the rest of my life. I am going to have to accept this somehow. It's no different than accepting that you may have cancer or another chronic perhaps life threatening disease. It doesn't make it go away by accepting it. It just brings peace, and you can deal with things better. So when anxiety knocks at my door, I welcome her in. She's a girl. We are best friends. She likes movies. Depression isn't my best friend yet. Still working on that relationship. She's the one who will probably send me back to the mental hospital. But wait, if I try harder to let her be my friend, I could avoid going back forever.Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13804701477974361392noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075258536465358341.post-83005048865087371852014-03-23T11:47:00.001-04:002014-03-23T11:47:46.570-04:00No more cast!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIyjQ5u77PzLmliAiKHZcb_0hkMXAdchoT9BoiOwOV9B3BU08SLtsH7xnemrC9wzcSP-3PNTe01DgLcRDLoOOKXdx8vI4wmc7EWDYPtLoKf68kh03p7-4N9CQjk-cEj7XBrJi74fVFRM/s640/blogger-image-1997773191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIyjQ5u77PzLmliAiKHZcb_0hkMXAdchoT9BoiOwOV9B3BU08SLtsH7xnemrC9wzcSP-3PNTe01DgLcRDLoOOKXdx8vI4wmc7EWDYPtLoKf68kh03p7-4N9CQjk-cEj7XBrJi74fVFRM/s640/blogger-image-1997773191.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> On March 14th, Dane had his cast removed. The bone is still healing, but strong enough to be walked on without support. It will be awhile before Dane walks normal. The muscle is very weak and he walks with a limp. But Dane is not in any pain and is in good spirits. He's got some nifty scars to brag about!</div>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13804701477974361392noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075258536465358341.post-25734527123828247202014-02-21T11:17:00.001-05:002014-02-21T11:17:40.157-05:00They're Gone!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbO0clPCHFSJWDySrJdsTMgq9-pEyL3lCFyqR2iW0mh1IcdmnoflGW8iejYXb6Novy98_cEn5jyiZzeku23MawJFVBym6oyJbbFduoyk6DIH3L_qvGGVVzP_DEp116QBSwkKvWXTHkQ-4/s640/blogger-image-2064162502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbO0clPCHFSJWDySrJdsTMgq9-pEyL3lCFyqR2iW0mh1IcdmnoflGW8iejYXb6Novy98_cEn5jyiZzeku23MawJFVBym6oyJbbFduoyk6DIH3L_qvGGVVzP_DEp116QBSwkKvWXTHkQ-4/s640/blogger-image-2064162502.jpg"></a></div>Dane had his ex-fix device removed today! He went under general anesthesia to have them removed. Because the bone hasn't healed as well as hoped, Dane will be in a cast for the next three weeks. <div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzK-FzxyPZCZiW95oeIrKy9k3xdml4ofRpEuPgV-y71-C9uFyS38Y8I_D2EjTCXJuu9HLkVTBXKQ248fDfNVsS9X-ce4z0x09QwyuWcbtceRWlaUHk7ASMP2dhMAOGxHvvAppslKDwqCo/s640/blogger-image-624956751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzK-FzxyPZCZiW95oeIrKy9k3xdml4ofRpEuPgV-y71-C9uFyS38Y8I_D2EjTCXJuu9HLkVTBXKQ248fDfNVsS9X-ce4z0x09QwyuWcbtceRWlaUHk7ASMP2dhMAOGxHvvAppslKDwqCo/s640/blogger-image-624956751.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Dane is a little droopy right now, but i did get him to smile for the above picture! Isnt Dane's new shoe so awesome?!</div><br></div>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13804701477974361392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075258536465358341.post-84378796492619161222014-02-20T16:38:00.000-05:002014-02-20T16:45:19.402-05:00Snow Accident (WARNING: graphic images from injury)There is that often heard question many people ask: Why do bad things happen to good people? I know God is watching out for us, and when I come across quotes or stories that try to answer my previous asked question, I record it and keep it close to my heart.<br />
<div class="" style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" uri="/general-conference/2013/10/drawing-closer-to-god.p14">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i><br /></i></span>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>"The Lord’s guidance and instruction are essential. He helped the faithful brother of Jared by solving one of his two challenges when He told him how to get fresh air into the barges that had been faithfully built (see <a class="scriptureRef" href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/ether/2.20?lang=eng#19" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ether 2:20</a>). But, pointedly, the Lord not only left temporarily unsolved the challenge of how to provide light, but He then made it clear that He, the Lord, would allow the buffetings and trials that necessitated its solving. He it would be who would send forth the winds, the rains, and the floods (see <a class="scriptureRef" href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/ether/2.23-24?lang=eng#22" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ether 2:23–24</a>).</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>Why would He do that? And why does He warn any of us to remove ourselves from a source of danger when He could simply stop the danger from happening? President Wilford Woodruff told the story of being spiritually warned to move the carriage that he, his wife, and child slept in, only to discover that a whirlwind shortly thereafter uprooted a large tree and dropped it exactly where the carriage had previously stood (see <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff</span> [2004], 47).</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>In both of these instances, the weather could have been adjusted to eliminate the dangers. But here is the point—rather than solve the problem Himself, the Lord wants us to develop the faith that will help us rely upon Him in solving our problems and trust Him. Then we can feel His love more constantly, more powerfully, more clearly, and more personally. We become united with Him, and we can become like Him. For us to be like Him is His goal. In fact, it is His glory as well as His work (see <a class="scriptureRef" href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/1.39?lang=eng#38" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Moses 1:39</a>)." -Elder Terence Vinson October 2013 General Conference </i></span><br />
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/drawing-closer-to-god?lang=eng</div>
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Dane has gone through a lot these past few months. While he is having to endure all the pain and suffering, watching him go through this can be difficult. It is easy to ask, why didn't God protect him? But more important is to remember that we live in an imperfect world with imperfect people. Bad things will happen, they certainly will! Sometimes through our own actions and sometimes through no fault of our own. God wants us to turn to him, to ask for His help to endure the sufferings. I know all experiences in life can be for our strengthening and growth, if we allow them and turn to God.<br />
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</span> <span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 17.940000534057617px;">The following summary of Dane's accident was taken from my family's newlsetter:</span></span><br />
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</span></span> </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkRHbAzcDd-2S2_whD2ve2S76M0v67vx10jpPeN3waUBCR0WV5dtnQr2XV_610gUDQhaZbkRnlVCj82tfVVFWOgWC9c_3RBiKtcWZUETE3xP9QflTCoNODMlqIT3lo2tt_gyzJYKBiSs/s640/blogger-image-1415040600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkRHbAzcDd-2S2_whD2ve2S76M0v67vx10jpPeN3waUBCR0WV5dtnQr2XV_610gUDQhaZbkRnlVCj82tfVVFWOgWC9c_3RBiKtcWZUETE3xP9QflTCoNODMlqIT3lo2tt_gyzJYKBiSs/s400/blogger-image-1415040600.jpg" width="299" /></span></a><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 17.940000534057617px;">"On Friday, Todd and Aaron decided to take all the kids up to Cloudcroft to go tubing. Angela and Barrett and Matt and I had gone up to Foothills park to walk the dogs and take Barrett’s dad, Papa Hartley, out for a little walk. Right as we get out of the truck Emily calls me and tells me that Dad thinks Dane broke his leg. At first I was like, ok, that’s nice, I guess they are coming back now. Then I call them back and Kate answers and was pretty upset. This is when I start to get a little more worried. Now I’m hearing stories of blood and ambulances. We decide to end our walk as Papa Hartley is getting tired. On the way back to mom and dad’s I find out that Dane and Elvis are going to be taken to Gerald Champion by ambulance. We drop Papa Hartley off at mom and dad’s and Barrett and Angie take me to the hospital. Barrett needed to head back to Big Springs, so when I saw an ambulance arrive, I thought it was Dane, so I said goodbye and went into the hospital. It wasn’t Dane and Elvis! So I went outside to wait because the ER waiting room was packed! As soon as I came out, Mom and Matt arrived. We stood outside and waited for the ambulance. We visited with Elvis’s mom and his dad and grandma. Finally the boys arrived, they were in the same ambulance. They took Elvis in first, so I got in the ambulance with Dane. Poor guy! He had been given some morphine for pain, but he was still in pain and out of it at the same time! It is funny to think of now, but I know it wasn't funny to him then! Todd and Aaron and Angie all arrived behind the ambulance. </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.940000534057617px;">Dane was taken in to a room in the ER and they started examining him and asking questions. I was getting a little nauseous so I had to step out into the hall and sit for a bit while everything was being explained. </span></span></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2rrm6JMRtQnXFUIK2RtnjbnIePz1oIQoDoQbjezOrmI0N7-sNqh68Y4uqIJiY-u12tZKmxQrXO2pFcCtsEcRm_SLsEHDzL3ax4daBVqLsvv-y6v_ndwScLAH2fGosfjNN1hjdU_66_o/s1600/edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2rrm6JMRtQnXFUIK2RtnjbnIePz1oIQoDoQbjezOrmI0N7-sNqh68Y4uqIJiY-u12tZKmxQrXO2pFcCtsEcRm_SLsEHDzL3ax4daBVqLsvv-y6v_ndwScLAH2fGosfjNN1hjdU_66_o/s1600/edit.jpg" height="320" width="206" /></span></i></a></div>
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.940000534057617px;">Todd and Dane and Elvis had decided to do a three person train down the hill one last time before heading home. There was this </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 17.940000534057617px;">tree to the side of the run, but Todd had been able to keep the kids from hitting it by pushing them away as they came down and building up a snow bank in front of it. They also figured out the best place t start at the top of the hill to avoid the tree altogether. Well, on this particular run, things didn't go as planned. Dane and Elvis were behind Todd in the train and began to turn, going a different direction than they were supposed to. As soon as Todd realized what was happening, he got rid of his tube keeping a hold of the boys, hoping that the weight and drag of his body would slow them down enough so they wouldn't hit the tree. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough. They must have been going at a very fast pace, as Dane hit the tree with his leg and busted the tibia in half and through the skin and cracked the fibula. </span></span></span></span></i><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuHjWciP1jNcl3oG5EWNFb9xwx9MQeBJjh4LN-TXCiC66qTl3zVDwJRjF9e3N92m-UG7lPJdkQJ64KLWVz3vrR7ZedmHnHW_GRZ-7u3BxPJWf65fZkQRFHYIIxY-625tuP2naDDlDmKE/s1600/blogger-image-106411728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuHjWciP1jNcl3oG5EWNFb9xwx9MQeBJjh4LN-TXCiC66qTl3zVDwJRjF9e3N92m-UG7lPJdkQJ64KLWVz3vrR7ZedmHnHW_GRZ-7u3BxPJWf65fZkQRFHYIIxY-625tuP2naDDlDmKE/s200/blogger-image-106411728.jpg" width="150" /></span></i></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsy-N7yeM1zdLSNovEPy0Vdo-eAAL6bScPiN_Jy8ZmPmRMpypO4HoRSmUJURK6LRRr5LFV2COBtlYI5j2d54WMEzVWGuYzp9VGhmVvECL833e-lFe40jKJIR-wSKHTUdDXIFnJaaKem98/s1600/blogger-image-1925784611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsy-N7yeM1zdLSNovEPy0Vdo-eAAL6bScPiN_Jy8ZmPmRMpypO4HoRSmUJURK6LRRr5LFV2COBtlYI5j2d54WMEzVWGuYzp9VGhmVvECL833e-lFe40jKJIR-wSKHTUdDXIFnJaaKem98/s200/blogger-image-1925784611.jpg" width="200" /></span></i></a><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 17.940000534057617px;"><i>Elvis broke his forearm and had some internal injuries, bruising his spleen and lacerating his liver. As Todd assessed the boys, he originally thought Dane was ok, and was more worried about Elvis. Someone had called for a first responder and they showed up and started assessing the situation. Todd and one of the first responders were going to splint Dane’s leg (they knew it was broke because he was in so much pain), but as they lifted his leg to get a splint under, they saw blood on the snow and knew it was more serious than they thought. So they cut off his pants and boot and at first were going to stop the bleeding with just some gauze and pressure. But after realizing how much pain Dane was in, Todd asked for a tourniquet, and together they got the tourniquet on his leg and stopped the bleeding. By now they decided to call an ambulance. It took them awhile to figure out how they were going to transport the two boys, but in the end they put them both in the same ambulance. At the hospital in Alamogordo, we were told that they weren’t able to get a hold of the orthopedic surgeon that worked there, so they would be transporting Dane to El Paso. Since Matt was going to be taking Mom to the airport so she could fly out to Rhonda’s, I decided to head out with them then so I could get to the hospital in El Paso as soon as possible so Dane wouldn’t be alone for too long. He would be going by Helicopter. As I was leaving, Dane was being taken to get some x-rays done. By now, he was really doped up on medicine and I heard him tell the x-ray tech, “My leg doesn’t hurt anymore.” I chuckled on the way out, happy that he wasn’t in anymore pain. As I was walking out, I had forgotten that all the kids were still outside waiting! We took Angela’s two boys back to mom’s with us and had Denise go back to the hospital and pick up Kate, Emily, and Elizabeth. Denise was so kind to make dinner for everyone and help hold down the fort until we got things settled! Matt, Mom, Dad, and I all drove to El Paso together. </i></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSXikc5IuG-jz7WEqycO-Xhi-o1IopkEiGR_pvJEH2Z7u7f5989Yyq7a5u0zTZc5b39vJycwdDxQE8uN_E8EuRSIZ4L93DU0riOhgv-SeTkFG13DaVaxFXKHPq6eAT0xkmf2LJB3EFO4/s640/blogger-image--654045520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSXikc5IuG-jz7WEqycO-Xhi-o1IopkEiGR_pvJEH2Z7u7f5989Yyq7a5u0zTZc5b39vJycwdDxQE8uN_E8EuRSIZ4L93DU0riOhgv-SeTkFG13DaVaxFXKHPq6eAT0xkmf2LJB3EFO4/s400/blogger-image--654045520.jpg" width="299" /></span></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Dane's helicopter is the tiny white light in the sky!</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 17.940000534057617px;"><i>On the way there, we watched Dane’s helicopter fly by! Todd sent us pictures of the x-ray and the original wound. I never saw what it looked like before the surgery, I couldn’t look at it. Todd was so great being able to handle it all. We dropped mom off at the airport and headed to El Paso Children’s Hospital, which wasn’t too far away. We parked and finally found out where we needed to go. As we entered the ER waiting room there, it was so packed that I am not sure there was a seat to sit in! As I inquired on Dane, I was told that only one person was allowed to go back. Since I didn’t know how long it would be, and there were so many sick people in the waiting room, Dad and Matt decided just to head back home. That was probably the best thing to do, I couldn’t believe how many people were there! I was taken back to see Dane, and he was still pretty out of it. He was in no pain and dozing in and out of sleep. I met with the doctor right away and he explained that Dane would be going into surgery to have his leg splinted from the outside, he called it an external fixation device. He reassured me that this was much better than having hardware put inside of him, so I agreed and shortly thereafter we were being wheeled upstairs to begin prep for surgery. I met the surgeon and anesthesiologist and Dane went into surgery at about 9:30 that evening. </i></span><br />
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</i></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM3K3LSt_O5Vu4ZzGfZwJ8tOY_DNK79NwK4icqexTCpidcd_a94zCtGx3glOTnQZ4ZW1iHaWDK_pOfL9KLzmglhfpzBLEhL0Mt5rSmkp0H141YW9SNN3YuKpkzgz-BkMuj4lbrYaSOLeQ/s1600/blogger-image-80039554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM3K3LSt_O5Vu4ZzGfZwJ8tOY_DNK79NwK4icqexTCpidcd_a94zCtGx3glOTnQZ4ZW1iHaWDK_pOfL9KLzmglhfpzBLEhL0Mt5rSmkp0H141YW9SNN3YuKpkzgz-BkMuj4lbrYaSOLeQ/s320/blogger-image-80039554.jpg" width="239" /></span></i></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 17.940000534057617px;"><i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBhJaXok5UsDlfBjkGSmK4O5JpULHCs8BsjicsQrT57sLOV4UCA4CgjY4FumFCU4XJnmxd4uDOI6qxtxYMPNYNti2rGPrj8ZLRMBTBry0vSpkd8rkSye54LUDiNUeg4WxR4bfJZyIlSbI/s1600/blogger-image--199214055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBhJaXok5UsDlfBjkGSmK4O5JpULHCs8BsjicsQrT57sLOV4UCA4CgjY4FumFCU4XJnmxd4uDOI6qxtxYMPNYNti2rGPrj8ZLRMBTBry0vSpkd8rkSye54LUDiNUeg4WxR4bfJZyIlSbI/s320/blogger-image--199214055.jpg" width="239" /></span></i></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17.940000534057617px;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">About an hour and a half later it was all finished and I went back to see Dane. He seemed to handle coming out of the anesthesia real well. We got him up to his room and he was ready to keep sleeping! It was a rough night for me as nurses and doctors kept coming in up until about 2 in the morning asking questions and doing things, but Dane slept well. As all the drugs began to wear off, Dane was starting to feel the pain. Poor guy. Todd drove up that morning and brought Aaron and Angie up so they could visit Elvis. Dane was ready to be released later that afternoon, I was very happy to head back to Alamo. Dane was bit apprehensive about leaving the hospital, I think he was still having some anxiety about the whole experience." (Januray 2014)</span></i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD6jjGcfqlo-jKGmeJHNeoZ_a2C0fSAUywcFK3byuyJSbSt-U08nFQ8VXNvK2ZQcKTEN0Yh_hV55rqwrcsDABRonKQG6tUu-2GCXcgwMIxZNay9Pk97ZOohuHssDxAFKj9IEOBebzvR-A/s1600/blogger-image--291246927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD6jjGcfqlo-jKGmeJHNeoZ_a2C0fSAUywcFK3byuyJSbSt-U08nFQ8VXNvK2ZQcKTEN0Yh_hV55rqwrcsDABRonKQG6tUu-2GCXcgwMIxZNay9Pk97ZOohuHssDxAFKj9IEOBebzvR-A/s320/blogger-image--291246927.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready to leave the hospital.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4FISu8DhTFIqFilPVNfLBDPVlpLoRihrAQdW9yGhMaDTblyOkKzgCvRiSVO17lWP8JNOc8yHm0-1n-1PjZcZ8-ZTORRE8-oXD0ChD315tVyRdeGhAxjEiJJFsIjX4-Ax3oodt6OJBu4/s1600/blogger-image--939908454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4FISu8DhTFIqFilPVNfLBDPVlpLoRihrAQdW9yGhMaDTblyOkKzgCvRiSVO17lWP8JNOc8yHm0-1n-1PjZcZ8-ZTORRE8-oXD0ChD315tVyRdeGhAxjEiJJFsIjX4-Ax3oodt6OJBu4/s320/blogger-image--939908454.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Up and out of bed the morning after surgery.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdgcwd_yMsoQ0yltc-JfoWSSD9rhbzQEFtRzHp2k6NRKPjWmXUo8ZykXUxBCuXorfSUaPnxql4afRn12XwJtA_oHpDOTg5fSgF0WIPXUAz3r0vV6TFlI-Q8sFzIXck3HY-pHsUx_ilMU/s1600/blogger-image--2112537087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdgcwd_yMsoQ0yltc-JfoWSSD9rhbzQEFtRzHp2k6NRKPjWmXUo8ZykXUxBCuXorfSUaPnxql4afRn12XwJtA_oHpDOTg5fSgF0WIPXUAz3r0vV6TFlI-Q8sFzIXck3HY-pHsUx_ilMU/s400/blogger-image--2112537087.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1m2yFn_pT2gCxWZV2kWrqnVPW_P5BKl4JlIhv6ENpiFi5OlDDYHs5tlM0Xgzy2wit8Xyu13AvOwl3YRNmS8sUeeR5A_IGWPy_TZ_lGgEOlQqsrEUdgNxRFpnx53RJNmIbULc06MjnKn0/s1600/blogger-image--473942560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1m2yFn_pT2gCxWZV2kWrqnVPW_P5BKl4JlIhv6ENpiFi5OlDDYHs5tlM0Xgzy2wit8Xyu13AvOwl3YRNmS8sUeeR5A_IGWPy_TZ_lGgEOlQqsrEUdgNxRFpnx53RJNmIbULc06MjnKn0/s400/blogger-image--473942560.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What the ex-fix device looks like.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTrI2nRej75XSWhXI4pigcrIWgDO8dSvgj6Eyy7USh5ZPYKeEmg1MIIpNp_2mBAZiLevzlgPbdfirlg62Cz0g_BS7N1kNBd_jH_DRQYhNcNYTcIWxPsVsefFAFXIS9syxVYpd0XrJiP0/s1600/blogger-image-609234507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTrI2nRej75XSWhXI4pigcrIWgDO8dSvgj6Eyy7USh5ZPYKeEmg1MIIpNp_2mBAZiLevzlgPbdfirlg62Cz0g_BS7N1kNBd_jH_DRQYhNcNYTcIWxPsVsefFAFXIS9syxVYpd0XrJiP0/s400/blogger-image-609234507.jpg" width="299" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The backward S shaped scar. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJ-v85mOL9TTNLSN8elyRyo3V2AZczctrWvuZ5fMaSPE5oXcfvrZCytvw30FAccU8c7eeXRWlrbQ147r5IEAoDUDPnwoZ5nWXjfHtVy852I-xy0tk6NNkAfJGHpacnz4v9ilvbIpJBWE/s640/blogger-image-221373851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJ-v85mOL9TTNLSN8elyRyo3V2AZczctrWvuZ5fMaSPE5oXcfvrZCytvw30FAccU8c7eeXRWlrbQ147r5IEAoDUDPnwoZ5nWXjfHtVy852I-xy0tk6NNkAfJGHpacnz4v9ilvbIpJBWE/s320/blogger-image-221373851.jpg" width="239" /></a>When we returned from Alamogordo we followed up with our orthopedic surgeon at Brooke's Army Medical Center. Dane had the stitches removed and the x ray showed things looked good. But things started to get worse than better after this. The pain Dane was experiencing never seemed to get better, in fact as time went on, it seemed like the pain was only getting worse. Two weeks after his stitches had been removed, something strange appeared at the incision site. The skin felt very thin and it was blueish underneath. I thought nothing too much of it, thinking it was all part of injury and bruising that had taken place a month earlier. Then, on a Saturday afternoon, the skin erupted! It was kind of a scary thing to see happen, as I had no idea what was going on. Todd decided that it probably was an infection, and that it was just draining. We were hoping it was just an infection of the incision, and nothing more. Dane was not showing signs of a more serious infection, no redness in the leg at all, no fever, and besides the pain he was in, Dane didn't feel sick. We are blessed that Todd has the medical background that he does. He just packed the wound and kept it clean. We had a pre-op appointement with the orthopedic surgeon in just a few days and would wait to see what his opinion would be.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGBMlbGwL1lV0joLaSSLMBLzjuLv2kBDTHOfuf_bCmyO6vxdkHe3AmemCfhfQlOYySsAFq_d9XO7tZkt2kEM_d_g4WZS1MuqAPwDih302fxjN9LpU0XuXvnjkyVUxMD9edsO9UbYLQj8/s640/blogger-image-1871678114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGBMlbGwL1lV0joLaSSLMBLzjuLv2kBDTHOfuf_bCmyO6vxdkHe3AmemCfhfQlOYySsAFq_d9XO7tZkt2kEM_d_g4WZS1MuqAPwDih302fxjN9LpU0XuXvnjkyVUxMD9edsO9UbYLQj8/s320/blogger-image-1871678114.jpg" width="239" /></a>At Dane's appointment, the surgeon examined the abscess that had formed on Dane'e leg. At first there wasn't much concern about it, perhaps the doctor felt that it was just an infected incision as well. <br />
<br />
<i>"So Dane was taken for x-rays to see how the bone was healing inside. The doctor and his colleagues came in to</i><br />
<i>discuss what was going on. The x-ray showed that</i><br />
<i>the bone wasn't healing properly. That and the</i><br />
<i>infected incision was concerning to the doctors,</i><br />
<i>although they were a little surprised that Dane wasn't</i><br />
<i>showing any other signs, like fever, sickness, and</i><br />
<i>redness. So they decided that they needed to open up</i><br />
<i>the site where the bone broke through the skin to see</i><br />
<i>how far the infection was and what it was doing to the</i><br />
<i>bone. The doctors decided it needed to be done the</i><br />
<i>next day (Wed. January 29th). So the next day we</i><br />
<i>brought Dane to the hospital at 11 a.m. to start prepping</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Waiting for surgery #2!</i></td></tr>
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<i>for surgery. His surgery was suppose to commence at </i><i>2:30, but due to complications in the surgery just before </i><i>him, Dane didn't go back until 5! Poor guy, he'd been </i><i>without food and water all day, but he was hanging in </i><i>there and not complaining! About an hour later, the </i><i>doctor comes out and tells Todd what they had found. </i><i>The infection was all through the incision, but it did not </i><i>look like it had reached the bone. The doctor </i><i>performed some tests on the bone and it appeared to be healing and that it was strong. They did do a culture at the site of the new bone growth to see if the infection had reached the bone and what the culprit might be.The plan for now was to keep Dane in the hospital for the next two days on IV antibiotics to treat the infection and wait to see what the cultures revealed. Dane was so drugged up this time around that we had to keep reminding him to take a breathe! He would wake up and talk to us, then drift off back to sleep and his oxygen sats would drop down to 80 and we'd have to tell him, "Take a deep breathe, Dane." He just wanted to sleep when we got to his room, so the nurse put oxygen on him until the medications wore off and he</i><br />
<i>could hold oxygen sats on his own. His stay was pretty</i><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1O2DhA78Yxb_HnPDFa5Nc0Azf92VPhPjta-zfr0dScfjboPppzO9Kc6jmEFK0d_cyPxoWo3lQHbZyIZ0YyxSSVCymCQzu36K2pOzc_UC8liDRUJAdyTMc1xkWqFZCe0sjWGGowrwirC4/s640/blogger-image--381214815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1O2DhA78Yxb_HnPDFa5Nc0Azf92VPhPjta-zfr0dScfjboPppzO9Kc6jmEFK0d_cyPxoWo3lQHbZyIZ0YyxSSVCymCQzu36K2pOzc_UC8liDRUJAdyTMc1xkWqFZCe0sjWGGowrwirC4/s320/blogger-image--381214815.jpg" width="238" /></i></a><i>boring, although Dane was very happy not to have to go </i><i>to school and that he had unlimited access to the iPad! </i><i>Friday morning the doctors told Todd that the cultures </i><i>done at the site of the bone came back positive for </i><i>Staph. So even though it didn't look like it had reached </i><i>the bone, it actually had. At first the doctors thought </i><i>that they would have to place a PICC line (longer </i><i>lasting IV site) so Dane could be treated for the </i><i>infection intravenously. They consulted with the </i><i>Infectious Disease doctors and the ID doctors said the </i><i>strain of Staph that Dane had was treatable with oral </i><i>medications. We were so relieved to hear this! Dane </i><i>was able to come home that afternoon." (TTT, family newsletter February 2014)</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So nice skipping school to hang out at the hospital and play the iPad all day!</td></tr>
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So now it is three weeks later. Dane is scheduled to have the ex-fix removed in the morning. He was pain free for the first week after the second surgery. Then for five days he was in the same pain he had experienced before surgery. We were like, oh great, what's happening now?! But after the fifth day, the pain disappeared and he has been pain free ever since. It has been a roller coaster for sure! </div>
Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13804701477974361392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075258536465358341.post-50883797711344744802013-09-27T13:13:00.001-04:002013-09-27T13:13:40.924-04:00Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia<div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung condition that affects newborn babies who were either<span class="kno-desc-tr" style="display: inline; "> put on a breathing machine after birth or were born very early (prematurely).</span></span></div><div><span class="kno-desc-tr" style="display: inline; "><br></span></div><div><span class="kno-desc-tr" style="display: inline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><p style="text-align: -webkit-auto; margin: 0.6923em 0px; ">Babies who have had BPD are at greater risk of repeated respiratory infections, such as <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/n/pmh_adam/A000145/">pneumonia</a>,<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/n/pmh_adam/A000975/">bronchiolitis</a>, and <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/n/pmh_adam/A001564/">respiratory syncytial virus</a> (<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMHT0011971" ref="pagearea=body&targetsite=entrez&targetcat=link&targettype=pmhtopics">RSV</a>) that require a hospital stay.</p><p style="text-align: -webkit-auto; margin: 0.6923em 0px; ">Other possible complications in babies who have had BPD are:</p><ul style="margin: 0.6923em 1em 0.6923em inherit; text-align: left; "><li class="half_rhythm" style="text-align: -webkit-auto; margin: 0.6923em 0px; ">Developmental problems</li><li class="half_rhythm" style="text-align: -webkit-auto; margin: 0.6923em 0px; ">Poor growth</li><li class="half_rhythm" style="text-align: -webkit-auto; margin: 0.6923em 0px; "><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/n/pmh_adam/A000112/">Pulmonary hypertension</a></li></ul><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>We met with a pulmonologist last week at BAMC. He was the first doctor who suggested that Seth's issues as a preemie in the NICU (one of them being Bronchopulmonary dysplasia) as being the reason for his Pulmonary Hypertension. Other doctors said it could be, but weren't sure or were wondering why it would manifest itself so late if it was. So I just assumed this was just another thing to deal with with Seth. But after talking to the pulmonologist, everything clicked! Now, this is not 100%, we are still looking at things, but why would the doctor who did the heart cath say his lungs looked abnormal? Because we didn't know any better, we didn't know what questions to ask. And I don't remember ever discussing anything else about it. The pulmonologist did a chest X-ray and did confirm that the lungs looked abnormal. We go back to see him again on Monday. He wanted to read over Seth's medical history and talk with us again. We just briefly met him during our cardiology appointment. As far as treatment goes, not much changes, but knowing why Seth has pulmonary hypertension for some reason makes me feel so much at peace. He has been really blessed. He has never suffered from any respiratory illnesses that have put him on the hospital. All of Seth's other issues (poor growth, slow learning) could be related to BPD as well, who knows. Right now we are looking to add an inhaled medication to Seth's medicine regime. I am not against IV treatment. I believe we will know the answer to all things as the time approaches. It just feels good to have some answers. I have been reading medical journal articles that make my mind spin and I have to look up a lot of words to make sense of the meaning of things. I will not be an expert, but I want to know what and why the body behaves as it does.</div></span></div>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13804701477974361392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075258536465358341.post-8830199365771972212013-09-20T13:36:00.001-04:002013-09-20T13:39:29.245-04:00Hello!<br />
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Seth is enjoying school! He picked this hat out of the prize bucket one day! He's so funny! </div>
Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13804701477974361392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075258536465358341.post-74733118890369559412013-08-31T09:34:00.001-04:002013-08-31T09:34:54.989-04:00CardiologyWe had another appointment with our cardiologist. Things are still the same (pressures between 80-90) but no worse. A blessing! Seth shows no symptoms of Pulmonary Hypertension. Another blessing! What's even better is that Seth now weighs 31 1/2 pounds and has the best appetite of his life! Last year, Seth leveled out at 29 pounds and flat lined there for almost a year. Many blessings have been felt this past month. Seth has a good quality of life right now, so we will not do anything different, except we will increase his sildenafil slowly over the next few months, but this is all for now. We feel so blessed right now!<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ofxRvo4amYovC3e6SgGa1q1I42nMO-d1d11_3kP6GT8TRR_yKd0GF8H-9CY52K9TTb-IQyYrAhYnoRaHazVqQqYlu6cJYxui4AxCu3KrgabWJo_j-dhTIZUYURPEek64stfdI3yfeEs/s640/blogger-image-1638142412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ofxRvo4amYovC3e6SgGa1q1I42nMO-d1d11_3kP6GT8TRR_yKd0GF8H-9CY52K9TTb-IQyYrAhYnoRaHazVqQqYlu6cJYxui4AxCu3KrgabWJo_j-dhTIZUYURPEek64stfdI3yfeEs/s640/blogger-image-1638142412.jpg"></a></div>Here is Seth during his echo. He kicked back and fell asleep! The echo tech never had it so good! No wiggly crying child to convince to hold still! <br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfkihyphenhyphenrESKh16nBGT5Xqs4nYmzCWM4FszTKkVQZi3KuOJyOxheJ413ug0UufyfasPvAkqXrnX2vKsz9WUg6jMFymjbYEN4-LwF5RqQHTFee1CmUU5gbMAz8p6TjLqCXrPd32v3cwFyK4/s640/blogger-image-1307325783.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfkihyphenhyphenrESKh16nBGT5Xqs4nYmzCWM4FszTKkVQZi3KuOJyOxheJ413ug0UufyfasPvAkqXrnX2vKsz9WUg6jMFymjbYEN4-LwF5RqQHTFee1CmUU5gbMAz8p6TjLqCXrPd32v3cwFyK4/s640/blogger-image-1307325783.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Seth only gets a little nervous when they attach all the wires for an EKG. He is a little uneasy that they are going to poke him. No Seth, the lab guys are responsible for that! :) But Seth does well if he's got a little Angry Birds to play!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13804701477974361392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075258536465358341.post-11758073248714690852013-08-21T13:07:00.001-04:002013-08-21T13:07:00.143-04:00Schools a coming!We only have a few days left of summer vacation! It is crazy! I will have all my children in school! I think I am going to cry. I am so nervous for Seth to start school. I have no idea how he's going to react. Will he cry? Will he be happy? Will he fall asleep during class? Oh boy, Monday will tell! This is also the first year that Alex will be in the same school as one of his siblings. He has never been in the same school at the same time with a sibling, ever! I am happy he can finally be in high school with Kate. If we had stayed in Maryland, Kate and Alex would have been in different high schools. Emily is the only child in a school all by herself. Tomorrow we get to find out who Dane's and Karsten's teachers will be. For Seth we will find out Friday. I will be the parent who has to be escorted off campus by the police because I can't let go! I think I will be crying more than Seth. But, we will survive! This also means I can volunteer at the school, at all the children's schools! I am excited for that. Kate will be a freshman this year and she is so excited to start high school. She has so much confidence, I am happy for her! <div><br></div><div>Texas is still pretty hot! I occasionally check the weather in Maryland, and long for cooler temps! Ok, there was humidity, but it definitely was cooler. When we went swimming in Maryland, Seth would always turn blue after about half an hour in the water. He doesn't turn blue here! So he spends a lot more time in the water. </div>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13804701477974361392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075258536465358341.post-68076219412768901762013-07-20T10:17:00.001-04:002013-07-20T10:17:07.844-04:00Cub Scout Day Camp<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>This was the first time Dane and Karsten were able to attend Cub Scout Day Camp. It was five days of fun for them! They loved it! They had six classes they rotated through everyday: BB Guns, Archery, swimming, science, crafts, and games. Each day was something new. I was able to chaperone on one of the days and I enjoyed it! I even got to take a turn shooting a BB gun! It was fun and I am so grateful the boys were able to go. When I went, I was with Dane's group so I didn't get any pictures of Karsten. But I know Karsten had so much fun. Karsten and Dane are really good shooters! Must get it from their dad! The weather was perfect all week for southern Texas! Clouds with rain here and there kept the temperatures nice and cool. Friday was the only day of full sun. The boys are looking forward to when their dens begin regularly meeting again here at the end of August! <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicn6yKj8aZbowqAT-xTDlVl8Mt_zEY0vGi_ZLgKpTJLskQvOZBcLPDuepzM4LMJxOwZ1MpeDqyVO-0FgKoluhPJo9dpWghHJHdn4tsaokUqan3ZqlDCkBv66AuOuEGn_VnxCOuOMSGTxE/s640/blogger-image--2103924516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicn6yKj8aZbowqAT-xTDlVl8Mt_zEY0vGi_ZLgKpTJLskQvOZBcLPDuepzM4LMJxOwZ1MpeDqyVO-0FgKoluhPJo9dpWghHJHdn4tsaokUqan3ZqlDCkBv66AuOuEGn_VnxCOuOMSGTxE/s640/blogger-image--2103924516.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAO2OcDVfMxWb1HmXLWYcXVLpG5kOxXZjat8U7PPFRlZ_LOQYDCKRUgCTYUF6P9o-IFKCNWAOuh2iLrKeUVr0VibSX10aakE6DQkugFnYECYok4RpWJe1axjdDMyRF545BdoJMB9r6AA/s640/blogger-image-1410356345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAO2OcDVfMxWb1HmXLWYcXVLpG5kOxXZjat8U7PPFRlZ_LOQYDCKRUgCTYUF6P9o-IFKCNWAOuh2iLrKeUVr0VibSX10aakE6DQkugFnYECYok4RpWJe1axjdDMyRF545BdoJMB9r6AA/s640/blogger-image-1410356345.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">BB Guns were one of their favorites! Dane and Karsten were both great shooters! Belt loops and pins earned for sure!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiorR1y-u_jfdip9rKUjw4fP4nCCZ8ZUH_ItUGEBI1nwDNCGjfhBaalhFj_XcSUIaZnKIEQcgJkrEIN1YE62n1RQYM357Rjik6uZPbi5cEz6FstHubL-cvIBbygs8eLUQTxUF8-i59SF2U/s640/blogger-image-2068898291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiorR1y-u_jfdip9rKUjw4fP4nCCZ8ZUH_ItUGEBI1nwDNCGjfhBaalhFj_XcSUIaZnKIEQcgJkrEIN1YE62n1RQYM357Rjik6uZPbi5cEz6FstHubL-cvIBbygs8eLUQTxUF8-i59SF2U/s640/blogger-image-2068898291.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpCq8ClSjhkaAigLZvj8lmX2vDQdpxUJby2dxpcXY44bUL8Wt4uAO8gJFgwInbyuJPdjqigaT1Sx44gBDBw3DCEU4NraI4-M_tWyFGDny0BukmUWdogXc2cvA6MJqISMjwzXQUA1Ju08/s640/blogger-image--1009732265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpCq8ClSjhkaAigLZvj8lmX2vDQdpxUJby2dxpcXY44bUL8Wt4uAO8gJFgwInbyuJPdjqigaT1Sx44gBDBw3DCEU4NraI4-M_tWyFGDny0BukmUWdogXc2cvA6MJqISMjwzXQUA1Ju08/s640/blogger-image--1009732265.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">What a great shooter, Dane! Anything inside the red and yellow is a bullseye!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzelQywUwWOnSnoTdiXhLq3NqPyn-a8AMESkexqO0kjRVj6Gf8XweiT9fpWpuTUxUV4ZyJfWN-EdKTw14JqnFOF03KqvVQ5EgzIaSZKNkzOdCeJ0a47GvaqIXkE6SfP5f5_LbBcl_wkTg/s640/blogger-image-33227673.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzelQywUwWOnSnoTdiXhLq3NqPyn-a8AMESkexqO0kjRVj6Gf8XweiT9fpWpuTUxUV4ZyJfWN-EdKTw14JqnFOF03KqvVQ5EgzIaSZKNkzOdCeJ0a47GvaqIXkE6SfP5f5_LbBcl_wkTg/s640/blogger-image-33227673.jpg"></a></div>Dane wanted to take a picture of all the stickers he got on his shoes while hiking!</div><br></div><br></div>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13804701477974361392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075258536465358341.post-23263387603748650312013-07-03T00:33:00.002-04:002013-07-03T00:33:40.956-04:00Howdy!It was a hot one in Texas last week! Luckily on Sunday it rained and it has cooled down a bit. Ok, well, I guess cooling down from over 100 to around 90 may not seem like much, but we can sure feel it! We normally go swimming in the mornings and it is already in the 90s, Today it was only in the 80s when we went swimming, so Seth didn't last too long. He was blue pretty quick and wanted to get out and dry off. Poor guy. Even though he is quick to turn blue, his oxygen saturations have always been good. I don't think I have ever seen him go below 93. He never sats at 99, but anything above 90 is considered normal, although higher 90s is preferred. Seth has a great appetite right now and the first thing he always asks for when he wakes up is breakfast! And he usually has a bowl of cereal before bed, but darn it, we can't get him to hit the 30 lb. mark! He made it to 30 pounds right before we left Maryland, but due to an episode of being sick on our trip to Utah, he dropped a couple of pounds! So, I guess we have been trying to make that up and get him to gain weight. I have one child who needs to lose weight and one who needs to gain! I wish we could get some kind of compromise going between these two kiddos! <div>
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I am slowly getting the house unpacked. Most everything is unpacked, but there is a box here and there that needs to be sorted through and put away. By the time I am done, we'll be packing up again! Although I am thinking we will let the movers do it this next time. One year is not enough time to recooperate from this past move. We are thinking we will go to Washington state. We would be around an hours drive from a hospital with a Pulmonary Hypertension clinic, instead of three hours like we are here. We shall see. Otherwise I have been staying up way too late and need to try to get to bed earlier! I am a night owl and Todd is an early bird! </div>
Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13804701477974361392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075258536465358341.post-62556296466555832222013-06-17T23:45:00.000-04:002013-06-17T23:45:33.142-04:00Long time, no blog!Today we went to the library and got new library cards for all the children. Kate checked out probably thirty books! I am glad that reading is a hobby of the children. Karsten's isn't quite into reading yet, but I remember that Dane was the same way and now Dane is an avid reader too. <br />
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I tried to call Texas Children's Hospital today to set up an appointment to see the Pulmonary Hypertension specialist, Dr. Mallory. Unfortunately, the cardiologist at BAMC hadn't faxed everything in yet, so I couldn't. So I contacted the cardiologist's office and they took care of everything and I should be getting a call from Texas Children's here in the next couple of days. We will have to drive to Houston, but that's ok. Everything we do is for our experience and growth. <br />
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Todd is into week 2 of school for his CRNA. Today was long for him, he said. I am not worried about the next three years, all will be fine. I remember when Todd was going to school full time, working full time (at one point he was even working two jobs!), and I was pregnant with Karsten. Those were tough days. I am not too worried about getting through the next three years. I believe the Lord prepares us for things ahead. So while something may seem difficult now, don't just deal with it! Take it and run, because it might be the help you need!<br />
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We are enjoying the neighborhood pool. It isn't real big, but not too small either Seth loves to go in the pool with his life jacket on because he can move around on his own in the water. He isn't a real quick mover, but he's learning! Alex loves his scuba gear! He is one great dolphin in the water! Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13804701477974361392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075258536465358341.post-55861373675077427482013-06-15T00:03:00.001-04:002013-06-15T00:05:33.601-04:00Texas food!<div><br></div>While my sister Angela and her husband Barrett were visiting our new place in Texas, they introduced me to the most popular grocery store in Texas, HEB. I think HEB has some sort of monopoly here, seeing as how the only other grocery store I have found is Wal-Mart. Anyways, look at the fun chips HEB sells! Texas shaped chips! I was thinking Maryland shaped chips would just always break, especially somewhere along the north west side. <br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiid84e7qSazRaue_2TPb7SOfp1EOQqWd6Xnzo7JrGGHNADbTjLhIAFVZBsit-2VRKnflkHyqEZMslsgHJJaoiTe27O2emaCL2Wsf8OPtVx7nK2lkB9pxOOXaihKEVBBxtU5GMGAyqHg1w/s640/blogger-image-418426535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiid84e7qSazRaue_2TPb7SOfp1EOQqWd6Xnzo7JrGGHNADbTjLhIAFVZBsit-2VRKnflkHyqEZMslsgHJJaoiTe27O2emaCL2Wsf8OPtVx7nK2lkB9pxOOXaihKEVBBxtU5GMGAyqHg1w/s640/blogger-image-418426535.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Ok, so the chip on the left looks like Texas but the chip on the right looks like a ghost. So we are eating Texas shaped chips and Texas ghost chips! I love Texas!</div>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13804701477974361392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075258536465358341.post-5851962430349547602013-06-07T00:23:00.001-04:002013-06-07T00:28:25.003-04:00A View From the Front DoorWhenever I miss the wonder family of neighbors on Hawkesbury Terrace, I just look at this picture and it's like looking out the old front door. It was hard to say goodbye to Maryland. Such good neighbors, a good ward family, and of course my sister and her family!<br />
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Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13804701477974361392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075258536465358341.post-38251512038814912013-05-25T00:27:00.001-04:002013-06-07T00:29:57.736-04:00Beautiful SunsetsWherever you go, you can always find something to like. I think Alamogordo has some great sunsets. Here are some snapshots of tonight's sunset with some awesome clouds forming over the mountains. <br />
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Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13804701477974361392noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075258536465358341.post-71893944547983301532013-05-10T20:02:00.001-04:002013-05-10T20:02:21.270-04:00Fun at Grandma Stailey's!Dane and Seth enjoying some fun time on the trampoline with their cousins Hunter and Edison. <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVYeH-y_u1ihQuiJJzLx9gOJ3RQfiNXByTlXgsgQDLSLkPkUtaLUKiW_K0r7eCUugSQ3rBzPiPpfZVfqCQJXZ9qXxqYJ-oTaJ6gH5u5kft6JpJgcxFa5OCs5vLLn1LAi2snxtKpwZ2kVY/s640/blogger-image--1360024761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVYeH-y_u1ihQuiJJzLx9gOJ3RQfiNXByTlXgsgQDLSLkPkUtaLUKiW_K0r7eCUugSQ3rBzPiPpfZVfqCQJXZ9qXxqYJ-oTaJ6gH5u5kft6JpJgcxFa5OCs5vLLn1LAi2snxtKpwZ2kVY/s640/blogger-image--1360024761.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlHpAI53jz7ynspeTxcCqXLSkYjpk1GtA2xtPki_XOrGZ-XRJYQOyFMRZCymyJbm3XqjLMvYauP1QdLumf-mlO6AYZZAbyYit86Qx2Xe5QQ3RjWgpZwTIE3teizvcqnb_66jvlH771ss/s640/blogger-image-1448573163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlHpAI53jz7ynspeTxcCqXLSkYjpk1GtA2xtPki_XOrGZ-XRJYQOyFMRZCymyJbm3XqjLMvYauP1QdLumf-mlO6AYZZAbyYit86Qx2Xe5QQ3RjWgpZwTIE3teizvcqnb_66jvlH771ss/s640/blogger-image-1448573163.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqeLkhKrLZfa2sWlLFkrBqS8ZUaskxMOFvJbbF6HO2H5EUxwBR-cJ6tMnR_UuKBPPXep72eiInAKbiewhr0nIYcaZs90FGBTYJu02hctvcRhyphenhyphenpW5DsJz7-9cGM8PHfmBkggOc_oYNkMhI/s640/blogger-image--257413704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqeLkhKrLZfa2sWlLFkrBqS8ZUaskxMOFvJbbF6HO2H5EUxwBR-cJ6tMnR_UuKBPPXep72eiInAKbiewhr0nIYcaZs90FGBTYJu02hctvcRhyphenhyphenpW5DsJz7-9cGM8PHfmBkggOc_oYNkMhI/s640/blogger-image--257413704.jpg" /></a></div>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13804701477974361392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075258536465358341.post-6154978935925388412013-04-10T09:21:00.001-04:002013-04-10T09:31:15.039-04:00Another visit with the cardiologist<br />
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We had our final visit with Dr. Berger last week. Unfortunately the pressures in Seth's heart have not come down one bit! It was a little disappointing to hear. Fortunately Seth still shows no symptoms of Pulmonary Hypertension and his heart function looks good. Ok, back up, I say Seth shows no symptoms but that is because we haven't seen anything different. Seth does not play as hard and doesn't have the strength as a "normal" four year old, but the level that Seth does play at, we never see him tire or get short of breath. Maybe it is the Pulmonary Hypertension that causes him not to have as much strength and energy or maybe it's low muscle tone. Or maybe a combo of both! Anyways, we discussed our next options which are an inhaled medication or IV medications. We didn't go much into the IV meds as the doctor really wants to start him on the inhaled one. Unfortunately since we are moving so soon, the doctor wants us to wait until we get to Texas and discuss options with our new cardiologist. We did increase the sildenafil dose up to 4 mLs three times a day. Part of me is like, if these meds aren't working, then why are we still taking them? I know, patience. I am sure we just have to find the right mix. It would be nice to get off the Bosentan so we don't have to do monthly blood draws anymore. </div>
Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13804701477974361392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075258536465358341.post-41325929198184602392013-04-09T21:06:00.001-04:002013-04-09T21:06:31.429-04:00Spring SnowstormThe first day of spring break, this is what we had! (March 25th) It melted off in a few days, but this was the only real accumulation of snow we had all winter, and it was the beginning of spring! Last time we will see snow for awhile! <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixByeARTROb2fQo25KJrP4nVBLwVFSECZ9ds30NEzciIu12_xEJXDTq67lmyHsBrykWKhKwoc8kH22bE5LvVv_xgFWG_X3BRjpyO7ApFTMK-UsqeUX6FPVZoi5IsvmLbuZw9iq-7qSZ7w/s640/blogger-image-384369951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixByeARTROb2fQo25KJrP4nVBLwVFSECZ9ds30NEzciIu12_xEJXDTq67lmyHsBrykWKhKwoc8kH22bE5LvVv_xgFWG_X3BRjpyO7ApFTMK-UsqeUX6FPVZoi5IsvmLbuZw9iq-7qSZ7w/s640/blogger-image-384369951.jpg" /></a></div>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13804701477974361392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075258536465358341.post-64122732567525477552013-04-09T21:01:00.001-04:002013-04-10T09:20:58.799-04:00Fame, Jr.Here is Kate and Emily ready for performance! They have their hair all poofed and makeup ready! All they need is their costume! The girls did so well in their performances. I went to all three public performances, it was that good! Well, I may be biased. <br />
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You probably need to click on the photo to read the girls' bios. Emily's is hilarious!</div>
Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13804701477974361392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075258536465358341.post-12052152739429595382013-01-24T11:23:00.001-05:002013-01-24T13:02:10.730-05:00Follow up with Dr. BergerOn Wednesday, Seth and I took a drive down to Children's National for a follow up visit with Dr. Berger for Seth's pulmonary hypertension. We were there for two hours, which was way shorter than I had expected. Seth had an EKG and an echo done. The echo showed the pressure in the pulmonary vein to be the same, maybe slightly less. The right ventricle looked smaller, though. This and the fact that Seth has way more energy and has an increased appetite was pleasing to the doctor. We are increasing Seth's meds now. He is working up to a max dose. I think we will hit max dosing on the bosentan next week. I don't think we are there with the sildenafil. Our next appointment will be at the first of April. That will be our last visit. We will be headed to Texas in May. Seth does real well during echos. He just lies there and let's them look at his heart all they want. I am glad he doesn't put up a fight. He cried a little when they had to stick the stickers all over his chest for the EKG. I think he was afraid they were going to poke him. He hates blood draws. We had to do two in one week because of a mixup. Unfortunately, Seth has to have his blood drawn every month. Poor baby. <br />
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Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13804701477974361392noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075258536465358341.post-76164344189828343652013-01-13T17:33:00.000-05:002013-01-13T17:35:27.044-05:00The RoseEven though this song is usually thought about as romantic love, I believe it also represents other types of love. For me it is love for a child who is sick, and finding the strength to go on. It describes my anxiety and fears, and how if I don't trust in God, how miserable my life could be. The last of the lyrics go:<br />
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Just remember in the winter<br />
Far beneath the bitter snow<br />
Lies the seed<br />
That with the sun's love, in the spring<br />
Becomes the rose.<br />
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I like to change the lyrics to read: Lies the seed that with the Son's love, in the spring becomes the rose.<br />
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Through our Savior, Jesus Christ, we can heal, be at peace, and be happy again. <br />
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The following video is Westlife's music video version of the Rose. I hope you enjoy!<br />
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<br />Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13804701477974361392noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075258536465358341.post-28417892143368999032013-01-13T17:09:00.000-05:002013-01-13T17:09:25.772-05:00Time to catch up.Well, I think it is time to do a little catching up and to explain why Seth was in the hospital. Last summer, Todd happened to lay his hand on Seth's chest while he was sleeping. Having the medical background he has as a nurse taking care of heart patients, Todd was suspicious that Seth had an arrythmia, or an irregular heart beat. We didn't think too much of it, but during a well child check I mention our finding to the pediatrician. She listens to his heart and doesn't find anything unusual but has an EKG done anyways. She doesn't see anything concerning but says she'll have the pediatric cardiologist look at it, because its protocol. A couple of days later I find a message on my voice mail from the pediatrician that I needed to call her back. Apparently the cardiologist found something on the EKG that was a little suspicious. So I call the pediatrician back and she says the cardiologist wants us to come in to see him for another EKG as it appears there might be some right sided heart enlargement. So, in September, we go in for our first cardiology appointment. We have Seth all hooked up for another EKG and the doctor sees the same results. He is not too concerned because there are no other things going on that would otherwise alert him to something more serious, but he has Seth undergo an echocardiogram just in case, or an ultrasound of the heart. During the echo, it looks like the right side of Seth's heart is a little enlarged and the blood pressure from his heart to his lungs is a little higher than normal. Sill, the doctor isn't really concerned. Seth is showing no signs that something is wrong, if in fact the pressures are truly high he would be having shortness of breathe, chest pains, blue lips and fingers, passing out. Since we have nothing to compare this echo to, it is hard to tell exactly what is going on. We decide to order any echo or cardiologist reports that Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah may have where Seth spent the first 3 1/2 months of his life. We also decide to wait six months to do another echo so we can have another echo to compare with the first. <br />
Well, for reasons unknown, we had a hard time getting records from Primary Children's. Looking back, I see it as a blessing. Primary Children's had revived my request, but for some unknown reason, it was never sent. So we finally got them sent, but by December, they still had not arrived in the cardiologist's office. So the doctor suggests that we just come in and do another echo. This appointment was scheduled for the 10th of December. I honestly thought we would find nothing tat day and confirm that we were being overly cautious. I sensed that the doctor felt this way too as we chit chatted before doing the echo. During the echo it, the doctor discovered that the pressures in Seth's heart were even higher than before. He showed us the blood flowing backwards a little from the per right chamber to the lower right chamber when the valves would open because the pressures in the pulmonary vein were so high. I think he called it supra systemic. It looks like Seth has Pulmonary Hypertension. He was now very concerned. He said that we needed to have a heart cath done in order to confirm and to see if there was anything wrong with the heart that would be causing this that he couldn't see on the echo. We would have to go to Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. for this. The severity of everything probably didn't hit me until The day before his cath and while we waited during the procedure.<br />
Anyways, the next morning, it was a Tuesday, Children's National calls to set up a cath for that Friday, the 14th. We had labs at Walter Reed the day before. I chatted with our cardiologist while Seth's blood was drawn. I asked if we'd be staying the night, as the nurse who did our pre-op mentioned a 50/50 chance of staying, but I knew he didn't have details of each heart cath. The cardiologist say, Oh yes, most likely in the ICU. That is when things started to really sink in. The cardiologist also said he had already contacted the Pulmonary Hypertension specialist at Children's National, Dr. Berger, about Seth's case. I was nothing less than impressed! Dr. Berger had stepped out of a conference to take the phone call and even though he was scheduled for a vacation, he would make sure he saw us after Seth's heart cath. Wow! It also added to the scariness of it all! <br />
Friday morning we arrived, got Seth changed into a hospital gown, did all the pre-op stuff, chatted with anesthesiology, and before we knew it, we were carrying Seth in to have his heart cath. We stayed until he fell asleep, which was like way less than a minute. He fought at first, but it wasn't for long. Than we sat and waited. It was a long wait. And this wait was so unlike any other waits I have gone through. Usually you are just sitting waiting for something to be taken out, or fixed and you know all will be ok. This was hard as we were doing something to prove what we were afraid he had. After about three hours, they were finally finished and the heart cath doc took us to a room to explain his findings. Seth's pressures were very high, he was non reactive to treatments they try during the heart cath, the vasculature in his lungs looked abnormal, but his heart looked fine. We had no questions as we didn't know what to ask yet. We meet up with Seth as he is being wheeled to the CICU, cardiac intesive care unit. Seth is very angry as he beginning to wake up. He is not liking all the tubes and wires all over him. We have to sedate him to try and keep him settled. All of this seems too much for Seth's little body to handle and he goes into a pulmonary hypertension crisis. He grabs all his wires on his chest and begins ripping them off, he is pale and has blue lips and fingers, he cries out and then passes out. He comes to and passes out again. I press the nurse call button and Todd just goes out in the hall to get someone. Next thing, our room is bustling with activity as they are trying to sedate Seth even more to get him to relax and get his heart rate down. They finally get him stable. Todd was in the midst of all the flurry, this is what he does, just not on kids. He works with adults who are stable enough to come out of the ICU, but not ready for the regular floor. I just remember thinking, this is what I have to deal with? I don't think I can do this! It was pretty scary. Seth stayed in the CICU three nights and on Monday morning, he was transferred to the Heart/Kidney Floor. We had no more issues with Seth during our hospital stay. We couldn't leave the hospital until we had two medications, sildenifil and bosentan, The bosentan is harder to get. Google those two meds and see how much they cost. Yes, I am thankful to be in the mlitary and have that covered. Todd and Seth did not come home from the hospital until Thursday evening. The bosentan was delivered Thursday morning and we had the sildenafil delivered Friday morning. Oh yes, google sildenifil and see what Seth is taking. Yes, it was used to treat pulmonary hypertension first, and they realized what one of the side effects was. Now it is prescribed for other usages. Anyways, we go back to see Dr. Berger next week. I am hoping and praying that we can keep the pressures in Seth's heart controlled with medications. I hope next week brings good news.<br />
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Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13804701477974361392noreply@blogger.com1