Blessings

Thanks to a VERY generous gift we received annonymously last week from someone in our church, Chris and I were able to purchase a larger vehicle yesterday. It's a secondhand (or maybe fifthhand) 1997 Kia Sportage but it runs great and can definitely fit both carseats.

We were also able to get our own digital camera so we can stop monopolizing my dad's camera for pictures of Kyle and we found a really good deal on a laptop for me to use updating this blog and later on in school. Thanks to our "Christmas Angel", we still have enough to pay off some debts that were too much for us before. If our "Christmas Angel" is reading this, thank you so very much!

Baby's First Christmas

The swallow test showed that Kyle was not aspirating (which is good). The doctors say that they are probably going to put in the other kind of feeding tube next week some time.


In the meantime, Kyle is making lots of friends in NICU3. Whenever I visit him, staff and other parents always say how he's always smiling and so friendly. On Christmas day I actually was able to get pictures of his elusive smile. Previously, he would smile lots - until I pulled out the camera. Then his face would go all serious. But he flashed me his smile a couple of times Christmas day!


Here it is...

Christmas Party

Thank you to all those who came out for our Christmas party last Saturday. It wasn't feeling like Christmas until the party. Here's some highlights...

Family Pics

This morning, the All Children's staff worked with us so we could get family pics together. Hannah was thrilled to see her baby brother and Kyle was fascinated by his big sister. Here are the results...

Home for New Year's?

I spoke to Dr. Wadhawan this past week about Kyle's condition. They are going to do a "swallow test" (probably tomorrow) where they essentially do an x-ray while he feeds from a bottle to see what's going on with the feedings and why his respiratory rate goes up when feeding.

Dr. Wadhawan says that depending on the results from the "swallow test", they will start discussing the possibility of a feeding tube being put directly in Kyle's stomach (by surgery). This doesn't sound very pleasant but the doctor says that Kyle would be able to go home with this kind of feeding tube.

I asked the doctor if there was any chance of Kyle being home by Christmas. He said not really but possibly by New Year's! I don't want to get my hopes up too much but fingers and toes are crossed!

The doctor also helped me arrange for us to be able to bring Hannah in long enough for a family picture despite the rule against sibling visitation.

My First Christmas In Heaven

(this is a poem I got from the funeral home)

My First Christmas In Heaven

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear
For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear
But the sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring
For it is beyond description to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart.
But I am not so far away, we really aren't apart.

So be happy for me, dear ones, you know I hold you dear.
And be glad I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I sent you each a special gift from my heavenly home above.
I sent you each a memory of my undying love.

After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold.
It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other as my Father said to do.
For I can't count the blessing or love he has for each of you.

So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear.
Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

In loving memory of Eric

Christmas Party After All

I know that I must be insane, but I'm having the Christmas party after all. It just doesn't feel like Christmas without it, so...

Christopher and Corinne Foreman
cordially invite you to our 5th annual
Christmas Jump Start Party!
December 23rd, 2006
4:00pm-10:00pm

For more information (like location), please e-mail me at: coriander_smiyles@yahoo.com

Our usual party rules apply:

• Come at whatever time you want between 4:00-10:00pm
• Stay for however long you want
• Bring a happy heart and some Christmas spirit
• Invitation is open to all
• Feel free to bring any of your friends and family
• Dress however you are comfortable
• Come hungry - We will have food
• No need to RSVP

Roller Coaster Year in Rhyme

At the start of the year,

A new job – a fresh start.

A month later, Surprise!

In the womb, a small heart.

Spring rolls on in

And Hannah’s no longer 1.

An ultrasound shows

We’ll have double the fun.

As summer moves in,

The belly gets round.

Then our car gets stolen,

But, don’t fret. It was found.

June and July, spent mostly

In hospital beds

Or at home on bed rest

(At times, loopy on meds).

Joy came in July

On the 19th (Wednesday).

First Eric and then Kyle

Came out early to play.

But on Saturday night,

After only three days,

Eric left us for Heaven

With a smile on his face.

Now he watches from Heaven,

No longer in danger,

Held by the Son

Who was born in a manger.

And Kyle lives on,

Though still fragile and small

But a champion fighter,

Surviving it all.

Impending Discharge?

The cardiology department is not going to do surgery at this time on Kyle. They say that they prefer to wait until the baby is larger and older to do such an invasive procedure so after he's discharged from the hospital, we will need to follow-up with the cardiology department. So now we're back to waiting for Kyle to get on regular bottle/breast feeding. He's back in NICU3 on the third floor of the hospital. They make it sound like we might actually get to take him home soon but I don't want to get my hopes up since I've thought a few times that we'd be taking him home and it fell through for some reason or another.

I've learned to accept that Kyle may or may not be home before Christmas.

Out of surgery

Kyle had no complications with surgery. Unfortunately, it didn't solve the problem, though. They found through the procedure that Kyle's artery valve is open but it is too narrow to do it's job. This means that next week the cardiology department will review the information and decide when to schedule open heart surgery for Kyle. Looks like Kyle will not be home in time for Christmas after all. On the up side, he came off anesthesia like a champ.

Heart Surgery for Kyle

Yet again, I'm writing from the All Children's Hospital family waiting room while Kyle is in an operating room. The cardiologist has decided to do the cardio catheterization with ballooning after all. The cardiologist did inform us that, although this is a pretty standard procedure, it is complicated by the artery calcification because it makes the arteries more rigid and brittle. First, they are testing the pressures and taking pictures of the heart before doing the actual procedure. They are being as cautious as possible but there is still high risk in this procedure. On the positive side, we got to hold him and take pictures of him without even the feeding tube on his face since they had to stop feedings last night to prepare for the procedure today.

I will try to write more later to update you all on how the procedure goes.

Christmas Party Postponed?

It looks like I won't be able to do my usual "Anti-Holiday-Stress""Christmas Spirit Jump-Start" Christmas Party this year. I'm still trying to think up some way to come through and have it after all but I don't want to do it at all unless I can do it full justice. I might have to wait and do a "Christmas in Spring" party. I don't know. I'll keep you all posted, though.

Look, Ma! No cannula!

Wednesday the nurses removed the nasal cannula and Kyle is doing quite well off of it. He's also up to 7 pounds! The nurse suggested that we go ahead and take the Infant CPR class at the hospital soon since one of the requirements for discharge is that all caregivers attend the class. It's good to hear all the staff keep talking about discharge but I wish that they could tell me with more certainty how much longer it will be.

A Wedding!

Stephen Croft, who was the Best Man at Chris and my own wedding, got married last Sunday, November 12th. Chris was Best Man. Chris and Steve have been friends since they were kids and we're both so glad to see him married off.

Hannah is a really big fan of both Steve and the bride and had a blast at the wedding. Although she was hard to keep still during the ceremony since she saw her daddy and her buddies all standing up front, she was amusing during the reception. She blew bubbles, rang the tiny bells and ran around with the other small children.

Update

Monday (11/6), I went to see Kyle. He is still in the downstairs NICU where they had put him to recover from anesthesia. He is in Pod #4. They said that the cardiology department had gotten the results but had not made a decision on what to do yet. The artery calcification (which the nurse refers to as stenosis) is on the outer branches of the arteries - not near the main valve - so the cardiologists are not sure if heart catheterization using ballooning would be effective or even needed.

Yesterday (11/10), I went to see Kyle again and the nurse practitioner said that it seems the cardiology department has decided to just keep an eye on Kyle but not to do any procedures at this time. They have been doing the occasional bottle feed for him but they said that when they took him off the diuretics, his respiratory rate went up again so they had to take him off bottle feeds temporarily and they started him back on the diuretics. They are going to try to wean him off the diuretics more slowly this time to see if all goes well. While I was there visiting, they said his respiratory rate was okay to try a bottle feed so I asked if I could try breastfeeding him. They said it was okay! He latched on like he had been doing it since day one! It was a truly special moment.

The nurse practitioner says that their main goal now is to get Kyle on regular feeds. If they can get him on regular feeds, she says we will be able to take him home shortly afterward. Of course, there's the possibility that he might need oxygen when we bring him home and we'll be having to bring him to All Children's for plenty of follow-up care appointments (eyes, heart, lungs, development, etc.) but we would be taking him home!

In other news, the timing couldn't be better for Kyle coming home since my first cycle with Nielsen just ended. From now until December 28th (when the next cycle starts up), the only hours I'll have to work are the occasional training classes so I can be home more with Kyle his first weeks back.

My mom and I also worked the election this past Tuesday, which fills in some gaps financially between cycles at Nielsen. Mom and I got about 20 hours of training pay for the elections and then 15 more hours for the call center the day of the elections. Not only that, but as I left the last training class before election day, the training supervisors asked if I'd like to work in a supervisory position for the day of the election instead of taking calls. I agreed and they paid me a little extra for the day of the election. It was fun although my feet were killing me for a couple of days after. They even said that if I work with the call center for any future elections, they would like me to be a supervisor again!

Trick-or-Treat

Saturday night, I took Hannah to the Safety Harbor "Harborween" at the city park. Hannah got to jump in an inflatable castle, pet animals in the "petting zoo" and "trick-or-treat". She still doesn't quite get the concept of waiting in line so the long lines waiting for each activity were frustrating for her but she had fun.

Last night, Chris and I took Hannah trick-or-treating in our neighborhood. She loved it! She walked up to the doors and said "Trwuck or Teet!" (Trick or Treat) or if they had dogs she would say "DOGGIES! Hi, doggy". Then after they gave her a couple of pieces of candy, she would say "Dankoo" (Thank You)- or stare at them confused if they only gave her one piece. Sometimes, she even said "Hay Hoween" (Happy Halloween) as she walked away, already reaching in the bag to see if she liked what they had given her.



She seemed the most impressed at the end of the night when she discovered (with a little counting help from Mommy) that she had thirteen lollipops. She wasn't as impressed with the chocolate but I'm sure that Chris and I will find some way of using it all up.

Kyle News

Kyle recovered wonderfully from the eye surgery last Tuesday. He did not need to stay intubated or in an incubator. In fact, the doctor said that the procedure took about half the time it generally takes because it went so smoothly. Dr. Mendelblatt did say that Kyle will need regular eye exams for the rest of his life - lots of them during the first few years of his life. We will need to watch him closely for crossed eyes and other abnormal eye movement. The doctor said he would do a follow-up eye exam on Kyle the following Monday to make sure that the surgery was successful.


A couple of days after the surgery, I went to visit Kyle and found that they had moved him upstairs to NICU3 which they say means he's one step closer to discharge. He now has a crib right by a window and has a TV nearby. He'll be a couch potato (couch "tater tot") before he even comes home. He looked happy with the new location.

Monday night, the nurse had removed the nasal cannula just before I arrived to visit. Kyle was a happy camper without the cannula up his nose but his respiratory rate was pretty high so after I left, they put the cannula back. But at least I got to hold him without it for a little while. His high respiratory rate is also why I haven't gotten to breastfeed him yet. Monday was a pretty busy day for Kyle. Earlier in the day, he had gotten his follow-up eye exam and an X-ray of the lungs. Then, while I was still there visiting him, his Grandma Foreman (Chris' mom) came to visit and got to hold Kyle for the first time.

Yesterday afternoon, my mom and I went to a training class for the upcoming election's call center and just when we were leaving for home, I got a call from Kyle's nurse. She said that the doctor was concerned about Kyle's high respiratory rate and wants to do an MRI and MRA to see what's going on with his heart and lungs. Since MRI/MRA requires the patient to be still, and you can't just tell an infant to hold still, they need to put him under anesthesia again. The MRI/MRA is tomorrow morning (Thursday) around 8:00am and the doctor plans on doing an Echo while Kyle is still under anesthesia.

Little Eyes

I'm actually writing this post in the All Children's Family Waiting Room. Kyle is undergoing laser eye surgery right now for Retinopathy of Prematurity.

While I visited Kyle yesterday, they were prepping him for his eye exam with eye drops. After I left, Dr. Mendelblatt (the opthamologist) checked his eyes and called me immediately to say that Kyle's eyes had gotten progressively worse since the eye exam a week before and he would need laser eye surgery. Without the surgery, Kyle could completely lose vision in both eyes due to retina detatchment so Chris and I decided to approve the surgery. Once they finish this surgery, Kyle will be back in the incubator with a breathing tube temporarily - just to help his recovery.

On a happier note, Kyle was moved over the weekend from "Pod #1" of the NICU (which is where they put the more critical patients) to "Pod #4" (where they put patients who are almost ready for discharge!).


Before the eye exam yesterday, I was holding Kyle and he was showing me his wide range of emotional facial expressions. He would show me his most heart-breaking frown and then transition straight into a huge grin. He even laughed and gave a tiny little cry while I was there. The nurse had also told me that if his repiratory rates had been a little lower, they would have tried him on breastfeeding.

Smile

Kyle was so happy that Daddy was holding him...

3 Months Old

Kyle's been doing great! They've taken his nasal cannula (that's the little tube that sticks up his nose) settings down to the minimum. This week, they're weaning him off the three breathing treatments that he's been on and they'll start him on bottle/breast feeding in a couple days! He's up to 5lbs, 4oz in weight. We still don't know how much longer it will be before we can bring him home but at least it's looking more like sooner than later. Now we just need to work on getting the apartment ready for bringing him home. We still only live in a two-bedroom but we seem to have enough furniture for at least three.

In other news, I have decided to pursue a career in Non-Invasive Cardiovascular Technology (EKGs, Echo Cardiographs, etc.) at Sanford-Brown Institute in Tampa. All that has happened with Kyle & Eric has seemed to be pushing me into the medical field and this is a way I can get into the medical field without having to stick needles into anyone. Plus, living in Florida, cardiovascular technicians make pretty good money because of the large elderly population in need of EKGs on a regular basis. The program will only take a year and four months to complete and they said that they let students bring in family members to practice on. So I could bring Kyle in and see for myself what Pulmonary Artery Calcification looks like and learn more about it. While I'm in school for this, it's going to take a lot of sacrifice of time and money but once I'm done I'll have a career that can make things a lot easier in the future.

Meanwhile, everything's been going well for me at Nielsen and now that my mom's working there, she and I are able to spend time together on our breaks.