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.