Pumpkins

What a busy day!

Nana came in this morning and we packed up and headed to Georgetown to run a few errands and then high tailed it out to Marble Falls for Sweet Berry Farms Pumpkin Patch.

Remember my sibling Yin Yang Theory?

Wes screamed most of the very substantial way there.

Emily was good as gold in the car, very patient, pleasant and entertaining.

Once the car stopped...

Let's just say Weston enjoyed the fresh air and sun light.

Checking out the different kinds of pumpkins and squash

The Mommy and her little pumpkins

The cutest little gourd in the patch

She LOVES to drive!!

Painting her pumpkin...right before the !@#$ hit the fan when the sucker fell on the ground...

Drawing a face on her scarecrow...that she refused to stuff

 Oh wait, the story gets better...

Most that know me understand that for me to even consider using a public restroom, much less a port-a-potty, my bladder must be in serious danger of exploding...such was the case this afternoon.

Enter the tarantula in the toilet...

On second thought, I'm going to end the story there. You mad-lib what happened next.

Wordless Wednesday: Because It's Halloween

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It's Already Tuesday!

Well, by the time I finish posting, it will be Wednesday.

This week is flying by.

Wes saw Dr. Z again today.

The only issue was his frequent, copious spit ups. 

Dr. Z said it was probably due to the combined effect of a more active baby and his enlarged liver putting pressure on the stomach. But he gained 4oz from last week. Yea!

The cause for concern is the spit up soaking the broviac dressing. I had to change it two or three times last week. The last thing we need is his central line becoming infected. Since we are not going the route of IV anything right now, we are going to use it for one more big lab draw on Monday to check liver panel, clotting times, CBC and vitamin levels. THEN, Tuesday Dr. M  will take it out! The only bummer is that he will have to have a general anesthetic because the line has been in long enough to need a little scalpel help with d/c'ing. 

Ahhhh! So cute!

 

Emmalina Land:

I decided that since she sleeps in a big bed at her Nana's house without side rails, she doesn't need them at home either. All has been well until 5 min ago when she fell out of bed. Now she is tossing and grunting...this could make for a long night.

Little girl cracks me up with some of the things she says. S-A-S-S-Y! I hate when you have to turn away to laugh before facing her again to discipline. Make sure you check out the updated "Random Acts of Toddler" in the upper right corner...

The rest of the week:

Tomorrow, er today, we get to visit Ms. Robin for Weston's 3 month pictures and Emmy/Wes Christmas pictures! The Mommy is terrified, as she will be toting them all by herself. Yikes!

Thursday, Nana will be joining us at SweetBerry Farm's Pumpkin Patch! Sounds like super fun!

Thursday evening and through the weekend, Granny and GS will be here for a visit. E loves nothing more than to wear that GS out, running a muck and such...I don't think GS minds, either. 

AND, how could we forget that Sunday is HALLOWEEN!! 

Stay tuned for pics from our awesome week!

Camera Clean Out

Since we spent all afternoon in Dell's radiology department, E is at Camp Nana.

We miss her!

But, we are taking advantage of the extra time and using it wisely. 

The Daddy cleaned out the armoire and organized it.

The Mommy is cleaning off the camera and properly updating the blog.

Fly Killa!

Everything about this pic is so cute!! Sweet little boy and his balloon. Big Sister <3 and The Daddy!

Rawr! Means "I Love You" in Dinosaur.

Sad to glad in the same.

Emily Einstein

So, I hear that Emily is giving her Nana a time! Evidently she has adamant opinions on fashion and DID NOT like the shoes she picked out for her. And the stink knows how to spell CANDY. Nothing gets past her! An evil genius, I tell you! We are in soooooo much trouble.

We received a phone call from Weston's surgeon at 7 this evening; well after office hours. I could tell he was at home, because I could hear his kids in the background. He contacted a colleague in Cincinnati about Weston and wanted to share the result of their conversation and the results of the CT scan.

Basically no changes and his CT was normal. 

Billy and I are just blown away by the care our doctors are giving Weston.

Both the surgeon and GI specialist have called people in different cities and spent a lot of time outside of our appointments trying to help him.

We are very fortunate to have such a great medical team.

Happy 3 Months, Weston!

Mommy's Little Monster!!

Weight: 11 lbs 10 oz (5-10%)

Length: 23.25" (10th %)

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"Not a question of 'if', but 'when'"

Weston's bilirubin and liver panels are unchanged; the IV antibiotics are not working. Dr. Z is calling the big pediatric hepatatologist from Texas Children's in Houston for his input on Weston's case. We have also been advised
to make an appointment with this doctor, as he is also the head of the liver transplant program at Texas Children's. Weston is not being referred for a transplant yet. But it is pretty much inevitable, now. Dr. Z said there is no way of knowing when; it could be within the next 9 months, or few years.

Tomorrow Weston is having a CT of his abdomen done to make sure that since his surgery, nothing has been blocking the drainage. Depending upon what Dr. Z decides in regards to a big pulse of steroids, we could be back in the hospital after the CT for monitoring.


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So Much for Celebrating

Seems as though Weston's bili levels went up 1 point from last Friday to Wednesday. EXACTLY 1 point...both of them (total and direct). And his AST and ALT levels were the EXACT same. All things are completely possible, but just a weird coincidence that they all happened. I think something is fishy. Maybe I misheard. None the less, I'm bummed.

The doc also decided to hold the probiotic because of Weston being on steroids (lowering his immune response) and his central line; he could develop fungemia (fungal blood infection...gross)

Tuesday we will have a marathon doctor day, meeting with the infectious disease, GI and surgeon. Of course, more blood drawn then.


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Maybe Some Good News?

It seems as though the antibiotics may be working! There was a mess up in the lab yesterday, but as of last Friday, Weston's bili levels had improved. They re-drew some blood today (thank God for the broviac!) to check his liver functions, bili levels and double check a weird platelet count. I am assuming that things were not worse, as I did not receive a phone call. But, you know what they say about assuming. I should hear back from them tomorrow. The plan, as of this afternoon: continue with another week of the iv antibiotic; start a probiotic to help with some tummy trouble (side effect of antibiotic); start an extra vitamin D supplement; meet with all three docs next Tuesday. Oh, and guess who weighs over 11lbs and grew a 1/4 of an inch?! :-D


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Broviac: Day 2

It was a long night...



Friend



Visitors



Careful ladies; I'm a flirt



Back to Nursing School



Tomorrow

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Location:Dell Children's Medical Center

Broviac: Day 1

Here we go again...




Waiting




Recovering




Starting the iv therapy




Heinous fold out "bed"

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Location:Dell Children's Medical Center

Back to the Hospital

We were disappointed, again, to learn that there still has been no change in Weston's bilirubin levels.
Our GI doc wants to consult with the surgeon, but more than likely, Weston will be admitted this week for a PICC (long-term IV) line insertion so he can receive more potent antibiotics and steroids. The doctor thinks he may have an infection and the antibiotic he is currently on is keeping him from a full blown systemic response, but not strong enough to fight it off completely.
Thus creating inflammation and not allowing enough bile to flow.

Here's hoping this is the answer...

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Sweet Sunday

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One Month Ago

Exactly one month ago, I was just getting to see my baby in PICU after hours and hours of surgery.

So swollen and still on the ventilator.

One month ago was a very hard day for all of us.

But TODAY is a great day!

Just a little bit handsome, don't you agree?!

Updates:

1. Mommy goes back to work tomorrow. While I am looking forward to seeing friends and wear that nursing hat, so to speak, 12 hours is an awfully long time to be away from my babies. The Daddy more than agrees, I am sure.

2, On Monday, the anesthesia group has been so kind as to set up a special appointment for Weston to have his blood drawn by one of the docs. Hopefully, it will be as easy as last time. (thank you again, Dr. M!) Tuesday, we meet with Dr. Z (GI) to take a look at Weston's lab results. Please pray that everything has improved!

Happy weekend, and GO HORNS! \m/