The DDA Trouble Free Zone Part 13

[ellenbenny]

Before I get started on the update, June I am praying like crazy for you. I know you can fight this!

Kate, good luck on your surgery.

Amy, thanks for keeping me in the loop.

Thank each and every one of you for all of the prayers and good thoughts. I haven't been able to read them yet, but once I called Amy Tuesday night I went back to Caroline's room feeling the power of all of you behind us.

I did read Amy's posts so I didn't repeat too much info, but that was much earlier today and I never had enough time to post this update. I couldn't let any more time go by without telling you all how grateful I am so forgive me if I'm repeating too much.

As you know we were several blocks from the pediatrician's office Tuesday when Caroline choked on a large amount of spit up. She turned blue and sort of gray and the look on her face is something that I'll never be able to forget. I truly believed she would die in my arms before we could get help for her. Once we got to the office all 3 dr's started working on her immediately. She had a focal seizure and they gave her Valium, which stopped it. She was also on oxygen. By that time the paramedics arrived and she was stablized enough to transport her to the NICU.

We are very fortunate to have one of only a handful of specialized hospitals in the country and there is a Neonatologist here 24/7. I know you know all of the tests that she had so I won't repeat all of that. So far everything has come back negative. No pre-existing conditions have shown up and they assure us that she will have no permanent damage from lack of oxygen.

Several days after her birth we realized she had reflux. We knew the signs because Christopher also had it. We discussed it with her pediatrician and the ped. on call, but they weren't convinced she really had it. Fortunately the Neonatologist took the approach that we knew what we were talking about and we would monitor and watch her instead of having to put her through the pneumogram and ph probe, which is very uncomfortable. She spit/vomited so heavily that the nurses had trouble suctioning her. He diagnosed it as a severe case of reflux and started her on meds last night. We believe the Zantac is working already because she's not crying after feedings anymore, but he said it will take a few days for the Reglan to be effective and we'll probably have to play with the dosage to get it right. She is still spitting up fairly heavily, but we do see some improvement. We've also switched her to a formula with added rice, but we're still having to add rice cereal to thicken it up. That helps keep the formula down. We tried to breastfeed, but I'm not going to be able to .

She's still on antibiotics since there are a few tests still outstanding, but she came off the IV fluids yesterday so she's just on formula now. They weighed her this evening and she's up to 6.9 lbs . They also moved us from an isolation room to a bonding room. It's still part of the NICU, but there are 2 pullout chairs so Brian and I can stay with her all of the time. Before we had to go out of the NICU to go to the bathroom, sleep, etc. Here they bring meals to us, we have a private bathroom, TV, phone, etc. I haven't left the room since they moved us here yesterday. She's still being monitored and we're only a few feet away from the nurses station.

As things stand now it looks like we'll be discharged on Saturday. Thank you all again!

I hope everyone is doing well, and here's and for anyone who needs it.

Dawn, It is so great to hear from you and to hear that things are looking up for little Caroline. I hope they can quickly get the medicine doses correct so that she is comfortable and there are no complications. That must have been the scariest moment of your life. I have been thinking of you, and continue to offer prayers and for everything to turn out just fine. Please make sure to take care of yourself.

Ellen

 

[triplefigs]

Before I get started on the update, June I am praying like crazy for you. I know you can fight this!

Kate, good luck on your surgery.

Amy, thanks for keeping me in the loop.

Thank each and every one of you for all of the prayers and good thoughts. I haven't been able to read them yet, but once I called Amy Tuesday night I went back to Caroline's room feeling the power of all of you behind us.

I did read Amy's posts so I didn't repeat too much info, but that was much earlier today and I never had enough time to post this update. I couldn't let any more time go by without telling you all how grateful I am so forgive me if I'm repeating too much.

As you know we were several blocks from the pediatrician's office Tuesday when Caroline choked on a large amount of spit up. She turned blue and sort of gray and the look on her face is something that I'll never be able to forget. I truly believed she would die in my arms before we could get help for her. Once we got to the office all 3 dr's started working on her immediately. She had a focal seizure and they gave her Valium, which stopped it. She was also on oxygen. By that time the paramedics arrived and she was stablized enough to transport her to the NICU.

We are very fortunate to have one of only a handful of specialized hospitals in the country and there is a Neonatologist here 24/7. I know you know all of the tests that she had so I won't repeat all of that. So far everything has come back negative. No pre-existing conditions have shown up and they assure us that she will have no permanent damage from lack of oxygen.

Several days after her birth we realized she had reflux. We knew the signs because Christopher also had it. We discussed it with her pediatrician and the ped. on call, but they weren't convinced she really had it. Fortunately the Neonatologist took the approach that we knew what we were talking about and we would monitor and watch her instead of having to put her through the pneumogram and ph probe, which is very uncomfortable. She spit/vomited so heavily that the nurses had trouble suctioning her. He diagnosed it as a severe case of reflux and started her on meds last night. We believe the Zantac is working already because she's not crying after feedings anymore, but he said it will take a few days for the Reglan to be effective and we'll probably have to play with the dosage to get it right. She is still spitting up fairly heavily, but we do see some improvement. We've also switched her to a formula with added rice, but we're still having to add rice cereal to thicken it up. That helps keep the formula down. We tried to breastfeed, but I'm not going to be able to .

She's still on antibiotics since there are a few tests still outstanding, but she came off the IV fluids yesterday so she's just on formula now. They weighed her this evening and she's up to 6.9 lbs . They also moved us from an isolation room to a bonding room. It's still part of the NICU, but there are 2 pullout chairs so Brian and I can stay with her all of the time. Before we had to go out of the NICU to go to the bathroom, sleep, etc. Here they bring meals to us, we have a private bathroom, TV, phone, etc. I haven't left the room since they moved us here yesterday. She's still being monitored and we're only a few feet away from the nurses station.

As things stand now it looks like we'll be discharged on Saturday. Thank you all again!

I hope everyone is doing well, and here's and for anyone who needs it.

Dawn, please see my above post about an apnea monitor and supplemental oxygen for home. You are in my prayers. I so know what you're going through. Call me or email if you need to talk. Sending you giant hugs!

 

[mommy2emmersNmo]

Mornin all. Not much going on today other than watching the Weather Channel and praying that Ernesto doesn't hit us at high tide with a storm surge any higher than 3 feet otherwise we will have a flooded basement. And we are praying that this tree that is in the yard behind us doesn't fall because if it does it will fall on our deck.
Hopefully we will just get a lot of rain, but not enough to ruin our weekend plans. We have a neighborhood block party tomorrow that I am sure is not going to happen. Sunday we have 2 parties, one is adult only!! Monday we are headed over Emma's girlfriends house for a cookout and swimming.

 

[triplefigs]

DDA, I have an idea to cheer up June!​

​

I am going to make a giant "Get Well, June!" sign. When we go to WDW in 3 weeks, I'm going to get a group photo of us holding it by the Goofy statue. If we all did that when we go, I bet she'd love it! What do you think?​

John and I both sat down and prayed together last night for her. I'm crying again thinking of the struggles she faces. BUT, we all know what a fighter June is, and I am positive she will beat this monster and recover fully! DDA Prayer Warriors unite!

 

[tinknme]

Dawn I am so happy to hear that Caroline is getting better Prayers & that she continues to improve & that you are all home Saturday!

Thank each and every one of you for all of the prayers and good thoughts. I haven't been able to read them yet, but once I called Amy Tuesday night I went back to Caroline's room feeling the power of all of you behind us.

 

[bethbuchall]

I said hello on a separate thread but was encouraged to come by here and introduce myself as well. I have been lurking here for a month or two so it is well past time.

My name is Suzanne and I have two beautiful kids. Michelle, 6, is the reason we are going to WDW in October. She was diagnosed June 1, 2005 with Aplastic Anemia, her body wasn't making blood cells. After trying some drugs which didn't work, she had to have a bone marrow transplant, November 11, 2005. We live in California but decided to have the transplant in Wisconsin. Michelle had some complications that kept us there longer than we hoped. We ended up staying there for 9 months. DH was there off and on and my mom brought DS out. My son Ian, (will be 4 Sep 11) had a hard time this past year with mommy and sister being gone so much. He came to visit but it wasn't the same as having us home.

Make A Wish granted Michelle's wish to go to Walt Disney World! We will be there October 7-15 and are staying at the Poly! The kids are thrilled and can't wait to go down the volcano slide. I have some special events planned for them, tea with Sleeping Beauty for Michelle and I and a pirate cruise for Ian. We are looking forward to spending some quality time together as a family.

Anyways, I came here to get some cool creative ideas. The trip is getting close enough I need to start working on things before time gets away from me. I am looking forward to meeting some new friends and getting some new ideas.

Suzanne

Hello and welcome! I hope that you have a magical trip!

 

[tinknme]

Denise I think this is a wonderful idea Chanon, Christi, maybe we could do something like this when we meet at the party?

There were so many things I wanted to post last night, but I just could not post my feelings into words. June I am praying for you & I know you can fight this. Melanie you are in my thoughts too, know we are here for you as well.

DDA, I have an idea to cheer up June!
​

I am going to make a giant "Get Well, June!" sign. When we go to WDW in 3 weeks, I'm going to get a group photo of us holding it by the Goofy statue. If we all did that when we go, I bet she'd love it! What do you think?​

John and I both sat down and prayed together last night for her. I'm crying again thinking of the struggles she faces. BUT, we all know what a fighter June is, and I am positive she will beat this monster and recover fully! DDA Prayer Warriors unite!

 

[tinknme]

Deb & Terry I hope you both have a fun weekend!

 

[tinknme]

Robyn I will be thinking about you & hoping for the best

Mornin all. Not much going on today other than watching the Weather Channel and praying that Ernesto doesn't hit us at high tide with a storm surge any higher than 3 feet otherwise we will have a flooded basement. And we are praying that this tree that is in the yard behind us doesn't fall because if it does it will fall on our deck.
Hopefully we will just get a lot of rain, but not enough to ruin our weekend plans. We have a neighborhood block party tomorrow that I am sure is not going to happen. Sunday we have 2 parties, one is adult only!! Monday we are headed over Emma's girlfriends house for a cookout and swimming.

 

[lmartin2711]

I just wanted to say THANKS!!!! to those of you who sent me designs of Lilo and Stitch. My husband was amazed that I had 3 designs to choose from this morning. He even asked me how much did I have to pay for them. I simply answered with "my friendship". All of ya'll mean more to me than you can ever know. It is a different friendship since I have only really met 3-4 of my DDA friends but I feel a special closeness that I don't even feel with my everyday friends that I always see.

Thanks again and I am still remembering Caroline and June in my prayers!!!

Ya'll have a great day.........GO DAWGS!!!!!

 

[my3princes]

A drunk man in an Oldsmobile

They said had run the light

That caused the six-car pileup

On 109 that night.

When broken bodies lay about

"And blood was everywhere,"

"The sirens screamed out eulogies,"

For death was in the air.

"A mother, trapped inside her car,"

Was heard above the noise;

Her plaintive plea near split the air:

"Oh, God, please spare my boys!"

She fought to loose her pinned hands;

"She struggled to get free,"

But mangled metal held her fast

In grim captivity.

Her frightened eyes then focused

"On where the back seat once had been,"

But all she saw was broken glass and

Two children's seats crushed in.

Her twins were nowhere to be seen;

"She did not hear them cry, "

"And then she prayed they'd been thrown free, "

"Oh, God, don't let them die! "

Then firemen came and cut her loose, "

"But when they searched the back, "

"They found therein no little boys, "

But the seat belts were intact.

They thought the woman had gone mad

"And was traveling alone, "

"But when they turned to question her, "

They discovered she was gone.

Policemen saw her running wild

And screaming above the noise

"In beseeching supplication, "

Please help me find my boys!

They're four years old and wear blue shirts;

"Their jeans are blue to match.""

"One cop spoke up, ""They're in my car, "

And they don't have a scratch.

They said their daddy put them there

"And gave them each a cone, "

Then told them both to wait for Mom

To come and take them home.

"I've searched the area high and low, "

But I can't find their dad.

"He must have fled the scene, "

"I guess, and that is very bad."

"The mother hugged the twins and said, "

"While wiping at a tear, "

"He could not flee the scene, you see, "

"For he's been dead a year."

"The cop just looked confused and asked, "

"Now, how can that be true? "

"The boys said, ""Mommy, Daddy came "

"And left a kiss for you."" "

He told us not to worry

"And that you would be all right, "

And then he put us in this car with

"The pretty, flashing light. "

"We wanted him to stay with us, "

"Because we miss him so, "

"But Mommy, he just hugged us tight "

And said he had to go.

He said someday we'd understand

"And told us not to fuss, "

"And he said to tell you, Mommy, "

"He's watching over us."

The mother knew without a doubt

"That what they spoke was true, "

"For she recalled their dad's last words, "

" I will watch over you."

The firemen's notes could not explain

"The twisted, mangled car, "

And how the three of them escaped

Without a single scar.

"But on the cop's report was scribed, "

"In print so very fine, "

An angel walked the beat tonight on Highway 109.

That one had me absolutely sobbing. The boys thinking I'm going crazy.

Deb

 

[lmartin2711]

DDA, I have an idea to cheer up June!
​

I am going to make a giant "Get Well, June!" sign. When we go to WDW in 3 weeks, I'm going to get a group photo of us holding it by the Goofy statue. If we all did that when we go, I bet she'd love it! What do you think?​

John and I both sat down and prayed together last night for her. I'm crying again thinking of the struggles she faces. BUT, we all know what a fighter June is, and I am positive she will beat this monster and recover fully! DDA Prayer Warriors unite!

That is a great idea Denise!!! Although my picture won't be until Jan 07 but we can all send her pictures of ourselves at Goofy to add to her collection. That way she will have positive thoughts coming to her via mail at least one a month. Sounds like a plan

 

[my3princes]

Before I get started on the update, June I am praying like crazy for you. I know you can fight this!

Kate, good luck on your surgery.

Amy, thanks for keeping me in the loop.

Thank each and every one of you for all of the prayers and good thoughts. I haven't been able to read them yet, but once I called Amy Tuesday night I went back to Caroline's room feeling the power of all of you behind us.

I did read Amy's posts so I didn't repeat too much info, but that was much earlier today and I never had enough time to post this update. I couldn't let any more time go by without telling you all how grateful I am so forgive me if I'm repeating too much.

As you know we were several blocks from the pediatrician's office Tuesday when Caroline choked on a large amount of spit up. She turned blue and sort of gray and the look on her face is something that I'll never be able to forget. I truly believed she would die in my arms before we could get help for her. Once we got to the office all 3 dr's started working on her immediately. She had a focal seizure and they gave her Valium, which stopped it. She was also on oxygen. By that time the paramedics arrived and she was stablized enough to transport her to the NICU.

We are very fortunate to have one of only a handful of specialized hospitals in the country and there is a Neonatologist here 24/7. I know you know all of the tests that she had so I won't repeat all of that. So far everything has come back negative. No pre-existing conditions have shown up and they assure us that she will have no permanent damage from lack of oxygen.

Several days after her birth we realized she had reflux. We knew the signs because Christopher also had it. We discussed it with her pediatrician and the ped. on call, but they weren't convinced she really had it. Fortunately the Neonatologist took the approach that we knew what we were talking about and we would monitor and watch her instead of having to put her through the pneumogram and ph probe, which is very uncomfortable. She spit/vomited so heavily that the nurses had trouble suctioning her. He diagnosed it as a severe case of reflux and started her on meds last night. We believe the Zantac is working already because she's not crying after feedings anymore, but he said it will take a few days for the Reglan to be effective and we'll probably have to play with the dosage to get it right. She is still spitting up fairly heavily, but we do see some improvement. We've also switched her to a formula with added rice, but we're still having to add rice cereal to thicken it up. That helps keep the formula down. We tried to breastfeed, but I'm not going to be able to .

She's still on antibiotics since there are a few tests still outstanding, but she came off the IV fluids yesterday so she's just on formula now. They weighed her this evening and she's up to 6.9 lbs . They also moved us from an isolation room to a bonding room. It's still part of the NICU, but there are 2 pullout chairs so Brian and I can stay with her all of the time. Before we had to go out of the NICU to go to the bathroom, sleep, etc. Here they bring meals to us, we have a private bathroom, TV, phone, etc. I haven't left the room since they moved us here yesterday. She's still being monitored and we're only a few feet away from the nurses station.

As things stand now it looks like we'll be discharged on Saturday. Thank you all again!

I hope everyone is doing well, and here's and for anyone who needs it.

Dawn even though we can't physically be there, we have all been by yourside through all of this. I can't imagine what you have been through. Please feel free to lean on us as much as you need and as us for anything that you might need. I feel like I can speak for all of us on this. We are your family.

Deb

 

[my3princes]

There is so much going on here and I will not have internet access until Monday night. Could I PM someone my cellphone number in the event that something else happens. I would appreciate an update from anyone that might have time. Just let me know. I'll check in again before I leave.

Deb

 

[KMH1]

like this one

This shark actually makes me smile.

The first time Alyssa saw The Little Mermaid, this scene made her very nervous, but we convinced her it's very funny when the shark gets stuck.

Now, every time she watches it, she'll yell, "Shark stuck!"

 

[marcij]

I did! I had no long pants left that fit, so I went out and got a pair of black, brown and gray ones so I figure those three pair ought to get me through the next few months. Also got a new top that will go with many different things so that ought to extend the wearing season on some of my capris.

Yeah! You've earned those new clothes!

 

[marcij]

Prayers needed for June...​

I just got off the phone with Melanie, June's daughter. One of the tests came back with a result that is not good. It appears that June has lung cancer. They are waiting for a return call/visit from the oncologist. Meanwhile, cards and prayers and thoughts and pixie dust will help, I know. I really don't know anything more than that. When I do I will certainly let y'all know. Please PM this to anyone that you think might not see it on here.

OMG -- prayers and PD for June and her family. What a scary thing. Prayers also sent for the doctors and the decisions that will have to be made.

 

[marcij]

im really not sure my cousin is thinking of going on my trip and i have made my other cousin and i matching shirts and i used her eeyore and daisy as name tags on our shirts so i wanted to see what other characters she had. i saved a few but they dont fit my cousin lol. an update on my grandma: yesterday not a good day.her breathing was labored. my uncle is afraid she might get pneumonia(i am too). she is in her own room now.

Karen -- sending more prayers for your grandma!

 

[lmartin2711]

There is so much going on here and I will not have internet access until Monday night. Could I PM someone my cellphone number in the event that something else happens. I would appreciate an update from anyone that might have time. Just let me know. I'll check in again before I leave.

Deb

Sure.....send it to me. We aren't going out of town this weekend. Just one football game on Saturday. I will be sure to call you if anything changes.

Lynn

 

[marcij]

Good evening all! Anyone have plans for the weekend?

I talked to my Aunt today & my cousin is getting out of the hospital tomorrow. She can walk, but her left arm is still paralizied. Hopefully with time she will get feeling back in her arm as well. I was happy to hear she is doing better. I am looking forward to being with them all this weekend.

Riley is doing well at the new school & is very happy now about going. One thing I have noticed is he is studying & doing homework on his own. I have not had to keep on him to get it done like previous years. I hope to take this as a good sign. Riley also will be playing fall ball(baseball) & their 1st game is next Sat.

Garrett already has a science project, collecting & identifing insects I'm not to thrilled about this project, I just don't care for bugs lol I have been collecting some for him, but I told him I will not help pin them to the board Garrett is playing volleyball again this year & is learning to play the clarinet in band.

Denise I am happy to hear you had a good day at school, look forward to seeing your classroom pictures.

Amy thank you for the update on Caroline

Elin enjoy your time off this weekend, hopefully you will get some "me" time.

Tammi I am glad Nicholas enjoyed his 1st day at school. I am sure you have said, but what grade is he in?

Karen for your grandmother.

Does anyone know when Lindsey returns?

Janet -- I'm so glad that Riley likes the new school. Good luck to Garrett on the project, and on both their sporting events.