Home Again!

Zak got home on Friday morning after a very long week in the hospital. He came home on oxygen and needing to be monitored very closely. He was still very week and had a low grade fever. Friday night was still a little rough, however as the weekend progressed he gained more energy and his personality was back! We have such a wonderful team of nurses that help us with the kids while we are at home which made the transition home easier.  

Callie was so excited to see him. I only wish I knew her language. She went on and on like a typical girl telling him everything he needed to know. I can only imagine what things she had to say – “ Where were you I wanted to play” and “Don’t ever do that again!”

 Today was a good day with both kids. We were able to take Zak our for a short walk and get some fresh air. He will have a good amount of energy and then just crash and need to rest. The fever has finally broke which is a great sign!

Thank you again for all the prayers while we were in the hospital. Please continue to pray for his health as we are not completely healthy yet and that no one else ever gets this illness, it was just terrible experience.

Now that we hope this is behind us I can honestly say I have never been so scared in my life. When the kids go in for surgery I expect it to be a rough ride and we know they may come out intubated and it will take some time to get back to "healthy". Seeing Zak with more energy during the day than he had for the past week and then having a good doctors appointment that Monday afternoon was refreshing. I thought he was finally feeling better. To suddenly see him turn for the worst and end up intubated for 2 1/2 days was terrible. We still do not know exactly what happened that evening when he turned, nor do I think we ever will.

Thank you again to all of the support around us!

Every day is a better day

Zak is doing a little better today. He is more alert which means more sedation medication. His co2 has gone up slightly from 45 to 49. His fever has finally broke!!!! Lots of prayers are needed tonight for a good night. If he continues to do well they will consider removing the tube tomorrow.

The staff has been wonderful here. We have had some very good nurses, many that we remember and a few new ones along the way.

A sick house!

Last Monday evening Callie woke up with the puke flu and on Tuesday Zak followed. Within 2 days it turned into the nasty cold that is going around Central WI. Callie seems to be getting through it doing well. Zak was not doing well by Saturday and took two trips to the ER. The first one for dehydration, the second to get oxygen at home for pneumonia. On Monday morning Zak was perking up and looking much better. He was playing with Callie a little. He went into the clinic in the afternoon for a follow up and was doing well.  

At 5:30 on Monday night he was sleeping and started to choke – we knew something was not right and took him to the ER again. He was not responding when we got there – later to find out his C02 levels were way to high. They were 104. He did become responsive in the ER, but they had to intubate him for transported him to Marshfield to the PICU. They did leave him intubated over night and sedated him so he was comfortable. His CO2 has dropped to 45 (which is very good). He still had a fever of 103 and the pneumonia. They have been doing lots of blood work, swabs and other tests to see if they can find anything. This afternoon we were told he has Influenza A. Since he has been symptomatic for a week they cannot give him anything else. Meds would need to be administered within two days of onset. So for now they are slowing decreasing vent settings and see how he does. So far so good! The fever is starting to decrease. He is very comfortable and doing much better than 24 hours ago! Thank you for all the prayers - They are helping!

Zak did have a busy day today with the doctors and nurses checking in on him. He also had a PT session to work on stretching to make sure he is not falling behind any ( he was not- he did great). Also our Pastor came to visit, Jessica - one of our nurses, and Grandma Kathy. Zak has a HUGE monkey balloon. I can't wait for him to wake up more and play with it since we always call him a Monkey.

Since Callie is not 100% they suggested that she also gets swabbed so she was in today and will follow up with the doctor tomorrow.

We will update more when we can.

Zak is crawling around the house

We are so proud of Zak.. he has started to venture around the house! What a big boy!!!

The video is really done after 25 seconds.. not sure why it hangs for a bit.

It has been a busy Month - Callie's Surgery went well. Her throat is all healed up finally. During the surgery she got bacteria in her blood. She ended up in the hospital for 4 days. Finally she was able to come home but with a PIC line. (Basically an IV that goes close to her heart). Since we already have nurses at home we were all set to start the medications.

The weekend after surgery was Callie's 3rd Birthday. It is hard to believe our baby girl is three years old. Where does time go? I remember when she was so tiny. She is developing into such a beautiful big girl.

Then it was off to a weekend away. The nurses got Chris and I a night away so we were able to get away for a night and go to a dinner show. It was much needed after moving, Christmas, surgery and everything else going on.

Jenn and I started doing focus groups for Shared Blessings, Inc. Friday was the first event where Wausau's Lincoln Elementary Cognitive Disability class took a field trip! There is more to come. We are just about finished with all the legal and getting the Non-profit application in the mail.

Callies' Pic Line

 Callie's Party

Building a fort