Oh the places we'll go

Quarry Quest

2008

Cooper driving the crane

Diggin' for gems

The 3 amigos

(Carson spent the morning with nana. No need for sand in the stiches)

Dump truck rides!

Coop driving the "digger"

Keegan driving the crane

*****************************************

Lake pictures

Just hanging out in the grass all by myself

Here she comes - Pucker up puppy!

Do

Not

Follow

ME!

Here I come again!


Bump - before surgery

very little bump after surgery.

Oh Crap? Holy S**T? You have got to effing kidding me?

Hi everyone.

Sorry it's been so long since my last post. Things have been a whirl wind around here.

Carson has been recovering nicely from her cranial vault repair. Today we had her 2 week check up and got a GREAT report - even though she is still rocking.

SHEWWWW that was a big test for me. I wasn't real sure how things were going, and after our tough experience with her ICP surgery, I was a bit on edge. But she shocked us all and conquered it like a pro.

As many of you know from my blogging, Carson had a pretty bad urinary track infection (UTI) while we were on vacation in NJ. It lasted about 3 weeks. Before surgery, she had been on antibiotics and things cleared up just in time for surgery.

We had heard from our ped that it is routine to do an ultra sound of the bladder and kidneys and a voiding cystourethrogram to make sure all things are normal.

*Voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG):
A test that examines the urethra and bladder while the bladder fills and empties. A liquid that can be seen on x rays is placed in the bladder through a catheter. Pictures are taken when the bladder is filled and when the child urinates. This test can reveal abnormalities of the inside of the urethra and bladder. The test can also determine whether the flow of urine is normal when the bladder empties.

So, today we got the results. Carson has Vesicoureteral Reflux in the left ureter. She will be on an antibiotic for 1 yr. and at that time they will repeat both test to see if the VUR has gone away.

But that wasn't all. OH NO. It wouldn't be that simple. Annika had MORE great news to go with that - it's GENETIC. Imagine that.... our family with ANOTHER genetic issue!! So, the other 3 kids will need to be tested as well. LUCKILY - Since Riley and Keegan are over the age of 5, they will only need the ultra sound. Cooper pal, not so lucky. He will have both tests done. I will post when those will be.

SERIOUSLY!?!?!? Can't just one of my kids get something and not have to involve the other 3?

I think I am going to rename my blog to " If it's not Genetic, we don't want it".


By the way..... Where did all my readers go? 2 post, no comments. oh well.

Updates....

First bit of business - CONGRATS to my dear friend Molly (and her family) who just delivered her 3rd child - Marin Ann! Way to go Moll! Hope everyone continues to do well! We love ya!

Second: Kindergarten is going GREAT! The kids love it! They have learned so much in just a very short time! Carson, Cooper and I have been keeping busy with arrons. Imagine - only with 2 kiddos!

Third: Carson is recovering VERY well. She is still rocking - which is concerning, but we are still figuring all of it out. Because she had a UTI in August, she will be having a ultra sound of her bladder and kidneys, and some "dye" test this coming Wed. Hopefully it will come back normal. We would love nothing more than to stay AWAY from CHW! Next Thursday we are back to CHW to see Dr. Jensen for her post op appointment. I am sure all will go well.

We are working with Dr. Frim in Chicago to find out when her next ICP test will be done. It's looking like it will be done in Oct or Nov. Hopefully, it will give us some answers to why she is still rocking.

So, that's all for now.
Hope all is well with you!

1st day of Kindergarten!!!

OH. MY .GOSH !!! I can NOT believe my babies are in Kindergarten!

Where did the time go??

Things went pretty smoothly today. Riley was a bit nervous ONLY because Keegan knew people from his class last year, and Riley was NEW to it all. I thought forsure she was going to shed a few tears, but she didn't.

Here are a few pictures from our exciting day.

Walking to school

After school pick up

Their teacher in the black top - Mrs. Harbron

Surgery Day

Today is surgery day for Carson. She is in as we speak.

I will not be posting her progress here. If you care to check in on her, got to

www.caringbridge.org/visit/carsoncole


Please keep her in your prayers.

The saddest thing I've ever seen

With only 3 days before we leave for Milwaukee for her second cranial vault reconstruction , we were advised to "shave" Carson's head. So today, while I still had the courage, I clipped Carson's hair, and Cooper's and Keegan's. Now I have the 3 amigos! (Sorry, no pics)

Here is a pic of the area they are a bit concerned with, where her brain is pushing the skull out(lump on top of her head). It's amazing how well you can see it with no hair!!!

So, now my little girl is BALD, and it's going to be a a long time before it grows back.

Now, I know I don't ask for much, but now I am reaching out. I noticed how well the community came together when I started "Kaps for Karly". So today, I am going to start "Capps for Carson". I am looking for really soft hats (for outside(Fall/Winter). Because she will be so swollen for a bit, I would need hats that would fit a 4 or 5 yr old.

If you are interested, please let me know.

Thanks!!

Feng Shui

I swear to GOD that if this would really work, I'd do it!!!!

Ugh, So we are back from our long trip out to NJ.

As you know, Carson had been battling a fever for a week while we were out there and then it went away and now it's back. Yesterday I took Carson to the ped and they took a urine sample, by catheter, I may add, and it came back that she has a "flaming" UTI.

LOVELY.

Now, Surgery will not go on as planned if it is not gone by Wed. Anyone got any tips to give me on how to get her to take oral meds without throwing them back up????

Bad news is.... The ped wants to look into why she is having this UTI. That means, ultra sounds of her kidneys, bladder, etc, and then the dye test - in through a catheter and watch it come out.

Luckily, they will wait to do that until AFTER the surgery on Wed - if it's gone by then.

Just what I need, more Chaos!!

On a good note, Cooper is good for another 2 years. His CT was great and all looks good except for a few smaller holes!!