Medical Updates

Mike came home Thursday morning from the hospital and is doing fine. He had some intestinal blockage (actually it's called a small bowel obstruction - but it is in the lower part of the intestines) from scar tissue from a surgery he had when he was a kid. He has some lingering headaches from the drugs but otherwise great. Don't know if he will pursue surgery in the future or not. It is hard to schedule a surgery and take time off work when you are feeling good. But, this scar tissue has caused him trouble for 15 years now...I think he is done.

Matthew saw an Endocrinologist this week. It was our first visit. I LOVED this doctor! We went to him looking for an answer to why Matthew's sodium is being depleted so quickly and just since December 08. He also is way off the charts for growth and so we are looking into his growth hormone stuff to see if he needs any help in that area.

We were there a total of 4 hours and left with lots of ideas but of course answers won't come for several weeks. They took 15 vials of blood (no, that's not a typo) 15! Matthew just sat and watched...it didn't seem to phase him at all. I would be passed out on the floor. He got a shot of hormone in his arm to check his cortisol levels, a hand and wrist x-ray to check bone age and we found out that one of his legs is longer than the other by a pretty good amount. We never noticed this before.

I also got a great reminder of what miracles we have received. This doctor was the 3rd medical professional this month to tell me that they are amazed at how great Matthew looks and that watching a kid with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome walking around, playing...alive... is so amazing to them. I love to hear it! It makes me so much more grateful for our blessings. He truly is a miracle and I am blessed to be a part of it! We try so hard to make his life as "normal" as possible that sometimes I forget how fragile he really is. He's awesome!

Of course we HOPE that the tests show nothing is wrong BUT it is hard for me to just put bandaids on things and not know the WHY! So, we will busy ourselves the next few weeks and try not to think about it until results are in. Luckily, there is plenty to be busy with! Trying to get an IEP for this kid...UUGGGHHHH!

Twins Game

Before we left for Colorado we participated in the Scout night at the Twins game. Joshua, Matthew and I got to parade around the field before the game started. The boys were so excited. The game started REAL slow but finally in the 6th inning it picked up and the Twins won it! Very fun night!

FUN, FUN, & more FUN!

We had a blast on our trip to Colorado. Thanks everyone for the memories! Here is how we kept busy (not in any particular order)...saw Walking with Dinosaurs at the Target Center (SOOOOO good), card games with friends, Littleton museum, saw the movie Night at the Museum (the 2nd one), the zoo, we rode ATVs, went shooting, swimming, had a birthday party, bought a new van, stripped wallpaper, colored hair, watched Pride & Predjudice with all the girls, stayed up all night long playing stupid games like 20 questions and Rook, had two flat tires on the old van, went to the Broncos training camp and got autographs, water parks with friends, baby blessing and family dinners, played, played, ate lots of chocolate and ice cream, and played some more!

I wasn't able to get pictures everywhere we went...if you have some...please send them my way...I would love to have them.

The ATV riding and shooting the guns were firsts for the boys. Now they think we need to sell our two cars and buy a truck, trailer, ATVs and guns so we can do them all the time! Yeah...that'll happen!
Everyone actually stayed pretty healthy this trip which was very nice. The oxygen does wonders for Matthew in that altitude.

Not so nice...the moment we arrived home Mike got sick with his intestinal blockage from scar tissue from previous surgery and was admitted into the hospital that night. He is still there...but will be fine - it's nothing life threatening but is very uncomfortable at the moment.