Hospital...Again?

While we knew that bringing Shane into our family would mean hospital stays, we just didn't plan on so many stays in less than 3 months!  Five to be exact!  Yes, we are naive, I guess...thank you, Jesus..in this case.  Otherwise we might have reasoned our way out of this very big blessing!  Shane is just such a wonderful little guy and we are so pleased the Lord gave us favor to call him our son.

Last Wednesday when we finished our bathtime, I noticed Shane was shivering more than usual....a fever!  Yuck!  Any fever over 101 is problematic with a central line in place.  Could mean a line infection which is very dangerous.  On the other hand, it could just be a "normal" fever where you just never find the cause.  Can't take chances though so off to the ER we went.  Tom, of course, was out of town.  Thank the Lord for my older kids who can run the house and take care of Olivia while I was away.  Shane got echoed, xrayed, cultured....honestly, this little man ought to glow by now! We were admitted and stayed until Saturday.  No positives...yay!! Just a fever!

However, this caused us to make a difficult choice.  No Nashville trip for Olivia, Shane and I.  Boo Hoo. I had high hopes for this trip!  We were to see our son, Tyler, and his wife, Monica!!  I would have seen the Belmont campus where Josiah will be attending in August. And the rare opportunity to meet an adoption friend and maybe be with her/pray on the spot...in person... for her daughter's surgical procedure! Hrumph!  I chose to stay back to get that ol' PICC line pulled on schedule.  Next fever will be a dose of Tylenol!!!! and watch!!



Wednesday the line was pulled and now Shane is free!!!  Baths and pool time!! Yay!!  Still waiting on a call from Boston...they were waiting until he was off antibiotocs and out of endocarditis risk!  Hope to know more soon!!

Trip to Philly!

I feel I'm always playing catch-up!!  Still trying to get all of the news up...between hospital stays, that is.  Yes, we were there again this past week but I'll get to that in the next post.


As for now, I'd like to introduce you to the newest(and only) Juris Doctor in our family. Aubrie---our daughter by our son's wonderful choice for a wife : )--- graduated cum laude from Drexel's Earle Mack School of Law!  Our family is so proud of her acomplishments!

 Congratulations, Aubrie!!!  Well done!!

And while we were in Philly, we got to do a lot of other fun stuff!!!!

The Please Touch Museum was a blast!!

...for kids of all ages!!

There was just soooo much to do that it would have been worth the drive just for this museum! The pics don't quite give it the recognition it deserves!

Our soon-to-be Audio engineer : )!! 

Budding musician?!?! 

Tea Party in Wonderland!! 

Mmmmmmm..... 

Well, she needs the degree first to practice legally! 

Ok, we are no spring chickens...but imagine this scene in 12 years...hahahaha... 

Awwwww...this would've made a great actual Statue of Liberty!

Cool. huh?  All made out of toys!

 A Carousel ride is always a hit!

Hmmm...ok...well, there are no words for this one!




We ate some great food, amazing gelato aka Capogiro, and took in the Museum of Art!  Our boutique hotel was awesome too...The Independent!  Highly recommend that one!!

Catching up in Pictures!

Another prom with friends!!

Oh...this picture says it all!

Reading with Big Bro!

These next photos are from my Happy Mother's Day!!  

I chose a trip to Ft. Story to walk the beach and lunch at Taste Unlimited : )

Such a great day!

Our Newest Three-Year Old : )

 ....and yes that's a birthday boo-boo on his head from running outside

Feeling special!

Not sure about the fire!

Trying to blow!

"Yum" to Lauren's Banana Cupcakes!

Even liking the homemade frozen yogurt!

Party crashers!

Awwww! We are so blessed!

Ripping paper...not sure why!?

Every little boy needs a fire truck!!

He seems to like it!

Silliness with sisters and birthday bows!
HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY, SHANE!!!

A Better Day : )

So the surgery went really well! The doc said everything was pretty straight forward as far as hernias go and she was also able to "snip" as well. Shane was in a good deal of pain in the afternoon and had tRouble finding a comfortable position. However, Tom came in the evening to trade off and take the night shift. Shane fell asleep in the evening after more Tylenol and also something for nausea. He had trouble keeping stuff down for a few hours after surgery and didn't want to eat or drink--- we asked for the anti-nauseant and Tylenol since we were unsure exactly what was bothering him most. both seemed to work and after sleeping a couple hours in the evening, he ate and drank beautifully, slept well last night and feeling pretty much himself this morning. Olivia and I Re here with him until DISCHARGE about noon! Yay! we feel like this is a big hurdle we've jumped. Praying he continues to heal well and no complications. He has no restrictions cuz they say kids are good about self-limiting! Not like adults who usually do too much! So headed home soon: )!

Happy Birthday, Little Man!...and surgery...

With hernia surgery looming and scheduled for his birthday :(, Shane celebrated Wednesday night. We ordered Chinese take-out. Lauren made her fabulous Banana cupcakes and mom made homemade vanilla frozen yogurt...."yummy" was Shane's response!! He was right! He opened his presents with a bit of coaxing from Olivia...he actually had no idea what to expect and why paper was all over the boxes. It was fun to witness. He got a Playmobil Zoo set which was perfect as we went to the zoo on our hiatus from hospital visits. He also got a big fire truck with Billy Blazes that "shoots" water bombs(?). Wonder what Firefighter Phil (his brother) thinks of that...hmmm? Olivia loved it but, of course, the water weapons were the draw! As we left this morning for the hospital, her dad asked if she wanted to ride along. "No, I'm going to have some breakfast. Can I play with Shane's fire truck?" Okay...priorities of a four-year-old! I am currently at the hospital waiting as Shane has his hernia repair. He did much better than I expected this morning as we checked in. The staff here noticed it was his birthday and gave him a present! A big car from The Cars ovie---he loved it! Pastor David was already here when We arrived, ready to encourage and pray with us! We so appreciate our wonderful church family for their sincere and caring help for our family. Friends too have been great! Making sure we are not overwhelmed in the process. I t so amazing to us...we knew what(well, sort of) we were getting into adopting Shane. However, no one has given us even a hint of "you asked for it" attitude--- not sure why we feel like they ought to but everyone---absolutely everyone---has been so very supportive! And we are so very grateful! Please continue to pray for our little guy. The surgeon was not sure she would tackle both sides of the hernias today ---concern about too much pressure on the other internal parts at once---or the circumcision---not sure it is critical at this point. Of course, this mom's heart is wanting as few procedures as possible as long as it is in his best interest. Update on that to follow later today...and birthday pictures!

There's no place like home!

After being in the hospital for just over a week, we are glad to be home!!  Shane had high fevers for only about 24 hours from Tuesday to Wednesday after his heart cath on Monday last week.  They took seven sultures in all with only the second showing any positive action.  But...even though all of this developed while IN the hospital, docs don't take chances with heart kiddos.  Saturday. the VAT team tried three times to put i a PICC line with no success.  However, yesterday they got it in and we came home last night!!  Yay!! Shane has to receive IV antibiotics for 6 weeks to ward off endocarditis----even if he really has no infections---as a precaution.  He currently is wearing a "little" pump and meds on his back which infuse 24/7.  However, we are going to change that so mmommy can administer the meds 4 times daily.  There are pros and cons to both ways.  The cons to the 24/7 method seem to outweigh the more labor intensive method.




24/7 Method Pros:
Change out the meds once a day with one flush and new pump batteries
Have bag will travel


24/7 Method Cons:
always attached to the backpack
backpack with stuff weighs 5 lbs---a fifth of Shane's weight
Stress to both hernia and heart with the extra load
Surgery on hernia Thurs--no carrying of pack..hmmm




Obviously the other straps us to a schedule(4 times a day for 30 min) and more labor intensive med administration BUT it frees Shane to continue improving his walking/running free from a line and the added weight.  He will still put the small med pack in his backpack and run around but that is a fraction of the weight!


And yes...our boy is scheduled for hernia repair this Thursday...his birthday : (.  


Celebrating on Wednesday night!!!!!!!

Making the best of my time in here!

Chillin" and bored!

Sporting my new PICC Apparatus...