Outside Temp: 33 F (the snow is turning to slush everywhere, just in time to turn to ice the next time it freezes! Praying I don't slip.)
What I cooked today:
Burgers and Pasta: I don't know how these working women manage to get dinner on the table, but it was quite the stretch to actually get protein and starch on the table for dinner, before 8pm, but I did it... Yea, me.
Update:
I got to sub for our Special Ed teacher today (and every day this week), which means that I get to get up and dressed in the morning. I feel a little bad for my kids at 8:30am, since I tend to yawn for the first hour or so. They kept asking me if I was tired... I wasn't really tired, but I still kept yawning. Not really inspirational, I know.
The kids had their Spelling Bee this afternoon, and amazingly, both Connor and Katie placed! Connor came in 4th and Katie came in 5th, which means they both get to go to the county spelling bee in Stanford in February! So proud of them both!
Allen has managed to come down with the bug that is going around, so I kept him home from school today. He's not awful, but his cough is really hacking. I'm not sure if it's better enough for him to go to school tomorrow, but he's trying to get his homework done anyway. We'll see how it goes in the morning.
My game design class is going great. Everyone is 'Ahead' of the class's required schedule, thank goodness, and most of them are actually ahead of my schedule, which is a little more aggressive. I want them to get done with the class by the first of May, since school should be out by May 15th (or so), so I am really pushing them. I have 4 of them already starting on their first game design document, which is kind of exciting. They are a little nervous, since it's a little foreign, but they are trying which is all I can ask for!
And, Ryan is now staying at school until noon, which gives him an extra 30 minutes of recess after lunch. He's doing great, trying to eat his lunch, although some days it requires a little finesse. He LOVES the fruit, and is learning about eating the meat. Of course, yesterday, he stole a grape off of another teacher's plate, but I'm hoping that is just because I was there and he was testing me. I almost stabbed his hand with my fork, but better judgement kicked in and I simply told him to say he was sorry. Oh yea, that would have gone over really well...
Showing posts with label Ryan Update. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ryan Update. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Monday, January 21, 2013
January 21, 2013
Outside Temp: 41 F (started out at 15 and heated up to 55 today... awesome)
What I cooked today:
Nothing... Grandma did all the cooking, which is good since I was working today!
Update:
It may be hard for most people to realize how amazing it is that Ryan is even here, for this birthday. When he was about 19 months (just shy of 2 years old), he was dying from liver failure. He had been in the hospital almost continuously from birth, and had multiple (about 15) surgeries to try to repair his intestines. They had all failed, due to an unknown blood clotting disorder, that we didn't know about until he was about 2 1/2. We had been on the transplant list since June 2005, and in November 2005, we got the call.
While his transplant of his liver and small intestine was a success, we had multiple set backs and infections, the most significant was a clot in the intestine that caused about 50% of the transplanted intestine to die. We have never been able to determine if the remaining intestine worked enough for him to live on.
Since he was born, Ryan has been on TPN, which is an IV solution that is given to him every night through a permanent IV catheter in his chest. Which means that every night, he is hooked up to a pump, which gives him all the nutrients and vitamins that he needs to survive. Of course, he is also on some immuno-suppression drugs, but those are insignificant compared to his TPN. We are constantly aware that if he does not get his TPN tonight, and every night, really bad things could happen. There are some signs that his intestines are starting to work, but it will be years (if ever) that he could eat enough and digest enough to live without his nightly TPN.
However, in a lot of ways, Ryan is just like any other kid. He gets ready for school with his backpack, and his snow pants, and his boots, just like any other kid. He loves playing Lego X Box games (he's currently addicted to Lego Batman and Lego Lord of the Rings...). He goes skiing with us, although he doesn't want to listen, he just wants to go fast. And when I tell him that it's bedtime, he begs me to let him have 'five more minutes, please!'.
Of course, for Ryan, getting sick means a trip to the hospital. And bedtime means getting a shot in the leg, and getting hooked up to his TPN. And, we spoil him rotten, letting him get away with things that I would NEVER let his siblings get away with. But I wouldn't have it any other way, because he is here. And that is enough to make up for any little inconveniences along the way.
What I cooked today:
Nothing... Grandma did all the cooking, which is good since I was working today!
Update:
Happy 9th Birthday to my youngest, Ryan!
It may be hard for most people to realize how amazing it is that Ryan is even here, for this birthday. When he was about 19 months (just shy of 2 years old), he was dying from liver failure. He had been in the hospital almost continuously from birth, and had multiple (about 15) surgeries to try to repair his intestines. They had all failed, due to an unknown blood clotting disorder, that we didn't know about until he was about 2 1/2. We had been on the transplant list since June 2005, and in November 2005, we got the call.
While his transplant of his liver and small intestine was a success, we had multiple set backs and infections, the most significant was a clot in the intestine that caused about 50% of the transplanted intestine to die. We have never been able to determine if the remaining intestine worked enough for him to live on.
Since he was born, Ryan has been on TPN, which is an IV solution that is given to him every night through a permanent IV catheter in his chest. Which means that every night, he is hooked up to a pump, which gives him all the nutrients and vitamins that he needs to survive. Of course, he is also on some immuno-suppression drugs, but those are insignificant compared to his TPN. We are constantly aware that if he does not get his TPN tonight, and every night, really bad things could happen. There are some signs that his intestines are starting to work, but it will be years (if ever) that he could eat enough and digest enough to live without his nightly TPN.
However, in a lot of ways, Ryan is just like any other kid. He gets ready for school with his backpack, and his snow pants, and his boots, just like any other kid. He loves playing Lego X Box games (he's currently addicted to Lego Batman and Lego Lord of the Rings...). He goes skiing with us, although he doesn't want to listen, he just wants to go fast. And when I tell him that it's bedtime, he begs me to let him have 'five more minutes, please!'.
Of course, for Ryan, getting sick means a trip to the hospital. And bedtime means getting a shot in the leg, and getting hooked up to his TPN. And, we spoil him rotten, letting him get away with things that I would NEVER let his siblings get away with. But I wouldn't have it any other way, because he is here. And that is enough to make up for any little inconveniences along the way.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
January 6, 2013
Outside Temp: 35 F (strange weather... it was as high as 61 and as low as 16 today... clear and beautiful)
What I cooked today:
Papa Murphy's Pizza: I had Patrick pick up pizza, because I felt so crummy that I really didn't want to cook. I have some beef defrosted, so I HAVE to make it tomorrow.
Update:
RYAN IS HOME!! His doctors said that he could go home today. The only thing stopping us was getting the antibiotics from the pharmacy. But, since they are 'once a day', they just gave us tonight's dose a little early, and sent us home. We are going into town tomorrow to pick up the rest.
He looks great! Patrick said he really misses his bed. The bed at the hospital is better than nothing, but it's very narrow and he said the blankets weren't thick enough. He's looking forward to sleeping with his own pillow and blankets tonight!
I spent most of the day in bed, again. This bug has really knocked me down. Patrick brought home some Sudafed, so that really helped. I'm praying that I wake up tomorrow feeling fine, and ready to start the day. Mostly, because the laundry is piling up and the house looks like a hurricane ran through it. I hate it when I'm sick.
Allen and Grandpa went skiing this afternoon. Allen is really enjoying it, and I think we are planning on going back up the mountain on Friday, with all the kids. I can't wait to get Ryan back up on skis!
What I cooked today:
Papa Murphy's Pizza: I had Patrick pick up pizza, because I felt so crummy that I really didn't want to cook. I have some beef defrosted, so I HAVE to make it tomorrow.
Update:
RYAN IS HOME!! His doctors said that he could go home today. The only thing stopping us was getting the antibiotics from the pharmacy. But, since they are 'once a day', they just gave us tonight's dose a little early, and sent us home. We are going into town tomorrow to pick up the rest.
He looks great! Patrick said he really misses his bed. The bed at the hospital is better than nothing, but it's very narrow and he said the blankets weren't thick enough. He's looking forward to sleeping with his own pillow and blankets tonight!
I spent most of the day in bed, again. This bug has really knocked me down. Patrick brought home some Sudafed, so that really helped. I'm praying that I wake up tomorrow feeling fine, and ready to start the day. Mostly, because the laundry is piling up and the house looks like a hurricane ran through it. I hate it when I'm sick.
Allen and Grandpa went skiing this afternoon. Allen is really enjoying it, and I think we are planning on going back up the mountain on Friday, with all the kids. I can't wait to get Ryan back up on skis!
Saturday, January 5, 2013
January 5, 2012
Outside Temp: 17 F (warm enough today that I actually opened up a few windows... then I realized that 50 degrees outside, with wind, is still cold, and I closed them.)
What I cooked today:
Nothing... I made some soup for Katie and I, but other than that, the kids were on their own. I had a sandwich and some M&Ms for dinner... bad mom.
Update:
So, I think that I caught a different bug. I was sick a few days ago, but I was pretty sure that I got over it and I was doing fine. Then, last night, I just got smacked down by another head cold. I couldn't sleep and my head was so stuffy that I couldn't breathe. I woke up at 6am, with my nose swelled shut.
As luck would have it, Katie seems to have roughly the same bug. So, she and I spent most of the day in bed, sleeping, sniffling, sneezing and praying for the ability to breathe. Grandpa gave us some really cool nasal wash stuff, which helped. But, I was still tired and whiny all day. I hate that.
The boys went to church without us, and then Grandpa was awesome and went with them to the basketball game tonight. The boys are both in the pep band, which means that they play at all the home games. I might have been able to pull my lazy bum out of bed to take them to the game, but I was more than willing to let Grandpa help out.
Ryan is still doing great. They identified the bug (an E. Coli, which is kind of what we expected) and they switched his antibiotics to one that is only once a day, which is totally easy for us (the alternative is antibiotics that are twice, three times and sometimes four times a day... those suck). Patrick is surviving his incarceration at the hospital with Ryan by alternating sleeping and playing video games... oh the rough life.
What I cooked today:
Nothing... I made some soup for Katie and I, but other than that, the kids were on their own. I had a sandwich and some M&Ms for dinner... bad mom.
Update:
So, I think that I caught a different bug. I was sick a few days ago, but I was pretty sure that I got over it and I was doing fine. Then, last night, I just got smacked down by another head cold. I couldn't sleep and my head was so stuffy that I couldn't breathe. I woke up at 6am, with my nose swelled shut.
As luck would have it, Katie seems to have roughly the same bug. So, she and I spent most of the day in bed, sleeping, sniffling, sneezing and praying for the ability to breathe. Grandpa gave us some really cool nasal wash stuff, which helped. But, I was still tired and whiny all day. I hate that.
The boys went to church without us, and then Grandpa was awesome and went with them to the basketball game tonight. The boys are both in the pep band, which means that they play at all the home games. I might have been able to pull my lazy bum out of bed to take them to the game, but I was more than willing to let Grandpa help out.
Ryan is still doing great. They identified the bug (an E. Coli, which is kind of what we expected) and they switched his antibiotics to one that is only once a day, which is totally easy for us (the alternative is antibiotics that are twice, three times and sometimes four times a day... those suck). Patrick is surviving his incarceration at the hospital with Ryan by alternating sleeping and playing video games... oh the rough life.
Friday, January 4, 2013
January 4, 2012
Outside Temp: 35 F (it was over 50 today, the snow is melting into slush...)
What I cooked today:
Nothing.. I've got to stop doing that.
Update:
Ryan is still doing great. He's getting bored, sitting in the hospital, which is totally expected. His XBox wasn't working, which was causing him grief, but I brought in the tablet so he could play Angry Birds, and he was happy again. His nurse then did some magic on the XBox and made it work, so he really has no complaints.
We should be getting the sensitivities to the bug tomorrow, which will ensure that we are using the right antibiotics. We know that the meds he is on are working, but it's possible that there are meds that work even better. If all goes well, we should be thinking about going home on Monday.
The kids and I went into town to visit with Ryan, only to find that the hospital has requested that kids under 18 stay away from the patent's rooms. Since the flu is so bad this year, they are trying to be extra careful, especially around the infants and children. So, we took the kids out to dinner, and had a quick trip to the bookstore, but they didn't get to see Ryan. But, they did end up with new books, so they were okay about it. And, I guess it's a good policy, even if I personally find it annoying.
What I cooked today:
Nothing.. I've got to stop doing that.
Update:
Ryan is still doing great. He's getting bored, sitting in the hospital, which is totally expected. His XBox wasn't working, which was causing him grief, but I brought in the tablet so he could play Angry Birds, and he was happy again. His nurse then did some magic on the XBox and made it work, so he really has no complaints.
We should be getting the sensitivities to the bug tomorrow, which will ensure that we are using the right antibiotics. We know that the meds he is on are working, but it's possible that there are meds that work even better. If all goes well, we should be thinking about going home on Monday.
The kids and I went into town to visit with Ryan, only to find that the hospital has requested that kids under 18 stay away from the patent's rooms. Since the flu is so bad this year, they are trying to be extra careful, especially around the infants and children. So, we took the kids out to dinner, and had a quick trip to the bookstore, but they didn't get to see Ryan. But, they did end up with new books, so they were okay about it. And, I guess it's a good policy, even if I personally find it annoying.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
January 3, 2012
Outside Temp: 38 F (it feels colder in here, but it might be because I turned down the heater, since I couldn't justify heating the house when it's above freezing outside... I might want to re-think that.)
What I cooked today:
Nothing... the boys attempted to make Alfredo sauce for pasta, but Allen looked up 'white sauce', not 'alfredo' and ended up with a milk and flour mixture that, "had no flavor"... you think? No Parmesan or garlic or anything. Just milk and flour. He has since learned that 'white sauce' is a base... you add things to it.
Update:
Ryan is doing great! I cannot say enough how amazing antibiotics are!
So, last night, he was admitted to the hospital with a 104.6 fever, chills and vomiting, which started about 30 minutes after we hooked up his TPN. Classic line infection. The hospital had us go right up to our room, where the nurse and doctor were waiting for us. The took his vitals and got some blood for labs, and immediately ordered his antibiotics. He got his first dose about an hour after we left the house, or about 20 minutes after we arrived at the hospital.
They have him on 2 antibiotics, so as soon as the first was done, they hooked up the second. His fever remained for about another hour after the second antibiotic, then it started coming down. By 3am, his fever was down to 101 and by 9am (after his second dose of both antibiotics), it was totally gone.
I came in to see him after school, and he was doing great. He was watching a movie, and other than being a little glassy eyed and tired, he was fine. No fever, no chills, no aches. LOVE IT!! The biggest complaint he had was that the XBox in his room didn't work and he couldn't play his games. They promised to fix it tomorrow morning.
He will probably stay in the hospital over the weekend, to make sure he's on the right antibiotics and that the bug is actually out of his line. We also need to have our pharmacy make up antibiotics for him to finish a 2-3 week course, so if all goes well, we should be home by Monday. Woo hoo!
I also had a great day with my Game Design class. Yesterday, we ended up with 11 students, which may sound like a small amount, but we only had 9 computers, so that would be a problem. We ended up splitting the class into two class periods, and simply moved a few student's study hall periods around, so now I have 2 classes of 5 students each (one student decided to TA instead of taking my class). I talked to the kids about what games they liked and what they played, and I think a few of them might actually be interested in learning something. One student said, "It's a skill... It's always good to learn new skills.". I love that!
Tomorrow is our last Friday for a while. We have 4 day school weeks during the winter from January through March, which is totally awesome. Grandpa is already planning our weekly ski trips on Fridays and I can't wait. I might even get up on skis this year!
What I cooked today:
Nothing... the boys attempted to make Alfredo sauce for pasta, but Allen looked up 'white sauce', not 'alfredo' and ended up with a milk and flour mixture that, "had no flavor"... you think? No Parmesan or garlic or anything. Just milk and flour. He has since learned that 'white sauce' is a base... you add things to it.
Update:
Ryan is doing great! I cannot say enough how amazing antibiotics are!
So, last night, he was admitted to the hospital with a 104.6 fever, chills and vomiting, which started about 30 minutes after we hooked up his TPN. Classic line infection. The hospital had us go right up to our room, where the nurse and doctor were waiting for us. The took his vitals and got some blood for labs, and immediately ordered his antibiotics. He got his first dose about an hour after we left the house, or about 20 minutes after we arrived at the hospital.
They have him on 2 antibiotics, so as soon as the first was done, they hooked up the second. His fever remained for about another hour after the second antibiotic, then it started coming down. By 3am, his fever was down to 101 and by 9am (after his second dose of both antibiotics), it was totally gone.
I came in to see him after school, and he was doing great. He was watching a movie, and other than being a little glassy eyed and tired, he was fine. No fever, no chills, no aches. LOVE IT!! The biggest complaint he had was that the XBox in his room didn't work and he couldn't play his games. They promised to fix it tomorrow morning.
He will probably stay in the hospital over the weekend, to make sure he's on the right antibiotics and that the bug is actually out of his line. We also need to have our pharmacy make up antibiotics for him to finish a 2-3 week course, so if all goes well, we should be home by Monday. Woo hoo!
I also had a great day with my Game Design class. Yesterday, we ended up with 11 students, which may sound like a small amount, but we only had 9 computers, so that would be a problem. We ended up splitting the class into two class periods, and simply moved a few student's study hall periods around, so now I have 2 classes of 5 students each (one student decided to TA instead of taking my class). I talked to the kids about what games they liked and what they played, and I think a few of them might actually be interested in learning something. One student said, "It's a skill... It's always good to learn new skills.". I love that!
Tomorrow is our last Friday for a while. We have 4 day school weeks during the winter from January through March, which is totally awesome. Grandpa is already planning our weekly ski trips on Fridays and I can't wait. I might even get up on skis this year!
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
January 2, 2013
Outside Temp: 15 F (pretty clear most of the day. It started at 2 degrees, and made it up to 49!)
What I cooked today:
Meatloaf and broccoli: I was going to go with burgers, but thought, nah, that's boring. Let's try something else. Meatloaf came to mind. Simple, easy and yummy. And it went great with the broccoli that has been in my fridge for over a week, waiting patiently for me to cook it.
Update:
Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Especially with me continually commenting on how great things are going. Patrick is on his way into the hospital with Ryan. He spiked a fever when we hooked up his TPN this evening, so we probably have a line infection.
He was a little punky last night, but we thought it might just be the bug that I was fighting, so we gave him a single dose of Tylenol and he was fine. He got up this morning, and seemed to be doing okay. We kept him home from school, just in case. He played most of the day, although there were a few times that he complained about being tired and not really hungry. We, again, figured it might just be the bug.
The fever came on much faster and harder tonight. We hooked up his TPN at 9:30pm, and by 10:00, he was shaking and shivering. So we just bundled him up and raced to the car. The hospital has a plan in place for us, so we are just bringing him right up to the floor, where his nurse will be waiting for him. If all goes well, he should be getting his first round of antibiotics by 11:30-midnight. We also gave him a dose of Tylenol, so hopefully, he'll be feeling (a little) better by the time he gets into the hospital.
On a lighter note, it was the first day back to school from Christmas break. And it was also the first day of my Game Design class. Last semester, I mentored a Web Design class with 3 students in it. No problem and the students did great. This semester, somehow, in my Game Design class, I ended up with 11 students, which is most of the high school. Wow. I'm assuming that it has more to do with the students desire NOT to take the weights PE class, which is the only other class offered during 8th period. I'm sure my teaching is not that much of a draw. I only hope that they learn something and have some fun.
What I cooked today:
Meatloaf and broccoli: I was going to go with burgers, but thought, nah, that's boring. Let's try something else. Meatloaf came to mind. Simple, easy and yummy. And it went great with the broccoli that has been in my fridge for over a week, waiting patiently for me to cook it.
Update:
Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Especially with me continually commenting on how great things are going. Patrick is on his way into the hospital with Ryan. He spiked a fever when we hooked up his TPN this evening, so we probably have a line infection.
He was a little punky last night, but we thought it might just be the bug that I was fighting, so we gave him a single dose of Tylenol and he was fine. He got up this morning, and seemed to be doing okay. We kept him home from school, just in case. He played most of the day, although there were a few times that he complained about being tired and not really hungry. We, again, figured it might just be the bug.
The fever came on much faster and harder tonight. We hooked up his TPN at 9:30pm, and by 10:00, he was shaking and shivering. So we just bundled him up and raced to the car. The hospital has a plan in place for us, so we are just bringing him right up to the floor, where his nurse will be waiting for him. If all goes well, he should be getting his first round of antibiotics by 11:30-midnight. We also gave him a dose of Tylenol, so hopefully, he'll be feeling (a little) better by the time he gets into the hospital.
On a lighter note, it was the first day back to school from Christmas break. And it was also the first day of my Game Design class. Last semester, I mentored a Web Design class with 3 students in it. No problem and the students did great. This semester, somehow, in my Game Design class, I ended up with 11 students, which is most of the high school. Wow. I'm assuming that it has more to do with the students desire NOT to take the weights PE class, which is the only other class offered during 8th period. I'm sure my teaching is not that much of a draw. I only hope that they learn something and have some fun.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
December 13, 2012
Outside Temp: 31 F (clear most of the day, stayed between 25-35 all day... )
What I cooked today:
Nothing... I know, I'm a slacker.
Update:
Busy day!
We kept Ryan home from school again, because of the rash on his chest. It looks, acts and smells like a yeast infection on the skin, so we are treating it with anti-fungal meds, and (hopefully) all will be good in another day or two. We'll keep treating it for the next 2 weeks, but that just means using a topical anti-fungal whenever we change the dressing. No IV meds, no oral meds, no problems!
I pulled the kids out of school at 3pm, so we could race over to Great Falls for Ryan Dr appt. (we were even able to sneak in the boys allergy shots while we were there!). I absolutely LOVE Ryan's doctor! He had already gotten the results of the Seattle trip, with the changes to his TPN (we are decreasing both the volume and the calories, since he is doing so well! Woo hoo!) and his lab results. All numbers look good. He looked over his chest rash and said we were doing perfect, and he would order us some more meds. He also offered to call the school tomorrow to get the paperwork taken care of and faxed back, etc., so that Ryan can start staying for lunch.
After the Dr. Appt, we went over to Skiers Edge, to get the kids ski rentals for the season. They all have season passes, but we learned quickly that the rental rates add up over time. The 'pro shop' has a deal where kids can get rentals for the entire season (skis, boots and poles) for $120. Not too bad when you figure that the rental rate is about $25 a day! Allen already has his own boots and skis, but Katie, Connor and Ryan are now all set. We have their poles now, and the skis and boots will be ready in time for skiing next Saturday, right after the last day of school! Woo hoo!
We then ended up at Chili's and had a great dinner with the entire family. When the check came, it was for way too low, so I checked the bill, and she had somehow transposed numbers, ending up with about $40 off. I (of course) called it to her attention, and she was extremely grateful. I don't know if they would have taken the difference out of her pay for the night, but I'm sure that there would have been some repercussions. I (being me) turned it into a teachable moment for the kids. Yes, I could have walked away without paying my entire bill, but that would be stealing (and lying), and I just don't do that. I would feel way too guilty anyway!
What I cooked today:
Nothing... I know, I'm a slacker.
Update:
Busy day!
We kept Ryan home from school again, because of the rash on his chest. It looks, acts and smells like a yeast infection on the skin, so we are treating it with anti-fungal meds, and (hopefully) all will be good in another day or two. We'll keep treating it for the next 2 weeks, but that just means using a topical anti-fungal whenever we change the dressing. No IV meds, no oral meds, no problems!
I pulled the kids out of school at 3pm, so we could race over to Great Falls for Ryan Dr appt. (we were even able to sneak in the boys allergy shots while we were there!). I absolutely LOVE Ryan's doctor! He had already gotten the results of the Seattle trip, with the changes to his TPN (we are decreasing both the volume and the calories, since he is doing so well! Woo hoo!) and his lab results. All numbers look good. He looked over his chest rash and said we were doing perfect, and he would order us some more meds. He also offered to call the school tomorrow to get the paperwork taken care of and faxed back, etc., so that Ryan can start staying for lunch.
After the Dr. Appt, we went over to Skiers Edge, to get the kids ski rentals for the season. They all have season passes, but we learned quickly that the rental rates add up over time. The 'pro shop' has a deal where kids can get rentals for the entire season (skis, boots and poles) for $120. Not too bad when you figure that the rental rate is about $25 a day! Allen already has his own boots and skis, but Katie, Connor and Ryan are now all set. We have their poles now, and the skis and boots will be ready in time for skiing next Saturday, right after the last day of school! Woo hoo!
We then ended up at Chili's and had a great dinner with the entire family. When the check came, it was for way too low, so I checked the bill, and she had somehow transposed numbers, ending up with about $40 off. I (of course) called it to her attention, and she was extremely grateful. I don't know if they would have taken the difference out of her pay for the night, but I'm sure that there would have been some repercussions. I (being me) turned it into a teachable moment for the kids. Yes, I could have walked away without paying my entire bill, but that would be stealing (and lying), and I just don't do that. I would feel way too guilty anyway!
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
December 12, 2012
Outside Temp: 25 F (we got a little snow today, a little rain, and a little clear... not too cold, which is good...)
What I cooked today:
Burgers and Pasta: We had a 2lb package of ground beef from a neighbor, so I cooked that up as burgers. Yummy! I thought I'd switch things up a bit by using pasta instead of potatoes. No complaints from the family.
Update:
When we got up this morning, we noticed that Ryan had been scratching at his dressing, and had actually left some scratches. We cleaned him up (with alcohol and betadine, which stings!) and put some hydrocortosone on it. We re-dressed it, and kept him home from school, just in case. He didn't scratch most of the afternoon, so the meds must be doing something. If he's good tomorrow, we'll send him to school.
The school had an early out today, for teacher training, so instead of class getting out at 3:30, it was out at 1pm, which is awesome. They also had a scavenger hunt for 12-12-12, so my classes were essentially cancelled. I did have the students for the last 10 minutes of the day, but there was no way I could make them productive at that point, so I just wrote off the day. We will have to make sure that we really get working on their final projects tomorrow and Friday.
The afternoon was strange, in that the kids were home from school so early. Allen had a migraine, so he went to bed, but Katie and Connor finished up homework and played, and played, and played. At one point, it felt like a Saturday or Sunday, in that it was only 4:00, and they had been playing for hours! They love these kind of days!
What I cooked today:
Burgers and Pasta: We had a 2lb package of ground beef from a neighbor, so I cooked that up as burgers. Yummy! I thought I'd switch things up a bit by using pasta instead of potatoes. No complaints from the family.
Update:
When we got up this morning, we noticed that Ryan had been scratching at his dressing, and had actually left some scratches. We cleaned him up (with alcohol and betadine, which stings!) and put some hydrocortosone on it. We re-dressed it, and kept him home from school, just in case. He didn't scratch most of the afternoon, so the meds must be doing something. If he's good tomorrow, we'll send him to school.
The school had an early out today, for teacher training, so instead of class getting out at 3:30, it was out at 1pm, which is awesome. They also had a scavenger hunt for 12-12-12, so my classes were essentially cancelled. I did have the students for the last 10 minutes of the day, but there was no way I could make them productive at that point, so I just wrote off the day. We will have to make sure that we really get working on their final projects tomorrow and Friday.
The afternoon was strange, in that the kids were home from school so early. Allen had a migraine, so he went to bed, but Katie and Connor finished up homework and played, and played, and played. At one point, it felt like a Saturday or Sunday, in that it was only 4:00, and they had been playing for hours! They love these kind of days!
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
December 11, 2012
Outside Temp: 39 F (beautiful day, but very windy. )
What I cooked today:
Bread: I baked some more artisan bread, to see if it would still have that 'alcohol' smell... it did. Apparently, our science experiment of artisan bread has required the chemical explanation of what happens to yeast when it becomes carbon dioxide and ethyl alcohol. The kids love the taste, but it's just a little too much for me. I think I'm going to try just basic white bread tomorrow.
Update:
Ryan came home from school with some new knowledge.
Me: How was school today?
Ryan: It was great.
Me: What did you do?
Ryan: I learned something.
Me: What did you learn?
Ryan: I learned about money.
This prompted me to dig a penny, nickle, dime and quarter out of my purse (which is not exactly an easy thing to do). He could name each one, although he didn't really understand the quantity concept. But it's a start.
We also started in on sight words. Of course, when I pulled the index cards out and started asking him, he immediately ran the other direction. But I was prepared. I pulled out a bag of M&M's. I explained to him that he would get 1 M&M for each correct word.
He got 'the', 'and' and 'can' correct on the first try. I placed the other cards (there were about 8 more) on the table and said that he would get an M&M for each one he could name and point to correctly. He selected 'up' and took his M&M. I asked if he wanted to try any other, and he said, "Nope, I'm good. Maybe tomorrow." Okay. Maybe tomorrow! But it's a start!
With our hard won pie from yesterday's pie auction, we decided to share in our good fortune with the Grandparents. So, we invited them to pick up a pizza in town, and we headed up to their place for dinner and dessert.
The pie was a cheesecake, with huckleberry topping. Oh my goodness, it was so rich and delicious, in a sinful kind of way. Worth every penny.
What I cooked today:
Bread: I baked some more artisan bread, to see if it would still have that 'alcohol' smell... it did. Apparently, our science experiment of artisan bread has required the chemical explanation of what happens to yeast when it becomes carbon dioxide and ethyl alcohol. The kids love the taste, but it's just a little too much for me. I think I'm going to try just basic white bread tomorrow.
Update:
Ryan came home from school with some new knowledge.
Me: How was school today?
Ryan: It was great.
Me: What did you do?
Ryan: I learned something.
Me: What did you learn?
Ryan: I learned about money.
This prompted me to dig a penny, nickle, dime and quarter out of my purse (which is not exactly an easy thing to do). He could name each one, although he didn't really understand the quantity concept. But it's a start.
We also started in on sight words. Of course, when I pulled the index cards out and started asking him, he immediately ran the other direction. But I was prepared. I pulled out a bag of M&M's. I explained to him that he would get 1 M&M for each correct word.
He got 'the', 'and' and 'can' correct on the first try. I placed the other cards (there were about 8 more) on the table and said that he would get an M&M for each one he could name and point to correctly. He selected 'up' and took his M&M. I asked if he wanted to try any other, and he said, "Nope, I'm good. Maybe tomorrow." Okay. Maybe tomorrow! But it's a start!
With our hard won pie from yesterday's pie auction, we decided to share in our good fortune with the Grandparents. So, we invited them to pick up a pizza in town, and we headed up to their place for dinner and dessert.
The pie was a cheesecake, with huckleberry topping. Oh my goodness, it was so rich and delicious, in a sinful kind of way. Worth every penny.
Monday, December 10, 2012
December 10, 2012
Outside Temp: 28 F (beautiful day... started out snowy and chilly, and warmed up and the snow stopped and this afternoon it was perfect!)
What I cooked today:
Burgers and Mashed Potatoes: I was going to make something real. But, when I realized I didn't have time, I went with something easy... is that wrong?
Update:
The morning stated with a mid-year IEP for Ryan. He has been doing so well at school, but we wanted to get together just to talk about how things were going, and make sure we are all on the right track. He is going to be staying later and later at the school, if he handles it well. Right now, I pick him up at 11am, right before lunch, so starting later this week, he is going to get to stay for lunch... then lunch recess... Then we'll see. The goal is to get him to stay the entire day by the end of the school year! Woo hoo!
This evening we had the school's Concert and Pie Auction. What a fun night! The band (with Allen and Connor) played wonderfully. Connor was a little nervous, but he did great.
We also were treated to the choir and some solo's from some of the students. I love that any student who wants a solo, gets one. Allen is so looking forward to being in high school!
The pie auction was great and it helped out the music department. Of course, we just had to end up with a pie... big shocker there. But it was a huckleberry pie, so can you really blame us?
What I cooked today:
Burgers and Mashed Potatoes: I was going to make something real. But, when I realized I didn't have time, I went with something easy... is that wrong?
Update:
The morning stated with a mid-year IEP for Ryan. He has been doing so well at school, but we wanted to get together just to talk about how things were going, and make sure we are all on the right track. He is going to be staying later and later at the school, if he handles it well. Right now, I pick him up at 11am, right before lunch, so starting later this week, he is going to get to stay for lunch... then lunch recess... Then we'll see. The goal is to get him to stay the entire day by the end of the school year! Woo hoo!
This evening we had the school's Concert and Pie Auction. What a fun night! The band (with Allen and Connor) played wonderfully. Connor was a little nervous, but he did great.
We also were treated to the choir and some solo's from some of the students. I love that any student who wants a solo, gets one. Allen is so looking forward to being in high school!
The pie auction was great and it helped out the music department. Of course, we just had to end up with a pie... big shocker there. But it was a huckleberry pie, so can you really blame us?
Friday, December 7, 2012
December 6, 2012
Outside Temp: who knows... cold.
What I cooked today:
No time to cook...and no kitchen...
Update:
Ryan had his 'hospital' day today!
We stated the morning with an ultrasound of his legs. He had a DVT (deep vein thrombosis, clot in his thigh) when he was about a year old. The body had a way of re-routing the blood flow and he's never had any lasting problems (other than his veins are very prominent in that leg), but the doctors wanted to check the rest of his legs, just to make sure. His legs all looked great and he had no other issues here.
From there, we headed over to MRI. A few years ago, we found out that Ryan had a narrowing of one of his veins in his chest, the one that goes through the liver and down into the rest of the body. They thought that his liver, which was enlarged from all the infections and other problems, was pushing on this vein, and restricting the blood flow. As a result, his blood pressure had increased and it was causing large veins in his intestines (one of which ruptured, causing GI bleeding, which is not fun). When we found the problem, the doctor went in and used a balloon to dialate his vein. If I remember correctly, she said that the flow was restricted by 90% before the balloon (meaning that only 10% of the blood could flow though the vein). When she finished dilating it, it looked to be only about 20% restricted (80% of the blood could go through), but she warned us that we would need to keep an eye on it. And, that we would probably have to do this balloon dilation thing every 2 years or so, until he gets big enough for a shunt or some other device to help keep the vein open.
So, this morning, our MRI was scheduled to push contrast into his veins and figure out how much the vein has narrowed. For this, they have to put him to sleep, which is always fun. The procedure lasted about an hour, and he came back very, very sleepy. But, of course, they can't tell me anything, until the doctor sends a report to the other doctor. Oh well, it was fun to wake him up and deal with the wobbling and 'out of it' hour or two before he finally got all the meds out of his system.
We went back to the hotel to get checked out, had a great lunch and headed back for clinic at 1:45. For the record, Ryan is 59.5 lbs and 123 cm. Which means that in the last 3 months, he has gain about a pound and 3 centimeters, which is over an inch! Woo hoo! The doctors and nutritionist were ecstatic. As a result, we have decreased his TPN, again! About 6 months ago, we dropped the sugar from 22.5% to 20%, and we were watching him to see if he could handle it. Since he did so well, we are going to drop it again to 18%! If he does well on this, they will re-evaluate in another 6 months. All is going to plan and we are thrilled!
After the initial high over his weight and height, we got the results from the MRI. They were inconclusive. Ugh, I hate that word. The GI doctor was a little concerned, since they didn't say everything was fine, but it was late in the day and we had limited options. We decided to go back over to Radiology and get an ultrasound of the area we were concerned about. There is some debate over the usefulness of the MRI over the ultrasound, and perhaps the ultrasound could give more definite results. We haven't had a MRI in about 2 years, and our other doctor's warning kept going off in our head. So, the tech started the ultrasound of his veins in his belly.
We started a movie as we came into the room, and about an hour later, the tech asked another tech to come in. A few minutes later, the new tech asked us what exactly we were looking for. I explained his history and she kept looking around. Finally, she looked back at us and said, 'it all looks good to me. But let me go show the images to the doctor and he'll come in an talk to you.'
A few minutes later, the radiologist came in and said, "Looks great. No narrowing at all. I can't make it any better!". Oh my gosh. Patrick and I were stunned. The doctor also suggested that we just do the ultrasound next time, since he doesn't need to 'go to sleep' for it. Woo hoo! Another great result!
So, on that note, we started the trek home, but I'll write that one up in tomorrow's blog!
What I cooked today:
No time to cook...and no kitchen...
Update:
Ryan had his 'hospital' day today!
We stated the morning with an ultrasound of his legs. He had a DVT (deep vein thrombosis, clot in his thigh) when he was about a year old. The body had a way of re-routing the blood flow and he's never had any lasting problems (other than his veins are very prominent in that leg), but the doctors wanted to check the rest of his legs, just to make sure. His legs all looked great and he had no other issues here.
From there, we headed over to MRI. A few years ago, we found out that Ryan had a narrowing of one of his veins in his chest, the one that goes through the liver and down into the rest of the body. They thought that his liver, which was enlarged from all the infections and other problems, was pushing on this vein, and restricting the blood flow. As a result, his blood pressure had increased and it was causing large veins in his intestines (one of which ruptured, causing GI bleeding, which is not fun). When we found the problem, the doctor went in and used a balloon to dialate his vein. If I remember correctly, she said that the flow was restricted by 90% before the balloon (meaning that only 10% of the blood could flow though the vein). When she finished dilating it, it looked to be only about 20% restricted (80% of the blood could go through), but she warned us that we would need to keep an eye on it. And, that we would probably have to do this balloon dilation thing every 2 years or so, until he gets big enough for a shunt or some other device to help keep the vein open.
So, this morning, our MRI was scheduled to push contrast into his veins and figure out how much the vein has narrowed. For this, they have to put him to sleep, which is always fun. The procedure lasted about an hour, and he came back very, very sleepy. But, of course, they can't tell me anything, until the doctor sends a report to the other doctor. Oh well, it was fun to wake him up and deal with the wobbling and 'out of it' hour or two before he finally got all the meds out of his system.
We went back to the hotel to get checked out, had a great lunch and headed back for clinic at 1:45. For the record, Ryan is 59.5 lbs and 123 cm. Which means that in the last 3 months, he has gain about a pound and 3 centimeters, which is over an inch! Woo hoo! The doctors and nutritionist were ecstatic. As a result, we have decreased his TPN, again! About 6 months ago, we dropped the sugar from 22.5% to 20%, and we were watching him to see if he could handle it. Since he did so well, we are going to drop it again to 18%! If he does well on this, they will re-evaluate in another 6 months. All is going to plan and we are thrilled!
After the initial high over his weight and height, we got the results from the MRI. They were inconclusive. Ugh, I hate that word. The GI doctor was a little concerned, since they didn't say everything was fine, but it was late in the day and we had limited options. We decided to go back over to Radiology and get an ultrasound of the area we were concerned about. There is some debate over the usefulness of the MRI over the ultrasound, and perhaps the ultrasound could give more definite results. We haven't had a MRI in about 2 years, and our other doctor's warning kept going off in our head. So, the tech started the ultrasound of his veins in his belly.
We started a movie as we came into the room, and about an hour later, the tech asked another tech to come in. A few minutes later, the new tech asked us what exactly we were looking for. I explained his history and she kept looking around. Finally, she looked back at us and said, 'it all looks good to me. But let me go show the images to the doctor and he'll come in an talk to you.'
A few minutes later, the radiologist came in and said, "Looks great. No narrowing at all. I can't make it any better!". Oh my gosh. Patrick and I were stunned. The doctor also suggested that we just do the ultrasound next time, since he doesn't need to 'go to sleep' for it. Woo hoo! Another great result!
So, on that note, we started the trek home, but I'll write that one up in tomorrow's blog!
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
September 11, 2012
Outside Temp: who knows.
What I cooked today:
Nothing. Again.
Update:
Clinic in Seattle today.
Ryan woke up at 7:30 this morning, even though we didn't need to be at the clinic until 12:30. So, he spent the morning in bed, watching cartoons (I didn't mind the Tom and Jerry or Micky Mouse, but some of those cartoons are just plain annoying.) I debated between getting up and going back to sleep, but the annoyance of cartoons kept me awake.
Patrick was able to work for the first few hours, and then we headed over to clinic. We got labs drawn, then ate at the cafeteria, then waited for our turn (which always seems to take forever.)
We met with the GI (intestine) and Transplant team first. He is stable on the meds we have now, and he's not loosing weight (which would be a problem.) They would like to see him gain a little bit, especially since he's eating much more now than ever before. Our plan is to discuss decreasing his TPN in December, if he has gained anything between now and then. (the long, long term plan would be to decrease his TPN each year, until either becomes mal-nourished, which would indicate that his intestine can't absorb enough to sustain him, or he gets off the TPN entirely. But, this is a decade long plan, and we all know how plans go with Ryan)
After GI and Transplant, we met with his Hematologist (blood) about his blood issues. He has a random clotting disorder, which we blame for his loss of intestine in the first place. She is pleased with his current levels and thinks we are doing just fine. She will see us again in 6 months, but until then, she'll just get labs drawn and check them out, but we don't need to see her in clinic, which is convenient.
And then we were done. We had a nice dinner out, and then headed back to the hotel, where Ryan has run around like a banshee for the last few hours. He is ready to get back home to the wide open spaces. And I'm looking forward to being able to open my back door and let him run in the backyard, without me having to run around with him.
Tomorrow will be another long drive home, but at least we know that Montana is at the end of the drive, and that always makes it a little easier!
What I cooked today:
Nothing. Again.
Update:
Clinic in Seattle today.
Ryan woke up at 7:30 this morning, even though we didn't need to be at the clinic until 12:30. So, he spent the morning in bed, watching cartoons (I didn't mind the Tom and Jerry or Micky Mouse, but some of those cartoons are just plain annoying.) I debated between getting up and going back to sleep, but the annoyance of cartoons kept me awake.
Patrick was able to work for the first few hours, and then we headed over to clinic. We got labs drawn, then ate at the cafeteria, then waited for our turn (which always seems to take forever.)
We met with the GI (intestine) and Transplant team first. He is stable on the meds we have now, and he's not loosing weight (which would be a problem.) They would like to see him gain a little bit, especially since he's eating much more now than ever before. Our plan is to discuss decreasing his TPN in December, if he has gained anything between now and then. (the long, long term plan would be to decrease his TPN each year, until either becomes mal-nourished, which would indicate that his intestine can't absorb enough to sustain him, or he gets off the TPN entirely. But, this is a decade long plan, and we all know how plans go with Ryan)
After GI and Transplant, we met with his Hematologist (blood) about his blood issues. He has a random clotting disorder, which we blame for his loss of intestine in the first place. She is pleased with his current levels and thinks we are doing just fine. She will see us again in 6 months, but until then, she'll just get labs drawn and check them out, but we don't need to see her in clinic, which is convenient.
And then we were done. We had a nice dinner out, and then headed back to the hotel, where Ryan has run around like a banshee for the last few hours. He is ready to get back home to the wide open spaces. And I'm looking forward to being able to open my back door and let him run in the backyard, without me having to run around with him.
Tomorrow will be another long drive home, but at least we know that Montana is at the end of the drive, and that always makes it a little easier!
September 10, 2012
Outside Temp: don't know... it was humid here, with a few little drops. But not as much rain as I expected.
What I cooked today:
Nothing... eating out is expensive. Eating out in Seattle? Really, really expensive. I think I'm looking for a Subway or McDonald's, just because it will be cheaper than eating at the places we have been eating. Or better yet, go with real food from the grocery store..
Update:
We woke up early this morning (6:00, which is really early for me!) and drove over to the hospital. We were checked in and in Pre-Op by 7:00. The surgeon and anesthesiologist came by and got history and consents and we discussed what was going on.
By 8:00, he was back in the OR and I was in the cafeteria getting breakfast.
I got paged a few minutes after 9:00, and the surgeon said he was all done, with no problems! With a central line placement, they go from a location on either the right or left side of the chest. The catheter is tunneled up into the neck, and then drops down a vein on either side of the neck into the heart. The surgeon said that he ultrasounded both sides, and the left side was very narrow and thin, but the right side looked good (the line we just pulled out was on the left side). The right side is actually much easier.
I was called back to recovery around 10:30ish. He was a little groggy, but very happily took a Popsicle and wanted to watch cartoons. By 11:30, we were done and they were signing our discharge paperwork, and by noon, we were back in our hotel room!
We weren't sure if they would discharge us after the procedure, so we were prepared either way. Patrick had some work to do, so while I was at the hospital, he arranged for us to have the room at the hotel for two more nights. That way, if we had to stay at the hospital, he could stay in the hotel and work. We were lucky in that we were prepared either way.
Ryan (and I) took a few hours once we got back to 'rest'. That means that I slept, while he watched tv. Then the 3 of us went out for dinner. We walked around the University Village (which is just a shopping center right next to our hotel), had a good (albeit expensive) dinner and then played at the Microsoft store. They had about 6 XBox 360's set up, so Ryan just ran over to one, loaded up a game, and was happy as a clam. Patrick spent about an hour (perhaps 2) talking with one of the sales guys about something technical. And I pulled up a chair and waited. And waited. And waited.
We finally came back to the hotel, where Ryan enjoyed having access to Cartoon Network (which I absolutely hate, by the way). I'm totally grateful that we don't have to stay in the hospital. It's a little weird, thinking that he just had minor surgery. But I'm grateful.
Tomorrow, we have a clinic appointment in the afternoon. We probably won't be done with clinic until about 5ish, so, we'll stay tomorrow night as well.
To top off our awesome day, I heard that not only did Allen's Junior High Football team won their game against Geraldine/Highwood. But, I heard that Allen scored a touchdown!! Woo hoo! I hate that I missed it, but I'm so proud of him. He was flying high when I talked to him on the phone and the only downside is that he had homework to do once he got home. Oh well, even football players have to do their homework.
What I cooked today:
Nothing... eating out is expensive. Eating out in Seattle? Really, really expensive. I think I'm looking for a Subway or McDonald's, just because it will be cheaper than eating at the places we have been eating. Or better yet, go with real food from the grocery store..
Update:
We have a new central line!!
We woke up early this morning (6:00, which is really early for me!) and drove over to the hospital. We were checked in and in Pre-Op by 7:00. The surgeon and anesthesiologist came by and got history and consents and we discussed what was going on.
By 8:00, he was back in the OR and I was in the cafeteria getting breakfast.
I got paged a few minutes after 9:00, and the surgeon said he was all done, with no problems! With a central line placement, they go from a location on either the right or left side of the chest. The catheter is tunneled up into the neck, and then drops down a vein on either side of the neck into the heart. The surgeon said that he ultrasounded both sides, and the left side was very narrow and thin, but the right side looked good (the line we just pulled out was on the left side). The right side is actually much easier.
I was called back to recovery around 10:30ish. He was a little groggy, but very happily took a Popsicle and wanted to watch cartoons. By 11:30, we were done and they were signing our discharge paperwork, and by noon, we were back in our hotel room!
We weren't sure if they would discharge us after the procedure, so we were prepared either way. Patrick had some work to do, so while I was at the hospital, he arranged for us to have the room at the hotel for two more nights. That way, if we had to stay at the hospital, he could stay in the hotel and work. We were lucky in that we were prepared either way.
Ryan (and I) took a few hours once we got back to 'rest'. That means that I slept, while he watched tv. Then the 3 of us went out for dinner. We walked around the University Village (which is just a shopping center right next to our hotel), had a good (albeit expensive) dinner and then played at the Microsoft store. They had about 6 XBox 360's set up, so Ryan just ran over to one, loaded up a game, and was happy as a clam. Patrick spent about an hour (perhaps 2) talking with one of the sales guys about something technical. And I pulled up a chair and waited. And waited. And waited.
We finally came back to the hotel, where Ryan enjoyed having access to Cartoon Network (which I absolutely hate, by the way). I'm totally grateful that we don't have to stay in the hospital. It's a little weird, thinking that he just had minor surgery. But I'm grateful.
Tomorrow, we have a clinic appointment in the afternoon. We probably won't be done with clinic until about 5ish, so, we'll stay tomorrow night as well.
To top off our awesome day, I heard that not only did Allen's Junior High Football team won their game against Geraldine/Highwood. But, I heard that Allen scored a touchdown!! Woo hoo! I hate that I missed it, but I'm so proud of him. He was flying high when I talked to him on the phone and the only downside is that he had homework to do once he got home. Oh well, even football players have to do their homework.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
September 4, 2012
Outside Temp: 43 (high of 66... I couldn't ask for better!!)
What I cooked today:
Nothing... we went into town for dinner.
Update:
Totally busy day today!
I worked at the post office until 1:30, then ran over to the school to work until 3:30. I had a great day in our Web Design class. Today was the first official day of their class, so we actually had something to do. I don't think there is anything worse than bored teenagers. The last week and half, they were just killing time until their class started. We were able to get through all of their assignments and there was only a minimal amount of grumbling or complaining. Woo hoo!
After school, Connor worked on his 7th grade Science homework. We are not sure when he will be able to officially start the 7th grade, but we don't want him too far behind on his class work. So, he will be doing the assignments at home until such time as he can officially be in class.
Then, since we had to run into Great Falls to get Ryan's dressing changed, we decided to bring all the kids into town with us as soon as practice was over. Allen brought the tablet computer, so he could work on his homework. Connor has his computer, so he could work on his story. Ryan had his IPad, so he could play games and Katie brought her book, so she could read. The car ride was amazingly quiet and there was no fighting or complaining.
We stopped for dinner, got a few groceries, got gas for the car and then headed into the hospital, where the nurses were ready to change his dressing on his line. The kids hung out in the 'waiting room', where Allen finished his homework and everyone behaved. Ryan got his dressing changed pretty quickly (in less than 20 minutes, since we just had to chat with our nurses), and then we headed back home.
It was great to have Allen be able to grab his USB drive from the tablet, plug it into the main computer, and print off his homework for 2 different classes with no problems.
Tomorrow, I get to substitute teach for the PE/Business/Accounting teacher, which I'm sure will be fun. Okay, not the PE part, but the business and accounting part! I really hated PE in school...
What I cooked today:
Nothing... we went into town for dinner.
Update:
Totally busy day today!
I worked at the post office until 1:30, then ran over to the school to work until 3:30. I had a great day in our Web Design class. Today was the first official day of their class, so we actually had something to do. I don't think there is anything worse than bored teenagers. The last week and half, they were just killing time until their class started. We were able to get through all of their assignments and there was only a minimal amount of grumbling or complaining. Woo hoo!
After school, Connor worked on his 7th grade Science homework. We are not sure when he will be able to officially start the 7th grade, but we don't want him too far behind on his class work. So, he will be doing the assignments at home until such time as he can officially be in class.
Then, since we had to run into Great Falls to get Ryan's dressing changed, we decided to bring all the kids into town with us as soon as practice was over. Allen brought the tablet computer, so he could work on his homework. Connor has his computer, so he could work on his story. Ryan had his IPad, so he could play games and Katie brought her book, so she could read. The car ride was amazingly quiet and there was no fighting or complaining.
We stopped for dinner, got a few groceries, got gas for the car and then headed into the hospital, where the nurses were ready to change his dressing on his line. The kids hung out in the 'waiting room', where Allen finished his homework and everyone behaved. Ryan got his dressing changed pretty quickly (in less than 20 minutes, since we just had to chat with our nurses), and then we headed back home.
It was great to have Allen be able to grab his USB drive from the tablet, plug it into the main computer, and print off his homework for 2 different classes with no problems.
Tomorrow, I get to substitute teach for the PE/Business/Accounting teacher, which I'm sure will be fun. Okay, not the PE part, but the business and accounting part! I really hated PE in school...
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
August 28, 2012
Outside Temp: 68 F (it was 98 degrees today, which, as you know, sucks. It finally started cooling down, so I'm currently praying for a cooler day tomorrow... please, less than 90.)
What I cooked today:
Burgers and Corn: I got some corn on sale today, and I tend to buy things, and then forget to use them. So, I made a point of using the corn, which was really good. Even Ryan ate an entire piece! Woo hoo!
Update:
Our hospital stay came to an end today, woo hoo! The docs decided that he looked good, if anything changes, call us, otherwise, go home and live your life. I love our doctors!
So, tomorrow, I'll be bringing him into school for his first day of 1st grade! I think I might be more excited than he is, although he didn't fight me tonight.
"We have to go to bed. Do you know why?"
"Because I get to go to school tomorrow."
Hehehe. I love it.
We took Allen into Stanford to get his hair cut after practice this evening. He wanted it buzzed off, but we cut off a little less than that. Grandma really doesn't like his hair buzzed off. So, I asked our (totally awesome) barber to cut it short, but not too short. It's a little buzzed on the back and sides, but still has a little bit on top. I think it looks great, but Grandma has yet to see it. The best news is that it won't drip sweat into his eyes during practice!
After the barber, we went to the Athletic Booster Club meeting at Geyser. And, wouldn't you know it, they were picking people for the officer position. And, apparently, no one really wants the job of president, since that person needs to assign workers for concession, and has to call people and be nice. So, wouldn't you know it, I somehow volunteered. Hmmm, I'm not sure what I just got myself into, but I hope it will be fun. Kind of like the post office, it will give me a chance to get to meet new people!
The only problem is that it got us home around 8:30, and Allen actually has homework. Which he is currently working on. I hope this 'doing homework at 10pm' thing doesn't become a habit.
What I cooked today:
Burgers and Corn: I got some corn on sale today, and I tend to buy things, and then forget to use them. So, I made a point of using the corn, which was really good. Even Ryan ate an entire piece! Woo hoo!
Update:
RYAN IS HOME!!!!
Our hospital stay came to an end today, woo hoo! The docs decided that he looked good, if anything changes, call us, otherwise, go home and live your life. I love our doctors!
So, tomorrow, I'll be bringing him into school for his first day of 1st grade! I think I might be more excited than he is, although he didn't fight me tonight.
"We have to go to bed. Do you know why?"
"Because I get to go to school tomorrow."
Hehehe. I love it.
We took Allen into Stanford to get his hair cut after practice this evening. He wanted it buzzed off, but we cut off a little less than that. Grandma really doesn't like his hair buzzed off. So, I asked our (totally awesome) barber to cut it short, but not too short. It's a little buzzed on the back and sides, but still has a little bit on top. I think it looks great, but Grandma has yet to see it. The best news is that it won't drip sweat into his eyes during practice!
After the barber, we went to the Athletic Booster Club meeting at Geyser. And, wouldn't you know it, they were picking people for the officer position. And, apparently, no one really wants the job of president, since that person needs to assign workers for concession, and has to call people and be nice. So, wouldn't you know it, I somehow volunteered. Hmmm, I'm not sure what I just got myself into, but I hope it will be fun. Kind of like the post office, it will give me a chance to get to meet new people!
The only problem is that it got us home around 8:30, and Allen actually has homework. Which he is currently working on. I hope this 'doing homework at 10pm' thing doesn't become a habit.
Monday, August 27, 2012
August 27, 2012
Outside Temp: 69 F (it's finally cooling off... it was 95 today, and there is very little wind. Teasing us with thunder and lightening, but no rain.)
What I cooked today:
Burgers and homemade Macaroni and Cheese: I figured after Allen's day of football practice, he needed some carbs. He ate 3 helpings of macs and cheese, so I guess I was right.
Update:
Ryan Day 10 in the hospital:
Ryan is actually doing really well. He called me to let me know he got his NG tube removed from his nose. He was so excited! Of course, he got a bloody nose right after, but what do you expect. He had a little bit to eat for each of his meals, and he is doing great. I'm not going to mention the option of release, but it's a topic that's being passed around. We'll see how tomorrow goes.
Allen had his first day of 'full contact' football practice. He was a little embarrassed when he was tossed over one of the kids shoulders, on to his back. But, he learned. When you tackle, go low. Don't go high. His coach said he is not bad, just in-experienced. So, he has potential. Of course, he complained about his body hurting, a little bruised up, but he still sounded like he had a good time and can't wait to learn more tomorrow.
Both Katie and Connor took Reading and AR tests today. As I should have expected, Katie surpassed her AR goal with 2 quizzes... in the first week of school. Uhhh, I guess we need to set her goal a little higher! Connor tested in the 11th grade for reading. Now, I don't place much stock in standardized tests, but I couldn't help but be a little proud of them both!
Allen is learning how to be organized. It's actually quite convenient. He has 3 high school classes this semester, so he is expected to perform at a high school level. That means actually having homework and being expected to have it completed. So, he's learning to be organized. He has his planner, and he's trying to keep track of his classes. It's a little new, and he's stumbling a little, but I think it will work out for the best. By the end of this year, he will be so organized, that it won't be a shock when he goes in to High School for real.
What I cooked today:
Burgers and homemade Macaroni and Cheese: I figured after Allen's day of football practice, he needed some carbs. He ate 3 helpings of macs and cheese, so I guess I was right.
Update:
Ryan Day 10 in the hospital:
Ryan is actually doing really well. He called me to let me know he got his NG tube removed from his nose. He was so excited! Of course, he got a bloody nose right after, but what do you expect. He had a little bit to eat for each of his meals, and he is doing great. I'm not going to mention the option of release, but it's a topic that's being passed around. We'll see how tomorrow goes.
Allen had his first day of 'full contact' football practice. He was a little embarrassed when he was tossed over one of the kids shoulders, on to his back. But, he learned. When you tackle, go low. Don't go high. His coach said he is not bad, just in-experienced. So, he has potential. Of course, he complained about his body hurting, a little bruised up, but he still sounded like he had a good time and can't wait to learn more tomorrow.
Both Katie and Connor took Reading and AR tests today. As I should have expected, Katie surpassed her AR goal with 2 quizzes... in the first week of school. Uhhh, I guess we need to set her goal a little higher! Connor tested in the 11th grade for reading. Now, I don't place much stock in standardized tests, but I couldn't help but be a little proud of them both!
Allen is learning how to be organized. It's actually quite convenient. He has 3 high school classes this semester, so he is expected to perform at a high school level. That means actually having homework and being expected to have it completed. So, he's learning to be organized. He has his planner, and he's trying to keep track of his classes. It's a little new, and he's stumbling a little, but I think it will work out for the best. By the end of this year, he will be so organized, that it won't be a shock when he goes in to High School for real.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
August 26, 2012
Outside Temp: 62F (it wasn't too hot today, high of 84 and it was 42 last night... hehehe, Patrick had to turn on the mattress heater... )
What I cooked today:
Nothing, but I'm home now, so I might cook tomorrow...
Update:
Ryan Day 9 in the hospital:
So, it seems that Ryan's intestines are working again. As typical, it all worked itself out. He still has his NG tube in, but we clamped it today, and had no problems. We even let him drink some ice tea and eat some orange sherbet, and he did fine.
Grandma was kind enough to come switch with me, so I could come home and get the kids ready for school tomorrow morning. He will probably be in for a few more days, while they watch him to make sure the intestines are working correctly, etc.
The good news is that he's handling his 'incarceration' fine. He's watching TV, movies, playing game and just running around his room. He would really like to come home and run around the house, but we're grateful for what we have.
What I cooked today:
Nothing, but I'm home now, so I might cook tomorrow...
Update:
Ryan Day 9 in the hospital:
So, it seems that Ryan's intestines are working again. As typical, it all worked itself out. He still has his NG tube in, but we clamped it today, and had no problems. We even let him drink some ice tea and eat some orange sherbet, and he did fine.
Grandma was kind enough to come switch with me, so I could come home and get the kids ready for school tomorrow morning. He will probably be in for a few more days, while they watch him to make sure the intestines are working correctly, etc.
The good news is that he's handling his 'incarceration' fine. He's watching TV, movies, playing game and just running around his room. He would really like to come home and run around the house, but we're grateful for what we have.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
August 25, 2012
Outside Temp: Not sure... not too hot. Nice.
What I cooked today:
Nothing...
Update:
Ryan Day 8 in the hospital
If you neglect to take into account the fact that we are still in the hospital, and that he has an NG tube down his nose, and he can't eat, he's doing fine. He has no fevers or pain, and we're just bored and hungry.
The good news is that he does NOT have C-Diff, which is a bug you can get when you have too many antibiotics. The bad news is that he doesn't have c-diff, so we can't treat his problem with antibiotics.
His doctor decided to get a CT scan of his belly today, to make sure there were no major problems (like an obstructed bowel, which would totally suck). He looks good, with the exception of his spleen, which is enlarged. If I understand the physiology correctly, the spleen can get enlarged when you have an infection, because of the increased production of red blood cells.
One theory we have right now is that perhaps the spleen, being enlarged, is pushing on the intestine or stomach and causing a slight obstruction. He is still going to the bathroom, so we know that he's not totally obstructed. But, he did have a lot of green colored stomach acid and bile out of his NG tube today, so we know that the GI tract is not moving at it's normal rate.
The good news is that the color turned more yellow today, which means less bile, which means that bile is going down instead of into his stomach. So, the plan now is to keep him hooked up to suction on his NG tube for the night, and then try clamping the NG tube for periods of time tomorrow, to see if he can handle it.
It's also good news that his electrolytes and the rest of his labs are stable. He has no fevers and he's feeling good. Amazingly, he's keeping his NG tube in his nose, which we were pretty sure he would pull out as soon as he got the chance.
What I cooked today:
Nothing...
Update:
Ryan Day 8 in the hospital
If you neglect to take into account the fact that we are still in the hospital, and that he has an NG tube down his nose, and he can't eat, he's doing fine. He has no fevers or pain, and we're just bored and hungry.
The good news is that he does NOT have C-Diff, which is a bug you can get when you have too many antibiotics. The bad news is that he doesn't have c-diff, so we can't treat his problem with antibiotics.
His doctor decided to get a CT scan of his belly today, to make sure there were no major problems (like an obstructed bowel, which would totally suck). He looks good, with the exception of his spleen, which is enlarged. If I understand the physiology correctly, the spleen can get enlarged when you have an infection, because of the increased production of red blood cells.
One theory we have right now is that perhaps the spleen, being enlarged, is pushing on the intestine or stomach and causing a slight obstruction. He is still going to the bathroom, so we know that he's not totally obstructed. But, he did have a lot of green colored stomach acid and bile out of his NG tube today, so we know that the GI tract is not moving at it's normal rate.
The good news is that the color turned more yellow today, which means less bile, which means that bile is going down instead of into his stomach. So, the plan now is to keep him hooked up to suction on his NG tube for the night, and then try clamping the NG tube for periods of time tomorrow, to see if he can handle it.
It's also good news that his electrolytes and the rest of his labs are stable. He has no fevers and he's feeling good. Amazingly, he's keeping his NG tube in his nose, which we were pretty sure he would pull out as soon as he got the chance.
Friday, August 24, 2012
August 24, 2012
Outside Temp: Not sure... probably in the 50's (it was cooler today, in the 70's, with lots and lots of wind!)
What I cooked today:
Chicken Noodle Soup: Patrick has been asking for soup, but since it's been so hot, I've continually veto'd his desire for soup. Well, today was cooler, and with the lack of protein in the house (I really need to get more ground beef and chicken, but I've been otherwise occupied), I figured this was a good way to make 9.5 ounces of chicken go into an entire meal. So, I used some of my homemade stock and whipped up some soup. The only problem is that we finished off the pot quickly and Patrick wanted more. Oh well, he'll have to wait for next time!
Update:
Ryan Hospital, Day 7
So, we all know by now that we don't do plans. We don't even try to do plans. Yet, somehow, we conveniently forget that we don't do plans.
I made the mistake of saying that we were going home today. We even got so far as getting the antibiotics and TPN for home mixed up and ready for us to pick up. But, Ryan had other plans.
Around 1pm (about an hour from when we were supposed to go home), Ryan decided to start throwing up. And, throwing up, for a kid with a small bowel and liver transplant is not a good thing. The doctors decided to keep us a little longer. We did XRays, and found that there was a lot of air in his bowels. And, what he was throwing up was green, which is a bad color. (Normally, bile is produced but goes down the GI tract and out. Bile is green. If there is bile in your stomach and you are throwing it up, it means things are not going through your GI tract the way they are supposed to. This is a bad thing).
So, the doctors decided to put an NG (nasal-gastric, goes from your nose down into your stomach) tube in, which, as you can imagine, Ryan didn't really like. I mean, lets face it, no one likes getting a tube shoved up your nose and pushed down into your stomach. It immediately drained out a lot of green stomach juices, which is not good. The good part is that with an NG tube in, he doesn't have to throw up, and burn his throat and esophagus.
This evening, Patrick and I were discussing options, and we think he may have developed C-Diff, which is a bug you can get if you are on too many antibiotics. The GI tract has lots of good bacteria growing. If the good bacteria get killed off, by using antibiotics, the c-diff bacteria can grown really strong and cause problems. Common symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramping. Essentially, your GI tract shuts down.
So, we had the doctors order culture to see if it's c-diff. If it is, we can treat it relatively easily with a different antibiotic (I know, sounds a little crazy), and he should get better quickly. Until then, he really hates having the NG tube in his nose, and he really would have liked to go home.
I decided to switch with Grandma, so she could get a good night's sleep. Ryan's sleeping pattern is totally messed up, and she didn't get much sleep last night. Of course, this is not exactly how I planned on spending this weekend, but, as I mentioned before, Ryan doesn't do plans. I know better than that.
So, now we are just waiting for the cultures to come back, and keeping an eye on his NG tube (both what comes out of it, and making sure it stays in place and he doesn't feel the need to remove it). Hopefully, tomorrow will be a better day!
What I cooked today:
Chicken Noodle Soup: Patrick has been asking for soup, but since it's been so hot, I've continually veto'd his desire for soup. Well, today was cooler, and with the lack of protein in the house (I really need to get more ground beef and chicken, but I've been otherwise occupied), I figured this was a good way to make 9.5 ounces of chicken go into an entire meal. So, I used some of my homemade stock and whipped up some soup. The only problem is that we finished off the pot quickly and Patrick wanted more. Oh well, he'll have to wait for next time!
Update:
Ryan Hospital, Day 7
So, we all know by now that we don't do plans. We don't even try to do plans. Yet, somehow, we conveniently forget that we don't do plans.
I made the mistake of saying that we were going home today. We even got so far as getting the antibiotics and TPN for home mixed up and ready for us to pick up. But, Ryan had other plans.
Around 1pm (about an hour from when we were supposed to go home), Ryan decided to start throwing up. And, throwing up, for a kid with a small bowel and liver transplant is not a good thing. The doctors decided to keep us a little longer. We did XRays, and found that there was a lot of air in his bowels. And, what he was throwing up was green, which is a bad color. (Normally, bile is produced but goes down the GI tract and out. Bile is green. If there is bile in your stomach and you are throwing it up, it means things are not going through your GI tract the way they are supposed to. This is a bad thing).
So, the doctors decided to put an NG (nasal-gastric, goes from your nose down into your stomach) tube in, which, as you can imagine, Ryan didn't really like. I mean, lets face it, no one likes getting a tube shoved up your nose and pushed down into your stomach. It immediately drained out a lot of green stomach juices, which is not good. The good part is that with an NG tube in, he doesn't have to throw up, and burn his throat and esophagus.
This evening, Patrick and I were discussing options, and we think he may have developed C-Diff, which is a bug you can get if you are on too many antibiotics. The GI tract has lots of good bacteria growing. If the good bacteria get killed off, by using antibiotics, the c-diff bacteria can grown really strong and cause problems. Common symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramping. Essentially, your GI tract shuts down.
So, we had the doctors order culture to see if it's c-diff. If it is, we can treat it relatively easily with a different antibiotic (I know, sounds a little crazy), and he should get better quickly. Until then, he really hates having the NG tube in his nose, and he really would have liked to go home.
I decided to switch with Grandma, so she could get a good night's sleep. Ryan's sleeping pattern is totally messed up, and she didn't get much sleep last night. Of course, this is not exactly how I planned on spending this weekend, but, as I mentioned before, Ryan doesn't do plans. I know better than that.
So, now we are just waiting for the cultures to come back, and keeping an eye on his NG tube (both what comes out of it, and making sure it stays in place and he doesn't feel the need to remove it). Hopefully, tomorrow will be a better day!
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