Reflections...

The following is an excerpt from my journal last New Year's Eve: "Strange, it doesn't feel like New Year's Eve.  All I can say is I'm looking very forward to a new year.  Today is Day 5.  Levi continued to seize so the doctors decided to put him on Pentabarbitol in a drug induced coma for 10 days or thereabouts.  They are working right now on placing an arterial line so they don't have to stick him for blood and meds.  The Pentabarbitol will allow his brain and body to rest and heal while the antibiotics are working to fight the infection."

Wow, it's been quite a year.  We endured a month in the hospital, dealing with the dreaded PICC line and IV antibiotics that we had to give at home, brain surgery, endless hours of daily screaming that went on for a couple of months, new seizures, 2 hip surgeries, a body cast, hip brace, several new medications that we hoped would end the seizures but only ended in disappointment and sometimes in worsening seizures, and countless trips to Cardinal Glennon to visit countless specialists.

We have been blessed by our family, church family, and friends who gathered around us from that very first day in the hospital and have always been there to love us and support us.  Tommy, who had to do without his parents and stay with Aunt Misty every night.  Mom, Misty, Shelly, Brian and Dale, who spent so many hours at Cardinal Glennon with us.  They brought us puppy chow, made homemade soup, and paid for our meals.  They spent time with us when we couldn't even walk into Levi's room, because even that small amount of stimulation was just too much for him.  We all hung out in the McDonald room, a lovely oasis where we could shower, have coffee and snacks, and just look at walls that did not resemble a hospital.  I'll never forget my favorite volunteer, Gary.  He always baked delightful snacks and cheered us with  his sweet personality.  We had many interesting discussions. (Gary, if you read this, please let me know.)  We met the most amazing nurses: Elizabeth, 3 Sarahs, Tiffany, Darby (who let me hold Levi for the first time after he came out of the coma), Marie (who saved Levi's life when he was choking on the breathing tube), and many others.  We've met other families who understand just how we feel: Jessica, Erin, Shannon, Amy.  We've been blessed with therapists who come into our home and not only teach Levi, but love him: Shawnery, Becky, Diane, Mary, and Jenny.  All his doctors are wonderful, but we feel a special bond with his neurologist, Dr. Chrusciel.  We've been in such close contact with her for so long, she's more like a member of our family.  There are really no words for the high quality of care she gives Levi!

So as I reflect on a year full of both trials and blessings, I am again ready for a new year.  I'm ready for seizure freedom, ready to watch Levi learn to crawl, and walk, and run.  It's going to be a great year!  Happy New Year to all of you!  Thank you for your continued prayer for Levi!

Shout it from the Rooftops!!

As I mentioned, Levi did roll to his tummy the other day, but it was definitely a struggle for him.  It probably took him an hour to figure out how to get his arm out from under him.  This morning I laid him in his bed on his side, and when I went in to check on him about 10 minutes later, he was completely on his tummy, arms at his sides, almost asleep!  I just want to shout it from the rooftops!  This baby is LEARNING!! He figured it out and now he knows!  I could not be more excited right now!  Thank GOD for these blessings!  

A Little Bad, A Lot of Good!

Levi's been doing so well lately!  We have come all the way down from 6 pills of Topamax twice a day to 3 in the morning and 4 at night.  Unfortunately, the last few days his seizures have doubled, so this morning I increased back to 4 pills.  I will talk to his neurologist in a couple days to see what she thinks, but I just couldn't watch him having seizure after seizure like that again.  And to think he used to have many, many more than that every day!

We took the week off therapy appointments, but Levi and I have been working together and he's doing great!  I laid him on the floor on his side with some toys and, as usual, he was able to roll almost to his tummy, but he's never been able to get his arm out from under him.  It makes him mad and he fusses, so I tend to help him out.  Well, I realized this is not really helping him, so I let him figure it out on his own.  He fussed lightly, but after a while he did get him arm out!  I was amazed and thrilled to see that!  I've also realized that I hold him like a newborn way too much, so I've been sitting him on my lap and putting him in positions to encourage him to hold his own head, and he has definitely risen to the challenge! When I carry him up on my shoulder now he holds his head up and looks around.  It's too cute.  While I walk his little head bobs a bit, but he can keep it up when he wants to.  I'm seeing so many differences in him now, it's so exciting!  I think we're finally to the point where he is learning and becoming interested in what's going on around him.  He's been putting his hand in his mouth!  I can't wait until he starts reaching for things!  What a blessing this little guy is for us!

Prayers for Baby Caitlyn

I'm sure many of you remember the sweet little miracle baby, Caitlyn, who surprised everyone with her recovery, against all odds.  She has been home for quite a while now, but is heading in for surgery today.  Please keep Caitlyn and her family in your prayers.

Father God, please hold Caitlyn and her family in your arms today as they go through this scary experience.  Guide the hands and minds of all the medical staff who work on Caitlyn. Show them the true problem and how to fix it.  Give Caitlyn strength and bring her through the procedure in good health.  Give her family your peace, that surpasses all understanding.  All this we ask in Jesus' precious name.  Amen!

December 27, 2010

December 27, 2010.  This day will forever be etched in my memory.  This is the day our whole world changed.  As we mark the one year point since Levi was rushed to Cardinal Glennon for the first time, I find myself reflecting on everything that's happened since then.  I expected to feel sadness today, to relive that day, and all the pain and sorrow it brought.  I had planned an eloquent retelling of events.  But instead, all I feel is joy.  We came very close to losing our precious little boy, but by the grace of God, we did not.  Levi is here with us!  All things considered, he is healthy, happy, and full of potential.  He has come so very far since this time last year!  He is our joy, our precious gift from God, and we are so thankful to have him in our lives!

Pictures with Santa!

Levi had a much better day today. He ate and drank well, and didn't gag on his bottle this evening.  Praise God! His normal congestion is enough to deal with, we don't need all this extra phlegm!  He had both physical and developmental therapies today, and did very well for both.  He held his head better, tolerated weight bearing on his arms, and sat up.  He used the light box for the very first time with Mary, and he loved it!  He was immediately looking at the dots on the screen.  It's a really neat thing, I'm excited to try it out and watch his reactions.

We received our pics with Santa from the Delta Gamma Center for Children with Visual Impairments today.  Our little Levi is so cute :)  Merry Christmas!

EEG Update

It looks like he's having the same type of seizures as before. The pattern did show infantile spasms.  We were hoping it might have changed to something else.  It's good to know exactly what's going on, though. We will begin the new med, Clobezam, the first week in January.  That will replace the Clonazepam that he takes now. He responds well to Clonazepam, but we can't increase because he becomes lethargic. The new med does not have the side effect of extreme sleepiness.  Please pray and believe with us that this will be the med to CONTROL his seizures, and he'll be able to wean off all but Clobezam.  Thank you for remembering Levi in your prayers!  Merry Christmas!

Feeling Worse...

The day was a good one for Levi, but when I tried to feed him supper he was choking on phlegm again.  It took him 2 hours to drink a 1 1/2 ounce bottle of formula with meds.  He keeps trying to cough it up but can't.  I spoke with the GI doctor and he's going to schedule a procedure where they insert a camera down his esophagus and look at the lining as well as the stomach and intestines.  I'm praying all this extra phlegm is due to a virus, and will not become the norm.  Please keep him in your prayers!

Feeling Better!

Thank you so much for the prayers!  We are really feeling them this morning!  Levi woke up with smiles and ate a good breakfast.  He had OT today, which I considered canceling, but am glad I didn't because he was alert and happy, and did very well.  He's already had a little more applesauce and pedialyte, so today is much better than the last few.  I will keep you all updated on his progress.  Thanks again for your prayer!!

Levi Needs Prayer!

Since around May Levi has had this constant nasal congestion. I've been making the rounds through the doctors trying to figure out the cause, to no avail.  We saw an ENT doctor yesterday.  He put a tiny camera down his nose and looked at his throat, which showed that Levi's vocal chords are swollen, due to acid reflux.  So I guess it's not under control like we thought, even though he is on a pretty high dose of Nexium.  The GI doctor is supposed to call tomorrow.

All along this congestion has affected his eating. He has a hard time breathing while drinking a bottle, and sometimes will gag or choke.  It's been getting worse, the last few days have been horrible.  It's all I can do to get him to drink enough formula to wash down all the meds he has to take. He threw up a bunch of phlegm at dinner tonight, which was alarming, to say the least. I've been pushing pedialyte, which he likes, but he doesn't even want that now, so we've been dripping it a little at a time into his mouth with a straw.  If this continues we won't have any choice but to take him to the ER at Cardinal Glennon tomorrow.  We would really appreciate it if you would send up some prayers for him: that he feels better, the phlegm lessens so he can eat better, that the true cause will be brought to light so it can be fixed, and that the doctor takes us seriously and acts quickly.  Thanks so much!!