Music Therapy came to play with him. He wasn't overly enthused, but it was at least a change from the room, hall, toy room, and playground.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Surgery
Yesterday was the big day. He went into it strong. His fever broke over 48 hour before and his lymph nodes shrunk back down--what a blessing. He was off IVs and monitors--just got to be a baby for a few days.
Music Therapy came to play with him. He wasn't overly enthused, but it was at least a change from the room, hall, toy room, and playground.
And then there was the surgery. I'm sure the surgeon, Dr. Hendrickson, thought I was annoying, basically interviewing him for the job--I made him prove to me that he was the very best for the surgery. I think he was. Rob and I waited for around 4 hours. The tumor and kidney were removed in one mass. The adrenal gland was preserved. The lymphs look normal. He only lost about 1 teaspoon of blood! Miracles happen. Now we are just praying that the pathology report is clear. His incision is about 8 inches across--as serious battle scar to brag about someday. His color looks great, though, and he is in and out of wakefulness. Thanks for all of the prayers, thoughts, and well-wishes.
Music Therapy came to play with him. He wasn't overly enthused, but it was at least a change from the room, hall, toy room, and playground.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Peace Amid the Storm
My tears are pretty much dried. And even then, I have felt peace during this entire experience. I am so grateful for a Heavenly Father who loves me and knows me; I am grateful that I can feel peace and comfort, even in the worst of storms. My trials keep coming, but I feel strong enough to endure this time--I feel as though I have been waxed with each experience so I would have enough faith and courage to face this one--the biggest of all . . . the one that hurts my baby.
The story is long and short at the same time. Jimmy had a fever. 102.7 Monday night. No big deal. Still, I felt worried and woke up Rob to give him a blessing. Next day I took him in to the doctor (uncharacteristic of me). His lymph nodes were swollen, his ears looked great, nothing in his chest . . . except the weird lump below his right rib. I asked the doctor to look at it. She thought it was nothing. She did a strep test to maybe make reason of the fever. Negative. I went home.
That night his fever peaked at 105.5. I rushed to the ER in Blue Springs. They did a chest x-ray and one of his abdomen (since I insisted that they make sense of that weird muscle spot on his abdomen. I had felt it for months--prodded Rob about it, and finally just decided he had a stool and was just fat. Still, tonight I wanted answers. Was it appendicitis?) The ER decided he had pneumonia. Gave him a shot. Wrote a prescription. Done. I wasn't satisfied for some reason.
Next day I went to my pediatrician (my real one--not the fill in I had the day before) for a follow up of the ER visit. I prayed that he would be inspired. I was given a new prescription for pneumonia and about to be let out, when I asked him to check the mass. "Is it a stool? A hernia? His appendix?" I asked. My sweet doctor's eyes welled with tears as he reached in to hug me--never a good sign. "Kyrsten, that's a tumor. You need to take him in right now."
Calm. I was still calm. I cried when I went to the car. I left my boys at my friend Caetie's house, called Rob and told him to leave work and meet me at the hospital since I didn't know if I had the strength to do this without him. (My grandpa had just been put on a ventilator after a colon cancer surgery gone bad--it was too much at once.) After tons of urine and blood samples, x-rays, ultrasounds, and CTs, we learned that my sweet Jimmy, only 14 months old, had a large tumor (8 cm x 8 cm x 14 cm) coming from his right kidney. Both would have to be removed. We are praying it is benign.
We've been transferred to Children's Mercy Hospital where all the physicians and surgeons have done extra fellowships in pediatrics. We've been blessed with amazing staff--the surgery and oncology teams are competent. Jimmy's fevers are still an enigma. His CT of chest showed it was clear. He never had pneumonia. His blood tests show no bacterial infections. We now think it is from the tumor itself. His surgery has been postponed until Wednesday. Our prayers are constant. We worry and have our moments of fear, but I have felt overwhelming comfort. I am so grateful for the sweet concern and blessings of others and the faith and prayers that have been issued in our behalf.
Our sweet baby is doing better and acting more like himself. They took him off his IV and all those electrodes so he can walk around and be a little boy again. Today he even started fighting with Ty again--I couldn't have been more pleased! My brother Johnny came out to help with the kids for a few days, and Rob's mom is coming out next. We have a fabulous support system.
There is a wonderful playroom for the kids and their siblings--Robbie and Ty love it! There are video games and a basketball hoop--they couldn't be happier!
Jimmy started wondering the halls a little--all the nurses think it's the cutest thing ever. I think he's trying to find an escape route, but it keeps him busy!
We've had an outpouring of calls, and visits. These beautiful flowers and teddy and balloon were a gift from the residents at Rob's program. They all pooled their limited funds together to get this; it meant so much.
Our pediatrician drove all the way down to visit us and bring us flowers and some presents for Jimmy. Such genuine people here. I am so blessed.
The boys remain pretty unfazed so far. They love coming to see Jimmy because they have the playroom and all the treats they want--plus a million kid movies they can rent. Plus all the nurses Ooh and Ahh over them--that's always fun, right? I am so grateful that they are strong little men who know how to deal with trail themselves. They are great examples to Jimmy.
The story is long and short at the same time. Jimmy had a fever. 102.7 Monday night. No big deal. Still, I felt worried and woke up Rob to give him a blessing. Next day I took him in to the doctor (uncharacteristic of me). His lymph nodes were swollen, his ears looked great, nothing in his chest . . . except the weird lump below his right rib. I asked the doctor to look at it. She thought it was nothing. She did a strep test to maybe make reason of the fever. Negative. I went home.
That night his fever peaked at 105.5. I rushed to the ER in Blue Springs. They did a chest x-ray and one of his abdomen (since I insisted that they make sense of that weird muscle spot on his abdomen. I had felt it for months--prodded Rob about it, and finally just decided he had a stool and was just fat. Still, tonight I wanted answers. Was it appendicitis?) The ER decided he had pneumonia. Gave him a shot. Wrote a prescription. Done. I wasn't satisfied for some reason.
Next day I went to my pediatrician (my real one--not the fill in I had the day before) for a follow up of the ER visit. I prayed that he would be inspired. I was given a new prescription for pneumonia and about to be let out, when I asked him to check the mass. "Is it a stool? A hernia? His appendix?" I asked. My sweet doctor's eyes welled with tears as he reached in to hug me--never a good sign. "Kyrsten, that's a tumor. You need to take him in right now."
Calm. I was still calm. I cried when I went to the car. I left my boys at my friend Caetie's house, called Rob and told him to leave work and meet me at the hospital since I didn't know if I had the strength to do this without him. (My grandpa had just been put on a ventilator after a colon cancer surgery gone bad--it was too much at once.) After tons of urine and blood samples, x-rays, ultrasounds, and CTs, we learned that my sweet Jimmy, only 14 months old, had a large tumor (8 cm x 8 cm x 14 cm) coming from his right kidney. Both would have to be removed. We are praying it is benign.
We've been transferred to Children's Mercy Hospital where all the physicians and surgeons have done extra fellowships in pediatrics. We've been blessed with amazing staff--the surgery and oncology teams are competent. Jimmy's fevers are still an enigma. His CT of chest showed it was clear. He never had pneumonia. His blood tests show no bacterial infections. We now think it is from the tumor itself. His surgery has been postponed until Wednesday. Our prayers are constant. We worry and have our moments of fear, but I have felt overwhelming comfort. I am so grateful for the sweet concern and blessings of others and the faith and prayers that have been issued in our behalf.
Our sweet baby is doing better and acting more like himself. They took him off his IV and all those electrodes so he can walk around and be a little boy again. Today he even started fighting with Ty again--I couldn't have been more pleased! My brother Johnny came out to help with the kids for a few days, and Rob's mom is coming out next. We have a fabulous support system.
There is a wonderful playroom for the kids and their siblings--Robbie and Ty love it! There are video games and a basketball hoop--they couldn't be happier!
Jimmy started wondering the halls a little--all the nurses think it's the cutest thing ever. I think he's trying to find an escape route, but it keeps him busy!
The boys remain pretty unfazed so far. They love coming to see Jimmy because they have the playroom and all the treats they want--plus a million kid movies they can rent. Plus all the nurses Ooh and Ahh over them--that's always fun, right? I am so grateful that they are strong little men who know how to deal with trail themselves. They are great examples to Jimmy.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Non Stop Hot Tub
It was a constant--the desire to get in the hot tub. Rob found his little nook right off the bat and never seemed to tear his back away from the jets except to let someone else feel how wonderful it was . . . in HIS spot :). Jimmy loved the little waterfall inside, though it was a challenge to keep him from drinking all the water up. I think there might just be a hot tub in our future!
Monday, May 14, 2012
Being a Mother
I don't think I can adequately express how it feels to be a mother. Happiness. Laughter. Fear. Pride. Frustration. Perspective. Challenge. Kisses. Discovery. I just can't really wrap my arms in it to give a good hug . . . it's too big. But all of it is love. All of it is good. All of it I am grateful for; yes, even the ugly stuff. That much I know. And here is why . . . Meet my treasures.
Graduation
Robbie graduated from preschool this week! Miss Kathy does it out of the basement of her home and is just so sweet. She teaches them Bible stories and they cook and do so many arts and crafts I can't keep up. To celebrate, she threw a Mother's Day BBQ where the kids sang for us! Robbie's a superstar--Mr. Popular there; they cheer and scream every time he arrives and Miss Kathy has to pry the kids away from him. It's hilarious because he is so shy and hates the attention. Just like his daddy. Here's a few pictures of the BIG TIME life moment!
Rob is such a succor for these types of events. I mean, the guy LOVES hoopla! He found the entire ceremony and performance just . . . riveting!!
My friend, Jolyn, took this picture of Jimmy; the kid couldn't get enough of the Cheetos puffs!
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