I have to post this

When we were in the NICU our friends Cheryl and Brian came to visit one day.   Anyway, I have not posted this at all because I have not wanted anyone to give or get a hard time.   And I didn't want my Mother to panic and alert other Mothers.  Everyone was JUST FINE.  But, this is something I want to remember forever so I'm putting it in the record books.  This was the result of their visit.  Shane had to sneak into the ER to take a picture.  And now every time I see this I laugh manically because the whole situation was just so weird and absurd.  I realize I'm not giving a lot of details here.

P.S. Word on the street is Calder's future wife is feeling quite a bit better.  Thank God.

BFFs

Calder has an arranged marriage.  

What?  

You don't think that's a good idea? 

Well, at the very least they can be BFFs.  Meet Sienna.  Poor little Sienna (almost 3 months now) and her Mama are sick with a cold.  So, everyone send good thoughts and prayers their way.   3 months is too young for a cold!  We visit Sienna and Kara and Alan a lot but I cannot get my act together and take more pictures so these are from quite awhile ago.  Kara took these cute pictures.  Calder's hair is approximately 3 inches longer now (no joke!).  And Sienna is able to support her head like a big kid.  Also, her eyes are most amazing shade of brown!  Baby girls KILL me they are so sweet.  No offense, Calds...but you aren't sweet buddy...you are TOUGH.  One of these days I will bust out the camera on a visit (I take it along every time and every time I leave with, "It's a good thing I brought my camera").  

Lounging

I thought I would post every day over spring break. But...not so much.  It was sunny today and I'm hoping it is sunny tomorrow so I can do a mini photo shoot.  We are also heading to the Talent Show at T's school tomorrow night and then T's BFF, Lia, is coming home with us for an over-nighter complete with egg dyeing.  The fun never stops here people!

Home

5 days in the hospital.  That brings Calder's grand total up to 84 days in his 1st year.  It is definitely not a record, by any means.  Still a lot more than we were hoping for.  

Calder was discharged in the late afternoon on Sunday.  He has one more course of steroids to take on Monday morning.  His breathing is still labored but he does not have as deep of a trach pull or abdominal pull.  If he has Trachea pull or abdominal pull that means he is using muscles other than his diaphragm to try to pull air in or, more likely, push air out.   He still has a little dimple on his neck when he breaths but a couple of days ago it was like half his neck was caving in every time he breathed so, it's a big improvement. 

Just for fun, here is a picture from a few weeks ago of Calder "standing" next to Shane's birthday present from his parents.  We thought it was cute that it looked like Calder was having a little conversation with the bear.  And that they are both the same size. 

Even though we were in the hospital, two exciting things happened in the last few days.  First, Calder's first tooth broke through!  Maybe his first two bottom teeth but it is hard to tell with just feeling.  It's impossible to get a look with Calder squirming around and refusing to open his mouth but we can feel that tooth (teeth?).   Also, at the hospital, Calder leaned to give kisses.  If you are holding him and say, "Can I have a kiss, Calder"  he will open his slobbery mouth and lean into you until he hits some part of your face and then pull back with a big grin on his face!  It is funny, cute and I love it!   This morning he did it unsolicited...although, I'll be honest, I can't be sure he meant to. 

In other news...because people have been wondering how T is doing through the whole ordeal.  Lucky for her, she has been in Hawaii with her mom over spring break. So, she has missed the whole thing.  Which, is good.  Because, really, how many times can you be sympathetic towards your little brother who is killing your style with all his hospital needy-ness?   I'm glad she is having fun, although, I wish we were the ones taking her to Hawaii!

Children's Hospital: The coolest place that you never want to visit.

Alternatively Titled:  It is not a good sign when the EMT leans through the ambulance bay and tells the driver to, "Drive Faster."

We are all doing fine.  Calder is doing so much better than he was yesterday.  He is sleeping away as I type and slept for most of last night.  After not sleeping at all Wednesday, Wednesday night or Thursday during the day the little sucker needs it.

Wednesday Calder woke up with a little cough.  I mean, really, little.  He coughed, maybe, 4 times. But, since Shane was on Spring Break we decided to check with our doctor so Shane took him in around 10am.  The doctor checked him out said everything sounded and looked good and send us home with the instructions to use Calder's asthma inhalers as a preventative measure.  Calder seemed to get some energy back and was playing like a mad-man after Shane and he got home.

About one o'clock Calder rapidly went downhill and began to wheeze (strider) and struggle to breath.  It reminded Shane of when he was in the NICU and would aspirate and not be able to breath.  He turned blue and Shane called 911.  The ambulance took him quickly to Harrison in Bremerton where it was pretty quickly determined that he needed to be at Children's.  I made it to Harrison in time to ride in the ambulance to Children's with him.  That ambulance ride went very smoothly (thank God!).   At Children's they began giving him Epinephrine treatments and determined that he just had a bad case of Croup but because his lungs are a little weak and his immune system is a little weak it is just too much for him. 



So, that is where we are.  It is pretty cool here.  Totally kid friendly and they do a lot to make the parents comfortable too.  There is a huge construction project going on outside our window and it has been really fun to watch.  In two years Calder will go nuts watching something like that.  Hopefully, we will go home soon.  If he continues to do well today, maybe, tomorrow afternoon/evening. 


This kid!  I have a lot more to say about this. For now, just know our life is not always this dramatic.  Most of our days are not high or low but rather boring.

Whidbey Island Visit

Well, this was fun.  We took a day trip to Whidbey Island for Shane's birthday.  I had been once but never driven around.  We discovered the perfect Trifecta:  water views, mountains and agriculture.  Whidbey Island is now in our top 5 places to move in 10-15 years.  Maybe even the top three!

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Best Visit Ever

I was thinking about the time I spent on maternity leave and how it is pretty much a blur.  And I realized I did not post about one of the highlights.  My mom watched my sister's daughter, Madi, for a few days so Kadene could visit us in October.  It was, hands down, the best visit ever for a number of reasons.  The first reason being it was just fun to introduce the chubmaster to one of his Aunts.  But, also, it is so easy to visit with ones sister.  I felt zero pressure to entertain and this visit took place around the same time Calder was super colic-y for about 3 weeks and stayed up all night screaming.  We were both content to watch episode after episode of Greys Anatomy and Private Practice on Hulu while holding the baby.  And she cooked for us.  Every Night!  And she cleaned out our refrigerator!  I, seriously, have no idea when that had happened before her visit.  Maybe, April?   Aunt Kadene is a super star with colic-y babies.

We love Nick and Caitlin

Uncle Nick is really good with kids...as it turns out.  Also, he and Calder pretty much have the same hair.  Which, I love.  Please, wear your hair all messy in the future son.  I think the non-hair style is the best hair style.  Sometimes, if I'm extra good Shane lets me put some sticky gel in his hair to try to achieve this look.  Also, Calder is absolutely terrified of the camera...so, I have only captured one smiling picture of him even though he smiles all the time.

Isn't Caitlin beautiful?  Yeah, she's cute, all of the time...it's hard not to be jealous. :)  Calder looks like he's trying to escape but that is just because of the terrifying camera that is pointed at him.

No pictures of T and Nick and Caitlin but that is because they were so busy doing things they did not slow down for pictures.  Thanks for the visit guys!