Mack Update- October 2014

We are coming up on our two year mark. Two years of constant ups and downs in our journey to get Mack better! 

Last week Mack hit his head pretty hard leaving a huge goose egg.  The doctors suggested we get his blood drawn.  Well... since life is crazy I forgot!  Can you believe that?  Never would we have forgotten a year ago.  Well I did.  So the next day (two days after hitting his head) Mark took him to draw blood.  It took until today for us to get the results.   

We have hit an all time high.  Mack's platelets are now at 92,000!!!!!!!!!!!  He is very close to being in the normal range.

It's a reality now-he is getting better!  He lives a completely normal life now: school, soccer, rough housing and much more!

I LOVE this boy!

Macklin Is 4!

Birthday weekend is what Mack experienced! This boy has jumped through hoops to get where he is. Life is good for Mack and everyday he grows. He is no longer seen or treated like a "sick" kid. His 4th year of life is his year! He has learned to swim independently and could live in the water. Mack loves his equipment and will spend hours digging in the garden with his excavator and dump truck. He LOVES his siblings in different ways-Avery is his go to buddy. They act just like twins and depend on each other in social situations. Lincoln has now become his buddy and they play for hours (in the dirt). I love watching a brother relationship develop between them.

The weekend started with a lunch at Chucky Cheese with: Nanny, Ireland, Papa H, aunt Molly and daddy (I had to teach a class at that time:()

The next day his Aunt Heidi asked if we could go to the pool with his cousins. It was the perfect activity because Mark met my brother to pick up our other nieces to surprise Mack! 

Mark and Avery drove half way to get the other cousins while the boys and I chilled with cousins!

Mack woke up to a house full! 

That afternoon my parents-Mum and Papa picked him up for a special treat!!

He went on a dinner train! They took a three hour train ride with Mack. He did great! It was long and no other kids, but the experience will be something to remember!

The next morning we had a house full of cousins and a Mum and Papa! We had lots of help! Mack said he wanted a lot of things for his party. I went with firetrucks! This was fun to set up and probably the easiest party!

A few of weeks ago I purchased this blow up slide for cheap! It has paid for itself!!

Millie is 9 years old now!!! She's a huge help and held baby Charlotte for a long time.  

Lincoln and Cohan dug in the dirt.

Awww the two moms!

Ireland was ready for cake!

Kalen was excited!

It was the perfect weekend to remember such a special boy!!

Progress For Mack

It's been a long time since we have celebrated Mack's progress-besides his tubbie coming out. His numbers have been the same for months. There have been downs and ups. This week brought sunshine to his recovery. His platlettes and blood are at an all time high!! He hit 76,000 platlettes!

Cheers to you little buddy!!! Macklin you are the strongest little boy and we are loving the sparkle on your eyes these days.

It Was a Balancing Act

We came back...

It's been since last summer since we've had to be in the hospital.  Gosh it was nice being normal!

 

Friday night was busy, we had Avery's first dance recital.  There were a lot of family members who attended and we were enjoying the night.  That day, Mack's teacher called me from the park to tell me he fell and hit his nose on the water fountain.  I ran to get him thinking I would clean him up, but he didn't want to stay.  He wanted to leave, so I took him back to my classroom and let him relax. 

 

He was fine except his nose wouldn't stop bleeding.  He was also acting tired, but no fever so we gave him some Tylenol to help with his nose.  By 8:30 that night, after all the excitement, he had a fever.  It was 101-102 so we held off on calling the doctors.  We thought he needed a good night sleep.  The next morning I took his temp and it was only 100, so off I went to run.  About mile 2 Mark called and said he called St. Louis doctors and they weren't too concerned.  He said finish your run and we will take him to the ER for a dose of antibiotics.

Off they went, but before he left I knew he didn't look good.  Our thermometer was so off.  In fact, he had 104 temp!  After Tylenol it went up to 105 and that is when they put him in the ambulance to St. Louis.

 

Nanny came over with me to keep us company and we let the other two have ice cream for breakfast, plant watermelon seeds, and then finger paint...

Which later turned into getting naked and painting themselves.  I was slowly getting things laid out while we waited.  Sure enough we had to put the kids in the car and off we drove.  Luckily Nanny drove us so I could rest up! 

As soon as we got there I dropped the kids off at my brother's house.  He took care of all 5 kids!!  I am impressed.  They have moved into their new home and I think my kids are pretty comfortable there!

Sunday my dad took Avery to church with the cousins, aunt and uncle.  It was great for her to have that time with Papa.  She wanted even MORE time with the girls so she spent all of Sunday over there too!  Thank you Brent!

 

Mark and I have this balancing act figured out.  In the past we were both at the hospital and it was so hard on Avery.  This time Lincoln was old enough to feel the emotions. We have learned to split our time and with our parents we are able to balance it all out.  Mark is much better doing the night shift and I spend the days with him.  Plus Avery is attached to me and is much more happy having mommy put her to sleep.  It seems to work because everyone was happy! 

 

It wouldn't have been possible without the grandparents.  My parents were on point with Avery and Lincoln and Mark's parents were at the hospital with us-giving us a break to grab a fast bite our to eat together.

Mack was happy to have a job site outside his window.  It amazed us all!  There were excavator and bulldozers on the roof!

 

Then, on Sunday he became obsessed with wanting to make party hats.  Party hats for baby Kalen's birthday!  He is only 3 months. 

When Mack was really sick in the beginning he couldn't sleep.  He probably only slept an hour in 48 hours.  It was like he wouldn't let go.  On Sunday afternoon at about 4:00 I got him to sleep.

Monday, he woke up like a new man.  He felt great and when he feels great and is contained to his room (because of his virus he can't leave his room, doctors have to gown up and wear masks, and there are no roommates), he gets stir crazy.  I was hopeful they would take his tube out while we were there, so I thought we would stay longer, but the doctors didn't feel comfortable putting him under with his condition.

Meanwhile... Lincoln and Avery carried on, but really missed daddy and Mack!

Monday morning I took the kids swimming with my mom.  I LOVE when my kids swim.  It gives them such a great activity and they are exhausted afterwards. 

 

 

Then at 2:00 in the afternoon the nurse said, "Mom?  Do you want to go home?" off we went!

He is home now and adjusting back to life.  I forgot how hard it is to come back to his siblings.  There has been fight after fight!  Don't get me wrong they all hugged and embraced when he got home.

I had forgotten how much balancing we have to do.  Again, I am THANKFUL for our parents and all their help, plus my brother for watching the kids.  There are so many thanks we always need to give-to all our friends and family for the prayers.  Thank you!