A Happy Day

Since Mack rode on a helicopter he's been asking for helicopters. So, papa heard this and off he went to the toy store. He gave him a huge helicopter, many little planes and a remote control helicopter. We held out on the remote control one...until today. He's been so tired and grouchy-I was looking for anything to cheer him up. This took two seconds to bring a smile to his face. Not only that, but his siblings and Meme came to see him fly his plane. The nurses were shocked to see a total opposite of how he's been acting. It makes me cry happy tears writing this. I can't get the videos to work, but below are pictures of a day to be happy about!!! I hope I'm not jinxing it by writing about it... Tomorrow shall tell us more!

Ugg! Another Day and More to come

Our lives will be on hold for a little longer. Mack is doing alright...

He is dependent on platelet transfusions right now. He went from 24,000 to 2,000 in 24 hours. He's on so many different kinds of medicine to help with all different things. One is steroids and they're making his blood pressure high which leads to more medicine to get it down. He is still in a lot of pain and aches everywhere. His body is trying to heal so he sleeps a lot, but is still a two year not able to understand everything. this makes him a bit grouchy-and he has every right to be.

Mark made it back Friday morning after the storm, but it looks like the next one is on its way! My parents (reluctantly) left this morning for Mexico. We asked our nanny to come and help as well. Mark's parents are also here helping. We need all hands on deck! Which is why our friend Meagan has volunteered to SPEND the night with him... Mark and I refused multiple times, but in the end we need some rest...together. Meagan is a doctor and works in the NICU-she is over qualified and we are blessed to have her do this. Brian, her husband, needs a shoot out too- he is helping and brought her into our lives:). I think Mack will do great with these special people!!

Overall, we are just trying to balance our time with the other two. Mack desperately needs us, but so do Avery and Lincoln. I took the whole morning to be with them and then Mark and I took Avery on a pizza date. She loved the one on one attention!

Continue to pray for Macklin. We hope to get out of here sometime next week, but I might be wrong...

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Well...we are still in the hospital-going on day 5! This has been a long stretch and it looks like we have a few more days.

Mack is doing as good as he can- this has been all we can say about the man. He's in a lot of pain, but has a morphine drip. The last few days have been bad! It's similar to the flu. So, his body hurts and he hasn't eaten or drank in a while.

My mom stayed with him last night and he was wonderful for her-of course. Our friend Meagan (who is a blessing) suggested we start letting other people stay with him so we can rest. That is a hard thing to do, but if we're going to do this often, then I see why we should.

Mark had to go back to Columbia for work, but we are fully covered! Both moms are helping and Avery is going to spend the snow day with her cousins. My cousin Katie came up to bring dinner last night-what a treat!!

I'm here with him now and I hope to snuggle while we watch the storm come in! My hope is we get out this weekend. We did have to postpone Lincoln's first birthday party-it breaks my heart, but we will have it in March some time.

One positive yesterday was if he needs a transplant there are multiple matches!! So we have a backup plan in place!!

Below are pictures of Mack at the hospital. Avery spent the whole day with Nanny at the science center-these are the pictures sent to me. And I just realized I have nothing but movies on Lincoln! He's changing so much and I'm missing it, so there has been movies of him working on his walking skills.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Good news/bad news update:

Bad news: Macklin had another high fever last night...it was rough. He was complaining about his knees and tummy. This morning our Dr. confirmed it's serum sickness from his medicine.

This sickness attacks his joints, creates fevers, and causes a rash. We need to stay a few more days with pain medicine.

Good news the medicine is in his system and might be working.

And We're Back

It was too much of a good thing. Life outside the hospital was great! Being a family was great!

But it was too much of a good thing...

Sunday morning Mark got up with the boys while Avery and I snuggled in bed. Then the door opened and Mark said Mack was falling asleep on the couch (which is not like him in the morning) and threw up. I sprang into action like a crazy person! Mark called the doctors and I got him cleaned up. Sweet Avery played with Lincoln for us.

The doctors said to take him to the emergency room. Mark took off and his parents came over to help. They got him in right away and learned his platelets were down to 4,000...

The entire time they were on the phone with his doctors, but we knew it was bad and they would be moving him to St. Louis. His blood pressure was VERY low! Mark said he was very lethargic and not himself.

While at home I got the other two ready..and the house ready because once again we didn't know how long we were going to be gone. Family stepped in again after we left to get things finished!

They air lifted Mack at about 2:00 yesterday afternoon. Mark's mom drove myself and the kids. I thought Mark would be with him-I was wrong! No parents could fly! No parent could fly with a terrified little two year old! No-instead a parent had to put their terrified two year old in a helicopter and say I'll see you in two hours.

At this point we were pretty close, but I called my dad and he ran to make sure someone was there to meet him. I made it there to meet my dad just in time.

We were walking back to see him and about six nurses stopped us to tell us how cute he was-thank you, but where is my baby? Sure enough we found him in a room in a crib just sitting there like a zombie.

He has received antibiotics and we wait for blood cultures to come back. If they're negative then we go home in 48 hours. If not then we stay to treat it.

We are waiting to move out of the icu right now.

It looks like this is our life for a while! We have to except it!! For now he continues to be spoiled...papa just showed up!!

While He Was Away

The last hospital stay my mom and Mark's mom helped with the other two-unfortunately this time Nanny was sick and with Mack's condition he can't be exposed to anything.  We were very lucky to have that much help and are blessed.   

This time Papa H. made a visit and took the kids to dinner.  Every time Mack saw him he asked for his pizza (whenever he comes out to our house he brings a pizza:)) 

Overall, my parents had the responsibility for Avery and Lincoln while we were busy with Mack.  They gave them lots of attention and gave them the opportunity to be with their cousins.  I am forever thankful to my parents for everything they did!!  It's a lot to fully take care of these two (especially when you have already raised your children), but we made it out with everyone happy.  What warms my heart the most is no one ever complains to help us and they never worry us with their worries.  Here are some pictures of my babies while he (Mack) was away getting better...

Homemade play dough gave them a fun activity

Millie is at the perfect age to help!  She was so helpful with Lincoln

Yes, Lucie is on a leash and Avery is walking her around

Finally some snuggles with her Papa!

   Like I have said in a previous post-we are learning to lean of others.  Our dog was scooped up and pampered with Uncle Jack and Aunt Meagan and our house was watched by multiple people.  We were totally taken care of while in St. Louis and now we are getting help here-Nanny is back and better!  I don't know what we would do without help...and I just don't want to think about it.  Instead, I want to THANK THEM ALL! 

We Made It Home for a Special Day

 

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

 I totally understand Valentine's Day is a silly holiday made by the card companies, but I don't care and I am all about sharing my excitement with my kids.  To me this day adds pleasure to the long winter months.  This year it only meant more to be home and share love with each other.

But we might have gone a little over board...

It was our first night to sleep in our own beds in a week.  Everyone went to bed right away, but they all woke up REALLY early, so we embraced it and started with heart shaped toast.  Plus their gifts from Mum and Papa-which happened to have a lot of candy in it.  This in turn, allowed them to have candy at 7:00 in the morning.

Since we were gone for a week, I had to do some running around.  When I got back to meet Mack's nurse, a special delivery came from a special guy.  My husband/their daddy loves to give us special deliveries on this day.  WE ALL get super excited!  Mark, you did great this year.

Not a good picture-I was trying to get them all together...not so much.

The kids got these and Meme (our nanny) and myself got flowers.

It didn't end (I know crazy, but for what they have all gone through it added enthusiasm). Mark got home from work and we gave them our gifts.

Lincoln only wanted in the other bags.

Then the door bell rang...

and Nanny dropped off more presents.  This turned into a living room full of (more) toys.

It was a exceptional day and I'm thrilled we got to be home together to celebrate.  Mark and I even made some time for each other by putting them to bed early and enjoying a nice dinner alone.  It was the first time in a while we could talk about what we have just gone through.

I don't have much to update about Mack right now, expect for it's been hard.  He is tough to handle right now with all he's gone through, but thankfully from the help of our family and Meme, we are getting some breaks.  The shots are the worst part, but we got word yesterday his white blood cell count is up-because of the shots.  This is a little celebration and makes the pain of holding him down to give the shot a little easier.

Now, I'm off to take Lincoln to the doctor-I think he has an ear infections.  It never ends, but yesterday was fun and we all got to sit back and be together!