Slideshow - At Home

Slideshow - PICU

Home Again, Home Again . . .

Our apologies to those of you who patiently waited for us to update you on Levi now that he is a NICU graduate. As many of you are aware, Levi decided to build his testimony by being admitted to the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) after being home for only 20 days. Despite our over zealous efforts of keeping our home super clean he managed to get RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus). Preemies are quite prone to this virus due to their delicate lungs. In you and I, it is a common cold but to these precious babes, it can be life threatening. Levi was originally discharged on a Monday and that Thursday our older children began to show cold symptoms. We had taken extreme measures to keep them away from other children and even church nursery to avoid illness. It still happened. We were wearing different gloves with each child in addition to wearing a different button-up shirt over our clothes for each child. After getting to spend only three days with him, Teddy and Naomi had to refrain from seeing their sweet baby brother (who they so patiently waited to finally see for four months after his arrival in October). They were supernaturally understanding and helpful in this matter. For two weeks we managed to keep Levi virus free. Four days after the older two were completely symptom free - Levi got it. He was readmitted two Sundays ago and then brought home once again this past Friday. Two days later (Sunday), I was broiling quesadillas and heard his apnea monitor alarm. As always, I jumped the hurdles (babygates) as we call them to run to his rescue . . . this time however I must have caught my toes because I landed with a thud. It would have been cool to have on video since I landed all the way at the end of our hallway under the smoke detector only to realize that was what was alarming. I forgot that any time that I turn on the broiler, the smoke detector goes off. I laid there laughing at myself and then forced myself to get up. I landed with both my hands up by my shoulders. My elbows were both a little sore and my right hip bone felt good & bruised. My left elbow wasn't really in any pain unless I put it in a funny position but something didn't feel quite right. Justin & I decided to go ahead and have it seen just in case . . . sure enough, my left radial head (at the elbow) was fractured. My husband now helps me put my hair in a pony tail and puts up with me telling him exactly how I like our sheets folded. He also had to get booted to the couch so that Levi can safely sleep in his "Snuggle nest co-sleeper " in our bed so that I don't have to take him in and out of the bassinett . . . Levi has been a good sport himself taking his bottles while propped in a boppy pillow and getting diapers changed with one hand ( I might add that I am impressed with how well and quickly I can accomplish both this and burping him - like a pirate =] ) Teddy and Naomi have once again stepped up to the plate by not only doing so many things for themselves but for doing things that I normally do (such as holding up our story books). Just yesterday, Justin had a close call. He came home with a gash in the middle of his forehead where a nail from the nailgun he was operating ricocheted and hit him. All of these came after losing my amazing grandfather, Pom - as we refer to him. I am so fortunate to be his grandaughter. His life as well as that of my grandmother's made this world a better place. - Truly people who acted to make a difference rather than just sitting on the sidelines complaining about how others were doing a poor job. When I think of them, I think of the motto "If you're not part of the solution than you are part of the problem". I find a great deal of comfort in knowing that they have once again united . . . I will patiently look forward to the moment when I will embrace them in their new, healed, and perfect bodies when my time on this Earth is also over. My husband too lost a dear friend unexpectedly. We've come to realize that one must focus on the good in life - appreciate what you have rather than dwell on what you do not. We have the best family members in the world . . . Our friends do tooooooo much to help . . . Ms. Lisa, our babysitter, has been terrific. She even helped me give our kids a bath after they had been playing in the mud all afternoon. Levi's Home health Nurse came by this past Tuesday and informed us that his lungs sounded clear and that he weighs 8 pounds and 11 ounces (Most likely a nine pounder by now). He is so perfect. He is already grabbing at his toys and pulling my hair a little too well =]. Teddy & Naomi love to bring him a variety of toys, books, and baby blankets. Teddy informs me that he thinks Levi is hungry and we should go feed him (even when he is sleeping soundly). Thanks again for all the support! If you are interested in Marching with the March of Dimes at the SC State Fair Grounds on May 3, 2008 contact the Midlands Division(803)252-5200.