Kimi - eating from a spoon

As you know, almost four-year-old Kimi came to us with a severe aversion to eating, except for bottles of baby formula and suckers. About six weeks after arriving home, I was able to switch her from bottles to a cup with a straw (see blog post in April). We began eating therapy in early June; but not much progress has been made. Kimi is extremely sensitive to having food on her mouth or a spoon in her mouth. She wouldn't even take her CIB formula from a spoon, even though she will drink it. Well, twice in the past two weeks, Kimi has actually eaten a small portion of an orange sherbet push-up! I even used a spoon for a couple of bites! Video attached!

It has been six months! Then...and NOW...

I can hardly believe it - six months ago today we first held Kimi in our arms! SO much has happened since that day, including major surgery on her back to correct many of the issues caused by her spina bifida, many tests and evaluations, therapies begun, etc. Although she still has not caught up with other children her age, she has made a lot of progress. When I think about how Kimi sat in her stroller at the Safari Park in Guangzhou, and scratched her nails on a water bottle, chewing on her tongue, oblivious to everything else around her...and to see her today, riding her tricycle, giggling and laughing, playing with her sister, giving us hugs and kisses...yes, she HAS come a long way!

I have attached two videos - one from six months ago, and one from today!

Photo of Andy

Eddie sent me this photo of Andy taken last evening! It is amazing how well he is doing! The school is providing his homework to a tutor so Andy can stay caught up on his schoolwork in preparation for returning to school!

Andy update (and Kimi update!)

First...Andy: He is still at Methodist Hospital Pediatric Rehab. His head swelling is practically GONE! He is having quite a bit of anxiety, so the doctor is addressing that. Eddie has gone back to work during the day and visits Andy in the evenings. This evening, they rode the PeopleMover back to Riley. They went up to the ICU where Andy was able to meet the nurses who took care of him. Also, Eddie said there was another child with the same head injury as Andy. She is just three days into this. Her Dad was very happy to meet Andy and to learn Andy's head injury was just 3 1/2 weeks ago! Eddie said it really gave the Dad a lot of hope for his daughter.

Next...Kimi: She is standing more and more, strengthening her legs! She can now "bump" her way down the stairs and ride a tricycle by herself! She helps dress herself and easily undresses herself. She is saying "Da-da" for Daddy and "I-uh-oo" for "I love you". Last Friday, she had EIGHT cavities filled under general anesthesia - not surprising, considering she laid on her back drinking bottles for almost four years. And she ate about 1/3 of an orange sherbet "push up" last week. On Monday, she has an appointment for an eye exam. So, we continue to make progress...

Here are two photos: one of Kimi on her trike and one of her standing by herself.

Andy at Methodist Rehab and photos

I just got back from visiting Andy at Methodist Rehab. He continues to improve! We were able to take him outside to a pretty courtyard nearby, but only briefly. The doctor required Andy to wear his hat, sunglasses, and be taken outside in a wheelchair with a belt around him. Andy balked at the wheelchair and belt at first, but finally went along with it. For their safety, the kids on the floor have to wear a wrist security bracelet, so that had to be temporarily disarmed, so he could leave the floor. We were only outside for about 5 minutes when Andy began saying he wanted to go back inside - it was just too much overstimulation. When we got back to his room, he wanted to watch a movie, so Eddie turned on a Jim Varney ("Ernest") movie! Andy really laughed at one scene where Ernest was pretending to be an old, cranky woman. What a blessing to hear Andy's laughter again!

I have attached photos of Andy's (with Eddie's) new shoes, one of Andy laughing at the movie, a photo of what he was seeing on the screen, and everyone outside with Andy for the first time.

Andy has been transferred to rehab!

Today, Andy was transferred from Riley Hospital for Children to Methodist Hospital Inpatient Pediatric Rehab! His bandages were removed today and the Riley Child Life folks at the hospital brought him an Indianapolis Colts ball cap to wear! He is all settled in, now. We don't know how long he will need to stay there; but the doctor said possibly up to 21 days. Not only will he have rehab therapy, he will also have a tutor there, so he will not get behind in school. Eddie plans to go back to work on Monday, spending evenings and weekends with Andy until he is released to go home. Andy will be "stylin' " with his new shoes and Colts cap! Here is a photo of Andy's new shoes taken by Rachel. I will post a photo of Andy wearing them this weekend!

Andy's New Shoes!

Today started out a little rough for Andy - he had bouts of vomiting over night and again this morning. He was also having a lot of head pain. The doctor ordered a CT scan to make sure there wasn't a problem. The results of the CT scan were fine. Finally, the vomiting stopped and the head pain subsided and Andy began to feel better. This afternoon, Rachel went to the hospital to visit Eddie and Andy. For some background, ever since the day of the accident, Eddie has been unable to locate Andy's shoes, last seen in the ER. Andy had been wanting some shoes like his Daddy's, but they are very expensive for a little guy who goes through a pair of shoes VERY quickly. Well, Rachel decided to surprise Andy with a pair of them. When she gave them to Andy, he was THRILLED! She said he gave her multiple hugs! With Eddie's and the nurse's help, Andy put on his socks and his new shoes! He proceeded to get out of bed and walked down the hall! Better yet...Andy is going to be released tomorrow morning to Methodist Hospital Pediatric Inpatient Rehab. And, actually, he doesn't appear to even need very much rehab; but who would have thought this would be happening after just 17 days?! Praise God!

Andy is recovering from the second surgery

Our grandson, Andy, is recovering this evening from the surgery to reattach the right side of his skull. The surgeon said Andy did great! When he came out of recovery, he was awake and talking. He was also in some pain, and upset about that. But, we are SO thankful that he can now complete his recovery. The current plan is for Andy to stay in the hospital for another couple of days, and then begin in-patient rehab at Methodist Hospital. We don't think he is going to need very much rehab, because, thankfully, it appears only his fine motor skills need some therapy. Unbelievable!! We also learned Andy has a blood clot on the back of his head near a major artery that the surgeon didn't try to remove, due to its risky location - further affirmation of the miracle that occurred the day Andy was injured. The surgeon said it would take about six weeks to dissolve on its own, during which time, Andy needs to remain somewhat quiet. We are SO grateful for God's mercy.

Andy's surgery is tomorrow.

Andy's surgery is tomorrow to replace the "bone flap"(right side of his skull). Andy is REALLY ready to be done with the hospital - and he doesn't even remember all the time he spent there, sedated. We are SO thankful he is well enough to complain. :-)

Sunday update on Andy

Andy is doing better and better! He was very upset today when he learned he had missed his promised King's Island trip (for his birthday) due to the accident. So, with the doctor's permission, he was allowed to walk to and ride the People Mover. Eddie and the "sitter" went along - Andy wore his helmet, of course. He walked all the way there, descended some steps, and then walked back. He was ready for his hospital bed when he got back, according to Eddie. We are SO thankful! Less than a week ago, I didn't know if this would EVER happen! God is good!
Please continue to pray for little Megan, the little girl I mentioned in my previous post. She is VERY sick. Our three's class made her a Get Well card and we took it to her today.

Update on Andy - 8/6

While visiting Andy this afternoon, with the doctor's permission and with Eddie for support, Andy got out of his hospital bed and walked down to the playroom, played for a short time on the computer, and then walked back to his bed! He is talking and walking fine - just weak. He is drinking high-calorie drinks to beef up his system for Tuesday's surgery (Andy says they taste like "poop", poor kid). Since he is drinking, they removed the NG Tube this morning. He is cranky and says his stomach hurts; but he is doing SO much better now than just a few days ago. And today is Andy's 9th birthday! We plan to REALLY celebrate once he is out of the hospital. While at Riley Hospital today, I also visited a little 3-year-old girl, Megan, who is in our three's Bible School class at church. She is in the same wing of the hospital as our Andy. She is VERY ill. Please pray for her also.

Andy has been moved to a regular room!

Andy has been moved to a regular room!!! He was awake most of the day today and is talking more and more. I FINALLY heard his voice myself, today. I said, "I love you, Andy." And he replied, "I love you, too." He is also eating applesauce and crackers and drinking apple juice, and they got him up and walking several times today! He was playing with the Wii in his room when I arrived. Granted, he got tired real fast; but it was great to see him behaving like our "Andy"! I took the opportunity to hang up many of the cards and pictures others have made for him, so he can easily see them from his bed. His brain swelling is continuing to go down. They are still planning on performing the surgery to replace the piece of skull which was removed on Tuesday.

Update for 8/5

First of all, Eddie is very thankful and appreciative for all the prayer support and for all the meals that have been brought to the hospital. Andy is doing better and better. The brain swelling continues to subside. Eddie said Andy responded to questions from the Occupational Therapist, including his birthdate ("August 6th"), his age ("almost 9") and that he knew he was in the hospital after falling from a tree. Best of all, Andy gave me a kiss on the cheek! The Physical Therapist got Andy up to walk yesterday, which made him very sleepy last evening. Eddie and I ran into the neurosurgeon who did Kimi's surgery in May (he is on the same team with Andy's neurosurgeon). He said Andy's prognosis is VERY good - and that his speech should not be permanently affected! Surgery to replace the bone is tentatively scheduled for next Tuesday.

Andy's Progress

Andy is down to just one drug, per the nurse. He began to complain about the uncomfortable cervical collar, so the doctor said it could be removed. He has a little stuffed dog he named "puppy" many years ago that he always sleeps with. "Puppy" had been washed since the accident, so it is a lighter (cleaner) shade of brown. When Andy saw it, Eddie said Andy said it wasn't "puppy" because he looked different. That's the first time he made a reference to something he remembered prior to the accident. He is only talking occasionally and still has lots of brain swelling. However, the doctor believes the swelling will go down by the weekend or early next week, when they plan to replace the piece of skull that was removed shortly after the accident. They decided to wait until after the surgery before performing the pediatric rehab evaluation, according to Eddie.
UPDATE: Rachel just called - she said Andy initiated a hug for her and for Eddie! And he called Eddie, "Dad"!

Andy is off the vent!!!

Last night, they weaned Andy off the ventilator!!! According to my son, Eddie (who hasn't slept in two days), they got Andy off the vent around 11:00 last night. He now has a nasal cannula to provide the extra oxygen help he still needs. Eddie said the brain swelling is definitely beginning to subside also! This morning, one of the neuro doctors came in and began "yelling" at Andy to see what kind of response he could get. Andy responded, yelling right back, "SHUT UP!!!" That's my Andy!! And those are the first words he has spoken since arriving at the hospital. And then he put a light in Andy's eyes and he yelled, "STOP!" The doctor told Andy to move his feet and he kicked both legs in response. The doctor told Eddie that he will order a Pediatric Rehab evaluation today to determine the next steps. Praise God!!!