I'm all alone.... ahhh

Today was the first time in over 4 months that I was alone with all three of my boys. Jim got free tickets to go and see the Canadian Olympic Mens Hockey team. They were in Edmonton and signing autographs and visiting with people. He was really excited to go and so I was glad to watch all the kids. I thought that it would be no problem... we went for a walk a few blocks away to go to the dollar store and then to the grocery store. I could not believe how stressed I was. They weren't doing much wrong, they wern't even touching very much stuff, they stayed by me, but I was lossing my mind. They were trying to make Parker laugh and he was just rolling with laughter which was making things worse. The sound was just escallating louder and louder. Brock is loud naturally, so if you know him you can imagine what was going on. Then I had to get them supper and put them to bed all BY MYSELF!! I think that I'm going to have a rude awakening when I do go home. Life will be a lot different then it has recently been, for a lot of reasons, but I'm excited for the next phase. I'm glad that it's summer and that I live close to my mom.

Together again

This week Jim and the boys came up to visit Parker and I. Jim gave me and Parker from Friday to Tuesday to get Parks used to being away from the hospital. It was so fun to see the big boys play and react when they first saw Parker. They were already in our RMH room and we came in soon after, they were bouncing off the walls with excitement. It was so great to see them hugging and mauling Parker. They are so excited to have their brother around and where they don't have to be in the hospital with a stressed out mom that yells at them a lot to be quiet and to stop doing pretty much whatever they were doing(even if it wasn't bad or serious).

It's been great to go places and feel like a family again. Today we went to a park that has a lake and a bunch of ducks. We brought a bunch of bread and let the kids feed the ducks. Parker was really interested in them, there's so much that he hasn't been able to see and experience, being couped up in the hospital. Little things like ducks are a treat. He also loved watching Brock chase the seagulls. He's very sneaky then he pounces. Very entertaining for us all.



Brock and Kaden are always trying to make Parker happy by smiling and playing with him. If Parker needs something, they both are so helpful. They have both grown up alot in the last four months, especially Brock. They are so gentle and loving to Parker. As a parent it is so exciting to see them loving and having fun with each other.

He's famous

Well I just wanted to say Happy Fathers Day to all the dads out there I hope that you all are having a great day.

Last week a journalist from The Lethbridge Herald contacted Jim and was wanting to write an article about all the going ons of Parkers last four months. So Jim asked me if I would talk to her instead of him, cause he said that I know more details then him. So we talked for about 25 minutes. I told her Parkers story and how he's doing. She said that the story should be running on Monday which is tomarrow. So you should check it out, I hope its good. If more people will become aware of organ donation and it could help to save some lives then we'd do anything!

Also some people from the Globe and Mail came to the hospital last week and also were writing a peice about the Berlin Heart and Heart Transplants and organ donations. So they got Parkers story and also Parkers friend, Chace's story. This has already been wrote and printed the site is http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/science/the-rivalry-for-little-hearts-and-big-minds/article1609944/

so check it out.

Four months minus one day

Parker has been a patient in the hospital for one day short of four months. Parker was addmited on February 19, 2010 and was discharged this afternoon, June 18, 2010. He is pretty funny, as soon as I turn my back to get something, he starts to whine and cry. I don't know if he's just feeling overwhelmed with everything changing, or what but hopefully he gets used to his new house and life, he's extra clingy. Last night he had a night pass and it took him quite a while to fall asleep. He also woke up at 12:00 and 4:00 right on schedule for me to take his vitals, but I sure didn't want to take his vitals, I wanted him to sleep. Tonight was easier for him to go to sleep so it will just take time I think.

Look mom NO tubes!!!

Parker got his last tube removed today. He got his feeding tube taken out yesterday and his broviac(permament IV)out today. He is taking all of his medications by mouth and eating really good. We went down to the OR today and they gave him some happy juice to put him to sleep and they pulled out his very last tube. He looks awesome and he's very happy.



The doctors gave Parker a night pass tonight. So Parker is sleeping with me at the Ronald McDonald House. It's 10:15 and he's still not asleep. I think that it's going to take some time to get used to being in a different place.

Parker loves IKEA

Well Parker has just been getting better and better everyday, as we get closer to discharge. Were not sure when we'll be discharged, but it will likely be sometime this week. We basically are waiting for his Tach(medication) levels to even out and get to a spot that they are comfortable with. I have been given most of the discharge teaching....which means the time is getting close. We will still be at the Ronald McDonald House for quite a while. He will have lots of appointments so it will be a busy few months. It will be so great to have him home and close. Today we were able to go on a day pass. We went for about 2 1/2 hours. We walked to the RMH and as I was walking off the hospital property I kept feeling like someone was going to come up behind me and tell me that I can't take him away from the hospital. But no one did and everything was ok. I asked Parker where he wanted to go since he hadn't been outside in four months and he told me that he wanted to got to IKEA. I asked him if he was sure, and yup that is where he chose to go. So we had a great time walking around IKEA.

Gone Fishing

Jim took the boys fishing out in Hillspring, they love fishing and so it was a such a treat. Kaden cast his rod all by himself. He got a bite and then his line was getting taken taken away. Jim had to come and help him reel it in and save his pole before it went into the water. What a thrill that must have been for Kaden. Brock also got to help Jim reel his fish in.

My little boy

I finally got around to cutting Parkers hair today. It was such a rats nest. He lays in bed more then the average 15 month old and so he naturally has more difficulty in managing his hair(or I guess I do). He kept getting little hair ball knots in the back that I had to cut out and he has a big bald spot on the back like a little new born. So I decided that since we were out of the PICU that it was getting cut. He looks so much better now, hes a little man now!!! There's nothing like a hair cut that makes you realize how old your baby or little boy really is. I always think that he's so little still cause he is my baby and he's not walking or even crawling yet so I forget that he's still a 15 month old and can understand what we are saying pretty much. I'm excited to be able to start enjoying this next phase in his life and see what he will be able to do, with a healthier heart.

BEFORE

The old heart

Today we were able to go up to Pathology where they are keeping Parkers old heart. It was kind of weird but kind of cool. It is about 3 times as big as it should be, it was as big as Jim's fist, and usually your heart is as big as your own fist. So that shows actually how big it really was. The walls of his heart were about 1.3cm thick they are supposed to be 3mm. It is no wonder that his heart wasn't working the way it should. The doctor told us that they will keep it indefinitely, so if he wants to go and see it when hes 25 years old then he can go to them and see it. They keep it and use it for teaching new residents or anyone that is curious and wants to learn more. He showed us all the valves, the VSD, where the Berlin heart went in, and a bunch of other things about it. It was once in a life time chance to see something like that and I'm glad that we were able to go and do it.

Parker got up to the floor yesterday and so we were able to take him for a walk today. We brought him with us when we went to see the Pathologist doctor. We had to put on a gown, some safety glasses and some gloves. When he saw us, he started going ballistic, we were trying to listen to the doctor and Parker was making a lot of noise, but some of the nurses came with us to see it and so they took turns being with him in the hallway. One thing about having a heart that works the way that it should work is that... man can they ever scream a lot louder!!!