Austin H. Needs Prayers

Austin called me today, it was so neat to talk to him again. He sounded like he was doing better than he was a week ago, when I last talked to him. He said he was having surgery tommorrow (Monday) but he didn't know the details of what the surgery was called, his Mom tried to tell me in the background but I could'nt hear her well enough. He sounded like he could use a friend, it sounds like he is getting real tired of being stuck in the hospital. I can only imagine how boring it could be for someone his age. His Mom told me he was hit by a car recently and also had a couple of brain surgeries. He has Hydrocephalus, a heart defect, and hearing issues (like Isaac). He has a lot in common with Isaac, however he has been through much more, especially because he is seven years older than Isaac. This picture above is Austin in August of 2005. I tried to get to know him better in the past, but I always seemed to have bad timing when I wanted to talk to him and his mom. I have ran into him several times in the past five years, mostly just in passing, but I was very impressed with his outgoing personality. The first time I saw him I was attending a sign language class at DDI and he was helping the instructor a little with sign language. He was so cute and enthusiastic. The second time was very brief at our HOHU picnic in 2005. Other times, I passed him or his mom at PCMC Cardiology. When he gets better he will have an amazing impact on the members of our new IHH support group (being 12 years old, he could give us a lot of great input). Please keep Austin in your prayers, he can make a huge difference in our world, we need more people like him.

Isaac at Wheeler Farm Again

Isaac went to Wheeler Farm again today for The Utah Kids Club Summer Stampede. He enjoyed the magic Show and seeing the farm animals again. We were a bit disappointed there were'nt many free activities for the kids like we had been told. We spent four hours there and we were ready to go home after that. Isaac is wearing his new shirt from Wal-Mart, it is one of his New favorites.

What Have I been Doing In Isaac's Dreams?

Isaac has been wondering lately, why we (his family) keep showing up in his dreams. I have to pretend to get mad at his sisters when they get into his dreams, I tell them to stay in their own bed. It's quite funny he thinks we get into his dreams on purpose, and like we are the cause of his bad dreams.

Tonight looks like it might be one of those croup nights, he's been complaining about a sore throat today. I hope it's just the seasonal allergies, ragweed is blooming all over the place.

A Person Is A Person No Matter How Small

Monday we went to the Movie "Horton Hears A Who" at the Dollar Movie for only fifty cents each (Monday discount). We all enjoyed the movie, especially Isaac. He found a Pop-Up version of the story at the library yesterday and has been carrying it around for the last 24 hours. Also Isaac's Dad (Mike) picked up the DVD (the book version) at Wal-Mart lastnight. Therefore the thought for the week is the famous qoute from Horton "A Person Is A Person No Matter How Small." I Love that quote, it makes me think of how important children are and the Unborn children as well. There are a lot of ways you can think of that statement and come up with some great things. I have always had a great love for many Dr. Seuss books although a few of the less popular ones can be too political.

Anyway the latest health issue we are dealing with Isaac is his nose-bleeds again and headaches. Last-night he had a severe headache, so I gave him an Asprin and applejuice, then put him to bed. I went to check on him later that night and his face and hands were covered in dry blood (the most I have ever seen on him). It took a lot to clean him up, which woke him up. Then I had to stay up very late with him (until 2AM) to help stop the bleeding that started when I cleaned him up. I will have to reduce his dose of Asprin to half a tablet per day or less. Everytime I give what the doctor recommends, he bleeds too much. His cough has almost disappeared, so he is pretty much over the Para-influenza virus.

June is Busting Out All Over With Excitement

Isaac learned in Preschool about the calander and what month we are currently in. For about a week he has been asking when will June be here. Last night just before he went to sleep he found out June would be here within minutes. At just about three minutes before midnight he began watching each minute change on the digital clock by the bed. Every minute he would come running out of the room to tell Daddy and Mommy what time it was. It seemed like we were bringing in the New Year again. He was so excited at midnight when it became June, he continued to get excited as each minute passed even after midnight, this went on for over forty minutes. We could hardly calm him down, it was so cute. He usually isn't up that late, and he even was having a hard time keeping his eyes open until his second wind hit with the excitement.

Butterfly Miracle and So Forth

Yesterday while we were at the graveyard visiting Isaac's Grandpa's grave, we saw a transparent mylar butterfly balloon float up to the sky with a small flag attached to the bottom. We watched as it floated away, then the wind shifted, bringing the balloon back down to a boy that had lost it from his loved ones grave. What a Memorial Day Miracle it was to see. I have NEVER seen a balloon float away outside towards the sky so high in the air come back down. I am sure the boy will never forget that experience for a long time.

Isaac also was disappointed at first to think there wasn't a gravestone marker with his name on it. We all gasped and my heart sank and explained to Isaac how sad we would all be if he died and the only way he could have a gravestone was to die. He finally understood and didn't stay dissappointed. I hope I will never see the day with any of my children's name on a gravestone of their own. How painful it must be to experience such a loss. I feel bad for the parents I have known and heard of who have had to endure such a trial. My heart goes out to them.

I can kind of relate to the parents who send their sons and daughters to war. It is much like the experience of putting your child through heart surgery and wondering if they will make it out of the hospital. The battle he fights with his heart each day is like some battlefronts, some days go without and event and others are like an ambush attack.

Isaac and his sisters Lauren & Brianna are still sick with Para-influenza today, Isaac is improving although he till has a bad cough. I am hoping they all get better soon & noone else catches it from us. We are avoiding close contact with anyone, however we can't stay in a plastic bubble for too long.

Today's ENT visit

Today Isaac had a visit with Dr. Muntz (the Ear, Nose & Throat specialist) at P.C.M.C. He said that Isaac needs to be seen by an Orthodontist to determine weather his jaw placement needs to be moved before he can do surgery on his middle ear. He also recommended Isaac having plastic surgery on his outer ear, in about a year (between Kindergarten & first Grade). He said that they have to harvest cartilage from his ribs to use to build the ear. I talked to him about Isaac’s reoccurring croup including the current virus he’s suffering with today and he said the virus can last up to six weeks and he also recommended he have a Modified Barium Swallow Study & an Upper GI to find out if his Esophagus has narrowing and rule out reflux. I will just have to wait and see on all of this possible surgery, I have to be completely convinced all of this will be in Isaac's best interest. I will listen to what the doctors reccommend and My husband and I will make the final decision. My husband and I are not ready to put him through surgery again, unless we are convinced it is worth risking his life for it (as all surgery has it's risks). For sure we understand that feeding issues are vital, however cosmetic surgery for aesthetic reasons are lower on our list although can be thought provoking. His hearing is just a little below normal range on the left side, therefore we will possibly fix it if it is simple and very low risk.