Spring Time

 Spring is my favorite seasons.  I mean it is a time of growth and new life. Really...with beauties like these around...how could you not find yourself loving spring time?

 

My lil' magnolia tree certainly did not disappoint this year. It is one of the most gorgeous pieces of How-could-God-Not-Exist evidence around, I say!

 Spring also brings us Easter with all of the joys of that holiday....Jesus, Eternal Salvation and Egg hunts.

 Spring is time to get outside and play with the furry ones...even if they are three times your size.

And it is time to get out and learn a new sport...

or two.

 But, unfortunately, springtime is also a time for tremendous storms.  Storms that will amaze you about the wonderous world we live in. Storms that make you pray.  And storms that destroy

If you are a praying type...please pray for the devastation around St. Louis...particularly for the Renaud Empire.  A large tree fell and broke through their sunroom and kitchen.  Could you imagine? The Renaud Empire includes a loving Mom and Dad with four lil' ones all preschool age and younger.  I praise God for keeping everyone safe during the storm.  With all the damage around North County...it is truly amazing no one got seriously hurt.

The "eyes" have it.

As you can see from the first post of the day, Owen woke up this morning with his left eye completely swollen shut. Then he barely had control over his right eye lid.  He was pretty mad this morning. He didn't want anything to do with anybody.  All he wanted was to be held, in a certain position.  While being held, he didn't want you to bother him any further.

The craniofacial plastic surgeon came in and took off Owen's bandage.  Man, his incision is creepy.   It goes straight from one side of his head to the other side.  Wanna know what else is creepy?  Well, he is going home...bandage-less.  Seriously! Is that not the craziest thing you ever heard. But what do I know. I just have a measily Masters in education.  The big wigs w/ their MD's and years of experience says it is best to have it uncovered, so I will take their word for it.

                                    

After being awake for a four or so hours, he took his morning nap.  By the time he woke up and Cory arrived, Owen was able to open both eyes a little bit. When they said that his swelling should be the worst on Thursday, I expected to see the swelling all day long. After all the resident neurosurgeon indicated that he won't be getting better until tomorrow.  But by the grace of God, it is already getting better.

As soon as Cory arrived, Owen exclaims, "Dada" in his drowsy, cranky, lil' voice.  Owen has been demanding his dad's attention the whole visit. He only wants Cory to hold him, carry him and comfort him.  Maybe he will even allow Cory to administer the Tylenol at 2 w/out a big fit.

Owen even cracked a little funky smile when Cory handed him his favorite Elmo book.  The book kept his attention for about a minute, then he went back to being cuddly.

All we are doing now is waiting for two things: Owen to eat/drink & for his lovely drain to come out.

                                      

Pretty weird to see this coming out of his head, huh?  Well, if he drains less than 30 mL (that is 1 oz for you metric system haters), the drain will be yanked out of the ole noggin.  Owen has been trying to save the nurses any trouble of removing the drain by tugging at it, but I've reassured him that the nurses don't mind doing the honors. 

Owen continues to push away the sippy as it is offered.  He has that stinkin' IV in his foot still and really doesn't want anything to do with a sippy cup.  Perhaps, I should offer him a McDonald's Frappe. He is totally obsessed with those (hey..don't yell at me, all I give him is the cool whip topping...not the coffee part).

So, we are grateful for the outpouring of support we've received.  Our family and friends are amazingly supportive.  Our God is an awesome God who has been answering our prayers left and right.  Owen seems to be either in no pain or tolerating his pain really well.  He hasn't needed morphine in over 26 hours.  The swelling shut of Owen's eyes was relatively short lived.  Praise the Lord! We are now praying that Owen will accept the sippy cup and try to drink and eat soon.  But as I write that I feel very humbled that God is allowing our prayers for Owen to be fulfilled while this hospital sits with hundreds of sick kids fighting various levels of pain, discomfort and diseases.  Why our prayers are being answered and Owen is clearly getting better is beyond me.  But it is enough for me to continue to sing God's praises and say, "Blessed be the name of the Lord!"

Surgery Day: Part 2 of ???

Once Owen got carried away by the friendly anesthesiologist, we went back to our waiting room to do just as its name states.  Wait.  After we felt we got our fill of waiting for the day; we, you know, waited some more.

Around 9 they started the procedure itself, after an hour or so. Around 10:30 the Nuerosurgeon came out and said that his part of the procedure was finished.  He does the actual incision and cuts the skull. He examined the brain and duramatter. He says all looked perfectly normal and there was no damage--praise God!  As to be expected, Owen's brain sort-of relaxed and expanded a little bit after they opened the skull.  So Owen can say au voir to his squished brain and embrace the room he has to grow a nice round head!


After waiting some more for the Craniofacial Plastic Surgeon to do his part, we see someone we know at the reception desk.   Surprisingly some of my family from New Madrid came up to visit. I saw my Granny, my Aunt Janice and Uncle Dempsey.  They were in town for another appointment & decided to stop over--that is after they mistakenly looked for us at Barnes-Jewish.  But eventually they made their way over to the Same Day Surgery Waiting Room.

It was nice to have them come and take our minds off the procedure and the fact that we are just waiting, waiting and waiting.

After a long while the plastic surgeon came out and said he was done reconstructing the skull and they are stitching Owen up.   Silly us thought we would be able to see Owen soon after that. After, all the plastic surgeon said in about an hour to an hour and a half. Silly doctor must of used "hospital time". Little did we know...that really that translates into 3 hours & 15 minutes in normal people time.  So around 3:15 we were in Owen's PICU room.

I was totally prepared for seeing Owen lethargic, swollen, oozy. But the moaning. Oh, the moaning got to me.   Why didn't I think of preparing for that heartbreaking sound?  Of course I cry.  Those moans say everything that he isn't able to articulate.

Thankfully God has blessed us with great staff at Children's.  Our Bitty Baby is on morphine and that seems to help.    I could tell, though, that he was needing another dose right before the nurse came in. Man, what would I do to be in his place.

Owen has things in just about every limb.  His left arm, otherwise known as the home-to-his-favorite-thumb, has a few thing-a-ma-jigs; he has a iv in his right foot; blood pressure cuff on his left foot, a catheter in, well, where they put catheters, sticky heart rate monitors on his chest, and to top off, he has a drain coming out of his skull.

Overall, they said the surgery went well.  Being at the ripe ole' age of 14 months, Owen's skull was a little more difficult to maneuver.  Dr. W didn't get the back of his head the exact way that he would've wanted. It is a little bit more round that they prefer, but Owen's bones are just too thick to work with.   The bump in Owen's forehead also couldn't be worked with at this time.  Dr. W said that as Owen grows, it will smooth out.  However, Owen's head is officially one inch wider. Pretty amazing, huh? The way they did it kinda reminds me of the crazy Chinese procedures to lengthened their legs....but way less involved. Those crazy, short Chinese have to be in the doctor's care for about a year to get their legs lengthed a few inches. Give the American doctors 5 hours, and you get an extra inch added to the width of you head! See American made products aren't all bad.

Owen's little brain did drain more fluids than is typical (which is really one of the reasons it took so long for us to see him).  The staff is monitoring him and made us well-aware of the possibility of a second transfusion.  

                                      

As of now, Owen is doing fair. He is a little moany.  He will open his eyes for a few seconds.  He has even muttered a few words. "Mama" "Dada".  They aren't the happy mama and dada's that I am used to unfortunately.  These are the "Mama, help me...please let's go home" kind of Mamas.  Yeah.  Heartbreaking.

So, just as he continues to call out for us, we continue to call out to God.  God, please comfort our son.  We know you feel pain when he does. We know you don't want him any discomfort & that the pain I am feeling you are feeling ten-fold. So please, Lord, watch after our Bitty Baby.  He needs you. But then again, who doesn't.

Surgery Day: Part 1 of ???

Here is the beginning of the end of our Journey with Craniosynostosis. 

This is Owen at 5 a.m.   Notice his head shape.  This will be the last time you will see it so nice, skinny, long and scar-free. (Click on the pics to make them larger)

On our way to Children's Hospital.

                                      

In our own private quarters in the waiting room.  

After 5 minutes in the waiting room, Owen was admitted and sent back.  He was thoroughly unimpressed with his anklet name badge.  But we found some a neat toy to distract him for a few minutes.

So, Owen chills with Mom and Dad.  He really wanted down and a couple times he says, "Ah Dah, bye-bye"  Too bad he is far from being All Done. 

  

Eventually a bunch of Doctors (like EIGHT!) and a few nurses came in to visit, ask questions and talk.  One of the nurses gave Owen some icky medicine that made him pretty loopy!  He was pretty funny on that stuff.  Wish they had a dose for us, too!

So, right now he went back with the nice Anesthesiologist Resident.  He had no complaints being carried away by the friendly, giant, peek-a-boo playing stranger.  He is getting sedated, Iv-ed, and what not. The surgery should start shortly & will last about four more hours.  

When people ask if we are scared and worried. Well, honestly, the answer is YES. Oh Heck Yeah.  But, We know that those worries are fruitless and that God is watching our lil' boy right now. He is guiding he hands of the surgeons.  God is all over this place. After all if God brought Owen into our lives with this crazy fused skull of his, he can easily help the doctors fix it.

Any Guesses?

What did I do today?

Here's your hint:

Still need help?  Let me zoom out for you...

Got it now?

Yup.  You got it. I have 1 less pint of blood flowing through these veins.  Today I went to the local Red Cross Agency to give some of my eewey, gooey, life-sustaining goodness for Owen.   As of today, three people donated blood to Owen--myself, Cory and his Grandma Milles.  Two others tried to give blood, but couldn't for various medical reasons.  We are blessed to have people step up for our lil' guy.

So why this blood for a head surgery? Well, I am glad you asked. As it turns out, Owen will need a transfusion as, you know, once ya get cut open you tend to bleed a lot.  So one week from today we should be sitting in the ICU with our Swollen Owen who will have a rounder head and some of all of our blood flowing through those precious tiny veins of his.

Keep those prayers a comin'.  Pray for Owen that he says healthy and doesn't catch a bug what will interfere with his surgery.  Pray for our nerves as we get closer to the date.  Pray for Owen and his doctors during the procedure. And then...while you are at it....throw in one more prayer for Bethany that she copes well during this whole process.

And after your done praying...call and make an appointment at the Red Cross. You never know when someone you love will need blood.

2 Weeks

Lil' Owen has 2 more weeks until his poor lil' skull goes Snap, Crackle, and Pop.  

It seems that so many of our conversations go, "After Owen's surgery" or "Once Owen is back to normal...".  We (really, not so much Cory...just me) are super anxious to get his surgery here and done already.  We know he is in great hands with the best pediatric craniofacial plastic surgeon and neurosurgeon around.  However, I am beginning to feel nervous and just needing to get the show on the road.  I am not one for not knowing what our future holds.  So when I think of 2 weeks from today...all I know is Poor Owen is going to be post-op, in the ICU, and bandaged with his eyes swollen shut.  I am hoping and praying that he will be in good spirits, calm and pain-free.  

So...that's it.  Two more weeks until the reconstruction day.  Then the 3-7 days at the hospital.  Then things should be several steps closer to being "normal."  But as time grows closer to the surgery & I can't help but to grow more worrisome. In times of worry I try to remind myself of Luke 12:25 which several years ago when I was worried about something Cory gently placed in my heart.  

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

So I continue to struggle with the fruitlessness of my worries and anxiety.  I know, all I can do is pray, trust in the Lord and follow the doctors' orders.  After all Philippians 4:6 says.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God

Owen's head isn't perfect

What does Owen (as seen below) have in common with

the Crystal Skull from Indiana Jones?

Well, as it turns out, quite a bit. As you can see they are pretty much the same shape. The reasons for Owen's elongated skull could have one of two possible explanations.

(1) It might just be possible the Cory really is an extra terrestrial---like he's been telling his students for the past 7 years.

(2) Owen has Craniosynostosis--which in normal people words means that one suture (crack) in his skull closed prematurely and as his brain grows, it causes his skull to grow extra long cause it can't grow round since his skull is fused shut.

Well, I don't have definitive proof that Cory is not an alien. However, after a day's worth of doctors visits at Children's Hospital, we were able to confirm that Owen does has Craniosynostosis.

So here is a run-down of our Marthon Doctor-fest 2010.

Wednesday, Owen went for his 12 month check-up. The doctor was please with Owen over all, but concerned about this head shape. She told us to get an X-ray.

Thursday, we went to the Urgent Care place to get the X-rays. They confirm her suspicions about some premature closure of a suture. She schedules us to "meet with the team" of craniofacial specialist to see exactly was is going on and our next steps. For added kicks and giggles she requested a CT scan...you know why not?

So Friday....we loaded up bright and early for our trip to the City for our 8:30 appointment.

We are all smiles!

We get to Children's after a long ride. Then we check-in and our Marathon begins. Honestly, we didn't understand the scope of this event until we were in the midst of this. All of this stuff has really just came to a head (pun intended) yesterday.

So we wait....
And play....
We fill out papers...
And wait...
Every now and then it is our turn to see 1 of the members of the team.
When we aren't seeing one of the members...we....wait........
Sometimes we enjoy the fishes......
Or cuddle Dad...but overall....we....waited...
In all we saw 8 doctors/specialists: a ear, nose, throat; a speech pathologist; an audiologist; a psychologist; a craniofacial plastic surgeon; a nurse; a CT Scan technician; and a neurologist.

Each doctor/specialist individually evaluated Owen in their little specialty, jotted notes, informed us on the diagnosis, answered questions, and overload our brains with information.

Good News is Owen is developing just right and is very typical and average. Average is Good! Praise God!

Not as Good News is that Owen does in deed have Craniosynostosis. His Sagittal Suture has fused shut (likely in utereo), causing his head to elongate. Keep in mind these sutures aren't supposed to close until you are about 20. So he is only 20 years early on the whole suture-closing-process. Nothing like getting ahead! (yup...that pun was intended, too!)

So what does this all mean? Well, Owen will be having surgery in July to crack his skull in a few pieces so his lil' brain can continue to grow without any limits and boundaries. This will not only reshape his head into a nice lil' circle, but for certain not allow any cranial pressure to ever be an issue/concern. We will have two surgeons in on the process: the pediatric craniofacial plastic surgeon and the neurosurgeon(to, as the plastic surgeon said, "Make sure I don't screw up and protect the brain.")

After being at the hospital for just about 6 hours and really realizing just exactly what we've gotten ourselves into, we load back up in the car and head on back.

This little girl was out like a light before we even got out of the parking garage. She was such a trooper at the hospital. I was so proud of her. We would never had brought her if we knew it was such a big day. We thought we'd be in and out in a hour or two. But she was so patient going from place to place. Waiting and waiting. And allowing all the doctors to fuss over Owen. But as she puts its "Owen's head isn't perfect". That was after I told her the doctors aren't worried about her head because it's perfect.

This one fell asleep once we hit the highway. He, too, was a trooper. He didn't put up too much of a fight when the people wanted to hold, touch, poke, and talk to him. He really wasn't that bad during the CT scan. He just broke my heart when he looked at me with his eyes pleading me to pick him up. Gosh...he's absolutely adorable.

We don't have a surgery scheduled yet. We know it will be in July sometime and as it gets closer to date we will fill you all in with details of the surgery and his hospital stay. Until then, please pray for our lil' Owen and his big head!