Surgery

Daxtons surgeries went really well. It was unbelievable how fast it was. Ryan and I went down to our favorite place to eat in Salt Lake, the Rainbow Cafe, and got breakfast went back up to the waiting room and he was done. The first 24 hours were really rough for him. He was in A LOT of pain and pretty much cried all day long even with the Lortab that was prescribed. But the next morning he woke up happy. It still hurts him when he pees, he cries a little but he is healing really nicely. The ear tubes went so smoothly and honestly I don't think he even knows anything happened to his ears. Ryan and I have the guilt for putting him through a painful procedure but we hope that it will benefit him in the future. Through this whole adventure my four year old Ellie has learned a new vocabulary word-the "p" word for the male genitalia. It is what it is. Now whenever someone asks how Daxton is she immediatly says that is "p" hurts, but she says the whole word. It is quite embarrassing. Kids, you just got to love them!!
So now no more procedures until his 2 year post transplant cath in Sept. Yahoo!

Tomorrow

Daxton goes in for surgery tomorrow for his ear tubes and circumcision. We head up to the hospital at 6 am. I know that it is necessary but I hate to put him through all of this especially when he is so happy and content with life. I'm not complaining just sad that tomorrow he will not be a happy camper. Send some prayers our way and also to all the heart babies going in for heart surgery. We are thinking of you Mckay...Good luck buddy.

Question for the mommas

We have decided that it is time for Daxton to get tubes in his ears. He has had multiple ear infection and constantly has fluid behind his ears. So the little man is having surgery. I know that it is very minor and that he should be done in 15 minutes. I am not too worried about it besides the fact he will have discomfort.

While he is getting tubes in his ears we are having him circumcised which turns out is a more intense procedure than the tubes. He will have to be completely put under and it will take longer than the tubes. I am sad to put him through this but at the same time feel like it is something that will help him in the long run. I know that uncircumcised males have a higher chance of infection and that worries me because of his transplant.

So my question is if anyone has any more useful information. As of now we are a go I have tried to call the transplant team to see what their opinion is from a cardiac stand point. I have not heard from them yet(very frustrated with the new mode of trying to get a hold of them, but that is another subject) What do you think?

Absolutly Amazing!!

This is an incredible story that I wanted to share. I was privileged to meet this miracle man and his sweet little mommy the other day. I just love science and the giant leaps that it is making. Enjoy......
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=10921916

Two years old!!!

A big huge Happy Birthday to my baby boy!!!

Two years ago right now I was in labor with my little man. It was a long emotional labor(36 hours). We had just found out three days before that our son had a heart condition. The word "roller coaster" is a great way to describe our emotions. We were determined to look on the bright side of things and to put our faith in trust in our Father in Heaven who knows all and who had ours and Daxtons best interest in mind.

He came out fighting. When we decided to name him Daxton we looked up the meaning of his name and there was none documented. Since the beginning he has fought many battles and has risen above them, thus the meaning of his name is "Warrior". Ryan gave him the nickname Daxtonius Parkerius. He has and still is living up to his name. He is starting to get a wonderful little temper. When he doesn't want something that I am trying to give him he hits his head with both his hands. I wonder what he is trying to accomplish?

In his two short little years Daxton has:

-survived a heart cath at 3 days old
-survived a heart surgery at 5 days old
-survived 2 1/2 months on a ventilator
-had his first smile while on the ventilator
-survived a heart transplant on Sept. 10 2008 at three months old.
-lived through a g-tube placement surgery-because he was not gaining weight and is still struggling gaining weight.
-has endured innumerable blood draws, pokes, probes, etc.
-has lived through 3 additional heart caths and will need one once a year for his entire life.
-he struggled crawling, walking, eating but now is doing all of these like a champ....well the eating we could work on a lot more.
-enduring life at home with two very loving and protective sisters and always with a Smile!!!

Daxton loves his:
-Sisters
-Mom and Dad
-Dog,Xander(honestly the only reason I have kept the dog is because of how much Dax loves him)
-choo choo train, especially Thomas
-watching "How to train your Dragon" and "Thomas"
-playing outside
-legos
-toy cars
-and we found out today he loves swimming

I love this little man! I am so eternally grateful that he is a part of our little family and I am his mother!!

His birthday present from the cardiology team is to let him go from three times a day meds to twice a day!!!!! To those who know this is HUGE for us!! Since his transplant we have been giving meds at 8am 4pm and 12am. It is so nice to not have to give that late night dose. I am a happy camper!!

So thanks to our Donor family and our Savior my little Dax man celebrates two years of wonderful, glorious, amazing life!!!!

I love you little man!!! Happy Happy Birthday!!!

Catching up

I have not posted for a while and I thought I would just update with whats been going on. The girls have been keeping busy with the dinner theatre. They did a dance to Itsy Bitsy Bikini with their cousins Kiara and Kayli. They all had a lot of fun dancing and interacting with the high school kids. Last night was closing night and I am so glad that it is over.

We are rounding down the school year with lots of activities; dance programs, school tests, school programs, etc. May is always such a busy month.

My Dax man is growing so fast. He is a professional walker now and is getting faster and more independent. He has been eating really really well up until a few days ago. He seems to have a little bug and doesn't want to eat. It is times like these that I am exceptionally grateful for the g-tube. For easter he got a Thomas choo choo train which he absolutely loves. He loves anything boy; cars, trucks, dragons, and banging things. (Even his head when he is having a terrible two temper tantrum) But he still stays in touch with his feminine side by playing with his sisters and their barbies. We took Daxton to the full 3 hours of church last week for mothers day. He wasn't to sure about it, it was very exhausting but wonderful to have him there. He is so wonderful. I am so incredibly grateful that he is with us and we can watch him grow and develop, Thanks to our donor family and the Lord

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Ryan started school again and hopefully will continue until the finish line. He is so close we just need to keep our eye on the prize. I am training for the Wasatch Back Relay right now and that is all consuming. I wonder if there will ever be a time when i can just go exercising without stressing about it all day. Probably not, but I do really enjoy running when I am finished with my run.

We are excited for the rain to stop and the sun to come out so we can come out and play and plant my garden.

p.s. I just added some random pictures that have nothing to do with the post, just for fun.

Running fool

I have registered to participate in the Wasatch Back Relay. What I was thinking I am not sure. Alas, I am on the training road. I have a few questions for all you runners out there.

1-What do you eat before you run?

2-What is your favorite music to listen to on a run?

3- When I get about mile 2.5 the balls of my feet start going numb. I have tried to loosening my shoes, that didn't work. So do you have any suggestions.

4- And last but not least, how the heck am I going to run 6.9 miles at one time?