The trach

Ten years ago today, Mike and I sat in surgery waiting area praying for a miracle.  Evan's ENT was hoping to repair Evan's airway without putting in a trach.  He had been on and off the vent for 6 weeks, unable to maintain a stable airway without it.  We knew that a trach was a possibility but we had prayed that the procedure she told us about would work.  When the ENT came out of the OR about 10 minutes after she went in, we knew the news wasn't good.  She would have to do a tracheotomy. I think I experienced every emotion that I possibly could that day.  I couldn't imagine anything worse happening to me and my baby.

Now, 10 years later, I can't imagine what life would of been like if Evan didn't get the trach.  Yes, it was a long, difficult and scary 2 1/2 years before it came out, but along the way I met so many extraordinary people. The nurses that were sent to my home to care for my son, women who were also caring for a child with a trach (some of which would become lifelong friends), exceptional physicians and therapists who truly cared about my child. As a result of our journey, I've been able to help other moms who are facing the same thing we faced 10 years ago and perhaps calm their fears about taking home a baby with a trach.  Evan's story inspires and encourages them. 

Three long weeks

So, I had my septoplasty on January 21st.  I was very pretty afterwards, wasn't I? The first couple days were bad.  I couldn't breathe thru my nose nor could I lie down.  Mike took me to the doctor's on Monday (surgery was Friday) to get the splints removed.  He told me all along I'd feel much better once they were out.  In my head, I thought the splints were little tiny plastic tubes.  When he pulled them out of my nose (one on either side) I almost died.  I had no idea they were so big.  No wonder I was miserable!  Unfortunately, a few days before my surgery, my herniated disks in my neck flared up and I was and have been in terrible pain.  Usually, I only have neck pain and stiffness for a few days or so.  The pain this time has radiated down into my shoulder and arm.  I was in tears the first week so the recovery from my surgery was made worse by my neck.  I wanted to curl up and die! I'm on my 2nd round of steroids and start physical therapy tomorrow, so I'm hoping that the traction that has helped in the past will help this time and that I don't have to go the next step and that is get injections into my neck by an anesthesiologist. These past three weeks have given me a new appreciation for people that are in chronic pain.  It really takes its toll on you. 

Happy 10th Birthday Evan!

Ten years ago my life changed forever. Today is Evan's 10th birthday. This kid has taught me more about courage, resilience, empathy and self-acceptance in the past 10 years than I managed to learn in my first 37 years.

As usual, we just didn't celebrate his birthday today-it started on Saturday.  We took 5 of his friends to a place called Sky Zone-a warehouse that is basically one big trampoline!  The boys had a great time.  Sunday was our family party complete with sloppy joes and  a DQ ice cream cake.  Today we started off with cinnamon rolls and ended with wings from BWW.  Yes, I ate my way through his birthday weekend! It's just so hard for me to believe that he is 10.  Double digits.  How did that happen?

Man vs Food (again)

The Thurman Burger!!

We had a great time today at the Thurman Cafe in German Village. Ever since Evan saw the Columbus episode of Man vs. Food, he's wanted to to go there. So, today was the day. He decided on the Thurman burger which was the same thing Adam Richman ate when he there. This is a 12 oz burger with ham, 2 kinds of cheese, sauteed onions, mushrooms, banana peppers, lettuce, tomato. As you can see, this thing is huge! Evan had so much fun eating it-he got halfway thru which is more than I ever imagined he would eat. Oh and then we went to Schmidts Sausage Haus to get a cream puff to go.  Adam went there too.  So, now we've been to two of the three places on Man vs Food.  One more to go!

The countdown has begun.....

10 years ago I was on "bedrest" at home. It was a horrible, boring yet stressful time. I had been off work since Dec. 27th and while I wasn't totally confined to my bed, I couldn't do much. I had to check my blood pressure 2-3 times a day (stressful) and then lie on my left side for a certain amount of time each day and count how many times the baby moved. THAT was stressful.  I just prayed that I would feel movement each day. Mike picked me up at home on January 4th 2001 and off we went to the high risk OB.  I think this was my first visit with the guy-my regular OB recommended I see him after my blood pressure spiked. He took this ultrasound and the moment I saw the profile, I knew we were having boy.  Evan Michael. Now, I guess I was naive and thought that if anything, I'd just hang out at home until March when he was suppose to be born.  Little did I know that two weeks after this ultrasound was taken, I would be at OSU recovering from a c-section and Evan would be fighting for his life at Children's.

Just one more......

Michael Jackson: The Experience