Power Chair Update !!!

Well, I promised a picture of Whitnee learning how to drive a power chair. We went up yesterday to Shriner's to try out another joy stick, this one is very sensitive to the touch so it was perfect for her to use. She sat in the chair for 45 minutes just spinning in circles. She loved every minute as you can tell.

We go back up to Shriner's on Thursday the 16th to sit down with Shriner's and IHC Health to write up our order for her power chair. And if every thing goes well with our Insurance ( cross our fingers) and they don't turn us down for anything we should have her power chair around Thanksgiving. Yippee!!!! We can hardly wait for her to be able to move around on her own.

Yesterday when we got there and they were setting up her joystick and trying to get it to work, she begged and begged to sit in the chair. She kept pointing and it and saying chair, chair. She already know that it allows her to be free to do what she wants.

Shriner's is also building and giving her a manual wheelchair to have also, so we are in the works for that chair to. Just a few more trips to Shriner's for some measuring and trying things out and I think we will be good. Thank you Shriner's for all your help!!!!

Long Time... No Update... Til' Now :)

Well I guess it is time to update our family site. We are all doing really well, with school being out I have a lot of help at home and I love every bit of it. Kortnee and Nic played soccer this spring and sure had a blast doing it. Nic managed to make the final goal for the year again to tie up the game. Boy was he on cloud 9. Kortnee did great too, her coach actually walked up to Nate and said I can't believe how aggressive Kortnee has gotten with the ball. Boy was her dad proud.

They have also spent time up in Idaho with their grandparents and cousins too. This last visit was for a week and yes mom had a hard time with them being gone that long. But my wonderful Niece came and stayed with me while they were gone to help me out! Thank you Jessica. We love you !!!!!

We thought we would try our first family trip since our episode with Whitnee to the Hogle Zoo! The kids loved every bit of it. I think Whitnee's favorite part was the Monkeys, every time she saw one she would say Bobo Bobo (thank you Diego!) It was really cute. We had to cut our visit short due to the heat. So we plan on going back to finish our sight seeing this fall when it is quite a bit cooler for Whitnee. Well Whitnee had her first cold after our little episode in March, we managed to get through it with out Nate and I having a nervous breakdown. We are so greatful for her cough assist and suction machine. We managed to make it through her 2 week cold and so did she with out having to call the ambulance! Yippee !!!!!

I guess our most exciting adventure this summer so far was our trip to Shrinners Hospital this week for Whitnee's Wheelchair Evaluation. They measured her for her Wheelchair and then put her in a electric wheelchair and let her play with the joy stick. Her facial expression was priceless when she pushed on it the first time and started going in a circle. The look of Wow it moves when you touch this thing. The giggles between the movement was wonderful. A few more trips up there to play with the Wheelchair and I think by the end of August we will be in the process of purchasing her chair.

Welcome Home!!!!!!

YEAAAHHHH Whitnee's home. After a long stay at the hospital Whitnee was able to come home on Wednesday. She still had an "IV" to administer some antibiotics, but it was taken out last night around 6:30pm. So now she is sitting on the couch and laughing at her brother and sister. Even Daisy (the dog) noticed her being gone so long, she wouldn't leave the bedside all night until I rousted her out.

What's Next?
Well we will be feeding her through her "Gtube" for the next 6 weeks at least and possibly longer, only because she did not pass her swallow test at the hospital. The doctor said that she will likely recover fully, however the "G-tube" will always be a way to assist her staying healthy. As for the rest of us we are trying to get used to the routine. Anna, should get an honorary nursing degree after all of this.

As for now we are all doing much better especially not having to consider the hospital a second home. Still many things to come and learn over the next few weeks, but couldn't be happier now that she is home. I have had a few people ask about visiting and what they can do to help. Visiting is great, we just ask that you make sure you are healthy before you come. As for what we need, well we aren't really sure yet... We are still waiting for word back concerning her wheelchair session. As for now Just coming out and visiting is great.

Successful Surgery & HOME STRETCH!

Tuesday's Surgery went really good. WHitnee now has a second belly button and loves to tell us about it. She was able to recover pretty quick from the re-intibation (due to surgery) and is now just a little sore from the procedure, but overall really doing well. Here is a picture of her with Dad (first time I got to hold her since this ordeal started).

It seems that we are in the "home stretch". Doctors are now pushing her off of the bi-pap machine for longer periods of time. The only time she will need to be on it is when she sleeps and when she is sick. Today we are hoping she can do 9 hrs independant of the bi-pap but we will see. What does all of this mean? Well, we think that she may be able to come home either Tuesday or Wednesday.

I want to thank everyone again for the calls, emails, and prayers of support. It has really helped to know that we have good family and freinds to help us.