Sickness in our house! :(

Ever since Carter's surgery two weeks ago, his throat has not been quite right...I blamed the intubating him...at first..Well, last saturday his cough clearly became worse and still a week later, today, is not better...I took him to the doctor on monday and they put him on a nebulizer and also z-pack...you would think that it would have worked by now, but he keeps spiking fevers and coughing ALOT. He is afraid of the nebulizer and if I even say the word, he says 'all done'..poor little guy has been traumatized and knows that this is medical equipment. :( He seems to do pretty good in the days, no fever or anything, but then he spikes at night...102 to 103..YIKES. I do not like that....tylenol, ibuprofen.
We had a great Thanksgiving, despite not being in tip-top shape...It was a good day. Cam had his first thanksgiving...wow, is he growing up fast! He is already 6 1/2 months! Hard to believe. Camden has been doing so much better on rice cereal, too...Learning how to swallow better and even opening his mouth for Cody or I! :) He has been really getting his 'butt up' when on the floor...and even goes on all 4's occasionally...which is really exciting to watch. I sometimes have to just let him get mad on the floor, cause thats when he does his best work, lol :)
Not too much is going on as of now...just praying that my boys can return to full health..its not fun having them cough all the time.
O, I should mention Cody and I did go out yesterday for Black Friday..not at 3-4-5 am like some people, but we still were blessed to find and get all the items we were looking for! Some of the items were the last one too! We are all done shopping, for each other and for others, what a great feeling that is! We both know what we are getting for each other for Christmas, but oh well..We should like the gift then!
More to come! Lata~ Jessica

Yet another trip to Omaha..

Last wednesday morning started out rough. Carter was very clingy when he woke up and tired...Cody was getting ready for work..we didnt think too much into it..have to believe the best sometimes and not the 'what can happen'.. Well, like I said, Cody was getting ready for work and then Carter threw up..It was our worst nightmare, again. No fever, lathargic, clingy. My head was spinning...we just went through this exactly two weeks ago..it just can't be! Cody was so good because he said...we need to pack, we are going straight to Omaha this time. I was so very scared..What is going on with our Carter? Oh Lord, please help him.
We made our way to Omaha and got right into Midwest Neuroscience Center and Carter had a CT scan and then saw the doctor...the doctor did believe that it was his shunt again..by this time Carter had gotten sick a few more times while traveling but then starting acting a little better when we approached Omaha. Seeing this, the neurosurgeon wanted us to again take Carter to Nebraska Medical Center and have him admitted...he would be on the 'watch'. If he got worse, then surgery would be that night, if he stayed about the same then surgery was scheduled for the next day @ 1:00 pm. It seemed like forever away for me, a whole day, but beings Carter wasnt too bad (yet), surgery wasnt going to happen if he for sure didnt need it. Well, after we left the clinic Carter got sick right in the parking lot...My poor baby. I had no doubt whatsoever in my mind that Carter needed surgery. None. He kept getting sicker.
We got to the hospital and they tried to get an IV going for Carter cause he was on his way to dehydration..Well, they blew 5 veins trying to get one. Finally got one in his upper right arm, almost the arm pit I would say. Carter got worse as the day progressed. He ended up having surgery last thursday @ 1. The neurosurgeon told us that the catheter had gotten plugged...there are actually tiny holes on the sides of the catheter that allow for drainage..those were filled with brain tissue..They actually had to twist the catheter to get it out! They placed a new catheter in his brain which was shorter than the previous. Carter did well for a little while after this surgery...then in the wee morning hours of friday (around 4 am)..Carter threw up. Cody was thinking maybe it was because the nurses weren't keeping on top of his pain..they gave him morphine then...BUT Carter again threw up a little after six...I stayed in the Lead Center there (like a hotel on hospital campus, only could have one person stay the night in Carter's room)..I came into Carters room around 6:30 friday morning..and knew something was wrong by the look on Cody's face...and then I again witnessed Carter throwing up. This cant be happening! :( Along while ago, Dr. Hellbusch (Carter's amazing neurosurgeon) gave me his cell phone #. I quickly called it and told him that Carter was throwing up and we needed a CT scan sooner than 9 am...We ended up getting one at 7:00...At 7:30 friday morning we were told that Carter's ventricles were huge and that he would go back in for round #2 surgery at 9 am..Again I was scared but was glad atleast we didnt have to wait hours and hours.
Carter's second surgery last week went better than his first last week...He is now actually up to six surgeries in his life...all shunt related. Dr. Hellbusch actually placed a new & longer catheter back into the spot where it was before the prior day's surgery. He started coming back later that day...When I say coming back I mean acting himself...When Carter has fluid built up in his brain, all he does is sleep and get sick..he is not the same little boy..he NEEDS his shunt for quality of life. I am so thankful that we live in a time of technology where there are doctors who are able to help my son.
Carter's CT scan saturday morning looked drastically different than the one they did on friday morning..the fluid had decreased amazingly! We got discharged that morning and were all so happy and relieved to go home after being there for over 3 days. When we actually walked out into the parking garage there at the hospital, Cody said to Carter.."Your free!"....and Carter yelled "Your free!' SO excited!..He was back to out little spunky boy..he was eating, talking, playing like before...We didnt really want to see him or let him walk at the hospital..the floors are so hard...When we got home saturday, Carter began walking..It was so nice to see that...I was worried that surgery could make him regress...but clearly it didnt and I am so thankful.
Thank you everyone for all your prayers for our Carter...One thing ran through my head...I really dont know what we would do without Carter..he is the most amazing little boy and has taught me more than anyone so far...He is determined...he is a fighter...a trooper. I love him beyond words and always always always wish that I could take his place when he has to go through pain..no 2 year old should have to go through what he has..and six times so far...We just hope and pray that this shunt will last a long long time.
This friday is his 3rd birthday..I hope its a new beginning for him. I can't believe its been 3 years already! Happy Birthday to my baby!
Again, thanks for your prayers everyone!