Battle of the Brain...

You have heard this expression, yes? Well me too. I have a different take on this phrase than many though. Let me explain.
This morning started out early, Camden slept the entire night however was up @ 4:30! A little early, but hey I didnt have to wake up in the night so I brewed some coffee and started my day. Cody came out of the room around 5:30 with Carter..talking about how Carter had been awake also and so he figured they just as well get up with us. Carter fell back asleep on Daddy once they came into the living room...He slept..normal because it was early. Well, by 6:15 he wasnt acting himself. He had that 'distant' look in his eyes and when I saw it I had the worst feeling in the pit of my stomach. You see when there is a battle of the brain in our house, thats just what it is. With the extra CSF fluid in Carter's head, you just never know what can happen and when. All Carter wanted to do this morning was lay down, whine, not let daddy go, cry, sleep, etc. Not good. We checked his temp, normal @ 97-98. Okay, Cody and I decided not to freak out, hard when its OUR son and this has happened countless numbers of times with him. We hate seeing our son go through these things. So, after deciding not to jump the gun, Carter threw up. Cody said "Okay, we are going (Omaha)"...but as we are running around like chickens with our heads cut off, Carter begins to act better. That is the point we have been at for a few hours. He hasnt gotten sick again and has been acting completely himself. Now we wait with all eyes glued to him.
As I was busy preparing to go to Omaha, all I could do was cry. I look at Carter, the miracle he is, and still wonder WHY MY SON? Why Carter!!!!!!!!!? I really dont understand why he has to go through all this, why he had to be born with fluid on his brain? Why the shunt malfunctions? Why Lord?! I plead with God to take away all health issues and to just completely and 100% heal my son. It is the worst feeling when there is nothing you can do to help. Oh how I love my son Carter (and Camden too!)..Please keep Carter in your prayers.

A Parent's Love

Yesterday, we visited the park here in Rembrandt with My sister Tara, her three kids, and my mom. We had a great time there. I got to play tag with Hanna and Rilyn, which was great exercise! :) I had Camden in there infant/toddler swing and he swang for probably 15 minutes and loved it! Carter got to swing with Daddy in the tire swing and loved that too! I was just having so much fun that Carter wanted to sit on my lap...He got on my lap but it was hard to keep his 45 pound frame balanced on me and still hold onto him and the chain link swing...I tried...My efforts failed. I could have chosen to fall face forward in the swing, and fall on him..Or instintively hold the chain with my arm, the inside of my elbow to catch my fall. What do you think happened? Yep, I caught my fall..Did not want to Carter to get hurt because of me, I caught myself and hurt my arm. Today, forgetting about the whole episode, I bent my arm...and remembered. Ouch does it hurt today. But thats okay...I would rather it be me than Carter. I would choose the same consequence over and over to save my child from pain.
This brings me to think about what we as parents do to protect our children. Sure, we wont always be able to save them from all pain and heartache..but we will try! I am sure that all of you would have done the same for your child(ren). I know that Carter has had more pain in his life already than I have had to endure my whole life. He has had surgery in his brain six times..more than any child or person should have to in my opinion. I will fight for my child til the end. I will be his and Camdens #1 advocate..I will be there whenever he or they need me..and that is a promise..I love my children so much and would do anything for them. Wow, with that thought~ we know that God loves us SO much more than we love our own children..thats what the bible teaches us. Ponder that today..Thats alot of love..Think of what Christ did for us so we can be saved from our sins. He didnt just get a hurt arm as I did, he was crucified on the cross for us. Thank you Lord for that!
Grace= God's riches at Christ's expense.
Have a great day everyone!

Great News

On Monday, my mom and I took Carter to his checkup in Omaha. Camden came also. Carter saw his neurosurgeon, Dr. Hellbusch, and had a routine cat scan and doctor visit. Cody couldnt come because of how busy he is at work right now. The mri tech was really good with Carter and gave him a chin strap and football helmit (both out of washclothes and tape) to keep his head still..we dont need him to move or it has to be re-done. He did pretty good..put up a little fight, but hey-thats Carter. :) When she has done, she told him touchdown and he gave her a high five and a pound. It was cute.
The scan looked pretty much exactly the same from his last scan...which is what we want to see...no increased fluid in his brain. We were told that Carter does not have to be seen for a year! While this is great news- keep in mind that a shunt malfunction cam happen at any time- doctors have no way of knowing this either. We pray against any malfunctions!
Carter has really been progressing lots lately..and it is SO awesome to see! He recently learned how to kick a ball..and he does it with both feet too..another brain obstacle he has overcome! Today he kicked the ball and then asked "Where is it?"--the words aren't out of the ordinary, he talks ALL THE TIME...but his comprehension is improving! He also said he has brown eyes and that "Camden is funny" when he heard Camden babbling. These are just a few examples..
I feel so blessed to have Carter, Camden and Cody in my life..I can't wait to see whats in store for our family!

Its been awhile...since I have blogged!

Hello everyone...It seems like forever since I have updated my blog. I think that both good and bad things have happened since the last post...Lets start with the good. Carter has grown!
We went to Carter's Pediatric Endocrinologist back in february...from August 2009 to February 2010, Carter grew a whole inch! It was so exciting because that meant that growth hormone treatments were not going to happen (atleast now they aren't), because Carter was growing finally after a year of hardly any growth. Carter was between the 3 and 4 percentile in August and climbed up a little bit when checked in February...Carter is now 37 inches!! I measured the little guy again this morning and Carter has literally grown another inch and a half since the beginning of February! YAY! That puts him at the 16th percentile- which is definitely a step in the right direction. With Cody being 6'5'' I just didnt believe that Carter was/is going to be short. :) Maybe not as tall as Daddy but definitely taller than me (5'5"). Some of you may wonder, "Well why worry about this?"...well because the pituitary gland which controls growth is near where he has his fluid on the brain..so yes, there is some cause for concern! Now I am just praying for his feet to grow for more stability for walking, they are still smaller than the average 3 yr old.
The bad: Let me first tell you that I am happy to report that there has been more good than bad, but some bad has come our way..Its the pain that Carter experiences and has to deal with. No, this is nothing new. But, its been a little different lately. Yesterday, Easter day, Carter kinda screamed out of no where and covered his eyes with his arms...he had a headache..It was very evident. Poor little guy. We gave him tylenol, but he went on like this for a while, clenching onto his Daddy. Usually the pain he experiences is gone just as quick as it lasted, but that was not the case for him yesterday.. Please pray for Carter, he was so worked up and in so much pain that he wouldnt even tell me what was hurting..there have been times in the past where he would point to where it hurt.
CAMDEN~
Camden is getting around...He has been crawling like a little professional, pulling up to anything and everything and cruising occasionally. I have even caught him standing in the middle of the room..he let go after pulling up. Its really cute to watch. He definitely is getting more attitude and personality now also. Carter and Camden are playing together much better too lately, although I still have to keep an eye on Carter so he doesnt push Camden. Guess what Camden did the other day..Yep, you guessed it. HE pushed Carter! Ornery boys I tell ya!
Next Monday is a trip to Omaha for Carter. Please for a good check up with his neurosurgeon.
Thanks for all your prayers!