Derek had surgery around midnight last night, after they (finally) located the adhesions at the top of his colon and figured out what the problem was in the first place. (Derek knew all along, the doctors just weren’t listening.)
He’s on the mend, still in pain but now it’s surgery-recovery-pain and not random-scary-pain.
Destiny is hanging in there, though being a parent in the PICU is not an easy thing by any stretch of the imagination. It does give a little perspective, that there are ways life could be worse, but that’s a hard thing to watch.
This is Kate, sneaking in to post while Destiny is unavailable… I got a letter from her husband, Steve, this morning:
Subject:Derek is back in the hospital
I just wanted to send everyone a quick note. Derek was taken to the ER on Saturday afternoon for severe abdominal pain. He was later transferred to [another hospital] where his Nephrologist works. After 3 days of testing they determined that he has a blockage in his intestines. They are uncertain what caused the blockage. He is scheduled for surgery tomorrow, however Destiny just called and told me that he just vomited something that looks like fecal matter so he may be going in for surgery sooner. When will he get a break?
I’ll keep you posted…….
Steve
I hope, very much, that Destiny will be back online and able to post an update for herself soon. I’ll call her this afternoon (I hate time zones) and will update as I learn anything.
I took both shopping on Monday morning and it was a complete DELIGHT! I could not believe it and think fellow shoppers were so surprised how well behaved my two toddlers were. The three of us held hands as we walked from shop to shop just seeing the world and getting out of the house (plus I picked up a few ornament crafts for them to send to our troops this holiday.) At one moment Derek stopped our little chain and leaned in nose to nose with Monet and gave her a kiss, “Mommy I love Monet so much.” I was just so proud.
By lunch time they were not ready to go home yet so we stopped at the grocery store and they both snacked at the deli as I got some meat and cheese. We then came home for lunch and they slept for about 90 minutes.
This morning I was getting ready to take them both to the doctor and Derek held Monet’s hand a gently walked her out the door to play with him..they played for nearly an hour in the backyard with no screaming or fighting. We went to both doctors appointments and hit McDs drive-thru for lunch. It was truly good day that I was dreading for nearly 3 weeks.
Days like these I need to remember so I can answer the question, “why did we want to be parents?”
We have been blessed this year and now I feel everyday I can brag a bit more about wonders of Derek and Monet. We realized over the last week that Miss Monet has learned to count to ELEVEN, ok folks she is almost 18 months. I think that really deserves some serious bragging rights on her behalf. Derek remembers EVERYTHING. Whoever said they remember up to a day or two never truly dealt with a determined little boy like him. He points out stuff we did/saw months or even a year ago. Won’t that memory come in handy in school?
Everywhere we go with them people constantly tell both of them how beautiful, cute, handsome…on and on they both are. They are such good kids most of the time (bar bad nights or when they are extremely hungry.)
We are looking forward to a fun and family filled Thanksgiving as I remind myself and all of our friends and family how blessed I see us now, my vision was a bit clouded over the last 3 years or so. We are on track to good health, happy & developing children and Steve and I are still here together providing guidance to our children. We have had great support in our friends and family and we can’t thank you enough.
Happy Thanksgiving each and everyone I hope each of you find or seek the blessings that surround you this week and never loose sight of them.
Today was a pretty important day for me in realizing that even our family can impact the community and organ donation…
Today was the Annual Rodeo and Parade in our town (a town I grew up in and have lived here for over 23 years.) After the parade a bunch of us went to a new pizza place that opened near an old hang out we all went to in high school. Monet was running mad (sugar rush from the candy thrown from the floats) and she ran into the elbow of the man sitting behind us…he proudly wore the same green bracelet I was sporting and I acknowledged it. His wife’s eyes began to fill with tears as she told me 7 months ago their son was killed in an auto accident and this was their first Thanksgiving without him. She is waiting for a letter, some kind of recognition of their son’s gift of life from a recipient. I told her that from what I have read on a transplant board so many emotions fill each person post transplant they can not convey how thankful they are. Her sister chased me out of the restaurant and thanked me for acknowledging the bracelet, that the father wore, and told me that the last few days have been torture on her sister as the holidays approach.
I believe God wanted me to contact this family and thank them for their gift and let them know how much their decision has helped other families.
If you happen to know an organ recipient…please encourage them to thank their donor or donor family. This time of year is particularly difficult and they would love to hear something as they find the courage to go on.
sounds like a song, oh wait it is a song. Anyways, finally Derek was permitted to come home today and Monet was beyond excited. She ran around on her old cell phone “talking” to Derek and giving him LOTS of kisses and saying “Wub ooo,” (that’s I love you.)
They haven’t gotten the cultures back yet, but since she isn’t oozing/weeping, she is considered not contagious, if it was contagious. We should have the actual results in a few more days and at least we will know what she had, hopefully it is gone for good.
I guess from all of this one positive is, I got to spend some real quality time with Monet and see who she is on a one on one basis, we never have had that oppritunity before.
Thanks for all of your kind words and positive support in this matter and all of our other issues we seem to constantly face.
With all the stress of health and such I stopped for a moment this morning and realized I have two children who have started doing some incredible things developmentally and I need to recognize them for that.
First Derek, he has learned how to pedal a bicycle and tricycle. We have been working with him but he seemed so uninterested and then boom he hopped on and took off. He is really good and it is like he has been doing it for a long time.
He also misses us so and has been really good at communicating how much he wants to come home. We have been reminding him that “hopefully” after Monday when Monet sees her doctor we can bring him home. I spent nearly the entire day with him and my father yesterday and this whole thing is incredibly hard on him but he is being such a trooper for only being 3.
Monet has really opened m eyes this last week. She can communicate so well with me and has guided me telling the doctors what exactly is bothering her, not bad for 17 months!!! She also has been singing a special song OVER & OVER & OVER…”5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed.” She just makes you laugh over and over signing it. She is also addicted to “color picture” or coloring a picture for those who don’t understand her broken English. She over enunciates when she speaks words trying to make sure her message is received.
My favorite and least favorite thing is the fact that she grabs my finger or thumb “Come Here Mommy,” & “No Mommy” and drags me to various places when she wants something or wants me to pay attention to just her and not other duties in our home.
I have been blessed and am Thankful for the special moments I have been allowed with both of my children. Under the excess stresses and hurdles they are developing normally and are showing their true characters and loving souls.
For those of you who did not get the FOX Broadcast news story about Derek’s transplant from his daddy, Steve, here it goes…
Remember if you have not already please choose to be an organ and tissue donor just click below, select your state, register and then you too can leave the legacy of life. http://www.donatelife.net/
I’m not sure what else to call it. I contemplated posting this just because I take this all very personal and at times put my failures in when my kids get sick, it makes no sense but that is what I do. Monet has had eczema off and on since she was 8 months old and it has slowly gotten worse. She is also running a temp around 103. We finally got to see a doctor when it was really flared up and they did cultures both bacterial and viral. All of the residents were brought in to take a look and learn. In the meanwhile Derek had to be moved into my mom’s house until things blow over and poor Mo’ heals up. We can’t risk him getting this (even though I think it maybe to late since he was exposed for several days.) Certain viral and bacterial elements can really screw up a kidney transplant and this one that they think she has has that potential. Nothing is conclusive until the tests come back in 7-10 days……..we just wait and pray for calm and peace. (The following pictures are not for those with a weak stomach.)
now for a close-up
Just if you have a moment keep our kids in your thoughts and prayers.
First I want to say, “Thank You, to my friend Kate for setting this up for me. I never would have gotten it done without you.”
So everyone wants to know if life is normal since Derek’s kidney transplant (August 30, 2007) and I say “I don’t know.” I have seen lots of changes and we are finally reacquainted with Monet but I still can’t determine if things are “normal.” I guess I don’t really have anything to judge it on.
Supposedly Derek is a typical 3 year old boy. He tortures Monet several times a day, don’t worry she gets a punch, kick or jab in too. He can eat all of the “forbidden foods,” but doesn’t eat as well as we expected him too. He talks and talks and talks and….it is very hard to get a word in edgewise. He has a lot of Love in his heart, sometimes it takes a little work to find it because he loves to be mischievous and push boundaries as far as he can. He has become very familiar with a corner in our home referred to as ‘Time-Out,’ honestly I wish I could sit in that corner 1 minute for every year old I am.
Monet is SUPER dramatic and sweet wrapped into one BIG girl package. Anyone touches her unwantedly and she lets out a shrill that could break glass. She screams “Derek hit me!” and then you turn to Derek asking him if this is what he has done.
Derek will grin shifting is weight to one foot and say, “Yep, I hit Monet.” (How do you punish so much honesty?) Then you tell him to apologize and Monet says, I’m sorry too.
They had a great Halloween ‘Trick-or-Treating’ with their cousins. After the second house Monet looked into her basket at the reward, her face lit up and she realized the entire purpose of this evening and ran quickly from house to house collecting goodies.
I will be trying my hardest to update and drop a line here and there to let you know as our two toddlers explore and discover their world…and you will figure out how we are dealing with all of it too.
As always thank you so much for your continued prayers for Derek’s healing and our families guidance through all of the trials we have faced.
Today was a pretty important day for me in realizing that even our family can impact the community and organ donation…
