A few things to update, but nothing bad! He's doing FANTASTIC!! We had First Steps out yesterday to do an evalution to see if he was eligible for physical therapy. After watching him and asking a ton of questions, they determined....He didn't need their services!!!!!! He's doing THAT well! He's only behind because of his hospitalizations, and they said he's technically not behind. He's only not doing things because he hasn't had enough time to. So they're going to come back out and re-evaluate if we want them to in 3 months!
Today we went out to St. Louis for his first check up since leaving. They were all impressed with his progress. His Tacro level on Monday was 9, I'm assuming it isn't much different now, but we haven't heard back yet. He weighed in at a whooping 15 pounds, 11 ounces! He is a chunky, chunky baby! He loves to eat and it shows :) They want to see him again in a month and then they'll take out his Broviac (central line). They've decreased his steroids to a very small dose and it looks like his next appointment, they will get rid of all but three of his meds!! I am so very pleased with him and how well he's doing. I couldn't be any more proud!!!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Super Cute Hairbows!
Hi friends!! My sister and I have recently started making hairbows for our little girls. After several requests from friends and family, we have decided to start making them and selling them to others. If you have any little girls, or know anyone who might be interested, please feel free to forward our information along. These hairbows are perfect for newborns, as well as toddlers, and even older girls. All of the bows come on non-slip alligator clips that can be attached to one of our crochet headbands (perfect for infants and toddlers), or directly into her hair.
Prices for our current inventory are:
$2.00 for crochet headbands (when purchased with a bow)
$2.00 for crochet headbands (when purchased with a bow)
$3.50 for large bows and flowers (or 3 for $10)
$2.00 for small bows (or 3 for $5)
We can arrange local pickup, or will ship for an additional $2.50.
Here is a link, these are only samples; hairbows can be made in any color combination/size you would like. If there is something specific you are looking for, feel free to ask. We can probably come up with something to meet your needs.
Check out our blog at Kenaddiesbowtique.blogspot.com!
Carah (and my sis Rita)
Friday, July 10, 2009
Happy Birthday, Josh!
It's Josh's 30th Birthday! Happy Birthday!!! I took Makena to the store with me and let her pick out Daddy's cake. What does she pick? Cupcakes with Princess rings on top. I let her get them and she was so excited to show him. He was equally excited, I think :)
Malakai had his lab draw yesterday, everything looks good except his GGT was alittle high. They're waiting until they get his Tacro level to make any sort of changes. I went to flush his Broviac (central line) this morning and it wouldn't. It kind of had me scared but thankfully after his home health nurse came out she was able to get it to go through. We would've ended up at Riley's ER tonight..not a fun place to be on a Friday night! Praise the Lord!!
Makena has become such a cute little kid! She's also become quite the little dancer. It's so sweet to watch her. She's been watching So You Think You Can Dance with me a little before bed and she tries to do what they're doing. The other night it was on, and she insisted on getting her ballerina dress on and stood in front of the TV trying to do what the girls were. Then she said "I have to go get Daddy!" because she needed a partner. So sweet!!!
I taught her a tough life lesson yesterday. We were driving home from Walmart with the windows down. I've told her multiple times not to throw anything out her window...well she threw her little toy purse out the window and screamed "MY PURSE!!!!" and immediately started to cry. My sister was driving behind me and said "Oh, no..she threw her purse out the window!" So I told Makena that was why we didn't throw anything out the window and now it was going to be gone forever. Her response? "It's ok, Mommy...we'll just buy a new one!" Priceless!
Malakai had his lab draw yesterday, everything looks good except his GGT was alittle high. They're waiting until they get his Tacro level to make any sort of changes. I went to flush his Broviac (central line) this morning and it wouldn't. It kind of had me scared but thankfully after his home health nurse came out she was able to get it to go through. We would've ended up at Riley's ER tonight..not a fun place to be on a Friday night! Praise the Lord!!
Makena has become such a cute little kid! She's also become quite the little dancer. It's so sweet to watch her. She's been watching So You Think You Can Dance with me a little before bed and she tries to do what they're doing. The other night it was on, and she insisted on getting her ballerina dress on and stood in front of the TV trying to do what the girls were. Then she said "I have to go get Daddy!" because she needed a partner. So sweet!!!
I taught her a tough life lesson yesterday. We were driving home from Walmart with the windows down. I've told her multiple times not to throw anything out her window...well she threw her little toy purse out the window and screamed "MY PURSE!!!!" and immediately started to cry. My sister was driving behind me and said "Oh, no..she threw her purse out the window!" So I told Makena that was why we didn't throw anything out the window and now it was going to be gone forever. Her response? "It's ok, Mommy...we'll just buy a new one!" Priceless!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
More pics...
He just keeps looking better and better! I would've never thought less than 2 months post-transplant he would look this amazing! What a miracle he is!
I really need to do a better job blogging! The summer is flying by and I am enjoying it being so nice out! Malakai is doing terrific. He's really growing and getting stronger by the day. He's sitting up well and just the other day starting taking small steps when he was holding onto my hands. I really had to help him out but he was getting the idea. And he's napping very well during the day, something we've been working on since his transplant. He's also sleeping alot better during the night. I'm only getting up 1-2 times, compared to 4-6 right after.
Josh's birthday is Friday, and we're planning a cookout/bonfire on Saturday night. That should be fun and nice to see some friends! Let's just say, this is a birthday he's not looking forward to and it ends in a 0 (wink, wink!)
I've been thinking about what I'm thankful for lately, and to be honest, I have more to be thankful now than I ever have in my life! I have two beautiful, healthy, children whom I love more than the world! I have a terrific husband, who's also my best friend...we've been through a lot together, more than alot of couples ever have to go through. He supports me and encourages me when things are tough. I have wonderful sisters... I honestly don't think I could ask for better :) I have a great mom who's had to endure alot in the last 6 years. She's stronger than she thinks she is and I admire her. My in-laws are terrific! They love my kids and my kids love them! They have a relationship I hope continues the way that it is going now :) I have great friends and family. I am truly thankful for everyone who loves me and my family! I'm thankful to live in a time and place where Malakai's life was able to be saved and organ donation is possible. I will forever be thankful to our donor angel and their family. I'm thankful we found Children's Hospital in St. Louis. We were blessed to have such an awesome team of doctors, nurses, and a terrific transplant coordinator.
Nothing really new to report, I guess that's a good thing! Things have calmed down and I'm enjoying trying to get back to "normal!"
Monday, June 29, 2009
New pics
Malakai and his new cousins, Jack and Addison, keeping cool under a shade tent at the fireworks
My two beautiful children...He absolutly adores his sister!
My all time favorite picture of them together
She had a blast dancing to the music
Look at those chubby cheeks :)
My two beautiful children...He absolutly adores his sister!
My all time favorite picture of them together
She had a blast dancing to the music
Look at those chubby cheeks :)
Fun filled weekend!
We had such a fun weekend! We spent some time at Aunt Rita's house on Thursday and Friday. Makena loves spending time with her cousins, and I love spending time with my sisters, so it all works out. Then Saturday we had a showing on our house (Praying it sells soon!!) and went to the Greenwood fireworks. It's a tradition in our family, something we've gone to every year since I was little! It was so hot out, we had a small tent for the babies and brought plenty of cold drinks! We saw a few people we knew, and everyone was amazed at how great Malakai looked :) I agree, he looks amazing! You'd never guess that he had a liver transplant less than 2 months ago! Both kids did great during the fireworks. He was very sleepy so he was wanting to be rocked, and Makena was amazed by them...it didn't last long though, she fell asleep during them! HAHA! She pulled the shade of the stroller over her and was out! Yesterday was Emma's 3rd birthday party. I got her a goldfish...anyone looking for a great gift for a birthday? A goldfish was a great idea! She loved it and so did all the other kids!
The local newspaper had an article in it the other day about Malakai. It was so weird reading about our story from a third party perspective. I felt emotional reading it...it pulled on my heart strings, and it was about my family! I am just so relieved he is doing so well and that we are home. All of this is behind us and we can move on and be a normal family!
Malakai's blood test showed he was having a slight case of rejection, which is normal. They've reduced his anti-rejections medication again. Other than that, he has nothing new medically to report. He's physically getting stronger which is GREAT to see! I am so thankful to see him progressing as quickly as he is. It's amazing :)
The local newspaper had an article in it the other day about Malakai. It was so weird reading about our story from a third party perspective. I felt emotional reading it...it pulled on my heart strings, and it was about my family! I am just so relieved he is doing so well and that we are home. All of this is behind us and we can move on and be a normal family!
Malakai's blood test showed he was having a slight case of rejection, which is normal. They've reduced his anti-rejections medication again. Other than that, he has nothing new medically to report. He's physically getting stronger which is GREAT to see! I am so thankful to see him progressing as quickly as he is. It's amazing :)
Monday, June 22, 2009
Finally an update!
Sorry it's been sooo long since an update! We got home and our home phone and internet were both shut off since we were gone so long. We couldn't get the internet back up until we had a running phone line, and they couldn't make it out here until today!
Other than running to the store once, and out to ice cream with my family I haven't left the house. I really haven't minded too much though. We've had alot of visitors, which has been very nice. If you're thinking about visiting, we'd love to see you :) Malakai can't be in public for another month or so to keep the risk of him getting an infection low. After he's off his steroids, he'll be normal and able to go out. Thankfully he can go outside...hopefully we'll be planning a trip to the zoo or something fun soon!
Malakai is doing AWESOME! He is doing things I wouldn't have thought he'd be doing until a month from now. He's rolling over, sitting up for a minute or two unassisted, he's standing with support, he's still eating like a pro, he's waving bye-bye (my personal favorite) and new today...he's drinking juice from a bottle! And last night he slept a 4 1/2 hour stretch...that's the longest he's gone in months! I am just tickled with how well he's doing. He has a few appointments coming up, one with his primary pediatrician, and one with the team at Riley. His docs in STL wanted him to be seen close to home so the docs here would know his "baseline" Then we will have a home health nurse come out once a week and draw his blood levels. Other than that, we won't have to go back to STL until next month!
We had a work day at the house on Saturday. THANK YOU to everyone who came out and helped. It was such a blessing to us to have the help. We got the outside of our home almost completely done (landscaping, power washing, weeding, etc)! Then Sunday, with the help of some great people, we cleaned out our basement. That was an accumulation of about 6 years of stuff! So glad it's done! Those were the things we'd wanted to do for awhile now, but with Malakai being ill, it just didn't happen. I want to say a special thank you to Derek and Candy. They stepped up and helped us out like family would do. We are so grateful to have you as friends! God bless you and your family!! I also want to thank everyone who's given us financial help. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. God bless you all!
We had a reporter come out today to do a piece in the local paper about Malakai. It'll be interesting to see how that turns out! It was difficult to tell his story, start to finish, to someone who knew nothing about him...I mean where exactly do you start and what information is important? Hopefully I portrayed his story accurately!
That's all I can think of right now. I have a lot of cleaning to do while the kids are sleeping. Now that our internet is up and running, hopefully I can keep this updated a little better!
Other than running to the store once, and out to ice cream with my family I haven't left the house. I really haven't minded too much though. We've had alot of visitors, which has been very nice. If you're thinking about visiting, we'd love to see you :) Malakai can't be in public for another month or so to keep the risk of him getting an infection low. After he's off his steroids, he'll be normal and able to go out. Thankfully he can go outside...hopefully we'll be planning a trip to the zoo or something fun soon!
Malakai is doing AWESOME! He is doing things I wouldn't have thought he'd be doing until a month from now. He's rolling over, sitting up for a minute or two unassisted, he's standing with support, he's still eating like a pro, he's waving bye-bye (my personal favorite) and new today...he's drinking juice from a bottle! And last night he slept a 4 1/2 hour stretch...that's the longest he's gone in months! I am just tickled with how well he's doing. He has a few appointments coming up, one with his primary pediatrician, and one with the team at Riley. His docs in STL wanted him to be seen close to home so the docs here would know his "baseline" Then we will have a home health nurse come out once a week and draw his blood levels. Other than that, we won't have to go back to STL until next month!
We had a work day at the house on Saturday. THANK YOU to everyone who came out and helped. It was such a blessing to us to have the help. We got the outside of our home almost completely done (landscaping, power washing, weeding, etc)! Then Sunday, with the help of some great people, we cleaned out our basement. That was an accumulation of about 6 years of stuff! So glad it's done! Those were the things we'd wanted to do for awhile now, but with Malakai being ill, it just didn't happen. I want to say a special thank you to Derek and Candy. They stepped up and helped us out like family would do. We are so grateful to have you as friends! God bless you and your family!! I also want to thank everyone who's given us financial help. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. God bless you all!
We had a reporter come out today to do a piece in the local paper about Malakai. It'll be interesting to see how that turns out! It was difficult to tell his story, start to finish, to someone who knew nothing about him...I mean where exactly do you start and what information is important? Hopefully I portrayed his story accurately!
That's all I can think of right now. I have a lot of cleaning to do while the kids are sleeping. Now that our internet is up and running, hopefully I can keep this updated a little better!
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