Graduation Day

Payton spent 6 weeks on a ventilator. She had pneumonia once wile still in the NICU, and 2 staph infections. She came home from the NICU on oxygen for 6 months. She was hospitalized for 5 days with bronchiolitis when she was 1 and came home on oxygen for another month. She was hospitalized another time with RSV. She's had pneumonia 6 more times since she came home from the hospital. I've lost track of the number of times she's been to the ER with respiratory problems. She had 2 winters of getting monthly Synagis shots hoping to keep RSV away. We spent 3 winters in lockdown at doctors recommendation.

Tuesday morning she had a follow-up with pulmonology. When the doctor asked if I had any concerns...I couldn't think of any. When Dr. Toni asked how the winter was...I didn't have anything to say. We'd gone all winter without any major illnesses, she's hasn't been to the ER, been on antibiotics or steroids. Payton had a wonderful winter.

Dr. Toni looked at me, teared up, and said she's graduated. We can call or go back if we need to, but otherwise, she's discharged. There were big hugs, a few tears and high-fives all around.

4 years and all that history later...she graduated.

P.S. - She weighed in at 41.5 pounds for her appointment. Exactly 40 pounds heavier than her smallest ever weight. :) Unbelievable.

Touch A Truck

On Saturday we went to the Touch A Truck event put on by the Child Saving Institute .  Since we Payton was sick, she stayed home with Grandma and Parker got a little solo time with Mom and Dad. We weren't too sure how he would do at first - he was a little rattled by the horns being honked on some of them, but he quickly got into it. He would point at whatever was bright colored and say "ooooo ooohhhh" (which is Parker speak for look at that over there). He loved the earth movers, and the bright orange city work trucks that were there. I'm really looking forward to being able to take both of them to it next year. I think they'll have a blast.

And a few other odds and ends...

Later Saturday afternoon, Ms. Payton and I took our quarterly trip to the ER at Children's. We had an amazing doctor while there who has her own boy/girl twins just a few months older than the dynamic duo. We chatted a lot and she completely listened. One quick x-ray and it was confirmed - pneumonia. Fourth time in 9 months.

Parker has a new "thing". He poops in the bathtub. Everytime for the past few weeks. Sunday evening, it was right after I cleaned the bathroom and all the tub toys and been sent through the dishwasher. When you do that, you have to finish your bath in the kitchen sink. Good thing he's still a bit of a runt.

I always figured at some point I would have to explain (or try) to Parker why he has an extra button and Payton doesn't. It never really occurred to me that I would have to explain it to Payton or that she would want one. She is now trying to hook up Parker's g-tube to her belly button when he's done eating.

We spent today at home since they both are sick. We had a long office visit with the pediatrician with Aunt Bo's help and are now home with strict instruction and meds for the next couple days. We spent alot of our afternoon watching the workers across the street and the big trucks they brought with them.

Keep us in your thoughts the next couple days and hope the meds work fast. We've got lots of stuff coming up and we don't need to be sick. :)