On the road to recovery

We are hoping that the Monday night setback will be the last obstacle for Aviah to overcome.  Her x-ray at that time showed a possible bowel obstruction so they placed a NG tube and took her off all food.  

I talked to Daniel yesterday and he said they had decided to hold off on the upper GI as they were hoping her bowel just needed 24 hours of rest to restart itself.  Last night's x-ray revealed a more normal looking bowel so they started giving her Pedialyte (which she loved.)  Daniel said she seems to be a little "ticked off" at everyone that she can't have anything more to eat.  We all took that as a good sign!

Nevertheless she will be in the hospital through Friday in order to get the required 7-8 days of IV antibiotics; she will also have 7 days of oral antibiotics after discharge.  This infection (MSSA) is nothing to mess around with and doctor's want to be sure it is completely eradicated.  

She will still need the surgical (laparoscopic) procedure to remove the cyst, but it will likely be scheduled at the end of April, and, hopefully, can be done on an outpatient basis.  

We are so thankful that we have the opportunity to bring our petitions to the Great Physician and that he is faithful to hear our prayers.  Please continue to pray for complete recovery.

Aviah's Improving

Just received an update from our son, Daniel, that Aviah is doing better today.  She hasn't had any fever and has even almost "smiled" a couple of times.  She's starting to nurse again, but having some trouble keeping it all down . . . probably due to the medicine and anesthesia she received during her procedure.  Doctors say that she will need seven days of IV antibiotics, so she won't be coming home from the hospital until Thursday.  

Please keep her in your prayers, because when all of this settles down, she will still need outpatient surgery to remove the cyst.  

Here's a picture from yesterday:

Here's a picture from this afternoon.  We're so happy that she is starting to feel better.  Thank you for praying for her.

Praying for Aviah

Our 4-month old granddaughter, Aviah, has been in the hospital since early Thursday morning when Daniel and Shannon took her to the emergency room.  It's been two and a half days of ups and downs as the doctor's have been working to diagnose her correctly.  

She is now at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (part of the Stanford University Medical Center) undergoing treatment for an infected umbilical cyst.  Yesterday they performed a surgical procedure to drain the cyst which had been growing over the past 24 hours.  The infection has been identified as MSSA, which, although one step below the antibiotic resistant infection called MRSA, still requires very strong antibiotics.

She is on IV antibiotics and will likely remain on them for several days until they are sure she is infection free.  In addition, they are watching to see if there are any additional problems with her digestive system since her stomach has remained distended even after the reduction of the cyst.

Please pray for her and for her parents, Daniel and Shannon.  Shannon's parents are staying with Maleia and Josiah so that Daniel and Shannon are free to stay with Aviah.  Pray for wisdom for the doctor's, that the antibiotics will help rid her body of the infection and that there will be no other complications.

Saying goodbye to the grandkids

One of the things we try to do before we leave California is to discuss/decide/plan our next trip.  Although we talked about we didn't make any definite plans.  I just know I won't be able to wait too long . . . . we're thinking maybe late May or early June.  Even so, Aviah will be six months by then and will have changed so much!  

Here's a photo review of our trip!

 Happy, happy girl!

 Grandpa getting back in practice!

 Day at the park

 Adventure with the fireman (see earlier post)

 Maleia practicing her cursive with Shannon

 Uncle Jon came to see us

 Talking to Grandma

 Decked out for roller skating

 Yes, Josiah drew this car all by himself.  Did I say he's 2 1/2

Took a few minutes off playing with cars to get a lesson from daddy

 What a hit!

Tahoe Trip

We left for Tahoe on Saturday afternoon--it's not a terribly long drive, but it was raining so we didn't make great time.  Not too far from the pass, Cal Trans was requiring chains.  Daniel and Stephen decided to pay one of the "professional" chain installers who were dressed in rain gear rather than doing it themselves.  As it turned out, we really didn't even need the chains as most of the time we were driving in slushy rain.  After clearing the highest point and starting down the mountain, one of the chains broke.  What a mess--it took Daniel, Stephen and a random stranger who offered to help more than 30 minutes to get the chains off.  

Anyway, we finally pulled into our condo rental at Tahoe Donner about 8:30 and got the kids off to bed; we had a quick supper, watched a little of the Olympics and called it a night.

Daniel and Maleia were hoping to ski on Sunday, but it rained all day.  They tell me that skiing in rain is very uncomfortable and cold as ski wear is made to repel snow, but not constant rain.  Maleia was a bit under the weather, so we took it easy.  Stephen and I were able to visit the shops in downtown Truckee while Daniel and Shannon took Maleia ice skating.

The weather on Monday was much nicer so we checked out of the condo and drove to Boreal Mountain.  Daniel and Maleia skied, Josiah and Shannon played in the snow and Stephen and I watched Aviah in the lodge.  

Starting our second week

We're starting on second week here in California--time is really flying by.  Wednesday is Maleia's swimming lesson day; she just loves her lessons.  Before Aviah was born, Josiah had Mommy/me lessons, but he's sitting out for awhile and that's okay with him.  Josiah and I had a conversation about things we like and don't like.   I asked if he liked kiwi and he said, "no."  Then he asked me if I liked pomegranates.  My goodness, I don't know if I've ever eaten a pomegranate. I definitely got outsmarted by my 2 1/2-year old grandson!

Daniel was able to come home a little early and we all went for a walk, except Maleia who roller skated.  She's getting pretty good.  Thankfully, her knee pads, elbow pads, wrist protectors and helmet keep her from getting hurt when she does fall.

Aviah is a very happy baby!  She's full of smiles and carrying on whole "cooing" conversations with us.  We even caught a few of her "words" on video today!

 

Nothing like family time!

 Grandpa and Josiah drawing cars

 Josiah and mommy playing with cars

  Aunt Emily and Aviah who is sporting her blue and green on super bowl Sunday.  

 Maleia and Aviah both look beautiful in this color!

 Smiling and cooing on Grandma's lap.

Maleia loves to draw on the iPad.