Update on Surgery

Sorry it took so long to get back on here. We left on Monday for Atlanta, surgery on Tuesday, brought my boys home Friday...boy this week flew by!

Now the update - Riley was such a tough guy going into surgery. We discovered several surgeries ago that Versed(drug given to children to make them a little loopy before procedures) was not a good or necessary idea for Riley. It made the wake up and recovery FAR worse. Anyway, with no drugs or tears our brave little man went back to surgery. Reportedly he did as daddy suggested and asked everybody "what's up doc?". I know corny but cute all at the same time! We were then taken to the waiting room where everyone else was. When I say everyone that would be because altogether there were EIGHT people there to love and support us through this - GOD is great!
Since I hadn't had breakfast yet I went down to get some with Bro. Randall, Mrs. Edie and Bro. Bobby. When I returned to the waiting room Chester told me the nurse called just a couple minutes after I left to say they were getting started. I sat and talked and entertained Tate and then about 20 minutes later the phone in the waiting room was for us - the nurse said they were done. What? This surgery was supposed to take about 6 hours and it had barely been an hour. Was this good or bad? We were taken to the consult room and waited for the doctor. He came in and told us that he had expected this to be far more arduous (his word not mine), but that everything was right where he needed it to be and he didn't encounter any scar tissue like he had anticipated. Cool - Praise the Lord! Only God could take a six hour surgery and condense it to less than one!
Riley was only in recovery about 30 minutes - very short compared to his usual recovery times. He went straight to his room - no ICU for this boy. He was definitely feelin' a little weak but he was talking and doing good. He was doing well enough (and Tate not so much) that Chester and I decided it would be best for Tate and me to head on home. He does not do well out of his element. Spoiled? YES
Well, Regan and I went back to get Chester and Riley yesterday and all is well. He is a little sore, but on his way back to doing anything he wants to. We like the urostomy bag pretty good. A little funny though - last night when I was going to hook him up to his night bag (a first for me) I didn't hold the end up right and sprayed pee all over me and Riley's foot!
God is forever faithful to be there with us and to hold our hands through all that we have been through with Riley, but this time I just can't thank or praise Him enough!

Surgery

We've got surgery on Tuesday. We don't know what time yet, but probably first thing. We will finally be done with cathing and going to a urostomy bag. I have total peace about the decision and am completely fine about moving forward, but I can't help but wonder what life will look like on the other side of surgery this time. We thought surgery to cath that we had last summer would have been our last for a long time, but that didn't work out so here we are again.

We did have the benefit did I just say benefit? of Riley having a colostomy the first 18 months of his life, so we kinda know what to expect. I was really good at getting a good seal with his skin and keeping him from having skin breakdown and getting infections. The ostomy nurse at the hospital said I was better than alot of ostomy nurses she has worked with - not braggin' just sayin'. Anyway, I just wonder what life will look like for Riley. Will he be self conscious? Will it be hard to get clothes to fit? Will he still run and play like he does now? I know it will all work out, but I'm just ready to get to that point. Guess it's just the mama in me! Would ya please pray for us? We leave tomorrow for Atlanta and Riley will be admitted tomorrow afternoon. I plan to post on Facebook after surgery, and then here once we are home. Also, say a special prayer for Tate. He's going with us and he can be quite a high maintenance little handful.

Carry Your Load!

I've been called lots of things in my life - some of them flattering (some not so much), but one I gladly have given myself is task master! In our house we may not always keep things perfectly tidy or even relatively so, but we do have to keep up with the laundry! If not then the obvious happens - we were mismatched socks, shorts in the winter time, and other inappropriate attire (insert visual of ill-fitting turtlenecks in the springtime here). Well, me and the hubby don't do this alone...no sir...I didn't were all the clothes or dirty all the towels, so everybody must carry their own load, err weight! We don't discriminate for age or gender - we're an equal opportunity offender!

We begin with everyone dumping there dirty clothes in the middle of the living room floor. I know this isn't altogether practical for some, but this is our method and it works for us. There the clothes are sorted and the marathon of clothes washing begins. I usually sort, Coot washes, magic fairies fold them and put them away...yeah right. Well, just check out the pictures....

I said move that basket boy!

Fold those rags...she's really good at it. Willing to loan her out for the right price!

Tate's attempt at sorting. He was literally flinging them into piles like I do. Way to go son! So, that's us! It ain't always pretty but it gets the job done!

Father/Daughter Dance 2010

This was the first time Coot and Regan have ever attended the Father-Daughter dance. I am happy to report we intend to make this an annual event. They both had such a good time. Regan fell asleep on the way home, but by the time the got home she was wide awake and beaming from ear to ear. She told me all about how they did the "Cha-Cha Slide" and Daddy didn't even embarrass her too bad. I could tell this really meant a lot to her. I think they are gonna go on more "dates" together soon. Regan's excitement spilled over when she went to school the following Monday, because her teacher let her tell the whole class about it! Now for the pictures....

All together now....Ahhhhhh

Givin' smooches!

Oh yeah Riley was not left out. He not only ended up in some pictures, but he got to stay up with Mama after Tate was in bed. Now that's a big deal around this house!

We are so blessed!

Surgery & Lookin' Back

Just wanted to let everyone know we are having surgery on February 15. Riley will be converting from the very aggravating mitrofanoff (used for cathing) to a urostomy (bag). I'm thankful to report that I have peace about the decision and am now just ready to move on with it and see what God has in store for him.

Riley has always amazed me how he never allows any of his "attachments" to slow him down. From the time he was born he has always had a lot of spirit and zeal for life. I feel we should all strive to be this way. Oh now sometimes he gets a little too lively, but he's a great little man that's come a very long way. I thought I'd take ya on a stroll down memory lane with Riley's "attachments".

From the beginning we all got used to a lot of wires. This was a light day in the NICU - he only had an IV and his feeding tube hooked up - still he was happy!

Another day in the NICU - we've got an IV, heart monitor leads, and the edge of his colostomy.

"If I could just get this piece of tape right here..."

A feeding tube dragging behind him wouldn't keep him from exploring the laundry basket with Regan!

"Can a boy have some alone time with his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle?"

Ahh dialysis...he was always the sweetheart of the place - as long as he was asleep!

When he was awake he kept his women hoppin'!

We figured out ways to get in the bathtub for a little swim. Press 'n Seal wrap and bandage netting worked quite well!

Again Press 'n Seal wrap allowed for a very shallow dip in the pool!


We often had a love/hate relationship with the catheter. (That's what required the Press 'n Seal wrap.) However, it was our lifeline for 3 long years!

And how could we forget our last bladder surgery last summer which required 2 aggravating catheters - you can see them running down each leg. Didn't keep him from cuttin' a rug!

Well that's our boy! Looking through old pictures to do this post has made me think I need to do some more posts with trips down memory lane - stay tuned!

What's Happening

There are many times that I sit here at my computer reading other blogs. Some are friends that I know in real life and some are just "friends" in the blog world, but I often read them and I'm moved. Moved to tears, moved with anger, moved with sympathy...but am I sharing what God is doing in my life? Maybe I'm not sharing because I'm not taking notice. Not noticing that the two children I prayed for and tried to conceive for five years are brilliant and amazing and right here before my eyes. Not noticing that while our youngest wasn't planned and by earthly standards may have been oddly timed yet he is perfectly healthy (and I more than most should recognize the miracle of that). Not noticing that while my husband has been unemployed since October we've been able to buy groceries, gas and other necessities and to pay our bills earlier each month than when he was working. Not noticing all the many blessings in my life every.single.day.

It's so easy to get wrapped up in all that goes on in day to day life and overlook the little things. It 's so easy to get busy doing my "to-do" list and not consider what He wants me to do. I want to know Him in a way that I've never known Him before. I pray He gives me the strength to "press toward the mark" and run this race of life. I've sat on the sidelines far too long and allowed satan to steal my joy, convince me I'm worthless, and tell me I'll never be good enough. I pray that I realize the good and the worth in me is in Christ and He is the giver of True Joy.

I'm not sure what's happening here or where my heart and head are some days, but I know that I know that I am loved by the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the Great I AM! And I need Him so much right now. He's working greatly in my life and I just want to get out of His way.

Here We Go

Alright I promise I have not totally forgotten about this blog. It's just that alot has gone on in our lives in the last several months. One of my New Year's resolutions is to do a better job of blogging the events and blessing in our lives, however I feel the need to catch you up first. Hold on tight Here We Go...

The first day of school

I didn't even cry. I was just proud we made it!

You'll notice Riley's first day of school was a month after Regan's. (He had to get his suprapubic catheter removed from the surgery back in June.)

When did they get big enough to go to school?

Riley and Regan's Birthday party

We had it at the YMCA park - very good idea!

Aww, Halloween with a cowboy and a princess

A very special anniversary with a very special person!

We had to go see Mrs. Joli, Riley's kidney donor and a dear person to our whole family!
(And I'm not just saying that b/c she'll read this either.)

Tate's first birthday - it was actually on Thanksgiving day.

Poor kid, we didn't even have a real party(according to Riley and Regan).

Sorry kid we promise to do better next year!

The cousins Christmas Party - I think they are outgrowing the crafts.

Blackshear's fabulous Christmas parade

Tate hated the waiting, but once it got started he was totally content.
(Daddy looks a little less than excited though.)

The children's Christmas Play at church

Regan was an angel....

Riley was a donkey - no comments please.

Christmas morning

Tate loved his toys - they have helped him stand more, just not in this picture!

Riley and Regan's favorite - their new trampoline.

(Mommy and Daddy lovingly refer to it as the outdoor cage. It's not on in this picture, but the cage part was added before Christmas afternoon!)

We had Christmas breakfast with Granny at the Huddle House and sloppy joe's for lunch. I'm telling you we really know how to put out a spread!

This defintely hasn't been our best year - dealing with kidney rejection, hernia surgery, bladder surgery, the awful process of cathing (that will be reversed soon), back surgery, dealing with a baby we still can't figure out, Coot lost his job, I started working....it hasn't been our worst either.

But Our God is still worthy of praise. I praise Him for a husband that took over taking care of Riley (and Regan) when I was taking care of Tate - traveling to and from Atlanta every week, for friends and family that had a fundraiser that allowed us to pay for a van we desperately needed, for financial gifts from people we didn't know that keeps our heads above water, cards sent by friends at just the right time, a Bible study group that prays for us, and all the countless blessing that we miss every day....Our God is WORTHY of all our praise. I am thankful that He has brought us through this year. Though none of it would have been my choosing, God has truly taught us alot this year.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28