promised pics

That cast-looking thing on his arm is a heavy, wrap-type thing called a "no-no" that they wrap around an IV site so that little ones don't mess with the IV.

Not too heavy to wave "Hi" to everyone

Prison Cell

......and yet, still smiling!

Look at how ADORABLE!!!!

Everything looks good!

We went to Chase's follow-up appointment today and everything looks good! No need for more labs. Just two more days of antibiotics. Which will be nice because they're giving poor little frog the "squirts" which is exactly what he doesn't need. We hope it stops as soon as the antibiotics are done.

He is eating really well. We've cut back his tube feeds at night from 8 hours to 4 hours. He is still at 24 ounces/day but we are eating most of them during the day. And he has really taken to Stage 3 baby foods. He ate practically a whole jar (I'd say 7/8) last night! Very impressive for our little frog!

In just 2 1/2 weeks my little peanut is going to be 2..................2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm not sure how I feel about this. He's so grown up, I can't stand it. I hope we can spoil him like crazy at Disney, he really deserves it after the year he's had......living at the Ronald McDonald House, then the apartment in St. Pete, then the apartment in Boston, and with Meemaw and Pappaw in between........he needs some special "Colton time!" He's been so great about it, too. I think he might have the travel bug in him :) Every moment spent away from him was just added torture in an already unnerving situation. But we're praising God now because all 4 of us are home now, enjoying each and every second of it! He's going to be the BEST big brother possible (with a few pickins, I'm sure. They're brothers. It's only natural.).

Oh, much better!!

Colton didn't have a fever today and his nose dripped maybe once today. Much, MUCH better day. Just another answered prayer........He'll listen to all request, trust me :)!

In other news.......

CHASE IS CRAWLING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's kind of an awkward crawl...more like thrusting himself forward, but it gets him from point A to point B!! He's so excited and proud of himself, too (and so he should be). He's also imitating A LOT of words (so much for a hearing loss, right?! God is SOOO good!). He tries to imitate "more," "no," "all done," "throw," "mama," "dada," "bubba," and "yea!" In fact, after every verse of "The Wheels on the Bus" he does his "yea!" He is so incredibly adorable you just want to eat him up. And I promise, when I figure out how to get video on this thing, I will prove it!!!
He has also advanced to Stage 3 baby foods. We're taking it slow, because they really do have a lot of chunks in them, but so far so good.

Colton is growing up way too fast as well!!! He is answering yes/no questions, he tells his brother "stop it" (it really is kinda cute), he's sleeping in a big boy bed, and he's learning to use the potty. And in 3 weeks, he's going to be 2yrs. old. What is going on with my babies?!?!? Why are they growing up so fast?!?! Next thing you know, they're going to be headed out the door on their first date (oh no).

Ahhhhhh.................

We got home at about 4 pm yesterday. All was well. Chase went to bed, Colton went to bed shortly after, and Randall and I were just relaxing watching Biggest Loser (while I ate some Oreos, I might add!). Then at about 10pm Colton woke up with a stuffy, runny nose unable to sleep. So we took him to bed with us. He tossed and tumbled ALL night. At about 4am he woke up with a fever of 101 degrees. Yep. My other little muffin is sick now, too. So that sleep I was soooo looking forward to after getting home from the hospital (cause everyone knows, it is nearly impossible to get any sleep in a hospital), yeah, that didn't happen. Maybe tonight :(

It has been quite a task today trying to keep both boys happy while trying to keep them away from each other while also washing my hands constantly and following behind them with lysol!!! To make things worse, I had to run to Immokalee (30 mins from home) to pick up Chase's antibiotics, then run over to Naples (30 mins from Immokalee) and meet with a home health nurse to show me how to run his antibiotics. Then made the 45 min. ride back home. We did have a GI appointment in Ft. Myers (would have been 2 more hours of driving) but amongst all the chaos, I decided to cancel. Wondering why I had to run around for all this???? Yea, I live on a ranch. No one, and I mean no one, comes out here for anything. We don't even get mail out here. So if we need anything, we have to make the drive to town.

I have to admit, I'd rather be home amongst all this chaos than at the hospital. So it is still "Home sweet Home" just with a few added extras! :)

Awesome Bible Verse

Found while reading The Power of a Praying Parent.

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
nor shall the flame scorch you."
Isaiah 43:2

Dreaming of home

Hey everyone,
I THINK we are coming home tomorrow. I THINK they've got everything worked out for Chase's antibiotics to come home and a quick teach on how to administer them. But I won't hold my breath. I am at a hospital, you know! They've been great, don't get me wrong.......but it's not Boston! :)

We have his monthly labs on Wednesday in Ft. Myers, which is the same day they're going to send out a home-health nurse to do the "teaching" which will have to meet with in Naples( don't know how that's going to go down), Friday we have to do some MORE labs, and Monday they want me to come back to clinic for more labs. Geez!!!

On top of it all, my poor husband is sick with (we hope) just a cold. Don't really want to bring Chase home to more sickness. Don't know how that's going to work.

But Chase is so incredibly bored, I just need to get him out of this joint. He's either in the crib or in my lap. He's used to running around in his walker, jumping in his jumper, playing (watching) with his brother, or rolling around on the floor. Okay, well this is what he would be doing if he wasn't so content with staying attached to mommy's hip! :)

I need to get home to my other baby. I am definitely one of those moms who can't stay away from their babies for too long. I think it's a waste of time to get my hair done (wasted time that could be spent with my kids) much less be away from them (or one of them) for a whole week. I NEED a Colton fix!! :)

And if one more nurse or doctor comes in, voices blaring, while Chase is sleeping and wakes him up, I am going to SCREAM!!!!!!!!!! Four times today..........FOUR TIMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry, think I'm getting a little cabin fever. Randall was here Saturday night and Sunday and said that I was starting to mumble unintelligible sentences and not making any sense whatsoever! And to think I thought I was doing so well even with the sleep deprivation.......not so much! :)

Hey everyone. Well, since docs don't work on the weekend, it looks like we'll be shooting for Tuesday for discharge. Chase is doing great, blood cultures continue to be negative and no fevers. He is back up to his normal amount on feedings and frankly, he is just a big wiggle worm. Seriously, I should have some buff arms before he starts walking :)~ He's all over the place.

As soon as we get home I'll post some pics of our hospital visit for you. Right now I'm borrowing mom's computer (Thanks Mom!) and can't download on her files.

On a side note: Please watch a TV interview of a family going through the wait of a small bowel transplant. Those of you who have followed us from the beginning.....we aren't the only ones praying for poop!!!!!!!!! Go to www.abcnews.com, click on Nightline at the top of the site, and watch "the boy who could not eat" Part 2 first, and then Part 1 (they must have gotten it backwards).

Hope to see some familiar faces soon! I missed Uncle Cecil and Aunt Rita's visit today while I went home to pick up Chase's meds. Sorry Uncle Cecil and Aunt Rita, I love y'all!!!!!