The mark of our Holiday Season is a little different from most. We begin giving thanks and reflecting on miracles on Novemebr 10th, Gavin's surgery anniversary date. That moment stands firmly in our minds as our beginning. It marks the birth of Chase and Gavin's second chance at life. As we reflect on the last three years, we're amazed that we've survived. Literally amazed that we are alive and still committed to each other and not just 'committed'. (wink)
Gavin continues to progress beyond all medical expectations. He's still not walking, but continues to scoot around the house and gain strength and coordination after his hip surgery. We just went to see the surgeon who said Gavin's right hip is healing very, very well. Lots of new bone growth, looks great! However, his left hip is now showing signs of becoming mishapen and easily dislocated. Yep, the left hip was perfect last June. The surgeon said it's not impossible to see this kind of change, but she's never heard of it before. Then she smiled, winked and said, "he's Gavin". If something weird can happen, it happens to him.
Gavin says only a few words, but understands everything!! Even though we say that, Brad & I are continually amazed at how true it is. He really understands everything we say. Even when we try to be sneaky, spell things and use code. If we talk about taking a walk, Gavin will start acting up and want to go THAT very minute. Even with code, he understands. Today when he was scooting I asked him to reach more forward (I'll spare you the technical explanantion.) and he responded by smiling straight at me and then flopping himself forward so his hand touched his toes and his head touched his knees. After two or three (flops) he looked at me, laughed his new 'Yuk, Yuk laugh', and began scooting with his hand as far behind him as he could have it and still move forward. The title of 'Smart Alec' has never been more appropriately used! I think he would spend most of his time grounded if he could actually say what he thinks.
I'll update on Chase, the Silly Pickle and Parker the little talker ina ouple of days. For now I'm going to try to post a few pictures.
Love,
The Tiehtofs
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
Autumn Update
I know... I've been horrible about posting. But I'm hopeful I can be better about it. I find this has been the best way to journal all of our little adventures..
Gavin spent 6 weeks in his cast this summer and then declined for four weeks afterward. Wouldn't sit up, scoot, lie on his stomach and cringed when we would start to pick him up. After four weeks of declining behavior I scheduled him for seven therapy sessions in ten days. We've bypassed traditional Physical Therapy (made hime scream and cry) for somethign called Anat Baniel Method based on the work of Moshe Feldenkrais. Within the first two sessions, Gavin began sitting up, scooting - EVERYTHING! Mostly, I drive him to Lansing (2 hrs one way) for therapy a couple times of month. Ideally, Gavin would have therapy 8-10 times per month, but insurance doesn't cover it, so...... The improvements in Gavin have been miraculous and he continues to prove the doctors wrong. I love that about him!
Chase will turn 3 in November and is every bit a busy little boy. AT 2 he didn't speak. Now he talks non stop and we can't believe how much he knows. Last week he began explaining (while we drove down the road) that I needed to move the lever down. It took a while before we understood he was telling us how to shift the car into, drive. I just hope he doesn't try to take the car for a drive on his own....
Parker turned one in June and is adorable, busy and a little talker! We're still trying to get used to having a little one who talks- all the time.
more later.....
Gavin spent 6 weeks in his cast this summer and then declined for four weeks afterward. Wouldn't sit up, scoot, lie on his stomach and cringed when we would start to pick him up. After four weeks of declining behavior I scheduled him for seven therapy sessions in ten days. We've bypassed traditional Physical Therapy (made hime scream and cry) for somethign called Anat Baniel Method based on the work of Moshe Feldenkrais. Within the first two sessions, Gavin began sitting up, scooting - EVERYTHING! Mostly, I drive him to Lansing (2 hrs one way) for therapy a couple times of month. Ideally, Gavin would have therapy 8-10 times per month, but insurance doesn't cover it, so...... The improvements in Gavin have been miraculous and he continues to prove the doctors wrong. I love that about him!
Chase will turn 3 in November and is every bit a busy little boy. AT 2 he didn't speak. Now he talks non stop and we can't believe how much he knows. Last week he began explaining (while we drove down the road) that I needed to move the lever down. It took a while before we understood he was telling us how to shift the car into, drive. I just hope he doesn't try to take the car for a drive on his own....
Parker turned one in June and is adorable, busy and a little talker! We're still trying to get used to having a little one who talks- all the time.
more later.....
Saturday, August 23, 2008
g finally home
Posted Jun 10, 2008 2:58pm
Wow, we finally made it home around 7:30 last night and somehow manged to get everybody tucked into bed before collapsing. Brad and I joked that the sleepy little people needed to be in bed by 9p...and the boys were on their own. (smile)
Parker and Chase are thrilled to have their Mama home and Gavin is trying to adjust to sharing the spotlight. They're such fabulously needy and demanding little people! Yes, I missed them very much. (sigh) Brad had come home to be with the boys off and on Saturday through Monday. So, I was truly the center of attention. You know, a Mom in her natural habitat. (smile)
Last night Gavin just giggled as we pulled into the garage and when I asked if he was happy to be home he said 'Yeeeees' in his chicken little sort of way. We were finally able to get him fed, medicated and tucked into bed. As we jostled him around trying to get him postioned just right with a body pillow, he just smiled. He was so thrilled to be home and in his own bed. He slept soundly all night, even when we turned him over at 2am. (Yes, we set an alarm to get up and reposition him every 4-6 hours at night.)
Today he is refusing to eat and drink again, not a good thing. But he did enjoy his walk outside. Even though he nearly slid out of his horizontal wheelchair. :0 Life's always an adventure around here....
I spoke with the surgeon's office and she offered to send a home health nurse out to help with positioning Gavin to eat, rotating positions, etc. The nurse said some people are just fine with the spica cast and others are vey overwhelemed. I just chuckled and told her- 'We're overwhelmed!' Someone will be coming out tomorrow or so to show us some tricks. I hope I'm not too old to learn. ;) Birthday joke.
We continue to pray that Gavin will heal well with limited pain, eat & drink, (have a dirty diaper- big issue) and not develop any pressure sores. Thank you again for your continued prayers, emails, calls, meals and friendship. I'll tyi posting some pictures. Gavin's cast is the most beautiful shade of blue. (sigh)
Love Kara & The Boys
Wow, we finally made it home around 7:30 last night and somehow manged to get everybody tucked into bed before collapsing. Brad and I joked that the sleepy little people needed to be in bed by 9p...and the boys were on their own. (smile)
Parker and Chase are thrilled to have their Mama home and Gavin is trying to adjust to sharing the spotlight. They're such fabulously needy and demanding little people! Yes, I missed them very much. (sigh) Brad had come home to be with the boys off and on Saturday through Monday. So, I was truly the center of attention. You know, a Mom in her natural habitat. (smile)
Last night Gavin just giggled as we pulled into the garage and when I asked if he was happy to be home he said 'Yeeeees' in his chicken little sort of way. We were finally able to get him fed, medicated and tucked into bed. As we jostled him around trying to get him postioned just right with a body pillow, he just smiled. He was so thrilled to be home and in his own bed. He slept soundly all night, even when we turned him over at 2am. (Yes, we set an alarm to get up and reposition him every 4-6 hours at night.)
Today he is refusing to eat and drink again, not a good thing. But he did enjoy his walk outside. Even though he nearly slid out of his horizontal wheelchair. :0 Life's always an adventure around here....
I spoke with the surgeon's office and she offered to send a home health nurse out to help with positioning Gavin to eat, rotating positions, etc. The nurse said some people are just fine with the spica cast and others are vey overwhelemed. I just chuckled and told her- 'We're overwhelmed!' Someone will be coming out tomorrow or so to show us some tricks. I hope I'm not too old to learn. ;) Birthday joke.
We continue to pray that Gavin will heal well with limited pain, eat & drink, (have a dirty diaper- big issue) and not develop any pressure sores. Thank you again for your continued prayers, emails, calls, meals and friendship. I'll tyi posting some pictures. Gavin's cast is the most beautiful shade of blue. (sigh)
Love Kara & The Boys
g update
Posted Jun 9, 2008 10:40am
Today's the day! We are able to Gavin home this afternoon. He's fianlly had something to drink and ate breakfast. Well, he had toast with strawberyy jam. He thought it was so funny that his mom was willing to feed him one small bite of sticky toast at a time. Those of you who know him well, know that he doesn't like to have his fingers sticky and always tries to coax myself and others into doing this for him. Today, he thinks he won. He sat (Ok leaned at an awkward angle) so proudly and just grinned. He loves getting away with things. Hmmmmm...how old is he again? :)
We still need to go over some cast care, sponge bath, 'equipment issues' and medication.(He still has a lot of pain/ discomfort) Then we'll be ready (or at least the doctor says) we'll be ready to take him home.
Thank you again for your emails, posts, calls, visits and prayers. It's all very appreciated. Once we're home, we'll continue to update and even post some pictures.
With Love and Faith,Kara, Brad, Gavin, Chase & Parker
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Today's the day! We are able to Gavin home this afternoon. He's fianlly had something to drink and ate breakfast. Well, he had toast with strawberyy jam. He thought it was so funny that his mom was willing to feed him one small bite of sticky toast at a time. Those of you who know him well, know that he doesn't like to have his fingers sticky and always tries to coax myself and others into doing this for him. Today, he thinks he won. He sat (Ok leaned at an awkward angle) so proudly and just grinned. He loves getting away with things. Hmmmmm...how old is he again? :)
We still need to go over some cast care, sponge bath, 'equipment issues' and medication.(He still has a lot of pain/ discomfort) Then we'll be ready (or at least the doctor says) we'll be ready to take him home.
Thank you again for your emails, posts, calls, visits and prayers. It's all very appreciated. Once we're home, we'll continue to update and even post some pictures.
With Love and Faith,Kara, Brad, Gavin, Chase & Parker
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g update
Posted Jun 8, 2008 11:15am
What a beautiful morning!! Gavin is doing very well this morning. In fact, we'll be moving to a regular room within the hour. Yeah! I was talking with Gavin this morning and asked him for a smile and he squinted his eyes shut and gave the biggest cheesiest grin. It's the face his brother makes for pictures and the first time I've ever see it from Gavin. It caught me so off guard that I just laughed out loud. Well, as you may guess, I think it may be his new favorite expression. Of course when the doctor came in he became stone faced.
I know he's feeling better because he started flirting with the nurse this morning. Batting his eyes, flashing his dimple and finishing off with his new cheesy grin and that naughty lttle giggle he has. He's still anoyed with the cast (it goes from his chest to right ankle and left knee), but he's a showing signs of tolerating it for the next two months. Ugh. Gavin is still really medicated and not eating, but we're hopeful thi will change today.
Thank you again for your prayers and support as we continue to get Gavin healthy enough to go home.God is good,Gavin's Mama
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What a beautiful morning!! Gavin is doing very well this morning. In fact, we'll be moving to a regular room within the hour. Yeah! I was talking with Gavin this morning and asked him for a smile and he squinted his eyes shut and gave the biggest cheesiest grin. It's the face his brother makes for pictures and the first time I've ever see it from Gavin. It caught me so off guard that I just laughed out loud. Well, as you may guess, I think it may be his new favorite expression. Of course when the doctor came in he became stone faced.
I know he's feeling better because he started flirting with the nurse this morning. Batting his eyes, flashing his dimple and finishing off with his new cheesy grin and that naughty lttle giggle he has. He's still anoyed with the cast (it goes from his chest to right ankle and left knee), but he's a showing signs of tolerating it for the next two months. Ugh. Gavin is still really medicated and not eating, but we're hopeful thi will change today.
Thank you again for your prayers and support as we continue to get Gavin healthy enough to go home.God is good,Gavin's Mama
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Gavin's Hip suergery update
Posted Jun 7, 2008 9:31pm
Gavin is still in the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care)but is doing so much better tonight. He 's still lying as still as possible and sleeping a ton, but we've seen two half smiles from him. What we like to call 'his Elvis lip'. ;) And tonight, while I was kissing his little cheeky he looked at me and gave me one of his famous giant toothy grins, complete with twinkly eyes and dimple. Words cannot express the joy of seeing his smile again. Of course, he went right back to sleep after that.
Gavin's face is always so round and cherub-like with his great big smile, but for the last two days his face has been just long and sad. He doesn't even look like himself. He is still heavily medicated and refuses to eat or drink, but we are hopeful this will change tomorrow.
We had dinner with the boys in the Hospital Cafeteria. Yep, only the best for my family. ;) And then Brad took them home for the night.It's just me and my roomie, Gavin, tonight. And he doesn't care if I snore. I mean, I hope he doesn't snore.
Sweet dreams to all and thank you for your prayers and kind emials.With Faith,G's Mama
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Gavin is still in the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care)but is doing so much better tonight. He 's still lying as still as possible and sleeping a ton, but we've seen two half smiles from him. What we like to call 'his Elvis lip'. ;) And tonight, while I was kissing his little cheeky he looked at me and gave me one of his famous giant toothy grins, complete with twinkly eyes and dimple. Words cannot express the joy of seeing his smile again. Of course, he went right back to sleep after that.
Gavin's face is always so round and cherub-like with his great big smile, but for the last two days his face has been just long and sad. He doesn't even look like himself. He is still heavily medicated and refuses to eat or drink, but we are hopeful this will change tomorrow.
We had dinner with the boys in the Hospital Cafeteria. Yep, only the best for my family. ;) And then Brad took them home for the night.It's just me and my roomie, Gavin, tonight. And he doesn't care if I snore. I mean, I hope he doesn't snore.
Sweet dreams to all and thank you for your prayers and kind emials.With Faith,G's Mama
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Gavin's surgery - Day 2
Posted Jun 7, 2008 9:29am
Good Morning, last night was rough. Gavin started having intense muscle spasms around 11p and may have had a few seizures. They gave him more seizure and pain medication and he finally seemed to get into a good sleep around midnight or so. At 2:30a he woke up vomiting and of course, crying. He was given more medication for nausea and finally fell into a deep sleep through this morning. He's back to sleep now. He's such an angel when he's sleeping.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. They're greatly needed and appreciated. We'll know in a few hours if they'll move Gavin to a regular room.
On an up note it will be fun for Chase to see Gavin's cast because it's blue. Yep, Chase's very favorite color.
Kara & The Boys
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Good Morning, last night was rough. Gavin started having intense muscle spasms around 11p and may have had a few seizures. They gave him more seizure and pain medication and he finally seemed to get into a good sleep around midnight or so. At 2:30a he woke up vomiting and of course, crying. He was given more medication for nausea and finally fell into a deep sleep through this morning. He's back to sleep now. He's such an angel when he's sleeping.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. They're greatly needed and appreciated. We'll know in a few hours if they'll move Gavin to a regular room.
On an up note it will be fun for Chase to see Gavin's cast because it's blue. Yep, Chase's very favorite color.
Kara & The Boys
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Gvain's Hip Surgery
Posted Jun 6, 2008 7:23pm
Earlier today I posted a full explanation of Gavin's procedure while we waited. It didn't save to the website.....now I will try again, but abreviated.
Gavin's right hip is (was) mishapen. Today in surgery they cut two tendons in his inner groin, cut the femur in half and repositioned it using metal plates and screws and did a bone graph to create a deeper hip socket. Yep, it's as yucky as it sounds. He's also in a cast from his chest to right ankle and and left knee. (Opening for small diaper to be tucked in.) They took him in at 7:30 this morning and we were finally able to see him at 2:30pm.
The surgeon says she pleased with how the surgery went and believes it will be successful. (At a later date I'll post why he needed this, etc.) He's in PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care) tonight and if all goes well, he'll be moved to a regular room tomorrow. We're told the stay could be from 3-7 days, depending on pain and if he has any seizures.
Because of Gavin's history with seizures and adverse effects of medication, his medication options are somewhat limited. And the risk of seizure is fairly high. Gavin is in a great deal of pain and having difficulty getting into a good sleep.
He's also panicking over the cast; from his perspective, he woke up and suddenly cannot move most of his body. Any prayers would be greatly appreciated. I'll try to more entertaining and informative tomorrow. Tonight, it's time for a little sleep. Most likely, very little sleep.
With faith in God,Gavin's Mama
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Earlier today I posted a full explanation of Gavin's procedure while we waited. It didn't save to the website.....now I will try again, but abreviated.
Gavin's right hip is (was) mishapen. Today in surgery they cut two tendons in his inner groin, cut the femur in half and repositioned it using metal plates and screws and did a bone graph to create a deeper hip socket. Yep, it's as yucky as it sounds. He's also in a cast from his chest to right ankle and and left knee. (Opening for small diaper to be tucked in.) They took him in at 7:30 this morning and we were finally able to see him at 2:30pm.
The surgeon says she pleased with how the surgery went and believes it will be successful. (At a later date I'll post why he needed this, etc.) He's in PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care) tonight and if all goes well, he'll be moved to a regular room tomorrow. We're told the stay could be from 3-7 days, depending on pain and if he has any seizures.
Because of Gavin's history with seizures and adverse effects of medication, his medication options are somewhat limited. And the risk of seizure is fairly high. Gavin is in a great deal of pain and having difficulty getting into a good sleep.
He's also panicking over the cast; from his perspective, he woke up and suddenly cannot move most of his body. Any prayers would be greatly appreciated. I'll try to more entertaining and informative tomorrow. Tonight, it's time for a little sleep. Most likely, very little sleep.
With faith in God,Gavin's Mama
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Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Hello again!
Finally, we've started another blog. Funny, I used to just call it a website. :) I know the medical site was giving a lot of people fits, so here is the new and improved. All about Gavin and his family. I'll try to get some pictures posted and get this thing together very soon. I know, I know, promises, promises. But the big step is done. More to come.......
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Look Mama, Gavin's an Easter Egg!
