Thursday, August 4, 2011

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Colostomy take-down in 13, 12, 11...

Most of you know that Parker had to have emergency surgery to have a colostomy put into place the day he was born.  Well, after three and a half months of emptying colostomy bags, changing colostomy bags (sometimes in public restrooms when the bags have blown!), ordering colostomy bag equipment, admitting Parker into the hospital for the surgery to repair his imperforate anus on June 30th, dilating his anus everyday since that surgery (which is as unpleasant as it sounds!) paying medicals bills, and not seeing his entire belly without a bag or his stomas since the day he was born, it is all going to come to in an end in 13, 12, 11 days...

Parker will be admitted on Monday, August 15th for pre-op and will undergo surgery for the colostomy take-down on Tuesday morning, August 16th. (Happy Anniversary, Mom & Dad!)  He should be in the hospital for about 4-5 days, depending on how his recovery goes.  After his last surgery, he was sent home early for fabulous progress, so we will hope for that again!  We are MORE than thrilled to have our little humpty dumpty put back together again!  It certainly feels like it took all of the kings horses and all of the kings men ... Chris, me, my mom & dad, Chris' parents, Selena & Brian, Erica & Scott, a phenomenal surgeon (Dr. Megan Durham: http://www.atlpedsurg.com/), phenomenal nursing staff at Egleston, and the support of our extended families and friends is what it took to make it through these past 3 and a half months!

Parker will still have some challenges with his spine and his foot (MRI on August 25th to check out his spine - Happy Birthday to Randi and Happy Anniversary to Randi and Terry!) but we know that with all of the love and support from you all, he will make it through all of these challenges as well as he has these past 3 months.  He is such a happy boy and is so strong already! 

Reagan has been a wonderful big sister (older by 1 minute, remember?) and is so patient when we drag her along to Parker's urology appointments, surgical appointments, hospital stays, etc.  She is also a very happy baby and is easily consoled by a good snuggle from a grandparent while her mom and dad are busy talking to the doctors about Parker.  I joked with my mom the first time we went to Parker's post-surgical visit and said, "Can you be 'Team Reagan' while Chris and I are 'Team Parker' during this appointment?" (Twilight reference for those of you who aren't familiar...)  I was even tempted to make t-shirts for us, but I have no spare time on my hands - plus, when it all comes down to it, we are all on both teams, but sometimes we have to switch the teams around to be as efficient as possible. :)

Anyways, we just wanted to give you all the latest update since you have all been so sweet to ask how Parker is progressing.  He is a champ and we are so proud of him and his sister!!

In other news, we went to the pediatrician last Monday for the babies' weight checks, and Parker weighed in at 9lbs, 8ozs and Reagan was 8lbs, 2 ozs.  Our doctor was more than pleased with both of their weights, which made this momma happy!! (because let's be honest...breastfeeding 2 of them is a lot of work and I am happy to see it is paying off!) :)

Thanks again to all of you for your love and prayers - we can feel your support surrounding us everyday!! 

Want to go through the colostomy bag change process with us through pictures?  Oh good, we thought you would! :)  Ready, set, go!


Above: Parker has to have a sponge bath every other day (when his bag is still on) and can have a real bath in the whale tub on the days that we change his bag...but NO soap near the stomas, so we wash his hair mid-air. :)

All clean! :)

Parker waits patiently (while staring Chris down) as Chris cuts the new colostomy bag.

"But, I don't LIKE this!"

Parker's stomas!

A new colostomy bag!  Changed every other day, emptied every time his diaper is changed.

Parker goes to his happy place! (He loves to stare at the birds that I painted while we work on this)

Another "happy place" shot! :)

Reagan gets love from whoever isn't hands-on during the bag change (it takes 2 to change the bag!)

Reagan on her play mat.

She looks serious, but she loves it! :)

She is very good at waiting patiently in a bouncy seat while we work with Parker! :)