Day 7 & Day 8

Hey Gang, sorry for no post yesterday. It was pretty uneventful. Alej did fantastic at PT, really showed his stuff...too bad he didn't do well today. He didn't fall asleep until around 11pm last night so his 9am therapy was unsuccessful. He just cried and whined and yelled. We got a few good steps out of him but they think he is doing great and started talking about going home. Please let it be soon!

Sunday we colored, played with play-doh, played piano watched Fantasia...he actually sat through the whole thing, he loved it! But bed time was miserable which is probably why he is napping so well right now. Not much else going on, I'll write more if anything other than our baths happen! g+b a+b

Day 6, the bank crashes

Today was mommas day to break down. For some stupid reason I forgot my pin # to my debit card and it ended with me trying one time too many and closing out my card. Meaning...i was left with zero funds for the weekend. They will mail me a new card and pin in 5-7 days!!! I was in tears yelling at the rep from AlaskaUSA in the middle of a busy hospital while Loli happily crawled back and forth across this incredibly long window bench. It was a bad ending to a pretty good day. He did poorly in PT but we had a good afternoon. I took him to see the Tram and planned on riding it Sunday but will have to postpone until Monday if at all. He loved it, he thinks its a floating bubble. I think it would be worth the trip down and back. We can't venture far as we don't know where anything is!

So i cried a lot today and ate. 4 families have gone home this weekend and one left Friday morning, it was the family that came in with us last Sunday from Fairbanks. I was upset when I saw their room empty. I wondered why they were up so early on Friday...it was like 5am when i walked past their room. they usually sleep in really late, actually everyone does except my little guy. He is the first one up and asking for chocolate milk. I told him he was going to turn into a little brown cow. He just laughs.

His speech has improved so much, I don't know if its because all he has is me to talk to or what...but he is a major chatterbox now. He told me I was "rude" for making him go to bed last night. And told the weekend PT he would "rather not" continue to practice. Next he will be saying, "how random?"

It's pretty boring in a hospital after lights out, they don't even have decent cable and their move selection is all G or PG rated. I can read and have done a lot but after reading all day i just want a break some good mindless TV would do the trick. The hospital is so isolated on this big hill miles away from the rest of town so you can't even sneak away unless you want to go the hospital next door, yippie! Been there done that, they do have amazing food but it's not that happening of a place at 10 at night i bet. LOL

I better go, little B has been alone long enough, he feel asleep early and without much hassle. I am fearful of another 5 am waking! Love to all g+b a+b

Day 5, Little Boy Blew!

We had a rough day all the way around today, it started with little b waking up at 5am because we had a neighbor move into our room! The other kids moved in and slept like a rock...my boy was awake and ready to go. By the time therapy time came around he was a wreck, he couldn't stand himself or the poor therapist. He spit at her, threw toys and even tried to bite. Very embarrassing but since I was so tired myself I really didn't care or do anything. I wanted them to get the clear message he is done and ready to go home.

We went on our field trip to the other cafeteria, it was fun and exciting for him. Nice to get fresh air, he loved rolling up and down the hilly sidewalks. I was scared i might lose him and have him roll out into traffic. But it was a highlight of his day and he came back with a full tummy of chocolate milk and we took a 3 hour nap. We were late for therapy session 2, Abby was great, she just picked up where we left off the day before. Even with the nap he didn't do great, he walked a little but mostly fussed.

This evening it took 2 1/2 hrs to get him to sleep. He cried, laughed, sang, talked to his doggy, called for daddy...the usual. And just when he fell asleep...the CNA walked in and he woke up!! AHHHHHHHhhhh...I am so ready to go home! We are hoping to leave on Tuesday but I won't know anything until Monday afternoon, pray they say he is good to go! talk more later...i am so sleepppyyy! g+b a+b

Day 4

Little B is sound asleep finally, it was a rough evening...he reminded me for the 100th time today that he is 2! It was all about his beanie doggy. I took it away from him because he wouldn't go to sleep and you would have thought I cut a finger off!! "Mommy took my doooooggggy away!!!" He was so loud I thought the nurses were going to come in and make sure i wasn't beating him or something. In the end he won...damn it...and i gave the dog back. he was exhausted by then and thanked me in tears and promptly feel asleep.

they filmed him in the motion lab today, which is where they study his walking in all forms of scientific way I can't even describe. He did full on independent walking...and then he fell backwards and it was all over. He cried so hard and kept telling me, "baby hurt, 'Hando hurt, baby very hurt". I felt bad because i wasn't able to catch him...so we bribed him with toys and it was all better. He spent the rest of his day playing and watching cartoons, after 2 therapy sessions and one 15 min walk with mom.

Today I got a break, I walked over to OSHU's main building and had a real lunch. They put FMH's cafe to shame!! they have a grill line, Chinese food line, hot line, salad bar, dessert bar, make you fresh sandwiches hot or cold while you watch bar! I thought I was in heaven! Plus a whole wall of soda and cold stuff like an isle at the grocery store, the best thing is they are 24 hrs and I could go now if i wanted. hmmm...maybe i should. :) I used the time to eat, buy a card for Mateo's Birthday...(Sept 1st) and mailed it. they have a gift shop, post office and laundry site also. It was nice to have a break from Alej, just to be outside and get fresh air.

I am getting him a pass for the weekend so we can have lunch over there and just get out of the hospital. Everyone keeps encouraging me to take the bus, it drops you downtown they say...and then what? What is down there I would enjoy with a cranky 2 year old? So i think I will limit our adventures to the hospital campus. We will be home soon enough for safe outings with the stroller.

I realized today with the help of my dear friend T that they are trying to force him to learn in 9 days what a normal child learns in the course of months! They start by learning to stand, progress to scaling the furniture and then in a few weeks or months move on to an actual step. In four days he has moved that far! This is amazing and challenging and more than enough for a 2 year old to take. He deserves all this tantrums he is throwing, he's tired and he wants to go home and see his daddy.

He sang to his therapist today, all about how much he misses dad and wants to go home. It was very sweet. Oh, and we made a friend, his name is Bexam...like Becham the soccer player? He wears a halo and has the sweetest mom. They are from Canada and have been here for 3 weeks, i guess i shouldn't complain. She is the one who told me where the laundry room is and she shared her birthday cake, it was some wonderful concoction of yellow cake, banana pudding and real bananas! Heaven.

I guess i should go, little b could wake up at any minute and fall out of the hospital bed...no crib for this big boy. I'm just lonely and want to go home! Love to all... g+b a+b

Day 3

Today was a busy day of therapy and sleep. We worked on walking the floor after breakfast, it took us an hour to get all the way around...which mind you only takes 1 minute in his wheel chair. It was rough going, with about 3 tantrums. One of which he laid on the ground for about 10 minutes while the whole nursing staff walked around him. I like when he works with his therapist Herb, he is really good for Alej and doesn't take any crap. He makes Alej do things you never knew possible. In the 57th minute as we were about to approach our room door Alej got away from me and walked in by himself. I was dumbfounded. I didn't know if i should run ahead and grab the camera or hug him or yell. It was exciting. Everyday is filled with so many great moments like this one. I only wish his dad and sibs could be here to share it with us! They are missing so much.

Tonight we finished off the evening with a little bit of Tarzan-Disney version and chocolate milk. He told me he loved me and was tired and wanted to go home. Such a sweet boy. He really just wants to go home and be left alone. A hospital is just not the place for a healthy little boy. good night all, lots of love g+b & a+b

First step!

So it happened! Last night before bed we tried one more time to walk with his RGO and walker. He really wanted to watch Jungle Book so I put him on the side of the room he couldn't see TV on and had him walk toward the TV. It worked! I watched earlier when he was with his PT and thought they were pushing him along but he does propel himself and he did last night. It was only 3 steps and he was done but it was something. I can't explain how it looks other than a little doll walking around, he is so tiny and it seems so surreal to actually she him up right. Amazing is all i have to say! It was a tough day yesterday for him I can only imagine what today will be like. We have 2 PT appointments and 1 OT; he will be exhausted by bedtime. Wish us luck! Love g+b & a+b!

First steps

He hasn't walked yet but he has stood. Sabrina his ot person came up before his nap to make sure the RGO fit properly and since he was awake she went ahead and put him in it and he stood all on his own. He was pretty calm about the momentous event...mostly looked irritated. I wanted to cry but I think I will save that for the big event in a few hours when he actually takes that step. I am unable upload the video i shot, they have a block on this computer so you know I will run all over the hospital until I can find a place to upload it. If not I will share once we get home. love & kisses gb + ab

Were leaving on a jet plane...

So here it is less than 24 hrs till we leave and I haven't packed a thing. I am nervous and excited and mostly I want to curl up in my bed with Robert and relax. The kids are sad but we are coping by doing large amounts of chores. Even the littles are helping. Karen is away in Valdez this weekend, fishing to provide food for our big family! It's just like the old days! LOL We hope she gets some halibut. Yum yum.

I hope to keep posting while I'm away...and hope to be able to upload video of him actually walking. That would be exciting! But my camera with all the fun gadgets has suddenly grown legs and walked away.

Better go, trying to finish a scrapbook page, post on facebook and here and pack. See you all!

g+b+m

Back to School

Well folks its that time again..back to school! The kids were actually as excited as I was. With all the forest fires and smoke we just didn't get to get out and enjoy the summer heat as much as we would have liked. I know the packs look heavy & they are! They are filled with all the supplies for the community classrooms.

Its been a busy week getting back in to routine but we are making it. I am glad my Wednesday off is upon us. I didn't think I could make it longer. It will give me a chance to start packing and prepping for Alej's and I's trip to Portland.

WE are going to go learn how to walk!!!

I know we are excited too, we will be in Portland for 2 weeks where he will be fitted with the RGO and taught how to use it. Its exciting and nerve racking all at the same time. Wish us luck and prayers for Alej to do his best. I understand it's really hard to watch them fall and learn to get up. I'll probably be in tears as much as he is. Need to go for now, need to get dinner rolling!

Have a good one, I'll write more soon!

gb

The end of soccer

We finally played our third game, after 2 cancellations and alot of smoke. The smoke has been really bad and we thought we had seen the last of it yesterday afternoon but no...it is back. We didn't even get time to enjoy that much. No pics to share oxygen is too low...LOL will most more soon. gb