Christmas Gift Collection

We want to continue the tradition of helping and encouraging others just as we were supported during Ramsey's sickness. Along with the help of Ramsey's buddy Case's mom (please LIKE his new Facebook page), we are spreading smiles this Christmas season through our project, Rooting for a Reason.

We're Rooting for Patients!

We know first hand how hard it is to spend time in the hospital beside a sick child. We also know the warm feeling that spreads through our hearts when someone comes to our sweet child's hospital room with a gift. This Christmas, please join us in spreading smiles to patients at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. We'd like to donate Christmas gifts to the children who can't go home for the holidays. From now until December 13th we'll be collecting donations. Please view these gift suggestions from Children's that are sure to make a little boy or girl smile this Christmas. Please note, in the hospital, infection is always a risk. To protect patients, the hospital can accept only new items or those items that are clean and in excellent condition. We appreciate your support and know how meaningful this gesture will be to patients and their families. We'll be rooting for hope and spreading joy to those not able to be where they should be for the holidays...home.
 
Paypal donations can be made below and will go directly towards the purchase of items from Children's suggested wish list.

Pumpkin Patch!

Despite the cold rainy weather, we had a great time this weekend at a local farm. We picked pumpkins, ate some awesome baked goods, and let the boys play a bit before returning home to carve our selections. I found some Halloween music to listen to while we carved them. Reed proved he takes after me when he belted out the wrong words to ghostbusters. His version: Go Buster!!!

Ramsey loved running through the pumpkin patch despite tripping over every loose vine and face planting off the picnic table onto the wet grass (not my proudest mom moment).

Amazing Case

We love our NICU/RMH friends, the McNulty's! Their son Case was born just a month before Ramsey. I met his mom Liz in the halls of RMH; we were meant to be friends. Our journeys have been quite different, still we share that NICU bond. Liz and her husband Dan have 4 beautiful children; they have three daughters: Meredith, Samantha, and Lainey...and of course their son, Case. Their blog is: http://averyspecialcase.blogspot.com/

Case is an amazing, joyful, loving boy and I'm honored to be a part of his life. Recently we visited the McNulty's and our kids finally got to spend some time playing together. Yesterday, we joined them for a special benefit in Case's honor. A group called the Burgi's Low Life Riders organize an annual 100 mile motorcycle ride. All proceeds benefit the family of a special needs child. This year they selected Case and a 3 year old named Tiffanie. We met up with all the riders at the end of the day for a great meal and celebration of both children. Liz would say that it doesn't take much to make me cry, but when I saw the police escorted group of motorcycles (hundred's of them) arriving to celebrate Case, well I couldn't help but cry some happy tears. I can't think of anyone more deserving of the honor. 

Backyard fun

Case is a hugger :)

Liz and Case at the Benefit

Case's first "Ride"

Fierce!

Dennis and Dan

No Pain. No Gaines.

Ramsey had a follow-up recently with his surgeon, Dr. Barbara Gaines. He is doing so well! The surgery never slowed him down. Some swear that he's brighter and he's even had fewer problems in the poop department! (LOL, my sister and I were just questioning why our kids always talk about poop and now I'm doing it too) 

Dr. Gaines has been with us since day one. Looking back, it's great to see the transformation in her demeanor; it has everything to do with how far he has come.  We knew Dr. Gaines would likely perform Ramsey's surgery; hearing from several nurses that she would be THEIR choice to operate on THEIR child was a huge relief. Knowing that she had also completed surgery on my nephews and a friend's child was also encouraging. I remember the morning rounds, and specifically our conversation following Ramsey's repair. As her team stood behind her beaming from ear to ear, she remained quite serious, nevertheless pleased with the outcome of the surgery.  She knew he still had a lot of progress to make.

As the months have passed and Ramsey continues to do well, it is so awesome to celebrate with Dr. Gaines. She shares that big smile of relief. I look forward to our appointments and I would imagine that she does too- patients like Ramsey are a victory.  I was amused on the day of his recent surgery as she exclaimed, "this is so exciting"! I wouldn't have thought to use those words regarding my son's surgery, but in the scheme of things, it WAS exciting. Dr. Gaines was thrilled, even relieved, because she remembered how fragile he used to be. She knew all too well how things could and did change from moment to moment. She recalled the day he came closer to being placed on ECMO than anyone has ever come. The surgeons were prepped and ready until his oxygen improved so much that they realized, "this kid doesn't need ECMO". That's my amazing child for ya! 

Soon, Dr. Gaine's says we won't even have to worry about Ramsey. I assured her that will never happen. Still, it's good to know that from her expert standpoint, it will.

Home Sweet Home

Ramsey awoke on Saturday as if the surgery had never happened! He was happy and eager to walk and leave the hospital room. We gave him many wagon rides and he said "Bye" and waved to everyone he saw. He ate a bit more and his pain was controlled. We were discharged around lunchtime. Ramsey got to have one last visit to Ronald McDonald House before we went home and he even tried to help us clean. (I'm sure that wasn't part of his discharge instructions!)

He loves his new Snoopy!

Post-Surgery Update

Today wasn't easy for our buddy. I've never seen Ramsey in so much pain. They suspended his epidural and when he awoke, he was feeling pretty rough. They gave him Oxycodone just prior to stopping the epidural, but he needed something more and when we tried to administer Morphine, his IV wasn't working. Luckily, as we waited for a new IV, he settled enough that we didn't have to give the Morphine. By this afternoon, he was finally happy enough to bear the pain. They removed the epidural, the catheter and all that other junk he was carrying around. With his new-found freedom, and better mood, we were even able to take him for a short walk and visit to the playroom. Hopefully we can bring him home this weekend.

We stayed at the Ronald McDonald House the night before the surgery. It was fun to have Ramsey stay there with us for the first time. Both Reed and Ramsey were so excited, you'd have thought we were on vacation. Ramsey decided crawling under the sofa bed was a good idea...

We played a bit the morning before the surgery at RMH and in the pre-surgery waiting area. Thank goodness for these distractions because Ramsey was HUNGRY!

Even Daddy had a good time in the playroom!

This is me as the marshmallow man

Wednesday night, RMH hosted a luau on the patio complete with entertainment. As you can see Reed had such a good time he didn't make it to see the end of the party...

This photo is begging for a caption!

We even had dinner with Case and Liz...we love them!

As always, being at the hospital helps to bring things into perspective...it reminds me how blessed I am. I look around and see other patients and their families enduring unimaginable and varied trials. I witness spoken and unspoken pain. Sometimes, the aching is even hidden behind a smile. Still, I see goodness, and joy found in healing and in miracles and I remind myself once again, how lucky I am to be taking Ramsey home.

Surgery went well

Ramsey's surgery went well. He actually woke and stood up
in the recovery room! He is resting now in his hospital room.