31 July 2013
30 July 2013
24 July 2013
Update On Jonathan
An email from Stacey:
I met with Jonathan's GI doctor and dietician this morning and both feel that we've reached a point where more aggressive action needs to be taken as Jonathan is gaining so slowly (weight & height), even with all of the calories he is getting.
There are a couple of things that we'll be doing over the next few weeks. First, the GI doctor thinks that something might be going on with Jonathan's intestines, so they are going to do another stool sample that will check to see if there are signs of inflammation...we've done stool testing before, but haven't done this particular test. Second, the GI doctor wants us to meet with 2 other specialists, one that's a motility specialist and the other specializes more on the intestines. Depending on what their thoughts are with Jonathan will determine what course we will take. She strongly feels that his intestines aren't functioning properly and therefore, not absorbing the proper nutrients.
We will be doing an upper endoscopy at Memorial Hospital tentatively scheduled for September 13th. Hopefully I'll be able to meet with the 2 specialists before then as we may do a colonoscopy at the same time depending on what they think.
We are also adding a supplement to Jonathan's formula that will increase his caloric intake greatly. We're doing a 4 day trial to see how he responds and will go from there.
The GI doctor is also going to speak with the intensive feeding therapy clinic in Denver to see if we can possibly get Jonathan moved up on the waiting list. Right now, there's about a 6 month wait.
The last thing we discussed was the possibly of having a central line put in Jonathan for IV feeding for a couple of weeks. This would possibly done if everything comes back normal on the above tests. It would also be done at home, so there would be no hospital stay. If he made great improvement over the few weeks of the IV feeding, we would possibly look at something a little more permanent to really help with the weight & height gain. But that would be down the road and addressed in further detail if it came to that.
Anyway, that's the update and where we are at this point in time.
Love, Stacey
I met with Jonathan's GI doctor and dietician this morning and both feel that we've reached a point where more aggressive action needs to be taken as Jonathan is gaining so slowly (weight & height), even with all of the calories he is getting.
There are a couple of things that we'll be doing over the next few weeks. First, the GI doctor thinks that something might be going on with Jonathan's intestines, so they are going to do another stool sample that will check to see if there are signs of inflammation...we've done stool testing before, but haven't done this particular test. Second, the GI doctor wants us to meet with 2 other specialists, one that's a motility specialist and the other specializes more on the intestines. Depending on what their thoughts are with Jonathan will determine what course we will take. She strongly feels that his intestines aren't functioning properly and therefore, not absorbing the proper nutrients.
We will be doing an upper endoscopy at Memorial Hospital tentatively scheduled for September 13th. Hopefully I'll be able to meet with the 2 specialists before then as we may do a colonoscopy at the same time depending on what they think.
We are also adding a supplement to Jonathan's formula that will increase his caloric intake greatly. We're doing a 4 day trial to see how he responds and will go from there.
The GI doctor is also going to speak with the intensive feeding therapy clinic in Denver to see if we can possibly get Jonathan moved up on the waiting list. Right now, there's about a 6 month wait.
The last thing we discussed was the possibly of having a central line put in Jonathan for IV feeding for a couple of weeks. This would possibly done if everything comes back normal on the above tests. It would also be done at home, so there would be no hospital stay. If he made great improvement over the few weeks of the IV feeding, we would possibly look at something a little more permanent to really help with the weight & height gain. But that would be down the road and addressed in further detail if it came to that.
Anyway, that's the update and where we are at this point in time.
Love, Stacey
19 July 2013
09 July 2013
Geocaching Grand Lake
As I mentioned in a previous post, I've recently become interested in geocaching again. Things have come a long way since I last did it 10 years ago. For one, there's an app for that. Pretty much anywhere I go I can search for nearby caches on my phone. It's also a fun and free thing to do with the kids. They, of course, like doing it because they sometimes get to upgrade their current toys.
The reason why I like doing it is twofold. Firstly, it gives you a reason to get out of the house and go somewhere. I typically need a reason to do something. I'm not sure I would leave the house just to go hang out somewhere. If there is a reason to go, that is, an end goal in mind, it makes it a purposeful trip rather than aimlessly hanging out and killing time. It might be a guy thing. Secondly, a lot of these caches are hidden in neat areas that I otherwise wouldn't know about or ever find. There are a ton of great areas that you wouldn't know existed. It's a great way to explore an area and see the best of it. You can learn a lot about an area, such as we used to have glaciers in Colorado, and see how they shaped a mountain top. If it weren't for a cache placed there I would have obliviously blown by it at 70 mph.
Our trip to Grand Lake was a great example. I actually was the first person to find two caches. One was a mystery I had to solve (hence the photo in the sky as to not give away the location) - the other was entertaining just due to the container that the cache was hidden in. The mystery cache took us to a great hiking area where I saw the moose. Another cache took us to see the waterfall I have pictures of a few posts below.
The reason why I like doing it is twofold. Firstly, it gives you a reason to get out of the house and go somewhere. I typically need a reason to do something. I'm not sure I would leave the house just to go hang out somewhere. If there is a reason to go, that is, an end goal in mind, it makes it a purposeful trip rather than aimlessly hanging out and killing time. It might be a guy thing. Secondly, a lot of these caches are hidden in neat areas that I otherwise wouldn't know about or ever find. There are a ton of great areas that you wouldn't know existed. It's a great way to explore an area and see the best of it. You can learn a lot about an area, such as we used to have glaciers in Colorado, and see how they shaped a mountain top. If it weren't for a cache placed there I would have obliviously blown by it at 70 mph.
Our trip to Grand Lake was a great example. I actually was the first person to find two caches. One was a mystery I had to solve (hence the photo in the sky as to not give away the location) - the other was entertaining just due to the container that the cache was hidden in. The mystery cache took us to a great hiking area where I saw the moose. Another cache took us to see the waterfall I have pictures of a few posts below.
08 July 2013
The Moose Whisperer
Here's the video I took of the moose that was hanging around the trail in Grand Lake that I walked a few times this weekend. From watching them a couple of times I could tell that they were pretty tame and used to humans being around. So, in what I call a brave but not stupid move, I got fairly close and shot this video. The moose cow sniffed the air and eyeballed me, but otherwise ignored me, kept distance between us, and went on eating plants. Moo. Turn up the volume for my Three Amigos technique at the end of the video.
06 July 2013
I Saw A Flock Of Moosen
Today a geocache led us to the opposite side of Grand Lake, to Adams Falls. The entire family did the half a mile road trip hike before lunch.
After lunch we took another short hike on another trail discovered through "seeking". On the hike we saw a flock of moosen in the woodsen! There were many of them (two, to be exact) off trail about 40 yards. After taking a few pictures of them a deer came scampering right behind them followed by a dog giving chase.
After dinner we took the kids down to the dock for a free showing of Finding Nemo. We stayed for about an hour before turning in.
After lunch we took another short hike on another trail discovered through "seeking". On the hike we saw a flock of moosen in the woodsen! There were many of them (two, to be exact) off trail about 40 yards. After taking a few pictures of them a deer came scampering right behind them followed by a dog giving chase.
After dinner we took the kids down to the dock for a free showing of Finding Nemo. We stayed for about an hour before turning in.
05 July 2013
Grand Lake, Colorado
In an effort to "get out" and start seeing things now that the kids are a little older, we packed up the two door jalopy and headed up to Grand Lake for the holiday weekend. I had never been up to this part of Colorado before, and since Grand Lake is the largest natural body of water in Colorado, the three hour drive from home seemed worth it.
The original plan was to drive up on the fourth of July and see fireworks. Earlier in the day we found out that the show didn't even start until 10 p.m., way past all of our bedtime. The explosions echoing off of the mountainsides woke us up anyway.
There isn't a lot to do here other than be on the water, hike, and relax during the summer. In the winter the area is a hotbed for Nordic skiing and snowmobiling...both things I think the kids would eventually enjoy. Instead of researching online, talking to locals, or using a guidebook, I let the geocaches guide our exploration of the area. After a 9 year hiatus, I've picked it up again thanks to our time in Spokane with the Wisers. I'll make a separate post later, but it's always been a great way to find places and views you otherwise wouldn't find.
It's rained here every day - you can tell it's a much wetter part of the state. Instead of a boat, we're considering kayaks and a popup camper next year. We will see. It would be possible to carry all of us and all of those toys at the same time...and an easy and relatively inexpensive way to get out on the water.
The original plan was to drive up on the fourth of July and see fireworks. Earlier in the day we found out that the show didn't even start until 10 p.m., way past all of our bedtime. The explosions echoing off of the mountainsides woke us up anyway.
There isn't a lot to do here other than be on the water, hike, and relax during the summer. In the winter the area is a hotbed for Nordic skiing and snowmobiling...both things I think the kids would eventually enjoy. Instead of researching online, talking to locals, or using a guidebook, I let the geocaches guide our exploration of the area. After a 9 year hiatus, I've picked it up again thanks to our time in Spokane with the Wisers. I'll make a separate post later, but it's always been a great way to find places and views you otherwise wouldn't find.
It's rained here every day - you can tell it's a much wetter part of the state. Instead of a boat, we're considering kayaks and a popup camper next year. We will see. It would be possible to carry all of us and all of those toys at the same time...and an easy and relatively inexpensive way to get out on the water.
03 July 2013
Pictures of Julia
Julia's first time playing miniature golf, Julia's chalk drawing (all by herself), Julia finding a cache at Fox Run Park, the kids out running errands (for which they received several oohs and aahs).
02 July 2013
Snort Aleck
I took this video in my truck last weekend. Jonathan was dancing to the music, but then got embarrassed when I flipped the camera around so he could see himself on video. Turn the volume up - we captured one of Jonathan's characteristic snorts on video. The kids have probably watched this 50 times now, laughing hysterically each time.
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