Nurse Jodi

After 1 day of training, I gave Kaden his antibiotics this morning and he is still alive! I was so worried that I wouldn't notice the air bubbles in the syringes or put them in in the wrong order. I am so impressed with myself! Even Kaden breathed a sigh of relief.

He is doing great, but a little on the bored side - but Jessica is bringing him home lots of homework to do tonight so I think he will actually be glad to have something to do for the next few weeks.

I went to Lacee's school today to watch her class do the Halloween parade. They looked so cute all dressed up. Lacee is Hannah Montana this year. I will have to post pictures later.

Anyway, guess I will go try and get caught up with everything so I will update later!

We are Home!!!

Kaden and I arrived home at 9:30 pm last night. The lights of Delta were awesome to see coming home! It was a long day of going back and forth with Dr's and everybody else in the hospital if we were coming home or not. Finally, we got the green light at 7:00 pm. His chest x-ray that they did Tuesday night and then the one they did Wednesday afternoon had not changed, so that is why they let us come home. If it had shown 1 oz more of fluid in his lungs, we would still be there.

Kaden still has fluid but we are going to do an 8 week course of antibiotics to try and get it out of there. He has to do lots of deep breathing exercises and blow into his "sucky" thing. Getting his strength back will also help him tremendously. He is really glad to be home. Kaden has to have his antibiotics at 8:00 am and 8:00 pm, so Home Health Care met us here last night and then she came this morning and will be here again tonight to train us so we can do it ourselves and then will just come out on Mondays to change the dressing on the PICC line and where they put the chest tubes in. Primary Children's also want blood work done every Monday, so she is going to do that also, since I refuse to take Kaden into the Dr's office or hospital here with all the other sick people of the town.

We will probably keep him home from school for a few weeks and then they told him he could go back when he felt up to it. So that means he will get to do all his school work here. He was worried about having to repeat 9th grade, but I told him he would be fine.

He can have visitors, but please don't come out if you are sick! We really don't want to end up back at Primary Children's!

Anyway, we are glad to be back home and even more thankful that Kaden is doing well. Tell your kids and family you love them everyday, you never know what the day will bring.

Thanks, more update later!

Update 7:30pm

Jodi just texted to say they are on their way home! Yay! It will still be a long recovery but we are so glad Kaden is doing better!

10:00 pm 10-27-09

Well, the verdict is we are going to go with the 6-8 week course of antibiotics. The Drs said that he has a very good chance of this working. I asked them on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the best, what were the chances of this working? And they said 8. So we are going with our gut feeling and getting him home, in his own house and in his own bed. I just feel that we can do this at home and he will be more comfortable and will lift his spirits. When they gave us the option of antibiotics or chest tubes again with another week in the hospital, he said I'm going home.

The put the PICC line in today about 5:00 pm and so that is were they will administer the IV antibiotics. We will probably keep him home for a few weeks to get his strength back and make sure he is okay. Oh, and FYI - Kaden did not have the H1N1 or regular flu. This started out as Rhinovirus that grew into a bacterial infection. He is not contagious. When we are home and we have visitors, we will be putting a mask on Kaden just for his protection.

Bishop Porter came to see him tonight and I just want to thank him for sneaking in a Wendy's hamburger and a Frosty for Kaden and for taking my car and getting my tires checked and aired up.

Hopefully if everything goes well for tonight, maybe just maybe we will be home tomorrow night. If not, I think on Thursday. Cross your fingers!!

Thanks everybody!

10:30 am 10-27-09

We are still waiting for the doctors to decide what is our next course of action. The chest x-ray this morning showed a slight improvement over yesterdays x-ray, so that is good. We have been going for walks around the floor to try and get his strength back up. Our nurse today is named Travis and he said he was going to have him doing sprints up and down the hall soon.

Kaden wanted me to thank everybody for the cards, candy and the picture of the football team. He thinks that is really nice of everybody to do that for him. We have them hanging up on the wall in his room and everybody that comes in looks at them.

Anyway, guess we won't know anything till this afternoon. We have a window in our room and we are just watching movies and watching the snow fall.

Thanks!

10:00 pm 10-26-09

Ugh..I spoke too soon. Kaden is running a fever tonight and doesn't feel to good. They did a chest x-ray and it is showing some more fluid. The Dr. is going to consult with the Infectious Disease Team and see what they suggest they do next. He said three things: iv antibiotics, which he is already on, putting 2 new chest tubes in again but in different places or surgery to go scrap it out. So basically we are at square 1 again. He is really down in the dumps tonight so I took him for a ride in a wheelchair around the hospital and then we are going to walk for awhile. I hope there is good news tomorrow. This is a hard road to go on. Your emotions are all over the place.

I had to go find a store tonight to buy some stuff and this really nice U of U student let me use her Smith's Fresh Values card and get 5% off. That was really nice of her and I so appreciated it.

I am staying with Kaden tonight in our little room. I can't say enough good things about the nurses here at Primary Children's. They are awesome.

Anyway, I will update tomorrow when we find out what we are doing next. We were hoping to be home at least by this Friday, but I'm not even going to think of home yet. Let's get Kaden better and then get him home.

Thanks everybody :) Pray for Kaden .... I think we need all we can get.

Update 3:15pm

We are moved out of ICU and into Room 3027. They are weaning him off the oxygen right now and he is doing really good. It seems that he is getting better just as fast as he got sick. He had macaroni and cheese and a peach smoothie for lunch and then fell asleep for awhile and then they came and woke him up for a chest x-ray. No rest around here..he will probably want to sleep for days when we get him home.

Thanks!

Update 10-26-09 10:15am

Kaden is doing great this morning. They removed Kaden's left side chest tube just about an hour ago and it came out with a little "lung snot" they call it. It was so gross. Good thing Scott wasn't here to see that. Kaden said we should have recorded it. We are being moved out of ICU today! YEAH! He is so happy. One more step till HOME! He had a good breakfast this morning - scrambled eggs and bacon and a bowl of Frosted Flakes. I think he inhaled his breakfast.

Last night, they wanted to keep the feeding tube in so they could feed him overnight to up his caloric intake and so they got him all hooked up to this delicious looking formula stuff and he said I can taste it and the nurse said, "Oh you are probably just burbing it up a little." But then he started getting a little sick to his stomach and so she decided to stop the feeds and pull the tube out. So she told Kaden he could pull the tube out and so he pulled and the end of it was in his throat! He was tasting it. They figured that he must have coughed up the tube or something because it wasn't in his stomach anymore.

Anyway, I will let you know our new room number when they get us all settled. We are shooting still for Friday to be home and hoping for Wednesday!

Thanks!

Update 10-25-09 7:45pm

Today has been a good day. At about 12:00 pm, the surgeon came to remove Kaden's right side chest tube. He said the only thing that hurt was when they took the tape off the dressing. Good thing he doesn't have chest hair yet! He said the tube felt weird coming out. It was in there about 8 inches. Weirdest thing I've seen! Scott couldn't watch, he went out by the nurses station so they wouldn't have to pick him up off the floor. We are hoping that they can remove the left side tube tomorrow. He is getting his feeding tube out tomorrow also, but he has had french toast and macaroni and cheese today and has held it down. Poor kid has been starving! He is in pretty good spirits tonight because they got him up and sitting in a chair today. He said it felt really good. He scared me and the nurses though because when he decided to get back into bed he tried to do it by himself and stood himself up and then called for help. We went in there and he was already standing up and his nurse about went nuts! He just wants to get out of ICU and then they will move us to a private room with a little more privacy for a few days. The doctor told us it looks like Thursday or so before he will let him go. Kaden is trying really hard to do everything they want him to do so he can come home. Scott left today so he can take care of Jessica and Lacee for a few days. I have been reading magazines and doing word search puzzles...I'm starting to be an expert word searcher :)
He is watching the Yankees and Angels game tonight and the nurse let him have his phone, so I have seen him texting...he must be feeling a little better!
Anyway, thats all for tonight..Thanks for checking!

Sunday, Oct. 25 9:30am

Kaden had a rough night last night but just because he is uncomfortable and he can't really move alot. He has had it with lying on his back now for a week. We are going to get him up and sitting in a chair this morning and I'm pretty sure that will put him in a better mood.

He is still requiring oxygen through his nose, but they have discontinued feeding him through the feeding tube in his nose. The nurse said they would be removing the tube this morning. He has been having jello and apple juice since last night and has tolerated it. He wants some real food soon, he says he is starving.

They also plan to take out the right chest tube today, as it hasn't drained anything since yesterday morning.

We appreciate everyones thoughts and prayers...they are helping. We are on the way to recovery.

11:15 am

Scott just called and the tube is out and everything went really well. He has had his teeth brushed and Scott says he is in a much better mood.

I'm getting ready to go up so I will update when I can.

Thanks!

Update 10-24-09 10:00 am

I just called Scott and he is waiting for the Dr. to come in and tell Kaden that he can get that breathing tube out of his throat this morning...hopefully!

Jessica and I came home last night with Bobi and Scott drove up last night to be with him. He said Kaden had a restful night and so we are now just waiting, waiting and more hurry up and wait!

I will update as soon as he calls me. I am headed back up today with Gary and Sharlene.

Thanks everybody!

Update 3:00pm

Kaden is doing really well this afternoon. He is sleeping and resting, just what they want him to do. They are turning him from side to side every two hours to get that stuff to move on out of him. He hasn't run a fever today, so that is good news. That tells us that the antibiotics are working.

When he woke up a little while ago, he wanted to write something on the write board. He wrote "what was the score?" and "when do I get this tube out?" Hopefully tomorrow!

Anyway, we are doing good. Scott and Lacee are spending the day together today. He is probably showing her how to change the oil in the equipment, but that's okay :)

Thanks!

Update 10-23-09 10:00am

Kaden had a really good night and slept well the nurses said. He has drained off 1-1/2 liters of "spam-like" junk out of his chest tubes. That is what the Dr. said it looked like! He still is breathing through a ventilator, but the nurses said they were going to do some trials today with him breathing on his own for a while to see how he does and hopefully we can get that breathing tube out of him tomorrow. The Dr. says his lungs look great, its just that the infection is around the lungs, in between them and the "plura." I hope I get this medical terminology right! He is on heavy doses of antibiotics, so hopefully they can do their job.

Jessica is here with me today so Scott could go spend some time with Lacee, who is feeling pretty neglected by her parents. She got have a sleepover at Shay's last night. I hope Shay got some sleep :)

When the anesthesia wore off last night, he was gesturing to Jessica and she thought he was gesturing "I love you" and she said "I love you too" and he shook his head No and continued to gesture like he was throwing a ball and then patting himself on the chest, so I thought he wanted to know if the Yankees won, so I told him "no they lost" and again he shook his head no, so I said "your football game?" and he nodded his head yes! So after all that, he just wanted to know if his buddies had won their football game. We have been laughing about it all morning.

So today I is just a wait and see how he does day. Thanks everybody for everything and I will keep everybody updated.

Update 9:15pm

Finally, some good news. They put in bigger chest tubes, which are finally able to drain the gunk from from lungs. They are really optimistic and excited about this.

I'll post more as I get the news..... thanks everyone!

Update 10-22-09 7:50pm

We found the computers at Primary Childrens so I thought I would update while we were not allowed in to the ICU.
Please let anyone that wants to know whats going on to this blog and me or Bobi will update as we go through this journey.

First of all, Kaden is doing ok. He is comfortable and does know who we are and gestures to us. The nurse got him a write board and the first thing he wrote on it was "When do I get to go home?" So he still has his wits about him! He is on a ventilator but they have it so it makes him breathe on his own along with the machine.

Um... I just heard from the surgeon and they are going to remove the one chest tube and put in two new chest tubes - one on each side. Pray that this works, because if this don't work, they have to do surgery to scrap it out and we don't want this to happen. They told me that I couldn't go back till 8:30 pm to see him now so I will let everyone know if this worked.

Primary Children's Hospital is an amazing place. This is where he needs to be. We are struggling to understand how come this happens to a healthy, strong 14 year old kid. We have had phone calls and text messages all day from people who are concerned about Kaden and it makes me feel so great that we have such good friends and family.

I will let Bobi know so she can update as soon as I can get in there to see him! Thanks everybody!

Update on Kaden

Well, a lot has changed for Kaden since Jodi's last update wednesday morning. Wednesday afternoon he took a turn for the worse and was life flighted to Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake. He is in the intensive care unit. He has a chest tube in to try to drain some of the fluid from his lungs and is on a ventilator, however, he is breathing on his own, the ventilator is just giving him some support right now. They have decided that the fluid in or around his lungs is too thick and isn't draining the way they want it to, so they have consulted a surgeon and are waiting for him to decided what to do next. The doctors say his vital signs continue to look good and they are optimistic. Jodi, Scott, Jessica and Lacee seem to be holding up well and are thankful for any and all thoughts and prayers.

Cell phones don't work in the hospital so I will try to keep the blog updated for Jodi. I can be reached at (801)-710-0657 if anyone has questions.
Pray For Kaden!

Thanks!
Bobi

Update

Kaden is doing much better today. He wants to come home! He has to get this breathing gadget up to where they want it and then he can come home. He is trying really hard to blow it up to where its supposed to be. He is eating and getting some strength back. He told Scott he wanted to get up and take a shower today, so that tells me he is feeling better. Dr. Shamo said he will probably let him come home tomorrow if he shows a little progress and I think he has.

Talk to ya soon!

Update #2

Kaden is feeling a little better today. He had a CT Scan done this morning to determine if we were going to be sent to Primary Children's Hospital or not. Thankfully, he didn't have an abcess (?) around his lungs just plenty of fluid so they are keeping us here in Delta unless he doesn't progress towards getting better. They want him to cough and breathe deep, but it hurts him really bad so he won't. He just holds everything in, including his pee because he doesn't want to move! He didn't sleep at all last night so I'm hoping he gets some rest today. I have been staying overnight with him on a little cot in his room and I am never complaining about my nice comfy bed ever again :) Lacee is missing her big brother very much and made him a really cute get well soon card for him today. They won't let her in to see him so she feels pretty sad.

I will try and keep everybody updated.....

Update on Kaden

Hi everybody...just wanted to let everyone know that Kaden is in the hospital with pneumonia. He was admitted Sunday afternoon and it looks like he will be there a couple more days. He is having alot of trouble breathing and is in alot of pain, but hopefully all that gunk in his lungs will go away soon!

I will update tomorrow with any news.

Cool clocks Shay! I'm impressed.... I'm almost thinking of getting one without the hands!! :)

If anyone wants to, you can see clips from Jalen's last football game, which they actually one. The first clip shows Jalen throwing a screen pass to the receiver who ran it in for a touchdown. Just search Ogden vs. Kaysville on youtube.com. It will say Jr. Pee wee division.


Pictures of Pace kids playing sports to come later...

More Clocks...

This is the clock that Shay made for her roommates. It has "Walker" and "Be true to who you are and the family name you bear" in gold vinyl lettering. It turned out so cute.

This is the other clock she made for her fellow employee. It also turned out way cute! So who wants one? Let us know :) And in case your wondering, the clock hands haven't arrived yet...will be here soon!!!

Some Awesome Football!

Delta beat Millard tonight in a hard fought game! Those boys played their hearts out and it was so awesome to see them get a win!

Kaden got to play both offense and defense tonight. He made a few great tackles and he played really well. I don't know the exact name of the positions he plays (I promise I will learn all this football stuff by the time he is a Senior!) but he is on the line.

The varsity came and watched the game after their practice and I think it helped alot! They were cheering for the team and they even got the crowd more into the game. It was alot of fun to watch, especially 'cuz we beat Millard!!!! There is nothing better than a football game in Delta! Go Rabbits!

A Very Crafty Shay

Shay made this clock for her friend that is getting married. The clock hands aren't on yet, but we got the vinyl on and it looks great! If any of you would like one of these clocks - and she can make them in any size - just call her and she would love to do one for you. They would make great Christmas presents too!

And, we got Lacee's blanket all done and it turned out fantastic! Lacee loves her new warm blankie :)

Happy October Birthdays!

Happy Birthday wishes go to Steve, Whitney, Texas Kevin and to our Mom, who would have been 81 on her birthday! Have a wonderful day!