Random Pictures

This photos are taken from my old camera which I forget to upload all the picture in my laptop until tonight. Here are some of our kids pictures randomly taken in various day.

Gerald jay and the doll. He woke up early that morning and signs to his dad that he want a doll. and here he was hugging the lucky doll. I thought he looks very cute!

prunes

KC was having some bowel movement problem (that's what mommy thought) that is why I gave her prunes. She was not happy about it, but she ate it. She is a good girl!

Seriously burning my eye brows :)

Just trying to catch-up with my homework!

Gerald jay was playing his tricycle before going to school in the front yard.

And there he goes..will wait for the school bus to come

there he was after school na ito

yummy carrots :)

My husband and my little princess

here she is...

my prince and my princess

I love this pic

KC first time in that torly thing

Our family

What a happy baby

hehehehehe

yehhhhhhhh!

His favorite flavor..don't know why he does that.

oh...ride his tricyle again

borrowing KC chair :)

my beautiful daughter..love her simple smile.

She won the 1st Place.

She won the first place. Thanks a lot to those who for voted her :).

This was the screen picture during the  pictureimage.com competition last month.
 Congratulation to my little princess!
I love to baby K...muah

Pizza for Everyone!

I bought Gerald Jay this pizza kit. The topping and the cheese has veralco on the back, so that when you put on the top of the pizza crust it stick together. This is one way to exercise Gerald's left hand remember when he had his surgery at 1 year old, he had a stroke. The left side of his body was affected. Until now he has not gain all those back yet, he need to practice his left side some more. The Occupational Therapist suggested to get a toy that he can cut and pull using both hands. This toy is one of the things that I found at the store. He will get tired of it after few days, but I hope he'll uses his left hand when playing with it.

Just opened the box of pizza :) Pizza anyone???

What kind of toppings do you like? He looked serious..lol

He was using both hands...good hand coordination:)

more pizza kayo diyan...

Okay...last call..lol

He played with it for half hour , that was the longest time he play with a new toy.

I hope he'll try to eat a real pizza someday. Just a reminder he is going to have the G-tube placement on the 8th of October around 12nn.

Thank you guys for viewing my blog. Have a great day!

Heart Kids Pics courtesy by Ingrid Codina

        Couple months ago, we were invited by the  Mended Little Hearts group of Phoenix for a photo shoot by a professional photographer named Ingrid Codina. Here are Gerald’s photos that she took plus the group picture of our heart kids. I would say that Ingrid’s job was awesome! If you would like to see her amazing  job, and you feel like posing do not hesitate to contact her at www.codinaphotography.com. In her blog you will see some of her breathtaking photos.

Gerald Jay's in his red t-shirt.

Courtesy by Ingrid Codina

 

I love this picture most specially the black and white photo. It matches to GJ's skin complexion.

 

The group of our heart kids. They look fantastic!

The black and white version.

Special thanks to Ingrid Codina for a wonderful pictures of my son and kids. And thank you so very much for your free time and effort.
Also, special thanks to Kym that organized this event for our group.

I apologized that it took me forever to post this pictures... I was just kinda busy and lately I just have a little time to update my blog. Thanks ~ Nelda

Meeting with the new teacher!

 We met Gerald jay's new teacher yesterday. I was excited to hear what she says about Gerald in her class. She said that Gerald is a good student, he follows directions (not to me though he usually ignores me) he played with other kids, he mimic what everyone says, and he is smart. Thanks for the nice compliment about my son, teacher :). Anyway, my unanswered questions are answered now. Since Gerald jay starts talking the school bus, I never have any communication with the substitute teacher until the new teacher sent a note when GJ was falling asleep in her class ( that was the only day that he was sleepy. He was late to go to bed the night before, and I expected it :) ) But I asked the teacher yesterday if I can communicate with her through writing everyday and "YES" she I agreed with me. I think it is a good thing to communicate with the teacher and all the therapist at school, so that I will know how GJ progressing.

Anyway, he likes going to school now. GJ has no mommy anxiety separation no more.

Yesterday's photo of my kids and I.

Anyway, here the photo that my husband capture at school with my little princess. She is now almost six months old.

This was taken at home after his afternoon nap. I bought him that leap frog keyboard and that connects to the TV as his monitor. He was excited pupping the colored balloon on the screen.

G-Tube Placement Date

On October 8th, 2009 Gerald is going to have G-tube placement(feeding tube that goes directly into his stomach). It will be done at St. Joe's. We don't have the exact time yet, but I will be receiving an instructions letter in couple days. I hope we will have a successful surgery and no surprises. We waited too long already to do this, and Gerald is the best candidate for G-tube now. Too bad I was hoping that he'll be eating by now. I guess I failed on that part. I just don't know anything else to do to get him to eat orally :(. Anyway, I heard a lot of good things about G-tube. Some that had experience with it says it was easy than the nose tube... so I can't wait for it. Wish us luck and most important wish GJ the best of luck! Thanks.

Echo cardiogram

Gerald had an ECHO yesterday and he did very well at this time. I remembered all those past ECHO test was not very successful, because he used to screamed and don't wanna be touch ( i can't blame him he's gone through a lot). But yesterday, he fuss a little and fell asleep while the guy was taking picture of his heart. So, I think he got a good view of the blood flow in his heart. We won't have the result until the end of October for his cardiologist follow-up appointment (still on 2 month window after the fontan).

No signs of MRSA infection!

This is Gerald tasting some alfredo sauce. I hope he will eat soon!

Gerald Jay had an appointment today with the surgeon's nurse practitioner. We were having some issues about the MRSA on his chest, but today it's finally stated that he's clear. He has no signs of infection on his chest. It was just a scab that healing nicely. We have a letter to prove it! :)

GJ couldn't go to school today

My kids in the stroller going to K-mart

It was a procedure at school that a sick student can not go to school to protect other students and everybody. Therefore, GJ cannot go to school unless he have a doctor's note saying that he is treated and not contagious at all. I got that note today from his pediatrician, so tomorrow he can go back to school. He only missed one day, which he does not care at all. Also, he have an pediatrician appointment tomorrow to follow about his wound after the ten days treatment. I think they are going to drained the bulging part on his chest. If this happen, I would like him to stay home rather than contaminating others at school. We don't want to risk anybody , even though I cover his wound. Also, I don't think the nurse will allow him to be at school if the wound is opened. I am truly hoping that this is the last time this infection to come back. Gerald has been on antibiotics on and off for six months, and it is not just mild antibiotic most of them are heavy antibiotics, so I am a little worried about him taking those powerful antibiotics.

Anyway, to update about my daughter, she is now five months and a week. She is heart healthy and trying to sit up. In fact, I sat her up in the playpen, and she manage to hold her balance sat upright for 30 seconds. Hurry for KC!

MRSA again???

At the pediatrician clinic.
We brought GJ to the clinic 10 days ago to check his chest where the MRSA reoccured three times within six months.

Might have the fourth one again!?

MRSA is very persistent bug. It keeps coming back! We were pretty sure that it's MRSA again. He is on the antibiotic again for ten days and hopefully this time is the last time for the super bug to reoccur.

First time riding the School Bus

He was excited just to be outside the house.

Playing!

Taking a pose from uncontrollable excitement.

Watching the kids on the side street that were waiting for the school bus.

More running... he was chasing cars and dogs too!

Pointing far away.

I thought he was getting tired...

I guess he was not...hands up in the air. Where is the school bus mom?

Yey! It's finally here!

The school bus: Cartright District No. 83 Bus # 63

I am very proud of my son that he can easily adapt the new changes in his daily schedule. Today, he started riding the school bus. As his first experience to be in a different vihecle I would say that he did a pretty good job. Were we out of the house at exactly 7:20am and the bus schedule to picked him up at around 7:23am. We were not sure if the bus will stop on the opposite side of our house, but we still waited there. However, the bus stopped right in front of our house. Luckily, we weren't far away from where we waited. Anyway, he saw the bus driver and the bus assistant and he started crying. I was gonna suggest if I can ride too, but I want him to be more independent sometimes. We saw where he was going to sit, so we were kinda relaxed afterward. Anyway the bus driver assured that he is going to be okay. I believed it because when they dropped him off he was excited to see me waiting for him. I am very proud of you my beloved son...I love you baby!

Hectic week

It has been very hectic in the past few days, and it just half way of the week since Gerald started at preschool and Ralph goes to Phoenix College. My duty was to take them to school and pick them up after wards. Anyway, today is Gerald's third day at school, so far he has done so well. The teacher said that he fuzzed a bit when dad left, but after couple minutes he was fine. He also follow directions. I am very proud of him. Anyway, here are some of pictures of my kids that I took today.

My daughter Kathlyn at school waiting for brother Gerald.
She is now 4 months and 3 weeks.
she is 17 lbs and 26 inches long
she is very easy to take care of and that's what we need.

Gerald at school. He was very excited.
He was wearing a light blue t-shirt with color and a navy blue shorts.

Thirsty Gerald...glup glup glup

The teacher can't give him anything by mouth. That what I recalled in the ISP meeting which I regretted to not clarify about giving him the water. They need a prescription before they can even given him anything by mouth.
Gerald has an issue of aspiration. His water has to be thickened all the time or else he'll get pneumonia once he aspirates.

Summer day CAMP

Gerald Jay was playing the tractor

GJ in summer day camp

Gerald Jay attended summer day camp for two weeks now. I will tell you, we noticed a big changed in his language compared two weeks ago. He talks some more , although I can't understand what he meant to say, but at least he is trying to communicate with us in the right way. He also learned more sign language, and he is a lot happier.

It was just a suggestion.

Gerald jay had to go to the speech therapist again today. This time, I am the one who took GJ to the clinic. I just want to make sure if the feeding therapist really given up on him. Anyway, according to my husband he felt that the therapist was giving up on him, but today as I spoke to her it wasn't sound giving up to me. She also mentioned to me that she was looking for a pediatrician that deals with behavioral problem if we want GJ to get help. (Gerald gets what he wants and he screams and ignores us when redirected.) So, It was just a suggestion for us if we want GJ to be more calm during the therapy session. I want to do it. I explained to my husband that he interpreted it wrong when the therapist told her that GJ needs a behavioral speech therapy.

Anyway, today he did fair during feeding session. GJ allows the therapist to touch his cheek with the spoon. But he screams again after the second attempt. We will work with on staying on the chair for 15 minutes and not crying.

Frustrated and disappointed

Today, Gerald jay had an appointment with the feeding therapist at the CRS clinic. He goes there every Wednesday around 9:90 am. I usually stayed home with my little daughter,and my husband normally takes him to CRS clinic. Anyway, today was his third session and my husband thinks that the therapist is given up on Gerald jay. It really is frustrating because GJ can not stay on the high chair even 15minutes. He always walks around the room and if you tell him to sit down he gets angry and lied on the floor. Today, they restrained him so that he can not wonder around. However, he was not very cooperative in the feeding; therefore, the feeding therapist suggested to take him to the feeding specialist that deals with behavior too. It was very disappointing. I wish we could get out of this problem. We are planning to place a G-tube on GJ's stomach and I couldn't wait for that. It came to the point that the NG-tube is not very efficient now. He normally cough it out and to put it back in is not fun, because Gerald jay was screaming and kicking at the same time.

Another, after the feeding session he had an appointment with the neurologist for follow-up check for his stroke that occurred during the aortic reconstruction last July 5th of 2007. He doc said that the damage of the stroke is more than we thought because the way his should is formed. There is nothing they can do so far but therapy. I noticed his should last weekend when I took off his clothes at the zoo. It seems his shoulder was leaning forward and I can see the slight dislocation of his joint in his shoulder. He had his therapist available for him, so I am hoping that it will resolved as the day goes by.

Sign Language

"Sign Language"

When Gerald Jay was six months old he was saying "hi"and "blue". We were all excited that he had scored high on his social skills. We thought that he will be talking sooner than we expected too. However, every time he had surgery done he always go back to zero most specially when he had a stroke on his left side of his blood. Not that it will affect his memory, but he forgets every words that he was saying before. This time after his fontan procedure last February, he was not able to say words more than "mama" which means "more" for him. Temper tantrum his only way to communicate with us. Then I realized that his way of communicating with us is not gonna work, therefore; I encourage everyone of his therapist to teach him basic sign language. I ordered three volumes of sign language DVD (signingtime) through Amazon.com. Today, those DVD's arrived and I immediately watch it with Gerald. Later, this afternoon I heard him singing and trying to do some signing with his fingers. I was really amazed. Not only him will learn the sign language but I too. I think it is worth it.

Phoenix Zoo...Star Safari Night

We took Gerald Jay to the Zoo last night just see how he will react to see some animals except the dogs and cats. He had a blast! not because he saw bigger animals, but because of the leaping lagoon and more kids played in the water fountain. At first , he doesn't know what to do , then he was running away from the water. After a while he enjoyed playing in water fountain. There were kids that pushed him away, however, he was very calm and said " ow". I was worried that he might hit somebody, but he wasn't. He was really good minding his own business. Mom and Dad are very proud of him.

He did not even care to see bigger animals. Give him more time and he will appreciate to see them. We were not prepared to get wet, but next week when we come back we will be.