GJ is BACK HOME

Gerald Jay is now back home! He was so excited to be home again. At home no limits, no limited area, toys, and etc. BUT he cannot watch the TV more than two hours, that is the down side of being home. Well, I guess he doesn't care at all wither have TV or not, all he cares is about being home. As I understand the doctors and nurses were not sure wither GJ have influenza or not. Because he just had the flumist last week, and the nurse put it in his nose which probably makes it an active  click here for flumist info , so when they tested the specimen from his nose came back positive of influenza A. Although he doesn't shows any signs of flu. Anyway he is all good and thanks to all who keep following us and praying for us.
Thank GOD he doesn't have a flu!
Have a wonderful day to all!

Day2: Hospital Stay Influenza A

Gerald looks better today. He slept well last night without grunting. He only cried when the nurse came in to check his vital signs. I stayed with him since 1:00am, and today he will be alone in this room ( It make my heart break just to think about leaving him by himself in this room) but Kathlyn and I will be at the waiting room for the rest of the day. It doesn't make any sense to me that I cannot take KathLyn in his room, but we can stay in the waiting room:(. Ralph is going to school until 11am today and he is going to work at 2:30 pm. Gerald's big brother have school too, so GJ will be alone here for quite sometimes.
As I was talking to the nurse last night I got an impression that if you have the influenza A (FLu) you are most likely to have the swine flu ( I hope not!). Gerald has not have the swine flu mist yet only the flu mist. I am really concerned about that swine flu thing, because he already have the history of having pneumonia  in his past surgeries. Pneumonia is one of the side effect of the H1N1.

Gerald in the crib and mom ordering breakfast:)

Back in the Hospital

Gerald had a rough night again. At 3am he I cannot comfort him at all and his temperature went up to 101.7 degrees, and also his stomach was distended dramatically since yesterday morning. He was hot  and when I touched his stomach it was hotter than the upper part of his body , so I took the temperature of his stomach and it was 103.4 degrees F. It scared me so much. Luckily his dad woke up and took him to ER around 3:45am. He is now admitted at St Joe's hospital. They cultured a specimen from his nose and they said he have a flu.

GJ is not feeling well today

 The toughest part being a mother is to see my kids getting sick, in pain, and etc. 
My boy is not felling well today. He did not sleep well last night and he was grunting as if he was in pain. He was running a temperature of 100 degrees F. I checked his g-tube site to see if that infected, it wasn't. Also, when he got up he went directly to the front door and he literally insisted to get in the car. I was telling Ralph that he is not felling well, and he wants us to take him somewhere (he might thinking the ER). Anyway, he stayed mostly in bed the whole day. I gave him some Tylenol and mylicon , it seems that his stomach is a little bit distended too, and I think these meds helps him a lot.

Feeding Pump: It works

We tried the Kangaroo Joey enteral Feeding pump yesterday and it works. Not only that it was very easy for Gerald to carry. Although  he doesn't want to carry the back pack, I still made him carry it so he'll get use to it. I am glad that we got that back pack, it so much easier now to go places and not worrying how to feed him if we don't have the pump. We have total of four feeding pumps in the house now. One was rental though, I already called the company that I want to return it at the end of this month :).

Here he was carrying his back pack and then later he was taking it off

now he's crying... I explained to him that if he won't want carry this back pack, he can push the pole whenever he want go. I think he understand the pole is a lot harder to get around the house:)

the rented one...

GJ owned this too. I got this from ebay last June 09

This is not portable that battery pack is attached to the feeding pump, so we never take this anywhere ;(

Gj owned these too. they are both portable...the gray one died on us last June (I got it from ebay too) and he used it for couple year.

The blue pump is newer pump but I got it used and it works! :)I love it because it is very small and light wt. easy for GJ to carry.

New Gadget of my little man : kangaroo Joey Feeding Pump

 The smallest and portable feeding pump ever!

Got this used feeding pump through ebay link last night. I started bidding on it three days ago and the bidding was ended last night. When Gerald got of the hospital five days ago (g-tube placement), the Option 1 link medical supply delivered Gerald's g-tube supplies including the kangaroo Enteral feeding pump link. Now, we have our own Kangaroo control feeding pump but it's not a portable one. I bought through ebay three months ago since his first kangaroo pet feeding pump (I bought it used too on ebay couple years ago) died on us in June 2009. The supplier called and asked me if I need a pump. I told them yes since I lose the portable pump that I was bidding on ebay that day. Therefore, they sent us this feeding pump called Joey pump. It was a smallest pump that I ever seen. I loved it. Just like love at first sight with that pump =)). But I was afraid that the insurance company will not pay for it later, so I went online again on ebay to be exact and started bidding again of the same kind of pump. I was hoping to find a cheaper portable feeding pump with feeding bags, but this was the cheapest that I can find. For $300 worth I think this was a good deal since the brand new of this kind of pump is worth more than $1000. Plus it includes the back pack which costs a lot too if you buy it separately. Anyway, I am going to test it tonight and see if really works. The lady that sold me this said that she only used it for couple years.

I hope this one works. I just don't want to be in the position again that the insurance will not pay for the pump and we ended up paying for the rent for $ 170 per month. I can't afford it. Not to mention the cost of the feeding bag itself. Actually, what I am really after for is the feeding bags. It seems I have no luck with good feeding bags, it keeps failing on us most especially during the night when we are half asleep and trying to get it to work.

Anyway, we picked up this pump tonight, since it was sold locally :) free shipping (of $26.00) only the cost of gas worth $ 4.80 round trip. The only thing that I noticed is that wet spot in the middle of the screen, but its okay I'll just dry it under the sun ;). I am just happy to get a pump for GJ. We can now go places without worrying how to feed Gerald and not rushing home or delaying his feds for few hours. Since this pump is so compact I can even put it in my purse when I'm in a hurry..lol.

The rented one, I already called the supplier that I am going to send it back and I just need feeding bags. It save GJ's  insurance (I hope)company every month.

Conference with GJ's Teacher

"The most active, social, helpful,friendly, and playful amongst his classmates" this was the first sentence that his teacher told us. Gerald's teacher was really happy about Gerald's improvement and him very social at school. He is very cautious when he approach or even playthings at school or even at home. He is not a type of kid that once  he sees a toy he will just crab it and play with it. Gerald is totally a whole different attitude. He will not touch it right the first time, he observed first for more than probably five times before he attempt to pick up or put away a toy . The teacher have the same thing to say, and she agreed with us the Gerald's tends to observe first, and he doesn't wanna be told what to do (I guess its typical for boys). She also said that Gerald is the one who makes friend with everyone in his class. He helps other classmates to put away chairs and toys. To tell you the truth, I just finally realized that he was doing it at home with a little cues but he will do it, and I was not giving him credits. I was ashamed to myself. I should do better. But I am very proud of him that he is such a good boy. He know that mommy love him so much. Thank to Mrs. Redfern (GJ's teacher) for taking care and teaching my son the knowledge and for acknowledging his great effort at school.

Gerald Jay was having a good time playing while mom and dad was having a meeting with the teacher.

another view of him playing by himself

he was serious

a pose with mom

pushing his little sister stroller... go go go! :)

still pushing the stroller.

Follow up appointment

Doctor's appointment

Follow up day to the pediatrician. It has been six days since Gerald had the G-tube placed. He looks really good, but he still in pain every time we attach the extension tube  to his g-tube. He screams and hold his breath. It make my heart ache every time I see him in pain. So today, we had a follow-up with his pediatrician, and I asked him why he still in pain very time we attach the g-tube extension. The doctor checked it and even slightly put pressure on GJ's stomach. He said the pain is from his mind not the site of g-tube. He also said that the site was look good.

giggly boy

my self and my kids

The wagon ride

Ralph bought this wagon on sale from Harbour Fright. That's how we buy our stuff "on sale" . I love sales and clearance aisle :). Anyway, we took our kid for a ride around our block. That  was the day that Gerald jay released from the  hospital. He was feeling much better and enjoying the ride with his little sister. Kathlyn was sitting on her bimboo chair, and she didn't fuss at all.

My kids... first time riding the wagon :) ( for more accurate garden wagon)

Me and the kids taking off for a walk

KC just enjoying the ride

Daddy's turn

the kids like sardines in the wagon

Thanks for viewing and you all have a wonderful day!

Gerald Jay is finally back Home!

            This is the new way to feed Gj now : G-Tube       GJ at home...very happy to be home!

But before we went home.Winnie the pooh visited us:)

Got the G-Tube done!

No More NG-TUBE :)

Gerald looks great without the ng-tube in his nose and taped-up on his face. He got his G-tube last Thursday October 8th, 2009 around 12:30nn. Also he was really good, he did not whine so much. He will be going back home hopefully today:)

Ng-tube was our preference when he was little but he didn't improve with his feeding so we decided to have the G-tube done after 3 years and 3 months. Many doctors and moms were wondering why he still have the NG tube (which should only be for temporary feeding theraphy) it was our hope that he will improve in his feeding or eating therapy, but he wasn't.  G-tube was our last resource, and I am loving it. It is a lot easier than the NG-tube.  It has a positive effect on him too because he can play with other kids and not being afraid of him.
 

See! my face is clean..no tapes and no tube!

side view of me:)

more picture of me!

my nostril hmmm... no tube in hehehehe

Thanks to all my doctors, nurses and to all the nice staff at St. Joe's hospital.

Last day of NG tube

 Today is the last day that we are gonna sees GJ's NG Tube. Tomorrow he'll have a new way to feeding him a G-tube:) . I am excited for him and I will not miss the NG tube at all. I am sorry that it took as awhile to decide to get the G- tube.

last night with  NG-tube.

he was showing off ^-^:

One last look of him with the ng-tube!

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.