I guess little soldiers run in our family...

Hunter's bump surgery was today.

He did AMAZING....
he was a bit nervous, and very chatty on the drive to the hospital, and he was quite funny too!

I think the nurses and doctors thought he was pretty darn cute.
He did everything was such ease. Not once did he push anyone or anything away.
His one request was to have the nurse take pictures of his bump when  it was out...eeewww!
Only a boy would ask such a thing!
(but he did get several pics of him in surgery and "the bump"...I think it will be his show and tell tomorrow! :)

He prayed out loud when we were in the room alone.
I really believe he gave his fears and any anxiety to God...it was God he kept talking about before and after surgery.

He thought it was weird to have to take off his clothes so he asked to keep his jeans on...
I think he was diggin the red slipper socks though!

He walked to the O.R. and laid down and they started putting things in place.
He got "root beer" gas, and once he was out an i.v. was placed and got anesthesia through the i.v.
They also put tubes in his mouth for breathing so his throat is sore.

He did not like the mask. He asked if they could take it away. This room and this part was the scariest part for him, but his babbling about taking the mask off turned into a sound asleep boy.
I hated seeing him like this.
I admit, I shed some tears.
I knew I would.

About 25 min. later, and a blood draw for Hudson, and we got paged they were done.
The plastic surgeon said he was pretty certain it was a benign cysts, very common at this age, cause by hair follicles. He said it was good it was removed, because if left they typically get infected and eventually need to be removed. Stitches will dissolve. No wrestling with sis, playing sports that could bonk his head for 2 weeks.
We have Tylenol with Codeine, and a topical ointment.

When Hunter woke up he asked if they were going to do the procedure now....I don't think he believed them when he was told it was all over!
When I got back there he was groggy and said everything was 2 dimensional...he said it over and over and over again....the nurses were laughing.
Hunter told me he felt Gods presence all around him....the Lord was like a blanket covering every part of him.
He is so  filled with the holy spirit and has such amazing faith...he really blows me away at times.
It makes me proud and also makes me want to be just like him....so faithful, so trusting.
He teaches me in little moments....

when he was praying before his surgery, he said a prayer for Hudson, and Gods healing.
I thought to myself....wow...what kid is about to have surgery and is praying for others right before going in?
He opened my eyes to how deep and passionate his faith is...I am sure God is in awe of his amazing spirit.

On the way home Hudson had a seizures and Hunter was holding his hand talking him through it...groggy and all. He then said..."Mom,  Hudson is such a warrior...he is like the head chief of all warriors!"
I think Hunter got a "taste" of what his baby brother goes through...and he in a way showed a bit of admiration for the daily battle his brother fights.

It is was sort of refreshing (sounds weird I am sure) to not have to go through a "history" or a "med list" 3 pages long, or worrying about feeds and missed meds...it was so nice to just say he is "healthy" he in on nothing, no past surgeries....forgot what that feels like in the medical environment.....it felt so easy!!!

Really glad the day is over. We are both in pj's....I am tired from the emotional toll and Hunter the emotional and physical (I think...his friend is over and they are playing wii!!!!).....but I can say I am one proud mom tonight!

the month in pictures...

Paul on a field trip to Pioneer Farms with Hunter

Still trying to find a chair for Hudson (this one has no tray)

Uncles surprise birthday party

Portland's famous Voodoo Donuts (another Man vs. Food place)

                                          Hudson's "Urgent Care to E.R. to Inpatient" weekend

One of the "big ones"

Finally...we made it to the pumpkin patch!

Hunter and Hailey loved riding the ATV's

dodging the rain under an umbrella of cotton candy!

Nanna, Katelyn and kids on train ride (Hudson and I stayed behind)

Hudson took the ride out to the pumpkin fields

a sense of calm

Hudson seems to be feeling better.
He is sleeping much better, and just seems more peaceful since hospitalized.
His system must have been so out of whack that he could "feel" internally something was not right.
In return I feel a sense of peace knowing he is resting more comfortably now.

My kids are going to be so disappointed to know their Dad isn't coming home this weekend.
I hate, hate, HATE this!
He has a meeting until 4 in Vegas, which limits his flights, and therefore getting him in to Seattle at 1a.m.
By the time we pick him up and get home it will be 2.
Who will want to go to the Pumpkin Patch after that???
We will all be too tired!
Then he has mandatory meeting on Monday and flights don't look great Sunday and I told he HAS to be there first thing Mon. morning...
needless to say, it will be another disappointment, and I feel responsible to make it all better.
I will probably take them on my own, because that's what we mom's do....
come hell or high water we make things *good* for our kids and try to make things right!
It is suppose to get stormy here (weather) I just hope it is not so bad that Hudson gets too cold...
thankfully his stroller protects him pretty well.

On top of all the Hudson issues there has been much family drama within our  broader family...
sometimes you just need a "break" ...holidays coming or not!!!!
Hoping to get that break....
because I have enough stress on my plate as it is, and when family and friends add to it....
it is very easy for me to just "walk away" from those outside stresses.
Certain aspects of my life, I have no control over, but I do have control over who and what drains my battery...
I definitely need a re-charge!

an answer to prayer...

Were going home!!!!!

prayers for Hudson

This will have to be brief as I am on my blackberry.

Hudson was taken to Urgent Care this afternoon, then transported to the E.R. and finally admitted into the hospital.

He is stable, and I believe we got him here before things really spiraled.

He has a viral infection in his chest and his sugars were low and he was on the low end in the acid range.

An I.V. Has been placed and he is getting what he needs through his drip.

Essentially we need his labs in normal range, off the I.V. in order to go home.

Glad we got him here, although quite opposite of the day planned, which was a sleep over at Mr. Freds and the pumpkin patch. Good news is Paul gets to join us next weekend for the adventure!

Praying things go well and we get out of here Sunday...might be wishful thinking!

I am sort of forcing myself on my blog tonight.

I don't really feel like blogging...lately it is just one more thing to do.
I really, really want to report something terrific going on here....
would love some huge milestone accomplished, an end to seizures, or even less, my husband coming home...for good...

none of it to report.
As much as readers probably get sick of hearing prayer requests, struggles, moaning...I am too!
Retreating is sometimes easier on all!

Hudson is still coughing up thick mucous. His breathing has improved.
Sleep has been weird. He seems to not be able to "shut down" although he wants too.
His eyes get heavy and he dozes and then his eyes pop open.
He is such an angel he typically remains quiet, which makes me crazy because if I wake and turn on the monitor to check on him and see he is awake I feel guilty and can't sleep. I do everything I can think of to get him to sleep but nothing works.
Lately it has been as if he has night and day flipped, sleeping until as late as 1p.m. in the afternoon! Frustrating.

Thanks to a good friend taking both Hunter and Hailey and my mom taking Hudson on Sat. night. I was able to sleep pretty solid. I didn't feel "guilty" for sleeping.
For whatever reason Hudson slept all night with my mom, peacefully as can be!

Once again I have come down with a cold. Nothing terrible, just that stuffy nosed, feeling run-down kind of cold. I feel tired ALL the time. 0 energy. I hate feeling this way.

On the seizure front...bleh!
to give you an idea...
today, he had 5 seizures within 45 min. while his vision therapist was here, which made vision therapy an absolute joke!

So now for the kicker....
(bad phone pic)

Nope not something weird on Hudson's head...

this is the "bump" that Hunter has been talking about for months. With the complaining of it hurting I took him to Children's to have it looked at by a dermatologist (per our pediatrician) We were told dermatology would remove it if it was bothersome.
I had prepared Hunter that they would numb it and remove it...
was I wrong.
The doctor does not think it is anything to be concerned about BUT she has no idea what exactly it is.
There is a white bump which is the oils forming the cyst, and there is a red bump which she believes is inflamed blood vessels, but she has never seen the 2 together in this manner.We will find out the name of it once sent to pathology.
I was disappointed and a bit sickened to find out it would not be a office extraction.
We met with the RN from plastic surgery, had our consultation.
Hunter will have to be put out with anesthesia to do the procedure, they need him very still and the scalp can bleed heavy. It was also explained that because there will be a scar on his head, and the hairs around could grow differently, it is best to have a plastic surgeon do the cutting. Hopefully he won't have any weird hair thing going on in the future.
So we are set for Oct. 27. I know it is no big deal really, however I go through so much with Hudson and mentally it takes a toll...the thought of Hunter having any procedure that has to do with anesthesia, just the last thing I thought I would have to think about.
We will both be happy when it is over and the "bump" is gone.

That's it for now.
Prayers for our family always appreciated.

I have hit "pause"

I haven't been too involved in the blogging world lately, let alone my own.
A lot of stuff going on, on my end. Feelings I am bottling up for now.
I am tired, overwhelmed, physically and emotionally.

Hudson needs prayer. He sounds awful, and his breathing is scary at times and sounds like a breath away from being hospitalized...please pray for him, for us.

Today was the first day I hopped on to other blogs....
forgive my absence...
I will come back when ready...
I got this from Heidi's blog and had to post to my blog.

Dr. Saneto is Hudson mito doc/neurologist.
Ashley Farrington heads up the mito guild here in Seattle and we went to the same high school and she was in my brothers class and good friends ...a small world.

it's been a tear filled day...