PICS

Adjusting to our new routine.

We are all happy to be back at home!!! On Wed night while giving Carson a bath, he expressed how happy he was. (Remember he had not had a real bath in 7 nights.) During his bath he talked to us for about 15 min!!! it was fantastic to hear. We interpreted him telling us how happy he was to be home, how good his bath felt and how much better he was feeling. Carson has again been getting up between 3 and 4 am to have conversations with us. How can we turn that down? We love to hear it, even though we like very much to be sleeping.

We are getting adjusted to all of Carson's new machines. His new machines include: oxygen tank, O2 sat and heart rate monitor, feeding tube with pump. He is still requiring his 'old' machines as well: a suction machine and nebulizer. Below you can find a picture of his new set up in our living room, right along side of the Christmas decorations. He has not needed oxygen for the past 48 hours...this is fantastic!!! He is holding his own, keeping his O2 saturation level above 92. The tube coming out of his nose is his feeding tube, this goes into his stomach. He requires 5 feeds a day, 3 hours apart and a continuous drip of formula during the night. This gives Carson about 32 ounces in a 24 hour period. Both formula and his meds are given through the tube.

Carson has some follow up appointments. We saw his pediatrician on Fri, he is still wheezing, so he is still in the yellow zone for his asthma and will probably stay there for a few more weeks. We have a follow up with the OT at Children's Mercy on Dec 23, here she will say if we are still concerned with aspirations. If the OT is still concerned we hope to have a swallow study sooner than Feb 13. If she is not concerned we may be able to try feeding through the mouth again!! We have also been getting set up with more services here at home. With all of his new machines Carson qualifies to have a nurse here at home with us!!! What a help that will be with all the other kiddos here also.

We did open up one of his Christmas presents early...his Aunt Becky got him a Cubs bean bag. He is pretty comfortable in it. (Picture below)

The day care kids were very happy to have us home. They are also adjusting well to Carson's machines. At first they did not like them, they thought I was hurting Carson and would tell me 'all done' if I was doing something to Carson. You can see below the sympathy that they give Carson. Even though the kids are so young and can not comprehend what is going on, they know something is different with Carson and they have to be supper gentle with him. The kids give Carson plenty of kisses, hugs and compassion...it is wonderful to see.

That is all I can think of for now with the update. Just one more thing...We can not thank you enough for all of your support! As Jeff and I have been taking care of Carson, our family and friends have been taking care of us. We have had meals delivered, help with the extra kiddos, help with cleaning the house, laundry and snuggling with Carson. Thank you just does not say enough...we love you all!!!

We do believe in the good Lord and continue to ask Him for a miracle to cure Carson.

Enjoy the pics...

This is Mom updating...

Today is Tues, it has been a pretty long day for us. We have been learning a lot about all the new care Carson is going to need at home. We have also been working on paper work and phone calls to get as much help as we can at home. CMH has had us in complete control over Carson's meds, feeds and care today...we have to prove to them that we are comfortable doing it all so we can take him home. You see, we are coming home with an oxygen machine, O2 sat machine, and a feeding tube. Carson has been requiring a little drip of oxygen most of the day, and could take weeks to a month to ween him off it. We have also been talking about the possibility that Carson has been aspirating (we have been thinking he has been micro aspirating for a few months, we have been thickening his formula to help this) his aspirations may have also contributed to his lung distress. With all of this up in the air we have decided not to feed him threw the mouth as it could make him worse. We do have a swallow study scheduled here in a few weeks to see for sure if he is aspirating, the outcome to this will bring more decisions Jeff and I will have to make.

Thank you for all of your prayers, support and help. I know there have been many to offer their help with dinners, and other miscellaneous help in the next few weeks as we get readjusted. We appreciate this VERY much, a few less things we have to worry about.

Love, Sarah, Jeff and Carson

Sunday at CMH update...

Carson is continuing to improve but still needs a lot of rest. We are still here at CMH downtown but in a regular room. We have spent the day cuddling with family and just resting. We are working on getting him to eat with the bottle again. Today Carson has needed to have the oxygen again but we are weening him off. Keep the prayers coming for his healing and rest!

Thanks again for the prayers and support...WE BELIEVE!

A few pictures of the day are included.

Love,

The Bowman's

Mercy South Thurs then Downtown KC on Friday til.....

We went to Children's Mercy South Thursday night. Carson was having difficulties breathing and had a fever. We stayed at south for the night then in the morning Carson was still having problems gasping for air. He has a viral infection that caused a asthma attack which is why we needed to bring him in. They transferred us to the Children's Mercy Downtown KC. After assessment they moved the little guy in the PICU. All night Friday they gave breathing treatments and used deep suction every 2 to 3 hours also had oxygen on him the entire time. At 11am Sat morning--Today--- We got the "ok" to move back up to the "normal" hospital rooms. The breathing treatments and O2 and suctions seem to be doing a great job. Sarah now is trying to feed him with a bottle while the rest of us wait in the Ronald Mcdonald House. Thanks for all your prayers! We hope to be out of the hospital soon.

I thought I would give a very quick heads up just in case someone was wondering.

Take care

December 1 update

We cannot believe that it is already December, just last week it seemed like Halloween. How time flies.

Dana, our nutritionist came to visit the week before Thanksgiving. To our relief Carson had gained 11 ounces back (all that he had lost the month before) and had grown 1/2 inch!!! I can not tell you how happy I was to hear that. Needless to say, we are sticking with the formula...he needs all the extra calories he can get. (bring on the Thanksgiving feast)

Jeff and I are doing great. We get out as much as we can (in fact we went to my 10 year high school reunion on Sat night) and cherish every moment with our son. It was great to have 4 days off for the Thanksgiving holiday. Great family time together!

We took a trip to Iowa the weekend before Thanksgiving to meet Bailey, Rob and Arica's newest and to celebrate Thanksgiving with the Bowman's. We had a fabulous time and had our first snow of the season. On Sat it snowed about 1.5 inches.

Cousin Julianna was in town for the week of Thanksgiving and was able to spend two days at our house...what a help. And I know she and Carson enjoyed very much the time together!

For Thanksgiving day we went to Nana and Papa's house to have dinner with the Latshaw's. It was great to see everyone, but was a big day.

Part of our big day was that we had to take Carson to Children's Mercy for a follow up. On Wed Carson woke up with a 103.2 fever. Jeff took him to the pediatrician, there they ran a CBC on his blood and found his white blood cell count was 26 (pretty high). The Dr gave Carson a shot of meds and prescribed antibiotics, Jeff and Carson were then sent to Mercy for a chest x-ray to check for pneumonia. The follow up on Thurs was to make sure the white cell count went down...it did, back to 13 (normal range). We also learned that the chest x-ray was negative!!! What a relief. We have also increased his breathing treatments to 3 times a day. We go back to the pediatrician Tues for a follow up and his second flu shot.

Other than these outings, we pretty much keep Carson inside...the healthier he stays, the better!! I am sure I have forgotten to update you about something...but can not think of anything else at the moment.

We do miss everyone we do not get to see on a weekly basis, but especially Aunt Becky, she is now living in Florida enjoying the warm weather, and Cousin Julianna, who is living with her Dad in Newton, KS for this school year.

May God bless everyone!

Check all pictures in post below!

December 1rst already....

Wow how time flies...there is so much to update you on. We will start with all the new pictures...

Possible future girl friend. Handsome eyes.

Silly boy. THEETH!! Getting ready to talk.

New cousin Bailey. Loves to snuggle with anything.

Look at me!!! All tuckered out after playing. BRRRR, winter is here.

Cousin Love. Where is my food?

We pray everyday for a Miricle. I love the sun. So tired, Becky wore me out.

Who me? I'm a big boy now!!! Christmas is coming...