Saturday, November 29, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
One Week Update
One week down and everything seems to be coming together well.
Here's DHV scoping out the situation.
A kiss on the forehead.
DKV, DHV, LRV, and Pete the Panda relaxing. DHV can make quite the mess.
Obligatory bath photo. Hands off the vent circuit, young lady!
Family dinner, courtesy of the bumbo.
DHV holding baby Leigh.
Danny has been talking about the big water every day, so we popped over to check things out.
"Beeg wah-wah!"
Running over to some "beeg" rocks.
Standing on top of the beeg rocks.
Bopping sticks into the beeg water.
Right after this, DHawk managed to fall, face-first, into the beeg water. DKV hauled him out by the seat of his pants.
Here's DHV scoping out the situation.
A kiss on the forehead.
DKV, DHV, LRV, and Pete the Panda relaxing. DHV can make quite the mess.
Obligatory bath photo. Hands off the vent circuit, young lady!
Family dinner, courtesy of the bumbo.
DHV holding baby Leigh.
Danny has been talking about the big water every day, so we popped over to check things out."Beeg wah-wah!"
Running over to some "beeg" rocks.
Standing on top of the beeg rocks.
Bopping sticks into the beeg water.
Right after this, DHawk managed to fall, face-first, into the beeg water. DKV hauled him out by the seat of his pants.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Life at Home
What's home life like with Leigh?
After you take time for photos, there's not much time for anything besides eating.
Our first night at home, SHV and DKV settled in for some family time. There was nothing on TV. Leigh slept the whole time. Then we found our night nurse sleeping at 0400. Yikes!
DHV commandeers all equipment to fulfill his vision of proper home life. "Retdh Caghr!"
Janine hangs out when DHV isn't yelling her name. He's probably yelling Da-dee, instead.
LRV dropping a smile on Mommy.
We took Leigh for a road trip on Thursday, to get her cranium measured for a helmet. "Positional Plagiocepahaly" is not a condition they teach in med school. Nor do they teach you how to load all the life support equipment into your automobile while keeping the recepient of said life support connected to the aforementioned life support. We made it there with only one near calamity. They stuck this stocking on her head, then tried taking photos with 15 cameras mounted orthogonally.
That didn't work because Leigh was freaking out and her folds of neck fat seemed to be distorting their 3D reconstruction of her head.
So they made a plaster mold of her head. This seemed to work much better.
4 hours later, we were at home, and DHV was raising hell. Thank god for Janine.
After you take time for photos, there's not much time for anything besides eating.
Our first night at home, SHV and DKV settled in for some family time. There was nothing on TV. Leigh slept the whole time. Then we found our night nurse sleeping at 0400. Yikes!
DHV commandeers all equipment to fulfill his vision of proper home life. "Retdh Caghr!"
Janine hangs out when DHV isn't yelling her name. He's probably yelling Da-dee, instead.
LRV dropping a smile on Mommy.
We took Leigh for a road trip on Thursday, to get her cranium measured for a helmet. "Positional Plagiocepahaly" is not a condition they teach in med school. Nor do they teach you how to load all the life support equipment into your automobile while keeping the recepient of said life support connected to the aforementioned life support. We made it there with only one near calamity. They stuck this stocking on her head, then tried taking photos with 15 cameras mounted orthogonally.
That didn't work because Leigh was freaking out and her folds of neck fat seemed to be distorting their 3D reconstruction of her head.So they made a plaster mold of her head. This seemed to work much better.
4 hours later, we were at home, and DHV was raising hell. Thank god for Janine.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Coming Home
Things got started Monday, when the ladies of 7 West threw us a little baby shower. Here are Steph and Sarah, Leigh's two primary nurses.
They gave Leigh a matching black sequined dress and fur shrug. Danny saw the fur and thought it was his panda bear.
Leigh packaged up in her carseat for her first roadtrip.
The EMS guys brought her in the house.
DHV explored their unattended vehicle.
Yes, Danny, that's an ambulance.
Then, back inside for a stare-down.
DHV striking a pose.
Sharing.
They gave Leigh a matching black sequined dress and fur shrug. Danny saw the fur and thought it was his panda bear.
Leigh packaged up in her carseat for her first roadtrip.
The EMS guys brought her in the house.
DHV explored their unattended vehicle.
Yes, Danny, that's an ambulance.
Then, back inside for a stare-down.
DHV striking a pose.
Sharing.
Monday, November 17, 2008
D-Day minus 1
Preparations continue in New Haven.
Leigh prepares by fattening herself.
Credit goes to our friend Stacey for taking the first crisp photo of a Leigh smile.
Credit also goes to her husband Matt for helping DKV stack a huge pile of firewood.
DHV prepares by graciously accepting gifts. He scored a soft hat and a baby doll from the child life specialist at Yale-New Haven.
He practiced infant CPR,
took baby for a spin around the respiratory unit (in an approved car seat),
and settled in for naptime.
Note the ultra-realistic trach and NG tube.
Afternoon update: HusbanDKV passed the oral boards, the fifth round of testing since entering med school. Yay! Double celebration tonight.
Leigh prepares by fattening herself.
Credit goes to our friend Stacey for taking the first crisp photo of a Leigh smile.
Credit also goes to her husband Matt for helping DKV stack a huge pile of firewood.
DHV prepares by graciously accepting gifts. He scored a soft hat and a baby doll from the child life specialist at Yale-New Haven.
He practiced infant CPR,
took baby for a spin around the respiratory unit (in an approved car seat),
and settled in for naptime.
Note the ultra-realistic trach and NG tube.Afternoon update: HusbanDKV passed the oral boards, the fifth round of testing since entering med school. Yay! Double celebration tonight.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
A nurse, a nurse!
A nurse! A nurse!
A nurse! A nurse!
Could you, would you,
Find a nurse?
Is there a nurse
Here, or there?
Is there a nurse anywhere?
There is not a nurse
Here, or there,
There is not a nurse, anywhere!
Could you find one in a box?
Could you find one with a fox?
Could you find one in a house?
Could you find one in a blouse?
We did not find one in a box,
Or with a fox,
Or in a house,
Or with a blouse!
Is there a nurse in the rain?
Is there a nurse on a train?
There is no nurse in the rain,
Or on a train,
Oh, what a drain!
Sigh, sigh, moan, moan . . .
Say, you say, don't groan . . .
Is that the ringing of the phone?
If we want a nurse, they say
We must make a clone?
And wait for it to be grown!
A nurse! A nurse!
A nurse! A nurse!
Could you find one in a purse?
Could you find one in a store?
Could you find one knocking at the door?
Did you, Did you
Find any more?
We did, we did!
I do not kid,
A nurse we scored,
SHV was floored!
Who is that in the ambulance?
Needing equipment in advance?
A vent must be lent!
Have the trachs all been sent?
Is it a baby on a vent?
Baby on a vent? Vent on a baby?
Another delay will make us crazy!
A baby on a vent?
A Leigh on a vent!
When is the big event?
Tuesday, Tuesday,
Is what they say.
It is the big day, they say,
When our baby comes home to stay.
A nurse! A nurse!
Could you, would you,
Find a nurse?
Is there a nurse
Here, or there?
Is there a nurse anywhere?
There is not a nurse
Here, or there,
There is not a nurse, anywhere!
Could you find one in a box?
Could you find one with a fox?
Could you find one in a house?
Could you find one in a blouse?
We did not find one in a box,
Or with a fox,
Or in a house,
Or with a blouse!
Is there a nurse in the rain?
Is there a nurse on a train?
There is no nurse in the rain,
Or on a train,
Oh, what a drain!
Sigh, sigh, moan, moan . . .
Say, you say, don't groan . . .
Is that the ringing of the phone?
If we want a nurse, they say
We must make a clone?
And wait for it to be grown!
A nurse! A nurse!
A nurse! A nurse!
Could you find one in a purse?
Could you find one in a store?
Could you find one knocking at the door?
Did you, Did you
Find any more?
We did, we did!
I do not kid,
A nurse we scored,
SHV was floored!
Who is that in the ambulance?
Needing equipment in advance?
A vent must be lent!
Have the trachs all been sent?
Is it a baby on a vent?
Baby on a vent? Vent on a baby?
Another delay will make us crazy!
A baby on a vent?
A Leigh on a vent!
When is the big event?
Tuesday, Tuesday,
Is what they say.
It is the big day, they say,
When our baby comes home to stay.
Big brother says "rowr!"
A nurse, a nurse, my kingdom for a nurse!
The day is here.
DHV, SHV, DKV, and steady Janine are all at home.
LRV is resting comfortably in her hospital room, waiting for enough nurses to sign up.
Homecoming indefinitely postponed.
DHV, SHV, DKV, and steady Janine are all at home.
LRV is resting comfortably in her hospital room, waiting for enough nurses to sign up.
Homecoming indefinitely postponed.
Monday, November 3, 2008
DKV's favorites
DHV asked me to take a picture of him.
Afterwards, he likes to check himself out on the camera's display.
Leigh was the only vented kid in the Halloween parade. It's no big deal; you just need
1 (one) au pair to police the older brother.
1 (one) respiratory therapist to push the stroller, pull the oxygen, and carry backup power.
1 (one) child life specialist (dressed like a dalmatian) to carry the portable suction.
1 (one) DHV to carry the vent.
1 (one) SHV to take the picture.
1 (one) considerate nurse who let us join the parade without a functional portable monitor. I don't know who would have carried it, anway.
A lion needs a big stick . . .
to bap Mommy in the head.
Daddy, where is the FIRE?
Afterwards, he likes to check himself out on the camera's display.
Leigh was the only vented kid in the Halloween parade. It's no big deal; you just need
1 (one) au pair to police the older brother.
1 (one) respiratory therapist to push the stroller, pull the oxygen, and carry backup power.
1 (one) child life specialist (dressed like a dalmatian) to carry the portable suction.
1 (one) DHV to carry the vent.
1 (one) SHV to take the picture.
1 (one) considerate nurse who let us join the parade without a functional portable monitor. I don't know who would have carried it, anway.
A lion needs a big stick . . .
to bap Mommy in the head.
Daddy, where is the FIRE?
Der Deutsch Frau
Janine's mom and her mom's friend Rosalinda paid a visit just before Halloween.
DHV, ever the gentleman, showed Getty (Gertrude) his favorite spots.
Beeg! Wah-wah!
Schnell! Up and down the hill.
DHV scored two backpacks from Germany. His parents got a ton of candy. Here he models his going-to-school look.
Luring Rosalinda in for a kiss.
DHV, ever the gentleman, showed Getty (Gertrude) his favorite spots.
Beeg! Wah-wah!
Schnell! Up and down the hill.
DHV scored two backpacks from Germany. His parents got a ton of candy. Here he models his going-to-school look.
Luring Rosalinda in for a kiss.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Boo!
Halloween was an action packed day for the V family this year. We started off at the hospital, where Leigh got decked out as a little leopard to join big brother lion in the Halloween parade.
It was her first time in the stroller. In fact, it was her first time leaving her room except to go to the OR, which doesn't really count.
DHV practiced his lion "roar" while waiting for the festivities to get started.
After the parade we came home and carved some jack-o-lanterns. The lion supervised while the adults got to work.
Finally, we took DHV trick or treating for the very first time. He got into the swing of things pretty quickly, running from house to house to collect candy, shoving as much of it into his mouth as he could along the way.
Once the sugar wore off he needed a little lift for the long the walk home.
It was her first time in the stroller. In fact, it was her first time leaving her room except to go to the OR, which doesn't really count.
DHV practiced his lion "roar" while waiting for the festivities to get started.
After the parade we came home and carved some jack-o-lanterns. The lion supervised while the adults got to work.
Finally, we took DHV trick or treating for the very first time. He got into the swing of things pretty quickly, running from house to house to collect candy, shoving as much of it into his mouth as he could along the way.
Once the sugar wore off he needed a little lift for the long the walk home.
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