Human Metapneumo Virus

Day #5 in the PICU yielded a name to Jazmin's illness. Human Metapneumo (meh-ta-new-mo) virus. There's not a lot of research online that I can understand, but I'll explain what I do know. hMPV is like the RSV superbug. If you know what RSV is, you'll understand that what we have is a serious virus, and this explains why Jazmin has continued to get sicker instead of healthier. This disease was only discovered in 2001, and has serious repercussions for a child like Jaz who is already "compromised" with her trach and vent dependency. In the most serious cases reported online, the patients needed both oxygen and manual ventilation (ventilator). Jazmin has been 100% vent dependent for over a week, and has been on 4 liters of oxygen to maintain her O2 level. We like her O2 level to be between 93-100%. She has been dropping into the 70% range anytime she is removed from her vent for seconds to suction her, do any cares, etc. When she's healthy she is not on ANY O2. Some studies have shown that 100% of children over age 5 are immune.
So, what does all this mean? It means there is nothing we can do except try to keep her from getting sicker. She is on two very powerful antibiotics to prevent a secondary infection from settling in, IV fluids to maintain adequate hydration, and is receiving round the clock treatment by respiratory therapists, nurses, and her team of Pulmonologists. Jazmin is going to be in the hospital for a while.
If you want to visit, call me, I know she'd love it, but please if you have small kids DON'T come. The boys have already been exposed so they've been there 2x already. I have already been exposed and there is no risk to the baby, so I will continue my daily bedside vigil.
Thanks again to everyone who's been helping us out with the boys. It's very difficult having to chose which child/ren to spend my time with, but knowing the boys are with people who love and care about them has made it much easier to leave them.

Open mouth insert foot

Sorry it's been a few days since my last post. Unfortunately, Jazmin did not continue to respond well to the antibiotics, and has spent the last 4 days in the ER/PICU (pediatric intermediate care unit) at Children's Hospital. The poor kiddo has had a rough week. I've gotten a laptop from Nanny Jenny to use, and will try to update while I'm at the hospital, but I've had problems so far, so no promises. It's been estimated we'll be there at least through Sat, but I'm working hard on getting that moved up.

Jake is doing great, he's recovering quickly from his pneumonia and ear infection. I hope I didn't just jinx him!

Ryan has had a rough couple days with regards to his potty training. He's been doing great for the last few months, but has really regressed. Hopefully when Jazmin and I are home again for good, he'll resume his old habits.

Thank you everyone who has pulled together to help us the last 4 days, and the days yet to come, we couldn't have done it without you.

Some nasty sickness at our house

The last two weeks have not been much fun at our house. It started out with me getting really sick with some sort of respiratory bug. Then of course the kids got it, first Jazmin, then Ryan. Joel followed suit a couple days later, and Jake was bringing up the rear. It seemed like we finally had turned a corner and were starting to get healthy again, and then Jazmin got really sick. Then Jake, who we thought was getting better, got sicker. My poor babies, Jazmin has pneumonia and was running 102 temps, and was bringing up blood into her trach! She's had to be on her vent about 20 hours a day for the last week. Jacob poor kid has been super whiny, and after one trip to the md didn't produce results, I took him to urgent care today. He's got an ear infection and pneumonia as well. Those poor kids have had a rough week, and Ryan's bored out of his mind being stuck at home with them and me. Thankfully, they both seem to be responding to their antibiotics rapidly, and hopefully by Monday they'll be healthy enough to get out of the house and do something fun.

Swimming and Dinner with friends part two

A couple weekends ago we decided to head up to the community center to go swimming. We have a family pass, and the kids love it! Amy decided to join us with her family. It was a lot of fun, but for some reason it was kinda chilly in there that day. So we decided to wrap it up and head out for some Rancho Grande (our fav Mexican restaurant). I know this may sound idiotic, after our Chinese dinner fiasco (I forgot to add that Damon turned off the lights to the entire place while I was cleaning up Ryan) but sometimes it takes a while to learn. This time we had 12 people-4 adults-2 pre-teens-and 6 under 6. I can't believe how smoothly it went. That's right I said it went smoothly! The kids all ate dinner and behaved like little adults (minus the 6 trips to the bathroom). As we were boxing up leftovers and paying checks, they brought out complimentary desserts for the kids! Does it get much better than that?

Note to Bapa Bryce....

No more band-aides on foreheads please, I don't care how much they beg!

Bob the Builder

The foster agency Jazmin is place with us through gave us some tickets to see Bob the Builder live at the State theater. Jazmin loved it, Jake hated it, and Ryan liked the second half. Go figure! I think the boys were over tired from playing at their grandparents that day and the night before, so that made a difference I'm sure. I would have gotten more pictures of the kids enjoying the performance, but the camera nazi came and said "no pictures in the theater". I tried to debate the fact that it was intermission, and I only wanted pictures of my kids enjoying their first musical, but she started spouting out "publicity regulations this and publicity regulations that". I should have asked what they were planning to pay us in royalties to use pictures of my kids!

Jacob's hidden talent