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Tuesday, September 13, 2011 8:21 PM CDT

Life can throw you curveballs and Logan's seen his fair share as of late.

After the events of our last post we enjoyed extra time with Auntie Amanda--the boys were able to sleep over on Friday and we had a last great hoorah on the boat on Saturday followed by dinner and football in the front yard. When the boys came in, Logan said he "felt uncomfortable." I assumed it was because I was making him sit with his feet in the kitchen sink to get cleaned up. Instead, his tears led my hand to his heart and he told me it felt bad. Sure enough it was clipping along at quite a fast pace. DANG IT! My heart sunk. Ben was picking up a movie for us so wasn't home. I had him lay on the couch and after I listened knew I needed to call. We packed a bag and off we went to UMACH. He was totally fine in the car and at one point I felt it and it felt slower. We got here and it was 120--still fast for him but the docs figured it was at 180 or so at home based on the beats I was describing. They drew a WBC, CBC and blood culure to see if anything was perculating and sent us home 2.5 hours later. From there he was fine...until today...

We were scheduled to leave for CHOP (the Single Ventricle Survivorship Program trip) today at 1:50. We got Ben on a Delta flight using miles and Owen was going to stay with G G Schroeder. The boys had an ortho apt first thing and Dr. Eisenhuth was concerned about Owen's wiggly front tooth that he injured at football. She put a splint on it (his tooth, who knew?) and sent us to Rosemount to his dentist for an x-ray. At the apt, the boys got a token and Logan got this flexible plasticky guy that he was playing with. We dropped O at school and when I pulled in the driveway, Logan got out of his booster and whimpered saying his heart hurt and asked me to feel it. Sure enough, fast rate. DANG IT! He then said, "and, I accidentally swallowed the yellow guy's head." I think he was so scared to tell me that that it triggered the SVT since clearly, it (the dragon-like bad SVT cell trigger) seems to be more overactive since the EP study and ablation. I called Dr. Lohr and after a few attempts to get it to go down we knew, once again, he needed to go in. Time = 10:30am. Flight = 1:50 Randy coming to take us to the airport = 11:20. Crud.

I finished packing everything just in case knowing I'd need to drive straight to the airport. He was so tired, going in and out of falling asleep that it was clear this was more like previous SVT's then what happened on Saturday. We arrived about 11:10 and while I knew his heart rate was fast didn't know it'd be 220 fast. DANG IT! This meant cardioverting, which they did at 12:25. One jolt, 20 jewels and back to normal rhythym. Thank the Lord. BUT WHY? Dr. Dorotskar stopped the EP study she was doing to be present for the cardioverting and said that she was probably too cautious in slaying the dragon. We recall that day she told us she thought she got it since it didn't get back up but that we'd only really know if it didn't happen again. Well, it did wake up and now the question is what to do. She thinks she should go back and get it for good but we may want a second opinion. There's a lot of discussions to be had and we just want to be sure we're doing the right things. It always seems that when we let people tinker that something goes wrong and had extra complications. We'd prefer to stay clear of those complications while at the same time we know we have to figure it out. We are starting him on a new medication called Verapamil. For that reason we're staying overnight because it can interact with other meds and his blood pressure. So far so good so we should go home tomorrow afternoon.

What about CHOP? Well, I had to call and cancel everything, including the $840 one way tickets home that I had to purchase for Logan and me last night. Our return comped flight left too early and Mercy Medical Airlift couldn't do anything else for us and all of the flights home were booked or $683 or more. I found a $399 flight on Southwest (up from the $350 original flight I found) which was much more fathomable then $700 . When I called to cancel today I was praying it was a refundable ticket and thank the Lord, it was. Had I purchased that $350 ticket originally available, they would not have been. Small blessings...you've got to find them to stay positive.

Logan had a normal uneventful afternoon and is now dozing off to la la land. heart rate = 95, O2 = 80All normal and all comforting.

We do get disappointed and a little glum sometimes when curveball after curveball happen but really do easily find the blessings. What if we'd been at the airport going through security or worse, in the air when this happened? While it was all still hectic and worrisome and unscheduled and disrupted this trip that we've been looking foward too, in the scheme of things it worked out, he's still here, received great care and is safe. God is good.

More to come as the adventure continues.
Prayers welcome and appreciated.

Friday, September 2, 2011 10:14 AM CDT

We got a call unexpectedly from UMACH last Thursday (Aug. 25) that they wanted to get the EP Study done on Logan and scheduled it for Aug. 31. This is the test that scared us a lot but after his SVT following his cath knew it had to be done. On Monday he had a CT angiogram and on Wednesday, we arrived at 5:40 for the 7:30 start time.

When I told Logan we would be doing this procedure on his first day of school he looked at me with annoyed eyes and then perked up to ask, "Will I get a Wii room this time?" I told him I hoped so and with that he was fine. He was a trooper Wednesday morning and again, not a tear shed and off he went to the OR. I'm able to "gown up" and take him into the room and that's good for both of us.
Below are the updates I sent throughout the day, followed by some other notes to end the post...

Aug. 31: 2pm
Well, we’re at about 2pm and Logan’s been in the OR since 7:24. By the time the actual procedure started it was probably 8:30 so 5 ½ hours. It’s a long tedious process to try and find the source of this/these naughty cell/s and there will come a point where they have to stop if they can’t get it. We’ll likely know more in the next 2 hours.

Aug. 31: 4pm
Nine hours since I smooched Logan and they’re STILL working on him. His vitals are stable so they want to keep working. While we get nervous and concerned about how long he’s been in there and under anesthesia, the doctors don’t see it that way and want to keep seeing what they can do. We got an update at 3pm that he was still stable and doing well. I will say that he’s previous two open heart surgeries didn’t take this long so it’s causing me a little anxiety. He’s intubated (breathing tube) and I don’t like that because the longer a breathing tube is in the more susceptible his lungs are to pneumonia, which we know isn’t good.


Aug. 31: 9:30pm
Logan finished the procedure around 5pm and came up to the PICU at 6:45. His blood has been water thin (intentionally) so they’ve been waiting for it to thicken up on its own before waking him up and removing things. The doctor was pleased with what they found and she thinks she “slayed the dragon” but said time will tell if she slayed it or just tired it out. The cell was not anywhere near where she thought it would be but in the process of looking discovered that he has 2 AV nodes (basically the electrical relay station that sets the rhythm of heart contractions). We never knew this until today and makes him even more unique than anyone thought possible.

We did learn that during the procedure the cath line shaved against the AV node and that it caused a Transient Heart Block. What does that mean? Oh, just that he flatlined for no more than 20 seconds!! Since they were doing what they were doing, something like this isn’t terribly uncommon and the conduction came back just fine but to hear the words was a bit of a “holy crap” moment.

They’re working now to get the lines out and the breathing tube will be out shortly so he’ll wake up. With my luck he’ll be peppy as a pitbull and ready to play all night long. Considering the earlier news, I’ll be up for playing all night too. 


Sept, 1: 7:30am
No update from the docs yet this morning but Logan had a great night. Was really praying for a smoother recovery that we’re used to and seemed to have received my request. They got the lines and breathing tube out at 10:15 and he woke up pretty easily and without complications. Whew. The cath line that went up through his leg near his groin was a bit of a bleeder so caused a couple of issues but nothing major. He rested on and off throughout the night and is now playing games on the computer and waiting for breakfast, which includes penne pasta with alfredo sauce, corn, mandarin oranges and grape juice—hey, whatever the kid wants, right?

The sun is up, we’ve got a pretty sky view in these gorgeous new rooms at Amplatz and I think it’s going to be a good day.

Friday, Sept. 2: 10:30
We came home yesterday from UMACH at about 12:30. Likely would have come home by 10am but getting prescriptions filled can often take an eternity (something they have to figure out at the hospital because it's unacceptable!). Any case, we spent the afternoon napping and Logan got a Wii pass to play as much as he wanted as he didn't get a room with one since he was in the PICU. He's pretty tired still today and we decided getting him fully recovered is more important than going to school.

He has to take Lovenox shots for a few days to keep his blood coagulated while his coumadin gets back to its normal range. He hates them and frankly, I do too but get the importance. Might have to bribe him as we found out this morning he needs to get them through Sunday instead of tomorrow we originally thought.

While we were waiting on Wednesday, Dr. Lohr came out to review his Aug 1 cath results with us and shared that the pressures in his Fontan are too high and that the doctors agree closing the fenestration isn't going to be the best for him or be what we need to increase his oxygen saturations. Instead, she said what they think is that we may need to do a Fontan re-do wherein they would connect the heaptic veins to his Fontan to allow more oxygenated blood (or something like that). We aren't liking the idea of another heart surgery but we'll do what's best long term for Logan. After our CHOP visit and everyone communicating, we'll determine what's next. We don't believe this is anything that has to happen this year and would hope next summer is the right time.

As I've been processing this latest adventure, it again became obvious how God's hand is at play. We learned at a recent Infectious Disease apt that the culture from his bronch grew two different types of bacteria. From there, he went on a super strong dose of Augmentin for 14 days. He's finally been fever free for over two weeks for the first time since June. Here's how it boils down for us: When he had his cath/bronch Aug. 1 that bacteria was there and clearly had an impact and the stress on his system triggered the SVT. We were lucky that the breathing tube wasn't in so long b/c the longer it's in the harder it is on his lungs. With the EP study, that breathing tube was in for 15 hours and surely would have impacted his lungs, especially if that bacteria was in there lingering and lurking just waiting for a chance to cause trouble.

In addition to the above example of God's hand at work, we learned that where Dr. Dorostkar found the dragon is in the area that would be impacted by a Fontan re-do, meaning they could remove the scarred issue that contained the cell (aka dragon). I just find it interesting that of all the places for this to be, it was there. Unless you're us, this all might be hard to understand, but trust is, it gives you pause to say, thank you, God.

To wrap up this event, we'll say this...each step dating back to last year makes sense to us and frankly, I'm comforted by the faith we have to see it that was versus simple coincidence.

We don't want to forget Owen. He started school like a champ on Wednesday and has been a troper dealing with things while we've been a little occupied with Logan. Angie and Dan helped immensely on Wednesday picking him up from school and keeping him until Ben could pick him up at 9pm. This weekend will be a time to be together as a family and start Sept. 6 as a great new school week. Sadly, my Grandma List (Mom's mom) is at the end stages of life and we'll likely be at her funeral next week. We have such great memories growing up with Grandma and Grandpa List and loved that the boys were able to know her too.

CHOP is next up. Sept. 13-16.

Blessings to all and thank you for thinking and praying for us.

Monday, August 1, 2011 7:49 PM CDT

Today we had the heart catherization that was supposed to happen last summer but after two reschedules with the docs and one cancellation because Logan spontaneously got sick the morning of the procedure didn't happen. We vividly recall saying that "Clearly, God doesn't want Logan to have this" last year and it's so interesting to look back to then and what we've learned since to realize we were right. (Not that we ever doubted but still...)

And, not that a heart catherization and bronchoscopy are ever routine procedures but we have enough familiarity with them that they don't cause us much worry.

Last year, the cath was going to include an electrophysiology study to try to determine why his ticker was going into SVT's (high heart rates). That scared us. Since Nov. 2010 he's not had an SVT (until today which I'll get to later) and frankly, tolerated a winter of being sick and high fevers to go along with it. So, once we learned about Logan's latest lung issues (Bronchectasis and PCD) it was determined to skip the EP study and instead do a bronchoscopy with his cath to get a clear understanding of what his lungs were doing, do a saline flush and gather a specimen to determine the bacteria that keeps lurking so we can better treat him with the right antibiotic when he does get sick. All of that happened today and it was worth it. Dr. Laguna was able to see that his broncheal malacia is still there and in fact, his right broncheal opening is nearly closed. She said the fact he does so well is beyond remarkable. Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do to make that opening stay open. It's floppy and not strong enough. We can only hope that over time and as he gets bigger that it will get stronger. She was also able to get a big mucus plug out (gross, I know), which should help him breathe more freely quite a bit. It's now being studied for bacteria growths and such more to come as results come in. Total Bronch Time = 45 minutes.

Next was the heart cath, here the docs were looking at his pulmonary pressures and saturations, looking for collateral vessels that could be taking up good blood and if big enough, coiling off so more good blood is utilized more efficiently, test closing the fenestration (the escape hatch when too much pressures exist meaning more oxygenated and unoxygenated blood are mixing leading to lower saturations and looking for PVM's (pulmonary arteriovenous malformations). PVM's are caused by abnormal communications between pulmonary arteries and pulmonary veins. These are quite uncommon but with Logan, not unexpected. In fact, the docs did find a few of these AVM's but they weren't able to do anything about them today.

The test occlusion was very positive! Closing the fenestration saw no rise in pulmonary pressures and his oxygen saturation went up by 9 If this is something we are able to do, he could see his O2 go from his average of 78-82ll the way up to 90 What a difference this could make for him. Dr. Gruenstein told us about a little kid he took care of whose Daddy was a single ventricle, fontan kid and played baseball through college. What great news to hear. Our trip to CHOP in Sept. will be important b/c of the cardiac MRI to determine if we do this. That said, there's still that lingerind issue of needing to do an EP study. Before we close the fenestration we'll have to know what to do about the SVT--what's triggering it, can we ablate it and so it. That became even more apparent today when, while he was in recovery he went into an SVT! We couldn't believe it but he came to recovery at 12ish and was quite sick from the anethesia. He also had a fever. After the nurse gave him a Tylenol supposotory at 12:45pm, I looked up and the monitor said 233. "Is that right?" I asked, knowing the answer. "The nurse printed a EKG strip and called in the troops. Everything related to his symptoms was the same as every time before. We were so lucky that all the docs came quickly, including our fav PICU doc, Dr. Gupta. He was the super smart one who recommended waiting until his fever came down before trying to cardiovert him. He also recalled that Esmolol caused major issues last time (which we were able to refer to as well because of our CB post last time. CB is such a blessing!)

We waited a while, including for Dr. Dorostkar, EP doc, and thankfully, the fever came down and with 20 jewels of power gave him a cardiovert and he went from 237 to 117. That happened at 3:06pm. Never ceases to amaze us how it works! Logan didn't remember a thing about most everything today and boy, is that a small miracle.

Dr. Dorostkar said we now have even more to think about because clearly, a procedure such as this is a trigger for him and the liklihood of more SVT's is beyond probable. Additionally, there's no way we can close his fenestration without doing the EP study because if he goes into one after it's closed and the pressures rise, he could be in real trouble. Oh boy. SO much to for the doctors to discuss and weigh pros and cons. We actually believe, oddly, that it was a blessing in disguise that this happened today because of the information we gleaned from it. There has to be a bright side, right?!

Logan recovered remarkably well after he got back into normal rhythm. Sats went up to 82he got a whole lot pinker and a whole lot peppier too. We were able to come home at 7pm and he was warmly greeted by Owen, Ali, Ty and G G Schroeder who took care of Owen today. He was so happy to see them all.

So now what? Related to his lungs we keep doing what we're doing. Our trip to UNC in June showed he does have this rare lung disease (1 in 400,000) Primary Ciliary Diskensia so the fact we're treating him like a CF kid is the right thing to do. We'll wait to see what the bacteria is and now we'll treat him more smartly next time he gets sick.

Related to his ticker, we'll see what the docs come up with once Dr. Lohr is back and they all talk. Our trip to CHOP will play into the decisions of closing the fenestration, the EP study and so on. If we determine to close the fenestration, we'll want it all done before winter to give him the best chance of a less sick winter.

Related to life, we don't plan to change a thing. He's doing awesome and we're going to keep treating him like a normal kid with some extra special things to be aware of. In fact, we're all headed to San Diego next week for a long weekend. I've got to go for work and the boys are all coming. We're blessed to have our resort covered and tickets to Sea World, the Zoo and Legoland. What an amazing trip this will be.

Everything this summer has been going well. Fun of fun, full of life and full of God's blessings. Today was yet another reminder of how lucky we are and how amazing our little boys are. Thank you, LORD.

Thursday, June 23, 2011 10:19 PM CDT

Happy Birthday to our precious Owen and Logan!

We couldn't let today pass by without an update on CaringBridge. How can it be that you are eight years old? It's almost like a dream that we have boys who are so big but every morning, when you pop in our room as early as 6am, we're reminded it's not a dream and our wonderful reality.

You both ended the school year with a bang--really terrific report cards--and we were so proud. Logan, you went up in 8 areas from B and A-'s to A- and A's. Your reading and spelling were out of this world. In fact, both you and Owen got A 's again in spelling. Owen, you were already getting A's and stayed getting A's but went up in a couple areas too. Seeing report cards and hearing such positive comments from your teachers about your happy spirits, willingness to learn and love of others fills us with joy. Maybe we're raising you alright after all.

Summer has started and you've got baseball filling two nights a week--you're on the White Sox and are doing a great job. It seems you both have good athletic skills and it will be interseting to see what sports you lean toward. Owen, you're so fast and natural and Logan, your speed has really increased. We enjoy watching you both so much.

The weather has been horrible for summer--in fact, we haven't even been to Cascade Bay yet and only on the boat once. Today's temperature was the avg high for April. EEK!

Are you wondering how your health has been? Well, you've both been doing great but Logan we've got a few big things coming up for you. Next week we fly to UNC Chapel Hill to meet with Dr. Adam Shapiro who is doing a national study on kids with Heterotaxy Syndrome and a rare lung disease called Primary Ciliary Diskinetia, where the cilia can't move. I can't remember what the number is of kids found to have this but it's like one in 600,000 or something. We did an online research study a while back and the doctor was interested in our responses about your recurrent pneumonia. Once he learned you also have bronchectasis he was really interested in you and in fact, they're paying for us to fly down so they can learn more about you. Knowing if you do have this shouldn't change too much about what we're doing now but will help us know what to do and how to react when you get sick.

We're waiting on the date for your heart cath and bronchoscopy but hoping for mid July so we can then head to CHOP for the Single Ventricle Survivorship Study in early August. It seems all of these things are coming together pretty well as we prepare to figure out what our long term plan should be for you. You started a new neb, Pulmozyne, to go along with your vest and we're seeing a couple interesting things happen every now and again...quick, onset chills, tired, and random fevers. A couple weeks ago you feel asleep in the driveway! Hopefully, as we meet with these docs, have more tests, etc. we'll figure out what this is too.

On to the fun stuff...today was your birthday and boy, did we celebrate! You woke up to your bedrooms being decorated with balloons, signs and streamers (our tradition for you), went to Bible School, met Zach and Adam for lunch, went to MOA for free rides and spent the night at Grand Slam with your friends. It was quite the fun day. Last weekend you got to celebrate with G G Schroeder and Auntie Manders and this weekend we'll celebrate with G G Behn and family. The fun keeps coming for you!

It was an emotional day in some ways for Mommy and Daddy today, like your birthdays usually are. We just are so thankful for the miracles we've seen and how you've prospered given the initial news we heard back in 2003. To think our neonatologist thought we should consider selective reduction still sometimes awes us and to know how concerned your team of docs were about your outcomes both immediate and in the future gives us such a sense of being protected. God has protected you and us and shown He's in control. While we still don't know what the future holds we really do know WHO holds our future and that gives us a great sense of peace.

So, Happy Birthday boys. Thank you for blessing us with your sweetness. We love you so very, very much!

Love,
Mommy and Daddy

Friday, April 22, 2011 1:00 PM CDT

It's Good Friday and we're so thankful for this time when we can celebrate Easter, the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus.

It's been a long, long winter which apparently isn't quite over yet given it snowed just two days ago. While we can see green grass and buds a plenty we long for sun and warm temps to really get a pep back in our step.

The winter was long for boys too. Plenty of coughs, cold, fevers and aches but thankfully no pukey flu for any of us (knock on wood), few missed days of school for the boys and no SVT's for Logan. There were plenty of times when we worried an episode was emminent but by the grace of God we managed even the highest of fevers at home (103.7).

Logan started getting sick with a recurring cough/cold in November which were consistently treated with one antibiotic or another. In February, while I was traveling in Los Angeles, my mom called to say school called her about Logan's high fever of 103 . The call came right before a super important work event that I'd been planning for months. Timing is usally not on our side. We worked through what needed to happen and I got Dr. Lohr's input too. I made it to my event as planned Ben ended up taking him to the U of M where for the first time they did an x-ray and finally found pneumonia--in the same place as always dating back to when he was two. Lower right lobe. Ongoing courses of antibiotics worked for their duration but by early April with the ongoing, persistent issue we knew we needed the pulmonologist and got an apt set for April 21. More to come on this.

Logan saw Dr. Lohr for a checkup on March 23, we hadn't had an apt since last fall. His O2 still isn't where it should be--lingering at 77--but his EKG and Echo all looked as good as hoped for. This is always such positive news. Logan definitely needs his heart cath but we don't want to proceed until we get to CHOP (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) for the Single Ventricle Survivorship Program that we shared info on in our last post. We're hoping this happens between early June and mid-July. This trip will give us another viewpoint on Logan's issues and an idea of what they propose. Ultimately, the goal of the cath is to see what's preventing his saturation from getting higher and working to make it happen. It will be complex as always but hopefully what he needs to help him. We talked with Dr. Lohr about his ongoing pneumonia and that we must do something different. She got us in to a different pulmonolgist earlier than our scheduled apt. with Dr. Regelemann and felt a new perspective might be what we need.

Back to the lung issue then...we saw Dr. Laguna, a fabulous female doc, on April 13 for a very long apt that started with a PFT test--essentially testing his lung strength. He did pretty good and I'm always so proud of his attitude. When Dr. Laguna came in, after reviewing his chest x-rays, CT scans and bronch reports over the past five years she said she was concerned there could be some damage to his right lung in the area where the pneumonia continues to recur. She said a CT would help define next steps but also said she wanted to seriously consider using a vest that Cystic Fibrosis patients use as a means to clear mucus. She also ordered a full list of blood work and said at the time of his cath this summer that a bronchoscopy would also be important to get a real look at what's happening with this area, get a swab of his cilia to ensure he doesn't have Cystic Fibrosis (we did when he was a babe and it was negative but she wants confirmation) as well as his malacia. We've asked for a couple years about doing another one of these but each time it was felt it wasn't necessary. Now we know it was...

ABOUT THE VEST:
The Vest rapidly fills and deflates an inflatable garment, gently compressing and releasing the chest wall up to 25 times per second. This process, called High-Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation (HFCWO), creates mini-coughs that dislodge mucus from the bronchial walls, increase mobilization, and move it along toward central airways. The action also works to thin thick secretions, making them easier to clear. Once the mucus has moved from the smaller to larger airways, it can be easily removed by coughing or suctioning.

Today we heard back from Dr. Laguna with the update on his CT scan and what she thought is true. Logan has permanent damage to his lower right lung. A condition called Bronchiectasis. We will begin aggressive therapy with the vest, which I think he'll find to be fun, each day when we do his neb. Hopefully this will be a really helpful tool for Logan and ensure the damage doesn't worsen. Dr. Laguna said what we don't want to happen is for this area of his lung to continue being a source of infection or get so bad that the area has to be removed. Yikes! The vest is $16,000-$20,000 so thank goodness for insurance.

We take today's news as a part of our other news and will work to make it a non-issue for Logan and something he understands is a part of his routine. We've been asking if the climate has something to do with the recurrent illness but learned the biggest issue is the fact that we're all inside during the winter and thus a lot more sharing of germs. Moving might still be in our future if we think it can offer any benefit to him (and us to avoid our obnoxious winters!).

About Bronchiectasis:
Bronchiectasis is an uncommon disease that results in the abnormal and permanent distortion of one or more of the conducting bronchi or airways, most often secondary to an infectious process. Lungs that are inflamed and easily collapsible, can result in air flow obstruction with shortness of breath, impaired clearance of secretions often with disabling cough, and occasionally hemoptysis. Severe cases can result in progressive impairment with respiratory failure.

Aside from these medical updates, the boys are great. Doing SO well in school and in life. We've had some fun mystery trips including courtside at the Harlem Globetrotters and have just had fun doing simple things together like watching "American Idol."

On Tuesday, April 26, the boys have the honor of cutting the ribbon for the new University of Minnesota Amplatz Children's Hospital. This is an exciting day and the new hospital is simply amazing for patients and their families. We hope to not have to visit often but know when we do that it will be welcoming and comfortable. In fact, when Logan saw it for the first time he said, "this is like Heaven."

School wraps up in early June and the boys will play baseball, tennis and basketball. Ben will be home with them and plenty of trips on the boat are planned too.

Finally, we said good-bye to Grandpa Behn on Thursday when he went home to be with his Savior at the age of 85. We're so very thankful the boys got to know their great grandpa and that we just saw him on Sunday. The boys sang "Deep and Wide" and I think Grandpa really liked it a lot. Grandpa was a big part of our lives and I loved him so so much. We know he's now finally Home and healed. That's a good place to be.

While we don't update as often now that we're at a status quo we are always grateful for those of you who check in on us and pray for us. Our journey goes on and we're so blessed to have you along the way.

Happy Easter.

Sunday, January 9, 2011 7:35 PM CST

Hello 2011! Hard to believe another year has passed. We’re another year older, healthier, wiser (or trying to be) and more blessed than ever. It’s been such a miracle to have each Christmas season come where we can celebrate the joy of Jesus’ birth and really think about how each Christmas since the boys’ first year has been better and better. So many miracles.

Since our last post in November we enjoyed both Thanksgiving and Christmas with family and just a whole lot of everything. We especially enjoy Christmas when we get to see just about everyone on all sides of the family. There’s often a lot of driving involved but if the weather cooperates, it’s always worth it. The boys enjoyed the season too with lots of extra activities from their Christmas program at church, where for the first time they had speaking roles and did great, to ice skates and play dates, building forts in the front yard, going to Holidazzle, visiting Santa and our annual New Year’s Day bowling event. (Thank goodness for gutter guards.)

We continue to have a blooming evangelist in the house with Owen. The day we were planning to visit Santa, the boys sat down to write their letters. Owen’s began with, “Dear Santa, did you know you’re a sinner and that you’re only the second reason for Christmas?” I redirected him saying Santa probably knows he’s a sinner and maybe it’s not the best way to start a letter to him. (But I love his heart!) He started over and DRAT, I tossed the original. What a great memory to have saved but at least we jotted it down.

A sinus infection ran through the house in mid-Dec—only Owen was spared—but with the help of an antibiotic for all of us, including Logan, we didn’t miss school or work. Logan seems to be getting tougher and more resilient with each year. We always remember specific events and are praying he gets to and through the end of March without an SVT episode. If we can keep fevers away we’re thinking we might be able to keep those SVT's away too. And, our goal is to not have to introduce another medication into his little system so the longer the periods between these (or never again); the less chance of having to do this!

Last week we entered a whole new world—orthodontics! We went to the acclaimed Dr. Jennifer Eisenhuth in Eagan and next week the boys are getting their own, personally designed expanders as we work to create space in their teeny little mouths. They’ll wear these for four months, take a little break and then get braces. Not a full mouth full but enough to help their teeth straighten and create healthy little mouths for years to come. I’ve always loved that the boys are rarely scared by going into new places and Dr. Eisenhuth’s office is so cool that they didn’t even want to leave and every step of the process was fun for them. We’re thankful for that and the excellent dental insurance Ben has to cover 50f what this new world will cost. Not cheap!

We need to get Logan in for a check up with his pulmonolgist and we’re set to see Dr. Lohr (cardiologist) in mid-March but Lord willing that’s it! We are waiting to hear back from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia re: the Single Ventricle Survivorship Program. If our insurance will assist in these costs and they can get us in, we’ll be making a road trip there during Ben’s spring break. We’re very interested in this opportunity and hopeful he can have another set of doctors with the goal of giving him the longest, best and most healthy life possible. More to come.

To end, I didn’t want to forget something that happened on NYE. We went to Chianti Grill and our waiter was one we’d had previously who the boys really liked. Toward the end of our meal our waiter came to the table and asked the boys to each give them five. They did but then Owen said, “What do you notice about my hand?” Curtis didn’t even notice his four fingers so Owen pointed it out. Then, Logan said, “And, look at this,” followed by him sharing his scar. We just love the boys are so confident and proud of themselves that they’re willing to share what makes them so very special. It’s really amazing and frankly, probably what makes me most proud to be their mom. They are truly something else.

As we head into this new year, we continue to feel so blessed knowing there are so many who continue to pray for us and think of us. We know we’re where we are because of so many.

The other day I saw a sign at a church. It read, “If God brings you to it, He’ll see you through it.” While our journey isn’t over we know that what He was brought to Ben and me that He has seen it through with us. What a blessing.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010 8:28 PM CST

What a day! Yesterday started like any other day--school, bus home, playtime, homework, dinner, shower, neb, snack and bedtime. Logan woke up about 1am from a bad dream and then again at 3am. I was able to coax him back to sleep each time but he then woke again around 4am and I suspected he was sick. Sure enough, he threw up but went right back to sleep. Felt his head and it was normal so we did too. 20 minutes later, he threw up again. This time, Ben helped him and he told Daddy his heart was beating fast. Sure enough, it was. Ben came in to tell me and my heart sunk. Again? Why? What does this mean long term? So many thoughts running through my mind and I think mostly because of our experience in March when the "normal" treatment of cardioverting (electricity shock) didn't work.

We then followed our routine--called the peds cardiologist on call, got dressed and presentable, packed Logan's bag with some of his favorite things and got out the door. Logan threw up once in the car but thankfully, Ben had a big bowl on Logan's lap so we avoided a stinky mess.

We arrived at the U of M at 5:25 and were escorted right into the ER where theyhooked him up right away. A fast heartrate, he indeed had--241 beats per minute. His usual is 80-120, in fact we couldn't get our hearts to beat that fast if we tried. Crazy to think it can do this on its own. Docs did labs (BP= 115/80, O2= 84Temp=101.7), got an EKG and chest X-ray. After only about 20 minutes we were up in the PICU for the likely plan of cardioverting but not final. Before I left the house Ben said to make sure they treated the fever first and maybe that would help. What a smart guy.

The docs treated him with Tylenol and Motrin with the thinking that if they could control the fever that the SVT might resolve or make cardioverting more successful. They also added a beta blocker called Esmolol thinking that if they could control the endorphins sending messages to his heart that would help too. Within 15 minutes of the IV drug starting, Logan changed. Got really irritable and anxious, his lips got Angelina Jolie-like puffy and blue, his sats dropped to 60 and so on. Clearly, something was up. They stopped it soon after and while it took a little bit, he was much calmer and more back to normal (sans heart rate within about 30 minutes). At this point, the docs felt maybe his heart wasn't tolerating the SVT as well as previous times so did want to cardiovert. They did another EKG to look at the P waves and still felt it was the right option. We did too. After all, in each of the previous four times it had worked 3 out of 4. Dr. Dorostkar, the electrophysiologist, felt it was worth a shot too but said, "Good luck, because I don't believe it'll work." Meantime, they did used Adenosine, mostly to gather information to see what was happening with the rhythm. After all, some of this has to be about learning/information gathering. Dr. Braunhlin, a wonderful peds cardiologist, who helped get him out of SVT in 2008 had wonderful recollections of the previous times and quickly went back to the records to determine how much electricity he had the last time (10 jewels, whatever that means) to determine what he needed this time (20 jewels). After two quick attempts--IT WORKED! We were so relieved. One second it was clipping along at 236 and then next it was 119. Praise the Lord. Dr. Braunhlin, in fact, looked at me and said "I felt that, your prayers worked."

Logan did have a drug called Propophol (think Michael Jackson). It's a fast acting sedative that relaxes everything. As a result he had to have some oxygen support and attention to his airway for about 10 minutes but came out of it okay. His blood pressure also dropped quite a bit down to the 50's over 30's but those too steadily rose. We were so blessed to have a wonderful, attentive and fast acting team of docs and nurses today.

By 12noon, Logan was playing on Daddy's computer, his sats were 86nd he was pretty and pink. The docs that came into his room were quite surprised by the difference. They discharged us from the PICU and we were home by 1:30. Took a nap and spent the rest of the day gratful for our blessings.

So...what does it mean? Dr. Dorostkar feels confident now that we know distress, in this case fever, is his trigger for this SVT/Atrial Tachycardia. Logan hasn't thrown up all day since this morning so did he really have the pukey flu? I'm guessing not but so what does that mean? Does he have to go on a new medication? At this point the answer is no but if this happens every time he gets a fever then probably. Maybe he gets a beta blocker/calcium channel blocker only seasonally when it's cold and flu season. All things yet TBD. We have our own research to do on this for answers. A lot of times, SVT causes vomiting but since we didn't listen to his heart right away, I don't know what came first--the chicken or the egg.

What we do know it means is we have to remember that he is so special. And Owen too. He went to school today like a brave boy but was clearly worried for his brother. They do like being together which is something we really cherish.

God was watching over us today and we're thankful for prayers today, tomorrow and always.

Our journey continues.

Thursday, November 4, 2010 10:32 PM CDT

Happy Fall!

While it seemed just a few weeks ago since our last post we realized it had been more than two months! Before the start of second grade, when we still had a few HOT days to enjoy the boat, before the leaves fell off the trees, before Halloween, etc. Thankfully, we don't have a whole ton to update but still, wish we could remember to do monthly updates vs. every other.

So, since our last post, we enjoyed the State Fair twice, had a few more cookouts, spent time with friends and family and the boys started second grade and have been doing just marvelously. Most impressive is their weekly spelling tests that they continue to get perfect scores on, including all of their extra credit words. They just love when they bring all of their various graded papers home and we go through them and say, "Zero Wrong," "Perfect Score," "One Wrong," "A+" etc. We can see the pride in their eyes and hope it continues to encourage and inspire them to keep working hard. We love listening to them read and in the mornings they like to hang with Mommy while I'm getting ready for work and have reading contests between the two of them. They think it's fun, I love listening to them and it makes mornings go much more smoothly than watching televsion (which we banned in the a.m.).

Owen had to get four teeth pulled in August and we might have noted that before but can't recall. Already his two little front teeth seem to be getting a bit less tangled but they'll still need a lot of help. We haven't made an apt. for Logan yet, maybe after Thanksgiving.

We got a call from Dr. Lohr at the beginning of October that she was getting pressure to get Logan's heart cath rescheduled. We made an apt to see her, have an EKG and echo done and get an overall idea of how he was doing. We were pretty adamant that unless something was dramatically different with his heart function that we wanted to wait until spring (like April or May) to have the cath done. As we've learned, the last place you want to be "electively" from Oct.- March is in the hospital. We were so thankful that his echo looked good, EKG was solid and overall heart function remained unchanged. Dr. Lohr agreed that she was comfortable waiting on the cath but she shared that we are getting to a point with Logan that we need to make sure the docs are doing/have done everything they can to make sure his heart is functioning as best it can, that he's getting the most amount of oxygenated blood, etc. The heart cath will provide the most realistic idea of that and closing the fenestration might be good for him if his pressures don't get too high.

Logan's growth is very slow these days, in fact Owen is about five inches taller, and Dr. Lohr did refer us to an endocronologist to see what/if anything he might recommend for Logan. Last thing we want is to have him go on a medication that may have long term implications but we're most certainly willing to listen. Our apt for that is end of January.

Grandma Linda found a program at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia called the "Single Ventricle Survivorship Program" and sent a link about it to me. I filled out the form and received a phone call from the nurse administator almost immediatley thereafter. We finally connected live this week and it's looking like the Bushaws will be making a trip to Philly over the boys' spring break. The SVSP has been designed to monitor/follow single ventricle kids like Logan and establish a protocal for their survivorship. They have a dedicated cardiologist who will follow the kids along with an endo, gi doc, pulmonolgist and radiologist. After reading the history of kids, they have them come do a whole bunch of tests to get a baseline and then will follow them once yearly through at least age 14. A couple of things they're seeing in single ventricle kids is the growth issues (like Logan's slowed growth), bone weakening, onset of PLE/protein losing enterothopy (bad), plastic bronchitis, etc. She said most cardiologists start referring their patients to other specialty docs but those docs look at issues from their lens and not with a filtered lens for cardiac kids. By having a singularly focused team, they can likely make stronger, more strategic recommendations with a better outcome. CHOP is a world renown hospital for peds cardiology and Dr. Lohr is thrilled that we have this opp for Logan. Our care for him would still occur at the U of M but CHOP would be a part of it and his future. Exciting and much more to come.

Should share that we had an army guy and Frankenstein for Halloween. They were awfully cute and enjoyed themselves so much. They really get along so well and frankly, don't fight as much as one would think two seven year old brothers would fight.

They started basketball last week and Ben is their coach, which makes them very cool, and Auntie Angie signed on as assistant coach. Their games will no doubt be humorous but we're glad they can have an activity to participate in that won't make us broke (hockey) or drive us insane with a schedule (hockey). Bless anyone who's kid/s play that game.

Winter will, no doubt, be busy busy once again. Ben starts coaching his varsity team end of November and at that point the boys will go to Kids Club and Grandma Linda's after school. This time of year is always a little overwhelming when it seems there just aren't enough hours in the day but then we remember how blessed we are to have these hours with our two amazing miracles and realize we'll take what we can get.

Happy fall.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010 4:45 PM CDT

Thursday, August. 26, 11am

Logan is clearly not meant to have this heart cath and EP study! After two reschedules due to the doctors availability in June and early July, we've had today's apt. on the books for six weeks. Logan came down with a cold after our trip up north last week but it had, for the most part, cleared up with just a lingering cough. We felt confident after his pre-op and apt with the EP doc on Friday that he was good to go with the procedure.

Grandpa Schroeder came to stay with Owen when we had to leave this morning at 6am and Logan had no problem getting up and heading to the joint.

We got checked in and Logan was coughing--as he usually does in the morning--but was super fine and in great spirits. O2's were in the low 80's. When Dr. Gruenstein came in (the doc doing the cath procedure) he expressed concern about how he sounded. The anethesiologist heard the same thing. Based on how it might impact the findings, possibly showing false results for his heart function, the doc was concerned to proceed. The anethesiologist expressed concern about the impact being on the breathing tube for so long could have on his lungs, possibly leading to pneumonia and real trouble requiring in patient stay with a ventilator for a while.

Ben and I felt okay at the start of the day about his procedure but knowing his lungs would take a hit really changed the game for us and we knew that there was no way we wanted to risk anything for Logan. After all, he's been doing dynamite since March minus a cold here and there.

We all agreed to postpone the procedure again. This time, indefinitely. We do know we'll gain valuable information from this and possibly some benefits for Logan but with the seasons changing, more illnesses in the air and lots of crud at the hospital we figure we might as well wait. Lord willing, we'll have no SVT issues this winter and he can continue on the great track he's been on for so long.

Oh, interesting to note--Dr. Regelmann, the pulmonolgist, came in to see us afterward and listened to Logan. He said his lungs sounded pretty baseline with some extra secretions. Ben and I are pretty sure that, had he listened to Logan beforehand, the docs probably would have felt comfortable enough to proceed with the procedure.

To us, this is God at work and knowing what is best for Logan. We find such comfort in that even while we might have some disppointment that we won't be getting any answers today.

Grandma Linda has expressed her concern with "why mess with Logan when he's doing so terrific." Apparently, her gut was tracking with the Big Man. :)

Hopefully, fall and winter will only bring good things and health for our entire family.

Many thanks to all who are praying for us.





Wednesday, August 25, 2010 4:45
On Monday Owen got four teeth out. All in one appointment. Didn't seem to bother him a bit and the tooth fairy brought him $4. He couldn't have been happier.

On Thursday Logan has his heart procedure—a heart catherization and electrophysiology study. I don't think there's a heart fairy that comes for being brave and if she did, she'd never be able to leave enough money.

In any case, we've got two uber brave boys and are so proud of both of them.

Back to Logan's appointment -- we have to be at the U of M at 6:20 for the 8:20 procedure. The hope is to improve his heart function by making his little “escape hatch” that allows blue blood and red blood to mix a little smaller. This would give him higher oxygen saturation in his blood (reminder, we have 100xygen saturation in our blood and he has about 80 They’re also looking to see if they can find the trigger that sets his heart into the SVT mode—super fast heartrate—and ablate it. Closing the escape hatch is contingent on if they can ablate the fast cell. There's a small chance we'll also get Dr. Regelmann, pulmonologist, in to take a quick peek at Logan's lungs, bronchial tubes, trachea, etc. as well to see how his malacia is looking and if there are signs of improvement here. That's still up in the air. It's all complicated, we know, but this is our gift named Logan.

He'll be under anethesia for up to/over six hours and we’ll be chillin’ overnight at the U with the goal of scooting before 12noon on Friday.

We'll update tomorrow with how things go and request your prayers that this goes well and that Logan's precious little heart can last a long time yet.

Thursday, August 12, 2010 8:54 PM CDT

We have been loving every minute of summer. From weekends on the boat with friends, to lazy days with Ben and boys hitting Cascade Bay to chilin' at home playing with our beloved Ali and Ty to staring at Xbox. It's been a great summer of fun, relaxing, playing and living.

We're headed to Auntie Meeshell's cabin (Brad and Linda Clifford's, actually) this weekend followed by a few days at a cabin with just the four of us. We look forward to one last get away before summer's over and school starts again.

We're preparing for two upcoming procedures:
Aug. 23 = Owen's first round of teeth pulling
Aug. 26 = Logan's heart catherization

Both will be big deals. I mean, who likes to get teeth pulled? As with most procedures, we're playing it all pretty cool with the boys and simply letting them know they have a dentist apt and a heart check up. No reason to offer up more info than necessary and create anxiety.

Owen knows he gets a prize when he does a good job at the dentist so there's his motivation and Logan knows that if he has an early a.m. apt that he gets a sleepover in Mommy & Daddy's bed so it's a good payoff in his eyes too.

Once we get a little closer we will share a little more with Logan but again, only enough so he's not completely taken by surprise.

He will be under anethesia for up to or more than six hours in order for the docs to gather all of the info they need. Not sure if we've shared before but ultimately, the docs want to close his fenestration (the little escape hatch if he's got too much pulmonary pressure) in order to provide more oxygenated blood through his system--he's in the low 80's and if they could close it he could be in the low 90's. But, since he had the most recent SVT (high heart rate), we're going to have Dr. Dworstkar, the electrophysiologist, investigate the cause. This means she has to put him into an SVT, which is pretty scary to think about. We will be seeing her on Aug. 20 so that we can understand what she's doing more clearly, the risks, etc., and also so that she can see the amazing young chap that Logan is. When she met him the first time, he was in an SVT with a 260 heartbeat per minute state. Even when we left he was definitely not himself so it's important for our own well-being for her to see exactly who he is and who he better be when the procedure is all done.

We hope to gain a real understanding of how Logan's ticker is doing and an idea of what the docs think about his current state and future prognosis. As Grandma Linda asks, "why can't they just leave him alone, he's doing so well." We tend to agree but we also know that knowledge is power and will only help us determine how to make the best plans for his continued thriving future.

He'll likely stay over night so we'll be home Aug. 27. Somehow, someway, we've got to get our annual trip to the State Fair in before school starts on Sept. 1. So much to do and so not enough time.

We welcome any and all prayers for Logan and Owen as we approach these dates. CaringBridge becomes so important on days like these, knowing people are checking in, finding out what to pray for and lifting us up when we're a little nervous and scared.

Until then--and immediately after then--we'll enjoy these last dog days of summer, even with this ridiculous heat.

Friday, July 9, 2010 3:34 PM CDT

Happy belated seventh birthday, Owen and Logan!

Much like the rest of our day-to-day life, we're a little late in writing your annual birthday note but it doesn't mean we haven't been meaning to, thinking about it or starting it...no, simply just that the business of life gets in the way.

Can you believe you're seven? We can't. Maybe five but not seven. These years have passed so quickly. It's hard to remember much of anything except the good things.

You both had a wonderful year of being six and it was pretty uneventful too. What a blessing to have come so far. Most people who meet you for the first time have no idea of the miracles each of you are. In many ways, that makes us so happy because you're seemingly normal little chaps but there is another part of us that thinks everyone should know how miraculous you and how good God has been to our family.

You're both a lot like your Mommy...total chatterboxes and flirts. Yet, you're also like your Daddy...good athletes, focused and laid back. We hope that blend has big dividends as you continue to grow.

So we remember, we'll note that you had a super birthday. You woke up to your room's both full of streamers and balloons, you went to Bible School, had lunch with us and Grandma Linda (Gpa Randy was traveling) at our favorite place El Loro, spent time at MOA going on lots of rides and topped off with a fabulous party at Grand Slam with your classmates. Talk about a full day.

Your summer so far has been F-U-N! Our Fourth of July was spent with Ali and Ty, including watching fireworks in the boat in our cul-de-sac. How funny was that! This coming week we get to see Auntie Amanda on our annual drive to Chicago and then you get to have your first basketball camp with Daddy. Won't that be exciting. Just know Daddy won't play any favorites. Work hard.

Hopefully, we'll get down to Austin to see G G Behn and GG Behn before summer is over and we might take a trip up north again too. After that, school (SECOND GRADE) will be already be here but not before the State Fair. We love the State Fair.

Oh, Logan--we moved your heart cath, didn't we? We're still waiting on the date but getting two docs together on the same day is no east feat. We also have to take you, Owen, to the doc in a couple of weeks so he can make sure every part of you is in its proper place. You probably want me to note how big you were at your seven year checkup so here you go:

Owen: 51 lbs, 49 1/2 inches
Logan: 45 lbs, 45 1/2 inches

Yes, some people like to note that one of you is taller than the other but as we told you when you asked why you were smaller than the others: " You'd rather be a little smaller and a lot nicer and smarter than taller, dumb and mean." Don't forget that.

Hmm, what else should we make note of for you boys. Oh, Logan, you lost your other front tooth making you front top toothless. A good look for you. Owen, you keep asking the best questions like, "What were Adam and Eve's last name?" and both of you are actually starting to do chores around the house, pick up after yourselves and listen. Who ever knew this day would come.

We love you boys so much and continue to be so proud of you. We hope your year as seven year olds is even better than the year before.

LOVE,
MOMMY & DADDY

Sunday, May 30, 2010 10:00 PM CDT

Update post: June 2
We've rescheduled Logan's cath to July 8 as we're going to have some extra studies done on the electrophysiology of his ticker. This requires the original doc--Dr. Gruenstein and the electro doc--Dr. Dwarstkar. Getting two docs of this caliber to have matching schedules is no easy feat.

More to come as we get closer.




Original post: May 30
Considering I just spent 45 minutes on an update and went to copy it just to be safe and instead deleted the entire entry without the undo button, this will be an abbreviated version of our lives during the past month, in chronological order.

May 7
The Bushaw house went on the market. We're hoping to build in Apple Valley which will get us closer to boys' school, closer to my G G Schroeder's in case of emergency and give us the chance to build a house exactly the way we'd like it...white kitchen and open floor plan here we come (provided our house sells which, if we didn't have 35E behind our house would have already sold.) Wish us luck.

May 9
Mommy traveled to Florida for work so we spent the day before with Grandma Linda and Ben and the boys went to Austin on Mother's Day to see Great Grandma Enid and Grandma Kathy (and Grandpas too). We wish that we could spend the day with Grandma Debbie too. Geez, we miss her so very, very much.

May 10-May 21
The Bushaw boys had a bug hit them. Logan missed three days of school and Owen missed four. Ben got the bug too but was able to go to school. He also lost 12 lbs and right or wrong, looks great. :) Logan also had to go to the pediatrician on May 21 b/c of a bad cold/feve. The doc treated him for pneumonia and the antibiotic worked like a charm.

During this time, Owen called me into his room one night after I'd tucked him back into bed. He wanted me to pray with him that he would get better. It was one of my proudest moments to date as a Mommy. While he might lose tickets every day for his constant yapping, at least we know we're raising a boy who understands the reasons we pray and knows WHO to go to always.

May 27
Logan had to go the ER for a big cut on the side of his head from his brother who accidentally hit him with an aluminum tennis racket. Three staples later and Logan was no worse for the wear. We can't quite figure why the extra lousy stuff always seems to happen to him but thank goodness he's such a champ.

June 4
The boys will wrap up school this Friday. What joy to know they've made it through first grade so successfully. They're the youngest kids in first grade and have done just a stellar job this year. While we know challenges with maturity may creep up every now and again they are super smart and second grade bound. Way to go boys!

June 18
Logan is scheduled for his heart catherization. His first since summer 2008. This will help us to understand the true function of his heart and what they might be able to do-if anything-to improve his oxygenated blood. We aren't willing to screw anything up though so prayers are very welcome for this not-without-risk procedure. We also plan to have Dr. Dworstkar study the electric physiology of his heart (based on his SVT in March). If she's unavailable that day, the procedure will be bumped. We're praying it can stay as planned so we can get on with every minute of summer.

June 23
The boys turn seven!!

We know every day with the boys is a gift and are so blessed to have made it to this point. We know God must have big plans for our boys and we're simply so proud of all they've accomplished in their little lives to date.

This shortened version covered the same info as the long one so maybe this is the way to go in the future too...

Enjoy each day.

Sunday, April 25, 2010 8:21 AM CDT

Finally, an update...one might think we're still in Florida but alas, Florida came and went and so it seems Logan's misfortune before our trip. Praise God!

Our trip was simply wonderful and we feel so blessed we had the opportunity to go. From the time we arrived, each day was better and better for Logan. Owen was a real champ too.

Our days in Bonita Springs were spent mostly at the pool. The boys went miniature golfing with Grandpa Randy and Daddy and one day the girls went outlet mall shopping (fun!) We spent a bit of time at the beach but the boys didn't play in the water because, like most of Florida's winter, it was especially chilly and windy by the water. Next time we go hopefully the weather will be more cooperative. Nevertheless the boys had fun walking along the shore and looking for shells.

We left our condo on Tuesday afternoon and made the drive to Orlando. The seven of us fit comfortably in the mini van and it was a fun drive.

On Wednesday we all made the trip to Walt Disney World. We got a park hopper and spent time at Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom. Logan had a heart monitor he had to wear that tranmitted via a mobile phone and while we had the stroller for him we opted to rent a wheelchair so he'd be more comfortable and make things a little easier. As such, we got a guest disability pass which allowed us a little quicker access to some rides/attractions. (No complaints from us since instead of having to wait 90 minutes for the Peter Pan ride, we were on in 20!)

When we were at Hollywood Studios a few years ago the boys were mesmorized by the Star Wars thing where you could be a Jedi-in-training and fight Darth Vadar. It was a must on our list this year and while we thought both boys would do it, Logan was too apprenhensive but Owen was a rock star. He did such a great job and fought Darth with all his might. We know it's a fun memory he'll have forever.

One of our funniest moments happened when Owen and I were standing in a line for an autograph from Lilo and Stitch while Ben and Logan were in the gift shop. Owen had started a conversation with the boy behind him a little earlier and once Logan left (but the wheelchair was still with us), Owen turned to the little boy and said, "we don't really need this wheelchair, we just have it so we get on rides faster." I was mortified but totally chuckled. I didn't even bother explaining to the parents.

Our first night ended with the parade and fireworks at Magic Kingdome. It was a super day followed by another great day on Thursday when just Ben, the boys and I went to Epcot and back to Magic Kingdom. I hadn't been to Epcot in 17 years and wow, it was SO cool. We had a ball there and the boys got to go on a secret "Kim Possible Mission," which they loved. We headed back to Magic Kingdom for a super quick trip to Buzz Lightyear where the boys got to go on two times in a row--they loved it.

We ended our Disney experience with a night at Downtown Disney. Such fun. We definitely know we need more time at each park on our next trip but regardless, it was such a marvelous time.

On Wednesday, April 14 Logan had a follow up apt with Dr. Lohr. It was terrific! His EKG was great and all of his vitals were too. He didn't have an echo but Dr. Lohr was so pleased with his recovery. At one point I said, this experience was another example of the miracle Logan is and she agreed saying there's no other way to explain it. We are just so thankful he's been able to thrive and rebound from these obstacles. Sure makes us stop and count our blessings.

Next steps for Logan are a heart cath in June--even more important now than ever. It wlll likely take place the week after their seventh birthday (June 23).

School is winding down and the boys will be playing baseball this summer, taking golf lessons and maybe tennis too. What wonderful things to look forward to.

Funny story to have on record as this post ends...

Last night we were at our friends' new home in Edina. The boys were playing with their son in the play fort (a storage space under the stairs with chalkboard paint). When we went downstairs to check on them they were having such a good time. I noticed the boys had made lots of nice crosses and had even written, "Jesus rose from the dead." We were so proud of our little evangelists!! The only problems were 1)they wrote this all on the non-chalkboard part of the walls and 2)our friends happen to be Jewish.

Even still, makes our hearts awfully proud to see that although they may not always listen to us, they know the real message and want to share it. Go boys!

Friday, March 26, 2010 8:59 AM CDT

Hoping this is the final post related to this unexpected event for our sweet Logan. The good news is it ends with Logan being released from the hospital on Wednesday at about 1pm and our family making it to Florida!

We were scheduled to fly out on Wednesday at 5:45pm and while Logan was doing well in the hospital after his heart went back to normal rythym, it definitely felt too soon and too much for Logan to handle (and all of us). I called Air Tran from the hospital on Wednesday morning and it just so happened (I call that God luck) there was one flight left Thursday morning. AirTran, thankfully, waived the cost difference of tickets, which would have been more than $1400.

We got on the 6am flight Thursday morning and arrived about 11:30. Yesterday was a good day and Logan keeps improving hour by hour. We're really looking forward to this vacation and it really does have a different feel to it just knowing how far Logan has come in such a short time.

There were some interesting events that happened between our last post and this and for our sake of journaling and knowing what happened, here goes...

Logan's day on Tuesday and particularly Tuesday night were tough. It turns out that the high dosage of medication he receieved was poisoning him--literally toxic to his system. It explains all of his adverse and rare side effects, including the constant vomiting, weakness, nausea, etc.

At about 2am Wednesday he woke up screaming in his bed (I was lying next to him) and he was completely disoriented, his eyes were in neverland and he couldn't talk--his speech was slurred and he couldnt communicate with me. It was as if he instantly turned into a brain challenged three year old. I simply cannot explain the fear I felt at that moment except to say I've only felt that way three other times with him.

It lasted about 10 minutes before he went back to sleep but was really restless and pretty uncommunicative the rest of the night. Long story short, after doing my own research online following this event, I learned this episode was likely the most adverse side effect found in only .5f those taking that drug.

He improved greatly on Wednesday as the day progresed and eating helped a lot. The docs did a heart echo, chest x-Ray and pulmonary test Wednesday morning and we were given clearance to head home with an event monitor that's attached to his chest and will regularly send heart readings bia a special phone throughout our trip.

Logan had definitely reached his capacity too saying, "Mommy, how do I get out of this place!"

On Wednesday after we got home he took a good nap but woke up moaning and was pretty lethargic and unhappy. He did eat dinner and after, we gave the boys a shower and put him on the scale. He weighed 47.8lbs-up 3.5lbs since we were admitted. He was so heavy!! His tummy has hugely distended and I was growing worried about potential issues with his kidneys (based on what I learned). I called the peds cardiology fellow and we talked for a while. Turns out he had received 1.5 liters of fluids to keep him hydrated (dehydration is bad for the heart), which explains the weight gain and puffiness. But because he still had good urine output, he felt comfortable with us still leaving. We monitored him all night and made the decision to move forward.

The plane ride was uneventful and Logan rested comfortably. Both boys were so well behaved from start to finish and once we arrived in Florida we had a different boy. Our place is gorgeous, Amanda arrived safely and the boys took 4 hour naps yesterday and slept great last night. Again today, Logan is much improved and we know each day will keep getting better.

We leave Bonita Springs on Tuesday and drive to Orlando for two days at Disneyworld. By then, I think he'll really be about back to normal and hopefully able to enjoy every aspect of Disney's magic.

Onward and upward we go.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010 11:13 PM CDT

It's true--Logan has been out of SVT since 1:20pm and at about 4pm, the doc said "he's officially back to his normal rhythm." It really was a view to my eyes and a spark to my own heart this afternoon when his monitor alarm went off and showed a heartrate of 77. But, admittedly I was really scared that it wouldn't stay there given the previous 30+ hours.

Logan has stayed there and right now looks like this:
Heart rate: 91
O2: 82%
BP: 93/55
Respiratory rate:

Additionally, with the Procainamide and other medication out of his system, his vomitting has stopped and he's been able to keep things down. What blessings. The doc said we can blame what transpired over the past 26 hours on the poison (her words not mine) he got. Though not really a poison and actually very, very effective under the right circumstances, Logan simply couldn't tolerate it. At least I know the kid will likely be drug free as he grows up considering he just doesn't do well them. :)

G+G Schroeder brought Owen up again tonight for a visit and Owen looked at the monitors and said, "it looks like his health is getting better." We do have to remember that he's affected by these situations too. We're blessed that G+G were able to help with him once again and make sure he felt loved when we were caring for Logan. At one point he did grab Logan's hand and squeezed it. I didn't draw attention to it but it was pretty touching.

So now what? Well, I did agree to humor the doc (her words not mine) and allow Logan to begin receiving an oral beta blocker called Atenolol. More than anything as a hoped protector in case the "fizzies" want to come back, which she thinks is very, very unlikely given his fever is gone and all of his symptoms are changed. We'll still plan the heart cath in June but Dr. Lohr, his primary cardiologist is now less likely to want to close his fenestration since it could cause higher pulmonary pressures, which can trigger SVT's. Logan has a very, very finely tuned body and upsetting his apple cart can be very, very bad. We'll see what ultimately is decided in June but we might have to get more used to people saying insensitive things like, "he must have just ate something blue" or "Logan's the bluer one." Weighing the risk of higher pressures or lower oxygen (meaning more blue in the lips and fingertips) is what they have to figure out. We feel very lucky to have received really, really good care with this visit. I still think I would like to be taken more seriously with my suggestions but that will always be a work in progress--fighting the parent vs. doctor role.

What about Florida? Well, the plan is that we'll be discharged in the morning provided nothing crazy happens tonight and we'll play tonight and tomorrow by ear. Logan has made remarkable improvements today (a lot more than even I expected) but he's a bit tired and we obviously won't make any hasty decisions just to get down there as scheduled. If needed, we'll give him an extra day and book a new flight for Thursday or Saturday. Lord willing, we will feel comfortable enough to get on that flight and enjoy the family vacation we have been hoping for. If not, we'll accept, adapt and move on to plan B but I'm pretty optimistic.

Apparently, someone in way more in control than we are wanted to remind us that Logan is one doggone special little boy. We've been able to get really, really comfortable with his overall health and status quo but realistically, and obviously, his well being can change in an instant. Much as I didn't want to be reminded in this way, it defintitely gives me a renewed perspective on the blessings we've been given and the job we have as parents to take amazing care of Logan and Owen.

On a separate note, as a parent with a frequent flyer membership to this place and as the chairperson of the Parent Advisory Board at the U of M, this stay was an opportunity to see the progress that has been made since Logan's last visit in 2006 and how the teams are working together to ensure great care for kids. Trust us, we know others haven't been as fortunate. When the new hospital opens on March 27, 2011 it will really be an amazing day. Hopefully our visits will continue to be very infrequent and never life threatening.

To end, I could literally feel God's arms around me today and the power of prayer when Logan's heart rate went back down, particularly because the doc said it was very unlikely to just go back to normal. We're so grateful for the love, care, support and prayers of so many...family, friends, colleagues, fellow church members and strangers. Our journey has been and will continue to be long and we are blessed beyond measure.

Monday, March 22, 2010

We're often reminded that our plans aren't always God's plans and today is no exception.

We've been planning on leaving for our trip to Florida on Wednesday for months with G G Schroeder and Auntie Amanda. The trip includes seven days in Bonita Beach and two days at Disney. We're still planning to go and get on some roller coasters but today we're on a much different roller coaster.

Logan woke up at 3 am with the puke flu and kept puking until about 5:30ish when I went to check on him at 6:20 his heart rate was sky high. I couldn't even count that fast. I knew immediately it was an SVT and we called ahead to the U of M. After three unsuccessful attempts with Addenisine an three unsuccessful attempts at
cardioverting, Logan was admitted to the PICU for a drug, Procanamide
We had the SVT down for part of the afternoon but it's crept back up as of 3:30. (Though thankfully not as high.) It's been hanging at 205 for the several hours so they just added a new drug, Esmolol to hopefully partner and bring it down. Right now he's at 175. It's obvious he has a bug and now we just need to stabilize the electricity in his ticker.

We wonder what's the right thing to do...push more drugs into him or try cardioversion again. That's the proactive parents we've become-- always ask for why's--if nothing else to keep conversation open.

We will be here overnight, maybe longer, and hopefully they'll get it figured out and he'll be stabilized very soon. Essentially, his heart has been working in overdrive aerobic capacity for almost 12 hours.

By the grace of God his other vitals have remained very stable, blood pressure, oxygen saturation levels, respiratory rate.

We knew about our boys' issues before they came into this world and have been so blessed. We're just praying the blessings will continue.

We are still hoping and praying we an make this trip happen. It certainly would be even more special now than ever!!

Monday, March 22, 2010

Update: Tuesday, March 23, 2:20 pm

A BIG step forward
Well, I'm optimistic that this is good and lasting positive news. At 1:20pm Logan's heartrate went from 144 to 70 just like that. It would appear his little ticker has come out of its tachycardia. :). Doesn't mean it won't jump back but it hasn't been in this range in at least 32 hours and we're approaching the one hour mark.

Mommy intuition was telling me that these overpowering drugs were making him more sick especially with the constant throwing up but when I asked to change to nothing and see how he'd do I got a medical rationale of why we shouldn't. (I respected this but it still didn't sit right.)

He is still super sleepy and lethargic and not hungry yet but his overall appearance is much, much better and I'm optimistic we're on a positive road.

Very much still welcome your prayers.

Natalie


Updated Post: March 23, 8:20am

Good Morning,
Sweet Logan had a bit of a rough night. Lots of throwing up except there wasn't anything to throw up. I don't think he slept for more than 40 minutes in one stretch. Thankfully, his other vitals stayed stable. His heartrate has been hanging btn 140-160 all night and the docs feel it's an acceptable range (still not desireable but better than 240 from yesterday).

Because of his constant nausea and throwing up we are changing his med this morning. It still might not bring it back to normal but may be acceptable enough to go home tomorrow. And I told them we ARE leaving for Florida tomorrow at 5:45pm so they need to have it all figured out!

He continues to be a rock star and so super sweet and brave.
Wish us luck.
Natalie

Updated post: March 22, 10pm

Turns out the tachycardia that Logan has is about the most difficult to treat and figure out. ROTTEN LUCK! The two drug cocktail is very, very slowly working and frankly, may or may not be the trick. Cardioverting again (which we thought might be the right solution) isn't the best answer because it might add fuel to the fire. The other option is a really tough drug called Ameroteron (I'm too tired to spell check) with bad side effects. This was a drug we talked about a few years ago and it scared the crap out of us.

The doctor explained it really well to us...think of a can of pop that you start to open and it wants to fizz out...we try to stop the fizz but it still comes up like it has a mind of its own and it takes a while to go flat. Environment, closing the lid again or pure length of time is all that will make it go flat. It kind of seems to be where we're at.

As for why he went into this to begin with (since it hasn't happened since March 2008) is anyone's guess. He clearly was coming down with a bug and every piece might have been in just the right order to create the perfect storm (SVT). But as for why it's not coming back to normal rhythm? The doc said it's got a huge vegenance and they have to keep trying to get it down.

It's 10pmish and he seems to be getting back to a normal sinus rhythm and it was hanging in the 120's but definitely keeps jumping to the 140s, 150s or 160s. Hard to figure out.

We're certainly looking for prayers for Logan. While he can tolerate a heartrate of this for a while, it does impact his heart function to some degree and we really, really need this heart to work as long as possible. And we mean like a good 20 years.

-----------------------------------


Original post: March 22, 6pm
We're often reminded that our plans are not always God's plans and today is no exception.

We've been planning on leaving for our trip to Florida this week for months with G G Schroeder and Auntie Amanda. The trip includes seven days in Bonita Beach and two days at Disney. We're still hoping to go and get on some roller coasters but today we're on a much different roller coaster.

Logan woke up at 3 am with the pukey flu and kept puking until about 5:30ish. When I went to check on him at 6:20 his heart rate was sky high. I couldn't even count that fast. I knew immediately it was an SVT and we called ahead to the U of M. After three unsuccessful attempts with Addenisine and three unsuccessful attempts at
cardioverting, Logan was admitted to the PICU for a drug, Procanamide.

We had the SVT down for part of the afternoon but it's crept back up as of 3:30. Since it's been hanging at 205ish for several hours the docs just added a new drug, Esmolol, to hopefully partner and bring it down. Right now he's at 175. In addition to the SVT it's obvious he has a bug and now we just need to stabilize the electricity in his ticker.

We'ver certainly become proactive parents and always ask for the why's --if nothing else, it keeps conversation open and ensures we're in the game with the team.

We will be here overnight, and likely to Wednesday. Hopefully they'll get it figured out and he'll be stabilized very soon. Essentially, his heart has been working in overdrive aerobic capacity for almost 12 hours.

The cardiologist managing his time here is Dr. Parvin Dowarstkar. Just so happens (well, not really) that her speciality is EPS or electropysiology. She came to the U of M from Toronto 16th months ago as the lead EPS cardiolgist. To us, that's God's work at hand and we're thankful for that.

By the grace of God his other vitals have remained very stable, blood pressure, oxygen saturation levels, respiratory rate.

We knew about our boys' issues before they came into this world and have been so blessed. We're just praying the blessings will continue.

We are still hoping and praying we an make this trip happen. It certainly would be even more special now than ever!!

Thursday, November 5, 2009 10:36 PM CST

It's November? Oh me oh my, yet again. This fall has flown by. The boys are definitely in a great rhythm with school and our mornings are going much better than the start of the year. I've had to explain to the boys on many days that this is a partnership and we're in it together. One day, after a particularly challenging morning, I was pretty mad and trying to explain to the kids in the car why I need their help and when it doesn't happen why Mommy can get pretty crabby. I then asked the boys if they understood what I was trying to tell them. Owen said yes and that he needed to listen better. Logan, on the other hand, replied to my question of "Logan, what does this mean to you?" with "Well, I guess what it means is that when Ali and I get married that we ARE NOT going to have kids." I was dying in the car and it was the mood lightener I needed to have a much better day.

At the end of September Logan tried on H1N1 for size. He didn't like it and neither did mommy. It was a bit worrisome but we were able to keep the fever below 101.8. Tamiflu seemed to help and he was back at school after three days. Unfortunately, he was back at school for one week and in the middle of the night on Oct. 19 he woke up with a horrible cough and another bad fever. I got him in right away and the little tiger had pneumonia (right lung, lower lobe). Owen came home from school that Monday looking peaked, hacking like mad and also warm. Turns out, he also had pneumonia. Ben and I swapped out the week with work best we could and then I got an eye infection on my cornea (not pink eye). It was a lousy week at the Bushaws but once again we stayed out of the joint and that's a huge feat for us. Both boys were on Omnicef. Seemed okay on their tummy and we're glad for that.

Logan was able to get his H1N1 vaccination--he got shot one on Oct. 26 and will get his booster next week. He's been on Tamiflu as a prophalaxyis and will be until the second shot. We sure hope the docs know what they're doing with this H1N1 business. It is scary to see some of the tragedies that have happened and we hope the boys can stay mostly healthy the balance of the winter.

Moving on to Halloween, we had an army guy (Owen) and a ninja (Logan). After six years of loving blue Logan has decided his favorite colors are red and black so he was pleased as punch when he found the ninja costume. Owen was to be a transformer but on the day of the Fall Festival at church he put his costume on and it was short and snug. Picture Michael Phelps in his swim outfit with the pants. This kid is TALL! The boys had a ball trick or treating and Ben and I decided to go as marshmallows using some old painting outfits. G & G Schroeder helped hand out candy for the fifth year so we could all go out together. What fun!

We're excited to go to school conferences next week. The boys LOVE Mrs. Britton and their classmates and we love seeing them learn new things. Frankly, we're a bit blown away and surprised by their reading and math skills. Impresive and makes a mommy and daddy pretty proud.

Can't wait to share the holidays with friends and family. And, we'll do a better job of updating throughout the season too.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009 8:51 PM CDT

Saturday, September 12, 7:40am
Given the great interest in the H1N1, I thought we'd report that we experienced it our house this week! Owen got sick on Sunday (as I mention below)and didn't go back to school until Friday. We took him to the pediatrician Tuesday and there was a possibility of H1N1 but the white blood count was on the low side of normal (just under 3,000 and normal is 3,000-10,000). The doc didn't do the nasal swab b/c it had been more than 36 hours since symptoms started. I had to call the doc back on Wednesday when he broke out in a rash on his back. At that time, the doc said if the rash stayed on his back in the next eight hours than yep, count on it as H1N1. His fever finally broke about 6:30am Thursday. Mommy had to stay home from work all week and whle not great to miss three days of work it was nice to have some QT with Owen, something we rarely ever have. Thus far, Logan has remained a-okay and we're praying that continues. Also, interestingly, given how Owen acted during the week, this flu hit him pretty mildly. Sans the fever, sore throat, neck and rash, he avoided the body aches that made my experience with Influenza B a couple years ago so blasted miserable. We're thankful if he had to get it that it was mild.

____________________________________



Tuesday, September 8, 8:51pm
Where did the summer go? It's been two months since our last post and the boys are already back at school. Oh me oh my. Let's start from the most recent and work our way back to July this time...

The boys started school on September 2 and did a terrific job on the first day. Such big boys. Owen shows no concern with us leaving him alone but Logan has been dealing with some anxiety issues when it comes to being without Mommy or Daddy since Vacation Bible School. As a result, we were a little hesitant with how he'd do at school but he was amazing the first day. He did ask his teacher after lunch the following, "how much of this day do I have left, anyway?" She replied a couple of hours and he exclaimed, "A couple of hours? Geez, I'm kinda missin' my Mommy right about now."

Their second day was a little tough and he's certainly figured out how to get us to stay by simply saying, "Wait, I have to tell you something?" What if it's earth shattering? We can't hardly ignore the kid...or can we? We have had to get a a little creative about responding to that statement and it does seem to help. There weren't a ton of tears but enough to leave me sad I had to go. Grandma Linda picked them up after school and Mrs. Britton informed her he'd cut a hole in his shirt (he couldn't resist those new shiny scissors in his desk, I guess). While at first he denied doing such a thing to his teacher he quickly recalled that he might have cut a small hole to test out the scissors. When Grandma asked him about it later in the day he said that he "got a little hot in class and needed to get some air on his chest." Try to be stern with a straight face after hearing that line. Not easy.

Friday was pretty decent, in fact no tears and today (Tuesday) was actually quite good considering Owen couldn't go to school as he came down with something Sunday. High fever, sore throat, sore neck, bit of a tummy ache. H1N1?! We took him to the pediatrician today and nope, not that. Strep throat? Nope, that rapid test came back negative too. Probably just one of the many bugs floating around said his doc. We're hoping, of course, that Logan keeps clear of it, although it'd be a miracle considering they're always so close to one another.

The month of August was filled with a trip to Izatys with G G Schroeder and Auntie Amanda. We had a great time swimming, boating and playing at this great place Mom found for us to stay on Lake Mille Lacs. Unfortunately, the fish were no where to be found but at least the boys caught a couple each--even if they were from the dock rather than the new boat. We spent a little time golfing too and I think Owen and Logan could be quite the golfers. Grandpa Randy was a good golf pro during our time up there. Right after that trip, we headed down to Austin to celebrate summer birthdays with G G Behn and families. The boys love getting together with everyone and playing, jumping, swimming, etc. Good old fashion kid stuff. I think it'll be a new tradition and a pretty good way to make certain we celebrate everyone's special day at the same time.

August is never complete without a trip to the State Fair. We love and hate everything about the fair but it's a tradition I remember dearly since I was little and my dad would take Andrea and me. Sometimes Grandpa and Grandma Behn would come, sometimes just us, but I love those memories and hope the boys will too. And, like I remember my dad at the fair when I was a kid, I now often get annoyed by the crowds and the boys' behavior but isn't that what the great Minnesota get together is all about?

Zoos, parks, friends, etc....all filled summer days and nights.

July was super fun as we took a road trip to Chicago to see Auntie Amanda. Our Saturn Outlook really does comfortably seat six so the drive was a breeze, particularly for my mom and me since we read magazines and chatted the whole time. The boys did great in the car and we split the trip up into two days with an overnight stop in Madison. Note to us: we know we'll never stay in a hotel on a vacation. Rental homes are the only way to go. One night was plenty in a hotel for Owen and Logan, active little buggers can't stay in one spot, let alone a contained space for too long.

Our weather turned out great in Chicago even though the forecast was for way cool and cloudy. We visited the Shedd Aquarium, Navy Pier, my beloved Macy's on State Street and more. 2 days passes really quickly and we need more time next summer but we love seeing Auntie Amanda and we know she loves having family company.

The following July weekend was spent up at the Clifford cabin. When Michelle's mom and dad bought the cabin there was no Aaron and no kids. Eight years later, Auntie Meeshell has a hubby and two kids and we've got the boys. Lucky for us, the boys can now entertain themselves--those first years up at their cabin were awfully tough to have much fun but now we can enjoy everyone's company and even relax a bit. We look forward to our trip next year too (provided we get a repeat invitation!).

And that was summer. As the saying goes, every year passes by more quickly than the year before. We loved our time together and again watching the boys grow and thrive. Minus this recent illness with Owen, neither one has been sick all summer and we're just amazed by their spunk.

I have the good fortune of being a volunteer for CaringBridge and this year was selected to be an ambassador for Community Health Charities, a non-profit organization that raises funds for more than 30 health-related charities (CaringBridge is one of its partner organizations). Our experiences with Owen and Logan have created many opportunities for us to give back and hopefully improve the lives of others through volunteering. As crazy as it sounds, our lives with the boys are such a blessing in so many ways. I don't know if we'd have been so inspired or driven had life been normal for us and in that way, our story is even more special.

No more apts for a while here. Flu shots coming up and simply praying for a fantastic and healthy school year. As always, prayers welcome.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009 12:22 AM CDT

While still top of mind, Logan's cardiology appointment--his first in sixth months--went really great today! This always makes a Mommy-with-heart-kid walk with a little extra pep in her step.

An interesting thing happens to me right before a cardiology appointment for Logan. While I can see how great he's doing and how much he's thriving,that fearful gene jumps out and starts me questioning if his breathing sounds okay, is he looking a little more blue, will his oxygen saturation levels be too low, will she notice big changes in heart function. I know these are all natural feelings to have given who Logan is but neverthless, I hate that my mind wanders into this negative zone. But then, alas the appointment comes and all I want to do is see the numbers and show off this wondeful, most precious and miraculous little boy named Logan.

He's been a bit hesitant and shy lately when he encounters either new people or people he hasn't seen in a while and today was no different. Once he gets warmed up though there is no stopping this chatty Kathy who has lots to talk about from playing with his beloved weapons to catching sunfish and perch and swimming at Cascade Bay.

He came in at 40.1 lbs and 43.25 inches--almost a pound gained in six months (why is it that I can gain that in six hours!). His blood pressure was "great," said Dr. Lohr at 98/57. All good signs. The darn O2 came in at 77�not his lowest but certainly not his highest. He does have a bit of a cold and that does impact that number so Dr. Lohr wasn't too concerned. That said--and let's be honest here--this kid should have more than 77�xygenated blood running through his little body!

He cooperated like a champ during his EKG and echo and once we got in the waiting room he stared playing games on the iPhone and I hardly knew he was there. (Sometimes video games are helpful.)

I just love when Dr. Lohr sees him for the first time in these visits because he always looks bigger and stronger and different to her. She gets such a warm smile when she walks in the room and Logan does too. They have a nice bond and I love that she cares for him so much.

Dr. Lohr's assessment of Logan was very positive! She did not share the same concerns as Dr. Regelmann about his growth. In fact, she said many of her patients fall off the charts at this age so the fact he's in the 25�or height and 15-20�or weight is pretty good. She also reminded me that for most kids at this age, the chart levels off a bit. This definitely made me feel better. She did recommend we give him a daily scoop of whey protein as it's vital for his growth and gave us the okay to keep up with whole milk and good fats. Grandpa Paul will be glad to know milkshakes are okay but good calories are always better than empty ones.

She also said his echo looked great with virtually no changes and that his ventricle function was very good. This shows that the one ventricle he has is working and not weakening. Hooray! We need to get a few labs done to check some numbers like protein, albumin, etc. but getting these numbers are for measurement sake not concern sake.

Finally, the looming question always comes up--what next? As with our last appointment, Dr. Lohr is pleased with Logan's status quo. We do want the 02 number higher so her plan is to do a heart catherization next spring and possibly close his fenestration--not all of the way but enough to give him more oxygenated blood and increase his saturation levels.

The last thing we ever want is to get to a point where Logan gets sick and we have to react instead of having a plan with his heart future. As usual in our appointments, I asked about a transplant and at this point, given what she's seeing and if he has no SVT's (only had those two back in 2008), we should have quite a bit of time before we have to make this proactive plan. Praise God! She went on to remind me that a heart transplant for Logan is FULL of risks and those risks far outweigh keeping the precious heart he has (that she thinks we can make work a little better by closing the fenestration next summer). So, that's just what we'll do.

The other most interesting thing Dr. Lohr talked with me about today was that, on maybe a regular basis Logan just might not feel all that great--he just doesn't know it. She said Owen and Logan will continue to be very different boys and while we shouldn't treat Logan differently we do have to remember that he simply doesn't have the capacity Owen does. "Imagine how you would treat Owen if he had a fever or a bad cold every day," she said. "If you think about it, that's about where Logan is all of the time." She went on to say that sometimes if he doesn't want to go to T-Ball because he's too tired we should give him a pass but if he doesn't want to do his homework for the same reason that he's probably figuring out how to work the system. Believe me, he's had that figured out for some time now! Any case, it's a good reminder that we can't compare Owen and Logan and that we need to encourage him to find things he can do really well on his own without wearing himself out or feeling like he has to keep up. I love this challenge and we'll for surely work with Logi to make sure he thrives as himself in everything he does.

We'll see her again in 4-6 months and I hope our report then is as positive as today. It's these days that am so proud of Logan and all he's accomplished, how far he's come and the direction he is headed. What a blessing.

Quickly, in other news--we had a wonderful Fourth of July together. Once again the boys spent the day at the parade and hanging out with their best friends Ali and Ty followed by fireworks. We're on a four year tradition and enjoying it more every year. Spent time on the boat and now Ben is in Canada fishing for big muskies. The boys and I doing a-okay without Ben but prefer having him around, that's for sure.

And, last Abbie is a new mommy! 07-08-09 at 2:01am she gave birth to Lidia Lee Kahler. Lee is Abbie's middle name and Grandma Debbie's middle name. Tomorrow is the two year anniversary of Debbie's passing so the timing is somewhat bittersweet but we know with all our hearts that Grandma Debbie is beaming with joy for her daughter and granddaughter. Owen and Logan are quite excited to be big cousins but of course, wanted a boy. I'm quite sure they'll change their minds once she's old enough to play with weapons.

Off to enjoy the rest of summer--the only upcoming apt is their six year checkup. We're off to Chicago next weekend, hanging at the Clifford cabin the weekend after and headed to Izatys for a weeks vacation the second week of August. What a great life!!

God is great and we are so thankful for his blessings. Thank you, too, to those who continue to pray for our sweet kiddos. We're always humbled by your care and compassion.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009 12:22 AM CDT

While still top of mind, Logan's cardiology appointment--his first in sixth months--went really great today! This always makes a Mommy-with-heart-kid walk with a little extra pep in her step.

An interesting thing happens to me right before a cardiology appointment for Logan. While I can see how great he's doing and how much he's thriving,that fearful gene jumps out and starts me questioning if his breathing sounds okay, is he looking a little more blue, will his oxygen saturation levels be too low, will she notice big changes in heart function. I know these are all natural feelings to have given who Logan is but neverthless, I hate that my mind wanders into this negative zone. But then, alas the appointment comes and all I want to do is see the numbers and show off this wondeful, most precious and miraculous little boy named Logan.

He's been a bit hesitant and shy lately when he encounters either new people or people he hasn't seen in a while and today was no different. Once he gets warmed up though there is no stopping this chatty Kathy who has lots to talk about from playing with his beloved weapons to catching sunfish and perch and swimming at Cascade Bay.

He came in at 40.1 lbs and 43.25 inches--almost a pound gained in six months (why is it that I can gain that in six hours!). His blood pressure was "great," said Dr. Lohr at 98/57. All good signs. The darn O2 came in at 77%, not his lowest but certainly not his highest. He does have a bit of a cold and that does impact that number so Dr. Lohr wasn't too concerned. That said--and let's be honest here--this kid should have more than 77% oxygenated blood running through his little body!

He cooperated like a champ during his EKG and echo and once we got in the waiting room he stared playing games on the iPhone and I hardly knew he was there. (Sometimes video games are helpful.)

I just love when Dr. Lohr sees him for the first time in these visits because he always looks bigger and stronger and different to her. She gets such a warm smile when she walks in the room and Logan does too. They have a nice bond and I love that she cares for him so much.

Dr. Lohr's assessment of Logan was very positive! She did not share the same concerns as Dr. Regelmann about his growth. In fact, she said many of her patients fall off the charts at this age so the fact he's in the 25% for height and 15-20% for weight is pretty good. She also reminded me that for most kids at this age, the chart levels off a bit. This definitely made me feel better. She did recommend we give him a daily scoop of whey protein as it's vital for his growth and gave us the okay to keep up with whole milk and good fats. Grandpa Paul will be glad to know milkshakes are okay but good calories are always better than empty ones.

She also said his echo looked great with virtually no changes and that his ventricle function was very good. This shows that one ventricle he has is working and not weakening. Hooray. We need to get a few labs done to check some numbers like protein, albumin, etc. but getting these numbers are for measurement sake not concern sake.

Finally, the looming question always comes up--what next? As with our last appointment, Dr. Lohr is pleased with Logan's status quo. We do want the 02 number higher so her plan is to do a heart catherization next spring and possibly close his fenestration--not all of the way but enough to give him more oxygenated blood and increase his saturation levels.

The last thing we ever want is to get to a point where Logan gets sick and we have to react instead of having a plan with his heart future. As usual in our appointments, I asked about a transplant and at this point, given what she's seeing and if he has no SVT's (only had those two back in 2008), we should have quite a bit of time before we have to make this proactive plan. Praise God! She went on to remind me that a heart transplant for Logan is FULL of risks and those risks far outweigh keeping the precious heart he has (that she thinks we can make work a little better by closing the fenestration next summer). So, that's just what we'll do.

The other most interesting thing Dr. Lohr talked with me about today was that on maybe a regular basis Logan just might not feel all that great--he just doesn't know it. She said Owen and Logan will continue to be very different boys and while we shouldn't treat Logan differently we do have to remember that he simply doesn't have the capactiy Owen does. "Imagine how you would treat Owen if he had a fever or a bad cold every day," she said. "If you think about it that's about where Logan is at every single day." She went on to say that sometimes if he doesn't want to go to T-Ball because he's too tired we should give him a pass but if he doesn't want to do his homework for the same reason that he's probably figuring out how to work the system. Believe me, he's had that figured out for some time now! Any case, it's a good reminder that we can't compare Owen and Logan and that we need to encourage him to find things he can do really well on his own without wearing himself out or feeling like he has to keep up. I love this challenge and we'll for surely work with Logi to make sure he thrives as himself in everything he does.

We'll see her again in 4-6 months and I hope our report then is as positive as today. It's these days that am so proud of Logan and all he's accomplished, how far he's come and the direction he is headed. What a blessing.

Quickly, in other news--we had a wonderful Fourth of July together. Once again the boys spent the day at the parade and hanging out with their best friends Ali and Ty followed by fireworks. We're on a four year tradition and enjoying it more every year. Spent time on the boat and now Ben is in Canada fishing for big muskies. The boys and I doing a-okay without Ben but prefer having him around, that's for sure.

And, last Abbie is a new mommy! 07-08-09 at 2:01am she gave birth to Lidia Lee Kahler. Lee is Abbie's middle name and Grandma Debbie's middle name. Tomorrow is the two year anniversary of Debbie's passing so the timing is somewhat bittersweet but we know with all our hearts that Grandma Debbie is beaming with joy for her daughter and granddaughter. Owen and Logan are quite excited to be big cousins but of course, wanted a boy. I'm quite sure they'll change their minds once she's old enough to play with weapons.

Off to enjoy the rest of summer--the only upcoming apt is their six year checkup. We're off to Chicago next weekend, hanging at the Clifford cabin the weekend after and headed to Izatys for a weeks vacation the second week of August. What a great life!!

God is great and we are so thankful for his blessings. Thank you, too, to those who continue to pray for our sweet kiddos. We're always humbled by your care and compassion.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009 9:40 AM CDT

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OWEN LOGAN (yesterday)

That's right; Owen and Logan—you are SIX year olds. How can it be that you two have turned into such big and sweet boys?

The router for our home computer is broken and typing this long overdue update on my iPhone was not going to happen so I’ll take a couple minutes at work to recapture all that’s been happening in your lives for memory sake and for those who continue to check in on you from time to time.

The past few months are really quite a blur but in order of occurrence:
DR. REGELMANN: Logan had the good fortune visiting a doctor’s office for nearly 2 ½ hours on May 8 for his six month checkup with his pulmonologist. We started with a first-ever test for him called the PFE (pulmonary function test). I was interested to see how he’d do with this considering his lung capacity and overall oxygen levels. First of all, he was a trooper and did terrific with the test and secondly, his numbers were better than anticipated—in fact, he was in the normal category for a kid with regular good working lungs. What a dream!

Dr. R was definitely pleased with these results and thought he looked and sounded great. His O2 was 80-83, which is his regular zone and he was up to about 39 lbs and 43 inches.

As we were wrapping up he asked what “the plan” was for Logan. I wasn’t expecting this question so replied, “What do you mean—the plan?” although I knew full well what he meant. When I told him Dr. Lohr said she wanted to keep the status quo for a while (our last visit with her was in early January), he said that keeping the status quo for now is okay but there will come a point for Logan that he’ll pretty much stop growing (as it is he’s just inching along—centimetering along, actually) as his heart has to keep working harder and harder to keep up which impacts his lungs and everything else. We see Dr. Lohr in two weeks so will likely get a better understanding of what’s to come.

Learning from the Corbos, they’ve shared the importance of making sure we don’t get into a position where Logan gets sick and we have to make quick and rash decisions. We’ll want to explore our options to ensure Logan has the best chance at continuing his fabulous, wonderful, terrific and joy-filled life!

DENTIST: The day of Logan’s pulmonology apt was also an overdue visit to the dentist. They don’t mind going but Logan does have a bit of an issue with foreign objects that make funny sounds in his head going into his mouth. I suppose that makes sense. Any case, I was pleased to see they had no cavities and we learned that’s quite a rarity for young kids and boys in particular. I think the fact they don’t drink soda has made a difference. It’s quite obvious that they’ll both need braces and to date Owen has lost three teeth and Logan has lost two. (I think anyway, again—it’s all a blur.)

ENTERTAINMENT NIGHT: Each year Good Shepherd hosts an Entertainment Night with the classes in the St. Croix auditorium. It’s quite a production and this year the theme was Ocean related. The boys’ class were seahorses and sang a couple of songs with some choreography. SO stinking cute!!

KINDERGARTEN GRADUATION: Two weeks later the boys were graduating from Kindergarten. Grandpa Paul/Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Randy/Grandma Linda along with Aunties Andrea, Amanda and Angie came up for the ceremony and it too, was adorable. I was a little more emotional about them graduating from Kindergarten than actually going to Kindergarten. They had a fabulous year and if you can believe it, Logan had the least amount of sick days in the entire class!! Talk about amazing.

The teacher pointed out this year had the most talkative boys she’d ever taught in class and as their Mommy, I couldn’t have been more proud. Seriously, to have chatty cathy boys is really a positive in the long run, although I imagine it was a little annoying as their teacher! She also had to create a “no kissing rule” and noted there were a couple boys, in particular that really liked the girls. Yep, you guessed it; our boys were the flirty franks in class.

We received the boys’ report cards in early June and they passed with flying colors. Now on to First Grade with Mrs. Britton. I think the longer day will definitely be more of a challenge for Logan but we’re confident he’ll settle in and once again, do terrific. Owen is really confident and doesn’t give us any reasons for concern.

OWEN’S HAND: Not to be forgotten is Owen and his fabulous recovery from his hand surgery. He had only about six sessions with his physical therapist before she discharged him a month early because he was doing so well. It’s very obvious the surgery was a success and he’s using his thumb differently and in better ways than before. All good signs. Ben took him for an apt with his hand surgeon and she agreed, he was a rock star. We’ll visit her every six months for a couple of years and then annually from there on out. Pretty much, this chapter is closed. Crazy and Great at the same time.

SUMMER:
The start of summer means endless days of play and trips to Cascade Bay. Ben bought a boat at the beginning of June and we’ve gone out a couple of times and had a ball. The kid has been saving for his boat for quite some time but when my Macy’s bill would get a little too high, his savings went somewhere else. There is definitely a benefit to me not working in a department store anymore! He’s got a trip planned to Canada with his friend Colin and we’ll be taking a trip to my friend Michelle’s parents’ cabin along with a family vacation with G G Schroeder to Onamia on Lake Mille Lacs in August so we’ll definitely get good use out of it this summer. The boys will be professional anglers by the time they’re seven, to be sure.

BIRTHDAY:
Our long post will end with their sixth birthday, which was yesterday! I took the day off work and while they were at Bible School Ben and I spent time on the boat. After we had lunch, went to Cascade Bay, the Mall of America to Nickelodeon Universe for unlimited rides and their birthday party at The Blast with their classmates. Jam packed from start to finish and oodles of fun.

We all crashed hard but enjoyed every minute of our day together.

I simply cannot believe these little miracle kids have been around for six years. Every year I say the same thing and every year has gotten better and better. Their health, their personalities, their ability to communicate, their love of life and one another (most days), their understanding of what makes them so special and their love of Jesus. When I told Logan it was his last night of being five, he replied with, “That’s great but I love Jesus more than being six.”

Our road of challenges isn’t over and at some point will be scary again but until we get there we’re going to continue loving every minute of every day with our special little boys, Owen and Logan!

We LOVE you so much.

Sunday, April 26, 2009 8:35 PM CDT

Never a dull moment at the Bushaws. Mentioned in our last post that Logan had been sick on and off with something strange that we finally identifed as an ear infection. He was on Zithromax for five days and got better pretty darned quickly.

Next thing we know, this past Thursday he was complaining that his "private parts" hurt. When I took him upstairs for a bath we had something quite swollen (it's one of a pair and that's all I say). Angie, Ben's super smart sis, was over and said we'd better call the doctor because it could be testicular torsion (there, the secret is out). She thought probably not because he'd be in tons of pain but still call worthy. The pediatrician clearly felt the same way because she said we needed to get to the ER and said, "you can leave now, right?"

So at 9:15ish, Ben and Logan headed out. He wanted Daddy to take him--probably because it was a boy thing. I was looking online and agreed the testicular torsion was unlikely but saw another word that struck me as interesting, epdidymitis. Googled it and sure enough, it sounded just like what Logan was dealing with and most interestingly, it noted "chills and random fever that can last up to six weeks." I called Ben and he wrote the word down so he could ask about it. They got us right in (as we've learned, it helps to have the doctors call in advance)and within minutes Logan was having an ultrasound on his privates. Thank the Lord, it was not the torsion! Ben asked about epidiymitis and sure enough, the docs felt that's what it was too. They took blood to culture (and got an INR check which saved us a trip to the lab on Friday--love multi-tasking), gave Logan an IV antibiotic and sent them on their way. They got home about 1:30.

Next step of the process was getting his prescription antibiotic filled. Levaquin. I dropped it off Friday to pick up Friday night and wouldn't you know CVS nor any surrounding pharmacy could make it for a kid so we had to get it at the U of M. As I was looking at side effects and such, it sounded like quite an unpleasant antibiotic with one of the potential effects being joint pain. Sweet Logan wakes up about five times a month with pain in his knee so I asked the pharmacist but got a rather lame answer. We tried paging the ER doc to ask why that med but no luck. So I took it home and called our wonderful pharmacist Jason at CVS. He made me feel a little better but still extremely hesitant. After coming home to read more about it, along with super sleuth Grandma Linda's research, we felt pretty strongly it wasn't a good one for him. Next, I called the Infectious Disease doc on call. He let me know Levaquin is not used that often on kids but it is safe and covers a lot, which is why he wanted Logan to have it. Problem is, we've never noted in Logan's charts that he's got this knee problem. Once I talked with him about it, he agreed we should avoid it and go for another option. So, he called in Omnicef and Logan got an antiobiotic right on time (10pm Friday night)! Wouldn't you know, Ben remembered that Logan broke out in welts after taking Omnicef the last time but we're hoping this time, it doesn't happen and figure welts that go away are less of an issue that horribly painful joints. Ahhh, never a dull moment.

Today we went to Paxton's one year birthday and the boys got to see and play with everyone. They just adore Brayden and Payton and have such fun with Parker and the rest of the gang.

Memorable phrase of the day from Owen:
Mommy, you say that we can use bum or bottom instead of the other word but really we shouldn't say bottom because it has the word dumb in it and that's not a nice word either, is it?"

We've got a dentist appointment for the boys and a Dr. Regelmann apt in the next few weeks along with Owen's weekly physical therapy appointments. Hoping Logan's issue clears up quickly and we can be on our way to a happy, healthy and strong spring and summer.

Friday, April 17, 2009 7:45 PM CDT

It's Spring!

Isn't it wonderful to get out of the mucky, snowy, cold and dreary winter and move into things turning green, plants blooming and birds chirping? We LOVE this season.

Life has been pretty smooth sailing the past month or so. Owen was a real champ with his cast and only had to have it replaced once. Yep, a new cast. He'd had it on for a week and one night during a bath "forgot" and put his arm (which had a bag to protect it from the water but it failed)in the tub. We called Gillette and sure enough, he had to go in to have it looked at. Owen and Ben left the house about 9pm on a Sunday night and in they walked two hours later at 11pm with Owen grinning ear to ear and
a hot fudge sundae in hand. "Mommy, mommy," he exclaimed. "I got to watch four episodes of Pokemon while they gave me a new cast and look, Daddy let me get a sundae!" Thankfully, they didn't have school the following Monday and I guess I'd rather have a positive mood like he had rather than the alternative.

From then on he was really careful with his cast and on Tuesday, April 14 it came off. He said he really liked having the cast though and would prefer to keep it in. Crazy kid. He's now got a brace that he'll have for the next 4-5 weeks and starts PT next week to build back his strength. He seems to have forgotten he can actually use the hand, which we find a bit of humor in. Logan is still a bit jealous that Owen got the special hand. He said he wanted one too. We tried to remind him that he's plenty special in his own right.

Ben and I took a trip to Ft. Myers Beach, Florida the week leading up to Easter. What a delight to have a small getaway and we're so blessed that Mom and Randy were able to stay with the boys each night. Logan did come down with a bug of some sort so instead of Emily, the new nanny, watching the boys they ended up at Grandma Linda's every day after school. We got a call in the middle of the night one night on our trip and I had to make a call to the cardiologist on call but thankfully, G G didn't have to take him into the ER. Turns out, he's got a nasty ear infection (one of his first) and figure that's what has been causing some of his issues as of late.

Easter was a real treat too as the boys went to an Easter Egg Hunt at some friends and then spent Easter seeing lots of family, including two of their sets of great grandparents. We didn't make it to Great Grandma and Grandpa List's house so hopefully we'll see them soon.

Auntie Angie moved back to Minnesota at the end of March and we were lucky enough to have her stay with us for some nights here and there. The boys LOVE having her here and it's so cute to see how connected they still are to her. To think about how she watched them when they were just four months old day in and day out is incredible!

The boys received their third quarter report cards a few weeks ago and received quite good grades. One's are really good and 2's are good/need improvement. They're getting almost all ones except for the same areas that Mommy used to get "N's" (needs improvement)in. Those areas include everything social. How strange that we've got little social butterflies for boys. :) Their teacher told us they're the most social boys she's had. I'm actually quite proud of them and love how social and full of zest they are. Remarkable, if you stop to think about it. And, what's more remarkable is that Logan has only missed two days of school all year! Owen has missed more than Logan. We vividly recall Dr. Lohr telling us he couldn't be daycare to avoid getting too many germs but that he'd probably need to go to preschool of some sort or he "be the sickest kindergartner around." Well, that worked for him because I think he's got the best attendance rate in the whole class. 'Atta way, Logi!!

We're really excited for the weather to continue warming up so we can be outside. We don't have any major appointments coming up for a while except a dentist apt and a visit with Dr. Regelmann.

Even though thing are smooth sailing, we always welcome prayers for good health and well being. We so appreciate the many of you who check in on us and think of the boys.

Friday, March 13, 2009 9:07 AM CDT

It's Friday the 13th and today we're at Gillette Children's Hospital for Owen's hand surgery. Pretty sure Dr. VanHeest told us the official name before but we didn't remember it until we heard it today...a right hypothenar opponensplasty. What a mouthful! In our history with the boys, we've learned to share only the information necessary to prepare them for surgeries. This one with Owen was no different. He knew he was coming to see the doctor, that she was going to make his hand stronger and that they'd give him something to make him sleepy and when he wakes up he'd have a cast. He chose blue and Logan decided that wasn't fair and that he wanted a cast too. He wondered why Owen was the lucky one with a special hand. Isn't that funny? In the oddest of ways, we are so thankful for their skewed view on reality.

Grandma and Grandpa Schroeder kept Logan last night so we could wake up early and get here this morning at 6:15. Owen wasn't worried a bit and played it pretty cool. Once we arrived and got checked in, the nurse went through things with him and it was apparent he was getting a bit scared and nervous. Presentation and delivery is everything (just ask the PR girl) and while she was very lovely and nice, her presentation and delivery wasn't the "this will be easy breezy" we'd been sharing with him. Frank, the anethesiologist, noticed his growing anxiety and suggested some calming medication from the vallium family. Bring it on, we said and so he had chocolate flavored medicine with an apple juice chaser. Within minutes he was acting loopy as a lark. Funny, slow and slurring. Mommy went in with him to put him to sleep and we went to have a quick breakfast in the cafeteria.

Now, Dr. VanHeest just came and told us the surgery is done and Owen did great! She took one of the three tendons from his outer right palm (look at your palm and it's right under your pinky) and moved it diagonally to the area on his palm right under his thumb. This will ultimately give him more hand strength, help his opposition and just let it work better. She said she put a numbing medication on and he didn't even need any pain meds. We're just waiting for the word to go into recovery and should be able to head home by 2pm. This is what a hospital stay should be!

Owen will have his cast on for five weeks,until April 15, then wear a brace for another five weeks, along with physical therapy. He should be gangbusters just in time for summer play.

We'll get some photos posted of our day and appreciate your thoughts and prayers. Owen will have the toughest time not being able to ride his bike or skateboard but we'll make it worth his while.

One other thing to note is that we had a HUGE milestone in Logan's life as yesterday marked the one year anniversary since Logan's last hospital stay. ONE YEAR!!! That's the longest he's ever gone in his entire life and we are so proud of him. We almost hate to say it outloud or write it down so as to not jinx it but it's a huge praise for us.

Friday, February 13, 2009 9:02 AM CST

Here we are...it's February...a month about love and hearts.

Back in late January we had a heart apt for Mr. Logan. He gained two pounds since September and grew a bit too (I can't remember that statistic). All good to start and it continued in good mode the whole appointment. Logan had good blood pressure, good oxygen saturation--about 80-82an unchanged echo and overall a pleased doctor. That doctor being the one and only Dr. Lohr. At the end of the appointment Dr. Lohr said we don't need to come back for six months! This will be the longest that we've gone without a visit to Dr. Lohr and is a huge step forward for Logan. What a rock star.

We're so happy with how healthy the boys have been overall this winter and so thankful that God is watching over them each and every day. The sickies have gone through school a couple of times and so far the boys have come through pretty unscathed. If we can make it to mid-March without any overnight stays at the hospital, it will be the longest stretch of time Logan has ever gone in his whole life. I hardly want to type it so as to not jinx it but I'm so proud of this sweet boy and his all he's made it through. We learned the hard way back on April Fool's Day 2004 to not have a party to celebrate certain health milestones but we can sure be grateful.

The boys are doing terrific at school and both received great report cards for the second quarter. Oddly, they seem to be doing a little too much talking in class and Logan, in particular, is quite the chatty kathy. While I love this about the boys we certainly have to get them to stay focused and respectful. They went to a birthday party for one of their classmates, Madison, last week and turns out Owen kissed his girlfriend Katia. OH MY! I didn't think we'd be starting this so soon but this girl, he claims, is going to be his wife. Ahh, the innocent minds of kids.

Logan is set to see a new Infectious Disease doctor next week at the U of M. We've not done a good job of keeping up to date with ID docs but do need to get an updated state of the state for him. Following that, Owen is set for hand surgery on March 13 at Gillette. Dr. Van Heest will be taking some muscle from his outer palm (look at your palm, under your pinkie, it's one of those outer muscles) and putting it where his big thumb muscle is. Should be a day without a stay. He'll have a cast for six weeks and set to rock and roll by early May. He knows it's coming from our last apt with the doc but we won't talk about it until the day before. Why create stress if you don't have to for a young chap.

Ben's b-ball season is going alright, the team is about 500 and has seven games left. We've made it to a half-dozen or so and the boys do enjoy attending. They sure love seeing their daddy as the coach! I started a new job on Monday with a local publishing company called MSP Communications. They won the business to produce the Delta Airlines inflight magazine called SKY and I've taken the position of director of marketing and communications. A big change but a great opportunity and new and exciting challenge. The boys were very sad about me leaving Macy's and I was too. We must be maturing making big decisions like this. God is good and presented this opportunity to me unexpectedly. Three days after my last day, Macy's announced it was consolidating all divisions and unless I relocated to NYC or Chicago, I'd have been on the streets. Thank you, Lord!

February is not only congenital heart defect awareness month but the Go Red For Women Movement is also a priority. We sure know how important it is to take care of our hearts--both our real thumping heart and the one that belongs to Him.

Thursday, January 1, 2009 5:55 PM CST

Happy New Year!

What a wonderful year we had full of blessings and overall health and well being. It's so hard to believe we're heading into the boys' sixth year of life. How did the time pass so quickly?

Getting ready for Christmas this year was much fun and the boys had a ball. Their Christmas program at church was Dec. 14 and they had two Saturday morning practices to prepare for the big day. We're so glad their Christmas program is about the birth of Jesus and the real reason for the season. We love that they're learning songs like "O Come Let Us Adore Him" and "Emmanuel." We decorated the tree right after Thanksgiving but the presents didn't show up until three days before Christmas. Wrapping presents is such a pain. Our Christmas plans included an earlier-than-normal trip to Austin as Ben's team was playing Austin High School on Dec. 23. The timing was great as we'd head down that Tuesday afternoon and get to hang out for a day before the Christmas Eve rush. As luck would have it though, Ben came down with the flu that Monday night, I got it Tuesday morning and Owen got it Tuesday night. There was no way we were going to make it as a family but Ben was able to drive down for the game while we stayed home snug and sick in bed. (You read right that Logan stayed healthy--Praise God!) By Wednesday morning, we were all feeling a little better and after a call to the pediatrician for an okay we did head to Austin for Christmas Eve with Ben's family and my mom's side of the family. We woke up at Grandpa Paul's and Grandma Kathy's on Christmas morning and thankfully, Santa Claus knew we were traveling and left a couple of presents.
We headed back up home Christmas morning for Christmas with Mom, Randy, Andrea and Amanda and then had Christmas ourselves on Christmas night. One more trip to Austin the Saturday after Christmas for the day with Dad, Kathy and the family and our Christmas' were over. We're blessed to have so many wonderful families to see and spend time with even though it never seems like enough. We do love connecting with everyone during this most special time of year.

As usual, Ben had an annual holiday b-ball tournament and for the second year, they won first place. The boys and I made it to both games and Owen was so proud saying to other kids, "Did you know my daddy is the coach of the whole team? Isn't that really neat." They're getting better about watching and understanding what happens and knowing when to clap for Simley rather than anytime anyone makes a basket.

We spent New Year's Eve at the VerWays (Ben's good friend and assistant coach). The boys love playing with their kids and we always have a nice time and good conversation with Mike and Brenda. Today was our 2nd annual bowling extravaganza at the Cedarvale Bowling Lanes. This year, Grandpa Randy and Grandma Linda joined us for the fun. I love the gutter rails as they really help my score!

Pretty boring update but considering some of our past years, we're good with boring. We're so happy to be heading into the new year healthy and hope and pray we can stay this way. The boys are thriving in school and reading more words every day. I'm almost ready to say "We've got readers!" Thinking by February we'll certainly be there.

Next up is a cardiology apt with Dr. Lohr on Jan. 23. Hoping for no news, good sats and clear lungs.

Here's to a marvelous 2009.

Saturday, December 6, 2008 9:40 PM CST

I wonder what ever happened to that great show, "The Great Space Coaster." I loved that show and remember, a character always said, "no gnews is good gnews." Pretty much sums up our last month. To think Christmas is just a few short weeks away is really something else.

The boys have definitely had their fare share of colds already this season but thankfully, they've remained just that--colds. Coughing and runny noses (and snotty sleeves)but nothing more. We're really hoping and praying that we can keep these kiddos relatively healthy this winter. I'm sure the pukey flu will hit the house and another cold or two but if we can keep it to just those things and stay out of the hospital it would be a huge accomplishment for us.

They boys continue to do very well at school and we're really proud of what they're accomplishing and learning each week. We really love watching them learn to sound out words and read...really read! It's the neatest thing.

Our Thanksgiving this year was a little different than usual as I headed to New York for work. Now that our Macy's stores are a part of the Macy's East division, I report into the NY office. I, and a few girls on my Public Relations team, went in to help with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. That meant Ben and the boys were sans Mommy on T-day. They headed to Austin to spend time with his family and stopped in to see Dad and Kathy as well. I came home late on Thanksgiving night so we celebrated Thanksgiving with Mom, Randy, Andrea and Amanda on Friday. The day was just as fun and frankly, the parade was so amazing that it was a great way to spend the Thanksgiving weekend.

Next year I'll hopefully still be with Macy's and we can all go out to New York for Thanksgiving. What fun that would be.

We're getting ready for Christmas now and the boys have their Christmas program at church/school next Sunday. We've loved listening to them sing their songs at home. From "Emanuel," to "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" it's just so wonderful to hear them singing the reason for the season. Of course, Santa is never too far from their thoughts and their list is quite long (and grows every time they see something neat on TV).

No upcoming apts for a while. We'll keep going in every couple of weeks for INR checks and see Dr. Lohr in mid-January. We do need to make an apt with the Infectious Disease doc as we've not seen one of those since Nov. 2006 and some things might need to change for Logan like his doses of amoxocillin and who knows, maybe he's getting healthier in other ways. These docs are the ones who can help us figure this out.

Wishing a season of blessings to all.

Friday, November 7, 2008 8:37 AM CST

Happy November!

Hard to believe it's this late into the year and we're heading into the holiday season but alas, the snow is falling this morning (a big change from the 70 degree weather at the beginning of the week) and Macy's Holiday Auditorium Show opens tomorrow so we know it's true...Christmas is just around the corner.

Going back to a few weeks of updates:
1. The entire Bushaw family received flu shots. Mommy Bushaw learned from last year that not getting the flu shot and actually getting the Influenza B virus was not worth the pain and suffering regardless if it helped the scale go down.

Owen and Logan cried like they were two years old getting the flu shots. Not sure what came over them but guessing it's because they were both in the same room at the same time and Owen can be a bit of a pansy so Logan decided to be a bit of a pansy too. It was by far our worst shot experience yet.

2. Logan had his pulmonology apt with Dr. Reggelmann. Good apt. O2's were at 80which was nice to see. The doc was impressed by how well he looked and was doing. He sounded a bit chunky to him (he'd had a coughing cold for about a week and a half) so gave us Prednislone. We picked up the prescription but the side effects of that drug freak us out quite a bit and Logan gets pretty ugly so even though it was only for five days, the dose was BIG and we weren't convinced he needed it. Needless to say, it's still in my handbag and Logan's cough has been gone for a week. We do take dr's orders very seriously but sometimes when you've got a gut feeling--and this time my mom's gut feeling was really strong that he didn't need it--we make decisions on our own (Only when we know we're not putting anything too serious at risk, of course.)

Dr. R was also pleasantly surprised by the lung scan he had back in September. He didn't think it would look as well as it did, which made him much more confident about many things related to his pulmonary health. Hooray! We go back in six month and will be working very hard this winter to keep him healthy. Prayers requested on this for sure!

We did get Logan the pneumovax shot (this one went much better than the flu shot), which is a STRONG vaccination to prevent more than 23 types of pneumonia. He's had a pneumonia vaccination a couple of years ago and because of his asplenia and fragile lungs, it's something we need to keep up with. He'll need another one in five years. Let's hope we can remember that.

3. Halloween was a ball! Owen was a ninja and Logan was a blue Power Ranger and both were so cute! I opted last minute to be a cat and even more last second Ben worked out a Darth Vadar costume. We went through the neighbood on a gorgeous Friday night with friends Aly and Ty and came home with boatloads of candy. The boys' bags were so heavy that their cute and durable H-ween bags actually broke. Now that's a lot of candy. We've never been big on Halloween but admit that it is awfully cute to see them so excited and dressed up.

4. The boys are doing well in school. We had Kindergarten first quarter conferences with Mrs. Wehrenberg Thursday night and are pleased to report the boys are succeeding greatly in Kindergarten! And, maybe more importantly, Mrs. Wehrenberg said they are kind, caring, polite and loveable boys that she loves having in class. Knowing how they behave at home sometimes and hearing her share her thoughts on their behavior in class was simply wonderful to hear. Logan does have to work harder at staying focused and attentive--either on his work or listening, etc. We can see this at home too--getting that kid to stay on task is a real pain! We also know from studies done on heart kids that focusing can be a challenge for them. We'll keep working on this and know he'll come out alright. Mrs. W did say not to plan on it for a few years. Great....or not so much.

This weekend Ben's dad is auctioning off their family home. Too big for one person, which we understand but it's sad nonetheless. Ben's mom and dad and lots of other family members put so much love and emotion into that place. Simply amazing.

With the snow falling today it is obvious the seasons are changing. We're praying for a healthy winter and a blessed winter for us and those around us.

Friday, November 7, 2008 8:37 AM CST

Happy November!

Hard to believe it's this late into the year and we're heading into the holiday season but alas, the snow is falling this morning (a big change from the 70 degree weather at the beginning of the week) and Macy's Holiday Auditorium Show opens tomorrow so we know it's true...Christmas is just around the corner.

Going back to a few weeks of updates:
1. The entire Bushaw family received flu shots. Mommy Bushaw learned from last year that not getting the flu shot and actually getting the Influenza B virus was not worth the pain and suffering regardless if it helped the scale go down.

Owen and Logan cried like they were two years old getting the flu shots. Not sure what came over them but guessing it's because they were both in the same room at the same time and Owen can be a bit of a pansy so Logan decided to be a bit of a pansy too. It was by far our worst shot experience yet.

2. Logan had his pulmonology apt with Dr. Reggelmann. Good apt. O2's were at 80which was nice to see. The doc was impressed by how well he looked and was doing. He sounded a bit chunky to him (he'd had a coughing cold for about a week and a half) so gave us Prednislone. We picked up the prescription but the side effects of that drug freak us out quite a bit and Logan gets pretty ugly so even though it was only for five days, the dose was BIG and we weren't convinced he needed it. Needless to say, it's still in my handbag and Logan's cough has been gone for a week. We do take dr's orders very seriously but sometimes when you've got a gut feeling--and this time my mom's gut feeling was really strong that he didn't need it--we make decisions on our own (Only when we know we're not putting anything too serious at risk, of course.)

Dr. R was also pleasantly surprised by the lung scan he had back in September. He didn't think it would look as well as it did, which made him much more confident about many things related to his pulmonary health. Hooray! We go back in six month and will be working very hard this winter to keep him healthy. Prayers requested on this for sure!

We did get Logan the pneumovax shot (this one went much better than the flu shot), which is a STRONG vaccination to prevent more than 23 types of pneumonia. He's had a pneumonia vaccination a couple of years ago and because of his asplenia and fragile lungs, it's something we need to keep up with. He'll need another one in five years. Let's hope we can remember that.

3. Halloween was a ball! Owen was a ninja and Logan was a blue Power Ranger and both were so cute! I opted last minute to be a cat and even more last second Ben worked out a Darth Vadar costume. We went through the neighbood on a gorgeous Friday night with friends Aly and Ty and came home with boatloads of candy. The boys' bags were so heavy that their cute and durable H-ween bags actually broke. Now that's a lot of candy. We've never been big on Halloween but admit that it is awfully cute to see them so excited and dressed up.

4. The boys are doing well in school. We had Kindergarten first quarter conferences with Mrs. Wehrenberg Thursday night and are pleased to report the boys are succeeding greatly in Kindergarten! And, maybe more importantly, Mrs. Wehrenberg said they are kind, caring, polite and loveable boys that she loves having in class. Knowing how they behave at home sometimes and hearing her share her thoughts on their behavior in class was simply wonderful to hear. Logan does have to work harder at staying focused and attentive--either on his work or listening, etc. We can see this at home too--getting that kid to stay on task is a real pain! We also know from studies done on heart kids that focusing can be a challenge for them. We'll keep working on this and know he'll come out alright. Mrs. W did say not to plan on it for a few years. Great....or not so much.

This weekend Ben's dad is auctioning off their family home. Too big for one person, which we understand but it's sad nonetheless. Ben's mom and dad and lots of other family members put so much love and emotion into that place. Simply amazing.

With the snow falling today it is obvious the seasons are changing. We're praying for a healthy winter and a blessed winter for us and those around us.

Friday, November 7, 2008 7:38 AM CST

Happy November!

Hard to believe it's this late into the year and we're heading into the holiday season but alas, the snow is falling this morning (a big change from the 70 degree weather at the beginning of the week) and Macy's Holiday Auditorium Show opens tomorrow so we know it's true...Christmas is just around the corner.

Going back to a few weeks of updates:
1. The entire Bushaw family received flu shots. Mommy Bushaw learned from last year that not getting the flu shot and actually getting the Influenza B virus was not worth the pain and suffering regardless if it helped the scale go down.

Owen and Logan cried like they were two years old getting the flu shots. Not sure what came over them but guessing it's because they were both in the same room at the same time and Owen can be a bit of a pansy so Logan decided to be a bit of a pansy too. It was by far our worst shot experience yet.

2. Logan had his pulmonology apt with Dr. Reggelmann. Good apt. O2's were at 80which was nice to see. The doc was impressed by how well he looked and was doing. He sounded a bit chunky to him (he'd had a coughing cold for about a week and a half) so gave us Prednislone. We picked up the prescription but the side effects of that drug freak us out quite a bit and Logan gets pretty ugly so even though it was only for five days, the dose was BIG and we weren't convinced he needed it. Needless to say, it's still in my handbag and Logan's cough has been gone for a week. We do take dr's orders very seriously but sometimes when you've got a gut feeling--and this time my mom's gut feeling was really strong that he didn't need it--we make decisions on our own (Only when we know we're not putting anything too serious at risk, of course.)

Dr. R was also pleasantly surprised by the lung scan he had back in September. He didn't think it would look as well as it did, which made him much more confident about many things related to his pulmonary health. Hooray! We go back in six month and will be working very hard this winter to keep him healthy. Prayers requested on this for sure!

We did get Logan the pneumovax shot (this one went much better than the flu shot), which is a STRONG vaccination to prevent more than 23 types of pneumonia. He's had a pneumonia vaccination a couple of years ago and because of his asplenia and fragile lungs, it's something we need to keep up with. He'll need another one in five years. Let's hope we can remember that.

3. Halloween was a ball! Owen was a ninja and Logan was a blue Power Ranger and both were so cute! I opted last minute to be a cat and even more last second Ben worked out a Darth Vadar costume. We went through the neighbood on a gorgeous Friday night with friends Aly and Ty and came home with boatloads of candy. The boys' bags were so heavy that their cute and durable H-ween bags actually broke. Now that's a lot of candy. We've never been big on Halloween but admit that it is awfully cute to see them so excited and dressed up.

4. The boys are doing well in school. We had Kindergarten first quarter conferences with Mrs. Wehrenberg Thursday night and are pleased to report the boys are succeeding greatly in Kindergarten! And, maybe more importantly, Mrs. Wehrenberg said they are kind, caring, polite and loveable boys that she loves having in class. Knowing how they behave at home sometimes and hearing her share her thoughts on their behavior in class was simply wonderful to hear. Logan does have to work harder at staying focused and attentive--either on his work or listening, etc. We can see this at home too--getting that kid to stay on task is a real pain! We also know from studies done on heart kids that focusing can be a challenge for them. We'll keep working on this and know he'll come out alright. Mrs. W did say not to plan on it for a few years. Great....or not so much.

This weekend Ben's dad is auctioning off their family home. Too big for one person, which we understand but it's sad nonetheless. Ben's mom and dad and lots of other family members put so much love and emotion into that place. Simply amazing.

With the snow falling today it is obvious the seasons are changing. We're praying for a healthy winter and a blessed winter for us and those around us.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 8:54 PM CDT

It's a rarity to have an Owen update but we always know that once a year he gets his chance to be the focus of an update for it's once a year he has his annual checkup with Dr. VanHeest, the terrific hand surgeon who so beautifully made a thumb out of an index finger.

When we really stop to think about how awesome Owen has done with the many issues he had when he was born, it's pretty incredible. Once would never know by looking at this kid that he's had seven major surgeries. With his hand specifically, we go for months without looking at it or really even noticing how much terrific stuff he can do with it. I vividly recall the questions we asked ourselves when Dr. VanHeest recommended we proceed with the original surgery. Removing his bum thumb and moving is index finger to the thumb position. CRAZY! We wondered if it would really work, we wondered if he would feel different than the other kids, we wondered if other kids would think he was different from them and we wondered if he would be able to do the things boys like to do like throw balls and play on the swing set and hit with baseball bats and shoot hoops. Even though we wondered all of these things we knew at the end of the day it was the right decision. Now, fast forward 4 years and three months later and sure enough, it was the right decision.

Dr. VanHeest was again quite pleased with how well he does with his right hand and impressed when we talked about how he rocks at the monkey bars and on his bike. It's interesting to see doctors who specialize in certain things because of what she's trained to notice that we aren't. She did a little test where she can test his finger strength. His left hand thumb could push 9lbs while his right hand could push 4lbs. Quite a difference. She also could see (as we can) that his thumb more often than not has a tendency to go outward vs. more inward. For example, when he makes a fist, instead of his thumb going in the front of his hand, his thumb goes on top. When he plays on the monkey bars his thumb doesn't wrap around the bar, it goes on top of his other fingers. We can remind him of how to do it for more strength and stability but it naturally goes the other way.

That said, Dr. VanHeest has also told us from the onset that "at some point, like when Owen is five or six we might need to think about another operation where we take muscle from the outer side of his hand and move it so he has more muscle for his thumb." First of all, when she first told us this Owen was two months old we never thought we'd make it to five or six for how crazy life was at that time. Secondly, we didn't think we'd really need to think about it. Turns out, we do.

Dr. VanHeest feels that by doing this operation (a day in/day out surgery, followed by four weeks in a cast and four to six weeks of therapy) that he'll have the ability to go a lot farther with his overall hand and thumb strength. It's not a "have to do" but then again, neither was his initial hand surgery yetwe knew it was the right thing to do.

Initial thoughts are to do this in late February when Ben's busy basketball season is over. This allows everything to, Lord willing, put Owen in great shape to start the summer. (March = cast, Aril = therapy, May = play!)

The only question Owen had to ask Dr. VanHeest about all of this was "Does this hospital have video games that I can play?" How funny that he now associates hospitals as a positive place to go for fun and games. Guess it's not the worst thought in the world.

Of note, Owen was 45 inches tall and 40.9 pounds. We're so proud that he continues to grow and thrive and perhaps with this surgery he'll get a scholarship for baseball or golf or something that makes that thumb muscle work darn hard.

That's Owen's update. He's terrific!

Logan's next apt is with his pulmonolgist Dr. Reggelmann next Tuesday. Hoping we get a great report here and a plan to keep him safe and healthy this winter. He's earned it!

Saturday, October 11, 2008 9:04 PM CDT

Logan had his apt with Dr. Lohr yesterday and no major news. She was quite happy that he had gained 1.5 kilos since June. He's still a pipsqueak at 39 pounds and 41 1/2 inches but he's on the growth chart and making progress so we're pleased with that progress.

His O2's were still in the 75-80ange, which was disappointing but we're coming to the realization that this is just Logan. Dr. Lohr said she knows old men in their 40's who do just fine with an O2 in this range. Admittedly, if it could even be 84'd feel better about everything.

We discussed the heart catherization and at this point Dr. Lohr doesn't think it's going to do him much good and that collating off the major collateral vessel might actually make his O2 go down instead of up. His pulmonary pressures are still higher than many others so closing his fenestration isn't an option. His pulmonary pressures have always been high and the good news is they don't seem to be higher than previous checks. The fenestration itself is still about the same size so those things plus a couple others things I don't really recall make a heart cath not worthwhile--a positive.

She did say that this won't work forever and when the time comes for us to really start thinking about a transplant that we'll have lots to think about. Logan will be a very hard kid to transplant because of some of the other complexities with his heart, namely the TAPVR (total anomolous pulmonary venous return--veins connected backwards to the heart). Dr. Herrington fixed this but they're still extremely complicated. Dr. Lohr said we'll shop around for the best hospital in the country that has the highest success rate with these types of hearts. It's pretty crazy to even comprehend that this will be a part of our future considering how truly amazing Logan has done and continues to do but it's been a part of the reality since 22 weeks in utero when we first learned about Baby A.

Not much else from the apt. We're upping one of his blood pressure medications and go back in 3 months. We like apts like those where we leave in about the same frame of mind as we went in. No surprises is usually alright with us.

If we can keep Logan extra healthy this year we'll hopefully avoid the heart arythmia's (super fast heart rate) and one too many hospital stays. We'll be praying so hard for that this winter.

Today we spent the afternoon at the annual List family picnic (my mom's side). A picnic in Forestville followed by LONG trek up the to the overlook. They boys had a ball playing with their cousins and it's always fun to see the List family. Auntie Amanda came home from Chicago for the weekend so it was an extra special day.

Next up for the boys are flu shots on Oct. 18, followed by Owen's annual hand checkup at Gillett Children's on Oct. 21 then a pulmonology apt for Logan with Dr. Reggelman on Oct. 28.

Appreciate the posts to the guestbook to know that folks are still checking in on these crazy cats of ours and trust us, prayers are always, always welcome!

Monday, September 22, 2008 8:55 AM CDT

-- CaringBridge was undergoing maintenance so apologies for the delay in updating --

Newsflash: God works in mysterious yet very obvious ways!

Here's the breakdown of what occured between Thursday and Friday.

Logan came home from school with a fever on Thursday at 10:30am. A fever would have an impact on whether or not a heart cath could happen. I call the cardiology clinic who says to take him to the pediatrician. Ben took him at 1pm and by that time his fever was gone and the pediatrician said "Logan should be fine to do it." I then call the cardiology team and they tell us that they'll proceed on Friday but we need to keep an eye on him. Logan doesn't have a fever the rest of the day. Friday morning at 4:30am I check to see if he's got a fever. He doesn't. I check at 6:30am (we had to leave at 7:15). Fever of 99.5. I call the cardiologist on call. He says they don't consider a real fever until 100.4 and to still bring him in. At 8:15 they bring us to the pre-op room to get things moving. Good blood pressure. Sats were 77-80Fever was 101.5! "This isn't good," says the nurse. "I'll be back." We knew that a fever that high would prohibit the heart cath from happening and sure enough, the nurse came in and said we'd have to postpone. What is going on with this kid, we wondered.

A little bit later, Dr. Lohr was on the phone for us. She said she doesn't want to reschedule the heart cath until after she sees him in clinic and that he may not need to have this heart cath at all since his aerosol lung scan was normal and his hemoglobin is 17.2, which is the lowest it's been and a positive sign. At that moment, I smiled. As much as we wanted Logan to have this heart cath, God was telling us that He didn't--at least not now. Dr. Lohr had been questioning if it was worthwhile to do and really going to do much for him and then, especially with the newest information and then the answer was obvious--because he had the fever, it prohibited him from having it. So, we took Logan home gave him a dose of Tylenol and he didn't have a fever the rest of the weekend.

That's not irony to Ben and me who believe so strongly that God's hand is always at work. That IS God's hand at work.

We've got Logan scheduled for an apt with Dr. Lohr on Oct. 10 and he sees Dr. Reglemann on Oct. 28 so until then, we'll get him a flu shot and do our best to keep him healthy.

Appreciate the thoughts and prayers, as always.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008 9:00 AM CDT

Logan's heart cath is scheduled for Friday at 9:00am at the U of M and we'll have to arrive at 7:00am. Yesterday, Logan had his pre-op with Dr. Plotnik and she was thrilled to see him as it was March when she saw him last. He weighed in at 39 pounds and if memory serves me, was 41 inches tall. This kid cannot pass the 40 pound mark but I was happy to learn he was at least on the growth chart in the 25th percentile for both height and weight.

He had a quick finger poke and said to Dr. Plotnik, "I won't even cry because I'm five and I get pokes a lot." So brave. His hemoglobin came back at 17.1, which is about the lowest I ever remember it being. I was excited to share that with Dr. Lohr.

Dr. Lohr checked in on Logan's lung scan and shared that it was read as: "normal ventilation throughout but technically difficult study with contrast getting stuck in the airways." The last part concerns me because we know he's got tracheal and bronchial malacia. That said, Dr. Regelmann shared this with Dr. Lohr: "Logan's TcDTPA aerosol scan showed some increased deposition in the central airways likely due to his malacia but the penetrance to both lungs was normal. Thus he is not obstructing airflow to one lung more than the other." That is actually quite good news and means his lungs aren't as bad as might have been suspected. Praise God.

We'll see Dr. Regelmann on Friday so will ask him the appropriate questions about Logan's airway and if it's an issue we really need to be concerned about.

Cute story from last night in that Owen got out of his bed and said he kept thinking about Satan and monsters. (Not sure why Satan is suddenly in his thoughts but...) Any case, we said a quick prayer for happy thoughts and he asked if he could pray anytime he wanted, which I replied yes and left his room. I stood outside the door and heard him start a prayer of his own -- "Dear God, please help me to have good thoughts...I'm glad I can pray to you anytime and that I can pray to angels too...that way, if you're not home the angels can tell you what I said." I left with a smile and warm, fuzzy heart.

Prayers welcome for a positive heart cath on Friday. We want those oxygen saturation levels to go up and a good heart function. Prayers are alway welcome for Logan and Owen, who we know will be a little nervous about his brother being at the hospital for an overnight stay.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008 8:56 PM CDT

Oh boy(s)! Are we having fun with school or what? The boys had such fun last week and now yesterday (Tuesday) they got to ride a real, live school bus -- and what's better; the morning driver is Bus Driver Bob! The afternoon driver is Effron but the kids call him Effie. I've finally seen my taxpayer dollars at work in that we've got a dedicated bus that leaves Blackhawk Middle School for Good Shepherd. Yesterday there were only three kids on the bus--Owen, Logan and a little chap named Jacob going into sixth grade. Their ride home has six kids on it so four others. I think they're really digging this experience and I must admit that yesterday when I put them on the bus I was beaming with pride and a bit giddy at how stinking cute these kids of ours are. Logan was wide-eyed and bushy tailed and Owen was Joe Cool, of course!

Our Labor Day weekend we spent Friday night at the State Fair and then headed down to Austin on Saturday for a quick visit and the boys got to ride on Grandpa Paul's motorcyle (a bigger version moped, really). This was a first for them too. Of course, at first Owen was all cool ready to ride and then once his helmet was on and he was sitting on the bike he realized he maybe wasn't quite brave enough until I told him I went on my first motorcyle ride at four. He was ready to go then and had a ball.

Sunday and Monday the boys had so much fun playing with Aly and Ty. They didn't want to do anything else but go on safari's in the woods to look for "Slimy Things," ride bikes and scooters, have pajama parties and just be boys and play. We are lucky to have Aly and Ty be such good friends to the boys. Owen and Logan LOVE them!!

Two other big things for Owen we can't forget to mark:
1. Owen lost his FIRST tooth! On Saturday morning he was eating an apple and came into the kitchen and said, "Mommy, a seed" as he put it on the counter. I was cleaning up dishes and said put it in the garbage but did he? No...that's actually a good thing because 20 minutes later as I was having a heart to heart about his lack of listening skills I noticed something was missing in his mouth. "Owen," I shrieked. "Where's your tooth?" He said he didn't know and then I realized that seed might be more than that. Sure enough--it was a tooth. Then, I was worried it was too soon so ran down for a quick Google check. Sure enough five is a normal age and sure enough, the tooth that fell out was the first tooth that came in at four months. The toothfairy came, wrote him a poem and left him $3.00. Logi got a letter too letting him know that soon the toothfairy would visit him too. Too cute!

2. Owen got his first bee sting! On Sunday he was outside playing and came in screaming about his foot. I thought he fell but when I took his sandal off he had a bee stuck to the toe next to his big one. Ben pushed the bee off and there was a big black stinger stuck in there. Once again, thank goodness for Google--ran downstairs to make sure we tackled it properly. Did you know that antipirsprant is good for bee stings? Remember that next time...

So, it's fall -- off to school, the temperature has dropped 30 degrees in a day and it's election time.

16 days until Logan's heart cath. Probably another update before then.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008 8:50 PM CDT

UPDATED POST -- Thurday, Aug. 28, 11am
The first day of school went off without a hitch and the boys had loads of fun. There are seven girls and seven boys in the class for a great number of 14. During the morning chapel service Owen kept his hand up the entire time. Pastor Tiarks couldn't call on him because he was set to a schedule so I asked after school why his hand was up. He said that he wanted to tell everyone that "It's important to love God and always obey Him." If only he practiced what he wanted to preach everyday.

The other story that must be noted is last night during a major thunderstorm. Owen was a bit scared by the thunder so I pulled out the old "God is bowling" story. I said with each boom of thunder that God was trying to get all the pins down at once and bowl a strike. Owen then said, "Well, God must not be very good then because there's a lot of bowling happening." I immediately had to leave the room with laughter.

Logan's apt went well yesterday--very interesting. We're waiting for results but definitely think it was a good test to do and the tech guys said they got a lot of good pictures. I asked if they do this test a lot and they said mostly just on CF kids (Cystic Fibrosis). I was actually okay hearing that statement knowing that Dr. Lohr said we may want to treat him as if he's got CF in order to keep extra good tabs on him and his lungs. Report to come.

The last note about yesterday is when we were done and waiting for our car at valet. Logan was flying his new Spiderman airplane in the entrance and we saw Dr. Saltzman. I mentioned Tuesday night that I've been a little sentimental about Kindergarten and how far the boys have come from five years ago so it was ironic to see him at that point in time as we feel he saved Logan's life twice-once with the malrotated intestines and once with his gastric volvulos and subsequent bacterial infection. I love moments like that when I can plainly see God's hand at work.


ORIGINAL POST -- Tues., Aug.26, 8:50pm
Tomorrow is a monumental day for Owen and Logan -- our little fish are headed off to school! I keep thinking of "Finding Nemo" and how Nemo was so excited on his first day of school and his daddy was so scared. We haven't been scared or nervous or emotional up until now since they're going to Good Shepard where they went to Pre-k, yet tonight we're definitely realizing that tomorrow their lives change forever. School--Wow! Rewind five years ago and I think many people, including some doctors, didn't know if one, let alone both, of the boys ever have the chance to start Kindergarten. To think of how far they've come, how strong and smart and social and self-sufficient they both are is simply miraculous. We've seen beautiful and wonderful things happen with Owen and Logan and we're so blessed and proud.

Tonight, we went out for dinner and I told them just how amazing it is they're going to Kindergarten considering where they started in life. I told them they were simply miracles, which turned into another conversation. It was touching at times and then, our conversation turned to toothbrushing and Owen told me his tooth hurt and he hoped he wasn't getting a gravity. Yep, gravity. I hate when I get those. ;)

We spent last weekend in Chicago--Mom, Randy, Ben and the boys drove down for a weekend with Auntie Amanda. I was there for Macy's Glamorama and Ben joined me Friday night. Saturday was oh, so hot but we spent the day at Navy Pier, rode the Ferris Wheel, looked at boats and had lots of fun. We went to a fun restaurant called Ed Debevnik's Saturday night and the boys had a fun time there too. On Friday, they spent time at the Lincoln Park Zoo and then Sunday came and it was time to drive home. We definitely could have used another full day to visit Shedd Aquarium, go on a boat ride, maybe the Art Institute but one thing we've learned is there's never enough time for fun! Grandma Linda was definitely born to be a teacher because she had "Roadtrip Bingo" and lots of other games planned to keep them busy in the car. Our seven hour ride flew by and the boys were terrific travelers.

After school tomorrow, Logan heads to the U of M for a DTPA aerosol lung scan. I've googled and found info but frankly, none that really makes sense. Essentially, this might be better than doing a bronchoscopy for Logan and the hope is it will give docs a better picture of Logan's lungs and what/if anything is preventing him from having better oxygen saturation levels. This lung scan test will be followed up by another heart catherization on Sept. 19. If you'll recall, the thought was to do this again and get rid of some of the collateral vessels that might be sucking the oxygen out him (for lack of a better way to explain).

As usual--and thankfully so--we don't think too much about these things until they're right upon us. Tomorrow's test is pretty simple and we're really hoping it provides information and insight that we've not had before. It seems that if we can keep these little lungs of Logan healthy, then he's all the better for it. If they get the right info, what they do in the heart cath lab will Lord willing, be just what he's needed to improve his O2 level.

I'm depressed that summer is over and fall is upon us as I just love summer and the freedom it brings but a new chapter starts tomorrow for our sweet chaps and for that, my feeble depressed state is really full of joy!

Sunday, August 3, 2008 8:21 PM CDT

It's the lazy days of summer around here at the Bushaws and we really are enjoying every minute of it. Summer is Logan's best season and we are just amazed at how wonderful he's doing. At night when I put my ear to his back to listen to him breathe, he's a bit noisy but in the morning, it's amazing not a sound just inhaling and exhaling. A beautiful noise.

Owen recupped quickly from his hospital stay and no follow ups were necessary. He broke out in the same rash Logan did from some of his meds so we were able to finish them sooner rather than later and the rash cleared right up. He was quite a trooper through it all and Logan was a good brother helping him to be brave through everything too.

There's not much on our front to report tonight but today we learned that the little girl we've been praying for--Abby Leigh--received her new heart last night down at the children's hospital in St. Louis. What a miraculous day for the Ostlies who have been waiting for close to 20 months for a new heart. Tonight we ask that you will pray for Abby to have a steady recovery and that her new heart will be perfect for her. Please also pray for her family as they stay close by her side through all of the ups and downs of her healing.

The boys begin school August 27--I just learned that today so we've got a lot more fun to get in before then. We'll have some great stories to share, I'm sure.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:22 PM CDT

Hard to believe the boys turned three weeks ago already. They had a great party with their school friends and Ali and Ty. It was a "Bubble Gum, Star Wars, SpiderMan, Superhero, Transformer, Pirates of the Carribean, Power Ranger Party."

If you can imagine, it was quite a challenge to fit it all in but we did with games like "Guess the Gum, "Duck, Duck Darth" (as in Vader), and "Pin the badge on the Power Ranger." The plates, napkins and cups helped get everything in too. The menu, as selected by the boys, included a veggie tray, fruit bowl, hot dogs, noodles, juice boxes and cupcakes. Seemed a little odd yet the kids gobbled things up as only kids can do with food like that. It was a lot of fun and we were happy they could have such a great milestone celebration.

On to other things, the boys were in T-ball but after seven sessions and never hitting the ball we pretty much stopped going and now will go if we're free. Logan had a talk with one of the high school coaches one night and said, "This is T-ball, I wanna hit the ball!" The coach said they'd hit the last four times of class so perhaps we'll go again starting next Monday. The best thing to come out of T-ball is this story:

First night of class the coaches were going through some fundamentals of T-ball and stretching came up as a topic so you don't pull a muscle and get hurt. In recapping the teaching moment, the coach said "So what can help so that you don't get hurt or pull a muscle in T-ball?" Owen raised his hand and shouted "JESUS!" We were so proud. :)

Fourth of July was fun--we stuck close to home and the boys hung out a lot with Ali and Ty, they're most favorite people in the whole world. We enjoyed just hanging out without a care in the world for a few days.


Last week Ben took the boys to Austin on Thu/Fri so he could help his dad. The boys got to see Grandpa Steve along with Great Grandpa Bud and Great Grandma Enid. They had a ball riding on the tractor with GG Bud. They also spent time with Grandpa Paul and Grandma Kathy and Payton and Braydon. They LOVE Payton and Braydon and we're glad they got to spend some time down there with everyone. They really do have so much fun.

The biggest news to share is that Owen just came home after a 1 1/2 day visit to the hospital. Yep, Owen and not Logan. He had skinned his knee last Friday and on Sunday I noticed it was getting red outside around the band-aid. Pulled off the band-aid and the quarter-sized wound was green and gross. We put some hydrogen peroxide on it and let it be but by 9:00 his knee was twice the size and the redness had grown a lot. A call to the pediatrician led Ben and Owen to Fairview Ridges in Burnsville where he was admitted for Celluitis, a bacterial infection that can be pretty dangerous. The docs put him on IV antibiotics, Vancomiacin and another one, and said we needed to stay put for a couple days. Owen was none to happy about this and only wanted to go home until the doctor said he could get him some video games. Suddenly, the hospital became an okay place to be. Ben brought him home early this afternoon and considering we don't have video game machines at his house, I'm hoping he doesn't try to get another infection for another visit.

Logan was interesting during this process with Owen. On Sunday night he was crying, crying, crying and didn't want Owen to have to go there. Yesterday when I told him we were going to head up to the hospital he said he'd rather stay home and play. When I probbed a little further he finally told me that if he went to the hospital that they'd probably tell him he had a cold and make him stay there. I felt so badly but once we got there and he realized the tables were turned with Owen stuck there, he rather enjoyed himself. Last night he got to stay with G& G Schroeder for a special night. Owen has had plenty of those and this was Logan's first one and I think he rather enjoyed himself too.

Of course it's no fun and can be really scary when kids have to be in the hospital but as our definition of normal is so different than most we somehow find these experiences interesting and come out a little stronger. Our biggest learning from this with Owen is to make sure to always clean owies with soap and water and to use antibiotic ointment. Lesson learned and frankly, really glad it wasn't Logan in this situation as we're guessing it could have been a pretty different story.

Our nanny Paula is done next Wednesday after two years with us and we're so sad. She's been a real blessing to us and the boys and we adore her so much. She'll be hanging out with her other family for more hours and is expecting a baby so we wish her well and won't let her get too far away. Our new nanny is Thuy and happens to be Cooper and Jack's old nanny. Cooper is going to a great pre-k program so the Corbo's felt they didn't need her. We're so happy how it's working out as finding a replacement for Paula would be no easy feat!


We're still waiting to hear next steps on Logan and his ticker. The thought is he'll have another heart cath where the docs will actually do some work but at this point, it'll be August before we get that scheduled. He's doing incredibly well and everything about him right now seems perfect. We're so thankful!

Minus Owen's trip to the ER and stay in the joint we're loving every minute of summer. Had to get a lot in this update since it's been so long.

Please pray for a little girl we know of named Abby. She's in St. Louis waiting for a heart transplant and it's been a long time. 17+ months on the transplant list but just recently headed to St. Louis. We hope it comes for her very soon.

Monday, June 23, 2008 8:57 PM CDT

Happy Birthday Owen & Logan!

At this moment you're both upstairs screaming because Daddy won't let you play "Star Wars" on the tv anymore--a gift you received tonight from Grandma Linda and Grandpa Randy. I know you're really only acting like four year olds because you didn't have a nap today, yesterday or Saturday and you're just a bit overtired but in any case listening to this is not a good way to end your birthday.

Today was a fun day that started with decorated bedrooms when you woke up, new bikes, a trip to Toys R Us (with an INR check at the hospital lab first), a picnic in the yard, swimming at Cascade Bay, playing with Aly and Ty, dinner at El Loro, birthday cake and of course, presents! You both received so many nice emails, cards and gifts from friends and Aunts (and Uncle Travis)and grandparents and great-grandparents...you're definitely special to a lot of people.

We are very proud of you Owen and Logan. We do have some things we need to work on this year with listening skills and obedience but for the most part you are wonderful big boys with good hearts and kind manners. To think of how far we've come in five years is really something amazing.

Yesterday we were at the 150th anniversary celebration of Mommy's home church, First Baptist in Austin, and one of the pieces of special music was the song "God is in Control." All of the words were beautiful and meaningful but it's those four words "God is in control" that are so powerful. Starting from that April Fools Day in 2003 and through every surgery and recovery God has shown us He is in control in your lives, boys. The hard part is not understanding how sometimes God's control isn't fair, like losing cousin Ellis and Grandma Debbie and good friend little Jack, yet at the same time still having faith that God knows the reasons and the answers. We are grateful for the faith we have for it has led us through some very hard, scary and challenging times for both of you boys and we know we'll still have challenging times ahead with you, Logan and your special heart. It's our hope as your Mommy and Daddy that we can raise you to truly understand that God is in control and that you can have faith in His control every single day.

Keep growing big and strong Owen and Logan and keep being good boys and kind boys. We love you very, very much.

Love,
Mommy and Daddy

Thursday, June 19, 2008 11:47 AM CDT

Hi Everyone, it's me Logan! Mommy took me to get my CT Angio on Tuesday and guess what--Dr. Lohr told Mommy after reviewing that I can have a surgery-free summer. HOORAY. Not that I had any idea I might need to have one to begin with but Mommy and Daddy did.

Anyway, the CT Angio showed the doctors more information to put the puzzle together and while all of the answers still aren't completely clear they did learn my right lung is doing better than initially thought (they at first thought I was functioning on only one lung) and that my veins that Dr. Herrington connected when I was but a wee baby are doing just what they're supposed to and look okay. There is some compression of the bronchus on the lower lobe of the right lung but Dr. Lohr isn't sure we can or need to do anything about that. She and the radiologist think my oxygen levels are low because there are these collateral vessels that have formed by my systemic and pulmonary veins that are kind of like sucking the good, oxygenated blood for themselves instead of allowing it to get to my lung. Does that make sense? This is how Mommy comprehends it anyway and after she talked with Dr. Lohr thinks she's on the right track. All of the cardiologists and surgeons will still need to discuss the best plan of attack but the initial thinking is to go in and do another catherization to occlude those collateral vessels and that my O2's should go up. They'll probably do this in July sometime.

I did a great job on Tuesday with the CT Angio and sat perfectly still and held my breath when I was supposed to and was hardly scared at all. Everyone tells me how brave I am and I don't really know what that means but I try to just do what's asked of me because it's all I know. I'm good now but let's hope Mommy and Daddy don't press their luck with me b/c I might turn for the worse when I learn how to drive!!

One thing Dr. Lohr told Mommy was that we might need to start treating me like a kid with cystic fibrosis because that's how tender my lungs are. My heart function continues to be good but my right lung continues to be a big factor in my overall health. We'll have to get Dr. Reggelmann on board with this so he's extra, extra tuned in to me and always thinking of me as not just another patient. Trust me, if he doesn't Mommy will fix it in a second--she's pretty good at that. No messin' around with Mommy when it comes to me, that's for sure!!!

So more to come on next steps but I know Mommy and Daddy are so, so, so relieved to avoid another heart surgery and that my long term outlook can be positive even without one. God is good.

Owen and I started T-ball on Monday. It's two nights a week, which Mommy and Daddy think are too much and after two nights I haven't even gotten to bat! Too much instruction--I wanna just play a game. If we get bored, we might have to find something else to do plus there are bad kids there who like to kick the sand and throw the sand and it's been driving Mommy crazy. "Who lets their kids do that with other kids aroun?," she says. I kind of think it's fun but Mommy definitely doesn't think so. One funny thing that happened on Monday was when the coach asked all the kids what can help if you pull a muscle. Owen shouted out "Jesus!" Apparently, we go to a Christian school because isn't Jesus the answer for everything?!

Oh, and--our birthday is just FIVE days away. We turn Five on Monday and boy, oh boy we are so excited. Every morning when we get up we ask Mommy and Daddy how many more days until our birthday. It's so exciting. Five, can you believe it?!! Our birthday party is going to be fun too but we'll tell you about it once it's over.

That's what I've got for now. I'm doing good and God is good and people are good for praying for me and Owen is good and the weather is good and yep, right now the world is a good place (for us, anyway).

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 8:32 PM CDT

The Cath update:
Not surprisingly, Logan was a real champ today--so strong and brave--and made us so proud.

It's hard to know what to say to a five year old about stuff such as this. On one hand you don't want to wait until the last minute and spring it all on a little boy yet on the other hand you don't want to say too much too soon and stress the little boy out. We've found over the past however long that the day before or sometimes even day of (in the instance of getting a poke or INR check) is best. So, we talked with Logan last night about the fact he had an apt today where the doctors were going to take pictures of his heart. He was agreeable and when we talked about the doctors who'd be there he knew who we were talking about.

This morning he got up, got dressed and said he was ready to go and so we did. It wasn't until he went into the pre-op room to get the anesethia that he got overly concerned and this time around he wanted Daddy in there with him instead of Mommy (ouch for Mommy).

We left Logan about 10:00 and went in to the recovery room about 2pm. I forgot that it's hard to see your little boy waking up, groggy, out of sorts and a little scared but he did fine, not a cry or a tear as long as we were near.

Dr. Gruenstein did the cath with Dr. Ameduri there too. We appreciate both of them so much. Dr. Lohr was very engaged as well though she wasn't a part of the actual procedure. The news isn't super great of what they found but isn't super bad either.

Essentially--and this is with the caveat that it's based on our understanding of what they explained--Logan's heart function is quite good (yay!) but he's got really high pulmonary pressures on his right side. His right lung has been an issue for a long, long time. The pressure measures 20 and it should be 15, which is actually a big difference. In other words, his right lung isn't getting much red or oxygenated blood and they couldn't quite tell why. They wonder if there's an issue with one of his pulmonary arteries being obstructed or if his veins are just narrowing. Because they couldn't tell from this cath, he'll now have a CT Angio to gather more info and determine what the next step needs to be. The thought is it might be related to back when Logan had his first heart surgery and Dr. Herrington had to rework his veins (total anomolous pulmonary venous return). There could be some scarring that by doing another open heart surgery could be fixed. Initial thoughts are this is best case scenario as it would increase his oxygen levels, lessen the pressures, etc and positively effect his long term outlook. The other scenario is a narrowing of the veins, in which case they can't do anything. Kids can live like this though over time there is accumulated decline. That said, Dr. Lohr knows of men in their 60's who are just bluer than others.

We've talked heart transplants before about Logan and we did learn that if this is an artery issue that a heart transplant really can't fix that problem so our goal now is to really make the right decisions. Also, Dr. Lohr shared that for Fontan kids who have heart transplants the success rate is only 1 in 3. Not liking that stat but also not sure if it's b/c of the same reasons or when the fontan patients get the hearts. Too many unknowns to be too fearful.

His O2 levels at the start of today were in the high 70'sut by the time we left at 6:00 were at 85 How can that be? Well, the docs think because he was intubated and the breathing tube was doing all the work and causing pressure that it could have opened up an area of Logan's lung that was a little collapsed. Regardless, we'll take it. MUCH prefer sats in the 80's than 70's.

So now we wait until the next apt to really know what to do. Initially, we were pretty bummed as the info seemed really not so good but as we talked with Dr. Lohr later in the afternoon she said we should basically feel the same as we did yesterday. And, given the fact Logan went on a 2 mile bike ride and hardly had to stop, I guess we can't be too gloom and doomy. Until we have the right info we can't change anything so we'll keep as we always have been...learn the info, determine what it means and move forward. Logan has proven too many times that he does things his way, on his time and thankfully with good outcomes.

Owen was very worried about Logan today and at one point mentioned to Paula and Grandma Linda that maybe he was going to "get dead." He was talking about Grandma Debbie and our sweet friend Jack. I'm sure he associates this stuff and hospitals with not so good things and it's heartbreaking to know he's worried about this and his brother. We just love them both so much and can tell just how much they love one another.

Logan's begging me to get upstairs and it's time for bed so more on next steps soon...

Monday, June 9, 2008 6:03 AM CDT

Big day tomorrow as Logan has his third heart catherization. The first was when he was still a baby, the second back in June 2005 in preparation for his Fontan and this one tomorrow to get a good sense of what that little ticker of his is doing. Today he's got his pre-op with Dr. Plotnik and a check on his INR. We stopped his Coumadin on Tuesday and have been giving him a 1/2 baby asprin to bring his INR level down to about normal. Changing medications caused a little anxiety for us, of course Logan knew no difference.

While we're optimistic about what Dr. Gruenstein will learn about Logan's heart we've got some concerns--and I think realistic ones--about what the long term outlook is for his ticker. His hemoglobin has been creeping up since February. The best he's had was 16.9 and most recently I think it was 18.something. This indicates there's growing pulmonary pressures. We upped his Sildenafil a while ago but haven't seen a real change yet. Prior to his Fontan his hemoglobin was 21.something so thankfully we're not there but Dr. Lohr has always said she'd like it below 17 with an O2 of 85 . In that regard, his 02 hasn't been above 80ince January either when it hit 87Winter was definitely hard on the kid. The two atrial tachycardias (SVT/high heart rate) episodes are also indicators of how much his heart can do. Dr. Lohr told us back in March that he may need his new heart sooner than the 20 years she hoped.

So, we'll see. We're very hopeful that the doctors can learn some thing tomorrow that may require a simple fix (not a word that fits too well with Logan but that's why we're hopeful!). There is a chance they might want to close his fenestration to get more red blood to his lungs, which would increase his O2 but that could cause a lot more pulmonary pressure and that would not bode well for Logan based on his sensitve lungs and pulmonary stenosis. We're praying the right decisions are made and that Logan can continue on his very happy life journey with his current special heart.

We've got to be at the hospital at 7:30, the procedure starts at 9:30 and they think they'll be done aroun 12:15 (or at least that's the time they've blocked off). We'll update tomorrow or Thursday with the results.

Ben wrappd up school Friday so his summer officially started. We've already spent three days at Cascade Bay and are enjoying the warmer weather although we're still waiting for three straight days of sun and warm temperatures. Mother nature can't seem to get it all straight.

The boys turn five in just two short weeks. Wow! To think of how far they've come...and how far they'll go.

Monday, May 19, 2008 3:42 PM CDT

My, my, my...could it really be more than a month since our last update? No news is usually good news and such has been the case with us. Our last post was about the passing of our little friend Jack Corbo and we celebrated his life that following Saturday in a wonderful, beautiful and touching service. The Corbos are truly a remarkable family who have had to face something that no parent should ever have to face and yet they're willing to move forward and give Cooper the best life ever, just as Jack had. Please continue to think of them and lift them up.

The boys have been doing well..no major illnesses or injuries to call out. Logan's INR (based on his coumadin) were a little out of whack for a while but we've pretty much got it back to his normal range and he really seems to be enjoying himself right now. We've scheduled his heart catherization for June 10 along with a bronchoscopy the same day. We figure if he's going under once, let's get some other stuff taken care of so he can have his best summer ever. More to come as this date gets closer. Unfortunately, heart caths are far from without risk so we'll be praying very hard that Logan does a-okay and we get the answers we need.

The boys wrap up pre-K this week with their graduation ceremony on Thursday. I can't believe it's been a year already. A couple of weeks ago they had Entertainment Night, which was a whole school production. Needless to say, the boys were a-dor-a-ble!!! They sang (and knew all of the words to) "God Bless America" and "Minnesota." It was an Americana theme so something about the United States was tied to a letter. Logan and Owen each went up with another older kid holding their letter and then went back to sit down. Funny how proud you can be from something so simple. And, of course, they looked cute as ever in their red & white striped shirts and khakis. Admittedly, we were a bit mortified when Logan's finger went toward and then up his nose while sitting on the stage although we could harldy contain our laughter. However, when the finger left the nose and went down to his mouth we were literally shuttering with disgust and yes, laughter at the same time. Oh, to be four. He didn't seem to recall this behavior after the fact but promised to never do that in public again.

Next year, the boys will once again attend Good Sheperd. They are very excited as some of their closer friends from school are continuing on here, as well as Ellie, the girl whom they both tell me they are marrying! It was a really hard decision considering Eagan has an excellent school district and Ben is a public school teacher but at the end of the day our hearts love the fact the boys are getting a Christian education in addition to just an education. Celebrating Christmas, Easter and getting a solid basis for life is very important to us and today is so different than when we were kids. We'll see how Kindergarten goes and take it from there but it's nice to have this big decision finally made. It will be morning kindergarten and they'll most likely ride a dedicated Good Sheperd bus (another thing we were concerned about). We're hoping like mad that Paula will continue to be with us next year as we can't imagine life without her. We've been so lucky. Grandma Linda has once again graciously offered to continue helping with the boys as well. Honestly, we wouldn't have the boys we do without Grandma Linda and Paula taking such amazing care of them while we're at work day in and day out. It's been nice to have Grandpa Paul help out every now and again too and hope that continues into next year as well.

We've enjoyed being outside and pretty much spending every waking minute playing Star Wars, riding bikes, tag, tennis, catch, baseball, etc. in the great outdoors. It's still quite a bit colder than it should be but we'll take the sun.

We're blessed. In every way, we are so blessed and continue to be amazed by God's love for us.

Friday, April 11, 2008 7:58 PM CDT

Update: Monday, April 14
Today and for the next long period of time, we would ask that you pray for our dear friends the Corbos. Today, their little son Jack passed away while waiting for his second heart transplant. We came to know the Corbo's after seeing a story on Jack in December 2004 on WCCO. We shared CaringBridge pages but never met until Logan's heart surgery on Nov. 2, 2006. We were in the surgery waiting room and heard the waiting room attendant call for Corbo. I searched the room and saw Todd and quickly went over and introduced myself. Robin had just gotten to the hospital and upon finally meeting in person we were instant friends for we could relate. Since then, we've come to know and love this family and have prayed so hard for Jack that he would be healthy then that he would receive his second heart. Now, we are so sad. This doesn't make sense. He was such a true fighter as was his Mommy and Daddy. Please pray for strength for his entire family and that they find some sense of peace that Jack is now healed with a perfect heart.

_____________________________________

Original Update: Friday, April 11
Is it spring yet? Ugh...what miserable weather. A winter storm warning on April 10 is not our definition of spring. We're anxiously awaiting another day like last Saturday when the sun was shining (and warm) and we played outside all day. Feels like a dream.

Logan had a couple of big apts on April 9. First, with Dr. Dunnigan, an electrophysiologist. She's engaged with Logan now because of his SVT's. We really liked her a lot and she did a very nice job of explaining things to us. Unfortunately, she can't explain why it happened and was honest in that it'll be hard to ever find out but did tell us that three things need to be in place in order for his heart to go into this Atrial Tachycardia (she said the term SVT is the doctors lazy way of describing a broad issue of tachycardias but Logan's is Atrial Tachycardia...it was funny). The three things are adrenaline, a skipped beat and a circuit. His fever probably put those things in motion at just the right time but again, may not ever know. She also said the scarring from his surgeries could be a cause for the circuit issues. We went through the options for dealing with it and she laid out how we could look at what's happened as either:

- Shoot, he's had these episodes twice in six weeks
(cup half-empty type of person), or
- Geez, he's got a not-so-good heart, has had two
open heart surgeries with scarring and has only had
two of this in nearly five years
(cup half-full type of person)

Guess which way we're thinking? :)

Back after Logan's second AT episode, he wore a Holter monitor for 24 hours and the results were good. A normal heart beat rhythm the entire time. This didn't surprise us and actually gave us a sense of relief in that we truly don't need to be worried about him all the time, which is good since frankly, we hardly worry at all.

So what now? She said our best bet and safest for Logan is to cardiovert him when this happens unless it becomes a really regular occurance. "We're in data collecting mode," is how she put it. There's a surgery procedure - risky and not guaranteed, medication - efficacy of only 60o he'd have to take medicine every day and would still have them occasionally, or cardioverting.

End of day, we'll try to keep him healthy and from all three things from not happening at the same time.

Dr. Dunnigan will now be a part of the team we keep at bay for Logan and based on her reputation and our impression of her, we're glad to have her.

Second apt was with Dr. Lohr. We were surprised by howlow his O2 level was -- 74-81ut Dr. Lohr thought it has more to do with his lung health than heart health. His ekg and echo looked good and unchanged from previous (good news) and based on his energy levels she wasn't concerned. Her goal for him is to get his lungs in good, good shape and see how much he improves. We're betting it's a lot! We'll schedule a heart cath for mid-June and likely do a bronchoscopy at this time too so we can get an updated view of his airway. His last one was 2005 and getting a new view will provide good information on moving forward. We're hoping Dr. Malone can come over from Children's to do this but may not happen.

All in all, good apts and Logan as always was a great trooper. Full of energy, smiles and life--we love his doctors to see him this way.

The boys had their conferences last night. Ben went as I was stuck in Mpls at work b/c of bad roads. Mrs. Streckert had all good things to say although Logan occasionally has a difficult time staying on task (no surprise to use) so we'll have to work on improving this. She said their definitely ready for Kindergarten with their knowledge and that they're sweet boys who follow directions well. We think on that one she was referring to someone else's kid. Kidding...they are such good boys most of the time and are just enjoying being boys.

Owen is quickly becoming aware of pretty girls and what they're wearing. Today at a school concert he noted the girl in the yellow--he "really liked her outfit and her hair was pretty too." Same with Ellie in his class. "She has pretty hair." It's quite funny to hear and I appreciate his sense of style. :)

We're praying hard for our friend Jack. He's needing a new heart more and more each day. Please pray that he can stay comfortable enough while he waits and that the wait is not much longer at all. The Corbo's are just amazing and we want their lives to be as blessed as we are.

Praying for a healthy spring, new hearts and warm weather.

P.S., A new update on Sunday, April 13. Today Owen and Logan learned how to ride a two wheel bike with no training wheels. Ty, our neighbor and sister to Ali, both of whom are the boys' favorite friends, got a new bike so Owen checked out his old one. Within four minutes of getting on he was a pro. We couldn't believe it! Logan was biking like a rock star too but he's not quite as natural on it...yet! Here we planned on buying the boys new bikes for their fifth birthday but I guess we'll have to up the date since June will surely be too long to get shiny new bikes. Way to go Owen and Logan. Learning how to ride a real bike is quite the right of passage to truly being a big, big boy! We're so proud of you.

Monday, March 24, 2008 4:03 PM CDT

Since the most common theme for us Minnesotans is talking about the weather, what an Easter weekend. About 11 inches fell between Friday and Easter Sunday. Ughh...we're so ready for spring! Easter was a fun-filled day for the boys and we had the opportunity to see a lot of family. Unfortunately, we didn't get to church as there's this fear of getting Logan there and then getting sick but with the warmer weather, we're anxious to get back. Easter isn't quite Easter--Sunday's aren't quite Sunday's, for that matter--when we're not in church.

It would appear that Logan is feeling about the best he's felt all winter during this past week. On Friday and Saturday, he and Owen were outside for well over an hour both days running, sledding, yelling, throwing snowballs, you name it. I was a little hesitant to have him out there that long but how can you not when he's actually enjoying himself so much.

Easter brought egg hunts and Easter baskets and lots of eating. It was a treat to spend time with everyone. The morning started with brunch with Grandpa Randy and Grandma Linda along with Aunties Amanda and Andrea and then we headed down to Austin. It was nice to get there since we've not been since January to see Grandpa Steve, Grandpa Paul & Grandma Kathy. We also spent time with Great Grandpa Behn, Great Grandpa Bud and Great Grandma Enid and so enjoy watching the boys spend time with the grandparents we grew up with and loved so much. We need to get to Great G& G Lists house soon too.

The boys are so funny lately and the things they do and say simply crack us up. The other night we were heading up to bed and Logan got on his tummy on the floor and "swam like the penguins" to the stairs. Owen talked with Amanda the other night but before wrapping the conversation had to tell her, "Oh, by the way Amanda, I really liked your shirt today and your necklace was nice too." Such a charmer (albeit with motives).

No apts until April 2 when Logan has his last synagis and then April 9 with Dr. Dunnigan and Dr. Lohr. We're definitely hoping to stay away from the hospital for a long time as we got the bill from our first two day trip in February and it was over $17,000. Multiply that times two for the stay in March in addition to the U of M doctors fees and we probably hit $40,000 in less than a month. This is the benefit of an employer with good health insurance coverage.

Dr. Lohr and I had a good convo last week about these SVT's of Logan. Truth is, he'll likely have them when he's sick with a high fever and his hemodynamics get compromised. Chances also are he'll be looking at needing a new heart sooner than the 20 years we thought but still hopefully a long ways a way. Hearing this isn't easy but thankfully, we've known Logan's life was going to be different since the day he was 22 weeks in utero. Our minds have adjusted accordingly in many ways. Now, we've got the info. and will keep it stashed away but never too close to the day-to-day wonderful life that we have.

Ben has spring break this week and I took today off so we could hang out together. We joined Lifetime and spent time at the new club in Lakeville today and the boys got to go swimming. They love swimming and it's nice to have a spot to head to when it's not quite summer. We usually don't go places like this b/c of germs and I'm praying they all stay clear of Logan so he can stay well and keep improving.

Friday, March 14, 2008 2:31 PM CDT

We went on another SVT journey with Logan on Wednesday and it's looking like it will be a journey he takes every now and again for well, maybe, forever.

Logan came down with a fever on Monday and had them each morning through Wednesday. A little Tylenol and he was back to his perky little self. On Wednesday, we again opted to not send him to school and I left for work when Paula returned from taking Owen. She called shortly after 10:30 and said she thought his heart was beating really fast again. She couldn't count it and Logan said it felt like a racecar (just what we told him to tell us if this happens). Paula did everything right and boy, are we blessed to have her with the boys M-W. She is beyond fantastic.

I met Paula and Logan at the ER at the U of M and indeed, the little squirt was having another SVT. His heart rate ranged from 243-258 and unfortunately, since he'd had a snack at 10:30, this time they couldn't cardiovert (the diffibulator paddles) until 2:30! The docs keep telling us that being in an SVT for this "short" period of time won't affect his heart function and their reasoning does make sense however, if he goes in to this everytime he gets a fever, that could change. What's really amazing is how a little jolt of energy can almost instantly shock the heart back to normal rhythm. Logan's rate went from 250 to 120 in the blink of an eye and his O2's went from the low 70's (not so good) to the mid 80's in the same period of time.

So, we spent most of the day in the PICU and moved to the floor about 8:00pm. Spent the night and Thursday day there and came home about 8:00 Thursday night. I did talk with Dr. Braunlin (cardiologist for the week) about Logan maybe having reflux and she thought it could be a possibility. Did an upper GI, which was much easier to do than when he was a baby, and sure enough-they saw it. The docs put him on Prevacid, which he's been on before a long time ago.

We're questioning Logan's meds a lot more these days. Turns out, two of Logan's medications--pulmacort and atrovent--can cause tachycardia, although the docs don't feel this is the cause of these SVT episodes, knowing the meds can cause makes us wonder what the right thing to do is. On one hand, he's been taking these meds for a long time so to happen now is odd but he's also had fevers before without going into an SVT. So why now? I just can't figure it out but will sure keep trying.

There is medication that people go on to prevent SVT's but Dr. Dunnigan, the elecrophysiologist, doesn't want him on anything yet and frankly, the side effects aren't that great. Weighing what's the better option--either cardioverting for 10 seconds or a daily medication with not-so-good side effects--is what we're up against now.

We need to find ourselves a phenomenal naturalist doctor who can help us find new options for treating Logan's breathing problems. I know they exist and I know that Grandma Debbie would find one for us immediately if she were here but hopefully, we'll get a little sign from her. :)

We're back to our Bushaw normal and doing fine and our friend Jack is making progress too. We'd ask that you keep praying for both Logan and Jack, espcially that Jack gets well enough at the perfect time to receive his perfect new heart!

Wednesday, March 5, 2008 5:39 PM CST

We might be officially, almost, nearly, close to, just about healthy at the Bushaws. I'd say we are but frankly, afraid it would jinx it--especially considering we went to Chuck E. Cheese (or as the boys call it, Shuck E Sheese) last night and that place is crawling with germs.

It's been pretty smooth sailing since our mid-Feb escapade and for that we are feeling thankful and blessed. The boys continue to be well, crazy and completely head over heels for "A Pup Named Scooby Doo." It's quite humorous to listen to them sing the theme song when the DVR goes on.

Slowly but surely we're learning how to sound out words and it's a treat to see their minds and mouths working to sound out letters to form the words. I think we forget how hard it is to decifer 'C' and 'K' for most words that start with those letters have the 'Ca' or is that 'Ka' sound. My favorite is "Woof," well, actually it's "Roof" but they just can't get that 'r' sound to sound like it's supposed to so we're driving down the freeway and Logan says, "Mommy, I just saw our woof." "But, Logan we don't have a dog," I reply. He looks at me dumbfounded and says, "No, Mommy--our woof, we just drived by it." And on I go and on he goes until we practice that blasted 'RRRRR' sound. Fun stuff.

While we're having some good times, our dear friends the Corbos are not. I'm hoping you'll pray for, think of and send good thoughts to them. Jack and Cooper are twins almost one year exactly younger than the boys. Jack needed a new heart after he was born and got it but now he's waiting for another new heart and right now is facing some pretty yucky stuff in the hospital with his heart failing and kidney stuff and more. His mom and dad are beyond fabulous parents but after months and months of various stays in the hospital and this most recent visit inching over three months while they're waiting for Jack's perfect new heart, they're tired. And there's Cooper...a little boy who misses his twin brother and his family being in one house. I ask that you just lift them up and pray for healing for Jack so that a perfect heart can quickly make it's way to little Jackers. We can't imagine their pain, anxiety and hopes for the future but we can pray.


...

Tuesday, February 19, 2008 6:38 AM CST

WEDNESDAY UPDATE -- Feb. 20:
Logan's back home and seemingly fine. We were going to stay until Wednesday (today) but as yesterday progressed we were more and more confident in how well Logan was doing and essentially, the docs were keeping him there to monitor him, which we do a good job of at home. Thankfully, the docs concurred that coming home would be okay and we pulled in the driveway around 9:00pm. Ben, Owen and Grandpa Steve had come up to the hospital to visit and Owen was going to go to Ben's game and hang out with Grandpa Steve but instead opted to hang with Logan and me. He rather liked the hospital and all Logan's room had to offer.

Logan fell asleep in the car, slept all night with hardly a cough and woke up fever free so we're going to keep praying that if this respiratory thing is yet another virus that it's about gone. He coughed a ton this morning but as usual was no worse for the wear. He'll probably head to school tomorrow and get back to real, normal things.

As for his heart, the plan is the same as Dr. Phyles shared yesterday...keep tabs on it, visit a doc that specializes in electric physiology in the next month, see Dr. Lohr in April and have a heart cath in June to check his pulmonary pressures and also his electric physiology. This will tell them a lot about why what happened happened and what course to take. Meantime, we're just going back to normal and hoping we can convince Grandma Linda and Nanny Paula that they don't have to be worried sick every time they're with Logan. Comfort levels are very different as a parent.

We were so thankful to have such an amazing and caring group of doctors and nurses at the U of M on this trip. From the second we walked in on Sunday morning we felt the care we were given was just top notch. The Cardiology team as always was amazing and we were just really impressed with how Infectious Disease, Pulmonology and the nurses were all working so hard and communicating so well with us about Logan and what was going on. It makes a big difference as a parent to have that and to have them listen to what we're saying and try to figure it all out. We're blessed to have so many care for Logan.

Quick end note...today at school during chapel the Pastor asked if anyone had any prayer requests. Owen raised his hand (Logan was at home) and asked if he could pray for Logan, his brother, who was sick and he wanted him to get better. So sweet and so real...what gems these boys of ours are.

_____________________________________

ORIGINAL UPDATE -- Feb. 19:
Yep, it's true...a trip to the hospital. Logan has been sick off and on since Jan. 2, starting with the pukey flu. A few trips to the pediatrian, some chest x-rays, lab work and more never really showed anything yet the cough and fever kept coming back. End of last week Logan got pink eye--nasty thing must keep circulating at school. The cough and fever returned although during the daytime he seemed fine. Saturday night he was moaning and crying a few times but when we'd go in there he couldn't point or say anything in particular was wrong. "I don't know" was his answer and early in the morning about 6ish he said the same thing and added "I feel funny." Again, couldn't point to anything. Ben brought him in our room a short bit later and he was hot -- 102.4 -- and he was coughing pretty hard and throwing up lots of mucesy stuff. I told Ben I was just going to take him in to the ER because we just needed to figure it out. After I quickly got ready I put my hand on his heart (I do this when he's sick/fever just to get a gauge). I literally couldn't count as fast as his heart was beating. I got up to 47 in 15 seconds which is only 188, worrisome fast but nothing compared to what it really was.

Called the cardiologist on call when we were driving to the ER and bless her heart she called ahead to let the ER know we were coming. Logan watched Scooby Doo in the car and was alert enough for still being tired.

We get to the ER and the little tiger's heart was beating at 246! Recall, last year post Fontan that one dreaded day when he was breathing about 70 breaths per minute and his heart rate was 280 . It's called sinus ventricular tachycardia and not so good. His respiratory issues became secondary at that point. His oxygen was fine, blood pressure was good and that was important. The docs did an EKG and then tried to get it to come down with a drug called Eddenesine (sp?). After three tries, his heart was still a pumping fast so they brought him up to the ICU and planned to try a different drug. Once we got up there however, they opted to not do that since it had been beating 240-253 beats for at least a few hours. Instead, they put the little bug to sleep and used the defibulator to shock it back to normal and after one try it worked and thankfully, it's been good ever since.

Now, what's wrong. The docs aren't quite sure. This can happen and does happen to kids with congenital heart defects or kids who have had repairs like Logan but why now? Lots of questions the docs are working through. The good news is after an echo his heart function is still good and there were no signs of endocarditis (BAD heart infection). Dr. Pyles doesn't believe there will be an bad effects. Logan may need medication to keep it regulated and we'll have a heart cath in June. We were planning on this already but now it will be even more important for information gathering.

The respiratory thing isn't clear either. A chest CT and sinus CT both came back clear, which is great news but doesn't give us any answers. Infectious Disease has been really engaged and are getting various blood cultures to see if there's anything bacterial. Their assumption at this point is the kid just keeps getting virus after virus and/or the virus he got is enjoying its visit in Logan. This winter is the first time Logan's been exposed to anything since he and Owen have always been at home.

The thought is he can probably come home today provided the cultures aren't showing anything and we'll do the appropriate follow up with his ticker.

Owen's being a champ as always and prayed for Logan last night that Logan could get better so he could come home and play weapons with him. That's our Owen.

Appreciate the thoughts and prayers...let's hope we figure it out and don't have to constantly be concerned that Logan's heart will be a race horse every time he gets sick!

More to come.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008 8:52 PM CST

We are so glad January is over! We started the new year off having a ball bowling--a first for Owen and Logan. The boys had such fun and gave us a run for our money. Something about bumper pads and a little slide to push the ball down seemed to give them a bit of an edge. It was after New Year's day that the bad news bugs decided to invade the Bushaw house.

First, the pukey flu for Logan on Jan. 2 followed by the pukey flu for Mommy Jan. 4. Never any fun but always good for a diet :). We stayed healthy for a week, then Owen had his turn with the pukey flu, followed by a high fever and cough that started for Logan on Jan. 16 (Mommy's birthday). A trip to the pediatrician didn't tell us much but when he still wasn't good on Saturday and started breaking out in a rash we opted to call the cardiologist on call. Got some extra labs, chest x-ray and started him on a prescription in case pneumonia was lurking. Six days of fever later, we hoped we were in the clear but...nope. Not a day after I relished with praise in how quickly Logan's cough cleared up, Owen came home from school with pink eye (Jan. 29). Kept both home from school last Wednesday, which was good because Logan came down with another fever and was just too pooped to pop. Luckily, he had his cardiology check up with Dr. Lohr so we didn't have to make any extra appointments. The bummer was how much we love to see her and when he's down and out, it's just not the same. We did another x-ray, drew some more labs and all was fine. Probably yet another nasty virus so we'd wait it out. By early Thursday morning, his fever wouldn't come below 103 with Tylenol so Ben took him into the ER at 3:30 am...same things checked again and put on another prescription. Finally, by yesterday (Feb. 4) he was about back to normal. Just in time for Owen to get the crud. High fever, achy, the works. We don't worry so much with him but he spent the day in bed with Mommy, who oh, by the way, got sick on Feb. 1 with the real deal Influenza flu and was laid up in bed for 3 days. Just today am I finally back to feeling almost normal. Owen hasn't had a fever for 24 hours so I think they'll finally be able to get back to school just in time for "hat and sunglasses day" as part of Spirit Week at Good Shepard.

Amongst all of this, one great thing happened--Logan finally got approved for his RSV shot (synagist). Our pediatrician has been trying to get this through since October and after three denials and one doozey of a letter from his cardiologist, Blue Cross finally agreed it was medically necessary. We got the call on Tuesday, Jan. 29, the day before he came down with this last crud. We'd have really been frustrated if his illness was RSV--a day late and dollar short--but thankfully, those tests all came back negative and praise the Lord, his little lungs have stayed clear so far all winter. Go lungs!

Sigh...what a month.

I did go look at a magnet school right near our house as a possibility for Kindgergarten next year. We have a big decision to make about what school they do go to but we are going to start the big K come fall. How exciting to be five.

Not much else transpired in January--Ben's busy, busy, busy with basketball and Mommy's busy with work too. Grandma Linda had foot surgery on Jan. 17 and is getting back to normal, which is good. Grandpa Paul came up and spent a Thursday and a Friday with the boys and boy did they have fun. Originally, they were going to go to Austin but these nasty bugs kept creeping up so they've stayed home but pretty soon they'll go down for a few days and just hang out with Grandpa Paul and Grandma Kathy and of course, Payton and Brayden! We're so, so, so, so thankful and blessed to have Paula and our family help us out.

Mr. Jack Corbo is back on the 1A status list for his second heart transplant. Please keep Jack, his twin Cooper and his mommy and daddy in your prayers. We want Jack to get his heart soon so he can have a fun summer. There are just so many kids and adults who are facing illness, transplant needs or healed hearts, we ask for prayers for everyone...and health too!

Spring's around the corner, we hope.

Friday, December 28, 2007 5:28 PM CST

What a very Merry Christmas the Bushaws had this year! December overall was a quiet month with normal things for normal people. Kind of a first for us and we rather liked it. No appointments for the boys and no major illnesses aside from a long cold that Logan had--finally hit it with some antibiotics and within 48 hours the 4 1/2 week old cold seemed to disappear.

Owen and Logan really enjoyed the lead up to Christmas and thankfully, could tell us the real reason for the season even though they seemed to talk about presents and Santa more than anything else.

In total the boys had five Christmas events...the Thompsons (Ben's moms side of the family), the Bushaws, the Lists (my moms family)--complete with a visit from Santa Claus, the Behns (my dads family) and our little Bushaw family of four. Presents were abundant, in fact, too many as usual and yet Owen said on Wednesday morning after opening the last of his presents at our house, "Can we go to Toys R Us today?" When I asked "why," he said it was because he needed to get just a few more presents. Uggh--that required a little chat about presents, excess, those less fortunate, etc. Not sure it did any good but we tried.

Top gifts include (for reasons other than being the best since we don't rate that way):

- Darth Vadar voice changing mask: Picture a cute little Logan wearing this big mask and saying things like "Your powers are weak" or "You don't know the power of the dark side." It's priceless!

- Scooby Doo and Shaggy Chia Pets: That little "Cha Cha Cha Chia" song never gets old (or does it?).

- Light Sabres: Oh yeah, Owen and Logan are serious little Jedis. We can't wait for our next trip to MGM so they can show their magnificant Jedi talents.

- Superhero Memory: Spiderman, Superman, Batman, Flash, etc. Nothing beats watching these Superheros save the day.

- Whack-a-Mole Tower: You know at the county fairs where they have those tall things that you have to bang with a sledgehammer. Not noisy at all, right? Ha. Good for days when we need to vent a little...just bang the mole.

- Clothes: In a not-so-nice kind of way, it was funny to see the boys opening their presents full of verve and gusto, only to find some pj's or pants. That pout was so moving.

We are thankful for our Christmas this year. Thankful to be with family, thankful we could provide the boys with fun memories and times of togetherness and thankful for health. We missed Debbie though--oh, did we miss her. And it was sad not having Sam and Melissa with their sweet Ellis. And our hearts were aching for our friends the Corbos who spent their third of four past Christmas's in the hospital with their precious Jack. Please pray that a new heart comes soon for Jack--his body is needing it desperately.

As we look ahead to 2008, our resolutions will to be happy, healthy and grateful for our blessings. We hope you resolve to those things too.

Enjoy the last of 2007....

Tuesday, December 4, 2007 5:42 PM CST

Today is a day we've been waiting for and also a day full of incredibly mixed emotions. Logan got to come home one year ago today after his long recovery following his Fontan. He couldn't walk, could hardly talk and still wasn't quite himself but he got to come home and for that we couldn't have been more thankful. At the same time we were/are joyful for Logan were/are also filled with grief for our dear Sam and Melissa. Ellis went home a year ago today too but his home wasn't on earth with his Mama and Dada. To think of it all is all so surreal and real at the same time. We will be eternally grateful for the time we spent with Sam and Melissa during our stay together and also eternally sad for their overwhelming loss. We've been so happy to see how they've clung to one another and are facing each day. It's also been amazing to see how they're using their gifts of music for others. Amazing all around.

Logan truly has thrived during the past year...The doctors said it might be 12 weeks before he was walking and running again considering his time spent in bed. Not Logan--he was up walking in two weeks.

The doctors said his kidneys would never function again at 100% because of the hit they took from his surgery, the dialysis, etc. Not Logan--in January the test results suprised even the doctor who said if the results weren't there in front of him he wouldn't have thought it possible.

The doctors said they hoped his oxygen saturation level could get into the mid-80's. Not Logan--it took a while but he's been able to get up to 87/88% O2.

Some researchers say that kids with heart defects have a tougher time in school or learning at the same pace as others--Not Logan. He's a super smartie who loves to put puzzles together, can count to 30+, is spelling, writing and sounding out words.

Our Logan has always had nearly the worst scenario happen and yet hankfully to this point in his little life has always come out all the stronger for it. We can only praise God for his healing power and faithfulness to us.

Owen has had his share to deal with during last year too. The boys are so close and having to be such a strong boy without Mommy and Daddy or brother last year wasn't easy for a then three year old but he did it and saw a lot of big stuff for such a little guy. We've been so proud of him too.


The boys have been having a great time at school and are enjoying growing bigger. Scooby Doo continues to be the show of choice at our house and their so excited for Christmas. We love that they're in a Christian school where they can truly learn the meaning of Christmas and the reasons we celebrate this time of year. They've loved helping to decorate the house and tell us everything on their wish lists (true meaning of Christmas aside).

It's hard to believe Thanksgiving is over and we're on to Christmas. This is a tough one as we so desperately miss Debbie and yet are joyous she's healed and having the time of her life in Heaven. Miracles continue to be everywhere for us, that's for sure.

We've had so much support during this past year. Grandma Linda and Grandpa Randy always go above and beyond to help us out and Paula is such a gift to have--her love of the boys and patience with them is just wonderful. The boys so love Grandpa Paul, Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Steve and enjoy time with their aunts and cousins and friends. The love shown to them day in and day out is truly something special.

Way to go, Logan--here's to being such a brave young champ!

Friday, November 2, 2007 9:36 PM CDT

Today marks the one year post Fontan for Logan. He's come so wonderfully far. Frankly, the year has flown by so quickly that it doesn't seem like an entire year has passed, yet in other ways, it doesn't seem like last year was ever even a part of our reality. Life is funny that way.

I had to go back to read what we wrote last Nov. 2 and I've got to say, we were pretty calm. I vividly remember that we were calm throughout the day and know it's because Logan was in the hands of Dr. Herrington and that we understood what was going to happen. In addition, we were so supported by all of our parents and Ben's dear friend, Pastor VerWay with us at the hospital and the many family, friends and strangers we knew were willing us through--it all made such a difference.

Interestingly though, I realized when reading that post, that I never put a key piece of information about a conversation Dr. Lohr had with me in the Family Lounge. It took me a minute here tonight but I now remember why I didn't write anything--I knew my mom and family would be reading the post and didn't want them to see it and grow weak with worry.

Fact was, last year, about this time (8:30-ish), I was in the Family Lounge (Ben was in with Logan) and Dr. Lohr came in and told me Logan didn't do quite as well as she'd hoped he would and that he was a really sick kid--sicker than she thought he'd be at that stage of the night. Gulp....she really said that. I listented to everything she said and was scared--I remember that--but oddly, I still remember having a pretty calming sense of peace about it all. I know I told Ben and we prayed about it but now, looking back at his course of recovery, even that night she sure wasn't kidding.

To think of that day...those days...and having little Jack there and precious Ellis...how surreal even a year later. The fairness of it will never, never make sense but we are grateful and thankful to be where we are today with Logan and so wonderfully, madly proud of this boy that it ours.

We had the AHA gala last Saturday and again, we were just so proud of the boys. About 800 people attended and we were a part of the special appeals campaign. We were honored that our parents came to support us along with Dr. Herrington and Dr. Lohr--truly an honor to have these amazing doctors seated with us. The boys answered a few questions. Logan told everyone he had a special heart--the theme of our speech. I shared their story. They told a couple jokes (not kidding!). We said how badly we're counting on dollars for research so Logan's heart can continue being a special heart and so that our little heart friends can have a chance too. Dr. Lohr spoke. And, at the end of the special appeals call to action, more than $85,000 was raised for this cause. Remarkable. We were moved and honored to be a part of something so special.

Then, we moved into Halloween. The boys had a blast trick or treating with Ali and Ty. Grandma & Grandpa Schroeder handed out candy so we could go out with the boys. Such a delight to see them having such fun and yes, being scared of scary people in costumes too. They really hauled in the candy and now we'll be good until next year.

On Thursday Logan had an apt with his pulmonologist, Dr. Regelemann. His response, "I'm very pleased." LOVE that for feedback. He said his lungs sounded great and we're doing the right things. Our insurance denied Logan receiving Synagis (for RSV) and the doc felt Logan would be okay without it--I'm holding him to that because if something happens I'd be beyond sick about it. Logan did have a cold in early Oct. and he did fight it off so if we can keep that track record throughout winter we may be okay. I'll probably still file an appeal but if that fails, I'll be praying that Dr. Regelemann is right.

Probably the best part of the whole apt was Logan's blood pressure and oxygen saturation level:
- BP = 81/58 (PERFECT)
- O2 = 87(AMAZING, FABULOUS, TEAR INDUCING, TERRIFIC)

This is the highest O2 level Logan has had recorded at an apt and it really does make me so happy and proud. Especially as it's been a year and Dr. Lohr said if he could be at 85hat she'd be happy. This special heart of Logan's is really something else and we pray like mad that it continues for as long as possible.

We rejoice today, a year after the Fontan, in God's glory and power that did heal Logan and for the doctors and nurses who helped in his recovery. We're forever gratful and eternally amazed at our Logan.

Fall blessings to all...


*Note: next up is Thanksgiving and while we look forward to being together with our families, this season is going to be especially hard not having our wonderful Debbie with us and remembering precious Ellis. Please pray for Ben's family and Sam and Melissa that they have the strength to endure this time.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007 7:41 PM CDT

Hi All, Owen and Logan here to tell you about our super duper, really, really fun trip to Disneyworld! Wow, we don't even know where to start and could type for hours because it was so much fun.

We left on Thursday morning (Oct. 18) and had to get up at 4:40am. No worries though, we were so excited to go it was a breeze to wake up. Getting to the airport and riding on the plane was really cool. I, Logan, had to bring along a portable oxygen concentrator so I could have oxygen on the plane. I didn't like it too much but I trusted Mommy that it was for my own good so only put up a little fight each time. Owen and I really liked looking out the window and just being on the plane. We got to say "Hi" to the pilot and even got our own wings for our first flight. Mommy and Daddy were very, very proud of how well behaved we were on the plane.

Grandpa Randy, Grandma Linda and Auntie Amanda picked us up from the airport and we headed to our house. It was great to have a lot of space but we did have to express our disappointment to Mommy and Daddy that the house didn't have any toys. Of all the nerve. We played and swam on Thursday to prepare for the next couple of days.

On Friday we went to the Animal Kingdom. The first thing we all went to was "A Bug's Life" inside this huge tree. Apparently Mommy didn't read the thing very well because it was SO SCARY!!! I, Logan, was completely petrified and made Mommy get me the heck outta there fast. I, Owen, toughed it out but boy, I was real scared too. Everything they took us in/on after that made us a little hesitant but that's what you get. We did lots of stuff there--the safari was way, way coo--and went on some rides and even got to see the afternoon parade.

In the afternoon we headed back home for a break and then hit the Magic Kingdom about 8:30pm so we could see the Fireworks. Again, since "A Bug's Life" scared me, Logan, so much the loud fireworks had me a little nervous but after a while I realized just how amazing they were and really liked them. Mommy and Amanda were like eight year olds they were so enthralled with the fireworks show. For some reason, I don't think seeing the Eagan fireworks on the Fourth of July will be nearly as neat anymore after seeing Disney fireworks.

On Saturday we went to MGM. It was fun--we saw "Beauty and the Beast" and played in a giant playground inspired by "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids." That was neat. The BEST part though was seeing Luke Skywalker and Darth Vadar and Storm Troopers! They picked kids out of the audience (not us) and taught them how to be Little Jedi's. Then, Darth Vadar came out and the kids had to fight him. It was SO COOL!!! We've been practicing with our light sabars now that we're home so when we go back we can fight him and win. I, Logan, kept yelling at Darth Vadar during the show "Go home, Darth Vadar, we don't like bad guys like you" and "You'll never win, Darth Vadar. The good guys always win!" Mommy and Daddy thought I was pretty funny.

We headed back to Magic Kingdom Friday afternoon for more action, went on lots of rides, including "It's a Small World" and even saw the nightime parade. It's kind of like Holidazzle but we'd have to say, a little better.

Oh, we can't forget to tell you that we met lots of our favorite characters and got their autographs too. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, Jiminey Cricket, Trek, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eorye, Piglet, and even a couple of police officers too. It was soooooo neat. We'd go up to them and say "May I have your autograph, please?" And then after they signed our books we'd say "Wow, thanks!"

On both days we didn't get home until after 11:30 at night and boy, that was late but there was just so much to do and say and see that we didn't want to miss anything.

On Sunday we got to go to Cocoa Beach. Grandma Linda made sure we got everything in and we're sure glad because we really, really, really liked the beach. It was really neat seeing the ocean and we had lots of fun waiting for the waves to crash up on the beach and then try to outrun them. A couple of times, the waves were so strong they pushed us over and we got salt water in our mouths. YUCK--that stuff does not taste good. We picked up shells and made litle sand castles and threw sand (much to Mommy's chagrin)and just had the time of our lives.

The weather really cooperated with us. It was really hot, like over 90 degrees, but thankfully it was a little overcast so pretty bearable and on Sunday when we actually wanted some sun at the beach, the sun came out. How lucky were we?!

We came home on Monday morning and once again did just fab on the planes. We slept quite a bit because it was early and we really were tired.

We hope we can go back to Disney in a couple of years when we can ride even more rides and have even more time to play and have fun. We're so lucky to have such great (as in terrific) Grandparents that like to spend so much time with us and take us on such special trips. Someday, Grandpa Paul and Grandma Kathy are going to take us there too. Won't that be fun.

Now that our trip is done we can't wait for Halloween--only one week away. Mommy got our costumes and we're set to go as Spiderman and Annikin Skywalker. Sure hope we get good candy.

One last thing: today we had our 4 year checkup. Here's where we're at:

- Owen: 42 1/2 inches (75% percentile) and 37 lbs (50% percentile)
- Logan: 40 1/8 inches (50% percentile) and 35 lbs (30% percentile)

We got our flu shots and a Hep A shot. It kind of hurt but was really no big deal.

Happy Halloween!

Friday, October 5, 2007 5:08 PM CDT

Once upon a time there were two twin superheroes named Butterball and Noodledude and they were the superheroes of the century!

A common question might be where on earth did these two superheroes come from and well, that's an easy answer. Last week, while on a business trip to Phoenix for Make-A-Wish Foundation (Macy's has a program called Thanks for Sharing that benefits Make-A-Wish Foundation and American Heart Association--check it out) Mommy brought home two superhero masks. As part of the fun the boys had to come up with their names. Butterball came to Logan immediately and after much thinking Noodledude seemed to fit Owen...and so it began.

On Sunday while in the car on the way to church, the boys were wearing their superhero masks and Owen exclaimed, "When I'm Noodledude, my superpower is noodles and when I catch the bad guys I tie them up with sticky noodles!"

Logan continued, "Yeah, and my superpower is butter and I put it on the ground and the bad guys slip and fall and I catch them like that!"

Of course, when I ask for the continued story, they've already moved on to something else but no matter, there's a children's book there somewhere just waiting to be told and we love, love, love the imaginations of the boys.

School has been going along quite well for Owen and Logan. They had class pictures on Thursday--a first for them. They're learning new things, meeting new friends and seeing more of the world than they have before so it's all good. On Wednesday's they bring money to the Mission Chest and last week Owen said, "Mommy, if I keep putting all of my money into the mission chest I won't have any left for me." Good opportunity to teach a valuable life lesson, for whatever it was worth for a four year old. They've been learning the letters of the alphabet one letter at a time and finding things that start with those letters. Recognizing the letters of the alphabet is something they've known for at least the past year thanks to Grandma Linda and Paula but comprehending/recognizing the sounds is a work in progress. Last week was "B". Logan was convinced that "Pirate" started with "B" and much as I tried couldn't convince him that "P-uh" and "B-uh" are not the same. Makes for funny conversations.

They did bring a cold home from school which hit them good but thankfully, it was just a cold and didn't turn into anything else. Logan's didn't seem to settle into his lungs--always a blessing--and neither were slowed down for a minute, which isn't shocking.

Logan had a good apt with Dr. Lohr a few weeks back and after our trip to Florida they'll finally have their 4 year checkup with appropriate vaccinations, including the flu shot and the pneumoccocal for Logan. That vaccine, in particular, seems to be very good for Logan in the winter months. Additionally, his pediatrician got everything sent in to insurance with the hopes of getting approval for Synagis (to prevent RSV, and we know he is quite susecptible to this). Last year was his healthiest winter yet, which speaks volumes considering his heart surgery recovery. It'll be extremely difficult to get it approved but we're praying it does. We've also got a visit scheduled with his pulmonologist for late October and after that, the other forward-looking apt will be with his kidney doctor in January. He has to see him once a year because of the kidney failure post surgery. Last January was a fabulous apt and we suspect this one will be too.

We've got a busy next few weeks--leaving for Disneyworld on Oct. 18 followed by our AHA gala and lest we forget Halloween!!!

Here's to a continued healthy fall and never fear, should trouble come your way Butterball and Noodledude will be there to save the day!

Friday, September 7, 2007 5:37 PM CDT

We've officially got ourselves pre-schoolers! That's right; Owen and Logan started pre-school at Good Shepard on Wednesday and seem to be loving every minute of it. Their class totals 15 kids and a nice blend of girls and boys. Their teacher, Mrs. Streckert, seems just wonderful and we're so thankful we can send them to a school from the start that has solid Christian values. I know it'll make a huge difference as they grow and learn.

It's definitely hard to believe they're four and now in school. I vividly recall a conversation with a colleague with twin boys when his kids were heading off to pre-school and the boys were just three months old. four years He said, "just wait, before you know it, yours will be heading off to school too." And, wow--it happened just that fast.

Before heading off to school, we did enjoy the last weeks of August. Ben and the boys (and sometimes Paula too) spent some serious time at Cascade Bay waterpark and loved every minute of it. Playing with Ali and Ty was at the top of their "to do" list each day as was riding their scooters, bikes, playing baseball, chasing Maxie, you name it.

On Aug. 17, they boys went to The Wiggles with Grandma Linda and Grandpa Randy and spent the night as it was Macy's Glamorama and I was working and Ben was attending. We were probably a year or two late in taking them but they didn't do a US tour last year and I thought they should experience The Wiggles just once in their lifetimes since their videos and DVD's played a big part in their lives for a while there.

The next weekend we went to Chicago for Glam so the boys once again spent the night with G G Schroeder and then the next night Grandpa Paul, Grandma Kathy and cousins Payton and Braydon slept at our house. Boy, did they have fun!!

There's not been a lot of other news to report lately, which we're happy to report. This next week Logan goes in to see Dr. Lohr. They did have an apt to see Dr. Plotnik for their four year apt but I didn't realize it was on the same day as our Dr. Lohr apt and that takes priority. Now, we don't see Dr. Plotnik until October--crazy how docs schedules are.

The Dr. Lohr apt is important because we need a clean bill of health and state of the state before our trip to Disneyworld...that's right we're off to the big D over MEA! Grandma Linda and Grandpa Randy are taking the boys and of course, we have to go to and that means Auntie Amanda has to come too. Auntie Andrea would love to come but can't take the time from work but we'll think of her lots when we're there. It should be a wonderful trip and we're so excited to see the boys' reactions at the various attractions.

The following weekend, we're a part of the American Heart Association's annual Heart and Stroke Gala. This will be a special night because the Bushaws are kicking off a new initiative to raise dollars for congential heart disease research. Logan's got quite the story to tell that will hopefully encourage some serious giving. We're also especially honored because Dr. Lohr and Dr. Herrington, Logan's heart surgeon--one of the top in the country--will be there as our guests.

It's going to be a busy fall and we're praying it's a healthy one too.

Friday, September 7, 2007 5:37 PM CDT

We've officially got ourselves pre-schoolers! That's right; Owen and Logan started pre-school at Good Shepard on Wednesday and seem to be loving every minute of it. Their class totals 15 kids and a nice blend of girls and boys. Their teacher, Mrs. Streckert, seems just wonderful and we're so thankful we can send them to a school from the start that has solid Christian values. I know it'll make a huge difference as they grow and learn.

It's definitely hard to believe they're four and now in school. I vividly recall a conversation with a colleague with twin boys when his kids were heading off to pre-school and the boys were just three months old. four years He said, "just wait, before you know it, yours will be heading off to school too." And, wow--it happened just that fast.

Before heading off to school, we did enjoy the last weeks of August. Ben and the boys (and sometimes Paula too) spent some serious time at Cascade Bay waterpark and loved every minute of it. Playing with Ali and Ty was at the top of their "to do" list each day as was riding their scooters, bikes, playing baseball, chasing Maxie, you name it.

On Aug. 17, they boys went to The Wiggles with Grandma Linda and Grandpa Randy and spent the night as it was Macy's Glamorama and I was working and Ben was attending. We were probably a year or two late in taking them but they didn't do a US tour last year and I thought they should experience The Wiggles just once in their lifetimes since their videos and DVD's played a big part in their lives for a while there.

The next weekend we went to Chicago for Glam so the boys once again spent the night with G G Schroeder and then the next night Grandpa Paul, Grandma Kathy and cousins Payton and Braydon slept at our house. Boy, did they have fun!!

There's not been a lot of other news to report lately, which we're happy to report. This next week Logan goes in to see Dr. Lohr. They did have an apt to see Dr. Plotnik for their four year apt but I didn't realize it was on the same day as our Dr. Lohr apt and that takes priority. Now, we don't see Dr. Plotnik until October--crazy how docs schedules are.

The Dr. Lohr apt is important because we need a clean bill of health and state of the state before our trip to Disneyworld...that's right we're off to the big D over MEA! Grandma Linda and Grandpa Randy are taking the boys and of course, we have to go to and that means Auntie Amanda has to come too. Auntie Andrea would love to come but can't take the time from work but we'll think of her lots when we're there. It should be a wonderful trip and we're so excited to see the boys' reactions at the various attractions.

The following weekend, we're a part of the American Heart Association's annual Heart and Stroke Gala. This will be a special night because the Bushaws are kicking off a new initiative to raise dollars for congential heart disease research. Logan's got quite the story to tell that will hopefully encourage some serious giving.

It's going to be a busy fall and we're praying it's a healthy one too.

Thursday, August 9, 2007 9:10 PM CDT

WE ARE FISHERMEN!

Owen and Logan here talking about our first real fishing trip up in Hayward, WI last weekend. What a fun time it was. Kind of a long drive for four year olds and Mommy and Daddy realized how annoying it must have been when they themselves were little and they kept asking their mommy's and daddy's "are we there yet" and "how much longer" when they were little like we were asking but such is the cycle of life.

We went up to VerWays Vacation Cabins--daddy's friend Pastor VerWay parents' resort--for two days. We went on a boat, played in the cabin and in the lake and most importantly got to fish. Daddy and Mommy bought us our very own Scooby Doo fishing poles and they are terrific. Really top of the line, let us tell you. We caught lots of fish. We mean, like 10-12 fish each. Logan likes to say he caught thousands but I (Owen) gently remind him thousands is really a lot, lot, lot of fish. We even learned how to hold the fish and throw them back in the water.

It was also fun up there because the VerWay family was there so we got to play with our friends Michael, Jennifer, Emily and Jeffery and their cousins Chad, Tori and Isaac. Kid-tastic times to be sure.

On Sunday, Mommy and Daddy drove us to Duluth and we got to Canal Park just in time to see the lift bridge go up and a great big ship go through. It was pretty cool although it was a little more fun playing duck, duck, goose on the ground waiting for the ship. After that we went in the museum and pushed every single button we could find that lit something up. Then we got to go to Grandma's for lunch and watch seagulls flocking everywhere for a little morsel of food. Those birds are crazy!

It was lots of fun and we sure liked taking our first real family getaway. We hope to take another one soon but it'll be awhile. We've got to get ready for school, which starts on Sept. 5. Until then though we just want to play, play, play.

Not much else to report. We hope you're still keeping our friend little Jack Corbo and his brother Cooper in your prayers. Jack's still in the hospital recovering from his procedure to check his heart function and they just desperately want and need to get home to wait for his new heart. This stuff is so tough on families. I (Owen) know how Cooper feels to have his family be out of sorts and I (Logan) know how hard it is to just want to be home in your own house with your brother. They need support so please lift them up in thoughts and prayers, okay.

Here's to a slow August so we can enjoy the rest of summer.

P.S., we didn't eat any of the fish we caught and Mommy definitely didn't touch any of the fish or the wax worms we used to catch them. She's such a girl.

Sunday, July 29, 2007 9:16 PM CDT

Here we are--it's been 20 days since Ben's mom passed away and in some ways it seems like just yesterday and in other ways it seems like ages. It's been a long 20 days and yet the fastest 20 days ever. Frankly, the myriad of emotions during these past days can't be described.

Going back a couple weeks, Ben's mom's funeral was beautiful. Ben read a letter that he'd written a week before she passed away but was never able to read herself. It was beautiful and I think it was probably her proudest moment as Ben's mom. Sam and Melissa were gracious enough to do the music for the wedding, and Melissa and I sang "Mary Did You Know" with Sam on guitar. It was one of Debbie's favorite songs and I was honored to sing with Sam and Melissa in tribute to Deb.

That whole week following July 9 was really something else. We decided as a family that we'd host a celebration of Debbie's life at their house following the funeral and that idea gave everyone something to work toward. From Ben's dad to sisters to Debbie's parents and sisters and cousins, we all played a role. Ordering food, practicing music, cleaning the house, putting photo/memory boards together. Everything was perfect and a wonderful, wonderful tribute to Debbie.

We've been down a few times since and Ben and the boys are able to go down pretty easily during the week, which is good for all of the them. I think the boys do understand that Debbie isn't there physically anymore but we're doing our best to encourage them to understand that her spirit lives on. I think they're grasping it pretty well.

The funny thing about death is that life goes on. Whether we want it to or not, there's a new day every morning, a job to go to, appointments to take the boys to and lives we're in charge of. As a result, we're moving foward but never, not ever, letting Debbie get too far away.

Logan had a couple of big apts. on July 10 with Dr. Lohr and July 18 with Dr. Regelmann. We were just thrilled beyond thrilled with Logan's cardiology appointment. He'd gained 2 pounds since May and his O2 level instantly went to 85! This was a first and the best O2 level Logan has ever, ever had on his own. His blood pressure was great, his lungs were clear, the size of his fenestration was smaller...virtually everything that was checked was improved since May. Toward the end of the apt, I said to Dr. Lohr, "So you're happy with Logan today?" Her response was "I'm beyond happy. I'm thrilled. This is exactly what I wanted to see happen." For those of you who don't have kids in a situation like ours, please know that this is EXACTLY what you want you're childs cardiologist to say, every time but you'll take it anytime! We don't have to see her again until November--four months--the longest we've gone without seeing her. Of course we pray that his health continues to progress so wonderfully and welcome your prayers too.

His apt. July 18 was fine as well. Not surprisingly with everything that we'd been doing, Logan came down with a cold so as a result, he didn't sound as clear, his O2 levels were down a bit and we were told to up his nebs and make sure we were following the protocol for Logan with a cold. We did and he's now doing great again. Hooray. We'll go see him again in mid-Sept.

The boys have their four year apts in September right before they start preschool. Can't believe that's just around the corner.

We continue to feel so blessed for the progress the boys are making and know that Debbie will keep a careful watch on them moving forward.

This week we're taking our first couple day vacation--just us--heading up to a resort in Hayward and then spending a day in Duluth. We're looking forward to just having time together before the rush of the fall begins and life changes once again.

One of our close heart families learned a week and a half ago that their son, little Jack Corbo, needs another heart transplant. He'll likely be on the list for 18-24 months. Our hearts are just breaking for them and we'd ask that you'd hold them up in prayer as he's still in the PICU recovering from a procedure and that they'll be strong enough to face the road ahead. Little Jack Corbo is a strong, strong fighter with a twin brother who, like Owen, needs his brother. We know he'll get a new heart and grow and thrive but we also know the waiting will be hard.

Never far from our thoughts is our cousin Ellis and his mommy and daddy. We spent a lot of time together the week Debbie passed away and continue to be so amazed by their strength and proud of how they're carrying on. Ellis, we know, is so proud of his mamma and dadda. I'm certain he and Grandma Debbie are having some fun times together and we find comfort in that every day. July 25 was the one year anniversary of Ellis' heart transplant and as with Debbie that year has seemed like the longest year and yet the fastest year ever.

Life goes on.

Sunday, July 8, 2007 10:24 PM CDT

Update: Monday, July 9, 11:30pm
Sad, sorrowful news to share today that Ben's mom, our beloved Gwamma Debbie passed away this morning at 6:05am. As we shared in our post yesterday her health was failing fast and Sunday was an extremely difficult day for her. We're feeling blessed that she's finally been forever healed but boy, we are so heartbroken and sad to lose this amazing, wonderful, gentle and beautiful woman.

Ben and I arrived in Austin by 9am this morning and spent the day with his dad, sisters, Deb's parents and Aunts Sue and Mary Gaye and Ron. It was hard indeed, but we shared good memories and some funny stories and all shared words we'd use to describe this woman who touched so many of us.

We explained that Grandma Debbie died tonight to the boys. They don't quite get it but Ben's tears certainly let them know we were having a serious talk. Owen asked, "Why are you crying, Daddy?" To which Ben replied, "Because I'm really sad that I won't see my mommy anymore." Owen paused, smiled at Ben and said, "But, you'll still get to see your daddy and that will be good." Thank the Lord for the innocent child who sometimes thinks more clearly than than we can.

Ben's family is hurting but we know she's healed and in a better place.
The funeral is scheduled for Friday at 4pm and we're going to have a life celebration of Debbie at their amazing farmhouse right after. Steve, Deb and their family put so much into creating that place that we thought what better way to honor and remember her than right there at her home?

Please pray for Ben's family, Bud and Enid who lost their daughter, Ben, Abbie and Angie who lost an amazing mom, Owen and Logan who lost one heckuva terrific grandma, Ben's sisters, Mary Gaye, Sue and Julie, and all of Deb's friends who were touched by Debbie. As Abbie said, she's the strongest woman we know.


Original Post: Sunday, July 8, 10:24pm
It's been a busy, busy past couple of weekends. First, Ben's sister Abbie got married on June 30 in Rochester. It was a wonderful weekend--the weather was beautiful and everything was perfect. Abbie was a stunning bride. That Travis is one lucky guy. Owen and Logan had their first taste of being in a wedding as ringbearers and rather enjoyed it. Ben was also an usher and I read. Weddings always bring back memories of our day and remind us of what this committment means. It was so nice to see all of Ben's family on both sides and reconnect. You really notice how quickly time passes when someone's wedding brings everyone together.

This weekend was our second wedding weekend; this one for my first cousin Christine (my dad's sister's daughter) and also again in Rochester. The boys were ringbearers in this wedding too and I tried my hat at singing--been a long time. It was fun to see how Owen guided Logan down the aisle--whether he needed it or not. It was not fun to constantly reprimand them for not listening, which is our biggest issue with the boys right now. That aside, the wedding was beautiful. My aunt Caryl and Christine didn't miss a beat. Here too it was just great to see family. I remember being at so many weddings for cousins when I was little and now it's like role reversal. We are getting old!

Probably the biggest update though is Ben's mom, Debbie. Her cancer is working against her with a vengence and we're pretty scared. Just a month ago in early June she was up to watch the boys for a day and doing okay. When they were up for the boys' birthday things had changed quite a bit and by Abbie's wedding there was a dramatic difference. Thankfully, Debbie showed much strength through Abbie's wedding weekend making it to the rehearsal/groom's dinner, wedding and gift opening on Sunday. She was even able to dance to "We Are Family" with everyone and dance with Travis, her new son-in-law, Bud and Steve. Just beautiful. This past week was tough for her though. She's quite weak and now has hospice coming to help out. We would ask that you pray for Debbie for strength and peace and no pain. Please also pray for Ben's dad, sisters, grandparents and aunts. This cancer thing is really lousy and touches a whole lot of people.

We're so blessed by Debbie and all she's given and provided to us. We're just praying hard for healing and trying to follow God's will on this one.

Logan's got a cardiology apt on Tues and on Thursday the boys have their four year checkup. We'll update after that.

May God be glorified this day.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007 6:00 PM CDT

Dear Owen and Logan,
You made it to your fourth--hooray, hooray! I've not missed writing on your actual birthdays until this year but that doesn't mean Daddy and I weren't reflecting about the past four years and what we've been through and where we're headed.

Your party was loads of fun, don't you think? All of your Grandma's and Grandpa's came up, Auntie Amanda was home from Chicago, Kristen and Parker, Payton and Braydon, and Paula all came. Auntie Andrea came up on Friday night with a cool croquet set for you and Auntie Angie couldn't come because she was sick and Auntie Abbie was working and wouldn't've made it in time. They were all thinking about you too. You opened presents, played in the pool and ran around all day. How fun! Of course, the highlight was your new John Deere Gator truck, which I happen to think is an accident waiting to happen but oh well, it's fun, right?!

We think you're really lucky to have such a wonderful family beyond Daddy and me and hope you know what a blessing it is to be loved by so many. Even beyond our family, the love that goes around for the two of you is pretty incredible.

A few of the highlights for us over the past year include:
1. Potty trained. We're rich not having to buy those diapers. Owen, just three overnights staying dry and you can wear real unders to bed too. That's your goal, okay?
2. Bedtime. It only took 11 months but finally, finally we don't have to stay in your beds until you fall asleep anymore. While we think this is super great, I admit I do miss being able to lay by you, Logan. I love our cuddle time and when you sing me songs and tell me stories.
3. Interaction. There were times when Daddy and I wondered if you'd actually start playing together and really interacting but this year, you definitely did. It's been so fun to watch you play together and carry on conversations. Oh, the things you guys talk about!
4. Easier time getting into the car seats. While you still have to be in your car seats, you're suddenly able to crawl up in it yourselves vs. us having to always lift you up and put you in. Same with getting out. This is truly making our lives a little easier. Now, you could use a little listening to actually get in the car when you're supposed to but that'll come, I'm sure.
5. Hot sauce. Who knew the threat of hot sauce would have such a positive impact in creating a desired behavior? Sure, we're not proud of the threats we occasionally have to make but let's face it, when necessary, we say we're getting the hot sauce and you instantly start to listen.
6. Strength. We learned just how strong you were, Logan having to fight so hard to recover from your heart surgery and get back at it but wow, did you ever. We're so proud of that and how strong you are emotionally too. As for you, Owen, we learned just how athletic you are. Cruising back and forth on those monkey bars, zooming around on that scooter of yours and running so fast. Pretty incredible.
7. Smarts. Grandma Linda's preschool and the time spent with Nanny Paula has done wonders for your brains. We love how smart you are and the things you know. It appears you've been slacking a bit lately but daddy will get you back up to speed. After all, preschool is just a few months away.
8. Love. You boys are so loving and we love that so much. I love that you tell us you love us without us telling you first. Your hearts are pure and beautiful (usually) and that probably makes us the most proud.

You're growing up so fast and we're really starting to realize just how much we need to cherish each morning, evening and weekend moment with you that we have. Before you know it, you'll be fourteen instead of four and then twenty-four and so on and so on.

So Happy Birthday Owen and Happy Birthday Logan. We're so excited for your year ahead.

P.S., if you could work on being better listeners this year, that would be great overall.

XOXO,
Mommy and Daddy

Monday, June 18, 2007 10:02 PM CDT

After a crazy week, Ben is home from his weeklong fishing trip to Canada, Mom and Randy are home from their cruise half-way around the world, Paula is back with us, Ben's mom and my dad are done with Grandma Debbie and Grandpa Paul's daycare and I'm done being a single parent. Thank you to all who helped me out during a hectic few days!

Summer has officially started for the Bushaws and we're so excited. This past week the boys started their first swimming lessons. They'll go five weeks total, though after week one they were convinced they were expert swimmers. It was very cute to watch them listening intently and watching their swimming instructor show them the ropes of swimming. Not surprisingly, they're not the least bit scared of the water. In fact, the instructor had to tell them on more than one occasion to wait his turn and to not jump in without permission. Thankfully, they're the only two in their class so they'll get a lot of exposure and training.

We also took them to Cascade Bay over the weekend. I've never wanted to take them until they had some experience with water beyond our wimpy swimming pools at home but I'm thinking we might have been missing out. The boys had a blast for the 75 minutes we were there and really seem to be water lovers. I, on the other hand, have a bit of a public pool phobia which was reinforced watching the various people enjoying the chlorinated pool. We'll have to compromise somehow this summer.

The trip was fun for all of us except for when Logan and I went down the slide on the floaty tube and were flipped off during the ride down. It was literally a panic attack moment for me grabbing and holding on to Logan for dear life and sliding down half of the slide sideways and not in the tube. When we flew out of the slide, we were immersed under water, Logan included, and I was simply scared to death. When we came up, he looked at me like "okay, tell me, should I be petrified or was that okay?" Not wanting to show him how scared I was, I said, "that was fun, huh?" "Umm hmmm," he said. Needless to say, it'll be a while before we do that again. Owen and Ben, of course, held on just fine and really did have fun.

Our swing set seems to be getting a litte more use this year, thanks in part to Ben putting up the second half of it with the monkey bars. Leave to Owen to instantly figure out how to go back and forth, hang upside down, flip himself back up and then do it all over again. He is a little monkey and I wouldn't be too surprised if we don't have an accident of some sort by the time summer's over. I tried to get him to only do his monkey antics when someone big is around but he's so fast that I didn't even realize the other day when he stripped out of his swim trunks and was doing the monkey bars commando. "OWEN--YOU CANNOT DO THAT NAKED!" Boy, did he think that was funny.

We've got a busy next few weekends ahead. The boys turn the magical age of four on Saturday and Grandmas and Grandpas, aunts, uncles and cousins are coming over for a little party. Then, Ben's sister Abbie gets married on June 30 and then on July 7, we've got cousin Christine's wedding. Should be loads of fun I'm just wondering how to keep Logan from completely tiring himself out and getting worn down and sick. Their next apts are on July 12 for their 4-year checkup. Logan sees the lung doc on July 18 and we're still waiting to get in to see Dr. Lohr in July too. Owen will see his hand doc, Dr. VanHeest on August 21 (Grandpa Paul's b-day).

Lots to look forward to this summer, including an easier bedtime! That's right, after Ben's trip and me having to put the boys to bed solo for seven nights in a row, they can finally go to sleep in their own beds on their own without us staying in their rooms. This is a HUGE feat, after all it's only been almost one year since they've been in big boy beds. I will easily admit, however, that I do miss laying next to Logan, listening to his stories and singing him his songs...might have to have at least one night to do this but I'll wait at least 21 days so the habit of sleeping solo is developed.

A four year recollection to come on their birthdays for memory's sake. In the meantime, we're enjoying these last days of being three.

Time does indeed fly.

Sunday, May 27, 2007 7:09 AM CDT

Big week for Logan by way of apts. First on Monday, he went for a visit with our favorite doctor in the world, Dr. Lohr. We haven't seen her since March and Logan was excited the night before. How great for the kid to be excited to see a doctor, right?! Everything seemed to be in good working order, which is always a blessing to see and hear. His blood pressure was good and his O2 level was sitting comfortably anywhere from 81-83 but it also spent some time at...86! Yes, 86xygen saturation--a number that Logan has never been at on his own in nearly four years of living and breathing in oxygen. That was a treat to see.

Dr. Lohr didn't do the official read on the echo but according to Jay, the echo guy, there was a little more valve leakage but she still felt it was in the mild range and nothing to feel concerned about. Until she does the official read and reports back, we won't give that a second thought. It's always fun--in a strange way--to see Dr. Lohr as she's been so instrumental in LoLo's life. It was April 20-something, 2003 that we first met her so to think four years have gone by so quickly is always amazing to me.

On Tuesday, Ben took Logan to see Dr. Regelman. Sounds like that was a good apt. too. His lungs sounded pretty good and he didn't think another chest x-ray was necessary. He asked Ben if we were still having Logan blow in his New Year's Eve horn-thingy and oops, that had totally slipped off our radar. He said that even with the two nebs he takes a day, blowing in that horn-thingy is the single most important thing he can do because of how open it keeps his little lungs. So, point taken and he's doing that three times a day from now through whenever. We'll go back to see him in a month because of his pneunomia and see Dr. Lohr in July. We're hoping and praying for another smooth summer.

Our upscale resale was a huge success last weekend, although it hardly made a dent in the boys clothes. We seriously had 89 piles four deep of clothes in addition to three clothing racks. Incredible that two boys had so much stuff! We've got two moms of twins coming over this weekend to take a peek at the goods and whatever they don't take we'll be donating to a crisis nursery. We figure we'd rather give it to people who really need it rather than people just looking for cheap prices. It was a fun day but boy, a whole lotta work. This weekend, we've got to get our garage back in order so our cars can fit inside.

We know of another little heart girl who had her Fontan last March that is not doing so well. In fact, she's now on the heart transplant list and will have to stay in the hospital until a heart arrives for her. Interestingly, Logan's little heart is even more complex than hers--a hypoplastic left heart--but thankfully a million times over, Logan's heart muscle is still able to function. Please keep this precious little girl in your prayers. Her parents seem just amazing and faith centered. We know that can get you through the worst and best of times.

Owen's plugging away day after day. So athletic and coordinated--you should see this kid on his two-wheel Razor. It's incredible. He's also the uber-friendly one of the family. Earlier this week, he rolled his window down in the Dairy Queen drive through to tell the guy what he wanted and then proceeded to yell "hello" and chat with everyone sitting at the picnic tables. Today, when the carpet cleaner guy was here, he could hardly get any work done due to chatterbox Owen. Geez, if he didn't get that from Ben! ;) Other than listening, the boys are doing great and we're having quite a bit of fun each and every day.

Owen and Logan graduated from GLP and we had a little ceremony on Saturday. The boys had graduation hats and showed us some of the things they learned during the year. The Pledge of Allegiance, counting to 30, saying our address and phone number, singing "Deep and Wide," morning stretches and so on. It was so cute and the boys are so lucky to have had my mom spend so much time with them this year. From craft projects to various learning learning sessions, it was truly something else. That kind of one-one (or two-on-one) attention would have cost us a fortune somewhere else but Mom did it all with love. I usually have to tell others that the boys are as smart as they are because of my Mom, then Paula and then us. She's something else--thanks Mom!!

It's Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start to summer and we're so thankful to have made it through winter and spring nearly scar-free. God is so good...so, so good.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007 7:02 AM CDT

Hi All--me Logan checking in after my weekend in the joint. Uh-huh, had to spend Friday night in the ER before moving up to 5A at 1:00 a.m. for all day Saturday and 1/2 day Sunday. Wasn't so bad, in fact I told Mommy and Daddy we were having a sleepover. Owen stayed with G & G Schroeder and I stayed with Mommy & Daddy.

Oh, you probably want to know what happened, right? Well, I got pneumonia. Who knows how long I had before Friday night. I haven't felt lousy or anything. I did start coughing but even that was hardly worth writing home about. On Friday, Mommy took us to her friend Monica's house and Owen and I got to play with two totally cute girls--Erin, who's a little young for us, and Ruby, Mommy's other friend Bonnie's daughter. She's a year younger than us and we all had such fun. Anyway, came home, had a nap, played after and then went out to dinner with G & G Schroeder. At dinner I started feeling lousy and hot. Didn't eat much of dinner, shivered and shook when I went on the potty and then puked all over in the car when we pulled in the driveway.

Mommy took my temp and it was 103.7! That's high for anybody but especially a kid like me so Mommy called the peds cardiologist and he made her check again. This time it crept up to 103.9 so they took me to the U of M. Man, talk about speedy service. Mommy and Daddy couldn't believe how quickly and what great care they paid to me. Hooked me up to an IV and started some antibiotics and that was pretty much it. I started feeling better by midnight on Friday and frankly, just hung out Sat/Sun. Wasn't so bad although I HATE, HATE, HATE with a capital H getting pokes for blood work. I can handle it when I go in for quick INR's but not in the joint. Yuck.

Back at home now and having fun. I go in to see Dr. Lohr on Monday and Dr. Regelmann on Tuesday so I hope to get good reports.

Mommy was most thrilled about my O2 levels in the hospital, which were consistently at 79-84. Even with pneumonia, that's pretty good.

So, hopefully that's my one and only trip back to the U of M for a LONG time. I wouldn't mind if you all prayed that I stay healthy and strong for years to come.

Wish us luck at our Upscale Resale on Saturday. Mommy and Daddy are working hard to get it all set up. Maybe they'll buy us presents with their sales. :)

Saturday, May 5, 2007 7:51 PM CDT

Wednesday, May 2 was a milestone for the Bushaws. First, it marked the four year anniversary of my admittance to United Hospital for my extended stay before the arrival of the boys and more recently, it marked six months since Logan's surgery. Both dates seem like yesterday and ages ago at the same time.

Not much is new to report but I thought a lot on May 2 about stuff...you know, those deep thoughts like "wow, it's been that long?" and "gee, just think of where this story of ours could have gone." We really, truly have seen miracles and the grace of an awesome, awesome God. I was talking with a friend's mom today who told me how she checked the boys website every day during Logan's surgery and recovery and how happy she was that things are going so well. She stopped mid-way through and said just thinking about it was going to make her cry and then we talked briefly about how we actually did get through it all and that was truly our faith.

Both Ben and I stop sometimes and just think about what that faith has been to us and all that it really has seen us through. We also catch ourselves thinking about those who had a lot of faith and their stories didn't turn out like ours. It makes us question what we would do in that instance but at the same time, we were there in many instances during these past four years. Had our situation been different, would our faith be different? Would it have changed for the better...for the worse? Yeah, these are the things I was thinking about on May 2. I do know my faith may have wavered but it wouldn't've changed unless to become stronger.

The boys, as mentioned in the past few posts, continue to thrive and grow and learn and play and stay healthy and wonderful. We could use a little extra patience at times and it would do them well to up their listening skills but boy, they sure are something else!

Ben's about done with school, we're prepping for a garage sale on May 19--or 26th depending on how much gets done this weekend--and just getting ready for a fun-filled summer. Ben's sister Abbie is marrying a terrific guy named Travis at the end of June and our cousin Christine is getting married to her high school sweetheart in early July. The boys will be ringbearers in both--will that be a sight or what?! The boys are also going to two day camps at the Minnesota Zoo. Oh, and they're graduating from GLP (Grandma Linda's Preschool) next week or the week after.

We never cease to be amazed by so many who check the site and pray for the boys and us. Whether you write a post or not, having your love and support means the world to us and through these journal updates Owen and Logan will someday know what their lives were about and all who cared so much.

Here's to a happy, healthy, relaxing and enjoyable spring and summer!

Saturday, April 14, 2007 8:30 AM CDT

Hi everybody! Owen and Logan checking in. Apparently, Mommy's been just a little too busy to update our page and geez, we've had a lot going on.

First, we've passed the four year anniversary of April 1. That was the day Mommy and Daddy found out lots of lousy stuff about us and a day they'll never forget. When it rolls around each year they seem to spend some time looking extra hard at us and smiling an extra lot and praying some serious thank yous. We definitely came out on top from that bad April Fool's Day joke.

Daddy had a whole week off to spend with us during his spring break. He had a long "Honey Do List" from Mommy and other than powerwashing the house because the weather was so cold and icky, it all got done. We can't wait for him to be home this summer. We have so much fun with him and love him so, so, so much!

Mommy's been traveling a lot for work back and forth to Chicago and to New York. She brings presents back for us if we do a good job of being good and going to bed good for Daddy. It sure is an incentive but sometimes we still have our troubles. We'll be excited after this week when she doesn't have to go anywhere for almost a whole month.

Easter weekend was a real blast. All four of us went to see The Doodlebops Live on Friday afternoon. They were kind of cool but it wasn't all that great. Then, on Saturday we went to Austin for the first time since September! I (Owen) went down on Dec. 23 with Daddy and Mommy for the day but that was the last time. Mommy and Daddy wanted to keep us all as healthy as possible--especially me (Logan)--this winter and one way to do that was to stay extra close to home. It worked...we've stayed cold-free all winter but wouldn't you know I (Owen) got a cold on Tuesdsay. Oh well, it's not setting me back.

Anyway, back to Easter. One word: F U N !! Easter was also Daddy's birthday so it was even more special. On Saturday we went to see Great Grandpa Behn, had lunch at the Dairy Queen with Grandpa Paul, Grandma Kathy, Payton, Brayden and Jasilyn and then played at G G's for a while. Then we went to Grandma Debbie and Grandpa Steve's. Sunday we went to church and then back at Grandma Debbie's we had a real Easter egg hunt. It was the most fun thing ever. I wonder why Mommy never does neat stuff for us like our Grandma's do. Anyway, that was fun. Then, we got to go to Great Grandpa Bud's and Great Grandma Enids before heading back up home to see Grandpa Randy, Grandma Linda and Auntie Amanda, who was home from Chicago. Basically we saw EVERYONE! We were sad not to see Auntie Andrea and Uncle Corey but we were like ships passing in the night.

We'd say this Easter was our most favorite ever and it was neat to be in Church on Easter too.

This week, I (Logan) have an apt. with my pulmonologist Dr. Reggleman. I think I'm doing pretty good but it'll be interesting to have him listen to me, get an x-ray and go through what's next. Maybe I won't have to do my nebulizer treatment twice a day anymore but I'm quite the trooper about it, if I do say so myself.

We're spending the weekdays with Paula and have so much fun. She's just like a part of our family and all four of us feel so blessed to have her. Grandma Linda comes too and we still have school but we might be itching for summer break just like everyone else.

It's been a good winter and we're so excited the weather might finally be getting warmer so we can be outside all the time.

Lots of people are still praying for us and that makes us so happy. It sure is nice to know so many people care about us even though we're past my (Logan's) heart surgery and the scary stuff that went along with it. I feel better than I ever have and love having so much extra energy and stamina to keep up with Owen.

Spring blessings to all.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007 1:29 PM CDT

Ahh, spring--we just love the longer days, warmer temps and greening of the grass. It's been status quo for some time. I n fact, things have been so status quo there's not much to update on.

- The boys made their modeling-if you can call it that-debut last Saturday at Macy's kids spring fashion show. They walked with an older girl as they were the youngest in the show and did a fine job. Logan was a little apprehensive to walk out on stage but once he was there, they both did just fine. They wore matching Claiborne powder blue linen suits with a pink shirt/tie (Logan) and green shirt/tie (Owen). It was fun and definitely something for the memory book.

Probably the funniest part was being backstage and watching the boys, especially Owen, flirting with all of the girls. He's going to be quite the ladies man, that's for sure. It's interesting to watch them interact with other kids. While neither is overly shy, it's definitely obvious Owen is the stronger leader of the two and he always watches out for Logan. I suspect it'll be like that forever.

Logan received his last RSV shot this past Friday and he's so smart about it all. We were on our way there and he said, "do I have to get a shot?" I told him yes and he replied, "I really don't like those shots much." Can't blame him for that but I do feel very confident in saying that this has been his healthiest winter yet and I know the protection of those shots made all the difference in the world.

We see Dr. Reggelman on April 18 and I'm guessing that will be his last visit with him for a long time to come. His lungs seem to be doing great and it's very obvious how much more energy and stamina he's got. That's due to his surgery and getting more oxygenated blood and also his Sildenafil. People who see him notice it right away.

God has been and continues to be so good and we're surrounded by such wonderful family, friends, work, etc.

Monday, March 12, 2007 10:04 PM CDT

Last week was a busy one for the boys:

1. Tuesday = pre-K screening
2. Wednesday = Cardiology appointment for Logan
3. Saturday = model call for Macy's fashion show

It's true, the boys are all growed up--well, not quite but as we mentioned before, they're old enough that we received their orders for pre-K screening. We had no idea what to expect but we left as uber-proud parents! Our proud parent afternoon started with the both of them raising their hands when they heard the noises in the headphones on the hearing test and wearing funny glasses that tested their vision and it ended by watching them listen and follow directions and show the instructors how smart they are. They really did fare quite well and are Kindergarten ready although they'll start in fall 2008.

We were made proud again on Wednesday following Logan's cardiology apt with Dr. Lohr--his first since mid-January.

Two huge positives were 1) the grade of his fenestration (remember, the escape route if there's too much blood volume and pressure trying to go to the lungs) has gone from a 7 (high) to a 5 (better), which means more oxygenated blood is getting where it's supposed to go. And 2) When Dr. Lohr listened to Logan's lungs she got a huge smile and said they sounded "beautiful." She said people wouldn't believe his little lungs could ever even sound as good as they did. Ahh, music to our ears knowing how fragile--and problematic--those little things are.

On the flip side, his 02 level is still significantly lower than it should be at 77-78however I was pleased that it didn't start at 72 and slowly climb to the high 70's as it has been. There is some concern over his 02's but Dr. Lohr feels we've got to give it more time before we make any decisions. The other mild concerns are his hemoglobin, which is still sitting at 19 and his blood pressure, which is that of a nine year old but again, Dr. Lohr says he needs time. We've upped his Losartan (blood pressure med) and will recheck his hemoglobin in a month to see where we land. It's no secret that we trust Dr. Lohr more than anyone when it comes to Logan so time we'll give. And, fact is, Logan has more energy than ever and seems to be feeling really, really great and to us, that's more telling than anything else. He goes back in May and we'll have more to report then.

On Saturday, the boys put their modeling talents to work at a little casting to be in our "Growing up with Macy's" kids fashion show. We (as in Macy's) haven't done a kids fashion show in years and seriously, who wouldn't want our cuties in a show? No surprise--or was it just because I've got some clout--the boys were hired and will show their real talent on March 24. This will be fun for the memory book for sure!

Big news for Ben and his b-ball team. They're in the section playoffs on Thursday. This is a first for Ben in his years of coaching so very, very exciting. They play St. Thomas, a team they've never beat but if there ever was a time, it's Thursday. GO SIMLEY!

Wednesday, February 28, 2007 11:25 PM CST

It is joke central here at the Bushaws and boy, do we have some comedians on our hands...

...Knock Knock. Who's There? Orange. Orange who? Orange you glad I didn't say potty. Hilarious.

...Why did the teddy bear go to the doctor? Why? He didn't feel well. What?

...Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side? No, because he wanted to. Huh?

Oh yes. True jokesters to be sure. They actually do have one or two goodies, however they rarely come out right. But if they did, they'd go like this:

...What did the teddy bear want for supper? Nothing, he was already stuffed. Laugh-worthy.

...Knock Knock. Who's there? Frank. Frank who? Frank you for being my friend. Too cute.

...........................................................

Is it really March? Has it really been four months since Logan's surgery? Yes and yes and time continues to pass by so quickly. Thankfully, there continues to be only goog news to report minus a few nervewracking days of waiting on lab results last week.

A few weeks ago Logan had some extra labs drawn and two numbers came back high--his CRP (C-reative protein indicative of inflammation somewhere in the body) was a 20 where normal is 0-8 and his uric acid was elevated too. Dr. Lohr said she'd run by a hematologist, rhumatologist and the infectious disease doc for further thoughts. She thought it could be viral but felt some additional insight would be good. I, of course, was most concerned about the CRP so did a little research of my own. A word to the wise: uneducated google searches are rarely a wise decision, which I know but it can easily suck you in and get the best of you.

In any case, those elevated numbers coupled with an ongoing knee pain and some weird blotches on Logan's chest and back got us a little extra worried so after Logan got his RSV/synagis shots last Friday I called Dr. Lohr to discuss. She then conferred with Dr. Steiner the hematologist and then called back that afternoon with an order for Logan to go back to lab for a laundry list of new labs and rechecks of the CRP and uric acid. We talked about the many things they'd be looking for and one of the words she used--the least likely scenario but yet the only word I really remembered was leukemia. She also mentioned bone marrow diseases. I tried hard, hard, hard to let it go but those words no matter how sure you are of yourself get you nervous.

I suppose it shouldn't be a surprise to us that with all we've gone through with the boys and Logan in particular we get a little anxious when things are going so smoothly. Sure, our faith is strong and tight and we've seen miracles and wonderful blessings but at our core, there's always that little doubt that the tide will turn. Fact is, with Logan the tide always turns in positive ways and when things like this happen, we need to remember that.

So we got the labs Friday afternoon and Logan was a pro as always. He literally holds out his arm, winces for a split second and watches intently until the lab person gives him his sticker. Amazing. We had a great weekend playing in the snow but yet Ben and I were thinking, praying, wondering what the results would show. Bedtime was the hardest when I'd lay by Logan and sing our songs ("A witch named Fern," "Jack the Bat," "Jack and Jill," "How much is that doggie" and "Twinkle Twinkle" in that order)and then I'd just look at him and pray "please don't let anything be wrong, he's come so far and is working so hard." Those are the hard times when you have a heart kid as special as Logan.

Our wait was over on Tuesday morning when Dr. Lohr, bless her heart, called on her way in to say most everything looked okay. His CRP was back to a 3 and there was nothing glaring that the lab or she was concerned about. His hemoglobin is high--19--which she suspects is from his Sildenafil. Additionally, his Uric Acid is also a bit high but is attributing that to his red blood cells too. His creatine was still in the perfect range meaning kidney function is still fab, the blood cultures were negative, etc. So, whew! We're still hoping to figure out this knee pain and who knows maybe he really is just having growing pains. We go back for next apt on March 7. We saw her last in January so this should give us a good idea of where he is/heart function, etc.

Day to day with the boys has been such fun. They play so well together and help each other out with this, that and the other thing, including getting into trouble. Logan is finally wearing real underwear with few accidents minus the pee puddle on the carpet just tonight. Funny story--every morning he insists on wearing "bad guy underwear." I tell him they don't make those and urge him to wear the Superman underwear with an image of a flying Superman chasing the bad guys who you just can't see on the underwear. Thankfully, after pondering that for a minute he's game to get them on. Yesterday, they insisted on wearing their size 2T Wiggles shirts from Halloween two years ago along with Wiggles underwear and black socks. Ah, to have the mind of a nearly four year old.

We take the chaps in on Tuesday for the Kindergarten screening which should be quite interesting. I suspect the screeners will be so overwhelmed by their brilliance that they'll want the boys to skip staight to second grade but I think we'll start with Kindergarten and save the grade skipping for when it saves us money like post secondary college.

Continued thanks for prayers and well wishes. The boys have stayed cold, flu, fever, crud free all winter and for that we couldn't be more thankful.

Knock Knock. Who's There? Frank. Frank who? Frank you for being our friends!

Thursday, February 8, 2007 7:09 PM CST

It's been pretty smooth sailing these past weeks with things continuing to be terrific for Logan and all of us, for that matter.

Logan went in for a quick 02 and BP check, along with an INR level, last Tuesday and we were thrilled to see that the Sildenafil (viagra) seems to be helping. His O2's are climbing and ranged between 78-83 and his blood pressure was stable too. We've since upped the Sildenafil and nixed the Prazosin, which Logan seems to be tolerating. He'll go in for another check next week sometime to make sure things are still moving in the right direction.

Nearly three months after Logan's surgery, we still sometimes pause as we remember all that happened in November. It really is mostly just a blur and not a part of our reality. One recent example was on Monday night when we were catching up on last week's episode of "Grey's Anatomy." Part of the episode was with Meredith's mom having an SVT or sinus ventricular tachycardia. Hers was 160. I said to Ben, "Wasn't that where Logan's heartrate was?" He replied, "Yeah, but his went up to 280." Woah. Stopped me in my tracks. 280 beats of the heart a minute? WHAT? How in God's name was that even possible? It took me right back to that night when we were scared as scared could be. I can picture Ben and me standing in the back of the room afraid to even breathe watching the monitor and the doctors. I remember thinking I need Dr. Lohr and holy crap, what is going to happen. It's crazy, really, to think we were at that point and then to be where we are now with Logan three months later. But then, when I think about 'how in God's name this all happenened,' I realize it was all in God's name that it happened. That's reassuring for us in many ways but also terribly sorrowful when we think about Ellis and how his life was too precious for this earth. It's tough to understand.

Four years ago, Ben and I didn't even know we were going to have twins. Fast forward to now and last night we went to look at a pre-schoolf for next year. How does this time pass by right in front of you? Mind you, Grandma Linda would be the best teacher ever from now through graduation but we do know it's important for them to interact with others and get a new perspective. We know Owen and Logan will continue to learn, play, thrive, laugh and love for a no matter where they are and for that we're so thankful.

Not much else to report. Life is good. We're moving forward. Spring is just around the corner and we couldn't be more anxious.

Sunday, January 21, 2007 9:18 AM CST

Logan is pneumonia free!
Logan doesn't need to see Dr. Lohr for two months!
Logan doesn't need to see Dr. Regelmann for three months!
Logan is by all accounts, healthy!

To recap:
Jan. 10: Appointment with Dr. Malone (ENT). She agreed that a bronchoscopy to determine what exactly is going on with Logan's airway is a good idea. We thought maybe end of Jan/early Feb but would talk with Drs Lohr and Regelmann for a consensus.

Jan. 17: Appointment with Dr. Lohr. Logan was by far the most energetic he's ever been at a doctor appt and I was pooped after the three hour ordeal. He had an echo, the basic check up with O2, blood pressure, height, weight and then a chest x-ray and INR check. His O2's have climbed a bit since his last apt before Christmas from 72-73 to 76-77 and even an 81. Dr. Lohr thought he sounded clear and looked terrific but definitely wants his O2's higher so we started the Viagra. I learned however, there are two types of this drug--one that is for men and one that is for pulmonary arterial hypertension. Logan's drug is called Revatio--it just so happens to contain the same active ingredient as Viagra. Overall, Jamie was very happy with Logan and when I see that in her, it makes me just that much more proud of our Lo Lo.

Jan. 18: Appointment with Dr. Regelmann (pulmonologist). He too was quite impressed with Logan's pulmonary progress since his last visit. In fact, he said he was moving air wonderfully and after looking at the chest x-ray said his pneumonia is gone. We got the approval to move from doing his nebulizer with Pulmacort and Atrovent from 3x to 2x a day. One thing we have to keep doing is his "Happy New Year horn." Apparently, blowing into that little horn is terrific for keeping his lungs extra open...who knew this could be so good for your health!? So, provided Logan stays in good lung health for the next few months we'll go back in April.

As for the bronchoscopy, both Drs Lohr and Regelmann concurred that it is necessary but prefer to wait a while. Since he's making such good progress we don't want any setbacks and the fact he's on Coumadin could be an issue if Dr. Malone did any lasering of scar tissure (bleeding-wise). The anethesia could also be an issue for him so we'll wait. Maybe spring. And we're okay with that.

He'll go in in a couple weeks to see if the Revatio is doing it's thing--relaxing his pulmonary smooth muscles enough to decrease the high pressures in his lungs, thus increasing his O2 levels--as well as an INR check. He'll also get his next RSV shot on Jan. 29.

We're receiving daily statements from our insurance companies, the doctors offices and the hospital and have asked Blue Cross to send a complete statement once everything is settled. We know Logan's surgery and recovery has totaled more than $485,000 thus far, which puts him alone past the $1.2 million mark. Between he and his brother we've got $2 million dollar boys in our house. They're worth every penny and we're thankful for double coverage which makes our costs pretty low. We will start looking into other insurance options for Logan as he's got a $2 million lifetime cap and considering he's only 3 1/2--he's got a lifetime to go.

He and Owen continue to thrive and play and learn together. They're also learning to read/recognize two and three letter words. We've got to start looking at preschools outside of GLP for next year.

Oh, and Owen is completely potty trained, minus the occasional slip and Logan's not far behind. What will we do with those savings from diapers.

Life is good. We are good. God is good.

Friday, January 5, 2007 6:38 PM CST

UPDATE Jan. 8:
For memory sake, I must write this down...the boys are coming around on this potty training business. It's only been going on for six months or so and while they know what to do and how to it, taking the time just isn't a priority so we're constantly nudging and prodding.

We took a leap on New Year's day and went for the real cotton Superman undies for Owen. On Sunday however, he had two leaks. The first of which he came tiptoeing to me and said, Umm, Mommy." I took him into the bathroom only to step right in a puddle of pee.

The second one occured last night and he opened one of the cards from make a child smile to put on the puddle of pee in the foyer. I dragged him into the bathroom and said:

"Owen, this is ridiculous. If you need to go potty, get your butt (okay, I was mad so I used the b word) in the bathroom and go on the potty."

"Okay mommy," he muttered.

"No, Owen. I mean it. You cannot go in your real underwear. If you have to go, get your tail in here and go," I exclaimed again with conviction.

"But Mommy," said Owen looking at me like I was crazy. "I don't have a tail."

...that's my Owen. It's just like our "I don't want to hear a peep out of you" and he replies "peep peep" story from earlier this summer.


ORIGINAL POST Jan. 5:
Happy New Year!

Dare I say life is nearly back to normal? I'm going to. I'm saying it. Life is good (God bless you little Ellis) and life is back to normal.

School is back in session with Grandma Linda on Thursdays and Fridays from roughly 9-11am. Practicing writing, learning to read, craft time, show and tell, story time, music, you name it and the boys do it at GLP. Owen was saying to Logan yesterday, "Come on Logan. It's time for school. It'll be fun." We love that they love to learn and we really love that Grandma Linda takes the time to research, prepare and work with the boys. It is really something else and the boys are extra smart because of it.

We had our first appointment with Logan since before Christmas on Tuesday, Jan. 2. This one was with Dr. Nevins, the nephrologist (renal/kidney), who hadn't seen Logan since before he left the hospital. Needless to say, he was impressed by Logan's recovery and interactivness especially since he saw him during his worst when he wouldn't talk or really look at anyone.

Logan's physical assesment was quite positive but Dr. Nevins wanted to do some blood work and get a pee pee sample to get a true picture of how his kidneys were recovering. He did tell us that his kidneys would likely never be 100ased on the renal failure but that didn't mean anything too serious. As we all know, many people live with only one kidney. Provided the info from the blood work came back positively he said we'd need to go back in a year and then maybe every year to check in. We do always need to remind Logan's other docs of his renal failure when they prescribe anitbiotics as many are extra hard on the kidneys and before he has any procedures done. It was a positive appointment and we just had to wait for the results.

He called today with the report and I loved what he said. "The numbers are terrific." "Honestly, this is better than I would have expected." "I thought Logan might have 75-90enal function but from what these numbers show, it seems Logan has 100enal function."

Yippie. YiPPiE! YIPPIE!

"That's our Logan," was my reply to Dr. Nevins. "He usually bounces back pretty amazingly and surprises most doctors." So, based on that report, we still will go back in a year but at that time, if all is still this good he may not need a nephrologist as part of his repertoire of doctors.

His coumadin levels are stablizing a bit so we're hanging out on the 4mg per day and go back Jan. 10. That goes along with his 3x daily nebs, his 2x daily prazosin (blood pressure), his 2x daily bumex (diuretic), his mainstay blood pressure med Losartan and we're back on Amoxicillin, his mainstay antibiotic too. Oh, and let's not forget the ever important Flinstone vitamin!

Next up for apts. are:
- Jan. 10 Dr. Malone (ENT). She did his first bronchoscopy in Aug. 04 and was key to identifying his various malacias. She also took his adenoids out in Oct. 05. I think she might have a very strong opinion re: Logan's breathing and airway disease, however her nurses and secretary's won't let me talk to her about Logan on the phone so I have to bring him in. Can you believe it?! We'll do a Coumadin check this day too.

- Jan. 17 Dr. Lohr. Heart check up, echo, ekg, sats, blood pressure, blood work, the works an x-ray to prep for...

- Jan. 18 Dr. Regelmann Pulmonary check up

We know the pneumonia's still hanging out and he's still fairly noisy but all in all, he's pretty much back to normal and maybe more smiley than he was before his surgery.

For us, we are happy. We are blessed. And we are looking forward to this new year.

For our dear family Sam and Melissa, we ask you keep them in your thoughts and prayers. They're returning to work this next week and trying to make sense of their lives without little Ellis. A challenge much too big to fathom and yet they're doing it as they've done everything else--with grace, strength and will.

Cheers.

Tuesday, December 26, 2006 12:18 AM CST

Cut and paste this link: http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_360084747.html or click on the link in the "Links" section to see a story on Make a Child Smile, the website that Logan is featured on during the month of December. It's a great story that will hopefully encourage people to make a New Year's resolution to send cards to critically ill kids in 2007....

Logan and Owen had a wonderful, wonderful Christmas! Owen, Ben and I went to Austin on Saturday for Christmas with Grandpa Paul and Grandma Kathy (Logan stayed with G&G Schroeder to keep bugs away). Then on Sunday we were with Grandma Linda and Grandpa Randy and Aunties Andrea and Amanda and Uncle Corey and then yesterday Grandpa Steve, Grandma Debbie and Aunties Abbie and Angie came up.

Our house is full--and we mean full--of new stuff. Cars, race tracks, train tracks, games, light sabers, mini golf sets, books, clothes, guitars and a little piano (their second one as they wore the one out from last year)to name some of their Christmas gifts. The boys love everything but we just loved being home and together, surrounded by family.

Once again we weren't able to go to church as we're trying to keep Logan healthy. He can't go to Sunday school because of the close contact with kids and unfortunately, they do not sit still in church. We're hopeful that next year we we can start fresh as it's just not Christmas without being in God's house on such a holy occasion.

We did do the whole Santa Clause thing though and it was a hoot! We set out four cookies and chocolate milk Sunday night and Christmas morning Owen was very concerned that Santa didn't eat all of his cookies.
- "He only ate two cookies, Daddy!" Owen yelled in dismay.
- "Um, Owen we put four cookies down and there is one left so how many cookies did he really eat?" said math dad Ben.
- "Two!" quipped Owen.
- "Let's try again. We put out four..." you get the idea.

In any case, all was wonderful and Logan is continuing to gain strength. He's sounding better all of the time and after an initial insurance denial, we received word on Friday night that he will in fact, get the synagis shots (to prevent RSV, respiratory syncitial virus). Our docs felt it was imperative for Logan to have the shots this year considering he ended up with RSV last year (no shot) and the subseqent long winter and based on his complicated recovery from surgery. So, whew! We're glad about that and sure hope it does the trick to keep this kid on the right track. The amount of synagis kids receive is based on weight so we're guessing it'll be $14,000 per shot for December-March. Praise the Lord for insurance which should cover all of these costs!

We are so thankful to everyone who is praying for us and thinking of us everyday. We've been so touched by the well wishes of those who sign our CaringBridge site (another wonderful website that touches so many lives), those who call and write. We're completely surrounded by love and it carries us through every day!

Cheers to a smiling and healthy 2007.

Thursday, December 21, 2006 12:21 AM CST

Go to www.wcco.com for a story on Make a Child Smile, the website that Logan is featured on during the month of December. It's a great story that will hopefully encourage people to make a New Year's resolution to send cards to critically ill kids in 2007....

Logan and Owen had a wonderful, wonderful Christmas! Owen, Ben and I went to Austin on Saturday for Christmas with Grandpa Paul and Grandma Kathy (Logan stayed with G&G Schroeder to keep bugs away). Then on Sunday we were with Grandma Linda and Grandpa Randy and Aunties Andrea and Amanda and Uncle Corey and then yesterday Grandpa Steve, Grandma Debbie and Aunties Abbie and Angie came up.

Our house is full--and we mean full--of new stuff. Cars, race tracks, train tracks, games, light sabers, mini golf sets, books, clothes, guitars and a little piano (their second one as they wore the one out from last year)to name some of their Christmas gifts. The boys love everything but we just loved being home and together, surrounded by family.

Once again we weren't able to go to church as we're trying to keep Logan healthy. He can't go to Sunday school because of the close contact with kids and unfortunately, they do not sit still in church. We're hopeful that next year we we can start fresh as it's just not Christmas without being in God's house on such a holy occasion.

We did do the whole Santa Clause thing though and it was a hoot! We set out four cookies and chocolate milk Sunday night and Christmas morning Owen was very concerned that Santa didn't eat all of his cookies.
- "He only ate two cookies, Daddy!" Owen yelled in dismay.
- "Um, Owen we put four cookies down and there is one left so how many cookies did he really eat?" said math dad Ben.
- "Two!" quipped Owen.
- "Let's try again. We put out four..." you get the idea.

In any case, all was wonderful and Logan is continuing to gain strength. He's sounding better all of the time and after an initial insurance denial, we received word on Friday night that he will in fact, get the synagis shots (to prevent RSV, respiratory syncitial virus). Our docs felt it was imperative for Logan to have the shots this year considering he ended up with RSV last year (no shot) and the subseqent long winter and based on his complicated recovery from surgery. So, whew! We're glad about that and sure hope it does the trick to keep this kid on the right track. The amount of synagis kids receive is based on weight so we're guessing it'll be $14,000 per shot for December-March. Praise the Lord for insurance which should cover all of these costs!

We are so thankful to everyone who is praying for us and thinking of us everyday. We've been so touched by the well wishes of those who sign our CaringBridge site (another wonderful website that touches so many lives), those who call and write. We're completely surrounded by love and it carries us through every day!

Cheers to a smiling and healthy 2007.

Thursday, December 21, 2006 12:21 AM CST

Hey all, it's me, rockstar, superstar, braveheart, strongheart, talkin and walkin Logan! Yep, you read right--I AM WALKING! My Mommy and Daddy are so uber proud of me and let me tell you, I am way proud of myself too. I mean, my grin was so big last night when I took six--count 'em six--steps on my own that you could see it from Eagan to Denver (Hi Leslie, Curry and Miss Lexi). I've been working really hard.

Yesterday afternoon I surprised the heck out of Nanny Paula when I was done with my nap and crawled out of my bed and wiggled myself to the stairs and yelled for her. She just couldn't figure out how I got there! That's me, sneaky Logan.

I still have pneumonia but I am coughing a little less and I am having an easier time breathing. That's a good feeling. On Sunday Mommy said it sounded like a band was playing when she listened on my back or front. Thankfully, I'm not as loud that way either. I've got a pulmonology appointment at 1pm today (by the way, funny sidebar, Mommy thought it was at 9am so took the a.m. off work, got me in there only to find out we were four hours early. I mean, can you believe she can't keep it all straight for crying out loud?!)

Anyway, I had my apt. with Dr. Lohr yesterday--she thought I looked good and my demeanor was good but my O2's were still at 73 and I am still a little more blue looking than I should be. I got an echo and an ekg done too. Then, I went down for a chest X-ray after that. The Pulmonologist will give Mommy those results today and tell me how to tweak my medications.

Have I mentioned how hungry I am lately? Oh, I think my mommmy did. Well, I'm still hungry and last night at midnight I needed some chips and I mean I needed chips now! So, while Mommy was taking her shower to make morning getting ready time a little easier, Daddy took me downstairs and I brought up some chips and ate some in bed. It didn't seem like something Mommy or Daddy were too thrilled to do for me but I'm thinking my constant whining and screaming to get some food weighs on them and they give in.

Owen is doing good and I think he likes that I'm finally getting a little more mobile. He doesn't really sit too long in one place so I think I've been a bit of a drag for him lately. But just wait, once I'm fully back in the saddle, he'd better watch out! He says funny things that make people laugh but I can't think of anything in particular at the moment. I'll let Mommy do that.

It's almost Christmas and we've been good for Santa. Mommy and Daddy finally got us a Christmas tree last weekend and it's real pretty.

Oh, I have to tell you that Owen and I have received close to 200 cards and packages in the mail from the makeachildsmile.org website. It's unbelievable but wow, it's so fun to see the stacks of cards in our P.O. Box and all of the fun things people are sending us--coloring books, stickers, books, Care Bear plush bears, Superman shooting frisbee action heros. I mean, it's incredible there are so many wonderful, kind people out there who saw my/our story and just want to make us smile. It's worked and is still working. My smile keeps getting bigger.

I'm so blessed. We are so blessed. Christmas isn't about wrapped up presents, it's about the miracle gift God gave to all of us through the birth of Jesus. That's the best gift of all--okay, big picture that and smaller picture me being home and getting better.

Thank you for praying so hard for me and Owen and Mommy and Daddy. You can keep praying for us and don't forget to pray for other kids and their families too--healthy or sick.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a walkin good night!

Thursday, December 21, 2006 12:21 AM CST

Hey all, it's me, rockstar, superstar, braveheart, strongheart, talkin and walkin Logan! Yep, you read right--I AM WALKING! My Mommy and Daddy are so uber proud of me and let me tell you, I am way proud of myself too. I mean, my grin was so big last night when I took six--count 'em six--steps on my own that you could see it from Eagan to Denver (Hi Leslie, Curry and Miss Lexi). I've been working really hard.

Yesterday afternoon I surprised the heck out of Nanny Paula when I was done with my nap and crawled out of my bed and wiggled myself to the stairs and yelled for her. She just couldn't figure out how I got there! That's me, sneaky Logan.

I still have pneumonia but I am coughing a little less and I am having an easier time breathing. That's a good feeling. On Sunday Mommy said it sounded like a band was playing when she listened on my back or front. Thankfully, I'm not as loud that way either. I've got a pulmonology appointment at 1pm today (by the way, funny sidebar, Mommy thought it was at 9am so took the a.m. off work, got me in there only to find out we were four hours early. I mean, can you believe she can't keep it all straight for crying out loud?!)

Anyway, I had my apt. with Dr. Lohr yesterday--she thought I looked good and my demeanor was good but my O2's were still at 73 and I am still a little more blue looking than I should be. I got an echo and an ekg done too. Then, I went down for a chest X-ray after that. The Pulmonologist will give Mommy those results today and tell me how to tweak my medications.

Have I mentioned how hungry I am lately? Oh, I think my mommmy did. Well, I'm still hungry and last night at midnight I needed some chips and I mean I needed chips now! So, while Mommy was taking her shower to make morning getting ready time a little easier, Daddy took me downstairs and I brought up some chips and ate some in bed. It didn't seem like something Mommy or Daddy were too thrilled to do for me but I'm thinking my constant whining and screaming to get some food weighs on them and they give in.

Owen is doing good and I think he likes that I'm finally getting a little more mobile. He doesn't really sit too long in one place so I think I've been a bit of a drag for him lately. But just wait, once I'm fully back in the saddle, he'd better watch out! He says funny things that make people laugh but I can't think of anything in particular at the moment. I'll let Mommy do that.

It's almost Christmas and we've been good for Santa. Mommy and Daddy finally got us a Christmas tree last weekend and it's real pretty.

Oh, I have to tell you that Owen and I have received close to 200 cards and packages in the mail from the makeachildsmile.org website. It's unbelievable but wow, it's so fun to see the stacks of cards in our P.O. Box and all of the fun things people are sending us--coloring books, stickers, books, Care Bear plush bears, Superman shooting frisbee action heros. I mean, it's incredible there are so many wonderful, kind people out there who saw my/our story and just want to make us smile. It's worked and is still working. My smile keeps getting bigger.

I'm so blessed. We are so blessed. Christmas isn't about wrapped up presents, it's about the miracle gift God gave to all of us through the birth of Jesus. That's the best gift of all--okay, big picture that and smaller picture me being home and getting better.

Thank you for praying so hard for me and Owen and Mommy and Daddy. You can keep praying for us and don't forget to pray for other kids and their families too--healthy or sick.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a walkin good night!

Thursday, December 21, 2006 12:21 AM CST

Hey all, it's me, rockstar, superstar, braveheart, strongheart, talkin and walkin Logan! Yep, you read right--I AM WALKING! My Mommy and Daddy are so uber proud of me and let me tell you, I am way proud of myself too. I mean, my grin was so big last night when I took six--count 'em six--steps on my own that you could see it from Eagan to Denver (Hi Leslie, Curry and Miss Lexi). I've been working really hard.

Yesterday afternoon I surprised the heck out of Nanny Paula when I was done with my nap and crawled out of my bed and wiggled myself to the stairs and yelled for her. She just couldn't figure out how I got there! That's me, sneaky Logan.

I still have pneumonia but I am coughing a little less and I am having an easier time breathing. That's a good feeling. On Sunday Mommy said it sounded like a band was playing when she listened on my back or front. Thankfully, I'm not as loud that way either. I've got a pulmonology appointment at 1pm today (by the way, funny sidebar, Mommy thought it was at 9am so took the a.m. off work, got me in there only to find out we were four hours early. I mean, can you believe she can't keep it all straight for crying out loud?!)

Anyway, I had my apt. with Dr. Lohr yesterday--she thought I looked good and my demeanor was good but my O2's were still at 73 and I am still a little more blue looking than I should be. I got an echo and an ekg done too. Then, I went down for a chest X-ray after that. The Pulmonologist will give Mommy those results today and tell me how to tweak my medications.

Have I mentioned how hungry I am lately? Oh, I think my mommmy did. Well, I'm still hungry and last night at midnight I needed some chips and I mean I needed chips now! So, while Mommy was taking her shower to make morning getting ready time a little easier, Daddy took me downstairs and I brought up some chips and ate some in bed. It didn't seem like something Mommy or Daddy were too thrilled to do for me but I'm thinking my constant whining and screaming to get some food weighs on them and they give in.

Owen is doing good and I think he likes that I'm finally getting a little more mobile. He doesn't really sit too long in one place so I think I've been a bit of a drag for him lately. But just wait, once I'm fully back in the saddle, he'd better watch out! He says funny things that make people laugh but I can't think of anything in particular at the moment. I'll let Mommy do that.

It's almost Christmas and we've been good for Santa. Mommy and Daddy finally got us a Christmas tree last weekend and it's real pretty.

Oh, I have to tell you that Owen and I have received close to 200 cards and packages in the mail from the makeachildsmile.org website. It's unbelievable but wow, it's so fun to see the stacks of cards in our P.O. Box and all of the fun things people are sending us--coloring books, stickers, books, Care Bear plush bears, Superman shooting frisbee action heros. I mean, it's incredible there are so many wonderful, kind people out there who saw my/our story and just want to make us smile. It's worked and is still working. My smile keeps getting bigger.

I'm so blessed. We are so blessed. Christmas isn't about wrapped up presents, it's about the miracle gift God gave to all of us through the birth of Jesus. That's the best gift of all--okay, big picture that and smaller picture me being home and getting better.

Thank you for praying so hard for me and Owen and Mommy and Daddy. You can keep praying for us and don't forget to pray for other kids and their families too--healthy or sick.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a walkin good night!

Thursday, December 21, 2006 11:17 AM CST

Hey all, it's me, rockstar, superstar, braveheart, strongheart,talkin and walkin Logan! Yep, you read right--I AM WALKING! My Mommy and Daddy are so uber proud of me and let me tell you, I am way proud of myself too. I mean, my grin was so big last night when I took six--count 'em six--steps on my own that you could see it from Eagan to Denver (Hi Leslie, Curry and Miss Lexi). I've been working really hard.

Yesterday afternoon I surprised the heck out of Nanny Paula when I was done with my nap and crawled out of my bed and wiggled myself to the stairs and yelled for her. She just couldn't figure out how I got there! That's me, sneaky Logan.

I still have pneumonia but I am coughing a little less and I am having an easier time breathing. That's a good feeling. On Sunday Mommy said it sounded like a band was playing when she listened on my back or front. Thankfully, I'm not as loud that way either. I've got a pulmonology appointment at 1pm today (by the way, funny sidebar, Mommy thought it was at 9am so took the a.m. off work, got me in there only to find out we were four hours early. I mean, can you believe she can't keep it all straight for crying out loud?!)

Anyway, I had my apt. with Dr. Lohr yesterday--she thought I looked good and my demeanor was good but my O2's were still at 73 and I am still a little more blue looking than I should be. I got an echo and an ekg done too. Then, I went down for a chest X-ray after that. The Pulmonologist will give Mommy those results today and tell me how to tweak my medications.

Have I mentioned how hungry I am lately? Oh, I think my mommmy did. Well, I'm still hungry and last night at midnight I needed some chips and I mean I needed chips now! So, while Mommy was taking her shower to make morning getting ready time a little easier, Daddy took me downstairs and I brought up some chips and ate some in bed. It didn't seem like something Mommy or Daddy were too thrilled to do for me but I'm thinking my constant whining and screaming to get some food weighs on them and they give in.

Owen is doing good and I think he likes that I'm finally getting a little more mobile. He doesn't really sit too long in one place so I think I've been a bit of a drag for him lately. But just wait, once I'm fully back in the saddle, he'd better watch out! He says funny things that make people laugh but I can't think of anything in particular at the moment. I'll let Mommy do that.

It's almost Christmas and we've been good for Santa. Mommy and Daddy finally got us a Christmas tree last weekend and it's real pretty.

Oh, I have to tell you that Owen and me have received close to 200 cards and packages in the mail from the makeachildsmile.org website. It's crazy but wow, it's so fun to see the stacks of cards in our P.O. Box and all of the fun things people are sending us--coloring books, stickers, books, Care Bear plush bears, Superman shooting frisbee action heros. I mean, it's incredible there are so many wonderful, kind people out there who saw my/our story and just want to make us smile. It's worked and is still working.

I'm so blessed. We are so blessed. Christmas isn't about wrapped up presents, it's about the miracle gift God gave to all of us through the birth of Jesus. That's the best gift of all--okay, big picture that and smaller picture me being home and getting better.

Thank you for praying so hard for me and Owen and Mommy and Daddy. You can keep praying for us and don't forget to pray for other kids and their families too--healthy or sick.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a walkin good night!

Friday, December 15, 2006 10:38 PM CST

Life at home has been oh, so helpful for Logan's recovery. He continues to amaze us and many others with his progress in the areas of walking, talking, resting, playing and being the Logan we knew and loved and hoped would come back.

His INR level has been continuing to go up in teeny weeny increments and as a result they doubled the dose from 2mg to 4mg based on Monday's lab results. Ben took him today for an INR check, along with a whole slew of other blood tests and a chest x-ray, and it worked--we finally got that INR up to 2.48 (Range for Logan should be 2-2.5).

That's the good news.

Here's the we've got work to do news:

Logan had his weekly check up on Wednesday with Dr. Lohr. Yes, she was impressed by him standing and walking with assistance. Her words were, "I thought it would take longer than this but then again, this is Logan." However, his O2's were hanging in the low 70's (pre-fontan that number hung out at 79. If he were 100ealed and recovered it should be 85 to the low 90's). She thought he looked more blue and sounded worse than the week before. She'd written a prescription for Prednislone, a nasty steroid that works as an anti-inflammatory, the week before and told us to fill it and start it right away. The thought was his lungs/airway were quite inflammed, let's get it down through the steroids and go from there. She also wrote an order for us to come back for a chest x-ray on Friday when we did the INR and other blood work. Ben took him in today for that, thus the INR number report, and the chest x-ray showed pneumonia! JONESARELLI .

Dr. Reggelman, pulmonolgist, looked at the x-ray along with Dr. Lohr and his words were it was an impressive pneumonia. If only he was referring to impressive in a positive, good news type of way. From talking with Dr. Lohr it's down in his lower left lobe and is substantial. The good news is Logan hasn't any fevers and acts like he's feeling pretty good (minus his behavior on the Prednislone which causes him to spaz out, lash out and eat out of his mind). The docs told us if there's any sign of fever or change in behavior we have to get to the ER. PLEASE, PLEASE pray we avoid this. Dr. Reggelman also shared with Dr. Lohr that this could be a pneumonia that requires the positive pressure of the Bi-Pap/CPap machine that he was on in the hospital to open his lung enough to clear it up. YUCK! That would require a couple days in the hospital and then they could probably hook us up with one of those at home. Again, PLEASE, PLEASE pray we avoid this as well.

The docs prescribed two antibiotics as they think it's bacterial. We also added Atrovant, a nebulizer bronchodialator, into our mix along with Pulmacort. Dr. Lohr said if he doesn't look, sound or feel better in the next few days he may need to go in to the joint. Did we ask, PLEASE, PLEASE pray we avoid this too?

Of course we were totally bummed with the news but frankly, his cough has been worsening and I suppose it's not entirely a surprise that it happened. Thankfully, he had his Influenza shot on Wednesday and Lord willing, the insurance companies will figure out which way is up so the nurses can get us started on the Synagis (RSV) shot. Who knows, maybe it doesn't matter but at this point, I'll take anything to keep/get this kid better.

Of interest might be his med schedule:

AM-breakfast:
Prazosin (blood pressure)
Bumex (water pill)
Pulmacort (neb for lungs/airways)
Flinstone vitamin
10 days: Atrovent (neb for lungs/airways)
6 days: Prednislone (anti-inflammatory steroid)
5 days: Zithromax (anti-biotic)

PM-after nap:
Prazosin
Pulmacort
14 days: Suprax (anti-biotic)
10 days: Atrovent

PM-6pmish:
Bumex
Coumadin (anti-coagulant)

PM-before bed:
Amoxicillin
Losartan
Pulmacort
10 days: Atrovent
6 days: Prednislone

Compared to some kids I know, this is a walk in the park but we'll be glad the fewer we have to keep tabs of and moreso, put into his little body.

On the docket for next week is an INR check Monday, check up, echo, ekg with Dr. Lohr on Wednesday and pulmonology with Dr. Reggelman on Thursday. Thrown in there will be 1-2 more INR checks and another chest x-ray. We're okay with going in for appointments...not okay when they come to us as it means we're in the joint.

We did go to the Holidazzle tonight (cleared by both doctors) and met up with our new friends the Corbo's--with twin boys, almost a year exactly apart and one of the boys is a heart transplant baby. Additionally, we are going to a Santa Breakfast at Macy's on Sunday. Getting out is good for the boys and believe us when we say we're taking extra precautions to ensure we're keeping bugs away.

Not a whole lot of funny to report unless we share Logan's train of thought while on this steroid...

...while eating Goldfish in the car, "Mommy, I want chips!"

"We don't have any chips in the car, Logan."

"NO! I want chips!"

...20 seconds later, he's off the chip thing.

"Mommy, I want cookies!"

"Sorry, dude, we didn't bring any cookies along."

"No, Mommy. I want them. NOW!"..."Mommy, I want to go to a ret-stu-ar-ant!"

"Sorry, babe. We're not near a restaurant and you already ate out today."

"No, Mommy. I want to go to a new ret-stu-ar-ant NOW!"

...10 seconds later, still in the car and still mind on food. "Mommy, I want a peanut butter sandwich."

"You do?"

"Yeah. Mommy. Now!"

All the while, Owen is singing "Wags Keep on Barking" from The Wiggles "Santa's Rockin'" DVD in the car.


...

Sunday, December 10, 2006 0:30 AM CST

Today was little Ellis Bergstrom's celebration of life. The church was packed, the service was incredibly moving, the photos and various montages of Ellis were touching and Sam and Melissa were as always, inspiring. I'm sure they've never consciously attempted to be inspiring to others throughout their journey with Ellis, but the fact is they have and continue to inspire us and many others and we are all the better for it. We will never forget Ellis and how brave and strong he was. In fact, we look forward to sharing his story with Logan and Owen as they get older and understand the wonder and joy of life a little more.

In the meantime, we'll encourage Logan to keep being strong and brave and he's earning his stripes more and more every day. Ben and I both felt today was his best day yet (minus the eating front). He looked the best he has since before surgery, was talking more and louder, standing 80% on his own and even walked around our house and G & G Schroeders. It's incredible really; a week ago he was still a red rash, bed-ridden, sad heart little guy and today he is a pink skinned, moving and grooving, happy hearted big boy. We are so blessed and so thankful and so grateful.

This coming week we've got blood draws M, W and Friday, apts with the renal doc, pediatrician and cardiologist, home visits from Physical and Occupational therapy and a flu shot and synagis shot. We know these next couple of weeks will be full of apts and just hope and pray that it all settles down by the first of the year.

For memory's sake, I just have to talk about Owen. He's such a terrific little boy who's always been quite the ham but in the month we were away, he went from being a three year old with pretty good communication to a 5 year old who carries the conversation with others and makes everyone around him laugh. Case in point:

We took the boys to get haircuts on Thursday night (I just couldn't stand the overgrown look anymore). Owen hopped up in the chair and said to the stylist...
- I'm Owen Paul Bushaw. I'm three year old.
- What's your name? What's your Mommy and Daddy's name?
- Do you have brothers and sisters? What are there names?
- I'm getting a haircut.

Then, once done with his dapper do and Logan got into the chair, he wanted to be inclusive of those waiting for haircuts. To every person waiting, he'd take up a chair next to him/her and say:
- How was your day?
- Are you getting a haircut?
- I got a haircut.
- Good bye.

Ben and I couldn't stop laughing and we know he made the wait enjoyable for everyone around him. Then, we went through the Wendy's drive through for dinner. Ben was ordering and Owen rolled down his window and said:
- I want a...
- I'm talking to you!
- Hey, I'm talking to you!
We seriously couldn't contain ourselves with that one and had to roll up and push the lock button on his window so we could put the order in.

And last, the other day when G & G Schroeder were over Owen was his crazy, rip-roaring, running around like a crazy man self when Grandpa Randy said:
- "Hey Owen, do you have ants in your pants?"
- Owen replied, "No Grandpa, I do not have ants in my pants."
- And Grandpa Randy said, "Oh I think you do. I think you've got some ants in your pants."
- Owen looks at Grandpa Randy, pulls his pants down and looks to see and says, "See Grandpa, I don't have any ants in pants."

That's our Owen. That's our Logan. This is our life and like Ellis shared with all of us, "Life is good!"

Thursday, December 7, 2006 1:49 PM CST

November is a blur. Total blur. We were home but a few hours on Monday night and I said to Ben, "did that just all really happen? It seems like we never left this house." It's all so strange...so much happenened in November--we lived at the hospital for nearly five weeks--and yet once we got home with everyone who belongs here it became a distant memory and boy, are we thankful.

Logan is doing terrific. He's very tired and doesn't do a lot but he plays on the floor with Owen, is working hard to get his strength back, is talking more and louder each day and sleeping in his big boy bed like it's nobody's business--where was that behavior from July through October?!

We went in for our first apt with Dr. Lohr yesterday and she was overall pleased with his first day and a half at home. She wants to be sure he's eating and drinking enough and that his lungs stay healthy and clear; that's probably the biggest issue we want to keep far, far away. We're going to see Dr. Reggelman, pulmonologist, on Dec. 21 and we'll see Dr. Lohr each week for the next few just to make sure we're not missing anything. It'll be about his only trips out of the house so I think he'll actually look forward to those visits.

We also had our first Coumadin check yesterday. If you'll recall when we left on Monday, his INR was 1.39. Well yesterday it was 1.02! LOWER-WHAT?! Turns out one of his medications is competing with the Coumadin so we've upped that and will start to wean the Prazosin to see if it helps. Getting that INR to 2-2.5 is very important but we'll do it slowly. Can you imagine with that number going the wrong way, we'd still be living in Unit 5A at the hospital. Ughh.

Owen is doing fine with Logan at home but somewhat indifferent since he can't run and chase him around but he's being as good a brother as he can and for that we're very proud. He's one funny boy though...the things that come out of his mouth.

We go in tomorrow for another INR/Coumadin check and might venture out for haircuts and to cut down a Christmas tree this weekend. I'm also planning to venture back to work next week. I'm excited to get some normalcy back to our lives although I know it'll be hard to leave Logan. We're so thankful Ben's school and Macy's has been so wonderful and understanding of what's been going on.

We are eternally grateful for the thoughts and prayers of so many. We still need them, although we are good on the pee pee front!

There is no place like home...

Sunday, December 3, 2006 9:00 PM CST

UPDATE II--Monday, December 4, 8:30pm
It's with many emotions that we share we are indeed home. Logan is home and was greeted by his crazy twin Owen, G & G Schroeder, Nanny Paula and Logan's best friends Ali & Ty, along with Diane & Todd. While he wasn't smiling ear to ear it was a smile you see from a mile away. It's wonderful.

Our dear cousin Ellis went to a different home this afternoon and we are grieving. We ask that while you rejoice with us that you hold Sam, Melissa and their families close in prayer. Ellis was a wonderful boy who brought joy and a renewed faith to many. We only hope those that found faith, don't lose it. Ellis will continue to touch many and we are honored to have had the time we did with Sam, Melissa and Ellis on Unit 5C.

Melissa had a huge effect on Logan during his recovery. He lit up when she talked and smiled from ear to ear when she laughed. We just pray that in time, they're able to laugh again...

UPDATE--Monday, December 4, 2pm
Logan's INR number only went up to 1.39 from 1.37 yesterday. Not the perfect number but we're still heading HOME!! Needless to say, we're thrilled, thrilled, thrilled. Provided the pharmacy doesn't take 19 hours to fill his various prescriptions, we should be home by 5pm. Hooray.

While we're thrilled beyond belief for Logan, we also have very mixed emotions as Ellis is struggling today. Please pray for the Bergstroms as they need more strength, courage and comfort than ever. Hold them close. Life is so precious.

ORIGINAL POST--Sunday, Dec. 9pm
Remember a while back when Ben said "Monday's Suck" and I said "Stink, honey, they stink. Let's not use that word." Well, we're hoping that tomorrow (Monday) his INR level has reached 1.6 or 1.7 and we can say "Mondays are Magnificent!" And if we still haven't reached that magic INR number tomorrow that we can say "Tuesdays are Terrific." But if by Wednesday we still haven't reached that number we may have something a little less pleasant to say.

The deal is Logan’s INR number is S…L…O…W!. We went from 1.2 on Friday to 1.24 on Saturday. Today it jumped to 1.37, which is a good move and likely due to one thing…not having as much vitamin K in his diet. Not surprisingly, there’s a story here…

The docs have wanted to try to fatten up Logan by adding nutritional stuff like Pedisure (GROSS), Nepro (NEVER) and Resource (YUCK) to his diet. We finally landed on something Logan would drink--Carnation Instant Breakfast and we’ve been having it added to his whole milk for about 5 days and he’s having about 15-20 oz of milk it each day. Yesterday, Dr. Tetteh, fellow on Dr. Herrington's team, came in and asked Ben if Logan was enjoying a surplus of green leafy vegetables in his diet. Easy answer on that one—No.

The thought was he was getting added Vitamin K from somewhere. We then asked “does the Instant Breakfast have Vitamin K?” and what do you think the answer was on that one? Yes! Seriously, can you stand it? So, we’ve DC’d yesterday morning however it’s continued to come up on his food tray ever since. It came up again this morning and additionally they separately sent some Boost for Logan as a replacement. One container of that has 80f his daily intake of Vitamin K. Who are these people?! All I did was look at the back of the box. It said it right there. It was easy to read and I’m not even a dietician so not quite sure where the confusion is. We’re honestly just glad we’re paying attention or we’d be here past Christmas! So now, we’re sticking with whole milk with chocolate powder and the extra special, super fatty and yummy ice cream, cream, chocolate syrup, peanut butter, banana milkshakes that Grandpa Paul and Grandma Kathy whipped up. Lord knows I don’t need any fattening up but one can’t let these go to waste.

What else? Oh, right, the rash. Infectious Disease did come by on Friday and almost instantly had a theory that made complete sense—DTH to Amoxicillin or Delayed-type hypersensivity. Let’s see if this makes sense…Logan takes Amoxicillin every day as a prophylaxis for his asplenia. He was off Amox for about three weeks as he was getting other, stronger antibiotics via IV. He went back on Amox about two weeks ago. What they think happened was when his white blood count was going up with the low-grade fever that he actually did have some sort of virus. His T cells were likely working hard to rid of the virus but the Amoxicillin was throwing them for a loop. Thus, the adverse reaction of a great big, all encompassing, itchy, icky rash.

OR, here’s what I found online:

Delayed hypersensitivity is due to interactions between the drug and a particular type of white blood cell known as a T cell. Although T cells help the body develop immunity against infection, they can also cause adverse effects in certain circumstances. T cells produce harmful effects in allergic drug reactions through a series of complex biological reactions.

The rash is getting much, much better and safe to say, it’s about cleared up. Hallelujah! It seems to flare up about an hour or so after he takes his Amox each night but the fact of the matter is he is not/did not grow allergic to this antibiotic. His body is just taking awhile to adjust to having it back in his system. For many who have a DTH like this, they think they’re allergic but we learned allergic reactions to drugs happen immediately and if it’s delayed than it’s not really an allergy to the drug. Oh, what we’re learning!

On to the patient—Logan is really making terrific progress! While he seemed a little gloomy on Saturday when we went to the dogs on parade in the lobby of the hospital, we actually think he enjoyed it a ton. Dogs can do so much to lift a persons spirits. Owen came too and was even one of the volunteers who helped demonstrate how kids should approach strange dogs. He was quite good and I think enjoyed himself.

Throughout the weekend Logan has been answering more and more questions, is helping to pick out his menu, saying “love you,” going on stroller rides throughout the fifth floor and most importantly, the sparkle in his eye keeps growing brighter and brighter.

It was really hard to trust the doctors and nurses when they were saying it would get better and we fully admit the angst and worry and concern and sadness we have been feeling but we can tell now a week out of the PICU that they were right. It is getting better and for that we praise God and are so very thankful.

We’re almost home.

P.S., Please continue to pray, pray, pray for Ellis! He continues to do his own thing with his recovery and is keeping his Mommy and Daddy on a rollercoaster. The doctors and nurses need wisdom, Sam and Melissa need strength and resolve and Ellis just needs to get better. This little Ellis is the most special little boy who is fighting a fight we would probably all fail and yet he and his parents keep working as hard as they can.

Friday, December 1, 2006 0:19 AM CST

UPDATE--10:30 Friday morning

Couple things to note:
- INR number is still a little too low for the docs to feel comfy sending us home tomorrow. (They want it 2-2.5 to prevent any possibility of clotting. Today, it's up to 1.2 from 1.13 yesterday.) We upped his coumadin last night after upping two days ago. It takes a few days to see the effect so tomorrow we should see an increase from a few days ago and a few days from now we'll see the increase from upping the dose last night. So, it could--and we're praying it does--go up enough after tomorrow's labs that we can still go home. If not, Sunday or Monday may be the day but we're praying for tomorrow. If it gets to 1.6 and everything else looks good, they'll send up home and we'll just be monitored super closely as an outpatient.

- Logan has been chosen to be one of three featured kids on a website called makeachildsmile.org. Here's who they are:

Founded in May of 1998, by Alexandra Bakker, the Make A Child Smile Organization, also known as MACS, has been a source of support to children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses and their families. Emotional support is provided by creating the opportunity for people to visit the MACS website and learn about the children and their illnesses.

Each month, new children are featured. A picture and biography describing the child and information about their family is published on the website. Hundreds of 'net surfers, schools, service organizations, girls/boys scouts and church groups use the MACS website as a philanthropic project where they can send cards, letters and small gifts to the featured children and their siblings through postal mail.

The founder originally contacted Sam and Missy about having Ellis be one of the December kids but Melissa felt it probably wasn't a very good time but thought that Logan would be a great choice. Guess so because he's the first super cutie you see now on the site. Feel free to visit to check out these brave kids and this site that is frankly, pretty incredible for kids like Logan.

makeachildsmile.org.


ORIGINAL POST-12 midnight
Can it be? Has it really been one month since Logan's surgery? Indeed it has...huh, honestly the time has actually passed by surprisingly fast. Thank goodness for that small miracle.

So here we are a month later and I think I'm ready to say, and more importantly believe myself when I say, that I think we're about done here. I think Logan is better. I think he's going to be okay. I think Logan is coming back to us. And, I think that I've never been more proud. What an amazingly strong-willed, hard fighting, never-giver-upper little boy we've got. Go Logan Go! (By the way, if you haven't heard Logan's song, click on the link at the bottom of the page to hear it. It's pretty neat.)

Surprisingly, our day was pretty uneventful and there's not much to share...Oh, except for Logan said "Mommy" about five times, then later said "I want one" when Grandma Schroeder asked if he wanted a choc-o-late treat (a little Dove chocolate and York peppermint patty--his favorites). He also sat up without anyone holding him for about five minutes and that was after he went for a long stroller ride leaning forward so he could sit up straight rather than sitting back. (One of our OT therapists, Sarah, said based on what she saw today with his trunk and head/neck strength that Logan does not need a special stroller for getting around. How great is that?!). He also worked hard at physical therapy throwing balls, trying to stand, fishing with a magnetic pole to pick up various magnetic items, smiled up a storm when Nanny Paula came and asked if she was his "Little Pepper." And lastly, he was a super duper champ when it came to taking his medicine. I guess it was an eventful day.

On a different note, we're still working hard to figure out this rash/hives/allergic reaction thing and I've moved past the Lasix as the culprit. Starting late yesterday I decided it must not be the Lasix but still had to be some allergic reation to one of his meds. But what? So, today I once again put my Super Slueth Medical Investigator cape on and start digging for info.

I ended up with the culprit being Viagra, which means I now need to explain why my 3 year old is on Viagra...Viagra has been found to treat pulmonary hypertension in kids. Pulmonary hypertension occurs when the blood pressure rises inside the lungs making it difficult for the heart to pump blood to the lungs. Viagra works by relaxing the smooth muscle of blood vessels, letting them expand to increase blood flow. It's basically a vasodialtor that increases blood flow to the lungs instead of the you know what in men. And, there is your medical lesson for the day.

Logan's symptoms are all rare side effects of Viagra, it contains sulfites (which I'm convinced Logan is allergic to), and it seemed his hive/rash/allergic reaction comes and goes. Since he's getting Viagra 3x a day, that could make sense. Thus, I brougt it up to the docs and they opted to DC it for the day to see if indeed that could be the cause of things.

The decision was made to skip his 4pm dose to see if there were any noticeable differences in the rash and guess what--there was. Man, I was thinking I was going to need a bigger size Super Slueth Medical Investigator cape. But then, around 3:30 before we even had a chance to skip the dose, the hives/rash/allergic reaction seemed to flare up again. Huh? I was stumped. Perhaps it's not an allergic reaction but some sort of viral infection. Might that be? When the doc came in to talk about why it probably wasn't the Viagra and the sulfites, I told him my new theory but couldn't quite pin down what the virus could be.

I've been super sluething all night and am going with the virus thing now. He had a high white blood count last week, low fevers for about three or four days and the rash appeared after the white blood count started coming down. Somehow, I happened upon Fifth's Disease (not a disease, just the name for a viral infection) and it could totally fit the bill and part of the reason the rash could be flaring up at different times during the day could be stress related, ala too many in his room, me trying to force him to take his meds, him getting frustrated during PT/OT, etc. Tomorrow I'll be sure Infectious Disease weighs in. They might buy my theory or hopefully have a real idea of what's going on instead of me, the supposed Super Sleuth Medical Investigator, continuing to come up with this, that and the other thing.

We need Logan a little stronger, we need to have the hives/rash/allergic reaction closer to being figured out and his INR level needs to go up. When that's all done, we're going home and that day could be Saturday.

Rash, rash go away. Logan can't tolerate you one more day!

Wednesday, November 29, 2006 2:13 PM CST

Remember hearing those news stories about cruise ships and the Norwalk virus? Guess who's got it? Ben! Last night when he came up to the hospital so we could switch places, he said his stomach was in knots and he was nervous about taking care of Logan, which was a valid feeling considering how difficult it's become to give Logan medicine, what to do througout the night when he suddenly wakes up screaming and trembling, how to manage his itchies...you know the common things we do to take care of our kids on a daily basis (that's a truly failed attempt at humor).

Owen and I finally left the hospital at 9pm and at 10pm, Ben called to say he was really feeling lousy and didn't think he could make it through the night. I called G & G Schroeder, they came to pick up Owen, I drove to the hospital, Ben drove home and has been sick since. The Norwalk virus has run rampant through the 5th floor of the hospital in the past week and Ben just went back to school so it came from here or there. Now, we're just praying Logan stays healthy and me too. The Infectious Disease team has said Ben can't come back here until "24 hours after he starts feeling completely well."

One has to find it within her/himself to laugh, don't they?

On to patient two: Logan. Tuesday was another swell day, sans his entire body rash, and he was very focused during physical & occupational therapy. They worked hard with him to stand up but he's got a ways to go. They also talked about some of the different equipment we'll need when we go home. Since he won't be able to sit upright by himself for very long, he'll need some sort of special stroller thing that has shoulder straps to prevent him from falling forward. We also may look at some sort of walker thing to help him with his balance as he's relearning this skill. I really can't quite fathom how different life will be at home or imagine what and how Logan will feel. I do know, however, that it won't take as long as doctors and therapists think it will for him to be back to himself and that's due to Owen. I know Owen will push him to get better more quickly and Logan will not want to stay too far behind his brother.

The couple things we're dealing with right now is too much pee pee output, which I still find very ironic. Even though Logan has been a pee pee'in like a rock star, we hadn't made enough adjustments to his diuretics. I opted to not give him a Bumex dose on Monday night because of how many wet diapers I'd been changing and then yesterday they lowered how much diuretics he was getting. Today we had to discontinue all of the diuretics completely because of his weight loss.
Monday = 13.8 kilos or 30.3 lbs
Tuesday = 13.0 kilos or 28.6 lbs
Wednesday = 12.5 kilos or 27.5 lbs
I admit this was a bit frustrating considering we kept asking about the volume of diurectics and the amount of pee pee output. He's been eating very, very well in order to put weight on but yet because of this fine balance of not being too dry or too fluid overloaded. I'm glad they thoroughly reviewed today made the change and am hopeful that he'll put the weight back on and stat.

BUN and Creatinine continue to decrease. White Blood Count and Hemoglobin are at a good number, etc so you see, we're still moving in the right direction.

Home is in the future, maybe not end of week but by end of weekend I'm guessing, provided the Norwalk stays away from Loganpants.

No talking yet and still pretty distant but we're praying, praying, praying.

Tuesday, November 28, 2006 0:38 AM CST

Good thing I don't have quite the grouchies as I did last night or I'd totally be over the edge. Long, postive post done and completed by 10pm and I just went to check and POOF--gone. No idea where it went so I have to try to remember what I wrote. Here goes...

Today was a better day all around. Granted Logan and I were both dog tired but we are moving in the right direction. Highlights of the day:

1. Logan is getting stronger! Today with Physical Therapy he sat up longer than ever and threw markers and a baseball and even tried to play with a makeshift baseball bat. Grandma Linda really got him going and we could see he was enjoying himself a little bit even if it was hard, hard work. Once we go home PT will come to our house to work Logan back to pre-surgery. It'll likely take him a few months to walk again but thankfully, we can at least see he's got his upper body strength making progress.

2. Logan smiled and laughed! Grandpa Paul and Grandma Kathy came up tonight for a visit and thier "Whoa Ponies," "Whoa Doggies" and "Do you have chicken legs" antics really got him going. Smiling and attempting to laugh. It was truly an overwhelming feeling to know smiles are still in this kid!

3. Logan is officially IV free! We turned the balance of IV meds to oral and pulled out the femmoral line at 3pm. I gave him as close to a real bath as he could have without being immersed in water and he loved it. We were able to lose a few of the meds today and I'll be pushing for more to scoot tomorrow. Less is more in my opinion.

4. We figured out the itchies! He's allergic to Lasix, a diuretic, which frankly we should be able to lose all together as this kid is peein' like a racehorse! Wait, was it just three weeks ago that we were so desperately praying for a little pee pee?

Anyway, during rounds today, one of the card fellows recognized we needed dermatology to take a look at his hivey/rashy thing, which overnight had spread to his back, arms, neck, face, and more and more on his chest and legs. They concurred it was definitely an allergic reaction. The docs were at a loss. Mind you, we started asking about this last Friday but the response to a drug reaction was no. The docs had an explanation, which made sense at the time but as it got worse, we knew something was up. So, being the medical super slueth I think I am, I did some research on my own and sure enough, many of symptoms Logan had were some of the common to rare side effects of Lasix. Needless to say the Lasix was DC'd and stat! He's still incredibly itchy but the stuff the derm team ordered does seem to be helping. Another case solved.

5. We didn't see a child pyschologist today but after some of today's events, we feel like Logan got some of the best treatment...Love, Laughs and Fun!

Basically, the docs are just watching to see what Logan eats now and keeping tabs on this rashy thing. His BUN and Creatinine numbers came down nicely again last night and they told us they don't have to be perfect to go home.

In fact, I think that by or on Friday, we'll be singing "Home Sweet Home" by Guns 'N Roses, or perhaps "There's No Place Like Home For The Holidays" by The Carpenters, or maybe we'll be singing that one hit wonder "My Home is in Eagan Not the Fifth Floor of a Hospital" by Logan Bushaw.

Another day. Another difference. God is good.

P.S., Tune in tomorrow to hear about Logan's new favorite med--Viagra!

Sunday, November 26, 2006 11:44 PM CST

State of mind is very important.

Before Logan's surgery and all of his lousy complications, Logan's state of mind was super. Now Logan's state of mind is ridiculously different, scary and so not the Logan he was on Nov. 1.

Here we are, nearly midnight, and once again this child cannot rest. He's so anxious...so frightened by the sound of a beep on the IV machines...so afraid to just let his guard down enough to fall into the deep sleep that he still so desperately needs.

Sure, the previous nights have been better but by better we mean he's actually slept for more than an hour or two straight. And they've been better because he's getting a sedative called Ativan to help him. It's no fun having to give your child more drugs than he's already getting but it's even less fun to watch him flail, scream, scratch, wince and attempt to cry. (Logan literally has not cried since we got here 25 days ago.) So we give in. We give in to medicine that will hopefully take the edge off enough for rest. According to one of the doctors, it's not a deep REM sleep but it's sleep.

We have seen small improvements in Logan's state of mind. He did say and do a couple of things on Saturday but today, nearly nothing. Like not crying, Logan also literally has not talked a sentence since the morning of his surgery. Imagine not hearing your kiddie, who used to talk up a storm, say more than one word. It's hard...so hard.

Tonight Logan was sitting in his stroller eating dinner (thankfully he is eating) and he just freaked out. Rocking back and forth, jerking his head and attempting to bite his arm and mine; all while letting out this whispered scream. Yep. Not kidding. Our Logan. Where in God's name is my Logan. The doctors say they see this. It's not uncommon after such a long stay in the PICU and so many complications but I'm so over that response. What will Logan be like when he gets home? Just how horrific will his nightmares be? How long will this stick with him? Will his dear, sweet, endearing personality be forever tainted from this experience? Will he hate us forever for this? Sure, he may not remember when he grows up up but he does remember now and that saddens the heck out of us.

I'd have never thought my three year old would need a pyschologist and yet tonight, one can't get here soon enough for him or me, for that matter.

Deep breath. I'm breathing. The beeps of the blasted machine have finally stopped. This is so not me, so not us so let's focus on some things that a little more positive:

1. We made the move to the floor. This is big. Now instead of having a nurse in our room 24 hours a day, she/he comes in very intermittently, as in only when Logan needs a med or it's time for vitals.

2. Logan's numbers are still going down. His BUN fell below 100 (98 to be exact) and his creatinine hit 1.98 both for the first time in three weeks. A kidney ultrasound showed just what the docs wanted to see and once we go home we'll probably need to go back in three months, than six months than only once a year.

3. More of Logan's IV meds and some of his oral meds are going down either in dose or frequency. I hope to make even more changes happen tomorrow morning during rounds. For example, instead of giving vitamin B-12, folic acid and vitamin B-6 via IV four times a day, can't we just give him his Flinstone vitamin for pete's sake? And since all of his other IV meds can be taken orally, let's. And, hey, he's been eating and drinking pretty normally, so how about we ditch the TPN and Lipids. Okay, maybe we won't change all of that tomorrow but there are changes to be made and often you just have to ask the question and everything gets simplified.

4. No more using a public restroom and shower or sleeping at the end of the hall. On Unit 5A there's a bathroom and shower in our room and a chair that pulls out into a bed. It's like we're in a five star hotel...I'm officially delirious now too.

5. Our neighbors decorated the outside of our whole house for the holidays. Garland, lights, bows, wreaths, the works. WOW! My mom wanted us to go home so badly this afternoon and now I know why, lots of our wonderful neighbors were celebrating the spirit of the season by making our house extra special for the holidays. Ben said it was incredible. Owen said it was "bee-u-tee-ful." I can't wait to see for myself. Thank you Kingswood neighbors. Thank you.

...The Ativan's working now for the most part--he's not flailing, squirmming or jerking. If only I could get him to stop with the scratchies.

State of mind. Tomorrow's Monday. A fresh week. It'll get better. Logan's emotional improvements will catch up to his physical improvements. It will be better.

Saturday, November 25, 2006 10:50 PM CST

Could it be...

...that Logan had a good night? Yes.
- No flailing arms
- Even though falling in and out of sleep, he was calm
- Super numbers. In fact oxygen saturation of 95or about two hours, which he's never been and hung out between 85-87ll afternoon and tonight without any additional oxygen through his nasal canula
- Slept for 4 1/2 hours straight overnight and three hours for a morning nap

...that Logan's numbers continue to improve? Yes.
- Bun = down
- Creatine = down
- Phosphorus = down
- White Blood Count = down (lowest in two weeks)

...that Logan's appetite is back? Yes.
- Toaster strudel and apple juice for breakfast
- Noodles, applesauce, breadstick, water for lunch
- Noodles, beans, breadstick, apple juice for dinner
- Three popsicles and a very blue tounge
- Blueberries and very blue lips

...that he's coming around emotionally? Yes.
- Psuedo-shook the kidney doctors hand this morning
- Reached his arms out when I asked if I should hold him
- Whispered "Hi" to Owen on the phone
- Said "Amanda" when she came for a visit today
- Said "Bye" on the phone to Grandma Debbie
- Drank out of a straw again (finally, that worried us)

...that his private room worked wonders? Yes.

...that Logan will likely move to the floor tomorrow? Yes.

...that if all keeps going well, Logan could be home a week from now? Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes. It could be and it Lord willing it all will be. While we don't want to get too excited and create expectations that aren't met once again, we do feel like we're definitely heading in the right direction, that being east on 94 than south on 35E, right towards Eagan.

It could be.

Friday, November 24, 2006 7:30 PM CST

Had we known all it would take to get Logan a private room is to have a HUGE, NONSTOP and we mean HUGE blowout all over his bed while the cardiac surgeon was in the room, we'd have figured out a way to make that happen weeks ago.

Kidding, of course, as we honestly might have a GI flu virus (it's making its way throughout the Unit) or some other thing going on that's causing some major blowouts but it really did get Logan his own room late this morning. Whenever cultures get sent it means the child has to go into isolation. His white blood count has also been hanging out between 25,000-30,000, which can also be an indicator of infection.

Logan's Thursday night was as restless as Wednesday and neither the Benedryl nor the 2 big Chorol Hydrate doses acted as they should to calm him to sleep. This morning it got scary again after 8:30 when his oxygen saturation dipped to a low of 59nd was hanging in the 60'sor sometime. Dr. Herrington came in and wasn't too alarmed and said his fontan was shunting, meaning the fenestration (escape route) was dumping most of his blood back into his Inferior Vena Cava. The Respiratory Therapist thought his left lung sounded dimished so we had a stat chest X-ray and on and on and on. Honestly, just when you think you might have calm, everything changes.

As a result of his sats, the expolosion, his coloring when his sats were so low (which was gray and scary looking), low hemoglobin and another restless night in the ICU, the docs spent a lot of time talking about him during rounds. A few things were changed but the biggest was the room. Logan's seemingly been more comfortable in here today than the other room. I suppose 21 days in the same bed in the same room could make one uncomfortable. Also, Physical Therapy spent some time with him today and brought a stroller-type thing for him to sit up in. He took a solid one hour nap in it and all of his numbers (heart rate, blood pressure, O2's, respiratory) were fantastic. Now, at 7:45pm, he's still hanging out at 90xygen saturation. It must feel so good to him.

Intersting to note, whenever his hemoglobin gets too low he gets a blood transfusion and to date, he's had about eight. It's amazing how more, fresh blood in his system help with his O2 levels.

We're anxious about tonight and just hope and pray it's a good night. Logan so desperately needs rest. We may take be able to take him on a little stroller ride tomorrow too.

Our track of thinking with this whole poop and private room thing is that it's another way God is working here in the PICU with Logan. He poops, gets the private room he totally needs. Has to stay in this room for at least 2-3 days. By then, he'll hopefully be ready for the floor and another private room and then we go home. We've definitely got a "God at Work" list we're keeping and this one might top the charts if it helps him emotionally.

Peaceful night.

Thursday, November 23, 2006 11:52 PM CST

Today we were most thankful for one word. "Done." Logan said it. All on his own. It came out at 6:15 after eating four tortelleni stuffed with cheese pasta noodles, 10 green beans, 1 1/2 ounces of whole milk, 3 frosted animal cookies and 1 pear slice. Not a huge dinner but it was more than he's had to eat during one meal since we've been here and more importantly, we heard him say a word, which we desperately needed to hear based on the past few days.

We had a very restless night last night; Logan got no more than 20 minutes of sleep at time, in between which he was flailing his arms all over, including my head, eyes, back and mouth, his eyes were wide open and he was just plain delirious. Ben and I were both extremely worried that something might have changed with Logan neurologically, which unfortunately can happen in the situation Logan's in right now. I was doing my best not to read into things and opted not to do the head CT scan at 10pm Wednesday since I was trying to get Logan to rest and it wouldn't be read until morning regardless.

At 3am, I needed information, something, anything to explain his behavior and opted to research this thing called ICU Pyschosis or Delirium and/or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder on my own (thank goodness for handy dandy laptops). It all made perfect sense.

What is it:
The underlying disorder associated with delirium can occur in eight clinical diagnostic categories: infectious, drug-induced, autoimmune, posttransplant, postoperative, posttraumatic, neoplastic, and organ failure. In Logan's case, he falls into postoperative, posttraumactic and organ failure categories.

What it looks like:
The presence or absence of specific symptoms of impaired attention, impaired concentration, disorientation, hallucinations, delusions, sleep disturbance, altered level of consciousness, confusion, impaired responsiveness, impaired memory, exacerbation at night, irritability, affective lability, agitation, apathy, and anxiety was noted in each patient. For Logan, check, check, check, check, check to every single symptom noted and it was just unbearable.

I watched the clock all night and prayed for sleep but by 6:30, I needed Logan to start Thanksgiving Day with that CT scan. After pleaing and getting slightly agigated to get it done like now vs. holding off for a while, we headed downstairs by 7:15 and were back up in our room by 7:40. The terrific news is that it looked normal. It really did make us thankful. Now, we just need to get him through this Delirium business.

Logan still hasn't slept for more than an hour at a time (that's even now at 12:40 Friday morning). We've upped the dose of Benedryl, which had the opposite effect and just gave him some Chorol Hydrate. Oh, we're praying for sleep.
He also needs to get the BiPap machine back on. When we tried at 9pm tonight, his heartrate instantly shot up to 160 and it was so obvious our poor child was literally shaking in his socks with fear. We're hoping the Chlorol settles him enough to get it back on and stay on through the night. His lungs still need some help.

Kidney front--BUN and Creatinine down a little more.
Pancreas--yep, haven't brought this number up but normal is 200, Logan went from the 1400's Wednesday to the 1900's today. Means? Pancreatitis. Can be painful (doesn't seem to be too bad for Logan) and can last a while. Docs aren't overally concerned though so we're not either.

We did have a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner up here and good company too. G & G Schroeder, Auntie Amanda, Auntie Andrea & Uncle Corey, Owen, Ben and me enjoyed a super lunch complete with table cloth, centerpiece and candles and T-day-themed dinnerware all in a private boardroom. Truly, if we were going to be stuck here for the second T-day in two years, I wouldn't've wanted it any other way.

As for next steps, the docs do agree that Logan is dealing with some major ICU Pyschosis stuff and are trying to make things better. For example, they've changed lab draws from 3am and 3pm to 7am and 7pm (seems like a natural thing to do anyway but), we also have one less child in our room tonight so less noise and commotion. Additionaly, we're working to change some key IV meds he's getting in order to make us more "floor ready" as in leaving the PICU. I think we might be in a private room on 5A by Sunday (don't tell anyone though, plans change and I've obviously just been too optimistic throughout this stay). Logan has started taking many meds by mouth and boy, there's a lot of them. We'll save that for another day.

Are we thankful on this Thanksgiving? Sure. We've got much, much, much to be thankful for and count our blessings in many ways. But, we could be a lot more thankful and once we're home, we will be.

Pep. Calm. Eating. Med taking. Prayers and thoughts requested.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006 11:34 AM CST

Take away the 'E' replace it with a 'P' ... we need PEP!

Little Logan is pepless and it's nearly the hardest thing we've witnessed while being here. Anyone who knows Logan has seen how full of life, love and fun he is and right now that part of him is MIA.

We were okay with him being mad. Like all of you said, mad can be good...we'd be mad if we were him too...mad means he's feeling good enough to at least feel something. But this is different.

Yesterday we went on a wagon ride. Woohoo, right? I was so hoping that getting out of bed for the first time since Nov. 2 and having a change of scenery would help Logan just a titch but even in the wagon, he just looked off to the side, turning his head the other way if someone said something positive or with a tone of joy in his/her voice.

Last night, Owen came for a visit. Owen was so excited to see his brother and yet Logan wouldn't even say "hi" or look at him. Owen was sad. He doesn't get it either.

Uggh, it makes my heart sink. I know, I know, lots of little kids go through this after a major surgery with complications but unfortunately, I'm not so interested in other kids at the moment. This is Logan. Our Logan. Your Logan. Please pray for PEP.

We're also seeing that another part of being pepless is not wanting to eat and in order to get any closer to home, the child has got to eat. Thankfully, we're relatively familiar with force feeding Logan and now that we've brought some things from home we're using a little less force. Granted, it's food like frosted animal crackers or Elmo's Organic Crunchy Crackers but at this point, we'll try anything.

....stepped away from the updating for a few minutes because Logan's best friend Ali and her mommy Diane came to visit (our neighbors who we have come to love, love, love). Ty, Ali's brother, couldn't come because he had a cough, but he sent pictures of himself. Logan actually whispered "hi" to them. I knew they would cheer up him. They play together all the time and I know he misses Ali and Ty dearly. G & G Schroeder also came for a vist this morning and they said they got two itsy bitsy smiles. Now, perhaps Logan's Mommy and Daddy could get some lovin'.

On the physical front, those BUN and Creatinine numbers fell a little bit more from yesterday so we are heading in the right direction. This is wonderful news and while I'm extremely bummed about Logan's emotional state, I certainly don't want to be too boo-hoo with Logan's progress.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. This is Logan's second Thanksgiving in the PICU here at the U of M. We're hoping it'll be the last. G & G Schroeder are bringing T-day dinner up here tomorrow and I was able to reserve the hospital board room for us and the Bergstrom clan to enjoy dinner together. We'll also have the other G & G's up throughout the weekend and aunts and uncles to spend time with Logan and Owen, too.

One day, one smile, one bite at a time.

Pep it up.

Monday, November 20, 2006 3:39 PM CST

Getting well is hard, hard work!

Sunday was a pretty good day for Logan. Still not overly happy with us, his surroundings or the various people who come to see him but he did give me a peace offering yesterday while eating his Cruncheroos (the knock off Cheerios). He picked one up out of his bowl and reached his arm out to give it to me. Just what I needed to make it through the day.

Logan was also able to spend 10 hours off of his BiPap machine, which he thoroughly enjoyed. What we thoroughly enjoyed was seeing his face and all of those expressions all day long and how consistent his oxygen levels were throughout the day. Pre his first surgery at four months, his oxygen level was in the 60's, up until this surgery, 79 was his magic number. Now, he's hanging out around 83 consistently and that number should go up as he heals too. It is amazing what a little oxygen can do for you.

We're still watching his BUN and Creatinine numbers closely. At last check, his BUN was 152 (normal is 2-19) and Creatinine was 5.39 (normal is 0.2-0.7 but this number is down from 5.44 this morning at 3am-yippie). As you see, those are certainly not in the normal range. What's odd is that even when he wasn't a pee peein' at all the highest his numbers went were 154 and 5.12. His kidney function seems to be like an educated guessing game but the doctors seem pretty optimistic so of course, we are too.

Probably the most interesting part of our day yesterday was when Logan stopped pee peein'. YIKES!!! He was getting really restless last night after 10pm. We gave him Fetanyl and Adavant, pain and sleep med, and nothing was working. He was scratching his chest area, holding his diaper, the works. Finally, we figured out his foley cath (goes in his you know what for pee pee) was clogged. The poor kid had nearly 150 cc's clogged in his bladder. Once we got that figured out, he finally settled down sometime after 1am. Let's just say it was a long night.

We're plugging away. As cousin Ellis has always proven, slow and steady wins the race. We can do that.

Sunday, November 19, 2006 8:26 AM CST

It's Logan writing and I have the following to say; prefaced by the points that my underlying feelings are of thankfulness and rejoicing that my heart is functioning and I'm still a pee peein' and that some of my numbers are getting better and that I know God has and is totally protecting me and healing me. But...

I'm mad.

I'm mad at Mommy.

I'm mad at Daddy.

And, I'm mad because I'm still here.

I'm mad because there are lots of people, who while nice as pie, I'm sure, keep looking at me and moving me and talking about me.

I'm mad because everyone kept wanting me to start a pee peein' and so I did. But now they want me to "filter" my pee pee. I mean really, how much can I do right away? Renal failure stinks.

I'm mad because there are two numbers that keep going up called BUN and Creatinine and even my Phosphorus number is out of whack. The upticks in the numbers mean I'm just scraping by without getting dialysized again. For Pete's sake, I just want my all of the intricate and interconnected things in my body to POOF suddenly sync up.

I'm mad because I have very sensitive skin and it's taking a lot of different methods and tries to protect my skin from skin tears. I look pathetic at the moment with all of my battle scars, of which most of them aren't even manly battle scars they're from tape! I'm not sure tape wounds really count as battle scars.

I'm mad because it took so long to figure out that maybe I wanted to eat some real food instead of this yellow-fluidy stuff going through my IV called TPN. I finally got to start yesterday and I got four knock-off brand of Cheerios and a half a red Jell-O square. I mean where's my Kellog's Homestyle Waffle that I like to have every morning or my bug mac-n-cheese? I'm mad because they want me to work slowly although I suppose they know what they're doing.

I'm mad because I've been laying in the same bed for 16 days (though I'm thankfully getting fresh sheets) and I'm getting awfully darned weak. I used to be impressively strong and now I can hardly grab a knock-off brand of Cheerios out of Mommy's hand and lift it up to my mouth.

All of this said, I'm mostly mad at Mommy and Daddy. They're supposed to protect me. They're supposed to make everything all better. They're supposed to get me out of here so I can be at home with my brother Owen, who I know is totally living the high life without me.

So what am doing about it? I'm ignoring them.

I don't answer their questions. I turn my head the other way when they're talking to me. I don't squeeze their hand when they ask me a yes or no question. And, I'm completely and utterly taking the term selective hearing to a whole new level.

I think my behavior is making Mommy and Daddy sad and maybe even a little nervous but the doctors and nurses are assuring them it's pretty normal behavior for a three year old who's completly aware of what's going on. And, it could be worse. Instead of retreating and just letting things happen I could be thrashing and yelling and screaming and completely uncooperative. Instead, I'm actually being a model patient. Everyone says so.

I might stay mad for a little longer. I don't really like being mad and it's kind of hard to act this mad but for now, I'm working the mad angle, again with the underlying feelings are of thankfulness and rejoicing that my heart is functioning and I'm still a pee peein' and that some of my numbers are getting better and that I know God has and is totally protecting me and healing me.

Friday, November 17, 2006 9:08 PM CST

Jones. Crud. Blasted. Arrggh. Ugggh.

Those words come for two reasons. One: I had a post done today at 2pm but the wi-fi went screwy and I couldn't get it to post. Two: The first post is now different based on events that transpired between 3pm and now, which frankly were sucky and have made us feel like we're going backwards instead of forward.

Here's what I started with on Thursday at 2pm:
It's Friday. Logan had a pretty good day yesterday. Kept on a pee peein. Got his dialysis catheter out and his arterial line out of his arm! Yippie--that meant I could try to hold him. Boohoo--it didn't work and he was totally uncomfortable. At least we tried.

He was also awake a little bit more, well, actually a lot more. I couldn't get him to fall asleep for more than 30 minutes at a time last night. I appreciated him being awake so I could spend much needed time with him but as a still critically ill child, he does need his rest. That's our Logan.

You might recall the docs canceled his Peritoneal Dialysis for Wednesday but put it on the schedule for today in case he needed it. We thought no way would they do it but as of this morning at 10:45, it was looking like they were indeed going to proceed. Why? Well, his BUN and Creatinine numbers, two important indicators of kidney function are not improving. In fact, they've been going up. Jones!

Depending on which doctor's opinion you heard, it needed to be done while others felt we could still wait. Ben and I totally felt that we should wait. It took 10 days for his kidneys to wake up so to expect them to do everything they were supposed to, like filtering, seemed a little far reaching. Finally, at 11:45 (surgery was scheduled for 12noon) we heard it was off. That was good because I don't think we were going to sign the consent form.

The plan now is to watch his BUN and Creatinine numbers closely and keep tabs on his potassium, sodium and one other thing that indicates function. If, and I do say if, there's no change, we'd start with another cath line in his leg for hemo dialysis first. That makes us feel much, much better.

Another addition to the plan is to put in an NJ tube. He currently has an NG (nasal gastric) but since he's still on the BiPapa machine they don't want to risk feeding him and having him aspirate into his lungs. This wouldd be a major setback with how far we've come with lung/respiratory issues. A GJ (gastric jenjunum) goes down further into the small part of his intestine so any food he's given (all by the tube) won't come back up. We'll go down to Radiology later this afternoon to get this in place. It'll be Logan's first trip out of his room in 14 days.

It's a little wierd. Sometimes we think we're starting to sail a little smoother. He's looking a lot better and the big things we've been super concerned about are getting better. But then we hear other things that have to improve too and realize not everything is smooth sailing yet. So we can't get too far ahead of ourselves. We're still in a forest and while the clearing is in sight, we've got a ways to go.

On two other notes, Ellis continues to amaze and stump many of the medical professionals here as he's done since July 2004. He's got a ways to go but boy, things are slowly making progress. It's just surreal that we're here together
with Sam and Melissa but in so many ways, we are thankful too. They are truly something else.

Also, our little pal Jack Corbo is making good progress as well and might be heading home to his twin brother Cooper very soon. We've got quite the connections with some very special people.

Here's the addition as of 9:15pm:
Logan's had a lousy afternoon. He seemed like he wasn't doing as well as the day progressed. His hemoglobin was lower, his O2 levels that were sitting pretty in the high 80's to low 90's were hanging out in the high 70's to low 80's. He also looked as if he was getting puffier, especially in his face and eyes. I had asked this morning whether he was weighed last night or this morning and the answer was no. So, I asked again when we could really tell something was up and nope, they hadn't weighed Logan since 9am Thursday morning but yet the amount he was pee peein' was only half as much as the day before. So, we weighed him and sure enough, he'd gained 1 kilo or nearly 2 pounds of fluid. ARRGGHH!!! We've also noticed that he doesn't do so great when he's getting a blood transfusion.

What it seemed was happening was he was getting a high volume of blood pumped in to him and apparently had a pretty bad tummyache. He had a code brown for about 10 minutes (think hard, you'll figure it out). Those two things together made him pretty umcomfortable in addition to the fluid build up. We got that all cleaned up and he seemed to settle down but as of 9pm he's still not really doing so well and is on fluid overload. We're giving him a new diuretic, which was supposed to arrive at 8pm but it's still not here as of 9:30. ARRRGGGHH again! This is the kind of stuff that I just don't tolerate so well. I will be calling the pharmacy myself if it's not here in two minutes. And, I will.

I think the conversations are whether he needs dialysis tonight. Of course, no one wants to come in now to do it but if he needs it, we'll get it done.

Ben is chatting with his sub right now and just said, "there are a lot of ups and downs here at the hospital and you just have to get used to them." He's right. He is. But, after 14 days here we desparately want only good days. No more setbacks.

The J tube was postponed based on today's events, which we need so he can start getting some serious nutrition. He's weak as a baby bird and nutrition would really do him some good.

Tomorrow's another day. We don't ever want to get too discouraged or bummed but we do want Logan back and stat (like that diuretic, which lucky for them, just arrived.)

We need prayers for more pee pee, filtering of the pee pee, fluid to come off and now and continued strengthing of his little lungs.

Thursday, November 16, 2006 0:33 AM CST

What a difference a week makes.

I've always been the type to remember memorable occasions, like "oh, last year at this time we were doing X" or "three years ago on this day at this time, we were X." Usually, those memories are happy memories but there have been a few times when that's not the case. A week ago tonight at this time was one of those memories.

Ben and I will never forget that night and there are certain images that will forever be emblazened in our minds but instead of recounting where we were, tonight I'm sitting in Logan's room next to his bed celebrating where we are--Logan's here, today was his best day since the day before his surgery and many of us have seen God at work in big and small ways.

The fact of the matter is, we can't explain how Logan was able to make it through last Wednesday night and all of Thursday except to say it was by the grace of God and that He answers prayers. For those who thought of and prayed for Logan, we will always be thankful.

Logan has made amazing progress this week. Looking at the numbers, his respiratory rate has decreased from 65-80 breaths per minute last week to 18-30 breaths per minute today. His heart rate is a stable 95-115 and his blood pressure, for the most part is in a good range. (We're still battling high pressures but we're about there.) Additionally, his CVP (Central Venous Pressure), which measures overall pressure with his heart/lungs has gone down by nearly half.

Looking at Logan as the wonderful and beautiful little boy he is, he's awake more and more each day. While he's still totally weak and fragile and has hardly a voice, he's able to muster up the sweetest little whisper and say "Mommy. Daddy. I love you. Yes. Water. Hi." He can also raise his hand for a high five (careful though, too hard and his hand will fall back and hit him in the noggin) and raises his arm for the nurses to check his temperature. I am so not bragging when I say everyone who sees him instantly falls in Logan love.

His lungs are sounding better and better. In fact, the intestivist today actually said, "they sound frickin' awesome!" I asked him to write that in Logan's chart for the record. Every person that saw him and/or listened to Logan today was just thrilled with how far he's come.

Finally, the big hurdle; pee pee output. Logan wasn't putting out any yellow stuff for days on end but starting at 3pm yesterday, that changed. Now, in the past 24 hours, this child has put out about 496 cc's of, say it with me outloud one last time, P E E !!! This is pretty much the normal amount for a kid his size with functioning kidneys. Is this an answer to prayers and prayers and prayers or what!!

Dr. Herrington was convinced at 6pm on Tuesday night that he was going to start going and she's the one who made the decision at 4am Wednesday morning to cancel Dr. Salzman's surgery. On the schedule sheet it actually read "Dr. Herrington scared the pee out of Logan." We'll take it.

We think tomorrow will bring much of the same steps forward but we know his progress will likely be slow. This has been a big, big setback for Logan and chances are we'll still be here for a while recovering and recuperating. Dr. Lohr said it'll be months before Logan gets back to where he was pre-surgery. I think he'll prove us all wrong but I'm trying to manage my expectations here.

Right now Logan is sleeping on his side with his blue blanket covering him, CPAP on his face, arm above his head as comfy as comfy as comfy can be. A huge change from a week ago and a memory we'll hold on to for years to come.

May God be glorified THIS day.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006 3:37 CST

Update #2 3:37 p.m.

The yellow river is flowing as of 2:00 pm. Logan has had lots of pee, 283 cc's to be exact for the day thus far. Logan also has been awake more and is doing great with his breaks from the bipap machine. He still tends to tire some but we can definitely see much improvement. He is coughing some which will help his lungs clear. He has been trying to talk a little bit when he is off of the bipap machine and loves his sips of water.

Praise the Lord for a great day!


Update #1 8:56 am

Logan was set for his peritoneal operation this morning at 9am but the decision was made to hold off and tentatively put on the schedule for Friday, should he need it.

A couple things made the change:
1. He had a couple more wet diapers last night totalling 64 cc's. I think that brings our total to about 180 cc's or so. This is good. Not stupendous but impressive enough to hold off.
2. (And I think they're downplaying this with me a little bit but it might just be me). You might remember Logan's insides are extremely different that yours or mine. His intestines go up and down instead of side to side and he's had hmmm, maybe three tummy surgeries of varying degrees. That said, one of the fellows talked about how much scarring he may have and what the efficacy of the dialysis might be because of these things.

Those reasons together, we're off for today and I actually think they may not do the hemo dialysis either. The docs will round shortly and then we'll find out the true plan for this Wednesday hump day.

Logan does look terrific this morning. PINK lips--I totally see pink lips, breathing easy, just maxin' and relaxin'.

Ellis had a pretty good night too. We're seeing some pretty amazing miracles here, to be sure.

Logan still desparately needs to pee pee pee like a river so keep praying, pee pee dancing, whatever. It's helping.

Pee'ce out.

November 14, 2006

UPDATE II--8:00
Pee prayer warriors, Logan has had THREE wet diapers since 3pm! Two of them occured between 3-3:35 for a total of 50 cc's and one occured around 6pm for a total of 56 cc's. Hooray! I'm expecting another one before 9:30 tonight although I'm not banking on it. The docs were mildy impressed with the 50 cc's but you could really see their excitement with the 56 cc's, which took place during dialysis.

The PICU Intensivist on duty this week said yes, he did go to school for eight years and yes, he did incurr $100,000 in loans and yet pee is often his number one goal for his patients.

We're still on for the Peritoneal Dialysis catheter procedure tomorrow morning. However, if Logan puts out lots of pee pee overnight, we might be able to hold off on it.

Keep those pee pee prayers coming.

Please keep Ellis close to your hearts too. He's been quite a fighter today and is holding his still holding his own. Please also remember his Mommy and Daddy and family who are trying so hard to stay strong as well.

Pee'ce out.

UPDATE I--1:15pm
A peeing you must go
A peeing you must go
Please, Please dear Logan boy,
A peeing you must go

We still hate that word but it is what it is, right?

No big changes from yesterday and we're scheduled for a dialysis session later this afternoon. The docs won't pull off as much as yesterday. This morning he was up to 13.3 kilos, and he looks much better this weight than the pruny he was before.

Since Logan still isn't showing us a yellow river of pee, we're scheduled for a trip to the operating room tomorrow morning for surgery at 9:00 or 10:30 so. Dr. Salzman, who has literally saved Logan's life at least twice, will do the procedure so Logan can start peritoneal dialysis. (Let's just say this Renal Kidney Failure stuff is really for birds but we know it's for the best.)

For your understanding, here's the deal (copied from a kidney website):
Healthy kidneys clean your blood by removing excess fluid, minerals, and wastes. They also make hormones that keep your bones strong and your blood healthy. When your kidneys fail, harmful wastes build up in your body, your blood pressure may rise, and your body may retain excess fluid and not make enough red blood cells. When this happens, you need treatment to replace the work of your failed kidneys.

In Peritoneal Dialysis, a soft tube called a catheter is used to fill your abdomen with a cleansing liquid called dialysis solution. The walls of your abdominal cavity are lined with a membrane called the peritoneum, which allows waste products and extra fluid to pass from your blood into the dialysis solution. The solution contains a sugar called dextrose that will pull wastes and extra fluid into the abdominal cavity. These wastes and fluid then leave your body when the dialysis solution is drained. The used solution, containing wastes and extra fluid, is then thrown away. The process of draining and filling is called an exchange and takes about 30 to 40 minutes. The period the dialysis solution is in your abdomen is called the dwell time. A typical schedule calls for four exchanges a day, each with a dwell time of 4 to 6 hours. Different types of PD have different schedules of daily exchanges.

There you have it. Crash course 101. We're sure learning as we go and as much as we so don't want this, we know it's for the best. The docs still say his kidneys will come back. Oh Lord, we pray that's so and sooner rather than later would be good.

We're also praying so very hard for our cousin Ellis today. He had a tough night and their doing another round of plasma pheresis right now. It has to work.

It's very surreal that both Logan and Ellis are here together fighting such a fight. We know people are reading both of our sites and many who've read all along the way have seen the power of prayer and of miracles. Right now we're praying for that again. There's got to be a reason our boys, there's got to be...

ORIGINAL UPDATE--6:00am
I saw that Natalie did not write a post and I decided to give this journal writing a try.

November 13th started well for Logan. He had 16 ml of pee after a Bumex challenge. Grandpa Steve said he would pee on his birthday and sure enough, he did! We had an uneventful day and Logan had yet another session with the dialysis machine which looks and acts like a robot with alarms going off when things aren't going right. Logan came down to 12.6 kilos which is significantly down from 13.8 kilos before his surgery. He looked like a prune today. The dialysis was very hard on him as he seemed very tired and weak.

Have we ever mentioned the alarms that are constantly going off in the rooms. Two other patients were moved out of our room today so I wheeled in a sleeper chair into Logan's room. I stayed up with Logan until after midnight as Natalie went home to get a good night sleep and spend some much needed time with Owen. I was awoken by the alarms going off in his room at 4am. Then I overheard the doctors talking about his high levels of carbon dioxide and a low ph level. As a math guy I am always looking at the daily numbers and can honestly say that I am understanding the blood lab values after this stay in the hospital. So I knew there was a problem when his pressure of carbon dioxide level was at
61. The resitory therapist tried to give him a nebulizer to open his airway and suction him. Logan did not cooperate at first but after 10 minutes he started to help by coughing. He sounded wheezy still and after and x-ray, the doctor came in and told me that Logan had air in his thorax, which wasn't allowing his left lung to fully inflate.

So currently as of 6:15 I signed a consent to put in another chest tube. We pray that this will help his respitory status. We also need prayers for Ellis who is having one of his toughesst nights ever. He is still fighting though.

Thanks all for your continued prayers, love and support.

Saturday, November 11, 2006 6:34 PM CST

The fact Mommy and Daddy left the hospital today for five hours says two things:
1. Logan was continuing to improve (more on that)
2. Owen really needed his Mommy & Daddy

We thought we'd go home and hang with Owen for a short bit today but this morning after Ben spoke with his mom and she said that Owen told her he just wanted to be with his Mommy and Daddy, we packed up and left. All of our parents were starting to see he was getting pretty out of sorts and this morning made it obvious we needed to see him. Of course it was after morning rounds--no real changes for the day--and after we had our plan of attack. Dad and Kathy stayed until Mom, Randy and Amanda came up. We'd go home, Grandma Debbie would leave and then we'd bring up Owen to see Logan and they'd take him home for another fun night at G*G Schroeders.

Mail sure piles up after being gone from the house for a week. It seemed like ages since we've been home and Owen was just tickled to see us. Nothing like a big "HI! Nice to see you" and a huge, huge hug from your three year old.

Owen is all about jokes and very original ones like:
Knock knock?
Who's there?
Orange.
Orange who?
Orange you glad I didn't say banana.
Where does this kid come up with this stuff. ;)

When we came up to see Logan. Owen was pretty quiet. I think the CPAP face mask-thing really threw him for a loop. He just looked at him and kind of turned away very sad. We explained why it was there and how it was helping Logan but he wasn't so comfortable. He did talk to Logan (still sedated) and kissed and hugged him. We know Logan knew he was there...you could kind of see his 3/4-shut eyes turn towards him. Oh, it just breaks our heart to have them separated. But, we'll get there, in fact...

Today was another small step forward. He had dialysis again and he's now at 13 kilos. He's awfully scrawny and has lost a ton of muscle mass as he's really not received any nutrition or protein since we've been here but we know it'll come back with time. His breathing looked so much more comfortable and he was able to have the CPAP machine off for an hour a few times. All of his numbers stayed consistent so tomorrow he'll go off for two hours at a time. Go Logan Go.

He also got the third of three chest tubes out today--can't believe we didn't share that great piece of info yesterday--but now he's chest tube free. (They were in to drain all of the fluid that one gets after an open heart surgery. His were in for just a couple days longer than after his first surgery.)

His stinking kidneys still aren't working but no one's giving up time, just patience.

We'll rest again tomorrow and keep praying for yep, you know what.

On a side note, it's become a friend and family affair in the PICU. We've been following and vice versa a young chap named Jack Corbo, also a twin, for more than 1 1/2 years--he received a heart transplant when just a wee baby. Ironically, he had a separate surgery the same day as Logan and they're still here too. Additionally, Logan's cousin Ellis was admitted to the floor yesterday. Ellis received a heart transplant in mid-July and was admitted to treat rejection. Ben, Sam, Melissa (Ellis' parents) and I had a dinner date tonight down the hall from our rooms. What is the world coming to!

Prayers for all the little children in the world who need health help.

Pee-ce out.

Friday, November 10, 2006 5:06 PM CST

It's a new day and I think that glimmer we saw yesterday is growing just a little brighter.

Logan had a comfortable night. He did have another SVT episode and his heart rate went from 103 to 195 (it literally happens in a second or two). This time they were able to give him the Essenidine (sp?) and it worked. That was it. The only real excitement of the night. Ben and I actually were able to sleep from 11:30-7:00 with only a 15 minute wake up call at 4:00 for the SVT.

His respiratory rate has continued to be high, even with the BiPap machine, but he's so much better with that than what he was before. I'm so angry at myself for letting it go on so long yesterday but I know I can't do anything about it now.

This morning, the team of docs recommended going back to Albuterol every six hours to help with his lungs but we asked to change to similar drug that does the same thing but is shown to lessen the heart rate increase by 5. Anything helps, right? Then, Pulmonolgy came in and said that an Albuterol-type treatment would counteract what the Pulmacort is trying to do. The Pulmacort is opening the airway and getting it stronger. The Albuterol opens the vessels in the lungs which in effect would prevent the airway from getting stronger. If he were healthy, they can work together but he's not.

The dialysis started today about 1 and should be done shortly. Dr. Herrington came in and said we'll probably put in a more permanent/but still temporary line, requiring another trip to the OR. Our cousin Ellis had this but wouldn't you know, the second it was in, the kid started peeing. So, yep, you guessed it, keep praying for pee!

We're hoping for a solid weekend of healing, easier breathing, peeing and good, healthy numbers.

Owen continues to have fun with Grandmas and Grandpas and aunts who are watching him and Diane, Ali and Ty, who were gracious enough to take him all day yesterday. He had a blast. We're hoping Logan is stable enough so we can go home for a few hours this weekend to spend some time with him. I haven't see him since Sunday morning and I'm just a bit lonely.

Pee'in on out.

Thursday, November 9, 2006 10:43 PM CST

Today was truly one of the most excruciating days of our lives and I happen to think we've had our share of those with Owen and Logan, in particular.

There is nothing like seeing your cutie patootie little guy gasping for air, more than 60 breaths per minute, for virtually more than 12 hours, his eyes swollen and puffy and dialated from sedation but open enough to follow you and a hand that's so weak reaching for you to hold.

The dialysis was good for Logan today but really hard. They were able to pull off 1 liter again in just over 5 1/2 hours from start to stop. In addition, because the thought was he was dealing with major asthma, he was getting continuous Albuterol. He started getting this neb treatment last night and it's actually what sent his heart into the SVT. Outwardly, it really didn't make a difference. (By the way, this happened about 5 more times during the course of the morning but never went over 180.)

All day doctors came and went, looking/
listening, changing meds, talking, watching and answering our questions. On average there was always at least five people in our room with as many as 14. A little overwhelming at times but we're sure glad they're all trying to figure out how to heal our crazy cat.

We asked to have a pulmonolgist come visit and get in the picture, which the team of docs thought was a good suggestion. Boy, are we brilliant or what? ;) The team came into the room just after 5 and really assessed where he was at. He asked us lots of questions about Logan's history and we told him our ENT and Pulmonolgist at Children's talked more about the issue of tracheal malacia (narrowing and scarring of the trachea) than asthma and that we usually treated him with Pulmacort. Wouldn't you know, Logan is now off Albuterol and on Pulmacort.

Right now Logan is on a BPap, which is virtually like a breathing tube without being intubated. He was just about as taxed as he could be but we wanted to everything in our power to keep him off the vent. 1) it compromises the Fontan and 2) it would put us in the same position of a scarred/raw tracheal airway. His blood gas levels, including PH and CO are improving and his heart rate is coming down. He's still breathing super fast but we're giving it more time to for the new nebs to work. I'd say that as of about 7:30 we saw our first glimmer of hope. We think the treatment is the right plan but will adjust as needed.

Tomorrow, he's getting a chest x-ray and ultrasound of his kidney, liver and abdomen. He'll also get another round of dialysis.

Because this all started last night we've been awake and running on high adreneline like you wouldn't believe. It's amazing how much strength and energy you really have on reserve.

We were so thankful that right after we made phone calls to all of our parents at 5am, they were in their cars on their way up. I think God gives them some of our worry so we can stay strong and face whatever we need to head on.

Of note, at about 9:30 Ben, I and all of our parents just spent some time praying together for Logan. Right before, Ben left Logan's room and his heart rate was in the 160's. He went back afterwards and it had dropped to 124. Mind you, the doc said it would take several hours...

There is power.

By the way, our three key requests are improved lung function and a decreased respiratory rate, functioning kidneys and PEE.

Wednesday, November 8, 2006 2:02 PM CST

8:55am
Here's where we're at: Logan's heartrate is still going back and forth but it hasn't gone above 163 (and somehow that's okay). In any case, he received an arrhythmia medication that should take away some of the risks of another SVT.

You have no idea...

The doctors said the fact Logan was able to maintain his oxygen levels and blood pressure and that he didn't need to be reintubated during this SVT was remarkable. Logan is still struggling for each breath but the breahting tube would have really comprised moving forward.

Logan will begin another round of dialysis this morning at 9:30. This should hopefully help him in a big, bad--I mean, good--way. He had another chest x-ray, it looked okay. He had a heart echo and his heart function is good! It's working hard but the Glenn shunt (his first surgery) is doing what it's supposed to and the Fontan is too, and the fenestration is open. Thank the Lord.

The biggest issue we have right now is Logan's lungs. He's got major reactive airway disease or asthma. We've asked about it for a long, long time and the answer has never been definitive. Asthma day-to-day is one thing. Asthma after open heart surgery is magnifed like a million times over.

Unfortunately, I don't have a Rod Stewart song to sign out on this one but I do have...

Just Breathe.


5:45am
Logan is critical. His heart rate went up to 280 and has stayed for about 45 minutes. It's like the SVT he had last week but it's 100 beats more per minute. The usual IV med didn't help. They had to cardiovert (shock)him twice and are making more plans now. If you've never prayed, we need you to start and if you have been, pray harder.

I'm so sorry this sounds scary but it is and we need all of you.

UPDATE II--1:45am (Thursday)
There is no way to describe the past four hours. Logan has been breathing hard all day. We asked. His numbers and all of the blood work came back okay. Chest x-ray from the night before looked good. Chest sounded pretty clear. The team was definitely treating his lungs and we felt good about it.

At about 9:30 we just were feeling weird about Logan. His face and shoulders were red, he was breathing harder, sweating, almost laboring for breath. But still numbers were good. His breaths weren't what we all look for with cardiac distress. In fact O2's stillup in the 80's. He was acting funny, just mumbling, slurring, not focusing, lip quivering. The doctors came in. Major withdrawal from the versed and fentyl drugs and "ICU Pyschosis" was the verdict but the doc would keep checking back.

The short of it is while it may have been some of those things, his left lung collapsed, his blood gas was severly compromised with Carbon Dioxide and he was having to breathe all from the right lung, which is also severely compromised. He couldn't do it and it showed. He was in trouble.

The only other time we have been this scared in Logan's life was when he was septic from the bacterial meningitus and had a seizure. I communicated that to the doctor and I know she heard me but I should have said it sooner. I didn't.

Thank GOD Logan's lung opened up, the blood gas changed and our fears subsided enough to keep seeing straight. They did not have to reintubate Logan but it was darned close. Right now, he's getting major oxygen and continous nebulizers. They're also checking his blood gas every hour (down from every 20 minutes).

The doctor said she's not entirely surprised by this happening. He's sick. Much more sick than I think we knew. Had the doctors said from the get go that "Logan is a really sick little boy who had a really tough time with this surgery and is suffering from multiple organ failures and lung issues" from the get go like Dr. Crow did tonight we might have been thinking about this more globally and had more managed expectations. I guess they were telling us but we heard not the negative things but the positive as in "he'll be better."

We're breathing again. Logan's still breathing hard but not like it was. He needs major lung improvement. Logan's body has underwent such major trauma and is struggling like heck to balance itself out. It takes time--the liver has improved very well, the kidneys need more time and the lungs just need to open up.

I'm changing my Rod Stewart song to "Scarred and scared," from 1978. Not sure if it was a hit but that's what we are at the moment.


UPDATE I--7:50pm (Wednesday)
Holy canoli. It has really seemed like a long, hard day was condensed into 3 1/2 hours. The dialysis worked today and they were able to pull off 1 liter of fluid. The thinking is that he's got 2 or more liters left to get off so 2-3 more days of dialysis. Oiy.

He was much less sedated for this round today yet still handled it pretty well for the first three hours. The last hour, however, was a different story. He was restless, pulling at his arterial line in his arm, tugging at everything and was just plain unsettled.

Once we were through, the nurses ended up having to change his femoral dressing not once but twice, which included the intensivist holding pressure on it for 10 minutes because it just wouldn't stop bleeding. This was while the nurse was trying to change the dressing on his arterial line, which was also seeping. How Logan could stay relatively relaxed--drugs or not--is beyond us, but praise the Lord he was or it would have been so hard to watch.

We ended up changing the bedding twice in an hour, then he needed his nebulizer treatments, then...then...
then. Things finally settled down about 7pm. Mom and Randy were up here nearly all day--their intent was for us to get some rest considering we had 3 1/2 hours of sleep Monday night and 2 1/2 last night. But you know, you just don't want to leave him or his room for too long, just in case. So the nap was nixed.

We've got two terrific nurses tonight and I think we'll feel comfortable going to sleep for a five hour stretch tonight.

Logan seems very comfortable tonight and tomorrow's another day. We still need his kidneys to say "been looking for me?" We're about beyond ready for that to happen.

On a side note, Grandpa Paul and Auntie Andrea came up and had a ball with Owen today. They ended up taking him down to Austin for the night (his first trip out of town ever without Mommy and Daddy). We were a little apprehensive about it but we know he'll have a ball. We haven't really seen him since the two hours we were home on Friday. It's a hard balance but we know he understands and probably doesn't mind all of the attention and presents he's getting from people not wanting him to be lonely. Lucky Chump!

As Rod Stewart sang in his 1976 hit song..."Tonight's the Night." And, as Benji and I are singing in our Nov. 7, 2006 plea, "Good Lord, let it be alright."


ORIGINAL UPDATE--2:00pm
The days go pretty quickly here at Hotel U of M and this morning wasn't too eventful. Some changes here, a change or two there. Logan is definitely taking his sweet time really waking up, which is concerning to some docs while others not so much, including Dr. Lohr. He was completely doped up for six days so makes sense to us that it'll take a while. His eyes were open a little more and he knew who we were and everyone else around. He also was able to tell Dr. Lohr what color spider he was for Halloween. Not in the clearest way--we've definitely got some slurring but he knows.

He was calling "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy" and "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy" over and over again in the absolute cutest little voice anyone has ever heard. We thought it would be good to record that for those days when the "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy" and "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy" makes us want to leave them out on the deck overnight.

The dialysis machine got going around 12:45 and Ellen, the dialysis nurse, is in the room the whole time. After seeing his improvement from yesterday's dialysis it's pretty obvious he needs it and badly.

We're mostly dealing with some high blood pressure issues thus far today like 150-180 over 80-90. That's definitely higher than we have and we're big. His heart's working hard to pump, his lungs are a little taxed and his airway from the breathing tube is stressed. Not to mention there's still that plethora of fluid making it that much more challenging.

While we're making progress in some ways, we have much to improve upon. We like the small things we can celebrate and see improvement on, we just need more. Like pee. Pee would be good. Hate the word, like the action.

Dialysis will go until about 5 or so and we're hopeful and praying for a noticeable improvement after that.

Tuesday, November 7, 2006 12:57 AM CST

UPDATE I--6:15pm
Your votes are being counted and Logan is in the lead! The hemo dialysis did just what they wanted it to today pulling off 1200ml of fluid. The net amount pulled off, considering he was getting fluids during, was probably about 600 or so but it has made a very big difference.

How big? The breathing tube is gone! My, my what a day. The dialysis finished about 4pm and at about 4:45pm he was extubated and has been doing surprisingly well. O2's are in the low 80's for now. He's got TONS of secretions and "goobers" in his airway but the respiratory nurse Cindy is working hard to help get those out and loosened.

He's getting quite a bit of help with oxygen coming through a nasal canula (although he's breathing through his mouth)but overall he's doing it all on his own. He's still pretty sedated so we haven't actually seen him awake yet but we're ready for when we do. Apparently, he'll be pretty ticked off so it might be a long night but we're okay with that.

The docs and nurses will watch him and his numbers closely to make sure he's not working too hard over the next several hours but thus far, they're pleased.

Dr. Lohr came right before they extubated and she was just who we needed to see. She and her support means so much to us. It's hard to explain.

While Logan has started to put out pee again we need way, way more and there's still a lot of fluid to get rid of so we'll do another round of the hemo dialysis tomorrow. Hopefully, that'll do the trick. If not, we'll add Thursday.

Logan is not out of the woods. He's still technically in kidney failure but he's made remarkable progress today. Doctors and nurses know what they're doing (minus that first #@ dialysis machine) and your prayers and support throughout the day have helped in so very many ways.

Pee pee dances and prayers for pee and healing still welcome, as well as prayers of thanks.

Final results tomorrow from tonight.


ORIGINAL UPDATE--1:00
After stops, starts and clots, the continuious dialysis machine is gone and the hemo dialysis machine is up and running as of about 12noon. Please LORD, let this work!

I left Logan's room at 3:30am and Ben took the second shift. You just don't want to leave the room with something like this going on. Our nurses last night were quite good and Dawn, in particular, kept the continous dialysis machine moving right along all night. In fact,it really worked pretty good for about 8 hours last night and pulled off 600 ml of fluid. However, Logan's blood clotted again and when I came in at 7am, the alarm was blarring, the nurses were in the middle of a shift change and it took too long to figure out the problem. Thus, we were back at square one. It was a long night and I have to admit I cracked a bit when talking to the charge nurse. I just said Logan must have someone in the room who confidently knows what do with the machine. Thankfully, I was heard and a super nurse Jean came in to help Maggie and Rebecca. Unfortunately, it clotted again and the decision was made to try the hemo dialysis, which is where we are now.

The fact of the matter is even though Logan had 600 ml of fluid come off last night, he has 3000 ml(and no I didn't inadvertently add an extra zero)fluid that must come off of him. That's six pounds. Now, if this wasn't quite so serious and I could be a little lighthearted, I would say that if there was a machine that could pull 6 pounds off of me in a day, that might not be half bad. However, truth be told, this is our last option right now. The perfect plan was for his kidneys to wake up on their own, Plan A was to help them along with diuretics, Plan B was to do the continuous dialysis and now Plan C is the hemo dialysis. We need this to work...Logan needs this to work.

The docs are optimistic so we are as well. There are kids in even tougher situations than Logan who've had bone marrow transplants and have come through just fine so we're keeping that in mind when we might get a little worried or anxious.

This hemo dialysis will go for four hour intervals and they to pull 1000 mls off during that time. It's tough on blood pressure because the heart and everything is working that much harder to move things along so if his blood pressure gets dragged down or up, they'll have to slow back and start up. It's common to do, they say.

The other big plan for today is to extubate Logan provided a fair enough amount of fluid does come off. As much as I want that thing out, now I'm nervous the other way. It's a catch 22 all the way around.

When you cast your votes today--or if you already did--we hope you also cast a vote for Logan Bushaw!

Monday, November 6, 2006 10:08 AM CST

UPDATE II--10:15
Only because we know you want to share in our journey, how's this for an evening...

Dialysis started around 6ish. Dialysis stopped around 7:15 to an alarm. Nurses (bless their hearts) try to figure out why the alarm is going off. They refer to the handy dandy manual. Yep, a manual. Then they call the dialysis nurse, whom I really liked. Ellen was busy but did call back and try to walk them through it. By that time, one of the two lines from his femoral cath was clotted. Got that flushed, still wouldn't draw but by the time they checked the dialysis thing, it was clogged so the whole process stopped. The dialysis nurse comes up, thinks the problem is that Logan's actual cath deep in his leg kinked, thus the blood flow couldn't go. We try again about 8:45ish but this time swapped the in and out lines. Worked well for mmm, about 10 minutes and then clotted again and once again, the whole process stops. Yep, kid you not.

Now, at 10:20 the docs are going to put in another cath line so we can try again. It's like Logan's not supposed to do dialysis but then again, I know the kid needs it.

This type of dialysis isn't done on kids much but it's a good way to do it. Because of that and how smart the machine is, the nurses have to rely on the manual to troubleshoot. I get that but even still I shared with the doctor that a mother, who's dealing with enough anxiety, probably isn't so reassured with her team of nurses and then some, looking at a manual to trouble shoot kidney dialysis on her child.

Uh-huh, that's our night. Wish you were here, don't you?

We are typing with a bit of sarcasm, hope you sense that. We know the right things are happening but it sure is a ride to remember!



UPDATE I--6:30pm
Okay, I admit it, this is a little overwhelming. This kidney dialysis business is perhaps scaring me just a bit but I know it's supposed to do good things so I'm pushing through. Ben had his big winter sports meeting and team meeting with his basketball players so he left about 4:30 just when things started going. Boy, does it make a difference when your partner is here with you.

I've requested the Infectious Disease docs to come in the morning and they will one way or another, either because the docs listened to my request or because I call myself. Dr. Schleiss was going to pay us a visit anyway to go over the findings from all of the blood they took in early October but I'm getting extra sensitive now to all of the open lines he's got--an arterial line in his wrist that has been seeping blood for four days and two femoral lines--one for the dialysis and the other for the other various med drips he's getting. Additionally, we're closest to the hallway in a room with two other patients, and I'm starting to sense germs and bugs and trouble with a capital T.

Ben did his best to see if there was a possibility of changing rooms with the charge nurse today but no luck.

I do need to share that Logan did start peeing more this afternoon. Seriously, after 12noon he put out more in three hours than he did almost all day yesterday. That's the power of prayer, my friends. No other way to explain it so thank you, thank you and keep praying.


ORIGINAL POST-10:00am
Isn't amazing how the different organs and parts of our bodies have to work together for good things to happen? If they don't cooperate, things can kind of fall apart. That's today. Not in a horrible, horrible bad way, but because those blasted kidneys don't want to get moving, more and more fluid volume is causing more and more pressure for his heart and his lungs. Thus, the breathing tube will not be out today. Thus, the Nitric Oxcide, which left yesterday at 2pm and opened up a nice big corner of space in our room, came back. Thus, they've added two more meds and thus, the plan is to start kidney dialysis. Jones! So much for our positive thinking and all of your pee dances yesterday but keep 'em coming and prayers too.

We totally get what's happening, it all makes sense and the bottom line is if his kidneys would wake up and say "Hey. Hello. I'm here, just getting caught up on some rest. Fine, I'll move and pee," Logan wouldn't be in this predicament but he is so we'll move on this course.

Remember, the lungs are key to recovery (and my biggest concern with Logan's lung/pneumonia history). Right now, with so much excess fluid in him the support of the breathing tube is helping to keep that fluid from hanging out in/around his lungs. If the breathing tube were to come out, he wouldn't have that support and the fluid would say, "hey fluid friends, over here, I've found us some more space. Let's have a party." Of course, we don't want that thus tube in, dialysis on, blah, blah, blah.

Ben says, "Monday's suck." "Stink, honey," I say. "It's not that bad." (Although actually, our room is kind of stinky due to another patient.) But we need movement today--in the right direction. We want to see Logan's eyes and have him focus on us. We want to hold him and maybe even see a smile. It'll come. It always does and you can't get too down but a little pee could go a long way towards making it happen sooner rather than later.

Pee'in on out (again).

Sunday, November 5, 2006 1:10 PM CST

Sunday, Sunday (da da, da da da da) so good to Logan (da da, da da da)...or wait, is it "Monday, Monday and la la, la la la la?" Hmm, honestly can't remember. We're going to go bet it's Monday because tomorrow will likely be a day of more noticeable progress, ala the breathing tube out and kidney function really improving.

We had a comfortable evening, sans the floor move at 11pm to a much less desireable room and location. Logan hardly moved and his O2's have continued to rise. They're hanging out around 85-87 consistently. Lungs are still clear, liver continues to improve but the kidneys are still definitely lagging behind.

Dr. Lohr, bless this woman's wonderful heart, made a trip in to see Logan today. She always, always, always makes us feel better and explains things like no one else. Like Dr. Herrington, she feels the kidneys will catch up but have what's called "Post Operative ATN" or Acute Tubular Narcosis. Because there was low cardiac output to the liver and kidneys for frankly, quite a while, the kidneys aren't working up to speed but again, she's confident they'll get there. If they don't in the next day or so, the docs will probably do some kidney diaylsis. Won't be permanent just get 'em going. We're pretty confident that won't need to happen.

His chest tubes are putting out quite a bit of drainage. "What does that look like you ask?" Well, it's yellowy fluid sometimes with some stringy looking blood in it. Nothing pretty but not horribly disgusting either. He's putting out more than he should be but the consensus is because he's not peeing (I hate that word but it's better than urinating) he's draining more fluid there to try to keep a balance but I can't lie, this kid is puf-fy! Starting to look a little Michelin man-like. He's still getting the drugs to hopefully get things moving and they just did a renal ultrasound to get a good look to see if they can learn anything. We'll see.

Dr. Lohr's overall assesment is that he's in a really good spot from where he was Thursday night. We'll wait until tomorrow to be extubated--hopefully morning--and then really get rocking and rolling on this road to recovery.

Owen came for his second visit to see Logan today with G&G Schroeder and Auntie Andrea and Uncle Corey. G&G Behn were here too...
"What's that line," he said pointing to Logan's long incision where they opened up his chest for surgery.
"Well, remember how we've always said Logan has a special ticker," I reply.
"Uh-huh," he says intrigued.
"Well, this is where the doctors went in to help make his heart better."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah. How about that?"
Then, squirmming to get out of my arms, he shouts, "I want to go see Grandpa."

There was our moment. The mind of a three year old. You've got to love it.

We love today as Sunday because we know many people are/were in church gathered together praying for Logan. Wherever you are, praying and thinking of us. Thank you! We know God is in control and Logan is good hands--His hands.

Let's do a "pee dance" for Logan, shall we? (Another heart daddy, Todd Corbo, told us about it this morning and said there are many variations so just do what feels right.)

Pee'in on out...

Saturday, November 4, 2006 5:33 PM CST

It's been a farily quiet day around here and I forgot that sometimes things don't move and answers don't come as quickly as we think they should.

Rounds this morning were at 8:30 and Logan's liver was looking a bit better but his kidneys still not so much. The docs added a few things but also felt that with the liver coming back around, his kidneys would too and as of just now, it sounds like they are. His urine output has significantly decreased a bit so they added a new diuretic to get that moving. They didn't want to lower the Nitric Oxcide until they heard from Dr. Herrington, who happened to go into surgery this morning so....we waited and waited and waited. Finally at 4:15 the answer was that his 3pm labs came back and we were going to move down on the NO. The only reason that was frustrating for us was because you have to wean the NO before you wean on the vent to ultimately get it out. We had eight hours that could have been happening but oh well...he's no worse for the wear and we need--okay Mommy Bear--needs to not sweat the small stuff and save any bear roars for the big stuff, which Lord willing, we won't have.

We talked to Dr. Lohr about 5:15 and she was very happy with the movement he's made since Thursday night. She said coming off the vent tomorrow isn't out of the question. That makes us happy but we won't get too hopeful. Managing expectations, you know.

Logan has rested all day. Minimal movement and eye flutters, which we're okay with. That vent is obnoxious and I suspect would be quite uncomfortable if he were really awake and alert. Our day nurse, Aimee is just extraordinary and hasn't stopped tending to him. Our nurse last night, Maggie was terrific too. At the end of the day, it's the nurses who really are getting the job done and we thank the Lord for them.

Most of the things that are happening with the Fontan are things we remember happening with his Glenn so we're keeping it all in perspective. I was a little surprised to hear Dr. Lohr say we're probably looking at a three week stay--my expectations have been much less than that--but probably good for her to throw it out there so we can be prepared if so. I think he'll surprise everyone though...he usually does.

Many thanks to those checking on Logan. It's a strange feeling to read posts from so many people we don't know but we're amazed and appreciative of how many of you are keeping us in your thoughts and prayers.

May God be glorifed THIS day and may more healing and movement come tomorrow.

Friday, November 3, 2006 11:52 AM CST

UPDATE -- 8:30pm
From the outside, Logan's looking mighty fine and dare I say, even a little pinker...on the inside he's doing relatively okay but apparently the doctors do have concerns about his liver and kidney functions.

I say to the troop of doctors in the room, "Okay, but it's not like your overly worried worried, right? To which the attending PICU doc says, "we are worried and we do need to get it figured out in order to keep moving in the right direction." I think in my inside voice, "Oh...Huh...Okay. Well, you worry and we'll be aware of your worry but we won't think too much about it."

If I'm comprehending what they're explaining his liver took quite a hit on the bypass and there's some trauma. More often that not, the liver figures itself out and gets itself back to normal. For Logan's liver, that's taking longer than they'd like. And when the liver isn't functioning quite as well as it should, it creates "goopy" (I kid you not that's the word the attending doc used) stuff in the kidneys and they do not like goopy stuff. So, for now they're watching those numbers really closely.

On the many bright sides, the lactic acid that was so high last night has gone from 17 to 7.8 and they'll do another draw tonight at 9. I suspect it'll be down even further.

They've also weaned more on the epiniphron so his heart is doing more of the pumping on its own, which is good and he's taking more breaths on his own than the ventilator, also good and he hasn't required nearly the amounts of pain management as yesterday or earlier today. Could this be because of the essential oils we're using that are used to reduce pain??? Hmmm, good question and we're hoping so.

Right now, he's on six continous drips of various things plus about five or six other cocktails. They've also started vancomyacin and cephtraxone, two powerhouse antibiotics. He doesn't have any infections nor do we want any thus, these drugs to keep 'em away.

What else? Oh, his heart rate did jump from the 113's to 180's in like five seconds on two occasions today. That's called SVT sinus ventricular tachycardia. Apparently, not good because docs came in pretty fast and got the pacer wires connected to the pacemakers and put a bag of ice on Logan's face and tried to make him cough and various other things. WHAT? Yep, all to try and get a vagel movement that would "shock" the heart back to its normal rate. Again, the inside voice says "Oh. Huh. What. Wait, why did you just put a bag of ice on my kid's face?" But, Logan's heart figured itself out both times and he was no worse for the wear. It's not uncommon and Dr. Herrington said she didn't even care it happened. Life without this amazing heart surgeon with such extraordinary interpersonal skills sure would be much less interesting. (I'm actually serious.)

Tonight should be quiet. Tomorrow, hopefully will show improved liver and kidney functions and numbers will Lord willing, be--or almost be--just where they're supposed to be. Please let that be where you're prayers go.

As for that darned breathing tube, we want that out too and would like to have Logan wake up but all good things in all good time.

Lights out.

ORIGNAL POST--11:50am
If we wanted to make this a basketball game analogy, we probably should have done surgery as Q1, recovery as Q2 &3 and moving to the regular floor as Q4. But, since we didn't becasue it felt like so much happened during and immediately after surgery, the third quarter is lasting a long time but not necessarily in a bad way.

Logan had a solid night of improvement. His fever of 103 broke, they added nitric oxcide as one the magic blends (a bronchodialator to keep his airway open) and one other thing happenend that calmed everything down and regulated numbers. That's still the case now and his oxygen levels are between 83-87 We don't know how much of that is attributed to the actual oxygen he's receiving but regardless the numbers are going up and that's good.

They did an echo, chest x-ray and an ultrasound of the liver and kidneys this a.m, which all are looking good. The one thing they have any concern about is his lactic acid levels. Should be in the .7-2 range, and when I came in at 7am it had been at 17. They checked then at 7ish and the number came down to 12 so it's moving in the right direction.

Dr. Herrington came in looked at the numbers, said how's his temp, how much epi is he on now. good. good. good. okay, maybe the ventilator comes out tomorrow. We're hoping it's still before tomorrow but we can be patient.

He's pretty much completed sedated still. They "dc'd" (discontinued) the paralytic so he's getting a mix of versed and fetanyl to keep him calm. He's squeezed our hands and his oxygen levels go up and heartrate comes down when we talk to him and hold his hand. It's crazy to actually witness that even when he's not moving or awake!

So, we're hanging out. You can't get too worried about these concerns because otherwise, you'd drive yourself mad. It's all a part of the bigger picture of getting him back to normal. You know, the fine balance of figuring it out.

Owen totally knows something up and has said he doesn't want to be lonely. :( Ben and I will head home for a bit this afternoon to hang out with him while Mom and Randy are up here.

Again, it's a fine balance in more ways than one but all for the bigger picture.

Go, Logan Go...

Thursday, November 2, 2006 11:35 AM CST

UPDATE 2--10:20pm
You'd be surprised at how fast the day goes when you're just sitting and waiting. We can't believe it's already after 10pm.

We were finally able to see Logan at 5:30ish. After sitting in the second waiting room for over two hours we went to the desk on the PICU unit to inquire as to the whereabouts of our son..."He's in 17, sure you can go in." Oh, okay, well, that's good to know. I suppose we're glad the team is focused on the medical care of the child but a little more communication might be helpful.

So, the game is still on and we're probably still in the third quarter. Surgery's over, he's in his room but there was a lot of whistles blown and stops and delays of game...the breathing tube is still in and will be in at least until morning.

His heart was a little grouchy and as a result everything was working hard and utlimately against the greater good so the breathing tube stays put to help maintain the appropriate balance. His lungs are super tight and need to relax so he got a muscle relaxer, which is another reason the breathing tube is doing it all tonight.

It's interesting, this balancing act the docs and nurses have to do. It's definitely not a science, that's for sure but thankfully the docs here and nurses are all keeping very close watch. For example, Logan's blood pressure went up by 6 points within five minutes and the cardiologist was like "what did you do...what changed...why did that go up." In fact, nothing happened and it went right back down but that's how close they're watching.

He does have a fever at the moment, thankfully that has come down from the 103 it was hanging out at for a couple hours. There was a good explanation for it when they told us about it but I'll be darned if I remember what it was. Fact is, it's going down.

He's pretty peaceful and sure looks better after this surgery than he did with his first one. The grandparents handled seeing him for the first time much better this time around. And, so did we.

Tonight is important for his body/lungs to accept the new blood flow and relax while taking it all in and out!

That's where our prayers are; yours can go there too.


UPDATE 1--2:50pm
We've entered the third quarter of today's game; just so happened we didn't get to see the score after the first and second quarters (whatever happened to updating beyond we're still in surgery?). Regardless, the score is Logan is winning--yahoo.

Dr. Lohr, Logan's cardiologist, came to see us and saw his heart pumping on the OP screen, an obvious good sign She then called for a real update and learned he came of the bypass machine about 1:45.

They did end up doing the fenestration--again, the escape route which means all of the blood from his inferior vena cava isn't going to his lungs but some dumps back into the IVC. They do this because the pressure and volume of blood is too much for the lungs to handle so this escape route prevents those pressures from getting too high.

Now the docs are waiting for him to "dry up." Yeah, our kid is a bleeder. As soon as that happens, they'll close him up and begin bringing him out of anethesia. He'll still be awfully sedated through the rest of the day and night but the goal will be to get the breathing tube out by 8pm.

So, we've "made it over the mountain" said Dr. Lohr, and now we're coming down the slope.

We appreciate your thoughts, prayers and well wishes. Things are moving in the direction we've been praying for. Can't ask for more than that right now.


ORIGINAL ENTRY--11:35am
Game's on and I think we're still in the first quarter!

We had a super morning. Logan did just great in the waiting room and greeting the various strangers that came into our room. We didn't have a ton of questions so it was fairly easy.

The docs gave Logan a dose of versed to get him relaxed and boy, was that a treat. It reminded me of the episode of "Gray's Anatomy" when Meredith got some "meds" before her appendectomy. He was funny!

I rode on the bed down to the OR and helped him off to sleep singing "Jack and Jill" and "Twinkle Twinkle." A couple herky jerky moves and he was out.

Eunice, our lovely waiting room volunteer, updated at 9:05 to say they were getting started (getting the IV's going takes a while). We just got another update to say that as of 11:30, he's on the bypass machine, which means Dr. Herrington is doing her work now. We feel it took a little while to get going but as Eunice said, "Dr. Herrington works slowly to make sure she does the job right the first time."

No more than that to report. We're surrounded by all the grandparents and Mike Verway, Ben's assistant coach who's also a pastor and are having a good morning.

More to come as Dr. H comes out with some real news.

What a suprise to read all of the guest entries since yesterday. Wow, we're humbled.

Monday, October 30, 2006 6:34 PM CST

Kids--Logan is a go go for Thursday! First case of the day bright and early at 7am. Sure, we're thankful you'll be thinking and praying for us at 7:00 but perhaps you could wake up at 4:30 and think of us then as we're making our way to the U of M by 5am. :)

Okay, let's be honest they say we have to be there at 5am but it'll be more like 5:15 for the three of us. I swear they make you get there so early just to be mean. I'm sure of it.

We're proceeding with Thursday because Logan's pre-op went well today. Physical exam was fine; blood pressure, O2 levels, heart rate = good. No birdies in his ears (how we get him to "enjoy" getting his ears checked.), no ducks in his throat (uh-huh, another ploy) and overall healthy looking. The next step was the blood work and the chest x-ray. I had no concerns on the blood work but the chest x-ray had me guessing in a big way. But, the cardiac nurse practioner Jennie called at 4:30 to say all looked good and Dr. Herrington said, "Let's Go."

So...go we will! Same plan as before just earlier. Look back at previous post if you want to know the plan.

We'll update sometime Thursday a.m., thinking about 10 or so and then as appropriate.

Prayers welcome and good thoughts too...but let's be honest, it's the prayers that count and we're just trying to be PC when we say "good thoughts" so really, please pray for us.

Logan's a champ, a fighter, a miracle--as he's proved over and over in his three little years--but let us not forget his body will have something major to adjust to. Please pray for the surgeon and team to do a terrific job with this fontan and for Logan's body to do an even better job adjusting. Please also pray for a good regimine of pain medication (can you imagine what this would feel like), and an understanding for Logan that this is all for a better life for him.

And, don't forget Owen! He'll know something's up and will for surely be a little lonely. He needs to feel loved and attended to as well.

O2 levels of 90 ...here WE COME.

Monday, October 23, 2006 11:01 AM CDT

UPDATE:
Monday, Oct. 23 at 10:30pm

New surgery date = Nov. 2 at 7:00am
Second pre-op = Oct. 30 at 10:30am

PREVIOUS:
Monday, Oct. 23 at 11:00am

Trick or Treat.

Halloween came early at the Bushaws in more ways than one:

Treat--The boys spent last night trick or treating, first at G&G Schroeders than at some houses in our neighborhood. We're so thankful our neighbors were so nice to make it special night for the boys. I must say, they were indeed the cutest little spiders I've ever seen.

Trick 1--I put a whole new post up last night after my mom uploaded the cute pictures up but I apparently messed up as it didn't show up, which I suppose wasn't a bad thing since I needed to add an update today because of...

Trick 2--Logan's surgery has been postponed to Nov. 2 (next Thursday) with another pre-op on Monday. What? How did that happen? Four little letters... C O L D !! Yep, Owen woke up in the middle of the night on Saturday sneezing, runny nose, cough, the works and as hard as we prayed for it to avoid Logan, it didn't. I was in NY last week and surrounded by sickies, Ben's at school with kids everyday so there's no telling where it came from. Next week, we'll probably just take work off starting on Monday to be safe. Dr. Plotnik (Pediatrician) agreed it might be our best bet.

I hate to say "it figures" but frankly it does. I was waiting it out for some real symptoms and this morning when Logan was coughing a cough that's different from his everyday hack, I put the call in to cardiology team. In between that call and Dr. Herrington (Surgeon) calling back, Logan puked up his breakfast, which almost always happens when a cold is brewing because it means he's got lots of phglem and crud interfering with digestion. That was the sign I needed and Dr. H too. She said we'll wait it out because the last thing we want is for something to really be happening virus-wise with Logan during a major operation. Some trick, huh?

Lots of phone calls had to made with the cancellation, then another round with the new date and now whew, we're all spent and have a fruit basket of mixed emotions. But, we know there's a reason and of course, we'd rather be sure Logan is up to snuff vs. risking anything at all.

We'll likely update after his pre-op on Monday. By the way, his pre-op on Friday was perfect. He was so ready for tomorrow. Amazing what can happen in just three days.

Please send thoughts and lots of prayers our way for healing for Logan and health for the rest of us. Not surprisingly, Logan nor Owen are acting like they've got colds but they're there.

May God be glorified THIS day (even when we're feeling a little frustrated).

P.S., Logan got a song written for him by Songs of Love, a non-profit that writes songs for critically ill kids. It's the neatest thing ever (we learned about it when our cousin Ellis got his own song written). Click on the link below and you should be able to hear it. It's very cool!

Sunday, October 15, 2006 10:40 PM CDT

Logan's Fontan is nine days out but I'm glad to say we're not really counting down (although I guess it might have just started).

The boys have been doing really well and having lots of fun with Paula and Grandma Linda during the week and Mommy and Daddy and friends Ali and Ty on the weekend. Yesterday we went to a place in Belle Plaine for a Scarecrow Festival with Grandpa Paul & Grandma Kathy, Zachary, Kristen and Parker and Payton and Braydon. The boys loved it and enjoyed their second pony ride. Owen was even brave enough to ride a camel. Yes, a camel in the middle of October in the middle of nowhere on a 47 degree day but Owen loved it so I didn't ask the camel any questions about his choice of residence.

Grandma Debbie stayed over on Friday so Ben and I could go to a benefit event and saw G & G Schroeder today for a while too. We love that they have such terrific grandparents and so do Owen and Logan. Tonight on the way home from G & G Schroeders, Owen said "we have three grandpas and grandmas. Go to their houses all right now!"

Logan went to see his new ID doctor (Infectious Disease) on Wednesday. I'll spare you the details about our four hour trip (of which the first two were waiting for the doctor and the last 1 1/2 were waiting to get it for labs) and just let you know that Dr. Schleiss is very, very good and feels we have some major unanswered questions about Logan's immunology. He said from what he could tell from previous tests at Children's in St. Paul, some things looked pretty darn good with Logan, like his body does build antibodies following immunizations but other things look quite concerning like his body does seem to have issues with T-cells so he ordered a full set of labs to take a look at everything. We should get a pretty extensive report while he's recovering from his Fontan. The timing of our apt was actually quite good for us to get a full assesment of where he's at to aid in his recovery.

One thing we did enjoy hearing was that Logan has once again been a learning tool for others from a previous experience...you might recall in July 2005 right after the Fourth holiday that Logan got a crazy fever and pretty sick. The night it happened, we called the doctors and eventually had to take him to the ER at like 2am. Upon exam, Logan's white blood count was up past 40,000 (normal is like 8,000 and normal for Logan is about 16,000). This meant bad news--some sort of bacteria or infection that being asplenic needed fast attention. Well, five hours later his antibiotics got to his room and to make a long story short we told everyone who came in our room that this wasn't okay. Most people just gave us that "uh-huh nod" and went on with their business but Dr. Schleiss took us seriously and brought it to the attention of the hospital staff. We didn't remember seeing him that day but when he came into our room on Wednesday he said "I thought your file looked familiar" and proceeded to tell us that to this day he uses Logan as an example of why it's imperitive the pharmacy and doctors/nurses on the floor work as efficiently and effectively to get medications from one place to another. It all goes back to us praying from the very beginning that if we could keep Logan forever and others could learn from his experiences (good and bad) that we'd be okay with that.

Nine days from now, however, we don't want people to learn anything from Logan except for what it means to have the best Fontan ever with the most seamless recovery possible. We're praying so hard for that and that he stays perfectly healthy until Oct. 24 and throughout the entire winter. We'd love if you'd pray that along with us.

I head to NYC tomorrow for work for three days and then Ben has Thurs/Friday off for MEA so it'll be a fast week. Friday is the pre-op--echo, ekg, chest x-ray, bood work and a couple other things to make sure we're a go go for Dr. Herrington's first case on Tuesday morning. Then, we'll have the weekend to play at home and enjoy one another and every little moment, including bedtimes, before Tuesday. I think we have to be there around 6:30 for check-in and actual surgery is around 8ish. Gee, it really it getting close to reality. That's okay. We're ready, Logan's ready and we know Dr. H will be ready too.

Here's to a healthy week! May God be glorified THIS day.

Sunday, October 15, 2006 10:40 PM CDT

Logan's Fontan is nine days out but I'm glad to say we're not really counting down (although I guess it might have just started).

The boys have been doing really well and having lots of fun with Paula and Grandma Linda during the week and Mommy and Daddy and friends Ali and Ty on the weekend. Yesterday we went to a place in Belle Plaine for a Scarecrow Festival with Grandpa Paul & Grandma Kathy, Zachary, Kristen and Parker and Payton and Braydon. The boys loved it and enjoyed their second pony ride. Owen was even brave enough to ride a camel. Yes, a camel in the middle of October in the middle of nowhere on a 47 degree day but Owen loved it so I didn't ask the camel any questions about his choice of residence.

Grandma Debbie stayed over on Friday so Ben and I could go to a benefit event and saw G & G Schroeder today for a while too. We love that they have such terrific grandparents and so do Owen and Logan. Tonight on the way home from G & G Schroeders, Owen said "we have three grandpas and grandmas. Go to their houses all right now!"

Logan went to see his new ID doctor (Infectious Disease) on Wednesday. I'll spare you the details about our four hour trip (of which the first two were waiting for the doctor and the last 1 1/2 were waiting to get it for labs) and just let you know that Dr. Schleiss is very, very good and feels we have some major unanswered questions about Logan's immunology. He said from what he could tell from previous tests at Children's in St. Paul, some things looked pretty darn good with Logan, like his body does build antibodies following immunizations but other things look quite concerning like his body does seem to have issues with T-cells so he ordered a full set of labs to take a look at everything. We should get a pretty extensive report while he's recovering from his Fontan. The timing of our apt was actually quite good for us to get a full assesment of where he's at to aid in his recovery.

One thing we did enjoy hearing was that Logan has once again been a learning tool for others from a previous experience...you might recall in July 2005 right after the Fourth holiday that Logan got a crazy fever and pretty sick. The night it happened, we called the doctors and eventually had to take him to the ER at like 2am. Upon exam, Logan's white blood count was up past 40,000 (normal is like 8,000 and normal for Logan is about 16,000). This meant bad news--some sort of bacteria or infection that being asplenic needed fast attention. Well, five hours later his antibiotics got to his room and to make a long story short we told everyone who came in our room that this wasn't okay. Most people just gave us that "uh-huh nod" and went on with their business but Dr. Schleiss took us seriously and brought it to the attention of the hospital staff. We didn't remember seeing him that day but when he came into our room on Wednesday he said "I thought your file looked familiar" and proceeded to tell us that to this day he uses Logan as an example of why it's imperitive the pharmacy and doctors/nurses on the floor work as efficiently and effectively to get medications from one place to another. It all goes back to us praying from the very beginning that if we could keep Logan forever and others could learn from his experiences (good and bad) that we'd be okay with that.

Nine days from now, however, we don't want people to learn anything from Logan except for what it means to have the best Fontan ever with the most seamless recovery possible. We're praying so hard for that and that he stays perfectly healthy until Oct. 24 and throughout the entire winter. We'd love if you'd pray that along with us.

I head to NYC tomorrow for work for three days and then Ben has Thurs/Friday off for MEA so it'll be a fast week. Friday is the pre-op--echo, ekg, chest x-ray, bood work and a couple other things to make sure we're a go go for Dr. Herrington's first case on Tuesday morning. Then, we'll have the weekend to play at home and enjoy one another and every little moment, including bedtimes, before Tuesday. I think we have to be there around 6:30 for check-in and actual surgery is around 8ish. Gee, it really it getting close to reality. That's okay. We're ready, Logan's ready and we know Dr. H will be ready too.

Here's to a healthy week! May God be glorified THIS day.

Wednesday, September 27, 2006 1:24 PM CDT

We're set for sugery on Oct. 24 at 8:15 a.m. pending any illnesses with Logan or emergency surgeries that Dr. Herrington gets called for.

We'd scheduled apts with all the docs that have touched Logan and the timing turned out to be perfect as they both came down with a cold last week. Apts included:
- Dr. Malone, ENT
- Dr. Shreve, Pulmonology
- Dr. Herrington, cardiac surgeon

Thursday: Dr. Malone discovered he had a double ear infection, which she said would explain the cough getting worse. She prescribed Omnicef to kill those bugs and within 24 hours his cough was improving. She also recommended he start a regimine of Pulmacort (corti-steroid helps keep airway/lungs open) as a peri-operative measure but wanted us to confirm the plan with Dr. Shreve.

Friday morning: Dr. Shreve confirmed ear infection, concured with Pulmacort (with the addition of Allbuterol, another neb). He also ordered a chest x-ray to get an updated picture. They looked a little fuzzy at the top, which made sense as he had a cold but otherwise looked very good. Dr. Shreve was very happy with everything.

Friday afternoon: Dr. Herrington saw Logan for the first time in about three years...think about how much changes from 4 months to 3 years. She thought he looked great overall but did say he looked like a Smurf (his coloring, that is). I tried not to take it personally--I just think he looks a little tan.

His O2 levels are hanging out around 79, which frankly, is okay for Logan pre-surgery. She explained what she'd do, how long it'll take, recovery issues, etc. It's pretty straight-forward: she'll open up his chest in the same place as before and place a tube that goes from his IVC (Inferior Vena Cava) straight up to his Pulmonary Artery where it will dump into the lungs. Right now it goes to his heart where it mixes with oxygen, thus the lower oxygen saturation levels.

When all is said and done, this procedure should help his 02levels go from 79 to the low 90's. Now, there is a chance she'll have to do something called a fenestration. Sometimes the lungs can't handle the pressure of all of the blood (from the lower half of his body)pumping in so she'll make a little hole--I like to think of it as an escape route. If the pressure is too much, the hole opens and some of the blood dumps back into the heart. It's not the ideal Fontan but it can be lifesaving. What it ultimately means is that instead of low 90's, his O2 levels would be more like mid-80's. She said there's a 50/50 chance and she won't know until she's in there what she'll do. Pray for the real deal, please. If he does get the fenestration, they should be able to close the hole after his body fully adapts or often the hole closes on its own. (Whew! I can't believe I understand this.)

After we talked it sounded like the Fontan would be easier than his first surgery (the Glenn) so I asked..she agreed it would be because of some of the extra stuff she did with rerouting his veins. I'm feeling like gee, if Logan made it through that one okay, we should be very optimistic.

Next on our list is the Infectious Disease doc apt. We scheduled one with Dr. Hoyt but made the decision to go to a new one at the U of M, Dr. Schleiss. I'd rather Logan have a good friend in this area right at the U of M vs. at Children's in St. Paul. That's set for Oct. 11.

So, we'll be hanging out for a few weeks. Will go to church one last time this Sunday and then probably stick close to home with not much interaction with others. We're okay with that knowing the end result we're looking at.

The boys are loving fall and the falling leaves and getting ready for Halloween. (They're going to be spiders.) Pre-school is still fun and they're funny, funny, funny. The other day while getting ready for bed, Logan crawled on Owen's back and shouted "Yee-hah! I'm a cowboy!" Nothing better than these crazy cats making our lives full of such joy.

We're still praying for Ellis--he's out of ICU and making progress towards home. What a miracle. Please pray he gets healthy as healthy can be--and stays that way--and for his Mommy and Daddy too.

May God be glorified THIS day!

Wednesday, September 6, 2006 11:13 PM CDT

UPDATE--SEPTEMBER 17:
Got a voicemail from Dr. Lohr on Friday night--she was in surgery with Dr. Herrington so she asked her what she wanted to do about Logan. The answer...wait until she's back from her trip (professional meetings). So, another new date--likely Oct. 24 (we figure we'll give her a day to get back in her groove after being gone for 10 days).

We have an apt. with her this Friday, Sept. 22 as well as an apt. with Dr. Shreve (Pulmonology). I'm waiting to hear back from Dr. Hoyt (Infectious Disease) and will also be contacting Dr. Malone (ENT) for visits. Logan has been coughing a ton in the last few days and we want that figured out --it could be lung stuff, broncho stuff, whc knows. We also for sure want Infectious Disease in the game from the get go this time so hopefully we'll get a return phone call early this week.

Lots of appointments in preparation for the big day but all worthwhile and hopefully helpful to be as prepared as possible to ensure a successful recovery.

Other news to note: the boys will be spiders for Halloween (found the cutest costumes at TJ Maxx today), the are LOVING GLP (Grandma Linda's preschool) and have "The Pledge of Allegiance" almost memorized, Paula are new nanny is just awesome and we adore, adore, adore her, the boys language is expanding and growing every day--it's so fun and funny, and nighttime and naptime are much, much better. All in all, life is really great right now. We're praying it continues.

We'll update after Friday's appointments.

UPDATE--SEPTEMBER 13:
We found out on Monday that Logan's surgery has been bumped up to Oct. 2 from Oct. 12 as Dr. Herrington is going out of town from Oct. 10-22. We have some mixed feelings about doing earlier but would rather not wait until the end of October as studies have shown there are more complications/infections as we head into colder months (more bugs in the air and germs all around--eeeeeek).

We're meeting with Dr. H on Sept. 22 and if we have any concerns with her leaving 8 days after his operation, we will postpone. Kind of a gear shift going from 1 month out to just 2 1/2 weeks but we're in good hands from above and with the doctors.

ORIGINAL MESSAGE--SEPTEMBER 6
On Friday, Dr. Lohr (Logan's cardiologist) and the cardiology team at the U of M will be discussing Logan's case and his upcoming Fontan at their regular cardiology conference. She's been so terrific and we trust her with all we have to trust with but I just had to send her a note with some reminders to talk about with the team. Below is the jist of it...

"I'm not thinking about Oct. 12 too much yet but I am hoping you can stress a couple things in the discussion
(I know it's all stuff you and they know, I just feel better writing for the sake of bringing to the forefront).

1. Logan has heterotaxy. No spleen and a complicated anatomy and we saw first hand in April 2004 just how scary that can be. His insides are just different and require extra attention.
2. Logan's lungs are extra sensitive. He's had pneumonia three or four times and that stupid RSV/pneumonia last winter seemed to really change things. Since lungs are so key and so often a hinderance to recovery, anything and everything that can be done to protect them is key.
3. For a while, everything that could go wrong with Logan did. Do you remember that we were going to change "Murphy's Law" to "Logan's Law?" We're shooting for a new Logan's law that everything that should go right does go right!
4. I read about a little boy who did pretty well from the Fontan but then his tummy didn't get up and moving again fast enough. As a result he had to have a surgery of some sort and his little body couldn't take it and didn't make it. Remember, Logan had a gastric volvulus and had to have a pyloroplasty because it was shut down for so long. I don't think his tummy can take too long of a nap.
5. From med perspective, Logan takes a lot to calm down. I know it took a while to find the right mix with Ellis to keep him calm and comfortable. Whatever we can do right away to not have to hunt to find the right mix will make us all more calm.
6. Ben wants me to add that Logan got second degree burns on his chest from the Iaband (sp?). Pretty sure his chest won't be closed right away so he'll need something else.
7. Finally, he's a miracle and a fighter and a brother and ours. From the second we learned he had a heart defect to you explaining it was a "W" on a scale of A to Z to not needing that first surgery we thought he would right when he was born to all the crappy stuff that happened after that, he's proven himself over and over.

So, maybe I am a little scared :). I know he's under your care and Dr. Herington is phenomenal and I am confident it will go just great. But just please remind everyone that he's got more than a single ventricle heart inside that requires sensitivity and added thoughts."

That's what I wrote and hope I'm not "one of those moms" but we've said a thousand times that sometimes it's so easy to forget that Logan has a bad ticker but he does and this surgery is big. The closer it gets, the more we're thinking about it and to be honest, the more we get a little nervous about it.

Please pray the doctors have a good discussion about Logan on Friday and that they remember he is different. We don't want anything to not be considered. Please also pray that he stays healthy. We want him to enjoy this next month but we must keep him well. As the weather changes, colds come out again. Pray the bugs stay away from all of us.

To end on a lighter note, Saturday is a big day in retail--Macy's goes nationwide and we've got a lot riding on it. Here's my plug...Macy's ...Saturday...9-11 any store...$10 gift card and chance to get a $1000 gift card...in-store events...lots of excitement. Go SHOP!

May God be glorified THIS day.

Monday, August 28, 2006 10:33 PM CDT

The past few weeks have been jam packed with fun for the Bushaws. Enjoying every last ounce of summer, we suppose.

Last weekend we went to the Cliffords cabin up past Motley and the boys had such fun. It was a little easier with them this year than last year--their listening skills have improved just a bit and they're just a little more responsible--but we still had a few ups and downs.

They boys got to ride on the four-wheeler with "Miffer Kliffor..d" (we're stressing that 'd'sound). They also rode in Michelle and Aaron's boat, watched Aaron on the wakeboard, played with "leetle babee Law-ren" and swam in the water. It was their first time in a lake and they loved it. Now, mind you they haven't had swimming lessons yet since Logan was scheduled for surgery in June we had to keep him healthy, then it got postponed so we still have to keep him healthy. It'll likely be next spring when we officially get them through this official rite of being a kid but at least we know they love water.

This past weekend we went to the Great Minnesota Get Together and of course, the boys loved every minute of it. We felt a little bad they didn't want to eat what we ate but soon enough they'll come to love deep fried pickles and hot dish on a stick. Not surprisingly they had no problems gobbling up the Sweet Martha Cookies and chocolate milk. Hmmm, their favorite moment? Probably watching cows walk down the street pooping. Yep, do I have boys or what? "Mommy, Mommy--look, look--cows are poop-ien," (with a southern accent that came from who knows where.) They also loved riding the toddler motorcycle ride and race cars. Oh, to be a kid.

We're looking forward to one last weekend to wrap up summer and then it's time to get down to business. Macy's becomes official on Sept. 9 so work has most definitely ramped up for me. Ben's back at school this week, which officially starts next week with his students. Tennis is in full motion and so is the boys' new nanny Paula. Grandma Linda is set to start GLP (Grandma Linda's Preschool) with the boys this week, complete with their own school room (our basement bedroom downstairs will be transformed before our very eyes).

We're looking forward to a busy but healthy September as we prepare for Oct. 12.

Key prayers: Ellis is continuing to work hard at healing from his transplant. His lungs need some help clearing up and his heart needs to relax. Number two, Ben's mom has a big apt on Wednesday to see what's changing with her cancer. We're very optimistic that the treatment she's been doing and the many prayers we've all been praying have been working. Please keep both in your thoughts and prayers.

May God be glorified THIS day.

Here's to Summer lovin'and lovin' Summer...

Wednesday, August 16, 2006 10:37 PM CDT

Two updates:

Update One: Logan's surgery is on the calendar!
The big day is set for October 12. This date could change if he is the least bit under the weather so we have instructions to basically begin taking him out of contact with the real world about 3 weeks before and to be really viligant about it 2 weeks before. Hand washing will be most important and we'll probably all be taking echinacea to prevent bugs from landing on us.

The Mayo cardiology team sent their feedback to Dr. Lohr (remember she sent it for a second opinion) and they feel Logan is a good candidate for the Fontan, which supports what Dr. Lohr has always felt too. There was lots of other wording in the response, like "The PAs are otherwise not distorted. The PAP and EDP are both very good. The ventricle looked good and there appeared to be only mild AVV regurg." Surprisingly, I knew a lot of what they were saying, didn't necessarily comprehend all but at least it's familiar language.

Regarding doing a fenestration, the new thought is to decide in the operating room. The doctors can tell pretty quickly what may/may not need to be done so they'll react there and we're okay with that.

I told Dr. Lohr that our Rock Star cousin Ellis had better be home by October 12 because we only allow one family member to recover from heart surgery at a time. She was supportive of that and the last report from Melissa was a pretty good one. Please still pray HARD for him and Sam and Missy. The road to recovery from a heart transplant is long with lots of ups and downs. A test of faith, to be sure.

Update Two:
Owen's thumb is strong, growing and doing fabulously!
We saw Dr. VanHeest, his hand doctor, for his annual checkup and she only needed to see him in action for about two minutes before she said he was doing great and that as of now, she doesn't think he'll need another surgery to move extra muscle to his thumb! This was huge news because she's always told us that most kids have another surgery before they start kindergarten to beef up the thumb muscle. She had him touch his thumb to his pinky and squeeze. She then tried to pull her finger to break the circle and was totally impressed with his strength. Is that terrific or what?

We had no issues bragging about how he rides his bike, pulls up the zipper on his pants, tries to loop his belt, swings on the monkey bar, etc. as a means to prove how well that thumb works. She loved hearing it all.

She asked if we'd been going to physical therapy and I had to be honest and say "yeah, umm no...we haven't gotten around to that (for six months!). I guess we're just being lazy." Her response made us smile when she said, "if there was an issue, you'd have him in therapy. The fact you're not concerned enough means he's doing just fine on his own." What a great response.

So, our three weeks of apts are done. I'm just going to schedule one with Dr. Malone, ENT doc, to look at his airway to make sure it's clean and clear as can be. After that, we shouldn't have any apts until Oct. 9 for Logan's pre-op and then surgery on the 12th. We can hardly believe it's only about six weeks away.

The new Nanny Paula started this week and the boys seem to love her. We're enjoying what's left of summer and heading to Michelle's parent's cabin this weekend and the best Mexican restaurant around--mmm, mmm, mmmm!

Prayers for Ellis and continued health for Logan requested.

May God be glorified THIS day.

Wednesday, August 9, 2006 8:09 PM CDT

Hi All,
Owen and Logan checking in to let you know we had our three year appointment today (yes, our birthday was June 23 and it's August 9 but it takes a long time to get in for these basic visits and Mommy frankly, forgot we needed one!).

Anyway, we got a clean bill of health and impressed the boots off of Dr. Plotnik. Oh yeah, we don't waste any time impressing the folks that mattter most. We were shooting hoops (crumpled/balled up paper towels) into the basket (garbage can), playing catch with baseballs (also crumpled/balled up paper towels)with Mommy and Daddy and throwing the football (also crumpled/balled up paper towels).

Oh, and we were climbing around the room like monkeys so she had zero questions about our agility, coordination or amount of physical exercise. Oh, and we were drawing pictures on the paper covered check-up table so she was confident in our artsy-fartsy talents and we were talking up a storm, reiterating her earlier thoughts that we'd start talking when we were good and ready. (At our two year checkup she wrote we understood and comprehended words but just "babbled." Please, we are so far beyond babbling these days.)

Here were our stats:
Me (Owen)
38 1/4 inches
32 pounds
60th percentile for height
50th percentile for weight

Me (Logan)
37 1/2 pounds
31 pounds (I either gained two pounds since my visit to Dr. Lohr's office last week or every scale is just a little bit different.)
50th percentile for height
40th-ish percentile for weight

I (Logan) had a chest X-ray before the appointment. I'm really starting to dig those cameras and just love smiling when the X-ray person says "smile." Funny thing, I've never personally seen how cute I look after the picture but whatever. Dr. Plotnik got the results and the radiologist said it was one of the best he's seem from me. That was great news for Mommy and Daddy because they were a little concerned I was sounding funny and that my lungs were in rough shape.

So, here we are. We're three. We're thriving and we're happy as can be even when we're wrestling one another, trying to bite and pull the other one around the yard and fighting like mad to avoid going to bed, which we might add we're making a little easier for Mommy and Daddy.

Our little cousin Ellis is doing pretty okay recovering from his heart transplant. There are good days with good to great news and not-so-good days that make his recovery seem slow and sometimes scary. Overall, he's making pretty good progress for getting such a big new organ. We pray so hard for him every day and hope you are, too. God has been so good!

May God be glorified THIS day.

Blessings and health to all.

Friday, August 4, 2006 10:12 PM CDT

The purpose of tonight's update is to share info from Logan's heart apt. yesterday with Dr. Lohr and I'll get to that but boy, I just read Melissa and Sam's update on Ellis and my heart is just breaking.

He has a new heart...it's working...and that's so great and such a miracle. But he's got a big recovery happening right now and there's ups and there's downs and sometimes there's a reason to be really happy and sometimes there's a reason to be scared and sad as he _ _. I just can't fathom the mix of joy and pain they're going through with Ellis right now and yet, in some ways we've been there and made it through. At the same time it obviously reminds us that we'll be going through something similar in two and a half months and that too, brings feelings of joy that he should ultimately have a better life post Fontan but also feelings of fear and sadness.

Pray for Ellis. Pray hard. And, please pray for Melissa and Sam. This is something no parent--no child--should every have to endure but they do. We do. And even though we don't know why, we understand there is a reason.

On to Logan: His heart apt. went quite well. Dr. Lohr thought he looked great. His O2 level ranged from 77-81 and his blood pressure was right where it should be. His lungs don't sound so great at the moment (remember he got a cold a couple weeks ago and the cough and chunkiness haven't yet gone away) so we must figure out what's going on. We go to see Dr. Plotnik for their 3-year apt next Wednesday and Dr. Lohr said she definitely wants a chest x-ray. Hopefully by then things will be better.

Today, Dr. Lohr was going to send all of Logan's data from his heart cath back in May to the echo and EKG results of yesterday to Dr. Puga. He's THE guy when it comes to Fontans at Mayo. He will review Logan's data to either concur with the doctors at the U or provide another assesment of Logan and recommendations for his surgery. We are so appreciative that Dr. Lohr is reaching out to him and that as a doctor at a competing medical center she's willing to get another opinion on Logan. She is just great.

She did tell us that Logan will definitely need a fenestrated fontan, which she didn't think he would need before. Two explanations:

What is a fenestrated fontan?
A hole or "fenestration" is often made between the Fontan circuit and the right atrium so that if pressures become very high in the Fontan circuit, there is a "pop-off" into the heart. Patients with fenestrations are often high-risk for the non-fenestrated fontan and may have a more stable post-operative course with smaller and less prolonged plerual effusions (a common complication after Fontan surgery). Many fenestrations close spontaneously many months after surgery, but can also be closed during a cardiac catheterization procedure if deemed necessary.

Why fenestration for Logan?
There is concern that Logan's pulmonary arteries are not very big and that the pressures may be too much for Logan's lungs to handle (remember blood that has never gone to his lungs suddenly will). Additionally, he's got this big blood vessel that could complicate matters as well. (I have to ask for more clarification on that.) The fenestration will lessen those potential pressures for him and decrease the liklihood (especially with Logan's track record of bad luck in the hospital)of complications.

She brought up a few different things/options for Logan depending on the final data report and we're trying hard not to remember that she used "heart transplant" in a much less future tense than ever before. She's always said that if he does need an HT that by that time we should be able to pick a heart off a shelf. Neither Ben nor me were apparently listening very well because we can't remember what she said before or after those two words. Frankly, we think one heart transplant in the family is enough.

The results from Mayo should be back to Dr. Lohr by the end of August and then she'll present those findings and her assesment to the cardiology team for a final decision by early September. We're still hoping to do this in October but if his lungs aren't in good shape we'll have to postpone. We do know that he'll definitely get the RSV shot this year, which makes us much happier after last winter!

The reality of October is becoming clear and unlike the previous plan for the June surgery, we don't think this one will go away because he's doing so great.

That's what we know and are still working to understand it all. We researched a lot right away but life has been so grand and it's always been "in a few years" so now we have to do a refresher course. Bear with us as we try to explain it all.

NEW TOPIC:
Bedtime might--and I stress might--be getting a little less horrible. Still takes a long time, but we've become significantly more patient. We're close to going back to cribs/crib tents altogether but we haven't lost complete hope yet. They are something else!

Prayers welcome.

Wednesday, July 26, 2006 8:33 PM CDT

Ellis is doing pretty darned good considering he just received a heart 48 hours ago. God has been answering a million and one prayers and it's a beyond amazing story.

You can get the updates on his CB site -- www.caringbridge.org/mn/ellis.

On our front things are overall fine. Naptime and Bedtime have become dreadtime as the boys--especially Owen--will NOT stay in bed. It's avering more than 1 hour to get them down and it's wearing just a bit thin. We try to keep it in perspective, considering what Sam and Missy are going through with Ellis but it's still a challenging time. I didn't know my patience could be tested quite so much! We've resorted to putting Owen's crib back up and if he gets out of bed once he goes in the crib. You'd think the kid would figure it out, wouldn't you?

Nothing much new other than that. We play outside, we play outside, oh and we play outside.

Status quo is pretty good and if we get this nap/bed thing down, we'll be way better than status quo.

Here's to sleeping tight!

May God be Glorified THIS day.

Monday, July 24, 2006 11:43 PM CDT

From caringbridge.org/mn/ellis:

"14 months, 4 weeks on the list...
2 weeks in the hospital...

a few more hours now...

and Ellis will have a new heart."

Ellis Bergstrom, our little cousin, should be getting a new heart in the next few hours. He needs this heart badly and he and his family need your prayers too.

Please pray for Ellis.

Please pray for Sam and Missy and their families.

Please pray for the doctors and surgical team who need to give Ellis a new life with this heart.

Please pray for the family who had to lose a child so Ellis can have a chance.

Please pray for Ellis' body to accept this heart.

Please pray for Ellis' body to recover.

Please pray for Sam and Missy that they have the strength they need to get through tonigh and Ellis'recovery.

Please thank God for His answer to prayers.
Please thank God for His miracles.
Please thank God for the Gift of Life.

Tuesday, July 18, 2006 10:50 PM CDT

Hi All, it's me--Owen. I thought you might be interested to know how my brother and me are doing in our big boy beds.

You'll notice just I'm writing--that would be because my brother Logan goes right to bed, be it naptime or nightime. We've followed the same routine for, oh gosh, about two years...read books downstairs, come upstairs to go on the potty, say our prayers, give hugs and kisses to each other and go into our rooms. This routine has been great; I've really enjoyed it and have always gone right to sleep in my crib but my big boy bed--that's another story. I mean, I'm not cooped up; I can just roll right out of bed and out my bedroom door. How liberating!

Uh-oh, I hear Mommy yelling at me again...gotta go......................

ARRrrrrGGGghhhHH! I don't know why I was sentimental two weeks ago about big boy beds because frankly, they sure can make life more difficult. Owen was right with everything he said. Logan is a CHAMP at staying in his bed and Owen is a PUNK at not staying in his bed. It's been a rough couple of weeks and we swear we've tried everything to get this crazy cat to stay in bed. We've got two other tricks up our sleeve that we'll try over the next couple days, if necessary. 1)We put Owen's crib up in the basement and will put him in it if he tries to get out--it's got the crib tent so he can't get out and being in the basement should prevent him from waking up Logan and 2) we purchased a bed tent, similar to the crib tent. If we have to resort to caging the kid in, we might just do it but it is the last straw since he knows EXACTLY what he's doing.

We have had our share of funny moments. Most specifically, when after multiple times of getting out and talking, talking, talking I put him in bed and told him I didn't' want to hear another peep. After going back to the other side of the room (ala SuperNanny instructions), I hear a quiet "peep." And then a louder "Peep, Peep." Cracked me up but didn't get him off the hook.

Sans keeping Owen in bed, the boys are doing just terrific. They're having the best time ever playing with Ali and Ty, our neighbors. They're missing Nanny Nicole terribly (we're currently looking for her replacement) and wondering why they're not seeing Da-wamma Leena quite as often. Ben's having a good time with them at home but the naptime thing is a bit of an issue.

More talking and sentence structures every day. They've both figured out how to do back flips on the swinging bar in our backyard and they can go so fast on their big boy bikes, it's unbelievable.

We love status quo and hope it continues forever! We've got lots of prayer requests--Cousin Ellis is at the U of MN waiting for a heart to become available and we've been keeping tabs on a couple of families that have recently lost their kids. We can't imagine! Also, my mom had to have an emergency appendectomy last week and is still recovering. Oh, and we're praying for patience with Owen. We love the kid with all our might but it's pretty interesting how quickly our patience fades at naptime and bedtime. We just want him to figure it out and make life easier for all of us.

All good thing in all good time...

May God be blessed THIS day!

Monday, July 3, 2006 11:07 PM CDT

Tonight was a big night for Owen and Logan--their first night in big boy beds!! It's hard to know when kids are ready for big boy beds--some make the transition right at two, many at 2 1/2 and some at 3. We've been putting it off primarily because we've been petrified of what it means--they can get out of bed whenever they want. I've also come to realize all of the other things it means...

I don't know for sure how many parents get emotional about big boy beds but I've definitely been one of them. Sure, I've been excited for this time and we've been talking it up like mad with they boys but I've also been a bit sad about it all. Big boy beds signal that a huge chapter in our lives is over. We set their cribs up in our old house back in April 2003, well before the boys were due. At first we just set up one crib thinking they'd share it for some time and it would make their tiny room look a little more spacious. But, after we found out all that was "wrong," we immediately put up the other crib because by the grace of God, we were bringing home two babies. And, we did. They still shared a crib--for nearly six months--and it was absolutely adorable. Oh, the things they did in that crib that made us laugh and warmed our hearts.

Big boy beds ultimately mean Owen and Logan really are big boys--it means time has just flown by and they no longer need us quite as much as they did before. It means, they're capable of doing more on their own, thinking on their own, moving on their own and learning on their own. It means these once fragile, teeny tiny babies that used to fit the short way in their cribs now need a lot more space to stretch and sleep. I guess it ultimately means we don't have babies anymore--and that can be a hard thing to accept.

Like every milestone, I'm praising God they've made it this far and have no doubts they'll someday want king-size beds but for now, or at least the next week while I get used to the idea of how big my babies are, I think I'll be a bit sad every night we put them in their big boy beds.

Oh, so how did it go? Well, Ben had basketball tonight so I was on my own (and a bit nervous). But Logan was a champ. Put him in his bed and really not a peep. Owen on the other hand, got up nine times. (I expected that and was set to sit on the top step as long as necessary). The first few times was just to peer out the bedroom door. The fourth time was to throw out his new sock monkey (handmade courtesy of Great Aunt Mary Gaye). Then, he opened the door again wearing his denim bucket hat so he could throw out his work hammer. It was all I could do to contain the laughter. After this, I chased him back in and he crawled into bed with the hat on, insisting he needed it to sleep. Again, I had to turn away to contain the outbreak of laughter.

After getting the hat off of him, I realized I was going to have do what Supernanny would tell me to do--stay in the room, don't say a peep and just sit there until he falls asleep. 25 minutes later and 25,000 "pssst, Mommy" 's later, he was asleep. My guess is Logan will have his turn at this as well. I will just keep telling myself "what would Supernanny do, what would Supernanny do, what would Supernanny do." I will also keep reminding myself they are three and I am 32, That mantra will be "don't let them get to you, don't let them get to you, don't let them get to you." It might sound trivial but prayers are welcome.

A final note for tonight. A little boy I've been following on a Care Page since April (similar to CaringBridge) was finally healed completely last Thursday night when he went to be with the Lord. It was a terribly sad story and hit a little close to home--he, too, was a heart kid. He had his Fontan at 21 months and his recovery was really tough and critical. What they eventually learned was that his pulminary artery was perhaps too small to handle the cardiac output following the Fontan. (This is a small concern of our cardiology team with Logan so you can imagine our attention to his story.) By the time this learning happened for this little boy many other things had gone wrong and he made the decision to go home above. Please pray for his family. There are always so many families going through hard times that we feel a little guilty for the joy we have in our lives. Let us not forget how precious every moment is--even those sad feelings of the meanings of big boy beds.

May God be glorified THIS day. (This is how the grandma who authored the CarePage site of that little boy, ended each and every entry--even in the midst of so much sadness. This will now be how I end each post in memory of little Corbin.)

Monday, June 26, 2006 9:20 PM CDT

We're three, we're three, oh yeah, yeah, yeah!

Man, being three is so great. We get to get up late and go to bed late and play outside all day and hang out with Ali and Ty...yeah, three is SO much better than being two.

What? You think we were doing most of those things last week when we were two? Well, maybe so but last week we didn't have COOL big boy bikes and AWESOME scooters to tool around on (of course with the proper safety gear--helmets). Nor did we have NEAT-O "Lightning McQueen" lounge chairs, new Froggy books, a Hungry Hippo Game, fresh Play-doh,a fun new magnet board for our bedrooms, new books and on and on. That's right--we got LOTS of great new stuff at our soggy birthday party on Saturday.

Friday was our birthday and we had a good time all day with Mommy and Daddy--even attempted to go to the movie "Cars" but we decided we're not quite ready to sit in a loud, dark theater with way too many previews. The experience was cool at first and we liked sitting in the chairs eating popcorn, however 45 minutes into it we were ready to hit the road.

As we mentioned our party was Saturday and 50 of our closest friends came to hang out with us. We were a little bummed that it started raining right at 4:00 when the party started so we couldn't play in our backyard on the swingset but thankfully, we had room in the house to play. It was super fun to have so many of our friends over playing with us. That doesn't happen very often.

I (Logan) was really honored because my cardiologist, Dr. Lohr, even came to my party. She's known me since I was 22 weeks in utero and has taken really good care of me. It was real special to have her over. Me and my brother noticed though that she wasn't wearing her white shirt like most doctors do--kind of threw us for a loop so Mommy and Daddy explained that doctors don't always wear their white shirts but that they are still doctors. We are very literal, you know.

Mostly what we're hoping for now--or maybe Mommy is the most--that we stay healthy post our party. We've pretty much never been around so many kids at one time and it'll be a good test to see how strong we are at keeping bugs away.

Thanks to everyone who helped us celebrate by coming over and bringing presents (even though you weren't technically supposed to, we like them anyway!) And, for those of you who donated to CaringBridge--this site has been a part of us for more than three years--we thank you, too. Your support helps us and other families have access to this great tool.

One last thing, and it's very important. Our little cousin Ellis needs a heart and fast. He's been waiting a long time and his ticker is getting pretty tired. He's a heart kid like me (Logan) but whereas my heart is still functioning pretty good and I can probably get by without a heart transplant, Ellis must have one. He's at home right now but will probably go in to the hospital on July 10 until the perfect little heart becomes available. We pray for Ellis every night and ask that you add him to your list too.

Blessings to all.

Friday, June 23, 2006 0:12 AM CDT

Owen and Logan
Logan and Owen
You are so smart
And you just keep a growing
Bigger and stronger and sweeter each day
Today you turn three and we're shouting "Hooray!"

Here we are boys, three years into this relationship and if we do say ourselves, we're rather pleased with this family. The two of you are something else, to be sure, but boy, we just keep loving you more and more each day.

Can you believe the year you've had? Well, I guess there wasn't a lot to it-we didn't take any big trips or move or buy a new car but the two of you grew in ways that we still can't believe. I mean, how can you run so fast that we can't even catch you and how do you know when to say just the right thing to make us laugh when we we're upset and how in the world did you get so smart?!

Logan--
You were on a great streak with your health until late January but throughout four months of being under the weather, you still were just a wonderful, tough, take it as it comes boy. We were so proud of how you battled your sickness and kept pluggin' away. We also can so tell that you are going to be the studious one! We love watching you sit and figure things out; be it puzzles or books or toys. You're a thinker and a covert worker.

Biggest accomplishment this year:
Counting to 20, learning all your letters and how to spell your name and Owen and Mommy and Daddy, too and writing some letters and drawing extraordinary monsters! It's very impressive.

Biggest setback:
That stupid RSV bug that manifested for months but you are all the stronger for it!

Owen--
You had a very healthy year and one would never know you were ever anything but strong, overt in your actions and silly. We really love seeing you take care of Lo-Lo and always welcoming him home from his doctor appointments.

Biggest accomplishment this year:
Riding the two-wheel razor like you're five, figuring out how to unlock every door in the house, getting from one yard to the other (under the fence, of course),counting to 12, knowing how to spell Owen and Logan and kind of Mommy and Daddy and making perfect circles!

Biggest setback:
Your cribtent that doesn't allow you to get out of bed, the added security with our doors to keep you inside and occasionally being plugged up.

We are so proud of you, boys. For learning to play together and with others, for learning to listen to Mommy and Daddy, for always wanting to help us out around the house (Owen, you're the best lawn mower), to being so good when we go out to eat that we usually get to actually enjoy ourselves.

We've got a big year ahead with Logan's fall heart surgery and getting you ready for pre-school and teaching you more and more things each day but if the past two years are any indication, it will be better than the year before.

We're sad sometimes that time has passed so quickly that we can hardly remember you being little babies but we're also so very happy and filled with joy by the love you give us and the special little boys you've become.

Happy Birthday Owen.
Happy Birday Logan.

We love you lots!
X O X O X O X O
Mommy and Daddy

Tuesday, June 6, 2006 10:52 PM CDT

It appears Logan's pneumonia has left his lungs. Praise God!

Logan had a follow up CT Scan on Friday, June 2 and we heard today that it appears his lungs are completely back to normal. There were lots of details and specifics but the jist was it's gone. It was a long time coming but the clindimyacin obviously killed the nasty pneumonia bug that was resilient to the Omnicef and Zithro.

It's pretty obvious that he's feeling 100r actually 110 He keeps up with Owen like nothing and has such fun running around the yard, playing on the swing, climbing up the rock wall on the swing and yes, he makes it to the top unassisted. It's most impressive.

Dr. Lohr gave us more specifics from his heart cath on Friday too and the consensus from the cardiology team was to definitely wait until October for his Fontan but to also look a little deeper into his pulmonary arteries to make sure their size is big enough to handle the cardiac output that will result from the Fontan. Dr. Lohr is going to send the data to Mayo for a second opinion and we may ultimately go there for an in-person second opinion too. Did you know that doctors from Mayo basically created the Fontan procedure? Dr. Lohr is pretty certain there is nothing to be concerned about but because of Logan's association with Murphy's Law, she's not willing to chance anything with him. She is truly one phenomenal doctor. We don't have to see her until August, do another heart cath likely in September and then get the surgery on the calendar for early to mid-October.

Owen and Logan both continue to only want to be outside. They cruise on their bikes and trikes like crazy now and are ready for the next size up. You should see the two of them push each other on their bikes to help one get up the hill or get unstuck in the grass. They also ride together sometimes. So cute--until one pulls the other off wanting to have the bike/trike to himself.

The talking keeps coming and the number of syllabels and sentence length keep growing too. It's the best!! Every stage for them is incredible but boy, having them be able to communicate is something else. They're also about "all myself" -- doing things alone like getting dressed, helping with meal preparation, putting things away, washing hands, going potty, etc. Again, adorable but does cause one to pray for patience.

All in all we're ecstatic for summer--something planned nearly every weekend of course, but if our plans still included heart surgery it would be a week from tomorrow. We'd have made it our reality had we had to but we're looking forward to this instead of that.

We've got their party on the calendar from 4-6ish on June 24th. Certainly feel free to stop on by. I don't have everyone's info to send the evite so don't take it personally if you didn't receive one--you're all welcome.

Summer breeze.

Wednesday, May 24, 2006 10:33 PM CDT

Big news for Logan--no heart surgery on June 14! This means we get to enjoy summer, play outside, celebrate their 3rd birthday with a party, watch the fireworks and the list goes on and on.

Logan had his heart catherization yesterday and they could've told us one of three things:

1. Logan's heart is functioning well. Let's wait another six months or so,
2. Logan's heart is functioning okay but we need to get his lungs in better shape and still get the surgery done this summer, or
3. Logan's heart isn't looking as good as we'd like, we see vascular compression and need to get things moving along sooner rather than later.

The verdict was number one and we were just thrilled to hear the news. The cardiology team will meet on Friday to discuss a more formal plan but it looks like we've got another six months to rock and roll with Logan before we get serious about the surgery again. Logan was so brave it was unbelivable. He didn't cry the entire day, except to have Daddy come in the room with us where he "fell asleep." He's pretty incredible and we are so proud of our brave little guy.

Dr. Pyles did the procedure and told us afterward that he's got good blood pressures, there weren't any major collateral vessels they needed to coil and that he's an excellent candidate for the Fontan (which means the surgery and his recovery should be pretty uneventful). The reason they feel they can wait is 1) because his heart function is good and 2) to really give Logan's lungs a chance to get super strong again. I confirmed with the doc, "so basically for having a 'W' heart it's still a darned good 'W,' to which he said, "Indeed it is." Is God great or what!!

He's still got the pneumonia and also a fungal infection, which our Infectious Disease doc is saying is likely Histoplasmosis (fatal if left untreated). Surprisingly, this fungal infection is most often spread through bird and bat droppings, which was a bit of a shock to hear considering we don't typically come into contact with bird and bat poop but Dr. Hoyt said it's airborne and prevelant in our environment and more than likely Logan just had bad luck with his suppressed immune system. He'll be on his Sporonax for a few months and they'll do blood work fairly regularly to check if it's gone. They took lots of blood for tons of blood tests for Dr. Hoyt to examine so we're anxious to hear those results too.

Owen missed Logan yesterday and asked about him all day. They so obviously love and care for each other so much -- even when they're beating the crud out of one another.

They are loving being outside again and can ride their little bikes like it's nobody's business. They also are loving playing with their neighborhood friends, Ali, Ty and Bailey. Frankly, we think Owen's got a bit of a crush on Miss Ali but we're not trying to play it up too much.

I did have an awfully proud Mommy moment yesterday while waiting to get in for Logan's procedure...he was reading all of the letters off of a big sign and when we turned around a doctor was watching and asked how old he was. Logan stated two and the doc said, "My, my he is smart." Since he's closer to three I wanted to clarify and even still he was quite impressed. I let that be enough and didn't also tell him he can count to 20 and spell not only his name but also Owen's and Mommy's and Dadddy's names too. Oh, and draw pictures of monsters and ride a bike and do multipication. Okay, maybe not the multipication. I must admit though after all he's been through to see him thrive is pretty amazing. GO LOGAN!!

So, next up on the agenda of appointments is another CT scan on June 2. Revisit Dr. Hoyt to go over blood work in the next couple of weeks and then see Dr. Lohr (cardiologist) in about two months. We're thinking October might be the best timing for the surgery -- before Ben's basketball season really gets underway and before our big holiday events at Marshall Field's, oops I mean Macy's! More to come on that.

Look for an evite for their big party on June 24. Instead of spending that day recovering from surgery, we get to help them celebrate being three.

Prayers and thoughts of thanks and healing are always welcome and we are so thankful for our friends and family who check on us.

Celebrate today!

Saturday, May 6, 2006 9:37 PM CDT

Hi All--it's me, Logan, writing about my adventure this past week. This is long so bear with me (Mommy uses this as a journal too so it will be helpful for her years from now to have as history.)

It started with Monday and my scheduled bronchscopy. Mommy and Daddy were actually really happy that it was happening. Me? Not so much but considering how much better I'm feeling; I guess they weren't kidding when they were trying to tell me it would be alright.

Remember that I've been sick with pneumonia for hmmm, 14 weeks. Can you imagine how annoying that's been? Anyway, Dr. Shreve scheduled this bronch following the CT scan to get a better idea of what was happening and May 1 was the day.

When he came out to talk with Mommy and Daddy after the procedure he said he thought the openings to each of my lungs were narrowed to nearly closed, which is why none of the crap that's been sitting and festering in my lungs has been moving...It couldn't! Dr. Shreve pulled out a lot of yellow stuff. He said that he felt the narrowing/nearly closed openings may be due to vascular compression meaning something was there compressing the openings. This wouldn't've been good.

However, after consulting the radiologist and comparing the CT and the bronch, the team realized these openings were either narrowed from being inflamed (logical since I've been coughing like a life-long smoker for 12 weeks)or there was scarring. Dr. Malone, the great female doc who did my first bronch and took out my adenoids, took a peek too and said it was more likely inflamation.

The doctor wanted us to stay overnight to keep an eye on me and run some more tests, like getting blood work (which Mommy and Daddy asked for but were first turned down), doing a sweat test to check for cystic fibrosis, a video swallow study and a TB test. After sitting in my room feeling fine and nothing happening for more than three hours, my proactive parents asked what the plan was for the day. Turns out, it was nothing. The plan was to do everything the following day but unfortunately that's not my style. Call me crazy but sitting in a hospital for the sake of well, nothing, isn't the best use of my time.

So after some conversations I was able to go home with prescriptions for Zithromax and Prednislone, an anti-inflammatory steroid, with nasty side-effects. Daddy took the stuff to get filled and after getting home realized the steroid one had sulfites, which I’m allergic to so it had to get remixed at Children’s the next day. When Mommy read the pages they send home, she got really nervous because of how it pretty much takes away the abilities of your immune system and if you’ll recall I pretty much don’t have one of those being asplenic and all. It also said not to take if you have a serious viral, bacterial or fungal infection, which no one seemed to know if I had or not. That’s why they finally took the appropriate blood samples to test. Another flag for not taking the stuff…

Some of the doctors said it would be fine but Mommy wasn't satisfied and decided to take matters into her own hands (big surprise) and got in touch with my Infectious Disease doctor to express her concerns with the steroid drug and the overall fact that I’d been on Omnicef with no improvement, blah, blah, blah. Dr. Hoyt recommended I go on an anti-fungal since it sounded like my pneumonia could be fungal-related (Mommy brought this up months ago with no response). She said if I was taking that and an antibiotic, I would be protected. That made Mommy feel better about the steroid med.

Shortly after they talked, Dr. Hoyt called back to say the “antibody sensitivities” came back and showed I was resistant to the Omnicef and Zithro (the one just prescribed to me). That made Mommy realize that Dr. Hoyt should have been brought in to the picture a lot sooner because had she been, the right blood work would have been done a long time ago and I could have been better weeks ago. She was pretty annoyed and frustrated but not totally surprised. Since frustration doesn’t do Mommy—or any of us—a lot of good so she and Daddy chalked it up to a good learning experience. Logan gets sick = call Dr. Hoyt!!

Now I’m on Clindimyacin, the strongest antibiotic you can get that isn’t an IV. It’s DISGUSTING. Mommy tries to mask it in pudding or applesauce but there is no fooling me. It’s GROSS but I trust Mommy and Daddy so I’m doing my best to choke it down. I’ve got 12 days left of this crap three times a day. Wish me luck. I’m also on the anti-fungal Sploronax for 30 days, the steroid one for 10 days, a daily inhalation of Q-Var to help open my airways and….that’s it. Oh, and my daily Losartan for blood pressure-can’t forget that one. (My daily dose of Amoxicillin is out of the picture for the next 14 days while on the icky clendi-stuff.)

Yesterday I had to go back to see Dr. Shreve and he was pretty impressed with my improvement. Mommy told him she thought getting that crap out of my lungs made a huge difference and he said that coupled with the positive pressure pushed into my lungs when they put the breathing tube in probably both helped a ton. I have to go back for a CT scan on June 1. Oh and, my heart cath got moved to May 23 from May 25.

I’m feeling better than I have in months! I’m basically not coughing at all and sans that crappy clinda-crap, my medications aren’t so bad either but I will admit that I’ll be glad when I can go back to my pink medicine (Amoxicillin) and my blood pressure stuff. That’s easy!

Oh, the one other big piece of news we got this week is that there’s a chance I may not have my heart surgery this summer, which is currently scheduled for June 14. In Mommy’s quest to get answers this week she also connected with Dr. Lohr, my cardiologist, and she said she wanted Mommy to get used to the idea of maybe postponing my surgery 6 months to a year from now!!! She said that she’s started to see research showing that bigger kids have better post-Fontan recoveries and if my heart is still working strong that we might consider waiting. She also said that with the winter I’ve had and the in and out trips to the hospital and lots of trips to the doctor that this surgery might be really hard on me emotionally. I’m not quite sure how I feel about that statement because I am one strong, tough, fighting little boy but I might agree with her a little bit. I kind of just want to feel good for a while and maybe enjoy the summer. Mommy, Daddy and the docs will make the final decision post my heart cath on May 23. Mommy did say that if we do wait she insists that I get the RSV shot no matter how stinking expensive it is for the insurance companies. Go Mommy!

Today Owen and me got to go to Como Zoo with G & G Schroeder. Oh, it was so fun! You should see how much we're talking and learning. We can actually say “Grandma and Grandpa” now and know which names go with which like Randy and Linda, Steve and Deebie and Paul and Kathy. Yeah, we’re whizkids.

We also learned and can say our address and phone number, we can identify the Wendy’s sign on the way home from any location, we love to sing “Happy Birthday to You” we’ve stopped running outside without permission (well almost. Oh, and we're pretty much potty trained. Geez, all this; you’d think we’re almost 20 but really, just almost three.

So you see, it’s been quite a week but as always God is watching over me and protecting me and even giving me strength to take icky medicine. I am so blessed and we are all so grateful. I’m thankful to each of you who pray for me and Owen and Mommy and Daddy too. We’re a lot of work but we’re also darned cute and loads of fun, if I do say so myself.

Until next time.

Wednesday, April 19, 2006 8:36 PM CDT

We love spring -- bright green leaves blooming, greening grass, big fat robins in our trees and the fresh air of the outdoors. What remarkable weather we've had.

Since April 7th, we've done the following:
- Scheduled bronchoscopy for May 1
- Scheduled heart cath for May 25
- Scheduled heart surgery for June 14

The bronch is official and hopefully the cath and surgery are too but those are dependent on the bronch and results of Logan's lungs. However, if the past couple of days are any indication we might be on the up and up.

Logan got a bad virus of some sort mid last week, resulting in the most horrible constant cough he has ever had. We felt so bad for him and got a bit nervous. As a result, we took a trip to see Dr. Plotnik, had blood work done and another x-ray. The results were that the cotton-pickin', stupid pneumonia was still there and looked a little worse but his white blood count wasn't too elevated helping to confirm it was a virus. We decided to start giving him Allbuterol, a nebulizer, to help clear his airways and it seems to be working. His cough is finally not keeping him up or waking him up throughout the night, which is wonderful for him and us. We'd given him nebs before and usually saw no benefits so we've been opting to not give him them this time. Of course, the one time we don't is the one time he could've really used them so we're feeling like putzes. Let's pray that the virus kicked his pneumonia out the door and that we can finally be on a road to recovery. We've got a busy summer and I don't want this to hinder our plans for getting in and out of surgery so we can play.

Because of Logan's virus he didn't join Owen and us for our trip to Austin for Great Grandpa Behn's (Pa Pa Behn) 80th birthday open house. Instead he stayed with Grandpa & Grandma Schroeder and Auntie Amanda who was visiting from Chicago. It's very strange to not have two kids in tow but we must admit it was a piece of cake. "This is how the majority do it?" we kept asking. "Easy Peasy!" Owen kept asking for Lo Lo and Logan kept asking for Oh-wee. Pretty sweet.

Grandpa had a ton of friends and family visit and shared some really fun stories from when he was growing up and his need for speed in cars or motorcycles. Owen, who appeared to be listening very intently, at one point, disappeared out the open door from the church and wouldn't you know we found him on a motorcyle...guess he got the need for speed too. It was great to see friends and relatives at the party and we're glad we could be there to celebrate such a special day for him.

In addition to that party we also celebrated Great Grandma Enid's 82nd birthday at Ben's parents house. What a treat to see everyone! O + L are so lucky and blessed to have so many great grandparents.

We came back home Saturday night to be with Logan and spent Easter Sunday with G&G Schroeder. They got such fun Easter baskets from all of their grandparents and are still interested in everything four days later--impressive for their attention spans.

Two other things to call out: Owen stripping of his shorts and socks and grabbing a beach towel only to go to the patio and start trying to swim on the concrete. "wimming. wimming." Hilarious!

We went to visit some friends with a boy just two days older than O+L. When we told them we were going to Ben's house. They kept looking at Ben in our house like we were nuts. We had to explain this was a little Ben and Daddy was a big Ben. They haven't stopped saying "Ben's house" since. I hope our friends are up for our nightly visits. ;)

This weekend we're putting on the Elmo big boy pants and going for the gusto with potty training. Anyone got extra sponges for the anticipated clean up?

Wish us luck.

Friday, April 7, 2006 9:09 AM CDT

Friday, April 7, 2006 8:37 AM CDT

April showers bring....

1. Lots of talking
2. Escape artists
3. Health issues

We'll start with lots of talking--we continue to hear new things out of Owen and Logan everyday and they are putting words together more and more. Funniest at the moment include "oh, sheez (geez), aw sucks (shucks), ma deebee (as in Grandma Debbie), Owee and Lowee Basha (Owen and Logan Bushaw), Neekey (Nicole the nanny), chee nudet (chicken nugget)" to name a few. Some of their words catch us off guard and we laugh and laugh while other words come out and we think they're swearing. Whew, they're not.

On to escape artists, these little bugs--especially Owen--are going to make it a challenging summer for Ben at home. He is constantly running out the front door or the back door and tearing up the neighborhood. The other day they also figured out how to crawl under the fence in the backyard like Maxie the cat does. Seriously, it's like what the Army folks do when they have to squeeze under spaces but sure enough, they've figured it out. With Logan running from the backyard to the front yard (gate wasn't closed) and Owen crawling under the fence to the neighbors yard with the swing set Ben had to analyze the most pressing need (Logan). We bought new lock-thingamagiggies to keep them in and they've figured those out too. If they run outside, we bring them in and put them in their beds for five minutes and then talk about why they can't run outside and yet it continues...We may have to go to extreme measures though we haven't quite figured out what those are yet. All the while it is pretty funny but dangerous so we know we have to get these escape artists under control--and pronto.

Finally on to health issues. As you know Logan got sick end of January with RSV then ear infection then pneumonia. The pneumonia has lingered and his cough just will not go away. As a result, we went to see a pulmonologist last Friday. Dr. Shreve put him on Q-Var, an inhaler, and Singular. See his lungs must be in tip-top shape for his heart surgery. The Singular makes him puke and I don't like the potential side effects so we're trying to avoid that one but he is doing the Q-Var.

This past Monday Logan had a CT scan and what we've learned is that he has full blown Sinusitus, which is related to the pneumonia. To treat that, he's now on Omnicef (antibiotic that is stronger than his daily amox) for 4-6 weeks. He's been on this three times but for 10 or 14 days at a time. It seemed like he was getting better each time but then he'd be done with his dosage and he'd go right back where he was before--hacking like a mad man. So, we're giving a longer treatment with the hope (and frankly, need for it to really work).

In addition to the Sinusitus, it appears there's something going on with his lungs--specifically his right lung where the pneumonia has made its home. The doctors aren't sure if there's something compressing it, if it's got an infection or if it's a diseased lung. As a result, we've scheduled a Bronchoscopy for May 1, which will show specifically what's going on. We're praying hard that it's a result of the pneumonia and that his longer stretch on Omnicef will clear it up once and for all.

Because his lungs are roughed up, we've had to cancel his heart cath, which was scheduled for April 13, because the doctors wouldn't get an accurate read of what true heart function is due to the pulminary arterties. Hopefully, we can get it back on the books in mid-May so we can stick with our goal of heart surgery in mid-June.

The incredibly annoying part of this whole escapade is that had Logan had the synagis shots that help prevent RSV, we very likely wouldn't even be in this situation and Logan wouldn't have been a sick little kitty (though you'd not know it by looking at him run around the house and his overall demeanor)for the past 8 weeks.

Why didn't he get the synagis shots you ask? The answer is 1)insurance refused to pay for it--it's one shot per month for six months at a cost of around $10,000 per shot, based on his weight) and 2) our doctors didn't think he needed it since he's two and the chances of getting it go down dramatically after age one. It was a challenge to even get them last winter season.

It's my expectation that doctors will reevaluate this for other kids like Logan--trust me, I'm bringing it up to them all of the time! I think because Logan looks and acts like any other kid that its easy to forget that he is so not like other kids--in fact, far from it. We need to remember this ourselves and push hard for things to happen.

Long update but lots to talk about. We're so proud of Logan for being such a fighter and we're confident we'll get this lung thing figured out but as always, we welcome and request your thoughts and prayers.

More to come post his Bronch.

Happy Spring--regardless of this setback, we're still excited for warm weather, getting outside and celebrating the resurrection of our good Lord who's been the reason we've been able to get through it all!!

Sunday, March 12, 2006 6:44 PM CST

"No luck" = Owen and Logan's new phrase when going on the potty just isn't working for them or if they're just uninterested. It's hysterical.

Not hysterical are nap and nighttime when Owen insists he must poop even afer he just minutes ago went on the potty and earned himself a star. He's definitely figured out how to work that game...until last night when he cried for 55 minutes. We'll see what happens tonight.

The good news in the funny and not-so-funny times is that Owen is really getting the hang of going potty on the potty, he just hasn't figured out that he has to tell us regularly so we can put him on it. All good things in all good time though.

Logan is trying for minutes on end, in fact and he's been successful quite a few times but it's taking him a bit longer to get it all figured out.

Not much else is new and we're A-OK with that. The talking continues and is so fun. They continue to get smarter and smarter. All of the letters of the alphabet come so easy to them now and often they'll see letters on a menu or a sign and just start rattling them off. We're amazed by how smart they are. Ben has started teaching them what different coins are--pennies, dimes, nickles and quarters--but in the end, it all comes down to "MONEY!!" For whatever reason, Owen is in love with money.

I'm settling in nicely back at Field's and really love being back. (You may remember I left Field's for Best Buy at the beginning of October but returned to Field's in mid-February to lead the name change to Macy's in Chicago). Ben just wrapped up his basketball after a tough season--his best player was out with a knee injury, another good player left the school and lots of other challenges along the way. It was a rebuilding year and I think it will be nice for Ben to take a break for at least a little bit, until traveling league and summer camps start anyway.

We're looking forward to spring in a big, big way...even saw two robins yesterday.

Wednesday, February 22, 2006 9:48 PM CST

Are these boys C U T E or what!? G & G Schroeder had the sweatershirts embroidered with their daddy's high school and college numbers and "Bushaw" on the back. Oh, so cute and so fun. Granted, we haven't ventured out of the house with them for close to a month with all that's been going on with Logan but we hope to get to one more of Daddy's games before the season is over.

Logan is doing pretty great. His recovery since our last hospital trip has been fairly smooth sailing and from a chest x-ray this past Friday it looked like his pneumonia was about clear. That said, on Monday we noticed his cough seemed to be coming back (his Omnicef antibiotic ended on Monday) and wouldn't you know, it's gotten progressively worse over the past few days and he had a fever last night. Unbelievable. So, we called our terrific pediatrician today and she said we better keep him on the antibiotic for another week and do another chest x-ray on Tuesday. I kid you not, this has been one hard hitting, pain in the tail, cold for this little tiger. Thankfully, he is a little tiger and it's not getting the best of him.

We plan to keep him close to home and away from other kids and close contact with others for at least another week so he can beat this bug for once and all!

On to other topics...talking. Ever since Logan was in the hospital the first week of February he has been a talking maniac, which causes Owen to be the same. Oh, it continues to be so fun. "Big, big mess" (complete with hand genstures) is a new one as are words like "sunny," "happy," "bath" and a whole slew of other words. We defintely notice that the boys pick up on the words we use with the most stress in them, ala "shoot," "nuts," "drat," etc.

Owen is getting so good on the potty. Nanny Nicole made the boys a super cute potty chart that they can put stickers on if they go and it's totally working--for Owen, Logan is not so interested. Since Monday, Owen has gone at least twice and today he went four times, including two times complete with poop. What a superstar and who knew we could get so excited about this stuff!!

The other most hysterical thing that happened this afternoon was Owen getting a diaper and wet wipe, putting a pillow from the couch down on the carpet and telling Logan he had a wet diaper as in "wet dipa." Logan laid on the floor and gave the go ahead for him to change his diaper. I couldn't figure out what in the world Owen was doing until he started pulling off Logan's pants and unsnapping his onesie. I could not stop laughing -- they're so observant. Logan decided he wasn't in the mood to be changed by his brother but it was a good laugh for 10 minutes for me anyway.

Oh, and last but not least today Owen drew a picture of a bat, a mitt and a ball and I honestly can tell you they were what he said they were. I think I've got an artist on my hands.

On to more healing...

Monday, February 13, 2006 10:41 AM CST

Another eventful weekend for Logan -- he was back in the hospital, this time with pneumonia in both lungs. I took him in on Friday because his fever was continuning every day at the same time and he was acting lethargic and tired each day he woke up from his nap. There was just something about it that wasn't quite right so I paged Dr. Lohr to get an idea of what we should do on Friday morning. Her thoughts -- a chest x-ray and blood work so she called ahead for us to quickly get into Children's ER.

Sure enough, the x-ray found bilateral basular pnuemonia or pnuemonia in both lungs. His white blood count was elevated so to protect the little guy the docs put him on an IV antibiotic to cover anything bacterial that might be trying to work its way into his system. They'll do another chest x-ray on Friday to see if the pnemonia has gone away.

The interesting thing about this bug is that usually with pneumonia you hear crackles and wheezing. No one heard any of that so had we not taken him in and had the x-ray he could've continued dealing with it and it could have grown worse. Once again, the good Lord keeps a watchful eye and gives us a nudge.

We spent the weekend in the hospital with all of the grandparents visiting and keeping him company -- even Aunties Angie and Abbie came to see him. Logan has learned to say Mom-ee and Dad-ee as well as Angie and Abbie and boy, is it cute!!

The doctors gave us the go ahead to take Logan home late last night and he'll now be on a heavy hitting oral antibiotic called Omnicef for the next seven days. We're hoping this past visit was the last one until he starts with heart-related stuff in April. If nothing else, it's been a good precursor for what's ahead in the coming months.

Logan is hanging out with Grandma Linda today while Owen is home with Nicole. We figured it might be better this way even though Logan is acting completely normal.

Prayers welcome for continued and non-eventful recovery!

Monday, February 6, 2006 10:26 PM CST

The RSV bug has not yet left the building. Apparently, it likes the Bushaws -- Logan, Mommy and even Grandma Linda. Thankfully, Daddy and Grandpa Randy have stayed healthy so far.

Last week had its ups and downs. In fact, Monday night, Tuesday and even into Wednesday we thought we were on the mend but Logan's fever continued to disappear and reappear with no rhyme or reason.

Thursday was tough but not unbearable and then Friday was back to miserable for the little squirt and for me too as the bug made it my way starting on Wednesday. After a weekend spent in bed and recouperating, I'm much better today but Grandma Linda is still down and out with this darned thing. Like I said, it is nasty.

On Friday, we took Logan to the pediatrician because he was so pale and lethargic and shivering during his nap. Shivers scare me like it could be bacterial. Dr. Plotnik discovered an ear infection so she put him on zithromax.

Over the weekend the boys slept and slept. 3-4 hour naps, early bedtimes, just what they both needed to continue to mend. Today, Logan is still recovering and we really do think he's on the mend but the darned fever is still hanging around.

Owen, on the other hand, appears to have worked the bug out of his system and has been quite the performer. Lately, when he's watched "The Wiggles" he's been standing on the fireplace hearth like it's his stage but tonight he moved on to bigger and better stages as in his new little picnic table. He moved it to the center of the living room, grabbed the mop from the laundry room for his standing microphone and jammed with Greg, Murray, Anthony and Jeff. It is seriously too funny for words.

We are making a visit to see Dr. Wahoff tomorrow. It seems Owen has had more difficulty than normal with his bowel movements and we're a little concerned that there could be some sort of obstruction forming or something. It's just the saddest thing to see him hiding in a corner, struggling so much to get things out. He has myralax and quite a bit of prune juice throughout the days and this could be nothing but getting some piece of mind about what's going on will be good. (Pretty sure Owen won't see it that way though.)

On to another week of healing at our house.

Monday, January 30, 2006 10:16 PM CST

We made it home last night at 7pm but the RSV has not yet left the building. Did we say this bug is NASTY?

Seriously, Ben and I were talking tonight and this is by far the worst sickness our little Lo Lo has had (blasted bacterial meningitus aside, of course). The poor bug just keeps coughing and coughing and coughing and is battling a fever that just doesn't want to go away. It's so hard to watch but we know he can heal and recover better here where he feels safe than in a hospital with strangers bugging him, poking and prodding him.

Ben stayed home with the boys today and then Grandma Linda came over so he could leave for practice this afternoon. Our nanny, Nicole was stranded in Bismark today, which it was probably better she wasn't here as she nanny's for another family two days a week with a set of twins and triplets. We can handle two sickies much better than that family can probably handle five!

Owen is holding his own but it's looking like his cold might be turning a corner for the worse too. You'd not know it though with how active he continues to be. I tell you, when it rains it pours but if we can get this thing in and out with both of them rather than drag it out, that might not be such a bad thing.

Not a lot of other news to report except for I was reminded tonight that we must watch what we say. Ben told me something very interesting and so I replied "Shut up" as in no way, I can't believe it, you've got to be kidding. Owen then said, "Sha Up" and giggled. Funny stuff but a reminder that their little ears and minds are always working.

Oh, Owen did have his first adventure at Target outside of the stroller or cart and boy, did he think he was hot stuff. It may seem strange that at 2 1/2 he's never walked inside of a Target but we usually have both of them and if you can imagine two crazy, rugrats on the loose inside of a Target, you can understand my rationale.

Keep rooting for recovery and praying that Logan keeps drinking/eating enough to stay hydrated. If he doesn't we'll have to go back to the joint. NO THANKS!

Saturday, January 28, 2006 11:38 PM CST

RSV has hit our house and geez, is it nasty!

RSV is typically just a cold in most kids but for preemies or kids with compromised immune systems it can become a really vicious bug. Both Owen and Logan received a shot once a month from Oct-March during their first year and Logan received it last year but doctors say kids over two don't need it and insurance won't pay for it. Hopefully, doctors at the U of M will reconsider based on Logan.

The quick overview: Owen came down with a cold earlier this week. Felt lousy, green boogs, extra tired but dealt with it fine. On Thursday, I came home from a trip to Charlotte and Logan was perfectly fine until about 5:30. Suddenly, he got the shivers, started coughing and just got tired. That night, he was coughing a lot so we brought him into our room. He was hot as the sun in Jamaica and breathing as fast as mouse on his wheel. Pretty alarming. He was sleeping through the coughs so we let him be.

A little before 6am, I wasn't feeling good about the situation so we called the cardiologist on call who told us to bring him in. We arrived shortly after 7:30am and they did some blood work, gave him an IV (for antibiotics as they thought it could be something bacterial) and sent us up to 5A. At about 11am, the nurse did a nasal wash to test for Upper Respiratory Viruses and sure enough, it came back as RSV at about 3:30.

Poor Logan -- working so hard to be brave and breathe. Thankfully, his breathing improved significantly during the day and he got a good night sleep but today was somewhat tougher for him again.

We find it mildy ironic that this kid has had all of his shots -- even got a pneumonia shot this year-- and yet, the one thing we couldn't get approval to prevent is the one thing he got. That said, however, it may not be so bad that he got RSV. It will only help him build up a little more immuninity, which we know he needs to continue doing in order to not be the sickest kindergartner ever. And, if he were to get it, it's much better for him to have it as a 2 1/2 year old than any year before.

Our track record this time for being away from the hospital has been six months (last trip was July for still undetermined bacterial infection). That's pretty good and I think our longest run yet. The staff at the U of M has been good to Logan and once again, G & G Schroeder were able to help us out by taking Owen so Ben could coach his game Friday night while I stayed up with Logan. We're lucky to have them so close by and so thankful they're able to drop everything to help when we need them. Thank the Lord for Grandma's and Grandpa's!! A friend and I were just saying that we've needed our parents more since becoming parents than we ever did from ages 10-30. All part of God's plan for creating families.

The plan is for Logan to come home tomorrow but we need to be sure this nasty bug isn't turning into pneumonia, which can often happen. Prayers for a quick and trouble-free recovery are very welcome. RSV for a heart kid has a lot of extra risks associated so we are praying that he fights this one off as he has everything else.

We'll update once he's back and settled.

Sunday, January 15, 2006 10:12 PM CST

Happy New Year!
We got off to a better start this year than last when we literally started the year with a bang -- that being the sound of a car accident. Actually, if we stop to think about, the start of every year since the boys were born has been better than the start of the year before. Is that amazing or what?

We had a great Christmas break and enjoyed spending fun times together. It's so great to watch Owen and Logan run around, color, play ball, swing their new bat and actually hit balls and chase one another and wrestle each other to the ground. They are definitely boys through and through.

It's so interesting to see how their personalities continue to shine through. Time will tell but it sure seems like Owen is always going to be the rambuncious one, busy all of the time and looking for adventure while Logan would rather learn, investigate, study and concentrate. Sure, one takes on the traits of the other almost as often as his own but there's just something you can see in their eyes.

Owen was under the weather this week with a fever for a couple of days and three minimal puking episodes but as per his usual behavior; it didn't seem to slow him down too much. Thankfully, Logan hasn't come down with anything and we're hoping he doesn't. In fact, there's a chance Logan gave Owen whatever he had as he too was a bit under the weather over Christmas. Kids and sickness certainly is not a science.

Thinking back three years ago; we still only thought we were pregnant with one baby. Life would sure be bore if that were really the case.

We've got a big year ahead of us with Logan's heart surgery but with God's grace and healing, come a year from now we look forward to saying that once again, it will be the start to another great year.

New year blessings to all.

Talking update:
"Wow, neat," in reference to anything that's cool. Said by Logan.

"Nice," as said by Owen when someone makes a good basket at a basketball game or at our house.

"Shoot, hoop," screamed by both when they're ready to practice their ballin' skills.

"Walk" said anytime the boys can sense we're pulling in to a parking spot to avoid having to go in the stroller.

Tuesday, December 27, 2005 10:23 PM CST

Christmas with 2 1 /2 year old twins is quite fun and quite busy. The travel, the family, the presents -- all made for our best Christmas yet with Owen and Logan. While they still don't quite get the whole Santa thing or the real meaning of the season; they do understand that "baby Jesus" is who was born on Christmas Day and they do recognize that Santa is a very cool person and someone they should cozy up too.

We began our Christmas festivities on Friday night with Grandpa & Grandma Schroeder and aunties Andrea and Amanda. From there we traveled to Austin on Saturday morning for Christmas Eve with Ben's parents and sisters and boyfriends (hopefully someday husbands) then proceeded to Ben's grandparents to see them, aunts, uncles and cousins and then finished the evening at Natalie's aunt Becky's, again with grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and...SANTA!

That's right, Santa himself showed up around 7:30 and the boys were thrilled. Owen ran right up to him with pure joy while Logan admired from a distance. Even when the presents were being doled out, Logan only got within arm's length to reach the present and run back to mommy. After a couple times of that though he decided good ol' St. Nick wasn't so bad after all and by the time it was over both were snuggling up tight. It was so fun and frankly, quite a precious sight to see these two beautiful miracles having so much fun.

Christmas Day was spent with Ben's family and Grandpa and Grandma Behn and crew. We even went to Christmas morning church without the boys and actually listened to a sermon in its entirety -- a first in quite some time. The boys always have fun at G & G Behn's as they have a basement soley dedicated to kid stuff. That, coupled with lots of cool new presents and Payton and Braydon playing with them non-stop and they had a ball.

We came home on Christmas night and crashed and have been recuperating ever since. Our house is now officially a toy-land and we're trying to figure out where to put all of the new stuff. Thank goodness for spacious houses!

One last note, the strides in talking these boys are making is pretty incredible. Owen put his first two words together yesterday (that we understood anyway). They were, "daddy, up." Mommy was upstairs and Owen came upstairs and wanted Ben to come up to and thus, "daddy, up." We were so proud. It really was pretty cool. They're finally starting to end words too, like "ye_s" or "bu_s." Granted, their 's' sounds end in 't' sounds so "bus" is actually "but" but hey, as long as they don't say, "mommy, look a but" when others are around, I think we'll be okay.

So..another year of miracles with Owen and Logan is coming to an end and we're so very thankful an amazed. Every day is a blessing and sometimes we need to remind ourselves of that. With as normal as they are, their journey to get to this point seems to drift farther and farther from memory and while we're so glad to have moved beyond where we started and the bumps along the way, we never want to really forget how protected we've been, the miracles we've been a part of and how tough our little boys are.

God has blessed us richly and we hope continues to keep His healing hands on us in the year -- and years -- ahead.

Peace, Love and Joy to all as we end 2005 and move into another year.

Tuesday, December 13, 2005 8:58 AM CST

Logan ROCKS! He had his cardiology visit with Dr. Lohr last Thursday and not only was he incredibly cooperative but he had a great report.

Where to start...he weighed in at 26.3 oz (still a skinny mini but nothing to be concerned about) and was a tall 35 inches. Those nurses are awfully smart to put big feet on the scale and in front of the height-thing. Logan was an eager beaver to put his little feet on top of them.

He didn't have any blood work done but they did check blood pressure and his 02 levels (oxygen saturation), which averaged about 77. Remember, for those of us with normal hearts our 02 levels are 100%. 77 is a pretty good number for Logan with the ticker he has but after his Fontan surgery those numbers should average high 80's to mid 90's.

After the normal check-up stuff, Logan had an EKG and an echocardiogram. I still don't quite get what the EKG checks but it involves putting like 9 leads/wires on Logan's chest, arms and legs. Thankfully, there was a construction site out the window so we were able to keep him occupied with the cranes, trucks, diggers and funny looking men jumping up and down to keep warm.

Logan's echo looked like it should too. Kim, the tech who's done echo's on Logan since he was six months, didn't see anything out of the ordinary and was very impressed with how well he sat and watched "The Wiggles" while she did her thing.

So what does all of this mean, you ask? It means that Logan is continuing to thrive and we're still on track for Logan's heart surgery -- the Fontan -- next summer (probably in early June right when Ben finishes the school year).

We'll have two heart catherizations done in April to get a clear picture of how Logan's heart functions in order for Dr. Herrington to know exactly what to do when she performs the surgery. The heart caths involve putting Logan under general anesthesia and giving him a breathing tube. They typically take 3 hours or so to complete and it's an in and out procedure.

The heart surgery is a big one and not without risk--especially the recovery--but overall the success rate is very good and will help Logan's heart to work better for him. Dr. Lohr reminded us that the Fontan may not be a permanent fix for Logan and that we may be looking at a heart transplant at some point in his life. Frankly, we don't like being reminded of this point but Dr. Lohr said when that time comes (if it does) we may be able to "pick a heart off of a shelf." How about that!!

Until April we're just going to on as we always have...like normal.

Not to leave Owen out of the mix; he had his first head injury on Sunday. Annoyed that he needed to finish his cereal, he decided to rock his booster seat front to back resulting in his chair tipping backwards and him hitting his head on our deck doors. YIKES!! Blood was gushing, he was screaming, we thought a trip to the ER was inevitable but within two minutes he stopped crying and within five minutes the bleeding had stopped too. We called the pediatrician and were told just to keep an eye on him. Within 10 minutes it was like nothing happened and we were SO thankful!!

And to end, an update on Ben's mom. She spent Wed-Sun morning in the hospital as she had a fever and low white blood count and low nutrafills. She needed to stay in until those numbers came up which they finally did. She goes in today for blood work to determine if she can have another round of chemo this afternoon. Thankfully, she said she's been feeling pretty okay and not overly nauseous in the past few days. We hope and pray that continues and that her treatment will just make this cancer disappear. We'll continue to update her progress in our updates so you can keep praying for her and the entire Bushaw family.

Christmas is just around the corner and we're excited to celebrate the birth of Jesus and just enjoy being off of work and spending time with family and friends.

Season's Greetings!

Monday, December 5, 2005 8:50 PM CST

We're into December already and it's so hard to believe that it was TWO years ago when Logan had just returned home on December 3 following the complications from his heart surgery (the intestinal stuff, if you remember).

We've obviously come a long way because we haven't thought about this for a long time, however I was in Denver over the weekend visiting my dear friend Leslie and her new, 8-week old baby Lexi and we were looking back for monumental events like sleeping through the night, smiling, crawling, etc., and we came across December. Oh, the Lord has been SO good to us!

The past month has been nice, pretty uneventful for the four of us, which is just how we like it! We went to Austin for Thanksgiving and spent time with Ben's family and my family. It was the first time we'd been to Austin for T-day in three years!

We have learned some pretty disappointing news about Ben's mom in the past month. Many of you may know that Ben's mom was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago. She fought that off with strength and vigor but unfortunately it has moved to her liver. She found out a few weeks ago and started chemo two days before Thanksgiving. We're praying the treatment -- a new form of chemo targeted at reoccuring breast cancer -- does exactly what it's supposed to. We're proud that she's being really strong about this new cancer and ask that all you keep her and Steve and Ben's entire family in your prayers.

With all that's happening with Ben's mom, Christmas will be more important than ever to all of us this year. Owen and Logan are learning the meaning of the season (we hope) and are also having fun making fun holiday crafts with Grandma Linda and Nanny Nicole. From snowman to Santa Claus to Gingerbread houses they are having such fun. We went to see Santa at Southdale yesterday and while they woudn't get near his lap, they were happy to say "Ho, Ho" when they saw him. (We're having some technical difficulties getting the final "Ho" out but thankfully Santa knew what they were saying!)

The boys are continuing to talk up a storm. New words include: up, juice, milk, eat, boot, mit, hat, teeth, brush. Mind you, it takes a special ear to understand many of these words but their progress really is remarkable.

Logan goes to his cardiogist on Wednesday and we're excited to see Dr. Lohr. We'll update post that visit.

On a final note, we just learned about a couple with Austin roots who just learned they are having mono mono twins. While it's been easy to forget what we've gone through with Owen and Logan we can vividly recall the fear of the unknown and uncertainty of what was ahead. As you pray for Ben's mom, we also ask that you pray for this couple as they learn what's ahead and put a plan together to get their little twin girls to this great place.

Here's to a season of miracles.

Sunday, November 6, 2005 4:08 PM CST

How can it be that we're into November?
Halloween was such fun! Owen and Logan had their first trick-or-treating expereience as Greg (Owen) and Murray (Logan) Wiggle and enjoyed it very much.

Grandma and Grandpa Schroeder came to the house to hand out candy while we took the kiddies through the neighborhood and although they couldn't say the words, they sure figured out the motion of holiding out their bags. They tried to grab the candy on their own a few times and if the house looked welcoming enough, they'd even try to take a step inside. It was hilarious.

Owen came down with his first cold of the winter but thankfully, it only lasted a few days and didn't set him back too much. Logan hasn't gotten it yet but the fact that I'm typing about it will likely mean he'll have it tomorrow.

Not sure if it's been mentioned that we have a new nanny, Nicole. We hired a nanny in late August but she didn't work out as she had to have neck surgery. As she'd be out of commission for 6-8 weeks, we opted to just start the search over again. It took a long time to find the right fit but finally, a sweet gal Nicole came over and was perfect! It's been a couple of weeks and she's settling in great. The boys love her and she does lots of fun things with them. Between Nicole, Grandma Schroeder and Grandma Bushaw; these boys are well taken care of during the week.

Not much new to report. The boys are talking more every day and amazing us with every cute and smart move they make.

Happy Fall.

Monday, October 31, 2005 1:50 PM CST

Happy Halloween!
Today marks the two year anniversary of Logan's first heart surgery. I just remembered that as I was typing Happy Halloween. WOW -- we've come so very, very far!

I neglected to write with an update post Logan's hernia and adenoid surgery so the update is that the surgery went great. Both Dr.'s Malone and Salzman were finished with both within 45 minutes and instead of making us stay overnight they allowed us to go home late in the day. We loved that because it lessened our chances of Logan catching something. His recovery was pretty smooth sailing. He only had one rough day and frankly, it wasn't even that rough. Again, this kid is something else!

Saturday we went to our second "Mackey Mash" Halloween party at our friends, the Lainsbury's." There were about 25 little kids there ranging in age from 5 weeks to 7 years. It was a sight. Owen and Logan went as Greg and Murray WIGGLE. Granted, they were blond but dang, oh so cute!!! An adult came in a dog costume that resembled Wags the dog from the Wiggles and Owen was elated. He wanted to hold his hand during the parade and cozy up to him with a picture. Too cute.

Tonight we'll venture out on our first Trick or Treating experience in the neighborhood. I'm certain next year they'll get it but this year we can stockpile candy for us. What could be better.

Follow up apts., flu shot, pneumonia shot and meningoccal shots will come next week to keep the boys healthy through the winter.

Fall blessings to all!

Wednesday, October 19, 2005 12:58 AM CDT

Oops, it's been nearly a month and a half since I've posted and frankly, quite a bit has changed, namely our kids got their first haircut ever (at 27 months) and the little rugrats keep getting smarter and more mischievous every day. Additionally, I (Mommy) have a new job in the Brand Public Relations department at Best Buy and Ben's girls tennis team made it to the state tournament yesterday.

Let's start with the haircut. The boys have just never needed one but I was ready for a little something different so we made an apt at Kids Hair (supposedly the friendliest salon for kids, which we happened to completely disagree with but that's another story). The boys were FREAKED out!! Logan literally screamed the whole time, although he was able to mutter "Mo" when he realized "Finding Nemo" was playing on the television right in front of him. Owen did a little better but still screamed. When all was said and done, they looked ADORABLE but suddenly turned naughty...very, very naughty. Thankfully, I've forgotten most of it but you name it, hitting, throwing, tantrums, crawling out of cribs (Owen), and just being plain naughty was what we dealt with post 48 hours after their haircut. Ben says their new spikey do's were actually like horns.

Did you catch the part about crawling out of cribs. Yeah, that was Owen. In fact, the Saturday of his haircut he crawled out or attempted to crawl out more than 30 times!! First thing Sunday morning we went to Babies R Us and got a crib tent to keep him in. We just weren't ready to let him have the lay of the land with a big boy bed namely because we knew he wouldn't listen and stay in it. We decided once Logan figured it out we'd go the big boy bed route. Well, yesterday (less than two weeks after Owen had it down), my mom called to say Logan had figured it out too so a trip to the kids dept of Ikea is in our future this weekend.

A couple other funny things -- the boys love to brush their teeth and when they see me do it, they want to. A couple of weeks ago I asked them to wait until I was done getting ready and then we'd go brush their teeth. They left the bathroom and I noticed it was awfully quiet. When I went downstairs, they had moved the island stool to the counter and Owen was digging in the cupboards and Logan was standing on the stove and had turned on the microwave. BOYS! It was so funny and yet a little dangerous.

We've got our letters down and can identify numbers 1-10. It's pretty amazing to see these little minds working.

BIG NEWS: Logan's sugery to get his adenoids out and fix his hernia is this Friday. We have to be there at 6:15 and the surgery is scheduled for 7:45. It will be an overnight stay but Lord willing, we'll be going home early Saturday morning. This surgery is a bit scary for us because he hasn't had a surgery since April 2004 when our world really turned upside down. Please keep Logan in your prayers that 1) the surgeries go well 2) that the doctors do everything correctly 3) that the doctors don't find anything else wrong and 4) that Logan can be a strong little boy in a scary situation and recover quickly and thoroughly.

I'll send an update Saturday or Sunday with an update. I know many of you still check our site on a regular basis and I apologize for my lack of updating you on how TERRIFIC the boys continue to do.

Let's warm up to fall, shall we?

Thursday, September 8, 2005 9:12 AM CDT

Hi from us – Owen and Logan! It’s been a busy and fun last month or so. I think the last time Mommy wrote was sometime in August.

Hmmm, where to begin. For starters, we’re both doing great and growing like weeds – well, height-wise anyway. We’re still incredibly finicky eaters and may love something one day and HATE it the next day. Nearly everything we eat is an example of this except for green beans. We’ll eat green beans any day of the week and any hour of the day. Green beans rule!

So, yeah, we’re doing great and have mastered so many things like going up and down stairs, which we’ve been good at for months but now go railing free. I, Owen, am also getting very good at figuring out how to ride my cool trike from G&G Schroeder and my cool bike from G&G Behn. My legs are finally long enough to reach the pedals and I can use my legs to push the pedals round and round to go forward. Logan has an inch to go to be able to reach like me but he’s very good with standing and walking the trike and bike like they do in Norway (I learned that from Grover on Sesame Street).

I, Owen, have also figured out how to get the gate open that keeps Logan and me cooped up in the kitchen/great room area of the house. Let me tell you, I think I’m mighty smart—not to mention funny—when I open it up and slip through to the other side all the while Mommy and Daddy are telling me not to. Logan is always right on my tail so we can break out together. We are inseparable, after all!

The talking is coming along and we’ve added a few words to our repertoire, like Barney (Bahrgh) and Nemo (Mo) and More (Mo), outside (Why) and Hat (Haah), however if you’ll notice we only say one syllable and don’t end any of our words with consonants. Oh, and many of the words don’t even make sense. Mommy thinks she’s figured out our speech pathology but we’ll let the experts be the judge of that. Mom says we’re down to three weeks and the troops are coming in.

On August 19th we took a 3 ½ hour road trip up to our friends’ cabin. Michelle and Aaron Barclay and Michelle’s parents were nice enough to invite Mommy and Daddy up to their cabin again (the last time was pre-Owen and Logan) and we had such a fun time prowling around their cabin and spanking-new garage and riding on Michelle and Aaron’s cool new boat. It was a little chilly but it was such fun. It was our first time taking such a long road trip and going “up north” but boy, it was a BLAST!

We also went down to Austin to see Grandpa Paul for his birthday and meet our two new little cousins, Parker (Kristen and Zachary’s) and Lilly (Kelly and Matt’s). They sure are cute, but they’re kind of small and can’t really do much yet. We’ll give ‘em some time, we guess!

Daddy went back to school last week and now that Auntie Angie is doing her clinicals we have a new nanny that will watch us on Mondays and Wednesdays. Grandma Schroeder will watch us Tuesdays and Thursdays and Grandma Bushaw will come up every couple of Fridays. It will be different and we already miss Angie so much but our new nanny, Karin (Car-en) is really nice and very experienced. We just hope she can keep up!

So, we’re on to fall. I, Logan, am going to have my adenoid/hernia surgery on October 21 and Lord willing, that will be all of the surgeries in my future until next summer. Our next trip to visit Dr. Lohr will be in November so if I can just stay healthy and have an uneventful surgery on October 21, I should be smooth sailing for a while. Lord, we hope so.

Colors are a changin’.

Love to all.

Monday, August 15, 2005 12:02 AM CDT

The summer is flying by – and we’ve been enjoying every minute of it!

Not a whole lot of changes since our last update, however it turns out Logan needs to get his adenoids removed. How about that?

We visited Dr. Malone in early August, she did his bronchoscopy last year, and following an X-ray, we learned these little adenoid things are extremely enlarged (the range is 1-4 and his are a 4.5). These might also be the cause of a number of Logan’s issues with loud breathing, occasional puking after milk, etc. and could even be the reason he was in the hospital in early July with a bacterial infection. Funny how we can piece things together.

Wondering about adenoids? Here’s some background:

Like tonsils, adenoids help keep your body healthy by trapping harmful bacteria and viruses that you inhale. Adenoids also contain cells that make antibodies to help your body fight infections.

The infection-fighting job of adenoids happens in the first few years of a kid's life, a job that grows less important as you get older and your body develops other ways to fight germs.

Because adenoids trap germs that enter a kid's body, adenoid tissue sometimes temporarily swells as it tries to fight off an infection. Although adenoids may eventually return to their normal size without medical treatment, they often don't. Adenoids can even get so walloped by a bacterial invasion that they become infected themselves.

So, we’re looking to schedule this surgery and his rescheduled incisional hernia at the same time, which will be sometime in mid-September or October. I’ve got Jennifer Lopez coming to Marshall Field’s State Street in Chicago on September 22 so we cannot interfere with that huge event!!

Together, Owen and Logan are having so much fun together. They run around the family room playing tag and play “ring around the rosie” holding hands and falling down. It’s so stinking cute. They’ve finally stopped with the food throwing and I think we’re going to attempt to finally clean our milk-stained, prune-juice filled white carpet. Oh, it’s a tragedy to see this beautiful carpet so stained up. Let’s pray the stains come out.

Talking? Oh, they’re making progress but we’ve come to the conclusion that they only can get out one-syllable words, i.e., hi, bye, yay, five, nine. Truck actually sounds like druh and Barney comes out Bahhh, and Nemo is Mo. We’re going to give them another month and after that might call in the speech therapy troops for an appraisal.

We’ve got two new additions to our family in the past few weeks. My step-sisters Kristen and Kelly each delivered healthy babies -- Parker Michane Knox was born to Kristen and Zachary on July 27 and Lillyan Louise Weise was born to Kelly and Matt on August 9. The house keeps getting fuller at Grandma & Grandpa Behn’s!

All in all, we’re all doing terrific, life is so good and God is so great!

Saturday, July 16, 2005 3:07 PM CDT

Hi All,
It’s me, Logan, writing from home. I have been bugging Mommy to get me downstairs to the computer to tell you that I was home but she claims she’s been too busy – like what, she’s been trying to work or something during the course of the past week? Geez!

In any case, yep; I’m home. Got home on Thursday night at 11:34pm. PM, you ask? Yes. My last IV antibiotics finished at 11:00 and we were outta there. I figured why stay there overnight just to get up first thing when if I left the joint I could sleep in my own bed; crib, rather, and see my big bro in the morning. It was a no brainer. Mommy and Daddy may have encouraged me a little too but it didn’t take much persuading.

Thursday in the hospital was actually a very eventful day. In the morning, I fell off of the bed and cracked my head pretty good on the IV pole. Daddy tried to catch me but I got tangled up in all of the stupid cords attached to me. The Neurologist came in to see if I was okay and felt pretty good about me but recommended a Cat Scan to be sure. I also was scheduled to have an Upper GI study and a Swallow Study to check for reflux and to see if I was aspirating when I was drinking my milk. The Cardiology team thought I had pneumonia and that maybe it was caused by aspirating and resulting bacteria. Doctor Jim (not really a doctor but Mommy and Grandma call him that) was there too – he spent a lot of time with me back in November 2003 trying to figure out what my issues were – told Mommy he didn’t think I was aspirating because if I were I would be chronically ill, which you all know I AM NOT!

The Upper GI was HORRIBLE! I hated it so much and it took five people to hold me down. It was really, really bad and then when the Radiology doctor was looking at how things were moving through my tummy he scared Mommy half to death when he said it appeared I still had malrotated intestines. He later figured out what Dr. Salzman did last year to put me back together but for a few minutes Mommy was scared I’d need another surgery. Thankfully, I got through it and they decided they’d never make me go through that again! There’s another way they can test for this and that’s what they’ll do from now on. Thank goodness. My swallow study showed no aspirating, just as Dr. Jim suspected.

After these two things, it was to the Cat Scan machine. One look at thing and I was thinking, “not on your life!” Mommy asked what was expected of me and when they told her I had to stay perfectly still for 40 seconds, she told them we’d pass. I would have had to be knocked out cold in order for that to happen so instead we had another Neurologist take a peek at me and he said we could get by with just an X-ray of my skull to make sure there wasn’t a fracture….and there wasn’t!

So, I came home, crawled into my crib and fell fast asleep. In the morning when Owen came in to see me, I got out of my crib and gave him a big hug. I missed him so much! This weekend we’re playing it pretty safe, not having people over and just spending a quick 20 minutes at the mall. Otherwise, we’re sticking to home to ensure I’m not getting any more bugs. It’s so stinking hot that Dr. Lohr said I shouldn’t be outside for more than 15 minutes at a time. While I don’t like that thinking very much, I know she’s right.

Thanks to all for praying for me and thinking of me. I made it through another hurdle.

I am so glad that Jesus loves me!

Stay cool.

Wednesday, July 13, 2005 10:03 PM CDT

Guess who is in the hospital? Logan.
Guess why? Bacterial infection.
Guess when he's coming home? Friday.
Guess how many doctors have been in agreement as to what's going on with him? None.

Just a week ago, on the Fourth of July, Ben and I were relishing in our good fortune and how blessed we've been with the boys health, development, learning, etc. Perhaps we should have known better since illness or something seems to come in to the picture whenever we start feeling too confident. It's always a good reminder that someone much bigger than us is in control of our lives!

Quick review: You may recall we all had a nasty virus run through the house. Logan was the last to get it and seemed to bounce back quickly and strongly. Saturday started like any other day and we had our first trip to Chuck E. Cheese's (a place I'd always avoided because I felt it was a breeding ground for oodles of germs). Later in the day, we went to a birthday party for fellow twins Meredith and Sophia Okal. Logan fell asleep in the car ride there and woke up quite crouchy. He was clingy and not himself but we chalked it up to the hot, humid weather. Well, he ended up coughing like crazy and throwing up a little in their yard and then got really hot, then got the chills and cold. So, we left the party (were able to witness the cupcake celebration, however) and called the cardiologist on call to check in on his symptoms. She, too, thought it seemed heat related and said a lot of other similar calls had come in.

We got home, gave him some tylenol and water and a snack and he went down just fine. I brought him in to bed with us for a while and then put him back about 11:00pm. At 11:30 his breathing sounded funny on the baby monitor so Ben brought him in to our room again. He had the chills and his lips looked blue and we just felt something wasn't right. Again, I called the cardiologist and we agreed to bring him to the ER at the U of M. We arrived about 12:30am and spent a while going over history, events of the day and they took some blood.

Turns out, Logan had a white blood count of 41,000! (Normal range is 8,000 to 15,0000 or so -- even up to 19,000 for Logan.) What this meant was Logan had some major bacteria in his system, which is never good for an asplenic kid. The cardiolgist said it was a very good thing he came to the ER and as I've thought about it throughout the week have realized that God probably led us to believe it was heat related and serious enough to bring him in immediately rather than wait until morning because that may have been too late. When he got bacterial meningitus last April we were literally almost too late with his antibiotics so had we left him sleeping for another 8 hours, who knows what the outcome could've been.

Now to the present -- Wednesday. Logan has been in since Sunday and there's still a bit of discrepancy as to whether he has a pneumonia or a bronchitus. Whichever it is included bacteria, which has since been killed off from his IV antibiotic called Vancomiacin + another one that starts with a cepha-something. Word today was they'll keep him on the IV until Friday so he gets five full days and then we'll go home on a strong oral antibiotic to make sure this naughty bug is D E A D!!

Logan has been a real trooper through all of this. Tons of doctors and nurses wanting to listen to him, not being able to leave his room, missing his brother and growing tired of "Wiggly Wiggly Christmas" (who would've thought!) and yet the kid is smiling, laughing and full of hugs and kisses. I might add that when he grows tired of someone in his room, he looks at them, waves and motions they head out the door. It's hysterical!

He doesn't act sick in the least bit which has been hard for us because it makes us want to get the heck out of there but we are reminded that the Infectious Disease docs are making the right decisions for Logan based on his asplenia. We saw first hand how serious this was last April and NEVER want to be in that place again.

We'll plan to update upon Logan's return home on Friday -- or perhaps he'll choose to update you all. In the meantime, please keep Logan in your prayers and that the doctors will continue to make the right decisions for Logan. He has always been a miracle and to us a medical marvel. We'd like to keep it that way.

P.S., Owen is doing terrific and is starting to say words like crazy (Logan is too but not quite at the same speed). You should hear this kid say "truck" and "five" and "nine" and "Mom" and the list goes on. It's so fun.

Bacteria stinks!

Tuesday, July 5, 2005 3:13 PM CDT

Happy July everyone!

We have been having a great summer so far...you know about the great birthday and then with this past Fourth of July weekend, oh, we are just feeling so blessed.

We have had a nasty virus floating through our entire house for the past month, including Auntie Angie and Grandma Linda. Ben and I had it first then Owen came down with it before his birthday and Logan, who we thought was in the clear, came down with it last week. Super high fever, bad cough, white patches on the throat, loss of voice…bad news! Our pediatrician has said it’s going around like crazy and you just have to watch it and give Tylenol and Motrin. Strep was ruled out. We all had it a little different but Logan, big surprise, got the worst of it. Thankfully, his demeanor was still okay. If we stayed on top of the fever, you hardly even know he was under the weather.

We went to Austin on Sunday to see G & G Behn and family and visit G & G Bushaw but we opted to keep Logan with G & G Schroeder so as to keep him resting and away from other bugs and too much activity. It was apparently a good decision because yesterday (the Fourth) he was fever free, coughing less and back to normal. We take a lot of joy in quick recoveries.

We spent the morning at the Eagan parade and the boys had a blast watching the people go by and the fire trucks – oh my, the squawking and screaming of “ba” was hysterical! Then after a solid nap we went to G & G Schroeders for a fun cookout. We couldn’t have asked for a better day and weekend; although more time away from work would be okay.

Ben and I have been talking lately about how great things are right now. The boys are so healthy and they’re learning so much and doing new things every day. It really is amazing and I swear, sometimes we don’t think are hearts can swell up with any more love. It’s pretty crazy and for the first time, I’m feeling confident that we’re doing all right with this parenting thing and enjoying it more and more every day.

Next Wednesday is hernia-fixing day. Update to follow.

Tuesday, June 28, 2005 9:23 AM CDT

Hi All,
Owen and Logan writing to tell you we had the best birthday party EVER on Saturday! Oh, it was so fun. Our Grandmas and Grandpas, some aunts and uncles, lots of our friends and Mommy and Daddy's friends all came to celebrate our big second birthday!

Mommy and Daddy didn't have a first birthday for us because they were trying to pack for our move, which today is actually the one year anniversary of when we closed on our house in Eagan -- cool. Anyway, since we didn't get a one year party like every kid should, we begged and begged for a second year party. Plus, the fact that we're twins and were turning two seemed to make sense for a "two" party.

It was a bit of work for Mommy and Daddy to get ready but G & G Schroeder picked us up on Saturday morning so they could finish getting ready without us messing everything up again.

We had lots of good food and played in the backyard with about 15 kids. It was an extra special treat because our little cousin Ellis came too. It was the first time we had met Ellis. (You might remember, Ellis is the wonder boy who got really sick after he was born and they discovered he's got a bad heart too. The doctors were at a loss for what to do for him and once his Mommy and Daddy said to stop what the doctors were doing, he got better. He's now on the waiting list for a new heart but he's doing AWESOME!) Anyway, we loved meeting Ellis and seeing all of our other friends and family too.

Mommy and Daddy requested no gifts for us but apparently, few people listened because man, did we make out. We had a whole dining room full of toys -- from bikes and trikes, to PJs and coloring books to fun bathtime toys and helmets to a cool basketball hoop and drawing easel board to trucks and big legos. We think it's all AWESOME but Mommy and Daddy have no idea where to put all of the toys! Thanks to everyone who was so nice to bring us a present and even moreso to those that donated to CaringBridge; we just love having this site to keep you all updated on how great we're doing.

This weekend is the Fourth of July so we're going to Austin on Sunday for a cookout with G & G Behn and a visit with G & G Bushaw too. We like going there to see our family. On Monday we're going to stay in Eagan and watch the parade and go to the carnvial. Boy, will that be fun!

So, another year has passed us by and now, HOORAY – we’re two. Thanks to all of you who continue to check in on us and pray for us. We’re thriving because of you.

Next up, Logan’s incisional hernia surgery on July 13…prayers welcome.

Hop Hop.

Thursday, June 23, 2005 9:54 PM CDT

Happy Birthday Owen & Logan! (a letter to our boys)

Two years old already. Sometimes we can't believe the time has gone so quickly and other times, according to Daddy, the days can seem oh, so long.

Oh boys, we just love so you so much and are so proud every day of how smart you are and how beautiful you are and of what amazing miracles you are. It has become so easy to forget all that you've been through during your life so far because of how well you've pulled through everything. While we're glad for that; we also never want to forget because all of those things have proven to us how blessed we are and how good God is and how much it means to have faith, to believe that the best outcome is possible and to cast all of our cares upon Him who can heal and provide miracles.

Owen, you're such an independent boy. So ready to be on your own -- not wanting to hold our hand or let us help you figure things out. We wonder if you will always be this way. And, boy, do you love your daddy, or "da." Sometimes it's hard for Mommy when you want Daddy before me but I'm also so glad that you've been blessed to have such a great man to look to. We love watching how intently you work on things and how much you love to run and draw and help around the house.

Logan, what a fighter you have been over the past 24 months on earth and months before that in utero. You are one tough little cookie but oh, so sweet at the same time. You've really figured out how to work situations -- when you've been a stinker and you know it, all you do is come up with arms open wide and give out big kisses and you know all will be forgiven. We love to watch how compassionate you are...if Owen is crying or acting sad, how you want to be right next to him, stroking his head or putting your arm around him. You are just the sweetest, sweetest thing.

It's amazing to us how smart both of you are -- figuring our puzzles at 15 months and now being able to have two puzzles together and getting them figured out. Looking at pictures and identifying shapes, animals, colors, etc. It's something else to us. Who knows, maybe every other kid around can do what you do but to us, we think you're a little extra special.

Boys, we're amazed by you. Our love for you grows so much every day. Sometimes we wondered if you'd ever show us you loved us -- would you get sad when we left for work, would you hug us tight in the morning and before bed, would you run to us with giant smiles when we walked in the door? And now, everytime we see you and you just look at us we know how much you love us and we hope you know how very much we love you and how very much we love God for blessing us with the two most special boys in the world.

In this next year, we will continue to do our best to be good parents, to show you right from wrong, to teach you new things and how to be good little boys. Our prayer for you every day is that you'll continue to thrive and stay healthy and to know how many people love you almost as much as we do.

You've filled our hearts with a love unimaginable.

Happy Birthday.

Love,
Mommy and Daddy

Wednesday, June 15, 2005 4:59 PM CDT

Hi All -- it's Owen and Logan writing to tell you all how terrific we are doing. Mommy and Grandma Linda took us to see Dr. Plotnik for our two year checkup this morning and Dr. Plotnik was so excited to see us. She could hardly believe that...
1) we're turning two in one week
2) how big we are
3) how great we look, how cute we are and oh so sweet
4 how far we've come in two years

It was really a good visit and we cooperated really well. We sat on the scale, let her check our ears, eyes and throat and we even let her listen to us with her stethoscope all without shedding a tear. Granted, we were busy trying to turn on the water in the sink and sneak out the door when she wasn't paying attention to us but overall, we were superstars!

Here's where we're at:
Owen: 24lbs 10 oz and 34 1/4 inches tall
Logan: 25 lbs and 33 1/2 inches tall

This puts both of us in the 25th-ish percentile for weight and close to the 50th-ish percentile for height. Dr. Plotnik said we're doing great and look just like we should for being two. "Never would anyone think that you were just 4 pounds when you were born and went through so much in your first year" is what she said. That made Mommy very proud of us.

She also said Mommy shouldn't worry so much about what we're eating and that we're obviously getting enough or we wouldn't be growing. Mommy is going to try really hard to let this go but we don't think it's going to be very easy for her.

Dr. Plotnik also asked what we could do -- like if we can go up stairs, if we've tried jumping on both feet, can we put clothes on/take them off -- all of which we showed her. Then we showed her how we could stand on one leg like Bert from Sesame Street does when he sings "doing the pigeon." Boy, was she impressed with that. She said she likes to see if four year olds can do this. What can we say, our motor skills make up for our lack of verbal skills!! Speaking of which, Dr. Plotnik still isn't overly concerned with our lack of words. Since we are obviously communicating, understanding and responding she says it's just a matter of time.

All in all, it was a great visit. We like to have our doctors, who have followed us from the beginning, be so excited about how great we're doing. It's a good feeling.

Logan has his hernia surgery in a month but we don't need to go back for another checkup until we're three. Can you believe it? THREE! That will be here before we know it.

Happy jumping to all.

Thursday, June 2, 2005 10:04 AM CDT

We’ve been catching a little heat these days – and certainly not from the weather. Time just passes by so quickly and every time we think to update our web page something gets in the way.

Where to begin…we last left off with Ben and me ready to leave for a getaway to Mexico and oh, was it grand. Hot, sticky weather; lots of sunshine; good food and great reconnecting time for us. We could have done with air conditioning in our room, however, but it was out due to some sort of tower thing in Playa Del Carmen. All in all, we had just a blast.

The month of May, as all Minnesotans know, totally stunk. Cloudy almost every day; colder than normal and just plain lousy. We spent a lot of time inside playing and that was fine but the boys do love the great outdoors. Their favorite things to do in the backyard is climb in the rocks under the deck and throw them in to the yard, the empty sandbox, the egress window, you name it. If there wasn’t such a steep hill of rocks, we wouldn’t get after them so much but we do feel it’s a bit dangerous. Ben will likely put some fencing up to keep them out. In the front yard, their favorite thing to do is run in street (thank goodness it’s a private drive with few cars), throw mulch into the bird bath, sweep the driveway and have stroller races down the driveway. They are NON-STOP busy!

Ben has mentioned a few times that he’s a little concerned about manning them himself all summer long – it’s a great reminder for us of all Grandma Linda, Auntie Angie and Grandma Debbie go through on a daily basis to help us out. I told Ben to look at it as in opportunity that not a lot off Daddy’s get (or Mommy’s either, these days).

We can hardly believe the boys turn two on June 23 – it honestly, seems like they should only be turning one. We never cease to be amazed at how far these kiddies have come and thank the Lord every day. We’re having a birthday party for them on June 25 and can’t wait to see family and friends. Let us know if you’re open to come over – we’ll have plenty of food, drink and fun to celebrate their special day.

Appointment-wise, we have their 2-year check up scheduled for June 15 and then Logan’s hernia surgery on July 15. Other than that, we’re expecting a super fun summer full of playtime in their new dinosaur pool – complete with a water slide, jumping galore in their jumpoline (a safe miniature trampoline for toddlers) and trips to the Minnesota zoo.

Here’s to a super fun summer for you all, too!

Wednesday, April 27, 2005 10:53 AM CDT

Sunday was a very monumental day for the Bushaw family -- Owen and Logan spent church in the nursery and Mommy and Daddy spent church in church, actively listening and participating. It was wonderful!

While we get to church on a fairly regular basis, we always spend it in the "Parents Room" -- a small room in the back of the sanctuary that is soundproof and usually kid free. We've always been extremely hesitant to put
O & L in the nursery because of germs but finally felt like they're old enough, winter is over and most germs are gone so why not give it a try. Our test run was the Sunday before for 30 minutes with us in there the entire time. They did fine and enjoyed the new toys so we felt good about leaving them this past Sunday. They did great on their own but we only did okay -- funny enough, it was harder being away from them for 1 hour and 15 minutes than being away from them during the week. We figure that's because during the week they're at home with Auntie Angie, Grandma Linda (she doesn't like being called "Grandma Lin Lin" and/or Grandma Debbie so we feel comfortable. Nevertheless, we're hoping this can be a new ritual on Sunday's.

Not much else is new at the Bushaw household. We've scheduled Logan's incisional hernia repair for July 13. It's an in and out surgery so we'll be praying hard that all goes well and we're outta there before bugs come his way. Other than that, we've only got their two year apt to look forward to in late June.

The boys are trying so hard to talk and are making good progress -- they seem to have difficulties finishing words but we've added "MAH," "FAH" and "PAH" to the "DA" and "BA" language so I figure that's better than nothing.

Benji and I are leaving on Friday for a vacation to Mexico without the kiddies and we are just giddy with anticipation. Our last vacation was two years ago right after we learned we were having twin boys and right before we learned of their health issues so we're extremely excited for this vacation to celebrate how far we've come and celebrate our five year wedding anniversary.

G & G Bushaw, G & G Behn and G & G Schroeder, along with Auntie Angie are all coming over for a day/night to take care of the boys and we're so thankful they're able to help us out so we can get away. Ben is most excited that he doesn't have to change any diapers for FOUR WHOLE DAYS. Won't he be surprised when I tell him I need help changing my "Depends." KIDDING, it's a joke!

Adios for now -- practicing my espanol before our trip...

Wednesday, March 30, 2005 6:40 PM CST

What a wonderful Easter weekend we spent visiting G & G Behn and G&G Bushaw in Austin -- we also got to see Great G & G Thompson, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. It was great. We came back up on Easter morning to have brunch with Grandma Lin Lin -- her birthday was on Easter Sunday. At brunch we spent time with Great G & G List, Great Aunt Becky, Auntie Amanda and of course, Grandpa Ran Ran was there too.

As you can see from the pics, the boys loved the Easter bunny. It's so much stinking fun to see these little rugrats of ours running all over, playing and doing funny things, albeit tiring at the same time.

The other exciting thing about this years Easter is that we weren't in the hospital. Last Easter, Logan was in the joint recovering from his tummy troubles and meningitis. We prefer not being in the joint on holidays--or any days for that matter.

Ben is enjoying spring break this week with the boys. They've had fun playing outside in the great spring weather and going to a couple of appointments. On Monday Owen had an OT apt and his therapist was very impressed with the continued improvement with his new thumb. It really is unbelievable to see how he uses it so thumb-like! Logan went to visit his tummy doc in the afternoon and learned we will have to get his incisional hernia taken care of this summer. We thought we'd just do it when he has his heart catherization but today (Wednesday) learned he doesn't need to have that until next March -- how about that?!

So yes, today was our visit with Dr. Lohr -- we just adore her so much. Logan hated every minute of being there and didn't really allow anything to happen to him -- be it the echo, getting a blood pressure, checking his O2 levels, NOTHING! As long as no one was near him, he had a great time but the second someone tried to get close he was ticked off and more than likely was just plain scared to death. Totally understandable, but we were hoping to have the solid reassurance of an echo to feel terrific about how well's he is doing. That said however, Dr. Lohr was thrilled with how great he looked and the little echo they did get, she was pleased with. At this point, we're looking at leaving him free all summer with a check up in six months, a heart cath and another echo (sedated this time) next March and his surgery in maybe July. This is of course, with the caveat that he continue to thrive and doesn't show any signs that he needs it sooner. Great news!

I also loved when Dr. Lohr said she's always seen Logan's path in life and it's a good one. Ahh, again, Praise the LORD for his healing hand, blessings and miracles with Owen and Logan.

Our next celebration is on Friday -- April Fool's Day, which is the second anniversary of getting the lousy news about Baby A and Baby B. I'll take off of work and we'll just spend the day celebrating the miracles of life and the power of God. Last year, we went to visit their neonatal nurses and had a "Guess we fooled you" party with all of the grandparents...three days later we were in the hospital with Logan so this anniversary, we've decided to be a little more low key, just to be safe.

No more foreseeable appointments except Owen's hand therapy visits and their 2 year checkup in June. How about that?! We'll look at doing Logan's surgery in early July but even that is to be just an in and out day surgery.

Oh, we're so blessed.

Happy Spring to all -- we've got an extra bounce in our steps this year, thanks to all of you.

Thursday, March 17, 2005 8:59 AM CST

Hi All,
We're taking matters into our own hands since our parents have been so lax in keeping you all updated on how super fantabulous we're doing. Geez, you'd think they're busy or something, for crying out loud.

So, hmmm...what's been going on for the past month and a half? Let's see. We're speaking full sentences, drawing works of art, reading at the fifth grade level and putting puzzle after puzzle together...oh wait, those are mostly fibs and Mommy and Daddy are teaching us right from wrong so we’ll be honest.

We are not yet speaking full sentences, nor are we saying two words together. Our favorite words continue to be “Ba” and “Da” although we are definitely starting to mix “Ma” in with those big time words. Our animal sounds continue to be exceptional and we’ve added “who” as in “what does an owl say” in the past couple of weeks.

Mommy and Daddy aren’t overly concerned with our lack of speech but they do seem to be encouraging us more and more every day and Grandma Lin Lin works hard with us too – every day we learn a new letter and the letter card goes on the fridge so we can study it. We even have a page to color with the letter. It’s fun to learn.

The works of art we referred to aren’t technically works of art but we do love coloring and drawing pictures on our etch-a-sketch. I (Logan) like to draw lines and I (Owen) am fantastic at circles.

Um, we aren’t really reading at the fifth grade level either but we do LOVE books and having people read to us. And, we can point to most anything in a book – be it animals or stars or picking the right shapes. People are often intrigued by how studious we are.

We weren’t kidding about the puzzles. Puzzles are so fun and we are very, very good at putting them together. Even if there are two puzzles we can sort through the pieces and put what goes where. Every time someone comes to visit, Daddy seems to like us to show off this talent -- that and our ball dribbling skills. We think he’s funny!

We suppose we should tell you that health-wise we’re doing extremely well. I (Logan) did have bronchitis a week ago but it didn’t slow me down much and I only had to go to the doctor not the hospital so that made me very happy. I also went to see the Infectious Disease doctor a few weeks ago and we’re still waiting for that blood work to come back. They were testing the resistance/antibodies that my body has been building up with my immunizations to make sure I can fight off the nasty pneumochocal (I can’t spell that one) and other bad stuff that immunizations fight off. Last time they checked, I was doing great so if it comes back that way again I’ll probably only have to see the ID doctor once per year.

My big appointment is on March 30 with Dr. Lohr, my cardiologist. She’ll do an echo and an EKG to see how my heart function is doing. Mommy and Daddy are so excited for her to see me because they think (and pray) that she’ll be blown away by how amazing I’m doing. This appointment will also be the first time we start talking about my next heart surgery that I’ll probably have next summer when I’m three. It’s hard for Mommy and Daddy to think about this but it’ll be good, I just know it.

I (Owen) have had a super duper healthy winter – like only one cold! However, I think I have what brother had last week as just yesterday I came down with a high fever – 104+. Daddy called the doctor and she said they’re seeing a lot of cold cases with the predominant feature of a high fever. So, they’re giving me Tylenol and Ibuprofen and keeping a watchful eye to be sure. I figure I should get the sickies every now and again to keep them on their toes, right?

So, all in all it’s been a good winter and we can’t wait for warmer weather and playing outside. We continue to be so thankful to everyone who checks our page and remembers to pray for us and our family. We will always believe that we’ve come so far because of all of you.

More to come post my (Logan’s) heart apt. but until then, ba, ba, ba, and da, ma, da!

Tuesday, February 1, 2005 12:39 AM CST

Today Owen went for a visit with Dr. VanHeest, his thumb doctor and boy, did he blow them away! Both Dr. VanHeest and the resident, Dr. Bohn were thrilled to see not only how well he's adapted to it but how natural his movements are in grabbing, holding and picking up. They also couldn't believe just how big he is -- definitely a toddler.

He won't need to see Dr. VH for another 6 months and after that probably yearly. There is a strong chance he may have another surgery before kindergarten where they move muscle from the outside of his hand to his thumb in effort to add more strength for lifting and grabbing heavy objects. Other than that this kid is completely done with everything he needs. Sometimes, I can't believe how far we've come!

Dr. Bohn said his mannerisms and movements are much beyond a 19-month old, which I could have told her too being the proud mommy that I am.

It's always interesting to take one of the boys out alone. What a breeze it is but it always feels like someone's missing. It's never seemed to bother the boys much if the other isn't along but who knows, that may change.

Actions worth noting for today are as follows:
1) On Sunday Logan got the diaper cupboard door open just enough to pull out a diaper. He brought it to me, took my hand, led me to the floor and layed down so I could change him.

2) Last night, after I put pj's on the boys their clothes were scattered on the floor in the kitchen. Owen gathered them all up into a pile, picked them up and walked them to the laundry room grunting for me to open the door. Once in there, he put all of the clothes into the laundry basket.

What smarties!

Friday, January 21, 2005 11:32 AM CST

Hi Friends,

It's us, Owen and Logan, sending a quick update on how great we're doing.

January has been a good month for us. While we haven't been able to use our neat-o sleds we got for Christmas due to the lack of snow, we have been having fun staying inside and playing with our "Little People" toys and putting puzzles together. Yesterday, we even learned how to stand on one leg -- talk about advanced motor skills.

I, Logan, came down with a nasty cold right after the start of the new year and it hung around for a while but didn't require a trip to the doctor and I'm over it now and feeling great! You really should see me with the little people and puzzles. I can find the girl with the glasses, the bus driver, the bear the lion, you name it. And, with puzzles, I can put the animals right where they should go. Everyone is so very proud of me and I just love learning.

I, Owen, am doing the same things and in addition, I am instigating trouble with a capital T. You know, typical boy things like climbing on the table and playing with the light fixture, opening the laundry room door and eating Maxie's cat food, opening the refrigerator door and pouring 3/4 full cans of pop on the floor, climbing on the island and pulling the lid off of the stuffing mix and pouring that on the floor...ummm, what else...really, anything that's cause for clean up, I am in to.
IT IS F U N !!!

Mommy and Daddy bought a new car, post our run in with the tow truck. The insurance adjuster determined our beloved Pathfinder was totaled and so we had to find something new. Neither Mommy nor Daddy were willing to go the minivan route and now we have a really cool Chrysler Pacifica. Well, we haven't actually seen it, we get it tonight, but from what they've told us, we're going to love it and it's roomier than our other SUV. Thankfully, Mommy and Daddy also recognized the importance of having a DVD player like the VCR TV we had in the other car. From what we hear, this was a must have item to keep us entertained...or was it more for Mommy and Daddy to keep us calm in the car. Hmm? Well, regardless, we'll put that feature to good use.

You might be wondering if we're talking yet? Oh, sure. We can say anything, however we prefer to use the simple word "ba" for everything. Ba for milk. Ba for Ball (we're good on that one). Ba for Grandpa. Ba for puzzle. Yep, Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba. It's worth noting that we do use "Ba Ba" for most two-syllabel words, which is impressive, we think. All of the adults are waiting for us to talk but as with most of the things we've done in our lives to date, we do this one on our own time too.

Life is fun, we're having a ball and we're always grateful to have you all!

Thursday, January 20, 2005 1:16 PM CST

Hi Friends,

It's us, Owen and Logan, sending a quick update on how great we're doing.

January has been a good month for us. While we haven't been able to use the neat-o sleds that Auntie Angie and Todd (hopefully we'll call him "Uncle Todd" someday soon) gave us for Christmas due to the lack of snow, we have been having fun staying inside and playing with our "Little People" toys and putting puzzles together. Yesterday, we even learned how to stand on one leg -- talk about advanced motor skills.

I, Logan, came down with a nasty cold right after the start of the new year and it hung around for a while but didn't require a trip to the doctor and I'm over it now and feeling great! You really should see me with the little people and puzzles. I can find the girl with the glasses, the bus driver, the bear the lion, you name it. And, with puzzles, I can put the animals right where they should go. Everyone is so very proud of me and I just love learning.

I, Owen, am doing the same things and in addition, I am instigating trouble with a capital T. You know, typical boy things like climbing on the table and playing with the light fixture, opening the laundry room door and eating Maxie's cat food, opening the refrigerator door and pouring 3/4 full cans of pop on the floor, climbing on the island and pulling the lid off of the stuffing mix and pouring that on the floor...ummm, what else...really, anything that's cause for clean up, I am in to.
IT IS F U N !!!

Mommy and Daddy bought a new car, post our run in with the tow truck. The insurance adjuster determined our beloved Pathfinder was totaled and so we had to find something new. Neither Mommy nor Daddy were willing to go the minivan route, much to the dismay of Grandpa Behn, but now we have a really cool Chrylser Pacifica. Well, we haven't actually seen it, we get it tonight, but from what they've told us, we're going to love it and it's roomier than our other SUV. Thankfully, Mommy and Daddy also recognized the importance of having a DVD player like the VCR TV we had in the other car. From what we hear, this was a must have item to keep us entertained...or was it more for Mommy and Daddy to keep us calm in the car. Hmm? Well, regardless, we'll put that feature to good use.

You might be wondering if we're talking yet? Oh, sure. We can say anything, however we prefer to use the simple word "ba" for everything. Ba for milk. Ba for Ball (we're good on that one). Ba for Grandpa. Ba for puzzle. Yep, Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba. It's worth noting that we do use "Ba Ba" for most two-syllabel words, which is impressive, we think. All of the adults are waiting for us to talk but as with most of the things we've done in our lives to date, we do this one on our own time too.

Life is fun, we're having a ball and we're are always grateful to have you all!

Sunday, January 2, 2005 3:37 PM CST

Happy New Year!

We closed out 2004 with a soiree at our house on Friday night -- Ben and me, some of our friends and two crazy little boys who refused to go to sleep once they realized a party was going on. We finally got Owen down at 10:30 but Logan stayed up with us until about 12:30am. Needless to say, Ben and I were a little frustrated that our party ended up being quite a bit different than our expectations. Nevertheless, it was fun to have friends over and enjoy good food and good times.

We started the new year with a crash--literally--yesterday as we got into a car accident on our way to Mall of America. The boys had been cooped up in the house and after our long night with them the night before we thought it would be a good idea to get out of the house for a while. The weather wasn't the greatest but Ben tested the brakes and the roads didn't seem slippery so off to the mall we went. We were just about there when we approached an intersection with a green light. We went through but the tow truck on the street perpindicular street wasn't able to stop and as a result we ran into the back of his flat bed with the front of our Pathfinder. Our front airbags went off but thankfully, didn't cause Ben and I any harm. More importantly, the boys didn't appear to move in their car seats and more than anything were scared because of the comotion. Ben is a little sore today but the rest of us came away okay. The Pathfinder is another story and we'll be figuring all of that out this week.

This accident proved to be an incredible reminder for us that God is in control and watches us so closely. Had we been one second earlier we likely would have hit the tow truck on the passenger side, which was where Logan and I were. Things could have been dramatically different and we praise God that we hit it head on (the best type of accident to have with kids in the back). The accident also put into perspective our frustration with the boys the night before and reminded us that these two boys are gifts from God. He's given them to us to care for, love and nurture and we are not to take them for granted. I will say we spent the rest of the night counting our blessings and thanking God for His protection.

So as we move into the new year, we will:
1) Drive more cautiously
2) Make sure we're always buckled up
3) Count our blessings, naming them one by one
4) Not have another New Year's Eve party to avoid night owls Owen and Logan
5) Enjoy every minute we have together

Cheers!

P.S., Christmas was busy this year with 18-month old twins. They weren't interested in opening or playing with their toys but more interested in taking the ornaments off of the trees and throwing them -- they do look like balls, you know. We recieved many wonderful gifts and had a great time celebrating with our families. Next year the boys will likely be more into the season.

Thursday, December 23, 2004 11:26 AM CST

Joy to the world, our boys are well
Oh, what a year it’s been
We’ve made it 18 months, the boy’s have hardly fussed
Even with all they’ve been through
We can hardly believe it’s true
And we thank God and we thank you for praying for us!

We’re feeling a little guilty that it’s been since the end of November since our last update. This past month has sure flown by, thankfully without any glitches. We’re very excited that this year we will be able to travel to Austin to see our families – last year that wasn’t an option for us. We’re also praying that everyone we’ll be visiting during the next few days will be super healthy and not spreading any unwanted germs our way. We wish that wasn’t a part of our thought process these days but boy, is it ever.

The past month has been a lot of fun watching the boys dance and mimic the moves from their new favorite video, “Wiggly, Wiggly Christmas.” A few have my friends had talked about “The Wiggles” phenomenon (four grown men from Australia that have taken kids 1-8 by storm – think The Beetles for kids) before we had the boys and I’m sure I swore we’d never watch it but sure enough, they’re hooked and we can’t get the ridiculous songs out of our heads. But it is hysterical to watch and it’s amazing to see them learn in front of our eyes.

Grandma LinLin has been teaching them how to say “Ho Ho Ho” like Santa and rock baby Jesus and it’s about the cutest thing you could ever see. They’ve also taken a strong liking to throwing their food during breakfast, lunch and dinner. You name it, they’ll throw it; especially if they’re not so fond of it. As hard as we try to sternly teach them “no throwing” food, it’s so stinking funny that it’s hard not to laugh and then they do it all the more.

Logan received his third RSV shot Wednesday, they have their 18 month checkup with more shots on Christmas Eve and next week is full of a therapy appointment, checkup with Dr. Wahoff who did their hernia repairs to make sure all is still well and one other one that’s escaping me at the moment. Their current weights/heights are:
Owen = 23 lbs / 33 inches
Logan = 22lbs 5 oz / 31 ½ inches

Overall, Owen and Logan continue to be busy, busy boys and keep all of us on our toes. We had a check up with the Genetics doctor (didn’t learn anything new) and while they were running around throwing balls, pushing trucks and screaming wildly in their diapers, she asked if I was home alone with them, I said no, it was my mom three days, Auntie Angie and Ben’s mom one day. “How do they do it?” she gasped. “By the grace of God” was my reply.

Truly, as we end 2004 we are so thankful for the help of my mom, Angie and Ben’s mom while Ben and I are working. Knowing they’re in our home, with family, learning, staying healthy and spending time with family is probably one of the biggest blessings of our year. They’re loved by so many and we know it has impacted how well they’re doing day in and day out.

As I close, I’d ask that you keep my Grandpa Behn in your prayers. His wife Pauline passed away on Monday and her funeral is in Arizona on Tuesday. Unfortunately, my Grandpa’s health is prohibiting him from being there. This will be a hard time for him as he left Arizona in June and wasn’t able to go back due to some health concerns. Please also keep our cousins Tony and Heather in your prayers, too. She was 25 weeks or so along but was having some serious problems with lack of amniotic fluid and high protein levels so in order to protect Heather and the baby they had to deliver him early. Early reports are good but he probably weighs no less than 2 lbs to go so he’ll have a long road to recovery. We know miracles happen but prayer is powerful.

We wish everyone a very, happy and merry Christmas and all good things in the year ahead.

XOXO

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 9:50 PM CST

This Thanksgiving (yes, we realize it was nearly a week ago but this is the first chance we've had to update), as with most holidays from a year ago, was much more enjoyable than our Thanksgiving last year when we were spending the day with Logan in the University of Minnesota PICU and left for two hours for a quick trip to Lakeville to enjoy some turkey and stuffing with Natalie’s mom and family.

This Thanksgiving saw all four of us in Lakeville enjoying turkey and stuffing – and cheerios and whole milk – and keeping a watchful eye on the boys to make sure they weren’t climbing on, over or under everything in sight. It also saw Owen hamming it up for everyone who would watch him and Logan showing off his talents of making animal noises. We have much to be thankful for as our lives are so much better than last year – even with our occasional bumps in the road.

This Thanksgiving was an extended week at home for Mommy as she had Wednesday through the weekend off from work. What fun it was to spend entire days at home playing with Owen and Logan and getting the house ready for Christmas.

Logan also got his second of six RSV synagis shots of the season last Wednesday – and he’d gained a pound since his last shot. This is quite the accomplishment considering the kid spent a week in the hospital hardly eating thing. As a reminder, RSV is a virus that can cause much harm to preemie babies and little ones with compromised immune systems and other congential issues. Last year both Owen and Logan received the shots but this year our insurance would only accept Logan as Owen is overall a healthy, normal little kid. The amount of synagis Logan gets is based on weight and is very expensive. While last year the each shot was between $1,200-$1,800, this year each shot is $4,000!!! Once again, thank goodness for good health insurance.

The boys are growing so fast and keeping all of us who care for them every day so entertained and so very, very busy. 17 months into parenthood we can hardly remember what life was like before the boys when we could go to sleep and get up on our own time, take naps (oh how I miss naps), go out on the weekends, get to church hassle-free, stay on top of the laundry and keep the house immaculate with lamps on the end tables. That said, we’re also amazed at how 17 months into parenthood we’ve been blessed a million times over with miracle after miracle, speedy recovery after speedy recovery and two amazingly smart little boys who love to read books, climb up and down stairs, blow kisses, smile constantly at just about everybody, run back and forth from the kitchen to the living room screaming with joy, chasing the kitty and mimicking her meows and giving us hugs every night before bed.

Our blessings have been endless, including the blessings of those of you who have continued to keep up with the boys and remember them in thoughts and prayers.

We’re looking forward to Christmas and celebrating the miracle of the season.

Monday, November 22, 2004 3:08 PM CST

Life is good again -- Yay!!

Logan had a terrific week and while it took Owen a while to come back from the flu, he's back 100% too. We had a really fun weekend just hanging out and playing and Ben and I even went on a date -- our first real night out since July. Dinner, a movie and catching up with friends. It reminded us of life before kids, especially as we didn't get home until 1:00 am. However, when Logan decided it was time to get up at 5:30 am, we were instantly reminded that yep, we do have kids now and nope, it's not worth it to stay out past 11:30.

We'll be spending Thanksgiving with my Mom and family on Thursday and hopefully just enjoying a nice weekend too getting ready for the holidays.

Lots to be thankful for this year -- last year we were still in the hospital with Logan who had messed up intestines. This year will be different, we've got a good feeling!

Blessings to all.

Monday, November 15, 2004 8:40 PM CST

Friday was a good day -- being able to bring Logan home and all. Unfortunately, for all of us but Logan, it started going downhill about 8:30 when Ben said he wasn't feeling all that great.

I was planning to fly out on a 7am flight to Chicago for work -- a trip that was originally scheduled from Thur-Saturday, however at 3am when Ben ran puking to the bathroom, I realized that trip wasn't probably in my future either. Ben ended up spending the entire day Saturday in bed with the flu and lots of aches. In fact, I saw him twice all day.

The boys and I had a great day together just playing and eating and hanging out and my sister Amanda came over to see the boys for a while too. Ben finally came downstairs about 8:00pm, just about the time when I started feeling a little down and out. Sure enough, I came down with the same thing he had and not 10 minutes after my trip to flu-ville, Owen joined me bringing his pillow, sheet, Louie the stuffed black dog (courtesy of the Bergstrom's) and the carpet along with him. Boy, our parents must have really loved us to clean up puke at 3:00 in the morning. YUCK!

Owen and I spent Sunday trying to get better and I seem to have come around a lot quicker than he has. He's still not himself today and hardly wanted to eat or drink anything. Very unOwen-like!

Needless to say, this past week wasn't the best of our lives. In fact, it was actually really, really challenging. Maybe it was because it happened out of the blue, maybe it was because it happened during one of my biggest weeks at work and I had to fight that fight of mommyhood vs. career or maybe it was because we've really been hoping that the unexpected, unplanned visits to the hospital were a thing of the past and that one thing wouldn't again turn into another. In any case, we guess we're glad there's always a tomorrow and that in the end, our boys seem to pull through and life returns to our version of normal. For that we are grateful.

Chances are, our next post will be full of something funny or exciting that's happened in the past day or two and we'll be very glad to share that news.

Here's to being flu-free!

Friday, November 12, 2004 9:42 PM CST

Hi All, It's me Logan writing from home -- yes, home -- and boy, do I love it here!!

Mommy stayed overnight with me last night and when I woke up this morning I felt so much better than I did on Thursday. Even though I still had (and have) diapers that I wouldn't wish anyone to have to change, my fever was gone and I was feeling pretty doggone good.

I don't know what came over me and frankly, neither do the doctors since the C-Dif came back negative. My pediatrician, Dr. Plotnik, thinks it very well may have just been a nasty virus that I caught from being in the hospital.

That said, we wanted to get the heck out of there today and everyone seemed to be in agreeance except for the cardiologist on call for the day, Dr. Julia Stein-something. Mommy and Daddy saw her back when Owen and I were still in utero when she did a fetal echo on me and unfortunately, they didn't seem to connect with her much then and Mommy definitely didn't connect with her today when she told us she wanted me to stay another night.

In the end, Mommy had Dr. Plotnik call Dr. Julia Stein-something and she agreed to allow us to leave after 3pm. Daddy came to the hospital to help pack up all of my stuff and we were home by 4:45. I was cheering the whole way.

Owen didn't seem all that happy to see me, or Mommy for that matter. He clung to Grandma Debbie like he didn't want anyone interfering with the attention he was receiving. Finally though he warmed up to me though (with a face as cute as mine, who wouldn't) and we hugged and started playing together.

Hopefully this will be my only setback this winter season and for a long time. Mommy and Daddy will remember that even though I'm normal in most every way--and above normal in some cases, I might add--that I still need extra attention and can't be around tons of people and that everyone MUST be healthy when I'm around. Or else!

Thanks to all of you who were praying for me and thinking of me all the time. I'm sure one blessed little boy!

Lights out.

Thursday, November 11, 2004 5:51 PM CST

I suppose it should come as no true surprise that Logan did not leave the hospital as we expected him to today. Ben stayed with him last night and this morning when I got there at 8:10 he was still sleeping -- very unLogan-like. He was also very warm and when he finally did wake up at 8:45 and we took his underarm temp it was 100.8. We then decided to do it rectally and it was 103.5!! He was definitely not the same, energetic little guy he was when I left the hospital Wednesday night at 5:00.

We think, but are still waiting for the final results, that the antiobiotics he was receiving for the pneumonia was killing all of the good bacteria in his colon leading to something called C-Dif (not sure what it stands for as I haven't done my google search yet).

In any case, his temp has remained between 100-103 nearly all day so we'll be staying overnight again tonight and possibly tomorrow. We're not up for taking any chances but we would like to know why EVERY SINGLE, COTTON-PICKING TIME we go in the hospital for one thing it becomes something else. It's almost unbelievable, isn't it?

The doctors also wanted to do a complete blood culture today and tried for more than an hour to get a good vein to draw from and that didn't work either. Needless to say, it hasn't been that great of a day for our little Logan. He remains relatively happy though, enjoying his Baby Newton and Elmo videos. I have to say again, video watching came at a very good time.

More to come...

Tuesday, November 9, 2004 8:47 PM CST

If one were to visit Logan, they'd likely not realize anything was wrong with him. He loved hanging out for an entire day with Daddy -- reading books, taking a nap on his chest, running around the floor, and of course watching his favorite Elmo video.

The Infectious Disease doctors made the decision to change from the vancomyacin to another antiobiotic -- a name I don't recall but it starts with a 'C.' This drug is still super powerful but is less stressful on his veins. They also want him to stay in the hospital through Thursday and maybe Friday to ensure he's getting as much coverage as he needs. As I mentioned yesterday, the asplenia makes this a much bigger deal than if he were a normal kid.

His blood culture came back negative today, too, which is very good news as it means there isn't any bacteria in his blood. If it would have come back positive, we might be in trouble.

An ironic thing happened tonight when Logan and I were looking at books in Children's playroom. He pulled out a book called "Popcorn" from the shelf about a bear who has a party while his parents are away. He and his friends pop so much popcorn that they fill the entire house and then they eat it all before Bear's parents come home. Bear got so full of popcorn he never wanted to see it again but then his parents brought him home a present from their trip and it was...popcorn! I tell you all of this because "Popcorn" was one of my absolute favorite books growing up. In fact, I read that book when I was in a storytelling contest in fifth grade. Anyway, I was telling Logan all of this and then I opened the book and it had my name in it! It was the strangest thing. While it didn't have Natalie Behn, it did have Natalie with a heart, which is just how I used to write my name in my books.

The ID(Infectious Disease) docs will be in tomorrow to go over any new findings with us, which hopefully will be helpful information only.

Until then, eat popcorn.

Monday, November 8, 2004 9:20 PM CST

We wonder why it is that sometimes the thoughts we have become our reality. Ever since last week when we were relishing in our good fortune from one year ago when Logan was having his heart surgery, we have been having thoughts that something was bound to happen to set us back and sure enough, it did. It being pnuemonia.

Logan was fine all week but on Saturday morning we noticed he was coughing quite a bit, throwing up after some of his bottles and overall breathing quite a bit heavier and more rapidly. Having dealt with a cold or two with him before and knowing that Ben was a little under the weather with a cold this past week we figured he was coming down with something himself but nothing we couldn't handle.

On Saturday night we had arranged for Angie and Todd, Ben's sister and her boyfriend, to come watch the boys so we could go to an engagement party for friends Kiernan and Rob (neighbors from 1300 Highland). While Logan didn't seem 100 percent himself we weren't overly concerned and left for one of our first nights out in months. Angie called to say he'd thrown up two more times and was running a fever of more than 101 degrees so we called the pediatrician and headed home. We had Logan sleep with us on Saturday night and he had a pretty decent nght overall.

Sunday morning he woke up and seemed to be doing pretty well. Had a bottle, took a long nap, ran and played with Owen and watched his new favorite Elmo video. We took a quick trip to Target for diapers, wipes and other toddler stuff and when we got home at 4:00, he was a totally different person -- super hot, crying inconsolably and not looking so great. We realized then that a trip to the ER was in our future. Then, my mom, Randy and Amanda came over for dinner and they all felt the same way. So we called the pediatrician for him to call ahead and let them know to expect us and off we went.

We were both incredibly impressed with how quickly Logan was admitted into the ER. The doctors were waiting, he got a chest X-ray almost right away, the nurse got his IV in on the first try and a room was waiting for us. Just a few minutes after the X-ray, the ER doctor came and told us that yes, Logan did have bacterial pneumonia (anything bacterial-related is bad news for Logan because he's asplenic) and that we should plan on a three stay stay at Hotel Children's. The good news is the pneumonia wasn't horrible and that we likely caught it in time.

After reviewing Logan's case with the Infectious Disease doctors, they opted to put Logan on about the strongest antibiotic out there--vancomiacin. This is also what he was on when he got meningitius. We could tell already by early afternoon that he was doing better. Definitely coughing a ton but when we were admitted his oxygen saturation levels were between 68-73 and by this afternoon, they were consistently running between 74-81.

We're hoping the cultures they're growing come back negative and that we're able to bring Logan home sometime tomorrow night but if he stays one more day to be safe, that's okay too. Our prayer is that this is the only crud that hits Logan this winter season--basketball season starts on Monday so if there were a "good time" for this to happen, it was before then.

Ben said today that one of his students told him that we have really bad luck with our kids. And, while there's a part of us that agrees with him--remember, how in April we renamed Murphy's Law to Logan's Law--at the same time, we feel like bad luck would be not having these two little boys to love and enjoy. We have to remind ourselves sometimes (because they are so normal in pretty much every way) that after the boys were born and we learned Logan was asplenic that sicknesses and hospital visits were going to be a part of our reality but that Lord willing, we'd make it through each one time and time again. I wouldn't call what's happened with the boys bad luck, I'd think I'd rather call it, ongoing miracles!

One cute note to end with, my mom came up today to see Logan and left us with a picture of all of us. When I showed it to Logan and asked "where's Owen?" Logan pointed to Owen, said "da" (his usual sound) and kissed Owen in the picture. Can he get any sweeter?

We'll update on any new news or let you know when we're home.

Thoughts and prayers are welcome!

Sunday, October 31, 2004 9:03 PM CST

Happy Halloween!

These past few days have been pretty significant for us – not because it’s Halloween weekend but because Halloween marks the one year anniversary of Logan’s heart surgery when we didn’t know what the outcome would be but yet didn’t doubt that he’d make it.

A year ago on the night before Halloween, we were taking as many pictures as we could of the boys in their Halloween sleepers, bibs and pumpkin hats and getting pictures of Logan with a non-scarred chest. This year on the night before Halloween, Owen and Logan were wearing monkey and lion costumes and going to two parties like the normal toddler boys they are.

To think of where we’ve come in one year’s time is surprisingly hard to do. As much as we can vividly go back to the news we received about the boys before they were born, and then their birth when we learned there was even more to deal with and then the first four months of their lives before Logan’s surgery, more often than not, it doesn’t seem like we’ve ever had anything difficult to deal with. Our take is that it’s God’s way of protecting us and keeping us in the “now.”

The memories we have of Logan’s heart surgery are many – starting with getting to the hospital at 6:30am and having to wait for what seemed like hours for the doctor to come and talk to us. Pastor Sid came about 7:30 to spend some time with us and pray that God would give Dr. Herrington the tools she needed to help Logan. After they took Logan off to surgery, we spent the next several hours in the waiting area with all of our parents there to support us. Our cardiologist came out a few times to give us updates and told us they found something they weren’t expecting with how Logan’s veins routed into his heart (Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venenous Return). They ended up having to do more with the bypass where they cooled him way down in order to slow the blood flow enough to fix the issue, which thinking back is as scary as the dickens but at the time, we took it all in stride and were surprisingly calm. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” That verse has proved true over and over; not only for Logan but for us too.

Logan came through everything after nearly six hours of surgery and remained on the breathing tube for about six days. They kept his chest open until Monday in case they needed to do anything quickly and he had tubes in his chest for drainage and a couple pacer wires in until Tuesday. And, he had more 14 medicines pumping into his little body, every day taking one or two away. Even still, we were able to take Logan home 11 days after his surgery and his ticker continues to tick away (we’re not going to talk about the fact that he came back a few days later and stayed for another month since that didn’t have anything to do with his heart!). We are so thankful for all Dr. Herrington and her team and Dr. Lohr were able to do for Logan and know that he wouldn’t be where he is today without their talents as doctors.

Although it’s hard to reflect back on last year, it does keep things in perspective for us and reminds us that Logan and Owen are true miracles and that our God is so faithful. We are so grateful for the support of our parents, our friends and the many people we don’t even know that continue to pray for our boys.

Here’s to happy hearts!

Monday, October 4, 2004 1:01 PM CDT

"Give me four!" That's our new request of Owen to use his right hand following his cast removal last Tuesday, Sept. 28. It didn't really seem fair to say, "Give me five" when technically speaking, he can't really do that anymore, so "give me four" it is!

Owen is adjusting pretty well to his new hand--he's not using it much but we're over the period of time where he holds it upright in his highchair and walks with it as though he was still wearing the big blue cast. We do get a chuckle when we catch him looking at his right hand like, "what in the world is this thing and does it move."

Following Tuesday's apt we went back to have a splint made on Wednesday. He'll wear this for about a month or so to protect his new fun thumb and keep his hand straight. We've been instructed to take it off 3-5 times a day for him to get used to working with it and do occupational therapy exercises, which basically consist of getting him to try to grasp, grab and hold things with his new thumb. It will take a while for him to come around, after all, he didn't use his hand at all for more than five weeks and now he has to relearn how to use it with the functioning thumb. As always, he's quite the trooper!

Saturday was a visit to Babies R Us for more toddler-proofing goods. All of our cabinets and drawers are toddler-proofed and we've had to purchase a toilet lock so they can't play around in toilet water and now we've moved on to a dishwasher lock, oven door lock and stove knob locks. Yep, these boys are into ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING!

We spent Sunday in Austin at Ben's Grandpa's 80th birthday party--the boys had a blast running around the big yard at Grandpa Steve's and Grandma Debbie's and we always enjoy seeing everyone. Bud's quite the guy--80 years and still going strong.

We've got a wedding this weekend--my dear friend Michelle is tying the knot to my college roommate's husband's brother. This is a set up the college roommate and I concocted and now two years later they're going to become Mr and Mrs. Yay, Michelle! I'm a bridesmaid so Ben will have his hands full watching the boys. Wish him luck.

Tuesday, September 14, 2004 9:21 PM CDT

We're down to 14 days until Owen's cast comes off and we get to see his new, fun thumb. The timing is probably just about right as in the past week or so he's learning to do things with his big blue cast that we're not the most fond of; like banging it on the kitchen table, swinging it around and around to see what comes in to contact with it and yes, sometimes whacking Mommy, Daddy, Grandma Linda or Auntie Angie. Thankfully, he hasn't gone so far as to wail on Logan with it but we're pretty sure if it stayed on much longer than two more weeks, Logan would be seeing blue a bit too frequently.

Speaking of Logan, we visited his cardiologist Dr. Lohr last Wednesday. I had originally set up an apt for her to see him when he was acting kind of funny (not eating, ear infection, etc) but the soonest we could get in was Sept. 8. It was humorous because when we got there the nurse said, "So, Logan's not feeling well. What's going on." It took me a minute to register what she was referring to.

In any case, Logan did not like his experience and has become a little too perceptive when it comes to doctor's office surroundings. Thankfully, he sat through enough of his echocardiogram for Dr. Lohr to see that his Glenn shunt was holding up really well and that the vein repair he had done also looked really good. Her words to me were something to the effect of, "I'm feeling really good that Logan will have a very heart healthy next year or so." Of course this is contingent on him not getting any sort of bacterial infection due to his lack of a spleen but even with that she said that he has made it through the hardest part being a spleenless kid--his first year of life. Boy, how far we've come!

We don't need to see her for six months unless something comes up. This means he won't have another echo until then either. At that point we'll start the conversations about next steps with his next heart surgery but that's a ways off--we're planning on around 3ish. We will go back in October to have some blood work done to make sure all of his levels are looking good but hopefully we won't have any surprises and can rest easy for a while. We're thinking about doing his hernia repair later this fall or during one of Ben's holiday breaks.

Some other good news about Logan is that he is starting to eat solids a little better--still not enough to sustain him over the course of a day but he does seems to be much more willing and wanting to try new things and isn't gagging or puking nearly as much. We're hoping it's the prevacid (anti-reflux) medication taking effect and that he continues on this good path. Owen has no problems eating whatsoever. In fact, the little oinker ate two big hot dogs plus beans and fruit for dinner tonight alone.

Both kiddos continue learning new things every day and it's getting so fun. It's the best feeling ever to walk in the door after work and have them run to you and give hugs and kisses. And it's so amazing to see their little minds at work--be it stacking blocks(I think they could be Jenga experts)or repeating the things we do or say, it's pretty crazy.

Thinking the next update will probably happen on cast off day. Until then, happy fall.

Wednesday, September 1, 2004 10:01 AM CDT

We learned in the past week that normal kid stuff like an ear infection is something that we Bushaws don't quite know how to react to.

You might recall in the last post that Logan was having trouble keeping things down, he was throwing up a lot and eating smaller volumes of food. Well, the situation escalated to the point that we were absolutely, positively sure something was majorly wrong and insisted he get an upper GI done as soon as possible. Thankfully, they were able to get him in Wednesday of last week and thankfully again, everything looked normal and the barium they use to show how food passes through his tummy into his intestine did just what it was supposed to do. What it did show, however was reflux and that was what they used to explain what was happening.

We then went into the pediatrician's office to pick up some reflux medicine--Prevacid--and had him do a quick check up. He said Logan had an ear infection and to just let it figure itself out. Later that day, Ben took Logan to a follow up apt with his ENT doctor, Dr. Malone. She looked in his ears too and yep, defintitely an ear infection. She gave him some medicine called Omniceff and said he'd get better.

The poor tyke still wouldn't eat and we got to the point where we knew he was getting dehyrdrated (bad news for his ticker) so on Thursday afternoon we took him to the ER so they could juice him up. We were still convinced something was very wrong but they did a chest x-ray and that looked good and while we were there the kid decided to eat again so we got to go home (he did get an IV but pulled it out of his head).

We came home from the ER and he'd only eat 3 more ounces so on Friday morning we were set to take him back to the hospital. We'd called the pediatrician to make sure she agreed and before I walked out the door with him thought I'd try one more time to feed him and sure enough, he ate. Then he ate again, and again and again and finally I called the doctor back to say maybe he was on the up-and-up and decided to postpone our trip back to Children's.

Ever since, he's been doing great and what we've since learned is that when kids get ear infections they don't eat and some kids throw up and end up getting a cold.
Huh--normal kid stuff and boy oh boy,did it throw us for a loop!

We figure 14 months before a first ear infection is a pretty good indicator that we're doing the right thing as parents by keeping the boys at home and not in daycare and we're so very, very thankful we're able to do this again this year with my mom, Ben's mom and Auntie Angie watching the boys during the week. We know having Auntie Angie over with them for the past year is why they've stayed so healthy and hope this year proves the same.

Funny story--Owen got some snazzy new sneaks with Velcro and insists on wearing them always. He'll find them around the house and try to get them on by himself--one-armed and all--and when he can't do it brings them to us to help him. It's so fun watching them both learn and do new things every day.

Here's to normal kid stuff.

Sunday, August 22, 2004 9:17 PM CDT

Hi Everybody,
It's me, Owen writing a quick update for all of you.

Guess what? I've gone from a bum thumb to a fun thumb! Of course, I can't see it yet because I have to wear a cast for the next month but my surgery on Friday went really well. And, I got to pick what color cast I wanted--I got to choose from pink, lime green, neon orange or blue. There was no way I was going for pink--I'm no girl--and orange and green were a bit too attention grabbing so I went for blue, plus Mommy thought it wouldn't show dirt as much considering I have to wear it for so long.

Back to surgery day, I must admit that I'm pretty aprehensive of hospitals--I'm no dummy going to unfamiliar places with the same smell--but the people at Gillette were very nice and Dr. Van Heest did a very good job. She said to Mommy and Daddy following the three hour procedure that it really couldn't have gone any better than it did. Thank you God, for watching over me. :)

I came out of the surgery and had to wear this great big plastic thing on my hand to keep it upright for the rest of the day. It was pretty uncomfortable but I did my best to deal with the circumstances. All of my Grandma's and Grandpa's (except Grandpa Steve who had to work) came and sat with Mommy and Daddy to make sure everything went according to plan. It was reassuring when I came out of surgery that I was surrounded by the people who love me most.

By 4:00 I was smiling again, though I was a little restless, and I went to sleep pretty good too. The nurses woke me up two times during the middle of the night, but overall I had a pretty decent experience.

The fellow doctor, Dr. Bohn, came to visit on Saturday morning and said my fingers were all looking pink and pretty (I accepted the word "pretty" in this instance) and gave us word we could be on our way. So, at 9:00, 23 hours after we arrived, we were on our way back home.

Like I said before I have to wear the cast for about a month, but if yesterday and today are any indication I think I'll be just fine with this big thing on my arm. I can walk around really good, eat with my left hand and really, play just like normal. I haven't discovered that I could use this thing as a weapon and Mommy and Daddy are hoping I don't!!

Before I sign out, I should let you know that Logan is still doing good too. One thing to note though is that Mommy is making an appointment for him to see Dr. Plotnik because he still isn't eating solids that great (he gags and pukes a lot) and now Mommy and Daddy are wondering if maybe his pyloric valve is starting to get smaller--if you remember the doctor did a pyloroplasty to keep the pyloric valve open all of the time back in April. Sometimes, scarring can cause it to close which could explain a couple of things. I sure hope it's not a big deal but maybe you could keep him in your thoughts too.

Me and Logan are two tough little characters and Mommy and Daddy say we're incredible and inspirational the way we can handle surgeries and other stuff. I try to tell them that God must have given us extra strength when he decided we were going to have some challenges along the way. See, He always knows what he's doing, even if we don't.

Go new hand!!
Love,
Owen

Wednesday, August 11, 2004 8:23 PM CDT

Today was hernia-fixing day for Owen and he was a superstar! We knew he had a right inguinal hernia that needed to be repaired and when Dr. Wahoff went in to explore the left side he found one there too. So, he fixed them both starting at 12:30 and we were on our way home by 5:00--the first time we had a surgery and didn't have to spend the night. Shortly after we arrived home, he was playing like nothing had happened. It's amazing how quickly little ones can recover.

We also found out at Owen's pre-op that he's up to 20 lbs 10 oz. Wow--we were very excited by that considering he started at 4 lbs 8 oz.

Next Friday is thumb surgery and as the date draws near we're definitely getting more anxious and scared. The fact that he'll lose his adorable little thumb is sad to us and he's doing so well with his index and middle fingers grabbing things (he's like a little lobster) it's easy to think we should just leave it alone but we keep coming back to the understanding that this is the right decision for him. We only hope we continue feeling that way when he's got a cast on his right arm from hand to shoulder.

Overall, the kiddies are continuing to do just terrific! Ben has been SuperDad during these past few weeks as it's been extremly busy for me at work with Glamorama and traveling quite a bit to Chicago. Balancing Mommyhood and working is no easy feat--I'm learning this more and more every day but until we win the lottery (it's bound to happen sooner or later) I'll continue trying to figure it out. We just are so thankful to our families helping out so much.

Ben starts tennis practice next week and I know he's looking forward to that. We can hardly believe it's the middle of August. Time continues to fly by.

We'll report following Owen's surgery next Friday but please remember to pray for him and us during this time and ask others to do the same. The power of prayer gives us strength beyond measure.

Tuesday, August 3, 2004 11:34 PM CDT

It's been a busy few weeks for the Bushaw's and not a lot of time to keep up with our wonderful Caringbridge site but wanted to let you know what's been happening and what's in the horizon:

First, Logan had his bronchoscopy last Wednesday and all went great. He did have to stay overnight to ensure there wasn't any abnormal swelling of his throat but the nurses left us alone and we were home by 9:30 the following morning so we weren't complaining too much.

Dr. Malone identifed three issues:
- tracheal scaring
- bronchomalacia
- larynglmalacia (tight voice box) This was the biggest thing she found and likely the cause of his eating and spitting up issues.

She used the laser on the tracheal scaring and the larynglmalacia but thinks the bronchomalacia can clear itself up. The noisiness of his breathing should go away within four weeks when we go for a follow up visit. She was also going to communicate to everyone not to put the breathing tube down so far anytime he goes on the vent.

We're already noticing that Logan seems to be a little quieter with his breathing and seems to be swallowing food a little better so hopefully we can get the kid to start eating more like a one year old with fruit and noodles and cheese and such.

Today was a big day for Logs too--he got his G-tube out! Dr. Saltzman tells us that 95-97% of the time, the little hole from where the tube was closes on its own but if not, there's a 10-15 minute procedure he would do. We're trying not to get too optimistic but our track record is improving so we're hopeful it will close with no issues. We'll know on Saturday when we're able to take off the bandages covering the spot. Fingers crossed, please!

The hernia Logan developed isn't going away on it's own so we will need to get that fixed sometime in the future--notice I didn't even say near future--although we'll probably tackle during MEA weekend.

All in all, Logan is continuing to do Fan-stinking-tastic. He's walking nearly everywhere now and keeping up with Owen like you wouldn't believe. Owen is kind of a bully but usually Logan doesn't take any crap from him, which we are encouraging--one has got to be able to stick up for oneself!

Owen will be going in next week to get his hydrocele fixed--an in and out the same day procedure. This is an issue we've been noticing for sometime and it seems to be getting bigger. We'd hoped to take care of the same time as his hand surgery but ended up needing to do it separately. We opted to do it before he has the hand-to-shoulder cast put on.

Speaking of, please be remembering Owen's upcoming surgery on August 20. This will be a big one for our little guy. Dr. VanHeest, one of the best in the country, will be removing his right thumb, shortening his index finger and then shifting it down and turning it so it acts like a thumb should (allowing for the pincer grasp and so on). His middle finger will then become his acting index finger. The surgery takes at least four hours and she has to ensure the muscles, tendons and everything fit into position as they need to in order for him to have everything working. His cast will be on for 4-6 weeks to allow for proper healing. While we don't like the idea of it--and are positive Owen will HATE it--the doctor has ensured us that it takes little kids about 48 hours to adjust...we hope so!

We've decided we're lucky to have gone through what we've gone through during the past year because otherwise all of the above mentioned things might put us over the edge but thankfully, we're prepped and ready for the majority of these things--as long as there are no surprises. God has been so good to us and our growing little boys.

For those of you following our little cousin Ellis who was born with a fragile heart, he's been home for a few weeks now--after more than 15 weeks in the hospital--and is doing amazing! Ellis has been a true testament to the power of prayer and the strength of the Almighty One. There were so many times when we would be heartbroken by what we would read on his Caringbridge site and yet, like so many others, continued to pray that healing would come. When hope seemed to be gone, a miracle happened in that Ellis got better, and to date he is continuing to grow and be stable. We are so proud of Sam and Missy and especially Ellis for shouting to the heavens and proving to everyone he deserves his fighting chance. Yay Ellis and Yay God.

Friday, July 16, 2004 9:00 AM CDT

Owen and Logan have had a few appointments in the past week to check on hernias, constipation and breathing issues. Here are the updates:

Owen
Met with Dr. Wahoff, the pediatric surgeon who has helped him in so many ways, on Wednesday to have him look at his hernia and help us figure out his constipation issues. He told us the hernia is actually a hydrocele (not much difference) and will look to get it taken care of when he goes in for thumb surgery. That's on August 20 so we should be fine until then. Regarding his constipation, he said we're still doing everything right but increased the frequency of when we give him something called Myralax. We also learned we weren't quite giving it to him correctly. We'd give him the amount mixed with two ounces of fluid but then 4-5 other ounces of fluid to complete a feeding. The stuff needs to be really concentrated so by doing that it couldn't really work. He'd had a couple of MAJOR blowouts before our visit so we think we're on track to keep a consistent regimine. Can we just say now that he's eating more and more solids just how stinky those diapers can be? Holy Stink!! How a 20 pound kid stink up the joint like he does is something else. But, at least he's pooping. We never knew we'd get so excited about the size or frequency of his dumps.

Logan
First of all, he's walking!! Taking more and more steps on his own everyday. What a guy he is--and so proud of himself.

Secondly, he met with Dr. Malone, an ENT doctor, on Thursday re: his breathing. This was the first time he'd seen her and she pretty much walked into the room and said "Well, we can't let this go on any longer." So, we're waiting to hear back on a date in the next two weeks where Logan will go in for a bronchial scope. The doctor will look to see if indeed he's got a lot of scar tissue and if so, will laser it off. This would help him tremendously in terms of breathing easier and hopefully being able to eat better without gagging, etc. Our prayer is that the issue is as simple (in our world, this is simple)as having to do this and that she doesn't find anything else wrong when she does the procedure.

We've talked about having this done before when Logan was in the hospital but didn't want to put him under anethesia again unless absolutely necessary. Well, it turns out this is necessary and so we will move forward and hope that the risks associated don't amount to anything. We've got a great feeling about it.

Logan will also have his G tube removed on August 6. This is a simple in and out procedure so again, we're prepped and ready. Regarding his hernia above the scar on his abdomen, the doctor wants to keep a close watch on it. Dr. Wahoff (Owen's doctor) thinks it might just go away on its own and if can avoid a surgery we should. We'll give it a little more time to see what happens.

Other than these things, we're having a really great summer. Ben and I spent the weekend of July 10 in Annapolis Maryland for a friends wedding and had a really wonderful time. We needed that trip to reconnect and remember just how much we adore each other--the trips to SuperTarget are nice but don't cut it (for those of you who read the Pioneer Press story, you remember the reference).

We've got lots happening on the weekends and are still getting settled in the house but we've been really blessed and have come amazingly far from a year ago.

Summer blessings to all.

Sunday, July 4, 2004 10:11 PM CDT

Happy Fourth of July!

We had a fun two days in Austin visiting family, watching the parade, celebrating my Grandma List's birthday(Natalie's Mom's Mom), and eating lots of good food. It was quite a different Fourth of July this year than last when Owen was still in the hospital and we were juggling our time between home and the NICU. Holidays like today are times when we really think about how far we've come in a year--Thank the Lord!

It was a very busy week for us as we closed on our new house on Monday the 28th and spent the rest of the week settling in to our Eagan digs. While we still have a lot to do, we've accomplished painting the living room, dining room, basement, Owen's room and Logan's room, getting the kitchen in order, putting our clothes in our closet, arranging things in our master bath and washing the windows. This was no small feat while at the same time watching over two VERY, VERY active little boys who are in LOVE with all of their new space. Ben's mom, my mom, Abbie, Angie, Amanda and Randy all helped a lot--be it with painting, organzing or helping take care of the kiddos.

Owen and Logan have both slept better than ever in the new place--we think it's because their rooms aren't so bright in the morning and the constant hum of the freeway. Whatever it is, we're welcoming the change with rested eyes!

One more day of vacation for Mommy and then it's back to work--or is it? Having a week off from my paying job makes me think stay-at-home parents should make more money than us working folk put together! It's exhausting, but at the same time, it's definitely fun to see the boys play and learn and explore and interact. They're two crazy characters that Owen and Logan.

Welcome to the suburbs!

Sunday, July 4, 2004 10:11 PM CDT

Happy Fourth of July!

We had a fun two days in Austin visiting family, watching the parade, celebrating my Grandma List's birthday(Natalie's Mom's Mom), and eating lots of good food. It was quite a different Fourth of July this year than last when Owen was still in the hospital and we were juggling our time between home and the NICU. Holidays like today are times when we really think about how far we've come in a year--Thank the Lord!

It was a very busy week for us as we closed on our new house on Monday the 28th and spent the rest of the week settling in to our Eagan digs. While we still have a lot to do, we've accomplished painting the living room, dining room, basement, Owen's room and Logan's room, getting the kitchen in order, putting our clothes in our closet, arranging things in our master bath and washing the windows. This was no small feat while at the same time watching over two VERY, VERY active little boys who are in LOVE with all of their new space. Ben's mom, my mom, Abbie, Angie, Amanda and Randy all helped a lot--be it with painting, organzing or helping take care of the kiddos.

Owen and Logan have both slept better than ever in the new place--we think it's because their rooms aren't so bright in the morning and the constant hum of the freeway. Whatever it is, we're welcoming the change with rested eyes!

One more day of vacation for Mommy and then it's back to work--or is it? Having a week off from my paying job makes me think stay-at-home parents should make more money than us working folk put together! It's exhausting, but at the same time, it's definitely fun to see the boys play and learn and explore and interact. They're two crazy characters that Owen and Logan.

Welcome to the suburbs!

Friday, June 25, 2004 1:54 PM CDT

The birthday celebration is over and the boys could have cared less about their cupcakes. Isn't that funny? As parents and adults, it's all about the first birthday with cake and yet, more often than not the kiddies could care less. Such was the case at the Bushaw's but at least we met the main objective of getting pictures and video.

The big news to share today is an update on their one year check-up, which went very well.

Owen = 19lbs 11 oz, 29 1/2 inches
Logan = 19 lbs 4 oz, 28 inches

Both guys are on the big boy growth chart and Dr. Plotnik couldn't believe they were so big, so strong and so talkative/interactive. She was very impressed all things considered.

We did discover that Owen has a hernia but it isn't an urgent situation. We noticed a little bulge earlier this week and wondered if that's what it could be and the doctor confirmed our suspicions. We'll make an apt. with Dr. Wahoff in a few weeks and when he goes in for his thumb surgery in August we'll hopefully be able to repair that at the same time. It's almost like we're so used to finding out new things at appointments that this didn't even phase us. As long as things are fixable, we can take it.

This is a huge weekend for us as we're packing up the house and closing on our new home in Eagan on Monday. We have a ton of great memories in our house in St. Paul and will miss being there terribly. In many ways, it's another chapter in our "book of life" ending and we're on to the next one. We just hope the story keeps getting better and better.

On a last note, the St. Paul Pioneer Press will be running a story on Owen and Logan this Sunday in the "Express" section. In my Publicity role at Marshall Field's, I work with most of our local media pretty regulary and one of the reporters at the paper, Allison Kaplan, approached us following Logan's interesting month of April about writing a story. At first Ben and I were set against it, but as we talked through it, we remembered that one of our biggest hopes in dealing with all we've been through was that God might use our situation to help others. At that point, it became pretty obvious that this was a huge opportunity to do just that. While we don't know how the story will turn out--although Allison is a great writer and has become a good friend during the past few years--we are praying that others might find strength they didn't know they had in not only themselves but in the Big Man upstairs too.

Off to pack..

Wednesday, June 23, 2004 7:36 AM CDT

Dear Owen and Logan,

Happy Birthday to our precious little boys! We can’t believe that you’re already one and that you’ve come so far in the past year.

Looking back on one year ago today, we—along with a whole lot of others—were filled with joyful anticipation of your arrival but also an emotional fear of what could happen. You see, we found out early on that you boys were going to be different than most little guys; Baby A (Logan) had a bad heart and Baby B (Owen) had a tummy and an intestine that weren’t connected. Both of these situations would require surgery right away to ensure your safety and while deep down we had a strong faith that God was going to protect you and keep you in His loving care, we also were aware that the associated risks of your surgeries were out of our control.

The day of your birth was pretty incredible. All of your Grandpa’s and Grandma’s were with us at the hospital to wait for you, Pastor Sid came to pray with us before we went in for the scheduled C-section and Mommy and Daddy held together like glue for what was ahead. The whole process of giving birth was a piece of cake—except Mommy did throw up afterwards because of the anesthesia. Daddy filmed your arrival into the world and then rushed off with you to the NICU. I had to wait in a separate room for the anesthesia to wear off before I could come to be with you but once we were together, our lives were forever changed.

This past year has been a year of so many different things…from blessings and miracles to ups and downs, to laughter and tears and to joyful times and scared times. But more than anything this year has been a year of learning—learning what it means to become a parent and what it means to fall deeper and deeper in love with the two of you every single day. We have been amazed to see how strong you little boys are. With eight surgeries between the two of you and lengthy hospital stays for you, Logan and dealing with a colostomy for you, Owen, the two of you are tougher than most people who have lived until they’re 100. We are so proud of the little men you already are at one year of age and can’t begin to even imagine what lies ahead.

Our God has been an awesome God during this past year and we know He has a very special plan for each of you. Our hope is that as you grow older that we do a good job of teaching you to have faith in the Lord and to lean on Him when you’re feeling weak. We also hope to teach you and help you understand that God is in control and that all things are possible through Him. He has truly blessed our lives and the lives of so many others with the arrival of the two of you.

Owen and Logan, you have so many people who have been praying for you day after day for more than a year. From your grandparents and other family, to people you don’t even know across the entire country. We can’t begin to count the number of prayer chains you’re on in churches and schools and so on—it’s incredible.You have touched the lives of a lot of people and we are so thankful to each of them.

You also have a lot of doctors who have helped you along the way. Dr. Lohr, Dr. Herrington and Dr. Salzman have been instrumental in keeping you here with us, Logan and Dr. Rustad and Dr. Wahoff have helped you, Owen to be a normal, pooping little boy. That’s not to mention Dr. Lynch Salamen and all of the nurses who helped you make it here to begin with and Dr. Plotnik, your pediatrician, who helps make decisions and keeps us on track with both of you. Can you believe this list? It goes to show just how many people love and adore you.

Happy Birthday Owen and Logan! We pray that this year is a wonderful, happy, healthy and safe year for both of you and will do everything we can to make it your best year yet. Life has no guarantees and there are still things that we have to get through with you, (especially you and your little heart, Logan). But, if this past year is any indication, we know you will be all of the stronger for it.

We love you so much, boys.

Love,
Mommy and Daddy

Thursday, June 10, 2004 3:24 PM CDT

Logan had a big day today--his one year cardiology check up with Dr. Lohr. He had an echo first then the clinic visit and was a peach for the nearly 2 12/ hours we were there (as long as he could walk around the room, that is).

All in all, Logan is doing AMAZING! Dr. Lohr said his heart function looked very good and she didn't immediately see anything she was concerned about--she'll spend more time reading the echo but if there was anything not-so-good, she would have noticed on the echo right away. Hallelujah! We've definitely been feeling a bit anxious for this appointment so her feedback was just the news we wanted to hear.

A couple of things Dr. Lohr did note:

1. Increase the amount of Losartan he's on because his blood pressure was a little high. Then when we go see Dr. Plotnik (main pediatrician) in a few weeks, we'll have her check his blood pressure to see if it's helping and make a decision from there.

2. Keep him on formula (along with solids) until he's about 15 months instead of switching to whole milk, which you can typically do when babies turn one. The reason for this is to ensure he's getting all of the iron he needs and some of the other nutrition formula provides.

3. Schedule an apt with an ENT doctor. The reason for this is because we asked her about his breathing and wheezing and if he could possibly have a smaller airway causing those issues and occasional spitting up when he's trying to eat things like thicker mashed potatoes. She agreed it could be possible, especially since he's been on a ventilator a number of times which can cause scarring and things. The ENT doctor can determine what's going on and what to do about it. The good news is, it doesn't sound like anything we need to be overly concerned about but more importantly figure out what it is and be aware of it. So, we'll make an appointment and move on.

Other than that, she was happy to see him and even more happy with how well he's doing. In fact, we won't need to see her again for six months, unless something comes up or we just want to check in. Again, this is such encouraging news from where we were at this time one year ago. Dr. Lohr has been such a huge part of our lives and we value her so much--thank you, Dr. Lohr, for helping Logan get to this date!!

Oh, you may want to know that Logan weighed in at 18 lbs 11 ounces and was 28 1/4 inches long! YAY LOGAN! He's on the growth chart--third percentile for weight and almost 50th percentile for height. One of the averages doctors go by with babies is that they should be about three times their birth weight at their one year birthday. For Logan, he's right on and then some as he was born at 4 pounds 5 ounces! Once again, YAY LOGAN!

We don't want to forget about Owen--he's doing great too. We'll find out his weight at his one year appointment but all in all, he's walking, babbling, singing and playing the gazoo. It's too funny for words.

We're rejoicing today as we've reached a big milestone for Baby A/heart baby/Logan. He's a miracle if there ever was one and we thank God for watching over him and protecting him day after day.

Go Logan.

Thursday, June 3, 2004 8:58 AM CDT

It's June and the sun is finally shining--what could be better? It's been a long, dreary and rainy few weeks but the weather seems to be on the up-and-up and so are our moods.

Owen and Logan are still doing just terrific. Owen is now walking non-stop and is so proud of himself. Logan is figuring out the crawling thing more and more every day and works really hard to keep up with his brother. Even though he can't walk he can definitely stand--and stand he does. We think it makes him feel big like Owen.

The long Memorial Day weekend was pretty much a wash with the weather but it was nice for Ben and me to spend some quality time with each other and the kiddies. We did make it to the Como Zoo on Monday, which the boys seemed to like a lot. They've got a whole new world to experience this summer and we're very excited to show them just how much is out there.

This weekend we're plannning to make our first venture down to Austin since our last trip in April when our world seemed to nearly fall apart. My Grandpa Behn (my dad's dad)is coming home from Arizona for the first time in 18 months and we just can't wait for him to meet his great grandchildren! Unfortunately, his wife Pauline won't be with him. She has Parkinson's Disease which has really started to take a toll on her health and as a result she can't travel. At least Grandpa will have some great pictures to lift her spirits. Maybe at some point Ben and me will be able to get to Arizona so she can meet them in person too. I tell you what, they really do a number on a person's heart!

Not much else new to report...we're just so thankful that things are continuing to go well for the boys and that they're growing and learning new things every day. Sometimes we just stop and stare at them and praise God for the many things we have to be thankful for. This past year has been a rough road and we know we still have bumps ahead to contend with(thumb surgery and heart surgery)and anticipate we'll hit bumps that surprise us but as we've done thus far, will just continue to have faith that they'll just be speed bumps along the way.

We're always so thankful for the support and prayers of so many of you and ask you to continue to keep us in your thoughts.

Enjoy the sun!

Sunday, May 23, 2004 9:40 PM CDT

Hi All, it's me Owen typing--a little past my bedtime, I know but I've got a song that I've been singing and I can't get it out of my head...It goes something like, "These feet were made for walkin' so that's just what I'll do.." Get it? I'M WALKING ALL BY MYSELF!!

Yahoo, I'm so proud of myself. I've been working on it for quite some time pushing my little walker thing and walking all around furniture and holding on to Mommy's and Daddy's hands. I've even taken one or two little steps on my own and then yesterday I finally took a whole bunch. It started when Grandpa Paul and Grandma Kathy were over earlier in the day. But then my new girlfriend Clare (Mommy and Daddy's friend's Amy and Adam's little girl)came over last night and was showing me up a bit so I figured I had some major impressing to do. Lo and behold I went for it and I think I stole her heart then and there. Logan was trying to impress her too but I think she's more keen on me. Just like everything, I'm sure we'll be fighting for her affection...let the games begin.

I get so excited when I take my steps that my arms go up and down and it looks like I'm trying to fly. This is going to be so fun and I can tell Mommy and Daddy are even more excited than I am. Just think; now they have to watch me closer than ever to be sure I don't fall down and hit my head or crash into things. Logan and me make their lives more interesting every single day!!

It is important to tell you how well Logan is doing too. Just in the past week or so he's crawling like crazy--still not fully using his knees but he's getting everywhere I get and really making Mommy and Daddy proud.

Not too much else new to report about us but today is our 11 month birthday. Can you believe it--11 months! Last year at this time Mommy was in the hospital patiently awaiting our arrival and now I'm walking. Funny what can happen in one year's time.

Tomorrow Daddy goes back to work after his six week leave. Logan and I are going to be very sad. We've had a lot of fun playing with him every day and he's made it a lot easier for Mommy to get out of the house and to work in the morning too. Now starts a whole new routine again but at least we still have Auntie Angie coming over. We love her so much. We figure it won't be so bad having Daddy gone again because there's only three weeks left of his school and then he'll be back with us. Yippie!

Before I go I do want to ask you all to pray for my cousin Ellis. He's still having a really rough go of things and we want him to get better so he can spend time with his Mommy and Daddy. My brother and me know that miracles can happen and we really, really need one to happen for Ellis. Your prayers can only help so please, pray hard.

Walk on...

Monday, May 17, 2004 4:56 PM CDT

The Bushaw's have been smooth sailing lately--just the way we like it!

The biggest news since Logan's return home is that he's starting to scootch around like it's nobody's business and has figured out how to 1) do the lobster crawl where he's sitting in an upright position and uses his hands to pull himself from point A to point B and 2)do the tummy crawl where he's on his tummy and pulls himself and turns himself in order to get from point A to point B. Both of these crawls make Ben and me very happy--to see him doing so well and finally getting to where he can move is just a good feeling all the way around. We're so proud of this little boy and all he's accomplished and continues to accomplish.

Owen will have a new name anyday now and it will be STINKER! While we love, love, love to see his little mind working and the various things that get him excited, he definitely likes to get into everything we don't want him to get into and he likes to make people wince--pulling hair, giving a little bite bite or poking at Logan. All of these things are quite humorous but at the same time teaching him "no" only seems to delight him further. Oh, the joys of parenting.

Mother's Day was a beautiful day and I'm feeling pretty blessed to be where I'm at today. Never in a million years did I fathom how our lives would change with the addition of Owen and Logan but then again, never in a million years did I imagine I'd be a mom. Funny how this world works.

Logan's got some follow up apt's this week and next so we'll be interested to hear how the doctors think he's doing. This coming Sunday is their 11 month birthday--no longer babies but full-grown little toddlers.

Ben will be getting a full dose of the kiddies this week and next as I'm traveling quite a bit for work. I guess it'll be the best of best tests for how much fun he'll have being a stay-at-home daddy this summer.

Keep his sanity in your prayers!!

Wednesday, May 5, 2004 11:34 AM CDT

Logan has been home for a week and a half and has been doing absolutely fabulous. It's very odd because had you not known what happened during those three long weeks in April, you'd never in a million years guess that he was close to leaving this world.

In more ways than one we're truly starting to feel that Logan is destined for something very big. It's frankly, the only way to explain why and how he's been able to make it through so much in such a short period of time. So many people say, he's going to be a doctor or win the Nobel Prize or maybe even two of them. Our thoughts are if he can grow up to be a strong boy who knows right from wrong and can make people feel better after talking to him that he will have accomplished more than a lot of us have. Of couse, if he wins the Nobel Prize we'll take that too.

Life seems to have returned to our definition of normal...we've got Owen and Logan back on good nap and sleep schedules and they're enjoying being back together--we think. We're finally figuring out that Owen is a very strong-willed boy and will always take what his brother has and will always get in to everything that he's not supposed to. It's quite amusing to see his mind working when he plays with the noodle strainer or tries to rip the pages out of a magazine purely for his own eating pleasure. He's balancing on his own now and gets so excited to be hands free of things. That first step on his own is within reach.

Logan will be visiting some doctors for check ups in the next few weeks but until then we're hoping for status quo. The weather is getting nicer and it's so fun to be outside with the babies.

Happy Spring to all.

Monday, April 26, 2004 9:09 PM CDT

Hi All, it's me Owen and my brother is finally home! Sure, I'm excited and all -- I suppose I missed him a little but I must admit that I'm not enjoying having another overly cute boy around to take away attention from me. Auntie Angie was cooing over Logan when he walked in the door with Mommy and Daddy and I think I felt what you big people call "jealousy." I screamed a bit to get their attention back on me but it didn't work very well. It might be harder than I thought getting used to having this joker back home again.

Daddy told me he's going to stick around through the end of May to play with me and Logan and that should be fun. Who knows, maybe he'll have such a good time with us at home he'll decide to stay at home forever. Nah, on second thought, his kids at school need him too so we should probably share. Logan and I hear he's a pretty good math teacher for those Simley kids.

Before Logan came home today he had one more upper GI study to see how food was moving through his system. Mommy and Daddy were very excited to finally see things doing what they were supposed to after their 22 day adventure at Children's. They also brought home a bag full of medications for him. Before he was only taking Amoxicillin to fend off bacteria. Now he's also taking Losartan, a blood pressure medication to take some of the pressure off of his heart; Keppra, an anti-seizure medication that he takes twice a day; Pulmacort, a steroid nebulizer to keep his wheezing at bay; and Pepcid, a reflux medication. At some point he should be able to go off of all of them except the Amoxicillin and Losartan. The Keppra is the big one Mommy and Daddy don't want him to stay on if at all possible--it just makes things a little scarier for them. The neurologist is quite certain he won't have any more seizures since they were very likely related to the meningitus and thinks he'll want him on this for at least a month or so and then he'll decide what to do about it.

It was a really great day for us overall. Logan took a solid 2 hour nap which was fab for me because I got all of the attention again. Then tonight we drove to Eagan to show Logan our new house! Mommy and Daddy signed the purchase agreement today and contingent on inspection it will be ours around June 28! I'm pretty excited because I'll get my own room and Logan and I will have a whole downstairs to claim as our own along with a huge back yard to roam and play in. It's just the house I was hoping for. Thanks Mommy and Daddy.

So here ends another adventure for the Bushaws and once again it's been an adventure with a happy ending. I think I'll sleep better tonight having my brother back home with me.

Good night all!

Sunday, April 25, 2004 10:17 AM CDT

Logan had a sleepover at the hospital last night with Grandma Lin Lin and Grandpa Ran Ran (Schroeder). They were nice enough to stay over so we could have a night together. We intended to go to a 30th birthday party for our friend Andrew but we found a house in Eagan in the afternoon and needed to put our offer together. Yes, amidst all of the chaos of the past month we've still been eagerly trying to find a new house for the kiddies.

The Grandparents and Logan had a blast but they didn't get a whole lot of sleep because Logan's IV went bad and had to be replaced--again--at 11:00pm and he didn't go down until around 12:30am. This is about the fifth time since April 12 they've had to do replace his IV--since he can't have a central line go in directly to whereever it's supposed to, he has peripheral IV's (arm, hand, foot, ankle). These places aren't able to withstand the antibiotics as well and therefore go bad more often.

This time they put the IV in his scalp, which is scary to look at but should last us until we go home...TOMORROW (Monday)!! It's true, bearing an unforseeen disasters, Logan should be able to come home after his afternoon dose of antibiotics. He's got an upper GI scheduled for the morning and that should be it for tests and such.

Our hope is the next time we write it will be from home with our family reunited. We're both feeling this has been the longest 20 days of our lives.

This week will be a very challenging week for our newest little cousin, Ellis (Sam and Missy Bergstrom's little guy). He's having three procedures done on his heart to prepare him for an eventual heart transplant that he will need. PLEASE, PLEASE pray that he stays strong and that the doctors are able to help this little boy.

Thank you again to all that have checked in on Logan and our family. We are so lucky to have such a great support system.

Wednesday, April 21, 2004 1:35 PM CDT

Grandpa Paul (Behn) is hanging out with Logan today at the hospital and called me (Natalie) at work to say "there was a problem...Logan didn't seem to be able to stop smiling and laughing!" Is that the cutest, greatest thing to hear, or what? We have so enjoyed watching all of the grandparents spend time with Logan; he can really bring out the kid in about anyone.

We're glad to report that his road to recovery continues and he's now getting a reputation at Children's of being the happiest, not to mention cutest, kid in the joint. What an amazing turnaround from his reputation last week of being one of the sickest kids they've seen in a while?

The nurses aren't bugging him nearly as much these days. He only gets his blood pressure and temp taken once a day and he's off of a lot of his meds meaning he's now into being friends with everybody--it's very sweet and his demeanor seems to be very contagious.

I figure I should let you all know what's been going on with Owen the past couple weeks. You probably saw in one of the pictures that he's got one great big front tooth--we don't know how his other one got left behind but are searching for it to poke through anyday now. He's ready to walk any minute and in fact, stood by himself for about 5 seconds the other day. He is in to everything but it's so darn funny we can never get upset with him. Licking the floor, licking the door, shoving leaves and everything else he can into his mouth seems to be his favorite things to do. He also has a thing with pulling hair, regardless of the length, and he does it with a bit of naughtiness in his eyes. For a girl trying to grow out her hair or a guy trying to keep everything he's got, Owen is not making it very easy.

We were planning to do Owen's hand surgery in May but have now decided to postpone it until August 20. With everything our family has gone through the past month we'd like to enjoy the summer with no scheduled surgeries, no casts and no therapy. Lord willing, we'll get our wish.

The doctors continue to be amazed by our family and we continue to be thankful to all of you for your support.

Monday, April 19, 2004 8:34 PM CDT

Oh friends, we are so encouraged by the past few days and how well Logan seems to be recovering. Today was Logan's best day yet after a weekend of continued improvement.

We were able to start feeding him via bottle a few times -- three times today for a total of 11 oz. The first feeding this morning all came back up but in thinking through what transpired we recalled that when he was finishing his bottle the nurse was giving him Tylenol through the J-tube and had to use a syringe to push it down and through. That pressure, combined with his swallowing, was likely too much and cause him to "blow it up." His other feedings today were very uneventful except for the fact that he seemed to be loving every minute of sucking down his yummy formula.

If we can confirm everything tummy-wise is working we'll be almost home free, which is truly a miracle. The meningitus treatment via IV antibiotics need to continue through next Monday. We've asked about the possibilities of getting a home health nurse to be at home with us if the IV is the only thing holding us here. At this point, we're about willing to pay any price to get us the heck out of here!

Regardless of when we're able to go home, Logan will have an upper GI study to confirm everything is working digestively and a follow up MRI to confirm the meningee swelling has subsided and ensure there are no other abnormalities. We can finally see an end in sight.

As I type this, Logan is sleeping in his room (I'm just across the hall) very peacefully. This is such a difference compared to the past two Monday's he and we have had to endure. Last Monday was by far the scariest time in our lives and yet here we are a week later with our little boy back to what we're used to -- full of smiles, giggles and delight.

While we can't say we haven't been frustrated and questioned why so much is happening to Logan, we can honestly say that we KNOW the only reason we're where we're at is because of God's healing hands and the power of the prayers and support from so many of you. It's hard for us to even imagine going through this without the faith that we have...to be able to cry out for help to someone bigger than ourselves is very comforting in times like this. Thank you Lord!

While we're confident we're on a path to recovery we still request your continued prayers and thoughts. We also ask that you pray for Ellis Bergstrom, Ben's cousin's little baby boy (1 1/2 months). He has some very serious challenges ahead of him regarding his heart and needs as much support as he can get.

On a final note, you may now refer to Logan by his new name, Lucky -- a nickname we always thought of calling him but it's now become more fitting than ever!

Saturday, April 17, 2004 12:44 AM CDT

Friday turned out to be what may have been our most uneventful day yet--no bad news, no seizures, no emergency surgeries, yahoo! Unfortunately though, Logan was in quite a bit of pain as he began coughing from being on the breathing tube during Thursday's surgery. This is normal and usally isn't painful but under the circumstances it was making Logan more miserable than ever and pain medication can only do so much. The good news is the doctor thinks he'll be feeling loads better by Sunday.

They started using the J-tube to give Logan pedialite early Friday morning and by afternoon he was getting some of his Good Start Formula. 10 cc's an hour, or 2 teaspoons, what a teeny amount. Today we should be able to start giving him a little by bottle and if all goes well he'll continue on that road and DC (hospital lingo for discontinue) the J Tube.

Grandma Schroeder stayed overnight with Logan last night so Ben and I could spend one night at home with Owen. It was the first night I put him to bed in nearly two weeks. He's been pretty tough during all of this too with different Grandma's and Grandpa's watching him, staying at different places, etc. Funny thing about this kid though is that I think he's kind of keen on being solo for the time being.

The on-call pediatrician informed us this morning that the culture did come back positive (which we pretty much knew yesterday) meaning Logan does have meningitis. It explains a lot and makes us feel better about some of the stuff that's happened with him. This goes to show that doctors DO NOT know everything and SHOULD be cautious with assuming (we all know what that can do, right?) One of the cardiologists said to Ben and me the other day that "if that kid's got meningitis I'm going to have to go back to school." In a not-very-Christian way I admit that I enjoyed telling him on Friday that I had come up with a list of schools for him to consider!

Logan will be treated with IV antiobiotics for the next week or so -- he needs 14 days of it. Following that they'll do another MRI to ensure the meningee swelling has gone down and be sure there are no other abnormal signs on his brain. Thankfully, I think we caught this bug soon enough that it couldn't do any major damage. Stupid bug!

We're going to stick with status quo for the next few days and hope that we can start feeling a little more optimistic this week. Ben has taken a leave from work until the end of May which will alleviate a lot of the stresses we're feeling and I'll hopefully be able to go in to work a couple of days this next week. I'm very fortunate to have such an amazing boss to work for and such a fabulous group of people who are helping me out tremendously during my absence. We should all be so lucky.

Look for an update on Monday...

Thursday, April 15, 2004 1:45 PM CDT

This is our second post of the day so in order to read what transpired yesterday and into this morning you'll have to click on "journal history." As you'll read, it's been an interesting past 30+ hours to say the least.

The surgery Dr. Salzman performed appears to have been a success. The pyloroplasty, as it turns out, was necessary because there was a lot of scarring around the pylorus meaning it was basically closed shut and probably wouldn't have cleared up on its own. I'm guessing there was a God-forseen reason the G-J tube procedure didn't work because it made it necessary to go in and actually see what was happening inside. Had they not gone in it could have been weeks before we knew what was going on leading to an even worse end result for Logan's little tum tum.

Logan is now back in the PICU and will be into tomorrow. Thankfully, they saved his space in the unit (my take at humor given it's our third visit to the PICU in the past 10 days).

In another interesting development, the Intensivist in the PICU has informed us they now cannot rule out meningitus as the spinal tap they're culturing has started to grow something. They think it may be staph but said they'll likely treat it as meningitus to be safe. Going back to his symptoms, the fever, the seizure, etc. we're guessing they'll be coming back to us with their tails between their legs. While this certainly isn't what we want, it would explain a lot -- especially the seizures!

The rest of the day should be relatively uneventful, Lord willing. Logan will be coming off of the breathing tube and they'll slowly get him back into reality. Later tonight or tomorrow they'll begin using the J tube for feedings. It will have to be a very slow process because his intestines haven't done any work for almost 14 days.

For the moment, we're taking a break, breathing and hoping things start improving. We'll definitely be here now through the weekend and into the middle of next week. If Logan is treated for bacterial menengitus he'll need to receive IV only antibiotics for 7-14 days.

The ride continues...

Thursday, April 15, 2004 9:51 AM CDT

This writing finds us on another roller coaster and we're starting to wonder if this crappy ride will ever end.

Right now Logan is in yet another emergency surgery. He was to have a G-J Tube inserted this morning, which is another tube that goes through his gastrostomy tube into his jejunium or small intestine. There was quite a bit of concern about doing this procedure because the G tube hadn't been in place long enough and may break away from the anterior wall. While our doctor was convinced it would be fine, it wasn't and sure enough it broke away meaning that Logan's tummy wasn't connected again and so if food were to go through the G tube it would leak out into his insides (for lack of a better way to explain it). Obviously, this was not our ideal result.

The doctor came out to explain the situation and said he needed to go into surgery to repair this and also perform a pyloroplasty. This involves opening the pyloric valve so instead of the tummy contracting and opening and closing this valve to process food, it will remain open all of the time. We were really really trying to avoid this because of some of the long term risks involved.

I took a break from the waiting room to write so you'd all say some prayers that maybe this is what needed to happen to get him back on track. We don't know what will happen next, how he'll be able to eat, etc.

You might think, "Wow, another setback." Unfortunately, that isn't the only one. Alhough Logan had another good day overall yesterday, he also suffered another seizure right after being moved from the PICU to the floor. This time it lasted almost 20 minutes and Ben and I weren't even there--we'd gone home to shower and make some mac and cheese. Ben's Mom dealt with it alone and insisted the neurologist be paged so he was able to witness it himself. He says he can't give us a reason for these seizures to be happening, which in a strange way is good. If there was a reason it would mean there was something seriously wrong. Logan was receiving anti-seizure medication but when they went to check his levels he wasn't getting nearly enough which the doctor said explains why this second one likely occured along with all of the stress he's enduring--all of the different people poking and prodding him, moving from one unit to another and so much more. Moving forward, Logan will need to be on a seizure medication until after his second heart surgery between 2 and 3.

I've never been one to think twice about Murphy's Law but I'm about ready to rename it Logan's Law. Whatever could go wrong since this ordeal has started is continuing to go wrong. Logan has been such a fighter for the past 9 1/2 months but I wonder, how much can this little precious boy endure? Does there come a point where he just decides he's a bit tired to all of this nonsense? Lord, I hope not. The fact that he can still smile amazes all of us.

We'll do our best to update later today when he's out of surgery. Again, the kind words from so many of you mean the world to us. Please continue to pray for and think of Logan. We need everything we can get.

Tuesday, April 13, 2004 11:03 PM CDT

We liked Tuesday much better than we liked Monday! Needless to say the past 36 hours have been scary but Logan is definitely doing better than our last post.

Last night our moms stayed up here with Logan and us and allowed Ben and me to get a little sleep. Ben got up at 4:00am to see how Logan was doing and sent the moms to get some much needed rest. Logan woke up at 4:15 and Ben could tell he was improved since midnight (Logan didn't fall asleep until 2:30, likely because of the stimulation from the seizure and his surroundings). He moved his limbs, which wasn't happening earlier and also reacted to his name. His fever was also gone by 5:30--yet another encouraging sign.

By 8:00am it seemed like the horrifying experience of Monday afternoon was only a dream. Logan was alert, responsive, moving everything, smiling, laughing and filling our hearts with joy. He still needed to have some tests done but the overall reaction from the doctors, nurses and us was that he was a changed boy. A big miracle considering we didn't know if he'd make it.

Logan's MRI was to happen at 1:00 but got bumped to 4:00. At around 8:30 tonight we learned that it showed no signs of a stroke or any brain damage -- praise the Lord! However, what it did show was some contrast around the meniges (men-in-jeez), potentially indicating meningitis. This was yet another total shock to us!

The doctor in the PICU is confident that if it is meningitis we caught it early enough with very, very strong antibiotics. (This would explain why he was such a different person today.) Additionally, it would explain why he had the seizure as it's one of the signs along with numerous other indicators he showed. The blood culture from his femoral line also came back positive today indicating an infection. How strange that this is all making such perfect sense to us. We also remember a doctor talking with a family in the PICU waiting area just last Monday about needing to do a test to rule out meningitis, which leads us to wonder if somehow he contracted it from being in the hospital. Our previous experiences have certainly proved that this happens time and again.

At 11:45pm tonight they are doing a spinal tap to get spinal fluid to culture. This will hopefully confirm what is going on and what steps need to be taken next. A concern we have is not only us getting it but also Owen who was up visiting his brother on Easter. Please pray that we all stay safe from this nasty bacteria.

Tomorrow Logan will have another Echocardiogram done on his heart along with an EEG to rule out any other seizure related issues. We're also hoping his tummy continues to improve so we can cancel a procedure we currently have scheduled for Thursday. This would involve doctors inserting a tube into his current gastrostomy tube for drip feedings to his small intestine (to bypass the stomach)until the vegas nerve starts to work again.

If indeed Logan has bacterial meningitis we are truly lucky that he's still with us as this is where not having a spleen can prove deadly. One doctor commented that Logan was likely developing an infection that would have typically gone into his lungs but instead went to his brain. As strange as it may sound it's probably a blessing in disguise because with his heart/lung and oxygen saturation related issues he would not have been able to fight it off...if that doesn't give you goose bumps, huh?

Lots still to be determined and lots of prayers are still needed but we feel that getting through yesterday was huge!

Words cannot express the thankfulness we have for all of the support, thoughts and prayers from our family and friends and even folks we don't know. Thank you!

Tuesday, April 13, 2004 1:05 AM CDT

The past few days have been like the fastest roller coaster at Valleyfair. We've been up and we've been down and we've wanted to scream the entire ride. Easter was yet another holiday in the hospital.

Today was an especially bad, bad day. As soon as Logan woke up this morning we knew something was wrong. His coloring was different, his eyes were sunken in and he was very lethargic. Of course, doctors and nurses mostly only say things like "oh, you're right" or "we'll keep a watchful eye on him" and don't really do anything until it's too late. Too late unfortunately has resulted in a seizure and very likely a stroke for Logan...

As you may have read Logan initially came in for a double ear infection and a tummy virus which became a gastric volvulus (or a twisted stomach). Dr. Salzman from the
U of M fixed this during emergency surgery last Monday night. Since then we've been waiting for his tummy to wake up. The doctor felt it was something called gastric atony. After waiting through the weekend with still no improvement we did another upper GI Study this morning and still nothing was moving. Upon that study and conversations with other GI doctors, our surgeon determined what had likely happened was the vegas nerves that stimulate peristalsis was damaged when his tummy twisted.

In the midst of all of this, Logan developed a fever and possibly an infection from a femoral IV sometime between Sunday night and Monday afternoon--though the underarm temperature read was normal, upon doing it rectally it was actually 102 degrees. It was about 4:00pm when Dr. Salzman came back into our room and said we needed to get the fem line out and get him on some serious antibiotics. The cardiologist then came in at 5:00 to take a look at Logan and was a bit concerned as well. Finally, a nurse came in to do a new IV line around 5:45 and after some searching found a good vein. Logan was of course, very upset by all of this but Mommy was calming him with her head on his chest. At about 6:15, Logan suddenly started twitching his right arm, then his neck started twitching while he was gazing off to the left, finally his leg started twitching as well. We screamed for our nurse and a code red was ordered. The whole scenario lasted for about 1 1/2 minutes. It was by far the scariest moment of our entire lives. We had no idea what was happening.

Following getting him settled and giving him some medication we went down for a CAT scan. While it appeared normal the doctors are very concerned Logan suffered a minor stroke. This is a potential occurence in single ventricle babies who have an IV or who have developed an infection with a fever.

Tomorrow morning (tuesday) they'll do an MRI to see for certain what happened. Tonight however it is pretty apprarent that his right side is not functioning normally and he is favoring looking up and off to the right side. More will be determined during the MRI.

This is so serious for Logan. We still have to worry about his tummy working and this is the most major setback we could have EVER encountered. Please pray for Logan that the seizure didn't result in a stroke as they think and that he can bouce back from this like he has everything else. We cannot imagine something happening to our most precious little boy.

God is good, He is faithful and He is all powerful...we know He alone can heal Logan.

We'll find time to update tomorrow.

Friday, April 9, 2004 2:01 PM CDT

Good news and so so news today regarding Logan...

The good news is he's pretty content and comfortable in the hosptial. We're getting lots of smiles, he's super attentive and he doesn't seem to be in much pain at all. The not-so-good news is his tummy still isn't processing food meaning it's just sitting around in there doing nothing. It's actually an incredible coincidence (or a Godcidence is more like it)that Dr. Salzman gave him the G-tube. It's proving to be very beneficial to pull out food that isn't digesting, getting extra air out, etc. The doctor thinks what's happened is something called a gastric atony meaning because his tummy couldn't digest anything for more than 3 days it's kind stuck and not contracting. They want us to wait out the weekend and see if it wakes back up. We have a lot of confidence in our doctor so we'll see what happens Monday.

I can't forget to at least mention how well Owen is doing. He's now pulling himself up on anything and everything and has learned how to turn the light in his room on and off (his crib is right next to that wall) and he also now pull opens the door to his room to let us know when he's up for the day. It's the funniest thing.

Continued prayers are requested. As it's Easter weekend, we know God sent His son for us and has a plan for these precious boys. Even with as much as we've gone through we still firmly believe in this truth.

Happy Easter to all.

Wednesday, April 7, 2004 12:03 AM CDT

April Fool's Day this year was much much better than April Fool's Day last year. This year we went to visit the doctors and nurses who watched Owen and Logan grow and helped them make it into the world. We also had a party with Owen and Logan's Grandma's and Grandpa's and a cake that read "Happy April Fool's--We fooled you." It was such a difference compared to a year ago April Fool's when we found out so much bad news -- a bad heart, a tummy that wasn't connected to the intestine, monochoronic monoamniotic twins that shared the same sac and had a survival rate of between 50-80a strong chance of Down's Syndrome and the thought that we may need to consider terminating one of the pregnancies. To think of how far we've come since then is frankly, a great big miracle. It's also overwhelming to think of how much God's hand has played a part in this whole story from the get go--even though we don't fully understand why.

There was a lot of anxiety for Mommy about April Fool's Day and how well things had been going for the past few months (minus the poopy ROTO virus in early March). It was almost a little too good to be true, which leads me to what's transpired since then...

On Saturday we packed up the kids to go down to Austin for the day and night for Kelly and Matt's wedding reception (they were married in Mexico in January). Upon arriving in Austin Logan got really agitated and sick so we had to take him to the ER (with his heart we can't take any chances). The doctor did an exam and found he had a double ear infection and probably a virus of some sort. Logan was very uncomfortable and acted like he wanted to throw up but couldn't. We had Ben's Mom and Dad watch him so we could go to the party with at least one of our little guys that people were so anxious to meet and see.

Logan didn't get any better overnight, he couldn't keep anything down and was hardly going to the bathroom so we left early Sunday morning to get back to St. Paul and get him to Children's Hospital. They felt he was dehydrated more than anything so hooked him up to an IV to get his juices flowing. Well, nothing else improved -- he tried to eat but within a minute things came back up. We were admitted later Sunday afternoon and on Monday morning I asked to have a cardiologist come see him and also requested to have a GI doctor, preferably Dr. Salzman who performed his intestinal surgery in November, come take a look in case it was related to that. My mom was VERY certain that whatever was going on was not a virus and boy oh boy, was she ever right.

Dr. Salzman came in to see him in the afteroon (thanks to a resident who said it was imperative) and he ordered a GI Study to be done. At the GI study which happened at 5:30pm, Dr. Carpenter pulled out more than 13 ounces of fluid from his tummy that appeared to be stuck there with no place to go. We had to figure out why and fast. We no sooner got back to our room when we were told Logan was going into emergency surgery because his tummy had flipped and twisted. Dr. Salzman performed the surgery at 7:15pm and ultimately had to untwist his stomach and tack it down in two places.

You're probably wondering how this could happen so here's the explanation: In normal kids the spleen and the tummy are connected via ligaments/muscles; because Logan lacks a spleen, his tummy wasn't anchored down and was more or less floating on his right side -- it was connected only to his intestine. The surgery went great and Dr. Salzman was again a Godsend for us. Had he not come in when he did and ordered the GI study it would have taken at least another day or so for them to figure things out which could have been too late. It's just about more than I can take to even imagine what could have happened.

Since the surgery Logan has been in a lot lot lot of pain. He developed what's called an ilius (sp?) meaning his stomach kind of shut down so there is a lot of gas, gastric fluid and air making him horribly uncomfortable. The only thing to do is try to calm the pain and wait for the stomach to wake up. This has been very trying for Logan and all of us. We're just praying that things will improve in the next few hours. He also has high potassium levels so they will need to give him some medication to help with this and reduce some swelling and puffiness.

Needless to say it's been a trying last few days. April Fool's Day for us this year decided to happen on April 3 and we can't wait for it to be over.

Please keep Logan in your prayers. Thankfully his heart is doing terrific and hasn't been affected by everything that's been going on. That could change though so we need things to settle down for his heart's sake and for his own sake overall.

We'll provide an update tomorrow on his progress.

Saturday, March 27, 2004 9:27 PM CST

As adorable as Owen and Logan are, some days are harder than others when it comes to these little boys. Perhaps it was the rainy weather, perhaps it was a headache or just their lack of naps but today the boys wore us out. As I write that though, I'm at the same time thinking to myself that I have no right, not one single right to complain because there are many parents out there who don't even get the chance to get frustrated.

You see, Ben's cousin Sam and his wife Missy had a little baby boy on Thursday night, Ellis Joshua, and he has been struggling since he was born. Today he had to have an operation on his heart to fix a valve that isn't working properly. They are in a wait-and-pray mode and I can't imagine how difficult is for them. It can be easy to forget what Ben and I have gone through when we hear about others. Please pray that Ellis can pull through this and go home with his Mommy and Daddy very soon.

Tonight I also read about a little boy, Kyler, who lost his life at 4 1/2. He had hypoplastic left heart syndrome, had a heart transplant and numerous other operations and surgeries and although he did very well for a long time, an infection and some other issues ending up taking claim on his little life. What makes this story even harder is that while Logan was in the hospital during November this little boy was there. I remember seeing his mom walk him around Unit 5C at the hospital and watching him smile as he passed by our room. I never met his mom or really said anything to the sweet little boy but he touched my heart.

I'd ask that you'd pray for Kyler's family too. Few of us have had to endure the loss of a child and few of us can even fathom the long road they have ahead of them.

We may have had a tough, tiresome day with O-dog and Loganpants but I value this day and thank the Lord he is continuing to bless our little boys.

Thursday, March 18, 2004 1:25 PM CST

It's been a never-ending diaper-changing party at the Bushaw's since last Tuesday. Owen came down with a virus following his hospital stay--something called the Rotavirus--that he apparently got from one of the CNA's or nurses who didn't wash their hands or wash them well enough. This led to aches, pains, a fever and lots and lots and lots of diaper changes. Poor kid gets his first chance to poop like a normal boy and suddenly it was non-stop. Logan got the bug on Thursday along with Ben so needless to say, this past weekend wasn't the most fun we've ever had. Even Angie who watches the babies came down with this yucky bug. It was only Mommy who was spared. On Sunday alone, we changed 35 diapers between the two kiddies. Thankfully, Ben could take care of himself!

Owen is crawling everywhere--and it's so much fun to watch him. Last night, he followed our cat Maxie into the bathroom where her food is and tried to play with her tail while she was eating. Then he thought it would be fun to join her at her food dish. I got to him in the nick of time. Logan is rolling around from here to there and is probably just a week or two away from catching up with his brother. Watching the two of them is definitely a wild experience but now having two at a time makes me think having only one could be a little boring.

Tuesday is their nine month birthday already so we'll be going in for immunizations and check ups post Owen's surgery. We always love those visits because it gives us an update on their weights...grow boys, grow!

One last note, our geneticist did a DNA test to confirm that the boys are indeed identical (it would have been impossible for them not to be since they shared the same sac but since they don't truly look identical she wanted to confirm it)and it came back 99.999999% positive. This means we still have to try to explain how they can be identical if they don't really look it. If anyone has any suggestions, we welcome them.

Monday, March 8, 2004 12:38 AM CST

Hi all, it's me...Poopman Owen. Yep, I can poop like a normal boy! My surgery on Friday went really great and I came home with Mommy this morning--only 72 hours after my colstomy take down. The doctors originally thought it would take until today for me to actually start "stooling" as they call it but I fooled them and started on Sunday morning at 2:00--to Daddy's sleepy delight.

I went in to the hospital on Thursday morning so they could clean out my bowels...they gave me this icky stuff through an NG tube (nose tube) called GoLightly--I can tell you right now that's an oxymoron if I ever heard one. Mommy had to change my bag four times because it kept oozing out and leaking--it was pretty gross. She didn't mind too terribly though because the end was finally in sight.

The surgery was Friday morning at 11:00 and I was happy as a button until they put me to sleep. Once I finally woke up I was happy again. Daddy and Mommy tell me I'm pretty amazing and I think they're right. I am one pretty resiliant little boy, just like my brother.

Mommy says its weird to see my tummy now because there's only a small incision line where my stoma used to be and it's almost like it was never there. I think she and Daddy will really enjoy changing a normal poopy diaper instead of what they had to do for this long. It was pretty stinky and took a lot of time day in and day out.

It was one year ago yesterday that Mommy and Daddy found out there were two of us--she was 19 weeks pregnant and it was her first ultrasound. She told me she's been reflecting on that a lot lately and can't believe what's happened and how much her life has changed in the course of a year. We're up to six surgeries between Logan and me and Lord willing, there will only be two more. That's a lot for us but you'd never know we were anything but perfect.

Logan and I are really glad to have so many people always thinking of us and praying for us--and our parents too. Even though we're only eight months old we know it's by the grace of God and His healing power that we're here and doing so very, very great. We're also happy that we have such neat Grandma's and Grandpa's that come see us, take care of us and love us as much as they do.

All in all, we think this life is pretty great and we are so glad God gave us the chance to experience it--surgeries and all.

Wednesday, February 25, 2004 1:32 PM CST

We can't believe it--the babies are eight months old already! It's hard to imagine that a year ago at this time we still thought we were expecting only one baby instead of two. What a difference a year makes.

The kiddies continue to thrive. Logan met with his cardiologist Dr. Lohr this past Friday and she was so happy to see him. "Just what I wanted to see," she said. "A pink, round baby." It was music to our ears. They did an echo on his heart which also looked good so unless anything changes she doesn't want to see him until he's a year old. I'm not sure I can go that long without reassurance of how well he is doing, but I love the fact that he's honest-to-goodness doing so great. Truly a miracle. Oh, and he'd be upset if I forgot to mention that he's getting awfully big, too. 15 lbs. 10 oz and 26 1/2 inches long.

Owen met with his hand surgeon yesterday and she too, was happy with his growth. With his clothes on he weighed in at a whopping 17 lbs. We learned more about the surgery he'll have in that it's about a 4 1/2 hour surgery and he'll be in the hospital for only an overnight. Following that he'll have to wear a cast from hand to shoulder for six weeks. I can tell you right now, he's not going to dig that too much and we wish it didn't have to be but...what can you do. Once the cast comes off he'll wear a brace for a while...Ben knows the details more than I do.

We also took the babies in yesterday for DNA testing for some studies on their genetic makeup and to see if there's any explanation to their differing appearance. The blood work will also be sent to a researcher in Canada who is doing some studies on various gene mutations...it should all prove very interesting. A funny sidenote, when the doctor told me about the DNA testing she said, "now, DNA testing is also used as a paternity test, so if there is a chance the children have a different father, we would be able to verify it one way or another." I guess she has to say that to everyone but it was hysterical for me to hear.

Next on our list is Owen's re-connection of his colon. That surgery is next Friday, March 5. He'll go in on Thursday, have surgery on Friday and be in for about a week to make sure the plumbing works. Please pray for the little bug as he won't like being away from home and will likely be a little uncomfortable. An update will come post surgery as to how great he's doing.

Think Spring...and think Marshall Field's for all of your spring shopping!

Wednesday, February 11, 2004 9:16 PM CST

Hi from a wide awake Mr. Loganpants. Yes, it's nearly 9:30pm and I should have been asleep an hour ago but you know, sometimes a little boy just isn't tired and would rather bounce in his bouncy seat. "What's the big deal?" I've been asking Mommy and Daddy. "Who cares if Owen's been asleep since 7:05, I'd rather play." For some reason they think I should always want to go to sleep between 8:00 and 8:45pm--silly parents.

Our new weights are in--we had an apt yesterday with the genetics doctor... more on that in a minute. I weighed in at 15 lbs 3 oz and Owen was a big old 15 lbs 13 oz. We're still gaining half an ounce to ounce every day which is just what we're supposed to do. A lot of other babies our age are a lot bigger but we keep reminding Mommy that we're not like other babies and we've both had a couple of setbacks. The doctor who saw us was VERY impressed by everthing--especially my good looks. I am one handsome little tot, if I do say so myself. My brother's not half bad either, I guess.

Our genetics apt was kind of useless--it was more like a well baby visit and the doctor didn't tell Mommy and Daddy anything they didn't already know. She did say she thinks that both Owen and me have a gene that is abnormal and related to Heterotaxy but she's going to try and find a researcher who is interested in studying us. Guess we'll wait and see. When Daddy asked why we're genetically identical but don't look exactly alike she said there's no answer, we just do. Yeah, real helpful appointment, huh?

I've got a bit of a cold again, some congestion and an annoying cough but it's not holding me back. Last Friday (Feb. 6) I rolled over for the first time! Now, I can't get enough of it. Owen is very healthy right now and so strong too. I'm working on catching up though--there's no way he's going to keep taking my toys without a fight. Both of us have our two bottom teeth and boy, are they fun! We get a real kick when Mommy sticks her finger in our mouths and we chomp down really hard. One would think she'd be smarter but then again, she is blond.

We got to go to Austin last weekend for the first time since October. We saw G & G Behn, Auntie Lyn and Jasilyn, Payton and Brayden, G & G Bushaw and Great G & G Thompson--it was loads of fun and they were so surprised to see how big and active we were--not to mention cute.

On Friday we are going to watch Daddy coach a basketball game. We haven't seen him in action all season so we're very excited. I just hope he behaves himself and doesn't get a technical foul--I'd hate to need to give him a good talking to post game!

(Yawn) I feel myself getting a little sleepy eyed so it's time to call it a day--another fun 24 hours for me, Mr. Loganpants. What a great life! Sleep tight all.

Monday, February 2, 2004 5:51 PM CST

We made it through January and once the boys got over the flu bug and some horrible coughing fits it turned out to be quite an enjoyable month.

We're not quite sure how they do it but these little twin boys of ours seem to get cuter with each passing day. It's so fun to see them doing new things and finally settling into a consistent routine--including sleeping through the night.

We're finding they're not all that excited about solids so we're working on that a lot. While it's quite humorous to watch them eat carrots, peas, bananas rice cereal and the like, it's not so cute to see how it ends up in their diaper. Let's be honest; no one prepares you for the color or the smell! We've honestly got face masks that are used regularly—-we figure if whatever it takes to make the task more bearable is worth it.

Both Owen and Logan contine to be fascinated by our cat Maxie. And, bless her heart when Angie is dealing with one baby in the nursery and the other one is crying in the living room, Maxie will make her presence known and calm the crying one. It's very interesting considering any other time she's completely turned off by the boys. Typical big sister, I suppose.

We took Owen in for a kidney ultrasound last week and apparently all is normal or we would have heard from our doctor. Once he stopped throwing up, we were pretty certain it was just a virus but it was good for our own piece of mind. He goes in to see the pooper shooter doctor on Wednesday and we're hoping we can schedule his phase two for early March.

Logan is still working on rolling over and Owen is probably no more than two weeks away from crawling so our need to move is definitely just around the corner. We're hoping a bigger house in St. Paul can be found at a reasonable price.

So we're on to February and month eight for these little miracles. Every day we grow more and more attached and every day we continue to feel blessed--stinky diapers and all.

Sunday, January 11, 2004 9:59 PM CST

Happy New Year; post a week and a half.

We ended 2003 and entered 2004 with all of us getting the pukey flu bug within 24 hours of one another. First the boys, then Ben and then me. I can tell you that it was not the way I intended to celebrate New Year's Eve but then again, sans Christmas none of the holidays dating back to May Day were spent the way we would have intended. But we're on to 2004 and hoping for a very good year.

Logan had a cardiology apt on Friday (Jan. 9) and he was doing MARVELOUS! Dr. Lohr will see him again in March and Lord willing our next visit after that will be when he's one! She even told us we can feel comfortable taking the boys out of the house again. What music to our ears! We still have to be extremely careful and limit the amount of contact he has with others but, oh to be able to take a trip to Marshall Field's or to church and get out of the house will be really terrific.

We continue to be amazed by Logan's strength and determination. The little bugger is getting stronger by the day and is so curious about everything and everyone. Thankfully, he's sleeping much better as well. We can usually get a night's worth of sleep from 11 to 4 or 5. For us, we'll take it. While he hasn't rolled over yet, he's very close and can sit up fairly well on his own. He also reaches for everything, grabs at the smallest objects and smiles constantly. He also has started solids, which must be quite the experience for his little taste buds. Sweet potatoes=Yum/Banana's=ICK.

Owen is doing well too, although we are concerned that his reflux is getting worse. Ever since he had the pukey flu on New Year's Eve he's struggling to keep food down regulary. We're taking him in tomorrow and want them to do an upper GI study again to figure out what's wrong. Not surprisingly though, he's still a smiley guy nearly ever waking hour. He can roll over, sit up, stand up, reach, grab, you name it. (This is a little boy we're talking about, not a dog as it may imply :)).

They're also continuing to notice each other more and more, which is the cutest thing you've ever seen. Sometimes they just stare at one another and we wonder what they could be thinking. Then, one pulls the others ear or toy away and so much for the Kodak moment. They also are very interested in Maxie, our cat. She's working on getting comfortable with them reaching for her and petting--or is it pulling--on her. But, as always she's a trooper too.

Next up for surgeries will be Owen's phase two pooper shooter (March), Owen's thumb surgery (summer) and then hopefully we'll be a boring family of four until Logan's second birthday when we'll begin talks for his final heart surgery. Just think, we may have a normal summer this year. We can't wait!

Needless to say, it's busy at the Bushaw household! With our work, Ben's basketball and keeping house we're going non-stop. For those of you who said it gets easier, you fibbed--at least for now! As much fun as these cuties are, they are A LOT of work. From the minute they get up to the minute they go down, we're moving. My Dad phrased it best: "It's not that things gets easier, things just constantly change." He's right on...some things that were hard (like lack of sleep) do change and become easier while other things that were easy (like just feeding them a bottle) change and become a bit harder. And, we're doing WAY more laundry!! But, as always, we'll take the changes--the good and unfortunately, sometimes the bad--with the faith that all will work out and with the sense of humor that someday we'll look back and laugh at all of the obstacles that tried to stand in our way.

Cheers!

Monday, December 29, 2003 1:12 PM CST

Owen has a pooper shooter! It won't be in full working order for about 8-10 weeks but phase one is complete. Everything on Friday went very well and there were no surprises; other than how quickly Owen recovered. By Friday night at 7:00 he was smiling, laughing and rolling over on his tummy again. The comments from the nurses and doctors varied from "This is not a kid who just had surgery 10 hours ago," to "This is the happiest kid on the third floor we've seen in a long time." It was very encouraging. Mommy stayed with Owen Friday night, Daddy stayed on Saturday night and he came home at 9:30 on Sunday morning.

We would have thought his bum would be a bit sore but apparently not. We're giving him tylenol to stay on top of any pain he might have but it appears his incoming teeth are more bothersome.

We'll go back to see Owen's doctor next week when he'll show us how to "dialate" his opening. This is to ensure it doesn't close over the next couple of months. After 8-10 weeks they'll do the colostomy take down and reconnect the plumbing so it flows through the proper channel. He'll be in the hosptial for 3-5 days after that operation or until he uses the opening as its meant to be used (in other words, until he poops.)

Once again, the Lord continues to watch over our kiddies and we are so thankful.

Our first Christmas as a family of four was very special. We're already anticipating how wild next year will be with our two lively, rambuncious little characters.

Cheers to all.

Wednesday, December 24, 2003 11:02 AM CST

Merry Christmas!

We can't believe it's already been a year since we informed our families on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day that Ben and I were expecting a (that's "A" as in singular, mind you) baby. I can still remember how giddy we both felt and how excited we were to share the news that we had been keeping a secret since December 1 when we found out ourselves. Telling our families was probably one of the most memorable moments of our lives.

You may recall that Marshall Field's plush Santabear and Mrs. Santabear had twins in 2002 so Ben and I each wrapped up one of the bears complete with bear cub along with a note announcing our news. Little did we know at the time how phrophetic it was that we were using the Santabear Twin story.

Now, one year later while we don't have such exciting news to share we do have true, honest-to-goodness miracles to celebrate in addition to the birth of Christ this Christmas season. We continue to feel so blessed, so lucky and grateful for Owen and Logan. Never in our wildest dreams would've we thought we would go through what we did to get these two little tigers, but it's amazing how soon you can forget the fears, tears and anxiety when you look at two overall healthy, bouncing baby boys.

Speaking of which, yesterday was their six month checkup. Their latest stats:
Owen = 15lbs 3oz, 27 1/2inches
Logan = 13lbs 6oz, 26 1/2inches
Both are on the normal kid growth chart and both are above the 50th percentile for height. They've got some work to do on weight yet but continue to do phenomenal both physically and developmentally considering where they started.

Owen will have surgery on Friday and we expect him to be at Children's Hospital in St. Paul through Sunday or Monday. While this is a pretty straight forward surgery, we ask that you'll remember him in thought and prayer and that there are no unexpected surprises.

We will be celebrating Christmas Day with my Mom, Randy and sisters as they live just down in Lakeville, but unfortunately won't be going to Austin to celebrate with Ben's family or my Dad's family. Based on our doctors recommendations, Logan's situation and Owen's surgery on Friday, we need to stick close to home and do our best to keep them away from lots of people and potential illnesses. We're sad to be away from our family but are also excited to spend our first Christmas as our own family of four.

Christmas blessings to all.

Wednesday, December 17, 2003 12:59 AM CST

We're happy to report that all is still going really great with the Bushaws! Logan is continuing to eat like a champ, grow like a weed and sing like a bird. Granted, he's not sleeping as well as we'd like but he is making progress. Ever since his surgery, this kid likes to wake up 2-4 times in the night for a food fix.

We had apts yesterday with both babies; it was the first time the four of us have been together in a car in more than eight weeks! We can't wait to get out again--the babies seemed to enjoy themselves too, especially since they're so aware of surroundings and new things these days.

Logan's apt was a quick follow up with his GI surgeon Dr. Salzman. He was super happy with how well he was doing and said we can also start weaning him off of his bowel medication. By Christmas, he should be back to only getting his amoxicillin once per day. He's definitely happiest when he doesn't have tons of medications in his little system.

Owen's apt was a check up with his hand doctor/surgeon, Dr. Van-Heest. We're trying to figure out the best decision for his bum thumb. Since it's missing the main bone it needs to pinch and grasp, it's pretty much a useless little finger. And unfortunately, there isn't really anything they can do to make it functionable.

Removing a thumb is a tough decision to make. We keep thinking that maybe just maybe it will start to work; even though we know it won't, it can't. Dr. Van-Heest says it almost easier to have infants born without a limb because then there isn't a decision; it's the way it is. She's right. As with everything else though, we'll figure this out and regardless Owen will be just fine.

Next on the apt agenda is tomorrow for Owen--they'll be doing a test to see how food goes through his system as a precursor to his reconstructive surgery on Dec. 26. Logan will see Dr. Lohr on Friday and we can't wait for her reaction when she sees our happy, robust and bright-eyed little guy.

Sunday, December 7, 2003 5:20 PM CST

Logan has been home for exactly four days and we must say, they've been four terrific days! We just couldn't be happier and frankly, we don't think Logan could be either. He's been eating better than ever before and even ate more than Owen did yesterday and Friday! His demeanor is also incredible. He seems so much more content and happy. He loves to sing--thanks to Grandma Linda--and can sit just about anywhere and giggle to himself. He has turned into a bit of a tv junkie but we're working on correcting that issue.

Who would've thought that our lives could go from being a little dismal to super great in such a short period of time. A week ago today, I (Mommy) thought I had reached a breaking point for the first time since the babies were born--we were so tired, so spent and felt a bit defeated by everything that had been happening. But then, Logan started eating, the doctors were optimistic and our parents gave us the encouragement we needed to buck up and get back to being positive.

We took Logan to see his pediatrician on Friday and she hardly believed me when I told her how much Logan had been eating over the past couple of days. A home health nurse came to the house today and again, all was great with our little trooper. A nurse will be coming 3 times a week for the next few weeks just to ensure Logan continues to thrive. We'll also be taking the boys in for their six month shots right after Christmas.

Owen has been a little out of sorts since Logan came home. We think he's a bit confused by the return of his brother--especially since he was getting all of the attention from Auntie Angie and only seeing one of us at night. He has become very interested in Logan--often watching his every move and grabbing at him or what he's playing with. We're excited to see how this plays out and which one will be the brut of the two! His newfound favorite thing is his Johnny Jump Up that my friend Kelly lent us. He just adores going bouncy, bouncy, bouncy and jumps in it for an hour straight. He is so strong and we're betting that he'll be walking before a year.

Today was a great day for all of us. We put up the Christmas tree, decorated the outside of the house and even went for a walk outside with the babies (oh, and the Vikings beat Seattle). Had we been able to go to church, it would've been the perfect Sunday!

Wednesday, December 3, 2003 10:15 PM CST

It's been a long few days with emotional ups and major downs since Thanksgiving. But, while we had a lot to be thankful for then we have even more to be thankful for tonight as LOGAN IS BACK AT HOME. Yippie!!!

The doctors gave us the go ahead to get the heck out of the hospital this morning and we finally left the building about 5:00pm. Logan was wide eyed, bushy tailed and a little leary when leaving his room and seeing his house again but has settled in beautifully for the night. Ben and I couldn't be happier.

Since our last post we started feeding Logan on Saturday, beginning with a half ounce of milk and increasing by a half ounce every two feedings. It was a really, really slow process and Logan really didn't want more than that half ounce or an ounce at a time. There was quite a bit of talk about putting the feeding tube back in and maybe even putting a tube in his tummy and having us go home that way for the next few months. We knew deep down though that Logan could do this on his own if we just gave him the chance. He really turned a corner on Tuesday morning and ever since is eating two plus ounces each and every time.

He's so obviously happy and sings "la la la la la" like you wouldn't believe. There's nothing better than seeing our little Loganpants getting back to his old self (and so quickly too).

As for medications, he's no longer on any heart meds. Our cardiologist feels that at this point it isn't imperitive he be on them and that eating and growing is much more of a priority. We'll reevaluate after the first of the year to determine what's best for him. He will still take his amoxicillin and is also taking Regland, a motility enhancer, and getting Pulmacort, a steroid nebulizer that will help to heal his airway that got damaged from coughing so much. We kind of feel like if they wouldn't've let the cough go for so long without treating he wouldn't need this, but at this point there's no use in the "should haves/would haves."

Dr. Salzman, Dr. Lohr and the feeding specialist are all elated at how well Logan is doing and have told us that Logan should "fly" from here on out and require no special attention other than all the love he's already been getting. That was music to our ears. His biggest risk now is getting an infection due to his asplenia but he's getting RSV shots and we're being very conscientious about visitors, trips and the like.

We have postponed Owen's surgery, which was to be this Friday and are hoping to take care of it during the Christmas holiday while Ben is off of work. This kid competely cracks us up--he wakes up laughing and smiling in his crib and is such a delight to be around.

Having both babies back together again is such a relief. We can't wait to see them interact and play together again, but we're a little nervous about the influence Bruiserman Owen might have on his little brother. Oh well, what are big brothers for.

Thanks as always to our family and friends who have been praying for and thinking of us. A special thank you to my Mom who took a leave from work to spend weekdays with Logan at the hospital so Ben and I could go to work. We value our families so much and are so grateful for such a wonderful support network.

We're off to sleep as a family of four under one roof...that is until Logan gets hungry in about 20 minutes.

Thursday, November 27, 2003 10:26 AM CST

We have so much to be thankful for today. Above all we thank the Lord for watching over Logan yesterday during his surgery. He came through on yet another surgery--his third in only five months of life! We would like to thank our families for all the support that they have given us this last month. We are also thankful for our employers and the amazing collegues that we work with. Your thoughts and prayers for our family mean a lot to us.

Natalie and I are often asked how we can manage everything that is going on in our lives. It should cause an amazing amount of stress and emotion for both of us. But, it's funny; somehow we just get through it and it doesn't seem so impossible. By taking one day at a time and having the Lord in our lives we seem to just push on.

Wednesday, November 26, 2003 2:39 PM CST

Great news to report! Our Mr. Loganpants is out of surgery and we're just waiting for them to give us the okay to see him (he has to wake up from the anesthesia). The surgery was a success and the bronchial scope didn't show any major blockage of his airways. Yahoo!! It did show some things that are bit out of place, which is to be expected given how his organs developed to begin with.

He'll be able to come off of the breathing tube in just a little while and will begin his recovery. Once again, the doctors were wowed by how great he did. That's our boy!

Dr. Salzman, who performed the surgery, feels we'll definitely notice a difference in Logan's demeanor and eating habits. There were some definite obstructions with how things moved through his system so the tightening and cramping we noticed and the bouts of unexplainable crying and fussiness should go away once he's fully recovered.

Ben and I felt really confident going into this and are so happy that things went so well. Even though we'll be here on Thanksgiving, it will be one of our best Thanksgiving's ever.

Tuesday, November 25, 2003 5:05 PM CST

Logan is scheduled for surgery tomorrow (Wednesday) at 10:00am to fix his tummy. Yahoo! The doctor came in today to explain what is going on with the malrotation and we agreed that surgery is the best route.

The surgery itself will take about 45 minutes to an hour and the recovery will be about a week. Since they're basically shutting down his intestines, it will take 2-4 days for them to get back up and running. Once they do we can start feeding him again. We're very hopeful and prayerful that this is the solution we've been looking for for this little man.

Even with our current situation, Ben and I have much to be thankful for during this past year...We have two babies who originally had a 50% chance of survival; we have two babies who are growing, developing and learning more and more every day and we have two babies who have proven to us day in and day out that God is good and that miracles do happen.

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving!

Monday, November 24, 2003 11:48 AM CST

We're sad to report that Logan is still in the hospital and unfortunately the doctors are still working to figure out what's wrong with him. Here's the latest...

Ben and I have always asked about the "malrotation of the intestines." This goes along with his Heterotaxy Syndrome (the heart, aslpenia and malrotation are categorized as this) but none of the doctors have EVER been overly concerned -- even our cardiologist said she didn’t know too much about it but that it couldn’t be anything too serious as it would have presented itself a lot sooner. On Saturday a GI doctor finally came in to look at Logan and his chart and informed us that he needs surgery--sooner rather than later or we could have a "catastophe on our hands."

The doctors are scheduled to have a conference today or tomorrow to discuss everything but the GI doc wants him to have surgery on Wednesday (the intestine is all on the right side and he thinks starting to bunch, twist and kink). The cardiologist wants to do a bronchial scope but there are some pretty serious risks involved with that—like puncturing a lung.

It’s been SO frustrating to have so many doctors with different specialties involved. What we're learning is that each one wants the solution to be in their world, i.e., cardiology and therefore they seem to be forgetting the main point--that is, this one precious little boy who needs someone to figure out the CORRECT solution to his problems.

They did a PH probe yesterday, which looks at the PH (acid) levels in his tummy to determine if he's got major reflux. Those results will be in today. They've also done a culture to check for RSV and Whooping Cough. (it came back negative and we think they were grasping at anything and everything to come up with an explanation.)

Basically, they all have a lot of stuff to figure out and come up with a game plan. He’s still coughing and not eating and now throwing up occasionally but we’re attributing that to 1) a really sore throat from coughing so much 2) the malrotation that’s worsening and 3) an oral aversion to his bottle.

Our parents have all been amazing at helping out at home and the hospital--giving Ben and me a chance to both sleep at home and get some needed rest and Angie continues to be a God send with Owen.

When we're getting frustrated and overwhelmed, the Lord seems to remind us that Logan's situation could be worse and that this hospitalization is happening for a reason. I figure if we have to have one bad month to have a lifetime of good that we'll take it.

Prayers continue to be welcomed for Logan and our family.

Wednesday, November 19, 2003 12:12 AM CST

Logan is still in the hospital and not yet eating on his own but I think we might be turning a corner. Ben and I have always felt his medications could be the culprit of what's going on, especially since he was such a champ of an eater prior to and immediately following his surgery. Unfortunately, the doctors didn't think it could be that simple...until yesterday.

Our take was that the medication was making him cough so much, he'd then gag and sometimes throw up. It got to the point where when a bottle went in his mouth he'd instantly start coughing and gagging and therefore would refuse to eat altogether.

The GI study and swallow study on Monday didn't tell them anything new and so after a lot of pushing we finally got them to agree to take him off of the Enalapril, a blood pressure medication. My Dad was on this medication and had to stop it altogether because of the cough--if its too much for an adult to handle one can only imagine how horrible it must be for an infant.

Since then his cough has decreased dramatically. Thank you, Lord! They did another chest X-ray last night and have now taken him off of ALL the meds except for his Amoxocillin and Baby Zantac, which he was on before. We can't believe the transformation of Logan's demeanor and comfort level without that stupid, constant cough. (Dr. Lohr said he can go home without being on medication and it won't hurt him but we will need to figure out what to do from a med standpoint moving forward).

Though we're not sure we've found the answer the doctors do now think it's the primary cause along with some new reflux issues. We're working with a speech pathologist to help Logan get over his "oral aversion" and even gave him cereal for the first time yesterday which he seemed to enjoy. It was awesome to hear two doctors say they're used to working with cardiac babies on the negative extreme who need so much to get by that they're blown away by how Logan responds better to nothing. Again, he's truly a miracle.

Next steps are to continue to work on cereal feedings and get him back interested in the bottle. He'll need to demonstrate he can eat on his own for 48 hours before we can leave. We're guessing it will be at least another 72+ hours before we come close to that point.

We have a single room with a bed so we're swapping who stays. One of us or our parents are also in his room with him at all times. We've learned it's the only way to ensure he's getting the care he needs.

Hoping to have an encouraging update for you all next time.

Sunday, November 16, 2003 2:58 PM CST

Logan has continued not eating very well so on Saturday afternoon we had to take him back in to the hospital where he was admitted. They've given him an NG feeding tube so he's still getting nutrition and will be doing some tests on Monday to figure out what's going on. He was a champ of an eater prior to the surgery but now is dealing with some reflux issues and this horrible cough, due to his medication.

The tests will include an upper GI study and a swallow study. Hopefully we'll be able to bring him home on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Certainly not the type of news we'd like to report but as long as they figure it out we'll be okay. The hospital stay isn't as bad this time because all he's got is the feeding tube--no other IV's or other attachments.

For the most part, Logan is doing great. Complacent, seemingly comfortable except for when he refluxes, smiley and sleeping pretty good too. That's our boy!

Friday, November 14, 2003 1:26 PM CST

Logan has been home since Monday night and doing wondefully. He's a little slow when it comes to eating and isn't eating as much as he did before the surgery but that's to be expected. He's also a bit fussy and coughs a lot from his new medications but his cardiologist said to give him time and those issues should subside too.

He had a follow up apt with Dr. Lohr yesterday and she was thrilled with how he looked and how well he was doing. He also had a chest x-ray and it looked "perfect." No fluid, no leakage and the Glenn was doing just what it was supposed to. Hooray. Now if we can just get him back to eating what he did and start gaining weight back we'll back one majorly happy family.

We also received GREAT news about Owen at his check up with Dr. Wahoff (his pediatric surgeon). We thought we were going to have to wait until January for his reconstructive surgery but after seeing him on Tuesday, the doctor said we could do it anytime! So, we've scheduled December 5 as his big day. The surgery should be pretty straight forward and he should only need to be in the hospital for 2-4 days. They'll keep the colostomy for about a month after to ensure all is working pooperly--oops, I mean properly--and then that will go away too.

What a great Christmas we're going to have, not to mention Thanksgiving. We have so very much to be thankful for.

Monday, November 10, 2003 10:37 PM CST

Guess who, everyone...it's me, Logan writing from the comfort of my own home. "What?!" you gasp. Yep, as of 7:43pm Monday night I'm back at home with my brother, my Daddy and my Mommy and boy oh boy, am I ever filled with glee.

Mommy had to put up a bit of a fight to get me out of the hospital but she knew that I'd had enough of that place and that I'd do a lot better at home (after 10 minutes at home, I can tell you she made the right decision). I'm pretty sure the main reason we got to leave was because the doctors and nurses were all tired of her pushing back about staying one more night. I tell you what, that Mom of mine can really be persistent and if she wants something, watch out!

You see, what was happening was that while my vitals were terrific and my chest X-rays looked normal I wasn't eating very well. Mommy finally figured out that it was because I was getting really tired of all of the different nurses poking and prodding me and filling me up with a bunch of drugs that made me feel lousy. Even though I needed some of them they didn't make me feel very good so I was coughing, had a sore throat, a tummy ache and even had some extra dirty diapers. As a result of all of that, I didn't want to eat and so they wanted to keep me one more day to make sure everything was alright. But Mommy knew better and told me to hurry up and eat already so I did!

The doctors finally gave the go ahead for our nurse to fill out the discharge slip at about 6:30pm. I'm going to have a follow up appointment with my cardiologist on Thursday and my pediatrician next week and if anything seems wrong I'll let Mommy and Daddy know and they'll get me back in to be checked out.

I'm really glad to be home. I think Maxie (our cat) was depressed without me and Owen was extra lonely too. Now we can all be one happy family again. Yippie!!

I can tell you one thing, our God is an Awesome God--He's watched over me every step of the way. I think Mommy likes the verse that says, "I can do all things though Christ who strengtheneth me and he sure has given me amazing strength.

I really feel blessed to have so many great people thinking of and praying for me. Thanks to all of you.

Sunday, November 9, 2003 10:56 PM CST

Logan made the move on Saturday from the Intermediate Care area of the PICU to the general kids floor and is almost ready to leave altogether.

We're still dealing with some overall major discomfort issue for Logan, which is absolutely heartbreaking to see. The good news is that all of his vitals, chest x-rays, saturation levels, etc are fantastic. We think he might have a pretty rotten tummy ache from some of his new medications and it's taking a while to for his body to adjust. The doctors and we decided to give him a sedative both last night and tonight in order to help him get the rest he needs to fully recover. It's a really tough decision to know what to do. While you don't want to give your baby any more drugs than he has to have, you also know how very important it is for him to get adequate rest and deep sleep time. We just pray we're making the right decision for him.

Mommy stayed with Logan last night and Sunday night in the hospital room. Thankfully they were able to arrange for no roommate. It's hard to be away from home but there's no way we'd leave him by himself since he no longer has round the clock nurses. We continue to be happy with the nursing staff and are thankful for their help in caring for our baby.

Owen, Ben and I also went to church today (G & G Behn stayed with Logan). We feel so blessed by the outcome of Logan's surgery that there was no other place we wanted to be this morning. Owen also came up for a visit and as usual enjoyed looking around and gawking at his surroundings. The boys looked at each other for a couple seconds but unfortunately didn't seem to have any major connections worth reporting. It was good to have them next to each other.

Logan didn't eat today and is dealing some majorly dirty diapers so the staff is hoping he isn't getting any viruses or infections. If he can eat on his own all day tomorrow, we ought to be able to take him home either Monday or Tuesday. What a wonderful, wonderful treat it will be to be back home as a family.

Friday, November 7, 2003 9:42 PM CST

Today was a status quo day for Logan, which we're happy with. The doctors opted to keep him in the Intermediate Care area (part of the PICU) and continue having a nurse with him 24 hours. We were happy with that decision too. We prefer he have one-on-one attention just in case and in all actuality it has only been a week since his surgery.

He's continuing to eat well and everything else is still looking very positive for him. I'm quite certain our next update will indicate our move to the normal kids floor area and hopefully an idea of when we may be able to take him home.

Ben and I had a better day too, so thank you for thinking of us and lifting us up. It helped!

Thursday, November 6, 2003 10:24 PM CST

We've learned our biggest lesson yet in dealing with hospital stays--that is, always question. Question orders, medications, dosages, the works. Reason being, our poor little Logan was wimpering all day yesterday (Wednesday)--nothing would soothe him, the pain medication didn't seem to help and he didn't sleep for more than an hour at a time during a 24 hour time frame.

Turns out, he wasn't receiving a high enough dosage of Baby Tylenol or Fentanyl. This morning when I got there he was still crying and finally I asked what was going on and that he shouldn't still be so unhappy. The nurse practioner said she agreed and after reevaluating his current medication realized they'd "made an error" in what he was receiving and that he should have been getting THREE TIMES MORE THAN HE WAS!!! Apparently, someone did the math wrong and no one caught it. Therefore, our poor little Logan was likely in excruciating pain all day and we didn't know it. Needless to say, we felt horrible that weren't asking questions sooner.

Once the appropriate amount of medication kicked in for him, today turned out to be a much better day. He was eating great, all of his vitals were good, the reaction on his chest was clearing up and he slept like a log for the majority of the day. He even got a sponge bath and all cleaned up. Ben was with him this evening and said he almost seems back to himself again...less than one full week later. What a miracle.

Ben and I took Owen to his apt today but once we got there were informed the apt was yesterday and we missed it. We were a little annoyed that we didn't get a phone call to let us know before making the trek there with Owen. He likes to get out and about though so it didn't bug him too much.

Logan will likely get moved to the regular area of the kids floor tomorrow, which is yet another wonderful sign of his recovery.

Ben and I have been handling all of this really well until today but after learning about the medication mix up and knowing how much pain Logan was really in, we've started to feel a bit stressed out, tired out and maxed out. Please keep us in your thoughts as we have a ways to go yet. Even when Logan gets home we'll need to start a new routine with medications, work to get he and his brother back on the same schedule, and make sure he's healing properly and that his heart is continuing to function as it should. It might feel a little overwhelming so your thoughts now will hopefully help us out later.

Tuesday, November 4, 2003 8:37 PM CST

It's been a truly amazing day for Logan (and it's not just a proud Mommy saying that either...the doctors and nurses are pretty much awestruck by how fast he's recovering)!

When I got here this morning, he was breathing pretty much all on his own and the nurses were able to take the chest tubes out and then the breathing tube came out about 1:00pm. I was finally able to hold him at 1:35pm--for the first time since Friday morning. He snuggled up in my arms and took a very comfortable nap for about an hour or so. It was so very, very sweet.

He's been doing just terrific all day and we couldn't be happier. It's really important that he cough and loosen up all of the gunky stuff in his lungs, which he's doing regularly. He even ate an ounce of Pedialite at 8:00pm tonight and while his tounge seemed a little confused at first, once he realized it was food he quickly figured it out.

A number of the medicines he's been receiving have also continued to go away throughout the day and by the time we leave tonight he should be down to only three (from the 11 he started with)and only two lines in him vs. the four he's had since Friday.

One of the cardiology surgery fellows came to check on him today and after talking with his surgeon felt that at the rate he's going, and if he can start holding his own with his feedings that there should be no reason he couldn't get home by the end of the weekend or early next week. WHAT A MIRACLE!! Ben and I are still trying to be realistic--we've learned that sometimes doctors are a little too optimistic but again, he's certainly moving in the right direction.

For all of our family, extended family, friends, friends of friends, prayer networks, etc.--Thank you! Thank you for praying for, thinking of and supporting Logan and our family. We know it's by the grace of God that he's recovering so quickly and doing so tremendously well.

Monday, November 3, 2003 8:48 PM CST

Another great day for our little trooper Logan! Ben and I spent the better part of the day here--it's amazing how quickly time passes just sitting by his crib--and enjoyed watching the nurses comment on how beautiful and strong he is.

The nurses were able to take him completely off of the drug ephinephron (spelling is close to correct, I think). This is a big feat after such a short period of time. Additionally, they've been able to wean him down on the respirator and the amount of oxygen he's getting. At the rate he's going, they should be able to take him off of the ventilator and get the breathing tube out tomorrow. Yay! Of course, they can't promise anything but all indications look very reassuring.

He was really communicating with us today with wiggles, open eyes and holding our hands. It's amazing how much your heart swells with love and emotion when you know how well he's doing and what a miracle he is! Dr. Lohr (cardiologist) left us a note today saying "how warm, pink and wonderful" he looked and how well he was progressing. It was such encouraging news to hear from her.

Owen's still doing well at home but he's either missing his brother an awful lot or has decided to take full ownership of their crib (we haven't separated them yet because it's too cute to see them next to each other). We put Owen down last night in his usual spot--the right side of the crib--and by morning he had scooted himself over where Logan usually sleeps and completely turned himself from parallel to horizontal. Ben and I thought the other one moved him but apparently not. Crazy mover kid.

We hope that our update tomorrow includes the great news that Logan's off the breathing tube and venilator. Please pray that the Lord gives him the strength to press on in his recovery without any setbacks.

Sunday, November 2, 2003 8:06 PM CST

Today was a really good day for Logan! They were able to close up his chest around 1:00pm and he's been doing very well ever since. He's been able to respond to us through wiggling his fingers and toes and even tried to open his eyes a few times. The nurses are still keeping him very comfortable with Fentanyl, which is a pain reducer.

Logan contines to have a pacemaker help with regulating his heart rate as it hasn't found its own rhythm following the surgery. This takes a few days and is completely normal.

One thing we did learn today is that Logan has a horrible tape allergy. Following Friday's surgery they put a plasticky-type covering over his chest along with Betadine (or something like that). When they took it off to close up his chest today, the area was all red and blotchy. The surgeon said basically it's a second degree burn, similar to a bad sunburn that blisters. While it looks extremely painful his medication will minimize any pain he would feel. Thank goodness--I certainly know what it's like to get a bad sunburn in attempt to have a bronzed summer glow!

Next steps for Logan are to continue to keep his vitals stablized and wean from some of his medications. They'll also work to get his breathing tube out, hopefully sometime tomorrow. They won't tell his a date they think he'll move out of the PICU but he's definitely on the right track.

As it stands right now, Logan has made it through two major steps--the surgery itself and getting closed up today. Ben and I are feeling very comfortable about where he's at right now, 60 hours post operation. The nurses have been fabulous--very attentive and helpful to us as we try to understand everything that's going on with him.

We continue to thank the Lord for his presence in both ours and Logan's life. We know we wouldn't have such encouraging news to share if it wasn't for Him and the talented team of doctors He's provided to Logan.

Saturday, November 1, 2003 3:59 PM CST

After what seemed like an eternity yesterday, Ben and I were able to see Logan last night at about 8:00pm. Though things went well they weren't able to close his chest following the surgery because of some excessive bleeding. By keeping it open, they would have quicker access to him should anything happen. Thankfully, it didn't and they're planning to close him tomorrow morning around 11:30am.

Basically what's been happening is the nurses are working to keep his blood pressure stable and a fever down. This is common, apparently, for infants who have had this type of surgery. This morning, his blood pressure was too high and so the doctors started using a pacemaker to regulate his heart rate and also adjusted his medications to bring it down. Holy smokes, it's a lot of stuff to take in. They are keeping Logan "very comfortable" with a number of medications.

The cardiologist also came in and gave him an Echocardiogram to see how his heart was functioning and how successful the procedure was--everything looked good from what they could see. Praise God!

Twice a day they take him off those medications for a very brief time to check for movement and ensure he isn't too "very comfortable." (I have to use that word because when I used "doped up" with the anestheologist he got a little defensive.) If you can imagine, his breastbone is open about one inch wide and six inches long. It's covered with this plasticky-type stuff that's stiched around the edges to keep out infection. It's pretty weird to see.

Overall, Logan is doing GREAT. The surgeon isn't seeing anything concerning, the cardiologist feels good about things and so we do too. We just pray this continues and that he's able to move forward with recovery.

Owen seems to be a little lonely without his little brother but we're doing our best to keep him entertained at home.

We'll update tomorrow with the latest.

Friday, October 31, 2003 3:50 PM CST

The news for Logan is overall so far so good. The surgeon came out to talk with us about 3:15 to let us know the surgery was an overall success but they were surprised to learn once they opened him up that he has two inferior vena cavas (in addition to his two superior vena cavas). While this doesn't pose any issues right now it will add to the challenge of his next surgery (the Fontan when he's about two).

They also had to do something called deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA), in which blood circulation is halted under low-temperature conditions. They had to this because when they were attempting to re-connect/re-route some of his pulmonary veins there was an overabundance of bleeding. Sometimes this raises the risk of neurological complications but the doctors said he was only in this for a short while and should be just fine. He's also still bleeding a lot so they're giving him a clotting medication to try and stop it.

So, at this point he's still under and they won't close up his chest until the bleeding is absolutely stopped. The surgeon thinks this will still happen today. Additionally, he'll probably have the breathing tube in for the night. All of these elements are increasing the length of recovery for him but in the end, the feelings are that he will be fine.

It's getting more technical than my little brain can get so I'll always be explaining in the simplist of terms.

Keep praying, please.

Tuesday, October 28, 2003 9:18 AM CST

We're four days and counting for Logan's surgery and I have to be honest in that it's starting to get scary for Ben and me. It's so hard to imagine that this seemingly perfect little boy has a bad heart when he's doing so wonderfully--his color is good, he's eating so well and growing so big. We wish it didn't have to happen but know in the end it's what he needs to survive. Thankfully, Logan doesn't know any differently and will probably enjoy seeing his friend, Dr. Lohr (his cardiologist) on Friday morning and all of the attention he'll be getting. Hmm, I wonder where he gets that from? That Ben always has been needy that way. :)

We spoke with Dr. Lohr on Friday night and it's looking like the surgery will take about six hours to complete. In addition to the bi-directional Glenn procedure, the surgeon will also be doing some vein reconnections. I can't rememeber the specifics but the reason they've decided to do this is because at some point in his life he may be a candidate for a heart transplant and this way they can ensure the veins will be long enough to connect appropriately.

Logan's hospital stay will be anywhere from 7-10 days to 3 weeks depending on the success of his recovery, not having any drainage by his lungs, etc. We're definitely hoping it's sooner rather than later, but regardless we're so glad to have Grandpa's and Grandpa's and friends who will help us out both with being at the hospital during the days so Ben and I can keep our jobs (and insurance!)and helping out at home with Owen.

Once he's home, Logan will likely be on three heart medications that he'll have to have twice a day probably for the rest of his life. These will control a number of things so we'll just make it a part of his everyday routine. As he gets older, we hope it can be "fun" for him and that we can teach him to appreciate how unique and miraculous he is.

Owen will be home with Auntie Angie during this time with some friends coming to visit during the evenings so Ben and I can be together with Logan at the hospital. We don't want him to feel left out since not surprisingly, he likes a lot of attention too.

We're continuing to remind ourselves that this surgery is in God's hands and is necessary for Logan's survival. We also know that while the next few weeks will no doubt be trying, challenging and scary, the end result will be wonderful. (The success rate is between 85-95%.)

We appreciate all of the prayers, thoughts and positive energy you can send Logan's way.

I'll do my best to update this either Friday evening or Saturday.

Sunday, October 19, 2003 9:40 PM CDT

Today was a really special day for the babies, Ben and me as they were a part of the child dedication at church. Ben and I felt it was really important to have Owen and Logan dedicated to the Lord and especially at this time with Logan's surgery coming up--it just adds a sense of comfort to us. All of the Grandpa's and Grandma's came, and Auntie Amanda too, to be a part of their day. And, big surprise they (the boys) got more presents again. They sure are lucky to be loved six times over!!

On Friday they had their four month checkup and things couldn't have gone better. For starters, their weights/heights are:

Owen = 12 lbs 4 oz / 24 1/4 inches
Logan = 11 lbs 5 oz / 23 1/2 inches

Dr. Plotnik couldn't believe how big they've gotten since she last saw them and was amazed at how great their doing overall as well as developmentally. Though they haven't quite made it on the "normal baby" growth chart in weight (they have on length)they would be smack in the middle to high end of the "preemie" growth chart. We're happy about that!

We also have their RSV shots scheduled for Tuesday. This shot and the once monthly subsequent shots through April will protect them from this viral infection that while to most adults is just a cold; to infants--especially ones with special needs like ours--can be a lot more serious. Thankfully, our cardiologist and pediatrician have said once they've got the synagis shots that they can leave the house and that fresh air will do them good. This was good news because knowing Ben and me, keeping inside all winter wouldn't go over with us so well. The biggest key to preventing RSV transmission is a good hand washing, so scrub up!

No apt's this week. Next week is the biggie.

Thursday, October 16, 2003 10:54 AM CDT

THEY SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT! Both Owen and Logan have been going for longer stretches--anywhere from 5-6 hours but last night they went down about 9:45 and didn't wake up until 5:50am!! We couldn't believe it, but boy what a treat!

We've been reading this great book called, "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" and are trying to follow the system this acclaimed doctor teaches. Though it's pretty common sense, we're learning a lot about the importance of naps, and how sleeping through the night has to do with neurological maturation and not because of introducing cereal. When babies start really smiling they also typically start sleeping more at night too. Regardless of why it happened, it did!

The boys are going in for their 4 month well visit and immunizations tomorrow which should be a really pleasant experience ;). Both babies getting shots at the same time should be interesting, to say the least. I'm pretty sure I won't be writing to brag that they've continued to sleep through the night, but if I can I certainly will!!

Tuesday, October 14, 2003 9:42 PM CDT

We're praising God tonight for being with Logan today during his heart cath and for allowing him to come home this evening rather than stay overnight in the hospital. The sense of relief and thankfulness we feel is a little overwhelming.

To retrace the day, Ben and I took Logan to his apt this morning at 6:30. The anesthesiologists took him from us about 9:30 and the heart cath lasted until about 12:30. Logan then went into recovery where he had a chest X-ray, an EKG and an Echocardiogram. He slept until about 4:00. He was intubated (breathing tube) so we weren't able to see him until that came out, he was breathing on his own and moving around a bit. They finally called us in to the recovery room about 4:30. Needless to say, we were anxious to give him hugs and kisses.

The cardiologist told us he was able to get the pictures that he needed in order for the surgeon to know specifically what to do on Oct. 31. He also didn't find anything unusual that Logan's prior echo's showed. This was very good news for us as it means we don't need to move up his surgery date. His oxygen saturation levels varied between the mid 60's to high 70's, which was also very good to see. Thank you Lord!

After recovering a bit longer up on the Children's floor and eating for the first time all day, we were able to take him home about 7:30pm. A long day but well worth it.

Logan will be a bit lethargic for a day or so but he should be perfectly fine overall. Owen appeared to be happy that his brother came home--staring at him intently and grabbing at his hand when they were in their crib together. We just love seeing them side by side. We are truly blessed to have Owen and Logan!!

A special thanks to Auntie Angie for staying with Owen extra long today. When we checked in with her earlier in the day we asked how it was going with just one baby to take care of. She was having such a swell day she was asking for more things to do for us! Boy, if we ever have one baby, we won't be know what do with our free time. :)

Thanks, as always, to everyone for your prayers and support for our family.

Thursday, October 9, 2003 4:24 PM CDT

Logan has his bi-monthly checkup with his cardiologist today and again, he was doing very well. He's up to 10 1/2 pounds and 22 1/4 inches...quite the transformation for a little boy who was once so small.

We're all set for his heart catherization on Tuesday where they'll place the catheter, a small hollow tube, similar to an IV, into two blood vessels, an artery and a vein. They'll use X-rays to see where the catheter is in the heart and then will get blood samples, pressures and other measurements. They also use a special dye in the catheter that creates contrast colors of the blood and lets the doctor take pictures of the heart. This is a pretty important step prior to his surgery because it gives the surgeon the clearest picture of what she'll be operating on and can help her determine how well the Glenn will work.

Logan's oxygen saturation levels were a little low today so if the heart cath indicates a narrowing of his pulmonary arteries, they'll bump his surgery up a week to October 24. Basicially, an increased narrowing means less of his blood is getting oxygenated so less oxygen is flowing through his little body. We don't want that.

We're working to get their RSV shots scheduled--monthly shots from October through April to aid against getting this often deadly virus--as well as their four month immunizations, all before Logan's surgery. We may have some unhappy boys around here for a while!

We also have Owen's next big apt on Nov. 5 with Dr. Wahoff to assess his growth for surgery. Seems like we're getting back on the high dose of appointments again. Thank goodness for such great working environments that allow us to take the time we need for the boys.

Tuesday, October 7, 2003 2:23 PM CDT

Owen and Logan are so blessed! While last weekend they were guests of honor at a shower hosted by my sisters, Andrea and Amanda, this past Sunday they were the featured entertainment at an open house at Grandpa Paul and Grandma Kathy's (Behn). Many people came to finally meet the boys in person and even came baring gifts. Thank you to everyone!! I was so happy to see relatives and friends whom I haven't seen in a long time and thank them for their prayers, love and support. As usual, they were very, very well behaved and had a very fun time.

The biggest news to report since our last journal entry is that we tried the colostomy bag for Owen for the first time since July and it worked!! The whole process makes both Ben and me a little anxious but this past Friday I figured what the heck, why not give a whirl. It was to my sheer delight when each time I checked on it, there were no leaks and it was doing as it was supposed to. We've now been putting a new bag on each day since Friday wiht no problems. The fact that Owen is bigger and has more fat on his little body is probably why it's finally working for him. I'll be setting up an apt with his doctor in November and hopefully at that time we can discuss the timing and maybe even set a date for his surgery to give him the pooper shooter he was always meant to have.

Logan has a cardiology apt on Thursday--his standard two week checkup. He continues to do wonderfully, though he's starting to take a while to finish one bottle, and continues to grow so we're hoping that the doctor keeps us on the same schedule for his surgery. His heart cath is next Tuesday so if you could keep him in your prayers especially on that day, we would be grateful.

On Sunday morning, Owen started talking back to Mommy. It was the cutest thing and I haven't been that excited about something in a long time. He's just so full of smiles and the cooing and giggles were to die for!! Logan's not far behind and we're excited about that.

Grandma Linda, Grandpa Randy and Auntie Amanda are coming to watch the boys tomorrow night and I expect the digital camera will be coming along as well. Therefore, new pictures will probably be posted by the end of the week...they're too cute for words!

Weight check is on Friday so I'll make note of that and give a report on Logan's apt.

Best to all.

Sunday, September 28, 2003 6:21 PM CDT

I'm proud to report the babies have broken the 10 pound mark. We took them in for a weight check Saturday morning and:

Owen = a whopping 11lbs 1 oz
Logan = a strong 10lbs

We could tell that Owen was pulling ahead in the weight gain game as he consistently eats 4 oz and his brother takes in 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 but regardless both weights are stellar for the tykes. Logan also had a cardiology apt on Friday and I was thrilled to hear her say he looked the best she'd ever seen. God continues to hold His strong, healthy hand over him and we're so thankful.

Speaking of Logan, there's no need to have any extra candy at your houses for him come Halloween as his surgery has been moved to October 31. We have no problems being flexible with this date because it means the surgery is still elective. We'll go back to see Dr. Lohr on October 9, then he's got the heart cath on Oct. 14, along with another echo. If the doctors see something they don't like the surgery would be moved ahead but Lord willing, that won't happen.

Every day the boys are doing more fun things--the smiles are increasing all the time, they love to stare and follow faces and they're even starting to make some little squeaks when they get excited. It's amazing to see how they change and how they learn new things. Both of them can also hold their heads up on their own and turn from side to side. It's all incredible to Ben and me and we can't wait for the next big thing.

This afternoon the babies were the guests of honor at a shower given by my sisters Andrea and Amanda. They got lots of wonderful presents from clothes to toys to books. I must say, these boys are probably going to continue being the best dressed kids in the city. Our house is starting to get overrun by baby stuff and Maxie's space is getting a little invaded but she's coping the best she can.

We're still getting up every 3-4 hours at night to feed Owen and Logan but thankfully they at least go right back to bed after getting changed. They're starting to eat a little less at the feedings and go a little longer in between them--all very good signs that a full nights sleep is not far away; and boy will we welcome it with open arms and closed eyes!!

No appointments this week but we will write if any big news takes place.

Saturday, September 20, 2003 11:04 AM CDT

After 20 weeks away from my job at Marshall Field's, I reentered the working world on Monday and survived. The boys had a great week with their Auntie Angie who is nannying for us. Angie, of course, did an amazing job with them and we're so thankful she's going to be with them Monday through Thursday.

From the time I left in the morning until the time I came home I swear the boys grew. It was crazy! And, every day they're starting to look more and more alike. I saw both Owen and Logan sitting on the floor and then Owen was in the swing and I thought he was Logan. It was the first time that had happened. To us, they've always looked so different but Owen's head is starting to round out a little more and he looks like a completely different little guy. I guess they're identical after all.

We didn't have any appointments last week, which I think was a first for us. Logan has his bi-weekly cardiology visit this week Friday and we'll also find out how much they've grown in two weeks. It's always so fun to guess.

We probably won't write another update until Friday evening.

Monday, September 15, 2003 4:16 PM CDT

Finally, a new update! My laptop was at the shop so I couldn't add any new entries but now that I'm back at work I have no excuses.

The first and best news is that both boys are smiling at Mommy and Daddy. What an amazing moment it was on Friday, September 5 when Owen smiled at me for the first time. I'd been seeing smiles here and there but none that I felt were directed specifically at me--I wasn't counting the gas smiles. When it first happened, I could hardly believ it was real so I kept asking him to do it again and again and thankfully he complied. It was such an exciting moment. Logan is smiling now and again too although he makes us work a lot harder for them.

The boys are still growing at record pace: As of Friday Owen weighed 9lbs 8 oz and Logan weighed 8lbs 13 oz. Our cardiologist pointed out that with Logan's heart he'll likely be smaller than his brother because he's working so much harder for his food. It was helpful to hear that because we couldn't understand why he wasn't eating as much as porker Owen.

An adorable thing has started to happen when the boys are sleeping (they're still sharing a crib). We lay them down about a foot apart from one another but somehow Owen has started scooting himself so he's right next to Logan--usually with his head on Logan's shoulder. It's one of the most precious sites we've seen with these two and yet we're just getting started.

A not-so-adorable thing that has started to happen is that they really like to fuss, fuss, fuss at night for us--even holding them doesn't always help. We're thinking it must be us because when they visited Grandma Linda, Grandpa Randy and Auntie Amanda on Friday night they were perfect angels.

Logan's heart surgery has been scheduled for October 20 at the U of M. We're starting to see the cardiologist every other Friday to ensure there are no drastic changes that would cause it to be moved up. The day of the surgery we'll arrive at 5:30am and the doctors will begin at 7:00. It will take 2-4 hours for them to operate on his little heart, about the size of a walnut with its shell on it. Following the surgery, Logan will be in pediatric intensive care for 7-10 days with constant monitoring to ensure the surgery is a success. This is the first of two major surgeries he will have to have, this one called the Glenn Procedure and the second one called the Fontan Completion:

"The Glenn procedure, the way it is currently performed, involves hooking up the superior vena cava to the right pulmonary artery and detaching it from the right atrium. The bi-directional Glenn Shunt is a direct connection between the superior vena cava and the pulmonary artery, diverting half of the "blue" blood directly to the lungs without the assistance of the ventricle. It is usually performed between three and eight months of age, when the lungs mature to the point that blood flows more easily through, and ventricular force is no longer necessary. It is used as a procedure when there is only one good ventricle and more blood flow to the lungs is needed. It may be the second surgery after an initial Norwood, BT shunt or PA band."

While Ben and I don't know the feelings we'll have as October 20 draws closer, right now we're just so thankful that there is something doctors can do for his little heart with such encouraging success rates. That said, we ask for all of the prayers and thoughts you can continue to give Logan and our family.

Gee, I hope I'm not ending on a gloomy note... Life is good, God is good and we're having a blast with Owen and Logan. If you've looked at the pictures you've seen for yourself just how adorable they are.

Monday, September 1, 2003 3:35 PM CDT

Last week was a busy one for the boys as they had their two month check-ups on Wednesday and Logan had his hernia and circumsion surgery on Thursday.

As of last Wednesday the boys had passed the eight pound mark weighing in at 8 lbs 1 oz = Logan and 8 lbs 2 oz = Owen. We're so happy that they're continuing to grow so well so quickly. Owen also had his two month immunizations and he barely flinched--this kid can handle anything!! Logan wasn't able to have his shots because of his surgery the following day but he'll have his chance next week.

Logan's surgery went well on Thursday but his recovery was a bit scary for us. They repaired the hernia on his right side and found a hernia on his left side to repair as well. Since he was under anesthesia we opted to have him circumsized at the same time. He came out of surgery and woke up ready to eat within an hour, which was a very good sign.

Because he was a premie and his existing heart condition they kept him overnight for monitoring (heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation levels). The oxygen saturation is the biggest deal for Logan because of how his heart works. Instead of a normal read of 100%, he averages between 70-85%. For some reason he was dipping down into the 50% range so he was given oxygen for quite a while between Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. This was pretty scary for us as parents because he's never been on oxygen since he was born and we couldn't understand what was happening. The cardiologists came to check on him and gave him some fluids through his IV--thinkging that he was dehydrated. It helped a lot and by about 2am on Friday morning he was back in the upper 60's to 80's. Grandma Bushaw stayed overnight with Owen so both of us could stay with him and we were able to leave on Friday afternoon.

We had to take Logan to the ER on Saturday night because it seemed he was bleeding too much from the circumsion. The doctors decided to admit him because of a concern that he may have been losing too much blood. Ben stayed with him until 2:30am and then I went for rest of the time. We just wanted a surgeon to look at the circ site to see what was wrong but instead they hooked him up to the monitoring machines again, gave him a heplocked IV just in case he needed more fluids and checked him every hour. Thankfully, his oxygen numbers this time ranged from 75-85% the entire time. It wasn't until 9:00am Sunday morning that a surgeon came in and basically said he was fine. It was really frustrating and tiring but at the same time it's better to be safe. All we know is we don't like hospitals much! Logan, as usual, was a superstar. We're so proud of him and his resiliency.

We've got a litle reprieve from big appointments until the end of September when Logan has his heart catheritization. We're hoping that we don't get any more surprises or any more scares with either of them. We kind of think the boys deserve a break.

Our summer together learning how to be parents is finally over as Ben goes back to school tomorrow. The time went so fast but I'm so glad we were able to be together as a family for these first 9 weeks. We've learned a lot and have fallen madly in love with our little guys. They're starting to look around, follow things and us with their eyes and are almost ready to smile at us. What an amazing day that will be.

Saturday, August 23, 2003 8:53 PM CDT

It was another great week of growing for Owen and Logan. Ben and I both guessed what their weights would be when we went in for their weekly weight check yesterday and both of us were way off--they were even bigger than we thought...

Owen -- 7 lbs 12 oz
Logan -- 7 lbs 13 oz

Yes, you read correctly; Owen gained nearly a whole pound in one week's time! Pretty incredible! They're finally normal sized babies and beginning to fit into all of the adorable clothes they've been given as gifts. It's so much fun to look into their closet every morning and pick out their outfits for the day. The only bad thing is it takes me quite a while to find the perfect outfits even if we're not even planning to leave the house.

Since we can't go a week without learning something new and not-so-good about one or the other of our guys, the latest news is that we've figured out that Owen has reflux and needs to start on Baby Zantac to help with his digestion. Our doctor has also decided to do an upper GI study to make sure nothing is obstructing his digestive tract. It makes sense to do this since nothing has been checked since he got out of the NICU back in the beginning of July. Hopefully that will come out in his favor.

We'll learn on Monday if Logan will be able to have his hernia surgery on Thursday as he's got an appointment with the cardiologist for an echocardiogram and an oxygen saturation check. If there are any signs of congestive heart failure we would need to postpone it until after his heart surgery. From the signs we've been told to look for at home, he's still doing super but the doctors can tell for sure. This too will hopefully be an encouraging appointment.

On a good note, Owen and Logan are on the same schedule of eating every three hours and are doing a super job of eating and going right back to sleep in the middle of the night. When one baby wakes up, we get the other one up so we can feed both at the same time. And, Ben and I have split the shifts so we are each finally getting a bigger chunk of sleeping time. We're finally starting to feel a little less tired, which is good timing since Ben goes back to school in a week and me two weeks later.

On a day-to-day basis the boys are doing terrific and if one didn't know any better would never guess that so much is going on with each of them.

This is a big week for us--mostly Logan, I guess--and we appreciate all of the prayers you can give us.

Tuesday, August 19, 2003 10:13 PM CDT

Owen and Logan had a busy day out and about with Mommy today. It was our first adventure with only one of us parents and boy, was there a lot of advance prayer going on. Thankfully, we made it in one piece and I kept my sanity and wasn't too anxious.

First, we went to Gillett Children's Hospital in St. Paul for a second opinion on Owen's thumb and then the boys made their first trip to Marshall Field's so 1) my colleagues could meet them and 2) so Icould discuss coming back to work once my maternity leave is finished in mid- September.

At Owen's apt, we didn't learn a whole lot more from Dr. Vandereest than we heard at our first opinion from Dr. Barton at Children's in St. Paul. What she did say is that it's too soon to make a final decision/ recommendation on what steps to take and that they wouldn't do any type of surgery until he's about a year old. The issue is that Owen has a hypoplastic thumb--or the bones and muscles are underdeveloped. He's missing the main metacarpal bone that connects his thumb to the wrist meaning he's got no movement.

She went through some options we can consider, i.e., removing the thumb and moving the index finger, leaving the thumb as is (he'd just use his index finger for those needed movements), using some toe parts to stabilize the thumb, put a toe in place of his thumb (still may not work), move some muscles from his pinky finger to his thumb. It's a lot to sort through and frankly, not worth it too much at this point since we need to wait until that six month mark to see how his bones are developing. We may do an MRI to ensure the metacarpal isn't hiding somewhere but Owen would need a general anesthesia to get that done and that's a little frightening for us to think about too. We didn't ask about putting a pin in in place of a bone but that's a question we'll probably ask about. She gave us the name of a doctor at Mayo whom she works with at Shriner's Hospital so we may seek one more opinion before determining the best option for our little guy.

We all had a lot of fun with Auntie Leslie (my friend from Denver) over the weekend. Leslie quickly became a pro at changing diapers, giving baths and feeding both babies at the same time. She also gave us a little break and let me have more sleep in one day than I think I've had since the babies arrive--THANKS AUNTIE LESLIE!!! Oh, and she's still wanting to have a baby so whew, the babies didn't turn her off to motherhood.

Our next doctor apt is their two month immunizations next Wednesday and then Logan's hernia surgery next Thursday. I'm guessing we'll also be seeing his cardiologist before then too. I'll learn that tomorrow.

They're still having fussiness fun in the evenings but we've figured out that if we hold them they're pretty content. We've also quickly learned how to do numerous things with only one hand like emptying the dishwasher, brushing out teeth and eating our lukewarm pizza. Whatever it takes, right...whatever it takes.

Thursday, August 14, 2003 8:58 PM CDT

We've created little piglets!! The boys are growing at lightening speed. We took them in today for their weekly weight check and...

Logan = 7 lbs 3 oz
Owen = 6 lbs 14 oz

We could hardly believe it was true, but like I've written before, they just eat and eat and eat. In fact, I was doing some reading and they're eating as much in a day as an average nine pounder. I guess these guys of ours serious about catching up to be normal-sized babies.

We also took Logan to see Dr. Wahoff about his hernia on Wednesday and have scheduled a surgery for August 28. Hernia's in infants apparently are quite common and even moreso in premature babies. For Logan, though at this point his hernia isn't at the serious stage, it's better to get it taken care of then to take any risks. The internet has been helpful in helping us to understand what's going on. Here's what I've learned:

"A hernia is a weakness, hole or opening in the abdominal wall that does not belong there. Most hernias in children are the result of normal developmental processes that did not quite finish properly. They are more common in boys, but occur in girls as well. During normal development in the womb, there is an opening in the lower part of the abdominal wall of every fetus. In boys, this opening is associated with the movement of the testicle down into the scrotum. A similar opening is present in girls. The opening has usually closed off prior to birth, but may persist, resulting in an inguinal hernia. An operation is performed to correct inguinal hernias in both boys and girls. A small incision is made in the lower part of the abdominal wall, just above the groin on the side of the hernia. The hernia sac is tied off at its origin. Incisions are closed with dissolving sutures. The surgery takes about an hour and small premature infants or children with special medical needs may stay overnight."

Once again it seems things keep getting thrown at our boys making them have to fight so hard for their health. They've been so strong, courageous and resilient to so much already in their little lives that they just deserve a break, don't you think? While we sometimes wonder why all of this is happening to them and to us, we do our best to keep the faith and stay positive. After all, it doesn't do us any good to get down and out--our boys need us to be as strong as possible in order to keep them as strong as possible.

Tomorrow, the boys get to go to G & G Schroeder's for the afternoon and then thier Auntie Leslie (my friend from Denver) flies in tomorrow evening. She's wonderful enough to stay and help with the babies through Monday. Her trip is either going to speed up her and her husband's baby making process or halt it indefinitely. I'm pretty sure once she meets them and falls as head over heels in love as we are, that the answer will be obvious. I'll have to keep you all posted.

We ask that you would continue to pray for Owen and Logan during these next weeks--Owen has a second opinion on his thumb on Tuesday and with Logan's surgery coming up, they just need as much support as possible for good news and good outcomes.

We'll continue to keep you updated.

Monday, August 11, 2003 8:06 PM CDT

Hi All--it's me Logan writing today. Wanted to let you know my latest news...I've got a hernia! Yep, me and my brother like to keep Mommy and Daddy worried and on their toes. They noticed it on Saturday night when they were changing my dirty diaper--I have a lot of those dirty diapers. Anyway, it was a little bulge on the upper right side of my little peter. They called the doctor who confirmed that's what it likely was. Today, Mommy talked with my pediatrician and we set up an appointment to see Dr. Wahoff on Wednesday. Apparently, as long as they can push it back in, they probably won't do much about it right away, but if at some point it stays a bulge and can't go back in, I'll have to go to the ER. Let's hope that doesn't happen.

Owen and I have also decided to be fussy little cats between the hours of 5-9pm. We're not hungry or wet, we just like to be held and not let Mommy and Daddy get much done around the house. It's kind of a fun game we play with them.

Oh, and our eyes are starting to turn another color. I think we're going to have brown eyes and blond hair. Owen's hair was pretty dark but it seems to be lightening up a bit like mine. Time will tell, but I think two blond haired, brown eyed boys will be pretty cute--if I do say so myself.

We have some friends, Sophia and Meredith, who are twin girls--the same type of twins (sharing the same sac) as we are. Mommy was in the hospital at the same time as their Mommy. They were born two weeks after we were and wer found out today they finally got to come home from the hospital after a month. Yay for them. I can't wait to talk with them and see how much they're giving they're Mommy and Daddy a run for their money.

Well, I'm hungry again so better get one of my parents ready to feed me. We like to eat!!

Thursday, August 7, 2003 10:32 PM CDT

The Lord continues to bless our little boys and we are so thankful!

Logan had an appointment with his cardiologist, Dr. Lohr today and she was again, very, very happy with how well he is doing. His oxygen saturation levels are just where they need to be and his chest X-ray showed no hidden complications and a balanced amount of pulmonary stenosis.

We're still planning on sometime in late October for Logan's first heart surgery, although it could also happen over Thanksgiving...it just depends on how he's doing and the schedule of his surgeon. We were surprised to learn that he will be in the hospital for a week to 10 days following the surgery(it seems like such a long time)although when we stopped to think about it, it is a major surgery with no guarantees. Dr. Lohr informed us that he will be pretty heavily sedated the first couple days so we should plan to catch up on some sleep because after that one of us will need to be there with him pretty much around the clock. I can't imagine us wanting to be anywhere else.

It's hard sometimes to remember that Logan has something so seriously wrong with his little heart. Day in and day out for us, he appears to be such a normal, perfect little boy. But, our appointments with Dr. Lohr quickly bring us back to reality and remind us that we're not out of the woods yet. We just continue to pray that he keeps thriving and that the Lord will keep his healing hands over both him and his brother.

Speaking of Owen, he and Logan both got weighed today and...drum roll, please: Owen's at 6 lbs 3 oz and Logan's at 6 lbs 8 oz. They'll both easily be seven pounds by the end of the month. Maybe, just maybe, they'll get into their adorable 0-3 month clothes before they hit four months.

On to other news, we made our first trek to Austin on Monday and I'd have to say we did pretty well. The boys were very excited to see Grandma's and Grandpa's and meet Great Grandparents and Great Aunts and Uncles too. As I've said in previous posts, the more we get out with the boys the more comfortable we're feeling. We finally know the tricks to getting the boys in and out of their car seats quickly and how to pop open the stroller. Thank goodness because I know we looked like a couple of lost fools the first few times we tried that in the Galleria and Marshall Field's parking lots!

I hope those of you checking the page regularly are enjoying the frequent pictures of the guys. Grandma Schroeder is doing a bang up job of keeping them updated really regularly. I do want to point out that although it might appear all Logan ever does is sleep, he is actually awake quite a bit. Apparently, he just isn't as excited as his brother (and mother, if I were honest) are about the camera.

Enjoy.

Saturday, August 2, 2003 4:12 PM CDT

We've been meaning to write day after day but surprisingly, our days pass by so quickly and the minute we think we have some time to write, either Owen or Logan tells us otherwise.

The babies are continuing to thrive. At their weight check yesterday, Owen came in at 5.15 1/2 and Logan came in at 6.2 1/2. We couldn't believe that Logan had surpassed his brother, especially considering how much Owen eats-he continues to be just a porker!

Also, Owen had a check up with the pediatric surgeon on Thursday to check his scar from his surgery and to see how his stoma is doing. The doctor said he looks great and that the plan is to do his reconstructive surgery when he's about 15-20 pounds--likely around six months or sometime in January. It can't come soon enough!

Our next appointments include the following:
- Logan will see his cardiologist on August 7 to check his oxygen saturation levels and to ensure that he is continuing to do well enough for his October surgery--if he wasn't, the surgery would need to happen sooner.
- Owen will get a second opinion on his hypoplastic right thumb on August 19. The surgeon at Children's said they would likely remove his thumb and move the index finger to work as a thumb. We want to ensure there are no other alternatives and to see if there are options to keep his beautiful little thumb.
- Both boys will get their two month immunizations on Augst 23. No one likes shots so hopefully this will be easier than we're expecting.

Ben and I had our first big date last night--Marshall Field's annual Glamorama. G & G Schroeder were nice enough to watch the boys so we could attend. I'm usually working the event, managing all of the media and publicity for the fashion charity show, but last night we went as guests and had a ball together. It was nice to see my colleagues and I am somewhat excited about returning to my job in mid-September.

Finally, we're going to make our first trek to Austin to visit G & G Bushaw and G & G Behn on Monday and Tuesday. We're anxious to get there and see the progress the Bushaw's have made at their house and spend some time relaxing there before Ben heads back to school. It will be interesting being away from home though and are hoping all goes smoothly.

It's 4:30pm and we figure one of us should finally get in the shower for the day, so until next time.

Friday, July 25, 2003 5:47 PM CDT

Hi Everyone--it's me, Owen. I told Mommy to go take a nap while I write a little note about how my brother Logan and me are doing. We're getting really, really BIG!!!

The home health care nurse came to see us yesterday and guess what; we both weigh 5lbs 10 oz. Can you believe it? It really didn't surprise me too much, after all, I'm hungry all of time. Yesterday, I had 24 oz of milk and a boy my size really only needs 14-17 oz a day. My poor mom can hardly keep up with the production but she sure does try.

Logan and I are starting to have some fun in this new world of ours. We don't sleep quite so much--though still about 16-18 hours a day--and are really getting into looking around to see our surroundings and watch what's going on. Of course, we can't see much beyond about 24 inches from our faces but what we can see, we like. We also finally fit in our bouncy seats and boy, are they fun. They play music and vibrate and have fun little animals in front of us that we can reach for and grab ahold of. It's pretty cool. I think we're a little advanced for our age because most babies don't grab for things until 2-3 months. Daddy's been working with us though and I think that's what's helping us.

My next appointment to meet with the surgeon is next Wednesday. Mom wrote that it was today but she gets confused these days--says it's because of a lack of sleep or something. Likely story, I tell her. Anyway, we'll be sure to update our web page about what we learn. I hope it's good news. The maxi pad on my stoma is working well and all, but come on I'm a boy; I don't want to be wearing those for long.

Well, Logan's looking for a playmate so I'd better go entertain him for a little bit.

Monday, July 21, 2003 9:28 AM CDT

Owen and Logan are almost a month old! It was four Monday's ago today that we welcomed them into this world--we can hardly believe it. Nor can we believe they're both home with us and doing so very well, since our expectations were that they'd be in the NICU for at least a month.

The latest update on the guys is that they've both surpassed the five pound mark. They were weighed at Owen's apt. on Friday--Owen was at 5lbs 2 oz and Logan was at 5lbs 1 1/2 oz. Not only has Logan gained a pound in 19 days but he's also caught up to his brother. Our doctor was thrilled with the health and growth of both of them and said we just need to keep doing what we're doing.

Also, after a lot of frustration and tears we think we've finally got Owen's stoma troubles figured out. The colostomy bags just weren't working for him--nothing stuck, there were always leaks, changing the bag was so time consuming and Owen hated it.

After meeting with the colostomy nurse more than three times in five days, she finally told me over the phone on Friday morning to try a maxi pad and forget the bags altogether. We took her advice on Friday afternoon and thank goodness, it worked!! We now put a half of a maxi pad over his tummy, wrap it in an Ace bandage (Ben used Saran Wrap at first but we decided wrapping our kid in plastic might not be the wisest of ideas) and change it whenever he gets his diaper changed. What a world of difference it's made for Ben and me, and hopefully Owen too.

On Saturday, the guys got to meet thier Great Grandpa and Grandma List, my mom's parents. It was really neat to see four generations of our family. My Grandpa Behn is still in Arizona and we haven't been to Austin yet to introduce them to Grandpa and Grandma Thompson (Ben's mom's parents) so this was a first experience for us and a memorable one.

Our confidence level continues to grow with the guys--we've gone on two walks now and a trip with both to the pediatrician. I'm hoping that it's only a matter of time before we're going out and about with them enjoying the rest of the summer.

Our next big apt is July 25 when we meet with the surgeon to discuss next steps for reconstructing Owen's pooper shooter. Then, two weeks later we'll have another apt with Logan's cardiologist to see how he's doing. We've seen more doctors in the past month than Ben and I have ever seen, or care to see, in our lifetimes, but we're sure glad to have experts to help our little guys.

Tuesday, July 15, 2003 8:40 PM CDT

Raising twins IS manageable (at least for the past five days it has been)! Oh, what a thrill to be able to write that. The sense of anxiety that we were feeling about having both boys at home has been replaced with a sense of peace and the overarching thought that "we can do this!"

Owen and Logan have both been doing terrific since Friday and are continuing to gain weight. A home health care nurse came to see us on Sunday and Logan had gained another three ounces since the Thursday prior and Owen had gained in ounce in a day and a half. Their weights on Sunday morning were: Logan = 4lbs 12oz and Owen = 4lbs 15oz. They are eating machines and doing well with their schedules too.

People that come to visit are surprised by how good the boys are--rarely fussing and crying only when they're hungry and/or need to be changed. They're also very, very alert for being technically only 38 weeks gestational. How strange to think that if there were only one, he wouldn't even be born yet. Scarier yet is to think about how HUGE I would be had they not been born yet. I just saw some pictures today and can't believe I was ever THAT big.

Our families have continued to provide so much love and support. Ben's mom was up on Saturday and even got up during the night so I could catch some extra Z's. What a treat!

We continue to take things day by day and are even starting to feel confident enough to contemplate taking an adventure out of the house with both of the boys. Of course, it would likely only be a walk around the block in their stroller, but we've got to start somewhere, right.

Owen's got his first pediatrician apt on Friday and my Mom (who's taken on the responsibility of keeping the pictures updated) will be returning from a trip on Thursday so we'll have a new update and pictures on Saturday.

Friday, July 11, 2003 7:29 PM CDT

The surprises keep coming...Owen came home today!

I had my 2 week check-up today with my doctors and afterwards went in to visit Owen. One of the nurses said "congratulations," which I thought was in reference to the arrival of the boys, but when she continued to say, "I hear he's going home today," I replied, "Who?" thinking she had me confused with another mom. Apparently not, the doctors had just forgotten to inform Ben and me that they felt Owen was ready to leave, but alas he was and now he's home at last. What a nice surprise on a Friday.

We were so excited to put Owen and Logan together to see what they would do and once we did it was amazing. The way they each seemed to stare at each other and grab at one another was priceless. And, now that Logan is catching up size wise, it's unbelievable to see the two next to each other and hear how alike they're noises are. The whole thing pretty much makes a person speechless.

Some other things--both good and not so good--have also transpired in the last couple of days... The orthopedic surgeon came to look at Owen's right thumb on Thursday and informed us that it's the most severe case of Hypoplastic Right Thumb he could have (big surprise considering, right?). Basically, his thumb is higher up on his hand than it should be and has no muscle connecting it to the rest of his fingers. Our doctor's prognosis was to perform surgery at four to six months of age to remove the thumb and move the index finger down to work as a thumb. Pretty scary and not something we wanted to hear but it could have been worse.

Additionally, as some of you know, Owen was also born with an imperforated anus--or lack of a pooper shooter as Ben says. They'll do a surgery on him at about six months of age to reconstruct it but in the meantime he had a colostomy and now has a stoma next to his belly button. This means that a part of his intestine is visible and it's where his stool comes out into a bag that gets replaced every 2-3 days. The bag has been leaking on a regular basis during the past few days, which has been quite discouraging and now that he's home Ben and I are on our own to fix it, change it and replace it if and when it does leak. It's a little scary but we're hoping we can adjust to his special needs with patience and healing hands.

The good news continued with Logan as he had his first cardiology apt on Thursday. We're tentatively planning for his first surgery in October when he's four months. The nurses I saw 3x a week were floored this morning when I filled them in on the prognosis of Logan. After all, they had been witness to the boys in utero and saw the severity of his heart first hand. We also learned that our guy had gained six ounces since last Thursday for a total of nine since coming home on June 30. Our doctor was elated at his growth and saw no signs of congestive heart failure.

We continue to take the good with the bad as we have since our pregnancy started and continue to pray that our boys will ultimately be happy and healthy.

Wednesday, July 9, 2003 10:49 PM CDT

Owen should be home by week's end or the weekend and boy, are we thankful! He got moved to the satellite NICU on Monday afternoon and it's just not the same as the brand new NICU facility. He was moved because he's doing so very well (which we're thrilled about), but now instead of having his own private room he's in a big room with eight other babies. There isn't any privacy and it's pretty trashy for our standards. As you all can imagine, we can only have the best for our little guys. We've also gotten to the point where we don't want to go back and forth to the hosptial two to three times a day and we're tired of having different nurses care for him every day (his two primary's are now on vacation) and all of the people poking and prodding him. If we're feeling this way, can you imagine how our little guy feels? I sound a little discouraged and I suppose I am but I'm also so happy that there's light at the end of this long tunnel!

Logan's got his first apt with his cardiologist tomorrow and another echocardiogram. This should give us a better idea of what we're looking at by way of his first heart surgery. Right now, we're looking at 4-8 months.

Maxie, our cat, has been a little peaved that I haven't included her in any of these posts, so I'll just say she's doing well. Not the least bit interested in Logan. As long as we let her drink from the bathroom sink and go out to bug hunt, she's happy as a lark. Meow.

Wednesday, July 9, 2003 10:49 PM CDT

Owen should be home by week's end or the weekend and boy, are we thankful! He got moved to the satellite NICU on Monday afternoon and it's just not the same as the brand new NICU facility. He was moved because he's doing so very well (which we're thrilled about), but now instead of having his own private room he's in a big room with eight other babies. There isn't any privacy and it's pretty trashy for our standards. As you all can imagine, we can only have the best for our little guys. We've also gotten to the point where we don't want to go back and forth to the hosptial two to three times a day and we're tired of having different nurses care for him every day (his two primary's are now on vacation) and all of the people poking and prodding him. If we're feeling this way, can you imagine how our little guy feels? I sound a little discouraged and I suppose I am but I'm also so happy that there's light at the end of this long tunnel!

Logan's got his first apt with his cardiologist tomorrow and another echocardiogram. This should give us a better idea of what we're looking at by way of his first heart surgery. Right now, we're looking at 4-8 months.

Maxie, our cat, has been a little peaved that I haven't included her in any of these posts, so I'll just say she's doing well. Not the least bit interested in Logan. As long as we let her drink from the bathroom sink and go out to bug hunt, she's happy as a lark. Meow.

Sunday, July 6, 2003 8:01 PM CDT

The past few days have been great days for Owen and Logan and for Mommy and Daddy too. (I still can't believe we refer to ourselves as that these days.)

Owen went completely off of the IV this morning and is now getting full gavage feedings (tube feedings) throughout the day. Additionally, and most importantly, is that he was also able to start nursing last night. This is huge because it means his tummy is working well enough to be able to keep things down and move things through. Ben and I are so thankful! This nursing thing is going to get really interesting once they're both home but we're up for the challenge. As for when he'll get to join his brother at home, it's still up in the air. We're guessing it will be at least a week but who's to say--we were completely shocked when they said Logan could come home so Owen might surprise us as well.

Logan is continuing to do great at home. He sleeps well, eats well and as I mentioned before poops well too. Ben had his first blow out experience this morning and finally I was the one who got a good laugh! We're learning you've got to be quick with those diaper changes or else.

Today was a great day for Mommy because she got to go shopping for the first time in more than eight weeks with her husband...Yahoo! Granted it was only to Pottery Barn Kids and Target, but boy, was it fun! It was Logan's first trip into the real world (though we did take a trip to G & G Schroeder's for a Fourth of July cookout) and he did just great--slept the whole entire time.

So far, parenthood is amazing! Ben mentioned just a short while ago that "this is fun." I'd have to agree.

Friday, July 4, 2003 3:18 AM CDT

Thursday was a big day for Logan as he had his 2-week checkup with his pediatrician, Dr. Plotnik. She was very impressed with how well he's doing--from weight gain, to alertness, strength in trying to lift his head, etc. He's a superstar!

Logan's gained three ounces since he came home on Monday. We wonder how he can gain anything since so much seems to come out! Ben and I were trying to get him changed and dressed on Wednesday and not only did he add a new color to our hardwood floors, he also added some color to my pants and shirt. That's right--pooped all over--it was quite the sight. We took a picture to remember that special moment.

Ben, Logan and I go to see Owen in the NICU at least twice a day. He's continuing to do well. They are now tube feeding him breast milk with the hopes of weening him off of the IV, which is giving him all of the nutrients he needs to continue growing. The challenge with the tube feedings is that his tummy is still trying to figure out how to work. If you'll recall, he had a Duodnal Atresia, so his stomach and intestine weren't connected. The surgery repaired that but now it's a matter of waiting so the two parts can work together. He's a real trooper though and it's so obvious to us that he's got a real fighting spirit--I think that comes from Grandpa Bushaw.

Not a whole lot else has changed since Tuesday. We're just continuting to thank God for his watchful care over all of us and the protection and strength he gives each of us every day.

Happy Fourth of July!

Tuesday, July 1, 2003 5:48 AM CDT

The days start early with babies--or is it that they never end? In any case, Ben and I are getting used to living on little sleep and I'm just hoping it doesn't catch up with us anytime too soon.

Yesterday was a great day for us in that we were able to bring home half of our new family! Logan was discharged from the hospital and we came home about 9:15pm. He seemed just fine with his new surroundings and our cat, Maxie didn't pay much attention to her new brother at all. He slept well, ate well and filled his pants well so we must be doing okay so far.

Logan's awake and hungry...I'm handing off the rest of this to Ben...

Before we came home, we took some time for ourselves at the persistance of our nurse and went to the movie "Bruce Almighty". This movie hit the spot from both an entertainment and emotional aspect. We both enjoyed the movie with laughter but, also realized that we are so fortunate to have two miracles.

The fact that Logan does not have a spleen to help him fight infections has us a bit worried. However, he started amoxicilin yesterday and the doctors are confident this will be very helpful for him as he grows and comes in to contact with others. The doctors have told us to hold visitors to a minimum for a little while as it's extremely important that visitors are not sick or have signs of a cold.

Owen had a good day yesterday. The doctors tried a new method of feeding him that will hopefully help him pass milk through his stomach. The doctors aren't concerned with his progress and reassure us that it may take some more time for him to digest his feedings. Owen has done an excellent job of keeping his weight on at 4lbs. 6oz.

In the first week of their lives they didn't look too much alike until we put them together on Monday. The bigger they get the more similarities we can see between the two of them and the more anxious we get to have both of them home together--even if it means less sleep.

Friday, June 27, 2003 4:27 PM CDT

Owen and Logan are five days old today and both are doing just amazing. The miracles conitnue for each of them on a daily basis and we are so thankful!

The doctors wanted to do another genetics test to rule out any chromosomal abnormalities now that they're actually here and on Thursday afternoon we got the great news that all are normal and our boys are perfectly fine. Yet another answer to a million prayers.

On Wednesday, we held the boys together for the first time and what an amazing moment. Although Logan was out like a light after feeding. Owen was wide awake and staring intently at his brother. It was the first of many moments that we are so excited to witness.

Owen has practically recovered from his surgery 100nd we hope to start feeding him on Sunday. He'll likely stay here for another 2-3 weeks. He's almost ready to come off of the IV's and other monitors and wires he's got connected to his tiny body and we're so excited to hold him without everything else.

Logan on the other hand, who we expected to need heart surgery pretty quickly, is about ready to come home. He figured out how to breastfeed almost instantly and isn't shy about letting everyone know when he's ready to eat. As soon as he can eat on his own without any supplementation he'll be coming home with Mommy and Daddy--possibly as soon as Monday, June 30. In terms of his needed surgery, the doctors are thinking it could be 6-8 weeks until he requires intervention. We did learn that Logan doesn't have a spleen meaning he will be a lot more suseptible to infections but with ongoing medication shouldn't face any additional issues.


Natalie got to finally leave the hospital on Friday, June 27, her younger sister Amanda's 22 birthday! It was eight weeks from the time she was admitted and it was a joyful day for both of us, though also stressful knowing the boys would be here without us just a few footsteps away.

Getting adjusted to our new lives is a challenge we're ready to face,though we might need a little encouragement from all of you along the way.

Friday, June 27, 2003 4:27 PM CDT

Owen and Logan are five days old today and both are doing just amazing. The miracles conitnue for each of them on a daily basis and we are so thankful!

The doctors wanted to do another genetics test to rule out any chromosomal abnormalities now that they're actually here and on Thursday afternoon we got the great news that all are normal and our boys are perfectly fine. Yet another answer to a million prayers.

On Wednesday, we held the boys together for the first time and what an amazing moment. Although Logan was out like a light after feeding. Owen was wide awake and staring intently at his brother. It was the first of many moments that we are so excited to witness.

Owen has practically recovered from his surgery 100nd we hope to start feeding him on Sunday. He'll likely stay here for another 2-3 weeks. He's almost ready to come off of the IV's and other monitors and wires he's got connected to his tiny body and we're so excited to hold him without everything else.

Logan on the other hand, who we expected to need heart surgery pretty quickly, is about ready to come home. He figured out how to breastfeed almost instantly and isn't shy about letting everyone know when he's ready to eat. As soon as he can eat on his own without any supplementation he'll be coming home with Mommy and Daddy--possibly as soon as Monday, June 30. In terms of his needed surgery, the doctors are thinking it could be 6-8 weeks until he requires intervention. We did learn that Logan doesn't have a spleen meaning he will be a lot more suseptible to infections but with ongoing medication shouldn't face any additional issues.


Natalie got to finally leave the hospital on Friday, June 27, her younger sister Amanda's 22 birthday! It was eight weeks from the time she was admitted and it was a joyful day for both of us, though also stressful knowing the boys would be here without us just a few footsteps away.

Getting adjusted to our new lives is a challenge we're ready to face,though we might need a little encouragement from all of you along the way.

Monday, June 23, 2003 8:56 PM CDT

After months of anticipation, prayers and miracles, our twins have arrived! Owen Paul (tummy baby) and Logan Thomas (heart baby) made their world debuts on June 23, 2003 at 10:08 and 10:09 am. Owen arrived at 4 lbs 8 oz, 17 inches. and Logan at 4 lbs. 5 oz, 17 ½ inches.

As you were aware, each baby had some challenges to get through that required surgeries, Owen was so stable already today that they performed surgery to repair his Duodenal Artesia. The surgery went wonderful and he is doing great. As for Logan, they performed another Echocardiogram and will continue to monitor his heart and the amount of pulmonary stenosis. Based on their findings, the surgery could take place anytime between Thursday and the next month.

The doctors are very encouraged by their overall health and feel confident both boys will ultimately be very healthy and lead normal lives. Both babies are breathing on their own and I’ll be able to start feeding Logan tomorrow. In fact, I've already had my first experience with pumping...what an experience.

We'll continue to update with information as the days pass.
We'd be so happy if you would please continue to pray and keep our little ones in your thoughts.

Friday, June 20, 2003 10:53 AM CDT

We thought it would be helpful to provide the background information on our twins for those of you who aren't aware of all that's transpired since we first found out we were expecting.

December 2nd: Much to our surprise, we discovered two pink lines on a home pregnancy test. We had always planned for May 2004, but the Lord apparently had other plans.

March 7th: Our first ultrasound. We hadn't fully decided whether or not we wanted to learn the sex of the baby but when the technician said, "well, wait a minute--there's not one baby here, you guys, there are two!" We decided we needed to find out what we were in for. The kids weren't shy and we could see right away they were boys.

March 24-29th: Our last vacation before officially becoming parents. We had a great time in Mexico and strongly believe there was a reason we couldn't get in for our level II ultrasound until the Wednesday after we returned. Had we known what we were going to find out, we would have never taken the trip.

April 1: Our level II ultrasound. The two of us were enjoying looking at our babies on the screen, their movements, profiles, etc. It was all so exciting.

Then, the doctor came in to take a look for himself. After looking at both babies, he paused and said, "well, I'm seeing a couple of concerning things here." First, there was no separating membrane between the babies meaning they were skin-to-skin in the same amniotic fluid. Twins like this are very rare (1 in 25,000-60,000) and have a lot of risks with their umbilical cords either tangling too much or one compressing the oxygen supply of the other, which can lead to death for one or both babies. Additionally, he found that Baby A appeared to have a congenital heart defect and Baby B had a duodenal atresia, or a double bubble meaning there was an obstruction between the stomach and the intestine. We were dumbfounded, but that wasn't all he was going to lay on us. He went on to say that both anomalies were often associated down's syndrome or another major chromosomal abnormality, and since our boys were identical, if one had it the other one would too.

They immediately did an amnio and a FISH analysis, which would tell us, within 24 hours, if the babies had Down's, Trisomy 13 or 18.

It was the hardest day of our lives. We left the doctor's office in a complete blur not knowing what to do, how to feel or what to say. We were numb--this couldn't be happening to us. We hugged, we cried, we prayed, we begged for God to protect our little babies and to help us deal with whatever was to come next.

We called Natalie's Mom who came right over. Additionally, her Dad and Kathy were on their way back from Arizona and had parked their car at our house and happened to be returning that day. We could see at that moment that the Lord was at work and immediately taking care of us by allowing both of Natalie's parents to be with us as we learned the news. We thought Ben's Mom was at work and didn't want to cause any undue stress for her so we decided to wait until the results came back the next day to fill her in.

The next 24 hours were a wait-and-see. Ben went to work to keep himself sane and Natalie stayed home to do as much research as she could. At about 2:00pm on Thursday the genetic counselor called with the results and praise the Lord, they were negative. They were 98% sure that our babies did not have Down’s or the other major abnormalities. We’d still have to wait for another week to find out if their other chromosomes were normal (which they were), but this was a huge answer to prayer and after finding this out we felt we could deal with anything else that came our way.

We had a Fetal Echo that Friday to try to determine what exactly was wrong with Baby A’s heart and learned that it appeared to be a single ventricle, two chamber heart instead of a normal two ventricle, four chamber heart. Our cardiologist said on a scale of A-Z with A being a good heart that our guy had a W, but they felt it was repairable. They would continue to do Echo’s to learn more and determine what would need to happen once he arrived. Baby B’s stomach issue would also be resolved once he was born so at this point, we just needed to stay optimistic, pray and wait.

May 2nd: Natalie started going to the doctor 3x weekly for tests in mid-April and on May 2nd was admitted to the hospital (she was 27 ½ weeks along). Baby B had a heart rate deceleration and had it continued would have had to deliver. It was determined then that she would stay in the hospital until the babies were born. Because of the risks associated with their umbilical cords, doctors have found in-patient monitoring to be the best way to avoid cord accidents.

May 7: We had a Care Conference with all of our doctors—the perinatologist, neonatologist, cardiologist, etc. to determine our plan of care. Our parents also came, which helped them to better understand and hear first hand what we were dealing with. It was determined then that we would push for a delivery at 35 weeks so that Baby A (heart) could be as big as possible to deal with surgery.

June 20: It’s been seven weeks since Natalie was admitted to the hospital. The babies have done terrific since she’s been here—not one cause for concern with the doctors—and Natalie has done well too. She’s kept occupied with her monitoring schedule; five times a day for an hour a time, her 3x weekly apt’s, her visits and calls from our wonderful friends and family and the sun. Since she has never been on bedrest, she’s able to go outside and sit in the hospital garden and catch some serious rays.

As hard as this pregnancy has been for both of us and our families, we have learned to rely on one another for love, comfort and support and to give everything to the Lord. He is our Creator, Provdider and Protector and we know we would not have the sense of calm and peace were it not for His sustaining power and love.

We’re three days out until our little boys arrive and are filled with a million emotions. More than anything, we can’t wait to finally meet these little miracles and start the newest chapter of our lives together—parenthood.

Friday, June 13, 2003 11:37 PM CDT

I learned about this great Web site opportunity from a fellow mom of twins. Since neither Ben nor I would ever be able to create a site on our own, we thought we'd utilize it to keep our friends and family updated on the babies.

June 23 is the scheduled delivery date for the boys and since all has been going so very well up to this point, we should make it there with no problems!

We are just so thankful to the Lord for His watchful care and never-ending mercy, and for the wonderful support we've received from our family and friends during this most interesting pregnancy.

We ask for your prayers as we continue this new adventure into parenthood.

Click here to go back to the main page.

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