Halloween pictures

These pics tonight are all out of order as these came after the others. But, unfortunately, it's late and I'm too tired to change them so enjoy them out of order. A friend of mine and her two little ones came over to go trick-or-treating with us. All of the boys had a great time!

Logey LOVED the sand and the water! Which is really funny since when we took him this summer he hated it.

The day before Halloween we had to go to Corpus so Logey could get the last dose of the IV antirejection meds. Of course I took the kids in their costumes. We went to King's Inn on the way home and stopped to take some pictures since I've gotten some great ones here. This is the best one that had all three kiddos in it. Hmmmmm..... Well that definitely won't be our Christmas card this year.

Here's Logey running away from Cristian.

Logey sitting in his stroller getting his IV meds.

Jaden as PeterPan sitting in a cabinet at the Kidney Center.

I know they're only two weeks late.

More random pics....

Pics of the yarn that will someday be a pair of longies for Logan. I've learned how to cast-on but so far that's it. Tuesday I learn to knit.
Jaden cozy in his bed. He sleeps in the bottom bunk. What is he holding in his hand you ask? Oh, why it's a tupperware full of acorns. Doesn't everyone sleep with acorns?

Logan in my car while I was cleaning it out. He was so excited because he found "Hoho."

Cristian being silly.

Sleepy Logan.

And here's a post where I just post random pics that I've taken recently and liked so thought I would place here. It's kind of a pic catch up. Especially since I realized that I double picked like 3-4 pics in the last few posts. Oh well, they're cute pics anyway.

Pumpkin Patch Pictures

Edited to add: You can see the difference in Jaden's hair from this picture to the next. The top one is post haircut. They cut off a few inches, in the front at least.

This was our wear orange for Baby Stellan Day!
I never added these though they were taken weeks ago. I never did get that one perfect picture but that's okay. The pumpkin patch is at our church, St Mark Methodist, and it's one of our favorite times of the year. It just seems like Fall when we're out there selling pumpkins and buying and then eating the best pumpkin bread that the ladies at church make--drinking a hot cup of pumpkin cappucino. It's just what makes Fall for us. I was so glad that we got home from Corpus in time to participate. Otherwise we would have gone from hot Summer weather straight into Winter--well, whatever Winter we have here.

A very tired Cristian. He had been playing tag in the pumpkin patch with some of his friends.Some of the kids from our homeschool group, CHESS.

Bad Blogger

Well, I've been a terrible blogger the last couple of weeks. I have to say though that no news means good news at least in this case. We've been so crazy busy with living life that I haven't had much time to blog about our life. We've had Dr Appts in Corpus every Tuesday and those end up taking most of the day with the 3 hour drive there and then of course the 3 hour drive back. Then we've had homeschool co-ops on Thursday which the boys absolutely loved! They each enjoyed their classes a ton.

This is Jaden's view of "God Made Daniel Stronger" From what I understand, Daniel is the blue/red one and God is the green one.

Well Logey only liked his class when mommy didn't disappear while helping someone else. As long as mommy stayed in view, all was cool. He has been very clingy since transplant. Not that I blame him at all. To him, he was doing just fine before transplant and then someone took him from mommy and cut him open and sewed him back up. I don't think he realizes quite yet that we did all this for his health. I'm sure one day he'll understand. For all of you kidney people out there, Logey's creatinine has been staying pretty stable at about 0.3 but this last time was 0.2 which was amazing! Surprisingly, his Prograf level was actually pretty high then too so it's possible that 0.2 is a true number. How crazy is that? I never would have thought he would ever have creatinines that low. Okay now for all you non-kidney people reading, creatinine is a number that the drs use to judge how well the kidney is working. Normal for Logan's age is 0.2-0.4. Normal for an adult is somewhere under 1. At one month of age (and the first time we knew anything at all about creatinine) his was 2.7 and just before transplant it was 4.9.
Logan's new favorite sport: Football! Sorry buddy, that's the one sport you really can't play.

We've also been busy with schooling and just really living life. So now I will share a few pics from the last few weeks. And then after that I'm hoping I can start posting more soon.

Grandma sent the boys a package. They each got either an outfit or a pair of pajamas, thanks Grandma!

Also, in an upcoming blog, you will see Jaden's hair cut finally. Though, by the time I get it up here, it may not be all that short anymore. Not that it's really that short. Jaden wouldn't be Jaden without his long hair. And I've also had several threats against my head if I cut it too short.

Prayers....

Hi, I'm posting this to ask for prayers for our dialysis baby buddy, Matthew. None other than Mr April.Baby Matthew has been our friend since both boys started dialysis back in July 2008. His mama and I have had our lives parallel in that while on dialysis both of our moms have also had heart attacks and quadruple bypasses and we both went to nursing school but did not finish, before our boys were born. And her name is also--Jessica. When the boys were little I asked Dr Al-Akash what the odds are that two babies would be born in the same area and that their mothers would both be named Jessica. He said much less than one in a million. Anyway, today I found out that he has peritonitis right now. Peritonitis in and of itself is never a great thing. It can be pretty scary in fact though most of the time it clears up pretty quickly with antibiotics. But, it also means at least another 6-8 wait for transplant. This is the part that has me thinking of them tonight. Matthew has been activated off and on since June. He was backup to Logan's kidney. And so, tonight I am thinking of him and his sweet mama Jessica. Please add them to your prayers tonight that this will clear up quickly and that he will get his miracle kidney soon! (sometime around Christmas would be awesome!)

Grateful

I am so grateful for the family who two months ago today made the decision to donate their son's kidneys. They looked past their grief and past their complete and utter heartbreak and made such a selfless choice. I pray that God will give them peace that surpasses understanding.


We are so happy for our Logey boy. He has grown I'm sure inches since his tranpslant. He doesn't throw up anymore. His labs look beautiful. Dr Al-Akash was right. He is talking more and does have even more energy. And though he was always a good sleeper, now he sleeps soundly and therefore, so do I. We are sleeping better now then we have since Logey was born. How ironic that with my best sleeper I actually slept less.

Also, if you think about it, we have some dialysis friends who could sure use some prayers. Baby Brandon got a bad case of peritonitis and has to have his pd catheter removed and go on hemo. He still had a fever last I heard and could use your prayers. Baby Matthew is having heart problems in addition to already having renal failure and needing hemo. These little guys are such strong fighters and could really use your prayers. I'm sure their moms could use some prayers as well. And speaking of moms who need prayers, MckMama could use them as well as Baby Stellan. And another mom who could use prayers is my friend Tiara. Her son Aidan is one of our dialysis baby buddies. On top of all that Tiara and Aidan have been through, her mom passed away this week. This mama has more strength and positive attitude than 10 regular people. She could use prayers and good thoughts. Aidan will be going to another hospital soon to talk about possible transplant in the near future. Prayers that things will go favorably for them please.

Who likes their new kidney?

I don't know how to turn the video once it's shot and of course I didn't think to tape it the right way. Vidal is always getting onto me abou that. Anyway, just thought it was cute.

Logey's first kidney biopsy... plus results

Logey had his first kidney biopsy last Friday--a week from today. It went well. It was a really easy surgery, especially when you compare it to the kidney transplant he had 7 weeks ago today. Our boy is such a big boy now! He doesn't even resemble a baby anymore. He loves to talk about babies too. We went and saw my friend Vanessa's baby and now everybody is a baby--or a mama.

Riding along in my.....wagon. Logey loves to go for walks in the wagon. His fun nurse Courtney was chasing him around too. He was eating up all the attention since the brothers stayed home for this trip.
Watching another little girl in the playroom. She was in there for about 10 mins and he was fascinated by her. The fascination was probably because she had the same feeding tube and machine as he does.

Eating like a big boy in bed. One of his favorites too! Spaghetti!

And finally asleep after a long day.

Hahaha.... I had to edit this post to include the biopsy results! The biopsy showed there are no signs of rejection or med toxicity! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Logey has a very healthy, and happy kidney.

It's great to be home!

Any words I say other than that will just be overwhelmed by this picture of two happy brothers so I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves.

Jaden's version of "God Made Daniel stronger"

Goodbye dialysis cath!!!!!!!!

Logey playing before his surgery. He was having a great time waiting for them to come and get him. He also got his stent out and was supposed to have his first biopsy though that didn't work out.



Goodbye our beloved PD cath! While I'm sure we won't miss you, you were great while you were around. For 13 months you did your job of making sure our little one got dialysis. Even when you had to be cut the few times or got a hole in you, you didn't complain. We will forever be grateful to you for the efficient way you worked with your friend, Mr Homechoice. We are left with only a small reminder of your presence. I was almost sad to have you taken out because you looked as if you had been there since the day Logey was born. Thanks again for all your help! Thank you for your dedication! The Flores Family.

more random outpatient pics...

Poor little Logey! He was so tired and cranky one day that I said, "That's it! I'm going to go get your Tylenol" Well, in his mind he heard "time-out" so he went and sat at the wall and cried. Poor little one.
Matthew's star. Our dialysis buddy Matthew was chosen as Mr April for Driscoll's 2010 calendar. He's an awesome little man! He got to "walk" down the runway with his mommy, Jessica, and everything.

Baby Matthew (who's not such a baby anymore!) and our Logey. Can you believe they are getting so big?

Trying to put on his own shoes. He gets very excited about putting his shoes on.

Random guestroom pics

We lived in the guestrooms at the hospital for the first month after Logey's transplant since we had visits to the hopsital 3 times a week and we live 3 hours away. The Drs don't like them to be too far away so quickly after transplant. Vidal was with us for the first week and then had to go back home and back to work. We were so sad to see him go but we got through it okay. Our days mostly revolved around Logey's dr appts and also going to the cafeteria for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. On week 3 we ALL caught the flu. That was definitely interesting. It was our first case ever, for me, at least as far as I can remember back. I do have to say, Thank God for Tamiflu! Though Logey more than likely had the flu as per his WBC count, he was asymptomatic. YAY Logey! I know for sure God is looking out for him. Logey hamming it up.
My 3 boys "in time out." They look really upset about it, don't they? When ever the bigger boys have to go to time out, Logey goes too, and so we all end of laughing our rear ends off.

Logey has decided that baths are evil. If you even mention the dreaded "b" word he disolves into tears. Poor little one.

Pleading with me to never give him another bath again.

Logey in his cute little scrubs from either Miss Julie or Nana. They both got him a pair, thankfully in different sizes. And I do say, he wears them both ALL the time. They are so comfy for him.

A new kidney and a fishing trip....

After Logey was released from the hospital we were allowed to do outside outings as long as we kept him away from people. He was still a bit tired but thankfully at that point he would sleep anywhere. So daddy decided we should take the boys fishing. It was interesting. We caught quite a few little, bitty fish. But, a fun time was had by all. Jaden fished for a little bit and then found his true passion--organizing the tackle box and eating snacks.It was great to be out of the hospital for a little while! I knew we only had the first week with daddy and then 3 weeks on our own, carless, so we did the outside-ish things while daddy was with us. And this beautiful rainbow we saw while we were out. How appropriate! I had tears in my eyes just looking at it and thanking God for all of our many blessings.