Back in the "Seattle" Again

Dad couldn't stay away, drove down for the weekend to see the boy. Two weeks was too much! Uncle Bill rode co pilot, got me stuck out of down town Seattle to the Ronald McDonald House next to the Children's Hospital. I was so excited to see the boy, the wife said I needed to calm down. We picked up her & the boy then went to Auntie Shawnee's for the weekend. I watched mom feed the boy extra milk after a feeding w/ the feeding tube, holy cow that's allot of milk! Where does it all go? Moms a pro at taking care of this boy w/ the med's -n- all. Mom says it was quite the emotional ordeal putting that tube back in after the boy removed it.

Seeing him again, he has got SO BIG! Mom thinks he's the same. No way! His head is rounder & fuller, his cheeks are chubbier, his mouth is bigger & his smiles have more character to them. He reaches out to you & everything else he can get his little hands on. His whole body has got the super wiggles, he can arch his back and almost roll around. His color, his color is awesome. I could just kiss his little face off.

Mom is losing weight, she needs to eat more. I wish I lost weight when I stress out, it's the opposite. Well I drove 9+ hrs & the boy is sleeping & I better take his lead.

I've asked Mike to be Reid's God Father. I did this because He has fallen in love w/ the boy. You can see it when he plays w/ the boy & how he misses him & he's here in Seattle! Reid has found his way into his heart. Cool.

Thank You! Everyone for all your help & support. Thank you Jayson for all the hours & time you have saved the family w/ the flights. And I could still go on & on w/ all the other help we have been getting from the community. Can't wait to be home w/ the boy.

Dad

Feeding Tube Adventures & Our Address

Hi Everybody!

Well, today I did it. That's right. I successfully, COMPLETELY, pulled out that feeding tube. I can't say Mommy was excited about it. However, I did such a good job, that she didn't try and re-insert it. Mommy said that if I had just tugged it out of place a little bit, she could have put it back in place. But since I totally removed the whole thing, she's going to leave it out for now. I don't blame her. The whole feeding tube insert procedure is not very fun for either one of us.

Not only that, but ... I'm gaining weight! That's right. The doctors had said that the tube could probably come out on Thursday. So, I just took it out 2 days early. :-) I guess, originally, they had said I might need to leave the feeding tube in for as much as a month. However, I'm gaining weight like a good little boy. Mommy thinks my tummy just needed a little jump-start. So, hopefully, at this point, we can just forget about the feeding tube.

Oh, at one time someone had asked what size clothes I wear, as they were wanting to send a little something my way. As of right now, I'm wearing size '3-6 months'. I can receive packages at the following address: Reid Peterson c/o Ronald McDonald House, 5000 40th Ave NE #C102, Seattle , WA. 98105.

Now, Mommy says we might be here for just a few more weeks. So, if you are planning to send something our way, AND you are going to wait a week or so, you might double check the blog site to make sure our plans haven't changed.

Thanks for all of your love and encouragement.

- Reid

Leaving the Hospital

Hi Everybody!

We get to leave the hospital today and return to the Ronald McDonald House. Also, I have to have a feeding tube stuck down my nose into my tummy. Hummm. I guess it has it's benefits, as I won't have the urge to stick a straw down my nose when I get older .... maybe .... :-)

The tube is so that I can still receive milk, even when I'm not wanting to eat the old fashioned way. I am still eating at my speed ... some times I'm hungry, sometimes I'm not. Mommy has been trained in the fine art of inserting the feeding tube. She's hoping I don't do something silly and try and play with it. She really doesn't like the procedure. I guess I don't care for it that much either. It isn't harmful or hurtful, I just don't like it. So I fuss about it, which I think is why Mommy doesn't like the 'install' procedure, either. :-) So, we'll work together to keep it in where it belongs.

They say I might need the feeding tube for as much as a month. However, we are praying and believing that it won't be for that long. Having the tube really isn't that big of a bother. I can do whatever I want, aside from yank on it. Mommy has been putting little socks on my hands to help me remember not to pull on it. (You know, having hands and fingers is pretty cool. I'm just starting to figure them out .... sort of ... and this tube thing is rather irresistable as a play thing to grab at.)

Hey, I even get to start taking baths now. Cool, huh?! No more spit baths. :-) Looking forward to the splishing and splashing.

We'll let you know more pretty soon. Thanks for your prayers. Don't forget to write Mommy and Daddy a little note now and again.

- Reid

Back In The Hospital

Hi Everybody -

Well, I am back in the Children's Hospital. I checked in at about 4:00 PM this evening. After my doctor's appointment earlier today, the medical people decided that I wasn't gaining weight. Mom says I've lost a few ounces. So, they want to hook me up to an IV for some additional nutrition. I guess that is okay. I'm not too fond of the pokes, but at least I have good veins. They only have to poke me once to get the job done. :-)

I've been feeding okay. Some meals better than others. I just haven't been as hungry for some feedings as for others. I've been sleeping better, too. My tummy is getting back to normal, as the swelling is going down. So, besides from not gaining weight, I'm doing GREAT.

We'll know more tomorrow, so come back to the blog for updates. Please keep us in your prayers.

- Reid

Checkin' Out, Movin' On, Healin' Up

Today is Saturday January 13. It has been 8 days since surgery. We are waiting for the discharge papers, and then Mommy and me are moving into the Ronald MacDonald House.

Can you believe it? Before surgery, we were told that there would be about 10 days in ICU, then about 20 days in the regular hospital room. That is 30 days in the hospital!! However, we are checking out after 8 wonderul days!! Next week we'll start our weekly check-ups. According to the estimates before surgery, we shouldn't be starting our weekly out-patient check ups until FEBRUARY. God is SO good!

Mommy is packing up our stuff, so we can take it to the RMH as soon as we are discharged. Nana is going to stay at the RMH with us for awhile. Daddy and Auntie Rikki will be driving home to Montana. We'll meet Shawnee for supper after we get everybody settled and packed, etc. I can not wait to go outside and feel the fresh air on my face!! I'm real glad I'm not in Montana. I hear that it has been so COLD there!! This Seattle weather will suite me just fine for awhile.

Keep visiting us here on the blog. I can't wait to tell you all about how the rest of the check-ups go and how the miraculous healing continues.

Reid

Energizer Baby still GRD'N it

Soon we will be going through discharge orientation w/ our transplant coordinator nurse. Then some more quizzing on our short term & long term med's for the boy. Mommy would like the nurse to teach Daddy about diaper changing, hint hint. So we have to get our travel & work schedule figured out. Thanks again for to everyone at home picking up the slack at work. I know it must be hard starting a fire & making coffee, at least it's winter & they don't have to move the sprinklers too! (joke).

The Boy is doing great, he feed real good last night, makes mom happy! He was all "good to go" this morning, we made him a little fussy w/ med's. But he's so good, lot's of smiles. It's so cute he smiles & then acts all bashful & buries his face in his banky for a good cuddle. He likes itching his nose on his soft banky. Tami had me take pictures of his first little reaches for a chewy toy. It so cute you hold it in front of him & he slowly reaches out & grabs it. Once he gets a hold of it he either watches hims little hands & fingers on the toy or pulls it to his mouth for a good slobbery gnawing.

I need to do a photo shot of the Children's Hospital. They got safari scenes & cool children's art & brightly painted animal statues every where. Like purple & orange giraffe statues, awesome salt water fish tanks everywhere. They really went all out to make kids know this place is for them.

Well I hope they at least keep the NOS (nitrous oxide) attachments hooked up for the super charger I requested to be installed w/ the transplant. Mommy don't think he needs one, she works plenty hard enough just to keep up. And yes Aunty Gwen, Daddy gave Mom a massage & scheduled her one here in the hospital.

These last 2 days have been nice, feel like I've been able to breath normally, chest don't hurt from stress at night, God is good to have given us this all so wonderfully, along w/ all the community close & far supporting us through it all. Awesome! Hope to be home soon.

Love Dad, Mom & Reid

Coming Home Soon

The Doc's think Reid is awesome, saw him having a wonderful evening last night. Up talking, squeaking, chuckling, you never tell he went through all he has. So his blood test are good, numbers keep getting closer to normal. Also he is feeding better, burping better, is definitely a pooh'n machine. Has lots of little jobs, needs to save up for bigger jobs so mommy don't feel like the pit stop queen at NASCAR. They unhooked the last of the stuff today, still got an I.V. in the neck for blood draws, will lose that when we leave.

When we leaving, well could be Friday or Saturday! I think he setting records on recovery here! Tami & the boy will be staying in Seattle doing follow up visits for a few weeks. Dad will probably come visit in the weekends. I hope the hospital feels the pride of their teams accomplishment as much as we feel indebted to them for all their hard work & care.

Dad & Mom & Reid

Liver Bloodcount Normal

Today the transplant team made it's rounds, gave the O.K. to unhook basically everything except an I.V. to his neck, he gets his vitamins & a supplement through those. They call it Mountain Dew & Sour Cream. So Mom can hold him real easy, feed him, & burp him (way important) & change those diapers w/out all sorts if cords & lines in the way. His billyrubin count is 0.1-0 which is NORMAL.

Dad had a little episode w/ the boy last night, Mom feed him then left to get supper w/ the gals after he feel asleep. He woke up w/ a burp stuck sideways, Daddy couldn't sit him up or burp him by himself w/ all the stuff hooked to him, the nurse helped at first & it looked like we were over the hump, then she had to go down the hall to help w/ a little crisis in another room, (we have lots of those here) & another burp got stuck sideways & it was a big one, tears were flowing. Basically Dad freaked out & called Mom on the cell phone to tell her to hurry up. Me & Reid will have to bond today, I'll put in a UFC video & prop him up for some testosterone to get flowing in that room. That ought to help. Get him burping & tooting like a man (joke).

So things are getting back to normal, getting ready for some post transplant care learning to come soon. Take care, thanks for the prayers everyone & pray for sanity for us.

Love Dad

God is SO Good

Good morning world!

We've had a morning full of smiles to overshadow a fussy, busy, rough night for me, Mommy and some very special nurses. Mommy will probably never reprimand me for passing gas when I get older. It will be music to her ears. Yeah!! :-)

The morphine causes my system to go to sleep and the gas pressure to build up. NOT FUN!! The nurses put the air hose back through my nose into my tummy, which helped, and so did turning me on my side. And then I smiled at Mommy and for some reason she started to cry. Nana says it's because she's happy.

We are having a great morning and getting the drain tubes removed from my tummy, because as soon as a room is available, we will leave ICU. Hurray!! We will let everyone know as soon as we can what room we are in.

There has been talk of my being discharged some time NEXT WEEK from the hospital. Then we'll go to cousin Shawnee's for awhile, because I still have check-ups.

Everybody here is smiling a lot. Hope we can cause you to smile, too! Mommy is holding me now, just what I've been waiting for!! Thank you, God!

Reid

PS: These people here are crazy ... including my Nana and my Mommy ... cheering and hollering ... because I just filled my diaper! ( ... really filled my diaper.) Note ...this is a POOPY diaper ... big, dark, stinky, poop. But hey, what can I say? I had to make up for the last 4 months! ... These guys are nuts. ;-)

Hello everyone. We had a fussy night and today David and Reid are tired. But Reid is doing so good. They are still talking about when to feed him. The nurse said there was a good chance they would give him some milk in a bottle today. They want to be able to measure how much he gets. Tami has been sleeping at the Ronald McDonald House with Linda and me, so she has been getting sleep at night. Reid has his days and nights all mixed up. He wants to sleep all day and stay awake all night. Today the nurse is going to open the curtains so there is more light in there. Other thatn being fussy, Reid is doing really well. Every day, another tube comes out and he can rest a little bit better. He likes to hold something in his left hand while he is sleeping and they nurse gave him a stethescope to hold. It is cute! He looks like he is ready to go to work!

Thank you for all your prayers.

Reid is Waking Up

Waking up & looking around. Last night about 10 pm Reid woke up & looked around. Didn't cry, just groggy & getting his bearings. Mom & I both cried when we saw his WHITE little eyes, the yellow is gone! This whole event is beyond a miracle. Mom went to sleep w/ the gals at Ronald McDonald House, nurses told her tonight he might be able to eat, then shes going to be at bedside a lot, so go get some rest before that. Dad was on night watch. Reid is getting less pain med's so he wakes up easier. They changed his bedding, he had a little fit, he was uncomfortable. Also during one of the routine checks they had him uncovered for too long for his liking, while they checked everything out. Daddy was their comforting him thou.

Mom called this morning while he was crying cause he was trying to pooh, didn't take her long to get here. She's got the touch! They are all at breakfast right now in the cafeteria, while they put a better tube in his tummy, our awesome doctors could see on the x-rays that the tube they had in was not the right size. We get to listen to the doctors do rounds & discuss his case each day. Children's Hospital & everyone working here, YOU ARE ALL AWESOME!! The caliber of people here is second to none! Its hard leaving the boy, every moment he is awake is awesome, but the nurse wanted us to go get some breakfast & said he would be resting by the time we get back.

We are going to be able to see the old liver, I told them a picture would be just fine! Yeh, Daddy is a wimp. I asked for a picture of his new liver or a good one so we could see the difference. We are so grateful, his poor little liver was getting worse way faster than they anticipated. I could cry at the drop of a hat when I think about how blessed we are to have this second chance for Reid. I was holding his hand last night as he was looking at me thinking of all the wonderful adventures I can now dare to dream we can have together, fishing, hiking, camping, hunting, on & on. Thank you Lord!

Gonna go & try & beat the girls to the room w/ Reid

Love's everyone,
Dad

The Day After

Transplant, from the call, to landing in Seattle, wait thru surgery, to recovery I.C.U. WOW! Mom crashed & burned. She hardly ate or slept the whole time. Nurses sent her home last night to sleep w/ Mom & Rikki at Ronald McDonald House. It must be hard being Mom, Dad did all his freaking out & crying during this whole thing were no one could see me. (Smart Man) "I am an Oak", Ha Ha! When they gave us the surgery update that one of the main arteries was needing fixed & taking a little longer, BUT every thing was O.K., that was hard. Just picking up that last phone call my hand was shaking one the next call for the update. I felt like shouting for joy when they told me he was on his way to I.C.U. & everything looks great.

After Tami went to Ronald McDonald House I slept till 6 am. He was so cute, allot of tubes already gone, I went back to sleep CRASHED till 10 am! The nurse said I snored the whole time, LOUD. Woke up to them doing a ultrasound to check that artery they repaired before they removed the ventilator tube for his breathing. Mom showed back up just in time for that, plus one of his little arms had the I.V. removed so know she can hold his hand. (He is still sleeping on meds thou). Going to make sure wife eats & sleeps today, catches up & enjoys the Super Trooper Reid! Pray the beds get softer & the tubes get less & less. This is all a miracle, PRAISE GOD! Gave DR. Heiley our surgeon a hug, after he came back to give us his personal update. Indebted forever!

Thank you everyone for your prayers, gotta give Terri a hard time for not calling Kevin & Donna, But I teased Kevin for not checking the Blog. We feel the love & support of everyone, your Awesome. Thank you!

Dad, Mom, & Reid.

P.S. I will be getting some of these pics to Jenny soon to post.

In Recovery

Whew! ... I made it! ... I am out of surgery and my new liver is working! I've been out of surgery for about an hour and 45 minutes. They tell me that my new liver started working before they were even done with the procedure. Isn't that cool?! What a relief!! At this point, they are guessing that I may have to stay in the ICU for about 1o days. They also say I have only about 4 more days of this yellow complexion. Thank you all so much for your prayers! - Reid

We Are in Surgery

We arrived in Seattle about 1:00 am from Edwards Jet Center in Kalispell. Thank You so much for not having to worry about getting there in time E.J.C., only took 2 hrs to get here! We had plenty of time to get all our blood test & urine & I.V.'s hooked up. We stretched out the feeding thou. Children's Hosp. only had a est. on when the infant liver was getting here, so Reid went over 8 hrs w/ out food. Was a bit crabby. Mom was clinging to the boy, Dad had to ask to hold him, he wanted Mom before the two minute warning. The anesthesia team finally took him away to prep him for surgery around 8:00 am. They gave him a quick little something that let us enjoy him before going so he wasn't fusing as much. The team has doubles or more of each person cause the surgery could take more than 8 hrs. He had 2 hrs of just prep. So they said, "if you see one of us in the halls or eating lunch, don't worry the partner has him covered". Way cool!

We got a surgery update about 1:00 pm, they said they were still taking out the his diseased liver. He was very stable & doing great!Lord bless the family of the child who had donated the liver. My wife asked me "why does this have to happen, why can't he just be healthy", it was hard not to think about the pain of the loss of a child a family is going through. We are bless & most grateful, but the unknown is still a battle. We got a page here at 2:30 pm they are hooking up the main artery's to the new liver & Reid is still stable & doing great! Will probably be about 3 more hour of surgery hooking up the main liver. Hope they have time to fix the hernia & his little hypo-spadious. Pray Tami get some sleep, she acting goofy, my legs are weak. Our strength surely comes from above!

Its awesome Mike & Shawnee are here, plus we got to hang a little w/ Mike & Carol. Mom & Rikki should be here this afternoon. This is going to be an event that we will never forget. Taking lots of pics w/ the new digital camera we got for Christmas. Will post them when we can. Thank you all everyone for all your help to get us here & fix the Boy.

Love Dad & Mom & Reid

It's A Match - We're Heading To Seattle

GREAT NEWS! We got our phone call tonight, January 4th. There is a liver with my name on it. It is a match and we're flying out to Seattle tonight at 11:00 PM. I'll go straight into surgery upon arrival to Children's Hospital in Seattle. PLEASE keep us in your prayers!! Check this site for updates. - Reid.

Happy New Year!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S DAY - 2007!

Today is New Year's Day! I am so excited! I have just experienced my first Christmas and New Years! This is so much fun. There is so much to be thankful for and so much to celebrate, as the new year holds so much promise.

Jeremiah 29:11-14 says, "For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the Lord, 'and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, ' declares the Lord, 'and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.'

There is so much hope and assurance found in the Scriptures. As you read through the above verse, can you see all the hope and promise? Hope for me, hope for my family, and hope for you.

Romans 8:26-28 says, "In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

We are seeing so many answers to prayer, as the days go passing by. We are experiencing the love and compassion of our community. We are finding joy in the little things, as well as the big things. We are seeing God's faithfulness every day.

Romans 8:38-39 says, "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Victory No.1: Since we wrote last, I have a new pediatrician. She is so awesome. She is located in Whitefish, MT. My mommy and daddy really like her, too. She has been so kind and helpful and she is totally available to me, whenever I need her. Isn't that awesome?! Having a good pediatrician is such a comfort to my mommy and me.

Victory No. 2: We've been featurered on the local TV stations! The news stations of Missoula and Kalispell have shared our story!! Isn't that cool?! I'm a new child star from the Flathead Valley. Now we've shared our story on TV, radio and in the newspaper.

Victory No. 3: I even heard that there was a teacher and class of students who want to donate money to our special fund at Glacier Bank. (Reid Peterson Fund) I heard it one morning on 'The Bear' (KDBR 106.3 FM). The nice teacher called in and said that their class had collected monies for a charity and that they heard about my needing a liver and that they wanted to send their donation to us. Isn't that cool?!

Victory No. 4: I'm doing good. I'm eating and sleeping and pooping and growing. I'm now 4 months old!! Mommy and daddy have been so very careful in providing a healthy environment. It is so important that I don't get sick. I know that they have probably had to say 'no' to some fun holiday invitations because of my special needs. I bet they even had to miss seeing many of you over the holidays. However, it is important and I am sure you understand. Thank you for your patience as we work together toward the goal.

Romans 15:13 says, "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

We are getting ready for THE phone call and plane ride to Seattle. Mommy has been busy packing throughout the holidays. We need to be ready to leave at a moment's notice. She says it is hard to plan ahead for a 3-month trip. How do you pack 3-months worth of clothes, for three people, and still have something for each of us to wear around the house?? At least we have some cool new luggage!! Mommy also has to remember to have extra cash, vitamins, diapers, dog food, and doggie medicine put aside. I don't know how she does it. We have our 'right now / take on the plane' bags, our 'drive this up to Seattle' bags, AND our 'take to grandma's with the doggies' bags.

We are so excited because people are making donations into our account for medical expenses. There are so SO so many things that we are paying for and will have to pay for by ourselves. Every little bit helps. It helps us stay 'current' with previous medical bills, it helps us prepare for future medical bills, and it relieves the stress of the financial unknown. There are so many expenses. Thank you all so much for your gifts and prayers. They mean so VERY much.

Romans 5:1-5 says, "Therefore , having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

Happy New Year
Reid