Grooming

Caleb has really scaly skin. I've tried all kinds of lotions, potions and exfoliating cream. Caleb definitely gets the spa treatment, but to no avail. Until... Matthew came on the scene. He is just like a little monkey and pick- pick- picks at Caleb until the dry scales flake off and smooth skin appears. Who knew all Caleb needed was a little bit of brotherly grooming! ;)

A cha cha cha

Hope- to infinity and beyond

This weekend we went with "hope kids" to see Toy Story 3. It was such a fun family outing! We loved the movie, and we loved being in a theater filled with families who have special kids. I loved hearing other suction machines, beeps and gurgles. I loved seeing the hallway filled with wheel chairs. I loved being able to go to on a special outing all together, and I loved feeling like we fit right in!
The movie theater was right next to the Mayan restaurant so we decided to splurge and take the boys there for lunch. They loved the jungle atmosphere and were really excited to see the divers jump off of the cliffs!
Thank you "hope kids" for a wonderful Saturday activity!

The treehouse slide

...Because every little boy needs to try the tree house slide at the mall at least once...

Good things to come

This was so tender to me. If you haven't seen this, I promise you'll be glad you did.

The bloody baby

Today is Caleb's last day on omniceph. Omniceph is an interesting antibiotic because it turns his stools BRIGHT RED! I'm telling you this because the other day I took all of the kids to the library and Caleb did a huge blow out in his car seat. I picked him up and had red runny goo running down my skirt, plopping on the road and running through my hands. Not to mention Caleb was covered in it! A woman walked by and in a panic asked if she could get some help! "Don't worry," I said. "It's not blood. Just P**P." He certainly did look like a bloody baby, though.
It took me quite a while to clean us both up, but we stayed and enjoyed the library. It takes a lot of work to take the kids on an outing and it's going to take more than a volcanic eruption to make us turn around and go home!!

On a side note: Caleb is still having spells of severe agitation every day. His heart rate goes up to 200, and his respiratory rate is in the high 40's. His poor little body gets so tight that his face turns bright red, and he gets drenched with sweat. We're thinking it must still be his bladder. We've been waiting for some in home catheter training to see if helping him empty his bladder will do the trick. Hopefully we're on the right track!

Dear Caleb,
Thanks for finding a way share your love with us, even when your body is being tricky.
I love you my sweet boy.

Ben's funeral

I haven't been able to write about little Ben's funeral.
I've been too tender.
It seems too sacred.
The best place for you to read about those special days are on his blog,
through the voice of his mother.
There just aren't words to express such a tender and spiritual event. It was an honor to be there. Even though Becky and I live on opposite sides of the country, I love her like a sister and my heart aches with her.
I am forever thankful for the honor of knowing Ben.
I am touched by the love felt from heaven and earth at his funeral.
I am privileged to have such special and eternal friends.

Emily is another cherished friend that I love like a sister. She also has a little boy similar to Caleb and Ben. It was such a tender blessing to travel together and share the weekend with one another.

I love you angel Ben. "Because I knew you...
my life has changed for good."

Vitamin D Day

Just perfect for soaking up the sunshine with people we love.

Us

Memorial Day weekend

Over memorial day weekend we had 2 family reunions with both of our immediate families. Even though Caleb had been diagnosed with a bladder infection and pneumonia the day before, we made the executive decision to take him with us. It was really important for us to be all together as a family. We wanted Caleb to have the chance to be in the family pictures. We wanted him to meet all of his cousins.
He was happy and peaceful all weekend. He loved being with his family. It wasn't until several days later that he became extremely agitated. We're so glad we had the opportunity to spend time with both of our families- all together.

(The Moody Cousins)

Temple Square

"When you come to the temple you will love your family with a deeper love than you have ever felt before.
The temple is about families."

Two celestial beings

How thankful I am to know
that through Him,

my family can be together forever.

LDS Conference Center

Our entire Moody family enjoyed a tour of the LDS conference Center. We loved walking around on the roof being so close to Heaven.
Caleb was right at home.

If I only wasn't sick

Sung to "If I Only Had a Brain" from the Wizard of Oz)

(Caleb)
I could wile away the hours
Conferrin' with the doctors
Consultin' with the rain..
And my head I'd be scratchin'
While my thoughts were busy hatchin'
If I only wasn't sick

I'd unravel all the riddles
For any individuals
That help with all my pains.

(Mom)
With the breath's you'd be breathin'
Oh your chest could be done heavin'
If you only weren't sick

(Caleb)
Wish I- could tell you why
My lungs still hurt some more.
I'd breath deep just like I've never breathed before.
And then I'd sit and breath some more.

I hope I'm done with needles
blood work and urine samples
and X rays of my chest.
My bladder's feeling icky
and my lungs are being tricky
and I'm needing lots of rest.

But...

I'll still wink and be Merry
Life is still a ding-a-derry
Even when I'm feeling sick.

* We've been in and out of the doctor/hospital/ and pharmacy for the past week or so. We're still waiting for our latest test results to determine what else needs to be done to help Caleb's lungs feel better. We'll either try another round of antibiotics, or he'll need to be hospitalized to receive the right treatment.
Luckily, Caleb's bladder infection has finally cleared up. Unfortunately, it looks like we're are going to start using catheters to help prevent them from coming back. I guess I'll be adding a new skill to my repertoire! Any thing for you, Caleb. xo

Cool at school

Caleb insisted on wearing my shades when we were at Matthew's 2nd grade program.
He must already think he's too cool for school.

Okay, he was sleeping and I couldn't resist-
mums the word.

ER groupies

This past week Caleb and I have been ER groupies. We've been twice in the last 5 days.

Last week Caleb came down with pneumonia and a urinary tract infection. He was put on an antibiotic, but once his urine cultures came back, we found out that the UTI was resistant to the antibiotic and we'd need to go the ER for IV antibiotics. After a few hours in the ER, we decided to do inter muscular shots because the nurse was having a hard time finding a vein under all of Caleb's fluff. Since we opted for shots, I asked them if I could learn how to do them and continue them at home rather than bringing him in for the next 7 days.

So, since Sunday I've been giving Caleb a shot every night. I have to say, even though I do all kinds of nurse-y things with Caleb, (I've even placed an NJ tube-- my claim to fame in the PICU) giving him shots has been hard for me. But even though it's hard, I'm still glad I've been able to learn a new skill and keep Caleb at home.

About 24 hours after Caleb's first shot, he started to become extremely agitated. This went on for a couple of days until I finally brought him to my pediatrician. He asked us to take him to the ER at Primary Children's to make sure the shots were working because Caleb was obviously miserable. After a whole night in the ER, tests showed that his UTI was under control, the pneumonia was improving , and his blood work was in normal range. Doctors were puzzled as to why Caleb was so agitated, but we were able to come home the next morning.

Now, we're just keeping Caleb as comfortable as we can. I've been alternating Tylenol and Motrin with 2 ml's of lorazapam every 4 hours, and it's barely taken the edge off. Poor boy. Luckily- tomorrow is our last day of antibiotics, and I'll bet when the medicine is out of his system, he'll be back to his sweet little self!