Sunday, November 1, 2009

Trick-or-Treating & James update

Last night we did our 2nd Annual Halloween tradition: trick-or-treating at McMenamin's Kennedy School and dinner afterwards at Old Towne Pizza. This year we were able to double the fun by having my sister Dana here from London (yay--she's here all week!) and the Newell family joined us with their new baby Henry.


And just because you're a baby who lives in the NICU, that doesn't mean you can't celebrate Halloween! My mom bought James an adorable giraffe costume, complete with little horns on the hood and a tail on the back. :-) On Thursday Maddie and I made cupcakes for the doctors and nurses and then on Halloween I took Dana to visit James and hold him for the first time. She'd seen him about a month ago after his PDA heart surgery, but he couldn't be held then. Between cutie-pie Maddie and sweet baby James, we're determined to kick her biological clock into high gear (watch out Travis!). :-)



Update on James: We'll learn more next week at our Care Conference with our team of doctors, but it looks like James may be coming home by Thanksgiving!!! What a thrill that would be! They attemped a dye test last week to see if they could re-feed through the catheter in his large intestine, but they couldn't get the dye to go all the way through the large intestine, even after multiple attempts. Plus, James pulled out his catheter 3 TIMES last week, so the surgeons weren't sure if it was even placed back in the right spot or not. It looks like they may be giving up on the idea of re-feeding (which would be a big bummer for James & I'm not sure if that would pose complications for the future) and decided to do the minor surgery on Friday, Nov. 6th to place a permanent central IV line in his chest. It's a port that's very similar to the ones they place for cancer patients. He'll be getting his IV nutrition through that line and it's a big first step towards being able to take him home! I'm having my baby shower this coming week, so it will be a great time to celebrate his life and all he's overcome so far. :-)

6 comments:

Christine said...

What a fun tradition, and how great that Dana was home! James makes an adorable giraffe. I can't wait to see next year's family photo with him all dressed up headed to McMenamin's with the rest of the clan. :) xoxo

Heather Elizabeth said...

James is such a doll! I love the costume and cupcakes. Love you :)

Brooke said...

Maddie and James both look so adorable! Have fun celebrating Maddie's birthday tomorrow!

Unknown said...

I'm going on an exclusive soy diet now... http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2004/nov/07/foodanddrink.features7

I love the giraffe photos though--so so cute!!

Serena Coles said...

Lisa, James is looking SOOOO good! I am so happy for you. And, I will be praying that he can come home by Thanksgiving!!!

Unknown said...

Congratulations on bringing that beautiful little James home. WOW - I don't blame you for feeling overwhelmed. But you and Keith are a dynomo couple, and James is lucky to be placed in your loving hands. My thoughts and prayers continue to be with you two, James and little Maddie! Lots of Love, Barbara Cooney