Kate's Surgery: Update #2 (w/ pics)

...Kate's doctor coming in to talk to us after the surgery. Here's the word--the left side of her bladder went nice and smooth, but the right side was a big challenge. Apparently she had a lot of scar tissue wrapped around her right ureter, and it had already lost its elasticity. Relieved this was caught so early and fixed. Relieved seems too trite. What's the word I'm looking for? Not sure, but that's what we are feeling. The surgery took a little longer than 3 hours (most of it spent on the right side). The doctor seemed really pleased with the results and everything ended up "better than we could have hoped for."

Oh, by the way, Boo was in the room for her surgery. Protecting Kate when we couldn't. As you can see from the pictures, Boo is still working hard.

She's been sleeping off and on, but when she's awake she seems to be doing well. Not in too much pain or discomfort and has managed a smile or two, a few waves, and a hug for boo. Amanda was able to get her out of the bed for a little bit and hold her, which helped everybody relax even more.

We are all doing well right now. Thank you all so much for your prayers!!!

Kate's Surgery: Update #1

...an underway surgery. We brought Kate in at 5:30 this morning, and she was the first surgery up this morning. The doctor took her back at 7:30 and from start to finish the surgery should take about 2 1/2 hours. We will have to wait for her to leave recovery before we get our room. The earliest we can go home is tomorrow afternoon, but we don't want her to leave before she's ready. The grandparents are here, so we have a waiting room full. Thank you guys for all your prayers, and we will continue to keep you updated.

Soon

...a dissertation, reflux, and the holiday season. To be honest the last month has been a bit of a blur. Ever since scheduling Kate's surgery we have been trying to find things to do to keep our minds occupied. We are ready to get her back from the surgery. I know she will be hurting, but at least she will be back with us. We know the surgery is the right decision and will give her the best chance for normal functioning kidneys/bladder, but it is going to be awful to hand her off for her surgery on Tuesday. We will keep you posted this week on Kate's surgery and pass along plenty of updates. We appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers.

On a lighter note, Kate's godmother Brandy is in town. She is here for her dissertation proposal, and we have been able to hang out with her all weekend. She is definitely one of Kate's people, not to mention Amanda's. It's always fun to have Brandy around. We've tried to convince her to move back to Lubbock and rent our back bedroom, but for some reason she wants to fly back to California.

Random Pictures

...a long week. Somehow it's already Saturday night again. For some reason we were really busy this week, and though I can't really remember why I can certainly feel the tired tonight. Since we haven't posted in a while here are a few recent random pictures.




this was "a lot of look" for Kate tonight. It reminds me of many of the college girls at Tech that wear shorts with Ugg boots when it gets cold outside. Not my favorite look, but Kate was cracking me up with her house shoes tonight.

Boo Goes to the Zoo

(Kate tickling the grizzly bear's paw through the glass at the bear exhibit. Yes, that is the paw of a real grizzly bear who was asleep on the other side of the glass.)

...a trip to the OKC zoo while we were home for Halloween. You might remember from the blog that we went to the zoo over the summer, but with beautiful fall weather we figured the animals would all be out and Kate would actually interact this time. We were correct. The animals were out (I saw the lions for the first time since they built their new enclosure) and Kate was interacting with them, and it seemed like we had the whole zoo to ourselves.

We have never really talked about Boo on the blog, and this seems like as good of a time as any. Boo is Kate's favorite obsession. Her guilty pleasure. Her addiction. Boo is her black bear stuffed animal that goes everywhere with her. And I'm not kidding when I say everywhere. She sleeps with him, carries him around anywhere we go, takes him to school, and has now started eating with him in her high chair. When she has lost him somewhere in the house she walks around calling, "Boo? Boo? Boo?," and then when she finds him, she exclaims "Boo!!!" and hugs him tightly. I have to admit she is pretty darn cute with that bear, but we are worried about the day Boo goes to the stuffed animal farm where he will have lots of room to play with other Boos. How do you explain the death of a stuffed animal to a 15-month old? With eyes as blue as hers? Or the face as innocent and trusting as hers?

I bring up Boo here because when she saw the real black bears at the zoo, she lit up and yelled "Boo!!!" She even held Boo out for the real bears to play with, or maybe so her Boo could go play with the other Boos. Not sure which. I'm starting to think that the explanation of where do stuffed animal Boos go when they are no longer able to hold a stitch might involve the OKC Zoo where we can go and visit. Do you think that would work???


Kate and mommy watching the bears.


Kate watching the bears. Are you getting the idea that Kate enjoyed the bears at the zoo?


Boo!!! Boo!!! Boo!!! Kate holding her Boo while watching the real Boos.


Kate with Boo (and Daddy) at the Gorilla enclosure. Like I said, Boo goes everywhere.

Halloween

(Great-Grandpa Baker and GiGi Debbie)

....a long-standing tradition--think 30 years--of Halloween with my mom's family. Since I've been a little too old to Trick-or-Treat for the past, oh fourteen years, having Kate was a chance to really celebrate Halloween again. So, for the first time in too long we got to spend Halloween night with Kate's great-grandpa Baker and her GiGi Debbie. Kate is still a little young to have done much trick-or-treating that night, but we had fun dressing her up and visiting people. After we left the Baker's we went to Trunk-or-Treat at FBC Choctaw and Kate got to walk around with her Papa Ron for a while. She really bonded with my Dad this trip and I think they completely adore each other. We finished the night with a visit to some of Amanda's family. It was a fun night, and at the end of it, you can see how tired she was.

Great-Grandpa Baker


our little cheerleader


too much Halloween fun

Halloween Day

...spending Halloween day with Papa Ron (my Dad). It was a great low-key afternoon and Kate had a blast spending the day outside. As for the pictures, I have apparently become a fan of the camera tilt shot. More Halloween pics later.


Kate and Papa playing in the rock garden.



The new puppy Bear. Bear loves Kate almost as much as Kate loves Bear.


Kate in part of her cowgirl outfit.