Step Back

Our efforts to move down on the ecmo flows and to wing off epinephrine failed early this morning.  Not sure if it was a response of moving too fast or a delayed reaction to the pump switch out. 

Dr. Myles is taking a step back and is working on weaning off epinephrine first, then stabilizing, and then decreasing ecmo.  So far everything seems to be working.  The new timetable is to be off ecmo this weekend.

We had a very good night tonight with Johnathon.  He was able to keep his eyes open the entire second half of the Cowboys game.  I guess the big matchup verse Green Bay was enough to excite him.  Don't worry I told him that if he thinks football is fun wait until he sees hockey.

Special thanks to Mike for the wonderful email he sent regarding the impact Johnathon has had on him and some of my teammates.  To answer your question Mike, yes you can buy him his first beer when he turns 21. 

Special thanks to everyone who helped allow Becky to take part of the day off from being at the hospital.  She needed and enjoyed the rest.  Special thanks to Allison for helping out and driving Becky home so late the other night.  Special thanks to Ruthie for finding us a new lullaby CD to play for Johnathon.  Now the nurses have some new songs to fall asleep to.

Not Much to Report

Our test did come back positive for the normal variant of staph.  We have been able to rotate him a couple of times to stop the chance of bed sores.  His oxygen saturation has improved a little to allow the ecmo to be brought down from 95% to 80%.  Other than that no real change.

On a side note Johnathon has already given me grey hairs.  I cannot believe how many have popped up.  At this pace I should look like Steve Martin by the time we try to give him a sister.  The worst part of all is at the same time he is changing Becky's hair dark (well away from her natural blonde).  I better call our hair stylist Chris and have him get some dye going.

On a side note if you happen to see our dog Haven at Dorothy's house, tell her "argh argh arrrrrgghhhh".  We miss you puppy dog.  We hope to be by soon to watch you sleep (I'm sorry but she is not really known for her spunk, unless you show her the leash).

Goodbye Ecy II

It was destined to happen.  Ecy II is no more.  Sent to the recommision scrap pile to be rebuilt.  Welcome Ecy III.  With the ecmo circuit building a 14 inch long clot that took up 50% of the line, it was time to go.  The change went smoothly.  So well in fact that we did not do a 90 second change.  We did a 4 minute 30 second change.  This was because the clot needed to be scraped from the line and Johnathon was tolerating the absence of life support well. 

The new ecmo machine is needed to help with the sepsis which we are still dealing with.  A preliminary result is showing a staph infection is what could be causing the lung infection (we hope a final result will be out tomorrow).  If it is staph we are already on the antibiotic to fight it. 

Not much to report in change to Johnathon's overall condition. He is still quite swollen and his pulse and blood pressure has still remained an item of concern.  No approvement on his kidney issue either.

Thanks to Darla, Donna, Don, Amy, Emily, Sara, Tammy, and everyone else for helping to make the ecmo circuit change go quite well.  We were able to be present and watch the change.  It made me feel like giving them high fives for their good work.

Major Setbacks

Today was no easy day.  When Becky and I made a decision to carry forward with Johnathon back in August, we knew there would be days like today.  However ready we thought we were, we discovered you are never quite prepared when the day is upon you.

Today we learned that the cultures from Johnathon's bronchoscopy came back positive for an infection. What kind of "bug" is it, we do not know.  We are awaiting the test results to determine what we are up against and what kind of antibiotics can fight it.  This "bug" combined with the other medicatons he is on are fueling his fast heart rate and low blood pressure.  Because ecmo can mask the systems of one being sick until they are at there sickest, we are just now seeing the effects. 

Johnathon will remain on ecmo (he is currently at 80% usage to battle the effects of the "bug") and he is receiving a broad spectrum antibiotic (until the correct poison pill for the "bug" can be identified).  Another problem the bug has created is shutting down Johnathon's kidneys.  Doctors have classified him as septic because of this behavior.  Fortunately ecmo does allow us to continue dialysis while we are still on it (swelling from fluid retention has already begun).  The infection is the main problem, so the kidneys will have to wait at this time period.

On a good note he had his first bowel movement since the surgery.  How often do you see parents celebrate a poopie diaper?  Well we did.  I hope there are many more to come (yes I do plan on changing them, its not my fault that all of the ones I have changed so far on him have been clean).

Setbacks

Not been a good day.  We are battling a deflated lung that is only halfway inflated.  Johnathon's blood pressure is low and he has a lovely tomato color.  They believe both are problems from the flolan medication that he is receiving for his hypertension.

They are reducing his flolan and some other pain medication to get his blood pressure up.  They did a bronchoscopy to find the cause of his lung issue.  Dr. Copenhaver found 3-4 mucus plugs that were blocking the upper lobe and removed them.  On our recent x-ray the upper lobe was finally starting to show some oxygen was starting to infiltrate it.  A respiratory therapist has been working with him to contine to move the mucus and open the lung.

Once the lung opens up we will start to come off ecmo.  Until then we are waiting.  It is quite frustrating at this point as the longer we are on ecmo the tougher things get. The risk for bleeding is still so high I am afraid to even think about it.  Please pray that we will be able to get off of ecmo in the morning.

Day After Surgery

Bleeding looks to be under control.  They will continue to monitor.  The breathing tube has quite a large leak and is not keepig the lung inflated adequately.  They are going to remove the old one and put in a larger one to solve the situation.  Johnathon had a good quiet night last night and we hope that this continues.

I am trying to get Becky to get away for a little bit today to get some rest.  Hopefully this will be able to occur soon.

Special thanks to Julie and her family for providing us Thanksgiving dinner.  I am still stuffed from all we ate.  It turned out to be a really good meal with family and friends.  Thanks again Julie for making this happen.  Also special thanks to everyone on the 9th floor for providing a room to hold our meal in and for the food you shared.  By the way if you want some great pumpkin muffins see Rachel.  I could eat those all day. Thanks Rachel.

Special thanks to the Evans and Pearl family for spending the day donating blood.  They made it a family affair.  From my family to yours thank you very much.

Johnathon is still needing blood.  Since surgery we have used roughly 12 units.  I have been informed that several blood drives have been arranged.  As soon as I get the complete schedule I will post time, place, and date for those of you who still want to give.

Thanks again for all of the wishes of support.

Update

We are having some bleeding issues.  The doctor has prescribed factor seven (pretty cool name for a drug) a drug to conteract the heparin from ecmo.  Dr. Hicks is monitoring the volume before going any further.  More updates will follow. . .

Surgery Done

Just finished up and met with Dr. Hicks.  He said it was tougher than expected, as the hole in the diaphragm was larger than expected.  This meant that he had little tissue to work with in attaching the patch to repair the hole (a problem could develop here long term wise as he grows).

Everything has been put in its place, except for the heart.  Because of the placement of the aorta he only moved it slightly, letting the body do the rest as it shifts over (not an item to be concerned on).  He did find development of a left lung a 1/3 of the normal size.  The lung does have upper and lower lobe development.  It's functionalty will not be known for some time.

The risks right now are bleeding, infection, and pulmonary hypertension.  Contact is now being limited to only Becky and I as they will leave his abdomen open so that it can stretch to fit everything inside of it.  They have a patch over it to help with drainage.  We hope to see him soon and will report back as soon as we can.

Surgery Started

We are an hour in.  We are hanging out in the waiting room.

Love Mommy

The moment I found out I was pregnant I knew I would love you no matter what. When we found out about the special way you would come into the world I knew I would love you even more. Now that you are here I can't explain how I feel when I see your little toes move around and when you wrap your little hand around my fingers. I love you even more then I could ever imagine. It breaks my heart that I can not pick you up and hold you close and make you better. I wish I could take all your pain away. Each tear I cry is for you and praying that you get better soon. I know that you have special Angels watching over you and that they will be with you tomorrow during your surgery holding your hand all the way, like they are doing now. You are a strong little boy with a strong will to fight for life. Each time you open your dark blue eyes and look into your daddy's and mine eyes we see how much you love us and you see how much we love you. I thank God for you and for Stephen. Your Dad is a wonderful man and you are much like him. I love him with all my heart, just like I love you. Be strong for Mommy and Daddy tomorrow and remember not matter what happens you will always be our little boy.

Love,
Mommy

Surgery Update

We are scheduled for surgery at 9:30 am tomorrow Friday 11/23.  Unless something major happens tonight or the surgeons see a reason for a change Friday is a firm day.  The time can change if any emergency cases come up.  

A Few Pictures of Things I Give Thanks for This Year

I found these pic's in my camera and thought I would share them with you as they represent some of the people and events that I am thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving,
The Janis Family

Surgery Update

Our schedule has changed so that we can keep slowly moving off ecmo.  We are shooting for 30% and are at 45% now.  Since he is tolerating the decrease so well they are wanting to move slowly to curtail any issues.  Surgery is now being planned for Friday - Sunday.  A new update will come tomorrow.

Surgery and Blood Update

We are pushing forward with surgery for this Thursday. I am trying to meet with the surgical team in the morning to confirm all of the plans. Ecmo has been slowed to about 65% and nitric oxide is being used again to switch from the high frequency oscillator (a kind of ventilator) to a more traditional ventilator for surgery. Switch over in ventilators shall occur tomorrow.

Several questions have been posted regarding blood and how much is used. On a daily basis we go through 4.5 units of blood or blood products (plasma, platelets, and whole blood). As of the day of surgery (Thursday) we will have used roughly 50 units of blood. Not sure how much blood will be used in surgery or how much will be used afterward (as ecmo will continue for a period after surgery), but it is a consistent need. To put this into perspective consider your donation of whole blood as 1 unit. As of today 29 units of blood have been donated to Johnathon's cause. This is well short of where he will be by Thursday morning. Please continue to contribute as it is your blood that is helping to carry the oxygen across his body.

Becky and I have had some deep discussions over the past few days regarding Johnathon and his hospitalization. We have still a long road ahead as surgery may correct his inside; it will take healing, time, and prayers to help his body function correctly. We love Johnathon very much, but we have always agreed that we will have to keep his long term outlook in perspective when dealing with his health care options. We do not wish a life of suffering upon him and we have some peace that if his life were to end it maybe God saving us from witnessing this.

Thursday we will be holding Thanksgiving at the hospital from 4pm - 8pm. Please feel free to come by and spend some time with Becky and I. Our family has expanded over these last few weeks as too has our friends. No matter what the outcome of surgery may be, we still have much to be thankful for.

Thanks to Laura Miller's co-workers for your blood donations this week. Thanks to Rob and Donna for making the change out of the ecmo pump successful. Thanks to Sunni for helping me out during the change out time period. Thanks to Emily, you brought relief to me when you came to get Johnathon at Parkland and you have taken such great care of him for 6 out of his first 8 days of life. And finally a special thanks to everyone who has offered prayers, help, and a kind ear. As many people will be traveling for Thanksgiving and may not have a chance to read over the next few days, I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Ecy II

I have named it Ecy II. Ecy I served us well but was not up to the challenge to last any longer. After the ecmo unit could no longer adaquately manage the various elements of the blood gases and its pressures ran too high we had to bid it adieu.

But now we start fresh. We pray that this does not set us back by very much, but at least we have a new partner that can last longer. We wait and see.

Ecy I for I knew her well,
Many nights I lay and stare.
Even though she fell,
It was a task we had to bare.

A poet I am not. Maybe next time I will try a haiku, that way if I made sense or not you still would not understand me (except for my brother he lives in the odd so he speaks it quite well).

Decision

The decision has been made by Dr. Scheren to go as long as we can with the ecmo circuit and get to surgery.  However a difference of opinion has gathered as some think we may need to change the circuit before we can get to surgery.

My personal opinion is that as much as I have learned sometimes I feel I know too much.  Some people are extremely cautious and some are more adventurous.  I teeter toward the later on some things but go conservative when I see odds are not in my favor.  Doctor's work in a different realm of the world playing percentages, practical theories, and hunches.

There is never a set plan or course of treatment in the ICU.  It is day by day hour by hour.  As I type this I am being informed again that a change maybe occurring shortly with our ecmo circuit.  Which side wins has yet to be determined, but one thing is for sure Johnathon is the only winner or loser in this fight.

Special thanks to the members of Calvary Baptist Church and Pastor Eddie for making us feel at home and for being our spiritual leaders.  Also thank you all for your effort in hosting a blood drive for our neighborhood in Johnathon's honor.

The Circuit

In ecmo speak it is known as the circuit.  To you and me its everything (filter, oxygenator, tubes, pump, and the kitchen sink).  When this starts to fail it can go fast.  With the amount of clots ours is showing and the other concerns with its performance a decision is being considered to change it all out to the backup circuit (turning everything off and starting with a new one).

The change out is a 90 second session of controled chaos as one system is primed and readied as another is turned off.  If you ever have the chance to see this occur you would gain great apprecation for the ecmo techs who do this.

For the parents and all others waiting on the change out it is 90 seconds of terror filled with what if's and hopefully's.  As we prepare to make the wait for this to begin our nerves go crazy for the anticipation.

Johnathon may soon have this procedue performed and we hope to report that all went well and that no what if's have occurred.  On a positive note his new pain medicine showed some positive signs and he slept well through the night.  Currently his stats are in a very good range so it is better that a ecmo circuit change out occurs now than if his numbers were down. 

To the ecmo techs I pray that your hands are swift and that everything goes well.  I know this critical moment is one that you step up your performance for and I appreciate that.

We are waiting on the Doctor's to make their final assessment of the situation and to let us know when the change out will occur.   I will keep you updated as soon as I know more.

Over-stimulization

Tonight we stimulated Johnathon too much.  As like any baby touch them too much and they make noise.  Keep them awake too much and they make noise.  This is no different for Johnathon.  The problem is he cannot with a tube down his throat.  So he throws a fit that causes his oxygen to drop, his blood pressure to go up, and his face to turn red.  We finally were ale to control this with some different pain medicines and by limiting his contact.

With this low stimulization policy in effect for now we are trying to wisper in the room and avoid touching him.  Becky and I agree that if this is what we must do to get him to surgery we can do this.

A new problem has developed the ecmo system is developing clots.  This is normal during the operation of the system.  The problem is some of the clots are in the oxygenation filter (the same one that broke on Friday).  If the clots get worse or more appear the oxygenation filter may need to be replaced again.  This is something we do not want to experience again if we don't have to. 

A special thanks to my hockey team the Komets.  We won our first game on Saturday and lost the second game in the shootout.  I even had the chance to take a shot in the shootout (I was unsuccessful but had a good time).  The greatest part of the evening was seeing the gold stickers with "JJ" on all of my teammates helmets.  This special tribute caused me to have some teary eyed moments as it told me how wonderful my hockey family truly is.  Also thanks to the members of the Grave Diggers for keeping us in their thoughts and prayers.

Thanks for everyone that gave blood on Friday.  I have heard of several more drives that are being arranged.  This is so awesome.  So far 19 units have been donated.  Unfortunately we have already exceeded this number in what Johnathon has used.  Please give if you can.

Another thanks to my Mom, Dad, and my Father in-law for taking night duty the past 3 nights so I could sleep in my bed.  Thanks to Erin and Mike for taking the hockey tickets off my hands and bringing the Stars a win.  Finally a special thanks to members of our care team for going the extra mile the past couple of days.  Your patience and understanding of us is so greatly appreciated.

Holding Pattern

Have you ever been stuck on a flight that kept circling waiting to land.  How about one that is dealing with rough weather and turbulence?  That anxiety of being shakened around and the can't wait to land feeling going through your head.  That is how we feel.  We feel secure to know that ecmo is our airplane that can deliverance us by keeping him alive, but can kill him too if all of the turbelence fell just right.  We are waiting for his plane to land and for the surgery to begin.

We have been holding steady with the exception of our turbulence when the ecmo filter sprung a leak Friday causing the machine to be turned off for 1 minute and 10 seconds.  Johnathon was forced to survive on his own.  With the steroids given to help him during this situation, it caused his blood pressure and pulse to go crazy.  This forced a delay in our schedule.

The best we can tell is we lost a day.  On Thursday we were 60-55% on ecmo on Friday it was 85%.  As of today we have krept back down to 60%.  We were hoping that the Doctors strategy of surgery on Monday or Tuesday would hold, but we are in our holding pattern now.  Waiting to land. 

Since it is so late I will continue this post tomorrow.  Tiredness has gotten the best of me after playing hockey tonight.

Progress

Dr. Sheren talked to Becky and informed her of our progress.  He felt we were in a position where we can start to reduce ecmo from 60% to 55%.  If this is successful we maybe looking at surgery on Monday or Tuesday. 

Unfortunately we had a little step back.  Johnathon made it all day at 55%, but by evening they had to move him back up.  They hope to try to move him down by morning to start the process over again.

Tomorrow night I am taking a break, so do not look for a blog entry until Saturday and/or Sunday.  Becky and I will be spending quality time away from the hospital tomorrow night as my Father is taking night duty.

On a side note don't forget the blood drive at my work from 8:30 am to 11:30 am.  I will see you there.

Michelin Man

Ever wonder what happens when your baby retains too much fluid? Yes he does take on the Michelin Man appearance. I am thinking of taking pictures and sending them to the Michelin tire company to get Johnathon a side job. May need it after I heard how expensive it is for some of these items he is receiving in his IV. Thank goodness for health insurance.

When ecmo does its job it causes fluids to build up in the body. Your kidneys can excrete so much before they reach their maximum capacity. This is what has happened to Johnathon. No longer the slim and trim guy he has become puffy. The Doctors had warned us of this situation, so it came as no surprise today when they started him on a dialysis treatment. On ecmo they have filter that the blood passes through that the fluid can be removed from similar to dialysis. To supplement the removal of these fluids they give him electrolytes from a very big bag (picture one of those bags you get at the grocery store filled with a clear fluid). The question I pose is, you must give fluid to get fluid back. In actuality this is correct.

We had some interesting things done by Johnathon today. He opened his eyes on numerous occasion as if to let us know he was doing good and to let us know that he heard what we were saying. He also started to become a frog man by positioning his legs in a weird frog squat style. I guess he thought that was comfortable. He is in a holding pattern as we wait a few days to make sure everything is settled down in his system. If things continue to go well he may have his surgery in about 6 days.

Special thanks to Cindy for organizing for Carter Blood Care to come to my work on Friday for a blood drive in Johnathon's honor. I know this brought a tear to both of Becky and my eyes. Thanks to the many new friends we have made while here. So many people have come up to me and said "you don't know me but your blog has taught me so much". It's special to know that our communication through here has inspired, compelled, relieved, and/or comforted others. When I first started this blog it was to help communicate our situation and to keep a log of our feelings for our son to one day read. Now I continue for so much more than that.

Keep fighting the strong fight Johnathon and I will keep letting others know of your battles. Love, Dad.

Staying Level

He has been taken off nitric oxide.  Ecmo has been turned down slighty and they are monitoring his kidneys and other organs to see how they are handling everything. 

Becky was discharged and went home to get some sleep.  Pastor Eddie came by today and said a wonderful prayer that helped to strengthen us and raise our spirits.  Thanks to all of our friends for visiting and meeting our son.  We appreciate the opportunity to share this time of our sons life with you. Though it can be overwhelming, we still appreciate the visit. 

Thanks to the Komets for wearing "JJ" on their helmets on Saturday.  Both Becky and I feel loved by our hockey family.  I heard it was a win, maybe it was the strength of "JJ" at work.

Blood Drive.
Because Johnathon is needing so much blood we are asking that you help out by donating at any Carter Blood Center donation site.  Just let them know you would like to donate for a blood credit to Baby Boy Rebecca Janis at Children's Medical Center of Dallas born on 11/11/07.  This not only could help save Johnathon's life but could help many others.  Right now this is the greatest gift you could give us. 

On Ecmo

At 1:05 today we received a phone call that Johnathon's condition had deteriated.  I rolled Becky in a wheelchair from Parkland to Children's.  When we got their we found out that his stats had dropped down to 48% oxygen in his blood and CO2 was up to 62. The decision had been made to put him on ecmo. 

We spent a few minutes with him, gave him a kiss, and told him we loved him before the surgeons started the operation to hook up the ecmo.  Dr. Hicks performed the procedure.  After about 45 minutes he and Dr. Garcia came in with Dr Sheren to let us know everything went well.  Dr. Sheren was happy that it took 30 hours to reach this level.  He said this showed he has strong development in his right lung.

Now we wait to see how long it will take for Johnathon to start to work off ecmo.  With the blood thinners being needed to use ecmo he needs to be off of it or close to it to have his surgery.

Thank you for all of the prayers.  We stay strong with every word of encouragment.  A special thanks to Kendra for being in the delivery and for staying last night with Becky.  A special thanks for all of the emails and messages.

Early Video From NICU

This was a quick video I was able to snap while his tubes and lines were put in. Shortly after this Becky was able to spend a few minutes with him prior to him being transfered to Children's Medical Center.

Becky is resting fine. She is tired from the 22 hours they worked on her for her inducement. She is in Parkland tonight. We meet with her Doctor in the morning to see if she will be released on Monday.

Johnathon is stable at Children's. I will know more in the morning and will post an update as soon as I can.

I'm off to get some sleep. Thank you to everyone who was with use for the past 22 hours. Thank you to those who were watching online. Thank you to those who sent emails and messages. Thank you to the Hospital staff at Parkland for helping Becky and making Johnathon's transfer to be a smooth one. Thank you to Children's for sending the transport team. Thank you to the Children's ICU staff for coming to help get Johnathon and for taking care of him while we could not be there. Thank you for all of the prayers. Thank you God for watching over it all.

Welcome Johnathon Hampton Janis

8:01 am 11/11/07; 6lbs. 7oz.; 19 in. long

We are Pushing

Real Close

Doctor is on her way to hospital now.  Looking real close.

Get a Mop

Water has broken and contractions are picking up.  Becky feels great!  She highly recommends epidurals.  Fentanyl is now her new friend.  By the way I have a used mop for sale, just don't ask where it has been.  We are placing bets we had to use the window as our tote board.

Epidural

They are starting the epidural now.  Becky is staying strong.  I was presented with my free 'Smurf Outfit',  (blue paper scrubs).  Pictures have been threatened.  We will see . . .

First Good One

We had our first good contraction.  This maybe a trend.  We will wait and see. 

Better Get Some Popcorn

Not going any where for awhile.  Drugs are going in and stats are going good.  Dr. Lo came by to say things are progressing good.  She order some broth and jello for Becky.  I hope she keeps that down, if not I've got $20 for her to projectile vomit on the TV.  Well time for my lunch break.

Starting the Process

They have the "bag of inducement" (pitocin) ready and are about to administer it.  Becky is feeling fine and we are keeping her laughing.  Visiting time is still open if you are coming by.  Thanks to those of you who have come by.

Room #

We are at Parkland.  3rd floor, east wing, room 2. 

Change of Plans

Big change in plans.  Becky spent all day Friday sick and unable to keep anything down.  This caused her to become dehydrated and it pushed JJ's heartbeat to 200 beats per minute.  The Doctors gave her 4 bags of IV fluids to help bring everything back to normal.  Because of the stress on JJ and his overreaction they are going to induce her in the morning (11/10).  Please pass this message along as many people were going to be at the hospital on Wed.  As I know more I will be updating the blog via mobil device.

Less Than One Week and Counting . . .

Well the time has almost arrived for JJ to make his appearance. Lots of happenings this week. We had the official tour of Parkland on Monday. Sometimes you forget how big the place is until you start walking around. Becky will delivering on the 3rd floor on the east wing of labor and delivery. There are 2 waiting areas. We have advised everyone to walk through the main one down the hall to the second one. It is much nicer and has some privacy.

We met with Dr. Sanchez of the NICU at Parkland. We discussed our situation with JJ's diaphragmatic hernia and of the different outcomes. We also discussed our wishes of life saving measures and how far we are wanting to go. We also discussed our intentions to have JJ moved over to Children's Medical Center as soon as possible. Dr. Sanchez agreed to discuss our case with Dr. Thompson at Children's to make sure they were on the same page.

We finally were able to meet Dr. Harrison from UCSF in person. It was great to finally shake his hand and thank him for taking the time to consult with us regarding our case. His lecture was extremely informative. I am still amazed at all of the surgical work that he has pioneered and what they are able to accomplish. It made both Becky and I feel so happy to know that he remembered our case. Dr. Lo informed us that our case to be presented to Dr. Harrison for a further review by the surgical residences at Children. Wish we could have been a fly on the wall for that one.

Dr. Lo met with us today and told Becky she is progressing well (1 cm dilated and 50% effaced). We are still on schedule for inducement for Wed. We have to check in at 7am and are not expecting any real action until around noon or after.

A few changes to our pecking list of Surgical Doctors. Dr. Garcia's has a family member that has fallen ill and she will be leaving to take care of them (please keep her and her family in your prayers). Dr. Megison has a large family event planned shortly after delivery which would leave him unavailable to care for JJ for a period of time. So our new Surgical Doctors are Dr. Hicks and/or Dr. Schindel. I have not met them, but I have heard many good things.

Special thanks to Karen and Cindy from my work. They have helped out the past several weeks with several important items and have been there for Becky and I to share some of our thoughts with. Another thanks goes to Julie and Kendra. Both have helped Becky in keeping her sanity while staying at home. Thanks again.

On the Hockey front . . . this Saturday will be my last games for a period of time (how long I do not know). We lost our exhibition game last Friday 4-2. I played center for the whole game and had the an assist on the first goal of the game. I played well enough that the Komets asked me to play center again on Saturday (I was a little slow as this was the 3rd game in 2 days). We lost this game 3-1. On my other team the Grave Diggers we won 3-2 on the early game on Saturday. I played right wing for them, with my concentration on playing defense on the other teams best player (who just happens to be 4 inches taller than me and about 100lbs lighter, but boy can he shoot the puck). Next game is Saturday 11/10 at 6:45pm (Grave Diggers vs. Brewzers) and at 9:15pm (Komets vs. Puckers). I hope you are able to attend at least one game. I think Becky is going to try and attend the first game if her blood pressure is well. See you there.

JJ's Halloween Costume

Not much to report. Becky's Doctors appointment went well. Everything is still moving toward an inducement on the 14th. Her blood pressure has come down some, but the Doctor wants her to continue to stay on her modified bed rest.

Upcoming schedule . . .

11/5 We have a meeting with the Neonatologist at Parkland to discuss the timing and transportation of JJ from Parkland to Children's Medical Center.

11/7 We finally get to meet Dr. Harrison from UCSF. He is in town to deliver the "Grand Rounds" at Children's and we have an invite to attend. Don't worry about Becky's bed rest all of her Doctors will be there (I think there is at least 10 of them involved in our care as of now).

11/8 Last visit with the Doctor before delivery.

11/9 Becky's "House Cleaning Party"

11/14 The big day or as I call it the beginning of Becky's new diet. I can say as of now she would definitely loose 5lbs 15oz. (JJ's weight as of today). I know she can't wait for that load to come off her joints.

For Halloween Becky decided to dress JJ up. I hope you enjoy the picture . . .