It is so not our year - for medical business that is.

Yup, you guessed it.  We got to visit the hospital...... again.  This time, it was Dav...again.  He was put in the hospital on Thursday night due to MRSA Staph Infection.  Monday I noticed he was getting a staph sore.  I totally know what they look like, since we have had about 7 of them since Brennen's burn.  So I gave Dav some medicine they gave us to have on hand.  I guess once your a carrier you are pretty prone to get it.  Obviously we're a little more prone than others.  Anyways I started him on the medicine Monday night and Tuesday morning he was covered in hives the the sore didn't look any different.  I gave him some benadryl and continued with the medicine on Tuesday.  The day I noticed the one on my foot.  Yea, lovely.   Wednesday it wasn't getting better and benadryl and zyrtec weren't clearing up the hives so I took him to the doctor.  They took one look at it and clearly identified it as staph.  However, this one was a little worse than the ones we've seen at our house.  So then they popped it and took a culture to see if it was MRSA, which is the more dangerous kind of staph.  He changed the antibiotic because he thought the one he was on, bactrum, was causing the hives.  He checked my foot and I had staph on it but it wasn't as bad as Dav's and clearly not the same kind as his.  So he wrote us both out prescriptions.  Thursday, the hives were gone so I knew it was from the bactrum.  I went to work and got a call around noon that the results came back and it was MRSA.  I took Dav back out there to have it looked at again.  Dr. Oakden couldn't decide exactly what route to take.  MRSA is resistant to alot of medication and it was resistant to the one he was currently taking.  However, the main antibiotic they use for MRSA is bactrum.  But since Dav had broke out when he was on it they couldn't give it to him because it could end up causing another serious skin disease.  So he called a skin and infectious disease doctor to see what medicine they should give him.  The decided to try another oral antibiotic.  So, I went and got it filled and tried to give it to him.  I have the worldest gaggiest(sp?) child! He seriously can get a funny taste and just puke it up.  So he did that when I gave him the medicine.  3 times.  So I called back out there telling them I couldn't get him to take it and the decided to put him in the hospital because we couldn't let it go longer.  So I took him out around 8:30p.m. and they admitted him.  The IV's and blood draws were horrible.  I felt so bad for him.  They got a good IV in his arm and started vancomycin.  Vanco is used as a last resort drug and is like comparing a cannon ball to a gun.  Around 3:30 we noticed it leaking out.  So they tried to fix it but Dav was screaming and 5 of us couldn't hold him down enough to get a good one in.  So they let it stay out for the night.  Friday morning the doc came in and they decided to cut it open to get all the crap out.  So they took him back, gave him some gas, and cut his little bum open.  He had a cut an inch long and 2 inches deep.  While in surgery they put 2 ivs in.  One in each hand so if one collapsed they would have the other one.  He didn't like that when he came to and kept crying to take it out.  He did really good coming out and the rest of the day.  Saturday morning they changed the packing.  He didn't really like it but got over it quick.  It was a rough day.  Trying to keep an active 2 year old in a hospital room..yea.  Luckily we were able to hang out down on these stairs he loved.  He could only go to that end of the hospital he couldn't be around any other people.  Saturday night they tried to flush one of the IVs and something had happened that it wasn't working.  So they pulled it.  That night at 10 they hooked him.  We watched it and everything looked fine.  He pulled the cord to hard and it disconnected the iv to the drip thing so Brennen went to plug it in and noticed his arm was all swollen.  The medicine was running into his arm instead of his veins.  So they had to pull that iv and quickly get heat on his arm.  Around 11:30 they had to try and get another IV in him. They tried three times; one in each foot and one more in his arm but couldn't get it to go.  So they got oral vanco from Cedar and switched him to oral.  Today they came in at 9:00, changed the packing and told us we got to go home! I told them last night if we didnt' get to go hom on Monday they may see the extremely impatient side of me..with my child.  So they were probably just as relieved as we were that we got to go home! Anyways, we're home! He has to go in for the next few mornings to get the packing changed and has to take vanco three times a day for probably 5 more days.  He really hasn't been in pain.  He just hates when they change the packing and stick him with needles.  

Dav cruisin the halls with dad, grandma and grandpa.Thank heavens there wasn't any patients down this end of the hall and we could go for walks down there.  He loved to play on these stairs.  Whenever he was getting anxious, we went for a walk to go up and down the stairs.

I'm not going to lie, this was the best part of the day:) 

Thank Heavens for Grandma and Grandpa Orton's portable DVD player.

It saved his life and my sanity.  He watch Homeward Bound and Savage

Sam what seemed to be 100 times over and over.

Eating a popsicle and watching tv.

Friday morning after surgery. 

Sleeping after surgery

Dav shooting the nurses.  It was pretty funny.  This particular one

he shot at her and then yelled, "Wady, you dead"  It was hilarious.

Not that he didn't love them, he just thought he'd try and get back

at them for all the needle pricks.

He saw the nurses coming and tried to hide from them.

He was playing peek-a-boo with Bos.  Earlier he was using the

curtains for starting gates.  He pretended he was a race horse

and flew out of the gates yelling, "An der off"

Little does he know...he's about to go to surgery.

The new picture stance he has been working on.  Grandma was helping

him hold it for the camera.  We played alot of football and baseball.

He was so excited when Boston came to visit.  He put his arm

around him and kept saying, "Bos, you my bud?" He loves Boston.

His arm swollen from the IV leak.

Overall, Dav was a total trooper.  He was pretty funny and entertaining while he was in there.  It was sad to see him get poked so many times but you have to do what ya have to do.  He was impossible to get to hold still and stop moving while they were doing it.  The nurses were so great and he learned to like them:) We are super glad to be home.  I can't imagine these poor kids and parents who have to spend alot of time in a hospital.  Now if we could just get rid of this crap we'd be doing great!

Dav's Birthday

I can't believe Mr. Dav has turned 2! He is at a cute/busy/troublish stage!  We had a very low key birthday at the park for him.  He was spoiled rotten, of course.  We had our family come up to the park for cake and ice cream. 

He thought he was pretty neat when we were singing happy birthday

to him.  He would keep telling everyone 'hap birfday'.  It was cute.

He can pull quite the funny faces!

He kept telling everyone he is one.  I had to tell him all day he was 2.  One

time I asked him how old he was and he said, "I one." I told him he was 2 

and he said, "NO Mom, I 1!" It was funny.  I think he's getting it down now.

If we could get him to say 2 and hold up 2 fingers we would be lucky!

 

He decided to dig right into the cake. 

 

Dad helping him get it in his mouth instead of all over him.

He got a fun fishing pole, a lego farm set, a movie, and some tractors

from Grandma and Grandpa Orton and the boys.  He loves anything

farm so he was so excited and has been playing with it since we brought

it home! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa and boys!

Uncle Skyler trying to teach him how the fishing pole works.

He got the little peoples farm from Uncle Troy's Family and

from Uncle Jed.  He LOVES it. 

Grandma and Grandpa Black gave him a cowboy hat,

some clothes and a little trike.  Everytime he sees someone

on a bike he starts yelling that he wants a bike.  He hasn't

quite figured out the pedals but he loves to push himeself around.

We got him a little power wheels four-wheeler.  It only

goes 2 mph and thats fast enough!! At first he got on it and

hit the gas and it caught him off guard.  I think it scared him a

little bit.  Then we practiced with him and now he loves it.

He still hasn't quite figured out to pull his foot off the gas

but he's getting it down.  It just took him going under the truck

to understand he does have to stop when he's going to run

into something.:)

S.L.A.C.K.E.R

..I know. I've totally slacked at blogging lately. Here are some of the reasons why...

I graduated from college!! YAY - after 5 years!! It was such a roller coaster but I'm so grateful I finished! I started out as a nursing major and did one year of generals then one year of nursing pre-requisites. I had been battling with my decision, if nursing was really for me or not. The summer Brennen and I got enganged I knew I needed to change my major because I wasn't happy with what I was doing and would be doing for the rest of my life. So, I changed it to Elementary Education. I'm SOOOO GrAteFuL I changed my major. I love elementary and it will not only help with my career but in everyday life. I know nursing would do the same, but it was so not for me. Gag. There is not a day that goes by that I regret that decision! I'm grateful there are people that can be nurses because my nerves and stomach can't support that career! So, I commuted the last 3 years - 1 year, prego, 1 year with a newborn and one year with a 1yr. old.... and I'm finally finished!! YAY no more tests, 30 page papers, and no more 45 minute commutes everyday!

Brennen has been busy umping and playing baseball/softball. He has been playing in a league in Milford but is getting ready to start the mens and coed leagues up here! YAY for summer!

I started managing our families DQ. I was a little hesitant at first..after all I've worked there since I was 14 so I knew what it was all about..or so I thought. But it has been really good. With the economy the way it is and jobs..I'm so grateful to have a good job right out of school!

Dav finally got eartubes! After 5 or 6 antibiotics in the last 2 months...it was time! He did pretty well with them. He was crying when they took him and I warned the doctors he was pretty tough and it was going to be quite the task to get him out. They laughed and acted like no big deal. When he came in after the surgery, he said, "Well you weren't kidding he was tough! Probably the toughest one I've had to get out in a long time. He is really strong." Then once they had given him the normal dosage and thought he was out, they started to do the procedure and his legs started kicking up and down. They had to stop and give him more so he would stay out! I was so glad Brennen was there because he didn't want a thing to do with me! All he really wanted...Grandma and Grandpa Orton's dog, Sandy. Seriously, he kept crying for Sandy! He has done really well with the tubes and I sure hope they continue to work!

Last but not least...we're trying to get things ready so we can build a house! It has already been stressful getting the loan application and floor plans all figured out! We're not exactly sure when we'll be starting but hopefully soon (like next month or July)!

I hope everyone is enjoying this CraZy BusY time of year! We are so excited for summer to be here! Dav turns 2 next week, sad. I'll try and post an update about him. He is keeping us on our toes for sure!

BacK tO NoRmaL!!

And....we're back to normal!!! Woo-hoo! Brennen is doing fantastic. He looks great, you can hardly tell he was burned! He didn't have to have any skin grafts and the doctors said everything looked great! He did get a staph infection that was pretty crazy the week after Easter. I had no idea what staph looked like so I thought he was getting bad achne from the medicine he was puttin on his burns. Well, it started to spread. It started at his neck and then covered his body. We went in and they put him on an antibiotic 4 times a day and an ointment 3 times a day. He also had 2 roseffin(sp?) shots. He went out each morning for 3 days to get looked at and make sure it was getting better. It took all his energy. He basically slept nonstop for a few days. The first day we went to the doctor for it, we came home and I had noticed a dot on Dav's back the night before but didn't think to much of it, well the next day he had it all over his back. So I called back out to the clinic, at this point feeling like a hypochondriac, and they wanted to see him. Sure enough...staph. He had gotten from Brennen so he went on antibiotics and ointment as well. They started me on one too so I wouldn't get it. Thankfully, I never did! They both got over it pretty quick and it didn't make them too sick! We're finally back to normal! So...he played softball Thursday night and played in a basketball tournament in Milford Friday and Saturday! I knew he wouldn't stay down for long! Once again, thanks for all your love and support during that crazy time! It is my last week student teaching this week! I really should be finishing up my ohh 25 or so page report right now but I needed a break! It's such a bitter sweet feeling! I'm graduating on May 1st. CraZy! Anways, here are some updated pics.

We just got a new puppy! I was a little hesitant about getting a dog but the 'boys' wanted one soo bad and the family we rent from just had lab puppies so I gave in and we bought one! I think Brennen is more excited than Dav but I think they're both pretty happy! His name is Drake. He is actually pretty dang cute!





The weather has been nice and I have been dying to get the lawn mowed..well for Brennen to mow the lawn I should say;) Dav decided he wanted to help, imagine that!

Dav decided to color on the floor so I made him clean it up. Mean? Maybe-but he will clean up after himself!!

Finally...."the story."

Well, it's taken me forever to finally get "The Story" on here. Sit back and relax if you want to read all of it because it could get preetttyyy long! Here's how it all goes..
The Phone Call: Friday the 26th I was at school when I got 'the phone call'. The one you always dread! My mentor teacher answered it and talked for a minute. I could tell something was going on so I was a little nervous to even pick up. It was Brennen's co-worker Shaun. He said I needed to come to the hospital that Brennen had been burned at work. I didn't ask where. How bad. Or if he was okay. I just left. When I got out to the hospital I was panicking, obviously, but initially didn't think it was that bad. I immediately said, "Oh thank goodness! You're blue eyes are still there and you're still hott." Trying to lighten the situation.
Brennen preceded to tell me what happened, and this is how it happened: Brennen was working on a 4-wheeler at the shed and had been cleaning a filter with some gas. He decided to throw the old gas on a fire they have there. Something they do everyday. When he went to throw it in, it hit the side of the bucket and splashed on his face. However, he initially started on fire on his leg. Not a big deal. So he bent down to pat it out and the vapors blew up and started him on fire. He was on fire from his waist up. The guys at the shed said it was just like the movies. A ball of fire running through the building. They couldn't see any part of his body from his waist up. Thank heavens he was a quick thinker and reacted the way he did. He immediately went to pat it out with his hands but realized he didn't want to burn his hands. So he took off for the door, immediately threw himself on the ground and was rubbing his face in the dirt and throwing snow on his face. Meanwhile, Shaun followed him out and patted out his side and back. He said he felt like someone put their hands over his eyes so he could see where he was going. And I believe it. He was burned right about his eye and his brows and eye lashed were singed.(sp?) I know. Chilling. He said the adrenaline was pumping so fast he hopped up and didn't really feel any pain. Then he started to feel hot so he had Shaun drive him out to the hospital. He said it was the scariest feeling in the whole world. He could see flames all around him on his face.
At the hospital- Like I said before, when I walked in I didn't think it was all that bad. Then I heard them talking about the burn center and started to kinda panic. I called Brennen's parents and they immediately headed to the hospital. Wade Hollingshead was the doc on and he came in and said the U wanted him up there and we would be going by life light. I panicked. I was trying to call my mom. No answer. The Chevron. Busy. I don't know what it is about those words, life light, that made me panic so bad but I did. I needed my mom!! Anyways, I finally got a hold of my brother and they all came right out. In the meantime, life light called and said they wouldn't be able to fly because the weather conditions were so sporadic up north. So they paged the ambulance and had them transport us up to the University of Utah. Brennen's dad Troy and my brother Troy gave Brennen a priestood blessing before we left the hospital. I'm so thankful for the priestood..a whole other post! My mom followed the ambulance to be with me. Jackie and Troy stayed behind because it was Rustin's Junior Prom and they kept Dav. They were going to get up and come first thing Saturday but we were discharged on Saturday so they didn't. The ambulance ride was good. We had fabulous EMT's and a soon-to-be EMT! It made the ride go by pretty quick. They kept Bren pretty drugged up so he wasn't in alot of pain.
The U:When we arrived there they quickly got him in and went to work! They explained what they were going to do, moved him into a bed and hooked him up to all the fun machines. They began by washing his face. Yeah-nasty! Then after they had it all cleaned up, they put shaving cream all over his face and shaved him! Ohh I wanted to pass out about now. I felt soooo bad for him. He had to keep stopping them to give him more drugs. Not to mention, it was a girl shaving him that acted as though she was shaving her worst enemy. Up and down, side to side, and quick! Right after that they put him on some oxygen and just let him rest. He looked really good then. I could hardly tell he had been burned he was just really red. Then we discussed the reason he was up there. First. He was burned up his nose so that created some concern. Second - It takes 18 hours to hit peak of swelling and there was a possibility he could swell so badly it could shut off his airway. Third - They wanted to make sure he didn't have bad scars. So we sat there. I stared at him. Watching to make sure he was still breathing. Thankful I got to watch him breath. Then came night time. He was swelling but not too bad. They told me I could sit in the room but I couldn't go to sleep. Yeah-I'll spare us the time and words on how I really felt about that. I was freaking out wondering if I dared leave or if I should sit in those not so comfortable chairs in the waiting room all night. My mom and I decided to leave and get a motel so I could try and sleep. Pointless. I was up all night checking my phone making sure I didn't miss a call. Praying thanking Heavenly Father for all the blessings. I knew it could have been soo much worse. The night went really well and when he hit his peak of swelling he was off of oxygen and they felt like everything was going really well. I got back to the hospital at 8:00a.m. and it was very evident the reason we were there. The swelling was alot worse than when I had left the night before. He wasn't in alot of pain and things were going really smooth. We then got fabulous news-we got to go home! I had to show them I could change the dressing and properly care for his face. I was quickly reminded why I changed my major. Never one day have I regretted that decision and I was soo reassured I did the right thing up there! Then he had to do physical therapy. A real treat for me to watch. It was pretty entertaining. Not him. Or the pain. The therapist that was telling him to say EWWWW - WEEEEE!! Funny. They were concerned about one area on his neck that was the deepest burn. They said we would have to come back and they would determine if it needed a graft or not. They unhooked all the IV's, we packed our bags and headed home! He has been doing good since we have been home.
Home: It is looking soo good and is healing quickly. He started cleaning his face himself, thank goodness, probably 2 days after we were home. He has to clean it 3 times a day with gauze pads and then apply an ointment. He has to shave every other day and I seriously can't watch. I know. Whimp. But I feel soo bad it looks so painful even though he reassures me it's not that bad. We went back up this last Saturday and they said everything looked pretty good but it was still to early to tell about the graft. He now has staff infection. I'm kinda freaking out. He started an antibiotic today and we're going to go to the clinic tomorrow to get it looked at. We go back up on Monday to find out what the future holds.
Extra stuff:
*I have been amazed at how well Brennen has handled all of this. He has seriously been a trooper. Not ornery. Not bossy. Not irritated. He thanks me all the time for taking good care of him and has really been awesome. He has held up better than me.
*Garments-Oh how I love them. You always hear neat stories about garments and now we have our own. Brennen was on fire from his waist up. It burned his sweater, to his t-shirt but didn't touch the garments. The burns on his neck are a definite line at the garment top. (you can see in pictures) His leg hairs were singed all the way up to his garments and then stopped. It is amazing! My testimony has been dramatically increased through this experience! I am sooo thankful for the gospel and the protection of the garments!
*I'm sooo thankful for my mom. She held me together. She'll never know how much I love and appreciate her - for everything!
*I think it's ridiculous the doctor had a dog right there in the unit. The burn floor has the nurses station in the middle then cubicles for the patients all around it, seperating them with a curtain. Yeah-she had her dog at her desk and totally talked to it like it was a kid. No offense dog lovers, I just found it weird.
*We have the BEST family and friends around! We have had dinner every night since we've been home. Some nights 2 dinners. Goodies, prayers, hugs, texts...the list goes on! THANK YOU!
*His left ear and his lips are the most painful. The ear is nasty. Gettin better but still nasty.
*It could have been sooo much worse. Being up in the burn unit is an extremely humbling experience. We were sooo blessed.
*Dav didn't know what to think about Brennen at first. He wouldn't go to him and kept looking at him, puckering his bottom lip to cry and saying, "daddy have owee". So sad. He was up all night with diarrhea. Poor little guy. Next day right back to normal. Being the biggest daddy's boy ever. He has been really good about not touching him. He often kisses it better.
*They told us Brennen has to wear a cowboy hat or a fishing hat this summer to shade his face. I died laughing-thinking she was kidding. Not at all. So, when you see him sportin some stying hat, control yourself - he is mine!
*To make the week a little better: I took Dav out on Monday(a week ago) because he had a horrible cough and I didn't want him to get Brennen sick. Double ear infection. Again. So he's on another antibiotic. You know what comes with ear infections-no sleeping, no eating, irritable, FUN! Wednesday I woke up with a sore throat and my ears hurt. So again, to be on the safe side I thought I better get checked to make sure it wasn't something Brennen could catch. Double ear infection. They gave me a shot of rossefin(no idea on spelling). Brennen was with me so we walked over to talk to Dr. Oakden. I started feeling really light headed and like I was going to throw up. We were talking to Dr. O and I kept thinking it was going to go away but it didn't. He looked at me and asked me if I was okay. I told him no. He said I was as white as a ghost and they needed to watch me for a minute because I was having a reaction to the shot. I came home that night with a horrible headache. Jackie took Dav because I was soo sick. Thank you-totally saved my life and possibly his too! I drank a Pepsi, took some Excedrin, went to sleep and woke up feeling much better! I feel great now. I'm not so convinced Dav is better yet. We have to take him back in in 3 weeks. But we're managing.
Today: I went back to school. Brennen went to work for about 3 hours. He has to do really light work and can't be in the sun. Now with the staph infection I don't know what the work situation will be like for him. I have 2 weeks left of school so I have to keep plugging along. Somehow.
There you have it. And..I left out lots of details! Sorry for such a loooonnnng story but I need this for documentation:) So teach your children: DON'T PLAY WITH FIRE AND GAS!! and if they do, remember to STOP DROP AND ROLL. There you have it - my shpill!