Busy Weekend...

I must say, this weekend has been pretty crazy! Rance's Benefit was Saturday, so I spent the few days leading up to it trying to get shirts delivered, pick up donations, etc. I can't believe how much work was put into the whole thing...completely worth it though! Speaking of Rance, he has finally been moved to Baptist Rehab where he will hopefully be spending the next couple of months getting back in the swing of things. He is doing SO much better and I'm SO proud of him! Hang in there buddy...you'll be home before you know it!!!

This is a picture of Gage and I before we left for the benefit Saturday...isn't his little shirt cute?

My sweet little family!! Good grief it was HOT!!

This is my cousin Kyle (on the horse), and our friend "Big Ern". As kids, we were all involved in rodeoing, but as we grew older, some of us strayed away from the rodeo scene. Kyle, Rance, and I never ride horses, and it is pretty comical to see us on them. Rance has quite a sense of humor, so Kyle and Big Ern decided they would "try" their hand at Team Roping this weekend because they knew Rance would get a kick out of it. IT WAS HYSTERICAL! What about those outfits?

Some of us girls with Rance's mom!

And the boys with Rance's dad!

Acid Reflux...seriously?

So, for about the past 3 weeks, Gage has been spitting up like you would not believe. I wouldn't think too much of it, except for the fact that, he has never spit up before. He has been SUPER cranky before bedtime and after each bottle. I finally broke down Monday and took him to the doctor. I hate taking him for things like this because it seems so silly. I am one of those that doesn't go to the doctor unless I am dying, so have had to make some changes since I have become a Mommy. Dr. Stanford put him on Prevacid to reduce the acid in his tummy, and told me to put 2 tsp. per ounce of formula in every bottle. I didn't figure it was going to work well with Gage's little tummy, but I did it anyway. He started that on Monday evening and the Prevacid on Tuesday morning.

All that being said, he was cranky again last night before bedtime. He went to sleep. Woke up at 6 to eat. I put him back in bed. And instantly heard him throwing up. I didn't freak out, just cleaned him up and got us both back in bed. I really figured maybe I had just shaken him up when I laid him down. I gave him his medicine this morning and took him to Kristi's. I left, and by the time I got to work, she called and said he had thrown his entire bottle up again. Strange thing is, he doesn't act like he is sick. He's just as chipper as always, he just can't keep his milk down. I told her I thought he may be constipated and just doesn't have any more room in his belly, so she gave him a glycerin suppository and within minutes, you got it...a major blowout. Thank goodness I have such a sweet babysitter or I would have been in trouble!

Needless to say, I took him back to see Dr. Stanford again today. We did x-rays (which BTW scared me to death) and a few other tests. He told me he thought he was allergic to his milk, and to change his formula to Nutramigen and take him off cereal.

Now, here's the rest of the story...I think he's wrong. Gage has been on the same formula for 3 months now, and has had no problems with throwing up. However, he has been on Prevacid and cereal for 2 days and can't keep ANYTHING down. So, what did I do? I didn't change his formula...yet! As a matter of fact, I didn't change anything. But guess what...the first bottle he took after his blowout...success! He had me scared half to death, but he's all better! He was simply constipated! Isn't it funny how a Mother's intuition is right on track?

Sorry for all the blabbing about Gage's stomach problems, but I just needed to know if I was alone in this world. Doctor's know what they are talking about for the most part, but this time, I think not!

What would a post be without a picture of my little man? These are some pictures his babysitter took of him yesterday! MMMMM...I could just eat him up!



One more thing, if any of you have been reading Rance's blog, he really needs your prayers! He has been out of ICU for about a week now, and has been doing well until last night. His Mom and his nurse had been up with him to do a treatment on his lungs. They both turned around to get things going, and a minute or so later they turned back around and he wasn't breathing and was non responsive. His skin had already turned white and Vicki (his mom) said that she knew he was dead. They brought in all the tools the use to resuscitate someone, and after a couple minutes of working with him, they finally got him to respond. Other than the actual accident, this has been the most tragic experience for him. He is back in ICU now, and back on the ventilator. Please pray for his strength and healing!

Lots of Smiles!

For the last few weeks, Gage has been smiling so much! It seems like every time I get the camera out to get his picture he stops. Yesterday while I was working he went with Michael and his sister Tammy and I got this in an email!! What a doll! I'm so glad someone finally got him smiling!



On a lighter note, this week has been so crazy. I have spent the last week at the hospital with Rance and the rest of my family, and I'm completely exhausted! We all are! Gage can't be in the hospital (but don't get me started on that) so he has spent a lot of time at my Mom's and with Michael this week. I miss him so much, and I can't stand the thought of leaving him one more time. On the other hand, I don't want to be away from the hospital one second because I'm afraid something will happen while I'm gone. AM I GOING CRAZY OR WHAT?

We have so much on our agenda for this weekend, but not enough time to do it. Hopefully things will settle down soon and we can get things back to normal...but, what our new normal will be?!

Rance's accident has affected our lives so much. I realize that what has been normal for me in the past is about to be totally different. I'm completely OK with all of it, but I'm ready to see just what is in store for us! Please continue to keep Rance in your prayers...he has a long, long road ahead of him and lots of hurdles to jump.

Rance's Blog

From now on instead of posting Rance's updates on my blog, I have made him his own. I started it yesterday at 2pm and he has had over 1500 hits! Each and every hit means one more person is praying for him! I intend on posting several times each day so that everyone can stay updated! Please visit his site, and leave him ENCOURAGING comments! Feel free to put a link on your blog if you'd like...he needs all the prayers he can get! If you decide to do this, please let me know! I'd love to know how many people are pulling for his recovery! www.prayersforrance.com

I have a link at the top of my page where you can go to check on him!

Thanks again and keep the prayers coming!

One more thing...I would like to have him a blog badge made for other bloggers to post, but I have no idea how or where to find them. I you know, please inform me!

Monday May 12, 2009

Today is Rance's 2nd day at UAMS. Rance is still doing well after his surgery. He has still been fighting his meds and his vent tubes. At this point, our concerns are pneumonia, mini-strokes, infection, and his breathing. Because of the damage to his artery, they are slowly elevating him to keep from causing the strokes. He has been doing well with this also.

Since most of you know Rance personally, I thought you would enjoy this story! Vicki went to visit with him today, and he was chewing on his vent tube. She told him to "quit chewing on that". He opened his eyes, rolled them at her, and closed them back. This is very typical of Rance! After all this, his attitude is still shining through!!!

Keep your prayer coming!

Monday May 11, 2009

Rance had his surgery this morning and is doing well. However, we did not get the news we had so desperately hoped for. The neurologist met with Rusty and Vicki (Rance's parents) before his surgery and explained to them that they were going to replace his broken vertebrates and relieve the pressure from his spinal cord. This would stabilize his neck and if everything went as planned, he would get the feeling back into his body. At that time, they didn't know of any spinal cord damage. When they got into the operating room they found that Rance, in fact, did have damage to his spinal cord, and also to his Carotid Artery. They repaired both of these and his vertebrates and he is now in recovery. He has a ventilator tube in his mouth and his nurses have been keeping him HEAVILY sedated...I'm sure you know, Rance is fighting them with all he has. He does not like he fact that they have all the tubes hooked up to him and he isn't able to get up and agrivate us ;)

We have all been to see him, and on occasion he wakes up to respond to us! Each baby step that Rance takes gives him a little more hope! The doctor says that the way he is now, is the way he will always be. We think differently! Rance told Vicki after the accident happened that he WILL walk again...this is the part of his attitude we love so much! With lots of prayers and encouragement I am convinced Rance can and will walk out of here!

Keep fighting Rance! We love you so much!

Please Pray! Sunday May 10, 2009

Now, more than ever, my family needs your prayers! My cousin, also a very good friend of mine, has been in an accident and broken his neck. He and some friends were in the back of a truck and he stood up to readjust. When he did, he fell out and landed on his head. He has 3 broken vertebrates, one of which is pressing on his spinal cord, and is causing him to have no feeling from the chest down.. He had an MRI this morning and we are waiting on the results from the nuerologist. We know God has a plan for him and Rance is in good hands! Please keep him and our family in your prayers!

If you know Rance, you know he is quite a character! This was a few weeks ago at our house. He loves to cook, and on occasion he will call me to see if we would like for him to cook dinner for us! We NEVER turn down his meals!! He is still in good spirits and is very optimistic on his recovery! He is definitly a fighter!! We love you Rance!