Doing Great

I am so ashamed of my lack of posting. I really don't mean for this blog to only have posts when things are bad, or we are in the hospital, or we are sick or having surgery. Whew, life is just really busy around our house- and I wish I could figure out how to make it slow down a little. Our nightly routine is one that is rushed from the time we pull into the driveway until the time we go to bed. It bothers me that we don't get to spend a whole lot of "quality" time with each other every night, but we do try to make the best of the time we do have.

Thank goodness for American Idol- it's a favorite for our entire family. So every Wednesday and Thursday night we find some time to sit down and watch it (Have I ever mentioned that I love the DVR?)

Anyway, we are all doing great right now. The girls are enjoying the spring weather by getting in some play time outside with the neighborhood kids while Jamie and I are doing dishes or giving Anderson his bath. Karlie gets a little more time than Kinsley due to homework, but Kinsley does eventually make it out to play, even if just for a few minutes.

Anderson could not be any better right now. Jamie and I continue to be amazed at the things he learns to do. He picks up on so many things very quickly- and we just sit back and laugh- the doctors told us he wouldn't have much quality of life...boy were they ever wrong! His quality of life currently consists in:

- rolling his walker all over the house exploring cabinets and anything else he can get his hands on
- using the baby signs for "more", "thank-you", and "stop" pretty consistently
- blowing kisses
- jabbering all day long (man I wish I knew what he was thinking)
- smiling all the time
- rolling and scooting on his belly to get toys out of reach (we are sooo close to crawling)
- starting to pull up on things

These are some of our newest accomplishments. His little personality develops a little more every day. He has the sweetest, most laid-back personality of any baby I have ever been around. But we have also seen that he can have quite a little temper when he is frustrated or not getting his way. That's where the "stop" signing comes in. When he is mad at one of his sisters (or me) for not doing what he wants us to do or doing something he doesn't like, he looks us straight in the eyes and signs "STOP" and then he grunts like he is adding in an exclamation. It really is a funny sight to watch. I will have to try to get it on camera.

We go next week to check in with the plastic surgeon to see how the helmet is working. It is amazing how much of a difference we can see when we take it off at night to wash it. He loves that silly thing. When we take it off, he rubs his head and points to it- he actually wants it back on. The other night he grabbed it off the table and tried to put it on himself. Who would have thought? Not me.

So the Spears family is doing really well right now. We feel so blessed with all three of our children. While our days and nights are hectic, we wouldn't trade it for anything. Thank you Lord for blessing us with these 3 precious children.

We've taken some recent videos but I am having trouble getting them posted. So one day when I figure out what I'm doing wrong, I will post some videos to show you how far Anderson has come.

Our Home Away from Home

As I type, we are in our 16th hour at the Vanderbilt Children's Hospital Emergency Department. Anderson began running a fever yesterday that got up to 103.2. We went to his pediatrician who so graciously tried to find something that could be causing the fever, without us having to come up here. BUT, all tests were negative so we had to come and have the shunt checked out.

Jamie and I have learned a few things with every trip we've made to the ER- and the most important one is that just because they know you are coming and are expecting you, doesn't mean you will get seen more quickly. So, before we headed up here, we went home and ate supper (thank you Mama Jane!), we packed the girls' things and sent them off to Aunt Colyn (again- bless her heart), and we took showers. I know that sounds strange, but when you know that you will be sitting in a little room without a shower for the next 15-24 hours, it makes it all a little better just knowing you're clean.

So we arrived last night around 7pm. They began by running the same tests that had already been done by our Pediatrician- actually told us they thought their lab was better and that some of the tests may be positive by now...they were wrong. So about 11:30 last night they started the usual tests for the shunt. Poor Anderson ended up having 2 flu swabs, 2 RSV swabs, a catheter to check his urine, an IV, blood work, urine cultures and blood cultures, 5 XRays, an MRI, and a shunt tap- all while running a 103 temp, not being allowed to eat or drink, no IV fluids, and just flat out didn't feel well at all. Needless to say it was a long night.

Update: We are now home. I didn't get to finish this post before we left the hospital.

They never did find the culprit for the fever and high WBC. So they decided it was a virus. I am so thankful that it wasn't the shunt because an infected shunt is a pretty big ordeal. He has pretty much slept since we left the hospital, but when he is awake he is not a happy camper, especially while the fever is up. Thanks to everyone for their prayers. We are thankful to be home and thankful for "just a virus" when it could have been much worse.

All Blinged Out!

Well...it arrived today.

I've been checking the mail all week.

It's very exciting.

My sweet Anderson has gone from sweet in blue, to.....

...Sporting some BLING!

Is he not the sweetest thing? I think so- even if he is mine.

Here are some more pics...