Update on Kara

(Hey guys, Rebecca here)

I am thrilled to report that Kara told me to make this post.

(See, I didn't actually get fired, yet, I was just demoted from lead reporter to personal typist.)

I have here the one and only Kara in ICU picture. And now we can't get another because she's in a regular room!

She is still very tired and weak and will need to build up quite a bit of lost strength (hence the needing the personal typist). But the physical therapist, occupational therapist and Coach Andrew are working her very hard, and every day is a little bit better. Pretty soon, she'll be able to do exciting things like hold the cell phone to her ear and talk to people without assistance. For now, she's working hard and trying to sleep when she can, but she's looking forward to later in the week when she'll be able to really visit with people and catch up on all she's missed.

Pray for continued improvement, for strength, and for perseverance as physical therapy is nothing to sneeze at and as far I understand, even sneezing is a little painful right now.

Danielle's First Bath

(Hey guys, Rebecca again)

I'm double posting today because I'm a little worried about my job security. That's right, I'm pretty sure I'm about to get fired.

And I couldn't be happier!

Because of course that means that Kara will be back to managing her own blog and won't need me to help with it any more.

For now, though, I wanted to get her all caught up so that means posting about Danielle's first bath.

I love that Mrs. Hazen let Peter help. Nothing builds that sibling bond like letting big brother be of assistance in any way he can.


Hospital update: Today Kara got off of the vent and they were able to remove the feeding tube as well!!!
That's right, from unconscious and needing a ventilator to live to breathing on her own in just a few days. I think a lot of people are talking about how wonderful it is and about the steroids the doctor's used and about Kara herself and her strong spirit, but I know Kara would want everyone to take a minute and offer a pray of praise and thanksgiving to the One who really healed her, who enabled the steroids to do their job, who gave her this spirit of strength. So many people have been praying for Kara's healing and I want to make sure that God is given the glory in this, that we thank Him for His healing, for answering prayers.

Thank you, Lord!

More Danielle + Peter + Family pics

(Hey guys, it's Rebecca again)

I have a lot of pictures to post today. I knew that in the grandparent's post, I hadn't gotten any pictures of Diana and I really hated that because she has spent so much time with the kids, sleeping over at the house to get up with Danielle so finally I found some good pictures of her with the kids and wanted to post those. I also found some great-grandparents and aunts (oddly, no uncles, but I think that's because Jonathan and Brian are so far away). So here's the rest of the family + Danielle and Peter pictures. I hope I got everyone's name right.

Okay, I really think that these are the Beeler's, Kara's Austin area grandparents. Someone chime in if I'm wrong.

These are Cathy's parents from the Houston area.

Diana (Kara's amazing stepmom)

Andrew's sister, Aunt Kim, from New Jersey

Aunt Mary (actually Danielle's Great Aunt)

Auntie Em (Kara's sister Emma)

What a Guy

(Hey guys, Rebecca again)

I know the last few weeks have been filled with unexpected events and new transitions for Peter, and from all reports, he's handling it well. But I am certain that the reason for that is his Daddy.

Throughout the time that Kara has been in the hospital, Andrew has been committed to a daily routine that starts each day having breakfast with Peter and ends each day having dinner with him and helping put him to bed as well.

I know those two meals have anchored Peter's day and allow him to have predictable time with at least one of his parent's daily. But I also want to really express what that means for Andrew, mostly because I know Kara will want to know how amazing her husband has been through all of this.

He wakes up every morning around seven to fix and eat with Peter and then he heads off to the hospital. He spends the day at the hospital, looking over Kara, waiting to see if she'll wake up, and handling all of her daily pumping to keep up her breastmilk supply (which was an important request Kara made of Andrew before agreeing to go on the vent). Andrew leaves the hospital around four or five to come home for Peter and Danielle. He eats dinner with Peter, bathes him, puts him to bed and might have time to hold Danielle and feed her a bottle while he's there. After Peter is asleep, around 8 o'clock, Andrew returns to the hospital to spend the evening with Kara, staying until her last pumping session of the night, often at midnight or even (depending on how the day went and when the times fall) one in the morning. Then he goes home to sleep so he can do it all over again the next day.

So I wanted to share the picture of Andrew having breakfast with Peter, but I also wanted the share what that picture really means as a snapshot of his day.


Hospital update: Yesterday (Saturday), Kara showed her first real sign of coming off of this "plateau" she has been on. Her chest x-ray looked better (you could actually see part of her diaphragm and previous x-rays had shown lungs so full of fluid that they were opaque) and the oxygen level on the vent is now 40, not 55 as it has been, which basically means Kara is that much closer to breathing on her own. Andrew said today her eyes were wide open and that when the doctor came in, he seemed pleased and said that things are headed in the right direction.

Playdate with Jake

(Hey all, Rebecca here)

First of all, how precious is this little girl? I cannot believe all that hair, that button nose, and how very much she looks like her mama. Sigh.

Dragging myself away from the sweet baby pictures....

Jessica was kind enough to send me these pictures she took today when she and her son, Jake went over to the Hazen's to drop off some stuff from Ridgeview.

I am pretty sure this is Jake looking over a very sleepy Danielle. I have heard that she sleeps really well, especially in her glider (which I think this is). I had not heard that she was able to sleep through the sounds of visitors coming and going and toddlers playing. What a blessing!

Peter posing for a picture with his little sister. Once again, obviously adults are chatting in the background and Peter's right there behind her and this little angel slumbers on.

Thanks again, Jessica, for sending me pictures!



Hospital update: Kara is mostly the same. The doctor's want to give the steroids (which they started Wednesday morning) a full 72 hours to work before doing anything else. They have lightened her sedation and she "comes to the surface" at times. She can look around and although she cannot talk, or even really nod her head, you can see "her" in her eyes. Andrew said she was having one of those semi-lucid moments today and was able to squeeze his hand.

Also, if you want more information, you can click here to go to the Facebook page that Andrew's sister Kim set up. Which is, at this time, at 230 members. That's right folks, 230 people praying for Kara, Andrew, Peter and Danielle. God is good and we know He hears us.

A Family Tradition Continued

(Hey all, Rebecca here)

I have been meeting a lot of amazing people who love Kara, Andrew, Peter and Danielle. Really. I cannot believe how many people are doing so many things for the Hazens right now. But the person I want to express my admiration for today is Kara's mother-in-law.

I know how much Kara likes things to be done a certain way and not only is Mrs. Hazen caring for Peter and Danielle with loving attention, she is taking the time to do things just because Kara would want them done.

My example?

I don't know how many of you remember the pictures Kara used to take of Peter and Cookie Monster, but if you click here (or here, here,here, here or here) you can go back and see them. Anyway, apparently Kara had a plan to do something similar with Danielle, only using Big Bird instead.


So of course, Mrs. Hazen did just that.

It was such a cute idea when Kara did it with Peter and I know she is going to be so grateful that it was started for Danielle as well.

Mohawk

(Hey guys, Rebecca here)

Peter went to Krista's (his regular sitter) house today so that Andrew and his mom could both take Danielle to her doctor's visit. Danielle is now two weeks old and weighs 9 pounds even (that's up from 8 pounds 5 ounces last week) and grew a half an inch. The doctor said she was absolutely perfect.

Actually, the doctor only gave length and weight and I made up the part about her being absolutely perfect, but she is, so there.

Peter had a great time with Krista and she gave him a little Mohawk, which was super cute.

Andrew said that Peter has also learned to correctly drink out of a bottle like this... apparently he used to put his mouth around the entire top and that led to some messes. Andrew told Peter that this is kiwi strawberry, Daddy's favorite.

Peter response? "It's Peter's favorite."



Hospital update: Kara has her new bed which inflates to put her on a 40 degree angle on either side and will help with the side effects of being relatively motionless for so long. Her heart rate was around 100, much improved, and her respiration rate, at least while I was there, was around 30. They have started the steroids and are now waiting to see what impact they have on Kara.