« January 2012 | Main | March 2012 »
Clarity spent a bulk of her week off sick, unfortunately. Typically, any bug she gets eventually ends up in her lungs. But after those antibiotics kicked in, she was up and ready for adventure.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium
A beautiful sunrise from our living room.
A first haircut
Toy Story 3 on Ice at the HP Pavillion
Goofin' around
Searching for newts with Wyatt's best pals from Los Gatos Parent Nursery School, Ty and Roman.
One clean kiddo
A few shots from Los Gatos Parent Nursery School
Sweet dreams
Like father, like son
Yesterday was Clarity's first time buying hot lunch at school. It dawned on me late Thursday night when I was trying to get creative while packing her lunch, that I could toss her a $5 and voila'! lunch done. Now, I know why some parents allow their kids to buy those pathetically unhealthy meals on a regular basis. It's all about convenience...Fast food. Lucky for Clarity, she can have the fast, unhealthy food experience, but still get the very healthiest food on the plant through her g-tube.
So, is Clarity eating orally now?
Here's where we stand with meals. She is still 100% g-tube fed. She receives approximately 32- 60cc syringe fulls of our homemade super food everyday.
Eating is so social, and Clarity truly enjoys not only the social aspect of eating, but the taste of food as well. That is why we have pushed over the years to have her join her peers for lunch time. She wants so badly to be like everyone else, and this is one way she can blend in....well, sort of....
As many of you know, Clarity aspirates. So, when food goes into her mouth, unless she is totally and completely focused on swallowing, much of it will come out of her stoma. Even if she does swallow and the bolus of food goes down her esophagus, oftentimes, particles of whatever she has eaten get stuck in her larynx and epiglotis. Sometimes, you'll think that she has swallowed something, then after a few minutes, the residue will trickle out of her trach.
That being said, now would be the most optimum time to thank Clarity's nurses, Ellen K. and Ellen M. for always being so vigilant about keeping Clarity's neck clean. It can be a tough job, and we have all agreed that it's especially important to keep her clean and dry during times when she is eating around groups of kids....WTH, I'll just say it like it is:
We don't want other kids grossing out, staring or teasing Clarity over the fact that she has chewed up hot dog oozing out of her neck!...As far as Clarity can tell, kids don't tease her about it. We've asked and it seems as though most children her age are still kind. Thank goodness. But we have certainly seen the awestruck stares as well, and that just smarts a bit...Ellen Kitchen thank you, thank you, thank you for taking such amazing care of our girl (and for taking these snaps at school).
So, we continue to focus on the hope that practice makes perfect with regards to swallowing and life is to live and enjoy. This is where we are now and it's all about quality of (long) life....In the meantime, dig in Bean!
PS OK, I just have to post this... What's up with the unpeeled oranges for hot lunch? What kid is going to sit there and peel their own orange while their friends are headed off to the playground? This whole hot lunch system has got to change in my opinion. There, I said it.
.....and TOTALLY stoked!
Clarity recently got the green light from Dr. Rinsky to climb on the play structure at school. She has been waiting for this day for months. Finally the chance to join her pals wherever they go on the playground.
Here's our Bean in action....
Last Thursday evening, Pat and I decided that it was mandatory for the Keller clan to get away for the weekend. On a whim, we called Costanoa http://www.costanoa.com/site.php which is along the coast, south of Pescadero and scheduled a night's stay. We had stayed here years ago with Clarity and had a great time. It's a simple place which is a perfect fit for our complicated lives. Good, ol' fashioned quality family time together is what we wanted, and that's exactly what we got.
The Seymour Center at Longs Marine Lab
And then there was Ano Nuevo....Also a wonderful experience, except for the fact that no one told Pat and I that we were going to end up carrying both of our kids for most of the 3 mile hike out to see the elephant seals. Oh and did I mention that I had a @%# load of medical equipment on my back as well? (Ahh yes, and the Uggs and wool sweater I happen to wear that day really added to the whole sweaty workout experience. :)
