Christmas - Duvall Side

For our Duvall-side Christmas this year, we went to Omaha to Jeff's brother's house.  We actually stayed at a hotel so the boys could do some swimming and such, but we opened gifts, had our Christmas dinner, and sledded, all at Uncle Brian's house!  The boys loved having pool time, sledding time, playing in the arcade at Dave and Buster's, and spending time with Grandma and Grandpa Duvall and Uncle Brian.  They especially LOVED their Christmas gifts from them...Meep tablets!!  They can basically do everything that an Ipad can, but they are made for kids and are extra durable!  Now maybe I can get my Ipad back and actually use it, since the boys don't have a need for it anymore!  :)  Landon found a new favorite restaurant in Omaha, also...Red Robin.  He couldn't get enough and wanted to eat there constantly (although we only ate there once)!  It was a fun couple of days!

They LOVE their Meep tablets!

Enjoying their pool time together!

Logan, swimming outside with Dad in the winter!   Kind of cool!  The water was really warm, you can tell from the steam!

Landon swimming outside with Dad!

Harley game at Dave and Buster's

Motorcycle game at Dave and Buster's

Medical Update on Logan

While Logan does not really enjoy going to all these doctor appointments, he does enjoy some of the cool things to see at "The Castle" where some of his appointments take place!

Well, I know many of you that visit this page truly care to know about how Logan is doing medically, so I thought this would be a good place to post a little update.

I took him back to Sioux Falls today for two more doctor appointments.  One was just a check up, with the endocrinologist (thyroid doctor).  The other, with the nephrologist (kidney doctor), was very "spur of the moment."  The kidney doctor called us on our cell phone on Saturday to share with us that he wasn't very happy about some blood work that came back to him on Logan.  Currently, the kidney doctor is trying to figure out why Logan got a kidney stone at such a young age, and how we can prevent him from getting another one.  Calcium build up in the kidneys causes most kidney stones (Logan's included).  When they tested his calcium levels, he is at a 12.8.  Below 10 is normal, and 14 is the magic number for "dangerous."  Logan's level went from 11 to 12.8 in about 2 months time, which is also not normal.  The doc is not okay with Logan's numbers being that high, because, not only can he be forming more kidney stones as we speak, but it can really be damaging to other parts of the body.  The kidney doctor thinks part of this problem is inherited (from me) and part of this is a problem in the parathyroid.  At least, they are hoping the problem is with the parathyroid, because that could be treated with medicine.  Luckily, the endocrinologist that we see is dealing with Logan's thyroid problem, so it worked out great to see both doctors on the same day.  The docs are waiting the get more blood work back, as well as a urine test, and then together, the nephrologist and the endocrinologist will try to come up with a plan to help Logan's level get back down to a comfortable number.  Of course, all of this means MORE testing in the near future, MORE waiting, and MORE doctor appointments to come.  What is becoming daunting is that these appointments are in Sioux Falls, requiring Logan to miss a day of school, and for Jeff and I to miss work.  We will make as many trips as we need to in order to get Logan "healthy," but it is stressful and nerve-wracking on all of us.  I feel so sorry for Logan to go through all of the poking and prodding and tests that he is being put through, but we know they are all to benefit him, and he is so brave through all of it!  Luckily for us, Logan doesn't look or act "sick" at the time being, which is a blessing.  We are also truly thankful for all the AWESOME doctors that are helping us to get Logan in good "working order!"  The kidney doctor today came in an hour early, before his clinic even opened, so that we could see him on a day that we already had another appointment with another doctor, and not have to make an extra trip to Sioux Falls!  They are REALLY GREAT people that care a lot about their patients - KIDS!  Hopefully we get some results and answers from the tests today very soon!

Visiting with Santa!!

Landon told Santa that he wants a remote-controlled helicopter.  Then he was mad at himself because he forgot to ask Santa for a pogo stick...looks like we'll be writing him a letter, to, as a reminder.

Logan told Santa he was wishing for a remote-controlled helicopter, a pogo stick, and a guitar.  He had his list well thought out and didn't forget to tell Santa any of his items.

Logan's 8th Birthday!!

Eight years ago, Logan Michael was born a few days before Thanksgiving and we left the hospital on Thanksgiving Day.  This year, Logan's 8th birthday fell on Thanksgiving, so it worked out nicely to have his birthday celebrations with both sides of the family since no one had to work!  We started our day celebrating Thanksgiving/birthday with Jeff's parents, and then we had Thanksgiving/birthday with my side of the family (just those living in Milford) that night.  With both celebrations, Jeff cooked huge Thanksgiving feasts!  As usual, Logan was spoiled with many gifts!  The gifts shown in the pictures below are just some of them.

In Logan's 8 years, he has truly been a blessing to our family.  While somewhat shy at school and in public, he can be pretty bold (sometimes down-right naughty) at home and with those he is most comfortable with, and we wouldn't trade any of that for anything.  Even through some of his naughtiness at home, Logan has a gentle and kind heart, and he cares about everyone - even those who are not very nice to him (this includes some kids at school that give him a rough time).  Through all of his problems, health-wise, he has shown us just how strong and brave he can be (and he's had to be strong and brave more than any 8 year old should have to).  He works hard at school, and he comes home and works hard at his hobbies (right now, that would include football, building Legos, drawing, helping his dad with anything and everything he will let Logan help with, and now, I'm sure, skateboarding), never giving up on something he has his mind set to.  

Logan, we love you forever, for always, and no matter what!

XOXO

Mom and Dad

The cool cupcakes Grandma and Grandpa Duvall brought for their birthday celebration with Logan

The boys with Grandma and Grandpa Duvall

I wonder what G and G Duvall brought for me?

Real football shoulder pads!

From Landon

From Landon

Logan's Birthday celebration with the Umscheid side!

He FINALLY got the skateboard he has been begging for for almost 2 years!!  Jeff and I broke down and bought it for him (along with a helmet and pads which  must be worn at ANY time he is on the skateboard)...I hope we don't regret it!  His reaction to getting it was priceless, though!

Cool Nerf dart gun from Uncle Ben, Alyssa, and Eli!

For the 2nd year in a row, Mom accidentally (not really an accident this year) wrapped an empty box!  Oops!  You don't like that, Logan?  :)

An AWESOME light sketcher that Logan has had his eye on, from Grandma and Grandpa Umscheid!

Look at these cool lights for Logan's new Hawkeye room!  The one on the left is from Donna, Dallas, and Ryan!  The one on the right is from G and G Umscheid!  So neat!

Nothing will EVER beat the original Christmas Story movie, but Logan was totally excited to get A Christmas Story 2!  We are going to give it a whirl today and see how it is!

The cool Hawkeye cake for Logan's Umscheid birthday celebration!

Logan couldn't think of a wish, so he made a "thankful" as he blew out his candles on his Thanksgiving birthday!

Logan Gets Glasses!

Well, I guess bad eyes seem to run in this family (everyone but me has them now)!  Logan went to the eye doctor last week after his reading teacher told me that he was doing a lot of squinting and blinking while reading.  So, we found out that, not only does Logan need glasses to improve his vision for reading and seeing things up close, but he also has the "lazy eye" problem that Landon has.  The difference between Logan and Landon is that Landon has one lazy eye, and Logan has two.  Basically, from what I understood from the eye doctor, this means that the eyes aren't tracking together, making reading very difficult.  One of Logan's eyes will track while reading for a bit, and then the other will, but when the eyes are switching from one eye tracking to the other, they can't keep track of where he was on the page.  Both boys need vision therapy, but Logan's case is a little more severe/serious than Landon's.  Ugh!  Add one more problem to Logan's long list!  When is this kid going to catch a break?!  At least he looks mighty handsome in his new glasses!  :)

Halloween 2012

Family Pictures

We've never had our family pictures professionally taken, and rarely have we even had our family pic taken NOT professionally, so I decided since our boys are 6 and almost 8, it was definitely time to get this done.  We had Emery Photography take our pictures, and here's what they came up with!

Logan - Kidney Stone Surgery - October 17, 2012

Logan, prepped and ready to head off to surgery.

Well, as an update to a few posts ago when I told you all about Logan having a kidney stone and spending the night in the Spencer Hospital....he got to have another hospital stay, this time in Sioux Falls, along with a surgery.  I'll back-track a bit...

A few weeks ago, Logan spent the night at the Spencer Hospital because they found out the severe pain he was having in his stomach and back was a kidney stone.  After a night in the hospital and getting his pain under control (or at least what we thought was under control), they sent him home, and we tried to go about our normal lives while HOPING Logan would be able to pass that kidney stone on his own.  Days and days went by of straining his urine to check for the stone, but...no stone.  He was able to go to school most of those days, but did have some periods of pain that seemed to be more of a nuisance than anything.  As the week went on, the pain seemed to get worse, causing him to double over and vomit.  Finally, Jeff and I had had enough of seeing our child in pain, so we were advised to head to Sioux Falls where there would be a pediatric urologist...someone with more expertise on kidney stones in children, which the doctors around here flat out admitted they've not dealt much (hardly any) with.

The whole process of getting to see the pediatric urologist in Sioux Falls was a joke and QUITE FRUSTRATING!  We had to go to the emergency room at Sanford Hospital, and basically start at square one with what Spencer Hospital had already figured out.  We spent the ENTIRE day in the ER before we finally saw the urologist.  He then decided to admit Logan to the Children's Hospital (called "The Castle") and planned to do surgery the following day.  Our stay at the Children's Hospital was not "fun," but was definitely second to none as far as hospital stays go!  It is called a Children's Hospital for a reason!  It was definitely a place to make children feel comfortable in a somewhat scary situation.

The following morning, they came to get Logan for surgery at 5:45 AM.  Surgery started at 7:00, and we got to go back to the recovery room and see him about 10:30.  The doctor showed us some pictures of Logan's urinary tract that he had taken during the surgery, and the pictures proved to us that the stone was never going to come out on it's own, so we made the right decision by choosing surgery for him.  The stone itself looked quite small.  It actually broke up into 4 pieces as the doctor tried to get it, but even if you put the pieces together, it seemed so small, proving just how small one's urinary tract is and why kidney stones hurt so darn much!

While recovery from kidney stone surgery has not been easy for Logan, we at least know there is an end in sight!  After the surgery, they placed a stint in Logan's urinary tract to keep it from scarring shut after the instruments the doctor had to shove up it to get the stone stretched it out.  Logan's pain isn't too terrible, except when peeing, and peeing causes grunting, groaning, whimpering, crying, and sometimes, even screaming.  If you had a 12-14 inch tube in your urinary tract, you would probably want to scream when peeing, too!  I've had the same thing when I had kidney stone surgery and know how much it hurt me, and I imagine it is MUCH worse for a boy...ugh!

Anyhow, that stint can come out for Logan on Sunday night.  I was shocked and surprised that the urologist thinks that is a job for parents to do, but apparently it is.  Jeff will never be able to handle pulling that stint out, so it seems I have been voted to do it.  I dread having to do it, but I also know how much BETTER Logan will feel once that thing is OUT!

We go back to Sioux Falls November 26th to follow up with the urologist, and at that visit, Logan will also see the nephrologist (kidney doctor) to see why he has such high calcium levels in his body (which is what causes stones) and next steps as far as preventing this from happening to Logan again.

Logan can be quite a handful at home sometimes (although he is pure angelic at school), but I want my normal Logan back!  The poor kid has had so many health problems, and I feel so bad for the little fart.  He now has a cardiologist (heart doctor - he has a hole in his heart - not anything major), and endocrinologist (gland doctor - he has hypothyroidism), a urologist, and he is about to have a nephrologist and a neurologist.  The "neurologist" part is really a whole other story for another time, but in short, the meds he was taking to prevent his horrible migraines (which was working quite well) may have contributed to the kidney stone, so now we have to see a neurologist to figure out what to do about his migraines.  It just seems to be one thing after another for this kid!  At least his medical issues are not life-threatening, so we'll take all of these issues over any severe ones, but still...poor kid!

Logan in his room at "The Castle" the night before surgery.

Dismissed to go home!  Leaving "The Castle!"