No news is Good News!

Day #15

As the weekend came and went Connor had many more visitors, more physical therapy and lot more improvement.  Every day we get a little bit more of our little Connor back.  This weekend the respiratory therapist came in to check on Connor and do a treatment.  You see... Connor does not like the respiratory therapy... so what did he do... he stood up in his bed... on his own... to try to get away! Although it isn't so good that he doesn't like respiratory therapy... we were celebrating! This was the first time Connor had gotten up on his own without any assistance.  And after that... he asked if he could take a walk... so we did...without his walker!

He is walking so well...far better than anyone had expected even 1 week ago. We celebrate this child...this little miracle each and every day!

Aunt Jen decorated Connor's room for Halloween. He is going to be cookie monster since he has this new obsession with cookies.

Playing with blocks

Grandma Kathy letting him play in the water...he is having lots of fun!

Tuesday:  Connor had a great night and slept all the way through! The only medicine he takes now is Tylenol every four hours...which is great!  Connor had lost 8 pounds since the accident and they just told us that Connor has gained 2 pounds...which is great! The more calories he eats, the more energy his brain has to heal.  Although he is walking...his left side is still pretty weak and he is still using a brace...which he might get a new one on Thursday.  He loves his nurses and doctors...so much so...he is flirting with them.  

Have we expressed how amazing this hospital is!?!?!?
Connor at the playroom this morning.

We know Connor has a long way to go... and many more hours of physical therapy.  But considering what he has went through... we are so thankful he is to the point at which he is.  The doctors always give us worst case scenarios...but Connor has been giving us BEST case scenarios...and we CELEBRATE!

Catching you up with Miracles and Celebrations

Yes, I know... there wasn't a blog yesterday, and I apologize.  I know so many of you faithfully read this blog to keep updated on our sweet little Connor and to know what should be in your prayers as the sun rises and the sun sets every day. We know those prayers have been heard!  The last few days we have celebrated...and I mean CELEBRATED!!!!  The Dr.s have said in the previous days that he may not wake up for weeks, his left side may not move again, etc. etc. etc. ...  and Connor has proved them wrong time after time... and all this proving wrong has happened in only 11 days! What a boy he is... a sweet, strong,  little boy with a beautiful smile at that! Every day we get a little piece of him back... soon...we know...he will be that little Connor from 12 days ago.

Let's play catch up!

Day #9

Wednesday afternoon:  Connor was taken to physical therapy for the first time today and fitted with a brace for his left leg...and dinosaurs it was!  Connor also got to take a trip out of his room where had some fun playing bingo and won 2 toys!

Connor enjoying bingo with Daddy

Connor in physical therapy.  Look at that sweet boy sitting there!

Day #10

Thursday:  Another big day for Connor in therapy.  He got to wear his new dinosaur brace which is for his left leg today.  Therapy is hard for Connor but he is pushing his way through it because he wants to get better.  In therapy they worked on sitting, using his walker, and pushing up with his left side.  The therapist was very pleased with what Connor could do and what a strong willed little boy he is.  She is hoping that by 8 weeks Connor will walk on his own and walking well.

Connor received Mrs. Fields cookies on this day... which of course... he loved.  The speech therapist likes how they are soft and they help in evaluating his chewing and drinking habits... and you know what...that is mighty fine with little Mr. Connor! Cookies are YUMMO!

As you can hear and see....therapy is not an easy thing for Connor...but he is doing it... and doing it well!

Today is Day #11

Friday:  What a proud day for us all!  Connor is moving his left side and we CELEBRATE!!!!  What a strong boy!  After therapy he walked down the hallway...with help from his walker... and he was moving his left leg on his own... We CELEBRATE!  Last week on this day Connor woke up... This week on the same day...he walks!  We CELEBRATE!

This morning

Mommy and Connor this morning

This evening Grandma Kathy, Grandpa Doug and Aunt Jen got to come back to be with him at the hospital and this is what he did for them!

WE CELEBRATED!!!!

... and then Grandpa Doug treated him to ice cream ... of course!

What a great way to spend the evening!

HIS FIRST ADVENTURE

Let me start of by saying... Connor is doing so well!

DAY #9

Yesterday evening:  Connor had a very good day yesterday!  He ate better and got to eat more things and spoke even more. And every time he did this... we celebrated!

He is eating a little from a spoon... although we have to take it very slow.

Giving Daddy high fives... and Daddy loves it!

Last night Connor got to break out of his room for the first time!  For a trip to the pumpkin patch they had down the hallway.  First they came and fitted Connor for his new ride (wheelchair)... then we went to the pumpkin patch, painted a pumpkin and had a cookie!  Look at the fun we had below!

Mommy and Daddy with Connor in his new ride

Eating his cookie

Painting his pumpkin

He seemed to really enjoy his first little trip out of his room...and then we went back and rested for the evening.

Last Night:  Connor slept well.  He woke up once and asked for his cup and cookies.  So momma got him his cup and cookies!  It is so amazing how far he has come.  8 days ago we didn't know if he was going to wake up ... tonight he wakes up to ask for cookies!  What a miracle!

Today (Wednesday):  Connor has a big day planned today!  Daddy has already taken him for a walk in his new ride which he loved very much!  He asked for bacon this morning to eat!  Instead he got eggs and tator tots because they were afraid the bacon would be too hard on his stomach.  They don't want to do too much too soon... baby steps.   Soon he will get his bath and then it will be off to the gym for some rehab.   Then... he will get to go play bingo at 1!  Now... this sweet little boy has a lot on his agenda today... and we Celebrate!

Goals for Today:

Connor goes to rehab today... pray this goes well for him.

We need him to move his left side more... he did grab for his paci this morning with his left hand when his right one was held down... so we celebrate this!

We need him to try to sit up on his own.

He is getting a new boot for his left side today to try to help him walk.

We know all of this is just going to take time... for Connor's brain to relearn and to tell his left side how to work... but we know eventually with a lot of hard work and a lot of baby steps that it will happen.

Thanks to everyone for all the continued prayers for Connor and this family.  We know Connor has made so much progress because of the prayers and the fighter that is within him.

KEEP THEM COMING!

It has been 1 week

Well... it has been a week since this terrible accident happened and flipped all of our lives upside down.  From here on out the blog will be numbered by the number of days of Connor's journey.

DAY #8

Yesterday(Monday):  The blog was put up yesterday afternoon so let me catch you up what went on yesterday afternoon/evening.  As you all know, Connor said his first words in over a week... and we CELEBRATED.  I think that the word "paci" will never be the same to any of us anymore.  Connor's vocabulary expanded to " I want cup" and "dinosaur" yesterday.  This little boy just amazes us daily!  He did get to drink a little milk from his cup yesterday but they wanted to wait for a radiology test they are going to perform this morning. They want to make sure he is swallowing correctly and it is going to the right place before much more is given to him.  We are helping him sit up... which he cannot do on his own yet... but we are sure he will be doing it in the near future.

Connor had a wonderful visitor yesterday! 

 Meet the Cardinal dog who comes to brighten sick children's days!

He comes to visit on Mondays.

Last night:  Connor was very restless last night, but hey... he was super busy yesterday doing all the wonderful things he did.

This morning (Tuesday):  Although his rest wasn't good last night...he is not letting that stop him this morning.  He woke up and said "mommy", "daddy" and a few other words.  His speech is coming along nicely.  They gave give two tubes of mashed up bananas this morning and he took it well.  The speech therapist was in and gave him another cup of milk and a cookie...and now ... he is going to radiology for a test. Oh... wait a minute... they just told us that there will be no radiology today because the dietician thinks he is doing okay and doesn't need to go.  We CELEBRATE!

Our goals for today:  

We want him to be able to swallow well and to work on sitting up on his own.

And of course to talk more and giggle more! :) 

Connor has opened his eyes, smiled, spoke words... but he hasn't laughed or giggled yet.  Who could blame him with all that he has gone through.  Too much for a sweet 2 year old little boy to go have to go through.  Well... this morning that all changed... we got him to giggle for the first time.  Now... let me tell you... what a sound that will warm your heart.  The video is hard to hear so turn everything down in the background and listen closely... but you can see it in his beautiful little face as well.

I am sure much more will happen today... or not... we have to remember that we are taking baby steps.  But Connor is proving everyone wrong on a daily basis...

and we LOVE it... 

and we CELEBRATE it!

PROGRESS!... SWEET SWEET WORDS.

Yesterday evening:  As Connor becomes more awake and aware of things...he has decided he doesn't care for a few things.  One is he hates the thing on his arm that keeps him from being able to pull things off. So what does he do... he takes his right knee/leg and tries to get it off.  He also decided he didn't care for the tube down his throat.  So what did he do... coughed it out!  The doctors conversed and decided to leave it out.  If he did well through the night and does well on his swallowing tomorrow... they would most likely leave it out.  He is so much more at peace without all these things on him and in him.  This little boy knows what he wants... and that is to get better.

Connor resting ... much more peaceful without all the tubes.

So many people to love him and care for him

Connor cuddling with Grandpa Doug

Mommy and Connor cuddling and comforting

Big Sister Alissa and Nana Deonna

Last night :  Every since the tube came out, Connor has been able to rest much better.  It was a great night.


Today (Monday):  Today's goal... to get Connor to swallow and swallow well.  They have tried chocolate milk through a straw.  They tried pudding on a spoon but kept pushing the spoon away. Grandma Kathy was worried that they were going to try pudding... why?... because Connor does not like pudding!  They put applesauce on his paci and they think he liked that.  The speech therapist said he was irritable and she could not determine his ability to eat.  She is coming back after lunch.

OH BOY.... DO WE HAVE SOME NEWS FOR YOU!

Just a few short minutes ago... we heard the sweetest sound we could possibly hear! CONNER'S VOICE!  Yes... you heard me right.  Connor has not spoken one word in a week... and today we heard these sweet sweet words... " Paci"... and " I want a cup"... WE CELEBRATE!!!! He is is strong, he is a fighter.  He is communicating verbally.  We can't believe it!  So much progress!  I bet that speech therapist will be mighty surprised when she comes in after lunch!

A smile is on our faces because we can imagine you all rooting Connor on while watching this video and when he finally says it...there is a big cheer from you whether it be at your home, at work or maybe even someplace real quiet where someone may give you a strange look.

Prayers have been answered and PROGRESS has been made.... We Celebrate!

A Roller Coaster Ride

The only thing we can correlate this journey with is a roller coaster ride.  Do you know that feeling of when you get on the roller coaster and you get so excited, but at the same time you are so scared?  It is like every moment for us.  As the roller coaster goes up the hill there is excitement and anticipation but as it goes down there is panic and fear... and then you realize... I made it through that. But then you see before you another big hill or possibly the big loop that is going to turn you upside down.  But I guess the good thing is that... the roller coaster eventually stops...and when you get off... even though it was a ride of ups and downs... you made it through it... you are ok... and you celebrate.  This is how we believe Connor's journey and our journey with Connor through this is and will be.


Yesterday... there was progress. We love progress.
The Neurosurgeon/neurologist came in and told us that just because Connor's eyes were open didn't really mean he was really awake, and just because he smiled once didn't really mean he was smiling for a reason. We didn't really understand this statement or really come to terms with it, because we are the ones in the room with him.  We know he sees us, we know he knows us, and we know that smile isn't just a fluke.  So what did Connor do.... he proved those doctors wrong!  It was almost like he was listening to the doctors and said " I am going to show them!"

You see... Nana Deonna was playing her paci (pacifier) game with Connor and he looked at her... smiled...and took that paci right out of her hand!  So there doctors... Connor will prove you wrong, you watch.  He is a strong little boy.  We jumped up and down! We hugged and we smiled. We CELEBRATED!

Connor with his paci                                                      

... and then we rested and we prayed and grandma Kathy got to sleep by his side this night.

Sunday:   Connor had a great night last night.  There hasn't been much going on today.  They are going to switch his i.v. from his left arm to his right arm.  We are hoping this will motivate him to move his left arm... we can only hope.  Neuro said there is a dime size spot on the place of his brain that tells the left side what to do.  We hope time will heal this and Connor will be his old self once again...baby steps.
Our goal for him today is for him to be able to swallow and that we know he is swallowing.  Then maybe he will be able to get the tube out of his throat.  He is breathing better and they have moved respiratory therapy from every for hours to every six hours.... progress!

This is where we are...

 We know we are in the best place we could be and Connor is getting the best care that he could possibly receive.  The doctors and nurses and all the staff have been so wonderful!

All of our friends, family, and people who don't even know us have been so wonderful sending their prayers and thoughts. Connor has so many little "happy's" spread throughout his room that he can look at and enjoy. You all are so amazing... our strength is fueled from all the phone calls, the texts, the gifts, the cards, the food, and the visitors.

Not much has changed today. We had wonderful friends and family come visit today and bring us Amazing food and things for Connor. We think Grandma Kathy finally ate something.

Connor got to eat today... although...it was through a tube.  They are giving him 10 mm of formula every hour... and he has kept it down... we celebrate.

Connor's animals and Buzz were cheering him on!

We got to hold him today.  Grandma Kathy and Mommy got to hold him for a good 30 minutes.  Although he doesn't cuddle back...they gave him some good cuddles and he was so peaceful.

This in itself was wonderful.

Connor finally got to have a real bath today with water. They washed his hair and we must know it makes him feel so much better.  He looks so much better this afternoon.

What the Doctors are saying:  We have heard a lot of  " We just don't know why".   We noticed  before Connor  "woke up" that he wasn't moving his left side.  Although he does feel pain on his left side, all of his movement was on his right side. .After the wreck and before the helicopter ride... he had a seizure.  Now they are saying he may have had a stroke, but are still unsure.  With brain injuries... it is a "you have wait and see" kind of game... we have to remember... baby steps.  On the bright side... He has been staying awake today for 30min to an hour at a time.  Every since they started feeding him and bathed him... he cries even less ... PROGRESS... and we celebrate progress.

Connor, mommy and daddy are napping now... may they rest well... 

Thanks to all of you because if you are reading this...that means you are thinking about our little Connor.