Hangin' in here...

Well, it's been a few days, but not much has happened, which is good.  On Monday, Nancy the Home Health Nurse came and drew blood.  Kauri's Lipase levels went down to 719 from the 1175.  And her Amylase went down from 168 to 147.  220 is high lipase levels and 110 is high amylase levels, so we still have a ways to go.
We're still trying to get her to a GI specialist, or someone specialized in this pancreas stuff.  We even talked directly to Dr. Black (the Dr. that has been over her through all this accident stuff).  He's a General Surgeon at Primary Children's, and since this has been going on so long, we're ready to get a little more specific.  But he hasn't done very good about getting us directly to a Dr.  He said he could, but maybe he's doing non-stop surgeries for the last week, OR is on his 2 week vacation.  So it's a little frustrating, but we're learning how to deal with frustrations through this last 2 months!
Kauri is feeling better.  Her tummy still hurts now and then, but she hasn't had nausea again... yeah!
We through in another Dr. appointment among all the others... the DENTIST!  And she has some cavities.  I guess she likes to keep going to visit all these nice Dr's. I guess.

Kauri is getting more and more caught up on her school work.  Her Home Hospital teacher came again today.  They laughed pretty hard.

Today, her dressing on her PICC line about fell off, so this was the day to learn to do that among all the nursing skills mom has.  Always an adventure...

Cleaning it good.

Serious stuff...

We did it!  (I think we only missed one step!)  But we were clean!

The nurse cleans up here.  When the Home Health nurse comes, mom has to clean up after her, too.

We had a nice lunch with Grandma Tye today.  It was nice for Kauri to actually go out to eat and be able to eat.  We took some great pictures, but somehow they were deleted.  Just know, Grandma belongs here on the blog.  Kauri loved spending time with her!

Fun with family

We stayed over at Savanna's and had a nice time.  It's nice for Kauri to get out a little bit. (Actually all of us).  The last two months have been kind of slow...ly, busy.  But only busy with all the stuff we don't want to do.  But in all of it we've had many great experiences, from good laughs, cries, and so much more.  We have felt love and peace even through all this turmoil.

Darcie, Kauri's niece that was born 2 weeks before the accident was blessed today.
Here's some of the girls that were there.

Silly girls, making fun of wedding announcement photos.  There were some hilarious pictures.

Savanna, Darcie and Kauri hanging out.

School and homework

Kauri has been working hard trying to keep up with her homework, now it's nice to have her get this homeschool thing all worked out.

She has a great home Seminary teacher, Brother Sheffield who comes on Mondays. Even mom learned something while hanging out during home Seminary. so until Kauri can get to school it's all working out pretty good for her.

Kauri and Brother Sheffield

Kauri's Homebound teacher came. She was really helpful and nice. She was awesome. Her name us Mrs. Chamberlain and she is a math teacher at Viewmont. 

With Mrs. Chamberlain

Doing Homework with Kylie, Kauri's niece.

If Kauri keeps doing good with her homework, she hopes to get a big Barbie coloring book! --- really.

Cast on, cast off

Kauri went back to TOSH to her Dr. Her wrist is healing well. She can take it off while at home but has to wear it when she leaves the house. Still no sports :( and she can start therapy on it. She was so happy.

We still don't know what is going on with her picc line her trauma Dr is
getting her set up with a GI specialist so we'll get to go to a new Dr.

Slowly, but surely?

We're beginning to think Kauri's middle name should be Shirley -- (surely).  Maybe that should be Marty's middle name?  We keep saying she's doing better, "slowly but surely".  Yesterday, she had her blood drawn again, to check everything out.  Her lipase went back up from 607 to 1175, and her amylase went back up, too.  She's feeling pretty good, overall, but we're not sure what to do now.  I think we'll say good-bye to her Dr. from the Trauma at the hospital and find a good GI specialist.  We have been going to do it, but we keep thinking it's all getting better.  Time....

She had a bad day...

Just when things were looking up Kauri got sick. She threw up all morning. The poor girl dry heaves for a couple hours. So now we are back at the dr"s at Primary Children's. More registering. More blood drawn. More waiting for Dr"s.

We had to wait in the room for the dr, for about an hour. Not much ro do but goof off. Kauri is feeling a little better.

Annika trying to find each letter of the alphabet on the wall.

Annika even found time to do her hair while waiting, and waiting, and waiting. Its good to be efficient.

Dr's and Blessings

Kauri and Jarom had a special day. They got their Patriarchal Blessings. It was a great experience for them. Kauri understands more that she still has a big purpose for her here on earth, and she's even more excited to get better!

Kauri with her head trauma rehab Dr. She's doing all kinds of things. And has had all kinds of experiences. We have many laughs and cries.

Baby steps...

Kauri had her blood drawn Monday the 12th (yesterday). Her levels are going down. Her lipase is 834 which is way down from 1202. Now only 600+ more! Her amylase went down a bit too and this is happening while she's getting a bit of food. She's still eating lowfat and it's slow. There's a lot to get used to inside her tummy, nothing has been working from her stomach, intestines and other parts for the last 44 days. So there still is some pain and discomfort but it's not the same or as intense as it used to be.

Marty stays... for a while longer.

Kauri's levels went down almost 150, to 1202.  She's eating a bit, and now can pick up low fat, but Marty stays for a while longer.  Good ol' Marty, he's grown very attached to Kauri.  He beeps her name when he's low on batteries, when she's unhooked for anytime, or when she's twisted him around.  It's funny how we are all sensitive to beeping now, whether it's our refrigerator left open, the dishwasher or the washer done, an alarm at a store, someone backing up on a scooter, and so many other "beeps" we all think of Marty for a quick second, wondering what's he needing attention for now!  It's been really funny at times.  Especially when Kauri is having her 6 hours off, and she doesn't even have Marty!

Kauri and Mom have spent many hours and had many good talks driving to Dr's, appointments .

Time spent with Home Health Nurse...

Kauri has had some really nice Home Health Nurses.  Actually, she's had one main one, and a couple others.  Nancy even lets Tanner draw blood, well, feel like he's involved.  They have taught us more than any Dr. about what is going on.  It's nice to have them.  Nancy will even work with the insurance when they try to balk at why she's coming out, she sets them straight and they listen!

Changing Kauri's  PICC line dressing

Tanner drawing blood.

Showering is interesting.  We have to keep her dressing completely dry.  There's an ordeal to this, too.  :)  We're so glad she got this removable splint cast on her wrist, because it was really a trick, when she couldn't get that wet, either.  Tender mercies....

Getting ready to shower

Now she can shower.  She might not be able to bend her arm, but she can shower!

Kauri's diet

We've all talked about this hard thing for Kauri (and all of us) and how she's lost so much weight, and how horrible it would be.  Kauri has been such an amazing person of showing patience and so many other things.  But we had fun with her making this video.  We laughed about the many things she said in this video, that she has said through the last 35 + days.  She forgot to mention Marty, but he's her devoted friend, as is Marta, her Momma who is always with her.  Marty and Marta have been amazing close friends to her through this.

Labor Day Weekend

It was real quiet around our part of Farmington.  We decided over 1/2 the neighborhood was gone.  No one was out, no cars at homes.  It was super quiet.  We all went to see Quinn and Emily do their first triathalon in Bountiful.  They did a good job.  They both took first in their age groups.  We went to the movie "The Smurfs" and then did homework and had Family Home Evening.  Kauri is enjoying the bit of food she gets.  She is looking forward to tomorrow.  They will do her blood work and see how things have gone this last few days.  She isn't having pains or nausea, so that is a great sign.

At the Triathalon

 

Bedtime ritual

Every night, we have to change Kauri's TPN and Lipids.  It used to take us 30 minutes or so.  Now we have it down to 10 or less.  We can always get help.  We've had Tanner, Mason, Annika, Mom, and Dad.  Makenna and Jarom have shied away, but even Kauri's niece Kylie and nephew Tyeson have been fascinated, but hid their faces some, too.  Mom's nursing skills have become pretty routine around here.

Cleaning things off.

Mason, mixing it up... (Kauri's vitamins in her TPN)

Mason flushing Kauri's tubes

"Food isn't Everything" - Kauri Tye

Kauri went to school for 3 periods both Thursday and Friday.  She was glad to finally get to go a bit.  She comes home and does homework, trying to catch up.  

Her concussion Dr.'s don't want her going to school more than 2-3 hours and only homework for 1 hour.  But Kauri gets more stressed getting behind, than over doing it. So hopefully her pushing it, won't cause any more damage. ;)

Kauri has been enjoying little bits of food, and hasn't had really any pain or nausea because of eating, and drinking a bit, so that is a good sign.  She's still eating just small amounts of the same things, but we are slowly introducing new foods.  Soon she will have her baby teeth and be able to start really eating.  HAHA.  (Do not think we are serious).

She still is on her PICC line for 18 hours a day, she loves the freedom she has with 6 hours off.  Even though she has realized she gets very hungry when it's not on.  (And she thought she was hungry before!)  It's much easier to change her clothes when she's not hooked up to Marty.  

Kauri went to the Viewmont / Layton football game.  It was Pinkout for Gabe .
 It was awesome how much pink people wore.  

At Mason's football game.  Dad was Kauri's shade for a while.

Walking home after the game.  I hope no one runs between Dad and Kauri,
they'd get clothes lined.  (Or they can jump rope).

At Harmon's trying to get ideas of any food Kauri can have.
We did get free cookies, and just turned away from Kauri, so she couldn't see us eat them.

It was while shopping for food, and telling Kauri she couldn't have this, or that, she came up with her profound quote, "Food isn't everything!"
She's still just being so patient with this all.  We all appreciate her big smile and her jokes as she continues to work through this challenge in her life.

Kauri found some friends to help her do homework.