Sprint Trials

A couple of weeks ago, Kai had trach/vent clinic.  It's a clinic where he sees several specialists in one visit---ENT, pulmonology, dietitian, general specialized pediatrics, and occasionally genetics and orthopedics.  Kai used to have trach/vent every six months, but since he is doing so well, he has been relegated to once a year.  We still see the specialists throughout the year for one-on-one visits, but it is really nice to have the whole team on board for his care plan.  Trust me, communication between doctors doesn't always happen, and miscommunication happens very frequently.  In fact, as of trach/vent clinic they still had recorded that Kai has a cuffed trach (he's never had a cuff).

At his latest trach/vent clinic, it was the consensus that because he has been doing well, and with the Magec rods having opened up his chest, that we would be able to start Sprint Trials.  A sprint trial is where we take him off the ventilator for a period of time daily!  Whoohoo! --and completely scary for this momma who remembers very vividly the blue spells before the vent.  We will start at five minutes twice a day for a week, then 10 minutes for a week, then 15, 20, 30, etc, all the way up to 4 hours a day.  Since he rides the vent at night, it's unlikely at this point that he will come off the vent while sleeping. 

Today was the first day.  I was a bundle of nerves, and waited until J. was home and the girls in bed so that I could focus solely on Kai (who is supposed to be monitored very closely during these trials anyway).  I didn't go as far as to pull out the ambu bag (but it's always an arms-length away from his bed).  Everything went smoothly.  Kai's heart-rate jumped up a little, but he was also wiggling around and trying to get the pulse-ox probe off his foot.

His sats were beautiful--all completely on his own--no machines or extra oxygen!  As we get farther into the sprint trials oxygen will most likely be needed, but day one was a success!

Eagle Lake

The hike to Eagle Lake is fairly easy, only a mile and about 420 foot climb in elevation altogether.  With eight kids in tow, especially the younger ones, it took longer than expected, but overall we had a good time.  River, Zuri, and the puppy loved all the attention from Chantal's kids.  The lake was supremely cold (it always is), so even the kids really didn't want to get in.  The puppy was the only one who really played in the water, but the poor thing was shivering when she got out.

Emerald Bay; you can barely see the island center left through the trees

Interestingly enough, before this trip, I had been rethinking the idea of adding another child to our family.  At times it feels as though I am stretched as far as I can go, and I am comfortable with the family dynamics as we have them now.  Watching Chantal's kids (crazy and chaotic as it was) really brought to light a certain longing for a big family like that of my own.  Growing up in a very unusual family situation, there were times that I functioned as an older sister, but mostly I was an only child; it just being my dad and me.

On the hike, once you go past the falls, you need to have a wilderness permit.  I don't remember having to have one when growing, but we dutifully filled one out at the entrance.  Parking fees are another new thing.  It's sad that everything has to be so controlled now, although I think it may have deterred some people from continuing the hike to the lake because the falls were a lot more crowded than the lake.  There were still quite a few people at the lake, but it seemed that most people turned around after the bridge at the falls (where you have to have the permit).

Another, clearer shot of Emerald Bay

Nana with Pepper--she loved walking the puppy, although I had to take over about midway through the hike because Pepper was pulling too much trying to get to the lead person.  We're still working on that with her

River being cute

Hiking up

Chantal, and Travis holding Bryson

The river with Lake Tahoe in the background

All eight kids together--getting a picture with all of the focused and looking was hard; this was the best one

Lake Tahoe; the view was breathtaking

I guess we should have brought the hiking carrier; J. ended up carrying River most of the way

Cute Zuri--always doing poses

More poses--Brooklyn and Zuri

Bradley and Maddie

Taking a quick break to let other hiking on the opposing side go by; the puppy was eating up the attention from the kids

Zuri hiking

Eagle Lake! We made it!

This was the first time the puppy has been in water where she has to swim because it's over her head.  It took her a bit to learn but she loved it

The kids waded to the rock but huddled together on the rock not wanting to play in the frigid water

If you look behind Zuri, J. went across to the small beach area with River but no one else wanted to be in the water long enough to go across

hiking back

She almost fell asleep like that

One last glimpse of the lake

A pooped-out pooch!

Zuri taking selfies on the drive home.  I had no idea she was doing this, haha!

River was exhausted--it is a very rare occurrence for her to fall asleep in the car.  Her nap lasted less than an hour, but was still much needed!  The girls were both awake the majority of the ride home

The moon rising.  It was huge in the sky; this picture doesn't do it justice