Bathtub Fun

Carter was having a ball in the tub last night so I snapped some quick shots of him to share.




And this one is just thrown in there for the cuteness factory. Its Carter's pug brother Buck.

Best Buds

Last night Jim, Carter and I went over to Jake and P's house to play dice. I got some pictures of Carter and his best budd, Croix so I thought I would share.

Pudgy

Pictures

Just some pictures of Carter from today. As you can see I have a lot of more practice to do with my new camera none of these picture are in focus but oh well.
Practising for X-mas pictures out of about 300 pic this is the only one with the hat on his head. He has decided that he doens't like crap on his head.
Look no pants!




Carter is figuring out how to kiss

Cheese!
Jump Jump Jump thats all Carter does!

Whats new with Carter

Well with all the Brooke troubles I really haven't found the time to post about Carter.

First for those of you that care Brooke is eating like a champ, 10ml (about 1/3 of an ounce) every 3 hours. She did great with her feedings. Jim and I went to see her again last night but they had just put her down for bed. So we really didn't get to see her. We went up to Trent and Brits apartment and chatted with them for about an hour or so. They havn't done rounds yet today but Brit is thinking that she will probably start with 20ml every 3 hours today. It really wont be long and she will be out of the hospital. Maybe even this weekend, but probably some time next week.

Ok on to Carter. He is doing great. Well except for the clingingeness that is really getting to me. He wants me to be holding him 24 hours a day. Just a bit of seperation anxity we will get over is some day.
He is starting to craw. Well not really crawl but army crawl. He is just started it yesterday and really will only do it if I hold a toy just out of his reach. But hey there is light at the end of the tunnel some day he will be able to go forward. (he has been able to go backward for some time now)
A couple nights ago he slept over at grandma's house for the 1st time. I am sure it was much harder on me then it was him. I think it was around 10pm when Jim asked me if I wanted him to go get Carter. But I survied it and so did he. But of course the washers repair man called super early and I didn't get to sleep in at all. Go figure
I don't want to jinx anything but the other huge news is Carter slept through the night now 2 nights in a row. It felt so good waking up this morning with him in his own crib. Now if I could just get to sleep before 2 am we would be great. I just can not fall asleep before 2 am for some reason.

Well thats all for now.....

New Camera

So I finally got my new Camera I think this is the most exciting purchase I have ever made. Anyways you all know I couldn't keep cute little Carter pictures away from you all so here are some shots of last night and this morning.

My 1st shot with the new Camera

Sitting with Daddy.
Look at thoes eyes!

Quite taking pictures and feed me mom.

I love my new I like to smile

Watching TVTen little fingers.

EEG Results

Well the results are finally in, here is tonight update!!!

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2008 04:18 PM, CST

Brooke's neurologist finally came - he said her EEG was normal and everything looked good!!! What wonderful news - we are so happy and blessed!! He said he would now say that Brooke is at more of a mild to moderate risk for neurologic deficits. Only time will tell what she can do. So now on to feeding - which will hopefully happen tomorrow.

Brooke also saw an occupational therapist today, she was pretty pleased with her assessment, Brooke does have a few movements that she thought were slow - but that it was to be expected with how sick she was. The therapist wants us to start getting Brooke up more and giving her more stimulation - which is great news because we were so nervous before as we were told not to overstimulate her. We have to start sitting her up more, we are bringing her bouncer seat in to get her up in that and get her moving more. Trent and I got a good hour of play time in with her this afternoon before she got to sleepy - it was so fun to finally be able to play with our baby! The therapist also gave us some exercises to start doing with Brooke to work on her development.

Brooke just went down for a nap so Trent and I are going to try to sneak off and get some supper before she wakes up again.

Again I cannot say enough how thankful I am for all of your prayers and support - I truly believe Brooke has come this far and done so well with help from all of you and someone up above.

Love, Trent, Brittany and Brooke

Brooke Update

Well its Tuesday and I havn't made an update on Brooke since Sunday. Don't worry no news is good news. Well there has been news just haven't had time to update Carter's blog.

Brooke got an EEG this morning and I guess we are still waiting on the doctors to tell us what it said. She hasn't started eating yet, but it sounds like they plan on giving her a tiny bit (a teaspoon) tomorrow. That is huge news. Really other then that there really isn't anything big that has happened. She is in a crib now and wearing clothes. Trent and Brit finally got to dress there baby for the 1st time today.

Anyways here is a new picture from today of Brooke.

Add this one on to Carter's Christmas list. This is a Deluxe Walker Wagon and it looks like it can only be bought online at Toys R Us here is the link.

A huge jump ahead for Brooke

Here are Sundays updates on Brooke. Its been a big big day for her and her parents. She is proving all the doctors wrong minute by minute second, by second. Only time will tell how bad the brain injury will be, but by the looks of it she is going to do great.

Trent and Brit update there Caringbridge page a few times today so I just post them from earliest to latest.

Trent and I walked in to Brooke's room this morning and she had her eyes wide open and was sucking on a pacifier!!! It brought us to tears right away. It seems like she is waking up a little bit more, but we still have to be careful not to overstimulate her. We are going to try and spend lots of family time with her today. We haven't gotten report from her nurse yet to know what else has gone on over night. She got the tube out of her nose that was going to her stomach to take out air and extra fluid so that is one more tube she doesn't have!! We will try to get pictures with her eyes open today and put them on sometime.

Love, Trent, Brittany and Brooke

The doctor's just rounded on Brooke. Most of her labs have stabilized (things like potassium, sodium, platelets). Her Dilantin level (seziure medication) is still high, she isn't getting any of the medication it is just taking her body a long time to metabolize it and get it out. So hopefully as that comes down we will continue to see changes in her. She has an arterial line in her stomach that they use to check blood pressures and blood gases, the doctors are going to take that out this afternoon as they don't think she needs it anymore. They are going to completely turn off the medication that she has been getting for blood pressure as they think her body can control that on her own now. Her weight today is down 200 grams (alot), but this is a good thing for her because she has lost all the extra fluid her body was holding onto, I think that is why she can open her eyes today because they aren't swollen shut anymore. Her belly and hands are a lot smaller because all that fluid is out. The doctors are also hoping that she can go into a "big girl bed" later today (a regular crib) rather than being in the warmer all the time. This is a big thing to, because that will show us that she can regulate her own body temperature. The only other plan Brooke has today is to get a new line in (one that goes right to her heart that will give her her nutrition). Her nurse practitioner decided to wait until today because she was so busy yesterday and now that all the extra fluid is off of her it should be easier to get in. Brooke keeps making so many small gains!! I am going to take her out of the incubator and hold her here now and just spend time with her.

Thanks for all your prayers, they are doing wonders for Brooke!!

Love, Trent, Brittany and Brooke

Just a quick note that while Brittany was holding Brooke, they did a little suction of the back of her mouth she cried a little bit. Brittany was so happy to here that since it was the first time either of us has heard that. We are on our way up to the apartment now to eat some lunch and watch the Vikings win another game.

With much love,

Trent, Brittany and Brooke

Great Grandma Mary, Aunt Melissa, Uncle Jim and Jenny came to visit Brooke for a short time this afternoon. The nurse practitioner took the arterial tube out of her stomach earlier this afternoon, and right now they are working on putting the new PICC line in her. Candy (the NP) that's putting it in said they would try to put it in her head or if that didn't work they would try her arm. Brooke is pretty sleepy now because she's had a busy afternoon, so we are going to try to keep letting her rest.

Love, Trent, Brittany and Brooke

Brooke's PICC line went in without problems on the first try!! It goes from her head down to almost in her heart. This is how she will be receiving her nutriants. They have been slowly weaning her off of the oxygen all day, now the nurse has completely cut it off. She is no longer getting any medications other than her nutriants. Brittany is holding her now while she sucks on her pacifier and falls in and out of sleep. I have some new pictures of her with eyes wide open and all of the tubes gone, I will be updating the photos soon. Later tonight she will be put in a big girl bed, the nurse has just dressed her for the first time ever. Now we will have to get some of her pretty pink sleepers over here to dress her with. Until next time, keep praying and thinking of us. We truly appreciate it.

Love Trent, Brittany and Brooke Simonton

And here are just some really heart warming pictures of Brooke from today!

Sucking on a pacifier

Happy Brittany

There's her eyes

Sat Update on Brook

We just got in to see Brooke this morning after getting a much needed night of good sleep. She is up to normal temperature now as of about 2:30 am. The rewarming stayed pretty uneventful, other than her blood pressure medicine had to be increased a little bit to keep it up, but we were sort of anticipating that. She had a couple of good wet diapers during the night, but her weight is up a little bit this morning so we will be watching that. Brooke is no longer on any oxygen - she still has the breathing tube in but she is doing all the work of breathing on her own!! Yeah!! So we are anticipating the tube should hopefully be coming out today. Brooke's color is much better now that she is warmed, she is nice and pink!! They were able to put her on her own blanket now that the cooling blanket is out from underneath her, she looks much more comfy on her own pink fuzzy blanky. We are also hoping that some time today we may be able to hold her!! Brooke is going to be really busy this morning with different tests and procedures so Trent and I are going to try to run home for a few hours and pack up our things for a long stay in the apt. over here.

Thanks again for all your support and keep Brooke in your thoughts and prayers.

Love, Trent, Brittany and Brooke

My mom and I plan on getting over there today to see her again. I will let you know what I think and yes I do plan on bringing my camera! So we are hopefull that she can have visitors today.

Saturday night update on Brooke.

My mom and I went over to see Brooke today and she looks just great. She has the breathing tube out and all of the wires that went in to her head are out. She almost looks like a normal new born. She is still full of fluid but she is starting to pee right so that should be down soon. I am just so excited by the way she looked. Trent and Brit also got to hold her today. Sorry I didn't get any pictures but I do know Trent is going to get some one the net.

Here is Brit's update for tonight.

Brooke had her first little cry early this evening, the nurse was taking the thing off of her face that used to be holding her breathing tube and when she was taking the tape off she let out a little cry!! Unfortunately Trent and I had left the room for about a half hour and missed it!! It makes me feel like I never want to leave her now. She is still doing really good breathing on her own, she has a gag reflex and has been able to clear her own secretions. I am learning that even these tiny little things are great news because they are one more little thing that her brain is able to do. She just had another big wet diaper, so all that extra fluid seems to be coming off. She is looking even a little less puffy than this morning. Brooke seems to slowly be waking up more, she is moving her mouth and arms and legs a little more frequently. Thursday and Friday all I saw her do was lay here still so it is so exciting to me just to watch her. We are continuing to wait for the Dilantin level (seizure medication) to come back down and get out of her system. Hopefully as this comes down we will continue to see her wake up more and do more things. Then eventually will tackle the issue of feeding. Right now she is getting her nutrition through her IV's. I have been pumping milk and they are freezing it so when she's ready it will be here for her. So for now we will wait and see what tomorrow brings. Thanks again for all your love and prayers. Keep praying for Brooke's recovery.

Love Trent, Brittany and Brooke

Update on Brooke 2

Just another update on Brooke. I know this is Carter's site but he wants to share the news about his new cousin with all of his friends.

Still nothing changed with Brooke, we talked with our resident doctor and they are thinking they may try to take her breathing tube out tomorrow if all continues to go well tonight. Brooke is showing that she is trying to do the work of breathing on her own. Most of her other organs are beginning to heal themselves and all the work they are supposed to be doing is slowly coming together. She has not needed any transfusions since yesterday and they don't anticipate her needing anymore.

Trent and I are just sitting here in her room talking and discussing the past few days events as we haven't hardly have time to do that yet. We feel so blessed with the care we have all received. The staff at New Richmond hospital did such an amazing job at saving our daughter. I can't believe how fast they worked at getting her out and realizing something was wrong. Dr. Frazier and all the nurses were so supportive to me in the day I was at the hospital by myself before I was able to come to United. The staff at Children's and United Hospital have also been great. Brooke has so many doctors and nurses looking out for her, they are just amazing. Any time we have questions they make sure they are answered and that we understand what they are saying. Trent and I are completely amazed at the care we have received.

Just checked with Brooke's nurse the warming is going a little slower than we thought it would - but that is just fine because things are going good. She is at about 95 degrees right now. So she may not be completely warmed until late late tonight.

Good night to everyone.

Love, Trent, Brittany and Brooke

Update on Brooke

Yesterday afternoon Trent and I met with the neurologist, they are concerned again about Brooke's brain activity. She showed some changes yesterday that put her back into the severe category (rather than moderate) for brain injury. She also has had some swelling on her brain.

I came down and met with her nurse overnight this morning, she had a pretty good night. She was able to maintain her own blood pressure for most of the night utnil early this morning, then they did have to put her back on medication to keep her blood pressure up. She had lots of very wet diapers last night which is an improvement yesterday as she was not going much at all. Her color is a little better this morning and she is less puffy. When I was in with her this morning she was trying to suck on her tubes in her mouth and did try to open her eyes a few times which I haven't seen before so that was great!! She was also stretching out and moving her arms and legs a bit. She will be slowly rewarmed this afternoon at 3 o'clock. So with that process we will have to see again if she can maintain all of her body systems when her body is warmer and no longer being cooled. We will also be watching for increased brain swelling then. So today will be a big day for us and probably an emotional rollercoaster.

Thanks again for everyone's concern, support and well wishes. We appreaciate everyone's thoughts and prayers. Please keep praying for us and Brooke's recovery.

Love, Trent, Brittany and Brooke

I do know that they are baptizing Brooke today. Please please keep Brooke in your thoughts today will be one really long day for all of them.

And here is a picture of Trent, Brit, and Brooke

Brooke

Well not much new on the Brooke front we did finally get over to see her tonight but I am super tired and need to go to bed. She looks much better then I though she would.

She is in the NICU at Children's Hospital in St. Paul. She is able to breath on her own and she did today but they sedated her a bit so when we saw her she was using the breathing machine. But the doctors have orders in for it to come out. The nurses are just waiting a bit. All of her organs are fine. Her lung has already repair it self. Right now she is on a cooling mat they are trying to keep her cool thus trying to keep the swelling down right now. She will come off of that in about 48 hours and then be brought up to normal temp. When her temp is normal they are going to do a CAT scan of her brain to find out how much damage has been done. So Sat. or Sunday is the day we are all waiting for. She does have a Web Site being set up and as soon as I find out the link I will let you all know. For now I am off to bed. And I will leave you all with a picture of new baby Brooke holding her daddy's hand.
Update: Brook's website can be found here: http://caringbridge.org/cb/viewHome.do or by going to Caringbride.org and where it says enter a website name enter BrookeSimonton

Comments

Carter keeps asking me why no one leaves comments on his web page. You see he is very proud to have his own web page but feels unloved because no one comments. I thought hmmm this is odd why doesn't any one comment. We know people look at his page. His grandparents, his aunts, uncles and what not but no one comments.

This to us is Carter's online baby book in a sort, so leave a comment so he can look back on them when he is 20 years old and laugh.

I fixed it now any one can leave a comment any one at all. I didn't even know I didn't have it set up right. So yall leave a darn comment.

Oh No.........

My cousin Trent and his wife, had there baby girl today. She was due yesterday. I don't know much but something is wrong with her heart and she is being rushed to Children's Hospital right now. All I know is its a girl, but we already knew that don't have a weight or even a name as they were keeping the name secret. It sounds like it was an emergency c-section and Brit is not even awake from it.

Please keep little girl in your thoughts. I will update when I know more.

Update: I got some more info from my grandma. New babies name is Brooke Ann Simonton. I think I spelled Simonton wrong but oh well. She weighs 6lbs 12oz. She is on a breathing machine but thats all I know. I do know that she is very critical for the next 24-48 hours. Please keep Trent, Brit, and there new little girl in your thoughts!

Update 2: I don't really know more. I was planning on going to visit Brooke but it sounds like she is way to critical to have any visitors. I talked my Jayme who is Trent's (new dad) sister in law and one of my very best friends and she told me that, the baby's heart quit beating when Brit (new mom) was in the operating room and it took them 20 mins after Brooke was born to get her heart to beat again. Jayme told me that they are monitoring her brain right now for brain damage and she said that seizures are a good sign of brain damage and baby Brooke had just had a seizure right before I talked to Jayme so right now things arn't looking good for baby Brooke.

When I got pregnant with Carter, Brit was just pregnant too she was like 2 or 3 weeks farther along then me. The baby died when she was 7 weeks along they found out at her 10 week apt. I felt so terrible going through my pregnancy knowing that Brit should too be pregnant with me. I am sure it was hard for her to see Carter when he was born. Knowing that she should be holding her new baby too. But it didn't take long and she got pregnant again with baby Brooke. We were all so very excited for her. She deserves this baby, more then any one I know. Please keep Trent, Brittany, and Brooke in your thought and I will for sure update more tomorrow when I know more.

Update:
Brooke is stable at the time is sounds like. She pooped and peed last night so her organs are working. Something is wrong with her lungs from all of the CPR but it sounds like that will all heal its self. I am going to visit her today and I can not wait. It sounds like Britt might be transferred over there some time today. I will be sure to get some pictures of her.

Carter's Christmas Wish List

I keep getting asked what Carter wants for Christmas so I sat down and made his Christmas list. I like most people don't know what to get a 9 month old for Christmas, but I imagine that he will like everything on the list.

Radio Flyer Sport Coupe

Parents Busy School Activity Cube
Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Smart Bounce and Spin Pony

Fisher-Price Elmo Live


Fisher-Price Go Baby Go Crawl and Cruise Musical Jungle

iPlay Funtime Tractor
Fisher-Price A-to-Z Learning Zoo

Well here is his list. I am sure he would love a empty box with paper in it too! It really doesn't matter to him or us but people keep asking for it so I thought I should comply.

Saving up some cash

Well as I have stated I am so getting rid of this piece of crap camera. I already have the new camera picked out and can not wait to get my hands on it. We went to Best Buy yesterday and I got to check it out in person. Man I can not wait. I have been dreaming of owning a real camera forever. I am personally over this point and shoot.

Here she is a Nikon D40!

Jim say I have to wait until not this paycheck but the next. Ugh that is a long time when I want it so bad. I know I am getting it but man I just don't want to wait.

So I sat up all night putting crap I really don't need on craigslist.org

So far I have up

• My old camera (the one I totally hate!)
• A lot of clothes Carter has never worn and wont because they are all shorts and its 28 degrees out side.
• My singer surger that I have never even used.
• A breast pump again I have never used.
• A sling that I bought for Carter and never used.
• A snow suite my mom bought Carter that is too small for him to use.
• And a really cool dog bed Jim and I made that Jill, Buck and Gabby have never used.
• And some other crap that we arnt going to ever use.

I have everything up and really just want to sell it all fast so I can go get my camera this week. My camera is selling for $499. I have $150 saved up and $590 worth of crap for sale on Craigslist. Jim just keeps telling me to quit walking around the house looking for crap to get rid of lol I think he is afraid I am going to get rid of something of his. So anyways if I get sell all of this stuff on Craigslist which I am hoping to I will have over what I need to buy my camera.

And then you the reader will get to see awesome pictures of Carter! YAY Its a win win for everyone!

Keep your fingers crossed for me as I really want to sell this crap fast so I can buy my camera this week instead of in 2 week!

Another installment of daddy fed me

Just another night of Daddy feeding Carter. I just don't understand he never looks like this when I feed him.

Cousin Ben's 1st Birthday

Today Carter and I went to my cousin Jason's little boy Ben's 1st birthday party. It was at my uncle Jim's house.

There were tons of people there but Carter was crabby almost the whole time there.

I couldn't believe it Ben is 1 year old today and is not just walking around he is almost running around! He has been walking now for 2 months!

Anyways here are some pictures from today. I do have to say that I HATE my camera it takes terrible pictures inside. Awesome pictures out side but terrible inside. BUT I am getting a new camera in 2 weeks. If I can sell all the crap I have got on craigslist it will be this week. I am getting a Digital SLR I can not wait!!!! Watch out for super good pictures of Carter, man I am so excited!

Anyways back to the pictures from today!

Here is Grandma Kathy! (and no mom I am not going to take this picture down its a good picture of you.)
Carter playing
Carter and Charlie. Can you beleive she is 4 months older then him. She is just starting to walk too.

And this is my cousin Gina's boy Maalik who is 12 years old already. Man I remember the day this boy was born like it was yesterday! He is the 1st great grandchild in our family and very much the most spoiled!
None of my pictures of the birthday boy turned out! Did I say how much I hate this camera!

Just Jump

Just jump is a great place where kids can just jump there little hearts out. P and I took Carter and Croix there for a mommy meetup last week. Its a really cool place although it will be a few years before Carter or Croix will be able to have fun in there. It was our 1st mommies meet up and there were so many people there that we didn't know who was with the mommies group or now. It was weird. I guess we will try again another time to meet the other mommies. Well here are some pictures of the day.

This looks like fun!

I need to get bigger!
I went down this big huge slide with mommy!
This is some of the jumpy things at Just Jump.
Dude we will be best buds for ever just like our daddies!Not sure if Croix is going to smile or cry!
I am all ready to go mommy!