HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Well Halloween is a little different for us this year! Instead of us going out, Trick or Treat is coming to us. My wonderful family all came to us with Halloween surprises for Peyton. We did dress him up and he was a skunk. He was a very cute little stinker. He had a blast. We did carve our pumpkins today and Peyton really enjoyed that. I don’t know who it enjoyed it more though…..Peyton or Daddy!! We are really enjoying MeMe and Poppy being here but we are sad that Poppy is leaving tomorrow. MeMe is staying with us for a little while though so Peyton can stay home next week. He is still doing really good. The hardest part is keeping him still. He acts like nothing ever happened and wants to run around like a crazy man. He still has only had Tylenol for pain. I would still be on the morphine drip and he is running around like nothing ever happened with no pain meds at all. Kids are amazing!!!

WE ARE HOME!!!

Well the intern came in early this morning and took Peyton’s bandage off and it wasn’t near as bad as I thought it would be. He then began the “going home” process. Peyton had an OK night. The pain medicine made him as mean as a snake but after that little spell was over he rested. He did eat and drink on and off throughout the night and never got sick again. He didn’t have pain medicine again and won’t unless he is in horrible pain. We have given him Tylenol since and it seems to be working fine. We made it home about 2:00 and we are very glad to be home. MeMe and Poppy are still with us and MeMe will stay through next week. Ant Cindy and Aunt Charlotte went home but they were a great help to us. I am so thankful to have such a great family!
Well now the worst part is over. Now we wait for activation day…..NOVEMBER 18th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LONG but GREAT day!

Well everything went great. He was in surgery about 7 hours but everything went great. They did call us and tell us what was going on every 45 minutes or so. That really helped ease our nerves as much as possible. They were able to get a full insertion which means all the electrodes were able to be placed in the ear. That is really good. When Peyton came back from surgery he was very restless and upset. So I crawled in the bed with him and tried to settle him down some. He woke up and was thirsty so we gave him some juice. He drank some and almost immediately got sick all over himself (and me because I was in the bed with him). After getting the bed changed and everyone some clean clothes, he is resting again. Dr. Todd just came in and said everything is going great and that he would see us in the morning. If Peyton has a good night, we can go home tomorrow. YAY!!! They will also take his HUGE bandage off in the morning. That makes me kind of nervous but I’m sure it will be OK.

Tomorrow is our BIG day!!

Well we all made it safely to Atlanta. And by all I mean the Grand Aunts, MeMe and Poppy, and us. We are all staying at a hotel across from the hospital so that we will have access to a shower and bed if anyone wants to nap tomorrow and also so we don’t have to get up so early in the morning. I am VERY nervous but very excited at the same time. This is a new life for my little man.

Monday, Monday!!

Why are Monday's so hard? We had a good weekend celebrating Robby's birthday but it was a long one. We also had a good day at church yesterday. Our revival started yesterday and it was good but it was a long day because we didn't get to come home. That is probably why I was so exhausted today.

Peyton is finally getting over his strep and starting to act like himself again. Our mission is to keep him well for the next two weeks. Our pre-op is two weeks from today. We have a room in Atlanta for his surgery. My wonderful Aunt's reserved us a room so that we wouldn't have to get up so early the morning of his surgery and would have a place to rest or shower if need be. I am sure I am not going to leave his side, but just in case we have a room!!

No therapy this week! I hate "no therapy" weeks. I will be glad when are back on our regular schedule. I thought I would dread going to Atlanta, and now Macon, every week but I love it. It gives us someone to talk to about Peyton and the crazy things he does and she understands us and him. Can you believe it....someone who actually understands us!

If any of you are interested in purchasing a raffle ticket to support the Auditory Verbal Center, let me know. AVC is where Peyton goes to therapy and they are an amazing group of people. AVC never turns anyone away because they can't pay and all proceeds from the raffle go to their scholarship fund. The raffle tickets are for a one week stay in Orlando and 4 one day Disney Park Hopper Passes. They are $5 each or 5 for $20. If you want one give me a call or send me a message. Thursday will be the last day I will be selling them. Thanks to all of you that have bought tickets so far. You are supporting a wonderful program and I greatly appreciate it!

Ok prayer warriors keep those prayers a coming. I am starting to get nervous which is to be expected when the are going to operate on your baby! I know, without a doubt, that we are doing the right thing (and Candace....so does Robby!). Love you all!!

Vaccinations........CHECK!

Well yesterday and today Peyton got the two vaccinations he needed to have before surgery. Yesterday he got the Prevnar 13 vaccine from the pediatrician and screamed bloody murder. Today he got the Pneumovax vaccine from the Oglethorpe County Health Department and only cried a little and then he signed "thank you" to the nurse that gave him the shot. My baby has manners even when someone hurts him!! So slowly but surely we are marking off all of our pre-surgery duties. Now if we can just keep him well until our surgery date, everything will be great!!

We also schedule Peyton's initial cochlear implant activation today. His CI will be activated on November 18th at 3:30 pm. It is all becoming very real now. I was thinking today coming home from work that 3 weeks from today the surgery will be over. Now that's a good feeling! Thanks everyone for all of the prayers. We can really feel them. I have a peace about this surgery that I know can only come from God. Keep sending them our way. We love you all!!

3 Weeks and Counting!!

Well we are on the count down to surgery. I cannot believe that in 3 weeks we will be in Atlanta getting ready for our sweet little man's 1st cochlear implant. HOW EXCITING!?!?!?! I can't wait to hear my baby boy to say "Mommy" and I praying and believing that this is going to happen.

I spent most of the morning trying to find a vaccine that Peyton needs before surgery. I was told that it would not be a problem, but that was not the case. It is really sad that your local health department will not give Peyton the vaccination because we have insurance. I always thought that having insurance was a good thing! Anyway, thanks to a great pediatrician and his wonderful staff the vaccine has been located and Peyton will be getting it tomorrow afternoon.

We had therapy today. We have only been going every other week until after surgery and I am ready to start back every week. Yes, it is tiring but like I've said so many times before, Candace is like our family therapist and I think I need it as much as Peyton does. Peyton did a really good job today. He had not taken a nap today and did not sleep any on the way so we were a little worried but he did good. He did a GREAT job discriminating today and he even imitated several sounds. He had never done this during therapy! We were really proud of him. It's amazing the progress he has made in a year. Of course he's worked really hard and, bless his heart, the hard work is far from over. But thanks to an amazing therapist, Robby and I have have tons of fun activities that we do with him at home that he has no idea that he is even working! We also have the help and support of family and friends. We are truly blessed.

Well Peyton is sound asleep and so it's time for some "me" time. Good Night!!

Light at the end of the tunnel.

Well after 7 weeks of being in a hard cast I have now graduated to a boot. I can now put some pressure on my leg and can get around a lot better. Now it's Robby's turn to act up. We found out this week that he has VERY high bloodpressure and a hernia so he is now on BP meds and will be facing surgery the first of the year. It's ALWAYS something in the Duvall house.

Not a lot of changes with Peyton. He is making tons of vocalizations and they are very intentional. He is trying to talk and expects you to understand what he is saying. We are now under the 1 month mark until surgery. We are nervous and excited at the same time. Please continue to keep us in your prayers and our big day approaches.