Bronchoscopy

Austin had a rough week. He had another bronchoscopy performed on Thursday (7th time under general anesthesia in 2 years) only to find out that his chronic cough and tracheamalacia is due to worsening bronchi. But we're still pressing forth and figuring things out slowly. He's such a trouper! We love him so much. Every time he goes into the hopsital, we read the Curious George story about George going to the hospital and the trouble he gets into there. Austin then loves to make the similarities in the hospital and what George did in the book.

Austin's given us a giggle this week as he's been asking questions like 'how are swords made?' 'why does outer darkness exist?' and making statements to me such as "if you don't give me dessert, I'll have to put you in time out." I think my favorite this week was in a prayer he said just after he got in trouble he says, "Please, please help mommy be nice to me. Because I know that if she's not, you'll give her swats too. You can do anything" I had to chuckle during that prayer.

Austin also has an alter ego. His name is Brucie. This name was taken after his Uncle Chris. When Austin does something bad, it really wasn't him. It was Brucie. So we've been working at distinguishing Brucie's actions and Austin's. He's so great at manipulating at 4!Austin also got "married" this week to his best little girlfriend Madeleine. They have so much fun together and we are really close to our dear friends Cecilia and Derek and their baby Roman.

Ashley is so funny. She's starting to get a little vicious. Partly as self-defense from her brother taking things out of her hands, and partly because she's second child. To put it lightly, I definitely think she'll be able to hold her own when she goes into nursery next month at church. Her beloved items are her pacifiers. She must hold 2 at once all the time. We've taken them away during the daytime, but at nighttime she loves her "baby's" as she calls them. Must have her babys!

Also, Ash had Christmas in May when my sweet friend Cheri gave Ashley a Cinderella vanity and play kitchen. Ash is all girl and loves to dress up already! Cheri is moving and is purging through her stuff and I'm reaping the benefits as her girls get older, Ash is getting the good stuff. I'm going to miss you Cheri! Sniff Sniff.

Duane went to Spain for the next little while and the kids and I are going to New York City! Yes, I was just there on a girls trip, but we're meeting up with Mom and Dad and my brother Grant. Besides, who can get enough of Central Park?

Have a wonderful Memorial Day!
Angie
ps-a few of you have asked what exactly happened this time to Austin in the bronchoscopy: The day of the surgery, he did great. But the Dr. came out and told me that his bronchi are getting worse. His floppy trachea is the same but now down lower, his bronchi are getting inflamed and floppy. So he did biopies in his lungs, bronchi and trachea and sinus cavities. He said that when the results come back we'll talk about what we need to do next. It's like we get one step forward with Austin and all of his medical things and then one step back. Also, I was told his acid reflux is getting worse. (Which is so hard to believe because we've been giving him an adult dosages of reflux prescription medicine the past 2 years). He's not in any pain, but he doesn't feel it because its all down in the trachea near his belly. But fat was found in his lungs which means food is going up and into his lungs. Not good. So along with his asthma and sinus problems, and a floppy trachea (extremely narrow and soft airways. Acid is coming up his trachea and nasal secretions come down and it makes him cough. His narrow trachea makes this cough sound croupy and barky. All his life he's been like that. We're just trying to fix it. And it sounds like Ashley has the same thing as she coughs she sounds like a little 80 year old man with emphysema....