Home Sweet Home

Quinn sitting in his new chair - he needs a little more support sitting up right now.

Enjoying a cookie after dinner.

We have been home now for a few days and we are loving every minute of it. Quinn has met his physical and occupational therapists and is ready to jump right into therapy. We will be going to PT 2x/week and OT 1x/week for the next few weeks. He will see his neurologist in 2 weeks and have another MRI in 3 weeks. I am going to be on leave from work for a while to spend time at home. Quinn is happy little guy, loves to watch his brother and get kisses and hugs. We had a little bout of the stomach flu that started with me and passed to Grandma and Ben. Hopefully it stops there. Uncle Joe and some of Ben and Quinn's cousins are coming to visit Friday night - we are excited!

Going Home!

Grandma and Grandpa have come to help us go home!

We get to go home today! Quinn has finished his steroid treatments and they are letting us go home today!! Quinn will be starting his physical therapy this week and will have another MRI in about 3 weeks. We are so happy to be going home - we get to see Ben and sleep in our own bed!

Therapy with Mom!

Eating puffs - look at that dexterity!

Working out on the floor.

Practicing sitting up.

Rough Night

Quinn waiting for the numbing cream to take effect on his arms and legs so they can try to start another IV.

Taking control of the bottle!

Look at my new IV Mom!

Quinn had a rough night last night. He started vomiting after his dinner and ended up losing his IV in the process. We knew that we may not make it his entire stay with the same, original IV but we were hoping it would last for his last night on steriods. After a long, painful process a great nurse from the ER came up and was able to get one in on his left ankle. Quinn received his last dose of steroids and some Toradol for discomfort. He also had his fluids increased via IV. He slept for a few hours and woke up at 3 am wanting something to drink. He kept down 2 oz. of Pedialyte and then slept for another 3 hours. He had another 4 oz. of Pedialyte at 6 am and then had some breakfast. So far, so good as everything has stayed in his belly.

We had a visit from the pediatric neurologist this morning and he was pleased with Quinn's progress. We were so proud last night when Quinn kicked the nurse while she was trying to start the IV! Hopefully we will be going home today or tomorrow. Quinn has a lot of hard work ahead of him but we are anxious for the challenge!

Ben's Birthday

Quinn getting ready to party!

Ben wants cake now!

Loving the cake

We have had to postpone Ben's 2nd birthday party due to the volleyball Final Four and now Quinn's hospitalization. We did celebrate at home on December 18th with a cake and a few presents. Ben isn't in to opening presents much at this time anyway so I don't think he minds waiting a few more weeks for a party.

Therapy

Playing with the nurse.

Sitting with Mom holding his favorite therapy toy - stacking cups.

I am stretching Quinn's legs everyday and "exercising" them as much as possible. He is beginning to show some more tone in his leg and hip muscles and he is starting to use his trunk to attempt to sit. He still gets a majority of his balance when he sits from his arms, but it's an improvement! He is also able to tolerate some tummy time and he can spin around and use his arms to move forward a bit. We are so proud! He moved his legs a few times when he was on his tummy - all good news! We look forward to Quinn's 4 am feeding (the steroids make him a hungry hippo so we have gone back to early morning feedings) as this is when we see him close his legs and resist use moving them when we are changing his diaper. Lots of high-fives between us and the nurses then!

Visitors

Playing in the Exersaucer.

Look at that hand holding the cup!

Playing with Great-Aunt Peggy

Quinn and Grandma

We are limited to only 4 visitors a day including ourselves. My parents came and spent the day with Quinn on Saturday so Chris and I could go home and spend the day with Ben. It was so good to see Benjamin! I was able to get home before he woke up and he was attached to me for most of the day. Chris came home a little later and Ben ran to the door and gave him a huge hug. We went to Target, got Chris and Ben haircuts, and went to lunch at Denny's. Ben said Thank You to everyone that walked by! Ben and Mom took a nap while Dad, Uncle Joe, and cousins Jamie and Mackenzie watched the Gopher Basketball game. Uncle Joe watched Ben while Chris and I went back to the hospital. We are getting anxious to go home!

My cousins Becky and Kelly were with us the first night in the hospital and Uncle Joe and my cousin Beth came up on Friday. Grandma and Grandpa come up everyday. Today Grandma and Great-Aunt Peggy came to visit and play with Quinn. Quinn showed off some of his new "movements" - better trunk control and grasping ability. We also have had some encouraging leg movement!!! We are beyond thrilled, even the neurologist is happy about that. We still have a long, long road ahead of us and we have no idea what extent Quinn's recovery will be. We do know that he will not be in the group that has no recovery from TM and that's amazing!