I have been away from the Blog for a while because our lives have taken an unexpected turn this summer. So, this is part 1 of 3. It's a long story and I have lots of photos to post.
In late June our family set off on a roadtrip through Iowa to see our friends and family. We had been on the road for only a day when Brooke came down with a fever. It was short lived and she was back to normal in a couple days. Then Grant got the fever and he too improved in a couple days.
On Friday, June 25, we made a joyous stop at Blank Children's Hospital to see Trent's surgeon, Dr. Buchi. It has been nearly 10 years since God used Dr. Buchi to reconstruct Trent's diaphragm and perform 5 other repairs and reconstruction surgeries on Trent. Dr. Buchi walked through some very rough waters with our family. He was DELIGHTED to see and hug Trent. We reminised and praised God for his work in Trent's life. Little did we know at the time how ironic this meeting would be.
We drove on to Omaha and visited Alex's brothers and their families. Trent got the fever on Friday night, but it was low and with Tylenol he was still able to go to the Zoo with all of us.
By Sunday, the fever was higher and Trent had developed a tight cough. We drove on to Alex's parents in south-central Iowa to spend the night. Trent's cough was getting worse. I began to worry about an ER trip and asked my mother in law where the nearest hospital was. Then we went to bed. (Well, I laid in bed at least, but my Mommy-radar heard every cough and moan from Trent.)
Trent coughed all night and woke up Monday morning at 3:00 am with a 104.5 fever and violent coughing fits. He did not look well. He was holding his left side and crying everytime he inhaled. Alex and I decided he needed real help. I volunteered to make the drive to the ER while Al stayed with the other two kids. As I drove along the rural highway I prayed, "Lord, should I go to the little local hospital or make the longer drive north to Blank Children's Hospital?" In a last minute decision, I turned the car north to DesMoines.
Trent had stabalized in the car and was talking and pink. I knew he was not critical, but still, I knew something was wrong.
The Children's Hospital was amazing. They were very quick. Trent got a breathing treatment and felt better. He got an x-ray which showed pnuemonia in the lower left lung. It also showed something suspicious at the bottom of his left lung.
I knew Dr. Buchi would want to know what was going on so I went up to his 3rd floor office and left a message for his nurse. Buchi called me shortly, wanting to know what was going on. Trent was sent for a CAT scan.
An hour later Dr. Buchi came into the ER room to tell me the patch on Trent's diaphragm had torn loose and a section of intesine has come up into his chest. Trent would need surgery. I think Buchi was more devastated than me. But I again experienced God's peace that goes beyond human comprehension. Even though I was not happy, I had a calm peace that this all was part of God's Soveriegn timing. God placed us in Iowa, with Trent's surgeon at just the right time. Who better to loving care for and be attentive to Trent's unique needs? Buchi assured us that Trent was stable and the intestine was not compromised. Trent started antibiotics and steriod and was sent home.
We cut the trip short and headed for home. Trent still was having trouble coughing and couldn't keep his inhaler in. We stopped in Davenport to sleep and ended up in the ER the Tuesday morning for two more breathing treatments on Tuesday. We made it home Tuesday afternoon. Trent was still working hard to breathe and his coughing was worse. He saw the pediatrician and was admitted to St. Alexius hospital in Barrington for two nights. I was relieved. He needed IV steriod and antibiotics, oxygen and breathing treatments round the clock. After two days he perked up and felt great. His test for Whooping Cough came back positive. So not only did he have pneumonia, he had Whooping Cough and a torn diaphragm too! No wonder the kid felt rotten!
Trent is stable. He wants to roller blade but I won't let him. We have been cleared to travel this next week to Florida for our extended Rose Family vacation. We are returning to DesMoines and Dr. Buchi for the surgery after vacation.
Read on to parts two and three of this very long post for the "happy part" of our roadtrip. God is good, all the time.
We had a wonderful vacation to Panama City Beach, Florida. It was very relaxing. No schedules, no pressure. Our biggest decision of the day was "Do you want to go to the beach or pool first?" We love the Gulf of Mexico. We stayed in a resort right on the beach. The sand was white and soft. The ocean was very clear, warm and calm for the first few days we were there. 
What made it extra special is just being together. My parents, Doug and Debbi, their twins Ben and Joe were all with us for the week. We LOVED being with those precious babies so much. In fact, Grant loved being with his cousins so much he cried the night before we left because he was going to miss Ben and Joe!
Here are Doug and Debbi. Debbi is holding Benjamin and Doug is holding Joseph. They were a little overwhelmed by the ocean. But the last day (of course) they started to warm up to it and loved crawling around the sand and into the waves.
One evening we all went to Pier Park. It is a very nice shopping boardwalk right near the ocean. We sampled fudge and bought gourmet popcorn. The kids all wore their Florida airbrushed t-shirts.
This is one of my favorite pictures ever. It just embodies summer, youth, love, joy, and energy. Brooke is definately "Daddy's Girl".
I hope someday my children look back on these trips to the ocean with fond memories.
Blue Snowcone. Enough said.
Grant could boogie board for hours. He slept well at night needless to say. Too much fun!
