Recently in emma Category

emma again (almost 3!)

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Emma's Halloween costume

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behold the baby barista!
Emma has been growing so fast, I wish that we could see her more often. She and her mom have weathered the flu, and after recovering from flu Emma had an ear infection, then a sinus infection, then another ear infection. But now she seems to be doing well. She is a great conversationalist on the phone and loves it when her Grandad reads her stories over the phone.

Pretty in pink

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A very recent (just before Halloween) picture.
Emma is doing well, and we are looking forward to seeing her and her mom at Thanksgiving.
She has been through a lot since her birthday. She suffered an injury and was in a cast for a while, she has been back to the hospital for tummy bug for which she needed IV hydration and an overnight stay. But as you can see, she really is thriving.

It is so hard to believe that a full year has gone by. From this
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to this
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to this
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and now
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trying to get back to normal

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Emma went home with her mom late last night. They decided to wait on the EEG until later this week, but they have started Emma on an anti-seizure medication. No idea why this happened, just 'one of those things' that is not unusual with brain trauma.
I am told that Emma had a reasonably normal day today. Her mom took her to the Farmer's Market and she saw some of her friends. They went out for frozen treats,too. She still isn't 100% back to herself, but she is also teething again. She now has 8 teeth and is probably working on 3 more.
I cannot tell all of you just how much your prayers mean to us. It is such a blessing to be able to reach out in this way and know that you are there and praying.

quick note from Jess

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Hi All -
posting this quickly while emma sleeps.
She is home now. She is now on an anticonvulsant med (Trileptal?) because the duration (25 minutes each) of the two seizures, and the fact that they had to use meds to stop them. Because of the prior brain damage of hydrocephalus, she is at higher risk for repeated seizures.

She is still not quite herself - she has lost a little muscle tone and is VERY clingy (which is not her usual pattern). She is also nursing ALL the time, and a little weakly - i think she is going to have to re-learn nursing a little. Her latch is slipping. She is not able to sit up very long without tipping over. I know these will all come back, but the regression scares me - and the loss of my chatty smiley little girl does too.

But, considering the many (worse) alternatives, she is doing well.
We have what amounts to a doctor's visit a day for the next two weeks, between follow-ups and testings.

Thanks for all the prayers and thoughts. I appreciate it all! Please keep Emma in your prayers as she is now on this new medication which grogs her out a bit.

thanks again.
jess & emma

later update

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I just talked to Jess and she says that Emma is back to 70-80% of herself. She is now being allowed to eat and has nursed several times. She is being social and interacting and even has a new word - "OK".
They are still at the hospital and waiting for the EEG to be done. They are calling this a 'focal seizure' and will probably be putting Emma on a medication for a while at least.
Thanks to all of you for the prayers, masses, and holy hours you have already offered. The Communion of Saints is indeed a reality that we can see and feel.

morning update

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Emma is stable, she is still groggy and not herself. She is NPO with an IV to keep her hydrated. She probably would have trouble nursing right now anyhow. We are waiting for the neuros to read her x-rays and also for an EEG. So for so good, no more seizures have happened. Jess keeps second guessing herself on this, like any mom would I guess. Life is so full of the what-ifs! I am going to head in to the office and see about a dozen patients (unless of course some one goes into labor). It is so hard to be 600 miles away, but I am so glad that Jess has some good friends to help her where she is.
No fever, no signs of infection, no clue yet as to what and why. All the prayers are really appreciated.

please pray now

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I just got a call from Jess, Emma just had a seizure and she has called the EMT - they are on their way to the peds ER. More when I know more.
Update (2231 CDT)
The paramedics gave her a dose of diazepam (valium) which stopped the seizure and were able to put in an IV. When she got to the ED, she seized again and they gave her two doses of ativan and one of propofol and the seizures stopped. They are doing bloodwork and getting imaging of her shunt and will call in both a neurologist and the on-call for her neurosurgeon. Haven't tapped the shunt yet.
2248 - Emma will be in the hospital at least overnight, she is groggy but conscious, her O2 sat is 100% on blow-by oxygen, they are hoping that they don't have to intubate her. They are getting ready to give her a longer acting anti-seizure medication. Jess doesn't know exactly what it is, she says it is in the same family as Dilantin. She has a friend bringing her car, some clothes, and her breast pump equipment to the hospital for her, and they have activated the prayer chain from her parish.

Her newest adventure

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She is starting vision therapy for her wandering eye, and the glasses are part of it. Can you believe that she will be one year old in a few days? I sure can't! Thanks to all of you for the prayers for the last 18 months, it has been a real blessing to be sure.

eating like a big girl!

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Emma eats bananas in a diner. May 10 2008
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happy shopper

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Today we celebrated Emma in a special way. Obviously, she could not be baptized again, as that was done the day of her birth. But we were able to go through this beautiful liturgy. Emma's mom opted to have this done during the Mass in her Parish where she usually attends. The godparents were two more of our children, who flew long distances to be here and to support their sister in this.
Rites for a child baptized in an emergency

If a child was baptized in danger of death, the Rite of Bring a Baptized Child to the Church may be celebrated. This rites celebrates all the additional ceremonies of the baptism rite including the reception and welcoming of the child, anointing, clothing with the white garment, presentation of the candle, and blessings.

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RECEPTION OF THE CHILD

165 The people may sing a psalm or song suitable for the occasion. Meanwhile the celebrating priest or deacon, vested in alb or surplice, with a stole (with or without a cope) of festive color, and accompanied by the ministers, goes to the entrance of the church where the parents and godparents are waiting with the child.

166. The celebrant greets all present, and especially the parents and godparents. He praises them for having had the child baptized without delay, and thanks God and congratulates the parents on the child's return to health.

167. First the celebrant questions the parents:

Celebrant: What name have you given the child?

Parents: N.

Celebrant: What do you ask of God's Church, now that your child has been baptized?

Parents: We ask that the whole community will know that he (she) has been received into the Church.

The first reply may be given by someone other than the parents if local custom gives him the right to name the child.

In the second response the parents may use other words, such as that he (she) is a Christian or that he (she) has been baptized.

168. Then the celebrant speaks to the parents in these or similar words:

Celebrant: Do you realize that in bringing your child to the Church, you are accepting the duty of raising him (her) in the faith, so that by observing the commandments he (she) will love God and neighbor as Christ taught us?

Parents: We do.

169. Then the celebrant turns to the godparents and addresses them in these or similar words:

Are you ready to help the mother and father of this child to carry out their duty as Christian parents?

Godparents: We are.

170. The celebrant continues:

N., the Christian community welcomes you with great joy, now that you have recovered your health. We now bear witness that you have been received as a member of the Church. In the name of the community I sign you with the cross of Christ, who gave you a new life in baptism and made you a member of his Church. I invite your parents (and godparents) to do the same.

He signs the child on the forehead, in silence. Then he invites the parents and the godparents to do the same.

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Then the celebrant says:

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, source of all life and love, you are glorified by the loving care shown this child. You rescue children from danger and save them in baptism.

Your Church thanks you and prays for your child Emma. You have brought her out of the kingdom of darkness and into your marvelous light. You have made her your adopted child and a temple of the Holy Spirit.

Help him (her) in all the dangers of this life and strengthen her in the constant effort to reach your kingdom, through the power of Christ our Savior through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen
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ANOINTING WITH CHRISM

178. Then the celebrant says:

God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has freed you from sin, given you a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and welcomed you into his holy people. He now anoints you with the chrism of salvation. As Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet, and King, so may you live always as a member of his body, sharing everlasting life.

All: Amen.

Then the celebrant anoints the child on the crown of the head with the chrism, in silence.
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CLOTHING WITH WHITE GARMENT

179. The celebrant says:

N., you have become a new creation, and have clothed yourself in Christ. See in this white garment the outward sign of your Christian dignity. With your family and friends to help you by word and example, bring that dignity unstained into the everlasting life of heaven.

All: Amen.
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LIGHTED CANDLE

180. The celebrant takes the Easter candle and says:

Receive the light of Christ

Someone, such as the godparent, lights the child's candle from the Easter candle.

The celebrant then says:

Parents and godparents, this light is entrusted to you to be kept burning brightly. This child of yours has been enlightened by Christ. He (she) is to walk always as a child of the light. May he (she) keep the flame of faith alive in his (her) heart. When the Lord comes, may he (she) go out to meet him with all the saints in the heavenly kingdom.
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There was also a wonderful blessing at the end of mass, but I haven't been able to find the text. I am also not sure that the texts above are completely accurate, but they are what I could find.
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Watch her grow!!!

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emma valentine

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She is 8 months old now.

what I did on my weekend

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5 generations of first daughters.

sleeping on her boppy

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She is HOME!!!!!
and nursing up a storm.

surgery went well

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and emma is back in her room snuggled up to her mama.
They placed a programmable variable shunt this time. The pediatric neurosurgeon handed Jess the owner's manual.
Anticipating a discharge home in 2 days or so, god willing.

emma surgery

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her cultures have been clear, she is scheduled for shunt re-placement tomorrow morning. Not sure the exact time - prayers as usual
she also has a nasty yeast diaper rash from the antibiotics....
her great-grandma (my mom) is with her and jess now for a while

An article on VP shunt infections

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This page is a archive of recent entries in the emma category.

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