connor
charles
maruska
  Journal · 1/4/08
Fun in Wisconsin
August 24, 2010
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click to enlarge Just got back from our Minnesota and Wisconsin Trip. We traveled up there for a friend's wedding. Love the Koebele family. We had to get up there to see all of them and all the Minnesota friends. We had such a good time....maybe Andy and I had a little too much of a good time. But, I suppose it was much needed to get out and enjoy life! A little karaoke and dancing never hurt anyone... unless of course you were there to have your ears hurt by the pitchiness or laugh too hard at the crazy thirty year olds trying to dance like a bad audition to "So You Think You Can Dance".

The kids continue to be doing great. We still have little battles with asthma and food allergies, but it continues to be more manageable every day. They are doing awesome at school and just seem to be growing up way too fast already!

I was so proud to bring Connor to Wisconsin and show him off to all the families that supported us so much during Connor's struggles. It just seemed like a huge milestone to be able to show him off doing so well. If these friends did not read our website, see the videos and pictures, and know of his incredible story, I don't think that they would have ever have been able to guess that Connor went through any obstacles and hurdles. Honestly, the only way that he appears "different" now is when he takes his shirt off and you see all the scars and battle wounds.  Even those are continuing to fade.
I never could have imagined that he would be doing as well as he is. I don't think that anyone could have imagined that if they saw him on day 2 of his life. If anyone does not believe in miracles, they just need to meet Connor and hear is story. I think they would probably change their mind.

Now if only we can work a miracle for Andy on the dance floor...that would truly be divine intervention.
Aubrey's School Day
June 11, 2010
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click to enlarge Aubrey made it to school today! She has not been as "cooperative" as Connor with school. She is a little nervous about new situations. Her brother was in the hospital and jet-setting to Boston as a baby, so I think he just got used to new people and new settings more than Aubrey.
Today though she walked right in like a big girl with her Princess lunchbox and got to work playing with toys....hopefully this is a new trend!
Summer Sun
June 11, 2010
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click to enlarge Look at this kid enjoying his summer sun! This is really the first summer that he has been able to swim. We never did feel comfortable with him swimming with a Broviac or a public swimming pool and a G-tube (even though I know it is okay and other short guts do it!....call us crazy!). Let me tell you though, that kid loves to swim and play in the water. The fish oil made him a little fish. The fish oil also gave him that big head. Yes, those sunglasses are his Uncle Seth's and they fit Connor's head nice and snug!

It was also nice to let him just go and run around without his shirt on. I always felt a little nervous with people gawking at his G-tube and hardware. He probably did not notice, but I was just always nervous for him (I would always just be thinking, "Come people, it is just a G-tube!"). He still has his scars as you can see, but they are healing nicely and he just loves showing off his muscles!
Connor and Preschool
May 04, 2010

Connor is really enjoying preschool. He likes it so much now, that he does not want to leave "playing with his friends"! He plays and learns so much that he is just exhausted when he comes home. 

He has become so much more tolerant of foods. About a month ago, we all went to one of Andy's work functions at the Phoenix Zoo. Normally, I cringe when I see that the menu only consists of Hamburgers and Hot Dogs since it leaves us the only option of giving him lettuce and tomatoes to eat. However, they had Bar-b-que chicken on the menu. Andy and I looked at each other and we thought...what the heck, let's give it a try. Connor took a couple of bites and told us "Mmmmm...that sure is good mom!" and he smacked his lips together. Nothing ever bothered his stomach and he was completely fine. I would have never have thought that would be possible.

Preschool is really expanding his vocabulary and skills also. They brought home a painting yesterday that they painted upside down like Michelango and the Sistine Chapel. He told me that, "Michelango was a very good painter." I told him  "Yes, Connor he was and someday we will take you there so you can see it for your own eyes....it is one of those memories that you will never forget". 

Funny thing is though...when I think back of my memories of the Sistine Chapel and I think of Connor eating a whole plate of Bar-b-que and dripping it all down his chin...the latter memory seems just as remarkable.
Allergy Medical Emergency and Possible Emergency GI Surgery...
April 26, 2010
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click to enlarge

No, neither with Connor. Surprised? On our trip to Portland, of course we had to get some great Thai food that we missed so much. I gave Aubrey a couple of Pad Thai noodles for lunch, and surprisingly she threw up. She never vomits?! But she had been sick that week and we were half a country away, so we thought that her stomach may just have been upset. That night, while I was at my Dental School 5 year reunion, aunt and uncle gave her a couple more noodles for dinner, and sure enough...hives on chest, runny nose, eye swollen, and wheezy breathing. Like a good aunt and uncle they gave her some Benadryl and called us to say that she seemed to be doing fine.

Sure enough at the Allergist's the next week, they confirmed peanut allergy and soy allergy...possible chicken, corn, egg, and tomato allergy!! Peanut was severe. So now we are even more equipped at our house with Epi-pens, Emergency steriods, and a slew of allergy medicines! Wow...I thought Connor was my allergy kid!

That night after finding out Aubrey had a peanut allergy and feeling horrible thinking about what could have happened to her that night in Portland, I noticed that Abby...our faithful little dog...had blood on her behind. I called Andy at work and said, I think that you should take her in to the emergency vet. We are not making great emergency medical calls, so bring her in so I feel better. Sure enough, Abby had eaten rocks and they were stuck in her colon?!! She was also severely dehydrated. Are you serious? Rocks? Yes.

They decided to monitor her overnight because she seemed stable and the rocks were small. They ran IV fluids to get her back hydrated. They said that if she did not pass them, they would have to do GI surgery to remove the rocks. By the morning, she seemed to be doing better so they discharged her and told us to follow up with an x-ray in two weeks. Thank goodness they did not have to cut her open and she still seems to be doing fine! Rocks??

Connor has been doing really well. He has gotten an ear infection and a cold since starting preschool, but he seems to handling the "normal" colds and infections well. He loves preschool! At his first parent/teacher conference received very good marks! He likes playing with his new friends and learning!

It is never a dull moment at the Maruska household.