We are home!

Maya and I got home about 45 minutes ago. We were greeted by beautiful tulips (Chelsea) and begonias (Jade).... as well as lots of slobbery kisses (Abe!) Thank you for all the prayers, good vibes, and thoughts sent our way over the last 48 hours. We are waiting for Larkin to get home and then the Tackett family is going to go for a walk on this beautiful day. I don't think I have ever been as excited to spend a weekend at home as I am right now!

Friday

Maya is improving - she greeted me with a smile this morning (I thought I would be able to sneak down to the cafeteria for a cup of coffee without her waking up - I was wrong); has been playing with her toys, IV tubing, etc.; and has started pushing the nurses and doctors away. My stubborn little girl is back! The doctors decided to take her off oxygen about an hour ago. After eating 6 oz of formula this morning, she is now back asleep. Her levels are on the low side, but not the "low enough to go back on oxygen" side. It looks like we will be going home later this afternoon!

(Of course, yesterday they told us the same thing at this time, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they mean it today. If her blood oxygen levels stay up, and she doesn't develop a fever, we'll be sleeping in our beds tonight!)

Playful

Although it looks like we're staying another night in the hospital, Maya isn't too sick to do her tricks.

One more thing...

Larkin didn't marry up. He has been by my side every step of the way. He continues to take care of both Maya and me with humor, support, and unconditional love. I couldn't have completed my PhD without him - and I definitely could not have made it through 5 hours in the ER yesterday without him.

Doctors, doctors, and more doctors

Maya was taken off the oxygen this morning. She was sitting up and playing with her toys. However, when she fell asleep about an hour ago, her blood oxygen levels dropped enough that she needed to be put oxygen, so it looks like our great plans to leave tonight have been thwarted. Maya is sleeping peacefully, though, so we can't complain.

The doctors and nurses here have been fantastic; we've been very pleased with her care.

I did pass my dissertation defense this morning, so I'm now officially Dr. Katie Klingler Tackett. Unfortunately, I'm not the kind of doctor that Maya needs right now - luckily she has enough of those so I can concentrate on being Mom instead.

We postponed a planned happy hour celebration for tonight. Larkin ordered cupcakes (my favorite) with the title of my dissertation spelled out, so those are now here in Maya's hospital room for all to enjoy. For those of you in Austin, hopefully we'll figure out a way to share them with you all!

Feeling better

After a somewhat fitful night of sleep for all three of us, Maya is up and feeling better. We've seen one doctor this morning, who said that as long as Maya's oxygen level is up and fever is down, we should be able to check out later today.

Although it's not the full, two-toothed smile we're used to, this morning's picture shows the happiest face we've seen for the last few days.

Katie is set to defend her dissertation in the next few minutes.

I hope to have two pieces of good news to share very soon!

Pneumonia

As many of you know, Maya has been under the weather for the last several days. What started as a stomach bug about a week ago has progressed to coughing, fever, and some difficulty breathing. During an appointment with our pediatrician today, Maya’s blood oxygen level was 80, a pretty low number. Maya was quickly referred to the emergency room at Dell Children’s Hospital for a battery of tests. After checking her blood oxygen levels again, starting an IV and drawing blood, administering albuterol to increase air flow, taking a urine sample, and doing a chest x-ray, the ER doctor diagnosed her with pneumonia. They’re still not sure whether it’s bacterial or viral, but it’s definitely pneumonia.

Although it’s been very difficult to see our little eight-month old breathing through oxygen tubes and plugged into machines, it’s a relief to finally have a diagnosis and to begin treatment. The last several days have been a challenge to say the least. Maya hasn’t been her perky, playful, talkative self. Seeing a loved one is pain is always difficult, however, it’s particularly hard to care for a sick baby. Without any way for Maya to sooth herself or tell us what hurts, we’ve felt more frustrated and helpless than at any other time during our brief stint of parenthood.

The silver lining for me during this entire ordeal has been the opportunity to watch Katie reach a new level of motherhood. Throughout the numerous bouts of vomiting and diarrhea, the extent of Katie’s compassion and caring for Maya is awesome. This week Katie has prepared to defend her dissertation, managed a hectic work schedule, and even hosted some of our friends from out of town, all while making Maya’s health her top priority. I’m in constant awe of my wife and am reminded about the fact that I’ve truly married up.

As I listen to the oxygen humming behind Maya’s hospital crib and check her vitals, I recall how we swore at the end of 2008 that we would have a cancer and hospital-free 2009. That clearly was not in the cards. But thanks to the amazing medical staff at Dell, including the Florida Gator pediatrician on duty tonight, as well as Katie’s unending love, Maya will get better soon. Thanks for all the notes, thoughts, and prayers.

We’re going to try and nap now on the little pull-out bed in Maya’s room. Big day tomorrow.

January 2009

We have had a busy first five weeks of 2009. Maya and I flew to Winter Park for a long weekend to visit my parents, and Wendy visited us here in Austin. While 2009 didn't start exactly the way we wanted it to, it has given us lots of opportunities to see friends and family.

She and I spent MLK weekend in Winter Park. Flying to and from Orlando was the first time I ever flew with her by myself. Luckily, she did great - charming everyone around us.

Maya had a great time playing with Grandma in Florida.

She also got used to Grandpa's new beard.
Maya got to play with Kresley (and I got to hang out with Kristen!)

When Wendy was in town, the four of us went to see Anna Kreager, who is crawling all over the place. Maya isn't crawling yet, but she has managed to maneuver her way around the room somehow!
Shushu, Maya, and Larkin checked out the highest point in Austin, Mount Bonnell.
Maya loved being with her Shushu, especially since Shushu has less hair than Maya does right now!

At the end of the weekend with Shushu, Ginger Nold and her parents came over for some chili and the Super Bowl. Besides traveling and playing with her friends, Maya also seems to enjoy eating. She was not that into solid foods, but apparently some mango on New Year's Day did the trick. Or she made it her New Year's resolution to start eating solids... either way, she is now quite the eating machine.When Wendy was here, we had brunch at Kerbey Lane, our favorite breakfast place. Maya got to sit at the table for the first time in a restaurant!
After perusing the menu, Maya decided to share some pumpkin pancakes with me. Smart girl.
Meal time is always fun - and usually ends with a bath! In additon to eating, Maya's newest activity is pulling herself up to standing.



Maya stands at her "music table" for hours a day. Okay, so maybe not hours, but it feels like that at least as Larkin and I both find ourselves singing the alphabet song in Spanish (which plays every time she touches a particular button) randomly throughout the day.
In the next couple of weeks, we will be heading to California and back to Florida - stay tuned for more pictures!