If its alright with Mickey

Time for Mickey Mouse's vitals!  Gus watches as the nurse demonstrates procedures on his stuffed toy Mickey Mouse.  She puts the thermometer in Mickey's ear.  "Beep, beep, beep," is heard to take the temperature. She adjusts the blood pressure cuff on Mickey's leg to take his blood pressure.  She wraps the glow light around his paw and a pretend pulse and oxygen level is taken. Gus helps use a measuring tape for Mickey's belly, then a flash light to look at Mickey's eyes. A stethoscope is used to listen to Mickey's heart and lungs.  "All done and now its your turn," the nurse says to Gus.  If Mickey is alright with it, then Gus is alright with it too.

Gus's Top Ten NTU Picks

10. I ditched the crib for a big kid bed

9. There is a play gym with cars and a race track

8. The window with big tractors to watch work

7. The speech therapy lady let me lick a sucker! 

6. Wheel chair rides around the hospital floor

5. Playing with the suction tube from the wall when I brush my teeth

4. A 400+ movie selection

3. Milk! I can now drink a thick milk shake.

2. My vitals are only taken every 4 hours,  and the number one pick. . . .

Gus's Lucky Charm

Gus runs around Granny's house large and in charge. He teases the dog, scrambles through rooms, and opens every kitchen cabinet. He finds himself in exactly where Granny tells him not to be; her secret jewelry chest. Gus's fingers feel through the collection and target a small crystal jewel piece that once decorated his Great Grandma Morgan's dining room chandelier.  To be able to fit more shiny objects in his hands, he pops the candy-sized crystal in his mouth. During his precious jewel raid the crystal is swallowed! "Where it go?" Gus asks with a confused eyebrow lift and raise of his palm. Something else catches his attention and he quickly forgets about the foreign item in his belly.
I imagine that's how Gus acquired his lucky charm. 

Weaning time

It's fall time at the ranch and the season's work is steady. The mother cows can smell the autumn air as they come of the mountain. Cowboys will work the cows through the corrals to get them ready for winter.  The baby calves will carefully be transitioned off their mommas side. Weaning; a practice all ranchers use and know well. Weaning; a term Curt and I finally understand in the PICU. 

Our Family

Gus would like to share a couple family pictures from this summer with all of you that are following his recovery.  It may give you an idea of who Gus is and what he acts like if you don't know him. If you do know Gus it will remind you of his bright eyes, beautiful smile and common facial expressions. Either way it makes your heart feel so good to see him.  Thank you to our photographer who has given us permission to share this album. Do not copy, paste or duplicate these pictures or Mamma Morgan will come at you like a spider monkey! Thank you for your continued support. 

A new farm truck

It is exactly like buying a new farm truck. You consider the features and styles, research the latest engine updates, and evaluate the make and model. When the time is right to up-grade you will know. You jump in the drivers seat and take it for a test drive. Adjusting to the new vehicle will take some time, but with patience it will adjust to you. It will allow you to do things you never thought possible. It can even boost your physical capabilities. For those of you who have shopped for a new farm truck, you'll know what Gus feels like today.

"He pushes buttons!"

Gus moves his pointer finger over the star-shaped buttons of a playschool toy phone, feeling the bumps of the numbers. He grasps the side of the phone with his right hand and presses with his thumb. "One, two, three" plays the phone. "He pushes buttons!" I say so excited.  Gus's eyes slowly focus on the toy and his fingers start feeling for more number buttons. Hearing the everlasting noise of this annoying baby toy makes my heart feel so content. I never thought I would enjoy the endless Elmo voice on the toy I had once hid secretly in my house. There is excitement in my son's slight cheek lift as he shares this accomplishment with me, his daddy and his nurse.

Love this Gus

We never knew that ten days ago our family would encounter an unimaginable event. As Gus's mom, the thought of my baby even being sick made me so scared.  Tonight I sit by a Primary Children's hospital crib and gaze at my beautiful baby. His eyes are softly closed as he sleeps. His thick blonde hair lay messy from my fingers running through it. His arm rests around his stuffed Manny mammoth, and his legs around a new plush soft cow. Curt and I watch the breaths Gus takes on the respirator monitor. Each day his breathing becomes calmer and stronger.  Gus's nurse hears less alarms and gives less medications. This room sees less equipment and requires less technical attention.  I feel peace as I watch his green heart rate line on the screen. My hours in the PICU has given me a strong faith for God and so much love for my family.