08.19.08
Posted in Work at 9:02 pm by Adam
As I mentioned about a month ago, I have decided to pursue a start-up opportunity. I am pleased to announce that I am a co-founder and the Director of Technology of ViaVivo, Inc. We are an eLearning development firm focused on creating advanced instructional simulations and serious games.
Our new office is located at the Westpark office complex at Steck and Mopac. We have a few desks, DSL with wireless connectivity, printers, telephone, microwave, small refrigerator, and the all-important coffee maker. And the best part - employees are equipped with all new MacBook Pros! I’m terribly excited to be developing once again on the Mac. Coding is such a joy.
Our first task at hand is to assist a client with a few games going into their curriculum this fall. Afterwards, we’ll take some time to focus on marketing, branding, and strategy - basically the material that will populate our stark Web site: www.viavivo.com. We also have a few other projects waiting in the wings that will need our attention and there’s the outstanding logistical matters that come with starting a new business.
I started going to work full time this week. I’m doing pretty well but usually by 2pm I’m pretty tired and need to head home for a nap. Fortunately, I can continue working afterwards from home. The doctors had given fair warning that healing would take a lot out of me so proper diet and rest is important. My calorie intake has slipped a bit so I’ll need to bring a bit more food to the office.
Once again, I’m very excited about this opportunity and I look forward to sharing more with you all in the future.
P.S.: For those of you wondering, via vivo is latin for “the path of life”.
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08.14.08
Posted in Events, Family at 9:55 pm by Sharon
So last weekend we went on the Texas Alliance for Life Family Safari at the Texas Disposal System Exotic Game Ranch and Pavilion. There are 1600 animals from 30 different species. Yes, and it was right next door to a landfill…but it was clean smelling landfill. You wouldn’t know it was there if you were just going by your nose. The walls inside the pavilion were covered with stuffed animals that either died there on the ranch or were imported in.
Fulton: “Mommy, mommy, mooooommmmyyy! Oh look! It’s a bus!”
On the bus to see the animals on the ranch–just being on a bus was a big adventure for the kids! Oh and where are the buckles (seat belts)? Big concern for Therese.
Inside the pavilion with a big stuffed bear.
And a croc. Gianna hanging on for dear life!
This was our first outing since the surgery and it was nice to get out!
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08.12.08
Posted in Family, Health at 2:20 pm by Sharon
4 to go… of pureed soups for Adam. His weight has leveled off and perhaps those extra ice creamy milk shakes are slowly adding back the pounds.
Thankfully we received more clarification on the procedure the surgeon is doing on Thursday. Some of you may remember that Adam had jaw joint surgery about 6 years ago before we were married. Dr. Nelson, the orthodontist, said that wearing the rubber bands causes additional stress on the jaw joint and he wants to get Adam off the rubber bands as quickly as possible. Adam’s two pairs of back teeth that still don’t touch need to be moved together more quickly. In order to do that, one of the plates on his left side will be cut–not removed entirely. This will allow those teeth to be pulled down in 3-4 months instead of 6. The procedure should take less than an hour and Adam will be knocked out. Dr. Nelson says it’s equivalent to having wisdom teeth remove. Adam’s will not regress in his recovery but is still on course to continue the liquid diet for another 4 weeks before he can start on mushy food. His goal–to have a piece of Gianna’s birthday cake!
Overall we’re starting to get back into the groove of life. Despite what the blog reads, we haven’t totally be obsessing about Adam’s jaw. The meals that people have brought certainly have helped and made meal time much easier. Although, I can’t wait until Gianna is a year old and we can add in all those allergy related foods in her diet that are off limits now!!
Therese has been practicing her piano (on her own) and has mastered Bingo and Yankee Doodle. Perhaps Adam can put up one of the videos or teach me to do it. (hint hint sweetheart) Yesterday he picked up the next set of piano books. We’re officially starting school next week and I’ve expanded our school area in what was once our breakfast nook. I’ll be finishing up this week. The kids and I are really excited. Fulton has even expressed interest in learning to read. (We’ll see if that happens…I won’t be pushing him.) Gianna’s a force to be reckoned with and wanting a part of big sister’s and big brother’s action–much to their dismay at times. The cutest thing she says is “uh oh” when something falls. She’s still not sleeping through the night, but sometimes I am! 
She made it from 8:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. today! That was a major breakthrough…and I and her roommate (Therese) just ignored the 4:30 a.m. episode.
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08.07.08
Posted in Faith, Family at 10:45 pm by Adam
Congrats to my sister, Sr. Maria Kolbe, O.P. who made her first profession of vows this past Wednesday with the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. Sister took the vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience for 3 years, after which she will make her permanent vows. It was also during this ceremony when she exchanged the white veil for black.
After a 3 week home visit, Sr. Kolbe will return to her community and take up studies at university to work towards her teaching degree. Congrats, Sister! We couldn’t be more happy for you!
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Posted in Family, Health at 5:12 pm by Sharon
A week post-surgery on Tuesday, Adam had lost twelve pounds. This is totally unacceptable. So I’ve been crunching numbers on how to increase his calorie intake. Since the fluids have had a tendency to fill him quickly, I’ve settled on 5 “meals.” Each meal has to consist of at least 560 calories and 17 grams of protein for 2800 calories/day and 85 gram of protein/day. I’ve pretty much forbidden drinking water since water has no calories.
His swelling has gone down considerably. Although he’s still a little swollen and numb, with the weight he’s lost, he looks almost back to his old self. He has some pretty tight rubber bands holding his teeth together. He’s not as intelligible as he was even last week when he tries to talk. This morning at his orthodontist appointment, he was shown how to change the bands himself and encouraged to go 3 hours/day without them.
But the plot thickens in my husband’s jaw saga. The orthodontist this morning said that the plate on the left side of his jaw needs to be removed. (*aaaarrrrgggghhhh!*) However, apparently the orthodontist says that by removing this plate, he can–through orthodontics–move the back teeth on the left closer together faster thereby speeding up the recovery time by 3-4 months. The removal of the plate will be an outpatient procedure that will be done at the surgeon’s office next Thursday.
He has yet to have a good night’s sleep even with a sleeping pill that the doctor prescribed. Please pray that he can get some good rest. He’ll start back to work from home half days next week with his new job.
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08.03.08
Posted in Family, Health at 8:02 pm by Sharon
Can someone convince my husband that he needs to drink even though he doesn’t “feel” hungry?
Adam had a rough day which actually started last night being unable to sleep well. He woke up with a tight chest, head ache and a low grade fever that climbed to 100.1 last I checked.
I called the doctor. Adam has to take deep breaths hourly and cough to make sure he doesn’t get fluid in his lungs. Dr. Quaroni thinks this is why Adam is getting a fever. He also said Adam need to increase his fluids and told me to give him Benedryl to help him sleep better at night.
Adam is officially sick of liquids. He entertained the idea of blending some shells and cheese until I told him I’d have to thin it out for him to drink.
Please continue to pray for my beloved husband.
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08.02.08
Posted in Family, Friends, Health at 4:31 pm by Adam
Greetings, everyone. I can’t thank you enough for all you have done for me and the family these past few days. Your help has been very appreciated. I’m well enough where I can give my beloved a little break on the updates and fill you in myself.
- All my meals will be through a straw or a large syringe for the next few weeks. I expect to tire of it shortly but I never expected that the meals would be filling. It could also be that I don’t have much of an appetite. Sharon sure does know how to pack a lot of nutrients into a glass.
- I take medications regularly: Pain meds, antibiotics, mouth washes, and nasal sprays. These have been very helpful, but they do make my drowsy. I rest as often as I can.
- The lower portion of my face is quite swollen. Talking and swallowing are difficult and tiresome. I occasionally apply hot-packs to my face for temporal relief.
- Nosebleeds are frequent and expected. Part of the surgery was done in the sinus area so the swelling pressure is relieved through the nose.
So far there hasn’t been any surprises and we can hope that recovery will continue at a good pace. I see the orthodontist and the surgeon early next week so I’ll have more news to report then. I’ve remembered all your prayer intentions for those of you who sent them. I haven’t forgotten a one and still turn to them in moments of discomfort. Thank you again for all your prayers. I cannot do this alone.
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08.01.08
Posted in Events, Family, Health at 9:17 pm by Sharon
Adam came home yesterday! It’s so great to have him back. His swelling has gone down a little but not much and that’s his major discomfort. It’s also been difficult for him to sleep well since he still has to sleep propped at a 30-45 degree angle and sleeping on his back isn’t his favorite position.
The kids are adjusting out of necessity. Unfortunately Adam isn’t talking very well because of the numbness and swelling. So he can’t read to them. And he can’t pick up the kids as his weight limit is about 20 lbs. Dr. Quaroni only really gave him permission to pick up Gianna. Since she’s a squirmy worm, it’s probably not a good idea if he even does that. He’s not supposed to bend over or even squat. So “playing” with the kids is quite limited.
Meal time is fun. I know I’ll never open a restaurant! HA! Adam is on pure liquid diet for at least a couple of weeks. This mean everything I make has to be strained of fibers, seeds and the such. We don’t want to risk getting any particles in his incisions that might cause an infection. So between Adam’s meals, Gianna’s diet restrictions (since she’s not a year old yet there are still some foods to avoid), and the other kids, I’m having to keep up with a lot of meals. We got our first meal from the Care Calendar today and that was a blessing! Thanks Mary!
So far Adam hasn’t lost any weight, in fact maybe he gained a couple of pounds! Heehee…could be all that cream and super fortified milk (milk with powdered milk) I’m using in stuff! He’s supposed to get around 85 grams of protein a day to help in his healing and recovery. I found a protein powder “meal replacement” that has 38 grams. Hopefully that’ll do the trick.
Adam is a great dad and a super help when he is well. I’ve really come to appreciate even more all the things he does for me and the kids when he’s home.
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07.30.08
Posted in Events, Family, Health at 9:05 pm by Sharon
Adam is doing really well today. He did a little bit of walking and sitting in a chair. He was awake for the most part with a short afternoon nap.
We had a good visit with Dr. Quaroni tonight. Because I wasn’t sure, I asked what exactly was holding Adam’s jaw together. Answer: Titanium plates and about 30 screws! I guess he’ll be making the metal detectors at airports go off for the rest of his life. Dr. Quaroni is very pleased with the progress that Adam is making. In fact, Dr. Q said, “You don’t even look like you had jaw surgery yesterday.” To which I replied, “Well, we had a whole convent of nuns praying for this surgery!” Thank you Sister of Mary! And thanks again to all of you for your prayers! Adam is doing so well because of heaven and our Blessed Lord have been flooded with your prayers!
If he has a good night tonight, Adam will be able to come home tomorrow!
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07.29.08
Posted in Events, Family, Health at 8:57 pm by Sharon
Dr. Quaroni came by this evening to check in on Adam. Since the two previous times I’ve met with him, I have never seen him smile so much! I think he is well please with the work God did through his hands! So are we!
Adam is doing great. His face is numb still, but he is regaining sensation in his low lips. His color is good and a lot of the bleeding in his mouth has slowed down considerably allowing him to drink fluids now. He’s a little nauseous but taking meds to curb that. His swelling doesn’t seem “that bad” to me and he may swell a little more, but Dr. Q agreed that he looks really good. He should be on ice packs through tomorrow.
Adam took his first drinks of juice and broth this evening. He is drinking through a syringe with a rubber hose at the end. This is so that he doesn’t have to suck anything out. He really can’t drink out of a cup yet. His jaw is not wired shut but he is wearing strong rubber bands to keep his mouth closed.
Tomorrow, he will start drinking hourly, walking a little and sitting in a chair.
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