Big Surgery Day!

So today was the big surgery day. He went in for surgery around 8:00 a.m. and got out around 1:30. So quite the surgery but the doctor said she took her time because she did not want to limit his ability later in life. She said his little hands look as great as they could look. I guess where they take the skin from gets really painful, so hopefully he will recover from that. But the biggest concern is still with his body adjusting to the fluids. He is still on the ventilator and still really swollen. He is still sedated and will be for the next couple of days. He just needs time for his body to heal. Levi and I are staying in the Ronald McDonald house. It is a wonderful place and when we get back on our feet we plan on volunteering there. Today I aslo met a man who had been burned over 75% of his body. He has been here for over 6 months. He is recovering great and it gave me hope that he can get through this. Tayton was only burned on 14% of his body, so if someone can recover from 75% he definately can recover from his. Today I am feeling comforted that he is going to make it but it won't be an easy thing to do. I honestly don't care how long it takes, or what he will look like when it is all over, I just am happy he is still here. Also today I keep thinking about his future and maybe how this is going to change him for the better. Who knows, maybe he will even be a burn surgeon one day. I just know the Lord has great things in store for my little guy. I am also for such a great husband who has been my rock. He keeps me strong when I have my metltdowns. He gives me the strength I need to get through the day. He also got some letter today from the kids and teachers at Willard Elementary. It was so fun to read them and when Tayton is alert I know he will love to read them. And I am so greatful for all the help that everyone has given us. There is no way I could make it through without it. I can't believe the kindness of people I love of complete strangers. I am overwhelmed at how many amazing people there are in this world. So thank you to everyone for the prayers, gifts, letters, and everything else. We really appreciate it. Keep the prayers coming please.

Day #4

So as some of you know last night was a little rough on Tayton. I came in this morning and saw him and pretty much just lost it. I think it is finally sinking in that this is my reality. I saw some major improvemnts yesterday but then last night and this morning it was hard. The swelling did go down a little and they gave him some medicine to help the tissues in his lungs release fluid and it was working. He is still struggling with his oxygen levels, and his little heart rate is still high, again things they say are normal with burn patients. I honestly just thought that on Thursday I would take hime to the Brigham City ER, they would put some burn cream on, wrap up his bandages and we would be home. I laugh at myself for thinking it would be that easy. I have never really seen or heard about burn victims and I never knew what a slow and hard recovery they have. The doctor keeps telling me I can't put a time frame on things. I keep asking how long will it take until this happens, or when can he do this. She said I will get nothing but dissappointed if I keep trying to put time limits on things. I was asking when he could go back to school and she said if he goes back to school before the school year is over will be amazing. She said getting released from the hospital and going back to school are totally seperate things. So I just need to be patient and take each day at a time. Today they just kept him pretty sedated and he didn't communicate much. He did open his eyes a little more today and I got to see his beautiful big brown eyes. But he needs lots of rest because tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. is his big surgery. Oh and some other good news they may not have as much skin graphing to do as they originally thought. I guess we will see how tomorrow goes. Oh also good news, the only other boy from the accident should go home tomorrow. I am so glad he gets to go home but I will miss his cute little face coming in to check on Tayton. Alot of the police officers wives donated this huge basket of toys, food, movies, cards, and all sorts of other fun things for us. I am so appreciative of them. Then we also got some fun get well cards from the primary kids at church and just amazing other gifts. Thank you so much to everyone, we really appreciate it. Well I am actually going to try to get some sleep tonight, I am running on empty but my mind just doesn't shut off. But pray that surgery goes well.

Up's and downs

Today started out really good, the swelling in his face went down a little which meant he was improving. He seemed to be a little more alert because they were bringing down the sedatives. I played some of his favorite songs for him today, and when Eye of the Tiger came on he started moving his feet like he was trying to show us his awesome dance moves that he does. I was able to tell him how many people were being so generous for him. He was kicking his feet and he even was able to open his eyes for a moment. His eyes are still so swollen so he can barely open them. He told us by wiggling his feet that he could see. It was fun to have reaction with him and you can tell he is trying so hard to talk but can't with the ventilator in. He keeps trying to push it out with his toungue. Poor kid, but hopefully we can get him off the ventilator soon. My family told me we had so many people come and help with the move today. I just want to tell everyone how appreciative I am. I wish more then anything I could have been moving today instead of being where we are, but at least I get to be with my son. Today my sister brought Tanna to me. I haven't seen her since the Brigham City ER and I was really excited to see her. She seemed to be a little stressed about seeing her brother and didn't want to go see him. But I still took her in because I want her to know the reason why I am not with her is because I'm trying to be there for Tayton. She only stayed a minute in the room then I took her back to our hotel and got her a bath and we had a great mommy-daughter talk. After our time alone together we went back and saw Tayton and she did so much better and Tayton even waved to her. So it looked today like things were getting a lot better. So we decided to take Tanna out to her favorite restaurant McDonalds. Then we took her shopping and got her a dream lite. We got back to the hospital and found there has been a few complications with Tayton. His oxygen levels were getting pretty low. So they are trying to figure out why. They did some chest exrays and found that the tissues in his lungs are holding to much fluid. They are putting him on special medication to get the fluid out of his lungs. I guess this is a normal complication for someone with this severe of burns. So hopefully the medicing kicks in and we also have to adjust the ventilator tube a bit so it is more centered in his lungs. His right side was getting more oxygen then the left. So that is where we are at now, just waiting for good news that the medicine will kick in and start getting the fluid out of his lungs. I know we are getting lots of prayers but please, please, please keep them coming. I think if we can get over this little hump of swelling and fluid problems, we should be ok. Also we still have to worry about ingfections but he hasn't been getting a fever and his white blood cell count looks to be ok for now. Thanks again for all the love and support, I can't tell everyone that enough. Keep fighting my little man, your being so brave and if anyone could make it through this it's you. You are the toughest little boy ever! I am so proud to be your mom and I could never have the strength you have. Your amazing and I am so blessed to call you my son. I love you most! Mom

He's a fighter!

Not much to report today. He did make some very minor improvemnets but he is a lot more swollen today. The doctors and nurses tell me that is normal for burn victims. The peak time for swelling is 24-48 hours, so we have about 18 hours left for swelling. It's so hard to look at him when he doesn't look like himself. They put in a feeding tube today so he can get the nutrition his little body needs. I found out today it will at least be until Thanksgiving until he is taken off the ventilator, so he will still be in critical condition until they take it out. He seems to come in and out and he tries to communicate. He will wiggle his feet and it's fun to know he can hear us. We read him some storied today and let him listen to the movie Brave. I thought it was appropriate because he is being so brave. We are so appreciative of all the love and support we have gotton. I wish I could respond to all the messages individually, but just know we appreciate everything that has been done for us and our family. I had my surgery in May here and I knew back then this was the best hospital. The doctors and nurses here are amazing. They know how to help me cope, and they are so good with Tayton. Couldn't ask for any more. I am just so greatful he has made it this far. Two of the other boys got released from the hospital today, so that made me happy. We still have one of the other boys here in the hospital with us. Please pray for him too. I know of his situation but for respect on their family I won't say how he is doing but he could use some prayers too. Thanks again for all you have done for us, the messages really help us and I feel the support and love from everywhere.

Tayton

It's been a horrible day and I can't sleep. I feel like everything is bottled up inside and writing is the best therapy for me. So here is Taytons story. Today he was walking home from school, then I heard him come in the door just screaming. I looked at him and gave him a big hug and asked what was wrong. Then I smelled him and got a good look at him. He said the boys lit a big fire and he was burned. I looked at him and closer and couldn't believe what I saw. I told him to get in the car and we headed for the hospital. Why I was driving I called 911, and they told me just to wait for an ambulance. Seeing my boy like that, I couldn't wait. I drove about 70 miles per hour on the back road of Perry. I got him to the hospital and they took really good care of him. They started putting burn wraps all on his arms and face. He then said that some older boys were lighting gasoline on fire and he was just watching. He was screaming and crying, the skin was falling off his arms and his poor little face was just black, all of his hair on his head was burned, eyelashes burned. I never wish that on any parent to see their child like that. Well the hospital sedated him and put a breathing tube in because his throat got burned and they were worried if it got to swollen he would have a hard time breathing. Soon they had life-flighted him to the UofU burn center. We left the hospital and it seemed like the longest drive of my life. We got to go in his room and his poor little face is so swollen it doesn't look like him. He has 14% of his body burned. His hands and arms are the worst with 3rd degree burns on them. His face is 2nd degree burns, but on the positive side his lungs and throat seem to be ok. They have him sedated and plan on keeping him that way for the next couple of days, because of the pain and the breathing tube. It looks like he will have surgery on Monday maybe Tuesday for skin graphs on his hands, not sure on his face yet. We are going to have a long recovery ahead of us. At least 2-3 weeks in the hospital and months and months of therapy and recovery. He is still in critical condition right now and the next 24-48 hours are going to be the hardest for him. They are very optimistic he will make it through. He is a fighter and I'm praying for a miracle. Tayton seemed to have been burned the worst out of the five boys. So please teach your children about fire danger. I know 2 of the other boys he was with, but I didn't know the other two. I can't believe something like this could happen just from walking home from school. I just think he saw the older boys and was curious what they were doing. I am just greatful he wasn't the one lighting it on fire. I am feeling every emotion. I'm sad for what happened, happy he is still with us, mad at lots of things, including myself for letting him walk home and not teaching him enough. I just want everyone to hug their kids tonight and make sure they tell them how much they love them. I am so greatful for an amazing family and support system. I will try to keep you all updated on his progress. Thanks for all the prayers and messages. We still could use them. Kali