Dec. 9

4:30am Woke up. I didn’t sleep to well but the day we had been waiting for, for over three years was finally here. I felt almost numb.

5:00am We left the house after saying a very tearful good-bye to brothers Kyle and Kevin and sister Kalina, Grandma and Grandpa. I will never forget the drive to the hospital. I was doing ok then I would look back at you and I'd feel so sick to my stomach. I was just thinking, what are we doing putting our son through such an ordeal. Was it fair?

5:40am We arrived at the hospital.

6:00am We went back and did all the pre-op things and washed your hair. The nurse took blood. First we talked with Dr. Hudson about the surgery, then Teresa the anesthesiologist, later the surgeon, Dr. Winston and one of your nurses Katie.

7:20am You had a seizure and I was thinking was this going to be your last seizure?

7:45am Aunt Sharon and baby Kainen came at to be with us.

They would only let one parent go back with you to the surgical room because it was such a major surgery so Dad said I could go. I got dressed in a big white suit with a hat.

7:50am The nurse came to take us back. I carried you to the surgical room and watched as they put you to sleep with bubble-gum flavored gas. You struggled for less then a minute then fell asleep. The nurse said I could take my mask down and give you a kiss. I kissed you good-bye and told you I loved you. When I was leaving the room I told the nurses to take good care of you, they said they would. When I came back out Dad and I just held each other and cried. Then we waited.

9:00am Cousin Carmen and Damien were the next to come be with us.

9:15am Nurse called and said they started the operation 15-minutes ago and you were stable.

9:30am Grandpa and Grandma Snydal came to be with us

10:50am Nurse called and said everything is going well.

11:00am Friends Leonard and Lydia came to be with us

11:35am Grid is on and everything is going good.

11:45am Grandma Larson came to stay with us

12:00pm Dr. Levisohn, the neurologist came out and told us they did find the motor cortex. They were going to separate the two halves of the brain. Leave the motor and part of the frontal lobe, the only normal part of the brain, and take out everything else on that left side and cut all the connections.

1:05pm Nurse called said everything was good and you were stable and they are still working.

2:20pm You are doing good, maybe 2-21/2 hours left.

3:25pm Started closing another 1-11/2 hours left. FBI came to sing Christmas carols and gave you a hat.

4:35pm Surgery finished.

4:50pm Aunt Cindy came to be with us.

4:55pm Finishing up stitching, washing hair and then bandage.

5:30pm Dr. Winston and Dr. Hudson came out and explained what happened in surgery. Both were very pleased with the surgery. They told us they took out everything except the motor strip and some tissue around it. They also left a small part of the frontal lobe for stability. They also told us they crosscut the motor strip so that if a seizure was to begin it could not spread. They told us that they removed about 80% of the left side of your brain. They also told us you would not be able to play certain sports such a football, wrestling, and soccer. A blow to your head could cause the brain to shift and cause a hemorrhage that could be life threatening. We were a little surprised by this news but it is a small price to pay for no more seizures. Only time will tell if the seizures are really gone. They said we would be able to go back to the PICU in about a 1/2-hour.

6:00pm Went into PICU to see you. Your eyes and lips were swollen but not as bad as I was expecting. The thing I was not prepared for was how white you were. You were on a breathing machine to help you breathe because they were keeping you sedated. The thing that bothered me the most was that your left arm was shaking constantly. They kept trying different drugs and different amounts until they had it pretty much under control. Versed finally did the trick. First Grandma came in to see you then Grandpa. Aunt Cindy and Carmen came into see you next. Dr. Hartmann, the pediatrician, came to see you, even though she has three ruptured disks in her neck. She always makes me feel so at ease when she is around. She is one of our angels. They are giving you a lot of fluids because you are so cold and your heart rate is higher than they like it.

10:00pm We will try to sleep a little. We know you are in very good hands with your nurses Alicia and Lucinda, both will be watching over you all night.

Dec. 10

6:ooam Everything is going well. You had a good night. I checked on you about every two hours. They have your shaking pretty much under control. Your breathing is good and you are warmed up. The nurses kept rolling you onto each side every hour to keep your lungs clear. Today you will have a CT scan.

What a great day you had! You had a CT scan at about 8:00 am Dr. Winston came in and told us you were ready to be extubated so the nurses stopped sedation and let you wake up. Then the Dr. came in and removed the drain you had in your head to keep down the fluid build-up. About an hour later the nurses extubated you. I think you feel much better. Aunt Monica and Uncle Vic came to visit. You are still very tired and in a lot of pain. The hole in your head where the tube was kept leaking a lot of fluid but the nurse MJ finally got it stopped with a stitch. Dad and Uncle Vic were the first to see your incision; Dad didn't do to well with the incision and the leaking fluid, but I'm sure he will get used to it very soon. You still don't have any movement in your right hand. When Dr. Winston came in to check you he poked each hand with a pin, the left side looks good and the right foot moves. Your right hand moved only slightly. Your hand is still clawed pretty tight. When Dad asked you where you're "beep" “beep" was you pointed right to his nose. What progress! By the afternoon you were only hooked up to two IV's. Your poor little head is so swollen especially on the left side by your ear. Dr. Hartman and Dr. Price came to visit you today. We all think you look great. Dr. Winston's nurse, Jane, took all of us downstairs to look at the CT scan. It showed just what the surgeons told us. It was just so amazing to actually see it. Last night when we asked if you wanted your blanket you shook your head yes. They put a feeding tube into your stomach so you can have some calories and not just fluids.

11:30pm Dad and I went to bed.

Dec. 11

You had another good night. You woke up pretty swollen in the face, but after today it should start to get better. They told us the third day would be the worst. You are still very sleepy. You told us "k" for o.k. You said up'y when you wanted up. Kyle, Kevin, and Kalina came to see you today. You smiled for the first time when you saw Kalina, but I missed it because I was holding you in my lap. You will start OT and PT on Monday twice a day. We thought you were having seizures but we think it was just irritation in your brain, if we moved you or talked to you, you seem to calm down. Well at 7:00pm we went up to your new room, 510. You had a pretty good day, more awake, more words, and more movement (except right leg and arm). We think you are very upset with us and very frustrated. You keep wanting down and don't know why we won't let you go. Aunt Teresa, Uncle Mike and Tyler came to see you today. They brought you a praying TY baby and a TY bear, Paws.

Dec. 12

Well it wasn't such a good night last night you were very irritated and couldn't sleep well. We finally got to sleep at about 3:00am after the nurses gave you some Versed. This morning you were still pretty swollen in the eyes. We took you for a ride in your little red wagon and they seemed to get a little better. You went to therapy today. It wasn't very long but it sure wore you out. You kept telling the therapist "all done". The rest of the day went pretty good and you were able to sleep a lot.

Dec 13

Well another very restless night, you seem so uncomfortable and your head hurts. You will grab you head and say ouch. You had some speech and physical therapy this morning. You did pretty good filling up the dump truck, and putting the balls in the tower. Later in the day you had OT. After the nurse took out your last IV Dad and I gave you a bath. You loved it! When we got back into the room you gave us a little smile and for the first time since the surgery you looked like Kolten again! Later that afternoon the nurse took your temperature and it was higher than they like it to be and we are a little worried but pray everything is o.k. Dr. Hartmann and Dr. Price came to visit you again today they thought you looked good. Then this evening the Dr.'s decided to do some blood work and a urinalysis to see if they can find the cause of your fever. We will know you lab results starting late tonight or tomorrow morning but it will take three days for all results. We just pray they come back o.k.

Dec 14

What a day, first thing this morning you had another CT scan, which came back normal and all of your blood work so far has been normal. You had OT and PT this morning. We are trying to get you to eat and drink so you don't have to have the feeding tube anymore. You are pretty anemic but they think it will resolve on its own. Jane says you are ready to go home, but rehab wants to keep you awhile and we are not ready to take you home. You still have a fever and not eating very well. You are still quite weak in your arm and leg. This afternoon several Colorado Avalanche players came to visit the children in the hospital. They came to see you while you were having therapy. Patrick Roy gave you a bear and they all signed a pendant. We also go a picture of you with all of them. What a nice group of guys.

Dec. 15

Today was a pretty rough day. You tried to go to therapy but all you wanted to do was lie down, you were so tired. When PT came to take you, you threw up your breakfast, so we let you sleep the rest of the day. You still have a fever but the doctors still think it is just the blood in the spinal fluid. Grandpa, Kyle, Kevin and Kalina came to visit you today; the kids want you home so bad. We are now hoping to be home by Christmas. After the kids got here Grandpa stayed with you. Dad and I took the kids downstairs to the Christmas party the hospital was having, all the kids wrote you a note and you won a stuffed bear that Kyle picked out for you. We just keep praying that each day you will get stronger.

Dec 16

Today you still have your fever. You had a pretty good day, you were more awake and you made it through all you therapies. You have been moving your right leg at the hip today, which we are so glad to see. Tonight I asked you to smile for me and you stuck out your bottom lip (priceless). You did throw up again late in the evening; hopefully we can get that stopped.

Dec. 17

Today was a down and up day. You started the day with therapy but didn't feel like working much. You are just too tired. After we got back to your room you threw up again which wiped you out most of the day. In the evening Dr. Winston came into check on you and took out your staples. Cousin Carmen and Denya came to visit you tonight and brought us dinner. You ate a pretty good dinner and kept it down. Yeah!

Dec 18

Today was a pretty good day. You went to therapy in the morning and seemed to feel a little better. Your fever was still up and down but it does not seem to spike as high or as often. In the afternoon they had a pre-game party in the lobby and we met the referees for tomorrows Bronco's game. We met Bob McElwee he is one of the head referees, he was so concerned about you and wanted us to give him a call in six months to let him know how you are doing. Grandma and Grandpa Larson came to visit you and brought us dinner.

Dec. 19

Today was a good day. When we were downstairs for breakfast you were at the table and Dad was getting some juice out of the machine and you said "hi dad" and smiled. Your fever seems to be much better today. You went 20 hours without Tylenol. You went to therapy in the morning and had a pretty good session. Just before lunch Santa, Mrs. Claus and an elf came to visit and Channel 7 news filmed you while Santa gave you your gift of a Rockies hat bank and a baseball and you were briefly on the 5:oo and 10:00 news. So many visitors today, Uncle Dick and Aunt Denise and kids, Harlan even made you smile. Then Uncle Mark and Aunt Valerie and girls stopped by. Leonard and Lydia came by and brought you some monster truck movies and Mom and Dad a movie, they have been wonderful, I think they love you an awful lot. Then Aunt Teresa came by and brought us dinner.

Dec. 20

Your fever is gone! We have decided to GO HOME! No one was expecting this, but we felt you needed to get home and be with your brother's and sister. Dr. Winston came in and thought you could go home also. He took you off the Tegretol and felt that you did not need to be on any seizure medication, I hope he is right. The paper work was done about 12:00pm. It took dad three wagon loads to clear out your room. I will miss all the nice people at the hospital Jane, Janice and Ali the two nurses who took care of you the most; they were all very good to all of us.

12:30 we arrived home. Grandma and Grandpa and the kids decorated the house for your arrival, it was so sweet. The kids were so happy to have you home. Grandpa made you a little bed for you while you were in the hospital, we put you in there and the kids could not get close enough to you. They would lie on the couch right next to you in your bed. It's great to be home!

All our prayers have been answered. God gave us the strength to get through it all.

He gave us wonderful family and friends. Without them I don't know how we could have gotten through it all.

Dec 27

Well Christmas is over and it was one of the best. It was all about family and being together. I can't help think of all the families that had to spend the holidays in the hospital. We were very lucky to be home. You talk just as good as you did before the surgery. On Wednesday you laughed for the first time. On Christmas you were able to scoot back on your butt a little bit. Today you were scooting yourself forward and moving your right leg when it gets caught underneath. You are doing great! We have been truly blessed from our family and friends to your wonderful progress. Thank God!