Surgery update

Gavin's surgery went well, all things considered. Most of you know how much Gavin likes hospitals so he did manage to spend a few extra hours with the AWESOME staff of Children's Hospital of Milwaukee. He pulled out his IV in the post-recovery area, then cried (hard) for a good 45 minutes despite the drugs they gave him to help him feel better. Because of all the crying, his little manhoods swelled up to the point where the nurse called the surgeon back up to take a look. THEN, after a nice nap, he was a bit too lethargic for the nurses liking so they kept us there till he perked up a bit. So, all in all, his wee wee is fixed, he DOESN'T need another surgery (barring any complications) and we have been assured that we will be grandparents some day in the distant future. Two days after the surgery, I am shocked at how NOT bothered Gavin is about all of this. He seems to be feeling great. He's eating and sleeping like a champ and still manages to play and smile and coo. We go back Dec 2nd to get the catheter out and make sure everything is healing nicely. Thanks to all for your prayers and thoughts.

first halloween and first cereal

video video and more video

I promised you guys some videos. So here goes...enjoy!

Here's what I've been up to.

Hi folks -
I know you've been asking for another update on how I've been. So I finally set aside some time from my schedule of eating and sleeping to download a few pictures for you.


Mom told me Dad had a real job, and drove me over for a visit. Little did I know he gets paid to play firefighter. Here I am getting ready to go off on a call.



This is me getting pushed off the engine tailboard because it was Dad's turn to play on the fire engine.



They tell me this is their favorite apparatus to ride on. When I've enough seniority, I'll be allowed to drive the one with the remote!


It was a rough postseason. I'm learning it's not easy being a Cubs fan, and the morning after is no picnic either! Just wait til next year.


International playboy, Gavin "007" likes it shaken not stirred. Here's my official warning to all parents who have daughters around my age. This may be your daughter's date some day.


I like to unwind and work on my tan with the last few rays of summer.


Dad told me this what mommy looks like in the morning. I really don't believe him but let's just say to be on the safe side, I tend to sleep in. (Can you tell Dad is helping me with this blog?)


I was baptised on Sunday. After the ceremony my godmother, Auntie Megan held me up to see if lightning would strike me. Despite suffering a small burn from the holy water and a sore neck from my head spinning, I came out unscathed.


I beat the rush on my trick or treating this year by starting a few weeks early. By the end of the day, I was exhausted!


Then they tell me I'm to share my hard work with our guests. With that in mind I added a little trick of my own. Checking for razor blades will be the last thing they need to worry about.


Just dreaming about fast horses, slow steers, and gold buckled dreams.


That's what's been going on over here. Thanks for looking at my blog again. I hope it brought you a few laughs and please don't bother DCSF, I've got a good thing going here. If you're ever in my hood, drop in a we can kick it at my crib with my crew. Later!
- Gavin "Crash Moonboot" Cafferkey

How I spent my summer vacation.

Hi Folks -
I hope everyone is enjoying the last of their summer. Since it's been forever since my last blog entry I figured you may enjoy a few pictures of how I spent my summer vacation.

Here's mom and I catching some rays at the pool. Unfortunately being a pasty white Irish kid nobody told me I could've saved a lot of time by standing in front of an open refridgerator to get the same tan. I'm not pointing fingers but rumor has it, one of us peed in the pool. (Hint: It wasn't me.)

By now you've heard my dad say he planned on leaving me out in the backyard overnight with a stick to fend off the wild animals. If I survived the night they were going to keep me. Well, I made it. Oh if you're ever over here visiting and see the neighbor looking for his once nosey dog, don't show him this picture.

After hearing the stories of Chris Ledoux, 1976 bareback champion of the world, I decided it was time I start training to get my buckle. So here's my first ride on Widowmaker. Yes Tom I know get off my pockets, rake the neck, and keep my free hand up. Geez lay off I'm just a baby!

Not letting the fame of being a rodeo star blur my scholastic goals, I plan on earning a football scholarship. Let's be realistic here. I've a fifty / fifty chance I've my dad's brains. So a scholarship may be my best shot. I heard Texas gets to beat up on Oklahoma every year so put me in coach! Hook 'em Horns!

Being a baby isn't as easy as it looks. Sometimes you just gotta kick back with a few friends and have a good cry with a different bottle. This one happens to be one of Aunt Megan's favorite.

Okay maybe just one more for the road. Wow the room looks really big from down here! Guess I'm ready for college. Hey what are you looking at?

I figured it was time to get rid of that beer gut. So I took up boxing and I couldn't think of a better teacher than my dad. Although he fought in two Golden Gloves the only move he could teach me was something called the "canvas back". Gee, I think I proved I can master this one in the previous picture.

With all of those late night feedings with dad watching wrestling, it was a given I was to become a fan myself. Here's a beautiful top rope splash on a helpless opponent for the easy three count. Yes Howard I know next time to hook the leg. Geez, you're worse than Tom!

Here's me after a hard fought victory with the gold. Heck if I get bucked off my rodeo dreams, blow my knee sacking the quarterback in the big game, discover I have a glass jaw in the first fight, I can always become the next Myster E! If you're real quiet you can hear my mom groan every time someone reads this.

Thanks everyone for looking in on me. Hope my pictures brought about a smile. You'll probably see them again when I'm Oprah trying to figure what went wrong.

- Love

Gavin

Gavin pics

OK, here are some video and pictures I promised.... the fist one is of me waking up. If you listen really closely, you can hear me fart and cough at the same time. Classy? Yup, that's me! The second one is an old one from when I was in the hospital, my mom thought it was funny. Then, more bathtime pictures.

More bathtime, I do love my bath!

stuff

Hi Everyone,

My parents are too busy right now so I thought I'd write you all myself. I'd like to send a special shot out to my grandparents while I've got the keyboard!! I'm growing like a weed now and weigh 9 pounds 3 ounces. I will show you a before and after picture of me wearing the same outfit. (My Daddy's favorite onsie) I was only a couple weeks old when the first picture was taken, the second one was taken just recently by my mom. I am starting to coo and babble. To the untrained ear, it might sound like I am having a coversation. The language barrier is hard though because my parents don't speak baby. My mom has been watching me closely to try to get me to smile at her. I like to keep her guessing-was it a real smile, or did I just fart?? Stay tuned for new video. Look for riveting clips of me waking up, pooping my diaper and possibly sleeping!! (Just kidding about the pooping!)

Peace Out,

Gavin

BeforeAfter and still growing into it!!

Bathtime Fun!

Home with Gavin

Hi Folks !
Gavin is doing pretty good these days. When he's not breaking in his parents, Gavin is busy with his "Meet 'n Greet Tour '08". Unlike those stuck up Angelina / Brad twins, the Gav wants to mingle with the masses. The whirlwind tour started off with a Cafferkey tradition; a Blizzard run to the Fox Lake Dairy Queen. The Girl Scout mint cookie Blizzard edged out cliff diving on his list of things to try when he's old enough. Several days later ( By the way is it only me who is perplexed that the word several doesn't mean seven? For the person from Oklahoma-seven comes after six. Like when Texas kicks a field goal after one of it's many touchdowns against the Sooners. ) Gavin met his great grandmother during her 94th birthday celebration. Which got him worried because he realized she only gained a year on her birthday and when his rolls around, his age will double. Gavin visited the fire department twice ( See, twice meaning two; now that makes sense ) where he discovered he does almost the same things dad does at the station for a living; eat, sleep, be loud, and get up at all hours of the night. The tour then took him to his grandma's company picnic. Despite a poor showing in the sack race, Gavin managed to win a $25 Target gift certificate. About time this kid starts paying his way!
Now for those who have missed these tour stops, you're more than welcome to drop by the house. Gavin is happy to meet with you and is always available for photos. The first 500 visitors thru the door will get an authentic diaper personally endorsed by Gavin himself.
Monday we took him to the Children's Hospital in Milwaukee for his follow up on the swallow study. The fluid thickener has been discontinued which has greatly decreased the feeding times. Then he dropped into the Brat Stop for a nap while his parents ate. I would like to point out his cheeseheaded uncle who was born in Wisconsin has yet to visit said icon. Bret Farve was there washing dishes since it looks like that's the only where he can find work in the state.
Someone asked me how do I like being a dad. For that question my answer is what's not to love? He never changes the radio station, leaves my chocolate chip cookies alone, watches wrestling with me ( His mother says wrestling is stupid because it's unbelievable. This coming from a person who never misses an episode of "Lost" and then analyzes it with her sister-in-law the following day on the phone. ), and has the same table manners as me. He's a little me. Well, with the exception his huge alien like head.
However if you ask me what it's like to be a parent, then I would say it's comparable to learning how to diffuse a bomb using Cliff Notes written in Japanese. First off, anyone talks to you about bouncing babies is a liar. Babies don't bounce at all. How does white milk go in one end and gooey chocolate girders formed by a Play Dough Funmachine come out the other? What's so fascinating about the ceiling fan? Furthermore what's so fascinating about the ceiling fan that it's worth getting us up at 3 AM to stare at? Why doesn't our kid cry like the ones on television? Instead he sounds like a dying goat under water. And when did it become necessary to raise a child with every gadget known to man? Pioneers travelled across the Great Plains under the protection of the Lone Ranger and Tonto in rickety wagons without a car seat or air bags. Yet if I don't have the SE Baby 2000 with the dual cup holders, DCSF will be at my door within the hour. I don't even know what the SE Baby 2000 with dual cup holders is! But you gotta have one; maybe two depending what state you live in!
However I did figure out why the kid doesn't get traded for several jars of mayonnaise and a decoder ring. It's because babies fall under the same clause as puppies. They're just too cute to get upset over.
Anyway that wraps up another chapter of Gavin's start in life or the clues of why Dave ended up on the water tower. Thank you for your comments and well wishes. We really hope you all get to meet the little booger in person very soon!!

July Pictures

Look Ma, no wires!

Fourth of July

Great Grandma and Gavin

GOING HOME DAY!!

Tummy Time

Enjoy this video of tummy time. I couldn't get sound while watching this on my computer but hopefully you will.

As for the update, it is starting to matter how much sleep we've gotten. Dave went back to work yesterday, thus putting me in charge of all feedings. I have never been so tired! Othewise, we are doing fine. Still just so thrilled that he is finally home!

WE'RE HOME!!!

We survived our fiest night home with Gavin. It doesn't matter how much sleep we got last night, it's just so good to be home!

Hold the phone....

Hi folks. Not an hour after posting the good news, fate snuck into the ring and hit Gavin with a brady while the ref's back was turned. In other words Gavin had a sleeping brady which has started the five day count over and delaying his triumphant trip home. But don't count our little guy out; he's a scrapper.

So Kate and I are packing more clothes and dry sheets for our extended stay with Ronald. That's right Ronald "Bed Wetter" McDonald make sure our McRoom is ready. We're disappointed however we would rather Gavin perform this heart rate stunt at Children's rather than home. We thought this was finally the corner he needed to turn. This Gavin kid really owes us some awesome Christmas presents over the coming years.

In the meantime, keep your fingers crossed for Moonboot. Have a happy Fourth Of July everyone.

Here Comes Gavin ......

It took three years before Princess Leia and friends got around to unfreezing Han Solo from the carbonite. Six years of getting thrown for Chris Ledoux to become the 1976 bareback champion of the world. Mickey and Walt spent seven years in a swamp to build the happiest place in the world. The Road Warriors also needed seven years to become the first team to hold the tag titles in all three major federations. 1985 was the last time we saw our Bears doing a winning Superbowl shuffle. And our Chicago Cubs .... well, we love our Cubs. Hey this is their year! However the last six weeks seemed like forever for my latest hero to overcome his challenge, but Gavin is on his way home.

Gavin was on a five day bradycardia watch which meant if his heartrate went too low while he dreamed about winning his first wrestling title or leading the Longhorns to another victory over Oklahoma ( yeah Thele we both know those Sooners were lucky last year ) the five days would start all over before he could come home. On his latest watch he was on a three day charge when he had a brady while he was eating. Fearing it was bad enough to warrant the count to start over Kate had the impression Gavin was going back to day one and we had five more days living at Ronald's house. By the way, Ronald hogs all of the blankets and is a bed wetter.

After rounds today we found out the doctors were confident in Gavin's progress to keep him on track for going home. Probably because the little dude is hoarding all of the nurses' attention and moving in on their territory. Nevertheless, it looks like we're almost done with his very expensive babysitting service.

So as he comes spinning around the turn and toward the homestretch, please keep your fingers crossed. With a little luck our next update will be about his night in the backyard with the stick. Thank you all for your support. We're very fortunate to have y'all in our lives. "Crash Moonboot" is looking forward to meeting all you in person.

Great news on Gavin's due date!!!

Barring anything out of the ordinary, Gavin should be coming home Saturday afternoon!!!! He is all grown up now and can eat and sleep while breathing!!!!
WOOOOOHOOOOOOOO!!!!

Sunday update

We had to start Gavin over again on the 5 day Brady watch. (Boo Hoo) We'll find out Monday or Tuesday what the GENERAL, TENTATIVE plan is for his 5 day count and if they will count the eating bradies. Keep your fingers crossed!!! We are making progress!!!

BRADY FREE ZONE WATCH IS ON!!!!

I have bad news and good news....and even better news.

Here's the bad news-Gavin HAS had several bradies while eating.

Here's the good news-The eating ones are the ones that are not as big of a deal, it's the sleeping ones that they won't let him go home having. He has to be brady free for 5 days. I am assuming that they will let him go home if all he's doing is the eating bradies. Drum roll please......

Here's the even better news-Gavin hasn't had a sleeping brady in 42 HOURS and counting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! no pictures this time, I am still at the McD House and can't download pics. next time!

More pics

Quick update, Gavin is doing fine but still has that annoying habit of forgetting to breathe from time to time. I met with a speech pathologist yesterday to help him with the whole "suck, swallow, breathe" process. The Dr. says it's nothing to be concerned about, and we'll just have to wait and see as far as how soon he'll get coordinated. For those of you that were wondering, he DOES have one dimple! He's now 5 pounds 12 ounces, maybe more by now and is almost 19 inches long. Here are some more pictures....

Saturday 6-21-08

The good news is that Gavin has no more nasal cannula and NO MORE FEEDING TUBE!!!!! He has NO tubes attached to his cute little face any more! The IV you see on his hand in this video was only in for a couple of days. It's been out for a while. So now the only wires connected to him are the leads that measure his heart rate, respiration ect. The bad news is that he "bradyed" again this evening after his 9:00 feeding. I'll have info soon on how much he weighs and how long he is now. He is (and eats like) a growing boy!

Hello from Ronald McDonald House

So I am writing you from Ronald McDonald House. We're in! It's no Hilton, but very nice! So far, I've had a 30 min massage and a free HOME COOKED meal!!!! (Not hospital cafeteria food!!!)

Gavin is doing well, they took out the nasal cannula!!!! He only has ONE wire (NG tube) going in his nose. He"bradyed", dropped his heart rate, once yesterday *boo hoo*. He has to have NO Brady's or Apnea's for 5 days before he can go home. So, I might be here for another 6 days if he turns himself around today. I think that if he keeps doing this they will seek a speech consult. The nurses say that he can't get any A's or B's for a week. I told Gavin that this is the ONLY time I'm gonna say not getting A's and B's is OK.

Oh and Gavin had his first "tub bath" yesterday and I gave it to him!! He actually seemed to like it but got sick of it, or was hungry after a couple minutes and wanted out. A couple times, while screaming, he pushed his feet into the corners of the tub base and pushed himself up like the Hulk or something. His discomfort was hilarious to me!!

He's been doing well with the bottle feeding except for the brady-ing! He ate 95ml yesterday!!!! And now is allowed to eat as much as he wants when it is his feeding time. Last I checked he weighed 5 pounds, 9 ounces! And at first I didn't see it when I looked the other day, but last night he gave me 2 BIG smiles and I think I saw a very faint dimple on the non taped side of his face!!!!

I'm going home tonight (Dave will be here) so I can get some stuff done and I PROMISE, I will upload more photos video etc on his website!!!

Tuesday update 6-17

Gavin had a great day today! They didn't find anything with the cultures so he's off the antibiotics, or will be off tonight or tomorrow. His feet are the requisite pink color and not purple anymore. He didn't have ANY apnea or Brady episodes ALL DAY today (from 7am to 7pm)!!!!!! He drank his WHOLE 6:00 bottle for me and was wide awake afterwards. He was still awake and playing when I had to leave at 7 for the shift change!!! He actually started crying when I put him down. At 3 o'clock today he drank only about 15-20ml, but the nurse said that he drank his whole bottle in the previous feeding. I am on top of the world again!! I should know better than to get my hopes up, but I really hope that he'll turn the corner from here! YEY! I took more video of him with the hiccups, will post it later.
I signed up for Ronald McDonald house to start Thursday night (if there is an opening). Dave tells me that a statue of Ronald himself is in every room. If so, I'm not staying there!!

Father's Day Update

I wish I had better news for those of you pulling for Gavin's speedy return home. He's taken up a new hobby...apnea. Recently, he began scaring the pants off of us by forgetting to breathe. Consequently, his heart rate and SPO2 goes down. The nice people at Children's are trying to figure out what is going on with him, aside from regular premie development. They have done a complete blood count, blood gas test, chest X-ray, blood culture (takes 3 days for results) and a blood protein test (takes 24 hours for results). All of the ones we have results for have come back looking good. They have ruled out anemia, pneumonia, and some infections. While they are waiting for the cultures to come back, they have put him on antibiotics in case he does have an infection. They also will start putting thickener in his milk in case it is the acid reflux that is causing this problem. Making the milk heavier will hopefully keep it down in his tummy. He's still gaining weight-5 pounds 7 ounces and is a real trooper!

We are just so worried and frustrated. I thought things were going so well, it seems like he will never be home. Sorry we don't have a better update for you. Keep him in your prayers and we'll keep you posted!

There will be blood....

Kate showed me how to update this website so it's my turn to bring everyone to speed. Sunday Gavin's SpO2 still hadn't reached the acceptable levels. Again SpO2 basically measures the percentage of oxygen reaching the body's cells. So Gavin had a chest x-ray to rule out pneumonia. Course as little as the spud is they could've just held him up to a light bulb. The x-ray came back clear so they turned suspected him being anemic. As a result Gavin had a blood transfusion later that night. Kate spent the day there watching over him and later relayed the news to me. Initially it's scary news to think your kid is having a transfusion. I mean what if he now develops a taste for blood? Certainly there will be lots of explaining when the neighbor's dog goes missing. Or what if he's injected with a super blood that enables him to have super powers? Sure that's great if he can fly; especially with the airfare hikes. But what if it's some lame super power like ability to talk to fish? So every time we go to the pet shop my kid has his head in a fish tank speaking guppy. Despite having the risk of a vampire aqua man, he did just fine. By Monday Gavin's color looks pinker which makes his blond hair stand out even more. He's on O2 via nasal cannula (tube that wraps around his face and into his nose) but only at a very low level because his SpO2 seems to have improved. Gavin's appetite also has increased while his table manners decreased due to his habit of drooling when he eats. Finally proof he's mine! Gavin's weight is up to five pounds and four ounces. Granted he has a way to go before he's a defensive linebacker but he's heading in the right direction. Until then he's hanging out with the three other babies in his room talking about the world domination. His Cubs hat and Texas Longhorn hats are in his crib; just in case they need him to fill in for a game. The nurses hung up a couple of pictures they decorated of him. So it's obvious he has them conned.
Thanks again for all of the well wishes from all of you. Every email or call reminds us how lucky we are to have such great people around us. We can't wait for all of you to finally meet this guy when we finally break him out. Oh and if any of you need a ride in sixteen years let us know. I figure to make up for all of this driving we've been doing to visit him, I'm going to tally up the miles. Then when Gav is sixteen he's going to drive us and our friends around until the total is paid back before he gets the car. Course if he drives like me maybe you might want to skip this offer!!!

He eats, he sleeps, he cries

Update 6-8-08

Just a quick update and cute picture from the other day. Gavin is now just under 5 pounds, eating a little through the bottle. They put the nasal cannula back on because he's been having a hard time breathing while eating and sleeping. It's very common and not a huge set back. I'll give him your love when I get there this afternoon!

Oh no!

My parents are WHO????

Baby Cafferkey Update 6/5/08

Hi all,

I thought this website thingy would be an easy way to give you people what you want....updates on Gavin! He is changing and growing every day and (in my opinion) looking cuter each day too.


Today Gavin has only the NG tube(feeding tube thru his nose) helping him out. He has had a few episodes of apnea. These aren't a big deal but of course we want him to grow strong enough that he doesn't have to be reminded to breathe! He is able to get his heartrate back up quickly though. At lunch today, he had 27ml of milk through the bottle (the rest through the NG tube)! His weight is now back up to birthweight; 4 pounds 13 ounces. The ridges on his skull that made him look like an alien are now all smoothed out. He looks and acts like a real baby!