Life on (and off of) the Infobahn

So I am the front desk of our hotel, and the man at the station next to me looks over and says that a woman has fallen in the lobby, and someone should help her. People are gathering around her, a hotel medic is there, and he repeats himself. I realize, he thinks I am a doctor as I have a work t-shirt (big letters on the t-shirt include “Radiology Services”). I look at him again, and I recognize him as Mark L Walberg ( http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0906919/ ) minor TV celebrity.

I, in my brilliance, say “someone should call a doctor or the paramedics” and walk away. As soon as I hit the door back out of the lobby, I hear the sirens.

{ 0 comments }

If there is one thing I hoped for, very selfishly, as a father is to have a child that loved Disney and roller coasters as much as I do. I have a beautiful son, who has a hankering for roller coasters. Here is the proof.

{ 0 comments }

This is the 2007 Christmas letter that we never sent out.  Why? I don’t really remember.  I think we were having printer problems.

Yes, everyone is getting this letter after Christmas. It’s funny; I have to read the past Christmas letters to remember what we did in previous years. I also read them and realize, we do a lot of the same things over and over again. If nothing, we are consistently repetitive. I guess there are new things, but let’s face it we repeat ourselves a lot. How?

First off, I again have locked myself into an epic battle to write the letter with time running out. I failed a couple of years ago, and a few people got theirs after Christmas, and we never hear the end of it. So here I am, staring at a screen, and trying to think of the most interesting thing to tell you about our lives. I thought I might do something cute and write this as if it were coming from Andy, but I figure in his own time he would be doing this, so why wreck the anticipation of that letter. Yup, someday he will write this letter. I hope he can mow the lawn (or shovel snow), soon too. Did you know we moved, again?

Well, we bought a house (New Address Alert,e-mail me if in need of it). Yes, we did that in 2005 in Roanoke, sold that before we sold the house in Chanhassen, you got that in the last letter. Regular real estate moguls, we are. We first rented here in Coeur d’Alene, then the market collapsed, and our landlord couldn’t continue to subsidize half of our housing expense, so we had two months to find a house. You would think that was easy in a buyers market with so many new homes, but I have a secret. Renae is really picky about where she lives, and so it was a bit of a challenge to find a place. Andy and I? Well, we are okay most anywhere as long as there is plumbing and a working refrigerator.

So, here we are in our dream home – except for one thing. We are still in Idaho. It is really nice here, and you can get anything here now that the UPS driver knows how to find our house. We are in a really, really, new part of a subdivision. If you Google us, you would just see a field. We know we have really arrived when we end up on a map. So this is home, for now.

A few big things happened this year, one being the death of Renae’s Dad, Al. He fell ill earlier this year with pneumonia. Renae and Andy went out right away, and were with Al and her Mom, Evie. He was in an out for a while, and I did go out just before he passed. We were all able to say goodbye, and I suspect he was waiting for me to show up so he knew everything would be okay. I would like to make a public service announcement to my friends and family members. Do not mess with pneumonia. Even if you are young. Renae and I both had it this year as well, and it doesn’t take much to put you into trouble.

Shortly after returning from the funeral, Andy had a seizure. This was a first for us, and threw us for a loop. We knew of Andy’s preemie related issues, but this was a new one for us. After a couple of tries at an EKG and MRI, we found out that he has epilepsy. Of course, he has only had the one seizure, and has been normal other than that, but we still have to treat him for the epilepsy. We hope that this is something that he can grow out of, but just the same it was a very scary time.

Other than that, Andy had a pretty uneventful year, which is saying a lot. He is in pre-K, and loving school. We didn’t start him in Kindergarten this year, but will next year. He is a very smart kid, but is not really ready yet. While he goes to pre-K/daycare Monday through Thursday, it is his swimming classes on Friday are the day he waits for. It is his day. His swimming lessons have been going on a year and a half, and we hate to stop him. Even in the winter, they throw a bubble over the pool and he pushes his way out of the house, through the cold to the pool. It is fun, and secretly it is physical therapy for him. He is just shy of 40 pounds, and is near 0 percent body fat, and growing taller every day.

Other than swimming, his world revolves around Thomas the Tank Engine and eating Chips and Salsa. The hotter the better. It is a little discouraging for me, as I am a spice wimp. He is a flirt, which is good for my pocket book as I can’t tell you how many free meals he gets when he smiles at a cute waitress. Sue me, I am a practical person.

So what happens when your 5 year old starts taking swimming lessons, and begins to be really good? You take them yourself. Renae started swimming lessons this year (yes, she didn’t know how to swim), and quickly started to compete with Andy for star pupil status with the swim coaches. What better thing to do when everyone in your family learns to swim? You go to Disney World, of course! (Sure, I’ll make any excuse.)

In September, we met up with my Brother Todd, His Wife Maggie and Nephew Connor for a week in Orlando. Make note, Orlando is still hot in September. Very hot. We had fun, and yes, we went to Orlando last year. We are also going again next year as well. I told you we do everything repeatedly. At least this trip, Andy was tall enough to go on some of the bigger rides. I would show you a picture of us on Splash Mountain, but only the top of his head was visible. He did giggle through the whole ride. What a truly joyous sound that was, by the way.

Now, there is not much to do in Coeur d’Alene Idaho. It’s not the cultural Mecca that Minneapolis is and if you were homebound it would make it even worse. For a while after moving here, Renae wasn’t working. Not that she didn’t try, but there aren’t the jobs that Minneapolis has. Well, after a while my company asked her to do some part time work, and she is still working today. It was only supposed to be short term, but no one has mentioned anything to us, so we are going to keep riding this train. It is a good thing for Renae, as it puts her around adults, well if you call the people we work with adults.

We visited Grandma Ginny this Easter, which allowed us to meet our new Niece, Kyra. She was born on a great day, my birthday. As a part of my job I get to travel California a number of times, and have be able to see Kyra, and her brother Riley when I visit my brother Rich and his wife Sara.

Robb and Renae in Disney World, December 2006

Renae and Andy went to Minnesota in October to visit friends and family and also take Andy back to the University of Minnesota for an eye check up. We are happy that his eyes are stable, and things are looking healthy. We still don’t know how well he can really see, but if you have been around him long enough it is easy to forget that the kid has had some serious eye problems.

Grandma Evie is here in Coeur d’Alene for a month. It took a bit of talking to get her to come out for the holidays. It is good to have her here for the holidays. Her flight out here was no issue, and she met some nice people along the way.

So that’s all for us this year, with the exception of the time this letter takes to get to you. That is a pretty important few weeks of the year. We are planning a bit of travel for next year. No real plans of moving, so your safe in writing the new address and phone in you address book with pen. We hope all is well with you. Don’t forget to write.

{ 0 comments }

Happy birthday! I am so proud of you. I watch you, and wonder how something so perfect could have anything to do with me. I am amazed. I am amazed at your strength, your joy, and your freakishly high pain tolerance. Your laugh brightens my day, and I am desperate for your hugs and kisses before I go to sleep at night.

Today you are 5, and you have yet to appreciate all that it means. In time you will. I hope that you understand the people and technology that have allowed you to be here, but when it comes down to it, if you weren’t has hard headed stubborn as you are, nothing would have kept you with us.

I am blessed to be your father. I wonder if others want me to stop droning on about every event from your birth to today. As much as I have hopped and prayed for you to be a normal kid, whatever that means, I know that will never happen. Not because of the near death start to your life, not because of the continued issue you might have, but for the fact that you are amazing above and beyond anything thing that has happened to you.

You are strength personified. You are my hero.

With all of the love I can muster.

Daddy

{ 0 comments }

Daddy loves you. So does Mommy, of course, but I’m the one writing this note to you. Walt is pretty fond of you to, but, as always, suffers from the lack of opposable thumbs – so no typing. Not that I am saying he has nothing to say.

You are Two. I can’t say as I had any doubt you would make it this far. Especially once nurses were afraid to put their hands in your issolet, in fear of getting kicked. You’ve redefined the word “Sisu”, now it is a matter teaching the world Finnish so they know what I mean.

You are the joy of my life. I am a proud, gloating parent – every parent is (or should be) about their kids, but the happiness and energy you emit has changed me. It overwhelms others, as well. Your mother and I are always amazed on how many grown adults want to meet you. There you are, though, well known – although admittedly due to your family’s need to talk about you constantly.

I don’t know if we will ever adequately explain to you what you survived to be here today. What truly amazes me, to this day, that no matter how many surgeries, needles, x-rays, and any other medical tests, you come out the other end with a smile that can light the world. I still end up on the verge of tears when I think back on what you have done in your life, so far. You are a much stronger person than I will ever be.

You have yet to walk. That’s okay. Why walk, when everyone you meet wants to hold you. There will be a point when you will, and I know you will go far. Never too far as not to feel the love your Mom and I have for you.

{ 0 comments }

I know. I know. I haven’t posted in a while. I have been around the country, and a number of people who I have met up with that know about the blog have complained.

First. Andy is fine. Happy. Still has vision issues, not that we can prove though – we are going by what we are told. He is still on the light side, although he is getting taller. I was not very heavy either when I was young.

Yesterday, he took three steps at daycare. We were told this by phone. Yes, he still isn’t walking on his own, but this is one of the few things he hasn’t done, yet. As always, you can write us an e-mail. We will try and get back to you soon.

{ 0 comments }

Where do I start? All is well with the Minnesota Vaules, not that it took a bit of work to get to this point. I guess this letter will slip into the parental bragging mode fairly quickly, so load up on the No-Doze and make yourself comfortable. You see, we have this kid named Andy. Have we told you about him? No? Then you really haven’t been paying attention, have you? Shame on you! This is the point in the letter where I remind you (okay, warn you) of my sarcastic wit. If you are native of Minnesota, sarcasm might be foreign to you. If you are a native of Iowa, I’ll try to use smaller words.

All About Andy (Sort of…)

Notice how this letter is a little later than normal? I have been dealing with a few issues with dear Andy. First, he has currently fallen into “Daddy’s Boy” mode, where he does anything he can to crawl over to me, stand-up against my chair, and then demands to be picked up. I am a human jungle gym, which has made writing this letter a little difficult, especially when my chin is being used as a toe-hold. Andy has been every bit a little boy, and his laugh is quite infectious. His favorite toy is any computer keyboard, which is generally the one I am using. He crawls, and crawls, and crawls, and as with all little boys, he can quickly find something to get into he shouldn’t. The VCR is his new target, and there is not a moment of the day we aren’t chasing after him.

Please realize that Andy is still a preemie, and we deal with issues surrounding his early birth every day, but that being said he is really doing well. If there is anything you should take away from this letter is, Andy is a very, very happy kid. His smile makes us forget what hell he has been through. He will be 18 months old (15 months adjusted), 29” tall, and around 17.5 pounds in mid-December. It has been a long year of watching Andy progress through babyhood, and he has taken great strides. We don’t have anything to compare his progress to, so for all we know this is the way babies progress. In reality, we know he is behind even his adjusted age (in some areas). We have a physical therapist and an early childhood education teacher come to the house weekly to work with Andy. At the beginning of the summer, the PT stated that she did not expect Andy would start crawling before January. He started in August. He wasn’t sitting in August, and the PT hoped he would be sitting on the floor for 1 minute at a time in September. His first time out unassisted he sat for 20+ minutes shortly afterward. He has continued to send the PT and Teacher back to rewrite their goals a few times. This is pretty indicative of Andy this year, and Renae and I watch in wonderment of his progress. At this point Andy is crawling fast, standing and walking using furniture, and crawling up stairs. I think you know what is next and what better present for Renae and I, considering he could walk his first steps as early as Christmas day.

As for Andy’s overall health, he is good. He has had the sniffles, but overall has not dealt with anything big. We are hiding again this winter, with RSV and now the Flu, who can blame us, the last thing we need is to have him catch something. We will be social again in March or April. His eyes are still a big concern. He was diagnosed with glaucoma in his left eye in October, and had to have surgery on Halloween morning. The surgery went well, and the pressure went down, but as with everything else, we will have to wait to see the long-term prognosis. He will need to have a follow up exam under anesthesia on December 30. At this point, his vision in his left eye is significantly worse than that of his right eye, and the doctors are talking about using contact lenses to correct what they can. There is no doubt that Andy has vision, the question is what (if any) are his prevailing blind-spots. As always, we wait and see – in the mean time Andy shows us he thinks things are okay.

Family, Family and More Family

Well, you have a kid, and people want to visit you. Go figure. Obviously the grandparents, both sides, crossed our doorway many times during the year. We have a small house, and so the guest room is Andy’s room as well, so they have to get used to navigating around baby furniture and toys. My brother Rich and his wife Sarah came to visit in the summer, and we recently found out that they are expecting their first child next year, so my Mother will be spread a little thinner. Currently, only my Sister Ginger, (and family) is the only immediate family not to meet Andy (yes, I am using guilt, it’s my brotherly prerogative).

Andy has made a few appearances at Renae’s family functions, including a wedding last summer. A major change has happened in our lives; Renae’s parents moved closer to us. It was not without using Andy as the final straw, though. Grandma wanted to move a long time ago, but it took a grandson to get grandpa to move. While they aren’t that close (3 hours) it is half the time it used to take. They are living in the same town as a lot of other family members, so we sleep better a night.

"I wanted ICE CREAM, not a cupcake!” Andy on his first birthday, June 29, 2002.

Renae and I were asked to be the Godparents of Charlie Vaules, the son of my cousin Will and his wife Megan. We all made a trip to Rochester (Minnesota) for Charlie’s baptism the weekend of Andy’s first birthday. We had a great time with all of the family, with Andy meeting cousins, friends and my Aunt Martha and Uncle David (I have one set, Renae has dozens). On our way home, we swung by and picked up 4 dozen Krispy Kremes, and headed over to the NICU to say hi to Andy’s nurses on his birthday. Then, we headed home to what Andy would do when presented with a cupcake. It really didn’t pan out the way we figured.

Andy’s Big Adventure(s)

Things are somewhat better here, which allowed us to take a couple of trips. We went “up north” in the beginning of the summer. It was an okay trip to a resort that caters to fishing and golf. Of course, we did neither. We did try and take Andy swimming, which did not go over well. This did teach us how to travel with children – always have access to a washing machine…

Andy’s first airplane trip was a successful one. We visited my brother Todd, his wife Maggie, and nephew Connor in Columbia, South Carolina in October. Once there, we all went to Hilton Head Island, and spent a few days with them, and then a few days just the three of us before returning to Columbia. We had a lot of fun, and found Andy’s inner “water-baby.” He loved the pool, but loved the beach even more. We had fun, too, and got to be Aunt and Uncle to nephew Connor.

March of Dimes & Walk America

Finally, I mentioned last year that we were asked to be the Twin Cities “Ambassador Family” for the March of Dimes, and we will be again for 2004. Renae volunteered on the organizing committee for their “Star Chefs” event, I was named to the State Executive Board, and I speak publicly for the organizatio

n a few times this year. We had planned to get a group up (“Team Andy”) to walk last year. Well, Andy (and I) was not ready, but we are this year.

If you are interested in joining Team Andy for WalkAmerica, you can sign up online and walk as a part of our team anywhere in the United States. If you are interested, just visit http://www.walkamerica.org, and register for “Team Andy”, you can pick any walk site near you. We are walking at the Minneapolis site. If you can’t walk, but want to sponsor Andy

(not that he will be walking, but in a stroller), you can pledge at http://www.walkamerica.org/andyvaules — but we hope you can join us to walk. Last year, after the mention in our Christmas letter another team formed 40+ people to walk for a preemie buddy of Andy, named Joe. We don’t have to be in one place to be a team, and Renae and I are working on at least 40 people nationwide. We will keep updates on Andy’s website for the event, http://www.teamandy.org – I hope you can walk or help.

To All a Good Night

So ends a less than stellar version of the Christmas letter. I’ll try harder next year, but face it – if there is nothing big to write about it’s been a good year. This is the year Andy will find the boxes and wrapping paper more interesting that the gifts themselves. This is just another teaching job for Daddy. Come on Andy, toys are fun…

{ 0 comments }

Andy’s eyes are stable. Is right eye is looking really good, and his left is still somewhat questionable in the amount of sight he will have. The ophthalmology surgeon will see us one more time, in a month, and then wants to start handing us off to the ophthalmologist. He did mention that we might start patching Andy’s right eye so he can work-out his left eye and get it stronger.

Andy is on formula now. He is taking NeoSure, which is from the makers of Similac and is specifically made for preemies. While the regular formula is mixed at 22 calories, we have to add more to get it up to 24 calories. Apparently, it makes a difference in his weight gain. He is gaining over the .5 ounces a day they want, so I will continue with that course of feeding. Up until this point, we have used about 2.5 cans of formula to augment the breast milk these past three months, not we will be going through that a week, if we are lucky.

Yes, the diapers have started to smell more.

{ 0 comments }

Andy turned 6 months old today, realize though this is 3 months old as an adjusted age. Not much in the way of celebration, although he thought he needed to spit up on both mommy and daddy, not at the same time of course. He is a rosy cheeked little guy, who you can tell is trying to see things, but not using certain parts of his field of vision. He is starting to hold his bottle a little more each day. He has a two handled rattle he likes to get a death grip on and put in his mouth, and his hands have found their way into both his mouth, and unfortunately, his nose. Everything, other than his eyes, seems to be working well, and he has been gaining weight, although we won’t have an updated weight until 1/4 (but he has to be over 9 pounds).

{ 0 comments }