Update on Hollian

So yesterday was kind of hectec for me. Sorry I am not upating until now. Yesterday morning Hollian was taken off the vent and finally able to talk although her throat is very soar.They took her cathider out and her central line out. She is doing really, really, really good. Just so I don't get any info wrong from this morning update here is a copy of Rickman's Facebook post:

" They took out the central line and all she has is a small iv in for the heparin. she is starting the transition to coumadin for the clot and will be on it for 6 months or so. she is doing well and back to eating small portions of solid foods. she should be transferred out of icu soon to cardiac for monitoring. she's doing really good."

I am so relieved thats she is doing great and hopefully she will be home soon :-)
Thank you everyone for all the prayers through out the week, they were much needed and greatly appreciated.

A GOOD nigth update for Hollian

Where do I even begin? The CT came back and Holl has no blood clots other then the one in her leg that they are already treating. The ECG came back and said that Hollians heart is at 50 percent and 60 percent is the norm. I was totally confused, I thought they meant that the heart was only working at 50 percent but it means that the heart is only pushing 50% of the blood. They are saying that 60% is normalso they are happy with the 50% and if the DOCTORS are HAPPY with it then so am I. Hollians fever is gone, thats another good thing. Tomorrow the plan is to take Hollian completely off the vent in the morning, so lets hope the fluid is out of the lungs. I sure hope everything goes to plan which im sure it will because I can't wait to talk to my BFF again, I have been so lost without talking or seeing Hollian. So things are going REALLY GOOD. I know I say this every time but PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE continue to pray because even though everything is going good and Holl is getting better she still has a long road ahead of her.

P.S. I forgot to mention, the lasix are working and the swelling is almost completely gone :) Hollians feet are looking like they are back to normal, Brandon says.

Update

Well Hollian was doing great last night, got to say goodnight to Brandon and get a good night sleep which in return Brandon was able to sleep well also knowing his wife was doing great. This morning the decision was made to keep the breathing tubes in because her lungs backed up with more fluid. The doctors just did another ECG because her heart is not beating hard enough on one side and she still has a fever. They are starting a new medication to make her heart pump stronger to get the fluids moving. Poor Hollian, it seems like just when things are starting to get better it takes a step back. I believe that Hollian is to strong to not fight and she will get better sooner then we all think. Also, yesterday sometime the doctors found a blood clot in her right leg so blood thinners were given to get rid of it and she was taken into a CT to see if she had any clots in her lungs. I haven't heard back on that but I am thinking that there are no clots in her lungs because the CT was done yesterday evening and they haven't said yay or nay. That is all for right now I will keep you all posted as I am...
Please keep the prayers coming, they really do help.

Update on The Rickman Family

I have just recieved the news that Hollians Heart pressure test came back with great numbers and great results. Her heart is pumping at the norm and looks good. Hollian still has fluid in her lungs but if all goes well after her ECG she will be coming off the vent sometime tomorrow. Hollian has been heavily sedated with the use of the drugs versed and fentnyl. Brandon said she woke up and asked for a pen and paper and asked some questions such as, " Where she was, what happened and how are the girls."

Here is what Brandon posted on Facebook:

"So we spent some time with hollian. she still is on the ventilator. maybe taken off tomorrow morning. her pressure test for her heart showed good numbers. she was awake when we talked to her and she wanted a pen and paper and asked us a few questions. its heart wrenching wanting to just hear hear talk. through everything she is doing really well consider what it was 24 hours ago. I LOVE YOU HOLLIAN!!!"

It is amazing to know how powerful our Heavenly Father is. Brandon said that he is happy that he made Hollian go back to the doctors when he did because if she was at home when this happened last night we would have lost her.

We were thinking this was the hospitals fault but we were told that the this was all caused by her pregnancy, pregnancy induced Heart Failure. The doctors said that Hollian shouldn't have any more babies because the next time will kill her.

I love that I got the chance to take care of my nieces and I will do it for as long as they need me too but I am so happy that they will soon get to see their mommy again.

Prayers, Prayers, Prayers for the Rickman Family

As you all know, Brandon and Hollian welcomed a new baby girl into the family on October 21st. Hollian and the baby (Kristina) came home from the hospital on October 23rd and on the 25th Brandon took her back to the doctors for her severe swelling and breathing problems. During Hollians first hospital stay she was overloaded with IV fluid and very little urine output which also lead to Pulmonary Adema. Hollian has been flown to another hospital with the room and resources that she needs, before she went to a different hospital she stopped breathing and coded. Hollian has gone into heart failure and they are saying that she may need a new heart. Brandons NCO rushed him to this new hospital and left all 3 girls in my custody so I know have 6 kids, 3 boys and 3 girls in the ages of 8,7,5,5,2,6 days old. Today I was informed that Hollian's vitals were able to stay up in normal range. her bp came up and her pulse came down. Also, she started running a fever and are trying to find the cause of it. Later this afternoon the doctors are going to do another echocardiogram and pressure test on her lungs and heart to determine if she needs to be put back on the lasixs. Hollian was put on the ventilator last night and has been heavily sedated so she shouldn't be in any discomfort right now. I will keep you all posted as I am but for now, prayers would be greatly appreciated.








































































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Kristina Tylynn Rickman

I am so excited to announce that I have a new niece, Kristina Tylynn Rickman born to Brandon and Hollian Rickman on October 21, 2010 at 10:53am Via C-Section, weighing in at 10 pounds, 4 ounces and 22 inches long.... Yes she is a chuncker. I love all my nieces and nephews the same and I am thrilled to add another niece to the bunch. I now have 12 nephews with 2 on the way and 9 nieces. Here are some pictures of my precious fattie

Time for much NEEDED updating

To start this blog off... We LOVE living in Texas. We have had a lot of of great things happen and some irritating things happen but who hasn't?

Brandon works for C & K Doors and Remodeling. Brandon is not a big fan of this job and doesn't complain too much, a job is a job. Brandon found out that to be a Contractor in Killeen, Texas you don't need to get a license, that is just a personal preference, you just need to be registered with the city you chose to work in and have insurance. We registered with the City of Killeen but were just waiting on the insurance and bond. Brandon named this company " Chosen Kitchen & Bath remodels " It will take a while to get established but we will be patient. Since we did all that Brandon got one of those " Hard to turn down" job offers working for a company who builds apartment complex's, hotels etc. Brandon would not be framing but supervising which if you know Brandon you would now that he lives to build so this would be hard for him, to not jump in. The benifits are great, company truck, paid fuel, food etc. This job starts out at 45,000 a year with multiple bonuses through out. The only bad thing about this job is that we would have to move every year to a year and a half. This is not something we want to put our kids through, we will NOT put our kids through moving that much. The employer is trying to find a way where we will be able to stay in one place and still work for this company so, we will see.

I have just met my 1 year mark of being in school, I have only 6 months left of my pre reqs and then I will be able to be put on the waiting list for the nursing program. I won't have to wait long if I can get a job in a hospital doing anything that they will allow me to do such as working in the hospitals basement filing files away or even just answering phones, either way I am way super excited. I applied for a job with JWC back in February and had an interview, this is a property management company " Jim Wright Company". They called me back for a second interview because the person that got the job over me last time was fired after a couple months. I find out hopefully soon if I got the job. I would be so excited if I get this job.

Casey is doing a lot better. He at first hated being here, the school and the people. He had all a's minus one b at Mountain Meadows and when we got his report card at Brookhaven he had a 38% in writing, 68% in reading, 0 in SS a 96% in math and a 98% in science. Casey was very depressed and had to see the guidence counscelor every day for a month and a half. Casey has brought his grades up since, has friends now and is just doing so great. I am so glad that Casey is finally coming around. Casey wants to learn how to play the drums so we bought a book to teach him the basic rythems/beats but now we are looking for someone to teach him lessons.

Jared is in his first year of school, pre-k. The pre-k in Texas is all day long, way different from AZ. Jared, my main worry, did really good his first day of school " Surprise, Surprise" Jared loves being in Texas, he loves playing outside and he loves drawing pictures of Texas. A month ago Jareds bike was stolen out of our back yard, he was so upset and really didn't understand the whole " stolen" concept. We saw the person who stole the bike riding it a couple weeks later, they were twin 13 year old girls. We called the cops and followed them to their house and they totally lied to the cops, it is what it is right? Well mothers day we were driving around , Jared asked to drive by the house to we did and guess what we saw? The bike, right in the driveway. We loaded the bike up and called the cops again. The bike was trashed, in fact, we won't let Jared ride it because the brakes were ripped off of it, the yellow bike was painted with white shoe pollish and the rims were all bent to heck The girls are getting in trouble and we are pressing charges. Other then that things have been great.

Anthany is well, Anthany. Tony loves to fight with his brothers every chance he gets. Tony does not like to share mommy so when the boys get home from school the Hell begins. Tony is potty training but doesn't want to poop in the toilet. He loves to play outside PUSHING around his bike since he can't ride it. Tony also follows me around the house all day with his back pack and hot wheels cars and will just play where ever I am.

It is really nice that I have 2 of my 3 kids in school, I love the one on one time with Anthany. I love how quiet my house is in the day time and how easy it is to clean without all the boys at each others throat and messing things up just as quick as I get it cleaned. I miss Casey and Jared in the day time but that is ok. Well that is all that is going on for now so I will update when there is more to update.

My Ride... Oh the Joys

Yep, this is my car. It is old, 1996 to be exact, it is faded black and it is ugly. I think I have actually learned which songs from my cd's come after another because I have no am/fm right now so I get to listen to a lot of cd's. I don't care about the year,color or even how nice it is because I needed a car and I needed it like 3 weeks before we got it so, along as this car got me from point A to point B, I was fine. My car now has no AC because it just stopped working. We tried to re-charge it but that was un-successful. Let me tell you about my day... Today Brandon has his orientation for the stupid class he has to take so I though that I would put a note in his truck while he was in class to get his mind off the class when he was done and because I love him and love giving him notes. I get all the kids in the car and try to start my car and it won't start. This is sometimes normal, we think it is due to the after market alarm that was put in the car. I call Rickman to come help me get it started but he was at the store and I was already short on time so I lifted the hood and wiggle wire around wondering,'' Is this going to shock me if I touch it?'' I get back in the car and woo hoo, it started. I make it to where Brandon's class is 2 minutes before he was supposed to get out, put the note in his truck, pull out and the car starts to sputter so I pulled into the parking lot acrossed the street and my car wouldn't start so I start thinking again to myself,'' Oh great, now he I am stranded, I wanted to surprise my husband but the now I'm going to get caught and it won't be a surprise... This totally sucks,'' Casey asked me,'' Mom are you talking to yourself AGAIN?'' That was a great feeling. The car finally started and I was at the intersection, I had a green light, feeling good when all of the sudden... My car dies AGAIN. Luckily it starts right back up. I start driving again, I get down the road and... My Car dies again except I was able to pull into Ashley's Furniture. I wait like 10 minutes,wiggle wires again, get back into the car and I hear Jared say,'' What mom?'' Then I hear Casey say,'' She's not talking to you Jared, she is talking to herself again.'' I was thinking oh dang am I doing that again? Its great. Again, the car starts and I finally make it home... Woo freaking Hoo. A 20 minute thing turned into an hour. Casey told he me that he hates this stupid cheap car. It is so embarrassing when it dies on us. I told him that until he gets a job he will ride in what I drive...lol. This car decided today that it doesn't want me driving it and I am starting to not want to but considering that I only paid 1450.00 for it and I don't have a payment, I will fix it to where it doesn't pull stunts on me like that again. I do love my car tho. I love making memories in the car but not those kind of memories...lol

Texas

As you all know we moved to Texas... Yay!!! I love it here. Rickman flew to Arizona the night of February 11th to help us load up and to help me drive back since we believe in just driving straught through and the afternoon of the 13th Rickman, me and my youngest, Anthany left to head to Texas. Brandon was just finishing up putting the tranny in his truck so him and our other 2 boys were only supposed to leave 4 hours after me. Poor Brandon, he had problem after problem after problem with the truck so needless to say I didn't get to see Brandon, Casey and Jared until the 17th, it totally sucked. We had to stay with Brandon and Hollian for two weeks until the place I wanted was ready. It is so nice being in our own home, it has been about 2 years since it has just been us as a family, it is either us living with someone or someone living with us. We have an older home but it has been kept us really nice. It is a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 car garage. Its so funny because our home looks identical to Rickman and Hollians home just flipped...lol. Casey is not adjusting well, it has been a really slow process for him and I feel horrible. The first week of school Casey had to see a guidance counselor because he was an emotional wreck. Jared on the other hand loves school and hates coming home from school. Casey I am afraid is extremely depressed, he misses his family and friends in Arizona. He is constantly asking to call aunt Brandi, Aunt Ginger, Aunt Mandy, grandma and grandpa etc... Poor kid. The other night he was crying in his room so I went in there to see what the problem was and he said with tears flowing down his face,'' I just want to be normal again, I hate the new me, I want to be the normal me that I used to be in Overgaard.'' I told him he can be normal and get over being so far away by making friends and doing more then thinking about things that reminds him of our old home. He is getting better, there has been alot less sleepless nights, thank heavens. I don't have pictures but those are soon to come.

A Prayer Request!!!

I have a friend named Halee Summit. She had her first little child at 17, a little boy named Damien. Due to a complication while being pregnant with Damien the doctors told her that she should not get pregnant again. Very soon after Damien being she got pregnant with her daughter Peyton. This pregnancy left her wondering if she was even going to be able to make it to full term. Halee had Peyton at 25 weeks she weighed a very small 1 pounds 5 ounces. The doctors again tell Halee not to get pregnant, this pregnancy almost killed her and peyton. Again very soon after Peyton being born Halee got pregnant with twins, a boy and a girl named Heath and Christina. Halee had her twins at 23 weeks and 4 days due to complications. Heath weighed 1 pound and 10 and a half inches long and lived for only 2 hours and 33 minutes. Christina weighed 15 ounces and was 10 and 1/3 inches long and lived for only 3 hours and 17 minutes. Well Halee is doing ok, pregnant again with another set of twins, 2 baby girls. Halee has made past 23 weeks with these babies and hopefully she keeps going. A little while ago Halee's little boy was diagnosed with cancer, I am un sure what type of cancer. Damien has died a couple times but has been resestated. March 6, 2010 only 2 years old Damien passed away, he could not hold on any longer. Peyton also has been sick with some health problems but is doing ok. Please pray for Halee, her fiance and her un born baby girls. Halee is young, but she loves her kids. I don't know if Halee was doing anything to prevent these pregnancies that the doctor has told to but knowing Halee she was trying to prevent it, some people are just very fertile. I don't know how Halee holds it together because after losing 3 kids especially 1 that she has had the pleasure of raising and loving and to take care of for 2 years, to know his personality and then to lose him would kill me. Im so sorry Halee for you losses, I love you and I pray you make it to a safe delivery with these twins and that everything goes your way.


Damien


Damien with his cute beanie on


Damien and his Mommy


Damien having some tummy time


Peyton right after birth


Peyton, so little


This is how small her feet were


What a pretty little dress


Beautiful little smile


Christina and Heath... RIP precious little babies


The new baby girls... Names still in debate


Halee... The Momma


These are the most recent pictures that I have so when I am updated, I will update you.

Baby Athena Blair

My two good friends Aaron Blair and Michelle Vincent had a baby girl on December 27, 2009.A few weeks earlier she was taken to the hospital in labor 12 weeks early. Michelle was put on bed rest until the baby was able to come out, the doctor told her she could come up to the white mountains for Christmas since her other 2 kids were with their dad and she had no family down in the valley. 2 days after Christmas she was again rushed to Banner Good Samaritan with contractions at 3-5 minutes apart and severe bleeding. As soon as they made it to the hospital they did the normal exam except for the fact she was bleeding/hemorrhaging that they could not check her cervix. A couple hours later they were finally able to get her to her ultrasound and during the trip down the hall she started having unbearable pain and pressure so they check her and she was 9 centimeters, they rush her back to labor and delivery just into for her to push. Michelle pushed Athena out and as soon as Athena, like not even a second later, her placenta came out. It looked like brown rotten hamburger meat, they were able to finally diagnose Michelle after the fact with Placental Abrupt ion, any longer and Athena and Michelle would of died. Athena weighed 3 pounds and 12 ounces, big for being 9 weeks early. Athena didn't show any problems until 5 day old. Her breathing was labored, her heart beat was sometimes dropping and elevated. Athena had a infection in her lower intestine that caused her to not be able to hold her blood platelet levels at the level they need so she had to have 5 blood platelet transfusions. Also, they didn't know why she wasn't able to keep the levels up so they did a spinal tap. The spinal tap was unsuccessful due to Athena being so little and there wasn't enough pressure on her spine to get any fluid. The doctors tried again a few days later and again were unsuccessful due to the same fact of just being so tiny. Thankfully the antibiotics started to work so she didn't need another one. Athena started doing really good and the doctors started planning her release when a few days before her release Athena started having breathing spells where she would stop and start again a few seconds later. It seemed to always happen every 2 to 3 days. The doctors started a method where she could go home in 5 days but every time she would stop breathing they would start the 5 days all over again. This breathing spell was called Acute Apnea. Athena was able to go home 3 weeks later when she was 7 weeks old and 4 pounds, she had to go home with Oxygen and a pulse oxcimeter and a sleep apnea machine to monitor her breathing. She has now been home for a month and weighs 10 pounds.


Athena Blair. 3pounds, 12ounces


Athena and Daddy

Athena and Aunt Kelli

Aunt Kelli, Uncle Brandon and Athena

Me, Michelle and Athena

Tony trying to get in the crib
to see Athena

Pretty in Pink


Sleeping Beauty