The Burk's Happy Little Blog

Somebody is feeling better.

2009-12-13T10:15:00.001-05:00

Sunday morning, all is well.

2009-12-12T21:36:00.000-05:00

Audrey is doing so well tonight. She had her first trach change yesterday and did great. We're hoping to get her home soon. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers. JB

A new door has opened

2009-12-09T12:48:00.001-05:00

Audrey continues to do well this morning. You take so many things for granted in life and simply breathing is one of them. I shed a few tears this morning because for the first time in my daughter's young life she is breathing easy. There is no retractions, no labor, no gasping, no oxygen hunger, and no flaring. There is certainly a lot that lies ahead, but today is a huge victory and a new beginning. Praise God.......JB

Multimedia message

2009-12-08T16:56:00.000-05:00

Little Audrey did great in surgery. She will be on the vent until tomorrow. She's resting easy now. JB

Multimedia message

2009-12-07T12:30:00.000-05:00

Audrey is at Children's Hospital in Knoxville. She's having surgery tomorrow. Keep her in your prayers. JB

Postscripts from Kandahar

2009-11-28T01:25:00.005-05:00

It's been a long month since I last logged in with my blog. We eventually made the transition from Basrah, Iraq to Kandahar, Afghanistan. Our surgical team has been split into two groups with one team in western Afghanistan, and my team that has been abandoned in Kandahar. I use the word "abandoned" because we were left in a RSOI tent with no mission, no equipment, and no clue of what they want to do with us. These are obviously not the ingredients to feel like one is doing worthwhile work. We were infused in the NATO hospital for all of about two days before we were pulled because of a "hot" mission that never materialized, and so it appears that we will give the NATO hospital another spin at the beginning of the week. One of my mentors gave me a good perspective of the affairs going on here after I expressed my frustration via email. I believe we are victim of circumstances in Afghanistan. I think the planners that do this kind of thing thought that we would have the surge of troops over here already, but that hasn't happened yet so we are left here with nobody to support. Don't get me wrong, the surge will happen in a few months and bubbas like me will unfortunately be employed. It's just not in the cards for us on this deployment.
Our circumstances make it more frustrating when I know that my wife is drowning back home. Little Audrey has been sick more in the last four months than she has for the previous year and a half. It's just been an up and down roller coaster with her, and I know that my wife is close to her breaking point. It makes me pose the question of, "Why does duty and honor to your country have to make everything you love and hold dear suffer?" I'm not the first knucklehead to ask the question, and even though our family situation at home is tenuous sometimes I should be thankful because someone always has it worse. If I ever doubt that statement then I just need to remember all the KIAs that I seen or cared for over here, and it will put things in perspective for me. Anyway, keep Audrey in your prayers..........JB

It is what it is......

2009-10-28T08:18:00.004-04:00

One of the favorite things that I like to say is, "it is what it is." If you have spent any time around me you will probably smile because I say it a lot. It drives my wife crazy, and I can thank the Army for it because I have been conditioned well. I preface all of this because we are waiting to get out of Iraq and on to Afghanistan. We have been bumped off multiple aircraft and sent back to the locker room to await another day. I'm living out of a small bag, have no idea what day it is, stay in a constant state of fatigue, and probably smell wonderful (just ask my roommate). So it is what it is...........

Deployments are strange beast. They are marked by periods of mind numbing boredom where you question yourself "why I'm even here", followed by times of sheer madness, trauma, stress, and loss. The undercurrent of stress of not knowing when this will happen leads to a good time. So it is what it is.............

We are going to be a group of transient nomads for the next several weeks until we get to our final destination in the "Stan". We really don't know what to expect. We all have read what is going on over there so we know that we are needed and have an idea of what to expect. We have been told to expect a primitive location of where we are setting up (I would prefer the word campy) so I guess I will be best friends with the dirt real soon. There is no real use to complain because it is what it is........

I just wish I could fast forward time a bit now. My family needs me desperately, but it is what it is............JB

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Now playing: Matthew Sweet - I've Been Waiting
via FoxyTunes

Why do bad things happen to good people?

2009-10-12T16:38:00.007-04:00

Today was a pretty decent day in the home I call Basrah. All that changed about an hour ago for me when I found out that one of my college roommate's children had just died. I never met the child, but I know he was special like my little Audrey so I immediately shuddered when I heard the news. It really scared me because I have thought about being in my old roommate's position on several occasions, but my little girl has always rallied.
Several people have told me that the Lord gives special children to special parents. That used to anger me when I heard this because I thought it was a nice way to place something in a box to go along with the Hallmark card shoved down your throat. I now actually believe that my special child has made me a special parent and a better person. The Lord allows all things so it can glorify him. Sometimes I don't understand this, but I do understand that the situation with little Audrey has made the love I have for my wife and children stronger than what I can describe in words. It has taught me patience that I really have never had. It has given me a new level of empathy in caring for my patients that I never really have had either. It has taught me to place my faith in God that he will watch over and take care of my family because I have realized that I can't control everything nor can I can fix everything and make it right. Most of all little Audrey has taught me that your children are so precious and that you should enjoy every little thing in their life regardless of how small it is.
So I will give the Lord thanks in all things good and bad, but my heart is so sad for my old friend Brent. May the Lord comfort his family in this difficult time........JB

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Now playing: MercyMe - Here With Me
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Change is a coming....I hope you're not settled

2009-09-07T02:11:00.003-04:00

It's been awhile since I last posted, but life has continued at Camp Basrah. We've saved some good guys, taken care of some locals, and have endured the heat that is finally starting to show signs of going away. Everything is relative so when I say "going away", I mean the highs are only 120 now........:)) Things will be changing drastically for us here in the coming weeks. I can't really say what's going on for a little bit, but it's going to be an interesting ride.

Shannon and the kids are hanging tough. Little Audrey was sick last week, but she seems to be doing better now. Continue to keep her in your prayers especially as we approach the fall and winter months. I will be fighting with our case manager this week about trying to get more nursing care hours for Audrey. We'll see how this goes but since we have changed locations the service that we have received has not been the same as North Carolina. That's about all for now.........later.

JB

Initial thoughts on the deployment

2009-08-20T14:32:00.003-04:00

Hey guys, I'm just checking in and trying to update the blog site. I have been in Basrah for about 2 1/2 weeks now and things are going okay. I've been indoctrinated into Facebook, and I have found it to be very addictive. Maybe, because I feel like a prisoner here on my free time. The base that I'm at in Basrah is pretty small which is good and bad. The good points is that everything you need is fairly close, but the bad points are that when the Iraqi/Iranian thugs send rockets over at us they have a pretty good chance of fragging some Soldier because we are packed in. We had three Soldiers killed here not too long ago because of indirect fire. Things are still quite dangerous here, but everything is quickly winding down. You can tell that there is a big push to get out of this patch of land called Iraq. Our forward surgical team has been extremely sleepy. We've had two minor traumas in our first two weeks, and our surgeons are probably going bonkers (which is a good thing because Solders are not getting injured, but we wouldn't mind some Iraqi stuff). Our clinical set-up is pretty impressive, and I think the folks back in the states would be amazed at the level of our surgical capabilities in this austere environment. I've been busy refitting our trauma set-ups and clinical layout of our ATLS tent since I've arrived. We've got a really good set-up in our triage and trauma section, but won't be able to fine tune it until we actually start treating a lot of patients. The team I'm with is really great group of talented and professional Soldiers. The heat here is really hard to get used and describe to people back home unless you really feel it. I have never been so hot in my life, and the spot I was in on my last deployment was nowhere near this hot. That's all for now, but I hope to add some pictures when I can get a faster internet connection.

JB

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Now playing: The Floating Men - Remembering Paradise
via FoxyTunes

Postscripts from Basrah

2009-08-06T16:56:00.003-04:00

Finally...........we have arrived at our destination. I will be serving at Camp Basrah for the next six months and things seems to be okay. I'm assigned to a forward surgical team, and we basically do the initial surgical/resuscitation on all trauma patients and then fly them out. My living arrangements are great considering we are in a war zone. We took care of our first trauma today, which wasn't too bad (not an American), and I was quickly reminded that I was in Iraq tonight when we were attacked by rockets. Nothing like low crawling through 100 degree weather to a crowed bunker......:)) Anyway, we've got a good group of surgeons and medics here so it should be a good deployment. Shannon and the kids are plugging along. Please keep them in your thoughts.........later.

JB

Boots on the Ground

2009-08-02T10:58:00.004-04:00

Hey guys. After 26 hours of flying and hellish layovers, I have arrived in lovely Kuwait. I stepped out of the aircraft at midnight to a cool 102 degrees. I have no orientation to what day or time it is..........we are 7 hours ahead of the family back home. Anyway, I will be here for a few days until I leave for my final destination up north. Kuwait is not the most lovely place. It's almost like being on the moon with the fine sand everywhere. Oh yeah, let's not forget that it feels like a hair dryer is blowing in your face as soon as you step outside. Good times............I will write soon once I'm finally settled. Please remember Shannon and the kids in your prayers.

JB

A quick hello

2009-07-26T20:37:00.002-04:00

Hey everybody. I just wanted to drop a quick hello to everyone to let you know I have left for my deployment. I will be at Ft. Benning until Friday, and then I'm off to Kuwait and then Iraq. Shannon and the kids are settled, but keep her and the little ones in your prayers because its a funny farm everyday. I hope to start adding a lot of picture once I'm settled to document this latest adventure. Talk to you soon.........

JB

Time with Daddy

2009-07-22T13:59:00.000-04:00

Country Love

2009-07-09T20:43:00.001-04:00

The wheels are in motion, and we have moved the family home to TN before I head out the door. We got moved in the other night and have things relatively set up okay. Audrey has her first appointment with the new pediatrician today, and we are anxious to get the new nursing service, PT, and OT going. I've got about two weeks before I head out and have some evaluations to close out and then I'm ready to roll. We're feeling a lot better about the move now because things seem to be falling in place after months of coordination for Audrey's care.

The picture above was pretty funny and, it was the first sign we saw before we pulled into the new neighborhood. I have officially called this deployment for Shannon the Country Love Tour.................good times.

JB

Pretty Beach Girl

2009-06-25T18:10:00.000-04:00

Somebody is looking pretty!

2nd Annual Bache Ball Tourney

2009-06-24T17:20:00.001-04:00

Summer Fun!

2009-06-22T15:40:00.006-04:00

Hey guys, I hope everyone had a Happy Father's Day yesterday. We're down at the beach house this week enjoying some family time before I head out. We have the entire extended Craig clan down here so there are a total of 7 grand kids running around Carolina Beach. We had a great day yesterday.........what's better than drinking some Corona's and grilling out on the water on the designated Man Day? We were laughing the other night on how just a couple of years ago Macy was the only grand baby for the Craig's and how they have 7 now with 2 on the way. How times change.........Anyway, just wanted to send a quick note out along with some pictures (they're on the right). Talk to you soon........

JB

Time to kick back

2009-06-21T20:40:00.000-04:00

A star is born!

2009-05-23T18:18:00.000-04:00

Marley is here and healthy. 9 pounds and 2 ounces.......Praise God!

JB

The train has left the station.

2009-05-23T10:13:00.000-04:00

Shanny's in labor........more to follow.

JB

Fun at the fair!

2009-05-14T18:55:00.000-04:00

Time to Work

2009-05-02T20:45:00.002-04:00

Hey everybody.........the updates from Audrey's procedures last week are that she does not need a tracheostomy. Shannon and I knew this going in for ourselves, but we wanted the experts from UNC to come to that same conclusion. She had no upper airway obstructions which was excellent from our standpoint. In addition, her hearing test went reasonably well. She is hearing (which we also already knew)and the audiologist does not recommend any type of hearing device for her at this time. Audrey got a lot of cool equipment in this week that will help her start trying to stand and bear weight on her little feet. I'm including some pictures of her in her stander. She's tolerating the equipment pretty well. We also received a pretty high speed stroller for her so she is definitely hot pants now! Shannon and the other kids are doing well. Shannon is 36 weeks today which is hard to believe..........the adventure continues.

JB

All is well!

2009-04-23T15:17:00.000-04:00

Audrey is doing great after her procedures today. They are keeping her overnight just to be safe. We're just hanging out watching cartoons. I'll give a full report of what they found when we get home.

JB

Audrey's at UNC today

2009-04-23T07:51:00.000-04:00

Audrey just went into the OR. She's was doing fine this morning, say a little prayer for her. I will update everybody when she comes out.

JB

Errand Day

2009-04-18T12:58:00.004-04:00

I'm chilling in the waiting room of the Honda dealership waiting for my car to be serviced so I thought I would update everyone on our world and catch up on other blogs that I follow. I'm heading to the grocery store and Lowe's after this. Shannon has become very uncomfortable and not really able to shop for groceries so I get to pick what the Burk family eats.......:)) You can never grow tired of pizza and cookies, can you? We had a bit of rough night last night. Audrey had a seizure for the first time in several months. It happened around midnight last night, and we got really engaged pulling her through the rough patch. It's just a scary thing regardless of what experience I have of seeing your child turn blue. Audrey has a neurology appointment on Tuesday, and we need to increase one of medications. She is growing like a weed, and we have had her on the same dose for over 9 months so last night is a definite sign we need more on board. She's doing fine this morning so we'll watch her a little closer this evening. I write about this because it's just another slap in the face of what our new normal is like.
On another note, we finally chose the contractor that will renovate our house in the coming months so we are excited about it. I'm going to have to remove some trees in the back yard first, and I got to contact our HVAC guy to see if our unit will handle the addition. I also got my official deployment orders yesterday. I will heading out the last week of July so that means the rest of the Burk family will be heading to Grazing Meadows at the beginning of July. We have a lot to do, but it will be another adventure for our family. Audrey has her procedures on Thursday so please say a quick prayer for that everything will go okay...........talk to you soon.

JB

Dispatches from the Sand Hills

2009-04-10T20:50:00.004-04:00

Hey guys, I hope everyone is well at their respective abodes. The Burk house is lively as always. There are a lot of moving pieces going on right now so it's good that I post on the blog tonight so I can remember and track them all....:)) We've got some good momentum brewing with lining all of Audrey's care in Tennessee. I was in touch with the early intervention folks from the state and feel comfortable that everything will work out. Audrey continues to do pretty well right now. She had a swallow study performed this week at UNC, and she did swallow some which is great news. However, she did aspirate when we got to the thicker substances so they quickly ended the tests, but we definitely have something to build on with her. Our short term goal is that she swallow enough to control her secretions, and we'll take the food stuff later. She's got some procedures coming up in about two weeks so please keep her in your prayers. She'll have to spend a night at UNC after everything is done so we are trying to coordinate everyone's schedule to accommodate.
Shannon is almost 33 weeks along now which is absolutely crazy, but terribly exciting. I promise that we haven't converted to Mormonism and certainly didn't plan on raising a fire team, but the good Lord has his own plans for us......:)) Along that same theme, I found out for sure that we will be in NC for at least 2-3 more years this week so we will be renovating and expanding the house while I'm deployed this summer. We're looking to add about 500 square feet and gut the kitchen so we can have more space and functionality. We certainly need the space..........
Macy and Austin are doing great and growing up more everyday. Austin is busy doing head gainers everyday and Macy is in full swing with T-ball again so we are truly fully engaged in the Sand Hills of NC. Talk to you soon..........

JB

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Now playing: The Floating Men - Renee
via FoxyTunes

Come and get it!

2009-03-21T18:11:00.000-04:00

Ring a ding ding......it's a tough life.

Mickey Buttons and Family Fun

2009-03-15T12:04:00.005-04:00

Hey everybody,I hope everyone had a good week. It was beautiful during the work week and got up into the 80s. It would be Murphy's law that it is cold and rainy this weekend. I had no time to work out during the week so I'm running in the rain.....good times. Allison, Jeremy, and hurricane Brady are visiting this weekend. It's great to have family visiting, and Macy is terribly excited. We're going to cook out tonight and sit back and hope the Volunteers clinch the SEC title. The Bucs are already in so we're hoping for a good March Madness.

Little Audrey is doing well, but we continue to have issues with her mickey button. It remains very positional and leaks if it is stressed. UNC Hospitals has given us an option to admit her to the facility and take the mickey button out. They would leave it out for 1-2 days and let the stoma shrink. This sounds like a reasonable plan, but I don't want her in a hospital right now. So I going to start taking it out for a few hours at a time in between feedings so it will draw the stoma up. Another trick that I have done is putting a small Foley catheter into the stoma. This shrank the stoma up quite a bit, but not enough. I was a little hesitant about the length of time of leaving it in but this is a learning curve. I know I'm rambling, but there a people that read this blog that have children with Mickey buttons so my thoughts may be helpful. A huge no go that we did with Audrey's Mickey button is that we placed a larger size into the stoma when we initially changed it out because it was leaking. This only made the stoma larger and we have been chasing our tail ever since. If your health care provider doesn't understand Mickey's then find someone who does. I've been an ER Nurse for almost 15 years and this has been a learning experience for me. Anyway, that's my deep thoughts by Jack Handy today.......later.

JB

"Roger, Houston. We have reached advanced maternal age!"

2009-03-08T10:37:00.005-04:00

Happy Birthday to my lovely and wonderful wife! 35 years and counting..............40 is around the corner.....:))

JB

"Audch Baudch"

2009-03-01T17:04:00.002-05:00

I wanted to send a quick photo of Audrey today. Shannon has given her the nickname of "Audch Baudch" and it has taken hold. She looked too cute with Curious George. We will soon be fitting her with braces for her legs which is exciting. She continues to do well in therapies.........

JB

Basketball Star

2009-02-28T16:09:00.001-05:00

Macy finished her second season of basketball on Saturday, and the team celebrated at Cici's Pizza. Good times..............

Mickey Button Blues

2009-02-26T23:11:00.003-05:00

I've got Mickey Button Blues......rather, Audrey has Mickey Button Blues. We feed Audrey through a Mickey Button. You probably have no idea what I'm talking about so I'll explain. A Mickey Button is literally a plastic button on Audrey's stomach that we attach a tube to in order to feed the little rascal. She has had this since birth because she has a hard time swallowing her food or anything for that manner. We hope and pray that is a temporary matter, but in the mean time we have to feed her through the Mickey Button. Anyway, the problem at hand is that the button leaks and is very positional. This irritates little Audrey's skin and frustrates the daylights out of us because we are constantly changing her clothes. So this is a daily battle that we add as another brick for our ruck sack to carry. Other things continue to be busy at the funny farm. Macy had a basketball game tonight, and she did great. She scored two points (probably should have scored eight) and had a lot of rebounds. She has one more game this season so she is looking forward to her end of season party. We are also beginning preparations for my upcoming deployment in a few months. I'll most likely leave around the end of July or first part of August. The plan is to move Shannon and the kids home to Tennessee while I'm gone. Hopefully, I'll only be away for six months so we'll hope for the best. We plan on renting a home next to Shannon's Mom and Dad so she can have the extra help. It's a lot to put on Shannon........I can't begin to tell you how strong little Shanny is. Military spouses sacrifice so much, and our story is just one of them. Oh well.........the adventure continues. Tomorrow is Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JB

Goodbye Winter........Hello Warm Weather!

2009-02-08T14:01:00.003-05:00

Hello, I hope everyone has had enough of the cold weather. We certainly have in Carolina. I recently had the house wired for a generator in case the power went out because we can't go too long because of some of Audrey's equipment. Sure enough, the weekend after everything was good to go the power went out for about 17 hours over two different days so I'm glad we got everything set-up. The generator worked great and the house was warm and nice. The power company could have cared less if we were a priority customer or not. They told me to basically just deal with it. Oh well...
On the other hand, it is so nice today........sunny and 70 degrees. Did I mention I hate the cold weather?? This day will just spoil us and want us to have winter over even quicker. I went running with my neighbor this morning back in the woods, and I certainly feel 36 today. We ran six miles, and it felt like a marathon. My joints are killing me, but I've had the crud the last week so hopefully the next outing won't be as painful.
I've got the crew right now while Shannon is at the grocery store, and it is a three ring circus. Audrey has been doing well. She had four appointments at UNC last week so she has a team of specialists that are all on the same page so hopefully we can make some more progress. They are evaluating her airway and will be coordinating some some airway, swallowing, and hearing studies in the coming weeks so we can have some data to make an informed decision. They are specifically looking at the issue of seeing if she needs a tracheostomy. This is where they put a hole in your neck to open the airway. I don't think she needs it, but I don't want to be totally biased and withhold something from her that she may clinically need. We just want to make an informed decision, but they will really have to sway me that she needs one. For example, currently I'm looking at little Audrey just chilling watching television. She is on room air with an oxygen saturation better than me, 100%. Regardless, please continue to pray for her that she continue to improve and that she will not need this procedure.
For those of you that are not in the South but enjoy basketball please check out Davidson College and their player Stephon Curry. This guy is absolutely amazing and awesome to watch. March Madness is around the corner, and I'm waiting for TN to disappoint me again and rooting for my Bucs to make it to the dance. See you around....

JB

Checking In

2009-01-18T19:58:00.003-05:00

We hope everyone had a merry Christmas and happy new year. Christmas came and went too fast. We had a nice visit back home. I haven't been in a long while, but it's not the same anymore with Mom and Granny gone. I've been lazy with the blog lately.........too many other things going on. The kids are doing okay........we're afraid to take Audrey anywhere during this time of the year. RSV is rampant in our area right now so she is keeping a low profile. I'm back to my regular work and all of its headaches and frustrations. Iraq may be a welcomed change later in August.........I can't believe I saying that but I've been in this job for three years and it's time for a move. We moved Audrey's room upstairs two weeks ago and it really looks nice and is functional for her therapies. We are definitely out of house so I'm not really sure how we are going to handle anymore space requirements.......:)) Macy is in full swing with basketball and Daisy's now. She did fairly well in her first game and she was awarded her first merit badge so she is tracking..........just growing up too fast. I posted some new pics in my pictures so check them out...talk to you soon.

JB

Ready for the looney farm

2008-12-20T13:01:00.000-05:00

We just left for TN for the Christmas holidays. Packing the van has literally been mission impossible. I always made fun of families with the really huge vans loaded down with luggage and kids.......who is laughing now? Anyway, I will be ready for a beer at the end of this day.........:-D

JB

Happy Days Ride Again

2008-12-17T20:17:00.000-05:00

Audrey's bag is packed and she's ready to come home. I'm just waiting for the discharge paperwork. Austin is busy eating dirty gloves in the waiting room and stressing his Mommy out. Macy is at Daisey's tonight so I hope we get home soon so we can relieve our neighbor who is watching her. Thanks to everyone for your prayers. Keep the prayers coming, she is still fragile and susceptible to other nasty bugs........

JB

Improving

2008-12-17T00:54:00.000-05:00

Audrey is continuing to improve today. I'm staying with her tonight so she won't wake up scared. She had a rough morning yesterday so I don't want them doing anything foolish because they don't know Audrey's special little ways. Shannon and I were having a pity party earlier today about how unfair this situation is and how are Christmas may be dappened once again this year and then suddenly reality struck in the PICU.......two children died here today. That's two families that will probably experience their most difficult Christmas ever after burying their child. This puts things in perspective and you quickly realize that someone always has it worse than you. There is not really a good way to describe the anxiety and loss of control you experience when you have severely ill child, but it can't compare to the loss of that child. So I'm feeling thankful this early morning that my little girl is improving and that God is watching over her. Take nothing for granted.........hug your little ones a little tighter today.

JB

Audrey having some trouble.

2008-12-15T09:56:00.000-05:00

I hate to write to let you know that little Audrey is in the PICU at UNC. I had to call 911 to the house early Saturday morning when Audrey developed severe respiratory distress. Everybody has been sick in the house since their birthday party, but Audrey got it worse. They are thinking that she has a viral pneumonia, but are treating her with antibiotics just in case. She was negative for RSV, Influenza, and adenovirus. She is doing pretty good right now, and is on oxygen via nasal cannuli only. They were doing a continuous EEG last night on her to make sure she wasn't having seizures. I don't think she is, but the last time she was sick it pushed her over her seizure threshold so I guess it's better to air on the side of caution. Regardless, this is a setback. We were planning on going home to TN next week, but all deals are off now. This is just bringing back bad memories from last Christmas. Please pray for this little girl. I can't say enough on how tough this little girl is..........

JB

Audrey and Austin's Birthday Party

2008-12-11T12:56:00.006-05:00

Hey, we celebrated the twin's one year birthday party last weekend. We had a great turn out, and the twins were on sensory overload. Shannon and I would like to thank everyone for coming and celebrating these little miracles. Hondo almost ate his entire cake or was wearing it so if he ever develops diabetes then I can trace it back to this one event........:)) Audrey was really alert the first half of her party and decided to go to sleep when it came to the cake, but she had a great day also. Their first year has been full of challenges (especially for Audrey). We are thankful for everyone's help, love, and prayers and look forward to many more birthday parties! Enjoy the pictures.........

JB

We're in Trouble

2008-11-26T12:26:00.002-05:00

You probably think this is strange..........it is:)) I'm just adding it for my cousin Lisa who has adopted this song after a night at the Rocky Bottom! Thanks for letting me mooch from you and Scott during the past four months. I've had a blast!!

JB

2008-11-24T20:34:00.006-05:00

Hello, just checking in again. Things are well at the Burk house. Audrey is teething right now so she gets fussy at times. I've got the Thanksgiving break coming up so I'll be heading back on Wednesday afternoon. We have just a few days left so the end is near. The course has been good, and I have managed to just about finish my master's while I'm here. I'm putting off writing one of my last assignments to write this blog.........procrastination, maybe:))) I was driving back to D.C. last night so I had a lot of time to think about things and how the Burk family dynamics have changed in the past year. We have a lot to be thankful for with everything we have been through, and I have a new appreciation for families of special needs children because we are part of that group now. One of the drawbacks and things that upsets me is how people react to little Audrey when we are out in public. Audrey breaths loud at times and has a lot of secretions sometimes so people have a tendency to stare. This is especially true if we have to suction her out. I understand the curiosity, but I don't understand the the gawking, asking ridiculous invading questions, and talking about her as if we can't hear their comments. I guess I can react in two ways: educate or explode. My personality make-up leads me to the latter, but this won't fix the issue. The issue lies with me and accepting that human nature will be human nature........the good, bad, and ugly. So I submit that there are a lot of ugly people in this world that really don't appreciate what they have been given and that sometimes things happen that make people different. This will get better with Shannon and I as time passes, but it is still a hard pill to swallow. I don't think there has been one event that has led me to expressing myself tonight, but it has been a culmination of ones. So the next time you see a family that is different from yours please show some courtesy and understanding. I would like to end by wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! Again, we have a lot to be thankful for because Audrey and Hondo's one year birthday is coming up!

JB

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Now playing: Seven Mary Three - Lame
via FoxyTunes

2008-11-20T12:08:00.003-05:00

Audrey is really doing well right now. She has had two appointments this week with opthamalogy and EENT. Her vision appears to be improving and her PE tubes are good to go. She has had a fever here and there with teething, but not unlike any other child. Please continue to pray for her that she stays healthy and continues to make small developmental milestones. Her progress is measured in very small slices, but she continues to improve. On another note, I have about 3 1/2 weeks left in D.C. so the course is winding down nice. Bragg is awaiting.........

JB

From The Burk's Happy Little Blog

Doodle Bug

2008-11-16T15:37:00.000-05:00

I wanted to share my latest project. It's a 1970 VW Bug. It's in good shape for it's age. Talk to you later......

JB

2008-11-03T21:50:00.004-05:00

Last Thursday our staff college group went to Gettysburg for a staff ride to discuss the battle and how the leadership lessons apply today. Anyway, it was great experience while sobering at the same time. I believe there was over 36,000 casualties in just three days of battle. Can you imagine that today. I've included a lot of pictures here so if you're interested then check them out......

JB

2008-11-03T20:06:00.002-05:00

We hope everyone had a safe and happy Halloween. We had a good time, but man was it stressful getting everybody ready to get out the door. Austin and Audrey were fussy all the way up to getting ready then they just conked out and slept. We walked maybe a mile in the neighborhood (yes, we have a very large neighborhood) and Macy got tired so we headed back. Earlier in the evening, little Austin took a tumble out the front door when Macy accidentally opened the door on him so he is sporting small abrasions to his head...........good times. Anyway, enjoy the pics.

JB

2008-10-25T14:15:00.005-04:00

Shannon and I went my boss's Halloween party last night. We had a great time and even managed to do the "Burk cheer". I hope there is no video copy of the debacle that it was.........nothing like a big white guy with no rhythm. Anyway, I've included some more pics. Beetle juice is my favorite......:)) On another note, is it just me or are you ready for this election to be over? There are enough empty promises to go around shredded in lies from both parties. Regardless, who ever wins is going to inherit a big bomb. I better mute myself before I go on.........I'm supposed to be apolitical..:)) Later......

JB

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Now playing: Kenny Chesney With Mac McAnally - Down The Road
via FoxyTunes

2008-10-23T18:20:00.001-04:00

Audrey is hanging out watching Clifford the Big Red Dog today. Shannon told me she has had a really good day today, and she has been super alert. She has been cutting teeth the last couple of weeks, and it has been really painful for her because she can't grind her gums and chew on things. Sometimes you don't know what to do for her which makes you feel kind of helpless which doesn't sit well with my personality. Anyway, just keep her in your thoughts and pray for more days like today!

JB

Another picture from the fair.

2008-10-20T09:38:00.000-04:00

Fun at the fair!

2008-10-20T09:34:00.000-04:00

Shannon and I took Macy and Bailey to the Ft. Bragg fair on Saturday night. The girls had a great time, and I am painfully aware that I can't ride the rides like I used to ride. I thought I was going to hurl on the girls once or twice. Shannon's Mom watched the twins so we were glad to have some help. I'm still driving back and forth during the week and have about 9 weeks left in class. In other news, my cousins Kathy delivered her twins recently. We are terribly happy for them and let the sleep deprivation begin.......

JB

Update on the twins

2008-10-06T16:52:00.000-04:00

I just wanted to add some recent pictures of the twins. Audrey is doing fairly well right now, and Austin is getting Hondo size. Keep your prayers going for little Audrey. She's definitely got a little personality, but she has a challenging road ahead of her.

JB

Pretty cool!

2008-10-03T17:59:00.000-04:00

We visited Quantico today and checked out the Marine Corps museum. I have to admit that it was pretty impressive. I don't think the Army could do anything this nice.

JB

Bucktooth Beauty

2008-09-28T13:46:00.000-04:00

Macy is really starting to lose all her baby teeth. She'll appreciate this pic when she is a teenager.......:-D

JB

snaggletooth

2008-09-20T10:51:00.000-04:00

We are celebrating Macy's 6th birthday today. She's about to lose her front tooth also.........nice pic.

JB

2008-09-18T20:50:00.003-04:00

Hello everyone..........Audrey has had a really great two days and we are so thankful for all the blessings we have received for her. She continues to fight and improve every day! Keep the prayers coming. On another note, I have been checking out different types of vehicles that are more safe since I have been in the D.C. area. I've included some stuff I'm really interested in.........let me know what you think.

JB

2008-09-16T00:43:00.004-04:00

Hello, I'm back. Things are going good at the Burk home. I'm still commuting each Friday from Washington. My class is going pretty good. We were on television (CSPAN) earlier today attending a terrorism briefing at GWU. It was pretty interesting seeing some guys shaping our policy at a big level talk to students and reporters. Audrey had tubes placed in her ears about two weeks ago. She is doing fairly well, but she did get an infection in her left ear after the procedure. She actually sat up on her own without assistance for about 20 seconds this past Saturday. This may seem like no big deal, but it's pretty huge for our little girl considering everything she has gone through.

I'm attaching some pictures of her doing this, but I didn't get the good shots when she was midline and looking at her mommy. Austin is a total mess. He is crawling around everywhere and trying to pull himself up so it's all over but the crying............HONDO is mobile. Macy is enjoying first grade and Shannon is juggling a thousand things each day holding down the house.

I got to spend some time with my cousins, Lisa and Matthew last week. We had a great time so I plan on hanging out with Lisa and Scott more over the next couple of months. I'm still trying to link up with my other cousin Terry who lives in the Washington area. That's about it for now.......time to go to sleep.

JB

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Now playing: Jason Mraz - I'm Yours
via FoxyTunes

Mouth of the Potomac

2008-08-28T17:10:00.000-04:00

I have made it to Ft. Belvoir okay. Keep Shannon in your thoughts as she holds down the hacienda. I need to find my cousin Lisa's phone number. I'm meeting Shannon and the kids at the beach this weekend. I hope everyone has a safe and happy Labor Day.

JB

Living the dream with Kenny

2008-08-22T21:00:00.000-04:00

Daddy's Girl

2008-07-24T19:58:00.001-04:00

Audrey continues to do well. We hope everyone enjoyed the pictures the other day.

JB

2008-07-21T21:55:00.002-04:00

Hello everyone. Sorry there hasn't been an update in awhile, but things have been going pretty good, and we just wanted to enjoy the moment. Anyway, we finally had some formal pictures taken of the kids this past Saturday. I'm including a slide show for you to see. You can go to our pictures and download anything you want. The pictures turned out really good. Talk to you soon.......

JB

Fun at the beach!

2008-06-27T11:18:00.001-04:00

All is well at CB. Macy and her cousins are having a blast. We got both of the twins out to the beach and they did really well. I'll upload some pictures later.

JB

2008-06-21T21:25:00.003-04:00

The weekend is here and things are going much better. Audrey came home Wednesday night from the PICU at Cape Fear Valley. She's finally settled in at home and things are slowly getting back into a routine. Audrey is still getting adjusted to some of her new medications so she is kind of sleepy throughout the day. She's had no seizure activity for about 8 days, and her respiratory status is probably the best it has been in a very long while. We had some issues with her new mickey button leaking her formula all over the place so we were concerned because she had lost an entire kilogram while in the hospital. I messed with the button today for about an hour, and I have finally got it straight. When in doubt just remove it......and put it back in.......:)) We're heading to our beach house tomorrow to some long awaited rest. This will be the twins first trip to their beach home so we're excited to get them in the salt air. As always, Macy is totally pumped and has list of favorite things to do when we get there. All of Shannon's family is meeting us down there so it should be a great time. Shannon and I certainly appreciate everyone's prayers and concern. I would also like to thank all of Audrey's Angels, the Cape Fear PICU nursing staff, for providing her such wonderful care the last three weeks. I will send updates of our beach outing via my blackjack this coming week to show what mischief the twins and Macy get into..........Thanks again for everyone's prayers!

JB

Can somebody turn the light out?

2008-06-16T09:14:00.001-04:00

Austin has been patiently waiting for his sissy to come home. He's taking a nap in the waiting room in this picture. Audrey has had three good days in a row. We are hoping to get her home soon.

JB

"On the mend"

2008-06-14T17:21:00.001-04:00

Audrey has had a pretty good two day stretch. She is improving on both fronts. Her oxygen demands have been greatly reduced (she's on .25 lpm), and she has had no real seizure activity. Aunt Ally and Uncle Jeremy along with a tornado named Brady are visiting now so it's good to have family assisting. Austin and Mace are doing great and enjoying the pool almost everyday so we're trying to maintain normalcy. Overall, today is a good day.

JB

2008-06-12T10:42:00.003-04:00

Parenting: Hang in, Hold on, Hug Tight

The words above are placed on a picture that we hang in our kitchen. I think we received it during one of the twins baby showers. I just thought it was cute at the time and didn't think too much about it until after everything that has happened to Audrey. We have been on such a roller coaster ride with Audrey that Shannon and I ask God, "why me and why Audrey?" I really don't know the answer, but why not us? We always thought this was a situation that happens to someone else and not you. You would kindly spend a brief moment emphathzing with that family or say a small prayer and then go about your day. Unfortunately, we're that family now and we must move forward no matter what happens.
I consider myself to be an extremely positive and optimistic person, but I have to tell you it's hard sometimes especially during days like today. Audrey is having seizures now more frequently, and they're trying to get them under control. However, the pneumonia is getting better. I was extremely frustrated the last couple of days because the hospital was not keeping us informed very well. I felt that we were in a stall pattern with very little information being passed. I think I have effectively fixed that now and feel fine with the plan of care. You will always be your child'd best advocate, and you should never put blind faith in a system like healthcare for your child. I feel confident that we have come to an understanding now.
Being a parent of a special needs child is probably the most difficult thing we have experienced. Recently, we met a parent of a special needs child. She was very nice and infomative, and she greeted us by stating, "welcome to the club". You know, I really don't want to be in this club. Nobody asked us if we wanted to join, and the membership dues suck. I'm rambling now, but if you haven't figured it out yet this blog is my therapy. Keep the prayers for Audrey coming, she's a fighter.

JB

A little stronger.

2008-06-06T21:38:00.001-04:00

Audrey is making small improvements each day. They are trying to wean her oxygen demands. She has had a few seizures in the PICU, and they have adjusted her meds to counter them. It looks like she'll be here for several more days getting antibiotics. Keep the prayers coming.

JB

Making Progress

2008-06-04T20:33:00.001-04:00

Audrey is improving. She's wearing a head turbin because she's getting a 24 hour EEG. She's going to be getting IV abx for the next week to ten days. She's definitely has my mom's stubborness. Keep her in your prayers.

JB

Hanging with Nemo

2008-06-03T21:21:00.001-04:00

Audrey was extubated as planned around lunch time today. She's breathing much easier and being loved on by her Momma. We are very excited, but guarded because her condition can change quickly. They have ordered a 24 hour EEG because of a concern of possible seizure activity. We'll take the good with the bad, but today has been a good day.

JB

A different day.

2008-06-03T09:38:00.000-04:00

Audrey is doing a little better today. She had a bronchoscopy performed earlier this morning, and they removed a bunch of the mucous plugging that was jamming her right lung. She certainly appears to be breathing easier on the ventilator. The plan is to extubate her later today if all goes well. They have changed her antibiotics to give her better coverage, and the nurses are doing a great job of caring for her. She is a fighter so please keep the prayers coming. We have so many people concerned for this little girl so I'll keep all the updates from this blog. Forgive us if we don't return calls, but our focus is on her right now.

What next?

2008-06-02T09:19:00.000-04:00

Audrey is doing worse and had to be intubated yesterday. Her pneumonia on her right upper lobe has not gotten better, and she was really working to breath. They have her sedated while she is on the ventilator so she is breathing much easier. I really don't know what else to say........we are just numb and don't understand why this is happening to this precious little girl. Keep the prayers coming.

JB

One more day in the PICU

2008-05-30T14:13:00.001-04:00

Audrey continues to improve. She's sleeping pretty soundly in my arms right now. More to follow......

JB

Update! She's getting better.

2008-05-29T15:20:00.001-04:00

Respiratory status improving.........she's on the upward glide.

JB

Little girl needs some help.

2008-05-29T12:22:00.000-04:00

Audrey has been admitted to the PICU at Cape Fear Hospital. She developed some severe respiratory distress yesterday and just happened to have an appointment with the pulmanologist. She had a rough afternoon but did well through the night and this morning. Please pray for this little girl. She doesn't deserve this. Shannon and I are mentally and physically exhausted. I'm on emergency leave for the rest of the week, and Mrs. Craig is driving in today for reinforcements. I'll send more updates as they happen.

JB

Let's go for a ride!

2008-05-17T13:54:00.001-04:00

Sooooooo Tired!

2008-05-16T14:03:00.001-04:00

I couldn't resist from taking this pic of the twins. They just returned from a trip with their Daddy so I left them in place so I could get some stuff done. Later....

JB

2008-05-12T22:05:00.006-04:00

The twin turf battles begin!

Hello everyone. Just checking in with more pictures and letting everyone know what's going on with us. We got some bad news earlier today with the passing of Shannon's grandmother, Mimi. She's at peace now and lived a full life, but it certainly doesn't make it any easier. Shannon will be traveling to Wilmington on Thursday for the funeral service. I'll have to ask off from work to watch the kids. Audrey had an Opthalmology appointment at Duke today. The doc told me that the anatomy of her eye looks great (optic nerve, pupil, etc.). Audrey was looking around in her office and the eye doctor stated that she is seeing things, but the nature of Audrey's injury is that when her brain cooperates everything is okay and when the transmission isn't received then she's visually impaired. The definition of what she has is cortical visual impairment in case you want to look it up. Anyway, she is definitely checking her surrounding out a lot more now than ever which is a great blessing. Macy had her first T-ball game on Saturday, and she did great. She smacked her first pitched ball down third base for a single and hit off the tee for her second bat and did great also. It was hot as blazes on the field. Shannon and I got sunburned and the twins were wiped out from the heat sitting in their stroller. I've included a lot of pictures on this post. If you get this posting by email you will have to check our main blog site out to view all the pictures. Keep the prayers coming for Audrey!!! Later.........

JB

2008-05-04T14:59:00.003-04:00

The twins have their sun hats on and are ready to go! I've also included some pictures of Austin from this morning. He's doing a pretty good job of holding his bottle now. Pretty Boy!!!

JB

2008-05-02T19:30:00.002-04:00

Hey guys. The week is over..........thank goodness. We had a Joint Commission inspection at our hospital this week..............it's time to drink a beer!!! The organization and our department did well so I'm pretty proud right now. Macy is having a sleep over with her cousin Bailey this weekend so we're down one crumb snatcher. We just found out that my first cousin is expecting twins this week which is pretty exciting. They better start storing up energy and savoring sleep as they know it now...........:))I'm including a recent picture of Grandfather Mountain as we we're traveling home awhile back. It's definitely a scenic drive home using the back roads. Talk to you soon.............

JB

2008-04-28T23:17:00.003-04:00

Hello everyone! Sorry for the long absence, but we get so caught up in everything that there is not enough time for it all..........:)) Everyone is doing fine here in NC. Austin is doing great and Audrey continues to make small improvements. Macy is almost done with Kindergarten which is really hard to believe. I'm going to make this quick because everyone is wanting to see pictures. I've uploaded some pictures of Austin and Audrey that I have taken in the last couple of days. They've come a long ways, but please continue to pray for little Audrey. She is looking at us now which is another blessing! Talk to you soon...........

JB

March Madness

2008-03-22T15:10:00.001-04:00

Hello everybody! Sorry it's been awhile, but everyone is doing fine. We're actually driving home to TN as I write this note. The twins are doing great as Audrey continues with her multiple therapies. She's definitely breathing easier and becoming a little more interactive. I went to the first round of the NCAA's yesterday. We saw some great games. Talk to you soon.......

JB

2008-03-03T19:59:00.003-05:00

Hello everyone. Sorry for the long delay since my last blog, but things are always so busy. Everyone is doing well here. Audrey has been home from the hospital for over two weeks and is doing well. She actually went out on her first public outing this past weekend. We took her to Macy's final basketball game and party. She stayed awake the entire time, and we even took the twins out for a walk afterward. Austin continues to chug along. He's getting bigger all the time and is sleeping for about five hours during the night. He's well over 13 pounds now, and Audrey is approaching 10 pounds now. We'll know for sure on Friday when they have a nutrition appointment. Audrey seems to be visually tracking better now. She had a tendency to favor her left side but is now looking left and right. She's also doing well with her other therapies. Last week she started rolling over. She even did it more than once for the therapist and had good head control. She definitely cries when she wants to get your attention along with her brother! We have a RN that comes to the house during my work week from 2300-0700. Her name is Kathleen, and she is really great to little Audrey. We're most appreciative because I can get some sleep at night.

Audrey has a series of follow-up appointments at Duke next week. I think I have to drive up there three times in the same week............good times:)) BTW,Shannon's birthday is this weekend. The old lady turns 34..........six years to 40! Cuts like a knife........That's all for now. I'll try to send some recent pictures later.

JB

Nana and Aunt Allie to the rescue.

2008-02-17T15:28:00.001-05:00

Audrey is home and doing great. Shannon's Mom and sister spent the weekend with us to lend us a hand. Talk to you soon.

JB

Coming home today!

2008-02-16T10:04:00.001-05:00

Audrey is coming home today. Shannon and I are on our way to pick her up. The doctors wanted to make sure she was totally good before she heads home. Audrey is really growing now. She is over 8.5 pounds and is almost the same length as Austin. All her therapies are starting back up this coming week. We're definitely excited so please keep her in your prayers.

JB

Sweet Boy!

2008-02-09T17:38:00.001-05:00

Austin just wanted to say hello, and wanted everyone to know that Audrey is getting better each day.

JB

Hhmmmm....I'm thinking hard here.

2008-02-07T19:08:00.001-05:00

Audrey is doing much better today. She's breathing easier and she is gaining weight. Keep the prayers coming!

JB

2008-02-06T09:21:00.000-05:00

Hey guys. I'm sorry it's been awhile since I last updated everyone, but things have been so crazy, and we are literally so worn out I haven't been motivated to much of anything except get through the next day. Since I last updated everyone Audrey had come home from the hospital and was doing fabulous at home until Monday morning. I think she got a mucous plug deep in her lungs and couldn't clear it. Luckily, she was already at the hospital getting a nutrition consult and Pediatrics saw her immediately. So, she is back as an inpatient in the hospital. She had a rough day on Monday, but is doing great now. She no longer has an oxygen need, but the physicians and us want to make sure she is good to go before we bring her home because we don't want her right back in the hospital. A pulmonologist (lung doctor) consulted with Audrey, and he said that it is not uncommon for premature babies like Audrey to still have remnants of the RSV for weeks even months after the initial exposure. So it is definitely a roller coaster. It's just so hard to process that one day she is doing so great and the next day she is in full respiratory distress because of a crazy virus. We expect her to be in the hospital for at least the next day or two. Our insurance company has approved us to have a RN come to the house at night to monitor Audrey so we can get some sleep. This is really great news because I literally have been going on about 2 hours a sleep a night either because I've had to suction this crud from the RSV out of her lungs or just readjust the pulse oximeter that measures her oxygen saturations. Most of the up and down at night is nerves because we are so worried about her but this is no way to live without going crazy. Anyway, bottom line is that Audrey is getting better and preparing to come home and we have help now. I just need to work out the details with the nursing agency to find a good fix of who we are going to let in our home and care for our daughter. Austin continues to do great. He got his two month shots yesterday and did well with them. He weights 10 lbs and 10 ounces now which is awesome. He is definitely living up to his nickname, Hondo........:)) Macy is doing well also. She has a couple of more basketball games left in the season and we're either going to get her in dance or soccer again. That's all for now and I'll try to keep everyone more up to date as time passes. Please forgive me if I don't call family back, but our time is stretched so thin that when we finally settle at night it's more of a collapse than a settle..........later.

JB

She's a fighter!

2008-01-27T09:17:00.001-05:00

Audrey is doing much better today. She's almost completely off oxygen. She's also crying quite a bit now which is great to hear and will help her get better quicker. Keep the prayers going.

JB

A Step Back

2008-01-25T18:23:00.001-05:00

Hey everyone, Audrey had a rough day yesterday evening and experienced some respiratory distress. I had to call an ambulance at home to take her to my ED. She's been diagnosed with RSV which is a nasty bug for little ones. She's was admitted to the Pediatric floor at Womack and has stabilized a lot now. We're doing supportive measures for her as this virus clears her system. Please pray for this little girl, she has been through so much. I'm staying with her at the hospital and will send updates through my Blackjack.

JB

2008-01-23T23:05:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone. Sorry it's been awhile since I last updated the blog, but we have been going non stop. I don't think it ever ends......:)) Audrey continues to improve almost daily at home. She cries and coughs quite a bit now. She even is starting to grunt around like little Hondo which is great. She really starting sucking on my little finger tonight while I was giving her G tube feed. Austin, aka Hondo, is doing fantastic. He weighed 9 lbs and 10 oz at the doctor's office on Tuesday. Audrey is even starting to chub up also which we're totally pumped about. The Speech Therapist came out to the house today for her first visit. It looks like she will be here twice a week. We're still waiting for OT and PT to start. Not a whole lot else to update everyone on other than she continues to thrive at home. Please continue to pray for her and our family. This journey is going to be a long one, but today is a good day.......

JB

Future Lady Vol

2008-01-19T11:22:00.001-05:00

Pat Summitt was scouting Macy today at her game. Girlfriend is working on a scholarship.

2008-01-17T22:30:00.000-05:00

Audrey is finally home!!!!! We got home on Wednesday afternoon, and things are overwhelming to say the least. Audrey seems to be doing a lot better at home. We had to take her to a follow-up appointment at Womack today. We're getting glued in to all the therapy and follow-up visits that she will need in the coming months. So this little girl will get everything that she will need. We've tried to put her and Austin together as much as possible, but we're having them sleep in different beds because we are having to suction Audrey about every 2-4 hours and don't want to disturb the little man too much. The only medicine that Audrey takes is a multivitamin with iron, and we are feeding her through a G tube every four hours. She's taking 3 ounces and seems to be do well with the feedings. We just really need to pack the weight on the little girl. She's gained weight just about everyday the past 7 or 8 days. She weighed 6.4 lbs at Womack today. Austin continues to do great and is our little chubster, and Macy is very helpful to Mommy and Daddy. Shannon's family is coming tomorrow so that will be a big help. Shannon and I just need to make sure that we take care of each other as well as the other little ones. That's all for now, but please continue to pray for our family especially little Audrey. I want to a say a big thank-you to the Angels that cared for Audrey at Duke. Ashby and Melissa were a godsend to our family, and we will never forget the love and care you provided Audrey. Talk to you soon.......

JB

Hard Work

2008-01-15T21:32:00.001-05:00

I'm hard work, but I'm worth it!

Big Sister and Little Brother

2008-01-13T18:19:00.001-05:00

Macy is really enjoying being a big sister.

I'm coming home soon!

2008-01-12T21:59:00.001-05:00

Audrey is set to come home. Keep your prayers coming.........JB

2008-01-12T14:03:00.000-05:00

Saturday is here, and things haven't slowed down....:)) Macy had her first basketball game today which was fun to watch. She did really good for her first game. It was funny watching the kids play. I'll attach some pictures from the game at the bottom. We had a change in plans since my last blog entry about Audrey. We're keeping her at Duke until she is ready to come home which will be on Tuesday or Wednesday. We were concerned about her continuity of care and the ensuring that the follow-up piece was squared away and not leave it to Womack who really doesn't know her. Audrey continues to do well. She is gaining weight and making intermittent signs of her starting to begin her suck and rooting reflex. She is also coughing a lot more. I met with the neurologist and neonatologist yesterday to get their impressions and game plan. The neurologist showed me her brain MRI, and she definitely has an insult to her thalmus area. The neurologist was very concerned but was optimistic and really stressed the importance of aggressive therapy for Audrey. Audrey's follow-up EEG was really good and shows almost normal activity for a neonate. Time and continued prayer are going to be the biggest allies for Audrey. We are optimistic she will continue to do well. Shannon will spend Monday night at Duke so she can demonstrate she can care for Audrey by herself before she is ready to come home. I will watch the kids on Monday night and probably ask off for a couple of days when she gets home on Tuesday or Wednesday. We're definitely excited to get her home, but it is a little overwhelming because things are going to change a lot ensuring that she gets everything that she needs. Talk to you soon.......

JB

Has anybody seen my bottle?

2008-01-11T15:55:00.001-05:00

Check me out, I'm growing like a weed.

2008-01-09T21:05:00.000-05:00

It's me again. I'm sorry that I haven't updated the blog lately. I know a lot of the family are relying on this page. I'm sorry that I haven't called many of you, but to be honest it's simply been too difficult. Audrey is tentatively scheduled to transfer to Womack this Saturday. Shannon and I are working out some of this discharge planning and education from Duke tomorrow and Friday. She continues to remain stable. The neurologist at Duke didn't give us really good news about her long term prognosis so Shannon and I are trying to process it all right now. I certainly see where she was at one month ago and see how far she has come so we remain hopeful that she will continue to improve. No one has a crystal ball at Duke so we are going to have to see what happens and how much she improves over time. Please pray for her and our family. This has been so devastating for us, and we're just trying to hold it together. This message is dark, but I'm sorry that's just where we are at now. Audrey will certainly receive all the love we can provide her once we are home. Austin continue to do great. He had his one month follow up, and his weight was 8lb 10oz! When he came home he was just 5.5 pounds. The pediatrician was very pleased so we definitely have much to be thankful for. Thank-you once again to all of our friends and co-workers who have assisted us so much during these past several weeks. I simply do not know how we would have done it without you (COL R and COL C, thanks for looking out for me and covering my back). Talk to you soon..........

JB

Multimedia message

2008-01-06T14:07:00.001-05:00

It's a tough life.

2008-01-05T14:06:00.000-05:00

Hello once again. The weekend is upon us and the holiday rut is over. Shannon and I have driven to Duke for the weekend. Austin is with us, and Macy is with Aunt D and cousin Bailey. I'm sure Macy is having a ball! Audrey did great during the surgery and continues to improve. She really looks awesome today. Her weight is up to 6.2 pounds, and they will drastically increase her feedings now with the G tube up to 50 ml/kg (this is a good thing). She is starting to put her hands in her mouth a lot now which is definitely a prelude to sucking and swallowing. The game plan for Ms. Audrey this coming week is for Neurology to reexamine her, obtain another EEG, hearing and vision screening, and getting another MRI of her little noodle. Once this is complete, and she continues to do well on her feeds then we can look at getting her close to home at the NICU at Ft. Bragg. This will be a huge hurdle because the drive is really wearing us down. We really appreciate all the support and prayers we continue to receive, and my work has truly been great. I will include some more pictures and video of Ms. Audrey for everyone to check out. Mr. Austin continues to do great. He's packing on the weight and has grown over two inches already. Talk to you soon.........

JB

The Burk's Happy Little Blog

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