PPEC

Before his discharge, the caseworker assigned to Kyle gave me some information about the PPEC (Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care) medical daycare program in Clearwater. Previous caseworkers have mentioned the program to us before but I looked into it a little more this time.

PPEC is a division of Pediatric Health Choice (the medical equipment provider that provides Kyle's feeding pump and equipment). It is a daycare center for children requiring special medical attention preventing them from attending a normal daycare. Kyle qualifies because of his developmental delays and reliance on the feeding tube.

PPEC is 100% covered by medicaid and many other insurances. There is no cost to the family. I was especially surprised at this considering that they are able to accomodate even newborns.

They provide care Monday-Saturday up to 12 hours a day. There is no minimum number of hours. Kyle could attend a week full-time and then the next week not attend at all. He could arrive at 6:30 AM one day and 4:00 PM the next. The schedule is as flexible as we need it to be. The school schedule is very structured, though. They have scheduled nap, lunch, outdoor play and snack times just like a regular daycare.

Their staff consists of all medical professionals. The teachers are all CNAs, LPNs, RNs, etc. They are staffed with therapists for occupational, speech, physical and feeding therapies. Which means that Kyle would be able to get therapy every day without leaving the daycare. They have cribs or toddler beds for each child where normal daycares only have cots. They have the special equipment needed as well - feeding pumps, IV pumps, nebulizers, etc.

Their staff is free from infection and do not come in if they have any signs of illness. If a child has a fever, they are not turned away. They are given medications as needed and isolated from the other children. They even have a special isolation room for highly contagious diseases such as pink eye or chickenpox with a specialized ventillation system and a separate bathroom.

They also can provide transportation to and from school for families without transportation of their own or when there are scheduling conflicts affecting transportation (i.e., the parent works past closing time and the child needs to be transported to a family member's house).

The center is located just west of US19N on Drew Street, so Chris actually passes the center every day on his way to and from work so it works out perfectly. We've discussed starting Kyle at PPEC starting the first Monday in January (1/5/09).

All Better

Kyle came home Saturday afternoon after a week in the hospital. In addition to the pneumonia, they discovered that he had RSV again, which is probably what caused the pneumonia. They treated him with steroids, antibiotics, IV fluids and breathing treatments. They would have discharged him earlier except that his O2 sats (blood oxygen saturation levels) kept dropping below 90% while he was sleeping unless he was on oxygen. O2 sat levels should normally be as close to 100% as possible but at least over 92%.

During his stay, Kyle got visits from some of his favorite NICU nurses and respiratory therapists and made friends with a couple of new nurses. He had Scott and Melissa as nurses for most of the week. He had three roomates come and go while he was there, too. One of them was a little baby boy and Kyle had fun talking across the room to him. When the baby was replaced with a 16 year old boy, Kyle kept asking where the baby went.

I was able to share some of my knowledge from being an All Children's veteran with the other parents. Little tricks like where the silence buttons are on each monitor and pump (making sure they knew to inform the nurse whenever the alarms go off, though), or which channel is the All Children's movie channel (44), or where to park, or how to avoid parking fees in the Bayfront garage (leave after 9pm - no charge), etc.

But Kyle's home now and has been almost a week. He's feeling much better and back to his old self. He's a little more talkative and independent.

Kyle at All Children's Hospital again

Kyle was admitted Friday night with pneumonia. He's still in the hospital. I will try to find time to update more.

Carnival!

I took Hannah to her first carnival last night. There was a little carnival at Countryside Mall and Hannah had commented on the ferris wheel. We went on the ferris wheel, the carousel and the bumper cars and she went on the kiddie rollercoaster, the motorcycle merry-go-round and the airplane merry-go-round. I forgot the camera at home so I had to use my phone for a camera but I couldn't miss the photo opportunity.

Trick or Treat 2008

I didn't get to go with the kids trick-or-treating this year because I had to work but Chris and my dad took them out and they had a blast. Hannah was a princess, Kyle was a tiger and Audrey was a ballerina.

Blankie from Great-Grammys

Audrey received a blanket hand-made by her 91-year-old Great-Grammy Cain.

Part-Time Job

Mid-October, I decided to apply for a part-time job nights and weekends. I figured Countryside Mall would be the best place to look since it's so close to home and I could look at several jobs in one location. I was determined not to leave until I had filled out at least five applications but on my second application (at Victoria's Secret) I got an offer for an interview the next day, so I figured I could call it quits.

I honestly didn't think I'd get the job because I have no retail experience whatsoever but I did. I think it's working out pretty well.

I went to a mandatory meeting just two days after my initial training and was pleasantly surprised to find out that I was going home with two of the bras that were in focus for the month, a pair of panties and a bottle of the newest fragrance - all for free! One of the bras has already become my absolute favorite! I can see why they give the associates a free one. It makes it easy to sell when we experience it personally. I was really surprised at how much I like the perfume, too. Normally, I don't wear perfume because I don't like strong scents but it's a light fragrance and I love it!

The job does require a lot of standing for long periods of time and it's taking some getting used to. My back is not used to so much demand.