We woke up to a winter wonderland this morning! Jon snapped a picture of the parking lot from our hotel room.

Our first day at National Jewish was amazing! We arrived at 7:30 this morning, and started off with a warm welcome from our nurse, Sandy. She instantly made us feel so comfortable - which we needed! We all felt pretty nervous! She took blood pressures, height and weight on both boys, then gave us the grand tour. The boys were impressed to say the least! They have a stocked kitchen for the kids, loads of movies, Mrs. Packman video game (that Tifani ROCKS at!), Wii, and a computer. After the tour, we had an interview with Sandy regarding Kaid and Drake's medical history. When she asked if we had question, Drake wanted to know if he would get any shots. She made his day when she explained how they strive to have everything be pain-free, which means they numb any area that blood will be taken or shots will be given. Phew!

We then had an hour to wait while the doctor and nurse looked over all of our paperwork. Kaid and Drake felt like they were at Chuck E. Cheese's with all of the fun and games available! Kaid played a neat computer game about asthma on the computer. The doctor then interviewed us about more of the kids' medical history, then did an exam of them. She was FABULOUS! She tested their peak flows, and even checked muscle strength since they've been on steroids so many times. Kaid's upper lungs were functioning at 85.7%, and his lower lungs at 78%. His peak flow was 300. (They like to see above 80%.) Drake's uppers were 91.9%, and his lowers were 67%. His peak flow was 220.

After lunch, they gave the boys each two puffs of their inhalers. We had an eye opening experience with this. Our doctor had taught the kids to do their inhaler incorrectly, and they were probably only getting 20% of their inhaler per puff. The nurse taught them the right way, and we feel so blessed by that! After 20 minutes (it takes 15 minutes for the inhaler to do it's job) they redid their peak flows. (Oh, by the way, that's when they blow their hardest to see just what their lungs can do!) We have a peak flow meter at home that is just basically a plastic tube. Well, they fixed us up with the coolest peak flow meter ever! It is electronic, and records 99 puffs and it instantly tells the kids what zone they are in. (With asthma you have zones like a traffic light. You want to be in your green zone. Kaid and Drake have been in their red zone for a long time.) Also, you can get an attachment to plug it into your computer and print it off, so that you can have ongoing reports of your everyday lung function. Can you just imagine how much more aware we will be of a flare up!? This time, after the inhaler, Kaid's best was 300 again, and Drake's was 242.

One thing that the doctors are going to look for is reflux. This can cause asthma type symptoms for asthmatic kids, but treating their asthma doesn't help when this is the problem. This could mean another night in the hospital this week. The test includes a tube down your nose overnight.

We are staying overnight at the hospital tonight for two reasons. First, they want to make sure the kids are handling this higher altitude. Second, they want to measure their oxygen overnight. They said many people are shocked at how it drops while sleeping. Should be interesting to find out the results. Kaid and Drake just have to sleep with a clip on their finger and get bugged every hour! They put us in two rooms joined by a bathroom, so we each get a bed. Hallelujah!

Tomorrow Kaid will have a cat scan of his sinuses and chest, and Drake will have an exercise test to see how his asthma handles activity. They both have art therapy in the morning, but not together. Jon and I have a parent group to go to, which we are really looking forward to.

We are so excited to be here, and can already feel God's blessing on our children. This just feels like an answer to prayer, and we've only been here one day! To God be the glory!