Everything I never wanted to know Pneumonia in Children

So for the last 3 weeks Tara and I have been 100% focused on a little girl that was diagnosed with Double Pneumonia (both lungs filled with pus and mucus). The 1st few days were heart wrenching and some of the hardest emotionally I have ever experienced. A sense of helplessness seeing your child gasping for air - only prayer sustained us and strengthened. I'll try and share some thing we've learned during this time. We've had a multitude of friends and family praying for Kenzie, but throughout we've leaned on God knowing that her healing and wellness and how quick that happened was in His timing and not just in our faith of that.

Today is the end of 3rd week, she no longer has pneumonia in her lungs (praise God) - but the bacteria is still present and continues to cause a fever of 100-102, she is also on new Antibiotics as the 1st 2 weeks she was on the wrong Antibiotics (so says the Dr's office). So we're now standing strong on God's Word that he will see her through this tough battle, today is the 3rd day of the new Antibiotics so we feel we're just about to the finish line of the long long sickness. And we accept all prayers for her --- and for a continued recovery.

So here's some of what we've learned about pneumonia - if any of this helps ANY ONE Person then it's worth blogging about -

- 30% of all pneumonia cases are fatal - so takes this serious.

- Double check with the Dr's office to make sure that the cultures have been received back and that the antibiotics weren't resistant to them.

- drink lots of fluids

- along with the prescribed breathing treatments do hot steamy shower treatments - close the bathroom and run a shower as hot as you can make it - and then when it's hot and steamy go in there and sit for 10 mins. Afterwards, take the child or the person and cup your hand and beat on their back (or front chest area - if they can take it) starting at the bottom and work your way up.

- sleep in a inclined position - elevate them w/pillows or just elevate the top part of the mattress.

- Food to avoid : Dairy, sugar,

- Food to eat : Fresh fruit juice (apple, pineapple, etc...), Fresh

- Eat Lots of Garlic --- this was key when the 1st Antibiotics didn't do a thing. If you don't have one, go out and buy a garlic press ($1-2 at Target) - pressing garlic releases an organic compound called Allicin - which has been proven to be better than most Antibiotics, I for one an under the belief that God has given us ways to naturally cure and heal ourselves with life giving fruits and vegetables. So eat lots of it. We gave it to Kenzie raw and squeezed - with some Raw Agave nectar and as well mixed in with Avocados.

- get lots of rest

- and if you pray or know those that pray --- make sure to have them praying over you and your loved one that is sick.

On average Pneumonia takes anywhere from 2-4 weeks to recover - however cough and other side effects may take longer. Be persistent with fluids and garlic and make sure to take Antibiotics at the exact time daily.

//enoch - Praise God she is getting better daily.

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Now playing: Matt Redman - You Never Let Go

Here's a picture from January - around her birthday.

Enoch Gonzalez

Wedding Photographer

Colorado Springs Colorado

Long over due...

Hey peeps,
This is longer over due - been busy with lots of things, but I (with 2 fingers in the air) here by promise to blog at least once per week for the remainder of the year.

Life has been great -the Holidays were awesome and lots changed. My daughter Kenzie turned 3 years old... to think that she was so small not to long ago and now she's a "big girl!" as she likes to say.

Here's a few of my favorites of Kenzie during the year... take care and be blessed my friends.

//enoch

This was during Christmas - she got a guitar and rocked out for a little while.

Enoch Gonzalez
Wedding Photographer
Colorado Springs Colorado

Weekend in review and Mother's Day

Hello my wonderful peeps - this weekend was awesome and of course not long enough.

Hope you all had a great weekend with your family and celebrated Mother's Day with your wife and children and paid a visit to you Mom or at least called. And on a side note about my wife and being a mother - she is IMO the absolute best mother Kenzie could ask for, she is patient, kind, loving, aware of emotions and needs, and always has that Motherly intuition that I admire so much from all mothers. Kenzie is an amazing little girl and I know beyond a shadow of doubt this is because of Tara and her love for her - of course I add me to this as well... however when we decided that Tara would be a mommy 1st and foremost in these early years it was the best decision we ever made. I love honey and I always will.

My Mom lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma so I was able to call her and talk for a while - we speak about 3 times a week. I miss her and can't wait to see her next month.

The family here all hung out together... it was nice.

Oh and it was potty training weekend for Kenzie... it's going well. ;-)

Here's a few for the blog from Sunday...

I noticed some AWESOME light from my bedroom - so I had an impromptu session for Kenzie... love this light --- plus my little girl is so beautiful!


This is Tara's mom - Terry (aka Gamma). She's a Hot Rod driving/racing, gun shootin' Grandma! She's an angel and I am a lucky Son-n-Law... no really I am.


This is Tara's Dad - Jim (aka Pappo to the Grandkids). He is a great guy, loving, giving, and always joking. Plus he has those Gandalf style eye brows ....


Kenzie showin' the love to Pappo.


Here's Gamma and Pappo enjoying the Sunday afternoon at the park - watching Jimmy play with his new toy.


And here's Jimmy (Tara's brother) with his new R/C Boat


This thing is fast - goes about 40+ mph --- has to watch out for the ducks.. or vice versa.


We capped off the night at a trip to Baskin Robins for 3 cones --- Mike Terry Devon and Micah met us out there and enjoyed some family time and laughes.

Kenzie lovin' her cone.




Mike and Terry are moving to Balize in July to become missionaries with their family. I can't tell you how much we're going to miss them, however we are planning a trip out there for next April 2009. We'll see.


Good to the last drop.

She wrote me a note

While Tara wrote me a list of what she wanted on her Subway sub (Five Dollar Footlong!), Kenzie wanted a pen and paper to write Daddy a note too... so Tara cut out her paper and gave Kenzie the pad and a pen. My sweet little angel took the pad of paper and held the pen to her chin tapping it and looking up, in thought she sat there for a moment. When we asked what she was doing she said she was writing Daddy a note from Kenzie. She then put the pen to the paper and started to make swirly lines from right to left as if writing ... it was the cutest most adorable precious thing - and it was for me. I ran to get my camera to try and snap a couple pictures of it...

“A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove...but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.” - Forest E. Witcraft

Good night you all...
- enjoy your families ... always... love them and hug them a lot.

-enoch-