The Whirlwind Adventure

Nina and I arrived home last Thursday evening after a whirlwind week. Our schedule while in Denver consisted of:

Sunday: Drive 7 hours through the worst storm of the season, check into the hotel, praise the chain restaurant gods that a Red Lobster was across the parking lot, eat, swim, go to bed.

Monday: Go to the doctor's appointment at 9, have an impromptu ultrasound while we're there. Go to the Museum of Nature & Science (AWESOME), eat at the mall food court, walk around the mall, swim, go to bed.

Tuesday: Go to the American Girl store (an entire post in itself). Meet my college roommate for lunch. Begin the "cleanse" for the procedure the next day. Don't venture further than 5 feet away from a toilet. Clean up both puke and poop from the cleanse. Go to bed.

Wednesday: Let the very-cleansed kiddo sleep in a bit. Work out and eat breakfast on the sly so as not to tempt the kid. Brave rush-hour downtown traffic to report to the hospital by 10AM. Kiss the kid as she goes under. Knit to keep your hands busy while you wait. Meet with the doctor, watch your kid come out of anesthesia. Get a CT scheduled for the next morning since the endoscopy and colonoscopy were both clear. Learn how to flush an IV so we can keep it in overnight. Find sushi for the brave kid. Snuggle in bed. Watch her sleep.

Thursday: Get up bright and early to pack up, eat breakfast, and get back downtown to the hospital by 8:30. Find out that the kid does, in fact, have to drink contrast. Watch her swallow a piece of gum in a desperate attempt to camouflage the taste of the contrast. Hold her hand while they do the CT. Wait around for the doc to get results. Find out that he suspects what you've suspected all along. Get the IV removed. Eat lunch at the hospital cafeteria. Drive 6 hours to be able to eat dinner at home. Go to bed.


Nina's doc suspects that she has chronic appendicitis. It presents very similarly to acute appendicitis, but over a much longer time frame. He felt like, because she was not in the midst of an episode, we did not have the strongest case to present to the surgeons for immediate surgery. He sent us home with a medicine for IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) that she is to take 3 times per day for the foreseeable future. If she has no more episodes, we know it's IBS and treat it as such. However, he feels very strongly that she will have another episode, and that we will have a very strong case at that point to remove her appendix.


It was a relief for her to have a doctor take her seriously and believe her. It was a relief for me to have answers and a plan.

Diagnosis vs Prognosis

Since Katrina's surgery, we have spent a lot of time trying to sort through the mounds of information we received. At times, it is nothing less than overwhelming.

A great friend, and fellow doctor's office frequent visitor card holder, spoke some amazing words of wisdom over us. She explained the difference between a diagnosis and a prognosis. A diagnosis is a statement of fact. A prognosis is where God steps in and works his miracles.

Katrina's diagnosis was hard to hear. Mild cerebral palsy in the corpus collosum, probably caused by a lack of development during the first trimester of pregnancy. Her gait lab shows her overall muscle structure and strength is severely underdeveloped.

Her prognosis is a different story. We will be meeting with a neurological psychologist for extensive learning testing. This will give us a better idea of how the damage might affect her learning and how I can teach around it. She has already made strides just in the few adjustments I was able to make based on my limited knowledge. After losing the dreaded casts, we will be doing physical and occupational therapy to improve muscle strength and gross and fine motor skills.

But you know what I see? I see a beautiful young lady I was never supposed to conceive. A child we could have lost a birth. An intelligent, sensitive, caring, fun-loving giggle queen.

And in the end, that is all that really matters.

Project 365: Week 12

Day 77/365: She's 3 and oxygen-free!

Day 78/365: Sometimes it pays for your hubby to have to reschedule

Day 79/365: She likes the orange ones, just like Papa.

Day 80/365: Can you spy the fashion faux-pas?

Day 81/365:  The month of April...already

Day 82/365: Spring is springing!

Day 83/362: Meet my new coworkers - Larry, Moe, and Curly

Join in the fun!  Take a photo a day for an entire year with Sara!

Smart City Planning

Some brilliant mind thought, "Let's put a ginormous shopping/children's museum/planetarium complex blocks away from the hospital.  That way children and their parents could have something fun to do while they wait for their appointments."

Brilliant, I tell you.

So, while we waited to see if they could squeeze us into a couple of differents clinics/labs/tests, we:

played with the magnets,

pretended to be a news anchor,

honed up on our artistic endeavors,

got forced to go shopping in a real store (sigh),

 

then convinced Mom to come back for some fun shopping,

ate our first Subway sandwich that we truly enjoyed (anyone else love a meatball with banana peppers),

then took a tour of the planetarium,

complete with trips to the moon,

and Mars,

and the gift shop,

got forced to do some more real shopping (sigh),

then ended the day splashing in the water. 

They weren't able to fit us into the clinics/labs/tests, but we had a fabulous day.

Project 365: Week 11

Day 70/365:  Get well note

Day 71/365:  No oxygen tube is going to keep her down!

Day 72/365:  Love me some ruffle-butt!

Day 73/365: Date night (please ignore my weird neck)

Day 74/365:  Oops

Day 75/365:  mmm...clean carpet...so lovely....

Day 76/365:  Girls Night Out

Road Trip Part Two

Last week, Kat & I went on an adventure.   And while I was struck by the beauty and irony of snow-capped peaks rising from the desert,

Kat was far more interested in watching her movies and eating my trail mix.

I was flooded with memories as we came upon the cliffs outside Moab.

The same cliffs I eagerly looked for on trips with my grandparents as a child.

That first night, after a 7 hour drive and a long swim in the hotel pool, Kat was ready for some zzz time.

The next morning, this sight greeted us on the way to our appointment.

For this girl, there is NOTHING like sunrise over snow-capped mountains.

The next day, before we headed home, we had to go see the Great Salt Lake.  While I found it ironic to see a giant mining mill located on the shore of the lake (and the base of the mountain),

Katrina was more interested in documenting the sparkles of her new ring in the sunlight.

We saw the Great Salt Lake,

and agreed that is really wasn't all that great.

I guess we are spoiled by Lake Powell or something. 

Although we did think all the sailboats docked for the winter made a very pretty shot.

But, by far, the most exciting part of the road trip for the Princess was our pit stop to the happiest place on Earth.  No, not Disney.  I still have nightmares induced by a certain evil ride of doom.  The happiest place on Earth is, of course: 

where Kat conned the sweet, older man running the cafe out of a stack of coins for the target range, just because she was so cute.

And no trip is complete without feeding the fish.  Because they would have died if we didn't feed them.

My favorite part of driving 14 hours in just over 72 hours was finding the most amazing wings restaurant on the side of the highway in Middle of Nowhere, Utah. 

Katrina thought it was fabulous because they had an amazing activity sheet and had popcorn on the table.  She is such a discerning critic, after all.

Road Trip

Today, Kat & I get to take a road trip.
A new state, a new city.




"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9






A new hospital, a new round of doctors.
More tests.




"I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13



She is excited.  We are staying in a hotel that serves breakfast AND has a pool.  I am officially the coolest mom in the known universe.
She is excited to be alone with me for 3 days.  To have adventures together.  To meet new doctors who will, in her words, "help me 'cause I can't do it by myself."






"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1








I don't see an adventure.  I see a hospital.  I see more tests. 
I see a long road.
I see a possibility that could affect the rest of her life. 






"When I am afraid, I will trust in you."  Psalm 56:3







All of a sudden, I don't want to be the mom.  I don't want to be the one in charge.  I want to curl up on my dad's lap and let him face the monsters.  But I can't.  This time, he is the grandpa.  It's his job to spoil her.







"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27






 And just like he did for me, so many years ago, it is now my job to fight the monsters for my daughter.
To be an advocate, to explain, to hold her hand.






"I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." 2 Corinthians 6:18








And to let our Heavenly Daddy hold both of us.









* For more PYHO stories, visit Shell at Things I Can't Say.

Quite Possibly The World's Most Random Post...

... because I cannot form a coherent post theme to save my life.  And because bullet points make me happy.

• Violet's lip is healing well, thankyouverymuch.  She is still trying to milk it for all it's worth, but I don't think she will lose that tooth.  At least not yet.

• I feel completely jipped because 2/3s of the nation is getting hammered by Snowmageddon (love that, by the way), and all we got was a skiff.  Not even enough to justify sliding into a snow bank. 

• Snowdown is this week.  Never heard of it?  Basically, it is our town's attempt to completely lose our minds for a week.  You can check out the website here.  Or go on the F*cebook page here and see photos of community leaders in drag.  Not. Even. Kidding.  The only event we will probably participate in is the Balloon Rally, like we do every year.  Considering the fact that Madi still gets scared by the movie preview guy's voice, I don't really think a monster theme is up her alley.  If I can keep the children away from the giant flames, or untangled from the ropes, or out of the portapotty for longer than 30 seconds, I promise to attempt to take photos. 

• Violet & Madi had their well kiddo (because they aren't babies anymore ... sniff, sniff) checks this morning.  Between hiding under the table (sorry for the poor quality - gotta love the camera phone):

           and playing with the amazing magnetic wall art

         they barely even noticed that we were at the doctor's office.  In fact, when they

         got their shots, they didn't cry.  Not even a whimper.  And Madi watched them

         do it.  Who are these tiny people and what have they done with my children???

• I now understand why Madi has been exhausted lately.  Chica has jumped 40 percentage points on the height chart since her last visit.  I would be tired too, if I was trying to catch up to the NBA.  Violet, however, is still short.  Very short. 

• My lack of late-night blogging lately can be blamed on one thing, and one thing only.  Wii.  Slightly addicting.  And watching the sisters duke it out in Mario baseball?  Hilarious.

 

           and for some reason this photo refuses to move to the middle of the post.  Can

           anyone else say annoying?

• I find it hilarious that only one person guessed correctly on my last post.  All of those very random things were said by one kid, and one kid only.  And of course it was Madi.

• The roof of my mouth hurts.  I cut it, or burned it, or perhaps Jerome poked me with a sharp stick during the night, sometime this weekend, and it is taking forever to heal.

• I am actually really excited to watch the Superbowl this year.  And I do mean watching the football.  Normally, unless God's team is playing, I dont' really care about the game itself.  

• And now I have exhausted random thoughts.  Other than trying to make a grocery list.  Anyone want to volunteer to cook for me next week? 

Puppet Shows and Fat Lips

Well, today started well. 

The girls let us sleep till 8:30 (please don't hate me).

We headed in for a special breakfast/brunch at our favorite restaurant.

And they all got hot chocolate.  Happy day!

We took a side trip to the fish store to say hi to Nemo and Dorey.

Then, on to the library for a refresh on the bedtime stories and a puppet show.

After the library, we went to see Grandma, just to say hi.

And that's when all heck broke loose.

Violet loves the antique silver tea set that Pepe has.  She plays with it constantly. 

She was carrying the goblet when she missed the little slope up from the tile floor to the wood floor, and fell on her lip. 

The goblet decided that lodging itself between her lip and upper gum was a good idea.

And Jerome got to try to catch the streams of blood shooting out of her lip.

Not even exaggerating in the least - streams.

Violet freaked out, Daddy freaked out, the sisters freaked out.

I was stripping her in a desperate but futile attempt to save her beautiful little dress. 

Grandma found every towel in the house.

Once the bleeding stopped, Grandma/former nurse took a look at the inside of her lip and thought we should get it checked out.  If Grandma says we should go, we know its rough. 

Needless to say, Violet was not a willing participant in the photo op.

The Dr. at the ER took a look and determined that, while nasty, her cut did not need stitches.  But, you know that little ridge of skin in between your lip and gum?  Hers will probably not grow back.  That darn goblet sliced it clear off.  But, the goblet broke in half during the fall, so at least they're even.  And Violets attitude definitely improved when the nurse suggested ice cream to help with the swelling.

Does anyone know of a toddler Mick Jagger lookalike contest?

I'm Back

I did not mean to neglect blogdom for so long, really.  And when I started getting the "are you ok, are you alive?" emails, I knew I had to get my lazy, exhausted behind on here and write something.  And there are so many things I need to write about, like:

• our Thanksgiving trip to Phoenix, where the zoo went to the zoo, we apparently brought the coldest weather in recent memory with us, goofed around in a hotel, spent 3+ hours at Cabela's (cue angels singing), and slid into a ditch 5 miles from home.
• Jerome's "business" trip to Paris (a.k.a. guys trip with his dad and brother)

• All the Christmas festivities we have been up to
• general updates on the family
• my baptism in October

But, today, you get none of those.  Instead, you get this adorable photo I took this morning:

Because they both looked fabulous in their hats, and were perfectly happy to have their photo taken together. 

And this:

 

Yes, Princess Needs A Bubble Suit got to have another visit to the ER this morning.  It's sad when they know you by name.  She landed wrong last night in gymnastics, and gave herself a high ankle fracture, right near the growth plate.  Lovely. 

Although I have learned to never underestimate the amount of sympathy shown by a herd of 2nd grade girls.  You would have thought she lost a leg or something. 

And this is my solemn promise to you, and I, to take a photo of my girls tonight.  We are having our office Christmas party, and the girls are wearing their hot pink, matching dresses.  Can anyone else say fabulous!