In and Out....But Mostly Out.....

That pretty much describes me the past several days.  Out of it.  Emma calls them my "funny pills."  Apparently I am quite silly with them.  Maybe I'm silly all the time and they just bring it out in me.  

Surgery went well.  The doctor said that she found what she expected to find and that she could totally understand why I was describing having pain in areas she wouldn't expect.  She ended up having to take out the screws that were there, take a bone graft from somewhere in my leg and put in a plate secured with new screws to hold it all together.  I think I was in the OR for about an hour and a half.  I was able to come home late that afternoon and I was so glad to be home. I was really dreading the thought of staying in the hospital.  It was such a relief to come home to my own bed.

The past several days have been a bit of a blur.  I had a funky reaction to the Percocet she gave me for pain.  It made me incredibly itchy, to the point that I really couldn't even rest.  I was out of it but scratching so hard in my sleep that I was giving myself sores.  Brent called the on-call doc over the weekend and they were able to switch me to Vicodin.  It doesn't make me itchy but also doesn't seem to help as much or as long.  So today my doctor switched me to Lortab.  It's kind of in between the Percocet and the Vicodin so hopefully it will be the happy medium.

In order to combat the itching the doctor suggested I take Benadryl along with my pain meds. Just imagine me, already goofy from the pain meds, adding Benadryl to the mix.  Who needs alcohol?  

Dr. Humphrey wants me to stay off my feet for about a week....(and then off the right foot for a total of twelve weeks!)  Let me just tell you that I am not a very patient patient.  (Yes, I've been waiting all day to say that!)  I will admit to enjoying the spoiling I've received from Brent and my mom.  But the truth is that I am bored.  I may actually agree to putting a TV in our room now.  I honestly don't know what I would do without the Internet!

The kids have been so good.  I know they don't quite get why I'm in here and not hanging out with them.  I did try but Tyler jumped up on my leg and that effectively ended my visit to the living room.  

Brent is headed to San Diego tomorrow to teach a training class for work.  I will sure miss him!  The only good thing about this trip is that he is taking a little side trip on the way home and heading to AZ to spend some time with family.  He will get to have Collin for the weekend, which will be wonderful.  He will also get to meet our new little niece, Macy.  I'm only a little jealous of him.

Tyler's clinic went well on Thursday.  The day started out as a comedy of errors and it was just one wacky thing after another.  In the end, it was all okay.  We were there until almost 5:00.  Tyler has done pretty well so far this cycle.

That's pretty much it from where I sit, on my bum, on top of my bed.  If only my next post could come to you from a beach somewhere!

Thank You

Thanks to everyone for the prayers for our kiddos. Emmalee seems to be much better. Whatever it was is apparently gone. And thankfully Tyler has been spared thus far. He has had a low fever and been a little cranky but fine otherwise. We're keeping our fingers crossed! Tomorrow is a long day at clinic. We switched from our typical Friday to tomorrow since I am having surgery on Friday. Ty is scheduled for a lumbar puncture with meds, IVIG and all the other chemo. Plus he'll start a cycle so it should be 'roid rage this weekend. Hopefully tomorrow will go smoothly. I'll probably update again this weekend.

Catching Up

I have really needed to post pictures of our last several months.  I kept meaning to do it and just never seemed to have the time.  I finally decided to sit down and just do a big compilation post from September through Christmas.  Enjoy!!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Poor Little Peanut

We woke up yesterday morning to a very sick, very hot little Emmalee. Her temp was 104.5! I called the doctor's office and luckily they had one available appointment left for their Saturday clinic. Emma refused to take any sort of Ibuprofen or Tylenol for me before we left but she did finally take it for the doctor. He gave her a good check up and said that her ears looked good, her throat looked good, her lungs sounded good. Basically she has some sort of viral yuckiness that is just going to have to run its course. I was not happy to hear this. Not that I want her to have an infection. But, having an ear infection or something like that is treatable with antibiotics which means she can start feeling better faster. Viral things can take much longer and can also put Tyler at greater risk.

We came home from the doctor and Emmalee crashed out on the couch. If you know this child, you know she is not one to lay down and fall asleep on the couch while the TV is going and the boys are playing all around her. Poor little peanut. She woke up and still had a high fever. Getting her to take Ibuprofen is like pulling teeth. I finally coaxed her into taking it and she slept for a few more hours. She was up most of the night but slept a lot this morning. Once again tonight she is knocked out on the couch. Her fever is hovering right around 101, even with the Ibuprofen, so I am going to call the doctor again first thing in the morning.

Right now we are praying that Emmalee gets better very soon and that Tyler doesn't get whatever she has. 

I never thought I'd be so terrified of fevers. But if Tyler gets a fever, especially while he's neutropenic, that is pretty much a guaranteed stay at Hotel Strong.

Please say a little prayer that everyone will get well around here and that Tyler will be spared this illness. Thanks!!

Full Circle

**This post is meant for someone very special and I hope when you read it, you know who you are.**

Brent and I really wondered why we were given the opportunity to do the newspaper article.  We aren't really the type to try and attract a lot of attention.  We questioned if it was a good choice but decided to go ahead.  And then you read it.  And now we know it was meant to be.  We are so blessed to have finally found you after all this time.  We are so thankful that you agreed to open communication with us.  This has been an answer to so many prayers.  It has been the final link in this chain.  You will forever be a part of our story.  We are so blessed that we can begin a relationship with you, in whatever way you feel comfortable.  Please know that we think of you and pray for you every day.  God bless you, my friend, and thank you for everything!

Yummy New Blog

My friend Lanna recently began a new endeavor.  She is graciously sharing all her yummy recipes with the world via her new blog, The Bristow Bistro Blog.  Lanna is an excellent cook and I am super excited to try out some of her delicious ideas.  Enjoy!!

The World We Live In

Just found this on my friend Lanna's blog.  (Hope you don't mind me borrowing it!)  I am appalled.  This is the world we are raising our children in.  

From CNN yesterday:

Hustler's Larry Flynt and "Girls Gone Wild's" Joe Francis say it's the adult entertainment industry's turn for a bailout, TMZ reported.

The economy has hurt their businesses, too, Flynt and Francis said -- sales of XXX DVDs are down 22 percent -- and they want $5 billion from the government.

Congress must "rejuvenate the sexual appetite of America," Flynt said.

So get ready to party, wild girls. Francis plans to bring the request to D.C. in person.

Suggestions Needed

Brent got me an MP3 player for Christmas.  I have wanted one for a long time but didn't know what to get, etc.  Now that I have it, along with my free 14 day trial to Napster, I need song suggestions.  I am soooo out of the loop thanks to Barney, The Doodlebops and Disney's Greatest Hits.  LOL  

So, what do you like?  What are your faves?  I like pretty much all genres -- country, rock, 80's.  Any suggestions??

Thank You!!

I realized today that I have failed to say thank you to some very special secret Santa's. We had some amazing gifts for Christmas this year, all because of the kindness and generosity of strangers.  

Our cancer support group, CURE, asked us to share a few ideas with them for the kids. We were overwhelmed with the items that we received. It was as though I went shopping for them myself! Everything was wonderful and perfect and exactly what our children needed and wanted.  

We were also very well loved by some anonymous folks who donated gifts through Tyler's Medicaid coordinator at Mary Cariola. Once again, it was as though I had chosen the items myself.  

Brent and I wish we could personally thank each person who helped to make our Christmas so special. It was a day we will never forget!