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!

The Fun Never Ends

I went to the doctor yesterday for another follow up on my ankle.  Unfortunately it is just not healing correctly.  The screws that she put in during the original surgery caused a fracture.  The fracture is worse which has cause the bones to heal improperly.  It's hard to explain without showing an x-ray.  I have been in a great deal of pain and the swelling never really went down.  When she started to fiddle around with it yesterday I nearly cried it hurt so bad.  She gave me two options...surgery next Monday or surgery on the 16th.  Yep, I'm headed back in.  I chose the 16th. This time she is going to take out the screws so she can determine the level of damage.  Then she is probably going to put a metal plate in there instead to secure the bones.  Yikes!  Sadly this means yet another twelve weeks of no weight bearing on the right foot.  No driving.  No solo shopping trips.  No going downstairs to the laundry room.  (Oh wait, that's the one good part!)  

I am more than a little disappointed.  I'll admit it, I had a good cry.  I am really not looking forward to doing this again.  I was fairly certain that something wasn't right but I was praying that it wouldn't require another surgery to fix.  

The good news is that my mom is going to be able to come back and help out.  

I guess we're starting 2009 off with a bang after all!

Humbling

A few weeks ago we were asked by the oncology social worker if we would be willing to give an interview about our family for the paper.  We were a bit surprised.  We said we would, believing that they would be doing stories on several families for their Christmas edition.  The reporter came to our home, as well as a photographer, and we were able to talk about our favorite people in the whole world -- our kids.  :)  We assumed that it would be a small story, again thinking that there would be other families featured.  We asked the reporter where the story would be so we could look for it.  She told us it would be on the front page.  We were more than a little surprised.  

The article came out today and we are very happy with how it turned out.  You can read it here,

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20081225/NEWS01/812250330

2008 Isn't Over Yet

Based on the events of the last few days, 2008 refuses to end without a fight.  On Friday night I slipped and fell....shocking, I know.  I tripped over Brent's shoe in the breezeway and thought I broke my shoulder.  A quick, (sort of) trip to urgent care and an x-ray later....my shoulder is sprained, bruised and very sore.  The doctor gave me a sling to wear.  I laughed out loud.  Seriously.  I don't think he was amused.  

When I fell I also hit the side of my face pretty hard.  However my shoulder pain was worse than my face pain and I didn't really focus on it.  I did think it was strange that I didn't end up with a black eye.  Then tonight when I was eating dinner I bit down and my molar on the bottom left broke.  Apparently I broke the tooth in the fall, hence the pain, and it didn't come loose until tonight.  There is a pretty good sized chunk missing.  Nice.  The nerve doesn't seem to be exposed so that's good.  Here's the thing.  I don't like going to the dentist.  Okay that's saying it mildly.  I am afraid of the dentist.  For real.  I haven't been in way too long.  I won't tell you how long.  Suffice it to say I don't have a dentist here.  However, my friend Teri sees a dentist whoseo office is literally right next door to our house.  I called his office tonight to see if they do after hours care.  They don't but they did leave an emergency number.  Turns out it was the doctor's  number and he actually answered the phone himself.  I was shocked!  He is the nicest guy and he will for sure be my dentist starting on Monday.  He gave me some good tips on how to get through the weekend with my broken tooth.  I will call Monday morning and walk over.  I think this is God's way of telling me I need to take better care of my teeth.  

As if all this weren't enough, Brent woke up today with a very swollen, red hand.  Yep, his infection is back.  Lovely.  He went to the doctor and got another antibiotic along with some more pain meds.  Hopefully we caught it early enough.  

How many more days in 2008?  I am so ready for it to be done!

Merry Christmas

I can hardly believe that Christmas is just a couple of days away. It has been a very long, very difficult year. I have really been trying to write a Christmas letter. I just can't seem to put into words all that has happened in 2008.

This has been one of the most difficult, exhausting, trying years of our lives. Tyler was diagnosed on Leap Day this year and it seems like our world has been upside down ever since. Brent has been in and out of the hospital. I fell and broke my ankles and had surgery. Tyler has been in and out of the hospital. We've had to juggle medical issues with trying to have a normal family life. Most days seem to run into one another and there are days that we just get through moment by moment.

And yet this has also been an incredible year. We have been incredibly blessed. We have met people we otherwise would never have known. Yes, it has been difficult. But Heavenly Father has helped us every step of the way. Yes, there are days when we cry and question why. But Heavenly Father always puts someone in our path that helps to lighten our load. Yes, it is heartbreaking to see our perfect little boy suffering and in pain. But Tyler has shown such great strength and power. His example has helped us get through this. 

If I have come to realize anything through all this it is that we are strong. Stronger than we ever realized. Stronger than we ever thought we'd have to be. We have a strong marriage. We have amazing children. We have loving parents and family members. We have been loved and cared for by friends and strangers. We have been helped and strengthened by so many. No matter how difficult things have been, there has always been someone there to ease the burden.

We know that Heavenly Father loves us and watches over our little family. We know that He has sent earthy angels to lift us and love us. We know that He will always be there to guide us. We have witnessed firsthand how when God closes a door, He opens a window. 

We know that we have been so richly blessed this past year. We have not been blessed in spite of our trials. Rather, we have been blessed because of them. We hope and pray that we can continue to see the blessings in our struggles.

May each of you have a very blessed Christmas. May we all remember the joy and peace that our Heavenly Father and our Savior bring.

Too Funny

I realize this might not be funny to anyone but me but since this is my blog, I am writing it down so I don't forget.  

Yesterday Brent & Emmalee went to Wendy's.  She got a kids meal and the prize was a Snoopy keychain thingy.  She didn't know who Snoopy was so she asked me several times what his name was.  Fast forward several hours to around 4:30 this morning.  (Emmalee was up all night but that's another story!)  Anyway, I finally got her back to bed and she was freaking out because she wanted her Snarky.  She kept crying and getting frustrated and wanting Snarky.  I could not figure out who on earth she was talking about and then she found it under the covers.  It was Snoopy.  I got the giggles like crazy.  Could be because it was really funny.  Could be because it was 4:30 in the morning and I hadn't slept yet.  Either way, I got a kick out of it!

Emmalee has been kind of a picky eater lately.  She hasn't wanted much of anything.  I try not to push her too much, I always figure she'll eat when she is really hungry.  The other night for dinner she wanted plain spaghetti noodles with butter so that's what I fixed.  She sat down to the table, took a bite and said, "mom, you're the best maker in town!"  

Christmas Music

Emmalee LOVES to sing.  She sings all the time.  She sings well known songs and songs she makes up.  She has been learning lots of Christmas songs at school.  Yesterday she came home singing Deck The Halls.  She only knows the first line and she sings it over and over and over and over again.  This is how it goes, according to Emma...

Deck the halls with pals of olley....la la la la la la la.

Hopefully she will learn the remaining verses soon.