Notables....

Last night Ruby told me that if I had held her when she got her blood drawn she probably would not have cried. For you see, she wanted David to hold her this time to try to show him how brave she could be. Since he was not in the room at the time of her last (tearless) blood draw. Anyways, I asked her why she thought she wouldn't have cried if I had been the one holding her. She informed me it's because I have a "softer face". Yes. This "softer face" is also the reason that she is planning on calling for Mommy in the middle of the night if she needs assistance when she has her cast on. Doggone "soft" face, you're gonna cost me some sleep! =P

I love how Ruby likes to throw around words. The other day, she motioned for Jadelyn to come stand next to her to see "how tall you are related to me". And today, Jadelyn was doing something that Ruby didn't like, which led to the verbal outburst of, "you're disturbing me!"

Today at lunch we were discussing blood draws (again) and how Ruby has possibly had more blood drawn in her two times of getting it taken than I have in the however-many-times-I've-had-to-have-my-blood-drawn. I now have to have it drawn every three months due to a thyroid issue. Ruby was telling me how I would have to take medicine every day until I die, but I won't have to take it anymore when Jesus comes back and "you wake up from your deadness". Then Isaac piped in, "Jesus will probably throw it (thyroid problem, I'm presuming?) in the river." And then Ruby was musing about how we probably won't have to poop and pee in heaven. Interesting thought processes these kids possess.

Today, Isaac was absolutely DYING to get outside. I was unavailable to go outside as we've been gone from home for the past 3 days and I'm drowning in stuff to do. So, he got decked out in his hat (with assistance since it ties and all), jacket, mittens, and rain boots. Then he got bubbles out of the garage and THEN perched atop the playhouse blowing bubbles contentedly. I love that kid. He didn't even notice that I was out taking pictures of him. He was just that content in his chosen activity. =) After a while, he came inside, DYING for Ruby to come see his big bubbles. But alas, she was a stinker and would not go. =P


And now, just for fun, a picture of the kids with Grandma when we were down visiting earlier this month. I love that lady. She is so strong - still hanging in there, though she continues to deteriorate. What an amazing Grandma I have been blessed with.

Ruby's situation updated AGAIN....

We had a "good" day as far as Ruby's hip situation goes. Had a visit with Dr. Walker, the orthopedic surgeon. She seems to get where we're coming with as far as our concerns about CMT and casting now. I had sent up some research that I had found, and it seems that she had read over it. The plan is now that if Ruby's test comes back positive for CMT, we will do surgery on one hip, followed by 6 weeks in a cast, followed by surgery for the other hip, followed by 6 more weeks in a cast. If there is NO CMT, then casting will continue as planned. Both Dr. Walker and the neurologist have said that it's unusual for a 4 year-old to show signs of CMT and be diagnosed, but hello - there's a family history, she has low muscle tone, lacks reflexes, and has an odd walking/running gait. Unusual to display symptoms this young? Perhaps. Possible? Yes. =P Anyways, off that rant...at least they're willing to listen and look into it. Dr. Walker also showed us the x-rays and explained some to us. The angle of Ruby's acetabulum (which I think is the hip socket bone) should be around 24% in a one year old and about 11% in an adult. Ruby's is steep at 55%...which could explain how her hips can slide out. If they do surgery, they will cut some of this bone, bend it down, and fill in the gap with a bone from a cadaver. If she's in the cast, the hope is that the bone will grow out and down some. If they do surgery, they will tighten the ligaments. If they do the casting, that is supposed to tighten the ligaments on it's own. Either way, the ligaments could stretch back out and then we're stuck. If I understand correctly, they are more likely to stretch out if there is an underlying problem leading to the subluxation (CMT in our case).

So, after we were done at Shriner's, we headed to the neurologist's office to see if we could get Ruby's blood drawn today for the CMT test. At first they said no, and we left, but on our way up the stairs, we were chased down by Dr. Farzam (who we were told was not in the clinic today...where did he come from?) who said he would get things straightened out for us. So we waited. While we were waiting, a quartet came and started singing Christmas Carols. Ruby went with David and requested that they sing Silent night, which they did. She stood by and sang some with them. Then, off to the lab we went. Today she had 9 vials of blood drawn. At first, it looked like there was only going to be 2, but then the amount grew. There seemed to be some confusion about the test and where to send it and what to draw, so...well, David will be following up on it. We hope that it gets figured out.

We have no appointment scheduled for surgery or casting, as we don't know when we will get the results of the test back. So, we have our second opinion appointment on the 9th, and then we're just waiting on the test results.

So, it was a "good" (meaning productive) day. We spent Sunday and Monday at the church working on the mural that refuses to be finished and then today we left around 7am and got home around 4pm, so I am looking forward to being home tomorrow. Minus the fact that David is going out of town tomorrow and will be gone 'til Thursday evening. =P Such is life, 'eh?

Oh, yeah. Ruby had some questions for the doctor today. 1. "How will I go potty?" (bed pan) 2. "Will you be gentle putting my cast on?" (yes =D) and 3. "How old are you?" (we didn't remind Ruby of this question at the appointment today. ;) After we left, I asked Ruby if she got all her questions answered. She said "no" because she didn't learn how old Dr. Walker was. Crazy gal. =D)

And that is that.

Notes....

On Thanksgiving, I believe, Ruby asked Jadelyn if Ruby could kneel on Ruby's pillow (because she had shared it with Jadelyn) with Jadelyn for prayer time. (How's THAT for a sentence? =O) Jadelyn responded, "yes, you may". Ruby: "thank you for sharing". Jadelyn: "You're welcome." Awww. =) Jadelyn has been saying "you're welcome" very consistently now at the proper times. I love it.

One morning, we were discussing if you can really know what people are doing when you can't see them. Or something. I asked how we knew that Daddy really went to work every day and that he wasn't just spending the day at Wal-Mart or something. Ruby responded, because "Daddy doesn't mess around". =) Thanks for working for us, Daddy-o! =)

Today, we were at the church for the second day in a row, working on painting the wall mural that refuses to be completed. =P While I was painting, Ruby was acting like a baby and asked Jadelyn for something. Jadelyn informed that she would not give it to Ruby because "I love you". Ruby reasoned that if Jadelyn loved her, she would get it for her. Jadelyn then said, "I love you because I love you." Good reasoning, little Lynnie! =) The kids really did very well for "being on their own" as I worked. Thanks, kiddie-o-kies!

We had to reschedule Ruby's appointment with Dr. Walker to discuss our concerns, since David couldn't make the previously scheduled one, so we're headed in tomorrow morning for an 8:30am appointment. Hope we get some clarity. Also, we're supposed to find out then when her casting is scheduled for.

Thankful....

For worship on Thanksgiving night, we shared what we were thankful for.

Isaac was thankful for fire. Because it keeps him warm and it's pretty to watch. Later, he was thankful for Mommy, that I let him help make Thanksgiving food, and that I helped him when he slid off the couch. Then he got shy and hid his face. Cute little fella. I'm sure thankful for him, too.

Jadelyn was thankful for Ruby. Awww.

Ruby was thankful that she is not in a cast right now. True that.

Ruby's Hips...again

Well, talked to Ruby's care coordinator yesterday afternoon for quite some time. She told me Dr. Walker's responses to our questions. David and I aren't quite convinced that they are good answers. She is still recommending the 6 months in a half-body cast. So. We now have an appointment to discuss our concerns with Dr. Walker on Dec. 1. Casting is scheduled to take place sometime before Christmas (we don't have the specific date yet). I called and set up a second-opinion appointment with a orthopedic surgeon from Cincinnati Children's Hospital for Dec. 9. Hopefully they can get their recommendation to us before the casting date so that we will know what they think, too. Things are finally starting to move, and for that I am thankful. Please pray that things move in the RIGHT direction.

Hide 'n Seek

Highlights of tonight's Hide 'n Seek game?

-Jadelyn cheering and laughing wildly when she "found" me sitting on the couch. Until I reminded her that Isaac was the one hiding. Ooops! ;)

- Hearing David gasp in fright when he found me in our closet. Followed a little later by hearing him mutter something about needing a nitroglycerin pill. Ha!

- Finding out that I can no longer fit under the beds that I had as a child so easily. I slithered under, tried to roll onto my side, and lifted up the bed up a bit in the process. Then, I was stuck in an awkward position with my left arm stuck out from under my body. Good thing Ruby found me quickly and that my knight-in-shining-armor (that'd be Isaac =D) moved the bins away from in front of me so I could get out. Thanks, Buddy! =)

Bits and Pieces....

David came home on Friday and told the kids that Aunt Debi told him that he should take hot and cold showers to get well. Ruby commented that then there would be a "tornado in your shower." Ha!

On Friday night, I was playing "Egypt to Canaan" with the kids for the first time. Jadelyn lost interest quickly. Ruby and Isaac often required having the Bible verse with the answer in it read to them before they could get the answer. Sometimes several times. With some emphasis on the answer courtesy of Mommy. Guess we'd better work on those listening skills. Anyways, Isaac got the question asking how many Egyptians successfully followed the Israelites across the Red Sea. Isaac: "4? 5? 6?" Oh, boy...;)

Isaac has decided on yet another machine that he will need when he grows up and has his 11 children. A machine to wash baby washcloths fast. For he will use a LOT of them - one for each kid at mealtime, like we do...only he will have a LOT more kids. =) So, this machine will take the washcloth down and then "shoot it out" (I believe that was the term) in just a minute. Speedy machine. Wonder where I could find one of 'em?

Ruby thinks that maybe she will be a "teeth doctor" when she grows up. But probably not because she is going to have kids when she grows up.

We were visiting Tom and Tina on Friday, and they presented each kiddo with their very own Fruit Loop bowl. They said that they had two more for their "other grandkids" (those being the biological ones ;D). We have been so very blessed with neighbors that have "adopted" our kids as their grandkids. The love is mutual, I can assure you. ;)

At lunch on Friday, the kids were being crazy, saying that they had many more grapes than they really had. This went on and on and on and on and on....and then I, standing near the stove with a big spoon in my hand, turned toward the table and simply said, "bonk", gesturing with the spoon like I was bonking them over the head. All three kids erupted into giggles. Man, I don't remember the last time I was that hilarious. =)

Isaac was telling me an angel story the other day. Something about angels stopping lightning bolts from hitting the house, and the angels were getting hit with the lightning but were not hurt. Or something. And the angels were blowing their trumpets at the lightning. "Booo, boo, boooooo!!!"

Jadelyn informed me the other day that she was going to work. I looked over and saw her on the little rocking horse with some toy keys in her hand. I asked her where she worked. "On Sabbath", she said. I asked again, and she told me that she works with Daddy.

Ruby, my 0.18% weight/height percentile or something recently told me something like, "I'm big, tall, and strong." Gotta love her view of herself! =)

On Sabbath night, we went to a baby shower for Ms. Nely at Ms. Hannah's house. Ms. Hannah had arranged for a clown to come and entertain the kids and men. From the stories I've heard, they all had a lot of fun. Jadelyn as a bit apprehensive at first, staying REALLY close to David and saying over and over that she didn't like that man, but eventually she warmed up and was right up there saying what balloon she wanted. Wish I'd have made sure that David had the camera! I missed out.