A few notes about the Crazios...

Yesterday, Ruby commented that it's a good thing they didn't put a cast on her mouth....'cause then she couldn't talk.  About a half an hour later or so, we were putting them down for bed, and Ruby wanted to kiss me...so she noted another good reason they didn't put a cast on her mouth is because then she couldn't kiss.  =)

Isaac loves the shop-vac that we use for vacuuming Ruby's cast with the cast cooler.  He's vacuumed out the van and vacuumed in the house....yesterday I went back to his room where the vacuum was running to find him peeling stickers off his shirt and sticking them down the vacuum hose.  Crazy kid.  On a side note, there are stickers all OVER the place.  Wowzers....people sure gave us LOTS of stickers!  =)

This morning I was telling Jadelyn how I had the "Hungry Cow" song stuck in my head and asked her if she had a song stuck in her head.  "No.  Just hair."  Oh, literal Lynnie.  =)

I had some story about Lynnie I was going to write last night, but I didn't write it and now I forget it.  =O

Ruby is doing GREAT with her cast.  She still mentions how she wishes she didn't have it, but for the most part she's been quite happy.  When she wakes up from her nap, she bangs around on the baby monitor to let me know that she's ready to get up.  And when I go to get her, she has the BIGGEST happy smile on her face and the shiniest eyes, and oh, that girl.  I love her.  Isaac is starting to have some jealousy problems - wishes he was Ruby so he wouldn't have to take the sheets off his bed or so he would get mail (I have GOT to make him a card...)  He's been just irritating his sisters as much as he can.  Guess he's having a harder time coping with this cast than Ruby is.  =P  I'm taking him on a "date" to Wal-Mart tonight.  Just the two of us.  He's geeked.  And the girls?  They don't know.  It's our little "secret".  =O

Isaac had a fever when we got home from the hospital on Friday, and had it some on Sabbath, so we missed church.  Much to Ruby's chagrin.  Isaac kindly shared whatever bug it was with Jadelyn, who has had a fever since Monday, I think.  Last night it was up to 103.4.  YIKES!!!  =O  Hoping she gets better soon and that Ruby is left out of that kind of sharing.  =P

Yesterday was a rough day for me.  Due in part to the kids attitudes, probably, but mostly due to MY attitude.  =O  So, when David came home, he sent me out mowing.  Therapy for my soul, I tell ya!   ;)  And now my yard looks presentable....or at least more than the hayfield my yard was becoming looked.  =O

Okay, that's probably it.  Maybe sometime I'll get around to posting pictures.  'Cause we've got some great ones.  Crazy kids.

Day 3 in the Hospital

Yesterday was quite a day.  Lots of Ruby awake time – lots of talking – lots of happy time.  Also lots of screaming bloody murder when getting moved or getting tape off.  Poor girl is just scared and worn out.

It was a big day.  "Just-in-case" IV out (it was hurting her - or maybe just scaring her after the first stinging time - when they flushed it), Epidural out (screamed like crazy 'cause the tape hurt and didn't come off easy), catheter out (has gone pee 3-4 times since in her bedpan), they stopped monitoring her Oxygen and heart rates (which I think is stupid since her Oxygen was dropping into the 80s and her heart rate was still up in the 140s/150s), and went out and about in her wheelchair for the first time (to go to the rec room and play Chutes and Ladders and "Sorry", which didn't work well since she can't see the board as she's looking up at the ceiling pretty much, but we managed).  Following her "out and about" time, she was in what looked to be bad pain for the next hour or so.  Probably overdid it on that one.  =(  Dozed only a few times yesterday and so by night time she was EXHAUSTED but just about manic - talking and cheerful and talking and talking and talking and talking and...did I mention that she was talking?  ;)  She didn't want to shut down for the night and had a little cry when I told her that we would finish looking through the bag from Ms. Sally again in the morning.  Crazy gal.  Oh, and they also re-wrapped the top of her cast to cover where they cut it the day before.  Ruby's three questions about that one - how long will it take?  What color will it be?  Will I get wet?  No screaming, though, I don't think.  It took them a while to get the stuff together, which gave me lots of explaining and reassuring time. 

She had some visitors yesterday - Paster and Mrs. Clark stopped by with a little stuffed lamb which Ruby has surprisingly named a normal name - "Sheepie" - and a card.  Sheepie is for wiping her tears so her soft blanket won't get stinky.  Or something.  She's quite particular that her soft blanket not get wet with sweat, tears, or anything else wet.  Because then it's stinky and not nice to sniff.  ;)  When the Clarks were here, Dr. Montgomery stopped by to take the epidural out.  He wisely shooed the Clarks out of the room, and proceeded to take the tape off and epidural out.  Didn't go real smoothly and Ruby screamed absolute bloody murder the entire time.  Later the PT stopped by and said that the Clarks looked a bit traumatized standing outside the room.  =O  Anyways, when they came back in, Pastor Clark wiped Ruby's tear with Sheepies paw, and Sheepie has stayed by her ever since.  =)

Mr. Bill from church also stopped by for a visit, and we got some AWESOME flowers from Smell.  (Thanks, you stalker you!  =D)  They get commented on a lot.  And I got pictures.  Which I will need to post for you sometime.

Ruby's much more likely lately to talk to the nurses and visitors, but not so much with the doctors.  Or her male nurse.  They seem to scare her a bit.  =O  And she's not all about phone conversations, either, which is STRANGE since she will normally talk on the phone at any given opportunity and beg for other opportunities along the way.  ;)

Some things Ruby did that about melted my heart yesterday: decided that she wants to give away all the pictures we're coloring.  To "poor" people.  Meaning, to her, I think, people that are hurting.  She named two particular people she wanted to give them to, but the only one I can remember is Baby Mercy.  She thinks that Baby Mercy (who had heart surgery when she was just a few weeks old and is now only a few months old, and also who Ruby has never met) will like looking at it when she's older.  I told her that Baby Mercy might like looking at it now.  She thinks that we should write "I love you" at the top for all the "poor" people she gives her pictures to.  I'm glad she's thinking of others.  =)  Also, we were playing with special stickers that you can scrape off like a waxy purple coating to reveal sparkly silver underneath, and she wanted me to draw a heart on the sandcastle - "to remind me of Jesus" or something.  And last night when she was jerking so bad and often and getting scared because it felt like her bed was tipping and she was moving, she asked me to pray that Jesus would make her not jerk anymore that night.  So I did.  First tears I've had at the hospital, I tell you.  I'm so glad that Ruby is learning to love Jesus! And she trusts Him.  She told me this morning during one of her awake for med/turning/diaper/vitals time that she thinks she is all done jerking now.  Sweet girl.  And to top it all off, she sang several times yesterday.  Not as boisterously as usual, but still singing - Silent Night, "The Lord is with me, I will not be afraid", Only a Boy named David, My Mommy told me Something, and one more I can't remember. 

Also, I love that Ruby has no desire to watch TV.  And when she was in the rec room yesterday and offered an IPad she said "no" quickly.  Not real enthralled with that type of entertainment, that gal.  She's always been an active, hands-on, bossy type.  And with lots of independence.  Now, to find things that she CAN do on her own!!!  I'm gonna have David whip us up an easel-tray-thing to go over her so when she's laying on her back she can color/look at books, etc., and the hope is that when she's stronger and not hurting, she'll be able to play with things on the floor while laying on her belly...which will also be good for her neck muscles, which aren't doing so hot right now - her head just flops back when she gets picked up.  Oh, and her free leg muscles ain't so hot, either, so we'll work on that today.  Her arms and hands are MUCH stronger, thanks probably to her eating some, and all our coloring/game exercises where mean Mom has made her move her arms all over the place.  =)  Oh, and we are gonna be on the look out for magnetic games, which we can prop up when she's on her side so she can actually see what she's playing.

Ruby has told me that she won't be scared at home because she knows where everything is.  But she will want a guard on her bed so she won't fall out.  Good thing Lynnie's done with it!  ;)  She has also told me multiple times that she wishes she could get the cast off...poor gal.  I'm afraid of how afraid she will be going in to this for the left side (finally got the dates yesterday - May 9 for the second surgery and hopeful cast-off date for June 29) since she knows the pain that will come.  Well, I will do my best to find peace in Jesus and not worry about it!  =O  Learning times are here.  May I develop the character, patience, and unselfishness that I need!

Adios!

Surgery and such....

This Ruby gal is a trooper. And so are her sweet siblings. Just had to get it out there. =)

Yesterday morning started bright and early - 4am for me. I got about 2.5 hours of sleep Sunday night, according to my expert calculations. =P Lovely. Anyways...got Ruby up and ready and hit the road. Things at the hospital were MUCH less crazy this time around - no 3 people talking to us at one time. Just more laid back. We even had 20 minutes or so to walk around and go outside and stuff before we had to be back in and put the gown on. Ruby enjoyed looking at the toys in the rec area and riding on the big glider swing thing out in the courtyard. ;)

Ruby walked back to the pre-op area and was doing pretty good back there until she got more nervous. Duh. Anyways, that was probably around the time the anesthegiologists showed up. Anyhow, they weren't going to give her any "happy juice" because she seemed fine, though they noticed that she was hugging her soft blanket extra tight. I told them that she wouldn't be so fine when being taken from Mommy, so they gave her some "happy juice". When they were giving it to her, Ruby jumped as this syringe-like thing came at her - told me later she thought they were giving her some blood - so she asked "what is this for" and didn't take it until she found out it was to help her feel more happy. Sure enough relaxed her. To the point that she was just silly loopy - head tilted to the side, not remembering things, not really answering questions, mouth hanging slightly open. And once she got good and doped up, they brought out an electric car thing for her to drive to the OR. Man. She's a bad driver WITHOUT drugs. With it? Help us all. =) She almost ran over one of the anesthegiologists before he wisely "helped" her and her bobbing, floppy head steer her car down the hall and around the corner. She didn't even say goodbye to us!

Surgery went incredibly well - took about 4 hours, and no pins or screws were required as her bone graft took well. And the hip was stable enough that Dr. Walker didn't need to tighten any ligaments. We finally saw her about 5 hours after she drove away. She had been crying for Mommy and Daddy in the recovery room. Wonder why they wouldn't let us back there? Hmmm...anyways...

She was tired, but unable to sleep. Pain free until about 5pm. And then last night it got worse - slight crying when they move her, but she says her hips really hurt. She didn't get a "good" nap in until today when she slept around 30-40 minutes while David was up here with her. And now she's been sleeping pretty much for the past hour and a half or so? Minus the frequent jerking awakenings that make her cry a little. She is afraid because she feels like she's moving. Lovely side effect of the medication. But you know...can't imagine how much pain she'd be in without it.

Today she told me something like, "I wish the cast was off already" and that she wishes that she only had to wear it "for like 30 minutes" or something. Oh. And that she wishes that David or I or Isaac had to have the surgery instead of her. =P Poor girl...this is gonna be a long haul.

Today Isaac, Jadelyn, David, Grandma and Grandpa got to come visit. Ruby was excited about it, but not too enthusiastic when they were here for the most part. Just doesn't feel up to it. They visited a little, then Isaac, Jadelyn, Karl and Linda and I headed out for a picnic at the park. It was lovely. I was beat tired and felt bad for "leaving" Ruby (though David stayed with her) but you know...a Mom's gotta take care of ALL her kids, right? Isaac and Jadelyn were missing their nap, but stayed sweet and kind and loving the whole time. I about fell asleep sitting on a bench at one point. Isaac then took me to a more private "room" in which to rest. =) Love that guy. They didn't particularly want to leave the park when it was time, but Isaac was excited to come back to the hospital to see Ruby. Love watching how much he loves that gal!

When we got back, David headed out to Wal-Mart with Karl and Jadelyn to pick up a few things, but Isaac stayed behind. Right by Ruby's bed for the most part - "playing" with her and sharing with her and overall warming my heart. He didn't want to leave tonight - not sure if that was from pure love for his sister or because he was having such a ball making the pinwheel spin like crazy in front of the fan. ;) I like to think it was mostly the former. ;)

After they all left, Ruby and I did some "coloring". Ruby points to what we're going to color and then points to what crayon she wants to use. She loves it, and we have done lots of it. She and David also "colored" this afternoon. I enjoy spending the time with her, and really like the "therapy" it gives to her arms. She has kept them up close by her face holding her blanket that it hurts her to move them. But her range of motion is much improved today - I like to think it's a direct result from our "coloring". ;) We looked through some presents that Ms. Sally from David's work had brought up. Wowzers. This gal has some PRESENTS! People are so very thoughtful and somehow know just what she will like! We also played a game of Old Maid which she whooped me at. ;P And then she was looking beat tired, so I asked her if she wanted to rest. She wanted to and boy, has she! I straightened up the room much to my OCD relief, and she slept and slept and slept. Minus the aforementioned jerks. Here's to hoping for a good night's sleep! For her. And me. ;)

Tomorrow....

The thought of it fills me with anxiety and dread...tomorrow my sweet little Ruby will be put through an incredible amount of pain and fear and craziness. Tomorrow, though it scares me, will be nice to have over - we've been wanting Ruby "fixed" for a long time and feels like we've had to fight and fight and fight to get the doctors to listen. I just want her out of surgery. Out, out, out. 5 hours is going to be a long time. But, hey...if I use my time wisely, maybe, just maybe, I'll get lots more "fear" memory verses memorized! How I need them. How I need Jesus. How I need prayers. And how I need sleep. So off I go. 4am comes awfully early.

Surgery #1 - or Not.

So, April 4 was the date for Ruby's first surgery. On her right hip. Great-Grandpa Link, Grandma Nancy, and Gram and Pucka were in for the festivities. The day before surgery day, Dad and I took Ruby up for the pre-op appointment. She was a champ for the x-rays. She was a champ for the urine test. Blood draw? Not so good. Crying, crying, crying...and the person taking the blood was taking her time getting ready while Ruby just got more and more worked up. I think she actually calmed down more once the needle was in! =O Anyhow, she was a little stuffed up, which I let them know, and we were on our way home.

That night, we scrubbed her hip for 3 minutes with the special hospital scrubby. We were at the couch having worship when Isaac told David that he was feeling like he might throw up. David got him a bowl. Just a VERY short while later, Isaac upchucked...somehow managing to miss the bowl for the first spurt or two. I was thinking, "you've got to be kidding me". Unbelievable. Just a few hours before Ruby's surgery. Yai. Well, we got things cleaned up, finished worship, and got the kiddos in bed. Ruby made sure that Jadelyn gave her a big hug because Jadelyn wouldn't be seeing Ruby in the morning. Ruby gave good hugs to everyone except Isaac, who was laying on his bed, clammy and sick. They went to sleep. We finally did, too - WAY TOO LATE. I was up at 4:00am, I think...getting ready to go. Got Ruby up at like 4:40am, got her ready and hit the road. Got to the hospital a little after 6am - late, as usual. =P David had to go to the bathroom REALLY BAD, so we dropped him off at the front doors and went to park. David said there were several people in scrubs in the waiting room, asking him if he was Ruby's Dad. He told them yes, but he had to go potty. ;) We finally got in, and in no time were back in Ruby's hospital room where literally 3 people were asking us questions/taking Ruby's vitals or whatever at the same time. Insanity. The anesthesiologist resident came in and talked to us about anesthesia. About Ruby having to get a mask to go to sleep. At this point, Ruby, who was already a ball of anxiety, started crying and trying to climb up on my shoulder like a cat. She is so afraid of having to go to sleep! The anesthesiologist resident told us that after going to sleep, Ruby would need several IVs, and an epidural that would stay in for the next 2-3 days, as this is a painful surgery. Great. =( We had a little time and had ourselves the beginning of a worship before we were whisked off to the OR. This is when the anesthesiologist came in and checked Ruby out. 'Twas all going fine, 'til she said that Ruby felt warm. So they took her temp. For like the 3rd time that morning. And what do you know - it was 100. Not technically a fever, but higher than it had been before. So, a lot of hem-and-hawing ensued...Ruby was stuffed up, had a bit of a cough, Isaac threw up the night before, and now her temp was elevated. They said that because the surgery was so long, this could pose a problem, as if her temp continued to go up in surgery, they wouldn't be able to tell if it was because she was sick or because of the meds. At this point, Ruby, who had been terrified for the past 2 hours at the hospital finally let loose and got all silly. Everyone stood around watching her antics and commenting on how she didnt' LOOK sick, and so on, until finally, surgery was postponed 'til April 16, which was supposed to be the date of her second surgery. Home we went, but not before Ruby was given a BUNCH of goodies - blanket, toys, etc. Oh, and a banana.

Off we went to McDonald's for breakfast. And then home. When we got home, I took Ruby's temp, of course. It was 98.1. Arrggghhhh!!!! Maybe there was a reason this had to be postponed...the doctor seemed a bit cranky...=O

Oh, and then this past Sunday Ruby got a real temp. And so I've been monitoring it obsessively and letting Shriner's know about it. So yesterday I was told that there is a 50/50 chance they will proceed with the surgery. They wanted us to go to a pediatrician that day or this morning for a throat swab, urine test, and an overall eval. We don't see a pediatrician - we see a nurse practitioner in our little town's clinic. But. I called the pediatrician about 30 minutes away, and they got me in yesterday - WHOO-HOO!!! It was during naptime, but I put the kids down early and woke 'em up and we got there....a few minutes late. Of course. =P Anyways, good news - no strep, urine test was clear, and doctor said from my obsessive temp checks (which I have written down) he could confidently say that he thinks she had a virus and is getting over it and should be okay for surgery on Monday. So, today I got an e-mail from the admissions person saying that as of right now, surgery is still scheduled for Monday. STAY WELL, RUBY!!!

Oh, and one more thing...Isaac was fine after his throw-up episode and didn't throw up anymore, nor have any more symptoms. One theory is that he was so anxious for Ruby - a twin thing, maybe. If that is the case, he's seriously the sweetest brother I've ever seen.

Adios!

VACATION!!!!

Around the middle of March, we went on a "just-us-family" vacation to the Smokies. It was lovely. We took a 12 mile bike ride around Cades Cove that nearly killed David and I (his bike is a TANK and with the 2 kids on it, it was TERRIBLE, and well, we both crashed it one time a piece. When I crashed, it was hard enough that it broke the straps on Jadelyn's seat, and later she was falling asleep and almost fell out of her seat so I had to wake her up, and it got to the point I was having a hard time holding the bike up when I was pushing it. Yeah...I'm out of shape. And that bike is a BEAST. When I had my own bike with just Ruby on it, things were smooth sailing! Mostly. So, we will be needing to buy a new bike and bike seat(s) before our next big excursion. Yai.) Oh, on that bike ride we saw two deer. Ruby, who was on my bike, said something about, "now we just have to look for a bear....................or more deers. I like deers." That kid cracks me up. And no, we didn't see any bears on our vacation, though they got talked about a LOT. =) Really, that crazy bike trip where David was CRANKY and I was tired out was my favorite part of the vacation. Beautiful views, tired patooshies, and kids enjoying the trip. Lovely.

We hiked to 3 waterfalls. The kids are getting to be pretty good hikers! 'Tis sad that with Ruby's surgery, casting, and recovery, it could very well be a year before we hike again. =(

We played in the hot tub at the cabin like loonies. We rode the alpine chalet thingy, watched ice skaters (including the kid who Isaac named the "little man". =D), we rode the carousel over and over and ate ice cream and pretzels and pizza and other not-good-for-you-food. We went to the overcrowded aquarium and a crazy breakfast at Smith's family breakfast where we got charged way more than we thought we would and where people dressed in character outfits kept interrupting our meal. We enjoyed church in Sevierville, and as we were leaving our lovely vacation, David and the kids went on a 1-2 minute helicopter ride. (There were only 4 seats for passengers...and you know...couldn't just leave Jadelyn with a stranger!)

It was such a lovely, relaxing, un-harried week that I just loved it. It is so nice to spend time with the family away from the "to-do list". I was really having a hard time leaving, but you know...real life calls. =P

OVER A MONTH?!?!?! =O

What's wrong with me, anyhow? =O

Well, not sure...busy, but you know, that's always the case, right? Maybe lazy and unmotivated. So I will do my best to get "caught up" and then stay caught up better...for I was reading old blogs last night and rather enjoyed reading nice things about my kids when so often I feel like I'm just pulling my hair out! ;P

So, to my old, old notecard I go.

One of the sweetest things I've seen is watching Isaac wipe Jadelyn's nose when they were sick. What a sweetie...don't think it was the CLEANEST wipe-up ever, but you know...he did his best.

Ruby told me that it takes her a while to go to sleep because it takes a while for her eyes to close. =P

I was throwing away one of Jadelyn's stinky poopy diapers when she commented that she was "sad for diaper. Because there's poopy in it". Empathy for a diaper, huh? Maybe sometime that will develop into empathy for PEOPLE, right?

When Ruby is sick, Isaac can just be the sweetest little man ever. He takes good care of her. I don't know if I blogged about this before or not, but relatively recently (in the past month or two), Ruby was not feeling well and was laying on the couch. I was working along when I looked over at the couch and found Isaac laying right next to Ruby with his arm wrapped around her. Oh, that boy....

We had some "tree cutters" at our house about a month ago. The kids were intrigued. Ruby was so intrigued, in fact, that she let me know, "I changed my mind. I was gonna be a nurse but now I might be a tree cutter". =) Isaac, too, has let me know that he might be a tree cutter when he grows up.

Jadelyn has very adamantly told us that she and Ruby were in Mommy's belly, but Isaac came from Daddy's belly. I assume this is because Isaac is a boy? Hmmm....

David was sick for a long stretch - sweating and snotting like crazy and I was having to change the sheets about daily. Yeah...nasty. Anyways, Isaac came up with a solution: "Daddy should sleep outside so you wont' have to clean it as much. Clean it. Clean it. It will just go in the grass." Hey, at least he's looking out for MY best interests, right? Not so sure about what would have been his frozen-Dad's interest if he'd been forced to sleep outside in the grass. ;)

We were eating our supper out on the porch, when Alpine the cat came up and got in Jadelyn's baked potato. Jadelyn let me know, "I not sad, Mom." When David came back out with a new potato for her, Lynnie asked me if I would "cut my tornado, please?" Ha!

Ruby was talking to (I think) Isaac about skirts and said, "see the little skirty thing in there?" and later asked, "are you sad you don't have skirts like us?" And yes, I believe the answer was that Isaac IS sad. Poor only boy. =O

Jadelyn often prays and talks about Mr. Matt and Ms. Josie. Still. And she only remembers them from their one visit to our house around 2 months ago. Guess they made a strong impression! One day she said, "I love Mr. Matt. I love Ms. Josie." And I believe she does, too.

One day after sneezing (I think), Isaac let me know, "I like 'blessing yous'. It feels good to me." =)

I had to remove a band-aid from Jadelyn and she cried and cried and cried, but then told me, "I not cy 'bout it". Oh, right...wonder what it was called, then.

There. Caught up on my notecard. That wasn't so bad.