I Won, I Won!

David and I ran to the Container Store after attending a friend's wedding on Saturday afternoon. I love that store, I could spend a fortune there. They were having their grand opening weekend complete with sign-ups for prizes. David and I both filled out a card and tossed them into the very large basket that was full of other entry cards. Well left shortly after that.

I stayed home this morning from church because Becca has a cold. The house phone rang and my caller id. said "Cntnr Store". When I answered, a very friendly voice congratulated me for winning the grand prize giveaway. I won a $1000.00 Elfa closet makeover! Woohoo!

I've been thinking about it. I could re-do the girl's closets. Lizzie has a ton of medical supplies that have to be kept organized, and Becca's toys could stand to be re-organized. I could also do something like our small pantry. It would be nice to maximize that space. But ultimately I've decided to give our master bedroom closet a makeover. This prize is for me, and I want to use it on me. : )

I'll have to post before and after pictures when it's all finished.

More Broken Bones

Here is the latest on our little Lizzie.

Part I
On Thursday morning I went to get Lizzie up to start her routine. I quickly noticed that she was more than a little congested. In fact, she was so congested with her oxygen levels lower than usual and her heart rate elevated (she sleeps connected to a pulse-oxometer at night) that I just automatically assumed that she had pneumonia and we would need to go to the hospital. I have to admit, I was really scared. Her pulmenologist saw her a little later that morning and told us that it was just a respiratory infection and sent us home with an antibiotic prescription.

Feeling relieved, I came home and took a long nap while Becca took hers.

Part II
After my nap, I went to Lizzie’s room to check on her. Her nurse that day, Deborah, said that Lizzie’s left thigh looked swollen. It was bad and almost hard. Panicked for the second time that day I immediately started calling her doctors. I was afraid that it might be a broken bone, a blood clot, or an indication of kidney failure. David, just 30 minutes home from the second of two back to back trips with students, and I decided to take her to the ER. At about 2:00 am we finally got the bad news. Her femur just above her knee was broken.

I cried.

We had no idea how it happened. I strained my exhausted brain thinking back to everything we had done that very long day, but still nothing. According to standard protocol we were questioned by a hospital social worker and were finally discharged around 10 am.

I am very grateful that she cannot feel the pain.

Now Mommy and Lizzie both have a broken bone.

Everyday Silliness

Same Song, Second Verse

Have you ever had something happen to you multiple times? Like, maybe you have the exact same dream several nights in a row, or you keep accidentally biting the same spot inside your cheek when you chew.

Well, this is where I find myself this morning. Instead of going to church today, I sent Becca on with a friend, and I sat on the couch. When I broke my pinky toe last week the doctor ordered me to sit and stay seated with my foot elevated for the next 10 days. (I’m now on day 7.) Isn’t that just too bad? I have doctor’s orders to sit down, and prop up my feet, and let other people serve me.

Well here’s the ironic thing. I was in a very similar situation exactly one year ago. It was the week before Lizzie was born, and the doctor put me on bed rest. I sat on the same white couch, kept my feet propped up, and had family and friends come in every day to cook, clean, and look after Becca.

When God keeps putting you in the same situation, you know he’s trying to teach or tell you something. I think that maybe in my case, He’s just giving me a break. Last year the break was to make sure I was well rested for the year that followed with Lizzie. This year, I think the break is my little reward of rest for the year I just completed.

What do you think?

This is a picture of me on bed rest exactly one year ago. I don’t have a picture for this year, unless you’d like for me to post a picture of my broken toe. Ha, ha!

Reflecting Back

Our little baby girl is about to turn 1 (on June 27th)! When I think back over the past 12 months that we’ve spent with her, in some ways the time has just flown by, but in other ways, it has been the longest year of my life. It has been truly amazing to see how God’s hand was on us every step of the way.

We have endured:
Seven major surgeries,
A total of three months in the hospital,
A few close calls,
Two ambulance rides,
Three trips to the ER,
Four trips to the ICU,
And countless doctor appointments, ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRI’s.

On the other hand, we have experienced:
Multiple shoulders to cry on,
Many hours spent in prayer,
The gift of mercy from those we know and others we know now,
Financial gifts for everything from medical expenses, to meals, to a hotel room to be near our little baby,
Jokes told at just the right time to help lighten the mood,
The opportunity to be a witness to doctors and nurses and other hospital staff,
Meals, meals, meals,
Unpacking, decorating, housecleaning and lawn services from friends and strangers – we moved in October,
A Christmas we will never forget,
And the love of Christ as so many of you wrapped your prayers and arms around us.

And for all of that, we know we can never ever re-pay, and we will be eternally grateful!

Time In The Hospital

Before and After Trach Surgery

Coming Home From The Hospital!

Play Time With Big Sister

Snuggle Time With Daddy

Lizzie's Pretty Pink Hat

My Girls!

Broken Toes and Blessings

While David was out of town on a retreat with his students, clumsy me managed to break my pinky toe. OUCH!! I passed in front of my coffee table and somehow caught my toe at just the right angle to completely snap the bone. I heard a crack, but I did not feel any pain. I quickly got up my nerve to look down and saw that my pinky on my left foot was sticking out sideways!! I thought that I had just dislocated it, so I tried to put it back into place before the pain hit. My attempts failed. I hobbled back to Lizzie's room and asked the nurse, Josesphine, if she could try to put it back into place. (This is one of the benefits of having a nurse in my house 12 hours a day.) She couldn't get it either. I grabbed my purse and keys and ran out the door to go to the hospital.

Along the way I made several phone calls including a desperate call to David, and within a few minutes we had help for Becca, whom I left at home with the nurse, and other people driving to meet me at the hospital. Wow! A couple of hours later I had extra nursing help for Lizzie to help me when her usual nurses have to leave and someone to stay the night with me. By the next morning we even had meals lined up for the next few days! Double wow!

I am so very grateful to be surrounded by such good caring friends. Not everyone has this in their life. I thank the Lord for the blessing my friends have been to me.

Well, to end this long post, the hospital sent me home with a special shoe for my foot, crutches. and a lot of pain medication! : )