Monday, December 23, 2013
Friday, December 6, 2013
Brrr...
So, my hair froze today! That hasn't happened since I lived in Iceburg (I mean, Rexburg). Ahh, fond memories. I used leave my hair wet every morning, step outside into the sub-zero temps and let my hair flash freeze while I walked to my first class. Stupid, I know, but I swear that it was the whole reason my hair was in such good shape in college!! It would thaw in class (it wouldn't even drip, I swear it had freeze-dried) and leave perfectly defined curls with very little frizz. Sigh- I sure miss that part! Ha, ha- my vanity is showing.
But, despite my hair freezing today, it's not terribly cold over here. It's not really cold unless your nose hair freezes. Now that, my friends, is an odd sensation.
;oP
Rusty is talking about re-creating an ice sculpture that his dad made a long time ago. He rigged up a hose to a pipe that stood vertically in the middle of a cage of chicken wire, outdoor Christmas lights, and various metal parts sticking out for a scaffold. He ran the water on several cold nights and gradually built up a pretty cool ice waterfall that glowed from the inside...
Keep warm everyone!
But, despite my hair freezing today, it's not terribly cold over here. It's not really cold unless your nose hair freezes. Now that, my friends, is an odd sensation.
;oP
Rusty is talking about re-creating an ice sculpture that his dad made a long time ago. He rigged up a hose to a pipe that stood vertically in the middle of a cage of chicken wire, outdoor Christmas lights, and various metal parts sticking out for a scaffold. He ran the water on several cold nights and gradually built up a pretty cool ice waterfall that glowed from the inside...
Keep warm everyone!
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Perspective
I've been struggling with feeling like I just can't keep up- let alone get ahead. I know this is a typical phase when you've got an infant in the house...or if you are a caregiver for a person who requires total care 24/7...or if you are a mom with young children...or you're living on a really tight budget...or you're raising a child with autism........Considering the fact that I am in each of those situations, I really should't be surprised that I feel like I'm spinning my wheels. And I'm not surprised. But there are times it really starts getting you down.
I've pared down my life to the bare essentials so I don't drive myself nuts by taking on more than I can chew. My goals are simple: feed everyone, even if it's cereal for dinner again. Dress everyone in clean clothes, even if they are wrinkled and fished from the bottom of the clean laundry pile in the living room. Keep everyone's medications on schedule and delivered to the right child- let's just say that some evenings I've been glad that Naomi doesn't have a g-tube because I will walk up to her with Nate's antibiotic and wonder why I can't find the g-tube port...oi vey. Bathe the children everyday? Working on it. Brush teeth and pray twice daily...um, getting better. I try my very best to give myself grace on the days where I just can't get to it all. I've gotten a lot better about handling mishaps without losing my temper. I know I'm getting better with time. After all, I get all the dishes done by the end of the day at least TWICE a week now! Huge improvement from when I started on that goal...18 months ago... Sigh.
Last Tuesday I tried my very best- and it still just barely fell short. I tried to keep calm, keep things in perspective, and apply the Lord's grace liberally. As a result, I was blessed with - not a miracle - but a much needed dose of perspective.
Nate had two appointments in Kansas City, starting at 10 am, so the plan was to drop off Hyrum and Hannah at school by 7:45 as usual and head straight over. Well, it didn't happen. Rusty dropped them off and by the time Nate, Naomi and I were ready it was 8:20. Ooops. Oh well- it was an appointment with a particular clinic that is remarkably flexible- worst case scenario, we would have to re-arrange for the afternoon. Keep going, stay calm- it's not the end of the world. Sure enough, we got to the hospital at 10:10...and the parking garage is overflowing. When you've got a side-entry wheelchair van, it's really hard to find a parking spot that will work. Especially at a hospital. Finally found one, entered the hospital at 10:40 (it takes about 15 minutes to unload my kids and myself). Get to the security check-in, and realize that I left my ID in the van. Keep going, stay calm, it's not the end of the world. Go back to the van, get my ID. Arrive at clinic almost one hour late. Fortunately, they let us keep the appointment (we were just picking up and fitting Nate's ankle braces). Afterward, head to the next appointment, which hadn't been exactly scheduled since Nate just needed a shot. This was in the clinic about 1/2 mile away. I decided to try out their parking garage rather than park outside as usual because two weeks ago the construction had been a huge hassle to navigate. Well, let's just say I wandered around the parking garage for a good 15 minutes looking for the elevator, to the great amusement of about seven perfect strangers. I forcibly laughed it off when I realized that the word ELEVATOR in two-foot high letters was referring to the door directly beneath it rather than around the corner- oh, embarrassing. Anyway, we got inside, fed Naomi, got the shot, changed diapers, used the bathroom (waaaay overdue), left for Topeka to pick up our food order at Sam's Club. Pick it up, but bought the wrong diapers for a friend, ooops. Oh well, not a big deal, let it go. Go outside, load up the stuff, notice that I barely have enough time to drive home before the kids are done with school- and Naomi wants food. NOW. So I climb in the back of the van and pray she will eat faster than usual. As she is eating, I'm focusing on not worrying about what happens if I don't pick up the kids on time. Keep calm, things always work out.
I look around the parking lot and notice a van with wheelchair plates stopped in the traffic lane, waiting for a particular handicapped spot to open up. I understand that- maybe only 1 in 5 handicapped spots are actually compatible with our van. An 11 year old boy jumps out and runs to the store, and comes back driving (with lots of gusto) one of the motorized carts. He plays around with it and keeps looking to the van for directions on where to drive it. They park and he parks alongside the driver's door. Then he goes and gets a regular shopping cart. His 9 year old sister climbs out of the van, followed by a 4 year old brother. She grabs his hand and guides him directly to the cart, and he climbs up to one of the seats. The older boy opens a door and pulls out a 10 month old baby and sets her next to her brother in the other seat. The older girl and boy then stand by as mom carefully pulls herself out of the drivers seat and transfers into the motorized cart. She tosses her artificial leg in her cart and they all head into the store- the older siblings pushing the younger ones in the cart.
Dang. I was impressed. And humbled. I was impressed that each child had their part down pat- and they did it!! I was impressed that no one was losing their cool. I was impressed that they had faced the next-to-impossible task of shopping with these challenges- and found a solution that works. I was humbled because although my family is just as much of a "semi-controlled circus" when we go shopping, at least I'm still able to walk. I imagined how many times this mom had faced the dreaded shopping trip where it didn't go smoothly- baby is bawling, toddler tips over the cart while climbing up, older siblings get distracted and don't do their part. They had probably had dozens of shopping trips where it all just didn't come together. Yet they persevered- and at least, this once- it all came together. And I was privileged to witness it. And I was so grateful that I'd tried so hard, all day, to keep my cool when things didn't quite work. If I had been mad or stressed, I never would have gotten the good out of that scene. I would have just focused on all that was bad. But since I hadn't let my attitude turn sour and drive away the Spirit, I came away from that parking lot with the insight and comfort I needed to keep on trying.
Today Rusty was teaching the Sunday School lesson. He was sharing a lot of Idaho history about when members of the church were sent up to the Idaho Falls/Rexburg area to establish settlements. He talked about how the growing season was so short, they were just not succeeding. They would try, year after year, to get in enough harvest to live, but it was not working. Several years later, they had tried and tried again, and hadn't quite given up, but they were still in very dire circumstances. Wilford Woodruff had come to visit and they only had a wagon box to serve as a pulpit for an outdoor meeting. He delivered his "wagon box" address and was inspired to tell these people that although things looked bleak, they would eventually succeed. The climate would become temperate for crops. Fields would fill the valley. Fine homes, church buildings and even schools of higher education would dot the landscape. Temples would be built. For people who were worn out just getting enough to grow to keep themselves alive, it was a hard concept to grasp. But they kept at it. Generations later, I came to that area to get my education at that university. I drove through that valley full of thriving farms. I saw the homes and churches. And just a couple years after I moved away, the second temple was built. Their persistence paid off- so gradually they couldn't see it, but it did.
I thought about a blessing I had received several years ago, promising that specific great blessings would come about in the lives of my loved ones within my lifetime. At the time it seemed unlikely. Recently, things have gotten even worse. I have no idea how it is possible for the Lord to come through on that promise. But I feel that I can still trust in that promise. I'll do my part, meager as it is, and I know that I cannot bring this about on my own. Not by a long shot. But if I keep my life in order so that I can bring down blessings on my family through my own righteousness, it will help. If I live so I can act on a prompting from the Holy Ghost that might help, I'll be ready. And something, somehow, gradually, will come together in such a way that one day I will see the plan the Lord had been putting together in the background all this time. I will wait and trust and just do my best, day by day, just like those pioneers did. That's all that is asked of me. It is enough.
I've pared down my life to the bare essentials so I don't drive myself nuts by taking on more than I can chew. My goals are simple: feed everyone, even if it's cereal for dinner again. Dress everyone in clean clothes, even if they are wrinkled and fished from the bottom of the clean laundry pile in the living room. Keep everyone's medications on schedule and delivered to the right child- let's just say that some evenings I've been glad that Naomi doesn't have a g-tube because I will walk up to her with Nate's antibiotic and wonder why I can't find the g-tube port...oi vey. Bathe the children everyday? Working on it. Brush teeth and pray twice daily...um, getting better. I try my very best to give myself grace on the days where I just can't get to it all. I've gotten a lot better about handling mishaps without losing my temper. I know I'm getting better with time. After all, I get all the dishes done by the end of the day at least TWICE a week now! Huge improvement from when I started on that goal...18 months ago... Sigh.
Last Tuesday I tried my very best- and it still just barely fell short. I tried to keep calm, keep things in perspective, and apply the Lord's grace liberally. As a result, I was blessed with - not a miracle - but a much needed dose of perspective.
Nate had two appointments in Kansas City, starting at 10 am, so the plan was to drop off Hyrum and Hannah at school by 7:45 as usual and head straight over. Well, it didn't happen. Rusty dropped them off and by the time Nate, Naomi and I were ready it was 8:20. Ooops. Oh well- it was an appointment with a particular clinic that is remarkably flexible- worst case scenario, we would have to re-arrange for the afternoon. Keep going, stay calm- it's not the end of the world. Sure enough, we got to the hospital at 10:10...and the parking garage is overflowing. When you've got a side-entry wheelchair van, it's really hard to find a parking spot that will work. Especially at a hospital. Finally found one, entered the hospital at 10:40 (it takes about 15 minutes to unload my kids and myself). Get to the security check-in, and realize that I left my ID in the van. Keep going, stay calm, it's not the end of the world. Go back to the van, get my ID. Arrive at clinic almost one hour late. Fortunately, they let us keep the appointment (we were just picking up and fitting Nate's ankle braces). Afterward, head to the next appointment, which hadn't been exactly scheduled since Nate just needed a shot. This was in the clinic about 1/2 mile away. I decided to try out their parking garage rather than park outside as usual because two weeks ago the construction had been a huge hassle to navigate. Well, let's just say I wandered around the parking garage for a good 15 minutes looking for the elevator, to the great amusement of about seven perfect strangers. I forcibly laughed it off when I realized that the word ELEVATOR in two-foot high letters was referring to the door directly beneath it rather than around the corner- oh, embarrassing. Anyway, we got inside, fed Naomi, got the shot, changed diapers, used the bathroom (waaaay overdue), left for Topeka to pick up our food order at Sam's Club. Pick it up, but bought the wrong diapers for a friend, ooops. Oh well, not a big deal, let it go. Go outside, load up the stuff, notice that I barely have enough time to drive home before the kids are done with school- and Naomi wants food. NOW. So I climb in the back of the van and pray she will eat faster than usual. As she is eating, I'm focusing on not worrying about what happens if I don't pick up the kids on time. Keep calm, things always work out.
I look around the parking lot and notice a van with wheelchair plates stopped in the traffic lane, waiting for a particular handicapped spot to open up. I understand that- maybe only 1 in 5 handicapped spots are actually compatible with our van. An 11 year old boy jumps out and runs to the store, and comes back driving (with lots of gusto) one of the motorized carts. He plays around with it and keeps looking to the van for directions on where to drive it. They park and he parks alongside the driver's door. Then he goes and gets a regular shopping cart. His 9 year old sister climbs out of the van, followed by a 4 year old brother. She grabs his hand and guides him directly to the cart, and he climbs up to one of the seats. The older boy opens a door and pulls out a 10 month old baby and sets her next to her brother in the other seat. The older girl and boy then stand by as mom carefully pulls herself out of the drivers seat and transfers into the motorized cart. She tosses her artificial leg in her cart and they all head into the store- the older siblings pushing the younger ones in the cart.
Dang. I was impressed. And humbled. I was impressed that each child had their part down pat- and they did it!! I was impressed that no one was losing their cool. I was impressed that they had faced the next-to-impossible task of shopping with these challenges- and found a solution that works. I was humbled because although my family is just as much of a "semi-controlled circus" when we go shopping, at least I'm still able to walk. I imagined how many times this mom had faced the dreaded shopping trip where it didn't go smoothly- baby is bawling, toddler tips over the cart while climbing up, older siblings get distracted and don't do their part. They had probably had dozens of shopping trips where it all just didn't come together. Yet they persevered- and at least, this once- it all came together. And I was privileged to witness it. And I was so grateful that I'd tried so hard, all day, to keep my cool when things didn't quite work. If I had been mad or stressed, I never would have gotten the good out of that scene. I would have just focused on all that was bad. But since I hadn't let my attitude turn sour and drive away the Spirit, I came away from that parking lot with the insight and comfort I needed to keep on trying.
Today Rusty was teaching the Sunday School lesson. He was sharing a lot of Idaho history about when members of the church were sent up to the Idaho Falls/Rexburg area to establish settlements. He talked about how the growing season was so short, they were just not succeeding. They would try, year after year, to get in enough harvest to live, but it was not working. Several years later, they had tried and tried again, and hadn't quite given up, but they were still in very dire circumstances. Wilford Woodruff had come to visit and they only had a wagon box to serve as a pulpit for an outdoor meeting. He delivered his "wagon box" address and was inspired to tell these people that although things looked bleak, they would eventually succeed. The climate would become temperate for crops. Fields would fill the valley. Fine homes, church buildings and even schools of higher education would dot the landscape. Temples would be built. For people who were worn out just getting enough to grow to keep themselves alive, it was a hard concept to grasp. But they kept at it. Generations later, I came to that area to get my education at that university. I drove through that valley full of thriving farms. I saw the homes and churches. And just a couple years after I moved away, the second temple was built. Their persistence paid off- so gradually they couldn't see it, but it did.
I thought about a blessing I had received several years ago, promising that specific great blessings would come about in the lives of my loved ones within my lifetime. At the time it seemed unlikely. Recently, things have gotten even worse. I have no idea how it is possible for the Lord to come through on that promise. But I feel that I can still trust in that promise. I'll do my part, meager as it is, and I know that I cannot bring this about on my own. Not by a long shot. But if I keep my life in order so that I can bring down blessings on my family through my own righteousness, it will help. If I live so I can act on a prompting from the Holy Ghost that might help, I'll be ready. And something, somehow, gradually, will come together in such a way that one day I will see the plan the Lord had been putting together in the background all this time. I will wait and trust and just do my best, day by day, just like those pioneers did. That's all that is asked of me. It is enough.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Healthy Living
Soooooo...
If one serving of zucchini is 1 cup...
and my recipe for zucchini brownies calls for two cups of zucchini...
I really should be eating half the pan if I want to get more veggies in my diet....
;oP
If one serving of zucchini is 1 cup...
and my recipe for zucchini brownies calls for two cups of zucchini...
I really should be eating half the pan if I want to get more veggies in my diet....
;oP
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Finally, some photos!
Sorry, guys. I've been lazy. Or, rather, busy with other stuff. Finally, I've posted some pictures.
We are also sorry we weren't able to drive out west this summer. Hopefully, an opportunity will open up soon.
So, the first is Nate and Naomi on her blessing day (I think she was one month old):
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Random tidbits
We've had a great spring so far! Here's a quick catch-up with the Squirrels:
Rusty- has been working on a side project making a documentary for a summer theatre program. He's not really wanting to do extra jobs often, but this one is allowing him to splurge on some new camera equipment he's been wanting. He also picked up a used riding lawnmower, since it costs WAAAAY too much to pay someone else to mow. The kids loved going for a ride.
Michelle- found her first gray hair!! Well, white. That's even cooler. ;o)
Hyrum- was the envy of any other boy when he went to the pool the other day and was surrounded by 11, I kid you not, ELEVEN giggling girls who were thrilled to see him outside of school! Hyrum is a bit of the school mascot, and the girls in particular want to show that they won't be snobbish toward a kid like him. So here's my white-as-milk, skinny-as-a-scarecrow and covered-in-scabs 10 year old surrounded by a huge group of brown-as-nuts-from-tanning girls aged 9 to 16 (their older sisters)....and Hyrum is making them all laugh by telling them all about his favorite imaginary monsters and his "adventures" in our backyard. OH, dear.
Hannah- was wishing for our old strawberry patch so she could pick and eat fruit whenever she liked...and that same day we discovered that we have a mulberry tree!!! Whoo, hoo! Michelle was even more thrilled. We all have purple fingers...but we have to be careful- the base of the tree (bush, really) is covered in poison ivy.
Nate- has been having lots of UTIs again. Phooey. But, we got the okay to take him off of one off the seizure meds (the one that never worked, anyway) and suddenly he got his personality back! He's laughing and interacting SO much better. YEAAA!!
Naomi- has been very patient while Mommy experiments with cloth diapers. We're a month into it and we are getting much better at it...Mommy likes her wool covers over flats, but Daddy and everyone else prefers the fancy all-in-ones we borrowed from a friend.
Gotta go, Naomi is STARVING!!
Rusty- has been working on a side project making a documentary for a summer theatre program. He's not really wanting to do extra jobs often, but this one is allowing him to splurge on some new camera equipment he's been wanting. He also picked up a used riding lawnmower, since it costs WAAAAY too much to pay someone else to mow. The kids loved going for a ride.
Michelle- found her first gray hair!! Well, white. That's even cooler. ;o)
Hyrum- was the envy of any other boy when he went to the pool the other day and was surrounded by 11, I kid you not, ELEVEN giggling girls who were thrilled to see him outside of school! Hyrum is a bit of the school mascot, and the girls in particular want to show that they won't be snobbish toward a kid like him. So here's my white-as-milk, skinny-as-a-scarecrow and covered-in-scabs 10 year old surrounded by a huge group of brown-as-nuts-from-tanning girls aged 9 to 16 (their older sisters)....and Hyrum is making them all laugh by telling them all about his favorite imaginary monsters and his "adventures" in our backyard. OH, dear.
Hannah- was wishing for our old strawberry patch so she could pick and eat fruit whenever she liked...and that same day we discovered that we have a mulberry tree!!! Whoo, hoo! Michelle was even more thrilled. We all have purple fingers...but we have to be careful- the base of the tree (bush, really) is covered in poison ivy.
Nate- has been having lots of UTIs again. Phooey. But, we got the okay to take him off of one off the seizure meds (the one that never worked, anyway) and suddenly he got his personality back! He's laughing and interacting SO much better. YEAAA!!
Naomi- has been very patient while Mommy experiments with cloth diapers. We're a month into it and we are getting much better at it...Mommy likes her wool covers over flats, but Daddy and everyone else prefers the fancy all-in-ones we borrowed from a friend.
Gotta go, Naomi is STARVING!!
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Oooooh, CHILDREN....
Hannah wanted a tuna fish sandwich. I was feeding Naomi and couldn't open the can for her, but Hannah insisted that I let her try to use the can opener herself. It's a regular, old, hand cranked can opener, which requires a bigger hand and good grip strength. I agreed to let her TRY.
A few minutes later I entered the kitchen to find that Hannah had somehow gotten the can opener to work SIDEWAYS. Kind of like those pampered chef ones that cut the lid off with half of the rim so there are no sharp edges; you know what I mean? But since this opener isn't designed to do that, it had cut off the lid with the entire rim, so the entire can was razor sharp on top! No cuts, thankfully, but I am astounded that she not only got the can opener to work that way, but that she was strong enough to cut through all of that metal!
In other news, Hyrum came home with another letter he had written at school. This one was supposed to be a persuasive letter, and although he must have had a lot of guidance, the ideas are most certainly his:
Dear Mom and Dad,
I am writing to explain to you both how much I need a mad scientist kit. Dr. Jekyll had a mad scientist kit. I need to make my own Frankenstein. I makes me good at science. I think the kit will be fun.
I know it costs 9 zillion coins, but I know how we can get the money to pay for it. We can get coins from the neighborhood people who don't use them anymore. I promise to be good with the kit. I won't be sneaky with the kit. Hannah will help me clean up the mess when I am done.
Please, please, please, I want the mad scientist kit.
Signed,
Hyrum Scott Earl
A few minutes later I entered the kitchen to find that Hannah had somehow gotten the can opener to work SIDEWAYS. Kind of like those pampered chef ones that cut the lid off with half of the rim so there are no sharp edges; you know what I mean? But since this opener isn't designed to do that, it had cut off the lid with the entire rim, so the entire can was razor sharp on top! No cuts, thankfully, but I am astounded that she not only got the can opener to work that way, but that she was strong enough to cut through all of that metal!
In other news, Hyrum came home with another letter he had written at school. This one was supposed to be a persuasive letter, and although he must have had a lot of guidance, the ideas are most certainly his:
Dear Mom and Dad,
I am writing to explain to you both how much I need a mad scientist kit. Dr. Jekyll had a mad scientist kit. I need to make my own Frankenstein. I makes me good at science. I think the kit will be fun.
I know it costs 9 zillion coins, but I know how we can get the money to pay for it. We can get coins from the neighborhood people who don't use them anymore. I promise to be good with the kit. I won't be sneaky with the kit. Hannah will help me clean up the mess when I am done.
Please, please, please, I want the mad scientist kit.
Signed,
Hyrum Scott Earl
Monday, April 1, 2013
We're home!
Naomi was discharged Easter Sunday. Yea!! The Saturday before, one of the gals in the NICU staff put together a fun easter egg hunt in the hospital lobby for Hyrum and Hannah. They had a blast! The gift shop gave the kids a big basket full of goodies, too. That was such a nice thing to do for our family!
This morning Hyrum gave me a note that he wrote for Naomi a couple days ago. It was transcribed by his speech therapist, so I think it was an exercise during therapy at school. Anyway, this note was soooo typical of Hyrum (with prompts from the speech therapist):
Dear Naomi-
The moon (man in the moon) will heal you up. I love you a tiny bit. Tomorrow I will visit you in the hospital. If you are all better, I will see you at home. Please open your eyes. You are so soft and you smell like pepperoni ice cream.
Your big brother,
Sign: Hyrum Scott Earl
Yeah. That's my random kid.
This morning Hyrum gave me a note that he wrote for Naomi a couple days ago. It was transcribed by his speech therapist, so I think it was an exercise during therapy at school. Anyway, this note was soooo typical of Hyrum (with prompts from the speech therapist):
Dear Naomi-
The moon (man in the moon) will heal you up. I love you a tiny bit. Tomorrow I will visit you in the hospital. If you are all better, I will see you at home. Please open your eyes. You are so soft and you smell like pepperoni ice cream.
Your big brother,
Sign: Hyrum Scott Earl
Yeah. That's my random kid.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Slow and Steady...
Well, it's day 12 of our NICU stay, and Naomi is making small but definite steps every day. She would now be about 38 weeks gestation, so it's not unheard of for her to still be learning to eat. The doctors keep wavering back and forth about doing more tests on her- largely because she has a brother with a chromosome problem, even though it was a spontaneous problem and Rusty and I are not carriers. I think she'll probably end up with a followup appointment at Children's Mercy sometime after she's discharged. Just to play things safe. I don't mind that.
In the meantime, she's doing really well! She's just not quite able to eat enough food on her own. I'll feed her about 2/3 of her bottle, and she's tube-fed the rest. I asked about taking her home with the NG tube in place but this hospital doesn't allow that. Oh well- Rusty and the kids are doing pretty well, and I'm enjoying a lot of cuddle time and quiet. I'm even getting in a lot of uninterrupted crocheting! I am rather jealous of the yummy meals that the branch members are bringing my family...cafeteria food gets kinda old! ;o) The nurses keep asking how I can be so patient, but then I tell them that I've had lots of practice sitting around in hospitals with Nate- his record is 5 weeks. I figure Naomi will do less than half of that. It's a quiet break for me, and when it's over I really get excited to get back to my family and daily chores- so hopefully they get back a better mommy when I come home!
Thanks again to everyone's kind wishes and prayers and help. I STILL don't have email access, and Rusty's rather swamped right now, but we do appreciate all of the kind messages! Take care!
Michelle
p.s. sorry no photos! They are all on the computer at home.
In the meantime, she's doing really well! She's just not quite able to eat enough food on her own. I'll feed her about 2/3 of her bottle, and she's tube-fed the rest. I asked about taking her home with the NG tube in place but this hospital doesn't allow that. Oh well- Rusty and the kids are doing pretty well, and I'm enjoying a lot of cuddle time and quiet. I'm even getting in a lot of uninterrupted crocheting! I am rather jealous of the yummy meals that the branch members are bringing my family...cafeteria food gets kinda old! ;o) The nurses keep asking how I can be so patient, but then I tell them that I've had lots of practice sitting around in hospitals with Nate- his record is 5 weeks. I figure Naomi will do less than half of that. It's a quiet break for me, and when it's over I really get excited to get back to my family and daily chores- so hopefully they get back a better mommy when I come home!
Thanks again to everyone's kind wishes and prayers and help. I STILL don't have email access, and Rusty's rather swamped right now, but we do appreciate all of the kind messages! Take care!
Michelle
p.s. sorry no photos! They are all on the computer at home.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Naomi Aibrean “Squirrel”
She’s here!
Naomi came via C-section, four weeks early. We had a couple days’ notice, which was such a blessing. Nate had his wonderful nurses all ready to care for him, and Rusty’s parents hopped in their car and drove halfway across the country with time to spare to watch the other kids and help out for the next couple weeks (what a BLESSING!! We’re soooo grateful they were able to come!). So when the day came, Rusty and I hopped in the car and drove to Topeka, debating possible names and laughing about how we did almost the exact same thing with Nate’s birth five years ago. Well, I was laughing. Rusty was freaking out about the C-section. Brought back bad memories of my last round of surgery. I threatened to tell the nurses I was checking HIM into the hospital, he was getting so nervous.
This was my first C-section, and it was rather trippy. Of course, anytime you give me a painkiller with narcotics, the world starts spinning and won’t stop for days, so the “trippy” factor is a given. I found myself strapped to a very narrow table, with my arms on little trays out to the sides like a cross, and the whole contraption tilted head-down because my blood pressure was dropping, and the room spinning from the meds...I thought I was on one of those astronaut-training circle machines that spin the astronaut in every direction, trying to make them puke. You know what I’m talking about? No? That’s okay, it’s just the meds talking.
Anyway, Naomi was “born” at high noon, after sticking out every body part EXCEPT her head (including her rear end) and making the doctors wonder just what sort of gymnastics she was doing in there. The placenta (the cause of the early delivery, I had a complete placenta previa) came out fine, so my doctors could relax and put away all the extra blood and hysterectomy tools...they were prepared for all sorts of complications. We’re glad things went better than expected. She weighed 5 lbs, 14 oz and was 19 inches long.
Naomi was in the NICU for a few days to watch for signs of brain damage because of a suspected level 3 hemmorrage (bleeding) in her brain. Prenatally we’d seen signs of hydrocephaly, but an ultrasound after birth showed a lot of blood in there, and it would likely would cause significant damage. Scary stuff. However, miracles DO happen. Her follow-up ultrasound two days later showed not a single trace of water or blood pooled in her brain. There “should” be no way that it would have all cleared out in those two days, with no signs of damage. The radiologist tried to explain how the first post-natal ultrasound could have been GROSSLY misread, but he couldn’t explain how the two pre-natal ultrasounds also showed fluid in those same locations... they all apologized over and over for the scare and our stress over this. I just smiled and told them that we simply are grateful that she is fine now. For a private, religious hospital, they still can’t call this a miracle. But I can. We were willing to take her with brain damage, and the Lord knows that, but we are so grateful He chose to heal her instead.
She is now back in the NICU for the next few days because she hasn’t quite realized the need to eat. So we give her a bottle, she eats maybe a third of an ounce, and then we give her the rest through a tube. Technically, with my experience from Nate, I could do that at home, but I’m not going to fight hospital policy just over that. I feel better with the extra monitoring. I’m officially discharged, but they are letting me stay in a hospital room with her and she goes to the NICU every couple hours for her feedings and monitoring. Then I get her back for an hour or so. Plus, at night, they can watch her and I can SLEEP! So nice. Once she “ages” a bit, the eating reflex will kick in and she will be able to maintain her weight and we can go home.
Rusty and his parents are keeping things together at home. Nate ended up with another UTI this week, so poor Rusty has been juggling doctor visits, possible ER trips for fever, and all of that mess along with keeping day-to-day life running. I’m really, really impressed with his ability to step in and handle all of that. He needs an award! I think he would prefer sleep. And chocolate.
Hyrum and Hannah are LOVING all the attention from Grandma and Grandpa. They get to go hiking around in the trees around our house to their heart’s content. They get a willing audience for all of their random tales. And they get a taste of what it’s like to have actual order and schedules, rather than the “free-for-all, fend-for-yourself” lifestyle they’ve put up with because I’ve been too sick to do much for the last several months! It’s wonderful. Rusty’s folks are also busy fixing all of the minor repairs (and a few more major ones) around the house. I just hope they pace themselves!
Okay, I’m done rambling. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to everyone for their help, kind wishes, and thoughts and prayers. I haven’t had access to a computer until today, and I still can’t access email (the hospital WIFI isn’t working with my email account yet), so I can’t respond to you all individually yet. But I hope you all know we love you all and are so grateful for your support. Take care!
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Birthday Surprise! (no, it's not the baby)
I've never liked making a big deal about my birthday. I generally can't remember my own age. I have actually forgotten it was my birthday until as late as 5:30 pm that day (I think that was the year I turned 20. I think.) Some birthdays were WORTH forgetting, such as the four-years-in-a-row tradition of getting sick. Or the one in 8th grade when I puked in Social Studies class. Fun times, fun times. I'm not saying I dislike my birthday, or that they are usually bad! Usually they are quite nice. The last couple ones have been fun, now that my kids are getting excited FOR me, and I get to pretend to not notice all of the little things they do to "surprise" me. Cute.
But now I've got a birthday story that tops all the other strange birthday stories. This year, I got Bells Palsy for my birthday. Or maybe Lyme disease. Cool, huh? ;o)
Okay, there are more exciting birthday stories out there, and certainly worse ones. But still- waking up and having the left side of my face not functional was rather interesting!!
Typical me; I pulled out a college textbook, diagnosed myself, tried to convince myself and others that it was not such a big deal and decided to wait it out. After all, I'd had a killer headache all week on that side of my head, and the facial nerve that was causing the problems runs right through the area I'd had the worst pain, so I theorized that some swollen muscle was just slightly pinching the nerve and that once the inflammation or irritation went down (and the pain really was finally subsiding), the nerve would start working again! Great theory, right? Plus, I'd spent all day Friday getting a dental x-ray and doctor appointment to check my teeth and ear, and both of them had declared that I was perfectly fine and just needed to rest my "tension" headache.
That was before I couldn't close my eye and mouth properly. And the numbness. And all of that.
Well, that evening I set aside my pride (and did a little more research) and decided "you really don't mess around with cranial nerves, Michelle" and drove myself (yes, I still had to be stubborn in some way) on over to the ER, half-expecting to be told to stop self-diagnosing. But I was RIGHT! Come on, there is some kind of twisted victory in that! Right?
Actually, I don't have a real diagnosis yet. Lab work takes time. But, I got treated, and am now wandering around with my eye patched shut and dribbling water down my chin. Yea! Hannah asked why I had a bandage on my eye, and I told her it was bugging me and needed to rest. She waited five minutes and then asked, "Is it better NOW?" ;o) Alas, the bandaid doesn't fix ALL boo-boos right away. But I should be better in a week or so. I do have a little more sensation today. And another "crazy story from the life of Michelle" to tell. I'd been running low on those!
But now I've got a birthday story that tops all the other strange birthday stories. This year, I got Bells Palsy for my birthday. Or maybe Lyme disease. Cool, huh? ;o)
Okay, there are more exciting birthday stories out there, and certainly worse ones. But still- waking up and having the left side of my face not functional was rather interesting!!
Typical me; I pulled out a college textbook, diagnosed myself, tried to convince myself and others that it was not such a big deal and decided to wait it out. After all, I'd had a killer headache all week on that side of my head, and the facial nerve that was causing the problems runs right through the area I'd had the worst pain, so I theorized that some swollen muscle was just slightly pinching the nerve and that once the inflammation or irritation went down (and the pain really was finally subsiding), the nerve would start working again! Great theory, right? Plus, I'd spent all day Friday getting a dental x-ray and doctor appointment to check my teeth and ear, and both of them had declared that I was perfectly fine and just needed to rest my "tension" headache.
That was before I couldn't close my eye and mouth properly. And the numbness. And all of that.
Well, that evening I set aside my pride (and did a little more research) and decided "you really don't mess around with cranial nerves, Michelle" and drove myself (yes, I still had to be stubborn in some way) on over to the ER, half-expecting to be told to stop self-diagnosing. But I was RIGHT! Come on, there is some kind of twisted victory in that! Right?
Actually, I don't have a real diagnosis yet. Lab work takes time. But, I got treated, and am now wandering around with my eye patched shut and dribbling water down my chin. Yea! Hannah asked why I had a bandage on my eye, and I told her it was bugging me and needed to rest. She waited five minutes and then asked, "Is it better NOW?" ;o) Alas, the bandaid doesn't fix ALL boo-boos right away. But I should be better in a week or so. I do have a little more sensation today. And another "crazy story from the life of Michelle" to tell. I'd been running low on those!
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
It's SNOWING!!
Name that movie. (hint: imagine a door slamming)
We got two good snowfalls recently: one before Christmas (the kids even got a snow day off for the last day of school) and one for New Years'. I got my snow fix: crunching through snow, that unique feeling in the air, the way sounds change with snow on the ground, the way the stars look brighter...I missed snow. As long as the power stays on, keep the snow coming!
I'll admit, though- we did skip town shortly after the first snow. And went to Houston. It was 75 DEGREES with green grass on Christmas Eve!! Pretty nice! We had the best time visiting Rusty's twin and his family. The cousins had a great time getting re-acquainted and we enjoyed simply watching them play. Hyrum terrorized their box turtle and Hannah spent so much time shadowing Cristine and Brooklyn, she hardly spoke to us all week. WEIRD, but nice! Nate had his fifth birthday down there. So after that, we had a 10 year old, 9 year old, 8 year old, 7 year old, 6 year old, and 5 year old all in the same house. Kinda wild, but remarkably they all got along really well. Besides, Ty and Suzanne (and Suzanne's parents, who were also visiting) were really, really good sports. We had a fabulous time. Even when the power went out Christmas Day from 10 am to 6 pm and we ended up eating Christmas dinner at TGIF. ;o) We loved our trip, and we are so grateful we were able to finally visit them.
On our drive home, we saw a real, live, wild armadillo. Cute!! It was tearing up a frozen lawn like it was kitty litter- wow!
The kids are enjoying their last day of freedom today. School starts tomorrow. Michelle has been freezing meals for the last few days, as much as her exhaustion will allow. Just in case. The exhaustion is here to stay (needed a two hour nap after a trip to Sam's Club), but the nausea has finally eased. I'm back to my pre-pregnancy weight and food is my friend again!! Yea! It only took five months. ;oP Rusty is back at work and planning lots more video projects. A good start to the new year.
We got two good snowfalls recently: one before Christmas (the kids even got a snow day off for the last day of school) and one for New Years'. I got my snow fix: crunching through snow, that unique feeling in the air, the way sounds change with snow on the ground, the way the stars look brighter...I missed snow. As long as the power stays on, keep the snow coming!
I'll admit, though- we did skip town shortly after the first snow. And went to Houston. It was 75 DEGREES with green grass on Christmas Eve!! Pretty nice! We had the best time visiting Rusty's twin and his family. The cousins had a great time getting re-acquainted and we enjoyed simply watching them play. Hyrum terrorized their box turtle and Hannah spent so much time shadowing Cristine and Brooklyn, she hardly spoke to us all week. WEIRD, but nice! Nate had his fifth birthday down there. So after that, we had a 10 year old, 9 year old, 8 year old, 7 year old, 6 year old, and 5 year old all in the same house. Kinda wild, but remarkably they all got along really well. Besides, Ty and Suzanne (and Suzanne's parents, who were also visiting) were really, really good sports. We had a fabulous time. Even when the power went out Christmas Day from 10 am to 6 pm and we ended up eating Christmas dinner at TGIF. ;o) We loved our trip, and we are so grateful we were able to finally visit them.
On our drive home, we saw a real, live, wild armadillo. Cute!! It was tearing up a frozen lawn like it was kitty litter- wow!
The kids are enjoying their last day of freedom today. School starts tomorrow. Michelle has been freezing meals for the last few days, as much as her exhaustion will allow. Just in case. The exhaustion is here to stay (needed a two hour nap after a trip to Sam's Club), but the nausea has finally eased. I'm back to my pre-pregnancy weight and food is my friend again!! Yea! It only took five months. ;oP Rusty is back at work and planning lots more video projects. A good start to the new year.
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