The docs thought that the cute little girl needed to stay one more day. She is much more herself today-- she has even been able to walk a little in a shaky sort of way. The MRI looked good, but she has a blood marker that should be half of what it is. They think things are looking good but there is still a slight possibility that if that number doesn't come down by tomorrow, that they'll have to re-open her hip and look for any infection that they may have missed the first time. I'm really really hoping they don't have to do that, we should know more in the morning.
The ups and downs have been hard, and I have felt so badly for the kids I have to keep leaving at home, especially the baby, but I have really enjoyed having time with her, and today we had a wonderful stretch of afternoon sun.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Little Girl Update
![](https://distilleryimage8.s3.amazonaws.com/f8c616ba6fda11e2a12822000a9f18f6_7.jpg)
I think I've been through all ranges of human emotions over the last few days. Gotten a little bit of perspective and a realization just how important one little six year-old human being is to me.
On Sunday, she had some leg pain that progressed to a trip to the ER.
Yesterday morning she had surgery on her hip. They cleaned the joint in an effort to prevent what has the potential to cause permanent damage, after an ultrasound-guided needle inserted into her joint revealed a possible infection (during the first night in the ER). When we first arrived in the ER, they did blood work and a regular X-ray, the most traumatizing event of the night, because they had to try to bend her knee and rotate it outward (cringe cringe cringe as I listen helplessly to her scream, since I couldn't be in the room! this made me feel so bad for her!) All night she was in terrible pain, screaming and gnashing her teeth together, even after they gave her Morphine. Then she had an ultrasound that showed quite a bit of fluid surrounding her femur. After they pulled out some of the fluid via the ultrasound + needle, she finally slept sporadically and stopped the periodic screaming she had been doing since late afternoon the day before. Her leg kept giving her painful spasms, so she wanted my hand on her knee as much as possible that night.
At 4 am the Orthopedic doc said they needed to operate right away due to the nature of the fluid they found in her joint. He said "this is considered an orthopedic emergency." Of course we were hoping to avoid surgery, but the alternative-- quick and permanent damage to her joint-- was worse (he said they can't even afford to wait for culture results to get back).
She came out of surgery about 10am. She kept retching and was still really out of it for a while, I'm sure in part because she had slept so little the night before. By afternoon she was a groggy sort of awake and got to watch a bunch of movies (it made me laugh that she wanted to watch Cupcake Wars much more than the movie I brought).
Miguel and I have taken turns with her and we've had family here to help (such a godsend!). The hospital won't let any kids under 14 in to see her because we're in RSV season right now. That has caused its own little problem. So I took home some crestfallen tired ones when they were told they couldn't come in to see her, and I found out that later that afternoon one sister had locked herself in my closet. She was especially affected by her sister's absence and worried and upset that she couldn't see her (see last post!). I realized that the last time they saw her, she was being hauled away at night, screaming in pain.
Last night Miguel slept in the hospital with her and all the rest of the kids but one opted to sleep in my room or in my bed. When I had left her the day before, they were concerned that her heart rate was still high (hovering around 150-160, ocassionally going even higher) and tested her to make sure she had no bacteria in her bloodstream. Right now she is having an MRI to determine whether the infection is gone or whether they have to go back in and clean it out.
Thanks for the kind wishes from many of you. Keep praying for her, we need it. :)
Monday, February 4, 2013
A Little Drama
![](https://distilleryimage6.s3.amazonaws.com/8c2a768a6eb911e29edf22000a1e9a73_7.jpg)
So sorry, I was going to post goals today but I literally was up all night in the ER, minus a couple few minute snatches of head-against-the-wall sleep.
For an account of yesterday's happenings, read what my oldest daughter wrote on her (private) blog:
"Yesterday my little sister woke up and her leg started hurting. She could limp around a bit, but by midday all she did was lay in bed. We got her downstairs on the couch, and whenever someone would touch her toes up to her hip [anywhere on her leg] she would scream. Soon she would scream and scream and scream and scream and scream and scream and scream and scream and scream and scream and scream and scream and scream and scream and scream and scream and scream and scream and scream and scream and scream and scream and scream and scream and scream and scream and scream and scream and scream and scream and scream and scream and scream no matter what. My mom took her to the hospital. I didn't go to sleep till 11:00 and woke up at 1:30. I couldn't sleep for 40 minutes. Then, my youngest brother woke me up. after that I literally slept 30 minutes. My dad told me she had septic hip or something like that, and she went through surgery this morning.
A few questions she kept asking [after anesthesia]:
Why do you have two heads?
Why does the doctor have two heads?
Was that a dream?
Was it this bad when Isa broke her leg?
She is supposed to be in the hospital for two days and I am not allowed to see her (!!!!!!!!)."
Scary night! She had what I thought was a leg ache yesterday, but got so bad she couldn't walk or stop crying. It's been a little nerve wracking, but she is doing well now. More later.
Friday, February 1, 2013
Month 9 Round-Up
So sorry, I had something fun planned for today but I cannot get it to work! Darn, something to look forward to for another day.
So I'll just give you an old boring round-up for this month instead. This month I worked on being a better disciplinarian. It was kind of a joke (again you say? I know I know).
I did make a list of all the discipline scenarios I see most days. This was much easier than I thought. All I had to do was set out a pen and paper for an afternoon and record the different challenges I faced as I went about my usual business. I discovered that they are the same set of challenges I face pretty much every day! Here is the list: turning on the TV before chores are done, doing something after being specifically told not to :), not getting off comptuer/TV when time is up, whining, not coming to dinner when I call (after, like 4 times!), eating foods intended for special occasions, poor manners, taking food out of the kitchen, not cleaning up after self, not getting chores done, reading after bed time, getting out of bed (sometimes quite a few times!), fighting over a toy or seat at the dinner table, screaming, hitting (little cute new tantrummer, I'm looking at you!), and ignoring basic personal hygiene.
I also made a rule list (only I'm not going to admit how late in the month I did it!). Here it is, open to improvisation or improvement (I wanted it to be fairly simple, so even little kids can understand, and easily distilled into a few overarching principles, marked in bold...I also tried to frame things positively, though the very first rule isn't framed that way, just couldn't resist the Cars reference):
Here is a small sample of the list:
So, here is the sort of fail part. I have learned how helplessly hopelessly I need to work on this. Just being aware did not help in this case. It made it worse, because seeing how badly we need a little discipline around here made me less patient. So I tried to turn on the more authoritative me, and I stink at it. I don't know how to do authoritative without being grouchy. Or follow through more and be empathetic and loving about it. The one exception is the tip I got from The Five Love Languages of Children-- to express love in some form when disciplining the child, ie, giving a hug on the way to a time-out, or saying "I love you." That has become relatively easy for me, even when I'm angry, but I've been working on that for over a year now (I just don't put them in time out nearly enough, giving lots of chances in an increasingly distressed Mom voice).
So my month on trying to do better (and I know I'm just getting started, as the rules are just now being solidified) actually culminated, last night, in an ugly cross-the-line losin' it on my part in a dark, slushy Wal-Mart parking lot. Yes, I lost it. So lets just say this is something I will probably be working on until the day I die.
Happy happy weekend everyone!
So I'll just give you an old boring round-up for this month instead. This month I worked on being a better disciplinarian. It was kind of a joke (again you say? I know I know).
I did make a list of all the discipline scenarios I see most days. This was much easier than I thought. All I had to do was set out a pen and paper for an afternoon and record the different challenges I faced as I went about my usual business. I discovered that they are the same set of challenges I face pretty much every day! Here is the list: turning on the TV before chores are done, doing something after being specifically told not to :), not getting off comptuer/TV when time is up, whining, not coming to dinner when I call (after, like 4 times!), eating foods intended for special occasions, poor manners, taking food out of the kitchen, not cleaning up after self, not getting chores done, reading after bed time, getting out of bed (sometimes quite a few times!), fighting over a toy or seat at the dinner table, screaming, hitting (little cute new tantrummer, I'm looking at you!), and ignoring basic personal hygiene.
I also made a rule list (only I'm not going to admit how late in the month I did it!). Here it is, open to improvisation or improvement (I wanted it to be fairly simple, so even little kids can understand, and easily distilled into a few overarching principles, marked in bold...I also tried to frame things positively, though the very first rule isn't framed that way, just couldn't resist the Cars reference):
Here is a small sample of the list:
Respect
For others and possessions.
No bitin’, no hittin’, no scratchin’, no takin’ toys, no
spittin’, no screamin'.
Eat and keep food at the dinner table, please. When you are finished, clear your things and a few more.
Show respect to others by using please, thank you, excuse me,
and polite table manners.
Respect others, their homes, rules and possessions, too.
So my month on trying to do better (and I know I'm just getting started, as the rules are just now being solidified) actually culminated, last night, in an ugly cross-the-line losin' it on my part in a dark, slushy Wal-Mart parking lot. Yes, I lost it. So lets just say this is something I will probably be working on until the day I die.
Happy happy weekend everyone!
Thursday, January 31, 2013
You're My Little Koochey-Face and Other Awkward Endearments
Thanks for the comments lately, everyone! You must have felt my ESP from far away, I was just feeling a little in need of some encouragement! So thanks!
Before I had kids, I remember going out to eat with a mother and her two very active under-3's. They were super cute and rambunctious and kept that woman hopping (and anyone else who was around)! I remember formulating a few ideas about what I would or wouldn't do as a mother when I was around this little family. One thing in particular I swore I'd never do was to talk in a baby-ish voice or give my kid awkward squishy honey-coated names of endearment. Like "honey boo boo." ESPECIALLY when that child was being naughty.
Ok, for today's post I am offering up myself on the altar of comic relief, because, well, you'll see. Just keep your horror to yourself. Now if you indeed have never given a weird pet name to someone or something, then just smile and shake your head. But we all know you probably have.
Here are a few in our house (blush, blush):
Some of my more innocuous terms of endearment include calling kids by shortened names given by toddler siblings (one daughter is "my-my" sometimes). I use "sweetie" a lot. Even when I'm mad, which I probably shouldn't. Honey, hardly ever. Cutie, a lot. I like to call my girls "my girl," and my boys "my boy." My littlest, whose name is Emerson, gets shortened to "Emer," or even "Sonny," or "E-mer-Sonny."
I'm just breaking you in a little here before I deliver the bigger ones, like boiling a toad gradually.
My husband and I, as a joke, started calling each other "lover" when we were first married. We have never called each other honey or sweetie, just "lover." At one point, our oldest, when he was about 2, would call us "lover" at times. Ha. He'd say "come on, lover, lets go to the motorway," for example. :)
One of the funniest ones, as pointed out by a relative, is that I have tended to periodically call my babies, "precious," or "my precious." Doesn't that just conjure up this image? In addition, I will sometimes call this baby my "lovey dovey," "feller," "bubba" (huh?) or "my handsome."
And, last of all, drum roll please. This is not a term of endearment. It is just extrememly embarrassing. Ever since my eldest child, when referring to nursing, I did indeed call it "num num." (Arg! Hall of Shame!) Each time I had another baby I figured it would be a perfect time to change the terminology so as to embarrass myself less. Especially since I nursed my three girls until 20 months-ish, they could definitely make a scene in a quiet place like church, shouting for "num num!" Yet, each time, I sort of came to the conclusion that no matter what we call it, as soon as someone realizes what the child is talking about, it will probably gross them out no matter what (especially since most people see that as soon as a child can "ask for it," it's time to quit). I don't know.
So enjoy this little video I had my son shoot for me. To document some of our little endearments. I just love Emerson's little face. He always has the cutest little pleased smile on his face. I purposefully put on the clothes/make-up my sister gave me, just for this video, as I feel so Natalie-Wood-ish in them :), and E is wearing my son's clothes from when he was this age (aw!). Weird or not, I was inspired by the article referenced just the other day (here)-- some day I will want a record of this little exchange, even if its a little awkward-sounding now (and watching/listening to myself makes me cringe!)!
Before I had kids, I remember going out to eat with a mother and her two very active under-3's. They were super cute and rambunctious and kept that woman hopping (and anyone else who was around)! I remember formulating a few ideas about what I would or wouldn't do as a mother when I was around this little family. One thing in particular I swore I'd never do was to talk in a baby-ish voice or give my kid awkward squishy honey-coated names of endearment. Like "honey boo boo." ESPECIALLY when that child was being naughty.
Ok, for today's post I am offering up myself on the altar of comic relief, because, well, you'll see. Just keep your horror to yourself. Now if you indeed have never given a weird pet name to someone or something, then just smile and shake your head. But we all know you probably have.
Here are a few in our house (blush, blush):
Some of my more innocuous terms of endearment include calling kids by shortened names given by toddler siblings (one daughter is "my-my" sometimes). I use "sweetie" a lot. Even when I'm mad, which I probably shouldn't. Honey, hardly ever. Cutie, a lot. I like to call my girls "my girl," and my boys "my boy." My littlest, whose name is Emerson, gets shortened to "Emer," or even "Sonny," or "E-mer-Sonny."
I'm just breaking you in a little here before I deliver the bigger ones, like boiling a toad gradually.
My husband and I, as a joke, started calling each other "lover" when we were first married. We have never called each other honey or sweetie, just "lover." At one point, our oldest, when he was about 2, would call us "lover" at times. Ha. He'd say "come on, lover, lets go to the motorway," for example. :)
One of the funniest ones, as pointed out by a relative, is that I have tended to periodically call my babies, "precious," or "my precious." Doesn't that just conjure up this image? In addition, I will sometimes call this baby my "lovey dovey," "feller," "bubba" (huh?) or "my handsome."
And, last of all, drum roll please. This is not a term of endearment. It is just extrememly embarrassing. Ever since my eldest child, when referring to nursing, I did indeed call it "num num." (Arg! Hall of Shame!) Each time I had another baby I figured it would be a perfect time to change the terminology so as to embarrass myself less. Especially since I nursed my three girls until 20 months-ish, they could definitely make a scene in a quiet place like church, shouting for "num num!" Yet, each time, I sort of came to the conclusion that no matter what we call it, as soon as someone realizes what the child is talking about, it will probably gross them out no matter what (especially since most people see that as soon as a child can "ask for it," it's time to quit). I don't know.
So enjoy this little video I had my son shoot for me. To document some of our little endearments. I just love Emerson's little face. He always has the cutest little pleased smile on his face. I purposefully put on the clothes/make-up my sister gave me, just for this video, as I feel so Natalie-Wood-ish in them :), and E is wearing my son's clothes from when he was this age (aw!). Weird or not, I was inspired by the article referenced just the other day (here)-- some day I will want a record of this little exchange, even if its a little awkward-sounding now (and watching/listening to myself makes me cringe!)!
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
A Morning with the Littles
We've been cooped up a lot lately, due to sub-freezing temps, bad air, and back-to-back-to-back storms. I found myself feeling a little extra grumpy about this the other day. Normally I don't mind having a reason to snuggle up inside (and I love not having to worry about weeds in the winter! hallelujah!), but this has felt a bit much. So, in an effort to fight off the ugly mood, we've been trying to make the best of it.
(A so-easy craft! Just ripped up tin foil to act as icicles. The ripping and gluing is such a toddler delight, right?)
Yesterday, a good old fashioned run-around-silly-with-little-one-on-your-back reminded me that I need to do more of this! Mine just eat it right up! If we hadn't been stuck inside I would have missed the baby suck-in-air-and-giggle like this was the best thing in the world; his little cushy body bouncing on my back and little arms wound around my neck. Or his sister's delighted directing pointer finger, which never seemed to tire. :)
These first three pics from a different day, the rest are from today.
(I go back and forth with the dough eating! Rite of passage or listeria-gifter? Arg, what torment! Do I need to repent?)
Today we spent some time on the living room floor, reading stories, singing "Once There Was a Snowman," (once? ha, ironic) and melting our little hearts out (an enthusiastic three times), read about kids in other countries, empathy, and cooking (huh? how did we come up with that combo?). I turned on some music via my phone, let it sugar-coat the air as we brown-sugar-dipped, let out the spastic, periodic Elvis moves, and scooped out chocolate chip-studded gooey-ness. It was one of those moments that I knew would evaporate before I knew it, and I knew all I could do was to live in it and enjoy it. I love little innocent songs and teachable faces and wiggliness and outright love-you-with-all-their-hearts (most of the time).
And the lyrics to this song, called the Garden Song (by Andy Mason, from his Everybody Likes Pizza album) made me think -this is what it's all about. :)
If you want the short version, here are my favorite lyrics:
"Inch by inch, row by row, please bless these seeds I sow. Please keep them safe below till the rain comes tumblin' down."
(*I have a little preschool curriculum that I bought years ago when my oldest entered kindergarten, and I have used it sporadically. It has been fun to have around. (I have tried three different companies when doing preschool with friends, and Funshine Express is my favorite) Even if I didn't have one, there are coloring pages and craft ideas online for free. Its nice to have a little structure and some prompts once in a while.)
(A so-easy craft! Just ripped up tin foil to act as icicles. The ripping and gluing is such a toddler delight, right?)
Yesterday, a good old fashioned run-around-silly-with-little-one-on-your-back reminded me that I need to do more of this! Mine just eat it right up! If we hadn't been stuck inside I would have missed the baby suck-in-air-and-giggle like this was the best thing in the world; his little cushy body bouncing on my back and little arms wound around my neck. Or his sister's delighted directing pointer finger, which never seemed to tire. :)
These first three pics from a different day, the rest are from today.
(I go back and forth with the dough eating! Rite of passage or listeria-gifter? Arg, what torment! Do I need to repent?)
Today we spent some time on the living room floor, reading stories, singing "Once There Was a Snowman," (once? ha, ironic) and melting our little hearts out (an enthusiastic three times), read about kids in other countries, empathy, and cooking (huh? how did we come up with that combo?). I turned on some music via my phone, let it sugar-coat the air as we brown-sugar-dipped, let out the spastic, periodic Elvis moves, and scooped out chocolate chip-studded gooey-ness. It was one of those moments that I knew would evaporate before I knew it, and I knew all I could do was to live in it and enjoy it. I love little innocent songs and teachable faces and wiggliness and outright love-you-with-all-their-hearts (most of the time).
And the lyrics to this song, called the Garden Song (by Andy Mason, from his Everybody Likes Pizza album) made me think -this is what it's all about. :)
If you want the short version, here are my favorite lyrics:
"Inch by inch, row by row, please bless these seeds I sow. Please keep them safe below till the rain comes tumblin' down."
(*I have a little preschool curriculum that I bought years ago when my oldest entered kindergarten, and I have used it sporadically. It has been fun to have around. (I have tried three different companies when doing preschool with friends, and Funshine Express is my favorite) Even if I didn't have one, there are coloring pages and craft ideas online for free. Its nice to have a little structure and some prompts once in a while.)
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Life Lately
![](https://distilleryimage2.s3.amazonaws.com/6c6f393a5a9a11e2900c22000a1fb715_7.jpg)
A clean house is always something to document around here. The bi-annual event. :)
![](https://distilleryimage5.s3.amazonaws.com/669fb59267de11e2ac5022000a9f18b3_7.jpg)
So is a project completion. (the pillow in back)
![](https://distilleryimage2.s3.amazonaws.com/4f8fdf54587411e2be8622000a9f192b_7.jpg)
![](https://distilleryimage11.s3.amazonaws.com/5ee2cd4a61e311e2bb8a22000a1f97fc_7.jpg)
Movie night.
![](https://distilleryimage8.s3.amazonaws.com/609cbaa457c711e28e7522000a1fbe50_7.jpg)
I find this girl asleep with her light on and a pile of books very often lately. :)
![](https://distilleryimage4.s3.amazonaws.com/2c436dec600111e29b3722000a1fa50e_7.jpg)
Friend time.
![](https://distilleryimage9.s3.amazonaws.com/95d66a865b8111e2aa2d22000a1f9a45_7.jpg)
Holding hands with "Brave" under a wrapping paper/boot blanket (using my fragile Christmas present as a bed).
![](https://distilleryimage5.s3.amazonaws.com/a8c6ac0054f111e29b7122000a1f9a64_7.jpg)
Big kids go back to school.
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