Our niece, Macy, turned 1 June 27th. She celebrated her birthday with a party at Kid's Planet on Saturday. I can't believe she's already one and walking all over the place too might I add. Brianna didn't start walking until she was about 13 months. Macy enjoyed swinging and LOVED the cake!
Last Sunday was a great day to spend sometime outdoors. I am definitely not an "outside" person, but you can only spend so much time inside. I was looking for something fun and cheap for Brianna and I to do after church. We headed out to Falls Park and the Greenville Zoo. We have never been to Falls Park. I walked past it a few months ago when I did the March of Dimes walk and thought it was beautiful. I knew Brianna would like it. We visited there first, had pizza for lunch at the Mellow Mushroom, and ended with our trip to the zoo.
"Stress" has taken over a major portion of my life in the past month and a half, and has finally came to the front burner. It is not only affecting me, but my husband as well. We both have "issues" that we are trying to deal with. I know that we all have some stress in our lives and it is in how we deal with that stress that will make us stronger. I found a website that may help me as well as others that just need a little "break" from the insanity. It offers 7 QUICK WAYS TO CALM DOWN. Maybe it may help us on the verge of a nervous breakdown get back to reality( I say that jokingly of course:)
13 THINGS BRIANNA SAID AFTER LOSING HER 1ST TOOTH:
"Mommy, my tooth just came out!"
"It really did!"
"I'm not lying, I'm not lying!"
"I just kept wiggling it and wiggling it and wiggling it."
"And it just came out!"
"Granny wrapped it up in tin foil so I wouldn't loose it."
"Granny, where'd you put it? Oh no, Granny can't find it!"
"Ok, she found it."
"Now I can put my tooth in my doll for the fairy to come pick it up."
"She's going to leave me $101 DOLLARS!"
"She might even leave me some gold."
"You know what she does with all the teeth she takes, she uses them to build her castle."
"First it was my arm broken, now its my teeth coming out!"
Yes, the cast came off today and yes her arm is straight. And that is what we wanted most out of this surgery. But once again, I wasn't prepared for what I saw when the cast came off. I told you in my last posting that her cast was starting to "smell". Well when the doctor took the cast off, what was left on her arm was the bandages covering the stitched incisions from her surgery. They were soaked in old blood and puss......and smelled awful. *First let me tell you this---Brianna is the kind that will let a bandaid just hang off her leg because she doesn't want to pull it off.* So I knew what she was in for when Dr. Beckish needed to remove the old dressings. I had to stand there looking at the AWFUL sores that lay beneath the bandages and the HORRIBLE smell, and had to see my baby girl SCREAMING to the top of her lungs as he pulled the bandages off. When it was all over, I had to sit down-not sure if I was going to puke or pass out. I listened as he revealed that the incisions are healing as expected, however; she did have an allergic reaction to the tape/sticky stuff that adheres the bandages and it caused some blisters. He said to give it a few days and her arm will look better. He also mentioned that her arm has been in a cast for almost 2 months and there is a lot of dead skin that needs to fall off.
Once again, Brian and I are second guessing ourselves. Her arm looks like it has been mutilated. I know that her wounds are fresh and will look better with time, but we just can't help but think maybe we shouldn't had done it. I don't know......her arm is straight and that is what we wanted. I just didn't know it would be like this. Take a look for yourself.
"WHERE IN THE WORLD IS B GOING TO SEND YOU"
I have been listening and obsessing with this contest all week. Basically you have to guess what artist, what city, and what date the concert is and B93.7 will send you there. I have been avidly listening to the clues and googling every kind of possibility. Anyway so Tuesday night, before I went to bed I almost had it figured out. Then by the time that Wednesday afternoon's clue came out, I definitely had all my ducks in a row. You have to call in with the answer at 9,2,&5. The closest I've come is caller number 3. Oooohh that makes me so mad. So I will try again today. I just had to blog about this experience. It is so hard to have the answer in my hand and not be given the chance to say what it is. Oh, and then there's stupid people that call in and guess "Motley Crue". Motley Crue????????? Uh, hello. Anyway, wish me luck as I try again today. And no, I won't be sharing with all you bloggers my answer. :)
**Oh well, someone finally guessed the right answer. And guess what....IT WASN'T ME! Not that I didn't have the right answer, because I did. I was just unable to get thru on the phone. BUMMER!!!!!
Brianna finally has a loose tooth. Last night while she was in bed I noticed her playing with a tooth. I asked her what was wrong. She said that her tooth was loose. She's been saying stuff like that for about a month now, so I wasn't sure to believe her. I asked her to move it so I could see. Sure enough, that little booger moved. It looks like it just came loose, so it still may be a few days before it actually falls out of her mouth. I say "fall" because there is absolutely no way that she will ever let us pull a tooth out of her mouth. So anyway, she said she couldn't go to sleep because she was too worried about her tooth. I know, I know....she gets THAT from her mother. Yes, you are right. So finally, I calmed her down by letting her place a cold rag on it. She went to sleep and quickly woke up this morning to make sure it hadn't fell out during the night. Nope, it was still there. She asked if she could have an apple. I asked why, she said because when she bit into the apple her tooth would come out. So I washed her the apple and handed it to her. I wish I had of taken a picture of this little worried girl, standing on her step stool in the bathroom, looking in the mirror with this huge green apple in her hand. I won't ever forget it. So anyway, she stares at the apple, then stares into the mirror for a few seconds, looks to me and says, "I just can't do it." She just sounded so defeated. I told her ok, not to worry about it and that it would fall out when it's ready. I honestly think we are going to have more problems with her and loosing teeth than we did with her dealing with a cast on her arm for almost 2 months! I will be sure to tell you just when the Tooth Fairy arrives at our house. And you better believe, I will post a picture.
Brianna was getting out of the car the other day and said, "Shitzoo". This is how the rest of our conversation went:
Me: "What did you just say?"
Brianna: "I said shitzoo."
Me: "You don't say that. That is not nice."
Brianna: "You can say SHITZOO if you are talking about a dog." That's what I'm talking about."
Me: "Well I don't SEE a dog, and we weren't TALKING about a dog, so you don't need to say it."
Brianna: "Well, it's not a bad word. I'm putting zoo at the end of it, so that means its not a bad word anymore."
What do I say to that?
Well, you know that song by Carrie Underwood "Last Name" (its on my playlist if you don't know). Anyway, Brianna has been listening to that song with me when it comes on the radio. It went off the other day this was our conversation:
Brianna: "Momma, you know that song they just played?"
Me: "Yeah."
Brianna: "I like that song. But you know what? At the beginning of it, she don't know his last name, and by the time she gets to the end of it---
SHE DON'T EVEN KNOW HER LAST NAME!"
I about fell in the floor. You know we parents listen to songs on the radio and I see her thru my rear view singing along. But I never thought she was actually paying attention or even understanding for that matter, what the songs are actually saying.
Anyway, maybe ya'll will get a laugh from that story.
We have already been to church this morning, came home to bake cookies, and are about to leave to go visit my Dad. Brian is still sleeping. I figure since it was Father's Day, I would keep Brianna busy and quiet so that he could get some sleep. This week has been very, very stressful on him and he deserves a day off. Anyway, we will be off visiting my dad and grandpa today before coming home to show Brian how much Brianna and I love and care about him. Brianna is giving him a set of LCD lights for the grill. He saw them in a sales flyer a couple weeks ago and mentioned how cool they were. And I will be exchanging the propane tank for the grill. Can you guess what we'll be having for dinner tonight? HAMBURGERS! Anyway, I wish all you Dad's out there a great day.
This Thursday Thirteen posting is from Brianna. She wanted me to tell everyone what her favorite animals are. Here is the list in no certain order:
1. TURTLES
2. GATORS
3. GIRAFFES
4. HORSES/UNICORNS
5. LIONS
6. DOGS
7. CATS
8. RABBITS
9. FROGS
10. CHIPMUNKS
11. COWS
12. LIZARDS
13. "My favorite is the PINK RIVER DOLPHIN. I think they are in Washington."
Brianna is going to Vacation Bible School at Memorial Methodist this week. I thought I would try to dedicate a post to what she learns there and the crafts she makes.
Wave 1: God is good to everyone. Psalm 145:9
I went to pick Brianna up tonight a little early so that I could see her doing their songs and dances. I took a couple pictures. Tonight for crafts she made a scroll and a lizard.
It is officially 100 degrees outside, and feels like 102. This is insane, all that work that we have been doing in our yards is gone to pot. Our flowers are thirsty, despite watering numerous times a day and the grass is scorched. The only thing that these high temperatures are doing is keeping us inside with the air conditioner which is running nonstop, which probably means its going to tear up from being overloaded. Anyway, on the plus side, my house is getting somewhat clean today. Although I have been picking up around here since Brianna's surgery on Wednesday, I really haven't had time to clean. So that is what I have been doing this afternoon. The only thing I have left to do for the time being is dishes, so I thought I would take a little break. I really just can't get over this heat. Like I mentioned earlier, our air conditioner has been running non stop and it is still 78 degrees in here. Which I guess that is still better than being burned to a crisp by stepping outside for a quick minute. The director from Brianna's school, Mrs. Gail, is going to stop by later this afternoon to see how Brianna is doing. I must say that she is much better. She improves everyday. The swelling has gone down tremendously and the color looks great. Brianna is planning on going to VBS this week at Memorial Methodist. She is looking forward to it. It starts tonight, so I really hope she will be up for it. I think it will help take her mind off things, and maybe even get her to use those fingers and arm a little bit. Anyways, gots to go....don't you hear those dishes calling my name? Ya'll stay cool out there today.
Since Brianna has a "plain" cast on for the time being, we decided to draw some art on it. I made her a rainbow around her thumb, a ladybug on her hand, and a butterfly and kitty cat on the top of her arm. Her Daddy added a snake, and Brianna drew a spider and a butterfly of her own. Here's a couple pictures so that you can see our
"Work Of Art".
All I can say is that our little girl is a trooper. She has been through ALOT this week and still has managed to handle it better than her Daddy and I. The first 2 days and nights were really bad. She was in some pain, a lot of discomfort, and was not getting sleep at night. Her fingers were so swollen she could hardly move them. After NUMEROUS calls to the doctors office, I have been instructed that it's perfectly normal for her fingers to look like little sausages, but that it is very important that she move them. It is also important to watch for fever, especially on and after the 3rd day. She has had a low grade fever pretty much every day since her surgery, but the nurse says not to worry unless it gets to be 101 or higher. If it gets that high, infection could be setting in. I have to tell you, emotions around here have been stretched to the limit. I can't speak for Brian, but I question our decision for her to have the surgery. I didn't know that it would be this difficult on her. I can't help but think that I'm the reason that she is having to go through this. I know it's silly. But I really feel like I am crying my eyes out on the inside, it hurts so bad. Did we make the right decision or not. In retrospect, I do think that we made the right decision. I just hate that surgery had to be our decision. But what's done is done. I know it could always be worse, I just hope I never had to see or deal with that. As this situation has really put us through the wringer. If everything goes like it should, she will visit her doctor next week for a check up, then return the following week to have the cast removed. After that, she will go back into surgery in 6 months(I think) to have the plates removed. Hopefully that will be easier on her. I hope and pray anyway. It's Saturday morning now, Brianna slept well last night. She woke up at 6:30 and went back to sleep after a little bit and slept until about 9:00. And so did Mommy, Yeah! Although her fingers still look like sausages, they do look a little better in color and Brianna is able to move them a little without too much pain. And she is definitely feeling better. She is playing around the house and singing. This is a great change in her behavior, as she has been laying on the couch since Wednesday. I plan on getting her out of the house for just a little bit today, take her mind off things and maybe she will start to use those fingers. We are going to visit Build A Bear. OF COURSE! But would you all please pray for my little girl that she doesn't get infection? As this is our main concern at this time. Thank you all for listening to me ramble.
So I know that I have kept you all in suspense long enough, but after we got home yesterday I was just too exhausted to update you. Anyway.....We arrived at the hospital at 9:10, her surgery started at about 10:30. The staff was good to us and we were kept updated by the nurse in the O.R. room during the surgery. About 12:20 the doctor came out to discuss how the surgery went. Here goes: They had originally planned on placing one rod and 2 pins in her arm. They made a small incision at her elbow for the placement of the rod. However, due to tissue already beginning to heal, Dr. Beckish was unable to use the rod. Therefore he placed 2 plates on the broken bones. This leaves 2, 1.5" scars on the side and under her forearm. He said in a way this will be better: Less healing time and he also said that Brianna would think her arm was back to normal(which obviously at this time it's not, so he placed her in another full arm cast until she is healed from surgery.) He took xrays of her arm and said that her arm is now perfectly straight. Which is exactly what we were going for. Now however comes the hard part--Recovery Room. After her surgery, they placed her into the recovery room to come out of the anesthesia. When she did, she was crying that her elbow hurt( You know that small incision at her elbow I was talking about earlier, well they failed to locally numb that site) Needless to say, she was in alot of pain. They gave her morphine 3 times, and that calmed her down and eased her pain. About an hour later I noticed how swollen and discolored her fingers were that were hanging out of the cast. I showed it to the nurse who called Dr. Beckish. Dr. Beckish was in surgery so a Resident that was in on Brianna's surgery showed up to take a look. Yep, mother definately knows best. The cast was on too tight and would need to be split open to alleviate some of the pressure. He came back with a cast saw. Now let me tell you all, Brianna has had a cast saw used on her before with NO PROBLEM. But this Resident doctor was treating her like meat. He proceded to cut the back side of her cast--that went okay. But then he started on the front, and went around that elbow that was cut open with no numbing medication and Brianna went BOLISTIC! She jumped up off the bed, screaming and crying say he was hurting her. (All this as the FOOL continued to cut) I finally said "You have got to stop, you are hurting her! She wouldn't say it was hurting if it wasn't!" He stopped and Brian got on him. "Are you cutting her?"No because a cast saw can't cut skin. "Where's the blood coming from then?" Apparantly Brianna had pulled her I.V out. Brian was pacing back and forth and his fist was clenched. The doctor and the nurse noticed, and told him he should go wait outside till this was done. I agreed, it was a very hard thing to watch your baby girl hurt that way and to see someone with so little bedside manner be so callous toward it all. Anyway, Brian went outside to take a smoke. I stayed behind with Brianna and got her calmed down enough to let the "IDIOT" finish doing what he started. About that time, Dr. Beckish came in to see how Brianna was. He asked me where was Brian. I replied he stepped outside for a minute. The Resident Doctor replied, "I think he was about to hit me!" He would be right! Anyway, so what we believe caused so much pain was the vibration of the cast saw on that incision on her elbow. Who knows. All I know was that I don't ever want my precious angel to have to go through that again. Finally at 4:20 they sent us home with a prescription for Loratab, and told us to keep an eye on her fingers for swelling and movement, and to watch for fever especially around the 3rd day. She handled all the drama and pain the best that she could I think. She is definately a little trooper. Seeing "Oreo" waiting on her, put a smile on her face. Heather and Brian came by to give her a gift to make her feel better. She now has a new Webkinz to play with, she is just not yet up to that yet. Last night was hard, she was up all night!! And I do mean all night. She probably slept soundly for about 2 1/2 hours. After that it was trips to the bathroom, being in pain, not being able to get comfortable and so on. Let's just say it was pretty rough! Today has been ok. She just won't eat anything. The only thing I have gotten her to eat is 2 peaches and and icepop. But she has been drinking pretty regularly. She is still in some pain and a lot of discomfort. I feel like she needs a constant eye on her always. Especially taking that pain medication, I would hate for her to get up and fall from being doped up. You know what I mean. Brian stayed home today to help take care of her. I am glad for that, because it has really taken both of us to stay on top of her. I hope that tomorrow, brings less pain for our little girl. Maybe she can even get out of the house for a little bit and go to "Build A Bear". Come on now, you all knew that was coming, didn't ya.
Oh, yeah! I forgot. I did leave the house for about an hour this morning to take our new addition to the vet. It is a boy and it's about 6 weeks old. They gave him a flea bath and now he is officially Brianna's responsibility. Welcome to the family, Oreo!
There was a little baby kitty in our flower bed this morning when we left. It was still there this afternoon when we got back home. It has really taken up with Brianna, following her everywhere she goes. Brianna has now even given it a name, OREO. Looks like there will be another pet at this house! Come on now, look at that picture---How could I possibly say "No" to her?
Well what started out this morning with what was to be a quick visit to Brianna's orthopedist to have her cast removed, turned into a day of angst and confusion. Let me just start by saying, 3 weeks ago, the orthopedist noticed that Brianna's bones were not healing exactly like they should. He said there were 2 options:wait and see and they would eventually heal on their own or surgery to fix them. He said the he thought surgery should be a last resort. He said that over a period of 6-12 months, Brianna's bones would grow back together and grow straight. Until then, she would just have a slight bump on the side of her forearm. So anyway, back to today....We went today to have the cast removed after being on her for 5 weeks. They took the cast off, I looked at her arm and it was just about the same as it was when she broke it on May 1st. I knew it wasn't going to be good. The doctor came in, took a look, took some xrays and said he'd be back in just a minute to discuss the options. Well, apparently the bones have shifted. He said that this is only the 3rd time he has seen this happen. By the bones shifting, the bones are wanting to go back to the position in which they were broken. So again, I was given 2 options. Option #1, we could wait 1year to 1 1/2 year for the bones to grow back together. He is fairly confident being that she is 5 years old and has alot of room for growth, that they will eventually heal back together straight. Option #2, surgery to insert a rod to keep the bone straight and pens to ensure that the arm be perfectly straight. He said, that if it were his daughter(and he does have one exactly Brianna's age) looking at how Brianna's arm looks, he would do the surgery. And no that doesn't influence my decision, but it does make me feel better to know that someone else would do the same thing we have chosen to do. The surgery is scheduled for tomorrow morning at 10:30. There were many factors that influenced us in making this decision, but I think the biggest one was when we were walking out of the business office at the hospital and my 5yr old little girl looked up at me and said, "I just want to be normal again. I don't want my arm crooked." Anyway, please pray for her while she is in surgery and we will pray that we made the right decision for our precious little girl.
Brianna has been taking a tapp/jazz/ballet trio class at Starmakers Dance Company this year. Saturday was her first (and probably last) recital. I say this only because she initially asked to dance. It definitely wasn't our idea. She has enjoyed it up until about the last month. For the last month, I have been making her go. I would never make her do anything she didn't want to do, but she only had 3 more dance classes and her recital. I didn't want all her hard work to be for nothing. I really didn't have to force it too much though because she knew she had to finish in order to get her trophy. But she did persevere through those last dance classes and we even made it through the HORRENDOUS rehearsal on Thursday night. (That in itself is a whole other story that I won't bore you with.) Like I mentioned earlier, Saturday afternoon was her recital. Her first dance was a ballet to the song "Up Where We Belong", followed by her jazz dance, and ending with a tapp dance to "Shake Your Love". She did really good. Come on now, would you expect me to say anything different? Her Daddy and I are very proud of her!
