Granny

Although it just about broke everyone's heart,

My parents, along with my Mom's siblings all agreed that it was time for Granny to be in a nursing home. 

For several years, my Mom, Aunt Mary Sue and Uncle John took turns living with her in her home to help care for her. 

She is such a nurturer by heart, always taking care of everyone.

When she wasn't able to cook anymore, I think that's when we knew she needed live in care. 

The past few years (and longer really if we think about it, I suppose) 

 she has become very forgetful, and very weak as well. 

Somewhere along the way she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

We have seen definite change the last few times we have visited. 

Last year, I brought her some recent pictures of our family. 

Matt didn't come that time, and she repeatedly pointed to Matt's picture and asked me who he was. 

 She will be completely "there" in conversation, but only 10 minutes later she'll repeat herself

and we'll have the conversation all over again. 

It has been hard on her three children, as sometimes her behavior, and personality 

bear no resemblance to our real Granny.

Well this month, Mom was staying with Granny, 

and they had quite a scare. 

Granny wasn't able to get up, and was saying she was having shortness of breath. 

Mom called the ambulance. 

Thankfully, Granny was healthy as a horse. 

The ER Doctor explained that these types of things can 

unfortunately happen quite a bit with Alzheimer's disease.

Patients will from time to time literally forget how to walk, 

and combine that with weakness,

 I can only imagine how frustrating and scary it might have seemed to Granny.

It was after a very serious conversation, and recommendation from the ER doctor...

that the realities of the situation were just all too clear. 

So on Monday, January 21st

Mom drove Granny from Leitchfield, to Lexington's Richmond Place Nursing Home. 

They explained that they were coming to Lexington to visit Mary Sue, 

and that Granny would be getting some physical therapy to help her with walking. 

Mary Sue and my big sister met Mom there to help with the transition. 

At one point, Granny said "Well I'm getting out of here." 

and starting jetting to the door with her walker!

Even with a rough start, the day went pretty well.

Much better than I think anyone anticipated!

They got her settled in, and ate lunch. 

Mary Sue was able to stay a few nights with her to make it easier. 

This is such a change, 

a right, and necessary one of course. 

Still difficult just the same. 

So thankful for a wonderful facility though, 

we have heard nothing but wonderful things about Richmond Place.

Praying our Granny will love it there, and even make some friends. 

I know they will just love our sweet, funny, tough and feisty Granny.  

"Let's Schedule a Surgery Date"

We've been checking in on Case's thumbs with Dr. Riley every 6 months, since late 2011.
Our appointment in July 2012, was another x-ray and "let's wait and see" appointment.

As explained in previous posts, we were waiting to see if Case's bilateral trigger thumbs would release on their own, and we could avoid surgery. 
Typically, between 3-4 kids hands grow, and the tendons would either release or remain tightened, 
causing the bend in our little guys two thumbs. 

We had another check up Monday morning.

We realize now, after some time,
 that Case's thumbs probably aren't going
to permanently fix themselves on their own.
Our Doctor explained again, that the likelihood of this is less and less after the age of 4.

Well, we have a four year old, and he still has bent thumbs.

His right thumb still occasionally slips out and will straighten, but it always bends back up the same day.
With preschool, and kindergarten starting in the next couple of years, plus t-ball coming up again this spring,
Matt and I decided that it would be best to go ahead and get this over with.
Dr. Riley completely agreed and encouraged our decision.

So before we knew it, we were talking surgery dates.

We scheduled one for the beginning of February,
but Matt called, as I am writing this post, to let me know he has a work conflict for the date we had set.
Then quickly responded back that we were set up for just one day later, the 6th. 


I know that this will be much harder on Mommy & Daddy then for Case,
kids are so resilient, and I know he will barely have any memory of this when he is older.
I am just already a wreck about the thought of anesthesia, and of him feeling scared!

I know that God will see us through this, as He does everything.

We would be so thankful, and appreciative of prayers for our sweet little man,
and for Mommy & Daddy too! 

I am excited for Case to have working thumbs soon,
and to not ever have to worry about them again.
I know they will take such good care of him.
They had pictures and video taken of his thumbs before we left our appointment,
we are definitely looking forward to seeing the difference after surgery!

Now we are just waiting on Wednesday, February 6!

Rhett: 1, Potty Training: 0

Rhett definitely won the first battle of potty training.

Thankfully, I wasn't ready to full out train him, it was more of a little trial run. 

He asks every now and then to go "Pee pee on the potty." 

He'll strip all of his clothes off and point the bathroom door. 

He always sits for about 0.3 seconds (without accomplishing anything) and yelling, "ALL DONE!" 

At his recent 2 year old check up, our Doctor encouraged us to really use that at our advantage. 

So I decided I'd give it a try one weekend, when I knew we didn't have any plans. 

We brought out the potty chair we used for Case, and gave it a try. 

I stripped Rhett down, and explained what we were trying. 

(By the way, it never gets funnier seeing a little teeny tiny tush running around all day!) 

About 15 minutes after taking the diaper off he had a little accident, 

so I sat him on the potty and went over again, that we were going to pee pee in the potty.

"Okaaaaaay." 

Yeah, you aren't convincing me yet, kid. 

Let's just say, a couple days and a few EPIC accidents later. 

(One including a #2, leggos, and lots of bleach) 

we chalked it all up to an exhausting weekend of chasing Rhett around with anti bacterial cleaner, 

and one 2 year old who could give two...well, just could care less. ;) 

Mommy's new plan is to wait until the weather is a little warmer, 

and he's a few months older. 

Wish us luck!