Surgery Day

To my surprise, Matt and I actually got some sleep the night before surgery. 

Thankful for that, since we were up bright and early for his 6:45am check in time. 

The night before, my Mother in law, Sally came in to spend the night, 

so she could stay with Rhetter the next day. 

(Thank you Nanny!)

We gave Case a long, warm bubble bath. 

Scrubbed his hands with the special wipes they gave us. 

Put him in cozy pajamas, prayed about his surgery, and kissed him Good-night. 

After our alarms sounded, we got ready, then scooped Case out of bed

and headed to Shriner's Hospital. 

We had been talking to Case daily, leading up to his surgery day.

"Dr. Riley is going to fix your thumbs, Case!"

"You are going to take a nap at the Doctor, and wake up with bandages on your thumbs, 

and they'll be all fixed under there!" 

After checking in, we were led back to the outpatient area, 

where we be spending the next several hours. 

What happened throughout the rest of the day, 

we can not even begin to explain or express how blessed, and loved on we felt.

First of all, they had TV's right above the beds, 

so right away Case was watching Mickey Mouse. 

Right across the hall was a play room, fully equipped with all sorts of toys. 

We played almost an hour in there, while simultaneously filling out the boring paper work etc.

Every single person we came in contact with,
were such a pleasure to be around.

Everyone made us feel so at home and comfortable.

A couple of hours later, we were walked down the the pre op area.
Again, we were blown away with all the things Case could play with while waiting.

 Our wonderful nurse, opened up a cabinet JAM PACKED with toys.
Case crawled down on the floor, so she got out a sheet,
so he didn't have to "play on that ol' floor" she said.

He's showing off his leg muscles...ha!

Then, everyone that was going to be in the operating room with Case,
came back and met us, shook our hands and introduced themselves to Case.

As you can imagine, that meant so much to us.
My anxiety started to rise a little, because I knew it was getting that much closer to Case undergoing surgery on his teeny tiny little thumbs.

After answering the last minute questions,and getting his hands marked,

we found out that Case was about to get his driver's license.

Why you ask?
Because he was about to drive his own truck to the O.R.
I mean, seriously.
How stinkin' adorable is that?
Our boy was so flipping excited, it literally took even the thought of being nervous
(for Case OR Mommy & Daddy)
away JUST LIKE THAT. 

Waiting for the truck to be pulled around...

and off he went.

...


While Matt and I walked away, hand in hand,
we prayed for our little boy.
Prayed for the Doctor's and the anesthesiologist,
prayed for everyone that would be with our boy.
Prayed that everything would go smoothly,
without any complications,
that he would have a successful surgery.

We wandered back to our room,
quickly grabbed something to eat at the little cafeteria nearby.
While eating my hash browns I started to feel it.
That lump in my throat.
 My knees started shaking, heart started racing, and I knew they were coming.
The tears.
We threw our trash away and walked back to the room where we were to wait for the call.
I lost it in the hallway on the way back,
as Matt rubbed my back and soothed my worried mind.
Matt was very confident, but I know my man was nervous as well.

So we get back, I've calmed down a little bit,
texting my sister, and friends updates, when we hear our phone ring.

They were already done!
Matt answered, and announced after hanging up,
"They are already done with one thumb, starting on the next and we can go ahead and go to the waiting room near the O.R."

We just started laughing!
It was so fast!
We had to wait a little while in the separate waiting room.
Nerves set in again, until Dr. Riley swooped in with news that everything went well, and they were all done!

Praise the Lord!

We raced back to our outpatient room,
waiting for our little man to be wheeled back to us.
 (and oh by the way, we came back to find a large bag with Case's name on it. 
Inside we found, a large puzzle book, play dough, a stuffed animal, 
a homemade fleece dinosaur blanket, and a big toy car. My oh my. I know I keep saying it, but we were absolutely blown away. Our nurse revealed that it was all donated by volunteers.)

Matt and I stood shoulder to shoulder,
when we finally saw our sweet baby being rolled in on a hospital bed.
His Bob, and stuffed Chocolate Lab (appropriately named Gunner, given to him by Avery) by his side.

When he saw us, he became so weepy.
Bless his sweet heart.
His little hands were wrapped in bandages, and blue gauze.
He just cried and cried for several minutes.
I crawled up in bed with him, and we got him distracted by watching the Disney Channel.
We cuddled as he slowly came out of the anesthesia fog.
A few hours later he finally ate some crackers and drank some sprite.
It broke our hearts when we tried to feed him crackers,
he would reach for them, but then realize his hands were wrapped up, and would just cry and cry!

I tell you what though, after that fog faded he was one hyper little boy!
I hadn't imagined him coming out of it so well!
He was jumping up and down, ready to go home, ready to play puzzles, ready to see Rhett.
Just ready! Ready for anything!

So they discharged us, we waved Good-Bye and were home by around 1 in the afternoon.

What a trooper.

We came home to Nanny and Rhett who were anxiously awaiting us.

Case wanted to show her his puzzle book right away, and that's his new dinosaur blanket behind him.

Nanny stayed the night, and all day with Rhett. Oh and brought m&ms.
Mimi brought over a Dream Lite puppy, Case named Riley after Dr. Riley.
Case's teacher/director from preschool, Ms. Jennifer brought by a balloon and candy.
Our friend Clair brought over a gift card for dinner and lots of goodies. 
Mom and Dad brought dinner and dessert over for that evening. 
Blessed.

We were just overwhelmed by all of the prayers, sweet notes, gestures, messages, and posts by all of our sweet & wonderful, family and friends.
We felt so unbelievably loved on.
So unbelievably blessed.

Thanking our loving God for watching over our baby.
Thankful his little thumbs are fixed.
Thankful for an absolutely amazing experience at Shriners Hospital.
Thankful for a wonderful Doctor, and everyone involved in caring for Case.
Thankful for an awesome husband to go through this with.
Thankful for our parents who helped out so much.
Thankful for all the words of encouragement
Thankful for the prayers.
Thankful.
So thankful.

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!

Happy New Year!

Another laid back New Years Eve, and we were absolutely fine with it!

Neighbors Joe & JJ came over, along with our friends Justin, Kelly and their sweet little girl Sydney.

The little ones took turns riding our moose, and when they went to bed,
we enjoyed some card games, wine and mixed drinks.

Later, Justin's sister, her husband and one of their friends stopped by for a little while.
We all hung in the kitchen and told stories.
When they left for another party, we headed back to the couches!
...and we may have been a little happy AND camera happy...

Warning now: A million pictures below. 

:)

Oh my word.
We were all cracking up, so much fun!
...and looking at these pictures are cracking me up all over again! 

Annnnd, after the ball dropped Kelly and I had to do a little Gangnam Stylin'...

A few minutes later, someone was setting off multiple, LOUD fireworks,
which in turn woke up our Case man.
He is so terrified of thunder, loud noises and fireworks still,
sweet thing!

Although I was sad he woke up scared, it was fun getting to watch the festivities on TV with Case.
Won't be long before he'll be begging to stay up with us until midnight!

Had a blast with wonderful friends!
Feeling so thankful, and so blessed.
Looking forward to another beautiful year!

Sledding!

Taking full advantage of the snow, and the hill behind our house, 

Case and I had big plans for sledding.

We dug out his blow up sled from his closet, still in its box just waiting for a day like today. 

That morning, I was a little worried that the snow was a little too slushy for sledding.

But seeing the tracks in our front yard, from all the other brave sledders, 

we took our chances! 

Although Rhett was feeling MUCH better from his antibiotic, 

we decided it would be best to not bring him out since he was probably not 100%. 

Made me so sad, because I knew he would have loved it!

To soften the blow we went out sledding while he was napping. 

He enjoyed looking at it through the window before he went down though. ;)

Don't you love our decorative muddy dog prints?

     So after Rhett was fast asleep, we bundled up and headed off!

I had no idea Matt was taking these shots of us from inside the house, ha!

Turns out, it was perfect sledding snow, snowman making snow, AND snow ball fight snow!

  

We had SO MUCH FUN! 

Sick Little Boys Break My Heart

After all of the Christmas festivities, Rhett developed a little cough. 

A little cough turned into a bigger cough, along with a runny nose. 

Runny nose turned into a fever, and an awful cough. 

Yesterday, Rhett was absolutely miserable. 

Burning up, cheeks flushed, napped all day. 

Gunner and Case were so worried about him, 

which as you can imagine just melted Momma's heart. 

Today we took Rhett into the Doctor, 

he was acting and playing like normal, 

I almost hesitated on taking him in at all!

Thankful we did though, as it turns out he has a small case of pneumonia! 

Daddy's picking up his medicine on his way home tonight, 

he seems to be feeling much better, thank goodness. 

However, I am more than ready to let this antibiotic kick it out of his system.

Love his little heart.