It All Happened In The Country

Today was the Children's Christmas Musical at church.   I was all uptight because I didn't think it was going to be perfect.  Then, as I took communion, I realized - it wasn't about perfection.  The only perfection in the world is Jesus Christ.  It is about glorifying Him.  Doing the best for Him in His name.

 The kids did a great job.  They did glorify God with their voices, acting, and the message they presented through the musical!  Very proud of them all!!  

Jacob had a speaking part.  He was Daniel, the city kid, who bemoaned being stuck in the "boonies" for Christmas without video games and TV.  Rather appropriate, huh?  Lizzie was in the choir and dressed as a country cousin.  Zach helped in the sound booth and ran the music for us.

Again, I am so proud of ALL the kids who participated and the adults who worked so hard at putting it all together!

Introducing the children and the musical

The "city kids" and Uncle Yule

Granny, Country Cousins, City Kids and Uncle Yule

At this point, Jacob is sarcastically making fun of the "boonies!"

 Now, that is one little cute country girl if I do say so myself!

 Love this picture!!  It is towards the very end of the musical.  The choir was obviously getting tired and  preoccupied with other things!  :)

Family Tradition

Last night, we continued the family tradition of reading the Christmas story and putting up the nativity.  Afterwards, we were asking questions and just talking about the story.  We asked the kids why the wise men did not go back to the king.  Lizzie and Jacob were thinking when Zach, who thought they were taking too long, shouts out, "Because God said 'Come to the good side.  We have cookies!'"  Made us all giggle!

Brian reading the Christmas story.

Lizzie and Sadie listen along.

IU vs Kentucky

All I can say is WOW!  That was quite a basketball game.  At one point, Lizzie looked up and said, "Seriously!  Why do you all keep yelling at the TV?  It doesn't talk back you know!  They can't hear you!"  

Zach celebrates the winning three point shot!  That kid was EXCITED!!

And just because it is fun. . . 

Lizzie's Early Christmas Present

On Saturday, I asked Lizzie if she wanted to go to the mall with me to do some shopping.  That girl is always up for shopping so off we went.  When we got to the mall, I had her sit down and gave her a card.  It said that she was there for an early Christmas present - she was getting her ears pierced!!

Off we went to Claire's.  She picked out her earrings, climbed up into the chair, they did both ears at once, and she didn't even flinch.  Although, afterwards, she got a little choked up and said they were "sore."  

Reading her card. . .

Getting both ears done at one time

All done!

 Of course, no trip to the mall is complete without a ride on the carousel!

MRI Results

This was originally a "note" I wrote on Facebook:

Today was the day of the big appointment.  When we got there we found out that the radiologist had failed to send the report as requested by our doctor.  However, our doctor read the MRI images himself.  To make sure he wasn't missing anything, he had Dr. Bane, the orthopaedic surgeon read it as well.  Everything looks GREAT!  There are no signs of hip degeneration or fractures!!  

I told the doctor that I was so relieved and that I had shed many a tear worrying.  He looked up, smiled, and said "I was pretty worried too.  But I have to admit I didn't shed tears."  I have to stop and say that Dr. Zimmerman has been great with us.  He treated us as people and not just patients.  As a matter of fact, everybody in the Carle Sports Medicine department treated us that way!  A big thank you and shout out to them!

Back to the subject at hand:  What does this mean for Zach?  Dr. Z's originial exlusionary diagnosis of synovitis stands.  Since we don't have to worry that Zach is hurting his hip joint or bone, he can bear weight now and limp around! Bye bye crutches!!!  Still use Aleve for pain and inflammation.  He can stand and shoot free throws or baskets at basketball practice.  No running, jumping, etc.  Basically stand there and dribble and shoot.  However, he was excited to hear that.  

It also means that Zach starts physical therapy on the 20th to work on that leg.  Get that joint moving and start building up strength, stamina, and flexibility.  He remains out of PE until he regains some of the aforementioned.  Dr. Z also told him that he probably will not play basketball this season, but that golf season looks good!

To say I am relieved is an understatement.  We went out to eat after our appointment.  At one point, I looked up at Zach and just started crying.  Not huge sobbing, mind you, just tears running.  Brian and Zach looked at each other, made a "what the heck" face and started giggling.  Zach, however,  was relieved too, because he leaned into me and said I love you.  Poor kid has gone from thinking he had a groin strain to having a possible bone degeneration disease all within a month and a half.  Like he said, this is harder and worse than the original thought of a groin strain, but a heck of a lot better than the other!

Thank you to everyone who has watched our other kids while we went to appointments, showed concern, prayed for him, wrote a note, listened to me voice concerns, etc!!  As Zach said today, I love you!

Can't wait to go from this. . . 

Back to this!!!!

Not To Be Outdone By His Brother

Jacob hobbled into my classroom after school today complaining that his foot and ankle were killing him. We took off his shoe and peeled off a very wet and stinky sock.  Sure enough, that foot/ankle was very swollen.  I knew our school's PT was in the hall so I asked her to come look.  She checked it out with me and said I should probably take him in just to check it out.  Side note - She is the absolute best!!!

Just a little swollen

The doctor also thought it needed a closer look so she ordered x-rays.  Luckily, there were no fractures.  They wrapped him tightly and gave him crutches.  He is to be non-weight bearing for a day or so and then wean off the crutches.  

He thought these were cool for about two minutes

Just had to take a picture of this!  I am sure I will remember this Christmas for a long time, but just in case we start to forget, this will help hold the craziness in our memories!  

I laughed a lot tonight.  It is either laugh or cry, so I might as well laugh at this point.

Girl Scout Investiture Ceremony

Tonight was Lizzie's Girl Scout Investiture ceremony.  She now officially a Girl Scout.  

The Girl Scout Promise

Getting her pin and some of her petals

 Watching her friends get their pins

 

Her troop leader made this awesome cake with all the girl's names on it.

Paragi Injury Report - 2

Zach finally had his MRI today!  When we first arrived, however, I wasn't so sure it was going to happen.  The tech informed me that she was "nervous" doing this test because of his pacemaker wire even though they had surgeon approval.  

She decided to call the surgeon's office "just to make sure."  From what she said, the surgeon's nurse was none to happy to have to tell yet another person it was ok; especially after having sent the letter from Dr. Geiss himself.

The tech still felt uneasy so she talked to the radiologist who conferred with another radiologist.  Finally, it was decided that he would have the MRI.  But, they wanted me to be in the room with him so he could tell me if he started feeling hot or funny and so that I could talk to him and ask him how he felt.

I have to admit I was, and am still,  rather baffled by that request.  First of all, when I talked to him, he couldn't hear me over the machine!  Second of all, they didn't ask me to take any of my metal off (underwires, earrings, jewelry, etc).  Finally, he could hear the tech through the headphones and she could hear him.  If he needed the machine shut off, he could tell her.  I would not have had the power to do that anyway.

Oh well, if that is what it took, then so be it.  The test is over!!  And, I didn't have to talk to risk management.  My mom had me all prepared as to whom I should speak to and what to say should they refuse the test.

Breathing a huge sigh of relief that this step is done!

Paragi Injury Report

A lot has happened since I last posted about Zach's injury.  We sought a second opinion and it has been determined that it is not a groin pull or strain.  Rather it is something wrong with the hip bone/joint itself.  We have been treating for synovitis for a few weeks.  Synovitis is  "the inflammation of a synovial (joint-lining) membrane and is usually painful, particularly on motion, and characterized by swelling, due to effusion (fluid collection) in a synovial sac."


Our current doctor started him on a regimen of 2 Aleve 2 times a day and complete non-weight bearing until he can walk with absolutely NO pain.  Unfortunately, we have yet to reach that point as the pain continues and he can not walk without a severe limp and said pain.  I will tell you that he is tired of those crutches.


Last week, it was decided that we needed to do an MRI to get a better look.  They are looking to make sure that there are no signs of bone degeneration.  Unfortunately, scheduling an MRI for Zach was a nightmare.  Because he has a pacemaker wire left in his chest from his open heart surgery, we had to have the cardiologist or surgeon give approval for the MRI.  The surgeon gave verbal approval but the radiologist needed written documentation.  


To make a very long and frustrating story short, I will just say that the surgeon's office faxed the paperwork.  The sports med nurse didn't get it.  This went on several times and I became a mother bear and called the surgeon's office.  On Friday, we got the call that we had all the paper work, it was being sent to the lab and a scheduler should be calling us soon.  


Zach remains in good spirits, especially when with friends and at school.  At home, he will sometimes get "down."  Last night my heart wrinkled when he came up behind me in the kitchen and just stood there.  I asked him, "What?"  He asked. "How long am I going to be like this?  How long is it going to take to heal?  What if it is bone degeneration?  Then how long?"  I put on my 'momma loves you and I will be strong face' and told him I just didn't know.  But that I did know we would go through everyday together and get through it.  He went on to get something to snack on (somethings haven't changed) and I went to the bedroom and cried.


I can't wait to get this thing over with!!  We just want answers.  I want to be able to answer his questions but I just can't.  So, we go into a new week with a hope that this is the week that we will find out some more answers about the pain and a treatment plan.  My hope, as I said, is that there is no bone degeneration.  I pray they only see fluid with inflammation and we can continue with the current treatment plan.

Science Central

While in Fort Wayne, we like to visit Science Central.  Karen, Jacob, Lizzie and myself headed out for some lunch and a trip to science central.  This is one thing that Jacob looks forward to every trip!  To say it was eventful would be an understatement.

We stopped at lunch at Arby's.  Lizzie said she was full and couldn't finish her milk.  There were only a few swallows left so I told her to finish it.  She then told me her stomach was full and hurt.  I told her it was fine.  Little did I know. . . 

. . .that as soon as we pulled into the parking lot she would puke everywhere.  SERIOUSLY?!?!?  Immediately after vomiting EVERYWHERE, she smiled and said, "I feel better.  Can we still go in?"  Of course, we had no extra clothes.  Jacob was devastated because he thought our day was over.  I checked out the gift shop but they didn't have any pants and Lizzie could not go in dressed in Karen's old sweatshirt from the trunk of the car!

So, while trying to clean up Lizzie and the car we wondered what store would be near where I could buy a cheap pair of sweatpants and a shirt.  We were not close to much of anything other than downtown Ft. Wayne.  However, there was a Salvation Army!  So off to Salvation Army did I go and I purchased Lizzie a brand new outfit for a whopping $1.75!  It wasn't the nicest or prettiest outfit, but it covered her and that is all I cared about!

We were good to go and Jacob was ready to be off and running.

The kids and I hanging out with the Mastadon

 They had a huge train exhibit going on.

 Lizzie LOVED the echo tube.  It never failed to amaze her when she clapped in it!

 We got to pet lizards.  Yes, even Karen and I petted it.  It was one of those "I will if you will" kind of things.  I was amazed at how "velvety" his body felt.  The tail felt just as I expected - hard and spiny.

 Jacob loves to make the skeleton move by bicycling!  It is amazing to see how the human body is made and works.

 Touching a starfish

Goodbye Science Central. . . until next year.  This was definitely a trip we will never forget!

Thanksgiving 2011

We visited with Brian's family for Thanksgiving.  We had a good time visiting and hanging out with family and friends.  Here are some random pictures of our time there.

Jacob and his cousin were playing nerf guns without the guns!

 Playing cards!

 Brian and his brother-in-law, Chad

 Brian and his sister, Molly

 Molly thought the house was just a little cold!

 The cousins

 Lizzie and Dodo

 Jacob and Ben playing a strategic game with army dudes

 Legos!  They are always a hit at Dodo's house.

 Lizzie and Ben

 Lizzie and Chad

 Ben lost his first tooth!!!

 Brian with his sister, Molly and nephew, Ben

 Aunt Molly and Lizzie

 Brian mom, Karen, with her brother and one of her sisters

 A toothless Ben!

 Cheesing it up with Aunt Molly

 This is how Zach spent a lot of the weekend.  In pain and with a fever - Blech!

3D Model of the Earth

Jacob had to make a 3D model of the earth. It had to show the different layers of the earth as well as the continents, oceans and a few other things. We helped Jacob formulate his plan, but we let him do it all. Of course, we helped, but it was his project. Aside from a few tears and a little fit because it was hard to draw the continents, he did great!

One lesson learned: When getting ready to spray paint, make sure the nozzle is turned towards the PROJECT and not YOU!

The earth

Jake pretty much looks like the uni-bomber with a knife in this picture.

He did a great job of cutting!

I had a mommy moment epic fail - I did not get a picture of the finished project before he took it to school. Hope to get one soon and get it posted!