My Baby's Five!

She's FIVE!

Happy Birthday KAYLIE JOY BOX!

Today, I start this day with mixed emotions. Happy, glad, excited for my little girl, who has survived her first FIVE years! Yet, sad that my baby is no longer a baby. I was telling her that I didn't want her to turn 5 yet, and that I loved holding her and loving on her, she said, "When I turn 5, I'll stay little."

I say "survived" because this girl seems to have no fear. I have so many different pictures of all the different things she's gotten into, ie mascara, lipstick, foundation, toothpaste, markers, scissors, soap, and so many other things. She's wandered off more then once, where we've been frantic in trying to find her but she's oblivious to the fact that she was "lost". She was our first trip to an ER for an injury.

This tough little girl is also a very loving little girl. She is constantly hugging and kissing on Jeff and I. She loves to wear her dresses and loves making her hair pretty. She makes us laugh at the things she says. She is definitely some spice in our family and I can't imagine what life would be like without her. We are blessed to have her as part of our family.

Here are some photos of what I've talked about, and there are sooooo many more but I have to limit myself.

To the Dentist

Over the past month we've been trying to get some of us into the dentist as we have money. I was first because I had a filling fall out of my tooth when I was pregnant with Landon (7 years ago). We have a lovely lady at our church who is a dental hygienist and she has volunteered her part of things to help us out. Money was set back to pay for what may need to be done. My filling was replaced and there was money left. So Preston was in next.



I had planned on taking my camera to get some pics and I totally forgot. Preston did well. We found out that he is going to have all four wisdom teeth (I only have two.) One of his bottom ones is facing his other teeth rather then up, which is what one of mine is doing , but because of my age they aren't concerned with it and aren't planning on doing anything about it, but we'll have to keep an eye on it in Preston. We are happy to report that Preston is cavity free! Not so happy to hear that he's going to need braces. Jeff and I have yet to have a chance to fully discuss what steps we are going to take. From the little bit we've talked, I can tell that we disagree on things...we will discuss it later! :)



Today Landon went to the dentist. I decided on Landon rather then Tanner because Tanner has had his fill of dr's with his arm and he's been dealing with "fear" issues and I thought it would be good to give him some time.



Landon did really well and was really quite excited to go today. On the papers you fill out before going back they ask a few questions about the child's favorite things such as sport, toy, person, fictional character. BOTH, Preston and Landon, on favorite person said "mom and dad". Wow! I hope it stays that way! ;o) Ok, back to Landon..... Ms. Laura said that boys can be a little slow on the losing of their teeth and Landon is. He's lost zip, nada, nothing, and he doesn't even have his 6 year molars in yet (he'll be 7 in September). We also found out that his teeth are more prone to "collect" tarter. :s He is also "officially" cavity free! Although Ms. Laura said she sees the beginning signs of cavities in between two of his back teeth. She said if we could just floss that would help keep them from becoming "official" cavities.



Now, we need to save up some more money so we can get the other half of the family in. I'm guessing it'll be a couple of months.



Here are some pictures of Landon since I did remember my camera.

The beginning.

X-rays

Ms. Laura cleaning his teeth.

Dad Update

For those not on Facebook, thought I'd let you know of this weeks going on's...

On Monday, Dad had his "two" week follow-up (that was actually 3 weeks) with the surgeon. We really didn't talk about the heart at all, they were too focused on the incision that they took the vein out of. The plans were originally to head back to Kansas on Thursday, but after looking at the incision the surgeon and wound care nurses thought it would be best for him to hang around another week. We all were bummed, including Theresa and Tammy.

After the dr. appt. dad went down to get his INR checked, which check the clotting factor in his blood. He is on Warfarin because of the blood clot in his lung and they've been working at getting it leveled. Last Friday, his level was 2.8, and the anticoagulant nurse thought it would level out. It's suppose to be between 2.0 and 3.0. At 7:00 pm on Monday evening we got a call that his INR was a 9.0. They wanted him to come to the ER right away so they could give him some vitamin K to counteract the Warfarin. After rushing there, without eating first, we sat in the waiting room over 1 1/2 hours before he was called back. They took blood and it was at 8.5, so they gave him some Vit. K and sent us home.

We are now back to going to the VA hospital on a daily basis. Dad has been scheduled in the lab (which usually it's a "take a #" system) and he's been able to get right in and out. The kids and I drive them up there, mom goes and finds a wheelchair, they go in and the kids and I have found a perfect place to park where they can get out and play in the grass under a shade tree. Mom then calls when they are done and we head back home. This cuts down on mom's stress level BIG time!

Here have been his levels:
Tues. 5.2
Wed. 4.9
Today 6.5

The anticoagulant nurse called and is mystified on why it is going back up. He's not been taking his Warfarin, his diet hasn't changed. So tomorrow they are going to run more extensive blood test and check for things like his liver stuff and other things. He's also going to see an anticoagulant nurse and see a doctor. I'll be able to go along for the dr. appts since it's Jeff's day off.

We'll see if anything new is found out tomorrow.

Ta Ta For Now!

It's A Birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

I typically would not be around for mom's birthday because they are back in Kansas and we are here, but because of certain circumstances she is here! (Of course my sisters are missing her...but...shhhhh.... I'm glad she's here.)


Mom and dad's trip went from being a 9 day trip to over a month. It hasn't been a relaxing "vacation" by any stretch but I'm glad, and they are glad that this all went "down" here in Colorado. Since I don't work, I've gotten a lot of "bounding" ;o) time with mom... and dad. I'm glad to have this opportunity to serve dad and to serve and support mom through this time, it's a ministry God's placed in my lap. We've spent hours upon hours in the hospital together...hours on the road back and forth from the hospital (20-30min. one way), and we've gotten some relaxing done around the house.


We are going to fit a celebration in sometime between a trip to the hospital, going to Walmart to get their car serviced, the wound nurses visit, the physical therapist's visit, the oxygen peoples visit, and grocery shopping.

Mom has decided that her meal will be rotisserie chicken, with rice and she hasn't mentioned what veggies yet. I think she's narrowed her cake down to chocolate she just has to decide on what kind of frosting...chocolate, caramel, or fluffy white frosting. Then of course there will be a couple of gifts to open.


Mom, even though this is not the best of circumstances, I am glad you are here. I'm glad that you are where I can help you out and that you aren't having to go through all these different things on your own. I hope your day ends up being a great day and that this "new" year for you will be a blessed one! I love you lots! XOXOXO

Finally Another Update

I have a sister who keeps telling me I need to update. Things have been crazy busy this week!

Tanner did not have to have surgery! He has a piece of bone "floating" around in his arm but it is not in the joint and that's what the dr. was looking for. We do go back to the orthopedic doc tomorrow for another round of x-rays to make sure all still looks well.

Dad was released from the hospital Friday evening, and is once again back in his "room" at our house. I can say he is doing better. I don't know if he thinks he is doing better but each day he is breathing better. We have had a crazy schedule!

(We have transformed our school room into dad's room. We rented a hospital bed and we hung shower curtains for privacy.)

Along with dad having to go down to the VA hospital every day, we've also had a wound nurse out here every other day along with visits from the oxygen place and a physical therapist. PLUS, my family has had something going on, ie gymnastics, dentist appt, and dr. appointments.

When things start slowing down, which will be a few more days at least, I plan on catching up. So until then....

Quick Update

Real quick update....

1. Dad was readmitted to the hospital this past Sunday.
2. He had a blood clot in his lungs.
3. He's doing better, still having a hard time breathing.
4. Not sure when he'll be released, they are trying to get his blood thinner regulated.

5. Tanner fell out of a tree this evening.
6. Took him to urgent care, found out he broke something around his elbow.
7. Dr. said it was a mystery of really is going on in there.
8. Have to see an orthopedic surgeon tomorrow.
9. It sounds like the options will be cast or surgery.

The Last Shall Be First

I'm going to have lots of catching up to do soon, not just sharing on my blog but reading the blogs I follow. I just wanted to get this down before I forgot.

This evening we were getting ready for supper. The kids all had their plates at the table but some were missing forks. I heard Tanner and Kaylie arguing, but I wasn't paying much attention because that's pretty much "white" noise to me. I then came in to give the kids their forks and this is what I hear,

"Him first!"
"Her first!"
"Him first!"
"Her first!" .....

I finally just put the forks on the table between them and left the room. When I came back in Kaylie was crying and saying, "I want to be first in heaven!"

I never imagined the day where my kids would fight to have the other one served first!

After the meal, the kids got to talking about boyfriends and girlfriends. It was really cute to hear but I'm not going to even try to share the whole conversation because it would be "you'd have had to been there" type of things. But one thing we learned from Landon as he shared with his brother was, "Your girlfriend is ______, because you fought with her!" Is that what it takes!?! :oD