The Hospital Stay

I have just avoided blogging this, but here I am with a slow day and so here goes.

As mentioned in the previous post, Jacee knelt on a toothpick. We went the week with the knee swelling and not looking much better so I called my brother Brian on President's Day to ask him about it. After describing it and answering a few questions about it, he was quiet and said, "It's either nothing or something pretty bad, I need to see it." We agreed to meet in Park City. He didn't have to look at it very long before he said, "I need to stick a big needle in it." Yep, Jacee was officially freaked out! (As was I...)

We discussed the options of going to Primary Children's or to his office in Evanston, WY. The problem with going to Evanston was that he was pretty sure she would be admitted to the hospital with possible surgery and John and our family were in Utah. We decided on Primary's so John could come sooner and someone could help with the kids.

While driving from Park City to SLC, I talked with my brother David who graciously agreed to come get Jack and Maddie and keep them for the day (I think this was around 1:30pm and they had them until about 9:30pm - thanks David and Julie!)

On the drive Jacee and I took turns crying. I would start so she would start. We would get composed and then she would start so i would start...not a fun drive.

Brian was following us to Utah and had called the hospital to tell them we were coming. It was so reassuring to have him there and to help us. I made sure each dr. that came in knew "we had brought our own surgeon!" He stayed with the us until the last test results came in after 7:30pm that night. Thanks Brian for being with us and thank Michelle for letting us have your husband that day.

Well, the initial reaction from all the doctors was that she would most likely need surgery. Her knee was swollen in such a way that it indicated that the joint had gotten infected and they would probably need to go in to clean it out.

One thing was weird, she was not in much pain. The doctors would poke and prod and twist her knee and she just sat there. They said with this kind of infection that she should be in great pain. They finally settled on aspirating her knee (the big needle) and running some tests.

Here is her I.V. I think this was the worst part for her. It hurt and she was sure she wanted it in her arm not her hand, but the tech talked her into the hand. And while doing this they had to get some blood for tests and that wasn't super fun. Luckily the tech won her over when he brought her a warm fuzzy blanket and a big stuffed dog - he was ok in her book after that.

When they decided they had to aspirate her knee, they put her under. There was quite a few syringes of medicine they put in her I.V. At the time I knew what they were because I asked Brian about each of them and he assured me that is what he would use if he were doing it. (I was glad that even though he couldn't do the procedure, he was there telling me that was they were doing was the right thing, and explaining everything to me.)

This was my least favorite part...her going under. They told her her nose would itch and as she was getting sleeping, she kept trying to rub her nose. Then she tried to curl up in the fetal position and then she was OUT. It happened so fast and her eyes were partly open and her mouth was open. She was so still, it was creepy. I tried to shut her eyelids but they wouldn't close. I just held her hand and did not watch when the big needle was brought out.

Here's the needle going in. I was glad to hear my brother giving a few words of encouragement to the ortho resident but not so encouraged when they pulled it out and I heard him say, "Yep, it's cloudy." All the early test results came back looking like we would be going into surgery. John's parents also came for a while and sat with us in the ER. David brought some oil and Brian, John, and Brent gave Jacee a blessing. I also found out my parents talked to some good friends and asked them to pray for Jacee and my mom put her name in the temple. Many of our neighborhood friends helped out and made sure the sheets got into the dryer and prayed for her as well. It's good to have supportive friends and family.

We waited and waited for all the results, and when they all came back, it was determined she would just stay in the hospital that night with some I.V. antibiotics and see how things went the next day. Brian got to go home, John went to pick up Jack and Maddie and went home and Jacee and I slept in the hospital that night. I am convince our friends and family prayed the worst of the infection away so she wouldn't have to have surgery.

We only had the clothes on our back, so before John went home he ran and got us some treats, books, magazines, and some fake fingernails for Jacee. The hospital provided Jammies for Jacee and a pair of sweats for me along with tooth brushes and toothpaste. We started out in a private room but had to move to a shared room about midnight. Jacee was out - they just moved her bed into the other room and banged into a door and a wall and she didn't stir at all. The other family came in about 12:30am with a sick toddler (and watched t.v. until around 2:30am).

They pushed the i.v. antibiotics all night. The attending surgeon came in the next day and told us Jacee she was the conundrum of the dept because they couldn't figure out why she wasn't in pain. The were waiting on results of one more test that finally came at noon - and then they released her. They gave me antibiotics in pill form (which I told them she couldn't swallow and they suggested I open the pills and mix them with soft foods...) and said to have a follow up in a week. My parents came to the hospital right when we were being released. They brought a bag full of fun stuff and it was good to see them.

It ended up being such a blessing my parents came. John was in charge of the Blue and Gold Banquet that night and I also had New Beginnings that night. Once we got home, the frantic preparations began, with my parents being key in running MANY errands for us. We pulled off both events with MUCH help from many people.

In the mean time - I was trying to force Jacee to take her anti-biotics. She was a bit warm and I was worried this was a bad sign. I tried the pills in ice cream and chocolate milk. She just threw them up and cried. I finally had to leave her with my parents and they tried to mix it with mac and cheese. Finally, both my brother Steve and my dad tried it and said it was so horrible they wouldn't even take it! They Brian and got a liquid prescription that seems to be doing the trick.

Boy, when they say it takes a village to raise a child - they were talking about my children. Thanks to everyone for pitching in and helping us. Jacee is doing so much better. She has gone back to school and dance class and seems to be doing fine. Her knee is still a little swollen but she is no longer walking with a limp. We are so grateful she is doing better.

We sure love this little gal.

Yep, I'm 40!

On my birthday, there was a knock at the door - and when I went to answer it there was no one there but an arrow (made out of dr. pepper cans) on my doorstep. It was pointing to...

The number 40 made with dr. pepper cans on my drive way - who could have asked for more - 40 cans of dp when I turn 40 - love it!

Thanks Steve and Kimble - one of the best birthday presents ever!

I did have a great birthday. It started the night before with a bowling party with some friends. Then off to the Survivor premier that had the BEST tribal council ever - I think just for my birthday. The next morning we had donuts from Lehi Bakery and then lunch with some girl friends at Kneaders. At lunch, they gave me a present of a girls night out - skiing and then an overnighter in Park City -complete with hot tub! Can't wait!

I also got a 2 liter of dp from my friend and gift certificate for a fill on my nails! Perfect timing as they had grown out so far I was almost going to start prying them off! A yummy edible bouquet was delivered from the blueberries that was pretty and delicious. My YW made a flag and hung it at my house that had a HUGE 40 on it - so no keeping my age a secret in our neighborhood! Got a lot of phone calls, texts, and fb bday wishes - I sure felt loved.

John did have to work that night (hence the bowling party the night before) but I took the kids swimming so they all went to bed early and I had some quiet time.

All in all a GREAT birthday.
Thanks for all the birthday wishes. Have to say my husband has gotten a lot of mileage out of telling people I'm 40 and he's still 36. What can I can - he obviously married "up" in more ways than one! Love you honey!

Yikes!

So, I can hardly look at the above pictures. I know it's not gory and bloody, but it's the thought that an entire toothpick is jammed into my little girl's knee...

On Valentine's Day I got a call from the school saying Jacee was sick - she had complained of a sore throat on Sunday so I wasn't entirely surprised. I got to the school and she came out of the nurses room, limping...what? Why would a sore throat make her limp? And she was as white as a sheet. After a few steps, I picked her up and carried her because she could hardly walk. As soon as we got outside she started crying and told me she had a toothpick stuck in her knee...what? I set her in the car and sure enough, there was a little thing poking out through her pants. I tried to pull it out but it was stuck fast.

She said it was time to start cleaning up for her Valentine's Day Party and she dropped to the ground under her desk to pick up trash and landed right on the toothpick. She tried to pull it out but couldn't. She just went up to her teacher and said she was sick - she was pure white (now we know she was in shock) so the teacher sent her to the office. She said she tried to sit so no one would notice the toothpick sticking out of her pants - she didn't want anyone to touch it.

Anyway...

We raced to the Dr. office and he pushed around a little bit and said he was not going to try to pull it out because it was in so deep and could be in a joint so off we went to the ER...and out came the pliers. The ER dr. gave Jacee the option of deadening it or just going for it - she just went for it! The dr. told John to distract her and not let her look and then he just yanked it out with pliers. We got an X-ray but it's hard to detect any wood on X-rays so we are just suppose to watch it for infection.

Her knee is very puffy and swollen but no redness. Today (Friday) is her first day back at school. (In addition to not being able to walk very well, she has thrown up everyday.) She has been a trooper. She was not very brave at the Dr. office but as soon as it was decided she needed to go to the ER she got all brave and tough about it. Of course we went to Cafe Rio afterwards to celebrate her bravery.

I'm still a little nervous about all the swelling - she is on anti-biotics and we went for a follow-up appt yesterday and the Dr. didn't seem concerned. Glad she went to school today, we'll see how long she lasts. Love you Jacee!

Valentine's Day

Here are our sweeties with their Valentine treasures - a make up kit for Maddie, Star Wars Legos for Jack, and a tub of air dry clay for Jacee. They also got a giant Hershey's kiss from Grama and Grampa Mission...

Notice the three differences in each of their Hershey's Kisses - Maddie - open and already bite marks all over it, Jack - out of the wrapper, Jacee - still in the box.

We had quite an eventful Valentine's day this year...I'll post more about it when we get the pictures onto the computer. Let's just say this is about all the celebrating we did - and that was at breakfast.

Parent Prom

One of my Laurels decided to put on a parent prom for one of her PP Projects. Our ward got really into it. For some reason, we all decided our husbands had to actually ask us. So, one day I came home from some errands and found this in the kitchen...

How fun is that? When John took that picture - he took it of himself on his camera phone while on top of a roof, measuring a chimney during a wind storm - hence the lack of a smile. But, I got asked! We went to eat at Texas Roadhouse with 25 other people and then went and danced the night away - it was fabulous! Thanks Katie for putting on such a fun dance.

While Mom's Away...

Last Friday I had a YW overnighter at a cabin in Heber. It happened to be the same night as the school's free Classic Skating night. Jacee and Jackson had been looking forward to this night for some time. I tried to prep them that they probably wouldn't get to go because daddy had to drive to Logan early in the morning, build a house all day, and then drive all the way home again and he would probably be too tired. Well...being the great dad he is, John took them to Classic Skating. All three kids by himself after a looooong day at work.

On the way into the rink, Maddie was running and tripped in the parking lot. She had her hands in the pockets of her coat so the only thing she had to catch herself was - her face!

John said she sat on his lap for a while but then seemed to recover and spent the rest of the evening on the bounce houses. She is none the worse for wear and tells me periodically, "My face feels better mom."

So - overall it was a successful outing with dad and the kids. I'm feeling pretty lucky to have such a great family. Lover you honey.

The Blahs

Things have been pretty blah around here lately. It seems I'm not too excited about much. I wonder what's wrong with me and then remember we are in the winter blahs with no end in sight. I start to get down mid-February and it gets worse in March and I start to feel better in April. One of my counselors told our new camp director that the real Julie will show herself again in the Spring - it really gets bad.

Well, I was having an extra bad day (week) last Thursday for a myriad of reasons. Later that night there was a knock at the door and to much joy and happiness, I found this beautiful valentine hanging on it.

I was suppose to channel my inner Martha that day with friends but cancelled because of the blahs...they made me one anyway and brought it over. (I know, you are all thinking it's a good thing I didn't show because it would not have turned out like this if I would have made it!)

Thanks Cammie and Jodi for helping my bad day. Another reason I love living in this neighborhood - great friends.