Passage from Baby to Boyhood

As much as I have fought it for the longest time, I caved today and took Sam for a haircut. His very first haircut. Yes, I know he's almost 3.

Sam has beautiful, curly hair and I have not wanted to cut it because I was afraid all of his curls would be cut off. However, since he's starting to look a bit like Bozo the Clown on the sides of his head, I gave in.

As I sat and watched some of his golden curls fall to the floor, I serioulsy had to hold back tears. I mean, I didn't want the poor girl cutting his hair to think I was some kind of a weirdo or anything. It probably wouldn't have been a good idea to add my tears to Sam's already flowing ones either. That would've just been bad.

Now that it's all said and done, thankfully, he still has MANY curls. And I kept one of the cut ones in an envelope for myself.

My baby boy is growing up on me. (as soon as I find my camera cord, I'll post pics as proof)


Not too much news on the horizon with my boss, although he did have his arterial line removed today, and he is being looked at to begin weaning off of the ventilator, with the possibility of a trach being placed instead. Keep the prayers coming!

Hubby took the older three boys to the movies tonight, leaving me with just the little ones. That's okay, because having all 5 of them home all day was a wee bit trying on my patience today.

I'm going to go and run my fingers through Sam's hair and smell his baby head :)

Such a Sore Spot

My princess is still under the weather. It's strange, as her fever comes and goes. She feels fine one moment, and is shaking with the chills the next. She's not eating much because she's complaining that it 'hurts to eat'. I pried open her mouth and found that it's covered in sores...under her tongue and on her bottom inner lip. Weird. My first thought was the dreaded 'Hand Foot and Mouth' disease (which funny enough, none of my kids has ever had, I've only read about) but she doesn't have any blisters or sores on her hands or feet, just in her mouth.

I think a trip to the pediatrician is in order for tomorrow if she's still punky.

Thankfully, my boss is still holding his own. He is getting 'sedation vacations' more frequently and he is responsive to those around him while he's awake. He is still breathing with the help of a ventilator because the swelling is still so much that it's too difficult for him to breathe on his own. He is however, improving day by day. His wife said "It's a marathon, not a sprint" in terms of his recovery. Thank you for praying for him and his family.

Hubby, Caleb and Josh are down at the 'old' house today taking apart the trampoline so they can bring it to the 'new' house finally. I keep trying to get the kids to go and play outside in our 1/2 acre backyard, but they are waiting for their beloved trampoline. Go figure.

Not much else noteworthy today...signing off to make my grocery list for the week.

Later!

Burning Down the House

As soon as I saw the glossy eyes and the rosy flushed cheeks, I knew it...sickness in the house! My little Gracie is all aglow with fever. I'm not sure how high her temperature is as my thermometer is still in a box somewhere, but just by the touch she is sizzling. She's not complaining of any other symptoms, but when she gets a fever I worry that her kidney is infected again. Please, tell me this time it's just a quick passing virus. You'd better bet that if she exibits any signs of a uti or pylenephritis again, we'll be burning rubber to the ER.

I worked a half day today and then rushed up to school for parent-teacher conferences. Seems the kids are all doing quite well, with each having an issue or two, but for the most part, I'm happy with their reports.

We hung out at 'Auntie's' house tonight. It was nice to catch up and let the kids play with their cousins. We ate way too much pizza and strawberry pie. Mmmmm mmmmm good.

Not much to report on my boss, but he is finally having his sedation reduced, so he is able to open his eyes and look around. Still on a ventilator, but things are looking positive for him!

Anyway, we're officially on Fall break. Help me, Lord.

Signing off to watch 'Made of Honor' if I can stay awake for longer than the first 5 minutes.

Later!

Short Update

I'm too tired to be long winded, so I just wanted to give a quick update. My boss is still in critical condition--not much change unfortunately. The fact that he has survived this far is great news I think though.

My ultrasound went well...I don't have the full report from the doctor, but I do know that I saw a wiggling baby kicking little legs and waving little arms. I'm satisfied with that!

Signing off now...I'm hosting breakfast for 7 moms and a gaggle of kids in the morning.

Later!

In An Instant

Life as one knows it can change in the blink of an eye. I've witnessed it before in the death of my brother. I've witnessed it in the near death of my newborn son. These snippets of tragedy seem to fray the fibers of what makes us whole.

Today, I visited my boss in the Critical Care Unit. Yes, he is a doctor, but this time, he's the patient not the healer. This dear, sweet man's life was changed yesterday when he was involved in a tragic motorcycle accident. He was thrown from his motorcycle when somehow he lost control of it. He wasn't wearing a helmet. His face and head took the brunt of the impact. Seeing him today lying in a hospital bed was very surreal. He's the one that heals people with his superb surgical skills. He's the one that brings comfort to the sickest of patients. Now, he's the one that needs healing. Please pray for him...for his wife and 4 children...for his healing and recovery. His name is Bruce, and he is very special to so many people. Things look dismal now, but I know that God can heal and bring wholeness to him again. I know that. And I have hope that he will.

On a different note, my weekend away was great. It was so much fun to hang out with my girlfriends without any children needing anything. It was awesome to have 3 meals a day prepared, served and cleaned up without my having to lift a finger. I didn't really walk away with having had any 'spiritual revelations', but I did walk away refreshed for sure.

I'm having my level II ultrasound at 12:30 tomorrow afternoon. I am nervous and excited all the same. My mom is coming along for moral support. Thanks mom!

I am swamped with laundry to put away and a mountain of Legos on the floor...gotta run!

I'll update tomorrow.

Listen up!

Alright my dear readers...I need a break and I'm taking one. I'm heading up into the mountains for one of those 'Women's Retreats' for the weekend.

I do have some news regarding my pregnancy though. I had a midwife appointment today--it went pretty well, until I had the ultrasound. Something funky is going on in my uterus--the baby was fine and all, but there is an 'extra' sac of some sort next to the baby's amniotic sac. The midwife grabbed the doc to take a look, and from what they could surmise, it is either a miscarried twin gestational sac or something called a 'chorion-amnion separation'. In light of this news, I am off to have a level II ultrasound at an imaging center on Tuesday. I also have to go and have my glucose tolerance test next week. Ewwww.

I'm a bit nervous about the ultrasound, but hopeful that all is well.

Anyway, I'm signing off until at least Sunday night. Try not to miss me too much.

Later!

Mentally Dull

I have to admit, stupidness has become a huge pregnancy symptom for me. Okay, maybe not stupid so much as just mentally challenged. Slow. Not as on top of things as normal. I especially feel the challenge around 1:00 in the afternoon while I'm at work. Things start to look fuzzy, my mind wanders--mostly thinking about catching a catnap--and I do believe even my speech and response time slow down. I try to catch a second wind when I leave work and head home, because I know that I have endless responsibilities there. And I really don't want to crab out at everyone. (even though I do tend to do that anyway)

This pregnancy has proven to be quite the challenge in stamina for me. And the funny (or NOT so funny) thing is, that even as tired as I am, I find myself struggling to actually sleep at night. Weird, I know.

We're in quite the rough patch around here at the moment. Eli is causing us troubles galore with his lack of self-control, hubby is feeling very out of whack and he's begun having panic attacks again, Gracie has been tantruming like tantrums are going out of style...and so on, I'll spare you the details. I'm tired. I'm frustrated. I'm worried. And honestly? I'm heartsick.

With all of that, I think I'll sign off and put my puffy feet up. A drink sounds nice right about now...(don't worry, I'm into ice water these days!)

G'night!