Welcome to Our World

As far as the infectious disease part goes, Kaye continues to improve. Her improvement is of course aided by the above daily doses of medicines that Pete is in charge of. My brother thought it prudent for someone else to know how to do the antibiotic for her picc line in case Pete was, for some reason, unavailable. So, I received my first lesson in nursing training Friday evening. It takes less time to run the med in than it does to prepare the med, hook it up and unhook it. Four syringes, two vials of antibiotic, drip bag and line and a half a dozen alcohol wipes plus an hour and your all done. She will have to have this for three more weeks.
For the rest, if they aren't liquid, they have to be finely ground, mixed with water and sent in via her feeding tube three times a day. Then, of course, insulin injections multiple times.
Other areas of improvement, she's needed no cath for several days, thank you Lord, and she's grasping more with her right hand. She talks all the time, but most of it is still not clear.
There are still many challenges that leave me exhausted and wondering how in the world Pete is hanging on. She is very emotional, moving between anger and tears. Saturday afternoon she wanted Pete to go to the store and get her some clothes. Over and over she'd say something like, "I need one, 2 and two thirds, no four and that's all." In order to finally solve the problem we ended up having to drag out half her clothes. She insisted a pair of pants fit and pajamas that didn't, so we had to try them on. Welcome to the Keystone Cops. She can't stand up without a solid gripping foundation, so she has to have her tennis shoes on. So, on go the shoes, Pete stands her up, I pull down the pants,Pete sits her down, I take off the shoes, pull off the pants, put on the pants in question, put on the shoes, Pete stands her up, pull up the pants, I hold her up while Pete fastens the pants, sit her down and she sees now for herself if they fit or not, then start again. Now, before this she was freezing and demanded the ac be turned off, so after three pairs of bottoms, we're all sweating, but now she understands that she really doesn't need Pete to go to the store for anything.
Then there's the eating. She thinks she knows what she wants, but can't remember the names. We play twenty questions. The problem is, sometimes even when you say the name, she isn't able to make the association and still says, "No." Needless to say, this is very frustrating for all parties. Then, even when you get it right and she loved it yesterday, she might hate today. She can stand to eat very few things. Mostly she tolerates soup and yogurt. If she says she likes it and it's really good, she'll eat maybe one fourth to one half a cup.
Though much of her pain has been resolved with ridding her of the raging infections, she still has what they now say is diabetic nueropathy. Now, all of her muscles have atrophied, leaving little protection for those nerves. Still, it's nothing like before.
Pete has another situation that is very demanding of him, so they both continue to need your prayers.
If you know someone who is the full time care giver for a brain injured person, be sure and give them a hug and a kind word when you can.
In other family news, Mom was admitted to the hospital last night with pain in her arm and memory loss. We will know more tomorrow.
There are days when I feel my spinning plates are about to come tumbling down.

8 am August 12, 2009

Well, look here. I actually did manage to get the classroom ready, and just a half hour before eighteen fresh fourth graders come bounding through the door.
Help Lord!
Help me to love each one of them as if they were my own because they are Your own.
Help me to instill in them that school is important, yeah, but listening, loving, learning should be happening all the time.
Help me convince them they are more than a test score or a grade.
Help me find a gift in every child.
Help me to discipline gently, encourage unashamedly, challenge daily.
Help me to laugh often, pat backs as a course of habit, sing lots and loudly, and stop to look at all the blessings in Your world.
Amen

This year was a first. I've never taken a picture of my empty, ready for school to begin classroom. I guess because I'm not too fond of an empty class. I really worked hard and cleaning things up and out and was excited by how neat it looked. Neatness is not a strong suit of mine. I'm not sure that expresses it very clearly. Better to say, neatness is not in my vocabulary.
I have this disease. I think my class can not go one minute without something to do. You know when you have a class of eighteen, and you do a twenty minute lesson, one will finish in twelve minutes and three won't finish in thirty-five. I feel bound to provide that twelve minute finisher with some enjoyable learning activity, or life as we know it will combust or something.
Sooooo, my students have multiple games, binoculars with field guides for the birds feeding out the windows, and sixteen art projects like weaving, stitchery, knitting, beading, scrapbooking, paper mache, etc. So, it's messy. Some adults about faint when they walk in my room.
In addition to the yarn and glue and fancy paper and stickers, we're liable to be hatching chicks or growing herbs to make pizza sauce. I don't make my kids sit at their desks for anything except state tests, so there are kids on stools, in beanbags, in my rocking chair, or under their desks. This state of affairs does not bother my students at all. They just walk over and around each other blissfully, however some grown-ups are a little incredulous and don't hestitate to tell me it isn't like any class they were ever in.
It's not like any class I was ever in either. I hated school, so it's my aim to do it differently. I love when they are all over and busy. I love enthusiastic learners.
So, on Wednesday, I was thrilled when the bell rang at 8:30.
And today, at 3:30, I was whupped, but satisfied that we were off to a good start!

Happy Birthday Sweet Bean

Bean chose a day with a friend at the Science Center, with shopping in the gift shop for his birthday present. I planned it without realizing that "The Day" was also the the center's big Back to School Bash. I prefer not to do those activities, as they are usually very crowded, and the kiddos pushed through. I was pleasantly surprised that Bean and Raina were able to spend as much time as they wanted at each exhibit. Currently, the newest exhibit is all about music. They were able to listen to bird calls and all sorts of drums and flutes and bug noises, as well as regular ol' music. Bean has always amazed me at his ability to give his attention to things quite a bit over his little five year old head.

The stones on this xylophone were from a volcano, which is right up Bean's alley. They had a beautiful tone, but he was interested in knowing who got them, what volcano, where was the volcano, etc.

This exhibit was one of the big hits with both kids. They could make thunder, rain, animal sounds, and all different noises in there.

After the music exhibit, this was the next favorite activity. You build the building, then press either shake, rattle, or roll, and see how sound your structure was.

Raina putting the finishing touches on hers.

I wasn't sure if the IMAX production was going to be too scary, but Bean looked at the poster for Monsters of the Sea and said he wasn't concerned. As it turned out, he's read and watched enough about dinosaurs, that the material didn't frighten him.

Bean chose a science kit to make a volcano for his gift-imagine that.

It was a good day, except for leaving Miss Bugg in hysterics, which no amount of excuses of not having the stroller and her not enjoying what we'd be doing, or promises of taking her on her birthday would fix. Then I felt a little hysterical myself. I'm not in this grandparenting business to have unhappy babies. Looks like we both survived it however.

I spent the day making some rice/chix/vegie packs to add to Addie and Arwen's food. Now, I'm off to spend some time with the chickie girls.

I anxious to get my new class on Wednesday. We are going to have a blast.

The Life of a Shirt

What might you ask is Baby Boy's fascination? Why the colorful geometric shapes on my shirt. In a strange and unusual turn of events, I happened to find a couple of shirts that, as it turns out, can't be worn out. I've entertained all the babies you see here with this very shirt. I picked them up at K-Mart. I seriously think it was eight or more years ago. They were colorful, soft, comfy, and if I remember correctly, on sale for less than five dollars. Two of the ones I bought that day have long stood the rigors of too many play dates to count. Paint, pudding, icing, and some other stuff I won't mention, washes right out. I've never had a hem fall out and there are no worn spots, snags or holes. Don't ask me, I can't explain it. Sad to say, I've had too much of a different experience of something not making it whole through it's first wash. I am amazed.
All the babies have been intrigued by this particular one, so I wanted to be sure and capture our latest addition's interest. Sure makes for easy entertainment.

Kaye came home from the hospital on Wednesday. We were all a little disconcerted by the digression of her speech throughout her hospital stay. Tonight, she talked as well as she ever has, and talk she did. Pete was getting an earful about her feelings on the whole in/out cath situation. God love that man. He needs to be awarded an honorary nursing degree. Stomach tubes, picc lines, caths and injections, there's nothing he does not do now. She was in as good of shape as I ever seen her after a dialysis. She did not complain of any pain, thank the Lord. If we can just get these antibiotics finished without them causing something else, we'll all be happy campers.

Back to school for me this week. Transitions are never my strong suit and there are lots of changes at school, so I'm very happy it was only two days and the weekend is here.

Happy birthday Ms. Courtney Paris photographer, daughter-in-law. I hope it's been happy!

So Long Summer Playdates

Oh, a sweet sad day, our last playdate before I return to work tomorrow. Here Miss Antebellie is decked out in her finery right down to one pretty sock. Time for a little dancing and spinning.

You turn around twice and they grow up and take over your job. Miss Raina read one of her favorite books, I Ain't Gonna Paint No More in her best southern accent to a captive audience.

Since the big creek is still too high after the monsoon, the back creek had to do. Here the boys are reliving a WWII island attack while Raina is providing hand hewn rock for the battle.

This was pronounced the coolest bug in all the world, at least for today. Later, when most everyone had headed home, Bean said, " What in the world am I going to go without my friends. I don't think I can live without by best friend, Ol' Henry." I know Bean, it's sad.

This is our beautiful ivory-girl Kate, who spent all summer helping me chase wee ones on Wednesdays. Bless you sweet Kate!

Now it's time to say good-bye to all our blogger friends. The wee ones would like to thank you all for kindly stopping in. Your all invited back next week to this locality, but we'll be off to school and stuff, it came too rapidly.

School and stuff, books and bags, bells and work- awww, shucks!

I fixed the crew spaghetti for lunch. I was getting ready to pitch what wasn't eaten and remembered it was whole wheat and tomatoes and took that to the chickie girls. They devoured it, along with some ends of tomatoes and cucumbers. I am so delighted to feed it to them instead of putting it in the trash-fabulous!

I made a new recipe called Cucumber-Tomato Bread Salad and it was delicious!

If summer must come to an end, then it did so perfectly, when a little Bugg of a girl was play-dated out and fell sound asleep nestled on my chest in a front porch rocking chair. A sweet memory I'll pull out when winter seems long.

On a Happier Note

I was at the hospital with Kaye on Friday evening and Saturday. Then we were invited to a friend's for a lovely evening of yummy food and enjoyable friendship. Today was Bible Study and Bean's party, so I have had no time with the girls. Handy Man said I really needed to take a look at Princess Cheeky as her cheek feathers had really sprouted. I laughed right out loud. Isn't she so cute?

When I ordered the chickie girls, I purposely ordered all girls, but they only guarantee them to be 90 percent hens. Apparently, telling the girls from the boys is not an easy job. For a poor untrained soul like me, you have to wait until they crow-or not. Other info says the combs and wattles are usually larger on roosters. Below is a pic of one of our Andalusians. Most of the chicks are like her, just starting to show a comb. Below are two, Callie Lou and Princess Sheila, that have much larger combs and much bossier behavior. For fun, I included a baby pic first (only 8 weeks ago).
Between Cheeky with no comb and Snow Queen with only a little, you can see a big difference.

Oh, you were so cute Callie Lou.




You were cute too, Princess Sheila.

Then today, they had a face off. Craned their necks and strutted at each other. Then Sheila bowed her head to Callie Lou as if to say, "I give."

So, what say you- roosters or hens?

We can't include barnyard babes without a picture of Arwen, who here still resembles a puppy.

Ummm, then she stands up. It doesn't change the fact that she's a puppy, but she is one big girl.

Ceece and 1st Lt. had a great party for Bean. They invited the Bubble Bus. The weather was perfect and all the kids had room to roam with stuff to do. Even Baby Boy and Great Grandma and everyone in between had a good time making bubbles.

1st Lt. commented on all the parties I did for them as a child and how he realizes now the time and energy I put into it. That was sweet to hear.

It was a happy day.

Like a Red Rubber Ball

My emotions have certainly seemed to be all over this week. Bean turning five and starting kindergarten, summer being over, a wonderful night out with friends and chix wings ( two of my favorite things), an anonymous monetary gift blessing Pete and perhaps allowing another few nights of help for him, and Kaye.
Usually, I'm very stoic with Kaye, or at least I try to present that. She has enough going on without worrying about me. I save frustration and tears for the ride home, or to cry on Phil's shoulder when I get here. Now and again however, my heart gets squeezed too hard and it comes out my eyes, in spite of all efforts to swallow it. So it was last night.
Kaye took a long rest. When she woke up she wanted something and pointed to her mouth. I asked if she wanted a drink, "No." Okay, did she want me to wipe her mouth, "Yes." Of course, no washcloth, so I got paper towels and wiped her mouth. That wasn't what she wanted and she was growing more agitated with me by the minute. Then she was trying to tell me the doctor did it, mouth and underarm, okay, she's wants her temp taken, I call the nurse. But, by this time she is furious with me and with cutting eyes and tone let's me know, in no uncertain terms, that I am an idiot, and before I can yank them back, out pop the tears. So, I keep my head down and attempt to steady my voice as I straighten sheets, awaiting the nurse, not wanting her to see me upset. Then I notice her hands are cold and clammy and I realize that she is cold and what she wanted all along was the temperature changed. So I get a blanket, get her tucked in, ask if she's sick (nauseated) and she exclaims, "Yes!" So we take the temp-fine, then get the anti-nausea meds. I have her warmed up, meds on the way and she says, " I sorry," and I lose it. Luckily, she was tucked back in and couldn't see me very well, so I had a big, very quiet sob in my chair, wondering if she will ever feel good again. Wondering if this two-steps back in communication is temporary. Feeling so totally broken for her.
So, what's up? Hard to say. I've already used enigma and conundrum, so I'm out of descriptions.
Her white count is going down, but somehow all this has caused her blood to be too thin to risk a move to home, so she's still in the hospital. Today she was awake 20 minutes around one o'clock and ate some yogurt. Other than that, she was still in the same position she'd been in all day, still sleeping soundly when I left at 4:30. Her last med that is supposed to cause drowsiness was administered at 11 pm last night. No one can explain the sleepiness. Her kidneys still have an output, but the bladder won't, so now Pete has to learn how to do the in/out catheter twice daily.
The bladder antibiotic must go on for four more weeks and the C-Diff closely monitored. Now, she takes 22 different things daily. I am weary- we all are.
Her birthday is Tuesday. Last year at this time I was decorating for her big 6-0 tea party. She loved the day so much and I'm so glad I have that memory.
Sorry, this is kind of a downer