Abigial has had a horrible time of it lately.

It started in April. The day before Easter she had a seizure. That was terrifying! We ended up taking a ride in the ambulance to Primary Children’s Hospital where we waited for hours to be told that it was because she had been crying hard and holding her breath. You know how babies do that when they cry really hard. Well, Isaac had bonked her on the head and she held her breath for way longer than I’d ever heard her do before and then she started seizing. The only they weren’t sure about was the fact that it lasted much longer than is to be expected in a case like this (around two minutes instead of the 30 seconds or so they usually see with a breath-holding episode) and the fact that she went into a very classic post-ictal state following the seizure which is also not common. We were told to just wait and see. If she had another seizure without a breath-holding episode then they would run tests. So far so good.

Next, she fell and hurt her cheek (as I mentioned in my last post). She cried when it first happened but after about 20 minutes she acted like it didn’t bother her at all. It looked awful for almost three weeks, though. The bruise has all but disappeared now, just a teeny-tiny pale bruise in the place where the actual impact happened.

Now, last night I was helping her up on the couch, holding onto her hands when I felt a click in her right arm and she immediately started to cry. She wailed any time I bumped or moved her arm and she wouldn’t use it. I was beside myself with worry (and guilt, I tell you) and we called a friend in the ward who is a nurse. He came over and looked at it and thought it looked like nursemaid’s elbow (a dislocated elbow). We took her right in to the after hours clinic where they tried to pop it back in. They did this maneuver a couple of times and the doctor felt a couple of small clicks but not the usual big click they feel when putting an elbow back in place. Abigail continued to act as if she couldn’t use her arm. They decided to do an x-ray. In the whole process she was freaking out anytime any of the staff even walked in the room, screaming bloody murder. My ears were actually ringing. Poor thing! She was exausted (by this time it was about 11pm) and in pain and scared of the doctor who hurt her (maneuvering her elbow). We got the elbow xrays and after one where I had to stretch her arm out, palm up. She suddenly stopped crying quite as much. I don’t know if that finally popped it back in or what but she started calming down a lot more. She was still tired and scared and I think it did still hurt but it wasn’t the same intensity. The xray’s all came back normal and they sent us home to watch it over night to see if it got better or if they need to refer me to a pediatric orthopedist. This morning she is using her hand some and is better but not completely. I’m guessing that it’s still sore for the whole ordeal so I’m going to watch it until tomorrow. If it hasn’t drastically improved by then I guess we’ll take it the next level.

So, there is the trauma of the poor sweet baby of mine. I feel like an absolutely horrible mother and wish that she could just get a break (not literally) for a while. Keep her in your prayers, please!

Make a difference!
Emily

A friend reminded me that I haven’t updated this blog in months so I figured I should make an attempt at least. I’ve gotten so much more involved in my other blog that I forget to update this one. I’m sorry. Here is what is going on over in our neck of the woods (or desert).

Ethan is out for the summer and I’m hoping that the rest of the summer is not going to be like the last two weeks have been. We’ve homeschooled since he was just tiny and when I’d hear other parents say, “I can’t wait for school to start again.” I would cringe. I would feel sad that it sounded like they didn’t like to be with their children. Now after only one year I can see where they were all coming from. During the school year Ethan was so much more helpful, respectful and just happy in general. Since school got out he’s been lazy, back-talking, lazy, rude to his siblings and lazy. Granted, the last couple of days have been better so I’m hoping that he’ll adjust. I think a big part of it is the boredom factor but a big part of his reason for being bored is that he isn’t allowed to play until his chores are done and since he doesn’t want to do his chores he has been staying home a lot. Again, better the last few days so let’s hope that the improvement keeps up.

Aria has been having a lot of fun with her friend in our ward. They have been playing almost daily and are so cute with the crafts they like to do. They both like to play with the baby (very nice since the newness of baby sister has now worn off for Aria unless she has a friend to point out how cute she still is). She is not too interested in much studying right now but is staying busy and active and that is what I hope for during the summer.

Isaac, Isaac, Isaac. What can I say. He is the cutest little naughty boy! He is kind of like the highway robbers in romance novels – gets away with everything because he is so darling and can be so charming. Still, the last few days have been very trying. He is a champion fit thrower and can yell like nobody’s business and when he doesn’t get his own way can be very hard to take. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with that child. I’m praying daily for help in this area.

Abigail is growing so big! She has a funny little sense of humor and is learning a bit of temper from her older brother. She recently got a black eye from falling off my mom’s bed and hitting her cheek on the nightstand. It’s finally fading but now she is teething like crazy. I can count 8 molars and 4 canines that I can see under the gums. Owie!! Poor baby has not been sleeping well and, hence, neither have I.

One fun thing – I have made arrangements with my cute cousin to have her watch my children on Wednesday’s through the summer so that I can leave and go to the library to work on my book. Today was our first day and I’ve been so happy with the progress I made. The kids were excited to have her come and she said she was excited to be there. She is so great and I really appreciate the time away. Writing with small children is a very, very frustrating and painful process (writing in general is that way, too, but even more so with kids). Just as soon as I get going on something I need to take care of one of my children and then I lose my place, lose my momentum and have to think it through all over again, just to be interrupted again. It is not a good mix. This will, hopefully, allow me to make some progress without it being an every day thing.

Richard and I are heading up the Knights of Freedom Summit again this year and so we are working on our preparations. We started late and the Summit is two weeks earlier this year so we’ve got lots to do. It’s so fun to work on this with my sweetheart, though. He is just a big kid when it comes to stuff like this and I have to smile at his enthusiasm. I get all the credit but he is amazing!

Well, that is us in a teeny tiny nutshell. Check out my other blog for updates on my health and weight loss!

Make a difference!
Em

What changes can come during just two weeks. In the last two weeks since I posted I had surgery, mostly recovered from surgery and sprained my ankle. All very lovely! LOL.

Things are really okay, though, my health aside. I’ve really felt that I’ve been able to take big giant leaps in my testimony and I can truly say that I’m so grateful for the trials I’ve been dealing with. I really feel so close to the Spirit and that I understand the Atonement in a new way. I’m so full of gratitude for the blessings that I’ve received.

Abigail is turning 1 this Saturday! I can NOT believe it’s been that long since that long difficult night that finally brought her into the world. I can honestly say that the last year has been one of the hardest and yet most rewarding of my entire life. Abigail is such a joy! She has been walking for nearly three months and just has the most adorable, sunny personality. She is the favorite of everyone in the entire house and with good reason. We will be celebrating her birthday between sessions of Conference on Saturday and I’m going to take her to Build A Bear to get her this adorable little Lamb .
.
I fell in love with it back in February and I’ve been waiting for her birthday so I could have an excuse to buy it for her. For some reason I just love lambs for Abigail. Every time I see one I want to get it for her. It will be fun even though she’s not old enough to appreciate it

Well, I hope everyone enjoys General Conference this weekend. I’m really looking forward to it. I just hope we can have some sunshine soon to add to the Spring-feeling that always comes with Conference and Easter.

Make a difference!
Em

Still around, still alive. There is an update about why I’ve been missing in action so long if you check my other blog A Losing Battle . Suffice it to say that I’ve been busy and sick. That’s enough reason to not spend a ton of time online but I’ve missed posting.

I spent a quiet hour this morning with the kids all asleep – I got up early and scrapbooked and listened to a sneak preview of a great talk from the TJEd Forum which was great. So here is the page I made.

Been having WAY too much fun digiscrapping in the few free moments I’ve found. I’ve been pretty busy with the TJED Forum that is coming up in a couple of weeks. I’m the registrar for the event. My familiy has also been sick all this last week. Still, somehow I manage to find a few minutes here and there to indulge in my new favorite hobby. I’m still learning just the basics but I’m definitely enjoying it. Enjoy!