Emma Christine Powers of Farmington, Missouri, passed away on Thursday, July 26, 2007 at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center in St. Louis, at the age of 8-1/2 years. She was born on January 22, 1999, in Farmington, the beautiful, perfect daughter of Corey and Julie (Ross) Powers and sister of Ian Scot.
Emma suffered an acute life threatening event at the age of three months, which left her neurologically devastated. For more than eight years, Emma brought an immense amount of love and happiness to her family, friends, nurses, therapists, teachers, doctors, and everyone who knew her. Her mission from God was to teach people how to be patient, how to love more deeply, and how to appreciate every breath and every waking moment. Emma was a brave girl who underwent numerous surgical procedures with determination. Until the end, she fought hard to keep teaching her lessons.
Emma’s favorite times were swinging in her swing in the back yard, having books read to her, taking a stroll in her wheelchair, snuggling with her mom or dad in the rocking chair, having her hair brushed, getting kisses from her big brother, and getting licks on her hands from her dog, Thor.
Emma’s early departure from this life leaves an enormous hole in many people’s lives, especially those caregivers and therapists who have worked with her for years. For the first time ever, “Princess Emma” is running and jumping, chasing butterflies and picking flowers in heaven. She is free from the confines of her wheelchair, and she is dancing with Jesus and all His angels. Her silky golden hair is blowing in the wind as she runs at top speed.
Emma is survived by her parents, Corey and Julie; her brother, Ian; her grandparents, Douglas and Pamela (Berkley) Ross of Farmington and Sylvia (Gaw) Powers of Independence, Mo; her uncles and aunts: Pam (Powers) and Roger Hall of Virginia; Leslie Powers of Colorado; Kevin and Janet Ross of California; Don and Marie Powers of Independence, Mo.; Bradley Ross of California; Scott Ross of California; Jennifer (Ross) and Ryan Roberts of Mississippi; and her cousins: Kerry, Lindsay, Darren, Stephen, Matthew, Rachel, Sarah, Addison, Asher, Audra, Kaitlyn and Joel. She is also survived by hundreds of family members and friends. She was preceded in death by grandfather Buddy F. Powers.
Visitation is scheduled for Saturday, July 28 at Cozean Memorial Chapel from 5 to 8 p.m. Visitation will resume on Sunday, July 29 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. A funeral service will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Farmington on Sunday, July 29 at 1 p.m. with Pastor Merlen Wegener of Lafayette, Indiana officiating. Burial will follow at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery in Farmington. In lieu of flowers and plants, memorials may be directed to the St. Paul Lutheran School Building Fund or the Ronald McDonald House. Confirmation of arrangements, obituary and online condolences at http://www.cozeanfuneralhome.com/.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Emma went to heaven today at 10:37 a.m. at Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center. She was a very brave princess. We all miss her so much!
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
My Dad has this weird saying. He says, "And the hits just keep on coming!" I don't think he's talking about number one songs on the radio, either. Whenever he says it, he and Mom look at each other with a look in their eyes that I can't explain, but it sure seems like some of it revolves around me.
Why am I talking about "hits" today? Well, today was a terrifying, horrible, mysterious, miraculous day. Yes, it really was all of these things, and in order to share it with you, I'm going to get a bit graphic. So if you're feeling a bit weak in the stomach or you really don't want to hear about "bad stuff," I suggest skipping this update and catching me on the next one. Mom says it's good therapy, though, to get everything off my chest, so I'm going to tell you straight out what happened to me today.
At 4 o'clock this morning, I started getting kind of gurgly, like I do many times while I'm sleeping. Nurse Diane got up to suction me, and when she had the suction tube all ready, I coughed as she was pulling my Thermovent (the filter at the end of my trach tube) off. I coughed up bright red blood, and it filled up the filter. The nurse started suctioning me, but she couldn't get the blood out fast enough, and she had no idea where it was coming from. She got the next-size-up catheter kit and called Mom on the intercom. Mom teleported into the bedroom, and when she got in the room, she was very confused. She said, "What's going on?! Why is she bleeding?!" The nurse was suctioning me and threw the phone to Mom and said, "Call 9-1-1! It's not stopping!" So she did immediately.
Mom said that I looked like a gunshot victim - there was so much blood all over my chest, soaked through my nightgown. The suction tube was full of blood. The suction canister was filling up with blood. There were blood splats on my blanket, my stuffed animal friends who sleep with me, the wall, and everywhere - and it just kept coming out. Mom was terrified that I was "bleeding out." (The doctors told Mom and Dad that because my anatomy is so weird, that my inominate artery (did I spell that correctly?) - anyway, it's a very important artery - crosses my trachea right below the trach tube. That rigid tube could at some point wear down the lining between the trach and the artery, and then...well, let's just say that it would be bad, very bad.) Mom said that's what was flashing in her mind. Luckily, I was asleep during all of this, so I didn't have that panic-stricken look on my face that makes Mom even more worried. Mom kept 9-1-1 on the phone and used the nurse's cell phone to call Grandma and Grandpa. She told Grandpa she needed them NOW! They must have teleported, too, because they got here very fast. She also called Dad at his hotel in New Jersey.
The nurse moved me to the other bed so that she and Mom could both work on me at the same time. Then she deflated my "cuff" that helps seal off the rest of the space around my trach tube. Within 15 seconds, the bleeding stopped and the blood started clotting. Mom got the oxygen and the ambu bag, and the nurse started bagging me. The ambulance and fire department arrived, and that's when I woke up. Unfortunately, so did Ian. Mom told him to go with Grandma and Grandpa. I don't think he saw all the blood because he was half asleep, so that's very good. I would have scared him a lot!
Mom rode in the ambulance with me to the hospital here in Farmington, and she asked for a transport to Cardinal Glennon immediately. The nurse kept bagging me while Mom did all the paperwork stuff, and after a while, it got harder and harder to bag me. The nurse said she thought my trach tube was clogged up with dried blood and that we needed to change the trach tube. Mom got nervous about that because she was afraid that if we got the old one out, I would start with the weird spasms or start bleeding again, and we wouldn't be able to get the new one in. Then I would be in a bigger mess.
When they pulled the old one out, there was a long string of thick, gooey blood hanging on the end of it, and the tube itself was completely filled with dried blood. I'm really not sure how I was able to get any air into my lungs! But the new one was clear, clear, clear, and I could tell right away that I was breathing better. Mom had to run hot water through the old tube and rub it between her fingers to break up the clots. (Don't worry - she always sterilizes the old one again before it trades places.)
The ARCH helicopter couldn't fly to Farmington because it was too foggy in St. Louis. That meant that the transport team from the hospital couldn't come. So they called Air Evac to see if they could fly. They arrived at the hospital a little while later, and I got to take my third helicopter trip to St. Louis. This time, though, I was awake for the ride. The other two times, I was unconscious.
The Air Evac helicopters are very small, so Mom couldn't fly with me. She and Grandma drove to St. Louis and got there about 15 minutes after I did. (I think Grandma was driving way too fast, but Mom said she would pay for her ticket if she would just put on her hazard lights and floor it!) It was rush-hour traffic, but somehow they made it pretty darn quickly.
I was hanging out in the emergency room when they arrived. I was on a humidified trach collar and oxygen, but other than that, I was back to my "normal self." Mom was amazed. Grandma was amazed. I was amazed. I got a chest x-ray and the ENT team came to scope my airway. They tried to find anything that could have caused the bleeding. The only thing they found was a tiny spot at the top of my trachea near the stoma (the hole in my throat). They said that that could have been where a granuloma (again, the spelling might not be right here), broke off and broke a blood vessel. That could have caused all the bleeding, but at that time, there was not a single bit of blood anywhere in my throat! It was a miracle. Seriously.
Grandpa was already canceling patients for the day because he thought he would be needed in St. Louis, but Mom told him to stop - he could stay at work and fix teeth because I was doing so well, it was unbelievable. He should just stay in Farmington. (Ian went to his friend's house for the day.)
My chest x-ray showed that part of my left lobe either had partially collapsed OR it had some pneuomonia in it (which could have been some of the blood that didn't get suctioned out at the house). But I didn't have any fever. My blood count was good. My blood gas was good. I was not upset. I was breathing well. They weaned me down to room air, and I was still doing well. So, I was going to get to go home!
Since I was doing so well, Mom called the orthotist (Barb) to see if she was in the hospital today and if she happened to have my new leg braces with her. Guess what. She was and she did, so she came to see me. I got to try on my new "legs." They're pink (of course) and they have "girls with attitude" all over them. No, they don't say that all over them - there are pictures of girls on the braces. They're GREAT! I picked them out myself when I was in the hospital back in June. Barb is going to make a few adjustments to them, and we'll pick them up on Friday when I go back up for my other appointments.
Dad made it to the hospital right before Grandma got back with the van and all the stuff I need when I go on a trip. So I was ready to leave. I got home this evening, and other than being very tired, I was (and am) feeling pretty good. If you walked into my house right now (8:26 p.m.), you would see me looking like I always do and you wouldn't know I had coughed up 100 cc (almost a half pint) of blood just 16 hours ago.
I'll be the first to admit it. I'm a weirdo. I have these weird, mysterious things that happen all the time. Jesus just keeps reaching down and grabbing me and saying, "Not yet, little one. Not yet. You stay there for now. You still have a lot to teach people." So I do what he says, and I snap back into life - with all the gusto I can muster. And each time something weird happens to me, I truly believe I come out of it more lovable and snuggable than before! Just ask Mom and Dad!
So please keep praying those prayers for me. I know God is listening. I can hear Him, and I can hear all the angels flying around me, too.
It's been a long, hard day, so I'm going to go to bed now. Nurse Diane is back. (Wow! I didn't scare her off! I'm so glad!) She's going to get me all ready for bed, with fresh, clean pajamas. Love to you all!
Why am I talking about "hits" today? Well, today was a terrifying, horrible, mysterious, miraculous day. Yes, it really was all of these things, and in order to share it with you, I'm going to get a bit graphic. So if you're feeling a bit weak in the stomach or you really don't want to hear about "bad stuff," I suggest skipping this update and catching me on the next one. Mom says it's good therapy, though, to get everything off my chest, so I'm going to tell you straight out what happened to me today.
At 4 o'clock this morning, I started getting kind of gurgly, like I do many times while I'm sleeping. Nurse Diane got up to suction me, and when she had the suction tube all ready, I coughed as she was pulling my Thermovent (the filter at the end of my trach tube) off. I coughed up bright red blood, and it filled up the filter. The nurse started suctioning me, but she couldn't get the blood out fast enough, and she had no idea where it was coming from. She got the next-size-up catheter kit and called Mom on the intercom. Mom teleported into the bedroom, and when she got in the room, she was very confused. She said, "What's going on?! Why is she bleeding?!" The nurse was suctioning me and threw the phone to Mom and said, "Call 9-1-1! It's not stopping!" So she did immediately.
Mom said that I looked like a gunshot victim - there was so much blood all over my chest, soaked through my nightgown. The suction tube was full of blood. The suction canister was filling up with blood. There were blood splats on my blanket, my stuffed animal friends who sleep with me, the wall, and everywhere - and it just kept coming out. Mom was terrified that I was "bleeding out." (The doctors told Mom and Dad that because my anatomy is so weird, that my inominate artery (did I spell that correctly?) - anyway, it's a very important artery - crosses my trachea right below the trach tube. That rigid tube could at some point wear down the lining between the trach and the artery, and then...well, let's just say that it would be bad, very bad.) Mom said that's what was flashing in her mind. Luckily, I was asleep during all of this, so I didn't have that panic-stricken look on my face that makes Mom even more worried. Mom kept 9-1-1 on the phone and used the nurse's cell phone to call Grandma and Grandpa. She told Grandpa she needed them NOW! They must have teleported, too, because they got here very fast. She also called Dad at his hotel in New Jersey.
The nurse moved me to the other bed so that she and Mom could both work on me at the same time. Then she deflated my "cuff" that helps seal off the rest of the space around my trach tube. Within 15 seconds, the bleeding stopped and the blood started clotting. Mom got the oxygen and the ambu bag, and the nurse started bagging me. The ambulance and fire department arrived, and that's when I woke up. Unfortunately, so did Ian. Mom told him to go with Grandma and Grandpa. I don't think he saw all the blood because he was half asleep, so that's very good. I would have scared him a lot!
Mom rode in the ambulance with me to the hospital here in Farmington, and she asked for a transport to Cardinal Glennon immediately. The nurse kept bagging me while Mom did all the paperwork stuff, and after a while, it got harder and harder to bag me. The nurse said she thought my trach tube was clogged up with dried blood and that we needed to change the trach tube. Mom got nervous about that because she was afraid that if we got the old one out, I would start with the weird spasms or start bleeding again, and we wouldn't be able to get the new one in. Then I would be in a bigger mess.
When they pulled the old one out, there was a long string of thick, gooey blood hanging on the end of it, and the tube itself was completely filled with dried blood. I'm really not sure how I was able to get any air into my lungs! But the new one was clear, clear, clear, and I could tell right away that I was breathing better. Mom had to run hot water through the old tube and rub it between her fingers to break up the clots. (Don't worry - she always sterilizes the old one again before it trades places.)
The ARCH helicopter couldn't fly to Farmington because it was too foggy in St. Louis. That meant that the transport team from the hospital couldn't come. So they called Air Evac to see if they could fly. They arrived at the hospital a little while later, and I got to take my third helicopter trip to St. Louis. This time, though, I was awake for the ride. The other two times, I was unconscious.
The Air Evac helicopters are very small, so Mom couldn't fly with me. She and Grandma drove to St. Louis and got there about 15 minutes after I did. (I think Grandma was driving way too fast, but Mom said she would pay for her ticket if she would just put on her hazard lights and floor it!) It was rush-hour traffic, but somehow they made it pretty darn quickly.
I was hanging out in the emergency room when they arrived. I was on a humidified trach collar and oxygen, but other than that, I was back to my "normal self." Mom was amazed. Grandma was amazed. I was amazed. I got a chest x-ray and the ENT team came to scope my airway. They tried to find anything that could have caused the bleeding. The only thing they found was a tiny spot at the top of my trachea near the stoma (the hole in my throat). They said that that could have been where a granuloma (again, the spelling might not be right here), broke off and broke a blood vessel. That could have caused all the bleeding, but at that time, there was not a single bit of blood anywhere in my throat! It was a miracle. Seriously.
Grandpa was already canceling patients for the day because he thought he would be needed in St. Louis, but Mom told him to stop - he could stay at work and fix teeth because I was doing so well, it was unbelievable. He should just stay in Farmington. (Ian went to his friend's house for the day.)
My chest x-ray showed that part of my left lobe either had partially collapsed OR it had some pneuomonia in it (which could have been some of the blood that didn't get suctioned out at the house). But I didn't have any fever. My blood count was good. My blood gas was good. I was not upset. I was breathing well. They weaned me down to room air, and I was still doing well. So, I was going to get to go home!
Since I was doing so well, Mom called the orthotist (Barb) to see if she was in the hospital today and if she happened to have my new leg braces with her. Guess what. She was and she did, so she came to see me. I got to try on my new "legs." They're pink (of course) and they have "girls with attitude" all over them. No, they don't say that all over them - there are pictures of girls on the braces. They're GREAT! I picked them out myself when I was in the hospital back in June. Barb is going to make a few adjustments to them, and we'll pick them up on Friday when I go back up for my other appointments.
Dad made it to the hospital right before Grandma got back with the van and all the stuff I need when I go on a trip. So I was ready to leave. I got home this evening, and other than being very tired, I was (and am) feeling pretty good. If you walked into my house right now (8:26 p.m.), you would see me looking like I always do and you wouldn't know I had coughed up 100 cc (almost a half pint) of blood just 16 hours ago.
I'll be the first to admit it. I'm a weirdo. I have these weird, mysterious things that happen all the time. Jesus just keeps reaching down and grabbing me and saying, "Not yet, little one. Not yet. You stay there for now. You still have a lot to teach people." So I do what he says, and I snap back into life - with all the gusto I can muster. And each time something weird happens to me, I truly believe I come out of it more lovable and snuggable than before! Just ask Mom and Dad!
So please keep praying those prayers for me. I know God is listening. I can hear Him, and I can hear all the angels flying around me, too.
It's been a long, hard day, so I'm going to go to bed now. Nurse Diane is back. (Wow! I didn't scare her off! I'm so glad!) She's going to get me all ready for bed, with fresh, clean pajamas. Love to you all!
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Sunday, July 22, 2007
It has been a beautiful, perfect weekend. The weather has been so perfect that I got to outside yesterday for a long time with Nurse Sandy. I got to swing and swing and swing. We also took a stroll around our neighborhood "circle," and we sat outside in the yard looking at birds and people driving by. Today, I did it all over again! It wasn't quite as sunny and bright today, but the temperature was just right. I really love to go outside.
Pretty soon, I'll be able to go straight out the back door onto a deck and roll down a new ramp right into the yard. Mom and Dad wanted to build a deck out back a couple of years ago, but I went into the hospital. Then they started talking about it again last year, and I went into the hospital again. This year, I went into the hospital AGAIN, but they said, "Enough is enough - we're getting that deck built no matter what. Emma has to have access to the backyard without having to go through the garage and all the way around the house!" (Sometimes it's muddy over there on the side of the house, and it can get messy rolling through that part of the yard.)
So, now the project is really happening. Nurse Nicole's dad, Mr. Cox, is going to build it for us. He already has the area strung up to show where the railings will go and how long the ramp will be. When it's done, I'll go straight out the back door (without any steps or anything). I'll be able to sit under the roof there if it's raining, or I can roll down the ramp and over to my swing - lickity split! Plus, Dad is going to have some new doors put in - some pretty, sliding glass doors that work very smoothly.
I don't know what a Home Equity Loan is, but Mom and Dad said it's a wonderful thing. They've never had one before, but First State Community Bank is fixing them up so they can pay for this wonderful new deck for me! Mom said they have a whole list of projects to do at the house, so this is just the beginning. (Of course, it IS the most important project, because, well, it's all about ME. But Ian seems to think it will be cool, too!)
Yesterday evening, Mom and Dad and Ian and I strolled over to Grandma and Grandpa's house for dinner. Grandma made a bunch of food - some of her specialties. I didn't get to eat anything, of course, but it sure smelled good! (Mom says that if anybody out there wants to make mashed potatoes, you must remember to turn the burner on so the potatoes can actually cook. I guess that's why Grandma's potatoes weren't cooking yesterday! Sorry, Grandma, I had to tell on you. It was just too funny.)
My good friend, Sherri, told Mom last night that Baby Grant is doing very, very well now. He turned a corner last week, and he is recovering very well from his surgery. He still has a staph infection, but the nurses and doctors are sure it will go away with the special medicine he's getting. Grant's brother, Cullen, is also doing very well. So that's wonderful news!!! They were born six weeks ago, and they still have something like eight more weeks to go before they were SUPPOSED to be born. They were just too impatient and wanted to get out too quickly.
I'm very excited because I get to go see Miss Kelly this afternoon. She came home from the rehab center last weekend, and now that she's settled in a bit, I get to go see her. She was a wonderful teacher for me, and I miss her so much. I hate that she had that terrible accident. She has to be in a wheelchair now, too. It's really sad for her because she's not used to that, but I am. I've been rolling around in my special chair for so long, that it's part of me. Miss Kelly doesn't really belong in a wheelchair, though, so she's going to work really hard to get those legs and feet working again.
I have another bit of very exciting news. Yesterday in the mail, I got my "wish packet" from the Make A Wish Foundation. My doctor at the hospital and the very nice Footprints lady, Sister Judy, turned in my information to Make A Wish. They want me to do something very, very special - just for me. So now it's official - I have been qualified for the program, and my "wish-granters" are going to come to my house to meet with me and my family to see what my wish is. Mom and Dad have to fill out some papers and stuff first, but they're good at that, so it shouldn't take too long to have those "wish-granters" here at the house. Now I have to think, think, think. What is my very special wish? I think I know, but I'm going to keep it a secret until after I talk to the "wish-granters." They might have some really good ideas that I'm not thinking of. When I've made my final decision, and the "wish-granters" tell me it's okay, then I'll let you know what I'll be doing. The sky is the limit right now, so I'm keeping all my options open. Princesses have to do that, you know.
I got to see my friends Dena, Braden, Breslin and Brenna Mae this weekend. They stopped in two different times for very quick visits. Today, they came by because Mom needed Dena's physical therapy expertise. She popped her back yesterday and it really hurt. She couldn't lift me, and she had trouble turning and bending (so Grandma stayed overnight to take care of me-of course, I slept very well for Grandma). Her back was feeling better today, but Dena showed her some good exercises to maybe keep her from doing it again. Mom says she knows she's really old now, because things like this don't happen to "young people."
Next Saturday, we're going to the Roses' house for a big fireworks show. We didn't get to have our usual Fourth of July celebration this year, so we're having a "28th of July" celebration. I get to go out to the country again and see the animals, all those trees, the fields, etc. Then when it gets dark, I'll sit on the deck with the kids while Dad and Doug put on the big "show." While I'm watching the fireworks, I'll probably be thinking about Grandma and Grandpa. They're leaving for Alaska on Friday, so they'll be way up north doing something exciting on their trip. I'm going to miss them!!!
Speaking of Friday, I'll be going to St. Louis on Friday to see some of my doctors. I get to see my very nice pulmonologist. He's going to check on my breathing. I'll also see the G.I. doctor. She wants to see how my new formula is working and how it's going through my system. It was working really great for a while, but then I started leaking again around my button and my skin was getting red again. It has been much better for a couple of days, so who knows? By the time of my appointment on Friday, it will probably look perfect. Mom says it's like a car repair shop. The problem magically goes away when you take the car in to get fixed. I wonder what kind of car she thinks I am. (I think I'm a 1967 Red Stingray Corvette because that is a COOL car!) I'm supposed to get my new leg braces on Friday, too, so I'll get to see Barb, the orthotist. It's going to be a busy day.
I think that just about does it for the wrap-up today. I hope everyone has a wonderful week! I think it's going to be a nice week, so we should all go outside every day!
Pretty soon, I'll be able to go straight out the back door onto a deck and roll down a new ramp right into the yard. Mom and Dad wanted to build a deck out back a couple of years ago, but I went into the hospital. Then they started talking about it again last year, and I went into the hospital again. This year, I went into the hospital AGAIN, but they said, "Enough is enough - we're getting that deck built no matter what. Emma has to have access to the backyard without having to go through the garage and all the way around the house!" (Sometimes it's muddy over there on the side of the house, and it can get messy rolling through that part of the yard.)
So, now the project is really happening. Nurse Nicole's dad, Mr. Cox, is going to build it for us. He already has the area strung up to show where the railings will go and how long the ramp will be. When it's done, I'll go straight out the back door (without any steps or anything). I'll be able to sit under the roof there if it's raining, or I can roll down the ramp and over to my swing - lickity split! Plus, Dad is going to have some new doors put in - some pretty, sliding glass doors that work very smoothly.
I don't know what a Home Equity Loan is, but Mom and Dad said it's a wonderful thing. They've never had one before, but First State Community Bank is fixing them up so they can pay for this wonderful new deck for me! Mom said they have a whole list of projects to do at the house, so this is just the beginning. (Of course, it IS the most important project, because, well, it's all about ME. But Ian seems to think it will be cool, too!)
Yesterday evening, Mom and Dad and Ian and I strolled over to Grandma and Grandpa's house for dinner. Grandma made a bunch of food - some of her specialties. I didn't get to eat anything, of course, but it sure smelled good! (Mom says that if anybody out there wants to make mashed potatoes, you must remember to turn the burner on so the potatoes can actually cook. I guess that's why Grandma's potatoes weren't cooking yesterday! Sorry, Grandma, I had to tell on you. It was just too funny.)
My good friend, Sherri, told Mom last night that Baby Grant is doing very, very well now. He turned a corner last week, and he is recovering very well from his surgery. He still has a staph infection, but the nurses and doctors are sure it will go away with the special medicine he's getting. Grant's brother, Cullen, is also doing very well. So that's wonderful news!!! They were born six weeks ago, and they still have something like eight more weeks to go before they were SUPPOSED to be born. They were just too impatient and wanted to get out too quickly.
I'm very excited because I get to go see Miss Kelly this afternoon. She came home from the rehab center last weekend, and now that she's settled in a bit, I get to go see her. She was a wonderful teacher for me, and I miss her so much. I hate that she had that terrible accident. She has to be in a wheelchair now, too. It's really sad for her because she's not used to that, but I am. I've been rolling around in my special chair for so long, that it's part of me. Miss Kelly doesn't really belong in a wheelchair, though, so she's going to work really hard to get those legs and feet working again.
I have another bit of very exciting news. Yesterday in the mail, I got my "wish packet" from the Make A Wish Foundation. My doctor at the hospital and the very nice Footprints lady, Sister Judy, turned in my information to Make A Wish. They want me to do something very, very special - just for me. So now it's official - I have been qualified for the program, and my "wish-granters" are going to come to my house to meet with me and my family to see what my wish is. Mom and Dad have to fill out some papers and stuff first, but they're good at that, so it shouldn't take too long to have those "wish-granters" here at the house. Now I have to think, think, think. What is my very special wish? I think I know, but I'm going to keep it a secret until after I talk to the "wish-granters." They might have some really good ideas that I'm not thinking of. When I've made my final decision, and the "wish-granters" tell me it's okay, then I'll let you know what I'll be doing. The sky is the limit right now, so I'm keeping all my options open. Princesses have to do that, you know.
I got to see my friends Dena, Braden, Breslin and Brenna Mae this weekend. They stopped in two different times for very quick visits. Today, they came by because Mom needed Dena's physical therapy expertise. She popped her back yesterday and it really hurt. She couldn't lift me, and she had trouble turning and bending (so Grandma stayed overnight to take care of me-of course, I slept very well for Grandma). Her back was feeling better today, but Dena showed her some good exercises to maybe keep her from doing it again. Mom says she knows she's really old now, because things like this don't happen to "young people."
Next Saturday, we're going to the Roses' house for a big fireworks show. We didn't get to have our usual Fourth of July celebration this year, so we're having a "28th of July" celebration. I get to go out to the country again and see the animals, all those trees, the fields, etc. Then when it gets dark, I'll sit on the deck with the kids while Dad and Doug put on the big "show." While I'm watching the fireworks, I'll probably be thinking about Grandma and Grandpa. They're leaving for Alaska on Friday, so they'll be way up north doing something exciting on their trip. I'm going to miss them!!!
Speaking of Friday, I'll be going to St. Louis on Friday to see some of my doctors. I get to see my very nice pulmonologist. He's going to check on my breathing. I'll also see the G.I. doctor. She wants to see how my new formula is working and how it's going through my system. It was working really great for a while, but then I started leaking again around my button and my skin was getting red again. It has been much better for a couple of days, so who knows? By the time of my appointment on Friday, it will probably look perfect. Mom says it's like a car repair shop. The problem magically goes away when you take the car in to get fixed. I wonder what kind of car she thinks I am. (I think I'm a 1967 Red Stingray Corvette because that is a COOL car!) I'm supposed to get my new leg braces on Friday, too, so I'll get to see Barb, the orthotist. It's going to be a busy day.
I think that just about does it for the wrap-up today. I hope everyone has a wonderful week! I think it's going to be a nice week, so we should all go outside every day!
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Saturday, July 14, 2007
I guess everyone survived Friday the 13th, huh? Nothing too "spooky" or "unusual" happened here. It was a busy day for me, with a visit from my teacher, Miss Paula. We worked on the letter "L," and I colored (with her help) a picture of LIMES. Then my speech therapist and my physical therapist were here later in the day. Dad and Ian were here most of the day, too, so there was always something going on. I got to snuggle with Dad in the afternoon, then with Mom when she got home from work. Aaaah, I love being taken care of!
My tummy is starting to leak again around my feeding button, and it's turning my skin red again. Nobody knows what to do with me. I've also been crying a lot this week, and today I have what appears to be an in-grown toenail on my big toe. Ugh. I just can't keep anything steady, you know. I have to mix it up all the time, keep "my people" on their toes.
It has been very quiet without all the family visitors around. I did get to go outside this past week, and I got to swing. I could just swing all day long. It's my very favorite thing to do. I'm very relaxed when I'm in the swing. I don't cry. I don't gasp. I just hang out and enjoy the ride. It's so much fun!
Even though I had a lot of fun swinging, I did have a few problems last week with my "episodes." I had three last Sunday, one on Tuesday, one on Wednesday, and I thought about having one last night, but Dad talked me out of it. (Thank goodness for Dad! He got me to stop crying, so I calmed down enough to start breathing easy again.) I'm hoping that I'll get to go outside this weekend, but it's pretty hot out there today, and there's a lot of yard work happening today. I can't get in the way, and I don't want to be out there with all that stuff flying around. Even though I'm not "officially" allergic to any of the main Midwest stuff, Mom is still convinced I'm allergic to something. I always cough more after I've been outside when someone is mowing, or when it's windy and I can see stuff flying through the air.
Baby Grant had heart surgery on Thursday to close a valve. The surgery went well and everything looked pretty optimistic. Then he had a bad night, and he's having some problems. It sounds like he'll be hooked up to the respirator for a long time. That machine is NOT fun. Trust me. Also, he has a (treatable) staph infection now, too. So he has another problem to fix. He has to be a strong fighter! I'm praying for him all the time. His brother, Cullen, is doing very well and getting stronger every day.
Miss Kelly, my teacher who had the freak accident a month ago, is coming home from the rehab center today. Mom said that she and Grandma will take me to see her tomorrow if she's settled in and wants visitors. She will be in a wheelchair for a long time, and she's going to work hard to get all her movement back in her legs and feet. I know she can do it, though! I pray for her all the time, too.
My cousin, Lindsay, called last night. She wanted to tell us that she's going to have a baby! She and her husband live in Colorado. I'm so excited that there will be another baby in the family!
Ian is at football camp right now. He's going to play in the Mineral Area Football League this year. This is his first time ever playing football. He's on a team (the Warriors) with his friend Anthony. (Anthony is coming over to spend the night tonight, so I'll be stuck with two stinky boys in the house!!! But that's okay because it means there's more going on - boys running through the house, somebody else to look at, etc.) Mom is going to make Mexican food for dinner, which means my eyes will probably turn red when the onions come out!
Mom and Grandma are nervous wrecks about Ian playing football. I wonder if I'll get to see any of his games. I guess we'll have to see how things are going for me at that time, what the weather is like on those days, and what the "lay of the land" is at the football field. I just hope my big brother doesn't get hurt! He's very excited about the season because he LOVES football. Maybe this will be a really good thing for him, and Mom can just deal with it.
I hope everyone has a great weekend and a very relaxing summer week. Take it easy. Smell the roses. There's only a few weeks left before school starts again! Come by to see me if you have time. Just call first, please! Love to you all.
My tummy is starting to leak again around my feeding button, and it's turning my skin red again. Nobody knows what to do with me. I've also been crying a lot this week, and today I have what appears to be an in-grown toenail on my big toe. Ugh. I just can't keep anything steady, you know. I have to mix it up all the time, keep "my people" on their toes.
It has been very quiet without all the family visitors around. I did get to go outside this past week, and I got to swing. I could just swing all day long. It's my very favorite thing to do. I'm very relaxed when I'm in the swing. I don't cry. I don't gasp. I just hang out and enjoy the ride. It's so much fun!
Even though I had a lot of fun swinging, I did have a few problems last week with my "episodes." I had three last Sunday, one on Tuesday, one on Wednesday, and I thought about having one last night, but Dad talked me out of it. (Thank goodness for Dad! He got me to stop crying, so I calmed down enough to start breathing easy again.) I'm hoping that I'll get to go outside this weekend, but it's pretty hot out there today, and there's a lot of yard work happening today. I can't get in the way, and I don't want to be out there with all that stuff flying around. Even though I'm not "officially" allergic to any of the main Midwest stuff, Mom is still convinced I'm allergic to something. I always cough more after I've been outside when someone is mowing, or when it's windy and I can see stuff flying through the air.
Baby Grant had heart surgery on Thursday to close a valve. The surgery went well and everything looked pretty optimistic. Then he had a bad night, and he's having some problems. It sounds like he'll be hooked up to the respirator for a long time. That machine is NOT fun. Trust me. Also, he has a (treatable) staph infection now, too. So he has another problem to fix. He has to be a strong fighter! I'm praying for him all the time. His brother, Cullen, is doing very well and getting stronger every day.
Miss Kelly, my teacher who had the freak accident a month ago, is coming home from the rehab center today. Mom said that she and Grandma will take me to see her tomorrow if she's settled in and wants visitors. She will be in a wheelchair for a long time, and she's going to work hard to get all her movement back in her legs and feet. I know she can do it, though! I pray for her all the time, too.
My cousin, Lindsay, called last night. She wanted to tell us that she's going to have a baby! She and her husband live in Colorado. I'm so excited that there will be another baby in the family!
Ian is at football camp right now. He's going to play in the Mineral Area Football League this year. This is his first time ever playing football. He's on a team (the Warriors) with his friend Anthony. (Anthony is coming over to spend the night tonight, so I'll be stuck with two stinky boys in the house!!! But that's okay because it means there's more going on - boys running through the house, somebody else to look at, etc.) Mom is going to make Mexican food for dinner, which means my eyes will probably turn red when the onions come out!
Mom and Grandma are nervous wrecks about Ian playing football. I wonder if I'll get to see any of his games. I guess we'll have to see how things are going for me at that time, what the weather is like on those days, and what the "lay of the land" is at the football field. I just hope my big brother doesn't get hurt! He's very excited about the season because he LOVES football. Maybe this will be a really good thing for him, and Mom can just deal with it.
I hope everyone has a great weekend and a very relaxing summer week. Take it easy. Smell the roses. There's only a few weeks left before school starts again! Come by to see me if you have time. Just call first, please! Love to you all.
Monday, July 9, 2007
Monday, July 9, 2007
It's 8:45 p.m. and I just had a successful trach change by Mom, Nurse Nicole and Grandma. Whew! If you've been keeping up with things, then you may be wondering why it happened on a Monday instead of Sunday, as my usual every-other-week schedule has been. Well, yesterday morning I had one of my episodes about 6:30 a.m. It lasted about 15 minutes. It wasn't nearly as scary as that one a couple Thursdays ago, but it was not fun anyway. Then I had two other "short ones" later in the morning. So, Mom and Dad decided it might not be a great day to try the trach change. They decided to wait and see how Monday went before attempting it. I guess it was a good plan, because everything went smoothly. Grandma was taking notes so she would know what to do if she ever had to do it herself. (Hopefully she won't have to do that because it's stressful enough with six hands or four hands. Two hands might be too scary.)
Things have been pretty quiet around my house since all my relatives flew the coop. Grandma stayed with me on Friday while Dad had to work on the computer all day. She was sad that Cousin Addison and Aunt Jenny had to go home, but she said she was so happy to have me to snuggle with!
Mom and Ian called me a lot while they were in Chicago. I always like to hear their voices. They had a good time in the Windy City with Uncle Scotty. They even got to go sailing on Lake Michigan. Wow! That would be fun! Dad made sure I was awake when they got home Saturday night, and Mom rocked me in the chair for a long time.
Dad snuggled with me a lot yesterday because he had to go back to New Jersey today. He wasn't feeling very well, and I really feel sorry for him. It sounds like it would be very hard to fly on a plane, have the rental car place be behind schedule, and try to work hard and think straight when you're not feeling yourself. I hope he feels all well really soon. When he comes home this weekend, I want him to be back to 100%!
Tonight was Ian's last baseball game. He hit a grand slam home run! (He's a really good baseball player.) I saw him play his first game this year. His team was the Marlins. They had a 9-1 season and ended up in first place. I'm so proud of my big brother! He's the best!
The next couple of weeks are going to be kind of uneventful. Nothing big on the schedule right now. Grandma and Grandpa are getting ready for their big trip to Alaska, so every time I see Grandpa, he's counting down the days. This is their 50th state. When they touch down in Alaska, they will have made it to all of the United States, so Grandpa will have met his goal. Someday I'd like to go to another state. It's kind of crazy to think that I've spent my entire life in Missouri, and almost all of it in Farmington. Other than that, I've been to St. Louis for hospital stays and doctors' appointments. I have been out to the country, though, so that's kind of cool.
Oh - here's the BIG NEWS in my family. Uncle Kevin and Aunt Janet are going to have TWINS!!! The due date is January 1, but they said the babies will probably be born closer to Thanksgiving. Wow! Isn't that the greatest news??? They finally gave us the okay to share the good news with everyone we know, so here's the big announcement - right here in black and white. I'm so excited to have more cousins! Ian thinks they should both be boys, but I think they should both be girls. Whatever they have, I'll be so happy to meet them. More babies to sit on my lap. I wish they didn't live in California. They're too far away to see them very often. Please say some prayers for everything to go smoothly. Aunt Janet is having to do a lot of extra special things to keep those babies healthy in there so all goes well.
While we're talking about babies, please say some extra prayers for Cullen and Grant, too. They're still in the hospital, and I want them to grow and get stronger and healthier as quickly as possible so they can go home with their mommy and daddy (and sister and brother).
Grandma and Grandpa saw Miss Kelly the other day when they were in St. Louis. Miss Kelly was my teacher for a long time. She's the one who had the terrible accident in June and broke her back. She is getting better and working hard in therapy, but she has a loooooooong way to go. She needs lots of prayers, too.
I'm going to go to sleep now. It's late and I should be getting my beauty rest. That's what princesses have to do. Take care, everyone! God bless you, every day.
Things have been pretty quiet around my house since all my relatives flew the coop. Grandma stayed with me on Friday while Dad had to work on the computer all day. She was sad that Cousin Addison and Aunt Jenny had to go home, but she said she was so happy to have me to snuggle with!
Mom and Ian called me a lot while they were in Chicago. I always like to hear their voices. They had a good time in the Windy City with Uncle Scotty. They even got to go sailing on Lake Michigan. Wow! That would be fun! Dad made sure I was awake when they got home Saturday night, and Mom rocked me in the chair for a long time.
Dad snuggled with me a lot yesterday because he had to go back to New Jersey today. He wasn't feeling very well, and I really feel sorry for him. It sounds like it would be very hard to fly on a plane, have the rental car place be behind schedule, and try to work hard and think straight when you're not feeling yourself. I hope he feels all well really soon. When he comes home this weekend, I want him to be back to 100%!
Tonight was Ian's last baseball game. He hit a grand slam home run! (He's a really good baseball player.) I saw him play his first game this year. His team was the Marlins. They had a 9-1 season and ended up in first place. I'm so proud of my big brother! He's the best!
The next couple of weeks are going to be kind of uneventful. Nothing big on the schedule right now. Grandma and Grandpa are getting ready for their big trip to Alaska, so every time I see Grandpa, he's counting down the days. This is their 50th state. When they touch down in Alaska, they will have made it to all of the United States, so Grandpa will have met his goal. Someday I'd like to go to another state. It's kind of crazy to think that I've spent my entire life in Missouri, and almost all of it in Farmington. Other than that, I've been to St. Louis for hospital stays and doctors' appointments. I have been out to the country, though, so that's kind of cool.
Oh - here's the BIG NEWS in my family. Uncle Kevin and Aunt Janet are going to have TWINS!!! The due date is January 1, but they said the babies will probably be born closer to Thanksgiving. Wow! Isn't that the greatest news??? They finally gave us the okay to share the good news with everyone we know, so here's the big announcement - right here in black and white. I'm so excited to have more cousins! Ian thinks they should both be boys, but I think they should both be girls. Whatever they have, I'll be so happy to meet them. More babies to sit on my lap. I wish they didn't live in California. They're too far away to see them very often. Please say some prayers for everything to go smoothly. Aunt Janet is having to do a lot of extra special things to keep those babies healthy in there so all goes well.
While we're talking about babies, please say some extra prayers for Cullen and Grant, too. They're still in the hospital, and I want them to grow and get stronger and healthier as quickly as possible so they can go home with their mommy and daddy (and sister and brother).
Grandma and Grandpa saw Miss Kelly the other day when they were in St. Louis. Miss Kelly was my teacher for a long time. She's the one who had the terrible accident in June and broke her back. She is getting better and working hard in therapy, but she has a loooooooong way to go. She needs lots of prayers, too.
I'm going to go to sleep now. It's late and I should be getting my beauty rest. That's what princesses have to do. Take care, everyone! God bless you, every day.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
It's 2 o'clock on the Fourth of July. I bet you are all out there barbecuing and shooting off fireworks today for my mom's birthday. She and I just had a 2-1/2 hour snuggle in the rocking chair. Aunt Jenny and Cousin Addison were here for an hour, and I watched Addy play with some toys, eat some lunch and then play with her mom's makeup. She got the lid off the lipstick, then stuck her finger down in the tube. Boy oh boy, did that cause Mom and Aunt Jen to perk up. "Oh, no, Addison! Oops! Gotta get that lipstick off your fingers before you get it on everything!" (She was NOT happy about having the fun makeup taken away.)
This has been a very busy week. I'll bring you up to speed as quickly as I can. On Monday morning, the allergist called to say that she got the test results back from my blood test in the hospital. They had sent off my blood for a full Midwest panel to see what I might be allergic to here in Missouri. Guess what - it was NEGATIVE - on everything! Cats, dogs, trees, grass, ragweed, dust mites, mold, etc. I'm clear. Now, while that is good news, of course, it makes us all go, "Hmmmm. How is it all clear if my troubles all seem to start up in the Spring/Summer?" Another mystery to add to my list. I'm just full of them!
Then a little later on Monday morning, my Uncle Scotty showed up in town! Wow! What a big surprise! Nobody knew he was coming. Mom and Ian are going to Chicago to visit Uncle Scotty tomorrow, and he shows up in town the same week! He said that since his days off are Monday and Tuesday, and Addison was in town, he thought he'd better get to Farmington to see everyone while we're all in one place. He talked to me and gave me kisses, and he played catch with Ian. On Monday evening, I went to Ms. Ruby's pool to watch Uncle Scotty, Ian, Cousin Addison and Grandma swim for a while. Mom and I supervised. I can't get in the water anymore since I have my trach tube - too dangerous. That water could splash into my tube and go right into my lungs. That's pneumonia waiting to happen! (But watching them splash around was fun, too, even though Addison was kind of fussy.)
Uncle Scotty was telling us about a baseball game he went to in Chicago. He saw the Cubs play the Rockies, and he had a seat right at the Rockies dugout. While the Rockies were warming up, his friends were heckling the players a bit. (I'm not sure what that is, but it doesn't sound very nice.) Then Uncle Scotty yelled to the Rockies pitcher and asked if he would take a picture of him and his friends up in the stands. He said, "Sure!" so he threw his phone down to the pitcher, and the guy dropped his phone (great hands for a baseball player!), then he took his picture and threw the phone back to him. Kind of funny, huh?
Speaking of funny things, the other day, my mom was writing in my cousin Rachel's birthday card. She yelled to Ian, "Come in here and sign this, Ian." (He always helps me sign my name on birthday cards.) He went to the kitchen and said, "What is it, a liability waiver?" (What was he talking about? He's so weird.) Then, Uncle Scotty was talking about some movies he had seen. Mom said she hadn't seen many movies over the last few yeas, and Uncle Scotty hadn't either. He said he really didn't like movies very much. Ian said, "And yet you work in Hollywood. Oh, the irony!" (My brother - he talks like a grown-up sometimes.)
My teacher, Ms. Paula, came to work with me two times on Monday. Mom videotaped some of my classwork. I did a really good job looking at the right pictures, and I turned my head to the right shapes. My PT, Jan, came to see me, too. It was a busy day, with all kinds of visitors!
On Tuesday morning, I had a dentist appointment. Jennifer is my hygienist's name. She is so nice to me. She cleaned my teeth very carefully, then polished them and put fluoride on them. Then the best dentist in the world came to look at my teeth. He found two teeth that are almost loose - so Mom and Dad have to keep a close eye on those. We don't want anymore teeth going down my esophagus! My next appointment, I have to get x-rays. Those are REALLY hard to do in my mouth. I like to be challenging.
Tuesday afternoon, my OT, (Ms. Sarah), my Speech Therapist (Ms. Kathy), and my new "main teacher" (Mrs. Eaton) came to my house to work with me and talk about the best plan for the rest of the summer and when the new school year starts. Did you know that my school starts again on August 16? That's way too early, isn't it? But that's okay because I love school work.
Also on Tuesday, I got to see Uncle Scotty again, Aunt Jenny, Uncle Ryan, Cousin Addison and Grandma. Then Uncle Scotty had to leave. Addison played at my house for an hour while Aunt Jenny and Mom went shopping. Dad and Ian watched her play and showed her some smoke bombs and sparklers outside. She wasn't allowed to get too close to anything, though.
I'll tell you what, the last five days have just been cram-packed with people at my house, and it's not over yet. Everyone is coming here for Mom's birthday dinner this evening. Dad is cooking, which makes the house smell so good! I wish I could eat it. Nurse Nicole made Mom's birthday cake. It's "chocolate orange blossom." Doesn't that sound delicious? It's a chocolate cake with orange-flavored icing. I bet Dad will put some on my tongue for me - maybe even a tiny bit of ice cream. They don't want me to get anything down the wrong tube and end up in my lungs, so I only get tiny bits of tasty things to see if I like them. I bet Mom will ask me to help her blow out her candles, but there will be WAY TOO MANY for me to blow out, though!!!
I think you are all caught up now on what I've been doing. I'll probably have to wait a while to write again. Mom has to help me, you know, and she'll be gone a few days. She is my typing assistant. I tell her what to write, and she does it for me. Right now, I'm starting to get all gurgly again, so she's going to have to go suction me. I have to keep her on her toes! That's one way to keep her young.
Happy Independence Day to everyone! Love to you all!
This has been a very busy week. I'll bring you up to speed as quickly as I can. On Monday morning, the allergist called to say that she got the test results back from my blood test in the hospital. They had sent off my blood for a full Midwest panel to see what I might be allergic to here in Missouri. Guess what - it was NEGATIVE - on everything! Cats, dogs, trees, grass, ragweed, dust mites, mold, etc. I'm clear. Now, while that is good news, of course, it makes us all go, "Hmmmm. How is it all clear if my troubles all seem to start up in the Spring/Summer?" Another mystery to add to my list. I'm just full of them!
Then a little later on Monday morning, my Uncle Scotty showed up in town! Wow! What a big surprise! Nobody knew he was coming. Mom and Ian are going to Chicago to visit Uncle Scotty tomorrow, and he shows up in town the same week! He said that since his days off are Monday and Tuesday, and Addison was in town, he thought he'd better get to Farmington to see everyone while we're all in one place. He talked to me and gave me kisses, and he played catch with Ian. On Monday evening, I went to Ms. Ruby's pool to watch Uncle Scotty, Ian, Cousin Addison and Grandma swim for a while. Mom and I supervised. I can't get in the water anymore since I have my trach tube - too dangerous. That water could splash into my tube and go right into my lungs. That's pneumonia waiting to happen! (But watching them splash around was fun, too, even though Addison was kind of fussy.)
Uncle Scotty was telling us about a baseball game he went to in Chicago. He saw the Cubs play the Rockies, and he had a seat right at the Rockies dugout. While the Rockies were warming up, his friends were heckling the players a bit. (I'm not sure what that is, but it doesn't sound very nice.) Then Uncle Scotty yelled to the Rockies pitcher and asked if he would take a picture of him and his friends up in the stands. He said, "Sure!" so he threw his phone down to the pitcher, and the guy dropped his phone (great hands for a baseball player!), then he took his picture and threw the phone back to him. Kind of funny, huh?
Speaking of funny things, the other day, my mom was writing in my cousin Rachel's birthday card. She yelled to Ian, "Come in here and sign this, Ian." (He always helps me sign my name on birthday cards.) He went to the kitchen and said, "What is it, a liability waiver?" (What was he talking about? He's so weird.) Then, Uncle Scotty was talking about some movies he had seen. Mom said she hadn't seen many movies over the last few yeas, and Uncle Scotty hadn't either. He said he really didn't like movies very much. Ian said, "And yet you work in Hollywood. Oh, the irony!" (My brother - he talks like a grown-up sometimes.)
My teacher, Ms. Paula, came to work with me two times on Monday. Mom videotaped some of my classwork. I did a really good job looking at the right pictures, and I turned my head to the right shapes. My PT, Jan, came to see me, too. It was a busy day, with all kinds of visitors!
On Tuesday morning, I had a dentist appointment. Jennifer is my hygienist's name. She is so nice to me. She cleaned my teeth very carefully, then polished them and put fluoride on them. Then the best dentist in the world came to look at my teeth. He found two teeth that are almost loose - so Mom and Dad have to keep a close eye on those. We don't want anymore teeth going down my esophagus! My next appointment, I have to get x-rays. Those are REALLY hard to do in my mouth. I like to be challenging.
Tuesday afternoon, my OT, (Ms. Sarah), my Speech Therapist (Ms. Kathy), and my new "main teacher" (Mrs. Eaton) came to my house to work with me and talk about the best plan for the rest of the summer and when the new school year starts. Did you know that my school starts again on August 16? That's way too early, isn't it? But that's okay because I love school work.
Also on Tuesday, I got to see Uncle Scotty again, Aunt Jenny, Uncle Ryan, Cousin Addison and Grandma. Then Uncle Scotty had to leave. Addison played at my house for an hour while Aunt Jenny and Mom went shopping. Dad and Ian watched her play and showed her some smoke bombs and sparklers outside. She wasn't allowed to get too close to anything, though.
I'll tell you what, the last five days have just been cram-packed with people at my house, and it's not over yet. Everyone is coming here for Mom's birthday dinner this evening. Dad is cooking, which makes the house smell so good! I wish I could eat it. Nurse Nicole made Mom's birthday cake. It's "chocolate orange blossom." Doesn't that sound delicious? It's a chocolate cake with orange-flavored icing. I bet Dad will put some on my tongue for me - maybe even a tiny bit of ice cream. They don't want me to get anything down the wrong tube and end up in my lungs, so I only get tiny bits of tasty things to see if I like them. I bet Mom will ask me to help her blow out her candles, but there will be WAY TOO MANY for me to blow out, though!!!
I think you are all caught up now on what I've been doing. I'll probably have to wait a while to write again. Mom has to help me, you know, and she'll be gone a few days. She is my typing assistant. I tell her what to write, and she does it for me. Right now, I'm starting to get all gurgly again, so she's going to have to go suction me. I have to keep her on her toes! That's one way to keep her young.
Happy Independence Day to everyone! Love to you all!
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