Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Tagen's 1st Steps...


We were lucky enough to capture Tagen's first steps on film.
She took these steps on March 15, I'm just slow posting this.
I love this film because you can see what a tease Tagen really is.
She teases me into thinking she's going to walk, then she starts laughing and drops to the floor.
She hasn't really tried walking again since she was sick, but I'm going to keep trying with her this week. Before I know it, she'll be cruising all over the house and I'll be begging her to sit down!

Monday, March 29, 2010

Piggy Tails...




Look who finally has enough hair for little piggie tails!! I'm so excited.
Granted... one car ride later, one was out and the other
barely hanging on, but they sure were cute while they lasted!!

She's starting to feel better which makes me want to CELEBRATE!!!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Poor little Tagen...

Our little sickie...
Her most comfortable position to sleep lately is on her side/stomach.
As you can tell, she also likes laying on her hand. This hand print lasted for
over 3 hours!
This was taken Saturday morning. Her fever was at 102 degrees.
It was the tear on her cheek that convinced me to take her back to the doctor again.
She was just plain MISERABLE.
Her "bling" bracelet from the hospital.
NOT an accessory I like seeing on my children.
Her "souvenir" from the hospital. I was VERY impressed with the phlebotomist.
She got this in one stick... Very hard to do on a baby... trust me.

I know many of you know this story already, but I want it recorded on my blog for future memories. Our little Tagen has been getting her molars over the past week and a half. She's had a low grade fever during that time. But, she started running a constant fever of 102 since last Thursday and has been severely congested so we knew this wasn't just the two molars she's getting. A trip to the doctor on Thursday and another on Saturday turned up nothing but the doctor could tell she was very sick and her breath smelled of infection. She gave us amoxicillin and said to come back Monday if no changes.

Because there were no changes, we went back on Monday and her regular doctor was available. Finally an ear infection started making itself visible, but he was convinced there was more to it and suspected RSV or a cousin strain. A urine test and throat swab from the Saturday visit showed nothing, so he sent us to Primary Children's to get a series of tests done. After 2 hrs at Primary's we came home with a very traumatized Tagen. Every time someone who was wearing scrubs or even looked like a doctor walked into the room, she started crying. They did a blood draw, chest and throat x-rays, and suctioned her nose to test her mucous. Our very cool doctor called us around 9pm tonight (yes, he is absolutely awesome and we love him) and let us know she has Adenovirus. The good news is it's nothing too serious and we are SO relieved to at least finally know what we're dealing with and how to treat it. The bad news is he thinks she's probably got another 3-4 days of misery before she turns a corner. Keeping her on the antibiotics, Motrin/Tylenol for fever, ear drops for her ear infection, and careful amounts of Afrin nasal spray for her congestion. The relief was palpable.

Update on Brad:
(Written by him)

After a couple of different doctor consultations, x-ray examinations, and MRI examination, and after much thought and 3 priesthood blessings... I have decided NOT to have the surgery to fuse the blown discs in my neck. I have been promised I will heal and regain full health. The x-rays show that my neck sits 2" forward of where it's supposed to, which is what put all the extra strain on my C6 and C7 discs. He said it was just a matter of time before this happened. My graceful attempt at being "America's Greatest Hero" in the bathroom was the final straw. So, we are going to continue with physical therapy/chiropractic/muscle stim/ice and the prayers of our wonderful family. You have ALL been so supportive and we appreciate very much the outpouring of love and support we have received.

I am still in constant pain, with the only relief coming from heavy narcotics and muscle relaxers. But I'm hoping with another week of treatments this week, I can go back to work on Monday. I've finally been able to start driving again, although it's pretty painful and I can't do it for very long. I still can't lift the girls, or anything heavy for that matter, but I do what I can to help Carrie around the house. Poor Tagen won't let her put her down, she's convinced she'll be attacked by another doctor when she's not looking ha ha. Carrie has borne all of this with the grace and strength that I fell in love with when I met her. We all have our trials in life, but it takes a special kind of woman to put up with me, and that's when I'm NOT gimpy!

It's Carrie again...
So, that's our family for now. I am so grateful for all the wonderful friends, visiting teachers (who are also friends) and family that have called, visited, taken my children, sent food, plants, emails, and that have prayed and checked in to make sure we're surviving. It's been a tough three weeks, but with all the blessings we have been given, we're totally making it... with smiles on our faces.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Why I'm tired...

Did you know that....
caring for someone with TWO herniated discs in a neck,
especially when it's someone you love dearly,
and the only form of slight relief comes from lots of drugs,
and potassium from bananas,
while still caring for two young children,
makes for a VERY. TIRED. MOM.

Brad woke up Saturday morning at 4 a.m. to Tagen crying. When he went to get out of bed, he found he couldn't move. He hurt so badly in his neck and back, he literally could not move. We thought his neck had gone out again, but when he started having numbness and tingling in his right arm, we knew something was really wrong. The chiropractor met us in his office on Sunday (thank goodness) and we've been doing therapies with him everyday since then. Our sister-in-law, Marianne, set him up with her physical therapist yesterday, but without xrays or an MRI she wasn't willing to do much. So, last night we went to the ER. They did xrays and an MRI and we have found out that Brad has two herniated discs in his neck. It's in the C5-C6-C7 area. We've been referred to a specialist that we have an appointment with next week. He's still numb and tingling in his right arm, and we're hoping there isn't permanent nerve damage. He hasn't been able to hold his daughters since Saturday. He's barely been able to walk, and today is the first day he's really been out of bed for any amount of time. We're grateful that the Percocet, muscle relaxers and steroids from the ER last night finally let Brad get some good sleep, (the first in 5 days.) All Prayers on his behalf and any advice and recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance from this tired mama.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Art by Olivia

Olivia absolutely LOVES drawing and art of any kind. She drew this picture on Friday for my mom's birthday card. I asked her to explain what everything was and it just made me laugh. I had to share it.

On the left we have a flower that has been hit by a rocket. The rocket is at the base of the flower. She said the flower had to have blue petals because that's how she likes it best.
On the right, we have a girl snowman... that's pregnant. If you click and enlarge the picture, you can see the baby in the snowman's tummy better. She also has two different color socks on "because that's silly."

Her imagination is pretty impressive... and as a biased mother, I think her artwork is too... especially for a three year old. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.