Hurting toes

Today I saw the podiatrist about my big toes. I have suffered on and off with ingrown toenails over the years, but usually I can dig it out. I finally decided to get it fixed correctly. Here are some gross pictures.

Toes right after surgery

After soaking the big toe.

soaking

close up of soaking feet

Big Toes under water.

West High Showtime's Show Choir 2012

I realized I never posted about Show Choir for Brenden and Jared this year so here are a few pictures and then a link if you want to watch their entire show!West High Showtime

Brenden right there in front.  Jared is two people behind him.

Jared being really silly in the critique room.

The school where they did their competition decorated each of the rooms for the show choirs.

Each Musical note had their names on it.

Our sweet dog

Last night when I was so upset and sobbing.  Abby walks up out of no where and snuggles her face into my face and then starts licking me over and over.  Then she sets her head on my shoulder as if to say, "I understand and I'm here for you."

So sweet.

Hard Time Parenting

I am really struggling right now in how to be a good parent.  I don't know how to raise teenagers, it's so hard and I'm just really feeling like I've failed completely with a couple of them.  I don't know what to do to be better at this except to keep praying that I don't completely loose it one night or show how upset I am, like right now.

Everyone in the house currently is gone.  Jason is teaching a class.  All the boys are at Boy Scouts and Alyssa is at her Young Women's group at church.  I guess the fact that they all went to their activities should say that I did something right tonight I guess.  I just need to compose myself and stop crying.

Daniel's Birth Story

I have never shared the birth stories of any of my children, they all ask me about their special day so I will start with Daniel.  He is not my oldest child, however his birthday is this Thursday.

On March 13th of 1995 I felt some intense pressure and tried to ignore it.  No contractions just pressure.  I went through my day and at one point mentioned to Jason that I probably should get checked.  That night I finally called the doctor and went in to be checked.  I was a 4 and they were showing contractions on the monitor so they kept me.  I progressed to a 7-8 and the entire staff thought I was in labor for I was showing serious signs of that.  I began to be asked questions about my due date and if I was really 6 weeks early and  then the stories on what may happen to my baby since he was so early.    I was told to relax and wait for the doctor.  The doctor took forever to get there and when he finally did he said I was dilated to a 7 and all pressure and contractions had stopped,and he didn't want to break my water because I was 6 weeks early so he wanted to see if the baby would wait a few more hours.  My baby did wait.  I slept all night and was surprised it was morning when I woke.

The morning of March 14th,  I was checked again and the doctor said I was back to a 3-4 dilation.  I can't remember what he called this, but he said it's weird to go back and forth and puts a lot of pressure on the baby.  By the night of March 14th I had dilated to an 8 again and was given shots for the lung development.  I was told to just wait and relax.  I was checked multiple times and never felt the pressure again that I did on March 13th.

March 15th I woke up that morning and was checked again.  This time I was a 3 once again.  Weird.  The doctor said he only sees this super rarely and had decided that he would break my water sometime that afternoon if I did progress to an 8 again.

I was so confused at this change in dilation backwards and forwards.  The doctor explained it like this:
When the baby is putting pressure on the cervix, you dilate, when the baby decides to not put pressure on the cervix you shrink in dilation.  Weird and very rare, but it happened to me.

At around 6:55 p.m. my doctor broke my water.  The pains were enormous and I wanted an epidural, but it was much too late for now I was ready to push almost instantly.  I asked for nubain and they were dragging their feet getting it to me.  They finally brought in the nubain while I was pushing for the second time. Daniel flew out and just when he did come out the nebain took affect and I felt super sleepy.  Basically I did this labor without drugs because they didn't take affect until after he was out.  I didn't realize how close I was.

They set Daniel on my chest and I got to hold him for a little bit when the hospital staff realized he needed to be in the NICU.  They took him away because he couldn't hold his temperature and he couldn't suck and they were worried about his lungs.

Turns out his lungs were GREAT.  However he spent 10 days in the NICU because he couldn't hold his temperature and he couldn't suck so he wouldn't nurse.  He was gavage fed through a tube.  Finally after 10 days he got his sucking reflex and we were able to take him home.

Daniel was 6 pounds 8 ounces and 19 inches long.  He never did nurse.  I had to pump milk for him for over 6 weeks and feed him with a bottle.

Daniel ended up thriving as a baby, he developed right on schedule and became a fat baby and oh so cute.  Here is a picture of him taken in October at a race we talked him into doing with the family.  I need more pictures of him, but as a teen doesn't like to be in pictures.

Update on Daniel

The next morning after surgery I knew Daniel was feeling a little bit better because he asked for his cell phone and I-pod. Here are a couple pictures of him in the hospital. Then the last picture is of his BEFORE and AFTER x-rays. When you look at the picture on the left you will see his top lip forward. Then look at the picture on the right and both his upper and lower lip are matched up.

Daniel with his cell phone.  He had no idea I was taking a picture.

Daniel realized I was taking a picture so I got "the hand"

Daniel at his Oral Surgery appointment right before we left the hospital.  He pretty much slept through the entire thing.



On the Left is Before the Surgery.  On the Right is After the surgery.  A huge difference.  I'm sure he will be glad he did this several years from now.

Liquid Meals for 4 weeks and 800 donations

Daniel mentioned to me earlier this morning that I didn't understand how hard it is for him to only have liquids and nothing else for the next 4 weeks.  I had a bright idea, I thought, "Why don't I only drink liquids for the next 4 weeks as well so that I CAN totally understand what he is going through?" 

I then told him I'd do it too. I would have only liquids and nothing else for the next 4 weeks.

I know this will be really hard to do, but it will help me have more empathy for his situation.  Plus I will have to do my research on different types of smoothies and drinks so that both Daniel and I get enough calories for our bodies, and so we get the proper amount of vegetables, fruits, grains, proteins and other nutrients our bodies need.  I will know by Tuesday when I donate plasma again how I'm doing in the Iron and Protein department because I'm tested every time I donate. 

Speaking of plasma donations:

Today I donated plasma for the 800th time.  I can't believe I've been donating twice a week for 9 years, but I have and I'm still doing well with it. 

If you have any healthy smoothie recipes, please  post them in the comments.

Daniel's jaw surgery

Just a disclaimer about this post first. If Daniel sees this post and wants it removed, it will be deleted, so just know that if you come back a few days from now and it's not here, it's because he doesn't want it to be.

 Daniel's lower jaw was too far back and was creating some major bite problems. Jason and I were told that in the future this off set bite could cause even bigger problems, so we (Daniel, Jason and I) all agreed to the surgery. In the surgery today he had his lower jaw broken and brought forward, then 4 teeth removed (two being wisdom teeth that were deeply impacted way up there). Daniel's surgery was scheduled for 11:30a.m. but around 11:15a.m. we were informed that an emergency surgery came in and Dan's surgery would be pushed back an hour or two or three. At 1:15 we were told that a room had been opened. 1:30 and Daniel's IV was implanted in his left hand. Daniel did so well and didn't even flinch. At 2p.m. he was brought back to the operating room. Soon after the surgery would begin. By 6ish p.m. the surgeon called Jason to tell him that the surgery was done and Daniel was being woke up. We didn't get to see him till way after 7p.m. Here are a couple pictures of the evening:

Daniel right after surgery in his room.  It's so hard to see him like this.

Alyssa and Brenden hopped over a wall to be in with the Clown Herky.  I'm not sure what pose they are doing.

Brenden practicing running in the hospital.

Pinewood Derby 2012

The 2012 Pinewood Derby for Scouts was on Leap Day this year. Wednesday, February 29th. Scott was pretty excited, as all the boys have been when this event comes up and he designed his car on paper. Jason cut the car/truck out with the wood saw and then Scott sanded and painted it. The night ended up to be a success. Scott's car came in 4th overall and he won the title of "Most Original car" so this earned him a spot at the District Pinewood Derby held at Coralridge Mall on March 31st at 10a.m. He is super excited to be able to race again. Here are some pictures to enjoy:

Scott's Car that was designed as a truck.

Jared realized I'm watching him and tried to block the picture.

Jared sitting across the room not knowing I'm watching him.

Jared taking a picture of me taking a picture.

Some of the other cars in the competition.  If you want to see these bigger, click on the picture.

More cars.

Scott's Car

The photo finish.  Scott's car always finished either first or second place.  Mostly second in all the races.  But within milaseconds of the first place car.  In this picture Scott's truck/car is in the 2nd lane.

Scott showing off his "most original" award

Scott won a trophy.

The treats someone made.  Too cool. Zingers with mini oreos for wheels.