Surgery #10

Well, Noah's on his 10th surgery now, his 8th on his leg, and he makes sure he lets everyone know what number it is. We started his 2nd limb lengthening procedure on Dec. 8th. In some ways it has seemed a little better and a little easier than the first one, but in other ways it has been more difficult also. For one thing he only had to stay one night in the hospital this time instead of two, which was nice. The first few days after he came home when his leg was still all wrapped up he seemed to do a lot better than the last time and be in less pain. He slept well at night those days also. He even did well with getting up and moving around some on his walker. Once he went back to the doctor to have the bandages removed though, it suddenly got harder. Most of the problem though was not actually his leg, it was more his stomach from all the pain meds. The meds made him nauseous, gave him bad stomach aches at times, and constipated him as well. He has done so much better I think with the pin cleanings this time. It's been painful at times for him, but I definitely think he handled it a lot better than last time. Another thing that has made it a little harder on him this time is that while they were doing the surgery to put his external fixator on his leg they also had to go in and take out the screw and plate they put in his knee to correct his knee last December. His knee has been hurting him a lot because of that, and it's taking him a while to be able to bend it again. Sometimes his knee has actually been causing him more pain than his leg with all the pins in it. After they took the bandages off his leg the good full nights of sleep disappeared. He started having a lot of pain in his leg at night when he'd go to sleep, and it would wake him up every couple of hours. We started feeling like we had a newborn in the house again from all the lack of sleep. He is finally starting to sleep a little better though now, thank goodness. We were getting pretty exhausted, so it's nice to finally get a good night's sleep again. He's starting to get up and around pretty good again now, and can use his walker to walk all over the house without any pain. He's doing so well, and we are so proud of how brave he's been through all of this. The hard part should be over now, and it should just get better for him from here on out.

Hugging Anna goodbye before leaving for his surgery.

Trying to hug Gracie, but she was a bit squirmy.

Waiting for surgery.

Resting after surgery.

Painting Anna a picture in the children's playroom.

First time up day after surgery trying to get around a little.

Home from surgery.

Showing us how he can get around a little.

Looking at his get well cards from all the kids in my mom's group.

After the big bandage around his leg came off, showing off his pins and external fixator.

A little closer look.

Almost Christmas and exactly 2 weeks since surgery. Starting to feel better and get around better too.

I also want to mention how wonderful my mom's group has been through all of this. I'm so thankful I found this group. The day after Noah came home from the hospital they each took turns bringing meals over for us each night. They were all so yummy, and it helped so much just being able to warm something up that has already been prepared for us instead of spending so much time making dinner and then cleaning up afterwards. When Arron came home from work instead of making dinner I was able to help him with Noah since it took the both of us to do that and that was when we would give him his bath, clean his pins, and work on getting him moving around. All of the mom's have been such a blessing to us through this time.

December Happenings

Earlier in the month, actually on the day of Noah's surgery, we had our Christmas children's devotional with my mom's group at my house. The children listened very well to the Christmas story of Jesus' birth and all enjoyed it. Then afterwards they all made get well soon cards for Noah for him to read when he got home. It was so sweet seeing all the children working so hard on making their cards for Noah, and he loved looking at each one when he got home.

Grace and Noah riding the horsey together a few days before Noah's surgery. I have a similar picture of Noah and Anna just a few days before his last limb lengthening surgery. You can see it here.

When we aren't looking Grace will sit and grab one of our laptops into her lap and act like she is working on the computer. She looks so funny, and sometimes she looks like she really is working on something.

The kids all listening to the story.

Working hard drawing on their cards for Noah.

Picking out the best stickers to put on their cards.

Christmas Card Photo Shoot

It took me a couple of days and lots of pictures to finally get a good Christmas card picture this year. Gracie was just not into cooperating for a picture in front of the Christmas tree with or without her siblings. In fact I've yet to get a really good picture of just her smiling in front of the tree. Every time I set her down in front of it she either cried or she just got up and walked away. I did finally get one that was really good of all three of them, but it was difficult getting all of them to sit together and look at the camera and at least somewhat smile for me. It was a relief when I finally got it though, and I let that be it after that one and left them alone. No more posing for Mommy for a little while anyway.

In case you aren't sure, Gracie is laughing in this picture, not crying.

The One

(I had to give Gracie a bell from off the tree to get her to sit there.)

Our Christmas Tree

After visiting Santa the Saturday after Thanksgiving we headed over to pick out our Christmas tree too. We couldn't wait. We usually get it the day after Thanksgiving and we actually did try to do that. We picked out a very nice tree that we liked, and it was the first one we saw too, but when we took it to the guy to get it trimmed up around the bottom some and then have the netting put over it so we could take it home he snapped the top of it off where you would put the star on. It was already not a very good day because it was cold and drizzling rain and by that time it was starting to rain harder, so we looked around a little more for a different one and then just went home without one. It was a much sunnier day the next day so we were able to find another tree we liked. After we got the tree home and in the stand, while the girls were napping we went outside and decorated the outside of the house. Then we came inside and spent the rest of the evening decorating our tree. It was a great day.

Picking out our Christmas tree.

Anna was wore out after visiting Santa and picking out a Christmas tree in the same day.

She woke up when it was time to decorate though.

Noah and Anna decorating the tree.

Noah got to put the star on top this year since Anna has done it the past two years and next year Gracie will probably be big enough to do it for the first time.

Gracie woke up from her nap and came to check out our decorated tree.

Our tree

Visiting Santa

After Thanksgiving we decided to hit the mall to go visit Santa. We figured we'd do it early since Noah's surgery wasn't too far away, and he wouldn't be able to go. We went to the less crowded mall so there wouldn't be a long line for Santa, and there wasn't. There was only one family ahead of us. Anna was excited about going to see Santa, but yet did not want to get too close. She let Noah and Gracie sit in his lap and stood on the other side of Noah so she could keep her distance. She was happy and content there and so we got a nice big smile out of her for the picture, and Noah of course always smiles. Gracie was not too happy having to sit on Santa's lap, and she let us know it as soon as we even got her near him. She cried the entire time until one of us picked her up, so we got two smiling and one crying her little eyes out for our Santa pic. Maybe next year will be better.

Playing in the "snow".

Waiting patiently to see Santa.

Two out of three of them smiling isn't bad.

Throwing coins in the wishing pond.

Listening to the bears sing Christmas songs.

Riding the train around the mall.

Noah wanted to ride in his own car.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was not quite the same this year. We had a very good one, but my grandmother couldn't be with us this year. She is in the nursing home right now because she cannot even stand up on her own anymore. We also were not able to go visit her for the holiday either since me and the girls had colds that we didn't want to pass on to her. We had a nice little Thanksgiving dinner with my mom though, and the kids had a good time playing with Grammy. Noah even tried some mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce this year, and said he liked them. He didn't gobble them down or anything, so I know he didn't really like them that much, but at least he ate some of it. Anna did not do much better than him, but she did however gobble down the mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. She loves them. Gracie though ate a little bit of everything. She's my good little eater for now. I know it won't last, I'm sure, because they all used to be good little eaters at one time. They all had no problem cleaning their dessert plates after dinner though. They love my oreo pie. Noah helped make that this year while the girls helped make the pumpkin pie.

Anna making pumpkin pie.

Noah getting started on the oreo pie. Notice the little hand reaching up to steal an oreo.

Gracie's turn to help.

Time to eat.

Gracie says forget the fork, hands work much better.

Ready for dessert.

Noah's favorite.

Gracie liked the oreo pie and the cool whip.

She worked off her Thanksgiving dinner and dessert racing her baby in the stroller around the kitchen and living room.

Noah's New Bed

We decided to get Noah a new bed, since his bed is a loft bunk bed. His next surgery on his leg is coming up on December 8th, and he will be having his 2nd limb lengthening. This time on the femur bone. It will be a while before he can climb up into a loft bunk bed because of this so we decided to get rid of it and get him a new bed that he'll be able to sleep in after his surgery. We ordered just the bed for now, and Anna helped Daddy put it together. Later on we plan on ordering the matching bookshelf headboard and the dresser to go with the bed, but with Christmas coming and more medical bills soon to come we decided to wait on that. He loves his new bed, and the new bedding we got him to go with it.

Anna helping Daddy.

Finishing up the bed.

Noah's new bed and bedding.

Getting ready for his first night in his new bed.