Let's Go Grizzlies!

Ella insisted on bringing grandpa and grandma to the hockey game. 

SUNDANCE

We are at our movie and I love it all!  We arrived about an hour early and stood in line.  The theater is sold out.  It's the last day, but the energy is still strong.  Next year I will go to more movies and some year I want to really do Sundance!  Anyone want to come?

Help is on the way!

My Dad and Barb are on an airplane on their way here! I'm so excited to have help all week. They had planned to watch Ella after surgery so I could go back to work....well, now they have a fun week with Ella! She knows they are coming, but she's never had Grandpa and Grandma for an entire week to give her 200% attention!

Joe has a TON of work to do and I'm excited to not have such long days since I can subtract the to/from the babysitters house from my day. I also will appreciate the help with dinner, entertaining Ella, bathtime, bedtime, potty time, etc. We will all be spoiled!

Joe and I have plans to do dinner and a movie tomorrow -- Sundance MOVIE! We are seeing Win, Win. It looks like it's gotten great reviews and we are excited to use a gift card we got for Christmas to go out for steak!

Daddy's Girl

Ella BEGS to go see the Grizzlies! I don't know who gets more excited - Ella or Joe! We went as a family for the 1st time this season and had fun! Miss Ella was just plain worn out from a crazy week and was ready for her PJ's.....she was one tired little girl!

Potty Watch

I think it helps! Potty training is coming along. With all she has been through the last few weeks I'm leaving the ball in her court. If she brings me a diaper and demands it, I let her have it. She does LOVE the watch and the rule is - to wear the watch, she must also wear underwear. Diaper on, watch off!

This watch was about $10 and it lights up and plays a song at either 30, 60 or 90 min. We are at 60 minutes with no accidents. It's kind of funny --- it seriously looks like a toilet!

Candy is her prize! I started with small toys (I admit they were recycled from the bottom of her toybox) and she didn't really care. ONE single piece of a candy and she will do anything!

This morning she found a stash of Christmas Candy and I said, "you can have one if you go potty", she walked straight to the bathroom and made it happen!

Long Island Friends!

Margaret, Dorothy, Ella, Barbara, Karol, Joe and Laurie

Family photo

We had a great visit with Karol and her friends! We put the camera on timer and posed for a group photo. Ella sure loves company, especially when they bring her presents. She put on quite a show and everyone cheered for her with her successful potty attempts! Everything is better with a cheering section!

For Great Grandma

Dear Great Grandma,

I love my little lamb and she sleeps with me! She prays "now I lay me down to sleep" and I feel so comforted and loved.

Love,

Ella

Company!

Joe's Aunt Karol and her friends are in town. They've been at Sundance Film Festival all week. They are coming by for lunch. I knew I couldn't pull off lunch, so Dorothy is bringing lunch. I did find this fun pan and made these this morning! I'm quite proud of my idea to dye the cream cheese pink! These are inspired by the adorable brownies I bought at Target a few weeks ago!

Funny Friday Foto - because I don't know what else to call it!

Brunner Circus posts funny pics on Fridays and I thought this one was perfect!

I have awesome friends!

Today was just one of those days when I realized how truly fortunate I am!

I chatted with a neighbor on my way out the door who asked about Ella's surgery. Her son is a bit younger than Ella and I'm excited to get them together. It will be fun for Ella to have a friend a few houses down and I've heard boy/girl friendships are great at this age.

I emailed a friend with some issues and almost instantly got a text asking me to call when I could and she offered support and said what I needed to hear even via text!

I exchanged emails with a friend whom I've never met, but I feel I was meant to know her and I'm so happy!

Ella and Joe arrived home to find an Elmo Potty book from a friend! She LOVES it!

I came home to a package. I had been eyeing a bracelet last summer and now I have it! Thanks and I can't wait to wear it -- I'll post a pic!

Wow! I feel loved and supported! Tonight someone asked how I do it without much family around --- the answer is awesome people near and far - friends, family, neighbors, bloggers!

I'm done with my least favorite 3 weeks of my job and we can have dinner as a family for the next 3 weeks! Happy Weekend!

Compliment?

We started a new session of Kindermusik today and there are some kids from last time and some new kids/parents. The class is much bigger so Ella and all the kids were a little out of their element. She does love the class and we do lots of music at home and I have grown to really love some of their philosophies.

Today in typical Ella form -- she took off running around the circle everyone else was sitting in. The Mom sitting next to me turns to me and says, "she can run fast and she can run really well".
Ella is our only child and we just assume she is like every 2 year old with high energy, but we joke a lot about entering her in a race. I guess this helps Joe's case to get her in a kids race next summer! Not exactly what I want her to be getting out of Kindermusik, but she loves it....the music, instruments, and her independent study running! They do support following the child and letting them do what they want and for Ella -- it's a good run around the room a few times!

Thank you!

A full night of sleep is awesome!  I will not take sleep for granted again.  I'm a new person today!

Improving...

After several days of worsening of her rash, I took her to her pediatrician. Worst rash he'd ever seen! Poor baby!

We left with 2 ointment prescriptions, a plan of mostly underwear, cetaphil with kleenex instead of wipes, frequent baths....

She's done well with the potty considering. Zero self initiation and I just don't think she really gets it. Accidents happen and it's difficult timing with work/obligations/rash/sleep deprivation for all.

The rash is improved. She's back to Janie's and we are both back to working as planned. We are all still very behind on sleep and hoping for more sleep as this improves! Joe has been amazing and gets an award for Best Dad and Husband this week!

The Baby Curls

You all know I was broken up about cutting Ella's hair. I knew it was time for a haircut and I likely would have done something anyway. It was emotional because I had to cut it so much shorter than I wanted. I just HAD to take her in for a few more pictures before her haircut. I finally found time to scan them in! It was an awesome day at Target. The regular photographer had called in sick and it was a sweet Grandma-type lady who had a great Elmo voice she would do to get Ella to smile! She kept asking the occasion for the photos and I finally explained the situation and she said she had worked with the same docs and spent a lot of time at the hospital herself. She had great tips and advice! It was meant to be!

She was done by this time, but she LOVED walking in the heels and thought she was pretty cool! The photographer had fun dressing her up!

Best Vacuum EVER!

I own 2 Dyson vacuums. The Animal DC17 which we bought with our wedding gift cards. Not a super flashy or exciting item, but worth every penny especially since we rescued Nicky a month later! Today I vacuumed and just felt it wasn't working right. Sure enough....the filter was disgusting (had likely been over 2 years since I cleaned it). AND I found a Popsicle stick, dryer sheet, leaves, hair, etc blocking a pipe. Really, it was still working, just not up to par! It's AMAZING!

I also have a handheld that I pull out often. I bought it for dog hair in the Jeep and it's not-so-good at that, but still a good purchase!

I cleaned out both of them and added it to my calendar to clean the filters every 3 months (that way it should happen at least every 6 like Dyson recommends).

Challenging!

That would be my word for the weekend. Miss Ella is a wreck! It's truly an allergy because it is worse every time!

I cannot go without sleep....I did fine when she was little because I was used to it. She didn't sleep through the night until she was almost 1. I get the least sleep when I work evenings because I get home late and then I'm up so early with her. Last week I also had a cold and slept like crap! I went into the weekend very tired!

We've been home all weekend bouncing between naked baby, diapers with various creams, underwear, and last night she was up every 3 hours! Ella would prefer to be in the bathtub all the time!

Potty training is not effective when everyone is tired, child is in pain, and unorganized parents without a great plan.

She's successfully gone in the potty some and it's better today. This is a stepping stone and I'm ready to devote all of our time to it during my 6 days off next month. When this rash is gone, it's back to diapers until we have the time and energy to go cold turkey!

I played compounding pharmacist this morning and made a batch of aquaphor/maalox (why didn't I think of that on Friday?). The rash is improving with all of our interventions, but I'm not sure she'll be well enough to go to the sitter tomorrow.....

Mostly I'm just plain mad this happened. I can't be with her every second. I have no proof that a zinc oxide or other ingredient she is allergic to was applied.....but it sure looks like it! I'm mad!

Joe has been amazing!!! He has had the very least sleep and has kept his cool and patience much better than me all weekend.

I can't handle seeing her so miserable! She is finally napping and I hope the magic butt cream works and she wakes up with great improvement!

Can the girl catch a break?

Ella has that horrible diaper rash we have delt with before. My guess is that some desitin-like cream was put on her! We had a big ol' playdate this morning with a friend for me, Ella and Nicky! It was awesome! We did Valentine crafts and it was enough to distract her. She was complaining about her belly button hurting before they came and then when I changed her diaper I freaked out....it's way worse than yesterday or even this morning.

The poor baby had a baking soda bath, air time in front of the TV and is now sleeping in underwear and cotton jammies. I took all the animals out of her crib and she wasn't so into the waterproof pads I put in, but I think she is sleeping and I'm prepared to do tons of laundry!

I delayed potty training because I figured the surgery would set her back....but I had plans of training her during my next round of 6 days off.....maybe I see some potty training work this weekend and lots of laundry and cleaning up messes!

What to do? I'm guessing it will be a few sleepless nights with her so miserable.....so I'll take a nap! People laugh when I say she's allergic to desitin....but SHE IS!

This is the right tea!

I did buy the tea pictured below thinking it was the awesome tea I was drinking at work. I was wrong. THIS is the tea I now love! I'll have to keep my eyes out for it as it is more of a holiday item. The blend of flavors make it a calorie free, guiltless treat! Peppermint tea is good, but this is way better!

Afternon Tea

I slowly ventured back to soda....and currently I'm avoiding soda. My friend brought this tea to work and I love it! I picked up a box yesterday and this has been my afternoon treat! It's sweet without sugar or calories, and the peppermint is very refreshing! Try it! Great for bedtime too, it's caffeine free.

I still regret not visiting Celestial Seasonings while I lived so close.....

Amazon - Half Price

Who can't find something on Amazon that they need?

Click here to buy a $20 gift card for $10!

Shopping!

I got this text from Joe yesterday:
"your daughter demanded we go to a store before going home so we went to the rack, then of course she had to pick something out"


Seriously? I can say that because I wasn't there.....but in fact I've pulled into the driveway and she's done the SAME thing....but I've always gone out to the grocery store or Target to get the list of things in my head! Nothing quite like a 2 year old screaming, "STORE, STORE, NO Ella's House, STORE"!


The girl likes to shop (when it's her idea) and in general she does pretty well.


She got the Twinkle Toes I'd been eyeing and waiting to go on sale. They don't light up....did we buy the wrong ones? They have plenty of sparkle, but I've seen the ones with lights! She was very proud to show them off this morning!

New Furniture

I love this table! The price was amazing and it's quite sturdy. I won't cry when she colors all over it and it's light enough that she can move it where she wants it. The wood creates a lip so the crayons don't fall to the floor! Genious!









Kitchen/Art organizer for her playroom off the kitchen.



This is perfect for her room - we're working on keeping the books stacked, we have differing opinions on how to do it. This is Ella's way!










Thanks to my Mom who helped with all of these projects and entertained Ella while we got stuff done! We also did a major clean out of Ella's toys and she can now play in her tent. Baby toys are packed away and the others are in tubs for a toy rotation. She woke up from her nap and freaked out a bit....but she got over it quickly and we are working on clean up and organization! Thanks to Joe for his speedy assembly of everything even while feeling like crap!

I feel like we got our house back!

Huh?

We were eating breakfast this morning and Ella kept saying, "Huh?" with an appropriate accent to indicate a question.

Mommy doing, huh?
Nicky doing, huh?

I would answer her and she would reply with, Huh?.

Where does she learn this?

Our life is never boring for many reasons, but life with a 2 year old is always entertaining!

Back to life as usual...

Happy Monday! Joe and I just looked at eachother this morning and said, "it really hasn't happened yet!". We are very lucky we both can go back to work as usual and Ella can go back to Janie's.

Next we look forward to some visitors from New York and the following week my Dad and Barb are here!

I had some regret in cutting Ella's hair this morning when she was begging for a piggy....but still think it was the right choice. Who would have known?

I just emailed the Kindermusik lady to see if we can get into the next session.

The stress has had a very negative effect on my food choices and we shopped for ultra healthy food and it's diet time for me. I have seen a steady increase on the scale since last July when the daycare drama began, followed by several challenging doctor appointments and then a surgery date! Why can't I be a stress-starver instead of stress-eater?

I'm hoping some random Sundance Movie tickets are available....I'd like to enjoy one movie this year!

She's feeling better!

She's got most of her spunk back. She's been playing with Nicky and went to town with the stickers! Her nose won't stop....but her breathing is back to normal and her cough is much improved. It's back to Janie's tomorrow!

Joe looks miserable....but he's drinking cranberry juice even though he hates it!

Work may be easier than all the work I've done at home while caring for these two!

The Weekend

Ella is getting better every day. If she continues to improve, she can go to the babysitter tomorrow.

Joe has been having pain in his back at the bottom of his ribs. Any guesses? Yep, he has kidney stones. He went to urgent care yesterday. Could we get any luckier?

I'm healthy, but still dealing with the stress of rescheduling so much! I may be called a bit crabby! But I don't require a million kleenex or narcotics! I've been simplifying.....several bags to donate and a separate pile to Ebay!

My Mom left last night and we already miss her dearly! She did safely make it back to Charles City VERY late last night/early this morning!

This was a very long week! I'm ready to go back to somewhat normal tomorrow!

Any advice for Joe? He went to urgent care so they only diagnosed by urine test. Their advice was to hope it was small enough to pass and drink lots of fluids. When the pain is unbearable, go to the Emergency Department and then further testing to know what he's dealing with. The problem is he likely will be out of the country next week! I don't want him in a hospital in Mexico.....

Weeeknd with no plans....

This NEVER happens for us! Ella is still sick. We are home bound this weekend and I'm on a mission to organize! My mom is here to help with Ella and Joe and I are ready to get stuff done! My mom has been the best distraction for Ella and has been able to offer her 100% attention. Everyone needs some extra love when they are sick. We are sure going to miss her when she leaves on Saturday afternoon!

I am still in shock, but trying to make the best of it and so thankful they did not operate on her while this sickness was brewing. She'd have been in the ICU for days! I'm also very thankful I am back to work and I can save my vacation for March!

We are blessed! Thanks again for all the thoughtful things so many have done and for all the prayers. They worked, I'm not quite sure why, but this is the way it was meant to be!

The update

Well, I had hoped to be in a very different place by this time today.....but I strongly believe there is a great reason why Ella was not in the OR today.

She is sick. Just as the pre-op nurses predicted (they are GOOD at their job), Ella was up at 1AM and then at 3:30 she just sounded horrible. We tried a breathing treatment with zero improvement so we headed back to the hospital for the 3rd time in 24 hours! She has croup and she is miserable. She's such a champ and the best 2 year old patient anyone has ever seen. There are those who hate hospitals and those who are intriqued. I am guessing Ella will work in healthcare. She had watched the surgery videos and was quite familiar with everything and was telling everyone what to do when! It makes me happy that she's so comfortable, but sad at the same time!

My work has been great. The surgeons were understanding. It has to be a minimum of 6 weeks from any fever, respiratory infection (if it affects the lungs), etc. She's two and she goes to a babysitter.....so we'll see!

Her new surgery date is currently Friday, March 11th. I am viewing it as subject to change! The date is at the worst possible time in my schedule --- the first day of my long stretch of 7 days on. It will cost me 75 hours of vacation to take the first 7 days off! For sure I will not be paid for much of my next leave. I have 2 months to acrue some more time off. The positive is the the 2 weeks prior to surgery I work weekends and she's only at the babysitter on Friday afternoons. I am working hard to find the positives in everything!

I feel horrible for my family who have spent a small fortune on plane tickets and now they all have to be changed or they have to spend the money a second time!

I hope Ella can get some rest tonight and the rest of us as well! I work tomorrow and then I have a 3 day weekend to get it all back together again. The kind, thoughtful gifts are in a basket waiting for surgery. I promise each of them are so special and will mean so much to Ella at the time of surgery.

CANCELLED!

Joe called me at work last night and he thought she sounded "wheezy". He gave her an albuterol neb and she went to bed. She was so happy and playing well, but her breathing just sounded funny. This morning it was the same way. I normally would have done nothing....but with the HUGE surgery the very next day. We went to the ED. Everyone was AWESOME! I apologized for the crazy visit and they assured me it was fine especially under our circumstances. He assured me her lungs were clear and she likely just had a little snot we were hearing. I agreed and we went on with pre-op labs. His advice was to show up and let anesthesia decide. He felt her lungs were fine.

Ella has not been around a single sick contact -- why on earth is this happening? I worked so hard to keep her healthy......

We went to the pre-surgery class. They heard her cough and said, "let's go find your anesthesiologist". We chatted with the nurses and they called him, and informed him she had a cough and was standing in front of them....well running aroudn them. He had read her ED report and had decided to CANCEL before we even called. He's good, I chose him (with the help of my OR pharmacy friends), and he knows best.

I'm a wreck. Change of plans does not work well for my personality and I'm being tested.

I already called my job. They were nice. They are going to let me come back. I'm taking tomorrow off, I just don't think I will be emotionally ready tomorrow.

We left the hopsital, picked up my Mom at the airport, went to dinner, had some drinks and I think we will all sleep for real tonight.

I'm just numb.....not even sure I know what to feel.

I'll begin making calls tomorrow to make a new plan.....

I truly believe Ella just wasn't meant to be in the OR tomorrow. She has some amazing guardian angels and the prayers are being heard from around the world. This was God's Plan and I don't know why today and I may never know. I do know I am thankful. I love my little girl more than I ever thought possible and I want what's best for her!

Thanks to everyone for the prayers and thanks for listening!

Watch-a-YOU!

I realized I've told this story for weeks, but I never posted and posting here is the only way I'll remember it! Elf on the Shelf had quite an impact on Ella. Maybe not the impact we had all hoped for, but she got it in some ways. One day we were walking out the door to work/babysitter and she stuck one of her bathtub fish in my lunch bag. She looked right at me and said, "mommy, watch-a-you". I just went along with it. That night she saw the fish in my car (I had thrown it on the seat instead of taking it into work) and she reminded me, "fish watch-a-you". This went on for a few days while the fish was in my car!

Even today she moves certain toys so they are always watching sometimes to feel included. Her new Buzzy has to be moved in her crib so he can watch us read books and sometimes her animals are watching me and she likes them to watch her eat!

It's hilarious!

We feel loved!

We are loved, Ella is loved. Ella is on a million prayer lists. Packages, cards, emails, phone calls, visits. Everything is WONDERFUL. Ella probably thinks it's Christmas all over again or that all her singing of Happy Birthday finally made it HER birthday!

Thank you for all of your thoughtfulness!

Joe came home from work and before I left for work, Edible Arrangements was at our door with this! THIS is how you melt the heart of our Ella! We had just had lunch so I put it in the fridge and told Ella, "just ask Daddy for some Big Bird snacks when you're hungry". I left for work as Dorothy stopped by. Later I got this text, "After my mom left she has been screaming for her big bird snacks....took some pictures and gave in". Look at her fingers on the counter!!! Poor Joe....I really set him up to fail! Oops...I can't believe she waited for pictures!

Keep praying, it's the best gift you can give us.

Fun in the snow!

We have snow. It's cold. Our snow isn't melting like it's supposed to. But it means fun in the snow pictures!
How did he get them both to look?

Hugs even in the snow!

Like child, like dog.....

I love my surprise pictures on the card after I've worked all weekend! THANKS!

Testing my phone app

I was looking for a pic to test blogaway, it wasn't working for me over Christmas.  This is one of my favorite pics from my phone! 

I could use a little summer and sun today!

Devastating!!!

I first heard about the Tucson shooting while glancing at Twitter on my phone. I called my co-worker from Tucson asking why anyone would want to kill Rep Giffords. I saw a posting somewhere that basically said how can you be rejected from the army and kicked out of community college and still buy a gun? I just read on CNN and it seems true. That really bothers me.

I was also very saddened by the story of the precious little girl born on 9/11/01 who wanted to attend the event after being elected to student council.

Tragedy! My sympathy and prayers to those killed, injured and their families.

New kind of video

I found the pre-surgery video online today. After dinner we watched the videos. I'm sure they are the same video shown at the class, but repetition is good for her. We'll watch these the next few days and I hope it makes it all easier. I think she will get a special hospital doll and that should help as well. We've been to all of these areas before and these videos do a great job!

One more day of work for me!

Another Detail

I go into many patient rooms in the hospital. I have noticed in very sick kids you will often see pictures of the kids looking the way they usually are. I have millions of photos of Ella....but I wanted a recent, short-hair picture. She was super cute yesterday morning walking her musical turtles around the house. I snapped these and I think they will be perfect to print and hang on her bed! It will help her care providers and visitors (and me)! I think I captured some personality.

Random Acts of Kindness

I have just been amazed by the number of kind things and the number of people who truly care! I could list many examples, but this one is special!

My sister sent me this link to an adorable Elmo hat to see if I thought Ella would like it. I LOVED it. I ordered it last week on Etsy. It said to specify size and I didn't know what they meant so I said "toddler" and I requested to have it by Jan 11th.

The Etsy owner replied and told me she needed the age of my child to know what size to make the hat. I wasn't sure what to say so I was honest and said this, "She is two, but she has a very small head. She is having surgery to repair it and I'm hoping her head will be the size of an average 2 year old after the swelling goes down. She LOVES Elmo and I think this hat will make her so happy! The hats stretch, right? I would say make it for a 1.5-2 year old and hopefully it won't be too big!".

I didn't hear anything else and randomly checked my etsy page the other day and saw it had shipped. It arrived yesterday and it is AMAZING - 100 times more beautiful than I could have imagined. Ella is going to go CRAZY for this hat!

I was so happy I sent this message to the etsy shop, "Thank you! Thank you! We love that elmo hat! I can't wait to give it to her after surgery and I just know it will make her so happy!"

I checked my email this morning to find this: "Laurie, I'm so happy you like it! We have issued you a refund for the hat and only kept shipping charges. We wanted it to be a gift for your little girl. We hope her surgery will be a success and wish for a speedy recovery. Your family will be in our thoughts and prayers. With love,"

I was in tears! Complete strangers caring so much about my sweet little girl!

If you need anything, please support Cutesy Crochet. Thank you, Thank you!

I can't wait to post of a picture of Ella in her Elmo hat!

We're Going on a Bear Hunt

Ella wants to read this book 100 times a day! We love it!

I love having a preschool teacher in the family who just KNOWS what kids like! Thank you!

I also played the funny youtube video of a guy reading the book with actions!

Primary Children's Info

Primary Children's Medical Center
100 N Mario Capecchi Drive
Salt Lake City, UT 84113

Surgery is Wednesday, Jan 12th. Time will be determined Tuesday evening. Surgery should be about 5 hours. She will go to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit right after surgery and will hopefully be on a regular floor the next day. If all goes well, we hope to be home in about 5-6 days.

This link will allow you to email a patient!

We will be wired in while we are there as well. Anticipate blog updates and I'll be checking my email as well!

Surgery Update

Things are coming together!

We went to the dentist on Tuesday(it was time and I wanted to get her in before surgery just in case she needed any dental surgery). Everything is watch and wait at this time. Her dentist feels she is a mouth breather and is hoping fixing her skull will help open her nasal passages -- I would have never thought of that!

Wednesday was her big haircut. She was confused when she didn't have a piggy to take out last night and she's been playing with my hair all day. All in all, she really doesn't care yet. I'm still getting used to it -- she looks so different. I know that her short hair is suddenly making this all so real for everyone.

Today we had x-rays of her neck to make sure there aren't any issues with her neck position for surgery. I told her we were going to take a picture of her neck. When we walked in, she immediately said, "NO OWIES" and showed me each hand and made me promise no owies in either one. She loves the fish tank and there are many at the hospital so going to find fish will be fun adventures while there. When we were called she told the tech, "picture of neck and NO OWIES". She just amazes me -- she is so cooperative and curious and even let the guy hold her as they were moving the machine for the 2nd set. She will do anything for a sticker, so that should work in our favor! Again, I work at the hospital, but I am always how amazed how good everyone is - they were awesome with her. It feels good! I also think her timing is good being right after Christmas - the toy/prize cupboards are all very FULL at the hospital, so she'll likely score some good rewards and I'll have some ready too.

Joe, Ella and I are scheduled for the pre-surgery class next Tuesday and I think we'll go in the morning for her pre-op blood work. I want to get that done and over and not associate it will the surgery class, so going early should help. That will be a big owie on Tuesday, but they should put her out with gas before doing anything else in the OR.

I was resistant to the support groups out there for craniosynostosis for many reasons. Mostly because Ella has other issues and her case is so rare and different, most of the time surgery is done in babies, and also because it just isn't my thing. When the phone number for a family in town didn't work, I reached out to Cranio Kids and posted on a forum and then joined the facebook page. I immediately had comments, added friends, emails, etc. It's good. I created an event for Ella's surgery on facebook so the other cranio families know about her and can lend prayer and support. I also found this blog about a little girl who had surgery at Primary. Warning, the pictures are scary, but it's a good way to be prepared. Anyone who will see Ella in the hospital, please read.

I've learned a few things I hadn't thought about it and it's helped me to be more prepared. I am not expecting any updates during surgery and know it will be a LONG 5 hours. We won't see her until she is stabilized in the PICU. We'll know she's out, but yet have to wait longer. That's hard for me.....my colleagues will see her first. I am so paranoid she will wake up and we won't be there. This surgery is harder the older you are and hers is a big surgery with the extra holes to fill as well. The pain will be terrible, at least I am up on pain meds and often the person they ask for help so she is at an advantage there. Her swelling will be bad, then much worse before it gets better. Most likely her eyes will be swollen shut. She will be scared and in pain. I learned to bring things like her favorite music and special things to make her feel comfortable. I learned she won't want me to put anything over her head for a long time. I had already bought some pajamas that are pants and tops that button in front for the hospital and cute slippers, but I need to go through her closet for other clothes -- one lady said 2-3 months. I'm guessing it won't be that long, but still good info to have. There are a lot of kids who have been through this and they are all doing so well today and you'd never know they had the surgery!

Ella will have dissolvable plates and screws in her head as well as cadaver bone. Her bone should grow into the cadaver bone and the plates and screws dissolve. It's just so amazing to me! The reason for the zig-zag scar is so her hair can grow back more regularly. Maybe this will fix some of her crazy cowlicks!

I've been emailing her plastic surgeon's secretary and he has said 8 weeks until full daycare, so we know she will be going back to Janie's after surgery. We're just not sure when yet. My hope is to get her back into her old daycare center in late march of April. I was assured that both her surgeons and anesthesiologist will talk to us prior to surgery.

My Mom is flying in to take care of ME next week. Joe and I and both our moms will be there during surgery. I intend to have someone with Ella at all times. I will not leave her the first night even if I have to sit in a chair and hold her hand all night (I've been warned the PICU will try to make me leave). Joe and I can split it if we have to. My Dad and Barb are flying out for a week when I go back to work. We are so blessed to have family willing to use their vacation to help us!

The emails, cards, phone calls have all been fabulous! Most people don't know what to say and I often start crying. It's just a whirlwind of emotions. The kindness is so awesome and also makes me teary in a good way!

Ella must be my daughter....she is having insomnia issues just like me! She's been up earlier and earlier again. A huge thanks to Joe for rocking her this morning while I slept! She is likely sensing something is up. We haven't talked directly about the surgery and feel next week is too far away to talk about. We'll start talking about it on Monday and then she'll have the class on Tuesday.

We don't know the time of surgery until the night before. I pray for as early as possible since she won't be able to eat or drink.

Blogging is such a great outlet for me and helps keep me sane! I will likely blog the day of surgery and share her progress and photos here. They may be hard to look at, but know she will continue to get better and her smart little brain will have room to grow and for the first time her head will be closed (at least mostly)!

I want to keep her healthy so Joe is going to come home early on Friday and Monday when I work.

I work Friday - Monday which is good and bad. Either way, it's the way it is! I think we are as ready as we can be!

Prayer is powerful and I thank you for praying for us!

Children's Museum - it was time!

I saw that the membership went on sale to Discovery Gateway and I had been meaning to take Ella....so today after her x-rays we went! She had fun and I see many fun days to come!
I think all kis love the grocery store and they are stuck in the carts observing so much they are PUMPED to do it themselves!
The conveyor belt was sure fun to move the vegetables back and forth!

Making Memories

Our Christmas Tree made it out of the box and it's pre-lit, so that was easy, but I didn't get any ornaments out. We did get ornaments as gifts and I bought a few. As I was looking at the tree today I realized this.
Our Elmo! I was thrilled to find this guy - he's such a part of our lives right now!

L and E - what a great memory of Ella proudly learning her letters!

Ella chose this one when we were shopping one day. She LOVES snowmen and today Ella decided this is Daddy, Mommy and Ella.

Hockey was a huge part of Joe's life and now Ella's too. They watched the Olympic games together and now Ella tells us she'd rather be watching hockey when we have football on! We've had so much fun taking her to Grizzly games!

The Haircut!

We hyped it up for the last week and Ella was excited to have her hair cut. I purposely scheduled it for immediately after Kindermusik. She was content sitting on my lap for a while and she was in awe of it all and did awesome! Robyn knew it was going to be fine when Ella was excited to put the cape on! She sat in my lap and made it through the entire haircut without needing any of my back up plans. Robyn was AWESOME!
Photo very staged....post haircut, I asked her to put the cape back on and pose!
The cut looks cute and she isn't even phased by it. She's a girl - the salon is fun!

Most importantly we went for cupcakes. She first wanted chocolate, then white and they had them each in mini size and I bought one of each to share....and she ate them BOTH!

It's cute and it will grow out again. It's sad to see the curls go and I think she needed a haircut....but this is maybe not what I would have quite chosen! I think the curls will be back in no time and we'll be back to see Robyn as her hair grows. By her birthday and 3 year photos, she'll be sporting long curls again!

I can't find a new chicken, so we found 2 new friends for chicken at Carter's this week. She LOVES them!

I am trying to get used to it -- she just looks so different. It's not phasing her a bit, yet but I worry about tomorrow morning when I need to water down her crazy hair instead of put it in a pony tail. I know she's going to wake up from her nap and I'll do a double take!

When we were done, Robyn informed me that my co-worker/friend bought her haircut. I was in shock and awe and teary! I am so blessed with awesome friends!

I used to cry because I was so sad and scared Ella had to go through all this....but the anxiety of it all is worse than going thru it and I remain strong and composed for Ella as the day gets closer. Now the kind, thoughtful things make me cry! I am so thankful for all the love and support I have!