Julianna's Duet with Emily

As I've mentioned before, Julianna is taking piano lessons.  Her teacher Emily also teaches voice so she has Julianna learning to play and sing, too.  She recorded this for us and I just had to share it!

Julianna's Prayer List

One week after I was in the hospital for Bell's Palsy and 4 days after Christian's knee surgery, we had church and then a pretty important church meeting after church.  From there, we drove down to Brentwood to see Christian's team play in another Division 2 game.  

On the trip down there, Julianna handed me this.  She said, "Mommy, here is my prayer list."  It's just so sweet.  I love how by the end, she's turned it into her actual prayers!!  Just wanted to share.  Shows her sweet heart.  (Remember she's 6 here - you might need to read some phonetically)

Post-Surgery Soccer Game

After his surgery, Christian was determined to make it to his team's soccer game the following weekend.  We had moved up to Division 2 and this was an important game in our making it to the State Tournament.  We did let him go and my favorite part of the day was when he was walking over to the bench, his entire team ran over to him and met him.  He got to sit over there by Matthew (not too close to the bench but close enough so Matthew could protect him from any flying balls).  It was tough for him to be there like that, but it was good for him and the team and they won, so that was great too.  

I took a couple of pictures....

Here the team had run over and they were walking back with him

On his crutches heading to find a seat near the bench

Coach Matt & Christian

Watching

He called me and asked me to come over there - he was hungry and wanted something from the concession stand but I sat over there with him the 2nd half and this was his view.  I also enjoyed seeing and hearing the coaches up close!!  That is quite a power meeting right there!

Christian's Knee Surgery

We met with the orthopedic doctor to get the results of the MRI on Christian's knee.  He did have a tear in his meniscus, but the doctor said with surgery, he could be back running by Thanksgiving.  Christian was completely bummed that his soccer season was over, but we were also very thankful that he could get this fixed and hopefully be ready for high school soccer in the spring.  We met with him on Monday and had the surgery on Wednesday.  We were very thankful for that.

The surgery was only about an hour long and we were able to get back quickly to the recovery room.  The doctor said it went great and he was able to repair it and he will be fine.  We had a great doctor.  Christian wasn't really thrilled with my picture taking so I didn't take any pre-op, but he was pretty drugged up so I got some post-op!!

Christian talking to Matthew

I think he was just trying to focus here and was glad to have something to eat

We stopped by the drug store on the way home and here he was while we waited!

When we got home, he had this care package.  A family had helped by getting the girls to school for me so I could be with him early at the hospital.  They'd made this awesome basket for him.  He was very touched!

This was his new home for about a week.  I was his servant.  With my Bell's Palsy and his knee, we were quite a pair!

This is how he'd sleep

He was amazed at the color of his leg - apparently they'd put some sort of iodine on it - it was quite funny

Here was one of our exercise walks to the mailbox and back!

On Friday night, Julianna & Christian decided to have a sleepover in the den.  Even Maggie joined them (On Christian's lap)

Getting ready to take the bandage off

Can you see Dr. Beauchamp's signature?!?! 

The incisions

Checking it out and comparing both knees.  

Pumpkin Carving

On the same day that I ended up in the hospital with Bell's Palsy, we had planned to go to our friend's house to carve pumpkins.  We decided to go ahead and go - we needed the distraction from the Town Hall church meeting we'd had that day and my Bell's.  So we went on over there.  We had a lot of fun and ended up with some pretty good looking pumpkins!!

I enjoyed doing one this year

Madisyn is working on the guts!

Rebecca being silly

This is not one of Christian's favorite things to do....he was frustrated (look at his face!)

I wasn't quite ready to show my face to the camera - so I covered my smile!

Madisyn, Rebecca & Cheyenne all at different stages

Christian did the Nike Swoosh!  

Julianna did a great job cutting hers out

Rachel did have to help me with a couple of things!  

Christian's Swoosh & Julianna's Arial 

My Cat on the fence

Cheyenne did the Great Pumpkin

Rebecca did Tiger

Madisyn did Tinkerbell

I tried to get a picture outside but it was dark and this was my first try!

A little better!

Ours at home

A bout with Bell's Palsy

We returned from our Fall Break on Friday.  On Saturday morning, Christian had the MRI on his knee and we had a wedding to go to.  Matthew did the ceremony and I was asked at the last minute to help with coordinating where people went, so it was a long day for us.  That evening, I had a funny feeling in my mouth and we thought it might have been a side effect of a medicine I was taking.

On Sunday morning before church, I was doing some studying and my chin kept twitching.  Then before we left, I looked at Rebecca and asked her if my face looked a little funny.  Seemed something just wasn't right.  We laughed about it on the way to church, but by the time I got there, I mentioned it to a couple of our friends (who are both pharmacists) and they very quickly said that would not be a side effect of the medicine.  They both were very adamant about my going to the ER to check it out.  

So Marjorie & I drove there (we are the nursery workers at 9am so we had to quickly get someone to fill in) and they got us back pretty quickly.  After doing some initial tests with me (checking my ability), the thought it was Bell's Palsy but just wanted to rule out a mini stroke.  I had a CAT scan and a chest X-ray and they did determine it was only Bell's Palsy.  

If you are not familiar with it, here's a quick explanation - 

Bell's palsy is a form of facial paralysis resulting from a dysfunction of the cranial nerve VII (the facial nerve) causing an inability to control facial muscles on the affected side. Several conditions can cause facial paralysis, e.g., brain tumor, stroke, and Lyme disease. However, if no specific cause can be identified, the condition is known as Bell's palsy

So there you have it.  I was there a couple of hours and made it back to the lunch and meeting following church.  Although by then, i was beginning to find it hard to talk.  I don't want to go into all the details other than saying it got worse before it got better for me.  It lasted a minium of 4 weeks before most of it was gone and then it was probably another 3 weeks before I felt 100%.  I am very thankful that I did return to 100% - some don't.  They say that there is very little chance of having it again if you've had it once.  I hope so!!!

These were tough to post (and I didn't do the videos) but I did post a couple of pictures.  

In the ER - this was just the beginning of how I looked!

This was taken on Tuesday - this is when it had gotten worse.  This is just how I looked without smiling or anything

This is my attempt to smile.  Notice my eyebrows.  That was what was amazing to me.....

Here I was actually feeling a little better (on the inside).  This was taken 5 days after I was in the hospital

Now & Then.....

During Fall Break - took this picture because it reminded me of one I'd taken before.  Came home and found this.  Wish I'd had them sitting on the opposite sides but how about this???  Just so funny to look at.  Thought my family would enjoy!!!

Fall Break - October, 2013

Spring Break - March, 2007

Fall break at the lake

We finally made it to the lake and it was beautiful weather for us.  We were able to really relax and enjoy a couple of days there.  Even Christian lightened up a bit!  Here are a few pictures

Such pretty weather - had to get a few shots

Christian sporting his crutches

My sweet girls

Have a little fun

What great kids!

Having a little fun with Candy Corn

Haha!

We brought the Wii (which we don't get to play much) and we all had fun playing together - the big kids helped Julianna learn some of their older Mario Games and it was fun to see them together

Grumps had bought this golf chipping game (or something like that), so we decided to go play.  It was fun but we didn't last long.  None of us are golfer!!!  (Well, maybe Matthew a little but he doesn't have the patience to play with the rest of us!!) 

Rebecca actually did really good!

Daddy helping Julianna

Julianna built a fort in the play room and even slept in it.  She was quite proud of it, so she took this picture to show you all!

Julianna in her fort bedroom!!