Hang on tight...

Here we go! Nick's cousin is getting married tomorrow and she asked all our kids to be in the wedding. She also asked me to do all her desserts. I am so honored! It has been a lot of fun planning with her and getting the kids all hyped up for their production tomorrow. Yesterday afternoon I took the kids to pick up the boys tuxes. Can we say super cute!?! The boys looked so handsome. They had to do a little tweaking last night and I just picked them up. Emma's dress is adorable and we got it for a bargain online. She has pink sparkly shoes to go with it! I don't think it can get any better for a little 5 year old girl. Lindsey bought Emma a shirt that says.."The Cutest Flower Girl Ever" and brought it over Tuesday evening so Emma could wear it to school today. You should've seen Emma's face this morning when she woke up. She is so excited for tomorrow and even more excited she can tell her friends all about it today.

It is going to be a busy day tomorrow with 3 kids to get ready for pictures and desserts to be delivered. I have recruited some friends to meet me at the hotel to help me set up. Then I can get to pictures to help Nick with the kids.

We are so excited for Lindsey and Nick and hope they enjoy their day tomorrow. It is always great to hang out with cousins too! Looking forward to the festivities starting tonight. I will post pictures Sunday.

PRAYERS ANSWERED

I received a phone call from Charlie's ENT today and he stated that he hasn't received the Radiologists report yet but looked a the scan. He said he didn't see anymore Chlosteatoma in the ear and it may just be scar tissue remaining. He would like to see Charlie in a month. I can't not tell you how excited I am to hear this news! Man...I was on pins and needles for the last week and I am so relieved how it turned out. Charlie will have to be watched closer now to make sure the chlosteatoma doesn't grow again. We can relax now for awhile! Thank you all for your prayers!

Waiting

I am not so patiently waiting for the results of Charlie's CT Scan. I called this afternoon and the not so pleasant nurse said we would get results on Thursday evening or Friday. SERIOUSLY!! The hospital told me the scan is digitally taken so the doctor will get the results right away. I am annoyed! They really think a mom, this mom, is okay with waiting on a head scan until Thursday evening or Friday. I said no way. I know doctors are busy I get that. That is my life with my dad. I understand that life BUT I was hoping the nurse would say he will contact you no later than tomorrow evening. Okay..so I got the nurse to at least get the doctor a message that I was anxious to find out. I am hopeful to hear tomorrow. Crossing my fingers!!

CT Scan

Charlie had his scan this morning. My dad came with me so that Nick could get the other two off to school. We headed to the hospital at 6:45am and sat and waited.....waited.....waited and waited a little more until Charlie went back for his scan at 8:00am. Molly went with him so that made me feel more relieved about everything. They had to give him anesthesia so that he would lie still. The procedure itself took 5 minutes but the prep and recovery took forever. We are finally home at 9:45 resting on the couch. Charlie is a little more groggy this time and a lot more clumsy. It is going to be a lay low day for sure. I can call this afternoon or tomorrow for the results. Pretty sure everyone knows me and knows I will be calling this afternoon!! Send those good report vibes please!

Excitement of the Evening....

Its 5:15 on a Friday night and my kids are playing in the back yard. I am inside cleaning up the kitchen and thinking what should I make for supper. Yelled at the kids a few times for fighting then went back to the kitchen. I had the news on and was just looking up at the TV when I heard the most horrific sound ever. I immediately listened for the kids and turned. They were just fine. Ran with my phone and socks on out the front door to find a horrible car accident. It was straight out of the movies! This doesn't happen in your front yard! The car blew a stop sign going 60mph (it is a residential area why would they think 60mph was okay?) and the truck hit the car causing it to fly up onto our neighbors lawn. I called 911 as the vehicle was on fire and there were two people in the car. Running across the street on the phone and with only socks on to meet up with my neighbors. The kids were out front by this time. I turned and told them to sit on the steps. Someone yelled for a fire extinguisher and Braeden runs in the house and gets ours out of the kitchen. (Proud mom moment and so glad he knew where it was!) About 10 others ran in their homes and grab theirs as well. We were trying to figure out if everyone was okay. The driver of the truck was walking around fine just angry over his truck. The driver of the car was out of the car trying to light a cigarrette. We were all yelling at him not to because of the gas coming from his car. We got him to lay on the ground. A few others had to pull the passenger out of the car because the door wouldn't open and it was on fire. It was a crazy scene. The cops arrived in a heard followed by the fire department. The ambulance took the longest. It was an amazing sight and all the neighbors were out trying to help. It made me feel like we live in the right area! Bad way to meet the neighbors but nice to meet them too. The kids were all sitting in my front yard playing. It was an awful scene for them. The two guys in the car were taken by ambulance to the hospital. One was on a back board and one walked to the ambulance. What a sight! When the tow trucks arrived the cops went throug the car. They found 4 empty 40s! Awesome...thanks guys there are a ton of kids in the neighborhood and it was only 5:30 at the latest in the evening. If the truck had been coming up the hill instead of down the hill this would've been in my front yard instead of across the street. The trucks axel broke and 3 of the 4 tires were off. Wow is all we could say. Nick comes up Adams Street to find all the chaosis and was freaked out because it was right by our house. He was deverted around the block. He said he was relieved to see all of us on the front steps. The kids all kept talking about it. We decided to take them out for supper and get away from it all for a little while. Wow...the cops and fire department had the scene cleaned up pretty quickly. Here are some pictures of the vehicles! Holy crap is all I can say!

 

 

 

 

Discovery

Charlie had surgery this morning. We arrived at 7:15am and brought the ipad to keep Charlie entertained for the morning. He loves playing angry birds and it kept him busy up until he had to go back for surgery. They offered to give him some meds that would help with the separation for surgery. We opted out and said he would be just fine. Nope...he wasn't. It ended up with the nurse having to grab him kicking and screaming. I was doing great until that moment! The surgery went really fast and the doctor met us in recovery when we saw Charlie. The news he told us was overwhelming at the very least. I am still in a fog on what is going on. My Uncle Jim looked everything up online for me and sent it via text messages. Thanks Uncle Jim!!

Okay so here it goes...the doctor removed the tube and wax. He then discovered a cholesteortoma (skin sac) that had to be removed. Further investigation of the ear showed that there is possibly more behind the ear drum itself. Charlie has to have a CT Scan to see 1) if there is more to be removed 2) to see how much and where it is located. If it is lying low right behind the ear drum the procedure to remove would be simply slicing open the ear drum and cleaning it out. If it has grown up into the bone he will have to have a Mastoidectomy; which is surgery behind the ear and into the bone to remove the growth. The simple procedure can be done in Mankato. If he has to have a Mastoidectomy then he will have to go to Children's to have it done because there is a lot more involved with that. My questions went like this:

How did this happen? Was it caused by the trauma of a toy being shoved in his ear?
- This is caused from either the tube itself or a congential defect that develops at birth and grows slowly. Emma did not cause this.

Will this result in permanent hearing damage? (This is the million dollar question)
- Time will tell and we won't know until everything heals. If left undetected yes it can cause permanent damage.

Why wasn't it discovered until now?
- Your normal Pediatrician will not detect this type of development. He said that it can look like just scar tissue to a Pediatrician. This is something that a specialist notices and we should have seen him, Dr. Christianson, 6 months ago but he doesn't know when it developed. We were never told to follow up with him after he cleared Charlie at his 6 month follow up from his surgery in February 2010. He said to continue care with your pediatrician.

Do we have to worry about the other ear?
- The other ear is fine for now. We just have to watch it and Charlie will be watched by the ENT a lot closer now.

Needless to say it has been an overwhelming morning. Something as simple as just a tube removal has turned into a bigger ordeal. We are glad it was discovered now. Charlie goes Monday morning for a CT Scan. He has to be placed under anesthesia again for this procedure so it will be done at ISJ Hospital in town. After the scan is done Dr. Christianson will call us with the results and what needs to happen.

Charlie and I are just going to be hanging out watching cartoons this morning. He called his Nana from the Pool and asked for licorice! Sweet sweet little boy! He has done such a good job. Keep the prayers coming!!

 

 

 

 

 

Surgery

Charlie has surgery tomorrow to have his tube removed and see if there is other damage to his ear. I am nervous! All the other times he has had surgery was to put something in to fix something else. Now they are taking something out and we aren't sure of what will happen when it is removed :( This mommy is NERVOUS! We worked so hard on his talking since he was 15 months old. He had issues with hearing what we were saying and the tubes helped clear it all up. Now will taking out the tube and patching the hole create other issues? The unknown is what drives me crazy. If Emma didn't create another hole or the current hole to be bigger they might be able to reinsert a new tube. If the hole is too big or a new one was created patches will be placed in his ear. I hope the doctor has some answers tomorrow but I am sure only time will tell. This afternoon Charlie got stung by a bee. Poor kid! Lets hope that is the end for Charlie!!

Say some extra prayers. His surgery is at 8:15am. We have to be there at 7:15am.

Chefs Auction

I am preparing for the Chefs Auction again this year. Last year it was so much fun so I can't wait for it again this year. For those of you that don't know about the Chef's Auction it is a fundraising event for the March of Dimes. Chefs around the area set up tables and serve the specialty items to the guests. The chefs donate everything along with a silent auction item to be bid on by the guests. It draws about 600 people from the area. Everyone dresses up in their best clothes and pays about $100/ticket to get in. It is so much fun and it is for a great cause. This year they are doing it a little different. They are going to have all the guests sit down to announce the winners of the silent auction items. To get them to sit they will be doing a plated dessert. I was asked to provide the desserts for all the guests. I am so excited for this opportunity. This allows my desserts to be served to everyone at the event. I will be also having a table and serving another item which will allow me the opportunity to talk to everyone. Nick and my best friend Annie will be taking charge of plating all the desserts along with some of my other friends. A sorority in town has volunteered to serve everything. I am extremely grateful for this amazing opportunity. This past Monday I had a photo shoot at my home to get a good picture for the auction program. It was a lot of fun but also a little awkward I am not use to having pictures taken of just me. Usually I am either taking them of everyone or my kids are at a photographer getting their pictures taken. JR Portrait Design LLC in Mankato volunteered her time to take the pictures. I think she did an amazing job! Here is the one they used for the program.

 

Ears Part 2

I took Charlie to the ENT today to have his ear checked over after the incident of the toy being shoved in it. My fear of his tube being shoved or moved into his ear was true! The doctor looked in his ear and we had to move to a different room so he could look under the microscope. He said the ear was pushed from the ear drum into the inner ear. There is also wax in the inner ear so he isn't sure if a new whole was created or if the current hole was made larger. He offered to take it out in the office today but wasn't sure how Charlie would tolerate it. I wasn't sure we should find out. He did really well while they were looking but I didn't know if shoving another object in his ear would freak him out or not. The doctor contemplated and I said it was up to him, if he wanted to try I would hold him down. He decided surgery was the better option so he could see exactly what was going on in that little ear of his. Charlie goes in next Wednesday to have the tube and waxed removed from his inner ear. At that time the doctor will decide if a new tube will be put in or if a patch will be placed over the hole. It all depends on the size of the whole and if a new hole was created. There is a possibility that the hole will not heal. There is also a possibility that Charlie could have some hearing loss because of this. We won't know until he gets older and he can do the testing.

I feel sorry for him and his little ear but it really doesn't even faze him right now at all. He runs around, yells, screams and plays just fine with his siblings. He has no pain or anything so it isn't bothering him. I also feel sorry for little Ms. Emma Jo. She didn't know the outcome her little curiosity would cause her brother. I think it is a very hard lesson learned that may go with him for his whole life. I just worry about Emma having guilt about this later in life. I guess time will tell and we all learn lessons the hard way unfortunately. Now we can teach others on what not to do!! She has always been the curious one that is quiet and sneaky. We are sure in for some trouble the older she gets!!

Say some prayers for our little Charlie.

Preschool

Charlie started preschool on Friday. He was so excited to go, a little apprehensive but excited. I had to tell him that I was just going shopping and would be right back to pick him up. He is looks so little in these pictures! My kids are all growing up way too fast!

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Grown Up

I started reminiscing last night and going through pictures. I came across this one of Braeden and Emma:

 

Braeden was 2 1/2 and Emma was only 4 months old. My how time flies by! Look at my babies today, Braeden going into 3rd Grade and Emma going to Kindergarten.




I was so excited weeks ago to think that summer was coming to an end and the constant fights would stop. Now I am sad to see summer end and feel like I wish we would've done more :( Charlie will head to preschool on Friday and my house will be so quiet! It is going to be a little too quiet for me.

Entrepreneur

 

How cute is this? Braeden did this all on his own yesterday!! We have been teaching him the concept of money and that everything costs money. He wants to save money to get some toys. He thinks that every time we go to the store we should buy him something and thinks it is unfair when we don't. We have had many conversations about fair and earning things lately. This is just so sweet and Nick and I decided it is time to start an allowance.

Old Timer....

This week has been an eye opening one for me that is for sure. Yesterday I got fitted for a crown. Wow that was an adventure and one that I wasn't prepared for. I learned my lesson not to suck on cough drops while sleeping. I did this when I was pregnant with Charlie and my one tooth is wrecked because of it. Lesson hard learned and I earned that crown. I joked with my sisters about getting a sparkly, diamond filled crown. If you can't joke about it what fun would it be...well FUN is a bad word for a crown fitting. There really isn't anything FUN about it.

The last month my vision has been very blurry in my right eye, retina detached eye. I put off going to the doctor because I have been very busy with my dessert business and just didn't want to take the time to do it. I knew it wasn't my retina because I didn't have flashes, floaters or dark spots in my vision. I finally went today only to find out that my small little cataract has grown and is causing my vision problems. Now I get to have surgery to repair it. No big deal...I pushed it off until November because I have weddings booked every weekend from now until the end of October. I don't think the brides would appreciate a funny looking cake. I will be out of commission for a week. BOO but it is only a week and it will be just fine. My 80 year old eyes are getting a face lift and bringing them back to fit with my 32 year old body. It will be just fine. I will just keep telling myself that because frankly another eye surgery freaks me out. I think eyes are gross and squishy!