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.