Back to School

As I was typing the title to this post, it filled in the letters automatically. Which means ... I've already used this title before.  Oh well, I can only come up with so many original titles in a four year blogging span.

Yes, school is back in session and the kids are none too happy about it.  I'm not thrilled either because I'm so not ready for the homework battles with Eric every night.  

Mary is a senior this year. I swear she just started high school.  They grow up way too fast.  

First day of school senior year.  Not a worry in the world . . . or a backpack or a lunch!

Eric's first day of school.  See the kid with the green plaid backpack who is laughing?  The first thing he says when he sees Eric, in an exasperated tone: "Eric, you have the SAME backpack you had last year!"  Hey kid, Shhhhhhh .... Eric is just fine using the same backpack again!  Who knew that little boys cared about getting new backpacks every school year?  Fortunately, Eric could care less about getting a new backpack and he's happily used the same backpack for the last three years (a great purchase from Lands End).

Looking around in the sea of kids .... 

Finally .....

a recent picture of me and Jack.  

I needed a picture to submit to CureCMD in connection with the LA 1/2 marathon I am walking in October.  I don't like this picture because I look old.  Fact is, I AM old.  But, I suppose it beats the alternative, so I will joyfully accept the wrinkles, grey hair and bags under my eyes  because I am afforded the privilege of life.  Well, I might not joyfully accept the consequences of my age, but I'll accept them nevertheless. 

That's all I've got from the Schrooten Ranch. Wishing you all a wonderful week!

Disney Pics

We had a GREAT time at Disneyland/California Adventure. I really enjoyed spending some one-on-one time with Eric.  The last time Eric was at Disneyland he was 4 years old and he doesn't remember much.  This time around, he really got into it.  Because he went with his much older cousins, he was forced coerced to go on a lot of rides he would have preferred not to go on.  You have to know that Eric is deathly afraid of heights, so much so that you can't even pick him up without him panicking.  Somehow, we got him on Thunder Mountain (multiple times),  the Matterhorn and another roller coaster ride in California Adventure.  His favorite rides were the cars and Pirates of the Caribbean - which he and I did together numerous times.  I made him go with me on my favorite ride - Small World.  But, his cousins had already convinced him that the ride was "torture" and filled with "Chuckie" dolls, so he spent the entire ride mocking it.  Oh well, it's still my favorite ride and I'm okay going on it all.by.myself.

It was great to have so many of the cousins together and with Mary being in a wheelchair, it was as good as a fast pass - which made her cousins very happy.  I think the last time we had this many cousins together at Disneyland, a few of them were still in diapers and we were pushing them around in strollers.  Time flies!

Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure :)

The family.  We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together.  

~Erma Bombeck

Going to See Mickey

In a spur of the moment decision, I decided to take the kids to Disneyland this weekend.  I, along with three of my kids, a bunch of cousins, and my sister will be spending the weekend at the Magic Kingdom. Thank you Kristi for helping out with Jack this weekend! (I would have no life outside of my house without her.) I wish Jack could come with us, but we missed the window of opportunity for him to enjoy Disney -  when he was small enough to hold on our lap. There's little he could do at Disneyland, although I suppose there is lots for him to see. However, Disneyland in July is not the best time (weather) for sightseeing.  In any event, it's the last hurrah before school as Mary and Eric start back to school a week from Monday.

Have a great weekend and thanks for checking in.

This Kind of Stuff

Yesterday, Kristi called me at work to ask if I knew about the bruises on Jack's pinkie finger.

I did not.

When I got home, I saw this:

I have no idea when or how this happened*, but this kind of stuff just breaks my heart.  It kills me that Jack was hurt and he couldn't tell me about it. Yes, it's only a sprained pinkie, it looks worse than it is and in the scheme of things, it's not that big of a deal ....  but it still bothers me. It's times like this that I wish - oh how I wish - that Jack could talk.

But he can't.

And I hate it.

But,  he's still happy.

So, I can be too.

Except when I look at that bruised pinkie.

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*Jack wears hand splints at night and I'm always very careful when I put them on that all his fingers are straight. I'm wondering if I missed his pinkie the other night and perhaps it was bent back in the splint.  Makes me so upset to think that might be what happened.  I really haven't a clue and I don't recall Jack crying anytime the last few days.  *sigh*

Sunday at the Lake

While Jack was safe and comfortable in the care of the Ryan House staff, I snuck away for half a day and enjoyed a day at the lake with my sister, brother-in-law and niece. It was fun and "Africa hot". But, if you're going to be out in the Arizona sun, there's no better way to spend it than on a boat on the lake.

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For those of you who didn't hear the story on FB .... I got a phone call from Eric on Friday telling me that he'd just had a large black ant removed from his ear! I'm not sure how he got an ant in his ear, but, fortunately, Peggy's husband is a pediatrician, so he had the necessary instruments to pull the thing out of Eric's ear, which saved them a trip to the ER.  Peggy said in 30 years of practice, her husband has pulled a lot of things out of kids ears, but he said this was the first time he's pulled a live ant from an ear.  Eric told me he's not going outside anymore!

We're all anxious to get Eric back home .... it's too quiet around here.


Have a great week everyone!

Yeah, It's Friday.

How come short work weeks always feel like the longest?  I'm so ready for the weekend.  We are spending another weekend at the Ryan House.  As you have probably noticed, we are trying to spend one weekend a month there to get the staff used to Jack and Jack used to the staff. I'm not sure when I'll be comfortable leaving Jack by himself there, but the hope is that some day I will get to that point.  We'd like to visit my brother in Florida next March during Spring Break, so hopefully by then.

This weekend I won't have Eric with me, so I actually might get some respite.  I didn't tell Eric we were going to the Ryan House because I was afraid he wouldn't get on the plane to Peggy's.  As much as Eric loves Peggy, he likes the Ryan House equally as much.  The news from St. Louis is that Eric is having a great time.  I hear it's humid and rainy ... all the better for a bug-guy like Eric :)  It sure is quiet around here without Eric, but, I'll be honest, it's a nice break to just have one kid to get ready for bed at the end of the day.  Eric fights me every step of the way at bedtime, so it's been nice not having the bedtime battles.  Oh, if only someone would force me to go to bed at 9 o'clock every night!

Last night, I put together the pots you see below to take to the Ryan House, courtesy of The Willow Tree Foundation. The pots contain bubble bath, lotion and lavender scented and shea infused lounge socks from Bath and Body Works.  I dropped off a set of pots back in April and the word is, the families really enjoyed them.  It's nice to be able to support the Ryan House, if only on a small scale.

Thanks for checking in.  

Wishing you all a great weekend. 

Camp Peggy

Eric left for St. Louis today to spend a week with our dear friend Peggy.  I wish I could have gone with him!  He was a pro and wasn't the least bit nervous about flying as an "unaccompanied minor" (at least not that he let on).  He arrived safe and sound and I know he will have a fabulous week of fun.  Peggy has three grown sons, so she knows all about boys and what they like to do (and she has the patience of a saint).

We already miss his sweet face, but I'm sure he's got Peggy and family laughing at his stories and antics.

Pre-flight snack

Making his way to his gate

Hanging out with dad

and mom

passing the time waiting to board

Answering Some Questions

In my "Blogging" Post, Dana asked a couple of questions that I thought I would answer.

How do we move Jack?

The answer depends on who is moving him.  Mark moves Jack by physically lifting him out his bed and into his wheelchair (and vice versa).  If I need to move Jack, I enlist the help of Jack's nurse or Hilary or Mary because it's a two person lift for me.  I haven't lifted Jack by myself since at least 2005. Jack's nurses move him using the ceiling mounted lift in Jack's room.  Yes, we should all use the lift, but I don't have the patience for it.  I've used it on occasion when I'm by myself, but I always feel like I'm going to break Jack in half when I use the lift.

Our insurance paid for the lift system.  I could have gotten a track system that would have gone from Jack's room to the family room, but I didn't want to destroy the doorways or have tracks hanging from the ceiling in the other rooms of my house.  Because we have high ceilings, the tracks can't be installed flush against the ceiling, they have to suspend from the ceiling.

Jack's nurse, Kristi, uses the lift to transfer Jack from his bed to his shower chair and then rolls the shower chair into the shower.  We have two slings for the lift, one for his wheelchair and one for his shower chair.  I would have loved to have a track that traveled to the shower, but we were told that they won't install a track in a shower due to safety reasons. In retrospect, I should have pushed the issue because I know people who have tracks in their bathrooms. 

The one thing I do not like about our set-up is that after Jack's shower, Kristi pushes his wet shower chair back to his room and uses the lift to get Jack back into his bed.  The problem is that the shower chair drips water from the shower to Jack's bed.  Not good for the flooring in Jack's room (pergo) and not safe given the flooring in Jack's bathroom (ceramic tile).  Kristi does a good job of drying the floor right away and so far, I haven't noticed any damage to the floor, but I'm sure it's just a matter of time.  

The State of Arizona has a program that paid for converting Jack's tub/shower area into a roll-in shower. The program also paid to put special hinges on several doors that allow the doors to open wider for wheelchairs and it also paid for a cement ramp out our front door.  

Jack's shower set-up

We transport Jack from place to place in our van.  We have a full-size van with a wheelchair lift.  I do NOT like it.  The lift takes up too much room in the van.  But, it's served it's purpose, so I can't complain too much.  For anyone contemplating a wheelchair accessible van -- get a rear entry lift, not a side entry lift.  I can't tell you how many times we are unable to use handicap spaces because there is no space to roll Jack off the lift once it is down. Even wheelchair accessible spots aren't always big enough. Our van has 130,000+ miles on it and we really need a new one, but I can't force myself to spend the $50,000+ to buy one.  Maybe someday ....

Dana also asked about using blankets to cover the vent circuits to keep the water from accumulating.  We've been having a lot of trouble with water accumulating in the circuits even with using the blankets.  I finally just turned down the heater to the lower setting and that - along with the blankets has kept the water at a minimum.

Here is a picture:

You just have to be careful NOT to cover up the peep valve. You can't tell from this picture, but the peep value is not covered with a blanket - it can "breathe" freely. 

Jack does not have a power wheelchair.  He got one when he was five years old and he was doing fairly well with it.  He wasn't great, but he did okay.  I personally didn't like it - it was awful to get in and out of the van - it was too heavy and too big.  In 2005, Jack suffered an anoxic event when he disconnected himself from his ventilator and he never recovered the strength to use his wheelchair after the event.  Although, I think it's the combination of the anoxic event and the effects of Jack's disease that prevent him from using a power chair.

As far as tips for building relationships with nurses and doctors - I think I've just been very lucky. 

I've always had a good relationship with Jack's nurses and I've almost always had good nurses.  When Jack first came home from the hospital, I had nurses in my house who knew more than I did about vents, trachs and Jack's care.  I listened to them, they listened to me and we had a mutual respect from the very beginning.   I'm not sure how or when the patient/nurse relationship became one of friendship, but Jack's St. Louis nurses have truly become my very good friends - especially Peggy.  Now that we don't live in St. Louis, we don't have to worry about crossing any "boundaries" - not that we worried about it much when we lived in St. Louis.  I'm sure it's difficult to build relationships with nurses if there is constantly a revolving door of nurses and when you do know more about your child's care than the nurses.  In my case, Kristi has been with us for eight years and it's not an overstatement to say that she knows Jack as well as I do.  

I also think a big factor with my success with nurses is that I am not home with them, so I'm not there to see every little thing that might annoy me.  Are there some things that Jack's nurses do that annoy me? Yes, but it's never been anything that puts Jack's life in danger.  I have very competent nurses caring for Jack and I'm comfortable leaving him in their care every day.  I don't like having nurses in my house when I'm home.  Not having nurses in my space keeps the tension at bay.  

I don't know that I have any advice for building relationships with doctors because I haven't had a lot of luck with the doctors out here.  Although, I have a great relationship with Jack's St. Louis docs (current and former).  The difference between the doctors here and the doctors in St. Louis is accessibility.  None of the doctors out here will give out their email, so I don't have the opportunity to establish much of a relationship with them.  They won't take the time to get to know me or Jack.  The key to my relationships with Jack's St. Louis doctors is that I had their email from the beginning and I used it - A LOT.  I used it a lot because I hated taking Jack to the doctors (still do) and if I could get my questions answered or orders called in using email and the telephone - I did it.  I asked a lot of questions, I questioned a lot of their decisions, and I vented a lot of my frustration.  They always listened and they always responded. To this day, I don't know why Jack's doctors put up with me - I was relentless!   Jack's situation was unique from the beginning because when he was discharged from the PICU, he was not followed by a pulmonologist, he was followed on his vent by a PICU Intensivist and a PICU Fellow.  Because these docs didn't have offices, I had access to them 24/7 via email and their pagers.  They both got to know me very well and we still keep in touch to this day.  It's important to not be afraid to speak your mind and know that you know your child and what you have to say is important, educated, based on experience and worthy of being heard.  It's also important how you present yourself.   Present yourself with confidence and without hostility or arrogance.    

This is what one of Jack's docs shared with me in an email.  Obviously, it meant a lot to me to hear that I had earned the respect of Jack's doctors despite my "forthright style":

"I'll tell you what you did to earn our respect.  You stood up for Jack. Period.  Never wavered. Always had his best interests first.  Often at the expense of your own.  Your forthright style probably can put off some insecure physicians.  But I think A, P and I only respect you more for your "attitude".  Please don't change - I've said it before and I'll say it again: you are the reason Jack is here and, within his potential, thriving."

And, I've never changed :)  

I could go on and on, but I've rambled on long enough so I'll shut up for now.  

Hope that helps some Dana (and anyone else who might have gotten something out of my ramblings).

Tomorrow is a day off from work .... oh happy day!

A First

Tonight I captured a FIRST .... three of my children engaging in an activity TOGETHER!  This never happens because Hilary is a loner and typically does her own thing and because of the age difference between Eric and his sisters.  To most, this scene would be no big deal, but it truly is a first for me and listening to my kids laughing and having fun together is just so ........... cool!

If only Jack was in the picture holding a Wii remote, it would be the "perfect" first.

Blogging

I had a blog post drafted but then decided not to post it because it seemed too narcissistic. Then again, all blogging is narcissistic to some degree.  When I started this blog, it was never intended to be about me, it was started solely to keep people updated on Jack's spinal fusion surgery in 2006.  I kept it up after that because ... well, because people kept reading.  Occasionally, I'm "struck" with words about this journey with Jack that I feel are worth sharing - words I call "Blog Thoughts".  Writing is very therapeutic and cathartic for me and I write as much for myself as I do for those who read this blog.  However, it's been over a year since I've written a Blog Thought.  I'm wondering if maybe I've got nothing left to share.   Perhaps I've finally reached the point in this journey where I really am okay.  I'm not consumed with how different my life is or what I don't (and won't ever) have.  Granted, it's easy to be in this place of contentment when things are going smoothly with Jack (and nursing and insurance) and, I'm certainly not looking for any drama just to have something to blog about. The problem is: contentment = lack of blogging material.

I know who some of you are who read this blog because you leave comments.  I know how many hits a day this blog gets.  So, I also know that there are many who read this blog and never comment.  It does beg the question .... why do people read this blog?  It can't be because of my words of wisdom or profound thoughts because, lately, I've got none.  I'm not sure my family's everyday life is all that interesting either. So, you ask, what exactly is the point of this post?  I'm not sure I know, but hey ... at least I gave those of you who check in on us something to read! :-)

Seriously, my point is that this blog has morphed into something completely different than what it started out as and I'm not sure where I'm heading with it or for how long.  But, I will say (as I've said before) that I appreciate those who check in on us and continue to check in despite the long break between posts.  I appreciate those who take the time to leave a comment.  Mostly, I appreciate that when times do get tough, there are people out there who truly care.  That, I guess, is why I keep blogging.

Thanks for stopping by.


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p.s. I'm open to suggestions if anyone has something they'd like to know about me, my family or if you have any ideas for a blog post.

All Is Well On The Homefront

We are all well here at the Ranch.

An update on those recovering from surgery ...

Our dog Rylie is up and moving around much better.  She sits at the bottom of the stairs whining because she can't go up. We have a gate that blocks her way  -  and trips me about every other time I go up and down the stairs.  If I'm not careful, I'll end up breaking something and need surgery myself.  For a non-animal lover, I really do think our dog is really sweet. So sweet in fact, I actually let her lick my hand today.  It was gross, but I sucked it up and indulged her  :-) (sorry, I just can't do dog slobber.)

Mary got the half-casts off her feet and she is now in those lovely black boots.  She can now get around by walking on her heels in the boots and has graduated from the wheelchair to crutches.  Her stitches are still in until Monday. Mary has some great friends and cousins who have hung out with her at the house and kept her entertained.  Now that she can get around better, they have been carting her around town and gotten her out of the house.  I'm not sure when she will be able to drive because she can't drive with the boots on.

Here is a picture of Mary being serenaded by one of her friends.  What a nice guy!

Eric started his science camp this week and he loves it.  At first he thought it was going to be like school and he really wasn't interested in going. But, he's been having a blast. Yesterday, he dissected owl pellets.  Do you know what one finds in owl pellets?  Small bones! Very cool (if you are into those kinds of things.)  Next week is robot week at camp.  I can't wait to see what kind of robot Eric creates.

Hilary is enjoying hanging out doing a whole lot of nothing.  I'm already starting to book flights for her return to school in the Fall, Thanksgiving break and Christmas break.  I'm hyperventilating at the amount of money it costs to get this kid from Phoenix, Arizona to Rochester, New York. It's insane.  I remember when my kids were little and I couldn't wait for them to get out of daycare because I was going to save so much money.  Silly me.  Kids aren't cheap no matter what the age.

As for Jack ... oh, how I love this kid.  He demands so little and is always so happy and content.  Just give him a few cans of food a day, keep his airway clear and make sure the TV or iPod is on and he's a happy camper.  The simplicity of his life (his dependence on sophisticated machines to keep him alive aside) is refreshing in the otherwise manic life I live. Jack forces me to stop, rest, listen and soak in the moment.  I need him as much as he needs me.

I'm in the middle of reading two books.  The first one is "Finding Your Own North Star: claiming the life you were meant to live".  I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up.  I just hope I can figure it out before it's too late to make a change.

The other book is "The Pursuit of Perfect" - the book I mentioned in a previous post.  This book discusses the difference between being a Perfectionist and being an Optimalist.  According to the author, the  differences between a Perfectionist and an Optimalist is that a Perfectionist rejects reality while the Optimalist accepts it.  The Perfectionist rejects failure, the Optimalist accepts it as a natural part of life and as an experience that is inextricably linked to success.  I am a born Perfectionist (as is Eric).  As the parent of two children with disabilities, it's difficult to ignore my reality.  Acceptance wasn't something that came easily or that happened immediately.  In fact, I rejected my reality for years.  However, with time, I've come to accept my reality because of my children and for the sake of my children.  As you may recall, I wrote about being a perfectionist in this post: "Perfection".

I really like this following quote about acceptance:

When we fully accept reality - the good and the bad, the pleasurable and the painful - we can create and spread affluence; when we accept rather than resist, we become a pipeline, a conduit, through which wisdom and goodness can flow.  


Thanks for checking in my wonderful friends!




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For those wanting to know how my mom is doing -- she ended up back in the hospital for a week with a severe UTI and other GI issues that needed to get resolved. She was discharged on Wednesday and she is now in a different rehab facility that we hope will actually do some rehab. The last place she was at didn't make any effort to get her out of bed or rehab her.  The hope is that she can get to a point in her rehab at the current facility where she will qualify for placement at an acute rehab facility where she will get the intense rehab she needs.  It's been a very tough recovery from a broken leg and she's got a long way to go yet.  But, she's one tough lady and if anyone can get through this, it's her.

Summer Days

Summer days ....

Are spent lying on the couch with your feet propped up, sipping gatorade and getting all the pain meds you want

where no amount of pain or grogginess can keep you from doing THIS all day long ....

staying up way past bedtime, hanging out with sibs and cousin playing Wii games and finally succumbing to sleep on the family room floor with no worries about having to get up early the next day 

ahhhh, the FUN days of summer.  (Although, Mary probably wouldn't call this week "fun" - but she's doing well.)

Wishing you all a fantastic Friday that carries through for a fabulous weekend.  Thanks for checking in!  

Eleven Years

Eleven years ago today, Jack was discharged from St. Louis Children's Hospital PICU after spending almost five months there looking for answers that were never found and trying everything to avoid the inevitable.  

Who knew what the next eleven years would bring.

Eleven years of:

> sleepless nights

> threading a suction catheter down my child's airway

> dumping cans of liquid food into my child through a hole in his stomach

> changing out a plastic tube inserted through a hole in my child's neck

> rinsing my child's snot out of a plastic canister

> troubleshooting a machine that breathes life's air into my child's lungs

> changing trach ties and g-tube dressings

> wrapping a pulse-ox probe around my child's fingers and toes

> listening to the rhythmic whooshing of the ventilator and the rumbling of the suction machine

>  monitoring oxygen saturations and heart rate

>  having nurses in my house and following someone else's orders regarding my child's care

> ordering medical supplies

> telephone calls to DME companies regarding wrong orders

> reading EOBs

> working my way through countless telephone prompts to get to an insurance company representative who talks to me like I'm an idiot

>  meetings with nursing agency reps, department of developmental disability reps and vent dependent program reps

> x-rays, orthotics, splints and wheelchairs

> coordinating medical appointments with work schedules

>  email communications with doctors

> amazing friendships with nurses and doctors who dared to cross the line

> profound friendships with the most amazing women who walk this walk along with me

> experiencing the love, care and concern of the many people who care for, care about and support families like mine

> dashed hopes

> new dreams

> appreciating the little things

>  discovering who I am

>  growing emotionally and spiritually

>  learning

>  standing my ground and

> loving more deeply than I ever thought possible

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The last eleven years have been anything but easy and while I don't believe that things always happen for the best, I do believe that it's possible to make the best of things that happen (to quote Tal Ben-Shahar, author of "The Pursuit of Perfect: How to Stop Chasing Perfection and Start Living a Richer, Happier Life").  I can't imagine a life without Jack and all he has brought to me and those whose lives he touches.

The one thing that has saddened me the most over the last eleven years has been my perception of Jack's quality of life.  His disease has stolen so much from him and there is so much he cannot do.  I often wonder why Jack has to live this life. Yet, not too long ago I had an "AhHa" moment that gave me a whole new perspective on Jack's quality of life.  I was sitting with my mom in the nursing home shortly after she was transferred following surgery.  My mom was in an incredible amount of pain, unable to do anything for herself and unable to communicate anything about how she feels or what she needs.  (My mom has severe aphasia as a result of the surgery to remove a brain tumor three years ago).  Sitting there with my mom, I got to thinking about quality of life and then it hit me  . . .  Jack has a phenomenal quality of life.  He may not be able to move a muscle, is dependent on a machine for every breath and requires assistance with every aspect of his life -- but despite these limitations, Jack is engaged, he is not in pain and he finds joy in his life.  It was the "knock up side of the head" I needed to appreciate that Jack's life has purpose and that I am richly blessed to have him in my life.

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I've shared these pictures before, but I'm going to share them again. Pictures from Jack's discharge day - June 8, 1999.  

  

sporting his new "homecoming hat" - a gift from Dr. Garcia

the obvious connection between Jack and a very special doctor

(Dr. Garcia)

snoozing on the ride home

Another Great Weekend

We spent another great weekend at the Ryan House.  Eric is in nirvana there.   Jack ...  he's not sure yet.  He's happy, but unsure.  He looks at me with these eyes that say "hey, what's up?  I'm perfectly happy at my house, in my bed, watching my movies and having my nurses cater to me!"  He just needs practice  - which we intend to give him a lot of.  We are looking forward to our next visit.

My favorite place to hang out at the Ryan House:

The Sanctuary is incredibly quiet and peaceful and a great place to read and catch a short nap.

On Saturday night we went to an Arizona Diamondback's baseball game. We had to drag Eric away from the Ryan House to go to the game, as he was convinced that baseball is "so boring".

Does this look like a bored kid to you?

It was fun to get out for the evening with Eric and our friends, but I'm with Eric .... baseball is incredibly boring to watch (so much so that we left the game early!)

Our dog, Rylie had her surgery last week and she is slowly recovering.  She was quite pathetic the first few days. The thing wrapped around her waist is holding on a pain patch.  She's now had the patch and bandage removed and she has to take it easy (no running or stair climbing) for 12 weeks.

Mary has her surgery this week.  I borrowed a wheelchair from my friend, as Mary will be without the use of both feet for several days after surgery - she doesn't get her walking boots until next week.  At that, she has to walk on her heels because she can't bear weight on the front part of her foot for a good 4-6 weeks in order to give the hardware time to set in the bone (they are putting plates and screws in the bones of her pinkie toes).

Wishing you all a fabulous week! Thanks for checking in.

Back Relief

This weekend my awesome brother-in-law built us a one foot base for Jack's bed and my aching back is so very thankful.  I have a constant ache in my lower back from always bending over Jack's bed and I was in desperate need of some relief.  My brother-in-law just bought my back at least another ten years.

It's the perfect height -- just below my waist.  

Thanks Jim .... you are the BEST! 

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Two more days of school, our dog has surgery tomorrow and next weekend we're at the Ryan House again.  Busy week.  Hope you all have a great one!