November 14, 2008

The Pumpkin Patch & Halloween










Ethan, Christian, & Sophia being clowns


My Witch and Dead Zombie Knight

I Lied

Yes, I admit it, I lied, but it's really not my fault. Apparently some of the doctors had a miscommunication; therefore giving the family wrong information. Curtis was not able to go home on the 12th, but rather was in surgery on the 13th. From what I’ve been told it was for his knee, in the beginning it was believed it would be able to heal without surgery, but the MRI showed there was still separation. Hopefully he’ll be released in a few more days.

Both my kids have strep throat, so I’m not able to visit him without worrying about spreading it to him, which at this point would not be good. So I’ll wait a few days to visit, hopefully he’ll be home by then.

November 12, 2008

More Excellent News!

Curtis is being released from the hospital today, exactly 4 weeks after his accident. After seeing him on the first day, I would have never thought he’d be coming home so fast. I really believe that all the love and support of the people surrounding him helped with the healing process.

He had several different nurses while he was in the ICU, and I appreciated the ones that believed and understood our family bond. They would let us talk to him and touch him, and like my brother JD and his roommate Brandon (who were more then happy to take the “night shift”) just sit in his room for hours on end (of course I’m talking about when he was in a coma).

There were some that didn’t appreciate us being there. One actually asked my Aunt “how would you like it to have all these people hovering over you, touching you?” My Aunt told her that is the way our family is and that was what Curtis was used to. But she agreed that we would do whatever the nurses asked us to do, for Curtis’ sake. I can’t imagine being used to our family and the closeness we have, and not having it or feeling it while you are in a coma, what a lonely feeling that would be. I know some believe that people in comas, don’t feel or hear anything, but I think they’re wrong. How else can you explain Curtis’ miraculous recovery? We surrounded him with all the people that love him, and he’s already going home!

His accident happened so early in the morning, family starting arriving around 3 am. I didn’t receive a call until around noon that day; I think they believe I’m not strong enough to handle such things. So when I talked to my brother, he told me to come see him before they took him into surgery, if I wanted to, of course I did. He wasn’t awake, had been unconscious since the accident, but obviously something was reaching him, somewhere in his mind. Apparently before I got there the doctor asked him a question and Curtis gave him the thumbs up. When you would talk to him, he would squeeze your hand, and I knew he could tell we were there. Everyone needed a little break before they took him in to surgery, so I stood there, holding his hand for a good half hour or so. I tried to walk across the room to get tissues, but when I tried to take my fingers out of his hand, he squeezed tighter, he wouldn’t let go. I had to ask the cleaning lady to hand me the box of tissues.

The whole time he was out or under, or however you’d like to say it, he knew we were there and we loved him. He knew we were supporting him and waiting for his eyes to open. He knew we would all be overjoyed when he could come home. And I’m sure there were times he was tired of listening to all of us babble non stop to him, but if that’s what it takes to get him better, and home, that’s what we’ll do. I feel so lucky and proud to be a part of this wonderful family; I can’t imagine it any other way.

Thanks again to everyone who visited, sent love and prayers, and supported Curtis, our family and friends through this. We can’t tell you enough how much we appreciate it!

God Bless you all!

November 7, 2008

Curtis Update

I know I should already have a post about Sophia turning 5, but she’s having a party this Saturday so I’ll update after that one.

I have news about Curtis, GREAT news actually. He is doing remarkable. Everyday he is more himself, and his quick recovery makes the crash seem like it happened months ago. The doctors have given us great hope by setting a tentative release date, which will hopefully be a week from today. He’ll be staying with his mom until he’s recovered and he'll still need to have someone with him 24 hrs a day. He’ll still be going to physical and work therapy at the hospital. They have said his complete recovery could take up to a year, but I have hope that it will be sooner, they were the ones who told us his release date wouldn’t be until mid to end of December.

I went to visit him last night. He said some pretty funny things, and I’m sure they won’t translate quite as humorous in writing, but I’m still going to post them.

To his mom, after his stepdad mentioned going to eat a steak for dinner:
“I hate you mom, just go have a beer and a filet mignon, whatever, I don’t care. Sizzler has great deals.”

To my brother when he was talking to him on the phone:
“Hey, I’m getting ready to check out, so when we get out of here I’ll call you and tell you where we’re going so you can meet up with us……….Ya, I’m checking out, I’m not coming back until tomorrow.”

To his friend’s girlfriend:
“Is your hot tub ready? I’m heading over there now.” When she said they were draining it and then refilling it he said “Well that doesn’t work, it will never be ready.”

On my way out of the hospital I passed by one of his friends who told me that Curtis had asked to use his cell phone the night before. He called information and asked for the number to a hotel downtown. When they connected him to the hotel, he tried to make a reservation for that night. Apparently he thought he needed someplace to stay.
I'm going to try to get some pictures posted in the next few days.

The whole family appreciates all the love, support and prayers everyone has been sending Curtis’ way. Thanks again!

November 4, 2008

5 Years Ago

Let me tell you a little about November 4th, 2003, five years ago today. I remember working a full day, going to a doctor appointment during my lunch break, stopping at a bookstore on the way home from work, Ronnie making dinner, reading books to Ethan, and Ronnie taking pictures of Ethan rubbing my enormous belly. After putting Ethan to bed, Ronnie and I settled into bed ourselves. And those are my last memories of our family of three.
At midnight I woke up in labor, the same time I woke up in labor with Ethan, the difference this time, was I knew this was it. I had no question in my mind that what I was feeling was Sophia making her entrance into this world. By three am we were dropping Ethan off at my Mom’s house and making our way to the hospital. It wasn’t a long ride, but it seemed like it took forever. There was no counting time between contractions; she was ready to make her entrance into this world. Less then twelve hours after going into labor Sophia joined our family. She weighed a whopping 8 lbs 15 oz! Ethan was only 7 lbs 1 oz, so that seemed HUGE to me and my 5’1” body. Even my doctor was a little shocked; although I had been telling him for months I knew she was going to be huge, he just didn’t believe she’d be that big.
She had a perfect little round face and wonderful, almost tanned, tone to her skin. She had tons of curly hair, in a perfect auburn shade. She was beautiful! The perfect addition to our family.
Tomorrow she’ll turn five, and I’ve been procrastinating planning a celebration for her. Somewhere in my mind I believe if we put it off, she won’t turn five yet, even though I know it’s not true. It’s hard to watch my baby grow up, to not be my baby anymore. I haven’t decided if it’s harder to watch your first born or your baby grow up, for me, both are extremely hard. My biggest wish is to raise them both the best I can, with the values and beliefs I feel are important, and most of all, with all the love I have to give the