Four Year Check Up

When I told Riley we were going to see Dr. J she said "woohoo." I told her this was a very important check up because she would get her "4yr old super powers" (vaccines). I had to reschedule from last week because of the surgery, but I bet they get that all the time since you schedule the check ups so far in advance.

Miss Roo is in the 19th percentile for height and weight. Inching right along on the old growth chart. We only had one visit in between check ups this year, not bad at all. She's a happy healthy girl. When the big moment came she climbed up in my lap. Dr. J told her there were lollipops and stickers for brave girls. I reminded her about how lucky she was to get her superpowers AND lollipops! Dr. J said you get one lollipop for each poke and an extra one if you're brave and don't cry. Three lollipops AND stickers, Riley was excited to hear that.

I told her I needed to give her a little hug. I held her around the arms just in case, but it wasn't necessary. The Dr and I kept even tones. One poke, band aid time, almost done. Last poke, band aid time, all done!! She hopped right down and headed for the lollipops. She picked out the three she earned and two stickers. She got a Despicable Me minion and a Pickalicious ballerina sticker.

The best part was she got to straight to school afterward and tell her friends all about it! It was adorable how excited her friends were overjoyed to see her. She'd never been late to school before. There were lots of hugs and smiles! It was heart warming. My big brave girl.

Huge thanks to my Mom for the ride and for running back to drop of her blanket. It was so nice to be able to visit with Riley's teacher for a minute. I felt beck to normal for a minute.

Staples Be Gone

Today they took all those suckers out. First back surgery (putting all the hardware in): 113 staples, first back hardware removal (they took out 2 cross bars): 22 staples...this time: 67! Even though I've had more staples than an office supply store, I was so relieved to hear that number. When I got the 113 staples out I actually took a break and vomited into Old Ortho's trash can. I'm pretty tough, but that is an absolute ton of staples getting yanked one at a time. It is much funnier in hindsight than it was at the time.

I knew I could handle 67. Even with the same ridiculously long incision,It goes lower than you can see in the picture, almost 50 less tiny pieces of metal to be pulled out. To be clear it's the tape coming off and the dried glue that sometimes rips off with the staples that hurts. This was a whole new ball of wax, less staples and different doctor. They had two nurses tag team it. One started and the top and one started at the bottom. I took one break and then sat down for the last four. I did yell a little, but I didn't curse or cry (or vomit).

It's always a rough day when they come out because there's soreness, but you also have this new vulnerability. It's no longer covered, protected, reinforced. It can be super emotional and frustrating. It's all worth it though when you get your first garbage bag/cling wrap free, REAL shower.

Happy Things

Our last evening together before my surgery we took a walk in the park.

Company while I heal.

Isaac's gifted project.

Mike painted jack-o-lanterns on Riley's nails for letter N show and tell.

Isaac dressed as Doctor Who.

New Shoes!

When I made this appointment for one day shy of a week post op I was told I'd never be able to do it. I take no perverse pleasure in proving people wrong. I just knew this was important and I could tough it out for the length of a fitting. There was a weird series of events that caused delivery of the devices I gave molds for in June to be delivered in September. I just knew recovering from back surgery would be easier if I was literally on my feet.

I'm so grateful to know the pronation issue is finally coming to a close. I was beginning to fear permanent damage. Getting to the appointment was half the battle. The other half was all the adjusting and walking and adjusting and walking and adjusting and walking...Getting the picture? I have to say I was so excited about how cute the shoes were! I couldn't get over it. I was totally expecting Church Lady ugly brown things. It's funny because the sticking point had been whether we could get shoes small enough and the first time we put everything on we were worried they were too small! After adjustments they fit fine. Woo hoo, woman's 5.

I have a UCB for each foot, it's a small supportive brace that fits in your shoe. They look like the bottom part of an AFO. They are named after the university that developed them. I got to go home with UCBs, adorable supportive shoes and high hopes. It was super frustrating because the left one was perfect and the right one had many issues. Good thing I'm a trooper. I have to slowly increase my time wearing them and get them checked next week. Too bad my expensive shoes can't be beautiful frivolous things like other woman.

While I Was Gone...

Riley dressed as an animal doctor for "community helper day". I helped her plan it all out, but I was still in the hospital when in it happened. She wore Daddy's white shirt over her clothes for a lab coat (she took it off before this picture), her teddy bear apron, Grandma's stethoscope with the puppy cover and her hedgehog barrette. The whole idea revolved around being able to bring her new plush Apple Jack pony to school. Isn't it cute?

While I was in the hospital my husband, my mother and my best friend took care of my kiddos. I feel beyond blessed to have had their help. The first back surgery Isaac was only in first grade and Riley was a tiny baby. They understood so little of what was happening. It was the same for Mike and I, we were blindsided by the enormity of it all. This time, Thank God, we had no illusions. This time we were prepared (as much as you can be). How prepared? They never ran out of milk while I was gone or fed the kids fast food. Pat, pat, pat. But it would have meant nothing without the love and support my kids got.

It was so important to me that my kids, who now both fully understood what was happening, felt secure. I can't stand the idea of them suffering because of me. It was wonderful to see happy smiling pictures of them while I was away. It's amazing how well everything went and how little upset to the schedule they had. Thank you, thank you to everyone who pitched in.

Stream of Social Media: Surgery to Home

Surgery day. My rumbly tumbly and I have hours to go...So glad we pre-ordered Star Trek into Darkness (3D).
"Cuzz Katie, Life will be grand when you're healed..."
"I am hoping the anxiety of surgery is the worst part. You will be feeling better soon!!"
"Praying for success."
"Love, hugs & prayers Katie!!"
"Ok Katie update. Just went in to surgury about 3:15. She will do well, and healing will go well. Please keep the prayers coming. thanks for your support. Mike and I are here waiting @[The Hospital]."
"Katie is still in the O.R., getting close to the end of the window they told us to expect her to be out. Will update when she is in recovery."
"Longest day ever!! Finally, Katie out of surgery"
"The doc says it was one of the most unusual spinal systems he has ever seen (this is not the same guy that put it in), the universal hardware bits wouldn't work with this hardware at all and he had to drill some of them to get a grip. Apparently it made a lot more work for him. Two of the top bolts and four of the bottom ones were grossly loose and were "windshield wiper-ing" her soft tissue every time she bent."
"They say she is "closing" now - they are closing her up - its a very big incision to close."
"She is in recovery now"
"Wow. Well I'm glad she is in recovery!!!"
"Whoa"
"She is in a room set for the night, at [The Hospital]. I will go back in am and take care of her. It was hard leaving. Her biggest complaint was, where the screws were rubbing, all those spots hurt bad. Ya think? OMG! Poor thing"
"OMG I am glad that all that is fixed now. That had to be horrible. I bet she will be much better after recovery"
"Katie! I'm so glad you are so damn strong! Love ya much ! Your distant Cuz!! Everybody up north has ya in our thoughts! Muah!!"
"Aww! Glad that's over with!!"
"I can guarantee that for Katie, the worst part was telling them about the pain, and them not believing her... telling her nothing is wrong...I have broken screws in my neck hardware too, but luckily mine isn't moving around.. I laughed the day the doc asked me.. "how did you break the screws?" Like I had something to do with it..."
"Speedy recovery Katie, thoughts and prayers are with you"
"Katie you are in my thoughts and prayers! I hope this surgery makes life one step easier!"
"Glad she's on her way to healing...I bet she'll feel so much better with all that cleaned up!"
"Poor little Katie. She surely has been through a lot"

"Katie has been up in a chair for two hours, then they walked her to the door. Progress! Resting now. Thanks for all your support."
"Yea progress!! you can do it Katie!"
"Yeah!!!!!!"
"Katie is better every day. Dressing change today."
"They let her keep the stuff they took out of her back?? I hope she is still recovering quite nicely, also"

I'm home!
"YAYY!"
"Hope you are healing up okay!"
Expecting the home health nurse (change the tape!!) this morning and company this afternoon. Not such a bad one week post op.
"Someone is amazing, and her name is..Katie"
"Glad you are doing better!!"
"You are a woman/mom/wife who doesn't like to waste time! Glad to see you forging ahead so remarkably! You don't need no stinkin' Iron Man hardware - you are already a super heroine in your own right!"
"Glad to hear you are doing well.... continued prayers heading your way..."
Thanks for the bagels and the visit Diana
"You're welcome! Good to see you. Sometimes you don't realize how much you have missed someone until you see them... sniff, sniff."
Glad you are doing better my friend!!!

A Couple of Screws Loose!

Yes, that all came out of me. Click any picture to enlarge.

Forgive the less than sharp writing in this one. It's difficult to articulate details of such a significant event, that coupled with the fact that sitting at the computer was not an option for so long. There have been way too many days like Tuesday. I hung in there on an empty stomach for hours. When Mike told me it was time to go I abandoned my knee jerk neurosis about being on time in favor of denial and fear. We were late to check in at the hospital and I did not care. If you know me you'll understand the significance.

I knew my last back surgery left me with baggage, but I had no idea how heavy all those bags were until now. I was disoriented by all the things that gave me comfort earlier. New hospital, new doctor, new surgery...I felt like I was surrounded by sound and people, but nothing made much sense. In my head I was screaming and trying to cope with where I was.

When I woke up reality seemed more...solid. Nothing like some intense pain to "ground" you. The pain was more intense than I was expecting, but the emotions that came with having post surgical back pain were almost worse. Obviously, I toughed it out and got back home. It's a long road of recovery ahead, but nowhere near as long as last time. Onward a few pounds of hardware lighter I go...

My Little Pony Party

Roo's Birthday

Here's my great big four year old! This was the first year she got to go to school on her birthday. At first I was sad because it was the end of an era filled with endless Mommy time (especially on her birthday), but then I remembered how much fun it is to have a little school celebration. I planned ahead and grabbed two cute birthday shirts so she could wear one to school and one to the party. Today's ensemble was a high topsy tail (or "french pony tail" as Roo has dubbed it), her pink "Birthday Princess" shirt, her plaid sparkle skirt with fucshia tulle at the hem and her jeweled sketchers. Fabulous!

She couldn't wait to get out the door this morning. Little Miss first-birthday-of-the-school-year was beyond excited. The school allows store bought cupcakes and Miss Roo requested chocolate My Little Pony. That's what she got! I had to get two dozen which worked out great because it was enough for both Pre-K (3 & VPK) classes. Roo has a best friend in her class and a best friend in the other class. Her teacher even took pictures of her enjoying them for me. The ponies on top were absolute treasure and Riley was beyond thrilled when I picked her up and she could liberate them from her cubbie.

Then it was home for presents and staying up way past bedtime and too much sugar. Mike and I gave her a Leap Pad 2 Explorer tablet and Minnie's Surprise Party and My Little Pony games. She loves it and took to it right away as predicted. She also got a walking talking Pinkie Pie! Later when we made a Kinkos run to print candy bar wrappers for the party she even talked her way in to a Halloween Hello Kitty. It's really saying something because I wasn't going to do it, but she didn't fuss or yell or demand she politely requested, re-requested and tried to negotiate a deal. I was stunned and felt justified in caving in light of her mature tactics. Four here we come!

Pony Party Prep

I didn't do anywhere nearly as much DIY and crafting for this party as I did for her last one, but I kept myself busy. I had Mike draw Pinkie Pie on a piece of poster board and then I traced her in Sharpie and painted to make "Pin the Tail on Pinkie Pie". I made some sequin ribbon barrettes for the girls which came out pretty cute. I used the left over barrettes from the Minnie invitations and hot glued pink, purple and green blue sequins on them. Next, I just cut pink, blue and purple ribbon of the same length knotted them together and glued them to the non-opening end of the barrette. Mike and I also collaborated on some custom candy bar wrappers for our favors. We designed them with some deviant art vectors and paint shop and had them printed on glossy paper at Kinkos. I made some chalk board signs for decorating the table and next to the bouncy castle.

Pin the tail on Pinkie Pie Game

Ribbon Barrettes

Favors

Decor