Sutures out....whew!

It's such a beautiful day!  I'm scheming to see how I can arrange getting out of town with (just) Larry next weekend.  It's his birthday and it would be so nice to get down to the beach together while it's still so beautiful out.  

I wish I could tell you what a breeze yesterday was...Krissy was scheduled up at Doernbecher to have her stitches removed, a very minor thing as we (all except Krissy) know.  However because she was so traumatized getting her finger put back together, we realized it was going to be a huge challenge to get near her.  I tried to talk her into it on Thursday night and she actually made it thru one of them coming out...but was just so anxious and it just seemed like she was unable to overcome that.  So, the back up plan was in place and we got her up to the hospital around 1pm.  We hoped she would breathe the gas thru the mask and that would be enough...but she hated it (kept saying 'take out the chocolate', which she's never liked)  He put a fruit flavor in it, but that didn't work either.  So the next try was an injection, which didn't work out any better.  She jerked her arm away and the needle came back out before delivery of the drug.  So....next came trying to convince her to drink Versed.....but by this time she was so upset, she knew anything we wanted her to do wasn't going to be pleasant.  We even tried getting her just to hold still and let the nurse take them out, but again, she couldn't.  So we had to hold her down while they gave her the shot of Ketamine....apparently a rather big dose. It was amazing.  Maybe 30 seconds later, her eyes were closing and we lifted her from the chair to the bed.  She was REALLY out.  Long after the sutures were gone, she was still deeply asleep and they felt they should start an IV just to have access.  Never anticipated that this was going to be so involved.  When she started to make some noises, they quickly pulled the IV, so she still doesn't know she ever had it which is nice.  In fact she's not talking about yesterday at all, so I'm hoping she really doesn't remember.    Jamie and I sort of wish we couldn't remember too.   The staff kept telling me when Jamie was out of earshot that they couldn't believe how wonderful she was with Krissy.  She loves her sister so much and boy does Krissy love Jamie!  We finally got Krissy upright, but she was so punchy...I don't know that I've seen someone act that inebriated without any alcohol....it had us all laughing. Unfortuately the medicine did make her sick to her stomach for several hours, so that made the ride home alittle more, uh stressful in Friday rush hour traffic.   She woke up feeling like herself so, we can close the book (i certainly hope) on this injury.  I think she's quite afraid of the bike at school now, which is fine by me.  

The older kids are in their first weekend of rehearsals for the fall CYT shows.  I'm sure we'll get thru it, but the forcast is quite involved/busy with them going in different directions and us having parental responsibilities on both sides of the river.  Their shows open the same weekend (same night, in fact).  David's last one, so I'm happy he got to be in the one he wanted. 

Hope it's beautiful where you are....definitely September is my favorite month :o)

Love Janelle

It's a beautiful September afternoon and yes, surprisingly calm, even at the Julian house.  The 3 older kids have left for CYT class, Larry is sleeping so it's just the 3 of us left hanging out together.  I love these beautiful fall days.  I think I've decided September is my favorite time of the year.

Anne is attending Damascus Christian High this year and this morning I was reflecting on how much I enjoy that beautiful drive out to the country.  I put some great music on and really am enjoying it.  Maybe in February it won't have quite the same effect on me, but for now, I'm a happy taxi driver.

Yesterday I looked out back and Benjamin was enjoying a maple leaf he had found.  In fact he was enjoying chewing on it.  I don't get it...he will not eat food, but yard debris?? Bring it on~ Apparently they aren't poisonous...I meant to look it up and forgot :o(

Krissy is now scheduled with the Pediatric Sedation Services at Doernbecher on Friday to have her stitches out.  Our local pediatrician's office didn't think it would be safe to try doing this in the clinic since she was so traumatized having them put in.  Seems so silly for a suture removal, but I agree...I think she would be too afraid to cooperate.   I may still try and talk her into it come Thursday night, but for now, we're scheduled.  They plan to give her a "Ketamine Dart"....an injection (not an IV) to sedate her.  Reminds me of what they do to capture wild animals.  Hmmmm, now that I mention it.....maybe it is the same thing?  I'll let you know how that all goes.

Our 3 kids auditioned for 2 different shows (Anne here in Portland, David and Jamie in Vancouver) so a busy fall awaits us...and that's just what we know about. This is David's last show as he will 'age out'...turns 19 in October.  

David and Jamie started fall term at Mt Hood CC yesterday.  David is in chemistry this term as well as continuing his studies in Criminal Justice (this time Juvenille Justice).  He's also taking a writing class.  Jamie is continuing her pre-nursing classes as well as working in another Spanish class and ballet with some friends.  

Larry developed an abscess tooth over the weekend and was noticably swollen up by Sunday evening.  He was able to see an emergency dentist yesterday and is now on antibiotics.  Hopefully he'll begin to feel better.  It really made him feel awful and was quite painful.  He continues to maintain his record of attendance at work...he's not called in sick for many months now...a real record for him and an answer to prayer.  We have good friends who faithfully pray for his health.

I'm staying busy.  I keep my eyes open for a very part time nurse position, but am really not sure that I can work it into our busy lives.  I love being at home with the family, being available for whoever needs me and baking cookies inbetween school runs.  God continues to provide for all of our needs.  

Hope you're well too and enjoying this beautiful fall weather.

Janelle

First day of school :o), 2nd day of school :o(((

Happy September....I think~After Krissy not ever feeling well on our trip to Disneyland, we were so happy to return home on Thursday evening. She must have stated in a loud, emotional voice about 30 times on the flight home "WE'RE GOIN' DOWN!". Hopefully no fearful flyers sitting nearby....I wasn't about to look around. We kept her home from school Friday and she just hung out at home on the weekend.Which made yesterday, her first day of school. It didn't actually start out very well....she was agitated from the get-go, then plopped down on the wet front grass and said she wasn't going. We did manage to talk her into getting onto the bus with her assistant, and the report from school was that she did pretty well.So...I was alittle perplexed when I saw the school phone number in my cell phone caller ID about 10 am this morning, when it rang. The teacher said Krissy had cut her finger quite badly on a bike at school, so I said I'd come down and have a look. Jamie came with me. Krissy was very shook up. They had paper towels wrapped around her finger to control the bleeding. I didn't even look at it. From the sounds of it, we needed to get to the doctor, so we went to the Emergency Room at Mt Hood. A very long story short, she had a nerve block, an xray, oral sedation, then an IV for IV sedation and finally we got her finger put back together...like 3 hrs of drama later. Poor little thing. Anyway, that girl can fight when she believes in something, let me tell you. At one point, both she and Jamie were crying.Nana and I are leaving shortly to take Krissy to Red Robin. This was a promised trip before today happened....Red is there, 6-8 pm, so hopefully he's ready for us. As always, keep us in your prayers. Larry is very thankful these 2 weeks happened after I returned from Uganda.

Janelle

Greetings from Disneyland...We flew down early Monday morning and we realized something was wrong with Krissy almost immediately when she announced that she wasn't going to Disneyland and wanted to go home.  WHATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT????  We've convinced her to go over briefly each day, but she's not been well since arriving and is happiest curled up in bed in our hotel room, playing with a toy or listening to music.  David's girlfriend Emily arrived with her Grandma this morning (her grandma's graduation present) and they will be here for 6 days.  When we realized we both had trips planned about the same time, we decided it would be fun to spend one day together.  Jamie stayed in the room with Krissy this morning while the 4 of us went on Indianna Jones and Splash Mountain (twice...no waiting!!!)... then they headed over with a picnic lunch and met us.  After seeing these 3 characters (it was great, standing in one line for all 3!) and having a PBJ sandwich,  Krissy wanted her hand stamped and 'go back to the hotel'.  So she and I are having a quiet afternoon, and I'm hoping we can convince her to go over to the "World of Color" tonight at California Adventure.

Appreciate prayers that she'll soon be feeling better.  You know she's not well when she's turning down Disneyland!