7/27/11
Dance!
7/25/11
Happy Birthday, Nine!
Yesterday, Nine turned one. Today, we celebrated with a special dinner, cake, party hats (or bows rather), and a very special present for Nine. We found a perfect pillow with her name on it. Lexi loved shopping for Nine and picking out her cake. We love you, Nine!
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Walsh
The wedding of the summer was on 7.23.11 when Uncle Daniel married Aunt Kristi. They both looked wonderful and so in love. We had a blast at the wedding and Lexi did a great job as one of the flower girls! During the reception, Lexi danced the night away. She sang, jumped, did hand gestures, and danced until she reached exhaustion. Grandma Mike and Aunt Kim drove up from Houston on Saturday and took Lexi back to the hotel for a sleep over once she was too tuckered out to dance. It was a great weekend celebrating Uncle Daniel and Aunt Kristi!
*I will post pictures later once we get some from the newlyweds!
*I will post pictures later once we get some from the newlyweds!
7/19/11
Catch up
So many things are happening right now...life is amazing! This SATURDAY we will officially welcome Ms. Kristi King into our family! Lexi is practicing this week being a "flower girl princess." She is excited about her dress, her headband, her wand, dancing, etc., BUT I'm not quite sure what she will think about all the people turned to watch her walk down the aisle. We'll see what happens! Regardless of what happens with Lexi, Daniel and Kristi will be married and on cloud nine. We are so happy for them and can't wait for their big day to get here so we can celebrate with them!
On another note, Lexi is cracking us up on a daily basis. I really need to be better about writing down the things she says. I know I say this often...
Here are some Lexi statements I can think of off the top of my head:
1. Tonight I tossed her PJs on the bed. She said, "Don't throw things! You know better than that!"
2. Lexi went with me to take pictures of a house the other day. My co-worker said, "Wow, you are a fast runner." Lexi said, "I know. I'm funny too."
3. Lexi hugged me and I said, "You melt my heart." Later that day Lexi said, "I want to melt your heart" and she hugged me again.
4. We took Lexi to the pool the other day. Two almost 5 grader girls were playing with her in the kids pool. Later we saw them in the adult pool and she asked to go talk to her friends.
5. The other day she said, "I'm growing up so fast."
6. I took her to see "Winnie The Pooh." She watched all the previews and kept asking when Pooh was coming on. One minute into the movie Lexi said, "Ok, I saw Pooh. I want to go home now."
7. Lexi was at my friend Michelle's house and they were coloring. Lexi colored on her arm. Michelle said, "We don't color on our bodies." Lexi said, "Brian has color on his body" (we were just with the Ratcliff's swimming and Lexi must have noticed the tattoo on Brian).
8. Chip and his friend were at our house last night. Chip's friend has a tattoo as well. Lexi asked her if she could wash it off. She said she tried, but she could not get it off. Lexi told her she would try to get it off for her. Chip's friend so ok. Lexi left the room and came back with a wipe. She tried to scrub off the tattoo with a baby wipe.
I promise to make a better effort at writing things down! She is growing up too fast. I really can't believe it!
On another note, Lexi is cracking us up on a daily basis. I really need to be better about writing down the things she says. I know I say this often...
Here are some Lexi statements I can think of off the top of my head:
1. Tonight I tossed her PJs on the bed. She said, "Don't throw things! You know better than that!"
2. Lexi went with me to take pictures of a house the other day. My co-worker said, "Wow, you are a fast runner." Lexi said, "I know. I'm funny too."
3. Lexi hugged me and I said, "You melt my heart." Later that day Lexi said, "I want to melt your heart" and she hugged me again.
4. We took Lexi to the pool the other day. Two almost 5 grader girls were playing with her in the kids pool. Later we saw them in the adult pool and she asked to go talk to her friends.
5. The other day she said, "I'm growing up so fast."
6. I took her to see "Winnie The Pooh." She watched all the previews and kept asking when Pooh was coming on. One minute into the movie Lexi said, "Ok, I saw Pooh. I want to go home now."
7. Lexi was at my friend Michelle's house and they were coloring. Lexi colored on her arm. Michelle said, "We don't color on our bodies." Lexi said, "Brian has color on his body" (we were just with the Ratcliff's swimming and Lexi must have noticed the tattoo on Brian).
8. Chip and his friend were at our house last night. Chip's friend has a tattoo as well. Lexi asked her if she could wash it off. She said she tried, but she could not get it off. Lexi told her she would try to get it off for her. Chip's friend so ok. Lexi left the room and came back with a wipe. She tried to scrub off the tattoo with a baby wipe.
I promise to make a better effort at writing things down! She is growing up too fast. I really can't believe it!
6/23/11
S T O P
Today in the car Lexi asked to see a stop sign. We approached one and I said, "There's one! It says, S T O P...stop." Lexi then said, "S T O P stop." A few minutes later I quizzed her without being in front of a stop sign and she said, "S T O P stop." I cheered very loudly! Later in the day I asked her to spell stop and she said, "S and a T, and a O, and a P. Not a W, not a F, not a E." She makes me laugh!
Thoughts
With Grandma Mike in the hospital for such a scary reason it has my mind racing in circles. I realize how precious life is and how quickly it can be taken from you. My mom's story makes me want to be a better wife, mom, daughter, sister, aunt, niece, in-law, cousin, friend, neighbor, even stranger. I am still in a fog about what happened two weeks ago. 18 years ago when my dad died, my biggest fear became losing my mom. That. Almost. Happened. I have now learned to treasure every moment with the people I love. I love you, mom!
Grandma Mike
Two weeks ago today Grandma Mike went to the ER and they found a blood clot between her skull and her brain. This is the email I wrote to her work and some of our friends. It is easier to copy and paste, rather than rewriting the whole story:
On Thursday evening (about 7 PM), Jackie's son in law, Jason called Jackie from Dallas to see how she was feeling. After he got off the phone he told me he was really concerned about my mom because she was slurring her words. I called my sister, Kim and brother, Chip. They immediately called my mom and also agreed she did not sound right and needed to get to the hospital. Kim picked my mom up at home and took her to the ER at North Cypress Hospital. Chip met Kim and my mom at the ER.
In the ER, they did a CT Scan and concluded our mom had a large blood clot between her skull and brain. The blood clot was putting pressure on her brain which was causing the major headaches she was experiencing for about 2 weeks (during this 2 week time period she was told by 3 different doctors it was a sinus infection or allergies).
Chip and Kim suggested my family pack our bags and head to Houston. At 1 AM Kim and Chip left the hospital. At this time they were told the blood may just absorb and they would continue watching her in the observation unit in ICU until morning (around 9 AM). At 9, they were told the neurologist would make his rounds and give them more information and options for treatment. At 3 AM, my family and I arrived in Houston. I met Chip at the hospital and saw my mom. We were given the same information as Kim and Chip did at 1 AM. Chip and I left the hospital at 4 AM.
At 6 AM, Kim received a phone call that our mom was on her way to surgery to drain the blood clot. Chip and I made it to the hospital in time to see our mom before surgery, but Kim lives a couple minutes further from the hospital and did not make it in time. Mom was nervous and a little scared, but mostly shocked that surgery was needed so soon (especially with never speaking to the neurologist).
The surgery lasted an hour. The surgeon informed us the surgery went well and there were no complications. During the surgery the surgeon found a small artery leaking which caused the blood clot. He was able to repair the leaking artery during surgery. Immediately after surgery mom was recovering nicely in ICU. She was able to open her eyes, talk some, and breathe normally on her own.
Tonight around 7 PM, mom was transferred to a regular room. She is improving each day. She is able to walk (holding onto a walker for support), feed herself, talk without slurring, and has no memory loss. The surgeon expects a full recovery.
At this time mom is battling a fever that is being controlled with antibiotics. She has had a couple of chest x-rays and we are waiting for results of her blood culture (preliminary reading will come tomorrow afternoon). She will also have another chest x-ray tomorrow to compare with the previous tests. Right now there is some concern about pockets in her lungs. The good news is though, even with the concern of the lungs, mom was still moved out of ICU.
Mom's spirits are up and she is showing her strength. She is requesting to walk as I sit and write her story!
We want to thank each of you for all the support, well wishes, prayers, and positive thoughts. Mom is doing very well, but still needs time to rest. Many of you have asked to visit. Since she is fighting a fever we ask she have limited visitors. Once we have conclusive results from the blood culture I will send another update.
An update (for blog):
Grandma Mike is incredibly strong! She left the hospital the Wednesday evening following her surgery. She is getting stronger every single day. She is on her road to a full recovery. She is so lucky. We are so lucky. Love you bunches, Grandma Mike!
On Thursday evening (about 7 PM), Jackie's son in law, Jason called Jackie from Dallas to see how she was feeling. After he got off the phone he told me he was really concerned about my mom because she was slurring her words. I called my sister, Kim and brother, Chip. They immediately called my mom and also agreed she did not sound right and needed to get to the hospital. Kim picked my mom up at home and took her to the ER at North Cypress Hospital. Chip met Kim and my mom at the ER.
In the ER, they did a CT Scan and concluded our mom had a large blood clot between her skull and brain. The blood clot was putting pressure on her brain which was causing the major headaches she was experiencing for about 2 weeks (during this 2 week time period she was told by 3 different doctors it was a sinus infection or allergies).
Chip and Kim suggested my family pack our bags and head to Houston. At 1 AM Kim and Chip left the hospital. At this time they were told the blood may just absorb and they would continue watching her in the observation unit in ICU until morning (around 9 AM). At 9, they were told the neurologist would make his rounds and give them more information and options for treatment. At 3 AM, my family and I arrived in Houston. I met Chip at the hospital and saw my mom. We were given the same information as Kim and Chip did at 1 AM. Chip and I left the hospital at 4 AM.
At 6 AM, Kim received a phone call that our mom was on her way to surgery to drain the blood clot. Chip and I made it to the hospital in time to see our mom before surgery, but Kim lives a couple minutes further from the hospital and did not make it in time. Mom was nervous and a little scared, but mostly shocked that surgery was needed so soon (especially with never speaking to the neurologist).
The surgery lasted an hour. The surgeon informed us the surgery went well and there were no complications. During the surgery the surgeon found a small artery leaking which caused the blood clot. He was able to repair the leaking artery during surgery. Immediately after surgery mom was recovering nicely in ICU. She was able to open her eyes, talk some, and breathe normally on her own.
Tonight around 7 PM, mom was transferred to a regular room. She is improving each day. She is able to walk (holding onto a walker for support), feed herself, talk without slurring, and has no memory loss. The surgeon expects a full recovery.
At this time mom is battling a fever that is being controlled with antibiotics. She has had a couple of chest x-rays and we are waiting for results of her blood culture (preliminary reading will come tomorrow afternoon). She will also have another chest x-ray tomorrow to compare with the previous tests. Right now there is some concern about pockets in her lungs. The good news is though, even with the concern of the lungs, mom was still moved out of ICU.
Mom's spirits are up and she is showing her strength. She is requesting to walk as I sit and write her story!
We want to thank each of you for all the support, well wishes, prayers, and positive thoughts. Mom is doing very well, but still needs time to rest. Many of you have asked to visit. Since she is fighting a fever we ask she have limited visitors. Once we have conclusive results from the blood culture I will send another update.
An update (for blog):
Grandma Mike is incredibly strong! She left the hospital the Wednesday evening following her surgery. She is getting stronger every single day. She is on her road to a full recovery. She is so lucky. We are so lucky. Love you bunches, Grandma Mike!