Easter Sunday

We've managed to have a lot of success with family pictures and the timer on our little point and shoot digital camera.  We took this picture after church on Easter Sunday and could only keep the kids' attention for 3 attempts.  This was the best one and I think it turned out pretty good.  

What's normal for us

I know this sounds crazy, but Ryan had hand surgery two weeks ago, and it's been so uneventful that I forgot I didn't post about it.  

We were sitting around on a random Tuesday talking about what procedures still needed to be scheduled and wondering when we wouldn't have to have that conversation anymore.  So instead of just talking about it, Ryan jumped on the phone and called his hand surgeon to get on the schedule.  They had an opening the following Monday and we took it.  

So yes, Ryan had hand surgery on April 6th.  They grafted the web spacing on his left hand between his index and middle fingers and his pinky and ring fingers.  They also released the web spacing with a z-plasty between his middle and ring fingers, no graft.  They took a full thickness donor from his left side and closed it with stitches.  They immobilized his hand with a splint and we were home before noon.  Ryan slept off the anesthesia for the rest of the afternoon and woke up hungry, but without pain.  And now two weeks later, I can say that not once did he require pain medication after this surgery.  Not even a Tylenol.  

We went back for a follow up last Tuesday.  They took off the splint and saw that the grafts look great and seem to be taking well.   They left the splint off,  so Ryan can drive and gently use his left hand.  We go back this Tuesday and if things still look good, he can begin physical therapy on that hand again.

Ryan's had so many surgeries that we've lost count.  I didn't mean to neglect to blog about this last one.  It just wasn't one of his more exciting procedures, and it truly felt like any other day.

Drama, Drama, Drama!

Well hello people currently on our blog!!!  Guess whoooo!

That's right it's:

Jaida the Supah Star!

Did you all miss me? 

It's been a while since I've posted, I know you guys have been DYING to hear from me, am I right??  

Well no worries cause' here I am!  

Lemme give you a run down on what's been happening lately:

I'm not sure if you know, Mom may have told you, but I am currently taking a lead role (one of the lead roles) in our school's theater production: TALES OF THE TANGLED TRESSES!!  I play Hilda a sassy hair dresser who listens and talks about all these random fairy tale princesses that wander into my boss' salon.  I won't give you too much info,  you'll just have to see it for yourself.  If you would like to receive ticket to San Antonio, just list your names in my comment box and I'll sent you the flight money right away so you can come down to my school and check out the play.  Hahaha...no.    Better yet... maybe my Mom could record it and post it on here or something.  

Down at my school there happens to be drama on and off the stage, but I won't get into it.  That's middle school.  

Summer is approaching at a dangerously fast speed, and once I finish flying around the world I'll be coming back here and going to HIGHSCHOOL I am a little bit nervous but I'm sure it'll be lots of fun!  

Just wanted to pop in and say hi!!  Got to go check my Facebook!  Peace!  :D

- Famous Jaida

First trip to the ER

It was a quiet Tuesday morning.  Noah was the first one up, Maya was lingering in bed.  So I brought Noah down and fired up the griddle for some pancakes.  All was well.  Noah ate his pancakes and decided that he was DONE.  RIGHT.  NOW.  He firmly planted both feet on the kitchen table and pushed hard enough to rock backward in his high chair.  Well, moms and teachers tell you not to rock back in your chair for a reason.  Over he went and the screaming began.  I quickly unstrapped him and picked him up to find that he was bleeding from his head. 

It was no longer a quiet Tuesday morning and Maya was no longer allowed to linger in bed.  We headed in to the Emergency Room and after just a short 3 hours, Noah had two staples in the back of his noggin.  So....this is how it's going to be.  When Jaida was 2-years-old, I made at least 3 trips to the ER for bleeding head wounds.  Maya....never (or should I say, not yet).  And now Noah, not even 2 and it's already begun.  Why do I feel like this isn't going to be my last trip?

Ouch!

Just like Daddy, he looks quite cute in his gauze turban.

Back in the cockpit

Thanks to our friend Richard over at San Antonio Massage & Spa, Ryan had the opportunity to meet John Deer, owner of  San Antonio Helicopter Service.  John is a retired Army Chief Warrant Officer.  He served as a Huey pilot in Vietnam.  When he heard about Ryan he was very excited to give Ryan the opportunity to fly again for the first time since his injury.  Ryan took advantage of that opportunity on Sunday, March 29th.  It was a beautiful day and everything worked beautifully!  Eyes, ears, hands, feet....no problems.  This was an answer to many prayers!

Taking off for the first time in almost 2  years!

Back on the ground after a huge milestone,

 and ready to go right back up again!

New York, New York

Just two weeks after Ryan's last surgery, we decided we needed to take a break and get out of town.  Ryan's sister, Rebecca, had offered to come watch the kiddos, so we took advantage of her generous offer.  We ended up going to New York for 4 nights and it was a great getaway.  Thanks Rebecca for helping out so we could get some much needed time away!

Enjoying the view from the top of the Empire State Building.

We saw "The Lion King" and absolutely loved it!

We took a double decker bus tour through the city.  

It was more informative than I expected it to be.

We celebrated mass at Saint Patrick's Cathedral.  Beautiful!

How is it already Friday?

I don't know how this week got away from me, but I just realized that it's Friday.  I was going to post an update last night, but figured I would have a little more information after Ryan's follow up appointments today.  

When I came in to see Ryan on Wednesday, it was just as I suspected.  Ryan had asked to be disconnected from his IV meds so that he could go home.  And they let him.  It was just a matter of paperwork to have everything ready for discharge.  So we ordered some lunch and chatted with each other and Ryan's many visitors.  At 4:00 p.m., I left Ryan to pick up the babies from daycare and Jaida from Drama Club, and got them home and fed.  I went back to the hospital at 6:00 and Ryan was ready to go.  All he had to do was get dressed and sign a couple of forms and a patient satisfaction survey.  We were out the door by 6:30.  

I've been amazed at how well he can see, given that he has bolsters on both his upper eyelids.  The first day there was quite a bit of swelling, but it's gone down enough that he has about a quarter of an inch of clearance when he opens his eyes.  It's been just enough to see where he's walking, what he's eating, and what's on t.v.  That's all he needs for now, I guess.  He's not in a lot of pain, and it's managed well with medication.  

Today, we went in for follow up appointments with Oral Maxillo Facial Surgery and the Burn Clinic.  OMFS took down the bolsters on his ears and declared that it was good.  His grafts appear to be taking well, and they are happy with their work.  It was the first time I got to see what they had done and it took me by surprise.  But then again, I didn't know what it was supposed to look like.  So I have to trust their judgment.  

Next, we stopped in the Burn Clinic and they decided to keep Ryan's eye bolsters on until Monday and his lip bolster on until next Friday.  Nothing is wrong, they just want to give them extra time to take.  We were given clear instructions for wound care for each of Ryan's wounds; what stays wet, what stays dry, what needs to be changed, and what needs to be left alone.  We follow up again on Monday with both clinics.

So, it will be a quiet weekend at our house.  Ryan isn't up for doing much and that's fine by me.  I took the girls to the library tonight and we picked out some good books for the weekend.  Please keep Ryan in your prayers as he recovers from surgery yet again.  It won't be the last, but we're getting closer.