An unexpected 24 hours!

WARNING --- 2 pictures are a bit gross!!!

I will CHOOSE JOY!!!!

Yep, I am continually being put in situations to do this!

For the record:

I would NEVER have chose the last 24 hours!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday was the first FULL day of school for all of us.  

It was actually a GREAT day for all the kids AND me!!

BUT

We were all SO tired when we got home.  I actually stopped at the local butcher shop and got fresh brats and potato salad for dinner -- EASY!  

AND
Not a normal dinner around here ;)

It was also the first night of all the kids activities at church.  Our children were so excited.  We even got there 10 minutes early.

BUT

This was the start of a long night.

When Elizabeth got out of the van she told me her short leg was sore.  

Ok -- well that put up a red flag.  BUT it was NOT completely unusual.

Yet, it got me thinking.  On Saturday she had finally worked up to being able to wear her prosthesis for about 4 hours.  BUT her leg got sore on our walk and MD carried her the last bit.  When we got back to the van I had her take her prosthesis off and there was some blood.  I figured the scab just rubbed off.

We decided she would not wear her leg for a few days -- really no big deal!

Well, Sunday there was a little bit of drainage and Monday it continued -- LITTLE, though!

Tuesday was school and she went.  That night when the girls were going to bed I examined the wound a bit and it was starting to look swollen -- I THOUGHT!  So, I had Matt look at it because I do get OVER concerned sometimes ;)

He thought it was just in the healing stage.

Wednesday morning -- NO CHANGE from the night before.

BUT

By the time we got to church and she mentioned -- PAIN.  Well, things changed.  I decided to take her in the bathroom and take a GOOD look.  The whole area was red -- bigger than the size of an orange.  AND it was oozing -- LOTS.

I just wiped the oozing so I could get a picture.

I talked to a doctor friend at church and she said I should call the surgeon.  So, when we got home I called.  Well, they HIGHLY suggested we head to GR to get it checked.  The felt the local ER would just send her to the hospital where the surgeon was anyway -- The Children's hospital in GR.

YES, -- that's an hour one way!!! YIKES -- this is getting to be a LONG day with a LATE night.

We got there at 10:30 pm and after exams, blood work, x-rays and many opinions; it was decided she had cellulitis at the wound site.  

Always a smile.  This awesome spirit is why all the nurses love her and want to spoil her!  Picture is right before the IV.  AND absolutely NO tears through it!  She is such a trooper.  AND let me tell you -- they give fun prizes!

The action plan -- 3 high doses of antibiotic given by IV.  AND observe the size of the 'red' area.

WHICH

Meant we had to stay at the hospital. 

Elizabeth and I stayed at the hospital and Matt went home at 2:00 in the morning. 

Elizabeth -- FINALLY got to sleep around 2 am -- Me around 3:30.  

What a sweetie -- she INSISTED on keeping her shorts on because she did not want ANYONE to see her undies ;)

Oh, my!  We were exhausted.  

Doctors started coming in at 7.  REALLY!! I was a complete zombie :) AND so was Elizabeth.

THANKFULLY, I had a WONDERFUL sub that was on stand-by and answered my text at 3 am.  BUT I had to email her my plans in the morning.  This is something I hate to do -- miss school this early in the year BUT I was again reminded my plans were certainly not God's plans!

Thankfully, Elizabeth and I packed to stay -- JUST IN CASE!!!  So, we had clothes and hygiene items!!!

The hospital was wonderful and provided so many fun things for Elizabeth to do -- and me :)

 Color/activity book with colored pencils and scratch art -- a favorite of hers.  These were actual stickers as well!

 Painting wooden animals!!  FUN!!!

Elmer the elephant -- painted like the one on my teaching station at school!

We BOTH fell in LOVE with orange, creamy slushies!!!

The wound really started to look better after just one dose and more so after the second dose.  

ALTHOUGH

late in the afternoon a concerning area was forming and we had to have an ultrasound.  

Thankfully, the ultrasound showed NO abscess.  BUT it broke open the scab -- again.  They put some gauze on it and taped it down.  

She ate dinner -- and it was decided we could go home!!! Matt came to get us at 8:00 pm.  We got the meds. and arrived home at 9:30.

Mommy and Elizabeth cuddling in the chair.  Yep, she is almost ALWAYS smiling!

Even though she slept most the way home she still wanted to go straight to bed. 

SO

I decided to get the gauze off -- we wanted it to continue to have air and HEAL.

BUT

When that gauze came off -- ever so carefully-- the scab and INTERNAL stitches came with it.  

REALLY disgusting!!

This is very cleaned-up for you!  The circle was how big the red and swollen area was last night!

So, I guess we will be calling again tomorrow as we now have a gaping hole.  

I put butterfly bandages on and she crawled up to her pillow and went right to sleep.

What a trooper!!!

Again, not the 24 hours I planned.  

BUT 

God knew all about it and provided!

**** A smiling, happy girl -- with an AWESOME positive attitude

**** MANY friends and family that prayed!!

**** My mom who came and stayed the night with the kids

**** A few individuals who offered comfort and help in GR

**** Some that offered Matt help with the kids at home

**** Awesome friends at school that were understanding AND helpful!

**** My mother-in-law who made dinner, fed the family and got them home

**** An hospital staff that made my daughter feel LOVED.  I KNOW they did not know her LOVE for dogs -- BUT God did and provided!  It just happened that the stuffed animal they picked for her was a BEAUTIFUL fluffy, soft dog; AND we just HAPPENED to be there on the day the therapy dog comes around.  REALLY, that made her day!!!

They also provided some of the best crafts for her.  Ones she LOVED!  

**** My blood-sugar was PERFECT all day!  My fasting was 101 and it NEVER went over 130.  Really, that it amazing when under stress.

I could keep going on.  BUT I think it is understood

GOD TOOK CARE OF ALL OUR NEEDS +++++

This was not a fun ordeal but God is still good and HE continued to do good through it all.

AND

Even though we probably will have more to do tomorrow -- well, I am trusting HIM!

HE WILL be GOOD tomorrow!!!

PLEASE continue to pray for Elizabeth.  

*** Please pray the infection is GONE!

*** Please pray that this wound seals up easily and HEALS!

*** Please pray all swelling -- LEAVES!

*** Please pray she can wear her prosthesis again, SOON!

*** Please pray for me -- I'm tired -- and have so much to do at school AND home ;)

   

Sunday -- what a beauty!