MEOW!

So that is what Rose calls our newest family member and so that is what his name shall be forevermore :)

Let's run through Meow's first week because it's been an interesting one!

Meow seemed to be adjusting very well to his new home and life with a toddler. Monday I was home with Rose and so we got to spend lots of time with Meow. His favorite spot is under our bed up by the heater. At first he needed a few treats to be enticed to come out, but now if we call him he usually comes out!

By Monday night he was walking around the second floor and even made friends with Justin (Justin really needs a haircut)!

Tuesday something changed...both Justin and I noticed that he seemed really unsteady on his feet and his eyes were bouncing around. I was home all day due to the weather and he just didn't get any better...

Wednesday morning I called our vet and since Justin was off in the morning (due to being out all night plowing), Rose, Nana, and Justin took Meow to the vet. I thought it would be really good for Rose to see that just like when she gets sick, animals go to the doctor too. My mom said Rose did great watching everything and the vet explained to Rose what she was doing.

So it seems that Meow had an inner ear infection which affected his balance, so he got ear drops and an antibiotic. He didn't show much improvement until Saturday, but now is getting more active and finally eating some. Poor Meow will probably always have a tilt to his head, but this shouldn't effect his mobility. He really is a sweet cat :)

Rose was still up to all her favorite activities this week which include one-arm finger painting

And making cheesy faces for selfies with mom :)

 Rose is not playing much in the snow right now...it's a little hard to bundle her up with the cast :( So she and Tahnee enjoyed watching it fall and made plans to play in it again once that cast is off!

Our little Rose is also growing again! A few weeks ago I had to start buying her 3T pants, but her shirts and dresses seemed fine. The only shirts that I am able to get on her easily with the cast are shirts from Lands End that have elastic around the head and both arm openings. I had 2 in the 2T size and had bought 2 in a 3T when I got a couple items on clearance for this upcoming spring. Well I got the shirts out to add to the rotation and guess what? They don't look too big! Whoever thought my little 6 pound flower would be wearing 3T already :)

It was another busy week around here and I think I've just given up the thought that things will slow down anytime soon. We are back to music class on Saturday mornings, I am helping out with the nursery on Sunday mornings, work is busy, Justin is working on the house, and Rose is soon turning 3 (ah!).

A week in the life...

of a little girl with a cast, is not without fun :) and some struggles too :(

Rose is really being a terrific sport about having a cast on and wearing a sling, but it does make everything a bit different. Luckily we had an awesome report from the doctor on Wednesday and February 5th the cast will be cut off!!!

So while we anxiously count down, we are trying to have lots of one-armed fun :)

AND we adopted a cat!!!

While we were waiting to have Rose's cast put on, we had spent a bunch of time watching YouTube videos. Some of these videos involved cats and Rose would keep saying 'me'. I, as a well-meaning mommy, asked Rose if she wanted a cat and when she said 'yes'...I said we'd get one for her ;) Although I have since rethought this impetuous moment, we did decide to honor our agreement and today we adopted a 10 year old male cat from the Humane Society. Justin and I joke that we are a retirement home for animals since all the dogs we have adopted have been seniors and now we have expanded to the feline species. Rose has not decided on a name yet, but so far he seems to be adjusting well. He will probably need to go on a diet, but otherwise was reported to be in good health. I am sure by next week I will have lots of pictures with the new cat to share!

Well we’ve done all we can and now we just wait for the healing…

So this was our week:

Monday evening Rose fell down 3-4 stairs at her grandparent's home. Since 

it was late in the day, our doctor could not see us and we ended up at an urgent care facility. They did x-rays and thought she had nursemaids elbow in her right arm. After doing what they could they sent us home and told us to check back. Rose's arm was very swollen Tuesday morning so we made an appointment and took her to our doctor who then sent us to an orthopedic specialist. Several more x-rays later...her beautiful little arm was broken from her fall. We then went to St Chris's on Wednesday to meet with a pediatric orthopedic specialist and were scheduled for surgery first thing Friday.

Friday morning we left home around 4am, Rose was checked into St Chris’s at 6am, and headed off to surgery at 8am. Dr Sefair said he does these surgeries multiple times a week and that Rose was a terrific patient. I cannot tell you how sad I was when my little angel was taken back to anesthesiology and the next time I saw her she was waking up with monitors on her chest and an IV in her tiny hand L Rose requested an orange cast and that’s what she got…mommy and daddy were supposed to get black casts (I guess she was on a Halloween theme). 

Recovering Friday and Saturday was not wonderful. Rose ate well, but was very sensitive about everything. We would ask her if she wanted something and she would say ‘yes’ and ‘no’ and then just cry L It’s really hard as a mommy not to make your baby feel better… Friday Rose slept in bed with us. Honestly, I think she was scared to go to sleep without us.

Saturday night was much better and Rose took a great nap and slept through the night in her crib. Sunday she woke up seeming like the wonderful little girl I have come to treasure J We had our speech session, but Rose asked to stay home rather than go to church. We did take her out for a short Home Depot run and mostly are going to try and get back into a pretty normal schedule this week. Rose has to wear a sling to ensure that she is not moving her arm around. We have a follow up appointment on Wednesday and then will know when the cast is coming off (we were told probably about 3 weeks). Rose cannot get the cast wet or dirty...

  

Looking back there are definitely some different choices I would have made…

I am very grateful her fall was not more serious, it was an accident. Rose is usually very good with walking up and down stairs. That said, I am human, and have gone through (and continue to go through) a lot of emotions.

I am really grateful for all the support from family and friends including my supervisor and coworkers, who managed to cover a lot while I was off this week. I only worked Monday this week and Justin only had full days on Monday and Thursday (I am also grateful to Justin's boss (my dad) for being so flexible!). Justin and I keep saying it's like we lost a week not just work, but doing anything. Rose also missed her first new music class on Saturday. Today we got some things done and I am very hopeful that although things will be very busy for us and very different, that will will get back on track!

…it’s been a looooong week!

A New Year :)

What a week…with a holiday right in the middle Justin said it felt like we had a Monday/Friday x2! Luckily I was still off for the first Monday/Friday J

Since Rose was still recovering from her cold we mostly stayed home and took it easy. Rose insisted on staying in her PJ’s, but needed ‘new’ PJ’s to wear during the day. She is feeling much better, but still has a runny nose and a little cough. 

Monday we trekked to the post office to pick up a package for daddy. Justin got himself a pair of sneakers which Rose *tried* to wear and break in for him :)

Wednesday we headed to my parent’s for a pork and sauerkraut lunch and then said ‘good-bye’ to Jon and Kate in the evening before they headed back to Oklahoma.

Thursday it was back to work for everyone after I took Rose to her outpatient speech session. Connie’s parents came down from New York to visit and Rose was SUPER excited to see great-grandma and grandma…she kept holding up 2 fingers and saying ‘two’ J

Friday Justin was called out to plow early…I vaguely remember him leaving at 1am. I decided to go to work since the roads didn’t seem that awful by 7am. Luckily Justin was able to stop by home to pick up Rose and take her down to her grandma’s. I think I had the only appointment that didn't cancel on Friday!

Rose picked out this little pillowcase dress to wear on Friday. This was her first Easter dress, now it only fits as a shirt!

Rose has also started to become a little photographer, she's really good at close-ups :)

Saturday we all got to spend some time with the great-grandparents and Rose loved playing iPad and baby with great-grandma.

I also enjoyed some nice time with my mom this weekend. On Sunday after church we went to the Gilbertsville Tea Room for lunch and had a great time! 

Don't worry, Rose was just fine having some daddy time!

Rose has been feeling ‘special’ since her cold started last weekend. She is happy and pleasant one moment and then laying on the floor crying the next… Well mostly when I have to ask her to wait or redirect her to a more appropriate activity. We just keep reminding ourselves that she is little and needs some extra patience as she is growing and learning. I try to simply explain why something will hurt her or we can’t do something right when she wants. When she has an all out crying meltdown I sit with her and just give her time to work through it and then offer her a hug and tissue when she’s done. We try to let her know that we understand when she is upset or frustrated and that those feelings happen sometimes.