On the Mend!

Well, if anyone would have told me how well Payton would do in her recovery, I would have never believed it!  She has done AMAZING!  Her fever never got above 99 and she said her pain level was never above a 4.  She slept very well and never once complained or cried.  What a tough little girl we have!

I stayed home with her on Tuesday and Wednesday as planned and then ended up staying home on Thursday and also keeping Aidan home as well.  I have had a sore throat for the past couple of weeks and it got so bad I couldn't stand to even swallow.  I went into the doctor on Wed and got an RX but it hasn't really helped.  Aidan was dx with an ear infection and also got an anti-biotic.  His fever is gone but his nose is like a little water facet...it never stops! 

Mike stayed home with Payton on Friday and I went back to work.  We had a good weekend.  Payton and I ran to Spirit Lake on Saturday to get some things for crafts we could work on.  It was her first day out of the house since her surgery.  She did well but tired very quickly.  On our way home we found a craft store and stopped and picked up a few really cute things.  Payton found a dress for her AG doll.  I got a shelf and accessories for my kitchen wall that has been bare for 3 years!  :)

We had a great Easter at home.  We woke up and the kids got to dig in their Easter baskets and they loved what the EB had brought.  I loved the oohs and aahhs from Aidan...he is so dramatic sometimes and it cracks me up!

We went to church then came home for lunch.  We had a great lunch and all got stuffed!  After lunch we headed outside to hide Easter Eggs.  It was the most GORGEOUS day we have had this spring.  We hung outside all afternoon.

Monday was a vacation day for the kids so they got to go to Ellen's.  Payton and Carson were very excited because they don't get to go there often during the school year.  Payton wasn't feeling great and was really tired all day.  She came home and slept most of the afternoon.  All three kids were bathed and in bed by 7:30!!

Today was Payton's first day at school and overall had a great day.  She just tired very easily again...when I went to pick her up at school, I could see how thin she looked...even thinner than normal!  I weighed her when we got home and she has lost almost 5 lbs!  Hopefully she will start to eat better and gain some weight!

Well, that is our week in a nutshell!  Here are some pics!

Tonsils no More!!

Well, it has been a long, drawn out day...

Payton and I were up at 4:00 this morning so we could be at the Windom Hospital by 5:15.  Mike took the boys to daycare around 6:15 and met us there.  Payton was a trooper all day.  About 30 minutes before her surgery they gave her anti-nausia medicine and tylenol.  They came back 15 minutes later and gave her a Versed.  It is just supposed to really relax her and relieve any anxiety she may have.  After her Versed was administered, we found out the doctor was running about 40 minutes late.  No biggie...we were just watching cartoons and we noticed Payton covering one of her eyes....then the other eye....  Her medicine had kicked in and she was seeing double! 

Soon they came an put her in a wheel chair and wheeled her to surgery.  Mike and I waited in a family waiting area.  It was about 30 minutes from beginning to end of the surgery.  The doctor came out and said her tonsils were HUGE and she did great.  We went back to the room and waited for them to bring her back to us.  A nurse came in to make up her bed and told us they could't believe how mature she was.  She said Payton was the best patient she had ever had at this age. 

They wheeled her into our room and you could tell she was starting to feel the pain.  They had given her a shot of Demerol in her IV so she was out of it!  She went right to sleep and slept for a little over an hour.  When she woke up she was ready for a popsicle and some apple juice.  She drank her juice and at the popsicle with no problems but was still really tired so she went back to sleep.  When she woke up she was ready to head home.

Throughout the day I gave her tylenol and she did so good!  She said her pain never got above a 3.  The nurses told us that day #2 would be the worst for her so we will see how tomorrow goes.  For now, I am thankful that her surgery went well and that I am able to be here with her!

We did have some friends stop by to say hello tonight and that made her day!  Ellie brought her a cute new puppy webkinz and Kay brought her some beads to make jewelry and a cute little chalk board so she didn't have to talk!  :)  Thank you to all of our family and friends for the prayers, thoughts, notes, visits and gifts!  We love you!!

Here are some pictures of Payton's big day!

Dance! Dance! Dance!

Wow!  Every year after dance recital week I am both relieved and sad.  I am glad it is over because it becomes such a long week and everything revolves around it....I am sad because I could watch Payton dance every day and never get tired of it!

Wednesday night we had full dress rehearsal.  This is the only night that parents are allowed to video / take any pictures.  No cameras are allowed during the actual recital.  I was very proud of Payton.  She always does such a good job and it literally makes me cry EVERY year!  I love the girls in her class too.  They have a very well behaved class and the kids are so cute!

Thursday night was the first night of recital.  I went by myself and watched her...She started to get pretty nervous but you could tell she started feeling better when she got around her friends.  Friday night Mike's parents came up so Mike and I, Lee and Diane and Carson went to the recital.  My friend Kay kept Aidan so we didn't have to wrestle with him!  My mom and her husband came up Friday night (late) and then they went with Carson and I to the recital on Saturday night.  Mike stayed home with Aidan.  It always amazes me how emotional I get every year.  I am so proud of my kids...I know each of them is a blessing from God.  I am thankful he chose me to be their mom. 

Today was a lazy day for us.  We all slept in.  We stayed home from church and the kids did not go to Sunday school either.  Mike took the kids outside today while he did a little yard work but I stayed in all day and did absolutely nothing!

Now we are preparing for Payton's tonsil surgery on Tuesday.  She is VERY anxious about it so I do ask that you all please pray for her.  It is hard to watch her be so afraid.  She knows it won't last long and that she will be asleep but it doesn't make it any easier for her....

I will stay home with her on Tues / Wed and Mike will stay with her on Thurs / Friday.  The kids to not have school on Friday or Monday for Spring break so it is pretty good timing.

Here are some pictures of Payton's recital:

My little ballerina!

What a great group of girls!

Karlee, Payton and Nicole -- These are the girls we ride-share with for practices.

So pretty!

Shake your groove thing baby!!  :)  This was her first year in Jazz Dance.

Tap

It is Dance Week!!

We have been having such beautiful weather that it is really hard to watch the forcast for the weekend...cold and rainy w/ the possibility of snow!  YUCK!

But, until that weather hits...we are going to enjoy what we have for now!  It is dance week this week.  This may not sound like a crazy time but trust me...it IS!  Tuesday is practice on the stage, Wednesday is full dress rehearsal.  This is the only time we are allowed to video and take pictures so it is a stressful night in itself!  Then Thursday, Friday and Saturday are recital nights.  Let's just say by Sunday...we will be dragging!

Aidan LOVES it outside.  He can be in the middle of crying and if you ask him if he wants to go out he will immediately smile and yell, "SIDE"..."Side"...  It is so cute!!  Unfortunately he really screams when it is time to come back in...they neighbors probably think we are abusing him!

Now that all of the doctor's appointments are over and we know that she is healthy, I feel more comfortable typing the major drama we have been through with Payton.  It all started at the beginning of March.  I had taken her in to the doctor and she was diagnosed with strep throat.  The doctor was a little concerned with her blood counts.  Her white blood count was really low and typically this elevates when there is an infection in the system.  She just asked that we bring Payton back in for another CBC when her strep was gone and she was off of her medicine.  About 10 days later I took her back in.  This time her white count was low and her lymphocyte cells were increased.  They did a full blood draw to send to Sioux Falls so a hemotologist could look at it.  Basically they were testing her for leukemia.  Mike and I waited for 24 hours not knowing what the outcome would be.....needless to say, we were devastated and couldn't even bare to say the word.  The results came back normal and they determined her counts were off becaus ethe infection was still in her system.  During that same doctor's visit, the doctor also heard a heart murmur.  No one has ever mentioned one to us before so she referred us to a pulmonolist to have this looked at.

Last Friday we had to be in Sioux Falls for the appointment (at 8:00 a.m.) so we took the boys to Ellen's very early in the morning and headed over.  After the EKG, the doctor verified she did have an "innocent" heart murmur and said it was not something to be concerned about.  She said they are very common and we could probably still hear Payton's because she is so tiny.  (She is only in the 10th percentile for weight).  She does not have to go back for a follow up visit and she has no restrictions on any of her activities.  WHEW!

After being cleared of any major medical issues, we were ready to celebrate!!  We went out to eat breakfast and Mike was even in the mood to shop a little bit.  He ran into Sears while Payton and I went to Younkers to buy new bedding for her room.  We also stopped in to one of her favorite stores (Claire's) and let her shop a little there too!

We were on our way home and Mike asked me if I wanted to look at golf stuff so we stopped by Austads on our way out of Sioux Falls.  Surprisingly...he bought me a new set of hybrid irons, a new putter and a super sweet new golf bag for my birthday!  I LOVE them and am so ready to go out and use them!!

We are looking forward to spring /summer activities.  We start this Saturday -- Payton and Carson are both in Soccer.  Then we move on to baseball, basketball, gymnastics, volleyball and swim lessons....nothing like running around every night and paying $4.00 / gallon for gas!!  :)

Here are some pictures of the last few weeks!

Carson got his picture and certificate for winning the coloring contest.  They had it framed for  him.

Payton and her new doll Annie in their dance costumes.

One day after school I took the kids to the park to play....Aidan loved it!

Payton at the park.

The little man

Carson had fun at the park too!

Loving these chubby little hands!

Coloring Easter Eggs

A little hep in with the lawn.

Pretty cheap labot!  LOL!  :)

Carson polishing his swing!

Aidan's new best friend.