The Many Faces of Will

I like a challenge.  I admit it.  Lately, however, not so much.
This summer certainly challenged my faith, strength and endurance.  Today was the (hopefully) the last step in one of our challenges.

Let us go back in time to September.  William complains of a toothache all night long.  Monday morning, his face is swollen:

Bummer.  Take him to the dentist and learn that the tooth that was scheduled for a filling is now in need of a root canal.  A script for some antibiotics and the numbers of specialists that do root canals.
Tuesday I left Will with my parents and went to work.  I called and found out, still not good and the swelling was worse.  I called the dentist back and he wanted to see Will, now, please.  Trip to the dentist, Will is now feverish and the swelling grows.  He recommends an oral surgeon to insert a drain and a trip to the ER for IV antibiotics.  We drive to Roswell for the oral surgeon.
It is no shock that we get funny looks.  William's face is very swollen now.  The oral surgeon will NOT touch him.  He is no longer a dental case, but a medical one.  Go to ER, see pediatrician.  Well, we were just in Clovis!  So back we go.
William is making small moaning sounds and his eye is now swollen.  I call  Dr. Awesome.  He, his nurse and staff....all AWESOME!  Nurse says, skip ER, come to us, we'll do a direct admit.
I set a minor land speed record driving from Roswell to Clovis because Will is no longer speaking.  We get to Dr. Awesome and Nurse Unshakeable's jaw drops.  This is why:

So, after Dr. Awesome looks at him, he is on the phone and we go DIRECTLY to the peds ward.  No ER, no admit, straight to a bed.  We have another wonderful nurse who gets William's IV on the first stick and then shows him all of the equipment, because if Will is awake, Will wants to know.
Day two saw some relief:

Special dispensation was made for visiting twin...

A walk outside helped pick up his spirits....

Better everyday!
More meds, one C/T scan to make sure the eye orbital wasn't involved and we got the all clear to GO HOME!

Now, months later, we have come full circle.  Today we finally had the root canal:

It doesn't help that for a boy who talks constantly, he has an incredibly small mouth....alas, it is done.

One buckle abscess and bone loss that should come back, but that is now a memory.  

He powered down a burger after nearly three hours of dental work, went shopping for some zombie t-shirts and is watching TV, chilling.

And how was your day?

Horse Show

Another year of horse show...another year of fun  
we love our horses so much, we don't want it to be done...

But we are a wee bit tired.

And how was your day?

Summer Stress

I am finally able to take a minute and blog our not so fun adventure in Arizona.  With the summer of sorrow, we had already planned our vacation and the timing couldn't have been better for us.  We were headed to the mountains of Arizona to heal.....or at least that was our intent.
Here is one of the last photos of Caitlyn before everything happened:

We were on the first part of the Bright Angel Trail at the Grand Canyon.  Caitlyn, by her nature is adventurous.  She rides all of the crazy, scary rides at the fair and is willing to ride the hottest horses.  So, it was a bit out of character when she said that the trail was making her dizzy.  She kept her hand to the inside wall and often had to stop.
I called off our hike after the first switch back, figuring the heat had gotten to her, or maybe mild dehydration.  Look in the picture by Caitlyn's hand...a water bottle.  We all had bottles and refilled them often.  In retro spec, it was the on coming menace that was making her dizzy.
Wednesday morning we slept late.  Cait had gotten up earlier, proclaimed a lousy stomach and went back to bed.  I made breakfast for the rest of the troops.  We packed, we enjoyed our last few hours at the lovely cabin.
Caitlyn woke up and said her stomach felt bad.  We only had flavored seltzer water but promised her a ginger ale once we hit the road.
I went up stairs to the loft with her to help her pack and change.  I am so glad I did.
She stood next to me in her bra and in leggings, talking and then her face was confused.  She said, "Wait a sec.." and then her body began an unnatural posture and she began to seize.  There was no other warning.  Her seizure involved full convulsions.  I lowered her to the floor and yelled for Steve to call for help.  Frances, my mother in law,  came up the stairs to help me and Steve had to go outside to get a signal.  Jerry, father in law, herded the boys outside to the backyard.
Frances and I kept Caitlyn from hitting her head and when the seizure stopped, we moved her into a rescue position.  For a full ten minutes, my girl did not wake up.  When she did, she was altered to time and place and was confused.  Her speech was slurred and her eyes rolled.
The paramedics arrived and began to check her sugar level, her blood pressure and other vitals.  They wanted to transport her, which Steve and I agreed with that.  In light of the fact we were in a loft, Steve carried her downstairs to the gurney.  The paramedic went in front of him, "to catch her if you fall.  You're on your own, I am grabbing her."  Steve didn't fall.
By the time we put her on the gurney, she was completely altered and fighting us.  My girl is strong.  I asked if we were going to the center in Williams...which was the closest town.
"No ma'am, Flagstaff".
It was the longest drive of my life.  Caitlyn pleaded with us, she didn't recognize me, to get her mama.  She asked for help.  She was convinced she would die.  I would calm her, remind her she had a seizure and was on the way to the hospital.  I reminded her at least a dozen times, and each time, it was new information to her.
At the hospital, the physician and nurses were waiting just for her.  A room was prepped and waiting, just for her.  The doctor was calm, the nurses reassuring and I felt some relief at landing in such a good place.  I hugged the paramedic when he left.  He had remained calm with Caitlyn during that loud and horrible ride.  He was never put off by her panic, he kept me calm as well.  Carl Goff, you are forever in my prayers.
A C/T scan to check for hemorrhage was ordered...she had hit her head the night before while playing.  I had checked it, but thought it was nothing.
Caitlyn was still fighting so permission was obtained to give her sedation.  A ventilator was brought in on stand by, but she never needed it.
The C/T was promptly performed and was cleared.  A lumbar puncture was ordered.  Through the prep, Caitlyn came to and her doctor wanted her sedated again because "I don't want her to experience or remember this".  About 40 minutes after the punch, results were in meningitis.  We would be admitted to Flagstaff Pediatrics.  She was started on two major anti-biotics, anti-viral and a steroid.  Infectious Disease was brought in.
While waiting for the bed to be prepped upstairs, Caitlyn woke up.  When I say, woke up, I mean my girl was back.  She was convinced it was a bad dream.  We told her it was real.  She then announced (loudly) that she wanted to go home.  She wanted her dog, she wanted her horse and she didn't want to be there.
But. She. Was. Back.
After 36 hours of strong meds, my girl smiled.  She was tired, she had headaches, but she was coming around.

We will never know the exact virus that found it's way to her spine.  We were able to rule out all of the truly serious bacteria and viruses.  Our doctor on the floor, a cheery and wonderful man, said that if he could figure out why some bugs became meningitis, he would win the Nobel prize.  He could say that it was likely the same virus that causes a stomach flu.
We had up moments,

And we had down right worrisome moments:

 But in the end, as the ID doc said, we are fearfully and wonderfully made.  Her body healed and on Saturday, we were released.  We made our way down the street to the Taylor House, which offers housing for parents and family with loved ones in the hospital.  There Caitlyn got what she had wanted for days....a bath.  I took her into the sunshine of the lovely garden and let her soak up the warmth and the fresh air.

She slept well that night, no IVs, no monitors, no beeping  and no noises.  In the morning, we woke early and began our trek home.  Dad and Steve met us in Santa Rosa to drive us the last leg, as I was wiped out.
The boys had made welcome banners, Grandma was there with hugs and the dogs were over joyed.

We kept Caitlyn under house arrest for roughly two weeks.  She had fatigue and headaches.  She rested and watched more TV than she ever had in her life. 

In the end, it was a challenging time for us, but we are here by the grace of God.  To everyone that prayed and provided, thank you so much.  Your support was essential to our getting through this so quickly. From meals, to picking up the boys in Gallup, to the prayers,,,,thank you.

We move on to the fall...hopeful for the rest summer didn't provide.

And how was your day?




  

My boy

So much has happened.  We went on a lovely vacation to the Grand Canyon, and I promise I will blog it, with pictures.  Caitlyn had a full seizure and meningitis which landed us in a hospital in Flagstaff for a while.  I don't want to dwell on the negatives...I want to celebrate.  After such a hard summer we need joy.  Luckily for us it comes in a convenient eight year old package.
Happy Birthday to my Conner Mac.....eight years ago at 1:45 am, he came into this world with loud cries and promptly peed on everyone within reach, and some who weren't.  He has a content and happy baby and was determined to never be left out.  I can sympathize.
I love you, Mac!

Do Not Go Gently....

Sorrow often burrows in a heart.  It lingers and while the eyes may remain dry, there is a well of tears that hover, just below a normal surface.
There reaches a point where the soul's fatigues weigh heavy on the body, where a spirit has carried heartache until the point that it, too, must rest from a weary load.
It is the point where the church should not ask what you can do for it, but what it can do for you.
When I find the sorrow and weariness resting too close to the surface, I seek God.  I do not seek Him in buildings of wood and concrete.  I seek Him in the wild places.
I find Him in those places where man is an intruder, where the workings of nature as clear,  where weather blows wild, the sun beats down and life finds a way to thrive.
I find Him in broad vistas, wind swept plains and the frail structure of a dew sprinkled spider's web.  I find comfort in the animals.  I find comfort in watching the simple joy of a sparrow in flight, a hawk on the wing, a deer who treads softly along needle strewn paths.
I retreat to the comfort that I found as a child.  I re-open to the bird song, and the happy panting of my dog.  I let my hands trail the soft smooth sides of a horse, I sit and watch ducks glide through the water.  I will lay on the earth, and let the sun warm those cold parts within me. Animals have always shown me the higher part of life, by not worrying over it.  They show me the joy of the present, no worries of tomorrow, no regrets of the past. 
While this retreat was planned well in advance, God knows my needs and it dove tails into what my soul yearns for, as only the Creator can do.
I will leave my sorrows in the wild places.  I will leave them for the birds to ponder, circle and ignore.  I will leave them in the winds and they will rush by strange places that haven't heard the voice of man. I will come home, refreshed in spirit, my eyes reopened and my heart full of joy.
I will be able to face the memories of my sorrows with gentle knowledge that, yes, this too, shall pass.  I will face them knowing that I have survived, I will face more, and I will survive again.
So, I don't go gently.  I go with an ocean of tears to give to a desert.  I go with emotions that roil across the landscape of my heart.
But in the return........ I will return with gentle fire, and I will be better to have felt it.

And how was your day?

A Gallant and Noble Friend

There seems to be much sadness here at the Rooney Ranch.....
Today we had to say Good-bye to Challenger, my father's Morgan horse.  Foaled on the exact day of the Challenger accident, he earned his name to remember those lost souls who looked to the stars and found Heaven.
He was an arrogant snot who was very friendly and would lick continually until your guard was down, then he would take a nip.  Nothing serious, just a reminder that his teeth were bigger.
Everywhere he went, it was a parade and he flew his tail high to let all admire him.  He was a clown, a bossy meanie, a softie and a trail leader.
My father nursed him through colic surgery and later on, Challenger nursed my father through a heart attack.  He was likable to all, but most fond of my father.  I would take him on rides where he would gait his way through a trail, yet always glad to be back to my father, his buddy.

I was with this fine horse when he slipped the bonds of earth.  He cast off a crippled body and galloped off to the greener pastures. 

So, to Challenger, may you find lush meadows, smooth trails and cool water.....and lots and lots of carrots.

Little Wranglers Junior Rodeo or How to Exhaust a Parent

There are a hundred and one ways to exhaust a parent.....and we found a new one.
Caitlyn and her intrepid partner, Sam, have discovered Little Wranglers Junior Rodeo, a group whose purpose is to introduce children to rodeo in a safe and supportive manner.  It does, all night long!
While I totally love it, and Caitlyn is having a wonderful time, we find ourselves not getting home until about midnight, and we leave after the fourth event!!!
She competes in barrel racing, flag race and pole bending.  For those who don't know rodeo, let me explain.  Barrel racing involves three barrels set up in a clover leaf pattern.  The rider races at top speed circles the barrels one at a time and races back.  The flag race involves a flag set on a barrel at the end of the arena.  The rider races to the barrel at top speed, grabs the flag and races back. At full speed.  In poles, the rider races at top speed through a pattern of six poles. Then they race back, at full speed.  Sense a theme here?  These are timed events and while my daughter is full gunning, God bless her horse, Sam.  Sam has a sensible head on him and understands his full job is "do what The Girl tells you to, but get The Girl home safely". I love this horse.
This is Caitlyn and Sam with their friend, Allie.  Notice Caitlyn's helmet.  She is one of three that wear them.  She wasn't happy, but it was part of our deal.

  

Twice now, we have been moved to an indoor area due to lightning.  Here is what happens while kids wait for their events.

Here, two girls show that, yes, they can mulit-task by cooling their horses AND talking:

 

For the kids Five and under, the calf scramble.  There is a ribbon tied to a calf and the kids are on that poor creature like zombies on the slow guy.

These horses are chosen for their ability to work well with kids, like this...ummm, full figured gal.

So, as the kids wait their go-rounds, the adults eat fantastic BBQ in the stands.  They wait to cheer on the cautious slow runs as much as the fast runs.  They saddle, bridle, lead and wipe tears.  They coach, they feed, they drive the trailers.  Some day, some of these youngsters may end up in Pro Rodeo.

Then, they can stay up to midnight on their own.

And how was your day?