January started fabulously and ended with a bit of a downer. Here's a quick rundown:
Have a I written anything about Kylene's finger? I can't remember. Back in December (December 15th), I managed to smash her middle right hand finger in the bathroom door (hinge side). OUCH! After an urgent care visit and them telling us all would be fine after the nail fell off, I still felt unsettled and decided it needed to be check by a hand specialist.
A few days later, after x-rays and a hand surgeon visit, we discovered not only did I manage to kill the nail, I also managed to break her finger between the two top joints, right where ligaments attach. So she has been in a splint/cast for almost two months now. She has been a trooper, although it has been scary and painful for her. The specialist says it is healing well and she can finally begin wearing the cast less and less. The old nail still has not fallen off, but could any day now. A new nail will take up to a year to regrow normally. (The first nail that grows back in is wavy and misshapen, apparently.) She has enjoyed the different colors of wrap she has able to "sport."
The last week of January, Jana and Scott were able to go to Las Vegas together for a work conference. They stayed with Nate and Cami. We were lucky enough to get to have Daniel stay with us for almost a week! The boys had a ball playing together the first three days, until the awful sickness hit as again. Here are a couple of pictures of their fun:
Unfortunately, part way through his stay, we got hit with another flu virus: this time we think it was the Norwalk Virus. (Or so the ER Doctor told us.) Skyler and I had it, but it only lasted a day this time. But it hit Spencer HARD. He was vomiting for 2 1/2 days. By Saturday evening (January 26th), he was so dehydrated and looked awful. His eyes were sunken, lips completely flat, heart racing, and he wouldn't drink anything but miniscule amounts of water. He hadn't walked in almost 24 hours. I knew we needed to take him in. They got him started on an IV pretty quickly and it was amazing the difference it made. They ended up giving him almost 1,000mL of IV fluid and he was a totally new kid. He sat up, ate a popsicle, and started asking questions about everything in the hospital room. He even talked to me most of the way home. He was still weak for a few days after that, but once we got him keeping down solid foods again, his body bounced back quickly. I am so grateful for modern medicine and the priesthood; we gave him a blessing shortly before taking him to the ER. It was a scary few hours, but we survived.
After all that sickness, I started February out with fun, though! Last weekend I actually got to go on a girls' get-away with some friends in my ward! We headed to Lincoln City on Friday afternoon and stayed overnight in a hotel right on the beach. It was a beautiful view to wake up Saturday morning and watch the waves while we lazily enjoyed gabbing and eating breakfast. After walking on the beach, we enjoyed going out to lunch together before heading home. It was short, sweet, and filled with lots of quality talking time! I stressed about leaving Andon (my first time!), but Kyle insisted I needed the break. He held down the fort (and held a screaming Andon most of the night). (My husband is the best!) He took the kids in the "Donut Van" on Saturday and let them enjoy some of the sunshine at the park. (Dad's are the best!)
