Well Tweed went to the vet Tuesday morning for his follow up visit and did not have to have any stitches! Dr. Hunter said he is healing very well. After an updated Feline Leukemia shot Mom and Steven brought him home. Tweed ran and hid under Mom's bed (his favorite room is Mom and Mackenzie's room) until late that night even though he had not eaten since 8 pm the night before. However, Tweed quickly forgave us. He came out after Steven went to bed. In fact he and I have started an evening ritual of petting time when Steven is in the tub and Mackenzie is asleep. Well, sometimes Tweed doesn't want to wait for Mackenzie to finish nursing to sleep before he sits on my lap. He tries to squeeze on there with us.

Here's Tweed and I enjoying some snuggle time:

I still tire easily and need to use my pain meds during the day. I have been cutting back. I'm taking just one Vicodin at a time now and a Valium. I was taking two Vicodin and a Valium. Bending down and stairs aren't too comfortable because of my hip (which was the bone donor site for the neck fusion) being sore. I have figured out how to position myself so I can put my own socks and shoes on which makes me feel a little more independent.

The sun came out the other day and Mom decided to take the kids out for a bit. Steven put on his Spiderman sunglasses Santa brought him this year. He decided he needed to wear his train engineer hat as well.

We decided to have Mackenzie try on her sunglasses Mom had bought now that she's a little bigger. Earlier this fall they did not fit her. Well they fit now.

Mackenzie had them off before they got outside and was sucking on the strap. So, so much for that idea.

Mackenzie loves taking a bath and this morning she was really working out. I think she might be the one to do the Alcatraz Swim with her Dad some day.

Tweed Update and a Cute Picture

Here's a picture of Steven and Mackenzie hanging out on our couch which is all covered up with old blankets because of Tweed's open wounds.

Last night as Rob and I were heading to bed Rob peeked in on Steven who was sleeping in his own room. He called me over and said check this out. I looked in and saw Tweed all cozy and curled up at the end of the bed. I wanted to take a picture. I knew though if I did Steven might wake up and startle Tweed and then Steven would insist on sleeping with Rob and I again. So I just let sleeping kid and sleeping kitty be.

Steven eventually came into our room last night which was fine. I woke up at 6 am and when Tweed heard me he came out of Mom and Mackenzie's room. He walked towards the laundry room and showed me that he used his cat box like a good boy. Actually, I think he walked there out of habit because his food and treats use to be in there but, it was still cute.

When Mom came out with Mackenzie a few minutes latter she said she awoke to purring next to her in bed. She gently tried to persuade Tweed to sleep near the foot of the bed because she wasn't thrilled about his bloody bum so close to her head. Instead of moving to the foot of the bed he moved into Mackenzie's cosleeper bed where Mackenzie was sleeping. He was near her feet and Mom said Mackenzie didn't seem to mind. Mackenzie is pretty big now and mobile enough she figured he wouldn't suffocate her. So, she let him stay there. She did say she slept really light and kept checking on the two of them. She did admit to telling Tweed that if he wakes Mackenzie there'd be "you know what to pay." But, Mackenzie slept great with Tweed. She thinks he made her feel nice and warm. The unfortunate part is Mom didn't sleep so well because she kept checking on them. Right now she and Mackenzie are taking a nap together.

Tweed

I am really glad Rob made me rest yesterday. Last night Mom and I noticed what looked like blood spots on the carpet under Mackenzie's swing in Rob and I's bedroom. We cleaned them up and I mentioned to Mom that I saw Tweed briefly the other day and it looked like he had a few chunks of fur missing near his tail. I didn't see any blood but, it sounded like someone was picking on him.

Well, Rob stepped into the laundry room where Tweed's food is and saw that Tweed had quite a bloody wound on his hind end. When Tweed saw Rob he quickly ran out his cat door and into the night. Tweed has been mainly outdoors since we moved to this house. He comes in the laundry room through his cat door and has his food and water there. We don't see much of him except in the winter when he comes in more at night usually tracking mud all over and, of course, jumping up on the cream couch in the living room with muddy paws. He also clawed up an area rug I got at Target last winter (thank goodness it wasn't too expensive and doesn't quite do it in the room). Anyways, this is his third fairly serious injury since we have lived here. I told Rob I think we need to make Tweed an inside cat. Tweed is a very loving and snuggly kitty. He's just a total pig pen for a cat (rolls in mud and stuff). If he was strictly indoors we'd just have hair to worry about and we could look into declawing before our new area rugs arrive. I just found them in a JC Penny catalogue (that's what happens when you are sent to bed to rest and you flip through catalogues). They are exactly what we've been looking for and were on sale with free shipping. I told Rob I'll buy Tweed a new carpet scratching post, since that is the kind he likes best, and we'll leave the old area rug out for a while and see if he claws it up again. If he does we'll look at declawing or these special nail things I saw online. Rob said, okay, but you know he probably won't be happy for a while and howl a lot. I don't know that I can take that. I said I know it probably will be a little rough for a bit but, I think it is worth it. He said alright.

I went to bed thinking of Tweed and how I was going to get him trapped inside so I could get him at least looked at by the vet. He is quite the escape artist. At 11:45 pm, I woke up. I peeked into the laundry room through the window and there was Tweed. Here's a picture of his boo-boo:

I opened the door slowly and asked him if he'd like some treats. Of course he did. I got him some and put fresh food in his bowl, which he always likes. I was able to quickly locate a scrape piece of red oak and a roll of duct tape in the garage. I went to work on closing off the cat door.

I used half a roll of duct tape and lectured Tweed on how I did not want to see or hear anyone tearing duct tape off the door. Yes, he's done that before. I told him I'm doing this because I love him and that I think it is time for him to become an inside cat. Here he is intently listening:

I used extra tape this time and also did not try and close him into the laundry room as I have done in the past. I thought if he felt more welcome he may not howl so much. I'd just cover all the furniture in the living room with old blankets and shut bedroom doors so there wouldn't be too much blood to clean up after. He walked out with me to the living room and I invited him onto the couch for a rest and a pet. It didn't take long and he looked comfortable. I think for the first time in this house he felt welcomed. We'd been so busy with kids and illnesses he'd gotten left out.

I set up his food dish and finally hooked up his automatic water fountain we use to have for him at the old house but, never had set up for him here. We were short an outlet in the laundry room and I hadn't yet found another place. I decided he'll just get to have it in the dining room for now.

I went back to bed and in the morning I talked with Steven before he got out of bed about Tweed. How Tweed gets scared when he moves too fast and that he needs you to move slowly and talk quietly. Steven did pretty good and Tweed did enjoy a few pets on the head by Steven. Tweed's going to need to get use to Steven's usual playing and occasional temper tantrums that kind of upset him. I think Tweed can do it. Tweed's a pretty forgiving kitty. I did set up a little sanctuary away from the continuous rocous of the family where Tweed can retreat to when crying babies and kids playing race car driver or pilot are too much for him. It is in the hall at the top of the stairs. I'll need to have Rob move the drums on the off chance Steven decides it is time for a drum solo:

Tweed went to the vet today and they shaved his bum area.

He had multiple bites many which were pretty deep and infected. He was given a shot of antibiotic to clear up the infection and he has another appointment Tuesday at 8 am. He may get stitches then. Mom mentioned when she picked him up that we are going to be making him an indoor kitty now and they agreed it would be a good idea.

Poor Tweed. There are just too many kitty cats in our area now and they aren't all friendly. It isn't like Thelma Street where it was just Mike and LeeAnn's cats and they'd all pal around and eat over at each other houses and stuff.

Resting

This morning I started out sitting in my chair (was Nana's chair) in the livingroom. I got my bag out of things I was going to do (mail to open, thank you notes to write, and old to do lists I am just sure I had a few things to cross off of). I have been tapering down on pain meds and my head has started to work again. For a while, watching TV was a challenge. I would fall asleep or stare at it but not really registering what was going on. I had fleeting moments when my brain would function properly. This morning was different! My brain was sharp and I was out of bed but, still resting. I was sitting so that counts as resting.

Then I didn't feel so hot. My neck started hurting and the donor site on my hip started to get sore. Rob sent me to bed with pain meds. He said I was doing too much. Uh, I was a little perturbed but, he gave me the look while he handed me the pain meds. He laughed when I told him I wasn't pushing myself. I was resting because I was sitting. But, he won out and here I am back in bed:

I wasn't happy but, at least Mom had changed the sheets yesterday and my friend LeeAnn had stopped by and made me and Mom each a new pillowcase. Hmm, the pillowcase even matches my snuggle suit.

Mom brought Mackenzie in to lay with me and nurse. We both passed out. While we were sleeping Rob checked the finish on the cross he made for Mom and Dad. He made it out of Katalox and Bloodwood both from South America. It is very beautiful, prettier even in person. The finish was all set. Here's Mom with it:

On Sunday our visiting pastor from Scotia, came to visit me and give me communion because I wasn't able to attend church. He had seen Rob's handy work on Mom and Dad's cross. He blessed the cross and then asked if Rob would make a cross for the Scotia Catholic Church! Rob is going to be contacting him soon.

While Mackenzie and I were having our nursing/napping marathon Rob finished up the welcome sign for our front porch.

My Grammy, G.G., had given it to us as a house warming present when we moved here a couple years ago. We had it on the front door for a while but I really had wanted to hang it on the wall instead because it would clang against the door all the time. Well, after we re-did the porch and changed the wallpaper it just didn't show up right. I wanted to have it framed-out on beadboard and painted like the trim on the porch so it would show up properly.

When I woke up my dear husband led me out to the porch and said, "Look the last thing you had on your list for the porch is done." He knows just how to put a smile on my face (pain meds, nap, and something done I can cross off a list). Thank you, Handsome for making my day.

Typical Wall Family Antics

Like I said in my last post Steven loves my new neck collar. He found a new creative way to wear it:

Here is Steven modeling how I was wearing my collar when I woke up at 4 am this morning. Don't ask how I mananged to do this. But, I was dreaming I was back in high school and I was wearing a sunvisor. In my dream I pushed the sunvisor up on my head because it had slipped down onto my face. When I pushed it up in my dream I woke up immediately and this is how it was on my head. No joke. I was shocked, worried I had hurt myself. Once I realized my head was still attached to my neck. I put my collar back on properly and took my pain meds. Mom was awake on the couch and we had a good laugh together.

Auntie Kim and Shane graciously sent up Shane's old motorized 4X4 truck for Steven to use now that Shane has out grown it. It took us a bit but we finally tracked down the proper battery and had gotten it all charged up yesterday. I was a beautiful day. Steven put on his Dale Earnhart Jr. racing outfit he got from my cousin Jen and her family for Christmas. He couldn't find the hat at the moment. He was too excited to look for it for long so he improvised and used his knight helmet for his protective head gear. We all went out as a family (yep me too!) to witness his first drive.

Here I am ready to capture it all on film. Today our camera was cooperating.

Here's a picture before climbing into his truck:

Here's his first drive. He was a little timid about crashing into the pole so he crashed into the fence at first. He was just a little annoyed that his first drive didn't go quite like he planned.

He quickly learned to drive straight and to watch driveways/alleys. This looks closer than it really was.

Steven and Rob went over to the school and practiced a lot. Now he'll be ready when his friends Raquelle, Damyn, and Chaz have their Jeep all charged up.

Here's Mackenzie with her Daddy looking adorable in her bonnet Grammy got her for Christmas at one of the baby boutiques in downtown Eureka. She was putting it on to go outside with her brother. However, you'll see from the next picture that she already had taken it off.

Here's Steven blowing bubbles for Mackenzie in the backyard.

At Stanford

I'm back at home. I came home on Friday, as you may have read on my Aunt Diane's blog. Thank you Auntie Diane for keeping everyone up to date. I haven't been much up for blogging or even getting out of bed until this morning. I love my bed. It's adjustable (was my grandparents) and we have put those Tempurpedic mattresses on it. It is the only place I have been pain free since the neck surgery until today. I had to lay just right but it was such a relief. The pain meds pretty much just have been taking the edge off. I think a lot of the issue is that the incision on my neck is rubbing on my neck collar. The incision is healing better and I'm spreading my meds out over an extra hour now. Sor far my hip is sore but not bothering me as much as my neck.

Here's a few pictures from the hospital. We took them with Mom's camera because our camera decided it was "sick" too and couldn't take any pictures even with fresh batteries. So, unfortunately I don't have any pictures from when Kathy came to visit. She came everyday and was a bright spot. She's one of those people that with her voice and smile makes the darkest days sunny.

Here's my before surgery picture. Rob snapped this one while I waited within my own tiny draped room surrounded by a million other people (all in their own little draped rooms) all prepped and ready for surgery.

Here's a picture of me that night after surgery. Mom said we needed the characteristic thumbs up picture. I put my thumb up quickly and then pushed my pain button. I was still on morphine.

Had I pushed the button first she might have gotten a different finger. I found out morphine makes me cranky and not so pleasant yet sleepy. I just told the doctors it didn't make me feel right. They switched me to phentynol, which makes me happy and sleepy.

Here's my push button med machine and IV pole, we fondly named him R2D2 from our last stay. He looks more like C3PO but sounds like R2D2 with all his beeps. He was a familiar friend.

While I was getting all settled in. The kids got all scrubbed up and clean at the hotel:

Then, I got the best visit ever on Wednesday!

Here I am getting ready to come home. Steven loves my new neck collar. He says it is like a motorcycle helmet for your neck. What a silly guy. My nurse and Mom said it brings out the color in my eyes. It is much more of a fashion accessory then the last one.

Anniversary Night and Day Before Surgery

Rob and I had a wonderful anniversary dinner at the Carter House Restaurant. Unfortunately our camera is being a little moody and this is the only picture that came out. We thought it was the rechargeable batteries weren't charging since I put fresh ones in just before dinner but, using regular batteries it is taking pictures only when "it feels like it." Lovely. Oh well, we'll have to help the economy and buy a new camera soon.

I took a few pictures of the filet mignon we had and the chocolate fudge lava cake with my new cell phone that has a camera on it. Uh, I only figured out how to take pictures and how to view them but not to get them off the phone. Oh well, I packed the manual so I can figure out how to use it while I'm recovering in the hospital.

My pre-op was at noon today so we all went over to the "nanny park" in Palo Alto. Rob found it last time I was in the hospital. Mom took the kids there a lot last time. It is known as the "nanny park" since everyone Mom met who had kids there was a nanny. This was my first introduction to the park. We actually met a mom there today besides me!

It is a very cool park with a rock wall for the Wall Boys to climb:

Here's Mom (Grammy) and Mackenzie:

Steven saw a fire truck pull up on one side of the park. The firemen were really nice and let him sit in the fire truck.

He also got a fire chief hat.

Here is Mackenzie and I:

Here's Mackenzie swinging on a swing:

Rob and I went to my pre-op at noon. It was quick and easy which I thought was a good sign. I had blood drawn and I didn't even feel the prick of the needle. The guy told me it is because he used a sharp needle.

I got my surgery time for tomorrow at 9:45 am. I am to be there at 7:45. They said I may not even have to go to ICU. That would be cool. My Aunt Diane graciously agreed to update everyone again tomorrow on her blog.

Well, that's it for now. Thank you for all the good thoughts and prayers and please keep them coming.

Getting Ready for Neck Stabilization Surgery

Here's a picture of a sunrise that was just beautiful. The picture doesn't do it justice. Looking at it reminds me of quiet mornings before anyone gets up.

This past week we have been preparing for the neck stabilization surgery (more chaos). We had a family Christmas decoration pull down party earlier in the week. Mom did lots of laundry and I did banking and bill paying. Mom and I also picked up the house. Hopefully it will make the return from Stanford easier.

Over the holidays I have put on some weight. I am hovering right around 128 lbs which is pretty good for me. This past week I even have started wearing makeup! I did start wearing a larger soft neck collar a little more since my hard collar got so uncomfortable. I bought new felt for myhardf collar but it still irritates my chin. Here's a picture of me all dolled up holding Mackenzie on the day we took her to Sears for her 6 month photos (okay she was 7 mths but, close enough):

Here's a link to her photo session:

https://www.searsphotos.com/?shareid=S206671761l6U332S6YT6

This week my amaryllis bloomed. It is beautiful. My good friends Joe and June sent it to me in November when I returned from the hospital. It was just a bulb with moss in the pretty pot. Look at it now:


Well I have a couple more things to do before Rob and I head out for dinner at the Carter House Restaurant in Eureka to celebrate our 5th Wedding Anniversary. Wow, I can't believe it has been 5 years already. Adios for now!

Happy New Year!

I hope you all had a nice New Year celebration whether it was a quite evening at home or out galavanting around town. We had a quiet New Years celebration on New Years day. The entire family is not yet well. I am finally almost out of snottty, phlegm. Rob then took a turn for the worse. But, in the Wall Family spirit we managed to make the best of it.

Here's Rob ringing in the New Years for China at about 8 or 9 am in the morning New Year's Eve:

Steven and I picked up Rob's clock he has been working on for quite a while from the clock shop on New Year's Eve. Rob needed a little help getting the mechanism in and lined up right. It is beautiful and sounds wonderful as well.

Steven got in trouble for not listening just before Christmas Eve so he had to wait a week to open his big present from Grammy and Grandpa. Here he is opening it on New Year's Eve Day:

He got this really cool castle. He played with it all day New Year's Eve and up until yesterday it was all he played with.

Here's Steven and Mackenzie kicking back in the recliner watching College Football.

On New Year's Day, we had "Snack Day" and watched the Rose Parade and Bowl games all day. Here's our spread:

In the late afternoon we added:

And, Mom made Nana's Shrimp spread/dip. It's been years since any of us have had it. One taste brought back a flood of holiday memories with Nana and Grandpa.

Here's Mackenzie sitting pretty and showing off one of her new hats:

Here's Steven pretending to be me:

Overall it wasn't a bad New Year's celebration for us, as long as you don't ask Rob. We are all looking forward to 2009.