Our Last Day

So much has happened since our return from our trip to Disney. It has been a whirlwind of activity and catastrophe the past few weeks.  Probably, the most momentous of all our events has been my foot injury that happened a couple of weeks ago.  I fell down a steep step while wearing heels and badly injured my left foot.  When it initially happened, I wanted to scream out in pain but I was proud of my myself, because I refrained. (Whenever I feel pain, I tell myself, "I can do this, I've done natural child-birth, after all."  All I have to say is that I am very thankful that natural childbirth doesn't last for two weeks.)  Tears filled my eyes, but I was able to hobble to my car and drive home.

I was optimistic a good night's rest would fix it all up, but instead, the next morning, I awoke up to terrible pain.  I was unable to put weight on my injured foot.  Brad was an amazing support and quickly made an emergency appointment with the orthopedic surgeon for that morning.  They did x-rays and thankfully discovered that there was no breaks, but what we did discover was that I have an "extra bone" in my foot.  The navicular bone in my foot is one regular sized bone along with one smaller bone, instead of one large bone, which makes me extra susceptible to injury.

The doctor has prescribed a boot for me to wear for 6 weeks, along with crutches (which I am supposed to be using right now)! Unfortunately, I am terribly uncoordinated with the crutches, so in an effort not to get hurt further, I have been trying to hobble with my boot on.    My whole body aches (my back, legs, hips, especially my foot).  My foot still gets badly swollen many times in the day and I am not especially hopeful my recovery is going that well. I am exhausted!

Please pray that God miraculously heals my foot and that I do not have to have the most extreme course of action: surgery!   Worst case scenario, if I continue to have chronic pain, the doctor will remove the smaller bone from my foot.

Brad had a bit of bad news himself when we got back from our magical vacation! He discovered he had two cavities that require two root canals and two crowns for a whopping cost of $2500 (my injury is not fun, but it's cheap). ;-) Anyway, Brad went to work early this morning 3:00 AM, so he could take the minimal amount of time off of work today for his root canal!   (I took all three of the girls last night to AWANA and told him to go to bed. He fell asleep at 7:00 PM last night and was able to get a full night's rest, but I am sure by 7:00PM tonight, he will be done for the day.)

When Brad got home at lunch time, he offered to take the girls on a Daddy date to Chick-Fil-A (so I could have some time to rest-up)!   All that to say... I am home in the middle of the day all by myself! :-)

 I couldn't resist taking this time to write a letter to my toddler, Anna who becomes a 3 year old "little girl" tomorrow!  It's mostly an update of what is going on in her little life in the last month

This last month has been a difficult season for our family but Anna brings so much joy to us.
She is a precious little gift and I wouldn't trade being her mommy for anything in the world.

March 21, 2013

My Dearest Anna Girl,

You bring so much JOY to your daddy’s life, your big sisters’ lives, and to my life. 

We have finally convinced you that the potty is not so scary after all.  You have been pretty stubborn about not wanting to get dirty on the potty. I actually sat with you in the bathroom for 2 and ½ hours waiting for you to make some tinkles, then daddy took over for another hour before you did it for the first time last Wednesday!   Since then, you have consistently been using the potty to make pee-pees!!!

We are so proud of you! 

Last night, as a reward for all your hard work, I gave you a special surprise. The two of us went on a Mommy/Anna date to Target to pick you out some big girl panties.  You had several choices: Dora, Repunzel, Princesses, and My Little Pony! You chose the Pony ones and for the rest of the evening proudly carried them all through the store with you! Today was your FIRST day to wear them. You were so excited, jumping up and down with glee! Any onlooker who saw your contagious enthusiasm would have thought we had just given you the moon! :-) 

I recently sprained my foot and was given a giant boot to wear for six weeks.  I have tried my best to mostly stay off of it, but admittedly, I am not the best patient all of the time.  You, however, have been so sweet and compassionate to your mommy! You always tell me, “It’s alright mommy. I take care of you.”

You love books and we spend a LOT of time reading and re-reading your favorites while we cuddle on the couch together. Two of your favorites right now (they are always changing) are Mary Engelbreit’s Fairy Tales and a collection of Harold and the Purple Crayon stories.

You also like to do your math for school.  This week, we worked on counting animals and circling the right number.  You kept asking to do MORE and MORE pages of schoolwork! I hope you always have the same enthusiasm you have now for learning!

We recently went to Disney World as family for a winter break vacation! You had the time of your life and periodically will tell me, “Mommy, Disney World SO FUN!” with the biggest grin on your face. You have such an appreciative heart and your world is filled with so much love and wonder. 

You are the most outgoing of our three girls. You love meeting new friends!   But without question, your best friends in the world are Jillian and Faith! Your big sisters are very doting and you adore them in return!  “Jill-yun” and “Faif” are a lot of fun and you love being a part of their make-believe world of doll houses and tea parties! 

You also have a very special place in your heart for Aunt Michelle! Whenever we go over to the Smith’s house, you run into the house with wide-open arms and give her the absolute, biggest hugs.  While we are at their house, we always make lots of yummy treats together! You love cracking the eggs, stirring the ingredients into the bowl, and even icing some of the treats! I think you have become a pretty gifted toddler in the baking department.

You have fine blonde hair and the bluest eyes of anyone I have ever seen!  You have a beautiful dimple on your cheek, just like your daddy. I love seeing your smiles!  You recently got glasses and have done a beautiful job adjusting to them (though at first, you tried to look over them instead of through them)!

You have a sensitive heart and a desire to love and be obedient to your mommy and daddy! You are a beautiful girl, inside and out, and you are loved so very much….ALWAYS AND FOREVER! Whenever mommy or daddy ask you, “How much does your mommy and daddy love you.” You spread out your arms wide and reply “TOO MUCH”! I hope you always know the love your mommy and daddy have for you! We love you “too much” for you to even know!!!

Love,

Your Mommy