Monday, October 17, 2011

Virginia is for families

Family time, here we come...
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Upon finding out that Bo had another "interview" up north, I scheduled a trip for my mom's sixtieth birthday celebration around the same time as Bo's trip. Little Bit had to be included in the festivies, of course, and I wanted her to get in some more cousin time. Katy Jo and I stayed for almost two weeks in my sister and brother-in-law's place. It was a crowded house - my parents had already been houseguests for over two months while they looked for their own place. Steph and Ryan were both super great hosts and put up with four kids under one roof.

Unfortunately, my mom's birthday was a somewhat chilly and overcast day. Well, that didn't stop us.
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We went ahead with the birthday plans to go on a fun walk around the Great Falls, and then enjoyed a picnic complete with Bonnie's chicken salad sandwhiches, chips & dip (yum!), fruit and a special German Chocolate Cake which Omi's oldest granddaughter, Lizzy, helped bake.
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It was a fabulous time with the whole family there, minus my Bo. The sights were gorgeous and the kids were all well-behaved. I was so happy to be a part of it!
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The rest of the time was definitely all about the kiddos. We had park dates, tons of play time and loads of delicious meals with kids screaming (mine!).
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One morning, Steph and I went out - just the two of us - and devored fresh bagels with tons of cream cheese. This has been an ongoing craving of mine since returning from Germany, where bagels were scarce. After this special breakfast, we spent the next few hours having sister time, shopping and running errands. It was perfect.

The best part of the trip was getting to watch my baby play and interact with her family. Lizzy and Ruthie wanted desperatly to play with her, which was difficult since she is still little and only knows so many words. She spent lots of time in the playroom, backing up into Aunt Bessie or Omi's lap. Papa spoiled her with two of her favorite things - watching her own videos on Youtube and taking long baths. I think she had a ball! Every morning, we woke up in the basement and she practiced saying her new word, "Upstairs!" She knew that was where the people were.
DSC_0133It wasn't until the very last day, while we were on our way to the airport, that Katy Jo finally said, "Papa." So cute. I keep practising everybody's name with her and hope to be up that way again soon.
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Friday, October 14, 2011

I heart Fall

Last October around this time, we were enjoying Basel, Switzerland's Herbstmesse (a huge carnival) with our little baby, Katy Jo.
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This year, while we aren't in gorgeous Germany soaking up the fall colors and pumpkin soup at Funfschilling, we are having fun welcoming in the new season with our little toddler. We recently took Katy Jo to the local pumpkin patch in downtown Buda to pick out her favorite pumpkin.
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Last night, Bo finished up the job of carving two amazing jack-o-lanterns. Our baby is too little to participate in this, but she sure did enjoy watching and marveling at the final production.
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Thursday, October 13, 2011

new skin

On November 19th, 2010 I received a phone call at home from Bo informing me that he had hurt himself. He told me that while playing goalie in a soccer game with his Personal Fitness class, he came down wrong on his foot and now it was swollen and painful. His friend, Dan, took a closer look and recommended he take a trip to the ER. I didn't think much of it and just went along. It was our first trip to the Müllheim ER and I had no idea it would be one of more than a dozen to come.













November 19: cast placed

Christmas 2010: home in Houston - seen by Orthopedic doctor. Cast removed. Bone still completely broken. Told by US doctor, "I would have scheduled you for surgery as soon as you injured your foot. This bone rarely heals by itself."

January 3: Boot and ultrasound therapy
(Bo was also in a car wreck while driving back from the doctor's office)












April 12: surgery including shaving part of tibia bone to place on broken foot bone and metal plate bolting everything together


May 12: London field trip - swelling begins, limps into walk-in clinic

May 15: returns home with severely infected foot - back to Müllheim ER, admitted into hospital

May 16: early morning surgery (removed extensive amount of infected tissue as well as the metal plate) Doctors discuss risk of bone infection. Prescribe wound vac x 2weeks while in hospital

May 17-June 1: Daily trips to the hospital, at first with Katy Jo and then rescued by mother-in-law who came as support for two weeks

May 29: Bo allowed home for 2 hours for Katy Jo's first birthday.






















June 1: June 14: biweekly trips to the ER for regular check-ups and re-wrapping of bandages.

June 4: Stevie and Jenny visit and help us pack for our shipment home.






















June 14: Last Müllheim ER visit. German doctors suggest a skin graft because they do not believe new skin will grow. We decide to have procedure done in the States.

June 28: Return to the US

June 30: Seen by Wound Care doctor in Austin, TX. Schedules skin graft surgery on July 14

July 13: Surgery cancelled

New Skin Growth!

Sept. 28: foot officially declared healed!

Went running this morning!