I heart Fall

Last October around this time, we were enjoying Basel, Switzerland's Herbstmesse (a huge carnival) with our little baby, Katy Jo.

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.

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.

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!

summer time

I definitely have some catching up to do in terms of Katy Jo's latest little accomplishments, which, by the way, we treasure around here. There is nothing more exciting than witnessing your daughter learn how to do something new or perhaps attempt to say something new right in front of your eyes. We are loving it!

Our last week was filled with great times visiting my grandparents (Poppy and Aunt Jan). We quickly noticed all the new little things Katy Jo learned from her Aunt Jan. For instance, she can now fold her hands together, signaling that it's time to pray (she does this multiple times during any meal time or snack, so we know she's extra-spiritual). We also enjoyed watching her wave and get excited to see "Sparky," the stuffed elk, anytime we went up or down the stairs. Our visit to Houston was also a fun time to see old friends. :)

Now we are back in Buda, still playing this game called the ministry job search. Meanwhile, Katy Jo is entertaining us with her "mean face." This is a combination of a frown and upward eye movement, or sometimes she even rolls her eyes. So funny!

Almost every day we go swimming, and this has been so exciting just to see how fearless she is in the water. It's a little scary, but we are keeping a close eye on her.

More summer accomplishments to come...