Joe's Surgery and the UCC...

At the very crack of dawn this morning, my husband woke me and my daughter up to get ready to leave for the outpatient center where he would be getting his surgery for his ankle. It was originally supposed to be on Tuesday, but because of the ridiculous amount of snow and the inability to cope with the weather on the part of the city of Columbia (and South Carolina as a whole), it was rescheduled for Friday at 6am. The only difference really: a 30 minute drive to Irmo from our house instead of a 10 minute one to Providence hospital. I'm not complaining though, we were very lucky to get it rescheduled so quickly.

We arrived at 5:57am (on the dot!) and Joe went inside to get checked in. I had packed everything up for Audra; diapers, blankets, toys, and the stroller, so that we could be there to wait it out. We waited about 45 minutes to an hour before they took Joe back. I would have loved to be with him while he was in prep for surgery but they prohibited me from going back there because of Audra. Joe's parents arrived about the time they were taking Joe into surgery so I didn't get to see him, but he wasn't nervous when he went back so it was ok I guess.

Joe's parents and I headed back to their hotel for the continental breakfast, unfortunately we didn't get back in time to get the update from the doctor after Joe got out of surgery. Joe was a little perturbed but I was only about 10 minutes late so he got over it. When the nurse brought me back into the recovery area, poor Joe was covered from head to toe in blankets because he was freezing (a side effect of the anesthesia) and very nauseated (also a side effect of the anesthesia). As the nurse began giving me the run down of what they did to his ankle during surgery, how to take care of it, what to be cautious and aware of, and so on, I held a styrofoam cup of ginger-ale and ice chips up to Joe so he could sip on it for comfort.

Joe's mom drove him home so that he would have enough room to spread out and not be fighting with Audra's car seat, or anything for space. I went straight home, but they stopped to pick up Joe's dad and run to get some food for everyone (Joe especially hadn't eaten for almost 24 hours because of the surgery). After grabbing some Wendy's we all vegged out on the couch for a good while. It had been a turbulent morning and few days for everyone I think between the snow, surgery, and traveling for Joe's mom and dad.

Then the real fun began... I made dinner about 6pm and I made pork chops with some salad. Everybody ate it. At about bed time I started feeling some upset stomachness and took a pepto bismol... bad idea. By 1am I was sick as a dog. Joe was still on pain killers so I was basically handing Audra to him so I could go get sick, then she would scream, but he couldn't do anything for her because he is completely reliant on crutches- it was a nightmare.

Finally, Joe called his mom about 4am and she ran right over from the hotel, God bless that woman. She came and held Audra, entertaining her and soothing her while I tried to keep some/any fluids in my body. After failing at that, we loaded up and headed to Fort Jackson's Urgent Care facility.

After three hours, two liters of IV fluids, and some sore muscles later... I was able to go home at least coherent. Thank goodness for Joe's mom, Patti. She helped us out sooo much by helping with Audra and making sure we all had something to eat and drink. Joe's dad stayed with him while we were in the UCC, and that was a big help also.

So here we are, on Tuesday trying to survive the rest of the few weeks that Joe will be stuck on crutches. Hurry up January 25th, this family is ready to be back to 100%!

So far so good!

Well this year is off to a great start! Although Joe's surgery was cancelled because of the ridiculous amount of snow we received, it has been rescheduled for this Friday morning. His mom and dad will be coming down to visit to help with his recovery and post-op which will be nice. He will be in a cast for 4 weeks and I know it's going to drive him nuts! Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers during his surgery on Friday. Send some good vibes our way!

Audra is doing great! Her schedule has been a bit off since we got back from Florida, she's been staying up until 3am and then sleeping until 11 or 12... so Mama is tired!

I start school on the 20th, although I'm apprehensive about my school workload. I might take only two courses so that the move isn't that stressful and plus Audra will be turning one year old this May! It's insane to think about. My little girl is growing so fast and she is such a blessing and a joy to me.

We took some pics of the snow... here you are! I will leave off on this beautiful note :)

January

So Joe's surgery on the 11th is fast approaching, and this new year of 2011 is already going a mile a minute and too fast for me! He is supposed to go in on January 11th at 5:30am and I am not sure how long the procedure will take. They are going to cut the injured ligaments and shorten them, so that they can be tighter (or at least that's how it was explained to me!). Joe will be in a cast for about 4 weeks with a little bit of physical therapy afterward. Hopefully he'll be running and back in tip top shape in no time!

My Aunt MaryWinn passed away Saturday morning. Please pray for her family- her husband, her 3 children and their spouses and children. She was my grandmother's 2nd oldest sister and fought a long hard battle with her health. Those who were with her said she passed peacefully which is all we can really ask for I think.

Audra is having a great time with Joe since he's been on leave. She's reaching for him, asking for him when he walks into the room "da da!!" and associates him completely with playtime. I'm chopped liver compared to daddy(lol). We're still barely doing solids once a week, since she isn't really into them. We're letting her take her time with them, it's her choice. So she's still almost entirely exclusively breastfeeding, which is still just fine with me :)

I'm starting school here again shortly, however I'll be only part time right now since our big move is in May. Between Audra and planning a move over 4000 miles it's plenty on my plate without school, so I'm taking it easy. Audra is a full time job and I love it!

This Moment: Audra and Daddy playing on New Year's Eve

Shortly before going outside to watch the fireworks, Daddy and Audra are having a fun game of "Make Baby Laugh" which is where Joe and I do whatever it takes to make Audra giggle. She loves this game.

Coming to the end of a GREAT year!

I wish I could reflect on this year in its entirety, but Audra is a demanding attention stealer! (lol) SO I will just pick up sort of where I left off with the last blog...

Audra is now 7 months, so close to crawling I'm beginning to think she's just not crawling because she's satisfied with rolling and scooting everywhere! She repeating sounds now and is very playful. Joe and Audra have their own set of different little games they play, it's adorable. Still not eating solids regularly, but she's is doing great and a super healthy girl. Audra was 20 lbs and 26 inches at her last doctor's appointment. She is still in cloth diapers and still exclusively breastfeeding. I'm raising a "crunchy" organic baby (lol).

Joe has had his last check up after his eye surgery, and the doctor says he doesn't need contacts anymore! His eyesight is now 20/15 and he's wearing the sunglasses less and less. Flashes from cameras, sunlight, and bright lights still bother him a bit but he's doing very well after his surgery. As far as work goes, he's been swamped but hopefully that will change here very soon. January 11th is Joe's ankle surgery where they will fix the injury he has there. The orthopedist said that he's going to shorten the ligaments so that they will be tighter, the problem is that the ligaments stretched out when he injured the ankle. Joe will be in a cast for 4 weeks and then probably have physical therapy thereafter. The good news is that he will be totally healed by the time we have to move (lol)! Joe will begin out-processing in March or April, by May 5th we're planning on being packed up and headed out of South Carolina.

Because we will be moving, we're kind of up in the air about Audra's first birthday. We have decided we will be having a party, just probably not at the house because we'll be a boxed up mess here!

As far as things with me go, I am adoring being a mom to Audra. Every day brings it's challenges but twice the rewards and the joy! I'm trying to find more ways to bring our family into a "greener" place. I finished up my first semester at University of Alaska Fairbanks on December 13th, and I love it! I'm looking forward to graduating soon. Unfortunately it will probably be while Joe is deployed but no big deal. Fortunately he's big around for all the big stuff and we're grateful for that!

That's all for now :) From the Orders' Family have a safe and Happy New Year!

November/December

So our darling daughter is officially 6 months now! Her milestones accomplished include sitting up, saying her first word ("mama" and "hello"), and she is beginning to crawl. We attempted some rice cereal and applesauce with her within the past week or so and she has decided she likes breastmilk much better anyhow! So for right now we will continue to exclusively breastfeed except for a few tidbits of this and that randomly. I will be making her baby food, however small the amount, at home for now as well. Turns out purreeing veggies and fruits is way easier and way more cost effective than going to the grocery store and buying whole amounts of food she may never eat! lol

Well the munchkin is hollering for me right now so I'd better run. Love and hugs!

RAGABABE MADNESS!!

RAGABABE is having a quick giveaway! I just have to share we love Audra's AIO and use it daily. The print is adorable and it fits her like a glove. I never worry about leaking with her or about the velcro wearing down. It's a great wash and go diaper, I cannot say enough great things about ragababe!

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