Gettin' Clean

Where have the years gone? Natalie is almost 7 years old now, and while she is still small, in many ways she is getting too big. 

Until now, bathing Natalie has been awkward, but manageable. But lately, she has become so long and heavy, taking her in the shower or putting her in the bath has become difficult. I'm beginning to wonder how I will be able to do this twenty years from now. 

Yesterday, we brought home a new piece if equipment that will hopefully help make shower/bath time a little easier.

Following the flood, we knew one of our priorities would be creating a handicap accessible showering area for Natalie. The no threshold shower is pretty nice! And, after lots of research, I found this shower chair to fit inside the shower. It's small, has many folding options, and can also fit in our bath tub. Most pieces of medical equipment end up being too big. This is compact and will be easy to take with us on our travels.

Natalie seems to like it. Time will tell if it is going to be a good solution in the months and years to come, but so far...it's a thumbs up.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from my little astronaut and fairy!

It was good to be back at home this Halloween!  We didn't have a ton of trick-or-treaters, but the few we had made it feel a little bit more like normal around here.  

I have to admit, I was a little worried we wouldn't be able to get Calvin into a costume.  For some strange reason, he at least pretended to be scared of wearing ANY costume on Halloween.  After days of unsuccessfully bribing him with candy, he finally tried on his costume at the request of his beloved cousin, Stella.  

He still wasn't too sure about it.  

But Halloween rolled around, and with the promise of a pail full of candy, he put it on again.  Victory!  

The first order of business was to paint the pumpkins we picked out at the pumpkin patch a couple of weeks ago.  Calvin loves to paint---and Natalie had fun, too!

We had planned to go trick-or-treating around our neighborhood, but unfortunately it was just too cold and windy for Natalie.  Luckily, Minot has a great indoor event at the MSU Dome...

Waiting in line with sissy...CHEESE! 

Natalie doesn't look too thrilled, but she loved it!
(It's hard to capture her smiles on camera!)

Calvin wasn't too sure about all of the costumes, but he loved the candy!

Vegetables?  I don't eat vegetables.
Unless they're mashed potatoes.

The best part?  We were home by 6:00 and Calvin got to hand out candy to the trick-or-treaters.  He really wanted all of them to come in and play with him in his room, but eventually he learned that his job was to open the door and hand out candy.  

We hope you all had a fun Halloween!

Next up...Calvin's birthday!

Birthday Girl!

There she is--our beautiful little six year old!  Natalie turned six years old yesterday, the 22nd of October.  It's impossible to believe it's been six years since she made her quiet little entry into this world.

Six years old seems so...old.  She's not a baby girl anymore, she's my big girl.  So this year, I decided to make a big girl pretty cake for my princess.

Atop her head, you will notice a pretty pink party hat.  That was a gift from Natalie's great grandma Beatrice.  She's worn it every year except for last year, when we hadn't moved back into our house just yet.  I love that hat!

Time to open presents...Natalie got tons of pretty clothes and other gifts.  Lucky girl!

Of course, her FAVORITE thing in the world is her daddy!

But the gifts are pretty nice, too!

Time to blow out the candles, and the kids love that Natalie can't do it on her own.  They're always more than willing to help out! 

Mmmm...cake!

At six years old, Natalie has come a long way.  Some people may feel badly about the fact that she doesn't walk or talk and needs complete care from us.  I don't look at it that way at all.  Look at this beautiful face...

Natalie can smile.  She has the most beautiful blue eyes, and although she can't see, I feel like she sees me.  She can express when she's unhappy, too.  I know if she's hungry or needs a new diaper.  I've always felt (quite selfishly) that Natalie, as a handicapped child, is a gift to me from the Lord.  She has made me a better, more selfless person.  I don't sweat the small stuff in life anymore.  Natalie is a constant reminder that it's not all about me.

We're so thankful for the six years we've had with Natalie...when I say she defied all odds to be with us, I'm not kidding.  The odds were always against her...but here she is today, a beautiful young girl who brightens our lives.  Happy Birthday, Natalie Beatrice Olson! 

Time to Catch Up!

Lots of things happen when you don't update your blog for almost two months!  It certainly has been a busy two months for us, though.  Here's what has taken place since I last sat down to update our blog:

Natalie had her half-body cast removed on August 8th, but before she could be released from the pink monster, she was diagnosed with pneumonia.  The p-word is a scary one in our house.  It's never easy for Natalie to fight off pneumonia, even at nearly six years old.  Thankfully, after a week and a half of antibiotics and many, many nebulizer treatments, she was able to fully recover, this time at home and not in the hospital!

Calvin is always nearby to make Natalie smile; on this day, I found him reciting Wynken, Blynken and Nod to Natalie.  I recite it to him every night before he goes to sleep, and now he has it almost memorized himself!  It's pretty hard to understand him here, but he's doing it.  I had tears in my eyes because he had no idea I was even in the room!

Once the cast was removed, it was time for our yearly Olson Family Trip to Eagle Beach Resort in Minnesota.  It wasn't the hottest lake week we've ever had, but overall it was pretty nice!  It's always good to get away and enjoy the peace and quiet of the lake.

Calvin loved the beach...  

 ...and fishing...

...making sand castles...

 ...and eating pancakes with Daddy!  Mmmmm...The Logging Camp.

Natalie loved the boat...

 ...and the wind in her hair as Daddy water skiied behind her!

But all good things must come to an end, and summer quickly ended.  That means it was back to school for Natalie.  She's back at Jefferson in her preschool classroom for one last year before entering kindergarten.  She could have attended kindergarten this year, but we decided to do one last year with the teachers and therapists she's known since she was three years old.  We're in no hurry to get her into full days--she has many years of schooling ahead!

Calvin loves the bus almost as much as Natalie does.   

Meanwhile, I'm busy at home preparing for another busy fall and winter of football/basketball reffing for Perry.  He is gone nearly every night of the week reffing all across the state.  I spend a lot of time preparing meals to freeze, so I can cut down on the grocery store trips.  I'm a hermit during the winter.  I have very little tolerance for cold weather.

I've also started baking cakes/cupcakes as a side hobby.  It's become my creative outlet and my escape from the constant laundry and cleaning duties.  I'm considering hiring a maid.  Perry would never know.  Here's a sample of some of my latest creations.

I really can't believe October is almost here.  It's Hostfest week in Minot, and I'm actually really excited!  We're going to Jeff Foxworthy on Tuesday, then the kids and I will wander the halls the rest of the days.  I must be turning into an old person.

Counting Down the Days...

Three weeks down...one to go!  It's been three weeks since Natalie's surgery in Grand Forks, and we've been busy enough that the weeks have gone by quickly.  

Daddy and Natalie following surgery

Although the spica cast this year is a bit smaller than last year's cast, Natalie is just as annoyed with it.

We found this double stroller that is now the only way we can transport Natalie; her wheelchair is just too narrow for the cast.  It has been a lifesaver!  I'm so excited because it should fit her well even after the cast comes off, which means I can take both kids shopping again!  The wheelchair has no storage, so not only could I not push two kids around at the same time, I had to carry all grocery items in my hands at the same time--quite a juggling act you might say!  Now, if Natalie could only stay this size forever!

Enjoying a beautiful morning in her bean bag

Overall, Natalie is handling the cast as well as can be expected.  I've even done a decent job of keeping it clean and smelling okay.  This time, when the cast comes off, we are prepared for a few stiff days from not being able to move her muscles for weeks.  We're hoping that she's feeling better quickly, because we're headed to Minnesota for our week-long vacation a few days after the cast comes off!

We spent lots of time at the ND State Fair last week!

Calvin has been a great helper for me.  He adores Natalie, and he can't wait to see her every morning.  When she cries, he says, "it's okay, honey."  He retrieves diapers/bibs/brushes...basically anything I need.  I can already see his tender heart growing and understanding that Natalie needs lots of help.  It's amazing to see how Natalie is teaching him lessons so early in life.

Snuggled in her new stroller

Unfortunately, the misery has increased for Natalie while in her cast.  She has developed "significant pneumonia," and has been quite sad lately.  We took her in yesterday morning...she has had a nasty cough for a couple of months now.  However, she was checked out by a doctor prior to surgery, and he determined that it wasn't in her lungs.  Something must have changed over the last week, though, so I'm thankful we went into the doctor when we did.  She was started on some potent antibiotics and today she has been much happier than the past couple of days.  Pneumonia is always a scary word for us when we're talking about Natalie.  She's just such a tiny thing who has had so much damage to her lungs in the past.

So, I hope she's on the road to recovery and will be back to her happy ol' self six days from now when the pink monster is removed!  Please pray for her comfort this week as she recovers and her comfort following the cast removal.

Recovery

Natalie is resting peacefully next to me as I type this post, and what a wonderful sight that is!  After about three hours of surgery and recovery, Natalie returned to us whimpering.  Her only complaint thus far has been when she is moved or bothered in any way.  That's fantastic news because it means her pain management is working for now.  Her surgery was certainly not as extensive as last year's surgery, so we're hoping recovery will be much easier for this little girl who has no idea what is happening to her or WHY it's happening.

As Yogi Berra says, "It's like deja vu all over again."  Natalie had the same doctor, anesthesiologist and nurse as last year, and is just two doors down from her old room.  We'll hope that the similarities end there.

The view from Natalie's window, just two doors down from her room last year.

 The wait is the hardest...hoping and praying that she will be safe and she will return to us.  Surgery and the subsequent recovery for Natalie is dangerous, especially because she's had issues with RSV and pneumonia in the past.  Her lungs are so fragile, and that is a constant worry for me.  So I laid in her hospital bed this morning, praying and reading and doing anything to keep my mind off of what could happen.

Her throne awaits--including a froggy she received from her summer school teachers!

 Dr. Haasbeek just stopped by to check on Nat...his main concern was that she looked quite pale, so we put her back on the nasal cannula to get some extra oxygen in her.  She looks much better already!

When she wakes up, we'll try to get some clear fluids in her.  That means dietary sent up a tray of Jell-O, chicken broth, water, apple juice and....COFFEE.  Seriously.  She's five years old, people.  Ha!

Also, only of my pet peeves is student doctors.  I know they have to learn somehow, but there's nothing more annoying than having a student doctor come in to get a complete history of your child five minutes after she returns from surgery, then asks what type of surgery she is going to have today.  Ummmm..she already had it.  You may want to know that before you come in the room.  It took all I had not to laugh out loud!

Natalie is sleeping peacefully!  What a little angel.

A cool side note: Dr. Haasbeek is traveling to Ecuador on a mission trip this Friday to perform surgery on children in need there.  His face lights up when he talks about it, and it makes us admire him even more.  The best part is that the plates removed from Natalie's femurs today will go inside of a child in Ecuador...AMAZING!  

Thank you all for your constant prayers!  They mean more to us than you'll ever know!

Surgery Begins

Natalie woke up with a HUGE smile on her face this morning!

I know there are many people praying for Natalie right now, and it is such a comfort to us to know so many people care for her.  We just left our little sweetie about fifteen minutes ago after talking to all of her doctors and nurses about what to expect for this surgery.  

Dr. Haasbeek has told us to expect about two hours worth of surgery.  That includes removing the plates that we put in back in August, as well as performing a pelvic osteotomy, which is the reshaping of her pelvic bone on the right side so that, ultimately, her hip will be less likely to dislocate in the future.  All I know is that surgery scares me to death when it comes to Natalie.  

I'll let you know more when I hear from the nurse.

Best. Day. Ever.

I realize Calvin likely won't remember any of this trip in the years to come, but Perry and I surely will.  Spending all of this time together, just the four of us, has been incredible.  I've learned just how grown up Natalie is, and how much Calvin has learned.  He's a fun little guy who's starting to say some funny things!

Today, as Perry entered the freeway, Calvin yelled from the back, "Careful, Daddy!"  Also, we've been serenaded throughout the trip with one song in particular...

Natalie seems to like it.

Our first destination on this beautiful March morning was Como Zoo.  I've never been there before, but I can tell you that we will never again visit the Minnesota Zoo.  Como Zoo is absolutely amazing...it's beautiful, not too big and lots of fun for little kids.

Outside of the zoo and conservatory

Calvin thought this giant turtle was interesting

Cal spent most of his time trying to climb under the fences

Hopefully these bears will return to Minot soon!

A corn dog and "Apey Grapey."  Calvin loved his lunch.

Natalie soaked up the sun.  The weather was beautiful!

Yumm-O!

The tropical garden area was beautiful!

Natalie was in HEAVEN!

Calvin & Daddy--my cuties!

Outside of the tropical garden

My princess!  Pretty in pink!

After a fun morning and early afternoon wandering around Como Zoo, we headed back to our new hotel for the night.  FYI, the Holiday Inn Express near the Mall of America is NOT nice.  It's strange, because I've never been to a Holiday Inn Express I didn't love.  So poor Daddy had to pack up the car AGAIN and moved us into the Country Inn & Suites near the mall, which is a MILLION times better.

So, it was on to our next adventure for the day...the Mall of America.  I felt a little guilty that we were heading inside on such a beautiful day, but I knew Calvin would have a blast at the amusement park there...and he did!

Cal's eyes lit up when he saw the carousel

He loved this little roller coaster ride

Sorry...pictures taken with Perry's phone---but he had fun on this fire truck ride!

Second time on the carousel!

By the time we left the mall, it was already dinner time.  It's a no-meat Friday for us, so Perry got to try IHOP pancakes for the first time ever.  If you know Perry at all, you know that this was a very special moment for him.  :)

I really wish we had more time to spend in Minneapolis, but our time here is almost up.  I'm hoping to make a stop at IKEA before we depart tomorrow morning.  I've never been there, mostly because I'm afraid I'll spend way too much money there.

So, for now, I'll just bask in the glow of this wonderful day and thank the Lord for blessing me with such a wonderful family.  Best. Day. Ever.