To say that running after little ones, staying connected to big ones, and trying to keep everyone fed and alive is a little time absorbing is an understatement. It is so rewarding and while Eric nor I would not trade it for anything it does mean that other things, like blogs, get left behind at times.
We have had lot happen since Jubilees birthday (our last post). Our Precious Gracie turned 8, Sweet Simeon turned 3, and Energetic Ethan turned 7. The years are going by so fast and I love seeing them grow. They all bring such different personalities, character, and differences to our table and we love it.
Last year we would have characterized our Summer as dramatic. Now this Summer we would characterize it as traumatic! I will give a brief (yeah right) description so I don't overwhelm the post with too many details.
The Summer began with a bang, or an ax. I had commented a week or so before all this went down that "for having 3 boys I was surprised we had not been in the ER getting stitches, or worse". Just after making that statement I was getting ready to head out the door one day when two of my boys entered through different doors letting me know that Simeon had been hit in the head with an ax. At first it did not seem to be anything too bad, but after closer examination I realized his shirt in the back was soaked with blood and there was a decent sized gash in his head. I grabbed a towel, grabbed Taylor and told her to hold him in the car as we headed to the ER. He ended up having a chip out of his skull and a nice battle wound to talk about with his kids, but nothing penetrated to the fluid around the brain. He got stapled up with 8 staples and sent on his way. He has since healed up great.
Our next traumatic event was, and is a little more life changing. In early August Gracie got real sick. We thought it was just the stomach flu but as the day went on her breathing got very strange, her eye lids were half shut, her eyes rolled in the back of her head, and her mental status got real weird. Eric brought her in to the ER and within the first 5 minutes of her being there I got a call saying she was in severe DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis) and needed to be brought down to St. Paul Children's Hospital. Eric and I ran home and packed some bags and I was able to ride down in the ambulance with her while Eric followed behind. We were in the PICU for a couple days and then moved to the 6th floor. DKA presents itself when there is un-diagnosed type 1 diabetes or diabetes that has not been controlled with insulin. I will give a little perspective on how scary and serious this was with our Gracie being so sick. When they gave us the initial diagnoses of DKA I had never heard of it and since they were busy getting Gracie poked and hooked up to what ever they needed to monitor her with I googled it instead of waiting for explanations. The website that came up was of a little girl named Kycie Terry who just a couple weeks earlier had died from the exact same symptoms and diagnosis. The description of her symptoms and how everything played out that day for her was almost identical to what Gracie had gone through. I still check in on that sight every now and then since they have some good information as well as links to diabetes information. Anyway, after spending a few days in the hospital and going through lots of education on how to care for a diabetic we were sent home to start the routine of blood glucose checks several times a day, counting carbs, and insulin shots. For the rest of Gracie's life this will be a part of her routine. Even though it is a lot to take on we are thankful for medicine and good doctors. In hind sight I could see this going on in her body but I would have never thought to put it all together and bring her in to be diagnosed with diabetes. She is gaining weight back and feeling much better and able to enjoy the rest of her Summer.
As that was all going on my Mom ended up catching a strep infection and somehow that broke off and went in to her heart. A week after heading down via ambulance for Gracie, Mom was being shipped down via ambulance from the hospital here to Abbott. After a few days trying to get the infection under control and not being able to with medication alone, she had open heart surgery to take care of the infection. She spent almost two weeks down there and came back up North. A day after coming back she ended up back in the ICU up here this time where she still remains. Hopefully some new medication will be just what she needs and she can start getting mended up!
We have been down one family member and one car much of this Summer as Jordan has been working at a boutique in a near by town. She has shown so much responsibility and maturity in the area of finding a job and following through with all the responsibilities that come with working. So much so that she was given keys to lock and shut down the whole building with several business in it including a coffee shop and The Chamber of Commerce. On a side note, I can't believe she will be 17 in a month!
Other than all that, we have enjoyed the four wheeler, beach days, a frog sanctuary, getting wood ready for this Winter, ultimate frisbee games, a trip to Ely, MN's Rock Ridge Camp, and probably many other things I can't remember at the moment. This is "Probably" because for me the traumatic events as well as the mundane have all taken place under the umbrella of being sick, all day, everyday. Thankfully nothing serious, were just having another baby. Did you hear that? ANOTHER Anderson is on the way. We are 17 weeks along and we will welcome this little one at the end of January. I am hoping to be done with the all day sickness very soon, I think with the cooler weather it should come, here's hoping!
I will try and be more consistent in my updates. Try! That is the key word, we will see as the business of school starts in a few weeks, Eric's taking vacation and we will try to get away for a few days, and upcoming doctors appointments for both Gracie and I will take up a lot of time. Also, Eric got accepted to be in his hometown Hall of Fame. He will give a speech, walk across the the football field for homecoming, and enjoy an evening of being celebrated for successes from years ago. That is all up and coming and I will keep you posted. Thank you for all of you who continue to pray, encourage and support our family, it is very appreciated.
Love,
Miriam (for the rest of the family)
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