Skunks

Jeff started his day with Emily yesterday with her customary viewing of Clifford the Big Red Dog.  She likes Clifford and routine.  Both of those things should have kept her right on track for a good beginning of a school day. 

It wasn't though.  Emily was edgy and continuously threw her hand into the air, as if she was afraid.  Jeff wasn't sure if she was having some new, strange kind of seizure, but decided to hold her in the recliner until her "case of the sadies" passed.  Then there it was.  Nearly 20 minutes into the episode; the reason for the erratic behavior.  A skunk jumped out of the bushes at Cleo, and Emily went nuts! 

Emily has a well documented fear of skunks.  Even cartoon ones.  They often point their offensive bottoms directly at the screen (and consequently, my child) and "defend themselves". 

Poor, sweet, Em.  She couldn't say "hey Dad!  This episode scares me because it has a skunk".  She had to bear through it because we didn't know any better. 

Emily is otherwise doing fine.  She's actually doing great.  We took her to the Dixie Classic fair this weekend and she had an awesome time.  She is totally my roller coaster girl. 

We've had lots of visitors now that we're in NC.  We are so close to family that we have people coming by often.  I love being able to see people and let the kids get to know with their family again.

my mom, my aunts and my girls!  SO much fun :)

I'm missing my church family a ton right now.   I want to just get up and go to church on Sunday, and we don't have a place for that yet.  Abby has been so sick that it's tough to find somewhere, but I'm confidant that God already has it worked out. 

A few pics from her last hospital stay:

After her Broviac was put in

Getting her hair washed!  This thing was so cool.

feeling a little better

Speaking of Abby, she's still hanging in there.  We are finishing up the IV antibiotics, which was so much more work that I realized it would be.  It was also very stressful every time I hooked it up.  Each time the line is accessed is an opportunity to introduce bacteria, so it was difficult.  I'm just thankful it's nearly done.  It was my "skunk".  I know the possibility of infection is out there and waiting for it to jump out at us has me edgy.   

She's running a low grade fever, but we were able to meet with a GI who specializes in motility.  He said that any kid off the street with Abby's set of circumstances would be sitting where she is.  Dysmotility is a complicated and difficult problem to overcome.   He is going to put her in the hospital in a few weeks for some specialized tests to help determine the exact problem.  He gave me tons of information, but I think he's our best shot at making her more comfortable. 

So that's what's going on with us.  Emily and I are still concerned about our own respective "skunks" lurking about, but we are both trying to relax a little and enjoy what's in between.