Merry Christmas-2009

Ok, so maybe my kids get way too much for Christmas? But, hey I am my Dad's kid and I guess it just runs in the family. I love this time of year. Absolutely LOVE IT! I do get that from my Dad, and its nothing to be ashamed of, thats for sure! I only wish I had scheduled more time off. I did make a comment though, the next house we buy, we are buying based on Christmas gifts, tree, etc. ha ha

Lauren and her Nickelodeon Laptop with the green slime! So perfect that she had a whopping virus that hit it up within 30 minutes of her using it. I can't even write about that. Ugghh

If there could be a TV Christmas, its for Lauren this year. The In-Styler curling iron. This is a $100 curling iron. Seriously? $100? Im glad I made all those Santa Claus payments this year, because I definately would NOT be buying a $100 curling iron!

Perfect for her. Allison got Tony Hawk's skateboard game, and with Lauren's history, I didn't want her falling again to end up breaking something else!

This was Allisons FAVORITE part of Christmas! Glad Santa Claus could find these. Neither of my girls eat chocolate. Allison will only eat White Chocolate Kit Kat's and they only come out around the Christmas Holidays. And not every supermarket sells them. But she got four cases of them. Wonder how long these are going to last?

Snuggie! Yes, another TV infomercial...Lauren is the infomercial Queen. They make infomercials for people like Lauren. She attempts at selling them to me with as much enthusiasm as the tv personalities do. Its rather amusing.

And of course there had to be Team Jacob stuff. Im neither a Team Jacob or Team Edward, but the girls are huge Team Jacob fans.

Allisons stack of boxes.. ha ha ha.. Filled with Hollister, American Eagle, Aeropostale, etc. Not to mention the TV and who can remember what else. Not too bad for a 13 year old, huh? Guess Santa thought she was a pretty good girl.

Allison & her game! She couldn't wait to try it out! All in all a pretty good day. Mom came down and spent Christmas with us. This is the first time she has done this. It was great having her here. Maybe she will get down here permanently soon enough! Now off to the clean up!

Chaos on the rocks, please!

I guess this is the best way to describe work, right now. Its amazing how 'adult' you can be, by the age on your drivers license, but how 'young' you are based on your actions! I mean, do people really EVER grow up? I guess we call can't be as perfect as me! ha ha

I mean what is wrong with coming to work, doing your job and NOT trying to make someone else look back because YOU can't succeed? And sometimes people actually think because Im blonde that Im stupid. W-R-O-N-G! Everytime someone says something, when I know they are trying to find out something else...inside I just laugh. Because you aren't the only one that can play that game. So can I! Let the games begin.......more to come!

Round 3 anyone????

Another 2 weeks has flown by and Dad is up for Round 3 today! Not sure if it goes by as fast for him, but I know it seems like its time for another Round everytime I blink. Which, for me is great because he will be at Round 12, his final, soon enough! Deep down, I know it doesn't go by as fast for him, or it would already be Round 12. Still doing great, despite it being chemo.

Chemo #2

Dad went for Round #2 today. So far, so good. Dad is still having some sensitivity with his mouth until the infusion pump comes off on Wednesday, but other than that, he is doing great. Chemo is cumulative so I hope that he makes it through his 12 rounds without any horrible side-effects. He said his appetite has decreased, not that he is nauseated, just doesn't feel like eating. I did lecture him about eating and drinking. Constipation seems to be an issue, but he is taking stuff for that. I am so very proud of him!

Allison sugery follow up

Allison went back for her follow-up appointment with Dr. Cusamano today. They did another panorex and everything looked good. He said that everything was healing good and the next step was following up with Dr. Vinson, the orthodontist. I told him we had an appointment set up for the following week. Dr. Cusamano said we needed to wait at least 3 weeks. He then called Dr. Vinson and spoke to him to explain Allison's circumstances and because it was such an 'extensive mouth' and the reasoning behind the wait, Dr. Vinson agreed. I spoke to Dr. Vinson and he said he would follow Dr. Cusamano's recommendation. I love both of these doctors. They are both amazing and I wish all doctors were like them. They both have such great bedside manner and are wonderful with their patients! Even though I loved Dr. Cusamano, I hope we never have to see him again!

The Most Thoughtful Friend Award goes to.....

Alicia of course!

So I got Allison home from the oral surgery she had done. Both of us were extremely tired. I finally got her asleep on the couch and after watching her for awhile, I didn't feel like she was going to stop breathing, so I curled up on the other sofa and closed my eyes.

Ding-Dong! The doorbell rang. As I looked up through the glass beside the door, it was a Pizza Hut man. As I go to the door, I tell him 'Im sorry you have the wrong house'. He looked at the receipt and said 'is this 105 Hiddenwood Court?', I said 'yes, but I didn't order any pizza'. I then asked 'what name do you have?' He responded 'Michelle French'. I said 'I swear I didn't order any pizza' I then asked him what was on the pizzas and then told him I didn't even have any cash on me. He stated 'its already paid for'. I am still standing there baffled, and half asleep. I then ask what the last 4 digits of the credit card were. I had Lauren get my wallet, after he told me it was an American Express card, I knew it wasn't me. I haven't had an American Express card, since I left American Express. THEN is when it hit me. As he was calling the store, I asked if there was a phone number associated with the order. He gave me the area code of 602, I think. I got out the iPhone and searched for area code 602 which came up to Phoenix. I KNEW IT! I was Alicia. It had to be! Then is when he talked to his Supervisor who told him it was a surprise!

So Lauren and I chowed down on hot, fresh pizza, breadsticks and Lauren even had some Sierra Mist. WOW! What perfect timing and what a great friend!

After I came and got settled and went to send Alicia a message on Facebook, she had send me an instant message, IT WAS HER! I told her how thankful we all were and how perfect her timing was. That type of surprise is the best kind! The kind when you least expect it, most of the time, means the most. THANK YOU ALICIA~!

Oral surgeon anyone?

Today was the day Allison was dreading. We had the consultation appointment about 10 days ago, and I wanted to get this surgery done before the end of the year because of the cost. Needless to say, Allison wasn't thrilled at all. She did take the medication last night and this morning like she was supposed to. They gave her a big soft blanket and got her hooked up to a cardiac monitor, blood pressure cuff and a pulse ox. Dr. Cusamano started her IV, a 22g in her R arm and gave her meds almost immediately. Needless to say, it didn't take long for her to be 'out'. I left and it was originally scheduled to take about 45 minutes. At 60 minutes I started wondering, and at 90 minutes I was beyond wondering, but then they came to get me and I could go back to see her.

This is what I saw!

She was still pretty much out of it. The assistant did show me pictures that were taken during the surgery that were pretty neat. I didn't know they were going to cut her palate and pull it back. It ended up being way more extensive than what I had originally thought. I was sure glad they gave her good medicine!

As time went on, they sat her up more. She had some shallow respirations during the procedure which caused her SpO2 to drop a little but seemed to have come back up fairly quickly. They ended up putting gauze in her mouth and some vaseline on her dry lips.

They took her IV out and went to get a wheelchair. She was as awake as they needed in order to get her home!

That looks like a pretty good rhythm to me, BP good...lets go! It took the assitant and myself to get Allison in the wheelchair. We ended up being wheeled out a different door and then I helped her get into the car. Her mouth hadn't been bleeding until she started moving, then it seemed to be bleeding consistantly.

I got her home, changed her gauze and placed her on the couch. Neither one of us had any sleep the last night, so both of us were really tired. Allison, of course, at least had good meds on board, so she had a little help going back to sleep. I got her tucked in, changed the gauze a few more times and she finally fell asleep. She ended up sleeping until 1700. She had 8 sutures which are wrapped around her teeth and braces as well as 3 extension wire sets that are hooked into her braces as well.

Her next follow up with Dr. Vinson (orthodontist) was scheduled for next week, but we talked to him prior to me leaving the oral surgeons office and Dr. Cusamano feels that she needs 3 weeks to heal properly, so Dr. Vinson is agreeing to that and we will now follow up on December 29.

I am so proud of her. She got through this day much better than what I had anticipated. We will see how well the next few days go. We do have pain and nausea medicine if she needs it!