Hospital stay

Hey, I am in the hospital.

I was experiencing severe stomach aches yesterday.

These pains are connected to some trauma

I experienced in the accident 4 1/2 years ago.

We are getting it looked out and hopefully fixed. 

Surgery later today, I think.

I have been terribly nauseous too!

Have a good weekend.

This is NOT the kind of weekend I had in mind.

But here I am, nothing I can do about it.

I am so thankful for family and good friends who are picking up 

the pieces of my life; specifically the Little Nies and meals.

So, this hospital stay has confirmed a few facts for me:

 1. No more nursing Lottie.

I was away from her a whole day/night (sniff sniff)

and

2. Being so horrible nauseous, I remember why I hate being pregnant!

{I am NOT pregnant, but this nausea sure reminds me of those days}

I am not going to lie, I am feeling slightly depressed today.

This will lift me up.

American Hero

Claire was given the assignment to find an American Hero to

present him/her at the 5th grade Wax Museum at school.

Extraordinary Americans like Betsy Ross, Emilia Earhart, 

Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr, and so on.

Do you know who Claire chose??

Claire chose me.

ME!

I was so honored.  I really, truly was.

It was so cute.

We have been preparing for weeks now, discussing who I am, 

where I was born, my personal experiences, and what I have done

in my life to be considered for this honor.

She compiled it all in a short 1 1/2-minute speech.

Then we began looking for props and things to use on her

 display table at the symposium.

I took her to the "chokie" where I have {proudly and happily} 

packed away all my burn gear and contraptions.

We took some of the gear out so she could display it at her table.

As I pulled things out, she wanted to try it all on.

  I put everything on her just the way that

Mr. Nielson put it on me EVERY SINGLE DAY.  

And then she tried on the nighttime gear I'd wear every night.

(Excuse me while I THROW UP!  Bad reminders!).

Then I cried, and then together we cried a little bit.  

We're both so glad that chapter is over.

It's done.  I did it- we did it.  

All those contraptions, braces, compression garments, masks, 

and pads, which made me sick to look at, also made me so proud.

It made me realize that hard times do come to an end at some point.

Sometimes and especially when we are in the middle of our trials,

 it seems they will never end.

But they will- eventually!

I know I still have work to do, like more

surgeries, and I still (and will probably forever) experience some pain daily.  

But it was nowhere near the way it was those first years after my accident.

I am so excited to see Claire at school and have her share my journey- 

she is proud of me, I am proud of me, and proud 

of her for enduring right along with me.

And then Oliver tried on my burn mask that looks like

Nacho Libre!

I laughed uncontrollably for about 15 minutes straight.

See, the photo is so blurry; I was laughing so hard.

 I couldn't even take a pic!!

Cookie Club

A few months ago, Nicholas was initiated into the "Cookie Club."

This is for the kindergartners who know all of their 

ABCs and can read and write letters.

A giant cookie is the reward, along with being able to check out and take home

books from the kindergarten library.

(But who cares about that?  I'd much rather have a giant cookie)

This tradition has been going on for years; in fact, 

all of my kids did it, and SO DID I!

Nicholas also had his kindergarten program last week.  

Mr. Nielson and I have been laughing for days after reflecting on his singing

along with hand motions and fun facial expressions.  

It's so not like him.

I am so in love with this boy.