Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Update and Much Gratitude!


I just wanted to update everyone on Karsen. Today we went and saw his Prosthetics Dr. Pete and his Ortho Dr. Marci and they like how he is healing and moving around. We are all concerned with where the Skin Graft is on the back side of his leg. The skin is not very flexible and looks as though it is stuck to the bone. The "sock" we put on before his Transformer prosthetic leg is silicone and is meant to to help his leg heal. When we put him in his leg for too long it rubs wrong and breaks the skin down creating scabbing. Marci told us to take him into his Plastic Surgeon Dr. Faizi and have him look at it. We most likely will end up doing a surgery to help loosen up the skin. We are scheduled to go in on January 12th so we will see what happens. I am happy to report we no longer need Scooby!! It is too big and he is getting around just great without it. He's actually quite the monkey.

I also took Karsen into his Pediatrician and ENT to have his 3 year old check up and his ear tube check up. Karsen had tubes put in his ears in December of 2007 and last February he had to have one replaced and the other unclogged. He gets ear infections and congested so often he really doesn't complain it's almost normal. I had both of these appointments set up right around the time of the accident and had to obviously hold off. Anyhow at his 3 yr check up our Pediatrician had told me that the right tube had fallen out and to keep an eye on him. Low and behold a week or two later he woke up in the middle of the night very uncomfortable we didn't know if it was his leg or his ear until the next morning. We took him in and the doc said he had a RAGING ear infection. We got him on antibiotics and I asked if we needed surgery to please do it before the end of the year and so we are on January 31st. Squeezing it in before deductibles start all over. He's amazing he will have had more surgeries then all of us combined poor dude!

On a much more HAPPIER & HUMBLER note I want to express our GRATITUDE to EVERYONE!! We have seen so many blessings and miracles in our time of trial and I feel like I can't express enough to everyone how incredibly thankful we are. We have had so many of you pray for us, donate money, donate time, donate food, and now donate several Christmas gifts for our family. I am overwhelmed with how Thankful I am and feel bad that I don't know how to show everyone how I feel. I love all of you and want you to know that the prayers, kind words, cards, concern, donations of all kinds, help with the kids, help with our home and absolutely everything has not gone unnoticed in anyway shape or form. Please let us know how we can return the favor and pay it forward.

Much LOVE, RESPECT, GRATITUDE & BELIEF,

Nicole

Monday, December 7, 2009

Update on My baby!

So I haven't updated lately we have all been so busy just trying to get things done.
I wanted to give you an update on Karsen. We got his prosthetic "Transformer" leg and had him in it twice a day for about 20 minutes each. We worried a little because his leg was healing and is bone was right up against the skin graft nearly poking through. We went in for a check up and was told to watch him close. It started looking better and they upped his time in his leg. We are now up to 2-4 hours a day.
I put his leg on today and then took him out and about and it was so nice to have him up and moving around. ALMOST normal. He struggled here and there but I took him out to take the girls to gymnastics and Jaxon to try Karate. While we were there he was very brave and walked everywhere. He even walked through the parking lot. Then we went in to watch the girls finish up and when we were leaving he wanted to run to the car like Jaxon and Larsen so I took his hand and we tried it. WOW he's so awesome he made it to the car and climbed in like he used to.
I am so excited to see him do new things. Like try to stand on one leg and hop or walk using his Scooby leg. I am hoping to re-potty train him soon very soon!!
Anyway that is what he is up to these days.

On another note...
Many people have asked how I am doing and to be honest I struggle. Some days are fine and some moments royally suck. I am truly inspired by his progress and absolutely love his perseverance. He makes me want to do more, work harder and be the best woman I can be.
My biggest struggle is the constant reminder. Had both his legs broken they would be healed by now but no everyday I am reminded of the horrible accident. I try my hardest not to see his screaming face or his leg all torn up or the hard moments but it is there. I am doing many things that help me through it. The mind is a powerful tool. I usually take the negative thought and think of the positive or just try to change my mind quickly. I work out almost everyday I have found it to be helping me a ton. Lifting weights relieves stress. I have also picked up more in my Mary Kay business. I have learned a lot of attitude and emotional management in my business and I didn't think that it would help me so much with a life situation. I absolutely love what I do. I love being a beauty consultant and help women all around me feel better about themselves and the amazing women I work with on my team and in my unit. I love helping change lives.

Between Karsen's amazing abilities, the strength of my beautiful children, my workout regime and my Mary Kay business things are getting better. I am of course only human so I know each day comes with its trials and it is up to me to decide how I will react.

Thank you to all of you who have helped us out I am at a loss for how to show my gratitude.
Just Recently...
My Aunt Peggy I love you. She sold over 400 loaves of her homemade wheat bread to raise over $600 for Karsen's trust fund. WOW!! Thank you so much and to everyone that supported her and our family. I had no idea she was doing it.

My dear friend and sister Director Jolinn Andrease and her Awesome family did a VERY SCARY Haunted House in their basement and raised over $1200 to go to Karsen's Trust Fund. Unbelievable Jolinn you are amazing and I value our friendship ever so much.

One of my favorite MK Mentors National Sales Director Julianne Nagel Hackett had a very powerful Fall retreat with the consultants and Directors in her area. She had asked me to come and speak at her retreat about the will to win. I spoke of Karsen's unfortunate event but the many things we have done to push through it and have the will to win. Their area too raised over $1000 to go to Karsen's trust fund. She personally had been donating 5% of her Party with a purpose sales just for Karsen. Julianne you are simple outstanding and I love you so much for training me in my younger MK years. I will POP with Pride!! Thank you too all over those that held a Party with a purpose you have truly touched our lives.

We have felt so overwhelming blessed and loved from so many giving people. All of you out their THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Your continued blessings, prayers, love and donations have done so much in Karsen's speedy recovery and will allow us the best care for him.

Much Love & Gratitude,

Nicole