Cast is OFF!!!

Ellie got her cast removed today!!! I was informed that she was not happy about the removal process at all. It didn't hurt her of course, but Jeremy said the noise of the saw freaked her out. They had to hold her down to get the cast off, but after that was off she was fine. Her arm needs a cleaning and some major lotion (skin is a bit dry). She then proceeded to hand therapy where they fit her with a brace to help protect the pin that is inserted into her finger. She will get the pin removed in two weeks...hopefully! Jeremy said the finger looks pretty swollen still and is covered in stitches...the top of her finger is also very crooked. But, at least she still has a finger!

Here are some pics with cast:

Resting my cast on the window seal while I watch the dogs :)

Spending time with Grandma Mary

Ellie and her Great Uncle Dan

Our Brave Little Girl

This week has been absolutely crazy!!! I knew it was going to be a stressful week, but I thought I was going to be stressed with school, not at home taking care of Ellie. Monday morning I got a phone call at work to inform me that Ellie got her finger caught in a door at daycare. The director said they think it is broken so I need to come and get her. I cried the whole way there thinking of her poor little finger...I'm so glad the director did not tell me exactly what to expect over the phone. Upon arriving at daycare I could here her screaming from outside, I came in to the building and was immediately approached by the director of daycare crying with Ellie screaming in her arms and blood everywhere. Her finger was not broken...but the tip from the top knuckle up was hanging...I thought I was going to pass out. Jeremy met me at daycare and we rushed Ellie to the emergency room. The ER doctor continually called the injury an amputation which freaked me out even more. After x-rays, shots, etc, we were told that the general surgeon would not operate on her and we were directed to a hand surgeon. The hand surgeon could not do the operation until Wednesday, so the ER doctor stitched what he could and sent us home with a antibiotic for infection and pain medication. Her finger could not be stitched up all the way, so it continued to bleed and soak through the bandages over and over. The pain meds made her incredibly goofy, falling over, laughing for no reason, and not acting like herself.

In Emergency Room with Daddy (after she finally received a shot for pain)When the day of surgery finally came I was a complete wreck, I could not stop the tears, so every person I spoke with I cried the entire time...I blamed it on the pregnancy, but to be honest I don't think I could have controlled it either way.

After SurgeryThe Hand Surgeon was excellent!!!! He was able to save the tip of her finger. He thinks that it may be disfigured, and he is not sure if she will ever have a nail, or if it will grow properly but he feels that her finger will function normally. Through surgery he reattached the tendons that were severed, repaired the nail bed, joint and growth plate. He also put a pin through her finger vertically with the tip sticking out of her skin, it will be removed in 4 weeks. She is in a full cast up to her shoulders. The cast really stresses me out...it is heavy and cumbersome.
Finally Home Ellie on the other hand is getting around fine with it on. Today I tried only giving her Tylenol for pain and she is tolerating it very well. I was sick of watching her be so out of it on the Lortab. Her surgeon said she wouldn't need to be on the Lortab more then 2-3 days and he was right on! Ellie is one brave little girl one day after surgery and she is already playing, eating and sleeping just like normal...crazy how resilient kids are.

Weekend Getaway

This past weekend Jeremy and I made a trip to the Chicago area to visit my college roommate Carissa and her husband Dave. We dropped Ellie off at Grandpa and YaYa's house and headed to Carissa's for the night. Carissa and I lived with each other for four years in college. We were randomly placed together and were very lucky to become great friends. Ashley and her boyfriend Adam also joined us. Ashley lived with us in an apartment for the last two years of college.

Dave and Carissa

Adam and Ashley

Upon arriving at Dave and Carissa's we had drinks and appetizers. We then headed off to a minor league baseball game in which the team we were cheering for won! :)
We stayed up incredibly too late reminising about old times and talking about new times. I also played Wii for the first time and was the top bowler! Needless to say I was the only one feeling top notch and ready to go the next morning. :)

Blank Park Zoo

We took our first family vacation this past weekend to Des Moines. On our trip we went to the Blank Park Zoo, swam in the hotel pool, and went shopping at Jordan Creek Mall. Ellie had a blast! She loved the zoo and continually pointed at every animal and said, "whats that?".

My favorite animal at the zoo were the giraffe, Jeremy liked a bull, and Ellie seemed to love them all.

Jeremy and his new friend :)

After the zoo we went to check into our hotel, ate supper and then went swimming in the pool. Ellie had a lot of fun swimming with daddy, and enjoyed watching the older kids play in the water.

We then put Ellie down for bed and the two of us stayed up for quite awhile on our room's deck talking, it was a fun night. The next day we grabbed breakfast, checked out and went to Jordan Creek Mall. I found some great deals at the Gap Maternity Store, and bought some cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory. Ellie slept the entire way home...she was wiped. Needless to say our first family vacation was a success! I can't wait to take a similar trip next summer when we are a family of four.

More pics of the animals at the Zoo:

Peaceful LionsHe would not stop pacing...a bit freaky

They were beautiful...picture does not do them justice Close up :)ZebraMonkeys eating the bugs off of each other...YUCK!

Weekend at a Glance

On Friday we headed to Des Moines as a family to go to the Blank Park Zoo, and stay over in a hotel. We had a blast and I will include more pictures in another post. On Saturday my parents came over to watch Ellie while Jeremy and I attended a wedding. Two of my co-workers married each other. Megan and Andrew are my summer pool buddies/coaching buddies/co-workers and I'm very happy for the both of them :)
After the wedding we went out to the bar for a rugby party. Josh and Lindsay joined us and it was a fun way to end the night.

Sunday Lindsay drove with Ellie and I to Dubuque for Rachel's baby shower. It was so much fun to see Waylon again, he has changed so much, and Rachel looks AWESOME! Ellie had a blast playing with her cousins and entertaining guests with her smooth dance moves.

A Beautiful Day

Today we got out Ellie's pool to go swimming. She is up to five swimming suits...people keep buying them for her, so I figure we better spend a little bit of time in each. :) We filled the pool up before lunch so the water would warm up from the sun.

Always smiling

She loved playing in the pool and was way to busy to look at mommy to get her picture taken.

Bell wants to join in on the fun

We let Bell and Bear out of the Kennel to run around while we played in the pool. Ellie loves to watch them run.

Watch Me Grow

Here is a visual of Ellie's weight and height charts. She is currently in the 5th percentile for weight and 15th for height. She has stayed pretty consistent and we predict she will be her mommy's size. I keep telling her "the best things come in small packages" :) She currently weighs in at 17 pounds 4 ounces and is 28 inches tall.

Weight

Height