Lemonade

Oh, the goals we had for this summer!

Our family was handed a bowl of lemons about a week before my baby sisters wedding. She was diagnosed with a brain tumor on the base of her brain stem and scheduled for surgery the 16th of July. Needless to say, getting a head start on school didn't seem to be the priority anymore, and my FABULOUS (and understanding) husband helped in making the arrangements for me to travel to Phoenix for my sisters surgery and for a portion of the recovery time. Thanks also to the kids wonderful Aunt Julie, who took time from her whirlwind schedule to help with the care of my kiddos while I was away!

The surgery for Ivy went well (according the the surgeon, a 'picture-perfect procedure'), but a LOT happened that we weren't entirely informed about. For example, we weren't informed she would have 3 metal plates and a putty type substance inserted to act as a replacement for bone that had either been drilled away or eaten away by her tumor. Also, the doctors had to 'divide' (aka severe) her nerve that controls tear production in the eye, and a portion of her jaw muscle, making eating a painful chore. She has some numbness on the back of her head, and it might or might not return to normal. They think she may have had some bleeding in the area where the tumor was, or they didn't get all that they had hoped to get as there is still a spot on her MRI. The doctors are now taking a wait and see approach.

In the days following, it was extremely hard for Ivy to tolerate pain medication, as she would either get hives or vomit, and her nausea levels were off the chart....any movement at all would render her ill. By day 3, she finally had a visit from a doctor who READ her chart and saw her struggles with the medications and made some adjustments. Within hours, she took a turn for the better!

Now for the lemonade...Ivy was released from the hospital on Monday, and is to do absolutely NOTHING for 2 weeks, until her follow up appointment. The fam back in AZ is taking shifts for the care of her, including meals-on-wheels type care:-). Ivy isn't as bothered by the numbness she feels, as she has stated 'it's better than my face being paralyzed'. I was grateful to have been able to participate in the after care of Bean as I think had I been home, I would have been a neurotic mess of a person, unable to concentrate. I'm a hands-on type of person, and I was glad I got to participate in the charting of her trip back to recovery, and to have a glimpse of it! Finally, the tumor is believed to be benign, which is a HUGE relief. I wish I lived closer to help some more, (and for the kids to get to see their auntie and witness the strength of her will), but alas, the seasons, green, homeschool laws and food in Texas are too great a draw for our family!

So now I'm home. I'm working on making the upstairs loft an area where a majority of our book schooling can be done, and I'm hugging my kids a little bit tighter. I really missed them! As for school, we might just have to start up like everyone else...in the fall.