Santa was a success!

For the first time ever, Santa was a success! Addison wrote a letter to Santa with clipouts of her favorite toys that she had been waiting forever to give to him. I never thought she actually would! :)

I think that, in combination with having her sister there, gave her the new found confidence. That being said - once she got up there she just kept asking for "a barbie car".. Keep in mind that my Christmas shopping was completely finished but there was no barbie car in tow. I had to venture out in the 40 degree weather yesterday to find one... We couldnt have her very first brave face turned sour because Santa didnt follow though now could we?

Thomas made it to the surgeon today and can go back to work next Monday! Halleluia! Praise the Lord! Christmas has come early! Dont get me wrong.. I love my husband very much and was terribly worried and felt very sorry for him for the first few weeks. But now... I just want him out of the house and back to work! :) haha!

Not a psycho weirdo...

Well, every day is getting more and more back to normal... whatever that is.
Thomas went to see his lung doc yesterday and his lung is still fully inflated! And his Dr - whom I absolutely LOVE - said everything is great! Good news!

Monday he goes to see the surgeon and if all is well, then hopefully he can get back to work and be driving right before Christmas!
*****

So, I did a very liberating thing today and debated on posting it, seeing as some people may think it is too personal.
But it was such a great experience that I am going to post it and I hope more moms and busy women with overwhelming lives decide to give it a try.
I made an appt with a therapist. Not a psycho therapist weirdo but a nice counselor. And it felt really good.
I mean, between taking care of 2 small children, trying to be a good wife and have a healthy marriage, working full time in a looming layoff atmosphere and keeping up with a big family and those obligations leaves me with about .2 seconds every week for myself.

This doesn't allow me to be the best me I can be. (tongue twister)

It felt good to have an entire hour just about Jennifer. To talk and get a completely neutral opinion and some great coping mechanisms to get me through a hectic schedule. All this PLUS my insurance pays!!!!
How wonderful!
Anyway - I have great aspirations for growing and becoming a better person and I think this is a great start. And I highly recommend it!
Who cares about the stereotypes?
Heck, we all know it works! And it definitely wont hurt! Ill keep you all updated on how it goes...

Santa this weekend.... Perhaps Holiday Sea World.... And lots of present wrapping....

Pics of Thomas in the hospital...

Getting back to normal...

Well, thank goodness life is getting somewhat back to normal these days. Thomas is back home and getting stronger every day. He still cannot work or drive until after Christmas but at least the driving back and forth to the hospital days are over!

Kirstynn has another little cold. I love Christmastime and winter but the germs and runny noses are endless! She was up at 1 in the morning last night crying her little heart out because she wasn't feeling good. At least it is the weekend now so I don't have to worry about trying to get off of work.

I have to get Christmas shopping done this weekend. I have only attempted to get a few very small items for the girls. I still have everyone left to buy for. AND... Thomas cant be home alone with the girls and Addison is too old to take with me so... I haven't decided how I am going to do this. I thought about buying online but it just seems to take all the fun out of it. I might be forced to go there anyway. And good thing is my sister in law told me about some great deals so that might be worth it. Amazon has no taxes and free shipping if you buy a certain amount. It is sounding more and more appealing by the minute.

Jury duty for me on Monday. I'm not too thrilled but it should be better than last time. A few months ago I had to go for a different jurisdiction and was still pumping during the day and had to sit in the gross bathroom stall for twenty minutes while nursing. Glad those days are over! Heck, maybe I'll even get picked for a cool case!

Thomas

Thomas isn't coming home today unfortunately. There are still some small bubbles coming out of his chest tube that suggests there still might be a small hole in his lung. So, if it closes today, maybe we can come home tomorrow. I am thinking perhaps Sunday just so I don't get my hopes up too too much.
He's definitely getting around more and walked a good 3 rounds of the telemetry floor with the physical therapist yesterday.
Kirstynn didn't have an ear infection thank goodness. There was fluid in her ear but it was clear and the doc thought its probably just popping a lot and that is what is causing the fussiness.
I finally slept last night. Almost too hard. I didn't get want to get out of bed.
Well, at least it's Friday and I won't have to worry about missing any work to see my husband. Its such a tough line to draw right now with more lay-offs looming off in the future....

Telemetry

Thomas was transferred to telemetry yesterday so they could keep an eye on his heart! He still had a small leak in his lung yesterday but I think it should be closed by today. He was up and walking around which is a HUGE step. He is exhausted and wants to come so he is working hard and I am very proud of him... He had a little fever yesterday and they have to watch him close for pneumonia.
Plus, a nice bonus. Kirstynn has an ear infection now I think. She keeps pulling and has been fussier than ever. My wonderful sister is going to take her to the doc today for me since I am walking the line with my time off...
Our family has been more supportive through this process than I could ever ask for and I want to take this opportunity to publicly thank them. I am so lucky to have them.
I will keep posting as I have time and will let everyone know when he gets home!

Surgery

His collapsed lung is called a pnuemothorax! Thomas is having what is called a blebectomy and a talc pleursis (sp?) today at 11am. Basically they make 3 small incisions first to see if they can find this bleb that keeps bursting with a mircoscope (a tiny fluid filled sac) and staple it. If they cannot find it, they will have to make one bigger incision and go into look for it that way. Then once that is taken care of, they spray a talcom like powder to the outside of his lung so that it was stick to his chest.
He will be in ICU today but hopefully after tomorrow, he can get back into his very nice VIP suite that the president of the company worked out for him and then with fingers crossed he can come home by the weekend.
Please keep us in your prayers! xxx