Our Trips to the Mall

Here are some pictures of our most recent trips to the Mall. Chase and Carter both got their 1st Build a Bears. We also went on a train ride where the Easter Bunny is and we went on the Merry Go Round. I'm so proud of myself for figuring out how to post a slideshow. Yeah!!!!

Houdini Struck Again!

Chase loves Tubby Time!
Looking better already.....

Look at Me!
I'm so happy! :)
PEACE
Oh so CLEAN......
Love to play in my tubby........I made a mess!!!!

Did I mention what a rough day this has been? Let me elaborate.....

The splint is just not staying on!! His hand and wrist are just too small that it slides right off. I have tried everything to keep it on but it is just not working!

So I let Carter feed himself dinner then we gave him a nice long TUBBY! He smells soooo good!

I ended up putting the scar healer in between his fingers and using an ace bandage instead of the splint. Viola!

We told the OT who made it that he is a Houdini but apparently she did not realize the validity of our statement.

I'll have to call her in the morning and let her know "Houdini Struck Again!!!!"

The Day Came and Went.....

Carter's Reveal
Making the Splint
Chase playing quietly ~ yeah right!
I'm oh so Tired after my Big Day!
My brother is sleeping time to drink his juice!!!!


Carter's cast is off and the smell is gone. There is something to be thankful for today!!! We filmed the cast coming off and it was a tearful one for all of us. Carter was crying out of fear of the saw. Chase was crying because he was scared they were hurting Carter. Mike and I were crying because we were about to see our son's new hand (so to speak). It was so shocking. He looks like he has a permanent Peace Sign!!! It was also shocking because the amount of scabbing. The scabs are already falling off. We soaked his hand while we were there. We saw an Occupational Therapist and she made a custom splint for him for the 2 weeks minimum. Then she made a Scar Healer. The scar healer is this blue putty that she mold to fit between his fingers. The mold will help keep the scars flat so they heal well. What could happen if we do not take care of this properly is that the scars could heal bumpy, the skin could tighten causing his fingers to deform and worst of all the webbing could grow back. So apparently, the next 2 -3 months are crucial for proper healing. Friday we go back to Boston to see the OT to have a new scar healer made. Once more scabs fall off they need to make a new mold. April 9th we go back to see Dr Bae, the surgeon, to see if we can stop using the splint.


So for now he still is limited in some areas but it is not as bad as having the cast. He seems so much happier. He can also have regular TUBBYs. Yeah for us!!!!

After days of anticipation, The Day Came and Went!!!

4 MORE DAYS TO GO!!!

In just 4 days Carter gets his cast off and we will finally see his new looking hand. Im almost more anxious about this than I was the amputation. This is probably due to the fact that the hand surgery is going to give him more ability. The amputation was more sad for me than exciting. I keep having dreams about Carter's hand.

Im also just plain excited to get rid of the SMELLY cast!

Im sure everyone will be grateful not to bet beat up by his cast including Chase!

Although we have had many rough days of no sleep and frustration - Carter has done exceptionally well. He adjusts so well to anything we throw at him. I think this will be a life long quality for him.

The other night I handed him a fork with eggs on it and he held it between his little arm and his cast. I was dumfounded that even with no hands right now he was able to feed himself. Today he was using his little leg to push a car across the floor. He is just amazing how he uses all his limbs to do everything, and lets not forget he uses his mouth too!

Maggie, our OT, just left and she was so happy to see how well he is doing. We can not believe how far he has come since before his amputation. When she 1st met Carter he could not sit up now we can not keep him down!!

He is starting to stand up without holding onto anything. He even tried to stand up when he wasn't wearing his leg. Again, I was shocked and I shouldn't be! Im sure he will continue to shock me throughout his life.

Did I mention 4 days to go? Could I BE any more EXCITED!!!!

WE'RE HOME!

One night in the hospital and that's all Carter needed. Today when he woke up from a rough night Carter was ready to go. Just a little of juice and a little food and he was back to his normal self. The cast is not holding him back at all. Crawling & playing are not even hard for him with no hands. Literally - he has no hands right now. Check out the picture. His entire right arm and hand are in a cast, a very bulky cast, and his little arm has stiches and a bandage, but he is not letting it change the things he does.

Tonight he actually used his nose to help him play with a toy!!! He used his nose....I still can not believe my eyes!!!

I wish Shirley was here to see how wonderfully amazing her boy is. I really felt a strong connection with her in the past few days. Maybe the connection is stronger since I picked up her ashes. When we walked in the hospital room there was a picture of hot air balloons on the wall. I instantly knew Mom was watching us. Years ago, Mom collected hot air balloons and before she passed away Mrs. Pickett gave her a hot air balloon ride. I cried on the way home I missed her so bad.

OKay enough of that - tears come easy on little sleep.

Chase was so happy to see me when I got home from the hospital. Carter was happy to see Chase and to be home. It was a nice night until the dreaded BEDTIME. We had to tag team them to get them to sleep. Mike took Carter into our room and I laid down with Chase in his bed. Finally about 15 minutes ago they were both completely down. I guess it could have been worse considering the past couple of days that they have had.

OH YEAH DID I MENTION......While Carter and I were in the hospital Chase got the stomach bug. It started with Mary worked it's way to Mike then to Chase Thursday night when he was at Grammy's. POOR GRAMMY!!!! Even my Dad got it. Let's hope Carter and I skipped this round. Let's all knock on some wood please.

I guess it is time for Mommy to get nsome sleep. Yeah right that's a joke.

12 hours and counting......

everyone is sound asleep in my house.....except for me.

Not that I expected to sleep tonight. Carter's surgery got scheduled for 12:30pm. This means that he can not have solid foods after 4:30am, and only clear liquids until 9:30am, this should be fun. So if Mike, Mary or I eat or drink we will have to hide it. I feel so bad for my little guy right now.

It is so hard to see my baby go through surgery again. Most people never want their child to ever undergo surgery - let alone multiple surgeries.

Im all packed, but Im sure I will find an excuse to pack more. I hope we get a private room again. That would be so nice. I'm anticiapting that we will be there the weekend. Considering the snow I have a feeling they will be more apt to choose an extra night.....we wouldn't want to drive back if something happened. Been there done that. They know better than to send us home too early, Mr. Houdini can get out of most casts that they put on him.

Laundry duty calls and so does my bed. I think I will go watch some mind numbing tv - maybe that will put me to sleep......