Greetings from Houston

This is Libby wearing the shirt and bows that I sent to her as her "going home" outfit and then she got soooo sick and was back in the hospital fighting for her life! It is soooo good to see her WEARING that shirt and SMILING!

Well, I am here in Houston visiting Libby. It is so great to see her. She is doing so well. She is just amazing. She has made me laugh a lot!!! When I got here, it almost made me cry. Gracie and Libby were napping so I went out in the hallway and read until they got up. When I came in and Libby started waking up she started crying and saying "I want to go home". I felt like her seeing me, a person from HOME, made her want to go HOME! It was sad. Once she was good and awake, she started being silly with me and laughing and we had a great time together. She did physical therapy yesterday and did a bike ride all around the floor! She worked really hard and I was so proud of her. I have spent most of my hospital time on the BATHROOM floor with Libby. Libby has loved going in there and laying on the floor and having me read, blow bubbles, tell her stories and play pretend! I can't say that I have EVER spent that much time in the bathroom in all of my life....and I enjoyed EVERY minute of it. I can't tell you how great it is to see Libby doing so well. She is so smart and so funny. She is looking forward to her brothers coming tonight and her babysitter Araenae and her Daddy, of course. She has told me today (in the bathroom) all of the many, many, things that she is going to do when she gets home: swing, a bike ride, watch tv, go walk to her new house...and the list goes on. God has shown Himself in this little girl. She really is a miracle!!!! The plan is for her to go home Tuesday....yeah! I took a ton of pictures while I was here with Gracie's camera, so I will post them soon...
Well, my ride to the airport is coming. I will bring this to a close. Thanks for checking in!

This is one of the many things that I did while I was there....I got to take the toothbrush that you see in her hand and put water on it! She loves to chew on that toothbrush...Silly Libby!

Libby Visit and Update

These are my kids writing scripture on the Packwoods' new house studs.






I head out to Houston in the morning to go see Libby and help switch off with Gracie so she can nap or whatever she needs to do! Libby is doing well and requiring only a little bit of oxygen. She is having bad dreams and Gracie said that is hard to see. She made ornaments for a tree in the lobby yesterday and walked all by herself to hang them in the tree. She also wore the Buzz Lightyear shirt that we bought her with matching bows, of course! I look forward to seeing Libby AWAKE. The last two times I was in Houston, she is sedated and on the ventilator. I leave tomorrow and come back Friday. Gracie's poor sitter is going to be doing carpool and keeping track of all SIX kids!!!! Libby and Gracie are on track to come home on Tuesday....FINALLY! Gracie can't wait. She will have been gone for over NINE weeks...that is a long time! Her house will be 1/2 way complete when she gets home!!!!

What is this you ask?

This would be what the carpet looks like when your NEW shower leaks through the wall and gets it wet...for a while apparently. Have I told you that there is never a dull moment around here?

Mammaw's Party Pictures

Mammaw and Her Boys

She's a good lookin' 90-year-old, don't you think?

Reagan looked for a dance partner, but there wasn't any music playing!

Whitney took Reagan for a walk!

Great Grandkids

You can tell how much Blayne enjoyed the party...

Savannah and cousin Brittany played cards.

Group Picture

Thespian Child

It is so strange to me how my kids are so different. Whitney, is for sure our drama child! She is trying out for a solo part in the Christmas music for church. She has had John AND Savannah picking out her part on the piano for the last week. She told me that there are three girls that want to sing the part and she needs to practice because her teacher , Mrs. Lucky, will need to pick who sounds the best and she wants to sound the best. She is taking this very seriously, and has spent time clapping out the rhythm and singing it again and again...tryouts are Wednesday night. And, she has decided her piece for the school talent show that will be in FEBRUARY and she is already working on it. She had me print out the words today for her to practice....she is her OWN person for sure!!!! Here is a picture of her from last year's talent show where she sang "Part of Your World" from the movie The Little Mermaid. (this was a school wide talent show and she was in Kindergarten!)

Ah...another Thanksgiving celebration

We celebrated Thanksgiving again yesterday with John's family. We are celebrating his Grandmother's 90th birthday today, so we had extra relatives in town for yesterday's feast. It was nice to see everyone and there was more food than an army could eat!!!! It is so different being there as opposed to being here with my little family for Thanksgiving. There are no cousins on my side of the family, so my kids just kind of quietly play together, but over there, there is LOTS of commotion with all of the kids playing (sometimes arguing) together. Instead of sitting quietly at the table and enjoying the food, the kids visit (which is nice) and sometimes sword fight with thier silverware (which is not so nice) Ahhh...the time of being together and making memories. John fried another turkey yesterday. It was good, but not as good as the first one that he did. Mammaw's sisters were so cute talking to me. They wanted to know all about Atlanta and why we were NOT going. I gave them the details and they hung on my words, then one of them said that my mother-in-law had told her that if we moved there we were only going to get to take one bath a week....man, it is amazing how rumors get started! (I guess she had said that because of the drought that Atlanta is in) Those great-aunts were concerned about us only getting to bathe once a week...that would have been concerning!!! The kids got to enjoy Gingerbread (or as Blayne says "Bringerbrand") Men from the Magnolia bakery in Magnolia, Arkansas. Great-Grandfather (Poppa-Plays-Toys) got to go visit his homeland last week and he brought the cookies back for the kids. They were a hit! We were pooped when we got home last night. Between John cooking and cleaning up the kitchen and us both chasing all the kids between visiting the relatives, we were worn out! It was good to have everyone together and to share a meal together. Now, onto another family gathering....Mammaw's 90th Birthday Party! I wonder if there will be a pinanta???

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Well, another day of thanking God for all that He has done. Really, God is so good to me. I have so many things to be thankful for. We hosted my parents and my grandmother for Thanksgiving. My mom brought the dressing, and John friend a turkey (for the first time and it was DELICIOUS!!!), and I made all of the rest....well, my mom did make a pumpkin pie (which Blayne my picky eater LOVED!) We had stuffed mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, pimento celery sticks, fruit salad, homemade rolls, cherry pie, chocolate pie....oh, my stomach is churning just thinking of it all....and to think that we get to do it AGAIN tomorrow with John's family!!!!! John is going to fry another turkey tomorrow. It was really tasty and it was pretty...if a fried turkey CAN be pretty, it was!
My grandmother said that this was the first Thanksgiving EVERY that she had not cooked. (I had her stuff the celery...that was a good contribution to the meal, don't you think?)
I took the three older kids to see a movie this afternoon while the rest of the family watched and slept through the Dallas Cowboy game! Then, we came home and went over to do a walk through the Packwoods new home, yes, our dear friends are building their new home in the midst of being in Houston for 9+ weeks!!!!! Gracie really had wanted to write scripture on the studs before the sheet rock, so I had asked a couple of friends to go over there and do that. Today, I had my kids do it. It was sweet to see Whitney writing "A friend loves at all times" Proverbs 17:17 on Mason's studs in his future room. Savannah and I wrote in Libby's room and I wrote a long scripture on Gracie's future island in her kitchen. I took pictures, so I hope that they will turn out. I know that she had really wanted to do that, so I thought that is the next best thing...have someone else do it and document it with pictures! The house is going to be so nice. They are bricking it and putting the stone on now, so it is really taking shape. They will eventually get a pool, so everytime we go over there, my kids head out back to see IF there is a pool yet!!!! I have thought of the Packwoods a lot today as they are celebrating Thanksgiving with their Luby's take out at the Hospital in Libby's room. I am glad that they can be together on this day and thankful that Libby continues to make progress in her recovery, but I am sad for them that they are not home and enjoying this day together in the comfort of their own home! Well, I need to get to bed. I have two pies and other items to make in the morning to take to my second round of Thanksgiving.

Elf Kids

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9577642250

Go to this link and see my kids as elves....funny!

Photo Album Attempt....

BEE MOVIE

We went to see the BEE MOVIE today. The kids really liked it. I actually took a little nap while I was there, so it must not have been THAT great. The animation was good. The storyline was cute too, I was just tired!!!! The kids got to have popcorn which was a huge treat! Blayne took his silky blanket with him. He put it in his overalls....it was sweet. He told me that he might "need" it! We hope to see another movie this week before they head back to school on Monday.

Libby

Libby got to move to "the floor" today which is a huge step toward recovery. That means that she is no longer in the ICU. I talked to Gracie today and Libby wanted to talk to Blayne and Whitney. So, they both had a conversation with her. I am supposed to go next Wednesday-Friday to Houston to help with rotating with Gracie so that she can rest. I will keep you posted. Libby is on oxygen, and they don't know why her O2 levels are down. All of her chest tubes are out, but she is still draining.

John's Birthday

We took John out to Incredible Pizza last night to celebrate his 35th birthday!!! When I can figure out how to download my video camera onto the computer, I will post a video of Blayne getting to do bumper cars for the first time! Savannah and John did go-cart racing and SHE won! It was a fun night!!!

Libby News

Lib has had a good day. Her temperature got up to 99.4, but otherwise has been normal. I really think the Methadone is the cause of all this, as I have realized she had other symptoms of withdrawal that I was attributing to other things. I am still a little nervous to stop the antibiotic that they started 2 nights ago, wondering if maybe it is the reason her fever has come down. However all of her cultures have come back negative, so there is nothing to treat, and unnecessary antibitics are dangerous too! Of course they will be watching her like a hawk.

I am so thankful to see Libby learning how to handle all this medical stuff. I have been getting her to ask people their names, what they are going to do, and if it will hurt. It seems to be empowering her, and she is SO BRAVE!! One of the heart surgeons came in today and asked Libby if anyone had ever told her she was cute. She said "no." He said "Really?" She said "My mom." Then he said he has a little girl that is so cute he wants to eat her up. Libby got a funny look on her face and said "WHY?" It was hilarious!

We hope to go to the cardiology floor on Monday if Lib has a good weekend. YEA!!!

Love, Gracie

The Annual Cousin Christmas Picture!!!!

We will start with some of the Bloopers... (97 pictures were taken)















It is 5:00. I left my house at 11 am to join my sisters-in-law for the annual cousin picture, and I am just now home. They didn't start our pictures until about 12:30. The kids showed their resilience today as they were very patient and long suffering waiting for their lunch that didn't happen until 2:30. Every year there is a cousin who does not cooperate for the pictures. Reagan would be the winner of THAT award this year! You won't tell it from the pictures, but she was a toot! To be the fun-loving easy baby that she really is, you would not have known it today. So, we have our picture of all of the kids, and two of us got our Christmas Cards knocked out too! I am exhausted and were my sis in laws! One thing to check off of the "To-Do" list! We really do have a great group of kids!!!! (I am not biased or anything) So, here's to our DAY of picture taking...ENJOY!

Now look at the next pictures...perfect angels...it is sooo easy to take pictures of NINE kids!

Whitney Singing in Church

Blayne Singing in Church

My Little Pumpkins & Two Packwood Pumpkins

Libby GOOD News

We have had a GREAT day!!!!! Libby has been laughing, smiling and being silly. She even licked me when she was standing up this morning, and did her other silly things! It has brought TREMENDOUS joy to my heart. In addition, she has been awake all day, which is a good sign that she is feeling better. She has been out of bed 3 times today, and even walked around her room with her physical therapist. One chest tube had to be removed because it was literally falling out. She didn't really need it anyway, so she is down to only 4!! She was such a champ while he sewed the hole back up (with some morphine and lidocaine). She looked up at me and said "Is he all done?" I said "I don't know. Ask him." So she turned to the doctor and said "Are you done?" It was very cute!! The surgeon filling in for Dr Fraser (he is out of town all week) plans to pull out 2 more tubes tomorrow and maybe get her stitches out too. The kidney doctors came by, and basically aren't very worried about her kidneys. They came up with a plan that will hopefully continue us on the path of recovery. We are rejoicing here in Houston for a great day!!

Love, Gracie

WEIRD THING

Today, I was going to the bathroom, so I was on the toilet..aren't you glad that I told you that...anyway, a spider dropped from the ceiling an onto my leg. Before I could smash him, that darn thing BIT me!!! I have the double bite mark to prove it. So, if my leg rots off or something, please tell the hospital that a spider bit me on while I was on the toilet!

Libby Setback

Libby has had a disappointing setback. She was started on a calorie boosting protein in her formula feeds today, and unfortunately, the protein was cow's milk protein, which she is VERY allergic to. She looked at Eric with an ashen white face and said "Help", because she couldn't breathe. I wasn't here as I was with the boys. Eric very quickly and effectively advocated for her once again, and she received appropriate treatment of nebulized epinephrine, 2 full doses of Benedryl, and steroids. She is still receiving a continuous albuterol treatment. The team has been apologetic, and we are of course forgiving, as we fully know that no one is perfect. We are however, asking for reassurance that the problem will be addressed. We had fended off the inadvertant administration of products containing milk protein twice already in the last 3 weeks. She is still at risk for GI bleeding, which she has had before when she received milk protein.

Until this reaction, she had had a pretty good day. She stood up with her physical therapist for about 2 minutes, and roared and smiled at Eric today. We pray for a quick return to at least that level soon. Please pray with us for no further complications so this girl can get well and get home!

Love, Gracie

Libby's Latest

Libby is still off the ventilator, but she had to have another chest tube put in today because of air around her left lung. I think that makes SIX chest tubes....poor baby. The boys leave tomorrow. They have been really good this week, but I think that me being sick has made my week a bit harder. I feel so much better, though...thank you Lord for Z-packs! The boys are really excited to go see their mom and dad and Libby too! It is great that they have been able to work out a schedule so that they can do this and get to see them. I have actually benefitted from having them here. People have brought us yummy meals this week and friends have offered to take the boys out. They went to a friend's house tonight while my kids went to choir.

BTW, both of my middle kids are singing in church on Sunday. If I can figure out how to download the video from my video camera, I will share...I know that Mr. Blayne is gonna enjoy his time on stage!!!! Watch out Elvis!

Well, I must head to bed and rest my head so that I can get 6 kids ready to go out the door. The Brady Bunch made it look so easy!