A Sense of Humor

First, let me just say how happy it makes me feel to read your uplifting comments on the blog - sometimes we just feel so alone and isolated here but when we read these comments it brings us so much comfort.

Lizzie still isn't "Lizzie" yet, but she had a few moments today that made me think, "she's coming back."

Lizzie has always been a tad bit bossy...must be the red hair or the fact she's the oldest daughter...anyhow, she has never been able to tolerate kids acting really crazy or crying a lot - she is fairly mild and calm most of the time - the little boy in the room next door to us was screaming bloody murder today and Lizzie was trying to get out of bed. I asked her what she was doing and she said, "I want to see if that is Madilyn, Brecklin or Kennedy screaming" (all cousins that are a little more prone to screaming than others).

I explained to her that it was a sick little boy and that she needed to stay in bed and that others are taking care of him. After a few minutes of screaming, she turns to me and says, "That kid is such a weirdo"...after a few more minutes she says, "Shush it kid, I hate your screaming" and after a few more "You are the grumpiest kid." It felt good to laugh even though I felt bad for the little one next door.

Lizzie has always been quite into fashion. Today after I got dressed, she said, "Mom, are those new pants? I really like the back pockets" - it was funny.

Please know that we are not just sitting around depressed. We feel very hopeful and very peaceful...especially after getting sleep last night.

A few people have asked these questions and I thought I would write on the blog if others are wondering:

Did Lizzie have her head shaved? - No, thank goodness since she loves her hair - they only shaved a 1/2 inch strip of hair beginning at her temple on the right side and continuing down in a letter "c" shape towards her right ear. Her hair will grow in around the scar and the way we part her hair will completely cover her scar except for a little at the temple. I know that seems so silly to worry about, but Lizzie would have been devastated to lose her hair (this is what her little friends were most worried about too...I love how little girls minds work).

Is her head all bandaged up? No - The wound is completely stitched/stapled up and has no bandage whatsoever. It doesn't bleed and looks to be a very tight stitch - it's not scary or gross to look at (at least for us). Her head still has a drainage tube coming out of it for at least a few more days to get the rest of the fluid out that had built up on her brain.

She is on 6 medications and is still completely shaking. She tries to eat by herself, but her brain is not quite communicating to her hand as to where the utensil should go. We feel that with therapy she will be able to relearn all these necessary things. She is acting very independent, even more so than before her surgery. She tries to stand on her own (but can't yet) and she wants to get out of bed to visit when we tell her that visitors have come.

She seems to be in her own little world most of the time. One good sign today was that she asked to wear her new pajamas that some sweet friends brought her yesterday. I was so thankful she remembered and we got them out and they fit perfectly and were so cozy for her. I feel like people are so inspired for the little things they are bringing for her. This same group of friends brought some bracelets for her to wear - this was also so perfect because her hands are just so busy right now and this gave her something to keep her hands busy with rather than tugging on cords. She keeps yanking on cords saying, "these necklaces are bugging me."

She still is having hallucinations, but they're not as bad. Today she thought Calli was there and she said, "Hi, do you want some of my bacon, babe?" Last night she swore up and down that Spencer was there and she wanted to talk to him.

Overall things are so very good, we just feel happy that our other little ones are being taken care of and that we can focus our energies on Lizzie.

Thank you once more for your sustaining prayers - we feel them minute by minute and feel like we can call upon them when we are feeling sad.