better late than never...

As I mentioned earlier, the events of the past few weeks have left me feeling behindhand in certain aspects of my life. Today I spent the better part of the day cleaning our house and catching up on laundry...and when John got off work, we did a quick Costco run. It's a process, but things are finally starting to come together.
So anyway, before too much time goes by, and before March comes to an official end, I figure I better post a few Easter pics.
This year, at least to me, Easter felt really weird. Sadly, I felt somewhat disconnected from the very reason we celebrate Easter. I think it mostly had to do with the fact that it was so early this year...just kinda crept up on me. Last year, I felt like I had so much more time to really prepare myself spiritually - I felt so close to my Savior. I guess it's never too late to experience those feelings...in fact, I really should be feeling that close to my Savior all year round.
It's a good thing that Ruby is still so young, because while I was feeling spiritually deprived, she had no idea that her Easter was devoid of so many fun, secular traditions.
We did, however, on Saturday, manage to take a trip to see the Easter Bunny...who did not forget to leave her a few surprises on Easter morning. We dressed her up in her pretty new dress for church, and later that day, we had our annual egg hunt with all the cousins. So, I guess she wasn't completely deprived...although I do have an extra carton of raw eggs taking up space in my fridge; and finally today, I packed away the unused (and unopened) egg dyeing kit... which I'm sure will bring us much joy and fulfillment...next Easter.

farewell to the "ruby won't go to bed" series...

With Ruby's little mishap, and the hospital stay, and Easter, and New Beginnings (which I was in charge of), and then having family in town...I guess it's safe to say that I'm feeling a little behind on everything. Basically we're in survival mode around here. My house is in shambles, we're swimming in mounds of laundry, and our fridge is completely barren (except for maybe some expired leftovers from two weeks ago). Treading water. That's a good way of putting it. Just treading water. But still as happy as ever. I am not complaining. In fact, I refuse to complain. I have been too richly blessed and would feel so ungrateful if I were to start grumbling over such petty grievances. I guess the point I'm trying to make by all this rambling is that while operating in survival mode, something always has to take the back burner. Logically, in this case, it was the blog. However, with Ruby healing up as remarkably as she is, and with Easter and New Beginnings behind me, I feel like my life is slowly (but surely) returning to the normalcy I have been longing for. ...So finally, what you've all been waiting for, I'm sure, the final episodes of the Ruby won't go to Bed series.

Just a little side note before viewing this next video. Ruby really only knows a handful of animal sounds. Her favorites to imitate are the doggy, the kitty cat, and the monkey. I was sitting in the back seat with her our way to the hospital - just following her encounter with the dog. She had finally calmed down somewhat and was no longer crying, so I was attempting to preoccupy her mind. Not wanting this incident to mar her little psyche, I immediately started talking about doggies. I made the mistake of asking her "Ruby, what does a doggy say?" to which she replied in the most pitiful little whimper, "ouch". Pretty much broke my heart.

And finally, Ruby's send-off to the series...

It's a miracle...

First of all, I want to thank everyone for their care and concern in behalf of our little Ruby girl. I know that over the past two weeks countless prayers have been offered. Her name has been placed upon the prayer rolls of the temple. Fasts have been rendered. Faith has been exhibited. Blessings have been administered. Words of love and encouragement have been imparted. And we truly have cause to rejoice in our merciful Lord as we have witnessed not just one miracle - but miracle...upon miracle...upon miracle...

For those who may be feeling a bit "out of the loop", allow me to fill you in. Exactly two weeks ago, Ruby had an encounter with a dog who apparently couldn't resist sinking his teeth into those pleasingly plump cheeks of hers.
We spent several hours in the Emergency rooms of two different hospitals and were seen by doctors and nurses - each confirming that the punctures and lacerations in her lips and cheek would require several stitches. However, we insisted on seeing a plastic surgeon (and were finally referred to one), who, after looking her closely over, actually advised against suturing the wounds. He assured us that in time, every single one of her wounds would heal completely on it's own. "Stitching everything up", he said, "would increase her chances of having permanent facial scarring". That was our first miracle. Not actually needing any stitches.

After being home for a day and a half, we noticed a red spot on her face. She didn't have a fever, but all signs were pointing to infection. We called the Emergency Room at the hospital, and were advised to bring her back in. They told us that most likely the antibiotic they had initially sent us home with, was probably not doing the trick, and that if we came back in, they could give us a new prescription. After taking one look at her, the pediatric doctor determined that the infection was serious and that she would need to be hospitalized. They administered an IV, and immediately started the antibiotic. Although having to be in the hospital for nearly four days was less than ideal, we were truly blessed to have taken her in when we did. By doing so, Ruby received the treatment she needed to fight the infection before it got too out of hand. Another miracle.

During the time Ruby was in the hospital, the doctors and nurses were concerned about an abscess in her cheek under the surface of her skin. Every effort was made to keep her wounds from healing over so that the infection could drain out. On the fourth day, the redness and swelling had gone down considerably, and thankfully, her doctor didn't feel the need to keep us there any longer. He was still concerned about the abscess in her cheek, (which had not gone down in the slightest), and spoke with the plastic surgeon about the possibility of having it surgically drained. The surgeon said that he wanted to see us the following week to discuss our possible options. Unexpectedly, he called us at the end of the week and wanted to take a look at her. We took her to his Scottsdale office, and after looking over her face and feeling what the other doctors were calling an "abscess", he informed us of their error. It was not an abscess after all. It was nothing more than some inflammation of the tissue (induration) caused by the injury. She was still infected, but he told us to make sure she completed her course of antibiotic (7 days orally at home), and that after some time, the hardness and inflammation would go down. What a miracle that Ruby wasn't going to need surgery.

Within 1/2 an hour of her accident, John, with the assistance of Joe (our brother-in-law), gave Ruby a blessing. He particularly felt impressed to bless her to remain calm, to be comfortable, and allow the doctors to do what they needed to to help her. Miraculously, Ruby has not experienced any pain due to her injuries. And if she has, she has not made it apparent in the least. She has been in good spirits. She has remained her happy and optimistic self. She has allowed us to treat her wounds. And except for immediately following the incident, she has not once even so much as cried or complained to us about her "owies". Now that, to me, is a miracle.

It's a miracle that she is healing up so quickly and beautifully. She had a laceration (about an inch long) from the corner of her mouth going down towards her chin that tore almost completely through her cheek, literally just hanging together by a thread of skin. In fact, everytime she sucked on her binky, the cut opened up and we could see into the inside of her mouth. Miraculously, it's now completely closed up and healing wonderfully.

It's a miracle that she is not afraid of dogs after this ordeal. We have seen a few here and there at parks and being walked around the neighborhood, and all she wants to do is "pet the doggy".

We really do feel so blessed. It never is ideal to see your children get hurt, but this could have been so much worse...and the fact that it wasn't, to us...is a miracle.

I love the advice my dad gave to us, to put this in the Lord's hands, for He is the Master Physician, and great healer. Truly it is nothing short of a miracle to have witnessed the Master take my daughter in His hands and literally bless and heal her.

Unfortunately we don't have better pictures from the first day. These were taken in the ER with John's camera phone...





After they cleaned her up...






Doesn't appear to be in much pain...

Up walking around (don't you just love her one exposed bun cheek?)


Coloring


Sharing her binky with bunny


Smiling and in good spirits

I have several pictures from the days following the accident, but I think I've given you enough to look at for now. :)

Just wait though, there's more to come...

the sweetest thing...

I've really been feeling some extra tender feelings toward my sweet little Ruby...especially the past couple of days. There just seems to be something different about her. Something truly unique and special. I don't know if it's because we had to go through so much to get her here, or if it's simply because she's my girl and I'm her mom. I'm sure all parents feel this way about their children; but to me, she really is the sweetest thing I have ever known. I know she has already touched many hearts in her short life time, and I also know that she holds a special place in the hearts of nearly all who know her.

I don't feel like I really need to plead my case on this one, but, for those not privileged enough to know her, here are just a few evidences of her pure, genuine, and untainted sweetness...

Ruby Won't go to Bed...Part 4

john john john john....

I think most kids, at some point, go through a stage where they call their parents by their first names. It must be pretty confusing for them, if you think about it...hearing their dad call mom something other than mom, momma, or mommy, and vice versa. For the most part, Ruby refers to her dad as "daddy", but occasionally we'll catch her roaming around the house calling out "John, John" or "John...where are you?" We don't mind it for now...actually we think it's pretty cute. As long as it's just a stage she'll eventually grow out of - because when I hear teenagers calling their parents by their first names?...Well, I find it nothing short of obnoxious.

Ruby Won't go to Bed...Part 3

ruby's jargon...

I call it gibberish....Part 2 of the Ruby Won't go to Bed series.

it hurts...

We have gotten into some bad habits around our house of late. I've actually been wondering if I should stop putting Ruby down for a nap during the day; because when her bed time rolls around, she never appears to be the least bit tired. And if we do try to put her down at a reasonable hour (like before 10:00), she absolutely throws a fit. She'll stand in her bed and scream for us to come back in and get her. We usually allow her to cry for a few minutes, but not for too long because for every minute that passes- her hysteria escalates. So we don't feel like we can just ignore it...she'd seriously carry on 'til she was blue in the face. Most nights we end up going in and getting her, and then placing her in her usual spot on the couch, where she'll lie and watch TV with us (perfectly content), until she finally falls asleep. If we are lucky enough to get her to fall asleep in her crib, almost inevitably she ends up wide awake again after just an hour or two. Once again, she just screams and cries until either of us goes in to get her. Such was the case the other night. We had put her down somewhere around 8:00, and at about 10:30, we heard her in her room...absolutely hysterical! John went to get her and brought her to bed with us where she was completely wired for the next hour or two! You see the habit that is forming? She knows if she cries long, hard, and loud enough...that we'll buckle under the pressure and relieve her from her "miserable" state. I don't know what to do anymore other than maybe do away with her nap altogether so that come bed time, there isn't a place she'd rather go to more than her very own crib...?

Anyway, the other night she was being so cute and funny, I couldn't resist the urge to break out the camcorder and capture some of her charm on film. Before I knew it, I had been filming for 20 minutes straight! I will not be posting the raw version, but I will enlighten you with some of the highlights. Throughout the course of our conversations with her, it was imperative that we knew about the little sore on her ankle...it hurts.

So here's the beginning of the Ruby Won't Go To Bed series...

beautiful weekend...

It was a quick trip to Utah, but one I will never forget. We were invited to witness the sealing of little baby Mark to his parents Carol and John. The temple sealer said that of all the things we do in the church, this (a child being sealed to his/her parents) is perhaps the most tender thing we will ever witness. I can truly attest to that. It was emotional and beautiful and the Spirit of the Lord prevailed. Truly a heartwarming experience for me to behold, as I'm sure it was for others present, and undoubtedly even more so for our friends Carol and John. I love going to sealings especially to listen to the advice and counsel given to the couple. I feel bad that I have no recollection of the things our sealer told us on our wedding day, so I like to listen to the advice given to other couples and try to apply it to my marriage and family relationships. Although Carol and John have already been sealed to one another, the sealer had some wonderful counsel for them in rearing their children. One thing that I loved, and that will always stick with me, was when he said "Make sure your home is a place that no child would ever want to run away from, but would only want to run home to". I just loved that. I always want my home to be filled with love. I never want my children to question my love for them. I want it to be a happy place. A place where laughter is heard. I want to create a safe haven for my family...a harbor that will protect them from the storms of life.

I think about the people I love and care about the very most. I think about the special relationships that we have and the bonds of love that exist between us...
It makes me shudder to think death the culmination of it all. I am so grateful for temple ordinances that bind families together for this life and on into the eternities. This knowledge brings me not only hope, but incomprehensible joy.