Confirmation

We got the results back today and I've read them myself. In radiology mumbo-jumbo they say basically what I already knew. Scott has osteomylitis. It's in his left fibula, his left femur, his left knee join and his pelvis.
Yep, pretty much fucking sucks. There are times I wish I didn't know as much as I do. This is one of those times.
We consult with Dr. Jacobs (vascular surgeon extraordinaire) on Tuesday. I don't know what he's going to say, there are no answers.

Now that I've told you all, I'm done with it for the holiday. You won't hear be talk about it again until Tuesday unless something goes awry. Scott is feeling fine and we are going to crazy this Christmas. Lots and lots of family time. Plenty of board games, card games, good food, photos and a huge helping of love.

Merry Christmas Eve Eve.

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Bone scans are cool... mmmkay

Scott's scan went relatively well, all things considered. He didn't puke, only hit his head once and didn't put himself into a drug induced coma. A successful day around these parts.


Yes, I took pictures. What of if? The tech only looked at me strangely for a moment before telling me to go right ahead.

The machine is totally open, makes no noise and the images are immediately transferred to the screen.

Unfortunately, it didn't take a rocket scientist (or trained radiologist) to tell that there were definite areas of concerns. We will get a full report tomorrow from the doctors but I left there convinced that Scott does indeed have osteomyelitis.


The scan process is pretty cool. You go in for the first run where they inject the nuclear dye and image the "areas of concerns". That takes about 30 minutes. Then you're free to roam the world, basking in your nuclear glow. Returning in two hours for the second scan. The second scan takes about an hour. They go over the "areas of concern" and they do a whole body scan.
Watching Scott slowly slide through the machine and having every bone in his body slowly build on screen until he's a perfect skeleton... hella cool!

Scott and I left the hospital with our two hour window, we get enough time in hospitals. We went around some of the neighboring towns playing Santa and delivering treats to doorsteps of some dear friends. It was a nice way to spend some holiday time. No dwelling on the possibilities for us. There is only time to embrace life and give to those that give so much to us. I wish we could have driven to the home of every person we know, leaving yummy cookies in our wake, spreading the holiday cheer.

Outside the hospital today, I took the photo I posted on the other blog
In an otherwise cloudy, gloomy day the bright sun came out to greet us as we left. We may have gotten more crappy (unconfirmed) news but the world is still a beautiful place.

Lots and lots of presents to wrap still. If you don't see me by Tuesday send help.

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The day I made 8 cookies

8 kinds of cookies... done... complete....finished.

Brandi... done...complete...no where near finished.

It's not often I toot my own horn but *toot* I rocked it today. On top of the cookies I also managed to get packages mailed, Christmas cards mailed, and all but one (f-off Best Buy) present purchased.
Dinner was homemade (by someone else but I had to answer the text asking if we wanted some). Girl child is in bed and Scott is basically set for the night.

Now it's time to move on the wrapping phase of the evening.

Wish me luck.

Tomorrow Scott has a bone scan. Turns out the bone scan is a 4 hour ordeal... who knew?... That's going to be rather interesting. Scott is going to be in a narcotics coma from trying to keep the pain at bay. Good times, good times.

Keep rocking in the free world people.

*Holy crap! I just wrote an entire blog post and spell check found nothing. This is monumental.*

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Smother it in candy and call it a day

Oh boy did we have a good time at Mark and Jay'me's for our gingerbread house making. We're still trying to come down from the sugar high. Please tell me I'm not the only one that applies the one for the house two for me program. *Anyone, anyone*
Humph, well then. Jay'me had these cute little houses all set. One for each participant.

Cute already in need of something more.

Let's dress it up. Bedazzle it.

Huh, what? No, I've never heard that my child looks exactly like me. I don't see it all. Nope, not at all.
Mini-me and her finished project.

Craig (Mark's brother in from Florida for the holiday) absolutely participated in the eat two place one game. If you zoom in you can see the icing in the corners of his mouth. I'm pulling you down with me, Craig.

Master Brogan made a pond and a fence on his house. Seriously, a pond... such ingenuity.

Sweet Maddie and her perfectly appointed home.

Maddie's brother Peyton. He was closer to 5 candies in the mouth to 1 on the house ratio. I know he didn't sleep at all that night.

The winner of our decorate this house contest.... Grandpa Stevens. Check out those details. Awesome display of candy decorating skills.

Mark serenaded us with Christmas carols while we decorated. Scott snapped photos (hence the full auto, flash exposure on these photos).

A wonderful evening.

Thankfully the snow held off until tonight.

It's going gang busters out there now.

Scotty isn't feeling so hot tonight. He's got a low fever and is generally feeling icky. Bone scan as soon as we can get it scheduled, the insurance company finally responded about 4 minutes before the scheduling office closed.
No presents are wrapped. The Christmas cards are addressed and will be mailed tomorrow. A few small things to pick up but we're almost there. 4 of the 8 cookies got made yesterday.
We're doing it up right in this house. No regrets.

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In the know

We know people. We know good people that will answer their phones at 4pm on a Friday, drive an hour from the city on a Saturday, in between a birthday party and symphony tickets, to give us their wisdom, experience, guidance, love and banana bread. We couldn't be any luckier.

Scott's GP (general physician), Dr. K, called late Friday afternoon. It turns out that one of the tests she did for Scott last week came back with some alarming results. Dr. K and I discussed things, she armed me with information and said, "let me know what you want to do."
I did the only thing I knew to do on a Friday evening (seriously why does this crap happen late on a Friday every time.) I called BigDan and Kathy. This problem is their area of expertise. They came running.
What amazing, wonderful people. We can't thank them enough. The two loafs of Kathy's famous banana bread were just the icing on the cake.

As for Scott, we're feeling pretty confident he has a bone infection, osteomyelitis. For right now Scott will stay on his oral antibiotic (it seems to keep the symptoms at bay even if it probably isn't helping the infection) and we'll be taking him in for a bone scan so we can decide what to do next.

Osteomyelitis, has always been something on my watch list. It's fairly common in people like Scott, heck even Christopher Reeves had it. This is a difficult setback but I'm fairly confident that I'll get my wish to get through Christmas. That's all I ask, I just want my Christmas morning then, well... bring it on if you must, I'll kick your ass after the holiday.

Scott is feeling pretty well and we'll keep doing what we're doing. BigDan and Kathy assured me that I'm doing a terrific job at taking care of the wounds so I feel confident that we can manage at home for now.

BigDan and Kathy, thank you. Thank you for loving us, taking care of us and always answering your phone. We're so blessed to have you both in our lives.

Headed to Best Buy with my best girl to pick up the last few gifts. Then tonight, a trip to Mark and Jay'me's for some gingerbread decorating for the kids. It's 6 days away people, let's rally.

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Backspace

I'm exhausted and can't quite get my thoughts together tonight. So rather than write a long, confusing post, I'm just going to go to bed.

It's what's best for all of us. Trust me.

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Wicked

I was here today.

I didn't see a show. Wicked is playing. Wish I could have seen it. Somehow that show (title) screams to me.

Kate played at Grandmas. She loved it. Scott stayed home in bed. He didn't love it.

We all went to bed exhausted. The end.

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