The Bat Lady Sings

I don't know why I wrote that title. I think I am getting a little loopy. For those of you out there who have done the crisis/surgery/trauma/bat touching thing--does the caregiver have a day where she just kind of checks out?! Like nothing really matters much--just let me lie here and watch CSI and eat Runts?! Cuz that is me--and I feel like such a loser! Like somebody just stick me with a cattle prod already! Thought maybe you all would like an update---

Kelly---

She is doing really well. We continue to see the miracles in the daily steps toward healing. She is able to get in and out of bed on her own and gets around pretty well on the crutches. Some of her friends came over to visit the other evening--and she was pretty wore out the next day---but seeing her pals was worth it she thinks. We went into our Primary Care Physician (note how fabulous I am with correct termanology) on Monday. He is local so that was good not to have to drive 4 hours. He took off the bandage--I about barfed and my husband and Kelly both went, "COOL!! " He steri-stripped the incision so if it got bumped or something--it wouldn't pop open. He said he doesn't expect to have to see us again unless there are signs of infection. Maybe I have just been living under a rock but I found this amazing!!! My surgeries have been so much more involved--long recoveries and no showers forever etc...Heavenly Father and Dr. Howlett rock! Kelly thinks I should post a pic of the incision. I told her I would have to attach a barf bag to my camera even to take a pic. That I would probably lose a lot of my "followers"--they would drop like flies. (Where did that term come from anyways?--do flies drop? sorry--I digress)-But I did it. SO HERE IS THE WARNING!!!!!!!!

IF YOU ARE SQUEAMISH IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM---DO NOT LOOK AT THIS NEXT PICTURE!!!

HOLY YUCKY INCISION BATMAN!!! It is 7 inches long--and looks so painful to me but Kelly has slowly been weaning herself off the narcotics and been doing mostly Advil. If I were brave I would make a comment about the leftover Loritab--but I'm not. Anyways--we have to drive back to Spokane to see Dr. Howlett on November 3rd and then I hope not to have to do that drive again for awhile. I know this is all because of all your prayers--thanx again.

Oh-- and somehow I didn't get this pic loaded when I did the Par day--but really wanted to. The nurses at Sacred Heart Children's Hospital are beyond AMAZING!!! I have never seen such fabulous nurses in my whole life!! They came every time she called, changed her bed and fluffed her pillows each time she got out of bed. They were so sweet and helpful every step of the way---so this is a HUGE Shout Out to them----YOU ALL ARE THE BEST--THANK YOU!!!

This is Jocelyn--she had an Irish accent and a heart of gold--we miss you Jocelyn!!

BEAN the BAT TOUCHER update:

When last we left THE TOUCHER--she had confessed and was being weighed and measured. The following Tuesday we were to report to the school for the first 2 doses of meds.

Meanwhile the CDC descended upon our little town and apparently we were on a lot of random newscasts--like Turkey. Really.

When we first got there Tuesday and walked in the gym---if I would have been smart I would have listened to that little voice in my head--to flee. There--in out LITTLE gym were 99 children and their caregivers. My thought was

--how come they didn't tell me it was "The Running of the Bulls??!" and when did I teleport to Spain??!! AAAHHHH!!!

The second stupid thought was that we would come in, get the shots and leave. TWO HOURS LATER we got called to the room with the CDC people in it. They proceeded to try and talk us out of getting the shots. Finally I just said, "GIVE ME THOSE PAPERS OR I WILL TOUCH YOU WITH A BAT!!" Okay--maybe not exactly that. Then 45 minutes later--(while we stood in the hallway and listened to all the other Touchers scream and cry--it was our turn. Bean was so brave--not even a tear. But wait--theres more! Then we had to sit in the library 15 minutes more to make sure she wasn't allergic. The entire 3 1/2 hours--we had nothing to do--I hadn't brought coloring or a book OR ANYTHING!!!!

There have been 3 other shot days since then and one more next week and we are done! I think I will get up on a cafeteria table and do a dance--seriously.

MILAN--

I haven't talked a lot about Milan but he needs an update. He has been taking hunter safety and last night he passed his test!! I am told that that means I should say WOO-HOO.

woo--that's all I got.

I was raised in an ANTI--gun/hunting house. My grandparents didn't even have a gun. What kind of horrible person would shoot Bambi??! My husband and all of his ancestors., that's who. If you would have ever told me I would have a son that would want a gun, let alone take hunter safety--I would have LAUGHED. When we first moved to Montana we bought a little gun cabinet and Phil bought me a pistol (snort) and there were a couple of bigger guns in there also. The other day when I opened it up---

Milan in his winter gear--in the forest I bet he could do a Where's Waldo thing!!

AAAHHHH!!!! No one told me that guns reproduce in the dark!!

It was like jam packed full and boxes of bullets everywhere!! I quickly called my husband---he said he MAY have purchased a few of them---I don't know whether to be relieved that guns don't reproduce in the dark or really cranky at my husband for putting them there in the dark!!! So--I home school one of my children, live in the woods, chop wood and heat my house with it, know the difference between a girl cow and a boy cow and know how to can and use a dehydrator, AND apparently own an entire arsenal!!! That sounds SOOOO BAD!!! I so mocked me 25 years ago!! I really am cultured and refined. I play the piano, listen to classical music, LOVE to read--enjoy art--when did I become Daniel Boone??!!

Thanx for letting me vent--I need to go check the gun cabinet--its getting dark.