Well, I am finally getting around to posting some pictures & telling Elle's amazing, miraculous story. I've decided to start from her birthday...well from when we started celebrating her birthday, which was the day before Chaden left for his work trip on February 17th, 2012. (I do want to warn you that this is a super long post & towards the end there are some graphic picture's of Elle's stitches in her head.)
2-16-2012
This was a small little celebration that we did for Elle because daddy wasn't going to be there on her real birthday & he wanted to watch her open her 'big' present that we got her. A brand new BIKE! She was so excited & LOVED it! She also got a fun camera, lip gloss, & other little things from daddy.
2-23-2012
This was Elle's actual birthday. We did the traditional presents on the table in the morning & opening them. As you can see she got plenty of good stuff! Her breakfast of choice was her favorite chocolate muffins:) Happy 5th Birthday Elle!
2-23rd & 24th-2012
This picture of Elle with the kids was on her birthday still & at 'Build-a-Bear' workshop. She got to pick out a new outfit for her bear. She chose a cute little pajama set & it came in handy for the next day because she had a pajama party at school (which are the other two pics). Here she is in her pajamas, stinkin' cute hair, & new pajamas for her bear--ready to go to school. It was that same day that she ended up going to the hospital:( I no longer have those polka-dot pajamas she was wearing because they had to cut them off of her.
2-24-2012
This is all the adorable pictures of Baylee at her solo competition. Baylee worked SO hard on her solo this year & was ready for this competition. She did AMAZING! It was a super-fun night to begin with...but then Elle fell. If you look at the pictures close enough the wall in the background was the exact wall that she fell off of. Look at the middle bottom picture with Baylee & some of my family-the wall behind them was the one Elle fell from. It gives you an idea of how far she fell.
These are pictures of Elle after she had the surgery. She had to get intubated with a breathing tube & had the neck brace on still, as well as i.v.'s & other tubes all over her. If you look at the top of her head where her cut is there is a little tube coming out of it--that was for any other blood to drain out. The tube that it drained into didn't have much blood in it, which was good, meaning it wasn't bleeding inside anymore. Her total # of stitches was 18! When Elle's medicine would wear off she would wake up & automatically want the tube out of her mouth--in fact, she did pull it out once! The nurse said she was just too quick for her, that is why she has those arm braces on--so she wouldn't pull it out again. She actually pulled out her catheter as well as one of the i.v.'s--she hated them all! She's a fiesty one:)
I love these pictures! Elle sure had lots of 'furry' friends to make her feel special & loved in the hospital. Thanks to those who sent them to her! I remember seeing her in the bed & continually asking the nurses when I could hold her! I just wanted to hold her in my arms. That was the hardest thing to not be able to hold her, so when they took everything out of her I climbed right in her bed and cradled her in my arms. It was the best feeling--I felt so blessed that she was ok.
This was another one of the hardest parts...(a) Chaden wasn't there & (b) I couldn't do anything for her. While Elle's medications started to wear off she was disoriented, wanting to get down & leave, wanting a drink desperately, & just not knowing really where she was or what was going on. She basically had a good 45 min. HUGE tantrum & if we would have given her more meds, than she would just have to go through this again so we just had to wait for her to get used to the meds wearing off. It was horrible! My amazing dad & me traded off trying to hold her & keep her still so she would'nt hurt herself. This moment seemed like forever & I remember crying through most of it.
Finally, at this point daddy was there! Elle was so happy her daddy got there! She wanted to get down & just play! So we played in the bed--colored, sang songs, played with her new 'furry' friends, & ate slushies. These pics are of her swelling that was happening on that side of her face--mostly her eye. It was closed shut at one point but the swelling seemed to go down quickly.
2-27-2012
We left the hospital Monday afternoon & I felt like when you bring your newborn home for the first time. I was a bit nervous driving her home but we made it home safe & to a ton of ballons placed down the road & on our lawn from our neighbors welcoming Elle home. The house inside was decorated too with banners & streamers made from the kids--with Grandmas help:) So these are pictures of her stitches--it's surprising to see how long the incision was. It definitley isn't a small one. They actually didn't shave much of her hair at all--that was nice.
Just some pics of what we have been doing at home inside for a good 2 weeks. Coloring, painting, watching lots of movies, & getting lots of flowers, balloons, & presents from friends & neighbors. Elle could take a bath but not get her stitches wet so we got her a very over-sized shower cap!
Finally we did birthday cake for her! We were supposed to have done it the Sunday following the accident with everyone but that obviously didn't work out. Daddy got her a tiara to wear but we couldn't let her put it on her head so it looked great on the cake.
I would say to everyone that Elle really missed her daddy while he was out of town for work & that this was her way of getting him home quicker--but we are just so grateful that she is ok & doing well. We feel so blessed from all of you & your love, fasting, & prayers on our behalf. I know that they all made an impact on her & now even on her recovering. "Prayer Changes Things" & I know that to be so true. We have come closer as a family through this & to our Heavenly Father & feel so blessed from Him! Thanks again for everything!
