Spring Happenings

RESOURCEFUL

(toys double as step stools)

CREATIVE

(new uses for hard-boiled eggs)

ARTISTIC

(Easter egg hands)

BUSY, BUSY BOY

(wearing Emily's shoes)

THOROUGHLY CAREFUL

(more color on the egg than on hands)

TOOTHLESS

(no top teeth)

INNOCENTLY IMPISH

(no explanation needed)

MUSICAL

(orchestra concert - a terrific violin player)

(sorry for the horrible picture)

Get This Off Me!!

I had just slipped into sleep last night when I woke up to Rachel crying. Assuming it was potty time, I dragged my sleepy self out of bed and walked to her room to help her. When I got there, she said, between sobs, "Get this off me!!" I assumed she was just not entirely awake, so I helped her out of bed and into the bathroom. As she sat down, she again sobbed, "Get this off me!" Then I noticed her finger. She had wrapped one of her hair elastics around it, and her finger was in the process of turning a very ugly shade of dark purple! I pulled the elastic off and immediately her finger started looking a little more normal, although a little red. I am so thankful it woke her up because the last thing we need is a little more medical excitement at this house!!

Note to self: take Rachel's elastics out before she goes to bed from now on!

Cellulitis

Just for the record (so I can remember), Emily developed cellulitis as a result of the cuts she got from the cat attack last week. Here is what she looked like throughout the day on March 6th.

Before we headed to the hospital,

In the Emergency Room

And in the evening

These pictures really don't do it justice! The swelling around her right eye was a lot worse than it appears, and by the evening was pretty red.

She had 3 doses of IV antibiotics, and this is what she looked like on Sunday

An amazing difference! The redness and swelling were almost completely gone!

Two things played into the development of the cellulitis:

#1 - a bacteria that all cats carry in their mouths that is introduced to humans from bites and/or scratches.

#2 - the fact that Emily is allergic to Augmentin and Rocefin, which are the first two antibiotics doctors would normally prescribe for cat bites/scratches

We are counting our blessings that we caught this when we did and that Emily responded so well to the antibiotics in the hospital!

Unexpected Happenings

Emily was attacked as she tried to pick up a stray cat this week. She had already pet the cat and thought it was friendly, but the cat wanted nothing to do with being picked up. In Emily's words, "I tried to pick it up and it jumped on my face!"

I've never heard such horrifying screams come out of someone so small! I will spare you all the gory details, except to say that we spent the evening at InstaCare, where she received 5 stitches in 2 different cuts on her forehead. She is recovering nicely, but still very sore. Here she is the morning after the ordeal.

The worst cut is thankfully hard to see - right along her hairline. It was completely through the full thickness of her skin! She also has several other scratches and puncture wounds on her left arm and shoulder and back/neck area. Since cat wounds are so dirty, she has to take a course of antibiotics to protect against infections. Let's hope it works!

I am so thankful things weren't worse. I think her glasses probably spared her eyes from being clawed. Thank goodness she was wearing them! I still can't believe something like this could happen. Every time I think about it I just want to cry! I am never fully prepared for how much it hurts to see your child in pain. That is an emotion that sneaks up on me every time!