She Did It!!!!

(Susan:) We are sorry for not blogging last night. We all literally collapsed. Our "mini-vacation" was not very vacation-y after all. For both flights, we got to our gate just as the plane was loading. I have been fighting bronchitis and the air time, antibiotics, and lack of sleep made for some bad vertigo. We forgot some important things like the cord for the camera, clean underwear for Tessa, and all phone numbers for the Herzberg family as the majority of them were on vacation.

We did have some fun the first night going back to our old home. The seafood restaurant nearby was actually a very nice crab shack. The patrons were ordering steamed crabs by the dozen and the tables were covered with brown paper. Each person was given a wooden mallet for smashing open the crabs and there were big pails by the tables for shucking the shells. Our children were aghast at the insanity of it all. They opted for their standard fare of chicken fingers and grilled cheese. I forgot to eat dinner tonight and am really wishing I had some crab dip about now.

Tessa was an All-Star for her surgery. She waited and waited and waited for it to start and maintained her good spirits despite her fear and empty tummy. She and Rob made a fun game out of a styrofoam cup and a guitar pick and we watched for yellow cars to drive into the hospital parking lot so we could all shout Cheese Whiz. What a relief it was to get it going and over with!!! We had another nice dinner (how many kids could devour five honey butter rolls and a half a steak with mashed potatoes so soon after a surgery?), and were off to bed only to get up and rush home.

I have no idea how to summarize from our experience. Even being in the medical profession could not have prepared me for our adventure. I talk to people every day about tough stuff in a hospital setting, but put me in the recovery room with my daughter hooked up to monitors with an epidural and a Foley like we had for the first two surgeries and I could not stop the tears. Our new blog category starting today is called healing, for all of us.

For those of you addicted to the blog (and I am one of them--first thing I do when I get to work in the morning is make a cup of coffee and check the blog for comments), we will continue. Hooray!!!!!! Afterall, it is far from over for Tessa who must continue her quest for a normal leg. Who knows what zanny things we will do next in rehab or around the house. Rob is talking about changing the format some, but never fear, we are still here!!

Back to the Inner Harbor

Jazz Man

Goofing outside our old apartment

On our way to the hospital for surgery

Last picture with the brace

Checking out the new leg

Playing some Battle Ship with Abbey tonight

Climbing Abbey's tree

Beth's Wild Rose

Beth's Lantana

Beth's Cosmos courtesy of Visitation School!
(Happy Happy Birthday Bethie and thanks for the much needed Mudslide!)

Comments

[Gramma Judy]

Hi, Guys!
What a fun blog post! I love looking at those legs, Tessa Jean! Hubba Hubba! You all did such a great job. :-)

Your pillow looks extra squishy in the photos, Tessa. Did it work out well for you on the plane? I sure hope so.

We just got back from a weekend adventure. Jerry and I went to a little town called Mount Dora, which is not far from Orlando. It is so pretty.
It has lots of hills, lakes and many fun shops -- especially antique shops. They also have a huge
flea market that we checked out as well. We probably walked around for over 5 hours doing all our regular and "flea" shopping. (We didn't come home with a single flea!) Then we drove to a town called Titusville, which is where we stayed last night. We were kind of pooped from all the walking we did, so we mostly just enjoyed the hotel pool there. Then, this morning we got up early and drove to the Kennedy Space Center where we took half day tour. What an interesting experience that was. To think of all the things that have happened there really gave us goosebumps. I bought a guidebook that I will bring with me to Colorado. It will exlain everything better than I can, and the pictures will be better than mine as well. One of the neatest things in the world would be to see a real launching! I think we will try to do that one of these days.

Speaking of Colorado ... it won't be long now!
I can hardly wait!

I am missing and loving all of you ...
Gramma Judy

P.S. I was a little concerned about the Blog, so it is really good news to know that it will go on and on and on. :-) See you soon!

[Zanny]

Was there ever a question that you would STOP BLOGGING?!? If I had known I would have launched a protest. So happy to see that you are safe and sound and back to a little bit of a routine. Mitchell and I are busy working on party details this weekend. Can't wait to see you. Hope you still feel like coming what with all of your recent travels and all. Well, we are off to Party City to return some stuff and get some more. See you soon! Love, Zanny

[Grandma Delores]

We have just arrived home after a long drive through Wisconsin, northern Minnesota, and an overnite with the relatives in Blackduck. It's good to read all the latest blog news, and to hear that Tessa is doing so well. What a relief that this much is over for all of you. We sent a post card from Bayfield Wisconsin for Tessa's collection. Love, Grandma Delores

[Mrs. Biles]

What an inspiring adventure you have all been on! I am so happy for Tessa- summer vacation can really begin - except for all the therapy :)! We were out of town last weekend and even in Las Vegas I was wishing I could check the blog....(we are very old and frumpy at our house). I look forward to seeing Tessa at the beginning of the school year- bouncing in from the carpool line... I'll continue to check the blog and the Biles' send warm thoughts and prayers your direction. I'll say a prayer that all little boys named Sam get potty trained this summer (ours, too!!)
God Bless.
Mrs. Biles

[Mrs. Hall]

Glad to see that you all made it home safe and sound. It is nice to see Tessa and Abbey smiling, I was used to seeing them daily. Hope that recovery goes well and I will be checking in often. Have a great weekend.

Mrs. Hall