Of Brains and Blessings: December 2015

It's been a LONG time since I've had the desire or opportunity to write. I'm sitting here at 3:30 a.m., wondering just how to begin relating all of the happenings of the last few months. I'm not sure I have the emotional energy to be very descriptive--- my brain is down to bullet points.

February 28, 2015: D-man has a nocturnal seizure. It literally sounds like the child is fighting a criminal. D. starts seizure medication on March 3.
April 5, 2015: D-man has another nocturnal seizure. This one is frighteningly awful. Time to see the doctor again.
May 1, 2015: Mom goes in for carpal tunnel surgery on left hand.
June 10, 2015: Mom goes in for carpal tunnel surgery on right hand.
June 19, 2015: Mom starts Nuedexta for Pseudo Bulbar Affect. Can you say "Wonderdrug?" Within 2 weeks, the uncontrollable laughing and crying stops. I am feeling considerably more normal, emotionally-speaking. Best post-stroke medication ever!
July 2015: More new medications for mom: Gabapentin and Clonazepam are finally helping me sleep. These darned angiomas sure do create a lot of symptoms. I am very thankful to good doctors! First full-night's sleep since November 2013. Mom finally loses 40 pounds! Sleeping has it's benefits.
July 13, 2015: Superman has a 4.5 hour surgery to "install" his Taylor Spatial Frame. He had 6 metal rods inserted into his femur, and had his Achille's Tendon released. S. was at Phoenix Children's Hospital for 5 very traumatic days. I am thankful I was able to stay in the hospital with my poor little man.

July through December: S. progresses from being in a wheelchair to using a walker. He does not tolerate physical therapy; I believe past physical trauma prevents him from tolerating any pain. S. has been unable to attend public school, so he has had the privilege of having a wonderful homebound tutor. Life consists of me trying to do PT with S., helping him with physical needs, helping him with school. Can I just tell you, the kid is "high maintenance."
August 15, 2015: D-man starts to experience horrific headaches. Initially, he is treated for migraine. He starts a new seizure medication. Headaches continue and worsen.
August 23, 2015: D-man has first trip to the ER for headache relief. It just continues. He can't sleep. He can't do anything except pray to die.
August 25, 2015: D-man is finally admitted to Banner University Hospital. The treatment for migraine continues. No relief. Seeing you child in uncontrollable pain is the most disheartening, fearful, and anxiety-provoking event. Two kids in pain at the same time? This doesn't compute. D-man stays in the hospital for 3 days. He is sent home with new medications to try.
September 4, 2015: D-man is readmitted to Banner. He feels like his head is going to explode. Oh great, the car died today, too.
September 9, 2015: D-man has brain surgery to remove a bleeding cavernous angioma from right temporal lobe. Doctors finally admit angioma is causing severe headache.

Blasted disease

The culprit

The incision
September 11, 2015: D-man is finally moved out of ICU.
September 14, 2015: D-man is finally released from hospital. Thank you to Scottsdale Bible's staff--- their love and help truly made difference in processing these events. Oh, darn. The refrigerator and freezer died today. So did the outdoor irrigation system.

Friends sent gifts to S; what a joy!
September 22, 2015: Our dear doggie has to have emergency surgery following a routine neutering procedure. Sherlock recovers.

Sherlock discovers the sofa
October 3, 2015: D-man officially starts to feel better! No more head pain.
October 11, 2015: Oldest adopted son collapses after playing on stage at church. He is rushed by ambulance to the hospital. Looks to be another child with seizures.

Exhaustion following a seizure
October 12, 2015: Son has another seizure. Back in the ambulance. Back to the hospital. EEG appears normal. He is diagnosed with idiopathic seizures and is put on medication.

At PCH
November 5, 2015: More seizures for B. Doctor thinks it may be a combination of "regular" and psychogenic seizures. This looks to be more complicated than we originally thought. Good thing I videoed the last "episode." If seizures happen with more frequency, we will need to admit him for a 3-day observation.
November 29, 2015: D-man is baptized! The Lord can bring wonderful things out of suffering!
December 1, 2015: Dear Husband goes to ER. Choking episode due to an esophageal stricture proved life-threatening when he could not eat or drink--- and he had already taken a full dose of insulin for dinner.
December 2, 2015: B. has another "seizure."
December 22, 2015: Superman has the "cage" removed from his leg. He is now in a full-length cast for 6 weeks.

Well, that is my very brief synopsis of the year. Sigh.

Of course, sprinkled throughout the year were lots of other events: birthdays, choral performances, resigning from old jobs, starting new jobs, umpteen doctor visits, therapy visits, school suspensions, a new grandbaby(!)and behavioral melt-downs. All the things (and more) you might expect from a family of 10.