Weekly Wrap Up (Oct 11-17) {Visit with the Paynes, Swim, Sewing, No Classes}

Another busy week almost wrapped up....

Xavier and Jace were both on worship team Sunday and accidentally matched...black button downs, jeans, and cowboy boots...

Monday Zayden and I went to the ENT.  We have a consult with the surgeon at our next visit to discuss eustachian tube dilation and permanent t-tubes.  We hustled back to get him and Evie to daytime swim practice.  Mia worked out with Kate while they swam.  Then home to finish school, play outside, and then Mia and I hustled off to Williamsburg. We stopped in and visited with our friends, the Paynes before Natalee's swim meet.  What a nice time catching up on life and snuggling their trio of babies.

 

And then off to swim we went....

In Williamsburg Natalee swims as a para athlete.  She showed up and proved herself this week by besting her 50 freestyle time!

She also swam the 100 freestyle and looked so strong!

This week we did not have HSAP classes.  I went to a staff meeting and worked in my classroom Tuesday.  While I was at work the teens held down the fort.  All the kids enjoyed a day at home.  Mia made an apron for Ev's baby doll after school and then helped Evie make a dolly stocking!

Wednesday I worked from home and the kids did school before we headed out for church activities Wednesday evening.

Thursday was a busy one.  I had my staff photo taken, then went to get Mia to her 8 a.m. OT appointment for her elbow.  Xavier worked, Kate washed Mia's hair for us at the salon, and then we all headed out early to the pool to get ready for the senior night swim meet.  

Grandma and Papa stopped by the house after the meet and we got a brief visit in before they headed out.  

Friday I had a state HSAP meeting in Des Moines so the teens and dad held down the fort again.  Xavier worked a couple of shifts and Natalee went to the elementary for a paper hat signing. 

Saturday was for house cleaning, lawn mowing, seasonal clothes switching, and catching up on the bits and bobbles that got left behind throughout a busy week.  Natalee went with some gal pals to a friend's wedding in Illinois.

It was an off week, but a restful one in it's own way.

Natalee's Swim Senior Night

This summer Natalee decided to join the high school swim team.  She's had many years as a rec swimmer so Mike and I encouraged her to go ahead and do her senior year up big. :)  She's had a great season with wonderful, encouraging coaches and the most fun teammates.  We've hustled to make all the evening meets - not always all of us together but at least Mike or I and a kid or two.  Occasionally a school we compete at will be set up for her to actually swim para, but if not she swims with the rest of the team.  She's beat her own times more than once in more than one event and is the hardest working athlete I know.  This week we had our final home swim meet which meant it was Senior night.

I didn't even cry.  I didn't feel sad at all - just so much joy at celebrating this milestone.  What a privilege to be this young lady's mom.

Natalee had a wonderful cheering section for her senior night. 

Nannie...

Grandma and Papa Tallman...

Kea, Miguel, and the girls...

and so many other sweet siblings, friends & family.  She also was cheered on by family and friends who watched online or sent her encouraging, kind words.

What a special moment...these 2 ladies are Natalee's "OG" Dolphin coaches.  

Coach Megan (left) remains one of Natalee's coaches through both Dolphins and high school swim. She stood with us to advocate for para swim last year for rec league and was an encourager for Natalee to give high school a try.  Coach Mickaela (right) isn't coaching any longer but has stayed true as one of Natalee's mentors, cheerleaders, and friends. 

This mom is so grateful for their influences and that they encouraged her all those many years ago when she was giving swim a go.

We are also so thankful for Coach Brown.  Natalee has been privileged to work with her through Dolphins for a few years now and has so enjoyed her as the head coach of the high school team.  She's helped Natalee find her strengths and capitalize on those this season.

The season isn't over but it's been great so far.  Happy swim senior night, Natalee.  We're so proud of you.

The Beeler's Big Break {Mia}

After 17 1/2 years of parenting the Beeler crew has had their first broken bone (for a kiddo) and it was done in a BIG way.  If I had placed money on which of the five would break something first it would not have been Ameliya, but here we are....

Mia was playing a game at youth group and her body went one way on the ground, the arm went another way, and some other kids ended up on top of it.  An accident, a fluke, just one of those random things you could never replicate a second time if you tried.

When she first came to me she was teary but calm and so I let her go on to her small group devotion time.  Then, when I went over to check on her a friend, who is a youth sponsor and a nurse, met me at the top of the stairs and mentioned she just might go get that arm x-rayed.  Praising God for her calm wisdom, as Mike had been called into work and I was trying to make the decision on my own.  Medical is not my special skill set.

I called to check in with Mike and he happened to have just headed home after leaving work, so he came and collected Mia and took her in to the ER.  

I was so glad we took her to the ER as she ended up having a break in the growth plate in her elbow.

While Mike was at the ER, I hurried around to make up the pull out couch bed so that she could be in a safe, easy to access, restful place for the next couple of days, and we got her settled in as soon as she got home.

We are so thankful for the prayers, visits, check ins, kindnesses, and love that surrounded our family and Mia in the days following Mia's accident.  

We called right away Thursday morning and put in a request for a specific orthopedic doctor and he wasn't able to see Mia until Friday morning.  We took Thursday as a full day of rest.  Mia had several visitors to cheer her up, and Mike streamed the Homecoming parade Thursday night so that she and I could watch it from the living room.

Mia's friend, Laurenna, stopped and prayed with her at the church right after her accident.  That one act of love gave my heart so much peace through all of this.

Friday's appointment with the ortho determined that Mia needed surgery, specifically a screw put in to affix her growth plate back together.  We scheduled that for the following Tuesday and tried to just....get by.

We checked in for surgery bright and early at 6:30 a.m.  I was pretty calm until it was time to say good-bye to her, but she was a champion. 

It took three tries to get an IV started, which is just always such a hard start to any medical procedure.  Once they secured a line, they started some calming meds and came in to do the nerve block. 

The waiting was long.  It felt long.  Mike did school and I tried to keep myself busy.  The doctor came out to give a great report about how well it all had gone and we were relived....but then we waited and waited.  Mia had some trouble coming out of anesthesia, but finally we could get back to her.  She was still very sleepy so we were just patient.  She passed out once getting up, which meant back on the monitors, but eventually they bundled us up and sent us for home.

Daddy got her some lunch and her pain meds and we just did some good resting and icing the remainder of Tuesday.  Thank goodness Papa Curtis has awesome machines from having joints replaced - loved the ice machine!

On Wednesday Grandma Cindy came and took charge of the patient while Mike and I went to work.

By Thursday we were trying to find our new routine.

Seeing that this was going to be a lengthy climb, we put plans in place to permanently switch her and Evie on the bunk beds...Evie went to the top and Mia to the bottom.  That got Mia off the couch and she was able to sleep deeper without the noises of people up and down in the night or getting up to go to work in the morning.

This last Monday (10.5) Mia had her 2 week post surgery follow up.  She got rid of the half cast/sling situation and got a range of motion splint.  She also got the hard news of what the recovery timeline is going to look like - and swim season started on the same day.  

Thursday (10.8) Mia had her first OT appointment.  I was thankful for the practicality and kindness of the OT.  We know that nothing happens outside of the will of God, and we know that there is a purpose for even this.  That doesn't make it less hard, but I know first hand how strong this kid can be and I know she's going to climb on top of this injury. 

We love you, Millie girl.  We believe in you.  And we are here for you.

Field Trip to Boone Railway

We took a field trip to Boone railway with our HSAP group and got a beautiful day to be on the historical train.  We crossed over the river, saw a few leaves starting to change, and enjoyed the company of good friends along the way.

The kids especially enjoyed the open air outdoor train cars and it was a beautiful day for them.

Most of the homeschool group went to hike at Ledges State Park afterwards.  The Beelers have had a long, hard few weeks and we opted to head home instead.  It's hard to miss out but it was the right choice for us.