not to us

First and foremost, A HUGE THANK YOU to my parents, Amy, Sarah, Mari, and Jessica.  I simply cannot believe how much work we finished.  I'm thrilled beyond explanation and thankful beyond expression.  I'm sorry I'm just now getting to the blog.  I'm also sorry to report that, as of now, I have no pictures.  We didn't get any "before" pictures taken, due to mitigating circumstances.  I haven't taken "after" pictures yet, because I've been very busy.  We ended up rearranging furniture this afternoon, and we also ended up taking care of a sick baby.

Yes, you read that correctly.  Ruby is officially tugging at her left ear, puking about once every other hour, coughing, fussing, whining, and being all around miserable.  Actually, that's not quite true.  In between her bouts of puking and ear-pulling, she seems wonderfully happy.  However, I'm taking her to the doctor on Monday to be sure.  No blisters as of yet, so I'm holding out for no Hand, Foot, and Mouth.  :)  While I'm at it, I'm really praying that the ear-pulling is nothing.  Please, God, don't let her have another ear infection.  She was scheduled for her Ear Check on Wednesday.  If we show up on Monday with an ear infection, I have a feeling they're going to suggest tubes.  I really, really, really hope not.  However, if that's what she needs, I understand, and that's what we'll do.

On top of all of that, she's got a very bad-looking left thumbnail.  Our friend who is a nurse practitioner thought it was just a damaged part of her nail.  She said not to suspect nail fungus unless it spread to other nails.  Well, her right thumbnail now has a spot that looks suspiciously similar to the spot that *started* on her fungal-looking nail.  Grrr.  If it's nail-fungus (which I PRAY, PRAY, PRAY to God that it's not), that will be very, very, very bad.  Apparently, the treatment can be fairly expensive, not covered by insurance, and rarely even effective.  Grrrreeeeaaaat.

How exactly might a BABY get nail fungus?  Well, contrary to popular belief, it has nothing to do with hygiene procedures.  The baby can often contract the fungus through an open cut, wound, or sore around the nail bed.  Well...guess who had Hand, Foot, and Mouth (including open blisters) just a couple of weeks ago?  That's right, Ruby did.  If this is fungus, I'm pretty sure that's when she contracted it.

Please pray with me that I take her to the doctor on Monday, and Dr. Miller says, "Oh, Lindsay, you are such a drama queen.  She just has a damaged nail bed.  It will grow out in a couple of weeks.  And while we're at it, her ears are fine, and the fact that she threw up was purely coincidental.  She's perfectly healthy and ready for another day at Tropicanoe Cove."

A mommy can hope, right?  Right.  Thanks in advance for your prayers.  You guys are my rocks.