Moments (and Art) to Remember

It’s been a rough week.

On Tuesday morning Leo woke up sounding like he was starting to get a cold. No runny nose or sneezing, just congested breathing and a rough cough. At 3 a.m. on Wednesday morning we ended up in the emergency room concerned with his breathing and the barking that he was doing. The doctor gave him a steroids shot and then sent us on our way.

On Friday afternoon, Leo’s conditions returned, he was breathing faster than normal and really having to work hard to breathe in. I picked him up early from the babysitter’s house and took him straight to the quick-care clinic near our house. The doctor on call recommended that we get him to the ER and then admit him in to the hospital overnight. So we headed over to the ER again where they started an IV, did some blood work, gave him several rounds of steroids and breathing treatments and took X-rays of his throat and chest. With the tests they were able to determine that Leo’s epiglottis was swollen, causing his breathing to be strained even more than just the croup conditions.

Leo was admitted into the hospital to stay Friday night so the nurses could continue to monitor him and administer treatments. Luckily Leo really responded well to the breathing treatment and additional steroids that they gave him in his room, and he was dismissed Saturday at noon.

Here’s some photos of Leo’s ER and hospital visit:

We’re 36 hours removed our first visit to the ER, and Leo seems to be on the mend. You can tell he’s still not feeling well, because he’s not really interested in the active playtime activities that he usually enjoys, and he still doesn’t have an appetite. We’ve taken advantage of the downtime by reading more books, spending more time on the floor playing with his stacking cups and shapes bucket. It’s been fun watching him discover how things can fit together and come back apart.

Here’s a 2-minute video of Leo getting his first shapes through the bucket lid, with a little help from Brandon.

Leo had been shuffling between the couch and recliner for a few days, but one evening he pulled up in the middle of the room and started walking. Luckily enough, I had the camera! You can hear my excitement and Brandon cheering for KU (and Leo) in the background.

Ten years ago I was celebrating New Year’s Eve at the Love residence in Lebo, Kansas. Of course, by celebrate, I mean stay up until midnight with several of my classmates ringing in our New Year (without any alcohol, of course, since we had 6 a.m. basketball practice the next day). This was our year, the one that would see us each graduate from Lebo High School and strike out into the world on our own.

It’s amazing to believe that it’s only been 10 short years. So much has taken place since then, so many things that have played a big part in my life. Since today is the last day of the decade, it feels appropriate to acknowledge the top 10 moments that have taken place (in chronological order):

May 1999 – Graduated from Lebo High School as salutatorian of my class.

August 1999 – Played a year of collegiate volleyball at Cowley County in Arkansas City, Kansas.

December 2000 – Met Brandon Sheley, a friend of one of my best friends, Jason Carpenter.

September 2001 – Moved to Topeka, Kansas.

October 2002 – Married Brandon Sheley on a beach in St. Lucia.

August 2004 – Had my first solo art show at New City Cafe, and experienced my first sale.

December 2004 – Graduated from Washburn University with a B.A. in Studio Art and a Minor in Women’s Studies.

August 2005 – Started working at jones huyett Partners.

September 2008 – Moved into our house on Tutbury Town.

March 2009 – Had my son, Leo Mason, at The Birth & Women’s Center.