What a difference a week makes!

Annalee's stitches came out today! It's been exactly 1 week since her accident, and we think she looks a ton better. All the bruising and swelling are gone, and now we just pray for no scarring. The doctor seemed confident that there will be no scar. I must brag that she was amazing through the whole doctor's visit...so brave and tough. It made me so thankful that she is such a submissive, compliant child; she just laid there and let him do his work. And because of this, she did NOT have to be strapped down, a HUGE relief to both of us! She cried a little because she was scared, but just during the actual removal of the stitches which lasted all of about 2 minutes. Thank you to everyone who was praying for her...we really felt them!!

And here's a cute picture of Addie being her usual playful, goofy self.

new name?

It just occurred to me that we will have to change the name of our blog.

Quick Annalee update: she gets her stitches out on Tuesday. Please pray that it will be a quick, painless, and non-traumatic experience. She will have to be restrained again. Her cut is looking so great, no more swelling and only a faint bruise that is already yellowing. Thanks for all of your prayers.

the past 24 hours

Annalee has been so good since yesterday's event, not even acting like anything is wrong. I'm so proud of her. Cute story: Yesterday afternoon she was asking questions about her cut, and I was explaining to her everything that had happened. After I had described her injury, she observed that it was "Just like my giraffe!" Which is her stuffed animal whose stitching had come undone and you could see inside it. I was astonished she could make this connection between her cut and her giraffe. So I said, "That's right! Do you want me to give him stitches just like yours? She replied, "Yes, but don't put the needle in me!" So I got out my sewing kit and stitched up the giraffe, and she was fascinated!
She slept very well last night (I thought she might wake up, but she didn't), and when I got her up this morning, her eye looked a lot better than I expected. It was almost swollen shut (and has since opened back up to what it was last night), but there wasn't nearly as much bruising as I'd anticipated: just a slightly purple tint. Here is a link to a picture I took last night of her with her stitches. And here is a picture of what she looks like this morning.

I've been dreading this day...

I knew this day would eventually come, but I don't think you can ever be prepared for your first trip to the doctor for stitches. Annalee was running, tripped, and fell hard into the corner of our coffee table. I was a few feet away in the kitchen and didn't actually see it, but I heard the thud...and the blood-curdling scream that followed. I ran to see the damage, and I was definitely not ready for all the blood and 3-cm cut that goes across her right eyebrow. It was a nightmare come true. I scooped her up and ran to get a towel to apply pressure, and my mind was racing to figure out what to do. I never had anything like this happen to me; I'm pretty sheltered when it comes to injuries. I called Lee and he met me at the house, and Terri was able to come take care of Addie while Lee & I took Annalee to the doctor. The cut was deep enough (the muscle underneath was split) that she needed 2 layers of stitches. She was scared to death, mostly because she knew she would have to get a shot (which was by far the worst part). They also had to put gauze over her eyes so she couldn't see, and tie her down so she couldn't move. Lee and I both stayed by her side and tried to comfort her as the doctor and nurses worked on her. She handled it amazingly well. She got a total of 12 stitches: 4 underneath and 8 on the outside. I took a picture of the cut while we were waiting on the doctor, but I don't want to post it here incase anyone has a weak stomach. But, if you want to see it, click here.
The whole thing was excruciating for me to watch, and at times Lee was comforting me as much as Annalee. This is the first time I have experienced that overwhelming sense that parents always talk about where you will give anything to take your child's pain away. I felt so helpless. And now that it's all over with, she seems to be doing just fine. After we got done, we asked her what she wanted for lunch. I can't say I was surprised to hear "macaroni and cheese and green beans!" Her appetite was not at all affected by the event, because she ended up eating 2 helpings of each as well as some fruit.

Reflections....
As I am looking back on that experience, I must admit that in the heat of the moment I was questioning God: "Why did this happen?" "Why her face?" "Why such a large wound?" But now after having time to think, I am so thankful for several things. One, thank goodness it is where it is: Another inch down and we'd be in a much more serious situation! Also, it's right along her eyebrow, and the doctor said the scar will be very obscure. Two: it is a very clean, straight cut: it will heal much better and leave a much fainter scar.
As I ponder even deeper, I can't help but be in awe of God and how He had to watch His Son go through so much worse, knowing that He had to endure it in order to save the world. That is unimaginable to me. I know our situation is on a microscopic level in comparison, but because of this experience, I definitely have a truer and more vivid appreciation for God's love for me.

IT'S A.......

BOY!!!

Yes, after first thinking it looked like a girl because he had his "parts" tucked away, the doctor came back to take a second look a few minutes later and said it is definitely a boy! And looking at the pictures, there is no doubt!
This was a very fun sonogram because it was a very long one (like 20 minutes or so), and the doctor was very good about explaining everything he was looking at, which was fascinating even on this third time around. Also the baby was moving around a ton! We could see him kicking, opening and closing his mouth, wiggling his fingers, and he even sucked his thumb at one point!

Back from the Big D

Lee and I took what seemed like a whirlwind trip to Dallas for the past few days, our main objective being to see his sister Becky's senior recital at Dallas Baptist University. She is graduating in May with a degree in Music Composition, and one of her requirements was to compose music and have musicians perform her music at an end-of-year recital. Yes, she COMPOSED music for several different instruments and a choir, then hired musicians to perform the music she wrote! It was absolutely amazing and beautiful, and I was able to get a few video clips for those of you who missed it. There were 8-10 different pieces, and the recital lasted about 45 minutes. Becky, you did awesome and we're so impressed!!

sample from the piano piece


sample from the string quartet


sample from the choir

We were also invited to Lee's cousin Allison's birthday party the next day, so we drove to their house in Cleburne. Let me tell you...the girls could not have had more fun! Allison's sister Lindsey has a horse that Annalee got to ride!! She loved it! Thank you to Lindsey & Lee's Uncle Alan for helping Annalee overcome her initial fear. Then she discovered that Bitsy eats grass, and that was even more fun than riding her; she must have hand-fed her for at least 30 minutes. Addie wasn't really interested in the horse, so she found something to ride (see below).

Annalee riding Bitsy with Becky
Lindsy showing Annalee how to feed Bitsy
Addie riding Alan's tractor

Aside from that, we also got to go to the Dallas Zoo, a Dunn family favorite past time. We were talking in the car on the way to the zoo and realized that the girls have already been to 5 different zoos in Texas! (Ft. Worth, Dallas, Waco, Abilene, & Austin)

nothing major to report here...

Many of you have been asking how I'm doing, feeling, and if we know the sex of the baby yet. I'll try to give a brief update. I'm nearly 16 weeks along and doing great, other than a nagging lower back injury that I've battled off & on since training for my first marathon in '02. It seems to get worse when I'm pregnant for some reason. I'm feeling super otherwise, since I'm in my 2nd trimester and am not dealing with nausea or fatigue anymore. As for the baby...I felt him/her move a week and a half ago for the first time, and about once a day since then. And I'm counting down the HOURS till we find out the sex....can't wait for that. April 21 is the big day.
Although Addie is far too young to comprehend what is going on with me, Annalee definitely understands as well as a 2-1/2 year old could. She's excited about getting to hold the baby and knows he/she will cry a lot. If you ask her if it's a boy or a girl, she will usually say a girl and that her name should be Addie. On the rare occasion she says it will be a boy, she says his name will be Josiah (her cousin). So sweet.

Easter happenings

I was able to go to Lubbock to visit my family while Lee went fishing over the 4 days leading up to Easter. Thanks for all the goodies, Shirley!! Then, as in true Midland weather style, the days went from sunny/70s to overcast/rainy/freezing overnight. Easter Sunday was hardly ideal weather for hunting eggs, but the kids didn't seem to mind! We invited some other families with young children to join in the fun.

decorating our dyed eggs with princess stickers

Annalee with her new Easter book

Addie anticipating the bubbles being blownEaster dresses!

She really wanted the egg in that hole!
Addie doing what she really loves...playing
Check out that loot!

the end

Well, I'm sad to report that the Chaps' season came to an end this weekend. It was a real bummer, because they played well, but the other team just caught fire and couldn't be contained. That team ended up winning the tournament.

Congratulations, Wally, on a great season, and for finishing so well. You played awesome and we had a blast going to all of your games. We are so proud of you!

Let's go Chaps!

The Midland College basketball team (above, Wally is the white guy on the back row) has won their first game in the Regional Tournament, and Lee & I and the girls are traveling this afternoon to cheer them on in their next (hopefully) 2 games. If they win this tourney, they advance to the National Tournament in 2 weeks. Their next game is tomorrow at 12:30 against South Plains College, and if they win, they advance to the finals on Sunday at 2:00. Pray for a win!