The Tale Of Twain Bestsellers

Jackson Update. He just underwent craniosynostosis reconstructive surgery. In his Mommy, Serene's words.

The difference between the first 12 hours post-surgery and the next 12 hours were as dramatically different as night and day. Now that we were managing his pain and he was eating regularly, he seemed content to just be held. Besides having all the nurses oogle over his super-cuteness, which included his chubby cheeks and rolly thighs they would also comment on how amazingly good he looked for just having had surgery. Perhaps they say that to everyone, but it still made me feel good. When the neuro-surgeon stopped by, he remarked on how great Jackson's sutures looked and was impressed with how little swelling he had. Then he completely shocked us by saying he was fine with us leaving that day since all his blood work came back great! But that plastics (the plastic surgeon) had the final say on that. I couldn't help but feel a bit... I don't know, nervous? Surprised? Elated? Terrified? All of the above mixed together in a cocktail of emotions. Shaken, not stirred. Someone from the plastics team stopped by later and again seemed highly impressed with how good he looked and was eating. And again even later, Dr. Siddiqi came by to check on us personally, commented on how little swelling he had and that everything looked great! Then he too said we could check out of the hospital anytime we felt ready. In truth, I wasn't sure at all that I felt ready! We were in the hospital for five days after Alayna's procedure. And here with Jackson, it had been less than 24 hours since his surgery and everyone was saying we could leave! I just couldn't get over the difference. I know we experienced our own little miracles in both of our children's craniosynostosis cases. Nothing had gone wrong during either surgery, not even the slightest complication. And with both post-surgery experiences, the surgeons were so impressed with how well each child had done, how little swelling they had, and how quickly they recovered. So thank you all again for your prayers in our behalf. I have no doubt the prayers were answered. So, we finally checked out of the hospital about 5:00pm Saturday night. That's only 29 hours after his surgery. Jackson and I stayed in Salt Lake because he had another appointment on Wednesday to get his head scanned for the helmet he will be wearing for the next 6-9 months. There had to be those few days in between so the swelling and fluid could go down enough to get accurate measurements. We will drive back to pick up his helmet, and have a check-up with the surgeon on January 21st.

Blogging Friends.... Warning. This is yet another self-serving "therapy session". {Don't worry. I am not suffering from any minor mood swing-infused pity parties!! Yet. Oddly enough, I nearly always suffer from mood swings after writing these "therapy sessions". This could be interesting!!} So, come. Sit. Have a cup of tea, coffee, soda, wine, or just plain water. Read on as God gradually works through my life....

"Minuscule is good!

Trust me, it’s much better than thinking everything you do is important and meaningful. That is not good.” --Robert Downey Jr.

Twain books. Among the gifts that I received for Christmas were two inspirational memoirs. One of which I actually placed on my Amazon Wish List in an effort--much like a dare!!--to prove something. Halfheartedly. Prove something.... To whom? Me. That I, a writer {Unpublished.} can not only ask for a book, but perhaps immerse myself in reading again. Well. As much as anybody with attention deficit disorder, premature short-term memory loss, and poor reading comprehension skills possibly can. Allow me to explain. I have not read any books ever since my dream of being a published author was broken and shattered. That's right. None. Why? Because of petty envy. See, I want what these published authors have. And I cannot help but wonder. How did they get published? So I stopped immersing myself in books somewhere along the way. Although. Due to having A.D.D., premature short-term memory loss, and a lack of reading comprehension skills, I never consistently immersed myself in books. Besides. Truth be told? I would much rather write than read!! Example. When my family vacationed at our cabin in the woods last August, everyone else read to leisurely pass their time. Me? I wrote a fictional children's story about imaginary monkeys in my journal!! Yes, I had packed books--the newest historical American Girl, Caroline--but they were barely even touched!! And I still have not read them. Now. Back to those twain books that I received for Christmas. The one which I requested? "Heaven is Here: an incredible story of hope, triumph, and everyday joy" by Stephanie Nielson. The other inspirational memoir that I received? It is titled "Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption" by Katie Davis. Both books each have two things in common. The authors are Bloggers, much like myself. And. As I looked at both of these books' covers, my eyes caught four words typed in all uppercase letters on top.

New York Times Bestseller.

Coincidence? I think not. It seems to me that God is telling me something. Let your broken, shattered, unobtainable dream go, yet keep writing. I just created a fictional children's story about this little girl who was born with congenital diaphragmatic hernia. My birth defect. It is titled "The Star". My heart, soul, and never-shuts-down Brain Juices created that story!! To which I posted on "Minuscule is good!"!! It has gained five comments thus far--three of them C.D.H. Moms!!--plus {Right now!! It rises and falls faster than gasoline prices!!} sixty-six view counts!! And, you know what? I cannot wait to write next month's fictional children's story!! Because. I have discovered that I'm addicted to Writing Projects. They give me a high like nothing else in this world {Not even chocolate!!} and provide immense inner happiness!! Once I'm finished with a certain Writing Project, I come off of my high only wanting another. Immediately!! So it's a positive that my crazy never-shuts-down head seemingly works overtime!! Such is the life of an artist!! Perhaps I have not published any New York Times Bestsellers. But what can I say? "Minuscule is good! Trust me, it's much better than thinking everything you do is important and meaningful. That is not good.". Now. Will you excuse me. I believe I've got some Bestsellers to read!!