Two weeks in review

Remember those movie critics that would give a "thumbs up" or a "thumbs down" to a movie after they reviewed it?  Well, I'm giving the double thumbs down to the past two weeks!



Homecoming for Hannah (Nate stayed home with me and played video games)



 Hannah and Nate have been more than a handful lately.  Nate made some risky choices and now we are engaged in some long term help which we hope has come at the right time.  Many times the past week I have been brought to my knees praying for his safety, bartering everything I own and am to erase all that happened and return to the 'happy' point before all of this.  But I quickly realized that we all make mistakes, God doesn't want to barter and healing process began the point we all fixed our hearts and minds on getting better.  It's painful.  It's humbling (I never thought I would be "one of those mom's" who's kid tried something).  It's all about Nate now.  The right, and most amazing people have been placed in our path on this journey.  I can't even begin to explain who or how or why, but I'm in awe at every turn.  Nate feels better.  He is making some incredible decisions about which path he is choosing for this next year.  Is it weird to say I couldn't be prouder, even though I was the most disappointed I have ever been?     

  Liam is having a blast at preschool.  But his expressive speech has really taken a turn for the worse lately.  So we are going to call WWU speech services this next week and get him connected to special help.  He continues to be a really sweet little boy. 

Tommy is loving preschool although *super* active there and easily distracted.  He is still not pronouncing a single word.  His signing is slightly improved but not many words there either.  He is just so incredibly active running, jumping, climbing that he doesn't talk.  The past two weeks have been frustrating with him because he can't tell me what's wrong or ask for a food item.   I'm going to look into the point/talk system and WWU for him too. 



Tommy ready for school



Hannah is cheering just for Sehome now and it greatly is helping with her stress level and mood.  She is fourth from the left at the game last night where we froze.  She hit a breaking point this last week with Running Start at college, High school and two cheer teams.  It was ugly.  

Me and Hannah freezing at half time

Perhaps the biggest "thumbs down" has been my dad's health.  He was diagnosed  few weeks ago with Aortic Stenosis and was termed a probable open heart candidate to get a biological valve as the replacement.  He was to undergo two additional tests, one is done already and shows many of the arteries surrounding the heart also have calcification.  The second test will be done soon and will show for sure what the extent of those arteries look like for either proper medication or surgerical options.  My dad is 87 this year and is the picture perfect healthy man.  If the surgery changes from valve replacement to bypass plus valve replacement he will probably decide not to do it.   My dad has been the best dad in the world and a father for almost half his entire life.  I just can't imagine him not healthy when he has rarely ever been sick and definately not needed many health related help over the years.  Please keep my dad in your prayers.  For continued well being until the next test is performed and for peace & comfort in knowing whatever he decides to do it will be the right answer. 

Off to the pumpkin patch later today to turn the tide on the "thumbs down" review.  

Dusting off the cobwebs

I've decided, with a consensus of one because it is just me doing this blog, that I'm going to rename it and open my daily life to a more honest view of my heart.   So, I might change the name again, I might change the background, I might make other adjustments, but I'm dusting the cobwebs off so I can talk about more than just Tommy, more than just my kids, more of our life.  Be patient.  It will be worth it I hope in the end.

Buddy Walk 2010

 Lots of fun this year with music, old friends, new friends, cheerleaders, silent auction, raffle, goody bags... the list goes on!  Hannah and Liam.

Hannah and Alyssa with Tommy.

Nate, Hannah, cousin Mack, his friend Jeffrey and Alyssa.

 Liam and Tommy on a lunch break!

Cooper and Tommy really enjoyed the bubbles!!!

I love this picture of Hannah, me and Alyssa

Tommy loves a good bird seed pool.

 Daddy and Liam having a blast!  As usual.



Children's visit for echo and communication journals to school

I keep meaning to sit down and update the blog, but wow have we been busy.  This is Tommy and Liam's second year at early intervention preschool.  This year I made them new communication books for the daily back and forth information from me to teachers, nurse, SLP and/or OT.  These worked fantastic last year.  First of all, their teacher Mrs G is fabulous.  And with all the information in one spot, I'm more likely to remember issues, SLP homework, etc.  Aren't they just plain cute?

This is what last year's journals looked like with the information going back and forth.

We spent an entire day at Children's recently.  Left Ferndale at 5:30am and didn't get back until well after dinnertime.  Tommy had his regular 6 month echo on his heart and we met with General Surgery to look at his pending hyrnias and his G-tube.  We also took candy to our favorite blood draw tech Hector.   Daddy and Liam are very sleepy in the wee hours.  Liam was allowed to keep his pj's on for awhile, so was Tommy but Daddy wasn't :)

We checked Tommy in at 7am for a sedated echo.  Sedated because.... have you seen Tommy lately?   He is a wild man of bursting energy and to stay still for an echo was just not his scene.  So, he didn't actually receive the sedation until almost 9am (grrrr) and he was given 1000 mg of Chloral Hydrate (65mg/kg) and after 30 minutes of BEATING me and JUMPING and BANGING his head while his eyes were closed, I finally asked for another nurse to help me and expected him to fall softly to sleep...at....any....moment.  The nurse assured me that 30 mins was about when most kids drift off.  Well, the nurse practicioner needed to come back and Tommy received an additional 150 mg of Chloral Hydrate and after a total of 70 minutes of the most BALISTIC and WRITHING and HEAD banging and TOSSING and THROWING himself off the bed dozens of times with me catching him,  and a total of THREE nurses... we finally watched Tommy absolutely... in .... one...split...second...drift to sleep.  That is him below.  Sleeping. 

I'm in the opposite corner curled up..in a ball... twirling my hair.... sucking my thumb... teary eyed.

One of the nurses said it was the most "impressive" displays of a reaction she has seen in her nearly 25 yr career.  I dared her to say "worse".  She didn't.  But she did tell Colin when he finally came to join us with Liam after their breakfast that I deserved a medal. 

I won't allow Tommy to ever go thru that again.  Of course he doesn't remember it because of the type of drug it was.  But I know what happened.  And we won't do that again.

The echo pictures were good enough to determine we don't have to go back for a year!  The mitral valve still has a mild to moderate leak.  But it's been consistent.  And can probably wait until his teens or older to repair.  Tommy celebrated with yogurt.  I waited until at home to celebrate with something tall and cold.

General surgery was equally as great of news.  The hyrnias are fine for now and just need to be watched.  His G-tube looked great and we are caring for it just fine.  The surgeon even offered to look at Tommy's undescended testicles in preparation for a visit to Urology in December.  He didn't think we needed to do anything.  So... the next year we have, drum roll please, no surgeries!

One really good additional thing happened that day, Colin and I rotated caring for Tommy so that the other one could take Liam into EVERY playroom in the hospital.  We had a blast with Liam.  Painting, coloring, walking, talking, playing with cars, the whole works.  Very sweet one on one time with a very sweet toddler.



Back to school

I'm here to admit I'm sad to say that Thursday will mark all four kids back in school.  Anyone that knows me knows that I'm an easy crier as it is, but when the kids have their supplies packed and their new clothes on I'm a big cry baby!  Time is just flying by too quickly.

Tommy & Liam got a late start with the Ferndale strike, but the teachers unanimously voted to accept the offer and preschool will start on Thursday, we love our teachers.  Hannah is a junior this year splitting her time between Sehome HS and WCC in running start.  Nate is a sophmore and is starting to enjoy attending his first year at Exporations which is a small independent school and has already been on a camping trip with and it almost has a homeschool feel to it.  Four very different school schedules to keep track of, plus two cheerleading calendars, google calendar will be busy with our family.

So with kids back in school my attention is turning to volunteering.  The 7th annual Buddy Walk for Down syndrome outreach, is on October 2nd at 11am at the Fairhaven Village Green Park!  Last year I spent some time organizing a piece of this fundraising event, the silent auction.  This year I'll put some more time to this wonderful event that also brings so many beautiful families together.


Next, if you want to "Learn What’s Happening to Strengthen Services for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs and their Families in Whatcom County" -- Community Meeting Friday, September 17, 2010 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM Bring Your Lunch Beverages Provided St. Luke’s Community Health Education Center 3333 Squalicum Parkway Bellingham, WA 98227
* Hear from guest speakers from Pope’s Kids Place and Children’s Village, two thriving programs that came about as a result of community efforts in Centralia and Yakima
* Hear updates about progress being made by Whatcom Taking Action for CYSHCN, our own community’s group effort (I've spent not nearly enough volunteer time on, but thoroughly enjoy the direction and focus)
* Have a chance to ask questions of our guests from Children’s Village and Pope’s Kids Place For information about this community meeting, contact Margaret Jahn: mjahn3333@comcast.net
More information on events and comittees that lead to this meeting:

http://www.whatcomcounty.us/health/children/taking_action.jsp

And of course volunteering for the schools when I can.  Usually, because I work, it's more of volunteering on projects that I can do in the evening, or chaperoning a field trip once a year.

Besides volunteering, fall has brought Colin & I to sign up for a back to school class.  We saw the title at Sunday service, "Joy of Marriage" and looked puzzled at each other.  What?  Joy?  Granted we have plenty of joy in our marriage but often it's also stressed and pulled and reprioritized and forgotten.  Go ahead, laugh at us.  Our first small group meeting is this Friday and I'll let you know how the class goes and if we get a little more "joy" put back in our hearts.  God has great plans for us as a couple.  I know this.  Colin knows this.  I'm thinking this might become a class PLUS date night.  We deserve it!

Tommy's Story at OneTrueMedia.com

Join us October 2 Saturday at 11am at the Village Green Park in Fairhaven for the 7th annual Buddy Walk in Whatcom County.

Here is Tommy's first three and a half years to provide you a little incentive and motivation.

We hope to raise $500 for Down syndrome outreach of Whatcom County, come walk with us.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Homemade laundry soap

Since I'm mixing up another batch today, I thought I would write out the recipe for "Homemade Laundry Soap".  It's safe for septic systems and HE machines.  We have been using it since March of this year and have really enjoyed the lemony smell and how inexpensive it is! 

1/3 of 5 ounce Fels Naptha soap, grated
1/2 cup of washing soda (not baking soda)
1/2 cup boraxo (20 mule team is just fine)

Have two 1 gallon bottles (we use well washed milk jugs) and a funnel for filling them.  You will need 13 cups very warm water in these bottles.
Also 8 one quart squirt bottles (dish detergent type, water bottles, soda bottles) empty.

First step:  grate fels naphtha coarsely with a cheese grater (we dedicate a grater to our soap making and don't use it for food obviously)

Second step:  add grated soap to 6 cups water in a pan on stove (we dedicate a pot just to soap making and don't reuse for food) and heat medium low until completely dissolved. 

Take off heat, add other ingredients and stir until completely dissolved, smooth and a little thickened. 

Add hot soap mixture to hot water in bottles (3 cups of soap mixture plus 13 cups of warm water = 1 gallon)

Mix and while still quite warm pour into smaller bottles.  It will "set up" as it cools.  Then it will dispense smoothly through the squirt bottles or you can shake them a bit to break up the gel.  We stopped using the squirt bottles due to the volume of laundry and just use the gallon jugs.  We actually make a double batch of this recipe each time :)   Use 1/2 cup per load.

Enjoy!