tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73587381695054375392024-03-05T11:21:17.649-06:00All 4 JakeAll 4 Jake was created to help the Peters family during this trying time. A few friends and I had tossed around ideas on how to help. We talked about meals, hiring a maid, sending a card, sending flowers and then we decided we needed to do something to actually HELP Jake. Not only through donations, but also through Epilepsy awareness. Unforeseen circumstances can be tough on a family, but through knowledge, support, prayer and love, I believe anything is possible.Brandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17197102648319986386noreply@blogger.comBlogger203125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7358738169505437539.post-50272523325350751572013-08-25T21:43:00.002-05:002013-08-25T21:43:26.015-05:00Anniversaries?Are anniversaries always a good thing?<br />
<br />
This school year marks our 5th year living with the beast.<br />
<br />
Other anniversaries of that summer 5 years ago have come and gone, No biggie that was our life.<br />
<br />
This anniversary is different. I don't consciously think about it and what our eyes , and our precious baby girls eyes, have seen, but I cant seem to find minutes with dry eyes lately.<br />
<br />
I HONESTLY don't recall , but a few hours of our past five years in memories. However, this summer has made it real. <br />
<br />
We used to be able to just love on Jake, explain" things" to Addison and even Coop and everything would be ok.<br />
<br />
<br />
As I was thinking about our first hospital stay a couple weeks ago, I received the most awful text ever. I finally got a sense of what my closet friends and family were feeling when I texted or called about what was happening to Jake. Brandy, cowriter on this site, was riding in an ambulance with her baby girl just 2 weeks ago. A 2 hour ride, not knowing what would be said after those ambulance doors swung open, a medical team rushed to your baby and pushed you aside, and drs poked and prodded on that baby some more. <br />
<br />
Sweet E had not been acting right and the mothers/grandmas gut kicked in. Once again people/dr.s tell you know biggie. But, a mother knows.<br />
<br />
Emery and her parents lives have changed, on our 5 year anniversary<br />
<br />
Just as I was praying to God to take me not ,in an ambulance, on a sweet summer day, Brandy did the same, I am sure<br />
<br />
There lives are now forever changed as well. <br />
<br />
Type 1 , juvenile diabetes<br />
<br />
<br />
Here Brandy was trying to take my pain away, not understanding how God could be so cruel to a little kid, supporting Epilepsy, and she finds herself now in the same boat.<br />
<br />
SO... This anniversary IS VERY different. We hit our big 5 year anniversary and it is HARD.<br />
<br />
5 years ago today I was in a hospital bed for the third week with our boy.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
2nd hospital , 3rd week, weeks not seeing my baby girl, wondering what the hell is happening to our baby boy, weeks of useless medication, needeless needles, mri's, ct's, all telling us nothing about was is wrong with our first son.,<br />
<br />
BLAH,BLAH,BLAH...thousands of seizures later. His brain took the toll. he used to be the "smartest" in his class, the most articulate, the most creative and definitely the most witty. I see Coop and Jake at the same "stage" at 3, but Jake was actually even more "with it."( those of you who know Cooper know what I am talking about) smart kids these boys are. I stare at Coop everyday, just certain he is about to have a seizure, or just had one, as he is the same age as Jake, when "Jake happened.", <br />
<br />
So, on the eve of another school year, our boy finally knows the hand he has been dealt. Tthe damage the beast has done on his brain.<br />
<br />
He is dreading school. dreading to the extent of hiding, crying, convincing...me that he does not need to go. <br />
<br />
You see, he NOW realizes he has to work harder than his peers to get the same result. This boy loves to read, however he does not see the words the way others do. He loves to write, but his hands don't work the way "normal" kids hands work.<br />
<br />
He recognizes this now. Heartbreaking for parents. Absolutely heartbreaking. This is certainly not our pity party, but more a recognition of how much I hate the beast.<br />
<br />
Tucking one in with glitter in her eyes, and another one who sent me to crawl in the bathroom and cry like a baby.<br />
<br />
<br />
Tonight was hard, real hard.<br />
<br />
<br />
This is not what I would have imagined our life to be, but it is ours.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow will be easier.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Isaiah 41:10 </strong><em>fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.</em></div>
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<br />
<br />
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Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00238554233528582595noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7358738169505437539.post-25611235246470410672012-09-18T22:25:00.000-05:002013-04-10T21:20:08.342-05:00They're back!<b></b>I can not find the words tonight, and have not for a long time, hence the no posting.<br />
<br />
I am already feeling a "sigh of relief" just starting this post, though. The venting "out loud" is a great therapy!:-)<br />
<br />
Long story short.....back in June i suspected Jake was having seizures again. My suspucions started on the top of a water slide @ our gym. Jake and i were taunting each other about the race we were about to have. suddenly, but slowly he was gone. His eyes rolled back, and he was gone. it was only for a matter of seconds, but i knew "that look."<br />
I immediately raced Jake down that slide and called Brandy in tears. We both kinda blew it off, but deep down I think we both knew a mommas heart never lies. She and I both knew...<br />
<br />
I kind of watched , or stared , or obsessed over him the beginning of the summer. my gut told me something wasn't right. His behavior started getting very erratic, his adhd was out of control, his emotions (which he has never shown), were heartbreaking.<br />
<br />
Finally one morning, as he and I drank coffee and watched scooby doo , the only ones awake, on a beautiful summer dawn, i saw it. Not only did i see it, he definitely felt it. he told me he was hot, his head hurt and he felt "irritated." the next thing i knew our boy was gone....the look on his face was the look i had seen too many times before. i could see in his eyes him asking for my help. he was pleading to me to unleash the beast. <br />
<br />
I sat, I could not do anything. I was lost.<br />
<br />
how the hell is this happening again?<br />
<br />
I called the dr. <br />
<br />
He didn't believe me. We got an egg in early June it showed nothing, except crazy mother syndrome.<br />
<br />
long story short...it kept happening, I finally caught a good one on video, we went for 2 more eegs, and low and behold Jake is having seizures.<br />
<br />
<br />
so we are back at adding meds, adjusting meds and having a 7 year old sleep with us.<br />
<br />
seizures suck!<br />
<br />
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<br />Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00238554233528582595noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7358738169505437539.post-33845340599566976192012-03-03T23:25:00.001-06:002012-03-03T23:30:30.810-06:00December eegHere we are aready in March and still have not updated since the Decmeber egg. Trust me when I say being a stay at home mom is much more than I expected! LOVE it , wouldnt change it for a minute, but it sure makes me wonder how I ever got three kids out the door and fed by 6:45, to three different drop offs, while selling the house and leaving it in "showing" order, to only return at 6:00pm feed the crew again for dinner, finish the work from my work day, spend some time with the husband and start all over and do it again the next day.<br />
<br />
Shoot that was easy compared to this!;-)<br />
<br />
December eeg was very different from the one before. I could feel it in my bones. I could sense it from the eeg tech. Jake, again was supposed to be in for the entire day, but was only there 1 maybe 2 hours before we were "released." <br />
<br />
I knew in my gut it wasnt the "happy ending" that we had a month or so before. I was told to go home and they would call me after the weekend, or maybe a week or so to report the results.. Yeah right!! I said, "no , i was promised we would be told if we could take drugs away or not..." so after a little waiting, dr h came and confirmed my worst fears..we have seizure activity.<br />
<br />
booo..hate to hear that. however, he said the activity he saw was activity that many people are walking around with today and have never and will never see any effects of. He wanted to be cautious though, and did not want to take away any more meds at this time. <br />
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Jake is still on felbatol, and clobazam, and a butt load of vitamins, but he didnt have to add back the Depakote.<br />
<br />
Since losing the depakote, Jake's background slowing has disappeared! within 4 weeks minus this drug, it is gone! He has had it since Doose became a true diagnosis almost 3 years ago , to the day. <br />
<br />
Background slowing in basically a "fog" that Jake has been in since having seizures and being on so many meds. It is what has caused the drooling, trembling, stuttering, and out to lunch personality. It is the static on the tv that is hard to see through, because you're focusing so much on trying to see through it.<br />
<br />
Jakes slowing was 3-4. "normal" children/people have a slowing of 8 or 9. in other words his was VERY slow. that static was very intense for him.<br />
<br />
since the depokote drop, Jake has started to read, ride his bike, take on more and more friends and appear as a more "normal" child. he can run with out falling over or holding his arms like a T-rex and most importantly, we can feel our little boy coming back to us. There are many, MANY more hurdles to jump, but we will take what we can get.<br />
<br />
I certainly wish we could have rid his little body of more drugs, but am certainly happy with the results thus far.<br />
<br />
thanks for praying for our little man! there are many more things to update! come back tomorrow and I will fill you in!<br />
<br />
<strong><em>Trust in the LORD with all your heart,</em></strong><br />
<strong><em></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>and do not lean on your own understanding. </em></strong><br />
<strong><em>In all your ways acknowledge him,</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>and he will make straight your paths. </em></strong><br />
<strong><em>Proverbs 3:5-6</em></strong>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00238554233528582595noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7358738169505437539.post-54649603257595154342011-12-14T12:24:00.001-06:002011-12-14T12:26:38.553-06:00Doose Syndrome Epilepsy AllianceI would LOVE for everyone to go check out the new Doose website! It is updated and gorgeous!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://doosesyndrome.org/"><span style="color: purple;"><strong>http://doosesyndrome.org/</strong></span></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://doosesyndrome.org/"><img id="logo" src="http://doosesyndrome.org/assets/logo.png" /></a><br />
<br />
Jake's story is on there, as well as several other kiddos who are fighting the beast with him.<br />
<br />
What's amazing about this site and Doose/Epilepsy awareness, to me, is that when I was searching for ANY sort of information on Myoclonic Asatic Epilepsy, aka Doose, just 3 years ago, there was nothing to be found. What we did find was not encouraging news at all. We would have rather not read any of it.<br />
<br />
The prognosis was always very bad: mental retardation, possible death, lifelong seizures, learning disabilities etc, etc.<br />
<br />
I am quite certain that even Dr. H had his hands full with Jake and his case. I vividly remember the look in his eyes...the look of compassion and yearning to help our baby boy, but not knowing exactly how to do it. I think in some sort way Jake was a little Guinea pig, a learning tool. They, the Dr.s, were learning, just as we were also learning. <br />
<br />
The difference between Dr,.H and the other neuros, is that he tried! <br />
<br />
He tried to save our little guy and bring him back to us.<br />
<br />
We left one neuro after a week hospital stay and the parting words were "we don't know, he is a hard case." and the other; we were fired from!<br />
<br />
Dr. H and the Cook neuro team fought this battle for us and even let us drive with them through it, instead of insisting we do things "their" way. <br />
<br />
Over the years, this unawareness and these questions are changing to ones of more certainity. <br />
<br />
Changing thanks to awareness!<br />
<br />
Thank you all for all you do in helping to raise awareness for this horrible disease. The more we talk about it, and the more we share, the more everyone will become aware and try to fight the fight with these precious kiddos!<br />
<br />
What can you do to spread the word?<br />
<br />
<em><strong>Awareness without action is worthless. </strong></em><br />
<em><strong>Phil Mcgraw</strong></em>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00238554233528582595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7358738169505437539.post-45690333805304236202011-12-13T14:16:00.002-06:002011-12-13T15:00:26.263-06:001 down 2 to go<div>In Mid-November Jake and I went back to Cook Children's for, maybe the most anticipated EEG yet. The one that tells us whether or not his brain is still being bombarded by seizures. The one, that once again, reset our lives forever.</div><div></div><div>As always, Jake was super stoked about going to Cook's and seeing Dr. H. He was a little annoyed he would not be getting an iv or having blood drawn. Crazy Kid! But his spirits lifted when he saw all the leads (wires) that got to be glued to his head.</div><div></div><div>Jake was a super trooper getting hooked up with the leads. Another thing that has never really bothered him. I think he gets more pleasure from it, than pain, actually. He and the tech were cutting up and really laughing hard, until Jake said "I better stop, or I'll pee my pants!":-)</div><div></div><div><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/6MuusPWQfr" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmXbTWbGj-qBXmXUhyphenhyphenLNWHAdNsS-Ye6CMOcaylljkaQkMvEU46uqHGo4-qOge__q-y5nkPvs2Rho8kfiFDENAtpWLXrZ4Gysw9j5zHO5BUofHd9r-scxwGRP74DW6sGtngmJQiaGDA7Y/s512/DSC_0740.JPG" /></a></div><br />
The intention was to start the eeg at 8am, have an 8 hour eeg and then meet with Dr. H at 4:00pm to go over the results. Jake was hooked up almost 2 hours when the tech left and grabbed Dr. H. As he walked in, my stomach was in knots and I quite possibly could have thrown up! The anticipation of what he was goingto say was more than I could handle.<br />
<br />
The last time a tech left after only a little bit of watching the eeg, and went and got the Dr., it was not good news. Jake was seizing more than her wasn't and had to be admitted ASAP.<br />
<br />
I completely had flashbacks as they both re-entered the room on this day.<br />
<br />
However, as life has it's valleys, it most certainly has it's peaks as well.<br />
<br />
Jake's EEG was so clear, they thought he was ready to go home!<br />
As, this also meant a med wean...one that I was VERY much excited for, it also meant that "security blanket" for me was going to be taken away.<br />
<br />
I voiced my concerns, so we all agreed to let him sleep while running the eeg as well, as that is when most of his last lingering seizures were happening.<br />
<br />
So he slept.....<br />
<a href="http://goo.gl/photos/u3I8BDoqEB" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfqTY_l_hKhPOyjxxhdD-B4jesA3kwKHPqUmsellK_bPeYEeeD1MRLBZP_FwNIiyxUP6rdhCci-6ego8oq7dI1tffgHoYXVn_a6YNPvyB7wu_vj_n2FhLuhVI3lUOSRpNfJunf3L1NfSY/s512/DSC_0747.JPG" /></a><br />
and I watched....<br />
<div><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/MTpjYtpc8Q" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihg3lwcMOa880jlC9Dq-HZw5IXP0HnB31oAsZKoJ_3n0ISgW9C2TKchweEH_0t33qvSPSN0BVkpMhoTTDz-9StPycH2Zj2XybBmUkxLctTh2KW5_hgSivelbXQbI3yK-HWF6Le1S60MVE/s512/DSC_0749.JPG" /></a></div>After a 2-3 hour nap, the EEG was still clear!<br />
I almost couldn't believe it!<br />
<br />
Dr, h instructed me that we were to wean what little Depakote he was on. The wean should been done instantly and been more of a STOP than wean. I was too chicken though, and insisted on weaning anyway.:)<br />
<br />
The wean has been done now for about 3 weeks.<br />
It is completely amazing the transformation we have seen in Jake!<br />
He appears so much clearer. <br />
His hands don't tremble, he doesnt drool near as much, his handwriting and desire to do school work has done a 180, and he can carry on a "real", clear ,vivid conversation. His whole thought processing is just incredible.<br />
<br />
I can not even imagine the drug induced fog he has been living in for 3 years straight. His little brain having to metabolize all these drugs while also fighting the electricity that are seizures is just completely baffling to me.<br />
<br />
However, We are not done yet.<br />
He still has 2 more to go.<br />
<br />
Jake goes back Friday for another 8 hour eeg. If that one is still clear, the Felbatol is the next to go.<br />
<br />
Yikes!<br />
<br />
I can't believe the wish we have been wishing , for 3 years, may actually be coming true.<br />
<br />
Please keep Sir Jake in your prayers, as he battles this damn beast.<br />
<br />
<br />
<em><strong>Psalm 18:32-34 the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.</strong></em>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00238554233528582595noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7358738169505437539.post-10456703917930894532011-10-19T20:55:00.001-05:002011-10-19T21:03:29.773-05:00embarrassed!I am so embarrassed, guilty and dissatisfied with myself! seriously has it been since May that I have last posted?<br />
<br />
May?? uggh hate that i have let it get that long. I keep saying..every day since the last post...."<br />
I will post tomorrow." obviously that has not happened.<br />
<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">When I came and looked at the blog tonight I now know why it has been so long. I have mostly written about hard, bad times. That was easy for me. It was my release.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I know it's cliche, but I truly believe no one can truly understand. probably most of my Doose mommas,and my cook epilepsy mommas, but no one can truly understand what hundreds of seizures a day <em>really</em> feels like. The trips to the er, the not knowing when another one will come, the feeling guilty for having to ask any someone to help with another Dr. visit, er outing, or car pool. Thge anxiety it has created is like no other.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So those were the hard, bad times, right? Now, looking at this page, hearing the music, it takes me back. I have avoided it on purpose. I often wonder who I was before it all . What i used to be like? Did I worry 24/7, not sleep at night, like I do now? Was I a nervous nelly? Did I stress and over think every little moment of the day? Did I every let loose and relax, as I can't seem to do now? </div><br />
Jake's doing well. he's doing VERY well. and quite frankly i don't want to jinx it by writing about it. He is doing great, so great, even writing the words brings tears to my eyes. <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Jake has made great friends here and his kindergarten class is amazing (he is repeating kinder). he is reading sight words, getting along with peer age friends, and even throwing temper tantrums :) He still VERY much struggles with writing and some social issues, but he has made great gains, since......<br />
<br />
his last seizure on Thanksgiving Day 2010!!<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">so we will travel to Cook Children's in November for an EEG. If the EEg looks good, Jake will start a med wean.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Crap...talk about worry!!! i am so very excited at the thought of one less drug, but of all the drugs, approx 10, he has tried I know Depakote had worked for him. so Depakote would be the first wean. the reasoning is because Dr., H believes, as do I, depajkote is the reason behind his constant tremoring hands, severe adhd, and lack of focus. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">If that wean goes ok, assuming eeg is clear, we will then go back to cook Childrensfor another eeg and another wean.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I ,honestly, i have not been myself in 3 years in regards to anxiety...just waiting, not sleeping, watching baby monitors, making sure he isn't too hot, too tired, too hungry. I can only imagine it is going to be a million times worse in months to come.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Rather, I hope hope it becomes worse, as that means his eeg is looking good and we are detoxing our baby of these drugs! I Will just need more drugs.:)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><br />
<em> Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" Matthew 6:25-27</em><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsBVjK56si1LfcE3eDdB-4eZ5pjV9YEAJ8jeRTzzD_itaUGObFrh3blkgAC4UtdFfhxJzRkSfoBb06ouH8XnaMhZkGpM3NaA8MiPrLVMaI80WwmofpGMK4Bueo42OheC2qnlWtjFpfNM/s1600/DSC_0564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="370" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsBVjK56si1LfcE3eDdB-4eZ5pjV9YEAJ8jeRTzzD_itaUGObFrh3blkgAC4UtdFfhxJzRkSfoBb06ouH8XnaMhZkGpM3NaA8MiPrLVMaI80WwmofpGMK4Bueo42OheC2qnlWtjFpfNM/s400/DSC_0564.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00238554233528582595noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7358738169505437539.post-17867871076202432452011-04-18T22:29:00.001-05:002011-04-18T22:33:47.505-05:00Beautimos!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgLOzxlNJST_hBAw6gMnOzTbHeEz_f2SnyhlmVpL0f1KVcoAch_Ajq5qwUFcLInowewnLwsQ8KaxQ12LgMQFl5r-q_xmHCouLs94_2zdzUmPmB96ZlpfgY9JkYvDFjUwY8B48F-FmTMA/s1600/108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgLOzxlNJST_hBAw6gMnOzTbHeEz_f2SnyhlmVpL0f1KVcoAch_Ajq5qwUFcLInowewnLwsQ8KaxQ12LgMQFl5r-q_xmHCouLs94_2zdzUmPmB96ZlpfgY9JkYvDFjUwY8B48F-FmTMA/s400/108.jpg" width="368" /></a><br />
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Well the Dallas Stroll for Epilepsy has come and gone again. I can NOT believe it!!! Seriously, it has been way too long since my last post and now even 1 week or more since the Dallas stroll for Epilepsy! What a wonderful event! We had gorgeous weather, a HUGE crowd, and much love to go around.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Team All 4 Jake raised over $3,000 and our team grew to over 95 members!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My little brother, my mom, my sister in law and niece and nephew were able to join us this year. How special that was. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Unfortunately, with our busy lives, which is a great thing, I have not even had a chance to upload any pictures yet.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Busy lives, being a great thing, meaning.....we are now busier, as we don't feel the need to sit around the house and wait..... and watch..... Jake have seizures.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">But, over Spring Break a dear friend, and an awesome photographer took some pictures of the twerps and I just had to share, as they make my heart melt each and every time I see them. How do I choose which ones to post is the question...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDg5tv-gY07ck-G3ltxx2eqwP9tOapPctXcyxveWcItp-ppLRZLsaxH3e7XkeGcmrQDzsvqGO9z5-2OlwUh5pUJQjNOyGYWuwxRg6XlwakPM_NjDCVPtefVLCslbne9Dc_lMsclaAuiYo/s1600/111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDg5tv-gY07ck-G3ltxx2eqwP9tOapPctXcyxveWcItp-ppLRZLsaxH3e7XkeGcmrQDzsvqGO9z5-2OlwUh5pUJQjNOyGYWuwxRg6XlwakPM_NjDCVPtefVLCslbne9Dc_lMsclaAuiYo/s640/111.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsmW6i-uHjLsVR9yeRFBtMsPIWQ9s8R_N7fdCx5x12vfqZwF2hFyeiv_1FXQ1eAWa8ICTqSl8PRy6PtLV1TZuDryL4hzjvTGIWRgY0fuZeCeFVI6MMs8q_BYLIZHsNUhSz5ANwgnGRphM/s1600/94.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsmW6i-uHjLsVR9yeRFBtMsPIWQ9s8R_N7fdCx5x12vfqZwF2hFyeiv_1FXQ1eAWa8ICTqSl8PRy6PtLV1TZuDryL4hzjvTGIWRgY0fuZeCeFVI6MMs8q_BYLIZHsNUhSz5ANwgnGRphM/s640/94.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_23n-UwhlPZdmMF529L2MPojDARm1x_7G6fYqMUe_zFHXB342UzusunqnpLao-Y7EnWpfFdgV460KeGdqGIMmYYjQuaSVKocSJ0wnOBnJsWXcp7VBderfyEr0tDS7TgfV82Q4HYiSyY/s1600/87.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_23n-UwhlPZdmMF529L2MPojDARm1x_7G6fYqMUe_zFHXB342UzusunqnpLao-Y7EnWpfFdgV460KeGdqGIMmYYjQuaSVKocSJ0wnOBnJsWXcp7VBderfyEr0tDS7TgfV82Q4HYiSyY/s640/87.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNlluNw84973Dynp301Iacj8qLD4aXztnf60aoV0fY1OC3WU8TOWSuaYmzPJKYxg6vXb_dUd97q6_EzjK_qbgB2y_D3RNcNYTak4Or99cZNLJKwpAdHwDDtq6MuQfTc0AnwOIzN_oFJaE/s1600/42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="513" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNlluNw84973Dynp301Iacj8qLD4aXztnf60aoV0fY1OC3WU8TOWSuaYmzPJKYxg6vXb_dUd97q6_EzjK_qbgB2y_D3RNcNYTak4Or99cZNLJKwpAdHwDDtq6MuQfTc0AnwOIzN_oFJaE/s640/42.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNJrSWGIg8N8fgXdfifO64LG0mWwaZymFrUZBKDqgP-LtVPxrHMFsnIDlZCF11wTMaDMQRza8ptDRGzG83zcJCGDnjXls5QWlIvr6ybmTJdJzqV7ExLd6Dc6Q7ndLItOFMAOcm8qy3mg/s1600/71.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNJrSWGIg8N8fgXdfifO64LG0mWwaZymFrUZBKDqgP-LtVPxrHMFsnIDlZCF11wTMaDMQRza8ptDRGzG83zcJCGDnjXls5QWlIvr6ybmTJdJzqV7ExLd6Dc6Q7ndLItOFMAOcm8qy3mg/s640/71.jpg" width="484" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://orlalavellephotography.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">orlalavellephotography.com</span>/</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: purple;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Orla-Lavelle-Photography/137525976319687?sk=wall&filter=2">Facebook</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><em>Children are not the people of tomorrow, but are people of today. They have a right to be taken seriously, and to be treated with tenderness and respect. They should be allowed to grow into whoever they were meant to be. 'The unknown person' inside each of them is our hope for the future.</em></strong></div><strong><em></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>-- Janusz Korczak</em></strong>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00238554233528582595noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7358738169505437539.post-71673690221875006742011-03-25T22:29:00.000-05:002011-03-25T22:29:56.746-05:00tough timesYesterday was a pretty tough day. I didn't expect it to be such,but geez it sure turned into one. A couple of my awesome coworkers had asked me to talk to their club, as they are the sponsors. Since Jake was inflicted with this dreadful disease, these ladies have been there supporting ALL 4 Jake every step of the way. This year , their club decided they would make purple key chains to sell and all the proceeds would go to the Epilepsy foundation. these kids and working moms, newly weds, and young teachers have stayed after school, spent time on weekends, and even used their own money for our cause.<br />
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So yesterday I went , as they made purple key chains, to introduce Jake and tell them a little about Epilepsy.<br />
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No big deal.<br />
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Now, those 30 minutes, are haunting me.<br />
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I LOVED being there for the kids. I think they saw me as some strong person and Jake as a normal kid. The questions they asked were absolutely amazing. <br />
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But, I felt like a little insecure squirrel.<br />
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I have not been in that place in a LONG time! I have remembered and reminisced, but not like this. watching <a href="http://www.epilepsyoutreach.org/emmetts-story.html"><strong><span style="color: purple;">Emmet's video</span></strong></a> with my peers and the students and telling them about Jake, I again caught a glimpse of what he has had to conquer.<br />
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Unfortunately, now I am more afraid than ever. Afraid the beast will show his ugly face again. <br />
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I can't stand that guy and what he did to us. I hate those memories.<br />
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I hate that when Addison hears a siren she goes into fetal position and bawls hers eyes out, no matter where she may be.<br />
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I hate what he has done to our family.<br />
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I hate that we have a story to tell.<br />
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I hate this beast!<br />
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But I do love that I have over 100 Doose mommy and daddys telling, sharing and fighting for our story right now in DC!<br />
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The Doose Team has taken over DC this weekend for National Purple Day in hopes of turing that White House Purple!<br />
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All of this did happen for a reason, no matter how hard it is/may have been.<br />
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<strong><em>"Fall seven times, stand up eight"</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>Japanese proverb</em></strong>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00238554233528582595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7358738169505437539.post-11457774232910409592011-03-24T23:21:00.000-05:002011-03-24T23:21:38.695-05:00Addi's storyIt's been a while.<br />
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I feel like since Jake is doing better I don't have a reason to write. Like people don't want to hear just the same ole' stories about what's going on in our life. I struggle with things to put our there to the "public." Like the negative, the worry, the pain, is a much better read than what I <span style="background-color: yellow;">may </span>have to share these days. Don't get me wrong, we still struggle...in many ways, but gosh, looking back, I can't believe where we have been. I know I say that often too, but today was just hard.....more on that tomorrow.<br />
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Because I struggle with his so much, and tonight I read a story of Epilepsy that struck waaayyy too close to home, and I am still trying to process all of it, my precious, sweet, 7 year old, and Jake's big sister will tell her story tonight:<br />
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<strong><em>Exodus 23:25</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>"So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you."</em></strong><br />
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</div>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00238554233528582595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7358738169505437539.post-10591290428558056012011-02-17T13:29:00.001-06:002011-02-17T13:55:25.920-06:00Gives me chillsI took jake to the neurologist on Tuesday. It has been a long 3 months since our last appointment. Not much ever changes at these appointments....I ask questions, give Jake updates, he checks reflexes and such and we are on our way. Why then, do I count down the days in anticipation of the next appointment? I am not quite sure of the answer to this question.<br />
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With that being said, this appointment was a tad different than most. Usually, or at least , the past several appointments, I report that Jake is still having nocturnal tc's. Most of the time 2-5 a night, 3-5 times per week....blah, blah , blah. We then always agree to stay our course of treatment and hopefully the beast will decide Jake's brain is no longer taking renters.<br />
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This time though, Jake reported his news. Jake told Dr. H that he has not had a seizure since Thanksgiving Day! That's 3 months!!!Talk about giving thanks! Dr. H grinned an awesomely huge grin! I then, had nothing to tell him...nothing that is except, I had been called in for a teacher conference. Scared as I was, it was to be told Jake is doing GREAT! She informed me that since November his skills have really improved.....coincidence? Jake has also stopped taking his adhd medicine and is doing just fine! coincidence?<br />
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As you know, I have been MIA from blogging. As you also know, I am very superstitious. I have been extremely concerned and worried about sharing our good news, as I might "break the streak." So not only have I not told you guys, nor have I told family...even Matt.<br />
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Back in November, at our last appointment, I told/asked Dr. hernandez about starting some herbal supplements. He agreed, but suggested I try Bcomplex first, as it is cheaper. I tooled around a few days, until I finally was able to get to the store. I picked up a cheap bottle of B vitamins, gave them to Jake, thinking nothing of it. It is from that day, or one day after, that we have yet to see any seizures!<br />
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As you can imagine, I am on cloud nine! Just soaring! My cheeks hurt from smiling so much. <br />
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Sooooo, yesterday I sat in my office and was reliving my excitement with coworkers. About this time, a student came in speaking of some bird outside my classroom window. Yeah, yeah, bird, shirmerd....we go about our business and continue chatting away. Then another teacher I share my room with comes in and is grabbing her camera, as not only is there a bird outside our classroom window.....there is a Hawk. I instantly get chills and am motionless. I literally couldn't move.<br />
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Finally, when I compose myself, I race two doors down, sure enough, there, staring into our classroom, perched on the nearest branch towards the window, is the most beautiful, calm, baby hawk.<br />
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That hawk, supposedly had been there since I left from school to head the appointment the previous day. After I taught my lesson for the day, i turned to say goodbye to the sweet bird, and he was gone.<br />
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Amazing!<br />
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click to here to learn why this is so inspiring:<br />
<a href="http://all4jake.blogspot.com/2008/09/noble-spirit-from-heavens-hawk.html"><span style="color: purple;"><em><strong>The Hawk</strong></em></span></a><br />
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God is good.<br />
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<strong><em>"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has." - Epictetus</em></strong>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00238554233528582595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7358738169505437539.post-43748304759014907182011-01-04T20:32:00.001-06:002011-01-04T20:42:57.523-06:00Christmas come and gone...So another Christmas is in the books. It's very cliche I know, but time is sure flying by. I am trying to suck up every possible moment with these kids, as I feel like we have lost almost 2 years of our life to the damn beast. Time spent worrying about damage from seizures, waiting for the next seizure, and wasted in ers, clinics, doctor's offices and ambulances. Time I would have much rather spent cuddling, playing, swimming, reading, and just watching them. Honestly, even if if was time spent being annoyed, irritated, and overwhelmed, I would have taken it, if not caused by this monster, we call Doose<br />
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I had planned to really get caught up on blogging, as I have had two full weeks off from work. I envisioned waking up, watching cartoons with the twerps, while sipping coffee in my pj's. However, none of this happened, including the obvious...no blogging.<br />
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luckily...I have NOTHING exciting to report...not ANYTHING at all, if you catch my drift. If you have read previous blogs you likely know what I am saying here, without saying it!:-)<br />
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Since I don't have many words, except reflections of Christmas' past <a href="http://all4jake.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2009-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-06%3A00&updated-max=2010-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-06%3A00&max-results=50"><span style="color: red;">(2009),</span></a><span style="color: red;"> </span><a href="http://all4jake.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2008-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-06%3A00&updated-max=2009-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-06%3A00&max-results=43"><span style="color: red;">(2008),</span></a> I simply added some pictures that tell our bits and pieces of our break to you.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfcxF6LzotwET1HMNrGFdCqCvMM1yd_qnHWs6qe16DrBMeQ1uxb3n2TVVgNTEdIy6w-9xCr-_VRQfM-3t3pXtsi2fyV8VZb3L3pZVIAIuLUe2caFLa0BibVMsuBQSJzj_q_R0IWEr5RVc/s1600/DSC_0753.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="545" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfcxF6LzotwET1HMNrGFdCqCvMM1yd_qnHWs6qe16DrBMeQ1uxb3n2TVVgNTEdIy6w-9xCr-_VRQfM-3t3pXtsi2fyV8VZb3L3pZVIAIuLUe2caFLa0BibVMsuBQSJzj_q_R0IWEr5RVc/s640/DSC_0753.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On our way to church</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYabN_208upVNkGq9cN1F-VhEjH_s2Na_6aOEFZCTGpx0luqDETkDu94Us0LM6tIqdgwHJbk5QhO6PheWiUV-fHttjcCsp9HQXXFDBwFzSZm-4ALjKFxzLsfpeGaXiXvREajtjLBGM0A/s1600/DSC_0754.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYabN_208upVNkGq9cN1F-VhEjH_s2Na_6aOEFZCTGpx0luqDETkDu94Us0LM6tIqdgwHJbk5QhO6PheWiUV-fHttjcCsp9HQXXFDBwFzSZm-4ALjKFxzLsfpeGaXiXvREajtjLBGM0A/s640/DSC_0754.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the twerps</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF47dNzIDhWU7A-nm7gfZ2bmwl0qrmonKtk3CyNi9EJOJx_rGmX429Nu5XIuBV9wtAWz6sRZ-d2KYUzkxH_lg312lZ4kiINcCyQcUyKVSszKSkpnuMap5hb0bkVYc8p9oz7sCpWSJZ3dE/s1600/DSC_0758.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="403" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF47dNzIDhWU7A-nm7gfZ2bmwl0qrmonKtk3CyNi9EJOJx_rGmX429Nu5XIuBV9wtAWz6sRZ-d2KYUzkxH_lg312lZ4kiINcCyQcUyKVSszKSkpnuMap5hb0bkVYc8p9oz7sCpWSJZ3dE/s640/DSC_0758.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the twerps AFTER screaming SANTA at the top of their lungs</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9lgd3BJQkKUWuK24Mby4Xhw42exWNfj2IZOtCg5r6pRYT5DxMpCUUSYDlxR6RJGzT4_ksFBq3mvowE1F1mynajmU5V9XriA2zHlzIEbS32jmDiwd5UJEKo01K2MfAEVTLq2ov-1O9vY/s1600/DSC_0784.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9lgd3BJQkKUWuK24Mby4Xhw42exWNfj2IZOtCg5r6pRYT5DxMpCUUSYDlxR6RJGzT4_ksFBq3mvowE1F1mynajmU5V9XriA2zHlzIEbS32jmDiwd5UJEKo01K2MfAEVTLq2ov-1O9vY/s640/DSC_0784.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">brothers enjoying Santa's loot</td></tr>
</tbody></table> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: 0% 50%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></a></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMJqZzJePtPCopadECwahBNWydM7bACEgoZ2bJjbiKdPdWYDgGs2nUuDQJ9C5XR7niOR4BFEKW-gNoK63rkvS3yYJbMOe19suwgXtiJ33GK7x-H4QVl1NskdC9TutXQXgfF3k52EfFgc/s1600/DSC_0781.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMJqZzJePtPCopadECwahBNWydM7bACEgoZ2bJjbiKdPdWYDgGs2nUuDQJ9C5XR7niOR4BFEKW-gNoK63rkvS3yYJbMOe19suwgXtiJ33GK7x-H4QVl1NskdC9TutXQXgfF3k52EfFgc/s640/DSC_0781.JPG" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa dropped a puppy down the chimney for Addison- "Mia" Hamm</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizC5H2p1Q9JqJC5bkg1EsU_EiTW9QN_7A1zGYrjp8qF7L676jqzcJfexnKCtzYUzHMpv0BujIEaTAd6KCWOJ_-2o8OAjZ5vwvAYDWzD4aOWHhRtVQIAYG7QtbLfH0t8cuSILVM7PoJU-E/s1600/DSC_0848.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizC5H2p1Q9JqJC5bkg1EsU_EiTW9QN_7A1zGYrjp8qF7L676jqzcJfexnKCtzYUzHMpv0BujIEaTAd6KCWOJ_-2o8OAjZ5vwvAYDWzD4aOWHhRtVQIAYG7QtbLfH0t8cuSILVM7PoJU-E/s640/DSC_0848.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GUNS!! one of his all time favorites gifts</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJvWHhuzCiH8PG0_hrgsLcLkNf-N1k645vQwLKx-9KZeU9cEgMNk7HtOCWYerNuCSQGpff1iGTdeRub0xltn7GOolrVlXDgi_N28MQIpJIzTHnhWaMegQcEw26AQXklnuhtcpwhUf9NU/s1600/DSC_0833.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJvWHhuzCiH8PG0_hrgsLcLkNf-N1k645vQwLKx-9KZeU9cEgMNk7HtOCWYerNuCSQGpff1iGTdeRub0xltn7GOolrVlXDgi_N28MQIpJIzTHnhWaMegQcEw26AQXklnuhtcpwhUf9NU/s640/DSC_0833.JPG" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tools! another hit!</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;"> I am so happy to report a very uneventful Christmas this year. Three kids, two dogs and a house full of family and friends is soooo uberly uneventful compared to helmets, seizures, diastat, bumps, bruises and blood. For this we are thankful! Praying for many more uneventful days.</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;">Christmas is glorious enough, but made even more so as we remember and reflect on Christmas' past.</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;">We are blessed!</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;">Happy new year to you and yours!</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;"><em><span style="color: black;">“</span></em><a class="sqq" href="http://thinkexist.com/quotation/i_asked_god_for_strength_that_i_might_achieve-i/8597.html"><em><span style="color: black;">I asked God for strength that I might achieve. I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health that I might do greater things. I was given infirmity that I might do better things. I asked for riches that I might be happy. I was given poverty that I might be wise. I asked for power that I might have the praise of men. I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. I was given life that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am, among all men, most <strong>richly blessed.</strong></span></em></a><em><span style="color: black;"><strong>”</strong></span></em></div>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00238554233528582595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7358738169505437539.post-11218169896652820142010-12-21T02:46:00.001-06:002010-12-21T07:56:07.330-06:00Amazing<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So I have yet to share anything about Jake's amazing Wish trip. So here are a few pictures of the little man getting his wish....Surfing like Scooby Doo! I want to add, both kids and even their old fart parents picked it up quite quickly. The instructors even said several times..."we dont deserve to be paid, we did nothing for you guys!" our kids are rock stars!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Wishing</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAoV0PMJh7ZDpPw1mKQiYz7dqa7O0oS_j6QvaaEIrLMlKbfDLBtTxKQIB29Eyw1zfaORPZTX7M8B8IzMFYGgFBHPMWTFve0VhVsmsnikSfhdhmoIifcXxwFaVqEKjJlWPMFwEj7JAZWA/s1600/DSC_0218.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAoV0PMJh7ZDpPw1mKQiYz7dqa7O0oS_j6QvaaEIrLMlKbfDLBtTxKQIB29Eyw1zfaORPZTX7M8B8IzMFYGgFBHPMWTFve0VhVsmsnikSfhdhmoIifcXxwFaVqEKjJlWPMFwEj7JAZWA/s640/DSC_0218.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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"we're leaving....on a jet plane....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBKNXPQpLLUG04ZtNwKyiUpJ_V9DeLEAer0WGo_pstRw2QMiNBfznS_1QvktF7UvKdaKaf92XAbb0SM1KiPoUbYqfan4tfcJUpnM7YjAO9j4lYEoXhK7Z5z3mxZNK3LFx-9cN4Gi6iIE/s1600/DSC_0198.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBKNXPQpLLUG04ZtNwKyiUpJ_V9DeLEAer0WGo_pstRw2QMiNBfznS_1QvktF7UvKdaKaf92XAbb0SM1KiPoUbYqfan4tfcJUpnM7YjAO9j4lYEoXhK7Z5z3mxZNK3LFx-9cN4Gi6iIE/s640/DSC_0198.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div> now that's first class baby<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV5GubsIOs95wrAQQGOWIsx-3iHkT6UrDyjpppPsmO-waGV7WtwTCuKjoDFO6eHQn9ejTKzM-0b2Y0NOwqKnMh7C4-OlyG02lXEjLf7-3tuzXphApz9-oWVBZi9SfLFXPyH9QTtthHgec/s1600/DSC_0207.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV5GubsIOs95wrAQQGOWIsx-3iHkT6UrDyjpppPsmO-waGV7WtwTCuKjoDFO6eHQn9ejTKzM-0b2Y0NOwqKnMh7C4-OlyG02lXEjLf7-3tuzXphApz9-oWVBZi9SfLFXPyH9QTtthHgec/s640/DSC_0207.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div> Ahhhhh ocean!<br />
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</div>Heading out to catch some waves<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXK9jcH9NwyLS-hF9t_VMhkSUVFcrhelArkRuBywNIeNeZ0jlWPmHkINkAqPl-TxgQRTXutKSiPM7crpJyeV6GJscJZfdDKRdEAaMB2dCmf6v3pegjat5Lt5GX0nC31yt0KzU_cS78e0/s1600/IMG_0410.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXK9jcH9NwyLS-hF9t_VMhkSUVFcrhelArkRuBywNIeNeZ0jlWPmHkINkAqPl-TxgQRTXutKSiPM7crpJyeV6GJscJZfdDKRdEAaMB2dCmf6v3pegjat5Lt5GX0nC31yt0KzU_cS78e0/s640/IMG_0410.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>surfing on the first wave!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Rockin' Daytona</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHFnTOwponZ9PPQodgNZNZEE3UsOjKGUfsg1gmEDeF6dJfIfburcaYu2o96WeooaiPEj7AxMeL1LFUE7SZR97kX9yzPlJKQDAHY1Hcg9ImaDfccGShEUKx_UsFJw3ZbUaU6zEY3THBIY/s1600/IMG_0546.JPG" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHFnTOwponZ9PPQodgNZNZEE3UsOjKGUfsg1gmEDeF6dJfIfburcaYu2o96WeooaiPEj7AxMeL1LFUE7SZR97kX9yzPlJKQDAHY1Hcg9ImaDfccGShEUKx_UsFJw3ZbUaU6zEY3THBIY/s640/IMG_0546.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Hard day's work...sacked out</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUY3-t1b33FldzVylP5CNRY9va75HY769ij3yhedd8Eh2_Y2wVputOLTf_mkYQO4iOOQNvaag_2N2tDjZR4oehZSKb5CjakS3A2JCMJE5IqJ8hxSXy_OwT2plttdJOCgukUIGDAltB6tk/s1600/DSC_0294.JPG" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUY3-t1b33FldzVylP5CNRY9va75HY769ij3yhedd8Eh2_Y2wVputOLTf_mkYQO4iOOQNvaag_2N2tDjZR4oehZSKb5CjakS3A2JCMJE5IqJ8hxSXy_OwT2plttdJOCgukUIGDAltB6tk/s640/DSC_0294.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><strong><em></em></strong><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><em>If you can imagine it, you can create it. If you dream it, you can become it.</em></strong> </div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><em></em></strong></div><strong><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><em>William Arthur Ward</em></strong></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00238554233528582595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7358738169505437539.post-16133914419841927762010-11-11T21:19:00.000-06:002010-11-11T21:19:40.004-06:00Epilepsy awareness month!Welcome November! Although, you have already come on in with a whirlwind and are blowing through much quicker than I appreciate, I do love you. I love the feel of Fall in the air. The excitement as the school year is underway, the thoughts of Christmas right around the corner. And the past couple of years, I love the opportunity to make people aware, as <span style="color: purple;">November is Epilepsy awareness month</span>!<br />
<br />
Never before have I cared or thought about the color purple. I even quite hated it. I cringed as Addison would beg for purple shirts, shoes and clothes. It had become her favorite color just before the damn beast made an appearance. Foreshadowing? symbolism? maybe.....<br />
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Now I can't find enough purple to throw in my closet. I even get my nails painted shades of purple. Today, Veteran's day, I even resorted to literally running down another mom at the boy's school, as she was wearing a ribbon. I thought the deep blue color was actually purple. I stalked her throughout the halls and told her Jake's story, thinking she would have one to share as well....until I learned her "purple" ribbon was actually a blue one honoring the veterans.<br />
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I have found I love this month, as I have an excuse to tell stories of Epilepsy, share the facts, the horror's, the unknown and the misinterpreted.<br />
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I have said it before and will say it again...Jake was "given" this for a reason. Right now I believe the reason is to educate and inform. I know his case has already had a huge impact on many. This is obvious , by the size of team "All 4 Jake" at the stroll. One of my bestie's , Brandy, has also taken an amazing interest in the cause. You know that she turned a buiding purple, but also has become a mentor for the Epilepsy foundation in Florida, and now is even organizing a stroll in St. Petersburg. Starting from scratch, organizing a city wide stroll for epilepsy.....man that's mind blowing. I don't know if that would have ever happened had we not almost lost our little boy to epilepsy.<br />
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Did you know?:<br />
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<em><strong><span style="color: purple;">For many soldiers suffering traumatic brain injury on the battlefield, epilepsy will be a long-term consequence. </span></strong></em><br />
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<em><strong><span style="color: purple;">Epilepsy affects over 3 million Americans of all ages – more than multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and Parkinson’s disease combined. Almost 500 new cases of epilepsy are diagnosed every day in the United States. Epilepsy affects 50,000,000 people worldwide. </span></strong></em><br />
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<em><strong><span style="color: purple;">It is estimated that up to 50,000 deaths occur annually in the U.S. from status epilepticus (prolonged seizures), Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), and other seizure-related causes such as drowning and other accidents. </span></strong></em><br />
<em><strong><span style="color: purple;"></span></strong></em><br />
<em><br />
<strong><span style="color: purple;"></span></strong></em><br />
<em><strong><span style="color: purple;">The severe epilepsy syndromes of childhood can cause developmental delay and brain damage, leading to a lifetime of dependency and continually accruing costs—both medical and societal. </span></strong></em><br />
<em><strong><span style="color: purple;"></span></strong></em><br />
<em><br />
<strong><span style="color: purple;"></span></strong></em><br />
<em><strong><span style="color: purple;">In over thirty percent of patients, seizures cannot be controlled with treatment. Uncontrolled seizures may lead to brain damage and death. Many more have only partial control of their seizures. </span></strong></em><br />
<em><strong><span style="color: purple;"></span></strong></em> <br />
<em><strong><span style="color: purple;"></span></strong></em><br />
<em><strong><span style="color: purple;">Epilepsy in America is as common as breast cancer, and takes as many lives.</span></strong></em><br />
<em><strong><span style="color: purple;"></span></strong></em> <br />
<em><strong><span style="color: purple;">public and private funding for research lag far behind other neurological afflictions, at $35 a patient (compared, for instance, with $129 for Alzheimer's and $280 for multiple sclerosis)</span></strong></em> <br />
<strong><em><span style="color: purple;"></span></em></strong> <br />
<span style="color: black;">These are just <em>some</em> of the facts I never knew about the disease "that's easily cured with a simple pill."</span> <br />
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Today and everyday, we currently deal, not only with the lingering seizures, but almost more annoyingly the learning difficulties , ADHD, loss of motor skills and never ending anxiety caused by the 100's of seizures a day for months on end that Jake has endured. I was led to believe once the seizures wee gone or even improved..POOF...life is normal again...far from. <br />
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Although, I can swear up and down Epilepsy sucks, if Jake was given it to further educate one of you, I will take it.....if we have to.:-) <br />
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Become aware...It's not what you think. <br />
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<em><strong>When I hear somebody sigh, "Life is hard," I am always tempted to ask, "Compared to what?"</strong></em> <br />
<em><strong></strong></em><br />
<em><br />
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<em><strong>- Sydney J. Harris</strong></em>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00238554233528582595noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7358738169505437539.post-67968758579875328502010-11-04T20:19:00.007-05:002010-11-04T20:43:02.270-05:00PurpleIt's November. One of the most important months of the year. It's Epilepsy Awareness month. All purple, all the time. Everything Epilepsy to anyone and everyone. Spread the word. Talk about it. To your co-worker. your child's teacher. your mom. your neighbor...anyone. JUST Talk about it. Learn about it. Speak up about it.<br /><br />My BFF, Brandy lives in Tampa. They have a (yes "a")skyscraper downtown called the SunTrust Financial Center. It's a well-known building, for it is continually lit up, but showing it's ability to be ANY color of the rainbow. People ask why it's lit the certain color and then it snowballs from there and the city is soon aware. Well guess what color it is during this great month of November? That's right...it's PURPLE!! PURPLE for EPILEPSY. And it made the news...see the link below. Then ask yourself what are YOU doing to show your support for PURPLE?<br /><br />Visit <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153); font-style: italic;" href="http://www.baynews9.com/video?clip=http://static.baynews9.com/newsvideo/bn9/arc/Purple_Suntrust_114.f4v">this</a> link to see it on Tampa's local news!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCunQnjGszH8hX6x_0htayjKQMAcdAmILU6TozXnmFmR5PXbJdSxe81qxvrKsUvjzkYTnOsqCeqRyIQTykT3W52JXpHspbOWT5wD5MZ3LRKJ80YOGifpHiI7nS4ZaIs7nuXGaeQkaMjUat/s1600/purple1-1140000.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCunQnjGszH8hX6x_0htayjKQMAcdAmILU6TozXnmFmR5PXbJdSxe81qxvrKsUvjzkYTnOsqCeqRyIQTykT3W52JXpHspbOWT5wD5MZ3LRKJ80YOGifpHiI7nS4ZaIs7nuXGaeQkaMjUat/s320/purple1-1140000.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535874474943648594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuFYZvIiObXRE3GIW7WN48uvvQl3hqBHqlNif_ojtcHQIevEzqBjTdf5V4sd59B3YhRA5KncdQQOPaLHuQuYutlDW0zDE61Dvz9u1BQyckcBWOrSmmdqN7hV9EE5-MAq0zMHM3WJ-bdn4L/s1600/purple3-1140000.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuFYZvIiObXRE3GIW7WN48uvvQl3hqBHqlNif_ojtcHQIevEzqBjTdf5V4sd59B3YhRA5KncdQQOPaLHuQuYutlDW0zDE61Dvz9u1BQyckcBWOrSmmdqN7hV9EE5-MAq0zMHM3WJ-bdn4L/s320/purple3-1140000.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535874490090504306" border="0" /></a>Brandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17197102648319986386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7358738169505437539.post-44835443197842495532010-10-09T23:32:00.001-05:002010-10-09T23:40:21.657-05:00looking back...As I was sitting here reflecting how fortunate we are to receive such an amazing gift from Make a wish and telling mysef how much we don't deserve it, I happened to find some pictures from "back when."<br />
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I remember when we started this wishing process, we were told initially that epilepsy doesn't qualify. Apparently there were others who disagreed. They thought Jake's type and severity certainly did qualify. "They", I think was mainly Dr. H. I am not for sure, even to this day, how Jake actually ended up qualifying, but i still remember that call telling us that Jake would be getting a wish. <br />
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The voice on the other end said something about Jake's disability being dramatically life threatening. I specifically remember not hearing what was being told to me by Make a Wish, but worrying that I could not get a call in the neuro fast enough. life threatening?! <br />
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Throughout all this, I think I have had blinders on , as to the severity of Jake's condition. I think the "mommy mode" took over and I didn't actually grasp what was happening to my son.<br />
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Wow, what a road we have traveled.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl13fgy2QKa47eNK_2JHSXhR-s05-y6TRQJJJl6AYLnb5QcffcZdliN7s0qZfsdXbqBmkgqEZ9HNp5yzma-Gfjew5kAPxsh_pOmAlRTfkVEXdBRULM9Lk61ATLMzRo2P6GsVPqrE8FaIQ/s1600-h/DSC04025.JPG" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282792963809968690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl13fgy2QKa47eNK_2JHSXhR-s05-y6TRQJJJl6AYLnb5QcffcZdliN7s0qZfsdXbqBmkgqEZ9HNp5yzma-Gfjew5kAPxsh_pOmAlRTfkVEXdBRULM9Lk61ATLMzRo2P6GsVPqrE8FaIQ/s400/DSC04025.JPG" style="float: right; height: 320px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 240px;" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/uxI7" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHxJ1-hTw6aX3zXIJYhcWm1V4VkCT3uppZA7OhjALzTK_b3QQBEiXla_ZFzR-Gu4IR7-vDRGGX0OJX8W0mEeQnQm5PvYX_MaCQXSDuBqSZxs6BbuZ8FEWCAaBQwzPCHbRCtKvb7-FE9Q/s512/DSC_0556.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<a href="http://goo.gl/photos/FYQ8" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLX_cn7LnW07LxoSfs6ml_G4yR7IjSfwZPcnFhU9EPIOpNg7ol-1mYBdfIJXG6rQK0T6_kt8ujk8za5sfEKc9aRkAmplVO67h7n7ExqZ1JX4ZVSUDJF6cXHDo2A_sos4M79LZgnWhWFnc/s400/DSC_0026.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRh9rH4XS-0wUWw6gdK9AIszQ1umQ_BIzL0yiPHBC0VQtmDEwgRXY_I_WoMfcY4A829tZVyqfm6bUdqrdehx-xpiqHTpjTxHAW6nBvGiRJgFuhOnjtfmU_oF9yzC50n7D2h46x1eiwpx4/s1600/08-24-2009++12.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRh9rH4XS-0wUWw6gdK9AIszQ1umQ_BIzL0yiPHBC0VQtmDEwgRXY_I_WoMfcY4A829tZVyqfm6bUdqrdehx-xpiqHTpjTxHAW6nBvGiRJgFuhOnjtfmU_oF9yzC50n7D2h46x1eiwpx4/s400/08-24-2009++12.JPG" width="265" /></a> </div>These are just a few of the physical beatings the beast has given him. Unfortunately the Damn thing has also done quite a number on the inside as well. However just like he fought through the physical pain and scars, he is climbing mountains cognitively as well. For almost 9 months, this little man was basically in a "walking coma." He barely had intelligible speech, drooled and could barely hold his head up on his own.<br />
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Now there is nothing this guy won't try.<br />
He's one brave boy, that Jake. Certainly my hero!</div>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00238554233528582595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7358738169505437539.post-73061477533158300082010-10-09T22:39:00.003-05:002010-10-09T22:59:13.735-05:00Wishing...<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYLczgHwZkmtLZ7I-isNPQmiWuuL3-k5xoAg85G9A0sV6GIOINpEfkKkDuacLJ7s4aPnDk6XzR284o_Pyds_NpLCIAFTuQKTiQp4gXYqEW3zy3ipL042r3uT5HpmcPc_cHR6ascpFXZE/s1600/11-12-2009++21.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYLczgHwZkmtLZ7I-isNPQmiWuuL3-k5xoAg85G9A0sV6GIOINpEfkKkDuacLJ7s4aPnDk6XzR284o_Pyds_NpLCIAFTuQKTiQp4gXYqEW3zy3ipL042r3uT5HpmcPc_cHR6ascpFXZE/s400/11-12-2009++21.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><br />
Almost a year and a half ago Jake was granted a wish by the wonderful people at Make Wish. <br />
Soon Jake's wish will be coming to fruition! <br />
<br />
Jake wished to go "surfing like Scooby Doo!" and his wish will be coming true! <br />
Not only will Jake be surfing, but also swimming with dolphins, visting Sea World, and attending a Luau. <br />
We are super excited to get the festivities underway. <br />
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Make a Wish has just been amazing to us! <br />
<br />
Our experience with make and Wish and Jake's wish givers has not been just about "the wish." <br />
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They have allowed us to see a Dallas Cowboys game, build Gingerbread houses, attend Ink parties, get involved in photo opportunities, and most of all gain new friends and some amazing heros and role models for Addison and Jake. <br />
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The kids dearly love everyone involved in Jake's wishing experience, but his wish givers truly hold a special place in their hearts. <br />
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Kristin and Christine have just been amazing to us.<br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfMf3kQk817Zww9jijkPqeokII2YA0R5aRt5fe2GQqWlrxzzTOeLVNZLrj7Kz7Q6i8Bj2CObg6XXaPgQ_kc2nUTP3ZYjKGRhMWjl4ogIdn58P6A6ZYSgx6HdpkR3wfI6Wj3UyHaIpNOg/s1600/11-12-2009++22.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfMf3kQk817Zww9jijkPqeokII2YA0R5aRt5fe2GQqWlrxzzTOeLVNZLrj7Kz7Q6i8Bj2CObg6XXaPgQ_kc2nUTP3ZYjKGRhMWjl4ogIdn58P6A6ZYSgx6HdpkR3wfI6Wj3UyHaIpNOg/s400/11-12-2009++22.JPG" width="265" /></a> </div>They have certainly gone up and way beyond anything and everything we could have imagined when first starting this wishing journey. From Christmas cookie parties , visiting to welcome Cooper, bithday ice cream parties, over flowing presents to the most loving hugs and kisses, <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNw857nBsfViHLL-UMvz0t4IUVTCm9xvll574CNQ1UAGvh0TFAVkBa_TcOS5332-i3bY5c_gX4V05RMqpWRaxYRK773Lp7dEPrjzLYDWJKu7UVw_2xZ6cXWjFYEkrwwGb424GIISXvHKs/s1600/11-12-2009++25.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNw857nBsfViHLL-UMvz0t4IUVTCm9xvll574CNQ1UAGvh0TFAVkBa_TcOS5332-i3bY5c_gX4V05RMqpWRaxYRK773Lp7dEPrjzLYDWJKu7UVw_2xZ6cXWjFYEkrwwGb424GIISXvHKs/s400/11-12-2009++25.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><br />
these ladies hold a very special place in our hearts. They are surely two amazing ambassadors for such an awesome foundation. <br />
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(Jake in the "wishing room" making his wish) <br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBbbzdnH2C5xLqx3L1tDw6dncfjhCqaE1-IueRKh3FJz35bUAGW3eYSWhg5_XrMPwe7KS2O-y_d0I2RoPE2npZxPVsNIrrVnlWExl8CXuOZktBt74tm0nzN0x__VoOlO23DmYA7vbD-Eo/s1600/11-12-2009++20.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBbbzdnH2C5xLqx3L1tDw6dncfjhCqaE1-IueRKh3FJz35bUAGW3eYSWhg5_XrMPwe7KS2O-y_d0I2RoPE2npZxPVsNIrrVnlWExl8CXuOZktBt74tm0nzN0x__VoOlO23DmYA7vbD-Eo/s400/11-12-2009++20.JPG" width="400" /></<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUiqh26bXdCGWJ5zTR77hFNiB94a7Qd7byO_XKNaKPXH0tj0lJqUg7bOcp0NaClUC4UbvlXMwPm4M9L8uVsmQNsjP0mEN7tXAmdeCCOAQP7C1vgm9ej3Q7efZ4DmgS0wZvjwK19RP9qE/s1600/11-12-2009++29.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUiqh26bXdCGWJ5zTR77hFNiB94a7Qd7byO_XKNaKPXH0tj0lJqUg7bOcp0NaClUC4UbvlXMwPm4M9L8uVsmQNsjP0mEN7tXAmdeCCOAQP7C1vgm9ej3Q7efZ4DmgS0wZvjwK19RP9qE/s400/11-12-2009++29.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><br />
<a class="sqq" href="http://thinkexist.com/quotation/remember-today-for-it-is-the-beginning-of-always/348224.html"><em><strong>Remember today, for it is the beginning of always. Today marks the start of a brave new future filled with all your dreams can hold. Think truly to the future and make those dreams come true.</strong></em></a><u><em><strong>”</strong></em></u><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: 0% 50%; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></div>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00238554233528582595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7358738169505437539.post-3622682226091479522010-10-07T20:23:00.000-05:002010-10-07T20:23:35.997-05:00moments like theseMoments like these want me to cry my eyes out, scoop up my babies and squeeze them so hard it hurts. Moments like these make me thank the Lord for what I have. <br />
Moments like these make me want to kick the ever living heck out of the freakin' beast!<br />
<br />
last night as I nonchalantly, or even more so, annoyingly told Jake to go to bed and assured him I'd check on him in a minute, knowing one minute actually meant 10 or maybe even 20.<br />
<br />
Matt and Addison were at soccer, Coop was already fast asleep.<br />
<br />
I was "busy" doing something mundane, probably washing bottles and getting ready for the same revolving door , that is our day.<br />
<br />
When I finally got the chance, I turned on the hall light, so I could peer into Jake and Coop's room,without waking either of them, lay with Jake a minute, get back to my "business", all without disturbing their slumber.<br />
<br />
As I peer in, Jake is sitting in his bed.<br />
His head is bowed. <br />
His hands pointed at his chin.<br />
<br />
I asked "What are you doing Buddy?"<br />
He responded, "just asking God to take my seizures away."<br />
<br />
My heart instantly broke into a million pieces. Our little man was begging to make his life normal. Jake has never really said he knows when he has seizures, but last night proved to me....he knows....he knows how his life has been changed.<br />
<br />
As I sit down to type this entry and maybe even brag about how kind the beast has been to us lately by not showing his ugly face for a while, I hear it.<br />
<br />
I hear that God awful gasp and then the bed rocking and convulsing over the monitor.<br />
<br />
This however, is not the "usual" 5-10 second seizure.<br />
This one is a good 30 second doozy.<br />
This one makes me scatter and find a magnet and even the Diastat, that we have not had to use in so very long.<br />
This is one, in which his postitical is a good 1-2 minutes. <br />
<br />
This is one I have not seen in a long time.<br />
<br />
Damn you beast! Just when I think you may be tired of picking on my kid, as he is fighting and doing his damnedest to kick your ass, you come and show your ugly self once again.<br />
<br />
Damn you!<br />
<br />
<strong><em>"It is at moments like these that I know my what my purpose is in life. I am here to love you, to hold you in my arms, to protect you. I am here to learn from you and to receive your love in return.I am here because there is no other place to be." </em></strong><br />
<strong><em>~Nicholas Sparks</em></strong>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00238554233528582595noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7358738169505437539.post-26189827153176121862010-09-12T20:58:00.000-05:002010-09-12T20:58:47.093-05:009-11<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLIxMpXT3oUxBJwXObgjry9wDt_A5PVvs_eElRKrGVwqQTW94hl8foEroLMdZpFWX8YZBDobzsGkORxgnrqAcBt_guKf1lIbSXVj-UkS_EAAVvi18oBREQg_cGHVQCplbOI4atRe7rmQ/s1600/DSC_0100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLIxMpXT3oUxBJwXObgjry9wDt_A5PVvs_eElRKrGVwqQTW94hl8foEroLMdZpFWX8YZBDobzsGkORxgnrqAcBt_guKf1lIbSXVj-UkS_EAAVvi18oBREQg_cGHVQCplbOI4atRe7rmQ/s320/DSC_0100.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Every year on Jake's anniversary of being taken off in an ambulance(twice), we take cookies and muffins to the fire station. I say every year, but I guess this is only the 2nd year.:-)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This year we didn't actually make it on his anniversary. We had great intentions, but never actually made. So we decided what better time to acknowledge these heroes than on the anniversary of September 11th.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I hesitate calling our community helpers heroes, as this is their job. This is what they signed up to do. They signed up to beat down fiery walls in the middle of the night and to cut cars open to save a civilian inside. They signed up dive into frigid waters to rescue a drowning child. This is what their job is.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This is what their job is.... but they are truly heroes in my eyes. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">These community helpers giving an iv of rescue meds to a seizing boy in Plano.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">These men and women stopping a heart attack victim from becoming a fatality in San Angelo.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">These heroes climbing stairs and doing all they can to save the lives of thousands in New York while risking their own, every step of the way thinking of the loved ones the could be leaving all alone at home.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Regardless of where they are and what they have done, It is certain they have changed a life in their path. For this they are heroes to me.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Here are some pictures of this years visit to Plano Fire Station #4 on September 11th, 2010.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7FMLLGTK7RiAJrEwg4aJ4BpCoekZ01KgKN2oU5FFbBA_Izn4bD9MtVKxHQsgv-ONJbyoJ9dngJj6To4GOj7SvlOjR9soO3NjInmtsiFWowIb7eqJie9FcwWwIHzxGp-hb5TQWDYVpus/s1600/DSC_0077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7FMLLGTK7RiAJrEwg4aJ4BpCoekZ01KgKN2oU5FFbBA_Izn4bD9MtVKxHQsgv-ONJbyoJ9dngJj6To4GOj7SvlOjR9soO3NjInmtsiFWowIb7eqJie9FcwWwIHzxGp-hb5TQWDYVpus/s400/DSC_0077.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFI1Igw6hRaFld5w9GxQbVzOTsgkPrkfVNjBxpGzwqbgdlcl-n-FcPsLI5B1CPqksSsfK5wSRwdZ2Ee8u_dQja-xKj3SVeDlkhgs6PGXo6pK5g4g_USdzfCGitMVoFU0fNklVQzW97e9g/s1600/DSC_0080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFI1Igw6hRaFld5w9GxQbVzOTsgkPrkfVNjBxpGzwqbgdlcl-n-FcPsLI5B1CPqksSsfK5wSRwdZ2Ee8u_dQja-xKj3SVeDlkhgs6PGXo6pK5g4g_USdzfCGitMVoFU0fNklVQzW97e9g/s400/DSC_0080.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Fletnlkl5maY9dlWts9LOzGIfMQnnj1YVSNZkhALBe3aV48fovAZsNMrEgj0ytqRaKs7p0HV-TBI1ezqFGBv2dFSwmVzpZc9jDSWDgFJZI1-CYRKTXDn-_Dw0l6wLn_vCONCaDh6h68/s1600/DSC_0082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Fletnlkl5maY9dlWts9LOzGIfMQnnj1YVSNZkhALBe3aV48fovAZsNMrEgj0ytqRaKs7p0HV-TBI1ezqFGBv2dFSwmVzpZc9jDSWDgFJZI1-CYRKTXDn-_Dw0l6wLn_vCONCaDh6h68/s400/DSC_0082.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3erruPoRyuHx7wCEF0l9Z6l0k6GfRVb18ZNJ2d8gtjoGnu_jnplxMhkK8_s0HCHEtoDUXXUS0iWjSOVQ76ywwEcYFX4TWazAwRZENfuxBC0U_g5kP_E1-eVom-CI0Byi2Xczhbr2G4w/s1600/DSC_0086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3erruPoRyuHx7wCEF0l9Z6l0k6GfRVb18ZNJ2d8gtjoGnu_jnplxMhkK8_s0HCHEtoDUXXUS0iWjSOVQ76ywwEcYFX4TWazAwRZENfuxBC0U_g5kP_E1-eVom-CI0Byi2Xczhbr2G4w/s400/DSC_0086.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwWILSmllKLQrLHXSPh569NbAAA3OqngtaAV4L3QGJcd_bqybW5ziNmKB9WGf2Mgt8YykPmbA2aamsavEUava6Im6oC4H5FJ50k38aDfPRKoH6vvc4JefbIJjUHSCaoCteEUMqU73gvg/s1600/DSC_0085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwWILSmllKLQrLHXSPh569NbAAA3OqngtaAV4L3QGJcd_bqybW5ziNmKB9WGf2Mgt8YykPmbA2aamsavEUava6Im6oC4H5FJ50k38aDfPRKoH6vvc4JefbIJjUHSCaoCteEUMqU73gvg/s400/DSC_0085.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><em>He is a fireman.</em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><strong><em></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>He puts it all on the line when the bell rings.</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>A fireman is at once the most fortunate and the least fortunate of men.</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>He is a man who saves lives because he has seen too much death.</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>He is a gentle man because he has seen the awesome power of violence out of control.</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>He is responsive to a child's laughter because his arms have held too many small bodies that will never laugh again.</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>He is a man who appreciates the simple pleasures of life - hot coffee held in numb, unbending fingers - a warm bed for bone and muscle compelled beyond feeling - the camaraderie of brave men - the divine peace and selfless service of a job well done in the name of all men.</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>He doesn't wear buttons or wave flags or shout obscenities.</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>When he marches, it is to honor a fallen comrade.</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>He doesn't preach the brotherhood of man.</em></strong><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>He lives it.</em></strong></div><br />
<br />
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</div>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00238554233528582595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7358738169505437539.post-88638601576745470472010-09-09T14:42:00.001-05:002010-09-09T14:48:23.069-05:00M.I.S.SFor about a year now some of my bff's and I have been discussing doing a bible study together. Since we don't live near each other this has proven to be quite difficult. We have tried to get it going on email, but "life" happens and the hectic days of being a moms took over, so unfortunately it never really came to fruition.<br />
<br />
However, my friend Leslie, has now set up an awesome <b><span style="color: magenta;">blog.</span></b><br />
<br />
The blog is a place for us to not only vent and discuss what we have read and what the reading means to us, but to also, and most importantly, a place to learn how to come closer to the Lord during these fast moving times.<br />
<br />
I am particularly excited, as trying to cope with a special needs child, realizing what that means to our family, and adjusting to this situation has proven to be quite difficult.<br />
<br />
It has certainly opened our eyes to the fact that life is certainly nothing we should take for granted and that we should always live each moment to its fullest. <br />
<br />
However, sometimes, to balance living this way and "everyday life", that is....school, work, soccer, husband traveling, normal parental duties and especially those that go along with caring for Jake, has proven to be quite difficult.<br />
<br />
If you are a mom, wife, sister, or friend come learn with us how to juggle all that goes along with being the best of each.<br />
<br />
This is your invitation to come on over and learn with us!<br />
<br />
Leslie has set up a reading schedule that is not at all rigorous.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Ku_GsJsGwZe34gkO9CGqQ7IljOhmNimaxNI8f7qikKAhCvEHP1AAORZkw4V97vOc5ThjuIEspTF-W2STLXzwJb9hJqTp5J67Y1yhkSJb4HgCbt7FDS0u0m07jIsvekKmcBqyUEyEh7Y/s1600/martha.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Ku_GsJsGwZe34gkO9CGqQ7IljOhmNimaxNI8f7qikKAhCvEHP1AAORZkw4V97vOc5ThjuIEspTF-W2STLXzwJb9hJqTp5J67Y1yhkSJb4HgCbt7FDS0u0m07jIsvekKmcBqyUEyEh7Y/s320/martha.bmp" /></a></div><br />
Stop by and join us...we would love to have you!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://missbiblestudy.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: magenta;">M.I.S.S.- Moms searching for inspiration, spirituality and support</span></a><br />
<br />
<br />
"<em><strong>As Jesus and his disciples were on their way</strong></em><br />
<em><strong>he came to their village where a woman name Martha opened her home to him</strong></em><br />
<em><strong>She had a sister called Mary</strong></em><br />
<em><strong>who sat at his feet listening to what he said"</strong></em> Luke 10:38Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00238554233528582595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7358738169505437539.post-88772979725749642122010-09-01T20:29:00.054-05:002010-09-01T21:14:10.784-05:00Week of firstsTwas the night before school...<br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozGgjXbIzujRXKp5lv1A4lkF7mcoC9u2ZEIaIUSDEEv20CatN8oXrsPIGg1AcIAfkMeJFo0jWSTJJJORTb8yysCIcImuEA-GEzKm6-GNqPytup-MZ7oD1ebaoXJZdbV1Beh1uKtV_584/s1600/DSC_0001.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozGgjXbIzujRXKp5lv1A4lkF7mcoC9u2ZEIaIUSDEEv20CatN8oXrsPIGg1AcIAfkMeJFo0jWSTJJJORTb8yysCIcImuEA-GEzKm6-GNqPytup-MZ7oD1ebaoXJZdbV1Beh1uKtV_584/s400/DSC_0001.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01U6lByBb3ukdjTb2r8oP4BCTQlPVZStTQ46bJQUcSsOvF7uQSH4u9afinfOU_YVh-3xcpN3PQXY_EBR-PHS8NfbpZXCqwiWwaLK9nGAodMYaczzVM5_9z1KgLswWulbJbQQOItST_aA/s1600/DSC_0002.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01U6lByBb3ukdjTb2r8oP4BCTQlPVZStTQ46bJQUcSsOvF7uQSH4u9afinfOU_YVh-3xcpN3PQXY_EBR-PHS8NfbpZXCqwiWwaLK9nGAodMYaczzVM5_9z1KgLswWulbJbQQOItST_aA/s400/DSC_0002.JPG" /></a> </div><br />
<br />
So many "Firsts" have happened the past couple weeks. It has been very exciting, anxious and tiring around the Peter's household.<br />
<br />
Let's start with the most obvious first....The first day of school!!<br />
<br />
Addison started her first day of 1st grade!<br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2x2uE6tWlU8T7K6Dk3NsvhhAgM9m3yaskrJjVF9l6m6nLVTMio9cxYZdbvVRqajlWP0GeL8A1ak4x0lXHFTR4P9j363Gdt5ld_QSiQ8a8mtJBWsIFZswPtcspIRCi4qe1iguqNI8Bfs/s1600/DSC_0011.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2x2uE6tWlU8T7K6Dk3NsvhhAgM9m3yaskrJjVF9l6m6nLVTMio9cxYZdbvVRqajlWP0GeL8A1ak4x0lXHFTR4P9j363Gdt5ld_QSiQ8a8mtJBWsIFZswPtcspIRCi4qe1iguqNI8Bfs/s400/DSC_0011.JPG" /></a> </div><br />
Jake started his first day of Kindergarten! and..<br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLuSzqPrrS60tOPfQkXn1hhcSUE04lj7k1XyhLyT5Z8x_F1rZzYnV1T3LcpT2HcKCCfSu1vK3BY5OXp7hqahYtMeOpq1BjqbCDcJddjrzd1IYVqntvYL4aT3S8Cfqfe2g_05SzXPAL0k/s1600/family+1st+day.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLuSzqPrrS60tOPfQkXn1hhcSUE04lj7k1XyhLyT5Z8x_F1rZzYnV1T3LcpT2HcKCCfSu1vK3BY5OXp7hqahYtMeOpq1BjqbCDcJddjrzd1IYVqntvYL4aT3S8Cfqfe2g_05SzXPAL0k/s400/family+1st+day.jpg" /></a> </div><br />
Sweet Coop started his first day of school too!<br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_rVhO7siADEbLmJBfLtQa-JJqLRkuC37AVF6nmAPIWIJQhqSdk1kx_NU7UxJI3BIqdyRhj4C4j0R3O4H3sc4IkD4ixBdcyH5UKdMEIZ5dYkgEWhpuvvO2RnQyZVT7y33QrhcRtvIVQE/s1600/cooper+1st+day.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_rVhO7siADEbLmJBfLtQa-JJqLRkuC37AVF6nmAPIWIJQhqSdk1kx_NU7UxJI3BIqdyRhj4C4j0R3O4H3sc4IkD4ixBdcyH5UKdMEIZ5dYkgEWhpuvvO2RnQyZVT7y33QrhcRtvIVQE/s400/cooper+1st+day.jpg" /></a> </div>(There are a couple other firsts I will post in a couple days)<br />
<br />
The anxiety building up to these HUGE milestones has been tremendous!<br />
Last year as Addison entered the big world of public school as a kindergartner was admittedly tough. However, this year as a 1st grader the fear, anxiety and overwhelming feeling of time passing too quickly hit me like a load of bricks. What a huge difference a year makes.<br />
<br />
My little princess went from not being able to read a year ago, to now digesting chapter books, such as Ramona and Beezus, on a regular basis, to winning soccer championships that qualify her to play at Disney World, to being the sassiest of teens, who will argue, with logic ,at the littlest of things.<br />
<br />
This first grade transition has been sooo much harder than kinder.<br />
<br />
On top of this huge leap, we obviously have Mr. Jake making a big leap into the real world as a kindergartner as well.<br />
<br />
Jake has been in special ed receiving occupational therapy services in the school and some speech and ot services outside of school, because of the trauma incurred by the damn beast! So we were/are very concerned about this move into school. It is because of this he worked his booty off at a good friend and great teacher's house this summer. he worked with Ms. Kim 2 days a week on kinder readiness to help prepare for his big journey. She was amazing and he learned so much from her! He was very sad to learn on the first day of school that ms. Kim was not going to be his teacher all year long. <br />
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On top of this confusion, a couple evenings before we had visited Jake's old school, which is Addison's current school. She had supply school night and the much anticipated class rosters were posted. <br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMUrc4Ve7-CgQ7gesvfuOnIsDMj9bst-DjZfESrx7VmlZcsylwgypBa5oT1bQ4I2B4T-AxVOLZyLxdm4eU8q8xQEruhJ2-9SImJ3w4BnyZ8Ut_jCZWeYX_V4SkvD-L2GVlShSdoOqUwE/s1600/IMG_0231.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMUrc4Ve7-CgQ7gesvfuOnIsDMj9bst-DjZfESrx7VmlZcsylwgypBa5oT1bQ4I2B4T-AxVOLZyLxdm4eU8q8xQEruhJ2-9SImJ3w4BnyZ8Ut_jCZWeYX_V4SkvD-L2GVlShSdoOqUwE/s400/IMG_0231.JPG" /></a> </div>As we were at their school we had to swing by Jake's old classroom. <br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSEGkO6fqYTVZ8C8AHl7fnz5STp6WtCbyAx5tRZY6JMGuk4nZWekzWHKU17p6NZnUVw329xRtfbZnXjRa9HLXcC4dF3r5wCvRUy1T3uaxsX9EFatmdChUVo-n1mrueSGh_XgvOH8hNlVE/s1600/IMG_0233.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSEGkO6fqYTVZ8C8AHl7fnz5STp6WtCbyAx5tRZY6JMGuk4nZWekzWHKU17p6NZnUVw329xRtfbZnXjRa9HLXcC4dF3r5wCvRUy1T3uaxsX9EFatmdChUVo-n1mrueSGh_XgvOH8hNlVE/s400/IMG_0233.JPG" /></a> </div>Much to our surprise, not only was his beloved teacher there , but also her two helpers. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilR9HI28J-YlbiiSqz2p44khVx6n8ulQZY_S5qmq-wvwFKV_mvLF6du5y8lNnwgtfY39o4QSfigY4dYtUTehH9y38Jel4Hfr2A58q7KdGVZpHwVcuSXy3Iiw7CDaRTl7sVtOs8rBLDclM/s1600/kevaughandjake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilR9HI28J-YlbiiSqz2p44khVx6n8ulQZY_S5qmq-wvwFKV_mvLF6du5y8lNnwgtfY39o4QSfigY4dYtUTehH9y38Jel4Hfr2A58q7KdGVZpHwVcuSXy3Iiw7CDaRTl7sVtOs8rBLDclM/s320/kevaughandjake.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46GcoX4GK5Y5sn3HtUY8TP3x2HyIxyVqTbZr1UQt5Q9TDjKgmXoDsz90c7n7ynNI3PFnRqPzoUYpdUv682OYeT0c56k5h3yr7G-zSsJGdfnJtBeOZUxTqlDZBiliUNkFZ-ZKZAW8zp4k/s1600/orla+and+jake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46GcoX4GK5Y5sn3HtUY8TP3x2HyIxyVqTbZr1UQt5Q9TDjKgmXoDsz90c7n7ynNI3PFnRqPzoUYpdUv682OYeT0c56k5h3yr7G-zSsJGdfnJtBeOZUxTqlDZBiliUNkFZ-ZKZAW8zp4k/s320/orla+and+jake.JPG" /></a></div>All three whom Jake is dearly in love with. Ms. Keavagh he even calls his bride!<br />
<br />
So you can only imagine how confusing seeing all these great friends a few days prior and then going to school and not recognizing any familiar faces was for him.<br />
<br />
We helped ease him into this "strange place" by assuring him that Cooper would only be a couple classrooms away and he had to take care of him.<br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHp5oiKeHmsL1EPZ-kuuumo1TRDF8IkZ9P_wSho-witmT52GCAO7jheN8VOhnpidUAgqkAVjAUxG6MgyyhbVJAGnrGm6hyphenhyphenqRVDGUcVQNWrYLGCCiqD6jD-eXmc4EqTCVIIQ1H_rCg76kQ/s1600/last+goodbye.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHp5oiKeHmsL1EPZ-kuuumo1TRDF8IkZ9P_wSho-witmT52GCAO7jheN8VOhnpidUAgqkAVjAUxG6MgyyhbVJAGnrGm6hyphenhyphenqRVDGUcVQNWrYLGCCiqD6jD-eXmc4EqTCVIIQ1H_rCg76kQ/s400/last+goodbye.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="clear: both; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The irony of "strange" is that his "new" school isn't really so new. This is where Addison and Jake went to daycare. The same school Jake was attending when he had his first seizure. he didn't have it at school...that we know of...but walking through those halls for the first time was creepy none the less.</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The teachers and staff there are ever so loving! They all ran and gave Jake huge hugs and kisses upon his arrival. They asked a million times where and how Addi is doing. Genuinely kind, caring, people of the Lord.</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Honestly, the day was probably a million times harder on us than the little ones, but it still did not help me from being an emotional wreck. I counted the minutes until that 3:30 bell rang and I could run to get my twerps!</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The day was made as I picked up each kiddo and they all had the BIGGEST smiles on their faces!</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jake jabber jawed nonstop about his amazing adventures and good friends, Addison strutted her stuff as only a BIG 1st grader could do, and sweet Mini Coop cooed and giggled the whole way home.</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Be still me heart is all I could think that first night...be still my heart<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQRgyJyRrGyNDZmGhyZgVbAP632Q621CfcaM1qZH8J9jFTREIbEwO8x5wKkgQBIqF_OPclSW9fpoOzmbsFwkEkZKc7PqePiAu4X6dLKcTA0XJJzwUs63upDpzmlFj1_kj34CzRAq-w8Bg/s1600/DSC_0014.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQRgyJyRrGyNDZmGhyZgVbAP632Q621CfcaM1qZH8J9jFTREIbEwO8x5wKkgQBIqF_OPclSW9fpoOzmbsFwkEkZKc7PqePiAu4X6dLKcTA0XJJzwUs63upDpzmlFj1_kj34CzRAq-w8Bg/s400/DSC_0014.JPG" /></a></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><strong>God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.” </strong></em></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00238554233528582595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7358738169505437539.post-46066275982590680732010-08-09T21:42:00.000-05:002010-08-09T21:42:11.936-05:00EmbarressedI am so embarrassed that it is so long between posts. I keep telling myself I will get better and then I go to look at the date of the last post and it is weeks not days!<br />
<br />
Therefore, I will post this evening, however, it will be short and boring.:-)<br />
<br />
We went to the neurologist today. I so look forward to these trips. I am not sure why, but I literally count the days between appointments. The visits usually take all of 15 minutes, which are far less than the hour car ride there and back.<br />
<br />
Today was a good day.<br />
<br />
Last night we put Jake to bed and within 20 minutes he was already seizing. That sucks! Even spookier, is when you watch him on the "night cam" on the video monitor, the seizures are much more disturbing than in person. His eyes are wide open and glow like some demon child. Then there is the delay. Uggh it weirds me out even to recall the way it looks.<br />
<br />
However, even having seizures last night so soon upon falling asleep. Jake has been doing much better.<br />
<br />
Dr. H noted it, as have a few friends that don't see Jake all the time. The have stated that his gait is much more steady and his speech is much improved. I don't always notice these " little things" as he is my shadow throughout the day.<br />
<br />
Dr. H said that this improvement is most certainly because the seizures are diminishing in number and in length! YEAH!!<br />
<br />
So although seizures suck, I am so very happy to be seeing fewer and fewer of them.<br />
<br />
Lately the biggest "Jake dilemma" is his excessive talking and question asking!! The child never quits!! We ask him "Jake do you ever stop talking?" and his response is "yeah, not so much?"<br />
<br />
Although, the nonstop verbage is QUIT annoying, I remind myself of the many months when he was barely verbal. And when he did talk you could barley make out what he was speaking, as his words were so jumbled with nonsense, drooling and slur.<br />
<br />
So, as the non stop drilling of questions continues I try to remember these times and be thankful for the thousands of :<br />
"Mom, why, how, what's....?"<br />
<br />
For this annoyance I am so very thankful!<br />
<br />
<strong><em>Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful.”</em></strong>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00238554233528582595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7358738169505437539.post-91364072790110920132010-07-20T16:13:00.000-05:002010-07-20T16:13:31.826-05:00I've come to realize...that seizures suck. They have completely consumed my life, even when I don't really realize it.<br />
<br />
As I was listening and watching Jake on the video monitor today, as he took a nap, it hit me. This crap is NOT normal.<br />
<br />
He seizes, I watch.<br />
<br />
Jake seizes at least once a night and at least once during the day. Yea! that's good news, right?<br />
<br />
Well, in whose mind? I have totally and completely come to think that this is 100% normal of a 5 year old kid. I think I have even convinced myself that most , if not all kids, suffer from seizures. <br />
<br />
I used to run to Jake's room when I heard that dreaded gasp of air, as if it's his last breath, and then the sound of the bed vibrating , as his little body convulsed uncontrollably. Now, I simply watch the monitor and count to see how long the damn thing lasts. Sometimes, though, I just listen and count until the noises, snorting, heavy breathing and smacking end.<br />
<br />
I have come to realize that this is NOT normal! and for today, I am going to sulk and say it's not fair.<br />
<br />
Seizures suck!<br />
<br />
I hate the way I can remember every sound, facial gesture, and movement of that dreaded day , August 1st, when I saw Jake's first "big" seizure. <br />
<br />
I hate:<br />
<br />
The sight of his lips turning blue and me trying to breath life back into them.<br />
<br />
The words the 911 operator was telling me to try and help my baby boy.<br />
<br />
The fact that I had one phone to my ear with the 911 operator and one phone on the other ear trying to explain to Matt what was going on , as he was hundreds of miles away.<br />
<br />
The sounds of whirling ambulance, fire truck and police car sirens and realizing they were coming to our house. (Addison still can not stand the sight of emergency response vechilcles or sirens, even though she was not awake, she connects them to that dreadful day)<br />
<br />
I can still so vividly remember all the fire and policemen storming in our house, not worried about breaking or dirtying something with their big and massive gear.<br />
<br />
The way they rushed to Jake's side as he still seized, gave him oxygen and poked him trying to get a line started.<br />
<br />
To this day I have always said that that first seizure was 12 minutes, however I have come to realize, it was at 12 minutes when the Emergency response team actually showed up. Jake seized all the way to the hospital.<br />
<br />
After the team entered the house, the policewoman told me to grab my purse, I am at a loss as to what actually transpired next. I do remember me asking the emt's, as I exited the vehicle and Jake's seizing finally stopped, and as they pulled his gurney out, if the sirens were on?<br />
<br />
why in the hell would I ask that? and that is basically the response i got from the young men saving my son. they looked at me as if I was off my rocker, which I probably was. they then assured me they were on, as were the sirens police cars that followed.<br />
<br />
From that moment on, I don't remember much. I don't remember much of the past 2 years for that matter. I think we have all been in survival mode. I have "loosened" up a bit, as Jake has improved soo much, and for this I praise the Lord.<br />
<br />
But, I have come to realize that this is not normal. <br />
<br />
the way I stare at baby Cooper and can't relax as his eyes roll back into his head as he enters baby slumber, the way all babies do, is not normal.<br />
<br />
the way my heart skips a couple beats every time his arms twitch from baby reflexes, is not normal.<br />
<br />
the way i hold my breath , as he stretches his precious baby arms to stiffness and I wait for them to relax, is not normal.<br />
<br />
Today, I have come to realize, that this feeling of cinder blocks sitting on my chest day after day is such a burden. I am ready to lose this fear and anxiety and finally Kick this Beasts ass, because it is not normal.<br />
<br />
I have never strived to be "just normal," but these days this is exactly what I pray for...to be normal.<br />
<br />
It has been just about 2 years since the day I noted his first seizure, a twitch that sent a smoothie flying through the air of Costco.. I certainly did not think we would still be battling this beast 24 months later.<br />
<br />
Epilepsy is an easy cure, give the kid a pill and everything will be fine.<br />
<br />
I have come to realize that nothing is as easy as it seems.<br />
<br />
<strong><em>Once you choose hope, anything's possible. ~Christopher Reeve</em></strong>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00238554233528582595noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7358738169505437539.post-73121864121776364992010-06-29T21:24:00.000-05:002010-06-29T21:24:04.273-05:00breaking child labor laws?With three children, or even without three children for that matter, I could always use help with the housework.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The kids helped me quite a bit today. :-)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprSMF-yFthuxAZz5K2RgjgGhN0yPZurJ7Y7ceq61q7ojeAQDTDvOqntzPicWZfi9-Xv-bY23A-4nJ8wHNVT2dNFdDABqcr0hja_PMJZVMOK4fzis-BFn0qPcbVTmVLY-MMCzS32hb89E/s1600/6-29-2010+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprSMF-yFthuxAZz5K2RgjgGhN0yPZurJ7Y7ceq61q7ojeAQDTDvOqntzPicWZfi9-Xv-bY23A-4nJ8wHNVT2dNFdDABqcr0hja_PMJZVMOK4fzis-BFn0qPcbVTmVLY-MMCzS32hb89E/s640/6-29-2010+003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCSKGQF4YrimiQ-wzMNgWpVANrRsdpuNx_avQsNRbIoKtMWzytsY0-yf0lyxNAf35JTpD92QaQKwk6D5N-dL-RJaD2ftwJreDW1qTH9piFgckW2ZLEFiELFnoLq-aRthhwlm_BxqVYYk/s1600/6-29-2010+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCSKGQF4YrimiQ-wzMNgWpVANrRsdpuNx_avQsNRbIoKtMWzytsY0-yf0lyxNAf35JTpD92QaQKwk6D5N-dL-RJaD2ftwJreDW1qTH9piFgckW2ZLEFiELFnoLq-aRthhwlm_BxqVYYk/s640/6-29-2010+004.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The good thing is they think working like this is a HUGE treat, or "reward" if you will. Being able to spray cleaning products, does not seem like cleaning to a 5 and 6 year old. It s <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background: yellow;">waaay</span> different than me asking them to clean their room or put their clothes away.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I have a lot on my mind, especially with the upcoming Fourth of July weekend. A lot of feelings and thoughts that I can't quite get together yet. Mostly about the anxiety and the different aspects of Epilepsy that no one really realizes. No one, including people that have been battling this beast with us. the things that seem so small , or not even part of epilepsy, but in reality , would not even be relevant in our lives, if the beast would not have ever entered it.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">So with that being said, I promise to update, hopefully every day this week. I have been avoiding the blog, as I have not known how to deal with what I am actually feeling inside. Well, that, and the fact that I have still been dealing with a 102 fever. mommies are NOT supposed to be sick...there is simply no time for a mommy to be sick. She has too much to do!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is a pick of Sweet "Mini Coop" at 3 weeks old. He now stays awake for a couple hours in the morning and a couple hours in the late afternoon. this is huge, as we honestly thought something was wrong with the kid, as he slept <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background: yellow;">soooo</span> much! it's been 5 years since we were parents to a newborn, we are relearning everything....well, at least I am.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh_I7U-OtHKv_yPz7h_S060T7Ujv03FBBrmuxcfNjUk-II3Qzezku9Bhf2Qu_wd58y-0dOBcrH0NPQGsfQcJ22EaYUXE7Cjr44vSxL1CCwpnZRNoBPQ92QxCklG-CZx1nOttllAi6ef0g/s1600/6-29-2010+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh_I7U-OtHKv_yPz7h_S060T7Ujv03FBBrmuxcfNjUk-II3Qzezku9Bhf2Qu_wd58y-0dOBcrH0NPQGsfQcJ22EaYUXE7Cjr44vSxL1CCwpnZRNoBPQ92QxCklG-CZx1nOttllAi6ef0g/s640/6-29-2010+019.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em>Drag your thoughts away from your troubles... by the ears, by the heels, or any other way you can manage it. ~Mark Twain</em></strong></div>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00238554233528582595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7358738169505437539.post-40218998217283229402010-06-21T18:25:00.001-05:002010-06-21T18:30:48.619-05:00summer blues<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I used to love summer.</div>the sun, lounging in the pool, long days, and pretty flowers.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">lately, though, summer is just a big ball of stress.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">A couple of Jake's major seizure triggers are heat and lack of sleep.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">so in trying to prevent seizures, We try very hard for him to get enough rest and stay cool.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>It kind of seems unfair to me, as summer vacation is a kids dream. Jake and Addison would like nothing more than to swim all day long, come in to eat dinner and then swim some more.<br />
<br />
As much as I, a sun worshipper, would love to adhere to this schedule, it has proven to be awful for Jake. While we try to set limits for Jake, Addison is also effected.<br />
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</div>Looking for things to keep them busy on these long summer days in the Texas heat, has proven to be quite a challenge.<br />
<br />
Jake has been slowly recovering and regaining seizure freedom from the mistake of missed meds two weeks ago.<br />
<br />
However, yesterday we tested the limits for Father's Day.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The kids swam all morning with my dad. They came in for lunch and a short nap and then hit the pool again with Matt for several more hours.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We put Jake to bed fairly early, as we recognized the business of his day. However, within 30 minutes of him falling into a slumber he had 2 tc's.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Uggghhh, it is so difficult to balance what the kids needs and wants are.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">On top of brainstorming ways to keep the twerps busy, I have found myself dealing with a 101-102 fever the past couple days. I am sure this doesn't make their days any more fun, as all I have wanted to do is feed the baby and then rest on the couch.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>I <em>have </em>happened to find an awesome snow cone shack that certainly helps to cool us off on these hot days, and even found shrinky dinks to help occupy their time in an air conditioned atmosphere. <br />
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</div>But lets face it, as fun as these new adventures may be, they only last a short time and are certainly not as fun as wasting away the long days of summer outside.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><strong>Fathers day</strong> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">(Jake is barking like a seal)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The kids present to Matt...it was framed in a horizontal, 3 window, black frame.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZak33cazKlHepFRvmGyFzAMuIQWFs1pYa8nLaDqnd2ee7wrlgG-ZmUR-5cnun8i5Dtn_q2oWGlE-EI5RcD2RHNEYu_fb0gA61JhsquG1m9vPGUV6xhL8ZKmJqn15-6UgDPHdkV0D7wM/s1600/A-+DAD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZak33cazKlHepFRvmGyFzAMuIQWFs1pYa8nLaDqnd2ee7wrlgG-ZmUR-5cnun8i5Dtn_q2oWGlE-EI5RcD2RHNEYu_fb0gA61JhsquG1m9vPGUV6xhL8ZKmJqn15-6UgDPHdkV0D7wM/s400/A-+DAD.jpg" width="281" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIw80sRM4t56d-cO950GtVdSKhYyHodvrcsgfAObYXZetyJmk_b1MMoD0ZOMG1jjCTTskacdhQmvFmElimyeZMDONN9JeXJgWrYI07WEJWUrCvQd4s4sWmq-plYCmbRCcujXH6ITwJZU/s1600/d-+addison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIw80sRM4t56d-cO950GtVdSKhYyHodvrcsgfAObYXZetyJmk_b1MMoD0ZOMG1jjCTTskacdhQmvFmElimyeZMDONN9JeXJgWrYI07WEJWUrCvQd4s4sWmq-plYCmbRCcujXH6ITwJZU/s400/d-+addison.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">and finally, this is how the kiddos wrapped up the day. Addison rocking and reading to her little brother.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGN6phFMZcYrKlTbeRQ4vv-BvX5WQJQoTImceE6V43r__folLq0LvI9QDXxd3aePAw2z_SY4lDIdZVoejND74si2IUDbjO2clr3uG_7jkDR79lrgHUq49ara5KnflXYTrKpDwvgJfI2vc/s1600/fathers+day+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGN6phFMZcYrKlTbeRQ4vv-BvX5WQJQoTImceE6V43r__folLq0LvI9QDXxd3aePAw2z_SY4lDIdZVoejND74si2IUDbjO2clr3uG_7jkDR79lrgHUq49ara5KnflXYTrKpDwvgJfI2vc/s400/fathers+day+005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em>Then followed that beautiful season... Summer....</em></strong></div><strong><em></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>-- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow</em></strong>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00238554233528582595noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7358738169505437539.post-72104318556749223252010-06-09T21:30:00.002-05:002010-06-13T20:25:30.455-05:00He's here!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">As of 5:12 pm, Tuesday, 6/8/2010, there is a brand new addition to the Peters' family. And he coudln't be cuter. We are so blessed by our lil' guy. Addison and Jake are just smitten and can not wait for us to join them at the house!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Of course, nothing can be "easy" for us, so the day was quite interesting.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It started at about 4:00am with Jake having a 20 second nocturnal tc. I was appalled, as this was longer seizure than I have recently come accustomed to. Jake also lost control of his bladder. He has not done that in numerous months. Obviously, I was quite baffled and disturbed and threw any more sleep out the door.</div><br />
That seizure was followed by another one about 30 minutes later...and then another one soon there after.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">After about 6 seizures and loss of bladder control 2 more times, between 4 and 6:00am., we finally just woke him up.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>This, as expected, put an end to those nasty things.<br />
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In between seizures , I, of course, started brainstorming, "what had changed", to make this particular night a "break through" night. I 't didn't take long for me to realize, that in all the excitement of getting ready for the early departure to the hospital, we had forgotten to give Jake his night time meds.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So around 4:45, I quickly made thee decision to pull the trigger and give him one of the missed drugs and then wait a couple hours to give him his "regular" dose of the rest of the medications.</div><br />
Although it was terrible to see such early morning happenings and they couldn't have happened on a worse day, iIwas glad that there was a reason for the madness.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Matt and I departed for the hospital at about 7:00, after we got Jake settled with his Granny.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Upon arriving at the hospital, we were "checked in" and Dr. Garner broke my water at about 8:00 and started Pitocin around 8:10. He took wagers on how quickly this lil guy would make his entrance.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">His, the dr.s', the specialist, and the experienced professional, was by 12:00.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We toke his word for it and were releived that by 12:30 we would surely have another sweet addition.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Well, 12 came and went, as did, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>It turns this third child of ours was quite stubborn.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Although I was progressing, his head was turned at such an angle that he wouldn't move down the birth canal.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">After many position changes and acrobatics on my part, at around 5:10 it was go time.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Can you tell I am excited?</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNwp65NO7bJAD46PxcUTqbJWAOMapw5-GUW6EsHKibdmLk7lVq07ao0aJaMcNIJyG-I0x-4RL6VrKe_ukDWOnO7i8dxS9IRArN3MlAxTM2zQ3xt7JWb62f0obvsfBVhqbv08vUcgxJVA/s1600/Bbay+Cooper+6-8-2010+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNwp65NO7bJAD46PxcUTqbJWAOMapw5-GUW6EsHKibdmLk7lVq07ao0aJaMcNIJyG-I0x-4RL6VrKe_ukDWOnO7i8dxS9IRArN3MlAxTM2zQ3xt7JWb62f0obvsfBVhqbv08vUcgxJVA/s400/Bbay+Cooper+6-8-2010+005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Everyone was shoved out of the room and by 5:12 our lil man was here!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: large;">Cooper Austin Peters</span></strong></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: large;">7lbs 1 oz</span></strong></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: large;">19.25 inches</span></strong></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: large;">blessed our lives at 5:12 on Tuesday, June 8, 2010.</span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26neU0kPWr0rEAA7U4tDceMAJByavN23am9e1VsdPuWSyvSvFeGjif5oGTuI-0vwNW0gcSSzay6JejVoyaUzM28P0bJ_V8luRvyVSCU7Vz23lax8rkuLSs3I9Uhb57G2FVZvqqlL2LmA/s1600/Bbay+Cooper+6-8-2010+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26neU0kPWr0rEAA7U4tDceMAJByavN23am9e1VsdPuWSyvSvFeGjif5oGTuI-0vwNW0gcSSzay6JejVoyaUzM28P0bJ_V8luRvyVSCU7Vz23lax8rkuLSs3I9Uhb57G2FVZvqqlL2LmA/s640/Bbay+Cooper+6-8-2010+014.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">All it took was one easy push!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">He is just a doll and we are so very blessed.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">The kids awaiting that first peek</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nMqZwlSpTSTNIVng01UDW8W5AeisuD29zQpCo-5GtAkEux_NRpnlvQrCzuAIW2QQoKAR1e3kx1PmNkZDxXgONK_yFnw7Nerh2b6rSslhgiddoCZgUOEdJAS_y7ecd1pNnISGXItZh_g/s1600/Bbay+Cooper+6-8-2010+078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nMqZwlSpTSTNIVng01UDW8W5AeisuD29zQpCo-5GtAkEux_NRpnlvQrCzuAIW2QQoKAR1e3kx1PmNkZDxXgONK_yFnw7Nerh2b6rSslhgiddoCZgUOEdJAS_y7ecd1pNnISGXItZh_g/s640/Bbay+Cooper+6-8-2010+078.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjBfVCsov_WEmaAI_18-sQmM2zxJHAWdNbc-nOXhZSWdq1ROKFH3rjCbNLRdHLvRCvlDrKlnPkKYD8iVvdwGKZEDaQsnirImM0iqBEHrLW72rXnxeJN4n5XDLnIMeRpA7wKv9iCKc_vY/s1600/Bbay+Cooper+6-8-2010+052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjBfVCsov_WEmaAI_18-sQmM2zxJHAWdNbc-nOXhZSWdq1ROKFH3rjCbNLRdHLvRCvlDrKlnPkKYD8iVvdwGKZEDaQsnirImM0iqBEHrLW72rXnxeJN4n5XDLnIMeRpA7wKv9iCKc_vY/s640/Bbay+Cooper+6-8-2010+052.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCuEWZiGAxbpV255JbySsQH7jh5AqZXYgTZtxwEq5-mnjg0sUwAW87d6lIVH8K1miDHA_Y84hieNpgoPFyuTSL3mWQCh2WQgattyjsJUc4TBlk85RGBhu-MHcgNf7jRtBFK6ZnX8iqto0/s1600/Bbay+Cooper+6-8-2010+056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCuEWZiGAxbpV255JbySsQH7jh5AqZXYgTZtxwEq5-mnjg0sUwAW87d6lIVH8K1miDHA_Y84hieNpgoPFyuTSL3mWQCh2WQgattyjsJUc4TBlk85RGBhu-MHcgNf7jRtBFK6ZnX8iqto0/s640/Bbay+Cooper+6-8-2010+056.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEv429mle9l9vbRPKB_6P76Jy5XxQtuJvznZXw9PJV3n1SFtnhqpKnMjH9gjGigS99VlKAhINk_I8x3OD-QFAsA44XL6BEQNgaSo3G5sDCEatO70v_c4qfvmd0i28GHJL-IadO4iw21ts/s1600/Bbay+Cooper+6-8-2010+065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEv429mle9l9vbRPKB_6P76Jy5XxQtuJvznZXw9PJV3n1SFtnhqpKnMjH9gjGigS99VlKAhINk_I8x3OD-QFAsA44XL6BEQNgaSo3G5sDCEatO70v_c4qfvmd0i28GHJL-IadO4iw21ts/s640/Bbay+Cooper+6-8-2010+065.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtj17rHm62g1I138F0yyDBluXJ20UXxGOsEPfK9x7OEJc8WH8cIwTeUY7At68n52SENRjQ5StmZNDYb3gPrIrbW3luuni_S5pQ9Tosu6YnyQ15ogloW9q_ljDRQKZ8P20_L5_2e6_K9tc/s1600/Bbay+Cooper+6-8-2010+063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtj17rHm62g1I138F0yyDBluXJ20UXxGOsEPfK9x7OEJc8WH8cIwTeUY7At68n52SENRjQ5StmZNDYb3gPrIrbW3luuni_S5pQ9Tosu6YnyQ15ogloW9q_ljDRQKZ8P20_L5_2e6_K9tc/s640/Bbay+Cooper+6-8-2010+063.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strike>I can not wait to share pictures with you all, however, because my computer is still in the "shop" the and computer I am currently working from is very much a downgrade, I can not access pictures and upload them .</strike></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Once I am able to though, this page will be exploding with photos of our little miracle!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">As for Big brother Jake, he is caught up on his regular medications and is doing much better. He did have a couple seizures last night, however they were far less intense and much shorter than those of the night before. Hopefully tonight will bring no seizures at all.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><em>“Birth is the sudden opening of a window, through which you look out upon a stupendous prospect. For what has happened? A miracle. You have exchanged nothing for the possibility of everything.”</em></strong></div>Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00238554233528582595noreply@blogger.com2