I could save myself a lot of breath during the day if I only recorded the following and played it all.day.long. It would sound something like this:

"Maysen stop, please get down, don't touch his face, put that down, I said STOP, MAYSEN, ONE.....TWO....., I said no, go pick that up, STOP, calm down, inside voice please, stop-don't, listen to me, look at me, plea-- oh great it's broken...ONE....TWO...........................Time out!"

There are other versions available but I think you get the point.

I will end on this note: Maysen went to give me a raspberry on my Xd-old non-shaved leg (I'm not admitting anything on the X amount). All I hear is, "OUCHHHHHHHHHHHH. Your leg bit me!" Ha! That'll teach him.

Happy 5th birthday to our nephew, Jonas!! We love you!!

Winner is ...

... AMY, who guessed that it was renal/kidney involved. My doc believes it was more than likely a kidney stone that I either passed that day (did I strain my urine ... NO!), or if it did revert back into my kidney I'll get to do this all again some day and hope to pass it then, or have lithotripsy and have it broken up. We didn't do any formal testing because there really isn't any reason. I'm telling you, if that goes down again, though, I'm heading it to the ER! (mainly for the good drugs ... hehe).

I love this picture taken above. Mainly because my Grandma Harbaugh, who passed away in November, made it for me when she was visiting my dad and Jo in Florida. She was so worried I wouldn't like it ... and in fact I absolutely love it! It's made out of PVC piping if you can believe that! I think of her everytime I see it sitting on my front covered porch.

Luckily I've felt better over the last couple of days. Until about mid-week I was still feeling really worn out and just icky from Sunday's ordeal. Today was dedicated to getting the house/yard ready for Remax's Open House which is tomorrow from 1-4. Today was just the yard part. So tomorrow we'll have to rush to get all the house clean and "kidfree" by noon, which is when we have to be out of here. Then we're on to Albany for my nephew's 5th birthday party.

I think the kids and I are going to enjoy a little getaway during Nate's next business trip to Denver, which is in a few weeks. I'm not exactly sure what we're going to do, but I think it would be grea to get away while he's gone. Who knows ... maybe we'll fly to Denver to be with him there ... spend a few days after his conference. That's a thought!

Ok, 1am is approaching. Chat later ...

Alright ... $20 to the person who guesses right to my diagnosis:

a) kidney infection
b) kidney stone
c) ectopic pregnancy
d) uterine fibroid/cyst post C Section
e) "just a bug"
f) gallbladder/pancreas?
g) flu

.... and that's all I got. Remember the symptoms, my nurse friends: vague peri-umbilical abdominal pain/nausea radiating to lower/mid back during 'attack', which was severe pain with sitting/standing relieved with lying. Continued spotting x 5mo. Post attack is continued intermittent nausea x 2mo, fatigue, headache, and inner irritation to R flank area. Temperature chronically runs around 99.8 (as in, forever now). No vomiting. Weird new factor: engorged grapefruit-sized rash to abdomen with raised borders - swelling to standing 1/4" off abdomen.

There. Diagnose that! (That'll cost me about $450, huh?)

Oh, and as if that wasn't enough: I slipped and fell in my shower today. Nice 5" bruise across my left butt cheek/hip that hurts when I walk ... because all of my fat is bruised and I landed full weight on the bathtub ledge. What is going on!? I swear I've had more crap go on with me in the last 4 months than I have in the last 5 years!! Wish me luck!

Independence Day Weekend

We had a great 4th of July weekend. Some of these photos are courtesy of Jenn, who came on Friday morning in time for Creswell's annual Independence Day parade. The weather was perfect, as the clouds lingered in the morning making the parade cool-weathered. Every year they have a great airplane show and a F15 fighter plane even flies overhead, so the clouds made the airplanes easier to see this year as the sun wasn't blinding everyone.

Papa and Sherrill met us at the parade and so we got to enjoy it with them, which was nice. They were in town for just a short trip as they were attending a wedding Saturday. After the parade we went to the park for picnic, booths, and patriotic music entertainment. The sun was out by this point, so we only stayed a short while. Griffin was a bit overexposed to stimuli and was ready for a quiet nap.

Nate marinated chicken and veggies, and together we all put skewers together for Friday nights' BBQ. The neighbors came over, as did my sister in law and my neices. We had a great time BBQ'ing and chatting. Laughing and joking always make its way into our house so there was lots of that going on as well. The kids played and had a really great time. By nightfall it was time to start lighting off our fireworks, just in time for Papa and Sherrill to show up for fireworks. All the neighbors were home this holiday so the cul-de-sac was filled with multiple fireworks and families. It was fun. My house is centered perfectly for the community fireworks that are lit off in the highschool field. It is located right behind my neighbors' backyard so we all sit in our front yards in our neighborhood as we have the best seats in town. Griffin, thankfully, was in bed by 7:30 and slept through all the fireworks. Bailey was just as freaked out this year, despite tranquilizers. (Side note: Thursday night while shopping for fireworks, she was in the backyard when someone lit off some loud ones, she tore the gate down and high-tailed it down our street before some neighbors rounded her up).

Saturday Jenn and I had a nice lunch in town and then headed to a movie. The Strangers is the scariest movie I have ever seen. What makes it terrifying is the pure suspense that is tied into this movie. Just thinking of being trapped in a house while people were trying to get at me is horrifying. But to see it ... well. And even though it's a movie, it's still scary!

Jenn took this picture, as Maysen wanted "New ears". Well ... doesn't he look like something out of Lord of the Rings? It amazes me everytime my sister comes, what an electric relationship she has with Maysen. He will talk about her until blue in the face, and when she comes it's the best thing in the world. He'll drag her all over the backyard, eats with her, wants to pee with her, and God forbid we try and leave. Melt Down City! Jenn has to make promises to that kid so that he'll calm down and it usually involves swinging, chase, and other varieties of crap Nate and I are tired of. She loves it, he loves it, so we're all good to go. When she left, he came home and said, "AUUUNNTTTIIIEEEE, where ARRREEEEE YOUUUUUU?" I had to inform him that she went home. He looked sad, then a new hope overcame him when he saw the new lotion I had just bought. "Mom," he says, "You're just teasing .... this is Auntie's lotion!!!". That was yet, another let down. She'll see him in just a few more weeks when she comes to town for my bday!!!

With Maysen we waited until he was 1yr before giving sugars. That's all a hoax. Griffin had ice cream for the first time this past week. I thought he'd wonder what in the heck this stuff was, but he ate it like he had eaten it his whole life, and none too happy when we took it away. In reality all we did was let him suck a little off Nate's cone.

Saturday night we had a fire with Jenn and cooked s'mores. Something about campfire, s'mores, and being blasted in the face with firesmoke no matter how many times you move is just great! It was a blast. Reminded me of home and times at the lake.

Sunday night around 1am I started having some abdominal pain. Nate had made plans for the day Sunday so gracefully the boys went elsewhere so I could rest for the day. And it was a good thing. By 2pm Sunday I was in so much pain I was fearful I would have to find someone to take me to the ER. My abdominal pain had radiated into my back and although I have never been in labor (thanks to Drive-Thru C-sections) I could have sworn I was in labor. After 800mg of Ibuprofen, a hot bath, and a 3hr nap, I felt better when I woke up. I was nauseated but at least the pain was gone. As of today, I'm all better with the exception of a massive headache. I see my doctor on Wednesday to f/u with my plantar fasciitis so I'll be talking with her about this then. Of course between now and then, Nurse Leslie has a laundry list of self-diagnoses from 1) just a bug to 48985) gall/kidney stones?

And with that, it's bathtime. I think this is enough to digest for now.

This weekend past weekend while everyone was sweating out the near 100F weather, we escaped to the coast. When we arrived it seemed like it might be actually chilly as it was only 62F inland, which usually means it’ll be 5 degrees cooler on the beach. Forgetting jackets, we ran to FM to grab some on clearance, just in case.

Once we hiked down to the water (on the Oregon coast, you actually HAVE to hike to it) it was gorgeous! The boys were just in swimming trunks and that was it! We kept Griffin under the umbrella and he had a good time on his tummy just digging his fingers in the sand.
After being on the beach for a for a couple hours, Griffin had enough and fell asleep in the car seat. He slept there comfortably for about an hour. We built sand castles, blew bubbles, played squirt guns, and just had fun. By 6pm Maysen had enough and we headed up to our hotel room, which ended up being a 900 sq ft room with a tub (or private swimming pool, per Maysen) in the room. It had 2 TVs per room section, so after we ordered room service we ordered a movie for us and a movie for Maysen. Griffin did great, sleeping away right on schedule. The coastal fog had rolled in so we cozied up with the fireplace on and just had a good time.


Sunday morning was a good morning Nate and Mase went down to the water to fly their kites. Maysen kept yelling things up to me that sounded something like, "Hey MOM ... UGHI*EKAI GKWOKNGI KJSIWHAI". I just smiled and waved.

We made it home to discover Bailey had hurdled the couch and was stuck behind there, stuck between the couch and bay window. Apparently the previous night we had a thunderstorm and I can only imagine she leapt there for cover. I need to order her tranquilizers from the vet tomorrow. It’s funny because while living in Kansas she was so used to storms, and now she’s so intolerant of noise.

Nate has a 4-day weekend this weekend for Independence Day. He’ll get to see Maysen at swimming lessons Thursday and I’ll run in and work Thursday afternoon on the Triage desk. Gives me an outing and gives Nate some private time with the boys. Works out.

No moves yet on our house. It’s a slow market right now, so we just keep waiting patiently. If any of you are keeping tabs on the Olympic Trials, just know you’re looking at my city when you watch the track and field. This year the Track & Field Olympic try-outs are in Eugene at Hayward field. It’s been a big time for Eugene, but I try and avoid going to town these days. It’s neat sitting in my house watching it, knowing it’s just miles away from my house. It’s just weird …

Finish Line

Ta Da! Our little boy has been sitting up now for a bit, but just got pics recently. And he loves it!! You pick him up and he arches his back like 'I can do this, thank you!" He certainly is growing up and what a handsome little fella he's turning into!!

And with that, I'll close with the fact that tonight was his last dose of phenobarb. It's been a long long road with that junk and I'm glad it's over. I ponder over if he even notices, as his 1cc he's been getting over the last week is merely a swig. The last couple of nights he hasn't even finished his big honkin bottle which is what I mix it in, so I don't think there will be any big changes tomorrow at nigh-night time. We'll see. I'm just glad it's over ....

Official.

Sorry about the foggy pic, but camera phone. After a non-successful weekend of open house and realizing that there is so much more that goes into selling your house on your own than anticipated, we've officially listed our house with an agent. He is optimistic that our house will be sold within the next month, but I guess time will tell. We met with the builder again this morning for a bit to chat about a floor plan we're looking at and again we walked away feeling like this was the best decision we could be making right now. We feel lucky that we are in a position to be able to build a bigger home, so we're taking it. I think the longer we stay in this house will only make it harder to leave for everyone. Right now Maysen is excited at the thought of having a brand new house with stairs (his words) as we've toured a few with stairs and he's in love with them.

On the illness front, no one is better. Thankfully my wheezing is much better and cough is subsiding but Nathan and my throat are so painful we're both chewing down the ibuprofen. I got a good look at our throats this AM and we both have lovely little white pockets on them, so I had to call the office and was able to go in and I swabbed both our throats. We'll see what the culture grows (hoping no strep!). I had some extra penicillin left over from something, so I started both Nathan and I on it until we get the results. That way he can go back to work tomorrow. Fin has a runny nose still and a cough as well as Maysen but you'd never know there was anything wrong with him.

On a note that Rochelle will appreciate: yesterday while we were having the open house, we caught Maysen swinging from his bed through the air on his curtains. He got a firm warning and sure enough, within the hour there he was again -but this time carrying out his bent like a "U" curtain rod that had given way. "Uh Oh ....." is all we got. So, Mase currently has no more curtains in his room. Good timing as staging doesn't look so hot with no curtains and holes in the wall.

Oh! Ok, so speaking of Maysen and open house. Last week a couple had come to look at the house. I put Maysen outside to play and just as I was bringing them around to go outside, there he was, just inside the door......BUCK NAKED. The couple stood there ... horrified, but it took me another glance to figure out their disgusted look. He had poop allllllll over him. He had pooped his lovely pants, which he seems to like to do for attention these days and while attempting to remove them, smeared it all over. So there he is, in his glory. Needless to say, the couple walked passed the loaded underwear and kindly said "thank you". No further word from them. Gee. Imagine that.

With that I'll close. Keep praying that our favorite lot will be available while we wait to sell our house. I'm hoping that although this might be a long road, it'll flatten out and become less bumpy. One can always hope, right?

The day before I went to Baker City last week, it snowed. Yes ... in June, it snowed. That made for many of the kids to end up with various ailments: ear infections, pink eye, coughs, and snotty noses. We ended up with coughs and colds here ... and then I started getting a red eye. I let it go until I started coughing so bad I couldn't lay down because my wheezing was waking me up. I went to my doctor yesterday and had to miss work because I did, in fact, have double pink eye and bronchitis (treated with 3 different inhalers - a bronchodilator, an old steroid inhaler I have here and a new one). I'm already feeling better, but the biggest punch in the stomach was having to admit that the reason I got pink eye was because I let down my paranoid-nurse persona and used my Visine after letting my nephew (who was later diagnosed with pink eye) use it. What a "DUH!" moment. These are the things I teach as a nurse, but it's a "Do as I say, not as I do" moment. And it wasn't even that I "knew better" - I just brain farted the fact that he had used my drops prior to being diagnosed, then I used them.

This weekend we're holding an open house. In fact - it's going on right now, which tells you just in fact how well it's going. Grrr! We had a realtor come over on Thursday stating he had 2 couples that were looking for housing in our price range and he wanted to look at the house first before he directed them here. No word on them. Then the sisters were back with their parents yesterday to view the house and basically we got an offer to buy if we'd accept a retainer and decline any other offers that came through until they sold THEIR house. We kindly declined that because we'd like to sell as soon as possible to obtain our land and start building (that's the plan as of right now). I know there's a plan for us, and we're just going with the flow, but I wish that flow was more toward the SOLD aspect!

Our next move is if nothing moves today or tomorrow, then Monday we're buying an MLS listing through a realtor in Eugene. You can continue to sell on your own, but for $X they'll list it online and put it to realtors in surrounding area - at least getting more foot traffic. If a realtor brings a buyer, it's up to you to pay some commission to that realtor. We need more foot traffic because of the area we're in, doing it on our own isn't going to make for a quick sale like we were hoping. So, we're holding on for this ride!! And we love our house and it's not as though we're homeless so we'll stay as long as we need to with a smile ... but we'd really like to get moving on a bigger home!

Griffin is sitting on his own now. Of course he'll wobble a bit, but for the most part he's sitting all by his lonesome. He insists on sleeping on his tummy, which scares me but no matter how many times I go in and roll him over, he just goes right back! He's eating like a champ these days ... eating food 3-4 times a day, and lots of it! Those Stage 1 foods are a joke to him, they just make him mad! We go to the doctor on Friday for his 6mo check and I'm bringing Maysen along to get his eczema looked at. Poor kid has very sensitive skin and no matter what I do, I can't keep ahead of it!

Ok, I'm going to go back to staring out the window hoping someone stops. Do you think that scares them off? A wild pink-eyed lady staring out the window hacking her lungs out. Yikes ...

Greensburg = Green

Some may or may not know that I'm originally from Kansas - spent my whole life there up until 2003. So when I learned about the massive F5 tornado that ripped through Greensburg last summer, destroying the town, it hit home ... literally. One of the neighbor boys I grew up with lived with his wife and small baby girl in Greensburg at the time of the tornado. Luckily, they're OK.

So, when I was combing through the massive list of channels to chose from, I stumbled across a program entitled simply "Greensburg". When Nate got home we watched it and discovered it was actually a Docu-Series documenting the towns rebirth. What makes it more interesting is that they're taking a massively different approach and becoming the US ... no, WORLD's role model and rebuilding all eco-friendly, or "green" (I think the towns' name is appropriate, Greensburg, KS). You can watch the challenges, obstacles, different views, frustration as this town rebuilds ... the right way.

Read more here about this heroic effort. This is just one more reason I'm proud to say I'm from Kansas.

these are the days of ... "Build the House"

There's one thing about me that people who know me well cringe upon. And that is the fact that I get spontaneous ideas and go balls-to-the-wall to get whatever Tasmanian devil-like project complete. The latest one? We've (I've) decided that this house is too small for us. For one, the open floor plan provides almost no get-away space and being a full time mom now vs having work and things to be away from the house for, I am appalled at how frustrating keeping the only living space I have somewhat tidy because Maysen wants to play toys. His room is a bit small so he'd like more room to play ... and that means it gets thrown all over the house. Not a good plan from my stand point.

I feel validated when I can get my husband to agree to my tangents :) So, we both solidly put our house up on the market Tuesday night. I left for Baker City (more on that later) on Wednesday to meet up with Maysen who was there with 6 other grandkids, attending VBS. Needless to say that it was a 3-ring circus. It was great fun, don't get me wrong but that house was just tooo small for 4 adults and 7 grandkids. 5 of the 7 are under the age of 5. Yea. The kids had a great time, but I think we're all agreed that we're glad to be on our one schedules/lives again!!

So, when we decided to sell, we decided that we're not going through a realtor and we're trying to sell it on our own. We learned doing this would save us at least $12,000. We had one prospect right off the bat; a pair of sisters looking to move their parents, who currently live up the mountain, closer to them. One sister walks down our secluded street daily just to look at my house, per her. When she saw it up for sale, she stopped dead in her tracks to call her sister. They came Saturday to look and loved it! One catch: the parents have to sell their house on the mountain as well, but do have perspective buyers. One sister was frantic about telling me to call her if we got another offer, as she would try and top it to get the house.

Today we looked at more homes and found a builder who is VA certified (only way we can get a VA loan) who just developed a subdivision near our current home, but closer to the high school more out of town. We loved his work and the options he provides. The lot we would love to build on is backed up against a nature reserve which means we'd never have anyone building back there ... and the view is AMAZING! We could put a gate on our back fence that allows us to go back in and just explore. Almost like an extended backyard. Of course our house has to sell first before our pipe dreams can happen, but we're doing 2 open houses this weekend coming up, so pray that it proves fruitful. To be able to move on building a much bigger home in a great area would be fulfilling I believe. I would love to have a bedroom for each boy, an office for Nate, and a big bonus room as a playroom for the boys. The office would double (by use of Murphy Bed in the wall) as the spare room for guests. After looking at his house plans the builder provided, we've settled on a couple for him to review with our changes. Do you think the cart is before the horse on this one .... cause don't I have to sell my house first?? Ahhh, yes!

Follow the "Build Your House" soap-opera here, anytime. I'll keep you updated on how the open houses go this weekend. I'm hoping we get an offer from having it!

before and afters

I told K I would post a spring picture of my yard. Thanks to the cool weather and rain, it's looking great! If it would only look like this year-round. I'll still come give pointers if you'd like, otherwise keep my book as long as you'd like!

I have mentioned before that Bonnie has been working on the painting of Maysen and the Polar Express. The above picture was one I toke during Maysen's Polar Express Party for his birthday when we took his cousin, Jonas, up to Portland with us and we rode the Christmas Polar Express train. Nathan and I decided to pick this picture for Bonnie to paint. Originally we thought she was just going to paint this picture, as is. It wasn't until later we learned she was putting more of a Polar Express twist on the painting. Nathan was a bit skeptical, but this is how it turned out:

Stunned, we brought it home and decided it needed to be displayed somewhere where everyone can see it. We are so proud of how it turned out and this will forever be such a priceless possession to us. The details, the love, the emotion put into it is mind blowing. She does all sorts of paintings and many portraits like this for hire. If anyone is interested, comment me your email and we'll exchange information.

Here's another "before" picture of Maysen after school got out. I decided that the Shaggy Dog needed a haircut but I didn't want to wrestle Fin into the salon, etc. So I decided that SOMEDAY our weather will warm up and he'll feel good to have this buzzed. So out the clippers came (mind you I've never done this). In no time his hair was gone and I think it's adorable. Little fuzz head. My Peach Bean.

Speaking of Maysen, he is gone all week as of today. He's one of 6 cousins all going up to BC to stay with Gr Sherrill and Papa. This coming week is Vacation Bible School at Baker City Christian Church where Nate's father (Papa) is the pastor. Every year they bring the grand kids up to attend VBS, and this will be Maysen's first year. Needless to say it's Q.U.I.E.T around here and I'm enjoying it. Talk to me in 2 days and I'll be bawling, missing him so. Griffin and I are going up on Wednesday to stay out the week visiting, so I'll see him soon.

It's movie day at our house so back to the movies...

garage sale

The fund-raising garage sale was a success on Saturday. The total we got from the sale was $2082.55. Of course $200 goes back to the school because that's what they gave us to start change. $1900 for one days' work is not bad at all, considering most everything was marked $0.25!! It felt great being able to give that to the school knowing it's going to in-need families. Now if I could only have that kind of luck on my own with my own stuff! We kept some of the good stuff that didn't sell and will try and sell it in Nate's mom sale on June 20th. Whatever sells at that sale will also be added to the $1900. I had great support this week with Nate's step mom in town to help, my sister in law Jessica came on (EARLY) Saturday to spend the day with my boys, and Nate's mom came and helped during the sale. Nate's step sister and husband also helped out on Friday and Saturday. Without everyone's help, I don't think I would be sane. It was a success because of everyone's help and support.

I have confirmed plantar fasciitis, per the doctor on Friday. I will be doing physical therapy, pain medication, and anti-inflammatories until this is finally resolved which could take 12-18 months. My blood pressure also continues to be elevated since my pre-eclampsia (which apparently hasn't fully resolved!). I thought it was just because of stress from Fin's sickness, etc but it hasn't gone down. My doctor has decided to treat it so now, despite my opinion, I'm on BP medication. I'm hoping now that the sale is over maybe some stressors are gone and it will regulate out. We'll see.

Wednesday is Maysen's school picnic, although his last day of school was last week. Nate has that day off since he will be heading to Seattle soon for classes. On Saturday Maysen goes to Papa and Gr Sherrill's house for Vacation Bible School that week. It will be nice to have quiet for a couple of days!

Hope you've had a good week.

Stomp

Tonight we saw STOMP. It was actually the second time we've seen it and it didn't disappoint although a lot of the plot sequences/backdrop were the same. The cast was different, there was a different energy, and overall it felt different. To compare, we saw Blue Man Group in Chicago a few years back and although that was a terrific show, STOMP blows them out of the water. So what do they do? No, they don't just walk around and bang on trash cans, the unspoken humor (they don't talk at all) that resonates throughout the whole 2hr performance had me laughing out loud more than I would seeing a purposefully funny movie. It was great to get a break from the duty of garage sale stuff for the good of fund-raising.

Speaking of which; it is going great! I am blessed to have a great supportive family so willing to help out. Here I am, signing up for this, and when I need help (more like getting bailed out) they all run to the rescue. That's what family is all about. And it's all for the good of the kids and school, so why not? I have volunteers coming tomorrow to help me price. Aside from all the clothes (that's Mom S's job to do), I would say we're already a good 1/4 through the pricing. I think with me and the volunteers, most of it will be done tomorrow. I'd like to relax on Friday until 4 when the next shift of madness sets in, which is moving all the organized/priced items to the church and prepping the tables for Saturday. That should be a long show, too. God willing, that will go smoothly and there will be no rain on Saturday. I will be there at 6am setting stuff up with my wonderful hubby (who has never hesitated in helping when I need it ... I'm blessed!) and exactly 12hrs later we'll be closing the sale, loading all the rest of the stuff (I refrain from using JUNK ... oh wait, I just did. I feel better now) into the truck donated by St Vincent DePauls, and we haul it off for them to sort through. Ahhh, what a wonderful feeling 6:30pm on Saturday will feel like.

In another twist of events, we have been discussing how small our house is. So on a whim my bro in law, who is a contractor came over to discuss how/if we could add a bonus room onto our garage without jacking up our structure, etc. He basically said there WAS a way, but yes; it would jack up our structure, cost way too much money, and we'd have to move out for a month. So, his other options were: to trade our house with his 6 acres of land, then we'd have to build or live in something cheap until we could build big. b) rent our house and buy a bigger one c) rent our house and build a bigger one or d) do nothing. I'm inclined to do nothing right now, but Nate likes the idea of obtaining the 6 acres right now. We'll see ...

I am heading to the doctor on Friday morning to also get a good look at my poor tootsies. I'm sure the verdict will be weight loss (as I sit here at midnight eating Oreos ... hey, Miss Monthly's here), but I'd like to see if they're full-blown arthritic now ... vs plantar fasciitis ... vs ??? So we'll see. Apparently my BP is running high lately since the pre-eclampsia/Griffin issue so we'll talk about that. Do you think I have any stressors in life now? I should be relaxing and rejoicing in having my healthy babies ... but to take on this massive sale. Well. I asked for it.

The Oreos are going away. And so am I, only because I can't sit here without Oreos so that leaves me with no other option. Night.

OHSU visit

We just got back from Griffin’s OHSU adventure. Wednesday he had his MRI. That was an ordeal. We were to arrive an hour early so that they could put lidocaine cream on his IV sites so when they started it, he wouldn’t feel it. Well, the receptionist came out and put the cream on the tops of his feet and one hand. I thought this perhaps was a bit fishy, but what did I know? After waiting the required hour, we went back and the RN right away said that he had no visible veins in the feet. She tried his hand, which he screamed bloody murder on. She called the anesthesiologist who came and tried the outside of his foot (no cream was put there) and while Fin continued to turn purple with screaming so hard, she too couldn’t get it. They informed us that they now needed to put him under with the “gas mask” as I call it. They gave me a pacifier with some sugar water and I rocked him while he fell asleep until they were ready. When they said we couldn’t go back with him, I informed them that I would be going back with him and I would talk to whatever supervisor I needed to because I would kindly tell him/her what I thought of their inadequate use of the lidocaine cream. Needless to say, I went back with him and held him while they put the mask on him. He never woke up and drifted right off to gassy sleep.

We saw Dr Koch and when he walked in he said, “The good news is that there is a lot of good news!” He was really encouraged because of the fact that Fin’s EEG done on May 9th was completely normal now – the low seizure threshold found in February had resolved. The MRI showed no surprising results and Dr Koch put it in analogy form like this: When Fin got sick, it was like he had fallen and really skinned up his knee. The MRI done right after his illness showed swelling, acute trauma, and inflammation. On the MRI done on Wednesday, none of that was present and instead just the scars remain. Dr Koch anticipates he might forever have those scars, but developmentally, those scars have not affected anything. The area of the brain where the scars are present is a rapidly growing part of the brain and hopefully the scars will diminish as the new tissue forms. Dr Koch was more impressed with the findings with the EEG because although the MRI is a nice picture-taking tool for diagnostics, it doesn’t necessarily reflect functioning. The EEG showed 1hr of pure normal brain function.

He’ll see Dr Koch one more time in 6mo, closer to his 1yr birthday to check his development one more time. If everything goes as he anticipates (which is developmentally appropriate), then he’ll discharge him from OHSU care.

Closing on the best note ever: we have been given the OK to start tapering Fin off of the Phenobarbital. It will be a slow 6wk taper, but eventually he will be Phenobarbital-free. As he left the room, he said, “He’s now thrown into the ‘Normal Kid' Bucket’”. Ahh, finally.

so smart!

Can you believe you didn't think of restoring old Geo Metros and selling them on eBay? I know when I read this, I thought, "How genius!!" With gas $4/gallon, the words "Geo Metro" are like water to a dehydrated man!

Tomorrow is Portland/OHSU. Will report then.

lots of stuff

Ok. So, what’s up with having SNOW and ICE exactly 1 month ago, and here we all sit now sweating our teeth out with 90-100F weather!? It’s beyond me, but I guess it keeps us on our toes. So far I think the only plant I’ve lost due to this crazy weather is my trumpet vine. Otherwise my yard is now looking fabulous. I’ll post more pictures of my yard later, as I want you to see my wisteria. It’s getting prettier every year!

On Friday Fin (aka: pumpkin seed) had his 4mo well baby check and it went great. He rolled over from back to front right in front of the doctor and her comment was, “My, he’s a little advanced!” He is right on target developmentally, size appropriate, and in general looking really good. I had her look at his little breast lump and she said it was just delayed breast tissue. It’s more times found in girls than boys, but boys can still get it; and it’s usually found shortly after birth, but since he was so sick it could have been delayed in perking up. Nevertheless she is not overly worried and will just watch and see what it looks like at his 6mo appt. So, stats:
Weight: 15lb 1oz
Height: 25”

Nate and I are gearing up to take him to his follow-up appointments at OHSU and the pediatric neurologist. I don’t know if you remember or not, but Fin (despite what the ped neuro said he thought) had a slightly abnormal EEG and so the decision was made to keep him on a small/low dose of phenobarb that he was probably outweighing already. Since then we have not changed his dosing and we still have seen no seizure activity or trembling. We had another EEG last Friday to see if the abnormality is gone.

We leave Wednesday early morning to have Fin’s sedation at 10:00, then he’ll have an MRI at 11:00. We’re staying overnight downtown and will see Dr Koch to have him looked at again since he’s developed so much further, and then we’ll discuss the results of the EEG test we did just last Friday, as well as the MRI that we will have just done the morning before. I’m very anxious to get this done and pray pray pray it all looks good.

One garage sale find we got while doing our normal hunt was this tractor. It had a broken pedal and Nate was destined to fix it. So we brought it home and before we knew it, Maysen was on it in his professional farming boots, he had his "trailer" with "cows" all hooked up and ready to go. Unfortunately the pedal could not be fixed, but Mase doesn't care. A farmer never leaves a fallen tractor.

On a lighter note, today was our nieces 2nd birthday party today. That was loads of fun. It was very warm, but perfect weather for the kids to play in the sprinkler and get out water balloons. I hope she enjoys the girlie back pack we got her …another thing to tote things around in – what else could be more perfect?

On yet another note, I’ve finally made an appt with my doctor to discuss what I have self diagnosed as plantar fasciitis. Ever since our marathon yard working day, I can barely handle standing for long periods of time, getting out of bed, or rising from a chair without excruciating pain through both my feet. It first started in my heel but now has effected all of my feet. Then I’m on them all day and I can barely handle to sit down, because they’ll throb while I’m sitting and then I don’t even want to imagine getting up. I tore a tendon about 2yrs ago and in that xray they found pre-arthritic changes in my feet, so I am wondering if that has changed any. I guess we’ll see. I haven’t wanted to say much about it because who wants to say “Oh yea … my feet hurt, rub them” (that’s where Nate rolls his eyes at me), or I gimp around like some 89yr old woman who is in full blown arthritis. It’s just sad. So, hopefully I don’t just get a “You’re fat, lose weight”. Ok. Thanks. Until then, how do you get the shards of glass out of my feet when I stand up to walk? Thanks.

Hope you had a good weekend. If you don’t hear much from me this week, we’ll be trying to handle garage sale stuff (monster take on) and then we’ll be in Portland. Have a Happy Memorial (Three Day) weekend!!

Devine

Mase: Mommy, why's the tractor in the dirt and not vrrooming?
Me: Probably because they are done with it.
Mase: Nope. Maybe it just wasn't necessary.

Where do they get this stuff??

Tomorrow is a big day. In the morning I am taking Griffin to his 4mo well-baby check. I'm anxious to hear what the pediatrician says about a small marble-sized lump under his right breast. Sometimes babies are born with stuff like that because of the mothers' hormones that circulate in their blood, too. However I never noticed it until my step mom pointed it out on their visit 2 weeks ago. It doesn't seem to bother him, it's mobile, there's no change in the look of his nipple, it's just .... there. I'm sure it's nothing to worry about, I just want to hear it from the doctor. He'll also get another 5 shots (BOO HOO), and I'm anxious to hear how much he weighs and how long he is. They grow so fast.

Then I'm working triage the rest of the day. Because it's going to be 90F, my friend from work and I are heading out for margaritas and mexican food on the outside patio of Chapalas. Simply devine. Although being chased by a 3 year-old with a garden hose is very comparable. That's what happened today. Something about the cackle of a toddler as he awkwardly man-handles the garden hose on full blast (like a miniature fire hose) is simply devine as well.

...TOOOOOOO MUCH

So, I am now moving on from my "Pitty Party" I had in my last post to say that I really wish that all you mommies out there had a great and fabulous day yesterday. Mine started with me and the Hubbidy-Hax yakking our heads off until 2am. I got to sleep in the next morning until 9:30 where Nate and Maysen were making me French Toast. Maysen came running up to the door and says "I love you TOOOOOOOOO (aka: Sooooooooo) much!" I even got to open my first mother's day present from school. It was a picture of him holding flowers in a flower pot. So cute!

We hung out and at around 2 we dumped the kids off on Aunt Bonnie (Happy Mother's Day, huh!) and we went searching for new bedding (and had dinner of course). I've been wanting new bedding ever since Maysen used Markers all over the bedspread, and then one day I let him cut out paper up there, and he cut holes in my comforter. Anyway ... a rule was set in place: No more crafts on our bed. Only CLEAN children who are calm can be on our bed. Well, Nate and shopped around at every place until we found this. Nate picked it out - I picked out the accent pillows/throw. He eventually found the wall hangings which ties in the blue from the pillows/throw in with the frosted glass which encases Japanese fern leaves. Very nice. Ironically our bathroom already pretty much matches this, so boy don't I feel good!

So ... you'd think that would be the best bed ever ... snuggle into, cozy up to. Well, tonight I close my eyes and drift away to a dream where I am dating this rather cute guy who looked like Nate but I "Knew" it was just a normal guy. This dream eventually turned into he was chasing me through a dark parking garage, his footsteps getting closer, and I'd turn down corridors filled with women crying holding syringes, and anger, and dark. I realized I was in a dream and I was trying to wake up, which is usually me screaming loudly in my dream. Then I finally said at one point "Lord, get me out of this dream because I feel like the devil is here". And BAM, I was awake. I know it was just my eyes adjusting to my surroundings, but it seemed as though fog was rolling away from me and my bed. It was so creepy. So here I am .... trying to recoup from that. Yippee! So yea ... the picture above is my new bedroom! Sorry - camera phone pic,but you get the idea.

I was pondering on the idea that maybe I had that dream because Nate leaves soon to go to Denver, CO for work. I wanted to go with him next time he went but this came up too fast. He's going to Seattle for a few days in June, so maybe I'll get to go there. Nothing better than Colorado this time of year, though. I'm jealous. I've looked at the weather report for here. Can you believe 90F by the end of the week. Amazingly crazy.

Bailey (our basset hound) had surgery on her paw late last week. She had a pretty significant cyst right at the crease. It was getting larger, so we decided to have it taken off and her nails cut back a great deal while she was under. She's did rather well. They wanted to send it off to cytology to see if it's cancer, but I don't see there being any different treatment options for us and why spend $100 to find it out. So, if God's ready for her to go, she'll go. Her wound is challenging. She's been on prednisone so long for her Addison's Disease that her skin is paper thin, so suturing it up was difficult. 80% has pulled out of the sutures and leaves a gaping hole. We keep it clean and she seems fine, so we'll let granulation tissue form and she'll have a wickedly big scar ... but oh well! :-) That'll be a good fight story she can tell all the other dogs in the neighborhood :)

I'm going to brave going back to bed now. If you don't hear from me again, it's because I was a victim of the Nightmare on Elm street (Do you remember those movies!? Geesh...)

Onward Ho ...

I’m emotionally stuck between being extremely happy and proud of my dad and Jo, to selfishly feeling deprived of something that most people find as their main source of pride, comfort, and “home”.

About 5 years ago, my dad and stepmother sold our childhood home and bought a 5th wheel. It had always been a dream of my fathers’ to cut his roots to anything that might be holding him back and travel all over the United States, being somewhat semi-retired. They achieved their goal and have seen most of the United States, either traveling through or working for a moment in time there. They manage RV parks/resorts for a year or two at a time and then move on. My happiest times were when they worked in Lincoln City, only a 3hr drive from where we live.

But that job, too, never lasted and they were off back across the US – thousands of miles away. It was always bitter sweet to see them drive away knowing it would likely be a year before seeing them again. You see, my parents divorced when I was 17 and I literally lost half my whole family with the divorce. It was messy, to say the least. All I basically have now is my dad and my sister, who by the grace of God lives only 2hrs from me in Portland.

For the last year or so, my dad and Jo have been working in California. Although it’s a whole state away, it was still only a 7hr drive from us and the trip could be made if there was a long 3-day weekend. Throughout the year we’ve made a couple of trips down to see them, and them coming multiple times up to Oregon to see us. We’ve had some great times within the last year – seeing San Fransisco together, visiting Alcatraz, Griffin’s birth and illness, Frisbee tosses to Hombre, and extensive talks while on the boat sailing on the Delta.

With Maysen now 3, his recollection of who people are and experiences he’s had with them are really sticking in his mind. He repeats certain phrases my dad has said, relates boats to “Prapa has a boat”, cooking with grandma Jo, the birds “Pacho and Chacho”, riding the “tractor” which is nothing more than a golf cart, and other fun times they’ve shared.

Dad called and told me last week that they have accepted another job – in Kentucky. Normally I would be congratulating them with the same bitter sweetness I have in the past – but this one was different. I have found as my kids get older, I realize the greater importance of family. And I know we’re all biased when it comes to our family, but I truly believe that my father is one of the greatest people on this earth. I feel fortunate that Maysen has such a strong bond to that man. I am saddened with the realization that Griffin might not be as fortunate. I am lucky that Jo is a great grandmother to my kids and that she has her own unique bond with not only us, but my kids.

The harsh reality of seeing them more than a few days a year is a hard one to take. My dad is no spring chicken and I worry about him falling ill and me not being there. I worry that as the days, weeks, years pass that the memories of Prapa and Grandma will become hazy in Maysen's little head.. I worry that the first time Griffin is able to know who Dad and Jo are, he’ll cower behind my leg – scared of these people that love him so much.

So I sit here feeling guilty that I am thinking only of me and my kids happiness. I am thrilled that they are able to continue to live their dream. But one thing I realize is that the older we all get, the more important being close to my family is to me. Not saying that family is not important to my dad and Jo, I just hope that some day being close to us is more important than seeing the country.