Happy New Decade, Happy New Year, Happy New Day to each of you!
It's no secret that I strive to look at each day as its own miracle - - an opportunity for change, growth, possibility. With the turning of the calendar, it's engrained in us culturally to be hopeful and make resolutions. And, while I am all for hope and renewal, I just don't try to find symbolism in the turning of the calendar. That's just me... if it works for you, then more power to you! If I give that much weight to 11:59 on December 31st, and January 1st is a bummer of a day, then I'd tend to look at that as a sign for the year. I can't function like that! (It's the same way I look at a Monday... I don't let that day's outcome drive the rest of the week.)
Tonight, we bid farewell to 2009 and to an entire decade. In doing so, it's hard not to reflect on the changes that have occurred in our world and, of course, our own lives. While I find it so important to look back on where we've been (it only helps us in where we're going), I cannot spend too much time (at once) in a reflective place or I can start to get melancholy. I tend to question... overthink. Did I (or we) make the right choices? Did I (or we) do enough? I "what-if" everything that's already in the past rather than look forward. So, I (try to) reflect just enough to fuel the move forward.
As I look back on the last decade, there is just too much change (growth) to wrap my head around. Where John and I were as a couple (young, childless, wide-eyed at the possibilities of "our own" world), what was important to us (some of the truly important things, but not nearly as many of those as now), where we thought we were going (ah... the best laid plans), what we thought parenthood would look like (it's so much better, yet so much harder). It's impossible for me to imagine what ten years from now will be like. And, I won't try. If I have learned anything in the last ten years, it's that I can't possibly presume to know.
Likewise, if I reflect back to this time last year, I couldn't have foreseen where life would be today. So many changes. Good and bad. Some came easily. Others, much, much harder. So many miracles. Some disappointments. So many wonderful moments captured in our minds forever, stored in our souls like reserved breaths for those days when even breathing seems hard. The days when the power of yet seems too hard to fathom.
What's "the power of yet," you ask? It's quite simple, really. It's a tiny, three-letter word we learn as children, but for me, the meaning and power of which was not fully understood until I became Gracie's mom. I like to share "yet" with new moms of children with special needs as they learn to cope with delays in development or medical setbacks. It's something I use to turn a seemingly negative into a positive... it encourages possibilities... for every person and every situation.
For instance, last year at this time, a statement might have been:
- Gracie is not going to school full-time... yet. (She is now!)
- Gracie is not ready to use a reverse walker full-time... yet. (She is working on it!)
- Gracie is not ready to use a manual wheelchair... yet. (She's ready and waiting for her own chair!)
Or:
- We haven't made new friends here... yet. (We have made some great friends now and have new friendships forming. And, tonight for our last meal of the year, we shared a delicious dinner with dear, new friends who were our "yet" friends last year.)
- This new place doesn't feel like home... yet. (It does now!)
Things happen in their own time, as they're meant to, and we only need to believe in the possibility... the power of "yet." Today, I share it with you and encourage you to try it. It's empowering and it's hopeful - - a fitting concept for the new year and decade - - a fitting concept for every new day.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Collage Catch-Up
After missing weeks of Foto Fridays, here is a collection of collages highlighting just some of our fun since Thanksgiving week.
(The kids' Christmas Programs and Christmas will follow soon!)
+Papa+11.jpg)
Thanksgiving at Nana and Papa's house
While we were playing at the little park at Nana and Papa's, a super affectionate black cat (who reminded me so much of one of the cats we had when I was little) spent over an hour hanging out with us. Both kids were smitten with this kitty! Gracie recognized what it was and signed "cat" unprompted!
I cautiously gave Preston my camera to take a few shots of the kitty. I love this one - - the cat's off in the distance and Preston's shadow holding the camera is in clear view.
He also took these of himself when he turned the camera around! In all, he took over 60 pictures in a handful of minutes.
Snow Day!
We took the kids to play in the snow for a bit the day after Thanksgiving. Gracie enjoyed herself for all of ten minutes, but loved looking at the snow from the car! Preston, on the other hand, had a blast! He sledded, had a snowball fight with John and face-planted into the fluffy white stuff a half-dozen times!
Our trip to the San Diego Zoo
Gracie loved the camels, but the hippos were her favorite.
Decking the Halls
Each year we get an ornament for each of the kids - - a tradition my mom had for us growing up. This year, Gracie's was a school bus (to commemorate the huge milestone of riding the bus) and Preston's was a fire engine (to remember his obsession with all things related to firemen and, of course, the kids' Halloween costumes this year). The picture of the fire engine was taken by Preston with my camera.
A quick visit to Santa at our neighborhood shopping center.
This particular Santa and Mrs. Claus were wonderful with the kids... and it was free to take pictures! We had intended this to be a "practice run" for waiting in the long lines for more formal pictures, but I never was able to justify the wait time and dress-up fiasco this year! (And, as far as the kids were concerned, they saw Santa plenty! Though Preston was particularly frustrated with each encounter because he never did find any reindeer on the roof!)
Baking our first cookies of the season.
Preston turned out to be an excellent little helper in the kitchen... he likes to press cookies, help with turning on the mixer ("Big Red"), add ingredients to the mixer bowl and "wash" bowls and spoons in the sink.
Gracie, sans clothing, of course, was very excited about "her dozen" cookies. The two trays of cookies featured in the next couple of collages were not consumed! They were made for fun... the kids got to roll the dough in the colored sugar (and stick their fingers in, too!), they helped press the cookies (with my assistance using a mug and cookie presses!) and watched them bake through the oven window.
I set the timer on the camera to get pictures of what we were doing. Instead of continuing to pay attention to the cookies, Gracie saw the light on the camera blinking and turned to it. She looked right at it, smiled and signed "I love you!" Too funny. As soon as the light stopped blinking, she went back to the task at hand. Needless to say, I cracked up when I saw the pics later that afternoon!
In addition to her silly antics during the timed photos, Gracie decided that the place mats were better suited as hats!
(The kids' Christmas Programs and Christmas will follow soon!)
+Papa+11.jpg)
While we were playing at the little park at Nana and Papa's, a super affectionate black cat (who reminded me so much of one of the cats we had when I was little) spent over an hour hanging out with us. Both kids were smitten with this kitty! Gracie recognized what it was and signed "cat" unprompted!
I cautiously gave Preston my camera to take a few shots of the kitty. I love this one - - the cat's off in the distance and Preston's shadow holding the camera is in clear view.
He also took these of himself when he turned the camera around! In all, he took over 60 pictures in a handful of minutes. 
We took the kids to play in the snow for a bit the day after Thanksgiving. Gracie enjoyed herself for all of ten minutes, but loved looking at the snow from the car! Preston, on the other hand, had a blast! He sledded, had a snowball fight with John and face-planted into the fluffy white stuff a half-dozen times!
Each year we get an ornament for each of the kids - - a tradition my mom had for us growing up. This year, Gracie's was a school bus (to commemorate the huge milestone of riding the bus) and Preston's was a fire engine (to remember his obsession with all things related to firemen and, of course, the kids' Halloween costumes this year). The picture of the fire engine was taken by Preston with my camera.
This particular Santa and Mrs. Claus were wonderful with the kids... and it was free to take pictures! We had intended this to be a "practice run" for waiting in the long lines for more formal pictures, but I never was able to justify the wait time and dress-up fiasco this year! (And, as far as the kids were concerned, they saw Santa plenty! Though Preston was particularly frustrated with each encounter because he never did find any reindeer on the roof!)
Preston turned out to be an excellent little helper in the kitchen... he likes to press cookies, help with turning on the mixer ("Big Red"), add ingredients to the mixer bowl and "wash" bowls and spoons in the sink.
Gracie, sans clothing, of course, was very excited about "her dozen" cookies. The two trays of cookies featured in the next couple of collages were not consumed! They were made for fun... the kids got to roll the dough in the colored sugar (and stick their fingers in, too!), they helped press the cookies (with my assistance using a mug and cookie presses!) and watched them bake through the oven window.
I set the timer on the camera to get pictures of what we were doing. Instead of continuing to pay attention to the cookies, Gracie saw the light on the camera blinking and turned to it. She looked right at it, smiled and signed "I love you!" Too funny. As soon as the light stopped blinking, she went back to the task at hand. Needless to say, I cracked up when I saw the pics later that afternoon!
In addition to her silly antics during the timed photos, Gracie decided that the place mats were better suited as hats!Thursday, December 24, 2009
+Papa+1.jpg)
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Preston's School Projects - December
Since they can't hang on the fridge or wall forever... and since I can't store every single thing in a box in the attic...
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Fa la la la la, la la la la!
'Tis the season to be busy, Fa la la la la, la la la la!
This is the longest absence from the blog this whole year. Ugh! I am going to try to play catch-up, so scroll past this post to see a couple more! At some point, I might even cheat a bit and backdate my posts! Let's see if I can do a "nutshell" update... with pics to follow later.
(I'm never brief... who am I kidding?!)
- John had his first real vacation since April of 2008. Two full weeks - - with the way his schedule fell, he had 17 days off (though he did have court a few times and worked some overtime shifts). It was so very nice to have him around! Of course, he was off for 17 days and on day 18 (last Thursday afternoon), Gracie got the stomach flu (for the first time ever... and it was bad... poor baby. Preston had a head cold (no fever and acting fine, with the exception of taking a voluntary nap during the day!), so I had two kids at home who had to be separated. Poor Gracie was miserable beyond miserable and because I had to tend to her nearly constantly, Preston watched an obscene amount of TV. I'm happy to report that everyone is feeling much better. Preston, however, was not so happy about the sudden reduction in TV time!
- During John's vacation, we all (Sophie, too!) traveled north to Nana and Papa's for Thanksgiving. It was great fun... we got to spend time with them, had quick visits with friends, had a really nice Thanksgiving dinner and took the kids to the snow. Preston was really out of sorts without all of his own stuff and his "routine" at home, but as long as he was busy, he did okay... not great, though. Miss Gracie, on the other hand, was right at home at Nana and Papa's and didn't even bat an eye about taking off her clothes (even in the cold!) and settling in as if she were at home! In six days, we put 1544 miles on our vehicle.
- We went to the San Diego Zoo with our friends. It was cold (um... for San Diego... not by most people's standards of "cold"!). Despite the chill in the air and the pending rain, we had a great time. It wasn't crowded and a lot of the animals were active. Both kids loved it. Preston's favorites were the monkeys (shocker!) and the tigers (a mother and son who were playfully wrestling and running all around the multi-level quarters). Gracie's favorite was, without question, the hippos. We sat at the window below the water and watched them swim by. The first time one passed her, her eyes got very wide and she had this look like, "What the heck was that?!" After that, she sat mouth agape, still wide-eyed and signed for "more hippo" as the two huge hippos came by time and time again.
- We've been "decking the halls" - - Christmas tree up, mantle adorned, lights on the house, Christmas music on all the time (much to John's dismay, sometimes!), shopping (though not much mostly for the three toy drives and four food drives in which we participated!), wrapping presents... and more wrapping to come! I am happy to report that Miss Gracie has been loving the tree, spending hours under it going around and around to look at lights and ornaments. She has not attempted to eat a light bulb like last year! Preston walks around making-up his own Christmas carols by combining words from all the songs he's constantly hearing... too funny!
We've seen Santa several times around town at various parties and outings. We've not done the "formal" Santa pictures this year... jury is still out on that. I am having a hard time justifying waiting in the long line, not to mention the expense!
- "Big Red" our KitchenAid mixer has been getting a full workout, as has our oven! Preston and I baked cookies for the troops with the MOMS Club the first week in December and that was just the start. Since then, the mixer and oven have seen seven different cookie varieties and I can't even begin to tell you how many dozens of batches have been baked! I can tell you that I have had way to much of it myself... way too much, just ask my jeans!
- Gracie's DHOH program had a Christmas Performance on Thursday. It was so wonderful and heartwarming to see all the kids perform. The DHOH team, including administration, works tirelessly and with great passion to see that the kids in their program reach their fullest potential. They are an amazing group of people.
Sadly, my camera did not work well that day and, while I have pictures from after the show, most of the pictures taken during did not turn out because my flash wasn't working at a distance. The pictures are all black. I do have video footage and will try to put some of that together soon. I'm hoping that other parents and teachers will share what they took.
What I can tell you is that her team (and others who aren't "officially" part of her team) worked so hard to make sure she was a part of the show. They decorated her classroom seat with red fabric and built a bell around the back of it... and it had lights! It was amazing... and I cried when I saw it. She looked so stinkin' cute sitting up there! More than that, though, I was blown away by their efforts to include her and do something special. In true Gracie style, she decided it was not the time to cooperate, so she did not do any of the practiced signs or bell ringing during the show. Ha... not a shocker! And, while it would have been fun to see her at her "best" up there, we were just so grateful that she was there! It was a huge milestone.
Such amazing progress... in school full-time, five days a week. Who would have ever thought?!
- On Friday evening, Preston's preschool had their Christmas Performance. Oh. My. Goodness! So adorable! His class is 2-3 year-olds. They sang "Jingle Bells" as a class, the Bible Study participants sang (and signed!) "Let it Shine" and the Spanish Students sang, "Como te Llamas". Some of the kids were completely overwhelmed by all the families and cameras in their faces. Others, like our son, were totally unphased and just did their thing! Preston had so much fun and I don't even think he could hear half of the class sobbing (which was really cute, too!).
Thankfully, Gracie wasn't too stressed by the whole thing and John was able to get off work early and see the show. I got some cute, though partially obstructed, video. At one point Preston spotted John standing in the back holding Gracie and shouted, "Hi, Daddy!" He signed "I love you" to him, too! At the end, he bowed a couple of times while saying, "Thank you, thank you!" and then looked up at John, gave a thumbs-up and said, "I did it!"
Soooo cute and that's not because I am biased! It was just so cute!
I am hoping that some of the other parents (taller ones :-) with better location in the room) got better pictures/footage! Again, our camera is not flashing properly from a distance, so turning the flash off meant that the pics are pretty grainy.
After the show, the kids were invited on the playground where there was a petting zoo set-up. So sweet of the directors of the school to put that together for the kids! They all loved it!
- It's now Christmas vacation for Gracie (She only missed three days of school this trimester. One was because of a long appointment. Considering her health and history, that is nothing short of amazing!) Preston is off school starting the 23rd. And I am left wondering how I will entertain them both, especially once Christmas has passed, Nana & Papa go home and John is at work... ugh! It's only day one... and already I can hear the lyrics from "It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas."
You know the ones...
"... And mom and dad can hardly wait for school to start again!"
So... there's the "nutshell"... pics to follow... hopefully!
This is the longest absence from the blog this whole year. Ugh! I am going to try to play catch-up, so scroll past this post to see a couple more! At some point, I might even cheat a bit and backdate my posts! Let's see if I can do a "nutshell" update... with pics to follow later.
(I'm never brief... who am I kidding?!)
- John had his first real vacation since April of 2008. Two full weeks - - with the way his schedule fell, he had 17 days off (though he did have court a few times and worked some overtime shifts). It was so very nice to have him around! Of course, he was off for 17 days and on day 18 (last Thursday afternoon), Gracie got the stomach flu (for the first time ever... and it was bad... poor baby. Preston had a head cold (no fever and acting fine, with the exception of taking a voluntary nap during the day!), so I had two kids at home who had to be separated. Poor Gracie was miserable beyond miserable and because I had to tend to her nearly constantly, Preston watched an obscene amount of TV. I'm happy to report that everyone is feeling much better. Preston, however, was not so happy about the sudden reduction in TV time!
- During John's vacation, we all (Sophie, too!) traveled north to Nana and Papa's for Thanksgiving. It was great fun... we got to spend time with them, had quick visits with friends, had a really nice Thanksgiving dinner and took the kids to the snow. Preston was really out of sorts without all of his own stuff and his "routine" at home, but as long as he was busy, he did okay... not great, though. Miss Gracie, on the other hand, was right at home at Nana and Papa's and didn't even bat an eye about taking off her clothes (even in the cold!) and settling in as if she were at home! In six days, we put 1544 miles on our vehicle.
- We went to the San Diego Zoo with our friends. It was cold (um... for San Diego... not by most people's standards of "cold"!). Despite the chill in the air and the pending rain, we had a great time. It wasn't crowded and a lot of the animals were active. Both kids loved it. Preston's favorites were the monkeys (shocker!) and the tigers (a mother and son who were playfully wrestling and running all around the multi-level quarters). Gracie's favorite was, without question, the hippos. We sat at the window below the water and watched them swim by. The first time one passed her, her eyes got very wide and she had this look like, "What the heck was that?!" After that, she sat mouth agape, still wide-eyed and signed for "more hippo" as the two huge hippos came by time and time again.
- We've been "decking the halls" - - Christmas tree up, mantle adorned, lights on the house, Christmas music on all the time (much to John's dismay, sometimes!), shopping (though not much mostly for the three toy drives and four food drives in which we participated!), wrapping presents... and more wrapping to come! I am happy to report that Miss Gracie has been loving the tree, spending hours under it going around and around to look at lights and ornaments. She has not attempted to eat a light bulb like last year! Preston walks around making-up his own Christmas carols by combining words from all the songs he's constantly hearing... too funny!
We've seen Santa several times around town at various parties and outings. We've not done the "formal" Santa pictures this year... jury is still out on that. I am having a hard time justifying waiting in the long line, not to mention the expense!
- "Big Red" our KitchenAid mixer has been getting a full workout, as has our oven! Preston and I baked cookies for the troops with the MOMS Club the first week in December and that was just the start. Since then, the mixer and oven have seen seven different cookie varieties and I can't even begin to tell you how many dozens of batches have been baked! I can tell you that I have had way to much of it myself... way too much, just ask my jeans!
- Gracie's DHOH program had a Christmas Performance on Thursday. It was so wonderful and heartwarming to see all the kids perform. The DHOH team, including administration, works tirelessly and with great passion to see that the kids in their program reach their fullest potential. They are an amazing group of people.
Sadly, my camera did not work well that day and, while I have pictures from after the show, most of the pictures taken during did not turn out because my flash wasn't working at a distance. The pictures are all black. I do have video footage and will try to put some of that together soon. I'm hoping that other parents and teachers will share what they took.
What I can tell you is that her team (and others who aren't "officially" part of her team) worked so hard to make sure she was a part of the show. They decorated her classroom seat with red fabric and built a bell around the back of it... and it had lights! It was amazing... and I cried when I saw it. She looked so stinkin' cute sitting up there! More than that, though, I was blown away by their efforts to include her and do something special. In true Gracie style, she decided it was not the time to cooperate, so she did not do any of the practiced signs or bell ringing during the show. Ha... not a shocker! And, while it would have been fun to see her at her "best" up there, we were just so grateful that she was there! It was a huge milestone.
Such amazing progress... in school full-time, five days a week. Who would have ever thought?!
- On Friday evening, Preston's preschool had their Christmas Performance. Oh. My. Goodness! So adorable! His class is 2-3 year-olds. They sang "Jingle Bells" as a class, the Bible Study participants sang (and signed!) "Let it Shine" and the Spanish Students sang, "Como te Llamas". Some of the kids were completely overwhelmed by all the families and cameras in their faces. Others, like our son, were totally unphased and just did their thing! Preston had so much fun and I don't even think he could hear half of the class sobbing (which was really cute, too!).
Thankfully, Gracie wasn't too stressed by the whole thing and John was able to get off work early and see the show. I got some cute, though partially obstructed, video. At one point Preston spotted John standing in the back holding Gracie and shouted, "Hi, Daddy!" He signed "I love you" to him, too! At the end, he bowed a couple of times while saying, "Thank you, thank you!" and then looked up at John, gave a thumbs-up and said, "I did it!"
Soooo cute and that's not because I am biased! It was just so cute!
I am hoping that some of the other parents (taller ones :-) with better location in the room) got better pictures/footage! Again, our camera is not flashing properly from a distance, so turning the flash off meant that the pics are pretty grainy.
After the show, the kids were invited on the playground where there was a petting zoo set-up. So sweet of the directors of the school to put that together for the kids! They all loved it!
- It's now Christmas vacation for Gracie (She only missed three days of school this trimester. One was because of a long appointment. Considering her health and history, that is nothing short of amazing!) Preston is off school starting the 23rd. And I am left wondering how I will entertain them both, especially once Christmas has passed, Nana & Papa go home and John is at work... ugh! It's only day one... and already I can hear the lyrics from "It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas."
You know the ones...
"... And mom and dad can hardly wait for school to start again!"
So... there's the "nutshell"... pics to follow... hopefully!
Three Word Sentence
At school on the Monday following Thanksgiving, Gracie put together
three signs unprompted...
"All done, no work."
That's my girl! No problem letting us know when she's had it!
three signs unprompted...
"All done, no work."
That's my girl! No problem letting us know when she's had it!
Medical This 'n That
CHOC Rocks & Pop Rocks
Gracie's back at VitalStim! Yay! This wonderful news brought to you, not by my efforts battling insurance, but by the "powers that be" at CHOC and the (what I can only imagine to be) tireless efforts of the therapists in the Rehab department. As it turns out, many patients were having difficulty getting their insurance to cover the electrodes that are used as part of the therapy. (While the electric stimulation is part of the treatment, there are several modalities of treatment occurring at the same time - - all of that was covered, just not the electrodes themselves because the "stim" is considered experimental or investigational.) Several weeks ago (yes... so behind on updates!) I received a call from one of Gracie's therapists telling me that CHOC had made a decision (following the efforts of some of the therapists to find a solution) to cover the electrodes so that these patients can have access to the therapy. Problem solved - - CHOC Rocks!
A few weeks ago(er... several weeks ago), Gracie experienced Pop Rocks at VitalStim! How cool is that?! Never in a million years would I have thought that Miss Gracie would have that opportunity (I didn't even know they still made them, but even if I did know, I wouldn't have ever thought she could have them!)
When her therapist, Ally, placed a piece on her tongue, Gracie got a look on her face like, "What is that...? And, can I have more?!" Talk about a multi-sensory experience! I had a few, too, and was instantly transported to my childhood. Preston was with us, so he got to try a little taste, as well. Just like Gracie, he wanted more!
October Was A Rough Month... So I Made Some Changes
October proved to be a rocky month for Miss Gracie. I keep a daily log of her calorie and volume intake as well as notes regarding headaches, retching, etc. Not once during the month did she meet her full caloric goal and she had more "rough" days/nights than not. Not good. She saw her GI doctor on the 5th and she made some dosage changes in her meds in the hopes of helping her cope with feedings better. If anything, the exact opposite seemed to have occurred. (In fact, my fuller-faced girl - - as seen in her school picture - - has dropped over a pound since it was taken.) Because it appears that her feeding trends worsened with the dosage change, I have dropped the meds back down to the previous dosage to see if that is the culprit. Interestingly enough, it was also her "off" month of her inhaled antibiotic. Not convinced that has anything to do with this (it really shouldn't, in theory), but will certainly keep an eye on next month's patterns just in case.
She missed school the Monday after Halloween (even though her fever had been gone for 24 hours) because she was coughing so hard and requiring excessive suctioning.
Since I reduced her dosage (and since she's been back on her inhaled antibiotic), she has been having much better days. Time will tell as I continue the "experiment."
(Updated following the experiment... she's still much better than she was in October and she's off of the inhaled antibiotic again.)
Behavioral Pediatrician
We finally saw the behavioral pediatrician in October. Our main objective was to discuss the behaviors we have been calling "OCD" - - stripping her clothes off and refusing to wear any at home, repeatedly wanting lights turned on and off... no rhyme or reason (in our minds), wanting the TV on or off, wanting certain items removed from her sight line (again, in our minds, no rhyme or reason), always putting all of her clothes under the couch when she undresses... the list goes on and on. School hasn't reported any of these behaviors, but often when she comes home, she comes "unglued" and has many requests (demands!). After talking it out with the doctor (who totally passed the "coffee test," Hannah, she commented that it sounded much more sensory than obsessive. It was like getting smacked upside the head... I know to always consider sensory issues first, but somehow, had gotten wrapped up in the repetitive nature of the behavior that I forgot to consider the source of the behavior. Uh... DUH! Experts (David Brown) have been to our home, met Gracie multiple times and we have discussed these very issues on a smaller level. She's older now and the behaviors have evolved, but so has her level of input during the day. This all coincides with increased activity level (school every day... therapy several times a week, etc.), so it's no wonder that her coping mechanisms (behaviors) have changed. I shared the conversation with the doctor with Gracie's team at school and we made a plan for more proprioceptive input and a more varied and rich "sensory diet" than what she'd been getting. So far, so good. Although, she still won't wear clothes at home... even when it's freezing cold outside! She can still wiggle her way out of every contraption we've tried, so for now, we are letting it go. She has very little control in her life... so if this one thing (at home only!) makes her happy, then what's the harm?
Cardiology
Gracie saw the cardiologist on Veteran's Day. Since she's likely getting closer to needing her mitral valve replaced, he decided he wanted to get a better picture of what everything looks like - - measurements, pressures, etc. - - so he has scheduled a heart catheterization for January 19th. The other issue is that Gracie's pacemaker generator is using the battery far faster than anticipated at her replacement surgery in August 2008 - - and faster, again, than what was indicated at the last pacemaker interrogation. This is because she is completely dependent on it and, most likely, because scar tissue has continued to form around the external leads on her heart. Because she is so small, her pacemaker is in her lower left side rather than implanted in her heart. Thus, the leads (wires) that run from the pacemaker to her heart attach on the outside of her heart rather than the inside. This, by nature of the design, is less efficient than the pacemaker that is implanted directly in the heart. The catheterization will give a better picture of the tissue around those leads, as well.
We are nervous... it's "routine," but nothing is ever "routine" when it comes to your child. And, though we've experienced so many procedures and surgeries (including multiple open heart) with Gracie, this is her first time in the cath lab.
Gracie's back at VitalStim! Yay! This wonderful news brought to you, not by my efforts battling insurance, but by the "powers that be" at CHOC and the (what I can only imagine to be) tireless efforts of the therapists in the Rehab department. As it turns out, many patients were having difficulty getting their insurance to cover the electrodes that are used as part of the therapy. (While the electric stimulation is part of the treatment, there are several modalities of treatment occurring at the same time - - all of that was covered, just not the electrodes themselves because the "stim" is considered experimental or investigational.) Several weeks ago (yes... so behind on updates!) I received a call from one of Gracie's therapists telling me that CHOC had made a decision (following the efforts of some of the therapists to find a solution) to cover the electrodes so that these patients can have access to the therapy. Problem solved - - CHOC Rocks!
A few weeks ago(er... several weeks ago), Gracie experienced Pop Rocks at VitalStim! How cool is that?! Never in a million years would I have thought that Miss Gracie would have that opportunity (I didn't even know they still made them, but even if I did know, I wouldn't have ever thought she could have them!)
When her therapist, Ally, placed a piece on her tongue, Gracie got a look on her face like, "What is that...? And, can I have more?!" Talk about a multi-sensory experience! I had a few, too, and was instantly transported to my childhood. Preston was with us, so he got to try a little taste, as well. Just like Gracie, he wanted more!
October Was A Rough Month... So I Made Some Changes
October proved to be a rocky month for Miss Gracie. I keep a daily log of her calorie and volume intake as well as notes regarding headaches, retching, etc. Not once during the month did she meet her full caloric goal and she had more "rough" days/nights than not. Not good. She saw her GI doctor on the 5th and she made some dosage changes in her meds in the hopes of helping her cope with feedings better. If anything, the exact opposite seemed to have occurred. (In fact, my fuller-faced girl - - as seen in her school picture - - has dropped over a pound since it was taken.) Because it appears that her feeding trends worsened with the dosage change, I have dropped the meds back down to the previous dosage to see if that is the culprit. Interestingly enough, it was also her "off" month of her inhaled antibiotic. Not convinced that has anything to do with this (it really shouldn't, in theory), but will certainly keep an eye on next month's patterns just in case.
She missed school the Monday after Halloween (even though her fever had been gone for 24 hours) because she was coughing so hard and requiring excessive suctioning.
Since I reduced her dosage (and since she's been back on her inhaled antibiotic), she has been having much better days. Time will tell as I continue the "experiment."
(Updated following the experiment... she's still much better than she was in October and she's off of the inhaled antibiotic again.)
Behavioral Pediatrician
We finally saw the behavioral pediatrician in October. Our main objective was to discuss the behaviors we have been calling "OCD" - - stripping her clothes off and refusing to wear any at home, repeatedly wanting lights turned on and off... no rhyme or reason (in our minds), wanting the TV on or off, wanting certain items removed from her sight line (again, in our minds, no rhyme or reason), always putting all of her clothes under the couch when she undresses... the list goes on and on. School hasn't reported any of these behaviors, but often when she comes home, she comes "unglued" and has many requests (demands!). After talking it out with the doctor (who totally passed the "coffee test," Hannah, she commented that it sounded much more sensory than obsessive. It was like getting smacked upside the head... I know to always consider sensory issues first, but somehow, had gotten wrapped up in the repetitive nature of the behavior that I forgot to consider the source of the behavior. Uh... DUH! Experts (David Brown) have been to our home, met Gracie multiple times and we have discussed these very issues on a smaller level. She's older now and the behaviors have evolved, but so has her level of input during the day. This all coincides with increased activity level (school every day... therapy several times a week, etc.), so it's no wonder that her coping mechanisms (behaviors) have changed. I shared the conversation with the doctor with Gracie's team at school and we made a plan for more proprioceptive input and a more varied and rich "sensory diet" than what she'd been getting. So far, so good. Although, she still won't wear clothes at home... even when it's freezing cold outside! She can still wiggle her way out of every contraption we've tried, so for now, we are letting it go. She has very little control in her life... so if this one thing (at home only!) makes her happy, then what's the harm?
Cardiology
Gracie saw the cardiologist on Veteran's Day. Since she's likely getting closer to needing her mitral valve replaced, he decided he wanted to get a better picture of what everything looks like - - measurements, pressures, etc. - - so he has scheduled a heart catheterization for January 19th. The other issue is that Gracie's pacemaker generator is using the battery far faster than anticipated at her replacement surgery in August 2008 - - and faster, again, than what was indicated at the last pacemaker interrogation. This is because she is completely dependent on it and, most likely, because scar tissue has continued to form around the external leads on her heart. Because she is so small, her pacemaker is in her lower left side rather than implanted in her heart. Thus, the leads (wires) that run from the pacemaker to her heart attach on the outside of her heart rather than the inside. This, by nature of the design, is less efficient than the pacemaker that is implanted directly in the heart. The catheterization will give a better picture of the tissue around those leads, as well.
We are nervous... it's "routine," but nothing is ever "routine" when it comes to your child. And, though we've experienced so many procedures and surgeries (including multiple open heart) with Gracie, this is her first time in the cath lab.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Gracie's School Projects - December
Since they can't hang on the fridge or wall forever... and since I can't store every single thing in a box in the attic...
The pillow was made in school as a gift from Gracie to us. So sweet... we love it!
The pillow was made in school as a gift from Gracie to us. So sweet... we love it!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Preston's School Projects - November
Since they can't hang on the fridge or wall forever... and since I can't store every single thing in a box in the attic...
Gracie's School Projects - November
Since they can't hang on the fridge or wall forever... and since I can't store every single thing in a box in the attic...
I thought this was a cute project... the brads brought back memories of my elementary school days. But, I really loved it when I flipped it over and read that Gracie worked on it with "min. assist!"
I thought this was a cute project... the brads brought back memories of my elementary school days. But, I really loved it when I flipped it over and read that Gracie worked on it with "min. assist!"
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Foto "Friday" vol. 33 - Busy & Fun Week
After I dropped Gracie off at school, John and I took Preston to Disneyland with our neighbor, Addison, and her mommy, Rachel. We have lived here a year and have not yet gone - - both because of John's previously insane schedule and because we were so hesitant to take Gracie and have her be too stressed for any of us to enjoy it. I had a tremendous amount of guilt about going without her, but am so glad we did. It was really hot, even in November, and we spent a considerable amount of time in line for tickets.
(We bit the bullet and bought passes, realizing that we can take several short trips as often as we want and then there isn't pressure if one (or both) of the kids isn't having a great time. We can go on however many rides we can fit in without the pressure of fitting everything in. Plus, once we get the lay of the land, we will be able to carefully plan Gracie's first trip with shade, lines, crowd control and ride order all accounted for.)
Addison and Rachel were so patient waiting for us; Addison is a pro at waiting in line as she's been to Disneyland a bazillion times! Now that we have passes, Preston and I can go with them more often. It will be so fun!
When we left Disneyland, we picked Gracie up from school and then she had OT and PT. Last Monday (the 9th), she got to demo the type of wheelchair we have in mind for her. (There's been some questions regarding her strength and whether or not she'd be able to propel a chair on her own, thus a new chair had been put on hold until she could prove she was ready for it.)
On her first try, she got in, propelled, turned, etc. It was remarkable how well she did and she taught a big lesson about never underestimating her! This week, I was armed with my camera to capture her in action. She did great again, but rather than turn herself with the wheels, she discovered she could "bounce" off the walls using her feet! At first we thought she was having trouble steering, but quickly realized that this new method of movement was completely intentional. Leave it to Miss Gracie to add her own special touches to mobility!
This was a crazy day! Gracie's Triennial IEP was in the morning and lasted just short of her entire school day. As soon as school was out, I took her to Vital Stim . (Yep... she's back at therapy... more on that to follow soon!)
That night, I went out... for the first time in over a year... with fellow Mommy in CHARGE, Catherine, to celebrate her birthday. Upon seeing me in a dress and heels, Preston said, "Mama, what you wearing? Take off you shoes, Mama." His comments cracked me up... he has never seen me in a dress and heels... it is a very rare occasion! (My "lack of glam" also evidenced by my fading farmer tan!)
I took Gracie to school, then Vital Stim (normally on Fridays) and then OT & PT. At the end of PT, Gracie got very upset because she saw the wheelchair she'd used on Monday (and the previous Monday) and walked (with my assistance) toward it. She signed "up" and I had to tell her it was time to go. She got furious, started to cry and when I picked her up, she pointed to the chair over and over. I felt so bad and so happy all at the same time - - bad because she couldn't use it and it was time for us to leave; happy because she clearly loves the freedom that the chair gives her. I am so excited for this new chapter in her growth - - so much freedom and control heading your way, sweet girl. (Now we're all in big trouble! Ha!)
When Gracie and I got home, John was standing in the hallway in front of the bathroom door. He quietly informed me that Preston was on the potty about to go "number two" all by himself. And... he did it! Yay! He told John he had to go, took off his pants and diaper, put the potty seat on the toilet and climbed up all on his own! Woo Hoo!!! A huge step in the right direction!
John took Gracie to school and Preston "helped" him. I stayed home preparing for the carpet cleaners to come (very badly needed, by the way!). Once they finished, I took Preston for a haircut. While we waited, he informed me he had to go potty. And... he did BOTH on the potty there. I was floored and so proud of him. After his cut, we picked Gracie up from school and returned home to play in front of the house (as I was trying to keep them off the carpets as long as possible!).
We blew up this cool tube that my mom got the kids last year. We thought Gracie would love it (and I think she will, eventually), but on this particular day, she wasn't having any part of it! She only wanted to sit in the stroller and play with the tennis racquet and ball.
I took Gracie to school, then Preston, then came home, cleaned a bit, went to the store, made Pumpkin Marble Cheesecake, cleaned some more, got myself cleaned up, picked Gracie up, brought her home, fed her, changed her and then went to Preston's Preschool Thanksgiving Feast. It was so cute to see the kids together and get the chance to chat with some of the other parents. By the end of the evening, all three of us were tired!
Friday, November 13, 2009
Foto Friday vol. 32 - Two and a half... sigh!
As of November 9th, my little nugget, Bubba, is officially two and a half. I don't normally celebrate the "half birthday," but do, of course, recognize it as the marker for adding the all important 'half' to a child's age. For weeks I've been answering the question, "How old is he?" with "Almost two and a half," mostly, I suppose, to hang on to that "younger" toddler age. Two and a half rounds to three and I am just not ready for that at all! Time moves entirely too fast and specific memories of things done at certain ages and stages fade as new memories are made.
In light of this, here are a few specifics about you, Preston, as a now 2 1/2 year-old...
- You are 35.5 inches and 30 pounds. You are just about to bust out of your size 8 shoes and we can't find a hat that will stay on your head when you take off running!
- My heart soared when I said the following to you: "It's time to go get your socks and shoes on," and you excitedly said, "I'll go tell Neener!" I followed as you ran down the hall, went up to Gracie, knelt down and signed, "Shoes, socks, on, go!"
I stood there thinking, "He is such a good brother to her." And then, you tackled her. Ugh.
Other things you've recently said (or now consistently say as a "big boy") that have made me laugh out loud (despite my best effort to stifle it), made my heart soar or just surprise me because you so easily pick-up and apply language...
- "Mama, is it ready yet?" "No, Bubby, not yet." "Aw, ma-an..."
- "I'll be right back... stay there." (Hmmm... does someone say this to you, too?!)
- "Good morning, Mama. Good morning, Neener. How you sleep?"
- "Neener, are you okay?" She cries or seems irritated... and you say, "Mama, Neener upset... hurry!" (I love that you describe emotions now... upset, happy, sad, tired, mad, silly, funny... you often announce how you and others around you are feeling.)
- The other day all four of us were playing in your room. You were looking for something and walked over to where you last saw it, got a perplexed look on your face and said, "Hmmm... that's funny! Where is it?" (It took Daddy and I everything we had not to bust out laughing at your little dialogue.) You proceeded to move things on your shelves and in your bed. Finally, about five minutes later you yelled from the family room, "There it is! I found it!" It was your little fire truck and it, along with the ambulance and police car, is often in your possession.
- "Oooh yummy, that my favorite!!" (Really... your favorite, Bubby? Is it possible for everything to be your favorite? It is when you're two and a half!)
- You loved the Halloween decorations (even the scary ones once you knew they were pretend). When we'd drive by the ("Thriller" like) graveyards around the neighborhood, you pointed to them and said, "Look, Mama! Halloween!" and then you'd let out a pretend, albeit very loud, horror film-worthy scream and laugh hysterically.
- "Sorry, Neener. That's okay." (Said as you do something you shouldn't have, accept your own apology on her behalf and then pat her back or kiss her nose. I almost forget that you're admitting naughtiness that needs addressing!)
- You saw that Addison was home across the street and you were bound and determined to go see her! Luckily, you cannot manage the lock on the gate... yet! "Mama, I go see Addison, now!"I absolutely love it when...
- You laugh out loud. You have the best belly laugh when tickle-wrestling with Daddy. Actually, you both do!
- You tell us you love us. You do this often, unprompted, along with doling out hugs and kisses... such a sweet, affectionate boy.
- You tell us about your dreams. Each morning and following naps, we love asking what you dreamt about. It's often monkeys, elephants and other zoo friends. Lately, though, you wake up in the morning with the most amazing, imaginative stories about your dreams. Whether the great tales you share with us are from your dreams or just your imagination running wild (encouraged by our oohs and aahs and genuine wonderment), Daddy and I love hearing about your dreams.
At night, you love falling asleep with company... usually Mommy or Gracie. Nap time can be difficult at home, as you fight so hard against resting, but when you do give in, you don't mess around!- You absolutely insist people acknowledge each other, especially your sister. When someone talks to you or to me, you make certain that they also say hello to Gracie. If they ask you how old you are, you answer and also tell them how old Gracie is. You are such a protector and advocate for her; you have already learned how to help her have a voice. I love that about you.
- You tattle on yourself the minute Daddy comes home or calls. No matter what you did during the day and no matter what time it happened, you make sure that Daddy knows. I love that Daddy always gently thanks you for being honest and then talks to you about why you did the naughty thing(s) and why they aren't okay. I hope you always are this forthright with your wrongdoings!
Other things you do...
- You easily ride your tricycle well over a mile a day... often in one shot... breaking only to balance on neighbors' brick borders, jump pavers like a leap frog and count bugs and/or flowers. You love finding puddles to ride through and then pedal in circles making all kinds of patterns. You want to ride all the way to the park, but I will not let you because I am certain I will have to carry you and your tricycle all the way home after you've played! Someday, my little man, we'll give it a shot when Daddy can pick us up if need be! (Just last week we took your tricycle to the beach and you rode along the Pacific as all the grown-ups on bikes passed you by with a smile. What a lucky little guy you are to have already cruised the beach paths on your bike!)
- You have found another use for your tricycle (aside from riding one-handed and with no hands)... you put one foot on the back platform and push with your other foot as you hold the handle bars. "Look, Mama! Bubby has scooter!" Then... much to my dismay (because I know what kind of daredevil tricks are surely in your future), you hold the handle bars and hop over the seat as you're rolling. Ay, ay, ay!
- You love all things related to sports and truly are a natural little athlete. Daddy just raised your basketball hoop and we had to get you a little heavier duty ball to increase the challenge! You frequently run out back to practice dribbling the ball and take a few shots. You still love hitting balls off your "T," but much prefer to take a swing at a slow pitch. David Beckham better look out because, like your Daddy and uncle, you are quite skilled with the soccer ball. You can drop kick, you can easily aim and kick with both feet and you can dribble a ball across an entire soccer field! Surely the whole neighborhood can hear you scream, "Goal!" while playing the backyard!
- You like "working out" with Daddy. And, you're a good trainer, because you often remind him he needs to do it!
- You love to dance and sing. You love singing with your music in the car and dancing to Mommy's music at home. Your current top dance request is to Michael Franti's "Say Hey (I love you)" which is referred to as "The I love you song, Mama," in our house!
- This one is included at Daddy's insistence (it's a Daddy kind of thing, after all). After tooting or burping, you first proudly ask, "Did you hear that?" Once your wondrous sounds have been acknowledged, you then say, "Excuse me!" and giggle.
Ah... boys.
- I am amazed at your receptive sign vocabulary. One of my most favorite things to do is sign sentences to you and you'll translate. After Gracie's school Halloween parade, you sat in the kitchen with Daddy. I asked you, "Did you tell Daddy what you did today?" You didn't know where to start (it was, after all, nearly 8pm) so I signed behind Daddy, "You went to school with Gracie and walked in the parade." You said to Daddy, "Bubba go school with Neener and walk parade." Unbelievable.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Foto Friday vol. 31 - School Picture
...and her very first school picture!
This picture is many years (and the efforts of many) in the making!
This is the first year Gracie has been able to attend school full-time outside our home. She started out part-time last year (with me as her "aid"), but was in the hospital on picture day, was out sick on the make-up day and then we moved! So, when the picture day information was sent home last month, I was, to say the least, excited. I just wanted her to have a school picture... and though I wanted it to turn out cute, cute was not the point. The picture itself, regardless of her expression, pose, etc., was totally the point.
I was not there to witness (or supervise!) the "photo shoot," but knew that she was in good hands between her aid, her teacher and everyone else who was there. That afternoon, I was told that two shots were taken and had they tried their best to get a good one. Carol (an aid from the upper grade class - - the same one who kindly took Preston on the parade route last week) actually laid on the floor to prop Gracie up on the seat they use (why these companies don't provide supported seating is beyond me!), while her aid, teacher and several others tried to get her attention focused on smiling in the direction of the camera.
When we received both photo packages and were told we had to choose just one (or pay for both), John and I were elated to be choosing between two adorable, yet very different photos. However, making the decision proved to be more difficult than we anticipated! It took us days! In the end, this is the one we chose (we are still hoping the company will allow us to keep both since they're already printed). We love it because she looks so grown up and carefully posed, as though she had practiced in her mirror the exact amount of grin she wanted in her picture.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
First day of Preschool
(Yes, I know... not a very "toddler friendly" backpack! The Caillou one I ordered online was way too small for all his stuff! We are working on getting something much cooler!)
This day has been several months in the making with lots of tours at various programs, lots of disappointment (apparently my standards are high) and then, finally, with the help of another local mom, I was introduced to Preston's new school. When it was described to me, I was hopeful. When I toured with him last month, I knew it was exactly what we'd been looking for.
And, we were so excited for him! But when we drove away, I felt like a part of me was missing. I was nervous for him and was almost sick to my stomach with anxiety for the better part of an hour. When I called later to check on him, I was told that he cried for us for over 30 minutes about 20 minutes after we left. (Dagger, meet my mamaheart. Ouch.) I know it's normal, but it hurt and made me sad.
He had a few more emotional moments throughout the day, but for the most part, had a lot of fun. When we picked him up, I could see he had been crying recently. His eyes lit up and he squealed with excitement when he saw me, then John and then "Neener." He was really happy to see us. His teacher was wonderful and she told me how they comforted him and reassured him that we were, indeed, coming back for him. Thankfully, he said he had fun and that he was excited to go back on Friday. He chatted all the way home about his school day, his new friend "Timmy," and said he played and prayed. Soooo cute. Fingers crossed for fewer tears and more smiles on Friday!
He will attend an "odd" schedule of Tuesdays and Fridays... it is so kind of the school director to be flexible and work around therapy appointments for Gracie (thus, eliminating Preston having to attend and/or ride in the car for over three hours on those days). The other (huge!) bonus is that John is off most Tuesdays. When we got in the car after dropping Preston off this morning, it was the first time that we'd been together (with the exception of his graduation party last year, which doesn't count because he was too stressed out to be recognized!) without at least one of our children in eighteen and a half months. It was wonderful and strange all at the same time. We are looking forward to our few hours on Tuesdays so much. On Fridays, I will have some time to myself and time to get chores done around the house... with my music blasting and no guilt for having Preston watch a video while I get it all done!
My little man is in preschool... such a big boy now... sigh.
Gracie's School Projects - October
Since they can't hang on the fridge or wall forever... and since I can't store every single thing in a box in the attic...
Once again, Gracie had no trouble with stuffing the tissue paper into the small water bottle... this time to make the cute Jack-o-lantern! Apparently, putting things into a container must be centered around an adorable craft for her to comply!
I had to include the ghost Gracie made (with help, of course!) last year just before we moved. This year, it sat on our mantle in a place of great honor during the Halloween season.
Once again, Gracie had no trouble with stuffing the tissue paper into the small water bottle... this time to make the cute Jack-o-lantern! Apparently, putting things into a container must be centered around an adorable craft for her to comply!
I had to include the ghost Gracie made (with help, of course!) last year just before we moved. This year, it sat on our mantle in a place of great honor during the Halloween season.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Trick-or-Treat... and other Halloween Happenings
I cannot remember ever doing so much celebrating at Halloween - - even as a kid!
Costume Party
Last weekend (the 24th) we attended a costume party for our neighbor who turned three. The birthday boy, Adam, is dressed as Spiderman (he lives just a couple of doors down) and Snow White, Addison, lives directly across the street. These kids all love each other!
(Snow White and our Fire Fighter have been known to scream for each other hysterically through closed windows and doors... as though they have a sixth sense about the other's presence! Preston cries for her when her family's cars leave and always wants to know where they are going!)
We weren't sure if Gracie would love being in her "fire truck" or just the opposite. I took a ton of pictures just in case she never got in it again! She loved it though, and thought she was "all that" sitting in her special truck.
Just hangin' out
The fire fighter from every angle!
The boys in the bounce house
The witch on stilts Gracie liked her; Preston, well, not so much!
Miscellaneous Halloween Shenanigans!
We brought out old costumes (the duck was supposed to be Gracie's last year, but she wasn't having any part of it - - then or now!) and the wig belonged to our old friend, Marena, who was the greatest clown every Halloween. (She was silent and only used a notepad and a horn to communicate! It was a riot!) The witch hat was at WalMart and Preston insisted we both try it on!
Pumpkin Carving
Unfortunately, we didn't get a picture of the finished products and with the heat we've been having, they all shriveled up before Halloween night!
School Harvest Parade
-Betty Lou, Gracie's trusted aid, starring as the pirate pushing the dalmatian in her fire truck.
-The "Ring Leader" is our school principal.
-The "Cal Trans Worker," one of the Instructional Aids in the upper grade classroom, volunteered to take Preston on the parade walk. He happily went with her and came back with a bag of loot!
-"Jack" cracked me up, so I had to take his picture!
Fortunately, John got off work a bit early and was able to join us for a little Trick-or-Treating. Unfortunately, Miss Gracie ended Friday night with a fever and cough (which explains her "rough" days lately). She spent the better part of Saturday laying around pretty miserable and getting regular breathing treatments along with Tylenol for her fever. (Thus, no spots on her face and no red "collar.") I tried to time her breathing treatments so she'd feel well enough to go to a few houses, but she tuckered out pretty quickly. We did manage a couple of pictures before John took her home, though.
The three musketeers... Adam as Spiderman, Addison as Snow White and Preston as the Fire Fighter
The "Tot Posse" had a blast trick-or-treating together!
*John constructed Gracie's fire truck with some of our moving boxes and (a lot) of tape. He and Preston put on the first coat of red paint. I put on a second coat, painted the "bumper," made the headlights, used the free paint sticks at Lowe's to make the ladder, printed an enlarged Orange County Fire Authority shield off the Internet and added finishing touches with puffy paints and glitter. To make her dalmatian shirt, I just used slick black fabric paint and made spots everywhere. Her trach ties were painted red to serve as her dalmatian "collar." For Preston's T-shirt, I used iron-on printer sheets and printed a small shield and the text. John and I had so much fun putting it all together for them! And, let's just be honest... you haven't truly experienced Halloween until you've had a cardboard-constructed costume! And, you're not a "Halloween Mom" until you've suffered a costume-related burn from a glue gun!
Here are two quick videos that crack me up!
In the first one, he's excited and eager (he was every time!) to race to the door first and say "Trick-or-Treat," but wasn't completely getting the concept of knocking and waiting for the door to be opened!
About 20 seconds into the second one, Preston is checking to make sure that his friends got equal loot! I love how he and Adam look down into their loot bags!
Costume Party
Last weekend (the 24th) we attended a costume party for our neighbor who turned three. The birthday boy, Adam, is dressed as Spiderman (he lives just a couple of doors down) and Snow White, Addison, lives directly across the street. These kids all love each other!
(Snow White and our Fire Fighter have been known to scream for each other hysterically through closed windows and doors... as though they have a sixth sense about the other's presence! Preston cries for her when her family's cars leave and always wants to know where they are going!)
We weren't sure if Gracie would love being in her "fire truck" or just the opposite. I took a ton of pictures just in case she never got in it again! She loved it though, and thought she was "all that" sitting in her special truck.
Miscellaneous Halloween Shenanigans!
We brought out old costumes (the duck was supposed to be Gracie's last year, but she wasn't having any part of it - - then or now!) and the wig belonged to our old friend, Marena, who was the greatest clown every Halloween. (She was silent and only used a notepad and a horn to communicate! It was a riot!) The witch hat was at WalMart and Preston insisted we both try it on!
Pumpkin Carving
School Harvest Parade
-Betty Lou, Gracie's trusted aid, starring as the pirate pushing the dalmatian in her fire truck.-The "Ring Leader" is our school principal.
-The "Cal Trans Worker," one of the Instructional Aids in the upper grade classroom, volunteered to take Preston on the parade walk. He happily went with her and came back with a bag of loot!
-"Jack" cracked me up, so I had to take his picture!
Gracie's classmates... aren't they soooo cute?!
&
Betty Lou and Gracie... aren't they soooo cute, too?!
&
Betty Lou and Gracie... aren't they soooo cute, too?!
And, finally... Halloween!
Fortunately, John got off work a bit early and was able to join us for a little Trick-or-Treating. Unfortunately, Miss Gracie ended Friday night with a fever and cough (which explains her "rough" days lately). She spent the better part of Saturday laying around pretty miserable and getting regular breathing treatments along with Tylenol for her fever. (Thus, no spots on her face and no red "collar.") I tried to time her breathing treatments so she'd feel well enough to go to a few houses, but she tuckered out pretty quickly. We did manage a couple of pictures before John took her home, though.
*John constructed Gracie's fire truck with some of our moving boxes and (a lot) of tape. He and Preston put on the first coat of red paint. I put on a second coat, painted the "bumper," made the headlights, used the free paint sticks at Lowe's to make the ladder, printed an enlarged Orange County Fire Authority shield off the Internet and added finishing touches with puffy paints and glitter. To make her dalmatian shirt, I just used slick black fabric paint and made spots everywhere. Her trach ties were painted red to serve as her dalmatian "collar." For Preston's T-shirt, I used iron-on printer sheets and printed a small shield and the text. John and I had so much fun putting it all together for them! And, let's just be honest... you haven't truly experienced Halloween until you've had a cardboard-constructed costume! And, you're not a "Halloween Mom" until you've suffered a costume-related burn from a glue gun!
Here are two quick videos that crack me up!
In the first one, he's excited and eager (he was every time!) to race to the door first and say "Trick-or-Treat," but wasn't completely getting the concept of knocking and waiting for the door to be opened!
About 20 seconds into the second one, Preston is checking to make sure that his friends got equal loot! I love how he and Adam look down into their loot bags!
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