Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Check out the short video that I made when we went to The Shriner’s Children’s Hospital and The Children’s Hospital of L.A. We are so grateful for all that Shriner’s has provided for my family! Thanks again!!!

Until Next Time,

E

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Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

Until Next Time,

E

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Monday, March 29th, 2010

Our day started today at 4am. We got up pretty early to get to Shriner’s Hospital in L.A. After getting the car packed and everyone fed and ready we departed around 6am on our way to Cali.  We arrived there around 11am. We are blessed to have Shriners Children ’s Hospital in our life.  Taylor & Erin are both being seen by the Orthopedic Specialists for their hips & legs. Taylor has already had some pretty involved surgeries and now it seems that Erin is the next one up. Since I am only one person, I have chosen to concentrate on one child at a time when it comes to any advanced or involved surgeries and now that Jorden’s eye surgery is finished…it is time to figure out what Erin needs to improve and assist with making it less painful for her to walk.

Shriner’s is awesome in providing us anything that we need or aren’t able to get through our insurance. Erin’s old walker broke about 2 months ago and her school has been currently lending us one. We explained this to the Doctor at Shriners Hospital and they immediately sent us over to the Physical Therapy Department where she was able to get a brand new walker! Erin was very excited because it’s blue! After the new walker, we headed over to the  Children’s Hospital of L.A where Erin is participating in a Gait Study Analysis where Erin’s every movement, bones, joints, & muscles are examined very closely by a series of tests. It is such an advanced and involved test that it takes nearly 5 hours to complete. The purpose of this test is to provide the Doctors with specific information that assist with determining what type or if any surgeries are needed. How can I turn down anything that will help her.

It is now 5:16 PM and we are all still going strong with a few complaints and whines from the peanut gallery (Jorden & Taylor). I keep reminding them that after this that the waves at the beach will be greeting us as we pull up! We will be spending tomorrow at the beach and will head home on Wednesday. I thought it would be nice to have a little Spring Break getaway (even if it is only a day or two). Not to mention, that the beach has been calling my name too!

Until Next Time,

E

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Sunday, March 28, 2010

I am FINALLY winding down from a very busy weekend! As I wrote yesterday, it was Jase’s 40th birthday. What I couldn’t write to risk giving it away was I threw him a surprise 40th birthday party. It was an 80’s theme party that consisted of dressing up in 80’s gear, singing Karaoke to popular 80’s music and dancing the night away. It was tons of fun and Jase loved it! The coolest thing was that I actually pulled it off. He knew something was up, so I orchestrated a fake surprise party of a close net group of friends to meet for dinner on Friday night and there is when he was surprised  by his best friend Josh (who lives in San Antonio, TX). So, he thought his surprise was done…but I was able to pull it off by throwing him one of the most fun birthday bashes ever! Pics soon to follow.

After church today, the kiddos and I went to the park and spent time with some of our favorite people. A couple of times a year a group of our friends have a BBQ/Volleyball Day at a park near us. I have to say it was great just laying on a blanket while listening to my children from various areas of the park each engaged in different activities. It was so relaxing just to lay on my back, while enjoying the sun, and listening to the action around me. Peace was evident.

Tomorrow starts the week of Spring Break. I’m about to go to bed soon in order to wake up at 3:45 AM to pack up my family and to drive to Shriner’s Vegas (still looking), therefore the 4 1/2 hour drive is well worth it, especially when they are as wonerful as the Shriners are to my children. This time, I decided to make a small family vacation out of it. We are going to go see the doctor at the Shriners and then we have a reservation for a small hotel on the beach for at least tomorrow night and Tuesday. I am so looking forward to laying on the beach while listening the sounds of the waves. I can’t wait!!! With that said….

Until Next Time,

E

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Saturday, March 27th, 2010

Today is Jase’s birthday…and I don’t know who is more excited Jase or the kiddos. They woke me up asking if they could call him. They each made him a handmade gift, and they were excited to celebrate the day with him. I can’t tell you how wonderful it makes me feel that they genuinely want someone else to be happy without me mentioning it or teaching them “how to be”. I know this sounds silly. You might be thinking…of course you want your child to care about people. AND, as a Mom who was told from the beginning her children would be different than most, smiling was a celebration! So…today I am going to keep my blog short and sweet and ask you to simply celebrate the little things that you experience with your children.

I am celebrating how much my kiddos love others, how Jorden offered his jacket to Taylor last night when she was cold, how Erin tucked my tag in my shirt when it was showing, how Taylor ordered her food by saying, “please and thank-you”, and all of the other cool stuff that I get to see and that I choose to notice daily. I have got to remember to never take any of it for granite!

Until Next Time,

E

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