tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88112003696427019182024-02-06T19:02:44.343-08:00Inside Amy's WorldA glimpse into the world of raising a disabled child. The Triumphs, The Set-Backs, The Accomplishments, The Heartaches, and The Immense JOY!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15244245535700748135noreply@blogger.comBlogger277125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811200369642701918.post-87354855925229543192013-10-19T11:14:00.001-07:002013-10-19T11:14:54.973-07:00Traveling with a child with disabilitiesWhen we flew to California in 2012, I couldn't find much online about packing and traveling with a tube-feeder, wheel-chair user, etc. Eli did great on our flight, makes him sleepy actually. So, our trip to see my Great Aunt Wilma in the Napa Valley was a great success!<br />
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I had the opportunity earlier this year to write an article for our local children's magazine, called PlayDate, about traveling with a child with disabilities. Here is a link to my article:<br />
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May 28, 2013<br />
Traveling with Disabled and Special Needs Children<br />
<a href="http://www.playdateyakima.com/2013/05/28/traveling-with-disabled-and-special-needs-children/">http://www.playdateyakima.com/2013/05/28/traveling-with-disabled-and-special-needs-children/</a><br />
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One thing that I didn't mention in my article was the wheelchair the airline offers for those who can transfer out of their wheelchair. They will put you on this little skinny thing, and load you on the plane. This wheelchair is small enough to fit down the center aisle of the plane, so you can then transfer into the airplane seat. (I got in trouble for taking this picture! So, I gotta share it!)</div>
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Eli is not able to sit in a regular airplane seat, so we had to take his carseat. </div>
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MAKE SURE YOU CHECK IN EARLY - AND BOARD EARLY! </div>
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You totally break a sweat getting the thing into the plane, belted in, going back out, getting your kid, carrying them up the stairs and into the plane (we have to do that on Horizon Air), and then buckle them into the chair in the tightest space you can imagine, while everyone else is trying to board and wondering why you are taking so long! Stressful! The flight attendants were WONDERFUL and our time in the air went by quick as Eli loved to nap while flying. They didn't have any problems with Eli using his electronics!</div>
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Finally - to make our trip a little easier, I bought this "Roll n Go" to haul the car seat through the airports. Looks like they are no longer available through the One Step Ahead catalog. Bummer!</div>
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Hope you enjoyed my article, and if you have more questions, feel free to comment on this post and I'll get back to you! Happy traveling!</div>
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<br />I have a couple older articles I wrote for them, too. Mostly about my journey raising Eli.<br />
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March 15, 2013<br />
This is My Life....and Our Life!<br />
<a href="http://www.playdateyakima.com/2013/03/15/this-is-my-life-and-our-life/">http://www.playdateyakima.com/2013/03/15/this-is-my-life-and-our-life/</a><br />
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November 24, 2010<br />
The Book of MY Eli<br />
<a href="http://www.playdateyakima.com/2010/11/24/the-book-of-my-eli/">http://www.playdateyakima.com/2010/11/24/the-book-of-my-eli/</a><br />
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It's been an honor being a contributor to PlayDate, and having the opportunity to spread awareness for children with disabilities!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15244245535700748135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811200369642701918.post-8560311248343027452011-07-31T17:32:00.000-07:002011-08-15T17:33:03.383-07:00July Flies By...Eli got to wear a band-aid for the first time. (Well, for the first time that it wasn't because his blood was drawn or shots were given!) He scratched his heal with his toenail. His little legs never stop....and he's sock-less most of the summer...so it was bound to happen, I guess.<br />
He wore it all of 10 minutes before it fell off because he's such a wild man...but you know me! I had to take pictures!<br />
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We went for a family picnic up the Yakima River Canyon - and Eli took a nap amongst nature:</div>
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Then we went to the Yakima Folklife Festival. It was HOT! We tried shading Eli with his stroller, and were wiping him down with wet wipes, but he got a little overheated so we left.</div>
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We visited the Yakama Nation Museum in Toppenish:</div>
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I went on an overnight camping trip with my girlfriends from work.</div>
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Eli saw his GI doc in Seattle to discuss feeding issues. His formula change over is NOT going well. The manufacturer of Neocate One+ decided to quit making it! Eli is not tolerating anything else well. Doc came up with a plan....we'll see how it goes. Here is Eli hanging out while we eat lunch at the hospital cafeteria:</div>
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Then, we visited the Central Washington Agricultural Museum in Union Gap. We rode on a large wagon pulled by a tractor and got a guided tour of the place:</div>
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I had a Pampered Chef party on the last Friday in July</div>
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...and have decided to become a consultant in September!</div>
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The next day, I had a yard sale with a friend. Exhausting!</div>
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Then, on Sunday evening we hosted a BBQ for our Life Group from church...</div>
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and they played a game of Wiffle Ball:</div>
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And one day while driving to town, Eli was in a very awesome mood!</div>
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Man, I LOVE this kid...and his laugh! :)</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15244245535700748135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811200369642701918.post-1016521403191260192011-06-30T16:00:00.000-07:002011-08-15T17:33:21.086-07:00Enjoying June!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In an effort to try and get my blog caught up....you get a 'reader's digest' version for each month this summer!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In June we had a wheelchair accessible deck built and it has been such a blessing! We can roll Eli out there in any of his pieces of equipment! Here he is in his Gazelle Stander:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He loves to go for walks in his stroller...round and round the deck. Best part is....there is a ramp into the grass...now he gets to join the parties we have...and he can easily get to his new swing his Dad is going to build him.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When he went to Park Day after the last day of preschool, he got to meet Bonnie the Snake from our local library:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We spent a day at Camp Prime Time...and Eli got to go up into a wheelchair accessible Tree House!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, Eli had his 6th Respiratory Distress Event. He hadn't had one in almost three years, so we thought they were behind us! Makes me sad to think they can still strike at any moment....and we get no warning! Eli was a trooper as always...and the next day he's fine and you'd never know anything ever happened!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Eli also went to a rollerskating birthday party...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">we spent a weekend at my Aunt's house in Auburn to celebrate my cousin's son graduating from high school.....</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Eli got his very own library card:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We also went to Seattle and he got his GJ tube switched out. I was able to take pictures during the procedure. I'll save those for a post of their own!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That's June in a nutshell!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15244245535700748135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811200369642701918.post-89235972057498993022011-04-11T20:57:00.000-07:002011-04-11T20:57:32.839-07:00Beyond Blessed<div style="text-align: center;">Tonight I am feeling so blessed. Great things have been happening for me and Eli, and I don't want it to go by without thanking God for His amazing gifts.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Because of the book Wendy on Wheels Saves the Day....and the fact that we are cartoon characters in it....we have been blessed with a little local publicity. <a href="http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2011/03/14/slice-of-yakima-art-imitates-life-for-selah-mom-child">Our newspaper did a phone interview and printed an article about it</a>. A local TV station came to our house and did a feature piece on us. It was so cool! (<a href="http://www.kapptv.com/article/2011/mar/16/mom-and-son-made-characters-popular-childrens-book/">You can watch the video here</a>)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My heart's desire has always been to have Eli known by others. And it's happening for us and I couldn't be more excited! He's been the cover boy for our local Playdate magazine. I wrote an article for Playdate, also, telling Eli's story. In two weeks, I'll be the guest speaker at a MOPS meeting, sharing our story with others and trying to give hope to moms who may feel overwhelmed, isolated, or exhausted.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Raising Eli has had it's fair share of challenges, that's for sure. But, being his mom and seeing what a happy child he is, even though he has so many challenges, has been the most amazing thing I've ever experienced. I can't believe some of the amazing moms of special needs kids I've met along the way. Moms who inspire me, educate me, listen to me, and simply "get" me!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The last two years with Eli have been the best so far. We've finally figured his feedings out....and he's actually weighing in at 25 lbs! There was a time I thought he was withering away before our eyes! He is so easy to take places. He's tolerant and content. He loves looking around and absorbing the world, all the while cracking up as Elmo plays on his iPod.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I can't imagine life without Eli's laugh in it! Here's a little glimpse into my world....my favorite sounds: </div><div style="text-align: center;">Eli's chatter and his laughter.</div><div style="text-align: center;">(He's learned to squeal like a little pig! It's adorable to us.)</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is Eli having a very good time:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwbZq8i_aMVQWnfkadb9HnHBXImcWkNvpVhOSSSoOY9TFoKYuca7lTjKStAsJfWz1kVYjPqKmasAU5V-UVXoA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">To all my new readers....WELCOME! </div><div style="text-align: center;">To all the rest of you....Thank You for continuing to come back!</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have big plans for my blog....so stay tuned... :)</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15244245535700748135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811200369642701918.post-78541277311770058922011-03-01T17:36:00.000-08:002011-03-02T17:33:15.281-08:00Wendy on Wheels Saves the Day!<div style="text-align: center;">My six month hiatus is over! I'm back and I'm excited to share the following with you.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Last year, a new book came out called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wendy-Wheels-Beach-Angela-Ruzicka/dp/0615378234">Wendy on Wheels Goes to the Beach</a>. I bought two copies. One for Eli and one to donate to our Children's Therapy Center.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I started following <a href="http://www.facebook.com/wendyonwheels">Wendy on Wheels on Facebook</a>....and she asked people to comment on her blog.</div><div style="text-align: center;">So I did.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Then, a second book came out called <br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wendy-Wheels-Goes-Angela-Ruzicka/dp/0615397875/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1299028147&sr=1-1">Wendy on Wheels Goes to the Zoo</a>. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Of course I bought it! I love having anything to do with kids and wheelchairs!! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In January 2011, the author Angela Ruzicka announced she was working on a third book. She sent me a message saying that there would be a character named Eli in the book. She remembered my comment on her blog last year, and wanted to include him! I felt blessed and thrilled and totally excited!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wendy-Wheels-Saves-Angela-Ruzicka/dp/0983345503/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1299028182&sr=1-1http://www.amazon.com/Wendy-Wheels-Saves-Angela-Ruzicka/dp/0983345503/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1299028182&sr=1-1">Wendy on Wheels Saves the Day</a> came out last week. I ordered our copies immediately, directly from the author so she could autograph them for us. I couldn't wait to see Eli's name in a book!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We got the books on Saturday, and that night Eli went to sleep hearing the wonderful story of Wendy taking "wonder packs" to the kids in a children's hospital and spending a fun day with them! </div><div style="text-align: center;">I highly recommend this book!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-WU11JIwbhDkp1Nl8DNvzWfHw6MDXZycvSGr_nTrna2KA9oqLfEwrMaYz-hz7l90yemsGQjaaOCKRIwkPJqgbh4s4xrfIknJn8G57YEB_M43d7gtsLDtpkNspvutPstX5npA4OypUYbg/s1600/DSCF3532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-WU11JIwbhDkp1Nl8DNvzWfHw6MDXZycvSGr_nTrna2KA9oqLfEwrMaYz-hz7l90yemsGQjaaOCKRIwkPJqgbh4s4xrfIknJn8G57YEB_M43d7gtsLDtpkNspvutPstX5npA4OypUYbg/s320/DSCF3532.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I took the book to work on Monday and was showing it to all my friends. The first thing they said was, "the mom looks just like you!" I hadn't even noticed. All the sudden, I said, "Omigosh, she does! How funny."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Can you see the resemblance?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgnFF49RCzZKKGFJHUZnBX1d4lCR0tnxpwxRus8AG5bW97fR6nf-2aY7w2ofemXSBGJ7dytICmQLozj9AJYN22gm0CCxbwp0ij3a-K4tJNnXZFl311djbxQzltdiFR2bxlI9xh0E2KM0n/s1600/Cartoon+Amy+and+Eli.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgnFF49RCzZKKGFJHUZnBX1d4lCR0tnxpwxRus8AG5bW97fR6nf-2aY7w2ofemXSBGJ7dytICmQLozj9AJYN22gm0CCxbwp0ij3a-K4tJNnXZFl311djbxQzltdiFR2bxlI9xh0E2KM0n/s200/Cartoon+Amy+and+Eli.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3j_XyrWkVdKSIlEVeJszYEeLXFM6x5NWIbOLszutGCdUfLggGx4ijs-sNVXvW0JCFD1MT1gFMBE_GJPDzRGgKPytMluZart5kKuYauCHfUwtvls5i1TDD4oYDRQmqHNJRWqNB75nEHxeB/s1600/DSCF1745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3j_XyrWkVdKSIlEVeJszYEeLXFM6x5NWIbOLszutGCdUfLggGx4ijs-sNVXvW0JCFD1MT1gFMBE_GJPDzRGgKPytMluZart5kKuYauCHfUwtvls5i1TDD4oYDRQmqHNJRWqNB75nEHxeB/s200/DSCF1745.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Wendy on Wheels is illustrated by Elizabeth Gearhart)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So, I sent Angela Ruzicka (the author) a message on facebook...<br />
...and she said... it IS me!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">She was inspired by my comment I left her and she started reading my blog. She found pictures of me with Eli during one of his hospital stays and this is what I looked like. She decided to add us to the book! </div><div style="text-align: center;">(If you know me in real life....you know my hair is in a ponytail.....ALOT!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">You don't even know how excited this makes me! One of my life's dreams was to be the voice of a cartoon character. I doubt that will ever happen....but now I CAN say I am a cartoon! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So, THANK YOU ANGELA RUZICKA and Wendy on Wheels!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">You have made this Momma giddy with happiness!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15244245535700748135noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811200369642701918.post-89677780557897269592010-11-02T11:34:00.000-07:002011-03-07T19:52:29.310-08:00Yabba Dabba Doo!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #ffc082;">We had a fantastic Halloween this year!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #ffc082;">Eli was invited to a rollerskating party the Friday of Halloween weekend. It was a private party for a brother and sister. </span><span style="background-color: #ffc082;">The brother, Wyatt, has CP and is in a wheelchair. It was a costume party...so it gave Eli a chance to wear his costume twice!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEh8DVg8DWysxymqNOdwx7VzOmpu6aWl8Tc3Deta4vEI6Zsn-j-ewacpIHMZRy4eFT4N0_mDmXjc5VKxVFiFt2ientAmI9jq1HIebVc2Hj0dOVKU8SEiNzA5tz8zccZ6YwXxOz2TCBg7K3/s1600/IMG_5581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEh8DVg8DWysxymqNOdwx7VzOmpu6aWl8Tc3Deta4vEI6Zsn-j-ewacpIHMZRy4eFT4N0_mDmXjc5VKxVFiFt2ientAmI9jq1HIebVc2Hj0dOVKU8SEiNzA5tz8zccZ6YwXxOz2TCBg7K3/s320/IMG_5581.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">They allowed special accomodations for the boys to go out onto the floor! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKBO3mVl4pLw1L0ve6cP32nzLq_IVPiOhlwDQUhBlUkpW2PwqmNeFRmQcRxHMautOMk-UOX7j1tLnt7_Ps690qqtdQ0sVvGANiksMYwRws3o0KFgqZ4jqitIdbIcppNk_QndXKhd0PR7tt/s1600/IMG_5586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKBO3mVl4pLw1L0ve6cP32nzLq_IVPiOhlwDQUhBlUkpW2PwqmNeFRmQcRxHMautOMk-UOX7j1tLnt7_Ps690qqtdQ0sVvGANiksMYwRws3o0KFgqZ4jqitIdbIcppNk_QndXKhd0PR7tt/s320/IMG_5586.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I had so much fun skating with my boy!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_d9N_W3dEihoDev6xs8ROiiDDxXdLpKqo7D-Ku4Yv5Bupl82XhONPA1-S98MW4MwLknWaQI8VNjquV7pCKglbIPd0JgRK0PfpF5zBejgahZgxQdykdH2mpFbwCOVY5ueCVmHiRr9rp-t/s1600/IMG_5587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_d9N_W3dEihoDev6xs8ROiiDDxXdLpKqo7D-Ku4Yv5Bupl82XhONPA1-S98MW4MwLknWaQI8VNjquV7pCKglbIPd0JgRK0PfpF5zBejgahZgxQdykdH2mpFbwCOVY5ueCVmHiRr9rp-t/s320/IMG_5587.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I googled "costumes for wheelchairs" a few weeks before Halloween...and there really aren't a whole lot of options! But, the Fred Flintstone (and his car!) caught my eye. I think I spent about $5 to make his costume!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">______________________________________________________</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Saturday night it was pumpkin carving time:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZcZ1qi3sJ6_Edds6yeXz6C04ngR8HlHuUcVBxwd_un2uf_CL3gAsoZ8Jrp7QY9VQwTjwocvbYuHJX8HuVFeMfyyaiyOMuDHHwMFnRx1qttHQyK64bPopIHcziYAsGUjhEuQRWrlfKLJG/s1600/IMG_5607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZcZ1qi3sJ6_Edds6yeXz6C04ngR8HlHuUcVBxwd_un2uf_CL3gAsoZ8Jrp7QY9VQwTjwocvbYuHJX8HuVFeMfyyaiyOMuDHHwMFnRx1qttHQyK64bPopIHcziYAsGUjhEuQRWrlfKLJG/s320/IMG_5607.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yes, we watched It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! It's tradition!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">______________________________________________________</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sunday was Halloween. My husband was disappointed that I didn't get Eli's stroller decorated as Fred's car I bought the white material, and had the idea in my head, bu just didn't quite know how to make it all happen. So, he went to work out in the driveway....and came up with the most fabulous Flintstone Car ever!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9zT9GC8lp7GNSov6AtjwRKbnK7dzQUhPwsM693_65m2Y1pR4LGH8huV39dyyDGl8_RO9pEkZN2e8ghe3NMv03SKKZ_LbC2Zg7iAwJhDo22X_AK9U8tv3XMLoNI_f_4V-bb9hAuEvbyin/s1600/IMG_5615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9zT9GC8lp7GNSov6AtjwRKbnK7dzQUhPwsM693_65m2Y1pR4LGH8huV39dyyDGl8_RO9pEkZN2e8ghe3NMv03SKKZ_LbC2Zg7iAwJhDo22X_AK9U8tv3XMLoNI_f_4V-bb9hAuEvbyin/s320/IMG_5615.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our community has a big Halloween party at our Civic Center. Eli's costume was a big hit!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was so happy that we finally got to go out on Halloween!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(The last time we tried, Eli was 2, and he threw a fit for 1/2 an hour and we went home. He goes to sleep so early, that I hadn't tried it since.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.memorymp.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9kD01tEFwK75bieKW_QTZ0j6SvwWd_cYlqF6pC2rz-IWGwlSofc7HCwKyJVje5E8q0Inl0qs5hPUtTWctOsBkKTq2wI_OeAQ9aq6xsZmFGEAbeoWZWoIxC9GV463mn9K8lquauaXros4/s320/Eli.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Professional photographers were there taking pictures! Click the picture to go to their website)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now, I'm trying to think what to do for Halloween next year! How do you top a Flintstone mobile?</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15244245535700748135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811200369642701918.post-58233403396221098322010-09-04T09:50:00.000-07:002010-09-04T09:50:53.746-07:00An Alien and a Robot take a Rocket to a 5th Birthday Party!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDCzWte-aaiSVh45Wj0el2g9HWrXVTQ4G2GmiECjGbjoHBSgduBKAbWpQ-SYoPuBsCQ4H0Qfv7iZ5C53bbDbqnh_Vrb1wSE2oDQ5pBWdQ2mqXBpRvYCLf5YFfOF6u-zJPjUQHEZLTV4tR/s1600/IMG_5245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDCzWte-aaiSVh45Wj0el2g9HWrXVTQ4G2GmiECjGbjoHBSgduBKAbWpQ-SYoPuBsCQ4H0Qfv7iZ5C53bbDbqnh_Vrb1wSE2oDQ5pBWdQ2mqXBpRvYCLf5YFfOF6u-zJPjUQHEZLTV4tR/s320/IMG_5245.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had another wonderful party to celebrate Eli's birthday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0Nx_R2-UbGM_pB0KepNcrAhpbqrByrXMA0fYCTmoxiS_NGIt8SiWow9U23EPMAcH5CKqURZdEhl22GA68B4yc8elaOhn4NmWX0G9YRsTGNYnj07pKz8T6MGRIu9iIwfXiYc0DjLSYY9f/s1600/IMG_5242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0Nx_R2-UbGM_pB0KepNcrAhpbqrByrXMA0fYCTmoxiS_NGIt8SiWow9U23EPMAcH5CKqURZdEhl22GA68B4yc8elaOhn4NmWX0G9YRsTGNYnj07pKz8T6MGRIu9iIwfXiYc0DjLSYY9f/s320/IMG_5242.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I can't believe my boy is 5 !!!!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBc6N6TPniSetAjbnMYEcGbrWDWR9Wjy68Fe-zlwuRQpCy4ASxy-_OvivZ7AwmaQ4-7b7JgmaGNddD0TZjYkqkXs-3sIypfwGrmCrQrsTKSZcJiO5wg4sPx2lmBrxRfQolXPABUO0PCtAv/s1600/DSCF2816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBc6N6TPniSetAjbnMYEcGbrWDWR9Wjy68Fe-zlwuRQpCy4ASxy-_OvivZ7AwmaQ4-7b7JgmaGNddD0TZjYkqkXs-3sIypfwGrmCrQrsTKSZcJiO5wg4sPx2lmBrxRfQolXPABUO0PCtAv/s320/DSCF2816.JPG" width="269" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The party kids loved the spaceship cupcakes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjex5gPMpW7QbxcXlXcxfs-qyQtKHF1G_vBIFKwpig4RmMgJDLQgp_mgszBCH_lOZGKd05MfjmlB9c6AphZwLsgTxXlKSpPATVwp4lib_FdPbvfVfbszbf4AOeinJi-0uKIkhuDzCEt0Vjg/s1600/Party+Kids.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjex5gPMpW7QbxcXlXcxfs-qyQtKHF1G_vBIFKwpig4RmMgJDLQgp_mgszBCH_lOZGKd05MfjmlB9c6AphZwLsgTxXlKSpPATVwp4lib_FdPbvfVfbszbf4AOeinJi-0uKIkhuDzCEt0Vjg/s320/Party+Kids.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had 71 people at his party. About 24 kids, not all are shown, and the rest were adults.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We call it the "End of Summer Berkheimer Bash" and have a Potluck feast with all of our friends and family.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Eli sure has a LOT of people that love him!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UCv8BgtN_DfvnrigXz3pvdodtX-4OgiDqszORV4_tmf5dffuT5ywrWCx0pg053qZUiTh0QZIL9JXSZOWfYPQYD6xzehamoRZ1TB_1a3Qqh5nX0yWchG5iAQIgvt4qZrSuDRroFllOVTA/s1600/DSCF2794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UCv8BgtN_DfvnrigXz3pvdodtX-4OgiDqszORV4_tmf5dffuT5ywrWCx0pg053qZUiTh0QZIL9JXSZOWfYPQYD6xzehamoRZ1TB_1a3Qqh5nX0yWchG5iAQIgvt4qZrSuDRroFllOVTA/s320/DSCF2794.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First we played "Stick the Alien in the Spaceship"</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMR76UcAgNsbIv1fCW3kCgHOxUj-03LgErPiOUjrq6OeTg2KBqJRtAtlb-sLZxP9maU25RMlRX4UVXirumFQo8dA4y51JD-2VsMcuaegwYRl-3UaEFyA6xJofNPki7U9NEk6EGFCH42Ot/s1600/DSCF2813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMR76UcAgNsbIv1fCW3kCgHOxUj-03LgErPiOUjrq6OeTg2KBqJRtAtlb-sLZxP9maU25RMlRX4UVXirumFQo8dA4y51JD-2VsMcuaegwYRl-3UaEFyA6xJofNPki7U9NEk6EGFCH42Ot/s320/DSCF2813.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then we had two teams build robots out of cardboard boxes, duct tape, egg cartons, pipe cleaners, washers, nuts and bolts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">THIS WAS THE BIGGEST HIT OF THE PARTY!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was so glad to see all the kids having fun....and then I heard about several who went home asking for stuff to make robots, dollhouses, and horse stables out of boxes! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsUy5F2OATmatkGAa9xzE_YIGdTbYyJbpdxQ0iqpRn85Wtu1f26M3kPpPgYh1a5iQ29UnZrCkfLLTDw_a5lWEiuxRJ2q2p4k7sZI-2X9uMRt7irRxE3kug95KJJneamPpkmbEm4HNBuLc/s1600/DSCF2814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsUy5F2OATmatkGAa9xzE_YIGdTbYyJbpdxQ0iqpRn85Wtu1f26M3kPpPgYh1a5iQ29UnZrCkfLLTDw_a5lWEiuxRJ2q2p4k7sZI-2X9uMRt7irRxE3kug95KJJneamPpkmbEm4HNBuLc/s320/DSCF2814.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then it was present time:</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibv8D_AziXT_D9R7g2Vl4-sdeen4l6Z3P1HCljKR0Wqd6_tYRHhva_sAeP2u54cNxpm-WLURf0lSlEIyzDPPG0XgB4c4FVQ83SnzMp0WLHrIxzxY3xiQvJT6fVcxxCiu7zT0k3U9auOy_p/s1600/DSCF2843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibv8D_AziXT_D9R7g2Vl4-sdeen4l6Z3P1HCljKR0Wqd6_tYRHhva_sAeP2u54cNxpm-WLURf0lSlEIyzDPPG0XgB4c4FVQ83SnzMp0WLHrIxzxY3xiQvJT6fVcxxCiu7zT0k3U9auOy_p/s320/DSCF2843.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Eli only took a 30 minute nap that day....so by this time he was getting tired...and a wee bit cranky. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDkLOePYQFFpM0gLWopjJQWzQXcvC8E1OP_KFX9YRHnxz5ouoYUyVPeKlm4qei1wuDMAy2EWqY8Fq9SPdD2Fh7M3frsRn699dYINMOddCLmI5xqFXYKAYqSSe5YuMdHkicBWTMHcWecGN/s1600/DSCF2819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDkLOePYQFFpM0gLWopjJQWzQXcvC8E1OP_KFX9YRHnxz5ouoYUyVPeKlm4qei1wuDMAy2EWqY8Fq9SPdD2Fh7M3frsRn699dYINMOddCLmI5xqFXYKAYqSSe5YuMdHkicBWTMHcWecGN/s320/DSCF2819.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">But he was still cute making some funny faces :)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0B1R6Ab-OBhuJ16OXmzJo-6Zw56tBGEAz7wvxFUMHZBOD1wyN80EsVxoC41hAPK-RScUF74APQ7mnL9xlKdkEgPq27rHl-_NKN367zFQXCDcbBTcIzjx8lzQPS1KXYH36yK99Nzb5JtH/s320/DSCF2865.JPG" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> Attempt at a family picture...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgl6MGL-56TIigWLLEKFXfPSIQwwUPoudiAZWC7rGiaWsfaeRDrv-p7vHiXT2blAhU5E7RrVOKKBbZgk5xGWdDMrH6CphQwRseAJaZo7X1SKE_2FUvgWUIu6DBeHusOiBXoXLC3kNmeYqc/s1600/Eli's+5th+Birthday+089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgl6MGL-56TIigWLLEKFXfPSIQwwUPoudiAZWC7rGiaWsfaeRDrv-p7vHiXT2blAhU5E7RrVOKKBbZgk5xGWdDMrH6CphQwRseAJaZo7X1SKE_2FUvgWUIu6DBeHusOiBXoXLC3kNmeYqc/s320/Eli's+5th+Birthday+089.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Yikes! What is this:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggaxadVYCDtnDqbqZz3hDJeecZZiPn6bhJ2Q-tS2RlX1dc8X2jlSVLAIzcnQ82xJhRoO9KQ6LJF6jK-ztvJMiZy804Ds5ZE8LakSuQ0UicOZ8LS0UdXeqcXJn5kiEQzg7w0PFpQrdxRqSH/s1600/IMG_5239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggaxadVYCDtnDqbqZz3hDJeecZZiPn6bhJ2Q-tS2RlX1dc8X2jlSVLAIzcnQ82xJhRoO9KQ6LJF6jK-ztvJMiZy804Ds5ZE8LakSuQ0UicOZ8LS0UdXeqcXJn5kiEQzg7w0PFpQrdxRqSH/s320/IMG_5239.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">"a carload of aliens pulls up to a bar....."</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">LOL!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-OqGGQIoXU5lg3NG0T0uGhi4kUr4v0u-cXqfzoMFFVwEEjNK9MVxw65S8t3k0_uiv4VaH3L13pFqv2hTADHtYnbUf4WqiOTpOkm5FVQr127maxafoRIu980s_p9TQ5XbAVLhZmZhNgVs/s1600/IMG_5243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-OqGGQIoXU5lg3NG0T0uGhi4kUr4v0u-cXqfzoMFFVwEEjNK9MVxw65S8t3k0_uiv4VaH3L13pFqv2hTADHtYnbUf4WqiOTpOkm5FVQr127maxafoRIu980s_p9TQ5XbAVLhZmZhNgVs/s320/IMG_5243.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">We decorated with Aliens, Rockets, and Robots.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdWIc4elybF7jQao5gp8xWZE0xfYerMbWL_v7DaBi9fg-PH1txzJ99OYZhV8g5zRy84zqYzMh-arLh5dQKeuXDk-QorPWWP3YkEQL-CRuzpC5KBGns-ElR3NRBsAXL1c-UbkLHnt5pOfT/s1600/DSCF2875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdWIc4elybF7jQao5gp8xWZE0xfYerMbWL_v7DaBi9fg-PH1txzJ99OYZhV8g5zRy84zqYzMh-arLh5dQKeuXDk-QorPWWP3YkEQL-CRuzpC5KBGns-ElR3NRBsAXL1c-UbkLHnt5pOfT/s320/DSCF2875.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> And Lou Lou was in heaven, again, all day!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxfV8DKCIRWK87e153rZc6D_mdxlph2-dd-PsjqEhfhODNKkFB2cKGgx1lbIbwm9_HzLd-_WHDC8_MqYHk6DCWpHtVohV02fwQF3VMEOORwvo8tV6y7JPWqLoIUOdshW4wDHOzRDSmfLW/s1600/IMG_5248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxfV8DKCIRWK87e153rZc6D_mdxlph2-dd-PsjqEhfhODNKkFB2cKGgx1lbIbwm9_HzLd-_WHDC8_MqYHk6DCWpHtVohV02fwQF3VMEOORwvo8tV6y7JPWqLoIUOdshW4wDHOzRDSmfLW/s320/IMG_5248.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I found these awesome alien pajamas at Carters!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was a good day!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15244245535700748135noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811200369642701918.post-74737378660411761672010-07-30T21:39:00.000-07:002010-07-30T21:39:05.043-07:00Super Star!<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgloDoL8FB79nM5RI0negxBKRntSkn5E7VoHbUVGzfX1DRZpem1Yfoqotpi2d85wByblycbvuT0lOp5t7qVX2apBXXXkZFmB7CrQkBoeYmAKJoXLCqU3SSBNhusTxSksHaS-CkHqvJ-u7YZ/s1600/Eli+on+playdate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgloDoL8FB79nM5RI0negxBKRntSkn5E7VoHbUVGzfX1DRZpem1Yfoqotpi2d85wByblycbvuT0lOp5t7qVX2apBXXXkZFmB7CrQkBoeYmAKJoXLCqU3SSBNhusTxSksHaS-CkHqvJ-u7YZ/s1600/Eli+on+playdate.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was quite an honor to have Eli chosen to be the cover boy for the current issue of Playdate Magazine, a bi-monthly publication put out by our local newspaper!! Their website describes the magazine this way:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <em>"PlaydateYakima.com and PLAYDATE Magazine are a gathering spot for Yakima Valley parents and caregivers of infants through teens. We’re all about community events and happenings, activities and recreation; about where to locate educational opportunities and fun; and about how to find useful products and services specific to the needs of busy young families."</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's currently the profile picture on their facebook page, too!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/playdateyakima">http://www.facebook.com/playdateyakima</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And if you'd like an autographed copy.....just let me know....we just might have a copy, or three or ten, lying around, and I'd be happy to send one to you!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's pretty awesome to walk into the grocery store, your doctor's office, and even your favorite restaurant...and there is your son's face on the cover of a magazine in a rack! I'm beside myself with joy!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Special thanks to Scott Klepach, and other staff members, for choosing Eli, and for being so accomodating during Eli's photoshoot. Eli wasn't feeling well that week, and it was tough to get a good shot. They were so patient and kind, and it was great to work with them.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I might even get to contribute a little story once in a while about raising a special needs child, and ways for local events to be more inclusive and accessible for the physically disabled. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Very cool!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">(FYI for family: My computer died and is in the shop...I should have it back on Sunday or Monday.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sorry if you've emailed me this week and I haven't answered.)</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15244245535700748135noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811200369642701918.post-48472627289166993852010-07-26T18:59:00.000-07:002011-04-24T21:51:04.510-07:00He did it again!<div style="text-align: center;">After failing an OAE hearing evaluation in his right ear in June at Children's Hospital, they recommended we see our local pediatrician to get the wax out of his ear and have him re-evaluated at Hearing and Speech Center here in Yakima.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin11DW8IXYXP_bgF8eE_b6ImuQ1k_Udp5SgJPW57_TjX-IirR-cQAFMkfyPjdnIMRCSA6UpsMjGZi8OKUxUa-uj1dhLAJgCVU6i1eHc78skGUQobodm47rSdHPVshOlGZ3j2uBdF9hFlzQ/s1600/DSCF2629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin11DW8IXYXP_bgF8eE_b6ImuQ1k_Udp5SgJPW57_TjX-IirR-cQAFMkfyPjdnIMRCSA6UpsMjGZi8OKUxUa-uj1dhLAJgCVU6i1eHc78skGUQobodm47rSdHPVshOlGZ3j2uBdF9hFlzQ/s320/DSCF2629.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Today was the test....but he failed the tampanagram in BOTH ears......because of fluid, so they recommended we go see the Pediatrician...<em>again...</em>and we got in this afternoon!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5g4nI6t7fHjzzAOHopMT1u3EGhOfVOsb_dyoxzW1AnyC6CqREQXgQ-BtrRZUS0QT7kiXxPJLbSeN4EoQgfwWe8jtTljbzhDEeYA6xqDwLnfM10cuHFyaZl4f4-6iIIBSW0FlI1jaJlQp/s1600/DSCF2623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5g4nI6t7fHjzzAOHopMT1u3EGhOfVOsb_dyoxzW1AnyC6CqREQXgQ-BtrRZUS0QT7kiXxPJLbSeN4EoQgfwWe8jtTljbzhDEeYA6xqDwLnfM10cuHFyaZl4f4-6iIIBSW0FlI1jaJlQp/s320/DSCF2623.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">His left ear looks good...but his right ear definitely shows fluid.....<br />
so he got a referral to a local ENT;</div><div style="text-align: center;">a prescription for Nasonex (to see if allergies are causing congestion, that is causing fluid build up), <br />
and a prescription for a new ointment to put on his stoma. I sure hope it works! His bile reflux is really causing issues!! We go to Seattle on Wednesday to see the GI....and hopefully we can pursue some answers to the bile issues he's having!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The best news of all is: ELI GAINED WEIGHT AGAIN!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">23.4 lbs as of today</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">YEEHAW! Good news to share with the Doc on Wednesday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4iR9rrxqrczy0n4K_WKtzl72ulNnm5W1HsLr7a4eUodc7sFslQBt2TBwhRrnTU1bjihaZ-mHD00i02LrTG52gFCwmNLHQK62ckKSTpxG6bCWBGkRX3xUBX8gb_N1HuBya4_DHtHJAvDp/s1600/DSCF2635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4iR9rrxqrczy0n4K_WKtzl72ulNnm5W1HsLr7a4eUodc7sFslQBt2TBwhRrnTU1bjihaZ-mHD00i02LrTG52gFCwmNLHQK62ckKSTpxG6bCWBGkRX3xUBX8gb_N1HuBya4_DHtHJAvDp/s320/DSCF2635.JPG" width="266px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>(Summer finally made it to Yakima - it's been 100 degrees for 3 days in a row. </em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Pictures are from our little swim party we had this weekend.)</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15244245535700748135noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811200369642701918.post-69412567142916378922010-07-14T21:22:00.000-07:002010-07-14T21:22:53.631-07:00Eli gained weight!<div style="text-align: center;">H O O R A Y !!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Eli is back to where he was last summer....22 1/2 lbs!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I sure hope we can keep this up! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">He seems a bit uncomfortable lately, and we aren't sure what it is yet. No granulation tissue has cropped up, so it must be the increased feeds. I'm increasing the volume very slowly, in hopes his poops can keep up! We sure miss our happy, laughing guy when he's gone....he laughs a little, but not like what we're used to.</div><div style="text-align: center;">(I sure wish he'd learn to like some new music! I think <em>that</em> would make us all happier! Elmo must go!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">He is doing so awesome in his Bronco! I think he'd stay out there for an hour if we'd let him!! </div><div style="text-align: center;">(But we usually just do 30-40 minutes because he needs to get back in the house and </div><div style="text-align: center;">plugged back into his continuous feeds)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-jJPh3uXu_0qFVGv2HWjDIPv-cbQu9rB-nrmIZ2Mpnl9Mxslxg3f0L8WHCJxbt6lzGplis_mVh7Pcfd3eCF6hcr_ocm_ql1eBm94qAzxYaDp1wU0dCtNOkwInbRi8UEjYc6z-hNiB_0Y/s1600/DSCF2546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-jJPh3uXu_0qFVGv2HWjDIPv-cbQu9rB-nrmIZ2Mpnl9Mxslxg3f0L8WHCJxbt6lzGplis_mVh7Pcfd3eCF6hcr_ocm_ql1eBm94qAzxYaDp1wU0dCtNOkwInbRi8UEjYc6z-hNiB_0Y/s320/DSCF2546.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We think he's ready for the next size Bronco! We have an appt later this month to try one out and see.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Our boy is finally growing!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">H O O R A Y !!!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15244245535700748135noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811200369642701918.post-7256456169109318532010-07-09T07:41:00.000-07:002010-07-09T07:43:23.479-07:00Rocket ManEli's been a little off lately. He's not loving much of his music....and not laughing much. This makes us sad. We feel his laughter lets us know all is right in his world.<br />
<br />
He seems a little less excited about his Bronco riding this summer.......until yesterday!<br />
<br />
He had a blast! Check out our little Rocket Man:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzlx2du0qQfSxy5xYPRYl2ljf3xEyDOyKb_NZ44BFRW9tn_6OPCxUhIihaVGxpJRKepzmY2PVlqbSArvIhDzw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's a short video because I had to go stop him from running into the fence. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Disclaimer: video is best viewed with your sound OFF!)</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15244245535700748135noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811200369642701918.post-18370906493823484752010-06-18T11:12:00.000-07:002010-06-18T18:22:50.416-07:00The Money's In The PoopsOur son is almost 5 years old and weighs 20 lbs. We have spent almost two years desperately trying to get him to gain weight. Nothing seems to be working for him. For us it's a constant stress in our lives, and alarms us very much. I know CP kids are small, but Eli really needs a few pounds on him for a healthier life!<br /><div><div><div></div><br /><div>On Monday, we saw Dr. Wahbeh, the GI doc. He believes that instead of Delayed Gastric Emptying (in the stomach)....Eli most likely has Delayed Bowels. Add that to the constant muscle contractions his body does....it makes for interesting digestion in the bowel regions.</div><div></div><br /><div>The doctors recommendations were:</div><ol><li>Continuous Drip Feeds over 20+ hours (I've been dreading this because Eli is now tethered to a backpack)</li><br /><li>Giving him his fiber in "doses" instead of putting it in his daily formula.</li><br /><li>Giving a suppository every day for a few days, and then giving one if he hasn't had a BM in 36 hrs. Dr. Wahbeh specifically said, <em>"The money's in the poops!"</em> :)</li></ol><p>He didn't really want to discuss anything else (like changing formula, finding out what his body digests best, or the Nissen Fundo), until we give Eli a chance to succeed on this new regimen. </p><p>We go back the end of July to follow-up. Let's hope he gains weight! And that we can keep his poops a movin'!</p><p>_______________________</p><p>Tuesday was the BUSY day! </p><p>First we saw a Metabolics/Genetics doctor. Upon physical examination my beautiful son has no visible signs of a genetic disorder. He ordered bloodwork and a urine sample....and he'll need a couple weeks to put together his report.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBP34hHhffQwuYuROMjQjYTBXnPj52UgHFSDua2MsYSsqYLa6Ud0t54NGFJqCPd-nFnZCqhS8m2Vx_cWLlWKGB1y-WJD81LHVn2bO_FRorzKeqqqCtBT9jDr5MN-yWhSLpLUmb-_y121P/s1600/IMG_4912.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484183597029201858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBP34hHhffQwuYuROMjQjYTBXnPj52UgHFSDua2MsYSsqYLa6Ud0t54NGFJqCPd-nFnZCqhS8m2Vx_cWLlWKGB1y-WJD81LHVn2bO_FRorzKeqqqCtBT9jDr5MN-yWhSLpLUmb-_y121P/s320/IMG_4912.JPG" /></a><br /><p></p><p>Next, we saw an Audiologist. She did an AOE test....and discovered that Eli has a large mass of wax in his right ear and couldn't get a response from that eardrum. His left ear was fine. He hears. Imagine that!? Of course he can hear...music is his life!</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKsDgf55o2DdixLqGdYNnf16S_StIjMR7gaxJbOUpWBBoqt6s9_EXKXx5qzaSpVJacNU-ed-SIZlVY8KdT5ca1S6IgagYcg4kOFoKfn5chg7ExI1UF5PmHW4Fm7NO9CSqu5is9dYAC3GD/s1600/IMG_4914.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484182128358324898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKsDgf55o2DdixLqGdYNnf16S_StIjMR7gaxJbOUpWBBoqt6s9_EXKXx5qzaSpVJacNU-ed-SIZlVY8KdT5ca1S6IgagYcg4kOFoKfn5chg7ExI1UF5PmHW4Fm7NO9CSqu5is9dYAC3GD/s320/IMG_4914.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><p>At the end of this appt...it was time for a nap....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHA1-CuicKFz88QQlMcdvoE3g5sOAq0_H1pLRPTbm_NBxlKl16TAV3VDn-knmULCHl6JnYtJNRWqGUdIw67eb7F6jdZoDuGII4FMPVnrhvywl587YWvooqWLJ8FCaO96edRdYrXFe-U-nH/s1600/IMG_4916.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484182440433066402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHA1-CuicKFz88QQlMcdvoE3g5sOAq0_H1pLRPTbm_NBxlKl16TAV3VDn-knmULCHl6JnYtJNRWqGUdIw67eb7F6jdZoDuGII4FMPVnrhvywl587YWvooqWLJ8FCaO96edRdYrXFe-U-nH/s320/IMG_4916.JPG" /></a> </p><p>We went and found a quiet place by the gift shop and my cousin Love'e sat with him while I went and got trained on the new feeding pump we are using for his continuous feeds. (I'll post more about all that later)</p><p>Eli slept for 45 minutes :) When he woke, we went and grabbed a quick lunch, and headed to his next appt - with the Opthamologist - we'll just call him Dr. W, OK?</p><p></p><p>Oh, my! I had forgotten how different this guy is! He's one of those people who I believe is absolutely brilliant, but totally missed out on getting any people skills!</p><p><em>He said to me, "I don't see that the MRI (done when Eli was about 3 weeks old) shows much"</em></p><p><em>I said, "All I remember is that is showed his brain damage was deep in his Basal Ganglia."</em></p><p><em>AND THEN HE ACTUALLY SAID, "Well, there must be more damage than that, I mean..." as his eyes enlarged and he tilted his head, sideways, towards Eli.</em></p><p>Seriously. I couldn't make this up! But, I forgave him because he is very interested in kids like Eli, and is actually writing a paper about them. Unfortunately, he's not really interested in getting the information OUT of them....he's a scientist type who wants to understand the anatomy and inner workings of it all....</p><p>...He's calling it SENSORY-MOTOR DISCONNECT. Yay. Another label for my boy.</p><p>His professional opinion of Eli is that he is "Locked In" his body. "He receives visual input, but just can't generate motor responses consistantly to give a physical response." "He can't use eye movement for visual accuity". "His brain activity down to his Thalamus may be impaired because his BG is impaired."</p><p>Eli doesn't track well. He has a huge delay in responding to requests. It took him 8-10 seconds to make eye contact with the little panda bear on a pencil he was using for tracking purposes. </p><p>He doesn't turn his head when you say his name. He doesn't flinch when there is a loud noise. He loves to watch his movies. We have a DVD player on the floor next to him, and a big TV up in an entertainment center. Both have his shows playing on them when he is awake. This is the ONE choice in the world he consistantly gets to make. <em>Which show does he want to watch.</em></p><p>We know he likes a show when he rolls on his side, and hardly moves, so he can watch it. His newest favorite is Curious George on PBS. :)</p><p>WE KNOW ELI IS IN THERE. We just need to keep him healthy, and continue working on how to get him out of there!</p></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15244245535700748135noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811200369642701918.post-17073351402532747252010-06-17T09:00:00.000-07:002010-06-17T09:01:37.960-07:00Inclusive Playground<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator" align="center">Have I ever mentioned the absolutely, positively,</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator" align="center">FABULOUS,</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator" align="center"> INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator" align="center">at Seattle Children's Hospital?</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator" align="center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTBX-NNsgS8DBm50WL6UQz-ouiXwVRNiemoef2YtsHnrMD_EFAscy8Z_yHyGa7NpRiOqO8qPsewc-7vXG4Bwd69BB9GSu2umXWvLGsdemQHCw8HJoc3sEbA1qwaYITE2jRuoVmIxrTvBJ/s1600/IMG_4929.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTBX-NNsgS8DBm50WL6UQz-ouiXwVRNiemoef2YtsHnrMD_EFAscy8Z_yHyGa7NpRiOqO8qPsewc-7vXG4Bwd69BB9GSu2umXWvLGsdemQHCw8HJoc3sEbA1qwaYITE2jRuoVmIxrTvBJ/s320/IMG_4929.JPG" width="320" height="240" qu="true" /></a></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator" align="center">wheelchairs can roll right up to the panels...</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVTF41dw2DuNKMgowh3ffEui6pAeXnoQkdeXxSVLKZuUfmyzwJ2qa4KJIeqJMW8eJ9W-GM1UTzKb_BuLffbpbFdL0tmQ9j3ZlctJnCtZSr7FRjzSD7y96DGgDttUY_6S4iyvJ-FE-MPAwg/s1600/IMG_4944.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVTF41dw2DuNKMgowh3ffEui6pAeXnoQkdeXxSVLKZuUfmyzwJ2qa4KJIeqJMW8eJ9W-GM1UTzKb_BuLffbpbFdL0tmQ9j3ZlctJnCtZSr7FRjzSD7y96DGgDttUY_6S4iyvJ-FE-MPAwg/s320/IMG_4944.JPG" width="240" height="320" qu="true" /></a></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"> ....and kids like Eli can play...</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; CLEAR: both; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDvcmcfTP7zudFiiTbodc4DzTkFC_0mz1X1sRaFNc7Twfo9jGf0E0xacOrEfutgdRbhU-gy3rzYhiD60PP7bhPUKDNVVfiRANOGG-n8qPpGMkFtQ8fmwXkGNm61rzTpDZJiVVf558M52o/s1600/IMG_4943.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDvcmcfTP7zudFiiTbodc4DzTkFC_0mz1X1sRaFNc7Twfo9jGf0E0xacOrEfutgdRbhU-gy3rzYhiD60PP7bhPUKDNVVfiRANOGG-n8qPpGMkFtQ8fmwXkGNm61rzTpDZJiVVf558M52o/s320/IMG_4943.JPG" width="240" height="320" qu="true" /></a></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"> ...it melts my heart...</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; CLEAR: both; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXc0UC5F_fEoPav-2ribh74MHG8AiAfWTWFMtgjCVULIenE_O709enQIlwJYvgcWiWUjKNFNkboz2NcteTLpf2mu8cv-PNEC9_t39JhXSi50R8vLcMK8e1f3E8RMGbDb28fg6EqE1olvw/s1600/IMG_4942.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXc0UC5F_fEoPav-2ribh74MHG8AiAfWTWFMtgjCVULIenE_O709enQIlwJYvgcWiWUjKNFNkboz2NcteTLpf2mu8cv-PNEC9_t39JhXSi50R8vLcMK8e1f3E8RMGbDb28fg6EqE1olvw/s320/IMG_4942.JPG" width="320" height="240" qu="true" /></a></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"> ....and this piece of art is my favorite...</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; CLEAR: both; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglFgwfKYBKn630XWQHrzHBi4a-cvOq-NNVnEQiX8hTsjzSLkWI4GwwDhXY3B6ook3F_9wmXwrw62y9ogFYPWMfDdzN0LLswonkAKDGrKdtpjcbUNevSSS2_VlL1oIOo89qLIlxqRphYrCk/s1600/IMG_4941.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglFgwfKYBKn630XWQHrzHBi4a-cvOq-NNVnEQiX8hTsjzSLkWI4GwwDhXY3B6ook3F_9wmXwrw62y9ogFYPWMfDdzN0LLswonkAKDGrKdtpjcbUNevSSS2_VlL1oIOo89qLIlxqRphYrCk/s320/IMG_4941.JPG" width="240" height="320" qu="true" /></a></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; CLEAR: both; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" class="separator">This is what is inside at the top:</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXT5i2MLtHIhFQxnoaQDNZvRgLpSqcuVKkL-dUCN4MSypLDUDaP2Z2N9PFHU7IMrLvDB8gu79KAsKe92QNcEDppjb5Qvh2lP9GmeIlT8OFv4jDkbaD4E4tQtVcQnS6koSQodYTRGARhA0/s1600/IMG_4939.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXT5i2MLtHIhFQxnoaQDNZvRgLpSqcuVKkL-dUCN4MSypLDUDaP2Z2N9PFHU7IMrLvDB8gu79KAsKe92QNcEDppjb5Qvh2lP9GmeIlT8OFv4jDkbaD4E4tQtVcQnS6koSQodYTRGARhA0/s320/IMG_4939.JPG" width="320" height="240" qu="true" /></a></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator">What a fun thing for kids to experience!</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><br /></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none">Then, there's a boat that's wheelchair accessible....</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; CLEAR: both; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpYO8yV9croTwWE58e1qkmc7rOIDk2ShMQcs890RzX_5uEh8sYV66Yd901uJ4C-VRJWT4O0RMi5Xa5Z7kmYvonJdqRrHIWG7gSBJBJ3vMn_Jr2Ioev0hjbZyvYg5IY4fsLmJs38VpinKa/s1600/IMG_4937.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpYO8yV9croTwWE58e1qkmc7rOIDk2ShMQcs890RzX_5uEh8sYV66Yd901uJ4C-VRJWT4O0RMi5Xa5Z7kmYvonJdqRrHIWG7gSBJBJ3vMn_Jr2Ioev0hjbZyvYg5IY4fsLmJs38VpinKa/s320/IMG_4937.JPG" width="240" height="320" qu="true" /></a></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"> ...and these fun "tunnels"...</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; CLEAR: both; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0r5Doz4x4jNrrKDNB5lEZSS84CFpYU3JQSeQXNTKdK7ohlQFB61vAkYa9iQ00rKg7kgwon7GLZzg1YltrVCdb6Styj9ddyG0Ouy4NazH70IVPmLDR9C8UXJfn7j8HU-zFf9fQ4bKpPxH/s1600/IMG_4936.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0r5Doz4x4jNrrKDNB5lEZSS84CFpYU3JQSeQXNTKdK7ohlQFB61vAkYa9iQ00rKg7kgwon7GLZzg1YltrVCdb6Styj9ddyG0Ouy4NazH70IVPmLDR9C8UXJfn7j8HU-zFf9fQ4bKpPxH/s320/IMG_4936.JPG" width="320" height="240" qu="true" /></a></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">...and finally a castle!</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUFKEeu3L3gIv018jdrfbg4n2NMe8mGbBxYBM5N_PXYQWOOUDG3xvY8x3J2ESpQ7e7Lce3hykLBOXI1GHY4kCMUz6VXLk55tcGUAG-Oj7LWzT5pj97SBKfIydhU34NeYdwdL5I4kAgl73/s1600/IMG_4947.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUFKEeu3L3gIv018jdrfbg4n2NMe8mGbBxYBM5N_PXYQWOOUDG3xvY8x3J2ESpQ7e7Lce3hykLBOXI1GHY4kCMUz6VXLk55tcGUAG-Oj7LWzT5pj97SBKfIydhU34NeYdwdL5I4kAgl73/s320/IMG_4947.JPG" width="240" height="320" qu="true" /></a></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator">Wish we had a place like this in Yakima!</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator">:)</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15244245535700748135noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811200369642701918.post-79481921913475258712010-06-03T15:42:00.000-07:002010-06-03T18:30:12.115-07:00Another Year of Preschool Under His Belt<div align="center">Here is Eli on his way to his last day, of his second year, of preschool:<br />
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</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0heMj1KDsEWFeoh8j6UBEkviSDxPxzbmEz5ZJaMcIxNHh8j0IT0OeMordXKf-utgV9S6WK3Q1j-niU34WopdWCqwyHpDzLMBfp1Irp1eVwOPnPonDpxJW8nMiWAZG_qUYsq8lVDIWh-r/s1600/IMG_4826.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478682187326805970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0heMj1KDsEWFeoh8j6UBEkviSDxPxzbmEz5ZJaMcIxNHh8j0IT0OeMordXKf-utgV9S6WK3Q1j-niU34WopdWCqwyHpDzLMBfp1Irp1eVwOPnPonDpxJW8nMiWAZG_qUYsq8lVDIWh-r/s320/IMG_4826.JPG" style="cursor: hand; height: 320px; width: 222px;" /></a> </div><div align="center">Do you know what his attendance was for the year? </div><div align="center">17 days!</div><div align="center"><br />
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They served Ice Cream/Orange Sherbet cups during snack time to honor the summer birthdays. Eli's is August 23rd, so I decided to give him a few tastes of orange sherbet....</div><div align="center">with a wooden spoon, no less! :)</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Then, he slept in class!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6i8CxQLld90RYCgw6b_Q6-EwIFMAxfk6VzMTg4zE4ATrKIuKEID-7h8ppAJHH7-TdYGUHM0QyzyTXUNhzJUZe5pvR_d5BHN2BCbZ-2J9nOhiwbTAjwZ5u9i0iOxxk-RAv-NSdzULQ99V/s1600/IMG_4828.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478682200817617794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6i8CxQLld90RYCgw6b_Q6-EwIFMAxfk6VzMTg4zE4ATrKIuKEID-7h8ppAJHH7-TdYGUHM0QyzyTXUNhzJUZe5pvR_d5BHN2BCbZ-2J9nOhiwbTAjwZ5u9i0iOxxk-RAv-NSdzULQ99V/s320/IMG_4828.JPG" style="cursor: hand; height: 320px; width: 240px;" /></a> </div><div align="center">That's my boy!</div><div align="center">When we got home, he gave his Daddy the fabulous kite he made him for Father's Day!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-Xfxm_kt6syocW2lPJrdbVyKKnz4zC49pLZvuS6HH-GVJTbjvuJiaQgllAkIvk9lWkJVbHqvD6DlNfUpd9lnU6pEkB6Va5iT63hanCLH1EgXmLcuUYmZda4f6wOzFwgCti1srGMnPuWL/s1600/IMG_4831.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478682205492736978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-Xfxm_kt6syocW2lPJrdbVyKKnz4zC49pLZvuS6HH-GVJTbjvuJiaQgllAkIvk9lWkJVbHqvD6DlNfUpd9lnU6pEkB6Va5iT63hanCLH1EgXmLcuUYmZda4f6wOzFwgCti1srGMnPuWL/s320/IMG_4831.JPG" style="cursor: hand; height: 320px; width: 240px;" /></a> </div><div align="center">__________________________________</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Today was Preschool Park Day...and Eli got to meet Smokey Bear.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSr2fDiV1TCw5SlpOPNk_Di9OAwuuK_MUcXOEV4Y5alM49a0shb2svhv1llpeNe7BG70AkeVK_vBCqg8ozE0bFIgcSmd5LTEAk5T9Pjhy7pKzjhcbG3bEK_lul-GbBZu5B3boRZ9ER8smE/s1600/IMG_4832.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478683168362712258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSr2fDiV1TCw5SlpOPNk_Di9OAwuuK_MUcXOEV4Y5alM49a0shb2svhv1llpeNe7BG70AkeVK_vBCqg8ozE0bFIgcSmd5LTEAk5T9Pjhy7pKzjhcbG3bEK_lul-GbBZu5B3boRZ9ER8smE/s320/IMG_4832.JPG" style="cursor: hand; height: 240px; width: 320px;" /></a></div><div align="center">It's interesting because:</div><div align="center">A) I always loved Smokey Bear when I was young. (Hoots the Owl, too!)</div><div align="center">B) I just found this hilarious saying on a T-shirt the other night:</div><div align="center"><em>"Only YOU can prevent forest fires.</em></div><div align="center"><em>Which is good because I've got 'stuff'</em><em> to do!"</em></div><div align="center">(I have a twisted sense of humor....I just thought it was quite clever...and funny!)</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Anyway....we had fun visiting with Teachers and other parents....Eli took a little nap in my lap...and then we went home.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgfYaTsrahyyU3A3t2BERXqkZSdhQwv4QQ9pi6E-RJzu8MU6Hy0HMFQn8sEuUplmZtIZmel1w8o4Jek0yLYR4bNE9fqcyajXSHojk7tvlmjn1EBIXoeMdBA4hit2Vi9aSNpXIihUez-Ey/s1600/IMG_4834.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478683176285648114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgfYaTsrahyyU3A3t2BERXqkZSdhQwv4QQ9pi6E-RJzu8MU6Hy0HMFQn8sEuUplmZtIZmel1w8o4Jek0yLYR4bNE9fqcyajXSHojk7tvlmjn1EBIXoeMdBA4hit2Vi9aSNpXIihUez-Ey/s320/IMG_4834.JPG" style="cursor: hand; height: 320px; width: 240px;" /></a> </div><div align="center">SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER!</div><div align="center">Yahoo!!!!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15244245535700748135noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811200369642701918.post-11767145736154475512010-03-28T13:24:00.000-07:002010-03-28T13:25:59.061-07:00Blogging vs. FacebookI'm torn.<br /><br />As of today I have 226 friends on Facebook. I love the instant gratification of updating my status or posting pictures and immediately having a response to it! Whether people just click the "like" button (letting me know they were there) or comment (which makes me feel so connected to the outside world) - it makes me feel happy. My special world feels not so lonely. I have family and friends encouraging me daily....it's quick, easy, and just plain fun!<br /><br />Blogging takes time. Time to pull all my thoughts together so I don't sound like a moron. Time to load the pictures into Blogger. Time to edit it all so it sounds coherent and the pictures go where they are supposed to. Time to wait for feedback. Then time to wonder why I put so much effort into my blog when the payoff is so small. I've always viewed my blog as a journal, so I rememeber dates and times of special events.....but Facebook is able to do that also, with much less effort.<br /><br />Don't get me wrong! I'M SO THANKFUL FOR THE HANDFUL OF YOU WHO FOLLOW ME AND COMMENT REGULARLY! I've built some great blogland friendships because of your faithfulness!<br /><br />But, I'm trying to figure out how much time on the computer is TOO much time. Lonnie and I have talked about implementing one day a week where we spend it "Unplugged". I've given up reading several of my favorite blogs because it just all takes too much time!<br /><br />I could be using my time to read my bible. More books. Learn about how to better care for Eli. We could go more places and meet more people and do more things.<br /><br />Spring is here. Life is shifting for me. I'm not sure where I will end up, but I'm taking some time to figure it all out.....so thank you for understanding my long absences on my blog.<br /><br />We did go do something fun yesterday! We have a local magazine our newspaper puts out bi-monthly called Playdate. It's full of info for entertaining your kids in our valley. Well, yesterday they had and Expo downtown at our convention center. It was full of booths of local vendors and home sales party companies....but it was also full of wonderful kids activities. There were two big jumpers. Play areas. Game areas. Arts and Crafts areas. A stage with fun shows to watch. A food court. Face painting. And the best part of all: Characters roaming around for you to get your picture taken with!<br /><br />Eli finally got to meet Ronald McDonald:<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTm3vIB4o3QPyGTQzZfdBB_HSDdgOE55tGoh0H47WesjoZXxlNBznMzeFIfBjOpy6xMC71s8rJTwdIL1TgzgGUgvLZ1Uwzv4w8oRTS1Zec-CKJJqxkZiY0BJZdSE0qsWmHPJhQTQOFnA6x/s1600-h/IMG_4388.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTm3vIB4o3QPyGTQzZfdBB_HSDdgOE55tGoh0H47WesjoZXxlNBznMzeFIfBjOpy6xMC71s8rJTwdIL1TgzgGUgvLZ1Uwzv4w8oRTS1Zec-CKJJqxkZiY0BJZdSE0qsWmHPJhQTQOFnA6x/s400/IMG_4388.JPG" width="356" height="400" nt="true" /></a></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator">I worked there in high school, so it was a big deal for me. I really wanted this for my scrapbooks!</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; CLEAR: both" class="separator">It totally cracks me up that he's making a funny face like "Get this weirdo away from me!"</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; CLEAR: both" class="separator">Eli was having a bad day. Turns out his stoma is infected....again!</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; CLEAR: both" class="separator">So, we didn't last very long at the Expo. It was crowded and noisy and he couldn't hear his music.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; CLEAR: both" class="separator">His tummy hurt and his body was wild. Being in his stroller wasn't his idea of a good afternoon so we came home after about 45 minutes.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; CLEAR: both" class="separator">There's always next year, right?</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15244245535700748135noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811200369642701918.post-80633193806790804122010-03-10T08:18:00.000-08:002010-03-10T08:18:07.824-08:00Mission Accomplished<div style="text-align: center;">I promised to post some pictures yesterday. Looks like that didn't happen. But, better late than never......eh?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Our weather has been interesting to say the least. It's been a super mild winter, and the last couple weeks we've had days where it was 50 degrees. Our plants think it's time to start budding and growing....poor things were shocked to wake up to 20 degree weather yesterday morning!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Whenever the sun is shining, and there is no wind - we take Eli outside for his Bronco ride. Even through his healing after his cold, he was still a trouper and was able to do a lap or two.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4UZW-oh42Ku_cHJGcjqemYnYzBmkAqU7mSW9JJ7bLFevf9huco4xuIg9h6xIasPi7hcToIojaSkd3iYM_9-CjYSLj_nBDlsuN_eGwNLIwueWtSeOd_3VZjs1xtjI7_KumS76H5qAtLlN/s1600-h/IMG_4340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4UZW-oh42Ku_cHJGcjqemYnYzBmkAqU7mSW9JJ7bLFevf9huco4xuIg9h6xIasPi7hcToIojaSkd3iYM_9-CjYSLj_nBDlsuN_eGwNLIwueWtSeOd_3VZjs1xtjI7_KumS76H5qAtLlN/s320/IMG_4340.JPG" vt="true" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My old point and shoot camera is starting to have a malfunction with the shutter opening. Every once in a while, I don't notice it right away - and end up with a picture that looks framed. I kinda like it on the picture above. Almost looks edited and on purpose. Almost.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ubw3WM4jnuKluqqgc5l6EACYqMkQI876gaXr-hTekJTW0-JyneJcU7tYxqUJ2ZMBKjktwFY5_lcE1KJwWIa9Cp4RqDmoWg5_aYWuGoLExLJzMAZdBmRHhUu-WBTN6nFCiFJTzfQIN1yf/s1600-h/IMG_4348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ubw3WM4jnuKluqqgc5l6EACYqMkQI876gaXr-hTekJTW0-JyneJcU7tYxqUJ2ZMBKjktwFY5_lcE1KJwWIa9Cp4RqDmoWg5_aYWuGoLExLJzMAZdBmRHhUu-WBTN6nFCiFJTzfQIN1yf/s320/IMG_4348.JPG" vt="true" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Some days we bundle up more than others.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkiV0vjcTqi5A-PBtzrW4HlIusKVk_2fFYR_QpN9nqAqt757vLeg3Hrjpu8sWcZMwOb95XzEzMxowCo1wtijQy1XBc_7m7RbuL2V-Eh1Ga1Px_jesMJwPRyDeLgWYaQdoF2WbGaJfBM43Q/s1600-h/DSCF1549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkiV0vjcTqi5A-PBtzrW4HlIusKVk_2fFYR_QpN9nqAqt757vLeg3Hrjpu8sWcZMwOb95XzEzMxowCo1wtijQy1XBc_7m7RbuL2V-Eh1Ga1Px_jesMJwPRyDeLgWYaQdoF2WbGaJfBM43Q/s320/DSCF1549.JPG" vt="true" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">His bib says, "I'd rather be eating cookies, cake, and candy"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's one of my favorites.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Only the parent of a tube fed kid wishes their kid ate junk food, eh?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">_________________________________</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Eli was in a really good mood on Monday....so I decided to get some pictures of him in our big chair to compare them to when we first moved in our house.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKvNymrKW0HGnQUBbh4ltuAlQCI6liTn3YIkCa2YnYKmEoxLaxO64r4HhN8N9t5SBwFabzN2Uvjh07xPSCVp8z4xzcwLuViDbAf2mZkD-0RJcjWqgepjSxJmAtkoVIIHwAcByn2_m9cA6/s1600-h/IMG_1044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKvNymrKW0HGnQUBbh4ltuAlQCI6liTn3YIkCa2YnYKmEoxLaxO64r4HhN8N9t5SBwFabzN2Uvjh07xPSCVp8z4xzcwLuViDbAf2mZkD-0RJcjWqgepjSxJmAtkoVIIHwAcByn2_m9cA6/s200/IMG_1044.JPG" vt="true" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl39ne_tsA2Nuezhc1hL9KMWNkXFl9AU66KI_qdoCeI_9N7S_Igi7lLggYbUqJUar5bgdTQYSWsOaJFFekbHVI1fL0mGQL-RI6lg3P9jhLgnmS9SXdna5acyLRcFOIGrXxgCvPux4ArDSg/s1600/DSCF1586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl39ne_tsA2Nuezhc1hL9KMWNkXFl9AU66KI_qdoCeI_9N7S_Igi7lLggYbUqJUar5bgdTQYSWsOaJFFekbHVI1fL0mGQL-RI6lg3P9jhLgnmS9SXdna5acyLRcFOIGrXxgCvPux4ArDSg/s200/DSCF1586.JPG" vt="true" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">August 2008 - March 2010</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Don't let these pictures deceive you. He hasn't grown that tall! The chair was brand new in 2008 and the back was tall and stiff! Now it's breaking down and it looks like he's taller because his head is above the cushion. I wish he had grown that much! He's maybe grown an inch....but still weighs only 22 lbs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">___________________________________________</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong>GREAT NEWS!</strong></div><div align="center">Eli has learned a new life skill.</div><div align="center">How to put himself to sleep!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Lonnie and I have argued about this one for a while...because I love helping put him to sleep. I held him for his first 3 years. Then for the last year we've laid down on the floor by him and held his hand to help him fall asleep. But, now he has decided he doesn't need us. When he's tired he rolls over and gets into a very weird position...and falls asleep!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6fmj4MzAvCEK2H60IN7LVeI7H_6x_jL-KHvvqJMWINvN2EIxhKCbR38ZYLFoCqSTDyre_DLPzR7c4esdst1YyPJ4z8-NW2ZQTAm2rmwKTzjRT4CYrWFj_X3-Tm3v2i5EbTKpSTT4Ibse/s1600-h/DSCF1593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6fmj4MzAvCEK2H60IN7LVeI7H_6x_jL-KHvvqJMWINvN2EIxhKCbR38ZYLFoCqSTDyre_DLPzR7c4esdst1YyPJ4z8-NW2ZQTAm2rmwKTzjRT4CYrWFj_X3-Tm3v2i5EbTKpSTT4Ibse/s320/DSCF1593.JPG" vt="true" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> His left arm is tucked underneath him!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvA0PO0ukSZv88mZI55hwXLbzE49S_sUguBdVVXQjf2wZHO0LrX-AkN-wzPA0kfdP8LR-Br_ydBlC-YK25K0QnBcq9QghVO0bRlAiEDll2wDz14bSv4P4jvRn4HXw-7N3kAoET50nPGkIS/s1600-h/DSCF1595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvA0PO0ukSZv88mZI55hwXLbzE49S_sUguBdVVXQjf2wZHO0LrX-AkN-wzPA0kfdP8LR-Br_ydBlC-YK25K0QnBcq9QghVO0bRlAiEDll2wDz14bSv4P4jvRn4HXw-7N3kAoET50nPGkIS/s320/DSCF1595.JPG" vt="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That afternoon he became a man on a mission.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To where?...we don't know!...but look how he ended up:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hB1NmAx2g7dtiuGWbJP-s3QR4G2h9Lpe_X4bV8QA5EaP3FumiCDPkr0eRTBhvHGkuflwrdh8tZmOsYPVa2OAaVMbOjWbQSMEsAL6wIu6GqqyPHhjhPg_83HrKl0hHMRHGB9QQbifD481/s1600-h/DSCF1596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hB1NmAx2g7dtiuGWbJP-s3QR4G2h9Lpe_X4bV8QA5EaP3FumiCDPkr0eRTBhvHGkuflwrdh8tZmOsYPVa2OAaVMbOjWbQSMEsAL6wIu6GqqyPHhjhPg_83HrKl0hHMRHGB9QQbifD481/s320/DSCF1596.JPG" vt="true" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center">I guess it's better to see the TV this way!<br />
Let's call this <em>TWO</em> missions accomplished!</div><div align="center">:)</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15244245535700748135noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811200369642701918.post-2182886167877348972010-03-08T19:09:00.000-08:002010-03-08T19:10:24.714-08:00FinallyIt's been a loooooong month. Too much sickness in our house! But, I am completely well. Eli is finally back to himself. And my hubby is slowly finding relief from his ailments....now he just has to deal with the cough for a while longer. It seems to be the last thing to go.<br />
<br />
It's been pretty quiet around here as we've been a bit housebound. But, Spring is coming early....or at least teasing us right now. We've had sunshine, 55 degree days, and it's just been gorgeous! My flowers are shooting up through the ground! My Hydrangea made it! Hooray!!! 4 of my 7 Bleeding Hearts are sprouting up. 3 of my 4 Peonies. And the buds on my Lilacs are HUGE already!<br />
<br />
And the Box Elders came back in droves a week ago. I could totally do without those little creeps!<br />
<br />
Eli's had a couple Bronco rides outside. He will need a little Spring Training to get back up to the speed and distance he ended with last Fall. But, for just getting over being sick - he's done great!<br />
<br />
I'm involved in two bible study's through church...and I cannot say enough good about the study called "Downpour" by Paul McDonald! Awesome! Life Changing! Heart Changing. Phenominal.<br />
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I have some pics in the camera, but haven't loaded them on my computer yet.....so that promises you another post tomorrow! :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15244245535700748135noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811200369642701918.post-74391483987914011102010-02-28T19:52:00.000-08:002010-02-28T20:04:00.357-08:00Morgan's WonderlandI found out about something VERY COOL this week. A theme park for special needs children!<br /><br />It's called Morgan's Wonderland and it's in Texas. It's Grand Opening is in April. You've GOT to go check it out! :) <a href="http://www.morganswonderland.com/">http://www.morganswonderland.com/</a><br /><br />Lots of wheelchair accessible activities. Sensory play areas. It really looks fabulous!<br /><br />Katy, over at <a href="http://birdonthestreet.blogspot.com/">Bird on the Street</a>, calls her girlfriends who have special needs children the "Holland Mafia" (which I love and I think we should have T-shirts made!) and I was thinking it would be so great if we could get a big group of us to meet up there one day!<br /><br />So, go check it out....and tell me what you think!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15244245535700748135noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811200369642701918.post-4051333635844273162010-02-22T17:17:00.000-08:002010-02-28T05:55:51.053-08:00A Never-Ending Journey Today, Melanie over at <a href="http://danieljohnmaxwellspranger.blogspot.com/">Better Than Normal</a> posted "<a href="http://danieljohnmaxwellspranger.blogspot.com/2010/02/everything-out-on-table.html">Everything Out On The Table</a>". She's overwhelmed, depressed, and coming to the realization that she's "not the super mom she wanted to be."<br />
<br />
Last week Katy over at <a href="http://birdonthestreet.blogspot.com/">Bird On The Street</a> posted "<a href="http://birdonthestreet.blogspot.com/2010/02/jealousy-jane.html">Jealousy Jane</a>". Sharing the difficulties of seeing other families with multiple children, all healthy, and we don't even have one healthy kid. She quickly followed up the next day with "Counting My Blessings" because she is not about being negative. Just real. Admitting the struggles we all face as the moms of special children.<br />
<br />
It made me realize I need to start pouring my heart out more - because that's kinda what a blog is for (and my big sister always wants to know <em>'what I'm really feeling'</em>) - and being more transparent in my writing. Which is gonna be hard for me to do! We are very private people. We don't like to let everyone in on our problems. We'll figure them out ourselves<em> thankyouverymuch</em>. It's easier to pretend everything is fine, than to tell someone you feel so overwhelmed with life that you want to just run off and join the circus.<br />
<br />
But, Eli is going to be 5 in August. <strong>Five!!!</strong> Seriously. Lonnie and I are amazed at how fast the time has gone by, and we know it's not going to slow down any time soon. So, here is my attempt and putting it all out on the table and telling you how I really feel....<br />
<br />
WE ARE:<br />
<ul><li>On a Never-Ending Journey. Most parents have a destination with their kids. The kid graduates from High School, goes to college/gets married/has kids/buys a house/visits occasionally. You get your house and life back. You get added family members. New experiences, etc.. We don't have a destination. We just have a journey. Living day by day just keeping him alive via tube feeds. We worry who will care for Eli when we are too old and/or gone from this earth. And that's assuming he'll outlive us.</li>
<li>Disappointed that he's had such health struggles that we weren't able to do all the amazing therapies we wanted to take him to. </li>
<li>Sick to our stomachs that he has NOT gained weight in THREE YEARS!!! </li>
<li>Overwhelmed at the thought of how school is going to work for him. A simple cold just put him in the hospital for two nights. How will he ever handle all the germs at school? We've quarantined him every winter. He stays healthier that way. But he needs to be around his peers.</li>
<li>Feeling like the world is very small because we only leave our town to go to Children's Hospital in Seattle. We haven't had a vacation in 5 years. Eli and I have gone to my Aunt's house to visit for long weekends....and for those I am incredibly thankful!!! But other than that, we have done nothing fun as a family. That sucks. <em> A lot.</em></li>
<li>At our wit's end because no one can figure out what is wrong with Eli. Did I mention <em>he hasn't gained weight in 3 YEARS!?????</em></li>
</ul><br />
HOWEVER, WE ARE ALSO:<br />
<ul><li>So madly in love with Eli that we can't imagine life without him.</li>
<li>Thankful for every day God blesses us with his care.</li>
<li>Enjoy his laugh more than anything else in the world.</li>
<li>Positive that he is <em>THE BEST</em> kid in the whole wide world. Just try taking his blood while he's sleeping....he'll let you! Because he's awesome like that!</li>
<li>Thankful to have a house with a huge paved driveway where he can <a href="http://amygenn.blogspot.com/2009/06/future-special-olympics-sprinter.html">run in his Bronco</a>.....his biggest accomplishment in life!</li>
</ul><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzZnONkb7_VI8JubfVKzIfnjUB5IetzmKu1QlhTLEpaGXYHlMoArWnsD4yo7XuYVvku8LsJcEXWq5lx_9_Zt3bX9ncFpM1IrYWEJB3MfAuFP8kRq7EvpWkmOHj06D_v3jZdhIOFgJJRYs/s1600-h/Sweet%20Dreams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzZnONkb7_VI8JubfVKzIfnjUB5IetzmKu1QlhTLEpaGXYHlMoArWnsD4yo7XuYVvku8LsJcEXWq5lx_9_Zt3bX9ncFpM1IrYWEJB3MfAuFP8kRq7EvpWkmOHj06D_v3jZdhIOFgJJRYs/s200/Sweet%20Dreams.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6fKJ2pxYJethM3RKYjqqRkrD128nBNvtGh119SyqHL-q5isSJ6yh_JEBOFDLx-jf862Ayf4Yc1RTcJHjnHJD4pbLCJjnwQtTavWlvKLcOiTRCnGFieSvSVUHn31HYailhkEYz_QogY6Z/s1600-h/IMG_4261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6fKJ2pxYJethM3RKYjqqRkrD128nBNvtGh119SyqHL-q5isSJ6yh_JEBOFDLx-jf862Ayf4Yc1RTcJHjnHJD4pbLCJjnwQtTavWlvKLcOiTRCnGFieSvSVUHn31HYailhkEYz_QogY6Z/s200/IMG_4261.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><em>"I LOVE YOU MORE TODAY THAN YESTERDAY. </em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><em>BUT NOT AS MUCH AS TOMORROW."</em></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So, how'd I do? Did I get real enough for you Sis? :)</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15244245535700748135noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811200369642701918.post-60477477129934889492010-02-20T07:12:00.000-08:002010-02-21T21:16:18.900-08:00Eli's In the Hospital<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">I've been sick about 10 days. I could tell Eli was getting it...but seemed to be doing ok.</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">All that changed Thursday!</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">He went quickly downhill that afternoon, and we ended up in the ER by 6 pm. They admitted him and we've been here 2 nights. They ran all the required tests, bloodwork, x-rays, etc....and everything came back fine.</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><strong>VERDICT: a simple cold kicks Eli's butt!</strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIkpsFgGzxze_OwgofuI7AEmrYupeGs1yJn0rm8zh2Lz5TZCg8UF0PW8gFT5KC8bb3ic44XGWsr79ljwmFcQ3LQtZA55ChpsVFzlwNcRa5QUwTi_LBLIb7ye1Qc-wxCmPt-QuZciNvIw4/s1600-h/IMG_4317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIkpsFgGzxze_OwgofuI7AEmrYupeGs1yJn0rm8zh2Lz5TZCg8UF0PW8gFT5KC8bb3ic44XGWsr79ljwmFcQ3LQtZA55ChpsVFzlwNcRa5QUwTi_LBLIb7ye1Qc-wxCmPt-QuZciNvIw4/s320/IMG_4317.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">(First hospital stay in a big bed! No crib! Yahoo!)</span></em></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The congestion gets really bad because he has such a floppy airway, and doesn't swallow well. He can't manage his secretions and gets congested. Then he has a weak cough...so it takes lots of coughing and sneezing....and tons of suctioning...to help him get better.</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI4h3LpxjnRih4F2_Izj1K0PlacHbyo2ZqRSeFJUj_ItxEUdWb8QzjhFwsIYn_UV00zf5uuWLysERDJ3w1upVOYKDDjfT1kayedg20lZK3BFJzhz-oGdnAoEabE7fhRbWQL3klAYN_wzjH/s1600-h/IMG_4326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI4h3LpxjnRih4F2_Izj1K0PlacHbyo2ZqRSeFJUj_ItxEUdWb8QzjhFwsIYn_UV00zf5uuWLysERDJ3w1upVOYKDDjfT1kayedg20lZK3BFJzhz-oGdnAoEabE7fhRbWQL3klAYN_wzjH/s320/IMG_4326.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">(he slept great both nights)</span></em></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">They've had him on blow-by oxygen<em> (see the cup above his head)</em> while we're here...his sats were hanging out around 94-96, but this morning he's mainting 97-98. I think we'll need to turn the O2 off soon and see how he does on his own.</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlvQO04pGy2f6V_5pYDO2qK4DdQqI7liq96JM3qF5GkVRpO1Nk7n7K40M8jeh4sqoU3Y53u1k1OONNQQqvuG0XSZOKQCNkOj70i3tB_QsyUrgr43InQh007LE7Wue72wGQomL-ac-YX2r_/s1600-h/IMG_4315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlvQO04pGy2f6V_5pYDO2qK4DdQqI7liq96JM3qF5GkVRpO1Nk7n7K40M8jeh4sqoU3Y53u1k1OONNQQqvuG0XSZOKQCNkOj70i3tB_QsyUrgr43InQh007LE7Wue72wGQomL-ac-YX2r_/s320/IMG_4315.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></em>He was Mr. Mellow most of Friday...making this face alot:</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2nzATEhp7ptbc_GW4TxBOSlmKJyiEZYzTu2e44K8MCMKgsksn_nwxobAG94O4MWQH3WNbt75tBLcbCMP1V70sm9FhDLzu5-ed3kJ_bOOiw72xVVSqHri9Aevp-YZGtIGlWBlZJELmVvU/s1600/IMG_4320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2nzATEhp7ptbc_GW4TxBOSlmKJyiEZYzTu2e44K8MCMKgsksn_nwxobAG94O4MWQH3WNbt75tBLcbCMP1V70sm9FhDLzu5-ed3kJ_bOOiw72xVVSqHri9Aevp-YZGtIGlWBlZJELmVvU/s320/IMG_4320.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>(this is the "why does it hurt every time I swallow" face)</em></span></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">Then, Friday afternoon, he started to 'wake up'...and get his personality and energy back.</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">And his laugh:</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-BjnPvbh8UXu00tlfFa3KnBf0i15NR4dgAALvkOfLqACWeaJmlDPkV69PiTsbAOOeXopI9O7toZsIINZl13Wcoc9bPc8YQ6NGOSt5GP4KSEbF-22_9oR8UWALVmFH1kBlTveqtMG0AID/s1600-h/IMG_4323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-BjnPvbh8UXu00tlfFa3KnBf0i15NR4dgAALvkOfLqACWeaJmlDPkV69PiTsbAOOeXopI9O7toZsIINZl13Wcoc9bPc8YQ6NGOSt5GP4KSEbF-22_9oR8UWALVmFH1kBlTveqtMG0AID/s320/IMG_4323.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">To top it all off, though, his stoma is still bothering him. I can see granulation tissue....we're hoping that someone from the Wound Care dept. can see him before we get released...but we are quite eager to go home...so if they can't come early this a.m. .... we'll just go without seeing them.</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">We want outta here!</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">:)</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15244245535700748135noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811200369642701918.post-80877782930185797732010-02-09T15:36:00.000-08:002010-02-09T16:14:59.322-08:00Just Chillin' at the Motel<div align="center">On January 3rd our power went out at 5:10 pm. It was off until 3:55 am. 11 hours! Luckily, Eli goes to sleep early, so it wasn't a big deal. Once he was asleep, we put 7 layers of blankets on him. We also went down to the neighbors (as they had power) and heated some corn bags in their microwave, and we put those under the covers to keep him warm. He stayed nice and toasty - even as the house cooled down to about 50 degrees!<br /></div><div align="center"><div><div><br /><div>This was the culprit - it took them hours as they had to dig three holes....until they finally found it. Like a needle in a haystack!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcx6IYYJg0jTIXyVAFyZjbzIq0gzXa0ZmGpurce7i_zvL_GSQSdzIt9149zb0mun4eFmI_A6lnvZMfOeQGrf9FkzqryhBgufOeXP6NgeDXRVTFBU_C4Ou_6BcGxZKhDIwmjZZ5s4S12EoD/s1600-h/DSCF1323.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436393432210556898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcx6IYYJg0jTIXyVAFyZjbzIq0gzXa0ZmGpurce7i_zvL_GSQSdzIt9149zb0mun4eFmI_A6lnvZMfOeQGrf9FkzqryhBgufOeXP6NgeDXRVTFBU_C4Ou_6BcGxZKhDIwmjZZ5s4S12EoD/s400/DSCF1323.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Pacific Power came back on February 3rd and dug up our driveway, again, and laid all new lines.</div><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4i8HiSp8EDvNJ7K2UCFFVMXO2Xt-tR0wZDB_QH5yOZ3dlGzxQlRduPiEiM17afm0vREFEeSimYk3UHQeqhnGYYeHvqTDAUsQCOTEJKSon-e2jPk_r-yKBb6naTSMnKy75LDar8IVA9DBx/s1600-h/DSCF1357.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436394502693228370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4i8HiSp8EDvNJ7K2UCFFVMXO2Xt-tR0wZDB_QH5yOZ3dlGzxQlRduPiEiM17afm0vREFEeSimYk3UHQeqhnGYYeHvqTDAUsQCOTEJKSon-e2jPk_r-yKBb6naTSMnKy75LDar8IVA9DBx/s400/DSCF1357.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div>Today they came and installed the new junction box (or whatever it's called) and connected the wires. So, Eli and I checked in our local motel and hung out for the day. Being without power, water, etc, for about 6 hours, with him awake, didn't sound like fun.<br /></div><div>We've had a great day..."just chillin' at the Motel"....</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgsoaaA8yE8ECnheHdEdHmky235AR678KeRiwc3r41W2MsoMrYW65T_8HeOa02RkjP0AmMTS_DHrcw-pBt4FGlOMhyphenhyphenueFxIqgA-ScZAjFbzFHG9LfS0YMHpcLT-Rk5GS3iQgeRPv-d_Hj/s1600-h/DSCF1505.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436396247575166114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgsoaaA8yE8ECnheHdEdHmky235AR678KeRiwc3r41W2MsoMrYW65T_8HeOa02RkjP0AmMTS_DHrcw-pBt4FGlOMhyphenhyphenueFxIqgA-ScZAjFbzFHG9LfS0YMHpcLT-Rk5GS3iQgeRPv-d_Hj/s400/DSCF1505.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCg297i3HckdYlnvKO7H2B0UcTuQSNXDpuhWp4plZqPVnOlXAXDBMclOQcvkw8I8LsAmQMKWqmceJWygEL6R3lC_hjl16OaGdAHXiQTTEWmR7HhDBv8h0Js7T4uY-efV-t07Dht5qfdW8F/s1600-h/DSCF1515.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436396255324707714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCg297i3HckdYlnvKO7H2B0UcTuQSNXDpuhWp4plZqPVnOlXAXDBMclOQcvkw8I8LsAmQMKWqmceJWygEL6R3lC_hjl16OaGdAHXiQTTEWmR7HhDBv8h0Js7T4uY-efV-t07Dht5qfdW8F/s400/DSCF1515.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div>...AND THEN....</div><div> </div><div>Lon came down to visit us, so I ran to get some lunch. Pizza Hut has the greatest vending machines in the lobby...so I spent the best 50 cents ever....for THIS:</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntMYMA29YsKPvKxbbtX0ReTXnR-Myh_UmJcuNYjkYngqib3JrloRopsZJ7H5_Fj9K77uu_BekwLFWZ103qpnLH0Mu7VOD18Pmjh_b4xgmF0ObDrpeu1fiAQu31cgDkr7KHkh2UyzOqT5W/s1600-h/DSCF1517.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436397771672709490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntMYMA29YsKPvKxbbtX0ReTXnR-Myh_UmJcuNYjkYngqib3JrloRopsZJ7H5_Fj9K77uu_BekwLFWZ103qpnLH0Mu7VOD18Pmjh_b4xgmF0ObDrpeu1fiAQu31cgDkr7KHkh2UyzOqT5W/s400/DSCF1517.JPG" /></a><br /></div></div><div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho38CJLrwUJslH1kW6Xj0EVRjZQhLHWDCT1BJkXX93xL42QgXfpENgS4TI9ZNMdAwDMcdDfA7axAievIITm876TUwMltkXDgFLwicI6WbGokZHY48VHT0m-3h4r2BjczvFC0azwdQ7nevh/s1600-h/DSCF1519.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436398746875442978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho38CJLrwUJslH1kW6Xj0EVRjZQhLHWDCT1BJkXX93xL42QgXfpENgS4TI9ZNMdAwDMcdDfA7axAievIITm876TUwMltkXDgFLwicI6WbGokZHY48VHT0m-3h4r2BjczvFC0azwdQ7nevh/s200/DSCF1519.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BkX6S1ouXT_eakjnKBtSIibXT4wx7Od5-rJCDxUxwEF-33JRLNC6EHi2qsZbl5o887HODshHi1d4eMVHf9BjwFCogWW6Rc6Ljqb_l2H6P0u1e1KrkeKm0F-oUizBK7okYvAYb9ksTG3p/s1600-h/DSCF1518.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436398739684638962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BkX6S1ouXT_eakjnKBtSIibXT4wx7Od5-rJCDxUxwEF-33JRLNC6EHi2qsZbl5o887HODshHi1d4eMVHf9BjwFCogWW6Rc6Ljqb_l2H6P0u1e1KrkeKm0F-oUizBK7okYvAYb9ksTG3p/s200/DSCF1518.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmd6dCTED84TJw3odn5GAFXYFEHtgoYLuv-NMOLyaJR-6jz5WJU1eluPY16qPmtf_OmQ28jYBg9VCbHBkUJUoD15-GPlJiPHplVaZTsEw7gxs9NLSKKO7blp2nwlynnw9lJxvuJaG7N4G/s1600-h/DSCF1526.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436398757119800866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmd6dCTED84TJw3odn5GAFXYFEHtgoYLuv-NMOLyaJR-6jz5WJU1eluPY16qPmtf_OmQ28jYBg9VCbHBkUJUoD15-GPlJiPHplVaZTsEw7gxs9NLSKKO7blp2nwlynnw9lJxvuJaG7N4G/s200/DSCF1526.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4VWkyO_g-pYswm9saLsclBdjjpw7gDVbe_IhopV1poByS1hbwFn6ts5Ld1syN2jKQvBC8WfTnSDL06Ddzfh4FSFcHjm-cCqCtoxudugllW6prm529NSS7j1nBW_WiPKFbTztTuKsMq3w/s1600-h/DSCF1522.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436400044620087762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4VWkyO_g-pYswm9saLsclBdjjpw7gDVbe_IhopV1poByS1hbwFn6ts5Ld1syN2jKQvBC8WfTnSDL06Ddzfh4FSFcHjm-cCqCtoxudugllW6prm529NSS7j1nBW_WiPKFbTztTuKsMq3w/s200/DSCF1522.JPG" /></a></div><div> </div><div>Seriously. This was the hardest I've laughed in a long time. He kept doing really funny things trying to get it off his lip! I think I just found his new "therapy". I've never seen his mouth and tongue get such a workout! :)</div><div> </div><div>Time to pack up and get outta here. </div><div>But, I just might come back tonight after Eli goes to sleep......and swim, or go tanning, or play in the arcade, or watch cable TV.....or sleep!</div></div></div><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15244245535700748135noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811200369642701918.post-84066199429699796822010-02-04T09:42:00.000-08:002010-02-04T13:23:18.410-08:00Osteopathic Manipulation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last week, we started a new therapy for Eli.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Osteopathic manipulation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yesterday was his second visit...here he is waiting to see the Doctor.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_xmOfMtxzJk0qaQlvaIIH2BJ6HDWYQsIQ03M-39N0ZOeHU7CoU_Rw6RojAiisZt2fMXnkoLqm2VoKGY7PSsb0t4fwcLoZTuLhK1D7m_Mr1o6Q165OA59tsJ3iXe8NIPE-sv9odDBOOff/s1600-h/IMG_4271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_xmOfMtxzJk0qaQlvaIIH2BJ6HDWYQsIQ03M-39N0ZOeHU7CoU_Rw6RojAiisZt2fMXnkoLqm2VoKGY7PSsb0t4fwcLoZTuLhK1D7m_Mr1o6Q165OA59tsJ3iXe8NIPE-sv9odDBOOff/s320/IMG_4271.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This new therapy is a gift from God.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I met a gal named Heather, in my bible study, that is going to the new medical school in our town, that trains Osteopath Doctors. I've been having my group pray for Eli, of course, and one night after class she asked me about him. She told me how their therapy can help with pain and digestion....which seem to be Eli's two biggest issues. She offered to talk to her favorite professor, Dr. Woods, and ask if he'd see Eli - for free.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well, last Wednesday, they came to our house and did their first therapy on him.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>They came to our house!!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yesterday, we went to the college and he did the therapy in front of her entire class of about 80 students.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was awesome. At one point Dr. Woods asked me if I had anything to say. I told the students,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"If meeting Eli makes any of you want to help kids like him, that would be awesome."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We've now been referred to a local Osteopath to continue his manipulations. We'll see how it goes :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">__________________________________________</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Eli hasn't been in the greatest moods lately, so I haven't been taking many pictures. But, the other night he and his Daddy were hanging out together, and he was laughing - so I grabbed my camera and got these gems:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhoDMsAbuYjpioPC1bAmexuiKXIQU_EtJgzMy8fYKELJXWPgj2Pb8_SUfEXt6_ypGSSTN3JNHPVPeImYHx_IzrUnO3-HSQFL-kp1Kd5GCQAjRKyH0dsjOaYGE-a7N0J4eKdzwfFDno3gP/s1600-h/DSCF1375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhoDMsAbuYjpioPC1bAmexuiKXIQU_EtJgzMy8fYKELJXWPgj2Pb8_SUfEXt6_ypGSSTN3JNHPVPeImYHx_IzrUnO3-HSQFL-kp1Kd5GCQAjRKyH0dsjOaYGE-a7N0J4eKdzwfFDno3gP/s400/DSCF1375.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1S_Nn32Q7nHJsqYaWUCruGy7JULBKfuYsDOdPlcdMw7St98yBGpTRfEaJdUB3TFlP4-fEn9rDxdJnxvAGNf0Bm8f_i0kIEWa1_4C_TQ_nlPBzVtrL1knkCo1-Ej7sj6Ck3SEQjvlMbAm_/s200/DSCF1376.JPG" width="150" /> <img border="0" height="200" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGxizIaQoNDWVe8Udbp9Od24vtHOXK9lkOBubYe1vrcYT4kH6LU6JeOrFw0w-ZtQcTgu2n8CJ5xPwpcwOjck1bfl-luZh_L5hPTyk95u-kpMnhL_qssArJi87iaRbDbbzaj-aDANYfXTN/s200/DSCF1377.JPG" width="145" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Eli has been spending a lot of time on his tummy lately. We're not sure why. He drools alot so we keep dry burp cloths under his face. Unfortunately, when he's ready to roll over onto his back....we end up with this: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9MRKK0bRZVWvChf_Z46-ukTBi4ahyuE3Uws6u61Y1-fjEi_0oHVxgZQgm_bf5nOIsx1Lnu2ljn_pCIuun_Q8dE7usAsVl3SjVI0785SWJHBvtvVjwaBsWi6iRyje7FOpoIFO2tOLmH4W/s1600-h/IMG_4235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9MRKK0bRZVWvChf_Z46-ukTBi4ahyuE3Uws6u61Y1-fjEi_0oHVxgZQgm_bf5nOIsx1Lnu2ljn_pCIuun_Q8dE7usAsVl3SjVI0785SWJHBvtvVjwaBsWi6iRyje7FOpoIFO2tOLmH4W/s320/IMG_4235.JPG" width="233" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Hello! Somebody help me out here!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I get a giggle out of it....how about you?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yesterday, his Tigger toy was in his face - and he grabbed it and pushed it away from him! His caregiver and I were sitting there talking, and we watched it happen! We were both SO EXCITED!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Maybe someday he'll learn to get his burp cloths off his face!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">:)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh, and while we're talking about rolling over. Eli has always been good at rolling from his back onto his tummy by rolling to the left. This last week, however, he has mastered rolling to his RIGHT!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sweet! He can pop his arms out from underneath him like nothing now! I'm so proud of him!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15244245535700748135noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811200369642701918.post-36724013633914253662010-02-01T19:23:00.000-08:002010-02-01T19:23:55.778-08:00Cute Bibs!!<div style="text-align: center;">We are always on the lookout for cute bibs....big bibs....not baby bibs.....</div><div style="text-align: center;">so if you are in our boat.....check these out!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/colbylanedesigns">http://www.etsy.com/shop/colbylanedesigns</a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CElBef6984VqQZvtW44AR5JpcJ1QHYUDsq_lYGdPQXtrn6Jw2kWfpFi3umx8xzbAbRrWlQlI6YVQnrIAGINSGqFt1LCAxHXukQvZyKYQ6qoPfT9UBhuqA7ZsNz-_cpE0ZNg2saVajBSG/s1600-h/Space%20Monkey%20bib.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CElBef6984VqQZvtW44AR5JpcJ1QHYUDsq_lYGdPQXtrn6Jw2kWfpFi3umx8xzbAbRrWlQlI6YVQnrIAGINSGqFt1LCAxHXukQvZyKYQ6qoPfT9UBhuqA7ZsNz-_cpE0ZNg2saVajBSG/s320/Space%20Monkey%20bib.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15244245535700748135noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811200369642701918.post-7790691564366979372010-01-21T08:00:00.000-08:002010-01-21T08:00:10.421-08:00Just a Little Something For You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Still not feeling like writing, but I thought I'd share some of my digital scrapbooking layouts with you:<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is a LO using a free mini-kit called Apple Cider from <a href="http://raspberryroaddesigns.blogspot.com/">http://raspberryroaddesigns.blogspot.com/</a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNhcEhRSulzkAn5HBj4QNqH2KMXrGM2_7Y6z2nkecc3jbzwzSFT4zLBlvhxCcscVZwjl_5p6MwBugfFZNbvjEKfw7yEeVaYe-QKeRSN1EN5NRhbJxQE-wKk_CPsNH9mWgetdVmrlq2FLHL/s1600-h/Sweet%20Apple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNhcEhRSulzkAn5HBj4QNqH2KMXrGM2_7Y6z2nkecc3jbzwzSFT4zLBlvhxCcscVZwjl_5p6MwBugfFZNbvjEKfw7yEeVaYe-QKeRSN1EN5NRhbJxQE-wKk_CPsNH9mWgetdVmrlq2FLHL/s400/Sweet%20Apple.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This LO is using a kit called Fly Me To The Moon by <a href="http://justsoscrappy.blogspot.com/">http://justsoscrappy.blogspot.com/</a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She has great kits for only $1.50 each!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJCYH0JYS7wVBw_DAW0HO6g_JOZy6btzYkLyRhCVso29KhkjBeaXU4Vkti7u1FQGLCzpWJ8nYKKR6_4EuPxTDvsl2dHacm2aDlZA-A_S5i6rfxHVBnU8HIVohyphenhyphen_ywyTDTRBltwpeiY4Rh/s1600-h/Out%20of%20this%20World.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJCYH0JYS7wVBw_DAW0HO6g_JOZy6btzYkLyRhCVso29KhkjBeaXU4Vkti7u1FQGLCzpWJ8nYKKR6_4EuPxTDvsl2dHacm2aDlZA-A_S5i6rfxHVBnU8HIVohyphenhyphen_ywyTDTRBltwpeiY4Rh/s400/Out%20of%20this%20World.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of my favorite digi-designers is Kristen Aagard. This is using her kit called Ocean Deep. Her kits are more expensive, and I was blessed to get a few over the holidays. Her blog is here: <a href="http://digidelights.blogspot.com/">http://digidelights.blogspot.com/</a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwrcPulcaIUNRsadeGx-Xy8NLflenH4jLV-igfE3YMK1rKAtNxe4eNNGDKbBsYlbOexAa041vX0fkJudjWrjjMqrfCvTGz5PJum9Bnz8EMrMh4dsCY8JeedSJZZd1VfVQ9-u98InObc7u/s1600-h/Ocean%20Deep%20LO1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwrcPulcaIUNRsadeGx-Xy8NLflenH4jLV-igfE3YMK1rKAtNxe4eNNGDKbBsYlbOexAa041vX0fkJudjWrjjMqrfCvTGz5PJum9Bnz8EMrMh4dsCY8JeedSJZZd1VfVQ9-u98InObc7u/s400/Ocean%20Deep%20LO1.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another kit by Kristen, (<a href="http://digidelights.blogspot.com/">http://digidelights.blogspot.com/</a>) called Little Forest:<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZleaqb2QhMOzn1fzfmGiAQ8XbgXucSvkTRByHwHJukFJOin3wOiahuV6BbvsTwuBO1Qs7t6a9kR3IcKDAY9X9o9qtEy6XvfJvt3GAGzadlbY_Jhez9Vhq47a2HguCDC_4A40oUrohgcLo/s1600-h/Lon%20&%20Eli%201031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZleaqb2QhMOzn1fzfmGiAQ8XbgXucSvkTRByHwHJukFJOin3wOiahuV6BbvsTwuBO1Qs7t6a9kR3IcKDAY9X9o9qtEy6XvfJvt3GAGzadlbY_Jhez9Vhq47a2HguCDC_4A40oUrohgcLo/s400/Lon%20&%20Eli%201031.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Have a GREAT DAY!<br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15244245535700748135noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8811200369642701918.post-82784654954352651332010-01-12T06:48:00.000-08:002010-01-12T07:11:21.216-08:00Winter BluesI don't know what is going on.<br /><div></div><br /><div>Writer's Block? Winter Blues? But it all equals a Whimpy Blog!</div><br /><div>Forgive me while I take a break from BlogLand.....I'll be back when my spirits are back up.</div><br /><div>The good news for now is we took Eli to Seattle last week to have his GJ Feeding tube switched out (as it was leaking) and it was THE PERFECT DAY!<br /></div><div>The weather was great for the drive. Eli was happy and did great in his carseat! (I could totally get used to that! We've waited for 4 years for him to do well in his carseat!) We didn't have to stop and get him out because he was so happy! We got to the hospital and it was nap time, so he had just started to fall asleep in my lap - when the nurse called us back. Of course!</div><br /><div>I had also given him a little extra Ativan - and he was MELLOW and HAPPY and even laughed during...and the procedure went perfectly smooth! Like 5 minutes. It was fabulous!</div><br /><div>We then went to the cafeteria to have lunch...and Eli took a 1/2 hour nap in my lap....and we headed home. He did great going home, too! In all - it was our best trip ever.</div><br /><div>On the way home we stopped in North Bend at the Outlet Mall because Carter's always calls my name! Hee hee. No, really, Eli needed some new long sleeved onesies....and their 24 month onesies STILL FIT our 4 1/2 year old! :) They are long!</div><br /><div>Just a couple doors down is the Rocky Mtn Chocolate Factory - and my hubby had a craving....I told him to get me a caramel apple. It was Eli's first sniff:</div><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhVw1Ybj8UTl0eEX0KhR_VGaYB6lMbVwNb5-AYfMuZX9fy6KO-mhmIyCksZnRDCCL4l5FPLmHhh5Z5YwrEQ1PboGfANcNeY6vPxFOM4H3FvwToT-6BSDprQmzaGMzzTwehGiONai0O-BT/s1600-h/IMG_4227.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425868267788971122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhVw1Ybj8UTl0eEX0KhR_VGaYB6lMbVwNb5-AYfMuZX9fy6KO-mhmIyCksZnRDCCL4l5FPLmHhh5Z5YwrEQ1PboGfANcNeY6vPxFOM4H3FvwToT-6BSDprQmzaGMzzTwehGiONai0O-BT/s400/IMG_4227.JPG" /></a><br /><div>But the next day everything changed. He's fighting granulation tissue AGAIN. Ugh. I hate it....</div><div>he's miserable, his body is wild, and the days are hard....</div><br /><div>Our winter quarantine has so far been successful at keeping Eli - and our whole house - healthy! </div><div>But it makes for a long winter.....and add to it the bleak, foggy, nasty, cloudy, wet/snowy weather we've been having....and I think it all adds up to the winter blues.<br /></div><div>I'll start blogging again when I muster the energy...</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15244245535700748135noreply@blogger.com5