tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81248258970445004222024-03-14T02:24:51.140-07:00The Bird FlockUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger143125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8124825897044500422.post-53345611937836664742011-02-15T01:07:00.001-08:002011-02-15T01:07:11.676-08:00Ear Infections = Bad Nights....Despite Rhett feeling off the last erm......month. We decided to go out tonight. We got free tickets to the Flash basketball game and thought it would be fun to take the kids. We had a super fun time. But at the end Rhett started complaining of his ears hurting. I thought it was just because of the loud noises and being over-stimulated. <br /><br />I was wrong. <br /><br />Once we got in the van and dropped daddy back off at work, Rhett started really crying. He was pulling his left ear and telling me it hurt. "weally bwad". When I got him out of the van his little ear was bright red. <br /><br />Now as I lay here in the recliner holding him, I can actually hear it crackling and smell the goop coming out of it. <br /><br />I feel so bad and he is so miserable. So much for a fun night. <br /><br />At least we got a cute picture with Flash the Fox.....<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/02/15/199.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/02/15/s_199.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8124825897044500422.post-92049351502237324902011-02-13T22:51:00.001-08:002011-02-13T22:51:05.192-08:00Fevers and Not Feelin so Hot...Rhett has been feeling really lousy. We have taken him in multiple times to the dr, and they can't find anything. He has been spiking fevers off and on for nearly a month. He doesn't eat anymore. And he sleeps tons. <br /><br />We just did a holter monitor this week. Hoping this will give is some insight to what is going on. He's suffered from bradycardia since 2007, but we are not sure how badly it's affecting his body. All I know is this boy is becoming skin and bones before my eyes.....and he didn't have much to lose to begin with. <br /><br />My mommy gut wonders what is going on. Because something isn't right. <br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/02/13/4080.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/02/13/s_4080.jpg' border='0' width='251' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8124825897044500422.post-63234285624234766372011-02-11T22:56:00.000-08:002011-02-11T23:00:01.367-08:00I'm Me......Sometimes I wonder if Rhett will struggle with who he is in life......you know.<span style="font-style:italic;"> Lables</span>. But tonight he surprised me. <br /><br />I think this puts my worries to rest......<br /><br /><object width="224" height="400" ><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/1759831349316" /><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/1759831349316" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="224" height="400"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8124825897044500422.post-15091274218517785822011-02-04T21:28:00.000-08:002011-02-04T22:54:02.591-08:00Holy Moly What a Week.....It's been a long time since I've had a week where I feel like I just can't handle everything. But this was one of those weeks. <br /><br />Monday morning started out with a call from Andy. He had been in a car accident on the freeway. It wasn't his fault, however the girl who hit him...(at 55mph) was uninsured. He felt fine for a while afterwards, however he started hurting really bad in his neck and head after a while so he went to the Dr. They did a full work up on him, including neck X-rays. It showed that his spinal cord in his neck had reversed, so he is going to physical therapy and spinal rehab. He hurts. A lot. <br /><br />To top it off our insurance are being idiots, and denying the claim we put in. We have done nothing but get the run around with them. We have been with therm for years, and all the sudden when we need something they come up with all these reasons as to why they refuse to accept our claim. <br /><br />We called the girls insurance company, and they were more than happy to help, and we already have a claim number. Had I have known this on Monday, I would have skipped the 3 ring circus through our insurance. Rawr. <br /><br />Rhett has not been feeling very well for the last month. He has slowly stopped eating, he sleeps way more than he used to, he gets dusky, and has had an increased need for O's. He also has had a slow heart rate. Even for him. At first I thought he was sick, however I have taken him into the Dr, and the ER. They both have ruled out any type of illness, and they are all very much in agreement that it's his heart. <br /><br />Except his cardiologist. Have I ever mentioned how crazy this man makes me? One appointment he will tell me one thing, then next appointment I get told something completely different. I'm a little tired of him just doing the whole bandaid thing. Rhett doesn't seem to be the only one he has brushed off. He wanted to Trach Rhett back in 2008. Andy and I made the decision to try the UPPP surgery, and Rhett has done amazing without the trach. So I often wonder if his dr is just so over worked he just doesn't care anymore. I'm ready for a new cardiologist that's for sure. <br /><br />Anyways. We are going in on Monday and going to do a 24 hr Holter test to see how low his heart rate really is. He's talked pacemaker before, and he's talking it again. I just hope they can do SOMETHING. I want my little boy back. It makes me sad watching him sleep all the time, and he missed this whole week of school because he looked and acted so awful. <br /><br />To top off the week, Hunter ended up with pneumonia. He has asthma and the slightest attack sets everything in motion for him to get nasty lungs. He's spent the week at home too. He's on the mend after some hefty doses of albuterol, and cipro, as well as some loving from mom. Of course a lot of Wii time too. That always makes one happy right? <br /><br />I am so glad today is Friday. I'm looking forward to a nice weekend, having decided to just put this week behind me. After typing everything out I am ready do just that. <br /><br />Happy Friday Everyone!!! .........Or Saturday depending on your time zone. Heh.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8124825897044500422.post-24001920859239740372010-11-26T14:11:00.000-08:002010-11-26T14:24:02.488-08:00Growing Up...Thanksgiving this year was fantastic!! We went down to Salina and spent the day with Andy's side of the family. We haven't been down there since before Rhett was born, and some of the family hadn't ever met him before. Just one of the many things that we had to sacrifice to make sure our sweet boy stayed healthy. Although, the last 2 years Rhett's been in the hospital either on Thanksgiving, or the couple of days before, so we were <em>REALLY</em> thankful he was healthy this year!! He is growing up so much, I can't even put into words how happy I am to see him becoming more independent, and growing up such a happy, sweet, and thriving little boy. <br /><br />In case you were wondering just how healthy and happy he was, well I think this picture speaks not just a <em>thousand</em>, but a <em>million</em> words.......<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NdbmUsdeWlMnafz4k09XkcFz2C4lnkQwyzOmM_JDWIKz_7oXECr2O-54E-eRjILYiNsw1Y5aBTeNNiWei9n0LTDC0YMvr9K6AhWQgu_8z2vsSV6WhJR0MhIC7HHDRj-dQgYS3azMT-Mi/s1600/ThanksgivingRhett1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 364px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543984846881258770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NdbmUsdeWlMnafz4k09XkcFz2C4lnkQwyzOmM_JDWIKz_7oXECr2O-54E-eRjILYiNsw1Y5aBTeNNiWei9n0LTDC0YMvr9K6AhWQgu_8z2vsSV6WhJR0MhIC7HHDRj-dQgYS3azMT-Mi/s400/ThanksgivingRhett1.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I hope you all had just as much to be thankful for as we did. <br /><br />Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8124825897044500422.post-53126585056543244432010-11-22T21:17:00.000-08:002010-11-22T21:43:28.630-08:00It's Great Being 5!!!!During my blogging hiatus, Rhett turned 5. The big <em>F-I-V-E</em>.......<br /><br />Can you believe it? It just kills me how quickly time has flown by. Gone is the sweet little baby who wore preemie clothes that were too big for him. Here is the sweet little boy, who has his own opinions of everything, the sweet little boy who when he doesn't want something says, <em>"NO WAY!!"</em><br /><br />He has lost his toddler look, and has turned into a little boy overnight.<br /><br />See? <em>I.kid.you.not</em>!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50ceByw707QbSW9Jr1AXXqRbyMqgE6dFFwL-lcHlCd_CfBiA8-qYSMdaDV529fPto8i85bEGr2-XWc9GJeKtH5qSv2fwXYuNkFcEmKMSKkbGzvFtqOyBDAzszgLqz8jqSxDo8HCqUimwe/s1600/rhettcarseat.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 352px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542612196521588994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50ceByw707QbSW9Jr1AXXqRbyMqgE6dFFwL-lcHlCd_CfBiA8-qYSMdaDV529fPto8i85bEGr2-XWc9GJeKtH5qSv2fwXYuNkFcEmKMSKkbGzvFtqOyBDAzszgLqz8jqSxDo8HCqUimwe/s400/rhettcarseat.jpg" /></a><br /><br />We recently finished up his settlement. I think I speak for both Andy and I, when I say that we are super glad to have this chapter of our lives officially closed. We were able to put the money away for him, so that when he turns 18 he will always have some type of money to use however HE wants too. We felt like as high functioning as he is, it will be really good for him. We were also able to set it up so it won't affect any SSI or Medicaid, as well as independent living assistance he may be eligible for. We were also able to get him some equipment that he needed that had been put off for so long.<br /><br />He was excited to have a new car seat. Honestly I was too....his car seat was a super cheap one, and I wanted one that had passed side impact tests. Britax makes the best car seats, and I am very impressed with what they offer. Andy and I have put <em>SO MUCH</em> money into his health, it seemed silly that we bought him a 35 dollar car seat that wouldn't do much to protect him in the event of an accident.<br /><br />We ended up choosing the Britax Marathon. It goes up to 65 lbs, and he is still just 32 lbs, so he still has a while in it. I don't think I'll ever purchase another brand again.<br /><br />That being said, I think we are ready for our Thanksgiving trip to Salina. We'll be traveling about 2 hours away. I am really excited to spend it with Andy's Dad's side of the family. We haven't been down there since before Rhett was born, so this will be a great opportunity for Rhett to meet some of his cousins and Aunts!!<br /><br />I hope you all have a safe and fun Thanksgiving!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8124825897044500422.post-27932529058152735962010-11-21T21:49:00.000-08:002010-11-21T23:48:43.833-08:00When One is Wanted, But not the Other.......I'll admit, I have taken a hiatus on my advocacy for children with Down syndrome. I needed some time to re-gather my thoughts, my feelings, my life.<br /><br />However this weekend I heard about a baby boy. A little boy whom I have never met, never known, but yet have a huge unexplained love for. He was a twin born in Arkansas; a twin whose birth mother gave the ultimate sacrifice by giving him up for adoption, who tried to give him and his brother a better life, however this is only the beginning of his story.<br /><br />This little boy, whom I will call Baby Doe, was born with Down syndrome. Now I'm not sure how it all played out, however I do know this; the adoptive parents decided they would only take the twin who was "perfect". The one without Down syndrome. Not only did they choose to leave Baby Doe in the hospital, they also chose to sign a DNR order. They did not relinquish their rights, they simply said the only way they would take him was if he passed away. They walked away from this child not even giving him a chance, a chance to know he is loved, a chance to fight for his life, to live and grow with his twin.<br /><br />When I heard about this my heart broke into a million pieces. All I could think about was how I wanted to board a flight to Arkansas and wrap this baby in love. Take him, nurture him, let him know that he has a life worth living.<br /><br />As you can imagine, news of this situation spread quickly throughout the Down syndrome community. Every one of us was outraged. Who cares if this baby is sick? If he didn't have an extra chromosome, would someone be fighting for him? Many of us made our voices heard though. We all fought hard and started questioning what had happened. Letters were written, phone calls were made, up to and including the hospital, a bio ethicist, past Governor, Mike Huckabee, and the current Governor. (Boy is HE gonna be surprised Monday morning when he has thousands of emails concerning one little baby boy in the NICU!!)<br /><br />I had and still have so many questions. Who approved this adoption? Did the Doctors not explain to things to the new parents? Were they misinformed as so many parents are when it comes to an extra chromosome? I can't fathom why they would just leave this little living, breathing, baby to die.<br /><br />However Baby Doe, has lots of fighters rallying for him in his corner. Even if Baby Doe has been rejected by not one, but two sets of parents in his short little life time, he is loved. We spoke loud and clear this weekend that Baby Doe will NOT be left to die. When a child with Down syndrome is born, he is loved by every other parent out there who has been blessed by an extra chromosome.<br /><br />As much as my heart was breaking, it is now screaming in joy, because the DNR has been lifted. A Bio ethicist and an agency have stepped in and are looking into the situation. I know this little boy is sick, and as I wrote letters on his behalf my heart said a prayer over and over if he would just hang on long enough, we would fight, we would find him alone.<br /><br />Tonight my heart soars as I hear the DNR is no longer in affect. Baby Doe might have a chance!! A chance to be snuggled, to have a rub down with lotion after a bath....to have a <em>name</em>. I know he still has a hard road ahead of him, he needs prayers from all of us. Not only prayers for his health, but for the chance of him finding a family fast. A prayer for the current adop0tion to be reversed, thus meaning Baby Doe will have a chance to have another family step forward to take care of him. To love him as I love Rhett, to be happy.<br /><br />After going through so much with Rhett, I know what it's like to feel overwhelmed by having a sick child in the NICU, However every day I also have the reward of seeing the results of showing a child unconditional love. Every day I wake up to hugs and kisses and little raspy deep voice that tells me he needs toast and chocolate milk, My little Rhett is loved, he is thriving, He is happy, I hold him each night when he goes to bed. I just want this baby to have the life that he so much deserves,<br /><br />If I were in the position to have a child, I would adopt him in a heart beat., I would put my life on hold and fly our there to be with baby Doe. Not only Baby Doe, but ANY child with Down syndrome, I don't know what's to come these next few days, however I do know that i will be following closely what is going to happen to this little Baby Doe. We have made the first step happen by having the DNR order lifted,. Now we need to find a family who will stay in Arkansas to be with this baby, I will be fighting till the end for this little child's rights, I can guarantee you that.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8124825897044500422.post-28524643031981677182010-11-18T20:35:00.000-08:002010-11-18T21:29:38.572-08:00I've GOT to get better at this!!!Once again, it's been WAAAAYY too long since I have written a blog post. Life has just been twisting and turning so much, I can't seem to keep up with it. Plus our laptop was like going at super prehistoric mode, and it drove me nuts to even think about getting on to post.<br /><br />Hunter played tackle football this year. He did amazing. He played Defensive End, improving each and every week as he played. Plus he looked SOOOO grown up in his uniform!!!<br /><br />His whole team.....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nQFIiBNOIsR7jLAUBuNF8ND5kSxPM-q5r8vsSfIJCrREpvoh4UTGNpTRRruOJJX1H9FpYqm053W4pOMveb21EhunTiPNZKhjRakcNODYp0DmJVFQwf2er9WeF5ZDWaCcC37zHbGGCVUN/s1600/66521_1588098896112_1044994061_1669748_4354428_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 316px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541124701306588866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nQFIiBNOIsR7jLAUBuNF8ND5kSxPM-q5r8vsSfIJCrREpvoh4UTGNpTRRruOJJX1H9FpYqm053W4pOMveb21EhunTiPNZKhjRakcNODYp0DmJVFQwf2er9WeF5ZDWaCcC37zHbGGCVUN/s400/66521_1588098896112_1044994061_1669748_4354428_n.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Rock on....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBphOMwBgfnuSzzGWF2aZjcWbegq5VcSQy5ksjWAhEP3wr85knS61B29nq_fRv72hM-hpTputKKS02FIQlcPRQS1H5ZPScTBVH6J09a8WBbHzx8j8S-VQaszMP8lcZPmPihN4J2qawjTGa/s1600/hunterfootball.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 298px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541124694716494562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBphOMwBgfnuSzzGWF2aZjcWbegq5VcSQy5ksjWAhEP3wr85knS61B29nq_fRv72hM-hpTputKKS02FIQlcPRQS1H5ZPScTBVH6J09a8WBbHzx8j8S-VQaszMP8lcZPmPihN4J2qawjTGa/s400/hunterfootball.jpg" /></a><br /><br />He will be going to Football Camp in the summer, and is working on his running for next year.<br /><br />We made it through Halloween, and we all had a blast.<br /><br />Rhett was a Hamburger...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_udMz1OaGZlZTfyjVLU9f0_WhHQWrPAJsxMIo0trjT0SsL_gTxnWSK2ONEtrMZGVe3u370MRQpX8seiaMv83MlWWf30U6up5POiNW3OpMCTVnYIDVnjWJGcrr5OvE63w0GUSBRNoud88b/s1600/rhett+Hamburger.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 222px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541119653213508370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_udMz1OaGZlZTfyjVLU9f0_WhHQWrPAJsxMIo0trjT0SsL_gTxnWSK2ONEtrMZGVe3u370MRQpX8seiaMv83MlWWf30U6up5POiNW3OpMCTVnYIDVnjWJGcrr5OvE63w0GUSBRNoud88b/s400/rhett+Hamburger.jpg" /></a><br /><br />It's funny, we have fought so hard to get him to eat, and all the sudden he took to hamburgers like crazy. So it was kind of fitting for this stage in his life. He really got into the Trick or Treating, and ran his little heart out going from house to house. He would yell at people not to scare him, then tell him he'd give them "gestion" (indigestion)<br /><br />Last weekend was my birthday. It was seriously the BEST birthday ever. Andy took me out to dinner and then surpised me at the bowling alley for a birthday party with all my friends. After that, my sister went home to watch my kids, and Andy and I went to the bar, where we all had a blast. Then Saturday we drove to Wendover and met up with Andy's sister and her sweet guy. Sunday we came home, and celebrated with the kids. It was an awesome weekend.<br /><br />Andy and I are working super hard on our marriage. This time last year I thought we wouldn't make it, and today we are stronger than ever. I fel like marriage is always something you work at, sometimes it's harder than others, but if you keep working a little bit day by day you are sure to exceed. Our 13th anniversary is coming up, I hope to make it another 13 years!!<br /><br />This guy is the best husband EVER!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGzKBkoSE-usjrNz0McUELBLj8hRrC0Xn8kZ1WefW_tqgQrZnimgmiyWR81PvZwTAgCP1lhkraAmniFeaW04SrecE0Ntjm9QGQXlXC4cprJASjFHsVH3uvoushkz33keI7r-HGfn3E47W/s1600/pamandandy.jpeg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 367px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541125289578531666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGzKBkoSE-usjrNz0McUELBLj8hRrC0Xn8kZ1WefW_tqgQrZnimgmiyWR81PvZwTAgCP1lhkraAmniFeaW04SrecE0Ntjm9QGQXlXC4cprJASjFHsVH3uvoushkz33keI7r-HGfn3E47W/s400/pamandandy.jpeg" /></a><br /><br />I also dyed my hair. I'm no longer blonde. EEK!! I've never been dark, and I actually love the color that I am now. It's kind of a mahogany color.<br /><br />My Top Gun sunglasses. Hehehe.....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEREHof1pj4RPG9erBWduFSIKXShpHxqxk0m0Ucx4na4X0uG5foTBwYQzTtf0EsC7cX3ZTHtkJGfwk0uaJPzZWyDw-GcHxQ2lxEtO94ETuaFf1nOMgMaLPW6XgA-HAKyfi2pWFL1yARMYa/s1600/74185_1624976138020_1044994061_1744472_8299223_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 274px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541127360205552546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEREHof1pj4RPG9erBWduFSIKXShpHxqxk0m0Ucx4na4X0uG5foTBwYQzTtf0EsC7cX3ZTHtkJGfwk0uaJPzZWyDw-GcHxQ2lxEtO94ETuaFf1nOMgMaLPW6XgA-HAKyfi2pWFL1yARMYa/s400/74185_1624976138020_1044994061_1744472_8299223_n.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I am hoping to get my camera out and take pictures in the next couple of days. Rhett has gotten so big. It's time for pictures for sure!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8124825897044500422.post-10573852539992013872010-08-20T20:09:00.000-07:002010-08-20T21:57:10.732-07:00New Meds = New Kid!!!!!Any of you that have followed our blog for a while, know that we have struggled with Dakota.<br /><br /><br /><br />Struggled with finding a happy medium for him, as well as for the family. We have tried so hard to get him into the right doctors and therapists, that are willing to help him find himself, as well as help me as a parent deal with his types of disabilities.<br /><br /><br /><br />It's been a long hard road. He just turned 15, and we have NEVER found a perfect medication for him.<br /><br /><br /><br />We've learned that stimulants do NOT work for him. He becomes extremely violent and anxious. We've learned that Lamictal causes him to have seizures. We've tried taking him off of medication completely. At which time he was nearly hospitalized. He has been on Risperdal for a VERY long time.<br /><br /><br /><br />Like since he was 8.<br /><br /><br /><br />He was on massive amounts of Risperdal. Our new therapist was so not happy with what he was on.<br /><br /><br /><br />This therapist has listened. Really Listened to what we had to say. He has been interested in what every member of the family was experiencing in regards to Dakota's behaviors. I have explained to him how emotionally draining it is to me, knowing that I can't flip a switch and just make Dakota's life easier.<br /><br /><br /><br />Because if I could, I would do it in a heart beat.<br /><br /><br /><br />I've explained how heartbreaking it is to watch Dakota not be able to function with his brothers and sister. To not be able to take him to a big event, like a family reunion and just have a good time. Not getting over stimulated and ending up in a huge meltdown.<br /><br /><br /><br />After our last session, when I explained the last few weeks, and the paranoia that he was having. The violent outbursts, the thinking that an event that happened over a year ago was happening right now, his therapist decided that the Risperdal was no longer working. (Not that it ever worked anyways.)<br /><br /><br /><br />So we changed him to Trileptal. It's working. Like TOTALLY working. I have never seen this kid so stinking happy. He is functioning in a typical world. He is interacting with Rhett. Wanting to play with him, taking him on walks, playing games with him, loving him.<br /><br /><br /><br />It's awesome.<br /><br /><br /><br />I know it may not last forever. But thankfully he is mostly over his huge growth spurts. I mean the kid is 6ft tall. He can't possibly grow anymore, right?<br /><br />For now, I am going to take and savor each day that is good. I don't know how long the good days will be here. Just like with Rhett, I don't know how long the healthy days will last. But I do know that these kids mean the world to me.<br /><br />And I wouldn't trade them for anything.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8124825897044500422.post-66762995951739994482010-08-16T22:08:00.000-07:002010-08-16T22:33:57.170-07:00The Heart of the Matter......Rhett had a cardiology appointment today.<br /><br />It left me feeling anxious, confused, and a little angry.<br /><br />His tricuspid valve is shot. His pulmonary pressures are raised again, and in the words of his cardiologist......"If he were to come down with pneumonia or an upper respiratory infection, he will have a major set back."<br /><br />Well, pneumonia and Rhett are like best friends. He gets anything and it turns into pneumonia.<br /><br />So I asked him what we do. As far as his pressures go. We're screwed. We can't up his meds because when they do he has major episodes of bradycardia. (Slow Heart Rate) And when I say slow, I mean slow. Like he totally sits at 45 bpm. For a typical child his age they would call a code at 55 bpm.<br /><br />There is the chance of trying a different med, but right now, he wants to keep him where he's at and be a little more aggressive with the good ol O2.<br /><br />Now the valve......that's tricky. They want to wait till he shows a few more symptoms. Like right now, he seems to have enough energy sitting around at home. When he starts school, it might change. His cardio didn't even discuss when to come in next. We were just told that he would probably see us in the fall or winter.<br /><br />Basically what he says, is until he goes in to heart failure then we just wait. EVEN THOUGH the valve is beyond the whole severe leakage point. Over the last 4 years, I have watched it go down hill with every echo. First it was mild. Then we went to moderate. Then it was severe. Now it's shot.<br /><br />I'm so not comfortable with this.<br /><br />So for now we just sit and wait and see what Rhett's body decides to do.<br /><br />We have had a really good summer. We've done a lot of fun stuff, but I'm ready for the kids to go back.<br /><br />Dakota will be a sophomore this year, and we are going the self contained classroom route. He's not thrilled, but being mainstream in grade school vs high school is two totally different things. I'm hoping for the best, but preparing for a struggle.<br /><br />Hunter will be going to Jr High. He'll be in 7th grade. He's super excited, and honestly I'm not worried about him. He makes friends like crazy, and is an easy kid to get along with. He's helped with Rhett alot this summer, and he is currently starting his first year of Tackle Football. He is loving it, and has been practicing hard for the last month. His first game is at the end of this month.<br /><br />There will totally be pictures.<br /><br />Chloee is going into the 3rd grade, though she acts like she's going to high school. She's way too smart for her own good. She is reading on a 8th grade level, and working hard. Her favorite books right now are Little House on the Prairie. We were in Target the other day looking for school clothes, and she found a shirt with a baby chick on it wearing glasses, that said "Nerdy Chicks Rule." She fell in love and we had to get it. She's not a nerd, but we just love her to pieces.<br /><br />Rhett is still going to pre school. I am looking forward to that whole 4 hr break thing. He didn't get any summer school this year and he's been a handful. Adorable, but a handful.<br /><br />Andy is starting school at UVU on the 25th. He is excited, and is going to be a teacher.<br /><br />I'm currently working part time from home, and loving it. Although when school starts I will be looking for part time outside of the home. Momma needs a break!!! I had planned on going back to Hollywood Video, but they have since closed all of their stores and gone out of business.<br /><br />I hope all of our little friends are all doing well. If you have a minute, and could visit sweet <a href="http://ashleyadamsjournal.blogspot.com/">Ashley Kate</a>, she needs our prayers. She is a beautiful little girl that has been fighting rejection and recently had to explant her intestines. She is the example of strength if I have ever seen one!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8124825897044500422.post-22063292719445757162010-06-27T22:18:00.001-07:002010-06-27T22:43:54.913-07:00I Think I Raised a Rabbit.......Rhett's never been real interested in foods. I mean, he loved <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">pedia</span> sure for the longest time.<br /><br />Now he takes <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Elecare</span> through his G-tube and it's kinda smells like sweaty socks. I know. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ewwww</span>!!!<br /><br />He is so cute though. Lately his thing is salads, He LOVES lettuce. He will eat any food of the rabbit variety.<br /><br />Add a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">lil</span> dippy sauce, (ranch), and some cheese and crumble up some crackers and he is in pure bliss. He doesn't like meat, and he'll eat bread...and he LOVES <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">spaghetti</span>, but that's pretty much his diet. Gotta love walking into a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">restaurant</span> and he squeals with delight when they bring out a salad.<br /><br />He's not so in to junk foods. I he likes a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Popsicle</span> every now and again, but for the most part all those foods that should help him GAIN weight, he wants nothing to do with. But it's <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">ok</span>. Momma has tricks up her sleeve to help him gain those pounds that he needs.<br /><br />He's still so little. I'm <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">lovin</span> it. I love those little cuddly days and I love that he still fits in my lap!!<br /><br />I see so many days where he is so grown up and doing big kid things, but yet he still has that cuddly little baby part of him. I contribute it to the fact that so much of his little life has been in the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">hospital</span> and it's what we lived with. The cuddling is all he's known. It makes me so very happy to snuggle.<br /><br />I often wonder why I was picked to be the mom to such an amazing little boy. His strength is 10x that of which I have ever known. I am so lucky.<br /><br />Today we drove up the canyon and it was so fun to watch him shake hands and talk to everyone that walked by him. He touches so many people.<br /><br />If half of the people in the world knew his love there would be a lot less hatred in the world. Many can be so down right mean and nasty. They hide behind the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Internet</span> and attempt to make others miserable because the don't love themselves and their lives. It's sad.<br /><br />As for me...I'm just going to sit back, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">relax</span>, and enjoy my kids this summer. Gimped up or not......we have plans!!! I am so lucky to make memories with my family!!<br /><br />And if Rhett grows really long ears and buck teeth.....we all know why!!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8124825897044500422.post-42078876008984685782010-06-26T01:42:00.001-07:002010-06-26T02:52:10.723-07:00Up and Down and All AroundIt's nearly 3 am and I sit here thinking of the last 4 1/2 years. Contemplating how my life has changed. I have always hid behind a strong front, and I'm sick of being strong. I'm sick of putting on the brave face and putting on my big girl panties to face the day. I just want to lay down and let the world over run me right now.<br /><br />I know. I'm depressed.<br /><br />I hate living with my mom. I really do.<br /><br />No. Like seriously can't stand it.<br /><br />Like the whole....<em>I.want.to.pull.my.hair.out.and.scream</em>....type of hate.<br /><br />I know I really don't have a choice in the matter right now. I mean I AM working at it. I have goals and a plan set in motion....but it's not coming soon enough. Lord knows I am not a patient woman when it comes to what I want.<br /><br />If I want something....I want it <em><strong>now.</strong></em><br /><strong><em></em></strong><br />I feel like I have lost all control of my life. I have zero privacy. I have to tell my mom where I am coming and going at all times. She pries into my mail, she screams at my kids, and she complains about everything.<br /><br />You know, kinda like I'm doing right now.........<br /><br />I usually have my softball to work frustrations out on. However I'm done for the season now.<br /><br />Seriously.<br /><br />Memo to me: Old people can't dive into 3rd base like they used to.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27TIQpn7CiFkJPGso06gLzmUjHjCWAjcEbOBHFkxT2s38wawEMzhxu2W4gQNd3Go75rsQPdkMihgRqy9GmEReHj7tBlMVZ4nLMn5LSjv_4MqEf59gqEYHprTRstYLNPeM4lhpfID81lQz/s1600/knees.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487017030056005058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27TIQpn7CiFkJPGso06gLzmUjHjCWAjcEbOBHFkxT2s38wawEMzhxu2W4gQNd3Go75rsQPdkMihgRqy9GmEReHj7tBlMVZ4nLMn5LSjv_4MqEf59gqEYHprTRstYLNPeM4lhpfID81lQz/s400/knees.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><strong><em>Heh.</em></strong><br /><br />Screwed up my knee. Tore my meniscus, and who knows what else. I need to have an MRI done and all that fun stuff.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hNlLa5n1zCQ2vWStEvz8Q5Ipfp5XlN0h-T6DyGU3R7wQkl_xGzYDIYVp1pktjVMWN_TsZUloX8lA6PF7oT6fLyyQYEvScFEOd27ztA59beKGqTaD-LfqfErGIK4sRBdzMzhhanyPMvrU/s1600/knees2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487017036951680418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hNlLa5n1zCQ2vWStEvz8Q5Ipfp5XlN0h-T6DyGU3R7wQkl_xGzYDIYVp1pktjVMWN_TsZUloX8lA6PF7oT6fLyyQYEvScFEOd27ztA59beKGqTaD-LfqfErGIK4sRBdzMzhhanyPMvrU/s400/knees2.jpg" /></a><br />So I'm pretty much laid up at the moment.<br /><br />Gotsta love getting older.<br /><br />The kids are all doing well though. Including Trouble Maker Magoo.<br /><br />Rhett didn't qualify for summer school this year. It's kinda sad. He loves school so much. This also means that he's not getting any type of therapy. Kinda makes me wonder if he really needs it though. He is still walking like a drunk, but that's always been him. Alot of that has to do with his tethered cord, and the damage that it caused before we caught it and it was repaired.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqlae2nPZ012heFUPu9Pgk5CtQw_kq8EEPERLKgjjT73C-VdOA29zVmCM29A021wtLYgL2cyNGie-zSa1cDswf5twqGuWfOZxOR39QC2UO_lgzFLduweq8DgxnMfJgG2lYjNjt-8c5jEI2/s1600/swimming.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487014452750074370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqlae2nPZ012heFUPu9Pgk5CtQw_kq8EEPERLKgjjT73C-VdOA29zVmCM29A021wtLYgL2cyNGie-zSa1cDswf5twqGuWfOZxOR39QC2UO_lgzFLduweq8DgxnMfJgG2lYjNjt-8c5jEI2/s400/swimming.jpg" /></a><br /><br />So will PT really help that?? I dunno.<br /><br />As far as speech goes, he doesn't really qualify for it. The kid talks like a teenage girl on steroids. he yaks our heads off all day long.<br /><br />In complete sentences......and randomly blurts out MOO COW!!! I think he has a tick with that one. Heeeheeeheee.<br /><br />Fine motor, I know we could use help in though. He can properly use scissors....which is really scary I might add......and can draw shapes. But his hand eye coordination isn't all that grand. Of course we don't have insurance so we can't go private.<br /><br />What can ya do.<br /><br />We are starting a series of Dr. appointments while he is out on summer vacation, so I'm pretty sure we'll have some upcoming surgeries. He needs to have tubes put back in. They fell out and he's had ear infection after ear infection.<br /><br />We see ENT on Tuesday.<br /><br />Then in July we go to the Down syndrome clinic, and we are going to discuss potty training. Which he is struggling with. Not that he can't tell us when he needs to go, he is mentally ready but he can't control his bladder. He coughs, sneezes, or laughs and he pees. Might end up seeing a urinologist on that one. It could be a number of things, from as simple as just low muscle tone, to his bladder being damaged from his tethered cord.<br /><br />In August we see the cardiologist. This is the appointment that keeps me up at nights. I really don't like cardiology appointments. They turn me gray. I know one day they are going to say, yep. Time to replace that valve. I just don't even want to think of it. I hate surgery.<br /><br />Rhett's favorite book right now is NO DAVID. And of course his favorite page is the one where David runs down the street naked. He just giggles and laughs and falls over when he reads it. It's a pretty simple book, but to give Rhett credit, he has the whole book memorized.<br /><br />Dakota is going to be in a self contained classroom in High School this upcoming year. It's something I have kind of been pushing for. Full inclusion in grade school VS full inclusion in high school is a totally different story. I know he's upset with us for doing it, but he has struggled SO MUCH in Jr. High, and I feel like he will do so much better in this type of a setting.<br /><br />He is getting so big. He's 6ft tall, and 180 lbs. His voice is deep now, and he has facial hair. I'm not sure when all of this happened, but I'm pretty sure it was overnight.<br /><br />Hunter and Chloee are doing well. Hunter is such a big helper. Him and Rhett still have that special bond that is unlike anything I have ever seen before. He is enjoying scouts, and hanging out with his friends this summer. I have kinda let him have run of the town on his bike, and he seems to enjoy that.<br /><br />Chloee......hmmmm I might have created a monster. She can be a brat. But she is such a good kid. She blew out of second grade like a hurricane. Her reading and reading comprehension skills were crazy. She is functioning on a 5th grade level. She is 8 yrs old and reading things like Little House on the Prairie and Fablehaven. Every Time I go in to check on her when she disappears for a while she has her nose in a book. It's so cute.<br /><br />She's gotten to be our "informant". I am working really hard on teaching her the difference between something important to come and tell me....(like the boys bloodying each other's noses) and things that don't need to be worried about.......(MOMMMMMMM!!! Dakota farted on hunter!!) Yeah. We have alot to work on.<br /><br />But she always does what she's told, and she very seldom complains about anything......unless it's her brothers.<br /><br />Hmmmm normal girl.<br /><br />We've had a pretty good summer so far.<br /><br />I took the kids hiking........<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQy1X_dqv2uqdMoQG7UbGzheXYE_Cjc7r0dJOnLTBRVm7-VS1J3R_WRE-Q7Cx5UOdixeAKTEEo9wp9wgMjDq4zcSIaCovXWLAYptyQppFb-P-0-orWUme-2Sy0yE2Gepmgu1Z4yKuc6bAi/s1600/thegrotto.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487014445564375490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQy1X_dqv2uqdMoQG7UbGzheXYE_Cjc7r0dJOnLTBRVm7-VS1J3R_WRE-Q7Cx5UOdixeAKTEEo9wp9wgMjDq4zcSIaCovXWLAYptyQppFb-P-0-orWUme-2Sy0yE2Gepmgu1Z4yKuc6bAi/s400/thegrotto.jpg" /></a><br /><br />To the lake......<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXiTYTRTW-SWEsqdz2zkXPsS4wxBLgYNGmTlDm0Qy3KUzQp02MO2Aq_eFdIUjUX7d8X3LRuS5m1APq6fHWr51tTVA2_wnRc-oOEEnF-edUaUmjcneq0qnE3Rl8dswN782j0rqg1PzoJqaA/s1600/rhetthunteratlake.jpeg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487014444322677218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXiTYTRTW-SWEsqdz2zkXPsS4wxBLgYNGmTlDm0Qy3KUzQp02MO2Aq_eFdIUjUX7d8X3LRuS5m1APq6fHWr51tTVA2_wnRc-oOEEnF-edUaUmjcneq0qnE3Rl8dswN782j0rqg1PzoJqaA/s400/rhetthunteratlake.jpeg" /></a><br /><br />We've played in the pool at the house.....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvuofj4fYMRs_2-cQsiASi2D2YBy145YKSuFXRuJhx_nCOFb6ej0p8pcjUn-5Cd7UeH8agiGttWQLNvhKQ-SdqqrVgsn9Pdiqj3xlO6u4UrVvrvjZHJBWTEc78cltHzQyH120VbHfd6p-/s1600/swimming.jepg.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 297px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487014437715513298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvuofj4fYMRs_2-cQsiASi2D2YBy145YKSuFXRuJhx_nCOFb6ej0p8pcjUn-5Cd7UeH8agiGttWQLNvhKQ-SdqqrVgsn9Pdiqj3xlO6u4UrVvrvjZHJBWTEc78cltHzQyH120VbHfd6p-/s400/swimming.jepg.bmp" /></a><br /><br />And we even went camping......<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWko4ZSvTcLibrDu6duxYPEYzOf2EnB9UWUOaOgRcfc4YwfkhwwXriwJcjtLF8akyHCKzDszUrKW9w3gFwzo-Y_HlDvyFq993X-DJBV9s2-lb61Z4PKhC6mALPxx6dXFl_1ZbDaWemvPYN/s1600/camping.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487014428687416066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWko4ZSvTcLibrDu6duxYPEYzOf2EnB9UWUOaOgRcfc4YwfkhwwXriwJcjtLF8akyHCKzDszUrKW9w3gFwzo-Y_HlDvyFq993X-DJBV9s2-lb61Z4PKhC6mALPxx6dXFl_1ZbDaWemvPYN/s400/camping.jpg" /></a><br /><br />To which I might add, that it totally rained that night and **MOM** was the only one that got completely soaked in the tent.<br /><br />Ahhhh good times good times.<br /><br />Hope to make lots more summer memories......if only this damned knee will heal.....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0c9RZf5Fql9zu6cKEqrYSAfmESGZty6hkIhSkMIAt1YfYqlPz8a2tkPzL7L4NI-T9fnQYhOn3truMoP4aLvHOnVx_AykqtLs_oWyojB4IMaaMa1G1tTSNeJja3uLfhLnAEjzMJ6xwU3OA/s1600/Knee.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487017042882497602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0c9RZf5Fql9zu6cKEqrYSAfmESGZty6hkIhSkMIAt1YfYqlPz8a2tkPzL7L4NI-T9fnQYhOn3truMoP4aLvHOnVx_AykqtLs_oWyojB4IMaaMa1G1tTSNeJja3uLfhLnAEjzMJ6xwU3OA/s400/Knee.jpg" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8124825897044500422.post-64946935726452268762010-03-18T12:18:00.000-07:002010-03-18T12:52:51.373-07:00I keep saying i'm going to be a better blogger.....Sometimes life doesn't always go as planned. I think I have more than learned that lesson......and then some. I have ended up moving in with my mom. My credit sucks and it seems that everyone does credit checks before renting these days. It's been interesting......shoving 8 people into a little tiny 3 bedroom house. My bedroom ended up being in the dining room. I have zero privacy. Rhett has no bed except a little foam couch that folds out on the floor. So he generally sleeps with me. <br /><br />Rhett has been sick again. He has RSV and human metapneumo virus. Which is what he had last month as well. While at the er last night I was able to talk them in to sending us home with the deep suctioning tubing. As long as he stays suctioned his sats stay up enough to stay home. We head back to the Dr tomorrow for a check up to make sure he is still doing well enough to be home. I am so very thankful that God has given me the strength to take care of him at home so that he is not in the hospital where he can catch something else on top of this. Which with his pulmonary hypertension and his chronic lung disease could be tragic for him.<br /><br />We finally settled with the hospital from when he was overdosed. It's been a long hard road. We didn't get near as much as what we planned. However in the end all that matters is that my child is still here. He is walking and talking and makes me smile every day. He is my little hero wrapped up in one little short 32 lb package.<br /><br />The other kids are all doing well. They finally have a big yard to play in and fields and swamp to explore in. It's fun to see them doing the same things that I did as a kid in the same place I grew up. I am waiting for the day that they come in and tell me they found a dead muskrat to poke with a stick. Or the day that they go put pennies on the train tracks. I am excited for summer.<br /><br />I hope all of my bloggy friends are doing well!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8124825897044500422.post-28059249860098078082010-02-14T18:16:00.000-08:002010-02-14T18:42:27.707-08:00Tap...Tap....Tap.....Does This Thing Work????Wow. I have been a no good horrible very bad blogger!!!! <br /><br />Things have been really super duper stressfull on my end of the world. Somedays I wonder if I am strong enough to go on, only to find that I pick myself up and somehow make it through the day, or hour or even minute for that matter. <br /><br />My computer blew up with a virus thus I was left without any way to get online other than my phone. However I just treated myself to a new laptop as I will be beginging school shortly and needed one. <br /><br />Rhett has done really well this winter up until recently. He was admitted the week of Christmas briefly due to Rotovirus. Then about 3 weeks he started in with a cold. It settled in his sinuses. They put him on an antibiotic and the same cold cycled through the whole family, and then he re-caught it. However this time it ended up with a really tight cough, wheezing, and super low oxygen saturation levels. <br /><br />On Friday we reached the maximum oxygen for our concentrator at home and he was still only in the 80's, so we brought him to the ER here at Primary's, where we have been ever since. <br /><br />He was admitted that night and I am glad he was. He has been between 3 and 4 liters pretty much the whole time we have been here. He was diagnosed with Human Metapneumovirus. Which is basically the sister virus to RSV....however with this virus it is actually worse. With RSV they know it peaks around day 5. But this virus varies greatly with each child. And children with lung damage or Pulmonary Hypertension such as Rhett tend to struggle with it. And struggle he has. <br /><br />He is miserable. He has the whole pale look with the black eyes. Yet with all of his steriods and albuterol he is bouncing off the walls at times. He has slowed down on his eating and drinking, but since he has the g-tube we have avoided the whole IV mess. Which is a good thing since he is such a hard poke!!! <br /><br />As always, Rhett is winning the hearts of everyone around here. Everyone knows him and has to say hi. Even if it's from afar since he has cooties. We are in the surgical unit of all things. They don't want him catching something else on top of this virus as it will push him over the edge. This is something we really don't want. His lungs just won't tolerate it. <br /><br />Everyone is being super careful and we want out as soon as possible. <br /><br />The other little birds are doing well. They are hanging out with my sister and having a grand time. Chloee and Hunter are loving school. Dakota is struggling. He was actually suspended 2 weeks ago, and they are talking to moving him from his all inclusive school to a school for children with disabilites. I'm not sure how I feel about this, other than I do know that if he goes to the regular high school next year, they will freaking eat him alive. He is in the 9th grade right now and he just can't handle it. <br /><br />I am trying to stay as sane as possible and not go gray. I guess they make hair color for that problem though. Hehehe!! <br /><br />I hope all of our bloggy friends are doing well. I look forward to catching up with all of you!! <br /><br />Loves and Hugs!!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8124825897044500422.post-71432601070404261282009-11-27T20:28:00.000-08:002009-11-27T21:37:21.027-08:00Long Overdue Update..........Wow i seriously think I may have broken a Pam's World Record for time periods between blog posts. <br /><br />Sorry about that. My bad. <br /><br />See things have been going in a downhill spiral and yeah. I'm not picking myself up anytime soon. <br /><br />Hmmmmm where to begin. <br /><br />Let's start with my gallbladder. I have been having issues with it for a while now. They did some testing and during the testing found a mass on my liver. The first initial ultrasound though showed nothing abnormal, but I was still having issues so they did a different test that showed how well my gallbladder was actually functioning. <br /><br />And the results were........It wasn't. <br /><br />So at this point, they had already decided that the mass needed to be removed and they were going in, so why not take the gallbladder as well. <br /><br />Things happened pretty quickly from the day I went and met with the surgeon to surgery day. It wasn't even 24 hrs. Of course they were worried that the mass was malignant, aka as the "C" word. <br /><br />So on Tuesday the 10th, I gowned up and went under the knife. Hehehe. It was all done laparoscopically, so it's not like they sliced me open, just made a bunch of tiny stab marks all over my belly. <br /><br />Cause it's funner that way don'tchya know. <br /><br />A couple of hours later, and a few drinks on my part....of apple juice that is. I got up ran.........okay slowly hobbled........around the nurses station and got my walking papers. <br /><br />Recovery has been another story. <br /><br />Ick. <br /><br />I ended up with an infection, thrush, and some serious pain. <br /><br />We did get results that the small mass was just benign, but either way I am glad that pesky little thing is out of my body. Along with my gallbladder. <br /><br />Granted my diet still doesn't consist of many solid foods. I have a really hard time tolerating them. But I can tolerate Applesauce and Jello and Eggs. Other than that it's Icee's all the way baby. <br /><br />To top it all off, Andy and I have been separated, although he did move back in for this surgery to help take care of the kids. There is no way I could have done it on my own, especially with the complications that I had. <br /><br />Rhett has been doing well. He is loving school. He is loving riding on the bus, and I am loving that his teacher is a germ freak.......<br /><br />He talks to no end. His speech therapists love it, and so do all of his aides. Their comments when we did his IEP was that they had never met anyone quite like Rhett as far as his speech skills go. Which is a good thing. <br /><br />He is doing well in his other areas, of course he has certain ones that he is lacking in, like his gross motor, but he is doing really well. I am so proud of him. This year he has shown us that his lungs are starting to recover from his incident back in 2007.<br /><br />He is not really into the whole potty training thing yet. We almost had him there a few months back and it went kaput. <br /><br />Chloee has just lost another tooth and looks so cute with her toothless grin. She is loving school and her teacher has had to find books from upper grade levels for her take home reading to keep her challenged. <br /><br />Hunter is doing well all things considered. He has really struggled with our separation more than anyone. Him and Andy have always been very close, and they still are, it's just affected him more so than the other kids. <br /><br />Andy has been great at stepping up and taking care of them. I am very proud of him. <br /><br />Dakota is doing really well in school. I think letting him go to this school in another town was one of the very best decisions I could have ever made. <br /><br />I have pictures to post. Just don't have the time to upload them right now. <br /><br />I hope all of my bloggy friends are doing well, and that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8124825897044500422.post-28418106530549579282009-10-07T22:00:00.001-07:002009-10-07T22:02:37.377-07:00Happy Birthday Rhett!!!!Today my little boy turned 4. <br /><br />I can't believe it. 4 years ago he was this little tiny 4lb package wrapped up in tubes and wires, and looked like a chicken. Now he still looks like a chicken, minus the wires.....<br /><br />Oh how happy this little boy has made me. What an amazing child he is and he truly has so much to offer. <br /><br />Thank you Rhett. Thank you for making me the person I am today, and thank you for choosing for me to be your mommy. I Love You Forever.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8124825897044500422.post-22585874188387656212009-10-02T21:27:00.000-07:002009-10-02T21:39:25.050-07:00I CAN!!!Don't look at me and think of the things I can't do, because for every 1 thing that I'm not doing yet, there are 10 other things that I have already mastered. <br /><br />I can eat a slice of pizza all on my own. <br /><br />I can roll down a grassy hill just like my peers. <br /><br />I can tell you I love you not only with my words but with my eyes as well. <br /><br />I can play trucks and cars and line them up in the living room only to crash them. <br /><br />I can put in a DVD all on my own...even when mommy tells me not to. <br /><br />I can climb to the tippy top of the biggest slide and go down it with a huge smile on my face. <br /><br />I can climb the steps of the bus all by myself each morning and wave goodbye to mommy as I head off into the world. <br /><br />I can tell you that my favorite food is Spaghetti if you ask me. <br /><br />I can tell when someone is hurting, and I do whatever I can to make that person better. <br /><br />But most of all I can smile, and it's my smile that makes the whole world know how amazing I really am. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlAgahWcDquHo2D0ezmESmpdMKTM2jc1wmHGLG2CVE6ssFzpDy8ccvcDdkkIUxW9Rnx6ku6lI0md7XU3khbGUGAiQoQytb2BVSJgspTv9uu97rSPPgMvHSABZRK-60HA2hT33jGssTt6T/s1600-h/Rhetthorsey.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 260px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlAgahWcDquHo2D0ezmESmpdMKTM2jc1wmHGLG2CVE6ssFzpDy8ccvcDdkkIUxW9Rnx6ku6lI0md7XU3khbGUGAiQoQytb2BVSJgspTv9uu97rSPPgMvHSABZRK-60HA2hT33jGssTt6T/s400/Rhetthorsey.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388227145421062562" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8124825897044500422.post-56921126898819320742009-10-01T11:07:00.000-07:002009-10-01T11:11:37.212-07:0031 For 21....Guess what month it is?<br /><br />OCTOBER!!<br /><br />Why am I so excited about October?<br /><br />Because it's Down syndrome awareness Month!!<br /><br />Well, that, and Rhett is going to be 4 in 6 days too....wahoo!!! We're really shooting for NOT being in the hospital this year on his birthday. :D<br /><br />So I will be posting every day this month about our little guy, 31 days for Trisomy 21.<br /><br />Today I would like you to help out though. Please leave a comment telling me either one fact about Down syndrome, or one way that Rhett has changed your life.....and remember to hug someone you love with Down syndrome!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ18s2FHA97DmdMqVm9eSO9VS9r4wQnLx06O7SY5Y9bCCMnsqepG8X54CdHM_65wpb1lES9xwqoe8q90TKPFGCf_SmXFQwEUo0hMmSOzqXHRhiaqoiw3jUkNn91pjGX8ns88SZLhOs1AL2/s1600-h/Pammynrhett.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 354px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ18s2FHA97DmdMqVm9eSO9VS9r4wQnLx06O7SY5Y9bCCMnsqepG8X54CdHM_65wpb1lES9xwqoe8q90TKPFGCf_SmXFQwEUo0hMmSOzqXHRhiaqoiw3jUkNn91pjGX8ns88SZLhOs1AL2/s400/Pammynrhett.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387695762140932178" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8124825897044500422.post-73752769012747980322009-09-20T08:54:00.000-07:002009-09-20T09:26:08.912-07:00At What Point do you Wonder if the Dr's are Doing Enough For Your Child?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5_pwKgzBJmwTLwwt5f2WTGN7krXBRhkdwM794txwi0BJmu3p_rwCKF33Z3obUwNOq8jIyf9UQ7RrdVBDM-Z5XkGohYFwL_42WxKzKMFxiqTLlHHbEMqO45qL-l2QbV5xuN40Gb13u05c/s1600-h/RhettHEART.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 208px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383579607472808818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5_pwKgzBJmwTLwwt5f2WTGN7krXBRhkdwM794txwi0BJmu3p_rwCKF33Z3obUwNOq8jIyf9UQ7RrdVBDM-Z5XkGohYFwL_42WxKzKMFxiqTLlHHbEMqO45qL-l2QbV5xuN40Gb13u05c/s400/RhettHEART.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Many of you who know me, know that we have issues with the hospital in our state. Many of you know why, and for those of you that don't, I can't really talk about it.<br /><br />That being said....I am beginning to wonder if they have just given up on Rhett.<br /><br />Yes. I get it, they are afraid to touch him, and we make sure that everytime we step foot in that hospital, it is <em>crystal clear</em> that <em>anyone</em> who touches him better be on their toes and not screwing things up. Maybe that's a bad thing in certain ways. But in the same breath it's a good thing as well. I won't just stand by and think that they know what's best for him anymore. I won't put my faith in someone who has no idea what this child means to me. But when you get to a point where it seems like they are letting him fall through the cracks, it makes me angry.<br /><br />We've struggled with gaining weight over the last 9 months. Okay, I'll be honest...he's <em>loosing</em> it. Last year at this time, just before his 3rd birthday he was 37 lbs. This year he is 27 lbs....dripping wet with his clothes on.<br /><br />His general health is fine. He eats well, and he gets bolus feeds of Elecare throughout the day in his feeding tube.<br /><br />But his heart is wearing him out. His tricuspid valve is leaking pretty good and he's burning lot's of energy.<br /><br />The above picture says it all. You can tell that just over the last month there has been a rapid decrease in how he is feeling. He's tired, you can see it in his eyes, see it in his step, as well as his sleeping habits.<br /><br />I don't think it's fair that the Dr's keep wanting to put off his valve replacement until he's older. I feel like they aren't looking at the whole picture. They are just looking at the fact that the older he is the less surgeries he'll need since that valve won't grow with him.<br /><br />Don't get me wrong. I totally understand that. I agree with it to a point. But the thing is, is that I don't understand why they have to let him get so sick before doing the replacement. I don't want another surgery. I don't want to ever step foot in that ICU again, knowing that just around the corner my perfect little boy is lying in a hospital bed on life support, while the rest of the world goes on with their lives.<br /><br />However I don't enjoy just sitting here watching him waste away while his health declines, and the Dr's just sit on the sidelines going hmmmmmm.....<br /><br />I find myself lately lying in bed with him. Running my fingers across all of the scars on his battleground of a chest. He has had to fight <em>so</em> hard for everything that he has accomplished. I don't think anything has ever come easy for him.....I'm not sure if anything will come easy for him. But I know that whatever he does, I will be there to fight right along with him.<br /><br />I'll always pick him up when he falls, I'll never leave his bedside when he's sick or had a surgery. I'll always fight for him tooth and nail. I'll never stop.<br /><br />I'm not afraid to hurt anyone's feelings....if I have to take him to a different state so that he can get the care he deserves I will.<br /><br />He is my child. My life. It's why I'm here.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8124825897044500422.post-74170932554259052702009-09-03T20:56:00.000-07:002009-09-03T21:38:22.970-07:00The Post In Which I Can't Think Of A Witty Title......So I'm sure since I am like the queen of blogging....(bwhahahaha)....oh come on, I know you're laughing.....You all have missed what I have to say.<br /><br />Ahem.<br /><br />Truth be told I haven't had <em>really good</em> news to report, so I have just been keeping my mouth...(and hands for that matter)....silent.<br /><br />Ya sure I've been around on Facebook, and Twitter, but I don't know what to do with my blog. I have felt like a big fat whiney baby so therefore didn't want to keep posting oh woe is me posts. But then again I didn't want to lie to myself, that everything is all hunky dory either.<br /><br />Make sense? I hope so because it <em>sure doesn't</em> to me.<br /><br />Our biggest thing right now is that Andy and I are not working, nor can we find a job. I am working on getting my GED, and should have that in the next few weeks, (<em>Yes I am a high school drop out....let the trolls be released</em>.....) then I will be off to school for 12 months to become a medical assistant. However I need to find a part time job to work as well, since I will only be going to school for 15 hrs a week.<br /><br />Andy is currently not working. The car industry, well we held on as long as we could, what else can I say about that?<br /><br /><em>Stupid freaking economy.</em><br /><br />He is currently working on heading back to school as well. He can't go back to production or manufacturing which is what he has done his whole life, nor can he sit for 10-12 hrs at a call center due to his back. He still is going to need pins and rods, and have it fused together in the future, so we are trying to hold out as long as we can on that.<br /><br />Anywho.....long story short, he has met with the folks at Vocational Rehab and will head to UVU in January to become a teacher. Yes, I know that teachers don't get paid a bunch, but it's not about the money anymore. We don't need alot to survive. Just our measly rent, utilities, and car insurance. Plus gas and food and other items. But that's it. That's all we have. It's all we need. Keeping it simple is much better than all of the silly big extravagant things.<br /><br />Boy did we learn <em>that</em> the hard way.<br /><br />I would be content just living in our little three bedroom apartment for the rest of our lives. It's not about moving up with monetary items/material things anymore. It's about growing together and moving up individually and as a family, spiritually and mentally. It's about being together and going for little weekend drives up the canyon. Playing softball on a warm summer evening. That type of stuff.<br /><br />Things have <em>just plain sucked</em>, there are really no other words for it.<br /><br />We are waiting for next year when we can claim medical bankruptcy again. I am hoping that we can dig ourselves out of the holes we are in. The medical bills just keep coming in, and I just keep resisting the urge to shred them up for Rat bedding.<br /><br />I am bound and determined not to let the Utah headlines get me down, the ones that say that people are out numbering the amount of available jobs by <span style="font-size:130%;"><em>10 to 1</em></span> <em><span style="font-size:130%;">right now.</span></em> I know that the economy sucks, but I will find a job. Andy will find a job. We just have to, it's all there is to it. <br /><br />Preferably steady jobs, but ones that are close to home. It can't be so far away that it's not worth it because we pay so much in gas. It doesn't have to pay much. Just something to keep us afloat.<br /><br />The calender that Andy has been working on is nearly finished. We will be selling them here on the blog in the next month or so. He as well as some of his very talented friends, have done some amazing pictures of your children. Hopefully this calender will help some with our money situation.<br />You can see some of the pictures <a href="http://www.liquidlead-art.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=57"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">here</span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">,</span></strong> including the most recent one which is of Rhett himself. Our goal is to sell 5,000 calenders. Which, a portion of that money will go not only go to help with Rhett's medical bills but also towards helping some of our special friends who are in need.<br /><br />All of the children in this calender share one thing in common, an extra chromosome.<br /><br />So ya. Alot of rambling, a not to informative update, and I think I am done with this post. I have lots more to talk about, but I am so extremely tired. The kids are tucked in bed, and Andy is waiting for me on the couch to cuddle and watch a movie with him.<br /><br />I will leave you with some pictures of our latest but CHEAP family adventure.......<br /><br />Ice Blocking!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHGW4RwdwlDOMCjZc36lR8oitNajzXwAdXYkmIntgCWK5jVMKhSusVIgaSEI9tthLviuu78NSzW7fl2t7kJZjQQyUUOT_iM7pExA5GsCvxPoJ5ryPJbXsYda0OcG8sEB7wZ8YdGIl9UBv/s1600-h/Iceblocking1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 368px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377463993346943730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHGW4RwdwlDOMCjZc36lR8oitNajzXwAdXYkmIntgCWK5jVMKhSusVIgaSEI9tthLviuu78NSzW7fl2t7kJZjQQyUUOT_iM7pExA5GsCvxPoJ5ryPJbXsYda0OcG8sEB7wZ8YdGIl9UBv/s400/Iceblocking1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicP8BqF_1JhMpPL0Z_uQhY3AS9Vbe6c5T5mLh32oA0TYMofWL2nBKvUww4FOm0ejLcPVa3P8OpdD9ZwCUnRzTT9sxjO5GmSg-gB-j4GftR76jztXOiT5CBAVuMqRoOtcjJJFpOQR1ZARxh/s1600-h/Iceblocking2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377463905803216114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicP8BqF_1JhMpPL0Z_uQhY3AS9Vbe6c5T5mLh32oA0TYMofWL2nBKvUww4FOm0ejLcPVa3P8OpdD9ZwCUnRzTT9sxjO5GmSg-gB-j4GftR76jztXOiT5CBAVuMqRoOtcjJJFpOQR1ZARxh/s400/Iceblocking2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtBgWS3mdvPwTKuVozQvj-ftM6EUiY3s_6hRsUWosSNEAAo5r61EIYgB3SP-Nzv_l-dXDPo40EYMvB8xKFVueN8phRcMFPjV7srWwtr4eT4gTGxnMjVz4GMNDZxb4q8moQJN729AvtgBl/s1600-h/Iceblocking3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 296px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377463900820352466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtBgWS3mdvPwTKuVozQvj-ftM6EUiY3s_6hRsUWosSNEAAo5r61EIYgB3SP-Nzv_l-dXDPo40EYMvB8xKFVueN8phRcMFPjV7srWwtr4eT4gTGxnMjVz4GMNDZxb4q8moQJN729AvtgBl/s400/Iceblocking3.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZeKN-I9FxhpP8VDNXk-7NARCoLsjCM8kaQeYS_ek1fHMupK2DRm3Q886fXUN9qyM59vLTUsHoobH0g_jSf8loXz812myJmHc1_4a04l30HpAvtKEDtm3m04h3EQD0WTaN9Oqgn86wua9/s1600-h/Iceblocking4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 317px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377463894383793858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZeKN-I9FxhpP8VDNXk-7NARCoLsjCM8kaQeYS_ek1fHMupK2DRm3Q886fXUN9qyM59vLTUsHoobH0g_jSf8loXz812myJmHc1_4a04l30HpAvtKEDtm3m04h3EQD0WTaN9Oqgn86wua9/s400/Iceblocking4.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGFMpHIemoJcqkFL8gnLcZ3jNatpi44q5gIDDeDObpRCaRrDSAPmUZhH5T5aMDO987bYscCd89zud7XZ_2xlS0AuDfdtvqwOEDQ-7cjWVYhloxH_Zs5eicMFkG1XgQRJ2rxw2ydcLIEC0/s1600-h/Iceblocking5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 339px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377463883167723634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGFMpHIemoJcqkFL8gnLcZ3jNatpi44q5gIDDeDObpRCaRrDSAPmUZhH5T5aMDO987bYscCd89zud7XZ_2xlS0AuDfdtvqwOEDQ-7cjWVYhloxH_Zs5eicMFkG1XgQRJ2rxw2ydcLIEC0/s400/Iceblocking5.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizhjYcCzwBj4p6DkOnLap7krkA3L2uGknFMHVAokZ21yti3eI1yB1gmEvqB8s8LKlEb0UbobYVWu8re5_zCJ9L7uTYi2JKh9Y914UIpHxPtmMlvVVG-LLDBGKE4Sb7p28RrcIQknanA7I/s1600-h/Iceblocking6.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 340px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377463873987809586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizhjYcCzwBj4p6DkOnLap7krkA3L2uGknFMHVAokZ21yti3eI1yB1gmEvqB8s8LKlEb0UbobYVWu8re5_zCJ9L7uTYi2JKh9Y914UIpHxPtmMlvVVG-LLDBGKE4Sb7p28RrcIQknanA7I/s400/Iceblocking6.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_pZnDQ96H4C_JItIotS6S4LmprY_U0o2rbARhssPQRs9sEJ2Mh5H8Z1g8ZfZSJaFkYTwpm2HA75Hrpr7biDLaBefQ2DE0f5ifhIsXeOePGGa9ZEAsuLCMCUr59QQOBVCmhB5gkrikBxNh/s1600-h/Iceblocking7.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377463675151493698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_pZnDQ96H4C_JItIotS6S4LmprY_U0o2rbARhssPQRs9sEJ2Mh5H8Z1g8ZfZSJaFkYTwpm2HA75Hrpr7biDLaBefQ2DE0f5ifhIsXeOePGGa9ZEAsuLCMCUr59QQOBVCmhB5gkrikBxNh/s400/Iceblocking7.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbOXmUOIFudPe7kHNC457gW6appvmSHuVLihWtmNs29twZVGS_n0SIMZvmPS78FVcuGbKcFFaH9i9SkON9FuGxRZ7ut92IoPXVPTAOUmaLfb3Q6wh4b0r1G7kVwCjZpdFndMfX8L1rivp/s1600-h/Iceblocking8.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 372px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377463664069802274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbOXmUOIFudPe7kHNC457gW6appvmSHuVLihWtmNs29twZVGS_n0SIMZvmPS78FVcuGbKcFFaH9i9SkON9FuGxRZ7ut92IoPXVPTAOUmaLfb3Q6wh4b0r1G7kVwCjZpdFndMfX8L1rivp/s400/Iceblocking8.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78K4B6NAIRyabWwkuLhfdyLSHTLpM46xhdtBRbWIh3F6FGK09og_xmSk_03be0Wra3HQFYGy6bFEbv3Hb7AwASZHN7bcxYDMIhKqhmWIeXpeU7z7s8DROwcY2JklXiu12uSUXeFedpgXX/s1600-h/Iceblocking9.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 250px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377463660041328002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78K4B6NAIRyabWwkuLhfdyLSHTLpM46xhdtBRbWIh3F6FGK09og_xmSk_03be0Wra3HQFYGy6bFEbv3Hb7AwASZHN7bcxYDMIhKqhmWIeXpeU7z7s8DROwcY2JklXiu12uSUXeFedpgXX/s400/Iceblocking9.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeoghIeWl-aS8sgUT011qUJHaksmuZ6wLlN99GEowlkDSmHPKm07-cnxU0AYJ9dY_-7sSmiMEk8zq4mXi3fpRbaW5i-AqWcf5X9Lrs08iqvktYTgBBPXOohyzNMpBTrRte-cMXbmPb758o/s1600-h/Iceblocking10.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 330px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377463650851275426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeoghIeWl-aS8sgUT011qUJHaksmuZ6wLlN99GEowlkDSmHPKm07-cnxU0AYJ9dY_-7sSmiMEk8zq4mXi3fpRbaW5i-AqWcf5X9Lrs08iqvktYTgBBPXOohyzNMpBTrRte-cMXbmPb758o/s400/Iceblocking10.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfZcwNPqtaC55hfow14UU43PdPFTMiWMxkpX3YJmyfDfV1TcmNZUolgzktYcJwp5sy24-YS1NvraBGRh0wtBLowJmIuOOySFfu4EwFoNnZBtnyZ-3_oqvHbESauO94KjmYahiJp9f4K6F/s1600-h/Iceblocking11.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 336px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377463643077216722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfZcwNPqtaC55hfow14UU43PdPFTMiWMxkpX3YJmyfDfV1TcmNZUolgzktYcJwp5sy24-YS1NvraBGRh0wtBLowJmIuOOySFfu4EwFoNnZBtnyZ-3_oqvHbESauO94KjmYahiJp9f4K6F/s400/Iceblocking11.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVKw86hQ9aY7N2tm0wda9Dw-p5qS2unnzaoNcdfvg4l9AnNIVdjr6xEGtBvklnivI3CAeokrEkSNXcPMJnk_RCR0F4xrVT6znk0XpkYsXG9cGJVsGoQHeAGEJX4rdI10yeSQ5PfsR6eSk/s1600-h/Iceblocking12.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 381px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377463424871094850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVKw86hQ9aY7N2tm0wda9Dw-p5qS2unnzaoNcdfvg4l9AnNIVdjr6xEGtBvklnivI3CAeokrEkSNXcPMJnk_RCR0F4xrVT6znk0XpkYsXG9cGJVsGoQHeAGEJX4rdI10yeSQ5PfsR6eSk/s400/Iceblocking12.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpIASbswLGMmsOM5VNOlKcKOiDJWXtb-jSU9TkdRnPNJbpj9joi6c2t31rjR4IBvV4nWzqLiNrTq6Q1m4ga_DR74VJEkwWOj1g6B8Jod8IuFWDamsX3rESVOEUbNo_KkURNxpcuzv43xX8/s1600-h/Iceblocking13.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 341px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377463415504588146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpIASbswLGMmsOM5VNOlKcKOiDJWXtb-jSU9TkdRnPNJbpj9joi6c2t31rjR4IBvV4nWzqLiNrTq6Q1m4ga_DR74VJEkwWOj1g6B8Jod8IuFWDamsX3rESVOEUbNo_KkURNxpcuzv43xX8/s400/Iceblocking13.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkzksejjEnAwhHIz4qMRcaiD1cELGvoRcWsAN18FApkn6cbDnndDtgxY4ROZiHBS8OcgfHKjUYlApfEA8Gtu4J6kqkv3xCVdVm3PLZTnTyeaSgrAdZIwuavyUw7hs0LWh0Sr4_DL0_SpZ/s1600-h/iceblocking14.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377463408452804034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkzksejjEnAwhHIz4qMRcaiD1cELGvoRcWsAN18FApkn6cbDnndDtgxY4ROZiHBS8OcgfHKjUYlApfEA8Gtu4J6kqkv3xCVdVm3PLZTnTyeaSgrAdZIwuavyUw7hs0LWh0Sr4_DL0_SpZ/s400/iceblocking14.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2ZavJwO8WHoGTBo-uwGp4nXu3xP-whfPqqfBy3xlRtUGL0nFVq-kqTjZH1Ua8BabhFzLB_yL8h0BmYFy_0mKGq8MLAi78vUVIRW0_AcCE8j7YK7rbfF6fpp-PIsPfDTU4F_mrBje51RO/s1600-h/Iceblocking15.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 377px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377463398527536866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2ZavJwO8WHoGTBo-uwGp4nXu3xP-whfPqqfBy3xlRtUGL0nFVq-kqTjZH1Ua8BabhFzLB_yL8h0BmYFy_0mKGq8MLAi78vUVIRW0_AcCE8j7YK7rbfF6fpp-PIsPfDTU4F_mrBje51RO/s400/Iceblocking15.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nLj7GaLRWJciHM7MBts4vhM6SS6qsZlCi4iRzFQdmYWU4E2P7dq3csnlUHwpYLNeBnEk7mUihmUq3-z3u8NjsXk_QwN8tKHTjRuaUCtvsweNk1bHNUlHxctjhmVk4MR8uameO5RhjZ5P/s1600-h/Iceblocking16.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 360px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377463390717126546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nLj7GaLRWJciHM7MBts4vhM6SS6qsZlCi4iRzFQdmYWU4E2P7dq3csnlUHwpYLNeBnEk7mUihmUq3-z3u8NjsXk_QwN8tKHTjRuaUCtvsweNk1bHNUlHxctjhmVk4MR8uameO5RhjZ5P/s400/Iceblocking16.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I hope you all have a fabulous weekend. The Bird Family sends all of our love to our sick friends, and those in need.<br /><br />Night Y'all.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8124825897044500422.post-8359268631148595182009-08-20T16:03:00.000-07:002009-08-20T16:19:40.056-07:00Lowering My Expectations.....Over the last few weeks I have come to realize something.<br /><br />I need to lower my expectations. I keep thinking that all of the sudden we are going to get a huge break out of the middle of nowhere.<br /><br />Now. Mind you I don't want this so called break to be just handed to us, I know we have to work for it.<br /><br />However.<br /><br />I have expected something big to just happen to make our lives easier. After all, it was just one big thing that made our lives hard to begin with.<br /><br /><em>You know, that thing that happened back in 2007</em>.<br /><br />Our lives aren't going to magically be put back together overnight. It's just not going to happen.<br /><br />Andy lost his job again, I am still not working, and it's not for lack of trying on either of our parts.<br /><br />Andy can't do the things he used to do. He can't lift 50 lbs repeatedly, nor 20 lbs for that matter. His back is shot. So he has met with the folks at Vocational Rehab, and plans on going back to school. Since he has a disability now, his schooling will be funded 100%.<br /><br />What does he want to be?<br /><br />A teacher.<br /><br />I am so proud of him. I think he would make an amazing teacher, but no matter what he decides on, he will succeed. I have no doubt about that.<br /><br />I am also headed back to school as well. I am going back to be a medical assistant, it's only 15 hrs a week, for 10-12 months, and I hope to find a small part time job between that as well.<br /><br />We don't need much to survive.<br /><br />As I have stated before, all we have is rent, utilities, food, and gas to get back and forth to job interviews. The medical bills can wait. They have waited this long already. It's not going to hurt them to sit some more.<br /><br />So when I say I am lowering my expectations, I mean that we are going to start out small, and work ourselves into something bigger.<br /><br />Slowly.<br /><br />Between now and then, Andy and I are loving being together. We have refocused our lives around each other rather than finances, and we are doing fun things as a family again. Playing cards, family movie night, <em>the important things</em>.<br /><br />As for our next adventure tomorrow night?<br /><br />Ice Blocking.<br /><br />There will be pictures. I promise.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8124825897044500422.post-52375981808289921472009-08-14T20:14:00.000-07:002009-08-14T20:50:46.542-07:00An AwEsOmE NiGhT!!!!!This week is the Utah County fair, and last night Andy and I took the kids. <em>Oh my gosh</em> it was so much fun.<br /><br /><em>I love this picture but the wind was so bad, and my poor hair was all over...oh well at least Andy looks good.</em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7x1Lkaocz_yYdwfdPnJPCb2SiyBsrMXHrntC829j6V8wa7qFWtpVrjTbpBiKdNdRTX9q25I9f_gXlNzj5HYi5kWQyJxnoPkKwPWxiWtw47n49MrsnEgcgec0XLoVMyFoMwdBjIaKwFjAS/s1600-h/AndynPam1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 288px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370024141347881250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7x1Lkaocz_yYdwfdPnJPCb2SiyBsrMXHrntC829j6V8wa7qFWtpVrjTbpBiKdNdRTX9q25I9f_gXlNzj5HYi5kWQyJxnoPkKwPWxiWtw47n49MrsnEgcgec0XLoVMyFoMwdBjIaKwFjAS/s400/AndynPam1.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Okay, so one of our friends that plays on our coed softball team was showing her steers, and these cows were seriously like dogs they were so tame. We had so much fun messing around with them, and laughed so hard at how funny these stinking cows were.<br /><br /><em>Hey baby...wanna lick?</em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz3pm9-1gVheGmhOO644A3h2Keg-B-BFvSjXpfEZ5byYNwdnf0Y1sH3FCOtWUNjQZF8DpTe1jTQzsA58hWjHi-MEKLmNhNdM8L-lfXA6jtw97IIQ2QJ5hGVa3uT8pPjNYA0yfXzntuQzNH/s1600-h/Andycow.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 322px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370024123669544370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz3pm9-1gVheGmhOO644A3h2Keg-B-BFvSjXpfEZ5byYNwdnf0Y1sH3FCOtWUNjQZF8DpTe1jTQzsA58hWjHi-MEKLmNhNdM8L-lfXA6jtw97IIQ2QJ5hGVa3uT8pPjNYA0yfXzntuQzNH/s400/Andycow.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><em>This cow was so awesome he kept licking me, and his tongue felt so cool. In this picture though, I think he was actually eating my shorts. Hims thought they were yummy.<br /></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5AAOPDMkF0t4j22hUZBfDhtAfltmLcn5qUfL66BvZtdemQwE3PcsqbawLRGwRpyyhQ24svhJLFGcvQ86xMF8tLa8x28UsodGj-2ExwAuW40YISKEbAPt5vGM6JrYBnul-x1HsNc-9IwBA/s1600-h/Pammycow2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 391px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370024749818425298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5AAOPDMkF0t4j22hUZBfDhtAfltmLcn5qUfL66BvZtdemQwE3PcsqbawLRGwRpyyhQ24svhJLFGcvQ86xMF8tLa8x28UsodGj-2ExwAuW40YISKEbAPt5vGM6JrYBnul-x1HsNc-9IwBA/s400/Pammycow2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><em>This was when he first started licking me. Andy and I were both laughing so hard. Andy could hardly hold the camera steady.</em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowt5Zq7jpQqS6FabpDRcSvIJUJ-hdLeVhpr7Qr84LwX5gkyrjdXKrjv1Y4lAckTQ8ll0nQyExvgBCjryg5d-1pOXWVZshRGoln-urGxd4DhLHP45vL_YxfallKD18O8NK_3_DO9W9hyTy/s1600-h/Pammycow.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 338px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370024424202699842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowt5Zq7jpQqS6FabpDRcSvIJUJ-hdLeVhpr7Qr84LwX5gkyrjdXKrjv1Y4lAckTQ8ll0nQyExvgBCjryg5d-1pOXWVZshRGoln-urGxd4DhLHP45vL_YxfallKD18O8NK_3_DO9W9hyTy/s400/Pammycow.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><em>Andy's Girlfriend, well, at least <span style="font-size:130%;">SHE </span>thinks so. She says, Andy? What's up with the short one word texts? Are you trying to tell me something? Am I supposed to get the hint? <span style="font-size:130%;">ROFLMAO!!!!</span> This sheep <span style="font-size:130%;">REALLY</span> liked Andy. <span style="font-size:130%;">But alas the feelings weren't mutual</span>.<br /></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZs8mq0ZjHtkVqwhjeGuwDtmXBuoHMY8IYFyG6tRbPu0-_5iivqe63vt5618IkEM4WZMymFUBDY7xkHsDV76-Q88jhsG2Xj7eMUsNqpQJTreh2V2NJsKBKZE1JB1fSzSJZWoFTKN3Rz1z/s1600-h/andyslamb.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 335px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370025427770072802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZs8mq0ZjHtkVqwhjeGuwDtmXBuoHMY8IYFyG6tRbPu0-_5iivqe63vt5618IkEM4WZMymFUBDY7xkHsDV76-Q88jhsG2Xj7eMUsNqpQJTreh2V2NJsKBKZE1JB1fSzSJZWoFTKN3Rz1z/s400/andyslamb.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><em>Me and my bubby bear......</em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzj9Rt_WPS0soLeazLQh4HaoYD2VCX4TVYGWjqC0nFjjp-ls4HjObTz_0-qLXe3e1qQTOuKI54byZJqY3t9Orq1TjJRlVooG71Le2jl07mJZBjcW7S4ZQk5X_8vsueaOyfArzqHpDSaX0Y/s1600-h/Pammynrhett.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 354px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370024405494268642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzj9Rt_WPS0soLeazLQh4HaoYD2VCX4TVYGWjqC0nFjjp-ls4HjObTz_0-qLXe3e1qQTOuKI54byZJqY3t9Orq1TjJRlVooG71Le2jl07mJZBjcW7S4ZQk5X_8vsueaOyfArzqHpDSaX0Y/s400/Pammynrhett.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><em>He is WaY too much like his father......<br /></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6ZDaIth4xnlOBpLTlUkX-de3LVj8Le8OABmQfHZlFKPONqntNQj2x1-gg-ydbcS9GLKPGZVi41pUwOfwV9RpQ5KHTmIAyOPcxiNpVbmfFQuinvqsip5cRduta8RSsAxybPRQoSmqF2o4/s1600-h/Hunter.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 324px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370024396714682610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6ZDaIth4xnlOBpLTlUkX-de3LVj8Le8OABmQfHZlFKPONqntNQj2x1-gg-ydbcS9GLKPGZVi41pUwOfwV9RpQ5KHTmIAyOPcxiNpVbmfFQuinvqsip5cRduta8RSsAxybPRQoSmqF2o4/s400/Hunter.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><em>Daddy and Rhett playing with the cow....Daddy had to put his hand out so the cow wouldn't lick Rhett, Cow's tongues really hurt if they lick ya too long.</em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7x8godRnlGi7Qb5Ekjw5LTGgQQWu4BFmHnS1qPWly3pJB-YXw8gmlA96oGdJiJ0Jt1hhknW6l6yRfEDeXi-VmNY70Cu4dJNIOaLp4K2Gz-FuuxI3QuJMkpLsLvmOWJp2FWkOlHotus-A/s1600-h/DaddyNRhett.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 362px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370024388585894066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7x8godRnlGi7Qb5Ekjw5LTGgQQWu4BFmHnS1qPWly3pJB-YXw8gmlA96oGdJiJ0Jt1hhknW6l6yRfEDeXi-VmNY70Cu4dJNIOaLp4K2Gz-FuuxI3QuJMkpLsLvmOWJp2FWkOlHotus-A/s400/DaddyNRhett.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><em>Um, remember the picture of Hunter? Ya, like I said. Like father like son....</em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvcbrDag1XdW4DP60b10SDQRgsCOolpUJ-CqF1A_-xWw7AcRA2kjQYV0gfiqivsV5eHzMzFo3JQU8efRXcAwUbpbdPzilhQxH27Yz1bXf6ualU8-xypw2-ufImpF55ggs0z36nZFnhziD/s1600-h/Daddy.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 325px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370024159657888402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvcbrDag1XdW4DP60b10SDQRgsCOolpUJ-CqF1A_-xWw7AcRA2kjQYV0gfiqivsV5eHzMzFo3JQU8efRXcAwUbpbdPzilhQxH27Yz1bXf6ualU8-xypw2-ufImpF55ggs0z36nZFnhziD/s400/Daddy.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><em>Sorry, no witty caption for this one....It's alot easier to caption other people.....</em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_2myNLZ_y15-OeSZEHo3bK7iaHkx3-Q4DtHapXp_UcrhLZtRC3dNgJIelQOUpCSCzQMm8skXoANl9iun3FMQK0-Ctr3ILM_z2Gs38z_nm5slu-W-h7jHbz6URviTr4Pmjm1gG7_QWjy1F/s1600-h/Pammy1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370024756971256546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_2myNLZ_y15-OeSZEHo3bK7iaHkx3-Q4DtHapXp_UcrhLZtRC3dNgJIelQOUpCSCzQMm8skXoANl9iun3FMQK0-Ctr3ILM_z2Gs38z_nm5slu-W-h7jHbz6URviTr4Pmjm1gG7_QWjy1F/s400/Pammy1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><em>There has been some serious lovin goin on here the last few days. I love that we always end up on our feet and come out on top.</em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLq3kZfJSJwjrVjTaodc0rn8fERRWSEjutYZivwtWHOZjHTW-lm6FbexuXkvdvBF-u5aQbsaq9eW-h9ZYLh5nxN6arl_bT6AWKSKDaoPOzIHVYTHZPI-o9VYiiIANsD8LN43wk0mVxMbWG/s1600-h/andynpam2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 388px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370024149586643730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLq3kZfJSJwjrVjTaodc0rn8fERRWSEjutYZivwtWHOZjHTW-lm6FbexuXkvdvBF-u5aQbsaq9eW-h9ZYLh5nxN6arl_bT6AWKSKDaoPOzIHVYTHZPI-o9VYiiIANsD8LN43wk0mVxMbWG/s400/andynpam2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><em>Ya. My husband, the butt kisser......He said it was much better than other things that have tried kissing him in the past......Sorry, inside joke.......</em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6R3AndSdHcuB-6oibFrTmveA2bulFt4e7J_mv-5Oh_PWdhCSZe7VtAHbtaHl62jqSN5Ub9yhi6KA3S8y3y1MkGebCnvl8z3iIwTdPfpuA_lS6CoRTolO_UiQFO21S5b3K1Tjc6myuctU/s1600-h/Andykissinbutt.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 294px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370024132388406050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6R3AndSdHcuB-6oibFrTmveA2bulFt4e7J_mv-5Oh_PWdhCSZe7VtAHbtaHl62jqSN5Ub9yhi6KA3S8y3y1MkGebCnvl8z3iIwTdPfpuA_lS6CoRTolO_UiQFO21S5b3K1Tjc6myuctU/s400/Andykissinbutt.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><em>Andy was on the computer last night playing Mafia wars, and I was laying on the bed cuddling with Chloee and Rhett. He looked back and grinned at me, and said, "You are so beautiful." Then went and got the camera.</em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5aMDRkaCI3AiUahB689GAy_O-bNWzdP7bvu8cm46GAMZNNrg2GWi4kvBmuuXsyXVeSI5zO8FJbMY22hsa60Kq-zHuqsFb8B1cMTmbsUk_7xvwbJPrAY2ovtzViUptdNWnIgtLjLWrBhG/s1600-h/Mommynrhett.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 376px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370024771829862818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5aMDRkaCI3AiUahB689GAy_O-bNWzdP7bvu8cm46GAMZNNrg2GWi4kvBmuuXsyXVeSI5zO8FJbMY22hsa60Kq-zHuqsFb8B1cMTmbsUk_7xvwbJPrAY2ovtzViUptdNWnIgtLjLWrBhG/s400/Mommynrhett.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><em>Sigh. I <span style="font-size:130%;">LoVe</span> our kids, and I must say that they are amazing and so well behaved. It's not hard to raise amazing kids. All you have to do is love them and not be so vain that all you think about is yourself instead of focusing on helping your children be the very best they can be.</em><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYq258LecwsYcxhH3x3Xdzoepwv0VxpKfvbk_gT11lN7a1gWXSfaqOUw9nhoKN-dRHBbGThlp5dPzBEoyQ8D8E9dskR18MP1U4CdFzRi3abh6yrUkkFJPE586agyV_aWKe7UYhZXANtI-H/s1600-h/Mommynkids.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 284px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370024763645243026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYq258LecwsYcxhH3x3Xdzoepwv0VxpKfvbk_gT11lN7a1gWXSfaqOUw9nhoKN-dRHBbGThlp5dPzBEoyQ8D8E9dskR18MP1U4CdFzRi3abh6yrUkkFJPE586agyV_aWKe7UYhZXANtI-H/s400/Mommynkids.jpg" /></a><br /><br />We have an <span style="font-size:130%;"><em>AmAzInG</em></span> family, and I must say that even through our trials, Andy and I always seem to make it through them, and just end up loving each other more than <span style="font-size:130%;">we <em>ever thought</em> <em>possible</em>. </span><br /><br />As off as it may sound, I am thankful for our trials. They just make us <em><span style="font-size:130%;">that</span> </em>much stronger.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8124825897044500422.post-46078965030424989262009-08-12T18:05:00.000-07:002009-08-12T18:12:46.871-07:00Yum....Apparently when a certian 3 year old eats a penny, or in Rhett's case <span style="font-size:180%;">pennies</span>, they come out the other end blue.<br /><br /><em>Who knew</em>?<br /><br />Wonder what else he's got in store for me?<br /><br />Little turd.<br /><br /><em>Ahem</em>....no pun intended.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuaQf4P99YyRNzB_r93N6JceDn8k5sBQn26gZ38L1lX4qIwV6FHuYyLa0OPFXbcSKYEMWnXn7F1WLxNZlSAYmcBCGmozM5jMn47YfltCRIWWZCtVx2Fhftrje-NPhSqDAsNj7WV6EqY4i/s1600-h/pennypost.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 380px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369249893986796450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuaQf4P99YyRNzB_r93N6JceDn8k5sBQn26gZ38L1lX4qIwV6FHuYyLa0OPFXbcSKYEMWnXn7F1WLxNZlSAYmcBCGmozM5jMn47YfltCRIWWZCtVx2Fhftrje-NPhSqDAsNj7WV6EqY4i/s400/pennypost.jpg" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8124825897044500422.post-63476458672062605482009-08-10T21:03:00.000-07:002009-08-10T21:09:51.910-07:00I Am Sick.....Today has been a really sucky day.<br /><br />I am sick of hurting.<br /><br />I am sick of wondering what's going on, and feeling like I am left in the dark.<br /><br />I am sick of doing things for others then feeling like a doormat afterwards.<br /><br />I am sick of trying so hard for it all to be in vain.<br /><br />I am sick of trying to make things right and it only being one sided.<br /><br />I am sick of being stuck at home all the time and not being able to pick up and leave when I need to.<br /><br />I am sick of not having friends to talk to in real life.<br /><br />I am sick of my heart being an open door mat.<br /><br />I am sick of the unknown.<br /><br />I am sick of not knowing who or what to believe.<br /><br />But most of all I am sick of hurting.<br /><br />It sucks. It sucks really, really, bad.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8124825897044500422.post-43837119098065742982009-08-04T21:53:00.000-07:002009-08-04T22:05:27.310-07:00Please Mommy????Rhett got told he couldn't throw rocks in Grandma Bird's pond anymore. So he took it upon himself to sit on the deck and pout. <br /><br />Now do you all know why I have such a hard time telling him no?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0XRXAZ5yeLWNwzZk3a0Ufan-zljjY1D_sWMe8ng54gemWN3P182DRuCa2V2CHoRmiPfIf4wKWgdVlPiIf4dPswkkoU4YKgqtcpVtO2IMZWVHjPis07nXITkSqHm5YLgn13Ry4BHagmvx/s1600-h/Rhettpout.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 376px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366338494256337794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0XRXAZ5yeLWNwzZk3a0Ufan-zljjY1D_sWMe8ng54gemWN3P182DRuCa2V2CHoRmiPfIf4wKWgdVlPiIf4dPswkkoU4YKgqtcpVtO2IMZWVHjPis07nXITkSqHm5YLgn13Ry4BHagmvx/s400/Rhettpout.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I mean I do discipline him, don't get me wrong. Lord knows where I'd be if I let him walk all over me. I've been witness to that.....okay, I'm not even going there. <br /><br />But still. Those baby blues, and that pouty face are enough to make my heart warm and fuzzy before he gets told "NO". I've developed a pretty darn good poker face over the last 3 years. <br /><br />Chloee had surgery today. She had her tonsils and adenoids out. As well as a small growth removed from the back of her throat on the left side. We are waiting on pathology reports for that. So as soon as there's news I'll post. <br /><br />I have pictures of my brave girl, but it turns out I am too tired to download and edit them tonight. <br /><br />Rhett's little life as he knows it has been turned upside down with Chloee getting the attention for a while. So on top of taking care of all of Rhett's daily normal stuff that is enough to run any 1 human being into the ground, I am now taking care of Chloee and her recovery, as well as a husband who is sick as a dog, and on the verge of a heart attack. <br /><br />He had his triglycerides checked, and he was at 658. Normal is around 100. So he is now on Cholesterol medication, and once those come down in 4-6 months, then they should be able to check his other Cholesterol levels that they couldn't get numbers for because his triglycerides were so high. Depending on that they will see if he needs to add another medication to his mix. <br /><br />I'm tired. I'm worn out, and I am physically and emotionally exhausted. <br /><br />So please don't ask me how I'm doing. You'll end up with a hysterical crazy lady on your hands. <br /><br />For now? My bed is calling.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3