tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46371228484798976872024-03-12T21:42:45.679-05:00blessed and luckyraehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787907076803945372noreply@blogger.comBlogger257125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4637122848479897687.post-76642281823431380922011-04-28T10:58:00.003-05:002011-04-28T12:21:11.563-05:00A Brand New Day<div style="text-align: justify;">I am so very excited to announce that today is the first day Sam rode to school on the bus WITHOUT his wheelchair. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This day has been 5 years in the making... and I know you have heard me say a million times...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"slow and steady wins the race"</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">and </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"everything is possible... </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">the impossible just takes a little longer"</span> </b></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><b></b>I have screamed these words through laughter and tears. I have spoke them time and time again to encourage others and more often times than not to encourage myself. I have mumbled them under my breath knowing that others thought I was insane to hope for so much. But today, with an over-flowing heart, I tell you again that I believe in the truth and the power of these words. I am humbled by the miracles that I have witnessed first hand in the form of a chromosomally-enchanced little wonder boy... and I know that we absolutely are blessed and lucky! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well today I stand before you to share yet another long distance race won by none other than Mr. Naughty himself! He is living proof that everything is possible! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">*insert happy dance here*</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Words cannot express my excitement! So here are some pics of this momentous occasion. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C0LiUrl6okU/TbmLLQ4YFXI/AAAAAAAACKk/OHKOUXDyEBc/s1600/IMG_5275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C0LiUrl6okU/TbmLLQ4YFXI/AAAAAAAACKk/OHKOUXDyEBc/s320/IMG_5275.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> getting fitted for his new harness... and you can't see well but he actually stood on one foot while he lifted his leg to step into the harness.... OMG can you believe it!!!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nX5hEZvl8Ro/TbmLMFBLMEI/AAAAAAAACKo/6_sfjSCAHik/s1600/IMG_5278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nX5hEZvl8Ro/TbmLMFBLMEI/AAAAAAAACKo/6_sfjSCAHik/s320/IMG_5278.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">His first step onto the bus!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KqjtLz5KvHI/TbmLNzjpYzI/AAAAAAAACKw/hhFE9WIblY0/s1600/IMG_5281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KqjtLz5KvHI/TbmLNzjpYzI/AAAAAAAACKw/hhFE9WIblY0/s320/IMG_5281.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Lovin' his new seat on the bus!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TaK-fqnH_VA/TbmLOrQ_baI/AAAAAAAACK0/KmSTgulUYqU/s1600/IMG_5282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TaK-fqnH_VA/TbmLOrQ_baI/AAAAAAAACK0/KmSTgulUYqU/s320/IMG_5282.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Of course he had to get some flirting in...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jr7icK37yL4/TbmLKmjmRqI/AAAAAAAACKg/xow973gkgLY/s1600/IMG_0587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jr7icK37yL4/TbmLKmjmRqI/AAAAAAAACKg/xow973gkgLY/s320/IMG_0587.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Now that is one happy boy!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BzU_Ac5fNTk/TbmLPciq9vI/AAAAAAAACK4/2maFkNIopgI/s1600/IMG_5285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BzU_Ac5fNTk/TbmLPciq9vI/AAAAAAAACK4/2maFkNIopgI/s320/IMG_5285.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">"Sam's Bus"... even has his name right over the door!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787907076803945372noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4637122848479897687.post-49368246286485439332011-03-18T08:58:00.000-05:002011-03-18T08:58:19.390-05:00"That Family" rides again!So last fall at a silent auction Patrick and I won this ... a bike trailer from WeeHoo! Love it!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Z55jSVqWGJY/TYNKpjcPhoI/AAAAAAAACKY/SjcrUb9wJ3A/s1600/21vDwlRkegL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Z55jSVqWGJY/TYNKpjcPhoI/AAAAAAAACKY/SjcrUb9wJ3A/s1600/21vDwlRkegL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So with all Irish Eyes a smilin', we strapped on our protective head gear (some of us looking more fashionable than others) and prepared to head out on the first of many family bike rides of the year. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So this is how we roll....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Andrew road his own bike. After much pleading to ride his own little bike, Sean was stuffed into the seat carrier behind Pat's bike. We hope that soon he will be able to accompany us on the tag-a-long but for now his legs are not long enough. And Sam, the prince that he is, road in the WeeHoo chariot. This schnazzy little ensemble was attached to the back of my bike. So with everyone saddled up and headed out on our excursion. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">For starters, it was a beautiful day and none of us needed coats... just light sweatshirts! So off we go. And from the beginning Sam and I brought up the rear. I had my bike gears set on "granny" which meant that I was pedaling about 180 rotations to the rest of the family's 8. I played with the gears a bit but basically there was no coasting for me if I wanted to maintain any sort of forward momentum. So I chalked this up to my daily workout and powered through the marginal inclines that started to make me pant.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A block into our ride we hit the forrest preserve and the diamond dust trails. They are well groomed but soft-wet-diamond dust is no biker's friend. I can see the rest of my family in the distance. Sam is behind me giggling. I hit the trails at a pretty decent speed only to have all my momentum absorbed into the trail. Again I am thinking "work out"... eat my dust Jillian Michaels! At this point I adjust my gears for more power and try to regain my momentum to make it up the looming hill in front of me. Typically this long slow hill is not an issue but when you are towing a 50lbs+ boy on a recumbent bike who is pedaling backwards... well there is no "granny" gear that can save you now. But although I am not a "fitness badass" (...yet), I figure that I am in decent enough shape, I have lots of gears, and I ate my Wheaties this morning (well not really but you know what I mean).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am literally huffing at this point. We are 2 blocks from our house and I have pedaled over 5,000 rotations (I am pretty sure), my cheeks are hot and flushed and I fear that at any moment we will start rolling backwards. Sam is still giggling. I end up having to bail and walk the bike, with Sam in tow, up over the crest of the soggy hill. At this point I am willing to concede that I was wrong to argue with my doctor that "no, I don't have activity induced asthma... it is just allergies". My eyes are watering, I just hacked up something unmentionable and Sam is now giggling even harder and fake sneezing trying to mimic me. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I can't see Andrew, Pat and Sean any longer... but I can hear Andrew up ahead calling to Pat to wait up... "DAD... WE HAVE A MAN DOWN... MAN DOWN". I am trying to smile through the drool to all our neighbors who were also out on the path enjoying the beautiful evening. I think I scared a few kids... </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now at the top of the hill I re-mount my bike and attempt to catch up with the rest of my family. Note to self: It is literally impossible to start out pedaling in a granny gear with a tag-a-long bike in tow. At this point Sam has learned that it is fun to rock from side to side and his rocking momentum makes it difficult to steer straight (to all my neighbors who are trying to plant grass or flowers along the path... I am sorry). He has also learned that although pedaling forward "helps Mom", pedaling backwards makes Mom grunt and can affect the speed. Lesson learned: pedaling backwards is not only easier... it is more fun! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So we now have emerged from the forrest preserve and now the trail is paved (oh Thank you Lord). Sam is still pedaling backwards. I have caught up to my boys and Patrick, riding along beside us, is trying to coax Sam into pedaling forward. Nope. Backwards is more fun. So I am back in "granny" gear pedaling my heart out just to keep us in a forward motion. There is one final BIG hill and I almost made it to the top... but Sam was really "helping" at this point. Half of me is thrilled that he is at least pedaling and not just resting but the other half of me is ready to get on the lung donor list. I admit defeat and walk up the last few feet. I am slightly embarrassed at my present condition and wondering how many "bad mommy" points I would get from taking a drag from Sam's inhaler. <i>**it's not asthma, it's not asthma, it's not.... gasp. hack. gasp.**</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The air is a bit chilled and it burns with every breath. More unmentionables are expelled. I also now realize that Sam has been "working" really hard on something too and there will be a tailwind the rest of the way home. sigh.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Again I catch up with the rest of my family... they smell us coming. Once again Pat tries tries to make pedaling forward look really fun to Sam. Although pedaling back-wards does not halt things altogether, it does seem to add a bit of drag... alas... a better work out for me. I think Jillian Michaels would consider a bike workout that entailed towing a 50 + pound child pedaling backwards uphill the "crazy persons" version of a bike workout.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So home again, home again! I feel like I have an elephant on my chest and I think I am still drooling. Otherwise I feel great. We release Sam and Sean and they both start running in different directions... it is then I realize that my legs have been replaced with wet egg noodles. Patrick cannot understand my distress. Does he not realize that not only did I not coast at all during our excursion but I actually pedaled the equivalent of 60 miles farther than he did? Of course not...LOL. But it was a great first ride with hopefully many more to come! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787907076803945372noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4637122848479897687.post-55366985497584593142011-03-04T10:22:00.006-06:002011-03-04T15:15:29.474-06:00Sh!$ Happens<div style="text-align: justify;">I have taken a bit of a blogging hiatus and although I have composed numerous posts, none have made it past the draft phase, fragments of some have appeared on facebook and countless others have never actually made it past my frontal lobe. My brief break is not due to a lack of blog worthy material but rather and issue of time management... or rather lack of time to sit at my computer without having to address the urgent 911 call for chocolate milk or kiss the exponentially growing lump on someone's forehead caused by direct contact with a wii remote or .... what is that smell???? Poop trumps everything. And you guessed it boys and girls... poop is the topic of this post. So for those of you with more sensitive constitutions or olfactory senses... this is your spoiler alert... you have the option to bail now... Shit happens and I am gonna tell you all about it!!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 15px;"><b> </b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">23-19... 23-19</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Taken from the movie Monster's Inc. as code for human contamination in the monster world... Patrick and I use the distress call 23-19 to alert each other that the diaper has failed and its contents are no longer contained. With 2 still in diapers this code serves as a silent (if not deadly) alarm, a call into action so to speak... a "hurry the hell up, I need help NOW" message that when broadcast it requires immediate action. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">For example... </div><div style="text-align: justify;">When we are at the pool... 23-19 means "quietly and quickly gather the kids... we are leaving NOW!". </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">When in a store... "don't ask questions... leave the cart... find a pair of pants that will fit... and meet me in the parking lot"</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">When at school... "Who's pants are these? 23-19... please wash and send loaner pair back for next time."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">When at the park... "OK... is he your kid or my kid this time?"</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">When at home... "Honey... I think Daddy is calling you!" (snicker, snicker)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">But in all seriousness... We all know that someday our children will be potty trained and we will one day look back on these days and laugh. We all will do (or have done) the "happy ... no more diapers dance" and although we are a wee bit sad to see our babies grow up we are thrilled to not have to be dealing with diapers any more.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well... not all of us are so certain. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sam, among other things, has a condition called Hirschsprung's Disease, long segment Hirschsprung's disease to be exact. To put this simply... Hirschsprung's disease, or HD, is a condition where the ganglion cells or nerve cells don't grow all the way to the end of the bowel. Without any nerve cells there is no way for the body to detect that waste is present and to then push it out. HD may effect a very small segment of intestine/bowel (an inch or two), or may effect much more or even all of it. Most of the time this condition is recognized shortly after birth. After a diagnosis is made, the process to correct this condition consists of a 2-part surgery and often times there are other interventions needed. The first step is a biopsy to determine how much of the bowel has been affected. Then a colostomy is placed to allow for the removal of waste... then the pull-thru procedure (a surgery that removes the effected intestine/bowel and reconnects the working parts to the rectum). It is a long process but in the end... most kids do very well with few problems.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HD is more common in boys and even more common in children with Down syndrome (2 strikes for Sam). Sam got his colostomy when he was 13 days old, weighing less than 2 pounds, on Christmas Eve 2002. Due to the risk of contamination, he underwent the pull-thru procedure at 6 months of age, 6 weeks before his open-heart surgery (there would have only been a few inches separating where he pooped from where they opened his chest to fix his heart). During the pull-thru surgery, the surgeon discovered that not only was Sam's HD much more extensive than previously thought but that he also had Malrotation. Basically, his intestines didn't coil correctly and were all flipped around backwards. Typically your appendix is in your lower right abdomen... Sam's appendix was in his upper left side. In the end the appendix and everything down from there was removed, leaving Sam with less than 1/5th of his large intestine. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sooooo .... What do you get when you combine no large intestine and low tone??? You get poop! Lots of poop! Lots of watery, loose, frequent poop! Poop, poop, poop, stinky, smelly poop! We were told, oh so many moons ago, that even if Sam had no other medical issues that, considering the amount of large intestine that was removed that he may be close to 12 before he could have enough control to be potty trained. 12... seriously??? I was crushed at the reality of this. It is pretty common for kids with Down syndrome to potty train a bit later than their typically developing peers but I was crushed to think that my child would be in diapers until he was 12... Well Sam is now 8 and right now 12 is looking pretty good. I have resolved myself to the fact that he may always need a diaper, but that doesn't make me any less hopeful. "Everything is possible... the impossible just takes a little longer!" Sam has surprised us enough already that I cannot even begin to put limits on his capabilities. I prepare myself for the worst but hope for the best. And honestly if I had only known then what I know now I would not have shed any tears... shit happens. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">First things first. We are not even thinking about potty training Sam right now... he is no where near ready. Sean on the other hand is sooooo very ready but he is playing the game... and I am trying to be patient (Oh Lord, Grant me patience to deal with my blessings). He actually played the "Sam wears diapers so I can wear diapers" card the other day... really kid? Sam on the other hand needs to have more solid stools first. Right now his poop, on a good day, is about the consistency of applesauce or maybe toothpaste. And *news flash* boys and girls... pull ups don't hold poop!!! Sam wears a diaper that we have to special order ( <a href="http://www.medline.com/incontinence/adult-briefs/molicare-air-active.asp">Molicare Air Actives</a> ), but it has the holding power required to reduce the frantic 23-19 calls. To complicate things even more... Sam is still 100% g-tube fed... and I am thinking that an all-liquid diet does not help our plight. We are working towards oral feeding also but after his his heroic battle with Infantile Spasms/West Syndrome (a severe form of epilepsy) Sam has been unable to coordinate the suck, swallow, and breath responses needed to eat safely via his mouth. That too will come with time but I diverge... today we are talking about POOP!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Recently we started adding pectin (yes the same stuff you use to make jelly) and loperamide (immodium AD) to his daily regimen with the intent of thickening his poop and slowing down the rate at which waste moves through his remaining bit of large intestine in hopes of creating a more solid "product". Slowly, oh so very slowly we have seen his poop get thick and thicker. We are now looking at a consistency somewhere closer to oatmeal or peanut butter. You see the goal here is to achieve solid poop! You can't successfully potty train until you have solid poop. Solid poop is an indication that your child can "hold it" and that there was conscious effort to void the waste... it didn't just "slip" out. It is a sign that the body has been able to absorb some of the excess fluid (typically a job done by the large intestine... remember that Sam has less than 1/5th of what the rest of us have). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So although we are moving in the right direction... Sam is also scared to death of sitting on the toilet. I have never seen fear in that child's eyes like I have when he has been place upon the toilet. He has endured numerous surgeries, several invasive and painful procedures and yet he is afraid to sit on the toilet. Alas... no one said it would be easy and once again I fall back on my mantra... "slow and steady wins the race"</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sam has been home sick all week which only punctuates the negative thoughts that slip into my mind from time to time when I allow myself to think about the years and years of diapers changes that inevitably are an intrinsic part of my future. And although potty training Sam is a lofty goal, there are other things that I want so much more for him. For instance, better communication skills and just the basic ability to tell me that he wants his diaper changed... seriously, that would be more precious to me than gold (gold nuggets that is...LOL). So with 2 still in diapers, my salvation these days comes in the form of a little Scentsy warmer and lots and lots of wonderfully scented bricks. My house smells of spiced grapefruit and cucumber lime... instead of... well... you know. <br />
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Please excuse the fact that there are no pictures with this post... considering the subject matter I am sure you understand :)<br />
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</div>raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787907076803945372noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4637122848479897687.post-32374171783797295892011-01-04T12:35:00.001-06:002011-01-04T12:37:55.218-06:00Merry Christmas and Happy New Year... better late than never!Failed attempts at taking the 2010 Christmas picture... <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/TSNknWToq4I/AAAAAAAACBQ/4QHMoJSQURc/s1600/IMG_5090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/TSNknWToq4I/AAAAAAAACBQ/4QHMoJSQURc/s320/IMG_5090.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yes, Sam is asleep</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/TSNkqUVLJFI/AAAAAAAACBU/gf1ojQjoxY4/s1600/IMG_5093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/TSNkqUVLJFI/AAAAAAAACBU/gf1ojQjoxY4/s320/IMG_5093.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">then all hell breaks loose</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/TSNktaconVI/AAAAAAAACBY/KBGM__PSQvY/s1600/IMG_5081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/TSNktaconVI/AAAAAAAACBY/KBGM__PSQvY/s320/IMG_5081.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">seriously... I just need one picture... without weapons. Is that too much to ask?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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and the keeper...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/TSNkUWoOxOI/AAAAAAAACBM/CWwqRifq5Ow/s1600/IMG_5091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/TSNkUWoOxOI/AAAAAAAACBM/CWwqRifq5Ow/s400/IMG_5091.JPG" width="256" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Merry Christmas and Happy New Year</span></span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">We hope this holiday greeting finds you all happy, healthy and enjoying the holiday season. This year, I implored my </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">boys (officially renamed <i>Button Pusher, Naughty, Instigator</i> and <i>Enabler</i>) to help me write the Family Christmas letter. </span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">They are all very good at supplying me with plenty of material...even that being the case you will notice the new </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">slimmer version of our 2010 re-cap. In the past, condensing our year into a Reader’s Digest version of our lives has </span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">meant stretching the margins to their breaking point, using a ridiculously small font and printing on both sides the </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">paper. So in an attempt to cram it all in, some may cite my writing style as an example of horror vacui (go on...Google </span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">it...you know you want to). However, now with everyone (except Patrick) on Facebook or blogging, it has become </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">increasingly easier to keep up throughout the year... somewhat negating the need for an epic Christmas letter. So in </span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">the spirit of all good and enjoyable, I bring you the abridged version of what was previously known as the OMG... It’s 2 </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Pages...Collins Family Christmas Letter. </span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 8px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 10px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Button Pusher is now 9 and in 3rd grade. Between soccer, Tae Kwan Do, religious education classes, cub scouts and </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">everything else that comes with being an incredibly curious kid, Andrew is just growing up so fast... right before our </span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">eyes. Recently Andrew asked me...“Mom, when you were pregnant with me did you have a cat?” ME: “Yes.” ANDREW: </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">“And did that cat sleep on your stomach when you were pregnant with me?” ME: “Yes.” ANDREW: “Ahhh...so that must be </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">where I get my cat-like reflexes.” (And he was completely serious!) ROFL... I love the way this kid thinks...LOL. And as </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">for his contribution to this letter, I asked him to tell me what he was thankful for and his response was... “Life. Home. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Liberty. Justice. World... and that is it Moooooom!”</span></span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 8px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> Seriously, you can’t just make this stuff up. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 8px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 10px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 8px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Mr. Naughty</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> is now 8 and in 2nd grade. He attends a special school and he loves going everyday. His amazing medical </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">team and incredible educational team have helped us keep him healthy, progressing and doing all naughty things a </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">little boy should. He has a promising career as a movie critic as he moonlights as an escape artist. Mr. Naughty never </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">ceases to amaze and constantly reminds us that everything is possible... the impossible just takes a little longer. Just </span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 8px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">when you think you are ahead of the learning curve, Sam will rock your world and dare you to keep up with him. Sam </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">helped with the Christmas letter too... he deleted it off my computer... twice! So in his own way, Sam is forcing me to </span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 8px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">learn more about computer science and recovering lost files than I would have learned on my own. That’s our Sam... </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">pushing us all to be better. </span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 8px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 10px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">The Instigator is 3. Three is an amazingly insightful age that makes you ponder the brilliance of duct-taping your child </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">to the couch (or any stationary object for that matter) and while you ponder that idea and kick yourself for not realizing </span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">the sheer genius of it sooner... your child orders 28 apps on your iphone. Yes, I said 28! When I asked Sean what his </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">favorite things are... he said... “I like cars and cars racers (Wii Mario Cart) and speed racers... for all my life!” Yup... that </span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">about sums it up. He is a master at accessing the streaming videos on Netflix via the Wii and as a result Sean knows </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">more about animal rescues; the antics of a whinny, bald, five year old and the life of a Phylum Porifera living in a </span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">pineapple under the sea than any sane parent would be proud to admit to. It’s when you get caught humming an </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">obnoxious theme song while folding the laundry that you too will know my pain (2 bonus points if you added gestures or </span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">facial expressions). And just incase you currently don’t have a song stuck in your head... “Hotdog. Hotdog. Hot-Diggity </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Dog...” Only a Mouseketool can save you now! </span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 13px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">When asked for his help with the Christmas letter... Patrick, now answering to Enabler, contributed an eye-roll and </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">an are-you-serious??? look. Do you feel the love streaming to you through this letter? Go ahead... sit back and soak it </span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">all in. Please know that he put a lot of thought and effort into this and he truly desires to share all his warm and fuzzy </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Holiday wishes with all of you. And in doing so his heart grew three sizes this day! </span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 13px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">I wish that I could report that I won the lottery or solved the energy crisis or discovered a way to get more than 6 </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">hours of sleep each night... I guess these things will just have to be added to my 2011 to-do list. In the mean time I </span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">am nearly finished with my 2009 to-do list! Whooo hoooo! </span></span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 13px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">This Christmas season we remember all our loved ones who are not with us and we send up a special holiday wish to </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">our guardian angels, thankful for their protection. So now it is time to wrap things up...so with much love in our </span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">hearts we wish you the warmest blessings as you ring in the New Year. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 13px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Warmly and with much love... Patrick, RaeAnn, Andrew, Sam & Sean (Cooper and Kitty 2 too) </span></span></span></div><br />
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</div>raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787907076803945372noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4637122848479897687.post-46593645294848505432010-10-27T13:09:00.000-05:002010-10-27T13:09:15.073-05:00I'll take a Guanfacine Mocha Latte to go please<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">On Tuesday we saw Sam's neurologist. Dr. Shah has been a beacon for us during Sam's dark Infantile Spasm storm and has thrown us more than one life jacket. He is calm and compassionate and he truly understands what an incredible gift we have been given in Sam's seizure-free status and his progress. Sam's delays are significant but he knows how hard Sam has had to work to be where he is today. I joke that Sam has worked so very hard to be THIS delayed... and we are so very proud of him. Slow and steady wins the race. Dr. Shah knows that everything that Sam is capable of is icing on the cake... his initial prognosis was grim at best and he told us to prepare for the worst but pray for the best. And Sam did get the best outcome. Although is delays are considered moderate to severe now, when he was first diagnosed with IS we were told that being able to maintain eye contact for a 3-4 seconds would be a difficult goal. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sam is now nearly 8 years old and has been seizure free for almost 7 years and free of HYPS for 6 years and off all seizure meds for 5 years. AMAZING!!! Sam is now walking, running, jumping, climbing stairs, matching pictures, making meaningful choices, had definitely likes and dislikes, is naughty, rides a bike and many more things that we never dared hope for him to be able to do. And many people are completely clueless to how incredible Sam's IS success story is... and how rare. He truly is Blessed and Lucky.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, IS has taken a toll. Sam's brain, in a sense, has had to re-wire itself and find new pathways to send messages. So for Sam to get from A to B... he must go from A to Z to Q to B. It is the long way around and sometimes he gets there and sometimes he gets lost along the way. Unfortunately for Sam, he sometimes gets distracted somewhere between Z and Q. He has been having some issues at school and sometimes he hits or exhibits other poor choices.... impulsiveness, lack of focus. This is nothing new but it is often difficult to assess what is a "problem" and what is developmentally appropriate naughty little boy. <br />
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So after much discussion and hand wringing and contemplation, we a started Sam on Guanfacine (or Tenex)<br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Guanfacine (Tenex) was originally developed as, and is still used as, a mild antihypertensive. Like some other antihypertensive drugs, Guanfacine (Tenex) regulates levels of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine; in the prefrontal cortex of the brain, it decreases sensitivity to distracting stimuli, and it therefore may help with focus. For this reason, it can be helpful in reducing </span><a href="http://counsellingresource.com/distress/adhd/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ADHD symptoms</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, either alone or in combination with stimulants.</span></blockquote><br />
I have mixed feelings about this. This topic has been discussed and brought up a lot over the past several years... a topic that has never left a good taste in my mouth but one that I knew I would one day have to swallow. On one hand I feel that Infantile Spasms (not to mention everything else) has robbed Sam of so much and if this will help him make those connections faster and help him to be less frustrated and more focused... fabulous. On the other hand I hate adding another med to Sam's daily routine. On the upside... the side effects are very minimal (virtually none) so there really is no down side in trying. Sam is on the cusp of really grasping so many new things and I can't help but wonder... if he had just a wee bit of help could he finally complete some of those loose connections in in brain and unlock a few more doors??? <br />
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Am I wrong to ask for more? Considering the gift we have already been given... is it wrong for me to say "Thank you God for the miracle... now may I have another?" Is it too much for me to hope for that one day Sam might learn to read, or be potty trained, or have a conversation with me about the weather ??? Am I selfish for wanting more than I was ever promised?<br />
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Look at those faces and tell me that I am wrong for wanting so much for them. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/TMe7zzqlQtI/AAAAAAAACBE/Dy7ZFbpMMhI/s1600/IMG_0288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/TMe7zzqlQtI/AAAAAAAACBE/Dy7ZFbpMMhI/s320/IMG_0288.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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So we will see how it goes.... </div>raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787907076803945372noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4637122848479897687.post-28886832267252748232010-10-24T08:48:00.001-05:002010-10-24T08:49:02.549-05:00and then there were TWO!!!!<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Please follow the link to my friend </span><a href="http://myianna.blogspot.com/2010/10/his-name-is-axel.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Leah's blog</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">... she is doing something amazing and changing lives forever. Pop over and read her story and become part of her family's journey by helping Leah and her family bring these two very special children, Axel and Ianna, home to their forever family (and you could win an iPad). </span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787907076803945372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4637122848479897687.post-80737765642482481992010-10-20T16:16:00.002-05:002010-10-20T17:10:54.953-05:00I will take "Yummy things from Rae's kitchen for $200" please.And the answer is... Seriously the best meatloaf recipe ever! <br />
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<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><b><u>Rae's Fabulously Delicious Meatloaf</u></b></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Combine at least 2 of the following meats to = 3lbs </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">(ground turkey, lean ground beef, ground venison, jimmy dean sausage (any variety))</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">*** my favorite combo is 2lbs lean ground beef and 1lb jimmy dean sausage (sage, low-fat, spicy... you choose)</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">1 cup tomato ketchup (have used salsa in a pinch)</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">2/3 cup V8 juice (can you spicy if you choose)</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">4 eggs</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">1 1/2- 1 3/4 cup bread crumbs (ok to add a bit more if mixture seems a bit to "wet")</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">4 tsp prepared mustard</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">1 packet Good Seasons Italian dressing mix *dry mix</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Mix everything thoroughly in a large mixing bowl. Seriously, I am pretty sure that you are supposed to beat the eggs first and add all the ingredients slowly... but I just toss them all in and in no particular order and use my hands to mix it all together. Turns out great every time.</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Press meat mixture into 2 loaf pans (yes... that is one for dinner and one for sandwiches tomorrow!) </span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><b>Topping</b> (optional)</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">mix 1/2 cup ketchup OR chunky salsa</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">1 tsp prepared mustard</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">4 TBS brown sugar</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Mix it all together and spread on top of meat loaf.</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Bake at 400 degrees for about 1 hour <i>(check at about 45-50 minutes and drain if needed... my oven sucks so please note that your cooking times may vary... I usually end up cooking it for about 1 hour 10 minutes or so). </i> The meatloaf will start to pull away from the sides. The sides and the topping will probably look a bit burnt... but it is not... it is just the sugar carmelizing... YUM! Drain as needed and let rest for about 5 minutes before serving. </span></blockquote><br />
enjoy :)raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787907076803945372noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4637122848479897687.post-37807533516397150042010-10-13T22:26:00.001-05:002010-10-13T22:27:12.607-05:00Other yummy things I might feed you if you came by my house for dinner<div style="text-align: justify;">You may have noticed that I have been in a domestic mood lately. Don't worry... my house is still a mess but it smells really good from all the baking. A girl has to prioritize! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">**SPOILER ALERT... legume haters... just stop reading now... nothing beyond this point will be of any interest to you.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So on the menu for tonight was Apple Bean Bake, pork chops and corn bread. Now I will admit that is is not one of the boys favorites (I don't know... something about beans and gagging and how if Aunt Tammy doesn't have to eat beans...LOL) ... but seriously, I did catch Sean up on the table licking Pat's plate while we were cleaning up the dishes. Sometimes I wonder about that boy. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So in keeping with my simple and easy theme... this dinner ranks 2 on the difficulty scale (10 being difficult and something I would probably never attempt anyway) and an 11 on the yummy scale.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><u><b>Apple Bean Bake</b></u> (please keep in mind that I usually double this recipe)</span></div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">48oz jar <i>Randall's Great Northern Beans</i>... drained</span></div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">4 tbs butter</span></div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">3 cups tart cooking apples (peeled/cut)... I have one of those apple peeler/corer things and that works great. It slices the apples very thin and then I cut them into bite size pieces. and I tend to be pretty generous with the apples too.</span></div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">3/4 cup light brown sugar</span></div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">1/2 cup ketchup</span></div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">1 tsp cinnamon (or nutmeg... or both)</span></div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">salt to taste (it does not need the salt in my opinion)</span></div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">melt butter in a large skillet. add apples and cook for about 10 minutes until apples are tender. stir in everything else. brown sugar should be dissolved and everything well mixed. put drained beans in a 2 quart casserole baker and pour apple mixture over the beans and mix well. bake in pre-heated oven at 375 for 1 hour. </span></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">My cornbread of choice is the .46 cent box of Jiffy cornbread mix in the little blue and white box. I use 2 boxes and make johnny cake. The pork chops can be grilled or baked or fixed however you like. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I love this apple bean bake recipe even better the next day. That is the reason I usually double the recipe to ensure there are lots of left overs :)</div><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></blockquote>raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787907076803945372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4637122848479897687.post-12159059044403495352010-10-13T13:08:00.000-05:002010-10-13T13:08:53.573-05:00It's the Great Pumpkin (puree that is)<div style="text-align: justify;">Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So we started out the morning with Pumpkin French toast... devoured! Bacon was a side note but nearly ignored in the shadow of Pumpkin French toast with warm homemade liquid gold (maple syrup). Now this is another ridiculously simple recipe that has lots of bang for the buck. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b><u>Yummy Pumpkin French Toast</u></b></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">beat together:</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">6 eggs</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">1/4 cup pumpkin puree... ok to use a bit more if desired (right from the can)</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">1 TBS vanilla</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">1 tsp nutmeg (or cinnamon, cloves or pumpkin pie spice)</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><br />
</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">* note... no milk is used in this recipe... crazy I know!</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><br />
</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Dip bread into mixture and place onto skillet/pan. Brown both sides and serve! </span></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then since I already had an opened can of pumpkin puree... I just had to do something with it... and cheers for Pumpkin Bread erupted from the crowd!!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is another yummy recipe that my kids devour. And note that I substitute applesauce for the oil which gives it a great flavor and significantly cuts down on the fat. And as always, I am pretty positive that there is a right way and a wrong way to add ingredients. I am almost certain that there are some things that are supposed to be mixed together in a separate container and then added slowly with care. Well, that is not how I roll! I am here to tell you that I just dump it all in a bowl in no particular order, turn my mixer on high and in the end it all turns out great! </div><br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b><u>Yummy Pumpkin Bread</u></b></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><b>mix together:</b></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">3 cups flour</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">2 cups sugar</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">1 tsp. cinnamon</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">1/2 tsp. cloves</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">1 tsp. nutmeg</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">1 tsp. baking powder</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">1/2 tsp. baking soda</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">1/2 tsp. salt</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">1 cup applesauce</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">3 eggs</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">2 cups pumpkin puree (from the can)</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">1 TSP vanilla</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">(optional... 1 cup chopped pecans)... note that I NEVER add the nuts but have been known to add craisins or raisins or nothing at all</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><br />
</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Lightly spray 2 loaf pans with non-stick spray then dust the pans with sugar (yes use sugar... not flour! The bread will come out easily and make a sweet crust). Split batter between the two pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 60-75 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean (or knife or fork or whatever you poke it with to determine doneness). Cool completely before removing bread from pans. Enjoy!</span></blockquote>raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787907076803945372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4637122848479897687.post-88392894332935639982010-10-12T08:35:00.000-05:002010-10-12T08:35:25.451-05:00faith, hope and a little bit of pixie dust...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/TLRf2kPBvpI/AAAAAAAACA8/5YP9unzQ2mM/s1600/Image112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/TLRf2kPBvpI/AAAAAAAACA8/5YP9unzQ2mM/s320/Image112.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I can hardly believe that a year ago this week we were on Sam's <a href="http://www.wish.org/help?s&s_kwcid=make%20a%20wish%20foundation|1085531791">Make-A-Wish</a> trip. And since then we have gone to Six Flags and Noah's Arc Waterpark on our <a href="http://www.gktw.org/">Give Kids the World</a> Passports... our passports expire this week but I am awed by the generosity of all the organization who participate in the program. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">With a little faith, hope and bit of pixie dust we are making plans to visit Disney and volunteer at Give Kids the World in the future (what better place to celebrate your 40th)!!! The kids still get excited every time they see anything Disney related. Sean loves "The Mouse" and Sam still loves his princesses and Andrew is trying hard to grow enough so he can ride on the "really big rides". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">This was an incredible experience that our family will never forget. </div>raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787907076803945372noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4637122848479897687.post-44234995059703727352010-10-07T12:04:00.002-05:002010-10-07T12:06:18.938-05:00What do you see?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/TK36T2sqLkI/AAAAAAAACA4/Ks-BxaJLLpg/s1600/IMG_0342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/TK36T2sqLkI/AAAAAAAACA4/Ks-BxaJLLpg/s400/IMG_0342.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is so much more to this picture than meets the eye... what do you see?</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I just love this pic of Sam coming down the big slide. What I like even more is that he climbed up there all my himself. AND... he didn't crawl... he stood up, used the hand rail (safety first!) and one by one climbed the steps to the slide. This is a HUGE accomplishment that Sam has worked on for a very, very long time. Then of course he had to figure out how to position himself just right so he could balance and then push off. And finally he got off the slide on his own and then did it all again. And if you look very very closely you will also notice that he is just wearing sandals (stylish keens to be exact) without his braces (SMOs) on. You've come a long way baby! Slow and steady wins the race. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So while some of you might just see the joy of a little boy going down the slide on a beautiful fall day... I see so much more. I see all my therapy dollars at work! I see motor planning and balance and physical strength and desire and and a good healthy happy heart and good lungs most of all I see a little boy who is able to do what other little boys on the playground are doing. There is so much going on in this picture... and I hope you find it as beautiful and as inspiring as I do. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div>raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787907076803945372noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4637122848479897687.post-67985367960155421302010-10-06T09:13:00.000-05:002010-10-06T09:13:18.828-05:00TOBI is in the house!<div style="text-align: justify;">Well we are coming up on nearly 2 years without any hospitalizations!!! Can I get a "WHOOOO HOOOO"!!!!!! Now I am not so naive to think that we have put all the midnight runs to the ER and mounds of paper work and sleepless nights on those awful hospital recliners are behind us but I do have to say that our little hiatus has been really nice. Slow and steady wins the race!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Some of you may remember the days when we spent more time at the hospital than we did at home. When it required a pack mule to haul all Sam's medical equipment from one place to another. Well we are traveling much lighter these days and Sam's health has never been better. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the past Sam was hospitalized with horrendous sinus infections. Sam would stop breathing and turn gray... it was vary scary and no one could figure out why. After a battery of tests the docs felt it best to do an MRI to look for brain tumors or bleeds on his brain stem because they had ruled out everything else... or so they thought. After we got the MRI's back you have never seen a happier mom who got the "your child has mastoiditis and a severe sinus infection" diagnosis. Believe me, as serious as it was, I would gladly take a sinus infection over a brain tumor any day! With Sam's extensive medical history, whenever we hear hoof beats everyone wants to look for zebras (something rare)... but in this case it was just a horse (something common)! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Since then Sam has been on antibiotics EVERYDAY... but that didn't solve the problem completely. About a year and half ago his pulmonologist (I love this man... Dr. Gabriel Aljadeff, Director of Peds. Pulmonology at Lutheran General Hospital) suggested we put Sam on <a href="http://www.tobitime.com:80/index.jsp?usertrack.filter_applied=true&NovaId=4029461996575578980">TOBI</a> (inhaled Tobramycin). TOBI is an inhaled antibiotic administered via a nebulizer. Sam takes a dose of TOBI 2 x a day for 28 days and then he is off it for 28 days before starting another round. This medication is typically prescribed for people who have Cystic Fibrosis or chronic issues with the pseudomonas bacteria. TOBI is VERY expensive and because Sam does not have CF we had to jump through some hoops to prove his pseudomonas connection, but his near death experiences with horrible sinus infections was enough for our insurance company to agree to it. So when I get my "<i>your insurance company saved you $4,355.00</i>" sticker every other month on Sam's TOBI medication I say a little thank you. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Right now I can hear the fuzzy hum of Sam's nebulizer machine behind me. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I truly believe that it is the TOBI that has kept all the bad infections at bay, kept him healthy and out of the hospital and has reduced Sam's need for IV antibiotics. And not only have his sinus infections, or at least the ones requiring hospitalizations, nearly disappeared but his ears have not had the fluid build up that he has had in the past. His ENT is thrilled with the way things look "in there". AND because TOBI is inhaled it gives his sensitive GI track (or what is left of it) a break from having to ingest 2-4 antibiotics at a time. And because Sam had nearly his entire large intestine removed due to <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hirschsprungs-disease/DS00825">Hirschsprung's Disease</a> anytime you can cut back anything that messes with what little natural intestinal flora he has is a good thing! So systematically TOBI has improved Sam's health in a number of areas and we couldn't be happier. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/TKx8SAjrFGI/AAAAAAAACA0/jLvUVWQlCn8/s1600/IMG_0355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/TKx8SAjrFGI/AAAAAAAACA0/jLvUVWQlCn8/s320/IMG_0355.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787907076803945372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4637122848479897687.post-85289407461018838622010-10-04T09:55:00.000-05:002010-10-04T09:55:33.694-05:00there's a chill in the air...<div style="text-align: justify;">ahhh it is that time of year again... the geese start gathering in impressive numbers in the pond behind our house, the spiders are spinning webs like crazy all over the deck (note to self... avoid the deck), my allergies are horrendous and I don't have to argue much with the boys to put on a light jacket before they head out to the bus. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This also marks the beginning of my baking season. Believe me, Martha Steward does not quake one little bit in her shoes when I fire up my oven but I will say that my neighbors appreciate my efforts. I will let you in a on a little secret... do enjoy devouring home baked goods as much as the next girl but even more I enjoy a warm toasty house and the amazing smell that you can only get from backing goodies in the oven. I will admit that because my husband likes to keep the thermostat at 68 degrees (a bit too chilly for me) I bake to sustain the level of warmth in my house that I desire. So although he might complain if he sees that I jacked the temp up and somehow he will manage to slip into nearly every conversation that he just cannot understand why the heating bill was sooooo high this month... he NEVER complains when he comes home to a new freshly baked delight. So this girl just knows how to play the game and in the end everyone is happy! Com'on... bakers KNEED love too!!! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The 2 loaves of banana bread that I made yesterday were devoured in record time... the Oatmeal Cranberry white chocolate cookies... well it is as if they never existed. So thinking a little bit ahead I started pulling out the recipes for some of my holiday favorites. Now although I think it is entirely too early to whip up a batch (or 2 or 3) of these gems but I thought I would share the recipe with you all the same. These are one of my all time favorite Christmas cookies and therefor I refuse to make them until after Thanksgiving. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So here goes... My Mitten Cookies (mittens because I use a mitten cookie cutter but you can make them any shape you want) BTW this is seriously the simplest recipe ever!!! enjoy.</div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Mitten Cookies</span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Cream together:</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">1 cup butter</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">2/3 cup sugar</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Beat in:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">1 egg</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Add:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">1 tsp vanilla</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">2 1/2 cups flour</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Mix together until ingredients are well blended, Chill dough 3-4 hours before rolling. Pre heat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out and cut. Bake 8-10 minutes or until barely colored. Cookies can be frosted and decorated with sprinkles, edible glitters, colored sugars or just eaten plain.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Frosting: </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">3/4 cup confectioners sugar</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">1 TB butter</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">1 TB milk</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">1/2 tsp vanilla</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">1/4 tsp lemon juice</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">a few drops of food coloring of your choice</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">melt butter and combine all ingredients... beat until smooth. frost cookies when they are cool.</span></span></div>raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787907076803945372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4637122848479897687.post-51151113414674010272010-10-01T20:09:00.000-05:002010-10-01T20:09:37.657-05:00Notes from the Deep EndHello there cyber-space friends. It has been a long time since my last post... I have no good excuse except life in general...LOL. However, October is Down syndrome Awareness month and October 1st is as good a day as any to come out from hiding and show my support for Down syndrome Awareness (and also share some of the crazy shenanigans cooked up by those Collins boys). <br />
<br />
I know I have posted this before... but I love this analogy written by a mother of a son who has Down syndrome. Definitely worth another look...<br />
<br />
So to all my Sistas out there... I will see you all in the Deep End.<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Notes from the Deep End</span></blockquote><blockquote style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">I was thirty-seven years old when my husband and I decided it was time to have a baby. We had been married nine years, together for sixteen. We had put it off for all this time in order to focus on careers, travel, fun, ourselves. My job was pretty glamorous: vice-president of a big publishing company in New York City. My life was filled with interesting writers, fascinating trips, sparkling conversation, fine wine, speaking engagements. I saw having a baby as something to “check off a list.” Something to do. And besides, a baby would go so well with my new black suit. So I signed up for the Gwyneth Paltrow version of motherhood. The Kelly Ripa woman-on-the-go scenario. The version of motherhood that gets glamorized in People magazine. But in my heart of hearts, I was scared. Terrified. I didn’t want my life to change that much. Still, I had the anticipation of regret and I thought having a baby would be “good for me.” So picture this: parenthood, to me, was like a giant swimming pool. I saw other people in the pool and they looked okay. But I was hesitant to even stick a toe in. I didn’t want to get wet. Other parents said to me, “going into the pool can be really scary. But it’s all worth it.” I thought to myself, “if they can do it, so can I.” And, tentatively, I put my foot in the water. Suddenly someone grabbed me from behind and threw me in the deep end. In the deep end! How unfair! You don’t take the person most frightened of the water and throw them in the deep end! Throw another person in the deep end, someone who’s used to the pool! Someone who knows how to swim! “I’m going to die,” I thought. I railed against the unfairness of it all, the shock of the cold water. But instinct kicked in and clumsily I moved my arms and legs. And I did not drown. Gagging and coughing and choking and sputtering I had a question: “Who did this to me,” I wanted to know. “How did this happen?!” My head went under and panic set in. I moved my arms and legs more and I did not drown. Now I was treading water. I noticed there were other people in the deep end with me, and they were offering to help. But I didn’t want to be in their Deep End Club. And besides, I didn’t think I even belonged here, it was only a matter of time before someone told me it was all a mistake and I’d be pulled out of the pool to safety. “I should have left well enough alone. I should never have tried to go into the pool,” I thought. And as I continued to tread water I noticed something else: I did not drown. Soon I started to float. I felt pretty much alone but the panic had subsided and I knew I could survive although it wouldn’t be pleasant. And I did not drown. But then I noticed there was a little boy in the deep end with me, a little boy named Nicholas with eyes that crinkle up like half moons when he smiles. A little boy named Nicholas who loves Bruce Springsteen and Puccini’s “La Boheme” and 1940s Big Band Music. And Nicholas could swim. Looking at him, I began to realize that I might be able to do more than float someday. I might be able to swim. And I might even enjoy it. Perhaps I’d even love it. I realized that the deep end allows for underwater somersaults and in the deep end, it’s possible to dive. You can’t do that in the shallow end. And perhaps someday, with Nicholas at my side, we’d both wave to the parents at the shallow end of the pool and say, “you don’t know what you’re missing, here in the deep end.”</span></blockquote><div style="font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">-JenEndyB</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">mother to Nicholas (3/31/05)</span></span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #806c46; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><br />
</span></span></span></div>raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787907076803945372noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4637122848479897687.post-16570894158064648442010-08-12T10:27:00.003-05:002010-08-12T10:41:25.383-05:00I will take 1 banana grove to go, please!<div style="text-align: justify;">I have put considerable thought into planting my own banana grove in order to maintain my children's banana bread addiction. Seriously... is is like smack for my kids! Alright... I will admit I am an enabler but this recipe is really that good! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I almost feel guilty calling it "bread", because although it is deliciously disguised as bread it hangs more with the yummy dessert crowd. I mean really... do my kids sit down and beg for "moooorrrrrrrre whole-wheeeeeeeeeat bread pleeeeeeeeeeeease..". No, they don't. However they jump around like they have ants in their pants and do the "happy dance" throughout the prep and baking process and then are overcome with the NEED to consume several slices while it is still so hot that it burns their tongues. And then the little masochists plead for more. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Banana bread has magical bargaining properties.... just sayin'</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is absolutely amazing how quickly rooms get cleaned, clothes get put away and other dreadful requests are completed... with smiles no less... when the promised reward is a slice (or 2) of warm banana bread. ****epiphany alert**** Seriously... can it be that easy???? </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well, as luck would have it I am not a recipe hoarder and I am prepared to share with you my magical banana bread recipe. I cannot take full credit, as I stole it years ago from the Collins Family Reunion cookbook... but in my defense I have made changes to the original recipe... hence giving it it's magical and slightly more nutritional qualities.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">so here goes... enjoy</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/TGQSaG3c7oI/AAAAAAAACAk/Mc04fimo1i0/s1600/IMG_0198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/TGQSaG3c7oI/AAAAAAAACAk/Mc04fimo1i0/s320/IMG_0198.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Magic (disappearing) Banana Bread</span></u></b></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Mix thoroughly: on medium speed</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">3 eggs</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">1c. sugar</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">1c. applesauce</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Add 2 cups mashed bananas (a little more never hurt) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">2c. flour</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">1tsp. baking soda</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">1/4 tsp. salt</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">1tsp cinnamon... or nutmeg... or cardamon ... or a bit of all three (I use whatever I have around at the time)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">**optional... 1 cup of the following or a combination:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Chopped nuts</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Craisins. Raisins</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Chopped apples. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">(I typically just play it straight but sometimes it is fun to change it up a bit... and as long as we are being completely honest here... I usually don't measure this step. I just throw a handful in and go with it)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"> (ok seriously... just so there are no delusions here... I do not sift and fold! I just dump everything in together and mix it all (medium speed) up but if you feel so inclined... do what you need to do... I promise it will taste the same in the end)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Decide if you want 1 big loaf or 2 smaller loaves (I usually do 2 small-medium loaves ... 2 smaller loaves allow for pacing. One for now ... and one for later).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Using either butter or non-stick spray, coat the inside of your pans (bottom and sides)... I do this step even when using non-stick pans or baking stone loaf pans where this step is not needed.... but do it... yummy things will happen. Ok to use disposable metal pans too... great to give one to your neighbors who will no doubt comment on the incredible new smell wafting from your house!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Then dust the pans with sugar... yes... sugar... NOT flour! Just dump in a bit of sugar, tap and tilt the pan until the sugar sticks to the sides and bottom of the pan. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Pour in your batter. sprinkle a bit of cinnamon and sugar on the top of the batter before putting into the oven.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes***... about 15 minutes more for one large loaf. The bread should begin to pull away from the sides of the pan a bit and if you poke the center with a fork (or other sharp implement) it should come out clean.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">***Now for those of you who have ovens that really work and really bake at the temperature they say they do and actually have a pre-heat feature...please keep in mind that I do not. So please note that baking times may vary.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
</span></div></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Eat and enjoy. </span>raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787907076803945372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4637122848479897687.post-17490571616710515492010-08-11T11:08:00.000-05:002010-08-11T11:08:47.816-05:00rare sighting: 14 years in the making<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/TGLGZXjSA-I/AAAAAAAACAc/Wgc04aLXL7o/s1600/raeandpat" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="331" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/TGLGZXjSA-I/AAAAAAAACAc/Wgc04aLXL7o/s400/raeandpat" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I feel inclined to post this picture due the rarity of its nature. Here you will see both Pat and I in the same picture... actually touching, both smiling, both with our eyes open, both looking remarkably un-constipated and sober and no one is holding rabbit ears behind our heads!!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Now just sit back and take it all in... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">On August 10th we celebrated 14 years of wedded bliss and in that 14 years I can probably show with one hand the number of pictures that meet the above criteria. So enjoy this rare treasure and please do your best to refrain from photoshopping in pirate mustaches and goatees... (which is a bit more our style I will admit)... and just stare in wide-eye wonder at this oddity before you....LOL. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I love you honey... can't wait to see what the next 14 years has to bring!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div>raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787907076803945372noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4637122848479897687.post-4590214257565892772010-07-06T08:06:00.000-05:002010-07-06T08:06:26.171-05:00and one month later...<div style="text-align: justify;">OMG... so I just realized that is has been over a month since my last post... Seriously... where does the time go??? </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It has been a crazy month full of laughs and tears, hellos <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(welcome to the family baby "Muddus")</span> and good-byes <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(love you always Grandma Powell)</span>, a broken bone, family, friends, baseball, a cub scout camp out, skateboarding, swim lessons, we got new phones... finally, therapies, 2 trips to Michigan and I am now noticing... several blog drafts that never made it to posting. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Just know that we are all alive and well and have found these things to be true... Coffee is good. Wine is good-er. Coffee or wine with good friends is good-er-er. My children have NOT perfected the fine art of sleeping in and their names have officially been changed to <i>Button Pusher</i>, <i>Instigator</i> and <i>Naughty</i>... Patrick now answers to <i>Enabler. </i>Yes, seriously! Food cooked on the grill always tastes better. Kittens don't need to walk when they have a 2 year old who carries them everywhere. Legos, even really small ones, can tear the skin off a calloused heal when stepped upon. Sponge Bob Squarepants has an unholy grip on my children (I am not proud of this). iphones ROCK <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(comparatively speaking, any phone that was replacing my 7 year old dinosaur of a phone would have been awesome... but I LOVE my iphone). </span>It is possible to work a 30 hour day. AND... it is inevitable that when applying spray on sunscreen to yourself you will miss at least one spot... especially if it is windy.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The next week is going to fly by as I am getting prepared for the UL Convention... OMG I am so excited. I just need to fine-tune my presentation just a bit and avoid the urge to over pack. But once I return our normally scheduled program will return (with pictures)!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br />
</i></div><i><br />
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</i>raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787907076803945372noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4637122848479897687.post-45603375400030495042010-06-08T11:18:00.001-05:002010-06-08T11:18:52.096-05:00uppercase living convention teaser...<div style="text-align: justify;">OMG...OMG... OMG... Look what arrived this morning... wouldn't you all like to know what's inside... tee hee hee [insert evil laugh here] Well, I will tell you... it is full of goodies from Uppercase Living that I will be using to create some fabulous and creative displays for the Uppercase Living convention in July (and fingers crossed I think there is another box yet to arrive??? Jaron... call me!!!). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/TA5qE5CZ7XI/AAAAAAAACAU/LYPURYOcwCg/s1600/IMG_4740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/TA5qE5CZ7XI/AAAAAAAACAU/LYPURYOcwCg/s400/IMG_4740.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am so excited to have been selected as one of the <i>Creativity Segment Presenters</i> for convention this year. This is such an incredible honor and opportunity! Along with my fancy new title comes <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">top secret</span></b></span> information about some new Uppercase Living products that will be revealed at Convention and appear in the new Fall/Winter Uppercase Living catalog... (and some of them are inside those boxes!!!)<br />
<br />
So let your imaginations run wild thinking about what is inside those boxes.... go on... think big... think fabulous... think amazing... because Uppercase Living did!!! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Convention goers... prepare yourselves to be wowed! All lovers of Uppercase Living... be prepared for some amazing new expressions and accessories that are sure to blow you away... book your parties now to be the first kids on the block to get your hands on the new catalog!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">And also don't forget that the Summer Splash incentive is running now through July 12th... <b>BUY ONE GET ONE FREE</b>! You can contact me or check out my </span><a href="http://rjcollins.uppercaseliving.net/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">website</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"> for more info. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div>raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787907076803945372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4637122848479897687.post-69496578074037354252010-05-21T07:29:00.000-05:002010-05-21T07:29:29.590-05:00gotcha day<div style="text-align: justify;">The boys are beyond excited that the kitties are finally home to stay. I picked them up yesterday afternoon and they are so adorable. They play together and with us and they sleep in a heap of orange and white fluff. There have been lessons on holding and lifting and so far so good. Sean does not think that kitties should be allowed to walk anywhere and Sam likes to point out their eyes and noses and Andrew likes to play with them. Andrew was up (far from stealth) at zero-dark hundred hours this morning to play with the kitties but they had a good night and appear to be adjusting well to their new home. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S_Z4lM9GE6I/AAAAAAAACAM/XN28W30oD3M/s1600/Photo+67.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S_Z4lM9GE6I/AAAAAAAACAM/XN28W30oD3M/s400/Photo+67.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You can barely tell them apart, but if you look real close you can tell that one is every so slightly darker than the other and the "M" on his forehead is more prominent. The darker one is Cooper and the lighter one is Kitty 2. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S_Z4fU8wYzI/AAAAAAAACAE/BTuo3NQdk9Y/s1600/IMG_4709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S_Z4fU8wYzI/AAAAAAAACAE/BTuo3NQdk9Y/s400/IMG_4709.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787907076803945372noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4637122848479897687.post-89633299744576273522010-05-19T19:33:00.004-05:002010-05-19T23:17:12.567-05:00and this is the bow that Patrick made...<div style="text-align: justify;">OK... if you don't hear from me in awhile it will be because Patrick has confiscated my computer or worse...tossed it out the window... to avoid the humiliation resulting from future posts of a similar nature. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">For starters (I will start with the really-super-cool-awesome reason that brought me to this post and slowly lead into the more embarrassing stuff) I have been selected as a Creative Segment presenter at the upcoming Uppercase Living Convention in July. OMG!!! I am sooo excited. This is such an honor, however after signing the non-disclosure agreement my lips are sealed! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">However... that brings me to the stuff I CAN talk about. Long story short... before even being selected to present at convention, I told a fellow Uppercase Living demonstrator and convention roommate that I would help her with her bow-tying woes. (BTW... I will not be presenting about bows...LOL) Well one thing led to another and now there seems to be a cult movement of sorts and a little one-on-one demo has turned into a room full of women and few pitchers of margaritas. I think it is great that so many people want to exchange ideas and I am really looking forward to it. I have several different ways to tie bows and knots but with such a crowd I want to make sure that I could teach this to the masses. The techniques are quite simple and the results can be pretty dramatic. I could do this in my sleep, but in a room full of women armed with scissors I wanted to make sure that this seemingly easy task does not get out of hand...LOL.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then a bit of panic set in... but only for a moment... and then I got an idea.... I will teach Patrick to tie a bow. Yes, Patrick, my husband who does not have a creative bone in his body and would rather dig ditches naked in manure than be caught tying bows (so as to keep manliness intact I will mention that he was threatened into this and he was made to conform under duress). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So with much grumbling... this is the bow that Patrick made.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S_SAC2HY7fI/AAAAAAAAB_w/k9dJleTGP_w/s1600/IMG_4701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S_SAC2HY7fI/AAAAAAAAB_w/k9dJleTGP_w/s400/IMG_4701.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Not too shabby! Of course to make it even more painful I made him use the sparkly ribbon... of course. Now don't go pegging me for a sadist... there a method behind my madness. My thought was that if I could get Patrick to tie a decent bow in 10 minutes or less then I would have no problems with a room full of eager bow-challenged women. Seriously... if Patrick can tie a bow like this just imagine the bow-tying frenzy that will follow! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S_SAEvCCgGI/AAAAAAAAB_4/suEXucJcKuU/s1600/IMG_4704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S_SAEvCCgGI/AAAAAAAAB_4/suEXucJcKuU/s400/IMG_4704.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="300" /></a></div><br />
...and here is proof (and might I add wearing his marine corps tee shirt no less)! Real men do tie bows!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">(thank you honey for being such a good sport xxoo)</div>raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787907076803945372noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4637122848479897687.post-43703812518774617052010-05-15T21:25:00.001-05:002010-05-16T08:04:40.555-05:00#5 in your program... #1 in your heart!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"> Today was Sam's first Challenger baseball game of the year. At first I think he was a bit disappointed because there was no mud on the field (there is usually more mud than field)... but he found a way to get dirty anyway. Sam still does not want to wear his hat, batting helmet and will only occasionally agree to wear his mitt but I am pleased to say that he stayed on the field the entire game. Pat got a work out but Sam didn't escape once and he didn't throw any balls into the road... the 8 foot fence worked to our advantage. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I think Sam gets bored in the field and would rather play in the dirt but he seems to have caught on to base running. In his own round-about way he makes it to first base and eventually all the way around... he even slid into home plate! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">WTG Challengers!!!! Great game today!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">checking out the field</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S-9TcF-aPfI/AAAAAAAAB-o/4Uber0z7Ykg/s1600/IMG_4667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S-9TcF-aPfI/AAAAAAAAB-o/4Uber0z7Ykg/s400/IMG_4667.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">play ball</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S-9TeA4aKmI/AAAAAAAAB-w/Ks-pRFItMWc/s1600/IMG_4672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S-9TeA4aKmI/AAAAAAAAB-w/Ks-pRFItMWc/s400/IMG_4672.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">choosing a bat</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S-9Tn4HdC7I/AAAAAAAAB_Q/kf5E6-AEHSg/s1600/IMG_4682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S-9Tn4HdC7I/AAAAAAAAB_Q/kf5E6-AEHSg/s400/IMG_4682.JPG" width="262" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">keep your eye on the ball</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S-9Ti3iVAEI/AAAAAAAAB_A/kTAjIHD1hf4/s1600/IMG_4677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S-9Ti3iVAEI/AAAAAAAAB_A/kTAjIHD1hf4/s400/IMG_4677.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">slugger</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S-9TgiLyYKI/AAAAAAAAB-4/lhBFAinTbr4/s1600/IMG_4675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S-9TgiLyYKI/AAAAAAAAB-4/lhBFAinTbr4/s400/IMG_4675.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">look at that form!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S-9Tlz5rRwI/AAAAAAAAB_I/qiORF1e7sas/s1600/IMG_4679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S-9Tlz5rRwI/AAAAAAAAB_I/qiORF1e7sas/s400/IMG_4679.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">running... bases</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S-9Tq17EeeI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/NjGbjp0kY6U/s1600/IMG_4685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S-9Tq17EeeI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/NjGbjp0kY6U/s400/IMG_4685.JPG" width="322" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">safe on first</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S-9TuBNY_sI/AAAAAAAAB_g/NXQbxW4gzQw/s1600/IMG_4686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S-9TuBNY_sI/AAAAAAAAB_g/NXQbxW4gzQw/s400/IMG_4686.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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</div>raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787907076803945372noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4637122848479897687.post-74844578338896574412010-05-10T06:56:00.003-05:002010-05-10T07:05:09.703-05:00a busy weekend in three short chapters...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chapater 1</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mother's Day program at Andrew's school. There was singing and poems read and fabulous art work and all the mothers were all served cookies and lemonade. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S-d6NOJM4XI/AAAAAAAAB9o/pU46GvzKBF8/s1600/IMG_4644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S-d6NOJM4XI/AAAAAAAAB9o/pU46GvzKBF8/s400/IMG_4644.JPG" width="322" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S-d6QOzsLVI/AAAAAAAAB9w/eVHQ1qd0fGg/s1600/IMG_4646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S-d6QOzsLVI/AAAAAAAAB9w/eVHQ1qd0fGg/s400/IMG_4646.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chapter 2</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Andrew's First Communion at Prince of Peace Catholic Church. Andrew was chosen to be one of the children to bring up the host for the mass. He did a wonderful job and he looked so very handsome in his suit. After the Mass we went to the Olive Garden for lunch (Andrew's choice) and had a really nice afternoon with family.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S-d6Sr54lKI/AAAAAAAAB94/9lBBk3yY22Q/s1600/IMG_4651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S-d6Sr54lKI/AAAAAAAAB94/9lBBk3yY22Q/s400/IMG_4651.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S-d6V-EM84I/AAAAAAAAB-A/urM0jW1fbDU/s1600/IMG_4652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S-d6V-EM84I/AAAAAAAAB-A/urM0jW1fbDU/s400/IMG_4652.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S-d6Z-emdTI/AAAAAAAAB-I/8XA36fXMsuM/s1600/IMG_4653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S-d6Z-emdTI/AAAAAAAAB-I/8XA36fXMsuM/s400/IMG_4653.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S-d6eCiW2bI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/oocnFr4Kxi4/s1600/IMG_4656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S-d6eCiW2bI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/oocnFr4Kxi4/s400/IMG_4656.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chapter 3</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mother's Day. Since Grandma Moore (and Papa Moore too) and Grandma Mema were here for Andrew's First Communion I was able to take my mom and MIL to get pedicures. Now we all have pretty feet and painted toes. ***OK... we will use the term "pretty" loosely LOL but they are painted all the same*** Pat cooked ribs on the grill, we went for a walk and the boys went fishing and everyone had a nice day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was a very nice weekend. </div>raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787907076803945372noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4637122848479897687.post-47276120475920139432010-05-05T20:29:00.000-05:002010-05-05T20:29:19.961-05:00take me out to the ballpark...<div style="text-align: justify;">So let me set the scene...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is a warm summer evening and there is a nice breeze. The baseball field is full of kids of all abilities playing catch and getting serious about their sport....Challenger baseball!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sam is at baseball practice and his Dad is his buddy and is coaxing him to participate. I am standing some distance away at a small playground area with Andrew, Sean and a few other kids. All the Challenger baseball kids, of all abilities, have partnered up and are throwing balls back and forth. Sam is running in the grass and has more interest in making Pat run after balls than an actual game of catch.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">From a distance I am watching Sam run bases... his way (which is just another way of saying that Sam was running around a lot with no real direction). He is stealing other kids balls and throwing them in every direction. I really think that the idea of playing catch completely escapes him... either that or he just likes to watch people run after balls. Pat has no doubt broken a sweat at this point. Sam (AKA The Grounds Keeper) is all over the field. At one point I hear the coach yell "WE HAVE A RUNNER" as I turn to look and see that Sam has gotten out of the fenced area and is running full tilt towards the road. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This has become a game of sorts.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">He waits until he thinks no one is paying attention and then he bolts. His giggles are that of a child who wants to get caught... but not before he lets you know that the score is Sam 1, parent-unaware 0. I am sure this was much more comical from a distance where I got to see the whole scene unfold. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sam started making his way toward the gate. Bigger kids moved out of the way and actually assisted him to navigate the bats and helmets that slowed his progress a bit. And then he shifted into 4th gear. I hear the coach yell. I see Pat who was helping another kid bat, spring up and scan the field only to realize that Sam was gone. Just as Sam reached the street Pat scooped him up and brought him back inside the fence. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now Sam has a mission. He is now determined that he will make it to the street. And now another idea occurs to him.... if I can't go into the street I can make others go into the street.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So now I see Sam pick up a ball and throw it. Not to anyone in particular but a good throw all the same. He then walks over to his ball, picks it up and throws it again. Good job Sam, I am thinking. Slowly but surely he is making his way across the field... until he reaches the fence. He then tosses the ball over the fence and into the road. Cars are breaking, adults are running and Sam is quite pleased with himself. Over the course of the practice Sam threw 2 balls into the street and escaped 3 times. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">About 3/4 of the way through practice Sam is DONE. He is exhausted from all the "base running". He makes another break for it and starts to head over towards the small playground, takes a brief break at the swings and then takes off towards a concrete area that is behind the school. I try to coax him back to the game but he is... done. Sam is a master of the famous "stop, drop and flop" and he executes this perfectly making it impossible for me to lift him. As if to tell me that he is not moving another inch... he rolls to his back and puts his hands behind his head and just lounges there on the hard cement. He has had a good day, a fun practice and now he is pooped out. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Briefly he joins the team again but under protest. With very little cooperation from Sam we get him, Andrew and Sean loaded into the van. With practice over we are headed home for baths and bed. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another great practice.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div>raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787907076803945372noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4637122848479897687.post-4961566679368964542010-04-30T14:53:00.001-05:002010-04-30T14:54:42.633-05:00you can't take just one!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">OK... seriously... I can hardly stand how cute these babies are. Sadly, Garth's passing has left a hole in our family. And like Garth, all our cats have sort of found us. However, in this case I have been on the hunt but I knew that the right cat would find its way to us. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">So I posted a little plea on facebook and literally seconds later I got a response that there were some available kittens in need of a good home. You will notice that we are going in a new direction this time... as all our past cats (Nikki, Krammer and Garth) were all black. In the beginning that was a stipulation enforced by Pat... "the cat must be all black"... as if he thought there was a shortage of black cats, therefore reducing the likelihood of us getting one. Obviously his plan backfired as I never had any problems finding black cats. However, these yellow-delightful balls of fluff are going to do just fine. So I went over today to take a peek. It was an done deal!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We will be adopting 2... the one Sean is holding and another one of the same sex (whatever that may be). But don't tell Pat... he as agreed to 1 but I am sure that he will soon realize the logic of having two. Of course it will have been his idea all along (to adopt 2 kittens) and we will all acknowledge his keen foresight, generosity and humanitarian obligation. LOL. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">As of right now Sean has named his cat "Kitty 2" (gonna have to work on that)... they won't be ready to leave their mother for a few more weeks so that will give us some time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S9sw1oRvcKI/AAAAAAAAB9Q/pQZ6k9RbIDE/s1600/IMG_4622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S9sw1oRvcKI/AAAAAAAAB9Q/pQZ6k9RbIDE/s320/IMG_4622.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S9sw3diufnI/AAAAAAAAB9Y/qaLUcaoCSS8/s1600/IMG_4624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S9sw3diufnI/AAAAAAAAB9Y/qaLUcaoCSS8/s320/IMG_4624.JPG" /></a>raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787907076803945372noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4637122848479897687.post-38604794440555299742010-04-22T12:32:00.000-05:002010-04-22T12:32:05.539-05:00Good-Kitty Garth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S9CGRifMKoI/AAAAAAAAB8o/qFz4Rfu-7jE/s1600/141-4152_IMG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S9CGRifMKoI/AAAAAAAAB8o/qFz4Rfu-7jE/s320/141-4152_IMG.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Last night I made a hard decision that I know was for the best but my heart is still breaking. For the past several weeks our cat has been vomiting and has been getting slowly worse. Changing his diet and other interventions didn't help any but the last straw was when I saw him struggling to get up the steps. My heart sank and I knew what had to be done but it is such a hard call to make.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Garth has been with us since I was 6 months pregnant with Andrew. He used to sleep on my hip every night and purr. He only did this when I was pregnant and we actually joked about this when Garth started sleeping on my chest before I found out I was pregnant with Sean. He knew before we did. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Garth was a stray that used to hang around my parent's house and sleep on my uncle's roof. Pat did NOT want another cat but he said that if the cat was around when we were ready to leave we could take him back home with us. I know he was thinking that we would never see that cat again... well almost on cue Garth came out from under a car and started figure eights around Pat's legs. And he has been with us ever since.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">He was such a good cat with a silky black coat and crazy yellow eyes. He had all of his claws and never once lashed out at my boys with his claws out. Now that is saying a lot if you know how they toted him around and "loved" him. If they got to rough he would come over and bite me! He was gentle and playful and a really wonderful part of our family. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So as I hunt around for more kleenex I can tell you that although it was so very hard to make the final decision to put him to rest I think it would have been so much harder to watch him get any worse. The boys all got their chance to say good-bye and even Sam and Sean realized the gravity of the situation. Sam gave him kisses and rubbed his ear and Sean pointed out his eyes and nose and Andrew told him how much he loved him and would never forget him.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So may you rest in peace good-kitty Garth we love you and miss you. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Garth </div><div style="text-align: center;">RIP 4/21/10</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S9CGUV_3soI/AAAAAAAAB8w/5E3yAaW88ds/s1600/arc2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PFM3EaZQuxw/S9CGUV_3soI/AAAAAAAAB8w/5E3yAaW88ds/s320/arc2.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>raehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03787907076803945372noreply@blogger.com2