tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19380982113141603212024-03-13T22:01:42.325-05:00David ChristopherSamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891376501306160935noreply@blogger.comBlogger90125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938098211314160321.post-2047617612690516772011-11-26T15:55:00.002-06:002011-11-26T15:56:42.245-06:00David's School Picture Fall 2011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzXxlazLNpKSXfolX2x9QWBaa1vCN_gqdETRJ-_Src7uM6F55Ey55Vs32OOB5hY2Gu_Xvj5wtF2Cm1GwNmc6LAotNJhsXkZVxl8ajXt9NOzTyuX1z5_nffahU0Dw3yWDW0tQn_J546tE/s1600/Scan+1.tiff"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 277px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzXxlazLNpKSXfolX2x9QWBaa1vCN_gqdETRJ-_Src7uM6F55Ey55Vs32OOB5hY2Gu_Xvj5wtF2Cm1GwNmc6LAotNJhsXkZVxl8ajXt9NOzTyuX1z5_nffahU0Dw3yWDW0tQn_J546tE/s400/Scan+1.tiff" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679426786469292722" border="0" /></a>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891376501306160935noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938098211314160321.post-14937828738797534122010-05-30T15:52:00.002-05:002010-05-30T16:28:58.999-05:00It's finally summer!What a crazy year it's been so far. I didn't think we'd ever get out of winter. Every time I thought there might be a chance, the forecast would call for snow again.<br />But it's finally nice outside. And David's out for summer vacation - he only has one more year of PPCD before we have to decide what comes next.<br /><br />Let's see.<br /><br />My parent teacher conference with David's teacher was in January. I came out with lots of new ideas to work on in the future. Some of them include working on tearing apart velcro (to build strength in his hands) cutting paper, techniques on how to hold his hand so he can hold a pencil correctly, stringing beads with yarn, introducing him to different textures like shaving cream.<br /><br />One idea I really liked was freezing a small object (like a small plastic letter or something) in ice and letting him figure out how to get it out. She said alot of what they work on this year is problem solving.<br /><br />The same day, David had an appointment with the eye doctor. Which came just in time because he officially BROKE his glasses a few weeks before that. As in, broke them so bad they couldn't be fixed. So we went in and tried on new glasses.<br /><br />David's teachers recommended me getting David some plastic frames instead of the wire ones. They said he would probably wear them better. So that's what we got.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/January2010/glasses2.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/January2010/glasses1.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Those glasses worked for about three weeks before he broke them. Now we have a pair of glasses that are made out of rubber - they're called <a href="http://miraflex.info/">MiraFlex</a> and they don't break. The Division of the Blind was kind enough to buy us a pair. Hopefully they'll hang in there for a while. There are some pictures of him wearing those down further.<br /><br />Here's a picture of David after bathtime <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/December2009/david.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Our winter was seriously crazy this year. Here's a couple of shots of *one* snow storm we had.<br /><div class="postcolor"> <img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/January2010/DSC01982.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/January2010/DSC01980.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Every once in a while we would have a warm day thrown in there, but it was enough to be able to come outside and play, if only briefly.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/DSC02009.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/DSC02005.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/DSC02002.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Here's some pictures from David's Valentine's Day party:<br />The whole class<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/DSC01991.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/DSC01994.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Ms Grooms<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/DSC01995.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br />Ms Davis<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/DSC01998.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br />Ms Hernandez<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/DSC02000.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />In March, I had a meeting with David's therapists. There's good news, and there's bad news.<br /><br />The good news is, David's really blossoming in his speech! He's repeating more and more and is starting to use words in an appropriate manner. He's also eating really well and, just in the last 6 months, drinking really well. They were really pleased with how well he's doing in speech therapy.<br /><br />More good news, David's doing really well during the physical therapy sessions they have in the pool. He's no longer in an inner-tube floating thing, he's just in a life jacket, and they don't have to hold on to him at all. They said that the pool helps him realize where his body is in space, which will help him have better balance when walking. Plus, they can work on things like jumping in there. He also gets speech in the pool once a week - which means a full hour in the pool - and they say that he talks soo much when he's in there.<br /><br />The bad news is, in a twelve month period, David has only improved one month for occupational therapy. Occupational therapy involves fine motor skills, such as threading a shoelace through a bead, or putting together a puzzle. They said his attention span just isn't long enough to be able to do anything productive during the sessions.<br /><br />They said that children will typically blossom in one area at a time - for instance, while a child is learning to crawl, walk, etc, they typically will not begin talking at the same time. Because of this, and the fact that he is doing sooo well in speech, they've decided to take him out of occupational therapy for right now. They also said that insurance will stop paying for the therapy if they cannot show that he is making improvement. So, instead of insurance saying "No more!" they've decided to stop it themselves, and reevaluate in 90 days or so. Once his attention span become better, they will pick him back up.<br /><br />Also, because he's doing so well in physical therapy in the pool, they've cut out one session of physical therapy a week - so now, instead of doing one session on land and one in the pool, they're only going to do one in the pool.<br /><br />Sooo... I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, they're the experts. If they think that giving him a break from the occupational therapy for now will help him in the long run... then who am I to argue? On the other hand, I feel like I should be doing everything possible to help him, and cutting his therapy, when he is already so far behind in that particular subject, seems counter productive. To me, it's almost like saying "You're failing math. Therefore, you don't have to take it anymore."<br /><br />Anyways. I'm going to try and enroll him in music therapy too because I think he would REALLY like that. But, I'm not sure how the insurance will work with that, and I don't know what they charge. I'm waiting on a phone call back from the lady that does it.<br /><br />We also had a well visit in March. David is up to 34 pounds (yay!) and is 3ft, 4.5 inches tall. The doctor was VERY pleased with how he's gained weight, even with reducing the amount of formula we give him through his button. So, she suggested we cut out an additional formula feeding, and we go back in June to make sure he hasn't lost weight. So now, we're down to 18 ounces of formula a day - down from 42, which is where he was this time last year!! Hopefully soon, we'll be able to cut those out completely. Once that is done, and we can make him take his medicines by mouth, we can take out the button!!!! EEK!!<br /><br />She is also going to look into ways to get kids off of Baclofen without making them withdraw (David is on Baclofen for his cerebral palsy - it's basically a muscle relaxer, and helps him not be so tight.) She said after she evaluated him, his muscles weren't tight at all and she thinks we may be able to go down to only taking it twice a day, instead of four times a day. That would be great! Currently, we're down to Baclofen four times a day, and Clonodine once a day. She said that we can slowly wean his Clonodine also. So... yay!<br /><br />Here's just some random pictures:<br />At the park<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/IMG_0860.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />At the doctor's office for his hand - he got what I originally thought was a misquito bite, but after his hand got very swollen and Benadryl wouldn't help, I took him in - come to find out, he had a spider bite that turned into cellulitis. He's on antibiotics now and is fine.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/IMG_0853.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />I wanted to get some good shots of him before pictures in case his school pictures turned out bad:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/IMG_0796.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/IMG_0791.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Which, they didn't. Here are his school pictures:<br /><div class="postcolor"> <img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/DSC02084.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />This cracks me up - not one single kid is doing what they are supposed to be doing. <!--emo&ROFL--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/DSC02086.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /> </div><br /><br />Busy.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/IMG_0785.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Swimming in the pool at therapy - he can swim so good! He's only wearing a life jacket, and if you throw a toy to the other side of the pool, he can wiggle and move his little body and get over there and get it! <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--> <br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/IMG_0776.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/IMG_0773.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Another therapy shot<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/IMG_0690.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Asleep at lunch. <!--emo&ROFL--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/IMG_0769.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Just cute<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/IMG_0760.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/IMG_0758.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/IMG_0713.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/IMG_0515.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />At the beginning of May, David went to the dentist's office. It did not go well.<br /><br />David had a big giant huge fit. He was terrified when they put on gloves and started trying to mess with his face with a big bright light shining in his eyes.<br /><br />It took me and JoAnn, plus two dental assistants to hold David down so they could look in his mouth.<br /><br />Poor kid. I don't blame him, really. The only time anyone has ever put on gloves to touch him is when they planned on sticking him or doing something painful. He didn't understand.<br /><br />But, they said that his teeth looked good. They said that their main concern was that when children have to take alot of inhaled medicines like David does for his lung issues, that sometimes it will make their teeth weak and brittle. But they said that his teeth were really strong and there weren't any visible cavities or discoloration.<br /><br />So that's good news. <!--emo&:thumbsup:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_11%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_11%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><br /><br />Here's some Easter Egg fun:<br /><div class="postcolor"> <img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/DSC02043.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/DSC02035.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/DSC02029.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />David and Daddy playing on his new swingset<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/DSC02055.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br />A short video<br /><a id="link_1" href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/?action=view&current=MOV02063.flv" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/th_MOV02063.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /></a><br /><br />David's last day of school was Friday. On Thursday, we had his "graduation." David's teacher called me at like 845am that day and said "David's asleep in the nurses office, just so you know." <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><br />Apparently they let him sleep the whole time (about two hours) because when I got there, here's what I found:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/DSC02065.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />He was still pretty sleepy during the ceremony.In this picture, from left to right: Jordan, Isaac, Julian, Reese, David, CJ, Joshua, Ever, and Diego<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/DSC02068.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />"Graduating" from his second year of pre-school<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/DSC02071.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Ms Hernandez<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/DSC02074.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Ms Davis<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/DSC02077.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Ms Grooms<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/DSC02075.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />David and all three of his teachers<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/May2010/DSC02078.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /> </div><br /> </div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891376501306160935noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938098211314160321.post-28460126006711379332010-01-22T18:11:00.001-06:002010-01-22T18:14:20.800-06:00“Love is the harmony of two souls singing together.”<span class="postcolor"><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/January2010/?action=view&current=MOV01973.flv" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/January2010/th_MOV01973.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /></a></span>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891376501306160935noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938098211314160321.post-22819790322340712072010-01-16T18:59:00.001-06:002010-01-16T18:59:56.268-06:00Haircuts and 3-D glassesIt had been a while since David's last haircut... and it was torture every morning having to comb through this mess! I don't know if he sleeps especially hard or what, but his hair looked like a rats nest every morning<!--emo&:HAHA:--> <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/January2010/DSC01951.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/January2010/DSC01958.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />So, Javier finally cut his hair.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/January2010/DSC01960.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />So much better!!!<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/January2010/DSC01961.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/January2010/DSC01964.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />David found the 3-D glasses from the movie Avatar that we went to see recently... and adopted them as his own. Please tell me why he'll wear THESE but not his???<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/January2010/DSC01968.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/January2010/DSC01969.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/January2010/DSC01970.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2010/January2010/DSC01972.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo-->Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891376501306160935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938098211314160321.post-68316791790045926792009-12-26T16:53:00.002-06:002009-12-26T17:04:41.379-06:00Merry Christmas!!!I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. Ours was alot of fun....but at the same time, I'm really glad it's over LOL<br /><br />Here's some pictures that we took of David for Christmas cards. Out of about 150 pictures we managed to get six decent ones LOL<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/December2009/IMG_0685.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/December2009/IMG_0598.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/December2009/IMG_0607.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/December2009/IMG_0642.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/December2009/IMG_0661.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/December2009/IMG_0597.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/December2009/Collage.png" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Christmas Eve we opened presents at home. David did really good! This is the first time he's actually shown interest in what was under the paper.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/December2009/IMG_0722.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />I got him a Doodle Pro so that we can work on writing his name without him trying to grab the paper <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/December2009/IMG_0724.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/December2009/IMG_0719.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Amongst other things, here's some of his presents -<br /><br />JoAnn got him Leggos.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/December2009/IMG_0713.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />This was, by far, his favorite gift. It's some sort of ferret or something that's attached to this battery operated ball that rolls around - it's kinda cute! Unfortunately, David opened this one almost first, so I had to really work for his attention to get the rest of them opened.<!--emo&:HAHA:--> <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/December2009/IMG_0730.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/December2009/IMG_0707.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />He got some motorcycle racers from Grandma and Grandpa<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/December2009/IMG_0699.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />And a laptop computer from Javier's parents<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/December2009/IMG_0692.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />My living room was SUCH a mess when we were finished!<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/December2009/IMG_0738.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />The on Christmas, we went to Meme's to open a few more gifts and to have Christmas dinner. Here's a picture of my nephew Jaxon.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/December2009/DSC01945.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />And Jaxon with his "brudder"<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/December2009/DSC01949.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/December2009/IMG_0729.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Here's some pictures from one of the snow days we had:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/DSC01909.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/DSC01913.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Here's a picture of David after bathtime <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/December2009/david.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />...and since it's likely I won't update this again in 2009 - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891376501306160935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938098211314160321.post-33558740208141798902009-10-24T22:17:00.004-05:002009-10-24T22:38:34.961-05:00<span class="postcolor"></span>Dear World,<br /><br /><br />My son starts school today. It's going to be strange and new to him for a while and I wish you would sort of treat him gently. You see, up to now, he's been King of the Roost. He's been boss of the backyard. I have always been around to repair his wounds and to soothe his feelings.<br /><br />But now, things are going to be different.<br /><br />Today, he's going to walk down the front steps, wave his hand and start on his great adventure that will probably include wars and tragedy and sorrow.<br /><br />To live his life in the world he has to live in will require faith, love, and courage.<br /><br />So, World, I wish you would sort of take him by his young hand and teach him the things he will have to know. Teach him but teach him gently, if you can.<br /><br />Teach him that for every scoundrel there is a hero; that for every crooked politician there is a dedicated leader; that for every enemy there is a friend.<br /><br />Teach him the wonders of books.<br /><br />Give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and flowers on the green hill.<br /><br />Teach him that it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat.<br /><br />Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone else tells him they are wrong.<br /><br />Teach him to sell his brawn and brains to the hightest bidder, but never to put a price on his heart and soul.<br /><br />Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob and to stand and fight if he thinks he's right.<br /><br />Teach him gently, World, but don't coddle him because only the test of fires make fine steel.<br /><br />This is a big order, World, but see what you can do. He's such a nice little fellow.<br /><br /><br />- Author Unknown<br /><br />*******************************************<br />So we're a couple of months into school now and it's going really well for David. He's already been on two field trips, one to the fair and one to the firehouse. I unfortunately have not been able to go on either of them because I'm in training (*GIANT eyeroll*)<br /><br />Also, we're working on potty training and David now goes to school each morning in big boy underwear <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_1%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_1%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><br /><br />Of course, that's not saying he comes home in the same pair... like... ever. But we're working on it.<br /><br /><br />Here's some pictures from the NICU reunion<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/September/DSC01805.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/September/DSC01815.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Kylee's birthday party<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/September/DSC01848.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/September/DSC01850.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/September/DSC01853.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><span class="postcolor"><br /><br />Smile!!<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/IMG_0351.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/IMG_0356.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/IMG_0355.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/IMG_0354.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /></span><div class="postcolor"> <img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/September/web.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /> </div><br /><span class="postcolor"><br />I've been trying to get him more comfortable with wearing his helmet... but he hates it <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/IMG_0237.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/IMG_0241.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Here's David, eating breakfast, on the first day of school<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/IMG_0216.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Some sweet David & Daddy pictures<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/IMG_0320.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/IMG_0306.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/IMG_0266.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/DSC01886.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Relaxing...<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/IMG_0321.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/IMG_0362.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/IMG_0206.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/DSC01885.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />This was a sweet little kitten that showed up on our porch one day... he stuck around for about a week and then left and we haven't seen it since. I miss it though, it was soooo sweet!!!<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/IMG_0167.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Trying to dress/undress himself<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/IMG_0171.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/IMG_0169.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/IMG_0255.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Shopping for new clothes at Burlingtons<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/IMG_0288.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Sweet angel? Right...<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/IMG_0260.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Just playing<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/IMG_0305.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/IMG_0280.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/IMG_0174.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/IMG_0264.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/DSC01876.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Couple of miscellaneous pics...<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/DSC01864.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/DSC01862.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Some preview Halloween pictures...<br /><br />"helping" to carve the pumpkin<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/DSC01899.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/DSC01897.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/DSC01892.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/DSC01891.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/IMG_0371.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />***Just as a comparison, look at the difference from 2007<br /></span><br /> <span class="postcolor"> </span><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2007/October2007/IMG_5515.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><span class="postcolor"><br />What a handsome fireman!!<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/DSC01890.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/October/DSC01888.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />David had the flu last week. Boy, was I scared...especially with all the <a href="http://doihaveswineflu.org/">swine flu</a> panic that's been going on. He's had to be out of school and therapy since last Monday, but he seems to be all better now, and hasn't ran a fever all weekend. I'm so relieved... last time he got influenza he ran a fever of 105 for like 7 days straight and we were hospitalized for about a week. It was miserable. This time was *so* much better.<br /></span>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891376501306160935noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938098211314160321.post-49692285468377890032009-08-19T21:23:00.003-05:002009-08-19T21:46:11.312-05:00So it's been an incredibly long time since I've made a post, and I apologize for that. My sweet, adorable child, who thinks that pushing buttons is incredibly fascinating, managed to destroy my video card and motherboard on my computer. Luckily, we had a small 10 inch laptop that I was able to use in the meantime, so I wasn't completely off the computer -- but it isn't the kind of computer that you can use to do things like store pictures and stuff on.<br />But, I'm happy to announce that my AMAZING husband got me a brand new, PINK laptop for my birthday!! YAY!!<br /><br />Anyways, what have I missed?<br /><br />Here's David with Javier on the 4th of July, lighting a sparkler. David didn't care anything about it. <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/August/DSC01663.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/August/DSC01671.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />I can't remember what happened here, but this is one of the many "owies" David got this summer<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/August/DSC01715.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />(He got into trouble for this!)<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/August/DSC01651.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/August/DSC01650.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />David and I went to visit his brother, Ricky, at the cemetary recently. We were having a nice time until the sprinklers came on <!--emo&:O--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_19_2%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_19_2%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/August/DSC01723.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Here's David and Jaxon, playing at Amy's house<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/August/DSC01729.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/August/DSC01730.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Stuck in a bucket!!!<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/August/DSC01734.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Where's David?<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/August/DSC01737.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />We went to the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum with JoAnn and my friend Cory and her husband.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/August/DSC01749.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/August/DSC01754.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/August/DSC01757.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/August/DSC01758.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/August/DSC01768.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/August/DSC01773.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />On the ride home<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/August/DSC01778.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />David turned FOUR on August 3rd. Can you believe that? Here's some pictures from the party.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/August/DSC01779.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/August/DSC01782.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/August/DSC01784.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/August/DSC01785.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/August/DSC01787.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/August/DSC01791.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/August/DSC01792.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/August/DSC01802.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Just for the sake of reminiscing.....<br /><br />Here's a look back at how far my baby has come.<br /><br />August 2005<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2005/August2005/David4.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2005/August2005/0810David04.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />August 2006<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2006/August2006/IMG_2112.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2006/August2006/IMG_2091.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />August 2007<br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2007/August2007/?action=view&current=Walking.flv" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2007/August2007/th_Walking.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /></a><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2007/August2007/IMG_5478.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2007/August2007/IMG_5328.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />August 2008<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/IMG_9110.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/DSC00048-1.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />August 2009<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/August/DSC01650.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/August/DSC01778.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />OK I think that's all the pictures for now. <!--emo&Muah--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_3_16%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_3_16%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><br /><br />As far as us, we're doing well. Javier's working on multiple projects at the moment, including an amazing website that he's built for a company called <a href="http://www.anxobodyarmor.com/">ANXO</a>. In between web design projects, he's been hired as a photographer at several events, such as quinceaneras and softball games.<br /><br />I'm also doing well. On July 9th everyone was pulled into a "Town Hall Meeting," where we were informed that Blue Cross and Blue Shield was leaving Amarillo. I think I speak for everyone who, like me, had been there since the beginning of BCBS in Amarillo, that it felt like a big giant "Screw you and all your hard work." I felt like I had been punched in the gut and kicked in the teeth. I felt incredibly betrayed, especially since we had been told over and over again how financially secure BCBS was and that, even in the recession, we had no reason to fear for our jobs.<br /><br />On that day, we were told that there were two new companies that were coming into town. At that time, only one of the companies, TMG, was prepared to offer positions within their company. However, we were told that another company, DNoA (Dental Network of America) was coming in "sometime in August" and would have positions available.<br /><br />Here's what we knew at that time: TMG was a call center only. They were open from 8a-8p, M-F - ALL year long (including holidays) During open enrollment (which is like six months out of the year,) there was a ton of necessary overtime.<br /><br />As far as DNoA was concerned, the *only* thing we knew was that there was a claims processing unit as well as a call center. And that was it. We didn't know exactly when they were coming, or what jobs they would have to offer us.<br /><br />So TMG offers me a position as a Customer Advocate. Bottom of the barrel. Which again, felt like a kick in the teeth, because I've promoted up with BCBS, but that didn't matter to TMG, they were going to put me in their company at the bottom. I was going to have to work my way back up. However, they were going to keep my pay the same, and I would keep my insurance benefits until the end of 2010. I had to make a decision.<br /><br />I'm a strong believer that sometimes your unconscious can pick up on things that your conscious isn't able to recognize. And something felt funny with TMG. I couldn't place it, and nothing was logical. TMG was offering me a job. I would keep my benefits and my pay. Or, I could wait for the unknown and hope that DNoA would have something better to offer me.<br /><br />My third option of course was to just severance out and go on unemployment, but that would mean losing my insurance.<br /><br />My biggest fear is that I would turn down the job with TMG and then DNoA would come in and offer me minimum wage - or worse - not want me as an employee at all.<br /><br />So, even though most of my peers felt pressured into taking the job at TMG, due to the recession and not wanting to risk their future, I declined the job.<br /><br />Finally, at the beginning of August, DNoA came in. They interviewed us and asked us which, out of the list of jobs available we were interested in. DNoA is *so* much like BCBS (they're the dental side of the insurance, instead of the medical side) and they offered me a Senior Claims Technician position - which is what my current job title is - and the same pay. I was so relieved I nearly cried.<br /><br />I start training on September 1st.<br /><br />And looking back, even though I was incredibly hurt and felt so betrayed, we were very lucky. We got an email the other day telling us that they closed the Palestine, TX and the Tulsa, OK offices, and would be condensing all the mailrooms to one FSU. Last I heard, there were about 700 people without a job.<br /><br />.... so there it is, the whole story! Thanks, to whoever read all this!!!Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891376501306160935noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938098211314160321.post-81320696091721426822009-05-17T20:37:00.002-05:002009-05-18T21:56:37.210-05:00Palo Duro CanyonToday Javier and I took David out to Palo Duro Canyon. It was pretty fun. Javier's taking up photography as a hobby and so he brought his camera and took alot of pictures of the scenery. It's beautiful out there! Here's a few pictures we got that had David in them.<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/May/IMG_1284.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/May/IMG_1288.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/May/IMG_1306.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/May/IMG_1328.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/May/IMG_1358.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/May/IMG_1371.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />And here are a bunch of pictures I just uploaded from my phone:<br />David riding his tricycle outside<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/May/IMG_0013.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/May/IMG_0015.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Pictures of David playing around the doctor's office<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/May/IMG_0026.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/May/IMG_0056.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Some pictures of the snow storm we had a while ago (March I believe)<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/May/IMG_0027.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/May/IMG_0029.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/May/IMG_0030.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/May/IMG_0031.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />These icicles were every bit of six feet long <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/May/IMG_0032.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/May/IMG_0009.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Here's some pictures of the party we had a few weekends ago<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/May/IMG_0048.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/May/IMG_0049.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/May/IMG_0051.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/May/IMG_0052.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/May/IMG_0053.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />David was loving all the chips <!--emo&ROFL--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/May/IMG_0055.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Here are some more pictures from the canyon... the first couple are of David and Matthew, Kevin's little boy.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/May/IMG_0083.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/May/IMG_0084.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />David was a little scared <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/May/IMG_0085.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/May/IMG_0086.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/May/IMG_0087.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Resting in a little cafe they had down there<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/May/IMG_0089.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/May/IMG_0100.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Javier was taking pictures<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/May/IMG_0094.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/May/IMG_0101.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" />Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891376501306160935noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938098211314160321.post-70504685486846684032009-05-03T19:29:00.002-05:002009-05-03T19:52:54.214-05:00Slacker!!!I admit I've been somewhat of a slacker this month with the pictures - I don't know what the deal was, but when I started to look for content to put on here I realized that I hardly have any at all!! I'll do better next month, I hope.<br />Maybe I'll blame it on the swine flu. Seems like that's all the rage nowdays anyways. Speaking of - <a href="http://doihaveswineflu.org/">find out here</a> if you have it. Haha!<br /><br />April 25th, 2009<br />Today was such a good day. I got to sleep in a little (till about nine) then David and I went out to the March of Dimes. We saw all kinds of people that we used to know - nurses that used to take care of David when he was a preemie, nurses that work for the various home health companies, people from my job, people from my sister's job. We took David's tricycle out there and he rode around the whole place on that thing. It was packed, yet David seemed to be the center of attention - I could hear people saying to their friends "look at that cute little boy on his bike!" And some people even stopped me to tell me that he was so cute, or that's such a cool little bike.<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01386.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Anyways, so that was fun. We came home and had lunch. After lunch we laid down together and cuddled while we took a nap. It was nice to get some cuddle time in and make up for all the cuddling I can't do while I'm at work.<br /><br />Then, tonight, we had a party! Javier invited a bunch of his friends, I invited some of my friends - and somehow, we ended up with at least thirty people here! We hung out in the backyard and played with the kids and Javier grilled a bunch of steaks and chicken. David had a blast with all the people - he pretty much made every person here tonight walk around the yard with him at least once<!--emo&:HAHA:--> <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><br />Anyways, I'm exhausted. There's still people here, but all of my people left. I've laughed alot today. I'm ready for bed. <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_1%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_1%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><br /><br />April 29th, 2009<br />There was a pretty big storm east of us today so my friend Cory and I got in her truck and went storm chasing! It was so fun! We stayed to the west of the storm for the most part, but still got to see some pretty neat stuff. We got kinda scared for a little while and had to stop on the side of the road and wait<!--emo&:HAHA:--> <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--> We chased until the sun went down and then enjoyed the lightning show for a little while, then headed home. I can't wait to do it again! Here's the pictures - in chronological order.<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01389.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01402.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />This is when we had to stop because the wind was blowing REALLY hard and it looked like the storm was crossing the highway we were on:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01405.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Looking back toward town (all of that is the rain water)<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01406.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01414.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01415.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Behind us<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01421.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01431.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01434.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01439.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01441.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />And here's a short video of the lightning - it was amazing!!<br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/?action=view&current=MOV01436.flv" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/th_MOV01436.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /></a><br /><br />David playing with Daddy<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01383.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Just looking handsome in his new shirt<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01377.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />And this was so cute - he was so tired he fell asleep laying on the floor by the front door <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01375.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" />Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891376501306160935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938098211314160321.post-7862167643720855112009-04-12T16:09:00.002-05:002009-04-12T16:13:41.471-05:00March 30th, 2009<br />Tonight we went to Cheddars for Weston's birthday dinner.<br />Here's a picture of Jaxon and David<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/March/DSC01200.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />And here's a picture of the cake LOL<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/March/DSC01204.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />David's gotten mischievous lately! It's amusing to see him get into situations that are cute, or he can't get out of <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><br />Here's a couple of examples - First one, I had just got him out of bed one morning and went to use the restroom. When I came out, this is what I found... I guess he was hungry. LOL<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/March/DSC01190.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />And then the other day, we were about to go to the store, and I'm saying "come on, David! Let's go!" Normally he runs when I tell him that, but for some reason he wasn't coming. When I went to investigate, I figured out why<!--emo&:HAHA:--> <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--> He couldn't figure out how to get out...<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/March/DSC01194.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />And one more, for good measure.<br /><div class="postcolor"> <img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01218.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />April 9th, 2009<br />I decided to take today and tomorrow off of work so that I can relax a little and try to gain some perspective... work was really rough for me last week so I'm hoping that this helps. Anyways, today was a fabulous day!! I hardly ever get to do anything fun with David because it seems like I'm always working, and on the weekends I have to catch up on everything that I've neglected throughout the week. But today I got to do so much fun stuff with David.<br /><br />After school this morning, we came home and ate lunch. Then, we decided to go to the zoo. It was alot of fun because we were practically the only people there (there was seriously one other family there.) The only problem was, it was super windy and we had to leave before we got to see everything. Here's the pictures from that:<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01245.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />David and the bears<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01235.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />A picture of the fence with a tiger in the background (stupid camera <!--emo&:rolleyes:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_19_4%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_19_4%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--> )<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01241.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Lions!<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01231.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />I was not zoomed in here - they really are that close EEK!<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01230.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Monkeys!<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01228.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />David was pooped - on the way home he fell asleep!<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01254.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />After the zoo, we got to go to therapy. I never get to go with him because I'm always at work, so it was fun to see him do these things. I just love how comfortable he is in this place - walking around like he owns it.<!--emo&:HAHA:--> <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><br />This was funny - he was pulling it really hard, trying to get the beads off. <!--emo&ROFL--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01256.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Playing in the swimming pool!<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01259.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01262.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />David was so sleepy when he was in the pool - it's a heated pool so I'm sure it was relaxing. When they were almost done, the therapist turned on the jets so it was like a hot tub.<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01273.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />On our way out, David found a tricycle, and he wanted to play on it <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01274.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />After therapy, we went to Walmart and picked up eggs for coloring and a new set of pajamas and sandals to wear to the "Reading beheath the stars." David got to go to school wearing his pajamas and read stories while eating cookies and drinking milk. It was fun -- even though it wasn't really "beneath the stars" since it was 1) indoors and 2) still daylight. LOL<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01276.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01277.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Anyways, we had so much fun today. Tomorrow will be fun too, David's easter egg hunt at school is tomorrow and then we will be decorating eggs when we come home. I'm excited!!<br /><br />April 10th, 2009<br />This morning was David's easter egg hunt at school. It was chilly outside so they did it in the classroom. David found his first egg and he was satisfied with that LOL He thought it was fun because it opened and closed.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01278.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />This is one of his teachers, Ms. Hernandez<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01280.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />For snack today, David had his favorite - and no, I'm not kidding. This is a combination of Jalapeno/Cheddar cheetos and Flamin' Hot Cheetos.<!--emo&:Barf:--> <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_19_7%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_19_7%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&ROFL--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01290.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Then this afternoon we colored easter eggs. David did okay, but he got pretty bored pretty quick.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01292.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01295.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />This is after a "yellow dye incident" LOL If you look close you can see it on his face and in his hair.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01297.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Messy!<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01298.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />David played in the yard while JoAnn and I finished dying the eggs.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01299.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />And here's what survived (WAY more than last year!)<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/DSC01303.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />... ok so what can I do with thirty eggs? <!--emo&:hmm:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/Thinking.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="Thinking.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><br />April 12th, 2009 - HAPPY EASTER!!<br /><br />David playing rockstar, showing off his new haircut.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/IMG_9724.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/IMG_9728.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/April/IMG_9742.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /> </div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891376501306160935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938098211314160321.post-85475307335683498602009-03-27T15:32:00.005-05:002009-03-27T19:18:40.544-05:00March 27, 2009 - Freak snow storm<br />Javier and I took David out to play in the snow for the first time a little while ago. The snow has gotten really deep in some spots. David did not like it at all - especially when it got about waist deep on him and he had trouble walking.<!--emo&:HAHA:--> <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/March/DSC01163.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/March/DSC01164.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/March/DSC01166.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/March/DSC01168.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/March/DSC01169.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/March/DSC01171.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/March/DSC01172.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/March/IMG_9528.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />I've never seen him so excited to go back inside before <!--emo&ROFL--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/March/DSC01179.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />...but as soon as we were inside, he wanted to go back out <!--emo&:rolleyes:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_19_4%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_19_4%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/March/DSC01181.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />March 3, 2009<br />This weekend was the first time that David started putting two independent words together.<br /><br />Like, he can say "sit down!" or "Old McDonald," etc. clear as day - but those are phrases. This weekend was the first time that he put two, separate words together. Does that make sense?<br /><br />His first independent word joining? "Eat. Crackers?" <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><br />And then today: "Drink. Water!" <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><br />I'm so proud of him - I'm hoping that this means that his vocabulary is about to really expand. <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_1%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_1%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><br /><br />March 7, 2009<br />The other day I took David to the mall so he could play in the little play area that they have there. He wasn't too sure at first but I think he had a good time.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/March/DSC01153.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/March/DSC01156.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/March/DSC01151.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />This is what David looked like when I got him out of bed the other day - he must of slept hard <!--emo&ROFL--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/March/DSC01158.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />I just thought this was cute<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/March/DSC01128.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />And here's a short video of David's dance moves from the dance party we had the other day <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/March/?action=view&current=MOV01142.flv" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/March/th_MOV01142.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div class="postcolor">*** David's occupational therapy assessment ***<br />So I *know* that David is doing amazing compared to what the doctors thought he would be able to accomplish. However, it's never easy to read these things:<br /><br /><!--QuoteBegin--></div><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="95%"><tbody><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin-->David is a 3 year 7 month old male referred to occupational therapy by Dr. Habersang with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, developmental delay and motor apraxia. He transitions well from therapist to therapist for occupational therapy and attends to evaluation tasks for about 30 seconds or less. The Peabody Developmental Motor Scales was given to assess his fine motor skills with results as follows: <b>grasping skills are at an age equivalent of 7 months and visual-moto integration skills are at an age equivalent of 10 months. David's chronological age is 43 months and he therefore, demonstrates a 36 month delay in grasping skills and a 33 month delay in visual motor integration skills. </b> David was born premature with multiple medical problems. He has undergone several surgeries related to these problems and also has a history of RSV, pneumonia and cardiac problems. He is ambulatory but falls often. David has significant difficulty motor planning climbing over toys secondary to his decreased tone and ataxia, but does attempt to obtains toys. He is not yet able to maneuver a simple obstacle course without moderate to maximal assistance. David is fed by tube. Occupational therapy is recommended 1-3 times a week for 30-45 minute sessions to address above concerns and deficits.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></tbody></table><!--QuoteEEnd--><br /><br />I always feel a little discouraged after these assessments. David goes to school every day where he gets physical, occupational, and physical therapy, in addition to the things that his teachers work on him with. In addition to school, David goes to therapy twice a week where he gets all three therapies. He's had therapy at every opportunity, ever since he's been out of the hospital. And, whenever I can, I work with him and expose him to as many new things as possible.<br /><br />It's just that - when I look at him - when I spend time with him every day - when I hug him and kiss him and sing to him - when I get on to him and discipline him.... I *forget* that he's not a regular kid. I don't have anything to compare him to. So he's just my kid, you know? So when I get assessments like that, it's like a slap in the face I guess.<br /><br />However - on the positive side, David's final cardiologist appointment was March 25, 2009!! They said that David's pulmonary hypertension has COMPLETELY resolved itself, and they never need to see David again!!<!--emo&:woohoo:--> <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/23_30_125%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="23_30_125%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><br />I figured that's what they'd say, but still relieved to hear it <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><br />It's good to know that we are <i>completely</i> in the clear from another pulmonary hypertension crisis happening again.Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891376501306160935noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938098211314160321.post-79041344313140231882009-02-28T14:10:00.002-06:002009-02-28T14:27:07.847-06:00<span class="postdetails">Feb 22 2009 - Getting nursing hours again?!?</span><br />So a woman named Stacey called me the other day. She was one of the nurses that took care of David when he was in the NICU. She was our favorite nurse, in fact. Anyways, she called me from the home health agency that we were using when we got discharged.<br /><br />She was calling to see how David was, but we got to talking, and she said that she's surprised that David doesn't get nursing hours anymore (which is exactly what every other nurse has ever told me.) I told her that I had since switched pediatricians, and she said she knows my new ped very well. And, she said that she just *knows* that she could get me nursing hours again.<br /><br />I told her how my sister keeps David throughout the week right now, but my sister also works two 16 hour shifts on the weekends, and she might enjoy a break every once in a while.<br /><br /><!--emo&:hmm:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/Thinking.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="Thinking.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--> There are lots of positives and negatives to this.<br /><br />Positives:<br /><br />JoAnn could have some time off during the week.<br />The nurses are really good at recognizing things that David needs to work on.<br /><br /><br />Negatives<br /><br />All the drama that typically follows home health nurses around.<br />Would they be willing/able to pick David up from school, and take him to/from therapy? If not, then I would have to come up with alternate transportation. But, they were allowed to transport before.<br />JoAnn may not get as much money, since she wouldn't be working as much.<br /><br /><br />I haven't really decided yet. I told my sister about it last night, and told her that I am leaving the decision up to her. On one hand, I'm sure she would enjoy having a little bit of time off every week, on the other hand, I'm not going to "take" away her hours from here. So, if she decides that she wants to do it, then great. If not, then that's fine too.<br /><br /><!--emo&:hmm:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/Thinking.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="Thinking.gif" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><span class="postdetails">Feb 22 2009 My little white trash kid... </span><br /><br /><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--> This picture cracks me up.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/DSC01095.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />Here are some more:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/DSC01098.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Yesterday we went to an Ambucs thank you party. Ambucs is the organization that purchased David's <a href="http://www.adaptivemall.com/toamthtr1.html" target="_blank">AmTryke</a> for us. They invited us out to be in the "parade" around the parking lot LOL I'm glad I went because there was only two other kids with AmTrykes there.<br /><br />David had a great time, though - it was great for him to get to go for a long ways without me having to turn him... of course, he nearly ran over about fifteen old people<!--emo&ROFL--> <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/DSC01099.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/DSC01100.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Here he is with the other two kids that had an AmTryke<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/DSC01101.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/DSC01104.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />And, in front of the Ambucs trailer.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/DSC01107.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><span class="postdetails">Feb 26 2009 - Professional pictures of David</span><br />I went to pick up the CD of the pictures that they took for the hospital display today. I wanted to see them because I had planned on buying some prints for myself. However, I can't really say that I'm in love with <span style="font-style: italic;">any</span> of the pictures that they took. David just wasn't very cooperative at all.<br /><br />So, I'm not really in LOVE with any of these, and that kind of makes me sad. But here are the decent ones, anyways.<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/CMS_1378.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/CMS_1381.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/CMS_1382.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/CMS_1386.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/CMS_1388.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/CMS_1389.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/CMS_1394.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/CMS_1398.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /> <-- This isn't a good picture of him, but if the lighting on all of them was like the lighting on this one, I think I would like it more.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/CMS_1402.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/CMS_1410.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/CMS_1411.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />And here is the one they will be displaying at the hospital:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/CMS_1390.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><span class="postdetails">Feb 28 2009 More tricycle pictures!<br /><br /></span>Yesterday I got off of work a little early so JoAnn and I took David to the school parking lot to let him ride his tricycle. This is my new favorite place to take David because he has plenty of space to ride without having to worry about running into anything. Plus, it's just up the street so it isn't a far walk. Anyways, I took my camera and got some cute pictures (and one short video of how fast he can go LOL)<br /><br />Most of the pictures that I got were of his back <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/DSC01113.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/DSC01116.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/?action=view&current=MOV01118.flv" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/th_MOV01118.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And, David's new favorite place to sit <!--emo&:rolleyes:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_19_4%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_19_4%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/DSC01126.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" />Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891376501306160935noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938098211314160321.post-70414297381305285892009-02-16T20:52:00.002-06:002009-02-16T21:05:25.394-06:00January 26 - We met David's new pediatrician today.<br />It wasn't the ped that I was expecting, it was another doctor in the practice. But he seemed nice enough. Although he seemed a little rushed, which made me kinda nervous, he took the time to answer all the questions I asked. And he didn't seem completely shocked to hear of David's medical issues, which I was relieved about since I "forgot" to tell them about David being a special needs child when I got his appointment. I didn't tell them because everyone else who I'd called said that no, they wouldn't take new special needs patients.<br /><br />One thing that scared me a little was that I asked about the lymphnodes again, and he said "It's probably nothing, but I'm going to let you see the specialist just in case." I tell you what though, at least they aren't blowing me off like the other pediatrician always did. Even so, I'm going to cling to the "it's probably nothing" part of that sentence until I have any reason not to.<br /><br />We also go back and see the cardiologist soon. We haven't seen him since David was about two.<br /><br />David is 37 1/8 inches and weighs 32 pounds. And, he got the flu shot (remember, his old ped REFUSED to give him one <!--emo&:rolleyes:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_19_4%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_19_4%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--> )<br /><br />That's it, I think <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_1%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_1%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><br />January 27 - David is sick<br /><br />OK so I *know* the flu shot doesn't make you sick. But here's the facts: David was fine yesterday, got the flu shot, and now he's sick.<br /><br />He's running a fever of 101.5 and his nose is like a faucet. He's also coughing so much that he's making himself puke.<br /><br />JoAnn gave him a dose of tylenol before I got home, but when I got here he was still running a pretty high temp. So I gave him some motrin. Then, before bed, I gave him some benedryl to help with his running nose.<br /><br />He seems to be fine now. The fever has gone down, and he's resting comfortably with no coughing or anything.<br /><br />January 29 - Ear Infections<br />After missing school since Monday, I decided to take David into the doctor today. His cough was getting worse and his fever wasn't really going down with Motrin.<br /><br />Turns out he has pretty severe ear infections in both ears.<br /><br />I feel really bad because I feel like maybe I should have taken him in earlier. But the doctor had checked his ears on Monday and they were fine. And he wasn't pulling at them or anything, so I really had no idea.<br /><br />Anyways, she said the fever, runny nose, and coughing were all related to the ear infections. She put him on antibiotics.<br /><br />Hopefully he'll feel better soon. He's been crying on and off all night. I think he hurts <!--emo&:blue:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_46%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_46%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><br /><br />January 30 - I'm having working mom's guilt<br />For some reason today I feel really guilty. JoAnn watches David during the day while I'm at work, and I feel like she spends more quality time with him than I do. And, he cries every day when she leaves. He cries his sad cry, too, not the "I'm pissed because she didn't take me with her" cry. But when I leave him, at school or otherwise, he's like "see ya, mom."<br /><br />I know that, especially in this economy, I'm fortunate to have a decent job, and I know that it's vital for me to go to work every day in order to keep food on the table and a roof over our heads. I know that I'm not emotionally scarring him by leaving him every day. But I just really wish I got to spend more time with him.<br /><br />As irrational as it sounds, sometimes I feel like - I went through so much to bring him into this world, and fought so hard to keep him here, I should spend every waking moment with him.<!--emo&:HAHA:--> <!--endemo--> <!--emo&:crap:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/Crap.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="Crap.gif" border="0" /><br /><br />February 2 - David's appointment with the lymph node specialist<br />We had the appointment with the lymph node specialist today and he confirmed my suspicion that there was nothing to worry about.<br /><br />He said that, because of him numerous sinus/respiratory/etc infections, he probably has built up scar tissue in there. He said that they will become less prominent as he gets older and I shouldn't worry unless they begin to grow.<br /><br />So there, stupid school lady. <!--emo&:rolleyes:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_19_4%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_19_4%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><br /><br />February 3 - David, what does a cow say?<br />BAAAA!!!! *giggle*<br /><br />David! A cow doesn't say BAA!! What does a sheep say?<br /><br />WOOF, WOOF!!<br /><br />David! A sheep doesn't say woof!! What does a horse say?<br /><br />MOO!!!!<br /><br /><br /><!--emo&ROFL--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--> he thinks it's the funniest thing, like, ever. <br /><br />February 5 - I almost got in a wreck with a school bus who ran a stop sign!<div class="postcolor"> So I drive a little bitty Honda Accord. Which, I didn't really REALIZE how little bitty my car was, until I was about two feet away from a gigantic school bus! Geez! That thing could have ran RIGHT over me!!!<br /><br />So I was pulling out of my driveway yesterday morning. Right across the street from my house is a stop sign. So, I pulled out of my driveway, and began heading down the street, when a school bus didn't stop at that stop sign, and I had to swerve WAY out of the way, honking and screaming!<br /><br />I was so mad that I didn't think to get a school bus number. But I'm tempted to call the transportation department anyways, just to let them know. I got a good look at the driver, and I know approximately what time it was. The problem is, I live a block away from a school, so I imagine most of the school buses come down that street and they wouldn't be able to tell who it was just with the information I have.<br /><br />It was especially scary because I had David in the car. I seriously think that bus could have rolled right over my car and not even noticed!!<br /><br />February 7 - Totally honored!<br />One of the nurses who took care of David when he was in the PICU called me today. She said that they are redoing the unit, and they have to remove all of the pictures that they have hung up. She said that they fought and fought because they love to look at all of them, so finally their bosses agreed that they could choose nine patients that have been in that unit and, once given parental consent, have their pictures professionally taken and hung in the PICU as "success stories."<br /><br />Well, of ALL the patients that have EVER been in the PICU, the nurses chose David to be one of their nine!!<br /><br />So, I have to set up an appointment to go to a studio and get David's picture taken - all free of charge. Hopefully, if I smile real pretty, they'll let me get some copies too.<br /><br />At any rate, I'm floored that they chose us, and totally flattered. <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_1%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_1%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><br />I got a letter in the mail from the hospital:<br /><br /><!--QuoteBegin--><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="95%"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin-->We are currently in the process of redecorating the PICU and will be posting some large professional photographs of former patients and will include their first name, a very brief description of the reason for their hospitalization, as well as their length of stay in the unit. The staff has chosen David as a former patient that they feel would provide inspiration and hope to families who are in the unit with their child.<br /><br />If you are interested:<br />-There is no cost to the family<br />-A consent for advertising will need to be signed<br />-The family will need to contact the studio to set up the appointment and seek additional information.<br />-The photo needs to be taken and consents received by February 28, 2009<br />-The photos will be framed and displayed in the PICU<br /><br />Please return the consent, either by mail or fax to the following.... <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></tbody></table><!--QuoteEEnd--><br /><br />I can remember looking at the pictures and displays that they had up when we were in there, especially in the NICU when I was desperate to hold onto any sort of hope that it was possible for such a little baby to survive. I'm so proud of David, and so proud that he will be a part of giving other families that are in situations like ours hope.<br /><br />My heart is beaming <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_1%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_1%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><br />February 10 - Starting to feel the rise of panic in my stomach...<br />I know that David's surgery is no big deal, and I know that, compared to everything else we've been through, this should be a piece of cake.<br /><br />So someone tell me why it is that I feel like I'm going to puke? Screw butterflies, it feels like someone is kicking me in the stomach.<br /><br />Ugh. I just want today to be over with. <br /></div><br />February 10 - We're home! And David is fine.<br />So *maybe* I panicked for nothing LOL...<br /><br />It all went very smoothly. No issues with being on the ventilator, no reaction to the sedation. The nurses all sang to him all day. He was a big hit in there.<br /><br />Something that melts my heart - they said he asked for me when he woke up awwww....<br /><br />And I knew he was okay when the first thing he said to me when I saw him was "bye bye?" <!--emo&:HAHA:--><!--endemo--><br /><br />No school tomorrow, it's up to me if I want to send him Thursday or Friday. No physical therapy or riding his tricycle for two weeks. Other than that, everything is normal.<br /><br />I have to go pick up his pain medication now. Thanks for the prayers and well wishes. <!--emo&Muah--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_3_16%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_3_16%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><br /><br />February 11 - David update today<br />David is absolutely fine after his surgery.<br /><br />He acts like it is uncomfortable when he coughs (the surgeon said he might cough for a few days but that is normal after anesthesia) but other than that, he's fine.<br /><br />I'm still giving him the Tylenol with codeine every six hours - I figure I'll give it through tonight and then tomorrow, only give it when he acts like he's in pain.<br /><br />All day long today he wanted to go "bye bye?" - and he would get pissed off if someone left without him. My mother-in-law took him for a walk around the block a couple of times today.<br /><br />JoAnn came over and visited for a few minutes tonight and David was DELIGHTED to see her. <!--emo&:HAHA:--><!--endemo--> It was so sweet - he misses her!!<br /><br />February 12 - We finally moved up to a booster seat<br />To tell you the truth, it makes me nervous. Because I can't put him in the middle of my car anymore (you have to have shoulder belts, and my middle seat doesn't have them) and instead of having it's own straps like a car seat does, it uses actual seat belts.<br /><br /><!--emo&:blush2:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/10_12_9%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="10_12_9%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--> I didn't know all that before I bought it and assembled it.<br /><br />I guess it will be easier to get him in and out when he's on the side instead of in the middle... but aren't they supposed to be in the middle?<br /><br />Am I worrying about this too much?<br /><br />February 15 - David is running a fever<br />Friday night David started running a temp of about 100.9 or so. But, we gave him some Motrin and the fever stopped and he was fine all day long on Saturday.<br /><br />Well, I just woke up because David was whimpering and I felt of him. He is in fire. His temperature is 102.<br /><br />I was reading through the post op paperwork and it says to call the doctor if he gets a fever over 101. But his surgery was Tuesday, and this is Saturday night... is that still applicable?<br /><br />I gave him some Motrin. I'm going to wait a little while, but if his fever doesn't go down I guess we'll be heading to the emergency room in the morning.<br /><br />I'm only worried since he just had that surgery. <br /><br />February 15 - I called the doctor about David's fever<br />they want us to go to the ER to be seen.<br /><br />Ugh. I know that he needs to be seen, but I hate to go to the ER - especially since he's acting fine right now and so they'll put us at the bottom of the list to be seen, and he could catch something he doesn't already have while we're there.<!--emo&:Thumbsdown:--> <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_10%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_10%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br />February 15 - We're back from the ER<br />We waited in there for about an hour, and not one single person was called back. There were people in there coughing and sneezing - I decided that it was too much of a risk for him to catch something he didn't already have in there so we left.<br /><br />While in the ER one of the guys who was waiting to be seen asked me about David - "Is he autistic?" (*side note - when did it become OK to ask someone something like that anyways?... but I digress...)<br /><br />I said "No, he was a preemie."<br /><br />He says "Oh. Did you notice right away?"<br /><br /><!--emo&:hmm:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/Thinking.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="Thinking.gif" border="0" /><br /><br />Finally - some pictures of David.... I need to get better about taking more pictures! (I never thought I'd say THAT! LOL)<br /><br />These are from David's Valentine's party at school - we had a good time! Everyone missed David since he hadn't been there since the Monday before his surgery.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/DSC01070.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/DSC01071.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/DSC01075.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/DSC01077.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/DSC01078.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Here he is later, sans pants, wanting to go somewhere in his new booster.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/DSC01083.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />I don't remember when these were from, but I remember that he was laughing so hard he was crying <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/IMG_9351.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/IMG_9354.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/IMG_9358.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />What happens when he's left alone in my bed?<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/IMG_9362.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />He was so tired the other day - he fell asleep like this<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/IMG_9367.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Chillin' on the couch with Grandma<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/IMG_9369.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />And these are from our dance party we had today<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/IMG_9371.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/IMG_9372.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />And my new all-time favorite picture<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/February/IMG_9380.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" />Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891376501306160935noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938098211314160321.post-89377403665065999882009-01-20T22:16:00.002-06:002009-01-20T22:40:06.327-06:00Merry Christmas, Happy New Year!!I know it's been forever since I've updated but I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season.<br /><br />I can't believe that was my baby's FOURTH Christmas! It hardly seems fair, how quickly he's growing. Here's a brief synopsis<br />2005<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2005/December2005/1225David20.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />2006<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2005/December2005/IMG_3077.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />2007<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2007/December2007/IMG_6515.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />2008<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00844.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />Aww he's grown up so much!! <br /><br />David really made out on Christmas Eve! He got tons of toys and clothes. For the most part, we had a really nice evening spending time with the family. Here are the pictures.<br /><br />Weston and Jaxon playing the PSP<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00924.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Time to open presents!!<br /><br />(He looks so surprised, but come to find out, that one was for me <!--emo&ROFL--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--> )<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00935.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00948.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00955.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />He loved this shirt so much he wanted to put it on right away LOL<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00963.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Here's Wes with his guitar<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00966.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Jaxon was trying to give David a hug... but David didn't want one <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00969.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Kylie LOVED this doll! I'm not sure she even realized that she got any other presents!<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00978.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Here she is feeding it:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00970.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br />Meme, David, and Jaxon<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00973.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />JoAnn, David, and Jaxon<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00979.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />And, this is what Jaxon does when you say "Show me your mean face" <!--emo&ROFL--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00983.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />In lieu of presents this year because of our financial situation, Javier and I decided that we would instead do everything possible to make today the best holiday together ever! It was great! I cooked a turkey for the first time, and it turned out FABULOUS! It was so juicy and so pretty! I wanted to get a picture of it, but didn't get a chance to before it was cut into. I was really proud of how it turned out.<br /><br />David had a great day, despite waking up with a fever. Here's some pictures.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00993.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC01004.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC01010.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/IMG_9310.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/IMG_9314.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/IMG_9316.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/IMG_9317.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/IMG_9318.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/IMG_9320.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/IMG_9332.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />David is so cuddly sometimes. I love the way he fits perfectly into my arms when we cuddle, as if he is a piece of the puzzle that was missing before he was born.<br /><br />awww <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_1%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_1%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><br /><br />David has learned how to make his tricycle go all by himself already!! We decided to go for a little walk up the street one day because they were having a garage sale. Well, I put him on his tricycle and pushed him up there on it. He sat on the tricycle and played with the straps while I glanced around, and next thing I knew, he was making it go all by himself!!!<br /><br /><!--emo&:woohoo:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/23_30_125%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="23_30_125%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--> I'm so excited for him!<br /><br />I got to go to therapy with David on Monday which was really exciting for me because normally I'm at work and my sister takes him. I love that place! David loves it too, as was evident from the moment he walked in - strutting around like he owned the place<!--emo&:HAHA:--> <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><br />Here he is in the waiting room.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/January/DSC01016.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Shortly after I snapped that picture, David proceeds to have a temper tantrum and throw his glasses across the room. The lens popped off and I couldn't find it anywhere!! I was in a panic, trying to find this little lens, with people walking everywhere. I was terrified of someone stepping on it. While I'm frantically searching, David find the door and tries to leave!<!--emo&:crap:--> <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/Crap.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="Crap.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--> I finally found the lens, but it was pretty stressful for a minute LOL<br /><br />Anyways, here he is on a little scooter thing. She was having him go all the way down the hall to get a piece to a puzzle, come back and place it in the correct place, and then go back for another piece. It made *me* tired LOL<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/January/DSC01018.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Here's a short video<br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/January/?action=view&current=MOV01020.flv" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/January/th_MOV01020.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then it was time for the swing.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/January/DSC01022.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />And then, right before we left, it was time for the ball pit.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/January/DSC01025.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2009/January/DSC01032.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />And finally, a quick request. David has to have minor surgery on February 10th. He has a mild hernia in the middle of his abdomen. I noticed it one night when he was having a screaming fit. When he pushes on those muscles (like when he's trying to sit up, or when he's screaming, it causes it to poke out a little bit.<br /><br />I panicked that night and was *this* close to rushing him to the emergency room *blush* - but I did end up taking him into see a surgeon who said that it was not anything emergent but he'd like to go ahead and fix it before it becomes a problem.<br /><br />While the surgeon is there, he's also going to remove the granuloma that has built up around David's mickey button.<br /><br />It's nothing serious, and I know we've been through a ton worse, but it's still scary when our babies have to have surgery.<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891376501306160935noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938098211314160321.post-60946675265201861602008-12-20T20:20:00.003-06:002008-12-20T20:39:02.445-06:00In Memory of LizzieLizzie was my "honorary" grandma. She was my grandmother's best friend. She's in my earliest memories - she was the one driving the truck when I lost my flip flop off the back, at less than three years old.<br /><br />I got closer to her these last few years. She moved in with Meme eight or so years ago when Meme wasn't feeling well. They helped eachother out and kept eachother company.<br /><br />Lizzie had such a great sense of humor. She was honestly one of the funniest people I've ever met! She also loved to cook new and different meals. She always had a roast in the oven or a pot of beans on the stove.<br /><br />Lizzie was the kind of woman who would give the shirt off her back. Rarely did I go visit them without leaving with something. Be it avocado, a can of soup, a cookie, or a diet coke, she always made sure I had something before I left. And right after I had David, I was not able to drive due to my c-section, but Lizzie would take me to and from the hospital when Javier had to work so that I could visit my baby.<br /><br />And oh, how she loved David! She always talked about what a miracle he is.<br /><br />One thing that Lizzie taught me is how to be nonjudgmental. I've never heard Lizzie say one sour thing about another person. One of her favorite things to say, it seems like, was "don't worry about it." That was the way she lived her life, and it was so inspirational to me. She honestly taught me that worrying does no good. Fix it if you can, otherwise don't worry.<br /><br />Lizzie passed away on December 10th while vacationing in Washington.<br /><br />Even though Lizzie was not a blood relative, she definitely had an impact on me, and I'm richer having known her. I'm really going to miss her.<br /><!--emo&:'(--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_44%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_44%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><br />Here's some pictures of her:<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2006/February2006/IMG_0673.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2006/February2006/IMG_0671.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />(Lizzie's the one on the right)<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6800.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />************************************************************************<br /><br />Here's a few pictueres of David riding his new tricycle on the few days that it's been warm enough to go outside since he's gotten it. By the way - he loves that thing! We keep it in the living room (where do you keep something like that?) and he loves to sit on it and play with the buckles. He hasn't figured out how to make it go by himself yet (it has a handle on it so I can push) but he really enjoys it anyways.<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00872.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00874.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00875.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00882.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />I decided to give David's teachers cookies for Christmas, and I thought it would be fun if he helped. He pretty much just thought it was funny, and was not the least bit interested in touching the cookie dough.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00887.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00889.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00890.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00895.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />We saw Santa Clause at Walmart! He was shopping! So I'm pulling out of the chips aisle when I see a group of people standing around some guy. When the people part, I see it's an old man with a white beard, wearing regular street clothes, and a santa's hat!<br /><br />I told David - LOOK! It's Santa Clause! He shops at Walmart, too, who knew? <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><br />"Santa" stood behind David and let me take a picture with my cell phone. It would have been perfect, except my phone is stupid and it didn't save.<br /><br />Oh well, it was the highlight of the trip <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><br /><br />David's Christmas party was Thursday. I took some time off of work so I could go spend it with him, and I'm glad I did. The kids got to enjoy some holiday cookies and I got to talk to some of the other parents. Here's the pictures.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00897.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Oh, and by the way, this is how David's gotten in the habit of wearing his glasses - he looks over them. I'm starting to wonder if they really are helping?<!--emo&:huh:--> <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/23_33_7%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="23_33_7%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00899.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />This is Ms. Groome. She's one of his teachers.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00900.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Here you can see all three of his teachers. Standing in the back wearing the green shirt is Ms. Hernandez. Ms. Groome is wearing the blue shirt, and Ms. Davis is the one serving the food.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00902.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />From the left, going clockwise around the table is Bella (Diego's little sister), Diego, Olivia, Katelyn, Julian, Olivia's little sister, David, and DJ.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00904.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />While I was there his teachers told me that earlier, during speech therapy, David had fallen asleep. <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><br />Apparently they were boring him.<br /><br />I found it amusing, because I thought sleeping during class didn't become an issue until they were teenagers. <!--emo&ROFL--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><br /><br />And one more emotional post before I finish up... I've been thinking alot about <a href="http://www.kayleighannefreeman.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Kayleigh</a> and what they're going through. I knew from the very first time I read that blog that I was going to have a hard time emotionally, following their story. So much of what Kayleigh's father has written about her hits so close to home that it hurts.<br /><br />It makes me realize how incredibly lucky I am to have David still in my life. I came *so* close to losing him. And it's so easy to forget that, when he's having a fit in the middle of the night and keeping me up, or when he's getting into things when he knows he's not supposed to. Or when he gets mad in the middle of the convenience store and lays down on the floor to have a temper tantrum.<br /><br />I think I am going to start one of my new years resolutions early. I am going to take a few minutes every day, especially on difficult toddler days, to remember how ridiculously blessed I am to be able to raise such a sweet little kid.<br /><br /><!--emo&:'(--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_44%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_44%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" />Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891376501306160935noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938098211314160321.post-2527526198655098882008-12-08T20:56:00.002-06:002008-12-08T21:06:16.742-06:00David's new wheels!!Thursday was David's luncheon where he was presented with his new <a href="http://www.adaptivemall.com/toamthtr1.html" target="_blank">AmTryke</a>. It was generously donated to David through an organization called <a href="http://www.ambucs.com/">Ambucs</a>. The luncheon was at the country club, and I felt completely out of place (think Pretty Woman in the fancy restaurant) but the people were super nice and extremely generous to have chosen David for one of these tricycles. Here are the pictures.<br /><br /><br />Adjusting the bike for David<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00838.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00844.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />This woman was David's sponsor - she actually bought the tricycle for David, without having even met him! How generous is that? Her name is Pat Crawford.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00848.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00851.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />David really seems to like it. The other day we took him around the block a couple of times in it. It's really neat because his feet strap into the petals and there's a push bar behind it. So when I push him, his feet move in the correct pedaling motion. Soon he should catch on that in order for him to move, he has to turn his feet. The tricycle also has a neat feature where he can pedal with his arms if he chooses, and I am able to turn the steering on and off until he gets the hang of it.<br /><br />Now hopefully we'll have some good weather so we can use it!!<br /><br />We got David's school pictures back last week. I'm really happy with the way they turned out! If you remember, the weekend before pictures were taken, David took two really hard falls to the head. And this is what he looked like:<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/November2008/DSC00811.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Well, you can't even see the bruise or the scratch in the picture! And, they even got a half-smile out of him!! I'm extremely happy. (And this is a picture of a picture, so excuse the flash and the weird angle)<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00860.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Well, the whole glasses thing isn't going as well as I'd hoped. The doctor had told me "If the glasses help him see, then he'll keep them on."<br /><br />Not so much. He'll wear them for short periods of time, but once he remembers that they are there, he takes them off. In fact, David's teacher accidently stepped on his glasses the other day. Apparently, David took his glasses off and put them in the most logical place for a three year old - on the floor. <!--emo&:crap:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/Crap.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="Crap.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo-->They offered to pay for them, but they just needed to be reshaped.<br /><br />Oh well... hopefully that will improve.<br /><br />And, since this is somewhat of a short blog post, I'll share some of David's recent artwork.<br /><br />These were from therapy:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00863.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00865.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />And these are from school:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00866.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00867.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/December2008/DSC00868.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />I think I may have the next Picasso on my hands <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" />Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891376501306160935noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938098211314160321.post-58436168465837381332008-11-22T11:04:00.003-06:002008-11-22T11:25:35.583-06:00David's new look!I think I mentioned in the past that David's ophthalmologist continually told us that David did not need glasses, even though all of his therapists believed he needed glasses, his teachers believed he needed glasses, and I believed he needed glasses. Finally, a couple of weeks ago, I found a optometrist that would see David. And as it turns out, I was RIGHT! He DOES need glasses. Our new eye doctor says that David has an astigmatism and is nearsighted.<br /><br />I was talking to the lady, and she said that David's vision is really pretty poor. She said she was amazed that the other eye doctor didn't give him glasses. His astigmatism was so bad that medicaid doesn't cover the full price of the lenses - I had to pay forty extra dollars out of pocket - twenty five for the lenses and fifteen because I chose metal frames.<br /><br />Anyways, here are the pictures of David in his new glasses! How cute is this?<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/November2008/DSC00826.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/November2008/DSC00825.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/November2008/DSC00823.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/November2008/DSC00822.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/November2008/DSC00821.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />My last blog post I talked about how David had fallen and busted his head pretty hard. That was on Halloween, on a Friday. Well, Monday morning I was holding David's hand as we walked from the car to the school. From where I park, there's about half a block of graveled pavement to walk before we get to the school.<br /><br />David tripped over a rock or something and fell, flat on his face, hitting his head especially hard, on the same spot as he fell a few days before.<br /><br />Even thinking about the sound that it made as his head hit the pavement makes me want to vomit (think cantelope on sidewalk) - and he was bleeding everywhere. I ran inside and got paper towels, and went to the nurse's office where they gave him two bandages.<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/November2008/DSC00811.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />I'm hoping that with David's new glasses he won't fall as much. That was two days before pictures. So, his school pictures won't really be pretty, everyone was making fun of me for paying about $30 for pictures of him with a ginormous bruise on his forehead... but they're his first school pictures!!<br /><br />I can't wait until we get them <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_1%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_1%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><br /><br />Saturday night was the scariest night I've had with David in a while. I put him in bed at about eight, like normal, and he was asleep for a little while. Then he woke up and proceeded to have one of his middle-of-the-night fits that he's notorious for. Usually there's no consoling him - we just have to wait until he's done. I went in and checked on him after a little while and noticed he had pulled out his button. As I had him laid down on the bed to reinsert the button, I noticed what appeared to be a hernia sticking out of the middle of his abdomen, about an inch above his belly button. When he screamed, it would stick out further. I began to think that he was in pain because I couldn't get him to stop crying!<br />So with shaky hands, I changed his shirt and laid him on the couch while I put his shoes on, and went into the office to get his medicaid card - I was about to rush him to the emergency room!! But while he was laying on the couch he fell back asleep. I called my grandma and told her about it. She said it was something I should get checked out on Monday but it wasn't anything that warranted a midnight trip to the ER. Whew!<br />Here's a picture of him, laying on the couch asleep, after that incident. (It's crazy how flexible he is!)<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/November2008/DSC00817.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/November2008/DSC00818.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />I called the doctor on Monday and they had us come in on Tuesday to get the hernia checked out. Then they set up an appointment with the surgeon who did his mickey button/nissan to see what he thought. The surgeon said that David does have a hernia and it does need to be fixed surgically. He said it's not an emergency, but he wants to get it done soon, before it turns into a problem. So, we'll have surgery in January.<br /><br />That's it for now... but keep your fingers crossed that we all recover from this respiratory crap soon - I had to keep David out of school twice this week due to running a fever!<br /><br />Till next time <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_3_16%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_3_16%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo-->Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891376501306160935noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938098211314160321.post-31007763623629004172008-11-02T09:01:00.003-06:002008-11-02T09:21:55.559-06:00Happy Halloween!!!!I hope everyone had a great Halloween!! We had a good time. I took half a day off of work, and JoAnn and I dyed our hair. It was supposed to be "Chocolate Velvet" but it's pretty much black. Perfect for the occasion, right? Ha! Oh well, we haven't kept the same color for more than a few weeks lately anyways. After dying our hair, we spent the rest of the afternoon decorating the house. We took David over to Meme's to show him off then came back where David helped us hand out Halloween candy to the trick or treaters. I love living in this neighborhood - we have so many trick or treaters!!<br /><table border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="post2" valign="top" width="100%"><div class="postcolor">Trick or Treating at Meme's house<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/October2008/DSC00709.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/October2008/DSC00712.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />My spider<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/October2008/DSC00713.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/October2008/DSC00715.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Waiting for the next trick or treater<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/October2008/DSC00716.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /> </div> <!-- THE POST --> </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="darkrow3" align="left"><br /></td><td class="darkrow3" align="left" nowrap="nowrap"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>The only bad part about the day was when David wasn't paying attention and tumbled down the concrete stairs outside. He smacked his head on the cement - HARD!! Poor kid! And he wouldn't let me put ice on it, but I managed to hold a cool cloth on it for a while. It bruised immediately. I don't know if you can tell from these pictures, but he has a major goose egg on his head, and lots of scratches.<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/October2008/DSC00719.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/October2008/DSC00720.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Here's a couple of pictures from the next day:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/November2008/DSC00744.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />And... he's showing you his spider ring - he loves those things <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/November2008/DSC00725.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br />Oh - and naturally, he has school pictures next week <!--emo&:crap:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/Crap.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="Crap.gif" border="0" /><br /><br />I didn't get pictures, but David and I carved a pumpkin recently. Well, I cut it, but he helped me scoop out the seeds. I got one of those great big kitchen spoons and he looked so cute, standing in front of the pumpkin, digging in it with his spoon. <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" />And, as it turns out - David LOVES pumpkin seeds! Which means, I have to share. LOL<br /><br />I had to get at least one picture of David with this wig on from last year's Jack Sparrow costume before I sold it on Craig's list. I'm sure you remember that he REFUSED to wear it last year. He still didn't like it, but I could at least get him to wear it for a few minutes at a time <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/October2008/DSC00669.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />And, here's just a few more of him in his costume from this year (isn't he the cutest dragon you've ever seen?) - these were taken a few days before Halloween.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/October2008/DSC00676.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/October2008/DSC00681.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />The tail wags when he walks - it is the CUTEST thing!<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/October2008/DSC00682.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/October2008/DSC00703.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />I tell you, though - I was starting to panic a little. Because a couple of weeks ago we went to SEVEN stores looking for a cotume for David. SEVEN!! And there was nothing. The only store that even had *anything* that David could wear, was charging like thirty bucks for a plastic piece of crap. Finally, I was able to find this costume on Craig's List for only ten bucks! Sweet!<br /><br />But, while I was shopping for a costume, I went to a consignment shop and bought David three pairs of jeans (that might as well be brand new) and a super cute denim jacket (Ecko brand! ) ... all for twenty dollars! <!--emo&:yes:--> <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/Yes.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="Yes.gif" border="0" />I'll be going back there!<br />October 16th was open house at David's school. We got free pizza and I (finally) got to see what he does all day long at school! Here's the pictures - eating pizza on the sidewalk outside the school:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/October2008/DSC00661.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Their schedule (they switch activities every FIFTEEN minutes! Can you imagine?!?)<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/October2008/DSC00663.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />David sitting at his spot (see his picture taped to the table?) working on a fine motor skill that they teach him<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/October2008/DSC00666.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Oh, speaking of school - David got in his first fight! <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /> He apparently tried to steal one of the other kid's toys, and the other kid attacked him <!--emo&:O--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_19_2%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_19_2%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><br />He had a big scratch behind his ear that bled a little bit.<br /><br />Poor kid <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><br />What was weird about it, though, was that the other kid (another three year old) got "suspended" for 1 day. Which I thought was a little bit strange, because, well, he's THREE. I don't know about the other kid, but I know that if David were to do something like that (which, he might - he's a kid!) then he wouldn't remember the next day what he had done. It just doesn't seem to me like you can do long term punishment with such young children - and it seems like that's more of a punishment for the mother than the child. Ah well... not my decision I guess.<br /><br />Here's some other random pictures I got off the camera - we put his hat and gloves on him to see what he'd do <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/October2008/DSC00649.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Fun with office chairs<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/October2008/DSC00596.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/October2008/DSC00614.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/October2008/DSC00620.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/October2008/DSC00642.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Wearing his backpack <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_1%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_1%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/October2008/DSC00590.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/October2008/DSC00577.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />David's new thing is to say "Heya go!" when brings you something he's not supposed to have. As in "here, mom, I never had this" Haha....<br /><br />And, on a more serious note, our first son, Ricky, would have been six years old on October 26th. Since I talk about this every year, I'm sure you all know that before David, I gave birth to another little boy who I named Enrique. He was born at 27 weeks 2 days and weighed 1lb, 8oz.<br /><div class="postcolor"><br />He lived for three short days before his lungs just couldn't hang on any longer.<br /><br />I know now that part of the reason he was taken from me was so that I could appreciate every aspect of raising David. I like to believe that he's David's guardian angel and helps me watch over him. I hope I've made him proud by the way I've raised David so far.<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/Misc/Us/Enrique1.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /> </div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891376501306160935noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938098211314160321.post-19638162657662758082008-10-11T22:03:00.002-05:002008-10-11T22:16:30.147-05:00Here's some new pictures: while at Meme's, Weston was giving the kids rides on the granny-mobile <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00345.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00349.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00359.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Cracker time!<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00361.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00354.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Jaxon was so cute with the tennis racket that was as big as he is <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00376.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />The other day I got home from work and David was hanging out, in his jersey, eating pizza with his Daddy and some of Daddy's friends. I just thought it was cute:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/IMG_9186.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />My lil daredevil... David was playing in the office chair, and I was turning him around in it. Well, he let go and, (I swear it was like in slow motion) flew off the chair.<br /><br />He didn't go far, obviously, and fell on only carpet... it scared the crap out of me, but he wanted to go again. <!--emo&ROFL--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><br /><br />Some pictures from therapy:<br />The great big ball pit that they have for them to play in<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/IMG_9240.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />And the swing - naturally David loves it.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/IMG_9250.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Here's his occupational therapist (I didn't catch her name yet) - he seems to really like her.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/IMG_9257.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br />David gets to go swimming at therapy. Apparently, he had a really great time. David and his therapist:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/October2008/DSC00523.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/October2008/DSC00524.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/October2008/DSC00525.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/October2008/DSC00527.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Amy and I took the kids to <a href="http://www.amarillocornmaze.com/" target="_blank">this place</a> . It originally seemed like a good idea. But that's eight acres of corn that you can't get out of, until you figure your way out. And mixing that with two toddlers a hot day... never a good idea. <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--> We were super relieved to find an exit about halfway through. They also have hayrides and corn shooting... all kinds of things really. We went to the corn maze first.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00394.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />There were people perched up above watching, like lifeguards<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00398.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00399.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />No Bad Language - our corn has tender ears <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00400.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00408.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00411.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00412.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00415.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00416.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />By the time we were out, the kids were sooooo tired<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00417.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00419.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Enjoying a snack in the car, waiting for Weston to complete the maze<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00420.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Time to pick out pumpkins!<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00423.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00430.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00432.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00434.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00435.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />David was NOT amused <!--emo&ROFL--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00436.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Then we went on the hayride - Jaxon was so sleepy LOL<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00447.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />David helped me carve the pumpkin that we bought there a few days later. Well, not really carve it, but he helped me scoop out all the insides. He was so cute, standing over this pumpkin, digging in it with a big spoon<!--emo&:HAHA:--> <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><br />I was going to take pictures, but the battery died. I think I had more fun with him since I wasn't worried about the camera. <!--emo&:thumbsup:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_11%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_11%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><br /><br />The funniest picture EVER of David...I was cracking up! I'm not really sure how he got himself into this position... but I couldn't stop laughing<!--emo&ROFL--> <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00465.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />So the other day, David (who is talking like crazy now - still nowhere near as much as the average three year old, but tons more than he did even a few weeks ago) told me to "Move!"<br /><br />I said "YOU move!" <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><br />He goes "No!"<br /><br /><!--emo&ROFL--><!--endemo--> <!--emo&ROFL--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--> I couldn't stop giggling, it was so cute, listening him say things that make sense. <!--emo&ROFL--><br /><br /><br />Anyways, Today was the reunion at the Heart Hospital. I was so upset because I had missed the NICU reunion this year, so I had to take David up there so we could see all the old nurses.<br /><br />Here's David and Dawn:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/October2008/DSC00567.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Compared to 2006:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2006/June2006/IMG_1448.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Here's David and Carrie - this is in the room that we were in for over two months back then... brought back alot of memories!<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/October2008/DSC00568.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />(I guess I don't have a picture of the two of them from back then?)<br /><br />Anyways - the nurses have pictures of David hanging up at the nurses station from a long time ago. One of the ladies went and got the pictures of David and showed him:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/October2008/DSC00569.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/October2008/DSC00570.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />This is the picture he's looking at:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2006/June2006/IMG_1551.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />It's crazy how much he's grown!!Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891376501306160935noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938098211314160321.post-37440536180168686742008-09-17T21:46:00.002-05:002008-09-17T22:11:24.536-05:00Lots of updates!!!Gosh, I can't believe it's been so long since I've updated. Things have been crazy busy around here since David started school. But, we're in the middle of the fourth week of school now, and things are starting to calm down a little bit. I have a new-found respect for all the mother's of school aged children now! I have to get up extra early in order to get him to school by 745, and then go to work myself.<br /><br />Then all the preparation the night before - setting out the clothes, making sure the meds are ready and all the stuff to get him dressed - lotion, gauze for his button, socks, shoes - so it won't take as long in the morning.<br /><br />It was stressful for him at first too - the teachers told us at first that he did really good but they're gonna have to work on him sitting down<!--emo&:HAHA:--> <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--> I told them he's barely even three years old and had never had any sort of organized activity. I mean, we play at home, and we color and home, etc - but when he's ready to get up, I just let him get up, I've never made him sit there and do something for longer than he wanted to.<br /><br />Anyways, now they say that he is minding so well! She said he does whatever they ask. Every day I get new stories of all the people he's given kisses to (I've got to get him to stop kissing strangers<!--emo&:HAHA:--> <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--> ) and they just really like him.<br /><br />Also, the first week of school, David was so nervous when we were waiting for the teacher in the cafeteria. There was just too much going on for him to eat the breakfast that they serve, so I was having to wake up extra early and feed him before we left. But this week has been so much better! He's adjusted, and has eaten breakfast, at the table with his friends, every day this week!!<br /><br /><br />Here's some pictures of his first day - so excited!!<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/DSC00048-1.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/DSC00050.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Sitting at the table in the cafeteria (where we wait for his teacher every morning)<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/DSC00053.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />David and his teacher's assistant, Ms. Hernandez<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/DSC00054.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Well, August 29th was our last day for nursing.<br /><br />It's hard to convey to someone who has never had nursing how much we've learned to depend on them. Of course, the obvious - if David's ever showing signs of illness, they're equipped to handle the situation. However, there's so many small things that I've learned to count on the nurses to take care of. Like setting up and remembering doctor's appointments or ordering medicines when we're almost out.<br /><br />I always knew, without even having to ask, that when I got home from work, David had had all of the fluids he was supposed to have, is caught up with medicines, and is fed, bathed, and dressed. It's taken some getting used to, but JoAnn has been keeping him during the daytime and she's doing a really wonderful job - in fact, she even cleans my house sometimes! Sweet! <a href="javascript:emoticon(':yes:')"><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/Yes.gif" alt="smilie" border="0" /></a><br />Here's the last couple of pictures of Maria & David (I had this one printed out and framed for her to remember us by)<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/DSC00058.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Playing David's new favorite game <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/DSC00062.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />We still see Maria quite a bit, though - turns out her daughter is in the classroom across the hall from David! And, when Maria brings her daughter to school, sometimes we see her in the cafeteria in the morning. So, I'm hoping we're able to keep in touch.<br /><br />David started going to Progressive Steps for physical, occupation, and speech therapy once a week. The combination of this and going to school every day has made a difference in David that you wouldn't believe! He's talking soooo much now. Of course, alot of the things he says only make sense to us, but he'll repeat nearly everything that you say. It's so exciting!!<br /><br />Here's some random pictures from this last month:<br />Why yes, mom, I <i>did</i> take my potty chair apart and am now carrying around a toilet seat. <!--emo&:rolleyes:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_19_4%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_19_4%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/DSC00100.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Playing with Mr. Potato Head's glasses <!--emo&ROFL--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/DSC00117.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Climbing in my car while Javier was attempting to fix it<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/DSC00138.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/DSC00147.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/DSC00157.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Got your nose!<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/DSC00158.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/DSC00074.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Playing on the computer<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/DSC00006.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />Whew! Long day<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/DSC00092.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />David and I went to the park recently to feed the ducks. David didn't quite understand why we were throwing perfectly good food into the water, though.<!--emo&:HAHA:--> <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00169.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />The ducks were apparently not even a little bit hungry - and I had brought a crapload of bread... oh well. So David and I just walked around the park. He had so much fun with all that freedom!!<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00167.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00168.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />I don't know what he was doing here <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00218.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00198.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />I'm really sad because I missed the NICU reunion - it was last Saturday... I remembered it on Sunday. <!--emo&:sob:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/sob.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="sob.gif" border="0" /> We'll have to take a trip up there to visit the staff sometime soon - they haven't seen him since last Halloween!!<br /><br />Finally, Tuesday was David's first field trip! They went to the fair, where they got to see all of the animals, which corresponds to the unit they are covering in school: the farm. (I think that's so cute!) Naturally, I tagged along. Here are the pictures from that:<br />David didn't want to get on the school bus at first <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00242.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />This is about the time that I was wondering, when did my baby turn into a kid on a school bus??<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00245.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />At the fair!!<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00247.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />First we went to the petting zoo! David wouldn't touch them at first but by the time we were done he was touching all of them.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00252.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00258.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Aww a baby cow!<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00273.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />We learned all about milk and where it comes from and how good it is for you. David wasn't really interested in this man's speech about calcium, but once the man started milking the cow, David was fascinated!<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00279.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Looking at the horses<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00294.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Looking at some more animals, in their pens. This is his teacher's assistant, Ms. Hernandez.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00301.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />By the end of the field trip, David was getting carried <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--> (and people say *I* spoil him! <!--emo&ROFL--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--> )<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/September2008/DSC00306.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Till next time <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_3_16%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_3_16%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" />Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891376501306160935noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938098211314160321.post-51038629311183795482008-08-24T16:46:00.003-05:002008-08-24T17:27:16.852-05:00PTA, here we come!!!As of 7:55am tomorrow, Monday August 25th, David will be officially enrolled in school!! I can't believe my little boy is growing up!<br /><br />David is enrolled in the PPCD program at a local elementary school. His teacher's name is Ms. Davis, and she seems really great. She's been teaching special education for five years and she claims it to be her passion. Her assistant, Yvonne, and her will have five students, including David, in her morning PPCD class.<br /><br />I'm so excited for him, even though my heart is breaking that he's grown up so much. But they go on field trips (ten a year!), play outside on the playground with the pre-kindergartners, learn to ride tricycles, get physical, occupational, and speech therapy, etc... and they teach them all kinds of things. I'll tell you the goal list in a minute.<br /><br />I'm worried because David is a little bit demanding, seeing as though he has *always* had one-on-one time from adults, and has never had to share the attention with anyone else. When I expressed that concern with the teacher, she said that it was perfectly normal for children coming from an one-child home, who have never gone to daycare, to experience that. So that made me feel better.<br /><br />You know I'll have tons of pictures from his first day - but here's a teaser - David in his big boy backpack. Hopefully this isn't a prelude to how things will go in the morning - <!--endemo--> poor kid! I have to tie the strings around his waist, otherwise he can get it off in about two seconds flat. <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/IMG_9222.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Anyways here's the list of the things they expect David to learn this year:<br />*name (or point to named) colors: red, yellow, blue, black, brown, and green<br />*identify and count sets of objects through five<br />*using a pencil draw numbers 1-9 and letters of the alphabet, including those in his first name<br />*perform pre-academic symbolic tasks (e.g., count aloud 1-20, recite person information, play computer games) concentrating for 15+ minutes to complete the task<br />*state full name, address, phone number and parents' first names<br />*name and point to 10 or more body parts, to answer queries: e.g., "where does it hurt?" "Here, on my elbow."<br />*hold paper down and still with one hand while drawing with the other hand<br />*draw straight and curverd lines, left to right, in shaded or maked area, using a model to imitate<br />*eat complete served meals using standard utensils without prompting: e.g., spoon/fork and knife, glass, napkin<br />*assert independence in functional physical activites: e.g., toileting, eating with spoon/fork/knife, dressing without help, bathing, helpful chores<br />*remain seated and quiet during 15-30 minute group storytime, music-time, etc.<br />*listen to picture books and one-plot stories with multiple characters read aloud: ask and answer questions<br />*use 3-6 word sentences, spontaneously, to relate personal facts/activites; e.g., "it's my birthday," "green is my favorite color," "I hurt myself, see?"<br />*respond to questions re: who, whose, where, what, do and why (not 'how'); "where are your red shoes?" ... "on the chair."<br />*as questions primarily regarding who, whose, where, what and why: "why are your shoes all wet?" "because...uh...I don't know!"<br />*demonstrate family-specific acceptable table manners daily<br />*recognize need and go to the bathroom alone; may still need help with wiping<br />*sing and perform with small group activity songs such as "Rng Around the Rosey" (Verbal leading only, no modeling)<br />*follow rules in gross motor games (not more than 2 rules) with verbal commands, with adult as caller/leader<br /><br />That's a crazy lot, huh? He's supposed to master at least 80% in all areas - and they have 3 hours a day to do it in.<br /><br />On top of all of that, August 13th was was David's first time to go to Progressive Steps, which is the therapy company we will use since ECI cannot take them after they turn three.<br /><br />It is GREAT there!! I'm so excited for David! They have all kinds of really fun toys, and the therapists are so nice. Even the waiting room was fun!<br /><br />The occupational therapist asked me if his shoulders had always been "winged" or something like that... apparently it's a bad thing? I don't know... I'll have to google it or something - noone's ever mentioned it to me before.<br /><br />The speech therapist didn't really work with him much (that day was really mostly an evaluation) but she was really nice.<br /><br />And the physical therapist said that David looked really good and that she thought we wouldn't need much more than like six more months of the therapy<!--emo&:O--> <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_19_2%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_19_2%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><br />Anyways - here is a couple of pictures I took.<br /><br />Here's David working with Jacob (the occupational therapist)<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/IMG_9010.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />And here's David jumping on a trampoline with Ryan, the physical therapist<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/IMG_9012.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />I'm so excited! I have a feeling David's about to take off - and we're not going to recognize him in a few months!!!<br /><br />This is a big week for other reasons as well - this next week is the last week that we will ever have nursing.<br /><br />It's hard to convey to someone who has never had nursing how much we've learned to depend on them. Of course, the obvious - if David's ever showing signs of illness, they're equipped to handle the situation. However, there's so many small things that I've learned to count on the nurses to take care of. Like setting up and remembering doctor's appointments or ordering medicines when we're almost out.<br /><br />I always knew, without even having to ask, that when I got home from work, David had had all of the fluids he was supposed to have, is caught up with medicines, and is fed, bathed, and dressed.<br /><br />And for the first time in David's life, it is us that is responsible for doing all of these things. We are the ones who have to make sure that David's got plenty of medicine. We are the ones who have to make sure he's getting physical therapy at home. We are the ones who have to make sure that he's progressing in his abilities to drink from a cup and potty train.<br /><br />I'm just wondering if I am capable of doing all these things? <!--emo&:hmm:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/Thinking.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="Thinking.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--> Luckily JoAnn will be around to help me out - she's going to be working for me under the MDCP program (we finally spent the night in the Hereford nursing home on the 15th) and she's really great with David.<br /><br />... just some random thoughts on a sunday morning.<br /><br />AND! On Monday, BritKare came by and picked up the oxygen machine and all of our little bottles of oxygen!!<br /><br />David hasn't been on oxygen even at night since last year (except for when he got the flu in January) but I've kept it around - just in case.<br /><br />And now it's gone <!--emo&:O--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_19_2%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_19_2%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:woohoo:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/23_30_125%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="23_30_125%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--> I'm scared. <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><br />OK so time to backtrack a little - on Sunday, August 17th, we celebrated David's 3rd birthday party at home. It was his second party - he's just that special!! Haha... here are the pictures from that:<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/IMG_9067.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Weston and Jaxon<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/IMG_9079.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/IMG_9099.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/IMG_9100.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/IMG_9104.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/IMG_9107.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/IMG_9110.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/IMG_9115.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/IMG_9118.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/IMG_9141.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/IMG_9172.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/IMG_9179.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />And my nephew Yoda, er, Jaxon<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/IMG_9090.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />OK... gotta go finish getting things ready for tomorrow! Wish us luck!!!Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891376501306160935noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938098211314160321.post-39342500398226280772008-08-04T22:08:00.003-05:002008-08-04T22:27:52.120-05:00Happy THIRD Birthday, David!!!So... August 3rd marked three years since I gave birth to my little miracle baby... and somehow, even though it seems like just yesterday, my little miracle baby has turned into a thriving, active three year old.<br /><br />This has been an insane journey. I can vividly remember making several trips a day up to the hospital to just get a short glimpse of the most amazing, beautiful, tiny baby I had ever seen. I can remember praying everyday when I left that that wasn't the last time I would see him. I remember sleeping with my phone in my hand, out of fear that I'd receive a call from the NICU.<br /><br />And, I remember bringing him home for the first time. "Showing" him around his home, even though he fell asleep as soon as we walked through the door. Learning about oxygen machines, nebulizers, medicines, etc. What seemed so incredibly overwhelming at first soon became second nature as I proudly did everything within my power to keep my baby healthy.<br /><br />As you all know - despite every effort sometimes things happen. David went into pulmonary hypertension crisis on April 7th, 2006, and we nearly lost him.... but even that couldn't keep David down, because he recovered from that and after nearly three months in the hospital, we got to bring David home again.<br /><br />I take pride in the fact that we made it through the entire calendar year of 2007 hospital free. David spent that time growing and changing before my eyes, learning new things every day, overcoming one obstacle after another. David learned how to crawl, then walk. All of this despite the doctor's warnings that he may never be able to accomplish these things.<br /><br />His health also continued to improve. While once it was a continuous battle just to keep him out of the hospital, his immune system slowly grew stronger and stronger. His lungs began to heal from the damage the ventilator caused. Soon the medicines and breathing treatments began to decrease. David finally got off of oxygen in October 2007.<br /><br />So now David is a pretty typical three year old little boy. He loves to sing songs and give kisses and play outside. He'll do anything to go "bye bye" including bringing me my purse and my keys. He has temper tantrums when he doesn't get his way and gets very excited when Mommy or Daddy come home from work.<br /><br />We still have a ways to go before I'd consider the battle completely over - but isn't that how it always is? We always have to fight and fight and fight to make sure that our babies turn out to be good, successful people. Sometimes it seems unobtainable, but somehow, as parents, we figure out a way.<br /><br />I can never forget the people who have helped me along this journey, either. Because without all of you, I wouldn't be the person I am today, nor would David be the person he is today. So to all of you -<!--emo&Muah--> <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_3_16%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_3_16%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><br />And, if you have the time - I put together a slideshow for David (click on the picture)<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/?action=view&current=122bc3b4.pbw" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2005/August2005/th_0810David04.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Anyways - David's in Miami Florida with his Daddy - they left on Saturday and will return on August 11th. I miss him like crazy but I know he's having a great time. I was doing okay until I saw these pictures... then I started crying because I just want to kiss him!<br /><br />But I'm so glad Javier's sending me pictures....<br /><br />His first plane ride!!!<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/DSC00045.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/DSC00046.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />I guess this is at Javier's parent's house:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/DSC00047.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/August2008/DSC00048.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Well, after hours on the phone and alot of arguing, David finally got approved for the MDCP program. Which means, he won't have to go to daycare!! I'm so relieved. Now we have to schedule a time to take him to spend the "night" in the nursing home - I think I told you how we have to spend from 10pm until after midnight in the nursing home so that it can show that he was institutionalized for a period of time that had a date change... in order to bypass the waiting list. We'll probably do that when he gets home.<br /><br />Here's some pictures from a few weeks ago. Amy and I took the kids to the discovery center. We had a great time!<br />Weston and Jaxon<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_7015.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />David and Jaxon<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_7019.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_7018.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Jaxon<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_7021.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />David chooses the most embarassing places to have temper tantrums.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_7023.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />This was his favorite thing<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_7029.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_7024.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_7033.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_7034.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_7047.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_7049.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_7041.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />And some random pictures:<br />Eating flamin' hot cheeto puffs - he LOVES them!!!<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6987.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />David was attempting to feed himself chocolate pudding<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6977.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Mom! Some privacy please?<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6979.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Eating a popcicle (he doesn't like them - at ALL - in fact, the only way he would eat it was from a spoon)<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_8824.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_8825.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Playing on his "laptop"<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_8829.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Falling out of his chair LOL<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_8844.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />You think he's trying to tell me something? LOL<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_8851.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Recently I signed release papers so that Maria can transport David if she wants to or needs to. David's new thing is he wants to go "bye bye" ALL the time.... so now he can<!--emo&:HAHA:--> <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><br />Anyways, so Maria took David to the public library for the first time (which, I'm sad that I missed) and to the discovery center!!<br /><br />Here's some pictures from when we took David to Jump n' Jive. I figured he would HATE it - but it wasn't really as bad as I had anticipated. I wouldn't say that he loved it, but he seemed to have an okay time, even though you could tell he was nervous. Here are some of the pictures:<br /><br />Getting used to it<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6908.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Riding down the slide with JoAnn <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6915.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Going by himself!<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6917.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Peeking through the toy at Mama<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6922.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Playing with JoAnn and Laura<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6927.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6931.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />He couldn't hardly stand because he'd fall<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6944.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />So he decided to crawl everywhere<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6938.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Weeeeee<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6971.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />So I've recently been touched by an amazing journey that another parent is blogging about. Her name is Kayleigh and she was born on June 23rd, weighing only a little more than a pound. It's difficult for me to read this story sometimes because I can so vividly remember being in their shoes - but I can't stop because she's just amazing. If you have time, check out <a href="http://www.kayleighannefreeman.blogspot.com/">her blog</a>.<br /><br />And, here's an amazing poem that makes me cry:<br />A Premature Baby's Prayer<br /><br /><br />God bless the little child behind the plastic wall<br />For all he knows is the ringing of the bells and<br />the blurred images around him. He has been taken<br />from my womb without warning and I long to hold him<br />in my arms.<br /><br />Lord, I ask in your name that my child be healed.<br />I am willing to accept your decision no matter what<br />it will be. I am willing to take on the responsibilities<br />for caring for this child. I am willing to give this<br />child love and understanding no matter the cost.<br /><br />Please Lord help me to accept reality and what has<br />happened without explanation or warning. Help me<br />face the fact that this is not my fault and that<br />I was given a special task to complete here on Earth.<br /><br />God give my child the strength to make it through another<br />second, minute, hour and day as each moment is<br />a blessing and a triumph from heaven.<br /><br />God, may you give the strength and compassion<br />to the caregivers and nurses that take care of my child<br />May you keep my child protected and free from all injury<br />and pain.<br /><br />Please take away the guilt and burden from my heart dear<br />Lord. It is heavy and I feel it is all my fault.<br />Take it away dear Lord. Sweet Jesus allow me the strength<br />and understanding I need to communicate with the Doctors<br />and Nurses.<br /><br />As you see dear Lord, I am at your mercy for the life of<br />my child. Please leave him here on Earth and know that<br />I will provide all the love and understanding that<br />this child needs. I accept the challenge and will be<br />your humble servant dear Lord.<br /><br />~Author unknown~Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891376501306160935noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938098211314160321.post-72155819482238861482008-07-05T23:15:00.003-05:002008-07-05T23:43:17.267-05:00Happy Independence Day!!!Busy couple of weeks.<br /><br />Javier's parents came to town. Plus their two friends. They were here from June 22nd-27th. And it was interesting.<br />It's always nice when they come to town because I never have to worry about anything, so it's like a mini-vacation. His mom is an amazing cook - plus she does everything for David. I got a four hour nap in one day!<br /><br />Since they've left we've had to "whip" David back into shape - he totally got spoiled rotten. I can't blame them, though - they only get to see him once a year, and I know they love him every bit as much as I do. In fact, Javier's mom went in and laid down on the floor next to David's bed one night because I was a mean mommy and put him in bed (30 minutes later than his normal bedtime) and let him cry.<!--emo&:HAHA:--> <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--> On her last night here, she had him outside, taking a walk, in his pajamas, at ten pm. Haha.... he deserves to be spoiled every once in a while I suppose.<br /><br />An example of the wonderful food she cooked while here: The best black beans in the WHOLE world, white rice, pork cooked some way I don't know how to do, and salad.<br /><br />And Bailey's to drink <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_6650.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Yum!<br /><br />Here's some pictures I acquired:<br />David<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_6611.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />getting ready for a haircut<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_6626.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />what he looks like after:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_6630.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_6632.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_6633.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_6642.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />What a temper tantrum looks like. He very carefully lays himself down on the floor.<br /><br />Once he knows he's not going to hit his head he'll proceed with the tantrum. <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><br />At least he's cautious.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_6631.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />And, in case anyone was wondering - here's what my house looked like at night - the office:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_6627.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />And, the laundry room:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_6628.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />They both had queen size blow up mattresses.... so during the day it looked normal. <!--emo&ROFL-->Haha!<br /><br />Well, most of the time was fabulous - but there was one day when my MIL cooked this:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_6652.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />I apparently have some pretty serious hangups about fish. Because, as much as I hate to admit it, it was *really* good. But I have issues with seeing eyeballs on my food.<br />David didn't like it - here's a picture of David trying fish for the first time:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_8526.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Javier's parents are really nice people. His mom bought Maria (our nurse)'s kids some toys. awww.<br /><br /><br />And then one night, Javier's dad told me to *always* remember that I am his ONLY "little daughter"<br /><br />Siempre, siempre, siempre. <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_1%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_1%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><br /><br />David with his grandma<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_8790.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_8777.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_8507.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />David with grandpa:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_8518.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_8766.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_8516.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />This is Nancy and Juan - Family friends that visited with the inlaws. They are extremely nice people - AND - Juan speaks very good english<!--emo&:woohoo:--> <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/23_30_125%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="23_30_125%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_8796.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />David with Nancy:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_8729.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_8722.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_8701.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />David with Juan:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_8679.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Fun with hats:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_8684.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_8681.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_8675.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_8671.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_8668.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_8664.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />David, getting spoiled before bedtime:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_8532.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />Fun with pellet guns.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_8520.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_8517.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Just David:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_8754.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_8661.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Anyways, it was a really nice week, having them here. I admit that even *I* got a *little* spoiled.<br /><br />But... back to reality.<br /><br />Since David got used to getting to go "byebye" all the time, his new thing is getting my keys, coming up and giving them to me, then grabbing my hand and saying "bye bye? bye bye?"<br /><br />It's SO cute - and SO hard to resist.<br /><br />In fact, recently, I came in from work and say "hi" to David... the first thing out of his mouth is "byebye?" <!--emo&:crap:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/Crap.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="Crap.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&ROFL--><br /><br />David's diagnostician for the PPCD program came earlier this week. It was basically an evaluation very similar to what ECI does - they come out with packets of charts and evaluate him on what he can or can't do - like stacking cups, or choosing the correct item out of three - or using words to say what he wants.<br /><br />And of course, he didn't do ANYTHING that I was sitting there saying he could do. <!--emo&:rolleyes:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_19_4%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_19_4%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><br />But - he obviously qualifies for the PPCD program. Which means, he'll begin school in August. <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_1%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_1%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:sob:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/sob.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="sob.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_1%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_1%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />David's new favorite song is "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"<br /><br />And he sings it "Inko Inko Unko Ki" It's SO cute.<br /><br />My nephew Jaxon turned ONE this week!!!! Here's some pictures from his birthday party!<br /><br />First thing we see when we come in is Jaxon walking around, carrying this giant bouquet of balloons <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6660.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6666.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Opening presents!! (I think this was his favorite toy)<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6703.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6691.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6730.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Cake time!<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6750.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />Next thing we knew, his foot was in the cake. <!--emo&ROFL--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6754.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6760.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6781.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />After cake we went outside. Here's David and Meme<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6786.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6794.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Meme, David, and Lizzie<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6800.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6804.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />David playing center. <!--emo&ROFL--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6809.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Kylie playing point guard.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6812.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Happy 1st Birthday, Jaxon!<br /><br />David's figured out that you can put things in the toilet. Fun. Good thing it was clean.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6817.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><!--emo&:rolleyes:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_19_4%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_19_4%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><br /><br />This morning was rough. I came *really* close to calling the pediatrician. By eleven am, I had changed eight diarrhea diapers, given three baths and two breathing treatments.<br /><br />David was coughing, puking, and is having massive watery diarrhea diapers.<br /><br />Javier came home from work and let me take a shower (thank GOD - I was covered in everything) and finally David fell asleep.<br /><br />He slept till three, and then woke up like everything was fine. Here's some pictures from tonight.<br /><br />Can we go outside? Please? Please?<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6819.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />He was pretty excited to be outside. <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6842.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Playing in the garage<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6849.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Going for a ride with Daddy.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6868.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Then things started to go wrong.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6871.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6880.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6883.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />Here's a picture of him doing something we've been fighting him on lately. For some reason, when he gets mad, he sticks his finger down his throat and gags himself.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6888.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />And, when we tell him no.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6889.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6891.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Finally, saying goodnight.<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/July2008/IMG_6905.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" />Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891376501306160935noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938098211314160321.post-10252062333066733932008-06-20T21:57:00.003-05:002008-06-20T22:24:40.386-05:00Wow, it's been nearly a month since I've updated this. I guess I've been busy? I don't know... no excuse really.<br />Things have been crazy around here - with the nursing hours and all. Plus, I'm up for a promotion at work. I should find out early next week if I get it or not - and training starts a week from Monday. Wish me luck!<br /><br />Well... what have we missed?<br /><br />I left off last time in the middle of a nursing hour crisis - they were going to take away all of my nursing hours with hardly any notice. Well, finally I was able to get ahold of Dr. H. He said that although he agrees with Kim in that to continue to sign off on David's nursing hours would be fraudulent, he could see where I was coming from.<br /><br />He agreed to sign off for forty hours for 2-3 more weeks, and then the wean him down to 30, etc. If I'm not mistaken, next week is our last week with forty hours. Then they'll wean us down to 30 - and we'll have some sort of nursing hours through August, which is when David starts school.<br /><br />The diagnostician from the school district is coming on July 1st to see if David qualifies for the PPCD program, which I already know he will. I need to contact headstart as well to see if he could maybe do both, in order to keep him out of daycare.<br /><br />There's a program called MDCP that I am trying to get David into - it will qualify him for a "personal attendant." They don't supply the personal attendants - I'll have to find one of those myself - but basically it will help me keep him out of daycare.<br /><br />But here's the weird part - there's a waiting list for this program. To bypass the waiting list, we have to go to Herford, TX and spend at least two hours in a nursing home with David - starting at midnight. So, basically we have to spend from 12 midnight-2am in Herford, and then drive back. How random is that? I'm not exactly sure of the reasoning behind it - I'll have to ask - but if it means David doesn't have to go to daycare I'll do it.<br /><br />Anyways. Enough of me blabbing on and on - here's some pictures.<br /><br />Here's a picture of David, hanging on for dear life on the slide<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/May2008/IMG_6515.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /> A video of David, dancing to Usher. SO cute!<br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/May2008/?action=view&current=dancing.flv" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/May2008/th_dancing.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><!--emo&ROFL-->A sweet father-son moment:<br /><div class="postcolor"> <a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/?action=view&current=MVI_6525.flv" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/th_MVI_6525.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Last week was the ECI annual picnic. It was at the park just up the street so JoAnn and I decided to take David. It was fun!<br /><br />Here's David petting one of the therapist's dog:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_6528.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />So all of a sudden David got real brave and decided to walk away from us<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_6533.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />And then I realized he had spotted one of his therapists! <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--> Here's David and Dana (his speech therapist)<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_6534.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />She was REALLY surprised about the bubbles. <!--emo&:O--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_19_2%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_19_2%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_6537.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />They had hamburgers and potato chips for us to eat!<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_6544.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />This is Annette (David's occupational therapist) and David in the bouncy house!<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_6555.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><!--emo&:hmm:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/Thinking.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="Thinking.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--> Do I want to reach in there and grab a toy?<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_6561.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />They had a little slide for the kids to play on - this is what I want for our backyard but haven't been able to find one <!--emo&:hmm:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/Thinking.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="Thinking.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_6566.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_6567.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Finally, they had face painting. The woman asked what we wanted. A dragon? A butterfly? I told her we'd be lucky to get a smiley face<!--emo&ROFL--> <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--> This is what we managed to get:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_6574.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />My friend Cory and her cousin came over last Saturday, and she brought her "son," Leonitis.<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_8415.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />He was pretty good, except for when he climbed my DVD tower <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_8421.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />We went outside for a little while<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_8429.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />David didn't really care too much for him <!--emo&ROFL--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_8434.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_8436.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /> </div><br />Finally, a blackmail picture:<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/June2008/IMG_8481.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Looks like I didn't take as many pictures as I thought I had - so I'll share some tidbits:<br /><br />***Every night before bed, David and I take a walk. Maria takes him to the park several times a week, and I always try to go out and do something fun on the weekends. David spends a pretty significant amount of time outside. But he's not satisfied with that! <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /> I think he'd live outside if it were up to him!!! He's so cute though - he'll walk up next to me and grab my hand, and do this funny dance thing to let me know he wants to go out. Haha.<br /><br />***We drink expresso coffee. And David LOVES LOVES LOVES it. Even without milk!<br /><br />And he insists on having several drinks of it every morning.<br /><br />I know alot of toddlers drink coffee... but I've let nurses try ours in the morning before, and they've come back the next day and said that they were up past midnight because of it.<!--emo&ROFL--> <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><br />So, letting him drink it isn't bad for him.... is it? <br /><br />*** I'd like to know when David's cute little baby feet turned into stinky kid feet. <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><br />Seriously - his sandals make his feet stink so bad! What can I do?<br /><br />He's so cute, though - when I take his sandals off at night I make this HUGE deal about how stinky his feet are, and he giggles and then sniffs them.<!--emo&ROFL--> <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><br /><br />***David's ped put David on a new feeding schedule - where we don't give him any boluses throughout the day at all, and make up for whatever he doesn't eat/drink at night. Their theory is that David will eat and drink if he's hungry and thirsty. Well, it's not going too well - he's already lost two pounds - and I'm a little worried.<br /><br />I know they say that they don't have to eat as much as we think they have to... but this is ridiculous.<br /><br />One day, this is seriously all he ate:<br /><br />Rice Crispies and banana for breakfast (he actually at good there)<br /><br />For lunch he had one fish stick and one and a half baked french fry.<br /><br />For snack he had practically nothing - but was offered peaches and cheerios.<br /><br />For dinner he again ate practically nothing but was offered baked chicken and carrots.<br /><br />He drank MAYBE one ounce of water all day long.<br /><br />And, it was 100 degrees here on that day, and we went to the park. So I was really worried about dehydration. I caved and gave him a bolus of 10 ounces of water before bed because I KNEW he hadn't gotten enough.<br /><br />Some days he does okay - other days not so much. This is going to be difficult.<br /><br />***We have figured out a couple of things that David LOVES. One of them is sunflower seeds. I couldn't get them out of the shell fast enough! <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><br />I'm gonna have to go get him some that are already shelled.... <br /><br />We also learned that he loves hot cheetos. He's a weird kid.<br /><br />**Here's a fun story - not about David, but about me - I'm a hero!!<br /><br />Last week at work we were outside on break when we saw a mommy duck walking out of the field by work followed by eight or nine little baby ducklings. They were SOOOOOO cute!!! So we oohed and awwed about them for a minute, then went back to work.<br /><br />Later my friend said "I just had a horrible thought. What if one of those baby ducks fell in the sewer drain?"<br /><br />The sewer drains out by work are crazy steep. The hole isn't very big, but the cement outside of it goes down at like a forty five degree angle.<br /><br />So on our next break, we went back out there and listened by each of the drains... and sure enough! One of the baby ducks had fallen in there!<br /><br />It was like something off Animal Cops!<br /><br />So I called animal control, and they gave me another number. In a little more than fifteen minutes, they had someone out there listening for the baby duck.<br /><br />They had to call the city of Amarillo to get someone to come unscrew the sewer lid - and a few minutes after that a firetruck was there!<br /><br />So eventually the got the baby duck and put it out in the field. The guy said that the mama duck is probably out there, looking for the baby duck.<br /><br />It was neat <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_1%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_1%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><br /><br />***And finally - David cracks me up.<br /><br />He's been saying things wrong lately. Like he'll say "book" as "gook" or he says "mine" like "nine"<br /><br /><br />Earlier I was showing him to say "Mine."<br /><br />Me: "mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ine."<br /><br />David: "nine."<br /><br />Me: "mmmmmmMMMMMMMmmmmmMMMMMMMMM ine."<br /><br />David "mmmmmmm nine."<br /><br /><!--emo&ROFL--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><br /><br />Till next time. <img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_3_16%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_3_16%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" />Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891376501306160935noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938098211314160321.post-77783309687865089262008-05-26T15:30:00.003-05:002008-05-26T15:39:31.244-05:00Happy Memorial Day!!!Watch this, it's funny:<br /><div class="postcolor"> <a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/May2008/?action=view&current=introuble.flv" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/May2008/th_introuble.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And here's a video of David singing his ABCs!<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/May2008/?action=view&current=ABCs.flv" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/May2008/th_ABCs.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /></a><br /><br />David is definitely two now. His temper tantrums are increasing in both frequency and intensity. In fact, the other day, David hit me because he was mad! I was shocked because he'd never done that before!!<br /><br />He was trying to get the remote controls, and I put them where he couldn't get them and told him "No."<br /><br />So he reared his little bitty hand back and slapped me on the chest!!<br /><br />I couldn't believe it!! I said "DAVID CHRISTOPHER. You do NOT hit Mommy. Sit down."<br /><br />And he sat down and cried.<br /><br />I'm at a loss for on that one. He hasn't done it since, though, thankfully.<br /><br />But, I hate to only say negative things. He's also a TON of fun lately. He's learning new things all the time and is becoming increasingly interactive. An example, Javier had surgery about two weeks ago, and on the weekends, a home health nurse comes to our house to repack his wound.<br /><br />Well, David thinks that any nurse that ever comes to our house is there for him. <!--emo&:HAHA:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_1_20%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><br />So every time one comes over he's all flirty saying "HelllOOOO" to them over and over again. It's so cute the way he says it, I wish you could hear.<br /><br /><!--emo&ROFL--><!--endemo-->A little while ago, we tried out the new sprinkler toy. And it did NOT go over well! In fact... I think it's safe to say that David HATES the new sprinkler. <br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/May2008/IMG_6502.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/May2008/IMG_6504.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />He was still mad even after he came in. <!--emo&ROFL--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_11_6%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><!--endemo--><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/May2008/IMG_6509.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /> </div>Oh. We have a HUGE problem. I got a call Friday from the woman who's in charge of our nursing agency.<br /><br />She said that the nurse practitioner signed a paper that says, effective June 5th, our nursing hours will be cut. To ZERO. Like NO nursing. At ALL.<br /><br />The paper apparently said that David no longer meeting the medical criteria for nursing, and that David's parents needed to look into daycare/babysitters.<br /><br />David is doing fantastic. He really is. But lets take a minute to review all that still has to be done for him.<br /><br />David gets the following medicines:<br /><br />Baclofen - six doses a day<br />Clonodine - two doses a day<br />Zantac - two doses a day<br />Reglan - two doses a day<br />Flaxseed oil - four doses a day<br />Acidopholus - one dose a day<br />Calciferol - one dose a day<br />Clariton - one dose a day<br /><br />He also gets one pulmicort every day, and PRN xopenex and intol.<br /><br />He's eating more by mouth, which is great, but even if he eats a good meal, he still has to have eight ounces of water through his button because he still won't drink much by mouth. So add to all that, three bolus "feedings" of water a day.<br /><br />After he goes to bed, he gets two more eight ounces of formula bolus fed to him, to make up for any calories he does not consume during the day.<br /><br />David is still very much developmentally delayed. He still needs alot of physical, occupational, and speech therapy.<br /><br />So just for kicks, I decided to call a couple of daycares in the area, just to see if they would even TAKE David. I was able to find one that would give a breathing treatment. But when I told them about David's mickey button, they were all like "what? what's that?" When I explained it to them, they told me that they were not qualified to care for someone with needs like David's.<br /><br />Which is exactly the answer I expected.<br /><br />I do have a call in for our pediatrician. I haven't received a call back yet, but when I do, I plan to explain to him that putting David in daycare, especially with his naturally weakened immune system is a recipe for disaster, even IF a daycare would take him.<br /><br />I mean, these people have been involved in this situation since David was born. They are VERY aware of all the things that David has been through, how sick he was, etc. So for them to think that all of a sudden he's well enough to go to DAYCARE just because he's eating more by mouth is absolutely preposterous.<br /><br />Whew. Thanks for listening. <!--emo&:blahblah:--><img src="http://209.85.12.232/7479/162/emo/36_11_16%5B1%5D.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" alt="36_11_16%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /><br /><br />Finally, here's some pictures from this GLORIOUS three day weekend!!<br />Sleeping in...<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/May2008/IMG_8329.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />A little coffee to wake up<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/May2008/IMG_8336.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />It's all gone!<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/May2008/IMG_8342.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br />Playing outside with Daddy<br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/May2008/IMG_8352.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/Sesc7/2008/May2008/IMG_8377.jpg" alt="user posted image" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><!--endemo-->Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891376501306160935noreply@blogger.com4