Isn't it Friday yet?

We hit the roads at 6am this morning. As soon as I got on the freeway I could see that there was black ice. Cars and trucks were off the road on both sides. Firetrucks, police cars and ambulances lined the roadway. It was dark and hard to see exactly how many slide offs there were but I did see a pickup truck upside down in the median. I debated wether I should turn back and prayed aloud while crying my eyes out. It's kind of embarassing to admit that I was so freaked out but at the time... Fortunately, we are okay. The traffic was horrible as we passed "lake affect" city. It took me an hour longer to get to therapy today. I left really early so we ended up only being a half-hour late.

Crew has been a pill about the eating thing. I tried giving him his meds at therapy (in front of 4 therapists) and he spit them all over the place. Therapy has been extremely hard on him the past couple days. He has never been worked this hard before plus I know he doesn't feel his best. They push him until he collapses and then make him get up and do it again. There has been a lot of crying and I feel real bad. It's a battle I face... not knowing how hard to push. I want to stick it out though. I would hate it if we didn't finish and then all those years in the future wondering "what would have happened" if we had finished it.

I did take Crew to the pediatrician to get a good bill of health. He said he just might have some lingering achiness from the flu, plus he is getting a cold. He thought it would be best to continue with the intensive therapy. At least I know he doesn't have an infection or something.

When we got home today, the boys and I delivered flyers throughout the neighborhood reminding everyone about the "Scouting For Food" drive. Tomorrow night is the Pinewood Derby and I am going to miss it. I am staying in Orem at my uncles so we can save ourselves the commute. The derby really is more of a father/son event and this way Carl will be forced to take off work so he can take care of the boys and go to the derby. Dad and boys are still finishing their cars. I just hope S and H have a finished car by the time it starts. LOL.

Oh, and to top it off my eyelashes are falling out!!! I haven't changed my makeup or anything... anybody know why this could happen? Stress maybe? Dry weather?

Day 1- I CAN BE A SUPERHERO NOW

This is our first time trying the NeuroSuit. The suit frames the patient's body with bungee cords which provide compression. This compression increases awareness of how his body feels and moves. The movement Crew makes is resisted by the bungee cords which will hopefully increase his strength in a shorter period of time.

Watching him walk with the suit on I could see that he really had to work hard to move his legs. It reminded me of those days when we struggled to move pipe through fields of deep clay/mud. Every step took much effort as our feet felt glued to the ground. We were tough little farm kids and without a doubt our lifestyle contributed to that.

Crew works much harder than we did as kids. Every step takes effort as he works those muscles. It's hard to watch him struggle and the staff at "Now I Can" asked how often his older brothers help him. They are so good to pack him around, help him in/out of a chair, and get him what he needs. I haven't really spent a lot of time thinking that we are hurting him in the long run by doing these things for him. Still, its so hard to find the balance between making him "work" and taking care of his needs.

The PT evaluation went well. We've set some goals mostly centered on building strength and endurance and transitions.

Crew is struggling to eat which is an indication that he still is not feeling well. I can't help wondering if the timing of this is all wrong?

Intensive Therapy

The walker and DAFO's are packed and we are ready to embark on our 3 week therapy adventure. Five times a week for three weeks, 20 hours of commuting each week and 20 hours of therapy each week. Crew will get more hours of therapy in the next three weeks than he has in the last year. I have butterfly's in my stomach. It's a huge investment and I'm crossing my fingers that the flu bug will pass by morning.

I'm still worried that we will get there for the evaluation and be turned away for some unknown reason. Keep your fingers crossed for us:)

Just for Fun

I don't think I really needed to take the quiz to find out that my Christmas is most like this movie. LOL. Every year we watch this movie and I think it was last year S asked for a Red Ryder BB Gun. Despite my attempts to have a nice quiet holiday... the truth be told that we are actually a nutty bunch, extended family included:)

Your Christmas is Most Like: A Christmas Story

Loving, fun, and totally crazy. Don't shoot your eye out!

What Movie Is Your Christmas Most Like?

Reflections of Gratitude

I can't imagine what life would be like without my little family. These guys are everything to me. Each one with their own personality contributes something unique yet essential to our family. They teach me something everyday. I love them.

I found this last surviving daisy in my garden just this week which is really nothing short of a miracle. The temps here have been dipping below freezing. This daisy is a symbol to me of hope. Hope has become extremely important to me over the past few years. I am so thankful for believing that a positive outcome is possible even when there is some evidence to the contrary.

How grateful I am for my faith, good health, great friends and my country.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!

Twenty Two Cents

Okay, I'm 100% converted to LED lights now!!!

I checked my brothers math and plugged in my own numbers to see how much its costing me to power the Christmas lights that we have strung across the front of our house.

2.4 watts X 5 sets = 12 watts

12 watts X .001 = .012 kw

6 Hrs/night X .012 = .072 kw per night

.072 X 38 days (Thanksgiving weekend through New Years) = 2.736 total killowatts

2.736 X .08 (I pay 8 cents per killowatt) = .21888 cents

.2188 rounds up to 22 cents.

Yes, you heard that right. It will cost me TWENTY TWO CENTS to run my lights from Thanksgiving weekend until New Years.

Jeesh, I should get paid for this:)

Is this what Big Brothers are for???

Because I love my brother dearly and because he only comments privately I've decided to post his comment to my recent random post. Now you will understand why I am so strange:)

Introducing Guest blogger: Sam
Nice on the Christmas lights. I am actually a big advocate of supporting one of Wyoming ’s biggest resources, Coal. Most of the power plants in the country are fired by Coal, and thus I have decided to not only stick with the Christmas lights I already have, but in July at a garage sale I found a deal on more lights, you know still in the box never been used. I was able to pick up 11 sets (275 feet total) of the C-7 lights which are rated at 125 watts each set. With this in mind, if I plug all of the new lights in it will be an additional 1375 watts per hour which translates into 1.375 kw per hour. If I run the lights for 6 hrs per night (6X1.375kwh=8.25kwh) that will be an additional 8.25 kwh per night, and running the lights from the weekend before thanksgiving to new years that will be a total of 5 weeks or 35 days which in turn would equal (8.25kwhX 35 days = 288.75 kwh) an additional 288.75kwh. With my electricity costing about $0.08 per kwh ($0.08 X 288.75 = $23.10) I figure I will spend an extra $23.10 this year for my new lights. Good thing I only spent $5 for the whole lot.

As for old flames. I am glad it was nice to see him again. It is always interesting to run into those from a former life. Some are good to see, and others are good to not see. As for my wife, she doesn’t mind if I run into old flames… just as long as they don’t talk too much.

Regarding Thanksgiving plans. We have the same problem of commitment. Most likely thought, are lack of planning is what is screwing up your plans. Sorry!!!

The skiing sounds fun. Great family activity. Trying to find a deal on skis, or finding a deal on anything for that matter just runs in the genes (a blessing and a curse from our dear Grandpa A). I think you should just give up on buying the skis. Go for a snow board instead. Something I have wanted to try for years but just haven’t taken the time or gotten up the nerve. I could just see you tearing up the slopes and running circles around your boys, in a HOT PINK snowsuit and white fur hat.

Love those Crew smiles. It has got to be great to relish in those simple victories of finding something that he really enjoys and can develop doing.

Housekeeping/Blogroll

I realized that my blogroll needs to be updated. My sidebar only shows 1/3 of the blogs that I actually read. If I don't have you on my sidebar and you want to be linked up leave me a comment or email me (email addy is on my profile). Same goes for anyone that doesn't want to be linked and already is;)

Force Feeding Icecream

Napping is becoming quite hit-and-miss around here. When Crew gets off the bus he doesn't want to come in the house. Instead, he wants to practice "crewsin" around in his walker. At the end of the culdesac is a little mud puddle. I think he walked through it five or six times and still was not satisfied. I was okay with walking in circles really as my intention was to "wear him out" in hopes of driving him into exhaustion. He still needs a nap.... he just doesn't know it.

My efforts were in vain. He didn't sleep this afternoon and come bedtime he continued to fight it! Carl came home early tonight. I was reading with H and Crew was crying in his bed. Carl layed down with him for about 20 minutes and Crew finally fell asleep.

Not 5 minutes later I remembered that I had not given Crew his seizure meds. I usually give him the Depakoate mixed with yogurt or icecream at about 7 pm but occaisionally (about once every 6 months) I forget. So then we are left with the decision to leave him asleep and just give him his next scheduled dose in the morning or wake him up and give him the meds.

We chose to wake him up:) It really was a funny site... me holding the kid and prying his mouth open with my fingers, Carl with a spoonful of icecream forcing it into his mouth. Who does that?

Random Thoughts and WhatNots

Here are some random thoughts from one who loves random posts:)

1. This year we purchased new Christmas lights. DH is a big advocate of the energy efficient LED lights and so we never buy the cheap bulbs anymore. These new lights are suppose to be 98% more efficient. We were so excited about it! We hung them up and waited until dark to enjoy our Christmas display only to discover the lights aren't really that bright at all. Very dim. Big disappointment. Well duh, of course they're more efficient...

2. Last week I ran into an old boyfriend. Fourteen years ago our relationship ended on good terms. He broke off the relationship after it became clear that my parents had some "major issues" with us getting married. I was heartbroken and so was he but it just wasn't going to work out... It was really neat seeing him again. He just got married about 3 years ago. He is happily married and has an adorable little girl.

3. We still don't know where we're going for Thanksgiving. It doesn't bother me but I think it bothers the extended family. We don't really have the reputation for being big event planners. We kind of just go with the flow. It's probably rude not to make a commitment. What do you think?

4. The boys are all geared up for skiing this year. We found a place that rents the skis for the whole season. You take them home and keep them. Use them as much as you want and return them in April. We decided to take this route for S and H as they are growing so much. DH got all his ski gear new for his birthday. I'm the only one without the gear. I've been bidding for skis on Ebay for weeks but haven't been able to win anything yet. Tightwad!


5. I spent some time with Crew at preschool today. When I arrived he was playing with the Discovery Toys Zip Track Rally. He loves it! I am so excited about it and thrilled that I've finally found something he likes. I think I'll drop a note to Santa.

Saturday is a Special Day...

We've never had a November quite like this one. The weather was beautiful today. After basketball practices for S and H we hung our outdoor Christmas lights. It was so nice out and I really enjoy getting up on the roof. DH and I teamed up and so it didn't take long.

We decided to take advantage of what could be our last warm day this year and the fun autumn leaves. We took the boys to the park and messed around with the camera. DH doesn't usually take photos but he was helping me today. The camera is cheap and I think he realizes how frustrating it can be. Oh well, the photos aren't really so bad cuz my subjects are simply handsome:)

SELF CONTROL

I've never been one to really pass up those yummy treats that I love. I've never been one for diets or detoxing.

Yep, I'm far from the master of self control. One thing I do have going for me is that I'm relatively active. How can you not be when your packing around a 30lb boy all day?

Thanks to M&M I've decided to take her challenge of "Taking Control" and go on a SUGAR FAST from now until Thanksgiving. I'm on day two already and proud to say I haven't touched anything with sugar.

It's only two more weeks! Anybody want to join me???

Keyword Activity

Who ever knew that watching blog stats could be so exciting? I guess that tells you something about my life doesn't it! Hmpfh!

I love watching how you all find my site and seeing readers across the globe. Many of you read my blog everyday yet never comment or reveal yourselves.

Here are some of the google searches that have brought readers my way this past week:

What music do 5 and 6 year olds listen to
Courage does not always roar
A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned
Birth stories at Timp Hospital
got my DAFO
Quadruplets 3 girls one boy
Herrin Twins Mormon
Having 3 boys
No oxygen at birth
his casts
toddler ear dried blood
Dr Rehab

I would love to hear from more of you. Please comment and say Hi:)

H's Baptism

Yesterday H was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He has been anticipating this day for a long time and was so excited. Their were 13 kids baptized and the chapel and overflow section was filled.

H had lots of support from family and friends. After the baptism we were able to move into a separate room for the confirmation. As we were waiting for Carl and H to get dressed into dry clothes I had family members write their thoughts about the day on stationary so H will have something to remember how we all felt on this special occasion. Then he was also confirmed and received the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

Afterwards we all came over to the house for lunch. I love these little family get togethers. Two of my brothers and their families were there, my three sisters and kids, my three SIL's and children and grandparents from both sides. It makes for quite a houseful and I'm not really set up for that many people so I was so grateful that the weather was warm and the kids could go outside.

Last night we took the boys to FARR Icecream where we purchased 5 Quarts of one of our favorites, PLAYDOUGH Icecream. If you've never tried it I come on over I'm sure we have at least 4 quarts left;)