Two new post

Did you know that if you start a post and save the draft and then publish it, it publishes the entry in the order where you first created it? Since I started some post with the intent to get back to them, you may not see them if I don't tell you. So, if you really love reading this blog, make sure to scroll down to read, "Good thing it wasn't an amputation" and "Tick me off and I'll speak".

New Post in March 2009

I posted a story that I started back in March 2009 about S1's crazy mad escape artist skills.

Good thing it wasn't an amputation....

S1's right foot turns in about 45 degrees when he walks, especially when he's going up stairs. So we decided to get some hip x rays to see if there was a problem or not. The idea of him staying still during x rays was laughable so we decided to sedate him. He's been sedated many times before and has never had a problem. The sedation and x rays went off without a hitch. But when we were in Radiology, they asked which hip and I said I thought it was supposed to be bilateral x rays, but pediatric sedation only had an order for the left hip. I said that I hadn't ever seen the order since it was called in straight to radiology from the doctor's office. So they just did the left hip. I wasn't focusing to hard because they gave S1 ketamine (sp?). Basically it made it look like he had cerebral palsy. He was kind of twisted and stiff, eyes open and staring off steadily in one direction, head cocked to the side. It was a bit disturbing, being his mother, to see him that way but I knew it was only temporary.

When I called the doctors office later in the day to see what the results were the nurse said, "We're still waiting to get the results on the right hip." That's when I informed her she'd be waiting a long time since they didn't do a right hip x ray. Apparently the hospital had some kind of computer glitch so it only printed up the order for the left hip and not the order for the right hip. If I'd been in my right mind, I would have realized this while in radiology. That's why I say it was a good thing it wasn't an amputation or S1 would have lost the wrong limb! Actually, if it was for any procedure other than a simple x ray I would have been more focused. So we had to return two days later to do the other set of x rays. The hospital made it clear that I would not be charged for a second sedation.

I wondered how hard it would be to get S1 back into the hospital. As it turns out, the first visit wasn't traumatic for him at all as the second time around he walked right into the hospital like he owned the place. He waited in radiology just fine while I registered him. So we tried to see if he'd hold still for a x ray without being sedated, and low and behold he did! I had to hold his hand and sing to him so he'd stay on the table while the technician held his feet in the correct position, but he did it! I guess I just threw over $600 down the drain to sedate him earlier in the week. Nah, I don't think it was a waste. If I understand correctly the ketamine keeps the patient awake, just kind of disassociated from their body. They are still globally aware of things that are going on. So maybe the sedation helped him the first time around to see that x rays were no big deal so the second time around he'd know what was going on and could cooperate. Because I am pretty sure that if we had tried to force him onto that table the first time without sedation, we'd never get him willingly onto that table again!

Bi-Annual Update

Well, I started to think about writing a family update and I realized that although I blog some and email randomly I haven't done a yearly update in two years. Well, I think I wrote one but I don't think I ever got it out! So I'll try to be short, but you know me.......

First, the family news. In December 2008 Jenny and Dave celebrated their 10th anniversary (Jan 2009) by taking a cruise out of Florida and going to Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama. They had a wonderful time on the ship and seeing Mayan Ruins, Tropical Rain Forest, a Banana Plantation, and the Panama Canal! The grandparents Faires made it possible by staying with the kids for the week we were gone-so thanks! In December 2009 we had a water line burst when Jenny was out running errands. Thus the month of December was hectic as we dealt with replacing carpets, drywall, painting, moving everything out of the main floor and the family room in the basement and then trying to get resettled all during the holidays. However, that means that we started 2010 with brand new carpet in the majority of the house. Hooray. We also saw Jenny's youngest brother off on his mission to Spain in March and then took a road trip during the summer to see Dave's youngest brother when he returned from his mission to the Dominican Republic, afterward visiting Jenny's Grandpa and great uncle, and concluding with a visit to the Annandale's (family friends) in Las Vegas before heading home. Now the individual notes.

S3 is now almost 5 years old. He loves preschool and looks forward to going to school with S2 next year. He thinks he speaks Spanish and it's funny to hear him "talk" in Spanish (since it's mostly gibberish). He does know a few words but he's far from fluent! S3 loves to sing and will sing songs he knows and make up silly songs. He had us (and other ward members) in tears, from laughing so hard, this year during the primary program at church because he was belting it out so loudly you could hear him all the way in the back of the chapel- above the voices of all the other children singing. It's fun to listen in when he's playing by himself because he has quite the imagination. S3 also enjoys helping S1 and playing on the computer. He likes to count the plates and bowls while he unloads the dishwasher.

S2 is 7 1/2 years old and loves school. He's also taking piano lessons and has played for the ward at our Christmas party. Math is one of his favorite subjects. He played basketball this fall and really enjoyed it. Mom was his coach and he thought that was cool. S2 was very excited every time he scored a basket, usually once a game although he scored three times in one game. He is excited about being able to be baptized this summer when he turns eight. He loves to play with his aunt and uncle's dogs and dreams of the day when he gets one of his own. S2 also loves to play on the computer, read and play card or board games. He also likes to talk on the phone to family members far away. However, he dislikes his chore of loading the dishwasher.

S1 just turned 10 years old! We can hardly believe it. After trying to work with the school district for FOUR years to get his educational needs met, we pulled S1 out of the district and got him into a private autism school. He is really enjoying it. He knows the alphabet and can count to at least six. That's what we're sure he knows but I know he knows more as demonstrated by the random words he uses and the problems he solves to get what he wants. S1 continues to be happy and healthy although we still have lots of struggles. His chores include throwing his diaper away and putting his dirty clothes in the hamper. You should see him run so he doesn't miss his shows. S1 also loves the dog "cousins" and enjoys taking them on "walks". He is talking more, but mostly when it serves his purposes. S1 loves to sing "I am a child of God" and "Jingle Bells". If you sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and leave off the last word of each refrain, he will say it for you. He also loves horses and the shows Sid the Science Kid and Super Why on PBS.

Jenny has no time now that she drives S1 every day to school. But she does manage to volunteer in S2 and S1's schools every week. She is also still working (for 2 1/2 yrs now) part time (weekend evenings). Jenny works with seniors providing companion/personal care so that they can stay in their homes/retirement home instead of going into enhanced care /nursing home. She loves having time with S3 each day as they run errands or putter around the house. This year Jenny became a published "writer". She contributed a story to Mormon Mishaps and Mischief: Hilarious Stories for Saints that was accepted and published. This summer she loved working in her garden as it is now fenced in so S1 can't get into it. She also spent a lot of time cutting up vegetables for David. Jenny is also in charge of soliciting donations for S2's PTA Auction. So if any of you have anything you want to donate........

David has the biggest news of all this year. Since the last week in April he has lost more than 160 pounds! He started working out and eating right. Dave has probably eaten more vegetables since April than he's eaten in the past ten years. During the summer he worked out for 5 hours a day, now he's down to around 2 hrs a day. He also went on tour with the Mormon Tabernacle choir this summer and enjoyed seeing friends and family around the country. Last spring Dave was named "Educator of the Year" for his High School. He's in his fourth year of teaching for them. In November it became official, Dave is allergic to exercise. Okay, that's a bit of exaggeration. However, while pushing himself to run 8 mi/hr (normally he runs around 5 mi/hr), Dave did have an anaphylactic reaction. In short he had a nice ambulance ride and visit in the hospital. Now he carries an epi-pen with him when he exercises just in case. What happened is a mystery to the allergist but you can Google it and find that although rare, it's not unheard of. Dave's goal is to run a marathon this April.

I guess that sums it all up. We hope that this update finds you doing well and enjoying the blessing of family and friends. We continue to be grateful for the blessings that we have of health, home, family and friends but especially for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the light and hope He brings to us during our times of trial. May His peace be with you.

Love,

Dave, Jenny, S1, S2 and S3

PS I'll post a new family photo when we get one.

Tick me off, then I'll speak

S1 only talks when it really serves his own purposes. He rarely calls anyone by name. So far he hasn't ever said either of his brothers names. Occasionally he may say mom or dad. Well, apparently if you tick him off enough, S1 will say your name. My sister was over with her daughter. They brought over a toy "laptop" that plays nursery songs that S1 enjoys. He loves playing with it. In fact he took it outside to jump on the trampoline and play with it. Don't you jump on the trampoline with all of your favorite things? Anyway, it was time for my sister and niece to leave so my sister packed up all their gear. While I held the toddler she went out to retrieve the laptop. Of course S1 did not want to give it up. So she took it away from him and high tailed it into the house, shoving it into her bag. We could hear S1 coming so I practically threw my niece at her and shoved them out the door.

S1 doesn't always say words very clearly, sometimes only the vowels make it out. My sister's name is Terraza. S1 came running into the house yelling (which he'd also never done before) Ey - a, Ey - a. You could tell he was mad as a hornet. I tried to get him to calm down by saying, "let's go look for your laptop S1." Since he followed me into his room I thought he was in agreement with me. Oh no. He ran in, still yelling madly "Ey - a, Ey -a", grabbed the stool he uses to climb into bed, went straight back into the living room, dropped the stool at the door and reached up and undid the top lock! When I pointed outside and told him that Terraza was already gone, he did give up trying to chase after her. However, he still was madly muttering her name. I went downstairs and called to him to follow as I went looking for his laptop. When I found it and tried to give it to him he shook his head and said forcefully, "No, no, no. Ey - a, Ey - a." S1 went back up the stairs and out to the trampoline to bounce out the emotions (that's what he does when he gets sad too). He didn't want his laptop which plays the sounds of different instruments, he wanted his cousin's laptop which plays the nursery rhymes he likes.

Of course I had to call my sister and tell her all about what happened. I think it started off something like, "Well congratulations Terraza, you finally ticked S1 off bad enough he said your name!" She could hardly believe it. Since his birthday was in about a month and she was at the Wal-Mart, she bought him the same one her daughter has and brought it straight over for him, since we live one mile from wally world. When she went to hand it to me I said, "Oh no. He's mad at you. You'd better take it to him because I don't know what he'll do the next time he sees you. You'd better go make nice." Guess who was thrilled with his present? And his aunt knows she bought him a present he likes - which isn't always an easy thing to do!

Weed Whacker

Awesome thing happened tonight. S1 wanted to play with the toy weed whacker. The batteries had long since died. He brought it to me and I took it and pretend it worked, rubbing it on his chest going, "Vroom, vroooooom..". He pulled it off his chest and turned the "blade" around while I made the noise. When I was finished I told him that it didn't work, that the batteries were dead. He left and took the week whacker with him. S1 went down the hall and opened the hall closet. I could tell he was kind of rummaging around with one hand. I wondered what he was looking for as he'd never played in that closet before. When he turned around, triumphant, he had a battery in his hand! He brought me the battery and the weed whacker and handed them both to me, fully expecting me to fix it. How could I not? It didn't matter that he'd brought me a size D battery when I would need two AA batteries. I fixed it and he was happy to play with it again. I was most amazed because he's obviously picked up on things that I didn't know he was paying attention to, like where we keep the batteries.