For dessert tonight I made a spice cake. Not just an ordinary spice cake, but one with homemade apple butter and a homemade non-dairy maple frosting on top for my boy. Jack still can't have dairy, and the rest of us are lactose intolerant anyway, so it's a good thing. :)
And, what's the best part of a cake with homemade frosting? Okay, the beaters - I wasn't going there. But the scraper is second best. That's what you get when you have a sibling (or an Aunt close in age!) who gets the beaters this time :)
I hope you enjoy this little slideshow - okay, enormous slideshow - of Jack's first frosting experience.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
Thanksgiving Weekend
We had a nice cozy relaxed Thanksgiving weekend. I hope yours was as well.
Jack was entranced by the Christmas tree - sorry the snapshots are so blurry - he's fast! Once it was lit, he was afraid to walk by it. When it was his turn to put on his ornament, I went to take a picture and he threw it on the floor. We'll have to see if we can order another one from the Downtown Disney shop. Silly boy. He had it in his hands for maybe three seconds. So, he's putting on the metal jingly gold one this year (totally indestructable). He'd hold it out, then pull it back, then put it on the tree, then pull it off again.
Six days until we leave for cast #3. This never gets easier. Thank goodness we had enough Marriott points for a free night this trip because we are barely squeaking by for this trip.
Some pictures to leave you with a smile, I hope.
Jack was entranced by the Christmas tree - sorry the snapshots are so blurry - he's fast! Once it was lit, he was afraid to walk by it. When it was his turn to put on his ornament, I went to take a picture and he threw it on the floor. We'll have to see if we can order another one from the Downtown Disney shop. Silly boy. He had it in his hands for maybe three seconds. So, he's putting on the metal jingly gold one this year (totally indestructable). He'd hold it out, then pull it back, then put it on the tree, then pull it off again.
Six days until we leave for cast #3. This never gets easier. Thank goodness we had enough Marriott points for a free night this trip because we are barely squeaking by for this trip.
Some pictures to leave you with a smile, I hope.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Knocking out infantile scoliosis with early intervention
This photo spread deserved the second post of the day status :)
Fall Photos
We had a beautiful weekend here - warm temperatures (even borderline HOT inside because of the humidity) and a chance to do a test run of Heather's beautiful custom shirts for Jack. Check out the look on his face while walking around with his little push toy. He's so mischievous!
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Have you seen this, have you heard about this?
The Handmade Pledge - what a beautiful thing.
I honestly thing it was sprung forth from the post-Made In China -backlash, but it's a fantastic idea. I will pledge to do whatever I can by hand or purchase handmade. There is positively nothing like a handmade gift. To know that the person not only thought of you, but took the time to gather the materials (or purchase them) and created it for you speaks volumes.
Jack has some handmade clothing now that is, by far, our favorite items. He has a few more coming, too. Every time I put them on him, I know that someone out there loves him or cares about him enough to have taken their day, their fabric, their time to put it together for this little guy. Some of our kids' favorite things over the years have been handmade - QUILTS!, a name puzzle, a painted shelf, a cross stitch, birthday overalls, a name train, ornaments, photos, picture fames - you name it. They know who made it for them and consider it far more precious because of that.
So, this year especially, when money is tight for so many people, consider the gift of something made from the heart. I already have a special project planned for my family this holiday season. Check out sites like www.marthastewart.com and www.familyfun.com and www.craftster.org for ideas for the special people in your life.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Home again, home again, jiggity jog
We are NOT going to Chicago tomorrow! Yahoo!
As much as we love to know how things are working (or, as is the case more recently NOT working), we are relieved to get this news. L called today and said that Dr. S would be out of town tomorrow. She said we could either still come and get x-rays or just skip it, it was up to me. Since this was to be a topic of conversation for our appointment anyway (our concern about repeated x-rays, and the cost and difficulty of traveling up every 3 weeks if we are re-casting every 6 weeks regardless) it was a perfect opportunity to bring it up.
So, tomorrow we are staying home and we will just return in 3 more weeks for a re-cast. Yay!
You might also notice some new elements to the blog here. Sorry - I know it's a bit cluttered and busy, but it brings in a little extra right now and it helps. So, if you get a chance, check out the new features!
As much as we love to know how things are working (or, as is the case more recently NOT working), we are relieved to get this news. L called today and said that Dr. S would be out of town tomorrow. She said we could either still come and get x-rays or just skip it, it was up to me. Since this was to be a topic of conversation for our appointment anyway (our concern about repeated x-rays, and the cost and difficulty of traveling up every 3 weeks if we are re-casting every 6 weeks regardless) it was a perfect opportunity to bring it up.
So, tomorrow we are staying home and we will just return in 3 more weeks for a re-cast. Yay!
You might also notice some new elements to the blog here. Sorry - I know it's a bit cluttered and busy, but it brings in a little extra right now and it helps. So, if you get a chance, check out the new features!
Sunday, November 04, 2007
You have no idea...
I had a comment left on this blog by someone we don't know, who left it anonymous.
The person said, in part:
It worries me that you are still locked in the initial grief of your son’s diagnosis. You are victimizing him and your daughters. You need to get a grip and find the important things in life. Function as normally as humanly possible. I am praying that you are able to step back and rationally assess your situation and find a way to move forward in a way that is healthy for every single member of your family – including yourself and your marriage.
HOW DARE YOU!!!!!!!!!
You should be ashamed of yourself, projecting those assumptions into my life, into our family. You said your nephew had medical issues, not your SON - you have NO idea how I "should" respond to this or how YOU would. It has been FOUR MONTHS since Jack was diagnosed. Do you know how YOU would react? No. Do my personal thoughts, feelings, and emotions mean that I sit around the house crying all day?? NO. I am not "victimizing him and my daughters" - you don't know me, you don't know my daughters, you don't know my son. I DO function as normal as humanly possible. I write this blog to get my feelings out and share Jack's progress. GET A GRIP?? I'm disgusted by your comments, your generalizations, your lack of sensitivity, your lack of understanding. Knowing a relative who is in an entirely different situation does not give you the right to say ANYTHING about my family or how I handle things. My children are beautiful, well-adjusted children, but I don't have to tell the people who KNOW us that because they SEE it.
Please, don't waste your time or mine with this blog anymore.
The person said, in part:
It worries me that you are still locked in the initial grief of your son’s diagnosis. You are victimizing him and your daughters. You need to get a grip and find the important things in life. Function as normally as humanly possible. I am praying that you are able to step back and rationally assess your situation and find a way to move forward in a way that is healthy for every single member of your family – including yourself and your marriage.
HOW DARE YOU!!!!!!!!!
You should be ashamed of yourself, projecting those assumptions into my life, into our family. You said your nephew had medical issues, not your SON - you have NO idea how I "should" respond to this or how YOU would. It has been FOUR MONTHS since Jack was diagnosed. Do you know how YOU would react? No. Do my personal thoughts, feelings, and emotions mean that I sit around the house crying all day?? NO. I am not "victimizing him and my daughters" - you don't know me, you don't know my daughters, you don't know my son. I DO function as normal as humanly possible. I write this blog to get my feelings out and share Jack's progress. GET A GRIP?? I'm disgusted by your comments, your generalizations, your lack of sensitivity, your lack of understanding. Knowing a relative who is in an entirely different situation does not give you the right to say ANYTHING about my family or how I handle things. My children are beautiful, well-adjusted children, but I don't have to tell the people who KNOW us that because they SEE it.
Please, don't waste your time or mine with this blog anymore.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Epidemiology
Just as communicable diseases begin, so did our conversation today.
First, we were informed that the FluMist vaccine contains a live virus that sheds for up to 4 weeks. Although our children do not receive it, after speaking with other parents it has become obvious to us that it is commonplace for children to be brought right back to school and public places. I sent out an email to family, asking them to inform us if they've been exposed (or if their children have) and it evolved.
Kids get sick. It's seldom malicious. I'm sure our kids have gotten others sick over the years, too. Sometimes they aren't showing symptoms until after the gathering and, by then, the damage is done.
On the news today, they reported that we are expecting a pandemic flu this season. It's always extremist in the media, but it still raises concern. It is one thing if our kids got sick in the past. It is reasonable. You manage symptoms, treat the illness, rest, etc. An ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure, we spent some time really evaluating our risks this year.
Children with scoliosis have an increased risk of developing pneumonia. What may seem like an innocent cold or cough, or even be chalked up to allergies, may end up being very serious for Jackson. Even if it doesn't develop into a serious illness, if he so much as has a cold, he cannot go under general anesthesia. The risk of a respiratory reaction is much higher and the hospital won't administer anesthesia to a sick child. (Nor would we ever want them to.)
If he cannot be properly anesthetized, we get bumped. The operating room at Shriner's is a busy place. They usually book it up at least 6 months in advance. Add to that the fact that the casting table has to be brought in and occupies a lot of space, there are very few days that they even cast. If we got bumped out due to illness, we would lose more ground on the curve progression, we wouldn't get him re-casted in the right time frame, and who knows what that would mean for Jack and the time frame of when he would be facing surgery.
So, we've come to the conclusion that we just need to hunker down for the winter months and continue to quarantine ourselves. We're going to stay away from groups, as well as stores, and do whatever we can to stay healthy. It will absolutely pain me to miss time with our families this holiday season, but not nearly as much as if Jack got sick, and he is always the bottom line and our first priority.
First, we were informed that the FluMist vaccine contains a live virus that sheds for up to 4 weeks. Although our children do not receive it, after speaking with other parents it has become obvious to us that it is commonplace for children to be brought right back to school and public places. I sent out an email to family, asking them to inform us if they've been exposed (or if their children have) and it evolved.
Kids get sick. It's seldom malicious. I'm sure our kids have gotten others sick over the years, too. Sometimes they aren't showing symptoms until after the gathering and, by then, the damage is done.
On the news today, they reported that we are expecting a pandemic flu this season. It's always extremist in the media, but it still raises concern. It is one thing if our kids got sick in the past. It is reasonable. You manage symptoms, treat the illness, rest, etc. An ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure, we spent some time really evaluating our risks this year.
Children with scoliosis have an increased risk of developing pneumonia. What may seem like an innocent cold or cough, or even be chalked up to allergies, may end up being very serious for Jackson. Even if it doesn't develop into a serious illness, if he so much as has a cold, he cannot go under general anesthesia. The risk of a respiratory reaction is much higher and the hospital won't administer anesthesia to a sick child. (Nor would we ever want them to.)
If he cannot be properly anesthetized, we get bumped. The operating room at Shriner's is a busy place. They usually book it up at least 6 months in advance. Add to that the fact that the casting table has to be brought in and occupies a lot of space, there are very few days that they even cast. If we got bumped out due to illness, we would lose more ground on the curve progression, we wouldn't get him re-casted in the right time frame, and who knows what that would mean for Jack and the time frame of when he would be facing surgery.
So, we've come to the conclusion that we just need to hunker down for the winter months and continue to quarantine ourselves. We're going to stay away from groups, as well as stores, and do whatever we can to stay healthy. It will absolutely pain me to miss time with our families this holiday season, but not nearly as much as if Jack got sick, and he is always the bottom line and our first priority.
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