tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227499612024-03-07T16:51:30.238-06:00Fried Rice and French FriesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger254125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22749961.post-59133938967158877012015-06-07T23:20:00.005-05:002015-06-07T23:24:20.032-05:00Rigid External Distraction (Jaw Surgery)So, I've had a couple people ask about Hannah's surgery and what she's having done and why. So, with her permission to share, here's the deal. <br />
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Many people are familiar with orthodontics to help with straightening teeth or correcting an overbite. Hannah's had braces 2 years already and it has done wonders for straightening her top teeth. But she doesn't have an overbite. She has an underbite, officially known as "class III malocclusion". While not as common as an overbite, it's also not rare. It's more common in Asian kids and also more common in kids with cleft palates. In kids with cleft palates, the surgeries that repair the cleft palate can hinder growth of the upper jaw. So the bottom jaw grows much faster than the top jaw, creating a more severe underbite. Sometimes, it can be corrected in less invasive ways, if it's not too severe. But Hannah's has grown more severe over time and she's in the about 30% of kids with clefts who end up needing jaw surgery. Orthodontics alone can't fix it. This picture below is kind of hard to see but it shows how her top teeth are a good distance behind her bottom teeth. The goal is to get her top teeth out in front of her bottom teeth slightly. It affects not only how her smile looks, but also chewing. Having a severe underbite also can (but hasn't for Hannah) cause breathing issues at night such as sleep apnea. Over time, it also causing the bite to be off and teeth to wear down, requiring extensive dental work to correct. It's for all these reasons she's having the surgery.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmPaIDm672rzQb4vAuPGrEvZGPdCFyoxwUb3NS1IbhKFbN1xYmKMJP9XZn8lpMH9INy7oztrnqEOM6yPGvkpKkfCd3y6bADRvaZ914_PdulcbGJF2ixYA3-fGnrBVKNmSOxULuA/s1600/IMG_20150530_152241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmPaIDm672rzQb4vAuPGrEvZGPdCFyoxwUb3NS1IbhKFbN1xYmKMJP9XZn8lpMH9INy7oztrnqEOM6yPGvkpKkfCd3y6bADRvaZ914_PdulcbGJF2ixYA3-fGnrBVKNmSOxULuA/s320/IMG_20150530_152241.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
When the underbite is too severe to correct with orthodontics and appliances alone, there are two main options. The first option, that was used with most kids with cleft palate until about 10 years ago, is traditional jaw surgery. The jaw is "broken" or "cut" and repositioned where it needs to be and held together during healing with plates and screws. It's a pretty brutal surgery and can't be done successfully until the child's bones are done growing (late adolescence). There's also a fairly large percentage of people whose jaws relapse over time and the distance they can move the jaw is somewhat limited still. <br />
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Since 2005, another option has been used called "Rigid External Distraction". Hannah's oral surgeon has done a lot of these, especially in recent years. It's a slower process, so the jaw can move a greater distance. The amount of relapse, while not 0%, is considerably less. It also doesn't require the bones to be done growing and is done at younger ages. So that's what Hannah is having done. And while her surgeon and orthodontist assure me it's a gentler and better process than the traditional jaw surgery, it still doesn't seem like an easy process. <br />
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First, Hannah has to have an appliance made by her orthodontist. She had impressions taken for that a few days ago. In a couple days, the orthodontist will make sure it fits correctly, and then cement it into her mouth. The appliance itself shouldn't be a major deal. But it does have hooks that stick out of her mouth. Overall, she should be able to eat and talk normally and the appliance on it's own shouldn't effect her too much. (Though we do have to be careful about the hooks sticking out).<br />
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Then, on the 17th, she is having the surgery. Her jaw will be moved forward slightly. She'll have the distraction device placed. It's a halo that attaches to her skull (pins will be tight against her skull but don't actually go inside her skull) with a bar that comes down and attaches to the hooks on the orthodontic appliance. At that time, that's all that will be done. She'll spend one night in the hospital. Here's a picture of the device from their publication materials. (Sorry for the skull picture! There are photos of actual kids with these on the internet, but I didn't want to use a picture of an actual kid I don't know and didn't have permission to use.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIsvMu-UzVdJftkbB7O5-qgcFuUAh71vdEMG8nYGO11l7bhTi14hzaFCr_qgaHWasYup10Zb-2-MwA_pTU7Ls9sf4mpHQ5jhHvd2XYyDy01e9Y_BuLWZgmkMZlfTNrPj-WuzIm5Q/s1600/Rigid-External-Distractor-%2528RED%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIsvMu-UzVdJftkbB7O5-qgcFuUAh71vdEMG8nYGO11l7bhTi14hzaFCr_qgaHWasYup10Zb-2-MwA_pTU7Ls9sf4mpHQ5jhHvd2XYyDy01e9Y_BuLWZgmkMZlfTNrPj-WuzIm5Q/s1600/Rigid-External-Distractor-%2528RED%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
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She'll go home to rest for about a week. Then, we'll go to our first post-op appointment. At that time, we'll be given a special screwdriver that turns the screws on each end of the bar. I'll do that twice a day and each day I do it, it will move her upper jaw forward 1 mm. It's very slow and when her jaw moves forward, new bone grows behnd it. (It's this new bone growing that enables the jaw to be moved farther this way and also helps prevent relapse). For those familiar with Sadie's fixator on her arm, it may sound similar. The difference is with Sadie we were moving bone, but not growing new bone. With Hannah, we are both moving bone and growing new bone behind it. We'll see her oral surgeon once a week until he's decided that we're done. And then we'll see him less often as we just let everything sit and heal. He's told me she has a quite a distance to move so to be prepared for 6-8 weeks total in this process.<br />
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Then, she'll have the device taken off and return to the orthodontist for follow up. And that's "Rigid External Distraction". <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22749961.post-56184856865516065572014-11-18T21:56:00.001-06:002014-11-18T21:56:52.401-06:00In Honor of National Adoption MonthPlease excuse the non-cohesiveness of this post. I don't have the words at the moment to write what's in my heart. I also don't have the time. :) But in honor of National Adoption Month this year, here's a glimpse of what's on my heart and a little reminder of what God has done.<br />
<br />
From orphans:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVhglA2wNy40XVEyP9mNi3p3zewQEVBjJz13itIxgbAoUvkswDeDuBHd6xt9O5brW0iivUoDETzni7p5JLIgGZTa_aqG19feXk8T3OGtOhj5bbdDPJolSEZF3T2g0CLOTGgzyFg/s1600/Hannahadopt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVhglA2wNy40XVEyP9mNi3p3zewQEVBjJz13itIxgbAoUvkswDeDuBHd6xt9O5brW0iivUoDETzni7p5JLIgGZTa_aqG19feXk8T3OGtOhj5bbdDPJolSEZF3T2g0CLOTGgzyFg/s1600/Hannahadopt1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />
To daughters:<br />
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And sisters:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6UwgCtS693b3vvwBMke418LOCVN6d9B5dZRCMlSnby_DamYkaF44IOyKTXV6e4gKWVBkGzud-nt1trKXlBv2gF2d2JOEigL9E-0vlVwp3RjqK6H_zGQdo1PSOQwpyAVbHRp8ghw/s1600/family2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6UwgCtS693b3vvwBMke418LOCVN6d9B5dZRCMlSnby_DamYkaF44IOyKTXV6e4gKWVBkGzud-nt1trKXlBv2gF2d2JOEigL9E-0vlVwp3RjqK6H_zGQdo1PSOQwpyAVbHRp8ghw/s1600/family2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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And granddaughters and nieces in this crazy family:<br />
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<br />
And great-granddaughters:<br />
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And even granddaughters again and cousins.<br />
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<br />
Always loved. To all those who played a part in this story "back then" as I was going through the adoption process, those who encouraged me, gave of themselves, and prayed for us to be a family: once again, Thank you! <br />
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Our family "Theme song" has always been "We are Family!". We are known to bust out in it at random times. We sang it in church this week and the girls went crazy. Like the church played "our song"! :) <br />
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We are family<br /> I got all my sisters with me<br /> We are family<br /> Get up ev'rybody and sing<br /><br /> Ev'ryone can see we're together<br /> As we walk on by<br /> (FLY!) and we fly just like birds of a feather<br /> I won't tell no lie<br /> (ALL!) all of the people around us they say<br /> Can they be that close<br /> Just let me state for the record<br /> We're giving love in a family dose<br />
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<br />
Ephesians 3:20 <br />
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<span class="text Eph-3-20" id="en-NIV-29272"><sup class="versenum">20 </sup>Now to him who is able<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29272AI" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29272AI" title="See cross-reference AI">AI</a>)"></sup> to do immeasurably more than all we ask<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29272AJ" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29272AJ" title="See cross-reference AJ">AJ</a>)"></sup> or imagine, according to his power<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29272AK" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29272AK" title="See cross-reference AK">AK</a>)"></sup> that is at work within us,</span> <span class="text Eph-3-21" id="en-NIV-29273"><sup class="versenum">21 </sup>to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29273AL" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29273AL" title="See cross-reference AL">AL</a>)"></sup></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22749961.post-35380152307126144752014-09-17T22:06:00.000-05:002014-09-17T22:10:21.041-05:00Learning How to Live in Prison<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I just got
back from the most amazing weekend, Kairos #52 at Tutwiler Prison. It was so
special and I’ve been feeling a need to write about it. </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve written
about Kairos before. And some of those earlier entries are no doubt better worded than this one. At this time, I still can't quite put my heart into words. Much to ponder. But I'm going to try a little.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I don’t want
to talk about what happens. Not right now. I do want to talk about the changes
I saw in 36 beautiful ladies and how love won! Again! But those stories are so
very precious and so many of them can’t be told. And even the ones that can,
they are still pretty deep in my heart and I don’t think I can do them justice
by talking about them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But know that
Christ’s love and power and forgiveness ruled! So many hearts were changed.
Know that women who were dead inside came alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Know that we did not take Christ into that
prison. He was already there working and loving – we simply visited Him there
and joined in alongside what He was already doing! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Know that community was experienced and walls
came down. It was a holy, beautiful, amazing time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But right
now I want to talk about what I experienced, because writing about it helps me
process it. I was leading this weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But yet, not really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christ was
leading this weekend and was carrying me along with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Twice in my life now I’ve had an experience
where I was doing something so outside my comfort zone and yet felt no anxiety
about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt that way during my
adoption of my oldest daughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
was a peace that surrounded the entire process and I felt like I didn’t have to
do anything but come along for the ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t know if that makes sense. But this weekend was the 2<sup>nd</sup>
experience I had like that. I knew I was right where I was meant to be and no
matter what obstacles were thrown out, they couldn’t shake my sense of peace
because the peace came from Christ himself. I’m a “figure out-er”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When there’s a problem, I’ll mull over it and
think about it and try to figure out a solution. And I’ll 2<sup>nd</sup> guess
and question whether it’s the right decision. But some things are just beyond
our control. Prison Ministry is one of them. When obstacles came up, I had to
act. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I didn’t act based on my own
assessment of what to do. I didn’t spend time trying to “figure out”
solutions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just tried to surround
those obstacles with prayer and let God guide me. That’s not always easy for
me. But in this experience, it just was. Of course, there were a whole lot of
people praying and I could feel those prayers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They were so strong! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t do
a lot of 2<sup>nd</sup> guessing or questioning of decisions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that peace surrounded me all weekend. I
almost lost the peace once, just once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was telling someone what the obstacle was and she looked me in the eyes and
said “and your concern with that is?” and I paused. And then I answered “nothing.
I’m not worried about this”, and as I said those words, they were true. I meant
them, and peace ruled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s just one
example.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We experienced a tornado drill in
the prison.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And for several reasons, it
disheartened our participants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had
to sit on the floor on one side of the chapel and we had to sit on the floor on
the other side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two officers stood
between us. They were embarrassed, maybe partially because it was a harsh
reminder of prison life in the middle of a weekend that otherwise provided a
little relief from it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we were
separated – which felt wrong after we’d spent the previous 2 days building them
up and breaking down walls and sharing how we’re not so different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was just hard on them and you could see it
on their faces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Interestingly, more
than a few of us team members were teachers and thought absolutely nothing
about having to sit on the floor for a tornado drill). One participant spoke the words
aloud, “I’m embarrassed”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some got a
little angry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet I felt no anxiety or
worry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that could only come from
God! I simply glanced behind me at the team, saw half of them with their heads
bowed praying, and then I did the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t know what they prayed, but I felt a spirit of calmness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I prayed God would show me how to
communicate that this was okay. And He did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I didn’t think about it, I didn’t 2<sup>nd</sup> guess myself. When the
drill was over I just went to the microphone confidently and knew what words
needed to come out of my mouth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t
a lot. It wasn’t fancy. The words themselves weren’t anything special.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t even remember exactly what they
were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But something about wanting them
to know we were not phased by what had just happened and we did not see them as
a number or a uniform. They were children of God and we were going to put it
behind us and move on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was not me –
I don’t do that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know what to
say to calm a situation. I don’t know how to think on my feet for that kind of
thing. I didn’t even try.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I simply asked
for help, and it was there and all was good. Peace ruled!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And of
course, peace should have ruled! God had every prayer answered and every detail
covered! Choosing trust, and prayer, and love is so very easy in that little
prison chapel. And yet, I am challenged because choosing trust, and prayer, and
love is not so easy every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And my
challenge and my prayer is that I will learn to love as freely, pray as boldly,
and trust as faithfully in my “free world” life as I do in my “prison life”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22749961.post-78623843365328785422014-08-16T11:51:00.001-05:002014-08-16T17:25:23.860-05:00Consequences, ConsequencesThe following is a copy of a document I got from a friend and am using with the girls. It's been used once so far but I love it! Right now my laundry is being done. I love it because it puts the responsibility on how long consequences last right on the child. And it gets my house cleaned in the process. I also love it because I hand it to the child and walk away. No arguing and pleading. Brilliant!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 28pt; line-height: 115%;">You are
Grounded!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%;">You are grounded for: __________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Grounding means:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">no doing special things with friends or at
school (you may still go to dance, piano, church)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">No phone, nabi, ipod, or TV<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Other:_______________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;">You must earn _____ points to get ungrounded. </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">If you
earn all the points in 1 day – you are only grounded for 1 day. If you take 2
weeks, you are grounded two weeks. It is up to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Write your initials by the things you do and
turn this sheet into me when you are finished.</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Write a nice letter to a family member or friend
you haven’t seen lately. Or you may write it to Salman or Brittany. You must
write neatly, use correct capitalization and punctuation, and at least 6 good sentences.-
50 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Do 1 load of laundry (wash, dry, fold, and put into
buckets and basket)- 100 points – you must do all 4 steps or you get 0 points.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Empty the dishwasher and put things away <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- 20 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Load dirty dishes into dishwasher (must rinse
food off first and load neatly)- 20 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Clear and wipe off kitchen table.- 10 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Clear and wipe off kitchen countertops.- 10
points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Take out one bag of garbage/recycling and
replace bag.- 20 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Gather garbage from around the house and take
out- 20 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Straighten and wipe off bathroom sinks (both
bathrooms)- 20 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Clean toilets- 30 points per toilet<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Clean, dust, and vacuum (including vacuuming
around corners) living room.- 50 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Sweep and mop kitchen floor.- 20 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Clean mirrors in both bathrooms and hall- 20
points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Sweep/ Clean off the deck- 30 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Clean out and vacuum the car-60 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22749961.post-43731230083220438682014-07-24T21:39:00.000-05:002014-07-24T21:52:35.919-05:00An Open Invitation to All My Friends - Come to Prison with Me!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dear Friends,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many of you know I am very involved with Kairos Prison
Ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(See post just below this
one). Kairos is an incredible ministry whose mission is to “share Christ’s love
with the incarcerated, their families, and those who work with them”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
been asked and have agreed to serve as the Kairos Weekend Leader for Kairos #52
at Tutwiler Prison for Women in Wetumpka.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I will be leading a team of 38 women into the prison to conduct this
weekend for 36 selected inmates Sept. 11-14.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
We are right in the middle of team training. </span>It’s a big commitment for our team – requiring over 34 hours of team
training, Department of Corrections Training, and 3.5 days at Tutwiler sharing
Christ’s love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we witness lives
changed every time! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’d love to have your support. There are many ways you can
help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later on, we will need help with
some specific supplies or food. But for now, we have two primary needs.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Prayers.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please pray for us, for the inmates who will
participate in this experience, for the warden and officers, and for the
chaplain. Pray that God’s love will soften hearts and change lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We make a visual representation of all the
prayers being given by making a paper chain. Each link has the name of someone
who has agreed to pray for the weekend. If you are willing to commit to pray
for us and would like to be included on the prayer chain, please send me your
name and I will add a link for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
a powerful symbol to the ladies when we literally wrap the entire chapel in the
prayers of God’s people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizftadc-fBcIYNbz7OiYXc_ecoFrNtTuC2AH3nG4m2Cq-fcoBVv97l57EdnX7KPuCyUhso4na1uPsP-Jx1He-B3hAqI9AyEcq0Pm3Wd1Dvdq1G2Xy6B4Q7MDyRzcymKwf-2nc-Ug/s1600/prayerchain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizftadc-fBcIYNbz7OiYXc_ecoFrNtTuC2AH3nG4m2Cq-fcoBVv97l57EdnX7KPuCyUhso4na1uPsP-Jx1He-B3hAqI9AyEcq0Pm3Wd1Dvdq1G2Xy6B4Q7MDyRzcymKwf-2nc-Ug/s1600/prayerchain.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p> </div>
<br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Financial
Support.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This weekend costs a lot.
It costs approximately $150 dollars a person, both for team members and for the
participants (inmates). That comes to over $11,000 for the weekend (38 team
members, 36 participants).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If anyone
would like to sponsor an inmate (or sponsor a team member!), we would love your
help. You can also donate any amount towards a sponsorship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Full disclosure – you do not “get” anything
for choosing to sponsor someone for this incredible experience. We can’t tell
you their names or tell you how they specifically experienced the weekend. We
promise confidentiality to everyone participating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But you do get the joy of knowing you are
making a difference in the kingdom of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And you will also receive a letter acknowledging your donation after
January 1<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup> for tax purposes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Kairos is a registered non-profit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another way to support this ministry
financially is by purchasing 1 or more “meal tickets”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are unable to sponsor a participant,
you can sponsor a meal for $5 (or more).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The way that works is our participants will receive a small meal ticket
on their placemat at meal time indicating that meal was paid for for them by (your
name) from (city).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a great way to
show them the larger Christian community is supporting them as well. If you
would like to sponsor one (or more) inmates, purchase meal tickets, or donate
any amount towards our goal, please make checks made out to “Kairos of Alabama”
and give them to me or private message me for my address.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If there are other ways you would like to
help, please contact me. We have all kinds of opportunities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some possible ways to help include:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Providing a meal for approximately 40 team
members at our last team meeting Sept. 6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Connecting me with a business that would be
willing to donate groceries (particularly large quantities of meat needed for
the meals we prepare for the Kairos weekend).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Walmart or Sam’s gift cards to use to purchase
supplies<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sets of 36-38 placemats created by children (Contact
me for guidelines)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Paper expressions of God’s love in sets of 36-38
(such as bookmarks, poems, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Contact
me for guidelines)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Set up a visit for me or for some of our other
Kairos volunteers to come speak in your church, Sunday school class, or other
group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have volunteers all over the
state and while I can’t promise to make it happen, I’ll do what I can to either
come or connect you with someone else who can come share what God is doing
inside Tutwiler and other Alabama prisons through Kairos Prison Ministry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Matthew 25:36 states “I was in prison and
you visited me.” <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Please join us in going and visiting and
loving with your prayers and your gifts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thank you!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">DeEtte<o:p></o:p></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22749961.post-21357868108673186942014-07-19T20:02:00.001-05:002014-07-19T20:02:13.770-05:00Biggest Blessing of the Day - When a Man Stranded at Bus Station with a Life Sentence Crashes My Meeting!My friend Laura Headley has inspired me to blog again. I love writing, but just get so busy with life. But she wrote something inspiring and then we had a chance to talk about it and I realized I've missed putting thoughts down on paper. <br />
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So today I want to write about something that happened on our Kairos team meeting today. Those who have read for a while know I am very involved in Kairos prison ministry. See <a href="http://deette530.blogspot.com/2010/10/prison-post-that-is-not-about-my.html">http://deette530.blogspot.com/2010/10/prison-post-that-is-not-about-my.html</a> for some of my earlier thoughts about this ministry.<br />
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Well, we are gearing up for our Fall 2014 weekend Sept. 11-14 and I'm serving as the leader of this weekend. I'm sure I'll post again later about ways you can help. But today was our 2nd team meeting. I had just had team members pair up with their prayer partners and they were spread out across the room sharing and praying together. And I noticed a man on the side of the room. He caught my eye and looked like he had something to say. So I walked over there. This is his story.<br />
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His name was "Bill" (I changed his name since this is a public blog). He used to be at a maximum security men's prison in our state, where he had a life sentence. He was nearing parole and had been moved to a transitional program in another area of our state. It's kind of like work-release, but not exactly. The transitional program is a more minimal security facility. And long story - he was out on a weekend pass for some family reasons. And he ended up stuck at the bus station downtown with no money. He was trying to get back to the transitional program by tomorrow. He stayed at the bus station for over 24 hours when he decided to approach the church we were meeting in. When he first came and saw that there were a bunch of women meeting inside, he left. A couple of our team members saw him leave. But he says he felt like God was telling him "Go back. Those are your sisters". His answer? "My sisters! God, that's a bunch of women and most of them are white!" (He was black). But he came back, scared. And he stood in the back of the room while I was speaking and heard the word "Kairos". See, Bill had experienced a Kairos weekend when he was at the men's prison. He said it changed his life. He told me he was muslim before that weekend. (and fyi..our "goal" is not to convert anyone. Simply to love them like Jesus loves. Any changing of hearts is done by Him). But Bill's heart was changed. <br />
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I introduced Bill to the rest of the team and he shared with the team some very encouraging remarks about his life, what God had done for him, and he encouraged our team members in carrying out this ministry. He told them to keep believing that God can change lives. We invited him to stay for lunch and we collected a donation to buy him a bus ticket. After lunch, a couple of our team members walked him to the bus station and got him the ticket. He didn't want to leave! I'm not sure who was more blessed - Bill or our team. We so often get to plant some seeds. But we don't always get to see the fruit of those seeds. Today, we were incredibly blessed to see the fruit of those seeds.<br />
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(And if my mom happens to read this - do not worry! It was a room full of people. And we did have a few men present with us as well. We were all safe, I promise!)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22749961.post-67294015960583132862014-03-27T20:20:00.000-05:002014-03-27T20:20:47.635-05:00How to Turn a 5 Minute Dr. Appointment Into a Mini-Vacation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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Step 1: Have children pack a "small bag" with some things to do on drive to Atlanta. Tell them it will be a LONG day with a 3.5 hour drive there and a 3.5 hour drive back all in one day. Then, drive 3.5 hours to Atlanta to scheduled doctor appointment. Once there, get a quick x-ray and spend less than 5 minutes with actual doctor. But get a good report. :) Then, head "towards home". </div>
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Step 2: Stop at Golden Corral just outside of Atlanta. Over a nutritious desert, inform children that you are not actually going home but are going to a hotel. When they say "but we don't have any clothes!", inform them that you packed a suitcase and loaded it into the car after they went to sleep the night before. Tell them you are going to the exciting town of "Villa Rica". When they ask what there is to do in Villa Rica, tell them "They have an indoor heated pool!"</div>
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Step 3: After checking into hotel, enjoy an evening swim.</div>
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Step 4: Bring a craft kit with ceramic horses and paint. Let children paint in hotel room <strike>to keep them quiet.</strike> Um, I mean, to provide an enriching activity.</div>
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Step 5: After the continental breakfast the next morning (which in the kids' minds is totally worth the whole trip), head to a little obscure place you found on the internet that you believe will be educational and fun. And very cheap. Go to the Pine Mountain Gold Museum! </div>
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Step 6: After the video about the gold rush in Villa Rica (actually quite interesting) and a quick walk through the museum, head outside and play in the sand where girls are *certain* they are finding gold.</div>
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Step 7: Walk around the property a bit.<br />
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Step 8: Ride the train for an almost-personal tour around the property. The only other guests were a couple from Jemison, a town about 10 miles south of ours.<br />
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Step 9: Stick hands in freezing water to pan for gemstones. For $5 get a whole box full of rocks. I mean treasures. And for free, listen to the sweet gentleman in the background give the history of the community of "Dark Corners", a little community that used to be around Villa Rica and how it was a lost town and this man has found it. <br />
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Step 9: After a picnic lunch, walk over to the animal exhibit to check them out. And feed a few animals too.</div>
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Step 10: Drive home listening to the radio while children peacefully sleep all the way.</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22749961.post-33303572903273257332013-12-14T22:26:00.000-06:002013-12-14T22:27:47.084-06:00Hannah's EarsSo, this is the update on Hannah. Back in August, I found out her hearing, which has always fluctuated between borderline normal and mild loss, had deteriorated in both ears. Scroll down to the "Hear Ye, Hear Ye" post for the technical explanation. But bottom line was she was showing a moderate-severe to mild loss in both ears. (Moderate-severe loss in lower frequencies rising to mild loss in upper frequencies). Her ENT felt like a tube in the left ear might bring hearing in that ear back to normal. (The right ear still had a hole in it). So she had the tube placed mid-september. We went back at the end of October for a re-check of her hearing and it was sadly not any better. A couple frequencies did improve slightly, but a couple were slightly worse too. Her ENT thinks all her previous ear infections / fluid issues have eroded parts of her middle ear bones. The only way to know for sure is exploratory surgery, but if that's the case, he wouldn't recomend surgical reconstruction at this time due to her continued eustachian tube dysfunction. He felt like her best option would be hearing aids.<br />
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We followed up with Children's Rehab Services because we were already plugged into them for cleft-related things. They have a hearing clinic as well and I was able to get a quick appointment there. After double checking her hearing one last time to make sure there were no changes, the audiologist went ahead and made molds of her ears and had Hannah pick out her hearing aid colors. She chose purple for the actual aids and pink and purple swirl for the molds. About 3 weeks later, they were in. So, we went back to pick them up, check fitting, and another hearing test with the hearing aids. It was so cool to see her audiograms with the aids and compare them to without. Her hearing levels tested completely normal in all frequencies with the aids. And the technology is amazing. I was worried that some sound might be too loud amplified. Despite having a hearing loss, Hannah is sensitive to loud sounds. But the program in the aids themselves adjusts to the loudness. Something technical about compression and such. :) But basically, they are programed to only go to a certain loudness level in order to not damage more hearing. And they adjust automatically. If someone were to come up to Hannah and slam a door right behind her, the aids would automatically compensate and decrease output. Hannah was so excited to get her hearing aids and loved them. And 2 weeks later, she still loves them. She puts them on every morning and takes them off every night. She has done great with caring for them and cleaning them as well. And she changed the batteries on them tonight. She says she can tell a difference with them in. I can tell a difference. I'm rephrasing a lot less often and she just seems a little more relaxed. So I'm glad we got them. She'll go back in 2 months to have them rechecked and then will probably only go back every 6 months for a check and new molds unless concerns arise. The aids themselves should last years but she'll need frequent molds due to growth.<br />
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I asked her if she thought they helped her at school. She said yes, she can tell a difference. She does still have a little trouble in noisy situations. But that's because while the aids will amplify her teacher's voice, they also amplify all the background noise. But we are working on solutions to that. Her only complaint is that sometimes lunch and PE are too loud. I can see that - I've eaten enough lunches in school cafeterias to know how loud it can get. Right now she doesn't have any control over the volume of her hearing aids, but that is possible with these aids. It just takes the audiologist "activating" the volume control button. So, that's a possibility so she can turn down the volume in those noisy situations. I just hope she doesn't turn me down when I'm telling her something she doesn't like! :)<br />
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NEXT POST: All About Christmas Fun! (Coming soon)</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22749961.post-56688033901921584352013-12-14T21:53:00.001-06:002013-12-14T21:53:16.770-06:00Sadie's Surgery - Goodbye Fixator!<b>Sadie's Surgery (#2 for this series, #6 total)</b><br />
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The day after Thanksgiving Sadie and I headed to Atlanta bright and early. REALLY early. We left my parents' house at 3:45 a.m.! While the fixator was on, Sadie had several infections and rounds of antibiotics. She had been off antibiotics for about a week. She had been fine - the pin sites looked great, etc. And the morning of surgery, she starts complaining in the car that her arm hurts. Sure enough, when we got there and took the gauze off, it looked like it might be getting infected again and had been draining. Her surgeon looked at it before surgery. And then afterwards said it did look like it was in early stages of infection. He also said her pins were very loose in the bone. Not terribly surprising as long as they had been stretching her wrist out for such a long time.. But it looks like the fixator came off just in time before causing problems. She did have to take a round of antibiotics after the surgery though. Sadie's surgery overall went great, but she was pretty sick at her stomach afterwards. We were prepared for it this time though. First, I had a letter from her nephrologist stating they should not limit her fluids (like they did last time). That helped because I didn't have to worry about her being dehydrated. Plus it helped her just not feel so bad. And second, her surgeon had made plans to tentatively keep her overnight. Basically, he admitted her immediately after surgery, but gave us the option of going home late afternoon if she was doing fine. But even through the afternoon, she wasn't drinking and couldn't keep it down if she did. So we stayed. The fluids and pain medicine being given through IV helped and she also got 3 doses of iv antibiotics while we were there so I'm glad we stayed. By the next morning, she was back to herself: eating pancakes, joking with the nurses, wanting out of bed, and ready to go home. We were discharged late that morning and she did great from then on. She was happy about two things: she got a purple and pink sparkly cast and her surgeon let her keep the fixator (minus the pins thankfully). Her stuffed dog pouffy had a little surgery done once we got home.<br />
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Sadie kept the purple and pink cast for only 10 days. Then it was back to Atlanta for post-op xrays, cleaning of her surgery site, and a new cast. X-rays looked great! Her new cast is Christmas red and green and to Sadie's delight is a short-arm cast. (Her purple and pink one was long-arm so she's now thankful to be able to move her elbow.) During the few minutes between casts, we got a good look at her arm. It's pretty brusied and "yucky" looking still, but it's very straight. Her surgeon was really happy with it. She'll keep this cast until mid-January. Then she'll move to a splint that can come on and off. She'll keep it on most of the time for a while, but will be able to take it off for baths. Eventually she'll move to a night-splint, which is what she was doing before we started all this. She'll continue to wear a night-splint until she's done growing. She has a pin in her wrist still that will stay for about 6 months. The procedure to remove it, while technically "surgery" requiring anesthesia, is very quick and easy. Looks like we'll do that early summer. When Sadie heard that, she at first wasn't happy with that idea, but her dr. assured her that 1 week later she could go back to swimming and whatever other summer fun she wanted to do.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sadie relaxing before surgery</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sadie's arm pre-op</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Several hours after surgery. Trying to talk to Hannah, but was feeling too yucky.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morning after - feeling much better and out of bed</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey nice nurses and doctors - I'm good now so help me break free of this place!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See? I needed to get home so I could help Barbie perform surgery on my dog. Now that he has a fixator - no running or being active!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A couple weeks later - my new Christmas cast!</td></tr>
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I can not say enough nice things about everyone involved in her care. Her surgeon is first of all a top-notch surgeon. And he's a good doctor and communicator. He answered quite a few e-mails from me during the 4 months she had her fixator. He has encouraged me and encouraged Sadie, even addressing part of an e-mail to her directly telling her how proud he was of her for dealing so well with the fixator. Then, after surgery she got a card in the mail from him telling her what a great job she did. And he has worked so well with us being out of town, helping set up x-rays locally that we could e-mail him so we didn't have to take quite as many trips. And when I asked if he could do surgery the day after Thanksgiving because we were off of school and work already, he agreed. I didn't learn until later that he really did that as a favor to us. He wasn't doing any other surgeries that day. Sadie was his only patient. He came in and did her surgery, set things up for her to be admitted, talked to me, and then left to go sell Christmas trees with his son's baseball team. His assistant is also super sweet and personable and very responsive to any questions I have. Even the x-ray people there and the "cast guy" (I'm sure he has a more official title!) are great. They are never in a rush and take the time to do things right and take the time to talk and explain everything to us. After her last surgery, his resident even left me his cell phone number so we could reach him immediately instead of going through the on-call service the night after surgery. Okay, so *everything* isn't perfect. The OT's in the office next door who make her splints are a little hurried and grumpy sometimes. They really get grumpy when we show up for a splint without an appointment. But it can't be helped - we need a new splint when the dr. says we need a new one and I do let them know when I suspect we will need one. But I don't always know. And the OT's billing practices leave a bit to be desired. But we keep going to them because they do a good job and do it right. And so far, I've been able to work out any billing conflicts with them even if it takes a while. So I can live with them being a little grumpy from time to time. But overall, I'm so thankful to have this group of medical folks on Sadie's team and it is so worth the back and forth driving to Atlanta. (AND, as a bonus, construction on I-20 has suddenly gotten so much better!) Plus, Sadie likes that we stop for lunch or supper (depending on appt time) on the way back usually. This time: Golden Corral where I let her have the very rare treat of cotton candy!. And yes, she totally travelled to her appointment in her pajamas, robe, and santa hat.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22749961.post-17315957069587822592013-12-01T21:21:00.000-06:002013-12-01T21:21:06.727-06:00Sadie's Birthday, Halloween, Fixator Update<br />
Sadie celebrated her 8th birthday in October with a science party. She had a blast and I think her friends did too. <br />
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For Halloween, I took a surgeon and a hot dog out trick or treating. We went with our good friends and had a blast hanging out with them!<br />
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Sometime early-mid November, we reached day 100 of the external fixator. So, we celebrated it, complete with muffins in the morning and a trip to Chuck E. Cheese. We also started the last 20 days countdown with an advent lego calendar. Only, we weren't counting down to Christmas yet, but rather to surgery day. Sadie has been a trooper and handled the fixator so very well. It did start to get a little old at the end. So we started spicing things up by decorating her fixator cover a little more often.<br />
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This girl amazes me with her resilience! Thanksgiving and surgery pictures coming soon. :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22749961.post-48312458880942260062013-10-06T19:21:00.000-05:002013-10-07T14:59:06.800-05:00A Little of EverythingSo, here's the short synopsis of our last few weeks: school, birthday, homework, prison, ears, arms, hands, kidneys, jaws, teeth, dance, brownies, and more. <br />
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Longer version...<br />
<b>Hannah</b><br />
Hannah enjoyed her 10th birthday celebration. Can't believe this girl is 10!!! She had some friends from her girl scout troop come spend the night and they stayed up all night and had a blast. <br />
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Hannah also had the tube put in her left ear mid-September. She did great with that. The ear drops afterwards were not so fun, but she got through them and has been fine since. I'm not convinced it has helped her hearing a lot yet. Maybe? So hard to tell sometimes. We'll go back to have it checked in a few weeks.<br />
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<b>Sadie</b><br />
Well let's see. The fun stuff first. Sadie is LOVING 2nd grade. She loves her teachers, her school, and her friends. She's been out of anything active since her surgery August 2nd (including dance, PE, recess). So that's been her only "bummer", but she's handled it well. She did become a brownie Girl Scout, something she's been wanting to do. Her leaders and troop all seem super sweet. So far, they've had their bridging ceremony and 1 meeting. I just brought her home from the meeting and she told me all about it and said "I love love love my troop!". I think it will be a really good experience for her. <br />
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She continues to do amazingly well with her fixator. With the exception of 1 bad day last week, she's rarely mentioned it hurting or causing any pain. She just goes on with her happy self. We're cleaning the pin sites twice daily and turning it once daily. But we haven't had to go to Atlanta quite as much this past few weeks. We've started getting local xrays and e-mailing them to her surgeon. He's really good about responding and telling me what adjustments to make. The latest is that I have about 3 more days of turning to do and then we should be done. Then I'll schedule her next surgery to remove the fixator and centralize her wrist. <br />
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Meanwhile, Sadie now has a new nepherologist. The short version of the story is the previous dr. was good. I believe the information he gave me was accurate and that he was caring for Sadie well. But for whatever reason, I wasn't thrilled with communication, especially if I had a question or needed something outside of our yearly visits. And I just sensed a nudging to look elsewhere. So when I needed a letter from him for upcoming surgery and it was proving challenging to get, I looked elsewhere. Sadie had her first visit with the new neph last week and it went great! I left with a better understanding of Sadie's kidneys (which are working great by the way), the name of her diagnosis which will be helpful for communicating with her other doctors (and which wasn't new, but I just never knew exactly what it was called), and a really good feeling. I loved the new doctor and his staff. And less than 24 hours after our visit, I had the letter I needed for Sadie's upcoming surgery in my hands. Sadie left with a lollipop from the receptionist and a chocolate chip cookie from another patient's family. So she came out feeling good about it too. And yes, this picture below is how she made her grand entrance into the new office. :)<br />
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And the BIG news for Sadie is her 8th birthday is coming next weekend. She has a really fun party planned with a few friends. She's having a "Super Science Party". Messy experiments, lab coats, and a chocolate fountain are in the plans. Check back soon for pictures / update. :)<br />
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<b>Prison</b><br />
I had the wonderful opportunity last month to serve in a women's prison for Kairos. Those who know me know I've been involved in Kairos ministry for quite some time. It's an incredible ministry and God amazes me every single time. There are certain moments that get to me each time..the presentation of our paper prayer chain, where each link represents someone praying for the women, a very powerful Saturday evening "Forgiveness Service", and more. But this time the moment that touched my heart the most was a very simple, easy-to-miss one. We had been at the prison for 2.5 days (starting Thursday afternoon). And the team was singing "When the Saints Go Marching In" on Sunday morning, our last day. While we were singing, the 36 participants were coming into the prison chapel to join us for the day. They were singing, marching, dancing, and laughing. It was a very upbeat moment. And everyone of them walked, danced, or marched by me as we sang to them and the look on their faces was priceless. They were changed ladies, touched by the grace of God. They were most definitely not the same people that had walked into that same chapel on Thursday. And we were also not the same people that had walked in there as well. It was just a beautiful moment of seeing God's grace in action. If you read this and smiled (or even if you didn't), will you please take a moment to stop and pray for them? For we know that they were changed, but their environment was not. And they have the challenge of trying to live this new life out in the midst of a difficult, dark, and bitter environment surrounding them. Please pray that they will lean on Christ and seek His face always. I can't wait to go back!!!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22749961.post-9093016338832210742013-08-25T21:54:00.001-05:002013-08-27T21:02:04.254-05:00Hear Ye! Hear Ye!So, some of you know that Hannah has a fluctuating hearing loss that's recently gotten worse. And I've had some interesting questions and comments about it. "Can she not hear me when I talk?", "She seems to hear fine", "I've never noticed her not hearing". So, those are fair comments because really, she does so well most of the time. So here's my understanding of all this with what I'm sure is probably an oversimplified and maybe not totally accurate biology / anatomy lesson thrown in. If you want to skip the anatomy and personal history - just go the last two paragraphs. :)<br />
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First, many young children get lots of ear infections. That's why tubes in ears are so prevalent. And besides true "infections", many young kids have fluid collect behind their eardrums. That fluid can cause a temporary hearing loss until it drains out. It drains out through our eustachian tubes. Most of our Eustachian tubes angle downwards to help the fluid drain out. But in very young kids, the tubes are closer to horizontal. That's why they tend to get fluid "stuck" behind their eardrums and sometimes that fluid gets infected. So sometimes, doctors put tubes in their eardrums. Then when the fluid can't drain down the eustachian tube, it drains out the tube. As kids grow older (and bigger), their eustachian tubes begin sloping more downwards and fluid can drain out the normal way. And while anyone of any age *can* have an ear infection, this all explains why it's more common in younger kids and why many kids seem to outgrow the problem as they get older.<br />
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Remember this diagram from school? (except we called those 3 bones in the middle ear the hammer, anvil, and stirrup)<br />
<img height="295" src="http://media.soundonsound.com/sos/mar11/images/Ear_01.jpg" width="400" /><br />
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Now, kids with cleft palate have some anatomy differences besides the obvious hole in lip / roof of mouth. Their eustachian tubes are also more horizontal at a young age. And they also begin to slope downwards as they grow. But it takes much longer on average for them to slope downwards enough to outgrow the collection of fluid behind their ears. Besides that, their eustachian tubes don't always work as well. It's called "eustachian tube dysfunction" and it happens to other kids too. It's just fairly prevalent in kids with clefts. Think about how you may "pop" your ears when they feel stopped up. Hannah can't do that and it's because of the eustachian tube dysfunction. Interestingly, I've recently heard that sometimes Asian kids also take longer to grow out of this eustachian tube dysfunction. If so, then Hannah has 2 factors coming into play there.<br />
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Most kids with clefts see ENT regularly, especially at younger ages. All our visits to the cleft team include a check by ENT and audiology and that's pretty standard. But we also see them a lot more often than the whole team. So - to make a really long story short, here's the basics of what happened. First, Hannah had fluid in her ears due to the eustachian tube dysfunction. Tubes were placed in her ears. They lasted 3 years. They never fell out like they were supposed to. They worked mostly well and hearing was normal / borderline normal during those 3 years. Sometimes they got blocked with wax and then her hearing would temporarily decrease until the dr. cleaned the wax out. But mostly she was fine. After 3 years, her ENT removed the tubes surgically because when left in that long, they can start to cause more problems. When they were removed she was left with a hole in each eardrum that never healed - something that happens to 2-4% of kids with ear tubes. BUT, the holes were a blessing in disguise and acted as "natural tubes". Hannah kept those holes for 2 years and during that time she had a fluctuating hearing loss that fluctuated between normal, borderline, and mild loss. A year and a half ago (at 8 years old), her ENT repaired the hole in her left eardrum. The repair went beautifully and Hannah has a perfect, complete eardrum. BUT, it immediately developed fluid again. And slowly over the last year, her hearing has decreased, in both ears. It's been fluctuating between borderline, mild, and dipping occassionally to "moderate" loss.<br />
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Well, last month she had what seemed to be a pretty bad double ear infection. And I knew her hearing wasn't good then. But after several rounds of antibiotics (oral and drops), and having her ears cleaned and suctioned (as fun as it sounds), they finally cleared up. And interestingly, the final word was that as bad as her ears were, neither one was a true middle-ear infection (which is what she's gotten in the past). The right ear had a piece of an ear plug that had broken off and gotten stuck inside (no wonder she couldn't hear!). And the left ear was an outer ear infection / swimmer's ear. And it seemed to me that her hearing improved when all that was cleared up. So, we went back to the ENT Tuesday just for the purpose of checking that this ear infection was in fact gone. And it was completely cleared up. That's the good news. Hannah will be 10 this week and is pretty much past the age where many kids with clefts are able to have workable eustachian tubes. So, the ENT went ahead and sent us to audiology to check her hearing and ear pressures. If all was good in the left ear (the one that was repaired), he would schedule her to repair the right eardrum.<br />
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But, all was not good. She still had a flat tympanogram (fluid) for the left ear. And her hearing test for *both* ears was the worst they have been. Now, the good thing is her "bone conduction" tests are normal. That means that when a device is placed against the bone behind her ear and sound is delivered that way (bypassing her middle ear), her hearing is normal. That indicates that her hearing loss is "conductive" which means it's a problem in the middle ear, not a problem with her inner ear and nerves. The good news is most conductive hearing losses are not permanent and many can be fixed medically. So..back to the ENT (just across the hall) who of course said he would *not* be scheduling Hannah for repair of her right eardrum and instead, it was time to put a tube in her left eardrum again. There are risks with that because he's going into an already repaired eardrum. But at this point, the risks of not doing it are greater. He thinks her hearing may go back to almost-normal in that ear with the tube. I asked why her right ear had just as much of a hearing loss. He said it might still be a little inflamed from the infection last month but also the longer she had a hole, the more likely her hearing could get worse. But the solution to that is to repair the hole, which he can't do because she still hasn't outgrown the eustachian tube dysfunction. If he repaired her right eardrum now, he'd be in the same position of having to go back in and put a tube in again. The hope is she might be nearing a growth spurt sometime in the not-so-distant future and the increased growth could finally help her eustachian tubes. But we will wait a good while before attempting another repair.<br />
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What this means is that her hearing will likely continue to fluctuate for quite some time. And as it's been fluctuating at a greater level lately, it's very likely that will continue at least for the right ear. The left ear may fluctuate more mildly after the tube, but that remains to be seen for sure. So, how bad is her hearing? Her hearing at the lower frequencies went from "moderately severe" at the lowest to "moderate". At the higher frequencies it was "mild" to "borderline normal". This means she has a harder time with lower frequency sounds. Interestingly, people tend to whisper at higher frequencies. So sometimes, Hannah might hear something as soft as a whisper. But other times, she doesn't hear something that seems so clear to others. There are certain speech sounds she hears fine. But she has trouble with other speech sounds. She misses word endings often (and has even when she had a milder loss). So for example, she may not know if you said "she walks" or "she walked". When you have a face-to-face conversation with her in a somewhat quiet environment, she may hear everything you say. But the farther away from you she is, the more she will struggle. The more background noise there is, the more she will struggle. Also, she may struggle more later in the day. Sometimes, she *can* hear things but it takes a lot more focus and attention than it might for others. So that could explain why she's often tired at the end of the day. Even last spring, she'd get in the car after school and need some "down time" before she could engage in conversation again. She does well, but it takes effort. She's also pretty good at using context to figure out what she might have missed. She does this naturally without always realizing she missed something. For example, if I say "Hannah go upstairs and brush your teeth" - she may hear most but not every sound in those words. But because I've said that to her often, her mind "fills in" what her ears might have missed. This works pretty well for topics that are familiar. But for novel topics, it becomes difficult. If you took your favorite book that you've read several times before and this time you could only see 4 out of every 5 words, it would be a little of a challenge. You might have to put some effort into reading it, but you could probably get through it and understand it well because it's so familiar to you. But then imagine taking an economics text book (unless you're an economics person) and being able to only read 4 out of every 5 words. For that 5th word, you might even see half the letters, but because the word is a new, unfamiliar term, you can't quite figure out what the word is. It would be much harder to comprehend. Then imagine that there were lines and arrows drawn all over that book that pointed to phrases written in the margin that had nothing to do with the book. It would be distracting. That's kind of like Hannah trying to listen to her teacher in class teach new information while hearing the kid behind her shuffling papers, the air conditioning, the kid giggling beside her, etc. It's a lot to sort out and takes a lot of effort. Add to that that her hearing loss if a "fluctuating loss". So some days she really might hear "just fine" (relatively). But other days, it only appears that she is hearing fine, when in fact she is not. So that pretty much sums up Hannah's hearing. She will have the tube placed in her left ear mid-September and I hope that will help. Meanwhile, we're working on some other strategies to help compensate in the meantime.<br />
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And how has Hannah handled on this? Well, it depends. She's highly irritated over the fact that she needs a tube in her left ear. On day 1, "irritated" wasn't really the right word. "Furious" might be more accurate. She says it makes no sense because she had a perfect eardrum, then "we" (because you know, I was totally "helping" and it's my fault according to her!) created a hole when we put a tube in, then we took the tube out, then we fixed the hole, and now we want to PUT A HOLE BACK IN THE EARDRUM?? Yeah, I kind of agree. Makes no sense when you look at it that way. But it is reality. And she's better with it now. (i.e. "irritated" rather than "furious".) But the news that she has a more significant hearing loss? Doesn't bother her at all. I mean, her hearing is no different after being told than it was before being told. It all just seems normal to her. And in the grand scheme of things, this is not a major problem. It really isn't. She will need a little help especially in not missing instruction at school. That's all. But it's totally "doable" and she will go on with her singing, laughing, flipping, dancing "tween" self. Her birthday coming up this week is a much bigger deal. As it should be. :)<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22749961.post-19834842248571479402013-08-11T12:33:00.003-05:002013-08-11T12:47:28.362-05:00Update on SadieSadie's surgery went well overall. We arrived at the hospital and she quickly got her vitals done and was in a room. Surgery was delayed just a bit because the anesthesiologist had some concerns. You may remember that Sadie has some mild kidney issues. Her kidneys are located in slightly different places than is typical. The left kidney shrunk in size significantly between the time she was 4 and 6 years old. It is likely not contributing much in terms of function. But her right kidney is growing well and compensating well for the lack of the other one. She takes 1 medication for mild metabolic acidosis (a kidney-related issue) but her actual kidney function is normal. There are no side effects and according to her dr - no precautions or restrictions for her. (Except we avoid NSAID's such as ibuprofen because they can be hard on kidneys). Well, when I filled out all the pre-anesthesia forms I put all that information in the appropriate places and listed the medicine, dose, etc. I included her nephrologist's contact info. Why do we fill those forms out? They certainly weren't read (or if they were, they weren't read by the anesthesiologist). He seemed genuinely surprised and concerned to find out she took this medication. So he wanted to do lab work before the surgery to check that all was good. While I was confident (based on knowledge from her other doctors) that all was fine, I still appreciated that he wanted to be careful. They did the lab work and it all came back great.<br />
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Sadie was quite the charmer the whole morning. She refused to lie down for the blood draw and said she wanted to watch. She held out her right arm and pointed and said "here's where you need to stick me.". When the anesthesiologist left me and asked if I had any further questions, Sadie piped up and said "I do". She then proceeded to ask him "Are you going to flavor the gas that makes me go to sleep? Because last time you rubbed chapstick on it?". He asked her if she wanted him to do that. She replied "no. It doesn't really help. It just makes it smell like stinky chapstick. I think it's better if you just forget that." lol!<br />
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So - surgery went well and she did great. But then in recovery and post-op, the decision was made to limit her IV fluids. Now, in the past Sadie has had a tendency to get nausea after surgery. It's generally mild though. And what her nurses have done in the past is give her extra IV fluids before discharge and that really seems to help prevent or minimize the nausea. (Which is much appreciated as we have a 3 hour drive home!). But this time, they not only wouldn't give her extra fluid, they wouldn't even give her the normal amount. They limited it pretty significantly and said they were ordered to do that because she takes sodium bicarb (her medicine). Now, they perhaps had a very valid reason for this..but they couldn't say what it was and I really don't think so. From everything I know..the risk of dehydration is a bigger risk than giving her too much fluid. With normal kidney function, she has absolutely no fluid restrictions in normal daily life. When Sadie first woke up, she was okay. In fact, she seemed to be doing really well. She drank just a couple sips of juice and then they started preparing discharge papers. As soon as she got in the car, she threw up. Then she seemed okay for a while. She had a drink in the back with her, but she didn't drink but a couple sips. She mostly slept all the way home. But once home, I started pushing her to drink and she couldn't keep anything down. She was also throwing up her pain medicine which later in the evening meant she was in pain. I called her surgeon's office and got the on-call doctor, who happened to be her surgeon's resident. He had been in surgery with Sadie that day so he knew her and her situation. I asked him to call in some anti-nausea medicine for her and he did. He was very nice and left his cell phone number and told me to call him back if we had any other problems. The medicine did the trick. She was able to finally start drinking a little and keep her pain medicine down. She slept most of the night and the next morning, she was totally acting like herself again.<br />
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My concern is that her next surgery (in 2-3 months) will be longer. I really don't want them limiting her fluid again because I'm convinced that's what made the day so rough for her. So I will be calling her nephrologist this week and asking him to send something both to her surgeon and a copy to me indicating what, if any, precautions she needs and indicating that it is okay and even needed for her to have the extra fluid. (If he agrees and I'm not missing anything. But I think he will agree). I spoke with her surgeon about it as well and he said yes, have the neph send him the info but also he can plan to keep her overnight next time to make sure she gets what she needs. So, we have a plan. :)<br />
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Meanwhile, Sadie has this lovely metal bar attached to her arm. For the first 5 days it was bandaged. She did well remaining mostly inactive, except for the fact that the night before we went to get the bandage removed, she fell down the stairs. Down 9 stairs to be exact and crashed into the shelves at the bottom! Um, that's not really a good thing. But her instincts kicked in and she fell protecting the surgery arm. It scared her more than anything and she wasn't hurt. But still..I'd appreciate it if she didn't do that anymore!<br />
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So, we got the bandage off and I got instructions for her surgeon on activity level, cleaning the pin sites, and how and when to turn the fixator for the next week. Sadie of course continued to charm everyone there and somehow left with a pile of candy! Then we went next door to see the OT's who normally make her splints. This time they were charged with making her a splint / protective cover for the fixator. The lady we were working with was not thrilled to have this task and spent the first 10 minutes telling me she didn't have any idea how to do that. But, I had some ideas to throw out. And then she finally got a co-worker to come brainstorm with her and the co-worker had some ideas. Finally a plan was created and she started creating this contraption, um, I mean splint. She did it while mumbling and muttering under her breath at first, but slowly became more personable as a workable solution started to take shape. So Sadie now has a VERY custom splint - one of a kind! The OT was in such a foul mood in the beginning that she didn't even give Sadie a choice of colors like they normally do. But that's okay, because we took the plain white splint and added some of our own "bling" to it. I have to appreciate them though because the OT's there are really good at what they do AND they know how to bill insurance the right way to get it covered. (A problem I ran into locally). And they work with the surgeon next door (who I love!). But they are not always the most thrilled to see us. I figure they should be happy to see Sadie - her needs dictate they learn new skills and expand their creativity! ha! (Of course, when it comes to OT's, I'm kind of spoiled because in my job I work with the best OT's and they manage to be good at their jobs AND be friendly!).<br />
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So, the very next day - Sadie woke up and I could tell her hand had been bleeding at the pin sites. Not a lot, but that's not really a good thing. But being so early in the process I wasn't sure if it might be normal. So I took photos and e-mailed them to her surgeon. He responded back rather quickly and said to see how it did in a day or two. If it continued, we could stop the turning of the fixator to give it more time to "heal". But regardless he wanted to start her on antibiotics. They are (as they admit) very paranoid about infections with the pin sites of these fixators. Better to be safe than sorry. So, his assistant called in some antibiotics and she started it that night. <br />
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Since then, no problems. No more bleeding or signs of infection. Everything is going well. Now the biggest challenge is reminding her not to carry or lift things with that arm and keeping her from falling down the stairs again! That keeping my very active tumbling, flipping, dancing, leaping older child from doing those things while standing in the same room as Sadie! (Which is actually a challenge her grandparents have for a few days as the girls are there having fun and being spoiled while I return to work tomorrow!). We will return to Atlanta on Wednesday for an x-ray and further instructions on when and how to turn the fixator. (There's multiple places you can turn it - we are going one direction this week..will do a slightly different direction next week). I also hope to find out a little more on how long he expects this progress might last (he can't give me an exact time..it depends how she responds).<br />
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Sadie amazes me though with her resilience, her confidence, and her bravery!<br />
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Meanwhile, Hannah's had her own little medical issue going on. She basically got ear infections in both ears the first of July. And they are just now clearing up. She had three rounds of antibiotics and then the day before Sadie's surgery, Hannah had an ENT appointment to try to get to the bottom of it. Both ears were red and draining. yuck! She got her ears suctioned and cleaned (a process she did not enjoy) and they found the problem in the right ear: a piece of an earplug had broken off and got stuck against her eardrum. I had said her hearing had decreased - now we know why! It was removed rather easily. Nothing unusual found in the left ear, but that eardrum was red, infected, and draining too. She started antibiotic ear drops which she hates! But she got through it and now her ears look better, are no longer draining, and she is definitely hearing better. We go back in a couple weeks just to double check, but hopefully she finally over all that.<br />
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(just for fun - happy girl!)</div>
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(preop)</div>
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(day after surgery)</div>
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(So adaptable - playing cards!)</div>
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(a blinged-out splint / cover)</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22749961.post-81290834308050414312013-08-11T09:13:00.000-05:002013-08-11T09:13:54.788-05:00Summer RecapWell, it's official. Summer is over. I start back to work Monday and the girls start the following Monday. We had lots of fun things, and some not-so-fun things. I completed some projects (well, okay, maybe 1 project). Other projects that were planned are now getting pushed back to the next break. :) But overall, it was a good summer. So here's our summer 2013 recap. Mostly in pictures.<br />
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<b>June</b><br />
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Notable things in June: We had lots of free time to swim, play, play games, do crafts, hang out with cousins, and just enjoy being together. I loved June! We also spent a weekend at grandma and grandpa's house. Sadie took 5 days of swim lessons from an incredible instructor. She went from not swimming at all to being able to swim the length of the pool freestyle, the width of the pool backstroke ,floating on her back for 1 minute and treading water for 30 seconds. So proud!! She still needs some practice before I'm confident with her swimming away from me, but she made HUGE progress.</div>
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<b>July</b></div>
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July brought more fun. It was the busier of the two months though with girls and I going every which way. There was a family trip to Mobile Bay which was lots of fun! The girls had great experiences at camp. They had VBS. I had a workshop in Huntsville. And Hannah got her "new room" she's been wanting. I redid her room while she was at camp as an early birthday present for her. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22749961.post-17862609380483470402013-07-12T02:28:00.001-05:002013-07-12T20:27:35.708-05:00Surgery for Sadie<br />
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Short version: Sadie's having hand / arm surgery August 2nd in Atlanta.<br />
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Long version:<br />
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Sadie is 7 and has had 4 surgeries on her arms and hands. Unlike Hannah though, hers haven't been spread out. They were all within 10 months and occurred when she was 3-4 years old. Most know, but she was born missing her radius bone in her left arm. That caused her wrist to turn inwards and she also had no thumb on that hand. In her right arm, she has a radius bone that is "almost normal". It is just slightly shorter than normal. The result is her wrist is fine, but she had a "floppy thumb" that was kind of just hanging on by skin and totally non-functional. She also has a "radio-ulnar synostosis" which just means that at one point her radius and ulna bones are fused where they shouldn't be. Not a big deal and some people have it and never know it. The only effect is she can't fully rotate her arm from palm down to palm up. But she (like most who have this) compensates by being more flexible in rotating the wrist on that hand. Here are Sadie's hands before her very first surgery that was in December 2012.<br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzI0q0tRsjC7b2nZPM-5DPak4XKzIGhLbKXnYVUhOjhaI7f12wzSwZ6Kv_NegxMVwthFR_-hkbk9m8Awf5FUuSCm_7vsaZ4mcxbQ9BD4yXp-BnB-sAAPuJH3SpP5nJeIR2tOVqvg/s320/12-30-08+001.jpg" /><br />
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She had four surgeries to straighten her wrist, and create thumbs on each hand. As part of the process there was a metal external fixator and multiple casts and splints. There were also multiple trips to Atlanta (Weekly for probably 2 months, than bi-weekly, than weekly again, then bi-weekly, then monthly, and finally after about 18 months we moved to every 4-6 months, which she's still at. The reason we've still been going is she outgrows her nighttime splint every few months and needs a new one. Here's some old photos from that time.<br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoTyO4TOWMV8o4aSXKE48ewWI3h91MRlc3vRDVgRnY8KtAJ0dViOuhoGCImSowN1_YOaDxxRp5ewE-IP9CQ7o5wQfBm7PU_PwC4Rr95FDjqiP4EyCXwh6f7-UA2KetvQaXRmowQ/s320/12-30-08+065.jpg" /> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50zUmpmTZxUiSaQXI1zULojhj9Jyw38eQHbdugWNO-Cb34Xeuj-8ZhmQfpHfz_5bWB7aODo6Z7wBFCCnNBBXoF2QMbCE5VcmPzMIgBYcG0RfEUV7zONX9MfUAaQr72ncgierggw/s320/12-30-08+033.jpg" /><br />
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. <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_AiUtUKN32L1nsWtns-Jrdxw1i0KBvOkYNDkr6l88aDr8RpW3s80uO348MHrJfV2N9JDjavbPoY_kTESINoVvNLEXq11A-4Zsu3rdddlVDYi0Vdi73eMPEOHfhOCkxvLa7yD5hw/s320/March2009+011.jpg" /><br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDcyZN6oDGQwo9DF67xJcCPDX259o6i_OPYbEL_FzRVpGv4_JHQvmxEHhNaPJZBBiONo-jWMa4PEwtzRKgzYUzv0B_3Dp7xvIKFjw-T9Gx3u1vHksCX3dT0IcU77n9vWJohJVfw/s320/Easter2009+007.jpg" /><br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmcBxC_tgscx05sg2JZ-e8wnd691HVH1keNVymaCYBSUQgB2gXHNGUwb4bwYI6L_ujhJwKq2DehBIk8xYG-T8TAvQgkbwGQHH-2gzEm4ILlKzcVf-6QBaoTQjoPpdFCw39tcjrw/s320/May2009+006.jpg" /> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29UpEoA6Gg6IlOsT9mOeZmMEicwktbvhxWJKkF_89LJcDYlBybA16-16bPRjNWNyojtOBb9-lHlVGIsxqImrITUqkVIG2dV4ius_mM0HvDYdgO6dLNMNHsZBU5sKvzso5iaGIeA/s320/July2009+068.jpg" /><br />
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Here's a pic of her sweet little hands after her wrist was straightened but before she had thumbs.<br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIdlOYHq50TMuDgapfb47eYZfDKolQOf4_y61UWQvmrQG0PNzMWbI2q5m3hmoHQL3E4MFupuDgfVS1ZcnTtfAAly87Zb_DAhvKrLDUw5bI03eKQVxHa7r40xk3K9muhpCNluYdQ/s320/april2009+036.jpg" /><br />
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Finally, she got thumbs. That was the most exciting part for her. And honestly, the thumb surgeries were the most amazing to me. She could grasp things with her thumb and fingers for the first time and she learned to use it so quickly! It looks and functions like a natural thumb<br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_N2A6cdI3KOGHd0JtWq-41K9zdQi6hpW8ryXSTM4nBeVZWB4CqOy_L9qgiReUG_tPqOQrvVb3EKr2EFTzOp74RR5TgdWBHqidDgpJwaafozdoDHzjSYIdOe_iTW8wqEbxQLiNDQ/s320/May2009+066.jpg" /><br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1l1rtiIKPEhDvqyiGpcz1ogFnqetrZfUV4BLqwbh_Z0OvQGi0st1Os5mx-hPyJwCSF30-ydrQxtRAfXuSZiRIkC8LgF3sS0C2ppTwsgIP4vInl5hDuaV_bb6Pjd-sf4ZFTBnN4Q/s320/June2009+008.jpg" /> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8sNuk-l3dQwcT5ssw4nBk6yOuco1a3KyofX8iU3U_rkqN96cEmpKIysZOF9QAsRqhmDyosGGmrIzXssP8wTnIcASuqYlEbW9JmbMd-1QGufXe269EtU7nBEb9WGpg1omSyOEGw/s320/May2009+071.jpg" /><br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdReVdxvx9qSjV_Q6hMu1uNJVsEF11xaTduMlf-OTenp8b2BO8q8zc4BV4yu3pXjRjKBDAJs3M2_NhLcTQbjwlg_Osv7-n9LivhuhgfGXvKz7RSlSYHeyk_Oog5zvMNvmQSlWfA/s320/July2009+020.jpg" /> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Lr-9x7XsCeb5lOIWAH3CvYubdYtSjC2Hte6d2iJOXJtdRwO1X_jOA-6vrygZq86DU5RR2i-PYmf27-5lWatrTZIdyoD8TYilmoCzyoBKjEf3oewY7Dg2gOKM5KVzgjKMfMPPWw/s320/August2009+009.jpg" /><br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhml8r1B_nX11f_X1WjWeAd9fkDOKgX6Gj2FTnASV162EYEy8Fs5G5E-ZvafQBtX6WO4_0h3zSuMIRf0WN1ohwDWrMgnvSYUAQetxlddSO8gjaF78_wCo3gqwWLI4jJQWeTkDlhQ/s320/October2009+164.jpg" /> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiffFG9rs-HTv1xJCKiyhaEb9zc5hStu6nK_DcitisTH7PpmrQM4xxN5UOOi2-0MQUVegU0fjLDEmz5FcxQi8xYG9MOScPUk-fNUbjBzfkyU3tIJQSvoQbJwHP0rou_hnKjNTh5_Q/s320/October2009+189.jpg" /><br />
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All this took place between Dec. 2008 and Oct 2009. Since then, her thumbs have been perfect. She uses them well and there are no issues at all. Her wrist however has slowly turned back in. There are many reasons for this. Some are just left to "chance". Nationally, there's a 30% chance of this happening. But I think there were also some issues Sadie had that impacted hers. For one, because of her age, a lot was happening in a short time because her surgeon felt if the thumb surgeries weren't completed by about age 4, it would be very difficult for Sadie's brain to make the switch to use them as thumbs as effectively. We also tried to combine surgeries when possible to avoid too many at one time. For example, at one point she had a pin in her wrist holding it straight while things stabilized. That pin was taken out at the same time she had her thumb surgery on that hand. The timing was right for either. But I'm not sure the timing was right for both together. She had significant swelling after that surgery and when she was placed in a cast, it had the difficult job of needing to stabilize the thumb AND needing to stabilize the wrist. When the swelling went down, her wrist "slipped" slightly inside. As soon as I noticed, I called her surgeon and was able to head down to Atlanta that day to get a new cast, but I've always wondered if that effected things in a negative way. Add to that, when her first cast came off, she got a splint that again needed to stabilize the thumb AND needed to hold her wrist in place and that proved very difficult. Once she moved to a wrist-only splint again, things stabilized. But ever since then her wrist has been slightly more turned in at each visit (they do x-rays and measurements). Overall, that's not a big deal. It's never bothered Sadie how her hands look. And, well, I just love her sweet little hands. She is very functional and can pretty much do what she wants. But there are little things that I see her have a hard time with, mostly because that arm is so much shorter than her other one. At some of our visits, our surgeon mentioned possible further surgery. But I wasn't ready to go there and he is not pushy about things like that.<br />
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About the time school was out, I noticed Sadie has outgrown her splint again. So I made an appoitnment to take her to Atlanta. We went this week. But first, Sadie and I had a chat. She had mentioned her hands several times. So I asked her that if she was given the option of leaving her hand just like it is, or having surgery again to straighten it, what would she want? She immediately replied that she wanted surgery to straighten it. I asked why and she said "so I can reach things with both hands". That is one of the things that's difficult, though we've always found ways around it. She also later said she wants to be able to do the monkey bars (can't reach it now with her left hand) and turn a cartwheel. But I feel like at almost 8 years old, Sadie is old enough to have a strong voice in this decision. I get the final decision, but ultimately it's her body and she deserves to be listened to. When we were at the doctor, I shared with him my conversation with Sadie. He agrees and thinks we should plan on going ahead soon. He took lots of time to answer all my questions, which mainly were about "what will be different this time? How can we prevent her wrist from turning back in again if we do it?". The honest truth is we can't totally prevent it. There will always be a risk of that. But there are some things that might help. I personally feel like the fact that her thumb is no longer a consideration will be a big help. All casting and splinting that will come as part of the process will only need to be concerned with stabilizing her wrist. Her thumb is perfect and there is essentially no risk to it. He also talked to Sadie very frankly and told her what all was involved. She's been through it before, but at 3 years old she doesn't remember it all very well. She still wants to do it. I don't know if she'll be able to turn a cartwheel or do the monkey bars when its all over - she might and she might not. But she should be able to reach things with both hands better. And she'll have the opportunity to try.<br />
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So, she will be having surgery August 2nd! I asked to do it either before school starts, or wait until October, just for scheduling purposes. On that day, Sadie and I will head to Atlanta for her to get a fixator placed on her arm. It will be outpatient surgery. Last time, he wanted us to stay local just in case so we stayed in a hotel in Atlanta. But after 4 previous surgeries with her, this time I'm pushing to just come home that evening. She's always done so well afterwards. She'll have a couple weeks to rest and let it heal before we go back to remove the bandages. Then I'll begin turning the screws on it daily and cleaning the pin sites daily. There's always a risk of infection with the pin sites, and she did get one small infection last time. But a round of antibiotics cleared it right. up. Plus she will come home on antibiotics to try to prevent infection from the beginning. She'll have a plastic cover to wear over it and she'll be able to go to school and do everyday activities with it. I don't know how long she'll have it. Last time she had it almost 3 months. I turned the screws 6 weeks and then had to leave it on another 6 weeks to stabilize. But her wrist doesn't need to move as far this time. (Even though it's turned in, it hasn't turned all the way back in to where it was). We'll be trekking to Atlanta weekly during this time for x-rays. When her dr. feels she's ready, she'll have a 2nd surgery to remove the fixator and "centralize" her wrist. After that will come a cast full time for about 3 weeks, then a splint full time for possibly a few months (can take off for baths, etc.). Then she'll move to a night-time splint like she's had and she will continue with that until she's done growing. Eventually we'll move to bi-weekly visits, then monthly visits, and then finally we'll be back to where we are now - going in whenever she outgrows a splint. It'll be a long process, but I feel like I need to give Sadie this chance while she's young enough that it's still an option. So, say a prayer for my sweet girl - that pain / discomfort is minimal and that it "works" and gives her the results she's hoping for.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22749961.post-31511577431982024202013-07-10T20:58:00.000-05:002013-07-10T20:58:26.081-05:00Catching up, Again! First half of 2013Well, okay. So I haven't written in um, 7 months! Does anyone read this? I wouldn't hang around for one post a year! But I write for myself and to remember, so that's okay. So..2013 so far..<br />
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<b>January 2013</b><br />
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Medical / Health - Sadie had a great visit with her nephrologist and we were given an "all clear" to continue on our merry way for another year. She continues to do great and other than a slight little issue that takes 1 little pill, she has normal kidney function and she's healthy and growing well.<br />
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Hannah got braces this month, and a palate expander. She was very excited about it! <br />
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Just for Fun - We had a mini snow day. It's so rare that we took full advantage of it.<br />
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<b>February / Early March</b><br />
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Medical / Health - Hannah and Sadie both came down with a strep-like virus, though both had negative strep tests. Sadie's followed a typical course though: get sick, go to dr., get antibiotic, get well, go on with having fun. Hannah wasn't so lucky. She began an off-again, on-again illness. She'd get well, go off antibioitcs, come down with something again, repeat. That pretty much lasted for February and March.<br />
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Just for Fun -Despite the on-again, off-again sickness, Hannah managed to have some fun and "be well" during times too. She competed with her dance team at a couple dance competitions and her solo won first overall for her division for the state dance championship. Sadie meanwhile was quite proud to run in her first Mercedes Kids Marathon event. And we all enjoyed celebrating Chinese New Year with friends. Finally, we spent a fun weekend in Mobile at the end of Spring Break for competition and fun with our dance friends. Other than the competition, we also explored the battleship, visited the beach, and participated in two impromptu St. Patrick's Day parades. Lots of fun for everyone. :)<br />
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<b>Late March / April</b><br />
<b><br /></b>Good news is Hannah finally seemed to shake whatever viruses she was fighting. Bad news is she came down with something new. HSP - Henoch Schonlien Purpura. It's an autoimmune disease that caused her to have a weird rash (purpura) all over her legs, joint pain (fairly severe at times), tiredness, and occasional headaches. It can also cause other things such as severe stomach pains but Hannah was lucky on that count as she never had that. It resolves on it's own and kids typically fully recover just fine. But there is a small chance of kidney problems. So because of that, Hannah had a visit with Sadie's nephrologist and also had to get weekly labwork for 6 weeks at her pediatrician's office. The whole ordeal lasted about 8 weeks, with it getting progressively milder as time went on. The first week she could barely walk and was in a lot of pain. But after that, she would have occasional days that she had joint pain and other days that she had no pain at all. Slowly the "no pain" days outnumbered the others. <br />
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The first week of this HSP had Hannah quite sad because she missed her class's trip to 4H camp. (But it was made up to her in May when she got to go with another class). But despite all her health issues during this time, she continued to dance when she could and went on to win 2 more competitions with her solos. <br />
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<a href="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/71834_4394096846743_341089352_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/71834_4394096846743_341089352_n.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/75546_607833845912538_1472892993_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/75546_607833845912538_1472892993_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Sadie meanwhile started soccer season and as always had a blast!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_9O7ev8FUrMiy_jpOlotO3J5oeR2c7cmV020-pq2l6pggQb16Jsnp-U9fibEmkinvnc7DB6sq3F2SNPv8Wz1DBaQl6V4HR_DrLbmlCkX0Hj6tjhd59bvZF7DiB-q8f5hQHXiCw/s1600/SAM_0538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_9O7ev8FUrMiy_jpOlotO3J5oeR2c7cmV020-pq2l6pggQb16Jsnp-U9fibEmkinvnc7DB6sq3F2SNPv8Wz1DBaQl6V4HR_DrLbmlCkX0Hj6tjhd59bvZF7DiB-q8f5hQHXiCw/s320/SAM_0538.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<b>May</b><br />
Hannah continued to have flare-ups of the HSP, but by this point she was in the "pretty mild" stage. She was no longer having any pain..just a few spots of rash here and there with many days of nothing in between. We could see the end in sight, and she pretty much ended for good about the time school got out.<br />
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And we had some good news medically too. Hannah had a tympanoplasty on her left ear in Feb. 2012 to repair a hole in that eardrum (she still has a hole in her right). Well, ever since then, she'd been battling fluid in that ear again and her ENT was ready to put a tube in it. Normally tubes are not a big deal. Hannah had them for 3 years when she was younger. But this time it's different because it would be a tube in an eardrum that already has scar tissue from a repair. The danger is that the more scar tissue, the more problems it can have long term. But the other side is that Hannah was testing with mild hearing loss. At one point it even dipped to moderate loss in that ear because of the fluid. She misspelled a couple spelling words in her school notebook simply because she heard the word wrong. So while her grades remained good, it was starting to affect her. So finally her ENT said he'd give her 6 more weeks to resolve it on her own. But if it continued to affect her hearing, he would recommend going ahead with the tube, even though he didn't really *want to*. That was late March. But when we went back in May, her hearing was perfectly normal. So for now, she remains tube-free in her ears.<br />
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The girls continued their dance / tumbling classes and were adorable in the end of year recital! And Sadie continued to be a soccer star for May. And the great folks at Hannah's school worked it out where she could go to 4H camp afterall, just with another class. And thankfully, Hannah had friends in some of the other classes going, so she was very comfortable with that and she ended up having a great time! It's "the thing" of 4th grade so I'm so glad she got the opportunity to go.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2s6aFtjACK8KewWwYv6gd18FgAor1F_ZV_2h2-GKHrVmHe6Kj_CiDfP1e8X3R2FncDyFGknPghYqn0BogdUQXj5P-fhxP8PEs77AYI_z4b2Ug7EvvGkErnXxIJ4rRASmnzmuNw/s1600/SAM_0505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2s6aFtjACK8KewWwYv6gd18FgAor1F_ZV_2h2-GKHrVmHe6Kj_CiDfP1e8X3R2FncDyFGknPghYqn0BogdUQXj5P-fhxP8PEs77AYI_z4b2Ug7EvvGkErnXxIJ4rRASmnzmuNw/s320/SAM_0505.JPG" width="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlLBtSAR5wC5sXHqiuBMJF3OLwiZQ3NmuC19RbJATy5JHWnQV8ILXNYgWEfkpHWVbfrn67SYnjKv_R0DQBE9dKMPwaS_I7FwTNKWhGNjcR5xtTXNIbZhzYR-E05TRMcLJyGX1oQ/s1600/SAM_0411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlLBtSAR5wC5sXHqiuBMJF3OLwiZQ3NmuC19RbJATy5JHWnQV8ILXNYgWEfkpHWVbfrn67SYnjKv_R0DQBE9dKMPwaS_I7FwTNKWhGNjcR5xtTXNIbZhzYR-E05TRMcLJyGX1oQ/s320/SAM_0411.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
We also celebrated a lot in May.<br />
Sadie's Family Forever / Gotcha Day (5 years with this sweetheart!)<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjuLbiYEyoiqB4AfDZKpmZ98YttGpwk5dQ6gVsoYmdxObL8jE8qY2d8ZMbls1VWad5TxCq3s4cINwE4QfSaogdh7NSrVFcPgBFzHSzzuIjax93EuRn6aCFDCZAInAv6aj0qPDcg/s1600/SAM_0483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjuLbiYEyoiqB4AfDZKpmZ98YttGpwk5dQ6gVsoYmdxObL8jE8qY2d8ZMbls1VWad5TxCq3s4cINwE4QfSaogdh7NSrVFcPgBFzHSzzuIjax93EuRn6aCFDCZAInAv6aj0qPDcg/s320/SAM_0483.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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Mother's Day<br />
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Hannah's Family Forever / Gotcha Day (7 years with this amazing girl!)<br />
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My Birthday. My dad came down and built the girls a swingset and me a shed. We love them!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxnhtIBtiOf8BViDAt9nv5mcCA4cT8SxP9BFG30_yhQoV-XXLZM1H7dAoiN-o-DICYatdCTNSN0b4LJRD0PZSaXLknFR46kTJZGziz6Do7mRnmrIRpK2rZjMsaK3NWy39na3-iQ/s1600/SAM_0567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxnhtIBtiOf8BViDAt9nv5mcCA4cT8SxP9BFG30_yhQoV-XXLZM1H7dAoiN-o-DICYatdCTNSN0b4LJRD0PZSaXLknFR46kTJZGziz6Do7mRnmrIRpK2rZjMsaK3NWy39na3-iQ/s320/SAM_0567.JPG" width="240" /></a> <img height="320" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/397405_10151610940349470_1748765544_n.jpg" width="240" /><br />
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And that brings us to June, which pretty much starts summer fun. I think Summer will need a separate post. So stay tuned. :)<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22749961.post-78972597388085531752013-07-10T19:58:00.000-05:002013-07-10T19:58:59.371-05:00Loving this SeasonUm..wrote this in March. Just now posting. :)<br />
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I'm loving this season of life. Not this season, weather-wise. But I'm loving this season of my family. The girls are growing so fast and at 9 years old, Hannah's already on the brink of "tween". Yikes, some days I'm not sure how that happened. And some days, the "drama" and "moodiness" of pre-puberty is already there. Storms can brew up quickly. But overall, despite sometimes missing the "little kids", I'm learning that I really enjoy this "big kid" stage. So, a list of why I am enjoying parenting a 7 and 9 year old.<br />
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* Conversations. We have some really cool back-and forth conversations these days. The girls have lots of questions about life.<br />
* Not as much "all about me". Oh, it still shows up sometimes. But they are learning give-and-take, listening, and considering another's perspective. And filters!! They are *finally* developing "filters" and sometimes use them. For example, I was checking out at CVS one day last week and had Hannah with me. The lady checking me out said I looked familiar and after we talked a minute, I realized I knew her from Kairos (prison ministry). We chatted a couple minutes and then left. As soon as we got outside Hannah asked "so is she a VOLUNTEER or someone you met IN PRISON?". And she had been thinking that the whole time we were talking, but she didn't say it until we left. That is huge! Because Hannah a year or two ago sure would have looked right at check-out lady and asked "were you in prison? What did you do?'. Filters are a lovely thing..think whatever, then filter what you actually *say* in public. <br />
* Games with Sadie - She loves playing games. And now that we are way past Chutes-and-Ladders and Candyland, I enjoy playing with her. Some of our favorites are Sorry-Sprin, Uno, and Monopoly. She and I played monopoly for 3 hours on a recent weekend (broken up into 2 days). She's quite good at the games too. (Hannah's not so much into games).<br />
* Books - I still read to the girls a good bit. Hannah's of course a very independent reader, and Sadie's learning. But we enjoy sharing books together. And now we are sharing more advanced story themes and I'm really enjoying that!<br />
* Movies - okay, so they still like some barbie princess movies, BUT sometimes get interested in non-cartoon movies that I can enjoy with them. <br />
* Chores. Sadie still LIKES chores, and Hannah realizes it useless to complain too much. They are much more capable now than when they were younger. In fact, they often do all the laundry except the folding. Neither likes to fold clothes. I don't mind that part, so it works out great. And they can both load the dishwasher and start it, put dishes away, take out trash, and make their beds. Hannah can vacume. (Sadie still finds this a little difficult). They can sweep.<br />
* Food. They can do a lot in the kitchen. They don't really use the stove without close supervision. But pretty much anything else in the kitchen they do. And they do scramble eggs and flip pancakes and other such things with some supervision. And Sadie LOVES to help cook. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22749961.post-87949157701883763372013-01-01T23:36:00.000-06:002013-01-01T23:45:16.635-06:002012 Recap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, I haven't done as well blogging in 2012. So here's a year-in-review, mostly for myself to remember.<br />
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<b>January 2012 </b><br />
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After celebrating New Year's, we celebrated the Chinese New Year a few weeks later. Good times with good friends. I even got to teach the girls' classes about Chinese New Year.<br />
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Hannah had surgery #7: this time on one of her ears. Her ENT repaired the hole left in one eardrum. At the moment of writing this, I can't even remember which ear it was! (And I'm not going to wake her up to check which side the scar is on at the moment). The surgery was good / bad. Good - recovery went well and she can now get water in that ear without causing pain. The eardrum healed nicely. Bad - she *hated* the post-surgery ear drops with a passion (but was okay if I put them in when she went to sleep). Also, being able to get water in one ear didn't really help, because she still has a hole in the other ear and can't stand water in it. But also, it was a gamble as to whether she was ready for that hole to be closed. Since her tube was removed a year prior to that, the hole acted like a natural tube, preventing fluid build-up. The hope was she was old enough / big enough for her eustachian tube to work better and when the hold was repaired, fluid would not be a problem anymore. (She'd had tubes for 3 years prior to getting them out in Feb. 2010). BUT, at her 1 month and 6 month follow-ups from this surgery, she again had fluid in that ear. Thankfully, hearing has remained borderline normal and there has been no pain or ear infections from the fluid. So we're in a wait-and-see mode. Her dr. wont' repair the other eardrum until he's sure she won't redevelop fluid in it.<br />
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Sadie had her own medical issues come up in January. We went to see her nephrologist for a check-up. It had been two years since we'd been. It wasn't bad - most things were fine. But I did learn that her left kidney (pelvic kidney) had not only stopped growing, but had shrunk in size. (Her dr. said it was the size of a newborn's kidney). However, her right kidney had grown better than expected and was compensating mostly well. She did have a problem with too much acid in her blood. (Kidneys regulate so much - including how much acid is in your blood). So, she was put on a very simple medication that she takes 3 times a day to correct the acidosis. She may grow out of needing it at some point, but it's very possible she may need it for the rest of her life. It was a bit unsettling news at first (see <a href="http://www.deette530.blogspot.com/2012/01/what-i-know-to-be-true.html">What I know to be true</a> ). However, I will say that as we got in the routine of it, it just became normal life. Sadie is doing great! In the first couple months, I saw an increase in growth and energy level, which is what was supposed to happen. She goes back to the nephrologist in a couple weeks, and I'm cautiously optimistic that he will say everything looks good. Optimistic because there are no signs leading me to believe otherwise. She's healthy, growing, has a good appetite, has no symptoms of anything being wrong, and has a normal amount of energy. (And extra energy when it comes to talking!). A little cautious because, well..I wasn't expecting to hear anything was wrong last year either. But regardless, this sweet, spunky girl is amazing!</div>
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<b>February 2012</b></div>
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February brought this status update to my facebook page:</div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Got an interesting text as I left work this afternoon from next door neighbor. "neighbor wrecked into your power box". hmm. Came home to find 6 alabama power trucks and some bulldozer in my front yard. Water spraying everywhere. Neighbor said when the wreck happened smoke and "other stuff" came leaking out of box. Thankful for Alabama Power crew who not only made sure power was restored quickly, but who also made sure I had water and phone before they and who cleared out the toxic mess (i.e. dug up my yard - but it had to be done) and cleaned up best they could. Those guys worked hard! Mostly thankful no one was hurt. Hoping the rest of the weekend is less exciting..</span></div>
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Yeah, I think that was the one of the most exciting things that happened in Feb. And also Hannah had her first dance competition with her dance team. But I'll save that topic for another month. :)</div>
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<b>March 2012</b></div>
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March was all about dance competition season! Hannah had a blast dancing with her friends. She also won her age and division at the Alabama State Dance Campionship with her solo. So proud of her!!</div>
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One of Hannah's competitions was in Pensacola, so we enjoyed some beach time there.<br />
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Sadie enjoyed her school boosterthon, where she "ran like the wind". Go Sadie!<br />
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Hannah and I also had a special "big kid / mom" evening planned one night. Until I dropped Sadie off at the babysitter's house. Before I left the house, Sadie had busted her head on the edge of a door. Enough that she needed stitches. Hannah was quite unhappy about this..more so than Sadie it seems from this picture.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBwhIqFGkmbXMqX5anOOVDeNkEen7Ru279X8tnvOcPlGKzvKARAcfpFC73SSRJo4zg_7oIxpj1CfzUhKkGzlxXHf3JLsSzok0mNxFZ9GdQrRqth_xwFBJooV6cm3TpEDzoqkMqw/s1600/SN853705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBwhIqFGkmbXMqX5anOOVDeNkEen7Ru279X8tnvOcPlGKzvKARAcfpFC73SSRJo4zg_7oIxpj1CfzUhKkGzlxXHf3JLsSzok0mNxFZ9GdQrRqth_xwFBJooV6cm3TpEDzoqkMqw/s320/SN853705.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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But dinner at Johnny Rockets post-stitches made all right with the world again. And Hannah and I are going to try again in a few weeks. (The event was a secret-keeper girls club which only happens every so often and in different locations). This time, we are putting bubble wrap around Sadie when we drop her off! :-)<br />
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<b>April 2012</b></div>
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April was pretty much 3 things: Easter, soccer (Sadie), and dance (Hannah). Fun times!</div>
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<b>May 2012</b><br />
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May didn't get a blog post. Apparently we were too busy living life for me to write about it.<br />
May began with celebrating this sweet girl's 4th "Family Forever Day" with us.<br />
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<img alt="Photo: Just enjoyed a stroll down memory lane with Sadie. 4 years ago today I held her for the first time wearing these exact same clothes. (and they were way too big - now they finally fit!). She brings so much sweetness and a whole lot of laughter to my world! Happy Family Forever Day Sadie!" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/c0.0.403.403/p403x403/303366_10150808720344470_425858446_n.jpg" /><br />
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Then, Hannah had a camping trip with her girl scout troop. She had looked forward to this trip *all year* and she got sick a few days before. We went to the dr. twice and she ran a fever for about 5 days straight. Finally, with a couple doses of antibiotics in her, she stopped running a fever about 20 hours before the trip. And yeah, I know the rule is 24 hours fever-free, but I sure did send on that camping trip. Thankful for her sweet troop leaders and our good friends who took care of her and made sure she didn't over-do it and that she got her medicines while there. She had a great time and made good memories with her sweet troop of great girls!<br />
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<img height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/574981_3128070317697_351571349_n.jpg" width="191" /> <img height="191" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/554329_3128058077391_1701384360_n.jpg" width="320" /><br />
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My FB status from May 11:<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">This week in review: car fixed, 2 doctor's appointments, consultation with orthodontist, 3 regular dance classes, 1 recital rehearsal, a volcano from clay (multi-day project!), 3rd grade choir field trip, 3rd grade luau, kindergarten Mother's Day Tea (which was actually the sweetest.thing.ever!), 2 IEP meetings, 5 other IEP's worked on, two little girls with rollers in their hair in the bed, 6 dance costumes packed. Tomorrow - soccer game in the morning, 3:00 dance recital (H - 2 dances, S - 2 dances), 7:00 dance recital (H - 4 dances). Sunday - you will find us in our pjs in the bed or vegging in front of the t.v!</span><br />
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I didn't remember much of this until I started looking at pictures. Turns out it was *my turn* to be sick that week.But here are pictures to prove that things did happen in May. First two are of kindergarten music performance and Hannah's artwork in county art show. I think those happened the same week.<br />
<img height="180" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/577560_10150875347359470_203808481_n.jpg" width="320" /> <a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/156409_10150875348014470_682389136_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/156409_10150875348014470_682389136_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<img height="225" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/156566_10150875349024470_496728270_n.jpg" width="400" /><br />
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<img height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/303380_10150875349229470_1071231935_n.jpg" width="240" /> <img height="240" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/163322_10150875350304470_549588037_n.jpg" width="320" /> <img height="240" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/551598_10150875350504470_654390312_n.jpg" width="320" /><br />
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The picture just above was from Sadie's kindergarten class "Mother's Day Tea". It was the sweetest.thing.ever!<br />
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I missed Sadie's soccer game - my mom was in town and took her. I did make it to the dance recital. Two of them. Hannah danced in both and had multiple costume changes. Sadie was in the first and had one costume change. The girls did beautiful, but I can't say it was my favorite experience of dance (simply because I wasn't feeling well). But I have the pictures to prove they were adorable. And I love their dance studio and teachers and am so thankful my girls get the opportunity to do something they love, make great friends, and be surrounded by encouraging and supportive teachers and older dancers! And after she sat through all Hannah's dance recitals, I was especially happy for Sadie to have her moment to "shine".<br />
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<img alt="Photo" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/c29.0.403.403/p403x403/543687_3158380486016_882317098_n.jpg" /> <img height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/522853_10150875351424470_1620297572_n.jpg" width="240" /><br />
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We ended the school year and it was bittersweet. Hannah ended her time at her wonderful elementary school..to embark on a new adventure at the "Intermediate School". But first, we had summer to celebrate. And one last "May event". Hannah celebrated her 6th Family Forever Day on May 28th. This is her in China 6 years earlier.<br />
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<img alt="Photo: Happy Family Forever day to my big girl who not only made me a mom 6 years ago but who is also the one God used to show me that He can (and will!) do far more than I can think or imagine!" height="400" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/c67.0.403.403/p403x403/550559_10150917571689470_1413946219_n.jpg" width="400" /><br />
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<b>June 2012 and July 2012</b><br />
I did a decent job blogging the summer fun. So I won't recap all the fun. See <a href="http://www.deette530.blogspot.com/2012/06/summer-fun-part-1.html">Summer Fun, part 1</a> and <a href="http://www.deette530.blogspot.com/2012/07/summer-fun-pt-2.html">Summer Fun, part 2</a><br />
We also used the summer to catch up on dr. appointments. Pediatrician visits for both girls, hand dr. in Atlanta for Sadie (with a new night splint), ENT and Oral surgeon for Hannah (6 month post-op visits), and had a 2nd orthodontist consultation with Hannah. I wasn't thrilled with the one we met with in May. I loved the one we met with in July. I also began the process of working with Children's Rehab Services as they will pay for some of Hannah's orthodontic needs due to her cleft palate. I would find out that that it's a paperwork-heavy and long process to get everything approved and get the "go". But worth it for what they're saving me.<br />
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<b>August 2012</b><br />
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August brough Hannah's 9th birthday party. We celebrated a few weeks early so I could plan it during the summer rather than those first busy weeks of school. She had a rock-star video party and loved it!<br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_s1QXaaiy7xKRug3skpCZAMaWz-ljlXr9pb4mN27SRx5Il-NSGloZ8VL71H9NrLAp9vqcjnitaNTD09sKgmZ2YVYgwBjQI7c8xQuYblFyV_UrbiZvgh24UkbSo_8HwyAed0_1MA/s320/DSC00340.JPG" /> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyQgetiFlkAC2pyOUWd_TPwSHV28apvrHYdKpXHOkRwi0d5Y7qkPwjwgiU3npJ9418kpIL1yr8gvVC77-ZlxyObmJCwLrUgGTEMrX2f_W73kFSiiqGF8sMA9pRedyEpHE9iDQvg/s320/DSC00350.JPG" /><br />
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We had a fun day out at Hanah's cleft clinic's "Annual Family Fun Day" at Treetop Adventure. The girls obviously like going for the fun. And I like going for the free fun. :) But Hannah also likes that it's other kids wtih clefts or facial differences. Even though she doesn't talk about it with the kids there (they're too busy playing and cutting up and having fun), she likes knowing that it's other kids (or siblings) like her. In fact, Hannah recently met a girl on her bus that goes to her school. She's the same age as Hannah, but they went to different elementary schools (now at the same intermediate). This little girl is the first person Hannah has met who was born with a cleft lip and palate in her daily life (as opposed to kids she might meet at cleft clinic events or adoption events but that she doesn't get together with any other time). Anyway, Hannah and this other girl apparently started talking on the bus and Hannah came home so excited to tell me about her new friend "just like me" who had a cleft lip and palate on the same side! They had the same doctors! And they had the same surgeries, even the "one where they took bone from my hip!". <br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60gQeYYSh3Gh2roQIXweYm5m5jI5I6eEVQ3N7WeRqeJSDQeBZow8yv1ANOnWAOz7KMXu8bwBGY_PcfZxKUj4p8gSBC7cdCnX0kGYKAPy-97CDwdRl2di2hSKha0PxqM9dEIhXrg/s320/DSC00364.JPG" /> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswguEEPYGYoEBwaQzrzsTTzadP7DOmL-hH4loHVvuBGABvp8GZ7ONONU4DcEgh-6X_NVvSq-VT1VAWwdPcB512Hcw3RaSzJ7A_l-AgMLs2t5UWfLxvY3VwZOajUdTIt6KaRznCA/s320/DSC00365.JPG" /><br />
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August also brought a special memory in our family..the day both girls were baptized at our church. So thankful for these blessings! <br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBv659DMLyEFD39mxrAXArCz817l7evKIC0WAwE2wo2NvCO9Ym2MZPpsAOYOIMbjQBuq7oWEQ-JE_nwJASJ0wYzHsjcs7kTpyNLv4E0yd5GTn81K7wNFRRocVidUcJ0TtlHWWGAg/s320/DSC00372.JPG" /><br />
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And of course, August brought the beginning of a new school year. 4th grade (and a new school) for Hannah. 1st grade for Sadie. Both girls are having a great year at school! We ended August with Hannah's actual birthday. Can't believe this sweet, spunky girl is 9!!<br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYczU32J5GXa-AtZJzjSIei8F3ZElKO_aSN0JJKjws1k27NCM2nI4mX6pnSWZzlkndF_8wUt1emJFOKQdtfZk-PTmj-0AVjdQaZfnrxtv92qHyXUMTR8HV08oo_s4oSsrINXVPQ/s320/DSC00379.JPG" /> <img alt="Photo" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/c0.0.403.403/p403x403/549540_10151123318769470_387820544_n.jpg" /><br />
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<b>September 2012</b><br />
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Hannah continues with dance team. Sadie started a tumbling class at her dance studio. The girl is persistent! She is determined to do a cartwheel. With one arm significantly shorter than the other, that is proving difficult. So, she's now working on a one-handed cartwheel. I love her persistence!<br />
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We had photos made for picture directory at church. This was an extra one (not for directory). I love it!<br />
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<img alt="Photo: I pretty much just love this photo. And for my Discovery friends, it's from the picture directory photo shoot. So sign up because you could get great photos too!" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/c121.0.403.403/p403x403/62569_10151150986919470_1133058762_n.jpg" /><br />
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Hannah auditioned for a local prodcution of the Nutcracker. She was casted as a soldier and a candy cane and began weekly rehearsals.<br />
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Hannah campaigned for a cell phone. She lost. :)<br />
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I went to prison. :) For Kairos prison ministry. See link. <a href="http://www.deette530.blogspot.com/2012/10/reflections-from-prison.html">Reflections from Prison</a><br />
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<b>October 2012</b><br />
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On October 6, I posted this status on FB:<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Sadie's kind of a "take it or leave it" kid when it comes to most extracurricular activities. She likes dance. She likes soccer. But the first thing she has BEGGED me to do? Wrestling. Really? My almost 7 year old girl who weighs a whopping 39 lbs wants to wrestle? Lucky for me, the brochure she brought home for school says "4 weekly practices Nov-Feb" and we have a well-established rule that says no more than 2 weeknights committed to extracurricular activities (one-time special occasions excepted). whew!</span><br />
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Wresting, really? She still talks about it sometimes. We're looking into karate possibly next year. :)<br />
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October was kind of "all about Sadie month". She deserves it.<br />
She went to the eye dr. and also got new purple glasses. And she turned 7 years old.<br />
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<img alt="Photo: Most awesome 7 year old ever! This girl inspires me and amazes me daily with her kindness, her huge heart, her resilience, and her joy! Happy Birthday to sweet Sadie. And doesn't she look adorable in her new glasses??" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/c0.0.403.403/p403x403/420404_10151187409444470_1147789461_n.jpg" /><br />
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She celebrated with friends at Build-a-Bear. Then we all went to the food court for cake and chips.<br />
These two sweet girls have been her friends since they were two and three years old. Sweet girls!<br />
<img height="300" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/65533_10151190293949470_1297087270_n.jpg" width="400" /> <img height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/552746_10151190294194470_1673824810_n.jpg" width="240" /><br />
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On her actual birthday, we went to IHOP. (her choice). This picture below is her favorite gift..horseback riding lessons.<br />
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<img height="400" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/598884_10151190292139470_558749195_n.jpg" width="300" /> <img height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/557644_10151190292359470_950654293_n.jpg" width="240" /><br />
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And..she was not disappointed when the day arrived:<br />
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<img height="240" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/285601_10151210784904470_1666373909_n.jpg" width="320" /> <img height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/33868_10151210784674470_715465364_n.jpg" width="240" /><br />
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Sadie also got her selected from her class as "star student" for October. Way to go! And she celebrated "hat day" as well. :)<br />
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<img alt="Photo: "Hat Day" at school is always fun! And this cute little hat-wearer got "Star Student" for the month of October too. So proud. :)" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/c0.0.403.403/p403x403/426230_10151210780799470_448358674_n.jpg" /><br />
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Finally, we ended October with a fun Halloween evening trick-or-treating with good friends.<br />
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<img height="300" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/65310_10151218128284470_506585797_n.jpg" width="400" /><br />
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<b>November 2012</b><br />
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We spent Veteran's Day weekend at my parents house celebrating Thanksgiving a bit early since my brother (who lives in Colorado) was there visiting. It was the perfect time of year for some leaf raking...<br />
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<img height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/602374_10151235811039470_1074048392_n.jpg" width="240" /> <img height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/18256_10151235811494470_1022016862_n.jpg" width="240" /><br />
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AND some leaf jumping!<br />
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<img height="300" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/318921_10151235820424470_287920261_n.jpg" width="400" /> <img height="400" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/408125_10151235820559470_1540820884_n.jpg" width="300" /><br />
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<b>December 2012</b><br />
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December began with the Christmas parade! Lots of fun for all! Both girls were in it..Hannah dancing and Sadie riding.<br />
<img alt="Photo: Joy's Dancer's featured al.com" height="293" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/c172.0.403.403/p403x403/148258_550505291645394_784623587_n.jpg" width="320" /> <img alt="Photo: Sweet Sadie!" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/c0.0.403.403/p403x403/598341_672041926020_143654411_n.jpg" width="320" /><br />
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The next weekend was the Nutcracker! Hannah had a blast and did a great job, as did all the kids in the performance! Please inore the auburn shirt. It was a temporary rebellion. About a week ago, she was over it. :)<br />
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<img height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/16118_10151275205759470_427363666_n.jpg" width="240" /> <img height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/18012_10151276851684470_1463049640_n.jpg" width="240" /> <img height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/65035_10151276851804470_2035202434_n.jpg" width="240" /><br />
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Parties. Oh my the parties! Sadie only had 2 I think - school and dance. I lost count of Hannah's. School, dance, church group, Girl Scouts, after-school care. <br />
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In the midst of all that, we headed back to Atlanta to get Sadie a new splint. And the girls had dentist appointments. Hannah had several. And a couple orthodontist appointments. No actual work has been started for her yet, other than removing a couple teeth. But there's been records appointments and consultations. She's not your typical "needs braces" kid. She's complicated. We go back next week for one more "consultation" and hopefully will have a plan. We hope they actually *start* in January.<br />
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Christmas was great. We enjoyed a Christmas Eve afternoon at aunt Carol's house with friends who have become family. We worshipped with our church family at the Christmas eve service. Then we came home for a quiet dinner, Christmas movie, making cookies for Santa, leaving reindeer food out, and heading to bed. Christmas day brought much fun and relaxation. We stayed home and enjoyed being together without a big list of "things to do". A couple days later, we headed to my parents for "Christmas part 2". <br />
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<img height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/398624_10151301538234470_740729948_n.jpg" width="240" /> <img height="240" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/6099_10151301541369470_408504087_n.jpg" width="320" /> <img height="240" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/148924_10151302662839470_148647767_n.jpg" width="320" /> <img height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/321252_10151308755489470_1959101061_n.jpg" width="240" /> <img height="240" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/68983_10151308755659470_775961362_n.jpg" width="320" /> <img height="240" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/268047_10151308756129470_1584739026_n.jpg" width="320" /><br />
We came home and Sadie accomplished a big goal on the last day of the year. She learned to ride her bike wtihout trainin wheels! Yeah Sadie!!<br />
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Wcelebrated New Year's Eve watching movies. And we watched the ball drop in New York. And then I sent my very tired girls to bed. They wanted to stay up until midnight. They almost made it but in the end, we celebrated wtih the east coast and called it a night. Happy New Year! Looking forward to seeing what 2013 brings.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22749961.post-31136977621978015032012-10-06T20:11:00.001-05:002012-10-07T08:48:41.521-05:00Reflections from PrisonSo, last weekend I went to prison for Kairos again. It's one of my favorite places in the world to be! But it's not always easy. It requires a lot - Department of Corrections trainings, 32-36 hours of team training, and sacrifices in time, energy, and finances. I used to think when I became a mom, I would not be involved in this ministry anymore. And my involvement has been less consistent - take a couple years off, work a weekend, take a couple more years off, step slowly back into the ministry, and then..find myself very involved in leadership roles. And I'm so grateful God has provided a way for me to continue to be involved. It takes some creative planning to make it work along with my kids' crazy schedules too..but after trying it a couple times, I'm convinced that my involvement in Kairos benefits my kids as well. They have "caught" a bit of my passion. They pray "for the ladies in prison" regularly. They help make placemats and bake cookies to take in. They have at times helped me sort or inventory supplies. Their hearts are growing. They also delight in telling their friends and teachers "My mom is in prison now!"..but well, they might as well have some fun with it! :)<br />
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I try to put my finger on exactly why this ministry has grabbed my heart so much. It sure would make my life a little easier if a little less-intense ministry was my passion. :) Before I got involved, prison ministry is probably the least likely place I'd have seen myself. Work with kids? Yeah I can do that. Go on a mission trip? Yeah, I can see that. Feed the Hungry? Just give me the opportunity and I'm there. Spend 4 days with women in a maximum security prison..holding their hands, praying and worshiping with them, listening to their stories, sharing my heart with them? No thanks..not for me. And yet, I can walk down the halls of the prison, hear the metal gates "clang" (and they do "clang" just like you imagine), and not feel uneasy at all. And when I am in that prison chapel, I feel very comfortable and at home. I have talked and shared and prayed and worshipped with the woman who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, with the woman who was in over her head with drugs, and with the woman whose crime has given her a life without parole sentence. And so many more. When I meet a woman there, I don't even wonder "why are you here?" anymore. Instead I wonder "Where is God's grace going to take you now?". I have seen walls fall and lives rebuilt. I have seen fogiveness given and accepted. I have seen hearts healed and compassion grow. And I have experienced myself and other team members "getting it right" by saying the right thing at the right time. And I have experienced myself and other team members trying, but stumbling over words, messing up, and saying the wrong thing. And then I've seen God step in and make it right anyway. And while God has been busy working in the ladies' lives of that prison, He's been working in ours at the same time. I mean, I've said and done things in that prison I never thought I could do. I've been awed and humbled by His greatness. Even with our "team", I've had to learn lessons of love, humility, and forgiveness. I've experienced a boldness in faith and God has grown and stretched me. My challenge is not to love my sisters-in-white (known as "inmates" to most) inside those prison walls. No, that's easy for me. My challenge is to stay connected to Jesus and love those in my world *outside* the prison walls..to carry the lessons learned inside to those I come in contact with every day. My challenge is to trust God's work in my everyday life as much as I trust His work inside the prison, to love and live as freely in my every day world as I do inside the prison. Who would have thought I'd learn more about freedom inside a maximum security prison than anywhere else? But I have. And that's God. I hope and pray I have opportunities to continue to be involved in this ministry. God has put a passion deep inside my heart for these often forgotten women. At the same time, I pray I remember the lessons I've learned inside, even if the doors should one day close or if God leads in a different direction.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22749961.post-51239522591475465382012-09-15T17:15:00.000-05:002012-09-15T17:15:00.203-05:00August in a nutshell: busy and funWell, I'm trying to catch up. :) So, with lots of pictures and brief descriptions, August was busy.<br />
We started with Hannah's 9th birthday party. Sweet friends, a rock star movie party (they made their own movie party), make-up, cupcakes, presents, fun!<br />
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A couple weeks later we went to Treetop Family Adventure for Hanna's cleft clinic's annual "Family Fun Day" Girls had a blast!<br />
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Then, the girls were both baptized at my church. So sweet and special to celebrate that moment with the people who have supported our family from the beginning. Sadie also sang the chorus to "Oh no, you never let go" by herself afterwards with our music leader / guitar player accompanying her. So very precious!<br />
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The girls have been sharing a room since Sadie came home from China over 4 years ago. This summer, they decided they wanted their own rooms. So, they divided up the things in the playroom and Sadie moved out. Hannah especially likes having more space to call her own. Sadie has mixed feelings about it. Mainly because she's now responsible for keeping her own room clean instead of depending on Hannah. Sadie has many strengths, but organization and cleaning are not among them! They sleep in their own rooms on school nights, but most weekend and holiday evenings they end up together - giggling and being silly together.<br />
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First Day of School! Hannah is in 4th grade and moved to the intermediate school this year. So far, she is really enjoying this year. She has great teachers and good friends.<br />
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And Sadie started 1st grade. She is having a great year as well and also has a great teacher and good friends. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22749961.post-58948598135948438322012-07-29T14:38:00.001-05:002012-07-29T14:48:11.643-05:00Summer Fun, pt. 2I can't believe summer is winding down. We still have a couple weeks -but they will be busy! But July has been relaxed..so I'm ready for busy now.<br />
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We've had time to play games and build with legos,<br />
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Create and launch rockets,<br />
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Help with chores (and that's Sadie who fell into the laundry basket trying to get the clothes out of the bottom), </div>
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Play in the water, </div>
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Create with clay and paint,<br />
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And play in the rain.<br />
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Hannah went to camp for a week and had a blast!<br />
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Sadie had a couple days of adjustment..asking every 20 minutes "What do you think Hannah's doing now?". But then she settled in and seemed to enjoy a little time of choosing what she wanted to do. She made a turtle out of a box,<br />
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Went on treasure hunts in the neighborhood (this rock is a treasure she said),<br />
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Got VERY comfortable controlling the remote,<br />
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And had a sweet friend over to play. We also took a trip with some friends to Splash adventure, but I didn't even bring my camera for that.<br />
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But, at the end of the week, we were both VERY ready to go get Hannah. We got there early and Sadie hung out on the rock waiting. We were so glad to have Hannah home.<br />
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The girls have also been helping cook this summer, especially Sadie. She LOVES to be in the kitchen helping.<br />
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And we've enjoyed all curling up on the couch to read in the afternoons. <br />
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Sadie and I took a trip to Atlanta and she got a new splint. She has gone through a growth spurt and had outgrown her other one even though we'd only had it 6 months. (They tend to last about a year..she will wear a splint on her hand that had all the surgeries until it stops growing. She only has to wear it at night, and usually that's what she does. But she's quite proud of this new one so has been putting it on randomly throughout the week.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">Hannah's back (which had trouble in June) seems back to normal. After many appointments and testing and normal results on all, we figure it was just a muscle strain or something. But she's back to doing everything as before and seems fine. She and Sadie have both enjoyed their tumbling classes this summer. And they have spent many hours in my living room trying out new skills, including these handstands.</span><br />
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Hannah had a follow up with her oral surgeon to check on the bone graft he did two years ago. Everything looked great and she is officially discharged from him. Now, we just work with orthodontics to get her remaining teeth in and her jaws lined up. We're not sure what all that will entail yet. We're working with Children's Rehab Services because they will help cover the costs of her orthodontics due to her cleft. But first, we have to have a visit with their cleft team - and we have that scheduled in October. Hannah was disappointed not to get braces this summer, but CRS includes a process that we just have to go through first. I just hope she's still excited about it when the time comes..hopefully late this fall.</div>
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So, fall is around the corner! Hannah has one more dr. visit next week with ENT. Dance team starts back later this week. Hannah has a birthday party coming up this weekend (we're celebrating early partly to save my sanity by not having a birthday party in the first two weeks of school). We have a visit to Grandma's house planned, and I start team meetings for a Kairos weekend (prison ministry). I have two weeks before I go back to work, and the girls have 3 weeks. But for now, we are enjoying watching and cheering for the olympics! </div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22749961.post-4080369369880266682012-06-27T21:47:00.000-05:002012-06-27T21:47:34.181-05:00Summer Fun - part 1<br />
I love summer, and while I love my job and co-workers too - this year I was so ready for summer. We have enjoyed June, and look forward to more fun in July. :) Here's a taste of what we've done so far this summer.<br />
Note..you get the good pictures. Because I don't have pictures of: waking mom up at a ridiculously early hour, whining, way too many dirty clothes or dishes, or arguing. Hey,. they're a normal part of life too. But the joy, the laughter, and the precious time we've gotten to spend together has definately outweighed the other stuff. Here's a taste of what we've done so far this summer.<br />
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Kicking off the first day of summer with breakfast and a game of checkers at Cracker Barrell<br />
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A visit to grandma and grandpa's house complete with a game of croquet...<br />
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And a short drive to Chattanooga for a fun day at Riverwalk.<br />
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By far the kids' favorite part of visiting..playing with my grandfather's wheelchair!<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">We've also enjoyed catching fireflies in the backyard.</span><br />
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Both girls have helped cook on different nights.<br />
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Hannah finished reading <u>Wizard of Oz </u>and we had an Oz movie night to compare the book and movie. The girls ran upstairs and came down with these unique costume creations. Hannah is Dorothy and Sadie is the tin man. OH NO - the tin man is rusted again!<br />
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Never fear - Dorthy has the oil can to fix him right up.<br />
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It's not been all play. There's been some productive moments too, such as organizing the pantry. It even has chalkboard labels on it now too (completed after photo was taken).<br />
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My dad came and pruned some trees around the house. Hannah enjoyed helping.<br />
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The girls went to two VBS programs and had a blast at each. Here's Hannah making a birdhouse at the VBS at my church. Our aweesome craft people were brave enough to spread the kids out and give them all hammers at the same time. They LOVED it!<br />
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And of course mine can't get enough of a stage. :)<br />
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This week we tried a fun experiment and made a "balloon catapult". SO fun for the girls. Here's our homemade catapult ready for action.<br />
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Water balloon in position. Ready, aim, fire!!<br />
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Wow - it really works!<br />
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Bike riding is still a favorite.<br />
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But washing the car is really fun!<br />
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So, that's the fun part of June! The not-so-fun part is Hannah has somehow hurt her back. She's fine and not in pain for everyday activities. But when she bends or twists certain ways, it hurts. So, she's been going through some dr. appointments to try to figure out what it is. Her dr. says that in kids her age, she shouldn't be having back pain, even with sports or dance activities without a cause. But, they can't find a cause. She had an x-ray and MRI that were both normal. Today, she went for a bone scan. She did awesome and I was so proud of her! But, we won't get the results until probably next week. So, say a prayer for her. If the bone scan comes back normal, her dr. will recommend a few weeks of PT to see if that helps. <br />
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Stayed tuned for part 2 of summer fun...coming when we do some more fun things and when I get an inkling to blog about it. Sadie has swim lessons coming up. That girl needs to learn how to swim. She has no fear of the water. She also has no skill. Hannah learned to swim great with the YMCA program a couple years ago (her competitiveness kicked in. Once someone else her age swam without the floatie..she was determined too). Sadie meanwhile, was more about the socialization than the actual swimming. And in two sessions at the Y - I don't think she learned anything. So, we're trying swim lessons with a friend of mine (who is also a teacher so she's seen enough cute 1st graders not to be suckered in by "cute". She'll be fun and loving and encouraging, but she'll also ask for performance and effort..which is what miss social butterfly needs). But otherwise, I'm seeing a bunch of reading, board games, and movies in our future this weekend with temps predicted up to 106. Either that or a trip to Alaska if someone wants to fund it. :) Happy Summer!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22749961.post-40892599659602861562012-04-15T19:36:00.006-05:002012-04-15T19:59:28.677-05:00Soccer Star!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_Z3lFap_SmlXl-i3hvuA7ZmrQALJ_8WRUAPP-W5iBHeJJCnMudXRxExsE0kbNnncACo654VDTYtiR_XnoVYVZehByepzt7TJskIrJGa8WNXplM0SPi6_DbGokMxiX7_LS5U9zw/s1600/DSC00045.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731793838446547986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_Z3lFap_SmlXl-i3hvuA7ZmrQALJ_8WRUAPP-W5iBHeJJCnMudXRxExsE0kbNnncACo654VDTYtiR_XnoVYVZehByepzt7TJskIrJGa8WNXplM0SPi6_DbGokMxiX7_LS5U9zw/s400/DSC00045.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwlE8szV26zEAv1dYEXs_5SHTsIS-mD4jxSausNxGfTgUCTq0XXWhX2Dc9Ji-YT1nFQWMyZEdZ3jHecSUQytq63YwM6g95bW9sYHcdT81hc-hO3p_Dl31KgJhw_zQQeMV0UQQwQ/s1600/DSC00044.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731793827021230530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwlE8szV26zEAv1dYEXs_5SHTsIS-mD4jxSausNxGfTgUCTq0XXWhX2Dc9Ji-YT1nFQWMyZEdZ3jHecSUQytq63YwM6g95bW9sYHcdT81hc-hO3p_Dl31KgJhw_zQQeMV0UQQwQ/s400/DSC00044.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwfOXiFBtl4ijKi5gYpqZOv9XKj_XQNMRbgOcemMCs_8b7lHiVH20w3peznS6HuX2LmMkiqv4dY8ztgbH6cm3Oat8QzBy9GCz28OCgtDuWqyn8lKka4XQU69rkS9gl6SP2D_FFw/s1600/DSC00041.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731793818721446130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwfOXiFBtl4ijKi5gYpqZOv9XKj_XQNMRbgOcemMCs_8b7lHiVH20w3peznS6HuX2LmMkiqv4dY8ztgbH6cm3Oat8QzBy9GCz28OCgtDuWqyn8lKka4XQU69rkS9gl6SP2D_FFw/s400/DSC00041.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9fd73Q5rvXQsGGMJxriP3Fu2z_1HOasFbtmkF0tILCC1JxPD7xQoFhYddRhU-eKhnRHDFKkiIigOuBllWqlinwHQvaNJVJu968ZKFyV2WkqHQL8OdkYvukDdttRIrLn5G_zMyA/s1600/DSC00036.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731792414804254962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9fd73Q5rvXQsGGMJxriP3Fu2z_1HOasFbtmkF0tILCC1JxPD7xQoFhYddRhU-eKhnRHDFKkiIigOuBllWqlinwHQvaNJVJu968ZKFyV2WkqHQL8OdkYvukDdttRIrLn5G_zMyA/s400/DSC00036.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_D1Ux3s6ApOI63yYLN3XFZLKg6ziESGC76QA21GX9-VCUcLZ0pLmFVtjR_NddbxLIX864V5Z1Q5a4baoQbFBqYLe5xFhamAtlWk9jE64xPSUoGF5__7Q4NuPVI0WvPKmpnwf7mQ/s1600/DSC00032.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731792407250458738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_D1Ux3s6ApOI63yYLN3XFZLKg6ziESGC76QA21GX9-VCUcLZ0pLmFVtjR_NddbxLIX864V5Z1Q5a4baoQbFBqYLe5xFhamAtlWk9jE64xPSUoGF5__7Q4NuPVI0WvPKmpnwf7mQ/s400/DSC00032.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>Sadie is loving soccer this season. I mean, really LOVING it. It's been so fun to see. It's her 3rd year to play and it's the first year she has developed a bit of a competitive streak. It's also the first year she's really had the stamina to play hard. Some of that is simply that she's a little older. But I also really think some of it is the kidney medicine she's taking now. She has more energy in general. You know in Upward, they rotate the players in and out so everyone gets equal playing time..or as equal as they can make it. Last year, Sadie said she liked soccer. But in reality, she cheered every time it was her turn to sit OUT. ha ha! This year, she can't wait for her turn to go IN. And not only is she playing her assigned periods..she's subbing for the flower pickers, the tired kids who need a water break, the ones who need a potty break, and whoever else needs to come out of the game for whatever reason. And she runs the whole time and stays right with the ball. It's awesome to watch her having so much fun and being able to keep up!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So yeah, I hate that she has this kidney issue. But am thankful it was found and the medicine has been a blessing. In 3 months, I see a big difference in her energy level and her growth. (especially her feet!! She's outgrowing shoes left and right!). And that's exactly what her dr. told me I might see happen. ha ha! I just noticed that I typed she was outgrowing her shoes "left and right!". hee hee. of course she is! She wouldn't outgrow just left. or just right. Must be left and right! Perhaps I'm the only one amused by my comment..oh well!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22749961.post-73705906919921045532012-04-05T19:12:00.003-05:002012-04-05T19:19:00.486-05:00<p>Hannah's Dance solo from Kids Artistic Review Feb. 2012. She placed 7th overall in the 8 and under division. Five weeks later she received a double platinum and was 1st overall in the 8 and under division with this same solo at the Alabama State Dance Championship! Congrats to my little State Champion!</p><br /><p></p><br /><p><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzvANm37fuiaQ96iejIGk8JWUn2RBcUNKKsQ3jHsqJ2OETcZ19OJcP3cOiTx6BeLx00cDS7VCwImys' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22749961.post-12280752179994142752012-03-21T23:48:00.008-05:002012-03-22T00:31:08.406-05:00Today: My Little Girl!Sure, of the two of them, this is actually my big girl. And in so many ways she *is* the big girl. She's full of hard questions and wants to figure everything out. She's in 3rd grade - which in elementary school is the beginning of "big kid"! I mean, she's writing in cursive, and "reading to learn" (instead of learning to read), and taking standardized tests, and learning multiplication facts. She's in the beginning of that "tween" stage. She tries so hard to look and act so grown up. Sometimes. But on a beautiful day like today, she runs outside with sidewalk chalk and bubbles. And she blows bubbles and catches them over and over. Just like she did when she "little". And she twirls around watching the wind blow the bubbles from her wand and giggles and grins with pure delight. And I watch her from the window for a few minutes struck by how she is very much my big girl. And, she is very much my little girl. I want to freeze time..to stop and let her stay in this little / big moment. But since I can't, I do the next best thing. I grab the camera and go join her.<br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722584630633208146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99Rt17iqqyp24uiut93gO9cJwB2S6NQ8h1D6M7R1dIo07UtNWBl7RykLeMSa7736tfQRQxjfuWJkQTqo09jRnMGP07RcdZEWqJ3LjTF3dUo_UR-8at7gvjSAr6Exow1QFBLnyjg/s400/SN853787.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722584624954005234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYy9SWquZmmt4bnC7hWhAKMWYiRrRvPIUYMmRlkv0b7yUvkKHjRezS2szoW61VEs7PiHb423HIigiOKcBn4jUJehe2RhP5hqWMA3tiukp4BkvkA6cyLUiUyphucCZZ2xl-8_NGhg/s400/SN853785.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722584614621044738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNkQOhjD6kbK2sl02PEa5sz4OZckdbu-UOG0hyphenhyphenku92p34F_sfYrCD0p74d_Rq5WKayIy0wDbOv46kbTqH3wSOciiySdFryfhbQ0EwP5XVfj275o95IUrZW5EyNhDirL4h_XMVrgw/s400/SN853784.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0