What a great weekend we had in Moab but now it is back to reality.
On the way back to Lehi I wrote my talk that I am giving in church today. Nicole and I are speaking in another ward. We are speaking with the Special Needs Mutual Group.
Nicole attends Special Needs Mutual each week which is such a highlight in her week. 2 weeks they work on YW things. It is either a lesson or maybe one of the values. 1 week another ward comes and gives mutual to them. Activities, games, crafts are all included and other things too. One week is usually a dance. When the other ward comes and shares mutual with Special Needs then the following Sunday Special Needs goes to their ward and does the sacrament program.
2 special needs "kids" speak plus their buddy as well as a leader from the YW and YM organization and 1 parent. I am the parent this week. My topic is:
"How is having a Special Needs child blessed our lives."
How can I even do justice to this topic? We have had many blessings come into our lives from the moment Nicole took her first breath. How can I look into her beautiful face and not see the miracle of God working in our lives.
Nicole was born with the umbilical cord wrapped 3 times around her neck. She was being strangled but before the cord could get tightened she aspirated in the birth canal. We didn't know it at the time but that was the beginning of our journey with Nicole and the brain injury that occurred which has caused her to have the many difficulties she has suffered with during her life time.
Nicole has Christ-like love. She loves everyone. From a young age she would say this or that person was her friend and she loved them. 99% of the time she didn't even know them. It didn't matter who they were, the color of their skin or economic circumstance, she loved them.
Nicole has taught us patience, kindness, trust, love, understanding, determination, humility, hope, faith and peace. No, life has not been a rosy path. We have had many trials and tribulations stemming from her underlying condition. She has been stubborn, trying, unreasonable and sometimes a down right pill to parent but she can also be the sunniest sunshiny spot of my day.
Schedules are a must for us. We have to plan way in advance and talk about changes in advance to help Nicole become familiar with the change. Not that we can't do something at the spur of the moment but our days go more smoothly when it is planned out. For many years we couldn't live day to day or even hour to hour, it was more like minute by minute or moment by moment.
YES, having a Special Needs Child can be frustrating at times, many times I even want to pull my hair out or even just go in my closet and scream and cry, but, there are also many days when I laugh at the funny things she does or says. I also love teaching her new things even if I have taught those things to her in the past many times.
She is a gentle reminder everyday of serving and loving the least of these....
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Moab
For Christmas this past year, Christian gave John and I a weekend at the Sorrel Ranch in Moab. This is the weekend we are going to take advantage of it. We are so excited.
This ranch is located on a beautiful river. Our room overlooks the river and has a beautiful fireplace which I sat beside many hours while there. The grounds were equally beautiful. Horseback riding, volleyball, hiking trails and much more.
We had dinner at the Ranch which was one of the best meals I have ever eaten. I had duck and John had lamb. Half way through our meal we traded plates because they were both so great we each wanted to have some of each others food. It wasn't good enough to just have a taste or two.
Unfortunately it was raining when we were done with dinner so we head right back to our room. We wanted to take a stroll in the moon light but that was a no go.
We slept in but still was able to eat and get on our hike before the sun crested the red rocks surrounding this ranch. We were so excited to get these great pics.
Our hike was amazing as hiking in the Moab area is always amazing. The red rocks, the fresh air, the huge tumble weeds........
We had such a fun weekend together. Catching up on the weeks that we have been apart. Just quiet time. Back to reality now.
This ranch is located on a beautiful river. Our room overlooks the river and has a beautiful fireplace which I sat beside many hours while there. The grounds were equally beautiful. Horseback riding, volleyball, hiking trails and much more.
We had dinner at the Ranch which was one of the best meals I have ever eaten. I had duck and John had lamb. Half way through our meal we traded plates because they were both so great we each wanted to have some of each others food. It wasn't good enough to just have a taste or two.
Unfortunately it was raining when we were done with dinner so we head right back to our room. We wanted to take a stroll in the moon light but that was a no go.
We slept in but still was able to eat and get on our hike before the sun crested the red rocks surrounding this ranch. We were so excited to get these great pics.
Our hike was amazing as hiking in the Moab area is always amazing. The red rocks, the fresh air, the huge tumble weeds........
We had such a fun weekend together. Catching up on the weeks that we have been apart. Just quiet time. Back to reality now.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Auto-Rama
Today is Auto-Rama at SouthTown.
Christian has been working on his car for a few months in order to get it ready for the car showing season. This show is the first in a long line of shows he will be participating in.
As you may know his baby is named Maggie. It is a Dodge Magnum SRT/8 with a 428 Hemi engine with a Super-Charger. All that power under the hood equals about 700 horse power. Yes it is fast.
Last year, his beloved Maggie was featured in Mopar Enthusiast Magazine. The paint was black on the bottom, Lime Time green on top and Monster Purple stripe. The cluster was Lime Time green as well as other controls. Under the hood the engine was powder coated Green as well as many other items green and black.
This year, Pearl White with a touch of Gold added into the paint. It has ghost images on the sides. Cluster, Pearl white. Other controls are brushed nickel. Under the hood is also different. The engine was powder coated to look like brushed nickel and other components are now black.
WOW! This car looks amazing.
The show was great. His car was was asked to be in the Thunderstruck booth. Sometimes venders ask show car owners to show their car in the vendors booth. It helps to attract more people to their booth.
Christians car won 2nd in class! Great accomplishment son.
Christian has been working on his car for a few months in order to get it ready for the car showing season. This show is the first in a long line of shows he will be participating in.
As you may know his baby is named Maggie. It is a Dodge Magnum SRT/8 with a 428 Hemi engine with a Super-Charger. All that power under the hood equals about 700 horse power. Yes it is fast.
Last year, his beloved Maggie was featured in Mopar Enthusiast Magazine. The paint was black on the bottom, Lime Time green on top and Monster Purple stripe. The cluster was Lime Time green as well as other controls. Under the hood the engine was powder coated Green as well as many other items green and black.
This year, Pearl White with a touch of Gold added into the paint. It has ghost images on the sides. Cluster, Pearl white. Other controls are brushed nickel. Under the hood is also different. The engine was powder coated to look like brushed nickel and other components are now black.
WOW! This car looks amazing.
The show was great. His car was was asked to be in the Thunderstruck booth. Sometimes venders ask show car owners to show their car in the vendors booth. It helps to attract more people to their booth.
Christians car won 2nd in class! Great accomplishment son.
Friday, December 24, 2010
REALLY???
Nicole fell 2 weeks ago and broke her right ankle, open fracture. She has been in a cast and on crutches. No weight bearing.
Then the following week she got caught up in her cast and crutches and slipped and broke the other foot. This foot in a walking cast.
2 nights ago she and Christian had been at a family gathering. On the way home they stopped for a RedBox at Maverick. She slipped in the parking lot and fell on her arm. it was hurting quite a bit but we just iced it and did some cold laser on it to help with the pain and inflammation. Well, the swelling was not going down and the pain was going up so I took her to Urgent care for an X-ray.
Dunt dunt dunt duh.....
Nicole broke her shoulder in 3 places. Are you kidding? Really? SO, here we have it. 1 broken ankle, 1 broken foot, and 1 broken shoulder. What a Christmas this will be.
This is a roller coaster that I want off of NOW.
Then the following week she got caught up in her cast and crutches and slipped and broke the other foot. This foot in a walking cast.
2 nights ago she and Christian had been at a family gathering. On the way home they stopped for a RedBox at Maverick. She slipped in the parking lot and fell on her arm. it was hurting quite a bit but we just iced it and did some cold laser on it to help with the pain and inflammation. Well, the swelling was not going down and the pain was going up so I took her to Urgent care for an X-ray.
Dunt dunt dunt duh.....
Nicole broke her shoulder in 3 places. Are you kidding? Really? SO, here we have it. 1 broken ankle, 1 broken foot, and 1 broken shoulder. What a Christmas this will be.
This is a roller coaster that I want off of NOW.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Emergancy trip back to the hospital
Nicole and I are in California so I can go to a conference with John. She and I drove here yesterday. What a trooper she has been. Surgery a few days ago and now here. This conference was schedule months ago and this surgery was the only time this Dr. could do it while she was still on rotation. So we rolled with it.
Last night the winds in So. Cal. were very strong. A lot of junk in the air. Sitting outside on the patio enjoying the weather something got into Nicole's eye. We cleaned it out as best we could and she went to bed but when we woke up this morning her eye was swollen practically shut and had junk coming out of it. John and I got a flashlight and looked in as best as we could. It didn't look good. As a matter of fact it look as though it was cut and open about 3 mm.
Down to the ER in San Clemente we drove. I have to say, the people working there were so nice, so on top of things and so fast. We have been in many hospitals over the years and I would say they are top rated. The Dr. came in very quickly, was thorough and quick., Her bedside was by far one of the best we have come across.
Yes, Nicole did have quite a large cut in her eye and still had debris in it. It was also infected. I felt so bad. They got right to work and got her hooked up fast. Washed it out, medicated it, bandaged us up and we were out of there. WOW! Refreshing. in and out in practically no time at all and service...top notch.
Nicole is already on the mend.
Last night the winds in So. Cal. were very strong. A lot of junk in the air. Sitting outside on the patio enjoying the weather something got into Nicole's eye. We cleaned it out as best we could and she went to bed but when we woke up this morning her eye was swollen practically shut and had junk coming out of it. John and I got a flashlight and looked in as best as we could. It didn't look good. As a matter of fact it look as though it was cut and open about 3 mm.
Down to the ER in San Clemente we drove. I have to say, the people working there were so nice, so on top of things and so fast. We have been in many hospitals over the years and I would say they are top rated. The Dr. came in very quickly, was thorough and quick., Her bedside was by far one of the best we have come across.
Yes, Nicole did have quite a large cut in her eye and still had debris in it. It was also infected. I felt so bad. They got right to work and got her hooked up fast. Washed it out, medicated it, bandaged us up and we were out of there. WOW! Refreshing. in and out in practically no time at all and service...top notch.
Nicole is already on the mend.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Integra
Today we are seeing the light at the end of a VERY long tunnel. At 12:45pm Nicole was wheeled into surgery. The light is if all goes well this may very well be the second to last surgery. It is a 2 part surgery. Today they are taking out scar tissue and other tissue and putting in this special material (Integra)that will act in place of dermas. After the body has grown blood vessels into the Integra to surgery she will go again. This time to graphed over it.
Dr. Cochran was just here. Nicole is out of surgery now. She came out of surgery combative and ripped one surgery sight causing bleeding but that was quickly remedied. Surgery was performed on 4 sights today. Neck, both axillary and behind right knee. Each area did well. The knee was a redo. The back of her knee was an open area most of the time. This time they opened it up and found that the graph was adhered to the tendon and there fore was tight and kept the area back there from healing. Quite a large piece of Integra was put there and in turn should keep that area from re adhering again so her knee should heal fine.
I am relieved this one is over. 4 areas in a lot and a long time in surgery. Nicole has been blessed with great doctors and steady hands. We too are blessed with continued prayers on her behalf. We have many causes for us to stop and thank God for all He has done for Nicole and our family.
Dr. Cochran was just here. Nicole is out of surgery now. She came out of surgery combative and ripped one surgery sight causing bleeding but that was quickly remedied. Surgery was performed on 4 sights today. Neck, both axillary and behind right knee. Each area did well. The knee was a redo. The back of her knee was an open area most of the time. This time they opened it up and found that the graph was adhered to the tendon and there fore was tight and kept the area back there from healing. Quite a large piece of Integra was put there and in turn should keep that area from re adhering again so her knee should heal fine.
I am relieved this one is over. 4 areas in a lot and a long time in surgery. Nicole has been blessed with great doctors and steady hands. We too are blessed with continued prayers on her behalf. We have many causes for us to stop and thank God for all He has done for Nicole and our family.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Dallas
Nicole and I went to Dallas for 3 days to see our dear friend, Dr. Kimberly Jones. She is amazing.
I took Nicole there to have a few visits with her. She works with people who have food and environment sensitivities. Nicole, since getting out of the hospital last year has had trouble when
she eats gluten and dairy as well as she is having severe bone loss and cannot absorb vitamin D.
During the initial testing it was confirmed that Nicole indeed has a sensitivity to gluten and casein. She is also is sensitive to Calcium which may be why she is not absorbing vitamin D. A few other things showed up also which we will treat for over the next few days. Now for the the treatments to begin. They will take several hours between each treatment of each item. AND no eating of the item or anything related to it for 25 hrs after each treatment. That really doesn't leave much to eat for the next 3 days.
3 days later.....Nicole already feels a difference. She feels not as sick to her stomach when she eats. This is a winner. Now we are off to (sshh) Sam Moon. (It's a secret)
Yes, Sam Moon is my favorite place to shop in Dallas. Yes, many dollars are dropped in this store. This is why it is a secret. We don't want John to know I am shopping here again. I do have an agenda this time and I do have a budget I supposed that will make John happy. Do you want to know what is on my agenda? Only 5 bracelets to go with necklaces I already have, a pair of earrings to make up for the ones I broke the other day and a Pashmina.
My shopping trip was a hit. I did get a new Pashmina as well as 3 pairs of earrings, none of which was like the ones I broke and 4 bracelets. Total cost....35 dollars. Yeah for me. Yeah for John.
I took Nicole there to have a few visits with her. She works with people who have food and environment sensitivities. Nicole, since getting out of the hospital last year has had trouble when
she eats gluten and dairy as well as she is having severe bone loss and cannot absorb vitamin D.
During the initial testing it was confirmed that Nicole indeed has a sensitivity to gluten and casein. She is also is sensitive to Calcium which may be why she is not absorbing vitamin D. A few other things showed up also which we will treat for over the next few days. Now for the the treatments to begin. They will take several hours between each treatment of each item. AND no eating of the item or anything related to it for 25 hrs after each treatment. That really doesn't leave much to eat for the next 3 days.
3 days later.....Nicole already feels a difference. She feels not as sick to her stomach when she eats. This is a winner. Now we are off to (sshh) Sam Moon. (It's a secret)
Yes, Sam Moon is my favorite place to shop in Dallas. Yes, many dollars are dropped in this store. This is why it is a secret. We don't want John to know I am shopping here again. I do have an agenda this time and I do have a budget I supposed that will make John happy. Do you want to know what is on my agenda? Only 5 bracelets to go with necklaces I already have, a pair of earrings to make up for the ones I broke the other day and a Pashmina.
My shopping trip was a hit. I did get a new Pashmina as well as 3 pairs of earrings, none of which was like the ones I broke and 4 bracelets. Total cost....35 dollars. Yeah for me. Yeah for John.
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