A Moose...or Maybe a Reindeer

I'm sitting here at almost 11 o'clock at night, which is early by my nighttime standards, eating Cap'n Crunch.

Don't judge me. It's pretty much the perfect food, really. It's not quite sweet enough for me to feel like I'm eating something unhealthy right before bed.

I was looking forward to this day because this was the day Christian was going to paint his first picture for me. I mean for us, but really it's for me.

I was really excited because this meant that he'd be doing something kind of, sort of, in a round about way resembling what he might be doing normally at this age. So, of course, I was excited. And I had been wanting to have him do this for a while.

When the OT suggested it, I was on it! I bought Chocolate Fudge pudding, I contemplated buying new magnets for the fridge in order to display my Picasso's work of art.

So of course, he would be irritable today. Of course, that's the way it would go.

We had decided to put him in his stander because that is our best set up. It's got the best tray because it is so adjustable that you can pretty much put anything at any angle for him to touch and see. And in his stander, he is alert. If he's too comfortable, he tends to get lazy and zone out. If he's challenged, he's activated and alert. So we like the stander because he's comfortable but it's just enough stimulation to keep him active.

Today, of all days, he was not happy in his stander. The stander is usually a happy place for us. Not today. But we pushed on. He whined, and we pushed.

I'm glad we pushed. I mean I would have liked him to enjoy the experience just a little more but we take what we can get. He responded to the gooey chocolate pudding under his hands by opening his hands and keeping his wrists straight. The OT also worked with his chocolaty hands and brought them to his mouth so he could taste the pudding.

So we were able to get Christian's very first, albeit reluctant, finger painting out of the deal. This means so much because as Christian gets older, there is a greater divide between him and kids his age. When he was 11 months old, it wasn't too far off. But at 2 years old, it's now a widening gap.

So this picture means a lot to me. I mean he was irritable and stubborn, much like a two year old might be, and he painted a picture with his hands, much like a two year old might do.

And I proudly hung up his picture on the fridge, much like the proud mama of a two year old who just painted his first picture might do...

I'm not sure he really knows what he was doing, but it really doesn't matter. That wasn't the point. The point was for him to get touch, smell, and taste stimulation. And that he did.

Now deciphering what exactly he finger painted is another story. Observing these paintings is a lot like making shapes out of clouds.

I see a moose. Or a reindeer.

I think it's awesome. Even better than Cap'n Crunch.

Clearing a Path

Oh me, oh my there is a lot going on this week.

Today we visited the Neurologist. I was actually looking forward to this because I was not excited to put Christian on another seizure medication but I reluctantly conceded about two months ago. Yes, it was against what I originally wanted and planned, but it's very seductive when you're told..."Well, there's this drug...it might work...we'll know right away." But I knew this one wasn't going to work because we did a trial of it months and months ago and it made things worse. It's Valproic Acid (Depekote). But in order to give the doctor the benefit of the doubt and to at least say I gave it a fair shot, I went against my judgement.

Well, whaddya know. It seemed to make things worse. Awesome.

Luckily, the neuro said that if it wasn't helping, we could stop. Just what I was thinking.

I told him today that I've done further research and I feel pretty strongly about starting the Ketogenic Diet. It's got some notable success in seizure control with kids like Christian that don't have a cut and dry seizure disorder. He's sort of all over the place just like his injury. So it's hard to pinpoint but the diet is successful in 2 out of 3 children who try it. It's not an easy choice, believe me. It will take work, but seizure control is so worth it. Christian is so worth it.

All I need to do now is secure a pediatric dietitian and it's on! I'm excited. I'm not putting all my eggs in this basket. But I can say that at least I'll know...I would hate to try all this poison (dramatic much?) when all the while the Ketogenic Diet could be the answer. On the flip side, if it doesn't work, then it can be put to rest once and for all and I won't be wondering about it all the time.

So we'll begin the process when we get back from Europeds, God willing.

Speaking of Europeds...we're getting ready to go! I cannot believe this is actually happening. But that's just how it's gone for us. Stars align, I guess but I choose to believe God has a hand in it. He's in charge of aligning stars and clearing paths and such.

And speaking of clearing paths...I must clear a path to the blogction!

The site link is located on the side bar at the very top but here it is again...Christian's Europeds Blogction.

We've got some really great stuff. Stuff I really would bid on if it wasn't counterproductive. But I will sit here and be jealous of whoever wins those chocolate cupcakes...those truffles...those homemade pickles...that photo session in California...you lucky ducks!

Have fun bidding and thanks ahead of time for supporting Christian!

Panda Bear

Okay, this will be the last time I mention Orange Chicken, at least for a while.

But the Orange Chicken was delicious as always, as was his friend, Beijing Beef.

 

    

A good time was had by all. It's always really fun to get everyone together and catch up. We got to meet some of the people who have been following Christian since just after the accident. We also saw friends we haven't seen for a while. We were surrounded by friends and family who were there to support Christian, which is all together awesome. It was a pretty good turn out, too. And we stayed there until after bedtimes and it was finally time to go home.

But it was one of those events where my husband and I go home with smiles on our faces and say things like, "Remember when so and so said...that was so funny!" and "Wasn't it fun to see..."or"...How long has it been since we've seen them anyway?" And we finish the day feeling incredibly blessed by those who surround us, old and new. I even had the pleasure of meeting the uncle of another little boy who recently suffered the same accident as Christian did last summer. This little boy is Owen and he's still in the hospital so prayers are still needed for Baby Owen to get healthy so he can go home.

So it's one fundraiser down and one to go!

The auction begins next Tuesday, September 14th at 4PM AZ time. Sorry, I couldn't choose another time zone, but Arizona is where I live all year round and we NEVER change our clocks. So this is the only way I know how to operate. When people ask me, "Does that account for Daylight Savings Time?" I'm like, "Daylight Savings Whaaa?"

The auction will end on Friday, September 17th at 8PM. I chose a smaller time frame because this will be a smaller auction. Mama needs her sanity, people. So it really works out that this auction will be smaller in size and time frame. But don't let that deter you. Oh, no. There are some really cool, not to mention, delicious items to bid on. And every time a generous donor sends me something, I'm half tempted to bid on it myself! But I won't.

I think I'm having deja vu because I'm pretty sure I said that last time.

The auction blog address is http://christiansjourneyblogction.blogspot.com/.

The auction address is also listed at the top of my sidebar to the right under Start Bidding.

Anyway, after the auction closes (literally a few days), it's time to go to Europeds! Tickets have been purchased, arrangements have been made, and x-rays have been sent. I can't believe it's less than two weeks away! Gaaah, I have so much to do. Wanna make time go by quicker? Plan a bunch of stuff right before you leave. That accelerates time to lightening speed.

Oh, and P.S. - This is Christian's first plain ride since the accident. I have no doubt he'll do fine but it will be interesting flying with "equipment" and feeding pumps. I'm really hoping it will go smoothly.

Happy Weekend!

Labor Day

On this Labor Day we got out of dodge.

We decided to visit Wilcox. I've mentioned it before in the blog. We go every year in the fall to get pumpkins and apples and apple pie and apple ice cream. It's a tradition.

So off we went...

(I made this one extra large so you can see his little eye peaking out from underneath his baseball cap. It's so stinkin cute and he's such a little snuggler that even though he weighs close to 30 pounds I will carry him, back hurting, bad posture, just to hold his cozy little body next to me.)

That's my mom to the left and my kids...I'm very proud of my kids.

My boy, Christian, I can say I'm proud of. But I had a kind of revelation of sorts over this Labor Day weekend. I mean I would always say I was proud of Christian for what he's gone through and what he's accomplished. Of course, I'm proud of him.

But sometimes underneath that there is a restlessness. I'm restless sometimes with the rate of progress. There are times when it catapults us into the next awaiting stage and we're all happy and excited. But there are plateaus with stagnant air that causes some...restlessness.

So I'm watching Christian this weekend and I'm rolling him across the floor. I used to roll him across the floor like a rag doll, because he surely was not going to lift a finger to participate. He didn't move a muscle. He just flopped where I put him and ended up where he landed.

And because I believe in him so much I would think - Why won't you just move! You know you can! You have two legs and two arms and a perfectly good body. What is the problem?

It's his not quite perfect brain. We all know that, it's nothing new. But as I watched him this weekend, he's grown to start participating. Even though he cannot roll all the way across that carpet floor by himself, he's now leaning into the roll, moving his leg with it, swinging his arms over, turning his head, positioning his arms where his brain thinks it might be conducive to aid in this torturous roll his mother is putting him through.

His arms go where his brain thinks they should go.

There is so much profundity in that. Because what this looks like isn't pretty. His arms don't end up over his head or pushing him off the ground. His brain tells them to pull back and stiffen next to his sides. This is how his brain thinks he should roll.

His little legs shake just trying to lift off the ground and move, but they try and they try hard.

So I have a deeper level of pride for my boy because he is trying, it's just not in the way that I recognize it. But when I saw him during rolling exercises, he squirmed and tweaked and twisted himself into movement that was what he knew how to do. He was trying so hard that parts of his legs would quiver. It is so hard for him to simply move...but he tries in the only way his brain and body know how.

I am really so proud of him. Because he continues to try even when I don't understand his movements and even when his brain might not even understand his own movements. It is hard. It is work.

Christian labors every day. So today, we decided not to labor. On Labor Day we decided to hang out with family and eat peach crumb pie.

And just for Labor Day, I didn't make him roll.

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

And will you succeed?

Yes! You will, indeed!

(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...

be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray

or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,

You're off to Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So...get on your way!

-Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You'll Go!

I absolutely love this book with all of my Mommy heart.

I, of course, didn't appreciate the meaning behind it when I was little.

Years passed and I found myself shopping for a graduation present for my friend. Oh, the Places You'll Go! was being wisely marketed to recent grads. I wondered why so I read it...and I got a little teary. It was then that I learned to fully appreciate Dr. Seuss and his meaningful words.

In fact, Dr. Seuss has been a huge part of my life since I was little. I've seen The Grinch about a million times. Don't even get me started on Green Eggs and Ham.

Then the past year happened. Oh, the Places You'll Go! dug itself a little deeper into my heart.

If you have children, if you've gone through hell and made it out, or if you're set to go on a journey of some sort, read it! Yes, I said read a children's book! Actually, I'm not sure it was written for children at all! It will speak to you, I promise.

And wanna know about one of the coolest gifts ever given to Christian?

These are canvas paintings of different scenes from Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Wanna know what else? My own Mommy painted them herself! (She's an artist.)

Wanna know the coolest news ever?

They'll be available in the blogction. One winner will receive a set of four (4) canvas paintings customized from their choice of Green Eggs and Ham, Oh, the Places You'll Go!, or The Cat in the Hat.

She also gave us the actual book, which is pretty awesome all by itself.

Panda Fundraiser!

Did someone say Orange Chicken?

So I was ordering food at Panda Express a few months ago and noticed a stack of flyers next to the check out counter.

Well, what are those flyers all about, I wondered.

Why, it's a fundraising opportunity!

Oh, man, did the right Mama see that! I love Panda Express. It's probably one of the top choices for fast food for me. Seriously, they had me at Orange Chicken. And then when Orange Chicken's friend Beijing Beef came along...okay, now I'm getting hungry.

Anyway, it was the perfect opportunity to throw a fundraiser for our trip to Europeds.

Soooo, we are having a fundraiser!

Date: Thursday, September 9, 2010

Time: Come in anytime from 4PM-8PM

Location: River & La Cholla

Come one, come all! Just print the flyer below and bring it next Thursday, September 9th. We will receive a donation of 20% of your purchase. But you MUST bring the flyer! So I've provided a printout of the flyer. Just right click on the flyer below and choose PRINT PICTURE.

I've also provided a seperate page on the sidebar to the right with directions on how to participate in this fundraiser.

(There are two here. Feel free to share the other one with a friend!)

We hope to see you there!!!

Up in the Air

I'm stuck in the air.

There are a ton of projects I feel like I'm working on and none of them are settled and they're all in the air along with me.

I'm just waiting to land so I know which way to go.

First, we have a trip coming up! I'm excited. I mean I will be excited when everything is settled. But everything takes time. Everything requires paperwork and doctors' letters and new x-rays and fairy dust from the horn of a unicorn.

Second, I'm holding two fundraising events in the next two weeks. Why do I think it's a good idea to pack so much into a mere month? I could say that I thrive under pressure but it's probably more that I procrastinate so much that I have no choice.

Two fundraisers, you ask? Yes, the upcoming blogction beginning on the 14th of September (WE'RE STILL ACCEPTING DONATIONS FOR THIS AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO UNTIL THE NIGHT BEFORE THE BLOGCTION) and a fundraising night at Panda Express. I will post details tomorrow night (hopefully) but the gist is that Panda Express will be donating 20% of the total made from fliers between the hours of 4PM and 8PM on Thursday, September 9th.

Why Panda Express? Because Mama loves her Orange Chicken.

Oh yeah, and P.S. the neuro is aggravating me again because I feel like he isn't listening (surprise). I don't even have the energy to stay up and explain this so I will soon...and you know it will be in detail. For now I'm just going to whine about it a little.

I think I'm a little paralyzed by the feeling of being overwhelmed right now with what's coming in the next few weeks. And when I feel overwhelmed and unable to organize things, I just do nothing. So it's taking all that's in me to make sure each and every entity involved in this upcoming trip to Michigan gets each and every piece of information they request.

Did this just turn into a rant? I think it just did.

I'll turn in for now. More to come later!