Prayers for Avery

Today, my thoughts and prayers are with my friend, Nicky (My Crazy Normal Life). The next 48 hours are going to be critical for her young son, Avery. Avery and his older brother, Isaiah, have a condition known as mitochondrial disease (or "mito"). It is a very unpredictable and progressive disease which very often robs parents of their children before adulthood. It is one of the conditions that Zay underwent testing. Avery's little body is fighting infection.

Avery was coded and intubated yesterday. He is resting comfortably now on the ventilator. My prayers are that Nicky and her husband will feel enveloped by the love and support from their friends and family. That God will comfort them...and give them renewed strength and wisdom.

D'oh! A deer!

Just look at it sitting there. Looking all smug.

The labs from CSI aren't in yet, but I have reason to believe this is the Prime Suspect in my heinous hosta heist. It had the nerve to saunter into my backyard this morning...helping itself to green snacks along the way. When it got nice and full, that's where it plopped---right there in the sunshine.

Yeah, I get that they have been displaced by construction. Boo-hoo. But we are going to have to learn to co-exist.

If they stay away from my flowers and shrubs, I promise not to hunt without a license.

Plane-Spotting

One of Savannah's favorite hobbies is plane-spotting. Good thing for her we live near one of the most popular places in America for watching planes take off and land.

Gravelly Point sits just north of Reagan National airport, which awards some ridiculously close encounters with airplanes.

Oh McDonald's! And a Farm!

It seemed like the perfect day for a breakfast out and a morning spent outside. So I awakened my Sleeping Beauties with promises of McDonald's pancakes and a visit to a local farm.

My farm animals



Horsies



Peek-a-boo, barnyard style.



Zay peeking in the chicken coop



Now that's a lot of bacon, Mommy!



Eat mor chikin!

Flora v. "Fawn"a

Landscaping our yard has become quite the rewarding undertaking. Several trips to Lowe's ~ painstakingly picking out just the right flora ~ and our yard is practically on par with the neighbors around us who pay for the professional work.

On one of our Lowe's runs, one plant in particular caught my eye. Not sure of the name, but the leaves were dramatic providing nice contrast and texture to my garden. To my delight, after just a couple of weeks in the garden, it started to sprout buds. Bonus! Had no idea it was a flowering plant! What a perfect photography opportunity--before the buds open and after.

So I snapped this picture a few days ago:



I watered, weeded, and spoke kind words over it in anticipation of the moment when the buds blossomed in all their glory. A moment I would capture forever with my camera.

Instead, this is what stopped me and my watering can dead in our tracks yesterday afternoon.:



Not exactly the "after" picture I was going for. Whatever plant I fell in love with was apparently nothing more than Happy Meal fodder for deer.

I wonder if Lowe's carries masking spray and B.B. guns. 'Cause yeah, it's on.

Mercy!

"So if the tests come back normal, are you prepared to deal with possibility of never knowing?"

The genetic counselor asked me this question while Dr. L., the geneticist, was putting the test orders into her computer. I had bonded with her the day of Zay's never-ending appointment in May. When she asked me, I was prepared to be totally honest.

Yes.

I would be OK with not knowing exactly what caused Isaiah's disabilities. After years of testing, I have come to realize that there are just some things that are out of our control. It would be wiser for me to put my time and energy into the things I can change...the things I can influence. I am not prepared to put Isaiah through the rigors of anymore testing.

Last Friday at 11:30am, Dr. L. called with the results from the latest batch of tests. The Lesch-Nyhan test, the spectroscopy, etc...all "within normal range". No indications of any metabolic or mitochondrial disorder. No poor prognosis from a rare genetic condition.

Thank you, Jesus.

Isaiah has cysts in his brain---that we know. He has cerebral palsy and severe mental and physical handicaps. And we don't know why. We will probably never know why. What I do know is that in 6 short years, my son has taught me a lifetime of lessons.

And really, that's all I need to know.

My Swagger Wagon

I don't drive a Toyota, but it's safe to say I love my Honda Odyssey as much as this make-believe family loves their Sienna.

Say what you want about minvans, they are practical, relatively good on gas, and make life with a special needs kid much easier since it is conveniently lower to the ground than an SUV. My van has some sweet bells and whistles that make driving it very often the best part of my day. Thanks in no small part to my subwoofer. Not really sure what it is, but I know what it does.

Push "play" and get your swagger on. And hey--you are still cool if you find yourself singing along.



Yeah, I'm kind of a big deal...

Happy Daddy's Day

Most any man can be a father. It takes a special person to be someone's "Daddy".

~ paraphrased from Pastor Mom's June 20, 2010 Father's Day sermon.

6 of One, Half a Dozen of the Other

Today is Isaiah's 6th birthday. Had I known then what I kow now, I wouldn't have spent so much time worrying about his health and milestones.




It has taken all six of these years to fully appreciate the delightful little person he is. The amazing little person he has become.



Happy Birthday, Sweet Prince.

School So Nice, She Graduated Twice

Savannah wore this beautiful dress ~ a graduation gift from Granny ~ for her promotion ceremony Friday morning. It was the second time in almost 12 months that she has been promoted to middle school.

As you might recall, back in our Tacoma school district, elementary school ended at 5th grade. So she already had one semester of 6th grade/middle school under her belt before we moved here early this year, where 6th grade is back in elementary school. Secretly--or not so secretly--I'd be thrilled to find another district that has 7th in grade school. But alas, I must concede that my Baby Girl--my First Born--is officially out of elementary school. For good.

And I couldn't be more proud of her.

A Little Pomp + A Little Circumstance

Well, the final baby bird has been pushed out of the nest. Isaiah graduated from Kindergarten this morning. The classes put on an adorable program. The Special Needs graduates performed a song in sign language with one very brave little boy singing the solo. From his wheelchair and unable to even hold his own microphone, he inspired everyone in attendance. Brought us to tears and then brought us to our feet. He epitomized the can-do spirit and determination of our special kids.

During the After Party back in the classroom, Zay's teacher showed videos and a slide show featuring highlights from this school year. There was a video clip of Isaiah's feeding himself with a spoon! His teachers and therapists kept us updated on his strides throughout the year. Seeing him in action was more than fantastic. And that = less work for me.

Take it easy, Daddy ~ it's just a clip-on.


Walking over to receive his diploma





I got this.



Buh-Bye, Kindy Kubby

Making Memorial Day Memories

We spent Memorial Day weekend getting acquainted with our new home. We're doing our own landscaping. I'm finally channeling my Inner Green Thumb. The kids had a blast out in the backyard. At dusk, we even caught fireflies--much to my Inner Child's delight.

We really needed a long weekend.

Splish-Splash, baby!

Mommy ~ think it's time for a bigger pool?


Watching the squirt gun battle from a safe distance



Balling with the Daddy


You send me swan-gin'!


Whatever she just did do them, she did it with attitude...

Com' on...


...let's play.