Everyone's Take on the week

Not feeling so good and mad that Mommy left me for a couple days.

I'm only going to share one photo post-surgery...there is another incision on her neck. She is actually doing really well snapping back quickly.

Feeling groovy again... his hair defies gravity and the weight of water.

Is it Friday yet?

It's been a busy week or so.

Last Sunday, I flew up to DC for a conference. Sunday evening was spent with my college roommate and her husband. It was so good to see them and catch up a little bit...it's been far too long between visits. They are leaving soon for a missions trip to Hungary with the whole family. I'm very excited for them and can't wait to hear all about their trip.

Monday through Wednesday was the conference. It was excellent and I am still processing it all. I am starting a new project in a new industry and am excited about all I'll get to learn and faciliate for my new client.

I took Thursday and Friday off to spend with my parents who came to take care of Jayden while I was traveling. Thursday I took the dog into the vet for surgery and we went to the Durham Bulls - the whole entire family...brother, sister-in-law, neices, grandparents...it was fun. Jayden LOVES going to games, but was pretty subdued this time because of what I thought was teething.

Friday afternoon, picked up the dog after her surgery...I'll post pictures later. Came home and the parents left to take care of the neices. Child felt warm...temp 101, not freaking out. 2 hours later (8:30) child feels warmer, temp 103...we truck off to urgent care which is closed. We come home and mom debates emergency room...she decided if we get to 104 we're going (it's literally 2 minutes away). We're up most of the night because Jayden won't let me put him down (very uncharacteristic). Saturday morning we get up first thing to go to urgent care. His temp is 100 there. He tests positive for strep.

Saturday involves more attempts to get medications in. Jayden hates taking medicine... I have no idea why but for the past year, it's a battle. I can get one medication down in a bottle but that's it and that's only if he doesn't see you put it in there. I negotiate with the doctor...give me 24 hours to try to get antibiotics in him, otherwise I have to bring him back for the shot...which is very painful speaking from experience. It took a couple trys but late in the afternoon, I got one dose in. Also during this time, we discovered that pain medicine/fever reducer is available in supository form. Who knew? And what fun. After an afternoon of unglued screaming, he finally passed out after taking a bottle. I think he hit that point where he was so tired, he was delirous and couldn't figure out how to get to sleep...so not his usual self.

Sunday, he was mellow but definitely feeling better. We hung out and watched a couple episode of "Jack's Big Music Show" and Veggie Tales. I must say for having strep throat he was a real trooper.

Now back to work...

Two years ago today...

July 18, 2005...I ran outside at 4pm to take "the call". You get "the call" at the end of the day because they know you won't be able to concentrate after you get the information. So outside I go in the lovely heat and sit on the curb. His name ... Ronaldo Luz L... L... it took me a day after the shock wore off to realize...Ron Luce?

After taking the call, I ran back into the office to get the pictures and email with all the medical information. I said yes to the referral before I got off the phone. Here is one of the pictures. He is six days old here.

Who knew that beautiful sleeping boy would grow into the full of zest and life boy that he is today.

been a wild couple weeks

It's been a wild couple weeks...

The housing market is not exactly thriving so I am anticipating pulling my house off the market after an open house and saying goodbye to the new one. It's disappointing. I was really looking forward to a shorter commute and being closer to everything we are involved in. I really enjoy working from home a couple days a week but I'll be limited to one since it means two round trips. It's all the little things that I'll miss but it's not the most devastating thing.

Both dogs have been sick and required some major overhaul as I like to say. Willie's breathing has been difficult and loud...think bulldog complete with snoring and constant snorting. Originally they thought it was his larynx and I prepared for massive surgery through his neck, but once they had him sedated and were able to look, it was determined it was his soft palate. Good news, it was much less invasive surgery and no more bulldog! He looks so much less stressed now that he can breathe. Bad news, he had to have six more teeth removed. If I didn't do something, he would have had a respiratory emergency in which there was no way to get him to a vet fast enough. Picture me coming unglued over the dog collapsing trying to get him and Jayden to a vet in minutes in order to save him... not worth the trauma to any of the three of us.

During this time, Mama had an "episode" what we think was a minor seizure. I run her in and find out that it's kidney failure (bloodwork revealed) and a side effect is high blood pressure. Canine blood pressure is strangely similar to human blood pressure in terms of what is considered normal. She was over 212...so she started blood pressure medication and we had to make several trips for some additional tests to make sure she is responding to the medications. She is on a new food which she absolutely hates. On the bright side, I think she is feeling better as she is back to her old, obnoxious self. We're just in maintanence mode and eventually this will take her but I think we've at least got another year or two.

Jayden's vocabulary is exploding and he's growing like a weed. We're working on potty training. He's doing wonderful at daycare. He seems to think we lack indoor plumbing and is not interested in going potty at home. He loves his Wilwee and Mamah.

Grandma and Grandpa are coming to visit this weekend and are staying with him while I travel for work. It'll be fun to see them. We're having a big picnic while they are here so Grandpa can meet all Jayden's buddies that he's heard so much about. I'll post pictures of the chaos/fun.

Carmen

Several weeks ago, Jayden and I met Elizabeth, J's foster sister. They were together in Guatemala and both were dearly loved by Carmen. The reason we were able to meet is that both families received a letter from Carmen and we both contacted the agency to find out if other families had received a letter as well.

I was not surprised by the letter and sort of anticipated that Elizabeth's family would receive one too. I was right and gave the agency permission to give her family my contact info.

Just prior to visiting J in Guatemala, I learned that Carmen had breast cancer, had a double mastectomy and was recovering well, but that she needed chemotherapy. I helped with getting funds to Guatemala for her chemotherapy and treatment since I was traveling the next week. I was able to meet her and two of her children when they brought J to the hotel. I also was able to see her and spend time with other members of her family when I picked up J to come home. I know she loved him - she and her family wrote him beautiful letters. I said that I was praying that he would be home for Christmas and she said she was praying he would be able to stay for Christmas. She loved each of the kids in her care (we brought back a birthday card for one of "her kids" that was turning 13).

The letter we received said the cancer had returned. It took over six weeks for the letter to make it from Guatemala. Sometime between the letter being sent and trying to find ways to help Carmen passed. Carlos (was involved with J's adoption) said it best... she is with God now.

Carmen will be missed. She holds such a special place in the hearts of so many. She was a woman who loved her family and she loved those who were trusted to her care. She was loved and is missed.

How food should be enjoyed

mmmmm... sour cream... yes, we eat that and salsa with a spoon and shovel it in.

This morning's conversation with J went something like this...

E - "Did you have a good night's sleep?"
J - "No"
E - "Were you up all night?"
J - "yeah"
E- "oh my goodness, why didn't you tell Mommy you were up?"
J - blank stare

Doctor, doctor give me the news...

Yesterday J had his 2 year appointment and completely enjoyed himself. No shots - thank goodness. Outside of our annual flu shot, he won't need anything until 4 or 5. He's been growing and we're in the 75th percentile for height. I was surprised.

If I spend anytime thinking about it, I am completely blown away by the changes in J over the last 18 months. He was so quiet and observed everything when he came home. He still observes everything but he's not exactly quiet. He's grown by leaps and bounds and it definitely one of the most joyful kids I know.

His speech is exploding. I spent the afternoon Friday at daycare - we made sock puppets and had a party for two kids who were moving on to pre-school. He comprehends, responds, follows directions and talks in Spanish. He already knows to switch to English when he talks to me. He loves his Wilwee (Willie) and Mamah (Mama) - we say night night and bye to the dogs. We now have the "oh so critical P" when we say the word help. He used to leave it off and I figure if anyone is going to teach my son to swear it should be me ;-) We had a few weeks of hell mommy, hell whenever we wanted something.

He now enjoys talking to Grandma and Grandpa on the phone and can answer their questions. I wish they could see his expression because he usually has an ear to ear grin while talking to them. He's changed so much from that shy tiny boy to my wonderfully loud, full of life, full tilt boy. Can't wait to see what the next year brings.

JC Penny Catalog male model in the making