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Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Fun, Guacamole, Aiden and a Worthwhile Cause!

Fun times...
So, last weekend, I went to visit the Amazing Mr. P and his family (my soon-to-be family). As usual, it was crazy times with five kids in the house. It was very enjoyable though…
Lots of fun and I had the kids take me out on the land and walk me around. Kara and Jonathan have such vivid imaginations. They showed me their hideouts, which are little spots where the trees overhang each other and make these little shelters where they can hide and play and be creative. They talked about all the characters they encounter in the forest and how their adventures take place. They described in vivid detail some of their adventures that involve wolves, cats, badgers and the like. It was incredible to see their little minds working so actively. They're not even eleven yet!

I went to the store on Saturday morning and got a bunch of groceries for the bunch. It was fun grilling out on Saturday! We also had my miracle guacamole.
Here's the recipe:
Miracle Guacamole
7 large avocados, cubed, peeled and seeded
1 Tbsp guacamole
2 limes, juiced and seeded
2 lemons, juiced and seeded
1 cup diced onion
1 cup diced tomatoes, drained
½ Tbsp Cumin
2 Tbsp Salt
1 Tbsp Pepper
1 Jalapeno, seeded, deveined and diced FINE
Combine all ingredients in a LARGE bowl and mash with a potato masher. This guacamole is amazing. If you seal it in an air tight container, you can even have some more the next day!
***


So, we got home Sunday evening, and had a real adventure on the way home. Aiden was so happy, he sang the entire way. We stopped at Applebee's in Brenham, TX for something to eat. We checked in at the front of the restaurant. I told the hostess, we will need a table for two, but we need to tidy up a bit first. So, we made our way to the restroom. There, I changed Aiden's diaper and got him cleaned up and ready to eat. We were both pretty hungry, but Aiden kept flirting with the server. She was a really cute girl in her mid-twenties. She was cooing and gooing at Aiden and he kept playing hide and seek with her. I was hungry, and just as my salad and Aiden's bunch of croutons and tomatoes made it to the table, I heard this awful sound coming from my son... It was #2 time whether I was ready or NOT! I had only brought one diaper in and that was the one I had used BEFORE we sat down. As I pondered... I thought, well they're not THAT busy, we could stay here and eat until someone gave us the 'stink eye', or I could just go get another diaper out of the trunk and go get him cleaned up again. As hungry as we were, I excused ourselves to the hostess and told her to please not give our table away, but the diaper bag was in the car, and I went out and grabbed another diaper and got him cleaned up. I put Aiden up on the changing table and did our thing. Just as I got him cleaned up, and was about to reach for the diaper, I realized that something wet was in my hair. I looked down, and saw my two year-old laughing hysterically at the steady stream spraying the walls and everything in his path. As I quickly covered him up, I realized just how many times I had said, "make sure you put something over that" to other new moms. I just never thought it'd be me. As I strapped his diaper on, I slipped his shorts (which were surprisingly dry at this point) back on his little bottom. I proceeded to grab a hand full of wipes, paper towels and whatever I could find. I felt like a blend of Cinderella and the little Wizard played by Mickey Mouse in the Sorcerer's Apprentice with mops a flurry as I was almost sure someone was going to walk into the restroom and be adequately disgusted at what was happening.
 I cleaned up the mess, had us each wash our hands...WELL... and we went to have our meal. Thankfully the meal was wonderful and the food was hot and tasty. With all that said, it was a terrific (and quite hilarious) trip home. It was awesome to see Aiden so happy and cheerful. I played Elmo videos on the portable DVD player in the car, which never hurts.  He stayed home sick Monday with a low grade temperature, which I'm praying was just because he was exhausted and/or teething. The moral of this story is, NEVER LEAVE THE DIAPER BAG IN THE CAR, ALWAYS COVER LITTLE BOYS DURING DIAPER CHANGES and ALWAYS PACK ELMO when a two year old is involved. This episode might have been upsetting to some, but to me it was just funny. It's like nothing little (like this) bothers me anymore. I have something pretty useful these days... it's called PERSPECTIVE. lol...
Aiden Update:
In other news today, we got some news... This morning, the woman from the PT/OT's office got to visit Aiden in day care. She said that she is still noticing (As I have been) that Aiden is still not moving as much on his right side of his body. It's disheartening, considering how much work we have done. It's like he's just not there yet.
Here's what she said, "Hi J, I wanted to let you know that I did get an opportunity to go to school to "peek" at Mr. Aiden cutie. I too noticed some asymmetry in his movements. This perhaps could be about him getting a bit bigger or about him trying to perform movements faster as I saw him on the playground with friends.   After I spoke with T, we both feel he would benefit from services again.  Unfortunately (due to the paperwork process), this means re-qualifying him, unless of course you would prefer to access private therapy facilities that are here locally.  I can provide you with that information should that be easiest for your family.  He otherwise was very engaging, friendly, and eager to perform the "big boy" skills.  Just let me know if you would like me to initiate a PT/OT referral again so that T and I can schedule a mtg. with you.  Take Care, D" I agree with her, that we would like to see him qualify for services again, but it's just a hard pill to swallow. I know the doctors said to prepare for him to have developmental delays, he's just been doing so well.

I will keep you guys posted as to the process with li'l man. I pray that he is really going to benefit from PT/OT again and hopefully make strides, and keep improving. I am praying for education, awareness and increasing ability in the disorders that both of my children have.
Histiocytosis (A Worthwhile Cause!) Update:
I also had the blessing of attending a Twitter chat on www.twitter.com at #abcDrBchat today during my lunch hour. It was amazing!!! I am new to twitter. You can follow me @BuzzAboutJodi if you would like. I forwarded this twitter chat on to a few people in the effort to raise awareness about histiocytosis, and we just might get some folks interested in helping partner with us to raise awareness and to help with fundraisers. It's so exciting to be able to help. Most caregivers of histio patients have too much care giving to do, therefore the awareness aspect is the last thing they are able to help with. Thankfully, Sophie isn't one of the sickest, so I can help. I can be a voice for those who can't speak for the ones they love.

Tonight Dear God, I just want to pray for those moms and dads who have too many worries to watch and enjoy a TV show. I want to pray for the ones who sit by their sick kids' bed and watch them breathe just to be sure they don't stop.. I want to pray for those parents who sit exhausted after many long nights at the hospital or by a bed side, and the drip of an IV bag becomes like a second hand on a clock to them. Only there isn't any real time in their world anymore; other than the time it takes for the chemo or the life saving medicine to reach their child, so they can finally be sure that the next breath will come. I want to pray for those people who sit, months after an illness with pile of medical bills they're afraid to open, tears running down their tired cheeks. I want to pray for the people in our country who can't get the care they need for themselves or their children for whatever reason, and for the doctors on the front lines, who have a heart to find cures for illness. May you comfort them all, Lord. May you comfort them all right now. Amen.

Goodnight friends,
J

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