Blue Roses

After shopping I headed for checkout only to be blocked in the narrow aisle by a young man who appeared to be about 16.  I patiently waited for him to realize that I was there.  Then he waved his hands excitedly and
declared loudly, ‘Mommy, I’m over here.’ It was obvious now; he was mentally challenged and also startled to see me waiting to squeeze by. His eyes widened with surprise as I said, ‘Hey buddy, what’s your name?’ ‘My name is Denny and I’m shopping with my mother,’ he responded proudly. ‘Wow,’ I said, ‘that’s a cool name; I
wish my name was Denny, but my name is Hal.’ ‘Hal like Halloween?’ he asked. ‘Yes,’ I answered. ‘How old
are you Denny? ‘How old am I now, Mommy?’ he asked his mother as she came from the next aisle. ‘You’re 15, Denny; now be a good boy and let the man pass.’ I talked to Denny for several more minutes about summer, bicycles and school, and I watched his brown eyes dance with excitement because he was the center
of someone’s attention. Denny’s mom thanked me for taking the time to talk with her son.  I told her that there are plenty of red, yellow and pink roses in God’s garden. However, ‘Blue Roses’ are very rare and should be appreciated for their beauty and distinctiveness. You see, Denny is a ‘Blue Rose’, and if someone doesn’t stop and smell that rose with their heart and touch that rose with their kindness, then they’ve missed a blessing from God. (From the March/April 2010 Gathered View.)

As if you and I have nothing more to do in life!

I've created a blog focusing on PWS and Alex.  Feel free to come and read!  www.christinastaileypraderwillisyndrome.blogspot.com

Don't read this if you're squeamish!

We had our first experience with head lice. Luckily, it was only confined to one child.  But apparently it was going around the school and I didn't realize they sent a letter home about it.

I was combing Emily's hair yesterday morning and found a little critter stuck to her hair shaft.  I pulled it off, looked it up on the internet, and confirmed it was a blasted little louse! After further inspection, I did find several little eggs attached to hair shafts as well.  I pulled all those off.  We then shampooed everyone's hair with a great smelling shampoo (it's so weird, I remember the smell of it when we had to use it growing up the one time we got lice). I kept all the kids home except Alex because I didn't know who had it.  I found two more little buggers in Emily's hair while treating her hair, but no more.  The adults are about the size of a grain of rice.  And now I'm paranoid, I think.  I've washed all the bedding, towels, etc. and vacuumed everything.  I even threw away all the combs and brushes and bought new ones.  I hope it's over!  You always read about the cases that are like super lice and nothing will kill them!

The reason why I suspected head lice right away with Emily is that because the neighbor girl had it, who had gotten it from a friend at school.  Plus, a few nights before, Emily broke out in a weird rash that we couldn't explain.  Now I think it was just a reaction from the bites!  So, hopefully never again.  Technically, lice don't do anything to harm you, they can't give you any diseases or make you sick, they are just annoying.  Nevertheless, I don't like to share my hair with any other creatures.

Kate's birthday

I'm slow at getting this posted, but wanted to post about Kate's birthday.  It's hard to believe that she is 11!  One more year and she'll be in Young Women's!

So, Kate's birth story.  Hmmm, what do I remember about hers.  It's been a long time.  Honestly, I took a dose of stadol when I was in labor with Kate to help take the edge off of the pain, and because it is a narcotic (I suppose this was my first and only experience with drugs!), it made me quite loopy and I don't remember too much.  Because of my inexperience and anxiety about having a VBAC, I ended up going to the hospital three times before I was actually in labor.  I was so worried about my the scar from my c-section tearing and having an emergency.  I wish the doctor would have just said to relax and not worry about it.  But I suppose that VBACs were still pretty new and doctors were taking precautions to prevent uterine rupture.  Anyways, so I remember having mildly strong contractions late one afternoon.  We went to eat at Golden Corral for dinner.  I was kind of bummed that I was going into labor then because as poor as we were back then, going out to eat was a treat and I really wanted to eat, but because my contractions were starting to get stronger, I didn't really want to eat!  We get to the hospital and they check me and I was like either 3 or 4 centimeters.  The doctor tells the nurse to ask me if they could break my water, seeing as how this the third time I had gone to the hospital!  I knew for sure I was in labor this time as the contractions were getting stronger, so I said yes.  After that, the contractions got really painful.  This is when I asked for something to help with the pain.  So they gave me stadol.  Pretty much after that, my memory is foggy.  I remembering feeling like I was floating and everything was great in between contractions, I even fell asleep!  But it does nothing for the actual contraction itself, and I do remember the contractions being very painful.  Finally I guess I'm coherent enough to ask for something else, so they call the anesthesiologist.  When he arrives, I'm already dilated to a 10, but delivering Kate would be as if I was delivering my first, as Alex was a c-section, so the doctor says it would be ok.  Thank you!  I was given an interthecal and then I knew I was really loopy.  I'm on drugs and feeling no pain now, such a crazy feeling!  At the same time I hated that loopy feeling, so I feel reassured that I could never handle being a drug addict.  Back to Kate, I don't know how long I pushed or anything, but just remember that she was born right after 11 p.m. (11:01 to be exact) on February 17th, weighing in at 7lbs. 3 oz.  I do remember the doctor getting a little upset with one of the nurses because she was freaking out a little because Kate wouldn't breathe, but she did finally take a breath and all was well!  Something happened later that night that caused me to feel like I was gonna pass out.  It happened after I had Dane as well.  My blood pressure dropped real low.  I don't know why either time because it came right back up, but not a great feeling when it happens.  You feel nauseous and like you can't breathe.  Anyways, I love you Katie Bug!

13 Years!

Our Wedding Announcement!

                   

Our first photos together!

Our wedding day 13 years ago! 

We didn't wait to start a family.  I love this picture because Alex spit up right as we were taking it.  

Our little family of two.

And then there were three!

But then we had to even it out, two boys and two girls.

Then came number 5!

Evening things out with last and final sixth!

It's been a great thirteen years!  We celebrated our anniversary with the children.  We decided to have a fancy dinner with the children.  I got this idear from Sarah!  We even had candles.  The kids did well, and if they didn't like something they were just suppose to sit there and wait for the next course. I wish every meal time could be so nice!  We had cream of tomato basil soup with cheese bread, cesaer salad, shrimp fettucine alfredo, finished off with a cheesecake dessert.  It was a lot of fun.  The best part of it all is when each one of you wants the best for the rest of the family and you see each other trying.  It makes you want to try even harder.  

Love you forever, Todd!

Dance Contest

The Utah Prader-Willi Syndrome Association is sponsoring a dance contest for anyone who wants to participate!  First prize is $1000!  Second is $500, and third is $250.  If you would like to participate, simply make up a dance and video tape yourself or your group.  Then go to this website to submit your entry:  http://www.upwsa.org/events/documents/dance_for_pws.pdf   How do you win?  Simply get everyone you know to go to the Utah Prader-Willi Syndrome Association Website http://www.upwsa.org/events/dance.cfm and vote!  Every dollar counts as one vote.  So if you donate $5, you are voting five times, etc.  You have nothing to lose!  You don't even have to be a professional!  Anyone from anywhere can do this and anyone can vote, so if you have friends and family all over the country, or the world, they can enter and vote as well!  Please help out if you can!

Frustrations

Ok, here's my question:  what's up with swim wear?  Why do we have to feel like we are running around in our underwear?  And if we are brave enough to venture out in something more modest, why do we point and make fun or think it's so old fashioned?  Why are we scared to be modest.  We wear long shorts and shirts that have sleeves and cover our bellies.  But when it's time for the pool, that no longer applies.  Sure it's not a bikini, or strapless, but it sure shows a lot of leg, not to mention backs and cleavage.  And some of us don't have great legs, or cleavage for that matter.(Ok, just being funny.)  I'm shopping for a suit.  I'm trying to decide if I should be brave enough to try something new.  I've done the shorts over the swimsuit thing. It's ok, but maybe there's something more comfortable. Plus it's hard to find a suit with nice thick straps to hold you up (not like it's a problem here) and cover up the back.    I'm looking for more people to cater to what I want.  There is a growing demand, but it's still very limited.  Not to mention expensive.  But hey,  I suppose two yards of material costs a lot more than half a yard! So, I guess I need to expect to pay more.  Ok, I suppose there are greater problems in this world than styles of swim suits.  I'll continue looking,