We prayed and debated about going to the Neurologist or not...both of us feeling/fearing that we would not be able to get any answers only more "wait and sees." But, Kevin had some very frustrating days this week mentally (not able to retain details recently repeated to him...3 times, losing his place in conversations) and we forgot to cancel it, sooo we went.
The wait was long (1.5 hours!) but the Dr. was nice. Maybe our age. He asked Kevin a series of questions...gave him 3 things to try to remember (red car, blue train, honey bee) and continued to ask him questions...random questions to try to confuse his mind and take his attention off of remembering 'red car, blue train, honey bee'. Kevin was able to answer the questions and was able to retain the 'red-blue-bee' combo with the slight variation of "bumble" instead of "honey" in reference to the bee. The Dr. was pleased.
The Dr. said that every one's body responds differently to surgery and Kevin obviously responds strongly. He described Kevin's symptoms as being similar to "recovering from a concussion." (Hoping the Dr's didn't drop him on his head at some point during the procedure in December...that probably wouldn't make it into the medical log.) :)
We were encouraged to make a point to sleep 7.5 hours every night until he is recovered, avoid caffeinated drinks after 3 PM, and wait it out. They had us go to the lab to give some blood to check his thyroid and B12, B1 levels. Not expecting anything from those tests.
So bottom line, we are feeling more and more confident that Kevin was right on when he self-diagnosed himself a month or so ago...Post Operative Cognitive Dysfunction...time will tell. But we feel that we have been thorough and walked through the doors He has opened to find answers. We will continue to wait and pray for complete restoration and clarity of mind.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
How Big You Are!
I saw a friend do this on her blog and I thought it was a great idea! Our stats:
Chloe Elizabeth
4 years 7 months
37 pounds (50%)
42.5 inches (75%)
Precious 'Blooming Promise of God', you are blooming right before our eyes. Your facial expressions, hand motions and intonations bring your stories to life. You are memorizing your first Bible verse (complete with hand motions) 1 Pet. 5:7 "For He cares for you." You (and we) are so PROUD! Some of your favorite things: PINK (we could check out only pink books from the library last week), playing outside, art (always art), and My Little Ponies. My favorite word that you have held onto since you were 2 is 'sicpopsles' for popsicles. Love that...NEVER correct it. Another thing you say A LOT is, "Mommy, willyoutellme a storyfromwhenyou werealittlekid?" (I purposely left out the spaces there, because the way that you say it all blends together as if it were one word...cute.) We love you so much and know that God has something really special in store for you. You are precious, sensitive and very perceptive...you surprise us with how deeply you feel and understand things. We know the Lord will use these things in bringing Himself glory. We love you 4 times.
Elijah Hooper
21 months
27 pounds
33 inches
Sweet Boy, you are growing so quickly. You love anything with wheels; cars (beep beeps), trains (choo choo), and trucks (cucks). Your favorite books to read are "Head to Toe" and "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" by Eric Carle. You love your blanket and Pacie. When we are getting ready for your nap or bedtime you will call out to your pacie, "Pass?! Paaaasss?!" One of the most endearing things you do right now is humm to me when you are winding down for bedtime and saying "amen" at the end of our prayers. Also, putting your hands in the air for "crowns for Jesus." You never forget to do that after our prayers at meals. Playing outside is at the top of your list of things to do. You are very particular about the foods that you eat. NO MEAT, EVER! So peanut butter, eggs and yogurt are our friends. You understand everything we say to you and answer with really cute "aahuh-s" and "nowah-s". We are excited about who God has made you to be...it will be fun to figure that out with you. Praying that the "Lord will be your God" as your name says. You are so loved and cherished. I hope you always know that.
Chloe Elizabeth
4 years 7 months
37 pounds (50%)
42.5 inches (75%)
Precious 'Blooming Promise of God', you are blooming right before our eyes. Your facial expressions, hand motions and intonations bring your stories to life. You are memorizing your first Bible verse (complete with hand motions) 1 Pet. 5:7 "For He cares for you." You (and we) are so PROUD! Some of your favorite things: PINK (we could check out only pink books from the library last week), playing outside, art (always art), and My Little Ponies. My favorite word that you have held onto since you were 2 is 'sicpopsles' for popsicles. Love that...NEVER correct it. Another thing you say A LOT is, "Mommy, willyoutellme a storyfromwhenyou werealittlekid?" (I purposely left out the spaces there, because the way that you say it all blends together as if it were one word...cute.) We love you so much and know that God has something really special in store for you. You are precious, sensitive and very perceptive...you surprise us with how deeply you feel and understand things. We know the Lord will use these things in bringing Himself glory. We love you 4 times.
Elijah Hooper
21 months
27 pounds
33 inches
Sweet Boy, you are growing so quickly. You love anything with wheels; cars (beep beeps), trains (choo choo), and trucks (cucks). Your favorite books to read are "Head to Toe" and "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" by Eric Carle. You love your blanket and Pacie. When we are getting ready for your nap or bedtime you will call out to your pacie, "Pass?! Paaaasss?!" One of the most endearing things you do right now is humm to me when you are winding down for bedtime and saying "amen" at the end of our prayers. Also, putting your hands in the air for "crowns for Jesus." You never forget to do that after our prayers at meals. Playing outside is at the top of your list of things to do. You are very particular about the foods that you eat. NO MEAT, EVER! So peanut butter, eggs and yogurt are our friends. You understand everything we say to you and answer with really cute "aahuh-s" and "nowah-s". We are excited about who God has made you to be...it will be fun to figure that out with you. Praying that the "Lord will be your God" as your name says. You are so loved and cherished. I hope you always know that.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Talent
She can balance a penny AND a dime...stacked on top of eachother...on her nose...AND stick her tongue out without losing focus...
TALENT...pure 4 year old TALENT.
TALENT...pure 4 year old TALENT.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
I Am Sooo Domestic
Just gonna go ahead and brag on myself a little bit.
I made dinner today...BEFORE church. I know. I'm AMAZING!
Not going to tell you that I made chili...or that all I had to do was chop some onion and brown a little meat...open some cans...and dump it all in the invention-that-could-make-life-so-much-simpler called the crock pot...no, I won't tell you all of that because then I might not be as amazing...but domestic...at least give me domestic...just this once.
Other side note:
Just had a short convo with the love of my life...NEW GOAL...in bed between 10:30 or 11:00 PM...see how sleep affects (or is it effects?) us...novel idea...
Current time is 11:34 PM...hmmmm. Will start that tomorrow.
But today...DOMESTIC...ahhh.
I made dinner today...BEFORE church. I know. I'm AMAZING!
Not going to tell you that I made chili...or that all I had to do was chop some onion and brown a little meat...open some cans...and dump it all in the invention-that-could-make-life-so-much-simpler called the crock pot...no, I won't tell you all of that because then I might not be as amazing...but domestic...at least give me domestic...just this once.
Other side note:
Just had a short convo with the love of my life...NEW GOAL...in bed between 10:30 or 11:00 PM...see how sleep affects (or is it effects?) us...novel idea...
Current time is 11:34 PM...hmmmm. Will start that tomorrow.
But today...DOMESTIC...ahhh.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Shots...who really likes 'um?
We are praying about what to do for Little Miss Chloe next year for school.
Options on the table:
Private Pre K (3 days a week)
Public Pre K (free, but 5 days a week)
Public Kindergarten
Private Kindergarten
All four options have their pros and cons...finances being a large contributing factor to some of them...I have been visiting schools and talking with other parents. Observing other 4 year olds. Comparing (I know I shouldn't compare!) Chloe academically and socially. Frankly, not feeling old enough to be doing any of this!!
But, a common necessity of all of the 4 options is...dun dun dun...IMMUNIZATION RECORDS! (can I get a 'boooo!')
I made her appointment a couple weeks ago and started dreading 9:15 am March 16, 2009 pretty much immediately. You see, Chloe HATES shots! (Who really likes them, right?) She hates them so much that when we sit around and dream of world travels, she will say "You can go there if you want to. But I am not going, because you have to get shots to go there." And she is right...to go to AFRICA...it would be recommended in most countries that she get her Yellow Fever shots...or Typhoid...
We had avoided the truth that in order to go to SCHOOL she was going to have to get shots...so this morning when I told her we were getting ready to go to the Doctor so that she could go to school, the first question out of her mouth was,
"Am I going to have to get shots?" (Darn that smart little girl.)
I couldn't lie, so I said, "yes, you may have to get shots."
"Then I don't want to go to school."
"School could be a lot of fun. Friends. Recess..."
"But I hate shots. They hurt."
"I know they do hurt. But only for a second and then it is over."
"I am not going to the Doctor."
This conversation continued for the next 20 minutes as we got dressed and ate breakfast. On the way to the Doctor she continues to ask why she needs to go to school and shares that home school sounds like a GREAT option...
Then we get to the Doctor's office and we are escorted by our dear friend, Miss Judy, who happens to go to our church and is a nurse at our Doctor's office. Miss Judy is the sweetest Southern lady you could ever meet...but she still had to poke Chloe's finger and collect blood samples. After the first few seconds of silenced shock, Chloe made it clear that "SHE DID NOT LIKE THE DOCTOR!!" (great...that was the easy one...5 shots are still on the agenda...actual number obviously being withheld from today's patient.)
Made it through that only to meet GREAT OPPOSITION at removing her clothing (easier shot access in her little mind...again...soooo smart). Finally, wiggled the rigid thing out of her clothes only to wrap her in her blankie (allowed out of her bed for comfort...just this once) tears flowing freely.
Lovely Dr. G. enters with smiles and questions and 'oh my you are such a big girl-s' in abundance. She is SUCH a great Doctor! But she does have to deliver the BIG BLOW...next on the schedule...SHOTS...then stickers and the toy box! To which Chloe responds loudly with HUGE tears and clenched fists to her side: "I KNEW it!!!!"
SCREAM. SCREAM. SCREAM. CRY. CRY. CRY.
Miss Judy comes to hold Eli. One...no, TWO nurses and me holding Chloe down trying to reassure her that it will be over in just a few seconds... that we are sooo sorry it hurts...it is almost over...Mommy is right here...I am soo sorry...you are soo brave...
and it was over...the shots at least...but for what seemed like forever her tears kept coming...loud screams...huge scene...lots of hugs (and Mommy tears fought back)...
But we made it. Princess sticker...check. Bouncy ball...check. Ice cream shop...HERE WE COME!!
Strawberry ice cream...sugar cone. All better.
(Along with the news...NO MORE SCHOOL SHOTS UNTIL YOU'RE 11!!)
Final verdict: a healthy little girl with a VERY healthy set of lungs!
Options on the table:
Private Pre K (3 days a week)
Public Pre K (free, but 5 days a week)
Public Kindergarten
Private Kindergarten
All four options have their pros and cons...finances being a large contributing factor to some of them...I have been visiting schools and talking with other parents. Observing other 4 year olds. Comparing (I know I shouldn't compare!) Chloe academically and socially. Frankly, not feeling old enough to be doing any of this!!
But, a common necessity of all of the 4 options is...dun dun dun...IMMUNIZATION RECORDS! (can I get a 'boooo!')
I made her appointment a couple weeks ago and started dreading 9:15 am March 16, 2009 pretty much immediately. You see, Chloe HATES shots! (Who really likes them, right?) She hates them so much that when we sit around and dream of world travels, she will say "You can go there if you want to. But I am not going, because you have to get shots to go there." And she is right...to go to AFRICA...it would be recommended in most countries that she get her Yellow Fever shots...or Typhoid...
We had avoided the truth that in order to go to SCHOOL she was going to have to get shots...so this morning when I told her we were getting ready to go to the Doctor so that she could go to school, the first question out of her mouth was,
"Am I going to have to get shots?" (Darn that smart little girl.)
I couldn't lie, so I said, "yes, you may have to get shots."
"Then I don't want to go to school."
"School could be a lot of fun. Friends. Recess..."
"But I hate shots. They hurt."
"I know they do hurt. But only for a second and then it is over."
"I am not going to the Doctor."
This conversation continued for the next 20 minutes as we got dressed and ate breakfast. On the way to the Doctor she continues to ask why she needs to go to school and shares that home school sounds like a GREAT option...
Then we get to the Doctor's office and we are escorted by our dear friend, Miss Judy, who happens to go to our church and is a nurse at our Doctor's office. Miss Judy is the sweetest Southern lady you could ever meet...but she still had to poke Chloe's finger and collect blood samples. After the first few seconds of silenced shock, Chloe made it clear that "SHE DID NOT LIKE THE DOCTOR!!" (great...that was the easy one...5 shots are still on the agenda...actual number obviously being withheld from today's patient.)
Made it through that only to meet GREAT OPPOSITION at removing her clothing (easier shot access in her little mind...again...soooo smart). Finally, wiggled the rigid thing out of her clothes only to wrap her in her blankie (allowed out of her bed for comfort...just this once) tears flowing freely.
Lovely Dr. G. enters with smiles and questions and 'oh my you are such a big girl-s' in abundance. She is SUCH a great Doctor! But she does have to deliver the BIG BLOW...next on the schedule...SHOTS...then stickers and the toy box! To which Chloe responds loudly with HUGE tears and clenched fists to her side: "I KNEW it!!!!"
SCREAM. SCREAM. SCREAM. CRY. CRY. CRY.
Miss Judy comes to hold Eli. One...no, TWO nurses and me holding Chloe down trying to reassure her that it will be over in just a few seconds... that we are sooo sorry it hurts...it is almost over...Mommy is right here...I am soo sorry...you are soo brave...
and it was over...the shots at least...but for what seemed like forever her tears kept coming...loud screams...huge scene...lots of hugs (and Mommy tears fought back)...
But we made it. Princess sticker...check. Bouncy ball...check. Ice cream shop...HERE WE COME!!
Strawberry ice cream...sugar cone. All better.
(Along with the news...NO MORE SCHOOL SHOTS UNTIL YOU'RE 11!!)
Final verdict: a healthy little girl with a VERY healthy set of lungs!
A Stirring
Over the past couple of weeks (or months...or year), the Lord has been stirring some things in me...I feel like He is up to something...something BIG and BEYOND us...
Some of the words that keep coming up:
COMPASSION, PEACE, WATER, MERCY, JUSTICE...big words, big responsibilities.
Too much to post just yet ... but feeling an urgency to do our part...and asking Him what that might be and how that is supposed to look.
Your prayers for wisdom, discernment and courage would be appreciated.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
50 Questions
I am on a random kick…
50 Questions
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? no
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? 4 days ago
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? yes
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? smoked turkey
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? 1 daughter, 1 son
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? hope so
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM? no, never...
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? done it!
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? honey nut cheerios, in memory of my grandpa.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? no
12. HOW MANY CAVITIES HAVE YOU HAD? none
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? mint chocolate chip
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? their face
15. RED OR PINK? red
16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? my lack of discipline
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? my grandparents
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST? i like to learn random things about people, so yes
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? blue jeans & red tennies
20. CAT OR DOG? dog
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? it is 10:30 pm…silence…ahhh.
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? green
23. FAVORITE SMELL? clean laundry, coffee
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Kevin
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? nobody sent it to me, but i do like the person i copied it from :)
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? please don’t make me watch sports
27. HAIR COLOR? brown
28. EYE COLOR? hazel
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? yes
30. FAVORITE FOOD? Mexican food
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? only happy endings
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Slumdog Millionaire (would not recommend it)
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? gray
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? summer
35. HUGS OR KISSES? kisses from Kevin and the kids…hugs from everyone else
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? chocolate chip cookie dough, cinnamon rolls
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? not sure.
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? again, not sure.
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? breaking dawn
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? none - laptop
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? nothing
42. FAVORITE SOUND(S)? this season of life…silence…or my children playing happily
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? beatles
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? New Zealand
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I know most words to TV theme songs from my childhood..."You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have…"
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? elkhart, indiana
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? I enjoy random facts about most people
48. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE/SIGNIFICANT OTHER? at church
49. CUP HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY? half full
50. IF YOU COULD SIT DOWN TO DINNER WITH FIVE PEOPLE WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE? Jesus, i think that would do it.
50 Questions
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? no
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? 4 days ago
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? yes
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? smoked turkey
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? 1 daughter, 1 son
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? hope so
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM? no, never...
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? done it!
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? honey nut cheerios, in memory of my grandpa.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? no
12. HOW MANY CAVITIES HAVE YOU HAD? none
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? mint chocolate chip
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? their face
15. RED OR PINK? red
16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? my lack of discipline
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? my grandparents
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST? i like to learn random things about people, so yes
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? blue jeans & red tennies
20. CAT OR DOG? dog
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? it is 10:30 pm…silence…ahhh.
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? green
23. FAVORITE SMELL? clean laundry, coffee
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Kevin
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? nobody sent it to me, but i do like the person i copied it from :)
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? please don’t make me watch sports
27. HAIR COLOR? brown
28. EYE COLOR? hazel
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? yes
30. FAVORITE FOOD? Mexican food
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? only happy endings
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Slumdog Millionaire (would not recommend it)
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? gray
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? summer
35. HUGS OR KISSES? kisses from Kevin and the kids…hugs from everyone else
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? chocolate chip cookie dough, cinnamon rolls
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? not sure.
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? again, not sure.
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? breaking dawn
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? none - laptop
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? nothing
42. FAVORITE SOUND(S)? this season of life…silence…or my children playing happily
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? beatles
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? New Zealand
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I know most words to TV theme songs from my childhood..."You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have…"
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? elkhart, indiana
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? I enjoy random facts about most people
48. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE/SIGNIFICANT OTHER? at church
49. CUP HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY? half full
50. IF YOU COULD SIT DOWN TO DINNER WITH FIVE PEOPLE WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE? Jesus, i think that would do it.
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