Friday, May 28, 2010
Pictoria-Newborn photos...
These pictures are of Manning Michael Fuller. He is the son of Patrick and Katy Fuller(my best friend from adolescence and is still today). He weighed 8 lbs. 6 oz and was 20.5 inches long. Congratulations!
Growing and changing...
GROWING AND CHANGING-DEACON
Deacon is growing and changing so fast. I am sure most of you see him maybe weekly at the most and know this already. But there are probably so many things you don't know. Deacon has been walking for almost two months now and can just almost run now. He is talking up a storm!! He has few words we understand but he talks to us all the time. The few words he does say are: dada, mama, bye bye, home (which is more like hmmmm but he says it when we pull in the driveway so we know what it means!), nite nite, and nanny (nana). He has started to get more particular about foods. His favorite toys are ones you sit on and pretend to ride (i.e. rocking horse, 4 wheeler) And he does NOT LIKE for anyone to push the toys when he is on them and really make him go...that is a NO NO!!! He gives great hugs now and even better kisses! Tongue kisses! LOL. They are the sweetest warmest bestest ever! He is very attitudy and not real keen on hiding his emotions. :-) Most of all he is a joy and his brothers best buddy!
GROWING AND CHANGING-BRAYDON
Braydon probably is growing and changing in ways you don't notice. Braydon is 4 ft tall now! That seems so weird! He's so tall and skinny now! I look at pictures of Jacoby when he was ten years old and he has the exact same build! Backbones sticking out and all!!! It's so cute when little boys go through that stage. He recently lost his 8th tooth and preders to save his tooth fairy money rather than spend it. For this we are proud!!! Braydon now wears glasses for reading, computer time and watching tv, not because his vision is bad but because his eyes are easily strained and we are tryin to take some pressure off the eyes. He looks SOOOO handsome in his glasses (as you can see), and so studious too! He actually likes them and is so responsible about putting them where they belong when he is finished with them. He is becoming responsible in so many ways. First thing every morning he goes and lets his dog out of the pin and checks on his chickens. He's very good about helping me with things around the house (MOST of the time). He is doing very well in school and is slowly but surely getting better with reading and handwriting. This has been a struggle for us both but we are getting through it all in one piece! I HOPE! Braydon is my sweet boy. He still likes to be held, kissed, cuddled, tucked in, etc. He likes to know we are close by. And we don't mind at all. He is a very special boy to say the least and his brothers best buddy!
GROWING AND CHANGING-SKIPPY
Yep, he's growing up too! His behavior is NOT better and sometimes he truly struggles with being a JOY but he is just a puppy and we love him....we think! LOL.
Deacon is growing and changing so fast. I am sure most of you see him maybe weekly at the most and know this already. But there are probably so many things you don't know. Deacon has been walking for almost two months now and can just almost run now. He is talking up a storm!! He has few words we understand but he talks to us all the time. The few words he does say are: dada, mama, bye bye, home (which is more like hmmmm but he says it when we pull in the driveway so we know what it means!), nite nite, and nanny (nana). He has started to get more particular about foods. His favorite toys are ones you sit on and pretend to ride (i.e. rocking horse, 4 wheeler) And he does NOT LIKE for anyone to push the toys when he is on them and really make him go...that is a NO NO!!! He gives great hugs now and even better kisses! Tongue kisses! LOL. They are the sweetest warmest bestest ever! He is very attitudy and not real keen on hiding his emotions. :-) Most of all he is a joy and his brothers best buddy!
GROWING AND CHANGING-BRAYDON
Braydon probably is growing and changing in ways you don't notice. Braydon is 4 ft tall now! That seems so weird! He's so tall and skinny now! I look at pictures of Jacoby when he was ten years old and he has the exact same build! Backbones sticking out and all!!! It's so cute when little boys go through that stage. He recently lost his 8th tooth and preders to save his tooth fairy money rather than spend it. For this we are proud!!! Braydon now wears glasses for reading, computer time and watching tv, not because his vision is bad but because his eyes are easily strained and we are tryin to take some pressure off the eyes. He looks SOOOO handsome in his glasses (as you can see), and so studious too! He actually likes them and is so responsible about putting them where they belong when he is finished with them. He is becoming responsible in so many ways. First thing every morning he goes and lets his dog out of the pin and checks on his chickens. He's very good about helping me with things around the house (MOST of the time). He is doing very well in school and is slowly but surely getting better with reading and handwriting. This has been a struggle for us both but we are getting through it all in one piece! I HOPE! Braydon is my sweet boy. He still likes to be held, kissed, cuddled, tucked in, etc. He likes to know we are close by. And we don't mind at all. He is a very special boy to say the least and his brothers best buddy!
GROWING AND CHANGING-SKIPPY
Yep, he's growing up too! His behavior is NOT better and sometimes he truly struggles with being a JOY but he is just a puppy and we love him....we think! LOL.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Update on Braydon...
Today we were at MD Anderson for Braydon for Braydon's follow up neurology appt. We were also scheduled to have an EEG but since there were no changes in his seizure activity at home I told them I felt like we would just be spinning our wheels running another one before we see any changes at home. They agreed and we canceled the EEG. All of Braydon's labs looked good. No, better than good....PERFECT! Liver enzymes were normal....CBC looked great! Since the Keppra isn't working to treat the seizures, we discussed trying a new medication. His neurologist decided to "ADD" a medicine instead of replacing the Keppra. Sometimes combination drug treatment is needed for seizures. So we are going to add and med and be on two seizure medications. If we see an improvement in the seizure activity, we will know that either the new med is working or the combination of the two meds is working. At that point I will slowly taper him off the original medication. If the seizures return we will know the combination is working and needed and if they don't return we will know that the new medication is solely responsible for the improvement. Meanwhile we are having labs done at Dr. Conner's office every couple of weeks and we will return to MD Anderson in 8 weeks for follow up, unless something happened and we needed to go sooner. We are praying that doesn't happen. Please be praying for new med to work and MINIMAL SIDE EFFECTS and labs to stay looking good. I also have the following prayer requests:
*Brent from New Jersey-new patient at MD Anderson
*McKaila (sp?) Pickering-patient at MD Anderson. I hear her reports were not good this week
*Brent from New Jersey-new patient at MD Anderson
*McKaila (sp?) Pickering-patient at MD Anderson. I hear her reports were not good this week
Monday, May 17, 2010
Little Reminders...
Today was tough. Or I thought it was until about 20 minutes ago. My kids were just cranky, no matter how much I did today around the house I never got it all done, our dog is far from a well trained dog so far and Jacoby is working his 7th night in a row. It was just tough. I can't remember a time I felt more thankful for my kids bedtime than tonight! I was completely frusterated and agitated becuase people around here weren't having the attitude that they needed to be having!!
Within 10 minutes of putting my kids to bed, I sat down in front of the computer just feeling relieved to be done with the day (becuase mine was SO horrible)God just reminded me to stop sweating the small stuff and to be grateful for my day. Everytime God really wants me to "get" something he gives it to me in three's. Yes I am very serious. Always in three's. This is what happened:
First: I find a Facebook page of a girl I know-not too well- but she is from SS and I know who she is but haven't seen her in about 10 years but would hear of her periodically. She no longer lives in East Texas but her page caught my attention. I clicked on it to look around and look at her pics and stuff. I learned that in December of 2008 her husband had been shot and is paralyzed from the neck down and permanently on a ventilator. She spends her days caring for him and their three children and is unable to work due to these responsiblities. I GET TO STAY HOME BECAUSE I CHOOSE TO.
Second: I open this video-Imagine I CAN HEAR AND SPEAK CLEARLY AND THANK YOU GOD THAT BOTH OF MY CHILDREN CAN.
Third: This is a post from a friend of mine's FB page just a few minutes ago: {Had a terrible day at the hospital -high caseload, lots of no-charge visits, & skipped lunch! Got everything put into persepective for me when I saw my brain injury (shot in the head by her boyfriend) patient at the nursing home tonight. She's only in her 30's. I found her crying because she soiled herself and just wanted to be changed into new clothes but had to wait on an aide for help. I am so GRATEFUL for my health and independence!}I AM UP TAKING CARE OF THESE WHINY CHILDREN BECAUSE GOD HAS BLESSED ME WITH ABILITY AND HEALTH!
What does gratitude look like? Is it something we say we have because it sounds good? Sometimes gratitude comes naturally. I am thankful for those times. Sometimes it doesn't. Today it looked like me face down on my living room floor at 8:36 pm crying out to God for forgiveness. Lord forgive me for the times I have blind eyes to all the blessings in my life! Yes today He had to create gratefulness in my heart and I am thankful that He did!
How was your day today? Pretty good huh?
Please don't take this like i am trying to put you in your place about your perspective. Mine truly needed to be adjusted and this encouraged me to look at really how good my day was. Be blessed friends!
Within 10 minutes of putting my kids to bed, I sat down in front of the computer just feeling relieved to be done with the day (becuase mine was SO horrible)God just reminded me to stop sweating the small stuff and to be grateful for my day. Everytime God really wants me to "get" something he gives it to me in three's. Yes I am very serious. Always in three's. This is what happened:
First: I find a Facebook page of a girl I know-not too well- but she is from SS and I know who she is but haven't seen her in about 10 years but would hear of her periodically. She no longer lives in East Texas but her page caught my attention. I clicked on it to look around and look at her pics and stuff. I learned that in December of 2008 her husband had been shot and is paralyzed from the neck down and permanently on a ventilator. She spends her days caring for him and their three children and is unable to work due to these responsiblities. I GET TO STAY HOME BECAUSE I CHOOSE TO.
Second: I open this video-Imagine I CAN HEAR AND SPEAK CLEARLY AND THANK YOU GOD THAT BOTH OF MY CHILDREN CAN.
Third: This is a post from a friend of mine's FB page just a few minutes ago: {Had a terrible day at the hospital -high caseload, lots of no-charge visits, & skipped lunch! Got everything put into persepective for me when I saw my brain injury (shot in the head by her boyfriend) patient at the nursing home tonight. She's only in her 30's. I found her crying because she soiled herself and just wanted to be changed into new clothes but had to wait on an aide for help. I am so GRATEFUL for my health and independence!}I AM UP TAKING CARE OF THESE WHINY CHILDREN BECAUSE GOD HAS BLESSED ME WITH ABILITY AND HEALTH!
What does gratitude look like? Is it something we say we have because it sounds good? Sometimes gratitude comes naturally. I am thankful for those times. Sometimes it doesn't. Today it looked like me face down on my living room floor at 8:36 pm crying out to God for forgiveness. Lord forgive me for the times I have blind eyes to all the blessings in my life! Yes today He had to create gratefulness in my heart and I am thankful that He did!
How was your day today? Pretty good huh?
Please don't take this like i am trying to put you in your place about your perspective. Mine truly needed to be adjusted and this encouraged me to look at really how good my day was. Be blessed friends!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Vision Therapy update...
Braydon completed his 2nd round of vision therapy yesterday. He has made such big improvements. He went from reading and writing at a pre-k level in Feb. to writing and reading at a 1st grade level in May. I honestly struggled with feelings of inadequacy as a parent and homeschooler because I knew I had been teaching him these things for so long (2 years) And he was getting basic concepts. We just weren't making progress. It's so nice to know that vision receptors in the brain were weak and needed to be strengthened and it wasn't me not teaching him well. He has gone from between 20% and 40% accuracy in his right eye to 100%. From 20% accuracy in left eye to about 75% and with both eyes working together from 25% to 80%
His doctor wants to do a 3rd round of vision therapy. Jacoby and I feel like we need to give Braydon a break for a little while and pick back up with treatments in the future. Currently we have been doing one day a week in SS for occupational and speech therapy. One day a week in Longview for vision therapy. And two days a month in Houston for neurology and oncology appts. It's just too much. We are however going to continue to do vision therapy exercises and vision hygiene at home. This itself requires a couple of hours a day and lots of verbal reinforcement. We have also been managing to do these two things (along with all the appts) and homeschool Monday through Thursday for some time now. It was just getting to be too much. I am going to continue speech and occupational therapies for now and will reassess that situation on the fall.
His opthamologist in Longview also suggested that since we are taking a break, having Braydon wear glasses for reading and television time (which isn't much anyhow). He said that since Braydon's eyes have to work harder than most people's, due to t he convergence insufficiency, it will help relieve some stress and strain on the eyes. They glasses will be very minimally magnified. He doesn't actually need help seeing because his vision is 20/20, it will just take a little stress off the eyes when having to use the visual field for extended periods of time.
I will post a pic of Braydon with his glasses on next week when we get them.
PRAISES \O/: Vision therapy treatments are helping. Braydon is reading! Liver enzymes are back to normal!!!
PRAYER REQUESTS: Glasses to be an easy adjustment. VT exercises at home to continue to be effective. Seizures to stop.
His doctor wants to do a 3rd round of vision therapy. Jacoby and I feel like we need to give Braydon a break for a little while and pick back up with treatments in the future. Currently we have been doing one day a week in SS for occupational and speech therapy. One day a week in Longview for vision therapy. And two days a month in Houston for neurology and oncology appts. It's just too much. We are however going to continue to do vision therapy exercises and vision hygiene at home. This itself requires a couple of hours a day and lots of verbal reinforcement. We have also been managing to do these two things (along with all the appts) and homeschool Monday through Thursday for some time now. It was just getting to be too much. I am going to continue speech and occupational therapies for now and will reassess that situation on the fall.
His opthamologist in Longview also suggested that since we are taking a break, having Braydon wear glasses for reading and television time (which isn't much anyhow). He said that since Braydon's eyes have to work harder than most people's, due to t he convergence insufficiency, it will help relieve some stress and strain on the eyes. They glasses will be very minimally magnified. He doesn't actually need help seeing because his vision is 20/20, it will just take a little stress off the eyes when having to use the visual field for extended periods of time.
I will post a pic of Braydon with his glasses on next week when we get them.
PRAISES \O/: Vision therapy treatments are helping. Braydon is reading! Liver enzymes are back to normal!!!
PRAYER REQUESTS: Glasses to be an easy adjustment. VT exercises at home to continue to be effective. Seizures to stop.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Time to play catch up...
It's been a while since I have had time to blog....Oh let me tell the truth....I have been experiencing major writers block. Like I can't even muster up a paragraph. This is inconvenient considering I started writing a book about ten days ago. LOL. Does this happen to writers? Or is the info always there, cause if it is....maybe this writing thing is not for me! Hmmmm. We'll just wait and see. We have however been busy. Like fun busy though not crazy schedule busy.
The boys and Jacoby and I went to the lake this past weekend for Mother's Day. We took Skippy and we had so much fun. The only un-fun part was Skippy almost drowned but he is ok. He is a lab so he can swim and had been in and out of the water successfully. But then he jumped in off a pier with a leash on and proceeded to swim AROUND the pole! WHAT? It was a high stress moment. But all is well. We went fishing, did paddle boats, a flat-bottom boat, cleaned and cooked our fish and grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, built a fire, just hung out and relaxed and had such a good time! Below are pics from our trip.
I have also recently made time to get out and do something with a friend...WITH NO KIDS!...this is something I just don't do but I was so glad I did! Yesterday we went to the Botanical Gardens in Ft. Worth. It was beautiful. My friend Diane and I share a love for photography and we just spent the day visiting and hanging out and taking pictures. Oh and she introduced me to Costco....now THAT is a good friend huh? I had never been believe it or not. It hasn't even been 24 hours and I think I have my husband talked into joining! Below are pics from the Botanical Gardens.
We were busy with Relay for Life the weekend before.I just wanna say I am so proud of Hopkins County on so many levels. But to be one of the largest fund raising counties in the whole state of Texas every year for the American Cancer Society is really something! Major cities like Dallas and Houston participate in this event every year and we still manage to be one of the top producing fundraisers. Way to go Hopkins County. Here are a few pictures of my family's celebration of life.
As far as Braydon's health...he is doing good. We still haven't seen any changes from the medication. We don't feel like it is correcting the seizure problem at all. Tomorrow we have more lab work done at Dr. Conner's office then to MD Anderson next week. I feel like we will be making necessary changes to the medication then. Please keep him in your prayers! See ya soon!
The boys and Jacoby and I went to the lake this past weekend for Mother's Day. We took Skippy and we had so much fun. The only un-fun part was Skippy almost drowned but he is ok. He is a lab so he can swim and had been in and out of the water successfully. But then he jumped in off a pier with a leash on and proceeded to swim AROUND the pole! WHAT? It was a high stress moment. But all is well. We went fishing, did paddle boats, a flat-bottom boat, cleaned and cooked our fish and grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, built a fire, just hung out and relaxed and had such a good time! Below are pics from our trip.
I have also recently made time to get out and do something with a friend...WITH NO KIDS!...this is something I just don't do but I was so glad I did! Yesterday we went to the Botanical Gardens in Ft. Worth. It was beautiful. My friend Diane and I share a love for photography and we just spent the day visiting and hanging out and taking pictures. Oh and she introduced me to Costco....now THAT is a good friend huh? I had never been believe it or not. It hasn't even been 24 hours and I think I have my husband talked into joining! Below are pics from the Botanical Gardens.
We were busy with Relay for Life the weekend before.I just wanna say I am so proud of Hopkins County on so many levels. But to be one of the largest fund raising counties in the whole state of Texas every year for the American Cancer Society is really something! Major cities like Dallas and Houston participate in this event every year and we still manage to be one of the top producing fundraisers. Way to go Hopkins County. Here are a few pictures of my family's celebration of life.
As far as Braydon's health...he is doing good. We still haven't seen any changes from the medication. We don't feel like it is correcting the seizure problem at all. Tomorrow we have more lab work done at Dr. Conner's office then to MD Anderson next week. I feel like we will be making necessary changes to the medication then. Please keep him in your prayers! See ya soon!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Pictoria....
My love for photography has a name....Pictoria! These are just some pictures I love that I have recently taken...
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