A quick note as I really need to get Benjamin up and ready for school...Kristin's MD appt was at 5pm yesterday...Larry & I were both able to attend with her.  It was about an hour long and she got to play with a number of toys.  The Dr. even got her paintbrush and water so that she could do some water color painting (mostly of her own hands).  Dr. Sabin has a great deal of experience with children like Kristin and asks many insightful questions.  We came away feeling like she's up to speed on how things are right now and it was good to talk over some possible options if they are necessary later.  We are both very comfortable that she isn't a person who aggressively pushes medication at all...in fact she agreed with us that it doesn't seem like a step we need to consider right now.  It seems that Krissy has alot of difficulty in certain environments that she feels overwhelmed with...but she isn't by an means, out of control all of the time.  We saw that over Christmas break we went a full 3 weeks without a meltdown, so this was encouraging.  We're also seeing that she's doing well generally in her new school.  I think she is testing and finding where the boundaries are, but she never is resistent to going and seems happy there.  

Time for me to go get the little boy up.  Our older kids have auditions today for the winter show...I get anxiety just thinking about all these brave kids that get up today and sing all alone. Then the weekend of drama...waiting for the call back list, waiting for the cast list....

Have a wonderful weekend...an extended one for some of us/you!

 

Hi...Our week is off to a pretty good start..actually I just realized I need to read Krissy's journal from school today before I make rash statements like that.   She apparently spent 35 minutes in seclusion yesterday (aka padded room) and actually seemed quite calm when she came home from school.  I told one of my friends that I think maybe I should see if I could book a reservation in that room for myself...sort of like a tanning salon...you go in, lie down and wait for the timer to go off.   And speaking of salons, it was time for a trim up for Kristin, so we went to see our friend Lacey this afternoon after school.  Kris had a hard time sitting still, but eventually we got it done.  

I've just looked in her folder and see that her teachers and class from her former school have sent her cards and best wishes at her new school.  Some of the kids drew pictures for her and their letters are so sweet...as you can see they know what speaks to her :o)  Goofy girl~

Good Morning,Krissy had a good 'rest of the week' at school...the notes home from the teacher each day always provide some humor (and occasional groans).

Anne had her first MAJOR haircut yesterday, and was glad she could send a 10 inch braid to 'Locks of Love' while she was at it. I told her that her hair hasn't been this short since she was 3 or 4. She is totally happy with it and we all agree that it looks nice (this was a little hard on us, but it was time to let this be her decision....nice we all like the outcome :o)

On a thankful and very excited note, Larry and I were given a week in Cabo San Lucas in March. We're so thankful to have this week of rest and refreshment to look forward to. Larry would have had to request March time off work by Sept 1 of last year, and we knew humanly speaking it was unlikely to find coverage over Spring Break. But, the 4 nights he was scheduled that week were quickly covered by others and he now has the entire time off.  

Hope you have a wonderful weekend~ Love Janelle

Hello again....

I wanted to let you know that Krissy had a good first day at her new school yesterday.  She was very excited to go from the time she got up.  Her bus buddy Kris, parks her car at our house about 7:25, then rides to/from school with Krissy.  I think it was a good sign that Kristin was quite eager to be going back again today.

Larry, Jamie, Kristin and I were able to visit Pathways Community School on Tuesday afternoon.  There weren't any kids there at 4pm (contributing to the nice peaceful environment we experienced!) and that ended up being a great opportunity for Kris and us to be able to stroll thru the building.  They have such a nice set up with a great sensory room, lots of different options for activities, a cute little cafeteria and a beautiful gym area (formerly the Gresham Roller Rink for any of you older folks like me who skated there as kids).  There isn't any outdoor play option, which I am grateful for.  Her class has 10 kids and 12 staff.  She gets to go to the gym 3 times a day (2 informal times, 1 PE) where they have 'bikes', scooters and all sorts of fun things to do.  We came away feeling very comfortable with the environment and seeing how much more suited to Kristin's need it is, rather than a large regular school.  

A very wonderful thing about Christmas vacation that we saw was how well she did here at home (the meltdown Saturday night at bedtime was the only one in about 3 weeks ).  As you know we were waiting for an appointment with the MD to see about getting some medication for her.   We are much more content now to delay and hopefully avoid going there if having her in an environment where she's happy and not overwhelmed (with hundreds of students around and frequent transitions with class/location changes), takes care of much of the behavior issues they were seeing at her former school.  Thanks for continuing to pray for her as she transitions and hopefully settles into a happy routine at Pathways.  

The picture is a collage poster Krissy and I worked on this week.  She loves printing LOTS of pictures off of the computer.  We're thankful that her funding provides ink and paper!

Oh yes, a headache update.  I almost forgot because I don't have one.  Yesterday I got into a chiropractor that I've gone to before who's been very helpful.  I had tried to get in over the Christmas holidays, but he was out.  ANYWAY.....I told him it feels like my neck is somehow very involved with these headaches.  He seemed genuinely amazed at how bad my neck was. They did some electrical stim therapy on my neck and then he adjusted it.  I felt so much better and still do.  Wish I had started there 4 weeks ago..... I am scheduled to go back tomorrow and want to make sure I'm where I need to be...he's not the kind who keeps you coming back unneccessarily, but as off as things were, he wanted me back once more this week.  I will keep my appt with the neurologist in 2 weeks to follow up on the MRI even if the headaches are completely resolved.  

I kept Benjamin home from school today.  He sounded like he was borderline croupy this morning before he got up.   I couldn't send him off to school that way....and I have now heard nothing since he got up.  He's happily playing (hookie!!) with his toys in the living room. Sorry Merrie....maybe tomorrow~

More news before long, no doubt~ Janelle

Hi,

Just a brief note to let you know that Krissy seems pretty much back to herself today (the reason why this needs to be brief!) She is up and around, VERY active and apparently happy to be well into her 3rd week of vacation.  We sure appreciate your prayers for her transition into her new school this week (Wednesday, first day). I'm hoping to go and visit tomorrow to scope out the safety aspects and hopefully identify any potential (knowing Kristin) weak points. 

For those of you wondering about my MRI, I don't have a definitive answer.  I got one of those Saturday morning phone calls from the doctor saying "it's preeeeettttty much normal" but went on to read some observations that he doesn't know the significance of or if it's nothing.  So that along with of the atypical migraines that I continue to have (this is over 3 weeks now and almost daily) he's referred me to a neurologist.  I may be wrong, but I think whatever questions he has about the MRI are probably incidental and not related to the headaches. I have an appt in 2-3 weeks.  I don't have a brain tumor, which he definitely reassured me about, so that's good news.  Thanks for your prayers as I try and cope with these somewhat debilitating headaches and keep up with the home front.  Larry has been wonderful in helping alot and I think it was very nice of the Lord to smite him with a cold so that he couldn't go to work (enough to keep him from working with the babies but not feeling bad) during part of this physically difficult time for me :o) We have alot of fun in our home, but the activity level is certainly enough to keep 2 adults from ever getting bored, so for him to be awake and alert has certainly lightened my load. 

As Winnie the Pooh would say, "it's a very blustery day out" here in Gresham.  Hope you are safe and warm and dry!

Love janelle

Thanks for praying for Krissy...she definitely hasn't been herself today.  I think this is probably pretty normal for post concussion, but she's been quieter and lying down alot, curled up on the sofa.  I told her we'd go to the doctor tomorrow if she's not feeling better. She says her head and stomach are sick and we believe her.  I so hope that a lesson will be learned for her in this.

I'll plan to post again tomorrow and let you know how she's feeling.  She has a couple more days of vacation, probably a good thing.  I wouldn't want to try and send her feeling like she does.

David and Jamie return to Mt Hood Community College tomorrow to start winter term.  They both are on a Mon-Wed-Fri schedule this term (thank you!) which should make transportation a little easier on mom.  David is very willing to begin driving them, and it probably won't be long before that can happen.

Anne has worked hard over Christmas break on her school work and is doing a good job.  Her regular session begins again tomorrow, and Benjamin also returns to school (I hope!!)

Rest well,

Janelle

Happy New Year

Warmest Greetings in this brand new year~

Our blog seems to be event (or is it 'crisis'?) driven.  I realize we've had a pretty peaceful Christmas holiday if you've not heard from us for quite awhile.  We had a really nice Christmas with family here.  We had both Grandma's here for cinnamon rolls and our Christmas morning festivities.  Later in the day Larry's sister Linda, and her husband Ray came and we enjoyed dinner and time together.  Krissy had a great time.  Linda and Ray had snagged a 3' tall musical Goofy at their neighbor's garage sale....that was a huge hit with Krissy.  We have been battling the effects of cold weather chapped lips and skin for Krissy (explanation for why she looks like she does in the photos).  Thankfully Rick Phipps, our friend and local dermatologist was able to see her on the 23rd, the last day he was in the office for the year, and gave us some medication to help.  If only we could talk her into not rubbing it off....

We got to have a brief visit with our friends, the Deffinbaugh's yesterday morning when they were in town.  Krissy was very excited to see them again.  I guess we had done our quota of days without drama, so last night it was our turn.  Krissy had a pretty good day, but was showing some signs of agitation.  As per our usual routine, our faithful sitter Cindy was here with Kris & Benjamin while we went to church.  When we got home, she said that Krissy had really escalated shortly before bedtime.  She had gotten her to her room where Krissy proceeded to scream and bang on the door.  When we arrived home, she had quieted down considerably.  After Cindy left, we heard Krissy crying, and then more screaming, so I figured she was just 'over the top' upset still.  Jamie went down and I sent one of the pills we use, maybe once a month or so. It's a blood pressure pill that the Dr. gave us for when she's really upset, to just calm her down some.  Jamie gave that to her, but came up and said that Krissy was saying her head hurt and some of what she was saying wasn't making sense (different from her baseline).  I went down and saw that her forhead was very red and immediately realized that she must have been butting the door with her head....it's not too unusual for her to bang on it if she's upset, and we'd have no way of knowing if she was using her head or hands or feet.  Anyway, we were very concerned at the apparent horrific headache she had...she was crying and asking us to squeeze her head.  Larry helped get her ready and Jamie and I headed to Doernbecher (Children's Hospital) with her.  I was concerned that she may have really done some damage.  They were so nice to us...the triage nurse has a niece with autism about the same age and was just so caring.  The ER was nearly empty (who would've thought on a Saturday holiday weekend night??) and we didn't even get a chance to sit down in the waiting room before they took us back.  By this time the Clonidine had kicked in and she was very sleepy.  I felt badly for 'muddying the waters'  by having given that to her, but I did it before realizing she had a head injury.  And the great thing was, the MD was quite happy about it, because she was sedated enough to do the CT scan without starting an IV to give her sedation.  I would never have dreamed that Krissy could hold still for this....she was awake, but just very compliant with what I asked her to do.  She in fact started to get the giggles at one point.  I think she thought the 'donut machine' was pretty neat.  They said she did perfect for the scan and finaly after an hour + wait, we learned that it was negative and were able to bring her home.  They said she had a concussion and went over the usual instructions.  She zonked for the trip home and slept well thru the night.   Thank you Lord.  

Benjamin is doing well, (we're) hoping for school tomorrow.  His ostomy is functioning really well right now, so we'll see what the surgeon says this week.  

We were so encouraged last evening when Jamie was baptized and gave her testimony during the evening service.  This was something she had wanted to do for some time and they invited people, if the Lord was leading them in this step, to come.  So she did.  Very special time for us.

Catch us up on your news when you can.  Love, Janelle