Happy Birthday Jamie... Has it really been 17 years? Jamie brought us so much joy the day she was born...and that is still true today. A gift from God that continues to bless our family! 

We enjoyed looking thru her baby book this morning (see photo).  She and I are heading out to DMV soon for her to take the test for her permit...then out to lunch together.  Krissy and I are planning a party for her this afternoon before the 'big kids' go to CYT.  Krissy will be in bed by the time they get home...it's ok...she wouldn't like the Baskin Robbins mint chocolate chip ice cream cake we ordered anyway...Krissy's a strictly 'vanilla girl'. 

Benjamin still at home but am considering sending him back to school soon.  He's feeling fine...I'm just a little nervous.  He's one happy little boy these days.

Benjamin update/Seussical

Hi~ Benjamin is doing better.  He came home from the hospital late Thursday afternoon.  We were a little worried for awhile, but he seems to be feeling pretty good now and eating well too. He's on an antibiotic so hopefully that will help him stay well.

It's been pretty non-stop since then.  We took Krissy to see the final dress rehearsal of Seussical on Thursday evening.  She was so good and sat thru the whole thing without being disruptive. It's such a cute show and kept her interest up.  It helped that David, Jamie and Anne are on stage so much.  On Friday morning, I was let into the church at 9:15 after dropping Jamie off at Mt. Hood.  I needed to get the refreshment area set up and decorated.  By 11 or so, I was done and headed to Costco for the last minute shopping for the show.  Then back home to spend some time with the little kids before leaving for the theater again about 4 pm.  It was a really fun opening night with a party following.  Friends of ours offered to take our 3 kids home with them for the night (up to Washougal!) so that was a gift for me as I didn't have to stay until the party got over (at midnight).  Larry left about 10:30 for work, so I came home to a quiet house.  I had Saturday morning here, then back to Costco for more food before arriving at the church about 1:45.  The 3pm show went well and around 6, I left for Vancouver's show (they opened this weekend too).  Well both 205 and I-5 were parking lots...amazing traffic jams.  I got to the theater about 7:20 and then was so tired, it didn't matter how great the show was, I needed to get home.  So at intermission I left, with the Wrights willing to bring the 3 kids home later.  On Sundays when we have a show, they have a worship time for the kids and parents prior to call time.  It was really a good time together with some thought provoking words from scripture and a wonderful time of music. I continue to be so thankful for this group of friends we have thru CYT and the leadership that cares about these kids far beyond their acting or singing abilities.    Then round 3 of Seussical at 3pm, followed by pictures, followed by a short birthday celebration for Jamie in the green room.  Finally home about 7:30 and feel fine, but really ready to drop.  

Thanks for praying us thru last week....we so hope Benjamin can stay well now for awhile.  I can't believe we just have a week until Disneyland with Krissy.  The show closes Sunday and we plan to leave Monday morning.  She is extremely excited.  So are we.

Love Janelle 

Advocacy

Happy Wednesday....it's happier than Monday and Tuesday, anyway!  As you can see, Benjamin is sitting up some today after sleeping away much of the past 2 days.  He was rather determined to find a button on the IV pump that would provide music with the light show.  I have to watch that boy!

I had the nurse call me at 5:30 this morning and by 5:59 I was rolling out of the parking lot, heading for home to have some time with Krissy before school.  Benjamin was asleep when I left and I knew Larry would be over when he finished work.  I got home and I think the 'normal morning' routine was helpful for Krissy.  She's been pretty edgy and I think the change in routine with my being in the hospital, etc. tends to amplify her issues.  We had a good time...she got in the shower and got shampoo'd without a fuss.  She wanted to go to Chuck E Cheese (again) today, but she already got to go on Sunday.  I did tell her that Daddy would take her out for ice cream tonight, so she is happy to have that to look forward to.

On my way back up here, I dropped about 40 lbs of gummy bears off at my friend Teri's house to package up for the show Friday night (Thank you!!)  Such a relief to have that taken care of.  With Benjamin's illness, we weren't going to be doing any food repackaging at our house anyway, even though we wear gloves to do it.  I was in the car coming back when Larry called and said the pediatrician's had just arrived in Benj's room and wondered if I wanted him to put them on speaker phone.  Ah, the technology.  But I said "no"...it felt alittle overwhelming to try and do that and drive at the same time.  Good thing, because he told me when I got here that they suggested putting an NG tube down to feed him.  I said "did you tell them 'over my dead body'??"  This is NOT going to happen.  Benjamin always knows when he feels like eating and he'll do it when he's ready.  Then they ordered a GI consult and the MD hasn't been in yet, but I hear they want to do a barium study tomorrow at 9;30.  Probably not.  He acts like he has a stomach bug and he's starting to get better.  I really don't think forcing a bunch of barium down is going to improve the situation.  Anyway, you can pray for me as I have a calm (deep breath, Janelle) discussion with this doctor I've never met before, sometime this afternoon.  Advocating for Benjamin is a difficult role to be in sometimes...I want to be reasonable, but sometimes I think they just come up with things they can order so they feel like they're doing something.  I'm good giving him a little more time to come out of this.  But pray that I'll have wisdom and respond like I should, even if that means needing to be open to something that I don't like.  He's showing some real improvement today, so thanks for keeping the prayers going.  We have been so blessed by our CYT family...one of the moms (she has 4 kids in the show, so not a bunch of free time this week, to say the least) orgainized a 'meal drive' for our family...frozen meals for us to pull out in the days ahead.  One family sent a wonderful meal home with the kids last night.  I've been moved to tears by their love and care for us during this very busy time for them too.  Will let you know how things go.  Love, Janelle 

Well, our poor little boy is just really not doing very well yet.  It seems so odd that he had a bug last weekend, recovered so quickly, and then came down a week later with similar, but more severe symptoms.  They are being very thorough, doing blood work etc. to rule out more serious issues, but I think (and certainly pray) that we've just not turned that corner yet....and when we do, he'll make a good come back again.  He tries to sit up, then lays his head in my hand or on the crib rail and falls asleep.  He's definitely not himself.  

We're so thankful for the notes and calls of people praying and offering to help in different ways.  Anne and Larry got some things over to mom that we needed before Larry went to sleep for the day...and mom met me partway between home and the hospital so I wouldn't need to be gone from him for long.  I now have some of his favorite videos and the laptop, so I'm not having to try and type e-mails on my i-pod.  

I hope Benjamin and I can both get some good sleep tonight.  I just wrapped up in a blanket and napped in the wee hours this morning.....I'm hoping to get the pj's out tonight and do some serious sleeping.  

Thanks for your continued prayers for Benjamin.  More news soon...Janelle

Benjamin Blues

Krissy was absolutely ready to get up by 5 am today, so I'm rapidly fading this evening. Since I can't watch her and get Benjamin taken care of at the same time, I didn't realize that he was sick until I had gotten her on the bus.  He's been pretty sick all day...when he's awake he's vomiting or trying to....but has been pretty out of it all day, sleeping, hardly moving from one spot.  It was just a week ago today that we last came home from the hospital so it's hard to imagine that he got some other stomach bug already.  But something is sure wrong.  The older kids all had dress rehearsal (Sun-Thurs eves this week) so I called Larry about 5:15.  He got ready and took Benjamin up to the hospital while I stayed here with Krissy and got her to bed.  I'm planning to drive up once the kids get home.   I haven't heard anything since they checked in at the ER, but thank you for praying for him...that they'll be able to get an IV in the first time, that they can give him something to calm his tummy down.  I feel so sorry for him.  And then, as always, pray for us too.  We so hope we don't get whatever it is.   Larry has to work tonight and I'm already very tired.  It's a very fun but super busy week with the theater and opening night on Friday.  It would be great if this was just limited to him this time (please!) and his recovery was as amazingly fast as last week.  I'll post again, probably in the morning with an update.  Thanks!

It's another beautiful day in Gresham and for Benjamin, it was Special Olympics Day.  As you can see, he was far from a willing participant!  He apparently walked all the way around the track in the parade that opened the day.....and that was the end of his cooperation.  Mom and I went to watch for awhile.  I think the whole thing was really just too overwhelming for him. It was his turn to be in a race, which is the first photo you see.  As we walked him to the starting line, he just kept sitting down and then as everyone left him in the dust, and the crowd cheered them on, he plopped down and covered his ears.  For this he was awarded an aqua participant ribbon which he promptly began chewing on.  The next picture with Merrie his teacher, let us know what he really thought of the whole thing (like we had any doubts) but he managed his sweet smile for Merrie and Mama before I left.  

Good Morning,

It is a beautiful day here!  I am back to full speed and got the 2 little ones off to school singlehandedly this morning.  Jamie has been such a help with the early mornings the past few days.  Benjamin was so happy this morning. I took a  bunch of pictures of him with probably 85%  being of the top of his head :o)  He was happy to see his wheelchair, happy to go on the bus...

Jamie and I took both he and Krissy to the park yesterday and they had a great time.  Benjamin loves to walk down by the water...Jamie thought he wanted to get in.  Next time we'll take some duck food and see if he enjoys that.  He generally isn't very excited about animals, so it may scare him.

Mom and I are off for a walk on the Springwater Trail...it's too beautiful of a day to walk on the treadmill.

Thanks for your prayers for our family....no one else has gotten 'the bug' that took Benjamin and I out.  We're hoping we're safe!

Love,  Janelle