Growing

Dan has called me a slacker with a Capital "S".  Guess I should update :)

We've been a busy bunch over here so far this summer.  

We went to see the movie Monster's University in 3D, the day before Avrianna went to Camp for a week.  The movie was great!  Danny was awake, engaged, and smiles pretty much the whole time.

 The next morning it was off to Iowa University.  Avrianna, Hazel, and Matt went together, it was nice (for Mom) to know she was there with familiar faces.   Avrianna on the other hand, I think could of cared less.....as long as she was diving.  LOL!  No she really was glad they went with her.

 Ready to get all registered!

 Here we GO!

 It's official!  I am no longer needed :)  

 The dorm room she stayed in.  EEEEK!!  I'm leaving my baby in a dorm.  I know time is flying by, but I think this is a lil ridiculous.  "Get over it mom, she'll be just fine".  Hazel and Avrianna were room mates

Hillcrest Dorms

 Room # E3.

 Of course she needed to get a key chain for her collection.

 Danny was very excited about all the peace and quite the house was for a week :)  I think he really started to miss her by the end of the week.  He loves it when Avrianna comes in and lays in his bed to watch movies with him.  He really LOVES his sister!

 While Avrianna was at Camp Dan went to Garfield, MN to pick up our new RV.  It's a 2013 Newmar 3911 Canyon Star ~ Handicap accessible

 Slides in and there is still alot of space.  Looking from the bedroom to the front

 Slides in looking from the front to the Bedroom

 Master

 Right from the manufacture a Braun Wheelchair lift ~ LOVE IT!!!

 Living, dining, and kitchen area

 Dining, living, and front of RV

 Kitchen

 The couch is Avrianna and Danny's bedroom....Queen air mattress.

 This is going to be amazing traveling in this rig.  The ease and safety traveling with Danny.  I can't wait ~ Let's go RVing!!

We decided to pack up the RV and head to Iowa to pick up Avrianna.  She was surprised to see the new RV when we picked her up.  

Danny was all set and ready to go.  His new chair works perfect !

 Bailey even got to go with.  She always loves road trips :)

 And Gunner...well he's the new Navigator.  "Are we going the right way?"

 "Anyone in the blind spot?"

All Comfy in their spots

 The morning we were to pick Avrianna up, they had a dive meet to show off some of the things that they learned through the week.  It was held, and they practiced all week, at the Campus Recreational Wellness Center.  It is AMAZING!!  WOW ~ what a great place!!

 The diving area!

 Danny was so relaxed from being in the RV...he slept all nite long AND till about 11:30.  Yeap, got him ready, did his treatments, moved from RV to mini van, and all the noise in the CRWC didn't wake this sleeping prince.  Danny you are MISSING it!!

 Danny was as excited to watch as Avrianna was to leave.  It was a difficult one for her.  She had a BLAST not only diving but with making new friends.  So leaving just broke her heart..........

 Head Coach Todd

 Coach Lauren ~ Avrianna loved watching her practice on her down time.  Lauren is trying out for the Olympics, (which is Avrianna's Goal to dive in the Olympics) but it will be for the Canadian team.  Did you know you have to be 14 to go in for the trails at the Olympics?  Well guess who will be 14 for the 2016 Olympics......practice, practice, and practice!!  It's great that out of this camp they are still staying in contact with each other.

 Dream BIG, Baby Girl!!
On the way home Avrianna cuddled up with Gunner in bed and watched some movies.  She needed some down time, I could tell, as she was an emotional mess.

The next morning Avrianna slept in till 11:30, that is unheard of.  If she sleeps till 9.....that's something.  I had to check on her a couple of times to make sure she was ok :)  She's already in the works to go back next year.  I can bet it will be for 2 weeks instead of 1 next year.  WOW ~ when did my baby get so grown up?

Here are some videos :)  I couldn't be more proud!!

An amazing rainbow in our backyard.  As you can see the pool is once again blue!  Thanks to Jenny :)

The roses in front of Danny's room windows are VERY Happy this year. 

Lori's Lily Garden is starting to see some color :)  I can't wait to see what it look like when all the lilies are bloomed

 Danny has lost another tooth.  Thanks Ms Keren for making sure he didn't swallow it

 Last week during practice she smacked her hand on the board while doing a reverse one and a half.  I had to be there to witness it, eeek....all I kept thinking, before she came to the surface, was please don't let it be her head.  Sigh :(  Her hand is pretty soar, but she can move it.  Coachie says she is now an official diver as she hit the board.

 Happy 4th of July to you all.  I hope you all had a safe and happy day.  We went to Riverside park to watch the Webfooters waterski show and walk around the commityfest.

 Afr the park we chillaxed poolside to play a game of dominoes :)

 Then it was off to go watch the fireworks.

 We watched the Neenah Fireworks from Shattuck Middle School's track n field.  We had a great show and it wasn't packed full of people.  We were home within minutes of the show ending and we didn't have to deal with traffic or mobs of people.  Now that's my kind of firework show

 I am READY!!

 OOOOOOOO ~ AAAAAHHHHHHH

 Cotton Candy.........AWESOME stuff!!  Where did it go?  It was on my tongue.  LOL

 These two are great movie buddies :)  We chillaxed today Harry Potter style.

 Our new mission is to try to get to each one of the supper clubs in this book.  I can't wait to start!

Next week we have a new nurse starting on with us.  I am very excited and hopeful that she will be a good match.  Time will tell to see how she does with Danny and see if she is a good fit with out family.  Danny had been a healthy and happy boy.  He had a bout of an UTI earlier but other then that......shhhhhhhhh I'm not going to say it.

Congratulations ~ Summer is HERE!

Now you wouldn't know it's Summer break with the weather we've been having the last week.  I had to turn the heat back on yesterday....it's JUNE, right?  It's been cold and raining.  It's odd that I have making pots of soup this time of year.  Last week was chili and today Smoked turkey dumplin Soup.

YUMMY!!

We hope that Mother Nature gets it out of her system and then .......

SUMMER will be here soon.

Yesterday was the LAST DAY of school for the kids.  No more elementary school for Avrianna.  She is officially on her way to middle school ~ EEK!!  Bring on 6th Grade at Horace Mann Middle School.  In Horace Mann this school will be filled with ONLY ALL the 6th Graders.  Then the next year they go to Shattuck for 7th n 8th.  I think it's pretty neat they will be able to have their own school and learn to adjust to moving every class and getting to know more kids, But the change of 3 schools n 3 years is all intimidating.  I'm sure Avrianna will do great....it's just her MOM that has to get used to the ideas :)  Danny is now a 4th grader....

WOW ~ can we please just hit pause ??

Danny has been doing great!  Unfortunately he is started the summer of on the wrong foot as he has a UTI now.  I haven't see an improvement since the start of the antibiotics, but I'm still hopeful.  We are going to see Dr Kasper tomorrow and we'll see what he has to say.  Can you believe we haven't seen Dr Kasper since January?  I don't think we have ever gone a stretch that long.  With this UTI his dysautonomic storms are kicking his butt.  I hope we can get his system calmed down soon and he can start to enjoy the summer vacation!!

Avrianna's first and last day of 5th grade~ Jammie Day for the last day :)

Waiting on the Front door for Avrianna to come home!

 The last week of school for Avrianna was FUN TIMES ~  Here she is at the 5th grade Graduation breakfast on Tuesday Morning.  Myself and a few other mom's helped put on the spread for them.  This years theme was "Lakeview is a Treasure, but there is More Gold to Find"  So the decorations were done up with pirates and treasure boxes.

 The Class of 2020!

I am very proud of Avrianna's hard work and accomplishments.....she received many awards at the ceremony.  WAY TO GO !!  After the ceremony I handed out the yearbooks...they turned out great!  Considering I have never done anything like that when I was in school and I got no help from the other parents....I was pretty impressed with myself :)

 I surprised her with a Graduation Cake that night after dinner :)

Monday I chaperoned on a field trip to Bay Beach Amusement Park.  I was a great day to go...not too hot, not too cold, and it didn't rain!!
Getting ready to ride the Zippen Pippen roller coaster

 This ride was relocated here ~ it was located in Memphis and was claimed to be Elvis Presley's favorite ride.  I like it myself :)

 Yeap that's Avrianna in the front row with her hands up!!

After the 5th Grade Breakfast I treated myself and got an new Tattoo done by Jake at Wicked Ink.  I absolutely LOVE his work.  I had an old tattoo and the scar from where the skin cancer was removed covered up.  AMAZING!!

We are anxiously awaiting for our new handicap accessible RV to arrive.  It is completed and now sitting at the dealership....we now just have to have it delivered.  I can't wait to have our first vacation in there.  It should make our vacations alot less stressful and alot more safe.   Happy Travels!!

What's Wrong??

I already have said my speech in regards to what is wrong with the Mainstream medical field, but as more n  more of my test results come back I'm just ........ Completely Saddened that doctors are ok with practicing that way.  I am FOREVER thankful that I've found an amazing Dr (and his staff) and help me live a better, and hopefully longer, life.  I started seeing Dr Scott then end of March and wow what a 180 degree turn my lifestyle is now headed in.  I have one more med to go off of and then I will be OFF ALL my prescription drugs.

Can I tell you how amazing I am feeling?!?

I did have alil set back about 1 week ago when I tried to go off my Cymbalta cold turkey (ok what does turkey have to do with stopping something right away?) as I went into a severe withdrawal.  I didn't know it at the time, I thought I was dieing.  I was disorientated, dizzy, sick (literally throwing up), and fatigued... I was like this for about 3 days when I started doing some research and that's when I found out it was do to the Cymbalta and the nasty side effects going off this nasty drug.  Boy I'm so glad the doctor told me to tapper down instead of cold turkey (there's that damn turkey again)......WHY don't they tell ya this stuff??  So I went back on my normal dose and the next day,

WHALA

I was back to "Normal".  I started a tapper down and should be finished with it in the few days.  Everything I have been doing has been "Natural".  I look back at how skeptic I was less then 2 months ago about functional medicine/holistic and I'm telling you

IT'S NO JOKE!!

I've changed my eating around once again as I got my food sensitivity test back.  It's great to see what I should not be eating, but it also sucks to see what I should not be eating.  I have been able to broaden my horizons further then nuts, seeds, berries, fruit, and veggies.....which is so nice.  I just wish I had the results of my food sensitivity before started that diet as most of what I was eating ~ YEAP I am sensitive too.  This last week was a true test of my commitment to myself and health......

Gall Bladder Flush

Through another test we have found out that I am not digesting my foods.  So my pancreas is not working properly :(  The thought is my gall bladder also isn't doing it's job.  Which lead me to my first real flushing.  My diet consisted of NO FAT all week and supplements....lots of them.  I could have 1g of fat per 100 calories, NOT an easy thing to do.  I have done some serious shopping for food...going different places and reading labels like I have never read labels before.  It can be frustrating and exhausting, but my hope is I once I know what I can have and where to get it....it won't be so difficult.  I hope!  On day 6 I got to add in more supplements and lemon juice, freshly squeezed and non sweetened.  With ONLY grapefruit for dinner.

PUCKER UP!!

I drank 1/2 cup 5 different times through the day.  Then my FAVORITE..... 1/2 cup of cold pressed organic unrefined olive oil.  Yeap.....YUMMY!

YUCK!!

I did it though...and didn't even puke!  I am amazed.  And if you EVER need a tip on how to clean yourself out.....believe me just straight lemon juice worked like a champ, but between the lemon juice and oil

It WORKS!!

Now let's hope that did what it needed to do, because I'm not too sure I'll be doing that again.......

EVER!

I'd rather opt to have the Gall Bladder removed.  I can say I've done it and I really don't need to experience it again.

My list of foods I have a sensitivity to is amazing.  Some of them on my list I don't even have to bat an eye about, but then there are others that are just wrong for me to NOT eat.
My DO NOT EAT List :
Amaranth, blackberry, buckwheat, red bean, blue cheese, Carrot, Cottage Cheese, Clam, Herring, Hazelnut, Mustard, Nutrasweet, Green Olive, Orange, Onion, Oyster, Oregano, Black Pepper, Pineapple, Radish, Rabbit, Sesame, Shrimp, Yogurt (any kind), Almond, Banana, Beet, Brussel Sprouts, Lima Bean, Pinto Bean, Casein, Egg White, Gluten, Litchi, Malt, Peanuts, Spinach, Tumeric, Wheat, Bakers Yeast, Brewers Yeast, Swiss Cheese

At First I looked at this list and said "what can I eat"?  When the shock wore off....there is a lot of things I can eat.  I just have to look alil harder...Look beyond what I see.  And now that I can eat things with more fat in them, my options that I can have are looking MUCH better.  Dan says he doesn't know how I do it, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

Now my system has started to detox.  I am going to see Dr Scott next week to talk about my gall bladder flush and go over more test results.  The other test that has come back to environmental sensitivity ...... I have to say I'm alil anxious to see what else triggers me.  Then to see what's the other flush I need to start, as my "gut" stool test showed things that shouldn't be there ie: yeast, wrong ecoli,  and h -pylori.  And I'm "healthy" with the main stream physicians, geez!  I have to wonder if things were caught and taken care of earlier would I be in such "rough" shape.  Well while I'm at it hang out my "dirty laundry"... Dr. Scott has also found my thyroid to not be working properly, my cortisol & testosterone levels are not even on the charts low,  my estrogen levels are high (find it funny as I've had a complete hystorectomy since '04, and my A16 estrogen (bad cancer producing) is through the roof high.

Well isn't the great NOT!! Which means more flushing in my future.  I just hope it's not like the last flush.  Say a prayer.....I will need it!

I'm Going to Ride this Wave

The World works in mysterious ways, doesn't it.  I've "handled" or "dealt" with so much in my life that even though I look great on the outside, my inside is a mess.  I would have never thought I'd be a 88 year old woman stuck in the a 38 year old body.  Just when I think I've been doing well with all my life has hit it me ...... my body says F U.  It's so true about someone having to hit rock bottom before they can get up.  I've internalized for so long, as that's all I ever knew how to do, and I was always one to say Stress is just mind over matter.  BUT your MIND does MATTER!  No matter how much you try to make light of a bad situation it still eats away at you, even when your not looking. I'm not sure what I should have done differently, or even if there was anything I could have done differently, and that really is scary.  I've, for the most part, met diversity head on...put my big girl pants on and I did it with a SMILE :)  Pretty good I might add too, lol.  I cope, move one, adapt...I'm sure there other great words for me (BE NICE).  Once again I have to adapt...I have NO choice....my Family is Depending on me....My LIFE Depends on it.   I've hit rock bottom!  With me being dx with cancer this year and having precancerous cells in the past....the options for my MS treatment are quite nill.

YIKES!!

So I have to take the bull by the horns and............................GO!

Quite honestly I've always poopoo'd to some degree the "naturalists" and thought they where "way out there".  I really didn't realize the "system" would allow so much "bad" things in our food.  And I AM a big enough person to say when I'm wrong.  I was WRONG!  As most of you know I am big at doing my research.  I need to be in the "know".  With every dx my son, daughter, husband, and for my self I have to know everything.  I'm shocked now that I'm really digging in and doing my homework.  I've pretty much now transitioned to mostly a Raw Diet.  For the last 3 weeks my diet consists of raw veggies, fruit, nuts, seeds, berries, and for dinner I will have some protein.  I think I'm finally over the hump with "needed" the carbs and other yummy things.  It definitely makes the grocery shopping easier....just have to go to the produce dept. and DONE.  I'm sure once I go through a complete detox to get all the heavy metals out and once ALL the testing comes back as to what the underlining issues I REALLY have I will be able to broaden my food options.  But for now this is it!  Along with this food regimen I've started to get on the Metagentics products (supplement and vitamins) which is All natural, mostly produced from plants (I've even started Danny on some it).  I can NOT lie, some of the products were an acquired taste and the limitations on all the "yummy" foods that I'm use to was NOT an easy feet to get through.  I keep reminding myself I NEED a CHANGE, I NEED to DO THIS, I WILL be a HEALTHIER person.  I am so very thankful that I have a wonderful support system, which was not always the case.  Dan has been fantastic!  It's wonderful have your loved ones and friends in your corner.  I know I can do this, but it makes is so much easier when you have support.  Now that I've been eating better and more "raw" Dan's is all gung ho with getting our garden ready for yummy treats for us to eat

"Right out the garden".

I've also been on this kick as to why?  Why in the world does most of the modern mainstream physicians not try their all to fix us.  They would rather "treat" us for the rest of our lives.  Instead of helping us be a better, healthier person.  I've been to Dr's, specialist, you name it......and most of my question's have were shut down as my test results weren't bad enough yet.  Well I'm asking so they don't get bad enough, Geez!  I don't know why it's taking me 38  difficult and unhealthy (for the most part) years to get kicked in the ass but I'm thankful something finally clicked.  I am thankful that Dan took the time to read (yet again another) one of my magazines and suggested I go to this seminar on detoxing (he found my current Neurologist that is in Milwaukee which we just LOVE through one of my magazine's).  I went to see Dr Scott in the hope he would have some good ideas to help me lose weight, and now I'm going him to improve my WHOLE WELL BEING!  Boy did he get more then he bargained for, lol.  It's amazing as I talk with Dr Scott over my history, my families history, my symptoms, and my tests results how easily some of this could have had a great chance of being prevented if the mainstream Dr's would have done these tests long ago to see how off whack my system is and really paid attention to the family history part of the form that they are all so sure about us filling out.  There is alot of connections as to what's going on with me and what my family history is like.  But WHY fix me when you can treat me .... for the rest of my life.   It angers me how much of my healthy life was taken away from me, and if my Dr,s would have really.... I mean REALLY gave a damn about me I might not be as sick as I am today.  Why help a person be better when they are "in" the "normal" ranges lets wait till it's too late and something is now really damaged and possibly unrepairable.  They can just pump you with more crap and meds......take 2 and call us in the morning.  Well I'm not sitting down and waiting till it's too late anymore.  I have a chance and control to make ME a better person!  I am going to stop being so lazy and STAND UP for ME!

It is what it is, by now and all I can do is NOW start to become a better healthier person.  My hope is I can get my family to eat and be better also.  One step at a time, but I believe once they see how well I am going to be doing, it won't be too hard to get them on board also.  As Dr Scott says We are going to Ride this WAVE to Shore,  so Hold on.  I'm sure there will be reefs, and an undertow to drag me under, but I am holding on with both hands as tight as I can.  

I am 48 hrs post op from having my malignant melanoma removed from my leg.  Now I sit and wait to see if they got it all.  Boy I hope so.  WOW did they cut out a large amount, not so much deep but more in circumference.  The nurse had to squeeze my skin together (yes I was awake) so the surgeon was able to get the whole to come close.  It's very tight!!  They have advised me to "take it easy" as the stitches have a high chance of popping open.  Well you all know me.......

I'm trying!!

Yesterday I had no nursing for Little Man, so I was alil slow at getting things done, but I did get them all done.  About 12:30 I had Danny and myself ready and I was able to sit on the couch and ice my leg.  We did have evening nursing so Dan took me out to dinner, it was fabulous.  I can't say how happy and excited that our relationship has made it through all of this, and that we are now better and stronger then ever.  We'll keep beating odds, one day at a time, together!

The kids are doing great!  I actually got a call from Dr K that other day as he was concerned we got a new pediatrician because we haven't called him in so long,  LOL.  Isn't that great!  Something else we've never been able to do.....have BOTH kids healthy for so long.  We are on the right track :)  Danny did have a trache vent clinic last week and things there went well.  It was more of a he's doing great.......see you in 6 months.  Except for Mom getting in trouble.  I've been putting more water in the trache cuff as he has been leaking alot of air.  Well guess I'm not suppose to be doing that, and I got my hands slap.  BUT they did understand that I will not allow the leaking to go on so I WILL do what I need to for it to stop.  They are ordering him and bigger, longer trache for Danny to try.  He will now be in an adult size......again

Danny you are 9!!

I will be going back down to Milwaukee for him to try out this new trache and have a chest xray to make sure it fits just right.  If it doesn't then we'll have to order a customized trache.  Well why not, I wouldn't expect it any other way.  LOL!  Danny still has to have his say in how "special" he is.
Avrianna is getting excited as in a month she has an opportunity to be in another dive meet.  Now if I can keep you "healthy" aka no concussions this time she's IN.  Can't wait to go watch all of her hard work pay off in a competition.

As I type this I can hear the banging and tinkering on the race car in the shop.  Today was to be Pre tech at the race track, but mother nature has other plans.  It has been warming up alil around here so the dirty dingy snow is melting.   But not fast enough....plus it did snow last nite :(  It's to the point now, that if mother nature puts it there, she can take it away.  LOL

Last week Dan, Myself, Avrianna, and Danny became official members at Our Savior's Lutheran Church.  It's a wonderful place, they make us feel so welcome!

Thanks for checking on us!  Please keep in your thoughts and prayers a few of our friends.
Ryan is back in the hospital for possible sepsis,
Thomas is hospitalized for going into respiratory failure, heart attack, and swelling on the brain
The Springstroh family as Larry passed away this week after a long battle against lung cancer

And then there was............................

I've said it before and I'll say it again......

NEVER!

EVER!

ask what else or what more? As there is ALWAYS a what else lurking around in my life.  So please stop wondering what more could happen to me or my family.
2 weeks ago I went into the Dermatologist to have my annual check over.  I had my forever reoccurring wart frozen off, and 2 moles removed.  The next day I went to go back to have a lump, about the size of a pea, on my leg removed. I've had issues with the incision since GO and have had to go in to have it checked out twice.
Can you believe ALL this for a size of a pea?  OUCHIE!  It takes up darn near my whole thigh :(

I finally get to have the stitches removed tomorrow morning, YAY!
Last week I received a phone call from the clinic that the lump was nothing to be worried about, but one of the moles that was removed on my leg has come back.......

CANCER!

MALIGNANT MELANOMA!

Well isn't that just great!

..................I can't even make this shit up.

Boy is my book just getting Bigger in bigger.  I don't even think I'd be able to fit all of my life in just one book.....maybe a series??  Now that's a thought.
I will be going in on April 4th to have surgery done on my leg in hopes the Doctors will be able to cut all of the cancer out.  They are hoping that we caught it soon enough that it hasn't grown too far too fast.  I can not have it done in the clinic as they believe the incision will be larger then the one I have already on the other leg, which could present an issue with trying to get it closed.  Why NOT, I wouldn't think for a minute it was going to be cut n dry (no pun intended).  With that being said, the concern is where else might I have cancer floating around that we can't see.  As it seems I'm a petri dish for cancerous cells and cancer runs rampid through my family. It doesn't help that my MS infusion is like chemo which drops my immune system down.  When I was younger I had Pre cancerous cells in my uterus (one of the reasons for my COMPLETE hysterectomy, yes I've been in menopause since I was 30), then again precancerous cells were removed from my arm last year, and now.....

I HAVE CANCER!

I'm getting a bunch a forms and paperwork about cancer,in the mail, to remind me and Even
"TIME" magazine is reminding me ~

Dan got me a beautiful bouquet of flowers to brighten my day.

So now I have to sit and wait to see how the results from my surgery come out to find out if the area we found can be all removed surgically.  

To make matters even worse.............

I will no longer be able to continue my MS infusion treatment.  So on top of dealing with this cancer scare, I get to await a ticking time bomb to blow up in my face any time now.  The stress alone should set me in a tail spin soon, but not being able to do the ONLY treatment that has worked against my MS.  Well hang on tight, this could be a very interesting ride.  I am trying my best to put a smile on my face and just go with the flow, as really that's all I can do.

Ever find yourself in the right spot at the right time??  Last Monday Ms Gail and I went to a presentation on Detoxing.  As you all know I have been busting my hump to lose weight and NOPE not a lb......  No matter how much I walk and watch what I eat.  I can get in a funk and eat whatever and not gain a lb either, which is nice...but frustrating non the less.  Dan knows and feels how frustrated I've been and showed me the article in one of the magazines we get.  So I went to see what it was all about.   I find it funny that I went there in hopes for some ideas, help, to lose weight.....BUT now I'm going there is for a life altering turn around.  This Dr practices functional medicine or holistic medicine....We are going back to the basics with this Dr and let me tell you how excited I am.  I'm amazed at the test results I've received, tests that really are common sense test, but the "mainstream" docs don't feel the need to test.  Oh no, why look into WHY ones system is the way it is.....just treat the problems, instead of trying to solve the problem.  Can you say pharmaceutical driven?  Going the "natural" way is going to be a very difficult route.  

Now why is that?  Shouldn't natural be easy?

I will need some serious self control and persistence.  It's SCARY  alarming to see what we eat and how programmed we are towards all this bad stuff.  I can't say this is going to be easy, but the way I see it.....

I have no choice

I need to be committed to myself to be a better me, a healthier me, and hopefully be around alot longer.  I need to be around for my family! I have to be honest I'm scared to death right now with all the unknowns and hard work I have ahead of me, but I am going to give it my all and try to kick this will everything I have.

Oh MY ~ 100!

Happy Birthday to one of the MOST AMAZING and INSPIRATIONAL woman I know ~

My Great Grandma, Sophia NaGreen

100 years young!!

Great Grandma Na Green's birthday was this Saturday and they were throwing a Lil party to celebrate her special day, at the nursing home, with all her friends there.  The BIG shindig was on Sunday with her family and friends in Fremont at her Daughters establishment, Hahn-a-lula.

She even made the Paper :)

My grandmother, Bev, was on her way to the nursing home Saturday with Great Grandma's birthday cake when her car slid on some ice and as she moved to not hit the car in front of her, she hit a pole :(  She was taken to the hospital and there we found out she had sustained a broken rib, sternum, and a sprained ankle.  She is very lucky that those are the only things that happened, after seeing the car and hearing what the Dr said could have happened to her heart n lungs....well lets just say this St Patrick's Day weekend we had some luck head our way.  Needless to say she didn't make the party at the nursing home.....nor did the Cake she made.

She was admitted for observation, as with 2 fractures and her age, 78, that bought her a ticket for a stay at Mercy Medical.  She was so worried about her cake that she made and the car, both of which were smashed :(  Oh Grandma.....cars can be replaced and more cakes can be made :)  Just get better!  I sat with her most of the day while in the hospital trying to keep her calm and help her understand all that they were doing to her.  Not to toot my own horn, but I'm really on my "A" game in crisis' like this.  Both of her daughters, my mom and aunt.....well.....one is an emotional mess and the other goes a mile a minute.....I will let you figure out which one is which, LOL.  Even as hard and painful it was for her to breathe, Grandma made sure that everyone at the hospital knew it was her mother's 100 bday and that she didn't want to miss the party that was planned for Sunday.

Dan and I went to look at the car that evening.  I really wanted to see this "Crumb" cake the first responders were talking about.  I was told it was smashed and all over the trunk.  When I opened the trunk I didn't think it was too bad.....and even despite Dan's opinion of me leaving the cake in the trunk....I salvaged it :)  She was so excited that all her hard work wasn't a total loss, plus I knew she would really want her cake board back.  Dan thought I was nuts to bring it home and "fix" it, but .............. I just had to.  And of course when I told her I saved the cake, her first comment was....."Did you get the cake board?"  Do I know my grandma or what?

I went back up the hospital Sunday morning and had I had packed n planned on spending the day with her there.  That way she wouldn't be alone thinking about the party.  Well she must have put her charm on and the good Dr discharged her.  Boy, if you want to see an injured 78 yr old women move fast ... tell her she can go to the party.  She was trying her best to get out of bed by herself, and even tried to take the IV out.  SLOW down...I WILL get you there!!  I got her dressed, did her hair, and off we went.  From the Dr saying she could go, to us walking out the door.....it was about an hour.  Yes, I had to bust my butt to keep up with her, lol.  She had a very rocky day and it wasn't a fun party for her, as the vicodin did NOT agree with her, so I spent ALOT of time with her getting sick......but if I had to do it again....

I would :)  

Just to see these two wonderful women, that I have in my life, be together to celebrate 100 yrs!!

Check out ALL the people ~ now does my Great Grandma know how to have a party or what?

My Mom made a wonderful poem  ~  

 Yes it is true she is a slobbery sap just like my Great Grandam, lol.

My Uncle Bob put together a 30min movie about my Great Grandmother's life.  Boy, what a woman.... I hope I can do half the things she has done in her 100yrs.  And let me let you at 100 yrs old there isn't much that slows this lady down.

Great Grandma and her 3 Girls ~ Beverly, Nancy, and Judy

Thanks Great Grandma NaGreen for all the wonderful Memories and all the life lessons we have learned from you.  You truly are an inspiration in my life.

Step'n it up!

I find it funny that when our life is crazy nuts and I have alot to say I find time to blog, but when life is going good, well ..... I'm a big blog slacker.  So the moral of it is...no news is good news around here. LOL!  That's not to say I don't have things to blog about, so here we go.
Wow almost a month has gone by.
I know the last post just briefly stated that Dan and I went to Minneapolis......so Yes, Dan and I were able to get out for an "extended" date nite.  We had a wonderful time.  We were able to get to the RV show and talk with the sales team there about what "needs" the RV would have to safely travel with Danny.  Let me say they were  WONDERFUL to work with.  They really listened to what we had to say and they helped us make an RV for Danny with everything he/we need.  The company we were dealing with is Steinbring RV, on a Newmar Coach Canyon Star model# 3911.  Click HERE to see some of the wonderful features this coach has directly from the manufacture, like a roll in shower and.....
wait for it.......
a Braun wheelchair lift.  This coach is/was designed for the driver/operator to be able to drive and operate the RV while in the wheelchair with ease.  They thought of everything and again it's right from the manufacture this way.  AWESOME!!!  We obviously don't need everything to be handicap accessible, so we changed and few things around to go back to the "normal" RV placements, but still keeping in mind that I possibly might be in a wheelchair down that road so we didn't change around too many things.  My point here is that they are very easy to work with and they truly want to make sure that this RV works for you. They will sit down and take the time to rearrange things to fit your needs.  Just to have the ease of getting Danny in and out of an RV without the fear of hurting him or ourselves.  As in the RV now we have to disconnect the vent from Danny, pick him up, carry him up the steep metal stairs, and have someone follow right behind with the vent.  Not a 1 person job and One slip up and .... I don't even want to think what would happen.  If you haven't guessed it by now, Yes we decided to go ahead and order one.  So today Dan and I packed everything up in our RV and they are coming to pick it up soon.  I'll be sad to see it go, we've made some great memories in there, but I'm anxiously waiting to see how many more wonderful memories we can make in this new one.  We already have 3 trips we tentatively have on the calendar for this summer, Bring it on.  We'll definitely give the RV a work out.

Danny got new Wheels.  This was a long haul to get it from the manufacture to our living room, but it was SO WORTH it!  This is a SymmetriKit Power Chair with Finger forms along the back and Aero "breathable" back panels.  It's made in the UK, So the traveling this chair went through was just a hope, skip, and jump across the "pond" which took approx 3 months to get here.

 Look at that smile......yeap he LOVES it!  Plus this momma LOVES it for him.  It's so comfy, it's VERY easy to adjust, and it's wide range to of adjustments this chair has is AMAZING.

I just love this picture.  They are both together watching TV sitting side by side.
The King and Queenie of the House

 Look who's Back in the hot tub for.  He just LOVES being in there and Ms Gail doesn't mind it either. I really want to see him in the hot tub more often.  It's so good for his muscles, tone, range whatever you want to call it.  We are very lucky that he has a nurse that's just as excited to go in the hot tub as Danny is :)

 Danny is doing fantastic!  He never ceases to amaze me.  He had alil hiccup with a staph infection at his G-tube site.  I was alil discouraged as Danny has never had issues at his site's....we have always been commended on how healthy his sites look.  Today his site looks wonderful again with no scaring or granuloma.  YAY!!  The last few days he has thrown a curve ball by not peeing on his own so we've had to cath him once n awhile.  We are not sure why he is doing this, but all the tests we've had done have shown nothing funny is going on.  I guess he's entitled to a few off days once in awhile.  His school had contacting me about coming back out to see him again.  I can't wait to show him off to them.  I am not going to be sending him back TO school as it's just too "buggy" for him there, maybe a field trip here n there, but his schooling will be set back to home bound services.
Dan has been very busy between the EMR calls, Firefighting calls, Laundries, and plowing snow.  I've been calling him "Snowman".  He's getting alil frustrated with the days being like the "groundhog days".  I think he finally loathes winter as much as I do.  I tell ya Florida sounds better n better, to the both of us...lol.  Dan is starting to turn his gears to the 2013 racing season.  I'm sure the Fairmont is coming out of the trailer soon and the sounds n smells of racing will be floating through "The Ranch".  Since our trip through "The Southfork Ranch" in Dallas, it's sparked some fond memories that Dan and I had in our childhood.  We both remembered watching it as kids, but we don't remember the details.  So I found the whole collection of the "Dallas" seasons, so we spend most of our evenings watching what we call "Dallas Dope".  Once one episode is done we just have to watch another one.  LOL!
Avrianna is doing Great.  She is now involved in archery too and She loves it!!  I've said it before and I'll say it again....this girl is amazing.  I don't know how she does it.....ALL!  I believe there is nothing this girl can't do.  Watch out world, Avrianna is coming.  Between excelling in school, dive, piano, viola, trumpet, bells n chimes in church, choir in church, archery, and just being a kid she balances it all nicely.  I can't believe she manages it all, as being just the taxi can be alil over whelming, and she still has an open mind as to what else is out there for her.  I can't wait to see what she does when she grows up.
I'm just plinking about.  Taking everyday, hell every minute.....as it goes.  Some good and some bad, but for the most part I've been doing well.  I am still trying to balance MS and trying to loss weight.  I've hit a wall and it sucks!  I've gone to many health coaches and physicians but they haven't been able to get me any info that I don't know already.  I was able to talk to my primary/osteopathic Dr last week and he is going to help me.  Well, guessI should have gone to him first instead of hitting dead end after dead end.  Maybe I needed to hit the wall to give it my ALL.  I am IN THIS with EVERYTHING I HAVE.  My D.O. gave me a site to go to, The Canary Club, on this site you are able to order tests to figure out your levels of hormones and other things that could potentially be a key factor in maintaining your health and issues with weight.  Most Dr's don't test all of these things even though, they know for a fact, many have issues with these levels.  I did these tests and sent them in so now to sit and wait to find out the last piece of the Lori's health puzzle.  I've been tested for everything else so I can't wait to see what these tests have to say.  Then I can give myself a better feel of what I'm up against in this fight I'm having with myself.  I owe it to myself !!  I can only hope people look back at my life and say I did everything I could by taking every obstacle I've come up against with a fight and some grace.  I have enrolled myself in a pilot program for weight loss and wellness, with a local fitness center.  I'm excited to see if/how it is going to work.  Stay tuned...I'll keep you posted!

Just Thinking ..... Would?

When things calm down my brain goes into over time.  I'm weird I know, but when I have my brain on a mission it's hard for me to to stray from my point.  Now that I am doing well, Danny is doing amazing, and life around here is should I say it.......slowing down.  It gives me time to dwell in uncharted waters.  Dan and I were on our way to Minneapolis, MN to check out a handicap accessible RV, and while on the 5 hr drive we have a great time to chit chat.  While during our talking there was one comment I made that just turned on the thought process.  Out of no where....here we go.  I said .... "Could you imagine how much more running we would do if Danny was in all the music and sports Avrianna is in?"  And ...............

***BAM*****

My head was spinning.

What sports would Danny do?
Do you think he would play an instrument?  Which one?  How many?
How would he do in school?
Jock? Geek? Grit? (wow just aged myself there)
Would he be the leader or a follower?
Would he have many friends or just a few?
Sassy or Shy?
What would his voice sound like?
How many, if any, of the medical issues he has would he have if he was "typical"?
Would Avrianna and him get along or have some serious sibling rivalry?
What would he be when he grew up?
Would he get married?
Have kids?
Would he LOVE his momma?
Do you think we would still be in our first house on Elm St (man I loved that house)?
Would Avrianna be different if she had that brother to play with.....like most of her friends?
How would our lives be?

Wow ~ I could go on and on.  I really hate to go there as I know Danny doesn't know all the the dreams and wishes I had for him are not there and have changed.  He goes on day to day just being Danny and enjoying the day the best he knows how.  This morning I walked in his room gave him a kiss on the cheek said "Good Mornin Mr O" and I got the biggest smile.  Man that just makes my day, but also just breaks my heart.  I've learned more from this lil boy already then I will ever be able to teach him.  I LOVE him so much........and would/will do anything to fight for him to be here with me as much and as long as I can......but I can help sometimes to wonder.  Just wish the circumstances were different for him some days :(

Too Good to be True?

I have to say things here continue to be on the up n up.  BUT I'm always cautiously optimistic just wondering and waiting when the next hurdle will need to jumped.  For now we are all doing WONDERFUL!
At least it's pretty all covered in white!

It's been frickin COLD here the last few weeks along with tons of snow.  Dan says it's just like Groundhogs day around here ~ go out and plow snow to do it again the next day.  We are suppose to get another 5-7" in the next 24hrs, so I'm sure he's just excited about all of that.

Dan has passed the state First responder course and now is not only a Town of Neenah Fireman, but a Town of Neenah EMR.  Way to GO!!  So between the fire dept, EMR calls, Laundries, and gearing up for the 2013 racing session....he can't say he's got nothing to do, lol.

Danny is ROCKIN this back fusion!  He's better then before ... and I'm so happy for him.  The only real hiccup is his GAS.  Man he is full of it, LOL.  We are feeding him all of his food now during the day with no overnite pump feedings, so his gut is working like a "normal" persons.  He has NEVER NOT had overnite pump feeding before and I think his gut is trying to figure out what the heck is going on.  He is having a BM on his own, just about everyday and it's great we don't have to aid him too much more with that...but it's so NOT Danny's norm.  It's a good thing, but again not what Danny is used to.  We are trying to figure out if we can calm his gassy gut down.  Danny's been chillaxing at home in front of the fireplace watchin movies, but I'm sure he'll be glad when it warms up and he can get out of the house more.

Look how great this boy heals, not to mention how straight n tall he his~  FANTASTIC!!

Avrianna is doing great.  It's amazing to me how fast time is going with her.  We were driving to the High School the other day to drop her off for dive practice and she had the nerve to tell me...."guess what mom?  In 3 yrs I'll be going to school here".  Ummm, WHAT?!?!  Where is the time going...is there a stop button or at least a Pause?  I'm so proud of her, she does so well in everything she does.
Ringing Chimes ~

Doing a 1 1/2 ~

I think I have found the right balance now to be able to not be in so much pain or in a fog with my daily living.  It's a great feeling and I hope it will continue :)  I've been so well I'm even walking on the treadmill more.  The only real frustrating part is with me exercising and really making an effort to watch what I eat.....I have not lost ANY weight!  REALLY?!?  I have made an appt to see a health coach to see if they can help me on improving my diet and exercise so I do safely and healthy.  I don't want to "diet" per se I want to make a life change not only for me, but for my family.  I know that they believe MS and many other disorders come from environmental.  I have MS, Fibro, Hypothyrodism, I'm border line diabetic and high cholesterol, and labeled obese.  I know alot of my weight issues come from the meds I'm on and the disorders that make it VERY hard to lose weight, but I'm worth trying to improve myself whenever I can.  I'm optimistic that I will be able to control my health issues better if I  do better for myself.  I'm not looking at starving myself, or run a marathon, or be a model....I just want to be better in whatever sense it comes from.

Can you believe it?  Dan and I are going to go out on an over nighter,  just the two of us.  This was no small feet to accomplish, but it's going to happen.  Between our amazing nurses to coordinate around the clock care and then having Avrianna hang out at a friends house. I'm pretty excited!  I'm sure the kids won't be bothered at all that we are gone, but I'm sure I will have some anxiety not being with Danny.  I can count on one hand how many (3x) nites have NOT been with Danny.  The last time Dan and I were together alone overnight was for our birthdays in Sept 2002, 3 weeks before Avrianna was born.  I think we are due :)  Everyone says whatcha going to do......SLEEP, lol!  I hope....I'm Danny's mom, nurse, caregiver ~ however you want to to look at it ~ over night so I can't remember the last time I've slept through the nite without having to get up, I'm usually up at least 3x with him through on average nite.