tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307622862024-03-07T05:54:15.983-08:00Jordan JOYJennifer Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151170254710891286noreply@blogger.comBlogger225125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30762286.post-6690390730568038882010-10-11T20:12:00.000-07:002010-10-11T21:12:19.569-07:00Surgery UpdateOne more surgery down. As a quick recap...we usually visit our specialists every summer to check in and this summer I expected nothing to come of it. When we saw her orthopaedic surgeon he surprised us by saying that she needed a surgery right away to prevent her tendons from causing her surgery to be more difficult next year. The tendons on top of the her foot are pulling up on the under side of the foot.<br /><br />We scheduled it for Oct 1st thinking we'd then have several weeks before the baby was born.<br /><br />My doctor found at 33 weeks that I was in pre-term labor and put me on bed rest and medication. I was on bed rest until the day of her surgery which was 37 weeks. I still needed to continue with meds and rest though so that I could get her settled in school afterward and have a little time to figure out how to take care of her. I'm now 38 1/2 weeks and I've stopped progressing. Go figure! :)<br /><br />The best thing is that her surgery went well. He cut the tendons on the top of the foot and pinned her big toe in place. She'll be off her foot for six weeks and we'll go back three weeks post-op to check the pin, and change the cast. The third day after surgery we saw that the pin is coming up but our doc said to just cover it up and leave it. We are managing fine with the cast although it's tiring for me, especially after being in bed for six weeks. I'm curious how it'll work once the baby arrives.<br /><br />This surgery was harder than in the past because she's older and more aware. It was easier when she was younger and I knew that the understanding wasn't there. Also, as the years go on we grow to know her as her own person with feelings and a mind of her own. Another thing that is challenging is ironically the fact that we aren't in the midst of constant surgeries and therapy. We've had 18 months to just enjoy her as a typical kid. It was nice to have these things behind us but then to realize they aren't completely behind us or her is difficult. Thankfully she handled it well and wasn't in any pain after the first night. She thinks it was a little fun even. She crawls all over the house and is so content regardless of how long she has to sit.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbk8GlSl2TBAo_KPu7nUqrv-ygiRiO6JDEfM_0mwsgJJTqIeghDQyRz_dUXpNFZrnMUHqv7W9hCM_yzOJLoKN8eBKoG3h__yOCsjTOlqTGuHjBwHCWenpvMsUWHqHJKGBSOS_lVQ/s1600/DSC_0568.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbk8GlSl2TBAo_KPu7nUqrv-ygiRiO6JDEfM_0mwsgJJTqIeghDQyRz_dUXpNFZrnMUHqv7W9hCM_yzOJLoKN8eBKoG3h__yOCsjTOlqTGuHjBwHCWenpvMsUWHqHJKGBSOS_lVQ/s320/DSC_0568.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526998524320563058" border="0" /></a><br />On the way to UCLA at 5:30 Oct 1st (the day after her 4th birthday). We took Noah out of school to go with us (yes, he's in Kindergarten already!).<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hr-ZI98AM0p6H0ZBpAKqjA_qKTCPYv0cVL_DTQHvMbSHhHeHAmyvQA6lfUYTH2ndjqKndrBBTKcBUK2gfWh4JAvHyT0EQ321Uf4waADXSSo-Mib7P6h5ya5sNW2ITNtNNtm5zA/s1600/DSC_0570.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hr-ZI98AM0p6H0ZBpAKqjA_qKTCPYv0cVL_DTQHvMbSHhHeHAmyvQA6lfUYTH2ndjqKndrBBTKcBUK2gfWh4JAvHyT0EQ321Uf4waADXSSo-Mib7P6h5ya5sNW2ITNtNNtm5zA/s320/DSC_0570.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526998516781549666" border="0" /></a><br />Waiting....<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmdJGiemAFOKzIY82Q47MNXO9imLjz5nBOxvR0WX4uT3LwwieyvV_CCfHIh3wLDa_cM6H2hDGDhxVTHp6-Vu15esLiCkIujRcse5LaBvFKObWw81EbBf6bjKzkhNl5R5Mx8vOOfg/s1600/DSC_0577.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmdJGiemAFOKzIY82Q47MNXO9imLjz5nBOxvR0WX4uT3LwwieyvV_CCfHIh3wLDa_cM6H2hDGDhxVTHp6-Vu15esLiCkIujRcse5LaBvFKObWw81EbBf6bjKzkhNl5R5Mx8vOOfg/s320/DSC_0577.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526998510035107778" border="0" /></a><br />You can see how her toes pull up. If you look back through the archives to when she was born it's crazy to see her foot from then to now. It was completely flush with her leg and her toes were attached to her leg.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhti8JzRC99VYPXta2_mHfWn2y6lnfNyoqJDUM7C6uW_vaosrwtrR5Tnj51a6xB8du6ZdeTKNJto6j41shZdp9fGaN40-SbHS_DF48_IJFKqx_zIXAunymqOwD5a65-13p6Ae_i4w/s1600/DSC_0593.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhti8JzRC99VYPXta2_mHfWn2y6lnfNyoqJDUM7C6uW_vaosrwtrR5Tnj51a6xB8du6ZdeTKNJto6j41shZdp9fGaN40-SbHS_DF48_IJFKqx_zIXAunymqOwD5a65-13p6Ae_i4w/s320/DSC_0593.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526998507160485714" border="0" /></a><br />This is our brilliant surgeon, Dr. William Oppenheim. It's been a long road getting insurance to allow us to see him. We're so thankful for him.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwdn9sF1lm6uXgVsPgujRTXquf3IyiFecDLJEuUEX6r0mNazexd52CrfWAXxm5B0yGsvHEb_IeSpeyHunJSnM8V4eP6u0FMslWx4WzNJFImRjoC-NufsIGxaL7PLfzVYv-GiRSQ/s1600/DSC_0597.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwdn9sF1lm6uXgVsPgujRTXquf3IyiFecDLJEuUEX6r0mNazexd52CrfWAXxm5B0yGsvHEb_IeSpeyHunJSnM8V4eP6u0FMslWx4WzNJFImRjoC-NufsIGxaL7PLfzVYv-GiRSQ/s320/DSC_0597.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526996506369107714" border="0" /></a><br />Heading in for surgery...gotta love that anti-anxiety med they give.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_yyrWfkyYNkJ8bF6hX4Vm0dtygtNNbl7QTW3_ILYnPPC7P8yk_vgYWPO08L5VSI4Z3Ve1vFG7RAJTXsWKkuyf69u1MD1KBUmnAwaLSYbUZA75ieKTy6tUzKnHgBS4NvsMDfy8UA/s1600/DSC_0606.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_yyrWfkyYNkJ8bF6hX4Vm0dtygtNNbl7QTW3_ILYnPPC7P8yk_vgYWPO08L5VSI4Z3Ve1vFG7RAJTXsWKkuyf69u1MD1KBUmnAwaLSYbUZA75ieKTy6tUzKnHgBS4NvsMDfy8UA/s320/DSC_0606.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526996502729001122" border="0" /></a><br />I had to capture a picture of this one. After every surgery as she's waking up she is mesmerized by the oxygen monitor. It's really funny.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFif_pnWuTfb0ExYvZfTvanjZD4U1UwQKVQVM8hx4PoEiw8opF4NXvOK8ShnyvAtCO9QW914sxqR_9yXNk6kqkA2a5S3m2gWUn3JWIu3VDLIWBW8T3AV1a9kxuTWe009siy3l7A/s1600/DSC_0616.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFif_pnWuTfb0ExYvZfTvanjZD4U1UwQKVQVM8hx4PoEiw8opF4NXvOK8ShnyvAtCO9QW914sxqR_9yXNk6kqkA2a5S3m2gWUn3JWIu3VDLIWBW8T3AV1a9kxuTWe009siy3l7A/s320/DSC_0616.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526996499499625138" border="0" /></a><br />I love this one. This is after she's awake and I finally feel relieved that she is comfortable and her happy self again. This is usually when I breathe that sigh of relief after every surgery.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjre2_KaBOKz1nIm8KKHO6CPjYBb8zJGA203Y6R61zG2xkEC_L_ljCtS-AEwoZRhyhDfVBEWg7oMceDaXXtVbVvG7KH2fhVuLA-yPUgyuy3oSoqKTkb2868zNzh00_0VpnEKAgKDQ/s1600/DSC_0617.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjre2_KaBOKz1nIm8KKHO6CPjYBb8zJGA203Y6R61zG2xkEC_L_ljCtS-AEwoZRhyhDfVBEWg7oMceDaXXtVbVvG7KH2fhVuLA-yPUgyuy3oSoqKTkb2868zNzh00_0VpnEKAgKDQ/s320/DSC_0617.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526996493964366690" border="0" /></a><br />She's trying to give a thumbs up but only manages to get it halfway up.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOM0KBu1KuCy60vZQLFQK3nwXdQh5HT18Kh97rJMRbw5UCIqMStUFsTUrmXi2mUgFgq41XtAjkm7D0An8Vwcll6ACGSJNPRD_s8GZnE2gxaT39A2kzErmzkt-FyFydY1Ns-UKkWg/s1600/DSC_0625.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOM0KBu1KuCy60vZQLFQK3nwXdQh5HT18Kh97rJMRbw5UCIqMStUFsTUrmXi2mUgFgq41XtAjkm7D0An8Vwcll6ACGSJNPRD_s8GZnE2gxaT39A2kzErmzkt-FyFydY1Ns-UKkWg/s320/DSC_0625.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526996490525728674" border="0" /></a><br />Usually they let Noah in when she's recovering but this time they didn't so he was super excited to see her when she was finished. Shannon and Noah were waiting for the car and when he saw her come out he ran to her so excited and kept hugging her. It was SO sweet!<br /><br /><br /></div>Jennifer Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151170254710891286noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30762286.post-7414915913750236712010-09-23T19:47:00.000-07:002010-09-23T20:18:15.804-07:0036 WeeksTomorrow I am 36 weeks along in my pregnancy.<br />I went to the doctor this past week again and she said that I'm now nearly fully effaced, the baby's head is at a zero station (fully in place) and I'm still dilated 1 cm. I'm taking Terbutaline twice a day and I'm still on modified bed rest. I've been driving the kids to school once or twice a week and I've, for the most part, rested otherwise. My labor/delivery bag is packed. My hospital bag is packed. The baby's bag is packed. Anytime I leave the house to drive the kids to school I make sure I've showered and I'm dressed because I find myself nervous that I'll go into labor while away from home and won't be able to make it back to get "ready" for labor. A girl needs her hair washed and her nails painted - can't we all agree on that?? Funny.<br /><br />I've spent a month trying not to have this baby and I am still not wanting her to come just yet but at the same time I want to get excited, to nest, to anticipate her arrival with busy-ness and preparations. She continues to be nameless at this point too. We've decided against our first choice, Charlotte (Charly) so we've gone back to the drawing board and I'm just contentedly praying for God's will to be revealed. I think of Psalm 139...I'll copy the entire Psalm another time but wanted to highlight this section:<br />"All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."<br />I know that God has a name chosen especially for her with a labor story all her own in His perfect timing, His perfect will.<br />That Psalm was a stronghold for me four years ago, nearly to the day, as I was preparing for Jordan's delivery. I was SO full of uncertainty, wondering what she would be like, what life would hold for her and for us as a family. It was a time of sadness mixed with growing joy as I grew in my understanding of God's character...His sovereignty, His love, His grace, His rule over us as people who exist to glorify HIM and not ourselves.<br /><br />It's such a strange mix of feelings approaching Jordan's birthday while at the same time anticipating the arrival of her sister and yet preparing for another surgery for her at the same time.<br /><br />Her surgery has been approved and is set for October 1st. She had her pre-op appt today combined with her four year old check up and everything appears to be set for next week. Of course God only knows what the next week will hold but I know that I'm praying to keep this little sister inside until after Jordan's sugery because I couldn't bear to miss it and although she adores her daddy there is nothing like having Mommy there for her surgeries. They've become so routine for me that I just have a system and a way that we do it. I know the scripture that comforts her, I look forward to the chance to point her to the love of Christ during times of need and to see prayer in action as she suffers. I am praying daily that God would allow me to be there. As Noah has grown I've loved the chance for him to be there with us, to be used to encourage and comfort her, to grow in compassion and care but I think he'll go to school that day. Today her doctor asked her who her best friend is and she answered without hesitating, "Noah." I almost asked, "Noah who?" Ha! They aren't always the best of friends but I love that she thought of him first.<br /><br />Details to pray for:<br />- That this baby could come after Jordan's surgery - even a week or so after so we have time to get settled.<br />- That the surgery would go well...no problems or surprises.<br />- That she wouldn't be in much pain.<br />- That the practical needs would be met/resolved (eg. do we need a wheelchair or will a stroller work?)<br />- That we would be content regardless.<br />- Of course, that the perfect name for this little sister would come to us and that we'd both be equaly excited about it.<br /><br />I'll update next week with a birthday post full of pictures and a recap of Jordan's little life. Her birthday is September 30th.<br /><br />Disclaimer...I must put in here that I need you to overlook typos and parts that don't make sense in this post. This medication makes me crazy and I find it so hard to be succinct and coherant. If you can all overlook it so can I. :)Jennifer Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151170254710891286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30762286.post-50637043351033905872010-09-03T21:04:00.000-07:002010-09-03T21:35:19.944-07:00Seven Weeks and Counting...from the couch<div> I MUST begin this post by saying that I feel so badly about leaving the blogging world behind for a while. It had to be done as things were so beyond busy for me but lately as exciting things are happening I've thought a lot about starting up again. I miss my "blog friends" whose pages I read on a regular basis and I miss thinking through my day in blog posts. I can, in large part, blame Facebook for my haitus too. FB is a quick fix on social networking that held me over for a while until I could return here. <div><div><div><div><br /><br /></div><div>Incase anyone is wondering (or even reading this - ha ha) I have suddenly found myself with a lot of time on my hands. I am 33 weeks along in my third pregnancy and officially on bed rest as of yesterday afternoon. I'm 70% effaced and 1 cm dilated with continuous contractions. I guess they are still called early contractions but it's considered pre-term labor because they are causing changes to my cervix. I got a shot of that lovely terbutaline yesterday which stopped things for a while and now I'm relegated to the couch, chair, bed or any other "resting" position. I've been ordered to forego lifting, cleaning, walking much, laundry, etc. I can drive when I need to, I can shower, go up the stairs a few times a day, and basically be up for short periods of time. Sitting is fine and laying is probably better. </div><div><br /><br /></div><div>Another post and I'll share how I got here spiritually and I will fill you in on the massive amounts of answered prayer I've had this summer. For now, all this sitting around has me tired and ready for bed. Funny how that works. :)</div><div><br /><br /></div><div>Here are a few pictures of my first day on bed rest...how could I be sad about spending weeks on end with these characters and no distractions???? I love it and I'm realistic about the frustrations that are to come but I'm so thankful to be home with them and not in a hospital alone. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512909229005361234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganjA7SsgcAljv-3ngGagLMT5k0BfAFQfeJ6hsv6zbnejIdHhs-0VKNmX2E6gQpuOD19AugqZgR7DNvVL_zRMTyRf_Q7YphMgzWCUINuJxyGKCDRgWD8FqSKDedFXuEQceX4q8-w/s320/DSC_0132.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512909071279431218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dV9gLGf-jskfNPxYNxTGj51lsMxUm956Px9a-QVZw59Hkx42Dg4wz-NWciVXMB4XiMnPlVgrWR__K5kACk4685kIDs6IxUgft65yWTWH6p0QEfp-NTt72Ga-9GjZ-HrC55uMzg/s320/DSC_0117.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512908723223688754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQPO614zKPNtE41ViEeHj68oiKtqCaK57wnj0-Wtss8ABBBSMWL5iugi1JNtGUD3tFubrAEnXXosmYrHD02SRMYTpdbfoy9B4wcyB-6UZuTnfOCH30iO3zcoGxtSAk6X9uOdEEg/s320/DSC_0114.JPG" /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512908471395190194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_D0K86u6Lrh_jnnosclJnp-CFjqSDc-4s2IPUL3rVbXflFgjV6Y5gDzgaHNvU9B_OlxErUy13u8H3RCIwb76anV0CIgjS31KPEouMlYWK1YOpe75e-cWfxUZ8qqspzyOv1_zADA/s320/DSC_0111.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 327px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 314px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512910392792963842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSiKV8QKB_G1_AOL28FgQUDrPWZi_SRkywD4bgzUipmi3Ftopq7kBN9jAxkGO6InqswhnIJOEPuP-7oc5yIi6S77-DnIn-qM_wfEtXHyq7YZqeKCTqXQrXOc8drm5i1LhP6kEdw/s320/DSC_0135.JPG" /><br />Oh and yes that IS a "scrunchy" in my hair (does anyone even own these anymore??), no I do not have a stitch of make-up on and yes, I'm putting it on the blog. :)</div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Jennifer Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151170254710891286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30762286.post-33981899400828654832010-03-17T21:21:00.000-07:002010-03-17T21:32:18.070-07:00T-BallLast week was Noah’s first t-ball game. We’ve been rained out for a few games and nearly rained out yesterday too. Thankfully the weather held out and they got to play. Noah did great and we were surprised at how good these little boys are. When they were in the outfield it looked a lot more like tackle football or rugby as they all ran from their positions, no matter how far away, and they dogpiled, grabbing at the ball. They were filthy by the end and had a great time. Here are a few pictures.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYj4YnyGG_PyfJEYPWijQwMUBRySkn-B2vBvTqoG0YVpKlhMLgyT8Ren_TzrqImSXMNMazVj70RpECuwege7nFOBiZMa0FJEgWaEkDx8dYlvnQ025MlieGGZzLiAC4imwq9aEMw/s1600-h/IMG_1189.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYj4YnyGG_PyfJEYPWijQwMUBRySkn-B2vBvTqoG0YVpKlhMLgyT8Ren_TzrqImSXMNMazVj70RpECuwege7nFOBiZMa0FJEgWaEkDx8dYlvnQ025MlieGGZzLiAC4imwq9aEMw/s320/IMG_1189.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449825648622315186" border="0" /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7PTtJHtuZiA-qymWA-Y6U8r_Jkf2A9NnrCvaf1OFCz4jYUvRu_98Y_KYC8T-zbSNi8jivSDzNRkGKPZAa_-LlO1NHtqoOkNSvvvWkMW3MFKeNLlWJE6c3Jq5L8MhbWiZ2QOQcQ/s1600-h/IMG_1166.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7PTtJHtuZiA-qymWA-Y6U8r_Jkf2A9NnrCvaf1OFCz4jYUvRu_98Y_KYC8T-zbSNi8jivSDzNRkGKPZAa_-LlO1NHtqoOkNSvvvWkMW3MFKeNLlWJE6c3Jq5L8MhbWiZ2QOQcQ/s320/IMG_1166.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449825654299108802" border="0" /></a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQGkj-i1MbExQ3e-KXclyM1Fvfpr6HK47Fw9NB0uT1XYLqaPwSn0v1VZ-gI57ebC5cUfcg0v0A3kRgZTxiXaj-z08FLNAjpZMdMN61NyA77v_e2yBwJs4IPZ7cL09xUENx5DgKw/s1600-h/IMG_1188.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQGkj-i1MbExQ3e-KXclyM1Fvfpr6HK47Fw9NB0uT1XYLqaPwSn0v1VZ-gI57ebC5cUfcg0v0A3kRgZTxiXaj-z08FLNAjpZMdMN61NyA77v_e2yBwJs4IPZ7cL09xUENx5DgKw/s320/IMG_1188.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449825645676817154" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktmkH5djuLdD-JlxaBoabi24uuB0fdf5kgetQALG1E_myKXmbo56yBz4cAyVgriudY7fPiCWdrZ5ZwerLJfPakX-J5SsYxTvWHyyGgybHGkssbtVzRugr33EDwa-5LhRgq5qUPg/s1600-h/IMG_1186.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktmkH5djuLdD-JlxaBoabi24uuB0fdf5kgetQALG1E_myKXmbo56yBz4cAyVgriudY7fPiCWdrZ5ZwerLJfPakX-J5SsYxTvWHyyGgybHGkssbtVzRugr33EDwa-5LhRgq5qUPg/s320/IMG_1186.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449825636786531922" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">(Here he's the one on the left with the black glove)<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1rsauJwO3vqDeWPBT2oRNwlFiltnqts_u_KpHgd2TZpufzv9o2gcdz8h_P1hDcGWuDvHnX_n63Zxm_ea-E91uIKV52F-j0PizfI8t9WNOLi6jnpFLHtnagVdpvPkzis82CswpoQ/s1600-h/IMG_1173.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1rsauJwO3vqDeWPBT2oRNwlFiltnqts_u_KpHgd2TZpufzv9o2gcdz8h_P1hDcGWuDvHnX_n63Zxm_ea-E91uIKV52F-j0PizfI8t9WNOLi6jnpFLHtnagVdpvPkzis82CswpoQ/s320/IMG_1173.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449825625892634690" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">(Noah's the one on the right with the black and white glove)<br /><br />Isn't he such a cutie??? He is really truly a sweet little boy. We're so proud of him and so thankful daily for him as our boy.<br /></div>Jennifer Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151170254710891286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30762286.post-67985906181696164192010-03-12T20:50:00.000-08:002010-03-12T21:18:54.768-08:00Yes it's true...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4Dou4cvN-csdd2P2SbbbkmowwgKQ9x4ExXDHnD1bj1hCw-AraE4lBSGgTxe88SjbF3FKEfRlriEkGpxN3kPyKVGHzVfEnUc89DgB_pY4jiZq6IeA7fgjCk4zjSWnuoQWz50LiA/s1600-h/IMG_1143.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk4Dou4cvN-csdd2P2SbbbkmowwgKQ9x4ExXDHnD1bj1hCw-AraE4lBSGgTxe88SjbF3FKEfRlriEkGpxN3kPyKVGHzVfEnUc89DgB_pY4jiZq6IeA7fgjCk4zjSWnuoQWz50LiA/s320/IMG_1143.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447980054727400306" border="0" /></a><br />Yep - a couple of you guessed it. We're having another baby.....Lord willing.<br />Thankfully this is Shannon's face when I told him the news. We both knew we wanted another one but Shannon was taking a bit more of a leap of faith than me so I was hoping this would be his response.<br />It I've learned anything it's the fact that we may make plans but God is the one who decides.<br />We're 8 1/2 weeks along and having our first appt and ultrasound on Monday. I complained the first couple of weeks that I wasn't sick or tired. I wanted to feel those early pregnancy symptoms so my mind could be put at ease that it was progressing. Well I got what I asked for. I've been beyond unbearably tired and feeling sick almost all day with the worst part at night. Our house is such a mess. You may think I'm exaggerating but last night Shannon took down five water cups from my nightstand by our bed. Every time I feel especially sick or tired I remind myself that it's a good sign. So anyway I'll keep you all posted and do my best to post more often. I know that a lot of family checks this - sorry to go so long.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGaAHduEOOl85DB7G6_KqESKDsBoEPc42QnGKYLbNb7gwlgGYLQWtB0TN-dtCw8tgaw0pCncD7SyIQs4DU78rKR0od77sz6cXXdaYeCVECUzORFr0-lkcXaRNd1OAKYYY2opgAbw/s1600-h/IMG_1145.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGaAHduEOOl85DB7G6_KqESKDsBoEPc42QnGKYLbNb7gwlgGYLQWtB0TN-dtCw8tgaw0pCncD7SyIQs4DU78rKR0od77sz6cXXdaYeCVECUzORFr0-lkcXaRNd1OAKYYY2opgAbw/s320/IMG_1145.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447980047812243874" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcP9ruNuZf5V9ASalJXu016XqER9t8NGQ9Ins2noTjJGy1ziGPfUtGHyNqmHmB4oJG4XTrzk_fv04ewoLA9agt3eb7wHET6JOsI6-TN0Wub9qEG9UwJLzi2f__sDTST7CwMVYxwQ/s1600-h/IMG_1142.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcP9ruNuZf5V9ASalJXu016XqER9t8NGQ9Ins2noTjJGy1ziGPfUtGHyNqmHmB4oJG4XTrzk_fv04ewoLA9agt3eb7wHET6JOsI6-TN0Wub9qEG9UwJLzi2f__sDTST7CwMVYxwQ/s320/IMG_1142.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447980040829467394" border="0" /></a>I found out we were pregnant the Tuesday before Valentine's Day but I knew I couldn't hold off five days to tell him. We had no night available except that Wednesday so I called a friend to come watch the kids so we could just go out for a quick dinner. I said it was an early Valentine's Day dinner. I called ahead (Sonny's in San Clemente) and asked them to make a surprise heart shaped pizza and asked if they would bring out a bottle of sparkling cider and a gift bag for Shan. Thankfully he agreed to do pizza (to make me happy even though he didn't want it) and he was so confused when the pizza, cider and bag came out. He was happily surprised. It was a really fun night!!!Jennifer Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151170254710891286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30762286.post-29895713045551349032010-02-20T22:44:00.001-08:002010-02-20T22:44:10.793-08:00Quick Update….forgive me for not writing sooner.<p>Since before Christmas I’ve been so busy that I haven’t been able to blog. I think about the blog throughout the day, I write posts and stories and put together all kinds of funny and interesting things to write – in my head. :) I never find the time to sit and actually type it. </p> <p>I’ll give you the top five things that have happened in the past few months then every couple of days or so I’ll write a post about them and more in order to give all the sordid details.</p> <p>Here you go and stay tuned for more:</p> <p>5. We went to Colorado for Christmas for 10 days and had a wonderful time with family. We saw my step-dad’s family, my mom’s family and Shannon’s family. </p> <p>4. New Years/New Resolutions</p> <p>3. Noah started T-Ball!! He’s our big boy!</p> <p>2. Jordan’s eye doctor found some vision problems in her left eye so we’re patching and she has some really cute new glasses.</p> <p>1. For Valentine’s Day I gave Shannon a pretty exciting announcement…you’ll have to guess what that announcement was. I’ll blog about this one first…:) </p> <p>See you all in Blogland soon!</p> Jennifer Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151170254710891286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30762286.post-61333231990108650112009-11-21T23:38:00.001-08:002009-11-21T23:50:25.282-08:00Sewing, sewing, sewing...I have two upcoming sewing parties...one this Tuesday, Nov 24th and then another one the following Tuesday the 1st of December. We're set for people to sew this week but still have room to fill this house with machines by the 12/1 date. I worked my way through a couple patterns tonight and I don't feel like the expert by any means. In fact I'm thankful one is finished finally and it's not midnight. One pattern I tried didn't work out for me so I went back to an online pattern that worked when I put the two together. Here's what I ended up with. Oh and the back of the gown wasn't supposed to be the pink fabric but the cutting out of the pieces got messed up so I had to work with what I had.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_PDpMc2DzsxZ1jCW86xvBi3CcZxplmi9ULkR9XQSWygSU-oyrPn2kRjNrgAD7Q0ZYYa6d042zfm-vT1_lxGgJKfXKK0KAQAoBkgbS3GHHZaPHKrbrdt0QTjFyN-V6TwYhcGgXsQ/s1600/IMG_0689.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406829874183425986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_PDpMc2DzsxZ1jCW86xvBi3CcZxplmi9ULkR9XQSWygSU-oyrPn2kRjNrgAD7Q0ZYYa6d042zfm-vT1_lxGgJKfXKK0KAQAoBkgbS3GHHZaPHKrbrdt0QTjFyN-V6TwYhcGgXsQ/s320/IMG_0689.JPG" /></a> My first ruffled sleeve...it's harder than it looks. It's a pain, actually. Not sure how that's gonna work out on Tuesday. Hmmm.....</div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX96KIGH1DpUAwddm1YGOKI-zT14Ll8B3qjfgK0ILy-F6R4RkvrnjrQe2vuRCp0b2lVbhK9qWdSbU5EYG_wgli_GmQeV0WQt_4ExXv1PoxXwGY76vEhKJiTuBu1_39R611ZOanSA/s1600/IMG_0688.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406829865822377218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX96KIGH1DpUAwddm1YGOKI-zT14Ll8B3qjfgK0ILy-F6R4RkvrnjrQe2vuRCp0b2lVbhK9qWdSbU5EYG_wgli_GmQeV0WQt_4ExXv1PoxXwGY76vEhKJiTuBu1_39R611ZOanSA/s320/IMG_0688.JPG" /></a> Front of the gown...notice I skipped the ruffling on the bottom. Too much work.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKl0sXydk835DfWq5hRDdauBATXAlhecbmMXPaed6gqGc3JwsGGeEU4lS2BUbbiyfy09QZFSPhgiymtmn1VNoiWY6yFC8W9gvQOw5l4sHCic1X3UYPNrUG22ueouid-yhGLWapw/s1600/IMG_0694.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406829850318619170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKl0sXydk835DfWq5hRDdauBATXAlhecbmMXPaed6gqGc3JwsGGeEU4lS2BUbbiyfy09QZFSPhgiymtmn1VNoiWY6yFC8W9gvQOw5l4sHCic1X3UYPNrUG22ueouid-yhGLWapw/s320/IMG_0694.JPG" /></a><br />Bummer that this fliped sideways but I wanted to give another example of a refurbished project.<br />This took 10 min or so.<br />Jordan had an adorable Minnie Mouse t-shirt that was too short - her little belly hung out the bottom. I couldn't bear to throw it away so I opted to add a little ruffle on the bottom. She also has some black pants that are too short...I might just add some polka dotted length to those too.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDlpqiReX0-2H8aWJEsVddlkz1dm026P4Ta-VGC-ZQAt16Ym9-aGVX-tHgJwNdUM6VYBBbf4JCVCnd2EqZ0JxHvmoLNrcJ5LSokV3yx2J-NM8UD3vz0JSUtdDoniGJS6kP0ZGvw/s1600/IMG_0693.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406829842492922418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDlpqiReX0-2H8aWJEsVddlkz1dm026P4Ta-VGC-ZQAt16Ym9-aGVX-tHgJwNdUM6VYBBbf4JCVCnd2EqZ0JxHvmoLNrcJ5LSokV3yx2J-NM8UD3vz0JSUtdDoniGJS6kP0ZGvw/s320/IMG_0693.JPG" /></a> Isn't this shirt just "soooooo cute?!"<br /><br />Okay so be praying for out time Tuesday night that it would be fun and productive. Pray that the pattern/sewing would go easily and quickly and that the women who are great at sewing will be able to make it since it would be the blind leading the blind otherwise.<br />Also please be praying that this week as I talk to Children's Hosptial Orange County that they'd allow us to deliver the gowns, that they would prove useful, and that I (and whoever else) will be able to begin to spend time with some of the moms who have children there.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Jennifer Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151170254710891286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30762286.post-65886384000491477212009-11-10T20:46:00.000-08:002009-11-10T22:30:13.147-08:00Hearing Issues Revisted<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5VqILP6_EQapOLuhtL9Ocy3uDI3Ebhl0-vrUPhmK8M-C43CdlY7auRQy0cf0Tqoy7pjeGI1fGGow_5qHZKoMULI48TQ_nyUAq_bZ7JgwmgWJE8cwljp_tjz_o9x7ytEoAXfM2kg/s1600-h/rudimentary+hearing+aids.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402712300371718274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5VqILP6_EQapOLuhtL9Ocy3uDI3Ebhl0-vrUPhmK8M-C43CdlY7auRQy0cf0Tqoy7pjeGI1fGGow_5qHZKoMULI48TQ_nyUAq_bZ7JgwmgWJE8cwljp_tjz_o9x7ytEoAXfM2kg/s320/rudimentary+hearing+aids.bmp" border="0" /></a> I'm writing tonight about some mildly disconcerting news we got today about Jordan's hearing.<br /><br />I want to preface it though...<br /><br />Being a teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing I have a pretty good understanding of the implications of a hearing loss. For this reason I take hearing loss very seriously and want to be sure to clearly say that I am not in any way making light of hearing loss or amplification by putting this picture in my post. I was trying to find ear pictures and pictures on hearing etc and I came across this one which I chuckled at. In life sometimes it's helpful to find humor in small things (or big things in the case of this photo - ha ha).<br /><br />On to my story.<br /><br />With Jordan's cleft palate that extends into her eye and elsewhere (no doctor really knows the damage that was done in her sinus area and inner/middle ears due to the amniotic banding) Jordan needed ear tubes to drain excess fluid that would build up in her middle ear. The tubes allowed the pressure to be released and the fluid to drain out. When fluid is present hearing is significantly affected therefore tubes are very important. She has had three sets of tubes put in and they typically work their way out of her ear drum within 12 months or so (common). I've begun recently to be concerned about the damage a lifetime of tubes will do to her ear drums and I've wondered about scar tissue that can also affect the eardrum's movement (hearing loss).<br /><br />To make a very long story kinda short - I finally got her to a Speech and Hearing Center that specializes in children with hearing loss. Most of my students go there and I know that they are the best in the area. Once again it was so surreal to be going through the exact things my student's families go through. We did the standard ear check (they found that the tube is out in one ear) but that there is no fluid (meaning no tube needed). The preliminary test in her right ear showed that the tube was intact but that there might be some issue. Next we did the official hearing test where she responds when she hears a sound. I assumed everything was fine and that I was just being paranoid. Then I noticed the doctor reviewing all the positives regarding her left ear and as she was going on and on about how great that ear is doing I noticed she was holding her folder up so I couldn't see the audiogram (results of the test). My mouth went dry and suddenly it like the day we were in the OB's office and she was telling us about all the things "wrong" with our baby that they found on the ultrasound. All I could hear was the voice from the Peanuts cartoon. I knew she was saying important things but I couldn't really "hear" what she was saying. All I heard was..."She does have a mild hearing loss...I'm not recommending hearing aids 'at this point...'" I struggled to think of a single intellectual question to ask her. I just repeated what she was saying a few times to be sure I was hearing her correctly (no pun intended).<br />The icing on the cake is that as I was leaving I ran into a family I work with. This is a family that it has seemed everything has gone wrong with since I started. Ever have that happen? I can say with all honesty that it has been just one of those things that really has nothing to do with me. As I'm leaving with my kids, trying to process through what I had just heard I'm also trying to navigate my way through chit chat with this Mom and her daughter. It was challenging to say the least.<br />As I think back through what she said it doesn't feel as major, although it is a little tough still not knowing if it will progress or what we'll do now as far as ear tubes, scar tissue, etc.<br />One friend tonight was feeling for Jordan and said something about Jordan not getting a break - it's one thing after another. It totally feels like that and she is right that it appears that way at first glance but when really digging in she has had so many near misses or close calls or "breaks."<br />A few:<br />- At the 20 wk ultrasound the doctors said her issues could be grave and that we should consider killing her. (ahem, I meant to say "terminating the pregnancy")<br />- At birth they said she would have significant feeding issues and may need a G-Tube to eat.<br />She was the best cleft affected eater they had ever seen.<br />- Her genetic testing came back and they discovered it was Amniotic Band Syndrome this probably won't happen to us again or to her children).<br />- Her extra fluid in her brain resolved itself with no medical intervention (hydrocephalus).<br />- We've been able to have every surgeon and doctor that we've requested despite our HMO's rules (there have been a lot!)<br />- A breathing issue that went awry during a surgery was caught and resulted in a week on a breathing tube but thankfully not a tracheostomy.<br />- Her hand surgeon said once to a resident that Jordan was a worst case and I corrected him letting him know that worst case would've been being born with <em>no</em> hands.<br />- Her orthopaedic surgeon said that many doctors may have amputated her lower leg but that it was good that we had a doctor who opted to try to correct it instead. Praise the LORD!<br />- She kept failing hearing tests when she was younger (I'm talking <em>profoundly</em> failing them) but the middle ear issues were resolved giving her hearing.<br />Without any breaks Jordan could have been profoundly deaf, with amputated hands and one foot, needing a shunt to drain the fluid from her brain and a feeding tube to get her nourishment. It's encouraging to look at that list and then compare it to where she is today. By God's mercy, the last three years have been hard but she is doing great and my guess is that a mild low-frequency hearing loss will not slow her down.Jennifer Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151170254710891286noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30762286.post-57331365540034105562009-11-08T07:00:00.000-08:002009-11-08T07:12:41.257-08:00Halloween 09My mom got Noah a Jeff Gordon Nascar racing suit and Jordan was going to be the usual - a princess. However at the last minute I decided Jordan would do something different for a change. One of the many years past when we missed Halloween due to surgeries for Jordan I grabbed a few costumes from a marked down $1 bin. Among those was a cute bumblebee suit. It was absolutely perfect and totally adorable on her! My favorite so far.<br />Our church put on a giant "Fall Fest" as an alternative to Trick-or Treating and it was a total blast. Nearly 8,000 people went (from the community - our church isn't that big) so thankfully they had a great toddler area which was perfect for our kids.<br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7vpFTcd5d-d9egNQ_QxIlgO4AQ8q23weeEXoTYx07W21hnuqaJHgdbSbbxN-IggC6s5-xEvQnauHnEmvkV_2wHJY2P39I2xgp4iQZnQELD8HH-MB_ePrec3TTgeXbRBMqdqyGbA/s1600-h/IMG_0585.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401749502275987042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7vpFTcd5d-d9egNQ_QxIlgO4AQ8q23weeEXoTYx07W21hnuqaJHgdbSbbxN-IggC6s5-xEvQnauHnEmvkV_2wHJY2P39I2xgp4iQZnQELD8HH-MB_ePrec3TTgeXbRBMqdqyGbA/s400/IMG_0585.JPG" /></a> Noah and his friends Dylan and Sheadon. These boys are so sweet with each other and have such similar personalities. It's nice to see their bond and affection for each other.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vkGuCJe6z6uXE5aXg9l5myKaMrv7Hj-CcPWdCZeRW344-sfviY8F0LmdVN_WHowOcIXGqeL9dKYOh2jx44Rr3oXrtDLDJzZQg1c5egAS3JuIqeYzLCe9Tc5Ob_qMqgpwPNTiTQ/s1600-h/IMG_0587.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401749493997734354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vkGuCJe6z6uXE5aXg9l5myKaMrv7Hj-CcPWdCZeRW344-sfviY8F0LmdVN_WHowOcIXGqeL9dKYOh2jx44Rr3oXrtDLDJzZQg1c5egAS3JuIqeYzLCe9Tc5Ob_qMqgpwPNTiTQ/s400/IMG_0587.JPG" /></a> This is Miss Hawley (Katie) who is a dear friend's sister. Isn't she beautiful?!!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVii1QKTN7nHSkOpD7OZ7UaDvniJPDINQD25719wfWoQ1kFZdLBC-G3jdbIlY6Dw8tkRUHCJfkabRDe2t7ffGcxN6rs5-Rh3PEEDfXfiNSuwRNBXkcHvw3yIbfQ4nBN6VvZiWpA/s1600-h/IMG_0595.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401749488932231698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVii1QKTN7nHSkOpD7OZ7UaDvniJPDINQD25719wfWoQ1kFZdLBC-G3jdbIlY6Dw8tkRUHCJfkabRDe2t7ffGcxN6rs5-Rh3PEEDfXfiNSuwRNBXkcHvw3yIbfQ4nBN6VvZiWpA/s400/IMG_0595.JPG" /></a> This is Braydon - seriously it's so funny with these two. They both are smitten with each other and ask about each other randomly through the week. Look at his sweet face looking at Jordan!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26HkrW3rZ_rkF8qTfPJZ9_UPUtHICbroN1lCZ7nNnXLxBjddlLU6XhNzFmi6SDgvr_kG4I_bEfZxUVXpP6QNdHsr52XUs56lb-6wocHscpBefa4RPg4u14uIKAxhdg_VKA6fSww/s1600-h/IMG_0592.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401749484362450242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26HkrW3rZ_rkF8qTfPJZ9_UPUtHICbroN1lCZ7nNnXLxBjddlLU6XhNzFmi6SDgvr_kG4I_bEfZxUVXpP6QNdHsr52XUs56lb-6wocHscpBefa4RPg4u14uIKAxhdg_VKA6fSww/s400/IMG_0592.JPG" /></a> Not quite a modified Nascar race car but I guess an elephant bumper car will have to do.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14iJKZ-RQ5qls4J14jQBQN_uvW2MHnQrKQQ4vU5yASC3FqxKlBRe4nIHu73dhr8xmvPsh5PJ_MAClg7FBuw0Z6GpDdaJegANJIMmRKoN66M8uscprw-scB6BA76OepIpvoLoxSg/s1600-h/IMG_0576.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401749476101949410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14iJKZ-RQ5qls4J14jQBQN_uvW2MHnQrKQQ4vU5yASC3FqxKlBRe4nIHu73dhr8xmvPsh5PJ_MAClg7FBuw0Z6GpDdaJegANJIMmRKoN66M8uscprw-scB6BA76OepIpvoLoxSg/s400/IMG_0576.JPG" /></a> They are SOOO cute!!!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div></div><br /></div>Jennifer Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151170254710891286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30762286.post-13473887753432332132009-10-28T21:23:00.000-07:002009-10-28T21:33:43.329-07:00"Refer"One magic little word...."Refer" used to replace a much harsher sounding word..."Failed."<br />Being a teacher of the deaf I was certain my children would be born deaf. The newborn hearing screening wasn't mandatory at the time but I made sure Noah was screened. Then with Jordan and all of her issues they told me they weren't going to check her hearing. They said it wasn't routine. I very politely informed them that I wasn't leaving until they checked it.<br />Well she got a "Refer" which is a nice politically correct way of saying that she failed her hearing test. For four months she tested with "no reponse" to sound. The audiologists assured us that it was probably just fluid but I wasn't able to look at or even go near the shelf in our house with my textbooks on hearing loss until I knew for a fact that she could hear. The potential was devastating to me. Thankfuly she got ear tubes and was cleared with great hearing.<br />I've wondered a few times about all the ear tube surgeries she has and what the lasting effects will be on her tympanic membranes (ha - big word for ear drum...just thought I'd impress you with my vocabulary). A while back she "referred" during a doctor's visit hearing screening but an audiologist who doesn't usually test kids said she was fine (even though I heard her miss high frequency sounds). Then I took her again to the ENT for something else and she "referred" again. Later I tested her myself on an audiometer and it showed a high frequency loss. I chalked it up to attention. Today we were back at the ENT for a tube check and she "referred" again.<br />The doctor thinks it might be hearing loss due to scar tissue. Bummer. We're praying that they don't send us back to that same adult only audiologist and that we can get to the bottom of this. Thankfully I think it is only in one ear which means even if it's a significan high frequency loss she would not necessarily need hearing aids.<br />We will keep you posted on the insurance approval and the test results. Pray that we can get in to Providence and that we can get some advice on these surgeries and the lasting affects of ear tubes. Her ENT said she'll have to have them forever.Jennifer Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151170254710891286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30762286.post-27552617052537838342009-10-26T21:44:00.000-07:002009-10-26T22:29:32.056-07:00Making the Most of Every Opportunity<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LjrlsYVX2KUN_QlRpnTV8Z65ZalDxIxBcDbSjIu0pkk1gfV9WqsGNXRfJXmhfikyx98AwBtvdGmH4gwdphebMvV1rre9ojAAqKAx7KS2FXTQuDu4Nl2ifAAf4Zadb47dqcZ2kQ/s1600-h/Jordan's+12+mo+surgery.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397136185479215618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LjrlsYVX2KUN_QlRpnTV8Z65ZalDxIxBcDbSjIu0pkk1gfV9WqsGNXRfJXmhfikyx98AwBtvdGmH4gwdphebMvV1rre9ojAAqKAx7KS2FXTQuDu4Nl2ifAAf4Zadb47dqcZ2kQ/s400/Jordan's+12+mo+surgery.bmp" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center">A couple days ago a friend asked on Facebook if anyone had any advice for her toddler who has to be sedated for an endoscopy (a camera thing is put down his throat into his G.I. tract I think to find out why he eats so little). If I'm wrong, correct me in the comment section.</div><div align="center">Anyway - he has to be sedated so her question was how to comfort him and prepare for the anesthesia and how to get her mind around the sedation.</div><div align="center">I began to reflect on my experience with Jordan (8 sedated surgeries in two years with one of the surgeries resulting in nearly a week of sedation with a breathing tube which can make people so crazy that they typically keep them full of anti-anxiety medication the entire time). I relish the few times that our challenging experiences can actually prove useful for other families in similar situations, facing the same feelings and needing practical advice.</div><div align="center">Often the first thing that comes to mind is the basic practical advice such as, try to enjoy the time in the waiting room with a cup of coffee, a book, undivided time to read your Bible, etc. This time my mind very quickly went to "making the most of every opportunity."</div><div align="center">Ephesians 5:15-16</div><div align="center"> "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."</div><div align="center">As Christians (those who put their trust in Christ) we are promised trials and it <em>does</em> matter how we face those trials. We should anticipate these times and see them as fantastic <strong><em>opportunities</em></strong> to "train our children in the way they should go so that when they are old they will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6 My sugestions to Kim were to use this as a time to put her words into action and show her son what it really means to trust God. It is a chance for her to pray with him, to explain (in 2 year old language) the sovereignty of God, the directive that we are to "be anxious about nothing but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present [our] requests to God and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Phil 4:6-7 She can be self-controlled and strong for her son as he looks to her for a reaction and response. </div><div align="center">I have prayed so much with Jordan over the past three years that she has come to rely upon prayer (as much as she can really get her little mind around it) as a source of comfort and strength. With eight surgeries she has had literally countless doctors visits, pokes, prods, needles, tests, x-rays, pin removals and of course her all-time favorite the cast removals using the handsaw. I can't count the times I've had to hold her down and she still talks about cast removals with her screaming and me covering her mouth with my hand. She would know it was coming so while we waited for the doctor to come in she would literally CLING to me while I prayed with her. After her last big surgery she was in pain, uncomfortable and literally all she wanted was for me to pray. She would cry non-stop, "Pray Mama, PLEASE!" This reliance on prayer (at a very basic level for comfort) came from me purposing, as scripture commands, to make the most of every opportunity. As John MacArthur states in his commentary, "We are to make the most of our time on this evil earth in fulfilling God's purposes, lining up every opportunity for useful worship and service."</div><div align="center">Everything in our lives, as Christians, should be used to "redeem the time" (MacArthur states that this refers to one's lifetime as a believer) so what better opportunity than to show your children directly how to do well in trials. I hope that Kim will make the most of this trial with her son to practically show him God's plan for us during the trials in our lives.</div><div align="center">*******</div><div align="center">I LOVE this picture for the post because it captures the image I have in my mind that I've seen countless times...my daughter - my baby - staring at me, unable to say anything, watching and waiting for my response in order to gauge how she should respond. By God's grace and through MUCH prayer I can look back and say that much of the time I made the most of those opportunities.</div>Jennifer Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151170254710891286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30762286.post-20381435959377822802009-10-17T14:57:00.000-07:002009-10-17T15:40:06.973-07:00Jordan's New Sling<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393693519779055426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhkiOfhlYnArr7WUkrukuR-3jBYPISwlIyus0rxXAQc4AByhOogML6GVR0gUlhpUuZlsEr_zCC4LXxvSJCSzIZZWwkH_z72hunHNLmAiqlf9eJJIR2-mRd_ETk4JtEDniaunrxcw/s320/IMG_0549.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393692962189418898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqIW-vWYbuhmsjzDEqZpjRxJ9hU967HlgM9gxnVnGhIfKaOhK1YsSHnBACiu10l2vMCAeC4V6fvBESY5Q2GAlt6gMgX-Xy-jvLijBl-Nl5AD6yaLzqSuhIYQF05x9PUa_DkQqnw/s320/IMG_0550.JPG" /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393692972502193554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgs0os4r17wai428_zTjOEmj3DicCkK6w-hvG0thzs47-y0hWgiwppkM6TmntTAiHYbc0FfKgIEuOxMyP7Tm4fB67L4uV0fWMWlo-3ZaBNKY6cGopcId7-h4dtJ5fOMP8H_YsTPw/s320/IMG_0546.JPG" /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393692982365089762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNsfTvVaGFc1NxNiwYrO1X_9s-Ar88uI0sucMBDehpmLHVFQ0iX-D-S3iT0Bmm9UL7AgDGoOSD5qVduRPoibrOxQI-eq4dZm-L7OmVkTi1bUdaEetw3WAxGONVRZW35pYG5tcWpw/s320/IMG_0545.JPG" /><br /><div align="center">Here's a little post on my latest sewing project.<br />I wore Jordan in a sling exactly like this for more than 2 1/2 years since she couldn't walk much of the time. It was the best gift ever. Mine was made by Jenny Woodward who also jumped on the hospital gown ministry right away. Her blog is <a href="http://www.doctrineanddiapers.blogspot.com/">http://www.doctrineanddiapers.blogspot.com/</a> and you can see her projects under the craft link on her page.<br />I copied her pattern a year ago or so and made a smaller version for Reese Woodward and have since made another one for a neighbor, Cassidy and also matching slings for Jordan and her little girlfriend, Reagan (her 3rd birthday is Tuesday).<br />I used a coupon so each sling cost me less than $5.00!<br />Here's a picture of Reagan and Jordan</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393699874251845890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDNhT12bZrUTnoW7s3ZujM_rz9eY9xpWRmEIFS7diFPsoHTnZ4wN1vEW70mzrKQG8ksKBDexD-5uIlwO2ZZchQ4wK9pfre6SxL8quFJdYl8CWXAFGkh7qhieiwMZIiywj_0OWew/s320/IMG_0353.JPG" /><br /><div align="center">Here's Cassidy and then a picture of her birthday sling.</div><br /><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393699885946133570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgMszPxmyXp1Voig3O7oWyRGT7U97NrPnGwGqQi0OFPH7MYpzZyTjGHZDybc-uc_Y7FzCTAvBUqT2pOzKj1Lv2aVfxD3w8_HhIKZtkawu0gt6in5HNjfC7PbF_eLC2ACncUhkSg/s320/IMG_0361.JPG" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoErx3U2usKQz1wWded3zfq9edhD9s2yvtexsrBGsLbb7RpPvuute7_tHVYZdpgQow4ChLWus64F-19aFdvQuK1kLxnsJcBEWGM7hG6uxTEMYNUw4-mS2re6sdpzmZay1AVfLtYg/s1600-h/IMG_0463.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393699882696317042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoErx3U2usKQz1wWded3zfq9edhD9s2yvtexsrBGsLbb7RpPvuute7_tHVYZdpgQow4ChLWus64F-19aFdvQuK1kLxnsJcBEWGM7hG6uxTEMYNUw4-mS2re6sdpzmZay1AVfLtYg/s320/IMG_0463.JPG" /></a> I'm so thankful to my mom who bought me my sewing machine - Thanks Mom!<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfMvnG_7D8c_uLIGKrZqL_Ijcd2AzzyEXFrlJm-yas8_N-kRu4Y-TpzYta_gXSmsyQ1Kg3Gh1BmVLnpbGPJPYdJ2xMfu5QWMUpo_UZcOqEFrHSfMBdpb-DKqsUKpwnNr_N_8jiw/s1600-h/IMG_0549.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /></div>Jennifer Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151170254710891286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30762286.post-86227892884668252682009-09-23T21:54:00.000-07:002009-09-23T22:27:21.912-07:00Audiometry<div align="center"> This month has been <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">SOOOO</span> crazy with Jordan's appointments in addition to a slew of additional <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">appts</span> for her school district assessments AND I now work two days a week AND Shannon is doing his mortgage work along with taking classes toward his master's degree. Yikes.</div><div align="center">Today was the day Jordan went in for her vision and hearing screening with the district nurse. Many of you may not know that I am a teacher of the deaf (really I'm just a mom but my credential and master's says I'm a teacher of the deaf so two days a week now I'm both a mom and a teacher). Most of my schooling was in the area of specialized instruction for deaf/hard of hearing children with some speech pathology courses and some audiology courses. Because of this, I was particularly interested in Jordan's vision and hearing screening today. When I talked to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Shan</span> and asked him what they did, what type of equipment they used he chuckled and said something like, "You're gonna love this. Are you sitting down?" He proceeded to tell me that they told her to turn around and then the nurse rang bells and made different sounds with various toys. If Jordan could hear them then she passed. I nearly fell out of my chair. I was at work so I asked our nurse why on earth that would be their protocol. She said it is a very antiquated way that schools used to check hearing. No one uses that method anymore according to her. She told me they now use an audiometer, which is what I was expecting from our local district. She let me take hers home to test Jordan myself for peace of mind.<br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxowLnMLZyPB-svPPpYA3TYl4NVEq6KQIHxNlUnle_NdxDZkYXxDgtAsdqEc1Ro8pPxoRT_t35zRjCMWhHQb2M7vQTAJiIdUdMWuDgZokpj-e7vlLIYMz1C8iMw8g4jZ_fGKVS3w/s1600-h/IMG_0371.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 242px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 326px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384893531062769810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxowLnMLZyPB-svPPpYA3TYl4NVEq6KQIHxNlUnle_NdxDZkYXxDgtAsdqEc1Ro8pPxoRT_t35zRjCMWhHQb2M7vQTAJiIdUdMWuDgZokpj-e7vlLIYMz1C8iMw8g4jZ_fGKVS3w/s320/IMG_0371.JPG" /></a> Here's a sideways picture of the audiometer. It kept rotating sideways when I posted it - sorry.</div><div align="center">It presents tones through headphones at various frequencies and decibels so an actual <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">audiogram</span> can be made. It also isolates each ear so you can tell the hearing in each ear independently.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmdynD1ocCOQGoqJoEByPQkf3d3htw82lA3fvnb5qC8VFD9KZmCp3IRGlFb4_eSn5cPwNMS0sasAvj_V87P55UGHT4ckAino1xWN1jAaPXbBWd96S4oM42V18VoBxBKFaeZ-V8g/s1600-h/IMG_0370.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384893522044740578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmdynD1ocCOQGoqJoEByPQkf3d3htw82lA3fvnb5qC8VFD9KZmCp3IRGlFb4_eSn5cPwNMS0sasAvj_V87P55UGHT4ckAino1xWN1jAaPXbBWd96S4oM42V18VoBxBKFaeZ-V8g/s320/IMG_0370.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9_xr-eCap9O9vrHQtmAsJZa4Xj-StA23NX6_-U3R9gX2iGK0sQ26ig5zkV4CNP0obstIzdryjOkfhuSD0ZCCJ2Wq49NkUldubSxNrnjUTxI6_i4jSkhcZ-7b6EdVOwhueYB4Cw/s1600-h/IMG_0367.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384893513299022818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9_xr-eCap9O9vrHQtmAsJZa4Xj-StA23NX6_-U3R9gX2iGK0sQ26ig5zkV4CNP0obstIzdryjOkfhuSD0ZCCJ2Wq49NkUldubSxNrnjUTxI6_i4jSkhcZ-7b6EdVOwhueYB4Cw/s320/IMG_0367.JPG" /></a> Being an audiology student and teacher of the deaf, I can't tell you how many textbooks I've seen with cute kids holding blocks up with their headphones on, waiting to hear the tones. </div><div align="center">I love learning about the intricacies of the middle and inner ear and how perfectly things must work together for information to reach the brain. It is truly fascinating stuff. To be able to give my own children hearing tests was SO fun and to see them with their own little blocks in hand was really so cool. </div><div align="center">When Jordan was born I requested a Newborn Hearing Screening. They said no (not in so many words but basically they resisted). I persisted and basically said that I didn't want to leave until they checked her hearing. With everything else I needed to know she could hear. She failed. We took her to an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">ENT</span> then an audiologist who did an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">ABR</span> - Auditory <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Brainstem</span> Response test which measures the brain's response to sound. She got no response. I was devastated to say the least. I went home several times after various audiological <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">appts</span> and stood in front of my textbook shelf and cried. I couldn't make myself pull those books down to look at them as a parent. I couldn't face the thought that of all disabilities she could be deaf. I knew the challenges from my schooling and my job. I knew what deafness would mean for her and for our family. After more tests were done it was suggested that it was simply fluid and that once she got tubes put in her ears that she would hear fine. Thankfully at four months she got tubes and we found that her hearing was fine. I was beyond relieved. Since then I've worked very hard to make sure her tubes are in place and that her hearing, despite fluid, infections and tubes is managed. She failed her last brief hearing test in one ear at the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">ENT's</span> office so I was relieved to be able to test her myself.</div><div align="center">One more quick note is that I offered to also test my neighbor and her daughter. Her daughter came back within normal limits but my friend showed a significant high frequency loss. She has suspected it for a while but hadn't had time to go get it checked. She's relieved to know now and to be encouraged to get a full work up. I also gave her handouts describing the type of loss that showed up on her chart tonight. What a fun toy this is. Anyone else wanna try it? :)<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div>Jennifer Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151170254710891286noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30762286.post-13706010876575731652009-09-12T11:10:00.000-07:002009-09-12T11:24:46.697-07:00Quick Update on JJ's Progress<p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyQiPtZa9yTcgI8potoEQPVgVdq1id82NBJJpRZ4SEXNbjInBTipcrpL9l2G_yV5K5rqaYl0Tfiejo' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p>I had a few minutes here on a Saturday while Shannon is at the men's retreat and I'm a total vegetable on the couch with the kids watching a movie - after a morning of cartoons (yes, I'm a bad mom) so I thought I'd post a quick update. </p><p>September is a VERY busy month for us as I start working two days a week (boo hoo!), ministry starts up at church for us and the kids, Shannon starts school again (and works full time with our Real Estate Mortgage business), Noah starts his one morning a week preschool again, Jordan continues with therapy as usual and we go through the crazy process of Special Education testing through the local school district. Uggg. Today is a much deserved morning on the couch with the kids. I'm loving it! </p><p>As for Jordan's update - she is doing very, very well and it's great to see. This month she is being assessed in the areas of gross motor, fine motor, speech/language, pre-academic and cognitive skills with our local school district. We aren't expecting her qualify for services in any area, thankfully, but we want to be sure and we want to know for sure that she is closing the gap developmentally and that her medical issues haven't caused delays that need to be worked on. Next month we are expecting her to only have therapy one morning a week and no surgeries scheduled on the horizon for another 2 or 3 years. I can't imagine! She will be three this month which a whole blog post in itself. </p><p>A big milestone recently is her ability to go up and down a few stairs without assistance. It's so exciting. She is physically becoming more and more independent all the time. She's beginning to be able to hang on monkey bars for a couple seconds (showing increased hand strength and flexibility), she is beginning to learn to use special scissors to cut paper, she can draw circles and lines on paper, she is only wearing her brace part-time now and is graduating to a smaller brace in a week or so. She's just doing so great and it's fun to see. I put a video on here of her climbing the stairs in front of our house. We've been working toward this since she began walking after her surgery earlier this year.</p><p>I will be posting more pictures soon and then of course her birthday post - she turns three on September 30th and we're heading to Disneyland with our "princess" for a day of celebration. Yes she will be in costume - princess of course. </p><p> </p><p> </p>Jennifer Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151170254710891286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30762286.post-43201680000009288652009-08-21T17:46:00.000-07:002009-08-21T20:02:49.039-07:00RefurbishingRecently I got two new books, thanks to a 2007 Amazon gift card from my brother. The card fell behind the drawer and I just discovered it. I knew instantly what I would buy with it. I had been eyeing these books for a while now. I follow a blog of a woman who wrote two books. One on fostering creativity in your family and the other on using old items to make fun new things.<br /><div><div><div>Her blog is <a href="http://www.soulemama.com/">http://www.soulemama.com/</a> and you can get a link to it here or on my list of favorite places. </div><div>Here are her two books</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372584781430642450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 115px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 115px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgll5ipj9iWi6VkyqlaXXFUaNHBiFqxpWB5DxNdOeA6ZYr2PZ8tyZ8UT3xwFnt5EKVyvjmJucY0ZrmZey2vb0HTAv8E22zJBJ5IXihvL6OMBZb705mjXgGEUPzJld2FbIWrmwAw/s320/51V9UVU5olL__SL160_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-dp,TopRight,12,-18_SH30_OU01_AA115_.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372584773714249362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 115px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 115px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCgiBoeK8hBUreik3Lq1WSujwQiAy6v5ki-zFrT7fZSkZxRNdV6pftGFcCFzzluLVFsb9Q2QFk5rDhdbC_OIvNN639HWBd8NSTz4HMS2LjbN5_AgvoH-rl-EEehDgYImc5nwwXQ/s320/51P6RMZiLEL__SL160_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-dp,TopRight,12,-18_SH30_OU01_AA115_.jpg" border="0" /> So in the spirit of refurbishing I've recently taken up arms against stained clothes. I can't stand to throw away cute clothes and Jordan is CONSTANTLY staining her clothes. We jokingly call her Pig Pen (Peanuts cartoon) as she is constantly dirty and dragging her even dirtier blanket around with her.<br /><div>I've taken a few pictures of what I've done to cover her stains and salvage her shirts.<br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372585791587681938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4kmfivop6P3dCTWFG0Hz_K-rmAsK2Y1-mvF8MN6KxKZ4h0WdBL-PVVk1wylx1mxtTwZxeTHM7LInLC3kbcwQk1fTmvMMvUHrbJ7rf_tAckahChpmv2Jl5nuXyWeMI5hCRk2PQg/s320/IMG_0245.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div><div><br /></div>Regarding stains...<br />Bleaching seems to be the quickest and easiest but on patterned shirts a quick sewing on of a picture or shape works well. You can always look through other stained clothes to find cute pictures or designs and save yourself money on fabric too. Save old shirts that aren't salvageable and sew buttons on various stained spots, sew shapes or patches onto shirts too. Patches seem like they'd be too heavy for lightweight fabric but making your own from any cotton material works well too.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372616433932457506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsKcT1veE-uToauvfyWkHfuyFisUKPnkmFq7NFIVMawWKNcT6fMm4xj27Nnfc-Gi5GOqiOIVWUSDwFgexXGbFwywLl3ikxYtWk0QEMMQq5FmhEzW0dWhlEkq7RA7JV5lJNWlWzg/s320/misc+aug+001.jpg" border="0" /><br />Another clothing issue that is particular to our family is clothing missing sleeves and legs.<br />In this picture Jordan has on my all-time favorite shirt. Like many others during one of her months in a cast we cut one arm short so it could fit. Sadly over the past couple of years I've thrown away so many great pants and shirts because they've had a leg or sleeve cut off. Tonight I figured out how to sew a stretch seam with my machine. I just cut the other arm short then sewed matching stretch seams and voila! a new shirt.<br />Stay tuned for a really fun, exciting post on shoes! I met with Jordan's foot surgeon and we have good news...and of course great pictures.<br /><br /><p></p>Jennifer Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151170254710891286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30762286.post-22207256845024129112009-08-12T21:21:00.000-07:002009-08-12T21:30:11.395-07:00Conflicting DesiresAn article was forwarded to me by a friend today. It was a thank you note to parents of children with special needs and there was a part of that article/letter that stood out to me and made me think a bit more about raising Jordan.<br /><strong><em>I thank you, special needs parents, for your tireless attempts to wrestle with your own conflicting desires. On the one hand, you want the best possible support for your child in their battle, finding the best schools, the top techniques, and the latest research to justify special treatment. On the other hand, you strive to normalize your child and his surroundings, never allowing your child's special needs to rob them from the joys of "normal" life, nor excuse them from the painful lessons that life has for all of us. Those of us without special needs kids face this same internal battle, wanting to both protect our kids from life's dangers and yet expose our kids to life's lessons. For showing me how to fight this battle on both ends, equally holding up both protection and exposure as valuable, I thank you.<br />Special Needs, Special Love<br />Hal Runkel, LMFT<br /></em></strong>I can relate so well to this author's description of "conflicting desires" for children with challenges. As put so clearly above, we want the best of every opportunity for Jordan which often means exhausting effort fighting insurance companies, persuading doctors, constant therapy, financial strain as a result of exorbitant medical costs and equipment, etc, etc. At the same time we do indeed want her to live a “normal” life of park dates, quiet family time, having friends, swim classes, dance classes, and other fun things typical kids do.<br />Even beyond this it brings to mind something I was sharing with a mom at work just today. This is a mom whose son was born with microtia and atresia (malformation of the ear). He is a child on my caseload and when he’s about six he will have a series of surgeries to create an ear. She was concerned with how to respond to various aspects of surgeries in regard to her son having the surgery and also his brother. I was able to share with her that God has absolutely allowed this event/trial in her son’s life and that, as a believer, He will sustain her and provide her with everything she needs. I told her about Jordan’s insanity at doctor’s offices that came as a result of surgeries and that during her times of fear and worry I would explain to her that we are not to be “anxious in anything but in everything by prayer and petition present our requests to God and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4) I would pray with Jordan before, during and after doctor’s visits and eventually she would ask for prayer. After one big surgery she was fearful and in pain and asked for me to pray with her every five minutes or so. Here is where the “conflicting desires” come in (as the author talked about above). I’m sad for her trials but at the same time I fully understand that without them she would not be forced to lean on the Lord for comfort. Although she is not saved she already has, at two years old, an intellectual understanding of God as comforter, healer, provider. For all of that I’m thankful for her affliction. Her challenges have given me an opportunity to demonstrate what it means (in good times and difficult) to live for Christ and to fully trust in God’s sovereignty (if He were not indeed loving He would never have sent His own son to die on our behalf!).<br />As the author talks about two “conflicting desires” of wanting to protect our children yet expose them I’m able to say that by God’s grace I am thankful for what He has exposed Jordan to because of what it offers her and the rest of our family as well as those involved. I feel for her when she’s in pain or when common daily tasks are a struggle but I’m also thankful for so many rich experiences that directly send her to our Heavenly Father. When I think of it from this perspective it's really no conflict at all.Jennifer Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151170254710891286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30762286.post-60840043513802885502009-07-24T19:40:00.000-07:002009-07-24T19:59:49.204-07:00Homemade Ice Cream in the Summer!<div align="center"><br />I am so excited to post this -<br />When I was a kid summers were spent at my grandparents house (that they built themselves when my dad was young) in the swimming pool (that they put in themselves), and ocassionally eating ice cream (that my grandpa made himself). I especially remember many a 4th of July with all of my cousins and family swimming, jumping off the diving board, eating in the backyard then lighting fireworks and eating homemade peach ice cream. Shannon, the kids and I were in Bakersfield recently visiting the Woodwards and we had delicious homemade vanilla ice cream (thanks Jen Garcia!!!). It brought back such memories! We went to visit my family in Palmdale on our way home and I mentioned to my dad that I'd love to have Grandma and Grandpa's old ice cream maker. If you read back through the blog you'll see that my grandpa died a year ago last April (on Noah's birthday). Since then my dad has asked me if there is anything special I'd like of my grandpas. I asked him if I could have it and we set out searching for it. If you look at the pictures from about a year ago on the blog you'll see that this wouldn't be easy. We searched the service porch, the garage and finally out to the barn we went and finally found it covered in dust but wrapped in it's original box. My grandpa never threw anything out so we figured it was there somewhere.<br />I have been so busy since then that today was the only time I had to possibly do it. Shannon's mom was here for dinner so she helped...</div><div align="center">(She thinks it is roughly a 1960's model ice cream maker)</div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362223570034277746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9yCHYXE2O0AzJeu3jRmp8-aEG09X2pENYubozKSlha0Qysn3ovOsCapwti0hkUz_kVhgQudj_YK-ZRdhIhYIHJBUQUHyghLgvDyGSnSJkFrquT9CCmiFkRCfh_ya5xmDkXr7kQ/s320/IMG_0123.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362226271707934642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TSwyObkAn_tO4MotKJfoP0H9lAVU8n0L90YR_0-4cRO-4g5Yt3vV3nroXi36ZBaFq6faFfpdK5flvH1pHdQ2Hf-ypJJrJoHxlAqfISFaF-JltE-T1e5Le7efzk2YLaefALwBxg/s320/IMG_0122.JPG" border="0" />Noah was such a helper and the kids were so excited! All through dinner he kept checking on it to make sure it was still okay. When Jordan bumped the door into it he ran in the house and said, "Mommy! Sissy bonked the door into the milkshaker!!" We all laughed so hard.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvhRtaQT1Tpdu7ce5veM-LvW4nsbzHD6k5h5OKQu-PdLjXYDzpHJbc6ENoFln9InKoSNNIa4TZmgj99Zgi5o_Idk5i6pD_X1Ulm7olBIPFvR44Rcfb2GdnCDeL36LdPImM8_jBg/s1600-h/IMG_0125.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362223585871948898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvhRtaQT1Tpdu7ce5veM-LvW4nsbzHD6k5h5OKQu-PdLjXYDzpHJbc6ENoFln9InKoSNNIa4TZmgj99Zgi5o_Idk5i6pD_X1Ulm7olBIPFvR44Rcfb2GdnCDeL36LdPImM8_jBg/s320/IMG_0125.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362223580441455874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI96zbA07w3fThD0oYleFLttWNlmyALtAgGufxt151fFiP8FgPtGxQiq6sFhr_PYcwHvt-lhZb99osFa1nsKuaxqM20Kr-0SwKMtUEzNTJwycIjtRjzXc-jFNz5wpmb-Mbc2XlhQ/s320/IMG_0126.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362223590781727954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9TaWZvZZNpRIZ8US56RFwBUq5YmNq4oChE3rp4cCPb2juiEIzIbn3thHgEWjzrzYQDTx1YKZAdkGi7HuvR-V-vU4RlGqwsTFhAsm-ued29vi52Z4xwj8T2PAdP3lYayWwOJOkg/s320/IMG_0127.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362223596642147810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivVO8m_jmkCbu_4gQs8E3-WTwiTRb0YbEcEnRFzm62_GR5fIMgqHxYPIJ0hCyDysSxd6552fEOl3sfDKlXxvRsZu21VXoDW6fW3ZBpgJ2542N_4kBGVif0732fCMOYLgleZ0-31w/s320/IMG_0131.JPG" border="0" /> Jordan seems to like it!<br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /></div></div></div></div>Jennifer Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151170254710891286noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30762286.post-34069431351208365952009-07-21T21:49:00.001-07:002009-07-21T21:57:36.282-07:00Amniotic Band Syndrome as Illustrated by a Cucumber<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJBeZvjGQ_2T0Mj5X6U1pk4Mm6TZmIipC2p0xpdEiC5qCY4CcZZ9T0JD1Iu_b8Qm-JuzgIZj37oTS99BM6X-eChxCdBj34Fn1EDwF9JC0Vh6GXcz43xxDcqy8VOzFMzArEg3aZQ/s1600-h/IMG_0064.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361142540823210930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJBeZvjGQ_2T0Mj5X6U1pk4Mm6TZmIipC2p0xpdEiC5qCY4CcZZ9T0JD1Iu_b8Qm-JuzgIZj37oTS99BM6X-eChxCdBj34Fn1EDwF9JC0Vh6GXcz43xxDcqy8VOzFMzArEg3aZQ/s320/IMG_0064.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center">We are growing tomatoes, strawberries, zuchinni and cucumber in our yard now and lately we've had quite a few that are ripe and ready to be eaten. </div><div align="center">It's been great for the kids to pick out and plant them, to water them and to watch them grow then finally to eat them.</div><div align="center">This one was really interesting though.</div><div align="center">It made us chuckle a bit because it looks an awful lot like it suffers from Amniotic Band Syndrome or Constriction Band Syndrome. A vine was wrapped around this poor cucumber as it was growing so a constriction band formed that was permanent, even after the vine was removed. It's perfectly fine but it is shaped a bit differently than the other cucumbers that were not tangled up in a vine.</div><div align="center">Hmmm...does this sound like anyone we know????</div><div align="center">:)</div><div> </div>Jennifer Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151170254710891286noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30762286.post-76510860228693166622009-07-21T21:32:00.000-07:002009-07-21T21:49:29.392-07:00Craniofacial Appt Today<div align="center">Today was such a stressful, hectic day!</div><div align="center">My neighbor picked up Noah for Bible camp at our church, I took Jordan to physical therapy where we were meeting with a PT from the school district (and I forgot what time it started so I was late), after that she had occuapational therapy. Then we dashed to speech and I had to step out to make a work phone call (an appt I made last week - I work from home every other week). After this we picked up lunch, went to church to get Noah and his carseat then headed up to Los Angeles for Jordan's craniofacial/plastic surgery appointment. We were an hour early so I headed to UCLA Medical Center to see if I could show our contact there the hospital gowns women have made already and see if they'd let us donate them. By the time we parked (paid $10) and got inside it was too late for me to find the person so we ran in to get a soda (which Noah dropped on the floor and it exploded all over the cafeteria food area). By now we are REALLY going to be late to the surgeon's appt (he was seeing us for free as a favor so I didn't want to be late at all). I was snapping at Noah to hurry up and then L.A. traffic was horrible! By the time we made it to his office in Santa Monica (5 min late) I was so stressed. </div><div align="center">He never speaks directly to patients it seems. He usually says a bunch of medical jargon to his fellows or residents or whomever is there and then he gives me a chance to ask my questions. I took some notes and tried to keep up until I heard him say that he wants to wait until she's six to do the surgery. My heart sank. He orginally said three years old (this Fall) and now he is saying six. He is in his early to mid 70s so now I start to jump ahead to the fact that he may very well not be practicing medicine then. He wants to open up the skin near her left eye, pull out more scar tissue from the amniotic bands, put in some kind of artificial tear duct then open up her left nasal area to do work on her nose. He wants to do it all at once and he wants to wait until her orbit (the circular bone the eye sits in) is more than 90% developed (six years old). I was beyond deflated. I asked him if he could just do the nose but he wants to wait. I told him to make detailed notes incase he decides to leave before then. He laughed - but I was serious.</div><div align="center">In thinking more about it tonight I am still disappointed BUT I can see more clearly now that God chooses our doctors, He chooses the timing, He has his hand on every detail of our days. My wisdom is SO very limited yet I stomp my feet and demand my way. SO stupid! </div><div align="center">I always go back to Proverbs 3:5 (Noah used to recite this when he could barely speak) "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." This is what I will do. And like Paul, I will be content whatever the circumstance.</div><div align="center"> </div>Jennifer Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151170254710891286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30762286.post-78119584142263909182009-07-21T21:01:00.000-07:002009-07-21T21:32:41.069-07:00Updates and Progress<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBF2555VhtRv930Mvf8rLwwr-7BmreCLDTxmMghoRbUlr8A_eIHuXehzg-twkx0DUX1uIXCqnp1SycWAGs9aCx6tmOFpR7j141-v5W-NBGRiYdp8FzBdVRtB4pTcDtsK7tjORXzg/s1600-h/IMG_0113.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361134428369233282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBF2555VhtRv930Mvf8rLwwr-7BmreCLDTxmMghoRbUlr8A_eIHuXehzg-twkx0DUX1uIXCqnp1SycWAGs9aCx6tmOFpR7j141-v5W-NBGRiYdp8FzBdVRtB4pTcDtsK7tjORXzg/s320/IMG_0113.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4nW0nSQbfE76k7NPPa1jpQqGYMsNi_YL-3Q3k1RvX5PjuGY40QW2I3L7RB4ig0YscU30fOxG6oqyDFfl-IqCJfKjBlMtmDU01vHiR7Ke50CDSYIGilIlEu7Tb20muvw9n9EfoQ/s1600-h/IMG_0096.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361134418214468914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4nW0nSQbfE76k7NPPa1jpQqGYMsNi_YL-3Q3k1RvX5PjuGY40QW2I3L7RB4ig0YscU30fOxG6oqyDFfl-IqCJfKjBlMtmDU01vHiR7Ke50CDSYIGilIlEu7Tb20muvw9n9EfoQ/s320/IMG_0096.JPG" border="0" /></a> We got to go camping with our marriage group at church and it was so fun! Jordan rode on the Sea Doo and in the boat and she gradually warmed up to being in the water.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvUusDR3a9M25LMq4-Mxa7kUrQMYAw7r5yZqPhV85P_EYcvDjvN5vunU36KwrM4dvOgHjQ0g7bq5Z-jKcYWK7Vc0NWYq_4eewefh6N_52tR_rEd75PMKYmSfofPkmes79OQ18Gw/s1600-h/IMG_0071.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361134415113120530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvUusDR3a9M25LMq4-Mxa7kUrQMYAw7r5yZqPhV85P_EYcvDjvN5vunU36KwrM4dvOgHjQ0g7bq5Z-jKcYWK7Vc0NWYq_4eewefh6N_52tR_rEd75PMKYmSfofPkmes79OQ18Gw/s320/IMG_0071.JPG" border="0" /></a> Speaking of water...here is the little bug during a swim class. Ms. Connie (Swim Early) in Mission Viejo has taken us under her wing and has been helping us with Jordan's swimming. She has seen us twice in the evening and once during an older kids class. She has been instructing me in how to teach Jordan to swim. Jordan has SUCH a great back float and to think she HATES to be on her back. This was only the third time being in the pool. If anyone is interested in classes she teaches from April to August and is always booked. I can get you more info if you'd like it.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9UCvZ-XhS4NQ_qiAtz5feszGjB0Pz9d6p7IKD_4rR8mbvxjyrWIdj2viT88BvE-TGkec3RbPabVcYhm66-JAN2nR9buY61YOza1obc_3s4ASpia_dw8CEQhmneKk1WRGTRQiVg/s1600-h/IMG_0059.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361130805128164018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9UCvZ-XhS4NQ_qiAtz5feszGjB0Pz9d6p7IKD_4rR8mbvxjyrWIdj2viT88BvE-TGkec3RbPabVcYhm66-JAN2nR9buY61YOza1obc_3s4ASpia_dw8CEQhmneKk1WRGTRQiVg/s320/IMG_0059.JPG" border="0" /></a> I LOVE this picture! Jordan is totally a Papa's girl and this picture shows it. It's not that she doesn't adore her grandmas and other grandpas but she and Papa were cut from the same mold and it's so funny to see. They both thought it was so funny that she had his hat on.</div><br /><div align="center"><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUwiEqfWA1HhKeZEAzboktuZxxjttx_jvLkxvu3NO1wX0OL2iahWdr0Juq-CMDqwQcYpL1IWxi2bWiIWWyAJBxvfZPP5OEq0RUg_7CwYKhEhoeajVZwURTMEgYbAxyibq-FpsTQ/s1600-h/IMG_0028.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361130801722018306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUwiEqfWA1HhKeZEAzboktuZxxjttx_jvLkxvu3NO1wX0OL2iahWdr0Juq-CMDqwQcYpL1IWxi2bWiIWWyAJBxvfZPP5OEq0RUg_7CwYKhEhoeajVZwURTMEgYbAxyibq-FpsTQ/s320/IMG_0028.JPG" border="0" /></a> I met with Jordan's hand surgeon, Dr. Jones, last month. I assumed it was going to be a goodbye since he has said in the past that there isn't much more he can do for her but he told me at our appt that he plans to eventually work more on her hands in the future. He said that he will work a bit on the appearance sometime too and will try again to widen the web space between her shorter fingers (he said that he couldn't do any more at her last surgery because of the nerves in the hand). We love our Dr. Jones and are so thankful for him. He asked for a copy of this picture by the way. :) Very cute. They all just laugh and laugh at Jordan every time we go. This last visit may have been the first time she was at the doctors without screaming. The staff way on the other side of the office (around two hallways) saw us either this visit or the one before and said, "Oh wow, we didn't even know you were here - we didn't hear a thing!" Funny.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBlZEvUv5PnO5faO3XaQsAaEvZ04-4YtQtXtUXqIw_-kbs0HpAWWnqu0rJayvUrgyMYJAPY7KoBfcK2Duj8up-K54ie2YQf2-hUx63ceV14c5sQOeHn4GGnEVG7VupXokTUcJCg/s1600-h/IMG_0018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361130792336024082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBlZEvUv5PnO5faO3XaQsAaEvZ04-4YtQtXtUXqIw_-kbs0HpAWWnqu0rJayvUrgyMYJAPY7KoBfcK2Duj8up-K54ie2YQf2-hUx63ceV14c5sQOeHn4GGnEVG7VupXokTUcJCg/s320/IMG_0018.JPG" border="0" /></a> We painted our kitchen and family room recently and the kids helped. Jordan wanted to be in the midst of everything, of course.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj09tXiexx7lgeagHzpkhAXJ3X5_a71ycvdbyLYOKccnUVyFfETZ5lWyyvoYpZ0QX3nBrw9t3oZj6g2QIOAJrTfN1DkvOCiWl44dM_2DlrD60UUVWifymOda3jAx46hlGa_HjPfw/s1600-h/IMG_0008.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361130789890811410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj09tXiexx7lgeagHzpkhAXJ3X5_a71ycvdbyLYOKccnUVyFfETZ5lWyyvoYpZ0QX3nBrw9t3oZj6g2QIOAJrTfN1DkvOCiWl44dM_2DlrD60UUVWifymOda3jAx46hlGa_HjPfw/s320/IMG_0008.JPG" border="0" /></a> Here are our tomato and strawberry plants. Jordan LOVES vegetables (even onions, mushrooms and similar things) so she eats these by the dozen.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjclIt2a8oXWW_AcDSPXouTt5Nrqr0wjQCzFy94JYFfC-BkuuJsSXoBGEZtMVGADlbbUejvrJf74JzkChMndYA018_EoNRYrlvlfYJGlyieShXIeOegpNP2oox5mgG2TbwXX8NRQ/s1600-h/IMG_0004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361130775378686994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjclIt2a8oXWW_AcDSPXouTt5Nrqr0wjQCzFy94JYFfC-BkuuJsSXoBGEZtMVGADlbbUejvrJf74JzkChMndYA018_EoNRYrlvlfYJGlyieShXIeOegpNP2oox5mgG2TbwXX8NRQ/s320/IMG_0004.JPG" border="0" /></a> This picture cracks me up because it really shows what she is always doing. She is either making pretend food for us, cleaning things with baby wipes, caring for her babies or watering plants. She's such a busy little homemaker! </div><div><br /><div>Okay so onto more medical stuff...</div><div><strong>Speech:</strong></div><div>Jordan's speech therapy funding ends at the end of the month through Regional Center. She has made fantastic gains and her therapist is trying to get her into a social group for the month of August until sheh turns three. She needs a lot of prompts by me with her peers and seems to find it easier to just play alone. I'm not concerned with her speech anymore and although she struggles with some sounds (motor planning) I am confident that it'll work out.</div><div><strong>Physical Therapy:</strong></div><div>She is also doing GREAT in this area!</div><div>Her strength is way up, her stamina, her balance, her coordination and her range of motion in her foot seem so much better too. She still fatigues easily, falls a lot, can't go up or down stairs/steps by herself yet and she isn't running but overall it's much better. Her therapists are shocked at her progress.</div><div><strong>Occupational Therapy (fine motor and eating):</strong></div><div>She's doing much better here too. She continues to build strength in her new thumb and she is using it much more now. After the surgery her arm usually just hung by her side and she inefficiently did everything with her left hand. Strength is our focus now for her right thumb.</div><div><strong>Craniofacial:</strong></div><div>I'm posting separately on this one.</div><div><strong>Orthopaedic:</strong></div><div>We meet for a follow-up August 18th with her foot surgeon to find out if she can be done with the leg brace. I'm hoping he says yes but it really doesn't bother her or us for her to wear it and if it gives her better odds of not having the surgery re-done we'll do it.</div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Jennifer Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151170254710891286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30762286.post-63447134380134563502009-07-21T20:44:00.000-07:002009-07-21T21:00:54.293-07:00More Pictures from June/July '09<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrzwyhyT2owkVF3xvPtMWIE_LeSjHsA4W7kRwNvXhqxV0svWbfDuYf4E9D09EL3jBZlF_-prEbjqOklpCp6cIxks8lOVUp3OmF_fn-ZiEonlHZgBy-oPaqYCgVLNR6B7M5c8IgfA/s1600-h/IMG_0073.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361129312253690162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrzwyhyT2owkVF3xvPtMWIE_LeSjHsA4W7kRwNvXhqxV0svWbfDuYf4E9D09EL3jBZlF_-prEbjqOklpCp6cIxks8lOVUp3OmF_fn-ZiEonlHZgBy-oPaqYCgVLNR6B7M5c8IgfA/s320/IMG_0073.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2yiJ5SavxsSysQhRn_D5_CMDJzvYy2PhVb5Amxt5peETJ0NpOF3RUplmQuuHw3Q39MfBz93Bp1RHkRlp9WqyyR8mykIGlw-uQJGCIq9U_SoWXl6Wx-CaDLKT40DfKHzHxRe9gw/s1600-h/IMG_0040.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361129306131730210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2yiJ5SavxsSysQhRn_D5_CMDJzvYy2PhVb5Amxt5peETJ0NpOF3RUplmQuuHw3Q39MfBz93Bp1RHkRlp9WqyyR8mykIGlw-uQJGCIq9U_SoWXl6Wx-CaDLKT40DfKHzHxRe9gw/s320/IMG_0040.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hD_6kmwDXQPNE5RwLueW6eUGOuHZJY-DfIaFuUNFXBKHnQSIWfEFZn2P-1ITEwUQUDPUtb01_g11Ct6LhEmMIGN-nddJF0fDhejpfi4RHH-soijTtr-NToSDW2KCnzfPnaE0HA/s1600-h/DSC_0240.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361129300446945970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hD_6kmwDXQPNE5RwLueW6eUGOuHZJY-DfIaFuUNFXBKHnQSIWfEFZn2P-1ITEwUQUDPUtb01_g11Ct6LhEmMIGN-nddJF0fDhejpfi4RHH-soijTtr-NToSDW2KCnzfPnaE0HA/s320/DSC_0240.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWY3UbY_Nv84bMA-j59rAxJ2ygGbhrB0TQXOJxdAAvvizN6iWLWkMkFT4N5SwhVUAu9lbtWbVh_DG9jGqrjN7H8jcpaCp_st3s5YCHCfyj26dYyMfFm_bhHa5IXUyMBYfAArVuVQ/s1600-h/DSC_0234.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361129294701584706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWY3UbY_Nv84bMA-j59rAxJ2ygGbhrB0TQXOJxdAAvvizN6iWLWkMkFT4N5SwhVUAu9lbtWbVh_DG9jGqrjN7H8jcpaCp_st3s5YCHCfyj26dYyMfFm_bhHa5IXUyMBYfAArVuVQ/s320/DSC_0234.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEKI94bge-ybWsZeDU9Uss2OtvX5pq5GtsB_L9Tn1-auys7X1Sl_mpF_ANBwo7gas6Nsa62omixKaQ6UY8GIsXbkdGBfQxKj5U35sP8m9OUZiqep44A9a5QccazWCvFObajcoRA/s1600-h/DSC_0239.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361128557359391570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEKI94bge-ybWsZeDU9Uss2OtvX5pq5GtsB_L9Tn1-auys7X1Sl_mpF_ANBwo7gas6Nsa62omixKaQ6UY8GIsXbkdGBfQxKj5U35sP8m9OUZiqep44A9a5QccazWCvFObajcoRA/s320/DSC_0239.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div> </div></div></div></div></div>Jennifer Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151170254710891286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30762286.post-58392387733915160632009-07-01T22:12:00.000-07:002009-07-01T22:50:59.979-07:00Our first gowns!!!<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFNoWrdNUE7rfzFm_K3PTrXkdELEjGKDlPWIE4Fi6BqGD9hm72Y_56ocfyhbDIPU16ZjuqpK31LUBE8MFQdGPmN6cmxCd8IO6Ji8fZMV8cD56yS2TUjV3Iz91s7K5c4CWCLEFXw/s1600-h/hospital+gown+jw"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353726697259115858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFNoWrdNUE7rfzFm_K3PTrXkdELEjGKDlPWIE4Fi6BqGD9hm72Y_56ocfyhbDIPU16ZjuqpK31LUBE8MFQdGPmN6cmxCd8IO6Ji8fZMV8cD56yS2TUjV3Iz91s7K5c4CWCLEFXw/s320/hospital+gown+jw" border="0" /></a> Here is a precious hospital gown made with care and prayer by Jennifer Woodward.</div><br /><div align="center">You can see the post below but a week or so ago I posted a request for anyone who could sew to begin thinking and praying about making cute hospital gowns for babies and toddlers who are in the hospital. They would be particularly for high level care kids who have too many wires, tubes, etc to be able to wear their own clothes and who are in the hospital for an extended stay.<br />Go to Jennifer's blog to see her post on this (worth reading!) and more pictures and details.<br /><a href="http://doctrineanddiapers.blogspot.com/2009/06/gowns-are-on-their-way.html">http://doctrineanddiapers.blogspot.com/2009/06/gowns-are-on-their-way.html</a><br />This has me beyond excited!<br />A mom I whose daughter I see when I work told me about her own daughter being blessed by similar dresses while she was in the hospital for an extended stay. Some women got together and donated a few for her daughter in Ohio. I thought that I might as well try to duplicate the process here at a local hospital where Jordan has spent time (CHOC, UC Irvine and UCLA).</div><br /><div align="center">The challenge for me is that I'm a beginning seamstress and due to Jordan's care etc. I don't have much time to get this started. Honestly I was a bit discouraged thinking about how many weeks it would be until I could spend time finding and working on a pattern, trying to figure it out so that I could send it out to other women who sew who have offered to help.</div><div align="center">Tonight I got a call that Jennifer already dropped a few off at a friend's house for me!</div><div align="center">I visted her blog and saw so many comments by other women who also want to help!!</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">I am so encouraged and so moved by everyone's enthusiasm and care.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">I am beginning to pray about the hospital to contact for donations. Originally I assumed it would be CHOC (Children's Hospital Orange County) but I've been really drawn to UCLA Medical Center since first thinking about this. </div><br /><div align="center">Some of you don't know that Jordan spent nearly a week in the PICU there on a ventilator, sedated with tubes all over and all I wanted was my baby back - the way I knew her (in her own clothes, in her own bed, awake, etc.). In an effort to share the true Jordan with her caregivers I hung pictures of her, put bows in her hair and laid "Piggy" next to her along with her quilt that was handmade from our church's quilting ministry that had an angel pin given to Jordan by her Great Aunt BJ. I hung pictures of Noah along with his cards for her, all to remind myself and the staff that this patient was not our girl, not the girl we know. There were families there whose children would not be going home or who were facing months of hospitalization who could've benefitted even more.</div><br /><div align="center">All this to say that the bows, the blanket, the pictures and Piggy really weren't needed at UCLA because it is a place where the staff truly cares! I drive up to that hospital and I have a feeling of comfort and love for them. We went back to visit after we were released and they were so excited to see Jordan. One year later we were back for another surgery and I ran into some of the PICU staff in the cafeteria and they recognized us! They were so sweet and so kind. In thinking back to our time there I really feel I'd like to donate the gowns to them with a special letter thanking them. I'll keep praying and any of you who sew start sewing! I'll get the pattern from Jennifer (hopefully) and let you all know where you can find it or duplicate it.</div><br /><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353734056232657858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVB5nroZ2BcnYOYqd5oPpV9AljIhMG5UHEI5AzZ_ErV6V38vFewFn33OHtfblhUMCtU7bVWFp4btTaPneTf0mXASmjs-BPRk9cGdIwCJAQMyoCk8yKhOV2Y6hhgvv2bRlIGEMYpA/s320/jj+ucla+2.bmp" border="0" /><br />Here is Jordan the first night in a gown.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353734054657322514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDHgZu5mr8SUbJzkOBt4k070oCXwL42BAShV5REMreuMlsjqSV-fyRWbU9VMXYoxpDNutDBe1HDobKwfln4ffbiSQjD-ur-20l8x4a1bF1Uk56waQphYgFSQobzgmMp4yuj7rlw/s320/jj+ucla.bmp" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">And here she is with nothing on but her bows, her best friend and a diaper. :)<br />If you want to read back through these posts you can find them on the right hand column of the my main blog page - This was October 2007.</p><p align="center">Thank you everyone! </p><p align="center">Anyone else interested please post here and stay tuned for a pattern! Forward this to anyone you know who sews!<br /></p><br /><div align="center"></div>Jennifer Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151170254710891286noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30762286.post-28828336415727502662009-06-29T21:43:00.000-07:002009-06-29T22:06:42.115-07:00My Two FishI posted that Noah started swim lessons last week and he's doing so much better every day. Saturday at the city pool he jumped off the edge into the water, made his way to the wall underwater then pulled himself up back out of the pool - more times than I can count. He's super excited about swimming so we'll see how it goes tomorrow at class again.<br /><br />My mom wanted to put Jordan is swim class along with Noah but I was concerned with her sensory issues (vestibular problems) and wondered how it would go anyway with her foot and just her being behind in her gross motor skills in general. The teacher offered to see Jordan in the evening when she sees her special needs kids but after talking more she felt Jordan wasn't ready yet. She told me to start putting her in the shower, getting her face/head wet and just getting her more used to the water. She also said that she'd meet with us one time as a freebie to help us with ideas to work with her on our own to prepare for swimming.<br /><br />I took her tonight and of course she clung to me and screamed when I let her go but it really wasn't that bad. As soon as Ms. Connie took her and was really firm with her she did very well. Ms. Connie actually got her in an inner tube kicking her legs by herself and she really does kick pretty well. She also got her underwater twice before she really freaked out but Connie kept putting her under until she calmed down enough to ask to please be taken to the steps. She also got her on her back floating with only one hand on the back of Jordan's head. When I tried to do those things with her it was really bad. I was so nervous and tense and Jordan wouldn't do it, she kept screaming and I really just wanted to watch Connie work with her as I sat in the chair. Instead, Connie says she wants to work with me at least another time before I do anything with Jordan in the pool by myself. I was totally surprised by my response to her fear and her screaming. Usually I think I do really well when she is scared, screaming, and everything else that we've had to work through with her but she looked so tiny in the pool and was so scared. Connie says that this is the summer we need to work with her on swimming because she's getting older, she's cognitively able to do it and responds like a typical toddler to the water (scared but not dealing with an abnormal reaction like some of her special needs kids with autism etc.) and if we wait she'll just become more afraid.<br />I'll be meeting with Connie again Thursday at 5:00 to work on this again and then she said I can get in the pool one week from Thursday possibly during Noah's class so she can help me a bit just with verbal direction.<br />Okay so enough of this long post. I wish I had pictures but I was in the water so I'll try to get some soon.Jennifer Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151170254710891286noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30762286.post-43659529762368986422009-06-24T16:46:00.000-07:002009-06-24T17:14:19.150-07:00Yay Noah!!!!!!!!!!<p align="center">What a huge week it's been at our house and it's only Wednesday!!<br />Noah had his first swim lesson yesterday and today he rode a bike with no training wheels!<br />Yay! What a big boy we have!</p><p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxdUlY4NWkqSXtLWFYOnLU2Afx6k1i4aMhjZNfME5heR9wqGh5ElXiDVb1zdsHLgiaxNuzPcnGErBA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKz2uoZ_Px5kgJuM_zrlIdupDTDh0c9RWRSzEi3YOdqMn_K08sn_ilj6HZDqT-6p3MR54FnzoSXMAGBXWDnHva36uSluBoXmIgX01vXCvFM9hnoUIlMf72p2J98cTBYcxzHKskg/s1600-h/IMG_0077.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351046845450191250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKz2uoZ_Px5kgJuM_zrlIdupDTDh0c9RWRSzEi3YOdqMn_K08sn_ilj6HZDqT-6p3MR54FnzoSXMAGBXWDnHva36uSluBoXmIgX01vXCvFM9hnoUIlMf72p2J98cTBYcxzHKskg/s320/IMG_0077.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351049401270387730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPSWnJwAlSnsiLje3bplJ5xyqT1u_Xcv3Da41IGlEuyasXtljxlhMzaI9SgpzQwc-dijMs5KGpggkgUSun4LHxm0yJlFyuEUAnOjfRI7GiH4DppgDYlvfV_2QTtaCtEVzU0H1gw/s320/IMG_0073.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWHD5lCaUL3DwZujVnAsypEhDZTSSrU7cAZQ5CFvOK9uHYObsJZswpW2RuHz_phph2UWnxV70oFXI08SmwXcYXAoJ_hBDwB4fUJr32-OwpDpD1YULMOyi0f2gMjEDGFW8FexXdQ/s1600-h/IMG_0076.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351046843085036978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWHD5lCaUL3DwZujVnAsypEhDZTSSrU7cAZQ5CFvOK9uHYObsJZswpW2RuHz_phph2UWnxV70oFXI08SmwXcYXAoJ_hBDwB4fUJr32-OwpDpD1YULMOyi0f2gMjEDGFW8FexXdQ/s320/IMG_0076.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVFT_9l0Ya6pkUq2Zlw2FQTX-uWjlSCEdnjicZ6-csK6hUOhIgPa-Qc7h2tR3pek3nBQ3Lw_ZDgw7LUic4G8LSZTqB9kmx65ruZyhGi0BRqCu2cdAGNBO_gZZtet9GXRwR3tOgA/s1600-h/IMG_0072.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351046837395378098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVFT_9l0Ya6pkUq2Zlw2FQTX-uWjlSCEdnjicZ6-csK6hUOhIgPa-Qc7h2tR3pek3nBQ3Lw_ZDgw7LUic4G8LSZTqB9kmx65ruZyhGi0BRqCu2cdAGNBO_gZZtet9GXRwR3tOgA/s320/IMG_0072.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqE3HvRqOkXg8XHO79ns9uq9oKQ9Rqa9gU_UjoEJBGvVPY1V-3hXtFhUF2slIadL-Fjr_amlLyaRNcMRVCy6mhyphenhyphenJf5glWpgwM65IGU_rhTsBD6R_th3vL8aR17Q4NNlRK2qxDtOw/s1600-h/IMG_0071.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351046827392397714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqE3HvRqOkXg8XHO79ns9uq9oKQ9Rqa9gU_UjoEJBGvVPY1V-3hXtFhUF2slIadL-Fjr_amlLyaRNcMRVCy6mhyphenhyphenJf5glWpgwM65IGU_rhTsBD6R_th3vL8aR17Q4NNlRK2qxDtOw/s320/IMG_0071.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p></div></div></div>Jennifer Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151170254710891286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30762286.post-43044141084953751372009-06-21T21:26:00.001-07:002009-06-21T21:33:49.554-07:00More pictures from San Diego...see previous post<div align="center">These posts always come up in the wrong order - I added more pictures from San Diego - scroll down for the post about our trip.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPm74wKPa1ZVIgxy2BKe4irYb92NPs6uA0Xj2vYhv9-ercqjoMUUGHN1ITUByj_YQlwAltFgz3K9eqLAGqu1XLbw-apzJw9-YHoVkhgij9iBXlJfVoojENnJONoZrS6u-csoa6A/s1600-h/IMG_0063.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350004713960330818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPm74wKPa1ZVIgxy2BKe4irYb92NPs6uA0Xj2vYhv9-ercqjoMUUGHN1ITUByj_YQlwAltFgz3K9eqLAGqu1XLbw-apzJw9-YHoVkhgij9iBXlJfVoojENnJONoZrS6u-csoa6A/s320/IMG_0063.JPG" border="0" /></a> Mission Bay Playground<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbGNZNf4FLgA8ZSOpgdMBeBnaw1jyte5Bx8EHi7E15s7jZEOER09l6ZqsQf_E0KmOZtV8Xczmu3nQk1e3YVbIytN6Rxlrb1_wXT1F4E0kquM0ovCh_MaiDHARKxxzUiP-5uumvUg/s1600-h/IMG_0049.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350004709756936290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbGNZNf4FLgA8ZSOpgdMBeBnaw1jyte5Bx8EHi7E15s7jZEOER09l6ZqsQf_E0KmOZtV8Xczmu3nQk1e3YVbIytN6Rxlrb1_wXT1F4E0kquM0ovCh_MaiDHARKxxzUiP-5uumvUg/s320/IMG_0049.JPG" border="0" /></a> Shamu!!!!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZBy1uNWgavo9O6yBa1mmAhcnMz4QMtoW1vMe67UFLtwLUr-ZxsV-23c1p5ElXwhg32P5BLLCSr-1fZp5WCGrd8aM8kNrq8NRN1znwTj683hYlt-PY5hNbk-iHXhyphenhyphenfKn1J-pWWA/s1600-h/IMG_0046.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350004704073919346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZBy1uNWgavo9O6yBa1mmAhcnMz4QMtoW1vMe67UFLtwLUr-ZxsV-23c1p5ElXwhg32P5BLLCSr-1fZp5WCGrd8aM8kNrq8NRN1znwTj683hYlt-PY5hNbk-iHXhyphenhyphenfKn1J-pWWA/s320/IMG_0046.JPG" border="0" /></a> I love this picture. She is SUCH a happy girl!!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWW1wzGuxPFdpWOVbdO7uc54XeQzPJCvlqwh96eCMQpmVERxQyBoJbeMAiA7Hn-g0rREp9kB5_5NW6DXOXXY8XUhyphenhyphenmDryzAit1unydkr9h3T3FOgauUDC9UI_0oQtxpIgf_fk7ow/s1600-h/IMG_0044.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350004695979078994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWW1wzGuxPFdpWOVbdO7uc54XeQzPJCvlqwh96eCMQpmVERxQyBoJbeMAiA7Hn-g0rREp9kB5_5NW6DXOXXY8XUhyphenhyphenmDryzAit1unydkr9h3T3FOgauUDC9UI_0oQtxpIgf_fk7ow/s320/IMG_0044.JPG" border="0" /></a> The Fam<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVCOzW0cVssL2VfcbC6m20bqE7211USz0MjYGG6JJgDr_BD0wmrlMzK4Tbd-7Zkkadlv0GIxZ3caLfS-kbgwV5TpWXt9fWbD8t1zEE7y8SrfRheJu6tIlm1P5R-Z3VR5W_ezWfA/s1600-h/sd+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350004688490242642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVCOzW0cVssL2VfcbC6m20bqE7211USz0MjYGG6JJgDr_BD0wmrlMzK4Tbd-7Zkkadlv0GIxZ3caLfS-kbgwV5TpWXt9fWbD8t1zEE7y8SrfRheJu6tIlm1P5R-Z3VR5W_ezWfA/s320/sd+001.jpg" border="0" /></a> Jordan loves talking about bubble gum. Here she just said, "Wanna see me blow a BIIIG bubble?" She does this all the time and it's a crack up.<br /><br /><br /></div></div></div><br /></div>Jennifer Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14151170254710891286noreply@blogger.com2