Monday, March 29, 2010

Pluggin' along at a snail's pace.

It's been quiet on the blog lately as I've been slowly working on my long list of in Progress quilts and finishing up my pot holders for the Potholder Pass.  Round three sign ups are going on now if you're interested, just let Amy over at http://duringquiettime.blogspot.com/ know.  She's been a wonderful hostess and organizer  and there has been a great collection of works by some really talented people.    I will be bowing out of # 3 as  life at home has gotten a bit crazy. 

Wednesday we are taking a trip to C.H.O.P.S. to meet a  new Dr/surgeon who has specialized in Perthes.  I hesitate to say he will be Brian's doctor as I know nothing about him except what is stated in his Bio on the Hospital's website.  There is still so much we don't know and numerous opinions as to what stage Brian's perthes is in, that we are at least going to have another opinion to add to the ever growing medical file.  It was stated that he will be casted and have some sort of surgey on his right side sometime this year; hopefully this doctor  can give us something a bit more absolute.  The unknown is what drives me insane or to tears on any given day.  We are still unaware of what the insurance company is going to cover. They didn't think the wheelchair is medically necessary,so...


He has recently learned how to use crutches for short distance walking and for home use and some excercises to help his range of motion in his hip.   He will likely need a walker for ease of use when he's casted ( I'm hoping for a Scottish-Rite Brace) , because he just feels that the wheelchair and crutches are "too much work".  Some days are good , somedays are bad and it seems as though it's a constant battle concerning his perthes.  This photo shows him as a happy child, right after this, he purposefully ran himself into a wooden fence for dramatic effect, outside of the tiger's cage  and yelled "this is too hard!  I hate You! I hate perthes", while onlookers leered at us; the  terrible parents of that poor boy in the wheelchair, with their mouths agape. He wanted a reaction and got it in spades.  It sucks for him, and us at times.    It's extremely frustrating  to continuously explain to an active seven year old ( he's frustrated with continously hearing it) that while he is able to walk, he is unable to run or jump because it will cause further damage and pain. I hope for a lot from this doctor without really knowing what I'm hoping for, if that makes sense. Thinking some good thoughts and sending our way would be greatly appreciated. 

 We participated in my friend Kate's day for Case for Smiles this past weekend and had a lot of fun with the kids.  So a big thank you to her for all her hard work and planning.  Make sure you check her out.  
I currently have 6 quilts in the works 4 of these are scrap quilts and here are some pictures of  the two I'm working on lately. 
This is my version of Paint Box Quilt made of scraps.  I pieced and sewed long srtips of scraps together and rotary cut them in 6-1/2 x 6-1/2 blocks.  I still have to add on the purple panel and the outside sashing.


This quilt is of my own design, although I'm sure I'm not the first to ever think of it.  These are the scrap leftover cuts from the scrap string panels I used to make my stars. This will be crib sized when finished.  I've been practicing my free motion quilting and have been using  a Skillbuilder #1 panel described here by Anita over at http://bloominworkshop.wordpress.com/.  I need so much more practice. :)



Take care,

Friday, March 26, 2010

Good Trade Farm Friday - Times past.


Today's post is a bit reflective. I miss these times. I miss me and the person I was before kids. I miss the little boy in these pictures and the fun we had. I miss the times before things got so complicated and the Perthes diagnosis. Looking back, those times seemed so easy. They weren't really, it just seems that way as we made it through without too many scratches. My biggest worries back then seem so trivial compared to those we have now. On a scale of one to ten, they wouldn't even register. I try to remind myself today, that things could be far worse. It gives me a bit of comfort, but not much.

 



I always looked forward to going home. I still do. We could vacation anywhere but we always go there. Life is crazy and messy and sometimes really hard and this place always allows us an escape from it all for a while. We could go fishing for hours for all different types of fish in different settings. The bass literally jump on your hook. They still put up one hell of a fight and have often times outsmarted many a fisherman as they are trying to bring them ashore, but their nature and the outcome are usually the same. The catfish have proven to be a bit more elusive. As soon as you figure them out, they change it up and leave you guessing ”what the hell do I do now?"; making you re-evaluate your approach. Ironically this is the same with my kids, especially my son.
 

When he was little I could run and jump and be goofy and spin him like an "airplane" and everything in his  world was right again.  He would giggle and wrap his arms around my neck and nuzzle and cuddle and everything in my world was right again. Not anymore. Brian has switched it up just like those big ol' catfish snorting and grunting all the way making me reevaluate my approach and go back into my parenting tool box and dig around for new techniques. I am again left shaking my head wondering what to do next. Calm down. Breathe in...Breathe out...



Looking at these photos brings up a heap of emotions some I'm ready face and some I am unable to do so honestly so I stuff them back down until I am able. I will eventually. I miss my little happy boy who had his whole life in front of him. Don't get me wrong, he still does, but with much pain and sadness and things we never imagined for him.  We see now the many little things we took for granted and think "Jesus what were we fretting about"? I said before it could be worse, and I am extremely grateful that it isn't; it is still hard for him and us, none the less. Perthes has taken our entire family down a different path than the one that we talked about or dreamed of. It has affected us as a family and separately alike and as everyone knows, we all deal with things in our ways, good and bad.




This year we are planning our annual trip home wondering how things will be different, knowing that things will be different. How we all will handle it? The wheelchair for one,  fishing, running, playing, chasing the dog, emptying the minnow traps, feeding the fish, hiking the hill, building stuff in the shop with Spike, catching fireflies, skipping rocks in the creek, catching crayfish, throwing the Frisbee, taking night walks and all the other things we do when we escape from life. This year we will escape the shoobies, but life will follow us and remind us with an incessant nod, not unlike that of a bobble head doll, that we can't escape it or forget about it.



We're all going to be tested this summer, and through out this year, including the folks.  They too are on a path they hadn't imagined for themselves.We're going to go through  a lot of changes with a sprinkling  flood of emotions through out;  learning and relearning as we go.

Big breath in... hold it...and let it out.

Here's hoping we catch those big old ugly snorting catfish before they figure out what's coming.  :) 






Take care,

Friday, March 12, 2010

Good Trade Farm Friday- Catfish Caboose

















Fully stocked  with Cat fish.   Four generations of  spawned catfish as well as goldfish and koi. 



 This property is for sale.  Check it out.  http://www.goodtradefarm.com/

Take care,

Friday, March 5, 2010

Miss is growing up.


Kaiya is convinced that princesses get gifts and flowers from her  prince and naturally  she is a princess and she  needs flowers.  (Yeah, thanks Walt).



She has recently let us all know that she is marrying Bo because she loves him .  Bo is a boy she knew from running around the peewee football field earilier this year.    He was the older brother of one of Brian's teammates. 7 years older. She bats her eyes and flirts, while I think ,"  Really... ? Already...?  You're 3.  She hasn't seen him in months but still says it daily and matter of factly.



Brody  right now is her prince and they play castle and  have teaparties. He has also gotten very good at playing with dolls and dressing princess barbies. She's been very upset these days though as she feels she never gets mail sent to her so with these flowers being delivered  and the cards and packages being sent from Grammy and Aunt Krista she is feeling especially pleased.



 She desearves all the praise and presents right now because something has just clicked for her  and she has decided that the potty really is a princess's best friend.   Potty training has been a nightmare here.  She has decided that "true" Princesses stay clean and dry and no longer have to change their dresses 5 or 6 times because they have poop on them.   Princesses can however change their dresses 5 or 6 times because they are...Princesses.





Take care,

Good Trade Farm Friday- Dave.


Bass Pond
Stocked with Largemouth Bass, Crappies, Bluegill & Perch.
















Take care,
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