She's getting so big, so fast!

One word to describe Jenelle these past few months = Amazing.  A few weeks ago, I picked her up from Aunt Nicki's after a meeting and she was asleep on the floor.  As I looked down at her, instead of seeing the little girl I'm used to seeing, I couldn't believe how big she looked.  And before I could say it, Aunt Nicki said, "Gosh doesn't she look grown up like that?"  Now more than ever in her life, I want to make time stand still so I can soak up ever bit of her amazing transformation.

People say it all the time; kids grow up way too fast.  It's hard for me to believe that Jack has 3 more weeks in elementary school and will be headed to Middle School.  That I'm actually looking at adding another cell phones to our plan so he can have one.  I can't believe that this season of Little League is over, and that Jack has one year left.  Time goes by so fast.

In mid April, I saw a story in the Register about a Hummingbird web cam that was following a Momma Hummingbird named Emma, and her two eggs.  The eggs were just about to hatch, and I became obsessed with watching the camera feed.  I had it playing at work in the background of my computer screen and checked in periodically.  Although I missed the first egg hatching, I witnessed the birth of the second baby bird when it hatched during my lunch one day.  Within a weeks time, these babies went from tiny raisin like creatures to something that resembled a baby bird.  As you will see at the website, the nest itself is slightly bigger than a quarter, the babies the size of a penny, and the eggs the size of Tic-Tacs!  I kept in touch with this web cam, and their Facebook page for two weeks, and watched these birds transform from eggs to full grown Hummingbirds.  From birth to fledge, all in little over 21 days.  Time goes by so fast.

Jenelle's seizures have been consistent, and last night after her 3rd two minute grand mal I decided to page the on call doctor at UCLA to decide on a game plan.  The seizures had been hours apart, but it isn't like Jenelle to have so many in one day.  It is always nice to talk the situation over with the doctor so I don't second guess myself.  The on call doctor at UCLA agreed that we should consider using Diastat with the next seizure should she have one regardless of how long it goes.  Sometimes even half the dose of Diastat will give her the break she needs.  Luckily, I monitored Jenelle until putting her to bed and the rest of the evening and morning was uneventful.

At Jenelle's recent GI appointment, we found that Jenelle has gained 6 pounds in the last four months.  That is probably the culprit that is wreaking havoc on the seizure control we once had.  The on call doctor suggested I e-mail Dr. Shields on Tuesday to discuss increasing Jenelle's usual meds since we won't be seeing him until July.  Sounds like a solid plan to me!

In the next hour or so we'll be off to watch Jack's travel baseball team play a tournament in West Covina.  Hopefully it will be a good day for Jenelle, and the Tustin Rampage.  Enjoy your Memorial Day Weekend, and remember to reflect on it's true meaning.  Remember the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of our country, and for our freedom.  Thank you for the prayers and positive thoughts.  I'll keep you posted.

Happy Mother's Day!

I've never been one to expect lavish gifts and special treatment on Mother's Day.  I much prefer the hand made gifts the kids did at school, with sweet sentiments and spending the day with loved ones doing what we love.  I'm sick as a dog this year, so this year I will be resting at home while Brett and Jack play in the Little League 50/70 game at 2:00 p.m.  After, we're going to my in-laws to celebrate my Mother in Law's recent birthday, and of course, Mother's Day. 

To my surprise, this afternoon a flower delivery arrived from my Mom and Dad.  It is a beautiful assortment of tulips and hydrangia.  When I woke from resting, the lovely arrangement made me smile, then feel horrible since I haven't purchased a Mother's Day card for my own mom.  I usually at least remember that!  So, for my Mom on Mother's day, I give you the only thing I can... the long awaited photos of the grandkids! :)



Nana's 80th Birthday



Nana and her Grandsons

Me, JD and Jenelle at the Angels game on Easter!

JD as honorary bat boy with two kids he didnt' know.

My nephew Trevor being Guest PA Announcer!

He has my eyes.

And finally, if you are still reading... I notice that this work by Erma Bombeck seems to get a lot of hits on this blog this time of year, so I thougth I'd share it with you all once again.  Please enjoy this piece by Erma Bombeck, one of my favorite writers.

The Special Mom by Erma Bombeck, 1980

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures and a couple by habit. This year, nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen? Somehow I visualize God hovering over Earth selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As he observes, he instructs his angels to make notes in a giant ledger.

"Armstrong, Beth, son, patron saint, Matthew.

Forrest, Marjorie, daughter, patron saint, Cecilia.

Rudledge, Carrie, twins, patron saint, give her Gerard. He's used to profanity."

Finally, he passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped child." The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy." "Exactly," says God. "Could I give a handicapped child to a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."

"But has she patience?" asks the angel. "I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wear off, she'll handle it. I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has his own world. She has to make it live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."

"But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in you." God smiles. "No matter. I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness." The angel gasps, "Selfishness? Is that a virtue?" God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a 'spoken word.' She will never consider a 'step' ordinary. When her child says 'Momma' for the first time, she will be present at a miracle and know it! When she describes a tree or a sunset to her blind child, she will see it as few people ever see my creations."

"I will permit her to see clearly the things I see . . . ignorance, cruelty, prejudice . . . and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."

"And what about her patron saint?" asks the angel, pen poised midair. God smiles. "A mirror will suffice."