One year ago...

One year ago, today, Joey was rushed to the hospital. He was orange (jaundice) and purple (not breathing). He was transfered from the ER at one hospital to the PICU at another hospital via helicopter. He was a very sick little boy! He spent 10 days in the hospital, and went through many treatments and procedures. After discharge, there were weeks when he saw 5 different Dr's in one week...often... Sometimes he saw 3 Dr's in one day, sometimes all on different days.

God has been really good. Joey is a happy "healthy" one year old now. He has seen 3 Dr's since September, and those only one time each.

We are still dealing with some motor skill delays, but these are part of who he is, and we were prepared to deal with helping him through the learning how to deal with or work through them.

He is learning new things quickly right now, so he may still catch up most of those delays. I've even seen him compensate on his own for some muscle control issues.

He is still having some puzzling hearing issues. It may be that he still has AN, which would make sound he does hear not be as clear as they should be, or the nerve is still healing, so some days are not as good as others.

With everything Joey has been through, he has really become a snuggly boy. Often in the evening, he just wants me to hold him, while he hugs and snuggles me. I like that!

Here is a Scrapbook page I made to celebrate our year...

And here are some pictures from his first birthday...

Cake

EEWWW! Cold, Ice Cream!

Yummy! Cake!

That was good. Got more?

Good deals

I have gotten two good online deals lately.

First: I signed up for Swagbucks. It is a search engine that pays you points for searching...these points can then be traded for cool things like Amazon gift cards! (and it does work...)

If you were to sign up using my referral link, I'd get points when you get points...and you get a referral link for others to search and you earn points too.

My link is: http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/joybell74

Second: I got a discount code from Diapers.com . If you use sposie diapers this is a great deal. It gives you 20% off your 1st order and gives me a $10 credit on my next order. They also offer free shipping on orders over $49. I usually order 2 cases of luvs and get the free shipping...and don't have to run to the store after diapers! The discount code is JXYB6592 and anyone can use it.

I did this to order Joey's Christmas...a crib. Also a friend of mine ordered her grandson a bunch of Carter's clothes, and got the discount too, so it works too. The only catch to this one is you have to use the code on your first order, or it doesn't work.

This works for me, because I'm earning or saving $ while doing something I'd be doing anyway!

Works for me...

I've really had an interesting struggle over the years. Some of my kids have either physical limitations that we have to overcome or lack of confidence which also has to be overcome. This is especially true in reading and math.
This year I decided to look at more of a Classical approach and check out books in the public domain (meaning older, free, download books).
These two books have been amazing!
First: Ray's Primary Arithmetic

When my oldest panicked because I said "multiply", this book was the key. It teaches problem solving, not just "memorize the time's tables and write all the answers over and over." It is a "new" (to us) way of thinking and looking at a problem. After about 2 months in this book (she is going through it fast, because she needs to get to the second book this year) I asked her how she felt about multiplying now...she said "fine". I did not have to drill and fight her to get her to understand. She took the book and learned it on her own! Now "multiply" and "divide" don't panic her!

Second: The See and Say Series Book One

My 4th child can't remember anything (or so it seems)! I have tried for 3 years to teach him letters and sounds. He does great "right now" but in 15 minutes he won't remember any of it, and by tomorrow we have to start all over! I started this book with him and his 2 younger brothers last week. After 1 page, they could all remember the "mmm" sound and show it to daddy at the end of the day without me telling them again. (For 3 years, I've had Freddie look at me and say, with a puzzled look "what does it say again?" It is so good to not hear that question all the time!

Now if I could find the perfect motivator to get all of them doing what they should when they should...

Yay! He did it!

Finally!

It seems like forever. I've been waiting for Joey to sit up on his own without toppling right over for about 3 months now. He should have been getting his "sit-up" balance at about 6 months old. He is 9 months old now, and he is finally sitting up long enough for me to get a picture before he falls over...actually I got several pics. At first he was tense, trying not to fall, after a while he relaxed and started to reach for the grass. After big brother came to check on him, he finally leaned forward and tried to eat the grass...

This was also his 1st pair of shoes and socks...that was interesting. At first he hollered because he couldn't wiggle his toes. Then he decided they looked interesting...

Home

Well, after several months of waiting and packing, and waiting and packing some more...

We are finally here! Actually we got here two and a half weeks ago. Now we are unpacking, and unpacking, and unpacking some more...

The kids are adjusting and looking forward to sledding in the snow. They already found the sled hill, and have been sledding without snow, so we know it is a good hill.

I'm glad to see some routine starting to take shape. Routine is something we never seemed to have before. We finally all get to sit at the table for supper every day. The 4 littlest ones are getting baths and going to bed after supper, so they are asleep most nights by 8:30 (used to always be 10 or later). And of course, we are all enjoying having Dad home every day. Especially since he moved up here 4 months before the rest of us were able to move.

Still a few wrinkles to iron out...a few things to work into our routine. Some more unpacking to do, and spaces to organize. BUT we are home, and it feels good!

A Joey Update

Joey saw his pediatrician today. This was his last appointment for August...and for the next 3 months!!!!!

In 3 months he is supposed to see the pediatrician, and the audiologist again. In 6 months he will see both of those people again, and the hematologist.

This is huge when you think that he has had so many appointments every month of his life to this point.

The Dr walked in today and said, "oh my, it is a Saint Bernard puppy!" then explained that is what he calls drooling teething babies. (Think the Beethoven movie...drool flying everywhere).

So, the info we got today is that he is growing well, and his motor/speech skills are at the level of a 5 1/2 month old. This is not quite as good as most 7 1/2 month olds, but considering that he has been through so much, and is still developing with leaps and bounds, it is ok. The Dr said he would be worried if Joey had hit a plateau and stopped learning to do new things, but right now, as long as he keeps improving at a reasonable rate, we are ok. And considering that he was deaf for at least 5 months, a 2 month speech delay is not a big deal either.

So, seems like a lot of encouraging/good news for Joey! He is my Little Tiger...quite a fighter and got a growl to match!

Responding to Life's Storms

People say I'm amazingly calm or respond better than they'd expect in these tough times. Or they ask how I can handle things. I've pondered this a few days to be able to try to give an answer...

8-25-2010

I was thinking today, I don't see my responses to situations as being great or especially calm. But, when I think on it... it is just another indication of God working in/through me. What I do see when I try to "analyze" it (which I tend to), is that it is much easier to lean on God's strong arm and let HIM carry me through the tough times in life. I know it is not easy at first to "let go and let God" but trusting HIM is easier than fighting through on my own.

This does not mean that I won't be "weathered by the storms of life" or that I have fewer storms or they are not as bad. It doesn't mean that I'm detached or less emotional.

It does mean that I'm less stressed (not unstressed) because I'm not wearing myself out fighting what I can't help/fix anyway.

It is God in me, but He allows me to choose to rest in HIM...this is the peace people see.

8-27-2010

I think this sums up what I feel...

Psalm 91:1 & 2

1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

I have found the secret place, I trust in HIM, and rest in the sheltering shadow of the Almighty...in HIS arms. HE is my refuge and my fortress (safety).

I find that my frustrations and stresses now are more about the things I should be able to fix (a cleaner house, better behaved kids, etc.) And not so much about things I can't fix (waiting on the loan to go through so we can move, dealing with Joey's health, hearing, & Dr's.)

If I can't fix it, then all I can do is trust. Why wear myself out worrying or fighting something I can't do anything about anyway? It is much better to rest in HIS strength and safety.

Also, it is important to realize that HIS “safety” is not always the same as our idea of “safety”, just as HIS will is not always our will. But, when we learn to trust HIM to do what is best, we can accept HIS will even when we don't see the “good” at first. Again, we can't fix it, why fight it?

8-29-2010

The rest of that chapter in Psalms is comforting too. Verse 15 also speaks to me...

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

This is the key...Call on the LORD! Then trust HIM with the outcome.

Another of my long time favorite verses:

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

God has a plan, there is an “expected end” nothing surprises HIM. He wants peace for me, not evil.

When will this happen? What can I do to bring peace? Not a thing, but call on HIM, seek Him...and trust...

Jeremiah 29: 12 & 13

12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

My hope is that by sharing a piece of the "Peace" that I've found, I can encourage someone else, as well as remind myself in days to come where to turn for strength.