The good, the bad, the better, the weird

(I wrote this post 2 months ago and am just now getting around to finishing and sending.  Case in point - Kirk only has 3 more radiation treatments left.  I suck.  But they still could use prayers)

As I type this Jon and I are waiting at Children's hospital for Gavin to be done with his MRI...and I'm pissed off so now I'm writing to blow off some steam.  Gavin has to be sedated for the MRI of his brain and eyes because it takes about an hour!!  So we show up an hour early to get him all prepped and when the child life services lady comes in she asks "is it better to walk Gavin through the IV procedure before or during?"  I told her before - he's definitely a kid who likes to know whats coming and what to expect.  Well, that got shot to the side as they came in to input the IV right then and there without explaining to him first.  Had the Ipad to distract but I guess when a needle goes in your hand, that's what draws your attention.  So of course they failed to get it in his hand and he's crying.  So I ask, is it not possible to numb his hand first then wait a minute or two and then input the IV so it's not so much going on?  Her answer "Kids don't usually act like that".   Grrrrr.  Please, when I informed the nurse on the phone that he's sensitive to noises, strange things, etc. she ASSURED me that they deal with lots of different kids with lots of different disabilities, they can handle it.  Right.  So I got the lovely job of holding him while they held a gas mask over his face, watch his eyes roll back in his head and his legs kick until he was still.  Thank you children's hospital for that lovely image in my head now.  (results came back normal - which is good.  Still have those horrible images in my head - which is bad.).

But even as I write this, I realize that people are dealing with far worse...like my brother in law Kirk. He was diagnosed with salivary gland cancer and has had 2 surgeries to remove lumps and lymph nodes and now has to start his radiation treatment - 5 days a week for 6 weeks at Mayo Clinic.  Cancer sucks.  The surgeries went well and it looks as if the cancer has not spread, but I'm sure the next 6 weeks will by trying on him and the family.  Please keep Kirk, Jennifer and Garrett in your prayers as they deal with cancer and other bumps in the road.

Haven't posted about Harper in a while - she is getting so big!  She is talking up a storm and although sometimes her English is more like Greek, we can usually understand her 4-5 word sentences after a time or two.  She is strong willed just like her brother but also very caring, loves to share (and tattle on Gavin when he doesn't) and eats like a horse!  I swear that little thing eats more than I do sometimes.  Often she will get down from breakfast and head over to Gavin's chair to eat the rest of his since he eats like a bird.  She sings and dances and loves to take care of her babies and yet can monster truck race with the best of them.  She loves to hang out with Gavin and imitates what he does (sometimes good, sometimes not so good) and is quick to let him know when he's bugging her (which is often).  She turns two on May 12 if you can believe it! (she turned 2, had a grand birthday and I will post those pictures before she turns 3).

Gavin is actually doing very well!  We have received so many good reports from school in the past few weeks and we've seen a difference in him as well.  He's trying really hard and is SO proud of himself when he gets those "green" days at school. So what's the change?  Well, they always say that you shouldn't change to many things at once so you can isolate the problem...I didn't do that.  First thing, he no longer goes to St. John preschool.  Is it easier for him to not go to 2 schools or was that school contributing to the problem and not really helping?  We will never know.  Ella, our nanny, says that she always felt like the teacher wasn't overly fond of Gavin and perhaps that was the case and Gavin felt that and acted out more.  Or like I said, was it just the fact that he had 2 schools, 2 sets of rules, 2 teachers and couldn't keep it all organized in his head.  Second, I started taking him to our chiropractor.  I grew up with chiropractic care and have 2 friends who are chiropractors who have always encouraged me to get him adjusted.  I started going again because my shoulder had been bothering me and I talked to him about it and we started taking him.  He LOVES it!  He whines while being adjusted but then he gets to lay on the rolling table for 7 minutes and I tell you, I've never seen him so calm and willing to lay still!  The Chiropractor told me we should see a difference within a month or two.  Then I cut out high fructose corn syrup from his diet - man is that stuff in EVERYTHING!!  We are not 100% free but pretty much everything in our house is free of it - had to switch ketchup, choc syrup, jelly, pickles, applesauce, cereal bars, you name it!  Even if that doesn't contribute, I don't miss it much and really things taste better without it.  I even bought coke from Mexico (from my local Costco) that has real sugar and I like that so much better too!  And finally, Gavin started play therapy at school AND occupational therapy on Wednesdays at a place that specializes in sensory related occupational therapy.  He loves both of them!!  (school is out so just the chiropractor and the OT are current).  My mom-in-law Brenda says she can see a big change in his overall demeanor since all this began...so I guess we'll never know which one it was.  Doesn't matter, as long as we are helping him in my opinion. 

Ok so I'm going to post March pictures and then come back SOON (ish) and post the rest of the months to get us current.  Sorry for the delay, take care!

Oh, other big news - I won a trip to Park City Utah for a fun filled 2 days of skiing, snowmobiling, dog sled riding and good eating and fancy hoteling and I got to bring a guest - Jon miraculously cleared his schedule for a few days.  It was a sales contest and we were notified just 2 weeks before we left so a BIG thank you to my Mom and Dad for driving in to hold down the fort while we were gone! 
It was a blast and I remembered how much I liked to ski, so I'm hoping we go more often now (although it probably won't be nearly as nice at the places we can afford ;-)

We got a serious snow storm in March!

The Easter Bunny did not disappoint!

Til next time!