I'm not the only one...

Evidence that I am not the only one who spoils our dog. (Contrary to popular opinion )
My husband and Sadie were taking a nap together the other day.
He also gives me a bad time about our morning and evening treat routine, well now he has been bringing home special homemade treats for her. (a co-worker makes them up and sells them).
We had a scare a few weeks ago where we thought that we had "lost" her. It was on a Sunday so the vet.office was closed. By the time we got her in on Monday night she was doing a little bit better. They think that she might have had small stroke. They sent us home with Med.s to last a couple of weeks and said that it may take a while but she should come back around.
It has been about three weeks now and she seems to be doing much better. sleeps more soundly, and drags one foot a bit.She seemed really confused for awhile but that better now as well.
Sadie is 13 years old and is one of the most enjoyable dogs we have had. so we are going to enjoy everyday that we have with her and make it the best while she is still here.

Pergola

For years we have wanted some kind of an awning in the front, but haven't felt that we could afford to do have it built. I wanted a pergola, C. didn't know what he wanted, he just didn't want to build it, and wanted something that we didn't have to maintain.
Our front door can get so hot in the summer time that the door handle can actually burn your hand.
we have been cutting pictures out of magazines, getting prices for kits, and talking to various companies all summer. Well we finally just decided to go for it.
This last week they came out to install it, and we absolutely LOVE IT!.
What a difference it has made. Not nearly so hot in the house,. we can open the door, and now we have a patio that we actually enjoy spending time on.

I wanted to give an update on the babies. Wednesday the 12th both babies were released from the hospital. Each day is a miracle. In the past two weeks they are discovering their distinct personalities. They each have their own unique way of eating and sleeping. Dale has been home the first couple of weeks which has been a real help to Lori. I worry when he starts going back to work on a regular basis.

The MRI results and have been sent to Seattle. and they have said that they are going to get in contact with the Carter Institute in Texas ,who might be able to give them some additional insight in Jadens' condition.

they are enjoying being a little family together. small house, three dogs, two children ,looking for a permanent job, and a bigger house, ( their landlord has them on the top of his list for a bigger place.). But they couldn't be more happy.

Welcome to Holland

On reading about parents with special care children One father described it in the following way. I just wanted to share what many of us are feeling. very good way to describe it.:

Welcome To Holland
By Emily Perl Kingsley

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a
disability-to try to help people who have not shared that unique
experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel.

It's like this...
When You're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous
vacation trip- to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make wonderful
plans. The coliseum, Michelangelo�s David. The gondolas of Venice. You may
learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.
After a few months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives.
You pack your bags and off you go.
Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says

"Welcome to Holland."
"HOLLAND?!?" You say. " What do you mean, Holland ? I signed up for Italy!
I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."
"But there's been a change of plans," says the stewardess.
"They've landed in Holland and there you must stay."
The important thing is you haven't landed in a horrible, disgusting,
filthy place full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a
different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole
new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would
have never met.
It's just a different place. It's slower paced than Italy, less flashy
than Italy. But after you've been there a while and you catch your breath,
you look around and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills,
Holland has tulips, Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy, and
they're all bragging about the wonderful time they had there.
And for the rest of your life you will say,
"Yes, that's where I was supposed to go.
That's what I had planned."

And that pain will never, ever go away because the loss of that
dream was a very significant loss.
But if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to
Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special and lovely
things about Holland.

New Parents

my youngest son and his sweetheart called us over on tuesday wanting us to take some family pictures before she popped. Two days later on Thursday morning at 7:53 and 7:54 am the twins were born.
Jayden William (7 lb,4 oz), and Alexis Ann-Marie (5 lbs 0.5 oz) .

they were born at 34 weeks. Alexis is doing well, and Jayden is really doing quite good for his condition. they were told at about 20 weeks that there was a problem with Jaden . His head had alot of fluid in it and they didn't expect him to live to term, if he did live to not expect him to live for more than a few days.

he was given an ultrasound the first day, which just confirmed what they already were seeing . Hydrosepholus (water on the brain) which is serious enough. Friday they did an MRI to get a better image and found it was more serious. He has a condition called Holoprosensephaly (Alobar type) which is the most severe. this is when the brain doesn;t develope and divide into two seperate lobes. This is considered fatal and so they are given care and comfort. can live for a The kids made the decision to have a No resussatation order. One of the hardest things for a young parents to have to do.needless to say they are emotionally exhausted . these children may live a week, a month, many live for 4 months and some even up to a year. They are already learning to appreciate and cherish every moment.

As of Sunday night both babies are doing well enough to go into the nursery. Mom will be released on Monday and can then stay with them for their remainder of their stay in the hospital.

Nativity update

I have been able to get all the orders for carvings done, so I was able to take some time and get back to the nativity sets that I started a couple of months ago. Finished painting these, then posted them on facebook so my daughter could see them. Was contacted by an old friend from High school who wanted to buy set # 2. She seemed pleased with it ,so I may make up a couple more sets . I am still debating about doing a bazaar this fall or maybe try Etsie for a few months... We'll see.