I took Jason to therapy this morning. We got there on time and Jason was very tired. We’ve begun switching some meds but he hasn’t seemed that tired till today. I’ll have to keep an eye on that. His ABA therapist said after Jason settles down after eye surgery on the 29th they want to start working on chores. So that will be something to think about. The only chore I can thinking of is wiping up after himself. But we’ll see if I can think of anything else.

My next massage appt is right now. It’s terrible when you get to a place and really don’t want to go in. Some people can drain you. This is one of them. I have my grounding crystal on so I’m hoping I don’t walk away from this appt ready for a nap.

The appt went well!  My client was good, and after I learned a lot about turpenes when mixed with CBD and the affects that we can get for Jason. He has been on CBD for about two years now.  I've seen a big difference for Jason and his progress has improved since being on it.  But if we add different types of turpenes we should be able to regulate different issues he has.  Sleeping, anxiety, focus.  I'm hoping to see the implementation of this soon.

Worked at a client at my office.  It's always fun to talk and share different stories with my clients.  Sometimes I need their time as much as they need mine.

I picked Samantha up from school dropped her off and promised her I would take her driving today.

I picked Jason up from therapy and he had been crying all day.  I'm looking into the cause.  With all his med changes this week I'm not 100% sure what could be causing this.  I'm thinking it's actually a combination of constipation from the depakote and not having his lexapro anymore.  I think we can combat his aggitation and anger with a little more busperone but the depakote I think has to go.  Jason had a rectoplexi after his first round of seziure meds stopped him up so badly.  I can't deal with that again.  The poor kid does not need to be in that kind of pain every again.

I came home with him and he was pretty content for a little while.  I was able to take a nap.  I do love to sleep.  I was quite impressed with my ability to fall asleep within ten minutes of putting my head on the pillow.  I woke up to the end of Support Your Local Sheriff.  Brett was working and watching a fun old western comedy.  I remember watching it, probably with my Grandpa Wilson or my Dad.

I had another appt with a client of mine.  She's a college age girl and it's fun to giggle and chat with this fun girl.  I've worked with both her and her father and both of them have a pretty good sense of humor.

I took Samantha driving......I think I need a valum now.  At one point she said, "I'm slow because I'm blind..."  I told her then she needs to not drive.  She laughed and advised me she was really just nervous.  Boy the next forty hours of driving might do me in.  I had to tell her that when I grab the wheel it is to correct her, not to wrestle control from her.  I had the same problem with Tori.  At one point I told Tori, "When Jesus takes the wheel, let Jesus have the wheel!"   It appears I will be having to tell Samantha the same thing.

One more appointment for the night is always entertaining.  I always feel part of this family and the banter is fabulous.  I might have hurt my darn shoulder again putting my table into the car.  I'm hoping this is not going to slow down my progress in coping with my PTSD.  Amazingly I think that this is going to be very helpful. 

Life goes on

Well, I can’t believe it’s 2019. Duncan’s 19 and engaged to Brittney White. Tori is 18 and is going to college down at Dixie in St. George. Samantha is 15 and is my favorite babysitter and Jason is 11 and is as energetic as ever.

I had to get up early and take Samantha to the DMV to get her learners permit. I of course got a new person at the window so when Samantha couldn’t pass the eye test and her doctors note only said one eye worked she advised me that, “This isn’t going to work.” So I advised her that it will because we have cousins with one eye removed that can drive. She was quite ornery for having been there for only ten minutes. She had to call the “medical desk” to verify that she could drive. If she had let me know that she needed to check the info I wouldn’t have gotten so frustrated but I had to coerce her into getting assistance. Ya....Thankfully Samantha only had to take the test once. She passed and now I get to teach her to drive.

Got Jason to ABA and he was happy and content to be there.

Dropped Samantha off at school five minutes before the bell rang.

Worked at the chiropractor. I started working there’s about two and a half years ago. I do love my job and the satisfaction it is to help others on there journey in health.

Ran home for an hour and took Brett to get a part for Duncan’s car.

Went back to work.

Picked Samantha up from school.

Went back to work.

Came home to find Brett had diner ready. Shared a wonderful meal with my family. Even Jason ate dinner.

Ran and got ice cream for everyone. Neilson’s frozen custard is the best!

Went back to work and took care of one of my own clients.

Came home and went to bed.

Yes this is a list. But I have care givers PTSD and I’m hoping that I can see that I do take care of things. And that I’m not useless. Which is joe I’ve been feeling lately. So the battle has begun!!!

Samantha follows suit

Three weeks ago Samantha had a Prophylactic surgery in hopes to prevent her from having Retinal Detachments.  She has been doing well and had returned to school.

Tuesday I looked at my schedule and didn't have anything till 3:00 pm.  Since I love sleep almost as much as my family I took a nap.  Being the super heavy sleeper that I am, I slept forever!  (Cue guilt complex for ever).  

Samantha was in third period and said her eyes hurt, she went in the bathroom and saw this. 

She tried to get a hold of me and finally gave up and called Brett.  With his new job in Lehi he finally jumped on a train, and headed home.  In the middle of everything I finally woke up and texted Brett that I had been asleep.  He filled me in and I jumped up and ran up to get Samantha.  

I called the Moran Eye Center and let them know that we were heading up to Triage.  The sweet guy on the phone took all the information and then told me to wait and the Triage Doctor would give me a call.  I advised the sweet guy that my phone call was a courtesy call and we were coming up.  (Sweet guy was quite annoyed)

I called him back and asked him to send information to Dr. Bernstein because he would want to know that we were coming.  (Sweet guy was a lot less sweet).  He told me that ANY doctor at the Moran could look at her, and IF they needed to send her to Bernstein then they would.

We picked up Brett and headed right up.  We got to Triage and the receptionist said that they would escort her right down to Dr. Bernstein.  

Dr. Bernstein just happened to be there on Tuesday.  He was covering for another doctor and was leaving to a conference that evening in Miami.  The Resident Doctor checked out Samantha and when Dr. Bernstein came in she said there were two tears in her retina.  

 

Doctor Bernstein was trying to figure out who was going to do the surgery, and then said, "We can do this tonight.  I'm flying out at 1:00 am.  Lets go down to the surgery floor and get going."  As we were getting things together Dr Bernstein came over to talk to me.  I know I'm the mama, but I know he was getting teary eyed that the preventative surgery didn't take.  The Lord put Dr. Bernstein where he needed to be to keep my baby seeing, and I'm grateful for a Doctor who "feels" for his patients.  

Within the hour Samantha was dressed up in her surgery clothes and getting ready to go back.  

Thankfully Grandpa Siddoway drives like the wind and was able to join us to give Samantha a blessing.  She was crying but being the toughest kid she was giving thumbs up.  

The anesthesiologist asked her if she knew any jokes and she of course being the "Pun Master" started sharing a few.

Brett and I completed a a puzzle while waiting for Samantha's surgery to complete.  It was a good two hours.  

Dr Bernstein told us that everything looked good.  They did a full vitrectomy and he filled her eye with oil.  The retina has resealed against the eye, and she is doing well.  There were a couple holes in her left retina so he lazed around that.  He then jumped a plain to his conference.

Wednesday morning we took her up to the Moran again and they removed her patch.  Everything was sealed but she is developing a cataract in her left lens.  We are hoping that the cataract will go away on it's own, but we are not planning it to happen. 

Samantha's doing well and is enjoying just hanging out and watching TV.

A long time

It has almost been two years since I posted on my blog.  Things went from crazy to crazier.  Where to begin.....

This is us...

Brett has a new job.  He began working at his new company in November of 2015.  It's been a huge blessing for us, and Brett loves every minute of it.

I went to school and am now a Licensed Massage Therapist.  I woke up one morning and decided that was what I wanted to be when I grew up and within 3 days I was going to school.  I LOVE it.  It is something that I have found that I am good at, and I love helping people to heal.

Duncan is a Junior in high school, got his drivers license and is now working as a Life Guard.  He is a smart, fun boy and makes me proud everyday.

Tori is now a Sophmore in High school and is taking to being a teenager fairly well.  She was on the swim team and has also been working on the school play.  They are doing The Wiz this year so that will be a fun play to watch.  She also has found her talent in art.  She loves to do anime, and has decided that she wants to be an animator when she grows up.

Samantha is in 7th grade and is following in her sisters footsteps in many ways.  But Samantha will always be her own person, so she lets us know that she is unique in many ways.  She is currently also in her school play, and has found her talent in art.  She won her reflections contest for her school and also is amazing at anime.  

Jason has had many issues with his health.  He's 8 years old and he is a rambunctious kid.  His issue right now is eating and digestion.  We are constantly trying to monitor his food intake and bowel movements.  His energy level is still through the roof, but at least we have him on sleeping meds so that he can sleep.

We have two cats and two dogs.  Tom is the only boy, and he is a cat.  He grew up on the streets and from what we understand he lived there for quite some time.  Chloe is our princess.  She is a cat that is cross eyed and she thinks that she should be pampered.  Cocoa of course is our puppy, and she is a sweet girl.  She loves being around us, and loves Brett most of all.  Ruth is the newest addition to the family and she is a character.  She has a neurologic disorder and she has a muscle tick when she gets over excited.  Being a puppy she ticks most of the time, because she likes to play all day.

My goal is to keep writing here, because honestly it's my Journal and family history.  It's a quick reference point for many things and it's fun to see how my little family has grown so much.  

February

Duncan's Solo and Ensemble.  Much better than last year.

Duncan and Tori being Duncan and Tori.  I love that they still enjoy each other's company!

Eye appointments can be boring, but Samantha always entertains us.

Samantha made a zebra cake.  I think she did a fantastic job, and it even tasted good!  

Momma's tired selfie

I'm not sure what was going on here, but on Facebook I put, "save me Jason."  Duncan must have been in trouble again.

This was the conversation/argument I walked into.  

Tori: "well we'd run into the sewers and I would get batman and so I'd win."

Brett: "then I would bring a pizza with me and the ninja turtles would be with me and take out batman."
This went on for over twenty minutes.#geeksatmyhouse #thejoyofparenthood

Jason just loves snuggling with Mama....or maybe he just thinks that's where I belong.

Yup....he just thinks that's where we belong.

Duncan stuck his finger in a light socket....and he really needed to shave.

Waiting....waiting....waiting....somedays I think that's all Jason and I do....

I crocheted Duncan a Newsies hat.  (I don't know where it is now, but I think it looked good.)

Brett and Duncan speak a different language.  Brett was trying to explain something to Duncan, and this was his example.  I soooooo don't understand it.

I found these valentines online.  We printed them out for Samantha.  She was absolutely ecstatic about Grumpy Cat.

Daddy helped Sam with her Valentines Cake Box.

And I made this one for Jason.  He loves Inspector Gadget.

Tori had a Valentine's Party at a friends house.  She fits right in with her friends.  It makes me happy she found a group of friends that lets her be her quirky self.

Samantha had her Patriotic Program

Sometimes we get smiles....sometimes we get screams.  Today we got smiles.

Child family fun day at the Natural History Museum.

Samantha's piano lessons

Duncan had High School orientation.  WEIRD!

I woke up in the middle of the night and noticed that Jason wasn't in bed with us.  I went to check on him and couldn't find him.  I started to panic.  I turned the flashlight on my phone and found him in bed with Samantha.  How cute is that? 

A good end to the month of February

January Swim meat

Duncan loved swim team

Duncan's Orchestra/Band Concert January 30th