DIY Furniture Factory

Since moving, the desire to nest and decorate our home has been burning bright.  In all of our other homes, we've just kind of gotten by with whatever, but this time, I am bored with that and it's time to do some decorating.  

I think it's because we've been married for 10 years and we've never really made an effort before and now it's time.

Dr. C blames it on Pinterest.

Either way, we've been focusing on home decor lately. 

Our division of labor goes something like this:

1.)I scout out furniture that I like
2.)I show Dr. C a picture of something similar to what I want
3.) I make a zillion changes to the piece until it only slightly resembles the original picture
4.) Dr. C builds it for me

Isn't he a nice husband?  Love that man!
This was his first project, bunk beds for the boys--last fall while we were still in the South.  Um, yeah, that room was a little too blue, don't you think??  We repainted it.  (Plans for the bunk beds can be found here)

Since we've been back in the Midwest, Dr. C and I have been cranking out the projects.  We had some old chairs that desperately needed a makeover.  I forgot to take a "before" pic, but just imagine green, with a little less sanded down spots and a light oak seat.

So far, Dr. C has completed three bookcases and a shelf.

Dr. C just made up the plans for these two big bookcases. 

Isn't he amazing?? 

Swoon.

(We modified these plans for this shelf.)

(Plans for this shelf can be found here)

Dr. C's list of furniture I want him to build continues to grow--Adirondack chairs for the deck?  Sewing/Craft table for me?  Another bookshelf for the cookbooks?  A new bed frame for Miss B?  Desks for the boys?

YES, please!

We're making progress, folks.

Spring/Easter/Birthday Mash-up. Or: Miss Banana Turns Three

In our family, birthdays and holidays seem to come together.  My birthday is New Year's Day.  T-Man's birthday is right around Labor Day.  Fearless was born right between the 4th of July and Pioneer Day. You might think that Dr. C didn't get he birthday/holiday memo, because he was born at the beginning of August, but it turns out his birthday is on National Lighthouse Day.  AND, lately, his birthday has fallen on the back-to-school sales-tax holiday, which might even be a better than National Lighthouse Day, don't you think? 

Maybe he got the memo after all.

And then there's Miss Banana, whose birthday is today, two days before Easter. 

Of all the birthday/holiday combos we have in our family; I think Miss B's is the most significant.  Her birthday is nestled in the midst of the Spring & Easter themes of everything new, fresh, clean, beautiful, growing, and reaching for more.  From watching the grass turn green, to the flowers that start to bloom, to the new baby birds chirping in the nest of a nearby tree, to thinking about our Savior, Jesus Christ, overcoming all and living again; Spring and Easter, to me, are about new life.  This time of year signifies the possibilities that we have inside of us if we let the sunshine in and allow ourselves to grow and become more than what we were before.

To me, Miss Banana being born during the time when the world was going through the Springtime renewal was not a coincidence.  During the dark, cold winter months when we received Miss B's diagnosis, I felt like life was against me.  The snow dumped down, the wind blew constantly, and my heart was devastated.

And then the ice began to melt and acceptance grew.  The daffodils in my front yard started to bloom.  The sun began to shine. And my little lady, with her wisdom and strength, was born. 

A new life. 

A perfect, beautiful, new life.

 

Having her join our family was like pulling back all the curtains, opening the windows and letting the sunshine and fresh air pour in.  It was like a big dose of spring cleaning in my heart.  The bleakness of winter was gone; the despair of the unknown replaced with hope and joy. 

 Life with Miss Banana has opened my eyes and allowed me to see more beauty in the world than I had known existed.  Because of her, I've grown, I've stretched, I've become something more than I ever was before.  Dr. C and I will often divide our life into two time periods: "Before Miss B" and "After Miss B".  Because having her in our family changed us forever. 

It was the beginning of a New Life.

 I thank my Heavenly Father for sending her to our family.  I am grateful for the Savior's example of overcoming all and for the Atonement of Jesus Christ that allows me to repent and be renewed.  I am eternally thankful that I have my little Miss B to teach me and help me grow.  I cherish this Spring/Easter/Birthday time and how it reminds me to celebrate the joy of Life.

 

Happy Birthday, my little lovey, I love you to the moon and back.

Medical Adventures with Miss Banana: Trust My Instincts

I would think that by now I would be one of those bad-arse mothers that could tell lousy doctors where to go, but alas, I am not.

I'm getting better, but sometimes I still find myself deferring to some M.D.'s opinion when really, I should just trust my own instincts.

Over the past week, I got that lesson in yet another Medical Adventure with my little Miss B.

On March 23rd, Miss B fell down a step?  off a chair and down a step??  and hurt her foot.  No one is quite sure what happened.  My sister was watching my kids for the weekend and because nothing seemed swollen or bruised, we just let Miss B keep doing her thang.  The next night when Dr. C and I went to pick up the kids, Miss B still wouldn't put a lot of weight on her right foot, but still no swelling or bruising anywhere.

Sunday morning, I became more concerned because she didn't want to walk on it.  I took her into Urgent Care, where the doctor looked at her for 3 seconds and proclaimed that she had simply "overstretched the tendons" and that x-rays were completely unnecessary.  I explained to him that Miss B had a very high pain threshold, and wouldn't it be better to x-ray it just to be sure? 

"No.  Just give her a few days and she'll be fine."

I left the office feeling a bit unsettled and questioning my judgement--was I just being overanxious?

By Tuesday, Miss B was STILL complaining that it hurt and would only walk on the outside of her foot.  So I took her into the pediatrician (LOVE her!) who immediately said we needed to x-ray. 

Ten minutes later, a definitive. 

Miss B's first metatarsal was fractured.

Um, would have been nice to know that on Sunday.  Let's just say I'll never go back to THAT urgent care.

Our pediatrician set up an appointment with a pediatric orthopedic specialist, the soonest we could get in was Thursday morning at 7:45--before school and while Dr. C was traveling--which meant I had to take all three kiddos with me. 

Yay.

After trying to corral all three of them in a tiny room ("Stay out of the red trashcan!!  See that "bio hazard" sign?!  It means it's not safe!"  and "No, you may not jump from the bed to the spin-y stool, you will break your arm!")  I was already a bit frazzled.  The doctor came in and was no help.

His first statement to me was that Miss B's SureStep SMO's (which I think have done wonders for her ankle stability) were pointless and that the only reason to have them was to make me feel better and so that some brace company got money. 

Uh-huh.

Hey doc, I've lost all respect for you already, and we haven't even talked about why we're here.  This probably isn't going to be a good visit.  Just sayin'.

He then went on to tell me that, "there was no point in casting Miss B's foot because she is going to have problems anyway."  and "it would take four people to hold her down to get the cast on, so it's not really worth it" and "it's already been broken for a week and she's gotten around fine, let's just give it a few more weeks and see what happens."

The way he presented it to me, it sounded like he didn't want to cast her foot simply because it would be inconvenient.  To me, that is unacceptable.

So I went home, wondering what the h*** was wrong with doctors this week, called the pediatrician and got a referral to another pediatric ortho specialist the next day.

After having a day to get over my irritation at the first guy, I was much calmer by the time we got to that appointment.  And the 2nd doctor actually listened to me.  (Hooray!!)  He agreed that her foot did not need a cast, but thankfully he explained his opinion by describing why it was not medically necessary and how it could even be harmful to her. 

AND he said he was happy to see her in her SMOs.

And so I chalk this whole much-ado-about-little experience as another trust-my-gut lesson learned.  If I think that something is wrong with my daughter, I need to trust that feeling and not let a doctor blow me off. And if I don't get answers that make sense, I have to push to get real answers from a different doctor. 

It's up to me to make sure Miss B is being taken care of by the medical community the way she needs.

Lesson learned.

And, just because having a broken foot seems to have not slowed my little lady down much, I leave you with some pictures of her--loving life as always.

Spread the Word, End the Word

It is no secret that I love my little lady to the moon and back.

 She makes the world a little brighter, a little better, a little simpler whenever she smiles.

She makes  me laugh, she makes me think, she keeps me young and she ages me prematurely.



Her clinical diagnosis includes "mental retardation" but this girl is not a "retard".  She is smart and funny and full of life and joy.

And when you use the r-word to describe anything you don't like or when you think something is stupid or ridiculous, you are making fun of my little girl. 

When you use the word(s) "retard(ed)" you are being disrespectful to her journey in life; mocking her fight to make her life a daring adventure.

My little lady works harder, loves easier, and smiles brighter than anyone else I know.  She deserves respect.

So stop using the r-word.

TODAY.

RIGHT NOW.

Take the pledge to end the use of the r-word and spread the word that using the r-word is hurtful to people with intellectual disabilities.

Fun Run in Washington, D.C. for Research Down Syndrome

You all know that I love to run.  So when I heard about Research Down Syndrome (RDS) starting a new runners program, I was thrilled that I could combine two passions--helping people with Down syndrome and running my guts out.

I emailed the lovely Kate from Trial Run, who I knew would love the Down syndrome/running combination as much as I did, and she took it a step further and convinced RDS and the National Down Syndrome Congress(NDSC) to host a 1-mile fun run during the NDSC national convention in Washington D.C. in July.

How awesome is that?!?

RDS is trying to figure out the level of interest for the fun run, so PLEASE email them at rdsrunners@researchds.org and let them know you think it is an amazing idea and you would like to come join us and get in a little exercise the morning of July 21st in Washington D.C.  The full details are still being worked out, but the more of you that let them know you will be there, the better the run will be.

You don't even have to be a runner to join in the fun--just come walk and hang out and eat some muffins and wear the cool shirt.  The more the merrier!!

All proceeds go to help people with Down syndrome--it's a win-win all around!!

So go ahead, email rdsrunners@researchds.org and let them know you are in!

P.S. If you want to blog about this or share the info on facebook, twitter, message boards, etc; that would be fabulous--let's get the word out!!

Forward.

Since my last post, I have been overwhelmed with all of your love and support.  I feel so blessed to associate with so many selfless, thoughtful friends and family that rally around us whenever we need it.  I am humbled and inspired by your examples of service and generosity.  From the bottom of my heart, Thank You. 

To me, the likely possibility of Miss B having leukemia, was like getting hit in the head with the Life-Is-Hard stick.  And it hurt!  Bad!

But as I've had the past week to move forward, I have come to the conclusion that Miss B either has leukemia, or she does  not.  Only God knows what is in store for her.

And while I will pray constantly that Miss B will be healthy; I am determined that the fear of future possibilities will not paralyze me in the present.  I will push forward with faith, trusting God that all will turn out for the best.

As Helen Keller said, "Life is either a daring adventure, or it is nothing." In our house, life being "nothing" is not an option.  I refuse to allow us to dwell and fixate on the storm clouds that could be brewing, instead of enjoying the sunshine of the moment.

Our lives will be a daring adventure.

Leukemia or not.

Medical Adventures with Miss Banana: Leukemia?

I have received two phone calls in my life that are so deeply impressed in my brain that I will never forget them.  The first came when we received the news that Miss B might have Down syndrome. 

The second came on Monday.

Last week, I took Miss Banana into the new Dr. Kids--a lovely, open woman who I think is a good fit for us--to do the physical exam required by Miss B's new preschool.  Because of insurance rules, Dr. Kids decided to do Miss B's 3-year CBC (complete blood count) check that day.

Other than feeling guilty about holding Miss B down while strangers came and poked her and took her blood, I didn't think much about it.

And then Dr. Kids called Monday afternoon.

Monday was a lovely day here in the Midwest...60+ degrees, sunny, light breeze...absolutely pleasant.  I needed that.

The kids and I had been playing outside, enjoying the fabulous weather; I ran in to check the time and saw that I had a message.

"Carrie--we got Miss B's CBC results back, and I showed them to the hematologist.  Will you call me when you get this?"

As a parent of a child with Down syndrome, I knew what this type of phone call could mean.  And it's not good.

I braced myself and called her back.

She chatted pleasantly for a bit (Why do doctors DO that??! We both know we wouldn't be chatting under normal circumstances;  just rip off the band-aid and get it over with!), then came the real reason for the call.

Dr. Kids: Do you know why we routinely check the CBC of kids with Down syndrome?
Me: Yes.  Leukemia.
Dr. Kids: I got Miss B's CBC back, and her lymphocyte numbers are a little wonky. (Yes, she did use the word "wonky".  That's why she gets paid the big bucks.)  I showed the results to the hematologist who said there is no reason to worry now (!!!!!), but we need to keep a closer eye on it and we will check it again in 6 months.

I then asked a few questions, she gave a few answers and ended with:  You don't need to worry; I'm not staying awake at night worrying about Miss B.  I thanked her politely, ended the conversation.
And then...

Emotional panic!!

That phone call might as well have been a python squeezing the air out of me; suffocating me with the weight of horrible possibilities.

Breathe.

Breathe.

OF COURSE I'm going to worry about this!!  How could I not?!?  I already  worried about Miss B getting the L-word; the idea kept me awake at night even when her CBCs came back fine.

And now?  I have six months to prepare myself for my baby having cancer. 

Six months of wondering if my little love's cells are killing her from the inside out.

I hope and pray that it is nothing.  Just a blip on Miss B's long list of medical adventures.

PLEASE! Let it be nothing!

Breathe.

Just breathe.