RollersInVegas

ok..still at my mom's house... TRYING to get her network hooked up so that I can connect my laptop to the internet. NO ONE in this neighborhood has a wireless network that I can steal space from....and she won't hook her wireless network up. SO...I'm trying to hook them both up to the "old school" network way. Hers is working just fine...but, mine isn't. uhhh....do I need a switch between mine the router? (I'll keep researching)

I put Isaac on O2 last night...he sleep better...but, boy does he throw a fit when you're trying to tape the canula to his face...and then again when I'm trying to remove it! He's still sitting up and rolling around like a mad man!

We're just enjoying spending time with family...and tomorrow...we SLEEP IN!!! YEAH...I can't wait!

OH my goodness!
We (the boys and I) flew to NC on Friday...and after a LONG flight...we are at my parents house!

Now...I will try to figure out how to upload my camera pics to her computer or hook up my computer to her network or just type sweet words to you and show you all the pictures next year!

I hate that we had to leave Joe behind to work:( but, he's my sweetie pie!

Eli and Chris are enjoying doing NOTHING here...and Isaac just sits around and plays all day.
He did do a horribly yucky wretch today and has had a nice blue episode once a day lately...but, I'm not sure yet what's going on with him. Eli decided to start wheezing today too....(I don't think the boys realize what "vacation" means!)

SO...we had a great Christmas...then we left all the presents and a HUGE mess behind (sorry honey!).

I'll figure this picture thing out so that I can share more with you!

Ok...Joe and the boys got me a camcorder for my birthday...and this is what I have to share:




Now you can see what a little bobble head I have on my hands...but, ohhhh...such a cute bobble head!

Well...HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVE!

I have the BIGGEST darn "to do" list today. urrghhh...at least it isn't very cold out today!

Today is MY birthday....so, we will celebrate the birth of me...tomorrow we will celebrate the birth of Jesus...and the birth of my baby brother, James. LOTS of partying and cake eating...and celebrating going on this week!!! (not to mention that my little sister, Christy's birthday is next week)....grow money tree...GROW!~!!

I have a room FULL of presents to wrap. Joe has been on "stocking" duty for the last 8 or 9 years....and this year...he's too busy with work...so, it's my job. I don't even have stockings for everyone yet...let alone things to stuff in them! oops....

I foresee a VERY long night....AND if that isn't stressful enough...we fly to my mom's house on Friday morning...and not one thing has been placed in a suitcase (and you know it takes forever to pack up all of Isaac's supplies!)

so...I'm up early...I've eatten my Lucky Charms...made my list...while my angels are all asleep...
Deep breath...let the games begin!!!

I hope that everyone has a Merry Christmas...Happy Hanukkah....just a perfect holiday with friends and family!

Terri and Lisa came over (Matthew and Mason's mom)...we had SO much fun! Thanks for coming over ladies! While they were here...we decided to go eat lunch at Cafe Ri0 (yummy mexican food!)...and guess who was there eating?? Marie Osmond and ALL of her kiddos! There were lots of people bothering them for pictures...so, we just looked...I should have snapped a pic with my phone.

Isaac is sitting up like a champ. He is still a bobble head and bobble body boy...but, he's even catching himself when he topples over! (only bonking his head 2 or 3 times a day)! Do you know how amazing that is??? Just last week when he started really sitting up by himself...I asked our pt about a helmet because he kept slamming into the floor...NOW...he's catching himself like a big boy! Absolutely amazing!

Oh...I'm sure there's LOTS more to share...but, you know me and my pea brain...it's FRIED!

It's been a BUSY weekend...
I still need to buy a few gifts, I need to inventory what I've already bought (because I've forgotten somethings...and Eli HAS to have more to open than Chris on Christmas morning)...and he should!

I stayed home from church today while Joe took the big boys (gotta keep Isaac away from the germs!).

I'm going to get Eli on video...he takes Joe's sheet music from "O Holy Night" and sings it in an operatic voice...it's the cutest thing!

Sam's FINALLY finished my cards on Saturday..so, maybe you'll get one before new year's..or, you might not...because I'm VERY absent minded and may have overlooked some names...SO...EVERYONE...have a HAPPY HOLIDAY!

there.

It's late...and there's a Superman cape on my sewing machine begging to be finished and boxed up!

The snow is almost all melted...but, it was fun while it lasted! They did say on the news that this was the FIRST snow day in Las Vegas since 1979...can you believe that?!?!?

Mark came over today and we tried to give Isaac a little bit of milk from a cup...he choked, turned blue, started sweating....and fell asleep. Therapy session over.

I actually took a couple of good pics of the boys, so I decided to order new holiday cards from Sams. I went there to pick them up this morning.....and their printer was BROKEN! SO, if they don't have them ready by morning.....you guys might NOT get your holiday cards until new years...but, I'll still send them out! (better late than never)

I made some yummy dinner tonight...honey glazed ham, for "real" macaroni and cheese, and little green peas (from the can). You can come over for leftovers.

I'm typing in bed....which makes Joe jealous of my mac....so, I just thought I'd share the pics from today!

I'm sure we'll have more snow pics for tomorrow...it's SNOW DAY here....and I don't think they've ever had one in Las Vegas!

Isaac started sitting up ALL BY HIMSELF today......ALL DAY...he will NOT lay down! Now...there's a problem with this new skill that he has....he DOES NOT know how to get OUT of sitting...so, he falls over and bangs his head. I spent my day following him around and putting pillows around him so that he wouldn't crack his head open. So...I need to get Isaac a helmet to protect his little melon!

Other than Isaac being a ROCKSTAR in the sitting department....we just hung around the house. Eli talks my head off, makes me play board games, plays video games.....and misses going to school. Chris is Chris....that's all that I can say about that one (oh...and he's FINALLY taller than I am..by like 3 inches!)

oh....one more thing. I'll take pics tomorrow...but, I was bathing Isaac today and he has these HUGE bumps on his elbows...I guess they are eczema bumps. He has little eczema bumps on his arms and legs...but, his elbows look horrible. We don't have a dermatologist...but, I guess it's time to get one (there aren't too many specialists that we haven't seen).

Our entire house is SNOTTY! There was crazy winds here ALL day yesterday.. Can you imagine the desert and winds....we inhaled SO much dirt yesterday. YUCK!

and guess what? They are calling for SNOW tonight! WHAT?!?!?
I can't wait until morning to see if they were right!

Other than the snot....we've had a pretty low-key weekend. Joe sang at church today (and no...I didn't get a recording of it.:(
but...he was terrific. His brother and their kids were able to come watch...and then come back to the house for a visit. Grandma Sue (Joe's mom) is in town this weekend....and she watched the boys so that we could eat dinner and do a little shopping on Saturday night. We found Chris the COOLEST church shoes. YES...church shoes. They are totally blacked out high top Converse leather shoes...(even the white circle and star are all black)...very cool!
(shhhh....don't tell Chris)

I'm just waiting for Isaac to finish his tube feeding so that we can go to bed. I think it might be cold enough to FINALLY turn on the heat!

Oh...our Friday turned out to be not as busy as earlier anticipated (YEAH!)

We finished up a few tutus this morning...made the exchange with Karen (thanks for the yummy treats!)...I cleaned a little bit (and I do mean only a little), picked up my high schoolers, picked up Joe's mom from the airport...and tonight is PIZZA night...so, no cooking! I've just been holding down the couch for the rest of the day.
as it should be...

Nothing new to report. Isaac is doing his thing...being as cute as EVER...Eli is a smarty pants, and Chris is turning into a young man before my eyes:(

I can give you a few more details about that vision specialist yesterday. PLEASE don't think that I'm strong and don't flip out when new problems are found...I'm just processing it all.
What we know for SURE is:
Isaac watches tv upside down, he can look straight ahead and reach to his side to pick up a toy and NOT turn his head (he just knows where they are without turning in their direction), he still has the crazy eyes, when he wears his glasses...he still looks over them and to the side of them (so, not much looking straight through them), he does this bobble head shake ALL DAY long. So, it's not necessarily new news to me that he has some kind of eye thing going on...it's just really nice that some dots have been connected for me. She did say that his crazy eyes could still need surgery in the future (if the patching doesn't work in the future)...but, that his head bobbling and the way he does and doesn't look at this is something neurological and not muscular. She asked if he had been oxygen deprived....hmm...YEAH...ALL HIS LIFE. She explained what an impact that deprivation has on the brain and eyes...and that is probably the cause of these problems that we're seeing. I'm not freaking out yet because we haven't seen this new specialist (I'll call next week to make an appointment). BUT, once we do, if she does diagnose him with low vision and this loss of vision is his center field (that's right in front of your face)...he will be eligible for vision therapy...and with time..they help me help him to see things better and as he grows...that area that he can't see may decrease and he might be able to see more in front of him (or not...but, let's think positive). I'm just glad that he's alive, that he can see something....and even if he has to wear goggles (yes goggles...seriously)...I'll buy him the coolest ones out there!!! There are so many worse things that could be wrong with him...so, crazy eyes...I'll take them!

I'm going to JoAnn's tomorrow with my coupons and it's SUPER HERO CAPE DAY...so, if you want one...you better tell me NOW! Just tell me what your little guy likes!

Just a quick update:

**Isaac woke up yesterday with a snotty nose....I took that as a sign to STOP outside therapies. It just isn't him getting sick. He still gets all the therapies through NEIS...but, we'll wait until I can find others to come to our house that our insurance covers.

**We got TWO synagis shots today:( He was NOT happy with me.

**Then, we went to have our modified barium swallow study. It showed that he doesn't aspirate liquids...but, that he isn't ready to try liquids yet. He'll just choke. So, we keep on with our baby food...and he'll get there.

**Then, a vision specialist came to see us. I have a LOT to research...but, bottom line is that Isaac can't see things in front of him...only to the sides and up and down. (she said it's like putting our fists together in front of your face and trying to look straight ahead)That's why he watches tv upside down! I'll give more details about it later...but, we have to see another specialist...like a eye doc/neurologist.

bedtime!

**oh...and Isaac is STILL snotty:(

ok...after a few quick pics...I picked him up...no harm done!

Tomorrow our pt and dev. specialist come over...then, we have an appointment with his surgeon (the one that did the g-tube surgery).

Thursday we have our synagis shots, a modified barium swallow, and a home visit from the vision specialist.....all before NOON! (I hope I make it to all the appointments).

Friday...we have our first community pt appointment and Joe's mom flies in.
Saturday...we SHOP!

whoohoo!

I told Chris that I wouldn't post these pics...so, don't tell him!

We had our OT appointment today....he's doing great. He did sit up by himself once this weekend. He's just a rolling machine...he gets to everything he needs...why would he ever need to crawl or walk??

Eli and I had fun together today (yeah...right)...Chris stayed after school today for an hour working with his algebra teacher (boy...I hope it helps).

That's all I've got...
I need to feed Mr. Isaac one more time before bedtime...

and.....tadadada.....this is what I made yesterday. A super hero cape for a little guy who likes dinosaurs.... (I hope he likes it)

Other than the arrival of our new bouncy seat...we had a visit from Nicole (NEIS) and Shirley (nutritionist). Isaac weighed in at 20 lbs 4 ozs! Shirley gave me some new powder to add MORE calories to his food. We will turn him into a butterball soon enough!!! (you know..he's 20 months old, 20 pounds, and wears 12 month size clothes!)

Eli went on a date today...a movie date..with our SWEET neighbor! She's too sweet...Eli must have told her a million times how bored he was...so, they went out. He had a blast!!

Chris and I finished his science project today (well..the planting of all the plants). So, now...we wait, take notes...and finish it in a few weeks.

Of course there has to be insurance news to tell...I've been fighting with BCBS about Isaac's cleft palate surgery. They have paid Stanford...but, of COURSE...they say the plastic surgeon is not on their provider list... URRGGHH..it's the dumbest thing ever! To the appeals process we go!

That's it...just thinking about it makes me grumpy..so, I'm not going to think about it until tomorrow!

***Oh...and would everyone PLEASE email me your address so that we can send out holiday cards! rollersinvegas@yahoo.com
Thank you!
(that includes you crabby old man...)

So...many of you are planning on "how to keep your little ones away from your holiday decorations"...NOT ME! Isaac will NOT touch the tree to save his life. He reaches for it...then, makes the Yucky face, and pulls his hand away! Yeah for Isaac!

Mark, our speech therapist, came over today. Isaac ate great for him. THEN, Mark asked me to give him a cheese puff. BUT, Isaac hasn't wanted to eat one, let alone hold one, for a few months now. And, again...he picks up the puff, only to throw it down and make the yucky face. So, Mark tells me to break off a tiny piece and put it on a spoon and feed it to him...AND...he eats it! We could hear little crunching and his mouth opening and closing! YEAH FOR ISAAC! He WILL eat one day!!! HE will!!! Mark called our gi doc and requested a modified barium swallow study to make sure he doesn't aspirate so that we can start working on liquids with Isaac. I can't believe it...I wasn't sure we'd EVER get to this point!!!


This was our dinner tonight. A roast with carrots and potatoes....and I had to FIGHT with Eli to get him to eat this tiny amount! I need a g-tube for him! I don't think he ate lunch today...just chips and donuts!

Chris...BOMBED his algebra test last week. SO...his walking on egg shells around me right now.

I feel so NORMAL right now...we don't have any real drama going on to speak of.....
I'm probably boring you!

I realized a few things today:
1) that the fancy camera that Joe bought me two years ago ACTUALLY came with an instruction manual. I think that I might read it....and maybe take better pictures.

2)that there isn't an eating disorder that doesn't entail NOT eating or throwing up the yummy food that I ate....so, I just made TWO more pumpkin pies tonight...really, what else can you do??

3)I am SERIOUSLY giving Eli all your phone numbers...WATCH OUT!

4)I just have the three best boys EVER! (ok....four best boys ever!)

Chris went off to school today as usual (which means getting up at 5:30AM!)...YIKES...my poor bones! Joe gets up a little after 6, I hop back into bed after changing Isaac's diaper and starting his feeding pump (which he happily sleeps through). I hear Eli hop out of bed around 8...and I KNOW that's he's in the game room playing video games....but, I do not care...I sleep for another half hour before Isaac decides that we should get up.

Isaac had his community OT appointment today. He did great..as always...he lets her pull, push, tug...whatever she wants...and he just goes along with whatever.

Eli funny---very SWEET story of the day:
After leaving OT, we NEEDED McDonalds. So, Eli gives me his order...I place it in the drive thru...and reach into my purse. Uh oh....where's my wallet?? uh...at home on the couch! YIKES!! I told Eli that we'll need to pull up and tell the man that I don't have any money--I never carry cash...and when I said that, I reached in my purse and pulled out a $20!
Eli said, "mom...Jesus must have known that we needed something to eat....he put that money in your purse."
Just the look of amazement in his eyes....he thought that he had just witnessed a miracle.
priceless!

Chris...on the other hand...told me that we HAD to go to Home Depot to get supplies for a science project. So, we go. Come home. and there A LOT more to the project...that's due a lot sooner than Mr. Chris let on...urrghhh...so, I need to start his science project tomorrow AFTER I go BACK to Home Depot to get his supplies.
Really...I couldn't ask for a better teenager...(but, don't tell Chris I said that...I like the fear in his eyes when I give him "the look"!)

and Joe...his bum fell off weeks ago...he's still working a lot...and I love him for it.


oh...and I found the COOLEST website for gifts. Now...it's not cheap..just cool. I've put TONS of things in the shopping cart, but can't bring myself to buy it yet. Check it out here!
Now you'll know what kind of a DORK I am!!!