Catching Up

I have become a terrible blogger.......So let me try and catch up on the last few weeks.

Abby came home from school one day with some green highlights in her hair...

I can just see her running her paint-covered hand through her hair. Either that or getting a little crazy with a paint brush in hand. Either way, the end result was green highlights. She had a purple clip on the other side of her head and with her black hair, she looked like she was all ready for Halloween!

 

Two weeks ago Abby had her stomach scoped at the hospital. Her GI doctor, per our request, went in to check the condition of her esophagus and stomach linings. We have been concerned for some time about what kind of damage has been done as a result of Abby's vomiting issues. She has been throwing up at least once each day, for one reason or another, for over a year. We have been trying really hard not to let her gag herself anymore, but she does it every morning to let me know she is awake. I can't do anything to stop that one. But the results of the scope were fantastic. There is very minimal damage, nothing at all like I had expected. Only a couple of spots indicated mild irritation. The GI said that it is amazing how resilient the lining of the esophagus can be in some people. I was so relieved. On the way home from the hospital I decided that if Abby has to gag herself, as a result of that AVM that took away her ability to communicate, then I am grateful that Heavenly Father blessed her with a strong enough esophagus to withstand it.

 

After our final Primary Program practice we had a carnival for all the kids. There were games, popcorn, cotton candy, and snow cones. Abby was crawling around and came to the rope that was intended for a tug-of-war. She was quite interested in it. She kept lifting it over her head and around her neck, like a giant necklace. I think that kept her occupied for close to 10 minutes!

 

The program was two Sundays ago. I tried to get a quick picture of her that morning, but she wasn't really in the mood for a photo shoot. This was the only one I got....not the best. Ignore the drool...She really looked a lot cuter than this picture shows. I promise!

The program was awesome! I was so nervous about playing that I couldn't even eat my breakfast that morning. I felt like I was going to throw up. It was terrible! But it all turned out well. The kids sang so loud that it covered up the mistakes my shaking hands made. But no matter how nervous I was, I can't deny the fact that I absolutely LOVED being up there and playing those songs! Loved it! I had some tissues, just in case, but I am proud to report that I never touched them. I think that's what I was most excited about after it was all over. Leading up to the program, I wasn't really that emotional about it. A couple of the early practices caught me off guard in a few spots, but I never had a breakdown. I'm pretty sure the Primary President had a back-up plan just in case I decided last minute that it would be too hard to play. She kept asking me if I was ok with everything. She is awesome though, and I appreciate everything she did to accommodate Abby and make the experience easier on us. After watching last year's program, I had decided that we would not be in attendance for the program this year. It would just be too hard to see Abby up there, not singing, and not getting to say her part. But when I was called to be the pianist, avoiding the program was no longer an option. A few weeks ago I was thinking about that and wondered if I really would have skipped out on the program and denied Abby the experience. I don't know. I'm glad the decision was made for us. "The choice is easy when there is no choice." That line is from one of the 6 books I have read in the last 3 months - which explains my lack of updates lately. If I find time to myself (meaning the kids are sleeping), I would rather read a book. Sorry. But anyway, Anthony said she was alert for a lot of the time during the Program and looking around. It was a great experience for both of us. But I am so glad it's over!

 

Spencer has been putting this bucket on his head lately as a hat. He thinks it is so funny and tries to put it on everyone else too.

 

There must be something exciting to little kids about putting things on your head. Abby used to put this same bucket on her head too. But she thought she was being Iron Man. Anthony showed her an Iron Man toy in a store one day and soon after that she grabbed the bucket and said, "Mommy! I'm Iron Man!"

November 2010

We just got back from another trip to San Diego. This time it was for the Shamu and You walk to benefit Rady Children's Hospital. Abby's Angles raised over $600 for the hospital. Awesome! Thank you for all of your support. It was a short walk inside Sea World. The park was closed, but they brought out several animals along the way for the kids to see.

Abby was considered to be a Very Important Patient, so we got a special VIP sign to walk with.

 With my parents inside Sea World.

Abby and Shamu. She wasn't too happy to be next to him...

At the finish line.

 

While we were in San Diego, Anthony and I took the kids to the mall one morning. We have gone to public places out our way, but we have never seen so many people go out of their way to stare at Abby. It was ridiculous! I lost count of how many people gawked at my daughter. And they weren't just glancing at her as they passed. Their eyes locked in on her, and these crazy people wouldn't look away until we were behind them. They actually turned their heads to keep looking! Seriously!! Are there no handicapped children in San Diego? I decided they must have just been mesmerized by Abby's beauty and couldn't take their eyes off her.