Sunday, February 28, 2010

As I sit here thinking about
Chase's surgery tomorrow,
I can't help but feel terribly
sad for the family at this blog:
They are a sweet family with
a 2 year old daughter who
is dying from cancer.
I had to take a break from three
quilt blocks I'm working on for quilts
for her and her 2 sisters.
A Co-Op I belong to came up with
the idea to have random people send
quilt blocks for the family to help
them have something that will
remind them of Layla. The crafter's
in this group are truly unselfish
and generous in their thoughts and
concern for this family who
they don't even know.
It is a heart breaking, sad and tragic
story. Here I'm worried about
Chase and this little family
is trying to capture all they can of the
last days they have with
their sweet little girl.
If you think you've got
worries or problems,
take a break from
them and see just
how good we've
really got it.

Here's the 2nd skirt...
it was much different.
The first skirt had a
circumference of 27 inches
at th bottom of the skirt.
This one had a circumference
of 55 inches at the bottom
of the skirt due to the pleats.
The first one had a typical
"A" shape.
I added 8 inches to
the existing 9 inches.
It takes longer to pick out
the original hem than it does to
cut the fabric I added,
plus serge and ruffle it.
It's late, I'm gonna
try and get some sleep ...

Saturday, February 27, 2010

We had a busy day today.
We started out at the
Humphrey's for a great Cowboy
breakfast. Dutch oven eggs
and biscuts, gravy, ham
and lots of other breakfast goodies.
Hay wagon rides, pony rides,
petting zoo, visiting with friends.
Then off to Walmart and
then on to this:
I had so much fun
revamping this little denim skirt.
It belongs to the little
sister of one of Chase's buddies.
I released the hem, trimmed
the inch of faded and severely
creased hem and got to work
adding 8 inches of ruffles. I cut the purple strips and then
the polka dot strips. When I
asked the little girl what her
favorite color was she said purple.
I was instantly concerned as I have
very little purple fabric in my 2
cabinets and 8 - 30 gallon totes
of fabric stash. I hunted and hunted
until I came up with just enough
to make this skirt wearable for a
while longer as this is her favorite.
I had so much fun revamping this
much too short skirt into this
TWIRLY, GIRLIE CUTE THING.
Then it was off to Queen Creek
for a cousins baptism.
It was a busy day, but a great day.


Now off to transform a 2nd
skirt for this little one.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Here is Chase at the annual
Blue and Gold Banquet tonight.
It's his first and he received
his first legit Derby Car.
His leaders are the best
and we love them.
I kept him home all week
trying to get his cough under
control for his surgery
on Monday, finally we made
some progress. He is well
enough to attend the BGB
and school for half a day
tomorrow, just to take
3 tests. I'm such a mean mom.
I can't believe how much work
we did with him this week
between his daily class work
that Nate picked up each day
and his regular homework.
We made it tho. And here is what will
be my newest addition to
my Etsy shop tomorrow.
I hate that I'm so impatient
that I can't wait till
tomorrow for better picks.
I love it, it's very bright
and fun.


Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Chase's surgery is scheduled
for Monday. I'm praying we
can keep him from coughing
his eyeballs out until then.
My parents came over
to see him tonight and even
they felt bad for him after
listening to him cough the
entire 30 minutes they were
here. It's hard to hear,
your baby coughing so
much they are gaging and
knowing there isn't anything
else you can do for them.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Chase is defintely not this
little anymore. Here he is in
2001 just over 5 lbs.
A few months later
he started having problems
with his ears and then his
first of many surgeries. Here he 5 years later, still
having trouble with his ears,
but as cute as ever.
Here he is at eight, thought
we were done with those
darn ears.

Today, I have spent most of the day
trying to quiet Chase's cough.
Nothing has worked:
Warm Salt Water Gargle
Delsym (which usually works spot on)
Mucinex
Hot Steamy Showers
Humidifier
Vaporizer
Vicks
Prayer ... we need his
Dr. Office to get on the ball
and get his surgery scheduled.
I can't even send him to school.


Sunday, February 21, 2010

Ok, I looooovvvveee thrify stores.
About 11 miles west of us
there is alittle thrift store
in Coolidge that you can find some
real treasures in.
These 3 inch notebooks
with d-ring clasps 75 cents ...
I will show a picture of
them recoverd in a few days. This heart wire wreath frame ...
be watching for my remake on this ...
75 cents ...

This super cute thread and bobbin
organizer ... $1

These great hard bound
books ... 10 cents each



This supr cool plane, whirly bird
and flying power guide book ...
(perfect for Chase and our Scouts)
10 cents ....



These brand new workbooks
for my little friends who come
to play ... 10 cents each ...




For a whopping total
of $3.20
SCORE !!!
Can't beat that
for a hard days
work thrifting.



Thursday, February 18, 2010

Well Chase is such a trooper.
Today he went to visit
with his ENT in Phoenix.
I was shocked when Nate
called to tell me Dr. Raines
wanted to do a Myringotomy and
place a tube in Chase's
Tympanic membrane (eardrum).
His Eustachian tube in his left
ear is completely blocked and
not functioning. There isn't
any air circulating and his eardrum
is retracted. The pain is from the
pressure and the retraction.
Prolonged retraction leads to
permanant hearing loss.

So sometime in the next week
the Dr 's office will call with
his surgery date. Dr. Raines
is hoping he doesn't encounter
to much scar tissue or a new
problem.

Chase had a pressure test today
and there was ZERO movement.

He also had a hearing test and this
was the REAL SHOCKER,
he scored a 30. What does this mean?
it means alarm. A score of 40 means
he needs a hearing aid.

So off to another procedure and
another notch on the
General Anesthesia belt.
Try notch number 12.
Will update as things progress ...

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

I can't sleep ...
Chase is once again having
trouble with his ears.
7 sets of tubes, adnoids removed,
and tonsils removed and still
this poor child can't catch a break.
I am so grateful for
Priesthood Blessings. Chase
is currently sleeping, comfortably,
I might add due to the blessing
that Nate and Dad administered
to him a few hours ago.
Just this weekend he completed
an adult course and dose of an
antibiotic because we don't
have many choices to choose from
when he needs one.

I soooo worry about his hearing.
Already he has slight hearing loss
and each time he goes under and
each time he has to have another
incision or take another stinkin'
antibiotic I truly wonder will he
hear as well as he does today, this
time next year or the next 10 years.

We need to go back to see the ENT
who has treated him since he was
4 months old. I am also grateful
for good health insurance and an
amazing Pediatrician.

When I was told they were going
to deliver Chase by emergency
C-section I sobbed and sobbed.
I was so scared by all the things
the doctors were telling us. He
was supposed to be tiny, he was
supposed to be very sick and yet
he was little but gratefully not sick.

I can remember begging my
Heavenly Father to allow him
to be healthy and to please allow
me some time with him, if it
was his will to take him early.

Then as the months passed and
he was so sick from all the ear
infections and still little I begged
for some relief for that tiny, sweet
boy of mine. Little did we know that
he would fall in the rare 1% of
the population and that he would have
7 sets of tubes and not grow out of
all this by the age of 5 as we were
told would happen.

Here we are 8 1/2 years later:
I'd trade places with that sweet
little boy if I could. He is so kind
and so considerate of others. He
is funny and smart. He is so
very loved and so well liked by
his peers.

I hear parents talk about how
their kids drive them crazy, how
they can't get anything done, how
they have no time to themselves.
How they cry all the time or get
into trouble and make messes...

Well here's a news flash for you ...
be ever so grateful for them. Love
them and cherish them. Enjoy the
messes and don't for a moment let
those kinds of complaints come
from your lips. I had thought I
would have several children. It kills
me to hear parents take their miracles
for granted and talk poorly or
negatively about their children.
I hate to hear pregnant women
complain, I can promise you
it really can be worse: Like not
being able to get pregnant or in my
case, get pregnant but then always
miss-carry or be on such strict
bed rest that you arn't even allowed
to shower, or have a baby shower or
the constant fear while you are pregnant
knowing you will only be pregnant
for a short period of time and it will
once again end in a profound loss.
Be grateful as there are so many
people out there who can't have children
or who have sick children and they
cherish this time and don't moan and
groan and complain. You should
be so grateful for the sweet
little spirits that our Heavenly Father
sent to you and so ashamed for
the time you thought to complain.

Time to check on my little guy.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Valentine's Day was great
as usual. Had fun at a
couple of Birthday parties
this weekend.
Below are a few of my
favorite friends.
I have no claim to
being a great picture
taker, but was pleased
with how these turned out.
(baby Kade wasn't
happy about being put down)
These sweet smiling
faces were so fun on
Friday as we celebrated
V-day early.
It's always a good
day when everyone is
still smiling at the
end of the day.
(We missed Brody)
The sweet little
cutie with the John Deere
shirt on brought me
flowers on Friday.
He slapped them at
me all crushed.
I thought they
were some of the best
flowers I've
ever received.
I just love my life,
my family and all my
little friends.
You'd have to be crazy
if you didn't like to
play and cuddle all day.

Friday, February 5, 2010

You have to hear this funny little
conversation that Nate, Chase
and the Pediatrician had this week.
(Nate had taken Chase in
for an ear infection)

Dr. Allred: Chase tell me about
the ringing you hear in your ears?

Chase: I hear when people die!
(Nate cringes as Dr. Allred
looks at him seriously alarmed)

Dr. Allred: You mean like bells,
ding, ding when and angel gets it's wings?

Chase: No like on TV ...
that little machine when people die
beep, beep, beep, beeeeeeeeeeeeeep.

Nate and Dr. Allred laugh as they
realize Chase doesn't hear people
die he just hears a long
beeeeeep like sound in his ears.

I died (no pun intended) laughing
when Nate relayed the story
to me. I can't believe
the things this little
boy says sometimes.

I just love him to death.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Now that Chase is in
Cub Scouts, he frequently
has little projects to
complete as he makes his
way to his Wolf Badge.
Here he is browning some hamburger.
His goal is to make dinner. He did very well and
we all had a great time.

Tomorrow he's grillin'
chicken to complete the
last of the requirement ...
will have to let you know how
that one goes ...