A Fun Day:)

I usually post about heavier things, so I thought I would share a post about how our family does, at times, actually have some fun;)

This has been a very busy work week for me - working every day when I normally have Thursday and Friday off (although my husband often reminds me that I do go in for an hour or 2 on those days and rarely do I actually have them off). This week was a lot more than that and we (especially my husband) needed some down time.

Today I got to present a 2 hour training on Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI). I love "teaching" and I am so passionate about that material (just as passionate as I am about EMDR!). I was so excited that they asked me to come and talk about it:)

While I was doing that my husband took Superman, Faith, and JJ fishing in the town where I was presenting. I reminded my husband it was not a "hard-core" fishing day...just enough for the kids to make some memories. My husband's idea of fishing is waking up when it is still pitch black and leaving for the water (which is harder to find in this state than in MN where we grew up;) and not returning until dark lol!  Today was low key:)

Anyway, they picked me up when I was done and we went to Applebees for lunch. We used a gift card that I had gotten for a presentation I done on the same material a year ago (we clearly do not go out to eat very often lol!). It was a good meal. Some highlights of the meal included JJ asking for both grilled chicken and a corn dog. While he was considering those he saw a picture of a steak. So...he got the kids' steak. He ended up eating 1/2 of that and most of Faith's shrimp. Then he thought the lemons on my plate were oranges...his face was hilarious when he figured out that was not the case lol! He then insisted that we buy him shrimp and oranges to take home for him to eat. Superman really likes to eat burgers so we got him a quesadilla burger. He was shocked at the size of it and said it was the first time he has eaten out at a restaurant and actually got completely full:)  Faith loved the mozzarella sticks (a girl after my own heart) and her chicken and shrimp meal. Jonathan loudly announcing his need to...use the restroom...left us all laughing as well.

Grace was not with us because...she is in the Team Mates program and got to attend the Spring Game today! She was so excited to go and had a great time. We are so thankful for that program for her to get the extra connection time with her Teammate who is, by the way, the most perfect fit for Grace:) Grace is now insisting that the rest of us need to actually attend a game too (although  my husband and Buddy have attended a Spring Game too) so I suppose we will actually have to experience a game at some point (after living in this state for 18 years now;).

We came home and the kids spent the afternoon and evening playing outside. JJ INSISTED that I jump on the trampoline with him. He seems to think I am some 20-something mother. I was sitting on the trampoline catching my breath from laughing so hard at his silliness (ok...and from jumping so long) when he looked down on my head seeing my "roots" growing out and said, "Mom, why is your hair turning white?" I answered, "because I am getting old."  He was so sweet when he replied, "Mom! You are not old!" So we jumped, I played catch with the 3 of them while Grace enjoyed her calming lavender bath, and JJ had a ton of fun running through the neighbor's sprinkler while fully clothed;)

Beautiful and her husband were heading back to our place tonight but she REALLY wanted to see the Jungle Book movie so asked if we would come too. Buddy was at work all day and I thought it was too much for the kids...so my husband drove down to eat supper and see the movie with them. It is just so incredibly sweet to me that my husband does those fun things with her (and that SHE wants us to be such a constant part of their life even post-marriage), and the other kids. So many dads do not. I am infinitely thankful for my husband - and God's wisdom when He put us together. Looking back 24 years ago we were a terrible match - but God has worked in both of us and made us compliment each other well. He knew what He was doing;)

So, just a fun post about a fun day to let you know (and remind me) that we are able to have fun times as a family and it isn't ALL drama (just 80% of it;).

JJ's Scope Procedure

Thank you all for praying for today! It went well:)

We got up up 4:15 a.m. to be on the road by 5.  I accidentally knocked the diffuser over where JJ was sleeping and got him wet...which woke him up (he has seasonal allergies so he has been having a bad runny nose and we were using EO's to help him). Instead of falling back asleep like he normally would, he knew what we were going to do today and got up.  At 4:30 in the morning. There is a first for everything! Then he begged for food! JJ! Before 2 p.m.! I laughed hysterically for a few minutes while my husband was trying to figure out if I had lost my mind (which I probably have) then we just moved forward.

The whole trip to the hospital from 5 - 6:30 JJ stayed wide awake but was very quiet other than commenting about the stars:)

We got there 15 minutes early and registered. The next person who was supposed to be there already for the 7:30 procedure did not show up on time so they just prepped JJ and got him done at 7:30. I held up ok. JJ was clearly very nervous and retreating inside himself. When the charge nurse (who was AMAZING) asked him for his name before she could administer the liquid valium he couldn't even say his name - I am not sure he even remembered his last name at that point. The staff were all wonderful but we had 45 minutes less than we thought for prep so it all moved pretty quick (praise the Lord!). The anesthesiologist, GI specialist, Nurse Practitioner, nurses, and Life Specialist (there to help JJ feel calm, and prepare him with pictures of what was going to happen) were all very kind, low key, thoughtful, and anticipated our anxiety and tried to help us with that.

They took JJ at 7:30 and he did not get outwardly upset at all. The nurse got us some drinks and a muffin and then the GI specialist was right back. It was 8 and the fastest 30 minutes of my life. I know that was because of your prayers! Thank you for praying and for those of you who texted this morning to show us you were thinking of us. It meant A LOT!

The GI specialist gave us some of the pictures of JJ's insides and it was all structurally normal and there was no visible evidence of long term damage from his frequent vomiting. Yea!! He will call in a week with the results of the biopsies (like if he has Celiacs, infections, long-term damage, etc). If the biopsies come back clear, and the neurologist says it is not related to any neurological problem, and the feeding specialists say it is not motor related...then we are looking at this being a behavioral issue like anxiety. I know the depth of JJ's anxiety with all of the separation issues but if his anxiety makes his vomit every time he eats? When I was a teenager I spent several years vomiting 3 - 5 times a day entirely due to being in specific situations that made me extremely anxious (pretty much being rejected by people I wanted to like me). It would slay me to think that JJ feels that much anxiety - those were horrible years for me. But...I am counting chickens before they are hatched...we will get the results from the next diagnostic phases first before we check out that "basket."

Anyway, then a younger child was brought to the room next door and was clearly unhappy and inconsolable. As JJ was still in recovery I just paced and paced the floor thinking he may be that unhappy back in recovery and I wasn't there for him. But, the anesthesiologist stepped in and said he was fine. Would he tell me if he wasn't? probably not lol! But I was able to sit for awhile then. That was the longest 30 minutes of my life (aside from being in labor;)

They brought him back and he was still sleeping. He opened his unfocused eyes a bit to crawl into the regular bed and snuggle with me. They did all of the vitals, etc. They wanted him to wake to drink but we told them that getting him to eat/drink in the morning on a good day was sketchy so they let us go after about an hour. He woke long enough while we were taking out the IV and dressing him to tell us he wanted pizza and wanted the wheelchair to take him to the car rather than me carry him. Then he promptly fell asleep in the car again. We are home, we ordered pizza and it is waiting for him, but he is still sleeping and likely will sleep a long time yet I am sure (and I am going to go nap right with him:)

Thanks so much for your support and your prayers:) We are at the beginning of this diagnostic process and really appreciate your prayers for peace and for answers:)