More signing progress

Oh, we have had some great signing breakthroughs during our trip and also now that we've been home. During our trip, Finnegan finally began to sign "eat" and "drink" consistantly. It was great! He then began to sign "water". But we have two signs for "water". One meaning to drink water, the other is the water that you play in (whether it is a fountain or pool or similar). And with these two new break-throughs, He can now tell us what he needs in almost every situation and then we can give him a choice... Do you want to drink milk or water? And he answers back!! Oh, what a blessing!

We still are battling with the temper throwing instead of signing first, but once he's able to sign what he needs, he quickly is realizing that all he has to do is sign and we'll help him. Also, we've always struggled with him throwing food on the floor when he was bored or finished eating. And with the dogs, he loved to see them run after it. Even while being on vacation, he was forever throwing food on the floor when he was finished eating. Starting this morning, when he was done eating his breakfast, he signed "all done". I acknowledged his signing and removed his tray. Not one morsel of food hit the floor. Then at lunch, the same thing. He still isn't eating a whole lot, due to being sick, but he is eating and signing when he is finished, which is such a blessing!!

Now, we are on to working on that terrible attitude when he doesn't get his way, or something is taken away from him. I'm sure we'll be working on that one for a while!! :)

Finally Home!!

It has been a great trip but a very eventful one!! I have already called it "the trip from Hell." I must say, it wasn't all bad. It started off very well and we had a great first week. But the last five days seemed to have many things go wrong. Although we had some very delightful and memorable moments, and for the most part, had good attitudes about all the mishaps - I am certainly glad to be home.

Here's a list of the mishaps that plagued our trip -

- Finnegan teethed the whole trip, and was on a constant dose of tylenol and oral gel.
- My mom ran over our new stroller and snapped the wheel off, during our first day together. We had to go and purchase a new one.
- My mom ran over my dad's leg... or should i say, up my dad's leg with her scooter.
- Ken got food poisoning and was sick to the point of exhaustion and had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance. We spent 5 hours in the hospital where he lost feeling in all of his limbs and began to turn blue. VERY SCARY!!
- I got the stomach flu and was out of commission for a full day.
- Then Finnegan got a touch of flu too and is still battling it.
- Beth forgot ALL of her medications (except her back pain meds). So was basically a wreck the whole trip.  

- Finnegan fell backwards off a bench, head first onto the concrete... luckily, he wasn't hurt!!


Oh - so crazy - but I'm glad to be home.

I'll post some photos soon!! We had a great time and enjoyed the times we had with our families.

Prayer for Beth

Update #2: 9pm EST - Beth has been doing well all day long with her treatment. The epidural shot has given her relief and she is managing her pain with pain medication. Her pain is almost cut in half and very tolerable (but still has a ways to go). We are hoping that the shot continues to strengthen it's effect and she's able to resume regular and guarded activity. She meets with her surgeon again on Tuesday for further questions. Please continue to pray for her upcoming Christmas Concerts with her chorus. Also, for our trip and wisdom about going and her further treatment and pain management.
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Beth Update: 11am EST - Beth is out of her proceedure and home. She is feeling well but it could take up to two days to feel the effect of the shot. The next two days could even be worse with pain, before it gets better. Please continue to pray for her healing, and rest. Also please pray for wisdom as we prepare to go on a family vacation out of state and the concerns that come along with being super ill and in tremendous pain while away from home. Pray that Beth and her doctors take all things into account when making a wise decision.

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Hey all -

Just a quick note to ask for prayer for Beth today. She's really been suffering these past few days with some serious pain in her hip and back. It's too the point that she can't sit, stand, or lay without intense pain. She's been to the ER several times within the past week without much relief. These past few days she was finally able to have an MRI on her hip and back. It was first diagnosed that she had bone spurs. Now, they are saying a bulging and herniated disk. The newest report is that her L5 vertibra is cracked and chipped. She is going to the spinal surgeon today to have a pain shot (basically an a shot of epidural) but they say that it is a 50/50 shot that it will work. If it doesn't work, she'll have to have surgery on her back to fix the nerve and bone damage that they believe was caused by her walking in Israel (remember when she had so much trouble back then?? -- She had some serious problems when she returned too, but they went away). With that said, she also is still planning to go on our family vacation... So there are many requests today regarding her...
1. Please pray for the precision of the doctors and that this pain shot is successful.
2. Pray that if the pain shot isn't successful that Beth will make the right decision about her long travel trip as well as time away from her doctors.
3. Pray for wisdom for my parents as the are with her in Nashville to help guide her and make some proper decisions, based on needs not wants.
4. Pray that she will have quick healing, weather by shot or by surgery.
5. Pray for relief of sleep and rest for Beth. These last 2 weeks have been especially hard for her.
6. Pray that she will have a good experience with pain medication and that she will be able to find something that will ease her pain (without becoming addicted -- she's on some heavy stuff, that doesn't seem to touch the pain she's having).

Disney - Here we come!!

For over a year or so, we've been planning (and over 2 years we've been talking) about going to Disney with Ken's siblings and their families. Ken and I, obviously, have the farthest to travel and will be flying straight through from WA to FL with Finnegan. A SIX hour flight (your prayers are coveted) with a 15 month old. :) Anyway, so we've been planning the trip and now, i'm officially in "prepare" mode. I have been packing and making lists and am getting excited to go.

Since moving to WA, I've learned that I get my hopes up and then I am crushed when things don't happen as people "promise". So, I have learned to have a guarded heart when people (even family) make statements like "let's do this together. I'll plan it" or "I really want to come visit you." Even after the plane tickets are purchased and all the plans are made, until our guests arrive or everyone is together, do I really enjoy what's happening. I've had my hopes dashed so many times, that it is hard to believe when someone says they'll be coming. I suppose it's a defense mechanism. I've struggled with the feelings of not being truly excited for weeks. I wasn't looking forward to going, the plane ride, the car rental, coordinating 12 people.

Anywho - Needless to say, each day we get closer to the trip - the easier it is becoming to be excited. I still dread the plane ride, but I'm looking forward to the special time with family and my sweet small family (and our quiet moments alone in the magical place on earth). :) We are planning several days with Ken's siblings and their families and then another several days with my parents and siblings and their families. We're even planning one big dinner with everyone... 18 people total!!

On the weight front... I blogged a couple of weeks ago about a crazy weight loss plan that I was planning with my girlfriend, Shawnta. Well, we've been at it for four weeks now, and have just begun week five. Here's the update... In four weeks, I've lost 4.2 lbs and 3.75inches. I am officially 10 lbs less than I was when I got pregnant with Finnegan. I am hoping to lose another 10lbs before getting pregnant with baby #2 so that I don't hit 200lbs in my pregnancy! But I'm not sure I have that much time!! Or perhaps I'll be working out so well that I gain less weight with this pregnancy than I did the last. I'll keep you all posted on that front!!

Have a great week!

Question of the day!!

This was actually the question of the day yesterday, but I didn't want to bombard your Thanksgiving celebrations with my silly questions!!

Question:

What is it about Wal-Mart that signals to people that when they go there, they don't have to dress properly or completely?? I took a short trip to Wal-mart at 9am on Thanksgiving morning and to my surprise, I was met by several patrons in their slippers and pajamas. Granted, I know some people have to run and get last minute items, but some customers were there with shopping carts full of groceries, while in their slippers. All they were missing was their house coat!! One gal didn't even have shoes on... just super dirty socks!

So what is it about Wal-mart that tells people that they don't have to look presentable when the shop there? Now, I know everyone rolls out of bed and runs to the store, but don't do your weekly grocery shopping in your pj's!! Come on people!!

NKOTB comments

Ok, so this totally cracks me up how much people are interested or know of someone who went to the concert.  I don't know that I would go as far as Andrea's friend who thought that next to her wedding day, it was the best day of her life!  But it was pretty fun.  For those of you who know me from childhood, I have been a HUGE NKOTB fan since the beginning.  The mania was led by my sister Beth, and Andrea and I just followed suit.  We had the videos and the posters, lunch boxes, bed sheets, dolls and tons of other stuff.  All of our memoribelia fills 2 bins that my sister has at her house.  I went to  joe mcintyre concert in college roommate too.  It was pretty crazy back in the day!  But, I must admit, these days, I've moved on.  Granted, I really enjoy them as a group and enjoy the nostalgia that the concert creates.  But, when I entered the concert, I knew I wasn't going to meet them, let alone, go home with one of them.  But many of the concert goers did.  I've watched some videos on the internet of women meeting the guys in the band and saying, "I've loved you for 20 years and I drove 10 hours to get here.  I LOVE YOU !!!"  So crazy!  I like them becuase their fun, and like to have fun.  I love watching their crazy videos on line of the life I will NEVER have.  Fascinating to me!  

At the concert, I really didn't feel young again.  The concert started at 8pm and they didn't get on stage until 9:30pm.  I didn't feel young at all.  I was tired and wanted it to start so I could get to bed at a decent hour!  :)  I know it's crazy.  But the concert was fun!  The dancing was fun and I was impressed with the level of commitment they had... meaning, there wasn't just a few songs that were choreographed.  They all were.  There were songs that just one or two of the guys were out (to give the others a break) but for the most part, everything was very well done.  I was impressed.  

There were women sitting near us just living it up.  My sister mentioned that it was weird to see concert goers holding beers, as that didn't happen when we were kids.  I thought it was too, to see it in person, especially to smell it too.  The gal sitting next too us cried during several songs.  And it wasn't like we were in the front row.  We were on the OPPOSITE side of the arena from the stage, and yet, she was crying.  I wasn't sure why, but then I still am a bit clueless of why my older sister used to cry when we were at the concerts 15 years ago.  :)

It was fun.  I wished my sisters had enjoyed it with me.  It's fun to do a concert like that, but it just wasn't the same without them there.  

Anywho - Hope you all enjoyed the photos and videos.  

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Concert Photos

Here are a few photos from the concert. They're not too great, but just remember that my camera was on it's super telephoto lens and I was on the OPPOSITE side of the arena... the furthest place from them in the place :) But still, we had a great time!!


This photo is from the middle of the concert, when they were on their revolving stage that was only slightly bigger than a grand piano!!

Joey - during one of my favorite songs... Single!


This is Emily and I after the show as we walked out... I was hoping to get the stage in the back but there were a bunch of people behind us!!



During Step By Step... This was the view from the floor.


Donnie, during the on chore.
This is probably my favorite photo!

This is Jordan during one of his older songs. He stands on the top of the platform, with his white shirt open and blowing in a fan from below. From being on the opposite side of the arena, it's a pretty good shot. :)