Zoe video

Drama of the week

So Monday was a normal day.  Zoe, my little monkey, was begging to get swung around so of course I had to do it.  She kept on asking for more and more, she was even saying "please".  Until something snapped in her arm! :(

Usually she is pretty upset immediately after she gets hurt but then I nurse her a bit or give her some ice and she is fine.  Not this time.  She would immediately start crying when anyone would move her arm at all.  So I took her to the ER (our pediatrician's office was already closed).  They were pretty sure the arm was not broken and that it was something called Nursemaid's Elbow.  So the NP felt around her arm and put it back into place and was confident that she was good to go.  But Zoe was still not willing to move it and when the doctor touched it she started to freak out.  So we did end up having to get some x-rays.  No, it was not broken so we finally got to go home.

The next morning she was moving her arm and using it like normal.  Thank goodness!  And she still begs me to swing her around (but obviously I'm not doing that anymore!)

Mask

Jackson's camp was supposed to take a trip to the zoo today.  It was really hot though (heat index 100+), so I think they ended up not going.  But he did come home with a really cool mask and necklace!

Once again, my daughter amazes me

Zoe has always been very sensitive to sounds and very aware of different sounds.  Sometimes that's not so good, like when she freaks out if I turn the dial on my iron or when I use the can opener.

But sometimes it's pretty cool!  She wants to know what every little tiny sound is, and sometimes I don't even hear what she is listening to until she points it out.  Most recently she has been interested in the sounds the cicadas make.  I told her those were bugs in the trees singing, and that they were called cicadas.  Now when she hears them she says "sound cicada!" very excitedly.

YAY!!!!

I am very excited that Jackson has just been accepted into the Starlight Children's Foundation Great Escapes program! This is a "non-profit organization dedicated to helping seriously ill children and their families cope with their pain, fear, and isolation through entertainment, education, and family activities.  The Great Escapes program provides a variety of special activities for seriously ill children and their families which are designed to relieve the stress and anxiety that serious illness imposes, and most importantly, allow for you to have FUN!"*

Some online friends of mine suggested we apply for it, and the first application I sent got lost.  I sent it again and we just got the package today.  I am really excited for Jackson to get to do some fun stuff outside of school!  It is really hard for us to think of things he would like to do, that he would be able to do, that we would be able to afford.


*I don't think of Jackson as being "seriously ill".  In fact, for a kid with as many health issues as he has, I would consider him pretty darn healthy!  But he fits the criteria of the program, so that is the important thing.

About time for an update, don't you think?

Jackson's summer school ended last week and this week he is starting summer camp (had his first day yesterday). It's actually at the same school, but it is through special recreation rather than the school district and has a whole different set of people for the most part. It's a little stressful getting everything worked out. There were a few interesting SNAFUs yesterday but he seemed to have enjoyed it and that is the most important thing. At least that is what I keep telling myself.

Today he is going to the beach, which brings a whole new level of stress for me. It is super hot today so I really hope they are able to keep him cool enough (since he has temperature regulation issues) without freezing him in the lake. Plus, they are changing the kids into their swim suits (and swim diapers) before leaving the school. So I have to worry that (because swim diapers are not made to hold pee, only solids) he will soak his wheelchair on the bus ride there or the bus ride back and then have to sit in a pee soaked chair all day. Hopefully they will follow my instructions and everything will be fine.

Lee's friends have been working for a long time on adapting our special needs jogging stroller to double as a bike trailer. Finally, after more than a year, it is finished. The guys took it for a short test run up and down the street and it worked well. We just have a few improvements to make (getting a 5 pt harness on it and improving the canopy coverage) and it will be perfect.

Here is a video of the test run. It was really hot so we were not able to do a longer ride, but the guys both enjoyed it!

Zoe is doing well. She is loving playing in her sandbox and her kiddie pool. That and loving on her dog...perhaps loving on her dog a little too much.