Time for a Change…

I had to write this. Jett went to work with James on Saturday so I just had my 2 babies.  I had them sitting next to each other for lunch as we all ate….Santana with his feeding pump.  Tyree kept leaning over trying to give him a cracker.  He kept shaking it in his face like, WHY AREN’T YOU TAKING THIS?!  Santana’s eyes would get big like, I WANT IT, I WANT IT!  It was so cute.  Poor Santana, he will get there!  I just know it.  

Santana still has not been feeling too well.  He has such thick crap coming out his nose and throat.  A nasty cough to go with.  We need to pray that he gets over it before we leave for Florida. We really need him to be good and healthy!   Tyree has also not been feeling good.  Yesterday he screamed forever. If you know Tyree, that is very odd!  He is always happy and ALWAYS smiling.  So something is bugging him too.

Yesterday, after church, we went and grabbed some Panda Express and ate lunch on our property.  We were really excited that we saw that the city came out to make some markings.  Must mean we are breaking ground soon!  I better get some pictures of the bare land before they do.  I will be mad if I don’t.  So Jaimee…if you saw a car sitting in the dirt behind you, yeah, it was us.  

We are days away from 2009.  A new year means new things to come.  I feel change coming more than I ever have before.  We have big plans for the first half of the year.  We will kick it off with going to Florida for Vasodilation therapy with Dr. Hammesfahr.   We will be there for 2 weeks.  The theory is to use blood pressure type meds to open up the veins and get more oxygen flow to the brain.  Santana’s neurologist says if we are doing stem cells, it would make sense to do this with it because you would have a better chance to get the cells through the blood brain barrier.  Which leads us to February.  We plan on doing Stem cells with Dr. Steenblock.  Then in April or May, while my nurse is out with her baby, I plan on going to California for 3 weeks to do intensive physical therapy.  We are doing it with The Napa Institute.  Yes, I will be close to my mom when in California.  But will probably get my own place so it is easy with Santana’s stuff and not have to walk him up 3 flights of stairs to the room like I would at the dream center. I gotta work on that too.  So exciting.  So much going on this year!

With the change I feel coming, I thought it was time to change this site too.  With that said, I will be redesigning and changing the look. YES KERRY…You will have to deal with another change.  Muahahahaha!  You will learn to love it.  I have to change it.  I need a third column so I can put my sponsors up.  Our main one being Dr. Warkentin and his team of Chiropractors at the Verve Wellness Center. If you are reading this Dave…I would like to add your logo on there too!  SO email it too me.  =D  While Santana’s back is not perfect, I am starting to see some improvement from the bottom up!  Pray 

So, bear with the site as I change it.  I crashed it last night while upgrading…but the nerd I am figured it out.  Pray I don’t do it again.

Hope you had a Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone had a blessed and Merry Christmas! This has been one of our best Christmas’! Here is a funny story… Sunday, my dad and Lorili came to watch the boys while we finished Christmas shopping. We get a call that Jett found his bike from “Santa Clause” (That was hidden by boxes and under a slip and slide. Hmmmmm. My dad said he had it out in the front of the garage. Then I get a call from a neighbor on Monday asking how the bike turned out. Apparently he was RIDING it. Double hmmm…. So yeah. That stunk. But he bought it when we told him dad was holding it for someone at work. Then bought that Santa saw he liked it so much and brought him one. Whew.

Pepperdine Alumni and Halo went ABOVE and beyond! What a blessing it was! Thank you guys so much for this! You are an awesome group of people! We love you and thank you all to who were involved!

I got a lot to get done! 16 more days until Florida and Dr. Hammesfahr! Woo hoo! We need prayers for that trip!

In 24 hours…

Yesterday, Tyree had a bruise like rash all over.  Kind of like when you are really cold and you get those reddish purplish spots all over.  I called about 3:30 to his peds and they said get him in.  I took him to East Valley Children’s Hospital Urgent Care.  They said it was just viral and sent us on our way.  So the Zithromax isn’t doing him any good.

We get home about 9:30 last night.  Then I got woken up by a choking sound about 1:30 am.  It was Santana. He had so much thick crud coming out…Yellow too.  He also had a fever of 101.  He also had his last day of Zithromax to go.  So I emailed his doctor. She had me come in today.  Santana’s ear is really red and will probably be draining in the next day or 2.  So she gave them an antibiotic shot.  Let me tell you!  He cried and Cried!  Tears…a river of tears.  Then she had us go next door to get a chest X-Ray.  He sounded really junky to her and his cough is really wet.  We go back tomorrow to see what is going on and for another anti-biotic shot.  My poor baby boys!  It really never stops.

Here is a good thing to report…  Amber, his nurse had him flipped over getting ready to do the T.E.N.S. unit on his back and she said, come here….  look.  His spine didn’t look as bad at all!  it was still curved but it used to be REALLY bad.  I was excited!  His chest X ray looked bad but not as bad as others I have seen.  It seems like the bottom part is a bit more straight.  Oh yeah… speaking of his chest x-ray.  Let me tell you!  He cried during that too!  He gets set off REALLY easy now.  Poor baby boy!

I got a lot to do!  Thank you guys!  Mucho love from Chandler Arizona!!!! 

Another Week Gone By…

Where has this week gone?!  As I am sure you are all with me on this, it has been crazy busy with Christmas coming.  Plus I have Florida coming right behind that!  So my mind is everywhere but here.

Last week I took the boys into Gateway Peds since they have been yellow snot for 2 weeks.   They wrote a script for Tyree and Santana for possible sinus infection and they swabbed Jett’s throat but didn’t think it was anything.  She went to take the swab to have tested and the staff came with a laundry basket (a very nice one) with diapers, wipes, gifts for the boys and a night out for James and I with dinner and a movie!!! It was so awesome!  Dr. Sudha and her staff are the most caring people I have ever met!  I just LOVE going there!!!!  We got caught up in the excitement of that when we were walking out side, we got chased down by Neva telling us Jett was Positive for Strep!  Oh boy!  So she had to write him a script too!  She didn’t test the other 2 since they were already going on the same anti-biotic but with all having the same symptoms, I am sure and most likely Tyree and Santana had it too.  So they are getting over that.  But all feeling much better! Thank you Dr. Sudha and Gateway Pediatrics Staff!

This has been a truly blessed Christmas and it isn’t even here yet!  We have a car load of presents from the Pepperdine University Arizona Alumni Chapter hiding that the boys have no clue about.  Those are gonna be from Santa!  ;-)  Thank you so much and to Denise and Sally from the Halo Foundation.  What a blessing you guys have been!

I know one thing I want for Christmas but I know it won’t happen.  Santa James says NO WAY!  Oh..if only our house was done and we were on our property!  At Horse Therapy on Friday, I had Jett and Tyree with me so we went walking around so I can show Jett the horses.  It was love at first sight!  This is the second week this horse just loved on me.  He was licking my jacket which left a green mushy mess but didn’t bother me.  Every time we tried to walk away, it would follow us.  It stuck his head through the fence and tried to get Tyree too.  I loved it.  I felt like a kid because my stomach hurt so bad because I didn’t want to leave her.  As Santana came by with his therapist Greg, his nurse Amber and the horse leader Dylan I was like…”I want this horse…She loves me!!!”  THEN and THEN they made the mistake of yelling back, “She’s for sale!”  Oh my… don’t tell me that!  I wanted to cry cause I wanted her so bad.  So that is what all these pictures are about.  But here is what is funny!  When we first got there, a horse in the stall peeked her head out and Santana was really looking up at her.  So I took the picture then we moved Santana closer to get a better shot.  Needless to say, The horse wanted him or the blanket as you can see in the picture.  It was pretty funny.  That has got to look scary to have this big head coming down at him like that.  Santana did good on the horse.  For not feeling good, he didn’t complain (whine or cry) at all. 

Speaking of pain, yesterday on the way home from church, James ran into the store and Santana brought his hands up and cried and cried.  I felt so bad from him.  I loosened his AFO’s but I think it wasn’t enough. When we got home I took his TSO off and his AFO’s off and he was like aaaaahhh…relief.  Then he slept the whole day.  I wanted to curl up to him so bad he looked so cozy!  I love it when he is sleeping.

We are down to less than a month for Florida!  I am so excited!  Brenda…we will be at the Bilmar Beach Resort from the 11th checking out on the 24th.  I forgot to email you that…  It will be fun and I get some mommy time too!  Yes, us adults still need that I think.  But what can I say…  I will miss Tyree and Jett like CRAZY!  But I think it will be worth it!  Woo HOO!

Then in February we plan on Stem Cells.  I can’t wait for that.  I am really excited for 2009!  I think there will be great things to come.  Which reminds me.  When we were leaving Counseling on Saturday with Jett, there was a pillow that said, “The best is yet to come”.  I don’t remember it there before.  So too me, it was a whisper from God. By the way…THANKS LESLIE FOR TAKING TYREE!  You rock!  Thanks Amber for working a Saturday.  You pretty much Rock too!

My next big decision is when to do Intense Physical Therapy over in Los Angeles.  I want to do it when my nurse is out for maternity.  But Jett will still be in school.  I am not sure what to do with that yet cause it will be 3 weeks!!!!  Oh boy…. 

I am not sure what else to write I know I had more but my mind is distracted so I will write later if I remember.  Thanks for checking in on us and keep the prayers flowing! Pray for swallowing.  That is what we need the most right now!  God Bless and if I don’t get back on here…Have a VERY Merry Christmas and stop to think what the TRUE meaning of Christmas is all about!  What a glorious time of year and I am blessed to have you all here and supporting me!  Many blessing to you and your families!

Don’t forget to BELIEVE!  

Last minute shopping anyone?

Today is the final day for another promo Gold Canyon is having…  It helps Santana through the month of December!  GET YOUR ORDERS IN!  You don’t have to be in Arizona to enjoy these AWESOME smelling candles!

A gift for our most valued customers—FREE Shipping plus 20% off your entire website order! No minimum purchase required. Save on beautiful home décor and candles like Diffusers, the Jolly Snowman Pod Warmer and elegant pillars. All products are on sale. Stock up on your favorites and choose from over 100 fragrances. 
 
Enter promotion code DEC35. 
Offer expires 12/17/08. 

Kerry Reeves 
www.mygc.com/busybees

Thank you to ALL who sent emails and left comments. That was very uplifting! I had a really good day! My friends Kristi, Kristin, and Kim took me out to lunch at the Olive Garden and I took Santana and his nurse also. It was nice to see them. They pretty much ROCK! I felt sorry for the place. 5 adults and 8 kids 3 and under…. It was a great time! The kids did well…even my tyrant!

My family came over with burritos and Wings and we ate. and ate. and ate. Lorili taught me to make caramel corn. Yum yum yummy! My brother and I chowed down on a tray of cookies out the oven….sorry for the others who didn’t get any…mmmmm not really. Thanks for coming over guys. I truly had a GREAT day.

Thanks for the texts, calls, emails, and comments. People like you guys keep us going! Santana is rocking it! Still feeling like crap but doing better. Lots of yellow crud. Poor baby. But he is becoming more alert after being groggy.

Reflections…

This weekend is tough.  Tuesday marks 2 years.  But we are handling it well.  I guess with my little monster Tyree, we are kept busy.  Very busy.  Even though Tuesday is it, Saturdays always seem to be the day I really think about that horrifying phone call.  I remember eating breakfast at the little farmhouse in Gilbert with James and a friend.  That waitress got a big tip because we got the phone call and didn’t have time to wait for change.  I don’t know how James drove over 30 miles with me freaking out and and having a panic attack.  And I will never forget being sat down in the conference room and wait what seemed like forever for the doctor to walk into the room.  When he sat down, it was hard to listen to what he was saying if he had us sitting, it could not be good.  My palms sweat.  My heart pounded in my throat.  My mouth was as dry as the desert we live in.  I was shaking like an earthquake. We were told he is like a coin teetering back and forth and they are not sure which way it will fall.  They didn’t think he was going to make it through the night and said if he did it will be grim.  We went back to see him.  He had tubes coming out from everywhere.  His chest went up and down in an even pattern and it was only because a machine was making him breath.  He was given meds to keep his heart going.  He was only alive by medical standard, by machines.  We could have let him go, we were told to let him go.  But we didn’t.  We could feel God’s presence.  The word Believe was like a whisper in my ear.  I couldn’t get it out of my head.  I couldn’t stop singing “Praise You in This Storm” by Casting Crowns.  I knew God was with us.  I knew Santana was going to be alright.  By the 5th day he was completely off the Vent and breathing on his own.  What a great feeling that was.  Although EXTREMELY fragile with a heart rate over 200 bpm and a blood pressure  that was through the roof that could have caused a stroke, which may have.  But he was alive.  After 30 minutes being dead. My God raised my boy from the dead and has taught us an incredible lesson in GRACE and MERCY!

If there is one thing the doctor was right about, it was that it has been grim.  But now after 2 years, we know this is our life.  We love Santana as he is.  It is exhausting to balance all 3 kids, but God will give them understanding.  He may not be the Santana he was.  But he is the Santana that has beat many odds and surpassed some goals they said he would NEVER do.  It is the simple things we do that you don’t think about is so important.  Such as coughing.  He coughs and gets the junk out of his lungs on his own which prevents pneumonia.  Did I mention they said to expect to be back many times with Pneumonia?  And with that they said the first time he does they will Trache him?  Well, there is no trache.  Blinking.  Sounds simple.  Santana used to be in an opened-eye coma.  He had what they call doll eyes.  No blink, no movement.  He looked so far away, his eyes would be so dry.  Now he is blinking and moving his eyes towards sound.  ALSO, he has tracked a few times during vision therapy.  I think that is WONDERFUL since they took of tracking as a goal in school.  We got a ways to go, but we got a start!  We have been told he would need surgery twice on his feet and MAGICALLY (or should I say THANK GOD) his feet got better right before scheduled.  He is moving his arm.   He can kick out his legs.  He reacts to sound and cold touch.  He cries to pain…which I made him do tonight on accident.  He was sleeping and I was taking his SVN mask off and the elastic snapped.  He cried in his sleep.  Bittersweet.  His blood pressure that was through the roof, we are no longer on meds for!!!!  Sometimes it is pretty low.  But probably normal for a little kiddo with not much action.  We have a LONG road ahead of us.  But we have come a long way considering he was once not even alive.  No matter what and no matter where we end up, I will still love him the same and praise God everyday because I appreciate that he gave him a new life to be with us.

Two years ago while sitting in that cold hospital room, I NEVER EVER imagined that we would get to take him to Disneyland… or ride any of the rides!  And we did!  He went to the beach a few times with us!  He gets to go horseback riding every week!   He has won me 300 tickets at Peter Piper Pizza with a push of a button on 1 game, the first time.  I didn’t think school would be an option and he got to try it out.  He rode a bus before Jett (Jett has always wanted to)!  We have tried to keep his life as normal as we could for the sake of Jett.  Of course there are other things that we can praise God for the ability to do, but we are doing only because of the situation we are in.  Praise God for the funds to do HBOT, the Vasodilation therapy we are doing in Florida, for the Stem cells we plan for February, and for Intensive Therapy in California we plan in the spring.  

At least if we have to live in the situation we live in, God has provided us with means to give Santana the best quality of life.  God has provided us so much in the last 2 years and have put so many amazing people in our lives that carry us day by day.  I thank every organization and every person who has made a difference in our family.  This goes down to the most simple of prayer, but also the most powerful above all.

As the next year goes by, I will only become stronger and stronger.  I will stand by God’s Promise to Santana which is found in Psalms 91:14-16 “The Lord says, “If you love me and truly know who I am, I will rescue you and keep you safe. When you are in trouble, call out to me. I will answer and be there to protect you.  You will live a long life and see my saving power.” 

Because Tuesday will be a rough day, I will keep myself busy.  I may take Santana to Peter Piper to celebrate.  Technically it is like his birthday.  It is his new life.  He died and by the grace of God and by the blood of Jesus, he became alive again.  So we will try to not be somber because we know this is our life.  We expected so much more by now, but we still love God the same.  We are still believing.  Don’t get me wrong. I will not give up on the thought that he could be healed.  I will forever believe that.  But know that what happens to Santana does NOT change our love for God.  Also, My dad, Lorili, Chad, and his wife are coming over to keep us company.  We will have a little birthday party for him.  

As of today…Santana slept a lot and was pretty lethargic.  Friday he had a 101 temp.  I had him sleep with me that night so I could keep an eye on him.  He has spit up a ton of thick yellow snot.  I feel so bad for my boo bear.  You can see in his eyes that he is not feeling good. Yesterday (Saturday) I walked the boys down to the park since James had to work all day.  Poor Santana was asleep when I loaded him up all the way to way after being home.  He had no idea he was at the park for almost 2 hours.  Poor little man missed out. It was fun and Tyree had a lot of fun he reminds me so much of Santana at that age.  Pray he starts feeling better.  His face keeps getting Beet red.  

Today, a friend of ours met up with us to do some family portraits.  They turned out absolutely beautiful!  I would post some but I have to ask permission first.  Then James told me to wait until we get our cards sent out.   Thanks Alisha. You did an AWESOME job!

Thanks for listening to me, It’s after 1 am time to find some sleep.  Please know that we are doing ok.  Much better than last year.  It is still tough and we have been through some hard times.  But each time we come out of it, we come out stronger.  It is hard to look at Santana and think that we thought we would be so much further.  But it is ok.  It is what God has trusted us with.  We are survivors.  We still BELIEVE! 

PS  notice that last picture has a baby gate around the tree.  It is because of the boy in the middle.  Tyree the tyrant.  Yeah.  But he still manages to knock em all off through the holes.  The joys!!!  Santana was feeling really sick here and tired, but he is a trooper!

Appointment update…

We did not get serial casting today.  We did not get a surgery date.  They were pretty darn impressed with his feet and said to keep on stretching him.  They cut his AFO’s  when he started to push out of them so they are more flimsy.  So instead, to get a good stretch, they are going to add elastic straps from under the toes to both sides so we can pull his feet up gradually and get a good stretch.  He gets really shaky when the right foot is pulled up so they worry about casting it and not being able to check it.  So it was positive that we are getting so close!!!!

New cool thing today!  He held his head up again!!!!  WOO HOO!  He hasn’t been able to do so since his seizures started at the end of May or beginning of June.  So there are 3 things going on that can help that.  1st is Horse Therapy.  He gets a lot of head movement while the horse walks around for 45 minutes.  His therapist uses 2 fingers to hold it up so it will move and get some muscle built up.

We have also had 5 Chiropractic adjustments.  Of course that is good.  But today they also did cold laser therapy on his neck.  Then it was about 2 hours later we had P.T.  and he held his head up with his Therapist having his hands on the sides of his shoulders.  It was awesome.  I got a picture.  But I don’t feel like hooking the camera up right now.  It was just so exciting to see!  What a PRAISE GOD MOMENT!

Tomorrow we get the wheel chair fixed.  It has been so busy!  I am just going crazy!  Santana is worth it all!

Oh, and if you are wondering, I did get to sleep at 4:50 (that was the last time I looked at the clock)  My computer finally died.  Then the cats were all over me so I couldn’t sleep with that.  So then I slept until woken up at 5:15 with Santana choking.  Then I heard James getting ready then at 6:30 I could certainly no longer sleep with a little 6 year old needing everything at that time and my 2 Great Danes going crazy and playing around.  But I survived this crazy long day!  Now I am sleepy!

Thanks for all the prayers!  By the way, the pictures in this post is the picture God painted for me the other night.  What a take my breath away moment when I looked into my back yard.  Enjoy God’s Beauty! …also, scroll below to see our crazy family snapping dorky pictures.  I can’t believe I put these up.  I was so tired and makeupless.  That night we all passed out about 7:30 or 8:00.  We were tired.  

If you can’t sleep…BLOG!

Kinda like the old Matchbox 20 song… “It’s 3am I must be lonely…” Yeah. That is what time it is. I got up to suction Santana about a half hour ago and can’t sleep! Days like this I can’t WAIT to get our house built so we can be back in normal sleeping rooms. I guess I can’t sleep because when I did get up I saw James is sleeping in the bedroom, where he is usually on the bed in the living room with me or on the couch. I just don’t like the feeling of being alone. 2 nights while he was in Denver was tough enough. So what better to do than blog. After his AM appt., I will add some goofy pictures we were sitting around taking the other night. It is too dark to find my cable to do so now.

Thank you so much for your prayers yesterday!!!!! See…prayer works and God is good. I was worried about his GI NOT approving his swallow study. Especially since he has denied it before and especially since one of my fellow special needs parents told me he denies them a lot and that she switched doctors. 

Let’s just say he is a very DRY doctor to begin with. I feel like I was in the principal office, my heart was pounding and palms were sweating. He was asking about how Santana was tolerating his feeds. A nurse I used to have always said that the foam Santana gets coming out of his nose and mouth was reflux and instead of saying he is or isn’t I said, “well…” and started to explain that foam to ask him and he interrupts and says… YES OR NO? He is or he isn’t. Wow… Ok. You are the one with the degree and can approve this swallow study so I will shut up now. In the end when he did approve it, he said, “I will go ahead and approve this [and with big eyes and loud said] HE WILL FAIL!” NICE! Very nice. So then he says, He will surprise us all if he passes.” That makes me have my evil laugh in my head and say in my head, My God will show you all! Then he told me I may cause bigger issues by doing this like DROWNING! HA HA HA. As I am wearing my WATCH KIDS AROUND WATER shirts we made for Santana. He corrected himself and said aspirating. But I think because I looked dumbfounded when he said that, not to be sensitive. So for you special needs parents out there! I need some input on your childs swallow study! Was it questionable when you had it done too? I am not crazy. Speech is recommending it so I am going off her. How will I ever know!?

I used to go to those type of negative appointments and left teary eyed. When I got home and the nurse would get Santana settled in I would go to my bedroom, call my mommy and cry… she is one of the few who will tolerate listening to it for a moment and then she would set me straight on trusting in God and to quit doubting. But I am stronger now. I just laugh. No one knows Santana like I do. He shows us he is there and I can see it in his eyes when I am praying for him in my arms and talking to him and telling him that I want him to try. He has this look like he is saying, hold on mommy. I am trying. Don’t give up. Tomorrow, I guess that is today…we have his Pre-op of NO operation today. I am going to see about serial casting. Why not. He did great in 3 weeks last time! Not to mention they said it would be 4-6 weeks and his feet were WAY worst. So we need prayer at 10 am MST! We have been having much better communication with his orthopedic doc. What happened with that last surgery made more openness and willingness to listen to me. Things that make you go hmmmm…wish I was a fly on the wall in that OR room. Thursday we get our wheel chair that is falling apart fixed! Woo hoo! Thanks for the info about the vans. Maybe when our house deal goes through we can try to get that.

Pray for tomorrow but also focus your prayers on his swallowing. We really need to see some improvement before this study.  We have till February or later, so maybe this therapy in Florida can do him some good for that too. Let’s send those prayers up and knock the socks off these NEGATIVE doctors!

God Bless you all and thank you for following, supporting, and praying. We have come this far because of your positivity and we get through the day by your comments. It rises me up to want to keep on fighting! Oh…don’t forget to check back for pictures! I may add it in our appointment results for tomorrow entry. But scroll down just in case! It is just goofy stuff of James, I and the older boys…Tyree was long asleep.

Has it really been a week?!

Where did this week go?!  I can’t believe it.  Well, Santana decided to stay with the theme and pooped coming out of the bath on her second day too.  This time he made it in the towel on his bed.  He did it 2 days for his other nurse too.  So 4 out of the 5 days…  I think the little stinker does it on purpose.  He doesn’t do it for me.  He knows better!!!!  =D  

Santana had an EXTREMELY busy week last week.  We have so much therapy at the house…NOT COMPLAINING!!!!   And we left 3 of the days for chiropractor adjustment and one for horse therapy.  Oh, and at the Verve Wellness Center they also cleaned his teeth!  They look so pearly!  What an awesome facility!  

Shoot.  And I think I am busy this week!  NEXT week will be crazy!  We have 3 appointments in Phoenix, 3 chiropractor appointments, and horse therapy.  Time will go fast next week!  I have NO idea how I went to Phoenix 6 days a week for HBOT and adjustments last year.  I miss it, but wow, that is a lot of driving.  I think I physically can’t do that anymore.  Our appointments are with his GI doctor, we have not seen him since like January or February of last year!  He has no idea that we have switched his feedings like 2 times. Crazy!  The biggest thing I want from him is to approve a swallow study.  That is all I really want right now! Then we have his PreOp appointment…but we are not doing the surgery.  They want to see him anyway for his post check up from the last surgery.  I will request serial casting again.  He had good results last time. We will see what happens.  The last appointment is Wheel Chair Clinic.  He is not fitting in his right.  So they want to adjust it.  But I am so glad!!!!  The lever that makes the seat lean back or forward and to take it apart to put in the car is stuck.  So now, we have had to shove it whole in the back of the Armada and it is busting. reflectors are breaking, we keep finding screws.  It is really annoying!  So I am looking forward to that appointment!

To avoid all that hassle, I really wish we had a wheel chair accessible van.  Life would be so much easier and so would our back!  I am sick of getting him in and out and the chair is SO stinking heavy to be lifting in and out.  But did you know that those modified vans can run from $40 to $80K?!  I was shocked!  I could not believe it!  With us trying to build our house, we can’t do that right now.  Someday.

In a few days we will be a month away from going to Florida!  I got my flight!  I got a killer deal at Bilmar Resort on the beach thanks to Robin!  She upgraded us with a kitchen for free.  What a blessing.  And we are getting a killer discount thanks to going for what we are going for.  Robin couldn’t find the doctor in their discount list but gave it to me anyway.  whatever helps!

The last thing we needed was a rental and Nick from East Valley Sol hooked us up with a SUV/Van grade for $722 for the 2 weeks.  He told me to look around first, so I will.  But this seems great!  I am looking forward to it.  Although, it stresses me out to think about packing!  I fear losing my suitcase with Santana’s stuff.  Pray that it gets to Florida with us!!!

Speaking of planes, today, we dropped James off at the airport as he is going to visit a friend in Denver so they can see the Bronco’s/Chiefs game.  (we are…JAMES is a Chiefs fan).  He was really excited so it is the boys and I hanging out.  

Before James left, we went to a banquet at The Outback Steakhouse that East Valley Sol was putting on for the families and volunteers.  It was very nice!  They have done so much and are just simply AMAZING!

Tonight, James had his sister come over so I could go to a birthday party for my neighbor.  It was nice to get out.  It was actually crazy.  My P.E. teacher from Powell was there, along with my spanish teacher!  There was like 5 teachers all together.  I only remembered my P.E., dance, and spanish teacher.  Oh those were the days!  It was fun to get out but I wish James could have been there with me.

Please pray for the appointments next week!  Oh, also, pray for seizures.  We have been dealing with them again.  Today was the worst on we have seen in a while.  I don’t want to mess with meds until after our treatment in January. It is tough to watch.  But luckily they are pretty short lived.  

I am sleepy!  Good night and God Bless!!!!  (p.s.  Amber [Santana's Nurse]!  Don’t kill me!  You look fine!!!!)

Another Busy Weekend

But a great one! Friday night we took Tyree over to James’ mom and then took Jett and Santana to the bowling ally and arcade. Santana looked awesome and loved watching the big arcade screens. He feel asleep while we bowled but woke up when Cosmic bowling started at 10. He loved the lights!  It was nice to get out as a family.  It was a fun night.

Saturday night all went outside to hang up and we…or should I say, James put up Christmas lights. I miss decorating our old house. Next year will be fun if we are in our house…

Sunday my brother and his wife took Jett and I to see Madagascar 2.  It was cute and a nice little get away with Jett.  It would have been nice for us all to go, but Santana needed some rest.

Today was an ABSOLUTELY AWESOME day. My friend Kim works at The Verve Wellness Center and the doctor she works for has been wanting Santana to come in for a while now and we finally did today! It was so awesome. They did X-rays and he got a LONG OVERDUE adjustment! This place is so beautiful! It is like walking into a day spa or resort. They offer Medical, Dental, Chiropractic, and message. I think Physical Therapy too. It is so beautiful in there and the staff is so SUPER friendly! We have been having issues with Santana’s dentist and in todays x-ray they noticed his back teeth were impacted. They said their dentist will see him. So Wednesday they will take a peek at his teeth and clean them. I would HIGHLY recommend this place. You almost want to take your shoes off when you walk in the door it is so nice and clean. But the atmosphere is not snobby or stuffy like you would expect. They are so friendly. So if you are in the east valley! Go check it out!!!! If you are not in the east valley, it is worth the drive! It is over on Higley and Baseline. TRUST ME! Go to www.vervewellnesscenter.com to check it out!  Thank you Dr. Warkentin!

Santana still continues to be junky.  I have no idea what is going on in that little chest of his.  poor baby! But he can still be a stinker.  For real.  We started his new nurse today and Santana decided to initiate her from the start.  He decided to poop in the bath as she was getting him out.  We thought that little bit was more to come.  Until we noticed it all on the floor.  It was kind of funny.  Probably not for her though.  I said it was a good thing because he does it to his other nurse at LEAST once a week.  Sometimes every bath. Santana must like her.  We have an incredible team for sure!  When we think things are great.  We see that things KEEP GETTING BETTER!  Santana has an incredible team!

Tyree is getting up so I gotta Jet…ha…Jett.  Anyway.  Thanks to everyone who is involved in Santana!  You guys ROCK!  Thanks for the prayers!  Don’t give up!  God Bless.  Don’t forget to order Gold Canyon Candles this month!  It will help with our trip!  Also, we have a few more unclaimed quilts left!  One was spoken for but have not heard back. So this is what is available: