Friday, January 22, 2016
Kimball Says
Today Kimball and I went to the library while Cora was at therapy. As soon as we got to our little table Kimball whispers a secret in my ear and says, "When the big, bad wolf comes he won't be able to blow us down because the library is made of bricks!" Then he smirked and laughed because he was so proud that he out-witted the wolf.
Monday, January 18, 2016
Thursday, January 7, 2016
As of Lately
Now that Christmas break is over we are back to resuming our regular schedule. Cora now has therapy Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:30-1pm and Kimball has speech on Wednesdays at 11. Cora's in an older preschool therapy group at the Guild School so there's about 10 kids in the class and she LOVES that there's more socializing and kids her age that talk. She's doing really well!
Kimball is doing great with speech, within a month of therapy he quit stuttering so they're still watching for any dis-fluency but are continuing with other aspects of speech. Right now they're working on the S sound and he loves it.
With the new year we've had a chance to reflect, run reports, crunch numbers, and analyze how we've done with Lance's business, Inland Mortuary Services. He's been on his own for nine months now and I'm amazed at how well he's done. Our main goal was to still be able to make ends meet and keep the electricity on. He's surpassed that and continues to gain the business of other funeral homes and expands his services. In November he started offering an answering service for SCI's four locations. So after hours (5pm-9am), on weekends, and any holidays all of SCI's phones are forwarded to Lance. He takes messages, dispatches calls, emails, faxes, etc. with the phone calls that come in. The downside is that we always have the phone whether it's 2am, during sacrament meeting, on a date, at the doctor's office, running errands, etc. we always have to have that phone on us. I say "we" because while Lance is busy doing removals, "I'm" the one who answers the phone. I guess you could say I work part time for Lance although I'm just happy to support him. It isn't fun, neither of us enjoy answering the phone but it's easy work and easy income. The upside is that it's the only service he offers that is a fixed income, everything else greatly fluctuates so it's nice to know that we'll at least get the minimum for the answering service each month.
Lance's old boss here at SCI, Caryn, just sent in her resignation. Several of Lance's old coworkers have called asking him to apply for her position which was flattering. This could mean one of two things: #1 the new Spokane manager decides to use their own employees for removals and we lose a big majority of our business, or #2 the new Spokane manager decides to exclusively use Lance for removals which means a big increase of work. We're hoping for scenario #2 or at the very least that things stay the same as they are now. We're really praying that scenario #1 never happens, if it did it would be detrimental.
I'm so proud of how hard Lance is working for our little family and he's got incredible business intuition! Every position that he's worked from being the errand boy and yard clean up at White's, removals for Daniel in Charleston, his internship and subsequent job as funeral director at White's, managing the embalming center for Spokane, and continual management of funeral homes in Spokane; they've all given him significant experience and insight. Both good and bad insight on how a business in the funeral industry should be run. There were things he learned from Daniel that he's implemented in his own business and things from SCI that he was forced to do because of "policies and procedures" that he would never do on his own. I'm grateful for his intellect and discernment. I'm grateful for his hard work ethic. I'm grateful for his honesty, integrity, and loyalty. I'm grateful for his concentrated efforts and resolve and determining attitude through school. I'm also grateful for his humor - I don't think you could be a funeral director or mortician without a sense of humor.
I've been cleaning out every room and closet in the house getting rid of stuff we no longer use or need. A bit of spring cleaning I suppose. I moved Kimball's bed into Cora's section of the room so we could have a play area in the other part of the room and preparing for transitioning Cora to a regular bed. Other than that I just shuttle kids to and from therapy and answer the phones for Lance. I'm certainly anxious for spring as I'm not a big fan of snow or winter in general. I'm anxious to work outside in the yard, resume walking, enjoy the sunshine, go to parks, play in puddles and mud, admire the flowers, and fly kites. Overall, life is good and we're certainly blessed! :)
Kimball is doing great with speech, within a month of therapy he quit stuttering so they're still watching for any dis-fluency but are continuing with other aspects of speech. Right now they're working on the S sound and he loves it.
With the new year we've had a chance to reflect, run reports, crunch numbers, and analyze how we've done with Lance's business, Inland Mortuary Services. He's been on his own for nine months now and I'm amazed at how well he's done. Our main goal was to still be able to make ends meet and keep the electricity on. He's surpassed that and continues to gain the business of other funeral homes and expands his services. In November he started offering an answering service for SCI's four locations. So after hours (5pm-9am), on weekends, and any holidays all of SCI's phones are forwarded to Lance. He takes messages, dispatches calls, emails, faxes, etc. with the phone calls that come in. The downside is that we always have the phone whether it's 2am, during sacrament meeting, on a date, at the doctor's office, running errands, etc. we always have to have that phone on us. I say "we" because while Lance is busy doing removals, "I'm" the one who answers the phone. I guess you could say I work part time for Lance although I'm just happy to support him. It isn't fun, neither of us enjoy answering the phone but it's easy work and easy income. The upside is that it's the only service he offers that is a fixed income, everything else greatly fluctuates so it's nice to know that we'll at least get the minimum for the answering service each month.
Lance's old boss here at SCI, Caryn, just sent in her resignation. Several of Lance's old coworkers have called asking him to apply for her position which was flattering. This could mean one of two things: #1 the new Spokane manager decides to use their own employees for removals and we lose a big majority of our business, or #2 the new Spokane manager decides to exclusively use Lance for removals which means a big increase of work. We're hoping for scenario #2 or at the very least that things stay the same as they are now. We're really praying that scenario #1 never happens, if it did it would be detrimental.
I'm so proud of how hard Lance is working for our little family and he's got incredible business intuition! Every position that he's worked from being the errand boy and yard clean up at White's, removals for Daniel in Charleston, his internship and subsequent job as funeral director at White's, managing the embalming center for Spokane, and continual management of funeral homes in Spokane; they've all given him significant experience and insight. Both good and bad insight on how a business in the funeral industry should be run. There were things he learned from Daniel that he's implemented in his own business and things from SCI that he was forced to do because of "policies and procedures" that he would never do on his own. I'm grateful for his intellect and discernment. I'm grateful for his hard work ethic. I'm grateful for his honesty, integrity, and loyalty. I'm grateful for his concentrated efforts and resolve and determining attitude through school. I'm also grateful for his humor - I don't think you could be a funeral director or mortician without a sense of humor.
I've been cleaning out every room and closet in the house getting rid of stuff we no longer use or need. A bit of spring cleaning I suppose. I moved Kimball's bed into Cora's section of the room so we could have a play area in the other part of the room and preparing for transitioning Cora to a regular bed. Other than that I just shuttle kids to and from therapy and answer the phones for Lance. I'm certainly anxious for spring as I'm not a big fan of snow or winter in general. I'm anxious to work outside in the yard, resume walking, enjoy the sunshine, go to parks, play in puddles and mud, admire the flowers, and fly kites. Overall, life is good and we're certainly blessed! :)
Random Photos
Wow, this is my 1200th journal post!!
Cora decided to take a little nap in the kitchen. On her baby's pillow.
This particular night I could not get Cora to calm down or sleep at all. We finally ended up bringing her downstairs for a bit where she just didn't act like herself. I'm not sure what it was about or why but the next day she acted fine.
This boy's expressions crack me up.
Date to the library
E.T. phone home - she loves playing dress up!
Thursday, December 31, 2015
2015 Highlights
Every year has ups and downs, it's just how life goes and will continue to be that way I'm sure. But we'll focus on the good things that happened this year! Here are a few highlights of 2015 in chronological order:
- We bought a house
- Lance quit his managing job for SCI and started his own business called Inland Mortuary Services
- Cora had her second surgery
- Lance and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary in Coeur d'Alene
- Went home to visit for a month
- Cora began walking at 22.5 months
- Cora's gastrostomy tube was removed
- I turned 30
- Kimball began speech
- Lance added an answering service to the business
- Cora had her third surgery
- Cora said her first word, "mommy"
Cheers to a happy and healthy 2016 for all our loved ones!
Monday, December 28, 2015
May Your Days Be Merry & Bright! (including years past)
I could've sworn we had a family picture every Christmas, I guess not. Years prior to 2008 are not digitized and therefore not included.
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Merry Christmas!
All I wanted for Christmas day was a little bit of uninterrupted family time....and I got it! Lance did end up having a busy day of 10 calls but we had a few hours in the morning where the phone was quiet, whew!
These are the only pictures we got of Christmas day; the kids in their undershirts, underwear, and new socks. It was a nice relaxing day complete with pull apart rolls for breakfast, naps for everyone, and too many goodies. The gifts we received were more than generous and it was just so lovely to have some family time together, that's a rare happening these days!
This is a video of Cora rocking and singing her baby to sleep. Too adorable!
Christmas Eve Festivities
We had a nice Christmas Eve dinner of lasagna, garlic bread, and.....something for dessert I'm sure but I can't recall.
These are the ornaments we gave the kids this year. I try to pick something that they've really been into all year long so I got Cora a cupcake because she loves food and Kimball a race car with flames coming out of the pipes. They loved them! In fact, all Cora wanted to do was eat the cupcake.
She LOVES dressing up!
Too excited to sleep!
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Cora's awesome speech therapist, Jan, makes home visits to children who are too sick or aren't mobile enough to get out of the house to actually visit santa. Her and her husband dress up like Mrs. Claus and Santa and she called wondering if we would like a visit. Of course! It was pretty awesome!! Kimball took right to Santa and told him he wanted a baby puppy. Cora wouldn't go to Santa at all but she sure loved Mrs. Claus, I couldn't tell if she recognized Jan or not but either way she cuddled with Jan for a long time. Before they left they gave the kids a little bag of goodies - coloring book, crayons, beanie baby, a little thing of play dough, and a candy cane. It truly was magical!
We've had SO MUCH snow and even though I told Jan she could park in our driveway, I'm glad she didn't because Kimball really wanted to see Santa's sleigh and reindeer.
Monday, December 21, 2015
Fullness of Life
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."
- Melody Beattie
- Melody Beattie
Perspective
Last night Lance did a house call of a 13 year old special needs boy who's the oldest of eight children, the youngest being a newborn. The family members are very devout Catholics. His younger siblings wanted to help with the removal so they helped with the sheets and pillows and so forth. The little siblings and father were crying but the mother held it together pretty well. They then sang hymns together and prayed together before Lance left with their oldest brother.
The parents said they knew this day was coming since birth, they just didn't know when he'd pass away. I was very touched by this family's faithfulness to still worship and praise Heavenly Father even in such a difficult circumstance, or perhaps especially in such a difficult circumstance. I was touched that his siblings wanted to help, instead of being scared or sad, they still wanted to take care of their oldest brother until he was laid to rest. I was touched by their strength and their love for each other. I probably would have bawled but I wish I could have helped Lance with this removal, what a remarkable example!
Every day Lance tells me stories of how people die or who he picked up or what the removal was like. And with every story comes perspective. This young man won't be with his family for Christmas this year, I keep thinking about the gifts they probably have under their tree for him and if they might have made his favorite Christmas treat. And I'm sure that even with their limited knowledge, these young siblings don't care about the gifts. They just want their brother. Maybe his death was a welcomed blessing, I'm not sure and I don't know to what extent he was special needs, but one thing is for sure; he is certainly loved! And that's all that matters in life. Love, family, hope. Merry Christmas!!
The parents said they knew this day was coming since birth, they just didn't know when he'd pass away. I was very touched by this family's faithfulness to still worship and praise Heavenly Father even in such a difficult circumstance, or perhaps especially in such a difficult circumstance. I was touched that his siblings wanted to help, instead of being scared or sad, they still wanted to take care of their oldest brother until he was laid to rest. I was touched by their strength and their love for each other. I probably would have bawled but I wish I could have helped Lance with this removal, what a remarkable example!
Every day Lance tells me stories of how people die or who he picked up or what the removal was like. And with every story comes perspective. This young man won't be with his family for Christmas this year, I keep thinking about the gifts they probably have under their tree for him and if they might have made his favorite Christmas treat. And I'm sure that even with their limited knowledge, these young siblings don't care about the gifts. They just want their brother. Maybe his death was a welcomed blessing, I'm not sure and I don't know to what extent he was special needs, but one thing is for sure; he is certainly loved! And that's all that matters in life. Love, family, hope. Merry Christmas!!
Cora's "Official" First Word
Cora's ENT did a nose culture and found her to have two major bacterial infections causing the chronic sick-like symptoms. She's be on a strong antibiotic for 21 days, I'm just glad they finally found the problem.
She has been saying Mommy!!!!!! I can't get her to repeat it when I ask her to but she says it pretty often and pretty clearly. I think she's so used to grunting and pointing to communicate that she's not motivated all that much to talk. But her babbling has also picked up and we're getting lots of good consonant sounds. She's got a long speech road ahead of her and I think it goes hand-in-hand with her dysphasia, aspirating, reflux, and low muscle tone in her throat. I also think once she (hopefully) outgrows the aspirating that the speech will come naturally. But we are slowly seeing progress!
She has been saying Mommy!!!!!! I can't get her to repeat it when I ask her to but she says it pretty often and pretty clearly. I think she's so used to grunting and pointing to communicate that she's not motivated all that much to talk. But her babbling has also picked up and we're getting lots of good consonant sounds. She's got a long speech road ahead of her and I think it goes hand-in-hand with her dysphasia, aspirating, reflux, and low muscle tone in her throat. I also think once she (hopefully) outgrows the aspirating that the speech will come naturally. But we are slowly seeing progress!
My Buddy
I love this ginormous Rudolph, he lives at Cora's Guild School and is sturdy enough for the kids to ride him.
This is Kimball's first recognizable drawing - a seahorse!
Snow Much Fun
We got about 6" of snow of last week and the snow hasn't slowed down much. We're supposed to get 4-8" more today with snow everyday this week. Looks like we are in a for a white Christmas after all.
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Of Sacrifice and Worship
I've had my Christmas shopping all done since before Thanksgiving which has been nice not to have those things on my mind. For the month of November and December I've been trying to do a lot more service, both in the ward and some of it anonymously. I'm always much more profoundly aware of the Savior's love and tender mercies as I try to focus on others.
My "motto" for the few months has been this quote by President Hinckley from 1983,
“Christmas means giving. The Father gave his Son,
and the Son gave his life. Without giving there is no true Christmas,
and without sacrifice there is no true worship.”
I've been really trying to make particular sacrifices and offering more than the usual Christmas cookies. I won't go into details but I'm doing it for the Lord because we've been taught that we are His hands. Most days I have something planned out and other days I just do what the spirit directs me to do. I'm doing it to show how completely grateful I am, I've witnessed so many miracles and tender mercies in the last two years that I cannot deny the divine intervention in mine and my family's lives. God is so good! And there have been so many people who've blessed and helped me since we moved to Spokane, I'm so thankful for a time right now that I can finally give back. And so, I continue to try to sacrifice to praise the Lord and to hopefully bless someone else in the mean time.
Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Completed Surgery #3 & Happy Thanksgiving!
The eye surgery was done just two days ago and Cora is doing great. It was a minimally invasive procedure with no recovery, the actual surgery was just 10 minutes long. She still has some blood and drainage coming from her nose and eyes but that's to be expected. I'm always amazed and get a very different, pinpointed feeling of.........worry, love, impatience, gratitude, etc, every time I go into the pediatric surgery center at the hospital. This was Cora's third surgery and sixth sedation, you'd think the more I go through it the easier it would get as a mother but it doesn't. It's always nerve racking, I think mostly because Cora's a high risk for potential anesthesia problems and/or any other complication regarding her heart, respiratory, and how her brain will react. So far we've been blessed every time.
It's been a few months since we've had so many doctor appointments or heightened problems, I almost forgot what it was like to be a special needs parent. It was nice to be "normal" for a while. I can't explain the true magnitude of the love and bond that I have for Cora. My relationship with her is different than it is with Kimball, not that I love Kimball any less, in fact quite the opposite. She and I are just unique and different together and I treasure that. I treasure being her Mama and cannot express how grateful I am for this entire journey. It is because of Cora that I've experienced a different kind of personal revelation (who knew there was more than one type?). It is because of Cora that I view life itself in a whole new light. It is because of Cora that my relationship with God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ, is so significant.
On this day of Thanksgiving, I'm so grateful for my little family that brings me so much happiness, for Lance's work that brings his happiness, and for the gospel which makes us an eternal family. I'm grateful for the gift of the resurrection and forgiveness. I'm grateful for a hard working spouse who honors his priesthood and holds his children dear; all that he does he does for us. I'm grateful for a country that was founded by just and righteous men which allows me to give thanks and praise to our merciful Savior. I'll praise His name forever!
The kids might be sick today on Thanksgiving, but we'll still have our own little feast. They loved watching the Macy's parade and after some much needed naps.......gobble, gobble, gobble!
It's been a few months since we've had so many doctor appointments or heightened problems, I almost forgot what it was like to be a special needs parent. It was nice to be "normal" for a while. I can't explain the true magnitude of the love and bond that I have for Cora. My relationship with her is different than it is with Kimball, not that I love Kimball any less, in fact quite the opposite. She and I are just unique and different together and I treasure that. I treasure being her Mama and cannot express how grateful I am for this entire journey. It is because of Cora that I've experienced a different kind of personal revelation (who knew there was more than one type?). It is because of Cora that I view life itself in a whole new light. It is because of Cora that my relationship with God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ, is so significant.
On this day of Thanksgiving, I'm so grateful for my little family that brings me so much happiness, for Lance's work that brings his happiness, and for the gospel which makes us an eternal family. I'm grateful for the gift of the resurrection and forgiveness. I'm grateful for a hard working spouse who honors his priesthood and holds his children dear; all that he does he does for us. I'm grateful for a country that was founded by just and righteous men which allows me to give thanks and praise to our merciful Savior. I'll praise His name forever!
The kids might be sick today on Thanksgiving, but we'll still have our own little feast. They loved watching the Macy's parade and after some much needed naps.......gobble, gobble, gobble!
Sibling Bond
After Cora's done with school, she squeals in delight as she sees us in the hallway. As soon as she's let out of the gate she and Kimball immediately hug. Every time. They usually hug two or three times and fall down on top of each other because they're so excited to see each other. Completely melts this Mama's heart!
Random Photos
On this board we write various things that we are thankful for in each other or that we love about each other. Occasionally I'll write a funny moment from years past. The other day I woke up to this illustration and I'm still giggling.
Cora's picture was in the Guild School's newsletter this quarter, I think this was during their Halloween celebration.
Cora's picture was in the Guild School's newsletter this quarter, I think this was during their Halloween celebration.
This kid is always cracking me up.
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