My Smart Little JA

My son, JA (pronounced like the name Jay) just did the most amazing thing tonight. Well, I as his mother, thinks it's pretty amazing if you ask me! So I thought I would brag on him.

I have so enjoyed having a boy as my youngest child. After having 2 girls, I love seeing how God made his brain and body to be so different than the girls. Albeit my children are all very much alike in their loud mouth, very independent, no nonsense approach to life - my son definitely thinks things through differently than the girls.
Okay, on to what he did that I think is so cool. Friday night, we won a HUGE family night game box with all assortments of games, popcorn, bowls, a blanket and lots of goodies from a silent auction at their school. So bright and early this morning he begins to play with a game called Jenga. He didn't ask for instructions on how to play, but sat down in the living room and proceeded to do a fine job of removing the pieces, placing them on top and continuing until the structure eventually fell. Later this morning, when I asked him to please put the game away, I hesitated, wanting to tell him the quickest and easiest way to put it away (just reassemble the game, as if you were going to play it, and slide the container over the top of it, turn it right side up and put the lid on). After all he is only 6 years old and I wasn't sure if he would get frustrated trying to dump all the pieces into that little tin.

So, in my hesitation, I decided to go about my chore and check on him later. I wanted to see if he could figure out how to get it put away properly. Low and behold - to my surprise, I walked in a few minutes later, he handed me the game, perfectly assembled in the box. I smiled a proud mama smile and asked, "JA, how did you get it all back in so quickly and correctly?" He said, " I turned the lid upside down and stacked all the pieces on top, then I slid the tin over the tower and shut the lid."


That might not sound like a big deal, but I was so proud of his ingenuity! He figured it out all by himself! I just love the way God made our brains, even children. It shows that we don't have to teach them everything, but being a teacher, it's hard to get out of that mode and let them learn it for themselves sometimes. God gave them a wonderful mind too! I hope that I hesitate more often and allow my children to figure it out more for themselves. More proud mama moments would surely come!

Echolocation - My Daughter's Favorite Bat Song

This is my daughter's newest favorite song! Her teacher, Mrs. Law, has been teaching them about owls and bats. It never ceases to amaze me what an awesome memory Laura has. She has spent countless evenings recounting every detail of all the different kinds of bats and owls. Bats that have hair, bats that are big, bats that are small, how bats use echolocation. She even has a cute bat mask she made in school, that she sports where ever I will let her! haha!

I hope you enjoy the following video. It's the new favorite dance song in our house... echo...echo!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mwoOyOleGc&feature=related

Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

I have had some recent developments with my congestive heart failure and the course of treatment is still in the early stages. Since diagnosis in November 2008, there has been 2 major episodes of fluid build up around my heart. My doctor has quadrupled the amount of lasiks I take everyday and added Digoxin to my daily regimen. At my most recent appointment, my doctor suggested that I go ahead and have a defibrillator/pacemaker implanted fairly soon. (As soon as the $$ is available) I was not quite ready to hear that actually, because when he diagnosed me 6 months ago, he felt as though that device wouldn't be needed for years. I guess I am progressing faster than we initially thought.

The following is some information about a possible implant that I will be getting sometime in the next few months. I'll post later about the specific device we choose, surgery times and next course of treatment.

Until then.... happy reading.

What Is a Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Device?

If your heart is not beating efficiently and you meet the eligibility criteria,

you may be eligible for a cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) heart device.
A CRT device sends small, undetectable electrical impulses to both lower chambers of the heart to help them beat together in a more synchronized pattern.

This improves the heart's ability to pump blood and oxygen to the body.
The heart device itself is actually a tiny computer, plus a battery, contained in a small titanium metal case that is about the size of a pocket watch. It weighs about 3 ounces.

A cardiac resynchronization therapy device is designed to treat heart failure
In addition to the heart device, insulated wires called leads are implanted for two purposes: to carry information signals from your heart to the heart device, and to carry electrical impulses to your heart.

The third part of your implantable device system is a programmer, an external computer located in your doctor's office or clinic that is used to program the heart device and retrieve information from your heart device that will assist your doctor in your heart failure treatment.
There are two types of implantable heart failure heart devices: a CRT pacemaker and a combination CRT pacemaker with defibrillation therapy. Both of these devices help to coordinate the heart's pumping action and improve blood flow. They can also speed up a heart that is beating too slowly.

The CRT pacemaker with defibrillation therapy (CRT-D) also offers the ability to detect and treat dangerously fast heart rhythms, which some individuals with a damaged heart muscle may be at risk for developing. Your doctor will determine which CRT device is appropriate for your medical condition.

HGTV Teen Host - Abigail West

Clutter, Clutter Everywhere!

Never Ending Clutter!

Help, I'm drowning....

Take a minute to CHILL....

Ahhh... Progress... finally...

And for the grand finale.... we present

Teen Room Makeover

Starring Abigail West!!!

Starring... Abigail West

Videographer... Mom

Annoying Sibling... JA

Thanks to the Awesome Painter ... Dale

More thanks to the Awesome Organizer and Decorator - Meme

Special thanks to Megan, Nana, and Aunt Kim

for the wonderful decorations and bedding.

Spring Break Fun

We had a wonderful spring break and it's only half over... we have spent a day having a picnic in the park and playing, then spent a day with family and friends playing ball and having a cookout.

The rest of the week is for cleaning out, doing some decluttering and redoing my Abigail's bedroom - painting and new decorations. Stay tuned for HGTV... My Crazy Life Style.

Now, that's attractive, Laura!!

Did you know sticking your tongue out helps you run so much faster?

Here we go round the mulberry bush, the mulberry bush....

Play Ball....

And she stands ready to hit a home run....

Long-Tall-Sally.... strikes a pose!

Cute sisters!

Thanks big sister for helping me get my stance just right.

Can we say future model?

Well, what can I say... he's 6 years old.

Easter Fun!

Laura had such a great time today during their Easter Celebration Party. Mrs. Dickerson, their room-mom, planned a wonderful craft, lots of fun food and games. Laura was hopping her bunny around all afternoon!
JA had a fun time making a suncatcher with bits of tissue and a black outline overlay. He is so cute, he was paying such intense attention when he was laying out those pieces of tissue.

And here is my sweet Abigail(right) along with her friend, Meranda. They did an egg drop race today and got egg on them thoroughly.

Here are all my little chickadees! That's Julie in the middle with all the little one's we teach, after they hunted eggs. I look forward to some fun with family and friends during spring break!

Redneck Fun!!!

Dale's favorite truck of the night

This Saturday, Dale and I went to watch his niece, Kerrigan, play in a softball tournament. Wow! I was so impressed at how well all of those girls played, especially Kerrigan. They played 4 games that day and it was exciting right down to the end. It was a most wonderful spring day! A nice break from all of the rain we've had lately. I can't remember a nicer day - sunny, cool, breezy - a perfect SPRING DAY!!!

Sweet Kerrigan

And as if we didn't have enough fun hanging out with family and watching softball all day (11am-7 pm).... we were on the way home and what did we pass, but a good ole' redneck Drag Race!!! YEE-HAW!!! We drove by and said "Sure, let's go watch some racin'!" I must say it was my first drag race and it was so much fun! We can't wait to take the kids back one weekend so they can see it! The boys, I know, would absolutely love it! Dale and I had a wonderful time, and even ran into a few folks we knew. What an absolutely great end to a fun day? And to top it all off - D and I went mud boggin' today - and got stuck! haha! I'd have some pictures but I was to busy helping him push, drive and get us out of the mud... needless to say - we had to do some washing of the old boots when we were done... lol! I just love being in the country!