I while back I was on a blog... and I left a comment. That person was kind enough to check in on my blog and has since left me lovely comments... Unfortunately I can't remember her blog address, nor did I put it in my favourites.
I would very much like to do the same on her blog... but I can't seem to find it... Elisa.. clicking on your name in the comments box doesn't bring me to your blog either...
Elisa... if you out there please let me know?????
Wendy
Since the beginning of summer Larkyn has had these on her off and on again. When I first saw them in July... there were only one or two here and there and I assumed they were mosquito bits. As the summer continued they would appear and then disappear. Some days she would have just one or two and other days many all over her body...
In the last two weeks it's gotten EXTREMELY bad. Keeping her up at night's crying from the itch. Our family doctor has referred us to a dermatologist next Tuesday to figure out what this is.
I can't for figure out what it could be... Her diet hasn't changed and I haven't changed soap's or detergents... They really look like little bug bits, I just hope it's not some sort of parasite!!!
Our poor Baby Girl
I was watching Oprah yesterday... Unfortunately I can't contribute to this bill as I am not an American... But all those American Mothers and Father's out there can help.
Help Pass Senate Bill 1738—The PROTECT Our Children Act
Hundreds of thousands of children are victims of sexual abuse each year. Due to the sheer lack of resources, law enforcement is unable to follow up on the majority of leads they have.The PROTECT Our Children Act will:
Authorize over $320 million over the next five years in desperately needed funding for law enforcement to investigate child exploitation.
Mandate that child rescue be a top priority for law enforcement receiving federal funding.
Allocate funds for high-tech computer software that can track down Internet predators.
Act Now!
Your U.S. senators will be voting on the bill soon, so it is crucial you contact them immediately.Go to www.senate.gov to find contact information for the senators in your state. Search for your senator by name or state by clicking on the arrow from either dropdown menu. Contact information is provided here. To send an e-mail, click on "Web Form" below his or her name, and e-mail your letter to make a difference!
Call Your Senators
If you choose to contact your senators by phone, be sure to tell them, "Vote yes on Senate Bill 1738—The PROTECT Our Children Act.
Write to Your Senators
If you choose to write a letter, fax, telegram or e-mail, you may use the following sample letter—and modify it how you see fit.
Dear Senator:
I know that you believe, like I do, that we must do everything possible to protect children from sexual predators. That is why I am asking for your help.Last year alone, U.S. law enforcement identified over 300,000 criminals who were trafficking in movies and pictures of young children being raped and tortured. Experts say that one in every three of these criminals has local child victims. Child pornography trafficking over the Internet has given us a trail of evidence that leads straight to their doorsteps, but the vast majority of these children will never be rescued because investigators are overwhelmed, outnumbered and underfunded.As your constituent, I urge you to do everything in your power to pass the PROTECT Our Children Act (S. 1738, Biden-Hatch). This bipartisan legislation passed the House 415-2, but it is now the victim of petty partisan politics.Now that we know where these children are and how to protect them, there is no excuse for the Senate to fail to take action this session.
(Your name here)
Instructions for How to Copy and Paste the Letter
To copy and paste the letter into your senator's web form at www.senate.gov, point your mouse arrow at the beginning of the text that you want to copy. Click your left mouse button and hold it down. While holding the left mouse button, drag your arrow to the end of the text that you want to copy. Release the button. The text should be highlighted. Place your mouse arrow over the highlighted text, click your right mouse button once and let go. A new menu should appear. Select Copy from the drop down menu. When you get to the message form field for your senator at www.senate.gov, point your arrow at the beginning of the message field that you want to copy your text to and right click with your mouse. Click Paste from this menu. Submit your form and help our children!
The Kitchen
My new command post for blogging. We added this built in desk, it used to be just the wall. When it's finished it will have a granite top to match the counter tops, and tile around the back.
A warmer feel!!! With the white cabinets gone and the new microwave built in our kitchen has a warmer feel to it. The new island is to go in this weekend. I will have a plywood island counter top for a few weeks until the granite arrives.
TWO DOWN
ONE MORE TO GO!!!
Don't grow up too fast Baby Girl!!!!
For those of you who know our son... you are aware that he's not the most positive young man out there. I have never understood why he has such a low self esteem, and as his mother I am heartbroken when I hear him talk down about himself.
It's true that Ryker has been handed a road full of obstacles. Starting with the fact he was diagnosed with ADHD and Dyslexia. If you ask him what he doesn't like about himself the list is endless... usually starting with he's not tall enough and his ear are to big.. the list goes on and on. If you ask him what he thinks he does well.. he will most likely tell you not much and that so and so can do this better or so and so can do that better.
As his mom I can tell you that yes indeed he has ADHD and Dyslexia. I can also tell you that while Math, English and Social are not subjects that show off his strong points, he's an amazing artist... great at track and field, can be the best big brother and in the water he's like a fish. (Just ask his swimming teacher who feels he should compete)
Now you might be wondering why I am sharing all of this.
Let me explain. As all good mother's out there I have tried and tried to encourage Ryker to do his best at all things. I've always told him that each person has there own talents and right now it appears that academics is not his calling. He needs to focus on those things that he does do well. Swimming is one of those things. Of course the list of excuses come rolling out of his mouth. I can't because of this or someone will be better them me or faster etc., etc.,
Ryker did take some interest in watching the summer Olympics and he enjoyed the swimming very much, particularly all the hubbub with Michael Phelps. Ryker was truly impressed by his races. On one occasion David actually said to me "wouldn't it be great if someone like Michael Phelps had ADHD" just to prove to Ryker that anything is possible no mater the challenges we face.
Then two days ago I pick up my People Magazine and there's a story on Michael Phelps. The article was pretty standard... They talk about his gold medals,, his family and his future goals. There was one paragraph in particular that took my breath away, here is what I read:
It's not too hard to imagine Michael as a skinny young kid, full of fire but so lacking in focus his teachers called his mother with their concerns. "We went through several years when we were just trying to capture his energy", says Debbie, who learned Michael had ADHD for which he took Ritalin during school hours. His early coach remembers him as being a very mooding little guy. Phelps also says that kids made fun of his big ears as a young boy.
After I picked myself off the floor I read this to David and then to Ryker. I wanted him to know and hopefully understand that we all have brick walls to get over. Some people have bigger ones some people have more, but we all have obstacles in our way. I wanted Ryker to look at this swimmer and realize that he to can accomplish something just a wonderful in his life, he just has to start with a dream.
That's all I really want for my son.. I want him to start to dream about all his possibilities and embrace his strengths. You see I truly believe if he does that he will overcome his weaknesses.
JUST LIKE HE DID!!!!!!
August 25, 2008
Dear Friends;
It has been awhile since I have written but we have just been plugging along on this road to recovery. I was also waiting for Friday to come as Steve and I had a meeting with all of his therapists and doctors. There wasn’t much that we didn’t know since we have been well informed all along and I accompany Steve to most of his therapy sessions.
Some of the highlights are that he is doing well with his balance and has now graduated to a cane. He is feeling good about this for obvious reasons but mostly because he was able to cut loose the rolator. At his grandfather’s 98th birthday on the 17th of this month, many of his senior relatives were sporting rolators He was anxious to get out of the rolator club! This gives him greater mobility as he doesn’t have to try to fit in doorways or run over things.
His talking is still loud, flat and some what slurred but he is becoming more aware of it and has begun some exercising in breath control and enunciation. A lot of his speech problems are related directly to the damage done to his brain which needs more time to heal. For those of you who have had a chance to talk to him, you know that he talks a lot! Thankfully, he has begun to recognize that dead air space can be good and he is learning turn taking. He also has a roommate now (who is not a brain injury patient) which will help him to practice his communication skills.
He is still weak on the right side but I can see that he is gaining more control with his right arm and hand. This, again, is related to the brain injury and will take time. He is learning to write again and it is actually more legible now than before the accident.
Amazingly enough, testing by his occupational therapist revealed that his thinking skills are in the average range for his age group! The physiatrist commented that he is a smart man and the more you have to work with the better the outcome. There are some behaviours that are amplified now such as his need to be a neat freak and his desire to be punctual. (You who are close to him will see that as a small miracle in itself! He was always late for everything!) There are many things that he still needs to learn, things that we would find easy to figure out but are perplexing to him. As he has new experiences and time to heal he will begin to figure it all out.
There was one fact from that meeting that Steve found disturbing and that was that he would not be driving for about a year. I had been preparing him for that bit of news but he didn’t realize that it would be for so long. (It may be even longer but we didn’t tell him that.) And of course, in character of his giving nature, he was most concerned for those that he plows snow for in the winter.
Something that I have been worried about is his emotional health. He has become very flat. He tells jokes but doesn’t laugh much and rarely smiles. He never seemed to be sad either. He would at times get frustrated and angry which was at least some emotion. Last week, after seeing some pictures of him in the coma, surrounded by his kids, he broke down and cried. I think it is the start of some emotional healing and as funny as it sounds, I was glad to see it. Please pray for his emotional healing. That may be an even longer road to travel.
The big finale news is his discharge date from Bridgepoint Hospital. It is planned for him to return home on October 2nd. After that, he will begin therapy here at home and will continue that until needed. Please pray for a smooth transition home. When he is home for the weekends I tend to get exhausted. I am hoping that he is far enough along in his recovery that I will be able to handle it.
Once again, thank you for your prayers, support and practical demonstrations of love. You are wonderful people and we are truly blessed by knowing you.
In His Grace,
Donna Langman
A friend of mine "Tracey Brown" who travelled to China a month after us to get there little girl is selling labels.
Lovable Labels www.traceyb.lovablelabels.ca
With school approaching I figured I would need these for Reegan. I was blow away at the web site, they have tones of stuff. I decide to get tags for her backpack and lunch kit, then I saw that they had clothing stick on label's Yahoo NO IRONING!!!! and last but not least I ordered shoe labels, these are great because not only are they durable they also come with a clear sticker to put over them to ensure they stay put!!!
Lovable Labels has tones of other great things so check it out.
For Larkyn's Birthday my mom gave her a Leapfrog toy that sings and plays music. Larkyn just Love's this and is even trying to sing along.
Enjoy!!!
As I mentioned a few days back Larkyn has now entered that Terrible Two stage. No is now her favorite word when asked anything or told to do anything like (come here, sit down, eat your food, be nice, share, the list goes on and on). Her temper has shown itself on a daily basis, when she doesn't want to do what she has been ask or told to do and then we make her.. the entire house hears about it.
Larkyn is our third child so this behaviour doesn't surprise me... and I don't give into to her screams of torture. What is new to us is she has decided to do this in the middle of the night.
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