tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25316039360284616962024-03-05T11:52:00.138-07:00Rissa Roo and Her Family Too!Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061378391288892565noreply@blogger.comBlogger286125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531603936028461696.post-9732925400571278402014-01-09T16:36:00.000-07:002014-01-09T17:30:44.660-07:00The Music in HerI am breaking my blog silence to post a Proud Mommy moment. Marissa was selected to be her school's Student of the Month for January! Her music teacher nominated her, saying she was recognizing Marissa for her "demonstration of responsible behavior by participating in music activities, always being excited to learn new things and tackle new challenges. She is always excited to learn more about music."<br />
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This really comes as no surprise, as we have always known Marissa was born loving music deep down in her heart and soul. Late in my pregnancy, when she was trying to kick her way out of me, Jeremy would play his acoustic guitar, very lightly and beautifully, with the neck gently resting on my belly. She would instantly calm down. Then, we discovered her favorite song when she was about six months old: Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds". We found when she was super stressed at a doctor's appointment, which she had more than anyone's fair share of in her first 3 1/12 years of life, we could calm her down by playing her favorite songs. Her Auntie Chelle got her a little pillow with a speaker and plug in for our iPod. We took that thing everywhere we went for a long time. <br />
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Music touches Marissa very deeply. You know the goose bumps you get and the tears welling up in your eyes when a particularly beautiful piece of music finds its way into your soul? She was experiencing that as early as a year old. Every time we played Nickel Creek's "When You Come Back Down", she would start crying. Not even crying really. More like heavy, emotional sobs. She couldn't understand the lyrics; she had that reaction simply because the music was so beautiful to her. There are a few other songs that cause that emotional reaction in her even today. <br />
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She loves to hang around Daddy when he plays his guitar and he looks forward to the time when she can concentrate long enough so he can teach her to play, like his mom taught him. She is in love with The Indigo Girls' "Power of Two" because it is the song I created an anniversary video around for Jeremy and I and it reminds her that her parents love each other. She calls it "The Married Song". She trembles and gasps with intense anticipation when I agree to play videos of her current favorite artist, Katy Perry. She loves just about all of her parent's music, which is a pretty diverse list. She headbangs to Five Finger Death Punch and Killswitch Engage, jams The Black Eyed Peas and swoons to Sarah McLachlan. And, it really goes without saying, but her love of dance is very well noted by all who know her and her moves are legendary! <br />
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We have and will continue to foster and encourage Rissa's love of music. I don't think we will have too tough of a job, considering all the talented musicians we have right in our own family. <br />
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"If music be the food of love, play on" ~ William Shakespeare<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ng5-VUDcjJ8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<br />Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061378391288892565noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531603936028461696.post-41703061526634436432013-09-14T07:30:00.000-06:002013-09-14T07:44:17.503-06:00Dear NICU Nurse...I came across this blog post and I felt I had to re-post here. I want to remember the words this blogger wrote. They come from my heart as well.<br />
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I first read this last night, September 13, 2013. It just happened to be exactly six and a half years, to the night, since we first met our girl's NICU team. <br />
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Here is the link:<br />
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); color: purple; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;">http://www.preemiebabies101.com/2013/09/dear-nicu-nurse/</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;">Please read. It will touch your heart, even if you've never </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;">experienced the NICU firsthand.</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;"><br /></span>
<span id="goog_2055286143"></span><span id="goog_2055286144"></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;">And here's a current picture of our sweet Rissa Roo, at six and </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;">a half years </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;">old and in the 1st grade. </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;">In case anyone out there is still reading and we're not friends </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;">on Facebook. She's growing up too fast.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfKZJjayh0IXpR_NzEigVmbJZF-hTAibpqiI6cl9rFiLv57_fEfZTbXKHx1VsyXq-F2Z2b8IFG1_K5oyIH-wgYzJ7LUQ-0_ofwBRKpFUVeOM5ML5UF-tnPdjxolMQluUlVzYYkVQqej69/s1600/1016417_10201235545282278_65640216_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfKZJjayh0IXpR_NzEigVmbJZF-hTAibpqiI6cl9rFiLv57_fEfZTbXKHx1VsyXq-F2Z2b8IFG1_K5oyIH-wgYzJ7LUQ-0_ofwBRKpFUVeOM5ML5UF-tnPdjxolMQluUlVzYYkVQqej69/s320/1016417_10201235545282278_65640216_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap;"><br /></span>Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061378391288892565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531603936028461696.post-48463467994327623332012-12-28T07:11:00.001-07:002012-12-28T07:11:05.674-07:00Keeping it AliveI don't know that anyone is out there anymore, but here goes. <br />
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As you can see, this is my first post for the year. And guess what? I'm only popping in for a quick "Hello!" and to say I'll be back soon to update on what we were up to in 2012. I heard a rumor that if you don't use your Blogger account at least once a year, they shut you down. I don't know if that's true but I don't want to risk it.<br />
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So here I am, keeping the blog alive.<br />
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And with that, I'll be back soon! Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061378391288892565noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531603936028461696.post-34976041138652038692011-12-29T10:37:00.011-07:002011-12-29T12:56:13.971-07:00The Case of the Missing BloggerHi friends! Remember me? Yeah, ummmm... Hi! You may have noticed I have been absent lately. I'm back to explain the reasons for disappearing on you.<div><br /></div><div>First, my life has become wonderfully busy. Rissa is four, almost five and attending preschool again this year. Four days a week, three hours a day, in the middle of the day. My goal every morning, starting about 9:00, is to make sure she is ready for school by 11:30. Why 2 1/2 hours to get ready for school, you may ask? My extremely busy-can't sit still-always into something she shouldn't be little Rissa is a handful, especially when she knows she will be going to school. I guess there's just something about knowing she has somewhere to be that makes her want to create as much havoc for me as possible. Add to that the fact that I am still watching Sully during the weekdays. He is now 18 mos., is very mobile, and also loves to get into all the things he shouldn't. He and Rissa also <i>love</i> to fight over toys. There are some days when I think they don't actually <i>play</i> with any toys because they are too busy trying to get the one the other has. Throw in the (thankfully) occasional doctor's appointment or other activity of some sort, and all I want to do with my spare time is veg and watch Netflix!</div><div><br /></div><div>Second, pretty much all of the people whose blogs I follow, and those who follow mine, are friends with me on Facebook. It just seems easier to type out a quick status update and read other's statuses rather than compose a whole blog post. </div><div><br /></div><div>Third, and this is probably the biggest reason, our life has become strangely... <i>normal</i>. Don't get me wrong. By no means do I consider the life that Rissa, Jeremy and I live to be normal. What is "normal" anyway? What I am trying to say is that Rissa has overcome a great majority of the issues that were present when she was born. She still has her g-tube, still doesn't eat very much by mouth, still has some physical issues (hips), and still has some developmental delay. But she is more "normal" now than she ever has been before. For this reason, I just don't feel the need to blog about my daily life like I used to. I think it is quite average and, honestly, a little boring. </div><div><br /></div><div>When I first started, I had several reasons for blogging. First, I needed to connect with other parents who were going through similar things I was at the time. Life with a fragile, immuno-compromised, technologically enhanced baby is so isolating. In the first year of Rissa's life, I found myself, a natural "people person", drawing away from others. I needed to keep her healthy, so we stayed in the house more often than not. But it just became so difficult to have to explain to others what was "wrong" with my daughter. Exhausting, really. So I avoided social situations, probably more than necessary. When I started to connect with you guys who actually had a clue what trachs, g-tubes, and AFO's were, among other things, I couldn't believe how much I started to feel like a human being again. Connecting with others who understand what we are going through, no matter our trial, is essential for our mental health.</div><div><br /></div><div>I needed a good way to communicate with all my friends and family members; a good way to update them on how Rissa was doing; a good way to share pictures and videos with them. Blogging was a great way to do that! Even though I have been admonished recently by a few family members for not blogging regularly, those same people are on Facebook with me, and I feel like that way of updating them is more efficient and less time consuming. Sorry Dad & Arnie!</div><div><br /></div><div>I also wanted to document this new life Jeremy and I were thrust into. I wanted to look back and remember all that we had gone through, all that we had accomplished, all that we had survived. More importantly, I wanted something to show Marissa when she gets older. Something to show her how far she has come, how hard she fought, everything she overcame and survived. I want her to be proud of who she is. By showing her all that happened in her first few years of life, she can hopefully feel a sense of pride in where she is at that moment. </div><div><br /></div><div>Blogging has been a great way for me to vent and sort out all my inner feelings about being the mom of a special needs child. There is a lot to be angry and bitter about in this kind of life. There is a lot to grieve and be disappointed in. There is also a lot to find joy in, and a lot to give one perspective about the truly important things in life. Blogging became a journal for me, a way to write down how I felt about my new normal. Good, bad, and ugly. </div><div><br /></div><div>Please don't misunderstand me and think this blog is finished. It is not, by any stretch of the imagination. I will still post from time to time, mostly when Marissa has something big happening in her life such as surgery, first day of Kindergarten and such. I thank all of you for sticking with us, cheering on and praying for our sweet girl. I'll be back, just not with the frequency I used to.</div><div><br /></div><div>And, at the risk of this post sounding like a commercial for Facebook, if any of you out there would like to keep up with all the latest Rissa happenings and I'm not blogging enough for your taste, you can find me on Facebook (Alicia Cortez). Send me a request! There are also so many groups I am a part of on Facebook, so many ways to connect with other special needs parents. And, many businesses for special needs products, like g-tube pads, people have made pages for on Facebook. Facebook is AWESOME!! </div><div><br /></div><div>OK, that really was a commercial for Facebook. Maybe I can convince them to pay me for advertising?</div><div><br /></div><div>I leave you with the cutest school picture ever taken...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); line-height: 14px; font-family:arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><a href="https://www.inter-state.com/dmz-images/CO0077/00975597/640x800/00975597_000001_0357.png" class="dialog" name="myImg" title="Full-Size Image" dialogwidth="600" dialogheight="450" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(132, 140, 69); text-decoration: none; float: right; "><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; border-collapse: collapse; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><tbody style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; "><tr style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; "><td style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: top; text-align: center; "><img src="https://www.inter-state.com/dmz-images/CO0077/00975597/640x800/00975597_000001_0357.png" width="320" class="content" style="border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: black; border-right-color: black; border-bottom-color: black; border-left-color: black; " /><br /><div style="margin-top: -110px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; position: relative; "><img src="https://www.inter-state.com/siteart/watermark.png" width="140px" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " /></div></td></tr></tbody></table></a></span></div>Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061378391288892565noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531603936028461696.post-60550933361702058852011-09-19T22:56:00.014-06:002011-09-20T10:37:07.871-06:00First Decanaversary!!!<div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia">Today marks one year ago that we yanked Marissa's trach. She has done phenomenally well without it, and even though her stoma did not close on it's own and required surgery to close it in May, it's absence has given us all such freedom. She was able to go to school last Fall when she wouldn't have been able to with her trach. We have been able to go where we wanted, when we wanted, without packing up tons of equipment and supplies. This Summer, after the closure surgery, we were able to introduce her to playing in water. She had an amazingly awesome Summer, all because a little piece of silicone was removed from her neck a year ago today.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia">Speaking of Summer fun, I have to show you all pictures of some of the things we did.</p></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtK3qYO8oonjpEjn1aORSlHiB6kZFGz7DLwPhfpgF3LjzgfzKOhJ-ShfWEYPgnUdjzvAXTZmx4C3n3sqs6a5lJsVTDDGc5wgwIGnciWdjAk8AwlRpLrtparUpsR1hYRFxjhtF8qJI5f-MA/s1600/CIMG6595.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtK3qYO8oonjpEjn1aORSlHiB6kZFGz7DLwPhfpgF3LjzgfzKOhJ-ShfWEYPgnUdjzvAXTZmx4C3n3sqs6a5lJsVTDDGc5wgwIGnciWdjAk8AwlRpLrtparUpsR1hYRFxjhtF8qJI5f-MA/s320/CIMG6595.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654475646319895602" /></a>Playing on the water slide with Uncle Brian & Aunt Julia. This was the best purchase we have made in a long time. Rissa was so incredibly happy to be able to splash, slide, and swim.<div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-cfWpWR92jqjz1ghGi915Rb9zzcnO4IBYKfcxUfNfT2ak1U0u0-ARQjs1ByMN3OX2cs72qbd2jtzrTwL6BaT8Dz0gCEMH3sIuqyEpO7fYEUYtwxUFU3nNszVsP-OcbzJzVhdk99xMuF1/s1600/CIMG6654.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-cfWpWR92jqjz1ghGi915Rb9zzcnO4IBYKfcxUfNfT2ak1U0u0-ARQjs1ByMN3OX2cs72qbd2jtzrTwL6BaT8Dz0gCEMH3sIuqyEpO7fYEUYtwxUFU3nNszVsP-OcbzJzVhdk99xMuF1/s320/CIMG6654.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654475352945767490" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaazRNN2E_44AFx5vm4MkBv3CxwXeIzpTE0vSRfVmncrOrz0KmCGn8-sIecvR2z1wOhXbij2_MM2_fvWiQLcUcyjV4rVcF-b2BzRENOrMp9k4ZsstaZWIHGagqOE1YgX9eP4nuLA-TxTBY/s1600/CIMG6699.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaazRNN2E_44AFx5vm4MkBv3CxwXeIzpTE0vSRfVmncrOrz0KmCGn8-sIecvR2z1wOhXbij2_MM2_fvWiQLcUcyjV4rVcF-b2BzRENOrMp9k4ZsstaZWIHGagqOE1YgX9eP4nuLA-TxTBY/s320/CIMG6699.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654475048640112210" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2GaTsoGYeXM2VgSDA6FzUjAV46ncvSMgP9p9DCdPn__y2vr5IVQU3gOcdpKKvI2VEKs585q7r825sNMq1PfKZh2h3aEbsIxYhK2kt1RXISbrgV53FJe6yLDJgavkjBzpAXomDVaJwHV_I/s1600/CIMG6658.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2GaTsoGYeXM2VgSDA6FzUjAV46ncvSMgP9p9DCdPn__y2vr5IVQU3gOcdpKKvI2VEKs585q7r825sNMq1PfKZh2h3aEbsIxYhK2kt1RXISbrgV53FJe6yLDJgavkjBzpAXomDVaJwHV_I/s320/CIMG6658.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654474755381802258" /></a>Tubing at the lake in Grand Junction in July. We were there for my little brother's wedding and this was her first time in an open body of water. She was ecstatic! </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigL7Oq1M9phGHTCJEawyVdbXjb5QvM7R1uXxwOraDPxGTytQLzz1lH6OSTJ8uYoBeQ5lbn316RsnlytMuy8e3kF7RnuVFDSnjePNJxAZKvGDNlB45LmuFuuTkxqZriyE-LfljKOzeOBF7v/s1600/CIMG6661.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigL7Oq1M9phGHTCJEawyVdbXjb5QvM7R1uXxwOraDPxGTytQLzz1lH6OSTJ8uYoBeQ5lbn316RsnlytMuy8e3kF7RnuVFDSnjePNJxAZKvGDNlB45LmuFuuTkxqZriyE-LfljKOzeOBF7v/s320/CIMG6661.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654472762642267778" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHpwEc3WlM9903C68sxr4WIsAxyYWxkyVWH4rXmeh8O6N83O4e_BQNGb_5lGXxdjDJVt0cp6QOS8uW_yw8v2104kmx7EFYMplVLuPxI0aQjEsK69BNFun0uZTLPXQEkskGUZsh1guHT-N/s1600/IMG_20110714_175610.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHpwEc3WlM9903C68sxr4WIsAxyYWxkyVWH4rXmeh8O6N83O4e_BQNGb_5lGXxdjDJVt0cp6QOS8uW_yw8v2104kmx7EFYMplVLuPxI0aQjEsK69BNFun0uZTLPXQEkskGUZsh1guHT-N/s320/IMG_20110714_175610.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654472381178010882" /></a>Swimming in a real swimming pool for the first time, at the age of four!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAP4tmTWnPYHl3vvw9TTPWXqiYUgGu348ljq9VqhJu_j013VbeG8FtOkvNkHBP7HnIiT4z2bEpwxD477qYjAVGtmLpAzPX4-BRi-jzdfkebmC6ZJWmt21dc8RSv3Oi24GxRiZ6acZ4tMQG/s1600/IMG_20110714_180647.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAP4tmTWnPYHl3vvw9TTPWXqiYUgGu348ljq9VqhJu_j013VbeG8FtOkvNkHBP7HnIiT4z2bEpwxD477qYjAVGtmLpAzPX4-BRi-jzdfkebmC6ZJWmt21dc8RSv3Oi24GxRiZ6acZ4tMQG/s320/IMG_20110714_180647.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654472148932432882" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfZb_EPEs8Tu7CisJzS72UJ-9MqFm6pHJGUdMzIVt772LA-_5kcha4vHqVWjTtLtjZY4cWieC3dfWfnvQWevw2JEfhdPKZcPsDyp8C1W04ZNKAHgqx-I_9j2Iw0oPf5d3lPh9m3TvHnoY/s1600/IMG_20110821_124925.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfZb_EPEs8Tu7CisJzS72UJ-9MqFm6pHJGUdMzIVt772LA-_5kcha4vHqVWjTtLtjZY4cWieC3dfWfnvQWevw2JEfhdPKZcPsDyp8C1W04ZNKAHgqx-I_9j2Iw0oPf5d3lPh9m3TvHnoY/s320/IMG_20110821_124925.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654471883796523074" /></a>Splashing at Uncle Wilber's Fountain!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4h0lIsYSZZjCLMzEWgM6eLQA5GPn36qn23blnJfrWw9ETN8PWgHLv1ZpTvLYlWir84h98TSuf6Qgq1jmjpO82cjYi2usNOmJ2HyCNnzUEa62l5ZDOYpFHfy3BkOsWUEkDWAxU9yhcLDzm/s1600/CIMG6737.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4h0lIsYSZZjCLMzEWgM6eLQA5GPn36qn23blnJfrWw9ETN8PWgHLv1ZpTvLYlWir84h98TSuf6Qgq1jmjpO82cjYi2usNOmJ2HyCNnzUEa62l5ZDOYpFHfy3BkOsWUEkDWAxU9yhcLDzm/s320/CIMG6737.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654471593348780338" /></a>Playing on the rides at S<a href="http://www.santas-colo.com/">anta's Workshop at the North Pole</a>!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOohIO2ec20KDUtKVxzTyaO5NDcAAVQf8AjqLPpDX4JivwWQvdIgvWEGG2VWR3LfNDWdKVdd2qp51sBTGPmxBxZktsU6Eq3lkP3KYdu9qeAu_i4Ev_zCvB1r0j3BN2zGoRtP3Xycbv8xj/s1600/CIMG6741.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOohIO2ec20KDUtKVxzTyaO5NDcAAVQf8AjqLPpDX4JivwWQvdIgvWEGG2VWR3LfNDWdKVdd2qp51sBTGPmxBxZktsU6Eq3lkP3KYdu9qeAu_i4Ev_zCvB1r0j3BN2zGoRtP3Xycbv8xj/s320/CIMG6741.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654471268405525682" /></a><br />Happy First Decanaversary, our sweet Rissa Roo!</div>Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061378391288892565noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531603936028461696.post-6338442137955309992011-08-04T08:52:00.004-06:002011-08-04T09:00:43.273-06:00Our Big, Dumb, Not-So-Fun Adventure<div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">**ETA** This all happened yesterday but I couldn't post until today because our internet was down.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">So... I had a great idea to entertain the kids this afternoon. They were both going a little crazy and I decided it would be fun to take them across the street to the movie theatre, which has a cool water jet fountain for them to run around in. It was about 78 degrees but very sunny and humid because of the massive rain storm we had yesterday and last night, and I thought this would be awesome fun for them. So I started to get them ready. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">I stripped Rissa down to her diaper, (yes, we are <i>still</i> working on potty training **beating my head against the wall**, but that's a story for another time) took her out on the back patio, and got her sprayed with sunscreen. Next, I got Sully out there to do the same. Before I could squirt the first spray of sunscreen on him, Rissa reached up and shut the backdoor. A cold shock of panic immediately ran through me, as I realized the door knob was locked from the inside and I had no keys and no phone. It was about 2:15 pm at this point. Sully's mom comes to get him at 4:30 and Jeremy doesn't come home until 5:00. AAAGGGHHH!!! I sat down on the patio swing for a moment, trying to figure out what we were going to do. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Really, the only thing I could do was take the kids, Sully in a diaper and t-shirt and Rissa in <i>only</i> a diaper, all three of us with no shoes, and knock on neighbor's doors, hoping they were home and would let us use their phone. We went across the street and knocked on the door. No answer. We went back across the street and up one house and knocked on the door. No answer. I knew our retired neighbor to the back of us was probably home, so we walked back down the sidewalk and around the corner to his house. Luckily, Larry was home. He let us in, gave the kids cookies and drinks and let me use his phone to call Jeremy. We had a nice little chat about the state of the Union while Sully sat there calmly and Rissa ran around Larry's living room like a crazy woman. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">By this time it was 2:45. Jeremy went to his boss and said "My wife locked herself and the kids out of the house". Almost before he could finish what he was saying, his boss said "GO!". His boss is the absolute best! We left Larry's house and came back to our backyard and sat on the patio swing until Jeremy let us in about 3:15. Whew!!</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">We were so lucky in so many ways. It wasn't too hot or too cold, it wasn't raining, both kids had fresh diapers, we had sunscreen, and we had a very nice neighbor to take us in during our time of need. Even though it was a pain in the butt at the moment, we can all laugh at the situation now, because it could have been so much worse. Now I have a very funny story to tell. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">And now I am going to have a beer. Or three.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3PCC_Q4nZihrb-BOTPdehtFj403W2JP-Hy4Q7iN8lowXEFb-FwOz5HviVc67mbeLdSDPy0-pNGTXTq10Xy3UuCh2agYdmGAsda9vSo6YqaLn9oN9ktppHVo4YvS131t5S0a3iqfzpwcvm/s1600/CIMG6712.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3PCC_Q4nZihrb-BOTPdehtFj403W2JP-Hy4Q7iN8lowXEFb-FwOz5HviVc67mbeLdSDPy0-pNGTXTq10Xy3UuCh2agYdmGAsda9vSo6YqaLn9oN9ktppHVo4YvS131t5S0a3iqfzpwcvm/s320/CIMG6712.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637014599556422018" /></a>I put the kids in a bath to cool off and to wash the sweat and grime off. As you can tell from the water coming down the outside of the tub, they had a great time! <div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyW3oXe0bpjEdLQhdJSSvKStJhLeqOh_MAYDElbxnu1IXP1jPjoy2okzB-aYtwy3oaXxdcXtJOoa8s3ZfqmEoEsxXGdHS7B07FD4dvGYO-AQDLQzIWUhz9eeiqVVE2rpJT2JTCHQYwfDA/s1600/CIMG6716.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyW3oXe0bpjEdLQhdJSSvKStJhLeqOh_MAYDElbxnu1IXP1jPjoy2okzB-aYtwy3oaXxdcXtJOoa8s3ZfqmEoEsxXGdHS7B07FD4dvGYO-AQDLQzIWUhz9eeiqVVE2rpJT2JTCHQYwfDA/s320/CIMG6716.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637014405692158706" /></a></div>Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061378391288892565noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531603936028461696.post-78337771409980025772011-07-28T17:56:00.003-06:002011-07-28T19:42:25.362-06:00It SucksWell friends, we went to the orthopedic surgeon to look at Rissa's hips again today. It looks as though surgery to correct the dysplasia in her left hip is on the horizon for next Spring. As I have blogged about before, she has <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001966/">Developmental Hip Dysplasia</a>. If you look at the four bullet points where the risk factors are listed, she fits all four. The cards are stacked against her. Incredible!<div><br /></div><div>There is a possibility that she won't need surgery. The doc explained to me that kid's bones, up to the age of four, are still developing, are pliable and moldable, and have the potential to form further. Marissa's left hip socket does not form a complete cup, thus allowing her hip to pop out of place. Up until the age of four, she had the potential to still form the socket properly. She is now almost four and a half. <i>However</i>, the doctor says her bone development seems to be delayed by six months to a year because both her hip sockets have developed even more in the last six months since we saw her last. The doctor wants to give her another six months or so, to see if she can develop the left socket more completely. Finally, one of Rissa's delays works in our favor! The doc said it is possible for her socket to form enough to avoid surgery, but pretty unlikely because of how open her socket is right now. So we really have to prepare our hearts and minds for an intense surgery in the Spring.</div><div><br /></div><div>The surgery performed would be a Pemberton's Acetabuloplasty. Mouthful, I know. As simply as I can put it, the doc would take a piece of bone from another area of Rissa's hip and use it to construct a more complete socket. If that weren't grueling enough for her to get through, she would need a gnarly <a href="http://www.health-first.org/health_info/your_health_first/kids/spica_cast.cfm">spica cast</a> for at least six weeks. Holy $***! </div><div><br /></div><div>We are going to see the doc again in February to determine the final word on if she needs the surgery or not. Because of Rissa's awesome Summer experience for the first time in her life this year (which I promise to blog about soon with <i>a lot</i> of pictures), I did not want her to have the surgery at the beginning of the Summer, when school lets out, only to be stuck in a body cast for the majority of Summer. So, if she needs the surgery, we will schedule it for sometime in March, after her birthday. We will take her out of school for the year at that time, which is OK by us, since it is only preschool. That way, she should be fully healed and ready for a fun Summer.</div><div><br /></div><div>I hate having to think about this, but I know in the end, if she does need the surgery, it will serve in her best interest for the rest of her life. My mom had a hip replacement several years ago in her fifties and it turns out, she had Developmental Hip Dysplasia. It was also in her left hip, just like Rissa. For several years, I have had pain in my left hip, and my sisters have as well. So, this obviously runs in the family, and if we had all known about it when we were younger, we wouldn't be having the problems we are now as adults. At least we can allow Marissa to have the best chance at not having these problems when she grows up. </div><div><br /></div><div>But, it still sucks.</div>Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061378391288892565noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531603936028461696.post-10952595033080772672011-06-15T16:03:00.002-06:002011-06-15T16:27:24.273-06:00Discharged!<div>I was sure this day would never come. Not in a million years. But...</div><div><br /></div><div>Marissa was discharged by her <a href="http://rockymtnent4kids.com/physicians/">ENT, Dr. P</a> this morning!</div><div><br /></div><div>We are over five weeks post-op since her stoma closure. She has been struggling quite a bit with the suture material that was used and stitches keep festering, pus-ing up, and popping out of her skin. But Dr. P says we just have to wait it out until she gets rid of them all or they dissolve. I'm cool with that, but just tired of her neck being an open sore all the time. Oh well.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, back to the discharge... If you would have told me four years ago that, halfway through 2011, Rissa would no longer need the services of an ENT, I would have looked at you like you were from another planet. I am so thrilled at how far she has come, she amazes me! It is a little sad though, as Dr. P is our most favorite Dr. that Rissa sees. She has taken such good care of Rissa. Honestly, I believe Rissa would not have her trach out right now if it weren't for her. She moved forward when others were content to let things be. She has been such an integral part of Rissa's life and development and we will miss seeing her. I'm glad we are friends on Facebook so we can keep in touch. </div><div><br /></div><div>And now, a cute Rissa & Sully pic to wrap up this post...</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhAWW4URvsNuKoNeBRjiq1TjbprUpwetJQwMYTq4uSptOTR4z4XjABuMaPjNnLt_MtgGnfdCfENqqRiEyMv4RqVsZcTuXXsBkFkrhQEM7gEOalBczKpCDO9SYbVX5GlV3RwI13wodcnzbm/s1600/IMG_20110613_072453.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhAWW4URvsNuKoNeBRjiq1TjbprUpwetJQwMYTq4uSptOTR4z4XjABuMaPjNnLt_MtgGnfdCfENqqRiEyMv4RqVsZcTuXXsBkFkrhQEM7gEOalBczKpCDO9SYbVX5GlV3RwI13wodcnzbm/s320/IMG_20110613_072453.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618571076246362466" /></a>Sully is turning the big NUMERO UNO on Sunday!! Happy Birthday, Sully Man Bud Bud! We love you!Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061378391288892565noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531603936028461696.post-1466191952139101682011-05-29T18:22:00.002-06:002011-05-29T18:36:53.078-06:00BlessedHaving Marissa's trach stoma closed has brought us so much freedom. We are, once again, finding out how much we are blessed.<br /><br />We are finding so much joy in the small things that we could never do before Rissa got her trach out, such as splashing in the bath, tubing down the Colorado River this Summer as part of my little brother's Wedding Extravaganza Week, and her newest backyard toy... the inflatable water slide!!<br /><br /><br /><div><embed src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=e1304df885cc98903b6139" quality="high" scale="noscale" width="408" height="382" wmode="transparent" name="FLVPlayer" salign="LT" flashvars="&p=e1304df885cc98903b6139&skin_id=701&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><div style="margin:0px;font:12px/13px verdana,arial,sans-serif;line-height:20px;padding-bottom:15px;width:408px;text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/landing?&utm_source=emplay&utm_medium=txt1" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none;">Make an on-line slide show at <span style="text-decoration:underline;">www.OneTrueMedia.com</span></a></div></div>Can't you just <span style="font-style:italic;">feel</span> her joy?Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061378391288892565noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531603936028461696.post-34975299418726460732011-05-10T15:48:00.004-06:002011-05-10T15:51:12.930-06:00Surgery Done and We're Home<div>Rissa had her surgery yesterday and came through it just fine. Everything looked great this morning so the doctor discharged us and we made it home by 11:00 am.<div><br /></div><div>She is in a little pain, but more than that, she is pissed. She won't let us even change her diaper without throwing a major fit. She doesn't want to be touched for any reason. For an entire hour before we left the hospital she was making mean faces, clenching her fists on her hips, and saying "Stop! Don't ever again!!", even though we were giving her space. I totally understand where she's coming from. If I were her, I would be mad at us too! I just hope she'll come around and forgive us quickly.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for all the well wishes and prayers. Keep sending them for the coming days. As always, thanks for checking in!</div></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEive5E3iE-VbCQOat6oQI24SzsJ4MaCqXDhYxIkmTs6cPVKz_hKDrj9xDB-7xoN4bMcosEzjFdFD-b1hPDiASC-JimfG-zw5X1uZnopd_8Em8igGNg0tw6O95ywcO-MTTi1NpGt3ICNoMLJ/s1600/Funny+Girl.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEive5E3iE-VbCQOat6oQI24SzsJ4MaCqXDhYxIkmTs6cPVKz_hKDrj9xDB-7xoN4bMcosEzjFdFD-b1hPDiASC-JimfG-zw5X1uZnopd_8Em8igGNg0tw6O95ywcO-MTTi1NpGt3ICNoMLJ/s320/Funny+Girl.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605207913620324178" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Happier Days...</div>Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061378391288892565noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531603936028461696.post-64931560921939242562011-05-04T06:17:00.004-06:002011-05-04T06:17:01.118-06:00Closure<div>Finally. Exactly four years to the day that Marissa's trach was placed, we will have closure.<div><br /></div><div>Marissa will have surgery to close her trach stoma on Monday, May 9. Although we are disappointed it never closed on it's own and we are anxious and stressed about the surgery, we are also very excited! She will finally be allowed to have a Summer like so many other kids her age. She'll be able to get in the swimming pool, play in the dirt and sand, and splash in the bathtub. Finally, she won't have snot coming from her neck all the time. She won't have a permanent red, irritated area on her neck caused by the tape and gauze we use to cover her stoma. We won't be worried about her going outside without a covering on her neck, in case a strong wind comes by and blows dust and dirt at her.</div><div><br /></div><div>We hate that our baby has to undergo one more surgery (this will be her 7th so far with possibly more to come) and deal with the pain and recovery, but we can't wait to see her splash in the water, carefree like she should have been this whole time. We'll finally close this chapter in our lives. And that, my friends, is an <i>awesome</i> feeling!</div><div><br /></div><div>I will try to update the blog and Facebook when I can. As always, your prayers, good vibes, and thoughts are greatly appreciated. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">See you on the flip side!</div></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJGu89vLRgTmt5rCFF_VPRBosNc_axrwwFUoeXlaQh27sQwZBq3PeOmkD6dkHZpAWBYyXAR4s-J-AvDf9YX8FYA5E51ZRd3n71OzErmMn6KibVYr5-Uh9fMG1s7wmfNAWlWe_Jk9zkd6w/s1600/CIMG6398.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJGu89vLRgTmt5rCFF_VPRBosNc_axrwwFUoeXlaQh27sQwZBq3PeOmkD6dkHZpAWBYyXAR4s-J-AvDf9YX8FYA5E51ZRd3n71OzErmMn6KibVYr5-Uh9fMG1s7wmfNAWlWe_Jk9zkd6w/s320/CIMG6398.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602718744015805410" /></a>Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061378391288892565noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531603936028461696.post-61873916916479027812011-03-16T17:53:00.002-06:002011-03-16T22:40:20.130-06:00Every Day is a Dance Party!<div><embed src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=d99e832b786607296fd593" quality="high" scale="noscale" width="408" height="382" wmode="transparent" name="FLVPlayer" salign="LT" flashvars="&p=d99e832b786607296fd593&skin_id=701&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><div style="margin:0px;font:12px/13px verdana,arial,sans-serif;line-height:20px;padding-bottom:15px;width:408px;text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/landing?&utm_source=emplay&utm_medium=txt3" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none;">Make video montages at <span style="text-decoration:underline;">www.OneTrueMedia.com</span></a></div></div><br />'Raining Sunshine' by Miranda Cosgrove from Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs<div><br /></div><div>'On My Way Home' by Nina and the Imagination Movers</div>Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061378391288892565noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531603936028461696.post-4137518536976927202011-03-13T08:49:00.005-06:002011-03-13T10:17:56.564-06:00To Our Girl On Her Fourth Birthday...<div>Four years ago tonight, you came screaming into our world, hardly making a sound. You have taken us on a ride that we never imagined in our wildest dreams. Scary, thrilling, tearful, amazingly fun, hilarious, and awesome. We can't even remember life before you. And honestly, we don't want to. You add a spice to our lives that we just can't do without now. At times, it can be "too picy" as you like to say, but we need it. We thrive on it. Thank you, Little One, for changing us for good. We love you so very much.</div><br /><div><embed src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=d892f133bf6239dcb6b2b3" quality="high" scale="noscale" width="408" height="382" wmode="transparent" name="FLVPlayer" salign="LT" flashvars="&p=d892f133bf6239dcb6b2b3&skin_id=701&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><div style="margin:0px;font:12px/13px verdana,arial,sans-serif;line-height:20px;padding-bottom:15px;width:408px;text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/landing?&utm_source=emplay&utm_medium=txt1" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none;">Make an on-line slide show at <span style="text-decoration:underline;">www.OneTrueMedia.com</span></a></div></div>My favorite line... "I lost every time I fought her. Yeah, I lost every time" So true!Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061378391288892565noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531603936028461696.post-56734519307390923582011-03-07T06:53:00.002-07:002011-03-07T07:10:00.313-07:00A Really Good Cry<div>Last night, I was overcome with emotion watching, of all things, the movie, Knocked Up. I know, I know, call me crazy. But toward the end, when she is giving birth and he is there beside her, and the baby is born and cries... well, I just fell apart. Jeremy had already gone to bed and I just sat there and bawled my eyes out.</div><div><br /></div><div>I think I was releasing emotions I had not let go of for a long time. I hadn't really sat down and thought of the night she was born in a long while. Everything came bubbling to the surface when I saw that fictional baby being born. Don't ask me why, I don't know. But, even though Marissa's and my birth process was totally different, I just felt the release of emotion when the baby was born and everyone was happy and healthy. I don't know if it was the fact that I wished that was our story, or what.</div><div><br /></div><div>My girl is going to turn four years old on Sunday. I'm not ready. I'm not ready for that day to be here. I'm not ready for her to be that old. I'm not ready to contemplate how long ago she was helpless, hurting, and fighting for her life. She has been through so much, with so much more to come. I feel like she's lived a lifetime and yet it also seems like yesterday she that was born. She has had almost every part of her body operated on or manipulated in some way, yet she is as normal as can be. She knows no different. She amazes me.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, enough of my rambling. I hadn't made a montage in a while so I thought I would get one together in honor of her upcoming birthday. The first photos are some of my favorite pictures from when she was a baby, most of which you have seen before. The rest of the pictures are ones from a year ago through the end of June, 2010. I will be sharing another montage containing pics from July, 2010 to present next weekend. </div><div><br /></div><div> So here goes...</div><br /><div><embed src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=d891a20381a81ae6c98ab9" quality="high" scale="noscale" width="408" height="382" wmode="transparent" name="FLVPlayer" salign="LT" flashvars="&p=d891a20381a81ae6c98ab9&skin_id=701&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><div style="margin:0px;font:12px/13px verdana,arial,sans-serif;line-height:20px;padding-bottom:15px;width:408px;text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/landing?&utm_source=emplay&utm_medium=txt0" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none;">Make photo slide shows at <span style="text-decoration:underline;">www.OneTrueMedia.com</span></a></div></div>Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061378391288892565noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531603936028461696.post-40060354729536578222011-02-16T09:25:00.007-07:002011-02-16T10:29:27.212-07:00Stand By For An Exciting Announcement...<div style="text-align: center;">Who is now a civilian government employee?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajTF-cX2ZZp3pcRQYsrRzroKe1HzM_94Rntu8sUkwIEGxsSx6VN-t6npB8iWikHdtlwFxSLZWqbpFhT-jjRvNfJxGrj31jDNgJduCtM2Sbnry3YXrAoYEfYZXU2RdLimE7e8Fvom8Dgfg/s1600/CIMG6383.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajTF-cX2ZZp3pcRQYsrRzroKe1HzM_94Rntu8sUkwIEGxsSx6VN-t6npB8iWikHdtlwFxSLZWqbpFhT-jjRvNfJxGrj31jDNgJduCtM2Sbnry3YXrAoYEfYZXU2RdLimE7e8Fvom8Dgfg/s320/CIMG6383.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574324989720239634" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><b>^</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>^</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>^</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>THIS GUY!!!!</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">That's right folks! My husband, who has been a government contractor with very little job security and mediocre benefits for years, who has been working toward securing a permanent government position for over a decade now, finally reached his goal!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This means big things, not the least of which is that Jeremy's job is finally a career. He has job security, great benefits, awesome opportunity for advancement, and can pretty much work anywhere in the world where there is a U.S. government or military installation. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Jeremy wanted to wait until he is sworn in on the 28th before we announced it, but he got a phone call today saying that he passed his drug screening and it is official, so he let me tell the big secret today. YAY!!!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Can I tell you how proud I am of <b><i>this guy</i></b>? </div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKpsfxdIJQgKDIZYJj5GdHOlT7dunHG5FddkMkCP5uHCuyZcywoYnLuh-yqHMrIkNwet4pCiTWqxlpxjRSiP0cGKa7yOQGToRHfW6u1nzYpdGq7SvDf7nf1Km54O-zksC2D3HbNx5Ehz3/s1600/CIMG6382.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKpsfxdIJQgKDIZYJj5GdHOlT7dunHG5FddkMkCP5uHCuyZcywoYnLuh-yqHMrIkNwet4pCiTWqxlpxjRSiP0cGKa7yOQGToRHfW6u1nzYpdGq7SvDf7nf1Km54O-zksC2D3HbNx5Ehz3/s320/CIMG6382.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574324750658618354" /></a></div>Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061378391288892565noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531603936028461696.post-3456356378283048482011-01-31T16:37:00.009-07:002011-01-31T18:09:19.892-07:00Rissa Roo's First Field Trip<div>Rissa had her first field trip with her pre-school class today. Her class actually had a field trip back in November, but it was to the roller skating rink and we didn't think she should go because of her hip issues. But today, they went bowling, and Marissa had a blast! Daddy took time off work to come and teach her how to bowl. It was so much fun!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5skX8eBi9TiCpDk4T_k8c5XetSAQmFS4s1VVao7dt_7VC8znBRg_h2aVOwoCQgYVrZdLTYYLTKdABhT72zBBfIM7OXSi1oo_0lFUvczP0b_DAktRG4zD2P8lJF4E3brxLz9F6nfxwf_q/s1600/CIMG6307.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5skX8eBi9TiCpDk4T_k8c5XetSAQmFS4s1VVao7dt_7VC8znBRg_h2aVOwoCQgYVrZdLTYYLTKdABhT72zBBfIM7OXSi1oo_0lFUvczP0b_DAktRG4zD2P8lJF4E3brxLz9F6nfxwf_q/s320/CIMG6307.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568508392980877666" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgax7h3fzT5-QsYCdumhT91AKVtcaG6Y_J2y6fpk1UKo_MNdJFw_IG5Vjln6eQKsxWmQnobt91RN0mG7GtVdhAFAhgMVR1PrONMV-YM0U0a6JkWiRgFxm-LFWJ1cGt2Dn5dTBdp3mZdd4R/s1600/CIMG6313.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgax7h3fzT5-QsYCdumhT91AKVtcaG6Y_J2y6fpk1UKo_MNdJFw_IG5Vjln6eQKsxWmQnobt91RN0mG7GtVdhAFAhgMVR1PrONMV-YM0U0a6JkWiRgFxm-LFWJ1cGt2Dn5dTBdp3mZdd4R/s320/CIMG6313.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568508153445088914" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">This is Sully, the little guy I have been watching every week day since September. Isn't he a cutie?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIUTUln5yu_xF-JM05hWBwAqt3_VAiC9eXRNILyrdV51FnyRQuI7kuYF6uO8V5tM3KKKuhzDNq0nU8hO2koBSOtwFKnC1DY5_P2EKuzsQba3bJbA-9mojZsdrVPu3Py_LvD6yErTawUBCz/s1600/CIMG6316.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIUTUln5yu_xF-JM05hWBwAqt3_VAiC9eXRNILyrdV51FnyRQuI7kuYF6uO8V5tM3KKKuhzDNq0nU8hO2koBSOtwFKnC1DY5_P2EKuzsQba3bJbA-9mojZsdrVPu3Py_LvD6yErTawUBCz/s320/CIMG6316.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568507925915305250" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Strong Rissa!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_s0t9KSvU20teoWLxY-4pCh-f3nJsU2Sqo-bBsL_Tk_cBoR1lqWRKrybhnxZiCvy6B3-8pvxiLtdI1ElImrdldGPaNVr-4hxYyTHSoj833OaXRgwX287xyw1XulJAZuTuzZL8Z8i2Ca4/s1600/CIMG6317.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_s0t9KSvU20teoWLxY-4pCh-f3nJsU2Sqo-bBsL_Tk_cBoR1lqWRKrybhnxZiCvy6B3-8pvxiLtdI1ElImrdldGPaNVr-4hxYyTHSoj833OaXRgwX287xyw1XulJAZuTuzZL8Z8i2Ca4/s320/CIMG6317.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568507416287193186" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPuNLEhz2LrGMpFpjPl6nM6nUCVBVhezwtHVQTCugLdmnT4yKLAHwo8eMGM-iLiSQ-BjgI3PI4uDmSxQvApvxTyVIZU7_47oA5OB9jjU_BqMBmWyjDO0slD7tZS-DtPp8l3un5HMEymMW/s1600/CIMG6320.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPuNLEhz2LrGMpFpjPl6nM6nUCVBVhezwtHVQTCugLdmnT4yKLAHwo8eMGM-iLiSQ-BjgI3PI4uDmSxQvApvxTyVIZU7_47oA5OB9jjU_BqMBmWyjDO0slD7tZS-DtPp8l3un5HMEymMW/s320/CIMG6320.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568506921885010146" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">YAY!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlO3HhdIEv1mOlizih-YZ8Fdl5EaN2XTbK_0aqR_ZdlSdz9OZk7TAqXs8rkj9O_XmDVsJAEqzISqyLCHaZ0yHdyBnG9xA_o8blf4XK_TB55wrq9k6JHpC55JcUAMWtrujPZYPYJYzRsN_/s1600/CIMG6322.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlO3HhdIEv1mOlizih-YZ8Fdl5EaN2XTbK_0aqR_ZdlSdz9OZk7TAqXs8rkj9O_XmDVsJAEqzISqyLCHaZ0yHdyBnG9xA_o8blf4XK_TB55wrq9k6JHpC55JcUAMWtrujPZYPYJYzRsN_/s320/CIMG6322.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568505031278949762" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUH0_iKgsB682LTrCvzK1MK9emjKbzDyphYj2F19bL-QzVpLu4pGqhtjLpGjiHkKQe4YNbw0qx_eJxxGHy6dz81NXslaM1IPx8tl8Eou_CHoq2NkXewzM3u9Ofx2Xmq1o7EdjVwOWbjK3/s1600/CIMG6323.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUH0_iKgsB682LTrCvzK1MK9emjKbzDyphYj2F19bL-QzVpLu4pGqhtjLpGjiHkKQe4YNbw0qx_eJxxGHy6dz81NXslaM1IPx8tl8Eou_CHoq2NkXewzM3u9Ofx2Xmq1o7EdjVwOWbjK3/s320/CIMG6323.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568504590960605762" /></a>She bowled a 115! Not bad for a first timer! Next time we'll have to see if she can throw it down the lane "old school". :-)<div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dykafh80tkp8Lay2YsjP40j8vGsgvwbI9AATevnLKDMHXdusOE3w2LMD9C10myXv9aTTF89ouWOj-RxY38oEQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div>Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061378391288892565noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531603936028461696.post-40894103295131367242011-01-03T08:43:00.001-07:002011-01-03T08:51:54.840-07:002010: The Year in Review<div>2010 was a very busy, very exciting year for our little family. It was full of many life-changing events. Here's a recap, in pictures:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>January:</b> Hunkering down from the cold and getting sweet kisses.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidiPVx4BPBxE1-VBkaMfgWhB0u7uVDDEvSrUvASerzqtlGc-AlVoEvWCjWJFf-Z0b5DjYRVUQIbPo2LIV3LIGz0t_6s8u84QR2pAOQ0wzHN9w-VAOZqVySfqoaz3aXW5qcT1xKN6okmvFQ/s1600/CIMG4036.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidiPVx4BPBxE1-VBkaMfgWhB0u7uVDDEvSrUvASerzqtlGc-AlVoEvWCjWJFf-Z0b5DjYRVUQIbPo2LIV3LIGz0t_6s8u84QR2pAOQ0wzHN9w-VAOZqVySfqoaz3aXW5qcT1xKN6okmvFQ/s320/CIMG4036.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557979042352899762" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXrwz2KW7ANfRfMVSLAx8F1B7eTQolWllVcN4D0fmiMp66nnUegrOURzi-3_Zsu6CGNkrUxRDhGczbCCk6oA-ULY0XJL6EmlqYOmh9ypFHkyWa6a8-9o1biK7xIFzlzxYaCYWiBcNfM7T/s1600/CIMG4278.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXrwz2KW7ANfRfMVSLAx8F1B7eTQolWllVcN4D0fmiMp66nnUegrOURzi-3_Zsu6CGNkrUxRDhGczbCCk6oA-ULY0XJL6EmlqYOmh9ypFHkyWa6a8-9o1biK7xIFzlzxYaCYWiBcNfM7T/s320/CIMG4278.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557978876820033442" /></a><b>February</b>: A visit from Uncle Brian and Aunt Julia, just in time for Uncle's 30th B-Day!<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4iMJheRAMue216krJCRKYT1h9BKGo2jejhaoig8YVcek_CdQd_aiXk5o5wNacrPNINVqP0Z8YenYTKAtTDNCnhyD84xgupJJQXY9Bii0_VFBFL2eWI3EKudRkiMkY9wKpCx4xdwb54Xbr/s1600/CIMG4284.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4iMJheRAMue216krJCRKYT1h9BKGo2jejhaoig8YVcek_CdQd_aiXk5o5wNacrPNINVqP0Z8YenYTKAtTDNCnhyD84xgupJJQXY9Bii0_VFBFL2eWI3EKudRkiMkY9wKpCx4xdwb54Xbr/s320/CIMG4284.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557978725613533026" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtkOZu5lUCR_nXMLN85MNRdBMBTRdLXqnfJgYk30GeVVIhhhqxomTTDc2N5KT8A6TzVTr91HcztR6zpFLa_EvWnZ2_d7KyGE-07aqyXxSYyOaS7YD2i-qAF6sqbgDbduedRcL-a3JrubH/s1600/CIMG4424.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtkOZu5lUCR_nXMLN85MNRdBMBTRdLXqnfJgYk30GeVVIhhhqxomTTDc2N5KT8A6TzVTr91HcztR6zpFLa_EvWnZ2_d7KyGE-07aqyXxSYyOaS7YD2i-qAF6sqbgDbduedRcL-a3JrubH/s320/CIMG4424.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557978563303423826" /></a><b>March:</b> Rissa Roo turned three years old!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdwv9x9ppxRhsbxvB1g_KkWKjXD0byHupKboIAS2BkZmoKuB-dn5FMczMhgeQ6Xy90n1KW79j_Y95sU6n8zy9CNz-jgtIqTFHOEQ-uBGlamrDKZW6L3KaQxccIDgEWnO9HYqEPSlp97Qh/s1600/CIMG4436.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdwv9x9ppxRhsbxvB1g_KkWKjXD0byHupKboIAS2BkZmoKuB-dn5FMczMhgeQ6Xy90n1KW79j_Y95sU6n8zy9CNz-jgtIqTFHOEQ-uBGlamrDKZW6L3KaQxccIDgEWnO9HYqEPSlp97Qh/s320/CIMG4436.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557978399766882642" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8kpUBK7LdAnmBNbZsddI89P4CaFIuhNWMJlOLq-WqPOvz-uND6s3RL2jwBKi9TSeMtfvUkuPhvAbF9bLQBxCuxqkVjk7ktxjcXCD77xEyh1Ke4ZGOgKUj7zaGFaTC-8E6oJpXCqWSwON/s1600/CIMG4667.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8kpUBK7LdAnmBNbZsddI89P4CaFIuhNWMJlOLq-WqPOvz-uND6s3RL2jwBKi9TSeMtfvUkuPhvAbF9bLQBxCuxqkVjk7ktxjcXCD77xEyh1Ke4ZGOgKUj7zaGFaTC-8E6oJpXCqWSwON/s320/CIMG4667.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557978203415921314" /></a>And, she had an unfortunate accident resulting in a broken wrist. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4uqsSjxzcMorgdPzdje4Ya_Y7NkxNa2W8pfqlefPkQIE9DEKKTF9Mb57n1-aQ_9XVJI-Vx8MhH6HTW1djmtl9z8sPgqB9LqhBzvTnG1EcsE4z0M85WMNS6RnvfXy1cBquu7OJ5NvMTTU2/s1600/CIMG4784.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4uqsSjxzcMorgdPzdje4Ya_Y7NkxNa2W8pfqlefPkQIE9DEKKTF9Mb57n1-aQ_9XVJI-Vx8MhH6HTW1djmtl9z8sPgqB9LqhBzvTnG1EcsE4z0M85WMNS6RnvfXy1cBquu7OJ5NvMTTU2/s320/CIMG4784.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557978032166075570" /></a><b>April:</b> Rissa added pneumonia to her broken wrist. :-( Luckily, we caught it right in the beginning so it did not hit her as hard as in the past.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxmftW9mmL6USqI5RXUconxQBxRiOgsFv7ajRxDflmXDnDnbrd8DR-gaAUUHHmkJA5DJCiFX32z-YSK4z3bbZXYWVMJxsHdXQnOj7G69nbEe50DBYuaBqofrMMQcnRc0L6Mc-TjjvmFEi/s1600/CIMG5005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxmftW9mmL6USqI5RXUconxQBxRiOgsFv7ajRxDflmXDnDnbrd8DR-gaAUUHHmkJA5DJCiFX32z-YSK4z3bbZXYWVMJxsHdXQnOj7G69nbEe50DBYuaBqofrMMQcnRc0L6Mc-TjjvmFEi/s320/CIMG5005.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557977868163032754" /></a><b>May:</b> Hung out with friends and enjoyed the warmer weather.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvcszRzlI9ja9x3kv2x6mOy2PR9WdL-JZLVRVgqWxXWM-sVwMTCtcdHw9PB1piiGF0K0rWOky0Oo0GgrA4coGkys1dvXZWlhhZwahw0ZHbpurHbzQ9oEXcJUgMmz5WyoSM-RhwZ6ulSTW/s1600/CIMG5276.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvcszRzlI9ja9x3kv2x6mOy2PR9WdL-JZLVRVgqWxXWM-sVwMTCtcdHw9PB1piiGF0K0rWOky0Oo0GgrA4coGkys1dvXZWlhhZwahw0ZHbpurHbzQ9oEXcJUgMmz5WyoSM-RhwZ6ulSTW/s320/CIMG5276.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557977670955476834" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGe6Mdhjij9Ax7GjaPxIlpXyu_Zi48EiU6w6BHDOLlmeYn8nINGw9YP1ExPqzrj08QBwFDW1dvYpNhFiAKKr-qxu3LogMGZI-lSApqYEdSv18TjNvzVyC-MEVJypll_Thmnq0cDnqBQKmA/s1600/CIMG5480.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGe6Mdhjij9Ax7GjaPxIlpXyu_Zi48EiU6w6BHDOLlmeYn8nINGw9YP1ExPqzrj08QBwFDW1dvYpNhFiAKKr-qxu3LogMGZI-lSApqYEdSv18TjNvzVyC-MEVJypll_Thmnq0cDnqBQKmA/s320/CIMG5480.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557977458566856834" /></a><b>June</b>: Rissa had her big surgery to reconstruct her airway. Just a step along the way to getting her trach out!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_KVEfzkMAlVxOK_Xw-OVBOS0v_l3QTwamGQoSe9s27-eRy3_Z7fRY5IF3Hr9xdlkoZp7HVc-iC-SQT2KGq81nTD7KdKSOeS5jZkE56fiubcBEnQhYb62Cfw0cpgc5HLoq05PFzU05Gz0/s1600/CIMG5548.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_KVEfzkMAlVxOK_Xw-OVBOS0v_l3QTwamGQoSe9s27-eRy3_Z7fRY5IF3Hr9xdlkoZp7HVc-iC-SQT2KGq81nTD7KdKSOeS5jZkE56fiubcBEnQhYb62Cfw0cpgc5HLoq05PFzU05Gz0/s320/CIMG5548.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557977257947602306" /></a><b>July:</b> Getting dressed in her 4th of July best and hanging out with two Aunties and an Uncle!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaCQLwonrVHC2LBXhj7MuadzVuxyMjDonFIF_Qy79rbI-3DJXsC0aAKwyoFkte4iM2IWuMXN9LAM3j5vAVMOBVTQSuNb6BfGyfLk2Lxy_iErMTxztTGlfTsFi-m9K8eKwMINh7kqHMkFO/s1600/CIMG5589.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWaCQLwonrVHC2LBXhj7MuadzVuxyMjDonFIF_Qy79rbI-3DJXsC0aAKwyoFkte4iM2IWuMXN9LAM3j5vAVMOBVTQSuNb6BfGyfLk2Lxy_iErMTxztTGlfTsFi-m9K8eKwMINh7kqHMkFO/s320/CIMG5589.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557977078216468370" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAOOPJAUyE6AMT_bcb5Lvr3bQbJ2HZOvFJCHY5DCyYRmEHtlk9M4j2-xAp8UVpYix0gYy-nzaGxnrB2t9Bk-WRboiClxI7GZ5Ounl2h2GsIhF8K3cWLN9M2718GQ0Qf0Gnm7LzifqdWpd/s1600/CIMG5753.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAOOPJAUyE6AMT_bcb5Lvr3bQbJ2HZOvFJCHY5DCyYRmEHtlk9M4j2-xAp8UVpYix0gYy-nzaGxnrB2t9Bk-WRboiClxI7GZ5Ounl2h2GsIhF8K3cWLN9M2718GQ0Qf0Gnm7LzifqdWpd/s320/CIMG5753.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557976893587236754" /></a><b>August:</b> Sleep study, complete with goopy hair and marker on her face. Yet another step toward decannulation.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqc4gmzdVKThPnM0_lxUUrRY6LkEN-fsJ4FMc7Cjt9WiKdYZ1fKkbENI7vUOOGv259uRgABRruTGLJHroOirAJvwLFUpcX2QA9LR2FK0bvwZDfRR1i4syyhfghbdqfMBP_3WwrBpCQg_hI/s1600/CIMG5773.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqc4gmzdVKThPnM0_lxUUrRY6LkEN-fsJ4FMc7Cjt9WiKdYZ1fKkbENI7vUOOGv259uRgABRruTGLJHroOirAJvwLFUpcX2QA9LR2FK0bvwZDfRR1i4syyhfghbdqfMBP_3WwrBpCQg_hI/s320/CIMG5773.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557976740770761026" /></a><b>September:</b> This was a huge, exciting month! It started out with a visit from Grandma. She stayed for a week and she and Rissa loved on each other lots!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidaOyENZqDSBZCk1k-UFU3em12Mdg17S191jh0jdU1eYBzpGDElnJcbC_CgkSLw-JE8Cngh1Gn57_1MKR3WcJmLeH5n2-ym_AB2wsyNBVgqeF6SXNGxqiphfMljhyphenhyphenfTIhaSjCi7-g1sA_/s1600/CIMG5796.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidaOyENZqDSBZCk1k-UFU3em12Mdg17S191jh0jdU1eYBzpGDElnJcbC_CgkSLw-JE8Cngh1Gn57_1MKR3WcJmLeH5n2-ym_AB2wsyNBVgqeF6SXNGxqiphfMljhyphenhyphenfTIhaSjCi7-g1sA_/s320/CIMG5796.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557976545664358674" /></a>Then, I started taking care of my friend's baby boy when she went back to work during the weekdays. Now, Marissa has a "little brother" to boss around!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJtwKQIz9EbVCroI7vVE18-oKvYX8167r2NtU3tZ9KAenm10BadPf7CGVCzfT3SGno4QefY9l5HklcZQAeNGTVIglDNBZ31kfpbM-b076kHJzWqcbKPX2j5LYpJ3v-HYPayXcm_ewSmO7/s1600/CIMG5809.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJtwKQIz9EbVCroI7vVE18-oKvYX8167r2NtU3tZ9KAenm10BadPf7CGVCzfT3SGno4QefY9l5HklcZQAeNGTVIglDNBZ31kfpbM-b076kHJzWqcbKPX2j5LYpJ3v-HYPayXcm_ewSmO7/s320/CIMG5809.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557976366059898674" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOUNsLYWo7NiJ_wG7QYzIf8qfb-WIOCuaAHeENMJFonL40tU4zaYp15sy_Iy848ePfL_IkDRd8ihsNKuIwZD5kmBne-6_gbu_w02CmX-QxQvAkG2WTSmOHh7oSvFAQCc9PTUs4gLtHphE/s1600/CIMG5847.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOUNsLYWo7NiJ_wG7QYzIf8qfb-WIOCuaAHeENMJFonL40tU4zaYp15sy_Iy848ePfL_IkDRd8ihsNKuIwZD5kmBne-6_gbu_w02CmX-QxQvAkG2WTSmOHh7oSvFAQCc9PTUs4gLtHphE/s320/CIMG5847.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557976182455815026" /></a>Then of course, the biggest and most exciting part of the whole year: Rissa had her trach taken out for good! So awesome!!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtHMg5OyQN2arPawL1T3h0EGy53l894cC23-LLGligfXmqjTfu6vgnNpeEVWX_vz3F5Ynll0_uEC7K0CtT6BpuT2VmE_4NLPEMHOxOdD2PQqvgMlwTvPTo9cVxAzErErHJzt-4zZGVTmF/s320/CIMG5879.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557985874613648354" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEMa7WtGQNO9Tj2OQSlcTqZ2pa5b1HRC98c2L1y_ddrOhQ4WtU3y-obEUyjhYwPfdPA1Hnwt-yemRErkJOvIeDegPuWAwh9kR0DInx3Fnc8YNwp-Yqy_DDBcd5atgtk68jC1rGyIuiBdz/s1600/CIMG5918.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEMa7WtGQNO9Tj2OQSlcTqZ2pa5b1HRC98c2L1y_ddrOhQ4WtU3y-obEUyjhYwPfdPA1Hnwt-yemRErkJOvIeDegPuWAwh9kR0DInx3Fnc8YNwp-Yqy_DDBcd5atgtk68jC1rGyIuiBdz/s320/CIMG5918.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557975803079168050" /></a><b>October:</b> Showing off her naked neck and being Minnie Mouse for Halloween.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5e6LDlE0zZ9nztmcZP9TqJnHjC0CRvMfjw8X6QL3OZFpcA2f9gjP8U0HFKjGIRPOwXSbxQi3Gg4DQsHBXn4N7OzEAvDcWYq37RB9btcIhbUXhAauxwx7BLaavZ0lbX1cDIVHj7NGfSlS/s1600/CIMG5991.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5e6LDlE0zZ9nztmcZP9TqJnHjC0CRvMfjw8X6QL3OZFpcA2f9gjP8U0HFKjGIRPOwXSbxQi3Gg4DQsHBXn4N7OzEAvDcWYq37RB9btcIhbUXhAauxwx7BLaavZ0lbX1cDIVHj7NGfSlS/s320/CIMG5991.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557975634323031426" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgXFwExMsDh345L4qBGygqQ4luEef8kfxzfkgI2HvD3E1mUdRbMhKW25LuOqiRZmDOP2tG-jRHZNEVT7oxeWyAnlrYA2S5de8QVDN1fQSLalDd3QpCE72zWql6UV6BpcT8Jx-vXCjJ0lW/s1600/CIMG6023.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgXFwExMsDh345L4qBGygqQ4luEef8kfxzfkgI2HvD3E1mUdRbMhKW25LuOqiRZmDOP2tG-jRHZNEVT7oxeWyAnlrYA2S5de8QVDN1fQSLalDd3QpCE72zWql6UV6BpcT8Jx-vXCjJ0lW/s320/CIMG6023.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557975411573493106" /></a><b>November:</b> Another huge milestone: Rissa started school! She absolutely loves it!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGdsJnvB5m7OI_r7i-lmEJG5ByddsGP8sRI-bgWithvYnbxVtrum7oQTMDCv8h9tIIUP5ZyPzjam-346D1-Ziy9_7b-bIPxi3ThSYXjBGBkwQMd87xzM3KcRvZ_FzQDDaIeriu0K3yUPT/s1600/CIMG6027.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGdsJnvB5m7OI_r7i-lmEJG5ByddsGP8sRI-bgWithvYnbxVtrum7oQTMDCv8h9tIIUP5ZyPzjam-346D1-Ziy9_7b-bIPxi3ThSYXjBGBkwQMd87xzM3KcRvZ_FzQDDaIeriu0K3yUPT/s320/CIMG6027.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557975243865965122" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7Va4_ltm9vimcyFhaC2cXd-y5Vsu03-Ik8G-2hx79mY4pAqAaN-oqxmsGzi3f-JCFS8RNLxhUB_jmB3y200lvOtVc45LSbYREZHiRiYv0K1AvcbrqFU0NpUHYilM5DgxJu6kVqaTjyST/s1600/DSC02994.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7Va4_ltm9vimcyFhaC2cXd-y5Vsu03-Ik8G-2hx79mY4pAqAaN-oqxmsGzi3f-JCFS8RNLxhUB_jmB3y200lvOtVc45LSbYREZHiRiYv0K1AvcbrqFU0NpUHYilM5DgxJu6kVqaTjyST/s320/DSC02994.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557975059491912434" /></a><b>December:</b> One last milestone for the year: Rissa's first haircut. We only took about two inches off but it looks great!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTCVM1YSu-zgTpZSS_NLVZxnlvlFHppVfw29OlYE8WH2jY3smAww6RIRGGjFgMcggHZ2OVekviNcvFqRPPvRBwMQN9msP8TNXSgXM_1V0rV8Arb5bb-5_UmlLkv_dHTWEja_cwrIxb1qn/s1600/CIMG6191.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTCVM1YSu-zgTpZSS_NLVZxnlvlFHppVfw29OlYE8WH2jY3smAww6RIRGGjFgMcggHZ2OVekviNcvFqRPPvRBwMQN9msP8TNXSgXM_1V0rV8Arb5bb-5_UmlLkv_dHTWEja_cwrIxb1qn/s320/CIMG6191.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557974882905256722" /></a>Finally, a wonderful Christmas spent in Grand Junction, at Nana & Papa's farm with our awesome family!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhyLPotxWOML3ygoCv0ZbNwPzntHBg5zVWvmke_XxKAXcYVpN-YllI3oTg9ZXbqLO9N56LNryYIOBnL-C_PrgAmrfiNElc9nqpGikPD8zV-KP5_EXMY-HJy77Bf0tq1NRWpbBuPSsJaaa/s1600/CIMG6201.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhyLPotxWOML3ygoCv0ZbNwPzntHBg5zVWvmke_XxKAXcYVpN-YllI3oTg9ZXbqLO9N56LNryYIOBnL-C_PrgAmrfiNElc9nqpGikPD8zV-KP5_EXMY-HJy77Bf0tq1NRWpbBuPSsJaaa/s320/CIMG6201.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557974590458159378" /></a>Whew! Can't wait to see what 2011 has in store for us! Happy New Year, Friends!</div>Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061378391288892565noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531603936028461696.post-39319839369837504082010-12-31T21:23:00.001-07:002010-12-31T21:57:24.433-07:00One Last Post... For 2010<div>Hey folks, we're still here!<div><br /></div><div>It's been a crazy busy month and I just wanted to show you some pictures and a few videos from our wonderful, hectic, crazy, awesome Christmastime. So here goes:</div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFylhTMT8UXIVC1u8m9Qz8NpMLghgxwls0rscTaJia89KOgPjQadfjJC2qrNXcpgfay7CEfu7RkvJKTY9GZIU78IiPnTAKnf6skih578LrFmS_mi26qSrFzSOdqH5ezia-hiJ0qMYzy7i8/s1600/CIMG6169.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFylhTMT8UXIVC1u8m9Qz8NpMLghgxwls0rscTaJia89KOgPjQadfjJC2qrNXcpgfay7CEfu7RkvJKTY9GZIU78IiPnTAKnf6skih578LrFmS_mi26qSrFzSOdqH5ezia-hiJ0qMYzy7i8/s320/CIMG6169.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557068124128495938" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFbdAQX8HBqdpeD6_hhZKCp-ZF4hSRoeuQEhWbw5gCQCq_i8Z_ZmWVoHr0PquCqmL3-K2OaGWyFsEmzJ90Gy087E8Uk9uE_iQiRvExf_9AS-d5zzZfQBmw2uJNIk3X-zN9NaHIAJw8HYx/s1600/CIMG6178.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFbdAQX8HBqdpeD6_hhZKCp-ZF4hSRoeuQEhWbw5gCQCq_i8Z_ZmWVoHr0PquCqmL3-K2OaGWyFsEmzJ90Gy087E8Uk9uE_iQiRvExf_9AS-d5zzZfQBmw2uJNIk3X-zN9NaHIAJw8HYx/s320/CIMG6178.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557067873056527730" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Christmas morning sunrise, on top of Colorado Monument, Grand Junction, CO</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-rTWfUL-TjB2oN4KPxIYiGnqrs-DzxDeH_SFjGj_5NetuMKMJtPJx1cH9eLe0gg5GT3Am4FUCeeGa3b99VYOZBWH8KXZpz9zSxHrco-BYZb4LCMToHwfXm3QH2WWxKF3WgNbua7meycZ/s1600/CIMG6182.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-rTWfUL-TjB2oN4KPxIYiGnqrs-DzxDeH_SFjGj_5NetuMKMJtPJx1cH9eLe0gg5GT3Am4FUCeeGa3b99VYOZBWH8KXZpz9zSxHrco-BYZb4LCMToHwfXm3QH2WWxKF3WgNbua7meycZ/s320/CIMG6182.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557067644761551506" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Jack Daniel's Coffee!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfi43j6iPiUOTicHDqo957ZolVqkTcjU-hUp_ZDf6T7iihmYlOLvfR821uw3YkDfAoI7DC7_ydAEcPGdX2rcvw7pOwepXOlvOvRrX4feRtqKWX84_a3jZxDYoKXu5j15EjBHn8-oijNK8/s1600/CIMG6183.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfi43j6iPiUOTicHDqo957ZolVqkTcjU-hUp_ZDf6T7iihmYlOLvfR821uw3YkDfAoI7DC7_ydAEcPGdX2rcvw7pOwepXOlvOvRrX4feRtqKWX84_a3jZxDYoKXu5j15EjBHn8-oijNK8/s320/CIMG6183.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557067124126211090" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn61P9vqy8Und0VHPn4P2cZjRiCImJYg_qhaX3XztKiZ4WyDyChT0D3ZqRm7Rk9BXxVgnuhqONn-BWyZmF3PC-kbn-n_gx4hwO2P7IZAbALfFJCov0Y9mzIrrphTvJbz_-xCriQtndLOva/s1600/CIMG6191.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn61P9vqy8Und0VHPn4P2cZjRiCImJYg_qhaX3XztKiZ4WyDyChT0D3ZqRm7Rk9BXxVgnuhqONn-BWyZmF3PC-kbn-n_gx4hwO2P7IZAbALfFJCov0Y9mzIrrphTvJbz_-xCriQtndLOva/s320/CIMG6191.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557066855113936658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigiVVA8jmqvhBoff-7KLp37LEh0zwZJxx70e-r2ebk36RX7-5WPzrsMd5rRcCyVsVDDRhy4bd8hsNdhx9WW1U0dah_3KP1hqQT1cVzyq5aFpqdCY7y6SjKP-1hufsPWh566iY8PpDWxMRo/s1600/CIMG6196.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigiVVA8jmqvhBoff-7KLp37LEh0zwZJxx70e-r2ebk36RX7-5WPzrsMd5rRcCyVsVDDRhy4bd8hsNdhx9WW1U0dah_3KP1hqQT1cVzyq5aFpqdCY7y6SjKP-1hufsPWh566iY8PpDWxMRo/s320/CIMG6196.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557066583640785042" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-Ja4WXacXPyHsSp1m2BfO2fOLEGM4OvGOz5LNSMvNUbUfHaaKI2qzZSn2Zke2cO3KwAxBd0nbArcjlTQl7KIVXcIhayh2_tVK8vYzGL5r6khKp2U3zOp7tVTX2DXpNU7UVsfXVIrCkX1/s1600/CIMG6197.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-Ja4WXacXPyHsSp1m2BfO2fOLEGM4OvGOz5LNSMvNUbUfHaaKI2qzZSn2Zke2cO3KwAxBd0nbArcjlTQl7KIVXcIhayh2_tVK8vYzGL5r6khKp2U3zOp7tVTX2DXpNU7UVsfXVIrCkX1/s320/CIMG6197.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557066324443277650" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBg1ZWl9tki1yksweQRJm6Xp_e2CA-XcrNje6MmbM9m-jBpCp6eLHX2TS_U7VrlEET2TUCnwbwAK1XxQpEuajQRS-cci2s4ngWmD2zWzPwkoFvZCW3dipy4QngCciD_i34qW_BJmJp_R2P/s1600/CIMG6201.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBg1ZWl9tki1yksweQRJm6Xp_e2CA-XcrNje6MmbM9m-jBpCp6eLHX2TS_U7VrlEET2TUCnwbwAK1XxQpEuajQRS-cci2s4ngWmD2zWzPwkoFvZCW3dipy4QngCciD_i34qW_BJmJp_R2P/s320/CIMG6201.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557066040748276274" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Aunt Julia's homemade cupcake topper hat!</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OtCe8HQRy6Q307uRy6eNiNjDfLusTvi5sQGV3j6-R00GmcZWn1gZtVA7r9-5zF1yBBaxPtlE3j31TXVl0SCe9EWtZItbSEHI8LkZKM784AAnyRRnrfN5qu0IqzJs_xiNSIgy9IHH4OeZ/s1600/CIMG6204.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OtCe8HQRy6Q307uRy6eNiNjDfLusTvi5sQGV3j6-R00GmcZWn1gZtVA7r9-5zF1yBBaxPtlE3j31TXVl0SCe9EWtZItbSEHI8LkZKM784AAnyRRnrfN5qu0IqzJs_xiNSIgy9IHH4OeZ/s320/CIMG6204.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557065687065694930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNoTlpcEepIwp9bI78pFgWD4p1tu_UlBtkNr7YnznePohkmxQc3FGE5lsezU9NyDgup7lhyphenhyphen45V7bwXVA3Dr9WQ2dIrQUVlX5D3X8PsDuRKWFfW_r9KSmCwpnjtj8phlzAEHxy7qPNtAYf/s1600/CIMG6217.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNoTlpcEepIwp9bI78pFgWD4p1tu_UlBtkNr7YnznePohkmxQc3FGE5lsezU9NyDgup7lhyphenhyphen45V7bwXVA3Dr9WQ2dIrQUVlX5D3X8PsDuRKWFfW_r9KSmCwpnjtj8phlzAEHxy7qPNtAYf/s320/CIMG6217.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557065398263844898" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTg2LJR-QJ0p0ZlbNMAIBMHlZ2zXYlGbOnrSfb56dYRCljwZPb5wZrMMYUPhr8WRj2XnfNv0zk_jl_AVp_1KK9uehT3rc8AqVz1bVeQizH35lbRI06hSOwy787oagmuGfSJvE0AVJ-UKB/s1600/CIMG6219.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTg2LJR-QJ0p0ZlbNMAIBMHlZ2zXYlGbOnrSfb56dYRCljwZPb5wZrMMYUPhr8WRj2XnfNv0zk_jl_AVp_1KK9uehT3rc8AqVz1bVeQizH35lbRI06hSOwy787oagmuGfSJvE0AVJ-UKB/s320/CIMG6219.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557064985164890770" /></a>A Christmas cyborg, sent back through time, to wish a bright, joyful, Merry Christmas to all...</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TX-5s1BYoZkr00iCBz4pa6yY8VdvKyMteisEGPlrCYlc1YvZIy9Lqb3N2IvgpRD0Vm5nxL0RtY3kXE3REY06KJM9BNGN9i6TAREQY_IYh4KF-UOA4_pS_Vy0S1V7WfrDt5DtX408fnzS/s1600/CIMG6221.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TX-5s1BYoZkr00iCBz4pa6yY8VdvKyMteisEGPlrCYlc1YvZIy9Lqb3N2IvgpRD0Vm5nxL0RtY3kXE3REY06KJM9BNGN9i6TAREQY_IYh4KF-UOA4_pS_Vy0S1V7WfrDt5DtX408fnzS/s320/CIMG6221.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557064290176326610" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">... and to all a good night!!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYYhWU72O6C6MFxB6mq_nSB_bTxw4FJXqxU9PJJbgPPYmBNRjk6iIrKttkJNXmUB5zjszpyKghSHrazrOjpX3t1RYbq_q0YQukrPekQG71gouFe7Ch1FJi_81ddgQLT4EnNdl-arxpyJP/s1600/CIMG6223.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYYhWU72O6C6MFxB6mq_nSB_bTxw4FJXqxU9PJJbgPPYmBNRjk6iIrKttkJNXmUB5zjszpyKghSHrazrOjpX3t1RYbq_q0YQukrPekQG71gouFe7Ch1FJi_81ddgQLT4EnNdl-arxpyJP/s320/CIMG6223.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557062878222863138" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">My baby brother Brian, who, this very night, became a father for the very first time! </div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0daF2HNOJBTDPJpnr5jk3kXWhRL-tBxXxInrw0NaiFRzJgUcEDWoH-VIt67AcjbzeBYb2EIQkSCEVH-_yyBO04WVhmu1uwJ0GRGpDZ2LfmfLZ9FxSjsmn7TExnCGD6f0rYiyCyX5X3K0T/s1600/CIMG6232.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0daF2HNOJBTDPJpnr5jk3kXWhRL-tBxXxInrw0NaiFRzJgUcEDWoH-VIt67AcjbzeBYb2EIQkSCEVH-_yyBO04WVhmu1uwJ0GRGpDZ2LfmfLZ9FxSjsmn7TExnCGD6f0rYiyCyX5X3K0T/s320/CIMG6232.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557062332957281986" /></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyHcii1-xvbqmuZRwsghwIyFn3wM-5ns6rJYfJqbvJUfbsslkpPHhE1Njqkt3eIWqwttRBXkYLvY67B2ZKQrw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxd1LJRCV_sYRQzAN5iFP7BHlYYINBN-3QQZXhDvcYF5v1x-QRk5ZbXyQ7lnIktcV6yJCDocXIbEMsGod-ktA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>Marissa's new favorite activity: Stoma Farts!</div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz1tCuK4UYx5ukobvqqcNCYb1RovTq2xuIk_xq2ehoA7LUsXjaLr0m9czbphaBu1NAu6i9iqk-d9wIgu9lgdA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061378391288892565noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531603936028461696.post-51177856525795650092010-11-30T20:09:00.004-07:002010-11-30T21:10:10.361-07:00Bah! Humbug!<div>I don't really know why, but I have found myself in a rut lately. I just haven't felt like blogging, or reading other people's blogs for that matter. I know, it sucks for me to say that, but I'm just being honest. I hate it. I love all my blog friends and I truly love all your kiddos and I enjoy reading about them. But sometimes the reality and sadness of this special life overwhelms me and I just can't bring myself to read. Please be assured that it is only a temporary hiatus. I love you all too much to stay away for too long. Also, please never doubt that I pray daily for you and your kiddos. So, I will be catching up on all your blogs soon. Sorry I have stayed away so long. I know how important this support system is.<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left; ">I know it is still early, but I am having a particularly hard time getting into the Christmas Spirit this year. I don't know why, but it is bad enough that I actually considered not putting up decorations or a tree this year. Don't panic, Mom, we <i>are</i> going to. We realize how important it is for Marissa. Something so awesome happened with Marissa and Halloween this year. She got so excited and actually understood the meaning behind a holiday for the first time. It wasn't even about the candy for her, obviously. It was the pure joy and spirit of the holiday that was so fun for her. So we can't deprive her of that same joy at Christmas.</div><div style="text-align: left; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: left; ">As we speak, I am listening to Christmas music, trying to get in the spirit. Christmas is one of my favorite holidays and I love the lights, decorations, and gifts, family and friend gatherings, songs, and such. Of course, more than that, the only gift that really matters, our Savior, Jesus Christ. But I am just having a hard time this year. Maybe it is the fact that every year, it hits the stores earlier and earlier. This year, Kohl's had a big section of the store set up for Christmas in the middle of September! It was still officially Summer! Insane!</div><div style="text-align: left; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: left; ">Maybe it is all the hype that surrounds Black Friday. It is disheartening to know that some people actually skipped Thanksgiving, a time they should be gathered around family and friends giving thanks for all the <i>true</i> blessings in their lives, to camp out in front of stores starting Wednesday last week, just so they could get good deals on stuff. Things. Trinkets. Sad.</div><div style="text-align: left; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: left; ">Maybe it is <a href="http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/26/thefts-stampedes-make-black-friday-blue-for-some/">this story</a> from Black Friday. Or <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/11/26/wisconsin.shopper.threat/index.html">this one</a>. Or maybe <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/11/26/new.york.shoppers/index.html">this one</a>. C'mon people, really? Is it worth it? All of that crap just makes me lose my faith and hope in humanity and steals my Christmas spirit. </div><div style="text-align: left; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: left; ">But I am trying to get it back. I think by putting up the tree and the decorations around the house, I will be able to see the joy in my little girl's eyes and that will bring the spirit and joy back to me. </div><div style="text-align: left; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: left; ">I hate that this post has turned into a whiny, piss-n-moan post about what a bad mood I'm in lately, so I will stop all that now. In the spirit of Christmas, I decided we all should break out our special Christmas PJs and I took a few pictures of Rissa and Jeremy in in theirs:</div><div style="text-align: left; "><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9yifrKJ8tmdyJC5GbYZIb85teh3VC26v4M1yd60VbBYp0-HgQz2WRaLfiKs_LMSDWEddI_vzt_57-TL922Mbc6n2RJbvqGgSWNauR65ykRj3UU0oipsdWQ4KHUhs_9JdW1nG71fp6i8K/s1600/CIMG6107.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9yifrKJ8tmdyJC5GbYZIb85teh3VC26v4M1yd60VbBYp0-HgQz2WRaLfiKs_LMSDWEddI_vzt_57-TL922Mbc6n2RJbvqGgSWNauR65ykRj3UU0oipsdWQ4KHUhs_9JdW1nG71fp6i8K/s320/CIMG6107.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545546280846882850" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyS229znHyX4MfELY1lejRNenhdx0iHykTm5P_i0tfquQPU3WADiumOfskxZgEH6FiyFqqvVAiDTGOWl5j3oL-uZQ3RRdUK7LyQPBIk3m5OO_k6rLhjZUMWzoFDaPsYGiRMzDxt0GUjrp/s1600/CIMG6111.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyS229znHyX4MfELY1lejRNenhdx0iHykTm5P_i0tfquQPU3WADiumOfskxZgEH6FiyFqqvVAiDTGOWl5j3oL-uZQ3RRdUK7LyQPBIk3m5OO_k6rLhjZUMWzoFDaPsYGiRMzDxt0GUjrp/s320/CIMG6111.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545546090960738306" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdELjj3pGKJOQ4rd0WtGrLAUZ12oaIifdY0-sBmp6TqfROqc1N8dSixd_QiQt4ZkLpiq4BBwEAgfJwWqAZPK8lAe2_0fqDbAWdHMuMGcOkEuA_i2Xwpks4uiV2OKZjjKFaOre1lHkgEoDJ/s1600/CIMG6120.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdELjj3pGKJOQ4rd0WtGrLAUZ12oaIifdY0-sBmp6TqfROqc1N8dSixd_QiQt4ZkLpiq4BBwEAgfJwWqAZPK8lAe2_0fqDbAWdHMuMGcOkEuA_i2Xwpks4uiV2OKZjjKFaOre1lHkgEoDJ/s320/CIMG6120.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545545937496173314" /></a>Elmo, of course! She was so excited when she saw them. She gasped with a wide open mouth and said "WOW!!!" It was adorable!<div><br /></div><div>I guess I would be remiss if I didn't update on how Marissa is doing in school. She is absolutely loving it and is doing so well fitting in with her classmates and teachers. I take her to school each day and the bus brings her home. She has already brought home several awesome art projects she completed. She just loves everything about school, and we are so happy and proud of her!</div>Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061378391288892565noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531603936028461696.post-39375968828168225912010-11-08T16:02:00.002-07:002010-11-08T16:20:46.361-07:00School Days<div style="text-align: left;">Marissa made her big debut at school today!</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't think I followed up on <a href="http://marissalynne-07.blogspot.com/2010/10/good-problem-to-have.html">this post</a>, but we had her Child Find evaluation and IEP and she qualified for all services. While she is not globally delayed, like she was a year ago, she is still quite delayed in many areas. Plus, she really needs the social interaction with her peers that has been lacking all these years. So today was the day! HOORAY!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnCBrFu4k-FbLg47FfiPvy1nz329-8cokMzHgbvjlonXfOKwMMjyNKVK55f_rpRPa3eCiIE75zY3OY9Auzeek3E-sGqevOe8k69to_leL0-qvZH7LGv-jadfZyrA17K6ThumDJ4C4O2bp/s1600/CIMG6013.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnCBrFu4k-FbLg47FfiPvy1nz329-8cokMzHgbvjlonXfOKwMMjyNKVK55f_rpRPa3eCiIE75zY3OY9Auzeek3E-sGqevOe8k69to_leL0-qvZH7LGv-jadfZyrA17K6ThumDJ4C4O2bp/s320/CIMG6013.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537311255181897618" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7gNimEgQU1t56_JwElDReQ0Re_xxqjSbHl4rOiml4a56a0VTwvrp4EXH8DmplO8p4_pGdEv7vJzhUTNBMEOdzmeIbkC49CDcEPlMsv6P6z_FAW_AON6YS2j65XSZVz3UWd2YmPUOtXsP/s320/CIMG6016.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537316107324283474" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;">Sporting the new Elmo & Zoe backpack Miss Janay made her!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_mS33-x07_wG_XRsIb-U292srpONJ-riNIjKD-26gsIHyWKJ1DpdFNfeMuCH3Ps0rnUlQEmPfrtZYsOHcg_E0Zuo7QInwCHBSb-lzpKChGevktqrQyaIbl4zaTdBJSDlULLIvqpwPUb5/s1600/CIMG6019.JPG"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_mS33-x07_wG_XRsIb-U292srpONJ-riNIjKD-26gsIHyWKJ1DpdFNfeMuCH3Ps0rnUlQEmPfrtZYsOHcg_E0Zuo7QInwCHBSb-lzpKChGevktqrQyaIbl4zaTdBJSDlULLIvqpwPUb5/s1600/CIMG6019.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_mS33-x07_wG_XRsIb-U292srpONJ-riNIjKD-26gsIHyWKJ1DpdFNfeMuCH3Ps0rnUlQEmPfrtZYsOHcg_E0Zuo7QInwCHBSb-lzpKChGevktqrQyaIbl4zaTdBJSDlULLIvqpwPUb5/s320/CIMG6019.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537310949372161922" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xmV5dW85KUUsfeb_UJz4PZMBtZ3qAVjSU7hrGSw8s-uHxwSckbYa-R8N7hnkQP58Dwi6Kyw4NgL6DEG3Yuz6KNpDM82ruDFIkbrZ42yiio1BzE05C-tijeS0TrAQW63d2S65QGj2oAaK/s1600/CIMG6023.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xmV5dW85KUUsfeb_UJz4PZMBtZ3qAVjSU7hrGSw8s-uHxwSckbYa-R8N7hnkQP58Dwi6Kyw4NgL6DEG3Yuz6KNpDM82ruDFIkbrZ42yiio1BzE05C-tijeS0TrAQW63d2S65QGj2oAaK/s320/CIMG6023.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537310738938296178" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHbaSZA_BfaoIhTsFASDTl9m2mOOYJnls3mEJ_DBR_9Z3QmgENwgVQBVWd8m_hCncEGoV_zcQgj6RwhBZMrhFxWpuTTbMCYUKShBbf6O6XJpLNhljSTh0CYz4d7bmsAQIczhSQvWt-wo-/s1600/CIMG6025.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHbaSZA_BfaoIhTsFASDTl9m2mOOYJnls3mEJ_DBR_9Z3QmgENwgVQBVWd8m_hCncEGoV_zcQgj6RwhBZMrhFxWpuTTbMCYUKShBbf6O6XJpLNhljSTh0CYz4d7bmsAQIczhSQvWt-wo-/s320/CIMG6025.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537308832160997410" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaSUOnzA-vPNlgAZDscSIqQABBa5S6YyZoqAASUf0U8bieTjFRBfSq5JWwZo4DAU_B6kQ7zlDRZdFRowBgmdDmKn31glRLviqY_D_u0HYPaF17nYJ3t4LMy4BSBvCl0n-XEBnJg-oUWnTA/s1600/CIMG6027.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaSUOnzA-vPNlgAZDscSIqQABBa5S6YyZoqAASUf0U8bieTjFRBfSq5JWwZo4DAU_B6kQ7zlDRZdFRowBgmdDmKn31glRLviqY_D_u0HYPaF17nYJ3t4LMy4BSBvCl0n-XEBnJg-oUWnTA/s320/CIMG6027.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537308601439831826" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Waiting for the teacher to come get us for the start of school. We were the first to arrive!</div></div><div><br /></div><div>I went to her first day with her so I could get a feeling for what her day will be like. Tomorrow, though, she will be on her own. What a bittersweet experience! I know she will do fine. She's already made some cool little friends and enjoys playing with everyone and everything. </div><div><br /></div><div>We are so proud of her taking this next step!</div>Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061378391288892565noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531603936028461696.post-82306607416754709872010-11-07T07:32:00.000-07:002010-11-07T07:54:41.937-07:00Better Late Than Never<div>So here's Halloween, finally!</div><div><br /></div><div>A couple of weeks ago we got together with our trach family and had an awesome party hosted by <a href="http://milostones.blogspot.com/">Milo and his Mom, Janay</a>. It was so good to see everyone. Marissa and Faith got to show off their newly naked necks and everyone had a great time!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_7FYtJW8n3UJ8e-xyL2lo1u8KO8f0LuKk2AQiQGbu0yAAHnlQv3H7kKd3XB4Ff1msd-CflHEwQxbWcAG5CopDZyW3r_KC6kxAqvm07nA9JCZ6zTGZ4M58eZ8bdWU2gAotjNev0WtXroT/s1600/CIMG5924.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_7FYtJW8n3UJ8e-xyL2lo1u8KO8f0LuKk2AQiQGbu0yAAHnlQv3H7kKd3XB4Ff1msd-CflHEwQxbWcAG5CopDZyW3r_KC6kxAqvm07nA9JCZ6zTGZ4M58eZ8bdWU2gAotjNev0WtXroT/s320/CIMG5924.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536285781936862738" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXq0KA9VTS7oAZAInwBMt6UxUxJw-Xl3yuNMQm1U4FUIuQYZl5RwHViu5NUBb3w-qUM0WRTkRwLU3h1gkwwntFblyQDl9GGd72qOXc-DjOETJVbCfz1yHP6iu_5T1HmlaG57X1Kowo6C0X/s1600/CIMG5927.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXq0KA9VTS7oAZAInwBMt6UxUxJw-Xl3yuNMQm1U4FUIuQYZl5RwHViu5NUBb3w-qUM0WRTkRwLU3h1gkwwntFblyQDl9GGd72qOXc-DjOETJVbCfz1yHP6iu_5T1HmlaG57X1Kowo6C0X/s320/CIMG5927.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536285553624303314" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMy2x67eeP0c9ojRCwHQzP2LqhzgGNXU4pguBm0lFtY-EOm4Qlt_I9rDxvZuIHZ5pbgraBzN7dQ86TwwNFB7VKWeF_UlPpjhP9AeqjbkXAyiwSoHkU70LlJOjRnJy-dtSgg-tfHolN2GqV/s1600/CIMG5931.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMy2x67eeP0c9ojRCwHQzP2LqhzgGNXU4pguBm0lFtY-EOm4Qlt_I9rDxvZuIHZ5pbgraBzN7dQ86TwwNFB7VKWeF_UlPpjhP9AeqjbkXAyiwSoHkU70LlJOjRnJy-dtSgg-tfHolN2GqV/s320/CIMG5931.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536285249253550898" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignFTw1ZBeEXlwpmOyiV35E74IdEGRXqNiYcvHks2ogzPvpJTY2qXbtUhdwd7wGjWdLoVo2pATnJoIdlRs3u23noSgm_fHeN5GrWhT-t72RljTuyTIVBmXjUl2XCpmZIjZic0vkdoPrGo9/s1600/CIMG5933.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignFTw1ZBeEXlwpmOyiV35E74IdEGRXqNiYcvHks2ogzPvpJTY2qXbtUhdwd7wGjWdLoVo2pATnJoIdlRs3u23noSgm_fHeN5GrWhT-t72RljTuyTIVBmXjUl2XCpmZIjZic0vkdoPrGo9/s320/CIMG5933.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536284854767284338" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgishYo3GUhnNWK6J05Csgo5rlbnZM-11yop7JmW3_l3QlRDg1D7kz2Vn9XvhkwARAaxpw7WFHKeeLv0DjOLLpAunrDonoCpnP_ovCGoI0-hnHPXS5638y_jsYaa6vIZi6LapxUxf-psR/s1600/CIMG5948.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgishYo3GUhnNWK6J05Csgo5rlbnZM-11yop7JmW3_l3QlRDg1D7kz2Vn9XvhkwARAaxpw7WFHKeeLv0DjOLLpAunrDonoCpnP_ovCGoI0-hnHPXS5638y_jsYaa6vIZi6LapxUxf-psR/s320/CIMG5948.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536284582540438978" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXmsrUiVMIlIrPWuhTIP9jhcny1BDzrmY6TxxnMDWDO0BiEdJXXqDfp1jY9qW_9SnhbL7FEYsnR_noEJbGJdRJ7ZUTT6SZcKqANNZO-cf-UBx2sZvgo2B6K5vAkibpoJH8gtpoFtVIJ3t/s1600/CIMG5952.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXmsrUiVMIlIrPWuhTIP9jhcny1BDzrmY6TxxnMDWDO0BiEdJXXqDfp1jY9qW_9SnhbL7FEYsnR_noEJbGJdRJ7ZUTT6SZcKqANNZO-cf-UBx2sZvgo2B6K5vAkibpoJH8gtpoFtVIJ3t/s320/CIMG5952.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536284316284869794" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aGeASyY9S9ZHdbuwYrdHTfxspwlueBRri5NZHLOfnkUf8gPxOniYqv7Pe5sD5Db7ZdTNNfIQJXCM3r-CWwR1vC5NLfH_XSv2KgsjLi9a6V6bj6uSTIFk4-wUWGo8OxvdDgraB5_UwelW/s1600/CIMG5960.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aGeASyY9S9ZHdbuwYrdHTfxspwlueBRri5NZHLOfnkUf8gPxOniYqv7Pe5sD5Db7ZdTNNfIQJXCM3r-CWwR1vC5NLfH_XSv2KgsjLi9a6V6bj6uSTIFk4-wUWGo8OxvdDgraB5_UwelW/s320/CIMG5960.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536284069638596834" /></a>For Halloween, we went to our friend's house and had a party/costume parade/trick-or-treating. Marissa just loved being in her costume but was a little taken aback when she saw <i>everyone</i> was dressed up! Batman with his mask really kind of freaked her out for a while. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5-Z-9SiEew5XX9LQC5g6VLRjDcyN2gbUSd5MoZDpFydaSNVTxwAT2aXzAXfDX2tOrnjMM1SiBOZd3cHCeFzJO9-CEvtuqcp72adjrC2ds1SIUkRi5WznA-lW4OeULGw1QP1J7nAbcMl9/s1600/CIMG5984.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5-Z-9SiEew5XX9LQC5g6VLRjDcyN2gbUSd5MoZDpFydaSNVTxwAT2aXzAXfDX2tOrnjMM1SiBOZd3cHCeFzJO9-CEvtuqcp72adjrC2ds1SIUkRi5WznA-lW4OeULGw1QP1J7nAbcMl9/s320/CIMG5984.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536283832046768930" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Making friends with Junie B. Jones</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFnDTn6Dq2-wXMT88aJGubIIN3r1NJt8o036AnQcENHkBTI5RhhVL-d5TeVEq9nGpVXT1Hkm5rw8DNdhtJjthv-kFqtaUU0ae0KdLdr2mGiYBfPVl8rnFxHQ6_oFuKAxrVZcU3445OZFU/s1600/CIMG5986.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFnDTn6Dq2-wXMT88aJGubIIN3r1NJt8o036AnQcENHkBTI5RhhVL-d5TeVEq9nGpVXT1Hkm5rw8DNdhtJjthv-kFqtaUU0ae0KdLdr2mGiYBfPVl8rnFxHQ6_oFuKAxrVZcU3445OZFU/s320/CIMG5986.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536283614924707090" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcb93k6NqtzEvbSVf0pHHSsfV8WR156RgHl21V19DXmAAA0mUUxgcrpb39mBhUNbEhRwWd7P1xcuVEaEfGgB3nHaj4w1OhzSJBBEfdat8lXkoR4kdFT9izzq6VR3DrO63jum2uKbuyoGrv/s1600/CIMG5989.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcb93k6NqtzEvbSVf0pHHSsfV8WR156RgHl21V19DXmAAA0mUUxgcrpb39mBhUNbEhRwWd7P1xcuVEaEfGgB3nHaj4w1OhzSJBBEfdat8lXkoR4kdFT9izzq6VR3DrO63jum2uKbuyoGrv/s320/CIMG5989.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536283225011846306" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IfE7dPxtUze-_8oA1xJpzOsy4xOcZtKlfnINJvYHJNFqRsS3NOC1PPJLAnqjv9E_-1T623ThVZLmOdBYtvFxqhBtPiHFRxWAm54YArTAJPtRvSGjhvpLRg9nX584-Nq1Qa17IbtW51DZ/s1600/CIMG5990.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IfE7dPxtUze-_8oA1xJpzOsy4xOcZtKlfnINJvYHJNFqRsS3NOC1PPJLAnqjv9E_-1T623ThVZLmOdBYtvFxqhBtPiHFRxWAm54YArTAJPtRvSGjhvpLRg9nX584-Nq1Qa17IbtW51DZ/s320/CIMG5990.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536282997921299282" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-U_P9Ms4kgBOiGbM27IeBPMfwMuZODkIFl138mXe0gqqybqe0ZiBxB5oDRWelokaThi7kkwWmfm3-8cc-kk_6uERU5yJ3mWsXrMAqG4hEKrtpt7RRxXVRcJANJRXzcgoS1RAf3pcnjoB_/s1600/CIMG6003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-U_P9Ms4kgBOiGbM27IeBPMfwMuZODkIFl138mXe0gqqybqe0ZiBxB5oDRWelokaThi7kkwWmfm3-8cc-kk_6uERU5yJ3mWsXrMAqG4hEKrtpt7RRxXVRcJANJRXzcgoS1RAf3pcnjoB_/s320/CIMG6003.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536282701327643394" /></a>Jeremy and I just loved watching Marissa trick-or-treat. She had so much fun going from house to house, holding up her little bag, and yelling "TRICK-OR-TREAT!!" as loud as she possibly could! She was also very polite and said "thank you" at every house. She had so much fun, she has talked about trick-or-treating every day for the last week!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9UF11Zalu3FdIzuiQ3hp1Gxku-FN-iTHnD7XBQqTK63INQ5xLYpKWGci6bfF2JX0qF3c55mOBUWVde5wLzyv50Vb5bl0Q1QhwFCR_PfUSdXm4OVlC9Lks1IhuM0MuZYUxg4O2-txJiMQ/s1600/CIMG6005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9UF11Zalu3FdIzuiQ3hp1Gxku-FN-iTHnD7XBQqTK63INQ5xLYpKWGci6bfF2JX0qF3c55mOBUWVde5wLzyv50Vb5bl0Q1QhwFCR_PfUSdXm4OVlC9Lks1IhuM0MuZYUxg4O2-txJiMQ/s320/CIMG6005.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536282429721090226" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmJHzy5-zZsIVNcQU0YqbDjzFkQqsJv1PVwdmm1LIgVHdGJCX8_alSpnZJnKSdx_ckdoLpzKAS-TVB2ZznuajnCR-b_XbnXZh-WCuk-C3segpm6IkHJE8vEJXRVNhg3zLSC_7l4PvQoJ2/s1600/CIMG6008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmJHzy5-zZsIVNcQU0YqbDjzFkQqsJv1PVwdmm1LIgVHdGJCX8_alSpnZJnKSdx_ckdoLpzKAS-TVB2ZznuajnCR-b_XbnXZh-WCuk-C3segpm6IkHJE8vEJXRVNhg3zLSC_7l4PvQoJ2/s320/CIMG6008.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536282120950688370" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPgChF7zM4q6-QEPP_tv5odjPZfSDqMfRPRmAX5pye2LnPuNZvmzlDkHwNGsQsvDJ4Z4FwwoflvHiWLpC4gsiUCEsHGLwkVcUBzddEDuJaloYHa4uv3sb_4iPGlz7IRWxv5WpPk4BWmgw/s1600/CIMG6010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPgChF7zM4q6-QEPP_tv5odjPZfSDqMfRPRmAX5pye2LnPuNZvmzlDkHwNGsQsvDJ4Z4FwwoflvHiWLpC4gsiUCEsHGLwkVcUBzddEDuJaloYHa4uv3sb_4iPGlz7IRWxv5WpPk4BWmgw/s320/CIMG6010.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536281379588739954" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPXR4MZdFzA95clN8L7vJdor7bUrxUNgqKvzVWqxBchGWMcRA665yNtmymparm820u66MjEDcCrCvhvuEuFBGUA4V-aY5dIEF9-vXpv8AcI3DofcFfoofTvcSMouRHIpCV9cMxaCjszkQ/s1600/CIMG6011.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPXR4MZdFzA95clN8L7vJdor7bUrxUNgqKvzVWqxBchGWMcRA665yNtmymparm820u66MjEDcCrCvhvuEuFBGUA4V-aY5dIEF9-vXpv8AcI3DofcFfoofTvcSMouRHIpCV9cMxaCjszkQ/s320/CIMG6011.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536281031261651890" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4DddU5Z5Oj4H632nPCqKwIHN0mv-iymXPx38j6d9SeVBByOZrNIV-kmu_RaaEXQbOIEzXXIIgg3CGYKJXgQ3__rBTptlyPRgqAUVl4-WP0_qKSrE3mxx22CyWAvZhfSaOnekqmc6LIcj4/s1600/CIMG6012.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4DddU5Z5Oj4H632nPCqKwIHN0mv-iymXPx38j6d9SeVBByOZrNIV-kmu_RaaEXQbOIEzXXIIgg3CGYKJXgQ3__rBTptlyPRgqAUVl4-WP0_qKSrE3mxx22CyWAvZhfSaOnekqmc6LIcj4/s320/CIMG6012.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536280045580604658" /></a><div>Currently, we are preparing for a very big week here at Rissa's house. More on that later...</div><div><br /></div>Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061378391288892565noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531603936028461696.post-60363433993949115952010-10-20T07:55:00.004-06:002010-10-20T09:00:48.900-06:00She's a Hippie Chick...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRb0HOW1L-bpNOPW0j5Cj9YahpKrjmruc1a4OHXl_lUMaV1LLdoSxVgDffCOQaRdXoMdsLAvjBe7duCsSGAkowQ-TpnZ17_a40J0GTN7Ee9NJG-Tzi1r74w8FUsZ5uXrtr9DoAqyVc5FPx/s1600/CIMG5968.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRb0HOW1L-bpNOPW0j5Cj9YahpKrjmruc1a4OHXl_lUMaV1LLdoSxVgDffCOQaRdXoMdsLAvjBe7duCsSGAkowQ-TpnZ17_a40J0GTN7Ee9NJG-Tzi1r74w8FUsZ5uXrtr9DoAqyVc5FPx/s320/CIMG5968.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530129056474681106" /></a>Marissa had an appointment with her orthopedist about her hips yesterday. We were actually supposed to see her in July, but due to a very busy Summer, we just now got around to it. If you recall from <a href="http://marissalynne-07.blogspot.com/2010/01/hips-dont-lie.html">a post I wrote back in January</a>, Marissa has hip dysplasia and the ortho wants to keep an eye on it. Back then, Marissa was popping her left hip out of place. Since she started back in PT in February, she has not been popping her hip. Yay! Through PT and wearing her AFOs, her muscles, joints, and ligaments have become stronger. <div><br /></div><div>First, I was very impressed with how Rissa handled the x-ray and appointment yesterday. I have explained to her in the past that the x-ray is just a big camera and that we are just taking pictures of her and there will be no owies. She has always screamed and cried through every x-ray ever taken of her, and that is a lot! Yesterday, she finally believed me and even volunteered to get up on the table. She even yelled "cheese!"! No tears! Then, when it was time for the doctor to examine her, she still didn't cry! I am so glad she was able to take this appointment in stride and realize no one was going to hurt her.</div><div><br /></div><div>The doctor said she is pleased with how Rissa presented clinically. I told her about how she is not popping her hip anymore. She examined her, feeling her hips as Marissa moved her legs in different ways. The doctor said she feels so much stronger. That's great news!</div><div><br /></div><div>But...</div><div><br /></div><div>She did say she still has some concerns when looking at the x-rays. She showed me how her right hip is properly formed, with the ball of the leg bone fitting correctly into the cup of the hip, and how the cup is also properly formed, with the ability to keep the ball joint in place. But the left hip cup is more open, allowing the ball joint to slip out. Not good.</div><div><br /></div><div>She did say that the right hip has "remodeled" itself quite nicely since her last x-rays. She said that kid's bodies, up until the age of four, have the ability to remodel their joints and bones to a certain extent. Very interesting! So she wants to see Rissa again shortly after she turns four, in March or April. If her left hip has not remodeled itself by then, the doctor said we would "have concern that it won't and we'll have to look at other solutions". Which means surgery. Blech.</div><div><br /></div><div>I just can't think about that right now. Our hopes and dreams for Rissa's next Summer include getting her trach stoma surgically closed in May (yep, it is not going to close on its own. Bummer.) so there will be plenty of time for her to swim, dig in the dirt and sand, and just generally have a "normal" Summer. It definitely does not include her being locked in a cast for quite some time, recovering from hip surgery. Please pray with us that her hip remodels itself in the next six months and we can forget about surgery. Our kiddo deserves to finally get on with the business of just being a kid, don't ya think?</div><div><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWR9p21TwL4ZhRp2yLwjoCXaOKElfzecQl8F-l4ORL_dYN6y4_sfIv3sbvU2g8Hd-J7tT68BvpCxhlNcJf5sScyJenCIkncnVt-EyPvUrhuJ5SPU45cDZ4GcvoGyPnB49H1lTQc-VjK4jQ/s1600/CIMG5974.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWR9p21TwL4ZhRp2yLwjoCXaOKElfzecQl8F-l4ORL_dYN6y4_sfIv3sbvU2g8Hd-J7tT68BvpCxhlNcJf5sScyJenCIkncnVt-EyPvUrhuJ5SPU45cDZ4GcvoGyPnB49H1lTQc-VjK4jQ/s320/CIMG5974.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530128756630361026" /></a></div></div>Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061378391288892565noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531603936028461696.post-66693908703695559282010-10-08T16:52:00.003-06:002010-10-08T21:57:59.733-06:00A Good Problem to Have<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMOAdxqFywGauflLoDkqShrfcOymzFH4xOhkynhcqmGFY45TFj4TWqsMTDqrD3fOE1h9RbK-CQVrIyDuKGidXbYWfE5VCMT0mP6Gi9MpxthActrmWXZHpMyvTkv66eEkjbJWl1cFzpBM6/s1600/CIMG5918.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMOAdxqFywGauflLoDkqShrfcOymzFH4xOhkynhcqmGFY45TFj4TWqsMTDqrD3fOE1h9RbK-CQVrIyDuKGidXbYWfE5VCMT0mP6Gi9MpxthActrmWXZHpMyvTkv66eEkjbJWl1cFzpBM6/s320/CIMG5918.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525890621832297122" /></a><br />Marissa is scheduled to start school Monday, November 1. <div><br /></div><div>That is, if she still qualifies.</div><div><br /></div><div>Last year, when we did Marissa's IEP in December, she was still pretty delayed. She was only 2 1/2 and she was behind her peers enough that she qualified for all services, 4 days a week, 2.75 hours a day. She was not very verbally communicative and did not really understand how to follow directions well. I knew that we would not be enrolling her in school until this Fall because of the hopeful decannulation. Therefore, we would need to reassess her abilities and needs, being as it was so long ago when she was first evaluated.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, when I called the <a href="http://www.childfindidea.org/">Child Find</a> representative for our school district this week, I was not surprised when she asked me to update her on how Marissa has been doing in the last year. Through speaking with her about how Marissa can now speak in 3-5 word sentences (she is still unintelligible a good portion of the time but there are several occasions where she speaks very well and is understood by others), and can follow not only simple directions, but complex ones as well (Jeremy asked her to get her milk. She came into the kitchen from the living room, opened the fridge, got her formula out, and handed it to Jeremy.), we figured out that she may not qualify through the Child Find program for school. She can say her ABC's, count to thirty, and knows the different colors and shapes. She sings songs with mostly the correct lyrics, and dances like no one's business.</div><div><br /></div><div>The representative did tell me that, if she does not qualify through the Child Find program, she will still probably qualify for school through the "at risk" category. This means that she functions high enough to be amongst her peers but is at risk for falling behind. In this case, she would be able to be enrolled in school, but would be put on a waiting list. We would have to wait for a child to age out of the program for her to be able to start. We do not know how long of a wait we would be looking at. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, we are beyond ecstatic to hear that our girl may be too "in step" with her peers to attend school funded through the government right now, but it sure would be nice if she could start school sooner, rather than later. One of her biggest issues is the fact that she has not been socialized like other kids her age. We have kept her isolated through the Fall/Winter months because of the trach making her more susceptible to illness. She does not necessarily know how to play with other kids her age. She does not know how to share or how to interact with them. So, if she does not qualify for schooling through the Child Find program and we have to wait to enroll her in school for the "at risk" program, I will be seeking out avenues of social interaction for Marissa, whether it is a play date group or a formal preschool, until we can enroll her for good.</div><div><br /></div><div>We are scheduled for another Child Find evaluation and IEP on Oct. 29th and that will determine what services, if any, she qualifies for. I'll be letting you know the results of that meeting as soon as I know.</div><div><br /></div><div>It is excellent news that Marissa may not have a cognitive deficit big enough to qualify her for these particular services. That is something we have worried about since we first learned of her brain anomaly at 19 weeks gestation. At this point, it is a good problem to have and we will only work that much harder to find a suitable situation for our girl. </div>Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061378391288892565noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531603936028461696.post-56119869936251350132010-10-02T21:15:00.010-06:002010-10-02T22:45:30.432-06:00Left You Hangin'<div>Sorry about that. I know Rissa got her trach out almost two weeks ago and I have not updated<div>since. We have been pretty busy. I'll catch you up on what we've been up to lately.</div><div><br /></div><div>Rissa has been doing awesome!!! If it weren't for the fact that we have to change the dressing on her stoma every day, she would not know anything was different. She is just going about her "Rissa Roo Business" as usual. In fact, just tonight, we decided to try letting her sleep without her pulse-ox for the first time in... well... her life! She and I started to catch a cold on Wednesday last week but her symptoms seemed to have dropped off. Hooray for that!</div><div><br /></div><div>Her stoma is still open. Honestly, it really hasn't gotten any smaller since the morning after decannulation. Although, we do think it may be closing, ever so slowly, from the inside out. But it is still open and we still have to keep it covered, which is a problem in itself. Marissa has such sensitive skin that the tape leaves red, irritated marks on her throat. We have tried gauze, paper tape, Band-Aids, and Tegaderm. If any of you out there have any suggestions, I'd be glad to hear them!</div><div><br /></div><div>Dr. P says her stoma might take months to fully close, and it might not close at all. She says she doesn't like to consider surgically closing the stoma until a year post-decan. We had a follow-up appointment with her yesterday and I asked her if she would consider surgically closing it next May if it hasn't closed on it's own by that point yet. It is <i>very</i> important to us that Marissa be allowed to experience a normal Summer, complete with playing in the sand and dirt, and swimming in the water, without us protecting her neck all the time. Dr. P said it is definitely doable and she will consider it if the time comes. </div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of yesterday's appointment, Dr. P said Rissa is doing so well that she doesn't need to see her for the next six months!! Isn't that awesome? So incredible!</div><div><br /></div><div>I have been taking care of my friend's son and it is going really well. Both Rissa and I enjoy having him to play with during the day. Rissa has really handled it all very well, showing very little jealousy. She loves helping me with him and I really think this was a good move for her.</div><div><br /></div><div>We are hoping to enroll her in school by the end of the month. We are so excited to move on to this next step. Rissa is so ready to meet new friends. We think she will do so well!</div><div><br /></div><div>I thought I would end this post by showing you a few fun pictures of Rissa in her old infant car seat, then and now.</div></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWiu_p9VYoALMg2vuUb2n6PghrhsjwpXWCsyd94VTLNWSwMWzfvOkJc2ey4LRx1UqA7cH1yjK-7Y6AfmkwHpiTIxi5gGf4Ri35r_QEUq4h1vL3121hDLaNuJEkNc0P2-N7EBdIgDAe-p4/s1600/DSC00388.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWiu_p9VYoALMg2vuUb2n6PghrhsjwpXWCsyd94VTLNWSwMWzfvOkJc2ey4LRx1UqA7cH1yjK-7Y6AfmkwHpiTIxi5gGf4Ri35r_QEUq4h1vL3121hDLaNuJEkNc0P2-N7EBdIgDAe-p4/s320/DSC00388.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523673518609640914" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Then...</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lb8FPQQqWrbciLjjswh2v_XBsrYWNB5hrDSg3KtSk5dsr6otva2IgGROnYLkjNOF9If2aGW0V5nKRvdnfjyRPkBe_KjtO3HRObdemazgJHvS6LviAQo1hBk6oRwN0lo2WkulOJkPUc8A/s1600/CIMG5885.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lb8FPQQqWrbciLjjswh2v_XBsrYWNB5hrDSg3KtSk5dsr6otva2IgGROnYLkjNOF9If2aGW0V5nKRvdnfjyRPkBe_KjtO3HRObdemazgJHvS6LviAQo1hBk6oRwN0lo2WkulOJkPUc8A/s320/CIMG5885.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523673426510122642" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">And now!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQdEB3mVgRY8GXNfNdx_RpQD_tx6vzEjOCnMVuJZzflI3L61klWoV4JifAL4WtiafU1UlpBIm-KtyhCk6_NyD6I1VgXRwJ5XtkaQpIngAU8AbsfWjx7RVJ82ky5x0VS7lnIJgLTmbD18E/s1600/CIMG5889.JPG"></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQdEB3mVgRY8GXNfNdx_RpQD_tx6vzEjOCnMVuJZzflI3L61klWoV4JifAL4WtiafU1UlpBIm-KtyhCk6_NyD6I1VgXRwJ5XtkaQpIngAU8AbsfWjx7RVJ82ky5x0VS7lnIJgLTmbD18E/s1600/CIMG5889.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQdEB3mVgRY8GXNfNdx_RpQD_tx6vzEjOCnMVuJZzflI3L61klWoV4JifAL4WtiafU1UlpBIm-KtyhCk6_NyD6I1VgXRwJ5XtkaQpIngAU8AbsfWjx7RVJ82ky5x0VS7lnIJgLTmbD18E/s320/CIMG5889.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523673253482571506" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Hear no evil...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29fJYwdEtHbn5cJzkTe2UaHVwGU7JZzDmorIPrFmR3D5cz8mKr5q0vOgwZK-wJ4weHB_P1AbLZTgzF-8HQ89wPw4L6YI9LiFN1QiclaRtnoRwQAD5yJ6j4kcVTbmISr-9GrtrOI8shBiu/s1600/CIMG5890.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29fJYwdEtHbn5cJzkTe2UaHVwGU7JZzDmorIPrFmR3D5cz8mKr5q0vOgwZK-wJ4weHB_P1AbLZTgzF-8HQ89wPw4L6YI9LiFN1QiclaRtnoRwQAD5yJ6j4kcVTbmISr-9GrtrOI8shBiu/s320/CIMG5890.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523673078198860738" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">See no evil...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlXOaUfhJkaLB1rm-g3RFmAdnhB5Z-ey9Y_bnJG39Awd39rGSXqSlzX_cY3pSRYddMIw9RNejwI9u3n-xrb5TGFyYg_nzVIiV6hJFQLAS-B3bizohjt3DsY8-eCaG2os9HmHXMmDJ9QuE/s1600/CIMG5891.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlXOaUfhJkaLB1rm-g3RFmAdnhB5Z-ey9Y_bnJG39Awd39rGSXqSlzX_cY3pSRYddMIw9RNejwI9u3n-xrb5TGFyYg_nzVIiV6hJFQLAS-B3bizohjt3DsY8-eCaG2os9HmHXMmDJ9QuE/s320/CIMG5891.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523672833951286226" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Speak no evil!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo5wh2a-xMfIlDTLjAiZpRX61yNI5M7LfrMxbVKRSA5mgHbNMi42FOCVJ9X22SFzWjPrBFhORwL6jp8YahYA3XYGxJJM-QpHroekCcnMjACqoZB_y2sY2uAgXSQUy2F0lrc-Obd5nZ-MwX/s1600/CIMG5895.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo5wh2a-xMfIlDTLjAiZpRX61yNI5M7LfrMxbVKRSA5mgHbNMi42FOCVJ9X22SFzWjPrBFhORwL6jp8YahYA3XYGxJJM-QpHroekCcnMjACqoZB_y2sY2uAgXSQUy2F0lrc-Obd5nZ-MwX/s320/CIMG5895.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523672555997060082" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Big girl!</div><br /><div><br /></div><div> <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy4AMVasjZAnfULkGzf7uDgbYR_dijMBheraLl7Moh94TukG-Av3kI5-zQYcub7z-EDgXtSCBNXkjv_A3_VZw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div></div>Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061378391288892565noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531603936028461696.post-45151344504437620202010-09-21T11:58:00.002-06:002015-09-26T07:37:43.536-06:00Eulogy for a Trach<div style="text-align: left;">
It was a love-hate relationship.</div>
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When it came into our lives, almost three and a half years ago, it sounded like the ugliest, most foul word we had ever heard. Tracheostomy. T-R-A-C-H-E-O-S-T-O-M-Y. </div>
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A silicone tube that would be placed in a surgical opening in our daughter's throat. An artificial airway that would be secured in place by cloth ties constantly around her neck. A tiny little piece of medical technology that would take so much time and care that we felt as though we paid as much attention to it as we did to our daughter herself.</div>
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But we quickly realized that this little tiny piece of silicone would allow our daughter to breathe because she was not strong enough to do so on her own. It would allow her to leave the hospital, two and a half months after she was born, and come home to finally start being part of our family. It would allow her to grow and develop and get so strong. It would save her life. </div>
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This tiny, light weight little thing would become such a heavy presence in our lives. We had to learn how to care for it, keep it and the site clean, and what to do in an emergency, life and death situation. We had to recruit a small army of family and friends to learn this stuff as well. We could not go anywhere without a suction machine and emergency supplies. Heck, we couldn't even switch rooms in our house without taking along enough stuff to stock a hospital room. Having it meant Rissa did not filter the air she breathed normally, so she was much more susceptible to infection and illness. We had to be so vigilant as to make sure nothing fell into it, causing her to aspirate. We had to walk a fine line between keeping Marissa humidified enough, but not too much, causing her to be "juicy" and require suctioning all the time. We had to keep an eye on it all the time to make sure she did not accidently take it out, thus threatening her own life. </div>
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There were many times I resented the trach. I resented the fact that Marissa depended on it so much. I resented the fact that she would never be "normal" because of it. I resented the isolation it brought. I resented how people stared at my precious girl because of it. I resented the "club" we had been forced to join because of it, even though this club brought so many <i>awesome</i> people into our lives we would have not known without it.</div>
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In it's final days, I found myself growing sentimental about, even thankful for the trach. It changed our lives so drastically. Looking back, it made Jeremy and I stronger too. It forced us to grow up and not take life for granted. It brought to light all the trivial nonsense that seemed so important in our lives before. It made us see our daughter's inner beauty, which radiates from her like the brightest sunlight, every day. </div>
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In the end, of course, we are glad to see it go. But we are also acutely aware of how we are all better people because of it. </div>
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Thank you, Tracheostomy. You served us well.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8VlQSjE_fLkPSKpTnq3Dq6KWA1s9iX-4BBFIiWG0hq6IZtAFeqTfzmtIJJFqYkQg1o1JulqMdRQ-ueat5_lLbxQdZgPKtXGvKN7FEX9wZc9_SQQFRhEKpAMcJvwBLFvkkVHd-l6kkjzR/s1600/CIMG5820.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518722955792717938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8VlQSjE_fLkPSKpTnq3Dq6KWA1s9iX-4BBFIiWG0hq6IZtAFeqTfzmtIJJFqYkQg1o1JulqMdRQ-ueat5_lLbxQdZgPKtXGvKN7FEX9wZc9_SQQFRhEKpAMcJvwBLFvkkVHd-l6kkjzR/s320/CIMG5820.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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Mr. Trach </div>
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May 9, 2007 - September 20, 2010</div>
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RIP</div>
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<b><i>P.S. I did two posts at once, so make sure to scroll down to the next post to see more pictures and another video!</i></b></div>
Aliciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061378391288892565noreply@blogger.com7