Therapy and Therapy

We have finally gotten a grove down with all of this rehab stuff. To say that it is expensive and hard is far beyond an understatement. It might be the understatement of the month!

While having a major issue with scheduling at the rehab department and having to pull a momma bear out of her cage, we got a few things back on track.

So PCH has several locations around the Valley. One is in the East Valley and really close to our house. When we started this incredible hard journey we had to be open and honest with the doctor about our willingness to rehabilitate. So we basically had to contract to make our appointments and do the time to make the most of our surgery. We had 3 times a week the first month and then down to 2 times a week the second month.  When we were getting close to cast off time I called and made sure we had a place in the East Valley and they said it was fine and no big deal. Call when we had an exact date. I called and low and behold they were full.

SHOCKER- NOPE

So we took what we could and have been driving to downtown for the last month. 3 times a week means we fill up every single week. We miss school and we are late coming home because traffic is TOUGH in the PHX! They also cancelled ALL the time. So the momma bear part was me freaking out because we were going WEEKS in-between. WEEKS! That was not what was agreed on in office. Our therapist is also Dr.A's therapist for her CP clinic so I told them to take it up with her. Low and behold, our therapist got a bit of over time!

But it is hard work. It's a lot of work getting him into the hospital. He has finally started getting heavier over the summer and is much longer than he was. So our ability to just hoist him around is MUCH harder. But he has to work A LOT harder to get moving.

He works his core muscles more than he ever has and he mostly does a good job. Very little complaining. I am sure it doesn't hurt that we have had to start a bribing system. He knows he can ear $2 a therapy session. If he meltdowns at home, or fights or won't do his work, he has to give his money back. He has to pay his tithing out of the money and he has made sure that he counts it each week because he is working to buy a video game ( which he got on Friday!) So with 3 appointments in PHX and 2 appointments at home he can make a pretty penny.

He has done really well and is walking a lot more slowly but more independently. He is also a speed demon when he wants to be. His gait is looking good with his braces on but still pretty similar with them off.

Total kudos to Grayson who spends all 5 of those appointments trying to stay busy by himself. I do what I can to entertain him and Ty's therapist do a lot of including. He also earns a few bucks here and there or a new toy to play with. It helps us donate a bunch to the therapy places that we go to.

Grayson is So SO stinking funny at these things sometimes! Ty spends 5 full minutes on the treadmill. We need to get one of these for our house. He could use it at regular therapy at home!

Photography by Grayson on that one!

Playing Tic tac toe- But they don't understand the rules. Between each turn we have to keep our hands up while on our knees. Tough when you have no tummy muscles. 

Crawling backwards to pick up pieces for the ball runner we were putting together. After it is all done we played for a bit then finished off with a game of basketball. 

Tyler and Menaka. He was telling her a story. He lays on his back and has to stretch the medicine ball all the way to the floor then he can throw it. Sometimes he has a lot to say. But mostly we are just so proud of how hard he works. We are so proud of Grayson for being so grown up about sharing his time. But mostly we are thankful for the people who have helped us get to where we are.


Also, Troop Tyler or Team Tyler is raising money for the Hydrocephalus awareness walk here in the Phoenix Valley. It is being held October 24th in Gilbert Arizona.
Our walk page is HERE! Please sponsor us. You do not have to walk to sponsor. You can pay by check, cash or on the site. Walk for a cure is fully funding research. The Staff at HA is small and they do not make a lot of money. It truly does go to find a cure!! 

What a LONG month this has been. I have started a ten blogs about the stuff we have been doing and finished none of them. Something always comes up, or I get frustrated or the inner conflict I keep having always seems to make it so I don’t want to push publish.

T’s school year has been going. Not awesome like I had thought it would, but not so bad either. We have had some major complications with communication and major frustrations in trying to figure stuff out.

Ty had his testing done for second grade and he got 3’s out of 4’s. So he is on task for a 2nd grader in most stuff. Of course the take into account that he can’t write and that he can’t do some of the things he needs to on his own. But overall he is doing really well. Our first biggest challenge is getting them to follow his IEP. Some of the things are being over looked. I am sure not on purpose, but none the less, still being over looked.

We are also working with him on math. He is slowly grasping the concept of it but they are learning touch points and we have had to learn to adapt his ability to figure out the touch points. I tried coming up with a great idea and he seems to be catching on, for the most part.



He has done really well, he just doesn't love homework. Plus he has to do homework after we have him therapy all afternoon after school. Sometimes I am sad he just can't be a kid. We will see how well he tolerates the "normal" activities of scouts that comes after an hour of Physical therapy.



Our success of having his seizures slow down was slow lived and we are back to the drawing board and having to up his meds to a WAY higher dose. It kinda makes me sick to shut the door at night and turn off his shows because I never know if he will wake up in the morning.

We celebrated his birthday this week. I was going to do a birthday post but am going to skip it this year. There are to many private emotions that I don't want out there for others to make fun of me over ( and YES sadly there are people that would do that) and I would rather have them in a more supportive forum where those people are NOT invited to be.

However, he turned 8. Had an amazing time and three days later we are still having birthday activities. In 3 weeks he while have his baptism and we will have cooler temps and Halloween to look forward to.

Overall, we just keep plugging away. I will gain 12 hours more "work" this upcoming month and can't wait to have all my hard work FINALLY pay off. But it will and I am more determined ( thanks to those who aren't all that supportive) to succeed and keep on going. Our five year plan might even be shorter since I am more "complete" than we thought.



Oh and it looks like we will probably be in Utah again in November for a gait study ( for 2 of them) bike measurements and phenol. Then three weeks after that we will be having botox here. Next week we do orthotics and therapy and well baby checks for everyone. Guess that means flu shots all around.

Gearing up for the hunt

The economy is not fun right now. Several people that we know have been laid off in the last week or so. I can only imagine the anxiety. So, I am going to go test my anxiety and spend the day going around to health establishments and plead my skills to those who are hiring. There are so many people hiring but they take WEEKS to get back to you. I don't want WEEKS... look at my venipuncture skills NOW!!

So, wish me luck as I hit up blood banks, plasma centers and a few in between that I will find some thing good, that will enhance my skills and use my degree/certificate and help with that Darn Cobra!

So, if there is any one out there willing to hire a phlebotomist, please tell them I am experienced, a professional and I have a piece of paper that says in the state of Utah I can do it legally!! And pray that when I show off my knumchuck skills and my venipuncture skills I won't miss!

Oh and doesn't umblicial cord harvesting sound like an awesome tittle... I applied :)

Migraines, hormones and tears

Since around July 11Th I have had a headache. I would go to bed early, I would drink a coke, I would have stood on my head if I thought it would help. Some days were better than others. Thursday it hit HARD. Not just a little headache but one that got so bad that putting my head in a vice would have felt better.

It really seemed that Thursday was the day that EVERYTHING hit hard. The day started out with the small headache and I thought it would go away so I started on my daily actives. Thursday activities included Swimming lessons and a trip to my OBGYN. As I got us out the door for swimming I realized this headache was not a normal headache but I tried to wish it away.

Swimming went well and Ty loved it. Every second of it. He LOVES the water and loves that he can go under the water and climb out and jump and all that it entails. We headed after swimming right over to my docs office.

While in my docs office I realize I am NOT feeling well but I figure if I hurry we can grab lunch and take a nap. Ty had a total meltdown in the office when they brought in the shot that I was going to be getting and so I was singing to him and playing itsy bitsy while my bum was hanging out to get "the shot" of hormones that will turn the next three months into more of a sauna and well, basically into an old menopausal women. My headache at this point was so bad I couldn't remember all the medication I was taking or what i am on or not on. Or what my name was for that matter.

As we got home I figured that the headache would go away. We ate lunch and we had a crabby bubba so we headed down for a nap. A little bit after we laid down the door bell rang. Ty had OT. I canceled because I was NOT feeling well and we ha just laid down. I schedule next week and lay back down and the door bell rings again. It is our speech lady. By this time Ty is awake so we do speech and the headache didn't get wished away.

Speech ends and my respite worker gets here because Dallas is going to be hanging out with his boss from California was in town. I then realize that I am going to be spending the night on the tile in my bathroom. I call in sick to work, my respite worker takes Tyler out of my house and I strip nude, turn on the fan and fill a ice cube ziploc around my head.

I make the mistake at this point to check my mail and check my blog updates. I find and upsetting post and the tears flow. I have no where to turn with my frustrations and I am not feeling well. I am just glad that my sweet boy was gone so I didn't have to deal with him having to see me so upset.

I was so glad to have my sweet boy back and was able to get him to sleep and I had calmed down enough that I was able to enjoy him. I still had a headache and was so glad when he easily went to bed. ( I say that with all the love of a mom because I was ready to spank his behind) He hates going to sleep for mom.

I was able to talk stuff over with Dallas but still felt very betrayed by the post that was written. I sleep as much as I can and I wake up the next day with a headache that is dull but there. We have a play date and we go and enjoy the morning. I am hoping that Dallas gets the vibe that I need him to stay home with me.

The play date was just what I needed emotionally and my "friend" just gets me and I love her. Dallas gets that I need him and he stayed with me. I get an appointment with the doc and he sends me home to sleep.

That leaves me to right now. I have a SLIGHT headache but overall I am doing so much better. I am getting ready to turn in for the night. Dallas is still the loving most caring person in the world. I am still horribly disappointed in the post and I feel totally betrayed by 3 people this week. I am sad for them.

I love that I have what I have. I have Tyler who is the sweetest most amazing miracle baby in the world. I feel sad for those who never get to experience his sweet spirit. That they can't "get" why someone would be upset when you say mean things. I am glad that I have all that I need to fit my basic needs. I feel sad when I am lied to about meeting those needs. I am glad that I have a family. I can't see my family in need and I not try and share what I have.

Stay tuned. Tylers FIRST friend birthday party!!

I am slowly losing it!

I am trying so hard to keep up the facade. To keep the positive. To keep the pace with all we have to do.

I am tired.

We were doing PT 3 times a week for water therapy, regular PT, Speech once a week, OT and eye therapy. We have cut the water therapy down but we still do the others. With me working at night part time and the time of the day Ty is up for the day I am tired.

Although I am "taking medication" I am now wondering if it is working correctly. On Tuesday I literally couldn't keep my eyes open. I have no motivation and my ability to multi task and keep my appointments straight and make it to my appointments is slowly NOT working. I wonder what happened to the very put together mom that was happy, cleaned, cooked and knew where and when we were suppose to be somewhere and never missed.

I sure hope we find her soon!!!

Black (and blue) Friday!!

As the Turkey coma started wearing off and people started trickling into "the largest retailer in America" the "thankfulness" started to be a thing of the past. The true colors of "bargain shoppers" started to show through. But I digress.... The Eve of Black Friday.....

Thanksgiving was a wonderful day. I let Dallas sleep in as much as he could and we cleaned our house. Really cleaned. All the bathrooms were done, the bedrooms were cleaned and dishes were all done. Just in time to head to Florence with Grandma Warner.

Dinner was great and we loved the company. It was nice to be there and it was nice to have such a great dinner that some one else had to clean up!! We had to head out early. I had to go to work. I needed to be there by 7.

As 7pm rolled around the store was dead quiet. Most of the night crew had gotten there early and the in stock team was allready ready to go for the night. The customers were few and far between and the need for workers were getting fewer and fewer.

As the clock struck 2 we started droping the "blitz" items. We had them all wrapped up and associates standing guard. And this is when that coma induced niceness wears off.

Black friday is about to begin. People are demanding. They all want to be the first one to get that limited item. They have to be assured that they are one of the elite. Man do they get testy!!!

5am rolls around and I am going on on hour number ten. And being true to the words of that "new" commercial. EVERY LINE in the store was open. Not just a select 3 or four EVERY 22 lines were open. Cellophane was off and HELL BROKE LOOSE. Electronics was swarmed by angry bee like creatures who had been in line for that Wii since 9 pm. We were lucky no one was serioulsy ingured or trampled. And those $2.98 movies.. well they were not the place to be!!

All in all the rush was over in about 2 hours. The magical idea of EVERY line open in a Walmart faded and complaints from loving walmart customers got louder. I wonder who got the better deal...Those working and seeing the madness and craziness of the day or the people who left battled and bruised for that ten dollar item?

So what did I take home from Black friday? Season six of Sopranos for 29 bucks. And blue and purple feet from a 15 hour day. Only to be called back by 2 pm. And no ... I was not crazy enough to go. But I did make it to my shift at 7 pm....

Yep... I think I walked away crazy... and with holiday pay!!!

weird, strange and totally Random!!

So it is now almost the middle of November. I was just thinking that I needed to go through my closet ( should have done it before we moved but oh well) and take out all the things I won't wear. Those things include SWEATERS!! This is the strangest most bizarre thing to me. It is NOVEMBER. It is suppose to be chilly, brisk and a little on the cold side. OH NO!! Heat wave. The high tomorrow is 85 degrees!!! The low doesn't even get as low as the HIGH at my moms. POOR MOM and her asthma!!!

Bubba still wears shorts and I still wear capri's. Dallas would prefer to wear shorts even in the dead of winter so this is great for him. It makes the depression when it gets gray and cold a thing of the past. Makes me so happy. Oh and did I mention the sunsets...WOW

Today was one of the few days that I work in the day time. It was such a eye opener to see just how CRAZY people get. For those who don't know I work at the nations largest and most hated retail store. People are just NUTS there. It is true though that you do have to wait in endless long lines while there are 10 or 15 that are just empty. I am also that HATED person that you have to wait for in order to get help when your cashier messes up. YEP.. that is me. With the holidays approaching I can't even begin to tell you how rude these wonderful customers are. I have been yelled at so many times today. My real thought... if you don't like that there are lines, GO APPLY and get a job there. That way you don't have to wait so long. ( ok rant over)Oh, and I was helping make cakes today.. Yep you read right. They were having ME decorate cakes. It was a sad sight. I felt bad for the owners of the first cake. It had about 2 pounds of frosting... Good times.

Today Dallas was a stay at home dad to bubba. After I had been overwhelmingly busy at work and I was in a total scan and bag type moods ( read above to find out why I was on a register...... and people had to wait a LONG TIME for the key) I heard my name and looked over and saw the two most handsome men in my life. Well in the whole world actually. Dallas and Ty came so I could see them and go on my break with them. I loved seeing them and they always make me smile. When I got home, I had a bathed child, happy as could be walking back and forth and throwing a ball and laughing. AND Dallas had made zuchinni bread. It was so good.

Anyway, those are my horribly random thoughts. It is so good to be home with Dallas and I LOVED rocking Ty to sleep tonight. What a great day!!

Don't you just love days like this!!!

Ok... I have had a horrible Day..well more like night. My day has been great.

So here it goes. The week has been absolutely amazing with Dallas being home the WHOLE week. I have loved it. We have spent some much needed time together. I wish we were heading out for a date but we won't be. That's ok. But the crappy blah no good night started as I headed off for work.

I was running a little late because I wanted to have a sit down dinner with Ty and D. I got dressed in my work clothes and headed off. I always hit the light to get on to the 202 so I go down one light and flip a U. It works great and I always beat the light. I head south on the 202 from our exit and get off 3 exits later. I get off on Power and stop at the light and turn left. No big deal right. I mean I do this 5 days a week and an extra day if we get paid. WRONG!!! Tonight some JERK HITS my car. He was not driving a small little passenger car but a HUGE truck. Like a dodge or chevy truck. We pulled under the over pass and get out. Luckily there is only a small dent and a scratch. There wasn't enough damage to call the police so I left. Of course NOT getting his information because I was so rattled about what happend.

Here is what the guy explained when we got out to look. He said he was sorry. His cell phone rang and he didn't know the number and he was looking to see who it was. He crossed over the line. Then he said I guess since there isn't any "real" damage we could go. He wasn't to worried ... It was only his work truck. I WAS PISSED!!!!

There isn't much damage done to my car but the rattled nerves were enough. So I get to work and of course I am late. Oh well. I talk to the manager on tonight and we deal with what we need to. I get called to the cash office and customer service. I get there and there are some people trying to make returns on stolen stuff. Of course it looks legit but there are some things that they won't do and so we get lots of yelling and it was a mess. I get that fire out and head into the cash office where we are told to audit a few registers. We do that and no problem. As we finish the man that we had trying to return stolen stuff comes back because he didn't get his money in the return. So we have to go sit through 40 minutes of tape to see if he did or not. After making him wait we find that the cashier had taken the money out but she had so much going on by her register that she put it back. So of course he is LIVID and ready to come around and make our life hell but he refrained and just used the most colorful language and was escorted out of the store. I am sure he will be back tommmorow.

So, that leaves us behind in our money drops to get into to the cash office by the time lock out happens. I get my drops going and the night supervisors come in wondering where we are. So we go up and give report and go back to get our cash done. Some of the night bags are missing ( of course) So we run around trying to make sure that cash is out to start the day. Last registers get dropped at midnight and our last 2 registers were done after midnight. I have to clock out for lunch before 12:30 but that didn't happen. I get off my lunch and one of the 3 night supervisors tell me that I disappear and I don't do anything. I hear that from this person EVERY time she works. There are 3 of them. With 2 actual tasks and one of them gets done before midnight. Its so frustrating. So I walked to the back and went to stock a department that never gets done. If they would just ask me I would tell them where I was. I was LIVID and was so glad my shift ends at 2. Just once they should work the closing shift and see that what we do is not what they do its different.

GRRR... Ok.. Enough frustrations... They are done...


Everyone has a job to do wether it be at home as a mom or at a job that the leave the house for. No on deserves to be told they are bad at it. I know I have been one to say that someone doesn't do their job. I guess if I would just ask I would find out. I just wish somtimes the same courtesy would apply... So if anyone out there wants to know something.. JUST ASK!!!