Mason Update

Wow! Two posts in one day? This has been one of the MOST productive days I have had in awhile! Despite not going to class this morning (yes I know I am a slacker... but listen to what I did the rest of the day). So after waking up around 7 and working on some homework, I headed over to the coffee shop to hang out with Cory. I was surprised to see Danielle and Christine there with their youngsters. It was nice to see them especially since I have been working weekends and am not able to go to Community. After spending a couple hours at the coffee shop with Cory, I headed home to try and get some stuff done. As soon as I got home I turned on some music and started washing my car (for the first time in a couple of months... oops!). After washing my car I spent about 2 hours cleaning my room (again, I haven't really done ANY cleaning in about two months... it was not so good...). After a deep clean of my room, I hopped on our stationary bike for a nice ride and even did a core workout (I was on it today). In between all of this I did about 4 loads of laundry (my clothes and my sheets...). Once my Dad got home he even changed the oil in my car (so nice...).

Around 4 hour later I took Janae to soccer practice and decided to head over to see how Mason was doing (remember, he had surgery yesterday!). Mason was doing so well it actually kinda brought me to tears (yes I am a nerd... whatever...). Here is a picture of Mason's BEAUTIFUL blue eyes one day after surgery. Apparently they looked really REALLY bad yesterday.

Not only were Mason's eyes healing very well (we have to watch him like a hawk because he is not allowed to rub his eyes because of the stitches), he has also grown so much over the 10 days that I haven't seen him. He is so alert and interactive now. His mom also said (after me only being there for 15 mins) that short time I was there was the happiest he had been in the last few days (talk about a tear jerker... that really made me cry...).

Not only is Mason so much more interactive, he is also officially crawling!!! He has been scooting (or more army crawling) for a few weeks now, but now he is up with his knees under him and his arms fully extended. It is so amazing to see all of the therapy and exercises (and those hot spandex pants) come full circle.



He is such a handsome boy and I am so happy that I got to be a part of his life and his development. Sam is still in the process of finding a full time nanny (the lady she had was going to work out until she got a job offer teaching or something like that). But I have a feeling I will be seeing less and less of Mason and Caden.


Speaking of Caden... Holy Crap!!! He has grown so much in the 10 days since I have seen him (obviously taking after his brother). Caden will be 2 months old on the 24th and he has already outgrown his 3 month clothing. Tonight, after I put Mason to bed (I love putting him to sleep and I seem to be the only one who can cause he hasn't taken a nap in about 10 days) I got to give Caden a bottle (man all that kid does is EAT!!!). After the bottle and a little burping action, he too fell asleep.


I couldn't resist taking a picture of this beautiful baby boy while he was still asleep (and not screaming... he still is kinda colicy and has resorted to SCREAMING instead of crying... it's really sad). But that is the update on my boys (whom I am now starting to accept that they are not my boys). Thank you for all of your prayers. Please continue to pray for Mason's eyes to heal. Pray for Caden to get over his Colic. Pray that Sam can find someone (she is interviewing someone this Friday I believe) who can meet her and the boys' needs as best as possible.

Ode to Sewing

It has come to my attention that I have yet to post about my amazing sewing class that I have been taking for the last 5 weeks. About two months ago, a good friend of mine (Hey Amber!!!) approached me about possibly taking an intro to sewing class at the esteemed Ventura College. Seeing how I had been reading up on fair trade and sweat shops, I thought it would be a really cool idea to learn how to sew my own clothes. Well, let me tell you something... it's a lot harder than it looks.

Well, it's really not THAT hard. It's something I could potentially do on a more regular basis with lots of practice. Last night we learned how to hem jeans (which is awesome because I am short and always have to hem my jeans and would rather not pay $15 for someone else to hem my jeans). We also started on our tote bags. To help document our (Amber and my) journey through sewing class, I brought my camera last night to take pictures of the festivities.

The first picture (top) is of Amber (obviously) driving us down to VC (Amber, if you ever want me to drive I am more than happy to... let me know). The second is of my beloved sewing machine (it's not mine, it's VC's but I get to use it... We also learned how to thread the machine... for the second time this semester). Like I said before, we learned how to hem jeans last night. One thing Ms. Dress (yeah... that's our instructor's name... um... she's a little COOKY!!!) said about heming jeans was to be very careful because you could break your needle. As you can probably tell, Amber didn't really believe her and broke her first needle... It was really funny.

After a few poses by Amber (notice the pink army print... yeah that is for Amber's bag... SOOOO GOOD!!!) we went home for the night. I have that despite passive aggressive teacher and the super late night (not really that late, it's just late when I have other things to do after the class is over) I have really enjoyed spending this quality time with such a good friend. It's been tough going to college but still having this life back here in Ojai. Most of last year was kinda lonely watching the rest of my friends take off to different places. I am so thankful for God bringing people into my life to share things with. God is so good and definitely meets my needs every time... So, that was my Ode to Sewing! It was really an Ode to Friends... but sewing sounded better...

Prayer Requests

I am sure I have posted this picture before, but for now it will have to do. Just a quick post for now with one very important prayer request (I have some stuff to post about OVS weekends and my super AMAZING SEWING CLASS!!! but I have to save those posts for tomorrow or later this week). Tomorrow morning around 9am, Mason is scheduled to have eyelid surgery. He has very lazy eyelids and his doctors believe that has to do with why he is a little behind. So to help him later on in life, he will be having plastic surgery tomorrow morning (it's the surgery that older women usually get to tighten up the eyelid muscles and reduce wrinkles... funny how they use it for babies too...). I haven't gotten to see Mason for a week and it might be for good. I don't want to jump to any conclusions, but I have a feeling that it is gonna work out with that new lady that was "trying out" the job last week. Which means I will not get to go over and see Mason and Caden as often as before. Nothing is set in stone and I really haven't gotten to talk to Sam about it, but I knew it was coming and I am bummed, but ok with it. So, please pray for Mason tonight, tomorrow, and the rest of this week (I don't know the whole recovery process for the surgery but I imagine for an infant, it is not too good). This is also the second time in a week that Mason has been put under anesthetics (he had an MRI of his brain last week... the report came back with no irregularities but his doctor wants him to see yet another specialist... this time it's something about genetics... scary stuff) and it will definitely be a tough few days for Sam and her family. Please be in prayer for them this week. Have a beautiful week!

Hair ADD

Yesterday was my mom's birthday and to celebrate today I took her to go and get a pedicure. And while I was at it, I figured I would treat myself to one as well. I also thought it would be cool to take a picture of our feet after the pedicure (you really don't want to see them before). I have been in this really fun habit of taking pictures of my feet (it kinda started in Hungary and has continued since). I guess I just really like my feet and it's more fun and easy to take pictures of my feet then of my face. It's SOOOO Good!!!

For those of you who don't know I also have hair ADD. It's a rare disease that not too many people have (not to mention it's almost impossible to treat since it's not a real disease). So to feed the ever hungry Hair ADD monster, I decided it was time for a change. Since Chad is gone, I settled for a little bit of color in my life. So now my hair has a really cool red tint to it and I have to say that I love it. It's SOOOOO GOOD!!! This day was SOOOO GOOD!!!

Weekends!!!

This weekend marked the first in a year long series of weekends spent at the beautiful Ojai Valley School. I have to say that I had a really good time hanging out and getting to know some of the kids at OVS. Friday night the kids had a Back to School Social. It was really funny to walk around and see the interaction between the kids. I only went to one dance growing up and that was my Senior Ball so I had never experienced the typical "Jr High Dance." Things remained pretty mellow and the kids had a good time.

Saturday was a typical Saturday. We had Pick 4 in the morning (the kids will have 4 options of things to do and they have to pick one). I opened up the computer lab and got to keep an eye on kids in there. After a typical lunch of leftovers (You know you have spent too much time at OVS when you know what meal is going to be served based on what day it is), we walked all of the kids downtown for a few hours. Once we get to the park we let all of the older kids walk around with a buddy while the younger kids (5th and under) get to walk around with an adult. I took a couple of the girls to the ice cream store, the toy store and Chevron (for junk food). The evening ran really smoothly with a short pool party and a mini movie night.

Sunday we went to Skating Plus which was pretty fun. I opted out of skating due to my proneness to breaking bones while skating (I have broken two of my bones skating). All in all it was a typical weekend and I had a good time. The kids were great and I am excited to get to know them over the course of the year.

Oh yeah, the picture... A couple of the girls painted my nails on Saturday during some of our down time. It was pretty funny but super cute and a great bonding moment.

Friends, Coffee, and Mango Iced Tea...

Wow, I can't believe I haven't posted a blog in my favorite month of the year yet! Well, I had to change that. Things have been pretty busy lately between school and work, but let me try and catch you all up...

This last weekend was my last weekend of freedom as I start up at OVS this weekend! I am really excited but I am also very nervous. I am not sure why I am nervous... I guess I just don't want to screw up cause I really don't like it when people get mad at me. But I am looking forward to it more then I am nervous so that should be a good thing. For my last weekend of freedom I did what any other person would do... I did homework, went to church, and the beach. Church was Hume Sunday which was pretty exciting. Great Job on those movies Ryan! It's hard to think that I won't be able to go to church for awhile (because of my job I can't go to church for those of you who don't know) but I am praying that everything will work out. The beach was beautiful! It was so nice to get out of the heat for the afternoon. I couldn't believe I hadn't been at the beach since Christmas! I came home with all kinds of tar all over my feet and sandals, but it was so worth it!

Labor Day I got to do what most people don't get to do... I got to work! It was cool though. I went over and watched Caden for most of the day while Mason got to drive around with Mom and Dad. Mason has improved so much from before his therapy! He totally looks you in the eye now, he's crawling (well, army crawling because has this weird sensory thing with his hands and his feet), he tries to talk to you (he has his own vocabulary now), he is putting things in and taking things out of boxes and stuff... It is so cool to see his little mind grow when for so long it wasn't. Yesterday we went swimming in their new pool and he had a blast splashing and kicking. He is having an MRI of his brain on Monday (his doctor is still puzzled by the seizures he had when he was younger and want to check his brain growth and stuff). Because he is so young and can't sit still, they have to put him under which is always really scary. At least this time they will put him to sleep before they start poking him with IVs and tubes and stuff (apparently when he had his surgery for pylorics, the nurses and stuff started sticking him with IVs and tubes and all that stuff before they put him to sleep... No wonder he has night terrors... could you imagine being 21 days old and being stuck with everything under the sun?). The MRI should only take about 30 mins but because of the anesthesia and all that, he can't have anything to eat after midnight (this is the kid that is as big as a 2 year old and eats every three to four hours... even at night) and no water after 7 am. So please pray for them Sunday night and Monday as Mason is not going to be a happy camper. Pray that the whole thing goes smoothly and that he doesn't get sick from the anesthesia. Also pray for him as next Monday comes up (the 17th). Mason is having his eye surgery that Monday and will be put under again so it's all scary and will be a long two weeks. On top of all of that, Sam is giving a lady with 15 years nannying experience come for a trial week next week. I don't know if that is a good thing or a bad thing. I don't want to leave Mason and Caden, and they really REALLY don't want me to leave, but with school and this weekend job, I don't know when I am going to get anything done (like homework, cleaning, car stuff...). So please pray that God will work something out for all of us.

So lets see... the title of this blog is Friends, Coffee, and Mango Iced Tea... Well, in the midst of my crazy week, I did get to spend some time with friends. Tuesday I had a class canceled in the morning and I wasn't working for the day so I went and hung out with Cory at the coffee shop for a couple hours. We ended up going from the coffee shop to lunch at Cafe Emporium which was delicious and loads of fun. After a little afternoon nap I went over to Amber's house (the boys were out of town for the night) and had a mini girl's night (well it was me Amber, Cory, and Martha... oh and the girls until they went to bed). It was super fun and I have to say that I am very thankful for my friends! Oh... the Mango Iced Tea part is that I had bought some Mango Iced Tea from Cafe Emp a few months ago and kind forgot about it so lately I have been brewing a lot of Mango Iced Tea... Soooooo Good!!!

Spandex Pants and Jazz-er-size!!!

Well it has truly been a busy busy week! Monday I had my Anatomy class in the morning and then got to go watch Caden for the day while Sam and Grandma took Mason to his pre-op appointment. Mason's doctor was amazed at the progress he has made in the last few months. Last time he saw Mason, he wasn't sitting up by himself, he wouldn't look at you when you said his name, he wouldn't even look you in the eye... but now he is looking at people, mimicking sounds that we make, going from laying to sitting (by himself), and even working on a little army crawl!!! Yeah Mason!!!

Tuesday I had more school (one morning class and one afternoon class). I am probably going to drop the afternoon class because it is going to be a big waste of time to keep it. So after class I drove across the 405 to hang out with Sarah. We drove around Santa Monica and got lost a few times looking for a Cingular store... it was great fun. She is coming home today for the three day weekend so that's kinda cool (Love you Belle!!!) Wednesday was kinda the same as Monday accept I got to play with Mason most of the day. His mom had ordered (at the therapist's recommendation) these little hip helper pants. Pretty much Mason likes to sit spread eagle (either sit or when he lays on his back or tummy). This is cute, but it doesn't allow him to make transitions from floor to sitting and eventually standing. So these hip helpers are little blue spandex shorts (he looked like an 80's jazz-er-size kid) that has the legs sewed together which prevents him from going spread eagle. He did alright with them on (they lasted almost 20 mins and he got some good practice sitting on his knees, sitting in the crawling position, climbing up stairs...) but he eventually got frustrated and we took them off. He is really learning and growing so much and it really makes leaving hard... but we shall see what happens.

Yesterday I didn't go to class because I had meetings to go to and I actually have to head out to one right now. Happy Friday everyone and have a great weekend!

Brett Dennen

For all of you who are not lucky enough to have been introduced, this is Brett Dennen and last night he gave an amazing concert in Libby Bowl for the Food for Thought organization. The night started out a little slow, but lots of fun. RJ's band played first (they were the third runner up in the Battle of the Bands). The other groups in the battle of the Bands were pretty good, but non could compare to the incredible sounds of Emy Reynolds!!! She rocked the house and everyone loved her.

Up next was an artist named Perla Batalla. She was actually really really good. She had sort of a folk meets mariachi music sound to her (all of her songs were in Spanish). It was great fun sitting and watching all of these Ojai Hippies dancing their little hearts out. Some could dance really well and others... bless their hearts... should have sat back down.

The main event of the night (even though most people still have no idea who he is) was Brett Dennen. He is this huge Irishman (about 6'6" and 250lbs) that sings kinda folk style music. He's lyrics are absolutely amazing and everyone should check him out online or something. He started out a little slow, but halfway through the evening he started hoola hooping with one of the Ojaian Hippies' glowing hoola hoop... It was soooooo good!!!!

Anyway, just thought that I would share my very exciting evening with you all. School starts for reals this week (classes Mon-Thurs... woohoo!!!). On a more work related note, Mason and Caden are doing well. Caden was starting to get a little Colicy, but we switched to the platex drop-in bottles (the kind that you can push the air out before you stick it into the baby's mouth) and that seems to be helping out a lot! Mason still hate Caden and hates anyone who is paying attention to Caden and not him (when I hold Caden, Mason is ok cause I still try and talk to him and pay attention to him, but he won't take his eyes off me for a minute). Mason's therapy is going really really well. He is now crawling (well, army crawl, but it is forward movement and it is really fast) and getting stronger every day. He is supposed to have his eyelid surgery on September 17th (he goes in for his pre-opp appointment tomorrow). He also has to go in for a CAT scan (or maybe it was an MRI... I dunno something in his brain) later this week to check on his brain growth. His doctor is still worried about the neurological affects of his vaccinations (if you don't know the story he had a bad reaction to the whooping cough vaccination: sent him into seizures: and could very well be the reason for him being a little slower then most kids his age). So, there is a lot going on in that family right now. Please pray for rest and strength for everyone (That Sam would sleep, that Caden would sleep so Sam could sleep, that Helmuth would learn how he can help his wife, that Mason's brain is ok and keeps developing as it should...). Anyway... that's it... have a great week everyone!!!

Back in the Saddle

Well, this morning marked the first day of yet another semester at CSUN! I have to admit, the last week or so I have psyched myself out way more then I really should have. I really didn't want to start school (especially since I am seriously considering changing majors). Going to class just seemed like a waste of time. I felt like I had wasted the last two years studying and working so hard and now I am just gonna go and change it. I know everyone goes through all of this stuff when they go to college and it's all part of life and growing up and stuff, but last night really sucked! I spent most of the night praying that God would take this semester and roll with it. I didn't pay all of my tuition (I was $300 short after my Cal Grants and stuff) and CSUN is really good about dropping people from their classes if they don't pay their tuition. So last night I was almost praying that my classes would be dropped and I could try and take a semester off... but God must have other plans because I made it to school this morning and I still have all of my classes (I payed my tuition today too so now I am broke... until I get paid tomorrow).

So here I sit in the library once again, waiting around for my 7pm Anatomy lab (my last class was over about an hour ago). I do have two online classes which will probably take up most of my time, but for now I wait and I blog about the breakdown I had last night and relying on God for whatever he has in store. It kinda sucks doing what you don't want to do sometimes doesn't it?

Success!

How does one measure success? I have measured it in many different ways; from how many goals I save in soccer to getting good grades in school... Yesterday and today I found a new way to measure success. Say hello to Caden Fuller Billy.


Yesterday I started working with Mason again and now Caden as well. Yesterday I mainly played with Mason. He is not really adjusting well to the new baby (he gets really jealous when you are holding and feeding Caden and not spending time with him). So yesterday we had some Michaela and Mason time. The time I felt most successful however was during nap time. I finished eating some lunch and I went and rocked Mason to sleep (it usually takes about 20 mins and it is so much fun because he loves to cuddle). After putting Mason to sleep I relieved grandma (Sam's mom who is leaving on Friday... poor Sam) of Caden duty. I bounced around with Caden for about an hour before he would let me put him down. There was a 45 min period when both boys were sound asleep in their cribs. It was remarkable and so precious! I felt so good after accomplishing that. Amazingly I was able to do it again today! Today was more Caden heavy (Sam is feeling so overwhelmed that when I walked into the house today she was almost in tears as she asked me to take Caden for awhile). I spent most of the day with Caden, but got to put Mason down for a nap (for some reason I am the only one that can really get Mason to take a nap on a regular basis). After putting Mason down I put Caden down and they both slept for over an hour!!!



I am so glad I get to help Sam out as much as possible (especially now with two boys under the age of 1, rebuilding their house, rebuilding the office, and everyone thinking that she is still working full time). Please pray that Sam will get some sleep (Caden isn't sleeping very well... as well as a newborn can I guess). She still can't pickup Mason which is really really hard on her and really really really hard on Mason. He is so jealous of Caden and just wants his mommy back. Please pray that I can be as helpful as possible to Sam right now. Pray that Mason will start eating again (he has been teething really bad and hasn't eaten solid foods in a week... making him very constipated and cranky... he finally ate for me today... yogurt and prunes... MMMmmm!!!) Anyway, I thought I would share my success story with you all. I would love to hear some of the times that you all felt most successful... I am sure there are wonderful stories out there.