~ The Brick ~

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down

when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared . Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver

then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against

a parked car shouting, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?" The young boy was apologetic. "Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do," He pleaded. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop..." With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. "It's my brother, "he said. "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up."

Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."

Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay. "Thank you and may God bless you," the grateful child told the stranger. Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy! push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home.

It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message: "Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!" God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice to listen or not.

A Mess! AKA Logen!

Parker has recently decided to try this whole crawling thing. He's up on his hands a knees more and more each day. (Still no movement other than rocking, besides and army crawl). Logen thinks he can ride his brother. So, every time he notices that Parker is up on hands and knees, you can bet Logen will be sitting on him, jumping! In the last hour, I've had to remove Logen from his brother atleast 5 times! Being a mommy to 2 children definitely keeps ya on your toes!!! (Being a mom to one did to though!)

~ I think Logen is trying to "make friends" with me again- he just crawled up on the couch and feel alseep on my shoulder while typing this! How sweet, I wish I could reach the camra! It's on the coffee table... Maybe I can with my feet! I'll post pics if I can manage to get the camera ~

Parker's Hemoglobin Is To Low

This morning we had Parker's Hg checked. His Hg (iron) was 7.5. The Dr likes it to be around 12. So, this afternoon, we took Parker to the hospital to have a CBC. We are awaiting results and to hear what we need to do about this.

Prayers, please!

Playing With Food

Parker will NOT eat cereal for me! The last few nights, I gave up and gave him the bowl. Logen thought it was pretty funny and decided to help him out. Logen likes to stand in front of the high chair any time we put Parker in it. I think he is making sure we aren't giving Parker anything really yummy w/o giving it to him to!

Therapy Pictures

Here are a few pictures of Logen in OT last week~

Aunt Tamra & Parker

We got to spend some time with Tamra (the boys' Aunt) last Friday night. We went out to eat (pizza) and she came back to our house to play with the boys (and visit with us, of course!)

Sitting Pretty

HE PASSED!! HE PASSED!!

Well, incase you didn't get that-- LOGEN PASSED HIS HEARING TEST!

We did an OAE first, which he passed :) Then, gave his the choloral hydrate to sedate him for the ABR. 1 hour later, Logen was still not alseep! We gave him a second dose of the medicine. 1 hour later- still NOT alseep. The audiologist said that was very rare! Esp since Logen woke up at 9:30 and went to bed at 11. So, at 3:30, we decided to just try the test and see if Logen would cooperate with us. It was then, when they turned the lights ON, he closed his eyes! He still wasn't really asleep and was pretty wiggly- but they managed to get the test done. I am pleased-- there are NO tumors on his auditory nerves! So, I guess when I say his name several times and he doesn't look at me (until about the 5th time with a big 'ole grin) he's just acting "age appropriate" and ignoring me! I couldn't be more proud!

Now, for the fun part! As soon as we took the electrodes off- he started screaming. And, he continued that until we got a few miles down the road. I met my Mom to get Parker and they both slept all the way home. It started POURING rain as I pulled into the driveway (and if the storage shed was done, I'd have my garage back and that wouldn't have been a problem) so, I had to get one boy out at a time. By the time we made it into the house, we look like we took a bath outdoors! I layed Logen in his bed *thinking* he'd stay asleep. I ran out to get Parker, came back in a Logen was laying in the floor screaming. I picked him up and put him back in bed and layed with him. The poor lil guy couldn't even lift his head! So, I brought him out in the living room and tried to lay him on the couch. He couldn't manage to stay on the couch. He wanted down. He couldn't sit, or stand, or keep his head up. (Guess the drugs decided to kick in- a little late, no doubt) By this time, Parker was screaming b/c he was hungry. I called my neighboor (Maggie) to see if she'd come help me. She came and held Logen so I could nurse Parker. When she left, I layed on the floor with Logen and he finally went back to sleep- below are 2 pix of him snoozing. All is well at the moment. Parker is playing in the exersaucer, Logen is snoozing, and I'm eating a bowl of ice cream!

Thanks for all the prayers! I was so worried!
Chrystie- God listened to ya- but you forgot to pray the meds would knock his hiney out! Guess I did to! HA

ABR in 1.5 hours- a bit worried

I know this is a simple test. They sedate Logen & hoook 'em up to electrodes- blah, blah, blah! But, it doesn't make it any less stressful. I'm really worried about the results. His test is at 1 (central time) and it should take anywhere from 1-3 hours- depending on Logen. Adam cannot go with me b/c only 1 person is allowed in the room (it has to be super duper quite). My Momma is going to hang out with Parker-- should be fun, I hope he doesn't get hungry as my Momma's boobies have no milk. Trying to make myself laugh... HA

Say a prayer for Logen (and me, I go from eating everything in sight to wanting to vomit!) I will post results when I get home (or atleast before I go to bed tonight) I'll either be jumping with joy or crying......
Gotta go pack the diaper bags!
Prayers Please~ Jessica

A lil' Sunshine

It's dark, cloudy, and rather gloomy at our house this morning-- so I'd thought I'd bring on some sunshine!

It's Official!

We REALLY do have a an appt with Dr Gutman the day after the MRI in July!! The secretary FINALLY called me back this morning to give me a time. I only had to call EVERYday last week..... So, we are all set to head back to St Louis for an MRI of the head and left thigh on July 18th and our appt with Dr Gutman (the tumor/Neuro/CP Dr) is on the 19th at 1:30. I'm SOOOO very ready to get this behind us. I just want to know what's going on and what the so-called birth-mark is! Continue praying for Logen..... please!

Sitting & Almost Crawling

Friday- we sat Parker up in the chair & for the first time, he didn't put his ands down for support! (Pix to come, haven't uploaded them yet) And, yesterday, he decided to get up on all four's and rock back & forth! Thats the first sign that crawling is on the way! He's already so mobile- he scoots & rolls all over the place. Crawling will be interesting, but- oh, so fun!!!!

Mommy Test

I received this through email & had to post here!

I was out walking with my 4 year old daughter. She picked up something off the ground and started to put it in her mouth. I took the item away from her and I asked her not to do that.

"Why?" my daughter asked.

"Because it's been on the ground, you don't know where it's been, it's dirty, and probably has germs", I replied.

At this point, my daughter looked at me with total admiration and asked, "Momma, how do you know all this stuff, you are so smart."

I was thinking quickly. "All moms know this stuff. It's on the Momma Test. You have to know it, or they don't let you be a Momma."

We walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but she was evidently pondering this new information. "OH...I get it!" she beamed, "So if you don't pass the test you have to be the daddy."

"Exactly" I replied back with a big smile on my face.

Parker's FIRST "real" food!

Parker ate cereal for the first time on Monday! Adam got a chance to feed his baby- finally he said! He ate about 2 tsp for Adam. Last night, I couldn't get Parker to eat more than 2 or 3 bites from me. He gagged! Guess he like's his Momma's milk from Momma better than cereal :)

Grant's Farm

Grant's Farm

Logen had a ball walking through the misting water! This was, by far, the best part of Grant's Farm in Logen's eyes!

The ride to Grants Farm. You get on a tram like thing and hear a story about how it all started, as well as see animals, etc on the way over. It was pretty fun!

YUM! I LOVE my toes :)

Jessica, Logen, Nana (My Momma) petting a Clidesdale!

ABR Scheduled

Logen's ABR has been scheduled for next Wednesday (June 27th) at 1pm. The nurse said it would take several hours- he does have to be sedated for the test. I will post results when I get them. Please pray for Logen's hearing- no hearing loss would be wonderful!

Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR)

The ABR test is reliable, objective, noninvasive and painless. Brain wave activity in the auditory centers of the brain is recorded in response to a series of clicks presented to each ear. Thus, the ABR test indirectly estimates the level of hearing in the peripheral auditory system (middle ear and inner ear).

Because of the nature of this testing procedure, the ABR test does not rely on any form of subjective response from the individual being tested. It is virtually unaffected by the use of anesthesia or sedation, or whether the patient is asleep or attentive.

ABR can be used:
* as a screening procedure for newborns who are at risk for hearing loss.

* as a diagnostic tool to identify infants and small children with a hearing loss.
* to estimate hearing levels in difficult to test patients, i.e., mentally retarded, autistic, developmentally delayed.
* to evaluate patients with suspected retrocochlear pathology.
* to evaluate patients with Meniere's disease or similar disorders.
* intra-operative monitoring (Neurological patients).
* as a prognostic indicator for patients with head trauma.

Test Procedure:

The ABR test is performed on an individual who is resting quietly or in a sleep state. Mild sedation may be used, when necessary, under a physician's supervision. A series of clicks are presented to each ear through special earpieces inserted into the ear canals. The audiologist can vary the intensity of the clicks. The individual wears a headband which records appropriate brain wave activity. The averaging computer in the ABR unit then analyzes the information and it is compared to normal responses. This procedure does not cause any discomfort to the person. The test takes approximately one to two hours.

(Copied and pasted from http://www.hearingcenter.com/services/abr.html)

Beetle Fun

Riding The Metrolink

Appt Pictures

Hangin' Out In The Hotel

Fun At The St Louis Zoo

This is what Parker thought of the zoo!

He's just like the monkeys!!!!

So excited about the bears!

Saying, "I don't know" about the penguins. The way he's holding his arm is the I don't know sign!

Ready To Go Swimming

Logen really is a lil mess! He was checking himself out in his cool floaty before heading to the swimming pool at the hotel! Gotta love it!