Family Enlightment

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Way to Go Zach!!!!!

So in brighter news Zach's teacher emailed me this we are so proud of him and his achievements! He is another boy who shows great strength and courage.

Heads up - your boy scored a 186 on the reading MAPS assessment. My assistant and I tested him via computer (it is like a mini-MSP) and he scored at above a Level 3 - which means at grade level.

VERY PROUD OF HIM!!!!!!!

Seriously How am I getting through this????

Like everyone our family experiences times of trial and just plain bad days. However, in life I believe we all have crosses to bear, and my cross that I'm asked to bear appears to be health challenges with not only myself, but some of my loved ones too.

In reflecting about this, I thought back to everything we have recently been through in the past two years. A brain bleed, deaths, a move, advocating in the school, ADHD, anxiety, depression, change of boss at Kirk's work, and now severe lower GI issues with Isabella. I thought to myself just two weeks ago everything was running smooth, but then poor Isabella got sick again and I thought why me again and how in the world am I going to deal with this? I thought about Esther in the scriptures again and how she had to exhibit courage and strength in her life. I then thought to myself I have to be strong because being strong is the only choice I have and God blessed me with that gift. I can do hard things including helping my daughter get through this tough time. I'm her example and I need to show her my courage and my strength because this is how we are going to get through this.

Bella Blues

Poor Isabella is having a rough time with her tummy again. Today she told me "Mom these tummy problems are causing the "Bella Blues" I feel so bad for her. This Friday she has a barium enema. Last week she had a zillion blood tests. However, when she was with her GI doctor the other day her doctor gave her these adorable crocheted hats and Bella loves them!!!!

First Day of School

Even though Bella is having tummy issues both kiddos are enjoying their new school! Zach really likes his teacher and so does Bella.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

It's Crock Pot Season I'm going to try this!

Want breakfast tomorrow without lifting a finger?

Place 2 sliced apples, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, pinch salt in the bottom of the crock pot.
Pour... in 2 cups of oatmeal, 2 cups of milk and 2 cups water.
Do NOT stir.
Cook overnight for 8 - 9 hours on low.

Crock-Pot Taco Soup Yummy!!!

CROCKPOT TACO SOUP

Ingredients
1 lb Ground Beef, cooked and drained
1 can corn...
1 can Great Northern Beans(white)
1 can Black Beans
1 can Red Beans
1 can Diced Tomatos
1 Hidden Valley Ranch packet
1 Taco seasoning packet
2 cups water
Tortilla Chips
Sour Cream
Shredded Cheese

Instructions
Combine all ingredients in Crockpot except Tortilla Chips, Shredded Cheese and Sour Cream.
**Do not drain any of the cans. Stir and cover with lid. Cook on low 6-8 hours. Serve with tortilla chips, cheese and sour cream.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

School Days!

This dog that we saw at the beach was so friendly! He loved the kids

The whole family at our special beach in Oregon

Zach and Bells next to the sand castle

The sand dollar!

Zach's name written in the sand

Playing in the ocean

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Forget Me Not

With everything that has been going on with Bella I have not responded much to my recovery. The other day I realized that in two weeks I celebrate another two years of life. This year I wish to write about a profound talk that I heard eight weeks later after the brain bleed. This talk greatly impacted my life post-stroke, and it was what I needed to hear to help me to start to accept what happened to me and how my life now was changed.

Looking back I recognized how much denial I was in and I did not want to think about what recovery laid in front of me. Instead I viewed this as something that was very temporary and I would bounce back to myself. Nevertheless eight weeks later I believe I was beginning to see that the stroke did change my life and my family's life.

I recall laying in bed one night early October of 2011. Kirk had brought in the lap top and I was responding to emails and messages people had left me on facebook. I remember as I was looking at facebook and my emails I realized that people were concerned, but yet they were out having fun and enjoying time with family and friends. I recall looking at a friend's photos, who was on a vacation, and it appeared that she was having the time of her life. Other friends were out helping their children, going on dates with their husbands, running marathons, and doing what they wanted to do. After looking at this I informed Kirk that I could no longer stand watching others having fun while I was stuck at home dealing with powerful headaches, low energy, attending therapies, and just doing well to read a story to my children. Then I got up to go and take a shower. I was wearing a T-shirt ,and I took a look at my upper left arm and noticed a deformity that I did not have prior to the stroke. Nobody ever k new about this except for Kirk and Dr. Piker. However, my recent trip back to Idaho I showed a couple of my relatives and shared with them that I could not stand looking at my upper left arm. Needless to say, people told me that it was not that bad but I believed and felt it was bad. I have not wanted anyone to see this and thankfully the beta blockers cause me to feel cold so my arm is always covered, however, I'm now discovering that it is ok for people to see it.

Back to October of 2011, I just read all of this online and then for the first time saw my left arm in the mirror. Tears welled up in my eyes and I shared with Kirk that my life was bad and why did this have to happen to me? Kirk went over to the internet and told me to listen to women's conference. I thought it was a stupid idea, but I had nothing better else to do so I sat on the bed and listened. Right when he turned it on I heard "The Forget Me Not" talk. As I listened, I felt as though the talk was written for me to listen to at that moment of my life. In the talk the speaker brought up the above points and likened it to the forget me not flower. This was one of the most profound talks I have ever listened too. Once it was over Kirk sat next me and said, " Heidi Nicole even though it seems that the world is moving forward and your life is in a paralyzed state right now the Lord has not forgotten you." Once again I cried but not because I was sad, but because I felt the love and support from my husband, but I also felt it from my Father in Heaven. I will not say that this talk took away all of my sadness, but what it do was remind me that I was not forgotten and the Lord truly understood my feelings. I now live each day by the "Forget Me Not" words.

Monday, August 19, 2013

The Fun Graham Pool Party.

We have become good friends with our neighbors Josh, Sunny, and little Elle. The other day Sunny invited us over to her parents' home in Graham for a pool party and BBQ. Sunny's parents own and operate several daycares in the Puyallup area, and they have 10 acres out at their home in Graham where the daycare children go for summer camp. This weekend Elle's Grandma wanted to meet Zach and Bella so she hosted us at her Graham home and the kiddos had so much fun meeting Elle's Grandma and playing in the pool, sandbox, and miniature golf.