So this is what people were talking about . . .

The only reason I've ever spent any real time in a hospital was to have my 3 beautiful babies - all wonderful experiences with great nurses and doctors, great food, and great reasons to be there.  So, I never really understood why so many people dislike hospitals SO much.  Until Saturday. . .

Sometimes (often times) people go to hospitals for reasons that are not nearly as joyful as childbirth. 

On Saturday afternoon, Brandon began to feel a little dizzy and the vision in his left eye seemed a little "off".  After he ate some lunch, he started feeling better, and just complained of a headache.  A little while later  the two outside fingers on his left hand went numb, then the numbness moved to his next two fingers.  Shortly, the numbness in his fingers was gone, but the left side of his tongue became numb.  Soon after, his left foot became very tingly - that is the only sensation that lasted for a significant time.  Against his wishes, we met my mom to pass off the kids and headed to the ER.  By 9:00 pm, he was admitted to ICU.  This was scary!  His symptoms were gone, but the doctors were still very concerned about what caused this "episode".

After a myriad of tests (MRI, EKG, CT scan, echocardiogram, angiogram, MRA), they were able to rule out MS, a stroke, heart problems, and artery dissection in his neck.    This was all VERY fortunate.  The unfortunate thing is that we still don't know what caused the numbness.  They are hoping it was just an "atypical migraine". We were able to leave the hospital late Sunday afternoon (though it felt like we had been there for MUCH more than a day).  My mom and sister were definitely glad to give our kids back to us. :0)  We are so grateful for their help!  

Let me just tell you - ICU is whole different ballgame than the Birthing Center!  Instead of a private bath, there's a toilet in the middle of the room.  Instead of a big door to give privacy, there's a sliding glass door with a small curtain.Instead of a couch for the "guest", there's a chair.    Not to mention, the feeling of sadness around, with all of these patients so critically ill.  The doctors and nurses kept joking about how Brandon was the healthiest looking person in ICU.  And they thought it was pretty funny that we both slept in the little hospital bed together!

We hope to find out more from the neurologist at an appoinment tomorrow.  For now, we are glad that everyone is home, feeling healthy, and that he didn't have to stay at the hospital any longer than he did.  Experiences like this really make you stop and thank God for all that you have, and remind you not to take anything for granted!

The Voice

A couple of months ago Hope auditioned to film a piece for the Space Science Institute in Boulder.  It was for a interactive travelling museum exhibition about space and asteroids.  She was one of 3 kids to be chosen to film the piece and they filmed in just about an hour the next day.  She loved the experience.

Well, last week she got called back by the same people to do some voiceover work for the same exhibit.  She was so excited when she heard it was going to be done in a recording studio - "Am I going to be in one room with a big window that looks into the other room with all the people in it and they can talk to me through the speakers?!?!?"  I wasn't sure how it was going to be set-up, but it turns out it was just like that, and she had so much fun.  The sounds engineer was so complimentary of her patience and direction-taking.  He said she did better than most adults do.  She had to do some of the sections several times because she just couldn't get the word "comet" right.  At first she kept saying "comment"  and then she could only say it like she was from the east coast, for some reason.  But that provided some comic relief!  Here are some pics in the studio:

 Going over the script

Ready to work!

Easter 2011

eggs, bunny, candy, hunting, dyeing eggs, pretty dresses, pillow pets, confetti, family, food, fun, church, 1st Easter, cousins, baskets, more eggs

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Butterfly Pavilion

Some pics from our recent visit to the Butterfly Pavilion:

Too Windy!

Hope holding "Rosie" the Tarantula

EJ holding Rosie

Beck checking out the butterflies

In the spiderweb!

Beck was not crazy about this picture!

On the zipline!

And the Oscar goes to . . .

Hope!

Hope won the "Peanut Butter Players Academy Award" for Most Valuable Newcomer.  She was very excited and we were very proud of her!

 Congratulations Hope!

Sorry Buddy!

So, my last post was about Beck finally sitting up.  Well, last night I had to pull out the video camera because he was trying to pull himself up on the ottoman.  See video for my "Not So Great Mommy Moment":

Dear Beck - Please slow down!  You are getting big WAY too fast! Love, Mommy

Disclaimer: No child was harmed in the filming of this video.  Though you can hear his poor little head make a "thud" sound on the ground, just moments later he was smiling and returned to the same activity.  I promise.  And, I blame the dog.

We have a sitter!

About 2 weeks ago, Beck finally started sitting on his own.  This seemed a little late to me, but at his 6 month appointment (when he was not able to sit up on his own), the doctor assured me that there's a big range of "normal".  He also said he would definitely be sitting on his own in the next couple of months.  Sure enough, 2 weeks later, he was doing it. 

While I'm at it, his 6 month stats were:

Height- 28" (95th %ile)
Weight - 16 lbs. 6oz. (35th %ile)
Head - 17 3/8 in. (60th %ile)

He's a growing boy!  He's such a sweet little snuggler.  It's hard for us to put him down, so he's definitely getting spoiled!  It's hard not to spoil him, knowing he is the last baby we'll have in our family!  He is really loving to eat baby food now - he loves fruit and likes his veggies and cereal.  With all of the running around we do, he hasn't had the chance to get on a really great schedule.  He usually eats at the same times every day now, but his naps kind of just happen when they happen - in the crib, in the pack & play, or in the car - sometimes they're long, sometimes they're short, usually they're interupted.  As someone that is a strong believer in schedules and sleep, this has been tough for me to take, but that's just life as the 3rd kid, I guess.  His sisters adore him and entertain him ~ he still gets a huge smile anytime one of them walks into the room.  I am really cherishing the time I get to watch him grow up.  It's so fun to see him grow and change, yet it feels like it's happening way too fast!