There and Back Again

Here are some pictures of Megan so that you can see how she is doing.  With the exception of the sore lips, she is doing very well.  She still gets mad at Travis when he makes her laugh, because it still hurts her lips.

White Christmas in Houston

I heard this song on the radio the other day and I had to laugh.



Not to brag or anything, but it's currently 76 degrees outside. I'm so excited to see everyone in UT in a few weeks, but I'm not really looking forward to a white Christmas. I'll miss my flipflops!

Update on Megan - 3

We met with a pediatric dermatologist and a pediatric ophthalmologist at Texas Children's Hospital yesterday and they were both so impressed with how Megan is recovering. With Stevens Johnson Syndrome, any part of the body that produces mucus (eyes, nose, mouth, lips, skin) is affected. That's what causes the rash and the mouth sores. That's why her eyes were so red and swollen and miserable. That's why her lips have been so painful.

Anyways, sometimes people get scaring under the eyelids and under the skin that covers the lower part of the eye. The scars can damage your eye. But Megan doesn't have any of that. The ophthalmologist said that apart from some broken blood vessels (which are basically like bruises in her eyes and will clear up on their own in a week or so), her eyes look perfect. No worries there.

The dermatologist said that her skin is healing remarkably well. They don't expect her to have any scaring at all. She has a lot of brown splotches all over, especially on her legs, but those will fade over time. Her lips and mouth are still really sore, but they are improving every day. Big chunks of dead skin and scabs keep falling off her lips with every sip she takes and every bite she eats (which is really disgusting, ugh!) but underneath is pale pink, healthy lips.

As soon as her mouth and lips heal, and she gets a little energy back, she can return to school. We are really hopeful that she will start again early next week.

I'll get pictures tomorrow. 

Update on Megan - 2

I think Megan is turned a corner. She's still got a long way to go, but the fever isn't as high and the rash is starting to fade in places. Her mouth and lips are still really painful, which makes it hard to talk and eat and drink, but her appetite is returning, which is always a good sign. We are pretty much out of danger of being admitted to TCH unless one of the blisters gets infected. Thankfully, she hasn't gotten too many blisters, so we are hopeful.  Thank you so much for all of your prayers and phone calls and emails. Thank you for watching Jared during all the doctor visits, for bringing Megan cards and gifts, for playing Uno and Go Fish, and doing never ending puzzles with her. Thank you Abby and Maddy for coming and doing my dishes and playing with Jared.

You can't really tell, but she was trying to smile in this picture. Her lips just won't stretch that far.

She wanted everyone to see how much the rash has disappeared on her tummy.

Update on Megan

How do you go from this

to this

in two days?

It's called Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

A couple of weeks ago, Megan developed a staph infection in her hand. She was given antibiotics to clear it up. On Monday, she started running a fever and getting a rash. By Tuesday, we were in the ER at Texas Children's Hospital where they diagnosed her with Stevens Johnson Syndrome, which was triggered by an allergic reaction to the antibiotic she had been taking. There isn't anything we can do for her except manage the symptoms and try to keep her from becoming dehydrated. She has a rash from her eyes down to her toes (they are all red and swollen), even in her nose and ears. Her eyelids and lips are swollen. Inside her mouth and throat are covered in sores. It could last one week or it could last several months. No one knows. SJS isn't really uncommon in older people, but it's more rare in children.

If she becomes dehydrated or if the rash turns into blisters, which then become infected, she will be admitted to TCH, but otherwise she'll be at home. She is not contagious, and would love distractions (visitors) in small amounts.

Her mom would love prayers and good thoughts and sleep.

It's been hard to deal with all of this while being so far away from family, but our wonderful church and friends here have wrapped us up with love and caring. We are so very grateful for all of the help.

It's so chic...

My father-in-law says there's a song for everything. I tried and tried to figure out how to post the actual song here, but apparently, I'm not that smart. If you haven't heard it, call me and I'll sing it for you. :D

It's so chic to be pregnant at Christmas
I feel like the "round yon virgin" of yore
'Cause though I have a warm bed to sleep in
There's no room for me when I go to the store

'Cause the aisles are so narrow and crowded
Christmas shopping has never been such a pain
(gasp) Here comes another Braxton-Hicks contraction
And I'm knockin' over knick-knacks again

Oh, the salesclerks are so friendly this Christmas
One said, "Oh please, lady, don't have it here"
Their discretion and manners go right out the door
When I and my stomach appear

People like to put their hands on my fundus
And they want to know exactly when I'm due
I say, "Why do you care? Are you planning to be there?
I could use an extra labor coach or two!"

It's so Biblical to be pregnant at Christmas
No matter what stories you believe
And I may suffer from gravid senilis...and heartburn and nausea and charlie horses and overwhelming fatigue...and frequent micturition and varicose veins and...swollen ankles and shortness...of breath...and that...tired, achy feeling in the grooooooin...

But I won't be alone on New Year's Eve
Fa-La-La-La-La La-La La La

I guess the song sums up our news. I'm due in June. Let the congratulatory comments and phone calls pour in. :D

Halloween 2010

We had a great Halloween. The kids loved the church carnival/trunk-or-treat. They had a great time running around with their friends, getting candy, and playing games. I was a bad mother and forgot to bring a camera, but fortunately I have great friends who took pity on me and emailed me photos from the festivities. :D

My sweet Megan

Megan,

You are such a smart, sweet, helpful girl! You love playing Barbies and Princesses and school. You are kind to your brother, even when you wish he would leave you alone. You love playing with your friends. I don't know where you get such a social streak, but you thrive on parties and play dates and spending time with friends. You love clothes and fashion and accessories. You love art of all kind - painting and ceramics and all kinds of crafts. You are doing so well in school. You are a great speller (you get that from your dad!) and you are so good at math (you get that from your dad too!). You are reading so well. I met with your teacher last week and she said that you are doing wonderfully.

I love you and I'm glad you are mine!

Love Mom

I love my Jared boy!

Jared,

You are such a smart, funny, energetic boy! You talk non stop, even during dinner (that's why you are always finished last). You love spending time with your sister. You love to tease her, torment her, and tickle her. You love to build sandcastles and draw with sidewalk chalk. You love to pretend.You have a new imaginary friend every few weeks - the most recent one is named "Little Mr. Smuchy Face" and is very naughty. You love to build giant marble tracks. You know all of your letters and what sounds they make and are starting to sound out words. You love to write. You love to read books, and to have them read to you. Your favorite songs are "Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star" and "Follow the Prophet." You are a hard worker - you are excited to do your job list every day, and you love to think of extra jobs to do when your list is done. You are enjoying preschool, but I am glad that you are still home for some of the time because I love spending time with you.

I love you and I'm glad you are mine!

Love Mom

This picture has a funny story behind it. One night, I told you "Run and get your pajamas." You took me literally - you brought all of the pajamas in your drawer out to the living room! You laughed and laughed because you knew that you had done exactly what I said, not what I meant.

So Blessed!

 
A few days ago, I had a bad day. Things hadn't really gone that well, and I was feeling kind of down and frustrated and ornery. During family scripture study before bed, we read a verse in Alma:

Alma 26:35

Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all ^apower, ^ball wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a ^cmerciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name.

Megan looked at me and said, "Mom, we really do have a lot of blessings, don't we?" Some times that's all it takes to shift things back into perspective.

Alma 26:16

Therefore, let us ^aglory, yea, we will ^bglory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his ^cmercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel.

I really am so blessed. I have a wonderful husband and children who fill my life with joy. I have sisters who support and love me, who I can lean on in times of stress. I have a dad and stepmom, and father and mother-in-law, and grandparents who are such good examples of service and love and wisdom. I have a church family who have become very dear to my heart in the time that we have lived here. I have friends who are like family, who I can share ice cream and cookies, laughs and tears with. And most of all, I have a loving Heavenly Father and I have my Savior.

I'm not perfect

Hi, my name is Anna and I am not perfect.

I can't keep a journal because it intimidates me. The empty books are so perfect, so clean, so unblemished. I love to look at them, touch them, line them up neatly on shelves. But write in them? Gasp! I might make a mistake. No, not might. I WOULD make a mistake. I can't spell. My handwriting is atrocious. I would scribble things out. I would spill things on it. I would forget to write and get out of order.

Every year, in January, I make a goal to keep a journal. And every year, by the second week in January, I have given up. Those first few entries are labored over, in an effort to make them perfect. The struggle is too much, and so I give up. The first couple of nights go great. And then, one night after a busy day, I say to myself "I'll write tomorrow, when I have more time." And then the next night I say, "I have too much to write about to recap yesterday and today, so I"ll write tomorrow when I have more time." And then, the next thing I know, my beautiful new journal is sitting on my night stand, sprinkled with dust, with only the first few pages filled.

In my mind, in the perfect journal, the penmanship is smooth and flowing and elegant. The words are well chosen, the content is real, but at the same time it is always cheerful and insightful and uplifting, not preachy, but full of wisdom. The pages are smooth and unblemished. In my mind.

I am discovering that the image in my mind and reality don't mesh. And I'm working on becoming okay with that. Being okay with less than perfection. Or maybe I'm just redefining what perfection means. And I'm broadening my idea of what a journal should be. I bought a journal for my birthday. And I'm writing in it. Not every day. Not to record every aspect of every moment. Not to preserve my every thought for posterity. Simply because I enjoy the process. The idea of starting a new journal mid year seems wrong. The idea of not using it to capture all of the day's events, all of the cute things my kids do, seems selfish. The idea of not writing with the future generations - my children and grandchildren - as my audience seems wrong. But I'm going to do it any way.

My new journal is actually a book by Keri Smith called "Wreck This Journal." It's full of journaling exercises and assignments. Scribbling, riping, spilling, creasing, doodling, it's all in there. And I am loving it. I'm not writing in it in any kind of order, just doing what ever assignment appeals to me, so it won't be in chronological order, but that's okay. It is more me than any other journal I've ever kept. And that is a liberating feeling.

I'll post pictures as I go along. Here's my journal so far. I think it'll get a WHOLE lot messier before I'm done. 

Be BOLD

Mr. Irwin, my music teacher in high school, used to say, "If you are going to make a mistake, make a big one. Don't make a gray spot on a gray wall. Make a red spot. Don't make the mistake of being timid."

I made a red spot today. I went bold. I screwed up. I made a mess. And now I'm kicking myself. But, I'm thinking about all of the times that I've been timid. That I've held off doing something because it was scary or seemed difficult. And I'm wondering: Is it better to be bold and risk messing up for everyone to see, or to be timid and cautious and careful?

Anna's Birthday - Guess what! I'm 29...again!

How did I get so blessed? What a great day! Church was great (it always is!), and then the kids let me take a long afternoon nap. We had some friends over for dinner, yummy tacos with chicken, cilantro-lime rice (YUM!), black beans, corn, and cheese, and black bottom cupcakes.

Out of all of my gifts, the sweetest one was from Megan. She made me a card, and put $6 in it. She was so excited to give me "birthday money" because that was one of her favorite things from her birthday.I was so touched that she would want to share something that is so special to her with me. Now I just have to figure out what to do with it - I don't feel like I can give it back because she was so excited for me to have it, but I really don't want to keep her money because she's been saving for a special toy. Any suggestions?

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

We went to see the Astros' play. It was a lot of fun - Travis, Anna and Jared loved watching the game.

Megan wasn't too excited, but she survived.

Thanks to Chris Hunsaker from the Houston Astros for the tickets! We had a great time!

Jared's First Day of Preschool

Jared is attending preschool this year! In this area, most of the preschools are run by the local churches. Jared is going to one run by the Baptist church. It's been an interesting so far. Most of the preschool curriculum is the regular reading, writing, math, art, large and small motor kinds of things that you would expect, but there have been a couple of differences. For example, one day Jared asked me why when his teacher at school prayed at lunch time, her prayer was different than our prayers. It was a wonderful opportunity for us to talk about things and I'm hoping to have more opportunities during the year.

His first day was pretty gray and wet, so I'll have to take some better preschool pictures another day to get him with his new backpack and lunch box. I can't believe how big he is getting!

Grandpa Mark and Grandma Suzanne's Visit

We had a wonderful time with Grandpa Mark and Grandma Suzanne. It was great to have them here!

We went swimming, went to Katy Mills Mall to ride the carousel and the train, worked on projects around the house, and played lots of games. We love it when they visit!

Painting Ceramics

Megan really wanted to go to a local ceramic and plaster shop while Grandma and Grandpa were visiting. Since this was the first time we have done anything like this, it was quite a big adventure. I wasn't sure what to expect, taking two kids into a small building filled floor to ceiling with breakable items, and to turn them loose with paint palettes. It was so much fun! We can hardly wait to go there again.

Megan chose to paint a ceramic bunny. She was so excited to learn about ceramic paints, and to watch them mix the colors for her. It was hard to leave her bunny for firing, but it was exciting to come back and pick it up later when the colors were darker and glossy!

Jared chose to paint a plaster pumpkin decoration. He's had it displayed on his dresser since we brought it home, and he's anxiously waiting for the day we get to hang it up with the rest of the Halloween decorations.

Travis got in on the action as well. He painted a really cool pitcher a dark blue that matches our regular dishes (which I love). The pitcher makes a beautiful vase on the kitchen table!

Megan's 7th Birthday

When did my little girl get to be so big? It's crazy! How did we go from this

to this

in the blink of an eye?

Megan's First Day of School

When did she get so grown up?

Dog Days of Summer

Pretty much, the only way to get through summers in Houston is to be in the pool.

New School Clothes

Every year, Grandma Suzanne has always taken the kids shopping for special school outfits, but since we are a little far away right now, she sent them each some cash to spend. They had a wonderful time shopping, but said that it was more fun to go with Grandma than with mom.

Here are a couple more pictures...

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for the great school clothes!

Count Down - Only 31 Days!

Grandpa Mark and Grandma Suzanne called last night to let us know that they are coming to visit us for Labor Day (which happens to be Megan's birthday). We are all soooooo excited! After answering the question "How many more days until Grandpa and Grandma will be here?" about 57 times this morning, we decided to make countdown chains. We hung them up next to the kids' job charts, so they can tear one off each day when they mark their chart.

We can't wait to see you, Grandpa and Grandma!

Jared's Favorite Scripture Hero

I bet you'll never guess who his favorite scripture hero is!

 

Top Ten {Tuesday}: Favorite PSE Shortcuts

Find more great Top Ten lists at www.ohamanda.com


I love teaching people to use Photoshop Elements. It's not a very expensive program, and it can do so much! I use it for photo editing and digital scrapbooking. The more you use PSE, the quicker and easier it becomes. Knowing a few shortcuts can really kick things into high gear. I like to work with my right hand on my mouse, and my left hand on the keyboard, ready to use shortcuts. Here are a few of my favorites:

1. CTRL+Z (Undo) has to be the best part of PSE, hands down. It's so freeing to know that you can undo anything you want. Don't hesitate to play because you can't permanently mess anything up.

2. Knowing the keyboard shortcuts for the tools that get used the most: V=Move, B=Brush, C=Crop, W=Magic Wand, I=Eyedropper, K=Paint Bucket, S=Clone Stamp, M=Marquee, L=Lasso, U=Shape Tool. If a tool shares a spot with another tool (like the shape tool, pressing the key again will move it to the next tool. So, pressing U once gives you the Rectangle Shape tool. Press it again and you have the Rounded Rectangle tool. Again, and you get the Ellipse tool, etc.).

3. ALT+Click on the line between layers in the layers palette instead of CTRL+G for a clipping mask. I like it because you can use it to unclip as well.

4. CTRL+J to copy a layer or a selection,Shift+CTRL+J to cut a selection and paste it onto a new layer.

5. Hold the ALT key while resizing to resize from the center instead of from one side.

6. After applying a style (especially one you have customized), right click on the layer in the layers palette and choose "copy layer". Then, highlight and layers you want the style applied to, right click, and choose "paste style".

7. Hold the Space Bar down to get the "Hand" tool, especially when you are zoomed way in for fine brush work or making a detailed selection. Don't switch tools or zoom out, just hold the Space bar down, move to a new spot, and keep working.

8. Brackets [ and ] to change the size of your brush. And Right+Clicking to get the Brush Palette.

9. To quickly lighten an under exposed photo, make a copy of the photo layer (just drag the photo layer up on top of the New Layer Icon at the top of the Layers Palette and release), and change the Blending Mode to Screen. If it still isn't light enough, make a copy of the copy layer. The Blending Mode will be copied too. You can keep making copies until you get it light enough. Merge all of the layers together when you are done.

10. To quickly darken an over exposed photo, make a copy of the photo layer and change the Blending Mode to Multiply. If it still isn't dark enough, make a copy of the copy layer. You can keep making copies until you get it dark enough. If it's too dark, you can lower the opacity of the copied layer to get the look you want.