Medal of Honor Winner's Gala

Dave and I were guests at the Congressional Medal of Honor Winner's Gala this past Saturday, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. It was a great evening, and we were in the presence of true heroes from every branch of the military. Not being in his dress blues, Dave felt a little strange, but I was so proud of him, and the service he also gave our counrty!!

We started out by touring Air Force One, which was truly awesome. Before being retired, it had served 7 Presidents, ending with George W. Most of it's air miles were under President Reagan, so that's why it resides at his library. We were able to see the President's quarters and walk through the whole plane before the evening's festivities began. You can imagine how many canisters of Jelly Bellies were in that cabin!

There were a ton of government dignitaries and military personnel present. Several actors were also there, to include Gary Sinese, Tom Selleck , Kevin Sorbo and Miguel Ferrer. We had the chance to spend a couple minutes talking with Gary Sinese, who has gone over to Iraq and Afghanistan several times to entertain and suport the troops. What a very nice, and humble man!

It was an honor for us to be included in this wonderful celebration!

We need a National Healthcare Package for ALL

Christianity Today has a great article on the need for a revised national healthcare package. While the War on Terror and the economy are incredibly impotant issues, the issue of healthcare for all (especially all children) is one which more time and effort need to be given. It is one issue that I need to see addressed by the candidate I support. Anyway, I will just post the link to the article, since they are much better at articulating this need than I am.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/february/19.20.html

Autism Spectrum Disorder and the allergic child

As many of you know, my son Joe was diagnosed last year as being on the autism spectrum. Joe is considerd very high functioning, and our main focus in therapy continues to be bringing out the language which he already has, but sometimes chooses not to use. We also have issues with behavior, like eloping and being a bit less focused in a classroom enviornment than other kids his age. But as far as intelligence goes, we are blessed that he is able to keep up with ( and in some areas even surpass) his peers.

I have been researching the co-exsistance of enviornmental and food allergies in children who are on the spectrum. It's very interesting, and to me, holds a bit more weight scientifically than the whole immunization hoopla. Granted, I also believe that in the past thermisol did pose a hazadardous toxicity and possible negative neurological effect on kids who where exposed in larger quantities. But the drug companies have been removing thermisol from antigens for several years, now. The autism "epidemic" continues to grow. The other possibility that might still involve immunizations as a possible cause for spectrum disorders also involves allergy and the introduction to the immune system of a substance that for most would not cause any reaction. But for some might cause a neurological type of reaction.

Allergy in autistc kids seems to be quite common. Many have food allergies to wheat, dairy and nuts. Joe is allergic to peanuts, and so we also keep a nut-free house ( food-wise, not individuals living here) :) Then there is the ever increasing in popularity gluten free diet that many pediatricians advocate in helping treat behaviors in ASD (Austistic Spectrum Disorders). Does it help? I dont know. While I would love to try a gluten free diet on Joey....I am a wimp! When I was working as a pediatric nurse (long before I had kids of my own), I would be the first to instruct the parents to be parents....but here I am, unable to take food he loves away from him. The truth is that he is a picky eater, and while that isn't uncommon in little ones, kids with ASD sometimes have sensitivities to food texture, taste, and smell. It's not always a put-on. They are just reacting to something in the food they don't like. So there are times I feel fortunate that he eats the few things he does!

The interesting thing I have been reading, is that the CNS and immune system form about the same time in-utero. Both function similarly, recognition then reaction. Whether it's a specific memory that you have from your 5th birthday party, or the taste of a food that gives you hives...it is all conneted. Somehow, it makes me wonder if symptoms of ASD are heightened when the child is in an allergic state. Say for instance, a simple cold or nasal allergy....do these conditions make behaviors worse? If we treat allergies with something, like Zyrtec or Claritin on a daily basis, would the behaviors improve? The same can be asked about a child with ADD or ADHD. Both of those neurological conditions may also improve when allergies are kept at bay.

Interesting idea, isn't it?

Peritoneal Dialysis... possible alternative

We have been doing a lot of research into alternatives to the hemo-dialysis that Dave is currently doing three times a week. While Peritoneal dialysis is not necessarily new, it is not usually the first course that most nephrologists will take with their patients in kidney failure. So he has done the hemo-dialysis now for several months, and it is really difficult to have any kind of normal life three days a week! Poor guy is exhausted the whole day afterwards, and then still has to try to work either while being hooked up to the machine or when he finally gets home.

From what I have read, Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is often used by younger people who do work or who still lead fairly active lifestyles, that is us...for sure!!

It is done through an exchange between fluid (dialysis solution) placed in the peritoneum (abdomen area) and the blood barrier that is in the abdomen. It works through diffusion...the waste products from the blood are pulled into the solution and then the fluid is emptied by the patient every 4 -6 hours.

It sounds like a very promising alternative! We will begin talking to the doctors at the dialysis center this week, and getting their opinion on whether or not Dave is a good candidate.

The testing begins....update on Dave

Dave is still going through dialysis three times a week. He changed his days to T/TH/Sa, but while that gives him three full days at work, it decreases the time he gets to spend at home, so that may not work out. Although with the Market doing what it has for the past two weeks, he was happy to be there to put out all kinds of fires! Wow! What a time to be in investments! With the year in politics going full swing, and the uncertainty of the election looming, it's going to be a bumpy ride for the next few months.



As we are getting into the swing of this new year, it is now time for me to begin the testing process to see if I am compatible to be Dave's kidney donor. We know that by blood typing alone, I can donate, because I am O Positive (the universal donor). So now I will go through tissue sampling and a battery of tests that will check the function ability of my kidneys.



It would have been such a blessing if someone from Dave's family would have come forward to donate. Not only because it will be difficult to have both of us out of commission for at least a week, having two little kids to care for. But the rejection factor is so much lower if the donation were to come from a sibling or even a cousin. He'll have to take many more anti-rejection drugs receiving my kidney than he would have to take if the donation were a relative. The scary thing is that these drugs, while preventing the body from rejecting the new organ, also carry with them a higher incidence of causing certain forms of cancer. We continue to pray that God will touch one of his relatives' hearts, and a miracle will happen! If not....we rest assured knowing that He is in control.



One good thing is that we have been blessed with a number of people who are incredibly kind and want information about donating. My brother is one. Then we have three friends who want to offer, and by blood type are matches! God really has blessed us!! I try to remember that when I start to feel so overwhelemed with fear!



Dave has put off his hernia surgery until the end of February. We have been invited to an event at the Ronald Regan Library in early February, honoring the Medal of Honor winners, so he didn't want to be hindered in anyway from enjoying the festivities that evening! Me either....it's a black tie event, so it should be really fun. Something that we certainly haven't done in years! The only real dancing we've done is at weddings, and the Chicken Dance really shouldn't count as dancing!!



Ok.... will fill you all in as stuff happens.

Celebrating 16 years....Happy Anniversary!!

16 years ago, Dave and I began our life together! We were married on a beautiful January day in 1992, at the church we both grew up attending....St. John's in Hacienda Heights, California,

We had a military wedding, since Dave was a Leiutenant in the US Army Reserves. I remember the day so clearly, like it was yesterday. Many of our family members have since gone home to be with the Lord, but but on that day I was blessed to have my two grandmothers and Dave had his Great Uncle and Aunt from Cleveland. Uncle LaVerne sang like an angel, "Pontis Angelicus" , "Ave Maria" and "The Our Father". Wow...it was beautiful!

Life these past 16 years has been full of many happy times, a few unpleasant times, and even times where we both have been guilty of becoming complacent in our relationship...only to be reminded of what a blessing we are to each other.

God has blessed us with two beautiful sons, a loving home, and so much joy. I am so thankful.

Dave, we will make it through these current health trials, and then one day I will stand with you on the Spanish Steps, in Rome. That is my prayer!

I love you, sweetheart. Thank you for sharing your life with me for the last 16 years~ and many more to come. Happy Anniversary!!

Go see THE PIRATES WHO DON'T DO ANYTHING this weekend....

Since most of the people that view this blog are parents, like us, I wanted to spread the word to go see a really fun, family- friendly (Rated G) movie coming out this weekend. “The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything, A VeggieTales Movie” is being released nation wide and playing in many of the larger theaters!

I was fortunate enough to be invited to one of the preview screenings of the movie, back in October. I took Davey, and we both really enjoyed it! Being nine-a- half, I wasn’t sure if he had outgrown our vegetable friends. But he at one point turned to me, laughing so hard and saying, “Mom, I can’t breathe!” Alright!! That’s a great endorsement, isn’t it?

Phil Vischer, the creator of VeggieTales, wrote the script. I can’t say enough kind things about this man. He has been one of our prayer partners this past year and Dave’s friend. He has been a great source of strength to me personally through some of the emails I have received. Besides that….he and the director of the movie, Mike Nawrocki, are incredibly talented and gifted story tellers!

This movie is a modern day parable, about how God calls us to adventure, and equips us with what we need to succeed. In its core message we also learn that when we do what’s right, even if it’s difficult, with God's help we can be everyday heroes! What a great message for kids, who are constantly being reminded (through assorted media) that they should put themselves first, and that doing the “right” thing is somewhat objective.

I encourage you to take your kids, grand kids, nieces, nephews, neighbors…or just go yourselves! The movie opens this Friday, Jan.11. In these days the opening weekend’s box office is very important to the film’s overall success. Please help support the mission and ministry of VeggieTales. As Christians we have a strong voice, and supporting movies with a message that mirrors our own beliefs is incredibly important. Plus….you’ll laugh until you can’t breathe! :)

If you are local to South OC, we will be tagging along with the MV Church of Christ's children's ministry when they go to see it on Saturday at the Aliso Viejo Regal Cinemas. The movie time is 1:15 PM and you're welcome to meet us before the show at the food court for lunch! (The little ones can come dressed as pirates if they want!) :)

**To get in on our discounted ticket price ($7 per person), email me before 5PM on Thursday.

http://www.veggiepirates.com/