Day 15: Prayers are needed

Today, as I check my email, I get a message from Hemi Kids asking that we change our profile picture to the support ribbon in honor of the Suzuki family. I wonder what happened, and as I viewed CHASA's page I see that the unthinkable has happened. Due to complications during a surgery to try and ease his seizures, Eric 17 years old, suffered a traumatic brain injury, and his family is now having to say good-bye. Eric, like Caleb survived a pediatric stroke. As a mother of a child like Eric my heart breaks for his family.

So I ask anyone who reads this, whether you are a facebook friend, a stranger, or a parent of a Hemi Kid, Please keep this family in your thoughts. If you would like to show your support for Eric's family please feel free to download the image of the support ribbon and use as your profile picture. I would love to see this photo as everyone I knows profile pic, because they need as much support as they can get in this tough time.

A New Beginning

After receiving such positive feedback I have decided to keep up the blog. Thanks to everyone who either viewed or commented :). This morning I woke up and though I knew its going to be a hot sticky Cincinnati day (almost 90 in May are you kidding me Mother Nature make up your mind please), I forced myself to get up and run. My brain made 1000+ excuses like, its hot all we have are pants to jog in, so I told myself, " you can always chop the legs off!" So... sporting my oh so fashionable cut off University of Cincinnati sweats Brody and I went for a sticky, muggy jog. To my surprise it was refreshing. It really is a great way to blow off some steam! So my challenge is finished for the day yay!

With summer approaching quickly I have discovered something fantastic that I never knew existed. CHASA has a retreat just for Hemi kids and their families. I would love to attend, so that Caleb can realize he is not alone. There are other kids out there like him, he is not that different.

What I would Like to do this summer, but due to our incredibly limited financial situation I doubt we will be able to.

http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=a41c81a508d3dbaa547c48&skin_id=701&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url



My laptop is about dead so this is all I have for now, but the day is young so I may have more later

the begining of the end

well I guess i will be shutting this down soon. I was hoping to raise awareness, but considering noone reads this I believe I am failing. As for Pediatric Stroke Awareness Month, well, I will keep the purple in my hair and I will continue to challenge myself daily, but the blog is going to go.

My goal in this was not only to raise awareness, but also to meet other parents of kids going through the same thing. I have followed others streaks, commented and not one person returned the favor. What a show of support.

So unless I can figure out a reason to do otherwise this will be my last post. I am an advocate for my kid even when no one else is.

Playing Catch up

Who would have thought the two "easy" challenges would be the hardest. I put in purple streaks well over a week ago and have had to touch it up twice already Manic Panic Amplified Ultraviolet = fail. So I am trying a combination of 2 beyond the zone colors and am keeping my fingers crossed it sticks!

The second challenge, writing everyday also = fail. My net book was having connectivity issues so the only internet I can access is on my Droid. This is my experimental Droid post. I hope it works.

Caleb never ceases to amaze me. Today he was playing baseball with this friends. I can see him gaining self esteem every day. Today reminded me of the day he learned to walk. He actually knew all along, but lacked the confidence to do it alone. So Chris, my lovey hubby, and I sat across from each other and would take turns calling Caleb over and we kept scooting farther with each pass. Within 20 minutes he was running and giggling across the entire living room. Confidence for Caleb is key. Where he has confidence he thrives, where he lacks confidence it becomes a battle.

But its little moments like running across the room, or hitting a ball as high as the roof of a 2 story house that make you realize that he really can do anything. And he really is more than a blessing, he is a miracle, my miracle, and he is all I need to make this mothers day truly exceptional!

Hopefully there will be no more Snafu's. Stay tuned!

Day 5

Today we got a new friend in our little family Caleb named him Peanut. We found a dog on our porch this morning and Caleb has been so happy already claiming him as "his dog". Most of my day was spent trying to figure out the what to do with the dog and what kind of temperament he has.

So today when I went to the park I had to do my walking at the dog park with my normal running partner (Brody) and our new addition. My walk was not its usual challenge. 

The first challenge of the day.. getting out of bed 2 days of running on top of being sick (which I believe is over for the most part) has really taken a toll on my body. I am sore from head to toe!.

So today since I didn't feel like my challenge was challenging enough I wanted to share  a story.... On February 10th 2011, I slipped and fell and shattered my radius and my ulna. It took a plate and 7 screws to put it back together. Being that I am right handed, and it was my right wrist, I got 2 months where I could only use my uncoordinated left hand. Everything was a struggle. to go to the bathroom and be able to button my pants, well for 2 months it was sweats. I remember feeling sorry for myself, I was trying to accomplish something ( I cannot for the life of me remember the mundane little task, as now the lesson outweighs the task) and Caleb comes up to me and asks what was wrong. I told him honestly I was frustrated that I couldn't do something, and he said "but Mommy I can't use my left that well and I can do it". He was right. Here i am the parent the one with all the lessons, and he is teaching me.... Caleb has been the king of "I can't" since he could speak the words, and in the past year he has really taken off confidence wise.

A few weeks ago we had an IEP meeting. His Early Intervention Specialist had said it bothers her that Caleb doesn't work independently he is always asking for her help. I had to take a stand. She was not his EI Specialist any prior year, and I told her that a year ago if he reached a task that he didn't come easily he would refuse to even try just saying "I can't". I asked that they not discourage him for asking for help, the fact that he is even willing to try is a blessing to me.

Point being? Stand up for your kids. You are the only one who knows your child. No one not any "expert" has more knowledge about what your child needs. It is music to my ears to hear "will you help me" as long as it keeps the "i can'ts" away

We did it!

That is right even with the illness we got out there and ran. I have a feeling I may be regretting it later...... but for now mission accomplished! We did take it a little easier due to being sick we jogged a 1/4 mile then  would walk a 1/4 mile alternating we did cut it 1/2 mile shorter because I forgot my water in the car and was starting to feel woozy, and I really did not want to pass out from dehydration. But yes, we did it.

day 4

Today I am sick. This stomach bug is horrible.... I wanted to get out and run today, but I fear due to the illness i will be very easily dehydrated. So I am going to see how I feel later if I begin to hold stuff down I will run. The weather is holding up too so hopefully my tummy will give me a break. In the meantime......
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3785243523580759289#