June 2008 Archieve

June 30
100,000
When we purchased our van 4.5 years ago, it had 30,000 miles on it. Today as it rolled over, I couldn't help but think of all that this van has done in the last 70,000 miles!

This van has brought 2 newborn babies home from the hospital, traveled to the Detroit Zoo, pulled our old camper (now gone), pulled Brian's fisihing boat (now gone), traveled to Alpena camping at least 3 times, brought Cole in for 3 surgeries, brought Kennedy to her first dance recitital, brought the kids to their first dentist appointments, brought Aleigha and Blake to the hospital for ear-tubes, drove Cole to Mary-Free bed for speech and physical therapy at least 100 times, seen the beach, brought home new puppies, brought home new kittens, driven to job interviews, brought me to nursing school, seen vomit and urine, carried balloons for b-day parties, held millions of bags of groceries...hit 2 deers, had one head on collision, had some courtesy spray paint job from Cole, been driven through the neighbors garage door(Kennedy), had a permanant marker pinstripe job from Cole, had about 5 new pairs of windshield wipers, helped friends move, carried home new bikes in the past for the kids, hidden Christmas/Birthday surprises...visited friends in the hospital, brought Brian in for 3 surgeries, drove me in for my knee surgery...drove my mom to the hospital for her heart cath. Driven to Garden City (where my dad lives and my Grandfather passed away) at least 10 times...been on several webkinz hunts...traveled to see Santa and the Easter bunny at the mall.....gone to approx. 100 different doctor appointments, been filled with gas approx. 258 times....and just this summer had Cole etch his name on the side of the van with a nail......this van is a HUGE part of us. Today it made me think about a few things.


Boating, ER & Surgery.
For those of you who haven't heard yet Brian had a boating accident today (well yesterday). He went air-born on the tube and rolled..well his body fell off the tube...but his hand was stuck in the handle. (perhaps caught on his wedding ring) What initially appeared to us as a "jammed" finger or two ended in 2 consecutive surgeries. They tried to "re-set" it at the urgent care center, when that didn't work they sent us to the hospital to have them place a pin in it, while in surgery...after an hour and a half into surgery the surgeon came out and said he was going to have to move to plan "B". He shattered it so bad that the joint was crumbled, and the parts of the bone were missing. (there was nothing to put the pins into) He ended up having a complete fusion. (Basically, as I understand it, they removed the joint and the bone fragments and sottered the bone together at a 35 degree angle.) he will never be able to straighten that hand out or make a fist. ( the additional surgery took another hour...he was in surgery from 10:15pm until about 12:45am) he can't use that hand for 6-8 weeks. and it will never be the same.

In addition, I would almost bet that he may lose his job, or at the VERY least go without pay & health insurance for the next 2 months. EVERYTHING including his FMLA for the year is used up due to my health problems!
....When I got home at 2:30am my mom was here, the kids were all in bed. I had a terrible feeling that since I wasn't home to "prep" my house before my mom coming to babysit, that she would take some of our medication. (which we usually have to hide.) The moment my mom left I counted my prescriptions that were filled yesterday. I'm missing 9 pills of one, and 8 of another. I'm overwhelmed, disgusted & ready to throw in the towel.
Please pray for my husband & my mom. ~Kendrah


June 25
Camp.
Kennedy has this intensity to her -- everything she does is big. She laughs big -- from the bottom of her belly. She smiles big. She loves animals in a BIG way....she worries big, rejoices big and she reacts big -- so when Brian and I told her that she was going to camp again this summer we heard a big "Hurray!" I respect the maturity of my 9 year old and understand that she is faced with many obstacles. Even leaving for camp was hard for her..."Mommy what if you need me, what if you have the "shakes"? (seizures) I reassured her that her job was not to worry about me but to be silly, goofy and act like a BIG kid. Which she did, she had a riot! She lost a shoe, a towel, and a pair of shorts...which is NOTHING comapred to what she gained! She attended a Christan camp for 5 days, pictured below is her cousin (who was also in her cabin!) and her 2 camp counselors! I also attached a picture of her cabin name....perhpas someone knew that our family needed a little "hope"!


June 21
Appointments.
June 30th - I meet with Dr. Fully to discuss my memory or lack of @ The Grand Rapids Memory Clinic.
July 14th - I meet with Dr. Sullivan in Ann Arbor about the next step in tumor reduction.

Our biggest obstacle currently is getting the seizures back under control, I have had 3 in the last 2 weeks. In addition, we are faced with a decision that involves surgery. Surgery at best could elevate all seizures, memory loss, blurry vision and headaches. Sounds wonderful, until you see the scans, the tumor is dominately resting on my optical nerve. Leaving a 50/50 chance of legal blindness as a result of this surgery. DO I struggle with no memory and seizures...or do I risk NOT seeing my daughters in a wedding dress someday.... Or my son Cole win the Daytona 500 (as you all know he wants to be a race car driver...)

Life has been a struggle at the DeYoung's as I know that all my readers like the raw truth. Having all 5 kids home for the summer has cost us a fortune in groceries...but has been fun. We have been trying to do things that are fun, but not expensive. We were given passes to the zoo, and can't wait to enjoy that. We have gone on picnics, and to the park, boating, to daddy's work carnival, even had a lemonaid stand with the neighbors! The kids all had to think of fun activities that we could do that would be "mommy not working" budget friendly. So we have captured frogs, and found rocks....gone bike riding (YES, I can ride my bike again...the knee is doing AWESOME!) Our big treat for the kids this summer is going to be Michigan Adventure, if we can afford it. They are VERY excited. We have a garage FULL of cans. We have been saving them for over 5 months to have some extra money this summer to do something fun! Brian and the kids get to cash them in for a "Michigan Adventure Fund"!!!

Thank-you again to all my loyal readers....thanks for all the prayers....


June 18
Sale.
For sale, cheap: One 3 year-old girl, not night-time housebroken. Special this week only: 25% off due to argumentative defects. Does not come when called. Talks back. Does not eat. Refuses to blow nose, preferring instead to snort snot into the back of her throat at least fifteen times per minute. Smells like whatever the hell she got into this minute. Whines incessantly. Ability to vomit at will.
Also this week: 75% off one worn out, ineffective, unwashed, self-loathing, androgynous half-woman, half-rottweiler blend. Comes with door-slamming prowess, relentless abdominal pooch and complimentary nightmares.
+++++++
PLEASE BE NOTIFIED the fire sale of aformentioned small girl and growling she-dog has been retracted due to temporary relief as provided by: 1) one medicinal ‘It-Was-Staring-At-Me-Longingly-When-I-Opened-The-Fridge- Seeking-Carrot-Sticks’ Chocolate frosting; 2) two hours of comfortably toddler-numbing SellMySoul-o-vision; and 3) one hour-long “family nap" snuggling girl and she dog combo.
Duly noted: therapeutic alcohol WORKS.

June 15
Happy Father's Day!
For all that you have done & continue to do....we love you!!
Happy Father's Day!!!


June 10
Many Thanks...

Sometimes something so small can make SUCH a BIG impact. Thank-you for the flowers Jennifer, you made my crappy day much better! I woke up this morning and my whole house smelled amazing!


June 05
So you think you are busy...
Sometimes I think if you popped open my head, you'd see a 3-ring circus inside. So many plans going round and round. So many ideas. So many random thoughts. I used to think I was the queen of this. Until today, while sitting here at my computer, I randomly asked my 3 year old how things were going. This is what I got back.
Aleigha: good. My Evie (neighbor boy) has a little baby he’s going to have one this year and it is a baby girl or boy the doctor said I was with him all day even though he got a little sad at hims mom even though you know he didn’t feel so well - hi bear how are you doing? Did Coopers dog died? The good kids always hits bear and the bad do you kno what the bad kids does? If he does it he blames it on you on on the kids and Austin tells a lie and hi bear...I’m a very good brusher that’s why I like brushing peoples hairs you know like kids after theirs baths brush theirs hairs....Daddy said I can take a bath yesterweek. B E A R Mommy bear farted.....Mommy I like em flowers and I told Coopers mom that I like em flowers and she said that is a nice girl. I have to go. MOMMY, I just pee'd my panties.
Mommy: Like now just now???
Aleigha: yup thems all wet.
I need a nap.

June 03
on NOT being a Mother...
There was a time that when I decided I wanted to go to bed, I would simply fall in the bed. There were no elbows and knees shoved into my side through out the night. My sleep went uninterrupted and I could take up the whole thing if I so desired. (I REALLY miss this part!) I didn’t have to worry about lunches being packed, 5,000 Legos being picked up so that you could again walk through the living room without killing your feet, or ensure that all permission slips were signed and ready to return the next morning. No, there was no need to make sure the car seats were buckled in the right way, no wondering if all of the kids were in, buckled and their doors shut before pulling out of the driveway.

Shopping was enjoyable as no one demanded any of my money for a toy, and no tantrums ensued as the result of saying no. If I'm being honest, I can say shopping with 5 young kids is NOT enjoyable. I could watch what I wanted on the television and never had to sit through an episode of Hannah Montana, SpongeBob, or Pokemon. Shoot, I didn’t even know what Pokemon was, and I was okay with that. There were no thoughts of who has practice, what time does she need to be picked up, and why on earth didn’t you start your home work earlier? There were no snotty noses to wipe, tears to dry, and I didn’t have to deal with all night puke fests!

The tales that I listened to did not involve who pushed who on the playground. I didn’t worry about bad grades, studying more or rewards for good behavior.

Of course, there were no hugs and kisses for no reason. There were no “I love yous” with out demanding something in return. It was just me, on my own terms, not having to worry about anyone, but myself.
And it was empty.
Yes, there was a time that I wasn’t a mother. There was a time that I didn’t want little snotty nose things clinging to me.
But Someone else knew that they would eventually be the ones to save my life. Days like today my kids keep everything in perspective...I love being a Mother.