I wrote not long ago about how some miracles happen instantly while others are a process. Since before Lil Bug was born and still today I believe that miracles have happened and will continue to happen in her life. Even though I firmly believe this, I am surprised and ecstatic to say that God has worked yet again in her little life to do something truly amazing.
The past couple of days Lil Bug has shown an interst in walking without her crutches or walker. Typically she goes a couple of steps, flails her arms around and eventually falls down or lands up against a wall.
That has changed! This morning she decided she was going to walk and praise Jesus, she did. I was able to catch a short walk on video this morning before church. She is now walking from one end of the house to the other without holding on, without her crutches and without her walker. She does no flail her arms about and has great control as you can see in this video.
Please join me in praising and thanking God for this miracle in Bugs life. I know there are many more in her future!!!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Fall Craft Fair
Yesterday was the first of 4 or 5 craft fairs I am doing this fall. I was hoping for a better turnout, but it wasn't terrible. I did alright with sales. I have added new product to my line including nursing covers, toddler pillows, toddler pillow cases, checkbook covers, burp clothes. Of course I still offered my mei tai style carriers and bibs. People seemed to really like the products as I had great feedback. I look forward to the next show, which is in 2 weeks.
Here are a couple of pics from my booth...I had two tables in the booth.
Here are a couple of pics from my booth...I had two tables in the booth.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Seriously?!?! I'm speechless
I saw this video on a friends blog and they had their post titled, "Just when I start to feel ok with dancing in church..."
I am seriously speechless! No idea what to think about this...
I am seriously speechless! No idea what to think about this...
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Luckybug Boutique- 100% of profits to support shunt research
STARS-kids strives to ensure a brighter future for shunted children. A shunt is the preferred treatment for hydrocephalus, a neurologic condition affecting 1 in 500 persons. Excess cerebrospinal fluid collects in the brain increasing intracranial pressure and compromising neurofunction. Shunt complications are common. Hydrocephalus is life-threatening. Research to create non-invasive treatment and find a cure is critically underfunded and absolutely necessary. Proceeds from the 2nd annual walk-a-thon on Oct. 25th (held in 3 locations: Grand Haven, MI; Detroit, MI; Miami, FL) will fund qualified research projects directly.
As I have mentioned in previous posts, Lil Bug has hydrocephalus. Without a shunt to relieve the excess fluid off her brain, she would die. She had the shunt placed when she was just 2 days old. She has already had to have one revision (which requires brain surgery) when she was 2 years old. Shunt failure rates are extremely high and statistically speaking, Lil Bug will face many revisions throughout her life (although we pray against that!). Each revision exposes her to potential blood and brain infections and takes her away from school (and eventually work). As her mother I am extremely interested in assisting any way I can in raising funds for more research to be conducted. I want Lil Bugs future to be surgery free!!!
I have registered a team for the walk on the 25th and I am working to raise as much money as possible. One of the ways I plan to get money is from my Etsy shop. So, from now until Oct. 24th I am giving 100% of any profits earned from http://www.luckybugboutique.etsy.com/ to STARS (seeking techniques advancing research in shunts). If you have considered buying in the past and haven't gotten around to it, please strongly consider making the purchase now. You will get a quality product made with love and I will get money to put towards this great cause. I am in the process of adding a few GREAT products to my Etsy shop. I have toddler sized pillows and pillow cases, beautiful, trendy nursing covers (hooter hiders), and checkbook covers to add soon. If you are interested in any of these products, let me know and I will get you some pics and prices. I am not sure when I will get them on the Etsy site as I have been busy making them for upcoming craft fairs.
If you are not interested in making a purchase but you are interested in supporting this great cause, please contact me directly at luckybugboutique (at) sbcglobal.net and I can let you know how to do just that!
If you live in the Grand Haven, MI area and are interested in walking with our team, we would love to have you! Please email me and I will get you the details.
Lil Bug and I both thank you for your support!!!
http://www.STARS-kids.org
As I have mentioned in previous posts, Lil Bug has hydrocephalus. Without a shunt to relieve the excess fluid off her brain, she would die. She had the shunt placed when she was just 2 days old. She has already had to have one revision (which requires brain surgery) when she was 2 years old. Shunt failure rates are extremely high and statistically speaking, Lil Bug will face many revisions throughout her life (although we pray against that!). Each revision exposes her to potential blood and brain infections and takes her away from school (and eventually work). As her mother I am extremely interested in assisting any way I can in raising funds for more research to be conducted. I want Lil Bugs future to be surgery free!!!
I have registered a team for the walk on the 25th and I am working to raise as much money as possible. One of the ways I plan to get money is from my Etsy shop. So, from now until Oct. 24th I am giving 100% of any profits earned from http://www.luckybugboutique.etsy.com/ to STARS (seeking techniques advancing research in shunts). If you have considered buying in the past and haven't gotten around to it, please strongly consider making the purchase now. You will get a quality product made with love and I will get money to put towards this great cause. I am in the process of adding a few GREAT products to my Etsy shop. I have toddler sized pillows and pillow cases, beautiful, trendy nursing covers (hooter hiders), and checkbook covers to add soon. If you are interested in any of these products, let me know and I will get you some pics and prices. I am not sure when I will get them on the Etsy site as I have been busy making them for upcoming craft fairs.
If you are not interested in making a purchase but you are interested in supporting this great cause, please contact me directly at luckybugboutique (at) sbcglobal.net and I can let you know how to do just that!
If you live in the Grand Haven, MI area and are interested in walking with our team, we would love to have you! Please email me and I will get you the details.
Lil Bug and I both thank you for your support!!!
http://www.STARS-kids.org
Vacation to MS
When I first became a stay-at-home mom (modified version!) it quickly dawned on me that I no longer got "breaks" throughout my "work" day. I no longer earned vacation time or sick time. All of the fringe benefits were virtually gone. It was a rude awakening for me, let me tell you that! The Designer and I talked about it, the adjustments and my frustration and he made an offer I have yet to hear about from any other SAHM. He told me that every year he would give me one of his weeks of vacation from work.
So, what does that mean exactly? Well, he has 3+ weeks of paid vacation each year. Often times he takes a week off to spend with us during the summer. He takes a day here or there to go fishing throughout the year. In addition he said he would take a week off (consecutively or individual days) to stay with the girls so I could take a vacation if I so desired.
I have never taken him up on his offer. But this year was different. My BFF lives in the Gulfport, MS area. Her DH is in the navy and they are stationed there. She has a son who will be 4 in October. Twin girls who will be 2 in November. And, she is pregnant with baby #4, due in November. We wanted to get together and she was not in any position to travel so I decided to head south to visit the great state of MS.
I arrived on a Friday afternoon. As soon as I landed I was informed that tropical storm Fay was due to hit their house around 1am that night. Sounds like fun! :) Fortunately it wasn't much except some mild wind and rain. After a few days the sun peeked out and I got to enjoy some extremely hot, sticky days down on the Gulf Coast. About 1/2 way through my trip her DH came home and informed us that Hurricane Gustav was on track to hit their area so we spent a good amount of time packing up her house into their 5th wheel so they could evacuate, which they did a day after I flew back home.
While I was there I was able to witness firsthand some of the devastation that still remains from Hurricane Katrina. I saw some people putting on the finishing touches on their brand new homes that they are just getting to replace from Katrina 3 years ago. It was feeling bad for those individuals as they prepared for yet another hurricane to potentially take everything away from them again. Fortunately for my BFF and her family, they had no water or wind damage. They were truly blessed.
In spite of the packing we found time to play as well. We spent one day pampering ourselves with facials, dinner and shopping. We were able to sew some. We took her kids to the children's museum. My friend works part-time as a x-ray tech and so she called her friends up at the hospital and asked if they had time to do an U/S scan on her tummy so I could see the little peanut growing in her belly. She and her husband have decided they do not want to know the gender of the baby. She did, however, allow the tech to let me take a peek so I know what they are having. It was wonderful to see that darling little baby all happy and wiggly in there.
The girls did great with daddy while I was away. Daddy did great too. He did say he would never want to be a stay-at-home dad and was so grateful that I was willing to do it, but he did enjoy himself with the girls too. Lil Bug missed me a lot, but didn't really get fussy about it until about 1.5 days before I returned. I didn't think Lil Princess noticed my absence much, but when I returned home I learned I was wrong...ever since then she clings to my...literally. I can't walk anywhere without her hanging on my leg. She wants me to hold her ALL the time.
I had a great time and I look forward to my vacation next year!!!!!! Hmmm, I wonder where I will go?
*****
I wanted to include some pics from during and after Hurricane Gustav but they aren't working at the moment. I'll see what I can do.
So, what does that mean exactly? Well, he has 3+ weeks of paid vacation each year. Often times he takes a week off to spend with us during the summer. He takes a day here or there to go fishing throughout the year. In addition he said he would take a week off (consecutively or individual days) to stay with the girls so I could take a vacation if I so desired.
I have never taken him up on his offer. But this year was different. My BFF lives in the Gulfport, MS area. Her DH is in the navy and they are stationed there. She has a son who will be 4 in October. Twin girls who will be 2 in November. And, she is pregnant with baby #4, due in November. We wanted to get together and she was not in any position to travel so I decided to head south to visit the great state of MS.
I arrived on a Friday afternoon. As soon as I landed I was informed that tropical storm Fay was due to hit their house around 1am that night. Sounds like fun! :) Fortunately it wasn't much except some mild wind and rain. After a few days the sun peeked out and I got to enjoy some extremely hot, sticky days down on the Gulf Coast. About 1/2 way through my trip her DH came home and informed us that Hurricane Gustav was on track to hit their area so we spent a good amount of time packing up her house into their 5th wheel so they could evacuate, which they did a day after I flew back home.
While I was there I was able to witness firsthand some of the devastation that still remains from Hurricane Katrina. I saw some people putting on the finishing touches on their brand new homes that they are just getting to replace from Katrina 3 years ago. It was feeling bad for those individuals as they prepared for yet another hurricane to potentially take everything away from them again. Fortunately for my BFF and her family, they had no water or wind damage. They were truly blessed.
In spite of the packing we found time to play as well. We spent one day pampering ourselves with facials, dinner and shopping. We were able to sew some. We took her kids to the children's museum. My friend works part-time as a x-ray tech and so she called her friends up at the hospital and asked if they had time to do an U/S scan on her tummy so I could see the little peanut growing in her belly. She and her husband have decided they do not want to know the gender of the baby. She did, however, allow the tech to let me take a peek so I know what they are having. It was wonderful to see that darling little baby all happy and wiggly in there.
The girls did great with daddy while I was away. Daddy did great too. He did say he would never want to be a stay-at-home dad and was so grateful that I was willing to do it, but he did enjoy himself with the girls too. Lil Bug missed me a lot, but didn't really get fussy about it until about 1.5 days before I returned. I didn't think Lil Princess noticed my absence much, but when I returned home I learned I was wrong...ever since then she clings to my...literally. I can't walk anywhere without her hanging on my leg. She wants me to hold her ALL the time.
I had a great time and I look forward to my vacation next year!!!!!! Hmmm, I wonder where I will go?
*****
I wanted to include some pics from during and after Hurricane Gustav but they aren't working at the moment. I'll see what I can do.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Happy 4th birthday, Lil Bug!!!
It was 4 years ago this morning that I went to the dr. to get written permission to fly to California (to have Lil Bug by c-section as we were part of a study for prenatal surgery on Spina Bifida children). When I went to the dr.'s office they did an exam and said I was 2cm dilated and 80% effaced (sp?). They hooked me up to a machine and told me I was having regular contractions. And, with all of that, they told me it was safe for me to get on an airplane and fly across the country to San Francisco.
I was stressed, feeling horrible and scared as all get out! I came home with strict orders to not get out of bed until I boarded the plane the next day. I called my mom and asked her to come help me get things together for us to leave. The Designer and my sister left to get some grocery's for the dog/house sitter.
About 2 hours after I got home from the dr.'s office I was trying to get up off the couch to use the restroom and my water broke. My mom freaked out on me! We had just moved to Michigan and didn't even know how to get to the hospital. I called The Designer at the store and he was checking out...rather than pay and take the grocery's he just left everything and bolted!!!
We arrived at the hospital and I had to argue with the Dr.'s about having a c-section. Fortunately I had asked for a copy of my records while at the dr.'s earlier in the day and they reviewed it. About 6 hours of active, painful contractions later they finally granted me the c-section and my beautiful, fragile little Gracie Bug was born.
I didn't get to see her until after I was out of recovery. I couldn't hold her for nearly 2 weeks due to her back surgery and brain surgery.
But, the moment I laid eyes on her in her tiny little covered bed, I knew that my life would never be the same. My heart was now being carried around on the outside of my body. From her beautiful dark hair (which was half shaved off for the surgery) to her tiny little pudgy feet, she was perfect!
Now, when I look at her, I see miracle after miracle. She is more than I could have ever dreamed. I have learned more from her about life than from anyone else in my entire life. She makes me a better person. I am honored and proud to be her mother.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIL BUG! Mommy loves SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much!!!!
I was stressed, feeling horrible and scared as all get out! I came home with strict orders to not get out of bed until I boarded the plane the next day. I called my mom and asked her to come help me get things together for us to leave. The Designer and my sister left to get some grocery's for the dog/house sitter.
About 2 hours after I got home from the dr.'s office I was trying to get up off the couch to use the restroom and my water broke. My mom freaked out on me! We had just moved to Michigan and didn't even know how to get to the hospital. I called The Designer at the store and he was checking out...rather than pay and take the grocery's he just left everything and bolted!!!
We arrived at the hospital and I had to argue with the Dr.'s about having a c-section. Fortunately I had asked for a copy of my records while at the dr.'s earlier in the day and they reviewed it. About 6 hours of active, painful contractions later they finally granted me the c-section and my beautiful, fragile little Gracie Bug was born.
I didn't get to see her until after I was out of recovery. I couldn't hold her for nearly 2 weeks due to her back surgery and brain surgery.
But, the moment I laid eyes on her in her tiny little covered bed, I knew that my life would never be the same. My heart was now being carried around on the outside of my body. From her beautiful dark hair (which was half shaved off for the surgery) to her tiny little pudgy feet, she was perfect!
Now, when I look at her, I see miracle after miracle. She is more than I could have ever dreamed. I have learned more from her about life than from anyone else in my entire life. She makes me a better person. I am honored and proud to be her mother.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIL BUG! Mommy loves SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much!!!!
Monday, September 1, 2008
Where did August go? (and list)
Well, you may or may not have noticed, but I was absent from blogland for the entire month of August. I have just one question...where did August go?
I swear I was just gearing up for it and BHAM! before I could even process it, it was gone. What a shame.
I have a ton of things to blog about but just don't have the time, energy or even the interest lately. So, I am going to start a list of topics I hope to blog about soon so that when I do have the time/energy/interest once again, I will remember what I need to write about.
Lil Princess' birthday
Trip to Mississippi
Family reunion & wedding
My birthday
Coast Guard Festival
Luckybugboutique.etsy.com
Fall/winter craft fairs
Lil Bugs first day back to school (which happens to be tomorrow!)
Teaching
The Presidential race
Hurricane Gustav
Joy Unlimited
Launch of Rockford Orphan Care Ministry on Sept. 7th
There's more...when I think if them I will amend so I have a comprehensive list for later. See you soon.
I swear I was just gearing up for it and BHAM! before I could even process it, it was gone. What a shame.
I have a ton of things to blog about but just don't have the time, energy or even the interest lately. So, I am going to start a list of topics I hope to blog about soon so that when I do have the time/energy/interest once again, I will remember what I need to write about.
Lil Princess' birthday
Trip to Mississippi
Family reunion & wedding
My birthday
Coast Guard Festival
Luckybugboutique.etsy.com
Fall/winter craft fairs
Lil Bugs first day back to school (which happens to be tomorrow!)
Teaching
The Presidential race
Hurricane Gustav
Joy Unlimited
Launch of Rockford Orphan Care Ministry on Sept. 7th
There's more...when I think if them I will amend so I have a comprehensive list for later. See you soon.
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