Monday, February 18, 2008 8:39 AM CST

Happy Presidents Day To All!!!!!

It is a good day for a Postal Holiday ;-) A cold and windy day here in the North Country.




This weekend brought back another bought of fear, panic, and reality. The reality of how fragile, and precious life truly is. We can appreciate this, more than ever, since we know how quickly our lives can change and how we can loose what we have been given.

Sunday morning found us in the ER with little Cara, after she spiked a temp causing her second febrile seizure in less than a year. She has been sick this past week with a bad caugh, icky runny nose, and beginning Friday, the start of a steady fever. We actually had her in the clinic on both Thursday and Friday with our concerns, and as always, very worried that this very thing would happen if we didn't start to treat her soon. We had been keeping the Tylenol and Motrin flowing nearly around the clock, but her caughing, started causing her to vomit it back up nearly every time we tried a new dose. So she was not as protected as we would have liked.

Early Sunday morning, she woke up with 101 temp, and shaking with the chills. This is not a good sign, as we know a temp quickly rising, is sure to follow. We got her in the bath, trying to warm her up, and get some motrin in her at the same time. But in the process she puked it right back up, and was shaking even more. Both Tom and I were right there with her, working to draw up another dose to try to get down her. Within a few minutes, she jerked up, and I reached in the tub and grabbed her out, knowing that she must have been starting a seizure.

We quickly wrapped her in a towel, and Tom ran and got the medicine we were given from Mpls Childrens last May, when she had the long complicated seizure. This is a suppository syringe of valume, to stop the seizure. I gave this to her within seconds, and to our PRAISES she quit the seizure within about a minute. This one lasted from start to finish only about two minutes.

While this was all going on, we screamed for Sydney and Sam to get up and we quickly threw together what we needed to bring to the hospital. Cara came out of the seisure caughing, her eyes opened, and she spoke a couple words. She then fell asleep, and rested all the way in to the hosp. breathing well. At the hosp. She was checked out, and given a tylenol suppository as her temp was still 102. The nurse got an IV in (the first time!) and she was given some fluids to replenish her as she was really starting to get dehydrated (her puking was also accompanied by diareaha). We also gave her a nebulizer treatment to help her breathing.

Cara rested, and got her fluids. She also got a dose of Roseffin (two shots, one in each leg) as her ears were looking like an infection. We brought her back home with more suppository tylenol, and have been watching her close like a hawk, and doing the nebs every few hours too. Most of yesterday she kept the steady temp of about 101, and finally last night when we went to bed it broke! She slept well, and is much better this morning!! Her temp is still normal, but she continues to have diareaha. We are trying to push fluids, and anything she will try to eat. She is just not sure what she wants, so she has been quite clingy and a little whiney. I am so thankful to be off today with her, it is a good day to stay inside and cuddle!!!

We are in the process of getting a new sub trained for me in the Post Office, so that I can take a day off when needed, and poor Tom doesn't have to be Mr Mom all of the time. Of course he doesn't mind a bit, there is nothing more rewarding than caring for these precious babies when they need us!!! Of course it is even better when the two of us can be here together with her (like today) I can't imagine handling this scarry sitiuation (yesterday) by myself, although I know how adrenaline kicks in and you can do things you never dreamed you could!

Cara is a very good little patient. I was thinking about this yesterday, how she seems to naturally have the ability to cope and comply with medical procedures, despite a little natural hesitation. I also think all that we experienced with Carl, has undoubtedly made us stronger, and more confident parents, in dealing with these things too. A normal parent would probably refuse to choose a shot for their child out of pitty, but in our case knowing what needs to be done for the best, we are prepared to be agressive, and we know how kids are resilient, and can endure, what they need to. She also must have Carl's strength inside her soul, as God, and he knew what to specially design her with!!!

Today we will spend time getting her feeling better, and enjoying all the lovin shes giving back :-) Thanks for stopping by, and for all your Prayers Always!!!

Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Love & Peace
Kelly

Sunday, February 3, 2008 3:14 PM CST

Happy Super Bowl Sunday!!!!!

GO NEW YORK!!!!! We are cheering for NY, knowing our Dear NY cousins will be too!!! We are getting ready here for a family Super Bowl Party!!! Sam had Hockey practice for a couple of hours, and is on his way home, while the girls, Sydney, Cara and I are getting snacks ready for the game. I actually mostly just watch/enjoy the commercials ;>)

Please continue to keep the Leiser family in your Prayers as they adjust to the unthinkable task of living without their precious child Isaac. It was heartbreaking to read the final journals and then to read that this little guy became an Angel as so many NB fighters have. The pictures of little Isaac at the wake were so difficult too, as you can well imagine. And I know those that were here with us for Carl's would agree that he surly reminded us of our Angel Carl. We too have pictures of Carl in the casket. What I remember the most, is how he did look like a perfect Angel, so sweet and so perfect. The sun was shining in the church window through the stained glass that evening, to softly shine a beautiful cast of warm sunlight across Carl's little head. He looked so breathtaking, I will never forget that. For a short time, the sun was in the perfect position, according to where he was laying, shining down on him like a beam from Heaven above. His casket was open all the way across, I didn't want half of it closed to hide the lower half of him, that didn't seem natural to me. He was covered with a beautiful tied fleece blanket, that was a gift from the Frank family. He held a little wooden rosary in his hands that we had used when we prayed the rosary together. He was also surrounded by many other gifts from friends and family, and a few drawings and handmade cards from other little ones, including Sam who drew a picture of Carl with Angel wings. He had a a couple of his favorite toys including a special Harley motorcycle that Uncle Chuck gave him, and a little orange motorcycle that Cousin Jenny had given him just a couple days before he died. He kept this little model in his hand almost non-stop, the last couple of days. As wierd as it sounds, I almost wish we could go back to this time, for then, it would have only been a few days since I had held and kissed our precious son, not earths reality time...38 months.

What keeps me going is the steady signs that Carl is still here with us!!! Yesterday he came through loud and clear with a sign that I can't deny. I was at work getting ready to load up my car with mail. My hands have become dry and chapped and cracked like crazy. I was standing at my case putting on about 12 bandaids to cover some of the cracks that I keep bumping and making worse. Bandaids always remind me of Carl, and I can remember putting them on him 1000's of times after his GCSF shots, or to cover his other sticks and pokes. As I was applying my pile of bandaids, thinking of Carl, I could not believe the song that came on the radio. It was "Hands" by Jewel. This song is one of the songs that is on our DVD that was compiled by Uncle Clair, and Jenny & Jessie of many pictures of Carl, and the dove release at the cemetery for his funeral. I can say that I may have heard this song, maybe once, played on the radio?? I used to discount these things as "coinsidences" in the past, but not anymore!!!

Down in the barn, one of Carl's favorite places....

I have a heartwarming farm story to share with you and I will try to add some pics soon!!! On February 1st, one of the cows aborted her calf early? Something could have been wrong with the pregnancy or the calf? Tom and John went out, and found a young holstein calf to purchase (an orphan bottle baby, from a farm that raises numerous bull calves) They put the Momma cow in the barn and got her set up with the little calf, to hopefully have her accept this replacement, and take care of it. This can be successful, but can also fail if the Momma rejects the calf. This morning, we are happy to have witnessed the Cow mothering and protecting the baby, as they have indeed bonded!! The little calf is drinking from Mom and they look very Happy!!! They just look a little funny, cause she is a Red poll breed, and the calf is a little holstein. :-)

Last night I received a phone call from our Dear friend Deb, Andrew's Mom!!! It was so wonderful to hear her voice and talk to her again!!! After we talked, I got back to a little project I had started but didn't get finished!! So here is the Montage from our New Years Eve reunion in Rochester!!! You have probably noticed that Cara Joy has stolen our camera time, most of the time :-) Actually she has become the "Belle of the Ball" around here!!! It is not hard to do, it just seems so natural to me to be snapping shots, and filming her. To see her in action, is to nearly see Carl again...through her. Those of you that knew Carl at the Donald House will see what I mean!!! Here it is Enjoy!!!!