Wacky Hair, Being Crafty, Kickin Butt and a Swimming Sunday

It has been one crazy week!

(I say that a lot don't I?)

On Tuesday, Zachary's school celebrated "Wacky Hair Day!" We were happy that Zachary could actually participate this year. Usually by this time of year, he has asked to shave his head, so there isn't much we can do that is wacky!

Zachary was blessed with the same thick, coarse, can't decide if it is curly, straight or wavy hair that I have, so using an unspeakable amount of hair product, I was able to fashion Zachary his very own faux-hawk!




Zachary liked it so much that he wanted to wear his hair the same way the next day, but I had to say no. I don't even like doing my own hair!

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I began working at Job #3, the Running Room. I have worked there on and off for the last year, but will be on the schedule much more regularly now. It takes away from some of the time I get to spend with the kids, but will hopefully help us weather this layoff a little better.

My dear friend Tracy came over Friday night. Jordan was on night shift, so we took the opportunity to watch a movie together while eating massive amounts of salty food. We watched Mamma Mia!. It was very enjoyable, and Meryl Streep is fabulous!

The kids and I spent some time at Science North on Saturday so that Daddy could get a little bit of sleep, then after the kids went to bed, Jordan helped me make some posters to help cheer on some friends that were running a marathon on the Sunday. I knew Jordan was the guy to help me. He is so much better than that than me!





Sunday was an extremely busy day. Zachary had belt testing for karate in the morning at 9am, and my friends marathon started at 8am, so we left the house shortly after 8am to hang up 2 of the 3 signs we had made (the 3rd was for right at the finish line). Then we went to Zachary's belt testing. We are so proud of him. He has worked very hard and is quite proud of his new belt.

Zachary right before his testing.


Showing off one of his blocks!


Bowing to Sensai Dave


The proud boy with his belt!


After that, we headed back home so I could drop Jordan off. He had the lovely task of taking off the back of the dryer and searching the cause of "the smell". He didn't believe me when I screeched that I saw a mouse in the dryer 2 weeks ago. Well, the 2 dead mice in the dryer are my proof. Ugh!
Meanwhile the kids and I tried to find my marathon running friends. The first drive of the course we didn't see them, but after stopping to get mouse hunter, I mean Jordan, we found them on the second round. We beeped and cheered, got ahead of them, stopped and got out and cheered then raced ahead to the finish line. Josee did a fantastic job! I am so proud of her!
Here is a picture of my friend Josee and her husband Drew crossing the finish line after 4 hours and 9 minutes!! Way to go Josee! Her husband ran it with her and I know that she was thrilled to do that with him. Drew is an experienced marathon runner and has even completed an Ironman Triathlon! He usually runs a marathon a good hour faster than this one, so it was extremely kind of him to run with her as moral support.



After that, we headed to a swimming birthday party at the YMCA for a friend of Zachary and Corbett's. Both boys love to swim, especially Corbett, who has yet to learn a healthy respect of the water. He jumps in with reckless abandon and doesn't much care if you are ready to catch him. He will swim his way back to the surface and then turn and head back to jump again. I always have my hands close by, but rarely actually catch him. What the heck, he is having fun!



Zachary is becoming quite a good swimmer and has moved up to a swimming level that involves 45 minute classes in the "big pool". It is nice to know that I only have to "keep an eye out" for him and he can just putter around the pool doing his own thing!



After a crazy day like that it was nice to head to my parents house for dinner! I am not sure I had the energy to cook after a day like that!

So there you have it. A week in the life of Jessica, Jordan and the increasingly amazing Zachary and Corbett!

Jessica

Zachary, Supermodel!

Zachary and I had the opportunity to go to Science North here in Sudbury this past Friday to be part of a new commercial and some photos they were preparing for their marketing.

I thought it would be a neat experience for him and he seemed to enjoy it, although it was a long day for a 6 year old. We were busy from 1:30pm to 7:00pm!

My friend Christine, who works at Science North posted some of the pictures on Facebook, so you can go there and check them out!

Pictures

And before you ask, no, the "husband" with Zachary and I in some of the pictures is not a new husband, he is just one of the other models!

Poor Jordan, he was replaced for a few hours!

Zachary and I were thrilled to have the chance to be in the commercial, we all love Science North and try to go often, and we see something new each time!

I hear rumours that the commercial may start to air in June, so keep your eyes open!

Jes

More updates on C...

After allowing C and his body to rest some more, an MRI on Monday showed that the swelling in his brain had reduced some. A decision was made to extubate him and when he was awake and alert he saw his mom and began to hug her and cry. She told him "a thousand times" that she loved him and was so proud of him.

Unfortunately, shortly afterwards C's oxygen levels dropped and he began having great difficulty breathing again. He was reintubated and spent the next while experiencing dropping heartrates.

Todays report was better, and it appears that he has maintained his blood pressure with the assistance of medication.

Jessica

Another update

C continues to make progress. He is no longer on the ECMO, and his heart and lungs are sustaining him on their own.

Tests were negative for any bacteria, virus or poison, so the Doctors began to suspect that C had suffered a stroke. An MRI this morning confirmed this to be the case.

His doctors and family will not know the extent of brain damage if any until C awakens and they can assess him properly.

Please pray that there is no brain damage and that C continues to heal as miraculously as he has. In a few short days, he has gone from a healthy boy, to being read his last rites and placed on life support to being a very ill boy who is managing to fight for his survival.

His Mom is staying by his side to be the first face he sees when he awakens.

Thank you for your continued prayers.

Keep fighting, C.

Jessica

An update on C...

An email this morning from C's mom has positive news.

C was weaned from the blood pressure medication last night and is so far responding well to that. This is the beginning, and the doctors will slowly start weaning him off the machines that are sustaining him so far. He remains critical but stable.

C's older sister and two cousins were able to go visit him yesterday, a visit they were prepared for by a Child Support worker. They were shown pictures of C before going to the room to prepare them for what they would see.

His sister was quite reserved at first, however later returned to his room with their Mom to read him a book.

Positive news. Let's hope and pray that it continues.

Thank you for your prayers.

Jessica

A request for prayer, meditation, healing thoughts....

This is not a happy cheerful post. They tend to be the ones I prefer to write, but it is necessary that I write this one.

Today I received three separate emails from my best friend that she had received from a friend.

Her young son, C (I have not asked permission to publish his name, so C will have to do), is gravely ill in a Children's Hospital here in Canada.

Here is the story as I know it...

This past Sunday, C hurt himself on a trampoline. His mother, being diligent kept an eye on him for signs of head injury. In retrospect, although this is not the nature of his illness, it is this that likely saved his life. C awoke Sunday evening complaining of a headache so his mother took him to the local emergency room to be safe. When they got there, C was frothing at the mouth and barely able to walk. His mother likens his movements to that of a person with Parkinson's disease. They assessed him there and then sent him by ambulance to the Children's hospital in the nearest city, thinking that he had a head injury. By the time they arrived there at about 2:30am, C's skin was green with brown patches all over him his lungs were filling with fluid, he was vomiting and going into shock. A brain scan determined that this was not a brain injury, rather something different.

At about 5am the family was told that C likely would not survive another hour as his heart was failing and his lungs continuing to fill. They resuscitated him and were pumping air into him using a manual pump. There was so much fluid in his body that each time they pumped it leaked out his ears, nose and mouth. He was put on an ECMO machine that pumps the blood out of him into a mechanical heart and lung and back into him. After a few hours, miraculously, he stabilized.

This afternoon his mother indicated that his heart is pumping very slightly on its own. He wakes briefly, but is quickly sedated again as they do not want him to move too much so his body can rest. He is responding to his mother's voice and has correctly responded to the neurologist's requests to move his eyes.

The most recent update at 9:30 this evening indicates that C continues to improve. Doctors are working tirelessly to try and determine what has caused this, the current thinking is either a virus, bacteria or possibly some kind of poison ingested either by mouth or through his skin. Depending on his progress, the Doctors may start trying to turn down the ECMO machine to see if C's heart and lungs can manage on their own. It is a slow gradual process that they will base on how well C's body adapts. The Doctors stress that C is a miracle and they did not think he was going to make it through the first 24 hours. C is undoubtedly a fighter.

I believe in the power of prayer, healing thoughts, and most of all belief. This family needs strength, and medical miracles. His Mom says "I know my little miracle is still with me because of his beautiful strong spirit and the Grace of God"

So please pray, hope and believe that C will pull through this.

To C's mom, if you read this, please know that I am thinking of you, hoping, praying and believing.

Thank you

Someone told me that it was spring....

Seriously?

I know I have lived in Sudbury for the majority of my life and I know that snow and cold in April should not come as a big surprise....

But, I am soooo very tired of winter.

I am tired of the snow and road salt or sand being trekked into the house. I am tired of not knowing how to dress in the morning.

I want spring weather, splashing in puddles and enjoying walking Mischa.

I want to see all the grass start to turn green and to be able to harass Jordan about when he intends to mow the grass everytime it gets too long.

I want to take the kids to the park, let them ride bikes.

I want to see gardens being planted.

I want to sit outside and watch Zachary and Corbett play while Jordan BBQ's.

Is this so much to ask?