Our New Pool

No, it is not the the large resort like pool you may be thinking about. Summer was bored and suggested to me that we dump her stuffed animals out of their bucket and use it to swim in. So, that is what we did. I put the bucket next to the window and filled it up. She played in the water and had a blast while I enjoyed the A/C inside. Great idea Summer.

Showing off her tricks in her bucket pool.

Don't forget, no swimming experience can be complete without a handstand.

Please Help Make a Miracle

This is Benson and Claire Skinner. We are friends with their family. This blog post was written by their aunt who is also my friend, in hopes that others might be able to help these kids.

PLEASE ,TAKE THE TIME TO READ THERE STORY....

Claire and Benson were both born with an extremely rare genetic mutation in their liver that produces an excess amount of oxalate in their bodies. This disease is called Primary Hyperoxaluria Type 1 (PH1). Oxalate is normal in all of our bodies, but our liver only produces a small amount. Their liver doesn't. Normal oxalate numbers are around 1.8. Claire's oxalate average between 70 and 80 and have been as high as 159. Benson's is around 12. So what does excess oxalate do? It destroys.

The kidneys are the first to go because it is their job to filter waste from the body. In that filtering process, it can only handle the overload of oxalate for so long. The oxalate causes the kidneys to crystallize and eventually fail. Claire has had kidney failure since she was 2 months old and has been on dialysis ever since. Significant oxalate deposits have also been found in her eyes, bones and other organs.

Claire is currently on dialysis at the Children's Hospital in Denver Colorado 6 days a week for 3 hours each day. Sunday truly is our day of rest! Along with that, we do a different kind of dialysis, called peritoneal dialysis, at home. She gets that done every night of the week for 12 hours, while she's sleeping. Ultimately, dialysis 24/7 would be ideal for Claire to remove the oxalate that is constantly built up in her body. Obviously, that is not possible. So we do as much as we can!

The ultimate cure: transplant. For Claire, getting a new kidney or liver alone will not solve the problem. She needs both. A new liver will stop the excessive oxalate production and a new kidney will enable her body to cleanse itself. Claire is currently on the Mayo Clinic transplant list to receive a liver and kidney.

The disease advances differently in each individual. Luckily, Benson’s condition hasn’t progressed as quickly as Claire’s. He is currently being monitored and treated with several medications in hopes of slowing the process of kidney failure. He is also encouraged to drink lots of fluid to help keep the kidneys clean. In the future, Benson will likely need the same procedures as Claire.

To make a donation.... Read below

*Make a secure on-line donation throughhttp://www.COTAforBensonandClaireS.com/. If you will do this, and then forward this letter to your co-workers, friends, and the people in your address book, and they in turn will do the same, this email will begin to circle the globe.

-OR-

*Send a check, payable to COTA with Benson and Claire S. in the memo space to:
Children's Organ Transplant Association
2501 West COTA Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403

Whether it is $2, $10, or $1000, every generous gift of kindness will help, and your donation is tax deductible.

I invite you to click on the "Donate Now" button athttp://www.COTAforBensonandClaireS.com/ and follow the progress of this miracle to which you have contributed. I also ask that no matter if you are able to participate or not, please forward this opportunity to your circle of Internet influence, and invite your co-workers to learn more.

I hope this story touches your heart.

Fire Station Tour

Last week we went to Ladder 33 in Houston Medical Center for a tour of the fire station or trucks. The fireman were very nice and full of information. The fireman really wanted someone from the group to try on all the gear, and since no one else offered, I did the deed. It was super hot and yucky. Also it was very heavy and hard to move. I don't think I would last 10 minutes trying to put out a fire.
The kids enjoying the truck.

Having fun with the very powerful hose.

When Sewing Turns Bad!

Q: How do you know when sewing turns bad? A: A needle goes through your fingernail, and all the way through your finger. The picture above is a very bent needle that I pulled out of my finger earlier today after a sewing mishap.

No, the battle wound does not look big, in fact you may need a magna-fine glass to see anything other than a dot on my nail. The pain is much worse. After passing out twice, and throwing up this is the measly little battle wound I have been left with.

You may think it odd to pass out and get sick, however, I have always been known to pass out when I get really hurt. It has come to the point that I can recognize it way before it happens which gives me plenty of time to dive to the floor and lay down. I use to hit the counter on my way down as a child while my mom did my hair.

I don't know why I pass out so much, I am in no way bothered by blood, and stuff. It is a mystery.

Oh, here is a picture of the needle still in my machine after I removed my finger from it. Luckily my nephew's Birthday gift did not get any of the blood, sweat, or tears that were literally involved with making it for him.

The nicest thing about my injury that was after I passed out the first time, Summer came to my rescue and asked if I wanted her to say a prayer. She amazed me that she even thought of saying one. It was such a sincere, and thoughtful prayer as well. I am grateful to her for administering her own first aid to me as I really did need some sort of help.

Lesson learned: Don't be in such a hurry, and keep your fingers out of the way of the needle.

My New Craft Blog

So as you may know I love crafts. I have so many that have vanished from my memory because I did not take a picture of them. I then try to recreate it and forget. So, this new blog is going to be dedicated to all of my craft projects.  I will of course keep my personal blog as well.

I have put a link in my favorite sites on my sidebar. Or you can click below and it will take you there. 

www.themudpuddleproject.blogspot.com

Hope you enjoy.

4th of July Festivities

Finally a new post!

So, for some reason I can't get his underline off the computer. Sorry. 

To start off our festivities for Independence day we went to the church for our ward breakfast. First it was started off with a bike parade for the little kids. Summer broke her bike that she got for her 3rd birthday last year. She has been saving, and saving up to get a new one, and finally she did it. Here it is all decorated in 4th of July attire.

Of course we can not have an event without a sensitive little girl bawling. She got embarrassed to ride her bike, so she just stopped in front of the line up and started bawling. 
After some encouragement she got the hang of it, and then she just had a ton of fun. 
After the parade we went inside to feel the a/c and eat some yummy breakfast while socializing a bit. 

Next it was off to the Bellaire parade. It was a blast, but very, very, very hot and humid.

Summer and I in our semi-matching sunglasses waiting for the parade to start. 
Some kid riding his big wheel in the parade. I took a picture, because I loved these when I was little. I have not seen one in a long time. Are they still making them?
This trolley was in the parade, and was really neat to see.
Ok, so this is one of the coolest things I have seen. It is a scooter cooler. What an awesome idea to have an electric ride on your cooler through the zoo/park. I totally want one, however, they are pretty pricey.

Summer and Philip enjoying the humid night air as we walked to the park to watch the fireworks. 

The fireworks were fun, and Summer enjoyed them. She was a little confused by the word firework because she kept saying I don't see any fire trucks in the sky mom. I guess she was waiting for the trucks to go speeding through the sky or something. 

We had a ton of fun as a family, and with friends.