my AWESOME sister in-law

I have a great sister in-law!

 (Well I have more than one but I am talking about only one right now)

Tina is an inspiration she has gone to school and gotten a diploma in Accounting but when she found that getting a job with such was nearly impossible she didn't surrender but went back to school again she is currently studying web design. lol she's lucky this computer does not have all the pictures on it because I would load a picture for all to see:)

Tina is a smart creative and very dedicated student, friend and sister. she deserves so much more credit than I can give her :)

 

For one of her  web business class she needs a link to a site so I volunteered to link one of her sites here :) please have a look at the web site she created  Phinney Phixxers.

http://www.phinneyphixxers.com/

I hope this helps Tina :)

IDIC 15

I received a answer finally after nearly a year of tests on my poor baby.
In a way I wish it was wrong, I wish we were still searching; I want to kick and scream that they are wrong, that my baby just has something little that can be fixed with some simple something anything even a magic wand.  I want it to be something else, something I can handle easily that won't change the rest of our lives
but it's not...

instead we will face

IDIC 15

 

http://www.rarechromo.org/information/Chromosome%2015/Idic15%20FTNW.pdf

(this will take you to a pdf of the disorder that takes a moment to load)
I cried on the way home

I can't fix it

and I will never be able to.

My baby is 1 in 30 000

my baby will not be like other children

I know at this point I do not know the severity of it all

I just know what i have read.

to be honest it scares me; making me want to throw the computer because it's wrong it can't be right.

but it is what it is.

♥I LOVE MY LITTLE PRINCESS♥

she is perfect.

I honestly don't care if she is different

what bothers me is I won't be able to always protect her from others.

I have worked with people with learning disabilities

and witnessed first hand how they can be treated

I have seen people shun them

I have heard the crude and hurtful comments

I have even snapped at those whose mocking cruelty has left small daggers in those mocked.

The world does not understand...

and I weep knowing that my loving, smiling, inquisitive, music loving, easy going baby will eventually ask me

WHY?

 

I know it's not going to be easy and there are MANY things I will have to learn;

Many people I will need help from;

and Many more appointments to attend (I hate Dr's offices, so do my kids. I'm going to have to put together some activity bags; honestly I don't know why I havn't already... wait yes I do time lol).

 

Already I am thankful  for the kindness and support of others

even from those who have gone through this; who's children are fighting the same battle. I am grateful for the support and knowledge that I am not alone there are others who understand.
Thank you everyone.

Hypotonia

 

It's hard to admit you have a problem; I think in a way it's harder to admit your child has one.  From the moment they are born they melt your heart, they are perfect. At least they are meant to be right?! Well my baby is different; in a way she is perfect yes, her bubbly smiles and determined attitude can not be rivalled. :) From early on I have known that something wasn't right, yet denial is easier to accept than the truth.

 

My poor baby has been poked and prodded tested and re-tested since she was 1 month old she has had x-rays, EEG's and ultrasounds. Still we are short on answers all tests coming up negative (all but one which the Dr's tossed aside because they said it was irrelevant AHHHHHHHHH. her Metopic suture was closed at 1month when they tested x-rayed it). We have seen a family Dr, a paediatrician, 3 Nero-surgeons, 2 Neurologists (3 if you count the student), Geneticist, optomaligist, ear nose and throat specialist, and someone else that i can't think of at the moment it has been constant tests and Dr's apointments to say the least and we live 45 min out of the city where all these tests are done.
What we do have is just scratching the surface Strabismus (cross eyed) needing to be patched to help the weak eye and hopefully we won't need surgery.

 

 Ear tubes putting an end to 3 1/2 months of constant ear infections and antibiotics and then there is the one thing that makes more sense Hypotonia. (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003298.htm) (For anyone who wants to know more) well at least i feel it's a step forward. Why? so far the Dr's don't know what is causing it. She started to hold her head up at about six months and at that still needed support. She is now nearly ten months she can hold her head up although at times she will go floppy randomly. She is also having bowel problems it seems like on a constant basis. She also chokes on thin liquids and has trouble coughing up phlem more often then not turning everything from bright red to blue bursting a few blood vessels in her cheeks and under her eyes as she tries to get a breath. The first time that happened it scarred the crap out of me, now it happens enough that I hold my breath waiting for her to take one then go back to what we were doing. We have been seeing a physiotherapist but honestly I am already doing everything they are with her. I do count my blessings though; even though she is not hitting her milestones when she should she is rolling around trying to play with my other children. It's hard though knowing that she should be doing more or having babies younger than her sitting up and crawling and doing other things in a way pulls at my heart not knowing what lays ahead for my beautiful little angel.
We have more tests coming up in January a MRI/MRA and Spinal tap(not sure if i want the spinal tap done) are the big ones. It seems all the Dr's are waiting on the MRI/A so we are stagnating as we wait. I hate not knowing what is wrong or why. Honestly I think the Metopic Suture being closed early ha caused all her problems (including seizures she experienced till her head shape changed about 4 1/2 months, it changed and everything in proved the seizures stopped and like a light switch she started improving smiling all the way to moving one of her eyes since then she has been progressing). Yet the Dr's toss the theory aside because she does not have a ridge of bone down the center of her forehead so frustrating. Sigh well thus far this is the bones of everything and we are just at the beginning of what's ahead.  

Blessings!

 

One of the most amazing things happened today. It brought me to tears.

Background first. I make hair bows and had placed a few on a bidding site. A wonderful lady our bid on a couple of them and won them for $2 each. When she came to get them she looked at a few of my other bows and ended up buying $25 worth. I was so excited it was great. It made me feel awesome. I was selling the bows so I could get a couple toys for my kids that our small budget couldn't provide. My husband has been out of work for some time and no one in his field of study will hire him because he has no experience with his collage diploma (he's working to a degree as well). So things are tight and $25 really is a lot to us.
but that's not the most amazing part...

this fantastic Angel (for that's what she is) came back shortly later and handed me an envelope and a sparkly purple poinsettia wishing me Merry Christmas before leaving. In the card was a gift card from her and "the Wal-Mart lady" and $10 more dollars.

I cried.  

I don't know these people and here they gave me so much. I pray they have, a wonderful Christmas and more, receiving all the blessing they can for they deserve them and more.

Family Home Evening Chalk Board

I have wanted to make a FHE board for a while now but I have not found one I really like. I have looked at ones with multiple pieces that you move around on little hangers or nails, ones with Velcro, even ones made with Ribbon and clothes pins. None of them seemed right I needed my own, something original soooo...

I made a chalk board one :) (My hubby laughed at me because it's on a board of wood he thought it was punny lol)

I didn't get pictures of everything so I apologize but it is easy to follow :)
here's how I did it.
I made my own chalk board paint. if you use spray on stuff just spray your surface as par cans directions and skip to step 5

you will need
1/2cup Paint (whatever colour you like)
1Tbs sanded grout
surface you wish to use as your board
sand paper (fine)
extra paint (diff colour) to paint on assignments and whatever else you would like.

step 1
mix 1/2c paint with 1Tbs grout mix so there are no clumps ( I added the paint to the grout and slowly added more paint so it didn't clump)

Step 2
paint board - let dry

Step 3
sand slightly

Step 4
use side of chalk and rub all over board - wipe off (this is to condition the board for use)

Step 5
paint on assignments ect

Step 6
Use chalk to write in who has what and enjoy :)

A twist on pillowcase dresses

I like the little pillowcase dresses I have seen going around here lately like these

picture found @ http://sistermama.typepad.com/sistermama_gets_real/2009/04/quick-easter-sewing.html

but I am teaching my children modesty from the start so I wanted sleeves so I brainstormed and made my own with sleeves and this is how.

Materials

Sewing machine

thread

elastic thread (craft section Wal-mart $1.97)

Pillowcase

scissors (something to cut with)

pins

Step 1

get a pillowcase ($2 @ Dollarama)

step 2

cut 4-5 inches off the top(sealed end) if you would like the dress shorter feel free to cut more off after the initial cut. I made a baby dress as well so one is shorter in my pics.

step3

cut folded end of part cut off so you have 2 pieces these will become the sleeves

step 4

finish all edges the great thing about the pillowcase is that you don't need to finish the bottom because it's already done :)

Step 5

finish seams on sleeves as well

Step 6 (smocking)

switch bobbin thread to elastic thread; you need to wind it by hand but it does not take long.

(Forgive the dirty looking nails I was canning cherries and they dyed my hands)

Step 7

Change your stitch to your largest stitch size, change your tension on your machine as well. I had to play with mine till I got it right but in the end I found this worked best for me...

 9.5 tension and 4 stitch. This will sew just like normal thread (so cool)

Step 8

begin sewing top of dress(side that you finished not bottom that has the pillowcase finish)

TIP: When doing the Smocking (elastic thread) you can choose how you want it; if you want the elastic thread on the outside or the inside is up to you it's cute either way. I have one in each so you can see what I mean. some fabrics look better than others different ways.

as you get back to where you started turn so it's up and down and stitch down 3 stitches: turn back and continue in a line using your first line as a guide. As you sew the fabric will begin to gather STRETCH IT FLAT DO NOT SEW IT WHEN ITS BUNCHED TOGETHER

Continue for as many rows as you would like

Step 9

using the elastic thread stitch down each side of the sleeve (1 row on the one side and 2 on the other. I use the one with the 2 rows as the outside of the arm and the one row against the neck if that makes any sense)

Step 10

Pin sleeves on. eye ball where you want them to sit pin one side then stretch out scrunched part and pin second side so that the sleeves will scrunch and stretch as well :)

Step 11

Sew on sleeves

and

TADA!!!!!

cute and modest :)

Please DO NOT copy pictures of my children Thank you.

the best part for me is when my munchkin proudly announces to strangers that complement her dress.

"my mommy made it for me"



Hair clip flower

I love hair clips and little flowers in my muchkins hair... and I have fun putting them in my own I won't lie lol.

The only problem is the cost... So here it is easy as pie flower hair clip just for you.

You will need...

Flowers ($1.25 at Dollarama)

shinny middle or button ($1.00 for 8 at Dollarama)

hot glue gun

hot glue sticks

scissors

felt- cut in a circle and a strip(all I had was black but it works use what you want) (only if you want it to be used for headband and clip do you need this)

step 1

take the flower apart

step 2

glue flower pieces together layer by layer

step 3

glue in centre of your choosing

step 4

turn over and glue on felt circle (or glue a clip directly on and your done)

step5

glue felt strip on felt with one strip of glue on either side leaving it open in the middle

step 6

add a hair clip or hair band and you're done :)

wear and enjoy :)