Rough gets rougher

So my poor baby has been having a hell of a month, started off in October, broken arm and leg, November 3 femur fractures, 3 arm fractures..2 weeks ago he fractured his right arm trying to lift his bumbo, was splinted for almost a week then we took it off last Thursday, later that morning I was splinting Reiko's left leg because it seemed to be bothering him and when I picked him up he went insane, it was the worst I had ever seen him, he was screaming to the point of turning blue, sweating profusely absoluetly soaking himself, he was shaking uncontrollably everytime he was moved, whether picked up or laying down, so I knew it was really bad. I was at my mother's at the time, I couldn't put him in his carseat, so I wrapped him in a thick blanket so he wouldn't feel the movements as much, and had to have him in my lap on the way to the hospital, thank goodness mom lives about 2 blocks away from the hospital, if it was any farther I would have called an ambulance. we got there and thankfully were in and out in 45 minutes. He broke both his femurs that day. here is his xray

He was on morphine for days and absolutely miserable ... and I was just heartbroken for him. That Saturday was our family christmas, and he was just so upset, I was emotional, and he of course might have broken a rib before we left for the christmas lunch, it was all I could do not to break down that day, we couldn't get away fast enough that day. That night was the Christmas parade, and we brought both the boys, it was a long parade so we didn't last very long, but thankfully the boys liked it, especially Kai.

Tuesday we decided to drive to Barrie to see some good friends, we took off his splints before we left because he seemed to be moving them well in the bath, and he was quite happy with them off and used them alittle bit to, did well on the drive down, and was having a great day until I was picking him up to change his bum and his arm broke up againt me, its been non stop this month for him.

I just wish these breaks would just stop. It is so unfair for him to have to go through this constantly. And its taking an emotional toll on me as well. Today was his Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy and we were talking about how maybe right now we should just give up working on his sitting, until this fracture cycle is really over, and until he stops breaking so much there really isn't anything we can do for his PT and OT. They were also asking if his speech has improved and it really hasn't he doesn't say much at all, and so we were talking about getting him into speech as well, which I have already been looking into, and I got a wee bit emotional and almost started crying as I said "I'm trying my best here" and of course they knew it, but it feels like its never easy for him sometimes, and its so unfair. But enough of my pity my life thing, I just needed to vent.

But through it all, I am always shocked at how much support I have by people on facebook and around. I may not reply to all the messages but I read them and just feel so much better knowing that people have our backs when we need them.

Oh and we are looking into Reiko getting a wheelchair soon, I hope it will happen soon, because he is so ready for his independence. Thats enough for the night. Take care

p.s, Kai is doing great, he helped decorate the christmas tree the other day, and he was ecstatic! I love seeing his happy face, and he has been helping me study, kinda, I read to him my book and he repeats big words lol, he loves learning medical stuff! He's gonna be a smart boy!

Kai's JK picture 2011/2012

Rough month

Hey everyone, so I its been alittle over a month since I last posted sorry. Its been a rough month for Reiko lots of fractures, and today he broke his femur (top leg bone) in both legs. He is just really fragile right now, and its been tough. I hate seeing him in this pain, its very unfair to him. We went to Montreal the beginning of November and he did well, he was healing from a femur fracture then, going through spasms constantly, it was horrible. November 5th was Kai's bday party his real bday is sunday, but he had a great time at his McDonalds bday party, 13 little kids, it was crazy to say the least. I am still working on 3 courses for school right now, and other than that, just taking care of Reiko. I just really need some prayers or good thoughts or whatever sent his way, the breaks need to stop. Take care!

Scary Experience

Yesturday we had the most horrifying and scary experience with Reiko. My sister, her kids, Derek, Reiko and I decided to go down the street to Bartliff's Restaurant for lunch, Kai was at school, We have to bring Reiko's special highchair to the restaurant so I strapped him in and we walked down the street with him in the highchair, well there was a big bump in the sidewalk we did not see, I hit it and his tray goes flying forward..and so does he! I grabbed him just before he flipped out of the chair, which if I had not of caught him would have killed him, I pushed him back into the chair, and he cried really hard, so I picked him up and held him, trying to figure out if it was a pain cry or scared cry, I assumed that his femurs would have broken from him going forward, but he calmed down within a few minutes and we went to the restaurant, hearts in our throats, but he acted good all through lunch, happy, talkative, so we didn't notice until later on that his ribs were really hurting him on the left side, and then while I was at the gym for the first time in way way wya to long, Derek noticed that his right leg was broken, probably the tibia, definitely not the femur. We had just unwrapped his leg 1 day before. its so unfair that he has to go through these things . Why was he given this horrific disease? How come he has to live a life full of pain? I hate OI so much. I am just soo thankful I was able to get him before he plunged to the ground.

Another experience yesturday which was kinda scary but in a completely different way, I am a huge believer in ghosts, so when we bought our Android phones last week I instantly downloaded this application called Ghost Radar Classic, it picks up on spirit energies and tells you what they are saying, I have played with it before but it always said random things, so I was starting to think it was just a bogus app, but when we got to the restaurant which is very old and haunted (I use to work there, its haunted), my sister and I both turned on our ghost radar, her's picked up so much stuff, the first word was "crowd" and it was busy, it kept bringing up "Johnathan" "death", but the most crazy stuff was when our waitress brought the food it said "serve", and while it kept saying other words, a billboard came flying off the wall for no reason, making the whole restaurant scream, me the loudest, and when we got the bill it said "tip" , this app is real! Its crazy!!

Derek and I are finally at a gym again so I went last night, did a good workout and I am looking forward to another one today, the only problem is I am feeling crappy, I have a bad headache, I am assuming related to feeling down about Reiko's hard times right now. But the gym is my get-a-way so I need to go and get healthy again, I realised how bad my cardio was yesturday, I had to do 2 10 minute intervals it was to hard to do it all at once, and to think in March I was able to run 10 minutes straight and felt good...how do I let myself get this way? Why do I struggle with losing weight, why am I not motivated enough? I dont get it....I would love to have the determination to stick with something...its very frustrating.

School has been good as well, I handed in anothe assignment last week and got an A+ (100%) again!! I did another assignment for another course and I am anxiously waiting for the results...I hate waiting. Tomorrow if the weather is good, a bunch of us are going to Canada's Wonderland for the Halloween haunt! Its supposed to be super scary! I can't wait! I really hope the weather holds out.

That is about it for now, Kai is doing awesome with school, learning so much and Derek is handsome and wonderful as usual. Take Care!

rough time

Well Reiko was in the hospital until yesturday, after very little sleep, I was extremely happy to go home,he has been doing much better sick wise, but OI wise not so much...he fractured his right femur today, again, not sure how, but its definitely broken, I took him to get xrays and nothing showed up, but I know that it is broken from the way he is acting with it. So I splinted him and gave meds and he is not to bad. I feel awful though that he is going through all this, it must be miserable for him. thats all for tonight. have a good one! oxox

Back in the hospital

Reiko is in Children's hospital again, he has pneumonia, it came on very quickly this time, at 6pm he was fine other than the sniffles he has had for a few days,by 7pm he was struggling to breathe, so I brought him to our local hospital, they were absolutely amazing, I walked in the door and told them what was going on and they brought me right back with him, within minutes he was seen, then was brought to xray for his chest, and for once we were able to put him in the thing that lets him sit up and get the xray done, before it would have broken his arms, anyways, they gave him a ventolin treatment afterwards and then said we should head down to the children's hospital, so we have been here since 1030 and I haven't slept yet, because we are being admitted, but there are no beds so we are in emerg and there is alittle boy freaking out in the next bed to us, oh and Reiko is wide awake because of said boy, by the way it is 3:30am! The doctor here said that he has a significant pneumonia in his right lobe and we will be here at least a few days, so thankfully I was smart and packed my bag before we went to our local hospital, brought my pillow, school books and laptop. So we are hoping that they will have a room for us early in the morning, cause I may just got alittle bonkers with no sleep and being around crying children all the time. Plus it will just get Reiko even sicker, he is immunocompromised to begin with because of his rib deformeties...I hate hospitals.

Tonight was a rough night with Kai after school, well it has been every night after school lately, he is overtired, so everything he does consists of breakdowns, but when it finally comes to bedtime he is so overtired that fights it for about an hour, when just a few hours earlier he would do anything to pass out. We had his school's annual potluck dinner at 6 this evening, we brought meatballs, the only problem was the kids loaded their plates so high that there was hardly any food left for everybody else, it was fun, but that is when Reiko's breathing hit, he just was sitting in his bumbo chair happy one minute then just struggling to breathe the next, so we brought him home where he proceeded to puke on me. Kai was really good though with Reiko and I having to go to the hospital, he was making Reiko laugh while we waited for my mom to come pick him up so Derek could drive me down to the hospital here, it was dark and raining, not a good thing for me to drive in, I hope he went straight to bed for them and is a good boy. I already miss him.

Ok, I am going to .... I have no idea, sit here and listen to the people behind me,...... its not like I want to listen to them, its right in my ear, we have a curtain between me and his screaming.......ok...night...

It is weird, I started writing this blog last year because our life was always crazy and I felt it would be good to write it all down, and to share what living a life with OI was like..but now life is so normal its to boring to put in a blog haha. so I'm sorry that it may be boring you now, but I quite like it that way. Life right now is pretty damn good *knock on wood*

Kai loves school, he has always been a social butterfly though, makes friends easily, isn't very shy, so he is doing great there. His teacher says he is a busy little guy, is a good boy though, just needs to be reminded to just relax sometimes. His teachers are wonderful though. And we are loving having him at school, my house is actually staying clean! Reiko is really enjoying the quiet time with just mommy and daddy, he gets us to himself and he is just hamming it up! I thought Kai would be grumpy or tired after school, but the crazy little man is just as hyper as he is in the morning lol, he is just crazy! He is at oma's for the second night though, he is enjoying his Oma time!

Reiko is doing awesome, he is just so fast getting around that floor! and he always has to be moving now, he hates having to sit somewhere, which in turn makes it hard to work on his sitting and physio. He likes to purposefully get into the cuboards now and make mommy pull him away from them over and over again lol, to bad this cabinet is old and cannot be child proofed! But honestly I cannot complain one bit about him getting into things because my God he is doing it and I didn't know if he ever would be able to get around! He is really strong right now to, these treatments are seriously miracle drugs, without them I think he would still just be lying still and not doing anything. Which is also why it is hard to think that he only has 2 more treatments left and then they will try to only give them to him once every 6 months, and I know he wont be able to handle that, he gets so grumpy as the 12 weeks roll around because it wears off and he is in alot of pain then! So hopefully we can convince them to keep it every 3 months!

I started another course last week and another one next week, and the third in October! I really hope they aren't to hard to handle at once, but hard work never hurt anyone! it will only make me smarter lol. Derek is doing great as well, just finished another 40k bike ride with my brother in law and cousin last weekend, he really really enjoys doing those! I think he will be more than ready for the triathalon next year! he is amazing! Ok time to go to bed! have a good one everyone. xo

my little boy is growing up!

Kai starts his first day of Kindergarten tomorrow! my little boy is growing up so fast. I am so excited for him, and I think he is excited too! I packed his lunch tonight, gave him a bolognea sandwich, chocolate pudding, a little bag of cookies, broccolli, carrots and blueberries. I know it sounds like alot but they get 2 "nutrition breaks" plus I figure it will be good for being gone from 830-315! It is bittersweet though, on one hand I am so glad to have a clean house for longer, and to see him grow and learn with his peers, but on the other hand, he isn't little anymore, soon he will not want to cuddle with me, or hold my hand, he is growing up and well there isn't anything I can do about it. But I know that he really needs this, he always has so much energy everyday, and not enough stuff to occupy it.

Reiko has been doing amazing! He broke his shoulder in August, but *knock on wood* has been doing really well since. He is such a trooper, today his nurse came over to flush his port, and he cried for less than a minute then was back to gabbing away! He is so fast on the floor now too, always going places, especially under tables or stuff like that, he likes to hide! I put him on his stomach for the first time since June or July yesturday, but held my hand under his chest so he wouldn't put to much pressure on the healing arm and also so he wouldn't instantly try to roll over, and he moved one leg up as if to crawl, I really think he would be able to crawl if he wasn't so stubborn about staying on his belly, he is just doing so good. no complaints at all!

Derek and I are doing good as well, we are planning on doing a trip to wonderland in October for their Haunted thing they do every halloween, we are so excited and it looks really scary! we are trying to get a bunch of people to come, it will be so cool! Ok I wish there was more to tell but we are kinda boring right now! ohh other than the video was supposed to be done last weekend for the audition tape to Extreme Makeover, I guess now it is a wait and see thing! wish us luck~ take care!

What the Fuck Mother Nature??

First Sunday was the F3 tornado hitting our community, yesturday was an earthquake that started in Virginia, USA but could be felt all the way to London, Kitchener areas and now today there is another Tornado warning in place for our community as well as other counties...our whole community is vibrating with anxiety..this is just so not fair. Please keep us in your prayers that it does not happen and if it does happen that everyone is safe. Our house is not even safe for a tornado, we dont have a basement and our house is super old, and already crumbling...just please please please say some prayers for everyone in Southern Ontario.

TORNADO in my hometown...

I grew up in Goderich Ontario, visit a few times a week for groceries, and my parents live there as well...it is still just as much a part of our lives as when we did live there, we now live 15 minutes away. Yesturday around 4pm a tornado ripped through Goderich, a town of about 8000 people. The Square which is where alot of businesses are, are gone, century old buildings are gone, houses gone, 1 life gone so far, 37 injured, and they are still looking through debris to find people...My mom was getting gas when it hit, she had just paid and got in her vehicle when it started, she was stuck right beside a gas pump, she couldn't get out of the vehicle because the wind was almost 300km/h, she was terrified of the flying debris smashing into a gas pump and killing her and everyone that was in the store. She is fine, she had to drive her vehicle to the legion, since she couldnt drive it any further due to the streets being completed covered with trees, she climbed her way over debris to get home where my father was playing his guitar, he had no idea a tornado had ripped the town apart, all he saw was heavy winds and hail the size of golfballs. My family was extremely lucky that there was no damage to their house, cars or themselves. so many other people were not so fortunate. here is some pictures.

victoria street church, completely destroyed

aerial view of victoria street church, my parents live down the road from here

square before, yes we knows its not a square

square after

before



after at the court house where my mother in law works




I used to work here when I was 16




can't even tell what street this is



volvo, my dads old work before they shut down

the salt mine, where 1 man died from the storm

I feel so helpless, they are not letting more people in town because they are still looking for people and the damage is to crazy...I felt so sick when I heard about the tornado yesturday, all I could think about were my parents..this is absolutely devastating for our community, I don't even know how they can begin to rebuild. Many people I know have now lost their homes and I just feel so sad for them. Please pray for our community.

Take care, Jessica

its back...yet again...

Reiko broke his right shoulder yesturday, he hadn't been using it for a few days prior, but wouldn't complain of any pain if we moved it for him, so I assumed it was on the way out...not sure. But Derek was picking him up yesturday, while I was napping after a restless night with the little man, and he heard a pop/crack in the shoulder area, so we splinted and medicated him and all was good. Last night he was up a few times an hour every hour, so to say I am exhausted today is a bit of an understatement. And boy was he grumpy this morning, its not even 9 yet and I have put him down for a nap. He is so pissed off that he can't use that arm, that he just yells and throws everything right now...and I have little patience for the tantrums right now, which probably sounds cold and heartless, but its hard not to get annoyed with his constant yelling when he isn't sleeping worth crap lately. Otherwise he has been really good, talking like crazy, he started saying "GRANDPA" and "DADDY" he always said dada, but now he has moved it to daddy! The other day though he randomly started throwing up, no reason for it and he was fine the next day. I was quite worried it was the beginning of pneumonia, cause that is how they started last year at this time. Thankfully all is well there. Reiko is definitely starting to get more attitude though, he throws alot of tantrums now, yells at me, dad and his brother but he has a wonderful spunk to him.

Kai finished of Kinderoo last week while I was in Montreal with Reiko for his treatment, they did a special graduation for the kids too, that was very cute from what I was told. Kai did very well, and he is more than ready for Kindergarten on Sept 9th! We have been working on his cutting and he is really really good for a 3 year old! I am quite impressed, I said to him last night "OH KAI, I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!" and he goes "OH MOMMY, I AM SO PROUD OF YOU TOO!" Glad that I can impress him lol. He is heading to African Lion Safari the end of this month with Oma, he is going to be so excited, and on Friday he will be going mini golfing with Grandpa, we are trying to keep him busy before school starts! I still can't believe my little baby is growing up. Here are some pictures of him.

Oh so many memories...he will always be my baby.

Its been a pretty good month for me, haven't done much with the weightloss, but on August 7th my sister and I went to see NKOTBSB (NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK/BACKSTREET BOYS) we were totally there to see BSB, I am the biggest Backstreet Boys fan, the concert was amazing, was such good memories. Finished 2 of my courses this month, passed with a 96% in my computer class, and just did my other exam on Monday, and probably get my results until the end of the month, she hasn't even done our assignments yet so I have no idea where I am in that class, which is alittle frustrating..or alot frustrating...I think I aced the exam though, studied real hard on it and pretty much knew everything right away on the exam. Reiko's Montreal appt went really good this time, no problems at all, and we even got to meet Dr. Fassier, who is a world reknowned surgeon who will do all Reiko's surgeries. He was a wonderful man, and I look forward to seeing the work he will be able to do on Reiko someday. I signed up for 3 more courses starting in Sept and Oct, looking forward to getting more done, at this rate I will hopefully be done next fall! It's going so very fast, and I love the school work, its nice to do stuff for myself, to accomplish something. The only thing I really do not like are essay's, they are hard for me, and seem confusing with all the things you need to do with it.

Derek wasn't able to do his triathalon this week, which he was disappointed it, they changed the day, it was on the monday, but moved to the sunday, and he was working the saturday night, and registration was at 730 and he worked til 8. next year though. and he is planning on doing his own triathalon the end of the month.

There really isn't much else to say. Here are some recent pictures.

Take Care everyone.
Jess

sad...

That is Moxy, my dog I grew up with for 7 years before I moved out, he was 12 years old and he passed away today. I loved him so very much. He got me through some very hard times growing up. He was just very sick. I came home from taking my computer course exam, jumped out of the car to check my grades when Derek gave me the news. Kai and I went to my parents house tonight, as soon as I saw my mom we both bawled. I feel awful for my parents, Moxy was like their other child. I will miss him forever. My heart is broken and I will never ever forget him. Moxy always knew if I was sad, he would come up with this sad look on his face and give me kisses..I wish I could have had one more kiss from him, one more hug. We knew this day was coming, but it was still a shock. I feel like I should be crying right now, but I'm not. I am sure it will hit me again soon though. I loved Moxy so much. R.I.P Moxy. xoxoxoxo <3

I'll be honest, I want food bad today...good juicy totally unhealthy food...But I will fight the damn temptation because I have lost .... what the fuckity fuck fuck fuck!??! I had lost like 6lbs, and now I am up 3lbs?! Oh Gosh Damn it, this is not helping my cravings....GRRRRRR I have been perfect on this, no treats at all, been eating super healthy and now I am up??? I even was great at the wedding on the weekend, I had proper portions of the supper, and didn't have any dessert, and then even resisted amazing looking pizza that night...this is completely unfair....BAHHHHH!!!!

I had a doctors appt today, get my yearly exam done and had my doctor look at a lump on my breast..he wants me to come back in 8 weeks to see if it is still there and if it is he wants an ultrasound and mammogram..yay...adding to my wonderful day. But he did approve me getting a tubal ligation done, just have to wait for the other doctor to contact me about it. Life is otherwise good, finishing my computer course this week, exam on thursday, hopefully I pass! Reiko is great, Kai is great, Derek is great..and eating really amazing food around me...but he is great.

Ok I'm annoyed, so I will ttyl..
Jessica



Update: The needle was moved on the scale..as is well again, I didn't gain any weight lol

Starting over

So I gave in and finally ordered the Visalus shakes everyone has been talking about. I started them yesturday, my goal is 30lbs in 3 months and another 40 after that. I will first do a daily log of it and then start talking about the fam.

Day 1 - shake tastes like a vanilla pudding flavour, so not bad, you had 2 scoops of it with 12 oz no fat milk and you can add stuff for flavour, I tried it plain for my first drink. It was good. I also took a metabolisim booster, omega pill and multi vitamin, and their hunger curb thingy. It was easy to drink. At mid morning I had a snack of 1 hard boiled egg and 1/2 cup cucummber. Lunch time I had the shake but added 1 banana, 1/2 cup plain 1% yogurt, and 1/4 tsp vanilla for a shake that was supposed to taste like a banana cream pie (their recipe), it really didn't taste like that and was just ok. After that was all regular meals, healthy snacks, I had 10 almonds and like 5 slices of a small red pepper, 4oz boneless, skinless chicken,1 cup uncooked broccoli and a side salad, no dressing, we never do dressing here, and last snack was 1 large celery stalk with 1 tbsp pb and about 11 raisins. I drank a shit load of water, and to be honest, skip this part if you get grossed out easily..........................I pooped alot.

Now onto family life.

I think Reiko is finally out of the break cycle, its been a few weeks since his last break. He is also moving about now, all the time, if you put him somewhere on the floor he will scoot himself on his back and side to another part of the room, it  is a beautiful beautiful sight! He has been very happy and his personality is really starting to come out now, he has a bit of attitude but is relatively happy for the most part lol.

Kai was going through a stage last week where he was having accidents everyday, some in my bed, some at school, at the park and a pool, we kept reminding him to go, his teachers at kinderoo said they would tell him to go but they weren't sure he was actually going or lying..but this week he is back to normal, thank goodness! He has been a very good boy though, and the other day he went kayaking with daddy for a few minutes and loved it! They ended up falling in the water as he was getting out but he didn't care. We also went to Marine Land last weekend and he got to touch and feed the baluga whales, he was very happy with it. We went with my sister's family, and they were all great, even Reiko was in a great mood! I found MarineLand more fun than the Toronto Zoo.

Life has been good here, and we are finally enjoying summer! speaking of which, time to go!
Take care
Jessica

New course and life

I am starting another course today, Patient Preparation. I am honestly not excited at all about this one, only because I will be travelling twice a week for the next 6 weeks to London, but it could be worse, I digress. Life has been pretty good this last week. Derek went on a bachelor party weekend to Ottawa with 19 other guys, they went white water rafting and bungee jumping, what a thrilling weekend for him! I will put up the video of him bungee jumping soon! He was quite tired when he got home last night, I picked him up at 1am from a dropoff area, but we stay up for a while talking about his weekend. I hope he had a wonderful time, Lord knows he deserves it. My weekend was pretty good as well, Oma took Kai Friday night, so after I picked up a new inflatable pool and umbrella stroller for Reiko, we came home, played alittle and then it was time for him to go to bed. Saturday morning I made up a dessert for the pig roast, went to pick up Kai in the afternoon and Oma and I got the big inflatable pool set up for Kai, he loved it! There is obviously no room at our house for a pool, that would require a front or back yard, then after playing outside for a few hours we went to the pig roast at my aunt and uncles house, the very last one, and I only saw Kai in passing the whole night, he was having a blast with his cousins! There were fireworks as well, alot of them,, more than the Goderich fireworks on Canada Day lol, but the first set of them were not properly put in the ground and one of the fireworks literally almost took of my sister's husbands head, if he had not bent down to grab his daughter the second before it would have been a disaster, Thank God nothing happened to him. We were all on edge after that, especially with Reiko around, but he loved the fireworks, I just plugged his ears when they would get loud, I was so afraid they would break the bones in his ears, I think he did just fine though. I couldn't believe it he actually stayed up until 11 that night too, so you would think he would have slept in, nope he got up like 5 times that night and was wide awake at 7am...ugh I was so tired. So I did the laundry, cleaned the house and tried to keep Kai from having meltdown after meltdown, yesturday was a bit of a hellish day with him...I wanted to go for a walk, he was happy and then he had a complete fit for no reason that lasted approx 2 hours..here watch a video of my day all day yesturday...

the joys of a toddler.

Once Derek wakes up I am totally going to have a nap before I head to school tonight. Oh Reiko found a way to get himself around too, he now lifts his back or side to scoot himself around, I can tell it tires him out though, so he only does it every once and a while. He left leg is doing amazing though, you can't tell at all he broke it 2 weeks ago! he is using it so well, I can't believe the strength he has. He has this darn heat rash that wont go away too, he sweats so much and its been very hot, so it goes away and then later that day it is back at full force, the worst place is the wrists, they look alittle painful. I have no idea what else to write about today, hopefully if the week goes good with Reiko we will be heading to the Toronto Zoo on saturday to meet up with some other parents of kids with OI, then the weekend after that is Marine Land, the weekend after that a wedding, the weekend at that is the Backstreet Boys concert, followed by Montreal later that week, Derek's triathalon the 15th, and then another wedding that weekend! this summer is going by so fast with how busy we have been, and then my little boy will be in kindergarten..time is flying by.

Ok thats enough chatter!!

Take Care!

Jessica

Getting better

It was a tough few weeks, and June really sucked for Reiko, but now it seems to be getting better, KNOCK ON WOOD! We took Reiko out of the brace today, he has a rash on his body and it was also on his legs, looked like it would have been painful with the brace rubbing it, and he handled it really well. He was moving his leg around and didn't seem to have any pain. we put it back on at bedtime though, speaking of bedtime, my child(Reiko) has decided sleep is not a necessity...he has been up continuously every night, making me very very tired, and so when Derek comes home from work, I head to bed til 12, then its his turn to sleep...not so enjoyable in the summertime. Yesturday Reiko really wanted to get onto his stomach, mind you he hasn't been on his tummy in over a month now, and he was so determined I didn't stop him, well he did a full roll over, and his arm that is healing from a break from the 25th of June got caught behind him and he let out the cry, so of course I thought he broke the arm again, but I picked him up, brought him to the break box and he was absolutely fine! WTH??  I don't know if just doing a full roll over scared him or what? I am assuming it had to have hurt the healing arm, but he is acting like nothing is wrong with it. the boy confuses me lol.

Kai has started Kinderoo this week, which is a 6 week program to get him ready for Kindergarten. Yes, kindergarten this september! AHH! He likes the kinderoo alot, of course I am sleeping when he is dropped off and picked up, so I don't get to talk to the teachers, but they say you get to find out how they are doing half way through the 6 weeks. I just can't believe that my little boy is starting school already, I know now that time will just go by so very fast from now on, I will try to treasure every moment with him. We have been trying to keep him busy, last weekend was Canada Day so we went to all the celebrations in town, fireworks on the 30th, which was also Derek and I's 4 year wedding anniverasry, he loved them, then saturday we went to the wading pool, and then the teddy bear parade where he and some of his friends had a balloon sword fight, sunday we went to see the reptiles and then went to one of his friends house where he played with 4 other kids! he had a great time! tonight we went to the beach, the water was nice, but Kai is scared of pools or lakes, so he fought me the whole time, I got him in but he wanted out right away, Reiko wasn't to fond of the water either, he was scared but he handled it better than Kai lol.

I only have like 4 more weeks of my first 2 courses! I have 1 more quiz to finish tomorrow then I will have the unit test and final exam at the end of the month for Basic Human Anatomy, I am doing really well in that class. My computer class has been going really good too, I have gotten like 94% on both my assignments and I handed in my other assignment last week, I don't know if it will be as good as I didn't put as much effort into it as the other ones, with everything Reiko was going through, from being in the hospital to just feeling horrible and sorry for myself and him, I didn't care. I hope its good enough though, I think I did everything I was supposed to do. we will see I guess. Its due tomorrow, so within 2 weeks I should know. I start my 3rd course on Monday, Patient Prep, I am keeping my fingers crossed that I wont have to go down every week for the course, its a split course, some in class/ some online. But the course has no textbook, and that kind of stuff in hands on, so I am assuming its mainly in class, the only reason I care is because I would be driving to London twice a week for that course and my computer course.

So when Reiko broke last week, it was the hardest one for me. I felt like I was a horrible parent to him, he didn't want me to touch him or go near him, I could tell he was so scared everytime I went to pick him up, because of the pain he would go through. I tell ya, there is absolutely nothing worse than seeing your child scream in the most horrific way, and then watching them pass out from the pain...especially a 15 month old. I would start to cry just thinking that he blamed me for the pain, it was just so awful. It just scares me honestly, it scares me to think of what worse fractures he will sustain and having to watch him go through it. I don't know how I will be able to be strong for him in those moments, I wasn't very strong last time, I yelled at Kai when he leaned on his new broken leg and had him crying, then I ran up and cried in my room after Reiko had passed out, then Kai came up and kept saying "I'm so sorry mama" and it broke my heart more, because I never ever want him to feel responsible for this disease. So I scooped him in my arms and cried and told him he was a good boy and its not his fault. But I felt horrible that I yelled at him, because these breaks are scary for us all. And then I cried everytime Reiko would have a spasm because it was horrible watching him go through it...I cried alot, and wasn't strong around my boys when they needed me. I don't know how to be strong in these moments. I guess I am rambling on, sorry. Just please please say some prayers, send some good positive energy or thoughts Reiko's way, he needs it. I am just hoping that this stupid fracture cycle is over with, for a long long long time. Its hard to believe in a month he will have his next treatment! Thank Goodness! Ok goodnight to whoever still reads this.

Take Care,

Kai's spider man facepaint on Canada Day, he always gets spiderman, and I think it is catching on with the other boys now too lol.

Jessica

my heart is so sad

Reiko is in terrible pain, we are here at London Hospital, he is hocked up on morphine and valium, and he is just not himself. He has a broken femur, 2 breaks in the tibia and ankle fracture all on his left leg. his left arm is also broken as well, but he can move it and it is out of a splint. I don't exactly know how all the breaks happened, I do know he jerked while changing his diaper on the 26th and was inconsolible since then. Any touch, movement anything he would let out the most heartwrenching cry I had ever heard. These screams were unlike anything Derek and I had heard from him before, these were different, these were really bad. That whole night he was up, crying, would pass out from the pain but never for very long, even with strong pain meds.In the morning, Derek sat with him for 2 hours while I got a quick nap in, I wanted to be ready for the day, and as long as he wasn't moved he was fine. When I woke up we went to Clinton Emerg, and had some xrays done, were there about 4-5 hours, then was told to come to this hospital, we waited in Emerg here for about an hour, and the ortho doctor said they would do a Spica cast the next morning, and we were being admitted.

Thankfully we didn't have to wait long for a room to be available, and by 8pm we were in a isolation room since he also has rosalio infentago right now too, pure luck this boy! They hooked up his IV port and started him on IV morphine, which has kept him pretty loopy since. He only cries when he flinches or is picked up for diaper changes. Today his orthopedic Doctor came in to say she did not want to do a spica cast, as it would be dangerous for his bones, so they are custom making a cast type thing for him, it will have velcro straps on it, and can be removed for baths and such! which is a big relief. It will be done this afternoon, and then as far as I know we will still be here for another night. always fun when you have no clothes or anything. But thankfully I had a shower this morning, so I don't feel so yucky. I just wish there was better food. I will keep everyone updated as we go. hopefully this nightmare is almost over and he will not have to go through anymore pain.

on the news

Our family will be on the local news tonight, A channel London, if anyone is interested. I will try to put it up on here tonight, I am going to videotape it with my webcam.

update: here is the video!

Last weekend we had people come to port Albert to help us make our submission tape, well over 100 people showed up! It was amazing, and definitely made us emotional! We are soo lucky!! Here are some more pictures from the day!

 The bus picture!

 Lots of people there to support us! You all are amazing!

 Derek, my sister and her daugther Alyssa and my mom holding pictures of Ty Pennington! Everyone was holding them up for the video!

 This is the bus we used as a prop, everyone yelled out "BUS DRIVER MOVE THAT BUS" just like the show, and when our friend Pat who owns it pulled away there was our family, and we said "HI WE'RE THE QUINLAN FAMILY, IM JESSICA, IM DEREK AND THESE ARE OUR TWO BOYS KAI AND REIKO!!" and some more too, lol.

Derek and I were waiting for the bus to move so we could say our part, Reiko was not happy that day, he wasn't feeling well and it was really windy and cool that day!

We have been in the local papers every week for about a month now and next week when we finish up our filming of the application process we will be interviewed by a news channel (A Channel News)! I really have to make sure the house is spotless now lol. Life has been absolutely amazing! I am so happy. I am starting to look into finding a part time job that is flexible for Reiko's needs, but I think it may be hard to find people understanding of the time I would need off, but we are getting to the point where we need the money and honestly I just need to have some time for myself. Reiko has been doing better, still has his left- leg wrapped from his break about a week ago. But he is a trooper and has been rolling as much as he can. Ok that is all! Hope you enjoy the pics!! ohhh wait! I gotta show you Kai's daycare pictures!! OMG!! They are adorable!!

When it rains...

You know how it goes...

Kai fell on Reiko this morning, he is excited to see Grandma and was walking backwards talking and he fell on Reiko who was in his bouncy chair. Kai instantly knew he had hurt him and it broke my heart as he kept saying "I'm so sorry mommy, I'm so sorry Daddy" It breaks my heart that he has to know that he can cause him fractures. Reiko was crying very hard, Kai landed on his already broken leg, so I gave Reiko a bath and he was instantly happier, I made it full enough for him to just float his legs,and he felt better. I then gave him diazapam to control any spasms he might endure while I wrapped his leg up. It was his first time being given that, he was loopy within a few minutes. He handled the splinting well and then had a nap, he is now sleeping in our room at night in his play pen cause their room is much to warm, and we installed the air conditioner today. I think I may look into getting a a/c for their room, there are ones out there that do not need to go in the window and I think that would be good for them. My mom is taking Kai for the night so that will make things easier tonight. Its scorching hot right now, one of the things I hate about summer. I don't think Reiko likes it either. I cannot imagine being covered in ace wraps all the way from your foot to your chest in this heat...ughhh...He is quite grumpy because we are not moving him much, trying to keep in comfortable because moving him still hurts him, he doesn't understand it though and just thinks we wont pick him up, and when I do pick him up he is still grumpy...this OI is a horrible disease and its the days when he does go through everything that I can't believe our lives turned out this way. Thankfully I do have this amazing support system of other OI parents who go through this everyday as well, and then the people in our lives who just love us through it all. Thank you to everyone who is there for us and makes it easier.

My weight loss has been awful, I gained back everything I lost, I hardly work out, my eating is crap and I feel so lost with it. I was doing amazing and then it just stopped and I don't know why I can't get back into it. I am very disappointed in myself, and I feel like I must look disgusting to my husband, let alone other people. We went to the beach yesturday and it didn't make me feel to any better.

Kai is sitting beside me right now, and my heart is just feeling overloaded with love...its funny how he can drive me freaking batty, but one look at him and I am just over the moon.

Ok have a good one. Take Care
Jessica

It's back..

2 breaks in one week. Poor Reiko. It started last saturday, we were at a birthday party for another little boy with OI named Oliver, it was his first birthday.Natalie and I had the boys on the ground on their tummies and Reiko let out the cry, I didn't know it was broken for 6 hours, he didn't really cry, he was grumpy and had tears in his eyes all day, but he didn't complain, later that night Derek was taking off his shirt and he cried hard, so I wrapped it up, then tonight he was in his bouncy chair and looking behind at us and then there was a big CRACK and then the scream, it had to be bad with how loud it was. I  called Derek at the gym so he came home and I took Reiko to the ER, About an hour or so later, the doctor came in and asked me if I wanted XRAY's for him, and I so I asked him if getting the xray would change anything anyways, and he said no, so I decided that I was not going to put him through the torture of xraying his leg, when it is clearly broken. So I splinted it and we came home. he is in bed now sleeping, has already woken up once needing morphine, it will probably be a long night. I feel awful for him, but he handles it so well. When we were at the hospital I had him on my chest leaning back and he would lift himself up and give me big kisses and laugh while shaking his head back and forth. He is so strong. He also had a CT SCAN last Friday for the mass in his lungs, we will find out this week or next week what they think it is. Its been a rough week for him...

This sunday we are going to be filming in Port Albert for the Extreme  Makeover: Home Edition, we are making the submission tape, and hopefully there will be alot of people in Port Albert to be in the video. I am nervous about taping lol.

Ok thats all for tonight, Kai is great, he is loving this heat lol. Derek is great! I'm good! Take Care!
Jessica

Thank you!

This weekend was the Home and Cottage show put on by Coldwell Bankers, we are fortunate enough that all proceeds are going to go towards our families cause. They had well over 2000 people come out this weekend, and it was a huge success, Melissa and her co-workers put it together beautifuly. On Saturday evening they invited us to meet all the exhibitors, so we brought Reiko with us as Kai was at my sisters for the evening. After Melissa had read out my mother in laws letter that was written for the Extreme Makeover application(btw, the charity is applying us for Extreme Makeover:Home Edition) and had the whole room crying, after that was done the exhibitors came up to meet and greet us. Melissa came over at one point in the evening with such amazing news, she told me that as a gentleman was leaving he told her that he will build us a brand new kitchen at no charge..I just cried..it was a beautiful moment. Either way the charity said they are commited to getting us a suitable house for our family, whether or not Extreme Makeover happens. It was an emotional night, and couldn't have made us any happier. That night, after Derek had left for work andReiko was in bed sleeping, I was laying there in my bed and just cried because I couldn't and still can't believe how generous people are being to our family. I am forever indebt to them for this beautiful act of kindness. And how do I ask you, do we ever say thank you and what can we do to show them how very thankful we are?! I am in awe and completely humbled with how much help we are recieving.

Reiko has been doing amazing, he has had 1 fracture in 4 months, which was the rib in Montreal, he is trying to roll quite a bit and I think I missed his first full roll over, I heard a thud and then looked at him and he was in a different spot with a huge grin on his face lol. Of course I missed it, but he did it and that is all that matters! Reiko is happy, full of life and gosh darn he talks alot, not neccessarily words, but we have yelling matches, he yells then I yell and he laughs and we go back and forth over and over again. Reiko and Kai are playing more and more together and it makes my heart swell.

Last week I brought Kai to his soon to be school it was a day for them to learn the bus rules and ride the bus. He had a great time and is getting super exited for Kindergarten, and for me it is bittersweet, I am excited for him to start but I am looking at my little boy and wondering how it is possible that he is beginning school in the fall...my baby is growing up much to fast. He had a great time on Saturday as I took him to see some clowns with his cousins at the Home and Cottage Show, we had cupcakes, snowcones, face painting and he ran around wild with the other kids, oh and we even got the gum ball estimation right! I guessed 138 and Kai guessed 4 lol. After that my sister, her husband, their kids (Shelby 5, Drake 3 and Alyssa 2) and Kai, Reiko and I went to the Museum and Goal(Jail) the kids loved it, then we went to McD's and Laura asked to take Kai for the night! He jumped on the chance and had a great sleepover at his cousins! Yesturday she brought the kids over again when she dropped off Kai and they played for a bit, then later we headed out to Oma's and he did not want to leave as usual lol, so he spent the night there, I haven't seen my boy much this weekend lol. Ohh and he got his school pictures done for preschool and oh my goodness they are adorable! We picked out two different pictures to get copies of!

I just did my first unit exam in my Basic Human Anatomy and got a 80.22% on it! whhooooott!!! Glad it is done with and now onto the next chapters lol. School is going great though! I cannot complain at all!

Derek is starting to train for a triathalon in Goderich inb August, its a 2km swim, 10km run and 42km bike ride on hills, he is very excited for it!

Ok that is all for now. Take care!!
Jess

Extreme Makeover: Quinlan family??

Possibly! The charity that took on our little family is applying us for the show. We are in the midst of getting things ready now! At first I wasn't sure whether they would come to Canada, and their website didn't say either way, but the charity was able to get in touch with them and they said they would come to Canada, they have just never picked a family from here yet. We are not getting our hopes up, trying not to at least, cause the fact is they must recieve thousands of applications weekly, but who knows, maybe we will be the first Canadian family! Speaking of Extreme Makeover:Home Edition, tonight on ABC is the season finale of the show and they have the Sharrock family on it, who's son Patrick also has OI! So be sure to tune in and grab the tissues! :) It will definitely give you an idea of our life.

I also want to share with you a few things, here is a newspaper article from last week :

CLINTON NEWS RECORD - WEDNESDAY MAY 11, 2011

With successful calcium treaments at the Shriners Hospital in Montreal every 3 months, one year old Reiko Quinlan has only had one broken bone during the past 3 months. The Clinton baby, who was born last March 24 with osteogenesis imperfecta or brittle bone syndrome, recently broke a rib while coughing. But, that break was an improvement over the 16 breaks a month he used to endure. "He is getting much better," said his mom, Jessica, at a fundraiser last week in Seaforth, with a barbeque at Coldwell Baker Realty, which raised 1,100$. The family still faces the challenge of finding a house that will be wheelchair accessible and can accommodate Reiko's small size since his nt expected to grow very tell. In response to that need, Melissa Melissa Daer-Rivers, of Coldwell Banker of Goderich, is creating a video nomination of the family for the Extreme Makeover Home Edition television show. "We just found out about it last week. We're not getting our hopes up but the fact that they're doing it for us is amazing," Says Jessica. Melissa Rivers who founded a charitable fund called All Points Festival City Realty Brokerage Charitable fund through Coldwell Banker Canada, which was recently given an award by the company, says the Quinlan family is the first family to benefit from the compan'st charitable efforts. Rivers says she first heard about the Quinlans when Seaforth real estate agent Marcia Leitch was showing the family homes that might be suitable for their needs but couldn't find an appropriate house. "There has to be something more we can do. I want to get them into a home that will be a safe haven for them," says Rivers, who came up with the idea of applying to the Extreme Makeover show. With help from the head office, Rivers says the charitable fund will be making a video to send into the TV show, but even if the Quinlans are declined, Coldwell Banker is committed to helping them. "We want to help them in whatever way we can to find them suitable accomodations for their little guy to grow up in. That's our goal," she says

And here is the Ronald McDonald McHappy Day Photo:

Ronald McDonald Table Card -

The Quinlan Family, Huron/Perth.

The Quinlan family lives in Clinton, Ontario. Reiko, who was born with brittle bone disease on March 24, 2010, is a happy baby despite his circumstances.

For the first five weeks of Reiko's life, the Quinlans stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in London, which is close to the hospital. "When we first walked in, my son Kai ran to the big Disney monster, Sully and gave him a high-five. He loved the big animals and the toys, and we felt right at home in the gorgeous living room," said Reiko's mother, Jessica. With the volunteers making a meal each day, and the availabilty of things laundy, the House provides what families need to stay together.

To find out how you can help, visit
www.rmhswo.ca

 

Last week we were at the McHappy Day and I was put in Drive Thru, putting the orders in bags, and Derek was the restaurant coffee guy! He was swamped and I spent alot of time standing and smiling since it was not to busy. Oma watched Reiko in the restaurant, showing him off and the posters of his cute little face lol. Family stopped by, and everyone loved seeing Reiko. Kai was at school that morning, so unfortunately he had to miss the fun! We volunteered for alittle over an hour, then had to get Reiko home to bed. It was all in all a good day though. here are some pictures of that day!

 

 

School has been good, I did my 5th quiz last week and got 100% on it, I took a few days off of studying because I go all gung ho on it for the first unit exam, I can do it anytime from may 23rd-may 29th. I also picked out my new glasses that should be in anytime next week, and I love them! I can't wait to wear them for the style and also so I am no so blind lol. Kai and I have been taking it easy today, we made some chocolate covered cashews, and he has played with his toys. Reiko and daddy are sleeping right now, so the house is quiet!

Ok I know I have been horrible for updating lately, I will try to get better. Take Care

Jess



Oh the life of school...

So I am now doing my Basic Human Anatomy course as well as my Microsoft Course, I started the BHA last week, and have done 4 out of 5 quizzes due by the 22nd, I have gotten a 90% on each test, and damn that 1 question I always get wrong lol. I really like my courses though and they are keeping me less bored and thinking that is for sure. The BHA is a whole lot of memorizing though and its like learning a new language..but it will be worth it. I decided that I want to keep doing school so that I can become Health Care Assistant (Receptionist) at a Doctors Office. It is 9 more courses that I need to do, but it will be alot more stable and honestly easier than being a Medical Transcriptionist, it is a very hard job to listen to a audio recording of a DR and transcribe it, correctly at that.

Life has been good here, Reiko had his treatment last week and did very well, there was a few complications with his port at the end of the procedure, but he didn't whine much. Then later that evening he fractured a rib coughing. But he is back to normal and doing wonderful. Not a whole lot new to talk about really. Kai is awesome as always, and such a happy little guy lately. He slept over at Oma's on the weekend and went to his Uncle Darcy's new house and stayed for the camp fire, was a late night for him I was told, but he had a blast! Tonight he is sleeping over at Grandma and Grandpa's house, play fighting with grandpa as usual lol.

We found out there was a BBq for Reiko last week in Seaforth, so we went there and they were all so very happy to see us. We will even be in this weeks newspaper! Next weekend is the Home and Garden Show and the proceeds go towards Reiko! Ohh and this Wednesday is McHappy Day at McDonalds and Derek and I will volunteering behind the counter for an hour, and some of our family will be there showing off our little man! To bad Kai has school that day. Going to be a busy month cause Kai also has a few school things we have to do.

I don't have anything else to tell tonight. Hope you are all doing amazing!

Take Care!
Jessica

I love my life!

What can I say? I have an amazing husband and two amazing and adorable boys that make my world feel absolutely complete! I'm such a lucky woman. Plus I have the most amazing support system in the world. I cannot believe how many people truly care about our family! I cannot thank everyone of you enough, this past year has been such a crazy but beautiful year. I never realised how amazing total strangers can be to a family in need. Thank you with everything in me.

Ok Ok enough of the sappy stuff, here is whats up.

I have been working on my typing everyday since school trying to get my speed up and errors down, I'm not doing to bad, I am averaging about 63 words per minute and 3% errors. I am excited about starting my Basic Human Anatomy class on Monday and then my next computer class on Thursday. I think that school is going to be a wonderful thing for me and maybe it will make me feel like I am doing more with my life than sitting at home and cleaning up after my two boys.

Reiko is fighting this cold again, of course it never fails that he always seems to get sick right before his treatment, I don't know if it has anything to do with his treatments, but it always seem to happen. I hope that it doesn't get any worse at all, I have been giving him his puffers and saline drops and advil but I cannot give him anymore advil until after his treatment now because it can be fatal to his kidneys with the treatment, so hopefully he will be feeling better soon. I thought I broke one of his ribs today at the birthday party, I was bending over to pick up his bottle and he was in my arms and I felt a crack, I looked at him right away and he didn't cry or make any faces, so THANK GOODNESS it was nothing at all, PHEW!!! I hate it when he breaks something when we are out around other people, for some reason it embarrasses me to think people seeing me break a bone of his, its not him or the disease that embarrasses me, its the fact of people seeing me hurt my baby, even though its no ones fault. But thankfully it wasn't the case today and he is still doing great at 11 weeks break free! He deserves a medal or something for that greatness!

Kai and I went to a friends birthday party today, I brought Reiko along for the first bit, but brought him home once it was time for Kai and I to go to the pool with the other kids, Kai hung unto me for dear life, killing my neck while at it lol, he was petrified of going under, but he will hopefully get better as he swims more. He had a great day with his friends though and we didn't get home until 8pm, and he is out cold right now! He wanted to sleep with me tonight and I said yes since I will be gone for a few days soon. I always miss him like crazy when we go to Montreal, I would love to be able to bring him oneday, but we will wait until he is older.

Life has been good though, boys are wonderful, Derek is amazing and I am just reeling from all the love and support we have been given. Somedays it feels as if it is a dream that this year has happened. I am just in awe really of people. This world really isn't such a bad place when you have such fabulous people in your life.

Ok everyone have a great night! Take care!!
xoxoox

Life is good

Reiko is break free now 10 weeks! HOW FREAKING COOL IS THAT??! he is happier than ever! and doing so wonderful! I am so happy with how well he has been doing. Life has been so good lately, I can't complain at all. I know it has been 13 days since my last post, but life has been busy. Reiko had his 3rd port surgery last week, everything went so smooth, thank goodness! I was so scared that his break-free streak was going to end from getting an IV, but for the first time ever they were able to get an IV in him in 1 stick! They thankfully agreed that they would put Reiko to sleep with the mask first before inserting the IV incase there was any breaks. He came out of surgery wonderfully and he hasn't complained at all since it either. Now we just have to pray and hope that this port will not come through the skin like the other ones did.

I start school this week, on thursday I will start my medical wordperfect/excel course,then next week I start my online course for basic human anatomy, of course it starts the day Reiko and I go to Montreal, so now I have to bring along my huge book and laptop lol, fun! I cannot wait to start these courses though and at least then I can get an idea of what to expect from school.

Today Reiko and I went to a grade 8 class to talk about his OI, a girl in his class did her project on his disease and asked that we come to her class and talk to them. I was quite nervous honestly, my knees were even shaking when it was time to talk to them, and hopefully I didn't ramble on to them, but it is so nervewrecking to talk in front of 20 grade 8 students lol. Glad its over, but so glad we were able to get the word out and people got to meet him.

Kai has been doing wonderfully, he has been fully potty trained for a few months now and has not had an accidents at night yet, he has been getting smarter and smarter everyday and is super funny! This morning we were talking about how Roger is a boy cat and is white and Daisy is black and is a girl cat, then Derek says, "what am I Kai?" and Kai says " daddy your a boy, and your white" then Derek's friend Jay is black and he goes "and Jay is brown" lol we were cracking up so hard, the things they say at 3 years old! This saturday we have a birthday party to go to for his friend Nick, but I am not telling him about it until the day of, because he would drive me batty asking about it constantly. Last weekend was Easter and we had a fairly busy weekend, with Kai playing with kids everyday, he was in heaven! He enjoyed his easter egg hunts as well, and was really in the zone at the square's egg hunt, when the horn blew, he was a madman picking them up, he was going so fast though he was missing the basket until I held it for him lol. We left with a heck of a lot of chocolate eggs lol. And we now have more chocolate than anyone should need in one house lol.

Derek is thinking about doing an Ironman this september, or maybe starting in a smaller triathalon first lol, my sisters husband is thinking of it and asked derek to join him and he is really excited about it. Derek bought a new bike yesturday and loves it, and we are going to save up for me to buy a bike as well so we can go for bikes as a family with the boys! I think it would be amazing if he did do the triathalon or Ironman, he is such a motivating person and I know he would do amazing at it.

Ok that is the update for now! Take care,

Jessica