Chelsi LOVES to read. She's been reading since she was about 3 or 3 1/2. She caught on very quickly to sight words and I don't think any of us really taught her how to sound words out phonetically, but she probably overheard us working with Kaelin. She reads very well at 4 1/2. At her grandma's daycare there are 5 year olds getting ready for kindergarten, so she does generally go through sight words with all the kids...why not, right?
After they grasp her sight words she sends home these Dick and Jane type readers. I decided last night that she could probably read more and since she loves reading so much, I didn't think it would hurt. I asked Kaelin to go find one of her chapter books, so she brought back a Junie B Jones book. Mind you these are 1st through 3rd grade readers. The girls sat by me and they took turns reading a page. They both stumbled on words, but different words. Chelsi has more trouble with the larger words....the words I would expect her to at her age...even older. Kaelin stumbles on small words because the rules don't make sense to her. I can tell she can sound out anything that follows the English rules, but if it doesn't she's lost. And Kaelin doesn't memorize. Chelsi has an awesome memory, so once I tell her a word, she's got it.
Literally, Chelsi foddered over 4-6 words tops in 4 pages. That is great for a 1st grader, let alone a child who doesn't go to school until mid 2011. Kaelin got done reading her portion tonight and I had her log her reading for school. Chelsi was not happy we were done. She wanted to keep reading.
She actually cries and whines a lot begging for someone to listen to her read. She loves to read and she knows she's good at it. This is a good thing right? I mean no one is pushing her. She pushes herself. She wants it. She tells us that she wants to be smart and she knows reading will make her smart.
Brian's already worried about giftedness. I'm not worrying about it until the day comes.
Lisa
Monday, March 15, 2010
1/2 down 1 1/2 to go
I don't know how else to count my medical visits.
I got my stitches out of my back and I got my pathology back. There are basically 3 categories of basal cell carcinoma and my back consisted of 2. I had superficial, which is really good and early nodular, which is second best, but good that it was early. I probably would have been a lot more disfiguring had it been further in nodular. The next worse is still not necessarily fatal, but it reaches out more on your skin and is more likely to disfigure your body.
I have my breast appointment in a couple of days and Dr. G said that if the surgeon wants to take off the skin cancer when/if she removes the lump she can. This is why she gave me the report....to give to my surgeon. If I don't get it done by her than I have to go back in two weeks to have surgery to have it removed. So, basically, I still don't know a whole lot more and won't until mid-week, but I sure walked out of that office feeling a whole lot better.
One body are down, one more to go.
Lisa
I got my stitches out of my back and I got my pathology back. There are basically 3 categories of basal cell carcinoma and my back consisted of 2. I had superficial, which is really good and early nodular, which is second best, but good that it was early. I probably would have been a lot more disfiguring had it been further in nodular. The next worse is still not necessarily fatal, but it reaches out more on your skin and is more likely to disfigure your body.
I have my breast appointment in a couple of days and Dr. G said that if the surgeon wants to take off the skin cancer when/if she removes the lump she can. This is why she gave me the report....to give to my surgeon. If I don't get it done by her than I have to go back in two weeks to have surgery to have it removed. So, basically, I still don't know a whole lot more and won't until mid-week, but I sure walked out of that office feeling a whole lot better.
One body are down, one more to go.
Lisa
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Because writing is therapeutic
and it has helped me in the past to go back through my own personal diary, here, and see what we have gotten through.
I'm just a little stressed right now. I know that after March passes and my surgeries are done....hopefully, I can just erase it all from my mind and go on. Hopefully is for the surgeries or whatever to be done by the end of March...I will have no trouble erasing it from my mind.
So I had my two spots biopsied and one is a blue nevus as I thought and the other was basal cell as I wondered. I already got the stitch (yes just 1) out of my head and I go back Monday for the two stitches in my back. Apparently, your back has to stay in longer than your head... I don't know why, so don't ask. After that I get a nice and lovely consult with a general surgeon for the lump in my breast. I posted back in September after I had to get an oh so enjoyable mammogram just because I hit 35, but because I also had a sebaceous cyst they wanted an ultrasound too. It came back with matter in it slightly off from what they usually see for this type of cyst, so they told me not to worry and get a follow up U/S in 6 months. That was this week and when I called to see if they had order my doc was right on top of it and they were ready to go.
It didn't take long to get it done, but she left the room and came back and said the radiologist wanted to biopsy it because it had grown more than they expected in 6 months and was still not quite right. So, of course, I cried a little since the day before I had just been told I had skin cancer...minor yes, but too much for me for one week. I got the appointment all worked out and yesterday was feeling much more assured and ready to get it over with. Well, they changed their minds and this time my doctor called to let me know the radiologist read the U/S and refused a biopsy. He said it needed excised. So the doctor sent the orders to a general surgeon and they had an appointment ready for me. I was in pretty good tears by then. I called the surgeon to find out what to expect and actually found out it was just a consult and they still may biopsy it and basically ignore what the radiologist said depending on what she thinks of my two U/Ss. So, my sweet husband ran around town getting my U/Ss and mammograms that the hospital burned to a CD and brought it to my surgeons office for me. By Wednesday morning she should have had plenty of time to look at the visuals and a good idea of what she wants to do with me.
They did tell me the radiologist is calling it a fibroadenoma for now. It can be a precursor to breast cancer, but is most often completely benign. From what I could gather they leave them in if their smaller than a certain size, but mine it larger. I don't have a clue what she's going to decide, but if they remove it I'm a bit more nervous. All I can imagine is a hole where it used to be. They assure me they will pull in a cosmetic surgeon if they need to, but really they can just move my existing stuff around. Uh....what stuff? Do they have any idea how small I am??? So don't take away what little I have or I'm gonna be a little ticked.
I'm pretty much done with all my tears now, though the rare possibilities out of both of these spots still do bother me and make me fearful from time-to-time, you can't live your life in perpetual fear. I choose not to. I choose to hug my kids even more and love my husband even more and live for the day and maybe learn something from this experience. Hoping it's a very short-lived experience, of course.
So, if you wanna pray for a good consult Wednesday, I'd appreciate it. I know God is listening and I know everything will be okay, but extra prayers never hurt anything. I'm okay with my other small surgery of getting my basal cell removed. I have to wait until the biopsied spot heals before they'll do that one, but I don't know what she'll do now that I'm dealing with another part of my body on the other side? This adenoma bugs me a little more.
Lisa
I'm just a little stressed right now. I know that after March passes and my surgeries are done....hopefully, I can just erase it all from my mind and go on. Hopefully is for the surgeries or whatever to be done by the end of March...I will have no trouble erasing it from my mind.
So I had my two spots biopsied and one is a blue nevus as I thought and the other was basal cell as I wondered. I already got the stitch (yes just 1) out of my head and I go back Monday for the two stitches in my back. Apparently, your back has to stay in longer than your head... I don't know why, so don't ask. After that I get a nice and lovely consult with a general surgeon for the lump in my breast. I posted back in September after I had to get an oh so enjoyable mammogram just because I hit 35, but because I also had a sebaceous cyst they wanted an ultrasound too. It came back with matter in it slightly off from what they usually see for this type of cyst, so they told me not to worry and get a follow up U/S in 6 months. That was this week and when I called to see if they had order my doc was right on top of it and they were ready to go.
It didn't take long to get it done, but she left the room and came back and said the radiologist wanted to biopsy it because it had grown more than they expected in 6 months and was still not quite right. So, of course, I cried a little since the day before I had just been told I had skin cancer...minor yes, but too much for me for one week. I got the appointment all worked out and yesterday was feeling much more assured and ready to get it over with. Well, they changed their minds and this time my doctor called to let me know the radiologist read the U/S and refused a biopsy. He said it needed excised. So the doctor sent the orders to a general surgeon and they had an appointment ready for me. I was in pretty good tears by then. I called the surgeon to find out what to expect and actually found out it was just a consult and they still may biopsy it and basically ignore what the radiologist said depending on what she thinks of my two U/Ss. So, my sweet husband ran around town getting my U/Ss and mammograms that the hospital burned to a CD and brought it to my surgeons office for me. By Wednesday morning she should have had plenty of time to look at the visuals and a good idea of what she wants to do with me.
They did tell me the radiologist is calling it a fibroadenoma for now. It can be a precursor to breast cancer, but is most often completely benign. From what I could gather they leave them in if their smaller than a certain size, but mine it larger. I don't have a clue what she's going to decide, but if they remove it I'm a bit more nervous. All I can imagine is a hole where it used to be. They assure me they will pull in a cosmetic surgeon if they need to, but really they can just move my existing stuff around. Uh....what stuff? Do they have any idea how small I am??? So don't take away what little I have or I'm gonna be a little ticked.
I'm pretty much done with all my tears now, though the rare possibilities out of both of these spots still do bother me and make me fearful from time-to-time, you can't live your life in perpetual fear. I choose not to. I choose to hug my kids even more and love my husband even more and live for the day and maybe learn something from this experience. Hoping it's a very short-lived experience, of course.
So, if you wanna pray for a good consult Wednesday, I'd appreciate it. I know God is listening and I know everything will be okay, but extra prayers never hurt anything. I'm okay with my other small surgery of getting my basal cell removed. I have to wait until the biopsied spot heals before they'll do that one, but I don't know what she'll do now that I'm dealing with another part of my body on the other side? This adenoma bugs me a little more.
Lisa
Thursday, March 11, 2010
ONE CRAZY GREAT YEAR!
At the beginning of 2009 we were just happy to have survived 2008, with Brian's accident. We were recovering from that and feeling much better. We went to our annual Lunar New Year dinner with our Korean adoption group friends and one family announced that they had received a sibling call. I had heard of these since we started our first process back in 2002, but knew they were rare.
I remember Brian's face. He just looked at me and said "you said these things don't happen". I told him on the way home that night that they don't happen to people like us. Not really meaning anything 'cause I don't really know what kind of people these things happen to.
That was at the end of January in 2009. On March 12th I got an email from our social worker telling us to call her right away. I immediately thought, for a fleeting second, that it could be, but pushed that out of my mind and thought she was going to tell us one of the birth mothers accessed our child's file. I knew, right away, by her voice when I called her what she was going to say. I remember shaking so hard. I almost dropped the phone as I sat in my co-worker's office for privacy.
I called Brian right away and it took a lot of explaining for him to realize it really had happened to us too. It was barely after lunch by then and we both left work to go home and discuss. We literally knew nothing other than it was a little brother to our daughter. We were not going to be told anything more about him unless we were truly interested. Yadayadayada, after a LOT of crying and talking and walking through a fog for about 4 days we jumped in.
Here we are one year after that fateful call and he has been home for 10 months already. I cannot believe this child that we never even dreamt of or planned for is here and I can't live without him. I can't imagine our lives without him. He is amazing and beautiful and sweet. He makes me appreciate life in a new way.
Life changed in so many way by adding him. We have a bigger home loan now, we emptied our savings, we have another child in daycare when we were getting close to getting them all out....BUT. I wouldn't change it or have the money for anything in this world but him. He's worth everything we had to go through to bring him home, including the tears and fears. I should have known to trust God. But, it's like jumping off into an abyss that you can't see the bottom of and finding the ground is really right there, you just had to trust and have faith.
So my littlest boy is now 18 months old and is walking and talking and doing all of the other things we have seen 4 other times, yet it's so wonderful this time, so new this time. And, there's this piece of me that is thankful to God, not just for us (Brian and I) to be able to share our lives with him, but that he allowed the two siblings to be together and know each other. I feel a sense of peace for their birth mother because of this. Something to give her some happiness in her grief and loss over the years.
We love you Jaemin...to the ends of the Earth and back and would do this all over again for you if ever given the choice.
I remember Brian's face. He just looked at me and said "you said these things don't happen". I told him on the way home that night that they don't happen to people like us. Not really meaning anything 'cause I don't really know what kind of people these things happen to.
That was at the end of January in 2009. On March 12th I got an email from our social worker telling us to call her right away. I immediately thought, for a fleeting second, that it could be, but pushed that out of my mind and thought she was going to tell us one of the birth mothers accessed our child's file. I knew, right away, by her voice when I called her what she was going to say. I remember shaking so hard. I almost dropped the phone as I sat in my co-worker's office for privacy.
I called Brian right away and it took a lot of explaining for him to realize it really had happened to us too. It was barely after lunch by then and we both left work to go home and discuss. We literally knew nothing other than it was a little brother to our daughter. We were not going to be told anything more about him unless we were truly interested. Yadayadayada, after a LOT of crying and talking and walking through a fog for about 4 days we jumped in.
Here we are one year after that fateful call and he has been home for 10 months already. I cannot believe this child that we never even dreamt of or planned for is here and I can't live without him. I can't imagine our lives without him. He is amazing and beautiful and sweet. He makes me appreciate life in a new way.
Life changed in so many way by adding him. We have a bigger home loan now, we emptied our savings, we have another child in daycare when we were getting close to getting them all out....BUT. I wouldn't change it or have the money for anything in this world but him. He's worth everything we had to go through to bring him home, including the tears and fears. I should have known to trust God. But, it's like jumping off into an abyss that you can't see the bottom of and finding the ground is really right there, you just had to trust and have faith.
So my littlest boy is now 18 months old and is walking and talking and doing all of the other things we have seen 4 other times, yet it's so wonderful this time, so new this time. And, there's this piece of me that is thankful to God, not just for us (Brian and I) to be able to share our lives with him, but that he allowed the two siblings to be together and know each other. I feel a sense of peace for their birth mother because of this. Something to give her some happiness in her grief and loss over the years.
We love you Jaemin...to the ends of the Earth and back and would do this all over again for you if ever given the choice.
My angel baby's first pictures we saw....two of my favorites anyways.
He is one year old in the little suit picture and the second picture is more recent, but they both show his, VERY, sweet personality.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
PSA: Please be good to your skin
I've really never been bad to my skin. I'm not a tanner and I don't even really like the sun....aka I don't like to sweat. But, I managed to have basal cell skin cancer (carcinoma). I will now be even more vigilant about protection for both the kids and myself.
I'm fortunate that I knew I had a familial risk so I did go to the dermatologist every couple of years. Now I will probably go annually for a quicky check. The thing some people don't realize is that skin cancer isn't just a mole. It can be any anomaly in your skin. For my mom and I both it was a skin colored, slightly rough or scaly patch that itched. Mine didn't itch constantly, but it's been aggravated by this winter's extreme cold. When I scratched it it was hurting. I put it off long enough and finally made the appointment. She couldn't even see it without me pointing it out and then thought it may just be a keratosis, which I would have been thrilled with. I got my results from the biopsy today and it is basal cell. Since I go often enough and when you catch it and it's just basil cell it's easy to deal with. Cut the cancerous cells out. It's only in the very top layer of skin....unlike melanoma.
My biggest problem with it is that I will have a scar on my back. It's closer to my shoulder, so it is visible. I HATE that. I'm glad it will be nothing once it's removed, but I hate scars and the thought of having more areas chopped out now that I've had one spot. So, I'm hoping to protect my kids from this. Sometimes, for some people there is no protection. It is what it is. I think that's my problem since it's so prevalent in our family. Thank goodness 3 of my kids do not have my genetics...that gives me hope, but leaves unknowns of their own.
So please, please, please don't ignore your skin. Take care of it. It's not worth it.
I'm fortunate that I knew I had a familial risk so I did go to the dermatologist every couple of years. Now I will probably go annually for a quicky check. The thing some people don't realize is that skin cancer isn't just a mole. It can be any anomaly in your skin. For my mom and I both it was a skin colored, slightly rough or scaly patch that itched. Mine didn't itch constantly, but it's been aggravated by this winter's extreme cold. When I scratched it it was hurting. I put it off long enough and finally made the appointment. She couldn't even see it without me pointing it out and then thought it may just be a keratosis, which I would have been thrilled with. I got my results from the biopsy today and it is basal cell. Since I go often enough and when you catch it and it's just basil cell it's easy to deal with. Cut the cancerous cells out. It's only in the very top layer of skin....unlike melanoma.
My biggest problem with it is that I will have a scar on my back. It's closer to my shoulder, so it is visible. I HATE that. I'm glad it will be nothing once it's removed, but I hate scars and the thought of having more areas chopped out now that I've had one spot. So, I'm hoping to protect my kids from this. Sometimes, for some people there is no protection. It is what it is. I think that's my problem since it's so prevalent in our family. Thank goodness 3 of my kids do not have my genetics...that gives me hope, but leaves unknowns of their own.
So please, please, please don't ignore your skin. Take care of it. It's not worth it.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Blogworthy Carrier Warning
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100309/ap_on_bi_ge/us_baby_slings_warning
Please read, especially if you are pregnant or may become pregnant. Not a Yaz commercial, but this is a warning for newborns being carried in slings. Thought it was worth posting since I'm a carrying mom, but not sling wearing.
Lisa
Please read, especially if you are pregnant or may become pregnant. Not a Yaz commercial, but this is a warning for newborns being carried in slings. Thought it was worth posting since I'm a carrying mom, but not sling wearing.
Lisa
Monday, March 8, 2010
Tiny hands rubbing your arms
This is what I get.
I've had kind of a crappy day today. Nothing specific just not such a great day at work and rough evening at home. I was finally sitting down after all the kids went to bed and was just reading when Jaemin woke up. Just a couple of small whimpers. I crawled in his toddler bed with him and just laid beside him. He always strokes my arms when I lay in his bed or he lays in mine. He rubbed my back this morning. I love that I can just lay with him and make him feel better.
It was in no way his birth mother's purpose in life or reason for her pain to make me a mother to a 5th child. It just happened out of free will. But, of this I am thankful to have him in my life forever. He is so amazing and I love him more and more each day if that's possible. I love everything about him and I love just laying there with him breathing on my face.
He is always going to be my unexpected gift.
I've had kind of a crappy day today. Nothing specific just not such a great day at work and rough evening at home. I was finally sitting down after all the kids went to bed and was just reading when Jaemin woke up. Just a couple of small whimpers. I crawled in his toddler bed with him and just laid beside him. He always strokes my arms when I lay in his bed or he lays in mine. He rubbed my back this morning. I love that I can just lay with him and make him feel better.
It was in no way his birth mother's purpose in life or reason for her pain to make me a mother to a 5th child. It just happened out of free will. But, of this I am thankful to have him in my life forever. He is so amazing and I love him more and more each day if that's possible. I love everything about him and I love just laying there with him breathing on my face.
He is always going to be my unexpected gift.
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