Wednesday night Laura woke up from a nap around 7pm with a severe headache.  I thought she was having a stroke,and so did she. It was SNOWING and snowing hard. I panicked just a little. After talking to my mom on the phone,she convinced me to call Albany Med. I talked with them and they said to get her to the nearest ER and have them decide how to transport her to Albany if needed. (because of the snow)
  
   Not a very easy trip when there is 4-5 inches of snow on the roads along with slush and no plows. I called Mark at work (which I absolutely hate to do) and he left right away and ended up getting stuck at the bottom of our road a mile away. He ended up calling another coworker who happened to be off duty that night and lives up the road from us. He is also an EMT, and drives a 4-wheel drive truck! In no time he was at our house with Mark whom he picked up. Mark helped load us in the truck and we were on our way.

  We made it safe to the nearest ER and Laura was evaluated, Albany was on the phone and communicating with the ER Doctor. They decided on a regular CT then one with contrast. Thankfully they did have a tech available to do the contrast CT.
 
  Results turned up good, nothing new. I can't even begin to express how I felt. Even after hearing it was ok, there was still a part of me that was not believing it. After everything she has been through, I was kinda just expecting to be transferred and be in a hospital yet again. The Doctor after talking with Albany decided to send us home and thought maybe it was a virus,and just a "normal" headache. Normal? 

   I chuckle just a little because I think this may have been the first time she has had a "normal" headache. We were both happy about that. Turns out, she did indeed have a virus because shortly after we got home,(loooong drive in 5-6 inches of snow in the hills) she did get sick and puked. 

  When I finally did fall asleep, I was dreaming and waking myself up to make sure I was still home. (dreaming I was in a helicopter on the way to Albany even feeling the sensation I was flying) Every time I woke up, I would just feel so relieved to be home and for once it was a nightmare I COULD wake up from. I can't explain it any other way. It felt GOOD. (after I would wake up I would sit up and listen, thinking I heard Mark saying to hurry up and get in the car..it was so real! BUT I WOKE UP FROM IT!!

  I found this video the other day, it was the very first one I took of Laura after her first stroke, when we were stuck in New Orleans.

  I think I will start posting some more of the videos and pictures here, and sharing our journey through her recovery..when I first took the videos, I couldn't imagine I would be showing them, but A certain person said to me the other day, how I could help others who are going through the same thing by sharing Lauras story. In the past when I have posted pictures of her, I only posted the ones I felt comfortable with, that minimized what she really looked like a GREAT deal.

  Time has gone by now, March is only 4 months away, that will be ONE year since our lives were changed drastically.

 

The quality of the pictures are BAD I know. But I had to try! Today is BEAUTIFUL!

 

 

 

 

 

I think I need glasses now...oh wait, it's the camera! 

Can't wait for my new one to come! 

The neighbors had their horses out today, they saddled one up and next thing I knew Laura was riding!

 

School is out for the rest of the week, I am finding myself very happy I don't have to be awake at 6:30 in the morning!

Also very sad that winter is about here.

As I am TRYING to do this post...

~ Sienna fell and hurt her hand

~ I leaned back in my chair to kiss her hand and the back gave out (whoops,might have been the extra helping of fries!)

~Anthony came running in just now and tripped, so he is....was crying.

~Alaina ran in with a handful of hair ties she stole from Jonathan..he was chasing her screaming at her. (he has been into doing hair on dolls AND humans, he has even stuck a hair clip on one of the cats!)

I am spoon feeding Anthony applesauce right now when he walks up to me...he is eating it SLOWLY!

~ Carter is doing the dishes from dinner.

~ Laura came in looking for her Ipod.

 

Hmmm never a dull moment.

I would wait to do this when they are in bed, but lately I can't keep my eyes open then either.

The other day we went for one of what is probably our last walks to the lake before it snows real good. I took a ton of pictures with my "new" camera which I have since returned because I did NOT like it at all. I thought I would upgrade, but turns out I have become attached to my Kodak easyshare. So I have ordered a new one of those... I am not sure what happened to my other one, the lens got stuck in the out position and it said "focus error". I googled it and looks like this happens when a piece of sand or something gets stuck in it. Hmmm I have no idea where it could have picked up any sand. (being sarcastic of course)

Linn came along with us for a walk, I'm glad she brought her camera because mine was a piece of junk even though it was new. ( I do not recommend the canon powershot A3300)

 

We had promised Isabella that we would take her to the lake before she had to go home to Ohio.

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

I really think Jonathan likes Isabella because she let him do THIS

 

 

not bad eh?

 

A few pictures of Anthony I took with Linns camera after I gave up on my own ...

 

 

 

 

He is getting faster every day..I still can't believe he is ONE!

 

A little bit of crazy happens now and then around here.

 

I think this shows a little  ! I mean just look at his face!

 

We will miss Isabella! She is going home to her mom tomorrow!

 

 

 

 

What is it with teens that they want to wear their P J's everywhere!?!?  

 

This was very random post ! ( in case you didn't figure that out already!)

 

 

 

Have not much time lately, I am always on the go but this week Laura started therapy in the school system along with the tutor. So maybe, just MAYBE things will slow down some? Her schedule is still a little whacky.

I uploaded some pitures with the intent on a update then, but of course, a little late is better then never.

We went to Granny and Grandpas house on Sunday and the kids had a blast! (then her poor house looked like it suffered a blast )

 

 

 

Laura set up a little house in the corner of the living room with the dolls.. I thought it looked just like a city apartment lol.

 

She did leave the precious car unattended so Granny had to keep picking it up so it didn't get tortured by little ones..(the car is very very special!)

 

Carter spent most of the time walking on the treadmill, which is a PERFECT thing for an 11 year old boy to do! Kept him busy and out of trouble,but i don't think it tired him out which is what I was hoping for .

I do plan on not letting so much time slip by here on xanga, you know between posts...I want to document this time as much as I can.. Someone said to me the other day when I asked them about when their kids were little..."I don't know, It's so hard to remember". This sticks out in my mind every day now. I do NOT want to forget this time of my life. I want to be able to remember when they were little!

On another note...

   

Not bad for her left hand! It's better then I can do! I am so proud of how well she is doing! Can you even imagine what it must be like? To have to relearn how to do everything with the opposite hand you would normally use? And not have the other hand to help? (not that she doesn't have it,and that she won't get more of it back,because we are very hopeful!) She has gotten REALLY good with one hand though,and this is what the therapists warned her of..I am constantly reminding her to at least put her hand where it would normally be when she is doing things! 

 I want to move south.

 

on the bright side, this does make my home feel more cozy. You know,the mess of six kids doesn't bother me as much...Kinda feels like a nest...a rats nest. LOL

 

 

He's a happy rider now!

 

And so is she..still !

I think it took our vacation to break him of the crying in the car..mommy was driving so she couldn't rescue him. And we MAY have had some help from some portable DVD players! 

We are back from Vacation and VERY busy this week..one appt. after another!  I survived an entire week without Mark, with SIX kids away from home! I'm am pretty proud of myself!

NEXT TIME I AM BRINGING HIM WITH ME!

   

Sunrise this morning

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What I saw from the HOT TUB tonight !

 

 

 

Can't wait for tomorrow!!

 

 

 

   

Guess who is ONE and ALMOST walking!

He turned One yesterday September 22nd! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

this last picture was taken yesterday the 22nd at the time he was born (not exactly but within one hour!)

So he is (almost) exactly ONE in this picture!

 We all went outside and watched the sun set tonight, it was so neat. I absolutely LOVE being on the hill top. First we noticed the clouds looking funny, Carter said, "hey MOM! Look a TORNADO!" Of course it was not one, but it did look like it for a few minutes. Then the sky started turning pink..cloud by cloud literally. Enjoy~