Richardson Family News

Welcome Readers to the Richardson Family News ! I gave our on-going updates a name.
This is also the same post on our blog.

The kids latest likes:
Shawna likes bubbles. Joshua likes tickles. Joseph likes cars. Gabriela likes sidewalk chalk. Michael likes daddy and mommy time.

We heard from the specialist !! He believes Joseph is an ideal candidate for surgery. Normally this is a 3 stage process. For Joseph it will be 4 (pacemaker, left ventricular training, senning takedown, and arterial switch). The next step is more testing which will include an MRI to be sure the left ventricle is healthy enough for this complex procedure, evaluation in the electrophysiology clinic, and discussion with the Dr. The electrophysiology clinic will evaluate his rhythm disturbance and provide more accurate information about evaluation for a pacemaker; Joseph's heartrate ranges as low as 30 to as high as 167 with 2.4 second pauses. The Dr believes a pacemaker may significantly improve his quality of life and make a big difference right away. The other 3 parts (surgery) will prevent further deterioration of his right ventricle and tricuspid valve which are already affected. We are most concerned with the daily chest pain that Joseph has that seems to slowly be getting worse and is definitely fairly constant at this point. Joseph asks "Mommy, when doc-tor fix it? Chest hurt. " Agh, that just aches my heart. I wish I had a more immediate answer for him. Now we have to talk to the specialist about scheduling and the testing. We believe it will all need to happen up in N. Calif at Stanford. I am thrilled to have the letter; we did not expect it till at least Friday. We also have to talk with our cardiologist down here. On to the next step...

When we go up north, we will need a place for our dogs. We have three small vivacious little dogs - a rat terrier named Chip, a min poodle named Apricot, and a min poodle named Kojo. We need someone who can dogsit during our trips up North. We will have many of these over the upcoming year (3 that we know of at least, one for testing, one for surgery 1, and one for surgery 2). It could be more. The time we would need the dog-sitting would range from a few days to 3 weeks. They sleep great in small crates at night, and are fine outside in an enclosed back yard. They are both indoor and outdoor dogs, but not well potty trained. We use a dog door, and try to minimize accidents. If anyone is interested, please email me and let us know. We would love all 3 to stay together if at all possible.

We heard from CCS on our application for Michael who was denied based on our TYPE of insurance. Go figure. They said he qualifies medically though. We will appeal it, but this answer took us 3 months to get. We had been trying since his hospitalization in April. This was our second application, second denial. I am not satisfied with the answer though, and they suggested we provide MORE documentation and re-apply a THIRD time ! Very frustrating ! I will keep on until I am satisfied, have no other options, or get a yes !

We also have the results of Michael's evaluation for Autism, and he absolutely most definitely has it. It does not change who Michael is, but gives us more tools to help him. Obviously, Michael is on the higher end of the spectrum, but it is NOT Asperger's. The results were very complex. Michael struggles a great deal in all the various aspects of language, but is charming as always in a conversation. He tested as low as in the less than one percentile in some areas, and less than 5% in many areas. It does not change Michael's charming funny and vivacious self. It does give us a lot more clarify and understanding about him, how he thinks, why he does what he does, and more ways we can help. In all areas, Michael tested between Kindergarten and 6th grade (as young as 6 years and up to his age of 12) and everywhere in between. It was consistent with our own assessment and the curriculum he is using in school. We will be adding to help Michael in other areas too. It explains A LOT of hunches many many medical professionals and us have had over the years, and are glad to finally not be written or blown off. For Michael, we know it is neurological and likely caused by the abnormalities in his brain (the PVL and Hypoplasia). The neurologist eval isn't until October though, and that was the soonest we could get. On a good note, it also validated many of the things we have been working with Michael on for years. We were right on target. Michael has made so much improvement since that first day we met him. He is an amazing little boy.

Also, Michael's Evan's is kicking up again. He is slightly anemic, WBC's, hemoglobin and platelets have all dropped. Platelets are still just inside the normal range though, so we are hoping they will not drop any more. He doesn't need medication again yet. We'd like to keep it that way, but we can see the decline in his energy level, he's a little pale, how he feels, and a couple new bruises on his elbows and legs, mostly minor ones.

Please keep us all in prayers. Please pray that Michael stays healthy and out of the hospital, for Joseph and his literal heartache, and the continuing onslaught of medical bills. Praying for miracles here. Pray for the money to get Gabriela to her bipolar camp; we believe she needs it emotionally and are running out of time.

Please support our ministry for special needs children, Richardson Studios, where all proceeds support special needs children.

Our website is: www.richardsonstudios.comOur online store is:www.shop.richardsonstudios.com
Our support group for parents of special needs children is:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/everychildmatters/?v=1&t=search&ch=web&pub=groups&sec=group&slk=1Or you can go to www.groups.yahoo.com and type in the search box:everychildmattersThen of course we always have our blog for what's going on at home and our personal story at:www.richardsonstudios.blogspot.comCome and check us out ! We look forward to seeing you there.

On a lighter note, we had the awesome experience at a Concert in the Park that Riverside put on. It was free. They had 50's music, and the band was great. We brought our dinner, and the kids played at the park with other kids from our neighborhood. We enjoyed dumping sand out of everyone's sandals and shoes when we left. Scott and I got to just chill and talk and push Shawna on the swings a lot. The kids all loved playing with their friends.

Scott and I saw the most amazing sun glowing orange going down in the sky tonight. It was beautiful.

Shawna was playing "change diaper" today. She said she was "cleaning you up". She brought the pack of wipes out and proceeded to wash my hands and face for me. I laughed. It just made me smile so much to see such sweetness in our dear 2 year old. Then off she went to hug and pat our doggie statue near the front door.

News - we were thrilled to hear Bush signed in more help for homeowners. We are praying that will give us leverage in our own lousy mortgage.

More News - glad to say no damage from the earthquake from everyone we talked to, just rattled nerves. A good reminder to put an emergency backpack together just in case (shoes, socks, flashlight, batteries, snacks, water bottle).

Community Prayer:
**Pray for our beloved friend and her child who is in the hospital and was recently diagnosed as a paraplegic. God knows their many needs. We left off their names to protect their privacy, but God knows exactly who. Just pray for Jennifer's friend and her friend's child.
**For Rich who is still job hunting that the Lord would bless him with an open door to a new job that is just right for him and his family.

Please join us in prayer for Joseph, for the heart surgeon, for the money for the heart surgery, for the money for the travel (definitely), and for a speedy recovery.

If you would like to help financially towards Joseph's surgery, we would be ever most grateful. You can click on the donate button at the bottom of the posts on our blog www.richardsonstudios.blogspot.com. Or you can visit us at www.richardsonstudios.com .

Prayers are always welcome ! We are praying for miracles here for our lively, affectionate, tenacious, lovable little boy.

Blessings in Christ our Lord who has helped us endure, given us patience and faith, and shown us the joy in raising FIVE very special children who I am sure will make their mark and change the world for the better.

May Christ Our Savior Bless Your Journey,

Jennifer Richardson
richardsonstudios@charter.net
www.richardsonstudios.blogspot.com
www.richardsonstudios.com
www.shop.richardsonstudios.com
www.groups.yahoo.com/everychildmatters

For any parent with a special needs child, adopted, biological or caretaker, you are welcome to apply to join our yahoo group. Just go to www.groups.yahoo.com and type in everychildmatters. We are a support system for parents and loved ones of these wonderful kids.