Friday, November 21, 2008 12:41 AM
Subject: Re: Richardson News

First, we will start off with a lighthearted "Shawna story". Last night, I put Shawna to bed. She got up asking for water, asking for a hug, asking for a light. All the excuses to stay up. Then, she asked for food and said "I'm very hungry. My tummy is hungry." Well, I knew she was stalling, but I also really believed she probably was slightly hungry. I gave her one piece of cheese and told her she was then going straight back to bed. She took the cheese and promptly squished it in her hair in many pieces. She really squished it good (the kind you cannot just pick out of her Loooong hair easily). She said "Mommy, my hair is dirty. I need a shower. I'm dirty." I said Shaaaawna, whyyyy did you dooo that ! She said rather matter of factly "I need you. I want to be with you. You give me a shower, and I wash my hair." Later, I just absolutely had to laugh (completely out of her earshot of course) at how completely well thought out and clever she was. She wanted time with me, and found a really great way to get it. Then, I put her straight back to bed telling her how yucky the cheese was and not to do that again but that I loved her very very much.

Okay, so here are the medical updates.

Michael's sedimentation rate (a lab test which tests for the amount of inflammation in his body) came back extremely high at 130. Normal is less than 15, and for most people 40 would be high. We have seen medical shows on TV that talk about "really high" sed rates of 68; they don't even test past 150 and checked it twice. We will speak with the rheumatologist tomorrow and see where to go from here. Michael has been having chest and rib pain on and off since June as most of you know. We ruled out his heart. It comes, then goes away, then comes back with a vengence. It is back again. Some days he is really okay, and others he can barely stand up straight. He has a bone scan coming up to be sure his bones are retaining calcium. He is walking much better since getting his new AFO braces for both legs. He is working at building up some muscle in his atrophied left leg (from the CP).

Gabriela had her medications adjusted for her Bipolar and ADHD, and is doing well. We are tackling some school issues with a weekly accountability chart to show her more tangibly how she is doing with completing assignments.

Joseph is doing very well all in all since his open heart surgery. His incision is well healed and just a nice pink line now. He only has occasional chest pain, and even less often the less than occasional blue lips (which we are very closely watching). He is still on activity restrictions for a little over a month more. Neurology wanted to rule out any genetic abnormalities and chromosomal disorders to be sure. They all came back normal, which confirms severe fetal alcohol syndrome. All in all he is stable though.

Joshua and Shawna are getting over colds.

When I got back from FMLA, my paycheck at work was screwed up, so we had NOOO money. They fixed it, and so we are ever so slowly trying to get back on track. Difficult as that is with medications coming out my ears. I feel like a walking pharmacy with all the medications and therapeutically supportive vitamins that we have to give the kids.

Michael's newest passion is practicing his guitar. It has been fixed, cleaned, strung, and tuned up thanks to his Godfather. He just loves practicing and says he has found his calling. Gabriela is learning how to scrapbook, and is enjoying making one of her own with her drawings and artwork and talks about being an animal rescuer when she is grown up. Joshua loves building with legos and wants to be a musician just like Michael. Joseph and Shawna both love to play doctor. Shawna thinks it is just a hoot when I call her Dr. Shawna Richardson.

We are all looking forward to thanksgiving this year. The kids have been working on a project. They write down an ARK (Act of Loving Kindness) that they did where they received nothing in return for it. Some of the kids get it more than others. They write their names on it, and it goes in a jar. At thanksgiving, we will read them aloud at the thanksgiving table.

Please keep us in prayers.

May Christ Our Savior Bless Your Journey and Blessings to you in Jesus name who has helped us endure, given us patience and faith, and helped us make the difference in the life of a child. We hope you will join us give a child hope and opportunity.

Scott and Jennifer Richardson
Our Business: Richardson Studios at www.richardsonstudios.com - Resources.
Our Store: www.shop.richardsonstudios.com - Support Special Needs.
Our Blog: www.richardsonstudios.blogspot.com - Touching Stories about our Family.
Our School: Academy of the Possible at www.academyofthepossible.com - a school for special needs kids coming soon.

Donations are accepted at all of our sites.
Every child has a story, and every child matters.
Thank you for your generosity in advance, and Thank you for giving a child "Hope for the Heart".

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 academyofthepossible (formerly everychildmatters). We are a support system for parents and loved ones of these wonderful kids. Or click http://groups.yahoo.com/group/academyofthepossible/?v=1&t=search&ch=web&pub=groups&sec=group&slk=1