This Week's Adventures

For starters, it is obviously hot where we live here in the desert (90's and 100's). Our AC isn't working (again!). We have a couple of celing fans, but that hardly does the trick. So, we regularly water down the kids and ourselves. No kidding. The kids get their faces, necks, and hair wet. We use wash clothes to help keep everyone cool enough. We have one room that always seems to be a couple of degrees cooler than the rest of the house. We aren't the most comfortable, but we are managing. Stores are always a welcome break for THEIR air conditioning. In the evening, we try to cool down the house because it is usually more comfortable outside.

Yesterday, we spent most of the day in the emergency room at St. Joseph's Hospital for Michael and Gabriela.

Gabriela was gifted with roller blades this week, and having a blast skaing on them. She is pretty good too, but took a fall when her skate got caught on a stick. She fell and broke her arm near her wrist chipping the growth plate. Being in a 3/4 arm cast and sling is not so fun. Gabriela is disappointed that she cannot skate for a while.

Michael was kneeling and helping wash the car with his feet under him. When he stood up, his left knee popped instant pain. Now, he cannot put any weight on his leg without it giving out or causing severe pain. He apparently tore a ligament in his knee chipping the bone at the same time. A broken knee is definitely no fun. Michael is in a full leg cast. The hospital was supposed to get a wheelchair for him, but we have as of yet to receive it. We got a call from Apria Healthcare who stated they don't provide wheelchairs for CCS or Medi-Cal.

Scott and I are both looking for more work! Finances are tough. With the current economy, the business is at a crawl.

Shawna, Joseph and Joshua had fun playing in the froggy pool in the heat and made some brilliant mud. They clearly had fun playing in that.

Gabriela has also been doing very well without medication. The psychiatrist is hopeful she will outgrow the Bipolar altogether. Gabriela is also learning to manage her ADHD.

We did get word that some of the kids Medi-Cal was approved. I will be glad to get cards for them. Michael and Joseph also were approved for CCS. Because the fracture on Gabriela is in the growth plate of her wrist, she is also eligible for CCS (so that is pending).

Some things working, others not. We are in the pruning, the proofing and the fire.

A good friend sent us this quote:
'To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.' When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better.'

Okay Lord! Our hands are WIDE open!

To all our dear friends, we would never make it through all of this without your support. Thank you for ALL your support.

'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.'

Jennifer Richardson
www.richardsonstudios.com

Conquering one challenge at a time -

The Lord is good. Our application for CCS (California Children's Services) for Joseph and Michael are finally moving along. We received approval for their medications. What a blessing it was to be able to pick up Joseph's medication for his blood pressure and pulmonary hypertension without worrying about the cost. Also, we were able to pick up Michael's medication for his thyroid as well.


Jennifer Richardson
www.richardsonstudios.com

Gabriela is OFF medication !!!

We have just fabulous news. Gabriela is off her regular daily medication with the blessing of her psychiatrist ! Since starting puberty, she has really changed and made progress. Her moods are much more stable, the mood changes related to the Bipolar have evened out and she is calmer overall as well. Only time will tell if she will be lucky enough to outgrow this. We are hoping that it was immature hormones causing the physical problems. Gabriela is still a very strong and determined child, but is much better on a daily basis. We have medication to help her as needed but the frequency of how often she needs that medication has decreased dramatically. We still follow with the psychiatrist as needed. She is really getting quite tall as well. I would not be surprised at all if Gabriela got close to or broke 6 feet. At 11 years old, she is already almost as tall as me by mere inches and wears a size 8 women's shoe. I am 5'2".

Praise God in his infinite mercy.
Jennifer Richardson
www.richardsonstudios.com

Hot Hot Hot

The weather has been staggeringly hot. At 4:00 pm today, it was still 105 degrees F. We have had to keep our AC off because of bills but also because it just won't cool the house down. For whatever the reason, it just does not seem to be able to handle the heat. We have taken to getting the kids wet (face, hands, back of their neck) to help keep them cool.

Jennifer Richardson
www.richardsonstudios.com