April 19, 2012
April 15, 2012
For The Birds
I just ordered an urban chicken coop for the backyard! I am super stoked about it! Raising chickens is an idea we have tossed around for years. Both Seth and I had chickens growing up.
From an early age deviled eggs was one of the first things I learned how to make. SO.MANY.EGGS.
Our coop is going to be much smaller than the one I had growing up, but it is appropriate and proportional for our backyard in the city. I think it will yield the perfect amount of eggs for our family.
The plan is to have three or four girls in there. We may put up some chicken wire to expand where they can roam during the day, and shoo them back in the coop at night.
So anyway, here is a couple photos from online ... when we actually get everything set up I will probably take some of my own.
From an early age deviled eggs was one of the first things I learned how to make. SO.MANY.EGGS.
Our coop is going to be much smaller than the one I had growing up, but it is appropriate and proportional for our backyard in the city. I think it will yield the perfect amount of eggs for our family.
The plan is to have three or four girls in there. We may put up some chicken wire to expand where they can roam during the day, and shoo them back in the coop at night.
So anyway, here is a couple photos from online ... when we actually get everything set up I will probably take some of my own.
January 31, 2012
Dandelion Wishes
FDA Approves Cystic Fibrosis Drug - The Wall Street Journal
Kalydeco, Drug That Treats Root Cause Of Cystic Fibrosis, Approved By FDA
This news is big. HUGE in fact. This is the first time that there has been a drug to tackle the root cause of Cystic Fibrosis and not just a symptom. People throw around the word CURE left and right, and this my friends is the closest thing to a cure that I believe we will see.
More than 1,000 mutations in the CFTR gene have been identified in people with CF. I have the classic and most common ΔF508, and one other mutation. This drug, which was approved by the FDA today is for only one of these mutations, G551D, as far as I understand. While G551D is NOT the most common, it causes CF in about 4% of the CF population, some 1,200 people in the United States. I have heard of other CF friends (G551D's) who were participants in the trial phases of Kalydeco, and who claimed it was immensely helpful.
Just to clarify, since this is my blog, this drug will probably not affect me. Not only am I the wrong mutation, but I am post transplant and so my health worries lie elsewhere, such as infection/rejection. Even if they were to develop a drug for ΔF508's, in a way it is too late in my own life. At most I could imagine it helping perhaps with my sinuses and G.I.
But that is not what I want to talk about.
I want to talk about my childhood prayers. My wishes on every birthday cake. My wish for every dandelion I blew into the wind.
A cure for CF.
And although I am fully aware that this is not exactly a cure for all CFers, I now have hope for that dream. For those babies being born today with the gene mutation of G551D, it is coming true.
This might snowball into other drugs being developed for other CFTR mutations.
If just one child can be spared the suffering and pain I have had to endure because of Cystic Fibrosis, than my wish has come true.
1,200 people being CURED. What an awesome, amazing, exciting day in the CF community.
And ΔF508 is next guys, just wait and see. Correcting G551D shows that it is possible.
We're coming up!
If anybody reading this has ever donated money to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation I want to tell you, as I hold back the tears - THANK YOU. It certainly has helped a hell of a lot during my lifetime!
Thank you God, from whom all blessings flow ...
January 11, 2012
Lemonades
I love having a lemon tree. Picked, washed and squeezed up some fresh lemonade from our yard this afternoon. It was a gorgeous day, a flip-flop, walk-to-places-instead-of-drive kind of a day. And if anyone near wants some lemons, swing by, because there is still more than plenty hanging on our tree.
"I love you making lemonades" - Aiden (to me)
January 06, 2012
song of the day. been slinking around the house to the non acoustic version of this song all week long. pretending i'm sexier than i really am.
today is the last day of christmas break. i love levi to death - but i am so ready to send him back to school. i don't know how people homeschool. props to ya all.
January 03, 2012
December 30, 2011
Finalization!
Hello! I am way behind on update type posts.....
Aiden is adopted! Yay. Everything is done! No more paperwork, social worker visits, etc.
It feels good.
Aiden is now related to us as if he had been born to us. The finalization was November 18th - oh what a fun day it was. We all came to the courthouse, told to invite as many friends and family as we wanted. My good friends Myrna and Christina came with their kids. My grandparents drove all the way up from Southern California. My parents came and so did Aiden's old foster family, Beth and Lily and their kids.
We arrived at the court, I had to stash my weapons (mace, haha) in a bush on the outside of the building. We all went through the metal detectors and then crammed in an elevator to the courtrooms. The mood in the air was such a contrast to the last time we had been in court. Back in April when Aiden's biological mom was losing all of her rights to him, it was a very sobering, sad day - even for Seth and I. This time was different. The atmosphere in the air was one of happiness and joy.
The county did such a great job of making it super special for us. They had a table of refreshments, they gave Seth apple cider, myself a bouquet of flowers and Aiden a bouquet of balloons. The newspaper photographer was there to capture the moment, along with two other photographers. We sat down as a family, they arranged us, took a few shots and five minutes later handed us a framed family portrait with the date printed on it.
When it was our turn to go before the judge in the family court, everyone could come in. All of the normal courtroom rituals and rules seemed to be thrown out the window for this very special occasion. We did not stand as the the judge entered the room, the bailiff didn't call the court to order - everything was very casual. Every child in the room was allowed to pick out a stuffed animal to take home.
The judge walked up to Aiden and asked why he was here. He said "a party"(hehehe). She then proceeded to ask who I was... he said "my mom" and then she asked who Seth was. He said "my dad"
The whole thing was adorable and sugary sweet.
We signed a paper to finalize (even Mr. Aiden got to sign) and then we raised our right hand as we swore to love, protect, care for Aiden and treat him as our own. Then the judge introduced us to her mother and proceeded to tell us that she was in a quilting group and they had made a quilt for Aiden!
We then gathered and took a few snapshots to remember the special day by.
Afterwards we came back to the house and had a potluck type party. Aiden had so much fun he said he wanted to go back and do it again.
Also because of national adoption day being Saturday the nineteenth the newspaper decided to run a front page story and the family they chose to feature was ours! Also the Watsonville Patch did an article about us too. Here is the link to the Santa Cruz Sentinel if you want to check it out:
Aiden is adopted! Yay. Everything is done! No more paperwork, social worker visits, etc.
It feels good.
Aiden is now related to us as if he had been born to us. The finalization was November 18th - oh what a fun day it was. We all came to the courthouse, told to invite as many friends and family as we wanted. My good friends Myrna and Christina came with their kids. My grandparents drove all the way up from Southern California. My parents came and so did Aiden's old foster family, Beth and Lily and their kids.
We arrived at the court, I had to stash my weapons (mace, haha) in a bush on the outside of the building. We all went through the metal detectors and then crammed in an elevator to the courtrooms. The mood in the air was such a contrast to the last time we had been in court. Back in April when Aiden's biological mom was losing all of her rights to him, it was a very sobering, sad day - even for Seth and I. This time was different. The atmosphere in the air was one of happiness and joy.
The county did such a great job of making it super special for us. They had a table of refreshments, they gave Seth apple cider, myself a bouquet of flowers and Aiden a bouquet of balloons. The newspaper photographer was there to capture the moment, along with two other photographers. We sat down as a family, they arranged us, took a few shots and five minutes later handed us a framed family portrait with the date printed on it.
When it was our turn to go before the judge in the family court, everyone could come in. All of the normal courtroom rituals and rules seemed to be thrown out the window for this very special occasion. We did not stand as the the judge entered the room, the bailiff didn't call the court to order - everything was very casual. Every child in the room was allowed to pick out a stuffed animal to take home.
The judge walked up to Aiden and asked why he was here. He said "a party"(hehehe). She then proceeded to ask who I was... he said "my mom" and then she asked who Seth was. He said "my dad"
The whole thing was adorable and sugary sweet.
We signed a paper to finalize (even Mr. Aiden got to sign) and then we raised our right hand as we swore to love, protect, care for Aiden and treat him as our own. Then the judge introduced us to her mother and proceeded to tell us that she was in a quilting group and they had made a quilt for Aiden!
We then gathered and took a few snapshots to remember the special day by.
Afterwards we came back to the house and had a potluck type party. Aiden had so much fun he said he wanted to go back and do it again.
Also because of national adoption day being Saturday the nineteenth the newspaper decided to run a front page story and the family they chose to feature was ours! Also the Watsonville Patch did an article about us too. Here is the link to the Santa Cruz Sentinel if you want to check it out:
December 22, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
