BEFORE THE MOVE....

We're busy saying goodbye to beloved places out here, and purging before the move. All the people we know have pretty well moved on to other postings, with the last couple leaving this week - one week ahead of us. Our "Movie Gallery"'s going out of business, so we bought 11 movies and 2 PS2 games at less than half price this past weekend. Next Sunday is our last service at our beloved church - I didn't think it would be so hard to leave Moose Jaw. I'm going to miss the vast horizon and deep blue skies SO much! As we're never going to come back here for a posting, it makes it that much sadder.

These pics were taken at Armed Forces Day in early July. The house is our new house in Winnipeg, with a view of our huge backyard that we can't afford to fence! I want to build a chain link dog run for Tessa - say 8'x8', but Paul says no. However, he'll be alone with the kids and taking Tessa out on a leash for her "constitutionals" the weekend of Sept.15th when I'm in Ancaster for my brother's wedding, so he may change his mind! :) I may come home to a new dog run! lol!

We're really looking forward to being in the same city as Kev, Becky, and Amaya, and to Mom and Dad's visit with us over Labour Day weekend. That's the light shining at the end of the tunnel for this move. And then we get to do it all over again next September! Gak!

The Baby's Finally Coming!!!!

We just got an email from Kev saying that Becky's in labour and today should be the day! Can't wait to get that phone call, after looking at ultrasound pics...will it be a boy? A girl? The baby sucks its thumb, I can tell you that much! :)

Here's a picture of my hunk "Bad Boy", in front of a beautiful Saskatchewan sunset, and yes - he's really got his bike on the railroad tracks! All he needs is the leather chaps....hmmmm....

Kid's Health Update...

Hi everyone! Just popped in to say that we found out Milena has a small leak in her aorta and will need an ECG once a year. Did I already mention that? Anyway, plse pray for her in this regard, as she likes to be active.

Also, Paul took Nathan to Regina General Hospital yesterday a.m. for his EEG. This one was sleep-deprived so they could try and induce a seizure and they weren't able to, so it seems that his New Year's weekend seizure was just the high fever. Paul says that the tech was super with Nathan as she has a nephew with Down Syndrome. We really do notice a difference in medical professionals who do or don't have experience with special needs. It's amazing to me to find people in this field who show their obvious fear, distaste, or discrimination. I guess they were too stupid to become teachers or lawyers, or something!

The above are pictures of our March visit with Kev & Becky. Nathan was surprised and delirious over his present from Grampa and Gramma - Spiderman 2 for Playstation 2! We all had a great visit and Milena keeps asking about when the baby is coming. :)

Love to all - Laurie

Latest Update!

Hi everyone - I hope my round-robin email got to everyone and that you can read my notes here on our latest events. :)

1) Paul finishes his Level 5 French this week, and has one oral exam, and two written ones to go. There are 8 Levels, and then you're considered bilingual. He's studied really hard, and feels he would've been able to do even better except that he was also doing an OPME (Royal Military College) university course at the same time. However, that's finished also and he's waiting for his marks.

2) Nathan's CT Scan came back normal - a big relief to us! He's having another EEG done at Regina General Hospital Tuesday May 15th at 7:30 a.m. to finalize whether or not the neurologist thinks he has small seizures. Right now, it's inconclusive, so we're hoping for the best. Please keep Nathan in your prayers for next Tuesday! (and me, come to think of it, as I have to deal with holding him down to get the electrodes on his head!)

3) My mom's retirement townhouse was one of the 16 that burnt to the ground on Monday afternoon this week. You may have seen it on the CTV news. It's been a real shock to my siblings and I, not to mention my mom, but she did manage to get her cat and dog out in time. The firemen wouldn't let her go back in, as the roof collapsed and the flames were everywhere.

My two sisters are in Toronto with her as of today, and helping out with the insurance business, getting her clothes, etc. Plse pray for Mom, Jennifer, and Nancy, as they go about this next week. Jennifer will be taking my mom back to Erie, PA for a week to help her get over the shock. (she's 74 yrs old).

4) I'm working part-time at Wal Mart now, in the Garden Center and really enjoying it. It's nice to be "back at work" after 12 years. I'm still working on my latest novel, but am happy that this opportunity came up and I could grab it. I have a new appreciation for women who've been cashiers all their lives! I'm planning on working there till we move to Winnipeg, and depending on how Paul finds his study time etc., I may be able to get on at the Wal Mart there. They're paying me well for my "life experience", so it's a good deal. JAN - you should think about looking into it!

That's it for now! Please pray for us as we pray for all of you. Till next time,

Laurie

News Catch-Up!

Sorry, still no photos downloaded as Paul just finished his last two essays for his OPME course on military history today. Now he's done! (and I get to nag him about downloading photos, lol!)

In our news:

1) Milena's CT scan was completely normal with no loss of cerebellum. A big relief, as there's no tumour behind her bad eye, just the retinal disease to worry about. :)
2) Nathan had his CT scan Friday 20th, and after they gassed him they were finally able to get the IV in. We'll find out about his report in a week or so. He's going for another EEG in Regina General Hospital May 15th, as his one in Moose Jaw showed "some abnormalities" but the neurologist couldn't determine what they were.
3) The CMHA in Winnipeg is "tentatively" holding the 4 bdrm house we want at 277 Ubique Cres. It has a nice yard and garage, which we have to have for the bike, etc. However, if another family is set to move in May or June they have first dibs. The CMHA told Paul they'd phone him if that happens and see if we want to pay rent on it early, in order to hold it. Plse pray that doesn't have to happen! We'd really like that house.
4) We've finally got some weekend respite at a group home in Regina. Only 3 weekends of it before we move, but hey, it's better than nothing! :) The kids will get to go swimming, to the movies, the parks, etc. so they'll be nice and busy.
5) I'm working away on rewriting my "biker book", which I hope to have done in June and queries out to agents during the last two weeks of June. I'm turning it into a romantic suspense/mainstream book instead of the "category" Harlequin way I had to write it before. (only to be rejected)
6) Paul has his french course till May llth, and we're hoping his oral and written exam go well. He's worked really hard, and this "standard" of his bilingualism will stand for the next five years.

Loved the new pics on Kev & Becky's blog! So nice to see more of Eva, too. That's what this family blogging is all about - keeping in touch.

love to all,
Laurie

Winnipeg in March!

We had a whirl-wind visit with Kevin & Becky at the end of March. I'll have some pics up as soon as Paul downloads the last batch of our various adventures from the camera.

Kevin & Becky graciously put up with our Base house-hunting, trying to get to know Winnipeg "in 2 days or less" :), and shared their church with us on Sunday. They took Milena and Nathan to see "Happy Feet" and then to McDonalds for supper (Milena was in heaven!) while Paul and I celebrated our 19th anniversary at "Tavern on the Green" (if I have the name wrong, plse forgive me!) which was a beautiful restaurant in the center of Assiniboia Park. It was fancy cuisine a la "The Dove", unlike anything you can get it Moose Jaw! About the fanciest thing you can get in Moose Jaw is Houston Pizza! Lol!

The night was completely fogged in, so that even though we were seated in the Atrium and open to the night sky, the closest thing we could see was the candlelight and each other. :)

We had to limit Milena's sweet hands from feeling baby kicks, otherwise she would've been glued to Becky's stomach everywhere Becky went in the house. :) Milena & Nathan are very excited about the soon-to-happen birth of their new cousin.

Kev & Becky also threw a fancy dinner for us on our last night - celebrating Nathan, Paul, and my birthdays, as well as our anniversary. Kev decorated the LR/DR with balloons and streamers, and bought Spiderman napkins and Happy Feet cups to complete the atmosphere for Nathan's birthday. A sensitive, and loving aunt and uncle! Nathan was thrilled with his Spiderman PS2 game from Gramma & Grampa Wood as well. Not to mention his Superman birthday card which plays the theme song. :)

We did find a house which is perfect for us, as long as it's still available in July. A beautiful 4 bdrm, detached house with a garage, on a quiet crescent across from a play park. Nathan and Milena don't play on swings and jungle gyms anymore, but it was a hopeful sign that there're children in the neighborhood. The address is 277 Ubique Cres., so plse keep this in your prayers, as it would be wonderful to have a house with all the things we need/want. Did I mention that the basement is finished? Not to mention extra shelving etc. in the laundry room. A military wife's dream house!

A big thank you to Kev & Becky for a wonderful visit, and the Birthday Party. It was so nice to get together with family again. As I said, pictures to follow as soon as Paul gets some time from studying etc. Stay tuned!

Here's a letter I wrote...

From: Laurie Wood [mailto:ljwood@shaw.ca]
Sent: Mon 2/5/2007 3:27 PM
To: Rollason,Kevin
Subject: Re: Your story in the Winnipeg Sun today

Dear Mr. Rollason:

Today is our son's birthday. He has Down Syndrome and he's 17 years old.
We have a daughter with Down Syndrome who is 14 and a half years old as
well. We wouldn't trade them in for anything in the world. You are
right, this genetic testing is a very slippery slope. The Canadian
Charter of Rights and Freedoms is supposed to protect everyone in our
country - including the disabled. It is a shame on our country that we
can sit by and allow this genetic testing creep into our medical system.
Most people will be terrified with the news that they may be/are
carrying a Down Syndrome baby. Most doctors paint a bleak picture out of
their own ignorance.

Our own family doctor in Ontario had never had Down Syndrome patients
before - he had to buy some books when our son was born so he could
learn about these babies in order to care for our son, but our doctor is
far from the norm. Thank you for pointing out in your article that
overlap of intelligence between high-functioning Down's children, and
the "lower intelligence" of so-called normal children. Our son attends
high school, can read and write, and works at an afternoon Co-op at our
city's Art History Museum, where he's learning to operate the cash, show
people around the exhibits, take care of the exhibits, and take care of
the gift shop. Our daughter attends the same high school, takes the same
academics, is in the cosmetology course, and works in the school
cafeteria. They've enjoyed Special Olympics for three years and have the
gold medals to prove it. They can beat their peers in bowling, love
playing Playstation (my son can beat my husband sometimes), computer
games, and going to dances.

Did they deserve to be aborted? Certainly not. Will they live productive
lives in the community, most likely employed in some lower-end job such
as stock clerk, or grocery check-out person? A veterinary assistant? A
deli clerk filling salad containers? More than likely!

Should people think twice about their OWN rights and freedoms under the
Charter being eroded by geneticists infringing on them? I believe so. If
we let them test us for "Down Syndrome", what will become essential
next? Will testing become mandatory at the beginning of every woman's
pregnancy? What will your information be used for? Who will have access
to it - for ongoing genetic research? It's a slippery slope not only for
the *disabled* but for the able-bodied who may someday soon find
themselves losing their right to privacy and having to have tests that
aren't necessary and may do more harm than good.

I have a girlfriend who was tested "routinely" and told her baby girl
had Downs Syndrome. Because they were Catholic, they didn't abort. Their
baby girl was perfectly normal and healthy. Their pregnancy was
agonizing, because some doctors taking part in a genetic project had to
have their jollies.

People must stand up and take issue with the fact that a) the so-called
"disabled" are part of our diverse society and therefore are as
protected under the Charter as everyone else, and b) they must protect
their own rights and freedoms under the Charter, and not be bullied into
"routine testing" that is a euphemism for "research" for geneticists
that have a hobby horse for another purpose.

And as you so eloquently put it, sir, we are all just a car crash, a
blood clot, or an illness away from becoming disabled ourselves.
Something for all of us to ponder - there but for the grace of God go I.

Sincerely,

Laurie Wood

P.S. to PRAYER REQUESTS...

I found out today that Milena's CT scan was perfectly normal - so sign of cerebellum atrophy or anything abnormal at all. So we're very thankful! The school may arrange for some developmental testing before the year ends so we can pass it on to Winnipeg.

We saw Churchill High School and took pics of it for the children's reference. It backs on to the Assiniboine river, so I'm hoping Milena doesn't get too adventurous and wander about. There didn't seem to be any fencing of the property at all. It's a nice small high school though, and they'll receive the same Lifeskills Program that they've had here. The only bad news is that it's way across "town" and their bus ride will be long. I'm picturing those dreadful days of having to get Nathan on a 7:20 a.m. bus!

Nathan's neurologist appointment is Monday April 2nd re his possible epilepsy. Please keep us in your prayers on that day as well!

A HOLIDAY IN WINNIPEG!

We just got back from a long weekend at Kevin & Becky's, and can report that Becky and the "little one" are doing well. Milena had to have her hand pried off poor Becky's stomach more than once, as she thrilled to the feel of baby rolling and kicking!

We all went to a Manitoba Moose game - won in OT with a shootout, no less! Nathan and Milena were ecstatic to be back at a hockey game, and Daddy is contemplating buying a "mini-pack" of 11 games for next winter while we live there.

We also took the kids to the Mint and saw all manner of coins being made - Nathan didn't find it as interesting as Milena but he did like buying a roll of pennies in the boutique.

Also, Paul talked his way into getting keys for three houses out of the CFHA, so we checked out three different locations and "styles". Back alleys are all different in the melting spring weather, as are drowned lawns, and leaky basements! It was good to see houses in this condition as a reference for the future, seeing as we'll be moving in in July.

We spent Sunday a.m. at Faith Covenant Church and saw "Speechless" from Providence College. Milena was trying to imitate the girls as they did their musical sign-language. She was totally entranced! It was nice to see some of Kev's ministry there.

Paul and I also had a romantic dinner at "Tavern in the Woods" for our 19th wedding anniversary. It was engulfed in deep, gothic, fog and added to the candlelit atmosphere. We haven't enjoyed such fine dining since The Dove left Barrie years ago!

Kev & Becky bought a cake and decorated the living room/dining room for a combined Nathan/Paul/Laurie b'day party and anniversary celebration. When Paul downloads pics of this trip, I'll post some so you can all see what a great time we had that night. Kev bought Spiderman napkins, and Happy Feet cups, as they'd taken the kids to see Happy Feet while Paul and I went out for dinner. Happy Feet and going to MacDonalds seem to be the highlight of the holiday for the kids. :)

Thanks to both sets of parents for calling us to wish us a Happy Anniversary! It was, and we both feel better now that we've explored 17 Wing and some of its houses, as we journey forth on our 20th year of marriage. Winnipeg is a HUGE city compared to what we're used to, so I have to admit I'm a bit intimidated. I'm sure that'll wear off once we get settled and I find my way around.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Well, the nurses had to knock Milena out Thursday p.m. with a sedative by 10:30 p.m. because she was too wound up to sleep. :) She knew that IV was coming sometime, and kept saying "I'm going home now," anytime someone asked her how she was doing.

Despite my arguing with the doctor that she be given a pre-sedative before they put the IV in, she wasn't given anything. The doc didn't even bother contacting the anesthetist beforehand - she figured they could give her an Ativan in the scan room. I argued my case that NO WAY would they get an IV in her without SOMETHING, but what does Mom know?

It took five of us to hold her down, and four tries before the anesthetist could get the needle in. No kidding. She was spurting blood everywhere, which only made her more hysterical. He finally got it in her hand and gave her a quick shot of something that knocked her out in about 30 seconds. Then they transferred her to the CT Scan bed, and he nearly knocked the IV out of her hand again because he hadn't taped it down.

I was furious, crying in the booth, but our doctor gave me a big hug and apologized for not sedating her earlier. A little too late! The whole process took 10 minutes; they put dye through her brain too so I was glad we'd anethetized her, as I've had that and it's not a pleasant feeling.

Then the nurses wouldn't let me in the recovery room, after I'd promised Milena my face would be the first thing she saw when she woke up. I was ready to strangle somebody. Excuse given - they couldn't violate the other patient's confidentiality who were also coming out of anesthetic! You can sit in Day Surgery with people coming out of anesthetic and look at everyone there - but not in the "recovery room". Seemed like a screwed up policy to me!

So the doctor sat with me in the waiting room until she was awake and we could take her back to her room. The doc kept apologizing over and over, and then the anesthetist came upstairs and apologized to me as well. Which was very nice of him to take the time, but it shows you how hysterical she was, and how it upset everyone involved.

Anyway, it's over now, and I've learned that Nathan will need one too - so now that I know Ativan takes about an hour to work, I'll really be a mother bear and make sure he gets some (or something) before his is done.

Many thanks for your prayers! :)

PRAYER REQUESTS, PLEASE!

We've got a few things going on with the children that we'd like you all to pray for - this picture is Milena in the hospital on the second weekend that we arrived in MJ.

Tomorrow after school, Milena and I are going back into the hospital overnight and she's scared silly. She's going to be put under anesthetic for a CT scan of her brain, and we'll be going home as soon as she wakes up in recovery. The exact time, in case you like to pray that way, is Friday the 16th at 11:00 a.m.

The last time we tried to CT scan Milena, they gave her three oral sedatives and she still wouldn't lie still on the platform and go back into the CT scanning machine. It's the fear of "falling" backwards or something. She won't even tip her head back at the hairdressers to get it washed! Thus, the need to be knocked out while they scan her.

The CT scan is to look for any brain damage that she might have sustained either genetically, or at birth. The psychiatrist who's examined her orally feels that she's NOT bipolar, as we were told in Richmond Hill, but that her symptoms of echolalia (repeating everything obsessively) and a few other things could be the result of one of the above. The report, however it turns out, will help us in future programming for Milena as to her learning capabilities.

Also, her vision was checked by the specialist again last Thursday, and she's now 20/40 in her good eye, and -950 in her right eye, which means that we're going to start CNIB intervention at school. The specialist took photos of her eyeballs so I could see the retinal damage, and it pretty well covers the entire retina, and most of the "bumps" which could turn into rips are around her optic nerve. Also, there's a space around the optic nerve which didn't close up when she was in utero, further complicating her vision. The only "help" she could have at this stage is to wear contact lenses, which isn't going to happen as she won't let you near her even to put one eye drop into her eyes.

Basically, she's going blind in her right eye. That's the prognosis, but we're thankful that we can get CNIB into school now. She also complains about the fact that she can't see - which wasn't happening a year ago when we moved out here. (she calls it her "buggy eye".)

A prayer request for Nathan: he and I are going to Regina April 2nd to see a neurologist. He had a seizure over the New Year's weekend when he was so sick he had to be hospitalized. A subsequent EEG showed that he has "small seizure" activity - and so we need further testing or consultation to see if he needs to be medicated for petit mal seizures. We've never observed anything like what he had at New Year's, but the doctor told me that petit mal seizures can be as mild as him just staring off into space for a few seconds, and that he's likely had this all his life! The reason to possibly medicate him, is so that it doesn't develop into grand mal seizures. We'll have to see what the neurologist thinks. This has come as a complete surprise to us, and obviously if he's been having seizures they must be mild as no school has ever mentioned him having them, or having "strange moments", as the doc said to me. However, all the schools with their Master's in Special Ed teachers also missed the fact that he's autistic, so there you go!

We'll have Milena's report back next Monday or Tuesday so I'm hoping that the doctor will call me asap to let us know what they found (if anything). Please pray that Milena will stay calm tomorrow night, and that they can get an IV in her without it being a major crisis for her. I'll probably post on the blog again re the results, and/or call Mom and Dad and they can let you all know how she's doing.

Thank you, everyone - we really covet your prayers right now for these two things. Milena is compensating very well re her vision, but she's frustrated about getting tired, headaches, and even though she can't express it properly, she knows she can't see things properly anymore. We now sit in the second front pew at church - and the specialist told me she's likely only seeing people as blurs, with colors for clothing.

We love you all, and are praying for you too!

NATHAN'S B'DAY EXCITEMENT :)

Santa was supposed to bring Nathan a DVD called "Spiderman and the Venom Saga". Imagine Nathan's MAJOR disappointment Christmas morning when Santa had been unable to find this DVD ANYWHERE in his "Santa Pack". (checked every video store in MJ, tried to order it in, etc.)

Amazingly, my Mom found it when she was in this little collector shop getting him some Spiderman comics for his birthday. The picture is of his delight at FINALLY getting his copy of this most cherished of DVD's!!

We're sure looking forward to the March break when we see Kev and Becky, so he can get Grampa & Gramma's Spiderman Surprise that's waiting in Winnipeg for him!

Opening Your Christmas Gifts

Just some photos to show you all how much your gifts were appreciated! For the Dorazio gifts and Grampa and Gramma gifts, we opened them on Christmas morning and Paul took a video of the extravaganza (forgetting I'd have nothing to scrapbook!)