100% (or tears in the OR)

Many of you have asked for an update on Cami's burn treatments - so here you go! 

Last fall, after much prayer and consultation, we made the decision to switch burn treatment centers. The doctor and burn center we were using was over an hour away - with no traffic, but there is always traffic - so it was a two-two 1/2 hour trip each way. Administratively, both the hospital and doctor's office were becoming increasing difficult to manage. We basically had a 100% doctor with a 0% over-all experience because of all the ancillary stressors. 

And there is a wonderful research and teaching burn facility 10 minutes form our house. 

So we switched.

I figured that if the doctors were only 80% but the rest of the experience was 50% - we would be ahead. 

My very wise friend Kelly reminded me that God could absolutely make what I thought would "be 80%" 100%. 

She was spot on. 

In March they worked on her left hand - and we had good results.

Our laser surgeon is working to get the hospital to buy a great laser for hte medical center so she can treat Cami with the exact right equipment. 

Our anesthesiologist calls me before every single surgery - and won't let anyone but himself or the head of the department give her the gas. 

10 days ago, a team that included our plastic surgeon, the head of anesthesiology and the head of hand orthopedics worked for 8 hours on her right hand. It was supposed to take 5. I was never worried about her - I knew she was in the very best hands. 

Today - they let me stay in the operating room while they took the bandages off her right hand. They didn't laugh at me when I started to cry...because my girl had real fingers - 4 plus her thumb - on her right hand. Because all the grafts looked really, really good - when it used to be a 70% "take" rate. Because I could be in there with them while they put her to sleep - and in recovery before they wake her up. 

Dr. Paydar - her main surgeon - answers my emails right away and puts up with this neurotic mom who spends far too much time researching stuff on the internet. He lets me cry in his OR - and holds a tight rein on follow up and after care. 

Cami likes him - even though most of the time, he is the source of her pain - she also knows he is the reason she can move her left thumb so well and her fingers on that hand move now. 

Kelly was wrong. God didn't make an 80% opportunity into 100% one - He made it SO much more than that for our family. 

He blessed us with skilled hands and humble hearts. 

He blessed us with a team - 1000% team. 

That's how GOOD and faithful God is. 

The Coolest Mom in My Kids' Class!

Have you ever agreed to do something, in print. and then immediately realized how stupid you were? 

That happened to me recently.

My friend innocently posted in our running group "I just signed up for the Camp Pendleton World Famous 10K Mud Run - anyone want to join me?

"I will" - my fingers typed - apparently with a mind of their own....

I have never done a mud run. 

I haven't been running in months. 

Stupid is the only word to describe what I had just agreed to do. 

The time between agreement and execution passed FAR too quickly - and last Sunday, there I was....on the bus from the parking lot to the start line with my very cute friend - who graciously provided the tiaras.

 I am sure the cute little 12 year old marines got a huge chuckle out of these two "older" moms....

 If I knew what this map really represented, I would not have been so happy...

 Don't we look lovely and carefree???

 The thing is - I consider myself marginally fit - but able to power through just about anything. I figured I could do the 10K and skip the obstacles if they were truly awful. 

I forgot. 

I forgot that Camp Pendleton is hilly. No, wait - it's mountainous. 

The marines took full advantage of those mountains hills. 

They lured us into thinking it was no problem - the first mile was pretty flat - then - straight up hill for the next 3. 

This "older" mom's not THAT stupid - I walked up those hills and saved my energy for the nice. long downhills at the end! 

 My pride did kick in - and I did every single one of those 15 obstacles. (except the stupid lunges - those aren't really mud run worthy obstacles)

It showed at the end! 

We did get cleaned up (but I am pretty sure I was washing mud out of my ears for a few days after!) 

My sweet husband was really supportive - but didn't really understand why I was doing something this hard and ridiculous. 

To be honest - at the time I signed up, I didn't really understand it myself. 

But when I finished - I had a bit of a revelation.

I want my kids to be able to say "my mom might be old enough to be my grandma, but she did the Marine Corp 10k mud run and that's not for sissies or prisses or old people". 

You see - I really am old enough to be the mom of many of the mom's in my kid's classes. It's what happens when you don't start your family until you later 40's. Most of the time, I don't focus on it - but sometimes it's out there like a big fat ugly reminder that gravity is no longer my friend.The moms I hang out with are skinny and cute and accomplished and cool and fun and full of energy - really, really, full of energy! 

 I am not the hip mom "in the know" on a whole lot of things.....

but last Sunday...

for a few minutes...

I was the coolest mom in my kid's class!

And it felt great!  

Some Fun!!!

There was two weeks between when Becky and Cami got out of school and when Katie got out of school. While Katie was in school, we did some things to fill the days....

like visit with Aunt Roni at the beach! 

We also took a road trip to San Diego Safari Park - and brought along a couple of Cami's classmates. It was a VERY fun park - it had been years since I had been there, and it has changed and grown a lot for the better. 

Besides seeing a lot of animals - we got to pet goats

 And pretended to be bats (ick)

 We fed the lorikeets - and got bird pooped on! 

 Silly kids pretended they were cats

 We also visited an old favorite - the aquarium. 

Everything is more fun with a friend. 

The Story

Pictures tell a story.....

Some have a story to tell - like these from our "Love Fullerton" event - where 1700 people got together and served one morning at service projects around town. Our family helped stock the local food pantry by soliciting donations in front of our local grocery as people went in to shop. (note to self - need to teach the kids NOT to comment or critique how much or how little others give!) 

 Some have no story - just a ton of cuteness! 

Some tell a story with no need for words

 Some tell a story that you are surprised and the privileged to be a part of....

Doug was recently elected to the board of directors at Eastside Christian Schools - and in that capacity was a part of high school graduation. 

This is a terrible picture - but it shows IMPACT! It is the class being prayed over before receiving their diplomas. Many in this class had been together since elementary school. After this prayer, they each received their diplomas and got to hug their teachers goodbye - as the Head of School read what the teachers had said about them.

The comments were about their character - reflecting hearts for God and high school graduated who were so well grounded in WHO they were - in Christ. 

It was a blessing to watch these kids - none of whom I actually know! It was a privilege to be able to say that we believe in what our school cultivates and the character it develops. 

There are many who disparage a small high school - for a lack of "opportunities" in extra curricular or sports or clubs. 

There is no substitute - no club or sport - that is more important that developing character rooted in the Word of God and in an identity found in Jesus. 

I am so proud that my husband gets to serve this school with his gifts of leadership. 

Together Again

Almost six years ago, I was blessed to meet a lovely group of mommies and their china kids. It was a connection on a friends blog that found me introduced to these moms. As a new mom of an 18 month old, it was such a blessing to have friends walking the same path as I was with kids of similar age. 

We spent a lot of time together those few years before school started for the oldest ones in the group - and by the time Becky started school, one had moved and all of us were busy adjusting to the "school phase" of mommyhood and our times together dwindled - still keeping up on Facebook and blogs.

A few months ago, we decided we missed our together times - and although it took a little extended planning - and we had a few calendaring conflicts - two weeks ago, The "Lucky Mommies" had a little reunion! 

The kids reconnected like they had never been apart - and that was lovely! 

It also left the mommy's free to talk and catch and and re-connect...which wasn't hard to do at all (no pictures of the moms - we were too busy talking!!!) 

 These babies are growing up SO fast! None of us could really get over how big one another's children had gotten

It is one of the blessings of the internet - the ability to keep a virtual connection that then allows a real life, in person hug connection!! 

We drank the Kool Aid

Because I am an old mom, I missed the whole "American Girl" craze. I have watched as friends have gotten sucked into the cult movement. I have watched them spend hundreds upon hundreds of dollars on dolls and their "very necessary" clothes and accessories. 

I vowed "not us". 

A friend gifted Becky a "Bitty Baby" when she came home. I never, ever told her it was a product of the movement. She just always thought is was a regular baby doll. 

Until school. 

Some people are worried that their kids will be exposed to bad language, unsavory activities and bad habits. 

For us - it was the doll. 

I held off as long as I could - but two weeks ago...this is where we were.

We drank the kool-aid.

Fortunately, her friend Hailey was their to help pick out her flavor. Cami had saved her Christmas and birthday money - and it was a big and hard and apparently life critical decision who would be joining her family. 

If you are going to drink a little of the kool aid, you may as well go all the way......and have lunch! 

And what would lunch be without the guests of honor! 

Apparently, drinking kool aid makes a girl very, very tired! 

Now that I have had a little fun at AG's expense - I have to say it was an absolutely lovely morning. We got to the store early, and so we had the place virtually to ourselves for the first 30 minutes. The sales people were helpful and very, very patient. The lunch was lovely -not inexpensive, but lovely. We have paid per person twice at "Mouseland" for lunch with the princess - and this was a MUCH more pleasant experience. 

Over-all - the kool aid wasn't bad. Welcome to the cult ...I mean club! 

Some very special Graduates

For the past two years, our girls have been blessed to participate in a program called "China Care Bruins" at UCLA. They are mentored and friended by a couple of Chinese American students - who provide a role model of what it's like to be Chinese American. Something I simply can not teach them! 

Those very special girls graduated today from UCLA - a VERY big deal. Right now, UCLA is the most competitive school in the country to get into - over 55,000 applications every year for about 7000 spots. 

Those amazing girls - the day before the biggest day of their lives - took time out to hang out with us and spend time with their buddies. We had a blast taking pictures - these are photos that speak volumes about the quality of relationships and pouring into little souls....

 (some out takes because I am not a professional photographer and asked them to do something really, really dumb!) 

 ahhhh - that's better

Eva and Fiona - 

You have richly blessed our lives by pouring into our girls and opening up a new world to them. We pray that as you embark on the next part of your journey, God will make your path clear and straight! We look forward to watching you as you launch out into the world!