'Burb no more

Today we 'down sized' and traded in the Suburban for a Chevy Silverado Crew Cab 4x4

I must say, it drives pretty sweet.

♥Lisa♥

Kaitlens ortho appt

You can click the pic to see it larger. Pretty cool huh? The verdict is... thumb sucking has not done its damage! but to work on getting her to stop. He did explain she needs to stop now because it will be very hard to stop at 13, 16, 18 yrs old. and by then she will have severe damage requiring oral surgery and breaking her upper jaw/mouth/pallet... i don't remember what he called it. So she knows what will happen if she doesn't stop. The nice thing was the DR sucked his finger till he was 8, so he knows how it goes.

So thumb sucking is really the non-issue here. What we did find out is she does not and will never have 10 of her teeth.... that is a lot to be missing. Thankfully, 4 of them are the wisdom teeth but that still leaves her with less teeth than she needs. Below the green spots are the 6 missing teeth and the red spots, those teeth, he believes are her 12 y/o molars, not her 6 y/o molars. So those have already moved one tooth space closer to making up for her 6y/o molars not being there. He does not believe that those 2 molars can move one whole other tooth over further closing in the gap and where those two black spaces are with the green dots on top, that's where she will have implants put in when shes done growing.. at 16?

around about the age of 12 she will needs braces to close up gaps, line everything up and depending on what those two top empty spaces are doing then a retainer until she gets the implants.... so for now we see the Dr in a yr. We work on the thumb sucking in the mean time.

OH, and if her primary teeth where the 2 empty spaces are... if they don't fall out then she wont need the implants... here's for hoping eh?

♥Lisa♥

Say hello to

This little guy. He doesn't have a name yet. He was Born 03/30/2010 to Marie (marie is also a March bday, she just turned 1). He is doing great. Very active and nursing right along. I missed his birth by about 20 minutes, one day I'll make it for the big event. (at first i though he was a she and named him Annie which is why some of the pics are saved as Annie)

His Daddy is Chivas, my black nigerian dwarf. That is why he is so tiny. That is a 12" ruler Cody is holding.

At just one day old he was climbing...

and falling.

ok, Those wondering about Eljin. He died the day after he was born and I was to upset to announce it. Poor Ben probably though I was crazy crying after little E when we only had him a day. Ben even promised to 'get me another Eljin' to make me happy. We didn't get a replacement buckling and I know those things happen, but not my little guys! and my very first baby goat. Now that this new guy is here there are HUGE differences between him and E.


♥Lisa♥

Cody's Question has been answered

For those of you who don't know the question it was~~ If water is moving inside water how fast does the moving water have to be going to see the current?

I put the question out there on facebook, twitter and on our 40/29 weather blog. Everyone agreed it was a good question but no one knew the answer. The weather people at 40/29 told me I would need to ask a Hydrologist. So I search online for a hydrologist here in Arkansas and came up with a name in LR with the National Weather Service, but no email for him. So I emailed the head person and if they could forward it on... and they did. I received a reply email from Tabitha Clarke, The "Senior Service Hydrologist here at the National Weather Service in Little Rock" How cool is that??

and here is what she had to say about Cody's question.

(you can click on the pic)

Mrs. Velasco,

My name is Tabitha Clarke. I am the new Senior Service Hydrologist here at the National Weather Service in Little Rock and would be glad to help you.

First of all, I think it's great that your son is asking questions at his age and very technical questions at that! Water is such an interesting thing. It is so vital for life and in the same instant...it can harm life. This is why we take such a great interest in it. We do look at stream flow, which is where I think his question stems. Streamflow is generated by all sorts of complicated equations, but it basically takes into consideration things like gravity and stream gradient.

Now, I took this question to mean 2 different things. I'm thinking there's a chance he may be referring to movement while he's in the water compared to watching it from the bank? The best way I could think to describe this is if he's in an airplane looking at another airplane traveling at the same speed it would not look like it was moving. Just like if you're floating in the water...the water does not seem to be moving if you turn and look directly at it, because it's moving with you. But, if your standing still on the bank you can plainly see the water moving. It's all relative to your perspective.

But as far as water movement, water is moving at differing speeds all through the column. Generally, it is slower near the banks and along the bottom due to friction and fastest somewhere between mid depth and the surface. Then, there are swirls, eddies, ect. These are generated partly by whatever object is underneath the water. All-in-all, it's a simple question without a real simple answer.

On another interesting note...and something that might interest a boy, is that dirt is a key factor in all of this! If there were no particles in the rivers/streams (such as sand, silt, pollutants), we would not be able to see the current.

Well, I hope I've been of 'some' help. I am a new parent and am excited for my son to get to the questioning stage. I think it's wonderful that you take such an interest in following up his questions. Best of luck to Cody!

Tabitha Clarke

-Senior Service Hydrologist-

PS If he continues to show an interest in rivers, you can direct him to our rivers/lakes page. From our website, http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lzk/ click on rivers/lakes on the left hand side. You can then click on any of those points along the rivers to see a hydrograph. Lots of fun information there!

♥Lisa♥

Halloween 2010

Kaitlen will be Alice in Wonderland and I'll make her a dress that looks like this... hopefully lol.
Abigail will be the Cheshire Cat~ with this cute headband and tail. Then I'll make a stripped tutu to go with it and some light pink tights underneath. I'll either make her some legwarmers out of pink stripped socks or just buy the stripped legwarmers (see below) Im not sure about her top, maybe a leotard... then top it off with a pair of converse high tops.
Matthew is going to be the White Rabbit~ I'm going to get this hat and maybe the clock.. he can probably make the clock himself. we'll see. Then make him a funky vest, bow tie and pick up a jacket from the thrift store and add to it, then make some pants.


Cody will be the Mad Hatter~ we are buying the hat. I will make the vest, bow tie and the pants. Pick up jacket from thrift store and mad hatter it out.
This is why I start now... cause it'll be here before I know it.


♥Lisa♥

Win 2 sets of ficklets!!

If your child wears glasses he or she will love Ficklets! They are so adorable. I have loved them since the day I saw them. You can enter to win 2 sets of ficklets over at Health, Beauty, and Family. Contest runs until 2-6-10

They are a large selection for either boys or girls.

Seasonal Ficklets

Even sports.

You may have to keep your same frame for a year or two, but you can always change out your ficklets.

♥Lisa♥

Kaitlen's Henoch-Schonlein Purpura Time Line HSP

One of the frustrating things when Kaitlen had the Henoch-Schonlein Purpura (HSP) was there was no time line for me to go off of. I know all the cases can vary, but it's nice to have something more than "it's takes about a week" which we found out later it can take upto two weeks to do it's thing. So we didnt know why this happens, and day in and day out we had no idea what to except-no idea when it would end.

(Click on pic for larger view)

I made kaitlens time line in case there is someone out there looking for one. This went from Dec 14th 2009 to Dec 24th, 2009.

♥Lisa♥

Thank You Logan and Logans Mom

Don't you love how he never once looked up at the camera! He loved his gifts very much!!! and i'm so theme-y that I loved the theme you had going on with the gifts!!

They all just finished watching Night at the museum II.

Thank you Krim and Lo. Well and Sully, because i'm sure he had a paw in it somewhere :)

♥Lisa♥

waiting for her Zofran :(

Kaitlen in the car in the Walmart parking lot waiting for her Zofran Rx.

♥Lisa♥

Kaitlen update (Saturday)

(Sorry FB people you already know most of this)
She slept most of the day on Thurs, Wednesday really wore her out. So, Friday was her class party. (yay) She was so excited to go see her friends and the teachers.

Her party ran over the 1/2 hour it was suppose to be so I left her there and went to cody's class for his. After Cody's was over I went back and got sister. By the time we got home she was not walking again :( outings are officially a no-no while she has this.

Today wasn't a good day. She was in pain and her pain meds were making her vomit pretty bad. So I had Ben call the peds office to change her pain med. The meds she wanted to change them to she couldn't because it couldnt be called in over the phone it had to be a written Rx. So she is still on the Codeine, but they also added Zofran so she doesn't throw up. So finally this afternoon she got the Zofran dose and about an hour later she ate a couple bites of oatmeal and about 20 minutes after that I gave her a 1/4 does of pain meds and 30 minutes later the world was right. She didn't get sick, she actually ate dinner, and since her pain was under control she could walk. Such a relief that she is feeling better. Now I have to keep her from getting up and walking, lol. The Dr wants to see her in the office on Monday and recheck her kidneys and see how she is doing by then. It generally takes a week, but this Dr on the phone said it can sometimes take 2 weeks. Monday will be a week, we are hoping that she's better by then.

Here are some pics of her arm and stomach. Her legs look so much better. She also has a spot on her ear. If you look hard enough its that pinker spot midway down.

you can click on the belly pic to see the spots

♥Lisa♥

Kaitlen update

The abdominal part of the HSP started this afternoon at literally like 3:45. Funny how with this, things just come on all-of-a-sudden. He almost thought she wasn't going to get the abdominal pain. She, unfortunately, is vomiting. She has to stay hydrated because of how this can affect the kidneys. We have now switched to pedialyte to help her out.

She's not asking for any pain medicine right now which is good because I don't think she could hold it down. It's been 8 hours since her last dose? :( I feel so bad for her. We were going to take her to her party at school on Friday and during her last throwing up episode she said she doesn't want to go to her party. I just hope she's feeling better soon.

♥Lisa♥

Henoch-Schonlein Purpura

I went to pick kaitlen up from school as normal and on the way to the car she was limping very bad. Like when your leg falls asleep and your knee dips down when you step. I asked her if her foot had fallen asleep or if she hurt it. She said she hurt it, that there was a scratch and a bump on it................ I lifted her pant leg to this and almost died. As im leaving the school I call Ben to tell him Im headed straight to his work to call and make a Dr appt that there was something wrong with Kaitlens leg.

We get to the Dr (even debated the ER, they are right by each other) We were fitted in with in an hour.

As soon as the Dr walked in Kaitlen asked him,"Do you know what this is?" shaking her hands at her legs..... He said, yes I do. My Granddaughter had the same thing a couple months back. (Right then and there i felt SOOOO Much better)

Kaitlen has Henoch-Schonlein Purpura she was sick last week and missed tues-fri from school so it really helps explain it. Her autoimmune system has freaked out a tad bit. At the Drs her right leg had only a couple small spots and now its just like the left leg. she is getting small spots on her bum now. i wonder what tomorrow will look like??

By the time we got to the Drs she could no longer stand or walk because of the pain. :( He has given her codine for the pain. It's only going to get worse and he says by the time shes done with it she'll look like someone beat her with a rubber hose.

He tested her urine to make sure there was no blood from her kidneys and their wasn't. He says we can come back as often as we want just to ease our worry. I hope her tummy doesnt hurt to bad when that starts :(.

I have never heard of this and so far no one I know has ever seen this. Now, I'll see it all over the place, lol.


♥Lisa♥

Lakewood PD (Wa) lost four

Sgt. Mark Renninger, 39
Officers Ronald Owens, 37
Tina Griswold, 40
Greg Richards, 42

In Remembrance . . .
The Monument
I never dreamed it would be me

My name for all eternity

Recorded here at this hallowed place

Alas, my name, no more my face.
"In the line of duty" I hear them say

My family now the price will pay

My folded flag stained with their tears

We only had those few short years.
The badge no longer on my chest

I sleep now in eternal rest

My sword I pass to those behind

And pray they keep this thought in mind.
I never dreamed it would be me

And with heavy heart and bended knee

I ask for all here from the past

Dear God, let my name be the last.
by Sgt. George Hahn, LAPD (Retired)

♥Lisa♥

Kindle 2 giveaway!!

Join the Great Kindle II GiveAway!
Over at Bibliofreak they are giving away a kindle 2 and possibly up to 14 more!! please head over there and enter yourself in to win one.
Join the Great Kindle II GiveAway!

♥Lisa♥

Cute sock monkey giveaway

Over at Krimsins reviews and giveaways. Super simple to enter and this monkey is a OOAK for this contest!!




♥Lisa♥

8th grade graduation

My GF posted these on FB today in honor of my birthday, lol.

L to R- Me, Lisa, Misty, Veronica, Julie, Gina, Patty, and Tina

Me, Patty, Lisa, and Tina.

We all ended up going to Balboa Island that night.

♥Lisa♥

9.11

I called my mom crying, expecting her to make it all better. Moms can do that you know.

Went on the 13th to donate blood only to find out it was a 4 hour wait and Cody needed to eat dinner soon, so I had to go back a different day.

Remember thinking the hospitals are waiting for the injured, but no ambulances are showing up with them.

flier after flier of the missing loved ones. Moms, Dads, Sisters, Brothers, Sons, Daughters, Husbands, and wives. Gone.

Hero's, so many hero's. Humans loving humans.



♥Lisa♥

Our little Farm

Here are the animals we recently added to our family. Of course if you are on my FB you all ready know this.

This is Marie. Im hoping she gets pg in November and once she has baby we will have milk, cheese, yogurt...

This is Chivas (goat in spanish) he is Marie's husband to be ;)

Next, say hello to Dinner. Really, his name is dinner. He will be our turkey on Thanksgiving.

Here is one of our roosters hanging with Dinner. Remember the chicks we got. Only 2 of the Rhode Island Reds ended up being hens. The rest were roosters. This guy was a late bloomer, I had actually thought he was a hen because the other roosters were VERY obviously roosters, him... not so much. Surprisingly I did not name the chickens. The Bantams are doing good, small, not really what i needed. They are pretty, but I want hardy egg layers.

♥Lisa♥

Mr. & Mrs. Archer

True Love

Ash kissing Abbie

Morty, Ashley and Sherri

Miss Lily Mae

Ashley and her Daddy

♥Lisa♥

an IM, my sis and I, lol

me- do you remember you almost drowning
Tina- yes
Tina- thats why i dont go in water
Tina-i cant even go on the boat
Tina-I remember seeing dads legs in the water
Me-i remember it too. and i though dad was jumping in to save you but he happened to be just jumping in and landing on you
Me-oh wow

(long time with no response from Tina)

Me-your not hyperventilating right now are you?
Tina- lol.. no but my feet and hands are sweating
Me-lol

♥Lisa♥

Part of K's costume

Kaitlen is going to be a bumble bee for Halloween (her BFF is going to be a daisy) So this is what i have so far. Her knee high socks, and i made her a yellow tutu and instead of alternating black and yellow i did it all yellow and tied some black tulle through out it.

Here it is from underneath.

The other kids are going to be:
Abigail- Minnie Mouse
Matthew- The Hulk
Cody- Van Helsing (you'll just have to look it up)
Thomas- he's on his own this year.


♥Lisa♥