Thursday, June 25, 2009

More Info about Mr. Will

First of all let me say that if there is anyone who didn't know about what was going with Will, it was purely because I didn't want to worry anyone with good reason. That being said, I wanted to post some more about Will in a little more detail.
Will started to spit up when he was about two months old and it had been getting worse. Sometimes it was projectile, other times it was just flowing out of his mouth over and over again and more times than not, it was painful for him. One time it was the color and consistency of mustard. So I brought it up to our pediatrician who immediately ordered an upper GI.
We had the upper GI done last Friday. On Monday the doctor called me to let me know that it was very likely that he had intestinal malrotation. From my understanding, that is basically when your intestines are flipped-his small intestine is on the left side instead of the right. Our doctor wanted us to meet with a surgeon as soon as possible.
We set up an appointment to meet with a surgeon at Children's Hospital on Tuesday. We got a copy of the Upper GI and brought it with us to our appointment with the surgeon. They sent it on to have their radiologist read the films. So we waited and waited, talked to a nurse and gave her his symptoms, and waited and waited. The doctor came in and said that he films should be read soon. So we waited and waited, played 10 games of hangman on his white board, and waited and waited. Then the doctor came in and said that there had been a miscommunication and the radiologist hadn't read it yet-she didn't know we wanted it read that day. So we waited and waited and waited and waited. 2 1/2 hours after we got in for the appointment the doctor finally told us that the test was inconclusive and we needed to do it again. But because he had just eaten, we would have to do it later in the afternoon. If the test did in fact some back showing intestinal malrotation, Will would need surgery and the doctor would want to do it on Thursday. Luckily it would be done laproscopically. Awesome!
So I took Carson to work, scrambled to find another babysitter for the girls, pick them up, get them lunch, and get them over to another babysitter. Help came in the form of my dear friend Jaime who was more than willing to take my girls for me. I'm so grateful for wonderful friends who will step in to help at a moments notice.
I got back to Children's Hospital for the second Upper GI only to find out that the surgeons assistant had inputted the time wrong in the computer. So I went in for a 3 pm appointment but it was in their computer for 2 pm. Again, awesome! But they fit us in. The test went just as bad the second time as it did the first. He hated every minute of it. But we got it done. The radiologist read it and had a few of her colleagues read it as well. They all came to the same conclusion-no intestinal malrotation. They feel that he has what is called a redundant duodenum. Basically its when the duodenum has a few extra curves and loops in it. Apparently its easily mistaken for malrotation. In the end, no surgery is needed and we're going to treat the spit up and pain as reflux. I spoke with the doctor today and as soon as we get home from Utah we will start the reflux medicine. I really hope it helps!

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Quick Post About Mr. Will

Hey everyone. This is going to be really quick because I'm exhausted and we are driving to Utah so I need my rest. Will does not need any surgery and, in fact, does not have intestinal malrotation! I will post more tomorrow and give the long version of the story, but for now I'm just going to go to sleep being incredibly grateful that our little guy is pretty much healthy. We know that the Lord is looking out for him and for us!

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

We Made Cake

On Monday, the girls and I decided that we wanted cake later in the day. So before naptime, we made a yellow cake from scratch...soooo yummy! There's no pictures of the cake because it didn't look very pretty, but there are some pics of the girls because they are always cute!

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:
2 cups cake flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla
3/4 cup milk

Preparation:Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 2 9-inch cake pans.
In bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt with a wire whisk.
Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla and mix until completely combines. Slowly add flour alternately with milk. At end of addition batter should be smooth. Divide between 2 pans.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Cool 5 minutes in pan, then invert onto a rack and cool completely before frosting.
For a 9 x 13 pan - Baked at 350 degrees F. for 30 to 38 minutes.

I frosted the cake with a frosting made of cool whip and chocolate pudding. Not pretty, but still so delish!

An Open Letter to the Dance World

Dear Dancers, Choreographers and those who consider themselves artists in the form of Movement,
I'm disappointed with the current trend that I'm seeing in the dance world. I feel that I have always been one to support free thinking and the pursuit of the 'new'. I've prided myself on the fact that one of my favorite choreographers is Merce Cunningham. I love watching Lamentation by Martha Graham. Most mainstream ammature dancers would most likely shy away from these expressions on eccentricity, but I can support those who strive to make their feelings known through avant garde means...even if that is the lack of feeling. However, I cannot support someone creating something 'out of the box' purely for shock value or for the extreme reaction that it will receive. In my opinion, this defeats the purpose of creating thought provoking art.
Case in point is this dance created by Wade Robson for So You Think You Can Dance. Begin watching at about 1:50

Until I saw this dance, I could pretty much get on board with anything created by Wade. I was a huge fan of quirky style and movement ability. He has an eye for nuance and is one of the best when it comes to thinking outside of the box. However, as I sat in stunned silence when this dance was over, I couldn't help but think that it was supposed to be a joke. Is he secretly laughing at us? I'm over it Wade. I'm done with it Mia. In your quest to be different and unexpected, you are beginning to become predictable. I've seen your dances before. I'm not interested in the same tired danced anymore.
And now a word on dance plagiarism. I tend to do a lot of my dance research on youtube. I love to see what's out there and whats popular. I teach kids who are going to competitions and they need something that is going to impress tables of judges. However, I feel like I end up seeing the same dance over and over again. The same solo, the same group dance. Not that the choreography is the same, but similar patterns in the creation of the dance, the same elements being executed in almost identical ways. Why is this happening? I'm not interesting in seeing a second rate regurgitation of someone else's original idea. I want to see true visionaries and you are never too young to expose your own ideas.
Where would this world be without thinkers? Where would we be with the Thomas Jeffersons of the world or the Ray Charles' of the world or the Any Worhols? Those with staying are the ones who reinvent, who create from the their heart, who evolve.
Don't stop reaching within your soul and putting a piece of yourself on the dance floor.
-Meghan

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Zinky Doo Die


This past Saturday was our studios dance recital. Siobhan did so well and I'm so proud of her. Their dance was to Zippety Doo Dah from Song of the South (she calls it Zinky Doo Die). The theme of the recital was movie soundtracks so there was some super fun music used. It was so much fun. Here's some pictrues from when we got home after a very long day.


Siobhan always does the goofiest grins and poses for pictures.





Of course Audrey needed to get in the picture taken and rightfully so. She was so good at the recital. She sat still and watched most of the time.




I must say, Siobhan's hair turned out awesome!


My little dancer!

Apparently it's really hard to pose for a few pictures.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Prospective Sewing Projects

These are the before pictures of the things that I plan to make this summer with a link so you all can see what I plan to do with them. We'll check back and see if they actually turn out the way they are supposed to. :) I've decided to dabble in refashioning clothes. So I looked through my closet and after a trip to Goodwill and Dollar Tree this is what we've come up with so far.

I bought this shirt right before college and it was great then, but I don't think that I have worn it since. I love it, but I never wear it. The proportions are very 2002. So I decided that it needs to become a skirt for Siobhan. I'm hoping to make it into something along the lines of this pencil skirt.
I just hope that mine turns out a little cuter because let's face it, that length is not flattering on that model at all. But Siobhan has nice legs so she should be able to pull it off.
Price: Free-from my closet





These shirts are going to become really cute little dresses. I'm not sure why my computer won't let me rotate the picture but the top shirt is going to be for Audrey and the bottom one for Siobhan.

Price: White striped shirt-$1.00, Green shirt-$2.99










These bandanas are on their way to becoming skirts for the girls. We went to the Dollar Tree and they had two pack of bandanas-one was a traditional bandana and the other was a coordinating pattern. I let the girls pick which colors they want and if all goes well, Siobhan will have another one in red for the Fourth of July and and Audrey will have a dress (also pictured in the above link) in blue.

Price: $2


This shirt is going to become a skirt for Siobhan. Sorry, I don't have a link for it, but it's not hard imagine what it's going to become.

Price: $2.99








These three pairs of socks are going to become baby legs for the girls. I can't wait. I think they are going to look super cute on the girls. If you don't know what baby legs are check this out. I'm trying to convince Carson that it's okay to put a boy in baby legs, but he's not listening. I found this post though and I thought it was so cute!

Price: Free-from my closet

Funny Blog I Found

Check out this great blog I found:
You won't be disappointed.

Friday, June 5, 2009

My New Thing

The kids and I were driving around the neighborhood this morning looking for garage sales. I try really hard to be selective when garage saleing and I have to remember that just because it's a dollar, I probably don't need that embroidered throw pillow that I just might get around to restyling in about a year. And let's face it, people are mostly just selling crap so it should really be re-termed a garbage sale. So I usually just drive by at record breaking slow speeds to see if anything catches my eye. As I drove by sale after sale, I figured I wasn't going to find anything. Then I made my way into a cul-de-sac and came upon the best deal ever. There, with a beam of light shining down on it from the heavens, was the object that has taken me to thrift store after thrift store, garage sale after garage sale and craigslist posting after posting.....a sewing machine. I got out of my car thinking that it was probably going to be out of my price range. Then I looked at the blessed tag and saw it $5 . So I bought it. It was her mother's from back in the day who always kept it in immaculate condition and the woman selling it had only used it once since inheriting it 15 years ago. I'm so excited to break it out and start making things. I already have ideas of all the fun skirt and dresses that I can make for the girls. I might make a few things for myself here and there and I might branch out and make felt food. We'll see. The possibilities are endless!