Paying It Forward

I am so inspired to bring you today's post.  For those of you that have been following my blog, you may remember me asking for prayers for Evan Pattison.  Evan is a 9 year old boy with Autism.  Last month, he was struck by a car and has been at Rainbow Babies and Children's hospital ever since.  I first learned of this incident through a yahoo support group that I am a member of (AutismNE) and not a day goes by that I am not praying for this family.  There is a prayer vigil set up on Facebook that has been very good about posting updates from Evan's mommy.  Each update is is full of despair, hope and unconditional love from a mother who is just wants her baby back.

The family is currently in the stages of working with the medical team at Rainbow to transport Evan to a hospital in Chicago where he can receive the therapy he needs.  A current update shows that he is beginning to make responses with his eyes in response to light.

(Family photo of Evan)

I remember being a "resident parent" of Rainbow all too well because of the time we spent in NICU with Michael when he was just a tiny baby.  The sting of sleepless days and nights, staring at monitors, waiting for the daily doctor's rounds, one day encouraged and the next completely discouraged, a constant knot in your stomach and being in constant overdrive.  I am forever grateful to God and the medical staff at Rainbow that we we "got our baby back".  I also know how expensive it was just for a week and a half to not live at home, and here the Pattisons are going on over a month and a half, ready to embark on a journey to Chicago.  This family is stronger than you can ever imagine.   Having a child with Autism in the first place is a series of one step forward and three steps back and now this.  If you read the updates from Evan's mom, they are never without request for prayer for another family she has met in the hospital going through the same motions.  I cannot wait for the day to read an update that she "got her baby back" too.  

How you can help:

The reason I posted this here on my blog is because I want as many people as possible to be able to read this and not everyone has Facebook.  Through my Scentsy business I finally have the resources available to to a fundraiser for the Pattisons.  I first want to say that 100% of my "profits" through this fundraiser will go to the Pattisons.  This is not a solicitation for my personal gain in any way.  Here is the double whammy:  

Meet Sasha the Bear, Scensty Cause Buddy.  You'll make a child's day when you give Sasha, Scentsy's first Charitable Cause Scentsy Buddy, in support of the mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities® to improve the health and well-being of children all over the world. Scentsy will donate 100% of the net proceeds from the sale of this Buddy directly to the organization.

If you want to be a part of the Pattison Fundraiser, but are not in the market right now for anything Scentsy, her ya go!  Sasha the Bear is $30.00 and Scentsy will donate 100% of net proceeds from each bear to Ronald McDonald House Charities®. 

You can purchase this bear and choose to have her donated to a sweet patient at Rainbow Babies and Children's hospital!  If you would like to do this, please email me with your order so I can arrange it.  In turn, you will have "paid it forward" THREE times!  The proceeds that Scentsy pays me go to the Pattisons; Scentsy's proceeds go to Ronald McDonald, AND a child gets a new best friend!  Sasha is not just a teddy bear, she is a Scentsy Buddy.  Each Buddy has various textures on each part of them and have a pouch in back for a soft Scent Pak.  The best scents if used for a donation for a child at the hospital would be:  Vanilla Cream, French Lavender or Black Raspberry Vanilla.  These would have the best soothing effect, coupled with the textures of a Scentsy Buddy for a child. 

Any purchase in any amount of course will be so appreciated for the Pattisons. Thank you for reading this. 

A Day In Pictures (Mostly)

Today was an early day.  Very, very early.  Isaiah did well in his crib...until 4.  We tried ever so quietly to sneak out of the room so that Michael would not wake.  After a change and a bottle, I had a happy baby.

One cup of coffee and a few snuggles later, I hear Michael's talking alphabet toy singing the ABC's.  Start your engines, we are off and running for the day!  Michael likes to start his day with a banana and "Sesame Street".  This morning, he was a little groggy while enjoying his morning routine.  Standing next to Isaiah, he chomps away on one piece of banana and it sort of waving another piece with his other hand in the air.  Isaiah was so intent on grabbing this piece on his first given opportunity.  As Michael stared and waved this delicious looking morsel, Isaiah drooled in anticipation and flapped his hands in an attempt to take a piece.   "BA!  BA!  BAAA!", he would exclaim to Michael, but to his dismay, Michael was always just a centimeter too far for his reach.  It was quite comical.

Finally, he gave up.  I made it up to him with some smashed banana and lots of kisses.

Michael had a bit of a hard morning, so during Isaiah's morning nap, Michael and I watched his favorite YouTube videos and snuggled.  We switch between his favorites:  Sesame Street clips and Celtic Thunder.
I can't wait to post about Celtic Thunder next week, we are taking him to see them live at Playhouse Square!

We always start with this video, and probably watch it about 10 times before moving on, but eventually back to it:

 

By 1 p.m. I was extremely tired and Isaiah did not want to sleep.  My mom came and saved the day while I took a nap.  When I woke, Michael was just getting up and Grandma and baby were having applesauce and playing.  We managed to get the Christmas tree up and my mom organized my pantry for me!  It was a sorry state of affairs before she worked her magic.  Michael was very testy, because of course, Grandma is ONLY there to play with him!  A plastic ladle and serving spoon kept him occupied for a while.

Now, of course, a post would not be a post without a prayer request.  Enter, Evan Pattison:

 Doesn't he have the sweetest face?  This past Tuesday, this sweet little boy has Autism.  He was struck by a car last Tuesday and is in a medical induced coma at our local children's hospital.  PLEASE pray for him.  If you are on Facebook, you can also join the prayer page that was set up for him by a good friend of mine.

Christmas decorating has officially begun here in our cozy apartment.  After much discussion, my husband and I have decided not to use our traditional tree and ornaments.  I know, there are some people saying "Oh, you HAVE to have a tree!" and to that I say, "we do!".  It is just not this huge cone of sparking lights, crinkling tinsel, and tons of shiny ornaments hanging from every limb.  We do not feel it is fair to completely overstimulate Michael with that sort of thing and then tell him "No!" for the next 28 days.  So here is our tree:

 You can only see the top half, because the bottom is barricaded by the couches, to keep our monkey from knocking the whole thing down.  We love it and this is what works for us.  I have begun to see that we should continually find ways to "look outside of the box" and do what is right for OUR family and not care about how others think we should do things.  I can't wait to have Michael help me make sparkling fish that we can hang from the ceiling.  We are going to have fun!  Little Isaiah just likes to take in all the twinkles.  

Michael ended the day on a happy note.  There was a disaster a bit later in the evening that I will not speak of...it was dastardly.  Bedtime for him went pretty smoothly.  Isaiah was not so easy, and I almost had to enlist the emotional support of my good friend to keep me out of the room and try to calm him.  I was strong tonight.  She will be proud :).

Only problem is he woke around 11 and Daddy was home.  I turn my back for one minute and that softy has done this:

He eventually put Isaiah back in the crib, only to go lay in bed "in case he needs us".  Japan can hear that child, I think we would know!  I might just sleep on the couch tonight, just to get some rest!  

He is just so darn cute, though!