Do Not Worry About A Thing

Be careful with your babies.

Our children can feel the affect the economic situation has on their lives. Cut backs in the family, hearing it on the news constantly and from their parents worrying and discussing, sometimes when little ears shouldn't be listening.

So my motto this past week was "Don't Worry About A thing"

Every morning this week my children would come downstairs I would was playing this song and singing it to them and try to start their day off on a positive note!

My message to you out there is "everything's going to be alright!" Let your kids go to school on a happy note. Shelter them from receiving too much information. Protect them from the cold hard facts. You can tell them there will be changes, but they don't need to see the fear in your eyes and make it their own fear.

Bob Marley--Three Little Birds or Don't Worry About A Thing



Here is my Friday Foto ... this is Rickie being a kid! Let your kids be kids during this hard economic times! We are worried all of us, just don't discuss it non-stop with your children.



Spend time with your family. It is free. Blow the dust off your board games. Bonding as a family can be free (and priceless).

Just a tad frustrated...

He did his very best today, he gave it his all. They want him on IV meds for another week! It's the best for him, I know...me, not so much! (did that sound like a song?)

He might be home for the week...to finish them out and get some much needed rest. If we do this...the chances go way down for the need to be in the hospital. And we all know we don't want that!

He will get better!!

Rickies going back in for a lock up...

Rickie is being admitted tomorrow to Mott's Childrens Hospital.

His Doctor says for a couple of days to start IV meds and to knock out what's growing in his lungs.

He'll be fine. He's a trooper.

I will be back in a few days. If I'm longer, my daughters will update.

For our local people....

Right here in this newly painted dining room, we were interviewed by Lila Lazarus of Fox2 news Detroit.

Remember guys, the camera adds 10 pounds to you...

Lila L. is a teeny tiny woman--she doesn't look big by any means...in person she is a shrimp. ( no offense Lila) Chloe our 12 year old was there as well and she's the same height! so glad she wasn't sitting next to me!!

Any way it was a blast and hopefully they air it tonight at 10pm on Fox2 Detroit.

I think you can watch it if you go to myfoxdetroit.com and click on health and go from there. Put in Cystic Fibrosis or Rickie.

OK, so I was missing for a while...

Just figured how to download from my camera...I kept getting the message "not ready."
So, I tricked it and put the card directly into the computer and IT WORKED!!

Here are a couple of pictures of Rickie...the second one...he is off to school on his bike for the first time!

You'll be seeing a lot more day to day pictures!!!

Happy Birthday!! Chloe and Rickie

My two peeps...as you can see they're not twins, yet they share the same birthday! I didn't post yesterday and if you know me you would not be surprised... that I am a bit late! This is also 7 years ago.

Happy Birthday sweeties...

Someday when I have a lot more time(when school starts) I'll do a better job at bragging about my kids!

There I did it.

p.s. There birthday was Sunday, August 10th. And yes...I see the dirt on Chloe's nose!

New Blog

I just recently started a new blog! I thought I would dedicate an entire blog to Cystic fibrosis and how it affects Rickie and our family.

If you are so inclined please check it out!

Thanks please go to Rickies Blog

Update

Hello all! This is not what I wanted to start blogging again about, yet it is my life and seems I have to take the good with the bad. Rickie was released from the hospital last week, although he is still sick.

A nasty virus is going around and it sure knocked him on his rear. Good news it didn't turn in to a CF exacerbation. That was the doc's concern.

A lot more updates to come!

Thanks everyone for your comments and well wishes, I really appreciate all of them:)

H O M E!!!!

HOME from the doctor's today!!! Key word being home...this is huge for him. His PFT's were not that great, but the doctor said that will come. He has to gain weight, so carnation instant breakfast in his whole milk...milk shakes, McDonald's, you name it he can have it!!!

You're probably thinking he doesn't look that skinny...well people with CF they encourage to gain weight or keep it on because the higher the bmi the better the lung function.

So, Rickie eat, eat, eat and don't forget your enzymes!

Thanks for all your positive thoughts and prayers...you guys make me tear up thinking you really do care.

Thanks, Carrie and Heidi you guys are my girls! :)

Great Strides/Rickie's Warriors Friday May 9, 2008

For our little peanut, we love you Rickie. We will find a cure!

FUND-RAISER

CF Great Strides Walk in Detroit: Take steps to cure cystic fibrosis at this fund-raiser 3 p.m. Fri. on the river walk in downtown Detroit. www.cff.org/great_strides.

Great Strides May 9, 2008

GREAT STRIDES is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's largest and most successful national fund-raising event. This year, I'm walking in the GREAT STRIDES walk at the 2008 Detroit - Downtown River Walk, walk on 05/09/2008. Please help me meet my goal of 2,000 dollars! It doesn't matter how much-even one dollar will help. Please click on the link below and donate.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Detroit Free press (article) "Fast foot forward"

The article is up and I'm not happy at all! OMG I can't believe what this lady printed!!! Ahhhhhh!!! I am sooooo glad that I'm not a celebrity, can you imagine waking up and reading **ap about yourself and it's half truths and innuendos?

What I am so upset about: "an incurable disease that tends to kill quickly." Sh** why would she print that? How many people with cystic fibrosis are going to read this article. It is not true, yes it's not curable but it does not kill quickly and why would she say kill? This is my child she's talking about.

I don't know what I'm going to do. Any suggestions?

Plus the pictures of me are horrendous.

Alright, I just talked with my Mom and her opinion-it's not that bad, and the fact being it does kill that is the fact...maybe people will stop and take notice of the disease.

I tend to react quickly when it has anything to do with my kids. So, I will take a deep breath and let it go. I need some coffee. Bye for now.


Article on Mackinaw Bridge Run

GREAT STRIDES/Rickie's Warriors

GREAT STRIDES is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's largest and most successful national fund-raising event. This year, I'm walking in the GREAT STRIDES walk at the 2008 Detroit - Downtown River Walk, walk on 05/09/2008. Please help me meet my goal of 2,000 dollars! It doesn't matter how much-even one dollar will help. Please click on the link below and donate.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

A Great Day!

Rickie had clinic today and received great news! Back to only two treatments per day-half hour in the morning and evening...yay :) No more antibiotics orally only one in the morning...via nebs.

His PFT's were not perfect yet, but that will come. His middle airways were 19%, will keep working on them. All and all I'm very encouraged. Keep him active and in three months she'll check them again.

Spring is definitely in the air.

Opening day was today for Detroit Tigers! It was 54 degrees.




This is what I'm looking forward to seeing!!!

Spring Break Blues...

Today is the first day of spring break for the kids. Unfortunately it doesn't look like we're going anywhere. *hmmm* Anyway, when I was growing up a long time ago, we didn't go anywhere for spring break.

Of course, where we live most of the families go away for break. Typically someplace warm-we can't or don't most of the time. First of all, Rickie's still on IV meds at home. Secondly, he has to have his IV's every 6 hours and in-between Iv's he has the vest and nebs to do. *sigh*

I could, I suppose, go on a couple of hour trip away from home and then come home and do treatments. But no one wants to do that! I really wish that I could do something with them. Anyone out there have any ideas. Remember I have various ages to deal with. Ali's at college so no need to factor her in. So, ages 17,15,13,11 and 6.

Please be creative-god knows I'm not! Too warn out. Better yet, think of a place I could go! :)

This too shall pass and summer will be here before you know it-and Rickie should be a lot better.

Oh yeah, the picture of me running-it's merely to inspire me to get out and run!!

Take care,

Carey

Update on Rickie

Rickie had an appointment yesterday to redo his spirometry (pft's). The results were not what we wanted to see for his middle airways. His fev1 were not that great as well. fev1 is the first second of blowing they measure. It was between 40% and 50%. With those results and the fact he's still coughing they extended his IV meds for another week! (ugh) That means every six hours around the clock.

You know, whatever it takes to get him well, is what we'll do.

Today, we will color Easter eggs and watch movies and have fun with the kids.

Often times I don't mention what else is going on in our family and I apologize.

Chelsea was very sick yesterday, and she just needed some TLC. We were gone literally all day. We left around 11:30 and we didn't get back until 9:30 that evening. It's really hard on the whole family when you have a child that requires so much care. There oftentimes overlooked (for a lack of a better word). Please know, I love all of my children and if I could be there for all of them, 100% I would. That being said, I will try harder today to fulfill all of my kids needs.

Have a great day everyone!

Love,

Carey

Rickie is HOME! ((((((YEAH)))))))

Rickie's Doctor said that he could go home-have to do IV meds at home every 6 hours. Do his treatments 4 times a day. Go back to the hospital on Friday and redo his PFT'S. And back to clinic on Monday. *phew* I am so happy to have him home. We can try to get back some normalcy in our lives. Please hope and pray that his lung function (inner airways) are up!

I have a lot of laundry to do and boy is the house dusty...they did a great job keeping it picked up though so I'm not complaining at all. Ric is traveling next week, so happy I can be their for the rest of the clan:)

Thanks to all of you for the cards and calls while Rickie was locked up. It sure meant a lot to him and he thanks all of you.

Love, Carey

Friday Update

Pretty busy week thus far...Rickie loves his port, really relieves his anxiety level (no more pokes!) They did a throat swab and found aspergillus fungus. Not a good thing-also tested to see if he is allergic to it. Will find out this afternoon sometime. Doctor's said to expect to stay at least another week. I got to stay in the hotel right in the hospital last night boy, am I refreshed! Staying on the couch is not comfortable and it's very noisy. Two room mates who happen to be newborns...(ugh) love them, but you know, up all night :) I will update later. Miss everyone, oh yeah Ric is staying up here until Sunday. (Yeah!)

Love, Carey

Monday Morning

It's Monday morning and we're still waiting for them to tell us when Rickie's port will be put in. They originally said this morning, but-looks more like tomorrow! He would like to eat! Nevertheless things are about the same. Will post later today.

Home for the night

I'm home for the time being. Ric is at the hospital with Rickie and they're doing fine together. Male bonding! I received two wonderful emails from both of Ric's sisters today. They are both such a blessing! Here are some photos of Rickie and Chloe with bears that Holly's friend made for Rickie...they're tapping bears you can work through your concerns and issues with a certain bear made for you, by tapping certain areas. They're wonderful, you can see all of us received one! She also wrote a book for our family explaining how to tap...I know, I'm not explaining it very well, but you can get the gist of it.

Thank you so much Holly! Another picture of Rickie with Holly that particular weekend- she brought the bears and other items that have helped immensely! We had a blast watching Chloe play lacrosse and swinging on the swings.



Aunt Holly and Rickie!
Thank you Holly and Gretchin for all your kind words and deeds!!!!