Tagged again! :-)

My friend, Alyssa, over at What's Happenin' at the Hoover's tagged me a LONG time ago to do this and I forgot. Sorry Alyssa! Ok, so she says that I need to list 6 things about ME.

1. I have man hands & feet
2. I am the "white sheep" of my family. Only blonde hair/blue eyed child out of 4.
3. I do not tan, therefore, I do not attempt to.
4. I want another baby.
5. I love pineapple even though it makes my tongue swell.
6. I used to have a chipped front tooth. My older sister, Kim, was making me laugh while our parents fixed a flat tire and I dropped my head- mouth wide open- into the front door window that I did not realize was open. An unforgettable moment for sure.

Again, not good at the tagging...feel free to list 6 things about yourself on your blog and let me know! :-)

I've been tagged!

My dear friend, Christina, over at Kwisteena's Kwaziness tagged me to list 6 things that describe my life. Like her, I am not sure 6 is enough! Let's give it a whirl...

1. Blessed
2. Stressed
3. Random
4. Giving
5. Busy
6. Full of change

I am going to break the rules and not tag anyone because I am not good at that. SORRY. BUT, if you so desire, please do this yourself on your blog and let me know about it! :-)

Five Guys vs. In-N-Out

VS.











No question. I would probably take Five Guys' fries over In-N-Out's, but not the burger. FG's burger was better than most, but it will not take away my I-N-O cravings that only a trip home to California can fix.

Africa

Some of you may have gotten an e-mail from me. It went out in masses. :-) If you did, welcome to the repeat version for those who didn't get my e-mail. Of course, this version will be much shorter...maybe.

I have joined the missions team to travel to Kitale, Kenya, Africa in October. If you know me, your jaw is probably on the floor right now. Believe me, my own jaw was on the floor! But, I truly believe that God is calling me to work in Africa during this trip. I can not tell you all the "signs" that I have been given. I have been given amazing support already- I am truly in awe of how God is providing.

So, I will be traveling October 8-18. I will spend my 10th wedding anniversary on a plane. It took me a long time to commit to the trip even though I knew in my heart that I was going- God told me so. We will be going to the Challenge Farm in Kitale, Kenya. I highly encourage you to visit the website and watch the video at the top of the page.

I will be raising money from now until the trip- hopefully having my full amount in a while before we leave. You will notice a ChipIn link on the side. If you wish to sponsor me, THANK YOU! You can do so a few different ways.

* You can use the secure ChipIn site and $ will go directly to my paypal account
* You can send a check directly to my church (with my name- Kristen Faulkner- in the memo): River Oaks Community Church, 1855 Lewisville Clemmons Rd., Clemmons, NC 27012 {Phone: (336) 766-0033}

Money sent directly to the church is actually how I would suggest because it is tax-deductible and will be receipted. I can send you a receipt, but I am not sure if the IRS would accept it as a deduction. I will have to check on that...

Lastly, more than anything...PRAY, PRAY, PRAY for myself, the team, our families, and for those already living on the farm. This is, by far, the most important request. Thank you so much for everyone's support. Much love to all.

More fires in Mariposa

I saw a news clip on CNN or something like that saying that there was a fire near Yosemite. Now, that is a pretty large scale of where exactly the fire could be, but sure enough, it's in Mariposa again. This time, it's not near my parent's house, but my grandparents house. The fire has 0% containment and over 16000 (that's a jump from the original 1000 that I read) acres burned. Lots of people have been evacuated already. Please keep everyone around the fires in your prayers, including the firefighters who brave the flames.

http://cbs13.com/local/mariposa.county.fire.2.780798.html

Dr. Randy Pausch

Passed away today. An amazing and inspirational man. His "Last Lecture" is well worth the watch.

My lil' nudist

This morning, I woke up to the most beautiful sound of giggles. I come around the corner to Ethan's room, and I find him standing at his gate all proud of himself and his nakedness! He has always loved not having clothes on, but this is a first! Actually taking off the diaper...oh my goodness!

If I had never...

If I had never worked for Bank of America, I would have never applied at Patelco.
If I had never worked for Patelco, I would have never met Theresa.
If I had never met Theresa, I would not have known of TSCS in NC.
If I had never known of TSCS in NC, I would never have moved.
If I had never moved, I would have never attended the NDSC conference in Atlanta.
If I had never attended the NDSC conference in Atlanta, I would have never found out about Downsyn.
If I had never found out about Downsyn, I would not have the support of so many across the country!
If I had never found out about Downsyn, I would not have some of my best friends for life.


If I had never had Ethan, I would not have moved.
If I had never moved, I would not be blessed with how God has utilized me with others.
If I had never moved, I would have never met Karen and Olivia. I feel a part of my heart would have always been empty if I had never been able to love Miss O.

If I had never had Ethan, my heart may not be as full of compassion as it is.
If I had never had Ethan, I may not have become the advocate that I am.
If I had never had Ethan, I may not have ever known what a hero really is.

Someone very close to me once told me that I had depressing friends. On the contrary. I have awesome, amazing, strong friends. They are Mothers who never back down from a fight. They are Mothers who do not see the disability in their child, but their ABILITY and CAPABILITY. I am honored to have the friends I do. I hope that I am as good a friend to them as they are to me.

Therapy & Tests to come

Today was Ethan's last round of VitalStim therapy...we hope. He will have a modified swallow study on Friday to see if it worked.

Ethan's private PT has been going well and he will start private OT next week. He is going to HATE me by the end of this summer!!!

E also had a GI appointment yesterday and he will take part in an overnight study to measure the correlation between weakened swallow function and reflux. I do not feel that Ethan's reflux is under control right now and he's on max meds. The study consists of an endoscopy, PH probe, stomach emptying, and another test that measures the strength of the swallow down the esophagus. Fun times. I don't know when this study will be quite yet, but hopefully soon.

Ethan also needs another sleep study and a full neurological/orthopedist workup. This comes from advise given from two of the most well-renowned physician's who work with persons with Ds. Fun times.

Sayreville, NJ

I just noticed that someone in Sayreville, New Jersey is visiting my blog. Jon Bon Jovi is from Sayreville. Hmmmm...ok, Jon. I am here, waiting for your call. ;-)

Back from Boston

Ok, well I have been home from Boston since Sunday night, but I just haven't had the time or energy to post! My friend, Lisa, and I left on Thursday afternoon for Raleigh. We would have about an hour to deplane, get to the hotel, and move on to the Garden for Bon Jovi. Well, we had an amazing trip up and ended up landing 20 minutes early!!! I had the flight attendant thank the pilot for me- I did have a date with JBJ after all!

The concert was fabulous! Bon Jovi really can't do any wrong- except when JBJ goes out into a section of the audience and lets others fondle him all while having total disregard for how that makes me feel! LOL!



The return back to the hotel was a bit of an adventure. Let's just say that jails should not have full length windows so men can do things where you can see and that $11 cab fare is not that bad! We tried to save money, saw things that we shouldn't have, experienced the subway system, and got back to the hotel an hour and half after we left the Garden. Fun times. HAHA.

Boston is absolutely beautiful! I loved it! It is a very clean city with friendly people. The history there is awesome too. I was able to go out on a Charles River boat tour with some of my friends from Downsyn and saw Harvard, Boston University, and MIT. The harbor is pretty too. I met my step-grandmother and step-aunt while there too. They live about 20 minutes outside of the city and came in to take me to dinner. It was a such a treat for me to be able to spend that time with them and finally meet my dad's sister, Robin. I may have asked too many questions, but it was my one chance to find out more about my dad since he never shares, nor seems to care to want to. I wish that I had just one more day to actually do some sightseeing, but I was there for the NDSC conference.

I came away with some great information and even greater friends! I "talk" to some of these friends all the time online and then to be able to actually meet them and have a great time was just the added bonus!


Bye-bye Boston! I hope to see you again soon! LOL! I miss all my Downsyn friends already! Why does the US have to be so large??? :-(

The view from my hotel room:





I could not stop taking pictures from the air! It was all so beautiful!

Things to ponder

Yesterday, I stopped by Olivia's pediatrician's office to say hello. Weird? Not so much when we were in a very close position a few months back. If she were accepting new patients, I would likely switch Ethan over! She is amazing. Anywho, when I got to the office, I told the receptionist that I would like to say hello to Dr. Heinrich. She asked me who I was and I just said, "Just tell her that Nurse One is here". She said, oookkkk. Like, whatever. Well, within a minute, Dr. H was out in the lobby giving me and Ethan a big hug. We visited for a few minutes and she then again asked me if I was going to nursing school. Dr. H was a driving force behind me thinking about applying the last time. She offered me recommendations and everything. Now, she thinks that I should just go to PA school! WHAT!?!? WOW! I am not sure about that one, but you never know. But, she did say that she would help me with answers for tests. That would be awesome! We'll see...pondering.

After we left Dr. H's office, we went to Sam's Club. Karen called me and said, "Where ya goin'?". She was behind me! Too funny. She has been very sick this week and had to go get her allergy shot. I told her to go home and go back to bed- I would check on her later.

Ethan and I met my friend for lunch. Her mother, sister, son, and niece also joined at the every so scrumptious Olive Garden. As we were close to wrapping up lunch, I look across the dining area to see a woman leaning over in her chair with her head resting on her knees. She was alone. Something was wrong and no one was helping her. I asked my friend to watch Ethan for me and I went over to help the woman. She was feeling faint and was sweaty/clammy all over. She had just had some blood drawn and was told by the doctor that she was dehydrated. So, I think that she was anemic, dehydrated, or had low blood sugar (she hadn't eaten yet)- or a combo of the three. The manager got me some orange juice to give her and a cold towel to put around her neck. She was on her knees on the floor by this time with her head down still, so I was lifting her chin enough to get the oj in her. I also continued to fan her with a folder that she had. She ended up being fine after a little TLC. Numerous people came up to me and asked me if I was her nurse (LOL)- um, no. Just someone enjoying some soup, salad and breadsticks!

My bill came and I paid with cash. The manager came back up to me and said that he would like to take care of my lunch to thank me for being a good samaritan. Aw. I about cried. There are still rewards for good deeds- even though that is not why we should do good deeds.

Belated Birthdays!

Happy belated birthday to my friend, Darlene!!! We are exactly 6 months apart- her birthday was July 2nd and mine is January 2nd. So, really- happy belated HALF birthday to ME! LOL! I tried to call the girl, but she is too busy for me anymore...sad, sad. J/K...She recently opened her own boutique in Atwater and it is going very well. I love you Dar Dar.

Happy belated birthday to my little cousin who I have always called my neice, Mallory Jordan!!! Hi honey. I am sorry that I didn't get to call you the other day. We have been VERY busy. We love you and hope that you had a wonderful birthday!!! *muah*

Happy belated birthday to my Aunt Bitsy yesterday!!! I also believe that my cousin's little girl, Keira, celebrated her birthday yesterday too! Birthdays, birthdays everywhere!!!

I know my Aunt Shell was at the end of June too! Uncle Cobb is at the end of July. Happy birthday to all. WE LOVE YOU!!! *****CORRECTION: Aunt Shell's b-day is the end of July and Uncle Cobb's is the end of August. They are the same age for one month. I just had them a month off---my bad!*****

Upcoming: Yvonne, July 6 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
Jen, July 7 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! (I am hoping that she can come to Boston next week to see me!!! Hoping, hoping, hoping!)

Ok, now I am probably forgetting someone ultra-important. SORRY if I am!!! *muah*

Happy 4th of July!

Have a great 4th of July!!! We are going over to Theresa's later to bbq and then we are off to the Lewisville fireworks show.