Spencer had his “Golden Birthday” turning 7 on the 7th this year! We had fun w/ his delicious “Tunnel of Fudge” cake, homemade mac & cheese, & asparagus for dinner, and He had never had a friend party, so we decided to go for it this year, and he was SO excited!! He's still at that perfect age where everything is wonderful and exciting. As we brainstormed games and ideas, he loved EVERY one! We invited the 13 children in the neighborhood his age, expected maybe up to 10 (but planned on all , just in case), and had 13 CHILDREN!!!! I couldn't believe the success!! It was quite a celebration! We did a meltedbead craft (and played Hullabaloo for those who finished first), had a pinata (we had fun trying to make one, but it didn't dry fast enough, so we luckily found some $7 ones at a random grocery store!),
played “Pop the balloons” while they were all tied to their ankles,
had mini corndogs, carrots, and grapes for supper,
and then ate donuts on strings for dessert.
Aside from a couple of shy girls that bowed out of some of the rowdier games, I think everyone had fun. We had fun delivering the invitations INSIDE of balloons that they had to pop (their names on a tag on the outside saying to “Pop for message”, and the inside message saying “We hope you can POP in at Spencer's Birthday Party—it'll be a BLAST.” It was so fun, and we LOVE our fun- and PEOPLE-loving Spencer. Even as a baby, people were delighted w/ him and his dimply attention. Everything is more fun w/ him around!
Also, it was fun to get into all of the children, since I was just called as a Primary worker yesterday (to be in charge of one of the Activity Days groups). Our RS presidency was released right before conference (SO sad to lose those sweet associations w/ our great presidency!! Our Primary presidency was released simultaneously too, (after waiting and WAITING to have a bunch of holes filled), so we've had a lot of excitement around here! It's always good to see how the Lord fits things together. I was also called as Ward Music Chair last week, so it will be good to learn some new things! I've been SO emotional the last few weeks w/ all the adjusting---and it has been extra-sensitive knowing my husband is part of the discussions/proceedings going on. He's a good sport to be so patient w/ me.
AND--Anne has also had a good week. I finally relented, and filled her Rx for her oral steroid (I wanted to make sure I tried every other possibility first). After 7 months of no allergen foods (wheat, soy, milk, eggs, preservatives, and no sugar for a while, and low corn), diligent vitamin supplements, 3 months of homeopathic drops that did allow for her to put sugar back into her diet, but then just watched her continue to get worse, and LOTS and LOTS of patience, as well as cleaning filters and sheets, and using NON-soap washing in her baths and baking soda to wash her clothes, and random tries like probiotics, aloe juice, codliver oil, apple cider vinegar, etc., she was NOT improving at all, so we decided to see what that big drugs could do.
These pictures are of DAY 3 on steroids.
(sorry for the medical bore—this is for her records): We started her on Prednizone last Friday, and her skin really did improve, but by day 6 (of 10), the improvement started to plateau—AND she was STILL itching quite a bit, so I also added “ProTopic” to the equation—a $200 tube of immunomodulator cream (that adjusts your immune system—the same thing they use for organ transplants, — skindeep). I actually tried it the first day of the steroids, but she was literally UP all night long in complete discomfort, and I was somewhat relieved to read online later, that that's normal for the first day or two, as it burns some as it gets started!! Anyway, I then went to just the steroid for those first days, and brought the cream back in on day 6, after checking w/ the dr office. She had one more rough night, but then kept clearing up—for church yesterday, all her teachers commented on how significantly improved she was.
So now we see what comes!! I'm beside myself w/ anxiety over what happens next, b/c everyone says steroids work great to clear things up, but that the problems come back worse once you stop.
Her sleep habits are in SUCH havoc—it took a week for her to go to bed w/o watching Barney downstairs (it served as a good distraction to her scratching, which always seems worse at bedtime), and she woke up last night @ 12:30, though it's now only about every other night for about a half hour, instead of every night for hours. She is getting better now about going to bed (though we still have Emily sleeping downstairs to keep things simpler), and her days the last week have been SO pleasant—she's been lots more talkative and playful and independent, so it has been a blessing to have glimpses of the child she really is inside. I crack up over phrases she repeats w/o really understanding them, like “What'sa problem here?” or “I don't understand wha's going on here!” She is a sweetie, and I have definitely felt watched over through all of this. We may not have instant answers, but it is a comfort to know we're not alone. Hopefully, she'll be in good enough shape that I can enjoy Women's Conference w/ Mom coming out next week, and Grandma and Laurie!! So nice to have the hopeful reminders of Spring all around us. Love, The Duncan's
