Update on Hyrum's Treatment

Prozac seemed to be working and even cautiously upping the dose, he was doing so well that we were getting close to setting a date for release. Then we started noticing that he was having unpredictable moods and extreme hyperactivity. Something as simple as "pass the salt" could mean an explosion from him or a tearful accusation. Dr. Burris offered us the option of adding a mood stable-izer on top of the Prozac but we've done that before and it hasn't helped. So it seems that if we treat the anxiety, his moods de-stabelize. And if we don't treat the anxiety, he has no quality of life. What to do? For now, we are lowering the dose of Prozac with the goal of removing it altogether and trying another medication instead. That means more time at the State Hospital.

We go through times when I'm doing better and times when I don't think that I can take it anymore. Maybe because my hopes were up, I'm having trouble lately. I wonder what his day was like. What did he have for dinner? Did he play outside? Who is his favorite friend to play with? Did one of the techs read him a story and tuck him in tonight? Will he hate us forever because of our putting him there? Did we do the right thing? Questions Questions

Cabin Trip

The weather was beautiful for our retreat to the mountains this week-end. It's funny how we stay busy without the TV and telephone. Here some of what we did.

• Provo River Falls
  

• Hiked around Mirror lake and saw a Bald Eagle up close! (Porter's idea of heaven, the bird not the hike)
• Built Jason's beehive boxes
• Made dart guns out of PVC pipe and old magazines

• Rode in the back of a pickup truck
• Talked to the ranger
• Went to Walmart in Evanston, WY

• Wendy and the boys paddled a canoe around. See the dog in the middle? Porter and I did an animal rescue (just like Diego). As we went along, our dog, Denali, bounded along on the bank. Just after the beaver house we heard a "yip" and she was gone. After calling and getting no response, we paddled to the side and disembarked to save her from one of tunnel holes that the beaver had dug and then had collapsed. We loaded a wet dog on to the canoe and she got to ride in style back to the cabin.




• General craziness and hijinks

We are so lucky and blessed to have a cabin to go to but more importantly to have this precious time together!

Porter's First Day of School

Porter is in Kindergarten! He picked out a satchel book bag "just like Indiana Jones" he informs me. Oak Hills is hiring another teacher so Porter will have whoever that is. The beauty of a new teacher is that there is only slated to be 14 kids in his class. I love it.

We had orientation today and there is pre-testing all week so next week will start the first real days in school.

Hey! Be nice to yourself!

Friday afternoon I got some results from a blood test showing that I am "early stage diabetic." I was devastated. I know that it means some big changes in the way that I live and I didn't feel ready to cope with it.

The rest of Friday and Saturday I had a headache. It didn't respond to medication or sleep or anything. I knew it was somehow related to the diabetic news. At 5am on Sunday, still suffering from the headache I figured out what it was. I completely blame myself for becoming diabetic.

I should have exercised more, and watched what I ate better. Diabetes is prevalent in my family and I can't recall how many times my mom told me to be careful and not get overweight or I will become diabetic. In her family, diabetes can mean death. How could I completely ignore her warnings and become diabetic at age 35? It's like the beginning of the end.

Not forgiving myself was what was wrong!

It's better now. I realize that the Savior's atonement can apply even to forgiving ourselves. I couldn't do it by myself. We all make mistakes and beating ourselves up about it isn't part of the plan. So.........be nice to yourself. There is only one you and you are important to me. (and probably a whole lot of other people too) Wendy

4th of July

Becca, Misty, and Kim at the BBQ


Hryum and Jason listening to the choir sing at the ward breakfast.
Don't look so excited Hyrum!



Mike F. & Jason and Hryum




The kids getting ready for the ward "parade"


Any of you who know Mike Mayfield, our neighbor, know that he is a born story-teller. Before our annual "street of fire" BBQ he told the kids his version of the reason we celebrate Independence Day. Here is a bit of what he told the kids before we ate..........



"All right kids ... the 4th of July is a pretty big deal. Why? Because back in 1776, England started pushing us around. They made us pay taxes, they made us wear funny wigs, they made us drink crazy tea, and finally America said, 'Dudes! We're not going to do this anymore.' So on the 4th of July in 1776, we wrote 'em a pretty nasty little letter. It was called the Declaration of Independence. It said, 'Dear England, thanks for Harry Potter in the future but we don't want your stinkin' taxes, your funny wigs or your bad tea. We don't even want to be part of your country any more. So take that. Kiss off. Love, America.' And then they signed it. Some of our founding fathers weren't as brave as the others. They signed it pretty small. But John Hancock signed it in big ol' letters so King George wouldn't have to use his glasses to read his name.



"When King George got the letter, he was so mad that he sent the largest army in the world to come fight our guys. Their army had big guns and matching red coats. Our guys had little guns and no shoes, but they loved America and they were ready to take on that big army so we could be free. Fortunately, we were smarter than the British so we got 'em surrounded and then we said, 'Take your red coats and bad teeth back to England and don't come back until 1812.' And that is how America started kicking butt. "


Thanks to Misty for preserving a bit of Mike wisdom for posterity. I bet the kids will remember better than learing this stuff in a dry old text book. Next holiday I'll send the kids over for more history lessons. What do you think he might tell them for Halloween?

Porter is Five!

August 10th, 2009. Porter had his first friend birthday party. It was an animal theme of course. He’s been playing Leapster and checking out tons of books from the library on animals. He is a self proclaimed “animal genius.”

I remember 5 years ago traveling to Spokane, WA to pick him up at Deaconess hospital and how HOT it was there. (in the 100’s every day) It was so beautiful with all the pine trees and lakes and streams.

When Melanie put Porter in my arms and Jason left to go get Hyrum I had a minute with this precious little one. Porter smiled at me. I know you’ll say that newborns can’t smile at that age but I swear he did! He was born knowing how to smile and that is a hallmark of his life so far. He’s a laid back, happy kid who likes to tease and have fun. He is such a blessing in our lives. I know we couldn’t do without him. We love you Porter.

Family Reunion at Bear Lake

Papa Buddy rented this really cool lodge (www.laketownlodge.com) for the week-end and all the Arbuckle siblings and their kids came for a get together. Wendy’s cousin, Gina Baker and her husband, Shane also came and took family photos and had a blast.


Porter and Ashlynn playing in the sand and water

Hyrum

Lindsay and Jason and Noah came all the way from Conneticut

I think Porter and Hyrum really loved the theatre room downstairs. I loved when the kids went to bed and I had people to play games with and just talk and hang out.