surgery

back from surgery, my hands hurt so bad :-(

Computers

Well now my computer is really doing strange things. I can't check my e-mail. Part of the yahoo screen come on but then it errors out. UGH!!!

Anyway theres so much I could and want to say but really don't have time so I'm going to just do a little for tonight. Starting with Corbin ROCKS in therapy!!!!! Every movement of his arms and hands are totally purposeful now. He's even starting to just move fingers not the whole hand and he's watching what he's doing so much more. It's hard to explain and to the common person it would even be hard to see how HUGE this tiny step is. Corb is also doing a very nice job LEARNING how to use a smile for yes and closed lips for no. Again hard to explain...it's like I will ask him something like..... do you want to "bounce" huge smile....do want to put your "jammies on" his lips almost close lol he's so funny to he gives this little whine and huff when I ask about the jammies. I'll get it on video. Got my new camera and bigger memory card ;-D today and then although I can't get my computer to upload my Kodak software ugh I will have a way to get my videos to you guys soon :-p When asking him questions he always pays attention to me but doesn't always give a clear answer. I make my best guess and if it wasn't what he really wanted, I guess he will still learn...don't say yes to diaper, jammies or night night time lol or you have to go to bed sooner. He's so great about bed time now though. We have our little routine and the last thing I do is blow him a kiss and he never cries anymore. It's so awesome to have my time as soon as I put him down. Yeah for me lol

Anyway Jak is amazing!!! Got lots of video of him weeks ago, then ran out of memory lol I started taping already today LOL Going threw withdrawals here lol

Oh one more thing....one of my past workers (that I adored) wants to take some of Corb's hours. Her and I rocked at taking care of Corb CAN'T wait for her to come back (as long as my company will re-hire her lol)

Caradie and Corbin

Waiver

Our state has this waiver program, where children with disabilities can use funds yearly to do things that the state medical assistance won't pay for and OMG we got it!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our worker lady called today to let us know. Corb has been on the waiting list for over 4 years. And finally he got it. What a day!!!

Merry Christmas to us....... we are fixing our bathroom for Corb's needs first off. I'm so happy, I'm teary LOL

Caradie and Corbin

Have I ever said how much I hate computers

I HATE computers.

This has nothing to do with Nicole's hubby's work but it's now acting up in other ways. It will NOT let me upload my stuff off my camera so I have all these awesome videos and pics and I can't even get them off my cam UGH!!!

Here's hoping Santa's little helper **wink wink** brings a computer LOL for Christmas.

Thank you for all the posts, comments and e-mails making sure we were ok and for all the welcome backs.

I will get to that real update soon LOL I promise. I only have a million things going on, is all lol

My Sister is still in jail, that's only one of the stressful things ugh It's extra hard when she's in LA and we're in WI.

Caradie and Corbin

Back on-line just not up and running yet

Here's a HUGE THANK YOU to Nicole's hubby!!!!! I will be giving a better shout out as soon as I learn everything. Her hubby has a PC company, that I will be bragging about as soon as I know more :-D

Once I get everything reinstalled and figured out, I will give a real update but just know, Corb has been great. And Jak is an amazingly smart little dog and sometimes fits his (real) name, to a tee (JackA$$). I was calling Oliver (our cat) Jack because he is such an a$$, cause whenever you walk by him, he reaches out and swipes your leg LOL While at the shelter deciding about the puppy, we were thinking of names and Jack popped up and it stuck. I just spelled it Jak...like Jak and Daxter (the PS2 video game, that I have won a million times)

A boy and his dog and a dog and his boy. They LOVE each other!!!!

Caradie and Corbin

Teresa you ROCK....Update

No blood in any poo sample. The GI doc called me personally, we talked about what he's on and I mention the pepto (because of you Teresa. I didn't even remember I gave it to him until you told me, it could be that) I gave him some for two days because I didn't have Zofran.

YEAHHHHHHHHHH nothing is wrong with my kid YEAHHHHHHH

Reminder for self............DON'T use pepto with Corb.

I'm at the library ha ha ha

Caradie and Corbin

Good news, I don't know

Well the stool test came back negative for any blood, OK so that's AWESOME news but???? why then???

Anyway I'm heading to my mom's to drop off her cord so I will now be gone for awhile.

I had a wonderful girl (Hi Nicole) tell me today to just bring my computer to her and her hubby will look at it. Lets hope he really don't mind LOL Wouldn't that be great if he can fix it. And so generous (Thank you Nicole's hubby)

Caradie and Corbin

Update

Bill came home from work for a few mins so I could just run and get the stool sample kit from the lab and as soon as Corb wakes up, I'll have him go potty and I'll get the kit back to the clinic as soon as Austin comes home from school. Bill can't really leave work again, it's bad enough he's going to be home later then normal anyway (that means I'll have to make supper....least fav thing)

A nurse just called, Corb's doc wanted her to call me to check how things are going. She's a wonderful caring doc. That whole floor is so great. The three front desk girls (Hi...end Kelli, middle Kelli and Dannielle (sorry if I spelled it wrong) and all the nurses (which I can't ever remember their names LOL except Julie because she has a special needs daughter) And even some of the on-line nurses know him (with them being only on the phone I always try to ask for the same person, Hi Sara. Today someone helped me though) Even most of the other docs know him too. He's like a little celberity up there lol even today the Superior clinic lab tech knew who Corb was and he don't even ever go there lol

I wish he would wake up but the poor kid has been up since 3am so I don't blame him. I napped for 30 mins before Bill got here :-D

Dehydrated

Corbin has been up since 3am, he had pooed black poo again. And then at about 6am he threw up but just a little.

Nanci, I don't think he could be dehydrated?? I have been still tube feeding him and giving him his normal amount of water throughout the day and he's drinking his choc or strawberry milk too. Unless bleeding can cause it??? (by the way THANK YOU so much for helping me think)

I called the nurse at 7:20am, she just called me back at 8:45am ugh, she's going to update the doc and the GI and see whats next.

His breathing is still a bit different too. And he's still bah, so I'm calling the pump people today too.

I'm borrowing my mom's laptop cord for today so I will update if the docs do something today.

Caradie and Corbin

Out of commission...there goes my social life lol

We have no computer anymore :-( And it's going to be awhile before we can afford to fix ours or buy a new one too, damn it lol so anyway I will just keep taking videos and when we get back on-line there will be a TON lol

A quick update about Corb.... his poo is still black, I'm calling first thing in the morning. Nanci, Great!!! I've been feeding him this whole time too??? (he's finally eating pretty good again too) I'm sure going to be PISSED off if there's something wrong with my kid.

He's still so out of it too. It's been over 24 hours, you would think that the pump dose being changed back, he would be back but he's just not. I'm going to be on the phone so much tomorrow Ugh!!! Not only for Corb but I have to call around to figure out why my half sister is in jail (again) too.... Brain overload LOL

Anyway..... lol I wish everyone well and hope to catch up with everyone soon. All my special needs mom's give your kiddos an extra big hug from me and Corb.

Caradie and Corbin

Quick update...well it was going to be

I'm soooo allergic to dogs, apparently LOL my damn face is killing me but the doc put me on something until the shots start (hopefully) working. It's just stupid I have had dogs and cats all my life. I'm 33 yrs old, I get a cold in July and never stop coughing, weird?? damn it lol

Anyway Corb's poo is still very black and now his G-tube site is hurting him. I got the tube issue all under control though. Gave him a little ibuprofen, washed up the site extra good and put on the ointment I have always used when it gets irritated. On-call doc said thats what he would have told me to do anyway LOL

Sadly I'm pretty sure I know whats causing the bleeding and it's kinda my fault. I try so hard to keep him off meds, that I took him off the Pepcid and now it seems he likely has ulcers. It's so hard to be a mom, when being his mom requires me needing to be a nurse too and I have no idea how to be one. I just want whats best for Corb and being off all meds I thought was right but I guess not. I restarted the Pepcid last night. I, so hope this isn't anything serious. Nanci I'm with you, I wish they would have like kept him or something. But nothing, no one is seeming to be worried even. One good thing though, he's not anemic. His counts are actually on the high side of normal.

So today I'm very emotionally wore out about the pump issue too. I feel so guilty. You know you listen to the docs and when they make a mistake and it affects your life because you just agree with them because they know best and that mistake delays life, you just want to scream. And more emotionally hard is the fact that Corb is very loose but more doped up loose, then loose muscle loose. And then I feel bad because I kinda like him like this, not that I want him drugged where he acts like he's in funk land but today it's just hard, he's been so mellow and not afraid of things and still happy and giggly but just way soooo blah. I'm hoping that changing the dose back and then increasing the bolas doses slowly, it will help him get in between loose but not drugges but it's more wait and see if I made the right decision. UGH!! Over a year of trying to get the dose right. NOT what I expected, thats for sure but hopefully it's still the right decision.

Anyway so for this being a quick update huh??? As hard as it is to be Corbie's mom, I would never change a thing. I love him with all my heart but I do wish his life wasn't a guessing game, I ain't never been any good at those lol :-(

Noah is officially 12 on Monday. He only gets cake and ice cream that day. Because honestly we haven't figured out what to do yet. His birthday is so close to Thanksgiving, friends aren't always around. We'll figure out something though, it will just have to be the week after or something.

I have a ton of videos but my stupid computer's memory is full again so I can't even upload the pic/videos off the cam. Santa PLEASE....I want an external hard drive for Christmas LOL

Caradie and Corbin

DARK BLACK poo

Well things with Corb aren't going so well. Since Monday he has had incredible pains, vomiting, nausea and he has been having darker and darker poos, until today when is was DARK BLACK. I called the front desk girls (thanks middle Kelli) of Corbin peds office and she got a message right off to Corb's GI doc, he called me personally and wants to know right away Monday morning how his poo looks over the weekend and wanted me to get him in right away to have his stool tested so I called into the medical home emergency number (thanks Sarah) and she got him in right away today. The doc (thank you Dr. Valentine) did 4 tests, all of which take days but she called me tonight and explained the way it looked and smelled it was full of blood OMG what is wrong with my son and also today he has become so blah and his tone is so weird, he's really looser but still super tight I just don't get it. The docs that did the test and changed the pump dose on Monday wanted his dose changed back NOW and of course Corb's PMNR doc is in Iraq, his nurse practitioner wasn't in so I either, got a hold of the other clinics nurse that has a pump machine or drive all the way back down to the cities OMG what next. THANK YOU again Kelli she rocked, she found the nurse for me and they got Corb in right away and the nurse was able to change it back to contentious (thank you Evie). So one thing down, now it's the waiting game for his poo. Can you believe one little tummy could give us so much trouble? UGH!!!

Corb's puppy is really neat. For being so young he's so calm, hardly mouths (bits) and doesn't even lick as much. He's a doll for potty time too. We have a little routine. I have a little container of dog treats that goes with us outside. I shake it and say go good boy potty and while he goes he stares at the container lol and as soon as he's done I cheer good boy potty and he sits down for his little treat and if he goes poo he gets two lol. When he has an accident in the house I tell him bad boy potty lol and he gets all sad lol I'm happy I gave in and got a puppy.

Caradie and Corbin

Pics

Dropshots

Caradie and Corbin

Meet Jak

I got Jak today after Corbie's GI doc apt. Which went OK, some of you may remember that Corb has always had gastro issues, he gets this terrible cramping, which can last days, where he postures = every thing gets tight, his hands are in little fists, his little legs just pull up with his toes curled and his face OMG it gets so bright red. I feel so bad because I thought I had it under control. Now I just have no choice, I have to put him on another med :-( but the GI doc thinks the Neurontin will help control the pain all the time so since I just can't get a handle on this tummy issue, I'm doing what I hate to do but I'm starting it tonight :-(

Update on this tummy ache.....he was crying or screaming all day until about 2pm, when I just held him, rubbing his tummy (which I have done many times since Monday night) and he FINALLY let out a REALLY good toot LOL I hate that I have to be happy about passing gas LOL

We have had the puppy now since around 1pm, he is so sweet. He only had one accident in the house and one (oops my fault) in the van eeeewwww he pooped, it was nasty LOL He did have a bit of food aggression but thats over. He goes outside and just stays right by us and goes potty when you tell him too. He's going to be easy to train YEAH for me lol

Meet Jak

Caradie and Corbin

In the ER

After we got home from the cities Corb started throwing up and then all day he has been screaming. Decided it was time to bring him in.

Caradie and Corbin

Pump test update

Home and mostly settled, 9:30am-6:30pm yuck 9 hours to find out the pump is working fine. That unfortunately means though the Baclofen might not help him, EVER but they are trying a different dosing system (4 bolas' 4x a day) So in normal people terms lol that means he will get a larger dose every 6 hours, instead of a small doses 24/7. I should know by tomorrow around 6pm if it makes any difference. I think they are willing to still go a little higher to keep trying but if his tone doesn't change drastically, the pump is outta here. That then, will mean this was the worst mistake of my life.....

Caradie and Corbin

Kinda scary

We are off too the cities again tomorrow, we leave around 9:30am, drive for 3 hours for a 30-45 min apt and then drive another 3 hours to get back home, yippie skippy so that means we wont be back until about 5:00 - 5:30pm YUCK I just love being gone for a whole day for one thing. And this time the reason is kinda scary too. Corb has to have a test on his Baclofen Pump, they will numb his skin over the pump and they have to stick a needle threw his skin into the machine and they are going to draw out the medication from the catheter (which is, what enters into his SPINE) if they can draw the med out smoothly all is good with the pump but.........!!!!!!!!! he can overdose when they go to put it back in if their not careful. An overdose of Baclofen can be life threating. That's when driving to the cities really is TOTALLY fine. He will be in a huge children's hospital just in case and they've done this a million and a half times.


Caradie and Corbin

Explaining

The reason I don't post videos here on his updates is, because it takes like an hour to upload videos onto blogger for some reason. It's just take minutes for dropshots

I did write in details on most of the videos though so at least I'm kinda updating LOL

Sorry for the inconvenience

Dropshots

Caradie and Corbin

Reaching

My baby is still learning 4 1/2 yrs after his accident. They said he would be a vegetable. Keep proving them wrong baby bear. DropShots

Sorry for no updates, life and facebook are distracting me LOL

Caradie and Corbin

CORD

I found my cord, so happppppy lol

Videos

Feel free to add us on facebook...
Caradie and Corbin

Explaining isn't easy...taping is easier lol

Since I don't have a camera (I got approved to get one through Corb's waiver program though, so it should only be a few more weeks yeah) So I will have to just try to explain todays amazing therapy session. OK so Jason had him in a sit and Corb and I were playing with a nob puzzle and he was doing a very nice job getting his arm/hand with the nob, to make contact with the board, well I instead asked him to give me the puzzle piece and I set the board next to his leg, and whispered to Jason, not like he's really going to be able to do that but.....and then OMG he did it, he looked right down at the board and pulled his little arm over there and made contact, I almost fell over. NEVER would I have though, well obviously I didn't think he could do it. And to top off the session, while rolling down the wedge 4 times he only needed help ONCE, one time wow and that time it was only because his little elbow got stuck under his side. It wasn't for lack of trying though, he was just throwing that one little leg trying to flop him self over but it just would GO lol.

OK warning VENTING below lol If you don't want to hear it stop here......

I can't remember if I have talked about therapies recently. But Corb got approved FINALLY for OT and ST (MA only approved ST to do feeding therapy, so he doesn't need to learn to communicate what foods he wants...dunno???) and we are still waiting for PT. The kid just had a Baclofen pump put in, he should be having intensive therapy and we still have to fight for just a little. It's just unfair being poor and having to be on state aide made me give up on my child, I just don't get it??? Why did paperwork and a state run therapist be given the right to hold up his case for the past 2 years. Makes me mad, sad and most of all embarrassed to have to live in this state. But we got something and Corb LOVES Jason and he's working on liking the ST ladies lol he's only them once each lol. I'm very happy with the little bit, it's better then the none.

Caradie and Corbin

Falling apart...

Sorry for the lack of anything. I don't want to bore anyone with the bad times and right now, these are some pretty bad times. I'm just having such a hard time trying to deal with my family and Me right now. It's hard to take care of me, without it affecting the care I would other wise be giving to Corb and everyone else. I feel very guilty that this last year has been a huge step back for him, well us, all because I wasn't and haven't ever taken care of me. I just hurt so bad mentally and physically ugh! I also miss sharing him with everyone, I have always enjoyed sharing him with all of you faithful followers but as I said who wants to hear bad stuff and now I can't even share videos of him, my stupid camera broken (I'm going through withdrawals not being able to tape my baby boy lol, I miss that part a lot). But things are at least on the mend (I hope) lol. So just bear with me, I'm trying to pull myself together.

Corb is doing amazing though!!!!! He's reaching way more and way faster. He can roll down the big wedge with only minimal assist (most attempts). He's looking at things much faster. One thing minor bad thing for Corb, due to him being on such a high dose of the Baclofen pump and him not really being loose enough, the doc wants to have this test (which is in the cities 3 hours one way UGH!!!) where they stick a needle into the pump, through the skin mind you, to test the catheter before he feels comfortable increasing him anymore :-( I'm very worried I made the wrong decision putting the pump in him. OK so one more bad thing for Corb but it's necessary. Corb's having Botox December 14th and that doc is putting him in ankle serial casts for approx. 3 weeks. He isn't going to be a happy camper. And since he isn't going to be able to do much anyway, I'm having surgery on my hands around that time too. I have moderate to severe carpal tunnel. I need to be able to feel my fingers LOL

No matter what though Corb is the most amazing person on this planet. He has something about him, that's just so......I don't even know, he's just so deep (as my shrink says lol) I have said many times before, Corb makes my world go around. I don't know where or who I would be today if it weren't for his love. Thanks little buddy.

I have been trying to live a little and since I don't really get to leave the house unless it's for like docs, therapy and other apt. I have really gotten into facebook, although I can't say I understand it totally yet lol but please feel free to add me/us. Until I delete the other account search for Caradie AndCorbin or even just Caradie but pick the account with just Corb's picture. I finally figured out how to delete the other account, but I'm just giving everyone time to switch over. Could ya just put a little note saying your a follower? I'm trying to make sure negative people aren't my friends. Thanks.

Bill has one now too (Bill Fritze, picture...he's on his bike). Which is kinda cool, we now have something more to talk about. Austin has one too (Austin Fritze, picture...is Roller skating) but he's in some trouble so he won't be on for a few days LOL. Thanks everyone!

Caradie and Corbin

Facebook

I have finally gotten around to making a new facebook. Feel free to request to be a friend. When you go to "Search for People" type in.... CaradieAnd Corbin

My camera broke so there won't be any pics or videos for awhile :-(

Hope all is well with everyone. Thank you again for being such faithful followers.

Caradie and Corbin

Under Quarantine

Austin is sick YUCK!!!!

Needless to say Noah is very excited he gets to camp out down stairs on the couch for tonight so he's not near Austin. We fed Austin super and snack in bed and his door is shut LOL And Corbin's room's curtains are shut, with the Lysol-spray in and spray out and hand sanitizer-form in and form outright there. Baby can't get sick. I'm already a little worried he doesn't really want to eat, he just does and he has been crying a lot more but I have also been gone a lot. I have been coughing for 3 months, I have been on and tried everything the doctors have told me to try and as of yet nothing has stopped the cough. I had a CT scan, I have sinusitis on top of the already bronchitis. Oh and to top it all off with all the coughing I have hurt my left rib cage BADLY. Like move just a little to much and squeak in pain (and still have to lift and move a 40# baby and a 62.5# wheelchair) OMG, my cat feel off the window and scared to BEEP out of me lol but I jumped so hard it felt like they all just broke, sucked!!! lol. We gotta get better he finally gets to get out of the house, with all of the other illness's and surgeries we were kinda cooped up for months.

Wish us luck to miss the H1N1.

Caradie and Corbin

Rolling and goober

Here's a clip of Corb's medication (Benztropine) starting to work very well. It's been 2 weeks at only 1ml, the dose will slowly continue to increase. I'm still increasing his pump every week - two weeks too, it's up to 610 (I think, kinda hard to keep track, Gillette is awesome about that though).


Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Stinker, he does reach up and play with the toys a lot more now, he has even gotten his arms/fingers caught in some of them.

Here's Corb rolling at Polinsky Medical Rehab Center with his new OT Jason. I'm pretty excited because yeah Corb has three guys in his life but none that, like pick him up and move him around so he has always been extra fearful of men and in only 3 sessions, he's not showing as many stranger danger reactions. He's really handling this whole VERY new situation rather well. It's pretty cool too Jason already knew of Corb because 3 years ago he was attending the college of St. Scholastica, were Corb goes for their OT clinic (here we come in Feb Yeah!). Jason didn't have Corb there but he knew of him and remembered him right away. Jason has been really great and very understanding of...see now here's were I would get “get over it” from some people and it makes me not want to write what I want to say.....guess what I'm doing it anyway...Jason is very nice about the fact that I know Corb very well and that I just want to show him WHO Corb is, like the words I use, be it...get your head, sit way up, stick it way out and hold it (his tongue for chocolate lol) etc., or like how he needs a little help with that arm or that leg or like if you sit him cross-legged you have to tip his hips back or he can't stay up by himself (and isn't that the point) or like if you just wiggle a toy in front of him he will lift his head and will continue to engage with you or that face means something feels yucky or that face means he's VERY scared (this one makes me cry) or that face means he's hurting, maybe his tummy, maybe his tone has kicks in and a toy is under his hand and the pressure/force of his arm pushing down is hurting a hand/finger and since he don't know how to move his hand, the tone just continues to push harder harder harder and people want me to get over it when I want to share with school WHO he is. Oooooops didn't mean to write a book but anyway THANK YOU Jason for making me feel proud to be the mom I am and allowing me to be open to share my ideas and feelings with you and thank you for being excited to share your ideas with me. You and Corb are going to have a great time.


Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing


Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing


Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

OK so on we go to my very silly 14 year old lol

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing


Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

We're thinking about asking the city maybe like the Mayor or some one, if him and his friends can do this as a fundraiser. They could collect donations while acting like goobers lol.

Corbin Lee's committee is working on a time and date to hold a fundraising meeting.

Caradie and Corbin

Last few days

Here's a few photos and videos


Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing


Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Austin just turned 14yrs old and he's WAY taller then me.

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Stonie's van.
Corb was pretty stressed out getting in and out but I know over time he's going to love it. While he was in the van he was totally fine.

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing


Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

At it again...Velcro wall

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Caradie and Corbin

Dropshots

Dropshots

Not myself and black eye

So obviously you all may have noticed I have not been myself for quite some time now. A friend had said a while ago (Hi Liz), it's been a rough year for you guys huh? and really it's has been, it's been nothing but hospitals, surgeries, family issues, loosing two different workers that we all became very close to, no therapy, no makeover, still only being on the “list” for a waiver program, negative people (thank you), no physical support (all of you guys (well most) are such great supporters here) and then school almost pushed me over the top.

Well today when I walked into my shrinks office, she looked me right in the eye and said OMG your back. What did you do? I told her, I'm keeping my kid.

I have been seeing this same lady on and off for over 10 years (they only have to keep records for 10 yrs lol). She told me she has never seen me so devastated as she did last week. I know, I know some of you say get over it but the moment I decided I wasn't sending Corbin to school anymore, the weight of the world lifted off my shoulders and amazing things had already started to fall into place. I got a letter last week, Corbin's name came up for the next spot on the waiver program. He gets $3,000 a year to use for equipment, educational items, YMCA pass for the family, plus some other things. Then on Monday I called our medical assistance member services to ask how the PA's were going for therapy services and the guy said it looked like one for muscle retaining (PT) was approved, I freaked inside LOL, I calmly called the therapy center but sadly she hadn't gotten anything yet. But... the next day she called me and said yeah!!! OT was approved. He's already scheduled for 2x next week. Nothing about PT though but I'm hoping that got approved too and it just hasn't gotten to them yet. I have been fighting the state for 2 years to provide him with therapy services. 2 long years, he might have progressed even more if I actually had professional therapists helping me. Sorry I'm bit bitter that my poorness made me have to give up on my child. Noah came home one day from a friends house crying telling me that the friend's dad said maybe if your mom would get a job (to my 11 year old mind you). A day in the life of me over these past 5 years, unsure when a job would have fit in. But anyway back to the awesome news. Oh yeah I did say I wasn't sending Corb to school anymore, didn't I? I e-mailed his teacher, principal and the special education director, explaining I would no long be sending Corbin to school. I asked about homebound but that doesn't look likely. OK so now I know here even the not negative people are going to say he needs school for the socialization. Well before I made this huge decision to keep Corb home, I of course thought of that. And well Corb is the most social kid I know, ok maybe it won't be with his peers but WOW do the college girls go crazy over him. Speaking of college....YEAH we get to go back to UMD speech next week and in Feb we will go to CSS for OT. Now that we will have a Y pass Corb can also go to the little kids swim class again. Also I contacted Head Start to see if since he's only 5 and doesn't “have” to go to kindergarten, could he come back to school there. I have the application, stopping tomorrow to turn it in. On my way to a friend's house.

This gets me to my last exciting news. A local on-line supporter, a mom (my new friend Hi Paulette) of a kiddo like Corb and one of our past workers are going to help me have a “Not So Extreme MakeOver” Fundraising Weekend For Corbin Lee Fritze.

There are no finalized details but here's the rough draft.....

PS besides Corbin's black eye he has been great. Tummy issues still but crazy hyper, so funny and sleeping great.

Dropshots

Caradie and Corbin

Thank you Pam

Thanks Pam for explaining how to get a drop shots video on blogger.


Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

One of the firefighters

On the extreme makeover she tonight, Lane the firefighter that spoke a lot. Was the man who helped save Corbie's life.

Ironic eh!!!!

Caradie and Corbin

Tonights Extreme Makeover

The Extreme Makeover home edition with the family from our area is on right now.

I have many tears.

I have an awesome plan though> I will reveal it soon!!!!

Caradie and Corbin

Our day together and a special thanks

I added a few silly videos from today. Corb was a goof all day and the pain patches and meds are helping my back a lot. I doubt I have ever mentioned, I'm the one with scoliosis. Corb's back is only 10% and that is not even considered scoliosis.

To fore worn you, when Corb is goofy that makes me goofy LOL Videos


I want to thank you so much Jennifer. Your phone call was just such perfect timing. I felt much more confident when I spoke with school again, too. And wow a card too, that was so awesome of you. You made me feel very special THANK YOU!!!

Thank you to all who have been so supportive, it's very helpful to know so many are still backing you.

Caradie and Corbin

Ever feel like giving up

For those of you who have the “GET OVER IT” attitudes please don't bother reading this post!!!! I ain't over it and won't be.

For those of you who care. Life is still way stressful. I'm not going to be getting into details (not even about the IEP). So besides school being difficult, my back has been hurting so badly, bad enough I went to the doctor today. MA wrote back to the therapy center again, stating that they needed more information, again!!! and it's something the lady had already sent in, again. UGH!!!! And the huge stressor our families life, is that we have always had troubles with PCWs. Sometimes we have none at all, sometimes they just don't show up and we have never had the same one for more then a couple of months at a time, for one reason or another. So I have to train in new ones over... and... over... So it's like I still have to do all the work, most of the time anyway, I might as well do it all myself.....

So I have decided to “give up” for 4 days LOL

I canceled the worker for Saturday, Sunday and Monday, Tuesday were going to be two new people anyway so I just told her to have them wait. This way Corb and I will have a 4 day weekend together. Because on Monday he has two doctor appointments in the morning and then Noah has one later in the day so Corb is just staying home from school all day anyway. (I'm taking all three, so they can get their flu shots OUCH). And Tuesday is no-school, staff development. So with these next 4 days I can gather my thoughts without interruptions. I have a lot of decisions to make in life right now and none of which are easy ones.

On the Corbie front, he's doing great. Besides his tummy issues, he had a tummy attack at school a few days ago. The nurse even called me to come get him. (sadly they got to see a bad one, by the time I got there his face was bright red, his heart was beating so hard and he was just sweating). But I'm working with the new gastrologist for that. He's been feeling better now for a few days.

Something awesome, he's reaching a lot more. We increased his pump again, he's now at 460 so he's a bit looser. We are going to be a bit more aggressive turning up the pump because his tone is almost as bad as it was before the pump so if it's not going to give him way better results soon, it was the wrong decision and I want it out. But I still have hope it was the right decision.

He's been a very good boy. He NEVER cries when I put him to bed anymore and he has been sleeping through most nights, the other day he decided 4am was time to get up though, yuck. So sleep has been a big plus ;-P

I have good and bad news for poor Corb. Monday the 5th he's getting botox injections in his legs and then she's going to serial case his ankles. He's going to be so ticked but this will be so good for his little legs, their really tight.

As for Austin, now that he's 14 years old, he can work a few hours a week so at the World Of Wheels roller skating rink, where he has been volunteering for the whole summer, wants to hire him. He's so excited. And we're very proud of him for choosing a safe place to get involved in. He also has been playing the stand up bass for all three years of middle school.

And for Noah, now that he's in middle school, he has decided to take the viola. He's so proud to be like is brother (even tho they HATE each other LOL).

I know I really never talk about the brothers but their typical older boys, off and running, I hardly see them so to be able to write about what they do is pretty tough LOL.

Our family has issues but (for the most part) my boys are great :-D They are very nice boys and I'm proud of them for dealing with “this” life as well as they have.

Thank you every who has stuck be us even in hard times.

Caradie and Corbin

THANK YOU

I want to thank all of you who have been and are still so supportive. I'm glad there are more supporters then there are crabby people :-P

The IEP was yesterday so after I pull my self "back" together again, I will update about it.

Corb is doing and being amazing. I love listening to the therapists brag him up. He's still nervous and still has tummy issues but over all he seems to really be having fun.

Caradie and Corbin

Proud of him

We tried out the walker today. It's been awhile since we have had a chance to use it, as it's been to sunny.

He also has been sucking a lot harder. He loves chunks of apple.

Check out dropshots

Caradie and Corbin

Why do you follow???

Everyone is welcome to their opinion, but what I don't understand is, those of you who think so negatively towards my feelings, that it makes you feel it would be ok to leave comments like that, why follow Corbin's story at all.


Dear anonymous,

The correlation is that both childhood and Corbin's accident were very traumatic and with PTSD it's hard emotionally to recover from stressful things, not to mention a bunch in a row and yeah to the "common" person a child leaving to kindergarten shouldn't be stressful but it's more stressful to me then anyone could ever imagine and I have the right to feel anyway that I do.

And to who ever you are. I do, do this all alone because you are right I don't talk about Bill helping because he don't but that's not any one's business but mine. He does what he can with what he has. Everyone copes with things differently. I have accepted that.

How I cope, is do everything I can to try to help my son get better. His way is to provide for our family.

Caradie and Corbin

What this is doing to me

People say oh he's safe at school no one will hurt him, all kids have to go to school, you need time for your self or get over it and others say they understand but how can someone else understand when I'm not sure I understand.

I know my love for Corb has always been so deep and so strong. It's just I have longed for someone to help me fix him and after 2 years of begging for therapy, he finally gets it but it's somewhere I can't be. I'm going to miss everything. He's going to learn and grow and be so amazing and I don't get to witness it. Some say well that happens with all children and moms when they start kindergarten but those children have already been able to learn the basics. The moms got to share that whole time. Corb still has to start at the beginning and for the past 4 years I have tried to get him as far as I could but darn it I'm only one person. I just wanted help with him, not for someone else to do it all. This is just so hard. I want to spend every moment with him but I can't. I just so want him to get better and I even know he will but it's just so unfair it took until now for it to happen and I don't get to be there.

It's just so unfair.

I love you baby boy.

Something else to maybe help people understand me better and not judge. I have been diagnosed with PTSD since I was young. I witnessed and received a lot of abuse when I was a child and then my baby choked to death in my arms.

I have been having may flashbacks, especially since school started. And other little things happen like I had to run to the store on Wednesday and I went to kiss my Corbie bye, like I always do before I leave and I forgot he wasn't there. I cried and cried. Thankfully Bill was here. He has been really good about this.

I'm trying really I am

Bus

I don't think I will ever stop crying when I have to put him on the bus. It's just so hard to see your baby leave and be scared and not be able to hold his hand to tell him it's ok.

Then today Bill was at work so I didn't have anyone, but I did call him. He's being so supportive.

Darn it, this is hard.

Caradie and Corbin

Corbin's school firsts

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Computers UGH

A friend of mines son came over to help out with my computer. Sadly it's acting up again, so I'm not able to do much that's why I haven't been posting or doing videos and pictures :-(

Things are still hard for me, with Corb and school. Tomorrow I'm putting him on the bus, meeting him at school, staying with him for a bit, coming home and then I will go back to school and help get him back on the bus and meet him at home. I'm going to do that on Wed too. And try real hard not to go Thur at all. We will see.

Caradie and Corbin

First step

It's 12:30pm and I'm home without Corb. I'm trying, really I am.

I keep tearing up but he really likes it so that makes it a bit easier.

I'm SOOOOOOOOO proud of him. He had gym today and had a great time. They played duck duck goose and when he was the goose the gym teacher ran him around trying to catch his friend. He was smiling the whole time and not scared. He did give the yuck face when he had to touch his friends tho LOL He has a very hard time with sensory issues.

Man do I love him.

Caradie and Corbin

Writing things down

I have two pages full of notes just from today lol.

Please no one worry about being blunt or anything else because you can't tell me more then I have told myself, it's just really hard when it's a kiddo like Corb. Mom's of "normal" kids have a hard time letting go, imagine a mom that's child died in her arms and then haven't left his side since.

Everyone says you deserve time for yourself, really honestly that's not what I want for myself, never have but I know Corb needs to be in school. I would totally be his aide if the law would allow it. Not for one moment have I ever felt too burnt out to want someone else to take care of him. I would spend every moment of every day with him forever.

I'm trying really I am.

As for the IEP. The goals they have for him are set WAY to high. So I have requested that all the therapists do full evaluations instead of using the medical based evaluation reports from a therapy center that hasn't even been able to work with him ever. The PT is doing hers on Tue sometime. And a new IEP meeting is going to be in about two weeks so everyone can gather ideas, including ME!!!

I will not let them jerk me around but I also have to work on trusting them, I said I'm trying lol

I love him so much.

Caradie and Corbin

School update

The principal, the special ed teacher and myself had a meeting today. I do feel a lot better about things but there still are some things I need to share with them about Corb before I will leave him in their care all alone and although I don't think they don't have training, they don't know Corb and his needs and feelings. I will not back down from them learning him partially through me first. Of course they will have to learn lots of things about him without me but some things are just to important for them to have to guess. He has feelings that no one else knows until I tell them.

I love my baby bear with all my heart, I don't ever want him to be scared.

Example= One thing that I have always worried about happening, happened today. While the teacher and aides were getting the other kids into the other room, Corb sat in his room all alone (except me) for about 10 - 15 mins. He would have been crying by the time they came back for him because he even started to whine with me right there.

I'm trying I really am.

Love love LOVE the PT. She's so sweat and totally understands my feelings about getting to know him through me. I'm not saying the others aren't too but she's just got this great personality. She did make Corb cry his first day though LOL she stood up from a computer chair and it popped up and scared Corb BADLY, he cried and cried.

Caradie and Corbin

School

So far I hate everything about his school.

Caradie and Corbin

1st day of school

Today's the day!

I've only cried a little this week (ok well a lot). I know this is whats best for him but I have never been away from him EVER. I'm staying with him for the first couple of weeks and I'm going to volunteer as much as I can but this is still such a HUGE step.

The year before when he was in preschool I was taking pictures and video of him at school and I got a letter stating I had to remove everything from on-line so I will see what I can and can not video. I will be very disappointed if they won't let me video at all. As you all know this website is my way of sharing him with the whole world and it has helped me emotionally too so I really hope they will have some way for me to be able to video somethings.

Caradie and Corbin

Computer problems

Does anyone local know someone that fixes computers cheap???

please contact me at corbinleeproject@yahoo.com

Caradie and Corbin

Splashy time

Dropshots

Pink eye

The other eye is infected now too.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Caradie and Corbin

Just an update

Sorry for the lack of updates. Everyone has been so sick. Of course I'm the worst :-(

This all started around 4th of July with Austin coughing, then I got it, then Bill and Noah. No coughing for Corb. Then Austin started having a very sore throat and a temp on and off for a few days, then I got it, but of coughing I'm still coughing BAD too and now Corb has been sick since Tuesday, as long as I give him ibuprofen every 4 hours, his fever stays down but if I was even a little late, he would get a pretty high fever about 104.8 rectally.

His bad tummy ache came back on Tuesday too. I gave him just a touch of adivan and he was then fine. But you could just see the pain on his little face and the way he holds his body, he was hurting. Today was his scheduled GI appointment anyway. He's going to try Corb on a new med. It's to relieves muscle spasms and cramping in the gastrointestinal tract. Wish someone would have thought of this one a long time ago. I haven't started it though the pharmacy had to order it. It would rock if it works. Poor kid. It sucks having a tummy ache all the time.

School starts in 12 days. I think I'm excited LOL I'm really trying because I know how good this is going to be for him. And me too, it will get me out of the house. Oh have I mentioned I'm going with him for the first couple of weeks lol I have always volunteered at the boy's school. So I'm pretty excited to get back with lots of little kids and some even like Corb. After the first weeks, I of course won't go everyday and the days I do go, I'm going to play with the other little kids. I want Corb to see Momma can play with others and not just him lol

Something new has been going on around here too. Noah has been paying a little more attention to Corb and boy-o-boy does Corb think he's funny. In the doc's office today, Noah kept saying 68 and Corb would just roar. The other day it was, I dropped a big turd (a boy thing lol) and Corb just thought it was so funny.

So I'm off, I'm heading to bed early. I gotta kick this soon. Coughing is just killer on the chest. And tiring.

Caradie and Corbin

Ooops

I have been “still” working very hard to get Corb therapy and since MA has been jerking around the therapy center for so long the therapists need to do evaluations over again UGH So Wednesday Corb had evaluations with PT and ST. He was a very good boy for the PT but I have a cute little story about something that happened in the ST evaluation. The therapist was asking him to look at different things and he tends to smile and giggle about everything so it's hard to know if he means YES but he did something I have never "ever" seen him do before she asked him to look at me, he gave big smiles but was so excited he couldn't quite do it but then she asked him is that your momma, pointing at the other person in the room and the look on his face was amazing, he had this shocked, odd look and looked over at the person and just stared at her and the therapist asked again is that your momma and he didn't react at all but when the therapist said again wheres momma he gave a huge smile and giggled and looked right at me. I just couldn't believe he understood and reacted that way. It was definitely a NO answer. Things kinda feel like they have plateaued (I'm only one person UGH) But he makes me more proud everyday anyway.

Caradie and Corbin

Videos

Videos

Movin on

Well only one person ever contacted me about helping the other families so I guess it's just time to move on with life.

Corb starts school in about 19 days UGH!!! I'm trying to get excited :-D

We have one PCW that we love so that has been helpful, after school starts she will be here from about 3:30-8:30. This will be a great break for me as shes very good at doing his exercises even without me.

Austin is sick with something else now, he has been running a temp of 101 for a few days. I brought him in last night she thinks strep but the quick test was negative so she's pumping him full of ibuprofen for now. If the 24 hour test shows he has it, then he will need antibiotics too. GREAT I better not get it too lol I'm still hacking bad. I don't need a soar throat too. Corb has still been fine. Thank goodness.

Have a great day. I'm hoping too, a little friend (like Corb but from birth) we met at UMD speech, invited us out to their little hobby farm to meet the animals and to hang out. It should be fun.

One more thing, no doggy. He liked cats to much. He tried to lick/taste lol the little kitten we tested him with and then when I brought him by a cat cage and when the cat flipped out he jumped up on the cage barking. So he isn't right for our house but we are going to go visit him because he's a great calm dog for Corb to at least pet.

Caradie and Corbin

Feedback

Would like to hear more feedback about your ideas.

Someone had suggested a facebook? Anyone hear if one was started?

Break time

OK guys I need a break. I took all the posts about the makeover off. Time to move on. UGH!!!

Corb is doing fantastic again. He's very hyper and happy and so alert and so aware, it's time to go on with life and go play with the funnest kid ever :-D

He starts school in 25 days, that don't give me much time. I'm still trying to be OK with this huge step ;-)

He's going to do and be great at school.

Have a great day

Caradie and Corbin

Hyper boy

Added a video to dropshots

***SCREAM*** what next

Austin just got hit by a car. He's fine but come on will the bad luck ever stop UGH!!!

Man was he shaken though. He was still trembling in the van on the way home. He did say that the ankle that was broke last year stings a little but no scraps or anything. His bike on the other hand needs some fixing, the whole tire is bent and his brake line got cut but he's ok thank goodness he's ok. He was even making a funny. He was explaining what happened to me and he said yeah mom I didn't even hit the ground, I just fell off running LOL

Caradie and Corbin

Fair day.

I added videos of today's trip to the fair. This is the first time we all went some where together. Corb was a bit nervous, especially with the animals (you will see in the videos) but over all he was such a good boy.

Little story about a mouse in the shoe LOL

Noah's shoes were outside, he brought them in to wash them up and while he was at the sink, he felt the shoe move and out popped a mouse, it ran across his hand and fell off the counter. We ALL including 3 of the cats where chasing this little mouse through the house trying to catch it. Honestly I ain't afraid of really anything but whoa did I scream like a girl when it came towards me LOL Bill finally caught it in the bathroom and we watched him try to run through the grass. He was a pretty scared little mouse.

Caradie and Corbin

Update: Extreme makeover home edition

I'm trying to keep calm LOL!!!

On our local news they announced that ABC's Extreme makeover is coming to our area. Everyone will know August 3rd.

Keep your fingers crossed guys!!!

News story

Cardie and Corbin

Organized

I'm trying to get things organized but my computer is crap lol. For some reason I can't get videos to upload here, unless I added them to one true media first. For now check out dropshots 7-16-09 update

Caradie and Corbin

Tummy pain

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Funk land

I have been giving Corb a little ativan to help keep him calmed down. When he is totally with it he jumps about everything and then the pain is there. He has pulled off to the side-almost screaming a few time, but he's so far into funk land he's handling things better. He's eating pretty well again so that's a start but he's not poo'ing great and you can't lay him flat for anything lenght of time or he will vomit. But all in all he's at least stable with his pain.

Nanci, I can't wait for the GI on Thur too. He needs an upper GI and a colonoscopy and maybe a swallow study like the hospital doc was going to do next. I shouldn't have left UGH!!!

Caradie and Corbin

It's always something

Corb's still jumping in pain and fear. Nanci (PLEASE don't ever feel like you **or anyone** is bugging me, I need you guys help, docs don't listen) I too, believe it's bowels but now that we left the hospital though his primary wants to wait to have him see the GI doc and he isn't in until Thur so Corb has to be in pain until then YIPPIE. I'm getting him to go poo, with the miralax is almost water again but if somethings wrong, going poo isn't going to stop the pain. UGH!!!

I'm just so scared for him. I know when I have a little gas it's a huge pain. I can't even imagine how bad it is for him because he doesn't even understand how to push a toot out.

I am heading off to a different doc here in a sec though so maybe he will have a better idea of to go next so Corb don't have to wait so long.

Also today we found out Austin has pneumonia. SCREAM!!!

Caradie and Corbin

Still don't know

Corb vomited all day yesterday, slept for 2hours and was very blah. Today he has begun jumping again in fear and pain but I think that's tummy issues. So since he hasn't been vomiting today I decided it was time to come home, so we're home. We still have no idea what's wrong but I was sick of being there and on a weekend you don't find anything out anyway, if he starts vomiting again I will just bring him back. UGH!!! but for now he's hanging out watching his cartoons.

Thank you everyone for your support

Caradie and Corbin

Just wanna scream

He vomited last night and again already this morning UGH!!!!

Hospital update

Corb's peds admitted him. The doc took xrays of his hips and ultrasounds of his kidneys. Both came back fine. Took blood waiting for the results. Doc thinks maybe the pump was turned down to fast and thats why he's so jumpy. I'm just not convinced, he seems to be in a lot of pain, withdrawals don't cause pain but we will see.

Caradie and Corbin

I'm so freaked out

Something is wrong with Corb and I just can't figure it out. He's now jumping at everything, keeps wanting to cry and is in pain somewhere. We're going back to the doc tomorrow but she's just an average pediatrician so I'm unsure how it will go but I have to do something.

Monday June 22 vomited all day ER around 5pm IV fluids and anti-nausea meds-blood and urine tests

Tuesday June 23 slept all day

Wednesday-Thursday June 24-25 lethargic, large pupils

Friday June 26 vomiting again ER again IV fluids, anti-nausea meds and turned his pump down 10% per Dr murphy's request-blood tests

Saturday June 27 some better

Sunday June 28 vomiting again ER again IV fluids, anti-nausea meds and turned his pump down 10% by Dr murphy-blood tests

Seemed to be feeling better

Friday July 3 Blood and blood clots in urine, ER again IV fluids-blood and urine tested-ER doc came up with probable UTI, sent home on antibiotics

There was only a small amount of blood after the 3-4 times with a lot.

Monday July 6 Check-up Nurse practitioner, urine tested on Friday had so much blood the test wasn't able to tell if there was a UTI, urine tested again (with cath) test still negative for UTI.

Tuesday July 7 began jumping at everything

Today Wednesday July 8 still jumping at everything and he's reacting like he's in a great deal of pain ***somewhere***

I'm just so worried about him. I can normally figure out what is wrong but this one seems so extremely extreme UGH!!!

Caradie and Corb man

Thought he was getting better

Corb threw up again last night, if that wasn't scary enough this morning the PCW came running to me, there's blood in Corbie's diaper. While inspecting the bloody diaper Corb went pee (all over the bed) so I was actually able see it, it was bright red and there were also some blood clots. SCARED, hysterically crying and panic overwhelmed me. I rushed him to the ER again (4th time) they look a urine sample (full of blood), the doctor said it looked probable that there's an infection. Not a big fan of the probable part. So he gave Corb a shot of antibiotics and some to take at home and sent us on our way with the diagnosis of a UTI.

We are to go to Corb's peds doc on Monday to get another urine sample.

I want it to only be a UTI but I'm just so worried it isn't that and it's something really bad.

When I say red I really mean red and the clot scare me so bad. UGH!!!

Caradie and Corbin

Video post X 2

Sorry guys my computer just won't let me upload videos here.


Dropshots

Video post.....

Dropshots

Corb is very sick

The whole story....Monday Corb vomited any time he was awake. Around 6pm with no letting up, thinking maybe he had the tummy flu and was now a bit dehydrated, I decided it was time to get him to the ER for some IV fluids and the IV form of an anti-nausea med. We went home late and he (we) slept almost all day Tuesday with no vomiting. Wednesday and Thursday still no vomiting, (he even seemed to be pepping up a little bit) this whole time he has been very lethargic, no interest, no smiles, whines, moans, screams and then this morning YIPPIE the vomiting started again bad.

So this time I decided maybe I needed to look into it being his Baclofen pump so I called that Dr's nurse and after speaking with many different nurses we all came to the conclusion to just bring Corb back to the ER. Although his pump Dr. didn't think it had anything to do with the vomiting, he wanted the pump turned down by 10% anyway and he was in the cities doing outreach so he couldn't do it. So off to the ER again, they started another IV fluids and gave him more anti-nausea meds. We got the pump turned up and his tummy calmed down, we came right home and I started his tube feeding very slowing trying to keep his tummy a little full, all the time so he don't feel hungry and want to vomit more. And with his tummy calmed down he will then be able to keep down the liquid form of the anti-nausea. Keeping my fingers crossed anyway hoping this works because he's still very lethargic and seems so not Corb, I'm scared out of my mind.

Caradie and Corbin

Corbin needs you guys!!!!!!!

Guys do your magic...Pray, send warm wishes, good thoughs what ever you all do?

Corb is VERY sick!!!!! We are on the way to the ER right now.

Caradie and Corbin

Had to cancel Shriner's

Corb was very emotional yesterday and he woke up at 3am this morning. He does that sometimes so I wasn't to worried about it. The driver was here, Bill and Austin had almost everything in the van and Corb started puking UGH!!!!!!!!!!!

So needless to say poor Corb is sitting on the couch, which is covered in" just in case" towels, watching cartoons, not on the road to therapy :-(

If he feels better by this evening though he does have horse therapy, that I needed to cancel and forgot until last night so that's still an option.

Someday I'm going to run out of tears. UGH!!!

Caradie and Corbin

President Obama

I re-did Corbie's room with the monies President Obama gave out to people on SSI.

We love it!!!

It takes to long to upload videos here so their on dropshots


Caradie and Corbin

Shriner's childrens hospital

Corb and I are off to Shriner's on Monday for the week of intensive therapy they offered. I'm hopeful that this will help kick off a great summer.

I have added a few pics and videos to dropshots lately, that show how much looser he is. The dose was increased again on Tuesday of this week so I hope that will be enough to make this week go even better.

I also hope this week (therapy vacation) will be a great mental break lol :-)

Caradie and Corbin

Crash, boom, bang

I uploaded a few pics and a video to Dropshots

Please know Corb is doing amazing!!!

But sadly things seem to keep crashing down around me, it's taking me some time to gather myself back up this time.

I'm getting a much needed break though. On June 22, Corb and I are going to Shriner's children's hospital for 1week of intensive therapy. This will be the first therapy he has had in quite some time. I'm happy they were able to provide this for him but a little disappointed it's only a week. I'm totally taking what I can get though :-)

Be back soon guys I promise.

Caradie and Corbin

Stronger emotions

Corb has always reacted when little kids come by him but this is extreme. He was sooooo scared!!!! BTW...If I wasn't trying to tape this, I wouldn't have asked Jackson to go back by Corb until he was used to him. It breaks my heart to see him scared but I'm so proud of him that he's able to understand enough to have this strong of a reaction.

I have many things to update about but I haven't had time to sit down and write. My laptop is toast and my PC is upstairs, I don't like being that far from Corb.

Caradie and Corbin

Corbie's party

Thank you to all who were here with us in heart.

Here are a few pictures of the party.


Corb has never done well with the sun (or wind) so he was only outside for about an hour. Then Jenny brought him in to eat and have a bath etc. We always try to keep his bed time as consistence as we can. He doesn't cry at all anymore at bed time and I would like to keep it that way. If it ain't broke don't fix it LOL.



Also there's a video of Jackson's first time on a trampoline. I couldn't get it to upload here so it's at dropshots.





Caradie and Corbin

Re-Birthday

Join us for:
Corbin's re-Birthday party

When: Friday May, 22
Time: 4:00pm-7:00pm
Where: 1620 N 28th St
Why: 4th year anniversary of Corbin's accident.

Hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, chips and pop will be served.

No presents necessary
Pot luck welcomed

Caradie and Corbin

3 hours and 45 mins

I can't remember if I mentioned that I sent Corbin's PCW company a huge packet for them to send in, while asking for more hours. In the packet I explained, detail by detail adding up for 13 hours a day, I of course knew I wouldn't get that many, but it would have been nice to get more then 3 hours and 45 mins. It's better then none I guess.

I was pretty sad but I'm feeling better about it now.
The new hours will be 7:30-12:15 and 4:30-7:30

Sarah and Jenny should be able to stay. And the new Tiffany is hoping to stay. So we need one more and then a float.

http://www.dropshots.com/babycorbin

Caradie and Corbin

“Miniature therapist....”

I'm unsure if I have ever mentioned my councilor Linda, well she has been my savior, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have been able to handle what has come into our lives.

Last week Linda told me I deserved Sarah. As she is a wonderful worker, she loves Corb so much & I'm proud to say she's my friend (until now, I haven't had any in-person friends, since before Corbie's accident) & her son, Jackson has become our families “Miniature therapist....” We all have been working through our feelings (even Bill lol)

Please take a look at his dropshots “First skating” and “Walking/playing with Jackson”

Caradie and Corbin

First Circus

Corb was to young to bring him to the circus before his accident and since his accident I didn't feel he could handle something like that but I decided it was time to try.

Me, Austin, Noah, Corbin, Sarah and Jackson. (Shhhh she's Corbin's PCW and her 17month old son) went to the Circus today. It turned out to be a GREAT try. Besides right when it started he did amazing.

When they first started they turned off the lights and started talking at the same time, that scared him pretty bad but he didn't cry. Other then that the only time he jumped was when the popcorn/peanut, ect. people came by. A toy guy noticed that he scared Corb and he bent down and asked me, would he like one of these and he gave Corb a light up toy. I almost teared up :-)

He watched a lot of the acts. If he started to loose interest I would just ask him to look at “what ever” (he liked the elephants the most) he would look right away. He was really bored though LOL. It was boring, so boring Jackson fell asleep for over half of it LOL

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

After the show Sarah just came back to the house and started early. While she was working with Corb I was playing Jackson and Austin said you play with her kid more then your own (I know he didn't mean it) but oh my goodness did that break my heart, I ran to the bathroom crying. I pulled myself together and then as soon as Austin seen me he asked what's the matter mom and I tried to say lets not talk about it and I lost it again UGH!!! I haven't cried about Corb in a very long time but WHOA that was harder then I thought. Playing with a toddler made me miss Corbin in away but I really don't remember him anyway.

After they left I laid by him telling him how much I loved him, tears rolling and he was just looking and looking at me, I think he understood I was sad.

I have a few videos to add on dropshots but it's getting late so I will upload them tomorrow.

Caradie and Corbin

Videos and Photos

I added some videos and photos on http://www.dropshots.com/babycorbin

Caradie and Corbin

So much to update about.

I don't even know where to begin, I just know I'm so proud of Corb for trying so hard & being such a good boy through all this.

Since the pump he has been doing a few different things.

He has been making different sounds while “goober” talking & laughing.

He's sitting very well, many seconds without help.

While on his tummy, some of the time, he's able to bring both arms forward. Not over his head YET

He has been able to reach for things better, him & I have learned how he has to do it while sitting in his feeding chair, he draws his arm back, opens his hand & when he brings his arm forward to reach for something, he sometimes makes open hand contact but he always touches it. He was playing with play-doh & soft toys & he was able to grab them many times, he even picked up a bear.

He also has walked down the alley two different times this last week & he ROCKED at it. I never thought he would be able to use the walker we have anymore because of the way it's designed but it works fine. He was taking many steps before he would stop, get stiff & then hop but it was very fun. We walked down to meet the new neighbors. They have a large slab of concrete so I unlocked the wheels from going straight & he walked all over. He doesn't like know how steer but he got all over. I would just make sure he didn't run into one of the million kids that were there (she has a day care) lol

Tuesday while his teacher was here, when he was done playing, I sat him on the couch (I didn't turn his shows on) & I sat at the table with his teacher, well he's a bit spoiled LOL he starting huffing, then when I got up to grab something & sat back down at the table, I broke his heart, he got upset, got the boo boo lip (I normally would have run to him but I wanted to show his teacher his reaction) but he didn't lose it, he just had a few tears run down his little cheeks. He has NEVER done that before, if he gets the boo boo lip he's going to completely lose it. She said it's just amazing how he showed a different emotion. Her noticing that & pointing it out, made me feel great. It's so great when others notice the changes too.

Corb has learned to blow, it's VERY funny. When I put my finger or the toothbrush in his mouth,
he closes his lips around it like he's going to suck (he does that too) but now he blows too. My laptop is out of memory so I haven't been able to take many videos, but I'm going to try to get that one, it's just cracks me up every time & I show everyone lol Bill asked me the other day, you sure are amusing your self, aren't you LOL Sure was!!!

He has been doing way better with eating, he's actually taking bits, before you kinda just shoved it in when his mouth was open, now he waits for the bit, also we have been trying to do some baby foods that he has to chew & he's been doing ok with it. Still scares the sh!# out of me though. His drinking is so much better too, he loves his chocy milk. He finds it right away now.
He seems to be understanding more “cue words” like, head back, head up, bend, push straight, wait & when he reaches for something I tell him, put your arm way back & open. I really think he's catching on, since he has better control over his own body. The dose needs to be increased more to really tell how well the pump is working but I can really say for sure it was the right choice!!!!

The wheelchair guy took measurements last week & Corb gets his new chair Tuesday. YEAH!!! Then in a few weeks we will get a Dynavox eye gaze system to try for four weeks.

It has taken to me two days to write this, I can't believe I haven't went crazy yet LOL (it will be 4yrs in a month) I just never imagined my life would be like this, I have so much to take care of & to think about. A marriage, a boy with Aspergers, a boy not doing so great in school, a Corbie kind of child, all the things that come along with special needs like wheelchair, therapies, doctors, medications, the huge pump in him & to top it all off I have three – four other adults to manage (his PCWs) don't get my wrong, I wouldn't give it up for the world but UGH!!! oh and my shrink wants me to start leaving the house for a couple hours, a day a few days a week, without anyone.

Caradie and Corbin

Holy COW

To understand "Holy COW" you will have to watch them all LOL

Man do I love him. Sorry I got kinda loud, I was a bit excited :-)

Caradie and Corbin

Circle of Hope

On one of the support groups I belong to has a WONDERFUL lady named Kate, she is the founder of Circle of Hope. She makes BEAUTIFUL quilts for each child on this group, exclusively. And it was Corbie's turn, she teased me the whole time, telling me I would love it but she wasn't going to tell me the theme, well she was totally right I LOVE IT

Forest Animal Quilt

Caradie and Corbin