I'm Still Here...

I can't even begin to play catch-up with everything that has been going on lately. There is just too much to share. Here's a quick run down:

• Rae saw an ENT today for the first (and not the last) time. We will probably be scheduling surgery to have tubes put in her ears. She has had four ear infections in 6 months. The best part was he wants to wait until we find out about having a sleep study completed before scheduling the surgery just in case we need to remove her tonsils/adenoids (three for the price of one... maybe...Sweet!) Just to clarify, I am not looking forward to Rae having any surgical procedure, but if we can do what needs to be done at once then that means one co-pay, one hospital bill, one need for her to "go under." To us those are BIG pluses!
• We went to a new neurologist and she supports us having a full sleep study done and also will be writing a letter for our insurance company regarding another matter I don't wish to divulge at this point.
• Monday we have our first consultation with the doctor that will oversee the sleep study if he deems it to be necessary (it is).
• Thought Rae had another ear infection...I was wrong...it was just a virus (of course we had to go to the doctor to determine that).
• We went to see Pulmonology again. This time to inquire about a airway clearance vest (it vibrates and helps reduce fluid in the lungs). Once we have finished jumping through all the hoops required to get it, Rae will be wearing it three times a day (I think) for 15 minutes each session. We hope this will reduce her congestion and infection rate (please, pretty please...I beg you!).
• We cancelled our follow-up with Dr. Shoffner in ATL and trying to get it rescheduled has become another thorn in my side. Everything is done via email and they aren't responding to mine (starting to get a little pissed).
• The Hubs has been working 6 days a week, 12 hours a day, and that leaves even more on my plate. Fortunately, after a long day at work he graciously <cough, cough>  (honestly I can't really blame him...it was a pretty big job) came home and worked on one of my crazy ideas. A GIANT cat box for our back porch. It required cutting a hole for a doggie door (G-Boss helped) and building an almost 7 foot box. The cats are making smooth transition (thank heavens!) to using the potty outside.
• Rae made a painting for G-Boss with homemade, non-toxic, edible paint that looked adorable!
• Rae made a second painting for G-Boss using regular paints because the edible paint started peeling off like a dried up sunburn.
• Easter came and went...Rae chewed on her beautiful, Easter dress and drove me batty doing so.
  
• My Dad turned 60! Happy Birthday Pop!! I made him a banana pudding poke cake from Pinterest and he loved his gift from Rae!
  

Let's see....what else am I forgetting...oh yeah...the garage sale!

We have been working on and organizing a GIANT garage sale to take place this coming Saturday. My house officially looks like a thrift store. In fact, I would almost qualify for an episode of Hoarders. Friends, family, co-workers, and a couple of total strangers have donated items for our sale (including: a hot tub, a Wulitzer 4300 organ, a vintage Schwinn Sprint, and more!) and every penny goes towards building Rae's wheelchair ramp. If luck is on our side, most of the items will find new homes and mine will return to "normal." 

Technologically Challenged

I love using technology (who doesn't right), but I am terrible when trying to figure out anything do with with widgets, html, javascript, codes, etc... You name it and I will most definitely be lost, a tad confused, and then so frustrated that I walk off to do some laundry or bake something (now there's something I totally understand). I just don't understand the language!

Today, like many days before this, I almost gave up trying to figure out how to add a widget to my blog. The widget is for the YouCaring site I set up to help raise funds to build Rae's wheelchair ramp. My attempts at finding help through the "help" searches on Blogger proved futile...everything was written in such a complicated manner (would it be too much to ask for pictures?) it is no wonder my poor brain got confused. I was a History student for pete's sake not CIS! I posted about my lack of technical savvy and two women quickly came to the rescue! (Thanks Sharon and Nyssa...I honestly couldn't have done it with out your help) I promise I am not a complete ditz.

In short, (shocking I know) the widget is up and active and now that I know how to add widgets (which doesn't require me to enter complicated codes that I don't understand) I will probably be widget happy for the next couple of weeks!

Getting Ready for Wheels

I'm a planner (I think I have admitted this to you before). I consider myself something akin to a lookout. Kind of like that guy in the crow's nest of a ship making sure the path is clear & alerting the crew to potential dangers ahead or a military scout boldly going ahead of everyone else to make sure danger isn't lying in wait. Getting ready for Rae's wheelchair has not been an exception to my obsession with planning or plotting our next move. As a result, in the last two weeks we have made some pretty decent strides in achieving our goals.

Step One:

Get a state id card for Rae. After four tries, we finally got a halfway decent picture of Rae. By the time we did it was with great relief that I was able to sit her back in her stroller. Holding 30 pounds up in the air for a picture and trying to stay out of it at the same time is no easy task. I can't blame her frown though...we waited for an hour before our number was called and she was over it.

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Step Two:

Get a disability parking permit issued for Rae. I actually had the paperwork for this back in December, but misplaced my lockbox key and couldn't get to the required paperwork in order to obtain an id. Of course it was in the most obvious place and I overlooked it three or four times. Duh!

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Step Three:

Order Rae's tilt and space wheelchair...the only decision I had to make was selecting a color. It will take three to four months for the wheelchair to be built and delivered. I'll wait until the wheelchair has arrived before I unveil the color I selected (gotta keep something a surprise).

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Step Four:

Organize fund raising events where all proceeds go towards the purchase of materials to build a wheelchair ramp. We are having a yard sale on March 23 (unless it rains and then it will be on April 6) and I set up a YouCaring.com account.

Wheelchair Ramp for Rae

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Step Five:

Work with Mom and sketch out plans for the ramps design. Yup, she is just that talented. In fact, she even designed floor plans for a house (the architect the drew up the official plans wanted to keep a copy...she said no). Both of my parents are pretty darn awesome when it comes to designing and creating solutions. I guess that's where I get it from.

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Step Six:

Pick dates for ramp construction. This is tentatively scheduled for two weekends in May. I will be serving light breakfast fare and lunch to my volunteers. It is the least I can do for the men coming to swing hammers, set posts & lay shingles (slight roof extension is needed to protect Rae for the torrential Florida downpours), and pour an extension for our driveway.

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Step Seven:

Price materials, pull permits, and...

Okay, you got me...we're not quite at 100%, but we're chugging along and I know we couldn't do it without the help of family, friends, and a few kind strangers.

Thank you!