Sometimes a yes, sometimes a heartbreaking no -- God always answers

On a lighter note...

At Brendan's IEP on Tuesday, his teacher gave me these photos from the past week or so at school. I love to see my boy in action out in the world!

A local Lutheran high school sponsors a day called "Day of Dreams" and the older students from Brendan's school spend the day with them trying new things. This shot of Brendan reminds me of Bobby Brady in the episode where Peter's voice changes while they are recording Greg's song. (I know. But I just can't help myself!)

Here is my leftie showing off his math and ambidextrous skills at the same time.

A candid shot from the Prom. Brendan's "date" was one of the wicked stepsisters from Cinderella. Look at him showing her off with pride :o)

Áine Update

Áine has been suffering with pediatric insomnia since mid-March which translates to about 90 minutes of sleep per day. She had been doing wonderfully during that time and it hadn't affected her. However, over the past few days her "sleep" pattern has altered so that she can fall asleep at night but awakens every 30 minutes. It has been determined by her neurologist based on my observation and an event at school on Tuesday that she is experiencing yet another type of seizure. She is not very alert and has lost much of her affect and struggles with maintaining her balance, etc. Her neuro team is working on getting her a bed at UCLA. I will update here when I have more information.

She was playing on Monday afternoon and just fell over asleep which lasted all of 3 minutes.

This was taken this morning after getting ready for school. Big brother is comforting her :o)

Prom 2010

Brendan is off to the Prom tonight!

This is his "Mom, please hurry and take the picture. The music is calling and my body is ready to dance the night away!" look.

Milestone... first time wearing a tie :o) Too many sensory issues in the past to give it a try.

A girl and her specs

Áine's eye doc felt some adorable spectacles might help strengthen her eye muscles when doing fine motor work. That remains to be seen. But she looks mighty cute in them!

International Day 2010

Ciara and her fellow 6th graders represented Brazil this year. Dad was the delegated family representative and got a shot of Ciara losing her sarong mid-performance :o)

A Happy UCLA Girl

In the waiting room at UCLA sans wheelchair. Big girl today!

Friday Randomness

Ciara took this shot of Áine last week. Excuse the hair-do.

Today is '50's day at Ciara's school. She also has a scarf tied around her pony tail. Not too bad for one day's notice.

The sick one :o(

The Swamp

Following the grand success of the mother-son trip to the rain forest last month, the latest request from Brendan was the swamp. Not living in the Florida Everglades nor being an outdoors-y sort of gal, I was hard pressed to come up with a place that would pass for a swamp.

I kept moving the yellow post-it note with the word "swamp" written on it around the calendar until it landed on today. Brendan had a rare day off school all by himself because of a teacher in-service. Now had I known I would have spent last night in a sleep lab with littlest sister I might have changed my mind, but there it was on the calendar calling to me as my smiling boy asked me for his "schedule" first thing this morning upon my arrival home at 5:45am.

I had a lovely time with Brendan as usual. Here are a few shots of our trip to the local swamp.

To sleep or not to sleep...

Last night Áine and Mom ventured off to the Valley -- Encino in particular -- for Áine's sleep study at the Moonlight Sleep Center. We arrived at 7:30pm for our 8:00pm appointment. Unfortunately after sitting outside in the chill for 30 minutes we went back to the van and planned to leave at 8:15pm if no one showed up. We call the clinic at 7:55pm and spoke to someone with the answering service who called the office for us and said she left a voicemail. Well, now wouldn't someone actually have to be there in order to take the call? Nonetheless at 8:09pm a car pulled up front and it was our technician for the night who had been told our appointment was at 9:00pm. He was most gracious and apologized for the error.

Áine who usually starts her night of no sleep around 7:00pm was very irritable while waiting, but as soon as she flung her body on the queen size Tempur-Pedic bed all for herself (Mom got the recliner), she was in heaven and scooted all over the thing while Mom and the technician talked about the procedure.

Áine was a trooper sitting in the chair for the 30 minute hook-up procedure and by the time her wee head hit the pillow she was sobbing and finally drifted off the sleep about 10:27pm. She woke up about 11:30pm. I think she drifted back to sleep about 12:45am/1:00am only to awaken at 1:30am. Then drifted off at some point only to awaken for the day at 3:30am. She was disconnected from the wires and we were sent home at 5:00am with a spring in Áine'step. We should have the results in about a week.

Exhausted and seizing.

Fighting the good fight to stay awake.

The next morning at dawn.