How to do a Sleep Study (or zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz)

Annie and I had the privilege of doing a sleep study on Thursday night (she did the study); I was the adult supervision. A sleep study for a 6 year old goes something like this.

Gather: Teddy bear, purple blankie, butterfly pillow, snacks, Little Mermaid DVD, Little Mermaid book, nighttime CD packed all in a ladybug backpack.

Drive down to Childrens Hospital at 7:15 PM. Arrive and follow the blue stars to the Childrens ICU unit; find the sleep study room; it is quite small. A hospital bed, chair/bed for dad to sleep in, dvd player and two cameras that record every movement.

Then hook up child to much electrical equipment. Oxygen sensor on toe, 2 probes on legs, two on chest, one on back, 5 on the face and about 5 on the head. Each has a small wire attached to probe; then route all wires through the back up to the head and put a sock with a small face hole - so that patient can rest comfortably.

Watch Little Mermaid until subject gets tired; turn off Little Mermaid, get scared so dad has to crawl in bed with patient. Wait for patient to fall asleep - maybe 15 minutes, carefully try to sneak out of bed to go to his own chair. False alarm once, false alarm twice - ahhh then I get to go to my own chair.

Patient awake at 11.00 PM - calling for daddy; patient awake and 4:00 AM - all tangled up; patient awake at 5:00 AM - time to go home and see mommy. Dad encourages another 60 minutes of sleep - no go. Out the door into the chilly MN January air; just to be met by a couple coming in for a baby (that brings back memories). . . .

Home at 6 and everyone slowly waking up here - and just in time to put Little Mermaid on again; dad showers; we have strep running in the family we load everyone up for a quick trip to the clinic and 3 strep tests (all negative) and then drop everyone off at home and at work by 8.45 AM.

You have to see it to believe it.

Lee

What is Average . . .?

We are just getting back to our 'normal' routines after 2 weeks of traveling and vacations - and I started thinking - what is 'normal'?

According to the statistics.

• Average (or expected - read that normal) number of kids / parents is 2.09
• Average number of TV sets / household = 3
• Average house size = 2,300 sq ft
• and in Chad, Africe - the average number of years that a child goes to school is 3.9.

OK - now for us.

We have 7 kids (above average)
We have 4 tvs, 6 computers, 2 iTouches, 2 cell phones . . . way above average
House is bigger than average (but that follows 7 kids) - our previous house - was, well very average.

and over the past 2 weeks - we have:

1. Traveled to Iowa to visit family and have an early Christmas.
2. Traveled to South Dakota to visit family for late Christmas and New Years
3. Had a great Christmas at home
4. Been swimming
5. Gone to the Science Museum to see Hubble
   
6. Spent time at the library
7. Played lots of games
8. Went shopping
9. Watched movies
10. Played for an afternoon @ McDonalds Playland
11. Had lots of late nights
    
12. and miraculously enough - this year; no one has been sick.

We got a book called Radical from my sister for Christmas - and I am very anxious to read through that in January - I have a feeling there is not a lot of 'normal' in that either.

We never claim to fit the mold - and one last proof. David on the potty - holding the kitty hostage with a pistol - nothing normal about that.


'til next time . . .


- Lee

Happy Anniversary

29 December 1990


Today we celebrate our 20th anniversary. I love you more than anything and am so happy to be married to you. I look forward to the years ahead - whatever they bring. You are the best!

The text from our wedding is more appropriate today than ever; as we journey through life.

Psalm 19

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.^a

Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

It rises at one end of the heaven and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.

The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.

The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.

By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults.

Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me.

Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Merry Christmas

Daniel, Anne, David, Katie, Emie, Sam and Andrew
Christmas 2010

This was our 3rd Christmas as a family of 9. We have some memories of the first, however; the second is the most memorable. Emie got sick - right in the middle of opening presents and that was only a prelude of what was to come. The past few days in MN for the kids have been illness free- fun and very relaxing - a few photos for you to enjoy.

David opening a motorcycle - love the look



Kids shopped for each other - Sam opening a gift.

Tickle those ivories . . .

Today we had the privilege of attending a piano recital with 2 budding virtuosos.

Andrew and Daniel are somewhere between their 2nd and 3rd year of piano - and have done really well. We are super proud of them; and they can play piano better after 2 years than I could play clarinet/saxophone after 6+.

Enjoy!!

We also have a dispute we want the reading audience to settle. There was a contest to see who did the best bow at the end of the performance. At stake are 14 year old bragging rights - so take your role very seriously. Please register your votes in the comments.

Andrew



Daniel

14 Years

See what 14 (very short) years bring?



The boys had a good birthday. Andrew had razzleberry pie and Daniel choose a DQ ice cream cake. We celebrated at home, with family. A few days after the birthday we went out to Red Lobster for a seafood feast.

And - another reference point for what 14 years can bring - check this out.




We love our Andrew and Daniel. Best wishes for a great 14th year and many more great adventures.

mom & dad

ScooterCatBirthdayParty - said quickly

This is much delayed - but better late than never. Most of you know - we traveled to Ukraine to get Katie & Emie in July 2008. We began our travels on July 19, 2008 - which happened to be Katies' birthday. So, buried in that bit trivia is the irony that Katie had to

(endure/survive/live/fuss/whine and cry)

through: Lee, Daniel, Andrew, Sam, David, Emie, Annie and Karens' birthdays - before it was her turn.

We are not 100% sure where ScooterCatBirthdayParty came from - but somewhere in her head - between seeing Emies puppy cake and Annies elephant cake - Katie decided that her birthday should just simply be known as: 'ScooterCatBirthdayParty'. Scooter - by the way - was the cat that we were custodians of where their owners were overseas (for 8 yrs or something like that).

So - here it is . . . . ScooterCatBirthdayParty 2010.