Feeling the Love for my Daughter

Adria's 3rd Grade picture - Spring 2018

Truth is, I don't usually think of myself as a parent of a special needs child. Adria is nine years old. She is growing into a beautiful, independent young lady who is so determined and capable.

But there are times when I become keenly aware of her differences. On several occasions this year, these times are precious moments when individuals display an extra special level of care and concern for her well-being.

Let me explain.

Adria is a third grader in a typical classroom setting at our local public school and does not require any special academic assistance. WooHoo!!! She excels in her classes, getting straight A's on her report card, except for a B in Reading the second marking period.

She does receive specialized physical therapy services at school due to her orthopedic impairment (low muscle tone in her legs and need for leg braces), which is very typical in spina bifida children. Adria also goes to the nurse's office every day after lunch to care for her bathroom needs. It's incredible to see how much she's progressed over the last year or so, because now she can catheterize herself without any assistance. Again...WooHoo!!!

The point is, in most ways she functions as many other students but there are still those areas of uniqueness.

The Scooter

Early in the school year, Adria's teachers noticed that she was lagging behind on the walk from her classroom to the playground. It's a decent distance and she was getting fatigued. She has a wheelchair, but we keep that at home and want to encourage her walking as much as possible.

Her gym teacher at the school came up with a great idea to help Adria. She suggested this scooter that she thought Adria might be able to use as a fun and faster way to get to the playground. Of course I was on board with trying it.

Adria's gym teacher got her this scooter to use getting from her classroom to the playground faster. She loves it!

Next thing I know, they ordered the scooter and Adria was coming home from school telling us how much she loved it! Then they took it to another level, so that Adria would not be alone. They bought a second scooter that a friend can use to ride along with her to the playground. Both scooters stay in her classroom and when it's time to go to recess, Adria draws names to see who will help her and ride with her that day.

I just think that's so great and thoughtful. All this initiated by people around her who care. Thank you!

The Cheer Shoes

Outside of school, I was moved by the care of someone who had just met Adria. At the beginning of January, I decided to try something new with the girls, especially since Johanna had been asking about it for a long time, and I signed them up for Gymnastics.

Honestly, I was kind of concerned about how it would go for Adria and how she'd respond. To my delight, she absolutely loved the first class and tried her best with gusto! In fact, Johanna was the one standing in the corner frustrated that she could not do a cartwheel and not even trying for a while. Oh, such different personalities those girls have!

The challenge was that Adria does not have the ankle and foot strength to run around and do activities barefoot like the other children. However, regular sneakers could damage the soft mats and gym equipment. The instructor, known as Mr. Pickle, at The Little Gym was impressed by Adria's desire to try gymnastics and took it upon himself to research and make several phone calls to determine the best option for her to be able to participate. He found that cheer shoes are a type of sneaker with rounded edges that she could where with her braces in the Gym. We went to Shoe Show and found a good pair for her!

Adria tries out the balance beam with assistance at The Little Gym. Her cheer shoes make this activity possible!

For the last few months, she has been enjoying her Gymnastics class every Monday night and Johanna has come to love it too. They are still figuring out how to do a cartwheel, but they've both shown great improvement and confidence to try new things.

So Thankful

I am just so thankful for these caring individuals along with so many others who show love to our daughters and family. This past week was Teacher and Nurse Appreciation Week. Both Adria and Johanna have had wonderful teachers and nurses again this year at school.

THANK YOU ALL FOR PROVIDING GREAT CARE AND LEARNING FOR OUR CHILDREN!!!

Johanna's Kindergarten school picture - Spring 2018

The Day my Dad's Heart Stopped

People say it. Don’t take loved ones for granted, you never know when it’ll be the last time you see them.

My Mom and Dad looing good on Friday, March 2,

two days after he came home from hospital.

It was two weeks ago Monday night when I called my Dad, after taking the girls to their gymnastic's class. He told me about their busy weekend visiting my sister and family in Vermont – a funeral, a basketball game, a birthday party and more. He sounded happy but tired. They had just gotten home around 6:00 that night.

I asked him what they were doing the upcoming Friday night. Would they feel up for hosting a sleepover with all 6 of their grandkids??? My sister was planning to come down for a few days of the kid’s winter break. He chuckled and asked Mom. Dad said, “Judah too? Yeah, yeah we could try that and see how it goes.” He treasures his grandchildren, who are ages 2-11 with tons of energy and personality.

That conversation would replay in my head for the next few days, as I wondered if it would be the last time I ever talked to my Dad.

Early the next morning on February 20, my Dad’s heart stopped beating.

I had just returned from a 5 mile run and was getting ready for work, when I got the news. My husband walked in with an awful look on his face. “Cam called, your Dad went into cardiac arrest!”

“NOOOOOOOOOO! GOD NO,” I yelled.

Many of you have experienced a moment like this. When you get that awful news that makes it hard to even function. To breathe. Yet you must.

As I ran out the door, my daughters were worried about what was happening. I just said, “Grandpa is sick and needs mommy’s help.” I was so afraid they might not see him again… I drove to my parent’s house, praying and trying not to freak, trying to drive safe, calling my sister.

In the distance I saw their home. Emergency vehicles crowded the driveway. I drove up on the lawn and ran inside. Police officers, EMTs and other responders were everywhere inside.

“Where’s my Dad? How’s my Dad?” They looked at me. I could see in their eyes, it was not good.

Mom stood helpless in the foyer. “He had a heart attack,” she said with numbness and fear. They asked us to step back, “You shouldn’t see him like this,” an officer said as the emergency personnel struggled to carry my Dad down the steep flight of stairs.

Mom, my brother Cameron, and I huddled in a circle and cried as they loaded Dad into the ambulance. The neighbor and first responder, Philip Schrock, told us he had a heart rhythm and was breathing but it was weak. And they were off.

As I waited for Mom and Cam to get dressed, I called Dad’s only sister, my dear Aunt Bon. She shrieked and immediately left work. I called my youngest brother Aaron. Then I quickly shared a public plea on Facebook, “Pray for my Daddy!!! Just had a heart attack.” And you did. Hundreds of you responded.

At the Nanticoke hospital ER, they sent Mom, Cameron and I to a private waiting room. Our numbers gradually increased as family, pastors and a few friends arrived. We waited and sobbed. We prayed.

Dr. Ferber came to the door. It’s hard to recall exactly what he said, but basically that Byron had gone into cardiac arrest and his heart went into a type of arrhythmia that is often the final beats of the heart before death. They had to shock his body twice with a defibrillator to get his heart beating again before leaving the house. His heart stopped again in the ambulance, so they shocked him a third time on the way to the hospital.

The doctor said that it was largely the quick response calling 911 and beginning chest compressions that made the difference of Dad still having a heart beat.

My Dad, sedated in the ICU the day

of his cardiac arrest

You see, mom had awaken around 7:30 a.m. to a blanket being tossed over her. She then saw Dad’s eyes were rolled back and he wasn’t breathing right. Immediately, she yelled for my brother Cameron to call 911. As he was on the phone, they instructed him to take Dad off the bed and begin chest compressions. Within minutes, the neighbor Philip was there responding to the call and took over giving CPR. They saved Dad’s Life.
Around 9 a.m. at the hospital, Dad was sedated and his heart was beating but less than half the strength it should. They would take him to ICU and begin hypothermic treatment that would cool his body to 91 degrees, decreasing the oxygen needed for the body to recover and reducing the risk of brain damage. At this point, they could not tell if he’d had a stroke or if there would be brain injury. Noone knew what to expect, but this was the best they could do for him…

We stayed at the hospital all day. People came to comfort and support. We totally took over the ICU waiting area. Would our Dad make it? How long would it take for him to come back to us? Would he be able to talk, to walk? So many unknowns.

And then it happened. To our amazement and absolute delight, just two days later on the morning of February 22, 2018 Dad opened his eyes. Talk about a moment of sheer joy and hope!!!  

Mom and my sister Lilli cry tears of joy as they see Dad's eyes opened on Feb. 22.

I was at the hospital with my Mom, husband and all 3 siblings. What tears of relief were shed!

The other day, my Mom and Dad told me that it was on February 22, 1974…exactly 44 years before the day of his awakening…when my Father became a Christian, asking Jesus to be his Lord and Savior. Amazing. Mom calls it MIRACLE DAY!

My husband was a faithful supporter to mom and dad during his hospital stay.

Adrian would stay there for hours some days while I had to go to work.

The following Tuesday, my Dad improved enough to have an operation for a Biventricular ICD a.k.a. a pacemaker on his heart. And the next day, Dad came Home!

My Dad weeps as he hugs my three little ones,

his grandchildren, on the day of his homecoming.

During the 9 days that he was in the hospital, I provided daily updates of his progress on Facebook, he had dozens of visitors, friends brought food and cleaned my parent’s home, and hundreds…maybe thousands…of prayers were lifted on his behalf. An entire community network was lifting us all up.
Especially the Sunday after his cardiac arrest, when my older sister experienced a serious fainting incident at church, likely stress induced, that resulted in paramedics arriving on the scene and her being transported to the same hospital where Dad was recovering. They treated her for a few hours in the ER, then she came to stay at my house for the night.

So it’s official, my Dad and sister Lillian have joined the “Fall Down. Up Again” team!!

What exactly caused my Dad’s cardiac arrest is unknown, but they suspect that his heart had been weakening for years. My Dad has been a plumber for 36 years, crawling in damp spaces under homes and breathing in potent glues. He has struggled with coughing fits and bouts of bronchitis over the years that likely put extra strain on his heart. The doctors say the prognosis looks good with his pacemaker now.

He is one of the fortunate ones, they said. Almost 95% of people who experience the severity of cardiac arrest that my Dad endured, do not get a second chance. And when they do, it’s rare to come through it with relatively little permanent damage.

He has diet and lifestyle changes to embrace, along with rehab and physical therapy. His biggest challenge since being home is the pain in his chest from a cracked rib, which is the result of the CPR and fairly common. He is emotional and overwhelmed with gratitude for the support and still appreciates your prayers.

My Dad, Byron Outten, is the best father a girl could hope for, he has an incredibly generous spirit and is known for being there to support people in their final hours. He is great man of God, and we are so Thankful that he is still here to spread more love.

Now that he’s healing, I can tease him, “Was the idea of having all six of your grandchildren spend the night that overwhelming??? You didn’t have to go and have a heart attack!”

With my Dad on Tuesday, February 27, the day he got his

pacemaker and a week after his cardiac arrest

My mom, Lorna Outten, read this verse the day after Dad’s cardia arrest when he was still sedated….

Psalm 41:1-3

“Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble. The Lord protects them and keeps them alive. He gives them prosperity in the land and rescues them from their enemies. The Lord nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health.”

Merry Christmas 2017

Christmas Eve.

It's a quiet evening at home with my family. Just the five of us. Munching on snacks, watching movies, and maybe a little dancing around the Christmas tree later.

When I was a little girl I used to love dancing to carols in the soft light of the tree, so my kids are learning to enjoy this simple thrill. Daddy had to put soft pads on the coffee table feet because we keep moving it out of the way, and though our laminate floor is fairly scratch resistant, we should at least try to be careful...

It's our first Christmas in our new Home.

Family Christmas Photo courtesy JCP Portrait Studio.

It was not a great experience but the pictures turned out nice.

And to all those who had to ask for our new address for Christmas cards...again...I'm really hoping you won't have to ask that question for many, many years. Maybe ever???

That was our big news for 2017. Building our new home on the Seely family farm where Adrian grew up. Of course, we had Bay to Beach Builders construct the home and we love it! We got the keys on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, and have been working on getting settled in ever since.

About a month later, we celebrated Judah's 2nd birthday on our backyard deck. He's grown so much since then that people rarely believe me when I say he's only two. He is still passionate about tractors, monster trucks, fire engines, and pretty much anything on wheels. Daddy has trained him well to have good manners, often saying Please, Thank you and "Are you OK?"  Judah's sisters love him dearly, as long as he's not messing with their toys or games (which is fairly often...)

Big sister Johanna just turned 6 in early December. She is as energetic and vibrant as ever, making friends everywhere she goes. Kindergarten is going well and it's great watching her learn to read and write. Sometimes all that energy makes it hard for her to sit still in class, especially when talking with her two buddies. Her sweet smile took on a new look when she lost both her front teeth the same week at the beginning of the school year.

Biggest sister Adria is now a 9 year old third grader! She just had a very busy month as she participated in the local High School theatrical production of Miracle on 34th Street, which she absolutely loved. She continues to excel in school, earning straight A's and Student of the Month honors. The teachers and school staff continue to amaze me with how they care for her and her unique needs, even buying her a special scooter to help with her long walk to the playground.

Mommy's big accomplishment for the year was training for and running a full marathon - 26.2 miles on October 21, starting at the Dover Downs Speedway. It was very difficult but motivating, so I ran a half marathon on Johanna's birthday, Dec. 2, and finished the 13.1 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes. Otherwise, I stay busy selling new homes full time and raising these three kiddos.

Johanna - 6, Adria - 9, Judah - 2

Daddy's year has been very active with moving into the new home and spending countless hours on landscaping and trying to make a once heavily wooded property, a beautiful lawn. When Adrian is not busy cleaning house and caring for the little ones, he gets out disc golfing and has recently become more interested in hunting, both shot gun and bow.

We give thanks to God for His blessings this year. May you have a blessed Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

With Love,
The Seelys

Christmas Eve in our Living Room

 

Why I ran a Marathon again. 10 years later.

Runners from across the country, even as far away as Denmark, gathered around Miles the Monster at Dover International Speedway on Saturday morning, October 21 for the seventh annual Monster Mash Marathon.

Among them was me, Julleanna Seely - 35 year old mother of three, participating in my second full marathon exactly ten years after running my first marathon.  I was one of about 200 participants running the 26.2 mile distance through Dover and Little Creek area, while another 300 ran the 13.1 mile half marathon, with all proceeds supporting the Wounded Warrior Project.

I crossed the finish line 4 hours 49 minutes and 41 seconds after the 7:00 a.m. start. At this 11 minute per mile pace, I finished almost an hour and a half after the lead female runner but I was still pleased with the result. I was hot and barely plodding along with no runners around when I came near the end, but I was rallied on those final steps of the endurance run with cheers from my children, parents, brother and mother in law at the Finish!

Knowing my family was waiting at the finish gave me the strength to push on and keep running through those long, hot final miles. My goal was to beat the time of my first marathon, which took 5 hours and 2 seconds, so I’m happy with a finish more than 10 minutes faster. I actually ran the first half of the marathon with a great time of 2 hours 12 minutes, but at mile 16 the weariness started to hit and the second half took much longer.

Much has changed since I ran the Nike Women’s Marathon 10 years ago in San Francisco, California. At that time I was 25 and married 4 years to Adrian, but we had no children yet. Running a marathon was a life goal, even though my longest race prior to the start of training in 2007 was just a 5K, which is 3.1 miles.

I always knew I would run a marathon again, but life brought many setbacks in the years that followed.I had run some over the years since, and even completed three half marathons, but I was not a consistent runner. Earlier this year, I was feeling lazy and at my heaviest I had ever been more than a year post pregnancy. A weight-loss challenge at work in the spring kick-started my desire to get healthier and run more.

When I realized this summer that October 21 would be the ten year anniversary of my big run, I knew it was time. It was my way of facing all those hardships from the past and saying…I am not beat down. I am stronger. I am better. I can do anything with Christ who strengthens me!

In late July, I set up a training program with the Runkeeper App on my phone and went from running about 15-20 miles per month to over 70 and even 117 miles in September.

THE TEN YEARS BETWEEN MY MARATHONS

It was just a few months after the first marathon, when Adrian and I found out we were expecting our first child. It was a very exciting time until an ultrasound around 20 weeks gestation revealed that our baby had a severe birth defect called Spina Bifida, myelomeningocele.  Doctors explained how the spinal cord had not formed properly and protruded from the lower back which could result in challenges including some paralysis often requiring a wheelchair for mobility, lack of bowel/bladder control, fluid build-up on the brain, possible learning delays and much more. Then they gave us the option to terminate the pregnancy. Despite the difficult news, we had also just learned our baby was a girl, and we were prepared to love and raise her, no matter the challenge.

Today, our daughter Adria is a nine-year old third grader who is precious and loved by all who know her. She is a straight A student who is actively involved in her school and community and easily recognized walking through the halls with her colorful leg braces and big smile.

A year after Adria was born, our little family faced another difficult health surprise when my 31 year old husband had a series of three grand mal seizures, causing significant physical and mental pain. Multiple tests and years of doctors visits never pin-pointed a reason for the seizures or a cure, just lots of different medications. Adrian has continued to sporadically have seizures since, often a few times a year and going 18 months seizure free at the longest period.  They were intense and painful seizures, sometimes causing major injury and hospital visits. 

Financial struggles as a result of medical expenses and a bad housing market resulted in us selling our home in Delaware in 2010 and moving to Indianapolis, Indiana. We had some great experiences there and one of the big blessings during this season was that our sweet Adria learned to use a walker for mobility at age 2, then she took her first steps without a walker just before turning 3.

But the challenges continued in early 2011 when I had a miscarriage at 10 weeks gestation that resulted in emergency surgery – a painful and heart-breaking time.   

It was not long before I became pregnant again and beautiful baby Johanna was born at the end of that year. She was healthy and a great blessing but in the early months of her life, I found myself battling a severe case of post-partum depression. In the heart of that lonely Indiana winter, Adrian had back-to-back seizures that left him unable to help much and I spent weeks of my maternity leave crying and battling health insurance issues.

Adrian’s youngest sister came to live with us and be a Nanny to the girls, so I could go back to work. She learned to clean up Johanna's regular spit up and care for Adria’s unique needs, like catheterization and putting on her leg braces. Still, the 12+ hour distance between us and our family back in Delaware was too great.

In late summer 2012, we moved back east to a charming community in Chesterfield, Virginia where we would be just 3 hours from our parents. I worked for the same company during these moves, with my sales ability allowing fairly easy transfers within Ryan Homes, one of the largest home builders in the country. Adrian really loved life in Virginia, but when his seizures reappeared in a serious way, we knew we needed the support of family just minutes away.

Only 8 months later, I took a new job with a local home builder in the town of Greenwood where our parents live and we moved back to Delaware in spring 2013. Two years later, we were blessed with a precious baby Boy. Judah was cute as could be and brought renewed life and hope to his discouraged Daddy.

My pregnancy with him was much harder on my body than the girls and I gained a lot more weight, but he was happy and healthy and my heart was full of thanks. And then life’s challenge became balancing the demands of a special needs child in school, an energetic pre-schooler, a nursing newborn and a full-time job as sole income provider!

With Adrian’s unfailing support and expertise as a stay-at-home Dad, we found a rhythm of life and 2016 was by far the most successful sales year of my career. It was also the year we decided to build our New Home, a place we would plan to stay for many years and raise our family. A home built on the same land where Adrian ran through the woods as a child. A place of hope and healing for us.

We moved into our Dream Home in March 2017.

When summer hit, and I realized that this year marked 10 years since I took on the challenge of running a full marathon, I reflected on these last 10 years. All the pain, all the trials, all the joys, all the moves, all the unknowns, all the life they have held. I felt like this season needed a book-end. I took on the challenge of a marathon before some of life’s greatest challenges came along. I was strong enough to take on the challenge now!

So I did. I woke up at 6 a.m. three mornings a week, and I ran. And on October 21, 2017 I ran 26.2 miles (with some walking) and completed my second full marathon. It was hard, but I was victorious!

As I look to the next decade of my life, I am full of HOPE.

Hope that my husband can live a seizure-free life.
Hope that my daughter Adria can continue to succeed in school and her life pursuits, not letting spina bifida hold her back.
Hope that all my children can live and grow in a consistent, stable home environment.
Hope for my own dreams of writing more and continuing to Run. 
Thank you, God, for Hope.         

Building our Home Together

It was a cold January day in 2016 when my husband and I walked through the dense woods across the street from his childhood home.

Adrian knows these woods well. They have been owned by the Seely family for generations. He spent his youth exploring, hunting, fishing and swimming in these woods and streams with his brothers and sisters.

He brought me to an area dense with briers.

"This would be a great spot for a home," Adrian said. His parent's 100+ year old farmhouse was barely visible across the field through the thick vegetation. He pointed out how the ground was high, and there were some great trees to keep and many to be removed. He pictured where the driveway would come in off the road and how far back the home should sit. He saw it all.

He had the vision.

That was the start of it. Just over a year ago, we began to pursue this new idea of building another home on the Seely farm. It almost seems surreal that here we are now, just weeks away from moving into this beautiful, new home.

And it has taken shape just as Adrian envisioned.

Our new home covered in its first snow in January 2017 - one year after we walked the property to decide where to build.

Yes, we have built before - 2 other new homes in fact. Yes, we have moved many times.

But this home. THIS HOME IS DIFFERENT.

This is the home we are building for our precious family of 5. More than that, we are building it WITH our children. We are building it TOGETHER. We are planning to raise our children in the same woods where their Daddy enjoyed countless adventures and created many memories.

Adrian designed the home, with some input from me and Monty, an expert home designer where I work. I selected most of the finishes, with Adrian's support and feedback.  And Bay to Beach Builders, where I sell new homes, is doing the hard work of managing construction. (Praise the Lord!)

Now let me tell you WHY we are building.

Looking back a year to the first week of 2016, we were extremely discouraged. It was anything but a "happy new year" when we were hit with some difficult financial news and serious health issues. It reminded me of another time when we felt life was throwing us some tough punches - Click to read "Like Blows in a Boxing Match."

One Sunday morning during this time I was at church with our 3 children. As the congregation sang together in praise and worship, I felt a touch from the Lord.

It was a passionate urging to BELIEVE that even though we were distraught and even though another year started with a bad incident like we had seen before...it would not be a bad year. No, God had the power to make it great.

My heart pounded as I walked to the front of the church with nine-month-old Judah on my hip. I shared what was on my heart with a couple in leadership, and they prayed with me. It wasn't anything super emotional or hyped up. But I took that step forward in faith, and I believe God heard that cry for help and the passionate desire for a positive change!!

In early 2016, as we were seeking God's direction, Adrian had several scriptures speak to his heart.
Months later, we wrote several of them on the framed walls of our new home. Truths to hold onto, forever built into our home.

Within weeks, we found ourselves walking through those woods and talking with his parents about our idea to build a new home within walking distance of them.

In the following months, there were countless hurdles to cross and steps to take toward acquiring the property and preparing to build. But the doors kept opening. New homes sales took off in the second quarter, and 2016 ended up being my best year of my career. Plus, we were able to sell the home that we still owned in Virginia to the family who had been renting it from us since our difficult yet miraculous sudden move in March 2013.

We currently live in a great little community, but country living is in my husband's blood. We believe the freedom and serenity of very familiar land and open space around us is the best lifestyle or "medical treatment" for his seizures. Plus, it's a wonderful environment for raising our children, especially with Adrian's parents and some of his siblings right across the street.

He is looking forward to teaching our children to fish in the stream that runs a few hundred feet behind our new house. And they'll build forts. And explore the trails looking for animal tracks. And swim in the creek. And drive golf carts and four-wheelers around the property.

It will be a good life.


Truly, we have come full circle. We are building our home next door to the home we first rented as a newly married couple 13 years ago. It belonged to Adrian's great aunt, until she passed away, and now is home to a sweet retired couple.

A lot of life and homes and moves have happened in the 13 years we've been married, but we feel so thankful and blessed for this opportunity. Not only are we building a great Home in a great spot, but our three young children are here to enjoy the experience with us.

God is answering our prayers in a big way. We have been on a wild journey, and there's still much to come, but we sincerely hope and believe this is HOME. A place to stay. A place to find peace.

Psalm 37:3-5

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness.

Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass.

5 Going on 15

Her energy and spunk is unmatched. She is a vibrant free spirit, daring you to cross her path. She has a sensitive heart, easily touched by loss or sadness. She is a princess and a fashion diva. She is a dark-haired, blue eyed beauty. She is 5 going on 15.

That's our little Johanna Belle!

Johanna on the right with her cousin Sophie, who also has a December birthday and will be 9.

CELEBRATIONS

Yesterday we celebrated her fifth birthday. She shared cupcakes and snacks with her friends in afternoon pre-school, that's in the same public school where her big sister Adria attends second grade. And in the evening, Mommy rushed home from work to pack up the girls, helium balloons, and decorations and grab the cake and fruit tray. Then drive south to the Stratosphere Trampoline Park, where we barely made it in time for her 6:30 party. But we did!

Johanna and a few friends spent the next hour and a half jumping and running around a building full of trampolines. Pretty fun once you got past the overwhelming stench of stinky feet and sweat. Ha! I was thankful the party came together successfully after a day, where I had "dropped the ball" on so many other things that I may as well have been swimming in giant ball pit...

Trampoline Park = perfect place for Johanna to let her energetic side be free!

And there were LOTS of trampolines and some good friends

Party Time

Last Saturday, we enjoyed a little celebration that my mom planned for Johanna and her cousin Sophie, who turns 9 in December. It was a special day for my sister and I, along with our three daughters to spend together with my mom at the American Girl store in Tyson's Corner. They have a very pink Cafe with a birthday luncheon menu that also includes a personal cake, ice cream and fun goody bag for the dolls, who sat in their booster seats with us.

Three cousins enjoying a special birthday lunch at the American Girl Cafe and store last weekend!

When the day first started our birthday girl, Johanna, was in a grump-tastic mood...Irritating...but thankfully, she calmed down and we were all able to enjoy this unique experience.

SENSITIVE FASHIONISTA

I say that Johanna is 5 going on 15, not because I want to rush her growing up in any way, but because this girl is always surprising me with the mature nature of what she wants.

In her perfect world, she wears a dress with tights and high heels every day. But that's not always appropriate, so we often have the "what to wear" battle. She loves to try on big sister's play make-up. She wants to dye her hair, paint her nails, and she regularly wears about 10 bracelets on her wrist. She has even asked me how soon she can start shaving her legs!! Spare me...

At school, her teachers say she is their little fashionista. Her style is bold, colorful and nearly always involves a dress or skirt. Jeans are an absolute NO. Only leggings are acceptable.

Johanna loves to sing and dance, and she's provided great entertainment for her little brother Judah for the full 19 months of his life. He's laughed at her more than anyone else and is generally patient with her extra strong hugs and forceful kisses.

This year we've seen Johanna begin to excel in her learning. She's taken longer than her sister to conquer ABCs and 123s but is making great progress. She'll spend time looking at books and magazines, though the iPad is definitely preferred.

I love her adventurous spirit. When we brought the kids to Hershey Park this summer, she wanted to ride all the FAST rides that her big sister was afraid of. And she was deeply disappointed that she was too short for the roller coasters, except for the smaller one.

Yet behind this wild, fashionista exterior lies a soft heart full of Love. She often randomly says, "I love our family! I love everyone!"  She's become the first to volunteer to say prayers at the dinner table, even if it's a big family dinner with many gathered. She remembers her great-grandma (my maternal grandmother) who died two years ago and who she only saw a few times.

Just recently Johanna said, "I really miss Great-Grandma. I don't remember what she looks like. I really love her a lot." Then tears fell down her sweet cheeks. There are moments when she cries easily because her heart is touched. Even a child's story I read the other night about a boy and his mother growing up had her crying. Ok, ok, I shed a few tears too. It's a sensitivity she carries that is not always obvious.

And tonight, as is the case every night, she has her two favorite blankets with her in bed, the pink bear and green fuzzy froggy blankets (that were passed down from when Adria was a baby). They provide her comfort as she sleeps. Because sometimes she is afraid of Monsters.

But it was a conversation about fear and monsters with Daddy, that ultimately resulted in her praying to ask Jesus in her heart a few months ago. She used to wake up yelling in the night, but it's very rare since she asked Jesus to be with her.

Yes, she is just now 5. I see a powerhouse in the making in Johanna. The future is hers to embrace. She walks her own unique path and goes after what she wants with a vengeance.

I try to remember this will serve her well in life, when it's driving me crazy at home :)  Thank you, Lord, for this precious, healthy little girl.

Health Insurance Disaster...and Trump

A week has passed now, since I stayed awake until 3 a.m. on Wednesday watching TV.  Like millions of Americans, I was fascinated by the presidential election results and the response of the media as Donald Trump took the lead and eventually gave his victory speech.

I was among those who were thankful for this result, even though I live in Delaware, a state that's gone Democratic blue in every election since I was 10 years old. But noone really cares about Delaware's 3 electoral votes. Still, I vote.

I am not one of those Republicans who thinks Hillary is evil. She has merit, experience and good leadership qualities. And sure, I believe a female president would be a great step for our country. But, I fear her liberal agenda and what it would mean to people like me - the hard-working middle class Americans who pay big taxes and make this country tick.

The Healthcare Factor

And the single, most influential issue that guided my vote was our current Health Insurance Disaster.

While there were many times this election season that I was disappointed and even disgusted with things I heard from Trump, I believe that he will work with the Republican party to strengthen and support America's working class. I hope and pray that his leadership will be able to make very positive improvements to our nation's healthcare.

As we all know, it was a huge agenda for Obama's administration, but from my perspective (and that of many others that I talk to) the Affordable Care Act has turned into a Disaster!

And my guess is that the timing of our health insurance renewal notices played a big part in getting many of those Red voters out on election day.

The very week before the election, we received a brochure in the mail encouraging us to "Get on the FAST TRACK with Confidence." That felt like a slap in the face.

The brochure cover that inside told me that my monthly premium was going up over $400!
I felt anything but the elation this guy portrays...

It was from Highmark BlueCross BlueShield. In the most delicate way possible, it explained the "3 EASY STEPS" for continuing our health coverage for next year. Apparently, my current plan has been replaced.

A table compared my plan from 2016 to the one they are proposing for 2017. Allow me to share some highlights:

• 2016
• $3,000 Family Deductible
• $7,000 Out-of-Pocket Maximum
• 0% co-insurance and hospital services after deductible
• $1,512.50 Monthly Premium
• 2017
• $2,000 Family Deductible
• $12,000 Out-of-Pocket Maximum
• 20% co-insurance and hospital services after deductible
• $1,937.05 Monthly Premium 

Good News: Our deductible would go down $1,000/year.

Bad News: My monthly premium would increase over $400!!!! Everything else is worse coverage. Plus, co-pays are higher.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!! How is this even legal? Last year, my premium went up over $300 a month! In just the last two years as Obamacare has taken root, my insurance premiums have increased almost $800 a month MORE THAN what they were for the same type of coverage. That's simply ridiculous and cannot be labeled "Affordable Care".

I work very hard and provide a good living for my family. And as my blog talks about, we have significant medical needs every year due to my daughter's spina bifida and my husband's epilepsy. It burns me to my core to feel punished and backed into a corner with limited options.

So I sat in my bed late at night, after my three precious children had fallen asleep, and shared my heart and frustration with my phone. Then I shared the video on Facebook.

Soon I had a little army rallying around me. I knew that I was not alone in this mess. More than 120 friends shared my post and within days it had been viewed over 6,000 times! That's not exactly going viral, but that's much more response than I usually get.

Here's my video. This was off-the-cuff, so it's not polished or anything.



That was just a few days before the election. So again, I have hunch that millions of Americans finding out that they're going to struggle to afford basic health coverage played a big role in the election results.

And as I was filtering through the barrage of nauseating banter on all media about Clinton and Trump, a friend of mine shared openly about why she voted for Trump. And one of the comments summed it quite well I thought.

Reasons why Trump won

So for those who just cannot understand (cough, cough...the media) why so many "white women" voted for...gasp, Trump...here's one mom's reasoning:

1) he was the only pro-life candidate on the ballot, 

2) there are a lot of SCOTUS [Supreme Court] picks in play, and those last for a generation,

3) my healthcare premiums went up more than 20% this year for the third year in a row (and I didn't get to keep my doctor, as promised), and 

4) I wanted to send a strong anti-establishment message to the federal government and this might be my last chance to do so for a very long time.

There you have it. Why many of middle class America voted for Trump.

It's not that we love him, agree with all he says and all his policies. No. It's simply that given the two options, we believe he is the better choice for our future and our families. Clearly, there are about 60 million Americans who disagree.  

My few final thoughts 

In terms of our health care disaster, there are some good aspects of Obamacare, so I don't actually believe a full repeal is the answer. There is no easy answer, but something MUST CHANGE to stop premiums from going up 20-30% every year. We're about to send our country back into recession with this mess.

I am exploring other options for health insurance, but Delaware only has two private insurance companies. Aetna is our only other choice and a similar plan would have a premium over $1800 a month. Other options like Medi-share, don't appear to be a good solution due to our expected medical expenses and costly medical supplies that our daughter needs on a daily basis.

I want to stress that I am incredibly thankful for a great job that provides a wonderful living for my family. And I am thankful to have access to good health care. This is not to be taken lightly. Without insurance, we would have gone bankrupt. It is a privilege to live in a country that offers both quality care and insurance. But costs are getting way out of control.

And finally, Trump is just a man. I don't expect him or his team to solve all our nation's problems, but I do expect them to improve some major issues. And I do believe that he will work hard to do that. More than that, I hope and pray that in spite of his polarizing comments, Trump can prove himself a capable leader and that in time the divisiveness that is rampant among us will subside.