Music and Asthma

At the age of two, after three months of breathing treatments, x-rays, and antibiotics, long sleepless nights, doctor visits, Ellen was diagnosed with asthma.  No one understands the world of asthma until you live it.  Each asthma patient has different triggers, different symptoms and different treatment.  For Ellen the trigger is weather....Hot summer days are great until we have one cold damp morning.  She starts with a runny nose.  She gets dark circles under her eyes.  Her mood settles and she is quiet.  Her breathing shortens.  She asks for medicine and a breathing treatment.  Fall days are fine too, until we have foggy damp days followed with hot windy days. She starts with a runny nose. She gets dark circles under her eyes.  Her mood settles and she is quiet.  Her breathing shortens.  She asks for medicine and a breathing treatment.  Winter days are fine too until out of the middle of no where we have a warm day.  She starts with a runny nose. She gets dark circles under her eyes.  Her mood settles and she is quiet.  Her breathing shortens.  She asks for medicine and a breathing treatment.  Then there are Spring days the worst days of all. In Spring there are cold days, hot days, wet days, windy days, every day is different and these types of days really throw Ellen for a loop.  Each episode she has usually lasts a few weeks if we are lucky, but often they last longer.   She has had pneumonia a handful of times in her short five years.
She has amazing strength.  Last week, after being up for over two hours, breathing treatment done, she was coughing and coughing, gagging and spitting up, she asked if I would rock her and play her music.  Since she was an infant she has had a music machine, like a mobile.  She listens to it every night.  It plays for 15 minutes then shuts off.  Her music machine plays the same classical song over and over. (what? I do not know. Remember I played flag in High School)   It is slow and has a constant beat. 

 I rock slowly.  Her breathing slows.  She is calm.  She stops coughing.

She whispers, "Sorry I keep you up at night mom.  I Love you."

She sleeps.

Vote for Me.....Emma P!!!

Today was Election Day at Emma's School.  Emma is running for Secretary.

Emma is AMAZING!  

Girls Night Out!

What a blast Emma and I had at the Justin Bieber concert. Dressed in Purple, that's Justin's favorite color, we headed out to the Honda Center! Emma was so excited, I couldn't help but laugh when she said, "We can't be late mom! Justin can't wait to see me!" When Justin was suspended over the floor in the middle of the Honda Center he sang My Favorite Girl. Emma reminded me, "See. I'm his favorite girl. "

It was so much fun

just the two of us,
together,
talking,
laughing.

Emma is so independent and driven that she usually is off on her own making, writing, drawing, reading that I don't always get to share something special with her. I see the finished product. She doesn't need or want my input, she already knows what she wants. I love this quality about her. She likes who she is, and works hard to reach her goals. She is not afraid to work hard, try new and scary things, and she is not afraid to fail! She is an amazing young lady.

 I Love you Emma ~love Mom

To Infinity and Beyond!!!!

"I love you to infinity and beyond Dad!  Good Luck at work today!" said all of the kids to Evan today as he walked out the door to start his new assignment.  We are so proud of him!   We love you for all that you do for our family.  We love your energy on a slow sleepy school morning.  We love your loud, loving, quirky sayings.... Go get'em Evan Extraordinary!  Hope your first day was amazing and you have a great weekend!

Go Gators!

So PROUD of our LITTLE GIRL!  Emma was the closing pitcher for the Beaumont Gators on Sunday!

They played a double header, winning both games. 

Emma has started this year with a bang!  She joined the Milage Club, Band, Winterball and eagerly awaits the start of the Reading Club!  This weekend she also spent time with Dad writing her business plan.  The launch of her business, WALLETS TO GO, is expected this week in Mr. Chou's class.