eye took these photos

Yes, the post title is cheesy.

 But, I really did take the photos with my eyes using the tobii dynavox I-12+.

Woohoo!

The camera quality is not as good as I hoped. It probably is the equivalent of a really old flip phone.  Although considering how long it's been since I've taken any pictures, I'll take it and be happy.

(Unfortunately the tobii does not work outside because the sun interferes with how the eye tracking works.  The device can only track my eyes indoors, or shady areas.)

Claire. 

Megan's picture was outside in a shaded area. 

The colors came out weird so I used a filter to even things out.  

Erik is notoriously tricky to get pictures of, but the rear facing camera worked just fine. 

always room for peace

I'm in a good place but there is always room for more peace.

This week these words were comfort food for my soul. 

Where Can I Turn for Peace

Where can I turn for peace?

Where is my solace

When other sources cease to make me whole?

When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice,

I draw myself apart,

Searching my soul?

Where, when my aching grows,

Where, when I languish,

Where, in my need to know, where can I run?

Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish?

Who, who can understand?

He, only One.

He answers privately,

Reaches my reaching

In my Gethsemane, Savior and Friend.

Gentle the peace he finds for my beseeching.

Constant he is and kind,

Love without end.

Emma Lou Thayne/ Joleen G. Meredith  

typical morning routine

My day starts early…around 1:30ish.

I wake up because either my bipap has slipped and is blasting me in the face, or my legs start hurting.  If it is the bipap, then Jeff wakes up to take it off or reposition the mask.  If it is the legs,  I’ll shift positions and then fall asleep.  From there I wake up multiple times.  It has been years since I've slept through the night.  Same probably goes for Jeff. 

Sometimes I get up when his alarm goes off at 5:15am, so I can type. Often, I stay in bed until 7:00am, that way I can snuggle with my sleepy eyed children for a few minutes when they roll down stairs.  When it is time, Jeff sits me up, puts my hair in a ponytail, and then carefully... slowly... helps me walk to the toilet.  From there, he helps me to the wheelchair, puts slippers on my feet and a blanket on my lap.  

For breakfast I usually have a can of the tube food because it is easy to pour it in, top it off with some water and just be done.  Other times I might have a few bites of oatmeal, scrambled egg or something soft and easy to eat.

The CNA arrives.  She helps me shower and get dressed etc. That takes around 60 minutes.  A friend will come to do my hair and visit.  There are four different friends that will come one morning a week with other friends periodically subbing for them.  The other days the CNA will help.  This group of friends has been helping me with hair for 7 or 8 years!  Who does that?    

It is ridiculous how high maintenance I've become.

Jeff.  Being a caregiver is exhausting.  ALS is just as hard on him as it is on me, obviously in different ways, but he does everything he can for our family.  Very few people realize all that does.  He is my sweetheart. 

I used the word, Sweetheart, to describe Jeff, but the term we use more often is 

ցաւդ տանեմ

The pronunciation is   (ˈtsʰɑvət tɑnɛm)  or  (cʿavd tanem). This is an Armenian expression of endearment similar to Sweetheart.  Its literal meaning is, "I would take away your pain.”

(Jeff was a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints from 1995-1997 and served in Russia and Armenia.  It was in Armenia where he learned ցաւդ տանեմ.) 

arms like Vin Diesel's

We were playing the game, What’s Yours Like, where one person is trying to guess a word from rather vague clues that everybody else is giving.

In one round as we go around the circle people are saying things such as:

“Mine are brown.”

“I’ve had mine since I was born.”

“Mine are always with me.”

Then it is Jeff’s turn.  And with a straight face he says, “Mine are like Vin Diesel’s.”

Everyone laughs and the person correctly guesses the word, “arms.”

If you make a claim like that you had better be ready to own it. 

With the help of Laurie, Aubrey and their families images of Vin Diesel started showing up EVERYWHERE.  In Jeff’s truck, behind the milk, on family pictures, in the cereal box, in plants and on the ceiling fan.  He has found around 50, but there are a few more in hiding. 

2004 Mazatlan, Erik, baby Claire and ummm... Jeff (?) 

Merry Christmas

 (December2007)

There is so much to be grateful for.  

Knowing we are children of God... 

Knowing that God has a plan for us... 

Knowing we came to earth with a purpose in life... 

I'm grateful for the birth of a little baby boy over two millennia ago who would become our Savior.  Jesus still is, and will always be, The Living Christ. 

Wishing you Love, Peace and Joy. 

 

 

art class

This past year we had the opportunity to paint with two of our favorite artists.  

I have a tremendous amount of respect for these women as artists, and I love them as friends. 

To watch them teach my daughters made my heart so happy.

https://www.heathertycksen.com/

http://jordan-daines.com/

I only have photos of painting with Jordan. 

 

Megan wanted to paint "lips" 

Claire followed one of Jordan's "color studies" 

I found a simple program online where I could sketch with my eyes.... One click at a time.
This is the first tree I've drawn in years. 

yes erik, no mom mom

What do you think of the note Erik made for me when he was four?   I can't recall the circumstances but HE WAS MAD.  What I do remember is a little brown-eyed-boy marching out of his bedroom and presenting me with this note.  I kept it as a reminder that I’m not always right and to listen to what he has to say.

I have a question. 

Q:  Did ANYONE ever sit down and tell you how hard parenting would be?

(Someone in the background shouts out, “That, my friend, is a dumb question!” in reference to the previous blog post.)

Touché!  I deserved that. 

But seriously, NO ONE ever told me how difficult it would be. 

Each phase has its set of challenges.  I want to parent consistently, except what works with Claire doesn’t always work with Megan and the same goes for Erik.  I want them to learn from my mistakes, but I know that with their personalities, many things they will have to learn in their own way. 

So I try to tell them I love them often.  Because, while I may not like how they might be acting at the moment, I do love them no matter what.  It’s a forever type of love.  

Here's to all you parents out there!