Multiple Nelsons

Miss "Jacolena" got a VNS (Vagus Nerve Stimulator).  From the Mayo Clinic this is what it is: V agus nerve stimulation is a procedure that stimulates the vagus nerve with electrical impulses. Vagus nerve stimulation can be used to treat epilepsy when other treatments haven't worked.  The kids are having a Dance Party.  With vagus nerve stimulation, a device is surgically implanted under the skin on your chest. A wire is threaded under your skin connecting the device to the left vagus nerve. When activated, the device sends electrical signals along the vagus nerve to your brain stem, which then sends signals to certain areas in your brain. This was implanted into "Jacolena" about 2.5 weeks ago at Duke Children's Hospital.  We just had it activated this week.  So far we haven't "used" it b/c she just got through a cluster of seizures literally right before the activation.  I am hoping with this device that it will redu...

After eating lunch ... Troy hid the eggs while I made the kids watch an Easter video from lds.org.  I told the kids if they got off their seats they couldn't hunt for Easter eggs.  I'm such a mean mom.  BUT I wanted to take the time for them to know what really Easter is about.  Crazy A and I had already watched it early in the day and she was SOO excited to tell the others about the video. Before everyone else went outside, we let Baby D outside to have at least 1-2 chances of finding eggs without the others kids barreling over him. Three of the kids RAN outside and tried to find them as fast as the could.  Little Miss Jacolena was trying to figure out what all the excitement was about.  Once she finally got it, she found some eggs but it just takes her a LOT longer to find them. Side Note: "Jare Bear" has been incredibly difficult this weekend. Pretty sure it is due to sneaking gluten foods.  So I am glad that Sunday turned ...

  Crazy A's last present... a LaLaLaLopsy doll is what she calls is (I made it :). Here it is Easter Morning and I am sitting at home with a pretty sick child.  She doesn't ACT sick, she just has pneumonia.  Yucky, wet, sticky lungs with a bad, bad cough.  She is still going a mile a minute b/c she NEVER stops.  But this week I knew we needed to slow down for some reason and not until Saturday when going to the doctor it was confirmed.. she is sick.  (And Missa had the stomach bug Friday night) Troy and the three oldest are at church, the baby is sleeping (taking a nice early nap so I got a shower) and she/I took pictures.   Side note:  You see that bandage on "Jacolena's" neck... She got a Vagus Nerve Stimulator two weeks ago.  That will be another post later. Since I took pictures of the other three kids in their Easter outfits early t his morning, she wanted to dress up too.  That is just what we did with her....

"Jacolena" at 5.5 years old School Pictures A few weeks ago the twins had school pictures.  I really wanted to order them but for just a page of pictures (it could have 1-6 pictures) costs $13.  That was the base price... if you wanted more picture they had packages.  So I got creative and took pictures of their school pictures, then returned the pictures back to their teacher.  It still turned out nice. "Jare Bear" @ 5.5 years old Spring Cleaning - I have gotten rid of TONs of clothes.  This is more than your going through every 6 months seasonal clothes changes, but getting rid of more clothes than that.  My mom came to help do the laundry when I had the stomach bug and noted that I had so many clothes I just couldn't keep up with laundry.  At first I didn't care but then realized... I hate to fold laundry when it piles up. Then I went through and narrowed every kids selection of clothes down to 7-10 shirts/pants/shorts or skirt...

Day 6 of Spring Break (Wednesday)   We were supposed to go to ENT appointments for the two youngest but "Crazy A" started to NOT feel good.  We canceled EVERYTHING and stayed home.  Later did I find out... it was the awful Stomach bug.  It eventually went through her, "Baby D", Me and "Jare Bear". Us just Hanging out on the morning.  Luckily for "Crazy A" it was just a fever and stomach cramps, nothing else! Peanut Butter Face "Jacolena" Then by mid morning "Crazy A" was fine and running around like she felt fine.  So we met up with some friends at a local park and ate lunch!  Yeah, didn't get pictures of that. Wednesday night - "Baby D" was the next to fall to the stomach virus.  No vomiting just stomach cramping. 2 down, 5 to go with the stomach bug. Day 7 of Spring Break This day we were supposed to have a play date with a new friend... but I felt HORRIBLE and they were sick too...