Family, Life, Race Update

Posted by Kat in Batten Disease, Blog, Boston, Bucket List, John, Julie, Kat, Life, Rachel, Research

We are all back to school doing full-day classes. Rachel has settled into 5th Grade, Julie is loving 2nd grade, London can’t wait to go to Kindergarten everyday and Boston is enjoying going to full-day Montessori. Boston has been acting up A LOT so I am trying to find ways to give him 1:1 time and so far I’ve been taking him on morning bike rides before school. This morning we went to the beach because we had a few minutes to spare and looked for shells.

On my walk home from Julie and London’s bus stop I was lamenting to myself that getting all 4 kids ready for full-day school in the morning (NOW) is easier than it was when it was only Rachel who was going to school.  I can only imagine what the neighbors thought while Rachel screamed and cried and yelled and hit us while we got her dressed in the morning and that is pale in comparison to the intense sensory agony she was in while we brushed her hair, her teeth or put socks on her.  I am so grateful for medication and how it has given us intermittent good times with her at home and substantial amounts of good time at school, and with Granny or one on one with someone.

Tomorrow we are running our annual jewelry table for Endless Summer (www.endlesssummerhull.com) with a twist because this year we are seeking runners, walkers, volunteers and business sponsors as we are raising money for Juvenile Batten Disease.  The race planning is going very well and we are getting a lot of buzz around our town through all 3 schools, loads of residents and our customers.  I am very excited about this race, c’mon October 23rd!

We have put Rachel’s name in the hat for the trial and are waiting to hear as to when she can start  I have filled out all of the paperwork, caught her up on vaccinations and have gotten permission from Dr Sims (Rachel’s Neuro at Mass General) to be her local doctor.

Things we have planned?  Outside of the upcoming road race I have two pretty giant things in store for my kids.  A day or so after Christmas we are driving down to florida and renting a house with a pool and will spend our Winter break in the warmth.  :)

Next summer?  A few days after school lets out I am taking a complete cross country road trip with my cherubs going from Boston to California and back.  We are also planning to drive north for a few days and spend time with James and his family (James is Rachel’s biological father).  I know people have asked me why I would bother doing that as James has been out of her life (by his choice) for many years but really this isn’t about me or about him.  This is about the kids.  I think it will be great for my 4 children to meet their twin sisters.  Technically they are only Rachel’s half sisters but my motto has always been “You can’t have enough people love your kid.”  (Or in my case, kids).  I have a lot of planning to do for that but the details are all on hold until after this road race.

London especially wants to dip his toes in the Pacific ocean, his life’s dream is to live in California and drive a minivan.  I figure a good test drive through Cali could help him to see if this is something he wants to aspire to do or not.  Yeah, he is barely 6 but he talks about it everyday.

Life is too short to waste it waiting for things to happen so you can move forward.  Move forward, move things into place.  Make things happen.  Your life could be over tomorrow.  Live without a lot of regrets.  Live enthusiastically.  IF we only know, truly, how many people in this world, in America, in your own town, maybe even on your street, who are fighting for their lives…  Just thinking about it is very humbling to me.

- With love, Kat.

Xanax?

Posted by Kat in Batten Disease, Boston, Julie, London, Medical, Rachel

Taking Rachel into her Primary Care doctor this morning to talk about Xanax as a possible med to help Rachel with her anxiety and obsessive thoughts. Something to help her like Risperdal did but without the weight gain (WOW!).

This weekend I think we should take the kids to the beach. We live a block away from it but we never go because I hate the texture of the sand. Most people avoid swimming situations because they don’t like the way they look in a swim suit but frankly I don’t care about that. Its the sand that keeps me away.

12 more days unti school starts for Rachel and Julie!!!! 13 days for London and and 20 for Boston. London should get “THE” letter in the mail this week to let him know who he has for his Kindergarten teacher. So exciting!

Picture:  This was taken earlier in the summer when the pool looked like pea soup.  Nothing can keep Juliebean out of the water.

Meet Boston Fenway

Posted by Kat in Boston, Life

He is my baby who is about to go to preschool full-time.

Nearly 2 years

Posted by Kat in Batten Disease, Boston, John, Julie, Kat, Life, London, Rachel

Tomorrow marks the 2 anniversary of Rachel being officially diagnosed.  Its been a hard 2 years but I’ve worked my ass off to make it as fun and as successful as this time could possibly be.  There are huge marks of decline in her but at the same time we can’t ignore her infectious laugh, her record setting appetite, her love for her Granny and dozens of other things that prove she has a good quality to her life.  That is all that this is about now: Quality of Life.

I have this ridiculously high in calorie cake that I plan to make tomorrow to mark the occasion.  (Chocolate Snowball Cake).  If I die from clogging my arteries with this delicious cake please note that I died happy. 

Here is a picture I took of  my A-Team last week which visiting our new shop in Weymouth (they never look at the camera at the same time, lol):

Rachel, Julie, London and Boston (July 2011)

This is a picture of the wonderful person (Sue) who took my husband and kids out on her boat last week.  We went to fascination and she won a WHEEL SPIN!!!  She might kill me for putting this picture on the blog but I wanted to give her an honorable mention because there are very few people in the world who are so giving and I really appreciate her in our lives.

Sue at Fascination

I took Rachel and the kids to the Hull Fire Station for their safety day.   Her siblings climbed up onto the Jetski (on trailer) and where they go, Rachel has to go  (my rule lol) so I heaved her up:

Rachel on the Hull Fire Jet Ski

Have a good day if you are reading this.  I’ll post another entry with more pictures tomorrow.

4/1/2011

Posted by Kat in Boston, John, Julie, Kat, Life, London, Rachel

Nothing too special to write today. I’ve promised John not to “get him” on April Fools Day today. Last year I had him believing the trash company wrote us a nasty letter and fired us because of the volume of our weekly garbage output. He was fuming and about to call the trash company and then I said to him “April Fools.” I’m not sure he has forgiven me for that. LOL

I started going back to the gym and have done a few Yoga classes (free child care, woohoo!) and its good to work out again but the kid free time is priceless.

Rachel and Julie have a father-daughter dance tonight for girl scouts, and Julie and London have Art class after school. I have a 10am yoga class today (the boys are going to childcare at the Gym) and all I want to do is stay home and watch the drizzle from my couch with a cup of coffee in hand.

What do people live for?

Posted by Kat in Boston, Bucket List, John, Julie, Kat, Life, London, Rachel

I took Rachel to her second appointment with her Pediatric Rheumatologist and he confirmed that she does have Lupus, also known as Systemic Lupus Erthymisomethingerother. How does a beautiful and innocent kid end up getting an early death sentence and Lupus? It’s total bullshit and rather than be angry this fine evening I would like to pose a question to those folks that still read my infrequently updated blog.

What do you live for?

Last year I spent many weeks living to cross off items on the bucket list, taking my kids to multiple states and experiencing all sorts of awesome things. Already this year I have driven my kids down to Florida and back and watched the miracle of Rachel and London learn how to swim. I have personally been living to make sure Rachel, Julie, London and Boston get to experience countless amazing days while Rachel can.

This year I want to continue this mission but maybe travel a little less (my new Jeep is not so good with gas mileage). Planning on sharpening our camping skills, maybe get a little sailboat. I’m looking for more adventuring ideas, things to enjoy, experience, to LIVE for.

So… What do you live for?

Took this picture of Rachel today. We clocked 100 miles with the Jeep’s top down today. It was 65 degrees in Massachusetts today!

Had a complaint

Posted by Kat in Batten Disease, Blog, Boston, Fundraising, Halloween, London, Rachel

From a dear friend who, if  possible, Rachel would steal this friend’s husband and marry him one day. 

The complaint is that the website background is (well, was) too grown-up and “isn’t this a website to represent a child?”.  This friend is right… so I’ve decided to keep the website theme in tune with upcoming Holidays and Seasons.  So if you hate the new Halloween theme you’ll only have to stick with it for a week and then we’ll be onto  Thanksgiving.

The picture in this entry was taken of Rachel with her brothers about a year ago.

To everyone offering to help with the 5k, thank you so much!  I will definitely be calling on all of you to help and I really appreciate the offers!!!!!!

Thinking of dropping the candle prices to $10 as a few people gasped at the price.  I’d rather sell more and raise more research money than hold my head high and refuse to bend.  What do you think?  Is $10 a better price?

The First Post

Posted by Kat in Batten Disease, Blog, Boston, Fundraising, Julie, London, Rachel

I’ve stayed up until nearly 2am to put this blog together and make it look good enough to put Rachel’s name on it.  It’s kind of hard for me to stay on top of everything when the children are awake, especially when Rach is home.

Not everyone who will read this knows about us so I’ll quickly explain that we are a family of 6 that lives in the Boston suburbs with 4 great kids.  Rachel is 10 and has (suffers from (I hate that term))  Juvenile Batten Disease which is very rare and you can either read more about it here or go directly to www.bdsra.org and the Batten Disease Support & Research Association will be able to educate you better than I can.  Our other children are Julie (6), London (5) and Boston (4) and they are truly the best kids (wish the food bill were a little cheaper but other than that… lol).

In the last year I (Rachel’s Mom) have been working on getting Rachel’s educational and medical needs met and more recently have done some fund-raising work.  We hosted a Lemonade stand on the fourth of July, had a table at Endless Summer and have started selling candles at Batten Candles.  The next major fund-raiser we are working on is a 5k Race / Walk in our beautiful seaside Hull, Massachusetts town (May 2011).

If you have any fund-raising ideas for Batten Disease Research, please contact us (and thank you)!

Happy 4th Birthday, Boston

Posted by Kat in Birthday, Boston

You are such a special, obnoxious, wonderful, loving little guy. I don’t think the world will ever be prepared for you to join it as an adult and I constantly daydream about what you will accomplish. I’m so proud of you.

Boston open his Toy Story 3 presents on his birthday

Home Delivery

Posted by Kat in Batten, Boston, Death, Rachel

I’m struck by how convenient it is to have everything delivered. Amazon, Peapod, Water, Dairy. I have 4 kids and 2 of them generally don’t travel / shop well, I’ve decided to get more things delivered. It probably sounds a little bit extravagant but I will definitely be saving money without having my 4 best friends asking for junk food to be placed in the cart.

Last night at bedtime Rachel informs me that she wants to die (she has said this before). Tonight I tried a totally crazy approach because the regular “of course you don’t want to die, honey” approach doesn’t work with her. I told Rachel I was going to go downstairs and get her a “death pill” that she can swallow and she will die. End of story. Bye Bye. When I came back into the room she wouldn’t let me get near her, and realized that she doesn’t want to die. I am hoping I won’t hear the “I want to die” stuff anytime soon because I really don’t think it is good for her sister and brothers to hear. We also talked abut Batten Disease and how she “got it.”

Before the death pill talk she told me she is going to be dead in 10 years. I told her she was full of crap and she can’t rid herself of her pain in the butt mother that easily. Boston (nearly 4) is very upset at the thought of me or John or anyone dying so I have started to tell him that I am going to live forever. By the time I actually croak he’ll be old enough (knock on wood) to realize that people don’t live forever.

She has been having a great couple of days and even slept in her room by herself last night. I better plan something fun for them to do soon, I think they all need a day trip to look forward to.

Both girls are signed up for girl scouts and Rachel’s meeting has been pushed to “late” so I can attend and leave the kids at home with John. I’m so happy about that.

Wednesday

Posted by Kat in Batten, Boston, Julie, Kat, London, Rachel, Summer

I’ve spent the last few days writing a “paper” of sorts for my Biology Class. We had to select three diseases of the organelles and discuss the cause, symptoms and treatment for each. I selected Batten Disease (Disease of the Lysosome), Diamond-Blackfan Anemia (Disease of the Ribosome) and Leigh Disease (Disease of the Mitochondria).

It absolutely kills me that so few people have heard of any of these, know nothing about all of the rare diseases out there. If we don’t have awareness, we won’t be able to cure any of them. As selfish as I know it is, my disease of choice is Juvenile Batten Disease because my daughter suffers from it. I want to do so much for this disease but I just don’t know where to start. The science behind it is extremely interesting to me but it will take me years of school to be in a professional position to do any research. I have this child 3 feet from me listening to Star Wars Clone Wars and I need to do something to help her.

Here are some pictures from yesterday. The last picture is historical proof that my Mom (in her late sixties) will still climb into a gokart.

Julie’s 6th Birthday

Posted by Kat in Birthday, Boston, Good Stuff, John, Kat, Pictures, Rachel

We had the best time. Can’t believe Bean is 6!

Trip to Maine

Posted by Kat in Batten, Boston, Bucket List, John, Julie, Kat, Life, London, Maine, Pictures, Rachel, Vacation

I scooped John and the kids up and took them to Maine for the weekend. We had a great time although I had promised to tray and do some sledding or snow tubing. We met a family of chickens and a herd of alpacas, went swimming and hot tubbing and took the kiddos into a sauna for the first time. We even brought home 3 dozen farm fresh eggs which have already begun the transformation into baked goods.

Here are some of the pictures which I will directly share from facebook (you don’t need a facebook account to see ‘em).

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=374918&id=266424125552

We had THE BEST time! Here is my favorite picture of Rachel from the weekend. Just goes to show that you don’t have to see well to have a fun and full life. Experiences like this are more valuable to Rachel than to a sighted child because of her tactile senses.

I think I think I did a sufficient job at flipping Batten Disease off this weekend. Tomorrow morning we’re going ice skating for an hour. Can’t wait! Gotta get them into a swimming pool more often. They love the water (just like their Momma) and love the hottub (just like their Daddy).

Best Sunday Ever!

Posted by Kat in Boston, John, Julie, Life, London, Rachel

Took the kids sledding in the morning, stood next to the shore in Hull watching the waves crash against the wall. Spent the afternoon taking all 4 children ice skating (RACHEL, TOO!!!). First time on the ice for Julie, London and Boston and they did great! I plan to go back next week with Rachel (and then some) during their free skate because it is supposedly very quiet during the week.

I asked the kids which activity they preferred and London was the only one who liked ice skating the best, the other 3 felt sledding was more fun. Rachel was a little hesitant to go sledding (can’t say that I blame her) but I went down with her the first time and shoved her ass down the hill the second time. After that she couldn’t get enough!

John went sledding for the first time in his life today and is quoted to say “that was fun.” I know he liked it more than that but we’ll take it.

Today rocked! I have a few iphone pics to share tomorrow.

Exhale

Posted by Kat in Batten, Boston, Julie, Kat, London, Rachel

Having to explain to my 9 year old daughter who can’t see very well that she can’t learn to ice skate really SUCKED! If only for one winter, I wish that Rachel can ice skate. Please let it be possible.

Earlier today Rachel told me the money she is saving is for a car. I gently reminded her that she can’t drive a car and she said her “person helper” would drive her in it. I told her she should have Julie drive her.

This sucks so hard. A nightmare. I have noticed she is having a harder time identifying her siblings. As of late she would confuse her brothers but now she can’t differentiate between her sister and brothers. She’ll walk into a room looking for me and if I don’t immediately answer her calls of “Mom, Mommy?” she immediately walks out because she can’t see me. Such a good kid that deserves a full life. I guess I better get moving because I don’t have as long as I expected. Its a very painful lesson. I’m currently looking into planning some mini trips for us when the weather warms up, doing things that can be DONE rather than just seen.

Lots of rage today from her. Her emotional filter is apparently on vacation (hopefully not a permanent one). I’m grateful, in some ways, that Julie, London and Boston are so young because they are doing great in the face of our daily life. But its hard because they cannot grasp the concept of her recent blindness and can’t remember to “keep the floor clear” (or she’ll trip and fall or break their stuff out of sheer frustration). Most adults I know can’t grasp the concept of her recent blindness, either. What does that tell you? My little 3 are awesome with her. I’m starting work with having them identify themselves to her but that will take time.

DO NOT TAKE YOUR LIFE FOR GRANTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!