The Vian Menagerie

Yes, we're one of the many crazy families who have decided the backyard is the perfect place to raise a small flock of chickens.

It's embarrassing to be part of a trend - at least for me.

I had planned to begin chicken farming last summer.  But we had so much going on with the remodeling, vacations etc...so we put it off.

Not this year.

We marched down to D&B on Tuesday to pick out 5 of the cutest baby chicks.  Barely dried from the shell, they were a day old and so fluffy.

So welcome to the family...

Attila the Hen (she's mine), General Tso (Rob's), Bronco (Bodie's), Rosie (McCall's) and Pecker (Rhys's).  Yes, one is named Pecker.  I told the kids to name Rhys's for him and they choose Pecker...I started going into why this maybe wasn't the best choice of names, but it wasn't really a conversation that I wanted to continue...so Pecker it is!

Right now they are living lavishly in their brooder in our garage under a heat lamp.  By mid-May they will be big enough to move into a coop in our backyard!

Hopefully, if all goes well we will have eggs by September.

ASF 2012 National Walk

I've been trying to write this post all day. I've promised myself that I will never write something that's important to me unless I really feel it. Well, this is important.

While the days pass with the current of everyday life, sometimes I do forget about Angelman syndrome a lot.  AS has become the annoying relative who is part of your life, whether you like it or not.  You can't get rid of it, so you just deal with it.  I do want to assure you I am speaking not from personal experience with an annoying relative, just a generalization :)

But I will never forget those first days which weighed so heavily on me, when I lost myself for a moment.

Oh how we've changed. Of all the beauty in the world we overlooked for so long.  And my heart is twisting in all sorts of beautiful ways just thinking about it, but mostly it is throbbing with love.

Any attempt at threading words to just how funny, how spirited, how healing Rhys’s existence is...well it seems so small and unworthy. But, I'm used to that. His sister and brother had me slayed from the start.

I can tell you this though.

I have changed. My eyes have been opened to the broad spectrum of beauty, the value of uniqueness and the amazement of the common thread that binds us all regardless of the color of our skin or the makeup of our chromosomes.

How could I not have been aware of this magic?

I’m also so grateful and excited about the generosity of people I had never met, about the magnitude of effect we all possess.  Last year Team Rhyser was a huge success and we are so thankful. 

So we're doing it again--asking for your help, setting out to raise funds for the ASF, an organization that helps make life better for anyone who possesses the magic of the missing 15^th chromosome.

Every dollar given to the Team Rhyser fund supports the ASF  whose mission is to be the national advocate for the value, acceptance and inclusion of people with Angelman syndrome.

Things are changing in our society, but it's only because people are working hard to change stereotypes, to recognize abilities and to tear down walls of discrimination.

So I come to you as a mama.

What does any mom want for her child? Hope. Hope for a successful future, happiness, the opportunity to fulfill dreams.

And when you're told your child has Angelman syndrome, for a moment, you think you have to give all that up.  But we don’t.  

Thanks to the ASF and many others that join our cause, there is hope. We want the world to know that people with Angelman syndrome are doing great things with their wild and precious lives.

I am ecstatic about the potential for what our kids will do in twenty years. The research and clinical trials are so encouraging.  What will the future hold for Rhys and his friends?

Perhaps the best spokespeople of all for these kids are their brothers and sisters.  Bodie and McCall see nothing different, nothing missing or lacking from their brother.  I want the world to see him this way too.

I don't want anyone to ever tell me that my child's dreams are limited because of a missing chromosome.

And so I'm asking you for something. For Rhys. For our family. For all these beautiful capable children and their families and thousands of others.

Whatever you can give. A whole 'lotta $5 and $10 donations went a long way last year. We can do it again.

Join with us in raising awareness and creating more opportunities for individuals, more hope for families.

Two years ago, right now? I had no idea what was in store. How could I ever had known how much joy that little man was going to bring us? I want the world to know that joy. 

Help me do it.

TEAM RHYSER 

Go Patriots!

It happened.  My little man is growing up.  It was a big day around these parts...Bodie's first football practice. 

From the day we found out we were having a boy, I dreamed of he and Daddy running out the door to practice. Football is such a big part of our lives, and its now apart of the next generation.

I remember my parents attending every game, race or meet.  They sat in the stands and cheered us on.  Until you become a parent you don't realize how cool it is to see your offspring doing things.  Cool things.  Grown up things.  I'm not sure who is more excited about this new venture...me or Bodie.  Probably a close tie. 

And while I used to laugh at moms who made insanely big deals out of the this kind of stuff, I made an insanely big deal out of the first practice.  "For God's sake its just practice", Rob said...easy for him to say he's been to a million.  I wasn't invited.  "Just Daddy is going 'cause he's my coach".  Thanks Dude...Mommy's crying inside.  Truth is Bodie needs this.  Last week he was amazing.  He explodes with compassion and love for his little brother.  He's the "middle child"...my little mama-loving, cupcake-baking, monster truck driving, memory-making, comedic homebody and he needs something just for him. To build his confidence, to express himself, to move, to laugh, to meet new friends. He needs this.

So we went on a special shopping trip for cleats and compression shirts.  Yeah, t-shirts would have worked, but he had to have them and I couldn't say no.  He's seen so much football...the kids knows what gear is required.  We have talked endlessly about the fact that this is flag football not tackle football.  He couldn't wait...I couldn't wait. 

He woke up ready to go.  Try telling a four year old he has to wait 7 hours until practice.  Not fun...but he decided that he would help do some cleaning so Daddy wouldn't have to when he got home and they could dash away to practice.  I do feel a twinge of guilt that I didn't tell him that Daddy wouldn't have vacuumed when he got home from work...just a twinge :)

So off they dashed...I begged Rob for pictures...but he didn't comply.  "You try getting pictures while coaching ten 4-6 year olds.  It was chaos and I couldn't swear," coach Rob informed me.  You better believe I'll go paparazzi on him come game time :)

Long story short...he had a blast a practice.  He did jumping jacks, "cause that's what guys who play football do."  His body was sore this morning, but he informed me that he "felt like a million bucks!"

So games start March 10th at Settler's Park in Meridian.  You can bet plenty of pictures will be supplied in the weeks to come.  Go Patriots!

Same s%*t different day

We are still in the hospital. We are still waiting on test results and to have more tests completed. If you test McCall for something, chances ate it will come back positive. So far she has an ear infection, pneumonia in her left lung, and kidney infections most likely in both kidneys. Oh and she has influenza so we are on hospital lockdown, which I think just means that they want to see just how many disposable gowns and masks that they can charge us for. Doctors will do kidney ultrasounds later today to see how their function is and if any damage or abnormalities exist. So fingered crossed these look good. She is on broad spectrum antibiotics until cultures come back to tell us which ones are and are not working. Basically we can't leave until the chest x-ray shows an improvement in the pneumonia because based on all the IV fluids she has been given, they can actually slow down healing. Double edged sword :( She is in pretty good spirits, but at times really confused. It scares me because it shows just how sick she really is. But it's funny too. Yesterday out of nowhere she said "Daddy said Justin Beiber died.". My fad and I almost lost it. When asked about this Rob assured me that he had had no such conversation. So today is more hurry up and wait. And wait and wait.

Miss McCall update

Well I apparently got a little too comfortable in our routine, and just like that we are right were we don't want to be. McCall woke up Sunday with a high fever and chills. Then started the vommitimg of Mountain Dew colored puke. TMI I know. The weirdest part was the abdominal pain she complained about. I feared appendicitis. After consulting with her pediatrician, who by the way is the coolest Dr. in Boise, we decided that a visit to our second home (AKA St. Luke's) was in order. Long story short, since I'm posting from my phones keyboard, lots of tests later, and we have come up with pmenomina and kidney infection. Dr's are kind of baffled at the combination and how her symptoms have presented, but apparently they don't know how us Vians roll! So as it stands we are aggressively treating both with antibiotics. We are hydrating her like no ones business. Her fever is under control for the time being. We will do more chest x-rays tomorrow to address the pneumonia and it sounds like also an ultrasound of her kidneys too. Stay tuned. To top off an already lovely day...now Bodie has a fever of 103 :( You might have to visit me at the funny farm after my nervous breakdown.

Ebb and flow

 

Our weekend has started out quiet and homey, just the way it's supposed to be.  I am feeling content today. Exactly where I'm supposed to be--over my funk, productive, reflective, slow and steady.  

 

 For all the times I feel an imbalance—feeling too busy, uninspired, exhausted… when's-it-going-to-iron-out--it's assuring to know, there is a rhythm to all of it. Right now, in this tiny moment of time, work and family feel so appropriately melded. Dare I say we have molded into some sort of routine. 

 

I feel both inspired and at peace; motivated and content; excited and calm; and even if that balance shifts tomorrow, its presence right now is enough to remind me, it works out. Ebb and Flow, Shift and Settle.

"look mom...I got your plants again.  aren't you proud of me?"

McCall and Bodie both got to go to Build-a-Bear Workshop for the first time.  McCall is giving her bear a bath :)

  

Long story short, the Vian family is good. Busy, hectic, CRAZY...but sooo good.  Loving our little routine in our little corner of the world.  

And so lucky we were able to visit the cabin this winter.  We had so much fun doing nothing!

Best Daddy evah...he drove to the cabin with McCall's bear so she wouldn't get car sick on it. 

Lots of fun in the weeks to come.  I'll try to keep my long lost blog updated...

Randomness in the New Year

What a way to ring in the new year...knee deep in throw-up and...well you get the picture.  Yes, sickness has again hit us.  And by "us" I mean Rhys and I.  We are lucky...sarcastic lucky.  Like run away as fast as you can if you are with us in a lighting storm...run fast the oppisite direction.  We promise not to be mad :)

Anyways...I *think* we are finally on the mend.  We even ventured out yesterday and Rhys was back to his ol' self...

  note to self...his arms are growing at least an inch every day so nothing is safe...even pushed all the way back on the counter...Target popcorn included!

Which brings me to another point.  I now have another excuse to LOVE Target. If you were browsing through  the Target ad last Sunday you may have passed right over the adorable little boy in the bright orange shirt smiling at you on page 9!  And if so, I’m glad!
 
The reason I’m glad?  Well, that stylish young man in the orange shirt is Ryan. Ryan just so happened to have been born with Down Syndrome, and I’m glad that Target included a model with down syndrome in their typical ad!


This wasn’t a “Special Clothing For Special People” catalog.  There wasn’t a call out somewhere on the page proudly proclaiming that “Target’s proud to feature a model with Down syndrome in this week’s ad!”  In other words, they didn’t make a big deal out of it.  I like that. 

While Ryan and Rhys have very different syndromes, it still moves me.  Even though Target didn’t make a big deal out of the fact they used a boy with Down syndrome as a model in their ad, they said plenty. 

1. They said that kids born with missing or extra chromosomes deserve to be treated the same as every other other person on this planet.
2. They said that it’s time for organizations to be intentional about seeking creative ways to help promote inclusion, not exclusion.  (It’s no accident that Target used a model with Down syndrome in this ad; it was an intentional decision.  If want the world to be a place where everyone is treated equal we can’t just sit around and watch the days tick away.  We have to be intentional.  We have to do something.)
3. They said that companies don’t have to call attention to the fact that they choose to be inclusive in order for people to notice their support for people with disabilities.  In fact, by not making a big deal out of it they are doing a better job of showing their support for the special needs community.
4. They said it’s important for the world to see people born with disabilities with a fresh set of eyes.  That it’s time for us to lay down all the inaccurate stereotypes from the past and move forward embracing the future with true and accurate ones.

So thanks Target...I'll give you my money any day!

OK...back to the New Year.  2012 is going to be grand. I've been thinking about resolutions--because that's just what you do this time of year. I want to find more ways to let the people I love know I appreciate them. I want to let go a little more--of fears, of insecurities, of the things that hold me back. Wild and free, Baby. Wild and Free.  So Happy New Year!