Home Sweet Home: Back From The American Lung Association Walk

Wow, what a weekend!

We drove to Milwaukee on Saturday, well my mom drove 99% of the way. We didn't get lost, go figure. Jesse couldn't go with us, he has been gone since last week. So we had a nice, leisurely drive, stopping every . . . hour or so. We packed the van full of junk food, so we didn't have to stop at gas stations for soda and snacks. But, we ended up stopping just as frequently to use the bathroom . . . or get fresh air (as was Jack's frequent phrase).

The boys were so wired from the drive it was tough getting them to bed before 10:00 pm. After watching The Upside Down Show, my boys love this show on Noggin, they finally fell asleep. Well, at least the boys and the grandmas did. I, on the other hand, got to listen to TJ cough ALL NIGHT looooooonnnnnnnggggg. He picked the night before the big Lung Walk to flare, perfect. We all wake up ridiculously early Sunday morning, we had to register by 8am, which is so very early. Both Ashton and TJ are coughing up a storm. We head to the van (and it is cold out), hook TJ's nebulizer up in the van so he can have his morning treatment, and make a few stops on the way.

We make it to the zoo with time to spare, and it's not packed, that is good. Get inside, and learn I was wrong, there are TONS of people, and TONS of noise. Wow, it was really busy and there are tons of walkers. We all get registered, grab our t-shirts, and our sign.

We head to a table so I can fill out every one's bracelets. Ashton takes his peak flow, 150, crap that is super low. He gets his inhaler, while TJ has a coughing fit next to me. Awesome, he gets his inhaler and his Intal. Finally finish the bracelets and we can head outside. But, on the way out I see they have bottles of water and snacks. So I grab a bunch and then we all pile outside and get a team picture taken. Suddenly no one wants snacks, the stroller is over full, TJ doesn't want to sit in his chair.

Wouldn't you know it . . . the Culver's ice cream guy is hobbling around next to the Buck's Buck. Jack freaks out!!!! He hates anything in costume (by the way, he's decided to forgo Halloween). We take off, he swears the giant cone is following us . . . he's not.

We continue walking, we see lots of awesome animals: bears, rams, crazy birds (Grandpa renamed the African horn-bill, the Asthma Bird, because it sounds like someone with asthma coughing).

Things are going swimming, we stop often so Ashton can catch his breath and check his peak flow, which is steadily declining. But it's too soon to get his inhaler, and he is okay to wait. But, after more than an hour of walking we decide to turn around and head back. Jackson and Grandma are the first to go, they lead the pack. But, we decided to detour because we were about to pass the Small Mammals building and my mom is dying to go in and see the bats. So, Nana (my mom), Grandpa and his fiancee Teresa, Ashton, TJ and I head into the building. We make it passed the tiny monkeys, passed the lemurs, and the even passed the sloth when I hear a peculiar burping sound. Oh super-duper! TJ is vomiting in the middle of the small mammal building. I rush him out!!! Grandpa is right behind me. Yep, TJ is throwing up, mucus and bile. Yum. We clean him off, and the rest of the group finishes checking out the animals.

Well, slowly but surely we make it back to Grandma and Jack (who have long since finished the walk). We get gift bags with lung stuff inside it, and a few things from the gift shop. Grandpa treated the group to a yummy lunch, TJ slept through it. It is not much later that we end up back at Grandma's house. Poor Jack's tummy is all upset, and he has diarrhea. I was pretty crabby . . . that could be an understatement. My goodness, what a day!!!! I think we were all exhausted!!! But over all, it was a fun day.

Thank you to my mom, Grandpa and Teresa, and Grandma for coming on the walk with us. I am hoping to turn this into a yearly family event. I just hope next year everyone will be 100% healthy and flare free. Thank you for all your hard work collecting donations, and for taking time to walk with us. This event was so important to me, and I was so happy to spend the day with such wonderful people. I promise next year to be a lot more organized (this was my first charity event)!!

Thanks again!!!

GOOOO TEAM PARKER

Lung Walk is in 8 DAYS!

I can't believe how quickly the summer has flown by!!!!

It seems like I just signed up to do the American Lung Association's Lung Walk, and now it's 8 days away. Crazy.

Just two weeks ago, we were at the top of the list for raising donations! Now we have been bumped down to number 13. Yikes. Kate's Peak Flow Patrol is smokin' at over $3000.00! WOW!!!!

I am a little disappointed in the lack of community responce to my money raising efforts. In May I sent out 20 letters to local businesses asking for donations. Now, some may say that sending out a letter isn't enough. Even if it was a great letter. I even included a self-addressed stamp envelope. Even may stamps were awesome. Alas, only two businesses responded . . . Northern Clearing and Northern State Bank. Thank you so much (don't worry I sent out thank you letters).

So last week, I sent out 18 more letters. Still nothing!

My son Ashton and I were on television in August for the ALA. We were asked by Milwaukee's TMJ-4 news stations, The Morning Blend to be on the show to discuss the effects of raising two children with asthma. We were on the show with the ALA's Respiratory Coordinator. It was a great experience. My husband emailed the local newspaper about it, their responce . . . nothing. Apparently a local family being on television raising money for the ALA is not news.

We had an ALA Yard Sale, that went well. My 6 yr old sold Lung Bracelets at his dad's baseball games and that raised a little money. We have can's at gas stations and banks, that has brought in a little. But, we still haven't reached our goal. I don't know if we will.

(Ashton having a treatment in early Aug, he was on pred for wheezing)

I had huge hopes for this. I think I may have to start earlier next year. I am new to fundraising, and apparently have a lot to learn. Hopefully next year we can increase our goal, and surpass it. We are still excited about the Walk, we are sad that Jesse can't be with us (he's been called to be away). I am excited for my kids to be around other kids who are experiencing medical situations similar to ours. I am excited to meet other families like ours.

Asthma is tough, and it's unpredictable. What poses as a trigger today, may not react the same way next time. My boys are on meds that lower their immune system, making them more susceptible to infections. It makes them catch viruses that your kids may not catch. We carry an asthma bag where ever we go (sometimes I forget diapers and wipes, but not the asthma bag). It contains: TJ's intal he takes every 4 hours, his proair inhaler, Ashton's Xopenex inhaler, Ashton's peak flow, TJ's aerochamber, a baggie of Benadryl pills, two actions plans, a list of meds each child is on, number for the specialist and reg dr., and our insurance card. My children also have allergies, that may make their asthma worse. My oldest is allergic to grass, mold, cats and dogs. These are all potential triggers. Whenever I take my youngest to an indoor waterpark, his asthma flares. He gets pneumonia in the summer, spends weeks on prednisone. He takes a nebulizer twice a day for one of his daily meds.

This is why I support the American Lung Association. There is no cure for asthma. But, we can learn as much as possible about lung disease and it's effects and find ways to treat it. Ways to increase my boys chance at a normal childhood. Thanks to Advair 250/50 my 6 yr old was able to play soccer.

I have learned a great deal from the ALA and am happy to support its efforts to promote lung health, education, and research. Asthma isn't always obvious; you can’t see asthma but you can count its devastating effects in the United States. Asthma is responsible for over 12 million lost school days in children and more than 14 million lost workdays for adults. Even more frightening is the fact that asthma can be fatal; nearly 4,000 deaths are attributed to asthma annually. The economic cost of asthma is staggering - over $16.1 billion dollars is spent annually. We need your help to make an impact in the fight against asthma. Join an Asthma Walk near you today.

Here is our page, check it out.http://www.mrsnv.com/evt/e01/team.jsp?id=2028&tid=303

Apple Picking, On Apple Hill

My mom had the most fantastic idea to celebrate a marevelously warm day. APPLE PICKING IN BAYFIELD! Perfect.

It was such a great idea, it was unusally warm out and the apples are getting ready. So we headed up to Bayfield for apple picking. The boys LOVED it. They were awesome about touching the apples. They were so careful, Jackson wouldn't even touch the tree and TJ just wanted to eat the apples. Ashton helped to pick, and he was so careful not to shake the branch.

After apple picking we went to Washburn Dairy Queen, so very yummy.

Nana showing them a good apple.

Look Mom, we found some pretty apples.

Picking so carefully.

Enjoying the first bite.

Starting to fill the basket.

One full basket. Yep, that eaten apple is from TJ, he'd eat one and put the rest back in the basket.

What a fun day. Thanks Nana for your great idea!

Ashton wants to try blueberry picking next. A blueberry pie does sound very yummy.

Last Soccer Game . . .

Ashton and Jackson completed their first soccer season, and they loved it!!!

They both had amazing coaches, who taught important skills while encouraging the kids to have fun. TJ loved hanging out at the soccer field, because their is so much space to run around. This is definitely something that we will do year after year. If you haven't given soccer a try, you should it is a very family friendly activity.