Julie
Auntie Julie
John’s mother is one of 13 and this is beautiful, smiling, radiant Auntie Julie who is 12 of 13. We drove into Seattle to have dinner with her and had a great time! Julie (my Juliebean) was with us as well! <3…
Horseback Riding
Another Batten mom named Cheri arranged for Rachel and the kids to go horseback riding at the Colorado Springs Therapeutic Riding Center at the Mark Reyner Stables. When we arrived they were waiting and I was a little hesitant at first because most people don’t get Rachel, especially people who don’t know her. About 5 minutes into our session with the ladies and Bubba the horse I realized I could take a deep breath because they are very experienced with helping special needs kids with riding. One lady (Corey) led Rachel and Bubba and Nancy and her daughter walked on either side of Rachel and helped her with balance. I was most impressed with their handicap accessibility and the ramp they had to help kids mount the horses.
It was a wonderful time for all of the kids and a memory I will treasure forever.
Here is a link to their website: http://markreynerstables.com/…
We have already raised over $400 towards our $7206 goal to fund research for Batten Disease. The kids are excited, Rachel keeps on trying to convince me that flying would be so much easier (no shit, love) but that wouldn’t draw attention to her, to the disease, to the lack of treatments. The minivan we just bought is being lettered tomorrow with Team Rachel’s info all over it to draw attention to us. I personally hate attention, the attention of this disease, the admiration of doing a good job with Rachel and fundraising (etc), but I’ll grin and bear it every last step of the way for this kid, for all of these kids. Can’t wait to hit the road with our business cards, bracelets, pamphlets and our brightly lettered van to get more money into the hands of the people who are tirelessly researching to cure Batten Disease and several other genetic diseases just like it. If we can figure out one, it will give us answers to others. I won’t quit this fight until the day my heart stops beating. Please donate if you can and spread the word if you are able.
Love,
Kat (Rachel’s Mom)
Picture: Rachel and Julie at the end of walking in Hull’s Memorial Day Parade.…
Today is a great day!
Today is my 33rd birthday so I imagine my Mom is once again thrilled that she is no longer pregnant with me (I am mostly joking lol). I was born over 3 weeks late and weighed over 10 pounds so I really can’t blame her. Thank you Mom, aka Eileen, for giving me life and putting up with my crap, foul language and obnoxiousness all of these years. :)
I also want to thank my Mom for being the first to sign-up for Rachel’s road race which is in 2 months. I can’t say I was outright nervous that no one had signed up because I know people are really busy with “back to school” whether it is their child or grandchild headed back in the next few weeks. I guess my Mom had mental telepathy and for that I am so grateful. We have one official walker!!!!
This week I am finalizing the Sponsor information for businesses who can give over and beyond the registration fee as well as walkers and runners who will ask their friends to donate on their behalf. Plus the prizes and raffle items. I have never done this before and got some really great ideas at the Batten Disease Golf Tournament I took John and the girls to yesterday. They raised about $30,000!!!! My goal is to raise $10,000 this year for our walk/run/raffle.
Have a great day today if you read this entry!!!
Photo: Rachel (6), Kat (?) and Julie (2.5). Not really easily seen is London who was 8 days past his due date and born the next day. We were at a pumpkin patch in Colorado.…
Meet Juliebean
Meet Julie. She is a 7 year old 30 year old who is tremendously helpful and caring!
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Julie rides the Fire Truck
Julie won the first grade Read a Thon prize of riding the fire truck to school! Here is Julie riding in the truck!
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Busy week
Lots of good stuff going on with work, Rachel changed to a new medicine and London was covered in spots (the chicken pox). Rachel has lost about 6lbs (I’ve found at least that much) and we ended this week with a ham dinner with my parents and brother.
Rachel watched “Ice Princess” tonight which is a movie that she used to watch A LOT but hasn’t seen it since going blind. She kept on saying things and asking questions that only a sighted person would be able to ask / say but it was obvious that she was recalling the visual memories of watching the movie years ago while listening as a newly minted blind person. I can’t describe the complexity of how that broke my heart in at least 3 different ways.
You may not know that I often refer to myself as “The Iron Maiden” because I “never” cry (it is a rare event) but thinking about what it must be like for her to not be able to see, how confusing things are for her. It sends me over the EDGE and my iron clad tear ducts fly open.
Tomorrow I am taking the girls for haircuts. Julie says she doesn’t want hers cut but will come along for the ride. Rachel needs her bangs trimmed. I believe Julie is declining the hair cut because she is obsessed with becoming a princess and I am guessing that she thinks all princesses have long hair. I should show her pictures of Lady Di and cross my fingers that she agrees to getting the wedge cut again (she looked so cute in that!).…
Friday
Today I am taking Julie to Children’s Hospital to have a recently discovered heart murmur checked out by a cardiologist.
Julie has spent the last week telling everyone she knows and then immediately following it up with “don’t worry, I’m not worried.”
She is such a good girl. I’m looking forward to having a few hours alone with her. Will update later.…
Julie is turning 5 soon
My beautiful little girl is turning 5 in a matter of days and we are having her birthday at Par Tee in the next town over at an indoor miniature golf place.
On her actual birthday we are going to take all 4 children Build A Bear. This upcoming outing has bought me a lot of leverage with Rachel with her persistence with being late every morning. Today will be day 4 of being on-time and that is a total miracle!! …
