Our Resident Soccer Coach

Garrett is coaching Malachy's team this afternoon. The head coach is out of town this weekend. He is doing a great job! Malachy is number 9.

Saturday blessings!

Chari

Sister & Brother

We took a little walk around Hearts' Haven tonight after dinner with our guests. I turned around and saw this beautiful sight......

Blessings,

Chari

Haven Heartbeats

     I am so loving this late summer weather!!! We deserve it so much! Besides just keeping warm and having more enjoyable outdoor time.......we get to delay the first frost .......which means: more produce from the garden!!! We deserve that, too!

And............................It is so lovely to have a warm soccer season!!

                                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



     I went to bed early one night last week, after a long day at work and another expected on the morrow and my little fella, 9yo Malachy, came in to see me and said, "I have a hug for you." After mauling me with the hug, he went into the bathroom to brush his teeth for bed. Afterward, he awakened me with these energetic words "I just have to give you one more hug because I love you soooo much." It was so sweet. I hope these moments last a lot longer! Having the three youngest with TOUCH as their primary love language means I have lots of extended cuddling time.   :)

                                                 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Great quote from a video biographyof Theodore Roosvelt:
"Take care of your morals first, your health next and then your studies." ~~~Theodore Roosevelt's father to his son when Teddy went away to college

We looove this documentary!  It is our second time to view it.  It is from Netflix and is part of the  "American Experience" video series. 

                                              ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     My 14 year old son saw a chiropractor yesterday, one new to us. He asked Garrett if he had any siblings. Garrett chuckles and says, "Yeah." The doctor asks what he has…….the reply: three sisters and two brothers. Of course the doctor was easily impressed…….since he is not familiar with the fact that six children is not actually a large family.  :) 

      Then he asked Garrett which sibling who he was closest to…….after a moment’s pause for pondering…….Garrett replied: “All of them.”  Nice answer.

      That got me pondering……..and when I look at all six of my kids to see who is closest to whom….I cannot find any pairs that necessarily favor each other. They all seem to enjoy each other’s company pretty equally…..though they do take the opportunity for seeking out one sibling over another for various reasons.

     I am glad to reflect on this and see that they truly have become each others’ best friends. Quite gratifying. And, I note, that other than providing ample time together through homeschooling and creating numerous memories, I have had very little to do with this outcome.

     Please pray that these treatments will help heal my boy's pain.....so he can feel comfortable on the sports fields!


                      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


     Speaking of this chiropractor.......when he was done with Garrett, he generously threw in an adjustment of almost every one of my joints, gratis!  I have not been to my chirporpactor in years.......and this last month the need was most definitely showing. It is such a relief to have my lymphatic system moving well again!  I was so tight.....e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e.  This was such a blessing!  So unexpected.  He says to bring Garrett back in a week and he will give me one more adjustment as well.  Yay!

     I feel so much relief now.....physically, mentally and emotionally.  Phew.  Deo gratias for generous chiropractors.

     I have a niece who feels she has a calling to become a chiropractor.......she already promised that she would give me treaments!  I only have to wait another 10 years.  :)
                                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     We have company for dinner, a meadow nature walk and a movie night.  The Music Man is the movie of choice.  I need to go get the dinner going now so the rest of the day goes easier!
   
                                      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Blessings till the next time I ramble…….



With love,



Chari

A Little Ballroom Dancing!

Here are two videos of the four younger children and their friends dancing on an August Saturday night at "open ballroom" held in a hall built in 1906...where generations of people have danced....and where the swing was danced in its hey day! They had only had one lesson as of that night...and have since improved....more videos later.....

I am still trying to figure out why I have no sound on my videos......sorry about that! Just play any song on your computer......it will work! Even if it is Lynyrd Skynyrd...ask me how I know! :)

The first is Malachy, 7 yo, dancing with Peggy, one of their instructors.

Looks like Garrett, 12 yo & Sarah, 16 yo are dancing below.....followed by Dan, 19yo, dancing with the instructor, peggy.......and then Sierra, 16 yo & her brother Kyle, 15 yo....and my Maddelyn, 14 yo, dancing with Gavin, 17 yo. You may notice a cute little 7 yo "waltzing" throughout the video....he was partnerless....and wanting to dance....so...what's a fella to do, but dance with an imaginary partner!

Have a blessed Sunday!

Love, Chari

Haven Heartbeats

I suppose I could actually do a daybook today......being up so early.......but I doubt I have time for that right now.

Last night I took the first dose of the constitutional remedy that my new homeopathic practitioner prescribed. This morning I took the second dose. Please pray this is enough to help heal my lungs.

I lay awake from about 5am to 6:45am, when I finally got out of bed. My mind was racing and racing and racing....mostly with Matthew's TO-DO List over the next few months, especially for April....and then I moved on to Maddelyn's list. Usually when I awaken this early and just lay there.....my mind is peaceful....and often I hear God talking to me. This morning was unusual....and slightly stressful. I wondered if it was the remedy causing this...and am reminded to keep a journal of any changes, so I can report my progress, or lack of, to the practitioner.

I finally got up.......found a few coals in the woodstove and threw a log on, to take the morning chill away. I took a few photos of the sliver of the moon with my new camera, to see what it could do. I have it set on the sunrise/sunset setting....awaiting the sunrise.......almost here...but it does not look to be brilliant. Always another morning, I suppose. Oh, as I was snapping away at the moon.....a pair of sandhill cranes flew overhead, and into my viewfinder....but the photo is a bit blurry. I love sandhill cranes...they are my favorite bird, I think. :)

Yesterday morning, we awakened to snow on the ground.....then we had sun for about 6 hours....and then the clouds and snow came back. It was dusk.....and the view from my window was like being on the inside of a snow globe.

The next few weeks....shall I make that months?...are so busy.....sigh....and then......we will have a "new" normal.......

Here comes the sun....it is spectacular, of course...but not photo-spectacular. Yet. I am just so happy to see the sun!!!

Garrett was so pleased to receive his Star Wars Lego sets for his birthday! He had his heart set on ONE set...and if I had been the one shopping, that is all he would have got. But....I sent his father to find it....who is not used to this kind of shopping...and, he took his time, did his research and brought Garrett home, not one, but FIVE different sets! Needless to say, Garrett is pleased as punch........and Malachy is not too far behind.

These is a funny smell in here......almost like yeast bread rising.......I am thinking it is those overripe bananas. Better make them into a protein shake for Marty, if it is not too late! Though...now I cannot stop thinking of fresh baked bread.....I am not sure I have time to do that today........but, who knows...

I am reading an old favorite book: THOSE WHO LOVE by Irving Stone. It is the John Adams story....from Abigail's point of view. I read it the week Malachy was born....and have been thinking about reading it again for a few years. I am reading THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH by Norton Juster aloud to the little boys, when I am on the treadmill. I first read this to myself back when I was 12 years old.........I got the book from Mrs. Tansy, one of my three fifth grade teachers......she was so wonderful! I loved the book then...I love it more now. There are so many plays on words and word phrases that I may actually understand better now. The boys are loving it......but I am sure some of the word humor is over their 12 yo and 7 yo heads.

I finally got Malachy's First Holy Communion notebook started. He loves doing this kind of thing. Gloria also got hers started for her girls, too, while they were here last week. They will be back up in less than two weeks, to stay at our house while John has "boys' ski weekend." We look forward to seeing them.......even though Marty, Matthew and I will have to go down to Sacramento area for a whole day of Rotary Youth Exchange preparation. Right now Malachy is working on the second page, doing copywork of The Apostles' Creed. I thought he would balk at such long copywork...but he sat down amidst friends visiting and got it started. I will have him work on it some more today....probably while I am on the treadmill.

Charlotte, 3 & Clementine, 6

Gloria & John's youngest girls

Almost time to wake everyone.........so hard to do......but after all of my racing thoughts this morning.......they need to get their lives going as of today!!! :)

I pray I can make it cheerfully through my day, with my shortened sleep!

Have a blessed day!

Love,

Chari

There's a birthday here today!!

Happy, happy Birthday to Garrett!!!

Garrett has the BESTest smile in the family. When he was a baby.......strangers used to mention his smile as they walked by. These photos don't show the smile as well as they could....but the above photo gives you a hint. he is swimming in Robynn's pool, in Lancaster, in September of '08.

Visiting Willa in the Sierras, last July.

Swing dancing with Maddelyn at Willa's in July, '08.

On a Disneyland ride in September '08.

Swimming in a nasty, smelly reservoir in Oregon, Summer '08.

Camping, Summer '08.

On the dock, at a reservoir in the Sierras, with Willa, July '08.

Second from the left, front row....Garrett with his basketball team, Winter '09.




Garrett & little brother Malachy, at The Getty Villa, in Malibu California, Sept '08.

Garrett & friend Nathaniel at soccer camp, July '08.

Garrett & his papa, admiring Crater Lake National Park, August '08.

Today he is 12 years old!!

He does not know this........but his father is going to the big city south of us, to pick up a surprise for him.

Garrett has been saving his money and trying to figure out ways to earn more......so he could purchase a Lego Star Wars set. He has been focused on this idea for about 6 months.......he will be VERY surprised!

Happy day, dear boy!!!

Love, your family

So you want to know more about concussions?

Many of you know Garrett (11 yo) suffered a concussion Wednesday night (February 18th) in the 4th quarter of his basketball game. He lost momentary consciousness and has little memory of the game.

Our doctor said he needed to be mellow (no sports) for the next 2-3 weeks. At least one coach was surprised it was so long.

An online friend mentioned she had done reseach after two of her sons suffered severe concussions. One suffered with pain for a year. She said Garrett should not do any sports for two weeks AFTER the symptoms subside. She said teaching others about the seriousness of concussions is a crusade of hers. It is now mine, too.

This got me looking around the internet. According to two sources, Garrett's concussion was moderate to severe (between a Grade 2 and 3) or severe (Grade 3). Shelly witnessed the whole thing.....she says Grade 3.

A week later, he still has a headache, neck ache and occasional dizziness......I will say he still has the ability to argue with his siblings......that's a good sign, right? :)

Concussions are a mild form of TBI, Traumatic Brain Injury.

It usually affects JR/SR aged kids, though occasionally into the college-aged adults.

I wanted to share the info I found, for those of you involved with sports, either as a coach, or a parent.....or both.

Be sure to view the mini-documentary below.

But first, here are some interesting quotes, all taken out of context, and from several sources:

Second Impact Syndrome. Aka SIS. The two cases described above involved repeated head trauma with probable concussions that separately might be considered mild but in additive effect were fatal. The risk for catastrophic effects from successive seemingly mild concussions sustained within a short period is not yet widely recognized. Second Impact Syndrome results from acute, usually fatal, brain swelling that occurs when a second concussion is sustained before complete recovery from a previous concussion that causes vascular congestion and increased intracranial pressure, which may be difficult or impossible to control. (There does seem to be debate about whether this actually exists or not.....seems like a moot point to me.......playing before healed seems pretty dangerous to me.)

Neurologists say once a person suffers a concussion, he is as much as four times more likely to sustain a second one. Moreover, after several concussions, it takes less of a blow to cause the injury and requires more time to recover. (Think football players & boxers.)

Depending on the extent and location of the injury, impairments caused by a head injury can vary widely. The irony of mild head injuries is that often, such injuries do not even require a hospital stay, yet they result in changes so profound that lives are forever changed.

The condition most commonly occurs in American football

Every documented case of SIS has occurred in males, but it is not known whether this is due to a special vulnerability or to a greater exposure of males to second impacts.


You must look at just one link: this is a great video documentary



This is a good, to the point definition



Another website here


Good list of signs and symptoms


About amnesia


About returning to play after a head injury



GRADING the concussion



a great handout for those of you needing one for parents, etc


Full of statistics, and from an MD point of view


Lots of info and links at wikipedia


Interesting info about POST-CONCUSSION SYNDROME


Summary of Recommendations of Management of Concussion in Sports below taken from here


Garrett had at least 6 of the nine below, at some point of his injury.


A concussion is defined a head-trauma-induced alteration in mental status that may or may not involve loss of consciousness. Concussions are graded in three categories. Definitions and treatment recommendations for each category are presented below.


Grade 1 Concussion


Definition: Transient Confusion, no loss of consciousness, and a duration of mental status abnormalities of less than 15 minutes.


Management: The athlete should be removed from sports activity, examined immediately and at 5 minute intervals, and allowed to return that day to the sports activity only if post concussive symptoms resolve within 15 minutes. Any athlete who incurs a second Grade 1 concussion on the same day should be removed from sports activity until asymptomatic for 1 week.

Grade 2 Concussion:


Definition: Transient confusion, no loss of consciousness, and a furation of mental status abnormalities of more than 15 minutes.


Management: The athlete should be removed from sports activity, examined immediately and frequently to assess the evolution of symptoms, with more extensive diagnostic evaluation if the symptoms worsen or persist for more than 1 week. The should return to sports activity only after asymptomatic for 1full week. Any athlete who incurs a Grade 2 concussion subsequent to a Grade 1 concussion on the same day should be removed from sports activity until asymptomatic for 2 weeks.


Grade 3 Concussion:


Definition: Loss of consciousness, either brief (seconds) or prolonged (minutes or longer).


Management: The athlete should be removed from sports activity for 1 full week without symptoms if the loss of consciousness is brief, or 2 full weeks without symptoms if the loss of consciousness is prolong. If still unconscious, or if abnormal neurologic signs are present at the time of initial evaluation, the athlete should be transported by ambulance to the nearest hospital emergency department. An athlete who suffers a second Grade 3 concussion should be removed from sports activity until asymptomatic for 1 month. Any athlete with an abnormality on computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging brain scan consistent with brain swelling, contusion, or other intracranial pathology should be removed from sports activities for the season and discouraged from future return to participation in contact sports.


Features of Concussion Frequently Observed:


1.Vacant stare (befuddled facial expression)


2.Delayed verbal and motor responses (slow to answer questions or follow instructions)


3.Confusion and inability to focus attention (easily distracted and unable to follow through with normal activities)


4.Disorientation (walling in the wrong direction; unaware of time, date and place)


5.Slurred or incoherent speech (making disjointed or incomprehensible statements)


6.Gross observable incoordination (stumbling, inability to walk tandem/straight line)


7.Emotions out of proportion to circumstances (distraught, crying for no apparent reason)


8.Memory deficits (exhibited by the athlete repeatedly asking the same question that has already been answered, or inability to memorize and recall 3 of 3 words, or 3 of 3 objects in 5 minutes)


9.Any period of loss of consciousness (paralytic coma, unresponsiveness to arousal)





Prayers for his continued healing requested. He is missing the last two weeks of basketball season.........and at least two more weeks of ski/snowboard season. It is hard to keep him off the hill.........but I just have to.

A picture thought I am sharing........

A great, sunny and warm January ski day.

Sarah**Maddelyn**Gavin**Malachy**Matthew**Garrett

Looking for more of those days in March......

God bless,

Love Chari

Poetry Out Loud Video, with Matthew!

I have been meaning to place a video here for months. I cannot figure out how to embed it. So, to see the Poetry Out Loud California State Finals Documentary for 2008, please go here.

While we watched it the first time, we were disappointed they did not include Matthew reciting, and only a few seconds of Matthew's interview (they interviewed them twice, once after each recitation). We only "saw" him here and there in the group shots.....he is the tall one, clean-cut, with the shirt and tie. Then, at the very end....we got a surprise.

So, when you go to see this video, realize it is a little over 9 minutes. It is well done.

You will hear Matthew speak at 4 minutes 2 seconds and then, our surprise, can be found at 8 minutes 20 seconds. You do not see him at first, you will only hear his voice over the video footage...and then you will see him....his comment is the LAST one heard on the video, again from one of the interviews.

Funny, I never noticed before, but just before Matthew's quote, a poet says something about some people need religion or a fundamental belief system....and that poetry can fulfill that. Whatever. :) I think it just expresses that, myself.....or adds to it, as with Matthew's choice of poems. And, sometimes, I think poetry expresses a person's LACK of religion or fundamental belief system. :)

I just noticed he has one of those ski goggle sunburn lines on his nose. :)

I think he is hoping for one of those this weekend! :)

Well, I only had a bit of time here, while I wait for the kids in their college class. Maddelyn and Matthew this time. I had to drive them, including Anne, because we got about 18 inches of snow. YES!! We actually have ten days of snow on the 10-day forcast! Boy, do we need it! At least the ski park will be set for a while. They were barely open before the storms hit. Skiing tomorrow, on Saint Valentine's Day.

I will have to come back later to get Anne. Unless I get called into work....as I am on call till 1900.

Garrett got up and outside early and has been shoveling the property all by himself. This includes the driveway! I know it is a pride thing for him....he loves to please his father.....who loves to see his kids shovel. Someday, I bet his father will buy a snowblower.......after all the shovellers leave home......or, he will move somewhere where there is NO shovelling needed!

God bless your day, your weekend!

Love, chari

There's been some good news around here.....

Let's see, where do I start?

How about pregnancy announcements?

Having kept mum for almost three months, we are finally allowed to share: my friend Louise is pregnant! Her birthday is this week...and then she and I will be the same age.......this is is her second baby....and my kids, who just found out last week, are absolutely estatic! I do believe they believe, the next best thing to me having a baby (don't panic, Grandma! :) ), is Louise having a baby.

We also have another local friend due the same week...and she is over 40, too! Yay, Victoria! This will be number 4 for her family.

And, we just found out today, that our dear friend Erica in San Diego is expecting baby#8 the exact same week....and she is over 40 also.

Isn't this exciting!

Congratulations to all three of you........and I am excited that I will be able to share Louise's birth with her.

You are all added to our daily Memorare for expectant moms!

Next good news, it looks as if I have actually found a Certified homeopath, who really and truly does live and practice in my town!!! I will make an appointment shortly to see if we can get these asthma symptoms cleared up once and for all! I met her yesterday. She has been a nurse practitioner for over 28 years and seems to fit the bill. Please pray this is so!

And, more GREAT news! I have not found my way here to mention that one of my close friend's husband had lost his job two weeks ago. We have all been scheming and praying........and on Saturday, he was offered a job.....and, from an employer who had told him almost two weeks before that there was no room for him at their place of business! We are so grateful to God for this opportunity!

And, our community good news.....THERE IS SNOW!!!!!

Our poor little community was so hurting, being a tourist town. We depend on snow for the businesses to make money. This feels so much better.

There may be other good news......but I am at a loss to remember anymore, right now.

So, onto HAVEN HEARTBEATS:

I have finally got the Christmas newsletter finished.......I just need to finish proofreading...and then I can get copies made and mailed. I will not be finishing that project, till I have all of the college & scholarship application stuff cared for........so, a couple of more weeks, I guess! I am getting closer....and will look forward to when this batch is done!!

We have TWO graduates this spring!

Anne will be graduating with her AA.

Matthew will be graduating from high school.

One on May 15 and the other May 28th. And in between? Well, they have college finals and a show........that Anne is directing and Matthew is starring in....plus doing all of the set design and building. And, three other siblings are in the show as well!

I am having these few moments to post because I am waiting for 13 year old Maddelyn, who is in a 50 minute class here at the college. It is a music fundamentals course.....and ugh, it is FIVE days a week! Thankfully, Anne can drive her and Matthew and Sarah three of the days. Marty has been good about driving Maddelyn on one of the days.....so, that leaves only one for me. Phew!!

I am in the college's library.

Garrett, aged 11, for only another month or so, has been on a REAL basketball team. Our little charter school was able to form a team this season. Some weeks, this has meant basketball 6 evenings a week! We have an amazing coach, with amazing experience. He also happens to be the director's husband. that is how we got such a great guy.........he has two boys on the team. We combined with another small team from a private Christian school after the season started......and doubled our game schedule! It has been so good for Garrett......and Malachy loves going to the games. Me, too. They finally had their first win last Friday, in a tournament. It was a great comeback!

I guess the biggest drawback, besides the busy schedule, is the fact that our sparsely populated county is so big...and we have to do a lot of driving for games......most over 30 minutes away from home...and some over an hour!

Last bit of news.........Sarah will be 16 years old on Sunday!!!!

Well, time is up! Maybe I will come back here next Tuesday!

God bless your week!

Chari