Our Family on Thanksgiving

The photo below was taken shortly before we left our home to enjoy a very yummy Thanksgiving dinner at Steve's parent's home....

We are so very blessed by our family. From left to right: Steve, Josiah (2), Tracey, McKenna (13), Mariah (17) and Miranda (9) ~~ Yes, the kids are all destined to be taller than Mom!!!

Thanksgiving

We were so blessed to have a very nice Thanksgiving holiday with our families. We enjoyed an incredibly delicious dinner at Steve's parents' house in the early afternoon with his parents, grandmother, brother and his brother's friend. Steve's sister and her family weren't able to join us this year, but we will see them in December for Christmas. In the early evening, we then to my Aunt Stella's home for more great food and visiting with my family.

While we have so very much to be thankful for this year, there is definitely a huge, wonderful presence missing from our celebrations. My Dad. Simply put: I miss him. I miss his smile, I miss his hugs, I miss his laugh, I miss his love, I miss his support, I miss his kindness, I miss his strength, I miss hearing his voice, I miss watching him be a grandpa to my children....I miss him. Countless things remind me of Dad all throughout the day and while the sadness of missing him is very strong, I am thankful he was such an important part of my life that he is so easily remembered.

Pumpkin Festival @ Rock Creek

Each year, we all go to a very fun, local pumpkin patch. Unfortunately, with my dad's passing, we didn't have a chance to go to that one this year. Instead, my mom, sister and I took the kiddos to a pumpkin festival at Rock Creek in Stevenson. It was different than the tradition we've become accustomed to since @ 1992, but we all had a fun time!
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In the photo below, in front of the tractor are all four of Lisa's kiddos, Tyler's son, my four kiddos and Mariah's boyfriend, Bobby. From left to right: Miranda (my youngest daughter), Dade (son of my youngest brother, Tyler), Josiah (my son), McKenna (my second born), Sydney (one of Lisa's twins), Sophia (Lisa's youngest daughter), Mariah (my oldest daughter), Savannah (one of Lisa's twins), Antonio (son of my sister, Lisa) and Bobby (Mariah's friend).

Below, from left to right: McKenna (13yrs old), Josiah (2yrs old), Mariah (17yrs old) & Miranda (9yrs old) ~ my sweet blessings!
~Mariah & Bobby~McKenna, peeking out from the hay bales!

My sweet McKenna is growing up into such a young lady!

And below is Miss Miranda (disguised as a kitty) peeking out from the hay bale tunnel.

I just love the look of wonder and amazement on Josiah's face!

(These were taken on October 29th, the day before his first haircut).

"Hey!! C'mon, Momma, why are you making me sit in this wheelbarrow?!?!?!"
A future cowboy, perhaps?

I know I've said it many times before, BUT, I am such an incredibly blessed momma. I am SO very thankful for each one of my children.

~ Josiah's First Haircut ~

My sister, Lisa, gave our girls their first haircuts when they each were around 2yrs old. Josiah turned 2yrs old on October 16th and had finally had enough hair to need a haircut. His big sisters decided his "baby mullet" needed to go! I kept teasing the girls that we were keeping the "mullet" style so I could surprise them when I finally had it cut.

Josiah was a bit apprehensive about the whole process so we distracted him with Red Vine candy while he received his first hair cut by Aunt Lisa at Grandma B's house.

Patiently (?!?!?) waiting....
And the final results...
(The flash on my camera was too bright, though)


It's amazing how the first hair cut can make the little ones go from having that "baby look" to looking like a little boy, instantly!

~Today's Twitter~

Tracey's Tweets for Today

• 02:16 Had a great afternoon Wednesday @ the Pumpkin Fest @ Rock Creek with everyone! Again, another sleepless night tonight. ~*~Tracey~*~ #
• 02:28 Looking forward to carving pumpkins with my kiddos Thursday evening! I'm so blessed by ALL of my family. ~*~Tracey~*~ #
• 02:35 Hmm....this Twitter blog update feature via text is quite handy! I may need to add unlimited texts to my cell phone plan. ~*~Tracey~*~ #

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~Today's Twitter~

Tracey's Tweets for Today

• 23:11 Trying to figure this twitter thing out.... #
• 09:36 Just checking out Twitter postings to my blog...I'm a newbie! ~*~Tracey~*~ #
• 09:39 Will be visiting Mom today, then on to a pumpkin festival! ~*~Tracey~*~ #

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In Memory of my Dad

Dad, doing what he loved: fishing!

>Josiah< >Papa<

>Dad< >Tracey<

In Honor of My Father

My Dad and I

My heart breaks as I post this tribute, written together by my siblings, mother and I for his funeral, in honor of my Amazing, Wonderful Father:

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~~In Loving Memory of Joseph Richard Balsiger~~

Husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, friend, HERO - all titles we’ve used to describe one amazing man. Joseph Richard Balsiger left this Earth to be with Jesus on Sunday, October 19th. 2008.

Joe was born to Henry Lee and Pauline (Hearn) Balsiger in Hood River, Oregon on November 8th, 1943. The youngest of Henry and Pauline’s children, Joe was welcomed into his family by siblings Ray, Phillis and Henry. Being raised in White Salmon, Joe graduated from Columbia High School in 1963. He joined the United States Navy, serving from 1965 to 1967, on the USS Kitty Hawk with his brother, Henry, during the Vietnam War. After leaving the military, he worked at SDS Lumber Company and then on to the City of White Salmon, where he retired from the Public Works Department after 30 years of service.

Joe was a dedicated, loving husband to Mariland and an incredible father to Randy and his wife, Gladys; Tracey and her husband, Steve; Lisa and her husband, Jorge; and Tyler and his wife, Kristy.

Joe lived his life an honest, hardworking, patient man who made certain his family was always provided for, no matter what. There was never a limit to the amount of love and compassion he bestowed on his family and friends.

Joe and Mariland were blessed with the “Perfect Dozen”. Twelve grandchildren! Six boys and six girls: Michyle, Mariah, Giles, Ian, McKenna, Miranda, Savannah, Sydney, Dade, Sophia, Antonio and Josiah. Papa was so very loved by his grandchildren. Joe’s trademark sense of humor included him always trying to be the first to say the phrase, “Glad you got to see me” before his children and grandchildren could when they were saying goodbye. It became a game to be the first to say it!

Joe was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing, camping, picking mushrooms and berries and doing anything in the outdoors with his family. Deer and elk hunting was a favorite pastime of his. Over the years, Joe and his sons had adopted the tradition of the boys taking care of the animals he had taken...due to the fact that after he shot the animal he would get so excited he couldn’t stop talking, he would relive the whole hunt in every detail and he would be shaking so badly that he couldn’t even light a cigarette. They would just ask him for his knife and dress the animal out for him, they were honestly afraid he might cut a finger or two off.

Joe was very proud to have got a three point buck the Tuesday before his surgery!

Joe and Mariland enjoyed spending as much time as possible at their place on the coast in Grayland, where everyone was always invited. At the coast, Joe enjoyed fishing, crabbing off the docks, and searching for moonstones in the sand. But most of all spending time with his family and friends. Joe & Mariland shocked many of their family when they showed their rebellious side by coming home with new tattoos they got at the coast one year.

Although he may have rolled his eyes when Mom suggested shopping, you would never see Mom at a yard sale or Walmart without Dad there with her.

We know if Dad were here right now he would be passing out his cure-all hugs to each one of us. If you were ever fortunate enough to receive one of his famous hugs, you know why it is one of the many things we are missing so much right now about him.

Joe was a positive influence on so many people’s lives, he was always there for us and he will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Game Time!

Soccer season is in full-swing! McKenna is in the red uniform and LOVES playing, although she can't wait for basketball season to begin!

Mariah's incision today ~

Mariah is healing so incredibly well! Her incision continues to look better each day. She has asked me to take daily photos and post them here so she can see the healing progress AND because she can't see it very well due to where it is located (the photo below is posted at her request and with her permission). She is so pleased with her choice of having the I*C*D placed under the muscle because of how well the cosmetic results are. Under the muscle makes for a more uncomfortable recovery but has less visibility and more protection (particularly while playing sports).

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Mariah won't be able to play sports such as basketball or soccer that could result in impact in the area of her device. Her E*P* said she can continue playing softball (something she's played since first grade). However, after we witnessed a first baseman being hit in the upper chest area with a softball last season, we are most likely going to find a chest protector for her prior to this upcoming season.

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The photo below, taken this evening, shows her incision ~ so if you are bothered by those types of images you might want to simply skip on to the next post =)

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Sorry for the crazy spacing with the paragraphs, etc...blogger seems to be messing with me tonight!!

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My family

Miranda and JosiahDaddy (Steve) and Josiah
Josiah, Mariah and Mariah's "Love" Bear
McKenna enjoying reading...she loves to read but it comes in second to her enjoyment of playing sports...soccer, basketball and softball!

Update on possible blog changes

For the time being, I've decided to make no major changes to the accessibility of our blog. Mariah has requested I leave it as is and not allow one person's concerns change the way we've managed this site since we created it nearly three years ago (although we do completely appreciate this person's well-intentioned concern). If ever Mariah (or any of our other children) wants information or photos relating to her/them removed, I won't hesitate to delete that information immediately.

I am working to make this site less visible/searchable on Google searches and possibly Google Alerts.

I have, at least temporarily, selected "NO" to this option provided by blogger:

A Listed blog may be linked to from Blogger.com, such as the Blogger home page, Blogger Play, and Next Blog. If you select "No" your blog will not appear in these places, but it will still be available on the Internet. This blog will still be displayed on your profile unless you hide it.

And "NO" to this option:

If you select "Yes" we will include your blog in Google Blog Search and ping Weblogs.com. If you select "No", everyone can still view your blog but search engines will be instructed not to crawl it.

SO, if you happen to see words that look broken up like this: lo.ng Q*T syn*drome or ele.ct.roph.ysiol.ogi.st or something similar it is to prevent these terms from triggering Google Alerts for those terms. I still haven't decided if that is completely necessary as we would like to provide factual information regarding ICDs, long QT syndrome, etc, as well as our experiences... Although, in reality, if someone has their Google Alerts set to inform him or her of blogs posting these terms it would seem he or she would be seeking this information. That said, visiting this blog or any other website is completely optional and if there is information that offends someone he or she simply doesn't have to visit those sites or can exit out of the site immediately.

Lately the majority of my posts have been about Mariah and her condition and surgery as that has been a major focus in our lives recently; however, the original intent of our blog is to provide information about our family to family and friends. We also want to chronicle our lives with this journal.

We do thank each one of you for visiting our little corner of the world!

Isn't he goofy?

Josiah, being goofy by putting a clip on his nose! He cracks us up so often!! Silly, silly boy!

Building up her strength!

Mariah is working on building up her strength! This morning she and I ventured to Wal.Mart for just a couple items and a treat for her. She then decided a mocha sounded yummy so we headed to St.ar.bu.cks for her favorite coffee drink.

She's also been taking walks outside during the day while it isn't too cold. Yesterday we had a heavy frost and some ice on our back deck! I guess it is that time of year, isn't it?

~Our Sleeping Prince~

I love his LONG eyelashes!!!

Mariah and her "friend" =)

Possible temporary blog changes

If, in the near future, my blog states you must be an "invited reader" or something similar to that, it is because I've changed it due to certain issues...at least temporarily. If this happens, simply email me at stroberts@gorge.net and I will give you (our family and friends) the information to access the blog. I'm not convinced this measure is necessary but am considering it for various reasons. For anyone who is concerned about information I've posted on here regarding Mariah, her procedure, her condition, etc, please know that nothing concerning her has been posted (including photos) without her specific permission.

10/11/08 photos

The lap quilt and teddy bear given to Mariah by the Ronald McDonald House.

A copy of the xray showing the leads. The ICD is not shown in this image:

A photo taken today of Mariah's beautifully healing incision!!!

ICD info

The Medtronic representative, Helios, gave us a lot of information regarding the restrictions that go along with having an ICD. This will be a lengthy post!

Some interesting and important information:
~Mariah's device is an ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator) as well as a pacemaker. If her heart rate decreases to 40bpm or lower it will pace her heart back up. If it reaches 220bpm it will attempt to lower her heart rate once. If that attempt is unsuccessful, it will deliver a shock. If her heart rate reaches 250bpm it will automatically deliver a shock without attempting to pace her heart rate lower.

~Mariah cannot EVER have an MRI. The magnetic component of the MRI will destroy her ICD and will cause the leads that go into her heart to act similar to a microwave and start "cooking her heart muscle". Obviously NOT a good thing!! We will be getting a medical alert bracelet ASAP.

~I think I covered this in a previous post but I'll list them again: she shouldn't use a chainsaw; if she uses a shotgun, she needs to brace it against her right shoulder; she shouldn't be tased or have a stun gun used on her; if she becomes a mechanic, she shouldn't work on a vehicle's alternator; she's fine to go through the magnetic inventory control areas of retail stores but shouldn't lean on the alarm systems (not like she ever considered doing that in the first place, but it's nice to know about); she shouldn't place magnets over her device...and I'm sure there is more I can't remember right now.

~She can use a cell phone, but can only be placed at her right ear. If she uses a hands-free cell phone ear piece it must not be a "blue-tooth" device. She can use blue tooth devices as long as they are used away from her device, such as in her lap.

~Mariah is NOT to wear the magnetic healing bracelets, magnetic healing pads and cannot use a magnetic bed mattress.

~If Mariah receives an instance of one shock only, we are to call her EP's office during normal business hours. If her ICD delivers multiple shocks she is to go straight to the ER. At the ER they will determine if the shocks are/were appropriate. If she has a "normal sinus rhythm" there is therapy the ER can deliver to bring Mariah out of the "shocking storm".

~When Mariah goes through airport security, she will set off the alarms. She has been given a temporary ID card explaining what device, model number, manufacturer, etc, until she receives her permanent card in the mail.

~The Medtronic representative has offered to provide loaner educational materials and demo models of ICDs, a heart model, etc, if Mariah ever decides to do a research project for school. Since she has completed her biology courses we've discussed talking with her teachers about extra credits (or something similar) for her to provide a presentation of arrythmias, Long QT Syndrome and ICDs.

~Mariah's device has been equipped & programmed with the "HBO option" according to Helios, the Medtronic representative. Mariah was sleeping during the time he was checking her device so he told me to give her the following information:

She has the "HBO Option" in her device. This means if she goes outside at exactly 5:00pm on any given day (not 4:55pm, not 6:30pm, but precisely 5pm) and stands in the middle of our yard (rain, snow, sleet or shine), holds both arms straight above her head (after her healing is completed) and turns counter-clockwise FIVE times, she might be able to pick up the HBO channel!!! She found this quite funny! Now, let's see if she tries it out....hee, hee!

I'm sure I've left out some of the information about her ICD, but this is a general over-view of what we were told.

Monitoring an ICD

In addition to more frequent visits at her EP's office, Mariah will have regularly scheduled ICD checks via this CareLink box. Also, any time she isn't sure if something has occurred with her device, she can use this machine to transmit over a telephone land line the data from her device to the Medtronic company. She should receive this equipment within the next four weeks.