Two years of Father's Day Blessings

Two years ago, yesterday, my eight month old boy gave my husband the best Father's day present possible.  On that relief filled day, our child ceased having Infantile Spasms (IS).  On this Father's day, two years later, my little man never fails to amaze me.  I am overjoyed to share, being two months seizure-medication free, Mateo’s EEG results showed no sign of seizure activity!  It has been an exhausting two plus years, filled with tests, medications and constant worry; and we wanted to thank all the love, prayers and support many of you have given us.  To say we are feeling relieved is an absolute understatement.  We can move on from all of this knowing that our little man is our little miracle.   

Mateo and his Papa, early June 2011

Infantile Spasms(IS) in a many of cases, is incredibly difficult to stop, and detrimental to the function of the child’s brain.  In the beginning we learned that quite a few children sustain permanent damage from IS. At the time, our child had the luxury of already working with a neurologist during his initial onset.  Along with that, and maternal instinct that brought us there in the first place, he was quickly diagnosed and treated with the common treatment of high dose prednisone immediately.  For most parents a solution is not easy to find, and that was always forefront in our minds.   For that reason, I genuinely believe in educating our communities about what Infantile Spasms is, and how to spot signs early to avoid detrimental damage done to these special little babies.  

I welcome you to spread the word on this catastrophic seizure syndrome, so that other parents are given the tools to react as swiftly to which we were able.  There are quite a few neurology organizations out there, and I have chosen to become a mentor for other parents with the Child Neurology Foundation http://www.infantilespasmsinfo.org, in the hopes that I can provide positive advise to another parents in our similar circumstances.  The positive stories are few, and I believe that I can give hope to other terrified parents out there.  

We are now focusing on putting these times behind us, moving ahead with the normals of raising an almost 3 year old, chalked full of temper tantrums, potty training and running in sprinklers. We feel very blessed, and can only hope that our miraculous child's first few years, are the hardest he faces in his lifetime.  

You're My Girl, Blue!

A Different Blue

By Amy Harmon

Read April 9, 2013

4.5 Stars

Blue, Abandoned at age two by her mother, left with a gentle Native-American man to be raised until he disappears at age ten.  With major answers if her life un-known, she’s forced into self-reliance, and in turn into a tough as nails bad-ass, seeking affection in the typical way a beautiful wayward woman would.  I was completely caught off guard with this beautiful story of Blue Echohawk from unknown author Amy Harmon. 

What I appreciated the most about this story was that it was about a journey of a woman, but only part of it was the romance, not a novel centered on romance.  She learns to live in her own skin, love herself and in turn is able to love others.  Her devoted friend says it best -

"I keep wishing that you had had a better life . . . a different life.  But a different life would have made you a different Blue."

A Different Blue is tricky to review, without revealing too much.  So, I’ll just say that there were several moments I found my heart squeezing in my chest.  My tears don’t flow easily, but I found myself clutching my kindle, face crumpled and the tears start to flow.  Blue, gutted me, over and over.  I will concede that aspects of the story felt a bit hokey and the final revelations a smidge too full-circle. But, the emotions that it pulled from me erased those over-done aspects.  I am eager to see where Amy Harmon takes us next. 

Amazon has this for a steal too: http://amzn.com/B00C2GEJT8

Easy, By Tammara Weber
Mature YA/New Adult
4.5 Stars


This new sub-genre of romance has sprung up over the last decade for the college-bound young woman, ready to break out and feel the world without parental supervision.  I am constantly being aggrevated by this genre with the portrayal of extremely unhealthy decisions and then glorifying them.  Easy, by Tammara Weber was such a breath of fresh air.  Not only was the main subject of this book a very real threat to young women today, but the healthy relationships should be an inspiration to every young woman heading off to college.

In Easy, we are taken on a journey of a young woman Jacqueline, fresh from a devastating break-up from her long-term high school boyfriend in her Sophomore year of college.  Faced with being a God Damned Independent or as I fondly referred to my own self as a "GDI", Jacqueline is found at a frat party looking out for her greek BFF and roommate, Erin.  Grief puts herself in a vulnerable moment and in pursuit of a sick bastard and rapist.

Date rape and rape at the college level is a very real threat.  Over a decade ago, date rape was a new concept, and the girls that found themselves in those situations were asking for it.  They knew the guy, they were a "dick tease", a slut or whatever the excuse you would hear.  This little novel says loud and clear, IT IS RAPE.  No.  Means.  No.  I wish I and all the girls that I knew back in college received this book as a handout during freshman orientation.

**wink wink Penguin**

There were several moments that followed the typical temperamental drama and I did feel the predictable moments coming as they were happening. But because the underlying currents were so poignant I'll give the author an impasse.

When I started hearing stories from my close friends in college, and so many of them had stories to tell, it shocked the hell of out me.  Te fundamental reason I became involved during my junior year of college in student government was to set up measures for women to feel safe on campus.   Giving power back to woman in hopes of preventing assault should be the entirely community's responsibility.

While there is ugliness in this book, I will say the majority of it was lovely.  The romance between Jacqueline and her savior was buoyant.   Her roommate, Erin was a tribute to those gutsy females striving to stop the violence.   I was reminded of my girls younger days and hoped that I was just as much a support as Erin was to Jacqueline.

Sitting on the Sidelines

remember when?

when you were a young person and you discovered there was a party.

a party that everyone seemed to have enjoyed but you.

As a young girl, I experienced those shameful moments.  I'd ask myself - Why wasn't I there?  Did I do something wrong?  We have all been there right?    I specifically remember one of my friends whose birthday was two days from mine and our mothers would always dispute who got that Saturday on the weekend closest.  We shared the same group of friends, you see.  

Or you went to the party but your mother asked you to be hush hush about it so that those select few that weren't invited weren't hurt by not being included.  That was crafty, and often times clique forming. Because young girls containing their glee in silent?  Not going to happen. 

This was all before the internet. Before picture shares and when people send invites, not evites.

So here I am a woman grown, trying to wrap my head around watching moment unfold that a few of us have been excluded.  Of an event I had wished to take part.  I’m not trying to make this exclusion about me, because it's not.  It was a lost opportunity to know someone a little bit better and to share in the joy of their growing life.  So now sitting on the sidelines of the internet, seeing with my own eyes actual pictures almost makes it more hurtful than when I was a child hearing the undercurrents about a party I missed.

So what do I tell myself?  The invitation was lost in the mail?  That would be nice, but I know that is not the case.  Perchance I’ll be more deserving of an inclusion next time and work on those relationships or just be a better person.  Or just get over it and grow up.  But one thing is for certain that no matter how old or young a person is . . . it still smarts just a bit. 

Days of Blood & Starlight went BOOM!

Days of Blood & Starlight

By, Laini Taylor

“Once upon a time, an angel and a devil held a wishbone between them.

And it snap split the world in two.”

With those simple words, I was sucker-punched into the second installment for Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy.  Last year when I picked up The Daughter of Smoke and Bone I enjoyed the beauty of Prague and Marrakesh, was fascinated by this strange girl with blue hair and these monsters she called her family, but I didn’t close the pages and say “boom.”   I said many things at the end of the Days of Blood and Starlight, starting with "Oh good there's a map", and ending with quite a bit of gasping and heavy breathing.

I realized that 75% of the way through it would be a 5 star for me.  I’m still trying to process the final decisions made by Karou our epic heroine.  Plot twist seems a bit mild to express what happens as a result to her decisions at the end of this devastating book.

It seems a common reaction for me with the first installments of fantasy world to feel the intrigue and enjoy the novel, but the sequel holds the guts to the story. It’s not like you visit a friends now home and tell them, “My! Your foundation is really spectacular!”   Foundations are tedious things, and essential, but it really is just that, but what people enjoy in an aesthetic sense is the architecture.  I can officially say, I’m in love with this series and may even re-think my original rating on the first.  I’m proud of fellow Portlandian Laini Taylor, and I’ll keep my eye out for her pink hair in Powell’s. Not to stalk, but just to do a smidge of fan-girl gushing. 

As always with a new series I tear through, the next installment seems immensely far away. 

Jellicoe Road

By Melina Marchetta

My first foray into the world created by Australian author Melina Marchetta did not disappoint.  This story sneaks up on you and then when it has your attention snakes a vice grip on your emotions and won't let up until you have all your questions answered.  

In Jellicoe Road, we are thrown into a rural Australian town, where three factions of kids rival for territories and our reluctant leader Taylor Markham ask all the right questions.  Throughout her voyage of self-discovery she finds her true family in the most likely of places.  It has been a while since a book has brought me to tears, but this little one did.  

I concur all around on the praise of this special little book.   And, may I say that this little library binding is such a quaintly perfect size and fits ever so nicely in my hands.  

First weekend of December

Saturday - 

A close friend invited me to show off her 10 week old cutie to her colleagues and family at the Portland Farmers Market.  The sun was out and we were feeling cooped up.  I jumped at the chance to enjoy the outdoors and pick up some winter market veggies!

If you find yourself in their vicinity, eating their food would be advisable.

 I'm pretty sure arranged marriages are frowned upon nowadays, but Mateo seemed to accept the idea initially.

Here are my fun farmers market finds converted into a fabulous dinner.

Leek and Potato soup with baby kale and chard salad with pomegranate and avocado.  

Sunday - 

Took us to Damascus, Oregon to cut down a nice Noble Fir at a tree farm we've visited for the last handful of years.  The sun was out for just the right amount of time.  

To say that my little guy enjoyed himself would be an understatement.  It is a bit unnerving to chase after a wobbly guy with numerous stumps and on a hillside no less, but we managed to leave the farm all in one piece. 

Do you think this will make me smaller if I lick the underside?

 Another fabulous dinner of roast chicken while we trim the tree.  "It's easy" as Mateo keep saying.  At least that is what we think he is saying.

If this is just a taste of what the actual big day will bring. He was pretty wound up to say the least.  It is pretty amazing the discovery these little guys go through this time of year.  Christmas lights are his ultimate favorite and somewhat temper-tantrum inducing.