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Showing posts with the label HubPages

Cari's Cardiology Update

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Normally, Faith is the one with all of the appointments but this week it has been my turn. On Monday I had my annual echocardiogram. On Tuesday I had my pacemaker device check and appointment with the cardiologist who comes to Bismarck from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.  The doctors who come are pediatric cardiologists who also specialize in adults with congenital heart defects (CHD). This saves anyone in the area who has a CHD from having to travel to Rochester each year. It is very convenient! (I do travel to Rochester to get my pacemaker changed, though!)  The Bible verse that has kept me going all these years! When I saw the doctor, we mainly discussed two things: my Fontan and my pacemaker. But first, a little background. I was born with double outlet right ventricle (DORV). Basically, this means both my aorta and pulmonary artery stem from my right ventricle. Because of this, my left ventricle does not really do anything, which is why this CHD is referred to as a sin...
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Valentines Week

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It seems we've been celebrating Valentines Day all week as we spent Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday making our homemade Valentines boxes and cards. Faith's class had a party today and we had our own "old school" Valentines Day party at work. Faith normally doesn't stay at school on Thursday afternoons, so we decided to give her the choice of whether or not she wanted to stay for the class party. I was a little disappointed when she said she didn't want to stay for it because I don't like her to miss out on doing fun things with her classmates. I do think though that the parties can get a little chaotic, and I know it's hard for her to relax in that kind of atmosphere because her startle is constantly kicking in.  Still, after dropping her off at school I couldn't help but feel a little sad that she was going to miss out on the party. We did have fun making the boxes and cards and looking at all our Valentines together this evening after I got home....
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Assistive Technology

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Assistive technology helps students succeed in the classroom. There are many types of assistive technology to help students with different special needs. In the photo to the left, assistive technology called interactive switches allow Faith to drive her power chair and operate her computer at school. Read more by going to Assistive Technology Helps Students with Disabilities.
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"We're Going on a Bear Hunt" Children's Book - A Modern Classic

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"We're Going on a Bear Hunt" Children's Book - A Modern Classic
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Adaptive Equipment for Children with Cerebral Palsy

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Adaptive Equipment for Children with Cerebral Palsy Faith in her stander, a common piece of adaptive equipment for kids with cp
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Janu"weary" in North Dakota

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Since we are in the deep freeze here for a couple of days, I thought I would repost this article I wrote in January of 2010 for HubPages.  It's January in North Dakota. Today on January 9, our thermometer showed -33 degrees F. Right now, the wind isn't blowing, but if it does pick up, it could feel closer to -50 degrees. I know, it's North Dakota and we should be used to our winters by now. Snow and cold weather are fine, and we do like to say it keeps out the riffraff. But when the temperature dips down to being dangerous, it's just not fun anymore.  I am thankful because I get to stay indoors all day, along with my daughter. I opted not to bring her to school or take her to physical therapy. The extreme cold is hard on her little body and dealing with her wheelchair in this frigid weather is not fun by any means.  I do, however, feel for those who have to work outdoors most of the day. Like Rob who has to deliver home medical supplies. My dad has to try to keep a dies...
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The Great American Bike Race - Just Plain Awesome!

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There are so many words I can think of that describes the Great American Bike Race event that took place this past Saturday: loud, fun, exciting, crazy, inspiring, encouraging, exhausting but most of all it was just plain awesome! As team captain, I was required to be there all day, which I didn't mind but my feet certainly did as I did not sit down once! I arrived before 9:00 a.m. to greet my first rider of the day, my cousin Beth. She really knew how to set the pace by biking 17 miles in 25 minutes! After Beth, my former co-workers from Laducer showed up. I am so thankful to keep in touch with many of my friends from Laducer. Jane and Brooke did awesome as well - Jane did especially great with fundraising as she raised over $600! Lindsey and her boyfriend Matt arrived sporting their very cool 'Faith's Fantastic Ten' t-shirts which were paid for by my brother Todd and his oilwell consulting business. They were designed by another rider, Liza Kessel.  While Matt was...
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