awareness

July 2016: Update from Us {Thoughts From Me}

July 21, 2016 by Dana

I know I haven’t updated in quite some time. When you have four kids with special needs life keeps you busy. Not to mention not having internet at home for almost a year. Thankfully, things are now looking up and I’m happy to say I’m back.

What We’ve Been Up To:

Last month, Mimi had surgery on both her feet to correct her toe-walking. She’s been in casts ever since. In a few weeks, the casts come off and she’ll be placed into orthotics for a while. In the meantime, she’s going to therapy several times a week, gaining strength so she can relearn how to walk once her casts are removed. So far so good.

I’m really proud of Mimi. She’s fought hard to come through this surgery and get back going. She’s excited for the opportunities this will allow for her life and so am I. We’re both looking forward to some field trips this fall when the weather cools off and she’s got some experience and healing behind her.

Win, Laycie and Jack are all doing great. Win’s earning rewards for a PS3 which he’s excited for. Laycie is working on earning a 3DS by completing her schoolwork and chores without complaint. Jack is learning so much every day. He can tell you dinosaur names and what they eat. He is now recognizing words. But his absolute favorite thing is fishing. This boy loves to fish! He can name the lures and is learning to throw his line like a pro! He’ll be out fishing his Daddy in no time!

What’s Coming Up:

I said a while back that I was planning to change our blog name but I’ve since decided to keep it since we have a well established blog and so many followers. So we will remain Luv’N Lambert Life though I may alter it a bit in the future.

We now have internet at home so this allows me to get back to blogging and sharing in groups, among other things. I’m so excited about that because I have dearly missed everyone!

I have several book launches that I’m participating in over the next few months. I’m so excited to share those with you all. In fact, my first will be coming up very soon so keep an eye out.

I have some plans for developing some special things for Luv’N Lambert Life. I’d like to develop some printables and maybe some images to share. I’d also like to create a few series posts to share with you guys. All in good time though.

For now, bare with me as I get back on track and back to sharing online. I hope all of you are well and am praying for each of you.

God bless,

Dana

Here are some pics of us lately:

Essential Oil Images for Epilepsy {Epilepsy Awareness}

January 15, 2014 by Dana

With the kids lacking so much control for their Epilepsy and a few other health issues like ADHD, OCD and sleep troubles, I have recently been researching other options for treating their medical needs outside of medications. This has led me to researching Essential Oils for treatment and I’m so excited by what I am finding. To keep track of what I can and cannot use for children, I’ve created a few images listing these things. Please feel free to use these for yourself, print or share but please know that I am NOT an essential oils expert, nor am I an aromatherapist or a doctor. I’m only a Mom who is trying to prevent seizures for her children.

*Please do NOT edit these images or place your business URL on them and please link back where appropriate.*

Here go the Essential Oil images I have created thus far:

Spreading Awareness In A Damaged World {Epilepsy Awareness}

December 29, 2013 by Dana

Let me just start by stating that the world today is not what it used to be. So many people lack respect for others. People think they are entitled to whatever the world has offered up to them without consequence.

I recently made the mistake of not putting my stamp onto my Epilepsy Awareness images. I didn’t want to stamp them because I didn’t want them to link back to me or my page. I asked they be shared with others so that they could spread awareness, not gain me fame. I realize now that was a huge mistake.

I found my images online the other day, recreated into someone else’s work and claiming them as her own. Her stamp was now on them and there was no credit to the original creator though I am really easy to find. No message to me asking for permission to use my work and recreate it into her own.

I’m upset to say the least and disappointed in this young woman who has been using others images as her own for a while now. Those of us who take time to put our hearts into supporting this cause are being ripped off by so many like this person. They are taking our work and crediting themselves to it without considering the effort it took to create these images in support of the awareness they bring.

Because of this, I have removed my images and reissued them with my photography copyright on them. They will bring attention to me and my pages which was never my wish. But they will also bring awareness for this cause I am part of without a choice.

Epilepsy is a MONSTER. It’s the worst thing ever. And it’s my wish for others to understand just how this disorder affects myself, my family and so many others like us. Please help spread awareness by sharing these images and standing up for Epilepsy Awareness as well.

I spread Epilepsy Awareness for my children.

Seizure Update and a Thank You! {Epilepsy Awareness}

December 18, 2013 by Dana

Jackson had another seizure last night. It honestly terrified me. I was afraid it wasn’t going to stop. He hasn’t had a seizure that bed in months.

The circumstances were the same. He got upset and boom, the seizure took over after he hyperventilated. Then he was just out.

This one lasted over 5 minutes and took 5mgs of Diastat to stop. I used up his 2.5 shots because I wanted to see just how much it would take to get it under control. It took both of them, equaling 5 mgs. I did the first one and it did nothing – the seizure was still going full on. I administered the second dose and the seizure stopped within a few seconds.

I have to admit – I was so afraid he’d slip away from me right then. I was terrified he would not stop shaking. His whole body was out of control, shaking from his head to his sweet baby toes.

It hit me that this may be our daily life. We may never have full control for him. Ever. And that seriously scares the Hell out of me.

As a Mom, I’m worn out with this. I’m struggling to keep up and just enjoy my days without letting Epilepsy control our lives. I’m thankful that I have my Mother to help me because I seriously don’t know what I would do without her or my older kids for that matter. They are also a huge help through this.

I asked online for help obtaining a monitor for the kids room. I need one to even hear the EmFit on Laycie’s bed and it would be wonderful to be able to see her while she sleeps and her brother as well. It’s hard to even leave their side knowing what may happen – that it may be the last time I ever see them alive again. A video monitor will allow us that peace of mind.

My dear friend Jo Pair Reaves shared my plight. She is an Epilepsy Momma of two handsome young men. She understands very well just what our family goes through every day because she lives it. Thanks to Jo, we have had a few anonymous donors step up to help us obtain monitors for the kids. I cannot express how very thankful I am! I have thought about this for so long and now it’s happening. I feel so absolutely blessed!

So if you are reading this, please know how thankful I am for the kind gift you have given to us. After our terrible night, this has been such a blessing for us today. I’m so thankful – more than any words could ever express.

It’s the Simple Things {Epilepsy Awareness}

November 11, 2013 by Dana

It’s the little things you take for granted daily when you have a child that has no disorder. The every day things for a normal child can be a sign of something more for a child who has a disorder. The simplest things that the every day parent takes for granted mean the world to a Momma like me.

As an Epilepsy Momma, I can’t allow my children to go beyond my reach for long without worrying about a seizure in one of my children. I cannot allow my children to become upset and discipline isn’t an option either as spanking or even the simplest time out can lead to a seizure. Playing outside becomes a concern because heat and even cold can exhaust a child, make them sick and both of those things may lead to a seizure.

As an Epilepsy Momma, I’ve come to appreciate the nights when we are up late as time to love and snuggle but I also know how extremely important it is for my babies to sleep as much as possible on a schedule to keep this monster in control. I’ve learned to enjoy play but keep it calm and relaxing, or change the pace as needed in a day. I’ve learned to limit activities to things that don’t contain flashing lights, or long periods of extreme action as these often lead to seizures for my children.

As an Epilepsy Momma, I’m unable to leave my child with just anyone. I cannot allow the neighbor to take my children for an hour or two. I must make sure my family and friends know my child’s disorder, know what action to take if a seizure happens, know how to administer emergency medications just in case. Honestly, it’s simply easier not to even leave my child because of all of these things.

Because of this, I am often called overprotective and overbearing of my children by the “normal” Mom’s. Those who have special needs children know that I’m not overprotective, I’m simply a Mom of a child with a disorder.

And this is the life we live. These simple things, things that are daily taken for granted are things that affect our daily lives. I am an Epilepsy Momma.