Our rare entity!!

So for about 4 months now Keelie has been dealing with a very yucky rash/hives breakout. It started the day before her surgery. No Dr's appts were available at the academy so they referred us to a clinic right off post. The Dr there barely looked at her gave us a diagnosis of bed bugs told us to go by a whole new mattress and everything. Freakin jerk- the bug guys came to our house and said we had no bug issues at all.

Keelie had her surgery and in the hospital they even put her in isolation( well the nurses were forces to wear masks and gloves and gowns anytime they touched her- yet our friends and family came in and out as they please- some great isolation!) anyways they really didn't seem to concerned with the reaction instead just gave her benadryl(which helped).

The reaction gets so bad back home that we go see Keelies peds Dr. Knowing that it always works out that as soon as you get in to see the Dr the rash or whatever is gone I started taking pictures. We showed Keelies Dr the pictures and she walked us right over to Allergy. Dr Weber said it was Viral- prescribed her some new meds and away we went

2 months later we went back to see Dr Weber again. We told him its still happening- sometimes even worse then before and shouldn't it have gone away by now if it was viral. He ups her meds(Zyrtec) and gives her a new one for nighttime- aterax.

New years eve Keelie broke out in a totally different rash. Spent some time in the Er she got some good drugs and we went on our way. Followed up with Dr Weber on Monday. He this time referred us to Dermatology. What a waste that was! Well actually it was Tricare's fault not Dr Weber's, they scheduled us with a PA instead of the derm doc, which we didn't know at the time. The guy barely listened to me wouldn't eve look at the pictures and told me Keelie has eczema.  Ya freaking right- I'm no Dr but seriously, eczema does not involve welts or hives. The man went on and on about bleach baths and special body wash and whatever. I gave up and made a note to speak with her peds doc asap.

Dr Newman's (peds doc) first words were eczema doesn't cause welts I'll give you a referral for a second opinion but it will prob go to one of the children's hospitals. Referral came through and we saw Dr Tweed or as his office ladies call him Dougie Houser(sp) He's very young looking! When he first looked at the rashes his initial diagnosis was pediatric Rheumatoid arthritis- can i run the other way now?!! However Keelies physical symptoms other then the rash/hives did not match. So after a million and 1 questions, and a scratch skin test he diagnosed her with Chronic Delayed Pressure Urticaria- in English terms

Delayed pressure urticaria is a type of chronic hives called physical urticaria because the hives are caused by a certain stimulus on the body. In this case, the stimulus is pressure that's applied to the skin. The cause of pressure urticaria is unclear but it is likely to be an autoimmune disease. Cells called mast cells play an important part in the process. Mast cells are tissue cells that contain chemicals, including histamine, which provoke welting

Pressure urticaria is an uncommon form of physical urticaria. Pressure urticaria may occur immediately (within minutes) after a pressure stimulus ; however, more commonly, pressure urticaria develops after a delay of 4-6 hours after a pressure stimulus; hence, the designation delayed pressure urticaria (DPU) is used. The wheals may last for 8-72 hours. The hands, feet, trunk, buttocks, legs, and face are the most common areas affected. Lesions can be induced by a variety of stimuli, including standing, walking, wearing of tight clothes, or sitting on a hard surface


The common range of the urticaria lasting is 9 years- while I hope to god this will not be the case Keelie is at least on drugs for now that help make her comfortable and be able to be a kid! 


Delayed pressure urticaria is considered a rare entity and if you know Keelie she is def a rare entity!!

2012 Irish Dancing Schedule

A new year means a whole new Irish dancing schedule!! So as like last year, I will be posting all upcoming events & 411 here!!

1st Feis of the year-

Winterfeis- January 28

Douglas County Fairgrounds and Event Center

500 Fairground Road

Castle Rock Colorado 80104

**Keelie Will dance at exactly 8am. Not before and not after so if your coming to watch you have to be there right before 8 to see her or you WILL MISS IT.**

MORE FEIS INFO TO COME

ITS ALMOST SAINT PATRICKS TIME AGAIN!!!

Keelie Participates in all the events I will be posting
                                                      Saturday 10: Family night at Jack Quinns

 Friday 16:  

Saturday 17: Parade starts at 12 noon and runs south on Tejon 
following the parade will be a few shows and the night will end with Migintys in Divide at 6pm

Sunday 18: 6:30 pm An Enchanting Evening with Celtip Steps tickets are $10 if bought online prior to the event and $15 at the door. This is a fun way to see Keelie dance as well as watching an exciting show of Irish Dancing!

https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/273376862715819/ this is the facebook link for more info!


                                                     Monday 19_ 

Opps I've slacked on this!!

So last Feis of the year!!
Colorado Fall Feis
Fort Collins, Co /Loveland 
November 4th!!

Life's unexpected curve balls!

After 6 years away the army finally answered our knee begging pleas! We got to moved back to Colorado in December of 2010. Will was finally able to request Fort Carson as his duty station and we got to move home to be near family just in time for the holidays and to welcome our new baby boy. We had a house before we even left Washington, the army packed and moved us and It was prob the easiest most stress free time we have ever had with the army- and those times are almost non-existent!

               Back tracking to February of 2010- Will was deployed to Afghanistan and 11 days before coming home for R&R he was involved in an Ied explosion. His stryker was hit causing an explosion in the front of the vehicle and started a massive fire. Wills driver was severely injured, but alive! Will sustained a head injury ( blacking out), smoke inhalation ,and some bumps and bruises! He was treated by medics- given some pain meds and monitored .

Wills Vehicle

      July of 2010 Will came home to Washington and started the re-deployment process. After numerous ct scans and Dr's appts Will was diagnosed with a Traumatic brain injury and of course ptsd. He was put on meds(none of which helped) for the constant headaches he had and saw the Dr every so often, but nothing more. January of 2011 Will started in- processing to Fort Carson, Colorado. During the medical evaluation the commander started questioning his TBI , recent treatments (or lack there of) for it and what his previous unit had done concerning it( also lack there of!). He then decided to send Will to the medical board.

               For those who don't know, facing the medical board means you are evaluated by numerous Dr's, paperwork after paper work and eventually all the paperwork is sent to Fort Lewis, Washington ( funny enough where we were) The medical board Dr's at Ft Lewis then decide if you are Fit or Unfit to stay in the army. If they see you fit , you are then re-assigned- or allowed to re-class to a different non-deployable job( in most cases) If you are unfit you are either medically discharged or medically retired. Now mind you this is usually a very long process and even longer depending on the severity of the soldiers injuries.

       The last year of our lives has been anything but easy. The army of course has failed to help in so many ways ,specially with counseling. As a family we have been through the most trying time of our life, but I spare you the numerous details. So that brings us to today, the army's decision is finally in. I'm a wreck, I want anything but Will to be retired, as does he. We have our fingers eyes, toes you name is crossed in hopes that the army has found him fit to stay in and re-class. After 6 years of the military life it is safe to say we are comfortable. Knowing we have health care, the housing option, a guaranteed paycheck etc. But with 2 kids the thought of not having any of it is scary as hell. I'm not religious and my beliefs are mixed but if there is someone who answers prayers my prayer today would be this one thing. I know things happen for a reason and I hope the reason is to give Will a chance at the medical career he wants in the army. Wills meeting is at 2:30 today so off to run errands I go so I can keep my mind busy. I know my problems are so small compared to many but if you could please think a good thought for us! :)

Octoberfeis

     First of all we would like to Thank everyone who has made an honest effort to attend Keelies Feis's (You know who you are).And also to everyone out of state(and a few at home!) supporting her!! We definitely know how busy life is and understand that people can't attend them all! It has started to mean a lot to Keelie as well as Will and I. And of course our new extended Irish Dance family that we always get to share them with! Keelie is at the age that she has learned what promises are, and has also learned what it means to have a promise not followed through or simply to not have the effort made at all. As her parents Will and I have become very cut throat on protecting her from disappointment that isn't necessary that she face.




   The 2nd Irish Dancing Feis Keelie competed in was the Martin Percival School of Irish dance Octoberfeis in greenwood village. She competed in the First Feis under 7 age group and danced the Light Jig and Reel. She did a great job, placing 2nd in the Light Jig and 3rd in the Reel. She has a lot of practicing to do when it comes to not watching the dancers next to her! Every school has different steps to each dance, so watching someone not from our school blows your whole concentration and at Keelies age confuses the heck out her!


     Some of the  Feisannas do a special dance. The octoberfeis one was a Silly Sock dance. Keelie, her grandma and I made some little Halloween Irish dancers and attached them to fun Halloween socks with stickers. There were about 23 competitors ages 9 and under. Keelie was one of the last to dance. The moment Keelie started to dance the whole Ballroom erupted in cheers and whistles, naturally feeding from this Keelie took off dancing and owned that stage. There's no way to explain the whole scene in words but it was one of those emotionally charged makes this mom tear up kind of moments! Keelie was so into the moment not only did she drop the dance she was supposed to be doing and do her own she also had to be asked to stop dancing when her time was up! The dance was judged wrong and places were given to very good dancers( champions ect) that Keelie had no chance in beating, but she had a blast anyways and we won't ever forget the crowds reaction!

     Keelie won her first trophy and another medal to add to her prized awards shelf and we have a very long break until the next feis due to her surgery, so lots and lots of time to practice!!

Festivals, Dancing, and Heritage!

   This past weekend was an absolute blast! Will and I decided to sign Keelie up for her first Irish Feis, and crazily chose the Longs Peak Scottish/Irish Feis to do so! The kids, their Godmother Danielle and I drove up to Estes Park Saturday afternoon and met up with my parents. We had a fun evening at the YMCA of the Rockies lodging. Keelie went swimming with grandpa and some friends from dance and after a very wide awake Deklan finally fell asleep I managed to get a couple hours of sleep! O-dark thirty comes fast!!

     The process of putting Keelie's hair up and her wig on can be rather lengthy but I managed to get it done, go eat some breakfast and make it to the fair grounds in record time- an accomplishment for our family!! The Feis started at 9 with figure danced slotted first. Keelie was registered to dance the 2 hand reel- which is a 2 person reel dance. The solo reel and solo light jig. We got Keelie dressed, she ran thru a couple practice dances with her partner and then headed backstage. I thank god for Danielle, cause without her I would have been one lost confused mess!

      There were 2 stages one large and one smaller stage. Inside the large tent were 3 different stages all in a row. Each stage hosts the same dance but different age group. Dancing got underway, it seemed to end as fast as it started!! They get going and don't stop rolling- i made a rhyme, retarded I know! Anyways.... Keelie danced the 2 hand- and she did a really good job! I was so nervous I wanted to cry- sad I know, but I guess someone had to be nervous and Keelie sure wasn't! Very short break in-between, quick run thru of the next dance and back on stage. Keelie was a bit confused and grab the girl closest to her on stage- still thinking she was dancing the 2 hand and refusing to let go. Another dancer from the school finally told her she had to dance by herself and she let go! All week prior to the feis we had practiced with Keelie, she new not to wave to anyone and if she forgot the steps to just keep dancing! And keep dancing she did! Each school has different steps to each dance- so it can be very confusing. You try your hardest not to watch the dancer next to you and remember your own steps- of course for Keelie that was a little hard! It was so crazy in the tent with a million dancers and people watching. Keelie started her reel, in what seemed to be the right steps and from there on out I have no clue as to what dance she was doing! But hey she kept on dancing! Her third and final dance went about the same- her little butt danced all over the stage- she was even told by one of the helpers twice that her dance was over and she needed to stop- she gave him a not so happy look and walked to the back of the stage. 

     

       We did this feis to get the experience, and did not expect Keelie to place in anything, but to her happy surprise she got a 4th place in the 2 hand reel! We are so very PROUD of her!! She wore her medal proudly for majority of the day- showing it to everyone! Keelie loves the stage- she begged to go back on and dance - so to avoid temptation we went and walked the festival. After enjoying a few things with some family friends, we ate some yummy food and will and my mom spent some time looking into our family heritage. Will was able to find his family line- the Clan Macraes and my mom found the Clan Ross. After doing a bunch of research today we added the Clan O'Briens and the Clan Campbell's to our lineage line! Will is beyond excited to have discovered all his family colors and crests and is already planning our festival trip next year! I will enjoying the fair with my 2 men dressed proudly in their kilts( oh yes will is beyond stoked for his kilt and will be putting Deklan in one as well) and my daughter who will be dressed in her Shirley temple wig-- I can't wait!!

FEIS FUN!!!!!

For all our Family and friends here is a tentative schedule for all of the upcoming feiseannas .Keelie will be competing in!! Tentative- meaning after we see how she does at the first one this weekend!!

Keelie will pretty much always dance on the Sunday of the feis( for now)

and will usually be one of the first dances of the day! It will be awesome to see anyone who comes to watch and support Keelie. A few *rules* to be noted(not my rules-ones we were warned of!) Pictures are not really allowed during the competition( so sneak them!) DO NOT go anywhere near the stage or adjudicators table. Please be very quiet, no clapping or anything during the dancing, and for Keelies sake of staying focused don't wave at her- she has been practicing all week not to wave at anyone from the stage( she loves to wave) :)

Longs Peak Feis 2011
Scottish-Irish Highland Festival
Estes Park, CO - Sep 10, 2011 to Sep 11, 2011
Website-http://www.scotfest.com/Scottish_Festival/Home.html
*This Feis you have to buy tickets for- $20 online to get in the festival gate


Oktoberfeis
Friday Sept 30, Sat Oct1, Sun Oct 2                                          
Double Tree Denver Tech Center
7801 East Orchard Road
Greenwood Village, Colorado
Website--http://www.octoberceilimor.com/index.htm


Celtic Steps School Feis (Will have more info soon)
October 29
Denver, CO


Colorado Fall Feis 2011 (Will have more info for this one as well)
Loveland, CO - Nov 6, 2011

Who reads this anyways??

             Lately life has had me by the horns. It has been full of disappointment, rejection, and hurt. Despite the fact that this should be such a happy time, moving home to Colorado, a new beautiful baby boy and of course Keelie being a simple blessing in my life, it hasn't been. I finally came to the conclusion that I was allowing the actions of other people, be it friends or family and even strangers to affect how I was feeling. Yes I know this shouldn't be, but ha ha easier said then done. I created this blog in hopes that family and even friends would join, read what our family is up to and maybe even comment on our everyday happenings. Why you ask, because this is important to me, it is nice to know people may actually care.Virtues I'm trying so very hard to instill in my children, the pride of family, selflessness , and simple caring for each other. As unimportant as a simple blog may seem a little effort goes a long way. But it seems now days everyone is so wrapped around themselves its to much to ask for that little bit of effort. I'm not sugar coating here, and frankly am not worried about hurting any ones feelings. In the past not many people have seemed to care about hurting mine.

               My daughter has grown immensely in the past few years. Everyday she is exploring new adventures both good and bad. My son has grown so fast I'm afraid to blink, he is a whole new world compared to his sister. Somethings I'd love to share with anyone willing to listen. Over the past few years that list of people caring has grown smaller and smaller.

Everyone has an excuse. The miles between us, dislike of your family , how so busy you are ect. ect. Funny though, I've closed those miles between me and some people, yet there's even less communication now then when I was farther away. I'm busy as hell, I finally know whats its like to not have enough hours in a day, but I still find time to talk to the people who want to talk to me.Yes I could do more, but I at least try some. I'm told a lot that I can always call or stop by, well ya know it goes both ways. I can count on 1 hand the amount of times some have seen my son. I'm finding I can't say its everyone- just certain people - me being one of them,  that isn't so important to the rest.  I walk on egg shells, or pretend to be someone else so I can be liked more, only to seem as if I'm not liked at all.Or only called when they need something.


               I'm sitting here tonight, in another "self pity" mood. Hoping to god my hormones will go back to normal soon and I will stop feeling this way. Its amazing and yet sad at the same time that I find myself in these moods lately following my bio class. A class of 24 "adults" who in one way or another can act so beyond childish,catty, and just plain mean. I thought high school was where all this crap happened, not the real world. Yet I seem to re-enter high school every time I go. I hated high school- nothing about high school was a positive for me. I wasn't "cool" or a "nerd" or really part of any group. Maybe " loser" is the term they used in high school. I had a lot of friends- well at least I thought, but I'm lucky if even a couple of them speak to me now-a-days. Now don't get me wrong I know everyone grows up , some move away, have busy lives of their own, but I always like to think I make friends for life. Instead the friends I've made for life are the ones the army's many moves have blessed me with, one of whom has become one of the greatest friends or as I like to call her framily, a girl could ask for. There are a few people I talk to now and then but none of them "close" friends.

Now if you ask anyone who really knows me, I would drop anything to help my friends and family. I would give every penny I had or even the shirt off my back- ok well maybe not the shirt off my back cause that just wouldn't be a pretty sight!But I'm there if someone needs me.I worry about every word that comes out of my mouth, for fear of hurting someones feelings or saying the wrong thing. I tried very hard in to get everyone to like me, yes I know not everyone will like you, but I can sure try can't I. Instead I end up the opposite. The last one picked for the team, if I'm even picked at all. I'm not invited to celebrate peoples birthdays, or to friends weddings or baby showers. If I am its because I'm the one throwing the event. If I'm lucky enough to attend an event, I meet a ton of people, 9 times out of 10 the person next to me ends up with 10 new friends and I haven't a single one. I've questioned my looks, my personality everything I can think of, people always tell me that doesn't matter, but seriously lets compare..........

one of my lab partners shes tall, skinny, sorta pretty----- me I'm short, fat and I'll stop there( I'm not nice to myself) anyways 3 guys in our group- 3 months together and tonight I find out they don't even know my name, however the other girl- of course they know her name, they question every time shes gone, call her beautiful girl, yada yada - hopefully you get the picture.When do I get to be part of the "freakin cool" people? What in gods name determines "cool"? Are my looks not good enough to fit in the important club? Who is it that decides these things and why can't I have a god damn ticket to the club? Why am I not important enough to get an invite, or see when you come to town, make plans with, what makes you so much cooler then me?- god I could go on, but get no-where. I find little comfort in knowing I'm not the only person who goes thru this because I feel as if no one should.

Everyone tells me I'm wonderful, i have beautiful children ect ect. My children are beautiful and I hope I can instill in them what I cant seem to find for myself. But at the same time my children are not "me" , please don;t take that the wrong way, my kids are my whole life but I don't want people to like me because my children are amazing and beautiful. I'd like for people to like me for me, and not say they do then talk behind my back-

I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts. ~John Locke

To be honest I don't want to be "cool". My children think I'm the coolest person in the world and to me that is enough. What I want is to be taken for who I'am. To be acknowledged, invited, considered important. For people to give a damn, about every aspect of me and my life and to show they give a damn. Not once in a blue moon when it's convenient..

Someone I love dearly, who has taught me so much, yet also made me question a lot of things about life will be leaving my life sooner then later. It hit me hard when I learned that she knew all too well the not so nice( and I'm being nice) things going on with the people surrounding her. She has done so much for a lot of people through her life and I for one will be the first to be there for her. The reality of life has been shoved in my face, yes we are all born and then we all die. But what does it all mean, what is truly the meaning and purpose of life. I'm not religious and not even going there, but these thoughts just push even more my feelings towards friends, and family. I will instill in my children just how important this all is and as for everyone else the ball is now in their court................