Ordinary People Change the World- Bris Book Review

Our nightly readings over in the Bris Abode have included the Ordinary People Change the World book series.  I found them while Ellie was learning about the woman's movement in school last year and was excited to teach her about a few of the amazing women who have changed our world for the better.  I thought that she would fight me on reading them, thinking that it would be boring, but she quickly engaged, and found herself relating to the stories.

I am Amelia Earhart written by Brad Meltzer is a fun and friendly story telling of Amelia Earhart's biography.  I love how Meltzer chooses a particular character trait to focus on in each of his stories in the series.  In Amelia's case, it was her ability to take no for an answer.  She was the first woman to fly a plane over the Atlantic Ocean and she battled many obstacles to be able to do it.  The whimsical drawings are engaging and fun.  Then at the end of the story there are real photos of Amelia which are nice to see what she looked like and glimpses of what the world looked like in the early 1900s.

I could not wait to read I am Helen Keller.  I did a book report on her in second grade and I still remember being so moved by her life.  As a baby, she was struck blind and deaf by an illness.  She could not communicate with anyone and she was very frustrated.  When she was 6 years old she met Annie Sullivan who taught her how to communicate via sign language and eventually learned to read Braille.  I love how in this story Meltzer focuses on Helen's determination.  She would not give up on finding a way to communicate with others, despite all obstacles.  She was able to go on to attend college and has been a lead "voice" for people with disabilities everywhere.

In I am Rosa Parks, Meltzer focuses on her ability to stand up for herself.  I love this one because I think that this is a important trait that all people, especially girls, need to know.  By staying seated on the bus, Rosa Parks started the Civil Rights Movement and changed the world for African Americans.  Her story is so remarkable and I am so proud to share it with Ellie.

There are so many other amazing stories in the Ordinary People Change the World Series.  I am so happy we stumbled across them as a way to bring some inspiring history lessons into our home.

Thanks for following along!
xo
k

Get Outside

The Bris babies and I have spent a lot of time visiting Mumsie this summer in Northeastern PA where I grew up.  It has been a fun summer filled with adventure!  I have enjoyed rediscovering the area with a different set of eyes than I had as a bored teen living here with "nothing to do."  There is so much beautiful land here with gorgeous farms, woods filled with greenery,  sprawling lakes, and endless acres of fields where you can see the sun rise in the morning and set at night.

On Tuesday, after a tired morning, where we had little working in our favor, Mumsie and I decided that we needed to get out of the house.  We wanted the kids to be able to run around and we wanted to get some exercise to enjoy the cooler 70 degree weather.  We packed a picnic and ventured out to Ricketts Glen State Park for a hike.  When we got there we decided on a buddy system to remind the kids to stick together.  Of course, Mason made us decide on a team name for each group.  Mason and Ellie were Team Dragon, Addison and Mumsie were Team Waterfall, Oliver and I were Team Baby Bris, and Lilly took turns being on everyone's team.  We picked a path and set out on our way.  The kids skipped over the big stone rocks, ran across the bridges, drank water from the streams, navigated across logs, and overall just enjoyed nature.

It turned into quite the hike!  The scenery was so beautiful with all of the green trees and the stream running through.  We made it to see the waterfall, and even though I was a nervous wreck having the kids up there, it was very peaceful to hear the water running down.  Addie and Oliver were such troopers.  I had Oliver in the Ergo carrier for the most part, and Addison alternated between walking and being held.  She even took a ride in the Ergo at the end when she couldn't go on any longer. When we finished up we were starving so we made our way to the picnic tables which were right by where we parked.  We had our little picnic and relaxed a bit before heading home.

I am so happy that we didn't let our morning get us down and that we took the opportunity to get outside.  "And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul." -John Muir

Enjoy your weekend!

xo,

K

Trust Your Instincts

I have taken some time away from blogging to care for my little ones and adjust to life caring for four children.  I have to admit that it has taken a full year to adjust.  To all of parents of three children, anyone who tells you that going from three to four is "no big deal," you have been lied to.  I am here to tell you that four is constant.  Jim Gaffigan sums it up best "You want to know what its like having a fourth kid.  Imagine yourself drowning.  Then someone hands you a baby."  No, no.. in all honesty, its absolute madness and definitely constant, but its fun.  


(all four of the Bris babes. at least they are all looking at the camera and only one is crying..)

In our case our youngest little baby had a rough first year of life which has added more to the stresses of four than we were prepared for.  Being that he was born three weeks early, we were so thrilled that he came into the world healthy and didn't require any additional hospital time.  The first couple of sleepless months seemed par for the course.  Of course we had been through this three other times already.  But when the frequent wakings kept continuing into month 6, 7, 8.... my mommy instinct told me that something else was not right with the little guy.  I started to notice that when he would sleep in bed with me (out of complete exhaustion), that he would stop breathing.  Not to mention, he was a very loud snorer.   I brought up the possibility of sleep apnea to my doctor, who said it was unlikely given his age, but that we should consult with pulmonology and ENT to check out his adenoids size.  Of course getting in for those appointments took weeks of waiting.  We finally saw ENT in April. They scanned his adenoids and found that they were slightly enlarged, but nothing that would justify removing them.  ENT was certain that Oliver was just another healthy baby.  I left the office feeling defeated and tired, but my gut told me not to give up.  

We finally got in with Pulmonology for a sleep study in May.  I have never experienced a sleep study before so I didn't know what to expect.  They connect wire after wire to your head & chest, and a put tube into your nose.  I thought that Oliver was never going to sleep with all of that going on when he doesn't sleep well in his own crib without his head wrapped in wires!  We had to get at least 6 hours of him sleeping so that they could get a read on his brain and breathing activity.  I was so nervous he was going to be up for the entire night! It was a little rough, but overall he did well.  Much better that I expected!  Nursing him while he was all connected was quite the challenge, but we made do like we always do, and we managed to get the 6 hours that they needed.  A couple of days later we followed up with ENT to find out the results of his sleep study.  His readings came back with moderate to severe sleep apnea.  He had 13 episodes during the study where he stopped breathing and his oxygen level dropped!  ENT wanted him in for surgery the next week to remove his tonsils and his adenoids.  They also wanted tubes in his ears for frequent ear infections (yes, on top of all of that we battled ear infection after ear infection all winter long).  I was shocked that we were going in for surgery after our initial visit with the ent surgeon where he thought that he was just another healthy boy. 

(during our hospital stay.  First pic pre op, last photo right before we left the hospital post op.)

The surgery was on June 5th and it went well. The surgeon was pleased with how well he did and how good he looked afterwards.  After we returned home, recovery was rough.  He couldn't swallow which made nursing and drinking very hard.  He lost weight and had lots of discomfort, but around July he turned a corner.  He started to eat better, his throat started to heal, and his breathing was drastically better.  His whole personality started to shine through.  I think that before the surgery he was so sleep deprived that he didn't have the energy to progress. Now he's loud , he's happy, he has taken steps, he finds joy in eating and drinking, we lay him down awake and he happily goes to sleep!!  It's a miracle! 

I hate to say that I'm happy I was right, because I wish that little Oliver did not have to experience all of that trauma.  But I am proud that I stuck to my gut and pushed through.  I feel very blessed to be living in Philadelphia so close to CHOP, one of the worlds best children's hospitals, so that we were able to get him the best care possible.  And I thank god for giving me the strength to get the answers for my baby boy.  Trust your instincts mamas.  They are strong and they are given to us for good reason! 


    (and here is the happy boy today!)


xo,
K