David Lee & Company

Merging Blogs

2009-02-19T23:50:00.000-08:00

I bit off more than I could chew trying to manage two blogs. As of today, all my posts will be on the other site.

Under My Blog List on the left sidebar, just click on LeeGRANDKIDS, and you will be redirected to www.sillygrampa2.blogspot.com

I hope I can figure out how to actually merge the two archives, but until if and when it happens, I will leave this account open for ya'll to use the forwarding address.

I PROMISE not to let David's fun get lost in the shuffle!

Botox in the Butt-tocks

2009-01-29T20:49:00.000-08:00

Botox = the Dermatologist's cash cow.
Botulism (Latin for 'sausage')= food poisoning.
Botulinum = the most toxic protein.

Yesterday David got 10 injections of sausage poison in the back of his legs. For medicinal purposes only, of course.

100 years of research yielded the secret that small doses of the bacteria found in putrid meat and dented cans of vegetables blocked transmission of chemicals that cause tight muscles & tendons.

Botox was first used in the 1950's for crossed eyes and uncontrollable blinking. The softening of frown lines were noted as a side effect. Since 2002, Dermatologists have stopped looking at teenage zits all day - they now get $1000 a pop to remove wrinkles from the faces of women who have more money and vanity than sense.

David's tendons have become hard like sticks. Combine Botox with LOTS of physical therapy, and he will regain normal elasticity.
After they straighten out he will be able to be in a stander - a good thing because weight bearing increases bone density.

For the injections, David allowed us to roll him onto his tummy - which he hates. During all 10 stabs, he flinched, but he didn't fight us. He didn't yell, and he didn't try to roll back over. He's so tough. Iron Man got nothin' on him.
Hmmm, I wonder if Robert Downey uses Botox.......

David's 24th Birthday!

2009-01-22T09:05:00.000-08:00

In honor of David's birthday, here are some of my favorite photos. All of his life he's been a great sport about what ever torment he was called upon to endure - which included being hugged, tickled, dressed up, take meds, go to the hospital, walk in a walker, and wait on everyone.
He's had a great time swimming, hiking to Yellowstone Falls and Guardsman's Pass. He's ridden a stagecoach and faced down a buffalo. He took a spin on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and plummeted down the falls on Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland. He got splashed by Shamu and reached into the water to pet a shark at Sea World.
He's eaten more than his share of food at Chinese buffets. He has been in 4 roadshows, gone to 3 proms, won gold medals for bowling and graduated from high school twice. What a guy! Happy Birthday to you!

The Passing of a Great Lady

2009-01-14T16:47:00.000-08:00

Our family wishes to extend love and sympathy to the family of Lorraine Topham who recently passed away. She was the founder and owner of Topham's Care Center in Orem, Utah. She was a tower of strength to her family, and a leader in her community.
This great lady made it her mission in life to care for those with severe disabilities who could not live at home.
Topham's, founded 30 years ago, was originally called "Topham's Tiny Tots", a care center for the most severely disabled child. Even newborn children with fragile conditions could come to a loving environment where they would be treated as someone with the potential for intellectual and spiritual growth.
When Topham's was built, there was a stigma for families who had a disabled child. Many times the family didn't even acknowledge the birth of these individuals, and just "sent it away" to an institution.
30 years later, many of those children are adults, still living at Topham's.
I am often in contact with them, and it is obvious that they are truly happy there.
Mrs. Topham was a ground breaker in many ways, including being a woman who could start a business of such magnitude in the 1970's. Her determination has blessed the lives of so many people and families.
Without Topham's, there would be no STEPS, David's day program. Her daughter Karen Yocum is the owner and founder of STEPS. By the example of her mother, Karen saw a need in the community and filled it.
At age 22 those with special needs must leave the public school system. Karen knew there were many families who had nowhere for their adult children to go once they graduated. Sitting at home all day was not a pleasant option for parent or child. Again, the legacy of Lorraine Topham is one that continues to bless so many families. We are thankful for these great women, and all their daughters and staff who are angels in our lives.

A Not So Good Day for David

2009-01-08T19:52:00.000-08:00

Even tho he had plenty of reason to be happy with the healthy appearance of his newest niece, David himself had a rough day.

Today was our monthly Kidney Clinic day. It takes about an hour to get there and park. Clinic takes a couple of hours. Then in preparing for a transplant he needs a number of vaccinations since he will take immuno-suppressant drugs. He has missed 5 of the biggies as a kid, and the boosters. SO today he had the MMR, Hep A and meningitis. He already had the Hep B three shot series and flu and pneumonia. PLus he had to go have his huge bunch of blood drawn for monthly labs.

ON top of that, he was having pain today - and I'm not sure where, again.

By the time we left home at 8:30, went to clinic, went over to see Tracie and baby Paige, went to lunch, went to get labs done, and got back home at 3:30, we could have driven to St. George from Salt Lake or from Atlanta to St. Augustine Fla. It was not a good day.

He went to sleep at 5pm without dinner, and is still sawing logs. I hate to go wake him to hook up his dialysis machine - it's already and hour and a half late.
I hope he sleeps better than last night - he woke up at 4, but I couldn't get up til 5. I always feel bad that he has to wait on us to do everything for him. Poor guy.

Roller Skating with Friends

2008-12-17T20:45:00.000-08:00

David and his day program buddies enjoyed a night of roller skating. Even Mom and Dad got into the act.
Some guys needed a little help from their friends..
Some were speed demons on their own..

And a good time was had by all.

Thanks, Topham's Care Center and STEPS!

Guitar Hero

2008-11-22T22:38:00.000-08:00

Today we went up to Jono and Kristi's to see baby Spencer. Jono had just bought a video game where you try to match guitar riffs with the animated band. (I forget if it was RockStar or Guitar Hero)

David loves music. When Jono was a teenager and lived at home, David liked to lie down on the floor beside him, and reach up to pat the guitar while Jono played.

So, we put the guitar on his tray and let him play along. He usually won't let anything sit on his tray for more than 2 seconds - so we know he was enjoying it!

He also teamed up with his niece Cami for a minute, but from his smiles you can see that he enjoyed headbanging with her more than playing.

Uncle X 5

2008-11-16T02:13:00.000-08:00

On Friday David met his newest nephew. Kristi delivered a 7 lb 14 oz boy, and mom and baby doing great. As of Sat.afternoon, Baby Boy Lee isn't named yet - there's a short list of likely titles, but his parents are waiting for a few days to find one that fits his little personality.
David loves being an uncle. It's rare to catch a smile on his face but this one says it all.

Congratulations to Kristi and Jonathan on their first baby boy. We'll add more photos as soon as we can!

Halloween at STEPS

2008-11-16T01:18:00.001-08:00

At David's day program, everyone gets into the act The staff makes sure that all of those who attend have a great time.
Per his usual irresistible self, David gets lots of hugs and kisses from the ladies.

Richard and Jenna wore big smiles and mugged for the camera.

Jake loves for his mom to dye his hair, so he was perfect as "The Offical Ken Doll"
Staff ladies go all out to get in the mood too,

while Kayleen was an adorable witch

The ladies who work at STEPS are our angels. Wild, crazy, creative, compassionate,
and loving angels, that make all our lives the richer. Thanks to you ALL>

The Transplant Saga or Waitin' on a Kidney

2008-10-09T22:21:00.000-07:00

In 1990, when David was 5 years old, we learned that his kidneys were failing and he only had 50% function. In 1997, they were down to 18%.They were sure he wouldn't live past 6 months. As usual, David defied all odds as he has since birth.

Fast forward 10 years later to to 2007. Those two pesky organs decided enough was enough, and shut down entirely. Surgery was performed and he began peritoneal dialysis in the hospital, and a month later came back home. Now David is hooked up to a machine every night for 11 hours while he sleeps. It has been hard for all of us to get used to, but it allows David to not only stay alive, but to "have a life", since it frees him up in the daytime. He loves the day program he attends.

We had been told for 18 years that he could never be a candidate for a kidney transplant, so imagine our shock earlier this year we received the news that since he is SO TOUGH! that we could try for a family donation.

The screening process is long and involved. After getting our hopes up Rusty and I learned we were incompatible. I cried all day. However, last week we received an amazing phone call - there is a new transplant program called "Paired Donation" . If two people are unable to donate to their own family members, more blood work is done. If there is a match between the two donors and the two recipients - they "swap". Actually there are two programs - one for the Intermountain West area, and other that is national. We now have two greatly improved chances for a transplant, and be able do something great for another family also.

80,000 people are waiting for organ transplants in the US.

For the sake of these 80,000 - PLEASE SIGN YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE TO BE AN ORGAN DONOR and tell your family members of your wishes. One person's body can save up to 5 lives, restore eyesight, repair the skin of burn victims, and many other marvelous medical miracles. Go online to www.yesutah.org to learn more.

It's Party Time!

2008-09-30T22:59:00.000-07:00

David has the most adorable nieces and nephews (this is written by a very unprejudiced gramma) They are : Carter, Cami, Brooke , and Peter. (two more unnamed are on the way!)

He enjoys going to their parties, esp. when there is pizza and cake to eat. For Cami's 5th birthday on Sept 22, we went to Boondocks.

Cami was decked out in her best princess attire, crown and all. Her new interest is Barbie dolls. She now has enough to last until she is 13. She also received a small pink play Barbie car. This was in lieu of the large, driveable car, that she asked for a year ago. (wisely nixed by parent) .

Carter was very excited to help open presents, Brooke kept sneaking off to the arcade, and Peter was our resident drooler.

The last time I saw Cami she was totally transfixed while riding a video racing motorcycle - (is she her Daddy's girl or what?) The last time I saw Brooke, she was almost asleep on her daddy's shoulders. The last time I saw Carter he was shooting a moose, David was finishing off the raspberry birthday cake, and Petey was still drooling. Time to call it a night!

Road Show

2008-09-25T10:41:00.000-07:00

Each year our David's Special Needs Youth group puts on a musical. There are usually about a dozen songs, and a theme, to allow all 100 or more people to participate. One year the theme was "America the BEautiful", another was "Trip to Disneyland". The theme of this years road show was "THe Life of Gordon B Hinckley". He was the president of our church for many years, and had passed away during the previous year. David was in a skit depicting the mission he served in England back at the turn of the century.
If you look closely, you can see that David has on a missionary name tag - the blond kid beside him was his buddy for the year at his church Special Needs youth program - the same place he goes for Scouts.

Boy Scouts

2008-09-25T09:22:00.000-07:00

David is a member of Boy Scouts. He has a buddy that helps him with the activities and working on merit badges. BSA allows those with disabilities to adapt badges to their skill level. Each year the troop chooses 2 badges that everyone works on together.

In the last three years he has earned 6 badges with the troop- Emergency Preparedness, Leatherwork, Drama, Aviation, Personal Fitness, & Handicap Awareness. For bowling he also earned one in Sports. As you can see, some of the badges helped the buddy as much or more than the Scouts.

The troop holds a full Court of Honor in May. Many of the guys have uniforms, which they proudly wear each week. During the ceremony, the room is awash in testosterone cheering for each other (100 men packed in a room can make a LOT of noise). It' a great thing to see.
If you look at the front of his tray, you will see his 3 new badges. Normally he pushes EVERYTHING off his tray as soon as he sees you place it there. These stayed all night!

One special note to Jim Towhey, ultimate Scoutmaster - You were RIGHT!

David Goes to Jail

2008-09-20T13:49:00.000-07:00

David loves to go - anywhere, anytime. Today there was an open house at the new Salt lake Co. Jail. I read about it out loud to David, and when I asked him if he was interested in going, he grabbed the newspaper out of my hand. I took it as a YES. so he and Rusty headed out while I got some badly needed housework done.

The SWAT team was there, a tank, helicopter, a motorcycle cops obstacle course, the K-9 unit, and a tour of the jail. As usual David was a moving target for the camera, but the officers and dog were all smiles. We have learned that when we go to places like this, the bigger and tougher a guy is outside, the more of a marshmallow he is inside when it comes to guys like David.

This is what happens to you if you are dumb enough to run from a police dog. Check out the eyes.

The State Fair and Corn Dogs

2008-09-14T21:21:00.000-07:00

David and I love state fairs, county fairs, festivals, whatever. Our main interests are food and live music- this year's Utah State Fair had plenty of both. First we cruised the grounds checking out all the food booths. I told David the choices - hamburgers, Greek gyros (yee-rose), Mexican, Polynesian and corn dogs. When I got to corn dogs he started clapping!!
(Nod to Travis)
When we sat down to eat, I thought David was going to jump out of his chair. He was yelling and reaching, and generally making a scene. I loved it - this was our old David coming out - he's had so little interest in food for most of the last year that it made me laugh at his excitement. I think he would have eaten two if I had let him.

We could hear country music (David's favorite)coming from the grandstand, so we headed that way. The opening act was 6 performers who were part of a nationwide talent search. Headliner was a pleasant surprise - Lady Antebellum (Lady A), a hot new country act whose first album went to #4 and were voted ACM new artist of 2008 and have two CMA nominations for New Artist and Group of the Year. Think of a Rascal Flatts and Sugarland combination - make sure you check out their website. (don't laugh - six years ago, Keith Urban was playing at a COUNTY fair in Georgia, Nicole Kidman was not part of his life, and we missed him!)

Later we wandered around to see the rides and the farm animals. There was a steer(a bull that's lost his manhood)that stood over 5 feet tall and weighed 3000 pounds! This HUGE animal was totally docile as little kids patted it's head - I wanted to get a picture of David sitting by it, but it was too crowded.

As the sun was going down, it was time for our fourth meal of the day. This time mom chose dinner. Mouth watering Gyros full of meat, onions, peppers, tangy cucumber sauce and feta cheese. (Argh! I just realized I forgot to buy baklava...) The thing was so big it covered an entire paper plate - and once again David rose to the occasion. He ate his half and wanted mine too! No way guy.

David really enjoys his adventures, and I'm just glad he lets me go along.....