A Rainbow

Our Aly had an amazing day! Honestly, I predicted a much different scenario after four(including me)of R7 have been so sick for so long and after Aly had not slept any the night before we left for testing. Frankly, I had a minor "break down" after I showered, freaking out at William as he dressed for work and as we rushed frantically to awaken sleepy children!

And in spite of all the rain pounding down upon us for (what has felt like) most of this summer, yesterday there was a rainbow! Everything went smoothly. Aly really could not have done a better job! Even after no sleep, Our Aly smiled and giggled when we dressed her and loaded her onto the van lift early yesterday to arrive at the hospital by 8:15am. The staff was caring and considerate, not rushed and short-tempered. Nurse Susan worked to find a decent vein and prepped Aly for the IV by placing warmed blankets over her and checking her hands and feet for the best possibility. She gently spoke with Aly as she poked and placed the IV in Aly's foot the first try!

They gave us a room in which Aly could watch videos and lay comfortably while we waited for three hours for the contrast to "work." Then when Radiologist Steve returned to take us to the scanner, he explained that Aly might need a catheter in order to empty completely her bladder before the scan could begin. I guess she heard this; by the time we entered the testing room, she already had relieved herself! What I thought would be impossible came next. Aly peacefully reclined on her back and lay still for more than an hour while the huge machine scanned different parts of her bones. William arrived from work at the perfect time. We held her hand and she sleepily watched me, adding occasional smiles as she kept herself very still with very little help from us. When we finished, she proudly smiled and squealed, not falling asleep until the early evening hours.

What a gift to receive a rainbow! Just when we were soaked and the puddles were becoming more like wading pools, Aly's day at the hospital became an unpredictable and most unlikely place for a rainbow! Oh boy did we need it!

When the [rain]bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature... (Gen 9: 16)


Thanks for all your prayers. This rainbow was such a delight! What a nice way for the Lord to remind me of His promise that He really does love and treasure Aly as much (and even more) than we do. Really, thanks for checking on us. I'll post with results when we get them, M&R7

Sun outside - Rain Inside

It seems impossible! UGH! For several days now, my stomach has been at the mercy of the sea and its tide. Cam continues to struggle with it as well. Instead of a funny story or a heart-felt thought, I just have enough energy to muster a prayer list. Thanks so much for interceding on our behalf as our family struggles to get through the lingering storms.

1. Cam is still very sick.

2. He possibly had a seizure in the middle of the night, waking us (he has been sleeping between William and me) with uncontrollable shaking and seizure-like symptoms that lasted for almost three minutes. He never really awakened and comfortably slept the rest of the night. We left a message with the neurologist.

3. Cam has a sleep study scheduled for the end of this month.

4. Cam needs another MRI. Until October, Cook Children's does not have this MRI with the higher intensity and more modern technology. We're not sure if there is a bigger "rush" on this test, especially since Cam had a seizure.

5. Aly cannot get this "bug" as it lasts and lasts during which her fragile health might not be strong enough to persevere, especially with tachycardia and thyroid issues.

6. Aly gets a bone scan on Friday which takes all day, which means getting an IV and which requires she lay "uncomfortably" in order to conduct the test.

7. Aly will see a new endocrinologist and a cardiologist next month, along with a recheck with her neurologist. Of course, she continues to struggle with tachycardia(racing heart rates), thyroid (hair falling out, sleep issues) and seizures.

8. Aly's blood work shows she might have a toxic level of her seizure medicine and her TSH is still elevated.


Is anyone else out there tired of me saying it as much as we have become tired doing all of it? Let's remember that our family has spent the last two weeks with stomach virus; poor Cam continues to struggle with the stomach bug even this afternoon. And now I've been sick? William is a trooper. Yesterday, my mom defied all her common sense exposing herself to our sickness and spent the day helping us! Really, Thanks MOM! I am praying for your health!

School starts in a few days. Sadly, we have spent the summer dealing with extra medical issues and the last two weeks dealing with "Chuck," the unfriendly stomach virus. Maybe, this weekend the medical issues can be forgotten temporarily and our unwelcome house guest will vacate!

Hope y'all have not had any unruly visitors either. Thanks for checking on us. I'll try to update as this weather continues to pound us, M&R7

Rain, Rain, Go AWAY...

Yeah! You heard me say it! Even though the rain outside is a wonderful break from the unbearable heat in Texas, I would enjoy less "weather" inside the stomachs of the R7 boys! Yes, all of the R7 boys (excluding Daddy for now) have experienced firsthand siren-sounding tornado tummies with exploding tsunamis! The devastating "weather" claimed its third victim as Cam has struggled for two days with a level 5 hurricane and its thunderstorms. UGH!!! Poor Guys!

To distract everyone while we deal with this weather, I recommend reading this blog (click on blog) written by a wonderfully accomplished woman whose voice remains strong in spite of the overwhelming challenges her body faces daily. She's a role model for many young women. Actually, she truly is an inspiration for everyone.

I hope you enjoy her latest post, "A Life with a Purpose." By the way, thanks for keeping up with us. Really, thanks for keeping us in your prayers, especially for Aly as a stomach virus could be very serious for her. I'll update as the weather warrants, M&R7

Partly Cloudy with 50% Chance of Rain

In Texas, everyone knows that the weather is normally hot, hotter, hottest in July and August with weeks of record-breaking highs in the triple digits and with days of heat advisories caused by lows not falling below 80 degrees. And, let's not forget the drought-like conditions that add to the problem as Texas bakes in the unrelenting sun with no water to quench its thirsty, cracked earth. However, this final week of July in the metroplex has brought highs in the low 90's, a sky-blanket of grey clouds, and a scattering of rain showers to our area. Of course, most Texans know the saying, "If you don't like the weather in Texas wait a week, and it will be the exact opposite from today's forecast..."

Actually this summer, the Rumuly 7 has had trouble forecasting the pending weather. At times the predictions have warranted urgency and worry. Although, most of the summer has kept a "hurry up test and wait for results" game plan. It seems that the meteorologists hold tight to predictions of difficult weather ahead for R7. So, we continue the course just like we did at the beginning of the school break as we start yet another list of more specialists and further testing.

Here's part of the list:

1. On Thursday, Aly must have blood drawn for complete blood work, an endocrine panel, and seizure medicine level check.

2. Aly needs a bone scan and needs to see the orthopedist about the curvature of her spine and the "something" on her hip.

3. Aly will see a cardiologist here (not in Houston) as she is still experiencing tachycardia when she sits in her chair, documented by our nurses and the pulse/ox machine.

4. Very soon, Cam will be scheduled for another MRI of the brain to clarify the extent of brain damage.

5. Cam needs a sleep study and a visit with our neurologist.


In addition to the list, the big boys have had stomach virus off and on since Thursday. And yet, Aly has remained stable in spite of her brothers' germs, more grand mal seizures, the fast heart rate, increased fatigue, and additional struggles with reflux. Also, the twins remain healthy, although their attempts to receive attention have William and me guessing about how much their tummies really hurt! Ha!

I guess rainy days are nice compared to a looming hurricane. Most Texans would agree that rain showers and a cold front in July are a welcome change and somewhat a relief to the endless days of 100 degrees, heat advisories, and orange pollution alerts. Honestly, I look forward to a change of forecast for R7, too. Oh! By the way, school starts in fewer than thirteen days!

Thanks for checking on us. It seems that the weather continues to threaten our home which means we continue to need your prayers. We really appreciate you! Of course, I will continue to update as the weather approaches, M&R7

Boomer's Boy (Ethan): Logic 101

In the midst of our medical stress this summer, Ethan and Boomer have kept the humor going! It seems that the logic of one boy about his dog can be unexpectedly hilarious at times, giving all of the Rumuly 7 a much-needed dose of the giggles.

I hope to share these "funnies" on occasion and felt this a great time to start as we continue to wait (with huge anticipation and frustration) for medical answers about Aly's heart and thyroid.

Our Ethan-Joy's lessons definitely remind me to enjoy the little things in life while I manage all these serious medical issues of our "special needs" life.



In a world gone crazy, a dog and his boy bring humor to R7...

Me (sternly): "Ethan, do not let your dog lick your ear!"

Ethan (matter of fact): "Why not? I let Boomer lick me all over!"


I hope Boomer's Boy: Logic 101 gives you a chuckle, too. Thanks for checking on us. The two big boys have had stomach issues (I refuse to name it stomach virus)the last couple of days. We're praying the rest of R7 will not catch it. Also, we see the pediatrician on Monday and hope to get some sort of plan to address Aly's current issues. I will update when we figure out some things. Thanks for praying! M&R7

It's Raining, It's Pouring, but this old lady isn't snoring!

Ha! Thanks for checking on us. What looked like a hurricane off the coast has turned into some much needed rain for our sunburned Texas front yard! Hooray!

Actually, we have a few test results; although, now we have even more questions than answers at this point. Ms. Linda, Aly's nurse and all of the Rumuly children's MiMi, continues to encourage us even though she agrees that our family has such craziness!

So here's a quick update:

1. Ethan has a tic disorder which falls on the Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder Spectrum. However, he does not struggle with depression and he views the tics as a medium distraction. At this point, we ignore the tics and keep an eye on him for any emotional problems, especially during school and in times of stress. This disorder could vanish in a couple of years, or it could result in a Tourettes diagnosis if it worsens or disrupts the "normalcy" of his life.

2. Aly's test results are unclear. The doctor is out of the office until this week, but the Holter Monitor came back normal, which surprises us. Her pulse/oxometer machine shows she struggles with tachycardia whenever she sits in her chair. Let me also confess that a probe came off the Holter during testing at night for any number of hours! These results are unclear and the next step is unknown. We are supplementing her water with Gatorade to help with the stress.

3. During an xray of her curved spine, Aly has "something" on her hip which might indicate arthritis or something else? (William spoke with the doctor.) Now, she needs to see an orthopedist.

4. Cam's neurosurgeon consulted with the neuro-radiologist, and they agree that we need further testing (more MRI?) to confirm that he has damage to the right side of his brain. (These are the "laymen" terms, since the doctor's words are composed by so many letters that I do not know how to spell them, much less pronounce them.) The doctors feel this is the reason Cam has so many delays.

These are just the basics at this point. Really I have a very long list of more specialists and testing, but frankly I am just happy there's rain today and not a hurricane. You might have noticed my countdown clock to school starting? I am hoping to have a little fun with the kids!

Really, thanks for praying for us. I hope to post some picures and more information, soon! We're off to Cam's much-anticipated cooking class! (Thanks Mom!) We'll let you know how the weather is later. Hope you're getting some relief from the heat, too! M&R7

mOTHER'S wORST nIGHTMARE or Is It?

I've been withholding my thoughts lately from my blog. Have you noticed all the new pictures? This self-imposed "call" to be translucent has challenged me. It has been a tough couple of weeks! I wanted to write, but I have always felt more comfortable writing about the funny stories that happen in my life. It's tough to write when the funny stories are not in "hind-sight" and they're not really funny yet. This is my fourth try to post actually.

So I have been thinking. And what has been on my mind might surprise you! Often when things around my house get really tough dealing with the special health concerns and overwhelming needs of two of my children, I think of my Grammy. You must understand though, she passed on to heaven before I left for school at Texas A&M, before I met William, and WAY before five children became my focus, my life. Also, you might need to know that Grammy was from a generation whose challenges were very different from what my generation faces today on a regular basis. And although there is this huge generational chasm between us, Grammy comes to mind when my life presents extraordinary obstacles and requires me to reach far beyond my limitations.

Let me give you my thoughts on this.

There have been many times since Aly was born and especially as our Cam began having health problems that our family has been deemed "The Worst Case Scenario" by friends and strangers alike who seek comfort from the burden of their own troubles by comparing themselves to how things could be worse. Oh Yeah! There also have been times when someone, bemoaning her many worries, has stopped lamenting abruptly to apologize for "complaining when I don't have it nearly as badly as you, Mindy." Really?

And although no one has ever meant to sound hurtful, many people view the burdens that our family faces each day, attempting to meet the special needs of two children and the regular needs of three others, as unbearable and overwhelming. Don't get me wrong. Truthfully, most of the time I am overwhelmed by the day to day "life" presented by my children's needs. But what is also true is the misunderstanding that WE view our obstacles in a way that prevents us from having compassion for others and their burdens, no matter how different from ours they might be. Truthfully, as I told a friend, I could be easily just as worried, tired and stressed out by many things even if my life were written in a fairy tale story book. And never wanting anyone to feel embarrassed about her concerns, we shrug off the label of "Worst Case Scenario" and try to laugh about our discomfort of having a "Job-like" description.

Let me be frank, our family can never be labeled as a modern day Job, found in the Bible. You remember, he's the guy that God deemed as righteous yet allowed him to suffer unbearable loss and physical pain. You might imagine that William and I have had tremendous disappointment as life-threatening, life-altering, life-long diagnoses challenge our children and our family. Many of you commiserate with the overwhelming burdens the many special needs weigh upon our family: financially, physically, and emotionally. Some of you witness first hand as the difficulties have pressed us down like the olive press squeezes the oil from the fruit. And interestingly enough, we have never been crushed into oblivion. Somehow, someway, we have survived!

Okay! -Not just somehow, and someway! There is a definite reason. Unlike Job who must wait for the Lord to exonerate him and restore him after the trial is finished, we can realize freedom from the overwhelming pressure when we identify that the Holy Spirit is here to help today, in spite of our fatigue, our frustration, our sadness. All we have sometimes is a small amount of faith, even just a small mustard seed is all that is needed to stop the press from pushing down upon us. As our family has encountered such huge heartache, we never have been alone. Ha! I guess He takes our mustard seed and makes beautiful olive oil or is it mustard? How does He do that?

This time He used my Grammy, Alice, oddly enough, after which Our Aly is named. Grammy lived a challenging life too. Her life was filled with sacrifice and health issues. She had "experience" that helped her have compassion for other's problems. She especially had a faith that might have begun as a mustard seed in the days early in her life during her fight with TB and surviving an experimental surgery removing a lung to cure her. I guess you could say she gave me a legacy of mustard, an example of placing a mustard seed into the olive press just to make mustard.

Okay! I know this time the metaphors might have become mixed. But the point is that while we wait for results about Aly's heart and treatment for the tachycardia, we remain faithful that God knows the plan. We remain steadfast that a mOTHER'S wORST nIGHTMARE will end in sweet dreams. -Steadfast that even though Our Aly struggles everyday, she always has been the sweetest mustard that William and I ever could have tasted.

Thanks for checking on us. I WILL update as soon as we learn about anything. M&R7