My Little Sister

I got a cool letter from my littlest sister. I love getting her letters. She is having a difficult time in her life but her letters always are cheerful and full of kind words to me. She lifts my spirits. I am so thankful for her - there is I think 22 years difference between us - but I hold her so close in my heart...my sweet Leilani.

Well He is LOST!

Several weeks ago Gene took Gabe to a casting call for LOST. They went at 6:00 a.m. After waiting for 3 hours they finally passed out the applications and took photos. gene decided since he waited so long he'd fill one out too.

SURPRISE! Today he got a call to come in and do a reading! They are looking for white guys for a flashback scene to Harvard University. Well Gene is white.

Will let you know how bumpy his road to stardom is...

FASD Awareness Day

Today is International Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Day. We all went to the Capitol to witness the Proclamation signing and to hear Michelle give a speech. All the kids attended as well as Gene & Aunty Leo. Lt. Governor James "Duke" Aiona specifically introduced Michelle. (She gave him a big hug and kiss when she saw him in the briefing room - we still gotta work on those personal space issues). Duke's wife Vivian serves with me as Co-Chair of the State FAS Task Force. She is also pictured. There were many others there too.

This is what Michelle said in her speech. She wrote her speech herself.
(I held up the signs cause sometimes its hard to understand her)

My name is Michelle Wright.
I am 11 years old.
I like swimming, pizza and babies.
When I grow up I want to be a nurse.
I have Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
My birth mother drank alcohol when I was in her tummy.
Alcohol hurt my brain.
But my brain is getting better now.
I am happy to meet all of you.

Michelle did a great job with her speech. She was also very excited about having on a new dress and new shoes - but complained that the shoes were too hot. She also got a hair cut for the occasion. She wanted to get her nails done too but I said no to that one. We are very proud of her.

FASD (and Michelle) in the News

The following appeared in today's Honolulu Advertiser:

For baby's sake, avoid alcohol

Drinking in pregnancy can cause permanent brain damage in fetuses

By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser Staff Writer

Even a single drink of alcohol during pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol syndrome in an unborn baby.

To spotlight that danger, the state will participate in an international awareness day on the disorder today, Sept. 9 — a date that represents the nine months from conception to birth.

In Hawai'i, 89 children were diagnosed with the disorder from 1986 to 2003, said Dr. Catherine Sorenson, state Department of Health's coordinator on fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, the umbrella term for the disorder. But the number of undiagnosed victims is believed to be much higher — more than 13,000 children and young adults may be affected in Hawai'i, Sorenson said.

The average lifetime care costs for a child with the syndrome is estimated at $2 million.

"It is very difficult to diagnose in an infant," Sorenson said. "There is no information on how much alcohol is too much."

Babies exposed to alcohol in utero can suffer permanent brain damage. Other indications include mental retardation and learning disabilities; kidney problems; fused, webbed and missing fingers and toes; small body size; organ deformities; and a curved spine. Since 1990, every bottle of beer, wine and spirits sold in the U.S. must carry a warning from the U.S. surgeon general of the risk of birth defects.

"Fetal alcohol syndrome is completely preventable," said Ginny Wright, whose daughter, Michelle, was diagnosed when she was 4. She's 11 now.

"Just don't drink while pregnant," Wright said. "This is a disorder that affects brain development, permanently."

Wright said that when she adopted her daughter, her face looked different than a typical toddler's face. Later those differences — an extremely narrow upper lip and a flat ridge between her upper lip and nose — would help doctors diagnose her fetal alcohol syndrome, said Wright, who lives in Kane'ohe.

When Gigi Davidson, a Makiki mother, adopted her son, Jenya, from Russia, she knew that her son's biological parents were alcoholics. But it took years for her to get a physician to link his mental health issues to fetal alcohol syndrome, Davidson said.

Her son is now 20. He has gone to 10 different schools in Hawai'i, often getting kicked out because of poor judgment. Now she hopes she can keep him out of trouble, and off drugs and alcohol, until his brain matures more.

"My son is a socially charming, cute kid," Davidson said. "But he's impulsive and lives for the moment. Looking back, I didn't know that he didn't have the capacity to think abstractly. Now I realize how hard everything had to be for him."

Dr. Laurie Seaver, medical director of Hawai'i Community Genetics, said the disorder can be obvious like Wright's daughter's physical traits, or not so obvious, as with Davidson's son's attention deficit disorder.

"Many physicians are not familiar with fetal alcohol syndrome, so many individuals, especially older individuals, remain undiagnosed," Seaver said. "The problem is caused by the alcohol actually getting into the bloodstream of the developing fetus from the mother's bloodstream. Alcohol kills developing cells, especially brain cells."

One Year Ago

...And not many posts! Will try and catch up...HAHA!

Dad-isms

Dad-isms are the intellectual sayings of Gene Wright which illustrate what a mental heavyweight he truly is. Among the most notorious -

"Focus like a laser beam"
"Let me think about it - I've thought about it - no!"
"Chuck E. Cheese" - his response when asked where he is going
"Granny wouldn't sit that way" - when girls are not sitting like ladies
"Lomi lomi my feet" - no explanation needed

I'll think of more and add them. He is a funny guy. And also very lucky.

My Girl

Susan just left to go back to school. I often think - what did I do to deserve such a great blessing? She is a terrific daughter! She is kind and loving. She is certainly not perfect but we are oh-so-proud of her.

When she's not here with us we do feel a void. Nothing seems complete.

But this is her season to take wings and fly!

Memories of Grandma

Ada Bell Barney Wright, our mother and grandmother died on October 9, 2007. She was 85 years old. When we think of her we think of -

• "Is this island completely surrounded by water?' - her question when she visited Hawaii
• "You guys do too much for me" - always appreciative of everything and anything anyone did for her.
  
• Kept her money by the plates in the kitchen cabinet
  
• Soaps, Bonanza, Perry Mason, Murder She Wrote
  
• Macaroni and anything
  
• Love, Humility, Enduring to the End

She was a wonderful mother and grandmother. We are so happy that she can now WALK!!!

In a Perfect World

In a perfect world what happened tonight would not have happened. In a perfect world little ones would be valued by those around them. In a perfect world my little ones would be supported and accepted - as they learn and grow.

But the world is imperfect. We are all imperfect. Except these two little ones - they are perfect. And they are here to help US become perfect - like them.

The Benefits of Family Home Evening

I have to give a talk at Ward Conference on Sunday about Family Home Evening and how it has benefitted me, my family, and other guests. I have been thinking of little else for the last week.

When Susan, Gabe & Jacob were younger I'd spend enormous amounts of time preparing lessons, props, posters, etc. for FHE, We used to have a light that we only turned on on Monday nights for FHE - it was a signal to them. We used to sit on big cushions on the floor. We'd make crafts - we'd even do treats!

Nowadays its totally different. Gene & I are too old for the floor - so we've moved to sofas. We still start with a song (usually led by Michelle or Hannah with Michelle choosing America the Beautiful and Hannah choosing You're Beautiful by James Blunt) then we have a lesson. No more puppets, no more props & posters. Usually Dad teaching - pure teaching of the gospel from the scriptures.

It amazes me how the older kids will sit and listen and ask question after question. And it amazes me even more at how the little girls will sit quietly (and always closely next to someone) during the entire time.

When the big kids were younger they never wanted FHE to end - always "one more game please!"

Some things have changed. We still have a closing song (guess which ones!) and we still have a closing prayer on our knees.

We hardly ever have treats anymore. But those same teenagers who you have to drag away from the computer, radio or phone to come to FHE linger long past the closing Amen. Sometimes the gospel discussion continues - with more sophisticated and deeper questions on their part. Sometimes the conversation turns to family memories - always the funniest and most embarrassing ones of course.

And sometimes we all indulge the little girls and play London Bridges Falling Down. You should see the smiles on their faces when they "take the keys" and lock up their 6' tall brother Jacob - or even better 6'3' Dad!

Heaven in Haiku Village for sure!

Heaven - A place called Haiku Village

Here in Haiku Village there are maybe 5 different models of homes - all built in I think the late 60's and early 70's. We live in what I call model #3 - 3 bedrooms (although we've hoveled out a 4th) and 2 baths. I've been in other Model 3's in the neighborhood. I think mine is BY FAR the oldest, most in need of repair, messiest (at times), loudest, busiest, fullest, most wonderful one in the village.

Susan is home from college (but only for 3 more days - sob sob). Jacob is happy he got his license yesterday - on his first try! Gabe keeps the phone lines burning with the numerous girls who call to hear him sing to them (I kid you not). Hannah is so excited about turning 7 next Friday (and eyeing her presents in Aunty's room). And Michelle comes bounding off the school bus with a huge smile on her face everyday and leaps into my arms saying "Mom - I'm home!"

I always knew Heavenly Father liked me best.