Involuntary Hand Movements

While sharing a rare lunch opportunity with Aly yesterday, I was called by the health room at Ben's school. He had checked it in with involuntary movement in his extremities, predominantly his hands. I called his psychiatrist, who is also a pediatrician, and notified him of this new development. Touting Abilify as an ultra-safe drug, he felt that the tremors were unlikely to have been caused by the new drug at such a low dose entry level. So I was left to wonder...what the *bleep* is going on?? (pardon my expression) Uncomfortable with this new development, I checked Ben into the ER in Lihue and waited for the call. I was totally convinced this was a side effect of the new drug or at very least, an interaction with the already familiar Prozac. An hour into the wait, Ben was assigned to bed 31, a kid friendly room in the ER with a crash cart!! Nothing like comforting a sick child with a crash cart in the room! Anyways, long story short...the doc came in and examined him...called our psychiatrist in Oahu....and seemed somewhat determined to resolve this new tremor issue. Two brilliant minds came together with the diagnosis that the tremors were just a new symptom of anxiety and in NO WAY related to the new drug! What?? Are THEY on drugs?? How can this possibly be? I was NOT impressed!! Frustrated with their apparent lack of training, we left wondering about the state of our current healthcare system.

I drove the 20 minute drive home with a keen eye on Ben's hands which had previously been in a constant state of awkward, jerky movements. They were now decidedly silent. Still. No movement. What was going on?? Could they be right? Will I have to eat my silent words? Is this really just another symptom of anxiety? Who knows?

At this point, we've been advised to continue the new drug. I for one am keeping watch.

Pray for Ben

I am full of gratitude that I am able to come to you (once again) with this request. We need to amp up our prayer for Ben. As the middle school year comes to an end, we find his anxiety levels increasing as well his OCD. He is curling up his toes and walking inside his sweats, typing with his knuckles, removing the outer casing of a ball point pen and using only the thin refill to write. The other day we spent a fabulous time on the north shore exploring, snorkelling with sea turtles and sun bathing; Ben was so agitated he couldn't enjoy a minute. At one point, Ed convinced him to jump off the Hanalei pier (BIG accomplishment) into the ocean. Ben's anxiety and OCD wouldn't allow him to return to shore because other people had been swimming in that part of the ocean. He started swimming out INTO the ocean around the pier thinking he could swim across the ocean bay to where we pitched our beach camp. They would've never made it. Ed had to struggle in a physical and emotional fight with him to encourage him back to shore. Ed was very frightened throughout the whole ordeal as the battle almost nearly ended in both of them drowning. :` (

Because of this life threatening incident over the weekend, we have decided to supplement Ben's current medication with another med called Abilify. For those of you in the know, Abilify is a newer version of Risperdal with less side effects. We struggled with the decision to add this new med over many weeks, but after the ocean scenario...we feel we have no choice. Abilify should calm Ben and manage his anxiety and compulsions. However the common long term side effects are not pretty: increased blood sugar levels and possible drug induced diabetes, extreme weight gain (40 lbs. in 3 months), increased cholesterol (100 unit increase in a year), seizures and muscle spasms. Most are reversible when the drug is removed although the muscle twitching has been known to be permanent.

Please, please, please pray for minimal to no side effects, especially no drug induced diabetes or seizure disorder (and for a return to healthy mental state). Those of you who know us well, know Ed has diabetes and epilepsy so there is already a genetic factor at play here. For what's left of my sanity, we need some hard core praying!!! I am not happy to walk through this again but will, knowing God is the Lord of Ben's life and He holds us all in His hands.

For spring break, we went to Honolulu for one night. Ben couldn't sleep in the bed because he didn't know who had used it before him. He spent the night on the floor by the door on the tile floor/ carpet with no blankie. Ed drew the line at him sleeping in the suitcase (that was his preference).

Exploring the Coastline with Auntie Betsy

Polihale Sunset

Ben and Auntie Betsy @ Polihale

Natural Brush

Round Hole (created by Volcanic Bomb?)

Volcanic Bomb?

Awesome Aly and Auntie Betsy

Cool Tree

Natural Bridge Formation

Serpentine Sea Cucumber in Salt Pond Tide Pools

Tiny Waterfall by Glass Beach

Old car parts melting away after 100 years of salt and erosion

Tiny Salt Beds

Hanapepe Cubs vs. Waimea Jays

Aly's first Baseball game at Waimea Community Center

Warming up on the bench before the game

1st inning Aly stayed on the bench...parents are eager to see her in action!

Aly and Isybella...the only girls on the team!! GIRL POWER!!!

2nd inning...Aly is out on the field in right field


Quiet out there today...most balls landing infield

Good Game Jays! We slaughtered them 21-0 in 2 innings!!

(poor guys...it was their first time playing baseball)

WAY TO GO HANAPEPE CUBS!!!!

Sights around Town

Poipu Landscape off Lawaii Road

Ye olde Sugar Mill off Koloa Bypass Road

Puakenikeni flowers popular for making lei

Sugar Cane

Blue Ginger

Heliconia

Hmmm...not sure what these shrubs are...

Hanapepe Mustangs Division

I couldn't be prouder of my little girl. She's not so little anymore...but compared to the west side boys...she's a little on the smaller side. Alyson ...for years...has wanted to play t-ball. We waited a bit too long and although she is too old (bah!) for t-ball, we did sign her up for baseball. Her team is called the Hanapepe Mustangs...she's the token haole (white person) on the team and the only girl. The first practice....I was so nervous!! What would she do? How would she feel? Not only was she the only girl, but the only white girl. And therefore, the only team player to have a pink glove and pink cleats. I had to laugh...but.... oh...my...goodness...what a trooper!! After first practice, I asked her how she felt. She responded nonchalantly, "I don't care!" If only we could be like children...like her; so oblivious to the differences in life that could consume and overwhelm us. She wanted to play ball and nothing would stop her. I AM SO *choke* PROUD.

The other day (after several practices...which are every day for 2 hours M-Th...a little extreme for 10 year olds i think), she said to me, "Mom, do you really think I should play baseball?" Why do you ask honey? Are you having second thoughts?" "Well," she said, "sometimes when the sun is shining and we run alot...I sweat." I had to stop from laughing. "Sweating is okay honey!"

Anne and Iain Prance

We met this wonderful couple after a recent invitation to join them for lunch at their "place" in the Allerton Gardens. I had heard of them from a friend and that they attended our church in Kalaheo when they were in town....perhaps once a year. Their real home is in the South of England. Iain and Anne are a wonderfully committed Christian couple and have embraced us into their family when on island. They are truly remarkable and I am blessed everytime we meet. Their passion for Christ is evident as is their love of mentoring others in the faith.

Iain and Anne work at different Botanical Institutions around the world...in their "retired" or rather exhausted estate. Poor things! They are as active as ever and are really overworked. Iain (and Anne) are constantly travelling, consulting, lecturing, collecting and studying. Their knowledge and experience is highly sought after. Iain...Sir Iain (as he is known...has been knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1995) is a prominent botanist and ecologist.

We'll be thinking of Anne as she heads home and visits with the Mellow Birds....and Iain as he heads off to San Diego and then New York.

Yakudoshi Celebration

So the other day, we were at home minding our own business and we received this beautiful invitation to a Yakudoshi Celebration in honor of Tsuji, our neighbour across the street.

So what exactly is a Yakudoshi Celebration? I'm glad you asked...

Bad luck ages are referred to as yakudoshi, with yaku meaning “calamity” or “calamitous” and doshi signifying “year(s).” These years are considered critical or dangerous because they are believed to bring bad luck or disaster.For men, the ages 24 and 41 (or 25 and 42 in Japan) are deemed critical years, with 41 being especially critical. It is customary in these unlucky years to visit temples and shrines to provide divine protection from harm. In Hawai‘i, it has become a widespread tradition among men of Japanese ancestry to celebrate the 41st birthday with a festive yakudoshi party or gathering to ward off the bad luck or disaster that may strike. The birthday person should wear red to bring good health, vitality and long life.

The equivalent yakudoshi ages for women are 18 and 32 (19 and 33 in Japan), with 32 thought to be a particularly hard, terrible or disastrous year. Like the age 41 for men, precautions are taken to ward off bad luck, and some women in Hawai‘i celebrate their 32nd birthday with a special yakudoshi party. The 41 year-old birthday boy with his party hat and wearing red and black

His cake...

Our neighbours Tsuji and Jeannine

Swimmy the Fish

After a colossal death toll from the dreaded sea monkey birthday gift..."Swimmy the Goldfish" entered our lives and became the second pet in the Buller family. Swimmy was aptly named by Alyson and has affectionately stuck as his legal name. Welcome Swimmy!

Swimmy the Betta Siamese Fighting Fish...

Long Awaited Grass Pictures

Many of you have been waiting for updated pictures of our lawn...the result of the creative plugging process that took months to complete. Well wait no more.. this...

has turned into this....

El Toro Zoysia grass knitting itself together.

Lemons on our tiny lemon tree...can't wait to make lemonade!

Red and Pink Ginger, Heliconia and pretty red Ti

Fragrant Stephanotis on the back fence

Egrets in the front yard...

God's promises multiplied in the back yard

We love and miss you all!

Mele Kalikimaka

Well, the Christmas clock is counting down and there are only 12 days left 'til Christmas. As I write this note, the backyard is flooding due to 2 days of non-stop rain storms. Thunder and lighting were a welcome surprise as these weather disturbances are a rarity here. The state has issued a flash flood warning for the island of Kauai. The kids are hunkered down, wrapped in their blankies spending a cozy inside day. The temperature.....a chilly 23 degrees. At least the kids think it's chilly. Mind you some of our Christmas party guests last night were also rubbing their arms to stimulate the blood flow and bring a glow of warmth to their bodies. Okay, so I know my Canadian friends will gag and guffaw at this...and a right they have too! Not so distant memories of -40 temps with the wind chill, plague me still. The icicles now just beginning to thaw out my nasal hairs. Sends shivers down my spine just thinking about it. Why do Canadians put up with such nonsense! Brrr!

Christmas island shopping is an interesting past-time. The trees arrive at the end of November (this year quite brown I heard and some with the extra gift of slugs)...they must have been cut at least 2 months ago. They are gone in 2 days. Thank goodness for our artificial beauty from Costco...she takes the guess work out of the timing of purchase and extra Christmas "visitors".

Christmas starts early here...like I said, end of November. The trees are pitched out the door on Boxing Day. No lingering Christmas carols or soft, glowing lights from the tree into the New Year. It starts early....it ends early. Christmas shopping too...boy, do you have to be on the ball...you see it, you buy it. No price checking unless you can do it quickly. It will be gone when you return to make your purchase. They only get 1 or 2 containers full of Christmas stuff and when it's gone...it's gone. No bringing in from other stores or rainchecks. Buy early, buy quickly. Buy online.

The Christmas break is here in a week and the kids are looking forward to their 3 week Christmas holiday. Unfortunately, the Bullers are staying put for the season. Ed, being a pastor and all. We will have to apologize for missing out on the delicious family gatherings this Christmas season.

The new year brings a incredible opportunity for Ed to travel for 2 weeks to Southern Thailand to Phang Nga. Our church here in Kauai is partnering with and helping promote the vision of the Phang Nga church in rebuilding Muslim communities. The church also supports a family-based Christian orphanage...Baan Santisuk... started by church members (Nakatsukasas) shortly after the Asian tsunami in Dec. 2004. http://www.ywamthai.org/phangnga/ Ed will travel together with a team to Phang Nga to minister in several areas including construction and ESL. My island mom, a gifted artist http://www.evelynritter.com/ (Mama Evie and Papa Harry Ritter recently adopted us) will accompany the team on her second visit to Thailand to paint murals in the guest houses and coffee shop. I am jealous. It has been my dream for several years to accompany the team to Thailand. I can only wait on God's perfect timing for me to go along. They will travel via Honolulu to Taipei, Bangkok and then Phuket.


As for the grass, it is coming in...I did take a picture but unfortunately I must have deleted it. It is too wet and rainy to quickly snap a new one. I did however find this little cattle egret in our front yard one day.

A final note as I end this update....if you haven't yet read "The Shack"....you should. It is a brilliant story of one man's tragedy bringing him into the literal presence of God. He meets the Trinity personified, in an unusual experience. The author breaks down our North American stereotypes of God. It is the best book I have read this year!

Enjoy the holiday season but remember...

IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS!!!!

Mele Kalikimaka from the Bullers

Alyson's Baptism

After a lengthy discussion with her mom and dad, and with a determined resolve to make God super dee-dooper happy, Aly made the decision to get baptized. Her mother didn't feel ready...but was that just her conservative MB roots talking? The Bible says "believe and be baptized". It does NOT say, "believe, take a 6 week baptism and membership course and then be baptized". So...affirming our daughter's desires, we made the decision to go ahead and baptize her. I panicked...we didn't have a gift, flowers, and I couldn't find the memory card for the digital camera. One of the most important days in my daughter's life...and I wasn't ready. I told Aly to wait because I wanted to be ready...I was surprised by her mature response...."Mom," she said, "It's not about the presents, the most important thing is that you are there." I sent Ed out to the late night Wal-Mart to pick up a lei and an extra memory card. When he returned, I could finally relax and join in on the excitement. Sunday, October 19, 2008 12 noon......

Baptismal candidates, Aly and Maya

Aly with Pastor Daddy and Greg..Missions Chair

Aly and Auntie Eileen, Sunday School Teacher

Aly and Uncle Mamo, Elder

Happy Day!!

Aly with flower lei and tropical bunch following baptism