The Goodwins

Origin of St. Patrick’s Day from BigIdea (creators of VeggieTales)

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TCB5QhHVJA

Several have reported problems reaching our site.  After searching the Internet for potential issues it looks like this may be related to Internet Explorer (”IE”) upgrades and/or the proper rendering of flash related to certain versions of the flash plugins keep flash from being rendered correctly in IE version 8 (IE8) and sometimes in IE version 7 (IE7).  Therefore I removed most of the “features” from the site that use Flash.  I’ve also learned (thanks to google) that IE8 has issues that can cause not only the program to crash but the entire computer when certain sites are reached.

I’ve change our site so that when someone reaches it, it will be “rendered” in the “old” IE7 method by using the wordpress plugin IE7 Compatibility Plugin 1.0 on this site.

If you have IE version 8 (IE8) (the latest and “greatest”) and are experiencing such crashes at other sites check out this link.  Force IE8 To Load and Display Websites in IE7 Compatibility View Mode.

Finally, I recommend to folks on Window PCs (non-Macs) to consider using Firefox.  It’s available for download at http://getfirefox.com.  I’ve used it for years and find it more stable and secure than Internet Explorer, and due to all of the available free “add ons” can provide greater functionality that IE7 or IE8.

Finally, if you are STILL having trouble with our site, my apologies (although I realize that if you are reading this, you’re not having troubles right now, but in case the troubles are intermittent or those without troubles can forward you this I’m putting this up here.)  If you would please email the following information when it happens, I may be able to solve the issue:

1. Approximate date and time it happened.
2. What Operating System (OS) you are using (e.g. Windows Vista, Windows XP, Mac OS 10, etc) (if you know)
3. What browser you are using (I’m assuming Internet Explorer if it’s crashing).  To find the version of Internet Explorer it can be found under the “Help” menu at the top of the browser.  Go to the “About Internet Explorer” and select it.  A window should pop up that tells you what version of IE you are using.  I just need the first number (e.g. 6, 7, or 8).  Don’t worry about the plethora of numbers after it.

Thanks!

Kirk

Status update: The bubbles are in and growing.

For anyone who is unfamiliar with our saga of Ella’s bubbles, I thought I’d spout a little history for you…

Ella was born with a giant nevus (large hairy mole) on her scalp which carries a significantly higher risk of melanoma than an average person would carry. Ella’s nevus covered the front left quarter (at least) of her scalp and part of her forehead. Last spring/summer we went through our first round of tissue expanders and plastic surgery to create new skin and remove the mole. While we know the reason for doing it is good, it’s just plain no fun. Of course Ella bounces back to her happy self much quicker than Kirk or I.

Ella’s most recent surgery (see previous posts) was to put in the 2nd round of tissue expanders… hopefully they are also her last, but we won’t be completely sure of that until the plastic surgery at the end of April.

The tissue expander process involves the placing of two surgical plastics balloons under her skin (basically breast implants!) which are then expanded with weekly injections of saline to stretch the skin. Ella’s newest “bubbles” are placed on the right of her forehead (to make skin w/o hair) and on the back left of her scalp (to create skin with hair). We visited Chicago last week for her first injection, and today Kirk started the process of doing them at home… he will be stressed out for the next two months, so if you see him please be nice!

If you saw Ella last summer and remember how big her bubble got you’ll be happy to know that this rounds should be a bit smaller (although there are two instead of one). The first round involved a 350 ml expander, which was capable of holding up to 500 ml. This round involves 250 ml expanders that can go up to about 350+ ml or so. We’ll see how they grow.

So, it is officially March which means less than two months left until plastic surgery… so close and yet so far away!

And as a very important p.s. Ella adores her little brother Justice, and we are incredibly happy as a family of four!

He’s so cute!