Shifted Gears

Goodness, it has been a very long time since this blog has been updated. There has been a lot of changes going on! I will start with my sweet lil man. Back in February he started running daily fevers several times a day. He started to not want to have anything to eat, no energy, trouble going to the bathroom, he was so lethargic he wouldn't lift his head up to play. It was heartbreaking b/c we knew this wasn't like him. Several times we would go in for fluids b/c he would be extremely dehydrated. We had a few short admissions, where they would check all kinds of blood work and nothing was showing up...He ended up having an NG tube placed in his nose to help get food into him. Even with this he wasn't any better. Then at the end of May we went to Texas for a medical conference for the MECP2 kids and research which was an incredible experience and we made so many lifetime connections with these families. Austin was sick the entire time we were there....Still didn't know what we were working with. We went in June to have a mickey button placed in his stomach to continue to keep his nutrition up b/c he had lost so much weight and I was determined to not leave the hospital until they knew what was wrong with my son...So we got every set of Dr.'s involved that we could think of to figure this out. Finally after much debate on Dr.'s and lack of communication...someone finally ordered a CT scan of his abdomen. BC his blood was showing some concerning things. It was showing the inflammatory markers in his blood were extremely high witch means that something in his body was inflamed. On the CT scan it confirmed that his colon was enlarged and inflamed and he had an enormous amount of stool in there. Then they started him on a bunch of stuff to help clean him out and ordered a colonoscopy(sp). They did biopsy's and confirmed he had and autoimmune disease called crohn's. They now have him on steroids and an auto immune medicine that has made a huge difference. We were so happy to have an answer and get him treatment to get him well. Well I am happy to say he is doing fantastic! Also we celebrated his 8th birthday this summer! He'll be going to 3rd grade this year!!!

Now Miss Abigail's turn...Well she is doing fantastic! We have spent our summer days with the pool, swim lessons, six flags, friends and just enjoying it! Her biggest adventure coming up is Kindergarten. She will get to attend the same elementary school I went to. She is stoked!! She has all her school supplies and her new backpack and lunch box. I think I will enjoy the break, but can't wait for her to come home and let me know how her days went. One of the friends she made at summer school, was in her swim lesson class and now will be in her kindergarten class and she will have the same teacher from summer school. I couldn't be more proud of her and how well she is doing! Thanks for checking in with us and hope every one's summer has been wonderful as the new school year approaches!

quick update...

Everything is going pretty good. Austin continues to stay for the most part healthy. We have had trouble with the bowel movement area with him recently. I'm trying to have him be somewhat regular or at least going once or twice a week....this is my short term goal for him! He's doing great in school and LOVES being there even if it does wear him out at the end of the day. It's changed his life and I am so excited to see where it takes him!

Sierra has a busy schedule. School, daisies and homework for a first grader are big things! Then she's still doing gymnastics and dance. She is doing good in all areas.

Abby, right now is staying at home with me. We are really pushing letters and numbers with her in hopes to have her ready for kindergarten in the Fall. She is slowly picking up on it and I hope she continues to grow in this. She is your typical sassy 5 yr old that keeps me on my toes!

Have a great January everyone!

Our Christmas post and Happy 2011!

Austin got a new key board for Christmas along with other toys, and this is the ONLY thing he wanted to play with! Love at first song!

The kids in front of our Christmas tree waiting to open the presents Santa brought!

This was Christmas at my parents house, it was absolutely wonderful!

Sierra opening up her stocking at my parents!

Austin was so excited and was moving his arms and legs like a monkey trying to get out of my arms. But he did get a cute critter hat for Christmas!

This is from Abby's birthday we celebrated at home on her actual birthday with family, my mom and brother, and the following weekend we met up with more family at Chucky Cheese! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season for 2010 and are continuing to count all your blessings for 2011!

Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to Abby!

On Friday Dec. 10 for my birthday we headed down to Jamaica for the weekend. They updated our room to a suite with two balconies looking over the ocean. AMAZING! We arrived there later Friday afternoon and got settled in our room. We ate a quick late lunch at their beach grill, it was good. Then Friday night we had several course meal at their night club and it was so delicious. Then Saturday morning we got up early and headed out on a catamaran boat. They took us out to a coral reef were if you wanted you could snorkel. It was overcast at that time and really windy, so I opted to stay on the boat, but Bill went out for almost an hour. He saw some beautiful fish he said. Then we went over to the world famous Dunn River Falls. We had the option there to walk up the falls. They said the water was extremely cold and it took about 45 min to climb up 600ft. Bill was the brave one, but they also had a dry walk all the way up to the top on the stairs and at the top you can put your feet in the water. They also had a tourist area there too. The falls were breathtaking. They warned us when we got off the boat that several of the locals would offer us to buy weed or other drugs and they had ways of trying to trick you into it. So you do have to be aware. Then on the way back they take the boat out against the waves and served appetizers and drinks. Being on the boat with mountains and the ocean around you, God's creation is beautiful. That night we ate at the Italian restaurant with some of the best food I have ever tasted along with some really good wine. Then on Sunday we spent time at the pool relaxing until it started to rain. It rained most of the night, so we hung out in our suite and then had dinner again at the Italian restaurant. On Monday we headed home. I would HIGHLY recommend this for couples. I don't know if it is a place I would take young children though. We had such a wonderful time.

Of course while we were gone Austin spiked a fever and since we have been home has been fighting a horrible stomach bug, poor guy...with lots of cleaning up of diarrhea is no fun. Also Sierra caught a nasty cold. So right now we are doing what we can to help him get over this and thankfully Sierra is feeling better.

Tomorrow my baby turns 5. Happy Birthday sweet Abby Sue. I can't believe you will be 5 and how big you are getting. I am so blessed by you and to be your mom! I love you girl!

November is already a busy month...

We had a good Halloween.Sierra was a butterfly, Abigail was little red riding hood, and Austin was a pirate. Abby and my mom went to Kansas City Mo. to go trick or treating with my nephews. I decided to stay home with Austin b/c last year we ended up at Children's Mercy Hospital the day we were leaving b/c Austin had a fever with a seizure. So Sierra, her mom, sister and Grammy all went trunk or treating It was to cold and windy for Austin, we decided to not stay and bring him home.

A couple of weeks ago the kids had parent teacher conferences and they had GREAT reports. I am so thankful we have found a school they all love and are so eager to learn in. Abby loves her new pre-k class that she started in mid October.

My wonderful husband has planned a short vacation, that also falls on my birthday. He found a great deal and we are going to Jamaica, I can't believe I will get to visit such a beautiful Island. I have deffinetly gotten to travel more since I married him, I guess I can't complain, we have seen so many beautiful places. Thank you so much to all who are able to help with the kids so we can do this.

Austin is fighting a horrible bug. He doesn't have any energy and has been running a fever since Sunday. We took a trach culture today in hopes to know something and start him on medicine. We are praying we will be able to do this without any hospital stay this time.

Happy Birthday to my mom, tomorrow...Hope it's an awesome one! I hope everyone is enjoying fall as we get closer to Thanksgiving. We are blessed and are thankful for so much this past year! Have a great one everyone!!!

It's all about the family...

We have been staying busy. When October hits it usually means the kids start to get sick. Abby and Sierra have both experienced their first nasty colds for the fall. Austin has had some extra congestion, fever and diarrhea, so he has started his breathing treatments. With Bill working, being in school so much and running Sierra around to her gymnastics and dance...we both are staying busy with keeping up with the kids when we are home. ON a good note, my parents and I took the kids to grants farm earlier this month and had a delightful time. We also got to take the kids to a fall festival included with a carnival and fireworks, called Valleydays. That was also a ton of fun! Sierra got to even meet up with her uncle and cousins that she doesn't always get to see.
One of the more exciting things that has happened is my brother recently got engaged. We soon will be welcoming Rachel to our family, as an Aunt, daughter-n-law and sister n-law. We are thrilled for both of them.

So we are staying pretty busy here. Maybe, just maybe if all works out, the hubby and I will be able to plan a pretty short get-a-way in a couple of months. There is a lot to look forward to here and we will keep you posted. Aren't you enjoying this awesome fall weather!!!!!

Enjoy and Love the St. Louis free Zoo!

We enjoyed so much going to the zoo yesterday. Even though it was very windy and cold for Austin to be out in and breath the air for that long, the girls really enjoyed it. Austin partied and Nana's house, which he loves! I hope you all enjoy the pictures.