Jamie and I met with the surgeon today. We do have some answers, but not all that we had hoped to gain from this appointment. Here's what we know...
The lump is a malignant tumor. They have labeled it a Grade 3 tumor, which means that biologically it appears to be a more aggressive type. The next step is for me to have a CT scan, an MRI, a Bone Scan, and a Bone Density to determine if the cancer has spread or if it's contained. These tests will also allow them to tell me exactly what type of cancer we're dealing with and which stage the cancer is in right now.
Once I have all of these tests completed, I will meet with a medical oncologist to make a plan of whether to do surgery first or chemotherapy first.
We should have these tests scheduled by the end of the day today. So, more waiting is in our future. But hopefully things will get on a roll quickly, as the surgeon explained that the sooner the better.
Please keep praying. Our hope is not gone.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Roller Coaster Weekend
This weekend was both wonderful and exhausting all at the same time. Seriously I have not felt more loved, more cared about, and more surrounded by support than I have over the past 3 days. The amount of people praying for us, hurting with us, and standing beside us is truly overwhelming.
As much as we have tried to keep ourselves busy this weekend, tomorrow's looming appointment has not been far from our minds. The roller coaster of emotions is what I have ridden. One minute feeling very strong and confident that no matter the news, it will all be okay and I will come out stronger on the other side...the next minute I can't breathe and find myself about to have a panic attack. The rest of the time I am somewhere in-between. I am emotionally exhausted.
Right now I am just ready to get tomorrow over with. Tell me what we know, tell me what tests I need to have to find out more, tell me what the treatment plan looks like...please just tell me something more than what I know right now.
Our appointment is at 1:15 tomorrow... I will update tomorrow night.
For tonight, all I can say is THANK YOU! God has sent an army of angels here on Earth to surround our family. Thank you for being a part of that army.
As much as we have tried to keep ourselves busy this weekend, tomorrow's looming appointment has not been far from our minds. The roller coaster of emotions is what I have ridden. One minute feeling very strong and confident that no matter the news, it will all be okay and I will come out stronger on the other side...the next minute I can't breathe and find myself about to have a panic attack. The rest of the time I am somewhere in-between. I am emotionally exhausted.
Right now I am just ready to get tomorrow over with. Tell me what we know, tell me what tests I need to have to find out more, tell me what the treatment plan looks like...please just tell me something more than what I know right now.
Our appointment is at 1:15 tomorrow... I will update tomorrow night.
For tonight, all I can say is THANK YOU! God has sent an army of angels here on Earth to surround our family. Thank you for being a part of that army.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
An Unwanted Journey
Our family is getting ready to embark on a journey that I had hoped we never would have to travel. But, sometimes things in life happen that we don't like, we didn't ask for, and we don't really know what to do about. Over the course of the last week, I have had to undergo some testing. And today, after having a biopsy, the words of Martina McBride rang through my head: "Cancer don't discriminate- or care if you're just 38 (or 32), with 3 kids to raise..."
The official report is not back yet, but the surgeon talked to Jamie and I today about the lump I found in my left breast. It doesn't look good. Based on the size, the shape, and the tissue that was removed, they are almost positive that I have breast cancer. They are so sure, in fact, that they have already spoken to an oncologist, who is ready to take me and begin treatments as soon as the report makes it official.
At this point that is all we know. I don't know exactly what kind of treatment plan options I will be given, but the words immediate chemotherapy have been mentioned a time or two.
Our famlies know, and tonight we sat down and told the girls. Needless to say, everyone is upset, but we are all hopeful and staying positive.
I am asking you to please pray for our family as we begin this journey. I know it won't be easy, but I know we can get through this- with God, and with the huge support system that we have around us.
The official report is not back yet, but the surgeon talked to Jamie and I today about the lump I found in my left breast. It doesn't look good. Based on the size, the shape, and the tissue that was removed, they are almost positive that I have breast cancer. They are so sure, in fact, that they have already spoken to an oncologist, who is ready to take me and begin treatments as soon as the report makes it official.
At this point that is all we know. I don't know exactly what kind of treatment plan options I will be given, but the words immediate chemotherapy have been mentioned a time or two.
Our famlies know, and tonight we sat down and told the girls. Needless to say, everyone is upset, but we are all hopeful and staying positive.
I am asking you to please pray for our family as we begin this journey. I know it won't be easy, but I know we can get through this- with God, and with the huge support system that we have around us.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
A Lady Vol Weekend
This past weekend Jamie, his dad, and his step-mom took the girls to Knoxville for their first "Lady Vols" basketball game. They all had a great time! Here are some pictures from their trip.
During the game- Having a great time watching Coach Pat.
Posing with daddy in their new shirts
They were so excited to get to go on the court after the game!
They also got to see their Cousin, Pax, who is currently at UT for school. They thought it was pretty cool that he got to shoot T-shirts into the crowd during the game. Also, he managed to get their picture up on the big screen- Karlie loved it, Kinsley laid in the floor to get away from the camera!
Karlie- "How does that fwame (flame) stay on fire even with all that wind and little bit of wain (rain)?
Kinsley- "I don't know, but the flame almost burnt that man's nose because of the wind!"
During the game- Having a great time watching Coach Pat.
Posing with daddy in their new shirts
They were so excited to get to go on the court after the game!
They also got to see their Cousin, Pax, who is currently at UT for school. They thought it was pretty cool that he got to shoot T-shirts into the crowd during the game. Also, he managed to get their picture up on the big screen- Karlie loved it, Kinsley laid in the floor to get away from the camera!What a great trip with lots of memories made! I'm sure none of them will ever forget this trip! A great time of bonding, fun, food, and lots and lots of orange! Thank you Grandpa for a great time!
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Questions answered...
I thought I would do a post to answer some of the most common questions that we get asked about Anderson and his condition(s). Most people have never heard of his condition before and therefore don't really understand it. Some have asked these questions, while others I'm sure have simply wondered but not asked. Those of you who know me, know that I can explain things much better in writing than with words. So this post is dedicated to answering some of the most frequently asked/wondered questions about Anderson.
1. What exactly does he have?
Anderson actually has 3 different diagnoses: Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum, Hydrocephalus, and a large interhemispheric arachnoid cyst.
2. What does all of that mean?
Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum means that the piece of the brain that connects the 2 hemispheres and allows the right side of the brain to communicate with the left side of the brain (the corpus callosum) did not develop during pregnancy. Therefore, it is absent or missing (agenesis).
Hydrocephalus is a condition in which the amount of CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) in the brain is increased. It means that the body is not absorbing it like it should. Every person's body creates about 5 pints of CSF fluid daily, but it is then absorbed by your body. If your body doesn't absorb the fluid, for any reason, then it builds up inside the brain and can cause lots of damage due to increased pressure inside the skull.
Anderson's hydrocephalus, however, is not in a ventricle in his brain like most hydrocephalus. His is contained in a large arachnoid cyst. The doctors think that this large cyst grew and developed in place of part of his right hemisphere of his brain. The cyst is connected to his brain system, so it is not a self-contained cyst that can just be drained and be gone. It acts as part of his brain and collects CSF fluid daily.
3. So why does he have a shunt?
Anderson's shunt is placed into the large cyst. When the pressure inside the cyst gets to a certain level from the CSF fluid, a valve on the shunt opens. When the valve opens, it allows the built up fluid to drain through a tube that runs down into his abdomen. The fluid is then absorbed by his body. The shunt does not drain the cyst completely. Once the pressure in the cyst goes back down to an appropriate level, the valve shuts off and quits draining the fluid. So the hydrocephalus and cyst are both the reasons for his shunt.
4. When you talk about shunt malfunction, what exactly does that mean?
Whenever Anderson's shunt is not working properly, it's considered a malfunction. This could mean the tubing or the valve has become clogged with cells and tissue in the CSF fluid; it could mean that there is a kink in the tubing; it could be that a piece of the shunt has broken and is not working properly; or in Anderson's case it usually means that the catheter that is stuck into the cyst has come out of the cyst and is no longer collecting fluid like it should. You see, the catheter is kind of like a straw that they poke into the cyst- if the 'straw's" position moves to a certain angle, it is no longer able to do it's job. At that point, the fluide begins to increase and the cyst grows and begins to put pressure on his brain.
5. How do you know when the shunt has malfunctioned?
Well, this part is hard. And I still questions myself every time. You see, when you have a child with a shunt, they don't let you leave the hospital until you fully understand the signs and symptoms of a shunt malfunction or infection. So, why is is so hard? Well, since Anderson's shunt is in a cyst and not in a ventrical in his brain (like they usually are), his symptoms don't exactly match the "typical' symptoms. So the doctors have left the responsibility up to Jamie and myself. "You know him. You know when something is just not right." Yes, it's a little scary, okay it's a lot scary. Because if it is malfunctioned, time is of the essence. Every day that we wait to decide if it's the shunt or not, that fluid is continuing to build up and increase pressure.
Also the symptoms in an infant are different than those in a toddler/child. So basically anytime that Jamie and I have that "gut" feeling that something is not right, we have to go through the ER at Vanderbilt to have the series of tests that he needs to confirm or deny our suspicions.
Also, if he is running a fever over 101 and his pediatrician cannot find the cause, then we have to go to the ER to check for infection. Although infection is usually only a threat within the 6 weeks after a shunt surgery.
6. What tests do they do in the ER to diagnose the malfunction?
He starts by having a shunt series of XRAYS, which takes xrays of the entire shunt system from top to bottom to check for kinks or for the shunt to be broken somewhere.
Next he gets either an MRI or a CT scan. Usually they do the MRI. This gives them the pictures of the cyst. They are then able to measure the cyst to see if it's size has grown. It also gives them a good picture of the placement of the shunt catheter to see if it is still inside the cyst or if it has been displaced.
Finally, they come in and tap the shunt. This involves a very small needle that they put into the reservoir of his shunt and draw out fluid. This allows them to test the amount of pressure that is built up. It also tells them that the shunt is not working properly if they are not able to draw any fluid. If they do get fluid, it is sent off to a lab to be analyzed for infection and a host of other things.
Once all 3 of these tests have been completed, it is then determined whether surgery is necessary.
7. Will he always have the shunt or will he eventually outgrow it?
He will most likely always NEED the shunt. But, if for some reason, it was no longer necessary, they would not remove it. WIth the amount of scar tissue that builds up around the tubing, removing it would be a bigger pain than simply leaving it in. Also, it would already be in place if he needed it to work again at some point.
8. So what about the Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum? How does it affect anything?
The Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum (ACC) is what what diagnosed in our 20 week ultrasound. They were able to see that this piece was missing. ACC is actually more common than most people think. There are many people around the world who have the same (or similar) condition. With the increase in technology, it is becoming diagnosed more now during pregnancy than ever before.
ACC has a spectrum of symptoms almost as wide as the Autism spectrum. The symptoms range from mild to severe, and some have no symptoms at all. In fact there are adults who have an MRI or CT for some other problem, only to find out they have ACC their entire lives and never knew it.
Some ACCers are able to fully function without any major issues, while others are never able to do daily tasks such as self-feeding, walking, toileting, speaking, etc. The range of symptoms is mostly due to the different conditions and disorders that can accompany ACC. It also depends on if there is a chromosome deletion or abnormality.
9. Why were you told that Anderson would have no quality of life after he was born?
Along with the ACC and hydrocephalus, which have many effects neurologically themselves, they were also able to see the large cyst right after he was born. The cyst was completely covering the majority of his right hemisphere of his brain. So much, in fact, that they felt that only a small portion of that right hemisphere had even developed. Basically, they initially told us that about 1/4 of his right side was brain tissue and the other 3/4 was this cyst that had grown in it's place. They knew that medically, only having 1/4 of one side of your brain, plus the ACC, plus the hydrocephalus, should equal MAJOR delays. What they didn't know (or express) is how big our GOD is, and how he is the GREAT PHYSICIAN.
So when I call Anderson our MIRACLE child, I am not just saying that. Medically, he shouldn't be able to do half of the things that he does. We still love when new doctors come in to see him after only reading his chart...it's priceless.
10. So has any of this affected him at all?
Yes. Of course he had to have the shunt due to the Hydrocephalus and cyst. Along with the shunt comes all of the problems, frustrations, and worries with one of those. Anderson also struggles with his gross motor skills. He started Physical Therapy once a week at 6 months old, and just recently was released.
Why? Because doing activities like walking/crawling/etc you are moving both sides of your body at the same time..this requires the 2 sides of your brain to work together. But when the bridge that allows that communication is missing, it makes this much more difficult (the ACC). The brain is a wonderous organ, which can create new paths when needed. With a lot of repetition of movements/activities the brain creates new pathways to get the information from one side to the other.
Anderson has also been a part of the Tennessee Early Intervention System since he was a month old. I know that part of why he is doing so good is due to early intervention. Instead of waiting for him to be behind, we are able to be proactive. They keep a close watch on his developmental skills and milestones. We also have an Early Intervention teacher who comes to our house once a month to do activities with him to help him meet milestones. She also works with Jamie and I on things to do to develop needed skills. They are a great resource to have.
11. What does the future hold?
Only one person truly knows that answer. But this much I do know...Anderson will be in the Early Intervention program until he turns 3. At that point, he will transition into a "Special Pre-K" class in the public school system, which he will be a part of until he goes to Kindergarten.
I also know we will continue with all of the issues that come with his shunt. I have come to accept that these ER visits will be part of our new normal. At 20 months old, he has had the initial shunt placement and 4 revisions. While I'm hopeful that this newest shunt system works for a long time, the longest we've gone so far with the same shunt is 11 months.
Beyond that, I really don't know. We don't know if he will have learning problems when he gets to school, or anything past that point. So we take everyday as it comes. We celebrate each small milestone as a great accomplishment. We are thankful each day for how well he is doing. We work hard each night on certain skills (right now it's speech). And other than that, we leave the rest of his story up to God. In my heart, I feel God has big plans for Anderson as he gets older, and I can't wait to sit back and watch the story unfold.
**Thanks for reading. If there are any questions that I didn't answer, feel free to leave those in the comments section and I will get to them. ***
1. What exactly does he have?
Anderson actually has 3 different diagnoses: Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum, Hydrocephalus, and a large interhemispheric arachnoid cyst.
2. What does all of that mean?
Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum means that the piece of the brain that connects the 2 hemispheres and allows the right side of the brain to communicate with the left side of the brain (the corpus callosum) did not develop during pregnancy. Therefore, it is absent or missing (agenesis).
Hydrocephalus is a condition in which the amount of CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) in the brain is increased. It means that the body is not absorbing it like it should. Every person's body creates about 5 pints of CSF fluid daily, but it is then absorbed by your body. If your body doesn't absorb the fluid, for any reason, then it builds up inside the brain and can cause lots of damage due to increased pressure inside the skull.
Anderson's hydrocephalus, however, is not in a ventricle in his brain like most hydrocephalus. His is contained in a large arachnoid cyst. The doctors think that this large cyst grew and developed in place of part of his right hemisphere of his brain. The cyst is connected to his brain system, so it is not a self-contained cyst that can just be drained and be gone. It acts as part of his brain and collects CSF fluid daily.
3. So why does he have a shunt?
Anderson's shunt is placed into the large cyst. When the pressure inside the cyst gets to a certain level from the CSF fluid, a valve on the shunt opens. When the valve opens, it allows the built up fluid to drain through a tube that runs down into his abdomen. The fluid is then absorbed by his body. The shunt does not drain the cyst completely. Once the pressure in the cyst goes back down to an appropriate level, the valve shuts off and quits draining the fluid. So the hydrocephalus and cyst are both the reasons for his shunt.
4. When you talk about shunt malfunction, what exactly does that mean?
Whenever Anderson's shunt is not working properly, it's considered a malfunction. This could mean the tubing or the valve has become clogged with cells and tissue in the CSF fluid; it could mean that there is a kink in the tubing; it could be that a piece of the shunt has broken and is not working properly; or in Anderson's case it usually means that the catheter that is stuck into the cyst has come out of the cyst and is no longer collecting fluid like it should. You see, the catheter is kind of like a straw that they poke into the cyst- if the 'straw's" position moves to a certain angle, it is no longer able to do it's job. At that point, the fluide begins to increase and the cyst grows and begins to put pressure on his brain.
5. How do you know when the shunt has malfunctioned?
Well, this part is hard. And I still questions myself every time. You see, when you have a child with a shunt, they don't let you leave the hospital until you fully understand the signs and symptoms of a shunt malfunction or infection. So, why is is so hard? Well, since Anderson's shunt is in a cyst and not in a ventrical in his brain (like they usually are), his symptoms don't exactly match the "typical' symptoms. So the doctors have left the responsibility up to Jamie and myself. "You know him. You know when something is just not right." Yes, it's a little scary, okay it's a lot scary. Because if it is malfunctioned, time is of the essence. Every day that we wait to decide if it's the shunt or not, that fluid is continuing to build up and increase pressure.
Also the symptoms in an infant are different than those in a toddler/child. So basically anytime that Jamie and I have that "gut" feeling that something is not right, we have to go through the ER at Vanderbilt to have the series of tests that he needs to confirm or deny our suspicions.
Also, if he is running a fever over 101 and his pediatrician cannot find the cause, then we have to go to the ER to check for infection. Although infection is usually only a threat within the 6 weeks after a shunt surgery.
6. What tests do they do in the ER to diagnose the malfunction?
He starts by having a shunt series of XRAYS, which takes xrays of the entire shunt system from top to bottom to check for kinks or for the shunt to be broken somewhere.
Next he gets either an MRI or a CT scan. Usually they do the MRI. This gives them the pictures of the cyst. They are then able to measure the cyst to see if it's size has grown. It also gives them a good picture of the placement of the shunt catheter to see if it is still inside the cyst or if it has been displaced.
Finally, they come in and tap the shunt. This involves a very small needle that they put into the reservoir of his shunt and draw out fluid. This allows them to test the amount of pressure that is built up. It also tells them that the shunt is not working properly if they are not able to draw any fluid. If they do get fluid, it is sent off to a lab to be analyzed for infection and a host of other things.
Once all 3 of these tests have been completed, it is then determined whether surgery is necessary.
7. Will he always have the shunt or will he eventually outgrow it?
He will most likely always NEED the shunt. But, if for some reason, it was no longer necessary, they would not remove it. WIth the amount of scar tissue that builds up around the tubing, removing it would be a bigger pain than simply leaving it in. Also, it would already be in place if he needed it to work again at some point.
8. So what about the Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum? How does it affect anything?
The Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum (ACC) is what what diagnosed in our 20 week ultrasound. They were able to see that this piece was missing. ACC is actually more common than most people think. There are many people around the world who have the same (or similar) condition. With the increase in technology, it is becoming diagnosed more now during pregnancy than ever before.
ACC has a spectrum of symptoms almost as wide as the Autism spectrum. The symptoms range from mild to severe, and some have no symptoms at all. In fact there are adults who have an MRI or CT for some other problem, only to find out they have ACC their entire lives and never knew it.
Some ACCers are able to fully function without any major issues, while others are never able to do daily tasks such as self-feeding, walking, toileting, speaking, etc. The range of symptoms is mostly due to the different conditions and disorders that can accompany ACC. It also depends on if there is a chromosome deletion or abnormality.
9. Why were you told that Anderson would have no quality of life after he was born?
Along with the ACC and hydrocephalus, which have many effects neurologically themselves, they were also able to see the large cyst right after he was born. The cyst was completely covering the majority of his right hemisphere of his brain. So much, in fact, that they felt that only a small portion of that right hemisphere had even developed. Basically, they initially told us that about 1/4 of his right side was brain tissue and the other 3/4 was this cyst that had grown in it's place. They knew that medically, only having 1/4 of one side of your brain, plus the ACC, plus the hydrocephalus, should equal MAJOR delays. What they didn't know (or express) is how big our GOD is, and how he is the GREAT PHYSICIAN.
So when I call Anderson our MIRACLE child, I am not just saying that. Medically, he shouldn't be able to do half of the things that he does. We still love when new doctors come in to see him after only reading his chart...it's priceless.
10. So has any of this affected him at all?
Yes. Of course he had to have the shunt due to the Hydrocephalus and cyst. Along with the shunt comes all of the problems, frustrations, and worries with one of those. Anderson also struggles with his gross motor skills. He started Physical Therapy once a week at 6 months old, and just recently was released.
Why? Because doing activities like walking/crawling/etc you are moving both sides of your body at the same time..this requires the 2 sides of your brain to work together. But when the bridge that allows that communication is missing, it makes this much more difficult (the ACC). The brain is a wonderous organ, which can create new paths when needed. With a lot of repetition of movements/activities the brain creates new pathways to get the information from one side to the other.
Anderson has also been a part of the Tennessee Early Intervention System since he was a month old. I know that part of why he is doing so good is due to early intervention. Instead of waiting for him to be behind, we are able to be proactive. They keep a close watch on his developmental skills and milestones. We also have an Early Intervention teacher who comes to our house once a month to do activities with him to help him meet milestones. She also works with Jamie and I on things to do to develop needed skills. They are a great resource to have.
11. What does the future hold?
Only one person truly knows that answer. But this much I do know...Anderson will be in the Early Intervention program until he turns 3. At that point, he will transition into a "Special Pre-K" class in the public school system, which he will be a part of until he goes to Kindergarten.
I also know we will continue with all of the issues that come with his shunt. I have come to accept that these ER visits will be part of our new normal. At 20 months old, he has had the initial shunt placement and 4 revisions. While I'm hopeful that this newest shunt system works for a long time, the longest we've gone so far with the same shunt is 11 months.
Beyond that, I really don't know. We don't know if he will have learning problems when he gets to school, or anything past that point. So we take everyday as it comes. We celebrate each small milestone as a great accomplishment. We are thankful each day for how well he is doing. We work hard each night on certain skills (right now it's speech). And other than that, we leave the rest of his story up to God. In my heart, I feel God has big plans for Anderson as he gets older, and I can't wait to sit back and watch the story unfold.
**Thanks for reading. If there are any questions that I didn't answer, feel free to leave those in the comments section and I will get to them. ***
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Revision #4
Right before surgery back in the holding area. 
Right after surgery. Came out with a half mohawk! Bless him. All that time trying to grow out his hair...
Incision on top of his head. This is where the catheter and valve are now located.
Incision behind his right ear where they took out the valve to move it to a different spot.
Feeling great! Happy to be home!
Right after surgery. Came out with a half mohawk! Bless him. All that time trying to grow out his hair...
Incision on top of his head. This is where the catheter and valve are now located.
Incision behind his right ear where they took out the valve to move it to a different spot.
Feeling great! Happy to be home!
Friday, January 20, 2012
Blessed beyond measure
Tonight Jamie and I feel like we are the most fortunate family around. During a stressful 2 days, we have been completely surrounded by family, friends, and co-workers. The messages, calls, visits, and prayers have given us a sense of peace and comfort when we needed it the most. It is in times of need that you realize how much you need those people in your life.
Lots of prayers were answered today. Anderson came through his surgery with flying colors. They did not have to replace the tubing that runs to his abdomen. They did move the placement of the shunt so he has a wild side mohawk currently and 2 incisions, but honestly does not act like he is in much, if any, pain. He has kept down fluids and food, and actually felt good enough to sit in his bed and play. It's simply amazing to watch him, knowing what he just went through.
As I sit here beside him and watch him sleep, I am truly counting my blessings tonight. Not only for him, but for each of you who read this blog, follow him on facebook, and send up prayers on his behalf.
Thank you does not seem like enough. I only hope that when any of my friends, family, or co-workers need prayers and support that I will be there for them, just as you have for us.
Lots of prayers were answered today. Anderson came through his surgery with flying colors. They did not have to replace the tubing that runs to his abdomen. They did move the placement of the shunt so he has a wild side mohawk currently and 2 incisions, but honestly does not act like he is in much, if any, pain. He has kept down fluids and food, and actually felt good enough to sit in his bed and play. It's simply amazing to watch him, knowing what he just went through.
As I sit here beside him and watch him sleep, I am truly counting my blessings tonight. Not only for him, but for each of you who read this blog, follow him on facebook, and send up prayers on his behalf.
Thank you does not seem like enough. I only hope that when any of my friends, family, or co-workers need prayers and support that I will be there for them, just as you have for us.
We're Back
Back in the hospital, that is. Last week we were in our local hospital in Columbia with RSV and I think I might have just made the mistake of saying "At least it's not the shunt...we can handle this. Just no more shunt surgeries for awhile."
Really? Will I ever learn to quit saying things like that? So...here we sit at Vanderbilt awaiting our 4th shunt revision.
Anderson has had this current shunt since last February 2, 2010. So we were close to making it one year, which is the longest he's had the same shunt. Jamie and I had noticed that his walking seemed to be getting more wobbly about a week ago, although this was the same time that he was diagnosed with RSV, so we just chalked it up to being weak and not feeling well. However, after he recovered from the RSV it didn't get better. Then on Wednesday he slept all day. I mean really ALL day. He was only awake between 6-7 hours and that is not his personality at all. Even when he's sick, he's not one to sleep all day. So this threw up a big red flag.
But why is it that I question my gut about these things? You would think that after having already been through this 3 times I would automatically know to head to the ER to have all of the tests runs to find out for sure. But I didn't. I debated in my head over and over. Is it the shunt? Are we just still recovering from the RSV? Seriously there was a debate in my head for hours on Wednesday. I researched shunt malfunctions like I didn't know the symptoms already. While the whole time my gut knew it was the shunt...but I guess I wanted to try to convince myself otherwise.
So when I finally went to bed Wednesday night, I prayed that if it is the shunt, then have something happen so that I know it's the shunt and I need to take him to be checked. When my MIL got to work Thursday morning, she mentioned what was happening and asked if it could still be the RSV. When she was told no, not RSV but sounds like the shunt, that was my answer. So I brought Anderson to the ER at Vandy around late morning and the series of tests began. By 2:30 he had been through a shunt series of xrays, an MRI, a shunt tap, had an IV started, had 3 people try to draw bloodwork out of the IV and fail, have someone else come in and poke his other arm to get the bloodwork they needed, and we got the news that it was indeed the shunt and we would have surgery the following day.
I know what's coming and I hate it. But there is nothing I can do about it. I hate it not for me, but for him. The tests alone have been much worse now that he's a little older- I can't stand to think about what the surgery recovery will be. I've tried not to let myself think about it other than to pray for only one part of the shunt to be replaced and not the entire shunt system. If they remove all of the tubing that runs from his head down his neck and into his abdomen, he will be VERY sore for weeks due to the scar tissue that has built up over the last year. If they just replace the piece in his head, he will still have a very large incision but the pain won't be as bad. It will be localized pain rather than all over body pain.
So that has been my prayer. I honestly dread today. I know we've been through it before, but that doesn't make it easier. In fact, it may make it more difficult because we know what to expect. Don't get me wrong- I know it could be worse. There are many other children out there who are fighting worse battles than this and I am not trying to be whiny because I am thankful it is just a shunt, and that it can be fixed. It's just that even though it's just a shunt, it is my baby. And there is nothing harder than having to watch your precious child go through so many traumatizing tests and surgeries. This will be surgery number 7 for this little 19 month old.
Oh how I wish I could take his place. I would go through anything myself to keep him from having to do this. But this is life. I can't take this away from him like i want to, so I do the next best thing- just love him, cuddle him, and support him all the way through it. He's a tough little guy. And I remind myself frequently that God has big plans for him. This is just another part of his journey in life, that he will someday be able to share with others and show how God worked so many miracles in his life.
So today I simply ask for prayers for Anderson. Prayers for an uneventful surgery, prayers for only one part of the shunt to be replaced, prayers for him to have peace, and prayers for quick healing. I know that sounds like a lot, but our family is blessed with so many wonderful friends, coworkers, and family who pray every single time we need them. We already know those prayers work, and sometimes I feel like I am emptying all of these peoples' prayer buckets but I promise to return the favor and refill your prayer buckets whenever needed.
Thanks for reading. I will keep everyone updated on how today goes.
Really? Will I ever learn to quit saying things like that? So...here we sit at Vanderbilt awaiting our 4th shunt revision.
Anderson has had this current shunt since last February 2, 2010. So we were close to making it one year, which is the longest he's had the same shunt. Jamie and I had noticed that his walking seemed to be getting more wobbly about a week ago, although this was the same time that he was diagnosed with RSV, so we just chalked it up to being weak and not feeling well. However, after he recovered from the RSV it didn't get better. Then on Wednesday he slept all day. I mean really ALL day. He was only awake between 6-7 hours and that is not his personality at all. Even when he's sick, he's not one to sleep all day. So this threw up a big red flag.
But why is it that I question my gut about these things? You would think that after having already been through this 3 times I would automatically know to head to the ER to have all of the tests runs to find out for sure. But I didn't. I debated in my head over and over. Is it the shunt? Are we just still recovering from the RSV? Seriously there was a debate in my head for hours on Wednesday. I researched shunt malfunctions like I didn't know the symptoms already. While the whole time my gut knew it was the shunt...but I guess I wanted to try to convince myself otherwise.
So when I finally went to bed Wednesday night, I prayed that if it is the shunt, then have something happen so that I know it's the shunt and I need to take him to be checked. When my MIL got to work Thursday morning, she mentioned what was happening and asked if it could still be the RSV. When she was told no, not RSV but sounds like the shunt, that was my answer. So I brought Anderson to the ER at Vandy around late morning and the series of tests began. By 2:30 he had been through a shunt series of xrays, an MRI, a shunt tap, had an IV started, had 3 people try to draw bloodwork out of the IV and fail, have someone else come in and poke his other arm to get the bloodwork they needed, and we got the news that it was indeed the shunt and we would have surgery the following day.
I know what's coming and I hate it. But there is nothing I can do about it. I hate it not for me, but for him. The tests alone have been much worse now that he's a little older- I can't stand to think about what the surgery recovery will be. I've tried not to let myself think about it other than to pray for only one part of the shunt to be replaced and not the entire shunt system. If they remove all of the tubing that runs from his head down his neck and into his abdomen, he will be VERY sore for weeks due to the scar tissue that has built up over the last year. If they just replace the piece in his head, he will still have a very large incision but the pain won't be as bad. It will be localized pain rather than all over body pain.
So that has been my prayer. I honestly dread today. I know we've been through it before, but that doesn't make it easier. In fact, it may make it more difficult because we know what to expect. Don't get me wrong- I know it could be worse. There are many other children out there who are fighting worse battles than this and I am not trying to be whiny because I am thankful it is just a shunt, and that it can be fixed. It's just that even though it's just a shunt, it is my baby. And there is nothing harder than having to watch your precious child go through so many traumatizing tests and surgeries. This will be surgery number 7 for this little 19 month old.
Oh how I wish I could take his place. I would go through anything myself to keep him from having to do this. But this is life. I can't take this away from him like i want to, so I do the next best thing- just love him, cuddle him, and support him all the way through it. He's a tough little guy. And I remind myself frequently that God has big plans for him. This is just another part of his journey in life, that he will someday be able to share with others and show how God worked so many miracles in his life.
So today I simply ask for prayers for Anderson. Prayers for an uneventful surgery, prayers for only one part of the shunt to be replaced, prayers for him to have peace, and prayers for quick healing. I know that sounds like a lot, but our family is blessed with so many wonderful friends, coworkers, and family who pray every single time we need them. We already know those prayers work, and sometimes I feel like I am emptying all of these peoples' prayer buckets but I promise to return the favor and refill your prayer buckets whenever needed.
Thanks for reading. I will keep everyone updated on how today goes.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
What a difference a year makes!
Last year at this time we had one pitiful little boy on our hands. You see, he had just had his first shunt revision and was in a tremendous amount of pain. He had just learned to sit up and there were still many unknowns of what the next year would hold in terms of surgeries as well as milestones.
2011 has proven to be an amazing year for all of our children, but especially so with Anderson. After 2 surgeries in February, he has overall been pretty healthy in regards to the shunt. And milestones? This little fighter has worked very hard with his physical frustrations. Everything gross motor is much more difficult for him than typical children, but he refuses to give up. He not only mastered crawling but just in the past month has really mastered walking as well. It has been a slow process and we got discouraged a few times along the way, but we kept working and he kept trying. He can now walk all over the house, he doesn't need his hands in the air for balance anymore and he has started kicking a ball while walking just this week! It does my heart good to just sit and watch him walking around the bonus room. And did I mention that for now we are finished with PT? We thank God everyday for his continued health and development.
The girls are excited about Christmas as usual.They have helped me shop, wrap, and decorate. We put up 2 trees this year, and by "we" I mean Jamie's sister. She put up a beautiful tree downstairs in the living room. We put up our "less pretty family tree" upstairs in the bonus room. We discussed asking Santa to leave his gifts upstairs so we would have more space Christmas morning, but kinsley quickly objected. She said he can drop them by the fireplace and leave quickly. She doesn't want him anywhere near her bedroom. Some things will never change. (you know the only way she will let the Easter bunny visit is if we leave a note telling him to leave it by the door and move on to the next house.)
Karlie decided Santa isn't so bad after all and actually sat on his lap when he visited her school. This completely blew me away since the past 2 years she has screamed and cried and made her tea hers hold her. I'm not really sure what changed her mind, but it's okay with me. She started by saying she didn't really care what she got for Christmas...that she would be happy with whatever. However as Christmas gets closer she is starting to add things to her list. I tried to explain to her that everyone is finished with their Christmas shopping and it's a little late to add new wishes. She says she'll just tell Santa. :)
Kinsley has known what she wanted for a long time so she's pretty easy. Ever since her nintendo DS broke, she's been asking for an upgraded version. She also loves clothes so she has asked for clothes from her new favorite store, justice. Shopping for her is pretty easy, but she can't think of any toys or things to play with but keeps explaining to me that getting new clothes is not boring to her. I guess we will see.
This year we are thankful for good health, milestones, and and family. We are looking forward to spending time together as a family over the Christmas holiday. Looking forward to posting more for the new year. (I got a new camera so hopefully each post will have pictures as well..) of course right now my laptop is dead so we will figure that out.
Merry Christmas to all of you!
2011 has proven to be an amazing year for all of our children, but especially so with Anderson. After 2 surgeries in February, he has overall been pretty healthy in regards to the shunt. And milestones? This little fighter has worked very hard with his physical frustrations. Everything gross motor is much more difficult for him than typical children, but he refuses to give up. He not only mastered crawling but just in the past month has really mastered walking as well. It has been a slow process and we got discouraged a few times along the way, but we kept working and he kept trying. He can now walk all over the house, he doesn't need his hands in the air for balance anymore and he has started kicking a ball while walking just this week! It does my heart good to just sit and watch him walking around the bonus room. And did I mention that for now we are finished with PT? We thank God everyday for his continued health and development.
The girls are excited about Christmas as usual.They have helped me shop, wrap, and decorate. We put up 2 trees this year, and by "we" I mean Jamie's sister. She put up a beautiful tree downstairs in the living room. We put up our "less pretty family tree" upstairs in the bonus room. We discussed asking Santa to leave his gifts upstairs so we would have more space Christmas morning, but kinsley quickly objected. She said he can drop them by the fireplace and leave quickly. She doesn't want him anywhere near her bedroom. Some things will never change. (you know the only way she will let the Easter bunny visit is if we leave a note telling him to leave it by the door and move on to the next house.)
Karlie decided Santa isn't so bad after all and actually sat on his lap when he visited her school. This completely blew me away since the past 2 years she has screamed and cried and made her tea hers hold her. I'm not really sure what changed her mind, but it's okay with me. She started by saying she didn't really care what she got for Christmas...that she would be happy with whatever. However as Christmas gets closer she is starting to add things to her list. I tried to explain to her that everyone is finished with their Christmas shopping and it's a little late to add new wishes. She says she'll just tell Santa. :)
Kinsley has known what she wanted for a long time so she's pretty easy. Ever since her nintendo DS broke, she's been asking for an upgraded version. She also loves clothes so she has asked for clothes from her new favorite store, justice. Shopping for her is pretty easy, but she can't think of any toys or things to play with but keeps explaining to me that getting new clothes is not boring to her. I guess we will see.
This year we are thankful for good health, milestones, and and family. We are looking forward to spending time together as a family over the Christmas holiday. Looking forward to posting more for the new year. (I got a new camera so hopefully each post will have pictures as well..) of course right now my laptop is dead so we will figure that out.
Merry Christmas to all of you!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Happy Birthday Karlie!
Yesterday my sweet Karlie Ryan turned 5 years old! Time goes so quickly. She is an absolutely amazing little girl with an independent, care-free, loving heart. Our lives would not be the same without this precious girl in our lives. Happy Birthday, Karlie! We love you very much!
5 years old 2011
4 years old
3 years old
1st birthday!
5 years old 2011
4 years old
3 years old2 years old (I LOVE this one!)
1st birthday!(Looks like someone else I know, minus the earrings)
What a beautiful little girl that I could not be more proud of!! Thank you Lord for blessing our family with this child.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Free at last!
Freedom seems like exactly the word to use to describe how we feel right now. I know it's been awhile since I posted but we have been busy getting back into our routine and school lives. However some really great things have happened since I last posted that I had to share. First, Anderson has been dismissed from his neurosurgeon for a year! He also got another minor surgery taken care of that had been lingering and needing to be done. Then, two weeks ago he finished his helmet therapy! Do you know what this means people? This means that as long as he stays healthy we do not have to go to Vanderbilt for any appointments until NEXT SUMMER! Seriously, this is HUGE! We have been making trips to Vandy every month to three months since I was 20 weeks pregnant with him! Right now he is doing great and God gets all the glory for that! He is beating the odds that are against him, and I thank each one of you for your prayers. Please don't stop praying! We continue to pray daily that God will continue to bless Anderson with good health. We also pray that Anderson will continue to beat the odds and prove more and more doctors wrong. He is still not walking alone yet, but he continues to work hard in physical therapy each week and refuses to give up. We have complete faith that he will learn to walk, and talk, and ride a bike, and read....but we also know that he will do it in his own time, and we're okay with that. It seems to make it more special when he finally does reach a milestone.
I fully realize that with a shunt you never know how long it will continue working correctly, but I also know that many people go years without a shunt malfunction. So our prayer is that we are able to make it until next summer before we have to go to Vanderbilt.
We will enjoy and be thankful for every day that we have a healthy child, or even healthy children for that matter. It's something we don't take for granted.
The girls have had a lot of great things going on as well...kinsley has started 2nd grade this year and loves it. She loves her teacher and really likes that she doesn't have as much homework this year as she did last year. She has several friends in her class again this year and has also made some new friends. She spent the night with a friend for the first time a few weeks ago, and is going to her first slumber party this weekend. She is really coming out of her shell more and more. She has such a big heart. She makes me proud!
Karlie is not going to kindergarten this year. She is ready but has to wait another year due to her birthday. So, she increased her days at preschool from 2 to 3, but still loves the days she can stay in her pj's and go to ms. Carla's. She has made new friends at preschool this year, mostly due to the fact that all of her friends graduated preschool and went to kindergarten without her. But she has been a trooper. She is a ball of laughter, and full of fun all the time. She amazes me with the things she says...that girl is hilarious! You just never know what is going to come out of her mouth.
We had a great summer and we are adjusting well to our back to school routine. Looking forward to posting great updates this year rather than sickness updates from the hospital. For now...free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty we are free at last!
I fully realize that with a shunt you never know how long it will continue working correctly, but I also know that many people go years without a shunt malfunction. So our prayer is that we are able to make it until next summer before we have to go to Vanderbilt.
We will enjoy and be thankful for every day that we have a healthy child, or even healthy children for that matter. It's something we don't take for granted.
The girls have had a lot of great things going on as well...kinsley has started 2nd grade this year and loves it. She loves her teacher and really likes that she doesn't have as much homework this year as she did last year. She has several friends in her class again this year and has also made some new friends. She spent the night with a friend for the first time a few weeks ago, and is going to her first slumber party this weekend. She is really coming out of her shell more and more. She has such a big heart. She makes me proud!
Karlie is not going to kindergarten this year. She is ready but has to wait another year due to her birthday. So, she increased her days at preschool from 2 to 3, but still loves the days she can stay in her pj's and go to ms. Carla's. She has made new friends at preschool this year, mostly due to the fact that all of her friends graduated preschool and went to kindergarten without her. But she has been a trooper. She is a ball of laughter, and full of fun all the time. She amazes me with the things she says...that girl is hilarious! You just never know what is going to come out of her mouth.
We had a great summer and we are adjusting well to our back to school routine. Looking forward to posting great updates this year rather than sickness updates from the hospital. For now...free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty we are free at last!
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Need more space?
If you live in/around the Columbia area and know anyone who is looking for more space, our house is for sale. We have only lived here about a year in a half, but it was not the smartest move we've ever made because it put me 35 minutes farther from my job, as well as a longer ride to school/babysitter for the kids. We love this house. It's perfect, all except that the location is not working for our family.
The house has 5 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, and 3030 square feet. It is zoned for Woodard, Whitthorne, and Central. It is perfect for a family with kids. The backyard is fenced in, and it is located on a cul-de-sac in a nice neighborhood.
I would be happy to send pictures or give any information to someone interested. We are not listing it with a realtor so that we can keep the price low. Since we are selling it ourselves, we are trying to get the word out however we can.
You can leave a comment or email me at spears.andrea22@gmail.com if you are interested.
The house has 5 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, and 3030 square feet. It is zoned for Woodard, Whitthorne, and Central. It is perfect for a family with kids. The backyard is fenced in, and it is located on a cul-de-sac in a nice neighborhood.
I would be happy to send pictures or give any information to someone interested. We are not listing it with a realtor so that we can keep the price low. Since we are selling it ourselves, we are trying to get the word out however we can.
You can leave a comment or email me at spears.andrea22@gmail.com if you are interested.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Get the Gates
Anderson took one look at the stairs the other night, and on his 2nd try...here's what happened.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Sweet Summertime
Our family has truly enjoyed our summer break, which is quickly coming to an end. Kinsley has enjoyed sleeping in, swimming, and lounging around the house watching TV. Karlie has loved playing outside, going swimming, and playing Barbies. Anderson has enjoyed exploring the house and getting into anything he can get his hands on.
Kinsley is checking the mail everyday to see if she has gotten her letter letting her know who her teacher will be this year. I can't believe she is going into 2nd grade! She doesn't seem big enough to be in 2nd grade already! She isn't a big fan of school, but she does work hard. She's been working on her reading and math skills this summer, so hopefully she hasn't lost much.
Karlie missed going to Kindergarten this year because of her birthday (11 days too late). She is ready for K and was quite disappointed when I told her she had to go to preschool again another year. This summer she has done "school work" too while Kinsley was working. She has practiced her letters, writing her name, and writing numbers. She seems to pick up on new things easily, so I hope that continues when she gets into "real" school.
Anderson continued with physical therapy every other week. He is progressing nicely. He's still not walking, but he is pulling up and cruising. His PT says she is not in a big hurry to get him walking. We want him to master each step of the process before he goes on to the next step. He has definitely mastered crawling- he now does it without even thinking about it. Pulling up has become more natural and automatic also. So now we are working on cruising the furniture. Right now he only does it with support nearby, so our goal is to get him doing it more often and get him more comfortable with it.
He still has his helmet, which has made us spend more time inside this summer as he seems to overheat quickly. We are REALLY hoping to get out of it soon. Anderson also went to see his neurosurgeon for a check-up and he was so impressed with how well he is doing, he released him for a YEAR!! We are very excited about this, as we have been seeing him every 3 months.
Overall it's been a great summer full of swimming, sleeping in, and just spending some quality time together as a family. Now...to enjoy the last 2 weeks before school starts...
Kinsley is checking the mail everyday to see if she has gotten her letter letting her know who her teacher will be this year. I can't believe she is going into 2nd grade! She doesn't seem big enough to be in 2nd grade already! She isn't a big fan of school, but she does work hard. She's been working on her reading and math skills this summer, so hopefully she hasn't lost much.
Karlie missed going to Kindergarten this year because of her birthday (11 days too late). She is ready for K and was quite disappointed when I told her she had to go to preschool again another year. This summer she has done "school work" too while Kinsley was working. She has practiced her letters, writing her name, and writing numbers. She seems to pick up on new things easily, so I hope that continues when she gets into "real" school.
Anderson continued with physical therapy every other week. He is progressing nicely. He's still not walking, but he is pulling up and cruising. His PT says she is not in a big hurry to get him walking. We want him to master each step of the process before he goes on to the next step. He has definitely mastered crawling- he now does it without even thinking about it. Pulling up has become more natural and automatic also. So now we are working on cruising the furniture. Right now he only does it with support nearby, so our goal is to get him doing it more often and get him more comfortable with it.
He still has his helmet, which has made us spend more time inside this summer as he seems to overheat quickly. We are REALLY hoping to get out of it soon. Anderson also went to see his neurosurgeon for a check-up and he was so impressed with how well he is doing, he released him for a YEAR!! We are very excited about this, as we have been seeing him every 3 months.
Overall it's been a great summer full of swimming, sleeping in, and just spending some quality time together as a family. Now...to enjoy the last 2 weeks before school starts...
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
More impressed doctors...
On Tuesday, Anderson went for his year developmental screening at Vanderbilt. At first, a nurse practitioner came in and did most of the screening. She played with him in the floor and then asked me a series of questions. She then left the room and told me she was going to go score the screening and she would be right back. When she came back in, she brought a doctor with her-Not just any doctor, but a doctor who had taken care of Anderson after he was born. Since his condition is not very common, she remembered exactly who he was...and when she walked in the room, her mouth literally dropped open.
She then did a few more little tests on him, and just kept shaking her head in disbelief. She told me she was amazed at how well he is doing. I said, "I know. When he was 4 days old you guys told us he wouldn't be able to do much of anything." She looked me dead in the eye and said, "I know. I remember."
I told her how pleased Jamie and I are with the progress he is making and how well he is doing. She then said, "You should be. You have no idea how pleased you should be. This kid is amazing!"
:) I think I walked out of that office with the biggest smile on my face. The doctor tried to attribute his progress to Jamie and I working with him- BUT we don't take ANY credit at all...we know who deserves all the credit and glory! Thank you Father for this child who is a blessing to so many!
She then did a few more little tests on him, and just kept shaking her head in disbelief. She told me she was amazed at how well he is doing. I said, "I know. When he was 4 days old you guys told us he wouldn't be able to do much of anything." She looked me dead in the eye and said, "I know. I remember."
I told her how pleased Jamie and I are with the progress he is making and how well he is doing. She then said, "You should be. You have no idea how pleased you should be. This kid is amazing!"
:) I think I walked out of that office with the biggest smile on my face. The doctor tried to attribute his progress to Jamie and I working with him- BUT we don't take ANY credit at all...we know who deserves all the credit and glory! Thank you Father for this child who is a blessing to so many!
Monday, June 6, 2011
A Magical Time
Our family just returned from a week long trip to Disney World in Orlando, Florida. My entire family went (15 total) and we had a wonderful time! We are exhausted and still trying to recover, but already looking ahead to when we can go back again.
It's such a magical place. They really don't skimp on anything- everything is over the top! The girls both loved getting to eat supper with all of the Disney Princesses. They also loved the water park. Karlie was actually big enough to ride some of the roller coasters - she has absolutely NO FEAR! That girl is my new riding buddy! Kinsley, on the other hand, is a bit more cautious about what she will or will not ride. But she had a great time even without the roller coasters. Neither of the girls were too fond of the characters- I kind of figured since they both get creeped out every Halloween. Anderson, however, absolutely LOVED the characters.
Our trip worked out where we were there for Anderson's 1st birthday. It was a wonderful day! He got to meet many characters, including his favorite- Mickey Mouse. He had a special hat and button that said it was his birthday and everyone who worked at the park would stop and wish him a happy birthday. At supper that night, we got to eat with Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, and Eeyore. The waitress brought out a cupcake with 1 candle and we all sang Happy Birthday to him. He also got a card signed by all the characters. It was a wonderful night.
Both mine and Jamie's favorite part was the fireworks show at Magic Kingdom. TinkerBell flew right over us out of Cinderella's castle, and the whole show just made me feel like a kid all over again. I stood there mesmerized. I actually caught myself tearing up, thinking about the challenges and surgeries that Anderson has already faced in his short life, and thinking about how he has done so well with everything, and how God has blessed us tremendously over the last year...I couldn't think of a bigger celebration than being at Magic Kingdom for the Fireworks spectacular, and I couldn't think of another child or year that deserved such a grand celebration.
We had a wonderful time with many memories made. I will leave you with just a few pictures...
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
The story of "Us"
As I walked into the building for the first day of school my Freshman year, nervous doesn't even touch what I was feeling. Not only was it my first year of high school, but it was also a NEW high school. Plus, many of the students at this school had been together since Preschool. I knew some of them from church, but I was still so scared that I wouldn't fit in. I quickly discovered that there were about 6 other people who were brand new that year also. The six of us bonded rather quickly our freshman year.
There seemed to be an attraction between myself and one of those other newbies- a guy named Jamie. However, we didn't date- we just were good friends our Freshman year. Our sophomore and junior years we weren't as close. He had different girlfriends, I had a serious boyfriend, and we kind of went on separate paths.
However, our senior year led our paths back together. Not without some drama, though. I'm not sure much can happen in high school without a little drama, right? Anyway, we started dating our senior year, and well, the rest is history.
We went off to college together, graduated from college one Saturday and got married the very next weekend.
Many people didn't think we were meant to be together. They said we'd never make it. I'm not going to lie and say that the entire road has been free of bumps or obstacles, but we have been able to overcome every roadblock together. It's been a great 9 years and I look forward to many more years ahead with him by my side!
Happy Anniversary Jamie!!
There seemed to be an attraction between myself and one of those other newbies- a guy named Jamie. However, we didn't date- we just were good friends our Freshman year. Our sophomore and junior years we weren't as close. He had different girlfriends, I had a serious boyfriend, and we kind of went on separate paths.
However, our senior year led our paths back together. Not without some drama, though. I'm not sure much can happen in high school without a little drama, right? Anyway, we started dating our senior year, and well, the rest is history.
We went off to college together, graduated from college one Saturday and got married the very next weekend.
Many people didn't think we were meant to be together. They said we'd never make it. I'm not going to lie and say that the entire road has been free of bumps or obstacles, but we have been able to overcome every roadblock together. It's been a great 9 years and I look forward to many more years ahead with him by my side!
Happy Anniversary Jamie!!
Saturday, May 14, 2011
3 years old
Friday, May 13, 2011
Celebrating!!
We knew with the amount of determination he has, he will be able to accomplish anything he wants. Lately, he has been working REALLY hard to get his body to do what he needed it to do- MOVE. He wanted to get to toys, but couldn't get his body to cooperate and make the necessary coordinated movements. He was getting pretty frustrated...we've been working on it for over a month in PT. Yesterday his therapist explained to me how difficult of a task it is...but in the same breath she said "But he will do it." And today...He did.
Thank you Lord for helping us learn to celebrate the "little things" in life.
Thank you Lord for helping us learn to celebrate the "little things" in life.
Monday, May 2, 2011
The Helmet
Anderson went back to the plastic surgeon today to check on the progress of his helmet therapy. After 5 weeks, it is already possible to see progress. The plastic surgeon was pleased with the results thus far...sent us to the orthotist for some minor adjustments, and told us to come back in 5-6 weeks. We still don't know how long exactly he will have to wear it, but I do know that when we go back on June 13 they will rescan his head and see with numbers and images exactly how much progress has been made and how much is still lacking...praying for his sake that he does not have to wear it all summer.
This kid LOVES to be outside. He can't stand it. He would stay outside all day if he could- but they warned me today that as the weather gets hotter we would have to be careful and limit his time outside so that he does not overheat. This will be near impossible, but we will do what we have to do.
Thanks again to Bling Your Band for the awesome vinyl decor for his helmet!! We have gotten lots of compliments on his bling. However, I did take him to Walmart with me the other day and it seemed none of the million Saturday Walmart shoppers had ever seen a baby in a helmet...wow- the looks, the stares, the whispers...almost like I had a baby alien in my buggy. Now I'm considering getting the bling that says "What are YOU looking at?" or "In three months, my head will be round...in three months, you'll still be ugly." (LOL) No I guess I wouldn't really do that. (maybe) We will just keep smiling our smile and acting like we don't notice the stares.
This kid LOVES to be outside. He can't stand it. He would stay outside all day if he could- but they warned me today that as the weather gets hotter we would have to be careful and limit his time outside so that he does not overheat. This will be near impossible, but we will do what we have to do.
Thanks again to Bling Your Band for the awesome vinyl decor for his helmet!! We have gotten lots of compliments on his bling. However, I did take him to Walmart with me the other day and it seemed none of the million Saturday Walmart shoppers had ever seen a baby in a helmet...wow- the looks, the stares, the whispers...almost like I had a baby alien in my buggy. Now I'm considering getting the bling that says "What are YOU looking at?" or "In three months, my head will be round...in three months, you'll still be ugly." (LOL) No I guess I wouldn't really do that. (maybe) We will just keep smiling our smile and acting like we don't notice the stares.
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