Got The Cat

The end is the best part. Ayla had us all rolling laughing hysterically!!

Halloween

This year we were a bit crazy. We traveled on Halloween to be with friends. I think Ethan really enjoyed himself, I know I did. Thank you Beth, Jeff, Karen, and Grant. We had a wonderful time!

The Cat!

Please note that Fiest usually lays next to Ayla. He has to be near her and has never scratched. I think he only did it this time because Ayla grabbed his feet.

Pics of the kids

A camping pro!!


Sounders Fans!!

Let me Read!

Ethan's First Day of First Grade

Ethan started school on August 31. He is enjoying it, but when asked what his favorite thing is..."lunch." Ethan does find a lot of it boring, guess that is what happens with a kid who finds the work too easy.

Developmentally On Target!

With all that Ayla has been though, the one unknown and biggest concern has been her physical development. I have watched her intently for every milestone that she is "suppose" to reach as she grows and develops. Looking at Ages and Stages, Ayla is right on target. She has reached every step that she has needed to!

At 3 1/2 months Ayla can:
Communication: Chuckle softly, coo, stop crying when she hears a known voice, makes high pitched squeals, laughs great laughs!, and makes sounds looking at people and toys.

Gross motor: can move her head side to side, lays her head down when on tummy, can lift chin off the floor 3 inches, holds head steady, and plays with fingers. She is not quite holding her head straight up and looking around....Ayla is emerging in this skill.

Fine Motor: Ayla follows toys with eyes or head; looks at toys when sitting, holds, looks at, and mouths toys when put in her hand.

Problem solving: Ayla does wave her hands towards a toy above her and if she catches it puts it in her mouth.

Personal-social: Ayla watches hands, knows when she is about to be fed, tries to hold the bottle, smiles when she sees me nearby, and coos at self in the mirror.

I am so proud of my beautiful girl!
(Ayla worked her way off the blanket to get her feet into the grass).

Seattle Day

I took Ethan on another DU. This one was spectacular (thank you Krista!)

We started heading North. Right away Ethan guessed we were going to Seattle. Man that kid is smart. So I had to explain that there are lots of things to do in Seattle and he wouldn't be able to guess (especially since he had never been where we were going).

I pulled into a parking lot right across from the Space Needle...that made his eyes light up! I so wish we could have gone up the Needle, but that will be saved for another day with Daddy.

As we entered the building, I explained what the Science Center is all about. He was mildly intrigued. But by the end of the day, Ethan had a BLAST! Topped off with a quick visit with the cousins up north to avoid horrendous traffic south.

Fourth of July

I had to post Ayla's fourth of July outfit since Ruth Ann posted Briar's. (The girls look so cute. We need to get them together!)

Swimming

Ever since Ethan's friend was put into level 3, one level higher than him, he has focused on passing level 2. This means he has to really start doing things on his own, no more relying on the teacher for support.
(sorry I deleted this because there were other children that appeared briefly)

Last night we went met up with a friend n Seattle and got to swim in her hotel pool. Ethan showed that all his hard work is paying off.

Fourth of July

(Ayla chatting before we headed out)

We had a wonderful fourth of July with Ryan's family. Ethan lit his first fire works (bottle rockets.) And it begins!


Then we took Ethan down to the beach to watch the fireworks. What a great location! No one was there and we saw lots of great fireworks, mainly private display, but it was excellent. Definitely will go back to that spot next year!

Ayla's Progress

Over the past few weeks I have thought about putting together evidence of how well Ayla is doing. So here it is:

This picture was taken May 28, 2010 at Target, the day before her last MRI and four days before we started the medication. The hemangiomas had gotten even worse than what this picture shows.


After just one dose of the propranolol:


Today:


The large hemagioma on her right cheek is completely flat, the swelling gone. Her eyelid is able to open almost equal to the left eye.


Every day continues to bring improvement to Ayla. I am amazed at how fast we saw a change and how well the treatment is working. This is a new method of treating Hemangiomas. Propranolol has only been used in this manner since 2008. If my son had developed the same hemangiomas, Ethan would have had to suffer through it (loosing his eyesight in that eye) or gone on steroids in the attempt and hope to save his eyesight, and suffered though all the side effects those bring. Ayla is suffering from no side effects. Her adorable bubbly personality is shining through.

As for the other concerns that we have asked you all to pray for, Ayla is on target with her development. There are even areas that she has shown to be advanced. I feel so blessed that so many friends, family members, and believers have prayed. Ayla is a miracle. We still have many doctor appointments ahead of us: follow up with the ophthalmologist and dermatologist on Tuesday. Then we see the developmental neurologist in August. So continu8e to pray with us that all will be well with our Ayla.

Growing

Noticed today that my boy has gotten so big! He fits the great clothes that Aunt Ruth Ann bought him. Thanks Aunt Ruth Ann! Ethan will be styling all summer.

Fast Results

(before)
We had another answer to prayer, though not the way I thought it would go. We had the MRI on Friday. Then we had to wait the long weekend to get the results. My plan was to go up on Tuesday, spend three hours in the nurses office to start the medication (propranolol). But life doesn't often go the way I planned.


(watching the mobile at Children's)


The MRI showed a malformed blood vessel which meant we had to start the medication as an inpatient at Children's. So Tuesday Ayla and I headed north. Instead of three hours we spent 3 days. But the results were AMAZING! We are praising God. After one dose we noticed a HUGE difference in both the hemangiomas on her cheek and her eyelid.

(after one day on propranolol)

Propranolol works from the inside out, both the hemangiomas deeper layers under the skin. The other ones, just reds spots are starting to get lighter after a week.

(today!!)

MRI

We had an answer to prayer this past week. Originally Ayla' was scheduled for an MRI on June 4th, that two weeks later than we wanted. Thursday the dermatologist called and said we needed to start the steroids because things were taking longer than they should. As soon as I got off the phone with the doctor Children's hospital called an scheduled us for the MRI the very next day.

But now we wait again. This is a holiday weekend, hence no one is working Monday. Results were done Friday night but our cardiologist was not in on Friday. I plan to call early Tuesday. My hope is that Ayla and I can go up Tuesday afternoon to start the medicines that will help her hemangiomas to start to fade. The one on her eye has made it near impossible for her to open the eyelid or use that eye. We are very concerned for her eyesight.

Busy Busy

This weekend was busy.
Baseball game:

Ethan enjoyed being Catcher. Looks good!

Ayla enjoyed the sun and vitamin D.


Then we went up to Joint Base McCord Lewis for Armed Forces Day. Ethan got to sit on all the military vehicles, hold real guns, pretend to fly the helicopter, and talk to real soldiers. I loved this. Growing up on a military base and going to the Air Show every year, I had similar experiences. So glad my son can enjoy a bit of what I use too.


Ayla just sat back and watched her brother.

More Prayers Needed

We are in need of your prayers again for Ayla. Over the past couple of weeks we had notices two birth marks, Hemangiomas, developing and darkening on Ayla's face. One on her right eyelid and one on her right cheek. This is all on the same side as her cerebellum problem. Also in the last two weeks I noticed that she was not able to open her right eye fully. This really worried me. So I took her in.

Because of the rapid growth of Ayla's Hemangiomas and her brain malformation it has been determined they are all connected, a condition called P.H.A.C.E.S (heart is for heart and a is for aorta). The eye one has also started to affect her eye development. So we have to do aggressive treatment (Hemangiomas are usually left alone and go away by themselves, but can be helped along with steroid treatments or in Ayla's case blood pressure meds). We have to take Ayla to see a Children's Hospital Cardiologist. She will have to have an MRI (unless the one done at birth has all the info...praying for that!) done on her heart and her aorta (at this age she would have to be sedated). Then if all looks good she will start blood pressure medicine at home, after spending 3hrs at the dr's office observing vitals for a reaction. If things are not okay she will be admitted to the hospital for up to 36 hours and start the medicine there.

We also have to have Ayla wear an eye patch 15 minutes a day covering her good eye to help strengthen the weaker eye.

Pray:
Ayla's eyesight will develop correctly
Her blood vessels and heart are fine
No further complications
Mom has the mental and spiritual strength to get through this

Big brother

On April 8th Ayla Martinne was born. I expected her on the 7th, but little Ayla had other ideas. She had to come in her own time! We started the induction on Tuesday, April 6th and she was born at 2:32 am on Thursday, April 8th.


Ethan loves being a big brother. HE wants to hold her, carry her, feed her, and just love her. Ethan informed me that he is waiting for Ayla to get bigger to play with him. Yes, he knows this will take time. Ayla could not have a better brother. Ethan is an amazing helper with a sensitive spirit and a giving heart.

Easter

This was Ethan's last Easter as an only child. He made the most of it. Ryan hid the eggs all through the house for the boy to find. We all enjoyed the hunt. Next year I will have to have him search for his Easter basket items as my brother's family made their daughter do. Sounds like fun.
Sneaky spot 1 (sneaky spot 2 was a frying pan on the stove...so funny!)


Even Ayla's room wasn't safe from eggs.


Having the egg hidden in each room of the house really made the egg hunt fun. Maybe next year we will have nice weather and can do the hunt outside like normal people. But wait, this is Western Washington. We are the normal people.

Rock Band

Ethan is awesome at singing on Rock Band. His favorite songs are Hungry Like A Wolf, Eye of the Tiger, Living on a Prayer, and Monsoon. Yes my son has eighties rock taste!

Hockey

After watching the Olympics Ethan got really excited about hockey! (He did the same thing with swimming after the summer Olympics)

Lego Sets

My son has come to love, appreciate, and seek out any Lego sets he can. He is specifically interested in those sets that are related to castles, knights, and Star Wars! I have started to put each set in a separate bin...can't have them mixed up because then you wouldn't have the set anymore. Too funny. What I have discovered is that my husband has an affinity for Lego sets too.

Baby's Room

As many of you know we are expecting our second child come April. Most of you have been helping us praying for the health and safety of our child. Keep praying.

This month my wonderful Sister in Laws, Abby and Sara, and my amazing Mom and Mother in Law came down to help set up our daughter's room. It turned out beautiful!




Disclaimer: It is funny how many working shots or pictures taken were tushy shots. I tried not to post those out of love for my helpful family.

Olympics Birthday

On Feb 6th Ethan celebrated his six birthday by having his friends come to an Olympic Party. Upon arrival each child was given a country to represent, with the flag to wear on their clothes. The we played the games (hula hoop, relay, jump rope, and a bowling tournament). This has made watching the real Olympics a lot of fun this year. Ethan will see a flag and point out which friend was that country and we have to cheer for his friend's country. Too cute!

To end in true Olympic fashion, we had events that awarded the children with trophies and had a medal ceremony at the end. Each child approached the podium with the Olympic music playing and received their gold medal.

New Concerns

A recent ultrasound showed a possible problem with our unborn daughter, as did the follow up ultrasound. Our doctor felt it wise to refer us up to University of Washington. While my prayer was that the possible problem would go away this was not to be so. The ultrasound again showed fluid at the base of our daughter's brain. She was diagnosed with Dandy-Walker Variant. I have researched this some but am still at a lost as to what it all means. We won't know the full effect until after she is born in April, it can be nothing to something major. The UW would like us to come back at 28 weeks (late Jan) to have an MRI done on our baby and to have us meet with a neurological specialist at Children's hospital. Basically the doctors want to do close monitoring on her to see if the fluid mass grows or diminishes. They would also like us to deliver up north in Seattle. There is still a chance that this could resolve itself before birth.

Please pray that the fluid diminishes and that the cerebellum connects properly to the fourth ventricle in the brain. I know that God can do all things. In addition pray that I can accept his plan as perfect, even if our child is born having developmental delays or motor-skill issues (both are a possibility). Finally pray that our insurance will cover all the things we will need to do to make sure our daughter has the best care before and after she is born.