Aspen is 9 months… Welcome 2014!

What a wonderful month December was… full of awesome memories and Aspen's first Christmas season!

One of my favorite verses is Ephesians 3:20-21… We are excited about the New Year and are expecting great things for all of our family and for a breakthrough in the Cystic Fibrosis research. We are asking God for "more than we could ever ask or imagine" in the efforts for a CURE for CF. 

A research study ended in October of 2013, with the results of the study being released the week before Christmas. The study didn't go as well as we would have all liked it to… but many things were learned, it appears, and great things are expected. If anyone is interested in the study, you can read more at this link:

http://www.cff.org/aboutCFFoundation/NewsEvents/12-19-Vertex-Announces-Results-from-Study-R117H.cfm

While the study did not provide the best results for those under the age of 18, there was significant improvement in lung function for those over the age of 18. Praise the Lord that each day brings greater understanding of this disease!


Back to the fun stuff… :)

We took Aspen to ride the Pink Pig at Macy's at Lenox Mall. Danny rode this when he was little. Even though I understand it isn't the "same", we are still building new memories with Aspen and he seemed to love it. 

He was such a big boy! They made Aspen have his own seat. He watched in amazement as Lindsey showed him the "sights".  

He makes my heart smile! 

The weekend after Thanksgiving, we had our annual tradition of picking out a tree, going to eat at Frontera's and decorating the tree! I love this night. Our tree was named Belle this year. She was beautiful! 

Lindsey and I had so much fun with Aspen and a string of lights! He is SO inquisitive and so interested in everything. He looked at us both like…"Are you sure I should be playing with these lights?" He is the most precious baby! 

Lindsey, Chris and Aspen put up their tree at home and enjoyed every minute of it. They weren't able to put up a tree at their house last year and so it was all the more special this year. Isn't she beautiful? :)

We made a "Build a Bear"; is name is Ranier. 

Aspen was so much fun going to see Santa!  He was such a big boy. He didn't cry at all but did stare at Santa in amazement. 

Going to Christmas Eve services at church. Aunt Nelly bought Aspen his sweet outfit. He was "styling and profiling". 

Blessed beyond measure… Going to church and then heading down to Granny and Papa's for Christmas Eve! 

 When we look back over Christmas and New Years, we are so grateful for God's timing. We went to the Christmas Eve service and afterwards down to Granny and Papa's for our family Christmas. Aspen didn't feel the best but he didn't have a fever when we left.  Almost as soon as we got home, we realized that he had a fever. We took his temperature and it was 101.4.  This was only the second time he had been sick and the only "real" fever he had had. Lindsey called the doctor and they quickly called in an anti-biotic. Danielle and Lindsey went to pick it up and we gave it to him before bed. By morning time he was still not feeling his best but he was feeling MUCH better. By Christmas day his fever was gone and he is doing REALLY well…with only a small lingering cough.

Christmas Morning! He was sleepy but Aspen did SO well. I'm not sure he knew what to think. Isn't that face the sweetest? 

Santa brought him several things… including this John Deere tractor! 

I love sunshines and I love what Aspen made his Dee Dee! Precious!  

Aspen was amazed by his new dog friend! :)

This is one of my favorite pictures from Christmas. Sweet father/son time! 

Granny loves our little elf! 

Aunt Nelly knows how to dress Aspen in style.  

Christmas Day wouldn't be the same without a few silly family pictures! 

Loving on his Mama!

Aspen got so many new toys! 

I love our annual trip to the mountains after Christmas! I'm so grateful that we have a loving family! 

Aspen's snuggle and nap time buddy! 

Shopping in the Highlands! Bundled up and ready! 

It was too cold to hike but it wasn't too cold for a few family pictures! 

It's amazing how much can change in one year. Grateful for family and love!

Sunset Point… one of our favorite hikes in Highlands

Dee Dee's shopping buddy! 

This face is the cutest thing! He is so loved by so many! 

Our annual "picture time" with the reindeer! LOL

My heart melts at his smile! Yes…both of them! 

Nothing in the world sweeter! 

When an angel appears to someone in the Bible, often the first thing the angel says is, "Do not be afraid." The Bible contains 365 commands to "fear not" - the most repeated command in the Bible. I think that's because God knows how prone we are to be afraid anytime we have something we can't "control."

I've resolved to do my best to stay in HIS word and to not fear the "what ifs" in 2014.

Isaiah 41:13

"For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you."

Since He is able to do "immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine" (Ephesians 3:20-21), I know that He can make even ME not fearful. 

Aspen visited the CF clinic in early December. This was his first time to go TWO months in between visits. The doctor's were once again amazed at his progress. He was 20 pounds! His chest sounded clear and he looked great the doctors assured us. He was doing so great, that the nutritionist didn't even come in to visit this time. They simply told Lindsey to continue doing whatever she was doing. 

Aspen is finally big enough for the "vest":

http://www.cff.org/treatments/therapies/respiratory/airwayclearance/

This is a little boy with CF (I love visuals). This vest will take the place of "chest physical therapy" (CPT) that Lindsey and Chris have been doing with their hand 2-3 times per day.

"The goals of vest treatment are the same as with any other airway clearance technique -- to break up mucus and help bring it to the upper airways, where it can be coughed out or removed by suction. The machine connected to the vest is an air compressor that delivers bursts of air to rapidly inflate and deflate the vest about 25 times per second. This creates gentle pressure and vibration on the chest, which does three things:

1. Breaks up mucus, making it thinner
2. Creates “mini coughs” in the lungs, which help push the mucus out
3. Makes the cilia move faster, helping them carry the loosened mucus to the upper airways"

We are praying that Aspen will adjust well to the vest and will prayerfully adjust to his morning and nighttime breathing treatments (we keep thinking SURELY one day soon he will realize this is for his own good). :)

Please join us in continuing to pray for Aspen:

* For a "mild" case of CF (if there is such a thing)

* For a cure and/or advancements in medicine

* For Aspen to become accustomed to the treatments

* For Aspen to stay healthy, especially during this flu season where so many are sick

* For fundraising efforts that will start soon as we form our Great Strides Team for our walk in May of 2014. 

Happy New Year from our family to yours!

Welcome 2014! We're expecting great things!