This picture says it all! This month you have exploded with your play time and plotting with Bennett. :) You love to feed B things you shouldn't, take his toys but you also love to bring him toys and share. I can't wait to watch you two grow together.
What a great but busy month August has been!
You started out the month going to Stevie B's with your Mommy, Dada and Bennett. Your Dada says you loved the barbecue pizza. :)
You won a LOT of tickets for some prizes...
You came home and played with the prizes you won! SO cute!
This smile melts my heart! You love, love to play outside
Co Chri is teaching you how to use your fishing pole! You love to fish.
We watched Curious George…again. :) You love this movie. We love playing in the basement.
George can really keep your attention!
We love to watch you on your John Deere. You turn the radio on too! haha
Pops is teaching you how to turn the steering wheel in the right direction.
Mommy and Dee Dee went to Walmart and saw these "Frozen" pajamas! You love them. It's so hot outside, we were dreaming of cold weather.
Your sweet little face! LOVE!
Swimming in your little pool at your house...
We went to a birthday party for a friend and they had a slip and slide. You didn't let the big kids scare you! You had a blast!
No fear… SO CUTE!
You're Mommy accidentally put on B's 9 month shorts but they fit pretty good! #CHEESEDEEDEE
You love, LOVE climbing! You love to climb in Bennett's walker and play but this day… you climbed in WITH Bennett. Too funny!
I don't remember what you were laughing about but I LOVE to see you cracking up!
Dada was outside cleaning up the backyard. You're SO close to being able to open up the doors with the deadbolt locked!
You have a new love! The vegetables! :) Aunt Nelly bought you the Noah's Ark DVD and you love it.
HAHAHA!
You came over to spend the night with Dee Dee and Pops! You love to play down by the creek next to Granny and Papa's.
We were playing on the big hill by the house and you fell… headfirst. :( You are SO tough. You didn't cry and even said "cheese" for my picture with Pops!
Aunt Nelly loving on you!
Your sweet face looked worse the next day.
I love this picture! I love how B is watching you so intently. You were probably watching Bob the Train. :)
We went to Home Depot and you ran and ran. You needed some water. :)
Already checking out tools...
We came home to eat in the drive way with Aunt Nelly and Co Chri! Dada found a frog. You have so much fun no matter what you do.
Waiting on Dr. H! You had to get a shot but you didn't cry. I'm always amazed at how tough you are. She said you weighed 28.8 pounds. You haven't been back to the CF Clinic yet but WHOA!!!! We were so excited you had gained a few pounds since you were there in May. #PRAISE
Back to Lowe's for more things to help get the house ready. Dee Dee bought you a bag of peanut M&M's and you ate the entire king size bag. #420calories
Your Mommy is teaching you all sorts of things but this month, you're working on the letters of your name. You love for her to write them out while you say them. I love watching you learn.
Reading in your toy box… :)
You love your Sponge Bob push ups!
You're getting ready to put your house up for sale and your Mommy and Dada are POOPED! :)
And after you snuggle, you are a happy boy!
You love, LOVE cherry tomatoes! :)
You went with Dee Dee to get my hair colored. As soon as I turned my back, you had my water in your hand drinking it. You said, "Dee Dee! Dee Dee! Cheese!" So…. I took your picture. LOL
You went to your first live CLUE Night at the church and helped Dee Dee in her room!
We're moving some things into Granny and Papa's house next door because YOU are moving there soon! :) You and Bennett were taking a ride (trying to keep you both from running or crawling away.) LOL
I love your sweet expression. So innocent. :) We are at Chick Fil A for breakfast...
You are SO silly! I had to try and capture that sweet face in a picture.
You love to sing this month! You're favorite song seems to be "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star!" I bet you've sung it 100 times this month. You're latest thing is to stop someone from singing it with you because you want to sing it alone. LOL
You're a little more mischievous this month. You are into everything it seems. You got into your Mommy's essential oils and poured about 1/4th of her lavender out. Your Dada was able to record you getting out of your crib (we wonder how long you've been doing this) and playing during nap time. You crawl back in and go to sleep when you want to. I must admit that's kind of funny! :)
If you are jumping, bouncing, throwing a ball or watching "Bob Train" or "Vegetables" you are a happy boy. Those are your favorites. You have so much to say and sometimes with such passion. You keep us all laughing.
You were chosen to be an ambassador for the "Wish for Wendy" softball tournament that is coming up in October. This fundraiser has raised over 2 MILLION dollars for a CURE for a CF. We're grateful your story is spotlighted to help raise awareness. This is the story that I shared:
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To: Wish for Wendy teams
Our family is so grateful that Aspen was chosen to be an ambassador again this year for the "Wish for Wendy" fundraiser. It is our daily hope and prayer that "Great Strides" will be made each day and a CURE will be found soon for all those with Cystic Fibrosis. The fundraising efforts from this tournament go a long way in giving HOPE to families like ours… hope for a healthy future. We appreciate you all more than words can say.
Aspen was born on Good Friday, March 29, 2013. Aspen was our youngest daughter and her husband's first child and our first grandchild. We were overcome with JOY. We all had hopes and dreams for his precious life before he was even born.
The day after Easter, 3 days after Aspen's birth, he had his first pediatrician appointment. In looking back, it was God's perfect timing in getting us to the hospital. We arrived at his first appointment and his pediatrician immediately told us "something wasn't right"… his stomach was distended. My daughter, her husband and I were sent directly to CHOA and Aspen ended up having emergency surgery that night for a jejunal atresia. A jejunal atresia is a rare genetic disorder where babies are born with a partial absence of the fold of the stomach that connects the intestine to the back wall of the abdomen. The small intestine, as a result, twists around the arteries of the colon causing a blockage (atresia). Aspen was in the NICU for 39 days.
This genetic disorder wasn't associated with CF, however, on April 8th… just 10 days after his birth, my daughter received the news that Aspen had Cystic Fibrosis. We were devastated. We had no family history that we were aware of on either side. In that moment, CF took on a new meaning in our family. It was real. It was reality. It was our "new normal."
"Cystic fibrosis is a disease passed down through families that causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the lungs, digestive tract, and other areas of the body. It is one of the most common chronic lung diseases in children and young adults. It is a life-threatening disorder."
We were sad. We were overwhelmed. Aspen was still in the hospital and having trouble gaining weight and digesting his foods. We allowed ourselves a day or two to "mourn" what could have been and what will be. Soon we decided to look at CF with a new PERSPECTIVE. We didn't realize at the time that the simple word "perspective" would be our family "word" for the next year. Thoughts rushed into our minds… "It could always be worse!" "There will be a CURE before he suffers lasting damage to his lungs." But as quickly as those thoughts rushed into our minds… we also had conflicting thoughts…"The life expectancy is in the 30's and often people with CF die in their teen years"… "How often will he be in the hospital?" … "Can he live a normal childhood?" We realized that Aspen has the most severe mutation classes (I and II) and we had to wonder what tomorrow would hold.
FEAR is a powerful thing that can quickly overwhelm you. We stopped. We cried. We prayed. And today we are allowing Aspen to live as normal of a life as possible. We don't know what tomorrow holds but we DO know that we don't want Cystic Fibrosis to define who he is.
We know that Aspen is a gift from GOD. Psalm 139:13 - "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." We also know that God sees and God knows! Nothing catches God off-guard or takes Him by surprise. God, knowing all things beforehand, has reminded us through His Word that He is in control and we are clinging to that promise!
Today, Aspen is a growing boy that loves life. He is almost 2 1/2. He loves to run and jump and all things outdoors. He loves Curious George and Thomas the Train. He loves to fish and go out in the kayak. Individuals with CF can "culture" bacteria that can cause lasting damage to their lungs. Each and every day is a process of learning how "much" to allow Aspen to do (should he be allowed to play in puddles, or jump on bouncy houses or other things that carry germs)? Aspen should stay away from people who are sick or have been sick and anything that can cause an infection. SO much to consider.
Every day, Aspen has a "routine" to help keep his lungs as healthy as possible for as long as possible. He has to do:
* Two 30 minute "vest" treatments that shake him, which in turn shakes up his lungs to loosen the mucus. An hour a day is a LONG time to hold a 2 year still.
* A 15 minute breathing treatment to open up his lungs
* 25-30 pills a day to help absorb his food because his pancreas does not work
* Multi-vitamin, iron, vitamin D… since his body doesn't absorb these nutrients properly.
* Extra salt
This is his routine when he is "healthy." When he is sick, he does up to FOUR vest treatments daily and his breathing treatments increase as well.
We are so thankful for this sweet boy. He is funny and loves to laugh. It is our prayer that he will keep this LOVE for life and his adventurous spirit. We pray that Aspen can have a "normal" childhood and not be defined by this disease. We pray for a CURE.
SO many advances are being made in research. Thank you for being a part of helping "add more tomorrows" to Aspen's life and all those who suffer from this disease.
We are grateful.
Debbie Thomason
Aspen's grandmother
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You may never know the impact you are already having on research and a CURE. We pray every single day for you, your health and a CURE for all with CF. I'll send the teams an update on how you are doing in September. :) I can't wait to hear how much money is raised this year for a cure.
Your Dee Dee is SO excited. You are listing your house this month in hopes of moving next door REALLY soon! I can't wait for you to be our neighbor. :) We all went to Home Depot tonight in preparation. Dee Dee had to show you what to do with the pipes that Dada was looking at! HAHAHA
I'm excited for September. Cooler temperatures but not too cool. One step closer to moving where you will have so much room to run and play.
Praying for a happy, healthy, productive, blessed month for you sweet boy and for all of our family! SO grateful for the progress being made in research. Praying for the day that CF stands for CURE FOUND!
Looking forward to an exciting September. Your Dee Dee loves you to the moon and back sweet boy!
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