What a busy and roller coaster ride August has been. We're so grateful that the month ended with everyone being well! #PRAISE
You have grown so so SO much this month. You like to remind us that you are a "big and strong boy" and you are SO right! You are both big and strong! And brave! And so mature for your age.
You started out the month by learning to swallow your enzymes ALL by yourself! We are all so incredibly proud of you. You started out by swallowing one capsule by yourself and then you swallowed two and then you swallowed three and four! I know some adults that can't swallow pills... much less four at one time. I'm so proud of you. Now you don't have to take apple sauce with your enzymes. What a BIG boy you are. Co-Chri took the video of you swallowing them to work. Everyone at clinic was so proud of you also!
This month you have also potty trained completely! When you were ready... you were READY! Way to go Little Mister!
You got your first pet... a fish... or two or three or four. LOL You lost one the first weekend and took him back and swapped him out. You named one of the fish all by yourself. You named him Hick-up. LOL Another one of your fish got stuck in the filter. You said..."He got squeezed, Dee Dee! He died. We flushed him down the toilet." Yep, sweet boy! That's exactly what happened. hahaha
You and B love to watch and feed the fish. One day you emptied the entire thing of fish food into the aquarium. OOPS! ;)
We went on our first camping trip since May. We thought it might not be so hot but it was SOOOO hot. We went to Asheville, NC. This is us stopping near Athens for a goodie break!
Your Mommy is so excited to get Delilah back on the road.
You and Bennett already want to help Pops with the camper...
It was soooo hot. Me and you came in the Tin Man and cooled off and played on the I-Pad. You crack me up!
We went up to the Highlands and it started to rain. Your Mommy was sweet enough to let you and B play in the puddles!
You and DaDa fished over the railings at your campsite.
And you hopped around the campground roaring like a lion!
You love to lick on Pop's face! LOL
In front of Mommy's favorite hiking store in Highlands, NC....
You rode on the way home with us because it was so hot outside. When we stopped for lunch... your Mommy and Bennett rode with us too because it had gotten SO hot.
When we got home... y'all were burning up with a fever up to 104 and your Mommy and Daddy weren't able to wake you up. It was so scary!
You didn't like talking to the nurses and doctors...
When we got to the hospital.... you were the bright red face. When we left... you were the orange face. :) They could only tell us you had a virus.
You started to feel better and Dee Dee was teaching you her balancing act on one leg. This picture makes me laugh.
I love, LOVE, LOVE watching you run up the hill to play with Dee Dee! You come up some afternoons to watch the Turtle movie, do puzzles or read a book. :) This is the book that Dee Dee read to your Mommy when she was little. You listened to two stories and Dee Dee was so excited.
Pops and I gave this book to your Mommy when she was 5. I love that I get to read this book to YOU!
Dee Dee and Mommy took you and B for a haircut!
You have four "planes" puzzles at Dee Dee's and you love them so much!
I love to read to you and you are starting to sit longer. You get so excited when you finish a puzzle by yourself.
We came in from swimming and you fell asleep in my arms. Dee Dee LOVES when you do that...
You love to learn. Your Mommy bought you a pre-school learning time set and you're starting to write your letters. You are showing me how to make an "A"!
One day you brought your learning set up for us to use. Dee Dee loves to watch you learn.
You had a busy week. You went to the pediatrician on Monday for a well-visit, the CF Clinic on Tuesday for a month follow-up for your weight and you ended up being admitted to the hospital on Friday.
In this picture we are at Dr. Hutchins. You wear a mask so you won't catch any germs. I'm so proud of you for wearing it without complaining.
You were 39 1/4 inches and 70th percentile for your height and 31.8 pounds and 45th percentile for your weight.
We think that's pretty good since you've been sick... Dr. Hutchins is pretty sure you had hand, foot and mouth disease last week without the hand and foot part.
On the way to the doctor a car pulled out in front of Dee Dee and you screamed...."Oh my gosh car! Darn car!" You are starting to copy words more and more. You are a HOOT!
A lollipop from Dr. H makes everything better. And... you were glad for once that B got the shots and you didn't.
You love to play games on Dee Dee's I-Pad! I love how you take my arm and put it around you. #meltsmyheart
We stopped by to have lunch with Granny and Papa at CFA on the way to your CF appointment.
We thought you were only going to have to do a "weight check' but we were wrong. They did a full appointment and even more. We were there for hours. This kind of day is always so long but you were so good! Your oxygen made it to 100% #GRATEFUL
The nurse brought you some crayons and papers.
Dr. S came in and said that your lungs sound awesome and she was pretty happy with your weight considering how sick you have been. She put you on an appetite stimulant... periactin. Right now you are going to take it before lunch only. Mommy says it doesn't seem to make that much difference. We were told it "could" cause you to be drowsy or to have behavior problems but it doesn't seem to have done anything really.
Dr. S told us we didn't have to come back until NOVEMBER! This is the happy face of a happy boy!
PRAISE for a good report. You didn't culture anything and all of your vitamins were good, and so was your blood count. Actually, you were able to stop one of your vitamins (Flintstone) because your vitamin B and E was a little high! That's awesome news. Oh... and your vitamin D was great at 41.
The clinic said you weighed 31.75 pounds (40th percentile) and 38.66 inches (60th percentile) and 23rd percentile for your weight to height ratio.
We are so excited!
Another day with puzzles! :)
Taking a pop-cycle break... FUN!
Only 2 days after our excellent report at the CF Clinic... you started having a LOT of blood in your poop. :( Mommy and DaDa watched it overnight and by morning you had had 5 or so bloody poops and it only seemed to be getting worse. Mommy called Dr. S and she decided to admit you to CHOA that afternoon. We were pretty scared but trusted that everything would be fine! Since you had the intestine surgery at birth... they were afraid the blood had to do with your CF and intestines.
DaDa got off of work and me and Mommy and DaDa drove to CHOA! You are so big pulling your suitcase in.
DaDa took you to the gift shop and bought you some prizes!
You wore your mask like a champ! You love to push the buttons on the elevator. AND.... Dee Dee actually rode it with you! :)
The lady that admitted you showed you to your room on the 5th floor. Room 5256
You had to have an abdominal x-ray and also a chest x-ray
It took a few minutes to explain what we were doing and why we were staying. You thought you were just having a slumber party! :)
Even though you weren't in for respiratory problems (PRAISE), the hospital treated you like you were and came four times a day. You took it like a champ!
The doctor came in to listen to your stomach...
And they prepped both arms to have blood taken from them.
Mommy snuggled up in your hospital bed with you. She didn't sleep but we were so glad that you did.
You and DaDa putting your plane together...
It didn't take us long to get stir-crazy! We all snuggled in the bed and laughed!
This picture makes me laugh! At least you were feeling better to play...
Nelly brought us Chipotle! It was delicious! We were saying we didn't want to STAY! LOL
We even blew bubbles in the room....
And you laughed with Mommy and DaDa in the bed...
We played with the SnapChat filters. LOL
DaDa finally crashed... it was a long night!
The next day B stayed with Nelly for a few hours and brought him to see you. You ran down the hall to see him.
You were happy to see B!
We were ready to say, "PEACE OUT, CHOA!" LOL
We went down to the gift shop and bought you a whale puzzle to do. You LOVE puzzles so much!
And, you love playing with Nelly's phone and wallet. haha
Uncle Gary and Aunt Anita brought Granny and Papa to see you. We got to visit downstairs. They brought you a train to play with.
Mrs. Sandie also stopped by to hang out with us!
Finally, around 7pm they stopped in and said that you had E-COLI! Normally we would be scared to hear that diagnosis but we were SOOOOO glad that it wasn't your intestines and not related to CF. You were able to come home on Saturday night. Me and you and Mommy and DaDa stopped by Frontera on the way home for a late dinner and celebration. :) #PRAISEGOD
The doctor's were also doing the HAPPY dance! They said the e-coli would live in your body for about 4-5 more weeks but that you should continue to get better and you have! You are still having some symptoms a week later but you are SOOOO much better.
DaDa bought you a dinosaur puzzle at the hospital for y'all to put together when you got home...
This picture makes my heart so happy! Your Mommy said you went into your room... got your backpack and put it on and Mommy asked where you were going. You said you were going to check on Dee Dee and see what I'm doing. I LOVE for you to come and check on me. :)
We haven't been able to swim that much this month. We were so happy to be able to go...
You love playing with your Mommy!
and riding on your DaDa's back....
but who needs to swim or play on your swing set when you have rocks around! LOL
You jumped off the edge of the pool for the first time. You've been afraid. You were SO proud of yourself and so were we!
Dee Dee bought you two big puzzles to put together and you came up to play....
You love your new puzzle!
And... you love when you can do it by yourself cause you ARE a big boy and you're strong too! :)
Bennett came to play one afternoon. Y'all played nicely for about 2 minutes out of an hour. LOL! This was one of those moments. Actually, B just doesn't like you to play on the I-Pad. He doesn't understand why he can't play. You're quick to tell him that he's a baby! HA!
This is what happens when B tries to interrupt your game time. bahahaha!
You love to ride the lawnmower with your DaDa and Pops! SO cute!
Y'all so have many sweet moments though. You love each other so much and miss each other when you're apart.
One of Dee Dee's friends was visiting with her granddaughter. You had so much fun coming up to play with her. DaDa bought you a new fishing game and y'all played. You were SO polite and sweet. Dee Dee thought her heart might explode.
You and B went out with me and Pops! You were so excited to be able to have your own sushi. You ate two pieces by yourself and some chicken fried rice.
I think you may have decided what you want for Christmas... a lego table!
We walked around the mall and had so much fun. You jumped over every piece of carpet that changed colors. haha! You were so worn out that you slept until 10:30 the next morning. Of course, you played late. You didn't go to sleep until almost midnight. :)
We went to Bass Pro and saw all the fish and animals!
You weren't happy that the little boy wouldn't move out of your way. Your face cracks me up!
We bought you a fishing cap! You look SO cute!
Brush Arbor Day at our church... I'm so glad that you and Mommy were able to go with me and Pops!
You love to share Dee Dee's watermelon...
And drink the watermelon juice. :) :) :)
You are constantly jumping but that makes this Dee Dee's heart happy. Imagine all the CPT you get during the day by just jumping! LOL
The sun was in your eyes... but I still love this picture! Your 4th year going.... #LOVE
The water was so much higher than last year... your Mommy is so sweet to go out in the water with you.
Pops took you out to the deeper parts...
and to the waterfall. Me and Mommy watched! :)
Oh how you love the water Little Mister!
You went all over the rocks with Pops and came back and took Mommy's hand and slipped.... You said..."I take Pops hand! He doesn't slip!" hahahahaha You are a hoot!
They had pop-cycles when you were done. Just what you needed on this HOT day!
I love that smile and I LOVE you! This is your 4th year going to the church picnic and you've had your picture made here with Dee Dee every year. One day I hope you look back and realize that your Dee Dee loves you to the moon and back and back again! SOOOOO much!
What a month this has been....! You've had foot, hand and mouth disease with a 104 temperature and a trip to the emergency room. You've been for your check-up at your pediatrician and a monthly visit to the CF clinic and also had your first hospital admission (since you were released from the hospital on May 9, 2013 after your intestinal surgery) for e-coli. We are SO grateful it wasn't CF related.
That's a LOT!
But... we've also been camping, swimming, and had LOTS of fun! You're potty trained and you now take your enzymes by swallowing them. And... you're also overcoming the fear of jumping off the side of the pool!
You love to roar like I lion and crawl on all four. You love to learn and puzzles are your favorite. You are beginning to pretend more and more. You love to act like you are asleep and for us to try to make you laugh! You love to run and jump every chance you get. You love B but you also love to drive him crazy. You can simply look across the room at him and make him scream. You still love gummy bears from Dee Dee's and watching the Turtles movie. You love cheeseburgers the best and Frontera's chips and salsa. Your favorite color is still orange and you love to get "orange prizes!" haha
Because you have CF... your "poots" are....well.... TERRIBLE! :) You find it hilarious to sit on someone and poot. LOL You love to ride elevators but call them alligators. You love to sing but you're opinionated on who can sing with you when. You told Pops..."Stop it Pops! Not you! Me! You're messing up my singing!" hahahahaha
Every day you say something that has us cracking up! You can see your wheels turning in most everything you do. You are smart and VERY independent. You MUST have on socks or shoes and sometimes both... but you don't like to go barefoot.
You are growing so quickly. It's hard to believe that you will be 3 1/2 next month. We're so excited for fall. Historically you have been "well" in the fall and winter and have more troubles in the spring and fall. We are so excited for the temperatures to drop. It's been one of the hottest summers in history. We're looking to camping more and playing outside more.
We are so thankful you are doing so well Little Mister. We're not sure how you got e-coli but boy are we grateful that you weren't having complications from your CF. EVERY single day Pops and I pray for you. We pray for you to know the Lord. To trust Him! To rest well in His grace! We pray for your attitude and your determination. It's also my prayer that you will look back and know how much your Dee Dee cried out to the Lord for mercy on your life and GRACE in abundance for you.
You are a trooper in all that you go through and my heart is so grateful. I look at you and see so much of your Mommy's face in yours. You look so much alike when she was your age. What a blessing you both are.
For those that are praying for our sweet boy... can you pray for these things?
* For Aspen to stay healthy this fall and winter
* For Aspen and our family to NOT get the flu
* For Aspen as he begins to realize that things are different for him
* For Chris and Lindsey as they take care of Aspen's many needs
* For Aspen's FIGHT and determination
* For discernment on what Aspen should and shouldn't be allowed to do (lakes, playgrounds and "germ filled" places are always a risk. There's a fine line between "living life to it's fullest" and taking precautions. This is going to get harder and harder.
* For our upcoming fundraising efforts for 2017!
* For advancements in medicine, treatments and a CURE!
Thankful for our prayer warriors for Aspen!
