GI Update

We are headed to surgery again. This Monday Emily will be going in for a lower GI scope. Her GI doctor is looking to see what he can find. Essentially all the tests have been run & we still have no answers so now we are doing investigative work. He plans take at least 45 minutes to look around & take biopsies from several different ares of her lower GI. We should have preliminary results right after the test & the biopsy results about a week later. We are hoping & praying that we are able to figure out what is going on with this little girls GI so we can move forward. Please keep us in your thoughts & prayers.

Follow up appointment for Ear Tubes

Emily had her follow up appointment this week for her ear tubes. Everything looks great!! The Doctor said the tubes were in place, a little wax in there but it wasn't causing any problems. He also retested her hearing...which came back within normal range! Finally one thing something go our way!

4th of July!

As anyone who has worked retail knows, there are no such things as holidays (except Christmas & usually Easter). My husband is one of those lucky retail workers (plus he's a manager so he gets the worst shifts on holidays). We are usually able to make due but this 4th of July he worked until 8:45. Which left no time to go anyplace as a family to watch the fireworks. We are lucky to have a farm down the road that does a large firework display. When we first moved into this house you could see the fireworks from our bedroom, now the trees have grown in & it is not possible. So Matt pulled in the driveway at 9:15, I had the kiddos all loaded in the car & down the road we drove. Emily has never been to a 4th of July Celebration. The first year everyone was sick! Last year I was 9 months pregnant. Matt & I both wanted her to see them this year. As we are pulling out of the neighborhood we can tell that fireworks had started. We had to drive in the same direction they were going off in! The farm is 5 minutes away, no problem! The road we take is usually really busy (4 lanes, with a dirt middle divider) but it wasn't too bad tonight. I think most people are either someplace for the 4th or at home avoiding the 4th. We decided to stop on the side of the road (after passing many watchers already there). I let the kids unbuckle & Emily gets to sit in the front with Daddy! She was in awe! It was so cute. "Daddy, Daddy, look, look!" I wish I had brought the video camera. She was truly amazed by them. She was so upset when they were done & asked for more. We sat on the side of the road for maybe 15 minutes. It was the best 15 minutes of my day. To see her eyes light up when she saw the fireworks (not on TV) was priceless!
We hope everyone had a safe & wonderful 4th of July!

Zoo Trip!

We had a wonderful at the zoo last week for our field trip. Emily is the perfect age! She knows all the different animals & sounds (& signs). Her feet were moving so fast that her poor little body couldn't keep up & that spells disaster. Lots of falls & bumps & bruises! Still a great time. One of her favorite animals is the elephant. She tries so hard to say "elephant" but all that comes out is "epadnt". Close. She also got to feed a giraffe. She was so incredably brave. If Matt or I wanted to accompany her up there we would have had to pay as well (which seemed stupid but we followed the rules). Anyhow, she went up there with the boys & a guide. They showed them how to feed them & a little information about the giraffes. She walked right up, stuck her hand out & had no fear! The zoo here has a Farm with a petting zoo (goats, a cow & a horse). They had a blast petting the goats. Emily had to go around & touch every goat. She had a rubber brush (provided) & brushed as many as she could. We also played at this little hidden park by the wallaby's. She took some fabulous pictures...

Before & After Ear Tubes

hanging out in car before check-in














taking silly pictures of each other


















otter pops are really good














crashed out