Test and Results.

Last Tuesday Andrew went in for his annual ultrasound and RNC (radionuclide cystogram) exam. He has to have these done each year because when he was 2 1/2 months old he got a UTI (urinary tract infection). He was further tested after having a UTI because it is really uncommon for boys to get them. With the further testing it was determined that he has vesicoureteral reflux. The worst part was that he was diagnosed with stage 5 VUR, 5 being the most severe case. It has since decreased to stage 4.

To explain VUR: "a child is born with a ureter that did not grow long enough during the child’s development in the womb. The valve formed by the ureter pressing against the bladder wall does not close properly, so urine refluxes from the bladder to the ureter and eventually to the kidney. This type of VUR can get better or disappear as a child gets older. As a child grows, the ureter gets longer and function of the valve improves." (courtesy of http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/vesicoureteralreflux/)

With this condition there is serious possibilities for kidney damage and scarring, this is the reason he has ultrasounds annually, the VCUG test or RNC exams are to determine if the level of severity is going down. So that is what he had done on Tuesday at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital in Tacoma.

I was really worried about him having these tests done again, it is not something you want to see your child go through (just trust me on this one)! The tests are really invasive for a little boy and the last two years he's had them done he's had to be awake and therefore remembers everything. This had led to a fear of doctors, and a fear of laying down in a doctor's facility.

I was hesitant to take him up, but he did GREAT this time around!!! I give a huge hats off to the ultrasound technicians, they were excellent! Andrew was very nervous, but when we walked in, the lady technician had toys for him (a disco ball with colors on it and when you pushed a button it spun -she let him be in charge of letting it spin), she also turned the tv on and let him watch cartoons, and the best part was they allowed him to sit-up for most of the exam. That is such a huge blessing, because he really doesn't do well in a doctor's office laying down. The ultrasound took a little over an hour, but Andrew was a champ. He hardly cried, he only did at the very end when they needed him to lay down to get the last couple pictures. The technician was so sweet and let Andrew touch the part that goes on his belly and also let him squirt the gel onto his belly (he loved that part). After allowing him to squirt the gel onto his belly, he was all smiles. When he was done with that they gave him a new car, stickers, and a pillow, it was a huge success and I am grateful for those two technicians who were extremely patient, kind, and understanding!

After his ultrasound we were taken into another area to wait for his RNC exam. This was the first year he had a RNC exam, the last two years he's had VCUG test, so I didn't know what to expect. One of the biggest (for a mom) differences in this exam is that your child gets to be sedated for the exam, the other difference is this type of exam leads to less radiation he is exposed too. (it also means the exam is not as in depth as the VCUG test, but it does the job) The worst part about this one is he has to have an IV to be sedated. He did great though, we had a little bit of a tough time when he acciently saw the nurse with the needle, but even with seeing it, he was such a little trooper.

Next we waited for the sedation pediatrician (who was running late). The Dr. ended up running about 20 minutes late, but as soon as the sedation Dr. entered the room Andrew was in, Andrew looked at him and screamed "I DON'T WANT IT!!!!" I don't know that Andrew realized who he was, but he was certain that whatever this doctor was going to give him, he didn't want it!

Next Andrew was taken into the exam room, where he was then given the sedation, and the exam proceeded. A couple minor complications in the exam room led for the test having to be completed after Andrew woke up from sedation, but overall they were able to get the pictures they needed and we were finally allowed to go home!

I couldn't be happier or prouder of Andrew, he was such a trooper and did such a phenomenal job with all the testing he had that day!!!

The following day we drove up to Puyallup to see his Urologist and receive the results of his tests. The Dr. explained that while there is no damage on scarring on Andrew Kidney's (blessing), Andrew's condition has not decreased in severity, he is still diagnosed at stage 4. This means, Andrew has to continue taking antibiotics (an even higher dosage) everyday, and he will also have to have these same tests done again next year. It also means, that if Andrew's body does not resolve the problem on his own he will need to have surgery next year to fix it. We are hoping for the best, but know that no matter what the condition will be resolved. Aside from that Andrew is a very active, happy, healthy boy and we LOVE him!

Andrew in the waiting room, waiting his turn for his ultrasound

The nurse putting numbing cream on

All better now that he has some toys to play with (waiting for his RNC exam)

Showing us all his lotion

Doesn't he look happy to be having these exams?

The towel is hiding his IV, but he's happier now cause they gave him a new truck!
I didn't take any pictures of the aftermath, because honestly we both just wanted to get out of there and go home

Got Corn?

We do and lots of it! To explain: My husband Jon is set on trying to become self-sufficient, which meant for this year, he wanted to plant a garden, which he did, and for the hard soil we planted in and the lack of experience we had, we ended up with a ton of successes. We were able to grow carrots, peas, strawberries (deer ate them), cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, jalapenos, lettuce, and corn! We also shared our little garden spot with my mom. She also had planted many of the same things, one of which was the corn. As the stalks started to grow (Jon watered and took care of them everday), Jon got more and more frustrated as he realized my mom's corn was growin thicker (the stalk) and her corn was bigger! He decided that because she didn't come out enough to take care of her garden and that he put in the effort to make sure her stuff survived, he was going to eat her first piece...which he did (and it was delicious - sorry mom).

Of course, my mom did find out and apparently came up with a cuter-than-cute idea. She came over on a friday afternoon to drop off a cute halloween decoration for me, and then said she had something for Jon, but it was going to take a while (Jon had just came home for lunch and my job was to keep him inside so my mom could do what she needed). I, at this point had no idea what she was talking about, but minutes later Jon went outside, came back inside, and told Andrew to get his boots on cause we had lots and lots of corn in the garden. The pictures below are what he found:

Our garden

He found some corn!

But it wasn't just any type of corn, it was CANDY CORN!!!

(Jon's smile says it all)

Mom look at all this Corn we found!!!
My mom had put together over 30 bags of candy corn, tied ribbon around them, labeled them with "Jon's Corn" and hid them all over in our garden, it was such a brilliant idea and so much fun for Jon & Drew!!! Thanks mom for helping us jump-start the Halloween season!

P.S. Someday I hope to be as creative as she is!

Look who can walk.

I know this post is a little late, but hey as they say it's better late than never right!?! To back up a little bit, Kenneth took his first steps at his birthday party on August 20th, it was very exciting! He just thought he would put a show on for everyone who came. Since that day he has perfected his skills and was full-blown walking by 13 months (Sept. 18th)! He hasn't looked back since. We are so proud of him and LOVE how walking has changed him into such a big boy. He is now closer to being able to keep up with his older brother! Seeing him walk makes my heart smile. Watch the video and I bet yours will too!

Like Father, Like Son

So, if you don't already know, I'll let you in on a little secret, my husband Jon is a WORK-A-HOLIC! It's not necessarily that he wants to be, but he has ambition and drive that pushes him to work extremely hard (and long hours) to not only provide for our family, but make sure we are successful, in other words, he doesn't want to be just mediocre. He wants to excel not only for our family, but he wants to make other's lives easier as well. With that ambition and drive to be extraordinary (which I already know he is), he also has a "to do" list longer than almost anyone I have ever met. With our ever-continuing-getting-closer-on-a-daily-basis-home situation he also tries squeezing in: siding his dad's shop, cleaning up our property, yard work, his regular job, our garage situation, scouts (he is Scout Master for our area), service, and our own family time, he is one busy man. This sometimes means the kids may have to go a day or so without seeing him (booo, I know). So, when Jon comes home from his regular job, I know he is headed in one door and straight out the other to fix and cross things off our own property "to do," list. When Andrew sees Jon come home, he knows he is going to head back out to work, which will usually result in Andrew saying, "Daddy I want to go to work with you, (this child gives up anything to spend time with his dad)!" So if Jon is just going outside to get stuff done, he will usually let Andrew come with him.

Which brings me to the point....A couple weeks ago we drove out to Jon's parents place so he could work on siding his dad's shop, and the kids and I were inside and had been for a while and then Grandpa comes in with a gift for Andrew! It was his own complete tool belt! Tools and all! Andrew immediately wanted it open and to put all of it on, so we let him. Once he had all his tools on he was ready to go! He was exstatic to be able to go outside and help daddy work, he had his own hard hat, hammer, level, tape measurer, ruler, chalk line, writing chalk, gloves, tool belt, suspenders, and goggles (he didn't wear those).
Andrew just could not get enough of his tools and being able to do things like his daddy does, what can I say like father, like son!!!!

love.this.picture

I know his eyes are squinty, but it just shows how truly happy he is to be working out with his dad.

and a HUGE THANK-YOU to my amazing husband who works so hard and diligent to make our lives the best they can be. I love you!
oh and p.s. The other day I asked Andrew if he wanted to go shopping with me (jon wasn't even home) and he said, " No, I wanna go to work with daddy." I wonder if this will still be true when he becomes a teenager?

Front Porch

Last December (yes almost a year ago), Jon and I decided we would like to build a porch to add a little bit of cover from the rain, because let's face it, we live in the PNW, where it rains 10 out of the 12 months a year, so it's kind of necessary. He did build it, and it was wonderful, however as soon as he finished, I looked at him and said "I think it needs to be longer, like all the way to the end of the house longer." Jon didn't get mad or annoyed or anything for that matter, he said he would extend it for me and build it just how I wanted. So last month he did and the only question I kept getting was, "Are you sure you don't want to extend it to the other side of the house too?" To which I responded, "Nope, I will like it this way." And I DO! He did such a great job and below are pictures of the before-building-Finished porch.

(p.s. if you click on the collage it will blow-up so you can see all the pictures better)
And finally Viola, the Finished product. I LOVE IT! Thanks to my husband who built me a porch in the first place, just to have a complaining wife say it wasn't long enough and then build it longer! I love you babe and am grateful to have such a handy husband!