* The restaurant was really busy that night and were all out of their normal height chairs so they asked if this one would work. It was hilarious having Johnny looking down on the table. It definitely takes the name "height" chair to a new level!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Don't leave us!
We are so sad that our good friends (Ty's cousin and practically brother) Alex and his cute wife Jane and their adorable little boy are MOVING. We have had so much fun meeting for lunch, dinner, going on walks, shopping, chatting, and just hanging out with them. We sort of did one last hoorah and went up to our cabin in Midway. Even though it was short it was still fun. We are going to miss them alot and hope they will move back someday soon!!!!
* The restaurant was really busy that night and were all out of their normal height chairs so they asked if this one would work. It was hilarious having Johnny looking down on the table. It definitely takes the name "height" chair to a new level!
* The restaurant was really busy that night and were all out of their normal height chairs so they asked if this one would work. It was hilarious having Johnny looking down on the table. It definitely takes the name "height" chair to a new level!
COUSINS
One day Brecken and I were in charge of the three little rugrats: Mark, Claire and Kate. We decided we needed to get out of the house and went up to the outlets. Yes it did get hairy with three babies, only two adults and only two single strollers. But we made it out with only one diet coke spilled on the floor in JCREW and one spilled on the floor in the suburban. Thank goodness for diet so it wasn't too sticky! :) These pics were taken on the way up. Kate could not believe she had TWO friends in the back with her.
This is Mark's sticky cheeto hand holding Kate's little hand. These three are going to be such good friends! 
This is Mark's sticky cheeto hand holding Kate's little hand. These three are going to be such good friends! Kate looks up at me like "Wow mom this is fun!"
I'm getting old.....
For my birthday we did the usual Chapman birthday celebration and all went to breakfast at ohop. The white chocolate macadamia nut pancakes are amazing! Then that night Ty and I went to Michaelangelo's ALL BY OURSELVES. This hasn't happened for at least six months. One of the things no one ever told me about having children is that you eat differently. I never get to just sit down and enjoy the meal. I am always scarfing (sp? maybe not even a word....) my food as fast as I can knowing Kate is going to be needing me at any moment or trying to juggle her on my lap as I eat. So it was really fun to go out just the two of us. Thank you to meme for babysitting.
*These are the three youngest trouble makers in the family. Notice behind them are the bigger kids who got to sit at their own table.!
Then on Sunday we went up to my Grandpa's cabin in Silverfork and had a picnic with the family. It was so beautiful up there!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
6 Months
Kate is now 6 months old. I know most people say "where has the time gone?!!!" but my pediatrician and I were just laughing yesterday that she seemed to have the LONGEST four and five months of any of his patients. :) But we are just glad to be where we are and enjoy her every day. Believe it or not but she is in the 75% for height and the 20% for weight. You would never think that though looking at the rolls on her thighs! She is starting to do alot of fun tricks:
This doll my mom gave to her when she was in the hospital and she LOVES it! She loves to suck on her arms and hold on to her when she sleeps! I think it is so cute!
At the last minute we decided to join the Perry's on their annual trip to Lake Powell. We decided we needed a break even if it was just for two nights. Kate got an A+ on her behavior. I was really worried about her especially at night and everything went relatively smooth. It was really alot of fun!
Taking a bath in the houseboat sink. She loved it!
She sits up on her own and plays with her toys
She has one tooth and another one on the way
She loves to laugh and is very ticklish
She eats all of her fruits and vegetables but doesn't really like rice cereal
She has a really high pitch scream she does when she gets really excited
She talks her own little language... especially in the morning when she is playing in bed with Ty and I as we try to catch a few more minutes of sleep
She sleeps through the night....... oh wait no she doesn't. She acutally wakes up every hour about. I guess she just misses her mom too much!
When she gets really hyper she shakes her head back and forth.... it is hilarious!
We love her and her cute personality!
This doll my mom gave to her when she was in the hospital and she LOVES it! She loves to suck on her arms and hold on to her when she sleeps! I think it is so cute!At the last minute we decided to join the Perry's on their annual trip to Lake Powell. We decided we needed a break even if it was just for two nights. Kate got an A+ on her behavior. I was really worried about her especially at night and everything went relatively smooth. It was really alot of fun!
Taking a bath in the houseboat sink. She loved it!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
LCH
Well I guess I better update everyone on the status of Kate and her disease. First, I would just like to thank everyone for all of their prayers. I know that our Father in Heaven is listening and has been there for us throughout this whole ordeal. So thank you thank you thank you!!
*** WARNING: THIS IS GOING TO BE LONG. SORRY IF THIS BORES YOU BUT I HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE ASKING FOR AN UPDATE AND THERE ISN'T REALLY A SHORT WAY TO DO THAT.
BACKGROUND ON THE DISEASE
LCH is an extremely rare immune system disorder. Langerhan cells are white blood cells that fight off skin infections. In a normal baby the langerhan cells come to fight off a skin infection and then go away once the infection is gone. In a baby that has this disease the langerhan cells are immature and continue to reproduce more and more of these cells out of control. This is where the tumors occur. This can occur anywhere in the body. However, the most common places are on the bones and in the skin. In infants, usually under the age of two it can get into their major organs such as lungs, GI tract, liver, and spleen which in turn causes the organ to fail which makes this disease extremely scary and life threatening. The treatment that they use is chemotherapy and strong steroids to kill off these immature white bloods cells. The treatment is usually quite successful but it has to be done for a year to make sure they are all gone and the treatment has alot of yucky side effects. The other problem is that it is very common for the problem to come back after treatment has stopped. So not only is this disease so rare that it affects only 1 in every million babies but then the babies that have it are all so different. The disease can range from diaper rash to liver failure! Ya I know you are probably confused cause to be honest I am still sort of confused and I swear all the doctors are as well! Thank heaven for Primary Children's! Our oncologist has dealt with this before and is in contact with the "LCH master" who is a doctor in Texas that has done a billion studies on it and every patient in the USA with this disease practically goes to him.
KATE'S SCENARIO
So here is where Kate falls on the spectrum at this time. We have done a million blood tests, urine tests, x-rayed every single bone in her body, ct-scanned her whole body, and had all the dermatologists and residents in the whole hospital look at her skin. Every single test has come back clean!!! Can I say halifreakinlujah!!!! The LCH problem has only shown up in her lymph nodes and we have already cut out 80% of that so all we are going to do at this time is just watch her like a hawk. The fact that it isn't in any of her serious organs and that it is only in ONE of her "not so scary" organs they are hoping it will just go away on it's own. Every four weeks we will go in and test her again to make sure it isn't showing up anywhere else for the next few years. The doctor's say that the mother is usually the one to catch it. When I am shampooing her hair I am supposed to feel for any bumps or holes in her skull or if anything seems unusual I am supposed to bring her in. The second they spot it in any other spot of her body even if it is just a skin rash (that is biopsied and comes back as LCH) she will start chemo immediately. So you are asking yourself is she just going to live every second wondering in fear if it has spread somewhere else? Every time she gets a tiny bump on her skin does her stomach drop? Every time she spits up a little bit does she panic? Or even better every time she cries does her heart race? Well the answer is yes. BUT I am so thankful. I would way rather have this worry for the next few years than to watch my tiny baby go through chemo and steroid treatment. (The black rings around my eyes is evidence of my stress. I am aging exponentially!) I have just decided every time I start freaking myself out I have to remind myself that it is in the Lord's hands. He knows if it is going to go somewhere else and if it does it will be in His plan and there is nothing I can do about that. Yes, having this kind of an attitude is hard to do but prayer has become one of my best friends lately and hopefully down the road we will look back on this time of our life as a blessing that brought our little family closer together and made us value our lives more. I love my sweet Katherine and I couldn't imagine my life without her. I am so thankful for eternal families and the plan of salvation. Every night as I rock Kate to sleep I sing to her "Families are Forever" getting choked up every time. I know I have said this before but I have such a better perspective on life and I am just so thankful for every minute of every day! I love you all and I can't thank you enough for all you have done for us. Please continue to pray for baby Kate and hopefully we will just continue to test and test test and find nothing!!!! :)
*** WARNING: THIS IS GOING TO BE LONG. SORRY IF THIS BORES YOU BUT I HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE ASKING FOR AN UPDATE AND THERE ISN'T REALLY A SHORT WAY TO DO THAT.
BACKGROUND ON THE DISEASE
LCH is an extremely rare immune system disorder. Langerhan cells are white blood cells that fight off skin infections. In a normal baby the langerhan cells come to fight off a skin infection and then go away once the infection is gone. In a baby that has this disease the langerhan cells are immature and continue to reproduce more and more of these cells out of control. This is where the tumors occur. This can occur anywhere in the body. However, the most common places are on the bones and in the skin. In infants, usually under the age of two it can get into their major organs such as lungs, GI tract, liver, and spleen which in turn causes the organ to fail which makes this disease extremely scary and life threatening. The treatment that they use is chemotherapy and strong steroids to kill off these immature white bloods cells. The treatment is usually quite successful but it has to be done for a year to make sure they are all gone and the treatment has alot of yucky side effects. The other problem is that it is very common for the problem to come back after treatment has stopped. So not only is this disease so rare that it affects only 1 in every million babies but then the babies that have it are all so different. The disease can range from diaper rash to liver failure! Ya I know you are probably confused cause to be honest I am still sort of confused and I swear all the doctors are as well! Thank heaven for Primary Children's! Our oncologist has dealt with this before and is in contact with the "LCH master" who is a doctor in Texas that has done a billion studies on it and every patient in the USA with this disease practically goes to him.
KATE'S SCENARIO
So here is where Kate falls on the spectrum at this time. We have done a million blood tests, urine tests, x-rayed every single bone in her body, ct-scanned her whole body, and had all the dermatologists and residents in the whole hospital look at her skin. Every single test has come back clean!!! Can I say halifreakinlujah!!!! The LCH problem has only shown up in her lymph nodes and we have already cut out 80% of that so all we are going to do at this time is just watch her like a hawk. The fact that it isn't in any of her serious organs and that it is only in ONE of her "not so scary" organs they are hoping it will just go away on it's own. Every four weeks we will go in and test her again to make sure it isn't showing up anywhere else for the next few years. The doctor's say that the mother is usually the one to catch it. When I am shampooing her hair I am supposed to feel for any bumps or holes in her skull or if anything seems unusual I am supposed to bring her in. The second they spot it in any other spot of her body even if it is just a skin rash (that is biopsied and comes back as LCH) she will start chemo immediately. So you are asking yourself is she just going to live every second wondering in fear if it has spread somewhere else? Every time she gets a tiny bump on her skin does her stomach drop? Every time she spits up a little bit does she panic? Or even better every time she cries does her heart race? Well the answer is yes. BUT I am so thankful. I would way rather have this worry for the next few years than to watch my tiny baby go through chemo and steroid treatment. (The black rings around my eyes is evidence of my stress. I am aging exponentially!) I have just decided every time I start freaking myself out I have to remind myself that it is in the Lord's hands. He knows if it is going to go somewhere else and if it does it will be in His plan and there is nothing I can do about that. Yes, having this kind of an attitude is hard to do but prayer has become one of my best friends lately and hopefully down the road we will look back on this time of our life as a blessing that brought our little family closer together and made us value our lives more. I love my sweet Katherine and I couldn't imagine my life without her. I am so thankful for eternal families and the plan of salvation. Every night as I rock Kate to sleep I sing to her "Families are Forever" getting choked up every time. I know I have said this before but I have such a better perspective on life and I am just so thankful for every minute of every day! I love you all and I can't thank you enough for all you have done for us. Please continue to pray for baby Kate and hopefully we will just continue to test and test test and find nothing!!!! :)
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Whiplash
So I guess tumors can smell. The results finally came back on Friday from all the tests done on the lymph nodes they removed. Unfortunately it wasn't what the doctors thought. It is actually a tumor and she has what is called Langerhan's Cell Histiosytosis. The reason for the puss and the smell was because the tumor grew so fast her blood supply couldn't keep up with it and part of it was eroding. We will now be meeting with an oncologist next week. We talked to them on the phone and they said most likely we will do intense chemotherapy for six weeks and then maintenance chemo for a year. This type of cancer has a 20-30% chance of coming back so that is why they make you do it for a year. We are just hoping it hasn't spread at all and that it isn't in her bone marrow or any of her major organs. We will be doing alot more tests and finding out all the details in the week to come. Wish us luck as we begin our fight cause we are not backing down! Kate is a tough chick and has a lot to live for so unfortunately her little body will have to go through the ringer the next year but we have faith. Thank you to everyone for all your phone calls and emails. Please continue to pray for our sweet little girl and we will continue to update you.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
SISTERS
I have been so worried about getting my yard done this year and I haven't been able to get around to it with Kate and piano and my crazy life. So when I came home from the hospital I was shocked to see my yard all weeded with more dirt, bushes and flowers! My sisters with all their kids spent a whole day at my house and did the whole thing! Granted it is not that big but it would've taken me forever! Sisters are just the BEST! Even though Ty says after all our health scares with Kate we aren't having any more kids .... too bad! Kate has to have a sister! No girl should ever have to live without a sister. I love my sisters and of course my mom so much and I could have never gotten through these past weeks or anything else in my life without them!
Monday, June 15, 2009
more hospital pics.....
She would cause all sorts of problems b/c she was obsessed with putting her toes in her mouth but they had wires, and the oxygen measure things taped to them. Every time she would get it in her mouth or kick her legs the alarm would go off that she wasn't getting enough oxygen! She is a nut head!
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