Zander's Update

Well, I finally paid the $20 for the yearly photo storage upgrade so now I can post some photos!

Last Thursday, Zander had an appointment with his neurosurgeon to get CT scans to make sure everything is still working properly. We haven't had any outward signs of any problems, but it had been a couple years since we had been, so prompted by a request from the school district's nurse, we went ahead and had a check up.

Everything on his CT scans looked okay. His ventricles were a little bit bigger when compared to the scans done in 2005, but nothing significant. Then the PA began doing some tests with Zander and asking questions. She tried feeling the cord which runs from the top of his head, behind his ear, down his neck and ends in his abdomen. She got as far as his ribcage and couldn't feel it any longer. Just then a light bulb went off because just 2 days prior, Zander had trouble sleeping because his ribs hurt. We aren't sure if it's just a coincidence or not, but that's about the spot that the x-ray showed his tube breaking off. (we got x-rays just after the PA's exam to be sure).

Here is Zander laying in the "big doughnut" waiting for the CT scan.

At first when I told him to close his eyes, he closed them so tight it looked like he was going to strain something. I told him to just relax and close his eyes normally, so he did and the CT scan was done before he knew it.

Here are the cross sections of Zander's brain from the CT scans. The little white dot on the bottom three images on the right side is a cross section of his shunt.

After our appointment we rushed down to X-ray before they closed for the night. Zander did such a good job of holding still...as if he had a choice, the radiologist must have told him to stay real still about 50 times or more!

Here is Zander's skull. It's hard to see in this small photo, but his shunt is visible.

Here is the abdominal section. I could see the extra length of tubing coiled up inside, so I assumed everything was a-okay, but unfortunately we got a call the next day and his tubing did break, so he will be going in for surgery in about a week to have it replaced. They are going to leave the other tubing in there, which the PA assured me is just fine.

His time in the O.R. should be about an hour, but the actual surgery should be less than that. I am not really to anxious thus far. I know from experience that God has everything under control and this is just something that we just need to trust Him to work out all the details.

We haven't told Zander, but plan on telling him sometime this weekend. No need to get him all worked up all week when it's not necessary.

Anyway, that's the scoop...After a long day at the hospital, I treated all three kids to a root beer float at the A&W in Sandy. The kids thought it was great that the girl came out on roller skates to deliver our treat.

I hope to be better at blogging...although I still don't have a camera and have been borrowing cameras from just about everyone I know. We did order one and it should be here sometime this week!

For those of you who wanted to see his hydrocephalus history, you can see more pictures from the Facebook link here. Click on the photos to read the captions.

Kid City

For the past 6 months, our church has been re-modeling the children's department to resemble a small city. Today was the Grand Opening, but I was able to get some pictures last week before all the parents came to pick up their kids.

The facility is now known as "Kid City" and looks amazing. 

On either side of this road are lots and lots of little "buildings" or rooms where the kids go for Sunday School.

Here is Natalie sitting on the park bench near the entrance.

 

Zander stands by the Texaco station next to a real car. Natalie sits on the steps of city hall which is located right next to the room where the kids gather for singing.

Natalie is mesmerized by the water fountain near the entrance.

Here I am!

I've been a bad blogger! Actually, I have just changed locations for a spell. Most of you already know I'm on Facebook and that is reason number one for my absence on Blogger. Here are the other reasons...my photo account where I upload pictures to post on the blog is about 95% filled up and I now have to pay money to increase the storage capacity. It's not a big financial priority these days, so I haven't upgraded. Also contributing to my problem is my broken camera. Yes, it's broken again. Thankfully, I have been able to borrow cameras from other people for the important events, so eventually I will be able to share those special moments with you all.

It's hard to believe that September has almost come to an end. What a beautiful month is has been. I just love it when the warm sunny days of summer stretches into fall. We are planning to close up the pool this week, but Dan went swimming in it as recent as yesterday. 

The kids have been in school almost a month now and are doing great. Zander scored really high on his kindergarten assessment. Over the summer he taught himself to read and is constantly looking for new things to learn. Right now he is fascinated with numbers, addition and measuring things. He also likes counting really high using his calculator. At least once a day he asks me how long it would take to count to a billion. He is also keeping track of how many more days until his birthday, giving us daily updates.

Natalie is doing well in second grade too and has scored 100% on both of her spelling tests. This summer we read Anne of Green Gables together and now she is reading it (the children's edition) on her own. We also watched the movie and went to an Anne of Green Gables tea this summer. Over the weekend Natalie got to bring home the classroom gnome named Tom. She was assigned to write about what Tom did while at out house. Tom got to go with Natalie to sign up for Girl Scouts, to the Teddy Bear Parade and to church. I have lots of photos of Tom that I will share soon.

Hayden has adjusted to preschool better than I thought. He loves the idea of having "his school." His teacher is new to the school and is just the nicest person. I gathered from talking to her that Hayden doesn't talk much in school which doesn't surprise me. Last week was the teddy bear picnic and I got to hang out with Hayden at his school. The best part about Hayden being in preschool was that it forced him to be potty trained. He was pretty much potty trained when he started, but once he began school, he stopped having accidents of any kind!!!

Well, that's it for now. I'm gonna try to work out the kinks and get some photos posted. There is lots to share from our recent summer adventures as well as back to school fun.

So many things I want to share with you

Wow, I have been such a slacker with my blog this summer. I guess that means we have been busy. I always think that once school is out we can have a nice relaxing summer, but usually the opposite is true. Between trying to keep the yard up (which I am failing at miserably), keep on top of my veggie garden, keeping the pool up and let's not forget about all the housework, then add to that swim lessons, VBS, library reading program, birthday parties and playdates, I feel like I can't wait for September to get here so I can have a break!!! We haven't really had any pool parties yet and the summer is almost over...currently the pool is being treated for an algae bloom that hit right when we had one of our hottest days. It was such a bummer not being able to use the pool, but it should be ready for swimming soon.

Swim Lessons

Zander is learning to swim with his face in the water.

Natalie can swim really good and even goes off the diving board and swims in the deep end of our pool!

After swimming lessons the kids enjoyed playing in the newly constructed splash park...until Zander slipped and fell and landed on his head.

Here is a video of Hayden jumping into our pool, going under water and then inching his way back to the steps. He did this over and over for about 20 minutes one day last month. Dan and I couldn't believe how brave he was.

Fashion Show

My sister Toni works at Penney's at the mall and asked if Natalie and Zander could model some back-to-school clothes for the children's department. Their cousin Becca was in the fashion show too!!

Here are the cousins

My little models looking so sylish in their back to school clothes.

My 35th Birthday!

Last Thursday was my 35th birthday and I thought it would be fun to go downtown and have lunch at Todai in Pioneer Place.

Here I am practicing my chopstick skills!

This is the REAL reason why I love Todai. Don't get me wrong, the other food is great, but these tiny desserts are a real treat. They even had green tea icecream!

I was also served a mini birthay cake which I shared with everyone. It was just the right size considering how full we were already.

Me and my family on my birthday.

Crazy girls trying to immitate the sea creatures in the window display.

On Friday I had an 80's themed party. My pictures are posted on my Paper Caper's blog if you are interested. Here is the direct link to the 80's party post.

Our fun week

Last Sunday, our friends the Gishes, from Idaho, came to stay for a couple nights. Our kids get to see them just a couple times a year so it was a real treat to spend so much time together. They have 3 kids Darrien 13, Kylie 11 and Dylan 5 and they all played so well together. All the kids (6 of them) slept out in the tent and had so much fun "camping." We swam a lot and made s'mores in the fire pit.

On Wednesday we went to see Captian Bogg and Salty at the library. Our summer just wouldn't be complete with out these singing pirates! After wards the kids got their autographs.

Here is the latest shot of Natalie...such a sweet girl. She was so excited to have a tea party. This was her first time using her tea set. You can hear all about it on her new blog.

Yesterday we went to the hospital to see Andrea, John and their new baby (11 lbs, 2 oz!).


Me holding Christian for the first time!

Natalie was at a birthday party, but the boys were there and were very interested in the new baby. Zander asked me if we were going to have any more babies...he was really good with his new cousin and would love another sibling, but I think 3 is enough!

...but these tiny feet are ALMOST enough to make me reconsider.

Day out with Thomas

Last Sunday we drove out to see Tomas the Train who was stationed in Hood River. Each of our kids has got to ride on Thomas when they were about 2 years old. The first time when Natalie was 2 1/2 was just 3 days after Zander had his brain surgery. Then when Zander was 2 1/2, I was pregnant with Hayden. This time, instead of the whole family taking the train ride on Thomas, I took Hayden while Dan did all the other activities with the older 2. The price of the tickets to ride were significantly higher than before, so we agreed (although I would have loved for the other kids to come along to) that this would be Hayden's special day!

Hayden was seriously shocked...could it be true? Legos that make Thomas!...He was in train heaven! Next you see him all ready to go as he boards the train.

The kids had lots of fun with their balloon creations. The boys got swords with belts to hold them and Natalie got a unicorn. There were all kinds of fun trains to play with.


Zander and Hayden with Sir Topam Hat.

Looking out at the scenery. When the train started moving, he was so excited "Train moving," he said over and over, until he was distracted by his other favorite thing "TRACTOR, TRACTOR!!!"

He did this pose all on his own...I guess he thought is was pretty cool!

Here they are with Thomas.

Fabulous Food Friday...

...has moved to my Paper Capers blog...check it out!

Dan the Man

Dan and I are in full project mode this summer. It seems in the past two summers we have been so busy inviting people over to swim, that we really didn't get much done around here...So we have a lot of things that were falling behind.

Last week we started pressure washing the patio by the pool. We didn't get very far on this chore last year so we were anxious to finish it up and apply the sealer, so the job won't be so time-consuming in years to come. Dan and I each spent 1- 2 hours a day each day last week pressure washing the patio and it's still not done, so you can see why we are motivated to get it all sealed this year.

We also pressure washed the metal patio furniture in preparation for painting it...we're giving the patio set a makeover and you can see the results on my Paper Caper's blog.

Going, Going, Gone!

Yesterday Dan cut down the fir tree in the back that has been shading the pool beginning around 4 pm on. To cut the tree or leave the tree was something up for debate even when Dan's parents lived here. Although I liked the tree, I had to agree, it was really limiting the amount of time we could swim in the pool...what sold it for me was my hope that eventually we can put a little covered area like a gazebo or something back there in it's place!

The process of cutting a tree of this size down was no doubt stressful. Add to that, using a chainsaw that didn't want to cooperate, then borrowing another one from the neighbor, plus the fact that it stared to lean the wrong way...it was an exciting time at Ernstopia. Dan called his Dad up who came over to assess the situation. All that was really needed was a wedge and soon the tree was down. I saw it fall from inside the house and didn't even have time to get my camera rolling again...but was relieved to see the tree come down with only minimal damage...Now I can plant my raspberries!!! So Dad, can we borrow your wood chipper?




Here is our first burn from the burn pile back in June. After 2 years worth of yard debris had collected, it was getting heaped up pretty high. The other photo is of Dan showing off his amazing Bass collection. Dan isn't normally a fisherman, doesn't even have his own pole, but thanks to his brother Dylan who loaned him his pole, Dan caught somewhere in the neighborhood of 13 fish on his rafting trip down the John Day river last month...more than the guys who invited him along!