Love with a new life

The most enjoyable thing that I love is the ability to meet with wonderful people and be part of a personal moment. Tim and I go to a networking group on Tuesday mornings, one of our friends in that group referred me to his sister, and I took pictures for them she referred me to this family, and I just love what we were able to get. Here are a few of my favorites...

This breathtaking little guys middle name is Dallas, if you are wondering why he is on a Cowboys blanket. His room is decorated this way, so I think it is perfect...

This last one is one of my favorites, I asked her if I could get a little smile and her Daddy told her to think about icecream and I think this is how I think about icecream too...

Phoenix Tea Party 2009

As one of the many Americans that are angry and frustrated with an out of control government. A government that over the course of the last few years have forgotten that they do not work for themselves, they work for us. They work for the people. This was a country founded on the ideas and principles of a government, by the people, of the people and for the people! I am so frustrated with what took place in the last few years of the last administration and now how ridiculous it has become with this administration. People in powerful positions that "don't understand the tax code", don't even pay their own taxes, and expect responsible Americans to bail out irresponsible people and companies. A President that made campaign promises, but them passed an omnibus bill with 9,000 pork barrel projects using tax payers dollars. A bill that most congressman admitting to not even reading.

With that being said, I was overwhelmed with the most peaceful but energetic display and unity amongst people in my own community. People who have something to say and came out in bus fulls to say it. (We even ran into our next door neighbors, not knowing that they were heading down there too.) They proudly waved flags, home made signs and kids were sitting on their dad's shoulders to see the sights. I am so glad that we went and my children were able to experience it. I don't want my children to believe everything I do, but I want to instill in them the power to take a stance and stand up for what they believe in. This is America!!! These are some images that grabbed my attention.

Griffin made sure that we got a picture of him on the fire truck too! Then we had to leave because Tim and Griff found their way into a cactus! Ouch!!

Share or not to share...

I didn't know whether or not to share pictures of this as it involves a certain almost 2 year old and just about all my underwear, but I thought it was just too funny...

I was taking a shower this morning and as I was getting out I saw little body in my closet...here is how the conversation went...

Mama, "Kenna, what are you doing???"

Kenna, "notin"

Mama, "Can you please get out of mama's clothes"

Kenna, "o-tay"

Kenna comes around around the corner of my closet and I see that Kenna has pulled out just about every pair of my underwear, and is wearing them all like beautiful necklaces. (Don't worry, they were clean) She was such a proud little girl...the conversation continues...

Mama, "Oh look at you!!" (trying hard not to laugh hysterically!!)

Kenna, "Kenna so pritteee" (pretty)

Mama, "Yes, Kenna is very pretty!"

Please get a good laugh and have a good day!!!

A mini family reunion...

This past weekend we were able to gather and celebrate my Great Uncle Daryll who came into town. We have not seen him in 20 years, so it was quite the family affair. My Uncle Ron works out at Lake pleasant and was able to rent out the employee lodge for the weekend so we had a private lake and too much fun to be had. Only about a forth the family was able to come, but I had the tripod and set the timer and was able to capture the family that was there.

We were able to fish, paddle boat, explore, hunt for lady bugs, eat and so much more. Griff was able to go out on the lake several times to fish. The first time he went out, he went with my dad, Tim and my Uncle Virgil. And HE CAUGHT A FISH...okay the real story is Virgil caught one on the other side of the boat and between him and my dad they took that fish and put it on Griffin's line and he reeled it in...so he thinks that he caught it and he was proud of himself. I am bummed because I wasn't on the boat to take a picture and it is catch and release...so maybe next time...

Kenna wasn't feeling very good Saturday morning, so she spent most of it snuggled with someone...this one is just too precious...

Once she started feeling better she was back to wonderful self and her and Griff had so much fun looking for lady bugs and jumping and playing...

We were even able to capture a good family photo with Mom in the picture...yeah!

Once the day settled down we had a campfire and roasted marshmallows and had delicious smores...and here is what the sunset looks like at the lake...

More on Griffinator...

Well, I don't even know where to start with what has been going on lately. I can tell you that sleep has NOT been happening in our household, so exhaustion has been a factor.

I took Griff in on Friday to the new pediatric pulmonologist, who I love already. I wish I would have found her first instead of where we started, but all part of the process I guess. She did a lung function test and found that his lungs are definitely out of whack. The large pockets are only at around 56%, where as the small pockets are around 117% (they all should be at 100%). She also found that after a breathing treatment two of his pockets decreased, where they should have increased. She has some theories, the main one being that he is having a reflux problem. If you remember when Griffin was 5 weeks old he had surgery for pyloric stenosis. She thinks that there may have been a complication from that which is causing him to reflux and then aspirate. Or it could just be a swallowing issue where drops of liquid are going into his lungs and not into his stomach. The liquid is building causing the pneumonia. So where do we go from here??

She wanted him to have blood work to rule out valley fever as well. Check, did that on Friday. She wanted him to have a chest x-ray since he doesn't have one without pneumonia. Check, did that Monday morning. Oh wait, when we were there the technician asked why he was having the x-ray, I explained, then she asked where his last one was because she needed to compare them. Got a call from the doctor saying that he has pneumonia yet again. Thankfully, he is at home this week and on antibiotics and his breathing treatments, and not in the hospital. We were supposed to have an upper GI and a CT Scan scheduled for this week, but they are going to have to wait until his lungs are clear. Is that ever going to happen???

So no sleep you ask, on top of all that is going on with Griffin, McKenna has not been sleeping for the last few months. It has been getting worse and worse with violent tantrums and screaming in the middle of the night. She has only been sleeping about 3 hours combined the last few weeks. So I took her to the naturopath and they have her on a homeopathic remedy to help her sleep. They think she is suffering from night terrors, yes, I had them too when I was little. She has been on the homeopathic medicine for three nights and she actually slept for about 5 hours last night. Yoohoo!! While we were there they also gave Griffin a homeopathic, natural expectorant to help him and that seems to be helping as well. We are still getting up with Griffin every three hours during the night to do breathing treatments, so sleep will happen one day. I do feel like a have newborn twins :)

When we know more, I will pass on the information. I feel hopeful that there are answers beyond asthma and more medication.

Griffin update...

Hey, Just wanted to let all you know that Griffin was able to come home Saturday night. He is maintaining his oxygen level at 92% on his own and just taking it easy this week. We are going to see a pediatric pulmonologist at St. Joe's on February 13. He did have one at Phx Children's but we weren't happy with the lack of effort in trying to treat him, so we are reaching out and finding "new eyes" to try to figure out what is causing these crazy bouts of pneumonia. We will keep you all updated. Tim and I just want to thank all you for your love, support and prayers for our family and Griffin.

Griffin round 9...

As a mom I feel so frustrated writing this. Griffin was admitted for the ninth time last night in to the hospital. He started having breathing problems Sunday and we took him to the ER on Monday morning. He was admitted on four liters of oxygen and his oxygen level was 96%, by 10:00 last night he had almost a 104 fever and they had to up him to 6 liters to keep him above 90. By this morning he had a chest x-ray to confirm that he had pneumonia and they begun antibiotics, but had to increase his oxygen to 7 liters. He will most defiantly be there for the remainder of the week to just get him to room air. The normal criteria for him to go home is sleep through the night on room air and his breathing treatment to be every 4-6 hours. Right now he is on 7 liters and his breathing treatments are every 2 hours. Please pray for Griffin to stay strong and for his lungs continue to grow stronger, and for us to keep his spirits up and find rest to also be there for McKenna...