PREGNANCY UPDATE

I suppose it’s time for an update on my pregnancy.  I haven’t posted anything about it since we announced we were pregnant! It’s funny how you get pregnant and never think about things that can go wrong.  Especially since my first 2 pregnancies and births were perfect and healthy.  Never, until now, have I looked at a child and understood how much of a miracle they are.  It’s such an amazing process and there really are so many things that can go wrong.   To get a healthy baby is truly a miracle.  Enter our situation:

Our baby has been diagnosed with Trisomy 13, which is a chromosomal abnormality. The median life span for Trisomy 13 babies is 2.5 days, 82% die within 1 month, and 95% die within 6 months.

I had another ultrasound last week and we have a little better idea of what's happening. The baby’s kidneys appear to not be functioning correctly because they are larger and lighter in color than normal. This is one of the defects brought on by Trisomy 13. If the kidneys aren’t functioning correctly then he can't urinate, and apparently urine is the main source of amniotic fluid (gross, huh?). Because of his kidney issues there is almost no amniotic fluid, which prevents him from breathing in fluid, which is a crucial part of lung development. Currently there doesn't appear to be much danger for him in the womb because the cord takes care of all his oxygen and nourishment. After birth his greatest immediate risks will be the lack of lung development, and if by a miracle he is able to breathe, the kidney failure. Right now the likeliest scenario that has been laid out for us is that his heart might beat for an hour or so, even if he can't breathe, and then he'll pass in our arms. Although we know it's part of Heavenly Father's plan, that part will be tough for us. Even though we're making plans to handle the worst, we're still hoping for the best.

We decided to name the baby Landon, so now we don't have to refer to him as "it" or "the baby" anymore. We want you all to know that we appreciate all the love and support we've received and ask for your continued thoughts and prayers. Because we're still processing and taking this information in, we ask for your patience. Sometimes we may not feel like answering the phone or email, but want you to know that those things don't go unnoticed or unappreciated.  We have been overwhelmed by the amount of service that has been given us and we appreciate it so much.  We have truly felt the love from all of those around us and find comfort in knowing we have so many people around us to rely on.

Halloween 2011

Jacob was superman this year and Cooper was a monkey.  Jake's preschool had a parade so we went to see.  

We went to Boo at the Zoo.  We've been before, sometimes really crowded and other times not really.  This year it was ridiculously crowded.  I don't think we will do Boo at the Zoo again. They have stations the kids can get a piece of candy from.  Most of the lines we had to wait at least 5-10 minutes... for 1 piece of candy.. major waste of time.  BUT, they did have a magic show, it was really fun and perfect for Jacob, he was cracking up

Carousel

Jake took a picture with the storm troopers.  He was fascinated with them so he went home and Wes turned on Star Wars for them to watch.  Jake loved it.   Although he had a bad dream and thought Chewbacca was at the end of his bed - of all the characters, Chew is the nice one... he still loved the movie though.

Painting their pumpkins.  We weren't able to do much for Halloween until the weekend before.  We've had a lot go on in the last couple of weeks.  (details to come on a later post) I felt so bad so we went to boo at the zoo the Saturday before Halloween and then after our date Saturday night, we picked up pumpkins for the boys at 11pm... they painted them on Sunday, put them on the porch Sunday night, enjoyed them Monday and we threw them out Tuesday.  uh-huh...

Our superman
We went to a friend's house for dinner before we went trick-or-treating, then we stopped by a friend's house to see them and their cute dog all dressed up in her bee costume.  Then Wes took the boys around the neighborhood while I haunted out candy.  We have found that since our house is directly across the street from the cul de sac, the kids will walk the street, go around the cul de sac and more often then not, our house gets skipped.  Funny. 

Monkey - so tired and ready to eat candy and go to bed

Our kids haven't had much sleep lately and with all that's going on, they've been acting out a little more... Jake had a major meltdown at bedtime.. I was literally holding on to him while he kicked and screamed and cried... it was sad, frustrating, difficult. I found myself say to them as we were putting them to bed, "this was a horrible night, did any of you enjoy that?  If this is how Halloween is going to end, we won't do Halloween anymore!"  I was wiped out, and so were they.   Poor boys. Why can't they make Halloween the last Friday of October?
 But overall, it really was a fun Halloween and nice to be together as a family! I love my family.  

October 2011

Remember when Cooper bumped his head at my parent's house?  Well, since then, any time he bumps his head, it is ALWAYS in that same spot on that side of his head.  Cooper had taken something of Jacob's and as Jacob started chasing him, Cooper got pushed and hit the edge of the ottoman (partially padded) and got this nasty bump.  I was thankful it was a padded ottoman otherwise I bet he would have had stitches.  We have all sorts of fun things happen when Wes goes out of town.

Jacob's school has soup day.  They have the parents come in and they do a program about vegetable soup.  They did a skit, songs and then we all ate some 'stone soup' (vegetable soup) named after the skit they did.  It was really cute.  

Wesley is our sunflower seeds guy on road trips.  Jacob has grown a love for them as well.  I caught him doing just like his dad with the bag of seeds and a cup.  It was cute.

Wesley's parents came in to visit us.  Reading with grandma and grandpa

They brought some great vegetables from their garden.  This is a potato from their garden.  Enormous! Jake took it into school for soup day.

We always like to go do some sort of activity or sight seeing.  This time we decided to go to Golden Gate State Canyon Park to see the fall leaves before the snow storm came in.  We made it just in time.  The leaves were gorgeous and then it snowed the next day.

The boys with grandpa

Jake can't get enough of nature.  He loves to climb

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We had a picnic lunch

Wesley's dad helped Wes put together a piece of furniture.  Jake and Cooper were excellent assistants

Jake gets a couple of kid's magazines from both our moms and one of the magazines had a cool experiment with dancing raisins.  you put baking soda and vinegar/water in a cup.  jake loved it

The boys wanted to play in the snow as it was snowing... as you can see, there wasn't much snow to play in

And of course you have to sit by the fire and drink hot chocolate after being out in the snow

September 2011

Weirdly enough, we've never been to the dentist yet and Jacob is four now.  So we made a trip for a cleaning.   

Jake did surprisingly well

Seriously, so good, and it was his first time

We found out he had a cavity so we came back for a filling.  He was given the 'piggy nose' and did so well, they didn't have to numb him.  What a trooper.  

First day of preschool.  We are at a different preschool this year and he loves this one as well.  Teacher Lori

Wes and I at a Rockies Game

Jake played soccer this fall.  He was really good!  One game he scored 5 goals, rock star!  He loves sports, such a natural.  I'm glad he has so much fun doing sports.

The team.  Wes was actually the coach.  Since he travels so much, coaching would never be an option but they practice for a 1/2 hour and then have the game for a 1/2 hour on a Saturday, he was able to coach.  Jake loved having his dad as the coach.

Our church had a preparedness fair, learning how to can food,  tips on food storage, recipes, etc.  The fire department came and the boys loved it.

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Trips to the donut shop

Labor Day 2011

We decided over Labor Day to drive down to Colorado Springs and spend the night from Saturday to Sunday.  We started our trip off at McDonalds in the morning.  Cooper ate his food and within minutes of our drive to Co Springs, he threw up his breakfast.  We turned around and changed out carseats, bathed and changed Cooper and started off again.  Minor set back.  The drive was one of the scariest ever, but the view was spectacular!

And my boys were in their element and in heaven to be able to climb everywhere

Jake and Wes are on the left

We didn't bother to get a hotel beforehand because there are hotels EVERYWHERE .  But once we got there, each hotel kept telling there was no vacancy.  We found out it was parents weekend at the Air Force Academy nearby as well as the balloon festival and some other event.  They'd been booked for weeks.  We were able to find a hotel about 25 minutes up the road, making it only 25 minutes near our house.  But I didn't want our trip to end so we got to the hotel.  There was a line of people in the same bind that we were in.  We were lucky to get the last room.  Not the nicest hotel, but how happy we were to have a place to stay!

Sunday morning we went to church, then off to the Air Force Academy.  This place is gorgeous

We drove home Sunday afternoon and had all of Monday to hang out.  This is what we did - Jake "reading" the paper

Our pool had a party so we went for the fun.  Last day to swim at the pool