Human Compassion...

Considering that two of my kids had bone marrow transplants, this story is very heart warming to me. It is nice to see there is still some human compassion in this world... You can read about it here:

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/04/new-hampshire-track-bone-marrow/






  On that note since I am here, I can do a really quick update. All is pretty well here in the house, other than a little bit of the sniffles all is well. Ty is going to the doctor later because in December he lost all sense of taste and smell. So we are in our pursuit to see if we can get to the bottom of this, we started at the general doctor and he took him off a medication, that didn't help next step it ENT. Marshall is doing good, in the process of finding another job, he really didn't like McDonalds as it was a little to fast paced. Nate is getting so big! He will be 10 in July, where oh where did the time go! Last but not least is Amelia! She is doing outstanding, we are gearing up for her 2 year check up. Yep, TWO years, WOW is all I can say she is doing so awesome. She has the best attitude in the world, she has her moments, but usually she takes what she is handed and runs with it. Me, well, I'm the ringmaster of this 3 ring circus and I am trying to keep it all together and under one big top, lol. I was doing better and running my 5k's till my knee messed up, but I am getting back at it, just not the running as much, but I will keep trucking along!If I get a chance I will post some pictures later on...... Gotta run to the doctor now! Thanks for checking in on us if there is even anyone out there, still! ;)

Blessings,
Kelly

I promise we didn't fall off the face of the Earth! With three busy kids, I think I sometimes find myself meeting myself in the hallway. Every one is doing fairly well at the moment. We have had a few bumps , but very thankful nothing major. About two weeks ago our morning started with some excitement with Amelia passing out and us having to call 911. Thank goodness she was ok, she did however have a nice looking shiner and a bump and bruise on her back. The next day was Ty's birthday and my 2nd 5k race, later that night we went out for Ty's birthday. The next morning Ty had to do some float escorts, yes it's Mardi Gras time and that means we hardly get to see him! Well he left about 5 in the morning and it takes him about 45 minutes to get to where he needed to be to do the escort. Anyway long story sort of short, I get a phone call at 6:40 from SMH ER!!! Yes the Emergency Room! First thing I thought was motorbike accident, but apparently he had been having sever chest pains and couldn't take it any longer and went to the ER. They ran every test known to man admitted him, did a stress test the next day and sent him home. Wasn't his heart thankfully, they seem to think it was his hiatal hernia. He has been under extreme stress. I have been praying about his health, with all this stress I just knew something was going to pop up. So that has been one of our biggest prayers right now, less stress. I can't go into details about the stress and how it can become less, but God knows what it is and if you could just say a small prayer for us it would greatly be appreciated.
Marshall in all this commotion was taking Drivers Ed. He did pretty good but still needs lots of practice and much more confidence. And Nate, well Nate keeps me on my toes. He is doing well in all aspects!!
Tomorrow I am running in my 3rd 5k called the color run! It is going to be do much fun. I will try to post some pictures if I take any or get any!
I hope my next update won't take me do long......but I can't promise anything, busy, busy, busy here!
Thanks for checking in on us, well I suppose there are some if you who still check in on us?!?
Blessings,
Kelly

I Did It!

I did it I ran my first ever 5k!! It felt great. There was so many people there that unfortunately I wasn't able to run the entire time, but still I did it in 40:10!! We are now planning on doing the Color Me Rad 5k in April!! I'm sure we will be adding some others in there before April too!
The pictures were taken after the race!


Amelia is doing pretty well, other than an occasional cold, she keeps trucking right a long. She started her growth hormones about a month ago, so we wait patiently to see some growth there! She also started on some Premarin...and OH Boy, what a difference that has made. We no longer walk on egg shells waiting for the beast to be unleashed (lol 😃) . She herself has even noticed the difference, now when she is moody it's because she is hungry or lack of sleep. Lack of sleep has definitely been her this weekend. She had a full weekend, Friday she had a friend over from her cheer squad, then Saturday she went to the church for girls night out and then last night she had another friend over ( I know it was a school night, but the mom had something to do). She has been loving going to and getting involved in the church youth group!
Marshall has been working, for about a month and a half at a McDonalds just about a mile and a half away. He is loving it.
Well that's about it for now, All is well!! For now we are living the busy "normal" life and......LOVING IT!!
Blessings to All!!

Breast Cancer Awareness

Please say a little prayer for me, tomorrow I'm running my first 5k ever. It's for the Susan G Komen breast cancer!
Thanks for your support!!

First Day of school

Wednesday was the first day of school for the kids!
For Amelia it was the first day of 7th grade.

For Nate it was the first day of 4th grade!
And one picture is of a proud Papa!! Lol

My Cheerleader!

I hope the pictures come out! These are some pictures of Amelia at cheer camp just a few weeks ago. They are from her show and shine day. One if them if you look closely you will see her being held up! That is not as high as she goes, she will get higher!

One year check up

Sorry its a bit late, but we have been crazy busy!
We had a week full of appointments in Minneapolis. We arrived on a Saturday night around 9, which is ok because it doesn't get dark until about 10! We finally found the place we were staying. We had a one bedroom apartment at an assisted living senior complex. It was rather nice and comfy. Plus it was super easy to get to the hospital, we were about 5 minutes away, didn't have to go on the interstate which is usually a night mare at rush hour times.
Sunday we went to the Mall of America, we ate and let her ride some rides, after we stopped at a Target to get some snacks and stuff we could cook in Microwave or the oven.
Monday we were at the clinic for our first appointment at 7:30.
She did her oral glucose test which was negative. We saw dermatology and what we suspected was right, her "rash" is indeed eczema. They gave her a bunch of creams, lotions and instructions.
During our week visit we had numerous X-rays and scans done. One scan showed that her bone age is 10.5 years, which isn't that bad but also gives her room for growth, which was another test that she had done, a growth stimulation test which is needed for insurance to get them to pay for growth hormones. On one of the X-rays we saw where she has the beginning of scoliosis, great more for the poor child! We saw Endocrinology there and found a lot of stuff out from them. Unfortunately we are having to wait a but to get into our local doctor. I was hoping to start her on some of he recommended medicines before school starts, because one of the things we found out is that she is in full blown menopause!! That explains the extreme mood swings and constant hot flashes!! Poor thing, we haven't even explained to her about her menstrual cycle yet, we figured let's get over BMT first then we'll start that talk. Now I don't know how to have this talk with her. I think I'm just going to leave it alone for a year start her on the hormones then next years check up we will talk to her and give her the medicine to force her to have a menstrual cycle... 13 is a good age to start, heck she's been through enough already. We also found out at that visit that she needs some vitamin D, so we have started that pill.
ENT was a good check up, pulmonary function test was much better this year than last, what a difference a HGB of 12.5 makes compared to 5!! Biopsy went well, don't have all the results but she is still 100% donor making all three cell lines. Her only count that is a little low is her IGG, which is one that is part of the immune system and helps fight infections and viruses, but Dr Wagner said we won't worry about it unless she starts to get sick a lot with colds and stuff. Which thankfully, she hasn't had a lot of and it's been low for a while now. Marshall gets an infusion once a month because his is low, but if he doesn't get his he gets sick. (he's almost 9 years post transplant)
We started her vaccinations just this week. She was scheduled to get 7 shots, they broke it up for her (thankfully we don't live but 7 miles from the pediatrician) two she got Tuesday, two more today and 3 next Thursday. Then she gets another 7 at the end of August. Then she won't have to do them but one more time, I think a year later.
She is getting excited because cheer camp will be starting on the week of the 9th. Then believe it or not school will be starting for them on the 8th of August. Still have so many dr visits I'm trying to fit in, dentist, orthopedic, and the shots all while trying to let her have summer fun since she missed it all last year!!
We did make it to a day at the beach, it was ok, they really hadn't been in a long while and both she and Nathan now have no desire to go back...they hated the salt water and they hated the sand every where! So we will stick to nice clean pools!!
Well have to run to get them up and dressed for more shots. Hopefully it won't be so long between updates!
Thanks to those of you who do still stop in a check on us, if there is even anyone doing so! Thank you for keeping Amelia in your prayers, we are ready for the next chapter in her life... Living post bone marrow transplant, one with a little less restrictions!
Blessings!!!!
Kelly