Life vs. perfectionism

 Today, was supposed to be a day that I had worried about for months. Hunter was supposed to receive cast #6 today.  I had planned, packed, and written out every detail, because perfectionism breeds preparation. The plan was that Jamey was going to drive Hunter to Dallas and I was going to stay in Houston, since I'm on the verge of getting my prego waddle on and my doctor put the kibosh on travel.
  Jamey was sure Hunter was going to be a bear through the process, but was assuming that it was going to be harder on me than on Hunter. You see, this was not only the first time that Hunter was supposed to be in a casting/medical situation without me,  but was also supposed to be the first time that Hunter had been away from me overnight, as well.  Good luck Daddy! If we weren't ready for baby girl, we would be after this experience.
  For the last week, Jamey has been on a mule deer hunt in Colorado.  A few days before he left, he was organizing his various levels of camouflage and Under Armour-the Kendra Scott of deer hunting. I knew he was BEYOND excited to go, but probably a little anxious to leave at the same time. He told me that he loved me, but he could leave that second and be perfectly happy to get on the road. He left the Saturday right after Thanksgiving, rubbed my growing belly, and told little ladybug to stay put at least until the 10th after Hunter got his cast.
   He and was scheduled to hunt December 1st-6th. The lease manager kept boasting about all of these monstrous mule deer and James was more than ready. Geared up, gunned up, watching hunting shows to get mentally prepped, and completely stoked for the trip. I really think in his mind, he thought, we'll drive up, hunt until Wednesday, and then drive back home with a monster in tow. Then we'll have a few days to crash and head to Dallas.

Hunting Log: December 1st through the morning of the 6th...COLD and no sight of anything worth shooting.

Homefront Log: December 1st through the morning of the 6th...operation nesting for baby in full swing, missing Daddy, baby girl still comfy.

  Disappointment had set in. Being the loving wife that I am, I desperately wanted him to shoot something, but selfishly wanted him to return home soon in one piece. Actually, the sooner the better. Driving from Colorado only to turn around and drive to Dallas with a moody 2 year old was going to be no piece of cake. He decided to hunt until the night of the 6th and drive back on the 7th. While I was worried about him being exhausted driving and the stress of the next days to come, I understood. Good things come to those who wait and the hunter found his prize in the final hour!!

                                     For all of you hunters out there...27" wide, scored 174


  Home front news:
I mentioned nesting was in full swing, but didn't let you in on all of the details.
We're not exactly just nesting...
We're in full remodel mode around here. We started the Monday right after James left for Colorado, contractors and all. What started out as a simple give Hunter a "Big Boy" room mission and baby girl a new nursery, turned into painting of the majority of the house, new flooring upstairs and down, and complete demo and remodel of both upstairs bathrooms. Our bedroom and bathroom are on the schedule, as well, depending on how long baby girl stays comfy. I know, I know...we are CRAZY. The truth is though, that I have always done better with too much on my plate. I manage time, stress, etc. better, so why not remodel right before baby while my hubby is out of town?!
   Anyway, remodel in full swing,  so excited for Daddy and his great kill, but a little concerned at this point, because Hunter man started to run a low grade fever Saturday afternoon/evening. Obviously a major red flag for casting. Fever continued through the night and most of the day Sunday. I got advice from our resident anesthesiologist in the family and kept Hunter on alternating Advil and Acetaminophen. Decided to take Hunter in to see the pediatrician first thing yesterday morning.

Diagnosis: low grade fever, clear lungs, clear throat, clear ears....hmmm.

Called Scottish Rite and spoke with the day surgery nurse, anesthesiologist, conferred with Dr. Sucato and his nurse, and all went back and forth for several hours. At 4:00 p.m. yesterday afternoon all involved decided it would be best to postpone for Hunter' s safety. We'll give Hunter time to completely recoup and Jamey will have time to rest, as he drove the full 14 hour trip back home in one stint on Sunday. Everything will work out...the catch is that we have to decide when to reschedule.

My feverish little man. When he saw that I was taking a picture of him laying on our golden boy, Gauge, he looked up and said "Cheese" with a smile. Even a sweetheart when he's not feeling so great. 

  Dr. Sucato's nurse and I have talked several times in the last few weeks about Hunter's health as he has had allergies with the every changing December Texas weather, Hunter's weight gain, and obviously scheduling. We had worked to hopefully ensure that Hunter would be first case this morning with arrival at 6:30 and casting around 8:00. We felt like this would be easier on his tummy and on his heart, since Momma wouldn't be there.

   At my doctor's appointment last Thursday, ladybug's birthday/my c-section day was moved to December 31st. So, unless she decides to come on her own, we will have a New Year's baby. The catch....Dr. Sucato is on trauma block this month and has a very tight schedule, so the options to reschedule for cast # 6 are either December 30th or wait until January 15th. (Yes, you read that right. What is the likelihood that the first available would be the day before baby girl's arrival?!)
We are obviously going to try to get on a cancellation list, but the January 15th date is a long time to wait/time for the cast to become too tight, since we originally were cast in # 5 the first week of October. Decisions, decisions.
  Kids teach you so much. Between the phrases that they say and the things that they do. Often times, it is a reminder of things we need to work on ourselves. Recently, Hunter has been working on puzzles and word jumbles. I was telling James that I think we might have a little perfectionist on our hands. It's obvious that he is already strong-willed. He probably got multiple doses of that from our combined genes. Hunter becomes so frustrated when things don't work out the way that he intends and the pieces don't fit exactly. I have been encouraging him to keep trying and explain that things happen and there is no reason to cry over spilled milk. It's so cute listening to him say "Try again" and "It happens". The thing is, that to a 2 year old, probably all of us actually, that explanation doesn't mean as much as a visual example. We don't do drama around this house. I can tell him not to be upset, but I need to Show him to make it count. I do think that it is important to model for your kids. If we show kids how to deal, they learn how to deal. If we get frustrated with the little things and throw temper tantrums as adults, rather than try to find a better solution, that's what our littles are going to learn. In the same instance, if we show them how to be strong, work through what life throws at them, and pray hard, hopefully they will learn how to navigate a little bit better through life.
   Perfectionism can be a good characteristic in a lot of ways, but life happens and you can't always plan the details. I like to think that that is God's little way of reminding us that He's got this and we're supposed to be trusting His plans, rather than trying to fit Him into ours. Ultimately, everything will work out in the time that it was and is supposed to happen and the way that it was intended to happen.

We'll keep you all up to date on the Sitton household remodel, cast # 6, and the arrival of our little lady bug. Keep Hunter man in your prayers as we try to get him well as soon as possible.

As always, blessings to you all and stay tuned!

 

5 and counting...Happy Anniversary to my partner in crime.

   Happy 5th Anniversary to the handsome, engineering-minded, father our of children and hunter of my heart.

   Normally, I would have picked out two cards, one serious and one with some witty phrase weeks ago. Unfortunately, the last time that we went into Hallmark to buy cards, Hunter decided to make a matching game with different sized envelopes. The only way I got out of the store without total chaos ensuing, was to buy him a repeat of the Mickey Mouse birthday card my mom had gotten him for his birthday complete with "Hot Dog" themed song bracelet. (If you have a toddler you probably know the words to this song by heart and understand my dilemma well.) Thank Heaven for Mimi who knows the way to our favorite two's heart! This morning, it's 35 degrees outside and I'm 8 months pregnant, so the likelihood of me trudging back into the Hallmark store today with my favorite 2 is slim to none. I think my hubby may appreciate this more anyway...at least that's what I hope ;)
    In this season of thankfulness and gratitude, I thought fitting to share the top five reasons that I am thankful for my husband.



5)  BBD=Big Buck Deer and appreciation for the outdoors

   I didn't grow up in a family of hunters. In fact the only thing that I remember my grandfather shooting or attempting to shoot were pole cats aka skunks or animals that would get into the garden. However, as a farmer's granddaughter, I did grow up with an appreciation for the outdoors. My hubs is an avid hunter, so much so, that he had his heart set on giving our first born that name.  I appreciate the excitement that the hunter of my heart has for hunting and fishing. I love the opportunity that it brings to spend family time together and the fact that he is able to share that with his son, cousin, uncle, and dad.
   The little man and I went on a hunting trip with James when Hunter was two months old. While as a father-son duo, they have many hunting years ahead, but this will always be a special memory and was the hunt of lifetime.

November 2012

Full mount of BBD

  Yes, to all you wives who may be reading this, that is a full mount of BBD. If you are fans of Melanie Shankle and have heard of her novel Antelope in the Living Room about marriage, we actually had our own version of BBD in the foyer. My husband loves me so much and respects my passion for interior design that he thoughtfully or willingly agreed, however you choose to look at it, to move BBD upstairs into his man cave. ;)

4)  Laughter

  You may have heard that laughter is one of the keys to a good marriage. Jamey always knows how to lighten a situation and make me laugh. He light heartedly antagonizes me every morning without fail and brings a smile to my face every day. Throughout Hunter's health journey, the good, the bad, and the ugly, he has kept me grounded and reminded me to grin and full out belly laugh as much as we can. Nothing makes my heart smile more than to see James and Hunter playing and laughing together. 

                               

Like father, like son...

3)  Appreciation

  Recently, we were talking about a situation and referred back to our views on marriage. Marriage is obviously a constant work in progress. Life continually evolves and people grow and change. However, there has never been a doubt in my mind as to how much my husband loves and appreciates me. He finds ways to remind me every day. Most recently, he told me that he was so glad that I was on his team. Inside story, but a compliment that shows his appreciation none the less.

2) Determined/ Impassioned

   One of the things that I have always loved about my husband is that when he finds something that he feels strongly about, he is determined and passionate in that endeavor. Whether it be from supporting me or in his own career and interests. When I shared my interest and passion in photography and design he researched and funded the best camera for my artistic whim. Even though he may not visualize things like I do design-wise, he always trusts my vision. In his own career, he made a decision to choose a different path 1 1/2 years ago and though it has been one of waiting and some frustration, he chose what was best for our family and will continue to pursue it until its fruition. 

1) Love and Respect

  In my bible study on Monday, one of the mentor moms talked about marriage. She related some comical examples from her own marriage and reminded us that we don't always have to understand why our other half does things the way that they do (even though most of us want to know why...its a woman thing). Her husband had taken three weeks to install an air conditioner filter-case in point-men are big picture oriented people and do things in their own time frame and women are task oriented and like things done when we like them done. She talked about the fact that wives who respect their husbands will in turn receive their love. I try my best not to nag about the little things/don't sweat the small stuff, and show James how much I appreciate and respect him. With my toddler in tow, some mornings it's simply making him a cup of coffee, but I try to show him that I respect and appreciate all that he does for our family. He does the same in return and continually tells me and others how much he loves and respects me. 

 We've only been married five years, but Jamey lovingly reminds me that I'm stuck with him for good. Love and respect seem so simple, but here's to hoping that holds us for the next fifty years. Happy Anniversary Sweetheart!

 
 

Fall Back...October Flashback

     Daylight savings time was put into practice to maximize the use of daylight and conserve energy. My personal belief is that it was created with farmers and golfers in mind; luckily I have a personal appreciation for both.
    Let's be real people, the only age groups within society that actually benefit from the time change are probably teenagers and college students. They probably stayed up late partying, drove through Taco C, and crashed only to awake at noon on Sunday completely rested. My hubby decided to relive his college ambitions this year and he and his cousin stayed up until the time actually changed. They may have even gotten over-served in the process. Let's just say that waking up at 40 after a night like that isn't quite the same as it was when they were 21.
    I've decided that there is a certain age of maturity where people have a hard time sleeping late. Some of us achieve that level of maturity sooner than others. My step-dad used to antagonize me, because he said I was the only college student he'd ever met that didn't sleep late. I attribute that to being a farmer's granddaughter and just chalk it up to genes. On the other side of the spectrum, kids and animals don't get the time change memo. You can try to adjust their schedules the week prior and slowly put them to bed later, but inevitably, they still wake up at the crack of dawn. The reality is that daylight savings time, much like candy, is the bane of a parent's existence. You think it will play out a certain way and be a good idea at the time, but it never is. We did the fall back...maybe not as successfully and restfully as I had hoped, but we made it none the less.

 
   As we begin the month of November, I decided to do a quick flashback of October. The month of October seemed like it was full of activity.  We had lots of family time and satisfied our sweet tooth addictions one too many times. We waited almost the whole month of October to get a confirmed degree of correction for Hunter's last cast and a copy of the X-ray. People say that good things come to those who wait and we were pleased with the results.
   The last time that I talked with you all, we were awaiting cast #5 at the beginning of October. We cast on Thursday, October 2nd. I was a bit apprehensive going into casting, because Hunter had just barely gotten over an ear infection prior to our trip to Dallas. Even though I knew that his lungs had been clear the whole time that he had been sick, I was still very nervous about casting. When the patient gets below 20 degrees and more compression and traction is applied, it is likely that the lungs may have a hard time tolerating the casting procedure. We went into cast #5 at 23 degrees and were hoping to make it into the teens.
  Hunter has always had difficulty with casting surgeries scheduled later in the day. He was scheduled to go back at noon and it was after 1:00 p.m. by the time he went back. Luckily, we had plenty of time to play in the hallways in our wagon and visit with our friends Aimee and Baylor; a blessing that helped the time pass.

 

Sweet and Silly Poses


  Hunter has been working on learning his colors, so we let him choose the color of his cast. He chose black. The nurses asked if we chose it for Halloween, not really sure what the appeal was, but he picked what he wanted and liked having a choice. His cousins sport black and gold school colors and their school mascot is the pirates. I told Hunter that we could support them and the Aggies with our new black cast. We found some A&M duct tape to secure the moleskin ;) Unfortunately, our beloved Ags need a bit more help than team themed duct tape these days.

    Sweet Boy Post-Op

  We decided to stay an extra night and let Hunter adjust since it was a late casting day. I think we will make that a common practice for casting surgeries scheduled after about 11:00, because he seemed to adjust much better. It actually turned out to be a great decision for all of us, as a huge storm rolled through Dallas that afternoon bringing crazy amounts of rain and knocking out power throughout parts of the city. 

  When we were finally able to leave the hospital at almost 5:00 that afternoon, we headed straight for the hotel to crash for a bit. We walked into the room and saw what I thought was a baby hawk seeking shelter. After some eval, we decided that it was actually a baby owl. Hunter and the winged babe spent quite a while gazing at one another.

   The next day, we decided to venture south and make a cousin visit, which always puts Hunter in better spirits. We have the most loving niece and nephews (Jack, Anne, and Ty) that genuinely relate to little man. He, of course, thinks they hung the moon.

  The rest of the month was celebration filled as we had several family birthdays and were able to spend some quality time with numerous family members. Our sweet nephew, Preston, turned 1 on October 14th. Hunter and Preston decided to race my grandmother down the hallway. So glad I caught this priceless special memory on video.

     

 The last full weekend of October, we finally received the X-ray in the mail with the confirmed results. I had spoken to our orthopedic surgeon after the casting and he had given me a range of degrees. He said he felt that they had made good progress and asked that we watch Hunter for breathing issues, as sometimes these start to become evident when they impose more traction/compression. His doctor reiterated the goal of having three consecutive casts below 10 degrees before taking Hunter out of the Mehta cast system. He gave me a disclaimer that while he wants to press forward and believe that we will get to that point, he wasn't sure based on his age and growth how much more progress we will get. Hunter went from 23 degrees in the last cast to 18 degrees in the current cast. While we are apprehensive about his future progress, we are grateful for the progress that he has made thus far and for the continued care he has received.

  Many people who aren't aware of Hunter's condition have remarked that it looks as though he is wearing football pads. We usually smile and explain his condition. As Halloween approached, we decided, why not let him go ahead and wear a jersey this year.

                                                                Trunk or Treat Fun          

                                                                  Game Face Swag

  The month of October was somewhat bittersweet as we passed the one year mark since we first learned that Hunter was diagnosed with a tethered spinal cord and Progressive Infantile Scoliosis. While I feel like we are far from saying we are in the clear, we have learned so much from this experience and want to embrace every opportunity that we have to help others who may be gifted with the same experience.
  I've enjoyed catching up with you all. Please continue to keep our little man in your prayers and share his story.  Blessings to you all and continue to stay tuned!

Superwoman aspirations

     Sunday marked 25 weeks of pregnancy for me.  I've decided that I need to wear a pedometer while I am in the house. I'm "getting my steps in", as James' cousin would say. Although, I can't say it's completely intentional, in fact, I think I have a severe case of TIADD in combination with PIADD (Toddler Inspired Attention Deficit Disorder coupled with Pregnancy Inspired Attention Deficit Disorder...aka Pregnancy Brain). Of course, I made these terms up, but the symptoms are real, people. I feel like one of my golden children who is trying to chase his/her tail in a circle. In my bible study last Monday, the presenter read a email from a mom who exhibited the same symptoms. The email contained events that made me commiserate with her and laugh out loud. Have you ever had a long "To Do" list and it seems like nothing actually gets accomplished?! Here is a glimpse into my life.. prego with a 2 year old...
   I walk into our bathroom to gather a pile of towels to wash. I get the towels started in the washing machine and return to the bedroom to find the television remote from the living room on the bedroom floor. I return the remote to its home. While there, I see James' coffee mug from that morning with just enough cold coffee for Hunter to spill. In order to avoid a mess, I pick up the mug along with a wine glass he'd left there last night and return them to the kitchen sink. Hunter is now pulling my pant leg, signing, and telling me in toddler speak that he'd like something to eat. I go through a list of snack options of which he says "NO" to everything the first go around. I finally get him to agree to goldfish and get them out for him. He proceeds to eat a few and drop the rest on the floor. In the process of bringing in the "clean up crew" aka, the golden children, I remember that I had moved a load of clothes from the washer to the dryer, but never started the dryer. I walk into the laundry room to find Hunter with his head peeking into the dryer. I close the door, after moving his peeping head out of the way, of course, and I start the dryer. I had unloaded the dishwasher while Hunter was eating breakfast and attempt to reload, which seems to be a worthless cause these days, because Hunter really likes to help unload and is completely uninterested in reloading. Everything that I put in, he seems to pull out or rearrange. I give up and close the door, dishwasher half loaded. You get the idea. I walk in circles all day long and very few things get accomplished from my list.
   Yesterday, I stopped as I was driving down our street to get the mail from our community bank of mail boxes. I pulled my extra set of car keys with the mail key attached, out of my diaper bag/purse, got the mail, and filed through it. Then, I drove into the driveway and made my way into the house. I walk in and sit down in the recliner opposite of James and Hunter begins this game where he crawls into my lap and then tries to jump off the recliner only to do it again another 5+ times. There is a knock at the door.  A neighbor from down the street has stopped to tell James that he thinks I left the keys in the mailbox. Sure enough, James looks down the street to see the mailbox open with my car keys hanging out.  It gave us a good laugh for the afternoon, that's for sure.
    Some of you may think I'm crazy and some of you, whether you have kiddos or not, might relate and get a laugh too. I'm no superwoman, that's for sure. In this world driven by social media, blogs, and Pinterest, it is easy to get caught up in the ideal.

Personal example:
   I am a Pinterest/Houzz junkie. I like our home to be perfectly arranged, design-wise, and before events/parties, I always seem to start some outlandish project. Luckily, I have a husband that rolls with the punches and supports my design whims. I like Hunter to be able to have homemade waffles and muffins and aspire to bake regularly. I have had a competitive and perfectionistic spirit since childhood. I would love to have the opportunity to design for others like Joanna Gaines of "Fixer Upper", or have the energy to do the array of things accomplished by Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman.
    As one of my best friends, Lindsay Currey, would tell you, I characteristically over-commit myself to projects, as do many of the women in my family. Lindsay is blessed to have my cousin, Ashly, as her sister-in-law, and understands that most of the women in my family have a tendency to say "Yes", because we are doers and rarely say "No". She jokes that we will stay up all night or wake up early and do whatever has to be done and that is why people continue to ask us.  (Although I'm sure it drives Lindsay crazy to be surrounded by the two of us who bear these similar character traits. Oh well, she's stuck with us.)

Confessions:
   Dishes may sit in our sink for two days before they are washed. (Some of you are cringing right now...sorry for that.) I am great at washing the laundry, but horrible at putting it away. There is a mountain of clean clothes that keeps me from walking into my walk-in closet. In the Corps, James' old lady apparently referred to this issue as "Mount Sitton". Now James jokes that he married another Mount Sitton. We are doomed. Our garage is incredibly disorganized, but I assure you, we know where most everything is. I also have stacks of mail that adorn our kitchen island that are patiently waiting to be sorted.

  I share all of this, because none of us is perfect. Kids, no kids; working parent, stay-at-home parent; ideal media representation or not; it doesn't matter. I have grown really close to my sister-in-law, Lori, and she and I joke about being ducks. I hope to appear smooth and unruffled to others, but truthfully I am paddling furiously under the surface to get things done. I would love to embody all of the wonderful things that are the media's idea of the perfect wife, mother, daughter, granddaughter, sister, friend, and the list goes on. I may not be the perfect wife, mother, etc, but I am James's wife and Hunter and Baby Girl's momma and that is what God intended me to be; flaws, stacked laundry, dirty dishes, and all.
  James' favorite quote that adorns our kitchen, "We may not have it all together, but together we have it all", is so true. I will gladly sacrifice a clean house to play on the floor with my little man or try my best to fulfill the request of a friend. Thank God for His Grace! We are all broken and imperfect, but that is part of our story.

  Music has always really spoken to me and I've always really loved to sing and perform. Thankfully, Hunter is currently infatuated with music of any kind. What can I say, the kid loves to drum on anything imaginable and likes to rock it out. We always have some music playing whether its Pandora's toddler station or something of personal choice. A song that has really spoken to me recently is titled "Carry Me Away", by David White. David is the husband of my childhood family friend, Jessica Hobratsch White, and he has composed an album called "Long Roots" where he sings this incredibly beautiful piece. If you are a fan of James Taylor, you will love David's voice. I have tried to attach the link below, hopefully you are able to give it a listen. You won't be disappointed. His album is also available for purchase on his website www.davidwhitemusic.com.

  "Carry Me Away" brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it and today, it is a great reminder of what I would love to aspire to, rather than working to be some replica of a social media mama.

http://davidwhitemusic.com/track/645289/carry-me-away?autostart=true

Prayer Requests:

  We have had several friends who have personally or within their families have encountered some difficulty this week. The daughter and family of another childhood friend could use some extra prayers. The Falgout's daughter, Ellie, who is a couple of months younger than Hunter, has a condition called Moyamoya and had to have surgery on one side of her brain at the end of July. Ellie had a stroke this week on the opposite side and is currently waiting in the hospital for the swelling to go down in order for more testing to be completed and another eventual surgery on the opposite side of her brain. Lots of prayers and thoughts for this family. If you'd like to read more about their story up until this week and pray for them, their blog is address is as follows: http://teamfalgout.blogspot.com/2014/09/positive-results.html?spref=fb

   We personally received the results from Hunter's initial genetic blood work. It appears that he does have some extra DNA information, however it does not correlate with scoliosis or any other disease. This is obviously good news and we are thankful. However, they would like to perform more blood work on Hunter, James, and I to resume further testing, if we so wish. At this time, James and I are weighing the options, but really don't want to put him through any more testing if it isn't necessary.
Hunter is currently scheduled to cast next Friday, October 3rd. He does have an ear infection, but his lungs are clear. I have a call in to the nurse at Scottish Rite to let her know this. Hopefully we will be able to continue with casting, but obviously want to do whatever is in Hunter's best interest. We will keep you updated, but just send good thoughts and prayers for this process.

Quick family pic for Hunter's school assignment.

 Thank you for tuning in and reading my long reflection of the day. On a personal note, I want to say a humble thank you to my family and devoted husband for loving me, flaws included.

Boy or Girl?

  James and I were scheduled to find out the gender of our new bundle on July 24th. Unfortunately, James had to go on a last minute trip out of the country and wasn't able to make the appointment. We talked it over and decided to keep the appointment, but to have the technician write the gender down and seal the result in an envelope. This way, we could both find out the gender of our new little nugget together. James returned late that night and we read the news together as a family of five-James, Hunter, and I, along with our two golden children. It was actually more special this way to all find out together.
  My husband poked at me because he thought I had cheated and read it before him. I'll have you all know that I put the envelope in a zipper pocket in my purse and didn't touch it. I can't say I have that much willpower when it comes to cheesecake, but I promise I didn't sneak a peak.
  The next morning we called our family and some close friends to relay the news. James asked what I would feel like if they had gotten it wrong. We would obviously be elated, regardless.
Our sweet neighbor and dear friend, Catriona, brought over donuts that were iced in pink and white with blue sprinkles, so that we could do a little gender reveal. Hunter enjoyed both donuts!

 Since James was teasing me about the tech getting the gender wrong, we decided to confirm before we revealed the gender to too many people publicly. We went to see a sweet glimpse of our little one this morning during an anatomy scan. We were excited to see a healthy baby. The technician, who knew nothing of Hunter's condition, said that the baby had a nice looking, healthy spine. James and I breathed a sigh of relief for the time being.

Check out that sweet profile.

So, without further ado......

We will be adding a new book to our story time collection.

                                                            

We are thrilled to be having a little GIRL at the end of December! We can't wait to meet our little Ladybug!

Grab a fork and appreciate the sweet things.

  A couple of weeks ago, we went out to eat at a restaurant that we frequent. They have pretty good food, but we also like the fact that it is less than 2 miles from our house. When Hunter was in little burrito mode it was a regular choice, because the distance proved to be to our advantage if we had to make a quick exit. 

 James would affectionately tell you that I have a big sweet tooth, and as much as I hate to admit it, he's probably right. I will have to say that I come it honestly, though. Growing up, we had Blue Bell most days after lunch and dinner. The Holmstrom family has been known to have dessert after lunch, dinner, and some of us may have even had dessert for breakfast a time or two. Cake and ice cream has dairy and eggs... that counts right?! 

  Anyway, one of my favorite things on the menu at our go-to restaurant is the S'more Pie. I'm not a big pie person, but that pie is a pregnant woman's dream and it was the sole reason that I wanted to eat there that night. We had a nice dinner and then James had another drink, since he's drinking for two these days ;) , and I ordered the S'more Pie. The only dessert that they didn't have that day was the S'more Pie. Oh the irony! Didn't see that coming. I had built up this whole dessert idea in my mind and I couldn't go to bed without having something to appease myself. So, I went home and made my own version of oven baked s'mores. It wasn't nearly as good as the one I'd been hoping for, but sweet none the less.

  

  We made the trip to Dallas this past Monday, as Hunter was scheduled to receive cast #4 yesterday. 

Here a few pictures before casting...

                Hunter was so glad to see his Daddy and he is becoming his little "mini me". 

                     James was on a call and Hunter decided he needed to be on a call too.

 

                                                      A little comic relief before dinner.

Up early and ready to receive cast #4 at Scottish Rite.

                                                             Waiting to be admitted.

  

 I've given you a little glimpse when we've talked about prior casts about waiting to be taken back into surgery or just waiting period. We're not so much for waiting. In fact, we could do without it all together, but that's how things go. Hunter is usually starving, as he is a big breakfast man. That is the best meal that he eats all day, so when he can't eat and we have to distract him, things get a little hairy. I have learned to bring a "hospital" set of toys, videos, etc. that Hunter hasn't played with in a while. That usually works for all of 2 1/2 minutes. 

  Yesterday was a good day. It didn't necessarily end the way that we had hoped, but a good day none the less. It was a good day for many reasons. One big reason was that our waiting was filled with the best distraction we could have asked for. I am a member of a closed Facebook group for parents and caregivers of littles with PIS. The group is run by the founder of ISOP and a couple of parents who have been around the block with PIS. It has been invaluable to me in terms of education and building relationships with other parents from around the world. I've gotten to know several families that have received treatment at Scottish Rite and one special family that is actually currently receiving treatment there. We had the great opportunity of meeting in person yesterday, since our little people were both undergoing procedures. We were so excited to meet this sweet family and Hunter was thrilled to make a new friend. His new friend, Baylor, received halo traction for her scoliosis and will be staying at Scottish Rite for the next two months. 

  Hunter gave Baylor a few things to make the days in the hospital a little more fun. Baylor and Hunter chased each other down the hallways and she pulled Hunter in his wagon and gave him a tour while we parents visited. I'm sure it was a great distraction from hunger pangs for both Hunter and Baylor. Beautiful Baylor is a remarkable little girl and we were so blessed to have been able to meet she and her family. Lucky for Hunter, he will get to visit Baylor again in October when he receives cast #5. Until then, we will keep in touch and keep sweet Baylor and her family in our prayers.

  Hunter soon got called down to day surgery to take his goofy juice. He had done so well as the nurse took his blood pressure, weight, and temperature. When she began to give him the prep medicine he was very upset and resistant, but it quickly took into effect.

                           

  Hunter's doctor came in and spoke with us prior to surgery. We discussed the tightness of the previous cast on his stomach. He decided to make the tummy window, which I affectionately refer to as his tickle hole, a little larger, which would in turn, make the cast sit lower on his waist.  Hunter went back about 10:10 a.m. and was finished with casting around 11:00 a.m. His doctor came back in and spoke with us before they brought Hunter back to us. He thought that he had gotten good results and said that his skin looked great. He said that as he pushed in traction, his breathing was steady. This is a good indicator that as he continues to push for correction that he will be able to take more traction and gain continued improvement. He said some kids exhibit difficulty breathing at this point during the procedure, so we were thankful for that. We discussed the potential results and I asked several questions. Hunter was at 25 degrees in cast #3 and his doctor was hoping to get him into the teens in cast #4. Characteristically, he has been getting about 7 to 10 degrees of improvement with each cast.
  They wheeled Hunter in and he was a tad grumpy to say the least. Once he was able to stand, we took him down to X-ray. When we returned, I sat him down and checked his legs in a sitting position. The cast seemed to be rubbing on his thighs, so his doctor came back in and trimmed it before we went home. He told us that since we were still there that he would go read the X-ray results and come back and talk with us again. The doctor returned with copies of the X-rays and a look of disappointment. Instead of getting into the teens, Hunter only went from 25 degrees to 22 degrees.

                             

February 19, 2014                                                                     August 19, 2014
60 degrees                                                                                 22 degrees

  The results weren't exactly what we or the doctor had hoped for, but improvement is improvement. Better to be dancing forward than swaying side to side or two stepping backwards. Our concern is that we have a lot of unanswered questions. Generally, with PIS, you'd like to get as much improvement as possible before the age of 2. We are blessed beyond measure that we started casting when we did and are being treated at Scottish Rite, which is the best of the best. As Hunter quickly approaches age 2, it is hard not to worry that the window of improvement will decrease or that we may never get to the point where he can have three consecutive casts below 10 degrees, which is the ultimate goal.
  This morning, I started reflecting on a few things as James and I talked about Hunter's results. James pointed out the positives to me, as he is always great about doing. He asked me to look at the X-rays and study and compare the state of Hunter's collar bone and hip alignment in both X-rays. If you look at those two areas there has been vast improvement. We will continue to look at the glass half full and press forward.
  When I was a freshman at A&M, my dearest childhood friend lived a couple floors away in the same dorm. I remember her roommate talking about the Garth Brooks song "Unanswered Prayers" and discussing how much she disliked the song and didn't believe there were unanswered prayers. I think that the wording leaves room for interpretation. I feel that if God directly answered every want and prayer exactly as it is prayed, then I would probably know a lot of lottery winners.
  As we walk through this life we experience happiness, fear, disappointment, triumph, failure, heartbreak, and love. There were times that I desperately prayed for something or someone and the prayer didn't go unanswered or unnoticed, but it wasn't necessarily answered the way that I had hoped it would be at the time. Those prayers were always answered in His timing and according to His perfect plan. While those prayers were answered differently than I had prayed them, they were answered better than I could have ever dreamed or imagined. I firmly believe that God's plan allows us to experience pain and disappointment, along with joy, in order to mold us into the people that we are supposed to be. I feel that this helps us to better appreciate God's plan for our lives. All we need to do is to continue to pray, grab a fork, and appreciate the sweet things as they come.


  As always, thank you for reading. Please continue to share Hunter's story and keep he and his progress in your prayers. Pray for his new friend, Baylor, as she receives treatment, as well.
Hunter, James, and I are going to check in on Hunter's new sibling tomorrow, as we have an anatomy scan to look at the baby's organs and confirm the gender. We found out the gender at the end of July and once we take a another look tomorrow, I will have Hunter do a special gender reveal for you all.

Stay tuned and Blessings to you all!

Hunter is cast #4. He's already back to drumming with anything that will make noise, playing with his tractors, and antagonizing our golden children.

 

"Crazy Little Thing Called Love"

   I know, I know...I did promise that I would post more frequently, but we've been busy going through our day to day, and somehow time has just gotten away from me. Whomever said that the days are long but the years are short, was right on the money. Lately, I've been feeling like I did when I was teaching, as I would excitedly prepare for the new year with anticipation, while I would desperately try to clench onto those last days of summer. Where has the summer gone?
 
 Brief update on Hunter...
  We are so over cast #3. Two and a half months is more than long enough for a little man to be in a cast in the summer months. I can tell that he's starting to itch, as he keeps pulling at his undershirt. He is starting to smell a little like a stinky foot, not to mention that it is still pretty tight on his little tummy. Lucky for us, we are in Dallas and Hunter will be the new owner of cast #4 in about 12 hours. Yay for a bath and a new cast!
  Hunter was down to 25 degrees in this last cast. Please pray that he receives good correction in cast #4. Little Man will be two on September 7th and research has shown that little nuggets get the best correction prior to age two. I will post an update later in the week when we have a better idea of his progress.
 
 While most of my posts thus far have been related to Hunterman, today I want to brag on my husband. If you've never met my partner in crime, he is husband, father, son, and friend. James is kind-hearted, intelligent, and lovingly sarcastic, while being a wonderful provider, faithful listener, and fervent supporter of my dreams and ambitions. He makes me laugh and is the type of person that has never met a stranger. He has the admired characteristics of several men that I have held dear to my heart: my maternal grandfather-Ansel Holmstrom, my dad-Ron Schlabach, my step-dad-Mike Litterst, and the husband of one of my close friends-Bill Farney.
I couldn't have chosen better myself ;) Praise God for divine design!
  In November, we will have been married five years and have been together for seven years. It seems like the blink of an eye, although he might tell you it feels a lot longer. Ha!
Some people would say that we are still in the honeymoon stage. Several people have told us to wait until we are married 10+ or 15+ years and we will be tired of one another and be glad when we have some much anticipated time away from one another. Honestly, I hope that is not the case. Over the last year, James has worked from his home office, with some speckled travel. This may be too much togetherness for some, but we have enjoyed it and truly miss each other when we aren't together, even if it's for one day.
  At the beginning of last week, James left for China on a business trip and to be nice/politically correct, however you'd like to label it, the trip the was, in short, a comedy of errors. I won't go into all of the ridiculous details, but let's just say he's glad to be back in the U.S. He was flying standby and tried to leave China beginning late last Thursday evening to return home. The poor guy didn't catch a flight home until Saturday morning our time (Saturday evening in China), which put him flying into Dallas around 11:30 p.m. Saturday night. I told him that I would meet him in Dallas, as we would be making our way here Monday, today, for casting and he chose to fly to Austin yesterday morning to meet us. He slept in the airport Saturday night and caught what he thought would be a 30 minute flight from Dallas to Austin at 8:30 a.m. Sunday morning. After a power outage, mechanical delay, and thunderstorm delay, that 30 minute flight became a 2+ hour delayed flight. He finally made it to Austin about 11:30 Sunday morning. I may be getting soft or it could have been all of the pregnancy hormones, but watching Hunter spot his daddy coming down the escalator and begin grinning from ear to ear made me tear up. When James got off the plane he told me that he missed us so much otherwise he would have just let us meet him Monday. How sweet is that?! I have to say, Hunter and I are pretty lucky.
   Recently, James, Hunter, and I had the privilege of attending the wedding of one of my former athletes, Kelsey Kniffin. Beautiful wedding, handsome groom, and gorgeous bride. While we had never met her groom before that night, the ceremony was such that James and I left feeling like we had known him for years. It was obvious by that way that Michael looked at Kelsey that he completely adores her. You can only wish for your children, athletes, and loved ones that they find a person to walk through life with that truly compliments them. No, I didn't say completes. I don't swoon over the quote from Jerry Maguire, "You complete me", because I believe each person in a partnership or marriage, should be a complete person within themselves. We are blessed by the people that the Lord chooses to perfectly pair us with to compliment our lives.
  James and I are hardly at a milestone in our marriage where I should give marital advice. Maybe another 10+ years when we know everything there is to know and are tired of each other.
Just kidding ;) As a former English teacher and quote fanatic, I will share this poem that sums up my sentiments.

"The Art of Marriage"

By Wilferd A. Peterson

Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens.

A good marriage must be created.

In the art of marriage the little things are the big things..

It is never being too old to hold hands.

It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day.

It is never going to sleep angry.

It is at no time taking the other for granted;

The courtship should not end with the honeymoon,

It should continue through all the years.

It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.

It is standing together facing the world.

It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.

It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude 

or duty of sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy.

It is speaking words of appreciation 

and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.

It is not looking for perfection in each other.

It is cultivating flexibility, patience, 

understanding, and a sense of humor.

It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.

It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.

It is finding room for the things of the spirit.

It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.

It is establishing a relationship where the independence is equal, 

dependence is mutual, and the obligation is reciprocal.

It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner.

It is discovering what marriage can be, at its best.

While it would be a wonderful blessing to be married to your spouse for 50+ years, in this crazy little thing called love, it's not the number of years but the time in those years spent together.

Mind blown and thankful!

   I apologize for just now finding time to write, but truthfully, I was waiting for the hospital to mail Hunter's x-ray results. We just received them in the mail yesterday, so I decided to fill y'all in.
   As a coach, it was easy for me to understand the correlation between hard work and progress or the "no pain, no gain" concept. However, pushing an athlete to their potential is a little different than watching my little man be uncomfortable. Cast #3 has certainly fit the bill and has been a challenge to say the least. Hunter's appetite has been minimal and when he does eat a regular kiddo portion, he seems to get sick. The cast is VERY tight around the tummy compared to the first two casts, but then I guess that's why they say, "no pain, no gain". We're trying to fill him with good snacks throughout the day to get him some nutrition and just hope that we can eventually adjust to the change and make it to Cast #4 successfully. I did call the nurse and talked with her about his eating and the tightness of the cast. She said that the doctor really worked to push this go around. She assumed that he was probably pretty sore and asked that we keep a careful eye on him. We have yet to get a definitive casting date for August, but hope to get that soon. The doctor's note said that he wanted to keep this cast on for 2 1/2 months, rather than just 2 months, however, the nurse indicated that we may recast earlier with the tightness. Hunter is also slated to visit his nutritionist on July 7th, so hopefully she will have some good ideas on how to pump him with good nutrients and combat the constriction he feels around his belly.
  The plus side is that he had great correction in Cast #3. His doc met with us prior to casting and of course gave us the same preemptive talk about progress and Hunter's uphill battle. Obviously he has to give us this disclaimer. He explained that he had read over Hunter's file the day before and compared it to those of other patients. On average, his patients begin in the mid 40's, and if you remember, Hunter started at 60 degrees. The reason why I love Hunter's doctor is that he told us that after reviewing Hunter's results from the last cast, that he was going to do whatever it took to get him down as far as he could go. He followed by saying that he is stubborn and won't give up on him.
Doc after my own heart!
  Cast #2 led Hunter to 32 degrees and his doctor was hoping to get Hunter into the mid 20's in Cast #3, and that he did. I almost started crying as the nurse told me over the phone that Hunter had gone from 32 degrees to 25 degrees!!! Whoop! We're so excited with his progress.

  We are blessed to have been able to be treated at Scottish Rite, which I read recently, is one of the top, if not "the top" hospital for scoliosis patients in the nation. We certainly haven't taken this process for granted, however sometimes, it takes a little nudge along the way to remind us to continue to be thankful for the doctors and staff that are directing Hunter's treatment. Over the last week or so, I've read a few posts from parents whose children began casting at the same age and degree that Hunter began casting, but at different hospitals. Their results obviously can be influenced by many factors, which can include pliability, physicians approach, etc. However, I was amazed at the difference of the level of progress. Hunter's first cast was applied on February 21st and in 4 months of casting, his curve has been reduced 35 degrees; 60 degrees to his current 25 degree state. It took the other two littles 2 years to have the same amount of progress that Hunter has experienced in 4 months. We are aware that everyone progresses and grows at different rates and there is always a possibility that there will be a cast/s with little to no improvement. More often than not, this usually occurs when scoli patients begin treatment at an older age and that is why early detection and treatment is imperative. Regardless, we are so grateful that Hunter has had such positive progress thus far and reading other scenarios certainly puts things in perspective. Mind blown and thankful!

 At the end of May we took Hunter to see a geneticist. I've been holding off on writing about the experience, as it is a long process and we haven't really gotten anywhere, as of yet, along with the fact that the first appointment was somewhat frustrating. The visit was recommended by his first pediatrician based on the fact that Hunter had low birth weight, reflux, colic, and has continued to remain on the small side, along with the combination of the tethered cord and progressive infantile scoliosis. The appointment was made in January and first availability was May 22nd. What I have gathered thus far from reading and comparing the experiences of others, is that children diagnosed with Progressive Infantile Scoliosis often exhibit a smaller stature/weight. A genetic correlation has not yet been identified, but that seems to be the norm. Basically, the process is very lengthy and could take months of testing. It begins with blood work and X-rays. Hunter took an x-ray during the appointment, but he has to be approved by our insurance and scheduled for the blood work. I have yet to hear back from them on when the blood work will take place. The x-ray process was frustrating because PIS is so uncommon that people assume that the cast can be removed or that he can just take an X-ray when he is out of cast. I feel like a broken record explaining the purpose and process. I had to fight the technician tooth and nail to go ahead and do the X-ray in cast that day, because Hunter won't have a time that he is "out of cast" for probably another year. I diligently explained that he had pre-cast X-rays in the system and they can compare those to the current X-rays with the additional screens of his legs, hands, etc. She finally gave in...pays to be a persistent momma.
  He underwent a complete physical evaluation where they nitpicked every little characteristic of his physical appearance. Everyone thinks that the child they have been blessed with is beautiful and all-world; James and I are no different. To hear these doctors scrutinize his physical features saying his ears stick out a little too far and that he has a little too much skin covering his tear ducts, which is more common in those of Asian decent, made me want to nitpick everything about them. Obviously, that is not the right thing to do, so I restrained myself. But, how do they know these traits aren't familial characteristics? Ultimately, they are doing their jobs and and are trying to identify possible genetic markers that could indicate a connection or further issues. The disheartening part is that they started throwing out numbers/percentages without performing any tests.
This is where medical science and religious faith come to blows in my mind.
God knew what He was doing. He is the Great Storyteller. We should be thankful that everyone is different. How boring would life be if we all looked alike?! As we told our vacation bible school students this week, "Even when you're different, Jesus Loves You!".
  One of the questions that we have been asked by others is that will our subsequent children experience Progressive Infantile Scoliosis. Honestly, that is only for God to know at this point. The geneticist, being somewhat inexperienced with Hunter's condition, still felt a need to share unsupported percentages about this subject. The day after Hunter's appointment, I got a message from the director of the Infantile Scoliosis Outreach Program (ISOP) to call her. I called her and we chatted for a while. It was actually a mix up and she had intended to call another mom named Dina, but had gotten our numbers mixed up. While on the phone, I told her about our experience with the geneticist and asked her opinion about the percentages pertaining to subsequent children.  While she is obviously not a doctor, her knowledge comes from working directly with Dr. Mehta who invented Hunter's casting system and she has worked with a number of families throughout the years. She told me that within her 15 years of experience and working with 3,000+ families who have or have had a child with PIS, only 5 families have had more than one child with PIS. After talking with her, I felt a little more informed about the topic and thankful for the mistaken call.



This topic is a little closer to my heart, as I have another little peanut growing under my heart as we speak.

  Let me say, we are absolutely thrilled that Hunter is going to be a big brother at the end of December. However, it certainly does bring new meaning to the phrase "As long as it's healthy".  We had wanted our children to be about two years apart and did question whether this was the "right time" to add another little person to our family. After lots of discussion, we decided that we would never change anything about having Hunter or our journey with him. James and I fully believe that God entrusted this handsome, strong, remarkable little man to us for a purpose. He has certainly taught and blessed us and those around him with more love than we could have ever imagined. Whether they find something within Hunter's testing or not, it will not change our love or care for him. The geneticist suggested that we could do amnio in order to see if our new bundle might have the same or similar issues. We will not be choosing this path, because regardless of the outcome, our choice to bring this little one into our family will not change. God has guided us on this journey as we seek treatment for Hunter and I'm certain He will continue to do so as our family changes and grows. Everyone has experiences that mold and imprint their lives. Whether happy or sad circumstances, I believe that God has written them into our story to help us to relay His message. If this new little peanut has the same health issues or even something different, we believe that God has prepared us to deal with the scenario and with His guidance, we better than anyone else, will know how to seek treatment.

Thank you all for your continued thoughts and prayers. I will try to post more frequently to keep you up to date. Please continue to share Hunter's story to others so that we can make sure that little nuggets who have PIS have early detection and get the treatment that they need.

Stay tuned and Blessings to you all!

-Dana

 
 

I love someone with scoliosis!

   

    June is National Scoliosis Awareness month. Scoliosis Awareness is simply the educational promotion of scoliosis so that parents, family members, and care givers can recognize the warning signs of scoliosis and try to seek and implement early treatment. I am thankful that "mom's intuition" coupled with God's guidance, enabled James and I to question and pursue treatment for our little man. Honestly, I had no previous experience or understanding of progressive infantile scoliosis (PIS), so I was virtually unaware of the warning signs, aside from the gnawing feeling in my gut. The warning signs are highlighted below.

Below are the last pictures that I took of Hunter pre-cast for you to compare. These were taken on December 4th and his first casting surgery was February 21st. I could have taken photos that were much more prominent closer to casting, but my heart just ached so badly for him that I couldn't bear to take any more pictures. I did attach his X-ray pre-cast from February for you all to see.

                  

    Being that it is National Scoliosis Awareness month, it is kind of fitting that the little man that my heart adores, received his 3rd cast yesterday. It was a pretty rough day for him, but ultimately the casting process went well. We were about an hour or so outside of Dallas on Monday afternoon when the surgery scheduler called and told us that our arrival time had been bumped from 6 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., which would mean that his casting surgery wouldn't take place until at least 12:00 p.m. The scheduler told me that Hunter still would not be allowed to eat after midnight, but could have clear liquids until 8:00 a.m. We tried to feed him as much as we could on Monday night and kept him up relatively late, in hopes that that would somehow ease Tuesday morning's hunger pangs. While the boys (James and H-man) and the dogs were sleeping, I set out about 6:30 yesterday morning to try to find some clear liquids and popsicles for Hunter. Three gas stations and a Walgreens later, a clerk pointed me to a Kroger off the beaten path. Of course I had to buy a whole box of popsicles, but I would do anything to help my little man and too many popsicles is never a bad thing, right?!
I made it back to the hotel room about 7:30, woke Hunter up, and asked if he wanted a popsicle for breakfast, to which I received an emphatic, "YES!".

                                          Breakfast of champions...two is better than one ;).

    He tried to eat both while warding off his golden buddies, until it became a melted mess. I was thinking the popsicle would tide him over....not so much. As soon as we loaded everything and got to the hospital he was pulling at the diaper bag looking for something to eat. Needless to say, it was a long morning.  We tried games, puzzles, videos, etc, which were intermixed with a few meltdowns. Overall, he was a trooper and his 11:30 a.m. goof juice time actually came fairly quickly.

I have one of these at home!

                                                Loving on Dad and starting to feel relaxed.

  They took Hunter back at about 12:15 and were finished with the bath and surgery within an hour. The nurse called us to tell us that he was about to be wheeled back in and the doctor wanted to speak with us. I heard him cry a very raspy cry as the nurse carried him in the day surgery unit. For the next two hours he was uncomfortable and inconsolable. He had the somewhat of the same behavior with cast #1, but cast #2 went much more smoothly. The only thing that we can think of is that the extra wait time with cast #3 created a more empty tummy and the anesthesia created kind of a gas build up in his belly.
When he settled down a bit, James took him back for X-rays and we were on the road headed out of Dallas by 3:45 p.m. Since the X-rays were late in the day, we haven't received the results as of yet.

Thanks so much again for all of the continued prayers, good thoughts, and support for Hunter man. Blessings to you all!
                               
To Be Continued...will post on progress later this week.