#ScoliWarrior

June is Scoliosis Awareness month and in honor of all of those who are Scoliosis Strong and our own little Scoli Warrior, I will be posting some info throughout the month. Please share with family and friends so that we can promote early detection and treatment!

    Progressive Idiopathic Infantile Scoliosis is found in about 1% of the idiopathic (no known cause) scoliosis population in children. When scoliosis is detected in the juvenile and adolescent years, it is most commonly detected in females. However, about 60% of all infantile idiopathic cases are male. Less than .1% have curves that measure greater than 40 degrees and Hunter is in that .1% 
    Our Hunterman began his scoli casting journey at age 17 months with a 60 degree curve. He is now holding at 18 degrees in cast #8. If you have been following his journey or are just joining us, Hunter wears a Mehta plaster cast that stays in place for 2 month periods in hopes that it will correct his curve as he grows. The goal of the Mehta casting treatment is to use the child's growth to gently correct the curve. Early detection is imperative to treat and correct the curvature of the spine and to prevent any organ deformation and lung compression. Children who are diagnosed with PIS-Progressive Infantile Scoliosis have a short timeframe for corrective treatment and it is crucial to attempt to begin casting before 24 months of age, if at all possible. The best results occur when casting begins prior to 12 months of age. After the 24 month mark, growth and progress slows. 

  I, like many people, was only accustomed to seeing teens and adults with scoliosis. However, it is so important to be informed and know the signs of Progressive Infantile Scoliosis in young children. PIS is life threatening if not diagnosed early and treated appropriately. Know the signs and share!

http://www.infantilescoliosis.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/ISOP_screening_guide.pdf

  

The Friday Five

   My hungry ladybug woke up a little earlier than normal this morning and easing back to sleep next to a snoring husband and our two golden children is going to be impossible, so I will sit awake and write to you all. In times like these, I lay awake reflecting on the time and events that surround our days of controlled chaos.This week seemed to fly by like many others, but there were a few moments that put exclamation points in my mind. Here's my Friday 5.

  1) Getting a tire changed with a toddler and an infant in tow is NEVER a good idea. The hour they promised turned into almost two, and snacks, Mickey, and the Endless Alphabet app only get you so far. I found myself looking at the time barely ticking away as Hunter was running in circles around the tire shop. Hayden was crying and I may have flashed a mechanic or two while trying to feed her. As you can tell, it was a completely uneventful visit. I'm sure the staff at the tire shop probably learned their lesson and won't hold moms hostage for that long any more. Any moms needing to have their tire changed in Katy, you're welcome!

2) Mama bear moments are becoming more frequent and I find myself in awe at the parenting or lack there of around. A kid in Hunter's gym class was picking on him--pushed him in the back of the head, tapped him in chest/cast, and just would not leave him alone. I found myself frozen not knowing what the best reaction was for the situation. The kid's mother was standing right there and pulled him away, but said nothing to him. Okay, they are two and I get that, but discipline your children! Hunter gave the kid a look like, "What's your deal, dude?!", but didn't retaliate in any way. Hunter just went on doing the class activity and let the kids actions roll off his shoulders. We may not be perfect parents by any means, but I think we are doing something right.

3) Get your Jesus in however you can Monday through Saturday. When I listen to Christian radio it puts me in a better state of mind. There were several moments this week that I wanted to scream because of the disarray in our house and give the contractor an ear full as our remodel project creeps to a finish. I'm sure I might have said something I probably would have regretted had I not been singing at the top of my lungs just minutes before.

4) I know that one day he will pull her hair and she will tattle on him, but right now, sibling love is so sweet!

5) Humbling moments catch you by surprise. James and I took Hunter to meet with his neurosurgeon, Dr. Dauser, at Texas Children's on Tuesday. (The cysts within his spinal cord are unchanged, so we say a prayer of praise for now and continue to monitor for another year. ) As we walked into the clinical care center, as we have numerous other times, we saw several very young children with visible health issues being wheeled into the facility. In these moments, we find ourselves praising God for our many blessings, admiring the strength of the people who care for those amazing kiddos, and being thankful for the opportunity to meet other families that walk through those halls needing extra care. 

James and I both talked about how humbling it is to walk into Texas Children's and Scottish Rite and while we'd love for Hunter's spine to be straight, we are thankful for the journey. 

After a conversation with some dear friends yesterday morning, I started thinking about the word "normal" and the fear that surrounds the unknown or "different". Hunter's condition may some day be a blip on the radar and he may lead a seemingly "normal" life. To be honest though, I don't want Hunter to be "normal" or to forget the path that he has walked. I want him to be different. I want him to be a world changer and to use his distinctive personality and experience to be an example for others. Sometimes I think we let worry consume us as we attempt to plan the details of our lives. Yes, James and I decided to have children, but ultimately we no more made that choice for ourselves than we chose the number of hairs on our heads. I've typed these words before, but God doesn't always call the equipped, but equips the called. He didn't choose us to make the plan, he chose and equips us fulfill it. 

Cheers to the weekend to come! 

God bless and Gig'em!

Looking straight

      Life as a party of four has brought tears of joy and precious moments, small doses of frustration, and at times, has been a comedy of errors. After two and a half months, I can say that we are finally getting into the swing of things. Hunter hasn't launched his sister out of her bassinet yet, so I consider that a marked success. He does seem to think he needs to poke her in the eye on a daily basis ("Hunter poke her in the eye?!"), but that's a story for another day.
   Not too long ago, we returned from our first road trip with the double H (Hunter & Hayden). The Sitton Casa is still under construction from the renovations we began before Christmas and we are keeping our fingers crossed that we will have everything completed by the end of March.
  We worked with our contractors to complete the majority of the staining and painting while we were out of town for Hunter's last casting surgery. It seemed like a great plan to be able to visit family and friends and check out a few fun locations, like the Dallas Zoo, on our travel adventures. After 11 days of car rides, frigid weather/snow, and a restless toddler and two-month-old, while traveling from Georgetown, to Dallas, to Crawford, and to College Station; we finally made it back safely to Katy, America.
  The nomadic way of life isn't for the faint of heart. Hunter saw snow for the first time, but it was really too cold to be outside and no zoo fun was to be had. I guess in my mind, as usual, I envisioned this perfectionistic view of us seeing all of our friends and family and doing tons of fun things with our little man and ladybug, all while singing songs as we happily drove down the road. We were able to visit with some family and a few good friends, but the crazy Texas weather put a damper on numerous plans. In the words of Merle Haggard, "That's the way love goes, babe".
  We arrived in Dallas on the Tuesday prior to Hunter's casting, hoping to avoid the anticipated snow. Which of course, in Texas, feels like a blizzard, since the state seems to shut down and people forget how to drive when cold weather and icy conditions creep in.
  James loaded the hotel cart with all of our things and Hunter was "helping" to push the cart as he likes to be a good helper these days. My hubby has the loading/unloading part of traveling down to a science and we have learned how to pare down on what we pack, even though I'm sure it still looks like we are packing as if we were moving to a foreign country.
  Hunter is coming into his age and absorbing knowledge like a sponge. He knows how to count from 1 to 10 in English and Spanish, with a little help along the way. Sometimes he forgets where the number 5 fits in the mix, but I'm sure he will figure it out with all of the "fives" he's been giving to the new friends he meets. Since he enjoys counting, recognizing numbers, and pushing buttons, an elevator is like a fun carnival ride to him. Elevator going up, Sitton party of four makes their way onto the elevator. James pushes the cart onto the elevator stepping to the right of the cart and Hunter steps to the left. Hayden and I move to the right with James. The cart is piled high as I am tall. The door closes. Hunter is stuck next to the numbered panel. We ask him to push the number 3. Then we realize he can't reach the number 3. Smart little man can't help that he's vertically challenged! All I could do was laugh. Luckily someone pushed the button from outside the elevator and James was able to step out and get onto the other side of the cart.
   As of February 21st, Hunter has been in a cast for one year. It has been an interesting year learning the ins and outs of cast life, but we are so thankful for this process and his progress. This last casting surgery was a bit different than the others, because Hunter had to undergo an MRI prior to casting. The MRI has to be completed yearly to monitor several syrinx/cysts within his spinal cord. Scottish Rite worked with Hunter's neurosurgeon from Texas Children's in order to complete the process back to back to allow minimal time out of cast and one anesthesia experience. Hunter had to have the cast removed for the MRI, so we went into the hospital on a Wednesday afternoon for a removal and returned bright and early Thursday morning for the MRI, followed by casting. Some doctors believe in taking cast breaks for a few days or weeks and allowing their patients to have some water time. Hunter's doctor believes that the breaks allow potential time for regression, so he performs continuous casting. Since he couldn't be in cast for the MRI, that allowed us less than 24 hours for cast free water time. We were eagerly anticipating that Hunter might want to splash in the tub and play like many littles that I have read about within our scoliosis group. When they cut the cast off, our little man, who many people mistake for having football pads, looked like a newborn calf. He struggled on his feet, almost falling, and scared himself with the uneasiness.

 Before cast removal

  We didn't recognize the body of this little boy that had been hiding underneath the plaster cast. After all, we had put a 17 month old toddler into the cast, so we weren't expecting a gangly little 2 1/2 year- old boy underneath. He continually grabbed at his shirt throughout the evening and you could tell that he didn't remember the feel of his shirt on his skin. I bought bubble bath and plenty of lotion to rub him down with. He has some skin breakdown (nothing like some of the other children that I have seen) and I wanted to be able to treat it before we had to put him back in cast. Hunter loves to take a "bath". For our casted Hunterman, that means bathing in two inches of water in our kitchen sink, with a trash bag protecting the cast. He likes to splash and distribute water from one cup to another. I thought he would enjoy taking a real bath and want to splash. He was Terrified. James tried to coax him into the tub and even got in the tub to lure him in. Hunter screamed and shook his cold little body. James and I put him in long enough to wash off his back to clean him so that I could apply lotion.

                        

 
Looking straighter! Skin doesn't look too bad.

Rise and Shine...ready for cast #7!

  Hunter completed the MRI and was relieved to be back in cast. Everything went as planned during the procedures and little sister was a trooper through the process.

Waiting for the goofy juice.

Post surgery..waiting for Hunter to wake up.

Always plenty of room in Mama's arms for her babies.

  Hunter was sick for the majority of November and December and had lost weight. This was challenging, because correction in cast is directly correlated with growth. At the end of December we were told that he had had no change in cast. We chose to take that as a positive and focus on encouraging weight gain. It was a pleasant surprise to find out from his nutritionist a week before casting that he had gained 3 lbs. and grown 1 1/2 inches since his last visit. Praise God! At this point we were just praying for positive correction.
  A few days after casting, I spoke with the nurse and she told me that Hunter is currently sitting at 17 degrees.

  I am little confused about the progression of numbers, but thankful for the positive progress. In October, we were told that Hunter's curve was at 19 degrees. Again, we were told that there was no change in December. When the nurse called after the most recent cast, she told me that Hunter was down to 17 degrees from 23. I'm not sure if there was a mistake or if he had actually regressed in December. Either way we are counting our blessings for continued growth and positive progress.
  Hunter has creeped into the terrible two's, and while there is some normal discord, we are thankful for a polite, vivacious little man who is full of personality. Never a dull moment around here. My favorite Hunterism right now is "Hi Baby, it's Hunter!" as he joyfully greets Hayden. His strength continually amazes us and we are certain that there are great things ahead for him.

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved."-Helen Keller

  Watching Hunter out of cast for that brief period made me think of the weakness of his spine in the shelter of his cast. He has become so used to its security and its comfort. I've never broken a bone, but I'm sure that I would resist the cast, rather than be thankful for its protection. I was recently drawn to 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." God has a plan for our little man and he is teaching all of us strength in the process. I am so thankful for the security that we have in Him and the fact that God's power shines when my weakness is apparent.

  Hunter is scheduled to meet with his neurosurgeon on March 24th. We are saying prayers that the syrinx have remained constant and haven't increased in size. As always, please continue to keep Hunterman in your prayers and share his story with others.
Blessings to you and yours from the Sitton party of four!
Stay tuned, more to come...

Faith, Hope, Love, and Joy-ready or not here she comes!

 Happy New Year from our family of four to yours!

  December was an eventful month in our household. The last we spoke, the remodeling of our home was well underway and Ladybug's arrival was scheduled for December 31st. Hunter's casting had been postponed due to fever and we were working on scheduling a new casting date for either December 30th or January 15th. In retrospect, probably a few too many balls to juggle at once, but what can I say, that's how we roll.
  James had told baby girl that she could come anytime after December 10th. I, on the other hand, was coaxing her to stay comfy a little longer, in hopes that we could finish the remodel and get Hunter squared away. Look at me trying to think I could control the situation!
 Anyway, after talking with the nurse at Scottish Rite, I remembered that our next casting date must be before the end of February, because Hunter must have an MRI of his spinal cord done prior to the beginning of March. So, we had to move forward with the December 30th date.
   I'll be honest. I was a little anxious about sending Hunter and James to Dallas the day before our supposed c-section date/Ladybug's birthday. Little did I know, God's plan to our story was going to unfold a little differently than what we were anticipating.
  I had had issues with my blood pressure at the end of my pregnancy with Hunter, so I was already being monitored a little more closely this go around. I started having issues with my blood pressure again after James returned from Colorado. My doctor decided that she wanted to continue to monitor, but gave me a range to watch for and told us that we must come in if it got up to a certain level. I tried to keep things as low key as possible and basically had as much voluntary bed rest as my two- year old nugget would allow me to have in a home that was/is under construction. Ultimately, based on bloodwork and my blood pressure reading at the next doctor's visit on December 18th, it was determined that the best option for safety was to deliver early on December 23rd. Definitely not what we were anticipating, but we knew that it would actually be better for Hunter and his casting scenario.
  The irony in the situation....last year, on December 18th, we received a call that Hunter was scheduled for surgery on December 23rd to untether his spinal cord. The same calendar dates a year apart...what a difference a year makes! Here's to hoping that next year we will have a hospital free Christmas.
  We went into the hospital on December 23rd, little girl's birthday, and it ended up being a blessing as my blood pressure was excessively high and the nurses remarked that they were thankful that we didn't wait any longer. She was almost two weeks early, but our little ladybug was perfect.

   Hayden Ansely Sitton

December 23, 2014

4 lbs. 9 1/2 oz.

17 in. long

   A mother memorizes and recognizes her baby's cry. When they lifted Hayden up and showed her to us, it was somewhat surreal. She looks so much like Hunter, yet her cry is so different.
  After recovery, they brought her to me and my nurse was commenting about how tiny she was, yet she appeared to be alert and strong. Hayden ate like a champ from the word go, no jaundice in sight, just tiny. My nurses commented that Hayden was "tiny but mighty" and "tiny but tough".  Even at two weeks early, we were very surprised at how small she was, but somehow I don't think size will ever be a problem for her. You see, dynamite comes in small packages, and I'm sure that she will give her brother a run for his money.

  I love quotes and really anything motivational. One of the things that I used to take pride in doing at the end of every basketball season, was to choose a quote for each player that I felt embodied their personality or character. So, it's probably not surprising that I would choose quotes/verses for our own children. One of the quotes that I chose for Hunter's room is, "Let him sleep, for when he wakes he will move mountains." I decided to do the same for Hayden. The two quotes/verses that I had picked out prior to her arrival are below. I think they will fit her perfectly.

"She is clothed with strength and dignity and she laughs without fear of the future." Proverbs 31:25

"Though she be but little, she is fierce!" -William Shakespeare

Sibling Comparison

Hunter 

Hayden

               Hayden's features are a little more dainty, but as you can see, they look so much alike.

Name Trivia

  We actually didn't intentionally choose two "H" names for our nuggets. While you don't hear the name Hayden a lot for girls, we both really liked the name. Coincidentally, Hunter and Hayden actually have the same initials. Hunter's name is Hunter Anderson Sitton and as I introduced earlier, we now have Hayden Ansely Sitton. Hunter's middle name, Anderson, was after James' grandfather, L.A. (Lucius Anderson) Sitton and Hayden's middle name is honoring my grandfather Ansel Holmstrom.

(We're pretty content with two, however we'll see what God has in store for us. If we were to decide to grow our family any more we are really going to have to put some effort into choosing another name to fit the H.A.S. trend.)

What I've learned in the first two weeks as momma of two:

1) I am so incredibly thankful for my husband, my mother, my sister, and my brother-in-law. James was at my beckon call in the hospital. I only had to hit him with a pillow once to get his attention, so he's done a really great job. Ha! He has been diligently cooking for us since we've been home. Marriage advice--if you find a partner, whom you love and adore with all your heart, that can also cook, don't let them get away.
My mom, sister, and brother-in-law stayed with Hunter while we were in the hospital. He was obviously in great hands and well taken care of. They got him through the adjustment of being away from us for the first time. (Hopefully he wasn't too much trouble.) My mother continued to stay after we were home to help us get adjusted and give Hunter special attention, especially since I am unable to lift anything heavier than Hayden for a while. While in the hospital James and I looked at one another and agreed that we couldn't have made it without them. Hunter was glad to see his Momma and Daddy when we came home from the hospital on December 26th, but has been continually asking for his Mimi, Aunt Cara, Uncle John, and Preston, now that they have all gone home.

2) Our children don't like to be dirty for long. Hunter had to be changed immediately after a wet or dirty diaper. James used to say that I changed a diaper like a pit crew changes a tire. He admired my speed, but I'm sure he was also trying to get out of changing diapers. We haven't potty trained Hunter yet, because of the cast. Since we have two in diapers, we have been tag teaming and either my mom or James has diapered Hunter and I have taken Hayden. I was telling James that Hayden is quickly following suite on the clean diaper front. He joked that our kids are like artists that just like to have a clean canvas.

3) Naps are like dessert. You get a taste of sleep and you just want more. Too bad the kiddos are trying to limit my sweet tooth.

4) Retouching makeup takes on a new meaning when you wake up with a baby in your arms and yesterday's makeup on your face.

5) There's nothing sweeter than watching your first born learn to love and protect his little sister.

Update on little man:

  Casting surgery # 6 was December 30th. James and Hunter were troopers as a Daddy and his little buddy made the trek to Dallas. Hunter did well with the casting, however, for the first time, he had no improvement from cast to cast. To be honest, I don't want to over-analyze or speculate as I tend to do. I am choosing not to worry or question the details. I am reminding myself of the words of Kay Warren that have crossed my mind many times in the last month, while trying to stay focused on God's plan and not my agenda.

“Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life; the quiet confidence that ultimately everything will be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in all things.”                            Kay Warren

  I've referenced this quote before, but it seems to continue to have valued importance. As we begin this new year and make resolutions and goals, I am going to focus on letting God's story unfold rather than trying to alter the details. I challenge and encourage you to do the same.
  Hunter actually lost weight over the last two months and was continually sick. We've decided to  focus on what we can control and try our best to encourage Hunter to eat higher calorie foods, gain weight, and hopefully, in turn, encourage growth.
  Hunter's next casting will be on February 26th and will include an MRI. We will have his cast removed the day prior to casting and he will have some water time, which will be so exciting for him after a year of no water play or true baths.

Hunter's story is now featured on the website of the Infantile Scoliosis Outreach Program.
You can access his story at the following address: http://www.infantilescoliosis.org/hunters-story/

Please continue to keep Hunter and our family in your thoughts and prayers as we continue to pray for growth and correction and we will be thinking about and praying for all of you.

Cheers to 2015 and the blessings to come! May God bring you and your family Faith, Hope, Love, and JOY!

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!