Blast From The Past....Hee! Hee!

I had to share the laugh my boys and I just had over these pictures- Matt and I started dating in 1993- I was 17 and Matt was 19........:) :) :) :)

I have a 3rd eye on my forehead

hee! the sunglasses!!

Link To Nicholas' Heart Surgery Post

Strep, Tonsillitis, and Taking Pictures

Both My boys were home sick from school on Fri.- One with Strep and the other Tonsillitis- The weather was beautiful here in Oregon......
All 3 of my kids were home at the same time + Beautiful Weather =

Nicholas' Heart Surgery :(

I am introducing my dear friend Kristi to you today.  Kristi and I have gone to church together for a few years short of a decade- Over the course of those years I have seen first hand the incredible faith Kristi and her family display's as they face the medical issues their son Nicholas has had to endure.

Kristi- It is with a heavy heart that I post this blog tonight........I love you friend and will be faithfully praying as your family get's ready to head to Stanford for Nicholas 3rd heart surgery- May God Bless and keep you all-
SCROLL DOWN TO READ NICHOLAS' STORY..................

Nicholas

NICHOLAS' STORY AS TOLD BY HIS MOM KRISTI:
There is nothing more heart-wrenching than saying goodbye to your child as a medical team wheels him through those double doors to take him into surgery.  Waiting for 5 or 6 hours knowing that his heart is stopped and a machine is keeping him alive – horrible.  And there are no words for how a mom’s heart feels seeing her precious boy for the first time after surgery with tubes and wires attached to seemingly every part of his body, eyes closed, body limp, not able to breathe on his own.  Knowing the kind of pain that he will be in when he eventually wakes up.

Yet in the midst of the physical and emotional pain is peace and blessing.   God is so real you can almost feel Him.   Surrender…… at some point in our journey, we had to surrender.  That moment is forever etched on my heart.  My little guy was fast asleep and I was sitting by his bed watching him sleep.  Then, the tears started flowing and the prayers.  At that moment, I knew that every time I had ever said, “My children are yours Lord, I trust you,” there was a piece of me that didn’t completely mean it.  I trusted Him, but asked (begged) that He not let anything bad happen.  I wanted His will but I wanted some control, too. I knew He loved them but that had to mean He’d never let them suffer.  So, that night for the first time I started to mean that prayer, really mean it.  No matter the cost, God’s plan was the best.  When that plan was done, He would take my children home.  And, I had to be o.k. with that – I either trust Him or I don’t………..

I guess I should rewind so you can follow our family’s story from the beginning….

It’s a boy!! A perfect, healthy, beautiful baby boy – the words every expectant parent longs to hear when birth day arrives.  They were the words we heard when our son Nicholas was born almost 12 years ago.  Those words were the answer to our prayers of “It doesn’t matter what we have, as long as he or she is healthy.”  We never imagined what a crazy, amazing journey we were beginning after such a “normal” start to our son’s story.

When Nicholas was a year old, we were blown away to find out that he had actually had a heart murmur since birth but we were not told since “these things usually disappear on their own.”  And then imagine the shock when the cardiologist said he had a congenital (meaning present at birth) heart defect that would need surgery some day.  Much to our relief, his defect was fairly minor and in the vast majority of cases, completely fixed after surgery with no long-term problems.

Well, it hasn’t quite worked out that way.  His first open heart surgery occurred the day after his third birthday.  The defect was repaired but our surgeon told us it was not “normal.”  We’d have to give it some time to see what that would mean for Nicholas.  It didn’t take much time. Six months later, it was clear that something unexpected had happened in his heart.  Now his aortic valve didn’t work properly.  Six years later he went in for his 2^nd surgery with a badly leaking valve and an enlarged heart.  To our great relief, the surgeon was able to fix the valve that, as it turns out, had been damaged by his original problem.  Our world-renowned surgeon was highly confident the repair would last at least 5 years.

Today, Nicholas’ journey is still winding around turns that we don’t understand.  It’s only been two and a half years since his 2^nd surgery but on March 23^rd, he goes back in for #3.  His leak is bad again, his heart has enlarged further, and sometimes he feels winded or tired.  We get to choose between crummy choice A and crummy choice B.  A biological valve that will only last 5-10 years or a mechanical valve that requires daily blood thinning medication and monthly blood work.  And, in all likelihood as his heart grows, either valve will become too small.  He will almost definitely need a surgery #4.

To be honest, there are moments I feel as though I’ve been punched in the gut; I can’t breathe, and I just want to throw up.  But most of the time, I am so thankful for our journey.  I have watched God provide for our needs and bring amazing people into our lives.  I see how my son affects the medical staff he is around and how he touches their hearts.  I have a compassion for families in crisis that would not have existed before. I am thankful for the perspective change when I see the kids and their families in the hospital who are facing terminal illness, months in the hospital, and those precious little bald heads.  I have learned that my definition of perfect is not God’s definition and there are no mistakes. I would never choose this story for my son.  But it is the one God wrote for him. 

I asked Nicholas what he would say to people about his heart.  Here are his words: “I’m ok with having a heart condition.  I can’t do a lot of things that other kids can do with a normal heart.  But, with my heart condition I can tell people that they can get through anything.  God helps me to always look forward (to after recovery) and not focus on what’s about to happen (surgery).  Sometimes I pretend not to have a heart problem and that helps me.  If you know someone who is going to have a baby soon, don’t expect the baby is going to come perfect.  Bad things can happen to people close to you.  Nothing bad happens without a purpose.  God has a plan.”

Of course, we would appreciate prayers for his upcoming surgery and recovery, for financial and logistical issues, and making wise choices for Nicholas.  Thanks for reading our amazing & courageous son’s story.

Blessings,

Kristi

L to R: Lenny, Kailynn, Nicholas, Kristi, and Jacob

p90x Meet's A Dozen Samoas

When I saw that my facebook friend Molly had posted Girl Scout Cookies being available for sale I KNEW I needed to keep with tradition and order the same 5 boxes of Samoas I do every year...Molly made a surprise visit to my house late last week to deliver those wonderful boxes of cookies.   I kept 1 out and put the other 4 in the freezer-
For the past year or so I have seen several of my friends toning up and just looking overall more fabulous than they usually do- It seems like each one I ask I hear the same response.......'I am doing p90x!'- I know that they are work out videos but not much else about them.......at least until the other night I did not know much about them :) :) :)
I couldn't sleep on Sun. night so I told my husband Matt that I was going to wind down by watching TV- As I was flipping through channels I noticed an informercial featuring p90x......WHOO HOO I would be able to check it out and see what all the buzz was about.........
Honestly, I have yet to work out to a viedo....BUT as I was watching Tony Horton (the leader) I could see the appeal of working out to his exercise routine and I felt incredibly inspired.......As I was sitting in my chair, watching TV and letting my inspiration grow I realized watching all that exercise was making me HUNGRY! 
I made my way through not quite a whole box of those Samoas Molly dropped off by the time the informercial was over.....twelve to be exact...........I was curled up on my chair with the TV blarring Tony's Workout munching on Girl Scout Cookies- For some reason, after it was all over and I was bringing the remaining cookies back to the kitchen I noticed that I had left my caculator out on the table- Still feeling the inspiration of the workout I had just watched I flipped the box on it's side to read the calorie counter- 140 calories per 2 cookies times 6 (cause again, I ate 12)........I punched the numbers into my caculator....
I'm thinking Tony would not see the humor in the fact that I consumed over 800 calories while watching his program.......
As I made my way back to bed I could not help but waking Matt up and letting him know what I had just done- We had a good laugh and I slept like a baby :)
To all of my friends who are working out to p90x........YOU LOOK AMAZING AND I ADMIRE YOU!!

My friend Holly and I showing the many uses of Girl Scout Samoa Cookies! 
I love you lots HollyB

Happy 8 Month Birthday Elle's

Ryan's Isaiah and My Nic 2012 (updated 2015)

I wrote this blog post one month shy of 3 1/2 years ago, Ryan and Isaiah were 12 at the time.  Since writing this post, Ryan and Isaiah have not only kept in touch but still get together...to date they have seen each other at least once a year (the past couple of years they have been able to see each other twice a year).  Ryan has joined Isaiah's family on their yearly trip to ski in Tahoe, Isaiah's family has joined us for Thanksgiving, Our family took a trip back to Kauai and stayed with his family, and Isaiah is currently spending the week with us here in Oregon.  The boys are now 16 and headed for their Junior year in high school- They have not lived in the same state for over 4 years but are able to pick up right where they left off from the last time they saw each other. 

Eli, Julie, and Isaiah (even Buddy and Pono)- we are so blessed to consider you guys our 'Hawaii Family'! (Antone, Dionne, & fam and Martin & Mary- we are so blessed to have you as our Hawaii family too)
______________________________________________

Feb. 2012

One of the hardest things for my 12 year old son Ryan has been the fact that we moved home from Hawaii. He has struggled with missing the ranch we lived on, missing the beach, and missing the buddies he had made in the two years we lived on Kauai- particularly Isaiah............
As a parent, watching your children create and experience friendships that are not only healthy but complimenting to their personalities is such a blessing- Ryan and Isaiah spent countless after school hours roaming the beach, hunting, body boarding, riding dirt bikes, and hanging out at each other's houses.....
Trying to be a relatable mommy and to start helping him compartmentalize the specialness of his friendship with Isaiah but also live his life in Oregon I told him the story of my Nic....
In the summer of 1989 my dad's family decided to start the tradition of a bi-annual family reunion- This reunion brought 1st, 2nd, and 3rd cousins together.  I was 13 getting ready to turn 14 that summer and not super excited about going to a family reunion when I could be hanging out with my friends.  The first night of the reunion (which was a 2 nighter) I met my 2nd (or maybe 3rd) cousin Nicole- Nicole was 15 and full of life- she had a twinkle in her eye that I completely understood.........she also had a love for the Lord that radiated from her- We clicked immediately and made some great memories that reunion.......one of the funniest was sitting in the women's bathroom for a greater part of the night talking...For most of the night my eye kept catching the sign that said 'DO NOT PUT SANITARY NAPKINS IN TOILET!' and sitting beside that sign was a dirty old plunger- Earlier in the day both of us had been thrown into the river by our mischievous cousin Steve- We knew that Steve was sleeping in the 'common room'- A room that housed several bunk beds- It was the over flow room for people that did not have a cabin.  We also knew that Steve was a very sound sleeper :) Steve did not wake up as we placed the plunger in his hand......nor did he wake up as we placed the sign (re: the sanitary napkins) directly on his chest- I'm really surprised he did not wake up to the very loud giggles of 2 teenage girls.......When the morning came he was found with plunger and sign still on his chest.........He was peeved and never did see the humor in it.....but he also never threw us in the river again!  That was 26 years ago and Nic is still one of my dearest friends- A heart Friend- Nic and I have never lived close to each other- nor have we been able to visit each other more that a handful of times outside of family reunions- Our daily lives may be separate but our hearts are still connected- It is a joy to talk to her and like we have never spent anytime apart when we are able to catch up-
I was telling Ryan all of this to let him know that there is hope for his friendship with Isaiah- They may not get to spend everyday together like they used to- This just makes the time they do get to spend together that much more special........
Ryan and Isaiah were able to see each other today for the first time in a little over 8 months (Feb. 2012)- Isaiah's parents invited Ryan to join their family on a snowboard/skiing trip for a week.....As Ryan's plane took off this morning so he could meet up with Isaiah I thought about my friendship with Nic-
I know as parents we can not plan our kid's future but my heart was praying that Ryan and Isaiah's story will play out like Nic and mine......


 

(L) Ryan (R) Isaiah 2010 (Kauai)

Ryan (L), Jesse, Eli, Isaiah (R) on the beach in Hawaii 2011

 Thanksgiving in Oregon 2013

 

Spring Break on Kauai 2014

Isaiah visiting Oregon 2015

 

 

 

 

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!

From our hearts to all of yours......HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!

(I wish my oldest son Eli could have been in some of these pictures- He has an after school job and was not able to be home when they were taken)

 As I was typing this blog post out Elle's crawled over by me, grabbed her squishy book
as laid down......as she laid down, she put her little foot up on my leg :)

Ellie And The Ritz

This afternoon I gave Elle's a Ritz Cracker for the first time- At first I was feeding it to her (looking to keep the area around her clean because she was not in her high chair)- About 1/2 way through the first one she kept grabbing for it- wanting to feed her self.........Go for it Elle's!!!
P.S. Heading to grab the vacuum right after posting this :)

Datin' at Home Depot and Nawiliwili Harbor

One Year ago (Actually almost 1 year ago- Feb 22 will be a year) Matt and I were hanging out at the Home Depot in Lihue (Kauai) and killing time at the Nawiliwili Harbor (Lihue).......I had convinced Matt to take me with him into town so we could have a 'date afternoon'- Our exciting date consisted of going to the dump, Home Depot, and then sitting in the Nawiliwili Harbor to kill time as we waited for the boys to get out of school- While living in Hawaii we did not have air conditioning.......no I'm not whining but I am saying that going to Home Depot was completely appealing to me- THEY HAD AIR CONDITIONING!  I also will add to the air conditioning comment that I would frequent Costco in Lihue (Kauai) so that I could go stand back in the refrigerator section and circle the fruit and veggies until I was near freezing  :)

Home Depot on our date

Nawiliwili Harbor