Lot's of Teeth and Hiking

Teeth... Emmett is currently cutting 8 new teeth. Yes, Emmett is a bit old for teething, one of the side affects of  not orally feeding. Emmett has not used his little mouth in over a year and a half to eat. He is strictly fed through a gastrostomy tube also known as a G-tube. It is so interesting to me to learn how our bodies are made to naturally develop and grow. Even the simplest thing as using our mouths to bite down on foods which softens up the gums for the teething process to begin. Remarkable how the body is made. Emmett is still not eating by mouth but is able to use teething and oral stimulation tools to help with his verbal development.

 Emmett displaying his new teeth

On Friday we ventured over to Grandma's house for lunch.

 Grandma has a delicious vegetable garden. Emmett helped pick the perfectly ripe tomato's for our soup.

 Grandma aka my mother, is preparing the dishes for lunch. Ethan however, has a difference in taste of food's and requested Mac n Cheese.

 We then traveled about a mile or two down the road to visit the Phoenix Arizona Temple site. We are so excited for it's completion. Ethan and Emmett enjoyed watching the tractor's and cranes move about the landscape.

 I am so excited about this... Ethan, Emmett , Grandma and I went to explore the great outdoor's at a near by hiking trail. Emmett walked a majority of the way. His endurance is proving to be more and more. He loved running along the paved trail with Ethan and stopping to watch the ground hogs or birds ran across the road.

All I can say is Life is Good!!! Go Emmett, Go!

The hive's have finally left Emmett's body. The cause for the bout of 3 week hive's is still a mystery, however a dose of a 5 day steroid did the trick and Emmett has been hive-less for a week now. Emmett met a new physician, Dr Rose, he is an Allergist and Immunologist. Kind man, he spent a generous amount of time meeting and learning about Emmett. I think Dr Rose will be a great addition to Emmett's team for his road to recovery.

I am so thankful every day that Emmett is home! We are going on 7 1/2 consecutive weeks. Each morning that I wake up and know that Emmett had a restful and safe sleep with the watchful care of his great nurses, bring's such peace to my mind. 

I am so thankful to my Father in Heaven for each moment we have together as a family. I love waking up to his sweet smile, or his excited face when he see's Ethan for the first time each new day. I soak in the picture of Ethan and Emmett playing together. Emmett is Ethan's little shadow. Emmett is quite the two year old... For example... I just had to run into his room because he pulled off his pulse monitor, as I walked, in he had the oximeter in his hand. Stinker! I love it though... Emmett is being a two year old, whether he is in a sassy mood or not, I am so grateful for these moments.

This image is of Emmett's pulse oximeter. The top number (red) shown is his oxygen rate that is being passed through his body. The bottom (green) number is his heart rate. For his age, literally these number's could not be any more perfect. I find my self taking a deep breath,  relief! For over a year, Emmett's pulse oximeter would alarm continuously, informing us that either Emmett's body was not taking in enough oxygen or that his heart rate was dangerously high. The stress that it cause for both Michael and I was felt unbearable at times. How thankful we are, that we are no more seeing these dangerous number's.

 I praise God for these past 7 weeks. Emmett is home and Michael and I are now able to set goals and plan family picinic's at the park and enjoy being a family home once again. We are so blessed!

Once again we ask for all to continue to spread the word and share Emmett's survival story. It can be as simple as email Emmett's website www.emmettsfight.com to family and friends. Thank you for all that you do in spreading awareness about Button Battery Ingestion!

Go Emmett, Go!

Finger Painting and the Mysterious Hives

The Hive's have returned. Actually they only disappear for about 24hours after the last break out a few weeks ago. He have been in to see the Pediatrician and will return again for another evaluation tomorrow. Also we have been speaking with his Specialist and we believe the cause is one of the many medications maybe causing this allergic reaction. Thankfully Emmett is not in any distress respiratory wise. Problem is... he has had no new changes to his medications in 6 months. Crazy!

Finger painting... This activity is difficult for me. I get a little anxiety thinking about paint possibly being splattered around my kitchen by very curious and creative 2 and 4 year old. However I took a deep breath and caved in. 

                                        

 Thank goodness for washable paint. Emmett liked using his pants to wipe the paint off of his adorable little fingers.

Emmett is continuing to thrive! For so long we have been struggling to keep Emmett stable medically speaking. Now that Emmett has a secure airway (Trach), he is able to do things that he has never done before, be a true 2 year old boy.  Emmett's terrific Therapist's are proactively setting goals for his rehabilitation, now that he is stable. It is going to be a whole lot of work, however I am so excited to be at this stage of Emmett's  life! We are so blessed, thank you dear God! I will keep updating Emmett's progress as we keep moving forward!

Orange Crocs, A Car Wash and Train Parks

The car was over due for a car wash. It never rain's in Phoenix however the dust makes up for it when it come's to needing a car wash, but somehow it still takes me a few months to give the ole car a good bath. Usually, the boys and I venture our way over to the local car wash, but on Saturday I thought it might be fun to have the boys help me do a little scrubbing. I used to love washing our family van when I was younger, the bubbles, the hose and a wash rag war with my siblings. So fun!

It was 72 degree's that day, so we rolled up our jeans, put on our flip flops and got to work. When Ethan was about 2 years old, he used to wear a pair of bright orange Crocs. I remember him wanting to wear them everywhere, to the park, grocery store, church and even sometime's he would try and wear them to bed.
I was delighted to discover that Emmett's adorable little feet were able to fit into his older brother's used to be Crocs.

Mr Emmett blowing kisses

 My good little helper

 This picture is my favorite... Hard a work

 Ethan loved using the hose to spray the car... his little brother and his mommy.

 Busy

Emmett and Ethan's aunt Lizzie and cousin Benny came into town. It was a beautiful day out and we traveled over to a train park. Ethan really enjoy's train's. Thomas the Train is a big hit in our house hold.

Ethan, Benny,  aunt Liz, Grandpa, uncle Scott and I preparing for the train ride

  Grandma, Benny and Uncle Scott watching the train

A week later, Ethan's wonderful preschool teacher, planned for his class to attend different train park.

I love watching him interact with all his pal's at school. Amazing how fast they grow.

Toy Story 3 on Ice

This past year Ethan has taken the back seat when it come's to getting his Mom and Dad's attention. Now that we are home and Emmett is thriving, Michael and I are trying to spend some much needed quality time with Ethan. We have set aside Thursday Night's as Ethan, Mommy and Daddy date nights.

 Not every date night with Ethan will be this exstavagant, but thanks to our wonderful friend Wendy P. we were able to take Ethan and a few of our friends to Toy Story 3 on Ice.

Toy Story is one of my boy's favorite movies!

 Ethan's pal Chas and his mom Amy.

 Brandy and her daughter Blaire. Brandy and Amy are two of my many amazing friends I have been blessed to have in my life. Both of them kindly help take care of Ethan, when I am with Emmett in the hospital. Thank you ladies.

What a wonderful night we had with our friends. As you can see the kiddo's were worn out by the end. Sign of a good time!

Emmett enjoyed an evening playing with his Grandma and Grandpa!

A Day at the Park

Saturday we went on an adventure to the park as a family. I think it has been 8 months since Emmett has really been able to go and enjoy playing at the park. Ethan rode his bike while Emmett cruisedaround in his little red wagon. The day was perfect! We fed the ducks, watched the train go by and met a few cute little puppies along the walking trail.

Ethan and Michael started a soccer game. Emmett helped make a few passes now and then. Life is great!

Polar Express!

Choo choo! All Aboard the Polar Express!

Thanks to Kelley Bolender, Phoenix Children's Hospital and the Polar Express , Michael, Ethan and I were about to take an exciting day trip up to Williams Arizona to ride on the Majical Polar Express Train.

We started the day by helping Emmett get settle for his special time with Grandma and Grandpa. Unfortunately, due to the high elevation of the city of Williams which is located in the mountains and Emmett's fragile lungs, Emmett was not able to attend the train ride this year. He had a blast however with his Grandparent's.

After giving Emmett kisses and Hugs we ventured up to Flagstaff Arizona. Flagstaff is about 30miles from Williams. Ethan, Michael and I met up with my sister Janae and my neice Ella for lunch at the Wildflower Bread Co. Delicious!

We then made our treck out to Williams to check in to the train station. It was wonderful to be able to spend a special day with Ethan. I think he really enjoyed having a special day with his Mommy and Daddy. Ethan was so excited to be able to go to the North Pole and to see Santa.

The Polar Exress experience was amazing! We sang Christmas carol's, ate special snicker doodle cookies made by Mrs Clause herself and washed it down with a cup of delicious hot chocolate. The "cooks" on board read the story of the Polar Express. We then were able to view the real Santa Clause sitting in his sleigh at the real North Pole through the train window.

Ethan in his pajama's full of exitement.

At the end a special visitor, aka Santa, came on board and handed each of the children a bell. Santa handed Ethan a bell and asked him to give the 2nd one to his little beother Emmett.