Happy Birthday Leah!

Our baby is growing up- Look who just turned 3!

Good morning sleepy head. Heading out to birthday breakfast with dad.

We went MOPS and had a party that night.

Presents!

So happy to have a sister to play with:) Blow out those candles!!

Skiing!

Cousin Shelby has been asking to go skiing with us since last year. We figured we better do it sooner rather than later because you never know what the weather will do .

Uncle Dave has some words of advice.

Say what? How do I get up?

Here we go!

All the skiiers.

She said she enjoyed it and we did too!

Zach's Knees

Zach has been having swelling and some pain in his knees since last summer. We took him to the doctor last week because it was steadily getting worse. We could tell there was fluid and his trainer at school recommended a sports physician at ORA. As soon as Dr. Ellis came into the room, I knew we were in the right place. She was full of knowledge and I was thankful we would have an answer quickly.



But I was wrong on the quick part. After examining him, she ordered x-rays. Which turned out to be normal. Good to know that structurally, all was good. Next step was to draw out fluid to be tested. Clear fluid would be best but she said it may be cloudy which would lend itself to infection. As soon as she started to draw it, my heart sank. It was red. She said, "This is not at all what I was expecting." She explained that at Zach's age, this should not be happening and she would order an MRI to hopefully get to the bottom of it.



So he had the MRI. On Thursday, we went in to get the results. Thankfully, all the lab work was normal which ruled out infection and juvenile arthritis. So thankful for that. Also thankful that the MRI showed the answer. He has a defect in the articular cartilage behind his patela. She explained it as a pothole in the smooth lining of the cartilage that was somehow disrupted and was causing blood in the joint. Because his knees are both having the same symptoms, she is certain an MRI on the other knee would show the same thing. More than likely, this has been caused by a fall on both knees that we just don't remember.

She has refered us to another doctor in her ORA group who specializes in cartilage damage in the knees. He just transfered here from his position as the sports physician for the UCLA (Bruins? I can't remember if this is the team she said). Anyway, he is a surgeon so more than likely, he will want to operate on Zach's knees to fix the cartilage. Although she's not sure, he might have some other things to try first, we just have to wait and see what he says. If he has to have surgery, it will be an outpatient procedure and it will be on the left knee first. Then he will have another MRI for the other knee and surgery on that one.
She seems to think that after we have it fixed, he will have a full recovery and be able to return to sports.

To tell you the truth, I am relieved to have an answer and to know that it wasn't something that showed in the lab work. That would have been trickier to treat the doctor agrees that this is better, even though it means possible surgery.

Thanks in advance for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers.

Just Can't Catch a Break

Poor Trey Buddy has been through the wringer. First the car accident and now this.

This was a skiing accident. He was trying to do a jump and biffed. Right on his face.

On a brighter note. Doesn't his nose look great?!

Ringing in the New Year-Literally

Cousin time!

Fun with the Hewletts ringing the bell.

Happy New Year everyone!

One of my Favoritist Christmas Pictures Ever

This has got to be one of the best Christmas pictures ever. The thing is...when we actually took the picture, back in 2004, I thought it was bad. I wondered why in the world we couldn't just take a normal picture like a normal family. But see, that was back when I only had three kids. Maybe I didn't really get it or something, I don't know. One thing I do know now, is that I'm rambling. The other thing I know, esp. now that I have four children, is that these are the memories to be treasured. It's a crazy picture but I wouldn't have it any other way.



Here it is:

Some things I love:

The fact that Trey was sucking his thumb and rubbing Zach's hair. Zach hated that, but look at how oblivious he looks. I love it! Everyone in the room was obviously laughing about it, I know I was.

Lexi was picking her nose! and laughing. Probably thinking everyone was laughing at her. Nope!

Dave looks, ummm, fat. Sorry Honey. This was before he started losing weight. I am so proud of him now for the work he has done to change it but it's weird to look back and see him like that.

I just think it's hysterical that Zach is standing there in front and doesn't realize what is going on behind him.

Definately one of my favorites.

Christmas Day

We always spend Christmas Day with Dave's parents.

This year, Sue had a fun game that involved the kids rotating presents every time her story read Jesus. The kids had a blast.

Baby Henry got a jump on opening his presents. "Zach, would you just look at me?"
"Trey, look at me and smile."All the girls with their new pillow pets!