Family Time

Well, Leanne has come and gone and we had such a great time with her getting to know the kids. Afton and Brendan were very young, Mike 2 and Afton 3, when she visited last. Brendan did share something with Leanne that she hadn't had with him - a cold.

We were able to attend New Moon together as sisters and met up with Jamie for lunch at Texas Roadhouse on November 21st. We then all got together for Thanksgiving at Michele's house. Despite the odd contention, we all have a great and memorable time together.


Michael was recently ordained a Deacon in the Priesthood and is taking the roll very serious.

With two weeks left until Christmas we are preparing for a quiet Christmas at home. The kids are trying to convince us that we should be in Montana at Grandma's house, which we have done in years past.

Afton is wearing makeup and can't leave the house until perfected. She never even cared about her hair or clothes matching before. She really wants lots of clothes for Christmas. Mike has been moved into a new class at school and is doing better. He was in the same class as his best friends and accomplished very little. He is really getting into Arts, writing and reading. He spends most of his time on his DS w/ Guitar Hero game.

Wayne is still in the job search and is currently picking up shifts at the local gas station as a cashier to help subsidize the income.

Merry Christmas to all.

Getn' Caught Up.

Well, the post surgery progress is taking leaps and miserableness. I have been getting kidney infections (I think from the Plavix) on and off and have had to be on a variety of antibiotics (which I am mostly allergic to). I sit here with sharp pains from my kidneys to ah, the exit. I have not had any headaches except for a couple in the weeks following surgery, which is very normal.
I have my three month post-surgery follow-up appointment on October 13 when they will do another Trans-Cranial Doppler (TCD) and I hope all will be safely closed off.
Kids are in school. Brendan thinks he is too big to be in Kindergarten. Michael is more dreading next year when he will be made fun of by his big sister for being in 7th grade than being too focused on being the big kid in school.
Wayne is the at-home dad as he has lost his employment, which has been great for the kids and nice to have tea made when I get home.
We are getting ready for birthday season and enjoying the cooler weather.

Official Diagnosis

After meeting with Dr. Sherman Sorensen yesterday I got the diagnosis of ASD (Atrial Septal Defects)
During fetal development, the upper chambers of the heart (atria) divide into right and left sides. In some, the closure is incomplete leaving a "hole in the heart". This hole or defect in the atrial divider (septum) is an Atrial Septal Defect or ASD. Since pressure in the right side of the heart is lower than the left side, blood can flow from the lungs directly through the ASD back to the right heart; re-circulation through the lungs again and again. This abnormal recycling of blood through the lungs is called "shunting". The amount of blood flowing (or shunting) through the lungs may be many times more than the blood flow to the rest of the body.

Shunting is an extra blood volume to the right side of the heart which can cause an overload of the heart. This overload can cause enlargement of the heart, abnormal heart rhythm, congestive heart failure, and injury to the arteries of the lungs. Increased pressure in the right side of the heart may reverse the direction of the shunt. Used blood without oxygen may dilute blood with oxygen levels in the body. Since the filtering function of the lungs is bypassed, stroke or brain abscess may occur if clots or bacteria cross the ASD into the left side of the heart.

Not all headaches are migraine headache and it is sometimes difficult to decide. A classic migraine headache is a primary headache (not due to stroke or tumor) which is usually one sided, throbbing, severe, and usually comes with nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light or sound, or motion sensitivity.

I had this test done ~ Trans-Cranial Doppler (TCD) is a new test which measures brain artery blood flow by using safe ultrasound echo probes placed on the surface of both sides of the head. If microscopic bubbles injected through an IV shunt past the lungs to the left heart, TCD detects and counts each bubble as it appears in the brain arteries. TCD is not only the most sensitive way to diagnosis right-to-left shunt, it is the best way to quantify shunt.

For more information: http://sorensenmd.com/index.php

Here is more information about the procedure: http://www.amplatzer.com/products/asd_devices/tabid/179/default.aspx

So Slow

Afton went to Young Women's girls camp today. She is there through the week. How will we survive without our Affie? She was so excited to go.
All three kids will be going with Grandma to Montana on Sunday. They are going for their bi-summerly visit. Brendan is very excited.
My nephew Andrew is getting married next week. I'm glad it's not my child getting married. That's one thing I am not sure I will be ready for when it does happen.
Afton ended her 7th grade year with her first year book and some mediocre grades. She did well and tried hard, but it is sure an adjustment from Elementary School. She will be at Lehi Jr. High again for her 8th grade year. Michael will begin his last year at Elementary school with the excitement of Brendan being at the same school, but in Kindergarten. Big step, and he is more than ready for it.
I am working again, same field, but this time closer to home in Provo. It is a great small firm where I seem to be fitting in nicely.
Wayne is still working in Mona and dreads the drive every day.

It's Springtime. . .

I just love Spring. My daffodils are blooming and the buds on shrubs and trees are popping. Mike has been playing indoor soccer and has been having fun. Monte, the cat, has taken over and has warmed up to Oreo. Brendan still thinks he is a toy to carry around and tease in every way.

New family addition

Here is our new kitty, Monte. We adopted him from a family in Saratoga Springs that needed to find him a new home. He is not sure about being followed around the house by kids, but has found a safe warm home with Wayne.