Video finally of Ethan walking! He got a big blue ball to play outside but the weather turned icky on us again. He still loved playing with it inside. He is getting so big!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Michael's Graduation Gift!
Hello!
I know I sound like a broken record and I apologize for that. However, I need the pictures for Michael's graduation gift by Sunday, March 22nd. I am going to place my order that night. I have got a few but need more!
Hope everyone is having a good week!
Ali
I know I sound like a broken record and I apologize for that. However, I need the pictures for Michael's graduation gift by Sunday, March 22nd. I am going to place my order that night. I have got a few but need more!
Hope everyone is having a good week!
Ali
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Playing Outside... Love this weather!
Today we played outside for the first time ever!We are loving this weather and will enjoy it while it lasts!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Goodbye Week 7... You delivered challenges & good news!
Today is the end of Week 7 of Michael being away, and the end of Week 5 of Basic Training.
This week Michael was fired from being squad leader (along with all the squad leaders), a planned tactic by the Drill Sergeants. He described it as the "truly a great day," as he didn't enjoy loosing his freetime to babysit. He went through a suicide awareness training which was pretty cheesy from what I could understand. He actually got to shoot his gun which of course he was really good at; it caught of the attention of the company commander who gave him kudos.
As you all know Ethan was in the hospital, Tuesday Michael received my letter about Ethan and was able to call. WOOO WOOO! Seriously made all 3 of feel so much better. We also got a date for the end of Basic Training. April 10th I will be headed to Georgia for "Family Weekend" where Mike will get 2 days off post. His actual graduation isn't until April 24th but he will be shipping off to Warrant Office school on the 13th or 14th. So no actual graduation but glad his other schools are not being delayed. Right now we are waiting on word if I will be able to drive Michael from Ft. Benning to Ft. Rucker (2hr drive). That will give us another day together. Cross your fingers!
Overall this week was a little tough. All 3 of us had some bad days. We are looking forward to Ethan being well and the next 29 days flying by.
Hope everyone is doing well! Cheers!
Ali
This week Michael was fired from being squad leader (along with all the squad leaders), a planned tactic by the Drill Sergeants. He described it as the "truly a great day," as he didn't enjoy loosing his freetime to babysit. He went through a suicide awareness training which was pretty cheesy from what I could understand. He actually got to shoot his gun which of course he was really good at; it caught of the attention of the company commander who gave him kudos.
As you all know Ethan was in the hospital, Tuesday Michael received my letter about Ethan and was able to call. WOOO WOOO! Seriously made all 3 of feel so much better. We also got a date for the end of Basic Training. April 10th I will be headed to Georgia for "Family Weekend" where Mike will get 2 days off post. His actual graduation isn't until April 24th but he will be shipping off to Warrant Office school on the 13th or 14th. So no actual graduation but glad his other schools are not being delayed. Right now we are waiting on word if I will be able to drive Michael from Ft. Benning to Ft. Rucker (2hr drive). That will give us another day together. Cross your fingers!
Overall this week was a little tough. All 3 of us had some bad days. We are looking forward to Ethan being well and the next 29 days flying by.
Hope everyone is doing well! Cheers!
Ali
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Ethan's Trip to the Hospital
Thursday night Ethan started to show his spots again, very very beginning stages. Friday morning he woke up covered in spots, NBD right, we have seen this tons of times. A couple hours after he woke up his feet were black, red, and spotty. His temperature was rising, and he was not a happy camper. We went in to see his Pediatrician who calmly but with urgency told me to take him to Primary Childrens Hospital. We arrived at the ER about 11am and all the doctors were quickly on the case. He had numerous tests done, 18 to be exact, which required lots of poking & proding. Friday afternoon Ethan was admitted to the hospital. The doctors wanted to do more tests and try to find some answers. Thinking it would just be an over night stay we ended up being at the hospital for 4 days & 3 nights. We got home Monday evening.
The diagnosis, which is what everyone wants to know, Acute Hemorrhagic Edema of Infancy. I am going to call it AHEI to make it easier. Did your head start spinning? What it means is when Ethan gets sick, any kind of sicky, his body almost turns on it's self. His vessels swell and his blood leaks, for lack of a better word, which is when we see spots. Due to gravity the leaked blood settles in his feet which causes the black, red, and spots. This last time was the first time that he swelled up like he did from the feet up, I anticipate I will be seeing the swelling again with future episodes. What triggered the most recent episode is Adenovirus, which is a respertory virus and is very common. Also, very contagious. There is nothing we can do for AHEI except treat whatever triggers it. This time the Adenovirus has no treatment but let it run it's course. Ethan is taking Zyrtec daily now.
Friday we have a follow up with the Dermatologist at Primary Childrens, she will confirm the diagnosis and deliver the biopsy results. Monday we will meet with Ethan's Pediatrician, who will take out his stitches from the biopsy. Being home now Ethan is acting more and more like himself. He seems to be doing much better. A little creative planning this week and working to get him back on schedule and life should be back to normal.
Thank you to everyone who came to visit and has sent their best wishes. Ethan is going to be just fine and we love all the support.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Michael Called! End of week 6 update!
Sneaky Michael called last night! I was so so excited, and still am. His battle buddy, Mansfield, had to resolve some bank issues and luckily you go everywhere with your battle buddy. Michael took the opportunity to make a phone call as well. We got to talk for about 15 minutes and ee got to talk to Ethan who kissed the phone, cutest thing ever.
Michael has been designated as the squad leader, natural born leader, and is not loving it. He spends the majority of what should be free time taking care of the other guys. I told him to be proud! ;) He also said he is getting skinnier, I told him I better lay off the delicious girl scout cookies then. Today they are actually going to shoot the weapons they have been using as a weight to hold over their heads or in front of their bodies during physical training (PT). The PT has not been too bad for him and he is enjoying the other things he is learning. He didn't however love the getting & giving of IVs. His battle buddy was a firefighter/EMT before joining the military so when giving Michael an IV it was no big deal. Michael on the other hand was not so awesome at it and poor Mansfield was his test dummy. He passed though and that is all that counts! :p
This week signifies the end of week 6 of Michael being gone and the end of week 4 of Basic Training. They are in white phase now (after red phase, before blue phase) and he likes it a lot better. He does not anticipate being "allowed" to make phone calls anytime soon but the letters are awesome and we will take what we can get.
Ethan & I are going better every week. We are staying busier and just getting used to him being gone. Still hate it though! I am back to sleeping in our bed and not on the couch. When talking to Michael last night he said "Yeah that was weird sleeping on the couch." All I could is laugh and thank him for not telling me that while I was still sleeping on the couch.
If anyone would like to send anything I am putting together a package of some letter & cards our friends have sent. Just let me know! Also, don't forget to contribute to the graduation gift. Hope everyone is doing well.
TTFN,
Ali
Michael has been designated as the squad leader, natural born leader, and is not loving it. He spends the majority of what should be free time taking care of the other guys. I told him to be proud! ;) He also said he is getting skinnier, I told him I better lay off the delicious girl scout cookies then. Today they are actually going to shoot the weapons they have been using as a weight to hold over their heads or in front of their bodies during physical training (PT). The PT has not been too bad for him and he is enjoying the other things he is learning. He didn't however love the getting & giving of IVs. His battle buddy was a firefighter/EMT before joining the military so when giving Michael an IV it was no big deal. Michael on the other hand was not so awesome at it and poor Mansfield was his test dummy. He passed though and that is all that counts! :p
This week signifies the end of week 6 of Michael being gone and the end of week 4 of Basic Training. They are in white phase now (after red phase, before blue phase) and he likes it a lot better. He does not anticipate being "allowed" to make phone calls anytime soon but the letters are awesome and we will take what we can get.
Ethan & I are going better every week. We are staying busier and just getting used to him being gone. Still hate it though! I am back to sleeping in our bed and not on the couch. When talking to Michael last night he said "Yeah that was weird sleeping on the couch." All I could is laugh and thank him for not telling me that while I was still sleeping on the couch.
If anyone would like to send anything I am putting together a package of some letter & cards our friends have sent. Just let me know! Also, don't forget to contribute to the graduation gift. Hope everyone is doing well.
TTFN,
Ali
Sunday, March 1, 2009
We went to the Zoo!
Maddi Grace turned 3, cannot believe it, last Thursday 2/26. This weekend we went to the Zoo to celebrate. Had a wonderful time!
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