Finally, some answers.

Today we went to see the neurosurgeon in Pittsburgh.
She still wants to stick the needles in Asher's arm (while he's awake).
She also suggested that we see a orthopedic doctor. Yes, another doctor.
I told her I wouldn't agree to the EMG (the needles in the arm) unless I had more info.
So, she said she would have the doctor that would be preforming the test call me.
We got in the car and headed out the parking lot in time for me to turn my phone on and get a message from the doctor saying that the orthopedic doctor was going to be there this afternoon if we wanted to wait and see him.
Well, it was a two hour drive so, we stayed.
The orthopedic doctors was really nice.
He looked at Asher's arm, asked me a few questions, then asked the neurosurgeon to see the MRI.
They left and came back.
The doctor explained to me that the head of the humerus (the ball) was more posterior than it should be (toward the back) and that the scapula (shoulder blade) was underdeveloped and did not form a socket like it should.
These abnormalities were making it so he couldn't external rotate his arm.
He said that there are two things that we can try.
One is a release of the muscle anterior on the shoulder.
This would allow him to be able to externally rotate and build muscle on the back of his shoulder.
He said he could also take Asher Lat muscle (which is an internal rotater) and cut it, move it around and make it an external rotater. This might allow him to raise his arm up higher too.
He said he could do them at the same time and Asher would need to be in a cast for 6 weeks.
Heath wasn't with me so I told him I would call and let me know.
I was just glad to finally get answers, to actually know what's going on with this little guys shoulder and arm.

It's true that if you wait long enough answers will come.  Well, most the time. and also true that in the future I'm skipping all the "middle men" and going straight for the specialists. I think it's more patience = more blessings. Also, put the Lord first and all other things will fall into their proper place or drop out of your life.

THE ZOO!

 We got to go to the zoo today. It was fun taking Noah. He knew all the names of the animals and was so excited.

Just doesn't seem right that this guy is locked up. He seems too human.

This picture has to make you smile. Perfect timing!

They chimed when he jumped on them. 

A lovely couple really.

The end!

The scope, Steps (not the kind you're thinking) and the SWAGGER WAGON

When Heath was young he always wanted steps in his hair. (Remember steps from the 80's ... I think they might be coming back, yikes). Anyway, his cousins always had them but Heath's mom wouldn't let him get them. Soooooooooo, he is living the dream through his son. Nice, huh? Oh, and they are only on one side.

Also, Asher's scope was today. They weren't going to let me go back when they put him out but I pretty much insisted. I got to wear a cool jump suit and a blue hat. It didn't take near as long as the MRI. It wasn't as scary for me either because I knew more what to expect. He got to wear a cute, little hospital gown this time that was just his size (tiny). Another one down. The doctor said everything looks fine. Now we just have to wait for the results of the biopsies and the pancreas fluid.


This is really funny. Found it on my friend Carrie's blog.

Not sure what to call this one. MRI results.

I've decided to cut down on my Internet use. It seems I get caught up in researching, blogging and such that my life stopped feeling balanced.  I feel happy about it.

Up above is my clothes line. Heath put it up for me. I feel happy about that, too. 

Our garden wasn't doing so well so I decided to do a square foot garden. We then noticed the veggies growing out of the other garden so now the square foot garden is mine and the other garden is Heath's. Hopefully he'll be doing the canning from his garden.  right!

Those are Heath's cute legs. 

Growing up I remember eating graham crackers and milk at my Nanaw's house. I'm passing it down. The boys love it. Well, Heath doesn't, he's not a fan of the sogg.

Just doing a little farming. 

Heath and Noah slept out in the tent in the front yard the other night. Noah thought it was the best. They had a little fire and roasted mallows. 

Yes, it's a weed eater. It's small but it was free and it works. I think I prayed it here. 

It's true that it's not a good idea to pick up snapping turtles (they're mean). It's also true that I would like to be a soap maker and a bee keeper.  Soap maker first, bee keeper next. Also, the MRI results came in. They said they couldn't really see anything out of the ordinary with his brain (this is good) or his cervical spine (hoping they would have seen where the nerve was injured) but some of the images were not clear. My first thought was how could they not be clear? He was out (which means completely still) and they were in there for 2 hours. I don't know. Now they want to do an EMG. They stick long needles into his arm to test the nerves individually. They don't put him out but maybe give him a sedative. I don't know that's what the secretary lady said when she called. We have an appointment soon to figure out the details. 

"Faith is a gift of God bestowed as a reward for personal righteousness. It is always given when righteousness is present. The greater the measurement of obedience to God's laws, the greater will be the endowment of faith." - Bruce R. McConkie

MRI

It was Friday.
He couldn't eat anything past 1 am.
I fed him a bottle at 1.
He couldn't have juice past 8 am.
I gave him a bottle of juice at 7:30 am.
The appointment was at 9 am
but they didn't take him back until 11 am.
I was worried he would start getting hungry and cry but he didn't...blessed.
I prayed the night before.
I prayed in that waiting area.
The anesthesiologist came in to see if I had questions I said, "no, just take care of my baby."
It was finally time to go back
We went in the room and the anesthesiologist held his head and put a gas mask over his nose and mouth
while I was holding him (thank goodness).
The nurse lady started to hold his arms down mindlessly.
I informed her that his right arm could not reach up to the mask and asked if I could hold his left.
I wrapped his little fingers around mine and brought them to my lips.
His screams turned to crying, crying to whimpering.
His eyes started blinking and finally he was out.
I laid him on the bed.
they told me it was time to leave, I did.
I went out to the waiting room where they said they would come get me in about an hour and a half.
Heath and Noah were waiting there. I had tears in my eyes.
Heath assured me everything would be ok.
I made it very clear more then once that I wanted to be there when Asher woke up.
I'm sure that is standard procedure but I just wanted to make sure they knew.

A thought from Henry B. Eyring kept coming into my mind.
"Through the eyes of faith, confidence replaces fear."
It seemed to play over and over in my mind.
An hour and a half passed by.
I went to the front desk. she called to the back. said it would be another half hour.
At 33 mins I went back to the front desk, she called the back, he was on the way to the recovery room.
It wasn't too long until they came to get me.
I walked in and there he was.
Laying in a little crib, hooked up to an IV, blood pressure cuff on his left leg, O2 monitor on his right big toe.
He was still sleeping.
The nurse said they were going to let him sleep a little longer.

There is something unsettling about seeing your baby like this.
When he woke up he cried some.
He was hungry but it was over.
After a cracker and some juice we were aloud to go.
We'll have to do this at least once more for the scope.
I'll call tomorrow to see if they have results. 

Thanks to all of you that have been fasting and praying for this little guy.
He's so sweet.
We feel so blessed.

It's true that I stayed up way too late watching the Lost finale last night. I know, I said I wasn't watching it anymore. I couldn't help it. Also true that Asher sat up with Heath on the stand at church yesterday and after every prayer you could hear "amen" (at least twice) from Asher throughout the room. So sweet.

These shoes were made for running.

Well, it's time for new running shoes. 

It seems like I have always loved to run.

I have run in Nike, Asics, Saucony, Brooks, Adidas, Mizuno and New Balance

I think that's all.

By far my favorite shoe is the Mizuno.

really, they are the best. 

I'm putting the info here so I don't forget so I can buy the newer model when it's time again.

Also, putting it here in case anyone else would like to try these great shoes.

Here is where I bought mine with free shipping.

Mizuno Wave Rider 13 Women's Shoes Sil/Blue 

Mostly pictures.

We had a pile of wood in our yard that needed to be burned. Heath was happy to take care of it. 

This is a shirt that Heath got at a ceramic conference for Asher. The size says 24 mo. It fits Noah. 

No pictures please.

oh, the many faces of Heath.

Putting birdseed out.

Little too much, cleaning birdseed up. 

“Happiness is not the absence of problems but the ability to deal with them.”

 I don't know who said this. I found it on a friend's status on facebook. 

steps

Today Asher took 4 steps.
It surprised me that he did it out in the grass.
I thought it might have happened on a smooth surface.
After the 4 steps he fell forward and not being able to catch himself because of his right arm
he face planted.
I sat him up and immediately his lower lip puffed right out.
We started clapping and cheering and it took a second but then he smiled.
He was a little nervous to try it again.
We were all outside having fun and wrestling and
my glasses broke (again) with a little help from Noah.
We'll add more superglue and they'll be just fine.

The garden and Asher's weight.

We planted the garden this week. 

It has been a little cold so we'll see how it goes. 

Potty training is going pretty well. 

no potty accidents in 4 days

wish I could say the same for the BM's

He's scared

He even sleeps in his undies and wakes up dry. 

When he's done he says, "I need to splush." (flush) funny, huh?

His girlfriends will thank me for this picture someday. 

Asher had an  appointment on Wed. 

no weight gain

I was pretty shocked, I thought for sure he would have gained.

When the medical assistant told me the weight (17 lbs. 3 oz.)  I must have looked confused

because she asked me if I was ok. 

I started to tear up but I was able to stop myself from crying.

He is eating so well. He will try anything.

I concentrate so hard on making his meals so that they will have the most calories possible.

Plus, he hasn't been throwing up lately. 

The doctor came in and asked a few questions then said she would like to get a scope done.

She wants to take it in through his mouth all the way to his small intestine taking biopsies along the way.

This is suppose to check for allergies.

I asked if she could coordinate it with his MRI. She said she would see what she could do. 

I kept reminding myself that he is happy and doesn't seem "sick".

He's been blessed so much so far.

plus, this touches my heart.

I am the young women's president in our ward. 

Wednesday 3 of my girls who are sisters told me that they had called 5 different temples and put Asher's name on the prayer roll there. They each called one, their mom called one, and their older sister called one. 

Their mom is not even active.  

I know there are lots of people thinking about us and keeping us in their prayers and I feel so grateful for that, so grateful! I have no doubt that is why he hasn't thrown up in about 3 weeks. The longest span EVER!

I know that through our trials we are strengthened and we come to know ourselves and become more acquainted with God.

It's true that Heath critiques my sewing projects like he would a piece of art. He tells me what he likes then he tells me how they could be improved. Most the time he's right. He's smart. Also true that we have an apple tree in our yard and that Asher's vocabulary seems to increase daily.

Booooooooring!

My husband said that my blog was looking a little boring. 

This is my attempt to make it look un-boring. 

ALSO 

POTTY TRAINING IN PROGRESS!!!

 yikes!  3rd day, so far no accidents. whew!

i am a mother.

Words cannot adequately express the feelings I have as a mother.
I am grateful that this is an eternal calling, an eternal joy
I am in awe at the knowledge that "We become co-creators with God in having family and posterity" (James E. Faust)

I am a mother!

pictures by noah.

It's mother's day.
I got a sweet card that plays a song with two little hands on it,
a mustache, and dinner.
Happy mother's day to my moms, grandmas, sisters, and good girl friends.

This is the stache I ordered. Heath asked me last night something or other about mother's day. I told him when he shaved for church this morning I wanted him to keep the mustache. He did.
it was funny.
Everyone at church was wondering what he was doing.
A good present indeed.

 Asher is 15 months old now.
He is starting to talk a little more.
He says:
all done (not so clear)
outsi = outside
ah ma = ah man! (like swiper on Dora)
ilk = milk
juice
cheese

He is still in size 2 diapers.
He eats better than Noah does right now.
He's scared of most dogs.
He's not a t.v . watcher.
He's calm and doesn't cry a lot for the most part.
He has stopped eating in the night for the most part.
(I was waking him up to feed him in the night to help him gain weight)
He's nervous about walking.
He can't hold his right arm out for balance so I think it will be a while longer.
He has 9 teeth with the 10th starting to come in.
He has the cutest sad face when his feelings get hurt.
He likes hanging out with the boys but has a hard time keeping up.
He loves to take baths.
He loves balls.

He hasn't thrown up in a little while.
There were two times yesterday when he was crying that I thought for sure he was going to throw up
but he didn't.

I've been sewing more lately.
I wanna get better at it.
I made some cloth napkins.

That's the front and back.

Noah took some pictures today.

It's true that I'm always asking Heath for his opinion and I hardly ever go with what he thinks. Also true that I'm pretty sure it drives him nuts. I don't do it to be mean. Also he might be claustrophobic??? Seems that way sometimes. Our house is kind of small.  :)

It's true that this is Heath's eye.

Heath's last day of school was Friday. We might be going to the zoo soon. cross your fingers.