It has been almost two years (that's nuts!!!) since I have shared what's been happening with our family. I seem to have this tendency to need to "catch up", but I am dumbfounded at this speed of life!
GWEN 2018
January 2018 started out pretty rough for Gwen as documented in my previous post. January 2, 2018 she had surgery on her sinuses. January 18, 2018 she had a surgical repair to one of her MAGEC Rods. January 22, 2018 we were back in the hospital for two days dealing with post surgery issues from the surgery on the 18th.
March 13, 2018 Gwen was back to the hospital for ANOTHER surgical repair to one of her MAGEC Rods! 2018 was a miserable year for Gwen (aside from appearing happy in the pictures below). She was constantly in pain, never comfortable, and very irritable. After multiple visits to the doctor, multiple rounds of antibiotics, she was put on a steroid in June and finally she had some relief! Once we were off the steroid, she was back to being miserable. We tried the steroid again. Happy again. We got on and off steroids 7 TIMES, before her medical team collectively decided (after me begging and bawling) to keep her on a low dose long term steroid.
On the positive side, Gwen had some special visitors, still enjoys the splash pad, started 4th grade, got a new stander, and started rocking some awesome big girl spectacles!
QUINTEN 2018
Quinten graduated from kindergarten and started 1st grade! He gave baseball a whirl, did exceptional in school, enjoys helping me bake (which is a rare occasion) and LOVES his buds!
MAREN 2018
Our sweet mellow Maren turned into a two year old girly girl sassy pants! She did some ballet with her cousin Mackenzie, got used as an art canvas by Quinten, insists on cracking ALL eggs for whatever I am using them in, and loves to be a princess especially when daddy wants to dress up too!
LOGEN 2018
Logen, well, he's just the best! He's so easy going and always happy! He turned 1, started walking, got his first haircut...you know the usual baby stuff.
PINTOP, ARIZONA JULY 2018
Three moms and nine kids spent a couple days up north in Pinetop to escape the scortching summer heat and enjoy the outdoors! I wouldn't call it relaxing, but it was nice to disconnect! We even spent the day with our friends, the Heals, in Snowflake, Az.
BRECKENRIDGE, COLORADO AUGUST 2018
Myself, along with five girlfriends (most of whom I have known since 3rd grade) took a girls trip to Breckenridge, Colorado! It was nice to catch up, enjoy the weather, and get in some hiking!
LEGOLAND, CALIFORNIA AUGUST 2018
Jesse and I took Quinten and one of his best buds, Yulian, for a day trip to Legoland!
MICHIGAN & INDIANA SEPTEMBER 2018
Jesse and I went to Michigan for my cousins wedding. We also ventured out to South Bend, Indiana to go to our 2nd University of Notre Dame Game! BONUS, Ms. Marion came to visit us all the way from the Netherlands shortly after returning back home to AZ!
MEXICO & NEVADA NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2018
We joined some of Jesse's coworkers in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and stayed for the first time at an all-incisive resort! What an awesome way to travel! We ended the year with a quick getaway to Las Vegas where we saw Cody Johnson perform! Truly, one of the most amazing (country) singers we have ever seen!
CASSIE 2018 & 2019
Where on earth would I (we) be without this WOMAN?!?! First and foremost she is here for Gwen. She knows all of Gwen's "isms". But to be honest, I'm not so sure if she's here totally just for Gwen because I will admit 100% that she keeps me SANE!!! She is so much more than Gwen's caregiver. She loves all of our children and she has given Jesse and I the much needed opportunity to strengthen our marriage to be the best parents we can be. We are so blessed and thank God for her everyday! Here's to another 5 years (wishful thinking)!
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS FEBRUARY 2019
Jesse and I took Quinten on a special trip to San Antonio. We ate lots of good food, walked the River Walk, and toured the Alamo! Uncle Jonny, Aunt Cha Cha and cousin Lilly drove over from Houston to spend some time with Quinten and even let Jesse and I go on a date night to see Josh Abott Band in concert!
RUDY FEBRUARY 2019
We said "good-bye" to our dachshunds Shie in March 2018 and to Tanq in February 2019.
With all of the traveling we did in 2018, dealing with grumpy old dogs, and the business of four kids, Jesse and I swore off dogs for some time. Well....I didn't last. That's right, this is totally MY fault. Meet Rudy! We adopted her from a rescue organization and she has been such a great dog and a wonderful addition to our family!
GWEN 2019
After more than 6 months on steroids, Gwen started out 2019 so much more content. She did experience the "chipmunk cheeks" and weight gain side effects from the steroid, but those were tolerable compared to endless nights of screaming and discomfort. After Gwen's surgery in May (below), the later half of 2019 was great! Gwen started 5th grade in the fall and just seemed to finally enjoy all that we could do together as a family!
GWEN BACK SURGERY MAY 2019
May 7, 2019 Gwen went in for her last and final (fingers crossed) full spinal fusion. The orthopedic surgeon determined Gwen's skeletal frame had grown large enough to accommodate any further growth of her organs and she was now eligible for this (permanent) surgery. During this surgery the MAGEC growing rods (placed February 2017) were removed and her spine was fused from top to bottom. Though her scoliosis could not be fully corrected, she is now locked "in place". The current rods and screws will remain in her for the remainder of her life.
To our surprise, Gwen recovered much quicker than we anticipated! She is now able to sit upright on her own with minimal assistance, she is no longer uncomfortable and irritable, she is 100% off steroids, she does not require any pain medication, she can stand in her stander for longer periods of time, she is producing bowel movements daily now that everything is "in line", she truly is content most of the day, and (drumroll please).....she has been sleeping peacefully for months!!!!! The dynamic in our home is vastly different from the last 10 years! This surgery has truly been a BLESSING!!!
QUINTEN 2019
This year Quinten jumped back into karate, golf, and flag football. He is still sweet, sensitive, and polite, but like most boys his age, he is so easily distracted! 2nd grade has been a bit of a challenge, but I'm hopeful this is just a "phase"!
MAREN 2019
Did anyone lose a princess? I think I found her....in my make-up drawer! Maren turned 3 and is all things pink, and sparkly, and beautiful! She started her first pre-k class, can swim independently, loves her cousin Mackenzie, is quite the jokester, loves to draw (her body is an open canvas), needs a manicure at least twice a week, and there's always time for a tea party!
LOGEN 2019
What can I say? This crazy haired kid wants to be wherever and do whatever his big brother and sister are doing! Logen loves music. Put a guitar in his hand and he automatically starts jamming and singing (not sure what it is most of the time though). And if it looks like a phone (hence the calculator), he'll carry on his own conversation!
WEDDING & A BABY SUMMER 2019
May 4th Aunt Diana, Jesse's youngest sister, got married to (Uncle) Branden!
They also welcomed their first child, Jameson Michael Wands, July 13th. Their sweet baby boy only lived for a short time, but we know this little angel is up in heaven with his Grandma Linda and his cousin, our little Bowen.
CALIFORNIA, SEPTEMBER 2019
Quinten had been begging to go back to the beach for quite some time. While Gwen stayed at Ryan House, we took the three littles to Del Mar and stayed a block from the beach! After conquering his fears, Quinten was glued to a boogie board for about 4 hours straight! Maren and Logen, on the other hand, played it safe and dug in the sand mostly.
CHARLESTON, NOVEMBER 2019
After our trip to Mexico last year, Jesse and I decided that we are going to make a valiant effort to spend more time together
sans children. Thanks again to our great support system and Ryan House, this year we went to Charleston, South Carolina. We did so many fun things: toured the only working tea plantation in the US, rode on a horse carriage through downtown, walked a ghost and graveyard tour, saw a 500 year old oak tree, stayed at a charming inn dated back to 1889, took a harbor tour around the bay, toured Patriots Point, ate oysters up the wazoo, and met so many nice people!
CHRISTMAS 2019
FROM NOW ON...........
Looking back on this post, it surely does come across that we've got it together. That's what social media does though, right? No one wants to post negative aspects of their life. Truth of the matter is that 2018 was a very difficult year for our family.
Did you know marriage takes work? Funny, I didn't. My parents made marriage seem so effortless, so natural, so organic. I don't think I ever saw them argue or raise their voice. They worked hard, they raised my brother and I in a faith filled environment, we had dinner together every night, and they showered each other with affection (cute now, but so gross when you're 12).
I'm sure a lot of married couples get stuck in the monotony of life working, raising children, and keeping home. They lose sight of each other. Why they fell in love in the first place. I've learned Satan is real. He can manifest himself into many different forms. His goal is to destroy. He can rip apart a family so easily.
Jesse and I have spent the last year healing. We have made each other a priority. We have done more together in last 12 months than we have in 5 years! Fortunately, Jesse and I have our FAITH to lean on and a lot of support from GOOD SOLID people who love us very much and want to help steer us back in the right direction. We make date nights a priority, we try new things, go on new adventures, and we thank God for the many blessings in our lives. Today, I have a grateful heart, a joyful heart, and a thankful heart.
Lord, help us as we continue on this journey. Help us be the best versions of ourselves, so we can be the best for each other. Help us to forgive each others failings. Help us turn our eyes and ears to you when Satan gets in the way. Thank you for bringing our family back together.
Here's to an incredible 2020!
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