OMSI with Grandpa

Last friday I took Allie out of school early (like before lunch!) and we took Grandpa to OMSI. It's a science museum in Portland that has tons of hands on activities for the kids. It's usually pretty busy on days that there is no school so we decided to go on a day when everyone else would be in school. I didn't want her to tell her teacher why I was pulling her out since going to OMSI with Grandpa is not an excused absence. But I felt it was educationally beneficial as well as justified by the fact that we just don't see Grandpa enough. Her teacher did ask her where she was going and Allie told her. Hopefully we won't get in trouble! We got to see a neat exhibit about Leonardo DaVinci and his great inventions. We also spent a lot of time in an exhibit that showed real human fetuses from just weeks after conception to just before birth. I was amazed and Allie was fascinated. We talked a little bit about abortion and I mentioned about people not treating the fetus as a living human being. Allie looking at the babies said, "Well what else could they be?" Amen to that! It was a reverent moment to see these little babies and the miracle by which human life is created. It so made me appreciate my sweet little babies. All I could think about was an article I recently read by Russell M Nelson about abortion. Here's a link to "Abortion: An Assault on the Defenseless." It is a very powerful article and one that I think everyone should read. Anyway, that's way off topic. We had a great time and even got to have Grandpa stay with us for dinner after we got back.
Here are some pictures from the day!

Luke was so excited!

Luke likes to be funny. I guess putting your finger in a skeleton's eye socket is funny.

Working the robotic arm

Allie giving the robotic arm a try.

NERD ALERT!

The wheel in the middle of the table spins around in a circle quickly. It's fun to put different things on it and then watch them fly.

Kate took a great nap.

Allie's favorite place is the chemistry lab. She spent an hour in there with Grandpa.

Update on Luke

I wanted to post an update on Luke since I haven't had a chance to call everyone to let them know what we found out. Just so you know, I am NOT the Dr. in the family so you get the really dumbed down version. I won't even pretend to know what I am talking about. For everyone who hasn't heard about what we've been doing, here is a brief--a very brief--summary of what's been going on. Before Christmas we were proceeding with plans for Luke to have his tonsils and adenoids removed. In preparing for the surgery, Luke had his blood drawn and the result showed that his blood did not clot normally. We had blood drawn several times with the same results and sometimes worse. The surgery was cancelled and we were referred to a hematologist who was at the Children's Hospital. All of this happened while Michael was in Cambodia and I was so glad that my mom was here to keep me sane! Reading more about the hematologist who is also an oncologist scared me. We had to wait 2 weeks to find out results and then because of an error, the wrong tests were taken and we had to wait an additional 2 weeks. Luke has now had his blood drawn 6 times! Luckily he is a real trooper and does not complain or fight it. He is proud that one of techs drawing his blood told him he was better at it then most adults. Anyway, last Thursday we finally saw the hemtologist and found out that Luke will be okay! Thank you for your prayers and fasts. I probably shouldn't have been so worried, but it was scary to me. Here's the medical stuff I will most assuredly screw up: 

His levels are barely abnormal. It could be two things which are really no big deal. 

Option 1: It could be Von Willebrand's disease which is a genetic thing where the blood just doesn't clot as quickly but is not scary like hemophilia. It wouldn't change his day to day life, but would be good to be aware of for surgeries as he might require more blood. I don't think the Dr. was leaning this was as there is no family history and the two times he's had stitches, the bleeding hasn't been too bad. 

Option 2: Something in his system is causing the abnormal levels (like an infection) and making it appear to be Von Willebrands. It has something to do with inhibitors. This will go away. Michael and the Dr. are thinking it is more likely to be this. 

So, he took blood from Luke at the appointment (A LOT) and then wants to do it again in 12 weeks. On friday, we will find out the results of the most recent draws. As far as the surgery goes, we are okay, but he might need more blood product during the surgery. We are inclined to wait the 12 weeks and see if it was something in his system and will go away. We wonder if the infections he always seems to have in his tonsils is causing it though...Who knows? Luke was great at the appointment which was 1 1/2 hrs long. He was cute and told the Dr he could count to 1000. The Dr. asked him how many zeros were in a thousand and Luke knew! He really only counts to 109, but we will work on 1000. Many thanks to Aunt Julie who watched Kate and Allie (who was home sick with a stomach bug) What a day! I took a big nap in the afternoon! 

I will share more info as we get it, but the best thing is that he's okay! I shouldn't worry so much, but you want so much for your children to be healthy. I feel very blessed that Luke is okay. 

 

Happy Birthday Kater-Potater

Today is Kate's 1st birthday! She just can't be that old, but it's true! For her birthday she got her first ear infection which has been kind of a bummer. But, she's coming out of it well and is almost back to normal. On Sunday we had a Melanson little birthday party for her. Today she took her first step standing on her own. She did it twice. I think she's the cutest baby ever-except for Allie and Luke of course. I guess it's a three way tie. Here's some past and present pics of our little Katie-bug.
February 18, 2008

2 Months Old

With cousin Andee

4 months old

7 months


9 months old


Today!

My dentist took me out to dinner

Friday I had a dentist appointment. Michael's dad watched the kids and I headed up to the school to see Michael. I have a cavity that might be just right for boards so he wanted to take a look at it. It was fun to see him in action and if anyone is wondering, he is a great dentist! I felt no pain at all. No offense to my previous dentists, but he is way better looking than any other dentist I've even had. After the appointment we went out for a steak dinner and then to dessert at Papa Hayden's. Yummy! They were seriously the best desserts I've ever had. It took us forever to decide what to get. I chose the Boccone Dolce and Michael had a Chocolate Cube (Chocolate shell with Chocolate Mousse inside and a scoop of ice cream) I don't have a picture of the cube, so I put up something else that looked good. The desserts were big and we tried to save some for later, but we just couldn't stop. The best was just being together (alone)! That was the best trip to the dentist I've ever had. Even though it was really a Valentine's Day celebration, I can't wait for my 6 month check up!

Making Valentines

This year, we found our valentines idea in Family Fun Magazine. The kids LOVE my iPod and so they couldn't resist making these candy iPods for their friends. It was a big project and we divided it up into three nights. We listened to Valentines music on our iPod while we made them. Luke made 10 for friends and preschool and Allie mass produced 30 of them! I don't think we will do such a big project next year, but it was fun! Luke had to keep trying the peanut butter cups to make sure that the ones in the different colored wrappers tasted the same.

Mallory's Baptism

This weekend was Mallory's baptism. It's fun to have cousins the same age living so close. Allie was so excited for Mallory and is looking forward to being baptized in June. Pete and Julie served everyone a yummy Italian dinner after the baptism. It was a great day.

Standing

Kate started standing next to furniture and cruising at around 9 months. I thought my skinny little girl would follow in the footsteps of her skinny little cousins and walk at 10 months. She wasn't even crawling really. But then she learned how to crawl. I guess that became efficient enough for her and she has abandoned walking. She won't even hold our hands to walk or try to stand on her own. Every once in a while we would catch her standing on her own and as soon as she would realize it she would sit. I was beginning to think that instead of being my earliest walker, she would crawl forever. With her first birthday quickly approaching, the pressure is on. (Allie and Luke both took their first steps 3 days after their 1st birthday.) Today she started standing on her own, on purpose, and not sitting as soon as she realized what she was doing. Perhaps there is a chance. 6 more days until her 1st birthday. The race is on.

Losing Kate

I lose Kate a lot. I don't know if it's because she's so little, or because I have three kids, or because she's an escape artist. Maybe a little of all three. The other day I lost her and found her in the shoe closet. It WAS organized before she got in there. I don't even want to think about all those germs.
This morning I thought I lost her too. I took Allie to school and when I walked back in the apartment I saw Luke playing alone. (Sometimes when Michael is home in the morning I leave the little kids at home) I asked Luke where Kate was and he didn't know. I started to panic and then remembered that I had taken her with me this morning. I had left her in the car. How embarrassing!