Best Friends

One of the best things about moving this summer was meeting Dallin. Actually we love his whole family. Luke made a best friend. Dallin is in Luke's class at church and they even got to play on the same soccer team. It's always a happy day when we get to see Dallin. I think Luke could play with him everyday and never get tired of him. He loves Dallin's mom too. She is so nice to him all of the time. The other day, Allie said that I was the nicest mom in the world. Luke said, "Well not really. Channing (Dallin's mom) is the nicest mom in the world." I would have to agree too. I don't mind coming in second place to Channing any day.

Happy Birthday Kim!

Today is Kim's birthday.  As we all know Kim is pretty much the most wonderful person ever.  She is my best friend, and we have known each other for almost 14 years.  We have a lot of memories together.  She is the best mom.  She loves her kids so much, and cares for them so well.  If she wasn't being the best stay-at-home mom in the world, she would definitely be the best teacher in the world.  During her teaching years her students just loved her.  She still keeps in contact with some of her old third graders.   She has a special twinkle in her eye that lights up the room, and draws people to her.  She's witty, amazingly smart, hardworking, and selfless.  I could go on and on.  I can't imagine my life without her.  

Like an animal?

Kate has a funny habit. When she gets tired of eating, she starts throwing her food off the side of her high chair. (Okay, that's not the funny part) Usually I wash her up and then put her in the living room to play while I clean up. This time, I didn't get it cleaned up right away and she crawled back in and started eating the food she had just thrown down. ( I had just cleaned the floor so I thought it was safe) She actually ate a lot better down there and since she is so little I don't mind when she gets extra food in. Allie thought it was reprehensible and said, "Mom, how could you feed her on the floor like an animal?" with all the distaste a 7yr old can muster. Anyway, it's sad to say that isn't the first time she's eaten half of her meal on the floor. She just really likes it.

Dinner Conversation

Tonight at dinner we were talking about seeing into the future. Allie mentioned that she wished she could see into the future so she could see what Kate would look like when she is older. Luke said he wanted to see into the future so he could know what his children's names would be. Then he said he would like 10 children. He would name them, Pikachu, Bowser, Mario, Luigi, Peach (the only girl) King Boo, Donkey Kong, Baby Donkey Kong, Yoshi, and Mushroom. I'll have to remind him of that when he is all grown up. Allie said that she will not have more than three children and she will name them Lucas, Neil & Ruby. As for me, I don't want to think about them growing up. I like the ages they are at now.  

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!