Pictures!!

Hey sis!

Riding the range

Best buddys!

Kya is just having one of those days.

Future duck calling champion.

Hanging out with her buddy Brian.

Coffee shop time with Avery

Helping the cats eat!

This is what happens when Dad and Piper go to Walmart unsupervised.

At the high school football game with her pals.

Spending the day with Avery

Fresh picked tomatoes!

Working on my new album

Lets go hassle my dad

Album cover for her soon to be released album

Sometimes dad's decoys become toys....toys named Mr. Quackers.

Pipers ranch hands.

ready for the Concordia Big Color, Big Fun Run

Olympic Training!

Just taking a nap with dad and his awesome beard.

Peek-a-boo....why is thsi upside down?

Working with my trainer.

Summersaults baby!

Handstand!  Yeah I can do a handstand

This duck calling stuff is easy.

I would like to thank Blue the cat for tearing open my screen and then getting wedged between the screen and sliding glass door.  Now you stay there and think about it for a bit.

Addy, Austin, Maizy and Piper!

Long overdue updates!!

Hello everyone!  I know it's been awhile since I last updated the blog, my apologies, between work and two little girls it's been a challenge to get this bad boy updated in a timely fashion.  I will certainly try harder!

A lot has been going on since the last update, Maizy had another cardio update and she checked out great!  When the doctor came in the first thing he did was feel the pulses in her feet, he said they were much stronger than the last time he saw her (before her angioplasty) and that he was very happy about that.  Maizy had another Echo that day, she didn't really appreciate it, but Dr. Kaine said everything looked good.  We will have another check up at the end of November, as they will keep a close eye on Maizy for the first year of her life.  But needless to say, Mom and Dad were thrilled to get the good news.  Maizy continues to grow stronger each day, and is one happy little baby girl.  She has a big bright smile, and she certainly has alot to smile about!

Piper is as hilarious, smart, and wild as ever.  She recently started gymnastics, so we are doing alot of summersaults, kinda sorta cartwheels, donkey kicks and a litany of other moves.  When she is done, she will jump up and say "Tada!!!!....now it's time for candy......candy time!"  Apparently at the end of gymnastics class they all get candy.  I was lucky enough to attend class today, and it was alot like herding cats.  Piper likes jump on the trampoline, walk on the beam, and  run around in circles, waving her arms around above her head.  She occasionally stops to dance for a moment when they are playing music.

A couple weeks ago our good friends from Ohio, Robbie and Donna Spencer came to town to visit, Rob and Donna's son Brian came as well and brought his girlfriend Laura.  It was great seeing them, and of course Piper had a great time hassling Brian.  Before they arrived I told Piper at dinner one night that Brian was going to bring his girlfriend, she looked me straight in the eye and said "No...he's going to bring a boy."  Needless to say we got alot of traction out of that when they were here.

Piper also recently got to ride Papa Dave's horse Buck, Piper is a big fan of Papa's horses so she was very proud of herself for having rode Buck.  She also helped Papa and Uncle Scott work calves.  She would yell "Bull or Heifer" when the calves came in, and then act like she was writing it down.  Tim Paige "Uncle Tim" also carried Piper into the corral so she could pet the calves.  She was quite the little cowgirl.

We also a couple weeks back participated in Concordia's version of the Color Run.  Traci is president of the board for Concordia's Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and they had decided to do the "Big Color, Big Fun Run" to raise money for the organization.  So Piper and I loaded up, and did the run!  Piper and I had a great time, after each color station she would tell me that she didn't want to get any color on her.  But when we came up to another color station she would change her mind and want to be covered in color.  By the time we finished we were covered with all sorts of different colors! 

Well thats about it for now, I will sure to update more often.  I also promised to post some recipes that I have neglected to do thus far.  So stay tuned!!

helping dad put my desk together

Donuts fool!!!!

Just contemplating obscure philosophical ideals...you know 2 year old stuff.

This cat looks like it needs a hug/headlock

First walk in the double stroller!

Just hanging out with dad!!

Sometimes you just need to put on a birthday hat, have some dinner and sing to the cats

Having a drink of water after a long bike ride.

birthday cupcakes!!!

 

Piper and Hadley enjoying a sucker after the Del-fest parade.

Hi there kitty!

Taking care of the horses with Papa

Mandatory facebook duck face pose

dounuts!!!

No Hadley I don't want to try your sucker!

Maizy at the Del-fest baby show!!

Piper rocking the Del-fest baby show.

What?  You want me to get down?  Why?

 

I love parade candy!!!

Taking the kitty for a walk

Piper and her new pumpkin shirt and her Elmo lunchbox that Maizy got her.

Angioplasty done....no problem....now lets go home.

Just cuddling with baby sister

Hanging out with the girls and poor outnumbered Nate

Just wearing my backpack doing some painting....

Checking out the horses!

Cheese!!!

 

Rubber boots, tiara, veil and a steel pot...you know ordinary stuff.

 

Maizy -2 Heart Defect - 0

Hello all!!

Well its been a very busy past couple weeks.  Last weekend all of us ventured with Uncle Scott, Papa Dave, Grandma RaRa and Megan and Torey Hamel to the Kansas State football season opener.  The girls had a great time, Piper loved running around and spent most of the day yelling "Go Wildcats!" and "EMAW Baby!!"  The Wildcats scored a victory and everyone was very happy!!  Piper asks now on a daily basis when we are going back to the football game. 

As most of you know from the last post Maizy needed an angioplasty to fix some thickening that appeared to reoccur.  However what it turned out to be was thickening around the suture sit from her open heart surgery with the reconstructed her valve.  However it was significant thickening, the cardiologist explained it by saying that they measure the pressure going into the obstruction and the pressure below the obstruction.  Which then gauges the severity of the obstruction, the cardiologist said that an acceptable gradient is anything under 30...Maizy's gradient before the angioplasty was 70!!! 

Happily not only was the procedure a success, it actually took less time then anticipated.  We actually even got to see Maizy's heart on video because the catheter had a camera on it.  We saw the before and after of the bloodflow throught the heart valve.  Even to the untrained eye the difference before the angio and after was significant.  The cardiologist said the Maizy's gradient went from 70...to 15!!!

They ballooned the area three times and it responded very well, the cardiologist said that naturally the area will just "remodel" itself so likely there will not be a need for another angio.  Also he showed us on the video that Maizy's body had started growing new vessels to bypass the obstructed area, and that her heart was very muscular because it's had to work harder to pump blood!  It's pretty amazing what the body can do.  The cardiologist told us that her stamina would probably improve quite a bit and he wasn't kidding.  Maizy's has been eating like crazy lately, and taking more formula at one time than she ever has!

After the surgery when we got her back she had a bit of fever that caused her heartrate to go up and when I say go up I mean at one point it hit 230!  For those of you who aren't quite sure just how high that actually is let me put it into perspective for you....if your heartrate went to 230...it would probably burst like a pinata at an 8 year olds birthday party. 

Thankfully it was just her body being a bit ticked off that another procedure had been done to it and after a dose of tylenol she was fine.  Her heartrate came down and she was fine.  Her color is better than it has ever been as well and she is doing well!

Piper didn't make this trip with instead she got to go play with Hadley Hamel who is Megan and Torey's daughter.  The girls took off as soon as Piper arrived and I am guessing they didn't slow down till Piper left.  At one point Piper told Megan and Hadley "I like hanging out with you guys!"

Piper stayed the night with Papa and RaRa and got to feed the bucket calf with Uncle Scott, and ride the gator with Papa and feed the horses.  Also RaRa took it upon herself to sing "Soft Kitty" to Piper when she went to bed at night, so now when I put Piper to bed I have to sing "Soft Kitty"....awesome....thanks for that RaRa.  For those of you who do not know what the song "Soft Kitty" is you need to watch "Big Bang Theory."

Today Piper got to see Aunt Bailey who lives in Florida who is in town for the weekend and hang out with Great-Grandma Dodo as well.  Apparently Piper had such a great time that when Traci came to pick her up she told her she wanted to go back to RaRa's house and stay!  Today was also the first time Bailey go to meet Maizy so we are glad that Maizy was able to come back so quickly so she could meet her!

All in all Maizy is doing fantastic, Piper was once again a fantastic and easy going little girl, and Mom and Dad are thrilled that everyone is back home and healthy.  We have been handed alot to deal with the past few months, but we have made it through and I wouldn't want to be on this journey with any else but the three ladies I have been blessed to have in my life.  And remember LIFE IS GOOD!!!!

Another journey

Hello everyone, I trust all of you are doing well out there.  Just wanted to update everyone on how things are going with our family. 

Maizy had her first cardio appointment this last monday.  Dr. Kane is a cardiologist from Children's Mercy that comes to Junction City about once a month.  Piper was more than happy to help Dr. Kane check out Maizy, even informing him that she was a doctor, and that "Maizy is ok!"

The doctor did an echo on Maizy and found that in fact she still had a small section of her aortic valve that is thickened.  We had been told before her surgery that on some occasions this happens, essentially you can not detect all of the thickening of the valve because the duct that we had to keep open to bypass the thickened area can sometimes hide thickened areas, it until it completely closes.  Dr. Kane told us they do their best to close that duct and get it all taken care of but in some instances they don't always get it...I guess we just happen to be that instance.  Needless to say we were not thrilled about that news, it means another trip to KC to Children's Mercy and another procedure for Maizy.  Fortunately its an angioplasty, which is where they go in and use a balloon to repair the small thickened area.  Thankfully its not open heart surgery and Maizy will only need to stay overnight. 

The rest of the report from the cardiologist was good, her heart muscle is strong, she is gaining weight, and appears to be doing very well. 

So please keep our family in your prayers as we head in for this procedure that hopefully will be the last Maizy will need.  She is strong little girl and she will do awesome.

Piper is doing fantastic, running all over the place as usual, and just being the fantastic little girl she always is. She starts gymnastics after labor day which is being taught by our friend Rachel Kueker, who is Piper's friend Avery's mom.  I wish her luck because between Piper and Avery alone there is going to be significant property damage...I gurantee it.  Those two girls are too smart for their own good! Rachel you are a better person than I!

Piper and I have recently began talking about our bicycle trip we are going to take to Switchgrass trails at Lake Wilson.  Piper is excited to go because she wants to ride the bike, look for animals, and eat lunch in the woods.  She seems the most excited about eating in the woods! 

We will keep everyone posted on the procedure and how Maizy does, thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

No I didn't forget about this blog!!

Hello everyone!  It's been awhile since I have updated the blog with what is going on with our family.  So I supposed I have alot to update everyone on!

As all of you know (well at least I hope you all know) we left the hospital on July 22nd, the doctors said the only thing we needed to work on was getting Maizy to eat more before we used the feeding tube.  The doctors said we could go home if we learned how to do the feeding tube and administer Maizy's medicine, if we weren't comfortable with it we could simply stay at the hospital.  Needless to say we told them we would learn to do the feeding tube we wanted to go home...now!  By the way the only medicine she really had was a multi-vitamin and an acid reflux dose neither of which she is still on.

So they trained us on replacing the feeding tube in the event that it came out, and they also had to teach us to administer the medicine.  Administering the medicine was a real chore (massive, massive sarcasm) let me attempt to replay this task to all of you:

1. Nurse brought in a box with an obnoxiously large medicine bottle
2, Nurse asks me if I can read the massive label on the massive medicine bottle
3. Nurse them asks me to read the label on the massive medicine bottle outloud
4. Then the nurse gives me a syringe and asks me to draw out the dosage that is stated on the label.
5. The end

As most of you who know me would expect I did not let this remedial task go by without making a comment.  I looked at Traci...then looked at the nurse and simply asked "Did you just have to make sure I know what numbers are, and if I could friggin' read?"

The nurse looked at me and said "Yes...you would be surprised"

So after Children's Mercy was comfortable with our reading skills, we were able to leave!  It was fantastic being able to leave, Traci and I were thrilled and we hurried over to the Ronald McDonald House to get ready to go home.  When we first were told we could go home we told Traci's mom who was there as well, so she immediately went over to the Ronald McDonald House and started cleaning up the room.  When we arrived at the house the room was the cleanest that it has very likely ever been...it was amazing.  Rhonda missed her calling in life, she would be an amazing hotel cleaning lady...seriously it was amazing.

We were ecstatic to return home and sleep in our own beds and to just be home!

It wasn't too long after we made it home that we were able to take out Maizy's feeding tube, and she has been eating like a champ ever since!  It seems like every day she gets a bit brighter eyed and smile a little bigger.  And she is gaining weight as well, she is now 9 lbs 5 oz!

Piper sure is loving her sister, every morning when she wakes up she insists that Maizy lays down in her bed with her, she gives her a big hug and says "Hey baby girl, hey bright eyes, hey baby Maizy."  Except for today when Maizy stretched out and let our a giant fart in Piper's bed, Piper giggled said "she tootied in my bed.....she can leave now."

All in all things with the girls have been great, Piper finally got to have a birthday party since she had her real birthday in Kansas City, hey what 2 year old can say she had her birthday dinner at a Thai Noodle Shop!!  Well her birthday was of course Elmo themed, and Traci and Allison Poore also came over and helped make cupcakes.  I was informed to stay away from the cupcakes and go sit with Maizy...apparently they are not privy to my amazing, super awesome cupcake decorating skills.  I did however overhear when Allison asked Piper what she thought of the cupcake she decorated reply with "Um...its different."  Nice Piper...real nice.

The last week has been a bit of a challenge, and I need to thank alot of people for helping us.  Traci had been having some pain in her ear while we were in KC, but we had so much going on she never made it to a doctor to check it out.  We ended up in the emergency room a couple weeks ago when Traci had severe head, neck and ear pain.  It seemed to have resolved itself when we left that day...well that it came back with a vengence on Monday.  Everything was fine on Monday when all of a sudden Traci said she felt like she had fluid filling up her ear, then she was hit with a massive headache along with terrible neck pain....then she lost her balance.  In the span of about 5 minutes she went from being just fine to collapsing on the floor.  It was monday morning and I hadn't had my coffee yet, so I let her lay there for a bit and had Piper crawl on her while I finished my coffee then I asked her if she could move because I needed to get to the bathroom to go pee....ok that didn't happen, if it went down like that I wouldn't be typing this blog I would be crippled, maybe even dead.

In all seriousness I was very concerned, we need to get to the hospital fast.  Thankfully Allison Poore was home and she came over to watch Piper while I rushed Traci to the hospital.  She ended up spending the night in the hospital and then getting an MRI on tuesday to see what was going on.  When it was all said in done Traci has an infection in her Mastoid, which is the hollow bone behind her ear, and she also has they discovered a viral infection in her inner ear.  Of course these all have names but I can't come close to spelling them so you just get a brief description.  Traci was bedridden from Monday till the evening on thursday.  Thankfully, Grandma RaRa, Allison Poore, Grandma Dodo and Aunt Delisa were around to help us out when they could.  So I have been in charge of the girls and taking care of Traci as well since Monday.  Thankfully Traci can now get out of bed and open her eyes and has been sitting up on the couch.  She is still dizzy, and her hearing is still distorted but she is on the road to recovery.  A big thank you to Dr. Cramer for all her help during this trying and scary time.

Piper enjoyed her time with just daddy, last night I made my pesto pasta with kale and white beans and Piper was very excited to have some macaroni.  Well I made Penne pasta...and when I gave it to her she looked at it and started screaming.  Apparently there is a very big difference between whole grain macaroni and whole grain penne.  She told me "this is not macaroni this is different" all I could do was say "it's all the same!!"  Piper responded to this by saying "no daddy it's not all the same...this is not macaroni!"  I had nothing...no response...so I made her macaroni. 

In all seriousness it was tough but the girls were terrific, Piper was scared but she was a big girl and she realized that mommy was sick so she wanted to help mommy all the time.

I am sure I am missing something but I will do a better job of updating the blog on our adventures.  Thank you to everyone that has helped us during this summer, between Maizy and Traci this summer has been a challenge...and Piper and I have decided we are moving...we can't handle this anymore.  I am buying a VW bus and Piper is going to learn to play the banjo so we can start a band.  Piper inform me today that her and I were in a band and the name of our band was "black beans and quinoa" so watch out world here we come.  Of course I am kidding, I love my girls, its been a tough road but I wouldn't want to do it with anyone but them.  Piper has been a champ, she has had to deal with alot more then most 2 year olds and she has been amazing the entire time.  On top of Maizy being superwoman and Traci being supermom I am one lucky guy!

Thank you to everyone for their help, and kind words, we love all of you and we are ready for this challenging summer to be over!