Camping Trip

Wow...what an amazing trip! Chilet and I started the week off by going to the Martina McBride concert. The boys had gotten us the tickets for Mother's Day so while we were there, they were packing the car!

Chilet and me

Our cabin was wonderful. It was smack dab in the middle of the woods and there was so much shade, we didn't have to worry about the little ones getting burnt. It had three bedrooms, a kitchen, living room, laundry room, and game room. During the beginning of the week we had some friends and my sister come stay for a few nights.

Our Cabin: The Quivira

The Stewards and Hazelwoods
The little ones found plenty to do around the cabin during the day. They had a jump house and a swimming pool to help keep them busy. I think they had more fun finding sticks and rocks, playing with the bubbles and chalk, and trying to play washers and disk golf like their dads!

Hanging out in the hot tub (it wasn't hot!)
Austin and Caiden in their pool

The Jump House

Playing with sticks!Playing washers

While the big guys went and played golf, we took the little ones on a train ride through the national park. Caiden LOVED when the trail went fast down a hill and kept signing "please" when it slowed down.

On the train

Most nights were spend hanging out around the campfire. We roasted marshmallows and made smores for the boys. Austin tried one but Caiden only wanted the graham crackers!

Roasting marshmallows

Helping get wood for the fire!

We rented a boat one day and went out on the lake for a few hours. The boat was a lot of fun and of course the little ones loved it. We even rented a tube and Austin rode on it! Caiden didn't want any part of it! We didn't have an anchor so we couldn't swim for long. The was a pretty strong current and getting everyone back on before we drifted away was not so easy!

Jon and Caiden in the lake

We decided we are going back every summer. It was one of the most relaxing trips we've ever been on and we can't wait to go back. Chilet and I drove around to looked at some of the other cabins and found a few we want to try out!

18 month check-up

Caiden had his 18 month check up today and he's right on track. We were a little worried b/c his speech was delayed some at the 12 mo. appt. due to not having the tubes in for very long and having a lot of blockage. But, he's up to 15 + words and our pediatrician likes them to be around 10 at this point =)

Of course he's huge...35 1/2 inches tall (97+ percentile) and 30.8 pounds (90-95 percentile). His head was also measuring in the 90th percentile so at least he's all even...just big =)

Dinner at Aunt Kimmy's

While we were in Austin we went over to Aunt Kimmy's house for dinner to see the rest of Jon's family. We had fun swimming and playing on the trampoline and the food was wonderful =) It is always fun to spend a some time with everyone while we're visiting Jon's mom!

Casey, me, and Caiden in the pool

Jon, Casey, and Jakob (I wonder how the noodle broke!)

Jumping with Daddy

Yes! It's finally on =)

Watching a movie with Aunt Kimmy

The Domino Gang: Jon, Aunt Donna, Brenda, Byron, and Dylan

Playing at Grandma's

Caiden talking on the "phone." It was the remote to his DVD player =)

Jon, Caiden, and Aunt Casey

Outside with Grandma

Sea World!

On Thursday (our 4 year anniversary!) we took Caiden to Sea World! We drove in to Flugerville Wednesday to visit Jon's family then made the trip to San Antonio on Thursday. Grandma, Aunt Casey, and Uncle Steven went with us! Caiden did great and fell asleep twice in the stroller =) He missed seeing Shamu due to a nap but enjoyed seeing the sharks and fish, the ski show (he even got to give high-fives to two of the skiiers) and the dolphins. He did much better than we thought he would and we stayed in the park until 6:00. It was a long day!

Casey, me, and Caiden

Looking at the fish

Grandma and Caiden

The Family

Shamu

Taking a nap!

Happy Birthday Poppy!

<:AtomicElement>

Baby Nash

A message from my friend Kelly who has been communicating with Tracy...the results from the autopsy.


I talked to Tracy again today before I go see her tomorrow, and she gave me the results of the autopsy. I know that a lot of you were wondering, so I thought I'd send out an email with the info. Basically, Nash had 2 heart abnormalities...one congenital and one not. Both were things that wouldn't be detected with any routine baby wellness check. In fact, the doctor said that one was extremely rare and he's only seen it one other time. The doctor also said that although Tate (their 2 year old) seems just fine, for Tracy and Brad's own peace of mind, they're going to get him checked by a pediatric cardiologist when they get back to Dallas.

That's the scoop--she said the funeral was hard and she's glad it's over, but also that the people did a very nice job.

He had two cusps (sp?) instead of three (the congenital condition Kelly mentioned) and some extra tissue that I believe was causing a lot of blockage. The two things combined just were too much for his little heart to handle.

Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers for this family. I know they appreciate it =)

4th of July

We went to the Kovitch's house for the 4th of July to swim, cookout, and watch the fireworks. Caiden had a great time although by 10pm he was worn out and we left in the middle of the show!

Trevor, me, and Shannon

Caiden sneaking the chips!

Playing with a new friend!

Volleyball

Katelyn and Caiden before the fireworks

Quick Update on Tracy...

The funeral for Nash will be Sat. up in Iowa. They have decided to have him buried up there next to his great-grandfather instead of down here beside no one. I'm sure that was a difficult decision just knowing he will be so far away once they return home. They do visit up north quite often and there are lots of family members already living in that area so Nash will be visited often.

The family will return here next week and there is a memorial service here next Thursday. I'm sure it will be comforting to see all of their friends at that service. Unfortunately, we are leaving for Austin Tuesday so we will miss the service.

Our master's class decided to collect money to help with the family's travel and funeral expenses...together, the 32 of us collected over $1,000. What an amazing feeling to be able to give them so much support!

I still have not heard the report from the autopsy...I will post it when I find out.

Thank you for all of your prayers and thoughts. Tracy's one request was that people just pray that he went to Heaven. We all know he did...

Our First Disaster in the New House

We finally got our very own mailbox (we shared with neighbors in the old neighborhood and there was absolutely nothing wrong with that, it was just fun having our own!) and now it's gone! The little girl's grandmother I tutor just back up straight into it! At least it wasn't a "hit and run" and she offered to pay for the expense =) However, someone just came to the door to offer to fix it and he charged $450. Are you kidding me??!!

Please Pray

One of my close friends in the master's program just lost her 5 month old baby tonight. She had let her two boys stay up north with their Grandma for the week and she and her husband we going to meet them up there this next weekend. Nash, the little one, has had a difficult time eating the past few weeks. Her mother-in-law took him to the Dr. up there because of it and they thought he was having an allergic reaction to the formula. So, yesterday, they switched his formula and he still didn't respond. Today, they admitted him into the hospital while Tracy got on a plane to get there. He needed to be Care flighted to a different hospital for treatments and tests but they couldn't stabilize him enough to fly. In attempting to get him hydrated for the flight, something malfunctioned with his heart and he passed away.

Tracy did not make it to the hospital in time to see him before he passed away but got to spend time with him while waiting for her husband to make the flight in this evening. She said he looked so peaceful just laying there and she just kept waiting for him to open his eyes...

She had a VERY difficult time letting the boys go up there, especially with Nash having so many problems eating. Please keep her and the family in your prayers. I just hope she knows God has a plan for everyone and that it isn't her fault.

Also pray for their return as I'm sure coming home to his room and all of his toys will be some of the roughest moments for them.

I can not even begin to imagine how hard this is for them. My world would completely end if my child were no longer with us. She is blessed to have Tate and I'm sure he will help in the grieving process. Nothing we do or say will make the pain go away so I just ask that you pray.