Update on our trip to Primary's.

I love Aja's neurologist. He's such a great guy. She actually has 2, but I can never remember the girls name. I love her too. Anyway, they told me that Aja's head is too narrow in the front and too "bulgy" in the back, but they want to wait and get more head measurements before they do anything. So, it's a wait and see thing right now. They aren't sure if it's the shunt that is causing all the narrowing in the front or what. So that is basically all that happened. Informative, huh? Other than that, she is perfect. I'm going to serial-post later on, but right now. I'm going to chill in my p.j.'s and do laundry. It was really good to see Mitch. Love that man more than anything.

P.S. Thanks Dad for helping me with kiddos during our appointment! You are a life saver!

Heading to Primary's.

We have an appointment with Aja's neurologist on Thursday at 1:40 p.m.

After doing a lot of research on-line today with the small amount of information I have, the condition I think she has is called craniosynostosis. Fancy word for the sutures of the skull fusing too early. Looking at some pictures of it as well, I'm pretty sure that Aja has the condition. Her head is very oval, very long (meaning from her forehead to the back of her skull) and she has weird bumps all over the place.

Anyway, I won't be on-line much the next few days, but will be sure to update as soon as we get back Thursday night. We may visit Mitch while we are down there. I miss him so much.

Please keep Aja in your thoughts and prayers the next few months.

It may get ugly. Really ugly.

As I mentioned a month or so ago, when Aja saw her new pediatrician he pointed out that her soft spot is super small. Smaller than my finger-tip and I have small hands. So I've been keeping an eye on it and just monitoring it. It's gotten smaller and it's really hard. I can't really push it anymore and have it spring back on me like a normal soft spot would. It feels like bone is growing in there.

So I called her neurologist and left them a message with the info and they called me back yesterday. Not good news. His nurse, who is really nice and super helpful, said that when this happens kids usually require craniofacial surgery. The reason being is that this could now be hindering the growth of her brain. So they would have to go in and spread the bones, again. So my daughter who had too much space now has too little space and needs to be monitored.

I'm so scared for my little girl. I'm also so frustrated. I feel like I have just been knocked down over and over again this year and it's getting harder and harder to pick myself up again.

The Brave Little Soul:

THE BRAVE LITTLE SOUL

Not too long ago in Heaven there was a little soul who took wonder in observing the world. She especially enjoyed the love she saw there and often expressed this joy with god. One day however the little soul was sad, for on this day she saw suffering in the world? God paused for a moment and replied, Little soul, do not be sad for the suffering you see, unlocks the love in people's hearts. The little soul was confused. What do you mean she asked. God replied, have you not noticed the goodness and love that is the offspring of that suffering? Look at how people come together, drop their differences and show their love and compassion for those who suffer. All their other motivations disappear and they become motivated by love alone. The little soul began to understand and listened attentively as God continued, The suffering soul unlocks the love in people's hearts much like the sun and the rain unlock the flower within the seed. I created everyone with endless love in their hearts, but unfortunately most people keep it locked up and hardly share it with anyone. They are afraid to let their love shine freely, because they are afraid of being hurt. But a suffering soul unlocks that love. I tell you this it is the greatest miracle of all. Many souls have bravely chosen to go into the world and suffer to unlock this love to create this miracle for the good of all humanity.

Just then the little soul got a wonderful idea and could hardly contain herself. With her wings fluttering, bouncing up and down, the little soul excitedly replied, I am brave, let me go! I would like to go into the world and suffer so that I can unlock the goodness and love in people's hearts! I want to create that miracle! God smiled and said, You are a brave soul I know, and thus I will grant your request. But even though you are very brave you will not be able to do this alone. I have known since the beginning of time that you would ask for this and so I have carefully selected many souls to care for you on your journey. Those souls will help you create your miracle; however they will also share in your suffering. Two of these souls are most special and will care for you, help you and suffer along with you, far beyond the others. They have already chosen a name for you. God and the brave little soul shared a smile, and then embraced. In parting God said Do not forget little soul that I will be with you always. Although you have agreed to bear the pain, you will do so though my strength. And if the time should come when you feel that you have suffered enough, just say the word, think the thought, and you will be healed! Thus at that moment the brave little soul was born into the world, and through her suffering and God's strength, she unlocked the goodness and love in people's hearts. For so many people dropped their differences and came together to show their love. Priorities became properly aligned. People gave from their hearts. Those that were always too busy found time. Many began new spiritual journeys some regained lost faith- many came back to God. Parents hugged their children tighter. Friends and family grew closer. Old friends got together and new friendships were made. Distant family reunited, and every family spent more time together. Everyone prayed. Peace and love reigned. Lives changed forever. It was good. The world was a better place. The miracle had happened. God was pleased.

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I've cried so much today. I have been so touched by many stories I have read lately. This one was pretty darn good.

Tagged by Shelly

Rules:
1. People who are tagged need to post these rules, and 8 random habits/facts/quirks about themselves.
2. At the end of the post you need to choose 8 people to get tagged and list their names.

1. I'm the most cold person you will ever meet. It could be 8 billion degrees outside and I would still be wearing a house jacket. I dunno, a comfort thing I guess?? House jackets are so convenient becuase as I go around the house during the day, I stick stuff that is laying around in my pockets and put it away as I go.

2. Finishing a drink?? Never. According to my husband and my mom, I never finish a drink. I WOULD, but my wonderful husband never gives me the opportunity, he just finishes them off for me first now.

3. I CANNOT stand to watch my kids eat. It's gross. Anessa and Peyton sit at the counter for a reason. Cohen?? I kind of angle him out of my peripheral vision and I just keep my eyes on my plate or look around. ANYWHERE but where my kids are during the mastecation process. Ugh..I don't know what their deal is, but they incorporate both hands and have to TOUCH all their food..It drives me nuts and icks me out. I'm trying to work on that part of their manners, but man, when we are at home it seems that all manners go out the window.

4. Mitch used to take this personal until I explained it to him, but I'm not huge on kissing. I never have been. I get really claustrophobic and have to break away in order to feel like I can breath. Lame I know.

5. I know all the words to "Baby Got Back" and "Ice Ice Baby". Again, I know I'm lame.

6. I trip, a lot. Mitch finds it quite humerous. When I was pregnant with Cohen, I was waddling (see how I didn't say walking) and accidentally kicked one of Peyton's many swords under myself and totally biffed it. I was fine, but Mitch sure thought it was great.

7. I think I have had more flat tires than anyone. On every car I have ever owned (on #6 now) I have had either one or more flat tires. Mitch changed the brakes on my GOLD van once and I had 2 flats. Who knew??

8. When I get really nervous or stressed I bite my lips until they bleed. It's horrid. So if you see me and my lips look all funky and are super red, you know something is going down.

I tag Liz, Janita, Heather and Ashley!

Never Too Late For Pumpkins!

We took these a few weeks ago at the Logan Pumpkin Walk, and of course I was a dope and forgot my camera so my sweet sister-in-law took some pictures for me and sent them.

Here is Yoda Cohen. His head fit so perfectly in the cut-outs it was so funny! I love his face in this picture!


Aja as our little Ariel. That hat she is wearing was a big hit! She looks like a mini Aunt Jemima.


Peyton as Winnie the Pooh. He wanted me to post him as Snow White..uhh..No.


Princess Anessa. So fitting as she is my kindest most loving girl.


Alrighty then...The boy kept running from image to image!


We had a lot of fun that day as you can tell!

Can I say this..

I hate moving. I hate everything about it. I hate having to make sure my house is clean every minute of every day in case of a showing. I hate that Anessa has to leave her posse when they are so nice to her and she's feeling better about being at a new school. I hate that I have to leave all my friends that I just made. We have such a wonderful neighborhood and ward. I was really worried when we moved here because Saratoga was SO horrible with the whole Mormon mentality, but we haven't run into that here. We have had so much support.

I'm glad, however, that Mitch got this job. I was secretly rooting for it and he got it. It's an awesome offer, and it was one we couldn't pass up because it was so good. The health benefits, believe it or not, are better at his new place of employment than at the university, which ROCKS because, well, we have to have health benefits at all times. I know I should be thankful, and I am... I just am sad to be leaving everything. Logan is so great because it is in between both our families and the right size that I felt relatively safe. I'm sure things will be great when we move to SLC. I'm also going to miss my hubby very much. He's a good husband and a good father. He's worked so hard to provide for our family and I am so grateful for him.

Okay, my petty rant is over.