Health Update

You can read the first part of the journey HERE

Chase had another MRI the first part of November, and a meeting with the Neurosurgeon. We learned that the tumor wasn't a tumor, but a lesion and had gone down in size and was smaller that the first MRI in July. Oh happy day! The neurosurgeon said that since it had gone down in size and there were no more symptoms the he wanted to see Chase in a year (November 2012). He also wanted Chase to go back to see the Neurologist. She decided to do one more test to test for MS, and that came back negative also. So she is leaning more to it being something called ADEM, which is a one time occurrence that mimics MS. So unless Chase has more symptoms, she doesn't want to see him again for 6 months (May 2012). He'll have another MRI and we'll go from there.

So for now we are just hoping and praying that no more symptoms come, and he will continue to be monitored. Thank you all for your prayers and concern!

18 months

Look how big this little man is getting. He is still on the small side, but trying to catch up. He is healthy and happy, and that's what matters the most!


Height: 30.5"
Weight: 19 pounds 10 ounces
Owens doctor suggested that we try to bulk him up, by giving him anything he wants. If he has toast, make sure it has butter on it. If he wants chocolate milk, give him instant breakfast or pediasure instead. etc. He also asked if we would like to do some blood work to make sure there really isn't anything wrong. We chose to wait till Owen was 2, and in the mean time try and bulk him up. Hopefully something works, and he starts catching up soon.

We can't imagine our lives without this little man, and can't believe that he's already been here for 18 months. Man how the time flies when you are having fun!

Bananas

Owen was the cutest monkey for halloween. He had a wonderful time trick or treating, and getting "nacks".

Yo Gabba Gabba Live!

I was lucky enough to score tickets to Yo Gabba Gabba live for half price, so Chase and I decided to take Owen. Since he loved the tv show and watches it constantly. I wasn't sure how he would act, or if he would love the show. Come to find out all my worrying before hand was for nothing, Owen loved the show! He was dancing, and going crazy for most of the show. I only wish when the show started and there were a ton of empty seats in the front, that we would have moved closer. Everyone that was around us weren't really into the show. The only thing he was hesitent about was when they shot confetti and streamers out into the audience at the start, and end of the show. The loud pop kind of scared him.

Before the show started

Proof Mommy and Daddy were both there, don't mind owen not looking at the camera he was too enthralled with all the people around, and the lady selling the light wands.

The show started, getting ready to dance!

Dancing to "all our friends are different"

Muno's rap about bugs

Toodee's song about winter being her favorite season. It even snowed in the theater.

After the show. Look at all the confetti on the stage.Yo Gabba Gabba knows how to have fun!

Walking back to the car, Owen got these adorable Muno and Brobee beanie babies. He carries them around all the time now.

Zoo

Chase and I decided to take our little monkey to the zoo for a fun halloween treat. We picked the perfect day, as it was just the right temperature, and the zoo was pretty empty. Owen loved seeing the monkeys, elephants, playing on the playground, and feeding the ducks and swans.
When we were leaving, we decided to look in the gift shop to see if things were on sale since it was the end of the season. We had a coupon for 50% off a stuffed animal, and ended up getting Owen a huge leopard stuffy that is almost as big as he is. I love a good deal, and Owen loves tackling his leopard, and trying to carry him around.

checking out the black and white monkeys (I don't remember their name, they looked like skunks in trees)

Spider monkey, this little guy liked to taunt Owen that he got a snack. He came right over and was showing off right infront of O.


Checking out the elephants

By the rhino statue

Playing on the slide (Owen always goes down backwards)

Little goblins party

Owens GG (great grandma) hosted a fun party for all the little goblins in her life. She had yummy food, and drinks. A few games to play, and lots of dancing and music. Owen had a great time playing with Rowan and Zade, and trying to break everything GG owns. Thanks again GG for the fun party!

cousin Zade and Owen

Rowan, Zade and Owen (Put 3, 17 month olds together and you see how well they look at the camera.

Who would have thought that Owen would have such a young GG, doesn't she look great for her age!

Pumpkin carving

We invited Brena, Jered and Camden over the Friday night before Halloween to carve pumpkins with us, and have some chili and watch a movie. We had a lot of fun. Neither Owen or Camden would touch the pumpkin guts, and thought they were so gross. Owen finally got into it and started flinging the guts all over the place with a few of the carving tools. We decided to make his pumpkin simple, and carved a funny face into in. I tried a skeleton with a bat, and Chase did the Grim Reaper. We put our pumpkins outside after we carved them, only to find on that by Halloween they were all pretty rotten and didn't look like what was carved into them. Oh well, you live and learn.

Scooping out the guts

Owens gut scooping, he didn't pull anything out

Trying to touch the guts

Gut flinging fun

Finished products. (left to right, front to back) Camdens cat, Jereds funny face, Owens baby face. 2nd row; Brenas funky guy, Kims skeleton. 3rd row; Chases Grim Reaper, Jereds Colosseum (which ended up the colosseum of crush by Halloween).

Side note: I later cleaned all the seeds, soaked them over night in salt water, then roasted them because Chase said he would eat them. Guess who wouldn't touch them....

Pumpkin patch

We had a wonderful time at the pumpkin patch, picking out our pumpkins for halloween. Owen really enjoyed riding in the wheelbarrow, and running up and down the rows of pumpkins. He tried to lift a few that were too heavy for him, and was so cute trying. He finally chose the perfect little pumpkin for himself!

He loved the tractors, and pretending to drive them


Lifting the big one


Riding in the wheelbarrow

Ashes Ashes

We all fall down...

Man I love these boys, they are always up to something funny.

Redecorating

Owen decided today was the day to redecorate the bathroom of our Park City condo we are staying in. I think he did an excellent job. Too bad for him, mommy caught him when he had only unrolled half the roll. Imagine how much better his redecorating could have been with a full roll of paper.

Harmony

Look what Owen can do. Playing the harmonica. What a little smarty pants!

Mini golfer

Chase recently bought Owen some real golf clubs. Since every time he saw a club or a ball he would go crazy. He loves golf! He loves his clubs and can say club "bub", and ball "ba". He is learning quickly and can hit a ball on his own. Enjoy the cuteness.

Health

We've spent a lot of time at various doctors, and appointments over the last few months. We've now met our deductible , and are half way to our out of pocket for the year, here's why.

Chase had weakness in his right fingers around the beginning of July, so we went to our family Doctor. He had an MRI which showed something in his brain. He was tested for MS to see if that's what is showing up. So far all the tests have been negative. But that's not ruled out all the way yet. 10% of people diagnosed with MS have negative results. He had another MRI a few weeks ago to see if anything had changed. The "tumor" has grown a tiny bit (could also be wrong measuring). But since all his strength was back in his arm and hand the neurosurgeon decided that he didn't want to do a biopsy now, as it could cause more problems for Chase right now. He will see the neurosurgeon again in November, have another MRI, and we will go from there. Whether it be just a biopsy and leave the tumor alone, or a biopsy and removal of the "tumor".

15 months

Wow what a slacker blogger. Mostly I just haven't blogged recently because I would rather spend my free time when Owen is napping or in bed doing other things. Owen is growing like crazy. Walking/running everywhere. Climbing everything. Being so stinking adorable. We truly love this little monkey, and are so grateful to have him as part of our family.

Owens 15 month stats: 17 pounds 15 ounces, 29.1 inches tall (5%). He is growing great and keeping right on his track. Our pediatrician is very happy with his progress, and so are mommy and daddy.

A new project

Last year Chase embarked on a 365 day self portrait project. He almost made it to the end and ran out of time to do it. He decided that he wanted to try again, but with Owen. He started it on Owens first birthday, and will keep it up till he is 2. If you'd like to check it out you can go Here to My Little O

Golfing

We took Owen out to the driving range a few days ago after Chase had gotten home from work. He loved it! He just crawled around and played with the golf balls, spent a lot of time trying to climb into the ball basket. He even learned how to hit a ball, and how to drive the cart. Golf clubs are in his near future, as soon as he can learn to walk.

Happy Birthday Owen

Sorry there are a ton of photos in this post. I have a hard time picking favorites.
Yes I am almost a month late on this post, but I'm finally getting around to it. Owen had a wonderful 1st birthday! Due to scheduling conflicts, and other family matters we weren't able to have one big party for him. So he got to have his birthday for 2 days. He had birthday cake and playing in conjunction with our niece Teagans baptism on his actual birthday. And a family BBQ and cake and presents with Chases family the next day.
I had spent the few days before his birthday baking like a mad woman. I think after all was said and done I had baked 72 cupcakes and 9 4" round cakes ( to make 3 smash cakes for him. 1 for my sisters house, 1 for grandma and grandpas house and one for the studio). I had decided that since we weren't having one big party I would just do a primary colors cake, and cupcakes. I think it turned out adorable (minus the bottom layers falling apart.) Owen didn't really want to touch his smash cakes when there were a lot of people around, but was more than willing to rip one apart when there were just a few of us around.
I made his little birthday shirt to match the primary colors cakes, and didn't have time to wash it before he wore it. That is why he has blue skin in some of the photos.
He got some really fun gifts, and has really enjoyed playing with them since.
It's crazy to think that he's already 1. We love our little guy and can't imagine our lives without him.