Grandma Dot

Every time I come to Oklahoma I make sure to go and visit my Grandma who is in the "old folks home". My grandma used to spoil me rotten. I wish so much that my children were able to see her as I see her. Vibrant, smart, and always on the go. I think she still wants to be that way from they way she kept trying to get out of the wheelchair. She helped me make many memories.

Best Friends

Friends are hard to come by nowadays, but here is a picture of some best friends. This is Cayson with Avery. These two have been friends since before they could crawl. We had the unique opportunity to be neighbors for the past two years. This June though they moved to Bakersfield and let's just say it has made the summer awfully long for us all. I have been amazed with how much we depended on our neighbors not just for sugar or diapers or milk, but for the friendship. Thanks Cloars for the fun times. We miss you.

Growing Up

All growing up I wanted so desperately to be a grown up so I could do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. As a grown up I know that that statement is not true, yet I hear it from my own son. We want to be grown up because of the freedom we can receive from it, but what we don't realize as children is the other part of being a grown up. One negative is I know way too many people who have had experienced hard ships and have heard too much of the suffering that this world hands out. We went on a recent trip to Modesto, my husband's home town, and what we found there were lives that have been torn apart by chasing the things of this world and ignoring God's plan. We saw people getting older and needing someone to help them out. Adam in particular faced the reality of life, things change. People change or they were never who you thought they were in the first place. Growing up is tough.

I hope they don't grow up too fast.

Newport Fun

After a long day with the hospital it was nice to enjoy some relaxation at the beach with our friends. It is nice to have friends who are willing to share their vacation. I love the beach and I love being with friends.

Tests - not the school kind

Isn't the gown cute? I didn't know they made them so small.
Asher means happy, joyful and he is just that.
This is how they kept him still while they took pictures.

If you have read the blog you then know that Asher has an enlarged right kidney. Because of this, we have been doing other tests to get a better look at his "plumbing". The first test we did was an x-ray. They had to put a catheter in and fill his bladder to take the pictures. Not a pleasant thing to happen, but he is a trooper. The next test was a nuclear medicine study. We had no idea what it all entailed. So here is the story. We checked into the hospital for same day admission. He had to have an iv put in to give him fluids and to give him the isotopes that show what is going on inside. It was amazing. As the isotopes went in you could see the image right away. It was very obvious that his right kidney is bigger than his left. For one hour they took pictures of these isotopes working. The left kidney was working perfectly. You could see it start moving through the tube to the bladder. The right kidney on the other hand changed it shape from a kidney bean to a heart. Toward the end of the process they give a diuretic so it will get all the stuff out of his little body. Once they gave him that his right kidney began to work and release the urine. The good thing is that it worked, but it does mean that there is a blockage. I am almost positive they will do surgery, but we will find out for sure on August 6th when we go to the specialist. Asher is such a blessing though. Through out it all he has maintained a pleasant personality. Check out the smiles.

Laguna Beach

One of the traditions that was started before I came into this family was breakfast at Las Brisas in Laguna Beach, CA. It is a wonderful place to look at the ocean and eat a wonderful breakfast. I love the beach too. We usually pose for a few pictures and then head down to the beach to feel the sand between your toes and the cold water.








Little toes are the cutest.
















There are some wonderful tide pools for the boys to explore. We saw lots of hermit crabs.













Aiden was a little uncertain about the water.

The Night Owl

I have talked quite a bit about Asher, but I wanted to share some about my middle son, Aiden. He is quite the character. His name means "firey spirit" and he lives up to it. One of the things that is sometimes fun and most of the time tiring is that he stays up so late. We have done everything possible to get this child to bed such as missing naps, but he just doesn't seem to need as much sleep at this point in his life. We love him anyway.

My precious one

Some of you may or may not have known about our little ones kidney issues before he was born. At my 20 week sonogram they informed me that Asher' s right kidney was bigger than his left which meant that there was some form of blockage. The couldn't do anything about it then, but they would monitor it. So at 30 weeks I went back in. At that point they said it was still larger, but of not a great concern. Again they would see what would happen at the birth. Well, his birth was quite eventful due to meconium (poo as he comes out) and then the respiratory distress which meant he was in NICU for 3 days. The doctor in the NICU was not ready to do the ultrasound of the kidneys at that time because he was peeing and pooing fine. He did want one about the time he was 6 weeks. Today we had that follow up ultrasound. I should have known that when they sent me to the doctor right after that there was trouble, but I just assumed he was telling me good results. Unfortunately, the right kidney is bigger and now it is more blocked up. They call it hydronephrosis. Basically, it means that there is a kink in the tubing from the kidney to the bladder which is causing urine to back up into the kidney. This is not good. Left alone it would mean kidney failure. So we are being sent to a specialist that deals with this and kids all day long day after day. What it most likely will mean is surgery to correct what is wrong. It has been really hard to imagine someone so little and so precious to have to go through surgery. As a mom it has been very hard to accept. I want the best though for him and I know that God is going to take care of him. From the time of birth we have given our children over to Him knowing that we are just borrowing them for a bit until they become fully His. Please pray that God will give us courage as we deal with this. Please pray for his brothers as they have to deal with preoccupied parents. Please pray that it will some how be miraculously fixed.

Here is he is. 11 lbs and 14 oz. 23.25 in long This biggest of all the Atchison children.

Isn't he cute?

Rock Band

This weekend was very eventful for us. We had an exciting 4th of July, but the next day was a very good friend of ours 30th birthday. They have been our friends for 7 years. Anyway, they had gotten the game rock band. We had a blast. There was a boys band (pictured) and a girls band. I think we played about an hour. I loved the drums, but it was tricky. It made me want to get some kind of game system. I know though as soon as we do it will be a battle with the kids so for now we will go and play with our friends.



Adam as lead singer








Adam as lead, Ted on bass, Chris on Drums and Matt on guitar (our two wanted to do it so badly, they were real patient while their parents played)

Fourth of July

I love the fourth of July. I would almost say I love it more than Christmas. It is mostly due to my memories growing up. My cousins and I would pile in the car and go watch fireworks while the adults managed the fireworks stand. On the fifth we would celebrate our fourth as a family in Wagoner. I loved those times. So now as a parent I want my children to have those fond memories too. We spent our day in the OC with some long time friends. We swam, ate BBQ, ate watermelon, and chilled out. It was a great day. I hope yours was just as fun.

Family fun

If any of you are on my facebook page you know that I have been trying to attempt at least one involved art project every week. We have been doing these with other families, but this week we did it on our own. We did two in one. First was bubble paint. This is a simple project. 2 tablespoons of paint with a pint of bubble solution. Well, I had poster paint, but same difference right. I mixed it with one small container of bubbles. Then we attempted to paint. It didn't work so well. As a teacher I should know to try things first before you do them with kids. Otherwise you spend all your time trying to get it to work or whatever. The second thing we did was make t-shirts. (I think I did this with my cousins one 4th as well) I was really excited because Aiden was very into this project. I bought fabric markers so it would be easier. We all sat down and got to work. Aiden was so proud he wanted to put his shirt on right away. He got it wet while playing in the pool water. He was upset. He said, "now I can't wear it for the 4th" It was so cute. The plan is to wear them today. They will look too cute.

AC drama

So the AC drama continues. This is our third day without the AC while the weather here is in the high 90s. Now in CA it does cool down at night, praise the Lord, but still it is hot. We had someone out today who came and fixed what was wrong. While the repair man was here the boys and I went out back and filled out baby pool up to cool down. Within an hour of his leaving it all went sour again. So what is the deal? I wish I knew. I wish I knew why the power goes out when the AC goes off. I wish I knew why my children choose this week to be crazy and not listen to their parents. I wish I knew why being hot makes every one cranky. I wish I knew why well, you get the picture. I hope to write tomorrow that God has worked a miracle and our house now runs normal again. I am praying.

Growing

I am always amazed at how quickly babies grow. Asher is not even 7 weeks yet I feel that he has been here for such a long time. He has already made his way into our hearts and captured them completely. He rarely fusses and goes with the flow that his brothers set the pace to. He has had many a nap in the car seat due to our get up and go life style. The best part about him is his happy spirit. He smiles and talks to us now. I love it.