The Condo

Isn't she beautiful!

Here are Colin and Owen visiting the real live (well actually dead) liger. It's pretty much our favorite animal right now.

So Evan and I had a really cool confirmation today that the Spirit is really guiding us. Everyone knows about the condo that we went into escrow on, and how on the last day we felt really strongly that we weren't supposed to buy it, even when a lower price was offered... Well, that condo has lost $120K in value since we left for Utah in October. We would surely have been bankrupt if we didn't listen. Especially with the medical bills that have come up.



This is so cool to us because even two years after the condo incident we didn't really know why we both felt so strongly about not buying it, and now here it is. This helps us now as we are adjusting to Utah to just trust Heavenly Father. He knows all, and sees much more than we can see with our limited perspective. It makes me think about what his purposes are with Colin and his condition.

Diagnosis!!!

Yesterday our specialist gave us a diagnosis! It is lipophagic panniculitis of childhood. It is a rare disease of the fat, and we don't quite understand it yet. All I know is that it looks like this will be long term, maybe several years and that they treat it with a daily dose of steroids (not fun!). I will post more as I find out more about this.

Baby Avery Talks

Avery Madison is just starting to coo.

We are so proud of how far her language

skills have developed and really proud

of how dedicated she has been to phonics

as a whole.

Retro Video Update

Weekend At The Cabin

We found the moose about 100 yds. from the fire road. She was estimated at weighing 14,000 pds. or so. What a sight to behold.

At the center of the shot you'll see a real, live, deadwood, beaver house. That's right beavers still roam the plains of the American continent. I was just as surprised as you are.

Here we are in June and the heavy winter is still very evident.

Colin and Owen take out the first timer (Auntie Emily) to show her the fundamentals of extreme off roading. Good luck Emily.

Upon returning from their off road adventure the boys are beaming with pride.

Uncle Blake forgot to "Just Add Water" to his raft prior to embarking on their voyage. Just a minor detail for the seasoned mariner.

Here Evan is trying to soak up a 360 degree view with very limited 140 degree human vision.

Colin was excited to include this shot into his portolio of millions of photos. This was his first time working with an all organic wooden sign.

Here's Avery and Mommy








Avery is the smiliest baby!
















The boy's just love their sister

The latest news on Colin....

The very up to date latest is this... Primary's has confirmed everything that the other specialist has: He has lumps on his legs that no one knows how to define. We actually got results back in 2 days, which is amazing considering the month we waited with the other specialist. The blood work came back good, no problems or infections. The biopsy showed that the lumps are made up of mostly T cells, but they don't know why. We are now starting on steroids to control the swelling, meanwhile Primary's is sending the boipsy out again for yet another second opinion. Someone has to know what this is!

Here's Evan's new hobby. He has spent the last month studying fly fishing so that he could get a new fly fishing pole for his birthday.

Tonight Daddy and the boys are celebrating Evan's birthday this Monday by camping at the Baker's cabin. The boys were absolutely thrilled to be out camping with their daddy, as he has had to work a lot lately. They were hoping to see a moose while they were there, which is totally possible. At home, Mommy and Avery are having our first Mommy-daughter date.

Here's a pic of Colin's legs. The red spots are the lumps.

And our character Owen, hiding from Mommy

Last but not least we want to wish Uncle D a happy 27th birthday today. Wow, is he really that old today!

update on Colin

Well, we had our first visit to Primary's yesterday. Again, two different doctor's came in to look at him and one even took pictures. Well, this doctor didn't promise anything. She just took another biopsy (from his calf this time, and deeper than before. This time she took muscle, too). Colin handled it like a champ, and brought home a brand new Transformer for his courage.

So, next Monday we'll hopefully have some results and an action plan for treating this (hopefully with a diagnosis). He's doing ok, but the lumps are still spreading.

On a lighter note, Evan and I are competing in our own Biggest Loser competetion. The prize will be $200. Evan has already picked out his new fishing gear, but I will definately need a new wardrobe once all of this baby weight is on, so it's on! The competetion goes for 8 weeks, and then we'll see who the biggest loser is!

Welcome to our blog!

Tomorrow Colin is finally going in to Primary's for a specialist visit. He has been having a problem with spreading lumps in his legs, and the last 8 pathology labs weren't able to diagnose what they are. He has been pretty sick with daily fevers and fatigue. We are hoping this new doctor can find out what is wrong with him, and that it isn't serious.

Here are some pics of the family right now. Aren't these kids beautiful?