Loren Update part 2

PRAISE THE LORD!

We received word today that Loren DOES have the Thyroid antibodies they were looking for. I think Bonnie said it best by saying, "It's amazing how 'not-so-good-news' can sometimes be 'the-best-news-ever!'" Anyway, she has what's called "Hashimoto's Disease." We will be monitoring her blood levels every month and she will be on a hormone replacement medication the rest of her life. Praise God we found it so early!!! It didn't even have time to do any damage to her body!!!

For those interested, here's the simplest, yet most informative description of the disease. It's from the Mayo Clinic.

Definition
Hashimoto's disease causes inflammation of your thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck, just below your Adam's apple. Although it weighs less than an ounce, the thyroid gland has an enormous effect on your health. It's part of your endocrine system, which is made up of several glands and tissues that produce hormones. These chemical messengers coordinate many of your body's activities, from digestion to metabolism to reproduction.

Hashimoto's disease is an autoimmune disorder in which your immune system inappropriately attacks your thyroid gland, causing damage to your thyroid cells and upsetting the balance of chemical reactions in your body. The inflammation caused by Hashimoto's disease, also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, often leads to an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). Hashimoto's disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States.

Doctors use blood tests of thyroid function to detect Hashimoto's disease. Treatment of Hashimoto's disease with thyroid hormone replacement medication usually is simple and effective.

Thank you all again for your prayers and kind e-mails and words. We could not have got through this without you all! We have been taught through this that God is a faithful God. . .maybe he gave us a stink-rot-eating daughter just so that we would find this early in her life before it really hurt her! :) Who knows :)

Loren Update

First, we want to thank everyone for your prayers and warm wishes. It's never easy to hear that your child has something wrong. It's scary and it makes you. . .well. . .just sick. Anyway, the reminders that God is good and faithful have really made a difference. We want you all to know we feel loved and in your prayers.


So, here's what we know so far: If you can remember back to biology, you'll remember that sitting on the base of your brain is the Pituitary Gland. The pituitary releases a bunch of hormones that do a bunch of different things. One hormone released is Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). This hormone goes to the thyroid and tells it to release T4 (Thyroid hormone) and T4 converts to T3 which turns off the pituitary's release of TSH. If you have followed so far, you get a gold star :)

In normal people, the TSH level is less than 5. Loren's was 24. So her Pituitary is spitting out TSH like MAD. This SHOULD make the thyroid spit out TONS AND TONS of T4. . .however, her T4 level is normal. This means that her thyroid is being pumped full of hormones telling it to spit out T4 but it's only getting out a normal amount. This basically tells us that her Thyroid is sick. :( We re-ran the test and her TSH level was at 13. . .still way high telling us that her thyroid is sick.

We need to know why. . .this is what we are waiting results on. More than likely it is an auto immune problem that she's producing antibodies that are attacking her Thyroid and seeing it as "foreign."

**For those of you who are wondering, I asked already and this has nothing to do with Lupus. . .she does not have Lupus and this gives no indication that she will have it**

So we are waiting on blood results to see if she has a Thyroid antibody. Out of all the possible answers, we are praying this is the cause. Please pray that it is. The other answers are not good.

So, we cannot stop this. Her thyroid will die. The good news is that they are now able to give pure T4 as a supplement!! She will not be affected in any way! She will lead a normal life as if it was her thyroid producing the T4. Everyone says that if she was going to have any sort of problem (if there is such a thing), this is the one to have because of the ease of fixing it! So she will have to take a small pill every morning for the rest of her life. She's already taken 2 easy without problem! Praise God!

We are very lucky that we found this. It was on a fluke that we found it so early. Most people find this when 1) They stop growing up and start growing out :) , 2) They get super-sick 3) There is a learning delay. . .Her symptoms don't even correlate with a Thyroid issue. . .they tested it on a fluke. God was faithful.

So anyway, please continue to pray for Loren. Pray that it is a Thyroid antibody creating this problem. We can handle that :)

We love everyone and are thankful to everyone!

LASTLY - WE HAVE DROPPED OUR LAND LINE! WE ARE NOW A CELLULAR FAMILY! IF YOU NEED US CALL KIMBERLY'S CELL

Please Keep Princess Loren in your prayers

As most of you know our little Princess has never been a good eater. I finally asked the doctor to run a blood panel on her Three-Year visit just to be on the "safe-side"and to be sure there were no food allergies. The results were surprising. Loren had an abnormal Thyroid count.

We are going to see a pediatric endocrinologist on Christmas Eve. Please pray that this is something minor and that it is easily treatable. Of course, Mommy and Daddy are worried. Thank you for your prayers!

Christmas Season pt. 1

Merry Christmas

Zach the red-cheeked Reindeer!
Loren the Reindeer playing with her new favorite toys!

Ready to make sugar cookies - Thanks for the Recipe Jen!

Mom! This dough is heavy. . .help!

Ready to cut out cookies! Zach had to help!

Loren and Zach's school hosted a Breakfast with Santa. It was extremely well done! Here is Daddy and Zach waiting to get in!

Breakfast time! Pancakes and Sausage. . .Loren's favorite!

I just love this sweater on Zach. I paid a fortune for it (from Gymboree) but I had to have it!

Do you know what Loren tells Santa she wants? An Umbrella and a Candy Cane. Sweet! This Christmas will be easy!

After we put on all of the window clings. Every window in my breakfast nook is covered. Thanks so much Grandma Johnson.

Loren's Gingerbread house. It's a pre-fab!

All done!

Nothing but Christmas love for Grandma J. Do you notice my naked tree? We decided not to put ornaments on this year. Not worth the fight with Zach. So. . .the tree isn't as pretty but who cares!

Zach with Loren's "Wishing Snow Globe." He loves to press "butts" now. Yes, he cannot say the word "button" and walks around yelling, "The Butt, The Butt" wanting you to press a button on one of his Christmas toys!

now, just for my Michigan family and friends. All St. Louis schools were closed today because of our tramatic snow storm. . .I don't know about you, but all of this snow really scares me :)

Suddenly

I feel like a Techno-smarty-pants!

Whooo Hoooo!

Help Techno Tard

Okay please tell me how you make your blog all cute like (see side bar) Jen's, Erin's, Scuz, and Amy. I'm sick of ugly blog. Now if you are going to help me, please remember that I am TECHNO TARD and I need 5 year old step-by-step directions :)


Also, Janna, how do you link one word to a different post? I mean seriously, you have one word underlined, I click on it and TA-DA. . .I'm linked. . .how how how???

Loren is 3 and Zach is 1

Do your kids believe in Santa?

What is the reason you have chosen to believe or not?

Just curious as to the reasons :)!

My kids do/will. . .

I'll never forget when some crummy kid came in and told our entire Kindergarten class that there was no Santa. . .

I always told my First Graders that some families invited Santa in and some parents wanted to do it themselves. I didn't think it was fair for the ones who didn't believe to ruin the fun for the kids who did. . .right or wrong? I don't know :) It was the best my mentor and I could come up with at the time :)!

Anyway, I don't want this to start a Santa War, I am just curious as to what my friends and family are doing and why :).

Hawaii Pictures

Hi friends and family! Sorry it's been so long. . .for those of you who saw me over Thanksgiving, you know I was knocking death's door. I finally found out I've had strep for over a week. I'm currently on Steroids and Antibiotics.

Soooooo, Hawaii was awesome! We had so much fun! I really enjoyed myself but since Mike worked so much I was lonely and bored. Yeah, I know, "Cry me a River." Mike said it best, "The difference between Paradise and hell is proximity to the ones you love." I truly had a great relaxing time though.

Sunday we went to Pearl Harbor. That was the one thing I wanted to do while I was there! It was amazing! If you ever go, be sure to take the audio tour. At one point they have you look out over the harbor and they play actual audio from the attack. Amazing.

The rest of the days were spent by me on the beach or at the pool. It was awesome because it was sunny, warm and raining all at once! It rocked! I drank plenty of Mia Tia and Swinging Monkeys while reading the WORST BOOK ON THE PLANET: Wuthering Heights. What a crappy rotten book. I hate it. I can't even finish it. Grrrrr.

I did go see the Zoo. I didn't think I would be impressed seeing that St. Louis has one of the best Zoos in the country. However, I was impressed! Here's a story: It was feeding time for the tiger who was 4 feet away from me separated by a flimsy chain linked fence. He was HUNGRY and waiting on the Keeper to feed him. He was pacing back and forth. I wouldn't go near the fence!!! There were tons of tourists taking pictures. Well all of the sudden he stopped pacing and locked eyes with me standing 10 feet away. All of the (closer) tourists turned and looked at me like "What did you do?" It scared the CRAP out of me!

Our favorite "couple" activity was our formal reception on the USS Missouri Battleship on Pearl Harbor. That was FREAKING awesome! Did you know battleships are huge ;)! I was just amazed at the size of it all! Anyway, it was an amazing time!

I also went to see the Iolani Palace and Aquarium. Besides that. . .I was lazy and boring sorry.

Us on the Sweet Potato Hill Lookout.

Me being a DORK overlooking Hawaii from Sweet Potato Hill. Diamond Head is in the background.

All of the Japanese tourists did this in EVERY picture. So i was being dorky before our formal dinner #1.

Mike being more mature than I. You can see our tiny room that cost $250 per night! Eeee Gads. . .Thank you Mike's work!

Mike and his big bullet outside the USS Missouri Battleship.

The big guns that bullet went into on the USS Missouri. On the left is the Arizona Memorial.

Free drinks on the Japanese Surrender deck!

Mikee playing with a Machine gun. . .he was a bit too excited to play with it!

Last sunset!

Nurse Loren

Today I took Loren and her best friend Ciearra to the Teddy Bear Clinic hosted by Barnes Jewish Hospital. It's purpose was to prepare for children doctor's visits, hospital visits, etc. without fear. Anyway, they had a great time playing nurse to their "pets." It really was fun!!

Nurse Ciearra and Loren are prepped and ready to fix their pets!

Getting Georgie "All Better." Poor George "Got hit by a car because he didn't look both ways" (Yes, my daughter made up quite a morbid story there.

Listening to Georgie's heart. I think I need to work on anatomy with Loren. . .Georgie's heart is not in his head!!!

The kids outlined their pets onto paper. They had to draw the heart, eyes, nose, toes, etc.

Loren found a real baby and wanted to fix him. She put a band-aide on him. . .the little boy's mom was really sweet about it!

Practicing being healthy with BJ Bear by doing Yoga. It was pretty cute!

To Smile, Laugh or Cry. . .

She's 3!!Loren made cupcakes for her friends to decorate at her party. I must be some kind of stupid to let her do this all by herself but, alas, I did! We had a slight mess but not too bad! I was proud of her!
Strawberry had to help!

Most of the cake batter actually made it into the bowl!

Turning on the mixer kind of startled her!

Loren actually sat there and watched the cupcakes bake. She sat there 18 minutes!

Loren and her friends at the party decorating the cupcakes that Loren made. I think Loren had an inch of frosting on her cupcake!

Present time! By the way, how did I ever live without my fireplace??? It is a luxury I will never live without again. . .I don't know how I'd ever live without one in my bedroom again either!

The cake! I KNOW! Isn't it so pretty???

Loren was so happy when everyone sang "Happy Birthday" to her. She grinned ear-to-ear!

Blowing out 3 candles (sniff. . .sniff. . .)

Trying on her Tinker Bell dress-up dress!

Loren Michelle, my miracle baby. Thank you for choosing us! Thank you for being our sweet daughter! I adore your strength of character, your joyful spirit, your daring spirit. I'm amazed every day with your brilliance and your desire to please your mommy and daddy. Darling, sweet girl, you are a blessing to me. You are my happiness! Happy birthday Bunny!

Halloween Fun

It's Halloween 2008! Grandma Johnson made the costumes for the kids. Zach did well surprisingly! He lost his hat a lot but he never intentionally took it off! I was so happy with how adorable the kids looked! I was very proud of the kids! Of course Loren LOVED Trick-or-Treating. Zach didn't have the best time because he was confined to the stroller. I was proud of how courteous Loren was. She (without prompting) said, "Please" and "Thank You" and as we left each house she said, "Have a happy Halloween!" My heart was huge tonight! Loren as Dorthy (this was a popular costume this year. . .we saw close to 4)!
Sweet Zach as the Scarecrow! It was hard to get a picture of him! He was too happy to sit still!

Loren had to help Grandma pass out candy! She was a little stingy :)

Grandma had to keep Zachypoo from escaping.

The only good picture I have of the kids together . . .

Thank you for our awesome costumes Grandma!

The kid's pumpkins. Loren wanted a sad pumpkin this year. . .sad with a smile she requested. Now, leave it to my daughter to feel sorry for the UGLIEST pumpkin in the patch and to pick it! That pumpkin was square, bumpy and filthy but it was the one she loved!

Trick or treat to Granddad!

Treats from mom's neighbor Caralee!

Zach struggling against the stroller as hard as he can!

Trick or Treat. . .