Adventures of Emma and Sara

Random Photos Of The End of 2010

2011-01-23T15:28:00.000-08:00

Well 2010 has come and gone with a gust of wind as it blew through our lives like a giant tornado. We have battled through our share of sickness, and played like there is no tomorrow. Below you will see what we have been up to over the last few months.

So sorry about the lack of updates but things are very busy here and it seems there is little time to get on the computer to blog these days.

Emma posing for the camera

Sara, the party girl

Silly Sara, you can't climb the light pole.... YET!

We got Season Passes to Knott's Berry Farm for 2011....

Fun times at Knott's

Our Little Dare Devil....

Sara takes after her mommy, She LOVES, Loves, loves shoes...

(and Boots)

Happy New Year Cousins....

Official Whippy Cream Taster.....

Hard to believe she's 5 and a half already.

Big Girl Bed for Sara

Emma Gets New AFO's (Magic Shoes)

Sara wanted whiskers like Grampy...

Thank GOD its was NOT permanent marker

A visit to see Santa 2010

The BEST gifts of the Season...

Rain boots...

Sara's dancing in the rain.... Well actually it was sprinkler puddles since it wasn't raining.

Jumping Jelly Beans

2010-11-04T14:49:00.000-07:00

Halloween was especially sweet this year. Although the girls were under the weather at the end of the month, we were able to attend a couple of costume parties as a family in early October. The girls went as bags of jelly beans and Mark & I went as jelly bean fans. On Halloween we did venture out for a bit of trick or treating fun. Emma and Sara were so cute going door to door and holding out their candy bags. By the end of the hour that we were out, they really started getting the hang of the fun. The highlight was hearing "thank you" from the girls which made us so proud.

Super Cute!

Did you know Jelly Beans Giggle? Ours Do!

The "Sweet" Ford Family at the WFY Office Halloween Party.

Thanks WFY we had a great time!

5 Years Ago Today

2010-09-10T18:07:00.000-07:00

5 years ago today at 6:30 pm we almost lost Emma. We got the news that she had coded and was fighting hard to survive. It was the hardest day of our lives as Mark and I sat there praying for signs of a heartbeat to show up on Emma's hospital monitor. The entire NICU at CHOC Children's at Mission worked intensely and they hurried around fighting hard to save her. We were all crying as we waited and prayed. God provided a miracle that night. A miracle that we will never forget. Today we celebrate that our daughter is alive and thriving.

Today on this anniversary God provided another miracle, as Emma rode the school bus to and from school ALL BY HERSELF. Here are a few pictures.

Today reminds us that our lives are fragile and in God's hands.

The day after Emma's code.

Hooked up to the oscillator vent with chest tubes from the pneumothoraxes.

Waiting for the Bus

What a big girl...

The bus is here!!!

Yay!

All buckled up and ready to go.

Bye Mom!

Kindergartener Extraordinaire

2010-09-02T22:45:00.000-07:00

Today marked a major milestone for Emma Grace, as she started kindergarten.

This was a day we thought might not ever come, when Emma was so critically ill. But, with lots of prayer and hard work it did come. We are so thankful.

She was very excited this morning when she woke up as she knew today was the day.

Daddy, Mommy, Sara, Nan, Papa, & her nurse, Mary were all there to see her take the first of many steps into her new school Meadow Park Elementary.

We were all so excited and everyone was smiling, especially Emma.

As Emma walked down the hall she was greeted by her Principal who commented that she was not yet wearing her Angels gear. Emma quickly replied, "Tomorrow". What a funny girl she is and already so well known.

After school I was greeted with a wonderful report of the days events from her new teacher, Ms. Sulack, which was;"Emma had a great first day and she ate really well."

This made me happy and extremely relieved as I was a bit anxious about lunch time.

When asked if she liked kindergarten and if she'd like to go back, Emma replied, "Oh yes!"

Here are a few pictures of the big moments...

Walking up to the school

Sara, Mommy, Daddy, & Emma waiting for the bell to ring

Emma and her Papa

Emma, Nan, & Sara.

By the expression on her face I think

Emma just realized that there are a lot more kids at this school.

Greeting Ms. Sulack

Emma with her Kindergarten Teacher, Ms. Sulack

Sara Waiting for Emma to get home from school

Emma's home (with her nurse, Mary)....what a great day!

Happy 5th Birthday Emma!

2010-08-02T22:19:00.001-07:00

Happy 5th Birthday Sweet Emma. Our Little Pirate Princess celebrated her birthday with several of her closest friends and of course her family. She had a Pirate Princess themed party at a park, with a treasure chest cake, create-a-pirate hat and a real treasure hunt. The kids and adults had a swashbuckling good time.

We are so thankful that God gave us Emma, as she has brought so much happiness and hope to our lives (and the lives of those who know her). We are blessed beyond measure by Emma and are super proud to be her parents.

We LOVE you Sweetie.

You have come a long way from 2 pounds 1 ounce and 13 inches long, baby.

Good Morning My Little 5 Year Old!

Emma on her birthday morning.

Sara actually woke up singing "Happy Birthday to-Eeee" on this day.

I'm 5!

Listening to the last clue from Pirate Jack...

Argh! It's the Pirates Treasure

Emma sailing around in her Pirate Ship Walker..

Ahoy me Hardies! that girl can go!!!

Treasure Chest Cake...made by Mommy

Emma Grace, A True Pirate Princess...

Colorado June 2010

2010-08-02T21:32:00.000-07:00

As Promised here are a few pictures from our trip to Colorado to visit Emma and Sara's cousins, Cason and Carter. Of course, we were there to visit Uncle Chris and Auntie Lisa too. We had a great time there and as it was our first experience traveling with the girls on a plane we are pretty sure we will be traveling again.

At the Stanley Hotel

At the Anheuser Busch Brewery

to see the Clydesdales and enjoy some samples

Granny and her Grand kids

Chris & Mark toasting at the Fort Collins Brewery

Cason, Carter, Emma & Sara

Four buds in the tub

Watching sponge animals grow in the water

Emma at the airport on the moving walkway

She loved it!

Sara, our Little artist

May & June: The Beginning of Summer

2010-07-04T09:32:00.000-07:00

Well I've said it before and I'll say it again...Time flies when we are having fun. May brought us a new addition to our family, as Karen and David had their first daughter. Kayla Elizabeth was born on May 5th. She is a cutie pie and we love her so much. The girls can't wait for her to get bigger so they can all play together.

We celebrated Mother's day as a family at Nana & Papa's house. The girls played in the water and sand table with Liam. They had a great time squishing the sand and pouring water.

Sara's Latest:

Sara is 15 months and has continued to become a busy little toddler at a rapid pace. She enjoys dancing, climbing, running around and getting into EVERYTHING. We have invested in several baby gates but they don't really stop her; just slow her down. She is quite the little Houdini. She is also a little sponge, as she's absorbing tons. She can say Mommy, Daddy, Emma, baby, happy, doggie, boobie, uh-oh, yeah & yay! She has 7 teeth and is currently working on her 8th. Sara is pure joy on roller skates. She keeps us on our toes but keeps us laughing as well. Her latest tricks include the animal noises, Mouw like a kitty, wow wow like a doggie. She has also found her tongue and finds it very entertaining to wiggle and click it.

Daddy is watching her as I am typing this and he hasn't been able to sit down. He is running interference and doing a lot of blocking. I think it brings him back to his football days.

Emma's Latest:

On June 23rd Emma completed her first year of school at ECLC, a preschool for children with special needs. She loves everything about school, especially her teachers, therapists and of course her friends. We are so proud of her accomplishments and milestones she met this past year.

Last week, Emma started her ESY (extended school year) with Summer School at her new school she will be attending this fall. She is blessed to have her new kindergarten as her summer school teacher so the transition should be a piece of cake. She continues to thrive at school and enjoys going 3 days a week. I am still finding it hard to believe that my baby will be in kindergarten in September. I feel like I blinked to long and she grew up. Speaking of, in 2 weeks we will celebrate her 5th birthday with a Pirate Princess Birthday Party. We are all very excited about this huge milestone and she is too. Watch for pictures in future postings.

Emma is continuing to develop with leaps and bounds. Her speech & language is improving vastly as she is now speaking in short sentences and making her needs and requests known. She is also continuing to use her walker to stroll through our neighborhood and everywhere. She is very speedy and is really able to navigate her space pretty well. Emma was also cleared to fly and go to higher elevations so we jumped at the chance to fly to Denver to visit my brother Chris and his family. It was a fantastic experience and a wonderful trip. Watch for a separate post about our Colorado Trip.

We look forward to see what new adventures this summer brings us and greet our future with arms open wide. Thank you for your continued prayers interest in our family.

We love you...

Water & Sand Play at Nana & Papa's

Mother's Day 2010

Mommy and her Girls

The Escape Artist

Sara Loves Loves Loves to Swing

Emma Can Slide All By Herself; What A BIG GROWN-UP Girl

Sara's trying hard to sit still for her first haircut.

Thanks Deb, you always do such a great job with my wiggly girls!

The Finished Look....Such a Big Girl!

Two Proud Parents going on a Date to the Loin King

Happy First Birthday Sara!

2010-05-25T16:20:00.000-07:00

Well although this post is far passed over due, here are a few pictures from Sara's First Birthday Party (which was held back in March). We had a great time celebrating Sara and just how fast a year can go by. It truly seems like she was born just a few months ago, how can Sara be a year (14 months at the time of this post) already??? We ate yummy food and watched Sara dive into her giant cupcake, chatted with old and new friends, and of course played like little kids as everyone enjoyed a sweet treat in "Sara's Sweet Shoppe". Sara was so busy greeting her guests and running around all day that she walked into a couple of walls from sheer fatigue but it didn't stop her from having a good time.

Overall, it was a very fun day.

She is absolutely amazing and we just love seeing her develop and explore her surroundings. Her curiosity keeps her busy, although recently she has taken to sitting and reading books, which is kind of a nice break for mommy. Sara has a funny sense of humor and is often caught looking at herself in the mirror and giggling. She always makes us laugh, even when she's undoing the tidying up we have just done. She loves to dance and is always smiling. We are proud to be her parents. She is a special part of our family.

Sara's First Birthday Banner, Mommy made for her

I'm ONE!

Cake, I'm Gonna Getch'a

Look at Sara's face.... She's so sad she can't eat the whole cake all by herself

Mommy and Sara

Sara in her new bathing suit, sitting with her birthday loot.

What do you mean my party's over?!?

(look at her shiner, that's one of 2 ouchies she got that day, what a bruiser...)

2010 Is The Year Of The Park

2010-05-19T11:59:00.000-07:00

So far in 2010, going to the park is our favorite activity. We meet up with family and friends at a great park on a weekly basis to play. Here are some photos of the fun.

Lack of Updates

2010-05-17T21:05:00.000-07:00

We apologize for the lack of updates this year. We have been very busy. We will blog about them very soon. Be on the lookout this week for several updates about our adventures this year.

Pretend City: Children's Museum

2010-02-17T23:08:00.000-08:00

What fun it is to pretend...

Yesterday we spent time in the imaginations of our little ones as we had a playdate with the Prescott family at "Pretend City". We had such a blast watching our kids playing in the garden, shopping in the grocery store, visiting the hospital, fishing in the wharf water area, relaxing at the beach, and cooking in the restaurant.

Emma, Sara, Aiden and Avery were all so cute as they explored this wonderful place of creative play. They drove cars and planted vegetables as well as saw patients in the clinic and shared a pretend pizza.

It was a great playdate and we had so much fun.

Thanks for coming down and playing Prescott family.

Little Miss Curiosity.

"Hey, what's in the water?"

Aiden is Speed Racer

Sara the Gardener

Emma the Apple Picker

Sara and Avery Picking Strawberries

Is this a Radish? Who Knows?!?

Hey! digging in the garden really IS fun

Water play

I'm A Big Girl. See I can Reach

Whatever Floats Aiden's Boat

I want the lobster, no the crab, no the blue duck. Hey! the yellow duck looks fun too

Wanna slice?!?

Little Chef Emma

Zoomie and his car...

Emma's going shopping.

*Note* the blurred face is to protect the innocent or in this case the unknown

Sara with her new BFF Stacylynn

Avery and Sara about to race.

Ready, Get Set, Go!

Dr. Emma Ford... ready to read your x-ray

Dr. Emma listening to her 1st patient of the day

Avery and her pretty smile

Sara having a ball in the beach area

What We Have Been Up To - Time Flies When You're Having Fun

2010-02-02T20:03:00.000-08:00

We have been busy busy busy since Christmas so our apologies for not posting sooner.

Geesh, it's already February. Where did January Go?

Well here's what we have been up to....

Mark took the week off between Christmas and New Years and we went on several day trips.

We went to Griffith Park in LA where Emma rode a pony and we rode on a train, we also went to Carlsbad and San Diego where we visited the Zoo and took our annual trip to Hotel Del Coronado.

We had a wonderful Christmas as we celebrated with our family the Birth of Jesus.

Sara and Emma had a terrific time playing with their aunts and uncles and cousin. They really got into the spirit of unwrapping presents. It bought smiles to our faces to see them excited to experience the wonder of what Santa had a also brought them.

It was so sweet to hear Emma sing "Happy Birthday to Jesus" as we had a party for Him.

On New Years Eve, we had our first of many slumber parties at Aunt Dee's house.

We ate yummy food, the girls played with their toys, and watched the ball drop at midnight. The girls and Alissa camped out on the floor in sleeping bags and Mark slept in the guest room.

You see the daddy snores and the girls need their beauty sleep.

Our Family Christmas picture 2009

It's a true joy being a family of 4

Sara started standing up on her own and trying to take steps at 9 months.

Aunt Dee with the girls in their new jammies getting ready to zonk out for the night

zonked out on the living room floor at Aunt Dee's

They just couldn't stay awake 'til midnight

Emma getting her face painted like a pink tiger.

She sat still and was so proud to have a new look.

What a big girl she is becoming.

Emma Loves Loves Loves the swings at our local park

Posing like a little model.

Sara FINALLY has teeth. YAY!! We hope teething gets easier.

Wow 10 months old. Really?!? where has the time gone?

Well we officially have a "walker".

Sara loves her newly found freedom of being vertical as she cruises all over the house

looking for mischief to get into...

A Couple Of Balloons Before Christmas

2009-12-23T10:23:00.000-08:00

Well We have been very busy as I'm sure everyone else is too. We have been visiting dear friends and family, going to birthday parties and preparing for the Ultimate Birthday Party, "CHRISTmas". Both girls have enjoyed watching Christmas movies, decorating the house, singing carols, and making baked goodies. Emma has become very fond (putting it mildly) of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. So we have watched the movie, listened to the song and read the book too many times to count. Sara is such a good sport that she just enjoys participating in whatever her big sister is doing. Both girls enjoyed visiting Santa this year so we were ale to get a "smiling picture" this year. It always seems like its an every other year occasion so we'll have to see how next year's turns out.

Emma who is now almost four and a half is getting to be so grown up. She is enjoying going to school and asks daily if today is a school day and is sad when she is off track and has to wait 3 weeks to go back. Emma speech is improving and she learns new words and phrases daily. Its great to see how quickly she absorbs new information. There isn't much we can get by her now. Emma's balance is also improving since she started wearing her Magic shoes (AFO's). its wonderful to see her development progressing.

Sara, who is growing up WAY too quickly, is now almost 9 months old. She is reaching milestones left and right, as she is standing and trying to walk. Sara now cruises around the house either behind her play shopping cart or holding onto furniture. Sara has truly found her voice and she loves to sing loudly. She has also learned to whisper, sweetly. It's very cute. Sara's latest trick is to clap her hands for herself as she says yay!!!. She is very proud of herself and we are proud of her too.

Both girls keep us on our toes and we love watching them grow to be the happy girls they are becoming. We look forward to this next week as Daddy is off and we can spend some quality family time as we celebrate CHRISTmas together.

We hope all of you have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and a Happy And Healthy New Year!

Emma and Sara Visit Santa. Both loved seeing him.

This is Sara's first CHRISTmas and she is delighted it the wonder of it all.

Sara is 8.5 months old

Emma is 4.5 years old

Playing with balloons from Harper's 1st Birthday Party.

Oh what fun balloons are!

The Good and Bad (but not Terrible) News...

2009-11-18T22:31:00.001-08:00

Well friends, the bad news, we have been battling colds, staying home from school and visiting the doctor. The good news, Emma's immune system is stronger than ever and has been able to fight off the germs with out a hospital visit. So Far So Good. She is quite the trooper. She was very brave a week or so ago when she had to get her booster shots and received 6 injections. Only a few tears were shed and she sat so still. I was one proud Momma. Emma continues to gain strength in her legs thanks to her AFO's and is eager to walk. She had another fitting/adjustment with the Orthosist and he is pleased with her progress.

Sara, now 7.5 months, is crawling and pulling to a standing position. She loves standing up in her crib and screeching at us. She is so proud of herself, we are proud of her too. She has started to gain the nick-name of "Trouble" as she is everywhere...Under our feet, pulling our hair, and taking tumbles all in the name of curiosity. Her smile is so darling and she has us all wrapped around her dainty little fingers.

Watch for new pictures in upcoming posts... as we have been quite camera happy this month.

Pumpkin Patch Pix 2009

2009-10-25T23:46:00.001-07:00

We have been to the Pumpkin Patch a couple of times and may go back again...

Gotta love the pumpkins. Its good free fun and photo-opertunistic too.

Here are a few of our most recent pictures of the girls with the pumpkins.

Thanks Aunt Dee for the special jack-o-lantern shirts.

We love them, they're so cute.

Just Chillin' in the Patch Waitin' On the Great Pumpkin...And Charlie Brown too

Lounging in a Wheel Barrel

Sara's first Halloween Time.

She makes zerberts and spooky sounds.

Hey what's down there?

The Pumpkin is SOOOOO BIG!

Happy First Birthday Cousin Liam!!!

2009-10-25T23:26:00.001-07:00

Happy First Birthday Liam

We Love you and can't believe you're a one year old already.

Here are a few pictures of Liam's Celebration

You want me to put my hands in the dirt?

Come on it's really pudding...

Ok...

Maybe it's not so bad

Tonka Toy Pudding Cake and cupcakes to celebrate!!!

Emma with Nan & Aunt Dee

Such Divas...

Trick or Treating Disney-Style

2009-10-10T21:23:00.001-07:00

Last Thursday we went to Disney's California Adventures for Mickey's Halloween Party. We dressed up in a Peter Pan Theme as a family. This year Emma chose the theme, who knows what we'll do for the up coming years once Sara has an opinion. We walked around getting candy and healthy snacks from several stations and enjoyed the festive decor and party atmosphere and met Emma's latest favorite characters, the Peter Pan crew.

We stayed out till 10 pm and even Emma was awake till we got in the car. I guess it was lucky that Emma actually took a nap in preparation for the fun.

Daddy, I mean Peter...

Tiger Lily and Tink

Wendy (mommy) and Tink (Sara)

The Cutest Little Fairy Ever!

The Ford Family in Peter Pan gear

BOO!

Showing off her healthy snack

Riding the Golden Zephyr

Meeting Peter Pan, Wendy & Captain Hook

Emma was thrilled with Peter & Wendy.

Sara made eyes at Hook.
Doesn't she know he's the bad guy?

We went with Uncle David, Auntie Karen & Sara (not pictured was Aunt Dee)
Thank you we had a great time....

Magic Shoes

2009-10-10T20:56:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago Emma was casted for AFO's (leg braces) which she picked out all by herself. She is very into Peter Pan so when she saw the Pirate skull and cross-bones she quickly made her choice. Last week she got them, hot pink straps and all. Emma sat through the hour long appointment patiently while she had her "Magic Peter Pan Shoes" custom fitted to her little feet.

The process begins
Sooooo Excited for her magic shoes

Here is some Green Velcro, wanna see??

One Very Proud Momma with One Very Happy Little Girl

And they're on....

First Steps....

On our way

Breaking them in, a little bit at a time.

A Close Up Shot

(they're super cute, her socks show through making the skulls pink, such a punk rocker)

Another Month Has Flown By...

2009-10-10T19:59:00.000-07:00

Wow...I apologize for the lack of updates and that a month has gone by since. We have been one busy family. We have been to the park, out to dinner, walking around Woodbridge Lake, feeding the ducks, gone swimming, & looked out over the city of Irvine from 400 feet in the air.

Emma and Daddy up up and away!!!

400 feet is really high...

The Flying Ford Family

Emma and Daddy taking a stroll

Here Ducky Ducky... I've got bread...

Cruisin'

Look Mom I'm learning to drive?

Well Sara is getting so big. She is now sitting, and trying to crawl even if it is backwards. She is already 6 months old; which is so hard to believe. The sounds she is making now bring such joy to our hearts. She has really come into her voice and loves to show everyone just how loud she can be. It's as if she is growling and laughing all at the same time. She really knows how to make us happy with her beautiful smile.

In the Blink Of An Eye...

2009-09-11T22:50:00.000-07:00

The girls are changing and growing up WAY too fast. It seems as though it was yesterday that we brought Sara home from the hospital. Now it's hard to believe that it is already September, Emma is 4 years old and Sara is 5 months old.

Where does the time go?

In the blink of an eye, things change and children grow.

Despite the lingering cold that all of us have had, we are all doing great. Emma is still enjoying school and is thriving there. She has made several new friends and loves riding the school bus. Emma was recently casted for AFO's, which are special braces that will hopefully give her the support she needs to gain the balance to walk independently. Emma was fascinated with the casting process and was thrilled to be able to pick out the pattern for her new "Magic Shoes". (Pictures to come in a following post) She is very into Peter Pan so the obvious choice was the pirate flag symbol for the pattern, so to girl it up we chose hot pink straps. They're very cool and a little punk rock. She'll be quite the trendsetter.

Sara is becoming more interactive and vocal. She has learned to make the sweetest sounds including echoing noises we make, razzberries, and the famous sound that little ones make for what an "Indian" makes. What a blessing it is to watch her developmental milestones emerge. Sara has started sitting which she loves her new view and has mastered rolling over, although she doesn't like to do too often.

Below you will find recent pictures of the latest photo shoot that the paparazzi also known as Mommy took last week. We are very much enjoying being a family of 4!

Sara's Pensive Look...Wonder what she's thinking?

Sister Sister

Looking at Ants on the Sidewalk. Emma is very curious.

Our Big Girl Rides the Bus To School

2009-08-11T09:53:00.000-07:00

Well the phone rang yesterday and it was the school transportation department saying that Emma was added to the bus route and that she would be riding the bus tomorrow (today). This was great news but it was also bitter sweet. I have enjoyed the last 2 weeks going to school with Emma and this means that now I get to watch her; like the big girl she is get on the bus and go to school. This will be a great adventure for her and oh what fun she'll have. Thankfully Emma's nurses Mary & Katy will be riding the bus and going to school with Emma.

This is such a weird feeling of being on this side of the "bus".

Don't get me wrong it's wonderful and weird all at the same time.

Emma was thrilled beyond measure when today came and I told her she was riding the bus. She responded in her adorable voice with her usual "Now" and so we went outside with her backpack and waited for her bus. Wow! Our miracle baby is really growing up fast.

We are SO PROUD!

Walking to the bus stop with Mary

Waiting at the Bus Stop with Mommy & Sara

Here Comes the Bus!!!

Oh her excitement just can't be contained

Here is it...

Wow its so Yellow

Emma with her Bus Driver, Mr. Sergio

Bye Bye Mom...Bye Bye Sara

All Strapped In & Ready to Go

Waving Bye Bye (too bad the windows are tinted)

There she goes, Off to school

Emma,

We are so proud of you. You are getting so big its hard to believe that you were so fragile and little in the NICU. What great feats you have overcome. Way To Go!

You are so precious to us and everyday we have with you is a blessing.
We love you sweet pea, see you when you get home.

Love, Mommy & Daddy

Sara is 4 Months Old

2009-08-11T09:16:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the late posting but the time just gets away from me, just cant figure out what consumes all of my time these days.... OH YEAH!!! My beautiful girls, now I remember... :)

Well time is flying by and Sara is getting bigger and cuter by the day. She is 4 1/2 months old to date but in the pictures below she is 4 months old. She has a wonderful little personality and she loves to giggle. Sara has found her voice and is not afraid to use it to grab out heartstrings and pull to get out attention. It is such a sweet sound to hear her call out to us.

At her last Dr. appointment she weighed 12 pounds 11 ounces and is now 24 inches long. She is developing nicely and her pediatrician is pleased with her progress. He even gave us the OK to start rice cereal because she has a bit of Reflux and he said it might help. So far she has enjoyed this new adventure and is getting pretty good at it.

Getting bigger and cuter every day

What a doll....

I love that smile!!!

First bite of rice cereal, MMMMM!

Big Sister, Emma, was a big helper.

This is pretty good

Emma crawled under the play gym with Sara and taught her how to bat at the toys.

She's the best big sister ever.

SARA,

When I think of one word that describes you at this moment I think of JOY, as you have brought so much JOY to our family and our hearts. It is a JOY to be your mommy and a pleasure to watch you develop and grow. I love you and treasure our time together.
Love, Mommy

2009 OC Fair

2009-08-09T09:01:00.001-07:00

On Friday we went to the fair to celebrate Daddy's birthday. We ate BBQ'd corn on the cob and some deep fried Reese's. The highlight of the day was watching Emma ride a pony for the first time. We weren't sure if she would be scared, but we allowed her to decide if she wanted to go on. As soon as she was placed of the pony, she lit up. She got to ride Katie for at least 10 minutes. It was such a delight to watch her. We look forward to seeing both girls ride next year.

Emma Riding Pony Katie

So Happy

Look Mom, No Hands

Sara enjoying the Fair.

Momma and Emma petting a baby chick.

Someone needs to see the dentist.

Footsie Wootsie

Emma's First Day of Preschool

2009-07-30T15:17:00.001-07:00

Well we are the proudest parents ever!!! We are the parents of a preschooler. Today marked a huge milestone, as Emma started preschool for the very first time. She was so excited that today had finally come. It has been all she has been talking about since meeting her teacher on Monday. It's hard to believe that she is old enough and healthy enough to attend school. Mark & I were so proud of her as she walked up to the class meeting area (the purple bench) with enthusiasm and a grin you could see from a mile away. Emma's new school is a special day school that educates kiddos that have special needs of some sort. Her class has 5 kids in it which makes it optimal for one on one time with her teacher & her aids. Emma already loves her teacher and gave her hugs when it was time to go. Below you can see what a day in the life of Emma at preschool looks like. Enjoy....I sure did.

Emma's ready to go... What a big girl

Walking with Daddy from the car to the school

Emma & Daddy in front of her school

Mommy & Emma waiting for her teacher on the purple bench

Playing with some toys to get comfortable with her new environment

Emma working hard on her "1st day of school" crown

Her first art project, of many to come I'm sure

Checking out her accomplishment.

So proud of herself

Snack Time

On a play yard toy...Oh what fun

Ready to slide down the slide

What a brave girl, sliding down all by herself

Sitting in Circle Time

Emma and her Teacher Miss Susan

Walking to the car after school

Zonked out from all that hard work.

This is a child that gave up naps a year ago, wonder if we're gonna get them back? :)

Emma We are so proud of you. Today marked a day we weren't sure would ever come. We love you and can't wait to see how much you learn and blossom from this experience.

Happy 1st Day of School Sweetheart!

Emma's 4th Birthday Party

2009-07-18T22:52:00.000-07:00

Emma's 4th Birthday party was filled with smiles and giggles. We had her party at Grandma and Grandpa's house. It was a great day to celebrate our little miracle and just how far she has come. This year was the first time she could have candles on her cake and boy, did she like them. She was completely mesmerized by the flames and the singing too. She smiled from ear to ear during her "Happy Birthday" Song and let out a "Yea!" when we were done singing. As we look back to where we've been and look forward to where we want to go, we are so incredibly thankful to God for our Emma. We are hopeful and excited to see what God does in her life.

Happy 4th Birthday Sweetie!

Cake #1 that "Curious George" made for her

Cake #2 that "George" made

Miss Shannon & Emma

Shannon, Mommy & the Birthday Girl

Miss Lisa & Sara

The Birthday Crew

Sean, Mattias, Sara, Logan, Emma, Liam, & Lia

Cousins: Emma & Liam

Oh this is what candles are....

Opening Presents

Nurse Violet with her son Sean & Emma

At the end of the party Sara found a comfy spot on Angela to nap. Boy was she out...

Our Emma Is Four... HAPPY BIRTHDAY Sweet Girl

2009-07-16T23:26:00.000-07:00

Four years ago today Mark & I were blessed by a tiny (in size only) miracle we named Emma Grace. She is the most amazing kid who in her 4 years has taught us more about living life and what's important than we have learned in our entire lives. We have faced many trials together as a family. Emma has always had a smile on her face no matter what she has faced. She warms the heart of everyone that she meets. Her happy disposition and friendly "Hi" make us smile. She has the determination most adults strive for. She simply doesn't quit.

We are so proud of her and love her dearly.

We thank GOD for giving her to us.

We are blessed to be her parents.

Happy 4th Birthday Sweet One.

We Love You SO MUCH!

Emma opens her first gift...She was so excited to see BUZZ LIGHTYEAR.

We took her out to breakfast this morning to IHOP

We hope this can become a tradition.

Emma and her smiling chocolate chip pancake.

She didn't have the reaction we were hoping for, as she was scared of her food smiling at her.

Maybe next year she'll actually eat it. :)

All of us at IHOP

What an adorable 4 year old.

Emma helping Mommy make her birthday cake for her party.

Emma has become quite the little helper in the kitchen.

Such a special time to celebate our beautiful daughter.

Disneyland Adventures 2009

2009-07-12T23:00:00.000-07:00

On Thursday Mark took the day off and we went to Disneyland as a family of four to kick off the celebration of Emma's 4th Birthday. It was the first time for Sara and the 2nd time for Emma, not that Sara will remember this trip; but hopefully Emma will. Although it was a fantastically hot day, we had a blast. Emma showed us just how brave and adventurous she is, as she rode on so many rides. She particularly liked the outdoor ones, as the rides going inside where it was dark were a bit startling. We met Auntie Karen, Uncle David and Aunt Dee there in the afternoon when they got off work. We had a great time checking out Bugs Life Land at California Adventure. Of course we had to take her on the BIG Ferris Wheel which she proceeded to stand up and look down at the top. Wow, she truly is fearless. I just hope we can keep her feet on the ground when she is older. Sara on the other hand stayed down on the ground with Dee and Uncle David. She did however, go on the flying cookie balloon with Daddy, Emma, & Uncle David though as well as It's A Small World. We enjoyed the parade and getting wet in the water areas. All in all it was a great day and we can't wait to go back there again.

Loading the girls up to get on the tram...Emma was so excited.

Walking down Mainstreet, USA

Mommy & Emma at Dumbo

Emma on Casey Jr.

Daddy & Sara enjoying some shade

Mommy & Sara

Mommy & Emma dancing at the parade

Aunt Dee, Emma, & Uncle David on Heimlich's Chew Chew Train
Oh What a delicious ride!

Alissa & Karen

Auntie Karen, Emma, & Daddy on Francis's wild ride

As you can see by her smile Emma loved this ride and asked for more when it was done

Daddy & Sara waiting in line for the cookie box balloon ride

The look says it all, "you want me to ride in that?"

Up Up & Away....

Daddy, Mommy, & Emma on the new Toy Story ride

What a little beauty
Happy 4th Birthday Sweetie.

We love you SO Much!

Her smile says it all

Auntie Karen & Emma on the Ferris Wheel.

Emma had a blast, Mommy hyperventilated... as Emma looked down :)

Mommy, Emma & Daddy at the top of the Ferris Wheel, What a view.

Daddy & Emma Rode the Golden Zephyr.

We Love Disneyland.

This Thought Blows My Mind...

2009-07-11T23:09:00.000-07:00

In 5 DAYS EMMA WILL BE 4 YEARS OLD.
Where does the time go?

Our 4th of July Celebration; A Day of Firsts

2009-07-11T22:01:00.000-07:00

This 4th of July we went to Dee's Annual Pool Party & BBQ. We had such a great time especially watching Emma swim for the first time with out having to worry about having a trach. She was so excited and enjoyed it a great deal. She is quite a little fish, kicking and splashing around. Emma even went completely under water, although she still needs to work on closing her mouth and not drinking the pool. This was Sara's first 4th of July, so it was filled with lots of picture taking. Both girls humored me as I snapped photos like a crazed paparazzi. After BBQing, we took Emma & Sara to their first Angel Game. The game was exciting, the girls enjoyed all the activity of the lively stadium, and we even stayed for fireworks. Emma and Sara both fell asleep during the fireworks, the loud bangs were just too much to handle.

Looking at the pool waiting to go into it.

What a cutie pie, patiently waiting to go in.

Our Annual 4th of July Family Portrait

This year we had Sara with us...

Sara's First 4th of July
What a cute little American Girl

Emma's smile just beams brightly

Me and my girls

Emma kick, kick, kicking in Dee's pool

Swimming is fun!
Especially with Daddy

Mommy, Daddy, & Emma in the pool

Nan and Sara

Emma & Auntie Karen

Giddy Up!

The Ford Family of Four and the Stadium

"I'm Ready for the Game"

Play Ball!

Katy, Liam, Sara, & Alissa just hanging out

Emma & her Nan & Papa

Mark & Alissa just like old times, like when we were dating.

"# 1 "

Emma and her foam finger

What a trooper, Sara just hung out, such a good baby

Liam & Auntie Karen

Alissa, Dee, Emma & Sara

Uncle David and Emma

By the end of the night, Emma was tuckered out.

One tired Angel Fan

A New Room for the Girls

2009-07-05T22:26:00.000-07:00

Our weekend started on Friday when we sent the girls to be with their grandparents so we could get a handle on the chaos that had become our playroom. We were fortunate to be the recipients of some great hand-me-down storage. It totally did the trick and we reaped the benefits of a days work of organization and best of all it was FREE!

We love free and being tidy. Now to work on the rest of the house.

Below are the before and after pictures of our accomplishments.

Before...it was toys, toys, toys everywhere.

Now...It's neat & tidy.

Let the real work begin, teaching Emma to pick up her toys after she's finished playing.

The girls watching a little "Stuart Little"

Sisters cuddlin' in the chair

Where Does the Time Go?

2009-07-05T21:51:00.000-07:00

Gosh, Its hard to believe it but, Sara is already 3 months old. These past 3 months have gone by so fast. She is growing so fast and is such an easy going baby. Her happy personality is blossoming everyday. She is so smiley and loves to giggle. It warms my heart to see her bright smiling face each morning as if she were saying "Good Morning Momma".

I Love being her Momma.

Just Another Random Update

2009-06-29T22:18:00.000-07:00

Wow We have been busy... dinners with friends, dress up fun, visits with family, Father's Day, and birthday parties, oh my. Here are a few pictures of the last few weeks.

Both girls are doing well.

Emma has started eating more and more by mouth and is willing to try different foods. This is such an answer to prayer. Emma also went to the church nursery for the first time. It was so special to see her play and have no fear of saying good bye to mommy as she was being dropped off. She was the only child who was not having any tears, she just waved and smiled.

Sara is growing and brings us such joy. She has learned to smile and has started cooing. She enjoys her swing and loves to look at the ceiling fan.

She just melts our hearts.

We are thankful.

Holding Daddy's hand, don't let go...

Looking at her friends in her carseat

Princess Emma...

Goofing around with Momma
Oh so Silly

The Girls... Just Chilling

(Don't Worry Mommy was just on the edge of the camera frame so Sara didn't fall)

HATS

Emma just loves them, the verdict is still out for Sara

What a Cutie

Our Newest Family Member, Little Brother to Cason Lowell.

Welcome Carter Rex
The Girls have a new cousin.

He was born to Alissa's Bother & Sister in Law

Chris & Lisa

As you can see he was a big boy. Such a cutie

We LOVE you Carter

There's No Place Like Home...or Emma's Favorite Place, "The Hopital"

2009-05-28T22:57:00.000-07:00

Two days ago Emma underwent a minor heart surgery. We have been talking about it for weeks and with great anticipation Emma has been asking daily if it was the day. So when we woke her up at 4:45 am the other morning it was no surprise that Emma practically jumped for joy when I said it was time to go. She woke up with a smile and did her happy dance in her bed. It may have well have been Christmas as her excitement grew. The Surgery was to help open up her left pulmonary artery which will help her lungs develop better. This was successful, unfortunately, we found out that she will need more surgery in the next couple of years.

The only patient thrilled to be there

Waiting to go to the O.R.

Emma's very special visitors in the CVICU.

Emma's Favorite Past Time (Mommy's Too)

2009-05-28T22:32:00.000-07:00

Every morning Sara and I come down stairs to a very excited Emma who is eagerly but patiently waiting to hold her baby or as Emma says "daydy". It is so sweet to see my girls together and I am very thankful that they love being together and each other.

Emma loves holding Sara, usually Sara loves being on Emma's lap

Mommy Loves Her Girls' Feet.

Can You See My Heart

Emma loves to check on Sara when she is in her pack & play. Its super cute.

What a precious picture

I Love Being A Mommy

2009-05-28T22:08:00.001-07:00

Mother's Day was very special for two reasons this year. It was my first Mother's Day as a mommy of two beautiful daughters and it was the day we dedicated Sara to the Lord. Sara wore my baby Christening dress as Emma had worn it 3 years ago. It was so sweet to be there as a family of four promising to raise Sara in a Christian way with the hopes that she will know the Lord in a real and personal way. After her dedication we went back to Mark's Parent's home and enjoyed some family time and a very yummy brunch.

Nan, Sara, Alissa, Yoda, Grandma, & Emma

The Ford Family of Four

My dear daughters,

Thank you for making me a mommy.
I am honored and blessed that God chose me for you.
My life and our family is enriched by the both of you.
I Love You,
Mommy

Dedicating Sara...A wonderful Mother's Day tradition

In the Last 3 Weeks

2009-05-14T20:04:00.000-07:00

Family Update:

Well as you can imagine we have been a busy family over the last few weeks. We have had several visitors, gone to the beach, gone to the San Diego Wild Animal Park, and celebrated being a family. We got to meet our nephew Cason (Alissa's Brother Chris's son) and catch up with Chris & Lisa (Cason's Dad & Mom) who came out from Wyoming to meet Sara. It was great to see them and play with Cason. We enjoyed spending the weekend with Alissa's side of the family as we went to the Wild Animal Park and the beach for out door fun and a BBQ.

Kiddo Update:

Emma is doing great. She loves going to the park, playing in water with her toys outside and giving Sara her pacifier. She is a great big sister. Emma has been more and more interested in eating food and now asks to try what we are eating. We are very excited for her progress and are hopeful for continued motivation. She continues to use her walker and although she's still not walking independently, she is making strides with her strength and endurance. She is also talking more, although we still have to decipher what she is saying, it is sweet to hear her voice. Emma will have surgery to open her left pulmonary artery in her heart on May 26th. Watch for the updates and please pray for safety and a quick recovery.

Sara is now 6 weeks old and is as cute as can be. She roughly 10 pounds and is growing daily. It is so fun to see her out grow newborn sized diapers and clothes as she heads into the next size. She has brought such joy to our family and its hard to imagine that she's only been with us for a bit over 6 weeks. Today we caught a glimpse of her first smile. What a precious sight. On Mother's Day we dedicated Sara to the Lord. It was so special as she wore Alissa's Christening gown like Emma did when we dedicated her 3 years ago. What a sweet tradition. Watch for more pictures of Mother's Day and her Dedication in future posts as we are a bit behind in updates.

Here are a few pictures of the last 3 weeks.

Enjoy!

Sara in the sink...
Celebrating Braden's Birthday

Sweet Sisters...
Emma Loves holding Sara

Too Cute

Lisa (Baby #2),Chris & Cason at the Wild Animal Park

Mommy & Emma & Braden on the tram

Petting a deer with Grandpa

What a sweet smile Cason has.

Mommy & Sara at the beach

Mommy & her Girls

Watching the waves safely on Daddy's shoulders

Chris, Lisa & Cason & (baby #2)
Enjoying the beach

The Entire Crew

Daddy & Sara

Daddy & Emma

Sleeping Sara

Sara loves the car

Smile Sara, what a cutie pie.

3 Weeks Old

2009-04-18T21:57:00.000-07:00

Sara turns 3 weeks old tomorrow and she is doing great. She has gained a pound and has grown an inch and a half. Here are some photos from the past couple weeks.

I'm heading home from the hospital.

Welcome Home!

Grandpa Jack and Sara

Sisters

Emma Bunny

Sara Bunny.

Mommy and Emma on Easter

Nana and Emma playing with her Easter Fish.

Sleeping Angel.

Ford Family.

Ford's and Ingling's.

Uncle Scott stopped by to meet Sara.

Emma on the swings.

New Photos

2009-04-01T09:12:00.001-07:00

Mom and Sara are doing great! Here are some new photos.

Eyes Open

Grandma and Grandpa with their granddaughters

Nana and Poppa with Sara

Feeding like a champ

Sisters

Auntie Katy, Uncle Eddie, and Cousin Liam

Cousins

Sara hanging out in Daddy's Kangaroo Pouch

Welcome Sara Nadine Ford

2009-03-29T15:11:00.000-07:00

At 9:37 am, we welcomed Sara Nadine Ford into our family. She weighed in at 5 pounds 7 ounces and was 17 1/2 inches long. There were no complications during the c-section and she has been a champ ever since. She has been alternating between napping and feeding. So far she is a great eater. We hope she can teach her big sister a thing or two there. We had both sets of grandparents at the hospital during the delivery and they got to see her within 10 minutes. They were all so proud. Braden and Kelli, Karen and David, and Dee have been by to see her already. Auntie Katy and Uncle Eddie are going to be visiting later. After delivery, Alissa's blood pressure has been elevated, so we had to limit our visitors to a couple minutes at a time. Overall, Mom is sore, but fairing well. We are both in love with our little girl.

Ready to Go

Welcome Sara

5 pounds 7 ounces, 17 1/2 inches

Momma and Sara

Daddy and his daughters

Sara is Coming

2009-03-27T09:08:00.001-07:00

I apologize for the lack of updates. Life has been a blur. Sara is finally going to be welcomed to the world on Sunday morning at 9:00 am. Alissa has been having headaches, elevated blood pressure, and contractions, so the doctor doesn't want to take any chances with her health. Sara will be born just shy of 37 weeks, so we are thankful for that. Keep an eye out next week for photos of our newest family member.

2009-02-21T20:12:00.000-08:00

Today the women in our family threw me a shower; welcoming baby Sara. It was a so nice to see everyone and celebrate the upcoming arrival of our newest family member. Emma made a quick appearance and then went to that Ferris Wheel with Daddy & Papa, what a special outing. She came back telling us all about the fun she had. It was so cute seeing the excitement on her face. It was such a special day. Thank you everone, you made my shower a wonderful celebration.

Welcome Baby Sara...What a beautifully delicious cake.

Grandma, Emma, Daddy, & Mommy (& Sara of course)

My Friend Sara J. & I (2 mommies-to-be, both with baby # 2)

Celebrating with Cheryl & Heidi

With my special friend, Angela

Happy "I Love You" Day

2009-02-14T20:14:00.000-08:00

This morning we took our annual Valentine's Day pictures. Emma loves to take pictures and smile for the camera, which not only makes picture taking fun but, pretty easy too. We are blessed by Emma every day and are so proud to be her parents.

Such a cutie...

We love our darling little one...

I Love you SO Much!!

Random Pictures From the Last Couple of Weeks

2009-02-09T19:41:00.000-08:00

The last few weeks have brought some outdoor activities to cure cabin fever. Emma has had a fantastic time spending Saturdays with Grandma Julie & Grandpa Jack walking in the Dana Point Harbor and Laguna Beach. They have given us much needed time to get things in order as well as just spending time as a couple. Thanks Mom & Jack. Emma has also spent time with Nana & Papa on Sunday evenings when they come to visit their special lil' miss. We are truly blessed to have such wonderful parents & family. Here are a few pictures...

Walking on the sidewalk outside Nana & Papa's house

In Nana's garden

Stopping to smell the flowers

This one is for those who have been asking to see just how big I am getting.
Here I'm 28 weeks pregnant with Sara.

Cuddling with Auntie Karen, what great snuggles

Hanging out on the couch with Cousin Liam. Aren't they cute?

Bye Bye PICC Line... Bye Bye Tubes

2009-01-30T19:57:00.000-08:00

Well today was the day, I got my PICC line removed from my chest. It was a great relief to say good bye to it. This means that I am on my own for nutrition and fluids, which truly has been the case for the last 2 weeks. I just don't have direct access as a safety net anymore. All & all I am doing well in the eating area. Its really nice to be able to enjoy food again.

As far as Sara goes, she is really active and kicks me a lot. She is growing well and looks good on the ultrasound. We go for a Fetal Echocardiogram in a few weeks, then we'll know as much as we can about her status. So far so good.

Emma is also doing great. She is very expressive and is showing interest in my growing belly. She has been rocking and feeding her baby dolls and loves to help her Auntie Katy with her cousin's diaper changes.

Mark is Mark. Not much has changed with him, he continues to work hard and is the best husband and daddy ever.

Back To Work

2009-01-18T19:52:00.000-08:00

It is official, I have been able to eat and drink fluids for a few weeks now. I continue to see my OB every 2-3 weeks and I have been able to get out into the community on small family outings. This week Mark & I will see the Parinataligist for a closer look at Sara's heart. It is a precaution that comes highly recommended because of Emma's cardiac defect, but so far Sara's heart looks good. Although, I have learned to rely on others for transportation; I started driving again last week and the freedom in like nothing else. I hope to be starting work again this week, and I could really use your prayers for strength and endurance as well as safety for our little baby. Thank you for your love & support.

A New Do...

2009-01-02T20:35:00.001-08:00

Emma's hair has been getting very long. She has such fine hair that most hair accessories don't stay in, so today she got a new hair style. We have been talking about getting her hair cut for a few days, and Emma was very excited to sit in the stylist's chair for her haircut. Below are a few pictures of how the new style went.

Before the first cut

Putting on the cape what a big girl sitting in the chair all by herself.

Getting a blow dry and style...

Emma's new do, after we got home she just looked in the mirror and smiled.
What a big girl, she looks so grown up.

A Special Gift

2009-01-02T20:07:00.000-08:00

Emma was given a very special gift for Christmas. Grandpa Jack's friend, Jon gave her a specialized bath chair to assist in Emma's baths. This chair allows her to be fully supported and strapped in so she can safely sit in the tub and splash to her hearts content. We have wanted this type of chair for quite a while and we were so blessed to be given one for Christmas.
Emma loves her tubby time and now she can enjoy them even more.
Thanks So Much Jon!

Christmas 2008

2008-12-30T19:33:00.000-08:00

This Christmas was such a joyful season. We enjoyed spending time with family, good food and making special memories. We had a great time watching Emma actively participate in the festivities; from making cookies to decorating the tree with Pooh Bear ornaments. This year she really understood about gifts and as most 3 year olds do thought, she they were all for her. It was so much fun seeing the excitement on her face when she was given a gift. She was able to unwrap them with only a little assistance. It was great to see her progress from last Christmas.

This season, we were blessed abundantly by family and friends who are dear to our hearts. We are so thankful for you all and your generosity. The Spirit of Christmas touched our hearts in ways we didn't know possible.

Emma in her Christmas dress from Grandma Carol

A VERY Thankful Family

Dreaming of Sugar Plums on Christmas Eve after a fun filled day.

Making Christmas Cookies

2008-12-21T11:48:00.000-08:00

I realize that it has been a long time since we sent out an update. Emma continues to work hard with her Speech, Occupational & Physical therapists. Her language, eating, fine/gross motor skills are emerging; although she still has a long ahead. We are praying that she learns to walk this year.

Its been busy with the Christmas season in full swing. Emma is enjoying the lights and decorations that brighten her world, although it did take her a little while to get acclimated to the decor. She has been enjoying watching Christmas DVDs with her favorite being Frosty The Snowman. Emma has had lots of fun visiting with family. She has even been able to help bake some yummy Christmas cookies when Grandma came over last Monday.

As for the new baby; due in April...So far she looks good. The Doctor is pleased with her growth and we will continue to be monitored closely every 2-3 weeks. We continue to pray for Alissa's progress with being able to consume food and tolerate liquids. As of now she is making progress one day at a time and hopes to be able to enjoy some Christmas dinner. She continues to be on bed rest with modified activity, which is hard on everyone. Please pray for us.

We are truly blessed with wonderful family & friends who are there to help support us during this time. Thank you for all you do.

Making Cookies w/ Grandma, such adoration

Adding Sprinkles

The Finished Product, such pride in her work

Sharing cookies with Grandma

Tasting her Work

What a Happy Girl

Rocking her handkerchief baby

Playing Dress-up at Nan & Papa's

It's A Girl and The Latest on Alissa

2008-11-17T11:27:00.000-08:00

Sorry to combine this, but we are burnt out. We found out Thursday we are having another little girl. Unfortunately, Alissa had a rough weekend. She has now lost over 20 pounds since becoming pregnant and the doctor is more concerned now. He is putting her on total nutrition through her IVs to make sure she and the baby are getting fed. She is on the way to Mission Hospital to be admitted for a few days in order to begin the TPN IV nutrition. After she has been on it for a few days, they will send her home to continue at home. Our new baby girl is doing fine though. Alissa is 17 weeks today with a due date of April 20. We really pray that the TPN will reverse the weight loss and help her make it through the rest of the time.

A Special Visitor

2008-10-29T20:40:00.000-07:00

Today we had a very special visitor stop by our house. Katy and Eddie brought Liam by our house so that Alissa and Emma could meet him. We had a great time watching Emma with her new cousin.

Emma Holding Her Cousin Liam

Alissa Holding Her Nephew

Our New Nephew

2008-10-26T19:48:00.000-07:00

This morning my sister Katy gave birth to a healthy baby boy. William "Liam" Ryan Eccker was born October 26 at 5:05 am weighing 6 lbs 8 oz and 19 inches tall. I visited my nephew this morning and took a few pictures. Unfortunately Alissa is still feeling horrible and is stuck on IVs, so she was unable to come. Here are some pictures.

The Happy New Family

Eddie and His Son Liam

Uncle Mark and Liam

Wheel of Fortune

2008-10-10T11:23:00.000-07:00

My buddy Josh is going to be on the Wheel of Fortune on Wednesday October 15. Due to the presidential debates, it will not be airing until 10:30 PM though. Be sure to set your DVR's to catch this episode. Josh is going to rock Canada Week, eh.

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa

2008-10-05T19:47:00.000-07:00

For the past few weekends, Grandma and Grandpa Fitzwater have taken Emma for a day of fun. They had so much fun while Mommy and Daddy had some time to relax alone. She has had fun playing in her ball tent at Grandma and Grandpa's, going for drives, and riding on the ferry at Balboa. Here are some pictures.

Emma playing with her Autopia Car

Emma in her ball pit at Grandma and Grandpa's

Such a Big Girl in her Lawn Chair

Riding on the Ferry to Balboa with Grandpa

Big Sister

2008-10-02T19:38:00.000-07:00

Around April 20, 2009, Emma will be a big sister. We are almost 12 weeks pregnant and it has already been an adventure. Alissa has been on disability for 2 weeks due to hyperemesis. She spent 5 days at Mission Hospital getting IVs and was sent home on disability. She is hooked up to IVs at home around the clock to keep hydrated. The good new is that so far, the baby is looking great. Please pray that the nausea will subside quickly and that our baby remains healthy and growing steadily.

Our New Baby

Post Trach Photos

2008-09-28T21:08:00.000-07:00

So Happy to Have Her Trach Out

Taking a nap with Curious George

At the Santa Ana Zoo with Uncle David and Auntie Karen

I don't take naps anymore, so sometimes
I fall asleep during my nightly breathing treatment.

Long Awaited Update

2008-09-23T10:17:00.000-07:00

I apologize for the long wait on an update. Emma has been doing so well without her trach. She keeps us so busy now. She has not needed any oxygen since getting her trach out and has been relatively healthy. She is adjusting to the changes quite nicely and has definitely discovered her voice. She has had a few crying fits that have lasted an hour, which is tough on us. Other than that, she is just increasing her vocabulary. A lot of it is just babbling, but she is daily saying new words. She likes to ask for help a lot and says thank you and I love you. I promise to have some pictures and video up by the end of the week, but at least wanted to put something up.

24 Hours

2008-09-04T14:01:00.000-07:00

After 24 hours of being without her trach, Emma is doing wonderful. She actually got to come home already since she was doing so well. For her entire life, she has required oxygen at night. Last night, she didn't. She has been breathing completely on her own and has had great blood oxygen levels ever since getting her trach out yesterday. She has been making so much more noise, but won't talk very much on camera. Here is a small clip of her without her trach.

Trach Free

2008-09-03T14:50:00.000-07:00

At 2:00 we took out Emma’s trach and has been doing great since. She is talking up a storm and currently has the hiccups. I will let you all know how things go over the first 24 hours tomorrow.

The Big Day

2008-09-03T11:09:00.000-07:00

I just received the call we have been waiting for. The doctor is ready to take Emma's trach out. I will be bringing Emma down to the hospital this afternoon. After they take it out, they will be observing her for a few days before sending her home. Please keep us in your prayers.

In the Last Week

2008-08-18T21:28:00.000-07:00

Emma has been doing ok since she was discharged last week. Unfortunately, she has come down with pneumonia but seems to be responding well to the antibiotics. The good news is that she has been able to stay at home while she's recovering. She has had 3 doctors appointments that had all led to the same conclusion; she probably doesn't need her trach anymore. So in a couple of weeks, provided she gets and stays healthy, we will head back into the hospital to attempt decanulation (getting her trach out). Please pray for us as we are very nervous and cautiously excited. Pray for Emma's lungs to heal, and trachea strength to keep her airway open as well as her ability to breathe safely without the trach tube. We will send updates as we get them.

Happy Belated Birthday Daddy...We're Home

2008-08-10T21:52:00.000-07:00

Dear Daddy,

This year I wanted to give you a special birthday gift, but I was in the hospital. I worked very hard to get better quickly so I could come home to you as soon as my Doctor's would let me. So today I am sleeping in my own comfy bed in our house. I made you a banner when I was in the hospital and I hope we can really celebrate your special day now that I am home.

I love you so much and I am glad you are my Daddy.

Happy 35th Birthday!

Love, Emma

Working hard to make it just perfect for Daddy...

Happy Birthday Daddy, this year Emma and her smile (despite all of the procedures she endured) were a very special gift just for Daddy on his actual day.

On Room Air

2008-08-09T16:07:00.000-07:00

As of now Emma has been in the hospital just shy of 2 weeks. Yesterday, Emma had a 3rd bronchoscopy and the Pulmanologist was able to place a shorter non-custom tracheostomy tube instead of her normal customized tube. She was in the PICU for the procedure and did so well she was transferred to the Pediatric floor(where she has been staying) shortly thereafter. Emma has continued to need Oxygen (O2) support to keep her blood-oxygen levels up since the original bronchoscopy on July 28th. Well we are happy to say that Emma has worked hard along with her Nurses, Respiratory Therapists and Doctors to wean off of the O2; and is now on ROOM AIR. This is wonderful because not only is she back to her baseline from when we were admitted but she is also on a standard tracheostomy tube and tolerating it. This is BIG because she IS one step closer to getting her trach out. There is no actual date in site but we are getting there. Praise God for our Little Miracle and how far she has come in such a short time. We are still waiting on the results of the EEG but we may not here the results before we are discharged, as we are tentatively scheduled to be going home tomorrow. We will keep you all posted as we get more information. Thank you all for your prayers and support during this hospital stay and always.

Emma's EEG

2008-08-03T10:41:00.000-07:00

Emma is happy and is acting more like herself despite being in the midst of a 24 hour EEG test. She is currently hooked up to about 25 electrodes to record the electrical activity of her brain. They are working to confirm or deny that she has been having seizures. She has been a real trooper. Yesterday she had very few desats of her oxygen levels, while the previous several days she was having them several times an hour. It is now just a waiting game to see what has been going on.

Emma having the electrodes placed on her head

Emma wearing her "hat"

Argh

2008-07-31T21:55:00.000-07:00

Well, Emma is back in the hospital today. She continued to have trouble breathing at home and had some apnea episodes last night. When she went in for her follow-up appointment today, the doctor insisted we admit her. Luckily she is back at CHOC at Mission where they know her. Shortly after arriving, Emma appeared to have possibly had a seizure. She began to desat and went from playing to staring and unresponsive. She quickly was back to herself, but the 2 nurses in the room showed concern by the episode. We don't know for sure that it was a seizure, but we will be hopefully run some tests to confirm.

2008-07-30T22:41:00.000-07:00

Emma is still having trouble keeping her oxygen saturation up to an acceptable level but seeing as she was active and feeling better, we were able be discharged and monitor her at home. We will be going to see her pediatrician for a follow up appointment tomorrow to make sure she is still stable. Emma is still requiring oxygen around the clock and has a pretty loud cough now, but she is doing well. When we got home, Emma was so excited to be there that she crawled around the floor- oxygen tubing in tow-saying hello to all her favorite toys and stuffed animals. We are thankful that she is improving and home again with us tonight. It is great to be home. Were looking forward to a full night's sleep and more Doctor's appointments tomorrow.

Pre-Surgery...Emma was all smiles

Emma had a hard time waking up from her anesthesia;

but she was in good spirits as she listened to Caillou.

Daddy and Emma Spending Some Time in the PICU at CHOC

Oh the Saga Continues

2008-07-29T11:28:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's Bronch and Eye-duct surgeries went well, or so we thought. As Emma was in recovery we were informed that a shorter-non-custom trach had been placed in Emma as a trial for weaning her off the trach. This was incredibly good news. The scar tissue that she was needing to be removed was not as bad as expected, so the Doctor didn't remove any. The eye-ducts had been successfully flushed. All GOOD news. Then her Doctor said that he had found a Submuceous Cleft in her pallate and he was refering her to the cranial facial team for follow up. What next?
Well Emma seemed to not be tolerating the shorter trach while in recovery as she couldn't keep her oxygen saturation level up. We switched back to her custom trach and that didn't help either. After about 5 hours in the recovery room, it was finally decided that Emma should move up to the new PICU. She slept a lot yesterday and woke up a little happier today. She is looking a little better and is about to start her feeding again. We have no idea how long she will stay, but don't expect for it to be too long. **As we are writing this, the earthquake hit. Being on the 6th floor of a building on rollers was quite exciting for Emma. **

A Quick Update & Prayer Request

2008-07-26T22:29:00.000-07:00

Emma is doing very well. She makes us smile and laugh at the constant comedy of her ever changing personality. The has been working very hard with Mommy and her OT to eat baby food by mouth. This has been a constant challenge from the beginning and over the last 4 weeks Emma has started to make progress. These are huge baby steps and we're very proud but cautiously optimistic. She is steadily gaining weight and currently weighs about 24 lbs. but that's not very official as we have not been to the Doctor in recent weeks. Speaking of Doctors, Emma is scheduled for a bronchoscopy, to remove scar tissue and to check on her trachea strength and eye duct irrigation surgery for Monday morning. Please pray the surgeries goes well and that the results are encouraging. We will post any news as soon as we are able.

Thank you all for your love and support.

Being Silly makes Mommy Laugh...

Emma's 3rd Birthday Party

2008-07-20T22:09:00.000-07:00

Happiness is celebrating Emma's 3rd Birthday with family and friends. On Saturday we had a small party for Emma. It was such a joy watching Emma having a good time seeing her friends and her Birthday Train Cake. She enjoyed soaring through the sky on the swings and popping giant bubbles.

All in all it was a great day to celebrate Emma..

Emma with Mommy & Daddy

Chance & his Mommy Popping Bubbles

What Glee she shows while opening presents

Giving Pooh Bear Great Big Hugs

Emma opened a Woody Doll and giggled with excitement

Enjoying Lunch

Push Me Higher Uncle Braden

Emma's Winnie the Pooh Birthday Train Cake

Woo Woo All Aboard

A Special Day For A Special Girl

2008-07-17T15:20:00.000-07:00

Our Sweet Miracle you have come so far. We are so proud of you and who you are. You inspire everyone you meet and even those you've not yet met but know about you. You are truly a blessing in our lives and we could not ask for a better daughter. We are honored to be your parents and love you SO much! Happy 3rd Birthday Emma...

Safe in Daddy's arms only 9 days old

Emma at 1 year old

Sitting with assistance, what a happy girl.

Emma at 2 years old

Silly and always happy, such a blessing...

Emma at 3 years old and still smiling...

Happy 3rd Birthday Emma!

Yesterday was a very special day for Emma and Mommy. Not only was it Emma's 3rd Birthday but Daddy was coming home from his business trip. We woke up in the morning and went to meet our dear friends at the Spectrum for a morning filled with fun. Later, after our nap, we drove to Long Beach to pick up Daddy at the Airport. Emma had a great day filled with friends & fun, water play, train riding, shopping, singing, lots of picture taking and Daddy. Happy Birthday Sweet Girl, We love you SO much. We thank God for you everyday, but today we celebrate you! This weekend we will be having a celebration, so stay tuned for more pictures.

Emma and Mommy getting ready to have some fun

I got my penny and I'm ready to make a birthday wish...

There is goes; wonder what she wished for?

Playing with toys at the Carters store while Mommy Shopped

Being Silly with Jen and Riley

Getting Ready To EAT at Johnny Rockets, oh what fun.

The Birthday Girl

Riley & his Mommy, Jen

Getting Ready for Daddy to come home,

Making Daddy a Welcome Home Daddy sign...

We are SO glad to have Daddy Home; the BEST Birthday gift EVER!

Happy 4th of July 2008

2008-07-17T14:52:00.000-07:00

Well its been a while since we updated about the happenings of the Ford Family so here is a quick update. Before Mark went on his Training Business Trip, we went to Dee's house to celebrate the independance of our great country. Emma went swimming in the pool and we watched fireworks from the comfort of our own home. We had a great day hope your day was happy too...

Happy 4th of July 2008 (Better Late than Never)

Swimming with Mommy and Daddy

Fireworks from our patio

Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator

2008-07-15T21:02:00.000-07:00

Well, the 9 days of intensive training in PA was worth it. I passed my fourth and final exam today to become a Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator. It was a long trip with studying each night until midnight, but it was well worth it. I cannot wait to get home tomorrow. I am spending the night in New York tonight and so far it has not been what I hoped for. I arrived around 7:00 so I was going to take the subway to Ground Zero, but I took the wrong train. I ended up riding for a half hour in the wrong direction. I then decided I would just go to Time Square. I finally arrived there around 9:00. I was hoping to find a good restaurant, but ended up at TGIFridays as I just needed to eat. After dinner I walked around a little bit and took some photos. I took the wrong train again and finally made it back to my hotel around 10:30. Hopefully tomorrow I will get to do something before my shuttle picks me up just after noon. Here are a couple photos from Time Square.

Broadway

Time Square

Training Camp Part 3

2008-07-14T05:09:00.000-07:00

I am heading into the final two days of Training Camp. It has been a long week, but very good. I passed my third certification exam on Saturday and have my final exam tomorrow afternoon. After I pass my final certification tomorrow, I will be a Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator. The last test is going to be the most difficult as it takes us from be a Microsoft Professional to being certified. I have made some goods friends here and it has been helpful to study in groups. I am looking forward to being home on Wednesday. Thankfully, I will have a couple hours with Emma on her 3rd birthday before she goes to bed.

Training Camp Part 2

2008-07-11T04:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I passed my second of four certification exams. I scored the highest in my class of 8. You need to get 700 out of 1000 points and I received a 921. Class begins each morning at 9:00 am and goes until around 6:00 with an hour for lunch. After class, a few of us usually grab dinner and then head back to the training center and study until midnight. It is working well. I miss Alissa and Emma a lot. Thankfully, I have been able to focus on this class all day long though. Here are some more photos.

Lounge Area in the Training Center

Training Center Building Where We Spend 15 Hours a Day

Typical Scenerary Here in the Poconos

Mark at Training Camp

2008-07-09T05:21:00.000-07:00

I am currently in Bushkill, PA at Microsoft Training Camp. I am working on get my Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator certificates. It is 9 days of intensive all day training. I arrived Sunday, began class on Monday, and passed my first certification on Tuesday. I have 3 more tests while I am here. It is very humid here in the Poconos, but we are inside almost all day. Here are a couple pictures of the resort I am at.

Picture of my living room from the upstairs landing

Picture of a typical Villa

Random Pictures From A Good Day

2008-06-30T20:47:00.001-07:00

Today was a great day. Emma & I had a mommy daughter day all to ourselves.

We went to Nana & Papa's house to spend some time out in the garden and to get some lovin' from Nana & Papa, and Yoda too. The weather was very nice as we sat outside watching the birds and taking pictures.

Emma, Mommy & Yoda

Emma checkin' out the planter

What a beautiful face...

Enjoying the day

Sweet Little One, Whom I Love Very Much!

Nana, Emma & Yoda

What a special moment...

Happy Father's Day

2008-06-18T22:19:00.003-07:00

Dear Daddy,

You are such a great Daddy. I love spending time with you. I have many favorite things to do with you; like playing on the floor with you and feeling the wind through my hair as you push me on the swings. You are the best Daddy, thank you for working so hard to provide for me and Mommy. I am the luckiest girl in the whole world. I love you Daddy!

Happy Father's Day Daddy!

Love Emma

This Father's Day was very special because it was Mark's first Father's Day that we celebrated at home and not in the hospital. It was a good day and we had a wonderful time spending time together as a family and celebrating Daddy...

Emma has a Cousin!!

2008-06-07T08:18:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Emma became a Cousin and we officially became an Aunt & anUncle. My brother Chris & My Sister-in-Law Lisa had a beautiful baby boy.

His name is

Cason Lowell Reinhart.

At birth he was 8 lbs. 2 0z. & 20 1/4 inches long.

They Live in Wyoming so we will be seeing him via computer camera and lots of pictures.

From the first picture that we have seen he is adorable.

We are very excited and can't wait to meet him in person.

Welcome to the world baby Cason; We love you!

Emma's Weight Update

2008-05-20T12:09:00.000-07:00

Many of you have been keeping tabs and praying for Emma's weight gain. I am happy to say that Emma has been steadily gaining and is now tipping the scales at

20 pounds 9 ounces.

We are now praying that she will start growing in height, as she has fallen short in this area (no pun intended) and her Doctors are looking to start growth hormones, which would mean an injection everyday for the next 12-14 years. Ouch! It would certainly be nice if she didn't have to go through that too. So far, her next bronchoscopy has NOT yet been scheduled but we are praying that it happens soon and that the prognosis is good so that if she's ready her trach can come out.

Thank you all for your continued prayer support.

Keeping Cool This Weekend

2008-05-18T21:53:00.000-07:00

With the summer approaching and the heat rising we decided to take dip in a local watering hole for children of all ages. We went to the Irvine Spectrum and played in the fountain. Emma loves to watch the kids play in it when we are strolling by it so yesterday she got to experience the refreshing water first hand. It was so great seeing the excitement on her face as the water would splash her hands. Daddy got in on the fun too, which made for some fabulous pictures. She was so brave as she got down on the ground and crawled around as the water splashed around her. All in all Mommy & daddy had a blast and Emma did too!

In the car, one the way to water fun...

Daddy's gonna get wet too...

Oooo this is so fun.

Splish Splash...

Bathing Beauty

Crawling to get the water, skinned my knees too, but it was worth it.

Happy Mother's Day 2008

2008-05-12T21:04:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day

Yesterday Emma and Mark made me a special breakfast for Mother's Day. It was so special to celebrate with our little girl. She is such a blessing. Being a mommy to her brings me great joy. She is so remarkable to watch her as she is learning and teaching us so much. As I reflect on my experience of motherhood, I am reminded of what a precious gift I have been given.

I love being a mommy and I love raising Emma. I thank God everyday for my precious miracle.

Celebrating with Mark & Emma

Grandma, Emma, & Grandpa

Grandma, Emma, & Alissa

Super Star!!!

Emma loves her ball pit.

Rolling around & having a blast at Grandma & Grandpa's

Cars, Imagination, & Haircuts...Oh My

2008-05-02T13:56:00.000-07:00

Emma has become quite the funny little girl. She has found her imagination and has begun using it. It's wonderful to see her play with her toys. Today we watched her play with a car as a phone. She would hold it up to her ear and say "HI". It was so cute and we are often entertained by her. She loves watching Thomas the Train and Caillou, as well as Clifford the Big Red Dog and Curious George on PBS. So now when she sees advertisements for these shows she lights up and giggles. Emma has also started mimicking the sounds she hears. This is a huge milestone for her, as she has not repeated sounds before. We are so excited that she has come so far since starting Speech Therapy.

Today Mommy and Emma went to the salon to get Emma's hair cut. Below is a series of pictures of how it all went down. Emma was so cute when she saw her finished hair do; she just smiled at herself in the mirror.

Emma sitting in the styling chair. What a big girl. She started out wanting to sit by herself but when the hair dresser started to comb her hair Emma quickly wanted to sit on Mommy's lap.

Just a Trim as we are growing out her hair for longer piggy tails.

The finished product.

Emma looked darling in her new do. She loved picking out the flowers they put in her hair. I must say that Emma looked like a little princess. What a little doll.

Disneyland for the First Time

2008-04-20T20:54:00.000-07:00

Now that the RSV season is nearly over and Emma got her last Synagis shot of the season we were able to seize the opportunity to take our girl to Disneyland for the very first time. Our friend Ajay, who works at the park made it possible for us to go. He also made the day very special for us; as he bought Emma her first mouse ears. We had such a great day filled with wonderful memories. The pictures speak for themselves but, of course I will narrate for you all.

Thank you Ajay for making these memories possible.

Emma and Ajay at the Magic Kingdom..Ready for some fun.

Emma's new Ears...

Waiting patiently for the Disneyland Railroad. Emma was so excited to see the train coming down the tracks. She just smiled and giggled with glee. She would look back and point to make sure that we saw the train was arriving. Emma loved hearing the whistle blow. What a great experience!

Listening for the train....Can you hear it???

Emma and Grandpa Jack on the train together...She loves her Grandpa and he loves his Bug...

Visiting Winnie the Pooh...She signed "think think think"(which comes from My Friends Tigger & Pooh the TV show) the whole time we were within visual distance. We didn't get too close though because Emma is still afraid if the BIG head and costumed characters.

All together at Disneyland. (From Left to right) Alissa, Grandma Julie, Emma, our friend Melinda (and nurse for the day), Grandpa Jack, & Mark. The day was absolutely perfect. It was filled with so much fun as we watched Emma explore and experience the magic of Disney first hand.

We all rode the Casey Jr. Train together, sitting in the Monkey Cage car. Seeing the excitement on Emma's face was thrilling. She kept signing train and smiling with such joy. This was a great ride for her and we all loved it too.

Sitting all by herself on the chair in Toontown. The pride she has just shines through her smile; like she's saying look at me I'm a big girl and I'm at Disneyland.

Before we went to Disney's California Adventure, we ran into a few Princesses. They were so pretty and sweet. Emma really enjoyed meeting them. Check out the way Emma is looking at Princess Aurora. I love it!!!
Emma met Snow White who was so amazing. After giving Emma an experience of a life time by the way the spoke to Emma; she left the line of children waiting to see her and walked us over to meet her friend Cinderella. This was so special and will forever be a favorite memory of mine. She said, "Cinderella, I want you to meet my special friend Emma isn't she just beautiful?" I was overcome with emotions and started welling up. It was as if they were talking about Emma like they were old friends and showing off their own daughter. I still can't believe what an impact it had on me.

Mommy, Emma, & Cinderella. What a beautiful memory the Princesses gave us. One we won't soon forget.

We saw Playhouse Disney Live on Stage. It was Emma's first time seeing a production like that. After she understood that it was like watching TV and that they weren't going to come up to her she started enjoying it. After a few minutes she waved to them continuously. Then asked for more when it was all over. This is a picture of Emma watching the production.

Melinda and Emma danced to the music from the nearby parade that was going by. Emma loves spending time with Melinda. They are great pals.

Daddy and Emma cooled off in the water park area in the Bug's Life section of DCA. Apparently, Emma loves getting wet. She and Daddy had a ball running through the water. It was a great day for it too as it was a very warm day.

Emma loves to play in the water. She would sit at the sink and run her hands in the water for hours if she could. She really enjoyed this time and I think it was pretty special for Daddy too.

On Daddy's shoulders...Emma got a big kick out of her new vantage point. What fun she had being so high up. Even though she was very tired and was ready to go home, she squealed with excitement when she was up there.

Mark & I spent a little time in DCA together before heading off to our hotel. You see the day at Disneyland was the first day of a mini vacation for us. We spent Friday and Saturday nights at the Embassy Suites as a getaway together and Emma went home to be with both sets of grandparents. It was a wonderful and a much needed break from reality. We had a nice time playing RACKO (a fun card game) and just chillin' out. We are SO THANKFUL for our parents and our nurses.

Thanks Uncle Eddie

2008-04-15T21:24:00.000-07:00

Emma has not been very motivated to use her walker since getting out of the hospital 3 weeks ago; until now, thanks to Uncle Eddie and his new custom table he made for Emma. Now she stands and plays at the table for short increments like a big girl. She is so cute and proud of herself. Thanks Eddie!

Easter Pictures

2008-03-30T21:09:00.000-07:00

The Lord blessed us with a wonderful homecoming gift. About a month ago our night nursing hours were cut, making it difficult to get a full night's sleep when we had a night nurse. Well, He must have know just how exhausted we were because Monday night we found out we were going to be getting our hours reinstated and now sleep is a reality. We are finally catching up and I must say that sleep is wonderful, and God Is So Good.

It has taken a few days to get our routine back but we are now in the groove of being home so I can get blogging again. When we got home from the hospital the Easter Bunny had visited and left a little basket for Emma. Here are a few pictures of Emma and her Eggs. She has learned to open them and loves to find little prizes inside. Of course the little prizes are for Mommy & Daddy since she doesn't eat candy.

Look What I Found...

Bug Eyes...or.. are they Egg Eyes?

What a Silly Girl.

Just keep Smiling..

It's Great to be HOME!!!

2008-03-23T21:32:00.001-07:00

Yes we are home. Emma was ready to be discharged yesterday but came down with croup. She sounded like a baby seal, so her Doctor had us stay last night just to be safe. She came in early to check up on Emma this morning and was pleased to see she had improved since the day before. We got our discharge papers and came home. Emma, Mommy & Daddy are all so happy to be home together again. This was an incredibly long 2 weeks but it was a wonderful Easter present to be home as a family. We are so thankful for Christ's sacrifice for us and for helping Emma recover from being so sick. Emma is still trying to regain her strength and is slowly improving her stamina. Being sick was very hard on her this time. When we got home she smiled and lounged on the couch before taking a nap with Mommy and Daddy. Yes, being home is wonderful. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support through this last hospital stay and always. We were comforted in knowing we were thought of and prayed for.

Let me out of my cage...

I feel better I promise!

Sittin' pretty in her crib with her piggy tails

Emma really took to holding onto the rails of her crib and asking to get "up!"

Looking out the window wanting to go outside, at least the sun was shining in the room and warming our hearts.

Ok, No more pictures Please, Mommy. The Paparazzi must go...

Happy St. Patrick's Day From the Hospital Leprechaun

2008-03-17T22:08:00.000-07:00

Well today marked yet another holiday that we celebrated with Emma in the hospital. Weeks ago we purchased a St.Patty's Day dress for Emma to wear today so, since she was up for a bath we dressed her in her shamrock dress and danced the jig. (just kidding about the jig part, though she did smile for the camera) Last night we were transferred to the pediatric floor, which is a positive step towards home. So far the doctors still don't know what caused Emma to be so sick and we may never know, which is very frustrating. Today her feeds have been increased with the hopes of getting her closer to her home regiment. She has tolerated the change so far and hopefully she will continue to tolerate the increase tomorrow. Emma's next hurdle will be to come off the oxygen that she is requiring during the day before we can go home. She normally needs it at night and may continue to for a while. All in all it has been a very hard and tiring 8 days, but the light of home is coming closer. Thank you for your continued prayers and support.

Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

2008-03-15T22:35:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the delay in update, but there has not been much to report on Emma as of late. The Doctors still don't know exactly what is making Emma sick. More tests have been run to gather more information and try to put more pieces to the "Emma Puzzle" together. She has been very irritable and agitated over the last couple of days; which is an improvement because this means she has been awake more through out the day time. Her temp has been close to normal since yesterday, only having 2-3 spikes in temp since then. They are usually at night or early morning which is causing her to be uncomfortable and not sleep as well as she needs to. Because of this, she was given Chloral Hydrate which takes the edge off and relaxes her, so she can get good healing rest. It acts a bit like Benadryl and Tylenol together. Her feeds were started again yesterday but she is slow to tolerate them because her gut hasn’t been pushed to work since we got to the hospital a week ago. It is very hard to see Emma this way. I feel so helpless, especially when she feels so sick and grumpy and all I can do is be patient and love on her. I just wish she was healthy again and we could get back to living life and having fun together as a family. We are still in the PICU and don’t know when we’ll get to go home. We (Emma & I) have really missed Daddy, as he has been home sick and has had to stay away to get well ans prevent any further trouble for Emma. Thank you again for your prayers and kind thoughts. You all are such wonderful support.

Below are a few pictures of Emma and some of her visitors.

Emma is half watching her DVD player and half Sleeping...

She is quite talented, as when I would try to move the DVD player thinking she was asleep she would grab my hand to keep the DVD player there.

Silly Girl....

Emma getting loves from Grandma Julie

Reading Curious George with Nana

A Visit from Coco, a pet therapy dog...

Oh what fun, one of Emma's first smiles in a couple of days.

3/12/08

2008-03-12T10:14:00.000-07:00

The Infectious Disease Doctor came in today to see Emma. After looking at the test results, he changed her antibiotics again and is hoping for an improvement within the next 48 hours. It is now a possibility that she could have a pneumonia type infection. So, hopefully she will improve with these new meds. If no improvement is made then the antibiotics will be stopped so we can get a culture that has not been treated with antibiotics to see if anything else shows up. Yesterday she had an echo cardiogram and it showed no infection of Emma's heart valves which is a huge blessing because that could have the potential to be life threatening. Praise God that Emma's heart is doing well through all of this. She continues to spike fevers close to 103 degrees so she is getting Tylenol and Motrin around the clock. Emma is still exhausted and is sleeping about 19-20 hours a day right now. We have been reassured by Emma's doctor that he is seeing small improvements and is looking into other treatments to continue to help Emma heal from this. We thank you for your prayers and hope that Emma recovers soon.

3/11/08

2008-03-11T11:54:00.000-07:00

Today the doctors are running more tests on Emma. They are a bit concerned and consulting infectious disease. She is having an echo, trach cultures, blood cultures, and some other things. Despite being on Tylenol and Motrin around the clock, she is still spiking temps up to 104. Hopefully they will be able to figure out what is going on soon.

Update for Monday 3/10/08

2008-03-10T15:27:00.001-07:00

Emma is still not feeling well. This morning her fever spiked up to 104.2 again and we were able to bring it down with cool wet rags and a lukewarm bath. At this point it looks like she has a bacterial infection, but we don't know much else. We will be in the PICU until at least tomorrow and then possibly get transferred to the Peds Floor. Emma has been sleeping a lot and continues to have a horrible cough. It is hard to see Emma so miserable after she was doing so well. Thankfully, Grandma Julie was able to spend the night with Emma at the hospital so Mommy could get some rest. We were also pleasantly surprised to come home to a clean house as Nana and Papa straightened up our house and did some laundry while we were gone. We are so thankful for our parents.

Emma resting on Mommy in the PICU

Last Night and EARLY This Morning...

2008-03-09T23:18:00.000-07:00

After a great week, Emma suddenly had a turn for the worse last night. While checking on her before we went to bed, we discovered she was running a temperature of 101.8 degrees. We gave her Tylenol and brought her into our room so we could keep a close eye on her; after she started vomiting and was having a bit of trouble catching her breath. The night was very rough as she was having more and more trouble breathing and keeping her oxygen levels above 90 with the support of 100% oxygen (she normally sats 98-100 when she is healthy). Her fever spiked to 105.7 degrees and we did our best to bring it down with cold wet rags, without much success. After reaching the on call Doctor at CHOC at Mission, the decision was made to call 911 and transport Emma via ambulance. She was admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, where they ran a bunch of tests. She is still consistently running a temperature over 100 degrees and has been given Tylenol & Motrin to try to bring it down and help her discomfort. So far the only thing we know is that her white blood count is elevated and that she is pretty sick. She is requiring oxygen support and IV fluids. We are waiting for additional test results to come back. We are bracing ourselves for an extended stay. Please keep her and us in your prayers as we wait on the Lord to give the Doctors and Nurses the wisdom to heal our little girl again.