He always provides...

We have been waiting about 3 months for a walker for Emma. She was fitted for the walker but, we later learned that Emma had been denied for the actual walker. We were frustrated and frankly, a bit confused by this. At the end of January our friend Melinda, told us that her nephew had outgrown his walker and was offering it to Emma. We were elated. When Melinda brought it to us it was a perfect fit. We bought the sling, which is a special accessory to help support Emma when she is using the walker, and we are now waiting for it to arrive.

Well, a funny thing happened yesterday. After thinking we were denied for a new walker and receiving a walker from our friend, we received a call from Emma's Physical Therapist. He said that the company that manufactures and supplies the walker Emma was fitted for had called him; stating that Emma's walker had been built and was ready for delivery. We have no idea how this happened because we had all but given up on the idea that Emma would get "her" walker, except that God had His hand in this. Now we have options for a walker which we NEVER expected. After all of the ups and downs of not knowing, it just goes to show us that GOD is so good and He always provides.

Emma's new walker will be delivered on Monday and when we get her in it; I will take lots of pictures and post them as soon as I can. We are so exctied.

Happy Be-lated "I Love You" Day

Since Emma had just been discharged from the hospital a couple of days prior to Valentine's Day; we decided to lay low and take some pictures for Daddy's Gift instead of going shopping. Emma loves making faces for the camera.

Daddy loved the outcome of the photo-shoot. Mommy did too...

I love you SO MUCH!!!

Sitting in the grass, soaking up the suns warmth.

Emma loves being outside.

MMMuah!!! S.W.A.K.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Emma's Home Again...

Despite our precautions to keep Emma healthy she still caught a bug.

And after several tests the results showed that Emma has a respiratory infection that caused all the trouble. Emma was put on two strong antibiotics and started feeling better rapidly. We spent 4 days in the hospital and were discharged today. We all are very happy to be home.

We're hoping we can keep Emma healthy and out of the hospital.

It was nice while it lasted

After 3 months of being out of the hospital, we had to take Emma to CHOC last night. She went from being her normal happy self yesterday, to lethargic and pale within minutes. From 3:30 until around 8:00 she was constantly throwing up even though she had nothing in her stomach. The hospital is completely full right now, so Emma would have had to share a room with someone else on the pediatrics floor. The doctor opted to put Emma in the PICU last night so that they could run some tests. If she was sharing a room, they would not have been able to run the tests. At this point, we only know that she does not have RSV (PTL!). I will post an update once we know more.

Here's The Latest...

Our apologies for the lag in updates, but with the RSV season in full swing, we have been staying home and trying to keep busy. Not much is going on, so here's the rundown.

Emma has had several follow up Dr. visits and so far she is doing well. She weighs a bit over 17 pounds and is 28.5 in tall. We are still waiting for her to get to a minimum of 20 pounds before the Doctor will consider decanulating Emma's trach. In early March, Emma will have a Rigid Bronchoscpoy to remove scar tissue from her trachea and have her eye duct irrigated so it will drain properly. Yea! No more teary left eye. Please keep us in your prayers as these procedures require Emma to be under anesthesia while in the operating room.

Our dear friend Melinda's nephew has graciously given Emma the walker he has out grown, which she desperately needs. We are so excited for this, it may need some modification to for it to fit her, but we can't wait to see our girl standing up right and walking with this assistance.

Emma is also becoming more and more verbal. She had found her tiny voice behind her trach and is working hard with her Speech Therapist to form her lips and mouth to say words. This is still a challenge so, she interchanges signs with the few words she can say. We're so proud, our girl is BRILLIANT! Emma is starting to be able to say 2 syllable words like: Momma, Dadda, Ah-Pa (Papa), uh-oh, "ah-ha!" (thanks to the Piglet Movie). She can also say Up-Mom, no, yeah, & nan too. Our house is not yet noisey but it is getting there.

Emma has grown quite fond / obsessed with the Winnie the Pooh Series. She loves to sit and watch the movies while holding her stuffed buddies from each movie. She is so fun to watch as she interacts with the characters. When special songs come on she dances, wiggles and marches with her legs to the the music. We love seeing her engaged with activities she enjoys. She has developed quite the memory too. She often reminds us about things we've said we're going to do or that she wants to do. It's so wonderful that she can communicate with us. Emma often shows us what she wants at the moment or as she remembers doing things hours or days after the events. She still asks to go see Santa and the Christmas Tree at Fashion Island when we take her to the train.

Below are some recent pictures from the last month.

Calling Dr. Emma

Emma loves to pretend

When Mark was sick we all wore masks to keep the germs in check.

Emma thought this was a great game.

laughing & playing on a rainy day

Another boo -boo on Emma's Chin-ey Chin Chin...

More evidence of how active our girl really is.

Emma loves Piglet...She holds him tight when she's watching PIGLET'S BIG MOVIE...
It's so cute watching her give Piglet loves. What a sweet girl she is...

Happy 2008 !!!

T'was the night before New Years and Emma was asleep,

All cozy in her new jammies while dreaming so deep.

Mommy & Daddy watched a movie while waiting to creep,

into her room to take a peep at their sweet little angel fast asleep.

When what did she hear in her room so slight,

T'was Mommy & Daddy wishing her a Good Night.

Emma was grumpy and annoyed by this,

All mommy and Daddy wanted was one kiss from their little miss.

(Ok, enough with the rhymes)

On New Years Eve day, we took a little trip to Hotel Del Coronado.

This is a special place for us, as Mark & I got engaged there 4 years ago on New Years Eve at sunset. We try to go there every year to celebrate. It was wonderful to share this with our daughter. We enjoyed ice cream and seeing the last beautiful sunset of 2007.

What a great way to wrap up the year.

Emma tried ice cream for the first time and I think she liked it.

Emma enjoyed the taste of chocolate and caramel...Mmmm!

More Please...Sharing with Daddy.

Watching her first sunset with Daddy. What a special moment.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, 2008!

Love, the Ford Family

Celebrating Christmas

Happy Birthday Jesus!

We have a tradition in our home to celebrate our Savior's birth with a cake and a party. We do this as our dessert after our Christmas dinner. We sing Happy Birthday to Baby Jesus. This year Emma thought we were singing to her. Hopeully next Christmas, Emma will understand a bit more. Below is our cake for this year. Emma and I spent some precious time baking this. She also helped bake some cookies for Santa too. (Apparently, Santa likes peanut butter and chocolate cookies)

Mixing the cookie dough...

Pressing the cookies with a fork...

Adding the Chocolate...MMMM delicious!

Our finished product...Santa ate them up.

On Christmas Eve, We went to Alissa's parent's house to celebrate with them. We had such a great time being together as family. Emma had tons of fun with her new ball tent. We enjoyed watching her play and create enough static electricity that her hair stood up.
Check out Emma's Hair...She's Electrifying!!!


Playing in the ball pit is so much fun.

Alissa's side... Alissa, Mark, Grandma Julie, Emma, Uncle Braden, Auntie Kelly, & Grandpa Jack

Kickin' back with Daddy

I'm gonna get'cha

Christmas morning we woke up and had a quiet morning together. We opened presents and ate delicious sweet rolls that Grandma Julie made for us. Emma really enjoyed opening her gifts and tried to open Mommy and Daddy's gifts too. After our quiet festivities we went to Nana & Papa's house to celebrate with them.

Emma and her new "Tigger & Friends" buddies.

Emma opened a set of cars from the Disney movie CARS. In this picture she is signing cars with pure excitment and joy.

Mark's side...Back row: Great Uncle Terry, Mark, Uncle Eddie, Auntie Katy, Papa, Auntie Karen, Uncle David, Jeannie, Glen, & Dee.

Front row: Alissa, Great Aunt Jan, GG, Nana, & Emma.

PRE-CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES

The Christmas season brings such wonderful opportunities to make memories with loved ones. My brother Chris came from Wyoming for a surprise visit. It has been quite a while since we have all been together. Is was such a treat to see him again. We missed his wife Lisa, who couldn't come out, because she is expecting a cousin for Emma.

We met up with Nana, Papa, and GG at Fashion Island to see the 200 foot Christmas tree and to take Emma on the train ride. Emma is now obsessed with trains and wants us to take her all the time. She loved riding on the train so much.

Alissa's family, Kelly(top), Mark, Emma, Braden (rt of Mark), Mom, & Chris (front row)

Bundled up for a walk to see the neighborhood lights

Look Mom its a giant snowglobe

Gigglin' on the CHOO-CHOO

All aboard the Choo Choo Train

Daddy with his Nana

Emma with Mommy, GG, and Nana

Emma with Nana and Papa in front of 200 foot Christmas Tree

Visiting Santa

On Friday Mark took a half day so we could take Emma to see Santa. We went to the Irvine Spectrum because it is outdoors. At Santa's house each family gets to go inside when it is their turn. This worked out great because we were able to avoid the crowds and shield Emma from any possible germs. After the picture was taken we quickly changes Emma's clothes and washed her hands with Purell. Emma really enjoyed seeing Santa. She was all smiles and much to our surprise she; was not afraid. Now she wants to see Santa all the time. She signs and points at pictures of him regularly to let us know. Her face lights up when ever she sees is picture. We can't wait for Christmas, as she is more aware of the festivities than last year.

Elijah's Birthday

Last weekend we were able to make the drive to Temecula to celebrate Elijah's first birthday. It was the first time we got to visit our Cousins at their new house. We had so much fun visiting with them before the party actually started.

(We had to leave before the guests arrived to keep Emma from getting sick.)

We were just thankful to be able to see them and make some great memories.

Happy Birthday Big Boy!!!

We Love You.

Alissa, Emma, Elijah (the Birthday boy), & Heidi

A group picture with the cousins...

Emma with Great Auntie Pris & Great Uncle Bob


Riding a bike for the 1st time, oh what fun...

Mark with Elijah & Emma

Emma with the Anderson girls


Sitting at the big kid picnic table...

Elijah and Emma banging on the table, What a fun noise!!