Want to HEAR how things went?

Doesn't he look so cute in his miniature hospital gown?

Porter continues to be a mystery and his surgery turned out to be not much of a surgery. They did put him under anesthesia to examine his ears, but he doesn't have any fluid in his ears and he passed his hearing test in both ears as well. So why has he failed the other test so many times? The doctor doesn't know, but he's fairly confident Porter can hear just fine.


Despite having to fast before his surgery, Porter was in a great mood up until we handed him over to the doctors. He was chatting with Aaron all morning long. After his surgery the nurse was excited because we were an easy discharge...wrong! Porter really struggled to keep his oxygen levels where they needed to be so we had stay for an extra hour for him to be monitored. He never did get his levels where they should be, but they would drop really low and them jump back up to where they belong. The anesthesiologist said he may just be that way all the time but again said, "It's a mystery." So we'll just roll with it, watch him close, and hope for the best.

Thanks for all of your love and support for our little guy, your prayers must be working!

BUDDY WALK 2009

{Picture of the day!!!}

The Buddy Walk was fantastic! It was well organized and a very enjoyable day. Gathering to support this group of very special people with down syndrome was exciting. We were able to see some of what our future holds and we are in for lots of love and joy.
We used this green fabric to unify our team and Porter had the best look. This was a last minute idea on the way to the walk. We'll have to do something clever next year.

Our enormous Team Porter Ray! What a spoiled little boy we have!Porter sporting his shades and catching a nap before the walk.
Our little family!

I didn't want to post this one but how couldn't I? All I'm going to say is... how embarrassing!

Porter was in a very chill kind of mood after his lunch.

However, that didn't stop him from telling us how much fun he was having.

Aaron and I are so excited because everyone who was there kept talking about next year! We weren't sure what to expect or if this would be something our families would enjoy, but it looks like we've got a new family tradition.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED WITH US OR DONATED TO OUR TEAM! WE ARE TRULY TOUCHED!

Reminder: Please, pray for Porter. Tomorrow is his ear surgery.

Blog Negligence

Sorry, there hasn't been much going on but there hasn't been time to sit down and post. I'm just going to post pictures quickly because I'm going visiting teaching in 10 minutes and I know all you really want are pictures. One day soon I'll write a real post.

Porter being happy:Once again we ask for your prayers for Porter next Tuesday. He'll be having surgery on his ear. The doctors are trying to find the cause of his partial hearing loss.

Family reunion and our little adventure to Capital Reef:

More Porter:Playing with Dad at the hotel.

After his massage, so relaxed.

Sometimes I feel like a cheater putting Porter in his swing because I know if he wasn't in it he'd be wide awake ready to play.
First time Porter rolled back to tummy. He wasn't happy with the end result...being on his tummy.

We have a video of Porter standing up, with our help of course. He's been doing this for about 3 weeks now and he just loves it. I'll ask Aaron to post it.

*Mommy Note: Porter discovered his feet this week. He likes to roll onto his side and grab them. We also moved Porter into his own room this week and we're all doing very well. Our favorite part of the move is listening to Porter talk to the monkey's on his bumper pad while he waits for us to come get him.

It's Raining It's Pouring

"The old man is snoring, who bumped his head and fell out of bed and couldn't get up in the morning!"

When I was a little girl my Grandpa Bruce used to grab us up in his arms and dash outside in the rain singing this tune dancing around making us giggle so hard our tummies would hurt.

Aaron left this morning for training in Maryland. Today the sky turned gray, the storm clouds gathered round and soon we had a down pour on our hands. I am mesmerized by the sound of rain on the roof and thunder echoing off the mountains. I like this kind of weather. Even though Aaron doesn't travel often and he's only gone a week I hate him not being home! So, I'm enjoying the weather even more because it fit my mood...dreary.

We'll have a good time I just need to snap out of it and get my two hands busy. Then I wont be bothered so much.We Love & Miss You Daddy!

Speedy Quick Update

It's been a crazy busy week for us and it wont be slowing down soon. I didn't want to go a week without posting so you get pictures and captions. You'll have to use your imagination and know that every thing we've done has been exciting, fun, and made us very happy!

Aunt Annelie came to visit for the holiday weekend.

Our little family attended the USA vs. El Salvador World Cup Qualifier with Coup & Kal! To read more about it click HERE.

Remember the baby soccer jersey from Germany? Well we pulled it out for the game and did the matching family fan thing. Porter will fit perfectly when the World Cup comes around! It's large now but still cute.

We had a great Sunday including dinner with the Gelter's.
Love That!
Then all day Monday was spent at Lagoon. Judy and I enjoyed visiting while everyone else who can stomach roller coaster enjoyed the short lines. Only pictures of the babies hope you don't mind.

Annelie went home Tuesday and that evening it took us 3 hour to attend a wedding reception for 15 minutes...long story.

Last night we got to go to Steadman's first birthday party! He completely trashed the cake! Love that boy!

And today we're getting ready for a 4 hour + feeding time road trip for a big family reunion down south. We're living up the last bit of summer...where art thou fall? I'm getting tired!

Just Thought You Should Know

Soon you'll be able to pick up a burger from here on your way to visit us! We're excited to have one in the neighborhood!

How Disappointing

Meg and I are huge Dave Matthews Band fans and one of us buys tickets for the other every time they come to town. Last year the show was canceled due to the passing of their saxophonist, Leroi Moore. Needless to say, we've been anticipating this year's show ever more! Tonight was the big show, so we made plans for a babysitter for Porter and put on our Dave paraphernalia and headed over to USANA and arrived to a deserted amphitheater! Luck would have it that Dave pulled muscles in his vocal chord so they canceled the show last minute. They told us that they are going to reschedule, but USANA closes for the winter in two weeks. Looks like the Dave withdrawals will go on for another year...

We didn't let it spoil our night, though. We had a babysitter, so we went to the District and saw The Proposal. Good flick!

In the Blink of an Eye

Our Baby is 3 months old!!!
(a tear)

from this:

to this:

Yesterday Porter was exactly 3 months old. He had a great check up and has grown a ton in the last month. Here are his stats:

Length: 22 3/8th inches
Weight: 11 lbs 3.5 oz
Head Circumference: 39 1/2
We normally don't pay much attention to head size but his head more than doubled in size from his last visit! The nurse thought she had made a mistake.

We love our little guy so much and are so proud of him! I'm leaving you with the many smiles of Porter. I'm so grateful for pictures but they don't do his smile justice. We've talked about how when Porter's really happy it makes us tear up...probably just a parent thing.

Emily you and Porter must be kindred spirits because his favorite song is "Come What May" that's how I got the rest of these smiles. I love it, every time I sing "I Love You" he just gushes!