Camping with the McIntier’s!

We headed back to Woods Canyon Lake area last Tuesday evening to continue our camping trip and were joined this time by the McIntier gang!  Since Buddy & Susan were camping in the same area, we were able to leave this kids with them for two nights while we went back to work.  While Becca & I realized that camping with small children is not the most relaxing of vacations, it was definitely a fun time for all.  The weather was cool and gorgeous and we got to experience several thunderstorms.  The kids had a blast playing in the dirt and the mud, collecting strange bugs and butterflies, picking flowers, crawdad fishing from the bank, boat fishing, building forts, roasting marshmallows, getting utterly filthy and just being kids.  The parents had even more fun trying to manage all the play, fights, mud and meals and were completely comatose by the time the sun set and we had a few moments to relax and actually SIT by the fire!

Here are some pictures from our trip.

Crawdad fishing with their butterfly nets and bits of hotdog and bacon.  Colbie and Grayson shared a bed on the trailer and actually slept quite well the entire trip.

Grayson had a pet horny toad (named Cutie) for a few days, which he had found with Buddy.

A game of baseball with Buddy.

Buddy made camp chairs for all the kids.  Grayson & cousin Seis.

Last day trail hike and getting eaten alive by mosquitos.

Silly monkeys horsing around and camp trail leader Miss Molly Mac!

So after thoroughly cleaning out the trailer, 12 loads of laundry and lots of unpacking and then re-packing, we are ready for part two of our summer vacation…. Cloud 9 here we come!

Camping and Keeping the Faith!

 

We drove to Phoenix last Wednesday to meet our pediatric cardiologist and to have our second fetal echocardiogram done.  While it was another very long and emotionally draining day, we left feeling  like we finally got some concrete answers that we needed to start mentally and physically preparing for the road that lies ahead.  The cardiologist and his nurse spent almost three hours with us that day, going over the entire diagnosis and process so caringly and thoroughly.  Although it was a lot to digest, we both felt very confident and pleased with our new doctor and feel that we will be in good hands throughout this journey.

We were told that our baby boy has Pulmonary Atresia with IVS (Intact Ventricular Septum), a very rare congenital heart disease, in which the pulmonary valve is completely blocked.  There are some other heart complications that often go along with this, such as an enlarged right atrium, a smaller right ventricle and a leaky tricuspid valve.  These are things that will continue to be monitored over the next 2-3 months, which will ultimately determine the course of treatment for our little one.  One very positive thing that we’ve learned is that as far as he can tell, and aside from his heart, our baby is growing and developing normally since he is relying on my circulation right now.  The critical period comes after birth when he has to rely on his own circulation.  Best case scenario involves immediate IV medications to ensure a safe blood supply, followed by a small surgical procedure to open up the pulmonary valve within a week of delivery.  I will be delivering in Phoenix and then of course staying a little while until our little boy is strong enough to come home.  We are just going to hope and pray daily that nothing changes over the next several weeks so that this procedure can be done.  Better yet, we are going to hope and pray for a miracle that his valve may possibly open up on it’s own between now and our next few appointments.  Whatever God has planned, we know that this little guy is going to be a  real fighter and we are fully prepared to do whatever it takes to fight right along side him.

Being that our appointment was Wednesday and we were already planning a camping trip outside of Payson with the McIntier’s that following week, Blaine decided to take work off early.  That way, we were able to head up to camp after our appointment for some much needed R & R and quality family time.  My parents were big time helpers and took the kids to Phoenix to meet us after our appointment, so that Blaine & I could haul the trailer and then go to the appointment together.  We didn’t get to our camp site till pretty late that evening, but it made it all worth it getting to wake up to a cool 50 degrees surrounded by beautiful tall pines, crisp clean air and total peace and quiet….. that is until our two crazy munchkins awoke!

Two successful days of fishing…. we (ok… Blaine!) caught several trout and we even cooked them for dinner!

We got to see several elk up close and were even visited by a raccoon in the night, who came to finish off Chase’s dinner! 

I

I think the coolest thing was getting to see a bald eagle!  Although this was taken from a good distance from the lake and using an iPhone, I think we still managed to get a pretty good shot!

This picture sort of alarmed me after-the-fact.  Love how apparently comfortable we were letting the kids play so close to the fire with a bottle of lighter fluid close by :/  I swear we were right there monitoring!!

Collected several large branches and made a teepee for the kids or as Grayson liked to call it, their “cowboy fort!” 

We had a least one thunderstorm a day.  Loved being out in the rain and l especially loved being able to wear a jacket!

Mr. Camp Host Larry Morris!

Always interesting bugs to find and collect in the forest!

L

Last Tuesday was Grayson’s official last day at Casa de Niño's before heads off to his new big boy school at Yuma Lutheran next month.  We took him some superhero cupcakes to share with his classmate to bid him farewell!

I’m pretty sure the person that is going to miss him the most is his favorite little sis’!

Grayson & Colbie’s garden grown sunflowers…. a little sign that Grandma Robin is up there looking over us :)