End of the Year

So its the first week of January and as promised I find myself sitting at the computer ready to update. It was a slow month for us medically due in part to the fact that I took a two week vacation back to Utah (we just arrived home last night) and Landen is once again with out medical insurance. The good new is that starting tonight Scott is officially a FULL time employee of Western Arizona Regional Medical Center!!! So in 30 days the whole family will be insured! I also arrived home to a letter from the state saying Landen is once again on state insurance which I think may be a mistake so I will start checking into it and if everything seems to be right I will give genetics a call in the morning to start the pre-approval process for the testing. This could take a long time the state has a way of denying things. Brayden's surgery was denied a week before it was scheduled and now I find myself tangled up in an appeals process. Don't worry Brayden is finding that a very minor surgery that most baby BOY'S get in infancy is medically necessary for him.


The Holiday season was fun for our family Brayden's first and another one with our Little Landen... We are trying to make the most of every event that God gives us with our sweet babies no matter how small. We had Christmas with Grandpa and Grandma Sinex along with Scott's Brother Nathan and his wife Britta. We even made a trip to the Grand Canyon! It was a nice visit from family we don't see often. Then we had a long visit to Grandpa and Grandma Rolfe. The boys and I headed down to Utah on the 19th through the rain and spent a nice week with family and friends. Lots of parting and presents. Most of which was overwhelming for Little Landen but once he got use to a place he loved exploring and having fun. My sister Eva's new couch was one of his favorites just the right texture for my little Landen to rub his hands all over! A nice visit with Aunties Susie, Ashli and Kat (my college roommates). Brayden and Landen really liked our day with Auntie Heather... not John's new wife... one of my oldest and dearest friends :D her not so little anymore sister was a big hit with Brayden especially! The Rolfe Christmas party was the first time in a long time with all 10 siblings in one place! So much noise and fun! What a week cousins, aunts, uncles, grandma, grandpa! My babies don't know how to entertain themselves anymore! Everyone was such a big help!


I have to admit it was hard running into old friends with children Landen's age. Sometimes in the day to day enjoyment of my boy I forget just how severely this disease has already affected him. They are grown children no longer babies like Landen... walking, talking, running and playing. Some people ask me why I rarely refer to Landen as a "toddler" its because he really isn't. He is still a baby unable to walk or communicate his needs with words or sign... Brayden will surpass him within the next 6 months both in size and development but to me he is Landen. Its not until I see him with others his own age that I realize what he is missing. My baby is stuck at one year old I don't know when or if he will develop or grow. He is a smart and determined little thing though... He will be just the best he can and we love him just as much as our "normal" child. I remember telling someone when we were first starting to be concerned about his growth that Landen just doesn't want to grow up and that he will just be my little baby to hold and cuddle forever... I'm praying that is true!


Scotty joined us on the 27th the day before my little brother John's wedding. What a nice wedding! Little Landen was ring bearer and in his tired cranky mood dropped the rings :) Heather was beautiful and John was.... well John (lets just say he's a lucky man)! It was fun to see the family all dressed up even though some (IAN) felt very confined in a button up shirt and tie. It was a beautiful ceremony I was crying before I made it to the end of the isle to take my seat. WELCOME TO THE FAMILY HEATHER!!


The rest of the week was fun we payed a visit to Scott's Grandma Danielson and his aunt made a trip down the hill with her kids to see us. We didn't stay more then a few hours because it was the middle of a HUGE snow storm and Grandma was worried that we wouldn't make it back to Garland in safety. But thanks to the great snow driving skills of my husband we made it in safely back. The snow meant we could take Landen sledding like I wanted too... unfortunately I have a little brother named Tim! Landen was too grumpy so we took him home to lay down thinking we would go pick him up after his nap and take him back to the hill. But by the time we got back Tim had broken BOTH our sleds! Plus it was FREAKING COLD!!! We spent New Years with some of the family seeing Tron and hanging out at Eva's house... It was a (as Eva puts it) blasty blast! The 11 hours of traveling yesterday were defantly the low point of the trip but we made it home and we still have one more Holiday celebration... Scott and I left the boy's presents in Arizona so that he would be with them when they opened them so Scott works the next 4 nights and this weekend is our 4th and final Christmas celebration (at least until next winter).

Thank you to all the family who blessed us with gifts everyone was so thoughtful when it came to Landen especially taking into account his likes and needs! My little boys are sufficiently spoiled! This Holiday season has been a family filled one for which we are grateful. Our families are a great support to us we only wish we could be with you more. Every day with our boys is a gift the best gift we have been given!