Great Strides Day!

We have raised a total of $202 for the CF Foundation! Thank you to everyone who has donated! You are making this possible for Azer!
We hope to raise more money at the walk. We're pretty excited! I'm glad Azer will get to meet other kids with CF. That way, he doesn't feel like he is the only one in the world with CF.

Again, thank you to everyone for helping make Azer's life and the life of other CF people better! Pray for a cure!

Good Clinic Day

Azer gained some weight since the last clinic visit. At least he's not loosing. His X-ray looked great, no changes or progression. Azer's appetite has been nearly non-existent for the past few weeks, but somehow all his nutritional levels from the blood test turned out normal. Whatever little bits he is getting here and there somehow keep him going.

His pitching has been right on target, lately. He can knock a bottle off a target from about 25 feet away. It's pretty cool. T-ball registration will start very soon, and I think he will be going this year. Azer is very excited about it.

Our walk is coming up the week after next! I hope we can raise just a bit more money!

Tooth #2 Is Out!

And the second is out!

Lost His First Tooth!

Mr. Azer lost his first tooth today!

Great Strides

This is going to be the first year we actually walk in a Great Strides walk. In the past, we have only raised money.

The walk is at the 2009 Keller/Southlake/Grapevine - Bear Creek Park walk on 03/27/2009.

We just receiving our first donation today!! Thank you!

Received $7.

I am asking that people donate only $1. It really does go a long way. Thanks everybody!

http://www.cff.org/Great_Strides/dsp_DonationPage.cfm?walkid=5891&idUser=83899

Feel free to forward that link to anyone you know!

Interesting Christmas Songs by Azer

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all da way. It don't make sense, it don't make sense, da da da da da da HEY! (Yes, he really says "It don't make sense" in the song. I have no idea where he heard this version.)

We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas, and a happy "ear".

Do not cry, do not cry, do not cry, I'll tell you why, Santa Claw is comin' to town.

Frosty the Snowman was a jolly ... HEY MOMMY, can we make a snowman?
Reema: Yeah, mommy, can we make a snowman? Paleeeez?
Azer: Peeeeeeeez??
Mommy: We live in Texas, it doesn't snow much.
Azer & Reema: awwwwww.

Cooler Days are on Their Way...

The kids have been making comments about how Christmas is coming. They keep asking when we are going to put the tree up.

Yes, we live in Texas, and yes, people here do seem afraid of the cold. I grew up in New England. When I first saw the signs that said "Freeze Warning" on them, I really had a good laugh.

But, alright. I did have to stop writing this and bring in the few surviving plants I have outside, since tonight might be a "Frost Advisory" night.

Anyhow, I'm writing this mainly to show you these pictures. A week ago, we decided to enjoy the last remaining 60 degree evenings.

Reema's version of the Statue of Liberty. More like the Statue of Disco.


We have a swing on the patio. The kids decided to get snugly.


And then they actually fell asleep.


Nighty night.

Another CF Clinic Day

Good news, since the last clinic day which was (I think) 3 months ago, Azer gained a pound and grew almost a whole inch! I guess we're doing something right! Doc said his lungs sounded good.

Also, it was Azer's first day to try to do a PFT (Pulmonary Function Test). The results were inconclusive because he didn't breathe out enough. However, everyone said he did very well for his first try. I've had to do this test before, and it really is harder than it looks. The person has to breathe in, and then breathe out as hard and as long as they can, until there is no more air left in your lungs ... until you feel like your lungs are raisins. Well, that's how it felt for me.

It's like it's raining leaves!

Perhaps some of you in the colder climates have already lost your leaves, but we have just started to change colors here, and today happened to be one of those breezy, fall days.

As we were walking down the sidewalk, Azer looked up into the sky as a gust blew up, and he said, "Look Mommy, its like its raining leaves!" Very poetic I think.

I have memories as a child of collecting leaves and things in a basket outdoors in my grandparents backyard. I thought the kids would enjoy collecting the brightest leaves. We've got a very bright basket so far!


After looking at the basket intensely, Azer said, "It looks like the leaves are thirsty." Is it time for a science lesson?

I have a 5 year old!

Azer is now 5 years old! I was remembering the other night, around the time when he first got diagnosed, I was wondering if he would even live to 5 years old. I didn't expect him to be thriving so well. I can only pray he does so well health wise in school too. I worry about that at times.

He is such a boy lately. Motorcycles, Hummers, loud, noisy trucks, and dirty cars are usually part of his conversation.

I really need to say something here: Both of my kids talk, a lot. More than a lot. In a day, they talk more than a group of very busy business people that are on the cell phone all day. Seriously. They never stop talking. It really drives me crazy. Remember a few years ago when a speech therapist used to come over and try to "teach" him to chew his food and speak more? She told me that if I didn't continue therapy, he might not learn to talk at all. Yeah, right. Its probably a good thing I never did continue with it. I don't think a child, or two children, could talk any more than they do!

Another announcement of news: Both Azer and Reema learned to ride their bikes without training wheels! On the same day even! I had to go buy myself a bike just to keep up with them. Wow, those kids. That's the first thing they ask when they wake up now, "Can we ride bikes today?" The exercise is good for me ... however at the end of the day, I do regret it ;)

The Texas Rangers

Since Azer's love of baseball is developing, we have been taking him to Rangers games (Go Rangers!). We had a awesome blessing of meeting the catcher for the Rangers on Sunday (Gerald Laird). Azer was totally thrilled.

I found a great way to help Azer speed his eating up is by saying that MLB players always eat lots of food all the time to give them energy.

Outdoors

Azer has been excelling at his pitching skills a lot. He doesn't seem to have any problems breathing when he runs, and he is really loving baseball. Hopefully, next year he can join a T-ball league of some sort.

Reema learned how to whistle a few days ago, so that's pretty much all to be heard coming from our house lately. She doesn't whistle any tune in particular, just random notes.

I realized this is going to be the last fall, winter and spring I spend with them where they don't have to go to school in the daytime. I feel proud but sad at the same time, and a little scared too. They will both be starting next year. My two babies somehow grew into kids.

Next month I'm going to have a 5 year old. Its hard to believe. They both seem to be extremely brilliant about figuring things out. When I told Azer that both he and his sister are going to school next year he said, "Gee Mommy, what are you going to do when the house is so quiet?" It's so funny ... even he realizes they make quite a bunch of noise when their together.

Azer has been eating better lately, now that the pressure is off. No problems getting his supplemental drinks in there either. We have another CF clinic day in November. Hoping for some more weight gaining. He seems to be getting much stronger lately. He has been doing sit-ups (trying to copy my attempts at getting rid of flab, hehe). His pitching arm (left arm) is getting some nice little muscles!

Relaxed!

Things have been much more relaxed for us around eating time (mostly for me I suppose). Ever since our CF Doctor had that talk with us, I suppose I don't feel totally devastated every time he doesn't eat. This huge burden has been lifted.

I think Azer is a lot happier too. We took the reward deal away, so there is no pressure. If he doesn't eat, its ok. We go on with life.

Reema will be four years old at the end of this month! I can't believe it already! Every year, between the end of August and the beginning of October, I have two childen of the same age. Azer turns 5 October 6th. So, this year, I will have two 4 year olds for a little while.