SCARY Week

So this week has been extremely stressful for

 the Toler's.  Austin  stopped breathing on Wednesday night.  He was in the middle of one of his coughing spells and just stopped coughing and grabbed as his throat like he was choking, and he was.  His eyes were bulging out of his head, and he was writhing around like he was drowning on his bed.  It was horrible.  Jonathan was in South America and I was about to call 911, but realized before he passed out I had to do something.  I carried him downstairs and we went out on the deck and the freezing air opened his throat and he started coughing hysterically again.  I gave him more steroids and many steam tents.  The next day the Dr. needed to see Austin and we also went to our pulmonoligist.  Both Dr.'s TOLD me that Austin HAS TO GET THE SURGERY that will stop his relux.  What is happening is that Austin's upper airways (lungs are fine) but he has such inflammation on his upper airways and scar tissue from having erosions and burns on his esophagus due to servere reflux that whenever Austin gets any kind of respiratory cold/anything, his airways close up it's like trying to breathe through a straw.  Then his cough forces even more stomach acid up and he aspirates the acid into his bronchial tubes.  So what he had the other night was a layrngospasm where the acid has inflamed the larynx/vocal cords too much and the throat just slaps shut!  It was horrifying.  I never want to go through that again.  I called Jonathan the next day and he was on the next flight home from Bogota, Columbia.  All the Dr.'s said that at this point, we can't "not" do the surgery.  It's now a life or death situation and we've prayed about it and feel good about it.  It's not fair that a 5 year old boy is going through this much.  On steroids every month whenever he gets any kind of cold, his airways are like straws, not to mention Austin's infamous "cough" that he does chronically.  We know there's a risk with the procedure, but at the same time, they say we're making him worse by not doing it.  And if he has another laryngospasm it could be acute death sydrome.  

Heavenly Father is watching out for us and we know it.  I think he was really trying to tell us that Austin needs this procedure after we'd already made up our minds we weren't going to do it.  Jonathan and I both agreed that we'd give him the surgery if it came down to a life or death situation.  And unfortunately it came to that.  

The surgery will be at DC Children's Hospital and will let you know when it's scheduled.

To close on a positive note, we're so thankful for our kids and for our Heavenly Father.  Times get rough, but they're rough for everyone.  We're thankful for our gospel and the truth and closeness it gives us.  In times of adversity it's easy to throw in the flag but that's not what the Lord wants us to do.  We're thankful for our friends and family and the support you give us and our kids.  

THANKS YOU GUYS!!!  

Love,

Angie

Middle East

Jonathan got back from  a long trip with President Bush and Sec Rice.  It was the first time he'd been in Iraq and thank goodness all was well.  The first day in Riyadh rockets were fired at the motorcade.  Yikes.  During the trip they went to Dubai and pictured is him on top of the hotel where Tiger Woods launched golf balls and Andre Aggassi played a tennis match up there.  There's no fence at the top!  I'm glad he's back and I have him home for....uh ...3 days.

This week Austin sings the beach boys song "Help me Rhonda, help help me Rhonda" But Austin's lyrics are, "Help me momma, help help me Momma".  It's so funny to hear him sing that when he needs me!

We went to the House of  Bounce this week with our friends and enjoyed expending energy and having fun.  While we were there, we looked outside it was a crazy wintry snow fall!  Total surprise!  The kids had a ball playing in it the past few days.  Austin gets all bundled up and goes out for 20 min.  Then comes in and sheds all clothes, only to want to go back out 10 minutes later.  The process repeats itself over and over.  Ashley of course has to go out too.  She hates wearing hats and coats.  Just hates it!  So she'll go outside, shed her clothes and gets cold and sits and cries and waits for me to get her because she's freezing.

Ash went poo on the potty a few times this week!  I haven't started potty training yet but it's great that she'll tell me when she needs to go!  On Friday Ash and I had a mommy-daughter outing and we went to the Freedom Center for a free swim time with our friends Gabe and Lottie!  Such fun!!

Austin developed a cough the night we got home from the House of Bounce...it's always fun when he gets a cold.  Because with his GERD, a cough lasts for 3 weeks instead of 3-7 days like a normal kid.  Such fun! 

 

That's the excitement around here.  It's getting chilly...our consumption of hot chocolate has gone up 100% around here.

Stay warm!

Love,

Angie

Memoirs of a Geisha

The Geisha to the left is outfitted by her Uncles and Pop!  Thanks guys!

Jonathan flew out on Air Force One  this last trip.  He's in the middle east for the past week and will be until Wed.  No fun.  Those are the trips I worry about.

I have been trying to eat better since the holidays.  That's no fun either.  But it is a nice feeling when your cute jeans fit instead of feeling like Wranglers.  Dr. Phil once said something and it stuck with me (as I'm holding a Reese's pb cup...)  "Nothing tastes as good as being skinny feels."  So true!  I don't normally like to tout Dr. Phil, but this quote has helped me out in my darkest dieting moments.

Austin and I went down to Children's Hospital on Friday and had a consultation with a GI surgeon there and we chatted about the pro's and cons to the stomach surgery that would take care of Austin's reflux problems.  Unfortunately, the morbidity rate is 10-15% and that's something that I just can't swallow.  I called Duane in Kuwait and we both felt that right now it's not time.  The surgeon definitely thought he needed it, given his history, the amt of meds he's on now to take care of the reflux.  But I just didn't feel like it was a slam dunk.  I was very surprised because for a couple years, we were heading in this direction.   He's doing great on his new medicine right now even though it's an extremely high dose.  So it's like we either fix it with surgery, or keep him on these meds all his life.  Which is the greater evil?  It's so hard.  

Austin started a little pee wee football class on Friday as well.  He now loves to run with the football cradled in his hands and I try to get it out.   He doesn't like to be tackled, but he likes to tackle me.

Ashley has been a funny little munchkin this week.  She loves to kick a foam soccer ball around the house (a birthday present of Austin's -thanks Shelese and Mandi!) and Ash thinks its hers.  Today we went to Long Park and played ball and ate a picnic lunch.  We had a great time!  Although is was quite cold.  The weather is getting chilly here.  

Much love,

Angie

Happy New Year!

So this posting is a little late....Happy New Year!  I  rang in 2008 with my dear friends here in Gainesville, VA.  Truly one of the best New Years I've ever had.  Duane celebrated 2008 with my brothers and Dad at the Rose Bowl.  They all had a boys trip to watch USC win.  It was a lot of fun!

There has been a lot of fun/action/adventure in the past 10 days!

I hired our first maid service "Rosalita's" to come once a month and deep clean...ahhhh....

When one of the coldest days here (12 degrees) our heater broke.  The house was 48 degrees and I had everyone bundled up.  Jonathan was gone so I called a heating service.  $400 later, we had heat.  And got down to the bottom of the problem....the batteries in our digital thermostat died.  Ugh!

Austin has started getting Ashley out of her crib in the mornings and changes her diaper! This doesn't occur every morning , but when it does, it's heavenly and buys me a little more time.

I started working out again after my holiday "sabbatical".

Austin and Ash yell BATTLE and they start throwing things at each other and the first to cry loses.

Austin was wiping his nose and told me that he had something special for me.  I asked him what, and he said "Snot lotion".

Austin has been making breakfast for me the past few days.  It's a special sandwich made of Hershey syrup, oreo's, m&m's, and 4 layers of 12 Grain bread.  Good morning!

Austin's been "stocked up" so an xray told us.  We had our special "cleanout" with him drinking magnesium citrate.  That night we had a lovely "poop slumber party" where only he and I got to watch movies and be cleansed out!  The plumbing is now working properly.

Austin will do things around the house and say, "Like father, like son."

Austin got the Air Hogs for Christmas (Thanks grandma and grandpa!) and he and Ash both love the remote control helicopters.  They come whizzing by my ear, get tangled in my hair and smash into the side of my head many times a day.  But the kids love them.

Austin was leaving preschool the other day and a girl told him bye and he said, "Boys Rule, Girls Drool."  I had to laugh out loud!  

Ashley will help me cook, throw things in the trash, assist in any way and says "Help Mama!"  She loves being my little helper!

Ash painted her toenails for the first time this week!  I was painting them for her and of course says, "I do" and grabbed the little wand and went to town.  There is polish from the base of her little sausages up past her toenails.  Pretty pink feet!

Ash loves when visitors come to the house.  She grabs her toys and shows them off.  She grabs things in her room and runs downstairs and grabs more to exhibit her goods.  

Ash has been very "tactical" recently.  She loves to pinch the cheeks of people smaller than her.  She also "pats" heads, sometimes harder than she should.  Austin never hits her back so I don't know where she's learned it!  We're working hard at not hitting.  She's brought Austin to tears many times!

The January thaw here's been nice.  Beginning of January, and for three days its been upper 60's, low 70's.  It was a spring teaser, but we sure enjoyed the warm weather!  

We took a trip to Ikea in Woodbridge with Erika, Cam and Gavs and had a lot of fun!

I hosted my monthly BUNKO party at my home last night and we all had a surprise baby shower for Allison.  Such fun.

Finally, Ashley has been showing tremendous potty interest for a few weeks.  She's been telling me when she needs to go pee-pee.  We'll go and she actually goes!  I'm just terrified to actually start the potty training (which she's really doing by herself right now thank goodness) because she's so tiny and is all over the toilet.  It's so much easier and cleaner if she just goes in her diaper!  But, she obviously can do it and I must buckle down and be consistent!  (Thanks Cherilyn for the potty protector idea!)

Have a great week!

Angie

Trachea Size

The above pictures are of the size of Ashley's trachea.  The first one was a close-up further down.  Uncle Grant left and we're so sad!!  Well, Ash is doing great right post-surgery and we're so thankful!

There's something to say for mothers-intuition.  The neighborhood kids were playing outside and I had my window open listening.  The kids all had sticks, pretend weapons in their hands playing.  As I was starting to put away Christmas things, I felt like I should listen again.  I looked/listened out the window and at that moment a neighborhood boy said, "Who needs pretend guns...my dad has a real gun!"  They all had that glimmer in their eye like, "oh wow".  At that moment I jerked the door wildly open, talked to Austin about the situation and lectured the neighborhood kids.  I'm sure I'm a hit with the kids.  Oh well!  Tough tooters!

Ashley has been 'Elmo-ized'.  She can't get enough of "Emo's Christmas Countdown" that we fortunately or unfortunately recorded.  Over and over and over again.....

Happy New Years Eve!!!

Angie