It's been a few since I actually blabbed. We have had a bit crazy last part of summer. Between Tade's fabulous, multiple doctor appointments, school getting started, and Aaron and I going on vacation for a few days, I am tired.
As you well know from a previous post Tade is doing really well. We are happy and a bit relieved. He is taking full advantage of the new found freedom. I think we will sign him up with his two karate brothers for a tumbling class.
Everyone is adapting fairly well to school full-time. Trex loved preschool so much on Tues and Thurs that he was mad about not having it the other days of the week, so I decided to allow him to attend another preschool on Mon and Wed mornings. He really likes it all. In fact this morning (friday) we got into a heated discussion about wether he had school or not.
Aaron and I went to Glenwood Springs, CO for a few days. It was really fun. It is nice not to be scheduled to the hilt. We went on a 16 mile bike ride with a mile long hike thrown in (up 1200 ft) the first day and it wiped us out for the next day and half. I didn't get to go river rafting because we were just too tired. Sad. We also stopped at Arches National Park on our way home for a few hours. Beautiful! We want to take the boys and spend some real time there. The trip was worth it just for that visit.
I also made a quick trip to AZ. My Uncle Don passed away. Travis and I left on Sunday night, made it to the funeral Monday early evening, and headed back shortly after and got hom late Tuesday morning. TIRED. But definitely worth the trip. It was nice to see Aunt Irl, Heather, and Kevin after so many years. I will miss Uncle Don.
Now we are just trying to get our schedule for the school year hashed out.
Keep in touch.

Tade get's his Bobcat

Tyge was Tade's mom at Pack Meeting. They had a bubble gum bubble contest....Tyge won for Tade.















Before .....












and after becoming a Bobcat.














Thanks Tyge!!

This is the first rain of August. Tade, mom and Tyge went out to play. Poor Trey and Trex were already asleep.











First day of 1st grade for Trey.



















First day of 3rd grade for Tade.

















First day of FIFTH grade for Tyge.

Tade's doctor's appointments

A lot of you got this email from me a couple of days ago. I thought I would post it for those of you who didn't. (Beware, it is loooong)


Two weeks ago he went to Primary Children's for a Heart Cath. (they insert a tube through the artery in the groin and weave it up to the heart) The doctors are able to send colored dyes through the arteries, thus getting a real good picture of how the aneurysms look.

Last Thursday, Tade went up again for a Stress MRI and an Echo (Stress MRI gets his heart beat up to resemble him running sprints, an echo is an ultra sound of his arteries and heart) With the Stress MRI the doctors are able to test how his heart handles stress and how well the blood flows through the arteries.

The news was absolutely fantastic. His right coronary artery had a series of eight or more aneurysms that went behind the heart. As of right now, the body has modified those aneurysms and used scar tissue to basically fix itself. As the test said: the right coronary artery look virtually normal.

There is no way to tell how much is scar tissue and how much is actual "natural filler" (for lack of a medical term) that is involved in the repair of the aneurysms. So to try and explain a complicated story: If the aneurysms are being "fixed" with scar tissue there is a chance that it won't stop fixing, therefore, eventually closing off the artery's blood flow to the heart. If it is "natural filler" it should stop when the aneurysms are fixed. Dr. Tani thinks there is probably a little bit of both going on. Best case scenario: if it is "natural filler" then he is "healed" as best as he can get. Worst case scenario: if it is scar tissue and it closes off the blood flow,it can cause all kinds of problems. The doctors think it is somewhere in between.

Tade also had a HUGE complex aneurysm on the left coronary artery. That is no longer huge or complex and looks to be healing right along with the other side.

The real good news is that the Dr. has taken Tade off his coumadin(blood thinner) which means he isn't at risk for blunt trauma and spontaneous bleeding issues and won't need the ongoing blood draws. (He now takes two baby aspirin everyday instead of one) Tade will still go in for his six month check-ups every year as growth spurts can do weird things to abnormal stuff in the body, but overall, everyone is thrilled with the changes.

If Tade does develop complications, he is now eligible for by-pass surgery and stints. Whereas before, the only option was a heart transplant. This in itself is wonderful news!

I was really surprised and shocked that when I saw the pictures I almost cried. I figured Tade would either stabilize or go down hill. I never in a million years thought that three years later he would get so much better. He still isn't able to do competition sports, but has gotten the okay to play recreationally with his brothers and friends.

We have been doing swimming lessons ALL month long. Tyge passed off level 5 and asked to quit. Level 6&7 are training for life guard. Tade is in level 5, Trey is in level 4 and Trex just passed level 1. So we are slowly but surely getting through them. Going to the pool is much easier on mom these days. The only one she needs to watch is Trex and he is pretty good at floating and stuff. We have also visited the Children's Garden at Thanksgiving Point. Way fun and contained so the kids can just run and play. Tyge and Tade have also been fishing a few times with scouts and dad (the trip with dad also included Trex and Trey) Mom got to be a girl and stay home. (Thank goodness) We also visited with Shane and Marcene a bit at Payson Lakes on the 24th. Aaron and I have both decided that we don't really like to rough it. Poor Aaron, took the boys to the Father' and son's Outing with the ward...did I say we don't camp? The boys had a blast, Aaron is still recooporating. We did a little school shopping and will finish it on-line. Give or take.....23 days til school.

Tade's baptism day. His dad was able to baptize him. Grandpa Maughan and Uncle Travis were the two witnesses. Tade was the only baptism from our ward. Uncle Travis and Aunt Kirston gave the talks, Aunt Jana lead the music and said a prayer and Uncle Shane gave the other prayer. We were especially glad that Grandma and Grandpa Maughan were able to be there. Thanks to Aunt Sherilyn and Danielle for bringing them. It was a nice day and we appreciated everyone who came.














Familys: Shane and Marcene with Sean and Johnathan
Travis and Jenny with Samara, Katelyn, and Brooklyn
Jana and Karl
Grandma and Grandpa Maughan, Aunt Sherilyn and Danielle
Kirston, Cole, and Breelyn

Here are Tade's two friends, Kalen and Noah, (and Tyge) at 'Boondocks' for Tade's eighth birthday. We should have taken more pictures :) We played at the arcade, bumper boats and did some minature golfing. I think everyone had fun.



Added to the picture are Trex and Trey.












And the presents of course.
It is hard to believe that Tade is already eight. He also got his coveted Nintendo DS. He saved $100, it took him a whole year but he did it. $30 of that was earned by going without treats for three months. Mom and Dad bought him three games for the DS, so he wasn't totally broke.