-heather-
i want to start by apologizing for not being consistent with my posts. for the past many months, it has been quite crazy and tiring all at the same time.
the holidays went far too fast this year. we had the privilege of spending Christmas Eve with my entire family at my brother Greg's house. i don't ever think i will grow tired of watching my children play with their cousins. they had a blast singing songs and putting on a play for everyone of the Christmas story. it definitely was quite a sight to see.
i can't believe how fast 2011 went. when i look back at the year, it's definitely one that i don't want to repeat. it was a year of struggles, setbacks and countless trials. but at the same time, it was a year for growth. i'm thankful that i have my faith and my awesome husband, because i would never had kept my sanity during some of the hurdles we went over.
ok. enough reflection.
the kids....
noah is getting ready to be in his 3rd play at his school. he is one of only a few middle school kids who are selected for the spring high school musical--this year it's "Cinderella". he's a part of the ensemble, but he loves every minute of it. this year, he switched from playing the clarinet to now playing the drums. it was a switch that he had been longing for, but we wanted him to learn that he can't just switch to any instrument when he feels like it. he needs to follow through. along with the rest of the music, he has also been chosen to be in the select singing group which is similar to district/regional chorus. even with all of this musical ability, he still aspires to go into robotics engineering when he grows up.
kiersten has started playing the flute this year. the silly thing is attached to her fingers most of the time and as she says, 'i just want to be the best i can be'. this seems to be the mantra for kiersten. she strives so hard to excel in everything she does. she just got 36 baby chicks (at her dad's house) because she wants to pick the eggs and sell them. she's a little entrepreneur in the making. kiersten has also been chosen for the elementary select chorus which will compete in a regional event in may. along with her singing, flute playing and desire to make money, she still continues with dance. we had the privilege of seeing her perform as one of the russian dancers in 'The Nutcracker' this past december. she loves every minute of it. she's gearing up for her spring dance recital this may, where she will be dancing with her acro class. as of right now, her aspiration is to be in 'Cirque du Soleil' when she gets older.
ella is our little martial arts girl. she loves taking tae kwon do twice a week. she has tried sports (softball & soccer) but is at home with martial arts. ella loves being a big sister to hutch. when we're out and about, she always is standing by his side, holding his hand or with her arm around him. he doesn't mind, but she just loves it! ella has a very creative side and is always concocting some sort of project or creation to surprise us all. please continue to keep ella in your thoughts and prayers. she has so much floating around in her little head and doesn't know how to make sense out of it.
hutch is doing amazingly well in 1st grade. he will be starting occupational therapy after easter as he was observed having some setbacks in relation to his fine motor skills and cognition. we're hoping and praying that with the occupational therapy in the school setting as well as the clinic, he will be able to take some steps forward with some of the things he has been struggling with. hutch is a bundle of joy--truly a miracle to us all. to see all of the things he has overcome in his short life thus far, gives me great hope for anything that stands in our way.
last but not least......charles/chuck/charlie/uncle c
chuck is doing very well at this point. a month ago, he was cleared to start physical therapy. the therapists tell us it will be a long slow road to recovery, but at least he's able to make progress.
so, there you have it...the latest update to our family. i will do my best to keep this better updated. thank you for being interested in our lives. keep us all in your prayers. each day is a new small stone that we step across.
as my mother-in-law says, every one is irish once a year.
happy st. patricks day!!! and happy 1st birthday to our nephew/cousin, benjamin nils hodne!!!
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
another day
-heather-
i was hoping to have more entries in this blog thing, but life has sort of gotten in my way.
chuck is once again back in the hospital. he had to have surgery on saturday as his incision from his fusion ended up getting a staph infection. so, saturday they flushed out the area, and now he's a sitting duck while he waits for the blood cultures to reveal what protocol they will follow in regards to his antibiotics. at this time, they're thinking they can discharge him with oral antibiotics, but they have also placed a permanent IV in his arm in the case that he would have to receive IV antibiotics. the only issue with the IV is that he'll be on antibiotics for 4-6 weeks, so that would be quite interesting.
in speaking with chuck earlier this morning on my way to work, they are keeping him for today (tuesday) as they want to watch the incision site as it heals. another day.... *sigh*
i'm thankful for the doctors and their wisdom as we both don't want him to be discharged only to return because they overlooked something. so another day is ok for now.
in the past i always had a great support system of friends, but it seems that outside of family, we are quite alone. this is a first. we just transitioned to a new church and due to all the recent surgeries on both of our parts, we haven't been able to get plugged in, so the normal church family that has stepped in before isn't there right now. this too will pass. please pray for continued strength as we plod along. i thank my family and chuck's family. they are truly amazing people.
i was hoping to have more entries in this blog thing, but life has sort of gotten in my way.
chuck is once again back in the hospital. he had to have surgery on saturday as his incision from his fusion ended up getting a staph infection. so, saturday they flushed out the area, and now he's a sitting duck while he waits for the blood cultures to reveal what protocol they will follow in regards to his antibiotics. at this time, they're thinking they can discharge him with oral antibiotics, but they have also placed a permanent IV in his arm in the case that he would have to receive IV antibiotics. the only issue with the IV is that he'll be on antibiotics for 4-6 weeks, so that would be quite interesting.
in speaking with chuck earlier this morning on my way to work, they are keeping him for today (tuesday) as they want to watch the incision site as it heals. another day.... *sigh*
i'm thankful for the doctors and their wisdom as we both don't want him to be discharged only to return because they overlooked something. so another day is ok for now.
in the past i always had a great support system of friends, but it seems that outside of family, we are quite alone. this is a first. we just transitioned to a new church and due to all the recent surgeries on both of our parts, we haven't been able to get plugged in, so the normal church family that has stepped in before isn't there right now. this too will pass. please pray for continued strength as we plod along. i thank my family and chuck's family. they are truly amazing people.
Friday, September 23, 2011
surgery day
-heather-
today chuck went in for his 3rd (yes, third) back surgery in the last 3 years. this is his 2nd one this year. i'm really praying that this will solve the problem and be his last. he had a failed lumbar fusion in December 2008, another lumbar fusion (double this time) in January of this year and now he's having the hardware removed since his back would creak like an old leather belt when he would bend forward. (i'm not making this stuff up) he's currently in recovery right now and i'm assuming the surgery was successful as it only last 1 hour as opposed to 6+ hours with the last 2 surgeries.
some would say my husband is the modern day Job, like in the Bible, with all of the trials he has gone thru in the past several months and years. despite all of this, he prevails each and every time and his faith never wanes. he amazes me. even in his fragile state right now, he's one of the strongest people i know. i'm truly blessed to call him my best friend, and better yet, my husband.
today chuck went in for his 3rd (yes, third) back surgery in the last 3 years. this is his 2nd one this year. i'm really praying that this will solve the problem and be his last. he had a failed lumbar fusion in December 2008, another lumbar fusion (double this time) in January of this year and now he's having the hardware removed since his back would creak like an old leather belt when he would bend forward. (i'm not making this stuff up) he's currently in recovery right now and i'm assuming the surgery was successful as it only last 1 hour as opposed to 6+ hours with the last 2 surgeries.
some would say my husband is the modern day Job, like in the Bible, with all of the trials he has gone thru in the past several months and years. despite all of this, he prevails each and every time and his faith never wanes. he amazes me. even in his fragile state right now, he's one of the strongest people i know. i'm truly blessed to call him my best friend, and better yet, my husband.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
happy birthday ella!
-heather-
today is ella's 9th birthday. we had the privilege of spending this weekend with her and celebrating her birthday. she was so excited to get a new digital camera for her birthday. on sunday, we headed up to dallas for ben's dedication and gabby's circus birthday party. lauren was great in providing a cupcake for ella to blow out alongside of gabby. on the car ride home, ella told chuck "dad, you know what i wished for today?" chuck told her "no i don't, but i'm sure, whatever it is, it was amazing." ella responded, "daddy, i wished that today would never ever end."
when chuck told me this on sunday evening, i burst into tears. ella is such a beautiful little girl, however, right now she is lost. she is being told things that are confusing to her. we know that the truth will come out in time, but it's difficult to watch her so fragile.
there's a reason for all of this madness. why it's happening to a child boggles my mind, but i know that the plan set out is a perfect one with a magnificent ending. that's what keeps us going. please keep ella in your prayers. she is truly a gift from God.
happy birthday ella! we love you more than you will ever know.
today is ella's 9th birthday. we had the privilege of spending this weekend with her and celebrating her birthday. she was so excited to get a new digital camera for her birthday. on sunday, we headed up to dallas for ben's dedication and gabby's circus birthday party. lauren was great in providing a cupcake for ella to blow out alongside of gabby. on the car ride home, ella told chuck "dad, you know what i wished for today?" chuck told her "no i don't, but i'm sure, whatever it is, it was amazing." ella responded, "daddy, i wished that today would never ever end."
when chuck told me this on sunday evening, i burst into tears. ella is such a beautiful little girl, however, right now she is lost. she is being told things that are confusing to her. we know that the truth will come out in time, but it's difficult to watch her so fragile.
there's a reason for all of this madness. why it's happening to a child boggles my mind, but i know that the plan set out is a perfect one with a magnificent ending. that's what keeps us going. please keep ella in your prayers. she is truly a gift from God.
happy birthday ella! we love you more than you will ever know.
Monday, September 19, 2011
a long time coming.....
-heather-
this entire blog "thing" is something new to both chuck and i. we both grew up journaling, but never took it into the technology world until now. we figured this would be the best way to communicate to family and friends in regards to what is/was going on in our lives here in devon. so hopefully this will be received well by all who take the time to read this blog.
to try and start at the beginning seems a little ridiculous, so we'll do our best to update this page with the current goings on of our family. but i do think a little history lesson on us is needed.
chuck and i were married on december 4, 2009. much to the dismay of our parents, we eloped to westport, connecticut and it has been the best decision of our lives. both of us had prior marriages which dissolved for different reasons, but we walked away from those marriages with 4 beautiful children between us. noah owen-tucker is our oldest, 12, and he continually blows me away. although he is in 7th grade, he already aspires to go into robotics (how many 12 yo do you know that want to do that?). kiersten margaret, 9, is named after my mother's mom who was an amazing woman. kiersten never stops until she crashes at the end of the day. she's always moving and usually found flipping thru the yard or living room. chuck's daughter, ella caroline, turns 9 this wednesday and loves to draw and create pictures and stories. ella has a heart of gold and is an amazing little girl. and now we have hutchinson vaughn, or as we call him, hutch or hutchie. hutch is a fighter who never quits. he's overcome a lot in his short life, and is a true miracle. one smile from hutch will melt your heart.
we are a blended family. a modern brady bunch minus bobby and cindy. God has blessed us in bringing us all together. the road so far has been quite interesting and gets scary at times, but we know once we hit our destination, it's all smooth sailing from there.
stay tuned....
this entire blog "thing" is something new to both chuck and i. we both grew up journaling, but never took it into the technology world until now. we figured this would be the best way to communicate to family and friends in regards to what is/was going on in our lives here in devon. so hopefully this will be received well by all who take the time to read this blog.
to try and start at the beginning seems a little ridiculous, so we'll do our best to update this page with the current goings on of our family. but i do think a little history lesson on us is needed.
chuck and i were married on december 4, 2009. much to the dismay of our parents, we eloped to westport, connecticut and it has been the best decision of our lives. both of us had prior marriages which dissolved for different reasons, but we walked away from those marriages with 4 beautiful children between us. noah owen-tucker is our oldest, 12, and he continually blows me away. although he is in 7th grade, he already aspires to go into robotics (how many 12 yo do you know that want to do that?). kiersten margaret, 9, is named after my mother's mom who was an amazing woman. kiersten never stops until she crashes at the end of the day. she's always moving and usually found flipping thru the yard or living room. chuck's daughter, ella caroline, turns 9 this wednesday and loves to draw and create pictures and stories. ella has a heart of gold and is an amazing little girl. and now we have hutchinson vaughn, or as we call him, hutch or hutchie. hutch is a fighter who never quits. he's overcome a lot in his short life, and is a true miracle. one smile from hutch will melt your heart.
we are a blended family. a modern brady bunch minus bobby and cindy. God has blessed us in bringing us all together. the road so far has been quite interesting and gets scary at times, but we know once we hit our destination, it's all smooth sailing from there.
stay tuned....
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