God is Good: April 2007

Friday, April 20, 2007

HAGEN IS A SURVIVOR!!

Good day all!! So... as you can see... Hagen rode his walk of survivorship..... We first arrived to the stadium to find sooo many people... survivors, those in treatment, caregivers and lots of supporters!! We found the table to sign in and get Hagen's shirt.... youth medium wasn't quite his size BUT he still looked GREAT!! Travis said he started to well up when I put it on him.... I waited to well up as we took our first steps around the track... All of the survivors and their caregivers take the first lap while all the others stand inside the track and clap all the way around...Quite an emotional time for us... but we held it together. We met a few other families but didn't get to stay long... We will stay longer next year!! There were lots of things that I know the boys would have enjoyed doing.

This is a pic of Hagen during the first few months of his treatment!!! Hagen never lost his spirit!! He had his moments when he just didn't feel good enough to give us that beautiful smile...or even a smirk but he kept on fighting and WON!!

This pic is of Hagen while we were in Ft. Worth... He was on soooo many meds and steroids that he just grew and grew and grew!! Part of Hagen's personality was to share the many faces or tricks with the nurses and doctors...and of course me to entertain us and he LOVED the attention... Brogan also particiapted when we were in Lubbock... and they still do their cute little faces...most of them.

As you can see.... The Dr.'s are in!! We thought it would be great to reverse roll at Halloween this year..If you can't tell... Hagen was about 10 lbs heavier than Brogan and still about 4 inches shorter!! Thanks to the steroids...He is wearing his glasses there... not very often any more... we have to keep a constant eye (no pun inteded) on him or else he'll take em' off or Brogan will steal them!! TURKEY!! The roll has reversed as far as the weight issue... Brogan is now at least 10 lbs heavier... Hagen has grown a little in height.

Doesn't this picture just make you SMILE!!! We treasure each and every moment we see the boys smile and laugh... INFECTIOUS!!! WE LOVE YA!!

Thursday, April 19, 2007

So... As you can see... Brogan (on the right) joined Hagen in bed... the story... Brogan got sick in the middle of the night... didn't cry... just got up and crawled into bed with his bubba... Usually in the mornings... particularly on the weekends... b/c we sleep in a little, Brogan likes to join Hagen in bed... it's so cute!! Also notice...the twin thing... same fingers in the mouth, head facing the same way..

OK... another story... have any of you ever had and anxiety attack....?? panic attack??? Brogan... oh boy!! We went to get the oil changed in my car today.. and mind you..it isn't the first time we have gone...but we go to this place that you just sit in your car while they change it, they clean your windows and offer a drink... (Boltons) and it's a great place to go....anyway....Brogan does NOT like to go.... He gets VERY anxious when they clean the windows....really antsy in his car seat...starts talking a lot..... almost crying.... then they lift the hood.....he started to say...."down" "down" He wanted the hood DOWN!! He did fine... after much talking too and louder music!!

How does he do with the car wash...ya know the kind you can sit in your car and ride through... When I was a kid we LOVED it... thought it was the coolest thing....if mom went without us we didn't talk to her for a day!! Brogan.... NOT SO MUCH.... HE FREAKS... so.... since the boys are usually with me... the car doesn't get washed much... :(

Monday, April 16, 2007

Ok...So... this pic is dedicated to my best bud Janee' . She taught Brogan to "show his teeth" and it is absolutely hilarious.. he does it instantly....usually. The pic above is of Hagen today...yep..he looks great!! He went to school today and had a good day too!! I was excited to see that he was still smilin' when I went to pick him up. I was expecting a tired grumpy little boy and he was still raren' to go!! The pic below...Brogi as daddy likes to call him!! He looks soo much like his bubba in this pic!! As you can tell... I am playing around with some black and white pics.... I love BW.....

We are back to our "normal" routine... Work, school, fast pitch softball...for coach Travis, Sleep... that's a good thing... :) I want to thank all of you for all of your thoughts and prayers!!

On another note... You may have noticed my list of photography has increased... I have been coming across some incredible photographers!! They have some great blogs and one of them I need you to vote for... if you like.... go to www.bloggerschoiceawards.com log in and vote for http://photographybycupcake.typepad.com/frosting_and_sprinkles/

Of course..you may want to visit her site... she has incredible work!! Anyways... Until I blog again.....I'm out!!

My Story

I am not sure where to start.... I suppose I will start...from..... Marriage...today we are gathered here for marwage.... Travis and I met over 10 years ago at LCU... we were friends...classmates...dating.... then MARRIED!! I used to say that I would NEVER get married... NEVER SAY NEVER!! We lived in Lubbock for a couple years.. then I drug him to Dallas so that I could work for the GAP.... After too much time there I decided it was time to try something new...something I was REALLY REALLY interested in.... PHOTOGRAPHY!! I got this job working for the "cupcake" lady... Karen. She was wonderfull... I learned sooo much and had fun while I was there.. along with getting to know her two beautiful children!! Travis decided he wanted to return to school in Lubbock and so after much thought we returned to Lubbock. I worked for another photographer here.... but it just wasn't the type I was looking for... so I went back to retail.... American Eagle Outfitters. I loved it... Great company. I drug Trav to Irving/HEB area again.... we stayed for a while... After some time... Trav and I decided we wanted a family. so we moved back to Lubbock again.... and I will tell you... Travis said for years...since we first got married that he wanted twins... We went to our first sonagram appt. and there they were.... TWO of them, and fraternal....or so we thought!! My body started to shut down so the boys came 7.5 weeks early and did great. They spent only 3 weeks in NICU and had no complications. At 3 days old we were told that one of the boys probably had trisomy 21... but that they were running additional tests b/c both tested positive...it didn't make sense to the doc doing the tests b/c they were fraternal... he thought maybe the blood got mixed up or combined... something. We waited one week and were told that they both had Down's. I have to tell you, out of ignorance... I was very upset... I was in shock and the boys were in the hospital and I was at home!! I just wanted them home with me!! We went to see a genetisist and indeed they are IDENTICAL twins. They are the most preacious gift EVER!! God did good!! Anyways... I decided I needed to be home with them and didn't go back to work....for a while. The boys were completely healthy...no heart problems, no other problems... We had alot of physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy... stuff... we stayed VERY buisy. After some time.. I did decide to return to work. We began to notice that Hagen was getting sick alot...more than Brogan and Brogan usually caught what Hagen had. Then, bruising, and then these little red dots all over his body...After some documenting... and going in for an appt. with our pediatrician...a blood test, we were told Hagen had CANCER... AML to be exact. Children with Down's syndrome are pre-disposed for childhood Leukemia... So.... March 3, 2005 life changed for all of us. Hagen began treatment immediately, I stayed working with AE for a month before I quit... Hagen's treatment was hard and we would have 3-4 weeks stay in the hosp then a few days at home... This went on for several months.... Travis's mom moved in with us to help with the boys.. We kept the boys together at the hospital during the day...Travis would work at his job, I would clean houses..or run errands..take care of stuff at home and Vanita would stay with the boys at the hosp. during the day so we could work.. Life doesn't stop!! After about 3 rounds of treatment Hagen relapsed.... He had to have a bone marrow transplant. So... He went on another treatment regimine while we waited for a match. Brogan couldn't be the donor b/c he is the identical brother... meaning he is also suseptible to developing the cancer... In August 05 we were notified he had a match and that we would be going to Cook Childrens Hosp. in Ft. Worth for this transplant. We went the week of Halloween... Travis me and Hagen. Brogan stayed with Nanny and Papa..(Trav. parents) Hagen had a bunch of tests run and then he was admitted after one week... then the treatment began. I stayed with Hagen and Travis stayed here in Lubbock with Brogan. His mom continued to stay and help with Brogan. We would spend almost 85 days in the hospital rooms. His transplant was on Nov. 16 ,05. Travis would drive or fly up on weekends and everyother wk/end Brogan would come. Hagen was not allowed to see his brother except through a glass window... until X-mas day... He did get to see him but Brogan ran fever and so Travis and him had to drive home!! That stunk! Finally, after some gut complications Hagen was released to the Ronald McDonald house where we stayed for a couple weeks, then released HOME!! We were to return to Ft. Worth often.... bi-weekly. Hagen was out for about a month and then had some problems and had to be flown back to Ft. Worth and stayed for another month!! Since then he has been home. Hagen is Cancer FREE and has been for 1 year 5 months... Yeah GOD!! He gets stronger and stronger as time passes. He did have a little hickup recently.... he developed asperate pneumonia, a yeast infection in his mouth, and para-influenza. He spent 1 week on the ventilator and another week in the hosp. He is doing great now and we pray that his body gets stronger. We could have NEVER made it through this time without the Grace of GOD, he carried us through this time.... and of course all of our families and friends. Hagen was a trooper through this whole ordeal, he was sooo strong and went through sooo much!! WE are truly blessed to have him with us! Hagen and Brogan have regained their bond... We have a carepage that we used and still use to track all of Hagens progress. His page name is simply Hagen if you ever want to visit. SO.... that is our story... We have a bunch of pictures on carepages and also some on myspace.

Hagen and Brogan

Friday, April 20, 2007

HAGEN IS A SURVIVOR!!

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Monday, April 16, 2007

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