That Time AGAIN!!!!

Hello Everyone,

It is that time a year again. Time to get our walking shoes on and help raise money for babies who start life like Taren. The annual March of Dimes is coming up April 30, 2011. This is something that is very close to our hearts! March of Dimes was a huge support, financially & emotionally for us while Taren was in the hospital. We look forward to being able to give back each year and bless another family who is going through what we did. We wanted to ask each of you if you would like to support us during this time. There are a few different things you can do to help us.
1. Join us April 30th to walk in the March of Dimes. The more people we have join us the better!
Location: Bush Park, 890 Oak Street SE Salem, OR 97301.
Date: April 30
Time: 9:00 AM
2. Help us raise money by sponsoring us. Our personal goal this year is $500.00, almost doubling our goal from last year. We are excited to try to meet it. To make a donation log onto : http://www.marchforbabies.org/team/t1444961 or click on the link to the left of my profile.
3.Forward the link to friends and family who would want to sponsor us.

Thank you for being there for us during our walk with Taren and helping us be there for families who are going through similar things now! This will be our 4th year walking and every year has been more and more fun with all of our friends & family joining us!
Cant Wait!

A busy life!

I am so sorry that it has been 3 months since I have written blog! I can not believe time is going by so fast. A lot has happened in 3 months. I guess I will write a "catch everyone up" blog. :)

In October Taren dressed up as the cutest NASCAR driver to go out trick or treating. He wore his pit crew out fit (even kept the hat on!) and road his NASCAR push car. I was so impressed how into it he got. He was very serious! He road that car up & down the hills in West Salem for 2 hours before I finally made him let me carry him!! He would even ride it up the steps of the porch right to their front door to pick out his candy. He gave us all a few minor heart attacks when he would start going down a steep drive way & pick up his feet so he just flew down. Luckily, he always stopped before hitting any garage doors. :)



Heading to the next stop. Up hill isn't slowing him down!

We also went with Taren's cousins to the pumpkin patch where we had fun looking at the animals, riding in the wheelbarrow, hunting for the perfect pumpkin, and burning energy by running the length of the open field.

In November, we had a wonderful thanksgiving with our family. This year we hosted at our house, which ended up being complete talent getting a total of 19 people in our tiny house! Even, though it was cramped, we had a great time. Joseph & Chad BBQ ed an AMAZING turkey for us!

Our family picture Thanksgiving day

The weekend after Thanksgiving we went on our annual Christmas Tree hunt with our good friends Derek & Beth. It was quiet the adventure this year! We spent a lot time digging the Suburban out of the snow & trying our best to get to our spot up in Detroit. When we FINALLY got there, Joseph & Derek took off to find us the perfect trees. They ended up hiking straight up the mountain in almost waist deep snow to bring us back 2 awesome trees! Beth & I stayed back by the vehicle with the kids & set up a small fire & camp. The kids played in the blizzard of snow that was coming down & made a perfect snow man. Taren however, screamed the WHOLE time. He did not like touching the snow, sitting in it, standing in it, or it falling on him. He did not stop fussing until I set him back into the car seat to leave.


December brought the crazy month of birthdays & a good friends wedding,

Elijah & Kira's birthday parties with trains & a carousel,


my bowling party with my girl friends,

and of course Christmas, that Taren loved this year. He had a blast opening presents. His favorite being his new scooter that he is still riding constantly! He would say "Oh my goodness!!" with every present he opened! He was so excited about everything!


His popcorn, new scooter & rolling tool box!


Exhausted after a full day of Christmas!


Playing with his new toy with Aunt Phyllis


Unwrapping presents!

Taren & his cousins in matching pajamas that I made :)

It has been a busy yet fun 3 months and I am looking forward to what this new year might bring! We hope you all have had a wonderful holiday & will have a great start to the new year!!

Can't Slow Me Down!!

Last Sunday we were over at my sister's house for my niece's dedication party & Taren was outside playing with the kids. No one really saw what happened but Uncle Chad brought him in crying. Taren is usually a very tough boy, he may cry for a minute (more for the sympathy he will get then out of pain) but this time he was really freaking out. It took us several minutes to calm him down, once we did we stood him up to go let him play (which is the usual, before even stopping crying he is ready to go again). However, this time he quickly buckled to the ground & started crying again. After a couple more times of trying he was finally able to stand up & "walk" with a very defined limp. After looking his leg & foot over, we finally decided the pain was coming from his ankle. Since he was still walking around and playing we figured he must have just sprained it.

The next morning I called his Dr.s office & scheduled an appointment to come in to get it looked at. The Dr. took a long time looking at his ankle, leg, hip. Feeling it & moving it around. She finally decided that since he was able to walk better now that she wanted to wait & see how he does in a few days. If he got better then we would just assume he twisted his ankle, but if he was still in pain a week later that we would get him an x-ray to figure out what else was going on. (it does not cause more damage to wait at his age).
(wrapped in a tiny ace bandage after 1st Dr. Apt)

During the week Taren would go a couple days walking fine, running around & acting normal, but then he would trip and start limping all over again. It was like his ankle was weak causing him to be abnormally clumsy. So Monday I called in to his Dr.s office and they scheduled him to have an x-ray the next morning. Taren did great through the x-ray. Hardly moved at all & let me hold his foot in whatever position needed. Later that afternoon we went back into the Dr.s office to get the x-ray results. His Dr explained that the x-ray showed that there was no breaks in the bones, however, since he was still having problems and when he would fall he would limp for longer periods of times she called the orthopedic specialist up in OHSU. The specialist explained that there could be a fracture that a normal x-ray might not pick up. So instead of wasting money & time for everyone to get a more detailed x-ray, the Dr.s all decided the best thing would be to cast it. A 2 year old is not going to know or be able to sit & be careful to let a ankle heal, the best way to make sure it heals quickly & properly would be to cast it. So Thursday morning we went in and had his ankle & lower leg set in a cast. He is now sporting a cool red cast!(here's my cool Cast!!)

(on the way home from the Dr.s with the cast on!)


(can't slow me down! riding the scooter with the cast!)

So far it has not slowed him down at all! Right after his Dr. appointment we went over to my sister's house & he was right away running around & riding the scooter. He has been playing as normal ever since. Just hoping the next 2 or 3 weeks go as easily as the last day!
(exhausted after a long day & week!)

Warrior Dash

This Weekend Joseph & his good friend Jon participated in the Warrior Dash..
"Warrior Dash is the ultimate event for thrill-seeking athletes. This running series is held on some of the nation's most demanding and unique terrain. Participants will conquer extreme obstacles and celebrate their feat with music, beer, warrior helmets and muddy shorts." www.warriordash.com



Part of the map & obstacles they had to do. For more about the corse they ran look on the website www.warriordash.com under norwest.



The starting line




The start..




Jumped over fire & then ran over tires


Mud!! Had to slide down then army crawl under barb wire



The Finish Line


After! MUDDDDDD!!!



Don't get mud on me!


"Washing" off afterwords

CA & Race

This last weekend Taren I went with my parents (Papa & Gram) to Petaluma CA. My parents had a race & my good friends live about 20 minutes from the race track. So Taren and I spent Thursday & Friday with my friends Tara & Nathan & then met my parents at the race on Saturday and headed home. Taren had so much fun with our friends 2 boys! He even got to go see a showing of toys story 3 (his first big screen movie!) at Nathan's work.
After Toys story 3, eating lunch



Taren had a great time at the race as well! Here are some pictures & also an awesome video of him when the cars came by.




A hauler driver of a cup race driver was parking his truck right next to us & saw Taren watching so he jumped out and gave Taren a team hat!


Taren watching the Cars come by