LOOK OUT!!!!

I hope you are all up to date on your insurance.... I know we are!

Vincent is NOW driving...... I really didn't think that this day would get here.  I am not sure I am really happy it is?  I not only felt a sense of anxiety when he was behind the wheel. But goodness..... My lil man is growing up.  What happened to the days of the scooter???  For those of you that remember, he did still ride it until this week.  I am truly so grateful for a wonderful husband who has such great patience and understanding when it comes to teaching lil man how to drive. 

Watch out world, here comes Vincent!

Too much Juice for Hercules

Remember that Brian started another dose of steriods.  Starting on Monday the 19th we went to the VA Hospital.  They issued him with an IV that would stay in for the next three days.  Amanda and I waited in the waiting room for the next hour half. :(  Finally Brian was ready to go home. 
Feeling good, we assumed everything would go the same on Tuesday and Wednesday and hopefully we will see results from this dose. 
Not so much!  Around mignight (Brian's offical Birthday) Brian woke me up with "Babe, it's time to go to the hospital". How the roles have reversed.  He waited 9 months for me to tell him that.  Now, I kind of dread that sentence.  We checked in around 12:30am with a blood sugar count of 400.  YIKES!  After several hours of insulin and some hydrating IV's we were able to go home. 
Happy to say that Tuesday and Wednesday's injections went just fine.  We are even more happy to receive the news that Brian is not diabetic.  What a relief.  This week life is back to normal, for what normal can be around here.... :)
We now are just awaiting the next set of MRI's that are being ordered from Dr. Okuda. 

Birthday Surprise

For over a month now (it seems that long) Vincent and I held a secret from Brian.  Grandma Linda (Brian's mom) had purchased a plane ticket to arrive on the 15th of this month.  We had slipped a couple times and somehow managed to pull it off.  I had told Brian that I had Relief Society at the church that night and Vincent was going to go along and play volleyball with one of the kids in the ward. 
What we really did was go get gas, headed to the airport and waited anxiously for Grandma Linda to arrive!8:15 couldn't come fast enough.  I woke Brian telling him there was some kind of box that I couldn't take care of myself and could he possibly help..... Okay Right!  Like I can't handle a box.  Let alone have Vincent help me.  But really it was the only thing we could think of. And  IT WORKED! 
Brian came went out to the living room and was beyond surprised..... It was the greatest weekend we have had in a long time.  Brian was smiles the whole entire weekend!

Grandma and Vincent settling on their bet with each other

Vincent trying to give me pointers (I was ahead of him)

Amanda was having a blast!

Grandma takes this game seriously

Thank you, Thank you very much.  It's the HOLE IN

ONE CLUB.

What???? Yes, I am having fun :)

What a perfect picture of Linda and Brian

hhhhmmmmm

picture says it all

We thought he dropped that sport?

After Brian's wonderful Birthday Lobster dinner!!!!!

oops out of order. Brian preparing his favorite dinner.

A special THANK YOU to Linda for making our Husband, dad smile that weekend.  We enjoyed, luvd and appreciate our Costco run including a Costco Dog wishing Grandpa Bob was there, Miniture golfing, spending time with the kids, spending time with Brian and most of all, taking the time to come visit and making it an unforgetable weekend. 

WE LUV YOU GRANDMA LINDA :)



Training with the Triathlete

I have been riding with some of the girls in our ward this past month... It has been more than great.  So, I thought that I would start riding with Vincent again.  Afterall, he hasn't been training that much lately.  I thought that I would be a good companion for him..... Oh was I wrong.  After 30 minutes of trying to keep up at the average speed of 19.4, it was just too much for me.... I have now deciding I am going to ride with the girls... I feel much better about myself if they kick my trash rather than Lil Man. :)



Hercules! Hercules! Hercules!

This week there is even more news.  Dr. Okuda from Barrows Neurological Institute, found that one of the lesions his back has grown a large amount since being released from the hospital the first week in August.  What does that mean?  That his MS is progressing much faster than we thought.  Next week Brian will be going to the hospital on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to start another round of steriod treatment.  It is suppose to help slow down the growth of the lesion. 
Brian is such a good sport about it.  When we do talk about it, all he says is Hercules, Hercules, Hercules........
In October he is going in for another MRI on his brain to look at the lesions there. 
As for now..... It's time for some juice........

Brian's MS Follow Up Visit

On Tuesday the 6th we met with Brian's Dr. whom discharged him from the Hospital for a follow up visit.  Long story short, the visit did not go over well.  He, well we both felt he was being treated very poorly and above all things rudely.  (some of you may have seen the Richard Cranium post on FB)The appointment went so bad we went back to the Hospital the next day and spoke with the Director of Administration for the Hospital.  Within hours we had a phone call from a secretary making another appointment with him with another Dr. 
Today, Friday September 9 we met Dr. Okuda whom I must say it an outstanding Dr.  and much better bed side manner.  It has been confirmed again, that Brian does have Mutilple Sclerosis.  For some reason it is getting easier to say.  Not yet easier to live, but easier to say.  We addressed the issues of fatigue, sweatiness, pain and many more symptoms.  We were happy to know for certain that we had the right diagnosis. 
Dr. Okuda ordered another brain MRI which will happen in the near future.  Along with the MRI he has ordered other tests that will be performed.  Brian will continue with treatment for at least 6 months. 

That's all for now....

Until the next update :)

What's For Dinner

Since Brian's diagnosis of Mutiple Sclerosis he has not been able to return to work.  He has been staying home with Amanda during the day while I am at school. (he would stay home before but head to work as soon as I got home from school) He still has such a problem with fatigue. 
One of the things he has found joy in is cooking.  He is able to start dinner, go lay down, tackle a little more dinner, rest and so on until he has completed the meal.  He has now become quite the Chef! 

Three cheese Macaroni. One of his first dishes....

I enjoyed the leftovers way too much!

Jambalya I have no idea how to spell it and our

neighbors have the cook book.  Even my friend from

school enjoyed this dish.

Forgot the name of this one.. But also homemade rolls.

Brian..... He is so happy while cooking...

Butterscotch Cheescake.... I am never going to be

able to loose the baby weight.

Pronto Pasta & Sausage Skillet.... You will have

seconds with dish for sure.

His chocolate chip cookies.... He actually made this

for Vincent's first coed pool party... I was bummed

that they were such a hit.... I wanted them all to myself.

Stay tuned for more.........



Labor Day Weekend Visitors

We were all looking forward to the three day weekend...... It's been a little crazy here lately.  So you can imagine our excitement when Brian's best friend and family said they were coming out to visit.  What a FUN exciting weekend.  The pictures say it all. 

Hanging by the Pool

Gavin shootin some hoops

with a little bit of help from Vincent

Aaaahhh The guys and kids

Brian and Amanda.

A special THANK YOU to Norma and Richard.  Thank you for such an amazing dinner and a wonderful time with your family.  It was a lot of fun.  I am sure there will be a rematch of volleyball in the future! 

Brian with Godson Gavin and Best Friend Gabe

Vincent Chillin' as teenagers do.

Gavin and Vincent.... They luvd that $5 chair.

Baby Ava... What does thing do?  Anything besides

make noise?  Luv that her and Amanda are only 21 days

apart. 

Gabe with Amanda and Ava........ What a great pic!

Believe it or not... She had just looked back from

watching the boys in the pool... She was super excited.

Gabe and Zayda Garcia.......

Thank you so much for making the trip out here.... It

means the world to us. 

Yeah.... Dinner time....

Poor Gavin.... He was wore out...

Thank you Gabe and Zayda for such a MOST wonderful weekend... We more than appreciate you coming out to visit.  More memories to Cherish...

WE LUV YOU GARCIA FAMILIA!!!!!!



Four and half months

Last week we went for Amanda's four month checkup.  Yes, it has taken us that long to get her to the doctor.  She orginally had an appointment during the week that Brian was in the hospital.  She will be 5 months tomorrow, September 5. 

It's a little blury but she wouldn't stop moving....

Yes........ Our baby girl can sit up.. Woop Woop... That is a 6 month old trick  :) 

She luvs to play in the car while we are in the kitchen cooking......



A good day!

On Wednesday Brian had to go in for a follow up MRI.  For those of you that are friends with him on FB. You know how that went.  Everyone else..... He is too much.  He went through 4 valum (sp) in a 5 hour period and had to spend over 3.5 hours for 2 MRI's.  He describes it as "fat man in a skinny coat" :).  We are grateful that at some points he has a sense of humor in this whole thing.  Unfortunatley the machine he was in broke half way into the 2nd MRI.  Mind you, not due to the "fat man in a skinny coat".  I really wish I had a picture of this procedure but I am sorry I don't.  If I were to go back I would not be able to pump or to eat...... The two major things that rule my life right now... Okay they are not the only two but they are up there on the list.  After completing two chapters of homework in the waiting room and watching old episodes of Family Matters Brian finally came out........ Wednesday, not a good day. :(  Kudos to Vincent for taking care of Amanda the whole time.... He is such an awesome big brother. 

Thursday Brian was feeling good.  I think he is on a High since his best friend from Santa Barbara is coming to visit this weekend.  He decided he was going to play some games with some friends last night.  This is so "I'm serious but happy face" OR

You have the lets get down to business face..... Overall.  This week had more good days than not.  We are ready for the weekend..... :)