How different Emma looks...in two months!!

Emma in the hospital March 2013

3rd percentile for weight

March 2013

3rd percentile for weight

May 2013

40th percentile for weight

I think she looks so much healthier now!!! 

She definitely has more energy!!

Look! A G-Tube!!

Today we had an appt. with Dr. Hunter. Everything is looking good; her labs came back with almost everything back in the normal range. We are set to get a G-Tube placed on May 24th. 

We loved this stuffed animal that had a G-Tube.

I love to play the piano

Today was tough for me. I have had a pretty bad headache since last night. It was all I could do to get the kids out the door this morning for school. I came home and went back to bed. I could have stayed there all day, but I had a lot I needed to do. I got out of bed and went to the piano. I really like to play the piano. This is one of the talents I know The Lord has blessed me with that I new to develop more. I took lessons for about a month when I was a kid. It was from a neighbor two doors down. When she moved my parents didn't put me with another teacher. During High School I was in choir and learned to read music. From there I taught myself the basics of playing the piano. I can plunk my way through songs, but I need the theory behind it to become "fluent".
Playing the piano is very therapeutic for me. It helped my headache today and for about two hours my head didn't hurt.


We had Chris and the Elders over again for dinner tonight. We love spending time with them, and are excited for Chris' baptism this weekend. Garth and I are giving the talks at his baptism.

Baby blessings and Lemon Trees

Today Kate Sedley was blessed in church. It was fun to have Keith, Kaleen, and Becky attend our ward. After church we went to the Sedley's and had a Cinco de Mayo feast. Later, after a nice Sunday nap, I was able to juice two big bags of my grandma's lemons for lemonade concentrate.

Visiting Grandpa and Tam's new house

Today we left Kent and Tamara's to head up to Sacramento and visit with Grandpa Bob and Tammy. They moved into their new house a month ago and we wanted to come check it out. They live in a little gated community for 55 and older. They have a three bedroom, two bath house with a zero maintenance yard and solar. That is the best kind of yard for my dad! The community has a nice pool and clubhouse. We had a fun visit. The kids swam. Tammy took a lot of pictures, so I can post them when I get copies. Keira wasn't feeling well, her teeth were bugging her and she cried for about an hour. When she finally calmed down Tamara said, "Keira, your teeth are hurting you really bad."
Keira said, "ya, I frwied" (cried)
Poor baby! I am glad you got some teething medicine and some Motrin, you should sleep well tonight!
We are now traveling back home. It is 8:38pm.
We are crazy, I realize this about us. We usually are night road warriors.
I have a 7:30 meeting tomorrow morning...my body will not be happy come 6am when I have to get up!
We had a fun day!

Funny story from today...
Tamara and I were on the couch resting after swimming. Dad came and sat between us, I put my feet up across Dad's lap. He used to always rub my feet and give me "rosebuds" when I was little. Both Dad and Tamara started playing with my feet. It felt really good!
Well, the next thing I know Tamara pulls out the girls nail clippers from her pocket and starts cutting my toenails!! We busted up laughing! I told her she needed to rub lotion on my feet after that and I would be halfway to a pedi!
I love my sister!!

Fun with the cousins

We are heading up to Sacramento on Sat to spend the day with my Dad. We drove up to Modesto to spend the night at my sister's house today to break up the drive...well not really, we just wanted to visit with Kent, Mimi (our affectionate nickname for my sister), and the girls.
The twins were so excited to have us visit. It is so cute, they call us "theirs"
"My Angie"
"My Garth"
"My Gerrit"
"My Emma"

We got there around 5. We had Thai food for dinner, my new favorite! We played with the twins all evening, then Garth and I slept horribly on our blow up mattress. You get VERY spoiled when you have a Temperpedic mattress at home.

Tamara and I woke up early (5:45) to run. Keira woke up at 5:50 so we ended up riding bikes so Keira could come with us in the Chariot bike stroller. It was a leisurely ride, but it felt good to have the blood flowing and have a chance to talk.

Well spoken...

Exercise was the name of the game for me today...

I feel like I have accomplished a lot this morning. I ran with my friend, Sharlene this morning at 5:45, then showered and put on another pair of exercise clothes to meet my friend, Cassie at the gym after drop off. 

I couldn't say no to either friend, so I might be sore tonight, but it was worth it to catch up with Cassie at the gym and to run three miles with Sharlene.

I would post a pic of me, but I am gross after I exercise!

May Day!!

Happy May Day!!

Today I let Emma sleep in!

She went to bed at 7:30 last night. Slept soundly through the night and when I went in at 7 this morning to wake her she couldn't open her eyes. I figured if she sleeps 12 hours and is still tired, she needs the rest. So Garth took Gerrit to school and I let Emma wake up on her own. Which happened when Gerrit was singing as he was brushing his teeth at 7:45.

I wonder if the nightly feeds are not allowing her to get the deep sleep that she needs. I also wonder if that is part of her attitude issues lately...Hoping that is it...

So Emma got to have a leisurely breakfast and went to school at 9.

She did have a better attitude this afternoon...hmmm...I wonder if her bedtime should be 7:30 every night!

After school today the kids wanted to play baseball at the park. It was over 90 degrees, but we put on some hats and headed outside.

Gerrit wanted to play with a tennis ball and racket. That is fun! 

Emma hits left handed. She is right handed, so that was neat. I even had her switch to see what felt more natural. She said standing with her right foot forward. Maybe I should have her practice both ways, that way she could be a switch hitter!

We played outside for about 20 minutes, then decided to go inside and have some water, sit under the fan and watch Wreck it Ralph. 

The kids thought the fan was a good idea for the first 20 minutes, but then became chilled. I on the other hand thought it felt wonderful.

Tonight was mutual.

I am the Young Women's President in our ward, I have been since Jan. 2012.

Tonight at mutual we worked on Individual Worth #4 in our Personal Progress books.

(Personal Progress is a self enrichment program that we encourage all the girls to complete. It helps them know who they are; their talents, their strengths, and their relationship with Heavenly Father.)

We made "time capsules". Filled out papers and pictures about themselves, as well as writing a letter for them to open in about 6 years.

The girls seemed to enjoy the activity, and the evening turned out very nice. 

I made a banana poke cake and several girls asked for the recipe.

~~~~Super Easy! Make a yellow cake.  Pole a lot of holes in the top. 

Pour banana pudding (mixed as directed on box) over the entire cake, trying to fill the holes as much as possible. Chill. Frost with cool whip. Garnish with crushed Nilla Wafers and voila!~~~~

As I lay here in bed blogging my heart is full of gratitude to my Heavenly Father for the simple blessings I receive daily. It's the small things that keep us going. I am thankful for my body, and for my strength. 

 I am thankful for my ability to love and care for my family.

I am grateful for my children. 

I am SO grateful for my husband. Without him I would be lost.

So thank you Garth for being amazing; an amazing friend, husband, father and provider.

What did the last day of April bring???

A new washer and dryer!!!
I am feeling pretty good (and sore) right now...as I installed these...all by myself!
yep-wired the electric dryer, attached the water lines in the washer, installed the drain from the washer and made sure the dryer vented properly.

I was able to do laundry again! 

...However...

Today was a rough day with Emma. 

She was afraid her tape was coming off, which it was, because she had just gotten out of the shower. I tried several times to help her, each attempt ending badly. 

When she finally agreed to change the tape, she didn't want me to touch her, or the tape, she fought and ended up pulling the NG tube out all together. 

The irony was that the tape was still on her face.

We both got really upset because neither one of us wanted to put it back in. 

In the end there were many tears shed, which I am not going to lie, most were mine.

It hurts my heart that I am seen as the "bad guy". The one who inflicts pain.

I do it because I know this is what Emma needs to feel better. 

She IS feeling better. I see the difference the feedings are making. 

I only hope we can get through this!!!

I pray for comfort.

I pray for patience.

I pray for understanding and trust from a 7 year old.

I am grateful that the Lord hears our prayers.

My prayers were answered tonight by two Missionaries and an investigator named Chris Lee.

Chris is a 17 year old young man who, on his own, decided that he needed something different in his life. 

So, on his own, he came to church two Sunday's ago. 

He has been taking the discussions and since Garth is the Priest Quorum advisor, we have had two discussions at our house . 

The spirit is very strong in these lessons. 

I felt the love of my Savior tonight, and I am very thankful for his tender mercies.

I am very excited for Chris and the choices he is making. He is very learned already about the Gospel and at times the Elders joked that he was teaching them.

We are having another lesson on Thursday evening. 

Monday, April 29th, 2013

This morning I got up at 5:20 to meet my friend, Sharlene, to go running. I like my runs with her. In the beginning I would bring my headphones so I could listen to music. Sharlene would try to carry on a conversation, and I could only give her one work, usually breathless, responses. I am proud to say that now I leave my ear buds at home. We are able to carry on conversations as we run. I think it makes the time go by faster. The funny thing is, now when I go to the gym, I miss talking to someone while I exercise. I have even forgot my ear buds at home...luckily I had a random pair in my van.
After my three mile run I wanted to make the family a nice breakfast. So I surprised them with Cinnamon rolls and eggs. I figured I could shower when I came back from drop off, so I had more time to spoil my family; little did I know that I was wrong...
When I came home from dropping the kids off at school Ben and his Dad, Barry, were waiting in my driveway! I guess I got my weeks mixed up and didn't realize they were coming. I am glad I didn't run errands after drop off, but I wasn't happy that I still had my running clothes, and worse, smell on me.

But despite that; I always like it when Ben comes to play. He is such a special spirit and a lot of fun to hang out with. We went on a walk and Ben helped me with laundry...that is until my dryer stopped working!
I asked Nora, Ben's Mom if she could dry my last load of laundry. She, so willingly, said yes and I told her I would pick up her boys from school for her as a thank you.
When we got to her house after school, not only were my clothes dry and FOLDED, but Nora had made Pha.  It was amazing!! (see pic below)

After Garth got home, we discussed options with our dryer situation and at 7:50pm we ended up at Lowe's.  We ended up getting a really good deal on a washer and dryer. Lowes does price matching, plus an additional 10% off. They had free next day delivery and removal of old units, plus $130.00 in rebates. Not bad!!

The only down side is I am sure we will pay for keeping the kids out so late!!

Sunday!!!

I love our Sunday's. We love going to church, taking the Sacrament, listening to the wonderful messages of Hope and Faith, and getting to spend the day together as a family. We love to have Joe, Brittney, and Penni over for dinner. Today they were over, and Penni was playing in the toy box. Literally, IN the toy box. I took this picture of her and Emma, you can't really see that they were in the toy box, but look at those two CUTE girls!

Chile Verde, rice and spinach salad for dinner. Yum!

I also got a cute picture of Gerrit and Emma.
I Love These Kids!

Busy Saturday at the Dixon's

It was a very busy day today at the Dixon household. First we were excited to welcome Garth home who had been in San Diego on business since Wed. evening. It's always a good feeling to have us all under one roof! We were able to watch Ben this morning for a couple hours so my friend Nora could get her haircut. We enjoyed having a little one in the house and look forward to when we are able to adopt.
We did our normal Saturday cleaning. I like that time where we each have our chores and work together as a family. We were able to visit with grandma and grandpa Dixon and their longtime friends, Jim and Darlene. They were in town buying a gun and wanted to stop by and see us. Then we had the missionaries over for dinner along with an investigator named Chris; A 17-year-old who walked into our church building last week wanting to learn more about the Gospel. What a neat experience being able to have the missionaries teach an investigator in your home.
Saturdays for us lately have been both the best days and the worst days. It is the best day when we are able to take Emma's NG tube out and she has a day of being a normal girl. It is the worst day however, when it's time to put it back in. Which unfortunately is now...
We will be so glad when we are able to have the G-tube put in, and not have to worry about that each week. Until then, we take it a week at a time and trust in God's plan and timing.

Gerrit and Emma at LA Temple ~ March 2013

I live the colors of the flowers, the background and the children in this photo!

My sweet Emma's face melts my heart!

I love that Emma's face is getting pudgy!! Mostly because I know she isn't in pain from her Crohn's and that she is getting good nutrition from her tube feedings. I can't believe how far she has come in such a short time. She was diagnosed with Crohn's on March 11th, 2013. She started night feeds of Pedia sure on March 13th. The slow drip feed will change the chlorotic flora in her gut and help to heal the inflammation. She had lab work on April 23rd that confirmed that the treatment is working! We are so happy that she didn't have to be on steroids . She will continue to have the nightly feeds for quite some time. We are hoping to get a G tube placed early next month. Then we won't have to deal with the NG tube, tape, and all the questions surrounding why the tube is there.

Hanger Orthotics

Gerrit had an appt. to get casted for a bigger leg brace. It was nice because Emma played at Brittany Sedley's house so Gerrit and I could have some time together. We had a wonderful talk about how proud I am at the young man he is becoming and what is important to keep in mind as he gets older. We talked about going to BYU, living on his own, mission, being a good friend, and the wonderful traits that make him so special. It was a great day. I always love the sweet moments when I can just talk with my kids.

Steve is the name of our orthopedist at Hanger. We love his personality and expertise. Today after he made a cast of Gerrit's foot, he took us on a tour of the back rooms where they make the braces.

It was fun for Gerrit, and I, to see how they take the cast, fill it with plaster and make a mold of Gerrit's foot. Then they heat a piece of plastic in a big oven, one they joked also makes pizzas at lunchtime, and wrapped it around the plaster mold of the foot. They cut out the shape of the and discarded the rest. Then they apply a paper film with a design that the kids get to pick. Gerrit picked a digital camo print. Then it goes to the sanding room, then the sewing room to make the straps. I thought the sewing machine they have is awesome. Steve said it is a hundred years old and is the best machine.

Gerrit really liked to see how his brace was made, he also liked to see all the different types of braces. We saw amputee prosthetics, and a special $7,000 brace that Steve was making for a man with Polio.
Thanks Steve and Kent for the tour. We learned a lot!

Many changes in 2013

the end of 2012 was a very special time for me. a time that I don't think I will ever forget. 

First I would like to say that I always knew I wanted to have a big family.  Many of you know I have two beautiful bio children, Gerrit and Emma. Due to blood conditions, Severe post pardum depression, and a second C-section that I wasn't numb for...YIKES (this will be another post)...we were only able to have two kids. 

This is something I have struggled with for many years because I physically could not have the big family I always wanted. It wasn't until the end of 2012 that I really had the feeling that we needed to "bigger" our family.  

I started toying with the idea of adoption. I kept the feelings to myself for quite a while before I was brave enough, or the Lord timing had finally come, to tell Garth what I had been feeling.

We were at a family friend's wedding in Southern California in Dec. We were sitting in the sealing room and the Spirit was so strong. I can honestly say that I have never felt the Spirit and the presence of Angels as strong as I felt that day in the Temple. The thought came to me very clear that the time has come. I needed to share my thoughts with Garth. I had the most overwhelming feeling of peace and assurance that this was what the Lord was calling me to do.

I poured my heart out to Garth on the drive home and to my surprise, he felt much the same way I did! Was the Lord working of both of us? I am sure He probably was!

In January we called around and found a Foster/Adoption agency that we both felt was the right one to help us find our kids. It has been a very fast four months of certification classes, CPR/first aid training, home inspections  interviews, more safety training classes and finally a profile made of our family for the social workers to use in searching for potential matches.

Right now, we are finished with all the training and certifications we need, and are waiting for our social worker to complete our profile. Once that is done, which should be any day, we will start looking at potential matches and move forward with placement. 

Garth and I have felt from the beginning that there are several children out there that should be part of our family. We are looking for a sibling group. We know there is at least two, possibly four!! We are in constant prayer and trust that the Lord is in charge. I feel so humbled by this call and I only hope I can make a positive impact on these kid's lives. 

Gerrit and Emma have been on board from the very first day we presented them with the possibility of more siblings. We have changed around both their rooms, buying bunk beds and a crib (we are open to babies).  We have a mini van, which Garth refuses to call "his". 

We pray for these children daily, and are anxiously awaiting the day we can meet them.

I have such a strong testimony of the Lord's timing. I look back and see that He had been preparing us for the last couple years. We have moved into a bigger house, I am not working anymore, Garth has a good job, we are surrounded by friends who have either adopted or been adopted, and many other spiritual revelations that have helped us along the way. 

NieNie and a new dedication to blog...

I have been reading NieNie and I am in love. I love her determination, her faith, her never giving up...even when I am sure she felt like it everyday. I love how she can see the good in her everyday life. I love that she is willing to share that with all of us.
I have had my share of challenges in life. I try to see the positive, and all the Lord has blessed me with. I feel His love around me in my everyday life. I feel the Spirit whisper to me that the ordinary day to day are in fact, gifts from God. This has helped me through the tough times as well as appreciate when things are running smooth.
I have felt, over the last couple months, that I need to journal the events in my life more. I want to be able to look back and easily recall the special and not so special events or feelings that have made me the person I am today. I feel it an almost impossible task to start at the beginning, so I will start with what has been taking place at the Dixon household in 2013 and the MANY changes that await us this year!

Emma's diagnosis...Crohn's

We found out Emma has Crohn's disease. We spent a week at Children's Hospital. In the end, the therapy we chose was a slow drip night feed. This will be something she will be doing for a long time. We are happy she doesn't have to have steroids. She wears an NG tube for now and we are hopeful the therapy is working and we can get a G tube placed soon. She has been brave. There have been a lot of pokes, pills, and things being placed in very uncomfortable places...but she has done all the Doctors have asked her to do, and for that we are very grateful parents.