"Even without a perfect body, one can have a perfect soul."

I usually delete all forwarded e-mails but this one I thought might be good to post as it relates to kids born with Spina Bifida. It also applies to anyone told they "can't" do something. Below is posted the content of this e-mail:

This dog was born on Christmas Eve in the year 2002. He was born with 2 legs - He of course could not walk when he was born. Even his mother did not want him. His first owner also did not think that he could survive and he was thinking of 'putting him to sleep'.

But then, his present owner, Jude Stringfellow, met him and wanted to take care of him. She became determined to teach and train this little dog to walk by himself. She named him 'Faith'. In the beginning, she put Faith on a surfboard to let him feel the movement. Later she used peanut butter on a spoon as a lure and reward for him for standing up and jumping around. Even the other dog at home encouraged him to walk.

Amazingly, only after 6 months, like a miracle, Faith learned to balance on his hind legs and to jump to move forward. After further training in the snow, he could now walk like a human being. Faith loves to walk around now. No matter where he goes, he attracts people to him.

He is fast becoming famous on the international scene and has appeared on various newspapers and TV shows. There is now a book entitled 'With a Little Faith' being published about him. He was even considered to appear in one of Harry Potter movies. His present owner Jude Stringfellew has given up her teaching post and plans to take him around the world to preach that even without a perfect body, one can have a perfect soul'. In life there are always undesirable things, so in order to feel better you just need to look at life from another direction.I hope this message will bring fresh new ways of thinking to everyone and that everyone will appreciate and be thankful for each beautiful day. Faith is the continual demonstration of the strength and wonder of life.

Eye patch

Hayden has got two months of practice for his Halloween pirate costume. This was his first outing with it on and first swing time in the park.

You have to check out the video of him eating cereal on the right bar of youtube videos. I couldn't get it to upload on this posting.

Firsts

Hayden's first food, rice cereal...not really a favorite. See how he is eyeing the Sunday morning breakfast of Scott's green chile scrambled eggs & french toast.

He got his first pair of Nike shoes thanks again to the Pool fam!

Hayden's trip to the Ophthalmologist was a success. She said his optic nerves were great and that he had good vision. He does have weakened muscles on the outer edge of his eyes due to the hydrocephalus and that we will need to alternate patching his eyes for 2 months to help strengthen them. Whew..this was great news!

Hanna's first day of pre-school. She loved it and didn't look back. Even cried when she had to leave. Makes you wonder what her mother does or doesn't do at home doesn't it.

Birthdays in Billings

We had a great week long visit in Billings, Montana for Scott & Anna's birthdays. So out of courtesy for others privacy, since our blog is public, we typically try to not post pictures of anyone other than our family.

Hanna loved riding Mooders everyday and playing in the sandbox best. We loved Julia and Austin's babysitting/playing and the cool weather and great company best.

We had such a great time with all of the Montana Hannas and even got to visit with the Rexburg Williams and go out to the Jordan's ranch.

Now that Hayden is 6 months old, he has also visited 6 states in his short little life.

6 months old

Hayden is now 6 months old and I can't believe it. His smile melts my heart. He is the sweetest baby. Since we have taken a break from the medical community on our vacations, we have been able to relax and just have fun. My vigilant eye looking for things that might be wrong has taken a break. Now that we are back to the regular check ups, there are many wonderful things going right, but also a few tough ones that keep me up at night.

At clinic, Hayden was found to have great weight gain, an MRI of a working shunt and an ultrasound to find some fluid built up in his kidney. We are also treating him for a UTI at the current moment. The urologist's office tried to test him with an analysis of his strength of stream to see if we need to start cathing him again. During this test they couldn't pass the catheter after trying for a very long time. Now he has been swollen for days and are waiting to see where we go from here and have him rechecked after the round of antibiotics.

An optimist would hope that his stream is well and that it doesn't matter if a cath won't pass, because he won't ever need one. The pessimist/realist might think that there is an obstruction, or narrowing of the opening to the bladder and another surgery might be required and possible cathing again to reduce further UTIs.

At his Pediatrician's office, his weight was in the 50% at 17.6lbs and height in the 75% at 27 inches while his head is so small it didn't make the charts. This is something we need to follow up with at next clinic. He got his vaccinations and the doctor recommended we see an opthomologist for his eye (translation= another possible surgery).

During his physical therapy sessions, the PT was concerned about his "low tone". This is not new, but he is lagging significantly in a few areas ie. hands are still in fists, doesn't play with toys, doesn't sit unsupported and falls with rounded back, not rolling over, not pushing up with arms on tummy and head control isn't where she thinks it should be. She recommended a neurologist apmt.

While we are blessed to have great health care and insurance, the co-pays are really adding up. I don't know how others do it with less than we have been blessed with.

Here is a beautiful picture of our little hero and his aunt Melyssa. Please keep him in your prayers. They work.

Happy Hayden's SB Clinic

Hayden had a very very long SB clinic today. We left home at 6am and left clinic at 1pm. He had an MRI and an ultrasound. The MRI was great and again no news is good news. The ultrasound of the kidneys showed he had some fuid in his left kidney. The doctor said his didn't see reflux or UTI, but we should watch it to see if in the future we have to start cathing again. Only 30% of SB people don't have to cath. We hope Hayden makes that percentage, but the more important thing is to keep his kidneys healthy. We will keep watching.

Hanna was a trooper big sister as always watching cartoons and keeping busy with snacks and playing. When we were out, Hanna and I ate lunch in the cafeteria of the hospital and found our Seton photo shoot poster up for all to see. All the staff thinks Hayden is famous. We have to agree he is pretty special!

Ruidoso, NM Family Reunion

We feel blessed that we were able to drive to New Mexico for a wonderful family get together in the mountains and take a break from the heat. We are posting a few of the pictures of our wonderful family time there.