Cleared!!

Friday morning we got the results we had been praying for!! His scans are normal and he is clear!! Praise God! 

Trent's neurologist said it is still not clear what happened but it was probably what is called a cavernoma or cavernous malformation of the brain.  To read more about this click here http://brainavm.oci.utoronto.ca/malformations/Cavernomas_index.htm

We asked him what are the chances it could happen again and he couldn't tell us but he reassured us his scans are clear now.  In 3 months we will see him again for a follow-up but no scans, and next May (a year from when it happened) we will do another MRI. 

He told Trent he is free to be a normal kid again!!!!  Trent did a fist pump and said, "YES!!!!!!!"  Charly and I both took a deep breath!

After meeting up with one of our favorite PICU nurses and running a few errands we headed home packed up the camper and headed off for a little family getaway!! Trent got to run, jump, wrestle with his siblings and swim underwater!  We had a great time! 

We feel incredibly blessed by all the prayers, love and support from our family and friends!  Thank you all so much!  We would not be where we are today without all of you!

Love,
Shelby

A day in the life of Trent

Holy cow!  It's been a long time since I blogged, but I love reading other blogs (early in the morning;) so I thought I'd give it a try again,

I like reading A day in the life posts so I thought I'd do one about Trent's "new normal" right now;)

I picked a day that we didn't have a lot planned and tried to remember to get pictures!

Trent has graduated from sleeping in our room to sleeping in the office;)  He is able to do stairs but he still wakes up sometimes during the night with a headache or just not feeling well, so I didn't want him going up and down the stairs in the middle of the night. 

He is our early morning riser, usually before 6:30 but this morning he slept until 7:40!  When he wakes up he goes straight to the big chair and likes to watch T.V.  However, someone got up before him and beat him to his spot:) 

On his way back from the barn after feeding steers.

This was the only other morning picture I got, but the rest of the morning consisted of flying kites, playing on his kindle fire and probably watching Zootopia (for the millionth time)!

On this day we got a visit from one of our favorite PICU nurses!!!  We love Jama and were so blessed that she wanted to come visit and see how Trent was doing.  She will always hold a special place in our hearts!

Thank you for visiting us Jama!

Trent had asked all weekend if he could wash his steer so he finally got to.  His last really fun memory before his bleed was spent up at the Jr Livestock Show with this big guy!  I caught him trying to give Junior a kiss but also being quick to move in case that big tongue came out to kiss him back!

The rest of the afternoon was spent in and out of the pool (he hasn't been cleared to swim with his head underwater yet, so he basically just walks around or sits on the floaty). 

A couple pictures from dinner, minus some family members:)  Trace was at a birthday party, Lola fell asleep (watching Zootopia again!) and Charly was at work.

Of course I didn't get anymore pictures the rest of the night (oops), but they fed steers and ended their night watching Monty Walsh with Charly and went to bed:)

Have a blessed day!

Shelby

Easter

Happy Easter!

(Yes, I know it's 2 days after Easter, but thanks to blogger it took this long for my pictures to upload

and there are still more that never would:/)

 

Egg dying

This year we tried Kool-Aid to dye the eggs.  The kids thought it was pretty fun.

 

These 2 were my favorite - a little bit of turquoise coming through:)

 

Easter egg hunts

The kids got to be involved in many Easter egg hunts!

They had alot of fun and got alot of candy!

 

The annual Gilchrist Easter egg hunt and festivities

 

 

He was laughing so hard!

 

Easter egg hunt after church

 

 

Mom and Dad took us to brunch up at Banyan's after church. 

It was very good and very reasonable.  Kids 6 & under eat for free!!

 

And finally, one more hunt at home!

 

On your mark, get set, GO!!



 

~Dinner for 14~

Hennigar's and Pittman's (just a few from each side!)

 

Oh yeah, what's Easter without the baskets!

 

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter!

 

HE IS RISEN!

 

 

 



Thankful

Today I am thankful for many things . . .

a family that is on the healing end of sickness,

family members who drop everything to be there for you,

great friends who also drop everything to be there for you,

great memories with family that will be remembered forever,

 

and for these fun-loving, hilarious and gentle-hearted

kids who constantly remind us to slow down, have fun and laugh.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

(These pictures were taken last Thanksgiving up at the cabin.)

Traditions

I love traditions. 

They are full of family, memories, love, dedication and sometimes determination.

I remember making applesauce with my grandma when I was a little girl.

(I wish I had a picture of it, but pretty sure it probably resembled this picture!  With a

much younger grandma of course!)

In the last couple of years, she taught me how to make applesauce,

and I will cherish those memories for years.

Grandma's applesauce was the best! 

 We always raced to the fridge when we would visit the ranch.

This last Spring, shortly before she passed away, she asked me to clean

out her deep freezer and take whatever was in it.  I found 3 quarts of her applesauce and it

was like finding gold!

So now it is my turn to make these traditions and memories with my kids.







Grandma always left the peels on.  It gave the applesauce that nice pink/red color,

and as she always said, "It's one less step!"



My taste tester!

Seal of approval!



And, finally, the finished product!  The best part is, this is only

half of what we made!  Hopefully it will last us a few months.