A New EYE!!!

Aiden after 30 minutes with his new eye (disease free).
Close-up of his face with his new eye. If you don't know or remember which eye then guess which one is real and which one is a prosethetic. Thank you to Rich Caurso for his amazing talents.

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Halloween '09

Aiden decorating cookies for halloween
Averee licking the frosting off her cookies

Every year we have fun putting out a little graveyard-Aiden loves helping me put it out

Averee and her trip to the pumpkin patch

(wheelbarrow ride is the best part)

Aiden got to go as long as we avoided all the crowds. He quickly found his favorite pumpkins and back to the car we went while Dad paid.

Carving out our pumpkins (a couple of witches mixing up a brew and a funny face too)
Grandpa and Grandma getting into the festivites this year-Thanks for a fun halloween party!!!
Averee and her cousin Chloe dressing up in the exact witch costume.
All the grandkids in their costumes
Trick or treat

Averee would go to every door and say "treat" no tricks for this girl.

Aiden loved trick or treating and was wishing he could have gone to more houses.

Hope all had a great Halloween!!!

September and October 2009

I haven't been good at posting any pictures lately. Therefore, here is a few thing we have been up to in the last couple of months.
Dad and Aiden riding the cars at Boondocks-Aiden's last venture outside to a public place until chemotherapy is completed and his ability to fight infection is returned to normal.

Aiden and Averee at the dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving point


Sporting their new pjs they got for the holiday



Aiden's first day of preschool- He is sad that he can't go for a while.


Aiden got to play a few games of soccer before starting the chemo.

Enjoying the famous giant yellow slide at the Utah State Fair

Averee taking her turn to go in for surgery

and have her eyes looked at. The result=

eyes are clear of tumor but she will need

glasses before attending school.

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

5 years ago today....

Happy Anniversary Matt!!!

It has been 5 years already. Hope the next 5 bring much happiness and joy as well.

I love you!

on a HAPPY note

Aiden's 3rd birthday

A few days after bringing Aiden home from the hospital

Today is Aiden's 4th birthday!!!!

Aiden you are a special child who is loved by your family so much. We are all saddened to know that your little body has had to go through so much. Although we know and Heavenly Father knows you can overcome this.

Sad News

Aiden after surgery

Aiden before surgery-He said "can I keep the socks. I like them but I don't like these other things (meaning the gown and bottoms)

Our beautiful boy Aiden was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma (RB) approximatelty 2 weeks ago. It is a cancerous tumor of the eye. It is very aggressive and must be taken care of quickly. His prognosis is positive in that if the cancer is located only in the eye that it will have a 95 to 98% cure rate. If the cancer has traveled outside of the eye and into the optic nerve, he would require chemotherapy. It is a rare form of cancer that affects 300 children each ear and most often strikes in children birth to 5 years. There are two types of RB one being genetic and the other a gene mutation. You can also have unilateral (one eye) or bilateral (both eyes). Aiden has unilateral and most likely is not genetic and until proven Averee is at risk also. There are two types of treatment being done in the US. The first being enucleation (eye removal) and the second being intrarterial chemotherapy (IAC). Enucleation is the standard of care and the IAC is a trial that has been going on for a short three years. Matt, Aiden and myself flew to Pennsylvania this past weekend to find out if Aiden was a canididate for this new procedure and he was. However, Matt and I decided that it was too risky with unknown long term effects on Aiden. We made the decision to do the enucleation. Aiden was admitted to Primary Children's yesterday for the procedure. Everything went well and he is doing great and the pain has improved dramatically. It will be a long six to eight weeks for us until he is fit with his prosthetic eye. Thank you to all who knew and provided our family with love and support through this difficult two weeks.

Happy 4th of JULY

Awaiting the Centerville City parade to start!!!

Matt's Family Reunion

Aiden loves Papa's Rhino and 4-wheeler
Aiden caught his own fish-very exciting

Aiden and Averee watching Dad unhook the fish from Aiden's pole. This is Aiden's first time using his new fishing pole and tackle box that Santa brought him this last Christmas

Aiden and Averee enjoying a ride on the 4-wheeler

Dad was stuck on the 4-wheeler giving rides two these two cute kids because neither one ever wanted to get off.

Newest member of our family-Black Lab

Aiden playing with Ruggar after picking him up 30 minutes prior
Averee not sure about the dog

Averee deciding to pet him on the back side while her brother hold him in place.

Lagoon

Thanks to Grandpa-we all enjoyed a day at Lagoon!!! Thanks Grandpa

Averee and cousin Chole

Aiden's favorite ride is the tidal wave and he has renamed it the fairy boat

Averee loved riding this little ride and using the guns to fire at her brother and the other riders.

SUMMER FUN!!!

Aiden having fun with his cousin Max

Baseball and soccer ending for the summer-Aiden apparently thinks you have to slide into home each and every time you round the bases. He loved playing both these sports and most importantly he loved the after game treats.

My Cute Soccer Player!!!

Easter Eggs

Aiden has been anxiously awaiting the day we were going to color easter eggs. Both Aiden and Averee had a good. She had to have all clothing removed in anticipation that she would indeed make a mess. Now Aiden is anxiously awaiting the Easter egg hunts.