Bus and plane pics.

Kids were all smiles getting up very early to go to Disney!! Every morning for a week the first thing Nathan would ask me when he woke up is, "are we going to Disney today?" It was so cute. I was excited for the day to come where I could say yes. Then Ryan got him up that morning, but I caught a picture of his smile!!

 Here is Ellie when I woke her.

Early 7:30am Sunday, Sept. 26th we were at the buses getting on to begin our vacation to Disney World in Florida!!

 We all got special name tags which identified who we were and which bus we were supposed to be traveling on.

 Waiting in line to board our first plane in Moline, IL to fly to Atlanta, Georgia. Ellie has her bag of goodies and games Remax Real Estate Company made for all the kids that were chosen for the trip.

Delayed airplane made us anxious to keep traveling. You can tell Ryan looks like he's just ready to get on with it. 

 On the plane excited to go!!

 I love this picture of Ellie.

I noticed I started this a long time ago so I'll post this and try to get on here to post more pics from our Magical Mix kids trip to Disney a year ago.

Long overdue update

Well I see I haven't posted since August. Ellie had an MRI two weeks ago and it was clear! Praise God for good results!! Next Month we take her to Iowa City for potentially her last eye appointment for a long time.  Since the last time we went they decreased her patching to 3 hours a day. So we have done that for 3 months. Hopefully her eye sight stayed at 20/25 and we can be done patching.  It seems her eye is staying pretty moist itself.  She still gets eye drops every two hours.  The doctors are hoping to be able to reduce that amount also.  Her eye has been looking great! Life seems much more normal finally.  Only doctor's appointments every 3-4 months has been nice.  Ellie's school year has started out great! She's still loving it!

Nathan is good at daycare/preschool also. I joined his class on a fun trip to a pumpkin farm last week. Fun times! He is POTTY TRAINED!! We LOVE IT!! He was ready for sure!!

Ellie's birthday is coming up and she is super excited! Already making lists of adults and kids she wants to invite.  She just can't decide what she wants to do.  Possibly another swim party. She decided to ask for donations for the Ronald McDonald House again this year.

Happy fall everyone!! I give thanks this Thanksgiving for all of you, your support and your prayers. LOVE YOU ALL!!

Great news!

Well we have been two Iowa City multiple times since my last post.  This last time, two weeks ago, was great news! Ellie had been battling a big red spot on her eye and the eye doctor brought in a specialist to look at it and he said she had a flick tenule. What does that mean you ask? It's inflamation and needs steroids and antibiotics for treatment. So we got put on more eyedrops and different ointment at night. This is good news because we figured out the redness isn't from dryness! So we can back off from eyedrops every hour to every two hours and see if the dryness is ok.  The other news was better news!! She got 20/20 minus half the line when looking through a black thing with lots of tiny holes!! She hasn't ever been to 20/20 yet. Without the black thing with holes she got 20/25 minus half the line. This was good improvement! Exciting! So we have been patching still and hope to get better results when we go Thursday to Iowa City to check the flick tenule and eyesight. Hope to get better news. Her eye isn't red anymore so the meds have helped.

We had a great time at Relay for life of Black Hawk County!! The kids had fun with family and the UNI Volleyball team. We got great pictures I'll post when I get them scanned into the computer.

This labor day weekend we get to go to family camp at Village Creek Bible Creek! We are looking forward to a fun weekend there!

Ellie is our brown little raisin minus the wrinkles.  She has been at Camp Cedar Falls all summer and swimming two times a week. Her hair has lightened also.  This last week they got to go to Lost Island in Waterloo alone with two days at The Falls. She is waterlogged and happy to take a break from swimming.

Now school starts on the 17th and she is excited!! We are getting some tax free weekend shopping in this weekend to prepare for school. I'm glad this return of the 80s fashion hasn't sparked Ellie's eye. YIKES!! is all I have to say about that.

Thank you all for your continued prayers for her progress!

MRI coming up

Sorry but this is going to be a quick update. I know it's been a while but I'll get back on later this week.  Just wanted to let everyone know a couple things;

We will be participating as Team Ellie again this year in Relay For Life Black Hawk County June 17-18. If anyone is interested in joining us or donating please let me know and I can help get you where you need to go. Or you can get info on the Relay for Life Black Hawk County webpage: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=29905

Ellie has an MRI this week Wednesday, June 1st. We will give you an update on that and her eye progress soon!

Hope everyone had a fun and safe Memorial Day weekend! WE DID!!

eye update!

Today we went to Iowa City for a one month update to see how patching is going. We weren't sure what to expect because a couple weeks ago when we did the computer eye exam she got a 1 in her left eye and a 4 in her right eye.  1 is the best and 5 is the worst.  After this I didn't have much confidence we were going to get good news today. But we did!! Her left eye is still 20/20 and her right eye is now 20/25. The best it has ever been since brain surgery is 20/30. This patching is working great and she has been such a good sport about wearing it. She has pretty patches that she tries to match to her clothes every day. We go back in another month, on May 25th, to see if there is more improvement.

After appointments we usually go to the Coral Ridge Mall for Ellie to play in the kids play area. By the end Ellie usually asks to be carried on Ryan's shoulders.  Here they are as we walk out.

pirates and birthdays!

I wanted to share something cute that happened Tuesday night.  We went to dinner with my parents and Javier, Stephanie, Hudson and Tenley. When Hudson saw Ellie wearing her eye patch he quickly handed out pictures he had colored for us and said pirate when he handed Ellie's picture to her.  Then he quietly said to Stephanie that he wanted to be a pirate like Ellie.  I thought it was so cute. I hadn't thought about Ellie being a pirate. Ellie didn't have any response when Hudson said he wanted to be a pirate like her. She doesn't think it's funny and it doesn't make her upset. Kind of odd to get no response from her about something.

Ryan gave me a card this morning and it was hilarious so I wanted to share it.

For my wife on her birthday.
The top 10 things I don't say often enough...

10. I hate to miss the game, but this floor could really use a good scrubbing.
9. Why don't you buy a nice new pair of shoes to go with that outfit.
8. Let's rent a romantic movie. If I see one more car chase, I'm gonna hurl!
7. Yeah, I'm pretty tired, too, so let's just cuddle.
6. Why can't they show real-looking women in those lingerie catalogs?
5. My thumb's getting tired. Would you mind holding the remote for a while?
4. I'm not sure we've seen enough family lately.
3. You got enough blankets over there?
2. Sure, I'll be glad to hold your purse while we're standing next to this construction site.
1. I'll love you forever! (and I sure hope you know it!)

This was funny to me.
It was nice to start my day off laughing!

I did have a spectacular birthday! I took the day off to pamper myself since I had some gift certificates to use up.  I got a pedicure with a friend Hannah, then had lunch with Hannah and Collette, visited Ellie at school for a little while then went to a massage! The whole day was wonderful. Ended it with a fun evening outside on this beautiful day with the fam.  It was a blessing to have Facebook today also.  So many friends wished me a happy birthday. It made me feel so loved and special.  Thank you all, everyone out there, thank you!

Happy 76th Birthday Dad on Thursday, March 31st

Happy Birthday to Ellie and Nate's cousin Ethan on April 1st!
and Happy Birthday to Hudson on April 9th!

Nathans

I started this a few days ago but didn't have time to finish so now I will and finally post it.

16 years ago on March 26, 1995 Ryan lost his best friend Nathan Bertram.  This is a picture of Nathan.  From that day forward Ryan and I became close friends.  When we were married and talked about  names for our children, we decided to name our boy after his friend Nathan Bertram that died.  So that is how we get to our Nathan.  We miss you Nathan and always think about you when we see eagles or hawks.

Who is visiting my page?

I put a Live Traffic Feed gadget on the blog and would like to know who in particular is visiting from places like Baxter, Iowa, Decatur, IL, Alabama and other exotic places likes that.  When you visit can you please post a comment and let me know who you are.  I know there are so many people I don't even know following the blog but I would like to know how you came to follow our familie's story.  Thanks so much for your cooperation!

Patches, patches, Ellie's eye patches

We headed to Iowa City Friday hoping to see more improvements in her eye sight.  We hoped we could do less days of atropine, dialating drops.  This wasn't the case however.  Her eyesight was the same or slightly worse.  20/20 in her left eye and 20/40 in her right eye.  Last time she had 20/35 in her right eye.  Anyway, they thought maybe atropine had done all it could do for Ellie so the next thing is patching.  The good eye will get the patch on it so the weak eye has to do all the work, all the time.  So Ellie is going to wear a patch on her left eye all the time for 4 weeks.  She will be checked in a month to see how the progress is going.  Patching 100% of the time is supposed to have quick results.  She is also a part of a study for patching now.  So during the month we are to do an eye test online to see how it's going partway through and if it varies from what they find in the clinic.  They had some way cute patches for Ellie to take home and wear.  This makes it easier for her to agree to wear them.  We are also doing an incentive calendar.  A sticker each day she wears it all day and doesn't take it off or mess with it.  She is rewarded at the end of each week.   

Here are pictures of her the first two days. She wanted to put a patch on the eye of her kitty stuffed animal so it could be like her.  At least she is taking it well right now and still smiling.  She wasn't embarassed to go out in public with it today.  She was embarassed and wouldn't go to the UNI Panther Sports camp with it though.  I really hope this isn't going to make her less social.  She says she won't be embarassed by it with people she knows.  We will see!

She told me this afternoon that sometimes she forgets she is wearing it.

March 25th Eye appnt.

Hi all! It's been a long time since I have updated, because not much has been going on other than living everyday life.  This Friday, March 25th, Ellie has an eye appointment in Iowa City.  We have seen much improvement in her face and eye movement since the May 2010 nerve graft surgery.  We are praying all these atropine, dialating, drops has continued to improve her vision strength.  We did see a nice improvement last time so we are hoping to see 20/20 in both eyes and possibly cut back on atropine drops a couple days a week.  I will update after the appointment.

Ellie is also improving in her reading skills.  She had fallen behind in reading so her teacher has been spending more time with her before and after school to get her caught up. Now a past English teacher both Ryan and I had in middle and high school is going to start helping Ellie one morning a week at school to help her teacher out.  Sooo Ellie's teacher reported to me a couple weeks ago that she is improving but has more to go still. I was happy to hear this!

God is good!!

I am happy to report Ellie had good reviews from her MRI yesterday. Both doctors today were very happy to see the MRI clear! Her oncologist said her brain/brain stem is starting to move back into the area that the tumor was in.  This is something that is normal. She passed all the physical exams they did with her to check her strength.  Not much else to report but that all is good! God is good, we are so thankful and happy!!

MRI Tuesday

Ellie has another update MRI tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan. 25th at 7:30 in the morning. We will be headed there bright and early in the morning.  Then once she wakes up she is good to go. We will then return Wednesday for the Dr.'s appointments to get the results of the MRI from her radiation oncologist and see the Otolaryngologist because he wants to see the MRI pics of the nerve graft surgery.

I am calm and confident about this because all others have been with good results.  We hope this will be the same good results.  Continueing to pray about it though.

I will update Wednesday after we get results.

Being Thankful!

I AM THANKFUL:

FOR THE WIFE

WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,

BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,

AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

FOR THE HUSBAND

WHO IS ON THE SOFA BEING A COUCH POTATO,

BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME

AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.

FOR THE TEENAGER

WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES

BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME,

NOT ON THE STREETS.

FOR THE TAXES I PAY

BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED.

FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY

BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG

BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.

FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK

BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE

FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING,

WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,

AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING

BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME.

FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT

BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT

BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING

AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION.

FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL

BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.

FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH WHO SINGS OFF KEY

BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.

FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING

BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.

FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY

BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.

FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF

IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS

BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.

AND FINALLY, FOR TOO MUCH E-MAIL

BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE THINKING OF ME.

Live well, Laugh often, & Love with all of your heart

mom update

My last entry was about my mother being in the hospital.  Well Monday, January 3, first day back to work after the holidays, she felt like she was having a heart attack while she was driving to work so she went straight to Sartori ER. They saw she was having a heart attack and sent her by ambulance to Covenant.  The hospital called me while she was on her way to Covenant and I headed there right away.  It so happened that I met the ambulance at Hudson Rd. and hwy 20, then I had to pull over so the ambulance transporting her could go by.  This was a wierd experience.  Covenant was so fast helping her that by 9am she had a stint in already.  Thanks to great care and fast help she is doing great now!!  There is minimal damage to her heart and she is headed back to work Tuesday. Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts.

update about my mom

Just wanted to let those who are waiting for an update about my mom to know she was discharged from the hospital Wednesday midday and is doing well.  Resting a lot and will be doing some rehab for strengthening. Thank you all for your prayers. I will post details for those of you who don't know what is going on after I ask my mom if I can. Take care!

FeLiZ aNo NueVo!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

We had a truly wonderful Christmas. Restful and fun! No hustle and bustle. Just taking our time through all the gatherings. We are blessed to have Ellie another year and great to have all our cousins and family so close.  We had a new addition to the Mercado side of the family! Tenley Olivia Mercado was born to Javier and Stephanie and joined her big brother Hudson Dean! She is absolutely precious and adorable.  She was born healthy on December 12th, the day before my mom's birthday. We are happy she made it for Christmas and New Year!  I think Javier and especially Steph were ready to meet her.  Sadly we haven't seen Emily, Jesse, Ethan and Haley yet but soon we will be able to give them their gifts.

We hope everyone's  Christmas and New Year was safe and joyous!