Owen - Two Years Later!

It was two years ago today that Owen arrived home from China and we can not imagine life without him.  He is such a beautiful, loving, and happy little boy.  He is also a little hairy!

Elliot & Owen

Owen's brothers and sisters absolutely love him and cherish him.  He can play Legos and Dinosaurs with Elliot, Ballet with Ansley, or soldier with General Iris!

We arrive home with Owen on December 21, 2011 and he was a wonderful Christmas present for our entire family.  Owen was still not sure what was happening and who all of these people were but I know he felt a love and spirit that he had never experienced before.

Arriving Home at Kansas City Airport 2 Years Ago Today

It was just a few weeks after arriving home that Owen's medical challenges dominated his life for the next 10 months.  We were eating dinner at a local restaurant when Owen started having trouble swallowing and breathing.  Up to this time we knew he had some issues swallowing his food but the worst that ever happened was he would cough it up and start over.  This time was different.  He was eating chicken noodle soup, which should not have been an issue, and we soon realized something was horribly wrong.

We called Grandma Joy and asked her to meet us at our house and then we would take Owen to the ER.  This soon escalated and we rushed him to ER scared of what might be happening.  Once we arrived at ER they took control and assured us he was getting air and was stabilized.  Owen would have multiple procedures over the next few months with no success. 

Not Comfortable Few Months with this Tube Placement!

 

Laughing Gas at KU Med Just Before the Big Surgery

Dad and Owen In Recovery Room

Let the Healing Begin

Iris, Ansley, Elliot, Cousin Alex Visiting

Cousin Nick Visiting Owen

Its Almost Time to Go Home!

Finally in the fall of 2012 he would have a major surgery and his road to recovery was in place.  A few more months with the feeding tube and then he would be ready for the fork!  From this moment on Owen would start to blossom!

Fast forward 2 years and there is no stopping him.  He has graduated from physical therapy, and occupational therapy.  Soon we expect he will be kicked out of speech.  The only thing Owen still needs to accomplish is potty training!  They assure me he will not go to college in pull ups.  I know he will get it when he is ready, but boy this momma is ready for him to get out of diapers. 

Owen, we love you so much and thank God each day you are part of our family.  You are part of God's big story and He has big plans for you.  Always know God loves you and will never leave you.

Gotcha Day!

Two Years Later.....

 

 

The Follow Up Post.....

When posting yesterday it was getting late and I ran out of gas.  So here are a few more photos and a video we want to share......

 

Ansley learning to 2-step with cousin John Martin at family reunion.

 

Family picture at Garcia Family Reunion 2013.
New Braunfels, Texas

Elliot had to give his first book read of 2nd grade.
Dad was lucky enough to sneak out of work and go listen.
He did a great job!  Nerves of steel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Post Is Way Past Due

The summer has flown by and we are just now catching up.  The kids are back in school and things seem to be getting back to the new normal.  The kids started school and they all seem to be doing fine.

The 1st Day of School 2013.  Elliot - 2nd, Ansley - 6th, and Iris - K



Elliot nervously waiting for the first day of 2nd grade to start.



Iris was so ready for Kindergarten.

We went to Texas this summer for a family reunion and had a blast.  On the way down we stopped and saw one of Iris old friends from Wuhan, China. 

Iris catching up with an old friend.

Iris learned to ride her bike last week.  She is truly an amazing little girl and never seems to amaze her parents.

Owen has a lot of hair!  He is also doing great and is talking up a storm.

Gotcha Day - 3 Years Later

We celebrated Iris's Gotcha Day last week.  It was June 11, 2010, when we met Iris for the first time.  In three short years she has had a busy life.  She now has a forever family, moved across the globe, multiple surgeries, started school, has her own room, played on her first basketball team, scored her first basket, can write her name in cursive, and has so many people that love her.

Iris we love you and are so lucky that you are part of our family.  You are such an inspiration for all of us.  God placed you in our family for a reason and we are so glad he did!

Iris Cannot Be Stopped.....

The family went roller skating this weekend and all of the kids did great.  We had a blast.  Iris was a natural and did not stop taking laps for 2 solid hours.

Iris is such an amazing little person.  She has no fear of trying new things and usually succeeds with whatever she tries. If not, she works on it until she can do it.

Iris also had a doctor appointment this week and he thinks her vision is still improving.  Her vision is between 20/100 and 20/80.  Wow!  Melissa thinks the doctor is very surprised at her improvement.

We have noticed in the last few months that Iris has been closing one eye a lot and we have to remind her to keep both open.  Well now we know why.  One of her eyes has a tendency to turn in and this is causing her to have double vision.  Doctor did not think this would ever be possible with her low vision but with such improvement it becomes an issue.  She will now need another surgery to try and correct the one eye.  How cool will it be to have both eyes straight and improving vision.

In general news, everyone is doing great and we are very ready for spring.  We are slowly getting over the KU loss this past weekend.

The Snow People

Ansely loves the boy band, One Direction.  A local radio station was giving away tickets to One Direction for the best snowman.  So Ansley and Dad put on the creative hats and went to work.

Day 1 - Our Creation

 

Day 2 - Its Heating Up

 

Day 3 - Starting to Get a Little Scary!

Ansley Meets Colton Dixon

Ansley was so excited to go to Colton Dixon's CD Release Party this past week.  She was even more excited when he signed a CD and said, "here ya go Sweetie".  She has not stopped smiling since Thursday night!

Ansley just after meeting Colton Dixon.

A must read

You must read this blog post, but I warn you it will NOT be easy or fun!
http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/2013/02/was-god-just-kidding.html

Elliot Takes One On The Chin!

Sunday January 20, 2013.  Elliot was having one of those "bad awful days" when it got worse.  He went stomping up the stairs (with no shoes on, just his socks) when he slipped and fell.  He hit his chin on the hardwood steps.  Melissa immediately ran to help and promptly told me that her and Elliot would be heading to the ER for stitches. 

Elliot and his first 9 stitches.

Day 2 and Elliot is doing much better, just a little sore.

The funny part is - Elliot was in a bad mood (lack sleep) because we will not buy him a ipad or ipod.  So he stomps off to his room and gets injured.  Melissa takes him to Children's Mercy where they promptly give him a ipad to play with to take his mind off the fact that he is going to get stitches!

Christmas 2012

Better late then never?  We are just now getting time to catch up and post some pics from Christmas 2012.  We had a great time opening presents (too many) and spending time with family.  We battled the "sick bug" off and on over the entire holidays.  It made the rounds and would then start over at the top.  Finally a few days after New Years it was behind us.

This was Owen's second Christmas with us and this time he figured it out and had a blast.  Last year he had only been home a few days and was trying to figured what was going on.  And of course Iris is in full All-American child mode with Ansley and Elliot.  I think this year I truly started questioning why they get so many gifts and if we are missing the meaning?

I think the highlight presents are as follows.  Ansley received a One Direction CD and headphones.  She does not stop listening to these heart throbs.  Elliot receive cool skater-shoes with the big tongue.  He wears them constantly.  Of course the DS and WII games are getting plenty of playing time.  Iris got her own DS game and she loves it.  Owen is so easy and loves his new Toms and his new Columbia jacket from Aunt Jennifer.  And lastly, they all love their Furbys (but they are driving Dad and Mom crazy).

Chambers Christmas Morning 2013

Ansley Right After Opening "One Direction" CD!

We Will See If This Goes Anywhere With Elliot?



Iris & Owen Loving Life!

The Kids & Cousin Alex

The Anning Family