Buzy buzy buzy

It turns out October is a very busy month. I have so many great photos to put up and stories to tell...I can't hold off any longer! We spent one weekend going to the Southern California Fair. This was a great opportunity for Andrew to ride a pony, feed some farm animals, and enjoy the sprint car races. He loved it all! The look on his face that entire day was priceless. Allison enjoyed it as much as she could...up until the races really got going, then it was just too loud for her baby ears.

Then grandma Cindy came into town for a week. The fun filled week included a trip to a pumpkin patch in Temecula (right in the heart of the grape orchards), lots of shopping, and a trip to the beach. Andrew really got used to Grandma G's attention...he had a hard time adjusting when she went back home to Texas. Jake and I really got use to Grandma's willingness to feed and change diapers. We had a hard time adjusting when she left too. We are looking forward to Christmas time, when we will get our next visit.

Andrew is holding the pumpkin he chose in the corn maze. Grandma Cindy getting a little too close...

Then our family met up for our annual picnic at Oak Glen. Grandma Brewer made sandwiches for us and we got to sit back and enjoy the crisp, cool air of the fall season. We also visited the petting zoo, the pumpkins, and saw how apple cider is made. We finished it off with a horse drawn carriage ride through the apple orchards where we got the history of the land.

Another blog is soon to come...Halloween is right around the corner. We have lots of activities planned. Andrew is going as a cowboy and Allie will be a ballerina...I can't wait to show off my babies pictures, they are going to be so darn cute!!!

Medical Update: I had x-rays done on my small intestines last week. My doctor is looking for Crohn's disease. I had to drink the nastiest white, thick, liquid/solid, so that the technicians could get clear images of my small intestines. The doctor called me yesterday to report that the x-rays came back fairly good. Yes! The word 'good' was used! He said the x-rays can't pick up on ulcers, so the camera capsule has been ordered and I am going in for that on November 5. So I'm not in 'the clear' quite yet, but I feel really good lately. I think the medication is finally taking care of the ridiculous itching, and I am sleeping through the night. The fatigue even seems to be under control. I am getting away with no naps lately. I am still exercising with my wonderful group of moms (Stroller Strides), and every organ seems to be working well, and doing it's job. I LOVE feeling healthy and whole. Thank you for the prayers and good wishes...I think they are working.

Autumn is here!

The liver walk was a huge success! We raised over $1,800. That is way more than I thought we could raise. Lots of my mommies from Stroller Strides came out with their families. Matt came out with his family and the Gonzalez family, and some other friends from church. I do think we were the largest group. I was so honored and giddy that everyone came out to support me. I met 4 other PSCers at the walk. The Yahoo PSC group made the LA walk their meeting grounds this year...did I luck out or what?! It was so incredible to meet other PSCers.

Onto family news: Jake and I are doing fantastic. We are incredibly busy every weekend, but we find time to sit and relax occasionally. Our biggest worry this month is termites...we have them. Gosh darn! Today we are taking Allie and Andrew to go see monster trucks at the fair. Andrew should really enjoy seeing big 'frucks'. Andrew is really building his vocabulary beyond 'no'. His favorite phrase 'mommy...outside...pease'. He is an outdoors kind of boy. Grandpa Brewer gives him a New York mint every Sunday which Andrew calls 'num num'. He does a dance while he eats his mint. It's pretty cute. We tried to do family photos at the park last Sunday. I have nearly 20 photos of Andrew picking his nose or making an awful face at the camera. I produced 30 photos of my own looking down or winking (involuntary spasm). Jake was the only 'constant' according to the photographer. We will try again tomorrow. Please know how much work went into that photo when you get your Christmas card. Allie is super cute as always. She is cooing up a storm and drooling all over the place. The teeth are on their way. We started her on cereal, which she hates. I can't blame her, it tastes like crap. I continue to encourage her though. I am letting her know that fruits are just a month away...right after we introduce vegetables.

Medical news: So the results from the colonoscopy showed I have ulcertive colitis. The doctor ran blood work to see if I also have Crohn's disease, since there was some inflammation in my small intestines as well. The blood work came back positive for both diseases, but not with strong enough numbers to indicate a clear diagnosis. So....I will go in next week to get x rays taken of my small intestines, and then I will get the camera capsule! The camera capsule is a tiny camera in the form of a pill that you swallow and it takes 10,000 photos of my 'innards'. That should give the doctor a good look at my small intestines. My liver function tests have leveled off. They don't seem to be decreasing any more. I'm still about double the normal amount for AST and ALP....but that is better than 10x the normal amount. Most importantly, I feel good!