Laura is leavin' it behind...

Laura had a goal to leave all the baby weight in Vegas....she wanted to be at her pre-pregnancy weight before we moved.  Laura is pleased to announce that she met her goal!!!  Good bye Las Vegas..and Good bye Baby weight.  Laura is a happy lady!  It took months of hard work, diet, and exercise, but she did it.  Good job Laura, we are all proud of you!

Detric Became a Man...AGAIN

There are certain things in life that should only have to be done once.  That being said....Clay and Laura were faced with a tough choice....

Detric is their third son, and that being the case, they had been through the circumcision process twice already with their other sons.  After a few weeks, they knew something wasn't done correctly with Detric.  So what do we do?    Well, no one wants to cause undo pain for their child...but no parent wants an older boy to have to go through that type of procedure either...so for the sake of the greater good we decided to go forward with some type of correction.  So we went to the doctors.  We were told by several doctors that the initial procedure was done correctly, but the doctor just decided to be "conservative."  Clay and Laura were then instructed to do nothing and wait and see.... the problem should probably fix itself during puberty.  WHAT???SHOULD/ PROBABLY fix itself??? Well, That is convincing! Clay and Laura decided that was the most ridiculous diagnoses they had ever heard....wait until your son is 16 - fix it then...yeah, GREAT plan!  NOT.  So, Laura and Clay were very persistent.  After 3 doctors telling us to do nothing, we finally got a referral to a pediatric urologist.  We got a great specialist, Dr. Andrew Hwang, who knew exactly what he was doing and told us within seconds of being in his office that our little man's initial circumcision was NOT done correctly and then proceeded to tell us exactly what would need to be done to correct it.  Part of the corrective procedure was surgery, which would now include general anesthesia in the downtown hospital.

The general anesthesia was the scariest/hardest part of the whole thing for Laura to endure.  You hear about all the scary things that could potentially go wrong and they just swim in your head and take over your thoughts.  Here she was handing over her precious little baby into the hands of strangers (who literally held his life in their hands).  Laura spent the whole time, from the moment she handed him over, to the moment they came and got her, praying that the health care team were competent, and that all would go well.

The hardest part on Detric, was not being able to eat ANYTHING several hours before the procedure.  He was sooo hungry!  And then not being able to go in the pool for several weeks after and in Vegas that is a really HARD thing because it is soooo hot and we live at the pool!  But, Laura would sit on the side of the pool, let Detric dangle his feet in the water, while she would spritzing him with a water bottle to keep cool!  Detric was such a brave little man and quite the trooper.  He healed quickly and nicely. 

What a man....a REAL MAN for having to go through that twice.  That which should only be required of you once~!

In Transit.....

Well folks...This is the close of the Ward Family Vegas Chapter, it is time to say goodbye to Las Vegas.  Over the course of the next couple of weeks, we will be moving to New Mexico.  We can never believe the incredible about of packing material it takes to move a family.... and every time we move, we stay, "we need to take a picture of the boxes when we move - and then the unpacking chaos on the other end."  However, it is yet to happen.  Maybe this will be the time!  With cameras on our phones now, we just MAY get a good shot during the packing/ unpacking chaos. No promises, but we shall see.  See you on the other end!

Preston...A Scuba Diver in Training

We not only have a wannabe mermaid for a daughter, we have a scuba diver for a son!  About 1/2 way through the summer, whenever we would go to the pool, Preston would walk to the edge, turn around (so his back is to the pool), put his right hand over is eyes, and step in/jump in backwards.  When we asked him why he did that he said, "that is how all the scuba divers do it."  Then it all made sense....sure enough, next time we watched him - he did remind us of a scuba diver, just without all the gear!  From then on...all we heard about was scuba diving...he has been watching videos of scuba diving on youtube, he has been asking how old he has to be before he can try scuba diving..everything, EVERYTHING was scuba diving!  We told him he better start out with snorkeling first and then advance to scuba diving.  So, we made a trip to the store and each of the kids got to pick something out.  Preston picked out some flippers and a breathing tube... when he picked that above toys..you know this is serious!  Well, he has been wearing it non-stop at the pool now!  We just need to get the kid a good mask to go with it.....
 

Preston brought him this completed assignment from school... We had to include it on here, because it pretty much sums up our little man... The assignment was to write about his "dream day"  His dream day would include his three favorite things which are ... motorcycles, scuba diving, and going to Sea World! ( We were pretty proud of his drawings (Laura and Clay are pretty sure they wouldn't be able to draw motorcyles, a scuba diver, and a killer whale as good as Preston!)  and being able to sound out the words!  Good job Preston - and it's only the first week of 1st grade.  Mom and Dad are very proud of you!

Aparri is officially an underwater swimmer... we have proof!

This summer we have been working with Aparri at the pool.  We have been trying to get her to blow bubbles, do bobs, put her head in, anything!  But, for most of the summer, she just wouldn't do it.....and then all of a sudden - she turned into the "underwater queen."  She loves it, just can't get enough of it.  She refuses to wear water wings on any more....she wants to "swim in the deep!"  With her favorite princess currently being Aerial...it is only appropriate that she can do great underwater tea parties~! Good job Aparri! What a big girl!

First day of school 2013

First day of school!!!  The boys have a total of 2 weeks of school before we move!  But, they have been good sports and are ready to learn.  CJ started 3rd grade with Ms. Deyell (pronounced DL) and Preston started 1st grade with Ms. MacDuffey.  Preston was a little apprehensive about going to school all day...but has done great!  They were both excited to get new clothes and new lunch boxes!  Riding the bus is always a favorite!  During the first week of school, the poor bus hit a truck at the bus stop....so the kids were a little delayed getting to school..but it added excitement and adventure on the first week of school!  Aparri enjoyed her time at home with just Mom and Detric!  After sending the boys off on the bus she would ask, "Can we do school work too?"  She was in the school mode too!  The school year has official begun for everyone!

In the Arms of A Brother

It is really hard for Laura to watch this...but Clay reassures her it is ok.  And to his credit, Preston takes great care of his motorcycle and amazingly has really great control while riding it.  Sometimes he is a little too confident and comfortable....he has started to do "tricks" like switching to sidesaddle while moving, standing up on the seat, etc. and as you can see, he has now advanced to taking passengers (only Aparri..no neighbor kids..don't worry!).  So far, (knock on wood), Preston has been great taking his sister - with no accidents or incidents.  Aparri sure loves it.  She has felt really left out since the boys both got motorcycles....and this is a small way that allows her to participate.  Look at those smiles!