Paylee

Matt & I have been pondering getting a puppy for a few years now. We always said we would wait until we moved to the country, but this last month, we both had a feeling that now is a good time.

Matt grew up with a husky and was set on only that breed. I know they are big dogs and shed a lot, but Paylee will have a home outside and only be in when we are home. We decided on a Siberian Husky female as they are smaller.

We had to drive two hours to see her. She lives with an awesome family and has four siblings. We knew instantly that we wanted her instead of the other female pups. She was so little (4 weeks) and nuzzled in my neck and made cute pig snorting sounds.

We get her on Wednesday when she is six weeks. Matt has assured me we will start training her immediately and look at obedience school. We had a dog when we were first married and she was crazy! We got her as an adult dog and she had some serious behavioral issues :/

We got rid of our trampoline and turned that 10' x 10' area into her space. Matt bought a 5x6x10 log for posts and swinging barn doors as the gate. We need to build the dog house and we are done.

I know having a pup is like a newborn, so we have our work cut out for us. The good thing though is our kids are older ;)

Will look similar to this.

But using this type of gate.

Paylee at the farm.

Her mom. Pretty small for a husky!

I love her markings.

Changes

It's fall! My favorite month of the year.  The house is decorated and we are in full swing of everything fall :)

I work 8:30-5 for the next 5 weeks, then permanently go to 8:30-6. It has been difficult getting in the routine of dropping the kids off at school early so I can commute to Portland.  I work in the Koin building and love the people I work with, but traffic sucks. I get up at 5:15 and get home at 6:30. It will be 7ish once I start working 45 hours.

Luckily, Matt has two weekdays off and gets off at 3. This means chores, dinner and homework are done by the time I get home. The downside, we don't have one day off together.

Having a desk job has introduced some new challenges with LS. I now have nerve pain and have to go to bed right after work on weekdays. Sucky.

I am looking forward to this holiday season! Love this time of year ;)

-S

Our Little Free Library!

We built and designed this as a family and I think it turned out awesome! Basically, anyone can take a book, leave a book, or both. You can return the book or keep it. For more details, go to Littlefreelibrary.org.

Ashlin & Her 7th Birthday!!

Ashlin Elizabeth ;)

1st Grade

Whip Cream Beard

Beach Trip

Date with Dad

Surfer Girl

Silverwood Amusement Park

First Soccer Game

Worm Soup

Birthday!!

Ashlin decided for her 7th birthday that she would invite a few friends to Safari Sams. Then we went home for pizza and ice cream. Tomorrow is her actual birthday, but we have two soccer games so today we did her "friends" party. Tomorrow we are going out to dinner and having a family party.

I love her to death. She is such a cutie who walks to the beat of her own drum. She is fascinated with anatomy, astronomy, and animals. When she is older, she wants to be a veterinarian and claims she will have 20 cats! She loves to climb, and is a tomboy at heart. She keeps us laughing with her  questions and sense of humor. I cannot believe it has been seven years since this angel blessed our lives. 

Sammy, Caleb, Mya & Lizzy. All her "younger" friends. Ash is so tall!

She requested a carton of ice cream frosted. Silly girl! I had to frost it with a Ziploc!

Kitty Party. Like her stuffed animals?! Haha!

I love you Ash!!! ~Mom

September Update

I was thinking last night that I needed to update this blog. I hadn't realized it had been so long! I got used to updating Facebook and forgot :/ However, I don't use that anymore, so here it goes!

To catch you up...
I did another fundraiser after a friend of mine in California made a generous offer to match any donations made in the month of May. Long story short, I raised enough to get my 4th treatment on August 28th. We raised around 16k in total. Amazing! I definitely am lucky to be surrounded by such a great community of friends. Seriously so blessed.

My treatment went well and I am recovering. The stem cell site (lipo on my abdomen) is fully healed, but will be swollen for a few more weeks. The injection sites are closed, but I have a cactus prickly feeling, some itching, and the typical bugs crawling sensation. Matt has been on FMLA since the 25th and will go back Monday. It has been great to have his help around the house and with the kids. Last night he even gave me a home pedicure.

I am not in remission, but hope to be someday.  Again, I am so blessed to have found Dr. Newman and his staff in L.A. The stem cell + plasma procedure has made my LS symptoms less (80% reduction in itching, and fissures/skin tears heal in a week rather than months. They are also not as deep) and I am grateful for that. I am excited to see the changes in the next few months as the stem cells do their job in regenerating the skin.

Dr. Newman uses a machine called an Avacen. It reduces inflammation in the body. It is costly (3k), but someday :) It helps with twenty-three other diseases.

For more information go here: http://www.avacen.com/avacen/action?do=welcome

More doctors are starting trials with the stem cell therapy in the U.S. That is fabulous news! Dr. Newman has perfected it though and is in the process of getting some articles published. If you have Lichen Sclerosus please visit his site here: http://www.nathannewmanmd.com/

Hopefully one day insurance companies will cover the cost so people don't have to pay out-of-pocket.

Since this is a blog about LS, below is a picture of what my vulvar area looks like after 4 treatments. The clitoris is gone and the skin tears are about 50% less deep than they were before the treatments. It is a horrific disease that makes everyday functioning miserable. I pray someday, before my vulvar area is too deformed and I have increased nerve damage, there will be a cure.

Thank you so much for all your continued support. xoxox ~S