8 months old!

Boy oh Boy! Mason is getting big! 8 and 1/2 months old! What is Mason up to these days? He is pulling himself up from a sitting position to his knees. He hasn't quite figured out to pull himself up from a laying position yet. But this is why we dropped the crib a level a few weeks back. Mason has three teeth now with the 4th one ready to show it self any moment. He just started figuring out to get on all fours for a few seconds. He then falling back to the ground. In the past few days he has really mastered the army crawl and he moves FAST! On Easter, we witnessed him actually move forward few inches for the 1st time! When he is not crawling he is rolling like crazy. Time to get that gate! We have his 9 month well baby visit right on his 9month birthday. We also have another CF clinic visit on the 16th. So I can update all the stats then.

Mason is learning to drive early... yeah he is an overachiever!

pulling himself up real easy these days

looking for the kitty

looks like trouble...

yep, we dropped the crib after this

"I love apple blueberries!!!!"

Eating some snacks, not even noticing that I have one still on my face

yes we did....and then a bath

1st time in the tub...well almost

I love reading even in the tub!

I like taking a bath in the big tub!

Happy Easter 2011

Happy Belated Easter!

We spent the day in Union Grove yesterday. Mason was one spoiled boy for his first Easter! He actually got his first Easter "basket" in the mail from grandma Pam last week. He got two additional baskets at Grandma and Grandpa Umnus' house. The Easter Bunny was busy! We missed Grandma Pam, but she is coming down in 2 weeks to walk with us at the zoo to raise money to find a cure for CF.

Mason was in no mood to share his 1st Easter Basket with Mia!

Momma, how does the Easter Bunny tie that without thumbs?

Thanks Easter Bunny...I really like everything I got in my basket but the tag is my favorite!

"look no hands" :)

Look at what I can do...pull myself to my knees!

Picture time with Mom and Dad...

Now it's Grandpa and Grandma's turn!

Laughing with Great Auntie Kris (a.k.a. Super Nanny)

practicing my surfing form with Grandma Kathy

"Grandpa, can you believe that Jimmie Johnson?"

Great Strides 2011

We wanted to share this video that was created in loving memory of a child who lost his fight against Cystic Fibrosis. This video, we hope, will show you some of what Mason will eventually endure. There is no cure for this progressive "invisible" disease that affects 30,000 children and young adults in the U.S. I say that because although Mason may look healthy on the outside, he is NOT and will never be unless a cure is found. There is some very exciting news in the past few months about 2 drugs that are in clinical trials which are showing some unprecedented results! Results that bring even more hope to the reality of a cure. Sorry to say but these 2 drugs will not help Mason, but there is hope that once these drugs are finalized they will spur some others that will help Mason.

We will be walking in the Great Strides Walk at the Milwaukee Zoo on May 15th. All money raised goes to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. There is no governmental money given to help fund reasearch, so every 90 cents of a dollar donated to the CFF goes toward research. With that we hope that you will find it in your heart and pocketbook to donate any amount of money you could to help find a cure for Mason. Please click on the link below or on the "Great Strides" button on the upper right hand side of this page. Thanks again for all your support in our family's fight against Cystic Fibrosis.

http://www.cff.org/Great_Strides/SaraUmnus

CF Clinic update and more

"Let me check my notes...why yes, it has been far too long since mommy posted an update about me!"

The past few weeks have been filled with visits to Children's Hospital. Mason had his repeat sweat test done on 3.10.11. It was a little more difficult this round since he was a little more vocal about his discomfort with this whole process. Aunite Kris came along for moral support and I thank her so very much for it! I learned a couple things from this go round. 1. Mason no longer fits into most of the hats we have for him. 2. They do about 3 sweat tests a day. I was most surprised that they do that many since it really is only used to diagnose CF. 3. His sodium chloride levels were even higher this go round' in the low 100's (non CF people are below 40) and the clinic said this was to be expected since he is getting older, his brain is kicking out more hormones which affect everything. 4. My son is a strong little man who is fighting this cruel disease like a trooper!

This was the hard part...you would cry too if they hooked you up to this contraption!

all bundled up for 30 min to sweat...onsie, pants, fleece sleep sack, fleece blanket, and one ht a size too small for my head!

snug as a bug in Auntie's arms...can you tell I'm a little warm?

Then on 3.24.10 we took a trip to the Children's Hospital Clinic in New Berlin for a Liver ultrasound. Dr. Levy had requested that one be done due to his elevated liver enzymes (over double what they should be) that have been high since January 3rd. Derek took the day off and came with the little man and me.

He said he wanted to go in alone...already embarrassed to be seen with us. (sad face)

Mason was a trooper as always! It amazes me at this young age how he gives me strength to get through this crazy CF journey. Derek did a great job of entertaining him so that the Tech could get good views of his insides...and that I could also get a good look over the tech's shoulder...even though I really had no idea what I was looking at. The actual u/s took about 15 min and we were in and out.

The lady wasn't too happy about us taking pictures so this is the best one I got of him with machine.

Attempts to distract the little man. We gotta get one of those toys!

We had to wait until yesterday's appointment to get the results...which were thankfully 'normal"! Dr. Levy says that all the organs (they actually looked at 6 different organs) look like they should in a 7 month old little guy! She thinks the enzymes were elevated due to a viral infection that he showed no symptoms of. We did repeat blood work yesterday as well and Dr Levy called back and said that they got the liver enzyme levels back already and they are back to normal! What a weight lifted off our shoulders after such fantastic news!

"Lady, I think my liver is just about here. Can you see it on the screen now?"

Since I have already mentioned it...we did have Mason's CF clinic appointment yesterday. Grandma Pam came down to go along with us. The clinic encourages family who are close and care for Mason to come along, so as to better help understand this complex and involved disease. I will say this has been the best appointment to date! They are overall happy with Mason's progress. He is 27 and 1/4 inches tall now (55%), weighs in at 17lbs, 14oz (35-40%), ad his height to weight ratio has dropped to 40%. Medically he is doing well. we are holding off another 2 months on the albuteriol which is such great news! We have been asking about the infant PFT that they sometimes do at 9 months and they gave us a tour and a peek at the machine. Looks similar to THIS LINK HERE. Dr Levy is still on the fence about performing one since he is doing so well and it really is a risk vs benefit thing because they will have to sedate him for the procedure that lasts about 1.5 hours. He did get some more blood taken for testing vitamin levels as well since they continue to be a little off.

yep, those landed on the floor and were out of commission...CF clinic/Hospital floor means no more fun with that toy!

The biggest discussion revolved around his diet and food, which is usually the case. His Creon will be increased to 3 capsules a meal now. That is 13 pills a day or roughly 400 pills a month and it will only increase as he gets older! We are now going to increase his calories in the bottle...5 scoops per 7oz...that's a whopping 200 calories a bottle and one big pack of Similac every 4.5 day! Derek and I looked at the Similac package and it states that it makes 28 6oz bottles if you give normal scoops...we get 18 bottles out of a pack! With 4 bottles and the food he is eating now Mason is taking in over 1000 calories a day! We get to start trying new foods as well...biggest excitement is that Mason finally gets to try Grandma Kathy's mashed potatoes that his mommy loves so much...they have 2 stick of butter in them so they are perfect for the little man! We also are to give him the bottle first and then food since he has not been getting enough of the formula. So hopefully we will see a weight gain that will get up back up into the 50%. The main thing is that he is doing well, gaining weight, hitting his developmental milestones, and hasn't been sick yet! So we go back in 2 months instead of 6 weeks.

starting to get filled up from each appointment

We had to feed the little man and ourselves after the appointment. I highly recommend the Deli at Children's Hospital...tasty tasty.

To end this oh so medically filled post on a cute non medical note...Mason wanted to show his support for the Brew Crew with opening day coming up soon!

I have sooo much more to update you about what's been going on around here. Mason is eating food, sitting up alone, rolling all over the place, visiting family, and overall just giving us love! I hope to get some more posts in this week with a boat load of pictures.

Loving on my Grandparents!

My how time flies...I must confess I really had started this post 3 weeks ago and found it in my draft box...so I have added some more pictures and verbage since then. Mason loves his grandparents so very much! He is one lucky little guy to have have 3 that spoil him rotten here on earth and 1 that watches over him from heaven. Oh how I wish Mason (and Derek for that matter) could have met my dad in the flesh! I think they all would have gotten along way too well!

Two weekends ago, we stopped out at Grandma and Grandpa Umnus' house for a visit. Mason had fun as usual!

I love my Grandpa...he tells me silly stories!

Grandma learned how to do my CPT and mommy and daddy were so proud of her!

Grandma's trying to feed me but I like what Grandpa's cooking better!

Okay Grandma, I guess I will have Banana and Rice Cereal for now!

Auntie Kris came over for a bit too!

I was showing her how I play really nice with my Leap Frog Table!

Three weekends ago, Grandma Pam came down to love on Mr. Mason. I tell ya, he is one spoiled little boy! He loves his Grandma Pam so much! Thank you Grandma for spoiling me silly!

"let me at that cake!"

Grandma was feeding me my yummy rice and apple cereal! We had a good time talking over lunch.

Playing with all my toys!

One last picture before Grandma had to go home...

....One month ago now, we had an impromptu sleep over in Union Grove. It got late and neither Derek or I wished to drive home. Of course Grandma Kathy (and I am sure Grandpa Dave) had no problems with this. Luckily I over pack his diaper bag for the most part! Only thing we didn't have was his Prilosec...oops.

is this bed too big for me yet?

I'm a stinker...can you tell?

I was practicing my paddle on Grandma's mantel!

Okay daddy was helping me

lovin' on Grandpa

trouble...what his shirt and face says...

A new outfit for summer!

I'm a big 6 month old

Mason sleeps with Downy...it was free give away on facbebook that mommy won...it almost fits me!

We pulled out the Leap Frog table for Mason to play with. The legs are off until he can stand up and hold on. He really seems to be entertained by it. He is sitting so well. He continues to be a such a happy baby, often smiling at whoever looks his way.

Mason multitasks by playing and watching Nikita!

Hmmm...what does this thing do?

I am gonna eat you mister!

I like this thing!