New Beginnings

About a week ago, my little cousin Charlotte tied the knot at Wellshire Inn. Char and Dean invited Elizabeth to be their flower girl.

Elizabeth was nervous in the bridal suite before the wedding.

Abigail made herself at home at the reception.

Nate had to take the girls downstairs to run around for a while.

Bubbles!

Ya Ya found a beautiful dress for Elizabeth to wear!

Congratulations to Charlotte and Dean!

Progress is Progress

It has been a while since I have updated friends and family on Elizabeth's health. Unfortunately she had another seizure on Sunday while we were getting ready to go and see Beauty and the Beast. Because this seizure was only three weeks following her Christmas Eve episode, we are now more concerned. The first two episodes were six months apart.

We started Elizabeth on medication today and pray that she will take to the meds with minimal side effects. We also were very encouraged after getting a second opinion today. The neurologist didn't give us any direction so we decided to schedule an appointment with a neuropsychologist. The doctor was incredibly helpful, answering many of our questions and helping us to better understand seizures and how to handle them when they occur. We were also given direction involving more testing and treatment.

We will be making another appointment with a recommended neurologist at Children's Hospital. We are eager to find a diagnosis. In the meantime, we have been educated on how to talk Elizabeth through an episode. However, we hope that the medication will increase her tolerance for seizures, lessening the occurrences or eliminating them all together.

We are so grateful for all of the support within our family, friends, and community. Thank you to all! While we would like to get back to our normal, every day lives while managing Elizabeth's disorder, we will continue to update everybody as we learn more. Continued thoughts and prayers are appreciated.

Bowling and bouncy balls

Nate rolls a spare.

Over the weekend, a few of us gathered at the bowling alley. The Amanns and VanDusseldorp clan got together at Broadway lanes for some good, old fashion, bowling fun.

Abigail and Elizabeth were pretty amused by the ball shoot. I don't know how we avoided smashed toes and fingers.

The kids bowled with a ramp and bumpers. They had a blast.

Initially, there was great bowling fun, but the kids quickly lost interest!

Father and son!

VanDusseldorp cousins.

The kids found the arcade games and all played for bouncy balls. They ran back and forth chasing balls for the second hour.

FUN TIMES!

Now What?

Elizabeth had her EEG today and the results were inconclusive. In other words, her brain activity appeared normal. The neurologist says that only 65% of epilepsy patients show symptoms during an EEG in the first test. Two or three tests would need to be performed in order to have a more accurate result.

So, now what should we do? Do we have another EEG done? Do we look in other directions, like cardiology, and order an MRI? What if the episodes aren't seizures? What if she doesn't have epilepsy? What if she does? Do we put her through more unnecessary testing?

The doctors seem to think that the best place to go from here is to medicate Elizabeth. We were given a few different drug options with varying side affects, both minimal. They will start with a low dosage and increase if she has another episode.

What if she never has another episode? Would it be because of the medication? Or would it be because she doesn't have epilepsy? What if she does have another episode?

Nathan and I are faced with making an important decision. Do we continue with testing? Or do we medicate Elizabeth and wait to see what happens?

Now what?

I know for certain that I'm tired of seeing Elizabeth hooked up to wires in hospital beds. Not knowing is the most difficult part of the entire equation.

We pray for her health, above all.

I love you Elizabeth Kay, get well soon.

A New Year is Born

All-in-all, 2011 was a good year. We rang in the year of 2011 with Chris, Ali, and the Highlands. We jumped from place to place looking for a good place to celebrate midnight. It was a night full of karaoke, donuts, and adventure. This year, we had a more mellow, but equally enjoyable, New Years Eve celebration with Jeremy and Lindsay and Wes and Cara. We had a nice steak dinner and then played Gestures. At 12:05 we were all ready to head to bed!

Early in the spring, we moved into a new home after three years in the Logan house. I think I just unpacked the final remaining boxes from the move last week!
There was a baby shower for Lindsay, followed by the birth of Jude Bruce VanDusseldorp in June.
There was a wedding shower for Ali followed by her Las Vegas wedding to Chris in May. Nathan had the honor of standing up as Chris' best man.

We traveled to Grand Lake twice; once in the summer with the kids and once in the winter without the kids. We saw The Samples play in concert at the Bull and Bush 40th Anniversary Party in August.

We celebrated Abigail's 2nd Birthday in September. Her friends joined her in a backyard camp out party.

Our Colorado Buffs season saw a lot of ups, and a lot of downs. We enjoyed watching nonetheless.

Elizabeth turned 5 this year and we celebrated her Birthday with a painting party.

Christmas brought many special memories and perhaps some new traditions as well.

The year of 2012 is chalked full of exciting resolutions. In addition to the typical exercise/diet/financial planning resolutions, Nate and I look forward another year's adventures as a family. Abigail will turn three this year and Elizabeth will start Kindergarten next fall. By the end of 2012, I will be another year closer to finishing school, leaving one year remaining. Above all, we hope for health and happiness in the year ahead.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!