On a Quest

Not sure I was going to blog about this. But I'm sure people always wonder and never want to ask and risk being rude or intrusive. So I will just tell you. We are on a quest. A quest to figure out why my poor little Ashlyn's hair is so thin. I know it kind of seems like a silly thing, but I know people wonder (although if you comment please don't tell me you always did.) I know it's unusual to have hair as thin as hers. It's been a hard thing for me to start looking into and doing something about. Not because I don't want to bother with it, or because I think there is something wrong with her. I don't. It's more because I haven't wanted to draw anymore attention to it and make HER feel like something is wrong with her. And I knew once I started taking her to doctor's and such that I would have to put it all out there and talk about it right in front of her. But I realize it's a pretty cruel world out there. And school is one of the cruelest places. Pretty soon people are going to start asking her about it, or making fun of her. So before that happens, I hope to be able to help her.

This "quest" actually started years ago when she was just barely three. At the time it wasn't necessarily her hair but her skin I was trying to help. It was always bumpy and red. So we went to pediatricians. We went to an allergist (Where they poked the poor girls back 50 times with tiny little needles. I'm still traumatized by it. I think she might be too. She claims she remembers it.),  and we went to a dermatologist. Long story short, we came up empty handed. Blood work was normal, no allergies, no known disease to attribute it to. So some dermatologist told me it was Keratosis, gave me a cream and a shampoo to use and sent me on my way. Oh....and he told me she would most likely grow out of it. So I used the cream, I used the shampoo and waited. Nothing happened. I was tired of Doctor's and so was she, so we gave up, thinking she would, like the Dermatologist said, grow out of it. 

Well fast forward 5 years and while her skin isn't as red or bumpy, her hair is still pretty darn thin. I think we'd kind of gotten use to it to a certain degree. But when people started to slowly ask me about it, I knew I needed to start looking into it again. So we started a few weeks ago at her pediatricians office. Her doctor was really nice about it, but was pretty quick to think it was an autoimmune disease called "ectodermal dysplasia". So of course we went home and googled it. Some of the symptoms seemed to match up. Some didn't. We thought if this is really what it is, than she has a pretty mild case of it. Some kids who have it have no teeth (or if they do they are tiny and sharp), no hair (or very sparse), no sweat glands, missing fingers/toes, etc.  From what we read it has no cure. Only treatments to help with the cosmetic problems. I thought, well all things considering, it could be a lot worse. So I was gearing up to start some kind of treatments. I made an appt with a dermatologist and went to see him today. I admit, I was pretty nervous. Not really sure what he was going to do or say. It was a pretty interesting visit. The nurse first talked to us, took down some info and then left.  A few minutes later the Doctor came him. He asked me some questions, looked at her and then stood there. He seemed confused (either that or about to give me really bad news. I wasn't totally sure at the time). Then he said he would be back in a few minutes. Okay??? That was weird. So we waited. Sure enough a few minutes later he came back. Basically, the guy didn't have an answer for me. So the confused look I was reading from him was accurate. He thinks it's genetic (even though no one in me or Paul's recent past has anything like this), but he doesn't think it's this ectodermal dysplasia that her pediatrician thought it might be. He got me a number for another dermatologist and sent me on my way. 

So now we are back to square one. I made an appointment with this other dermatologist as soon as I got home. I couldn't get in for over a month from now, but I guess since we've waited this long, one more month isn't going to matter. The funny thing is that every doctor I've seen so far keeps telling me that whatever it is that it doesn't affect her brain or her ability to function normally. DUH! I know that. She's a smart, sweet, fun little girl. That was never in question. I just want to know why her hair never grew. Ok, so I guess they have to rule out everything. 

That's all we know for now. Hopefully we will have some more answers in another month or so.

Carter Crashed

My sister and my Dad are in town! I'm sure I'll have plenty of pictures of them on my blog soon, but for now here is one of Carter. He couldn't take all the excitement yesterday. I put him in his cousins activity center while we ate dinner. He seemed pretty quiet, so I went down to check on him. He was fast asleep. Poor little boy. He slept like this for a good hour. He must have really needed it because he's not one to fall asleep where ever he is. I couldn't help but take a picture of him.

Me and my little Ashlyn

(...and Carter too). Have I mentioned how much I love this girl? I do. She's like the greatest kid a mom could ask for. She's good and sweet and helpful and adorable. And the older she gets, the more fun she is to just hang out with. This summer, while Brandon and Leah have been having a blast at summer camp on Tuesday and Thursday, me and Ashlyn have been having some good quality mommy/daughter (plus Carter) time. We go to lunch just about every time. Sometimes we run errands or go to the park, sometimes we hit the mall for some shopping, and sometimes we do super fun stuff like go to Chuck E. Cheese, which is what we did today. It's cheaper to buy more tokens at a time, so I got 90, thinking I'd save some for next month when I plan to take all four kids. But Ashlyn was pretty much loving not having to share, so she used them all. Haha! We got there pretty early. No one else was there at first. It was pretty awesome. She went from game to game just raking in the tickets. I followed her around some, followed Carter around some, and then we had some lunch (chuck e cheese style). It was really fun! I'm going to miss our days together. They are going to end in a couple of weeks and then school will be starting and I'll go back to feeling like I hardly ever see this cutie! 

Carter got to ride a few rides too! He wasn't quite sure how he felt about it.

This was her jackpot of the day! One token and she got 50 tickets.

Riding the "rollercoaster" together.

Most of the time Carter crawled around and played with all the blinking lights.

Ashlyn pretty much hates me taking pictures of her all the time. She knows I'll put them on my blog. I just keep telling her that someday she will be so glad I have them.

You can tell she's just humoring me in this shot. She's thinking, really mom? Do you really have to take a picture of me while I'm eating too? Yes, as a matter of fact I do, so get over it! Haha.

Carter is at that "lovely" stage where it's fun to drop toys and watch other people pick them up. We did this over and over and over! Oh well...it kept him entertained while we ate.

Ok so I know some people are totally grossed out by Chuck E Cheese. Feel like it's a germ fest and all. But honestly, I have to give props to the one in our Valley. It's pretty darn clean. They have hand sanitizer all around and an employee was even walking around cleaning games and equipment when we first got there. With a ladder even to reach the McDonald's type play structure. I was impressed! And they upgraded the pizza since I've last been there. It was good.

And as a random side note: Today was the last day of swim lessons for the summer. Hooray for my wonderful husband who took them each morning. I'm really digging the 8 am class (not sure if he is, but he never complained cuz he's awesome like that). The girls did FANTASTIC! Leah passed level 2 and will start level 3 next summer which means a pool upgrade. She is VERY excited! This past session Ashlyn was in her first round of level 4. And she almost passed it. Her teacher was so impressed that it was the first time she had been in level 4. I'm betting she'll be in level 5 before the end of next summer! I'm so proud of my girls. 

The Last Hoorah...for now that is

Renee goes back home to UT on Monday, so tonight was our last hoorah. It ended up just being four of us. Brooke got sick and Jackie is on a fabulous trip with the hubby to Mexico (lucky girl). We wanted to head to "our" restaurant. The Cheesecake Factory at the Sherman Oaks Galleria. But were sufficiently scared of getting on the freeways because of the whole "carmaggedon" scare with the 405 freeway being closed from the 101 to the 10 this weekend. So we decided to try and bypass that area as much as possible and meet up in Porter Ranch. I'm the only one who actually had to get on the 405. Seriously, it was like a dream. I've never had so few cars around me on a freeway in LA. I drove 17 miles in 15 minutes. 

It was a great dinner. We just hung out and chatted. Nothing amazing. But it was just like old times. We miss you Renee. So glad you could come down for a visit! We hope to see you again sometime soon-ish.

Group shot, with a comment:

Okay, so I really do like being tall. I've never wished to be short (maybe just wished to have smaller feet).  But sometimes, I'm like REALLY??....do I always have to tower over all my friends? Especially when those friends are so skinny. I mean seriously, would you even think Beth is like 6 months pregnant here. Yeah, me neither.

Winnie the Pooh

We had a fun morning down at the Arclight in Sherman Oaks watching "Winnie the Pooh". It was classic Winnie the Pooh, which I love. The story was simple and really not anything new, but it was cute and the kids really liked it. I don't know if it'll make a ton of money, but I sure appreciate good clean movies that just make you happy. 

Here's the gang. Minus Owen and his friend Baylyn who where off getting more snacks.

Playing in the fountain for a minute after the movie.

Are these some cute kids or what!

And look, I got myself a stroller pusher. Sweet!

And here's a funny story to end with. As we are leaving for the movie this morning, Leah gets in the car and says, "Yay, we're going to see Winnie the Pooh. Mom, his name is Winnie the POOH because he eats a lot of honey and that makes him "Pooh" a lot!" Hilarious!!!

Michalle's baby shower

Thanks Michalle. For having a baby. So we could go out and celebrate. Cuz I REALLY needed a night out. I had so much fun and I'm excited to meet your little "auto". 

We played a game where we had to make baby items out of playdough and guess what it was. Here's Jenn hard at work.

Tina and Brooke 

Cute Michalle! She's set to be induced in two short weeks.

Sarah made a mighty fine baby bath.

But I think Michalle's baby mobile totally took the show.

And a special thanks to Rachel for setting it all up! You did a great job. 

Playdate at Brooke's house

Renee is in town (HOORAY). So we had to get all of us Encino gals together. Brooke, being the trooper that she is, kindly offered to have everyone to her house even though she has a three week old. Seriously don't think I could have done that. She's one tough gal. 

She does have the coolest back yard though. The kids loved playing on the slip and slide, bouncing on the trampoline, swinging on the rope swing and climbing the tree. Oh and Brandon loved all the squirt guns Brooke had. Of course!

Jackie with little Miss Ivy.

Renee and Jackie with Ivy.

Eating some gourmet grilled hotdogs. See that salad on my plate. Yeah, it's about the yummiest salad out there. Not sure how healthy it is for you, but it's GOOD!

The whole gang back together again(minus Brooke who was taking the picture).... 

...with all our kids. Minus the oldest (Sophie) and one of the youngest, Carter (who was at home sleeping because Daddy was home sick for the day). Plus one more on his way and to be making his debut in November. Man that's a lot of kids! They all did surprisingly well though. No injuries. Not even any fighting (that I'm aware of anyway). 

I think it was a big success and hope Renee can make it down our way a bit more often.