Friday, July 6, 2012

Iowa Outdoors

The weather was perfect while we were there.

Chloë loved exploring and running around barefoot.



For a walk on Papa's shoulders.


Swinging with Daddy.


Chloë got to drive a pickup.


Checking out the glorious creation.


Some of the guys roasting hotdogs.


Anna and Elizabeth found a baby bat at the base of the silo.


Bryan, Samuel and Daniel caught the world's largest spider, which happened to be missing two legs. I don't usually mind spiders, but I let out a little shriek when I saw this shelob.


Playing in the warm rain.


Chloë helped Uncle Samuel split firewood.


Bryan was a huge help tearing shingles off the old barn.


Chloë helped Papa drive Alice, the tractor.


Then she had to do it by herself.


I'm so grateful that I get to take my children to this place.

4 comments:

  1. Hi :) Came across your blog by searching google for hemangiomas. I don't know how Chloe's hemangioma is now, with the treatment she's on, but I hope it's going well :)
    My daughter has a hemangioma on her eyelid. It was on the inside, and it looked like she had been punched in the eye by mike tyson or something.
    Anyway, when she was around a year old, we started treating it with blood-pressure medicin called propranolol ( don't know if it's called that in the states, since we are from norway )
    and it worked!! there were changes after only a week. Now its been a year since we started the treatment, and u couldn't even tell it was there, exept when she cries really hard. Then she becomes blue under the eye where it was. Where there's a will, there is a way :)
    Have a nice day and hope everything works out :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Casey,
      Thank you so much for your note. Chloë's hemangioma has changed very little in the last year since we stopped the topical application of timolol; if anything, it may be just a little bit bigger. Since it doesn't bother her or interfere with anything, we've decided to just leave it alone for now. I know many hemangiomas resolve over time. We have heard very good things about shrinking hemangiomas with propranolol (yes, we have it here!), and are certainly willing to consider it if the hemangioma is stubborn. It is very encouraging to hear stories of success like your daughter's. Thank you for writing. God bless.

      Delete
  2. Thank you for being so open! Thank you for sharing your beautiful family. I've spent quite some time googling about hamangiomas tonight to find info on a topical treatment a friend had mentiond to me. My little Ellie Grace (5 mos) had 4 of them. After reading some of the medical studies, I was a bit concerned, as you were, to use such harsh medications on someone so small. Each time I googled something your blog came up, seemingly update by update on Miss Chloe's little strawberry. It has been truly a blessing to read the perspective of a mother, and one who loves the Lord at that. She is a beautiful little all-American girl in those fun summer pics in Iowa. Thanks for being a strong, loving mother and for being a blessing from the Lord to me. God bless.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Katie, thank you for writing! It really can be overwhelming researching and trying to make an educated decision on what to do-if anything-to treat a hemangioma. I'm not sure if I ever mention it in any of my posts regarding Chloë's treatment, but being an RN helped me feel that we were able to make the best decision possible. I hope you've been able to meet with a dermatologist, since specialists have all of the latest and greatest research at their fingertips.
      Blessings to you as you continue to research and make decisions, at to Ellie Grace for healing!

      Delete