Christopher's Big Day!

Christopher had a blast at his first birthday party! He loved playing with his cousins and friends who were in attendance. And he also thought that his cake was yummy. Mommy and daddy made Christopher two special birthday cakes (moose and zee from the noggin cable channel, they are Christopher's favorite characters.) Check out our photos on our shutterfly web gallery!! :)

Congratulations Shantell and Tom!

We would like to congratulate my cousin Shantell and her boyfriend Tom on the upcoming birth of their first child. We wish you all the best!

Happy 30th Birthday Sara!

I would like to take a moment to wish my favorite (and only) sister Sara a happy 30th birthday on Saturday April 26. I hope you enjoy your vacation! I will be having a blast watching my nephews and niece!! Love ya!!

Happy Anniversary Trisha and Joe!

We would like to wish a very happy 4th anniversary to my cousin Trisha and her husband Joe. I know I am a couple of days early but this may be my only chance all week! We hope you have a great day!

Susan K. Dunkley Center of Excellence Awards Banquet

Many of you may be wondering who Susan K. Dunkley is. Well she is the founder/owner of New Horizon Academy, the company that I work for. Each year a center is chosen by the higher ups in the company for this award. My center, Minnesota Center #53 in Bloomington was chosen as this year's award winner. We are invited to an awards banquet this Thursday night! What an exciting occasion, finally all of our hard work has paid off!!

Week of the Young Child

This week in my profession (as an Early Childhood teacher) is known as the week of the young child. This is a week when we celebrate our children, their parents and teachers by doing special activities throughout the week! Today for example was pajama day so all the kids in the center were supposed to wear their jammies. Each day this week there is something fun going on. It's a fun week! After all, children are the future and they deserve to be celebrated!

Congratulations Rogers family!

We would like to congratulate my cousin Tim and his wife Amy on the birth of their third child, a baby girl named Ava Margaret Rogers. She was born this morning! I am sure that her big sisters Alivia and Ashley are very excited about her arrival! We can't wait to meet her! :)

Update

I know I just updated yesterday but there has been some news in our family in the last 24 hours!

Brad's court case came back in our favor. We do not have to pay anything! We are excited and hoping that this will finally bring a close to the chapter of the accident in our lives.

On another note, I saw the endocrinologist this afternoon. For those of you who do not know this past September I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism when my OB/GYN found that my thyroid gland felt enlarged. I then went to see my primary doctor, who had an ultrasound performed, which told us that I had a goiter. The goiter was caused by the hypothyroidism. Things seemed to be better for awhile, and then I noticed that my goiter appeared larger, I went in to see my primary doc who agreed with my feeling and then referred me to an endocrinologist, who I saw today. My primary doc also had another ultrasound performed. 

While at the endocrinologists office today she informed me that while there were no nodules, tumors or cysts, the lymph nodes around my thyroid are swollen, which is an indication of an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto's Disease. Basically what is happening is that my immune system is attacking my thyroid gland, causing it to not function properly. Dr. Ngo recommended that I have my thyroid surgically removed (as the goiter is large enough that I am having problems with swallowing, etc. She referred me to a surgeon and I have an appointment scheduled with them on May 7. I will not know until then when my surgery is scheduled. 

What I know about the surgery right now is that I will have to be in the hospital overnight at least and that I won't be able to work for at least a week. There is a possibility that my voice could change. I will have a scar on my neck, but from pictures I have seen online, its not too horrible. We will keep you up to date on when I am having surgery, etc.

Family Update

Brad went to court yesterday over his accident that he had in November. We will find out the judgment in three to five days. He said that it went well and that the other guy didn't have much of a case, so he thinks that things will be ok. We are hoping for the best in that arena! We will keep you all posted as we find out more.

Sydney was excited to go to the Mall of America on Sunday and take a look at the revamped amusement park there. She only went on two rides, but she loves to tell everyone about them. Her favorite was of course the Blue's Clues ride. 

Christopher is working on getting those top teeth in! He has four coming in at the same time...but he is still the same happy go lucky little guy! HE has quite the little personality now, that is for sure. Such a lovable guy and so interested in learning new things.

I am still in the process of trying to get everything straightened out with my thyroid. I am seeing the endocrinologist tomorrow afternoon so hopefully things will begin to go in the right direction now!! 

Happy Birthday Carol, Caleb, and Steve!

We would like to wish very happy birthdays this week to Brad's aunt Carol, my cousin Caleb, and my cousin Steve. We hope you all have wonderful days and know that we will be thinking of you!

Also belated birthday wishes to my cousin Brian Weinkauf! Hope you had a great day!

Congratulations Kate and John

We would like to offer our congratulations to Stacey's co worker, Kate and her husband John on the birth of their first child Henry David Ostlund. He was born on April 2, weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces and was 21 inches long. He is such a cutie!!

Congratulations to the Ostlunds

Hello

Hi all!

Sorry if I don't post on here for awhile. We are having some computer problems, so currently I am typing this from the library and with two kids it isn't easy to get here.Hope all are well. Brad goes to court on Monday, so I will try to get online sometime next week to let you know what we find out. We have a real busy week next week....