baby boy

Pictures

Here are some pictures we took today. I kind of messed up and used the wrong camera (we didn't know which of Chris's many cameras to use), and it couldn't automatically adjust the lighting. So thankfully Chris came home and fixed many of them as best as he could in the editing software. So really, it was a joint effort :0)
Now I'm set up with the right camera... maybe tomorrow we'll try again!



PS. THANK YOU AMBER for the booties. LOVE them!

First Haircut

There comes a day when you realize that maybe you're not seeing clearly. That day came for me this week... "When are you going to give him a haircut?"... "Maybe its time for a haircut?"... "I think its time for a haircut for Darby, but whatever you want honey..." ;0) Apparently people were trying to tell me something and I was purposely ignoring them.

I love my child's fuzzy little head, but I guess it was time for a haircut. I decided to go ahead and let go of the emotional attachment to his hair... kind of... and get the boy a much needed trim. Let's face it, he had mullet developing, and I couldn't let his dignity recede as it grew longer and crazier. However, it was quite important to me that he kept his signature trait of a rooster fan in the back.

darby = crazy hair - I couldn't let that equation change... so here are the pictures of the 'trimmed' sides and back of his hair. The top did get trimmed too, don't worry, but not too much. I wasn't over anxious to equal out the shaved section from his surgery with the rest of his hair, but its getting closer and a little more subtle. Most people just think I have a very trendy European style on my baby... weirdos.

Wandering the Woods in the Daytime

For some reason, when disaster strikes or when hard times come, its common to believe that you are 'in the woods'. In the midst of the struggle, its not as often acknowledged... "man you're really in the woods" or "oh I'm in the woods again". But rather, its voiced when you are on your way out..."he's out of the woods now". I don't know where that saying comes from, and I'm sure mountain men everywhere could be offended by it ;0), but I'm starting to adjust this phrase for where we are with Darby. Just as I liken the national terror level colors to my stressfulness (I'm at level yellow today... its been good ;0p ), Darby is wandering the woods in the daytime. What do I mean by this?

On December 30th, we had an MRI done on Darby. Just one week ago, Darby and I went in for his appointment with Dr. Danielpour, his Pediatric Neurosurgeon, and heard the results of the test. The outcome was this: some blood has receded (not a ton, but as much that is to be expected), he did suffer some brain damage (there is some spots of damage that were earlier hidden by the blood), he essentially had a stroke, and there is some concern at his fluid levels in the brain. Dr. Danielpour showed me on a model where the fluid is located in any normal human... there are what looks like 4 cavities and fluid moves through them and out one small ventricle back down into the body. This ventricle is where Darby's fluids and excess blood is draining... however, during his bleed blood got into this ventricle area. This may have caused some damage and now that small ventricle canal could have some scar tissue. Darby's fluid areas are larger now then they were a month ago, and this could hint that the ventricle is a little jammed. Fluids are most definitely draining still... if they weren't we'd be in the hospital doing immediate action about that. But as it is, they are draining, but not as quickly as they'd like.

The plan of action decided upon at this appointment was to do an ultrasound immediately... since the MRI had been 2 weeks prior to the appointment, he wanted to see if the ventricle was still getting flowing movement. If everything looked the same, we'd meet again in one month to do another ultrasound and see if there is anything new going on. If for some reason the ventricle becomes too blocked, the doctor can intervene. He said he would be able to go in and open up the ventricle a little... and worst case scenario is that he would put in a shunt.

Darby, being the awesome little trooper he is, got his ultrasound done and we headed back home. The doctor called to let us know that things are looking fine and that we will come back next month to check on the progress.

All that being said, it was a shock to hear we weren't out of the woods. Many people have expressed to me that they just assumed everything was okay again... and they were quite right to say that. Jason and I have lived a normal life with a baby ever since coming out of the hospital. Darby is alert and active and such a wonderful little guy... you would have no idea there is something awry with his brain by just seeing him. My fears having always laid with the draining of the blood... its a process that is expected to take months and there isn't anything we can physically do to help that process. The body has to take care of it itself.

But we pray and we pray, and ask God to heal our son... and at appointments like these we remember that we can't close our hands around our baby boy. He's not ours to hold on to, but ours to take care of as long as God blesses us with him.

Darby isn't out of the woods... but the woods are not the dark and scary place that they could be. It's daytime and God's goodness is shining on us as he leads us out of them.

What's Happening...

Its rather late at night and darby is still up kicking around, so I thought I'd give a quick update before we head to bed. Life has been busy and is just getting busier... I'm pretty sure we don't have a free weekend again until March!

Just this last week, Jason and I were able to attend the annual Truth and Life Conference at our Alma Mater. My wonderful mother was gracious enough to come up for the few days and be on Darby duty as Jason and/or I attended the sessions. This conference is always such a wonderful time of renewal and a chance to learn something new. The theme this year was suffering... with sessions touching on why God allows suffering in this world, what's the purpose, what should we do with it as believers, and how to understand it on a global scale. I eagerly anticipated this conference, specifically for its topic, and it truly lived up to its expectations. I think it deserves a whole post of its own, so I will gather up my thoughts from the last week and regurgitate them sometime soon ;0)

We got to spend some time with our friends, Dave and Keara. We love them! Its always fun seeing them and talking... they're half way done with their first pregnancy and its so neat to share in that part of their life... don't tell them this, but we are definitely praying that they stick around California for another couple years... but I'm the first one to promote moving closer to home once the family starts expanding! I'm so torn! But they'll make the right decisions for the future, I'm sure of it.

Tonight we were able to attend the GAP party... just a get together for our college/graduate/young professionals/etc group as the new school semester starts. Thats always a ton of fun... and darby always steals the show by being ridiculously adorable. He's kind of like our little mascot.

Its back to work tomorrow... at least for Jason. I have a feeling darb man and I will sleep in... we're pooped.

Speaking of poop... there is a diaper that needs to be 'freshened up' and a bed calling my name. I'm sorry this was pretty short and pretty unexciting... just wanted you to all know we are alive and well.

Lots of Love to you all... whoever reads this... dana

New Shoes, New Throne

Who doesn't love a Darby update? This week we have definitely noticed how darby is seeing more of the world around him and recognizing voices. When we approach him at his crib, he swings his head towards us and often gives us a smile (only when not demanding to be fed). So we are pretty excited at this new prospect of a playful baby! Here are some of those great shots...

We visited Daddy at work. Darb decided to tell him how much he wanted him to come home!

Happy after a bath!
Hanging out in my 'throne', my bumbo chair. Too cute!

Hi :0)
Mommy and Me.
Asleep with my favorite toy.

The First Week of Yum

I, Dana, am eating gluten free this month (January). Why? Well, I have always had a love-hate relationship with my digestive system and that sentiment has always been shared with my mother. My cousin Rachel told us about Celiac Disease and gluten intolerance. She has recently changed her diet to being gluten free, and feels better than ever. My mom then tried out the diet and felt great as well. So I decided to do it too... yep I jumped on the bandwagon. This gluten allergy is actually much more popular than many people realize... 1 in 100 people have an allergy and its often misdiagnosed or looked over. It's genetic and often found in Italians (me, yikes, why pasta eaters?!).
I was going to try the diet out in December, since my pregnancy was over and my stomach was hating me. But then I realized I'd miss out on amazing holiday goodies... so I changed that plan... start on the 1st of January! It's not a resolution, just a one month trial. So I have been cooking more and found some good recipes that I just had to share!

My first recipe was found on my amazing cousin's website, http://marimade.blogspot.com/, it was Roasted Stuffed Chicken with Potatoes and Tomatoes. Seen below...

But I did make some alterations... sorry Rachel! When I shopped for this recipe, the tomatoes at the store were awful! So I bowed out with those and went for brussels sprouts (for me) and carrots, with fingerling potatoes. (By the way, I absolutely love prewashed ready to cook products from Trader Joes). It all turned out fantastically and tasted amazing! Jason was scared of it at first, but after first bite he was convinced of its yumminess.

My next recipe was also incredibly fantastic! I found it on a really neat site, called The Gluten Free Mommy... http://glutenfreemommy.com/broccoli-cheese-casserole/
Here is the amazing Broccoli Cheese Casserole...
It is so yummy... I've been eating the left overs and enjoying them just as much as the fresh version! If you do make it... make sure you add the almonds, they really make the whole dish. I never thought I liked nuts, but apparently I'm learning to.

Anywho, those are my 2 fun dishes for this week :0)

Gold Star

I did it! I can't believe I finally did it. I have created a blog. In between bottle washing, diaper changing, cookie making, and watching an amazing Charger game, I have finally accomplished another goal. Another check off the ever present to do list.
Why did we decide to blog? Well, eager family was the main reason... followed by the desire to air my opinions despite what anyone thinks... just kidding :0) Jason and I have usually used Facebook to keep in touch with loved ones and often shared pictures on Shutterfly, but we knew that family and friends wanted more. So here we go... this is an outlet for our little family to reach out to yours and let you know what's happening in the wonderful world of Hendrickson life.
I won't pretend like this is always going to be updated and kept current. I'd like to hope it would be, but alas, my boys take precedent in my life (as they should and joyfully do) and when they're playing video games or sleeping I just might find my way to the blog.

So here I am, ready for my gold star and pat on the back... 'Good job Dana! Now go and finish the dishes' ;0)