Just thought I'd give a quick update, even though nothing really has been going on! I just handed Gage over to Derek so I could come have some lunch, and he is still totally asleep. He has been sleepin for quite a while here, so that is really good! I'm glad he is comfortable enough to sleep. We are expecting to keep him in the PICU for the night then maybe go home tomorrow, or maybe not! Who knows, right? Thanks for thinking of us!

We got to go see Gage a few minutes ago... then got kicked out :( Nothing is wrong, the little baby in the PICU next to him was having some procedure done so they didn't want us to stay in there. It broke our hearts to set him down though because he is in so much pain and keeps crying so we felt so bad. When the nurse came in to take us back, she said he was having a hard time breathing when they got him so they put him on 3L of O2 but they didn't act too concerned about it and I think it was probably because of the anethesia. Oh and I was so excited because he was off the vent when we went in! I thought he was going to be on it for at least a little bit as he recovered, but I guess not!

Holy cow! The surgeon already came and got us like 10 minutes ago and is all done! We are now just waiting for them to move Gage to the PICU so we can go see him! YAY :) I couldn't believe it. That took about as long as it takes for me to clip his finger nails! (no but seriously!) The report from the surgeon was that his tonsils were "moderately large" and his adnoids were 75% obstructive. That really has to make a difference for him. Like he has told us before, with Ds the chances of this being totally successful to get rid of the apnea are smaller, but he is more hopeful that it will help quite a bit because everything was so big for such a small boy.

Surgery begins...

So here we go with another surgery update marathon! We just handed Gage over to the surgeons and are in our lovely waiting room... again. Luckily, our first update will probably be the surgeon, Dr. Muntz, coming in to tell us how fabulously everything went during surgery and how happy Gage is to have his tonsils and adnoids out! (ok, yeah right on the second part!) The surgery should only last about an hour. I was excited this morning when we found out that Dr. Muntz, the ENT we met with about a month and a half ago, will be the surgeon for Gage. He knows a million things about him and his situation, what a blessing! I'll update again when I can. Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers, it means the world to us!
Love you all

IT'S MY PARTY...

I can cry if I want to...

cry if I want to...

CRY if I want to!!!

Poor Gage. We had a birthday party for him on Thursday and he was not happy one bit! This really isn't like him, but he had a good excuse. On Tuesday, he got his one year shots. He ended up with the fever they warn you about, but it lasted for about four days. During his party, it was at about 102.5 degrees. Yes, I was terrified and called the doctor and they said he was fine. But then Friday morning it was at 104 degrees!! I was so nervous. Luckily, Derek and I were able to get it to drop and he got better from there. Poor Gage!!

All he wanted to do was snuggle mom... so I ended up covered in more cake then him!

As he opened presents he was pretty happy. Ribbons and wrapping paper, what baby wouldn't be happy!

Gage was totally worn out after his big party. What a tough day!

Thanks so much to EVERYONE who came to Gage's party to celebrate with us! He got spoiled like crazy and he is a lucky boy to have so many people that think the world of him. We love you all!!

Just for the record, Gage is doing lots better and is about back to his normal self. Until next week that is. Gage's surgery will be next Wednesday, so if you would like to keep him and the surgeons in your prayers we would appreciate it so much!

Birthday Boy!!

Gage is ONE year old today!!

Happy Birthday BIG BOY!! We love you so so much!

For some reason, I couldn't figure out how to make the video flip the other way, so just turn your head a little! :) I had to get this recorded because I
am so proud of Gage and I LOVE the sound he makes when he tries hard to do something! It is like the sound his dad makes when he is lifting weights! Usually, he does this by starting out sitting on his bench, but today he just decided the bench was over-rated! You can tell he is so proud of himself, and I think he has every right to be! (Oh, and yes, he does try to eat himself in his mirror, as you can see by all the slobber on it!)

This past week, my mom & I took Gage to Primary Children's to meet Gage's Ear, Nose, & Throat doctor. He was a really nice guy, and I was so happy because he just sat there and let me ask a million questions like I do! Pretty much, he confirmed everything we had been expecting. He said that about 1 in 3 kids that have Down syndrome and get their tonsils and adnoids removed to help get rid of sleep apnea have 100% results and no other actions have to be taken. I hope SO BAD that this is the case with Gage, but if not, we will do whatever it takes. He did say that Gage's tonsils are really big, so it makes him more hopeful that this surgery will help resolve the problem... we have our fingers crossed! Gage's surgery is less than a month and a half away. Not going to lie, I get teary-eyed just typing that. I hate that I will have to let him go for another surgery, but I know that his other surgery was extremely successful and the people there know what they are doing. He is such a tough boy, I know he will be okay and it will help if not totally resolve his problem.

A couple weeks ago, my parents took Derek & I to go see Brian Regan for our graduation gift! It was SUCH A BLAST!! Brian Regan is a hilarious comedian that our family just loves. And to make it even better, we got to watch him out at the beautiful Tuachan theater.
Thanks again, mom & dad! We had so much fun and were so happy you got to come with us! And thanks again to Grandma & Grandpa for watching Gage while we enjoyed our evening out!

This was just too cute to not get pictures. We were having spaghetti for dinner the other night and I figured I'd let Gage attempt it before I fed him.

I think he liked it!

And this picture I took after he fed himself pancakes. He is doing "BIG BOY!" It is so cute, he gets so excited! And now, he claps for himself after he does it because that is what we always do! haha it is so cute, I need to get it on video!

Odds & Ends

Look how ADORABLE this "paper-bag book" is! This is the craft that Candyce made for us for the "first 5" post! I am SOOO excited about it! Now I have to get to work on what I am going to make for mine... I don't think I'll be able to meet how cute this thing is! I put pictures of all the bits and pieces of it following this... check out how cute!

These pages go all the way through the alphabet, and there is velcro on each for a matching game!

Recipes! Dinner, Desert, & the Recipe for Friendship!

These are magnets for Gage to play with! The recipes and the magnets are in the "pockets" of the opening of the paper-bags (does that make sense?)

Thank you SOOO much Candyce! You are so crafty, I just love it! I will get you yours soon :)

So tonight after bath time, I had to take pictures so I could do before and after shots of Gage in his adorable bath robe! Look how crazy! ..... here is the one of when he was just tiny ....

and NOW! I can't belive how big he is, he has grown into his robe!

On Sunday, Matt, Shari, & Justin came to visit us, so of course I had to get some pictures of the boys playing! Justin was showing Gage how it's done!

It was so fun seeing them again, thanks for coming over guys! :)

WE DID IT!!

Yesterday was a FABULOUS day! Derek and I both graduated with our Bachelors' Degrees in Accounting, we are so happy!! Derek doesn't feel a whole lot like he graduated, since he starts summer school tomorrow... but I am so proud of him! He will be taking 16 credits JUST during the summer... crazy! He has so much determination, he amazes me!

Doesn't Gage look ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE in his cap and gown?! Lolo & Lola (Grandpa & Grandma) Cox made the entire outfit for him so he could match his mom and dad! SOOOO CUTE!! Thank you again Grandma & Grandpa, you guys are the best!! There were SO many people "oohing and ahhing" over Gage, everywhere we went! They thought the outfit was so cute!

Everyone kept asking Derek & I what we got the black & gold ropes for (you get different ropes for honors, grades, etc.) --- the black & gold ones were for "being an Anderson!" We bought stuff to make us and Gage matching ropes with tassels on the ends, it was so fun!

Kenzee, Derek, Gage, my Mom, my Dad, Lola, Lolo

We were so lucky to have family come from both in & out of town to come support us at graduation. Here are a few of us.

Erin, Kenzee, Andrea, Megan
Some of the "accounting girls!" We had SUCH a FUN group of people we graduated with. I guess I have to be honest and admit that I will miss school, but only for ONE reason! I will miss the friends and professors, they are amazing people.

Jason, Dusty, Derek (& Gage)
These boys grew up together... how fun that they all graduated the same day, too!

Watching the graduation!

Gage hanging out with Aunt Jess! He LOVED playing with her necklace and hair!


Thank you so much to everyone that has helped us and supported us as we went through school! We couldn't have done it without you all!