Update on the Boys

Thank you ALL for your prayers and notes of encouragement...they bring so much comfort to us!

Well, today was the day we saw the doctor...he ordered all the labs necessary to rule out MSUD, including comprehensive genetic testing on Wil. Unfortunately, the lab results that will tell us whether or not they have MSUD won't come back until NEXT WEEK =( because Kaiser does not have the equipment nearby to test for MSUD. However, we did get urine results back...urine can't diagnose MSUD, but it can tell us if a patient was in a metabolic crises...both boys tested negative (that's a good sign) on that...they also tested negative for diabetes (which can make urine smell fruity).

We will continue the low-protein diet until all results are back.

Poor Joshy wasn't expecting to be a pin cushion on his first birthday...but he took it like a champ! Wil, on the other hand, required mommy's arms AND legs wrapped around him...one lab tech holding his head and two at his arm...even after all that, he had to be stuck an additional time because he managed to move!

And, for those who have been asking...Joshy's party is still on for this Saturday =) His cake will be protein-free, but you will have a real cake to eat =)

We appreciate your continued prayers as we wait for answers! At any time you need prayer for you or a loved one, we are there for you!

With much love,

Melissa & the Boys

ps...here is web info on Maple Syrup Urine Disease
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/946234-overview
The boy's would have the "Intermediate" variant, which usually presents at 5 months to 7yrs of age.

Pray for Wil & Joshua

friends and family...

billy and i are pleading for prayer for our boys! i wasn't going to send a prayer chain out until we completed the testing, but prayer NOW is best! you are welcome to forward this to anyone.

BOTH of our sons might have a severe and life-threatening metabolic disorder. we find out Monday through testing. it's called Maple Syrup Urine Disease...they would obviously have the very rare mild form. but...what it entails is a life-long diet (strict vegan, low-protein) and blood checks. they would also have to consume a special formula with the amino acids broken down for them. stress, injury, or illness can cause them to go into a metabolic crisis where they would need dialysis and IV therapy. this is something they will have the rest of their lives...if strict adherence to the diet and lifestyle is not met, they can die.

a few days ago, i noticed that Joshua's--he will turn 1 ON the testing day, the 29th--urine smelled like maple syrup. it wasn't a new smell to me because Wil's urine has smelled that way all his life. so, i went to Google my finding...wondering if it was just a "mom" thing. to my horror, i found that the ONLY possible explanation was MSUD (even as a nurse, i had never heard of this). i was quickly on the phone with Kaiser Permanente (who is taking this seriously). instantly, we started them on a vegan diet. (we had started Joshua on cow's milk a few days prior to this, which is high in protein.)
Wil (5yrs) was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder this year for delayed speech and motor problems...we now know these could be possible symptoms of MSUD toxicity. despite his delays, Wil tested at Genius level in IQ during his assessments.

we ask that you pray that our sons do not have this disease or any other disease/illness. if they are diagnosed with MSUD, continued prayers would be MUCH appreciated. some praises that i can already see out of this even if they do have MSUD is...
1. they have the VERY rare mild form
2. their health, to this point, has been well (other than Joshua's near-death choking episode last Feb. which still ended positive)
3. i know God made me a nurse just for them!
4. i'm already a home-school mom
5. Billy has a great job with excellent health benefits and a flexible schedule

i will update you as soon as we know anything.

i hope you all had a Merry Christmas!

~billy & melissa

Summer FUN!

OK...to be honest, the reason I rarely update this is because I'm too lazy to move my pictures off my camera to post them on the computer! And, I REALLY hate journaling...always have...

What's new?! Well, Joshua is 6.5 months now! He's rolling over...sitting up...stands on his own while holding onto something (he actually started doing this at around 5m)...eats solids...a very productive month of his life =) He's still a very happy baby and craves being talked to =) The kid is already well over 20 lbs!!! Big brother Wil successfully completed his first year of homeschool in June =) Mommy attended Gma Mary's SWR seminar last month and will be officially implementing the program next Monday! Wil has a new interesting hobby...snail collecting LOL He not only appreciates them for their looks, but has the patience to watch them travel several feet! I guess shelled friends are a theme for Wil this summer...he has also grown fond of Squirt, our Red-Eared Slider turtle we got from Uncle Wes. Wil helped Mommy nurse Squirt back to health...she was a little sick when we first got her.
I recently officially retired from work! I went back after a 9 month maternity leave and decided that I really wanted to be home with the boys! I now keep myself busy with the boys and doing little blood drives for individuals in need. As for Billy, he completed his first year of his Masters program and is doing well juggling his responsibilities! Oooh...we just celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary in June!! We took the boys to the SAIC gathering at the Zoo (which always seems to land on/around our anniv.), which was a blast! We will carry the celebration out til November when we go on our cruise--yay! Father's Day (and 4th of July) was spent with the Tanksley Fam...Billy and Wil flew a kite together...that was cute!

Some sad news...my Gma Marian's Alzheimer's is quickly getting worse. It is nice that she is close by to us...we get to visit her weekly. Gma and the rest of her neighbors REALLY enjoy it when I bring the baby...it's like therapy to them! Other sad news...our dear friend, Ruth Apsley, was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer a few months ago. We continue to pray for a miracle of healing...but there is peace in knowing where she is headed if God has other plans.

Oooh...a random (and much happier for me to end on) topic...my BFF since 4yrs old (Alison Glenwinky-butt) is driving down from Idaho and will be visiting for a month with her girls--Wil has REALLY been looking forward to the "girls" LOL

OMG I'm actually updating this!

well...just over 3 months ago lil josh arrived to the crazy household =) i'm REALLY enjoying being home with the boys and, so far, have not returned to work. here are some family pics we took when josh was 1 month old! our lil thunderthighs continues growing at a crazy rate...he's already outgrown clothes labeled 6 months! he is a VERY social baby, easily smiling whenever someone looks at or talks to him =) wil is adapting well...but still needs to be bribed to touch josh LOL he remains very helpful to mommy. this week, wil is learning "u". on a slightly sad note (even though they seem happy about it), my g-parents on my dad's side moved into a "home"...at least they are closer to us! believe it or not...we have another addition to our family...Squirt the turtle! the boys got her from uncle wes...she has claimed the kiddie pool in our backyard as her home!

a new baby, a new year!

we're starting off this new blog with the intro of the latest TankOfWrath ...joshua gregory! he was born december 29th, 2007! altho i had a tiny belly into my 9th month of pregnancy (someone once said, "what? are you giving birth to a litter of kittens?"), joshua came out a whopping 8lbs 10oz and 21 inches! of course, you can't tell his enormity with him laying next to his BIG 4yr old bro, wil =) we've affectionately named joshua "slim" and wil "chubs" even tho they describe the exact opposite of each boy!
while josh is busy eating, pooping, & growing (already has great head/neck control; loves to look around)...wil has been a busy homeschooler [this week he is on the phonogram "o" (ah/o/oo)] and big brother (he lets me know when josh has a dirty diaper or when he is "sad", aka crying). but he will only kiss or hold josh if bribed with a sip of Coke o.O
my life right now is easy to imagine...diapers...poop...more diapers & poop... ...and extremely painful nipples (did i just type that?)! LOL i'm trying to adjust to the fact that i'm turning the big 3-0 in less than 2 weeks ahhhhh! looking forward to getting back on my kx125, surfing, snowboarding, golfing...but even if i don't, i'm still in heaven with my boys and my man =) speaking of my man...billy is back at work after 2 weeks of paternity leave, & his masters classes started up, again. even with being back to his professional life, he remains VERY helpful with the boys & housework! heck! i think he's still changed more poopy diapers than i have!

i'll try and keep this blog updated and somewhat witty! i guess this shows my new sense of maturity...growing up from Myspace LOL but knowing me and my history of journaling...this just might be the last you read from me!