I apologize to everyone that my Mommy has been so slack about keeping my website updated.  Things have been very busy in our house.  Mommy was in school and is now a Certified Nursing Assistant.   Walker is repeating kindergarten this year and is doing an amazing job!  Straight A's on everything.  I am wearing my Mommy out.  I pretty much run all over the house, I am potty training and doing very well with it.  During the day I wear a cap on my trach and an oxygen cannula in my nose and if I can start wearing it 24 hrs a day then Dr. Mohon will take my trach out!  YIPPEE!!!  I talk in complete sentences now and am very demanding when I want something.  I like to yell at Carter our pug when he gets to close to me.  We all are trying to avoid getting sick this winter and hope and pray that all of you stay well also!  Once Mommy gets all my new pictures off her phone she will get some new ones up on the site!  Until next time Love to All!

I hope this finds everyone well and we hope that all of you had a wonderful holiday and new year.  Alex has continued to stay off the vent for a full month.  We went to see the pulmonologist today and he was very pleased with the progress.  On Thursday Alex will have a bronch done which is a camera inserted through the trach and down his trachea to see how things look.  If things continue to go well we will discuss capping the trach and trying a nasal cannula again, if not then we will contine with the trach, but NO VENT!!  Alex and Walker both had a wonderful Christmas and Alex is definitely acting like a spoiled rotten 2 year old.  He walks, talks, signs and throws huge temper tantrums and gets time out at least once a day.  We still aren't having much progress with eating, but at least he still gaining weight.  Some of Alex's new words are blue, red, yellow, wait, look, mommy, daddy, bubba, yes and a few others here and there.  He knows what the tv remote is and does and points and screams for the cartoons.  He has become quite the little stinker.

I will try to remember to update this a little more often or as a little 5 and 2 year old allow.  Lots of love to all and take care.

Just thought I would let everyone know what progress has been made.  Alex has been off of the vent for 4 days now.  We have been weaning slowly over the past year and started weaning at night.  Alex made the decision for us that he was ready.  Now the little booger only wears his oxygen mask and has done extremely well.  The nurses have noticed that he is able to sleep better at night and keeps his heart rate and oxygen sats more regulated being off the vent.  This was the best Christmas gift I could ever have asked for.  It's been a year and a half waiting and we have finally made it.  All I ask is that everyone continues to pray that Alex can stay on this path and not have a set back.  Merry Christmas to each and every one of you and thanks for all the love and support.

Just thought we would update everyone to what's been going on in the Easley house.  Alex went to the doctor last week, got his flu shot and got checked out for this stomach bug that we all had.  I think the stomach bug has finally passed, daddy decided to get a pretty nasty infection on his foot and went to the doctor for antibiotics and now Mommy has strep throat.  I don't know if we will manage to all be well at once, but we are still hanging in there.  We went this week for an echocardiogram and things look about the same as before.  The ASD is small, but has not changed in size and the pulmonary hypertension is about the same.  The cardiologist will be calling from Vanderbilt once he receives the report to decide whether or not we need to have another heart cath before spring.  Mommy will keep everyone updated as soon as we hear something.  Walker learned this week what snow days are all about, Carter County closed yesterday due to snow in the mountains (nothing but dusting for us), but anyone who knows this area knows that Carter Cty closes for snow all winter long.  Walker woke up this morning and asked me if schools were closed and when I told him no he told me that he didn't like school and did not want to go.  Needless to say, the child is at school.  Mommy is doing the happy dance.  This has been our crazy week, we hope that everyone else is doing well.  I will get some new pictures up soon.  Lots of love to everyone.

We finally got some new pics up.  There is a mixture of Brett's birthday party and Halloween.  The boys had a great time trick or treating.  Alex was Tigger and Walker was Batman.  Walker enjoyed all the candy and running around with the neighbors kids at the trunk or treat and Alex just enjoyed being in his new stroller.  For those not aware, Alex got a new stroller or kid cart that was specially made just for him and all of his equipment.  Along with the new stoller, Mommy got a new van to carry the stroller.  Both of these will make life much easier on Mommy when we have outings.  Hope this finds everyone well.  Lots of love and hope you enjoy the pictures.

I've updated some new pictures.  Some are of Alex's 2nd Birthday last weekend and the others are from yesterday.  Walker, Jeb and I went to the 2008 Buddy Walk for the National Down Syndrome Society with Rob and Colton.  We had a great time, but definitely missed Sherrie and Brett.  Hope you all enjoy.

Just thought that we would give everyone an update.  Alex and I came home last night from our local PICU last night.  All the girls couldn't believe how much Alex is changing and even though he's been sick he still managed to flirt and show off.   The trach secretions came back positive so Dr. Mohon has charted this as bacterial bronchitis.  Alex has been started on antibiotics through his nebulizer twice a day and will continue on those for the next two weeks.  Besides needing motrin and tylenol to help with the fevers, I think he is definitely happy to be home.  Thank you to everyone for all the love and support.  We'll get some new pictures up soon.

I can't believe that Alex is 2 today, he has come so far since the beginning.  Dr. Yang once said once they hit a year old these kids are considered survivors.  Well, I think Alex has definitely made it to be a SURVIVOR and I couldn't be happier with the progress that he has made.

Alex, my sweet little boy I am so proud of you and admire the strength and fight that you have in you.  You are to little to understand now, but I want you to know that during those hard times you gave Mommy her strength to keep going.  You are an amazing child and I can't wait to see the man that you will become.  I love you more than you know Alex.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY LITTLE BUDDA BEAR.