Another interview

So, I just wanted to let everyone know that I was invited to another interview at the Univeristy of Kentucky. I had a dream last night that I didn't get into BYU because I didn't draw any cartoons on my application. Hope that's not true. Even though both interview so far are across the country, we are excited about checking these schools out. We'll keep you posted about any other interviews.

Matt's Good News & Mommy's Lil' Helper

Matt just found out yesterday that he will be interviewing at Virginia Tech (Falls Church campus)!!!! He and Vanessa will be taking a trip at the beginning of March for this interview, and they'll stay with Tia (Angelene) while they are there. Since this is one of his top choices (after BYU, which we're hoping to hear from the end of this month), this is very exciting news. The weekend after that we'll be traveling down to Loma Linda for another interview. I'm so proud of him, and I'm sure the interviews will go great. Yay Matt!

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The other day I was madly trying to e-mail and call people from the ward about various things, and I could tell Vanessa had finally hit a point where it was too much and she just needed some Mommy-"Masa" time (sounds like "Mah-suh" when she says her name). Since I wanted to make some cookies for the girls I visit anyway (and with a little divine inspiration at a key moment), I decided to see how much I could involve her. It turned out to be a really fun experience, and she even helped me "clean up" the spoon afterwards.

A Wishy Named Nemo

So we have a pet now...a little Betta that Matt gave Vanessa on their Daddy-Daughter date (which he has the time for now that he quit the Discovery Academy job). And because Vanessa loves "Nemo," that's what this little guy has been named, although she just mainly calls him the "wishy."





This January has been a bit more relaxed than the past few months, but still full of good things. On the 6th (Matt's B-Day) we attended his cousin, Cariso's, baptism, and Matt got to perform the ordinance. Megan and Jason came with us to congratulate and support Cariso, and I think it meant a lot to him.

Then on Sunday (7th) we celebrated Matt's birthday. Megan and Jason hung out with us and we had Frijol con Puerco (a Mexican dish, as tradition now calls for) and he opened presents. I'm afraid to say, it was quite low-key, but I think he still enjoyed it.

(This picture of Vanessa has nothing to do with anything, but I don't have many birthday picks. If it counts, I think we tooll this picture that day. I just love her pose, though. Such a little girl!)

Later this month, Matt and Vanessa had their Daddy-Daughter date. Besides getting Nemo, they also went out for ice cream (Grandma Tschudy's idea). Here's Vanessa showing off her pet. This was a tricky pose as she kept trying to "hold" him.

We also did a little "New Year's cleaning," getting rid of stuff we just don't really use anymore and organizing everything else. Vanessa had fun running around and playing with stuff we set out, including our bottle of Cancun sand that we still don't know what to do with.

We had a get-together and barbecue (it was 16 degrees outside, so only the "cook" braved the weather) with some of Matt's mission buddies and their wives. Since we forgot our camera, I actually snagged these shots off our friend's blog, so the resolution isn't as good as the original. This first picture is of Vanessa and her friend Kaylee, who also had their own "get-together" as they were born the same day in the same hospital, and haven't seen each other in a couple months.

This second shot is of the group, left to right: Ryan & Christine Harding (Kaylee's parents. Also expecting a second daughter), us, Vince and Lyndsay Call, and Brad and Cassie Sevy.

One of our latest "adventures" this month has been our "family day" where we went in search of some fun things to do in the "great indoors" (since staying outside was definitely not an option). After driving around with a bored Vanessa, we finally decided to head to the mall play area. Her day quickly became more fun.

It's a Girl!

Well, for those who may not have heard yet, we just found out last week that we are having a girl. We've already taught Vanessa to say "baby sister" and she's almost as excited as we are.
In case you're interested here are some pictures from the ultrasounds:


The first is her profile. She looks like a little carbon copy of her big sister!

This next one is her right foot. If the position looks weird, that's actually because it's clubbed (as well as her left). An explanation will be given below the pictures.



A little harder to see, but this is her left foot (with the heel at the top of the picture).

This last picture is part of our proof that it is indeed a little girl (note the little arrows off to the side). Since we've had two ultrasounds in the past week and will continue to have more (explanation to follow), we're pretty sure it's a she. Now if we can settle on a name!




Now, here's the story. I put in as much detail and information as I could think of, so feel free to skim if you've already heard it or just wanted the basics.

At our ultrasound appointment last Wednesday, the sonographer noticed that our baby's feet were turned (clubbed) and that her limbs were measuring a little short. She took a couple measurements, and then explained to us what she saw, informing us that she would refer us to specialists for a better look.

We had an appointment with a perinatalogist and a geneticist on Friday. The perinatalogist did another ultrasound to confirm the presence of clubbed feet (not hard to do, they're pretty visible) and to get some good measurements of her limbs and body.

As far as the feet are concerned, it sounds like they will do a series of casts after she is born to help the feet turn and form the way they need to so she can have full use of them. Catching it this early is great as we can correct it without surgery (most likely).

After she measured the baby, she told us that the head and brain were measuring normal (everything seemed to be present and looked fine) and the chest also measured normal. The organs were all present and look normal as well. This is important because low or abnormal measurements in these areas can mean that the life of the baby may be shortened or not even last past birth. Thank goodness she's healthy there!

Her limbs are slightly below the 5th percentile, which indicates a nonlethal form of skeletal dsyplasia (which sounds like it is basically another way of saying minor dwarfism). We also noticed and the specialist confirmed that the baby's hands are turned out (similar to the way Vanessa's were) and that the baby's general proportions may be a lot like Vanessa's have been. This is encouraging since we have seen how well Vanessa is doing, but also discouraging because it implies we may be dealing with something genetic which may not only affect our two girls, but any other children we have.

We will be seeing another geneticist in Salt Lake for Vanessa to see if we can find out if these physical traits have a name, if they are, in fact, the same thing in both girls, and what genetic implications they might have. We're mainly hoping it will provide some useful answers. If that proves unhelpful, we may need to look into possible tests (the most likely being amniocentesis, which I'm not sure I'm very comfortable with).

We will also continue to see the same perinatalogist every month to do ultrasounds to check that our little girl's limbs continue to grow proportional to what they are now (or better), or not.

On a lighter note, this baby has the same cute profile as Vanessa and was a true baby during the appointment...all wiggles. She is quite active each day (and is moving even as I type), and I feel very strongly that she is a valiant spirit, one that is strong enough to take on the challenges that lie ahead. I also feel that she will fill our home with a tremendous amount of joy as our Vanessa already does daily. Heavenly Father has blessed us with two wonderful, sweet girls!

Thanks to all who have offered prayers and helpful information on our behalf. We feel calm, for the most part, that the baby will be okay and that hopefully her physical challenges/discomfort will be minor. We will continue to post any new information we find.

Christmas (Part 3--Washington)

We took a train from Salem to Lacey. Although she doesn't look it in this picture, Vanessa loved it, and talked about the train the rest of the day.


One of the many sweet moments with Grandma, and I finally remembered to take a picture!

Since the girls were being so cute, we had to capture their "picnic." This is what happens when we tell Vanessa to "look up."

Our adorable water baby washing her face.


I realized there were a few pictures I forgot to put in the last post, but they're too fun to leave out.

Vanessa trying to ride her "horsey." I don't think she got very far!

Christmas (Part 2--Oregon)

And we're off! This is on the plane heading out to Oregon. Vanessa has become a "seasoned traveler."

Oops...looks like we forgot to wrap one. Vanessa loved this spot under the tree.

Helping Uncle Hayden open his present.

Our little Afghan beauty

Okay, so I had to put this one on because Bean's face was so funny (they didn't know I was going to take a picture right then).

Two guesses...Cars or Nemo!

The joy of Christmas toys...trying to figure out how all the pieces fit together.

So Vanessa is actually taller than some of her cousins...but they're a lot younger and it's not by much! Aren't the three of them cute?

Christmas (Part 1--Utah)

We had a very fun and relaxing Christmas this year, and although I could explain it all in words, I think the pictures are more fun. Stay tuned each day for more posts:

New Christmas dress...I never could get her to give a "normal" smile.

Discovery Academy--Matt's (now former) second job. Think Harry Potter.

Mmm, snowball!

The "first Christmas" at our apartment. Bet you can't guess which one Daddy picked out!