Gosh, its been forever since I updated. So sorry! I feel like I update so much on Facebook and not sure how many people read this. Anyway, today it is 2 years since Ashton almost passed away and his life was saved! He recently had another MRI and that came back all clear. He is doing wonderful! He started preschool in September and is just thriving. He continues his physical therapy once a week and all the play he does at school helps him tons too. So, this is just a quick update, life is so busy and thats a good thing! All is well in the Gillin home.
Dori
Friday, November 12, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
This just in!
Ashton's MRI came back all clear!! Yea! Now we can enjoy the rest of our summer without worry. At least until October, when the next one rolls around.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
It's that time again.
OK, time for all the Positive thoughts and prayers. Ashton's next MRI is next Wednesday at 1pm. I know he is going to be just fine but I still have butterflies. Please keep him in your thoughts...thank you.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
A much needed update!
It has been so long since I've updated! Sorry for the huge ammount of time gone by. Ashton is doing so incredibly well and we are so excited for summer. He has been eating little bits here and there. He mostly likes sweet things but lately he has also tried taco meat and spanish rice. I think because these things have a lot of flavor, he likes them. He is still getting his regular formula feeds through the G tube, but its looking like it won't be for much longer. He sure is taking his time though, this eating stuff has definitely been on his own terms and he is taking baby steps with it. Whatever it takes though!
Ashton was given the opportunity to do a wish through the make a wish foundation. So, in 11 days, we're going to Disneyland!! We are so excited! This will be the first time we have flown down south to go to DL and it will be all of the kids first time in an airplane. Its going to be quite the adventure :)
Ashton is still doing Physical Therapy once a week and he is getting stronger and stronger. He still has a long way to go, but today we took him to "The white church" that he loves so much--Holy Cross, in Santa Cruz--and he was able to "run", more like trot, on the grass. He had been wanting to do that for so long, it was great to see him and how happy it made him. He is also loving riding on his trike and man is he fast. Thats one of his favorite things to do as well. He just goes and goes!
I can't remember if I mentioned this before, but we have decided to put Ashton in Pre-school next fall instead of Kindergarten. I feel he needs to make up for a bunch of lost time and I really want him to have the very best start going into school. He will be going to Baymonte Preschool, which is where his sister went, and I know he will have a great beginning to his many, many, school years.
For now though, we are going to remain busy just enjoying the summertime. We missed the whole season last year because most of our days were spent in the hospital. We have been playing outside, playing again with our weekly playgroup at the park, and Ashton has even started swimming in the pool again. This was a biggie because he was very afraid to get back in there, but thanks to our new neighbors and their little boy, Ashton took to it right away. It helps when you have a friend to swim with :) I feel like things are going so well sometimes that it just can't possibly be true. I have this dread that at any moment it can all be swept away again. I know this is normal anxiety, but that doesn't make it any easier. I get so worried anytime he throws up, which does still happen, just not very often. I worry its the tumor growing back, but then I remember that he is very sensitive to things, like his feeds, or when we try to stop the anti-nausea meds, and that it will take some time for him to adjust. His next MRI is scheduled for the end of July, I think the 27th but I'm not sure. I will update again before then and let everyone know.
Happy summer and I will let you know how the Make a Wish trip goes!
Ashton was given the opportunity to do a wish through the make a wish foundation. So, in 11 days, we're going to Disneyland!! We are so excited! This will be the first time we have flown down south to go to DL and it will be all of the kids first time in an airplane. Its going to be quite the adventure :)
Ashton is still doing Physical Therapy once a week and he is getting stronger and stronger. He still has a long way to go, but today we took him to "The white church" that he loves so much--Holy Cross, in Santa Cruz--and he was able to "run", more like trot, on the grass. He had been wanting to do that for so long, it was great to see him and how happy it made him. He is also loving riding on his trike and man is he fast. Thats one of his favorite things to do as well. He just goes and goes!
I can't remember if I mentioned this before, but we have decided to put Ashton in Pre-school next fall instead of Kindergarten. I feel he needs to make up for a bunch of lost time and I really want him to have the very best start going into school. He will be going to Baymonte Preschool, which is where his sister went, and I know he will have a great beginning to his many, many, school years.
For now though, we are going to remain busy just enjoying the summertime. We missed the whole season last year because most of our days were spent in the hospital. We have been playing outside, playing again with our weekly playgroup at the park, and Ashton has even started swimming in the pool again. This was a biggie because he was very afraid to get back in there, but thanks to our new neighbors and their little boy, Ashton took to it right away. It helps when you have a friend to swim with :) I feel like things are going so well sometimes that it just can't possibly be true. I have this dread that at any moment it can all be swept away again. I know this is normal anxiety, but that doesn't make it any easier. I get so worried anytime he throws up, which does still happen, just not very often. I worry its the tumor growing back, but then I remember that he is very sensitive to things, like his feeds, or when we try to stop the anti-nausea meds, and that it will take some time for him to adjust. His next MRI is scheduled for the end of July, I think the 27th but I'm not sure. I will update again before then and let everyone know.
Happy summer and I will let you know how the Make a Wish trip goes!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Ashton's 5th birthday
Well, today my little guys turns 5! This is such a happy day. He is feeling and doing great. He has a big birthday party this weekend and we have hired a magician who performed for the kids up at LPCH. Its going to be awesome! Last week, we went out one evening for a family photo shoot. A couple of mom's that I know, one who is also a cancer mom, had offered to do this at no charge and I just couldn't resist! This turned out to be the perfect time, Ashton's b-day and his end of chemotherapy treatment. I wanted to share a slide show one of the mom's made. She just sent it today and I can't get over how much I love it.
http://michelleriddlephoto.com/gillin/
When you watch this, make sure you turn the volume up to hear the music.
It truly is special.
http://michelleriddlephoto.com/gillin/
When you watch this, make sure you turn the volume up to hear the music.
It truly is special.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Great news!
I wanted to let everyone know, who isn't on facebook, that Ashton's MRI was all clear! We are so happy!
Please continue to pray for our friend Jacob Grillo. He is having an emergency MRI of his spine today and will undergo brain surgery on Friday to get the tumor they just found out.
Thank you!
Please continue to pray for our friend Jacob Grillo. He is having an emergency MRI of his spine today and will undergo brain surgery on Friday to get the tumor they just found out.
Thank you!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
MRI tomorrow
Ok everyone.....PT's and prayers are needed. Ashton will be having his MRI tomorrow at 3pm. I have been feeling so great about it. He has been doing so good and hasn't given us any reason to worry, but about an hour ago, we heard some terrible news which has pretty much slapped me in the face and made me realize to NEVER let my guard down.
When Ashton was first diagnosed, when he was still in the ICU after surgery, we were introduced to a wonderful family who happened to be waiting for their baby boy to finish his follow up MRI. They were the first people we talked to who had a child with a brain tumor and I felt the need to latch onto them...they looked so calm because they had already been through the worst, Jacob was tumor free and doing great. He had a different type of tumor and was diagnosed about a year before Ashton. A couple of times our boys would have their MRI on the same day so we would have a chance to catch up. But for some reason, our schedules have been slightly off and we have missed each other. Well, Jacob's MRI was today and we just heard that his tumor is back. There were no signs....we don't know yet what their next step is but let me tell you, this family is the greatest. They helped us so much. Their names are John and Sandy Grillo and Jacob is their son. PLEASE pray and send positive thoughts.
You never know what tomorrow may bring......
When Ashton was first diagnosed, when he was still in the ICU after surgery, we were introduced to a wonderful family who happened to be waiting for their baby boy to finish his follow up MRI. They were the first people we talked to who had a child with a brain tumor and I felt the need to latch onto them...they looked so calm because they had already been through the worst, Jacob was tumor free and doing great. He had a different type of tumor and was diagnosed about a year before Ashton. A couple of times our boys would have their MRI on the same day so we would have a chance to catch up. But for some reason, our schedules have been slightly off and we have missed each other. Well, Jacob's MRI was today and we just heard that his tumor is back. There were no signs....we don't know yet what their next step is but let me tell you, this family is the greatest. They helped us so much. Their names are John and Sandy Grillo and Jacob is their son. PLEASE pray and send positive thoughts.
You never know what tomorrow may bring......
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