Match made in heaven

Email sent 7/24/11

Dear family and friends,

I'll begin with an apology for not communicating more in the past few months with all the people who have loved us, prayed for us, cared for us, and walked with us through the various trials and triumphs these past couple years. In May, we went to Evelyn's routine check-up at nephrology (the kidney doctor). Sadly, her condition had deteriorated more than any of us had anticipated. The doctor decided that it was time for us to enter transplant preparations. We were taken by surprise, as we had anticipated and communicated to some of you that we would probably be looking at the transplant process in Spring 2013. We decided not to send out a mass email because we didn't have any details to share, besides anxiety and ignorance. Instead we waited until after Keith and I were evaluated for donor compatibility in early July. Yesterday, the living donor clinic called and informed Keith that he is a good match. We are very excited as well as scared. This is what we have been waiting for and dreading.

We'll continue to communicate as we know more. Pray for us as we feel overwhelmed by the upcoming surgery (potentially in November) and the post-transplant medical lifestyle.

Love to all of you,

Julianne and Keith

Marilouise, Evelyn, and Ada Claire

"Mommy, I'm going to war"

I'm still wrestling with the meaning behind this statement and corresponding uniform.

When you can't beat chaos,

create more, of course

Birthday cake for ML 2012

Moving up - here come kindergarten

Why I puree

I created a flyer for other parents considering changing their children's diet to whole food purees.

In March 2011, we found out our middle daughter has kidney disease. I was 4 months pregnant with our third (who actually came 6 weeks early and spent one month in the hospital). Our four-year-old was scheduled for a tonsillectomy the day I went in to labor. So why would I add purèeing to our lives when the can of formula is so easy? Because purèeing has actually simplified our lives. Before purèes, our daughter had constant diarrhea and frequent vomiting (three to four times per week). That was our normal life. At one point her throwing up became so frequent (at least two or three times per day) she ended up becoming dehydrated and was hospitalized. It was around that time we were given a Vitamix blender. I had heard about other families purèeing and thought I’d give it a try just to see if her bowels would feel better on real food (and because I hated the smell of recycled formula). From the moment we started purèes she has had normal bowel movements (anyone who’s child has struggled on formula will know how exciting that can be). Her throwing up is down to once every few weeks. Not only does she feel better but we do, too! I’m excited about how food purèes have improved our lives and the life of our daughter. It has reduced stress, laundry, and middle-of-the-night enteral pump alarms (we now do daytime boluses). Making purèes takes some preparation, but it has actually reduced our overall work.

Is diahrea the norm?

 Instead of formula, puree!