July 5, 2012 - Fourth of July

July 3, 2012 Ellie had her heart catheterization.  She did wonderfully!!  Her heart looks great....there is a slight leak in one of the valves they repaired during surgery last year and if it never gets worse (which they don't think it will) she will never have to have anymore procedures for her heart....if it gets worse.....she may need to have another surgery years from now...they don't think this will happen.  God has something wonderful planned for this little girl. She keep marveling us all!!   Here are two pictures of her heart.  One is before and one is after...

This is Ellie's heart before they did anything on Tuesday...you can see the cross over blood - the dark smokey looking areas....

This is Ellie's heart after they coiled the PDA valve. You can see the little coil in the image. You can also see the change in the amount of cross over blood there is.

This is Ellie recovering in the hospital - she did not have to spend the night.  She went in at 6:15am and we were home by 6:00pm that night.

 

July 4, 2012 - This is Ellie's offical first 4th of July fireworks.  She was in the hospital last 4th of July recovering from heart surgery during the fireworks.  She loved the fireworks...she just watched and watched...we all hated the heat but we made the most of it and for the most part we had a blast...here are some pictures.

cooling off in the misting fan

loving those bottles of water

eating a cookie

I rasised him right!!  LOL

watching the fireworks 

Watching the fireworks 

covering her ears...lol

 HAPPY 4th 2012 Ashton family!!



June 10, 2012

Ellie is doing soo well.  We are adding speech to her interventions just to offset anything unseen yet.  She is currently waving hello and bye to everyone and she is sooo close to walking independently.  She can take at least 5 steps without holding on to anything before she falls.  She is soo darn cute...I am a little bias...lol  She is very curious about her world and how things work.  She likes to make people laugh. 

 All my gifts from God!!

 Playing in the sprinkler.

Fast asleep after a long day at the zoo.

SHE LOVES THE WATER!!!

 Sooo BIG!!

 Trying to walk on her own!!

 She is more confident walking while holding on.

Have you noticed she has a different bathing suit on in each picture playing in the water.  This girl has more bathing suits then I have ever had in my entire life...LOL (All gifts from people who love her)

She is blowing a kiss...lol

Ellie goes on July 3, 2012 back to the hospital for a heart cauterization.  This is normal procedure 1 year following surgery but it still make me a little anxious because they have to put her to sleep and insert a tube into her heart to take pictures and try to coil up her PDA valve that reopened after surgery.  Nothing major the doctors say - the worse case is if they can't coil it because her valve may be too small she may have blood pressure issues when she is older which could be controlled with medication.

I am currently 19 weeks pregnant and working for the summer at the Down Syndrome of Louisville as their kindergarten/1st grade summer program teacher.  I am learning soo much from the other parents and the children in my classroom.  Things that will help me help Ellie reach her potential.  It is unbelievable how Down Syndrome affects each person differently.  It is just like typically developing children...not one is the same.  This is a stereotype that many people think - before Ellie I was one of them.  I heard Down Syndrome and I saw 1 thing in my head...when in reality it is not a single duplicated category.  Amazing.  God is soo wonderful, he has made each and everyone of us different.  We all have special tasks we have to complete while we are on this Earth no matter our characteristics.  I can not WAIT to see where my children's paths are headed and what wonderful things they will do while on this Earth.  I can not tell you how lucky we are to have these experiences we have had the same ones I was terrified for a little over a year ago.  We are coming up on the 1 year anniversary of her surgery...what an experience that was.  On June 18, we go to have an ultrasound of the new baby.  This is the same ultrasound that discovered Ellie's heart condition when I was pregnant with her.  We are a little nervous about the results but I will finally relax once it is over.  All of our prenatal tests have come back normal up to this point but we are still a little anxious about this appointment.  I know everything will be okay...God is with us no matter the what the out come is.  The only thing that will upset me during this appointment will be if the doctors say the new baby will need a surgery...everything else will be a blessing...I do not think I could handle going through another surgery like Ellie's again...

4-19-12 Soo many updates!!

Ellie is getting soo big!  She amazes me everyday with the things she is able to do.  Her lates tricks are raising her hands above her head and you are supposed to respond with "Soooo Big!!"  Another trick she has learned is that if she lays her head on something everyone says AWWWWWWWW...it cracks her up.  She has also learned this absolutely funny face...she looks like she is mad...but she is just making the face at random times...just to get a reaction out of everyone...too funny...

She is walking while holding on to furniture and it is hard to keep her contained in a space...she is very opinionated about where she wants to be and where she doesn't.  She loves her family and she doesn't like to be alone!!  No matter how stressful your day was seeing her face make me melt!!  She is proof that God can do anything!!  I forget sometimes that she has DS...I just see her as Ellie.  Life would not be as wonderful without our sweet Ellie Mae!!  Here are some pictures...

Loving her daddy at the Zoo!!

Ellie Hiking!!

2-18-12 big news!!!

Well, Ellie is going to be a big sister. We just found out that I am pregnant. We are soo excited for our new little one to arrive. Finding out you are pregnant after the events of the last pregnancy is scary. We are filled with soo many mixed emotions. We know there are possibilities that otherwise most people do not even fathom. I pray for the health and happiness of the new baby. I know this is all a part of his design...can't wait to begin loving on our new little one!

2-14-12 Happy Valentine's Day Ellie Mae

Sorry it has been soo long since I have updated the blog life has been busy...lol  I have a lot of updates so I will start from the beginning...

January 6, 2012 - Ellie's First Hair cut!!  She LOVED IT!!

January 14, 2012 - Ellie's first Birthday Party
We had Ellie's first birthday party at the hall in Grandma's Debbie's church in Ohio.  Talk about a party for a princess...OMG I don't think a toy store has as many toys as Ellie does now...lol

Ellie LOVED her birthday cake...

(video of her eating cake coming soon...)

January 24, 2012 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELLIE MAE

I can not believe she is already 1 year old...where did this last year go!!

February 6, 2012
Ellie visited the Orthopedic surgeon to check out her knees and her hips to make sure everything is as it should be.  The Dr was amazed at how strong Ellie is.  She said that most babies that have down syndrome do not walk until they are almost 2 and she believes that Ellie will be walking within the next couple of months.  She also said that Ellie's hips look great and she has loosey goosey knees.  She said she is not worried though she will build the strength in her legs and it should not require her to have braces.  YEAH  Praise Jesus!!  She has to go back in a year to make sure there are no changes.

February 13, 2012 - Ellie pulled herself up to standing using the couch all by herself.

February 14, 2012 - Happy Valentine's Day Ellie Mae!!!

Ellie is growing and changing everyday.  She amazes us, her doctors, and her therapists.  We set goals for her to reach within a month and she reaches them within a month.  She is incredibly smart.  She is able to solve problems and communicate what she needs.  She is the most adorable baby (I'm a little bias)...lol

God has been good to us, the power of prayer is real.  Ellie has overcome many things in her short year.  I know we will be ok.  God's hand is on little Ellie Mae as well as the rest of the family.  He has put her in the care of amazing doctors and therapist that listen and are concerned about what's going on in Ellie's world.  They are on the little details.  Not to mention the prayers for her.  Through God ALL things are possible.  Heidi had a dream when Ellie was still in my belly.  She dreamed that Kenny was playing with Kaylee and Ellie outside and Ellie was running and playing with no signs of down syndrome.  I get goose bumps to think that God is at work already.  Look at how great Ellie is doing.  She is scoring right at the normal range for all children (typical and with disabilities) that is no accident.  God is good ALL THE TIME!!

Thank you for your continued prayers and love for our whole family.