Back to Normal

Brian's work had some balloons delivered to Little Miss--a perfect gift!

The pool is almost complete, we are filling it up this very moment!  
Aubrey was helping Daddy fix the sprinkler system this morning.



Thank you all again for your prayers.  We are doing much better.  

Thanks for Praying

Many of you know and some may not, that Aubrey was in the hospital this past week.  On Tuesday morning, Brian left early in the morning to fly to Oklahoma.  Aubrey hadn't woken up by 8:30 am which was unusual.  I went in to check on her and I knew that something was wrong.  She was staring at me, but didn't say anything.  She was shaking a little and her color was a little off.  When I touched her I immediately noticed she was really cold.  I took her into my room, called Brian, then the pediatrician, and then Brian's mom and we headed to Texas Children's Hospital ER.  I had planned on getting together with a friend that morning so she called and offered to ride with me to the Hospital.  That was such a blessing that helped keep me calm on the drive.  

A whole lot of doctors, nurses, and others quickly worked on Aubrey to get her temperature, blood sugar, and heart rate back up to a normal place.  It was very scary for me and I was SO thankful to have Brian's mom with me.  Once they got her to a more stable condition, they took her in for a brain cat scan and then she was placed in the PICU.  Brian was able to come back that evening and spend the next three days with me at the hospital.  Aubrey was doing much better shortly after getting into the PICU, though she was still very sleepy for the rest of that day.  That night was very scary for Brian and I because after Aubrey's dangerously low blood sugar level, it shot up to a dangerously high level.  Thankfully her body was able to regulate it over the nighttime so she didn't need any help with that.

While in the PICU, Brian and I were offered a room at the Ronald McDonald House located in the hospital.  That was a blessing for us to get to take turns napping and showering there over the night.  Aubrey was out of ICU status early wednesday morning, but it wasn't until late that night that there was a room for her on the Cardiac floor.  We were so glad to be moved to a much larger room with a place for us to sleep and a private bathroom with a shower.  Also they only checked vitals every 4 hours there and Aubrey got to shed most of her cords and stickers and cufs and other tethers.  She only had one iv left and since she was feeling better she was happy for the extra mobility.  

It was a very difficult time for all of us.  Brian and I were very emotionally exhausted from watching Aubrey go through so much poking and prodding.  She became VERY fearful of anyone who would walk through the door (besides Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, and Grandpa.)  It hurt me so much to see her hurting and afraid and not be able to do anything but be there for her.

The doctors are still baffled by what actually caused this incident.  We have talked to lots and lots of doctors.  We are thankful to be in such place with such WONDERFUL doctors.  There are so many doctors reviewing her case and trying to find answers.  She had lots of blood tests, eye exam, hearing exam, liver ultrasound, heart ultrasound and so far everything has turned up normal.  The cardiologists and the geneticists want her to have a few more tests to try and narrow down a diagnosis (or rule out certain other conditions.)  We have to take her back to TCH on Thursday for a big brain MRI  and they are doing a skin biopsy while she is under anesthesia.  They finally let us go home Friday night.  She has been SO happy since we left.  She is completely back to her normal bubbly, loving, smart, silly self. 

Thank you for keeping us in your prayers.  Though it has been a difficult time, we have many things to be thankful.  We need prayer for wisdom and peace as parents.  We pray that Aubrey has peace and feels safe despite all the uncomfortable appointments she has to go through.  And of course we pray for healing.  We would like some answers, but we are okay without answers.  We need your prayers of protection: physical, emotional, and spiritual.  God is good.

Transition Time

So Christmas is sneaking up very fast on us.  We have been here in Texas about a month now, minus a week for Thanksgiving.  Aubrey had an appointment at Texas Children's Hospital last week.  The appointment was tough on her with all the pokes and stickers they stick all over her, but she is doing very well.  Her heart is certainly not worse than it has been and may even be a little (very little) better.  She has grown but the thick part of the heart has not.  Her heart is still squeezing very hard, so they increased her dose of the medicine again.  Overall we were very pleased with the news.  We were sad to learn that her very excellent dr. is moving to Ohio and we won't be able to see him any more.  But I am sure he is leaving us in capable hands.  

We are getting settled here in Texas.  The house is coming together and we have our vehicles.  I am still working on getting a license as that is a very time consuming process here.  We really like our home and the neighbors we have met have been great.  We found a church and even ran into friends from Anchorage the first Sunday we checked it out.  That was such an encouragement and an unexpected blessing.  I am looking forward to better weather and our pool to be complete.  So far the transition is pretty tough on me especially.  Brian likes his job and Aubrey is all settled.  I hope we meet some friends or get in a small group soon.  May parents get here Monday night for a week.  I am SO excited for that.  I think if I just get a few more things in order I will feel more at home here.  Thanks for keeping up with our family.

Goodbye Alaska. . . Hello Texas

We leave Alaska late tonight with very mixed feelings. On one hand we are very excited for the changes to come. I am not sad to leave the weather here for a warmer climate. We have a whole new set of adventures awaiting us. Brian's new job will be very different and and exciting change for him. If all goes according to plan, we will arrive in Houston around noon tomorrow, have a final walk through of our new house at around 3. Thursday the 20th is Brian's first day at his new job, our closing date on the new house, and my birthday.

We are also very sad to leave our life here--the only life we have known as a married couple. We have wonderful friends here in Alaska that have become family to us. I know there will be challenges and many lonely moments in this time of transition. We hope to find a church home and get plugged into the community quickly.

Flower Girl

Maching Jammies!  Here is Aubrey with her buddy Maya

Here is our Little Flower at the ConocoPhillips Family Halloween party.  She really enjoys dress-up, and we really enjoy showing her off!  

We're Moving.

The Buck family is moving to Houston.  A few weeks ago Brian was offered a job he couldn't refuse in Houston.  He will still be working for ConocoPhillips, but in a very different role.  His new position is an assistant of sorts to a VP in the company.  It is a neat opportunity for him to meet people in the higher up roles in the company and learn more about what they do.  It will involve quite a bit of travel, setting up meetings, and power point presentations.  It is a 12-18 month position.  It is kind of an honor to get this job, and at the same time it is nicknamed the "Bag Boy."  He is excited for the change after several months of very intense days at work and a lot of time in the field.

There are lots of emotions with this move.  We are very sad to leave Alaska--mostly our friends, our church, and the outdoorsy lifestyle we have so enjoyed here.  We will miss the amazingly beautiful landscape God created here.  This really feels like our home as it is the only home we have had together.  On the other hand, we are very excited for some of the changes this move will bring.  We will be near Brian's parents for the first time in our marriage.  We will be near Aubrey's doctor at Texas Children's Hospital.  And buying a home in Houston is very exciting to us--we are hoping to find one with a pool!  I am really looking forward to the warmer weather.  (it was around 9 degrees here this morning, brrrrrr!)  We go on our house hunting trip on Friday the 31st, and then move down on the 19th of November.  It is all happening VERY fast.

Big Birthday Girl!

Aubrey and I got back from a week in California visiting the Frarys and meeting baby Jace and put together a kickin' birthday party!  We had a blast in So. Cal!  It was in the 80s most of the time.  We got to wear shorts and swim and enjoy some sun.  Brian met us for a couple of days over the weekend before heading to Houston for a conference.  The Frarys and I took Aubrey out for a birthday dinner at a Thai restaurant.  They gave her a piece of cake and sang to her.  She tried to dig in with her hand but the cake was too hot and she burned her fingers and cried.  But that didn't deter her too much; she enjoyed her cake as I cooled pieces for her.  It was so great to catch up with such good friends.  We also met up with our friends we call the Bumpii who used to live up here.  We left the hot weather to arrive home to weather below freezing and snow on the ground and in the forcast.  Winter is in full swing already here.  

Aubrey's party was a lot of fun.  I had so much fun making invitations, planning the food, getting party favors and balloons!  Aubrey wore her pink tutu and LOVED it!  We had lots of kids and lots of adults celebrate with us.  This birthday was really special to us after all that has happened in the last six months.  It really gave us a reason to stop and reflect on how much God has blessed us.  We are so thankful for Aubrey's health and all the friends and family who have been such a big support to us.