All is going well here. Everyone is staying busy now that the feel of spring is here. Addi is growing bigger and bigger by the day! She is saying new words every time we turn around.
We are excited for Spring to be here so we can enjoy the nice weather.

How could I forget the best part of the trip.....last night all three of us were praying at bedtime and as always finshed up by saying Amen, Jesus! Next thing I know a pair of bright blue eyes looked at me and said "amen, ma ma? Amen?" Me.."yes, baby girl, amen!!!!!!!" Addi, "Amen!"

Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

~ 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18, NLT

Our heavenly father is so amazing!! We just got back from our trip to Nashville with our hearts full of joy and praise! Dr. Tulipan was very pleaded with Addi's progress. We are excitied to report that Addis ventricles have gotten smaller and the shunt is working well. He did mention that the shunt tubing is 'coming' out of the ventricle due to Addi's growth. As to be expected. Dr. Tulipan is not worried abs said that is may be possible down the road that she may no longer require a shunt. Wouldn't that be another blessing?!?!?! One day at time, remembering to be thankful for what we have been given. Being in Nashville, it may sound a little wierd, but feels comfortable. It holds such memories and emotions for me!! Some good, some less desirable but nonetheless like home away from home. It really brings to my attention God awesome grace and mercies that he gave us and continues to give us everyday! WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We did visit some of our favorite restaurants and order our favorite dishes! Spinach artichoke dip and Matts favorite chicken fingers at Bricktops and also J. Alexanders where some famous individuals have been known to dine.
Each restaurant holds fun memories for me! How blessed were mom and I during our stay there to have such amazing choices if restaurants!
We also drove by the fun pond where mom and spent many hours walking and feeding the ducks and geese. Addi loved watching them from the car window since it was so cold with snow on the ground.
Addi as always was a trooper on the plane and in the airport.
We are headed to Childrens Mercy tommorrow for clinic. We will post tomorrow the results.
All glory to God!!!

Matt and I just got back from a great trip to Orlando. The MKC board had some meetings there and I got to tag along to enjoy the awesome sunshine. Mae Mae Julie was gracious enough to come to Hutchinson and watch Addi for us while we enjoyed some much needed time together!
Mae Mae and Addi got along great and I think wore each other out!!
Orlando was fun to visit. Matt had not been to Orlando since he was a child and I had never been so it was a good experiecnce. In our time there we visited all four Disney theme parks and took an airboat ride on lake/swamp. We had a great guide! It was neat to see the landscape and we even got to see some bald eagles and aligators! Aligators were all sizes from 13 ft to 2 ft. We even managed to see some of Matt's favorite SNAKES!! He said that if the snack was coming in, HE was going out!! We had to tease him at every opportunity.
In the mornings while Matt was at meetings, I managed to catch in some rays and sneeked in a little bit of shopping! Great outlet malls!
Florida was a great place to dine on some YUMMY seafood!! The first night we got to sit outside by a pong with a water fountain! AWESOME!! Don't get that in Kansas very often! Each night our bellies were full of shrimp, lobster, crab claws or grouper. It was fun for everyone to get a different meal and get to sample some of everyones! We even managed some midwest raised beef the last night! Matt's grandpa and my dad would be proud!
The next couple of weeks are going to prove busy for us. We are headed to Vanderbilt for a checkup with Addi's neurosurgeon. A trip to Childrens Mercy to the spinal defect clinic and a trip to VEGAS with a group of our friends! Gamie Kim will be watching Addi for us as we head out west! I know they will have fun together.
We have switched Addi's neurosurgeon back to Dr. Tulipan; the surgeon that did Addi's shunt and fetal surgurey. We just really felt that we is the best fit for us. We know that God will provide as the increased monetary need arises with plane fares, hotels, and rental cars. We just want to give Addi the best care we can!
Children's Mercy still provides us with our pedi. urologist (who studied at Vanderbilt). Who we really like! Isn't God good?!?!?!
As far as Vegas...watch out! I know that it will be a great time had by all! We are going to catch George Strait and Reba in concert as well.

Just thought I would share these. God brought these verses to my attention knowing what was in my heart with leaving Addi.

Psalm 91:14-15, "'Because he loves me,' says the LORD, 'I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation'"

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

Wow!!!! Where did 2009 go? Hard to believe how fast it went as some of you already know that. When I think back to 2009 all I can think about it how truly BLESSED we are!! God has put me exactly where I want to be! Althought I never had 'planned' it this way. All those times, me planning and plotting where I wanted to be and what I wanted to do or be...God already knew what his plans for me were. To tell the truth boy am I glad. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else than where I am now. Wife to an awesome husband who is kind, generous, and giving! He works so hard so that I can be a stay-at-home mom to our 'blue-eyed angel' as I call her! Addi is such a treasure and never a moment goes by that I don't praise God for her. I could have never imagined a child like her! She has a laughter and smile that just fills your soul! You can't help but laugh with her when she laughs. Thank you Father, for trusting us to be her earthly parents! It is only by Gods grace and mercy that we are so blessed!!!
Addi is doing wonderful!! She is pulling up to standing, cruising around furniture by herself, and walking in her walk with a little assistance. Her vocabulary has just take off by leaps and bounds, she know many animals now and recognizes them with the proper animal noises and repeats many other words now. She has such a tender heart giving out kisses for no apparent reason other than to just say I love you. She actually puckers up for kisses, it is the cutest thing!
She is fascinated right now with books! She can't get enough. She will sit for 45 minutes while we read books. Of course she has to have her own book in her hands to hold. Addi has gotten very independent, as she also likes to have her own fork and feed herself as well. She loves music! All kinds and does her best to dance to the rythm even after the music has stopped. She is pretty funny, when she sits at the table to eat, she will just bust out humming and dancing in her chair. I have to get it on video some time, but I am always too busy watching and laughing inside.
Matt has managed to stay busy with farming, still! He does truly love every minute of it!! He has picked up more custom cutting acres for next year and is already looking forward to wheat harvest this summer.
I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you for checking up on us through the blog. I am going to try to post every week, my New Year's resolution!

Love to all, may you all have a blessed 2010!

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ansleymclaurin

The above link is for a 2 1/2 year old little from Nashville, TN. She was diagnosed with cancer all over her body early December of 2009. The faith that her family has is tremdous. Her blog tells her story and the walk that God has chosen for them. The father has been the one writing the blog and what strength and faith he has. His words are so refreshing and speak such truth even through what they are going through. They are true encouragement for me to be better about having faith and reminding me how I need to be in my walk with God.
Please visit their blog and keep them in your prayers!!!!

A lot has happened since my last post. In August Matt and I took Addi back to Nashville for a one year follow-up for the study. Addi did wonderful on both the plane trips and through the testing. She did have a UTI at the time we went so we were unable to complete the urodynamics test, and did have to return one month later in September. Praise God the UTI was a 'fluke' occurrence and Addi's bladder and kidneys look awesome. He truly answered our prayers again!

Addi is progressing fast and furious!!! Hard to believe how fast and how much she changes daily!! She is pulling to standing now all by herself and walking while holding your fingers. We are going to try some little ankle braces to help support her feet. A far cry from some doctors recommendations (that wanted tall over the calf braces) but our physical therapist Dayna (who sees Addi every week) thinks this is best for Addi. We can give it a try and if it doesn't work, try something else, but at least we are giving her a chance to walk on her own. I am excited to report that Addi did talk a few steps by herself all together with a walker. The walker is not a permanent thing, but we are finding out that Addi is very independent!!!! :) She likes to do things her way and on her own. (Don't know who she got that from) :)

Addi's vocab has expanded dramatically as well. She now uses hi(loves to pretend talk on the phone), bye-bye, ball, puppy, down, ma-ma, pa-pa (for grandpa Wurtz), and daddy on a regular basis.

I have to admit I am enjoying thoroughly getting to stay home with Addi and be able to watch her take all of these 'small' steps in life.

We have also been busy helping Matt in the field drive grain cart,combine, cook, and help and drive things around to where they need to go. Addi is a trooper the whole time. God gave us the perfect child for us!!!! I know I couldn't have 'designed' a better child myself! She is truly a blessing.

A few pictures from Table Rock.

We are back home now, thankfully. It was nice to get away and spend time together but always nice to be home. We had quite a few days, but Addi was a trooper all the way through it. We did find out that Addi had an infection in her bladder so we were unable to have one of the tests completed which means we will have to go back to Nashville in a month. The doctors are unsure if this infection is just a fluke or if it is an indication of her bladder not emptying completly due to spina bifida. The test that we will go back for in a month will tell us more. Our prayer is that this infection is just a one time thing that happened, nothing more.

On a more positive note, Addi had an evaluation with the Early Education Center (Dana who works with Addi for physical therapy). Addi's cognitive, fine motor, and speech skills are right where they need to be NOT adjusting for her age. YEAH!!!! Praise God!!

Quick update for the day, Addi did really well with the sedation today. Praise God! We didn't learn anything today from the tests yet, but praise God for leading us towards kind nurses. Tomorrow is a new day.

It has been a hectic and joy filled summer so far. Seeing Addi grow and get stronger each day reminds of the blessing she is and how blessed we are that our heavenly father chose us to be her parents. I could never fully express the love I have for her! How lucky can I be to be able to spend each day with her. We are equally blessed that Matt works so hard to provide for us.
So........since I have last blogged our little one has finally found forward gear. Yea!!!!! Who knew I could get so excited?!??! Pretty awesome in my book.
I do ask for your continued prayers for her. We head to Nashville tomorrow to start testing with Addi. Nothing is wrong with her, the study that we were a part of when she was born requires us to come back for visits at 12 and 30 months non adjusted age. Physical, developmental testing, sedated MRI among other things. I know that God has lead us thus far and won't leave us now, but it still scary. Guess I shouldn't be an overprotective mom hun?
My prayer is that any fear that Addi has during all of this will be pushed aside and that she will feel the comfort and protection of the Lord. I also pray that God gives me comfort and strength to be faithful in knowing that He is watching over us. As we have seen before His power is mighty! I pray that the Lord will lead us to kind and compassionate doctors and nurses as he did before.

I can't for them to see truly what a miracle our little Addi is.
I will try to have daily updates while we are there. Matt is trying to keep me up-to- date with technology this year, he got me a phone with Internet for my birthday. No excuses now.

Sorry it has been so long since my last post. No news is good news, right?!?!?!?!? Everything here is starting to pick up quickly. We had rain for quite a few days by it has finally dried off and the boys are off to work again. Addi continues to grow each day, bringing smiles to our face! She is starting to try to crawl. She can get up on all fours now and go backwards but still struggling to go forward. She is getting quite frustrated that she can't go anywhere. She seems to be getting a mind of her own now. She definitly knows what she wants.
We enrolled Addi in a mommy and me swim class. I really think that she will enjoy it alot. I also have the pleasure of taking one of our good friends (whom are expecting their second child here in a couple of weeks) daughter to swim class as well. Our days are going to be filled with fun and busyness swimming and taking care of the boys.
Our weekends have been and are packed with lots of traveling. Addi is being a trooper. Kansas City for a graduation and Royals game and Texas and Arkansas for weddings. Fun!!!
We just can't praise our heavenly Father enough for all of his blessings!