Update and catching up...still

Well, the Christmas letter is about to be put in the mailbox directing friends and family to this blog "keeping track" of Benjamin's adventures, which means I better catch up!

As Daddy says, "Nothing says Christmas like a boy with no pants ringing a bell."

First up, he had his 9 month well visit in October (yes, I am really behind! A crawling baby will do that to you).  He is still super skinny and super long!

Hey! I kind of look chunky in this picture!

Height: 18 pounds, 4 ounces (+9 pounds, 13 ounces since birth, 18th percentile)
Weight: 29.5 inches (+9 inches since birth, 95th percentile)

Now, to catch you up on mid-summer with some really cute pictures!!

Toward the end of June, we were invited with some friends from church to a family cabin in rural Pennsylvania for an overnight!  We had so much fun chatting on the porch, playing ball in the yard, and teaching Ben to drive a tractor...just kidding!

Buzz Lightyear decided to join us!

Eating breakfast and getting ready for lots of play!

You said what!? (Cups shout out!)

Gosh Mom. Did you really have to put me in this outfit in front of the guys!?

You all go ahead. I'm just going to hang here.

"Move over and let me drive." "No way Bud, I've got 2 hands on the wheel! I'm driving!"

Can you believe this? Daddy thinks you drive this with your bum! Silly Daddy!

The whole group at the cabin (minus a napping baby, which obviously was not Ben).

Just before Daddy's surgery, Uncle Beau got to meet Benjamin for the first time when he came to Pittsburgh with Aunt Tia. We had Grandpa Bob, Grammy Ellen, Grandpa Jim, Grandma Jen, Aunt Cece, and Uncle Cal came out to celebrate 4th of July.  Benjamin got to see his first parade.

I like this guy!  He's funny.

I had lots of fun with Aunt Tia!

I can't even look. Are they kissing again?

Here come the fire trucks at the parade. Ear Muffs!

After Daddy's surgery, Grandma Linda, Grandpa Mike, and Uncle Erich joined us all to rejoice over God's mercy and successful surgery. 

Taken right after we found out Daddy was done with surgery and things went great!

Look at this Grandpa Mike. It is my piano. I can already play classics.

Having fun with Grandpa Bob and Grammy Ellen

I went on lots of walks with Grandma Linda while she stayed with me.

That weekend was also the first annual Pittsburgh 5K Sarcoma Run. Mommy had T-shirts made for TEAM AARON and we had quite a few people run in honor of Daddy.  Benjamin was first baby across the finish line!  Go Ben!

5K, you've got nothin'! I'm ready to rock this race!

Thank you to everyone who purchased a shirt, ran in the race, and donated to the Sarcoma Foundation of America in honor of Aaron!

Benjamin also began to sit up on his own, which meant that we could set up the exersaucer!!  Hello new favorite toy!

Wow! There is so much to do!

I'm so excited about what is coming up in the next post!

 

Hoppy Halloween!

Can you guess what Benjamin was for Halloween!?
He was the cutest little frog you've ever seen!

Ribbit!

Mummy dogs and web fries were our special treat.
On Halloween, they can't be beat!

Thanks to Mamma Campbell for the inspiration!

Mom and Dad came in pretty handy
To make sure Ben got lots of candy.

As you can see, Mommy may be a little too excited about the candy...

And if she thinks I'm going to share, she's got another thing comin'!

There was lots of running about.
Shortly after we got home, it was lights out!

They dressed me up in this monkey suite...I mean frog suite as a ploy to get candy.  I think it is plain to see who is excited about this excursion.

Hope you enjoyed my little Halloween poem.
As you can see, trick-or-treating beat sitting at home!

Look at us!  We're trick-or-treating!

I think this outfit accentuates my cuteness. The hat doesn't hurt either.

~Thanks to Laura Priano for the post title :-)

Come along Lil' Corduroy Bear!

Corduroy Bear is a very special bear.  He was made by my Auntie Judy for little Benjamin to enjoy with his Corduroy book.  For a while, Corduroy Bear was all but forgotten for Gerry the giraffe, Mr. Elephant, and, who can forget, Mr. Crunchy!  

Lately, however, Corduroy Bear has made it back in to the limelight and has brought a smile and shriek of glee from Benjamin each time he sees this little bear.

In today's tale, two friends go on a search for higher ground.  Despite level ground and a clear path, there is trouble when one friend is found to not be putting in his full effort and needs a stern talking to and a little shaking to get him back in the game (or the ground). Eventually, his dead weight is too much and he is left behind.  Such a sad tale.

Fear not little Corduroy Bear.  Nap time will soon be over, your lack of assistance will be forgotten, and your arms and legs will be pulled, once again, in opposite directions while you are shook overhead.  Joy!

This just in...

It has been reported, and sources confirm, that Benjamin is doing the following:

1. Teething (for real this time)!  His 2 bottom front teeth have broken through!

I want everything in my mouth!

2. Pulling to standing (usually instead of napping).

I am just now realizing the full potential of this crib!

3. Eating lots of food!

I love fruit, oatmeal, veggies, puffies...even feet!

4. Do I even dare post this?  He is napping!  This past week has been 1-2 hour naps 2-3 times a day!  Due to not wanting to wake him, I have no pictures of him napping.  I do, however, have a picture of what a good nap produces: a very happy baby!

Wow! It's amazing how happy I feel! It must the shirt.

More to come on these exciting events later. 

Fun times with Benjamin Moeller

So, I was just scanning through the blog and realized there has not been a fun, "what is Benjamin up to" post since his 4 month well visit!!!  He will be 8 months on Friday!  That is entirely too long to keep all of you from the funny stories, cute pictures (though there have been some), and continual learning!  So, without further ado...

This is gonna be good!

In early June, the Moeller family traveled to Wisconsin for two graduations!  This was Benjamin's first plane ride.  He did great on the way there, all snuggled up in the Moby wrap. 

Snuggled up like a baby kangaroo

Benjamin spent time with lots of family, went to his first graduation parties, went in the pool for the first time, and took a good nap for the first time (almost kidding).

What have I agreed to!?

Great-Grandma Judy from Texas! She smells like sunshine.

Great-Grandpa George and Great-Grandma Karen from Wisconsin! I <3 fingers!

Cousin Macy, only 2 weeks younger. That means I can boss you around!

Cousin Audrey and Elliott. We're just chillin'.

This is like a giant bathtub!

Masta Nappa

Mommy and Daddy were a little nervous that it was a fluke that he slept the whole way to Wisconsin and surely they would be those parents on the plane with the screaming baby.  As you can see below, it was not a problem at all.

I'm not tired.

I'm just resting my eyes.

Who am I kidding?

 We also took a family picnic and took time to enjoy the nice summer weather as a family.

Wee!!

Look Mommy!  A leaf! My very first leaf!

Fear not.  There will be more posts updating you on all the fun we have been having!

An update on Daddy

This post is going to be devoted to updating you on Aaron: his diagnosis and his treatments.  Sorry, Benjamin.

Don't worry, people! Mama included lots of pictures so you still get to see how cute I am!

Praise God that Benjamin will not remember any of this difficult time in our lives!  His only worries seem to be when will someone get him out of his crib and when will someone feed him.

I'm too cute to nap!

Really, it's not hard.  Food on spoon. Spoon in my mouth. Yummy in my tummy.

First of all, thank you for your prayers and support.  We truly appreciate every phone call, e-mail, and every donation made in Aaron's honor.  It is a great comfort to know that so many are lifting up Aaron and our family before our Lord.

Aaron continues to feel better!  His appetite is up, he is going for 30-45 minute walks in the evening, and he is working from home (with some help as you can see). Aaron has also started blogging about his faith and his fight with cancer.  Check it out over here.

But I thought he said, "Ben, throw my papers on the floor."

Official tumor diagnosis:

Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor (MPNST).  This appears to be a high grade soft tissue sarcoma that originated in the protective cover of his nerves, called the nerve sheath.  This tumor is different than what Aaron had as a child, which was great news since his childhood cancer was extremely aggressive.  Dr. Tawbi feels that this new tumor is likely a radiation-induced tumor from Aaron's childhood treatments. 

Hemangioendothelioma.  Remember those nodules or spots the surgeons found on Aaron's lungs?  Well, those were malignant also.  Aaron actually had two different cancers growing when he went in for surgery.  Fortunately, the surgeons removed both!  Hemangioendothelioma is a soft tissue sarcoma tumor that behaves like a benign tumor, are usually located in the chest wall, and metastasize in a small percentage of people.  Dr. Tawbi said that since Aaron is already scheduled to have chemotherapy for the MPNST we will be treating the hemangioendotheliomas by default and no additional treatment is necessary for them specifically. 

You can read more information on the MPNST and hemangiotheliomas at the American Cancer Society website.

The plan:

Radiation: 5 45-minute treatments of radiation starting tomorrow, Friday, September 2nd.  He will then have treatment on Tuesday and Thursday for the next two weeks with his last treatment on Thursday, September 15th.  The type of radiation he will receive is called the CyberKnife, which will administer large doses of radiation to a small area along his aorta while reducing the risk to health tissue in the area. 

Chemotherapy: 4-6 3 weeks cycles of Gemcitabine and Taxotere beginning on Friday, September 16th.  What this means is that Aaron will receive Gemcitabine alone on the 16th, both drugs on the 23rd, and have a week off, which completes cycle 1.  Cycle 2 will begin on October 7th as long as Aaron's blood work looks alright.  We are praising God!  This is the best case scenario for his chemotherapy treatments!  When Aaron talked about receiving treatments he said it would be great it were outpatient and he would only have to go in once a week (rather than being hospitalized) and be done before the end of the year.  With this treatment plan, he goes in for IV chemotherapy once a week and if they do 4 cycles, he should be in his last cycle around Thanksgiving!  Also, and very importantly, these two treatments are fairly safe concerning kidney health and do not require a dose reduction, which would lengthen the amount of time Aaron would have to receive treatment!

God has surely heard our prayers!  Thank you for praying on our behalf.  We do ask that you would continue to pray and rejoice with us during Aaron's time of treatments.

Prayer Requests:
* Praise to our God for his mercies in providing protection over Aaron's kidney, providing a means of treatment, and permitting the best possible scenario to take place!
* Prayer for endurance for Aaron, effective treatment, and as few side effects as possible
* Praise that we will begin treatment soon and possibly be completed by Christmas!
* Prayer that God would be present and powerful during the time of treatment
* Prayer that God would strengthen our marriage and our family through this time of trial

Thank you for praying for my daddy, my mommy, and me!