The N State Travelers

Ansel's 1st Snowman

2010-03-14T15:30:00.000-04:00

A Valentine's Day Adventure

2010-03-14T15:21:00.003-04:00

We visited our firsts in Buffalo. We are pictured above in front of my first place of employment after completing my internship.

Homebuilders Retreat

2009-11-05T13:40:00.000-05:00

We went on a retreat near Chautauqua Lake. It was a gorgeous fall weekend in October and a nice time away. Due to sickness, our friends couldn't join us, so it was a weekend of togetherness for our little, growing family. What a blessing! Ansel and Travis had a blast wrestling and playing in a tree house, which happens to be a school bus on a treetop.

Camping at Jellystone in North Java, NY

2009-08-04T23:27:00.001-04:00

Posing in the water

In Yogi's basket

First time eating corn on the cob

Nebraska Fun

2009-07-23T15:36:00.000-04:00

Ansel's aunt, Alissa, took this photo of him playing in the yard at Grandpa and Nana's house. Ansel had a blast! What's not to love about cherry-picking, playing in Nana's garden, playing with big toys and big kids, and the country life of his daddy's sweet Nebraska? It was all good.

Thanks to all of our lovely family members and friends who were more than accomodating during our visit. We miss you all and thoroughly enjoyed our time together. Not only the company, but also the horses and cows in Nebraska made a great impression on Ansel. He hasn't stopped talking of them since. When asked if he would like to go outside, his reply is "yes, oh, horsees!" The fourwheeler is an acceptable substitute at times, but who knows how long such a substitute will suffice.

Summer time is finally here.

2009-06-22T08:33:00.001-04:00

Father's Day, Our Backyard

Family Photo, Delaware Park, Buffalo, NY

First Family Trip to Disneyland

2009-05-20T22:35:00.000-04:00

While in California we went to Disneyland!
It was Ansel and Travis' first time ever
to the happiest place on earth. We had a blast
and so did Ansel. It was great to be kids
again with our own little guy.

2009-03-07T20:26:00.002-05:00

A speed reader, just like his dad and nana!

2009-03-07T20:09:00.002-05:00

Ansel, talkin' & drinkin'.

I love these friends!

2009-02-06T17:48:00.000-05:00

Here are a few pictures Travis took at our last HomeBuilders Fellowship.

Sean and Carrie

Corrina

Eric

John

We are also involved in Bible study with these ladies and gents. They are so much fun! We laugh a lot and have some wonderful discussions about God, who He is, what His word says, and what He is doing in our lives.

16 Months

2009-01-29T13:30:00.001-05:00

Ansel is 16 months and full of energy! He has recently started going to Music with Mar. He loves music and dances. Cars are a favorite. He makes many different "vroom" noises at play. Ansel now has seven teeth. Salads, broccoli, milk with cereal, olives, bananas, and apples are foods he really enjoys.

I can't believe how Ansel's words are just taking off. He doesn't say the words perfectly all the time, but he has definite words that he consistently uses for apple, elbow, and all done. He says ball, bye-bye, hi, dada, mama, 'nana (banana), and "yeah." We are having fun with him as his communication skills develop. He continues to sign cup, eat, more, and milk. What an amazing process...God is so creative and we are blessed to see more of that through our son. It truly is captivating.

Our Sweet Score: Free Bikes!

2009-01-22T14:56:00.000-05:00

My Christmas present from Travis was shopping for a bike. We found these for free and plan to make upgrades on the ladies' for me. New saddle, grips, and paint. We are looking forward to spring! Now, we just have to find a trailer for Ansel and we'll be all set!

Ansel's First Snow Fun

2009-01-05T09:37:00.000-05:00

While we were in Reno for Christmas, Ansel got a new snowsuit from Grammy. We had to try it out and go play in the snow for Ansel's very first snow experience! He wasn't so sure about the cold, but walked around in it for a bit.

2008-12-18T17:03:00.004-05:00

Ansel did the cutest thing today.

He called out for me, "Mama!" I called back to him, "Ansel!" We went on like that for a bit. He smiled every time I said his name. It was awesome! Ansel is so much fun! Being a parent is amazing, and I just love him to pieces!

14 Months Old

2008-12-01T15:40:00.001-05:00

Ansel getting more efficient at walking and is stringing all kinds of "words" together. When he isn't all over the place, he loves to sit and read books. Ansel has a generous spirit and loves to share. He especially enjoys feeding mama and daddy. He likes to clap and move to music. He plays guitar or at least is plucking the strings individually :) Lights intrigue him. He wants to figure out how things work. He has 5 teeth and is working on 2 more. He is a wonderful little guy and we love him more everyday!

Marriage Celebration: Lance & Shu's Game Night

2008-11-17T19:55:00.001-05:00

This weekend we went to Michigan for a game night in honor of the marriage of our friends the Bredthauers! It was so much fun to see the happy couple and spend time playing games with them. If anyone knows me, they know that games are a favorite! Lance Bredthauer, the groom, was the lad that introduced me to quite possibly my favorite game of all--Pitch! It's a Nebraska tradition that I thoroughly enjoy. Travis took some photographs at the gathering. Pictured above: Ansel on Lance's shoulders and the beautiful bride, Shu, & Lance. Ansel is such a joy! He had a blast just hanging out and socializing with Travis' old friends from school. It was a fabulous night!

We got to watch Lance and Shu open their gift from us, which was camping gear--a dish & pot set for two, two coffee mugs, and a french press. The bride is not much of a camper, but we hope Lance will take her on many camping adventures with him!

Ansel is Walking

2008-11-06T09:27:00.000-05:00

About two weeks ago Ansel stood up on his own for a long time. We were at Bible study and it happened in our friends' kitchen. We couldn't believe it. Ansel took his first steps two days later! Now he walks about 7 steps and then crawls, stands up and walks again. At this rate, it won't be long before he is running!

Guess who's climbing?

2008-11-03T22:16:00.000-05:00

Would you believe Ansel got up there all by himself?

Ellicottville

2008-10-26T16:52:00.000-04:00

Last weekend we went to Pumpkinville in Ellicottville, NY. It was fun to watch Ansel's excitement to see so many pumpkins. We went on a hay ride with two other couples and then strolled through the town. There were lots of unique little shops, but most of our time was spent in a little used book store. Ellicottville Brewing Company was the perfect setting for a late lunch. Unexpectedly, when our waitress came to bring our food, Ansel slapped her rear end, which in turn produced a surprised gasp. It was quite the adventure, but I bet we will always remember our first trip to Ellicottville with Ansel.

12 months

2008-10-16T20:58:00.001-04:00

Ansel and I were out on a walk when I captured this moment. He loves to be outside just as much we do. He is pointing and signing "more" and "eat." He seems to understand so much, but is only clearly saying "Mama" and "Dada." He also says something that sounds like a combination of "that" and "this." Ansel is still cruising around and a man with a plan. What an inquisitive, determined little boy we have! He knows where his diapers go, and enjoys putting his clean diapers into his soiled diaper pail. He is into buttons and electronics. Ansel is a very easy-to-please, good-tempered kid 90% of the time, but he also lets us know just how frustrated he is when he fails to get his way. With those blue eyes and that sweet smile discipline is so much harder than I expected, but I know that I have to do it because of my love for him.

Ansel's 1st Birthday!

2008-10-04T10:07:00.002-04:00

We celebrated the big one last Saturday! Our garage was the setting for the raciest party of the year. Grammy and Mez Papa splurged on an amazing race car cake for Ansel. He wasn't so sure about the cake in the beginning, but Travis gave him a sample of the frosting and Ansel went for it! Best of all was celebrating with grandparents and our Buffalo family! We are so blessed!

Ansel's 1st Camping Trip

2008-09-02T09:51:00.000-04:00

This weekend we went camping at Hamlin Beach State Park. We woke up on Sunday morning and decided to go camping. The car was packed in less than four hours and we were on our way! The three of us slept in our 2 man backpacking tent and spent time at the "beach." Ansel was so much fun to camp with!

Here's to 4 years of Marriage!

2008-08-29T11:19:00.003-04:00

Travis and I celebrated our 4 year anniversary on August 28th! We had a dinner date at Creekview Restaurant while our friend Mary watched Ansel. We walked to the restaurant, which is only a couple of blocks from our house, hand in hand on a perfect summer night.

God has deepened our love for one another through circumstances that, while difficult, have brought us more joy in our marriage and more compassion for one another. Blessings have been upon us in a move across the country, an internship, a job search, a heart attack, the birth of our son, a parenthood adventure, a kidney loss, and life-altering decisions as we listened for God's voice.

I am my beloved's and he is mine.

The Best Looking Thing to Appear on Our Shelf...

2008-08-27T12:31:00.000-04:00

While on the phone with my mom, I discovered our Ansel had found a place of his very own. He had nestled right into our serving tray!

Playing the Day Away

2008-08-23T21:00:00.000-04:00

Ansel is 11 months old. He is very mobile and strong these days. He cruises all over the place and pulls himself up to standing on anything and everything. He is climbing. He is busy. He loves to flip through the pages of books. His latest discovery--the guitar! He strums the strings on the neck when it catches his eye. We can see the hint of a first tooth that has yet to break through! Ansel is changing by the minute--feeding himself, speedily crawling, and watching the world around him with his intense, deep blue eyes.

Ansel at the Door

2008-08-19T20:12:00.001-04:00

This morning as Travis was heading out the door, Ansel started crying hysterically. Travis captured this moment.

Lois

2008-08-12T15:36:00.001-04:00

Our dear friend Lois Stauffer went home to be with Jesus on Thursday, August 7th at 2pm. Lois was an amazing woman of God, who touched the lives of many during her 51 years on this earth.

Many people have detailed stories of the beautiful ways Lois has made her mark on their own heart. Her hospitality spoke volumes to anyone who spent time in their home.

For us, Lois has been a longstanding source of encouragement to both Travis and I in our walk with God, our marriage, and in the challenging endeavor of parenthood. Lois and her husband, Gene, exemplified what God intended for marriage. The relationship that they had with one another was one of love, tenderness, and the most treasured of all of earthly friendships. Gene and Lois have been like parents to Travis during his time at Kettering University, encouraging him in his relationship with Christ, challenging both of us in our pursuit of marriage, and then have become our family away from home since we have moved to Buffalo. We have spent many holidays in their home, which has always been lovingly opened to us by the entire family.

Even to end of her life on this earth, Lois continued to humble herself and lift up others. After she was diagnosed with cancer, she offered us a place in her home for Travis to recover from kidney surgery and continued to invite us to spend time with their family. Lois lit up a room with her smile and her life was characterized by an unwavering faith in the Lord, no matter how difficult the circumstances. Even just a few days before her passing when she was in too much pain to get out of bed or even sleep in the same room as her husband, she was still praying faithfully for everyone she knew.

I find peace in the fact that we will reunite with Lois one day in heaven, but will miss our chats over tea in her front yard, making meals together as a family in her kitchen, her wise advice, her gentle sense of humor, her genuine way of living out her faith, and watching her endearing way of ministering to those around her.

In the celebration of this sweet sister in Christ's life, I am once more challenged to be a blessing to those around me and to let God use me for his eternal purpose. What a blessing that Travis and her son, Andrew, became such good friends in college! Andrew is so much like his mom in the way that he selflessly reaches out to others, his carefree spirit, and wonderful sense of humor. I praise the Lord for bringing Lois into our lives, after knowing her we are forever changed and encouraged to stand out as one of His.

Gene, Lois, Michelle, Travis, Andrew, & Jonathan

Lois and Ansel

Michelle, Lois, and Ansel

Newsboys

2008-08-07T10:16:00.003-04:00

Newsboys rockin' the PAC at Darien Lake

We had a blast at the Newsboys show. Travis could almost touch the stage; he was so close! He followed them from the mainstage to this small stage in the center of the crowd and snapped this photo. We agree that this was by far the best concert we have ever been to and were so encouraged in our walks with God!

Our friend Steve is the producer for a local Christian radio station and got us passes to attend the whole event. Last night we ate dinner with Steve and his family in the VIP tent. It was fun to visit with the Napolis and eat with the bands and roadies.

Kingdom Bound

2008-08-07T10:09:00.002-04:00

We had the privilege of hanging out with Newsboys and Delirious? for interviews before the shows. It is clear that they have a passion and a purpose. It was great to hear them joke around and, let's face it, these guys have some sweet accents!

Newsboys

Delirious?

Us at Darien Lake

Ansel sleeping with ear muffs during the Newsboys show

More photos from the Zoo

2008-08-06T13:09:00.000-04:00

Buffalo Zoo Pictures

2008-08-06T12:51:00.001-04:00

Here are more photos from our trip to the zoo.

Ansel's First Trip to the Zoo

2008-08-06T11:53:00.002-04:00

On Sunday we took Ansel to the Buffalo Zoo. We were impressed that our local zoo had so many exciting animals to see. We loved sharing the experience with Ansel. He was entertained by the animals. Here are some of the sights Travis captured.

A Walk Through Our Village

2008-08-05T20:29:00.001-04:00

On Friday night Ansel and Travis went on a walk together through our village. Here are some photos Travis took on their outing.

10 months old

2008-07-30T02:00:00.000-04:00

We are a bit more settled into our house. Summer is flying by, but we are loving the gatherings with friends and watching Ansel transition from a sweet baby to a determined little boy. He is standing, cruising around objects, and loving finger-foods.

9 months old

2008-06-26T15:03:00.000-04:00

Ansel turned 9 months old on Sunday! He has been busy making his way all over our house, crawling (modified army-style) and is now pushing himself up to a sitting position from a crawl. A few days ago, when Ansel woke up from his nap, he pulled himself up to standing. He is a big boy. We just took him to the doctor and he is already 18 pounds. Above he is pictured right after his bath.

As Father's Day Approaches...

2008-06-06T15:29:00.000-04:00

Travis, you are an amazing father.
I watch your gentle, patient, loving spirit with our son and I see that he is blessed to have you for a dad. He resembles you physically, but I hope that he will also resemble you in his leadership ability, his readiness to serve others, and, most importantly, his desire to be a follower of Christ. You are a blessing to our family.
A better "dada" for Ansel I could not find.

Update on Travis

2008-06-06T15:27:00.002-04:00

Travis' shoulder is no longer separated, as confirmed by x-ray results yesterday. He is no longer in a sling and feeling much better.

Travis leaving the ER

2008-05-30T12:09:00.000-04:00

2008-05-30T12:03:00.000-04:00

Getting ready to move...here is a sleepy morning shot of our boy.

8 months old!

2008-05-26T23:52:00.000-04:00

Ansel is 8 months old...and he doesn't have a single tooth yet. He is actually a very good eater and at the moment he is diggin' bananas and peas. He is a very curious boy, getting into things multiple times a day. Soon enough we will have to glue everything to the ceiling. Good thing we are moving next week. We can childproof things a bit more from the start. Ansel is clapping frequently. He is thrilled when he is jumping in his jumperoo. Ansel is doing some scooting, but no crawling quite yet. He lights up when you smile at him. He loves his daddy's fun-loving, silly, playful nature. He usually is all laughs when Travis is near.

Speaking of Travis, he is away camping with college buddies this weekend and he flew off of his bike on Saturday and ended up in the ER. Apparently he "disrupted the joint between his collar bone and shoulder." We are so grateful that it wasn't more serious, but also would appreciate your prayers for a speedy recovery and safe travels home.

A visit with Aunt Alissa

2008-05-22T08:35:00.000-04:00

Mother's Day at the Botanical Gardens

2008-05-11T23:16:00.000-04:00

Veggies

2008-05-02T13:45:00.000-04:00

Ansel is teething. He is drooling more and having difficulty settling down for naps. He is eating butternut squash, green beans, carrots, sweet potatoes, applesauce and cereal. To my disappointment he dislikes green beans. He made the worst face of all, though, when we gave him applesauce.

We have a wonderful friend who doesn't eat any fruit or vegetables except for corn and potatoes.

I am sure that for Ansel having a dietitian for a mom raises the stakes. I guess we will have to wait and see how his taste develops with time.

We're Moving

2008-04-30T00:13:00.002-04:00

This will be our place of residence in about a month! We are excited to have four walls that we don't share with anyone. God blessed us with great neighbors in our apartment building, but it will be nice to be able to have a space of our own. It is somewhat troubling when Ansel kicks and plays on the floor loudly. I wonder how much of what he does is disruptive to the couple living below us. It is crazy that the house is nearly the same size as the garage, but we are up for the challenge of living in a small space. It is a beautiful little house with hardwood floors. The whole house only has one closet, but I'm sure we can figure out some way to store our belongings. If nothing else we will become selective about which items we will keep in our house. Space will become prime real estate that we won't want to occupy with useless items. My husband can attest to the fact that I am a packrat to the core. Since our wedding day, Travis has been gracious and allowed me to be refined in my own time, but seriously there are many items that need to make their way out of our home. I am hoping we will be transformed and better stewards of the items we possess. Praise God for the blessing of being able to rent a house with a garage! It will be wonderful to have for winter in Buffalo.

The Theme for Our Next Dinner Party?

2008-04-18T10:06:00.000-04:00

You may not know this, but Travis and I are into sushi. This week we decided to take our sushi experience to a whole new level. We made some of our very own! We used tofu (pan-seared in sesame oil), avocado, and carrots. It was delicious! We will certainly experiment with other ingredients. It was tasty. Travis is not only great at shooting sushi (see above), but he is also pro-style at rolling the rice in the nori! Nice job, Trav :)

A Sunday Afternoon Walk and SHE Event

2008-04-18T09:47:00.000-04:00

On Sunday it was a bit warmer than it has been in a while and we had a couple of hours to spare together between lunch and the SHE Event with Rebecca St. James. We had the perfect opportunity to get out of doors and experience something new. The Careys bought us this wonderful external frame backpack carrier for a baby shower gift, and so we had to take Ansel out for a test-run in it. Next time we hope to take him for a long hike because...he loved it! We had been talking about how we still want to have some adventures with Ansel this summer, even if it can't be a three day weekend kayaking with our 4 pound backpacker's tent to islands. We are still trying to figure out just how daring we can be with our little Ansel and keep him warm, dry, happy, and most of all, safe! His dad was excited at the prospect of spending numerous hours this summer with the sun shining and Ansel on his back! Overall great fun had by all (I liked photographing my handsome guys!)

Ansel and Travis had a guys' night together while I went out to the SHE Event. The style of the event was super laid back, Rebecca St. James wanted the ladies in attendence to feel as though it was just having coffee one on one. Her heart to our hearts. It was nearly exactly like that and it was easy to forget that 500 plus other women were there. The vibe was even more intimate than a Jennifer Knapp concert I attended back in the day at the Pioneer in Reno. Perhaps that was due to the fact that it was at our own little Amherst Baptist Church, where I would guess there were no more than 700 women (including the handful of very sneaky men who somehow got in--crashing our mother/daughter night! ;) My friends and I were only about 5 rows from the stage.

Rebecca is so genuine, so true to the character that a Christian woman should have (gotta love that Aussie accent as well.) I am thankful that little girls have a role model to look up to in such a disappointing, sex-crazed, immodest world. Rebecca's younger brothers, Joel and Luke, sang backup and those boys are blessed with some voices! What a talented family! It is apparent that Rebecca longs for fellow believers and a lost world to delve into a deeper relationship with Christ. Among the topics were modesty, purity, and raising godly children. I was encouraged in my walk with Jesus and it was fabulous to spend a night worshipping with my girlfriends.

Six Months and Counting!

2008-04-04T20:41:00.001-04:00

I can hardly believe it! The time has passed quickly. Ansel is growing fast. He is nearly 17 pounds and a strong little guy. Travis shot some six month photos and these happen to be my favorites. :)

Three Milestones, One Week

2008-03-20T22:15:00.004-04:00

On Sunday Ansel rolled for the first time from back to tummy just after waking up from his nap. Travis and I were so excited! We congratulated him and he turned his head toward our voices, subsequently bumping his head on the side of his crib. I don't know if we are ready for the toddler stage that seems far off at the moment but is rapidly approaching. We hear he will be bumping into almost every surface.

Ansel is rolling...today Ansel rolled from his back to his tummy to his back again. This baby boy is surely going to be crawling in no time!

Today Ansel sat up on his own for the first time! He had his hands free and sat up unassisted for about 15 or maybe even 20 seconds. Amazing!

A day at home with Ansel

2008-03-12T18:14:00.003-04:00

Ansel is changing quickly. His hair is getting thicker. He continues to make new sounds and puts different syllables together. He plays independently and babbles. Ansel enjoys scratching different fabrics and surfaces. He seems to like the noises it makes. His hands mesmerize him. Frequently, he will stare at them and seems fascinated with their movement. Ansel is truly a joy to watch.

Travis is in beautiful Redondo Beach, CA this week. Please pray for safe travels as he is away.

Ansel and Keys

2008-02-29T17:23:00.000-05:00

Ansel is more than 16 pounds these days. He is laughing more each day. We are having a blast getting him to chuckle and crack smiles for us. We are truly blessed that God has entrusted Ansel to us.

Travis & Ansel

2008-01-29T14:30:00.000-05:00

Do you see a resemblance?

Big Smile

2008-01-29T14:23:00.000-05:00

Ansel likes sitting in the dining room with us!

Tummy Time

2008-01-26T18:59:00.000-05:00

Ansel is liking tummy time a bit more these days. He even rolled over 3 times yesterday! First to the left, then to the right, then to the left again! We couldn't be more thrilled with our son. Ansel, you are precious!!!

Goodbye, Swaddle. Hello, Sleep Sack!

2008-01-22T15:19:00.000-05:00

Ansel, what else?

2008-01-16T22:26:00.000-05:00

Hi everybody!

My latest discovery: Fingers Taste Great!

20071217 POTD

2007-12-17T21:00:00.000-05:00

20071214 POTD

2007-12-14T16:44:00.000-05:00

I just love those sweet little toes!!! Ansel's feet have grown more than I can believe in the past 12 weeks. Travis shot this photo and I enjoy it very much!

20071206 POTD

2007-12-07T19:29:00.000-05:00

reflections of Ansel

20071201 POTD

2007-12-02T18:35:00.000-05:00

ode to a belly button

20071130 POTD

2007-12-02T18:34:00.000-05:00

room with a view

20071129 POTD

2007-12-02T18:24:00.001-05:00

20071127 POTD

2007-12-02T18:20:00.000-05:00

20071126 POTD

2007-12-02T18:16:00.000-05:00

Ansel relaxing in the hotel room on Monday morning before my surgery. He is a tough little dude, put up with a lot this week. Praise God for an easy-going son!

20071125 POTD

2007-12-02T13:21:00.000-05:00

signage for a son

Seen while travelling Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd in the University Circle area of Cleveland.

Back from Cleveland Clinic

2007-12-01T13:15:00.000-05:00

Travis' kidney was successfully removed.

The trip went smoothly and we were blessed by the way our heavenly Father provided. The youth pastor from our church and our friend, Eric Napoli; his mom, Rosie Napoli; and the wife of another pastor at our church, Laura Gillette; came and waited with Michelle and Ansel while Travis underwent surgery. A couple from our church that we hardly knew came and supported us with prayer and their willingness to serve us for the next two days while Travis was hospitalized. They took care of Ansel so that Michelle could be attentive to Travis at his bedside.

We are truly blessed. Travis was able to come home last night, so he didn't have to spend his entire birthday in the hospital :) He will be at home recovering for the next 4-6 weeks.

Thank you to everyone who prayed for us.

20071124 POTD

2007-11-24T23:54:00.000-05:00

Thank you for letting us share in this beautiful wedding, Jamie & Jon!

20071123 POTD

2007-11-24T23:52:00.000-05:00

Ever seen a redneck ride a running engine before? I can always count on a visit to the Stauffers' to bring me back to my roots. If Andrew's pantleg is any indication, it is running a little rich!

20071122 POTD

2007-11-24T23:49:00.000-05:00

Very interesting shot from Monroeville, IN. Driving back after a delicious Thanksgiving dinner, it started to snow heavily and I turned around after driving past this monument to soldiers long gone.

20071121 POTD

2007-11-24T23:46:00.000-05:00

Captured on the drive to Indiana for Thanksgiving. Light through the windows of the car at a rest stop. Aperture f/1.4, ISO 3200, 1/15s, handheld.

laparascopic nephrectomy (possibly morcellated)

2007-11-20T22:49:00.000-05:00

also known as a kidney removal...

We didn't end up having to return to Cleveland today. That was a relief, as Monday's trip had left me a little worn out.

My nephrectomy is scheduled for Monday, 11/26. I'll probably be in the hospital for 3 days, and then return to Buffalo to recuperate for 4-6 weeks before returning to work.

Before then we will be driving to IN to celebrate Thanksgiving, returning to Buffalo on Saturday for the Mangus/Dalbo wedding (happy pre-nuptials Jon & Jamie!!), and then return to Cleveland Sunday PM or Monday AM depending on the exact time of the surgery.

Thank you for all the prayers!

20071120 POTD

2007-11-20T22:41:00.000-05:00

sparkling, huh?

I'm already dreading this 'lemony' beverage, and I don't have to take it until Sunday.

20071119 POTD

2007-11-19T22:59:00.000-05:00

marathon, as in today was a marathon of a day. Six hours driving, six hours with the doctors at the Cleveland Clinic preparing for next week's kidney removal. And I may get to drive back and do it again tomorrow!

20071118 POTD

2007-11-18T22:48:00.000-05:00

double-chinned dreamin'

20071117 POTD

2007-11-17T23:50:00.001-05:00

chillin'

20071116 POTD

2007-11-16T23:28:00.000-05:00

truckin'

Adventures of Ansel & Co....

2007-11-05T22:03:00.000-05:00

can be found on Michelle's picasa page:

http://picasaweb.google.com/michelle.slagle

Overwhelmed...

2007-09-25T12:51:00.000-04:00

Wow.

I am a father.

Another jaunt to Cleveland...

2007-08-23T11:31:00.000-04:00

Michelle and I spent the last couple of days in Cleveland visiting with the doctors at the Cleveland Clinic. They are trying to determine why a 26 year old would have a heart attack, even if the genes are stacked against him.

I visited a vascular medicine specialist, a hematologist/oncologist, and a urologist. Most of the tests are still being analyzed, but there are a couple possibilities for next steps in the process:

1. Perform a spinal tap to evaluate my bone marrow. It is possible that my blood is not being created with the right amount of white/red cells, and this led to my early-onset coronary artery disease.

2. Remove my right kidney. During the initial investigation at the ER, they determined that something was wrong with my right kidney. Subsequent tests have revealed that it is approximately twice the size of a normal kidney and completely non-functional. Urologist #1 in Buffalo said it definitely needed to come out, Urologist #2 in Buffalo said there was no reason for it to come out, and Urologist #3 in Cleveland said it needs to come out. Evidently the outlet of my kidney has plugged up and it has caused the kidney to swell at some time in the past.

We'll be juggling future trips to Cleveland around the REAL important date of September 24. Thanks to everyone for your continued prayer.

Growing Michelle

2007-08-02T20:08:00.000-04:00

Happy 4th of July!

2007-07-05T14:54:00.000-04:00

Photos are up...

2007-06-27T06:51:00.001-04:00

Browse here for more:

http://picasaweb.google.com/michelle.slagle

It's been a while...

2007-06-25T10:22:00.000-04:00

What has happened since April 23...

Angiogram #4 happened during our visit to Cleveland. The cardiologist found that the secondary blockage which was found following the initial stent placement was due to one of those stents being placed improperly. The blockage was not cleared, and I'm still living day-to-day with a 100% blockage of my left anterior descending artery. He recommended being seen by a vascular medicine specialist (a hematologist). We spent the month of May and most of June waiting for BlueCross/BlueShield to approve a new referral, and now have an appointment for July 3. There will probably be no more procedures, just a determination of the best drug and diet therapy for the future. I have been feeling good and cardiac rehab is going very well.

We are having a boy! A sonogram on May 1 revealed (in a rather obvious way) that we are indeed going to be blessed with a big brother for the remainder of the Slagle kids. I now have go-karts to build and hunting trips to plan!!

We spent a week of vacation in Nebraska at the beginning of June. It was relaxing, and a great time just hanging out with friends and family. We also camped in the Thousand Islands region of NY over Memorial Day weekend and spent a weekend in the Finger Lakes National Forest.

Michelle's stomach continues to grow at a prodigious rate. We'll take another pregnant pic for the series "Pregnant in B&W" soon, it will be posted to http://picasaweb.google.com/michelle.slagle. I'll also try to post more prego Michelle pictures to satisfy those whining of not enough photo coverage (Dana!!!)

For those of you in NV, you'll have the opportunity to see the belly in person, as Michelle will be visiting from July 17-31. I'll be joining her for the weekend of the 28 and 29 to attend Cassidy and Erin's wedding.

I think that about does it (congrats to you if you made it through this entire post!)

The Slagles: 1 BlueCross/BlueShield of WNY: 0

2007-04-23T19:23:00.001-04:00

All-

After some wrestling with our insurance provider, BlueCross/BlueShield, we are finally headed to Cleveland tomorrow to get an opinion from an expert cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic.

The doctor is not sure that he will perform an angiogram. During his initial review of my case, he said that I would be a good candidate for what I believe is the Frontrunner catheter. However, he reviewed my angiogram films today and was not as sure that he would be able to get through the blockage.

All the same, I will be glad to get advice from him. The Cleveland Clinic is reputed to be the #1 heart center in the nation, so if a doctor there tells me to go ahead and live my life with a 100% blockage, I'll feel a little bit better about it.

Our appointment is at 1 PM tomorrow (4/24) afternoon, and if they do go ahead with an angiogram, it will be scheduled for sometime on Wednesday.

Please pray for wisdom for the doctor, patience for us, and safe travel to Cleveland.

Thank you to everyone for their support throughout this process,

Travis & Michelle

about that angiogram no. 4...

2007-04-21T09:36:00.000-04:00

BlueCross/BlueShield of Western New York decided that they weren't so sure that I needed to go to Cleveland. I went for a second opinion on Thursday, and the cardiologist agreed with my initial cardiologist's determination. Hopefully that will be enough to change the mind of the insurance company, and we'll be heading to Cleveland on the 24th and 25th.

Please pray for patience, I know that this will happen (or not) in God's timing, but it is awfully hard to remember that sometimes.

Michelle's tummy continues to grow, we will find out if Jr. is a boy or a girl within the next couple of weeks!

12 week sonogram and Michelle+baby pics can be seen here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/michelle.slagle

Angiogram #4

2007-04-03T21:54:00.000-04:00

Quick update:

I have returned to work (started March 21).

We will be traveling to the Cleveland Clinic (#1 heart Center in the nation) for my fourth angiogram on April 17. They will do some tests on the 17th, and the angiogram will be on the 18th. Please pray for safety for me and Michelle, as the Clinic isn't in a very safe neighborhood.

Michelle's tummy is getting bigger ;)

What today brings...the things I heard!

2007-03-13T22:11:00.000-04:00

This morning. 8am. Listening to the heartbeat of our precious little baby (whom we can't wait to meet!) was incredible. Apparently the baby's position was perfect because it was loud and the nurse found it before she could finish preparing us not to freak out if it took a while or if she was unable to find it at all. Amazing! Hopefully the baby has a ticker that is just as strong as his/her father's, Travis has wonderful heart function despite his recent heart attack. Wow. I don't think I can ever forget that sound (Travis and I keep making the sound to each other)!

This afternoon. 4:15pm. Hearing my boss tell me that I am an unreliable employee. Having to sit there while she faulted me, in every category except for conduct with employees and interaction with the clients, for my absenteeism on account of my husband's health and that my behavior would not be tolerated. Unbelieveable! Perhaps God did for me what I could not do for myself. It will be hard to forget the harshness in her voice, when all I ever did was strive to work hard there as a nutritionist. I just wanted to make a difference with the clients and help them make changes that would impact their health for the better.

The events of today were far more surprising than I imagined. It was even nearly 60 degrees and sunny all day! The best part was heading to a funky, hip district in Buffalo for dinner with my husband to talk about today and how our time tomorrow might be spent. The prospect of hanging with Travis for the next few days makes it all a lot sweeter.

Angiogram #3

2007-03-10T11:00:00.001-05:00

I had my third angiogram on Thursday, March 8. I ended up spending the night in the hospital, as the sheath that they used to insert the angiogram tools wasn't removed until early in the afternoon and they gave me a large amount of blood thinners (7k of Heparin).

Unfortunately the angiogram was unsuccessful, I still have a 100% blockage at the distal end of my left anterior descending artery. The blockage has hardened, and the doctor performing the procedure says that they probably cannot get through it. The cardiologist believes that it isn't necessary to clear the blockage, as my heart is functioning very well, collateral vessels have formed around the blockage, and I have no symptoms (chest pain, etc).

Since the thought of having one artery completely blocked isn't too appealing, I think we will get a second opinion at the Cleveland Clinic (#1 heart center in the nation, only a few hours drive away from here.)

I am feeling good, my leg isn't as sore as it was yesterday.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers,

Travis

Michelle

2007-03-02T17:22:00.000-05:00

My cool celebrity look-alike collage from MyHeritage.com. Get one for yourself.

My Celebrity Look-alikes

2007-03-02T16:55:00.001-05:00

http://www.myheritage.com

Thanks Dave, you helped me spend 10 minutes of my VERY empty day.

Prayer Request

2007-02-28T09:10:00.000-05:00

*EDIT*

Procedure has been rescheduled for March 8th. I guess the doctor needs some specialized tools and they were not in yet.

******************************************

Tomorrow at 8:30 AM I will be having my 3rd angiogram. Please pray that the procedure goes smoothly, and if it is God's will, that they will be able to clear the blockage in my artery.

My heart is actually in really good condition, but they would like to get this artery cleaned out all the same. My ejection fraction, a measure of the heart muscle's performance, is 60-65%. (Normal is anything over 50%.) Immediately following the heart attack my EF was only 40-45%! The occlusion (blockage) is at the end of the artery, and collateral vessels (small vessels that carry blood around an occlusion) have formed to supply my heart muscle with blood.

Thank you

Zcar Photos

2007-02-27T22:33:00.000-05:00

Interested in fun pictures of the Zcar we used to own?

Before, during, and after pictures are here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/travis.slagle

the beauty of buffalo...

2007-02-17T17:46:00.000-05:00

the joy of buffalo

2007-02-16T23:20:00.000-05:00

bitterly cold today, the wind picked up that 10 degree weather and stuffed it down our necks.

kidney update

2007-02-09T11:30:00.000-05:00

I visited the urologist this morning, expecting to find out many wonderful things about my cystic and oversized right kidney. While in the hospital I had been told that three diagnoses were possible:

a) Congenital problem, was born with a kidney that was partially obstructed. Obstructed kidneys swell up like balloons.

b) I developed a partial blockage at some point in my life, and then the aforementioned swelling began.

c) The cystic tissue is cancer. Yeah!

According to the doctor I saw in the hospital almost 2 months ago, any of the three options would mean a removal of my kidney in the future. This was due to the possibility of the kidney rupturing during an auto accident, etc. They would wait until I had recovered from my heart problems before removing (probably a year or so.)

However, the doctor I saw this morning labeled it as option A and said there was no reason to remove it. He is a more senior physician that the doctor I saw in the hospital and said he is very sure that this is a congenital condition. Come back in six months for a checkup.

This should have made me feel better, but for some reason it did not.

and now for something completely different...

2007-02-05T21:00:00.000-05:00

and the saga continues...

2007-02-02T10:48:00.000-05:00

So I thought that I was returning to work yesterday. Rehab had been going smooth, I was exercising for an hour four times per week, life was grand. I was supposed to meet with the doctor on Wednesday and get back to some form of normalcy.

Then I had a stress test last Thursday. (During which I decided to faint while the nurses were installing the IV. Generated entirely too much commotion, I don't recommend it.)

I received a call from my cardiologist on Friday. The front of my heart was not receiving an adequate amount of blood flow, so he wanted another angiogram performed. It was scheduled for yesterday (so much for going back to work).

During the angiogram yesterday it was discovered that one of the arteries which had previously been opened and stented had closed back up. Unfortunately, the doctor was unable to open up the blockage. My heart function is good and it is stable, but I will have to have another angiogram in about a month. And no rehab or work until the next angiogram.

Thank you all for your prayers and concerns during this time. God is taking good care of Michelle and I, partially through the friends that he has placed around us to comfort us.

A saturday in Buffalo

2007-01-20T08:19:00.000-05:00

An ice encapsulated bush.

One of my favorite buildings on the University campus.

2007-01-11T15:56:00.000-05:00

Tonawanda Island, NY

I can't tell if these are unfinished water towers, or some kind of grain/salt storage device.

Any ideas?

changes and a question

2007-01-11T15:50:00.000-05:00

I'm home on sick leave...

pro: reading

con: EXTREME laziness, guilt for not being productive

Black was depressing, a color change was in order.

Any idea what these are?

(Tonawanda Island, NY)

it is thinking time...

2006-12-20T16:54:00.000-05:00

On Friday, December 8, I had the scariest moment of my life. Michelle and I were eating sushi at a Japanese restaurant in Toronto, and she choked on an oversized spicy tuna roll. In the frantic seconds that followed, I attempted the Heimlich in vain, experienced a fear that bordered on hysteria, and then clutched Michelle as close as possible after she forced the offending fish down her throat with her finger.

Sometime between December 11 and December 13 I had a heart attack (acute myocardial infarction, 100% blockage of the Left Anterior Descending (LAD) artery, 100% blockage of one of the diagonal arteries coming from the LAD, to be precise.)

Coincidence? Methinks not.

Changes are afoot.

One would assume that these would be diet, exercise, etc. However, with the exception of additional exercise, most of my day-to-day calorie storage and expenditure won't be changing. After all, Michelle is a dietitian.

The changes I speak of deal with the heart (no pun intended). My relationship with God has been founded on whatever has been convenient for Travis P. Slagle, Esq. As I sat in bed (in a striking cotton miniskirt/kimono number) I heard God speaking through these events. There have been a number of instances where I have narrowly avoided an end to these years here on earth. God has a purpose for my life, and it is high time that I started looking for it.