Christmas With The Pattens

Here is the pic of the kids. This one is first, as we all know that Christmas pictures are about how cute the kids are, not so much the parents. I am not too sure as to how or why JohnMark has the smile that he has, but I do know it has to do with a sister whose hand was behind him and moving. Just an aside-he is now fully mobile by whatever means he deems neccessary.
Our semi-annual family portrait. This was the nicest of the two, though not neccessarily my favorite of the two. I am thinking of putting the other one up at a future date and having a vote as to which is the cutest. Just to help the imagination, the other picture has Kenzie looking directly at the camera with a look of pure contempt. She in reality was just concentrating, but the look of muder was running through her mind. This one has both girls smiling nicely, but JohnMark isnt too sure.

Well, since we no longer have the internet at our house, my personal updates wont be coming as often. I will try to be getting them up before too much time between important things happen. To those of you who we normally send Christmas cards to, we will be sending them, but they may get there post facto. Better late then never in this case:) Feel free to email and let me know how things are going-AMP

Family Vacation Time

Well everyone, we are off on our annual vacation. We are going to Breezy Point for the annual hideout. We don't do a lot of the cold weather stuff, so we go up with my parents and brother, and sit around the fire, watch movies, eat popcorn, and go soak in the hot tub. YEAH!!

Anyone who is still around the Brainerd area please give us a call. We'd love to catch up with you. We will be there from 12/15-12/22. You can call either myself or Amy.

Steve- (507) 402-4530
Amy- (507) 402-4529

Merry Christmas

Recap of JohnMark's surgery

I must apologize in not getting specifics out about JohnMark's surgery. When he was born he was born with what is known as a hydrocele (pronounced hydro-seal). It is not entirely uncommon. Basically it is excess fluid around the testicles and there is a hole that goes into the abdomen so the fluid can pass back and forth. Obviously, there is a potential for some discomfort if it is not corrected. The hole can also grow larger and result in a full blown hernia. This condition usually heals itself and doctors frequently wait until the boy is around one year old before fixing it surgically. In JohnMark's case his was pretty big adn there is a family history of these things needing to be fixed surgically. There had also been a couple complications with his circumcision healing so the doctor fixed that as well.

A few months ago we knew he had been in serious pain repeatedly and our pediatrician referred us to the urologist here in Albert Lea, but reminded us that the urologist did not specialize in children, so if we didn't like what he said our pediatrician would refer us to a pediactric urologist at Mayo. The urologist at Albert Lea was not at all helpful and said JohnMark was in no pain because hydroceles do not cause pain. I have been told by some men that this is simply not true.
We were set to see the Dr. at Mayo at the end of September, but he had to take medical leave and the appointment had to be rescheduled for October. He saw JohnMark and was quick to admit that it was very likely causing him pain. Since it was causing pain and there was a family history of them not healing on their own and developing into hernias, he offered to fix it sonner than one year of age if we chose to do so. We did, and the surgery was scheduled for this week.
Hence, the reason we were at Mayo on Wednesday.

Jeremy (or Amanda), thanks for the comment. It didn't occur to me that Amy and I had not been publishing the details all along.

Following Him,
Steve, Amy, Abbi, Mackenzie, and JohnMark.