We stayed in Paris for 3 nights and enjoyed roaming around the city on an open top bus that filled us in on the rich history of all the sites we were viewing.  Paris was filled with monuments, museums (the Louvre was beyond anything we could describe - brilliant), cathedrals and the Eiffel Tower was incredible.  We viewed the Eiffel Tower during the day and went back at night to see the new lights.  They were like Christmas lights that sparkle on the hour, every hour, for 5 minutes.  It was surreal to find ourselves looking up, feeling like the history was coming to life before our eyes.  

Alexis struggled in Paris with her breathing.  She had several close calls where we found ourselves heading to the hotel, holding her up and helping her walk.  She muscled through every situation and was so strong.  I know this vacation helped our drive to get her better.  I am certain we were exactly where we were suppose to be and our eyes were opened to where we need to be.  We have made some major decisions to get our little girl out of this health struggle, to get her better, to get her life back.  She is such a fighter and she is so determined.  I know this has taken a toll on her, I know she is struggling, but I also know that God will use it in so many ways to continue to strengthen her and give her such a huge purpose in life.  We will figure this out, we will get her the help she needs!

We enjoyed our trip to Paris and London, but, oh, how happy we are to be home!!  Life is good and we are truly blessed beyond anything we could have ever dreamed possible!!  Thank You, God!!
Retta

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Hello!
We just returned from a trip to Europe on Thursday night.  It was an adventure for our family as we went to London and took the Eurostar train to Paris.  What a journey, in more ways than one!

We stayed in London for 6 nights.  The kids and I had never been to Europe, so it was a new adventure for us.  Joe had never taken the time to actually tour London or Paris, so it was a time of exploration for the entire family.  We enjoyed the museums, the parks, the plays and the rich history London has to offer.  We maneuvered around the underground "tube system" and had many memorable moments, like the one where Noah didn't quite make it in before the doors shut.  We looked out at a very scared 13 year old boy and I yelled, "stay right here!  Don't move!  We'll be back for you!!  Stay right here!!"  At the next stop, Alexis and I stayed, just in case he got on the next tube, and Joe and Zach went back for him.  We recently found out that, as Noah sat on the bench, waiting for us, he sang a song to himself...over and over.  The song was "One is the loneliest number".  He is such an amazing young man and so full of wit!!

We took a train to Windsor while in London, to view the Windsor Castle and have afternoon tea with our friends.  The castle was amazing, again, the rich history coming to life before our eyes, the extravagance, it was an incredible tour!  We met up with our friends who were in town staying with their mom.  They invited us to her home for afternoon tea and spoiled us beyond imagination!  What a beautiful afternoon!  We then decided to go to dinner with our friends, left the kids with their kids and mother, and enjoyed a lovely Indian dinner.  We returned home to something unexpected.  Alexis had been having problems breathing throughout our stay.  The first day we arrived, she needed a breathing treatment desperately.  When we set up her nebulizer and it blew up.  We called pharmacies in London until we found one that would sell us a nebulizer without a prescription.  Every night she struggled, every night she needed a breathing treatment.  However, it usually would happen after she went to bed.  

Upon our return from dinner with our friends, we discovered Alexis's nebulizer and solutions on the floor in the entry way.  I immediately began to realize something went terribly wrong.  As my eyes drifted up, Mark's mom took my arm and told me it was okay.  Alexis had a major breathing attack and they couldn't figure out how to work the new nebulizer we had bought.  They tried everything and finally Alexis could hardly breath.  Alexis got out an Epi-pen and stuck it in her leg.  Within 10 minutes, her breathing returned to normal.  I can't begin to imagine the nightmare we put Mark's mom through, the other kids, our little girl.  I often think of how "normal" our lives had become after Noah and Alexis started on their L-dopa.  How they were able/we were able as a family, to do things we couldn't do for years.  We have been brought back to those memories many times of late with Alexis's breathing problems.  Lack of sleep at night, Alexis's inability to participate in sports, a plan in place at school for emergency situations, etc.  God has been so good to us!  I can't imagine going through any of this without Him.

In His hands,
Retta

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My mother in law did an amazing job putting together Joe's family pedigree for Baylor.  I was so impressed with both of our moms, their hearts to help their children and grandchildren, and their efficiency in working on this project!!  Thank you, thank you, mom and mom!!

I communicated with Baylor yesterday and we are set to go to Houston the first part of September.  They are very excited about possibly identifying a specific gene mutation, through DNA sequencing, that could help many other families that may respond to L-dopa.  This is truly an incredible journey and we are so hopeful of the possibility of helping others through this process.  

Our family pedigree could also help in identifying the genetic link within our family and other families.  The more information we gather, the more we understand there is a link in our family.

Please pray for wisdom and discernment for the scientist, while evaluating our genome.  Please pray God will reveal information, through this project, that will be useful for many.  Pray that our family is open to God's voice when He calls us to share what He has done in and through each one of us.

Thank you for joining us in this journey of hope, new adventures and understanding.

Retta

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Moms are great!  Baylor University is trying to get as much information as possible to put together our family pedigree, going back to our grandparents, their siblings, children, grandchildren, etc.  Names, disease, disorders, anything that effected them that may be relevant to Noah and Alexis's disorder.  My mom is AWESOME!!  She is working on her side of the family for me as I am feeling a bit behind and, honestly, don't have a clue who's who on her side.  Thank you, Mom!!
We are going Mach Speed at this point (as the project manager at Baylor puts it).  They need to gather as much data as possible to make this project informative for all who view it/see it presented.  We are working to get everything ready for a conference in October called "TedMed".  We are praying for clarity in sequencing our family's genome, clarity for the scientists, doctors and whoever may be presenting the information.  This is an exciting journey and we can't wait to see what all comes of it!

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