~As for me and my house we will serve the Lord ~ Joshua 24:15

May 18, 2019

We have a name...


Brandon and Ashley have chosen a name
for Baby Girl Crawford!

Adley Joanna

Adley is pronounced Add-Lee
Joanna is after my mom Joann 
who passed away in 2018
and also after 
one of Brandon's family members,
The ending Anna is after my daughter Anna.

May 14, 2019

My girl...


My sweet girl and her CRAZY dog!
She loves this dog so much 
and it loves her.


Ada Grace and Ruby 

May 12, 2019

Mother's Day Weekend...





I had a wonderful weekend!
I enjoyed spending time with
 my dad, my kids, and the grands.
We cooked out burgers and hot dogs
on the grill at my daddy's house.



The babies all had a good time playing together!
Any day with them is a blessed day!
I love my babies! 



May 11, 2019

Update from Blaze's study...



As I mentioned, Blaze spent this week at CHOA going through more testing for surgery. When you are facing a surgery of this magnitude it's not an easy decision. When other organs mess up, you can often replace them with a donor organ, but a brain can't be replaced and the brain controls every single thing in your body. When a doctor is considering removing parts of your brain it is very risky. Some parts can be removed but some can't. Every part of your brain has a purpose. The doctor's job is to study the child over several months to get to know the child well and to pinpoint the exact problem areas. They have to study those areas and how the child uses them.  Then decide if the gains are worth the risk of loss.

As of right now, most of the testing is leaning toward the left side of Blaze's brain. The temporal lobe, amygdala, and hippocampus areas. Those seem to be our problem. The lesion that they are concerned about is also in that area. As we go through the different steps they will be looking to see if each test agrees with the others. Once the tests are all complete then we will set down as a team and discuss the types of surgeries and decide if it's safe to go forward (They did tell me that they are leaning toward a resection). Even if CHOAs team decides that they are comfortable with going forward with surgery, they can't.  They have to send Blaze's study to Emory to be reviewed  by their team...that's how the process works. If Emory decides that they agree with CHOA, then it will bounce back and we will go forward with the surgery at that time. Yes, it's a lengthy process with many admissions, but I'm thankful for that. I'm glad that they don't just jump in and make a quick decision. It's a long drawn out process but that makes it safer for Blaze. That helps me as his mom to know that they are going to great lengths to make the best and safest decision possible for him.

Here are the tests so far..

Short EEG- complete
3 day EEG- complete
MRI- complete
CT scan- complete
2nd- 3 day EEG- complete
Neurodevelopmental study- complete

Next tests...

2nd MRI
Genetic panel
PET scan
5 day admission with
SPECT scan



There could be more or less tests but so far this is what we have. As I mentioned it can take months to get these tests done. The SEEG has a waiting list because CHOA only does 1 kid a week.




May 10, 2019

Phase two complete...


We are home! Blaze was one happy kid to finally be headed home! It's been a long trying week but we made it! Phase two is complete! When I have some time, I will set down and do a longer update on all that we've learned about Blaze and what the next step is in this process. 

May 8, 2019

Blaze had a visitor...


Blaze really enjoyed his 4 legged visitor today! One of CHOA's service dogs stopped by to give him some love! 

I have been asked several times about a service dog for Blaze. Even the school has asked if I had considered it. I have. However, to be honest... I really don't want one. If Blaze was older and able to help care for it at least a little, I think it would be different, but he is not. It's so hard now packing up and going anywhere, and I feel like a dog would be like one more kid to take along because a service dog would need to go everywhere with us. I may consider it in the future but just not right now. I talked to the CA group and they told me the process and she doesn't think that  it would take as long for Blaze since we would be seeking an epilepsy dog, because those dogs are only placed with people who have epilepsy unlike some of the other dogs. So yes, I've considered it but the time is just not right now. 

May 7, 2019

Update on Blaze...


We are just hanging out. Nothing big to share. They are doing a three-day VEEG and a neurodevelopmental study today. The study is to compare where he was/ is if they do surgery. The testing was very similar to the testing they did at Marcus and Emory but we will get the results back a lot sooner. They also said it's the golden ticket for school and services. I'm not sure how it will benefit Blaze as I think we have pretty much maxed out services already. He gets a lot. More than any other child that we know. Which we are very thankful for. However, it wasn't just given to us. I have fought for everything this child has or he wouldn't have it either. 

May 6, 2019

Phase 2 of testing


Today we start phase two of testing to see if Blaze is a good candidate for surgery. He will spend the week at CHOA going through the next steps of testing. 

May 4, 2019

It's a baby.....



Ashley took the harmony test and the results are in!
Baby Crawford #2 is a....


We are tickled PINK and over the moon excited!
After all of our baby boys it's time
for a baby girl!
Now to decide on names....hmmmm
Will they keep the "n" family tradition?
All the grand's names end with the "n" sound. 
Or will she break that???
I guess we will see!



May 1, 2019

Mud puddle giggles...















Apr 30, 2019

About Blaze...

I haven't shared that much info on here about what is going on with Blaze. Over the last few months, Blaze's seizures have increased. He is having seizures almost every day now. He has been to the hospital/ required rescue meds 7 times in the last 6 weeks . We've adjusted meds, maxed out meds, changed meds, etc and the seizures just aren't stopping. He has failed multiple meds and is currently on 4 seizure meds. Somedays he has none and other days as many as 1-30 a day. His doctor sent him for a CT scan and also a MRI. The results came back and showed significant changes to Blaze's brain including new lesions not seen in the previous MRI, that we had done last year. Our neuro decided it was time for us to start discussing other options for Blaze. She gave us a referral to an epileptologist at CHOA. Blaze has been diagnosed with multiple types of seizures but almost all of these last tests seem to show that most of the seizures start in the left side of his brain. The left temporal area and hippocampus area and spread from there. After this last round of testing, he was DXd with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (intractable) and hippocampal sclerosis. The epileptologist basically said that Blaze will not get better without surgery because it's a progressive condition. He is going to have to have surgery. We started phase one of the testing a few weeks ago and next week he will be admitted to start phase two. It takes a lot of testing and studies before they can decide if surgery is a possibility. So far, the doctors seem to think that Blaze he will be a good candidate. It may not stop all of his seizures but it might. Without surgery, she gives Blaze a less than 10% chance that he will get better on meds alone. Due to the new lesions, they just expect that the seizures will continue and get more frequent and possibly cause even more damage to the brain. The question is what type surgery? Can it be a more simpler laser type surgery or will they have to open up the whole side of his head? Will they remove the hippocampus or the left temporal area? How will he be affected by the surgery and removal?...  We don't know. That's why he is undergoing all of this testing. We need to see exactly what those areas of his brain control. Then we have to decide if it's safe or to risky.  It's so much to take in and almost overwhelming. I am scared... very scared. Blaze needs lots of prayers. We all do including the doctors who are making these big decisions.  To learn more click here. 

Apr 28, 2019

Sweet Ada Grace

Apr 27, 2019

Bailey and Blazer...


Miss Bailey came today to cheer Blazer on!


Team Impact plays the firefighters...


New day, new game, new color,  new name!

We changed our team name this year!
We decided to be  team "Impact"
which we all agreed is the perfect name for our team.
All of the children on our team
have unique needs and each one is extra special
with a hero story of their own!
These kids have made a huge impact
on so many. 


Today team Impact played our local firefighters!
They had so much fun!
It was even more special
to Blaze because my son-in-law Corey
who is a firefighter
came to play too!

Blaze absolutely adores Corey!
He is for sure one of his favorite people.


Several of our kids left before we could 
get a whole team picture with the firefighters.






Such a fun and very sweet day! 



Apr 26, 2019

The perfect day for a picnic...


Today was the perfect day for a pizza picnic in
the park with friends!
Our first picnic this year!


Apr 24, 2019

Update on Baby Crawford #2...


Ashley went back for her OB apt this week. 
Things look really good with the baby.
The pregnancy is still a high risk and
Ashley has to remain on a no lift/ take it easy
plan. They are not sure exactly yet
if what they see is a blood clot or cyst so
they are sending her to a high risk
OB. However, nothing had changed 
since her last apt, so that was good!
Please keep her in your prayers. 

The BIG BROTHER


My lunch date...


I enjoyed lunch time with this sweet boy today! This kid has me wrapped around his little finger and he knows it! I love my little Z! #1blessedmom


Apr 23, 2019

Oh the love...


She loves her brother! I love how she tries to mother him and always tries to take care of him. I pray that they will always be this close. Blaze had to be carried by ambulance from the school to the ER because he had multiple seizures this morning, but he is doing so much better now and hopefully, we will get to go home soon.  I love my babies!

Goodbyes are so hard...



This just really tugged at my heart. Blaze's OT left us and is moving to Colorada. Needless to say, our hearts are broken. We sure are going to miss Ms. Katlin. Before she left,  her and Blaze did this little craft together. We will keep it forever! She has for sure been a blessing to Blaze. When you spend years with the same therapist they become like family and saying goodbye is so hard. 



Apr 21, 2019

Happy Easter!...





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