Caring Bridge Site

Karlee and I have decided to set up a caringbridge site so that we can keep people updated with news about our son-to-be. We have done this so that this blog does not turn into a sad place to visit, but rather remains a place where we can share exciting milestones and bore people to death with pictures of our family :)

You will have to set up an account to view our caringbridge site (though I am sure a lot of people have already done this previously sadly). Please feel free to pass the website on to other people if you believe they would like to be kept in the loop. It is much easier for us that this gets spread by word of mouth rather than us having to tell people about it through a mass email.

Anyway, this post will probably be up a week or two and then we will remove it so that we can keep all the hospital talk in one spot. It is our great hope that the next time we talk about our son on this site it will include pictures of a happy healthy baby boy. Thanks for all your love!
-Brandon, Karlee and Perrie

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/babyausk

It's a boy!

Karlee and I had some very wonderful news last week, when we found out that we are going to have a little boy in early June. We are both extremely excited and Perrie is warming up to the idea of fighting for attention with a new little brother.

At the same ultrasound we also faced some very difficult news. Our new son was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect known as Transposition of the Great Arteries (or Vessels). Very simply, the main arteries of the heart are switched causing the blood circulating to the body to not be oxygenated. To fix this problem, our son will likely need a small catheter procedure directly after birth that allows for oxygenated blood to mix temporarily. This procedure will allow him to grow stronger so that he can have open heart surgery at around 7 days old in which they switch the main arteries of his heart. Though it is incredibly difficult to think about having to watch a child go through this, the outcomes of this procedure are generally good we are told. If people are interested, I have attached some links to a series of videos that describe both the defect, its treatment and longer term prognosis.

Karlee will have a series of tests over the next few weeks to give us a better picture of what we are dealing with. The reason for this is that there is now an increased risk of additional defects (how increased I am not sure). We are keeping our fingers crossed that nothing additional shows up. We are very lucky we live in Seattle where the proper medical care is available.

Karlee and I are feeling less scared and more optimistic everyday. We cannot wait to meet our son/brother. We are blessed to have a wonderful family and group of friends to lean on in times like this. As we get further information we will try to let everyone know.





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ddxXHQzWF8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVDvrUL7LgQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D58eufx-_4Q&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ka9OJAGgJo&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=SPA3B7F57A659B4D31

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqfMNwEagWw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-2xZPY0wN8&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list\=

December trip to Montana

To celebrate Perrie's 2nd birthday (and her last chance to fly for free), the two of us headed back to Montana. Below is a photo montage of our trip!

2nd birthday party!

This is a book from the Crisafulli's where they each read a page. Perrie LOVES it! When she is in her room (supposedly napping), we often hear the Crisafulli family reading (and singing) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.


Success at blowing out her candles ... what did she wish for?

and finally ... time for cake!

Grandma Jo with her girls


Slumber party with cousin Gigi. (Giarratana brought two sparkly belts - one for each of them - because 'people on farms wear belts'.)


Playing with her cousins. It's amazing what a difference 4 months makes. Last time we saw these guys, there wasn't much playing. This time, she disappeared and all I heard was a bunch of giggling and running around. We need some cousins in Seattle!!


Riding "Lucky" the horse. Lucky sings and apparently can only be ridden while he is singing ... hours of entertainment!


Playing dress-up in Mom's closet


Tea with Grandpa Terry


Visiting with Grandma Ausk in Terry

Gma Ausk can still play catch!



Perrie & her friend, Ryker - these two look like trouble.


My dad decided to rig up a "sled" for us. Really, the sled is supposed to be for pulling calves out of the snow, but he fitted it with a soft cushion for human transportation too. He was pretty gentle with the 2-yr-olds, but not so much with the cousins!

Never too old for sledding!