I know it’s been a long time since we have updated. A lot has been going on. Zachary has had high blood pressure and his lab levels have been higher then the doctors would like to see. Zachary had a kidney biopsy about two weeks ago. The results were not good. It showed that he is in chronic kidney failure. Forty percent of the kidney has already died off. The positive!! Is that he still has 60 percent left. They started him on a new drug that will hopefully slow down the process of the kidney failure and give him a little more time before another Transplant. I asked the doctors when they think this might happen and they said sooner then later. So talk about stress. I can’t imagine Zachary going through another Transplant. Three of our good friends, And my mom Gina are willing to get tested to see if they might be a match. Zachary has school every Tuesday and loves it. He is talking so much. Only I can understand him but, that is how it starts. The rest of our family is doing good, Wade is back working days. Kiley is loving school and is doing great in gymnastics. Austin is getting so big he is 24lb and crawling all over. As for myself I am doing great just happy to see my family growing bigger and stronger each day. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. GOD BLESS YOU ALL

Love Stacey

Today, Zachary attended his first movie ! The movie was CARS by Disney/Pixar. He was joined by Mom,Dad,sister Kiley and her friend Abbey. Little Bro Austin spent some quality time with Gma & Gpa. Zachary was well primed for the film thanks to the movie trailers on Disney channel, toy cars at McDonalds and most of all his new power wheels car; LIGHTING McQUEEN. He did very well until the last half hour. If it wasn’t for the half hour of previews I think he may have made it.

-Wade-

On Wednesday December 28 we were blessed with another baby boy !
His name is Austin Eric Elsenpeter. He weighed in at exactly 7lbs and is 20in long. Everything is going good. Stacey and the baby will be coming home on Saturday. Zachary and Kiley are so excited!!

Here are some current photos…

One year ago today, December 1, 2005, Wade donated one of his kidneys to his son Zachary. I can’t imagine to many other things that could create a closer bond between a Father and Son.

The transplant was a success, and if you could see Zachary now, you would never believe the difference a year could make. Last year, at almost a year old, Zachary could barely sit-up by himself, let alone stand or walk. NOW, he is like the Energizer bunny he just goes and goes. He climbs on everything and rides on toys just like any other little boy who is about to turn two. It is so exciting to watch the changes in him. Especially from a Grandparents view – we don’t have to chase after him 24/7!

He is still getting his food and meds through the “G” tube inserted in his abdomen, Stacey tries new foods by mouth daily, some stay down for awhile and others (well, you remember that process – green beans on your glasses!) Kids have that honest way of letting you know when they are not crazy about something.

His creatin, white counts, etc. go up and down, but he is doing really well. To look at him, you wouldn’t know that anything was wrong with him. His EBV, Epstein Barr Virus, levels which are related to lymphoma cancer cells have been a little on the high side, but the doctor monitors these levels very closely. They have upped his Valcytes which helps fight the EBV. As we all know with Zach, his blood level and counts change weekly.

Since June, both Wade and Zachary have been doing really well and so up-dates have been slow – OK, none! It seemed silly to write when there had been few major medical changes. We do however appreciate your asking and concern about them though.

Big sister, Kiley, started all day kindergarten this year and is doing really well. Most days she likes it, however, she hasn’t acquired a taste for those school lunches yet (suprise, suprise!)

Next month they will be welcoming a Special Christmas gift in the form of a new sibling. If the ultra-sounds are correct, they plan to name him Austin. He was a suprise, but the University is really excited about the pregnancy. Arrangements have been made to store Austin’s cord blood for future medical use on Zachary.

Well, from us grandparents, we want to thank all of you for your thoughts, prayers, help with the benefit, donations, babysitting, etc. that you have done for Wade, Stacey, Kiley and Zachary in the last two years. It has really helped make their life easier.

Happy Holidays to All
Gma E