Fall Family Update

Archie has been attending his special-needs preschool (pictured above) since August and really likes it! He even takes the school bus (which is his favorite part!). He has been attempting to walk solo at school and at home...taking lots of steps independently...he still isn't saying any distinct words and we are trying to find a pediatric speech therapist who can work one-on-one with him more than once a week...speech therapists in Albuquerque are in high demand so we are lucky he's getting some speech therapy thru preschool...Archie is part of a Pulmonary Conduit Study with the Congenital Heart Surgeons Society. The study follows pediatric patients with heart defects that are similar to Archie's...so thanks to this study, we have FINALLY been able to find some additional information on Archie's rare heart defect and what's in store...his pulmonary conduit/homograft (given by an organ donor ) should function well for at least 3 years from the time it is surgically placed. Archie has had his 2 years this past June and it is still functioning well per his cardiologists. It is extremely rare for the conduit to fail overnight, its a slow/gradual process, which gives cardiology, his surgeons and us, plenty of time to prepare for his next surgery - which is a RELIEF...The estimated three years for a conduit is an average, so we are hoping that Archie's conduit/homograft will continue to function well until he is old enough to "handle surgery".

Josie is having fun at preschool and likes her new teacher Mrs. Karol. She is also taking tap/ballet/gymnastics at The Little Gym and her classes are taught by very energetic high school girls which pairs well with very energetic four year old girls! Robin, Josie and some of Josie's friends from school were also in a commercial for a local pumpkin patch...

Chris' comedy event in downtown Albuquerque was a success and will be an annual event every Labor Day. He is also hoping that with the economy in the tank, more people will save their money, stay home and watch The CW and My50-TV...and so far the ratings have been good!

Robin decided not to try out for the New Mexico Symphony choir because it was geared towards retirees and empty-nesters...The American Heart Association and Donate Life New Mexico asked her to speak about Archie at some upcoming events...public speaking is so not one of her hobbies but these are important causes so she'll give it a shot...

Have a Happy Autumn!

p.s. take a look at new photos in our September 2008 Photo Album!

a jam-packed July!

Archie attended his very first vacation bible school at one of our local Lutheran churches...it was geared towards special needs kids and run by teenagers from the congregation. Archie was paired with Maria, the coolest and sweetest 15 year old! She plays mandolin, has a pet hedgehog AND she babysits! woohoo! Archie enjoyed himself and it was a good experience for him, especially since he will be starting preschool in about 3 weeks...he can crawl down the stairs now, take his spoon/fork out of his mouth (Chris taught him that) and he likes bellyflopping onto the couch cushions...his verbal skills are still limited but he will repeat some things we say with a little coaching.

We were invited to a picnic that an organ transplant awareness group was hosting and met some nice people who were organ recipients and donors. Their favorite member, a 13 year old named Kyle who had a heart transplant at 9 days old, was participating in the Transplant Games in Philly! We are hoping to meet him and his family in October at Balloon Fiesta (Donate Life New Mexico is sponsoring a balloon and we are going to help launch it). A social worker with UNM Children's Hospital is also going to help Robin start a monthly support group for parents/caregivers of kids with heart problems...

Josie is finishing up summer school...we went to the aquarium last week with her class and had fun with the fishes...she is learning how to take pictures with our digital camera and we'll post some of her shots on here soon - she has a good eye!

Chris is still busy planning The CW's comedy event in downtown Albuquerque and helping with America's Next Top Model, which is coming to Albuquerque next week AND working on a new creation/invention that we are hoping to sell here in Albuquerque, can't say much about it just yet...still in the planning stages...but if it takes off we'll show ya what it is :)

Robin was invited to be a Freecycle co-moderator for our Albuquerque group which has over 6,000 members! Robin LOVES freecycle...check it out at www.freecycle.org. She's also thinking about auditioning for the New Mexico Symphony Chorus but is a little nervous about it because she hasn't really sang since highschool (except for singing in the car sometimes) so we'll see! and this Saturday Breaking Dawn is released! its the last book in an awesome series...can not wait to read it!

whew! thats it for now...enjoy the rest of summer!

p.s. "Game", the movie Josie did some scenes with Gerard Butler in, will be released Summer 2009 instead of this Christmas...

great trip!

We are back home in the southwest after visiting the northeast! In Ohio, Archie met his Great-Grandpa Iller and Great-Uncle Roy for the very first time! Then we drove to upstate New York and visited Grandma and Grandpa Haley in Beaver Dams. Next stop, Pennsylvania and cousin Emily's 3rd birthday party! whew! It was a nice change of scenery, and very green scenery too...(you miss that color when you live in the desert).

Archie was a pretty good traveler - a little squirmy and squally on the plane, um like all 2-year-olds. He enjoyed climbing in and out of everyone's cupboards and riding around with Uncle Roy. Since returning home, he has been doing laps around the house on his walker, its like he's training for a marathon! We think our vacation has triggered off his adventurous streak because he's been attempting to crawl down stairs too! He still isn't talking yet but he's eating like a horse.

Josie loved seeing the town she was born in (Centerville, Ohio) and visiting all of her relatives - the trampoline and swimming pool at her cousin's house were definite high points and visiting Hershey Park! (chocolate is a food group for her). She starts swimming lessons this week and "summer school" in July.

Robin is looking into volunteering with a heart group at our local hospital once school starts in August and Chris is getting ready to beam down to Roswell, New Mexico to promote The Daily Buzz, The CW and My50TV at the UFO Festival over 4th of July weekend and he's producing a comedy show in August.

Have a cool summer!

P.S. thank you to everyone for showing us such a good time!

Big Man on Campus :)

Archie has been accepted into Albuquerque's developmental preschool program. He will be going to school 5 days a week beginning in August. He'll be in a class with 8 other kids and he will have occupational, physical and speech therapists working with him as well. Its a big step for Archie but we think (and hope!) he will enjoy being around other children his age...other than that big news, Archie is still eating well and learning how to pick up his cup and spoon. He has lost some weight since the g-tube removal but we think having a big ol' tummy was throwing off his balance. He will walk/wobble with us if we hold his hands and guide him. He hasn't spoken any real words yet, but his listening skills are very advanced ;) He LOVES music: The Banana Boat Song (Day-O) by Harry Belafonte, is one of his favorites...

Josie's preschool class will be finishing up in May... she is looking forward to our trip to Ohio (where she was born!), New York and Pennsylvania to see Great Grandpa Iller, Great Uncle Roy, Grandma and Grandpa Haley, and her Aunts, Uncle and cousins.

Chris is working on the big April/May TV sweeps by giving away hundreds of Wii's - which should help boost the stations' ratings!

Robin just finished reading Twilight, New Moon and Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer, the best book series since Harry Potter.

The whole family went to a casting call this month for Terminator 4 (!), starring Christian Bale, which is filming in Albuquerque over the summer...we haven't gotten any call-backs yet but maybe thats a good thing because Arnold isn't in this one ;)

We also went to Cliff's Amusement Park and will post pictures soon - Archie went on a ride with his big sister for the first time :)

ENJOY SPRING (it seems to fly by)

p.s. if you want to see a real honest-to-goodness tumbleweed (who wouldn't?), check out our April 2008 photo album

a good Friday :)

Archie had an appointment today with his gastro-enterologist to discuss removing his feeding tube....Dr. Fahl walked in said "Happy Easter" and proceeded to take out the tube! YAY! His dietitian, feeding clinic team and pediatrician all feel that Archie is eating enough orally now and his blood work came back a-ok. Sooo we no longer have to carry feeding pumps, extension cords, power supplies, ice packs, feeding bags and cans of Pediasure with us on trips, Archie won't get tangled up in tubing when he's trying to sleep and other than his belly button, he won't have anything sticking out of his tummy anymore! Josie helped put two band-aids on his tummy to cover up his "boo-boo" which should be healed in a few days...

There is a small down-side to this happy news...with the removal of his feeding-tube, Archie is no longer considered medically-fragile and will lose his Medicaid funding which paid for his prescriptions, doctors visits, speech therapy (he's still babbling) physical therapy, hippotherapy and the feeding clinic, which we will still be attending. Archie needs to learn how to feed himself, drink from a cup, chew harder foods (like pretzels, celery, etc). It was nice having Medicaid pay for everything but in the long run we'd much rather have his feeding tube out and hopefully he won't need therapy much longer if he keeps up the good work!

Our family will be participating in Albuquerque's American Heart Association Heart Walk on March 29th. We just found out about it and apologize for the short notice but would appreciate any help you can give!

http://heartwalk.kintera.org/faf/search/searchParticipants.asp?ievent=239677&lis=0&kntae239677=6A7817A276D04D8CADD46A8C97141BFC

Please enter 'ROBIN ILLER' in the participant section if you would like to donate.

Thank you and have a Happy and Healthy Easter Weekend!

p.s. We also had a wonderful visit with Grandma Haley, who helped celebrate Archie's 2nd Birthday this month!

Fantastic Four!

Josie turned the big oh-four last week and we celebrated at Chuck E. Cheese with her preschool class and all the way from PA. her Aunt Susan and cousin Grady (pictured above) on Josie's favorite "rollercoaster ride". It was a Princess and Pirate party and after the castle cake that Chris made was pillaged, we all took long naps (the kids too!) Josie got some very creative and sweet gifts from her friends...artsy-craftsy stuff & tons of tiara's! Click here to see a very short video of Josie blowing out the candles on the cake.

Archie is doing well, a bit fiesty and argumentative lately, I guess we are getting a taste of the terrible two's a little early...He's climbing/crawling all the way up the stairs (did it today!) and cruising along furniture and pops up to a stand without any trouble. He still isnt talking, which is probably why he is soo frustrated these days - hopefully speech therapy will help and maybe some sign language too. We are still working on getting the feeding tube out soon. Hippotherapy is going well, his therapist even lets Josie take a ride too, since its hard seeing her liitle brother getting a pony ride every week (even though its therapy).

We are planning a trip to Ohio to see Grandpa Jake, Uncle Roy, and hopefully the Chicago Illers, and go to Emily's (Grady's little sister) birthday in June. We haven't visited the northeast in a loong time so we are looking forward to it - plus Archie will meet his Great Grandpa for the first time!

Enjoy the Superbowl today - hope your favorite team wins! (I just want the kicker from Scotland to have a good game and I'm looking forward to a new episode of HOUSE! ;)

Happy New Year!

2008 has been a good year so far ;)

Archie is pulling-up and standing all by himself now, especially by the TV when Baby Einstein is on...he is still eating well, he just needs to drink more liquids before the feeding tube can be removed - it sure would be a nice birthday present for him and for us if he can be off the tube when he turns 2 in March...In addition to the feeding clinic and at-home therapy he will be starting hippo therapy this week. ( www.americanhippotherapyassociation.org ) AND he can start going to preschool in the fall! Our school district offers pre-K classes with trained therapists, for developmentally delayed kids - so instead of therapists coming to the house, he will go to school and be with other kids his age too, which would be so good for him...

We're looking forward to Josie's 4th Birthday Bash this month and a visit from her Aunt Susan and cousin Grady plus a visit from Grandma Haley in February/March!

We haven't had much snow yet this winter, so we decided to head up to the mountains ( www.sandiapeak.com ) to find some and break in our sleds...check out our photo album for pictures.

Take care and stay healthy!