Another busy month is finally over

It has been a heck of a Month. Thankfully it is finally over. May was a busy month full of appointments - over twenty to be exact. Last week was the last of well checks - Callie's appointment went well despite her having a cold and teething. She is up to 14lb 5oz and 25in long. She is progressing in here development and continues to roll to her tummy and try to get on all fours. She has scooted backwards a little. She will crawl forward when helping her and she will scoot on her back. It has been very exciting watching the progression.

This weekend was spent with Friends from Minnesota. It was a hot 90 degrees in Wausau! We set up the little kids pool and the kids jumped in. Zak did amazing! Every time he wanted to lay down he would feel the water in his face and sit back up. I was so proud of him!

Tomorrow is Callie's Heart check. We pray it goes well and her heart continues to remain stable or or better that is it is getting better. I will be sure to post as soon as we get home.

Giving Back

I am finally finding a few minutes to post.. it has been a busy week finalizing things for the weekend events!

Last week we had a doctors for Zak’s ear. He does not have a perforated ear drum as once thought. Thank god! His tubes are still in and doing well. Great news. ENT was very happy with how things were looking. We also got a catalog and some ideas for Communication devices from School. It sounds like Zak has been doing very well with some devices they have at school. We hope to have them in the house before summer is here so we can continue working on things.

Callie has a new sound..if we call it that. We were so excited!! A HUGE step. She can put her lips together and make a spitting noise. It is so cute and she is so proud. She also continues to roll to her tummy and try to get on all fours. She is pushing so hard and gets so mad when she cannot do what she wants to. When we are able to get under her quick enough and help her get up she has actually scooted on her knees a few times. I see a future of a child proof home soon! Zak has still been working hard on his crawling. He will take about 3-4 steps at a time at least once a day. He really needs to be motivated though until he realizes that crawling is so much easier then rolling.

This weekend was very busy! Friday we went to one of the girls house to help finish up the final details of the FUNraiser on Sat for Noah’s Never Ending Rainbow. I can honestly say we just socialized more while the other girl worked.. oops. Saturday morning we took the kids with and did American Heart Walk. Thank you to everyone who donated this year. We had our best year yet! What a great cause and something that is so close to home for us. The kids did great. We ended up walking 2 miles. We had 2 co-workers and their families with us and 2 nurses and their families. If you are interested in walking with us next year please let us know.

Then it was off to help set up for Noah’s, get an oil change and then back to Noah’s for the actual event! It went great. Dana sure does a wonderful job of heading everything!! We also took the kids with us so people could meet them. There were 2 other children and their families there as well. It was great just to catch up with everyone! Hopefully this year the kids will be doing well and we can make it to the Chicago or Green Bay events. If you are interested in more details for any of the locations please let us know or check out Noah’s Never Ending Rainbow on line and get in touch with Dana!

Sunday was recoup and catch up with Family. Chris’s cousin was in town with his wife since they will not be able to make it home for Chris’s sister’s wedding. It was great to see them even though the time goes by so quickly. I know how hard it is to get everything done in such a short amount of time. Then Chris’s other cousin came over to hang out. She is finally home from College and on the hunt for a job! Congrats on Graduation. Anyone know of some good civil engineering jobs in the Wausau Area?

And today.. well more doctors. Thank god May is almost done. We have 20+ appointments this month between the whole family. Thankfully nothing major, that is June 1st (Callie’s heart apt). This month is the dental, eyes, wellness checks, therapy and the list goes on. Today was Zak’s wellness check for his 5 year appointment. We also brought Callie along since her eye has been really red. Everything went great!! No infections!

Dreams

We all have dreams for our family and children. We have learned that dreams can change and as we "grow up" our priorities change too. Our dreams have changed many times from the moment we met each other, to the moment we had children. As Zak and Callie get bigger and things become more difficult our dreams change for them. We once dreamt of walking and talking and we soon realized to appreciate the little things, moving around a room no matter how it be done, grabbing toys to explore and any noise made are all things we celebrate. We like to share our story in hopes to raise awareness and a new appreciation for life. We have learned so much in the past 5 years and have a new understanding. Our family and friends have stood beside us and celebrated all of the accomplishments. People have come into our life and touched us just as we have them. River Valley bank and all of there associated have come into our life. They are an amazing team of people that want to help us with the help of the community. Read this story:
http://www.rivervalleybank.com/about/news/article.cfm?id=74

SNOW, Parties and Doctors

Snow, Parties, and Doctors.. what a combination!

It is snowing in Central Wisconsin!! Here are pictures of the landscaping 2 hours apart! It does look very pretty though. I am sure it will melt quickly.

Callie and Zak were at the clinic again this week. This is the month of Doctors. Monday was a recheck for Callie to make sure her g-tube site (feeding port) was no longer infected. She got the all clear on that and her ears. She is now on ointment to make sure it continues to heal right. She was up to 13lb 11oz - way to go big girl. I also brought Zak with since we were on the way home from Therapy. I had her peak at his ears while we were there since he had some drainage. Come to find out he has a perforated ear drum, which mostly means his ear tube is also out. We go see the Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist this coming week.

Callie has been spending more time on her tummy - although she does get mad when she gets stuck and cannot figure out how to get to her back again. She is little miss energetic this week. She is getting more active. She sure is a lot of fun.
Zak has also been full of it this week. It was so cute last night. I was laying on my back playing with him. He was sitting at the top of my head. He leaned over and kissed my forehead and sat back up. Then my nose and chin. He just smiled. Then he pounced on top of me and did a belly flop and just laughed and laughed. It was so cute!

Tomorrow is a day full of parties! Chris's sister is getting married in July. We are throwing her a wedding shower tomorrow morning and the bachelorette party tomorrow night. I am looking forward to going out with the girls, but I cannot remember the last time I stayed out so late. Should be interesting - we will see if I can manage to stay awake.

As for Chris and I.. we have been working on stories for the past few months and finally posted them on the blog. On the right side is A Mothers New Dreams and a Fathers Perspective. Also, check out the other links. The stories about Holland are very touching and really do a great job of explaining what life can be like with a special needs child.

Thank you again for all of your support - don't forget to leave your comments. We love to hear from you.

Part Two of our Story and a Trust Fund

Part two of Our Story is on the news!! Cami did a great job again. The whole series was absolutely amazing. She did a great job of capturing our true life. If you have questions about our kids or our family please ask. We are willing to answer anything and are not afraid to tell our story.

River Valley Bank has reached out to help us. Just like many people our story has touched them. They are an amazing team of people that truly have hearts of gold. I am absolutely speechless what River Valley Has done for us. Helping the community is something near and dear to there hearts. They have sent up a fund to help us with our needs if you want to help. See the story below. In our efforts to improve our situation you can also help by donating time and product by contacting Ellie at River Valley Bank 715-348-1450.

Help the Teeters
http://www.waow.com/Global/story.asp?S=12428464

WAUSAU (WAOW) -- The Teeters story moves all who hears it. It moved enough people that they wanted to help. A benefit fund is set up in the Teeters name at River Valley Bank.

If you'd like to help, mail or drop off donations at any River Valley Bank location. You can find a location close to you by clicking on the link.  http://rivervalleybank.com/ 

River Valley Bank
Attn: Teeters Benefit Fund
327 N. 17th Ave.
Wausau, WI 54401



Segment two of our two part story - the video is displayed on the link below

Meet the Teeters: Home & disabilities fight against each other
http://www.waow.com/Global/story.asp?S=12415480
by Cami Mountain

WAUSAU (WAOW) -- Zak and Callie Teeters will need a lifetime of care. As they get older, caring for them will undoubtedly get harder, especially in a home not designed to help.

Most people don't think twice as they walk up the steps to Chris and Annie Teeters front door. But the parents think about it every day when they carry their kids.

Zak and his baby sister Callie have a rare chromosome disorder known as Unbalanced Translocation. Because of it, they have severe physical and mental disabilities.

When Zak's not in his wheelchair or using a walker he requires a lift. Fourteen month old Callie, weighing in just a little over a dozen pounds, is easy to tote around.

Zak, at five years, weighs 32 pounds and is much harder to carry.

"32 pounds isn't heavy when the child is helping hold on." Annie, Zak's mom says, "When you pick up a 32 pound child that doesn't help hold on and you have to be extremely alert because at any time he'll bend over or throw himself back and you're always leaning forward to catch him. So, 32 pounds gets heavy quickly."

The outside steps aren't the only ones the Teeters deal with.

"We have a raised level ranch so we have nothing but stairs in the house. So, it's very difficult to get Zak out of the car and upstairs into our main living area or downstairs, vice versa. So, we're always fighting stairs." Chris adds.

It seems like the Teeters and their home fight against each other. It's a home designed for a family with no disabilities. The hallways and door frames are narrow, the flooring switches from carpet to smooth surfaces.

"It really restricts Zak from his abilities." Annie says, "Now, he's getting into using the gate trainer more, the walker that he has. On carpet, he can't move it very well. So, then it's hard to get him to move and when he does move he can basically only use it in the living room because it doesn't fit through a door."

Zak and Callie's condition also lowers their immunity. Their 40 year old home quickly fills with dust and moisture and causes sinus infections. Multiple times a day, Callie has to have her's suctioned. It's a process she's not a fan of.

Fixing their home is a thought in their minds, an incredibly expensive one. They've even thought of turning to ABC's Extreme Home Makeover.

Just to install an air purification system, the Teeters would have to gut the entire home. The kids most likely couldn't handle the dust and germs that come from remodels.

As the kids get older and keep growing, the Teeters know their needs will grow too.

They only hope they can find a way to fit into a home made for them.

"Zak and Callie are going to need a lifetime of care and in some way someone will have to take care of them." Chris says, "I hope we're around to take care of them for a long time. We'd love to be able to have a house we can do that in and that we could meet all of their needs at our house."

Story on WAOW - Meet the Teeters

Our Sotry is on the news!! Cami did a great job - it was very touching to watch. The story is below. Click on the link to see the video. Segment two will air tomorrow. Watch for another update soon!

Meet the Teeters: Two of a kind
http://www.waow.com/global/story.asp?s=12415392
by Cami Mountain

WAUSAU (WAOW) -- When a child is born with any type of physical or mental disability, a parent's life changes forever. But imagine if both of your children have disabilities. It's a reality for a Wausau couple.

A few weeks ago, I met Chris and Annie Teeters. The couple, married almost eight years now, always dreamed of having the perfect family, including children. They got their wish, a beautiful boy and a girl.

But their births weren't typical in any sense of the word. In part one of this special report, meet Zak and Callie.

You wouldn't know just by glancing, but Zak Teeters is five years old. He can't walk on his own, he doesn't talk and is legally blind.

Zak was born with a chromosome abnormality known as Unbalanced Translocation. It was passed to him in the womb, unknowingly, by his mom Annie.

"Chromosome three and six, I'm a carrier, they switch spots. "Annie says, "When we had kids, they're missing part of chromosome three and they have extra chromosome six."

The abnormality, undetected during pregnancy, noticeable the minute he's delivered by C-section.

"Once Zak was born, I heard the doctors gasp basically." Chris, Zak's dad says, "I looked up and as Zak was being delivered, he was covered in a mucus and wasn't crying. Something was going on. I didn't get a good feeling from the room that everything was ok."

Just minutes after birth, Zak flat lines in the nursery. Luckily, doctors revive him and eventually figure out he cant breathe through his nose. It's just the start of many medical problems to come. In just a few short years he's had surgery to open his nasal passage, surgery to lift his eyelids and a major surgery repairing his spinal cord. That one left him in a full body cast for a year and a brace for another six months.

But with all of Zak's medical issues, the Teeters want baby number two, even though they know that baby could have the same issues.

"We knew I was a carrier." Annie remembers, "We had a 16% chance of it happening again and we decided to put it in God's hands."

Several minutes after Baby Callie is born, it's clear she has the same chromosome abnormality. In fact, they're the only two known children in the entire world with the same exact breaks.

With Callie's birth comes many of the same medical issues and surgeries as her big brother. Between them they've had 21 operations. The condition leaves than much smaller than children their own age and developmentally behind.

"Zak is five years old and he's still working on crawling and talking. Basically, he relies on a caregiver for all his essential needs. So, developmentally he's been evaluated at about twelve months." Chris says, "Callie; she's fourteen months now and developmentally, I think, she's four or five months, developmentally wise. She's just now working on rolling from her back to her stomach to her back."
The Teeters kids do the same things as other kids, just at their own pace. And their parents applaud every milestone, big and small.

Annie says, "We called everyone when Callie first grabbed a Link-A-Do and held it. It's like, "Oh my gosh! Callie is holding a toy!"

Since Zak and Callie's diagnosis is so rare it's incredibly understudied. Chris and Annie have no blueprint, no other cases to use as an example.

"Life expectancy is normal." Annie says, "They don't have anything saying they're going to pass at a certain time."

That leaves the future wide open and the Teeters living for the day.

"We have high hopes that Zak is going to be able to walk someday and that Callie will walk and they will learn to get around our house. But, you just don't know, just dreams."

Storybook weekend

We took Zak to the Storybook weekend in town at the Grand on Saturday. It was one of our best friends daughters 3rd birthday. Zak got to hang out with lots of little girls! Before the show they had tons of activities. Zak decorated a cookies and then we had a caricature done of the three of us. Everything prior to the show was Free! WOW.

After the show the kids were able to get some pictures with the cast. Zak was the only boy brave enough to sit with all his girl friends :)

Then we had snacks and Cake! Yummy. They had huge balloons for the storybook weekend and the lady running the show let the kids take the balloons home. Zak loved playing with them (so did mom). We got to take a huge Orange one home. What a great day!

Then to top it off we met up with some friends for a late dinner at Change Garden where they grill in front of you. It was great just to catch up.

To top it off Callie slept 8 hours last night. Way to go Callie!!! 7p-3a :) Zak woke up this morning with out a mickey (g-tube) in. I tried to put it in, however it had been out to long. I just hate pushing on it. Fearful of tearing it somehow so I got Chris up. After about 10 minutes Chris finally got it in. I was a bit worried we would be making an early trip to marshfield this morning.

We started seeing the Promo for the show that will be aired about our family on Tuesday. We have kept channel 9 on most of the time when we were home. We did not get to see it. This morning I was sitting playing with Zak and heard something about Chromosome Abnormality and thought oh cool, and popped my head up. It was about us!!! How exciting. I cannot wait to see the finished product!