Seattle Rock and Roll Marathon

Last weekend 8 people (Wyatt's Warriors) participated in the Seattle Rock and Roll 1/2 & full marathon. We raised over $7800.00 for Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy. We talked to other racers along the way bragging about Wyatt and educating people on PPMD and Duchenne MD, especially. It was a humbling experience, in fact, I cried when I walked across the start line. So much has happened to our family in the last 18 months, that I guess it all hit me, that I was there walking 13 miles because I have a sick kid. A kid and thousands like him, who need reseach money to give them a better life. I was amazed by people wishing us well, offering to pray for Wyatt, etc.

A speical thanks to Keith and Alisa Partington
Shylah & Jaime Guzman
Cass Richards
Bill Staffenhagen

Without their fundraising efforts and participation in the race, we would have never raised so much money. I'm honored to have each and everyone of them in my life.

The Staffenhagens

We have been a busy group. Here's what's been happening in a nutshell.


Tom - working hard, running practically everyday, relaxing (not too much)

Melissa - taking care of the kids, driving, taking care of the house, NOT running everyday.

Leigha - almost 16, practicing driving, planning 16th bday extravaganza, made the LSHS cheer team for next year

Anthony - only 13 days of school left - Yeah, being a great big brother to Wyatt

Travis - Baseball, baseball, baseball, need I say more (those of you baseball families out there, now exactly what I'm saying), starting a tournament in a few days, got his first cell phone.

Brady - Preschool is over. Pretty much stays in his jammies all day. Has the biggest imagination ever.

Wyatt - 25 pounds now and growing everyday. Talks all the time. My favorite is, "HI MOM!" so cute. The Rock and Roll Marathon for PPMD is less than a month away. "Team Wyatt" raised over $6400 so far.

Hey family,

We've been a busy group around here. We're working really hard getting ready for the Seattle Rock and Roll Marathon again this year.

Leigha is driving and going to school.

Anthony's playing basketball as much as he can.

Travis just started baseball, he's playing for the Giants this year.

Brady turned 5 and is busy with Preschool.

Baby Wyatt is talking like crazy and just being adorable.

I will post pictures soon.

2009 coming to an end

Brady on his first day of Pre-K

DJ Wyatt !!!!!

Leigha, Travis and Wyatt in "Wyatt & Mommy's Ambulance" on Wyatt's first birthday. "His" paramedics showed up as a big surprise to us, with a little help from Jocelyn.

Pirate Wyatt.

Travis enjoying the March 2009 snow!!!

Anthony on his 13th birthday

We have at an eventful year to say the least. Now that this year is coming to an end our family can look forward to the future. We've certainly gained a new perspective on things, that's for sure. This coming year, we plan to just spend more quality time together as a family. Life gets busy, other things get in the way, but we've made a commitment to our family and to each other to be together as often as possible. They grow up so fast, we don't want to miss a second. We never know what path God will send us on, so we plan to cease every moment. Tom and I are truly blessed to have our amazing children. God trusted us with these beautiful souls and we plan to cherish that gift.

The last few months.....

Hi friends,

We have been busy the last few months, so I really haven't had a chance to update anyone.

Now school is in full swing: Leigha 10th grade, Anthony home school 7th grade, Travis 5th grade, and Brady Pre-Kindergarten. Maybe we can get into a pattern.

What's New:

Anthony started having seizures again. We were sooo close. We hit the 6 month mark, no seizures, no medicine, and then in the early morning hours of Sept 24th, God reminded me, not to get too comfortable, not to let my guard down. Since then, no seizures, back on his meds, so we're going down the 2 year road of meds. once again. He's better now, side effects from the medication is gone now. He's just bummed, because I finally relaxed a little and let him stay home alone, and now he can't. Just sucks, we've been down this road before and it's like Candy Land, we hit the ugly monster and have to go back to start. Crap.....

Wyatt is doing well. He took his first official steps on Oct 27, 2009. He is cruising now, he tries to let go and walk all the time now. Pretty soon he will be a natural. He is still having a hard time putting on weight. He's 20 months and weighs 22 pounds. That's the average weight of like a 12 month old. He had a Growth Hormone Stimulation Test about 2 weeks ago. That was a long day. He had to have an IV (which took 4 tries to get), then had to have blood drawn from the IV port every 30 minutes for 2 1/2 hours. The test just came back, negative, which means no Growth Hormone problems. So what's next, you ask. We go back to Cincinnati on Dec 1, and they will do MRI/MRS to see if that will give them a clue about his growth. Maybe he'll just be a peanut, that's okay. I tell you what, he is getting pretty heavy to pack around. Yeah!!!

Until next time.

Melissa

Anthony turns 13

Anthony at the Space Needle. He wanted to go so bad, he's been bugging us for months.

Anthony getting his new basketball hoop. He tells me he's going to play in the NBA.

Anthony and his basketball shaped birthday cake. I never claimed to be a cake decorator, but I tried, he really wanted a basketball cake.

Anthony has come a very long way in the past couple of years. We are so proud of the person he has become. We love you!

Leavenworth Washington August 2009

Here we are, all 7 of us in one place, wonders never cease!

We went on a weekend vacation with the kids and 4 of their friends. We got to the campground with only about 1/2 hour to spare, before the Ranger went home. Good thing, I didn't want to sleep in the car with all those kids (9 in all!). Travis and 2 of his buddies put up "their" tent. Leigha and her friend put up "their" tent. All in the dark of course.

The next morning we had breakfast, the boys went bike riding and shocking I know Leigha slept in. Around 1:00pm we went to Skykomish to pick up Travis's other friend (he couldn't come until Saturday, so we met him and his Mom halfway). When we got back the kids went Kayaking, more bike riding, and played on what they called, "Big Rock!" (Huge like 10 foot tall boulder in the middle of the campground). That night after dinner the kids sang karaoke. It was hysterical. You have to imagine that most people at Thousand Trails campgrounds are retired. So here we march in with 9 kids who want to sing. It was the most excitement these people have probably had in months. Everyone was laughing at the kids, it was priceless.


Sunday morning, I made a huge breakfast. I totally thought I had WAY too much food. But no, I have never seen kids eat that much food, that quickly. We didn't waste a single morsel of food all weekend. Kids did more swimming, biking, etc.

Monday it was time to go. We packed up. On the way home, we stopped at Deception Falls and the kids jumped in. It was ice cold (so they tell me), but that didn't stop them, I think my kids and their friends made some wonderful memories this weekend.

THE BEES WERE MONSTERS! (I'll leave it at that).

Wyatt at the family "ROCK" in Leavenworth. Wyatt had been camping before (last summer in Chehalis), but he was so little then. This time he ate "well gummed" smores, played in the dirt and watched the "big kids" sing karaoke. He had a great time during the day, night was a completely different story. Oh well, Mom's aren't supposed to REST on vacation, are they???