Another Update!

Hey family! So the good news is Ashley has been released from the hospital! Her fever has gone done and stabilized and we have received a chamber for her inhaler to help with her cough and breathing. The exact diagnosis is still a mystery however, so we will be awaiting more information from the additional blood draws taken today. Thanks so much for all of the prayers, love and support! Ashley will be taking the rest of the week off to continue to rest. Hopefully we will know more in the days ahead. 

Much Love,

Jon and Ashley

From Jon

lots of waiting, resting and pain management. I believe the earliest release date will be tomorrow afternoon or evening, but I'm sure it might be longer. I believe we are on the culture test results, a meeting with an infectious disease specialist and EKG. The meeting with the specialist will undoubtedly incur another battery of tests. but for now, we wait and she sleeps.
work is fine, I didn't go in but everyone has been very supportive. 
this was texted around 3:30PM 4/29

More Updates

Good Morning Family,

Few more updates,  Ashley had a CT scan for both her chest and abdomen last night and we are waiting for the results of those scans. Normal blood work did not show any abnormalities,  so we'll be looking to the blood culture tests for a more in depth scan. Those results will not be ready until Wednesday though.  Today she is scheduled to receive an EKG to monitor the continued tightness in her chest. She is currently meeting with a Respiratory tract specialist. Should meet with the Doctor who referred her later and also a specialist in Infectious disease. And that's where we are,  Ash is a trooper and we both appreciate the prayers and support!

Much love,

Jon and Ashley

Update from Wichita

Just wanted to give everyone a qick play by play on the current situation.  At 4:00 Ashley had a doctor's visit which lasted about 2 hours,  where upon the doctor highly recommended that she be admitted to the hospital. We have checked in, reported all the medical history,  had blood drawn,  urine samples and currently receiving an IV. Still a ways out from the actual doctors visit. But when there is more info,  I'll let you know.  Thanks so much for the prayers! And sorry for any typos,  I'm typing on my phone.

Much love,

Jon and Ashley

baby shower- YEAH!

had another long weekend and it's not over yet. got mom a off to Arkansas for the funeral. word was that it went well. rena and crew were also able to  make the trip. they are on the road heading back as i type this entry.

 

then of course there was the baby shower for mr. landon.

talk about swag. the kid got lots of swag. kinda makes you want to have another baby. not.

anyway, good company, good presents, and good food!

here are a few pics! look for the rest in the slideshow.

Rivers- We have a Vehicle

thanks so much for all the prayers!!
it was a long day yesterday. D.A.D. was on fire!! everything lined up and at the end of the day i rode home in our new car. it was definitely a God thing. the D.A.D. was wheeling and dealing all day. 
i am so proud of him!



HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!!!!

Lee + Q | Austin Couple Photographer

This past weekend I had the pleasure of photographing Lee + Q. Lee had contacted me a few weeks ago because they were planning on being in Austin for their wedding anniversary, so he wanted to get some portraits while they were in town. The best part? He was planing on proposing… again!

Apparently Q lost her wedding band a few months ago and has been devastated ever since. Lee found her ring while he was cleaning out his car, and decided to surprise her with it during the session by re-proposing. How awesome is that? It was great to be able to capture that moment for them both.

I had a great time during their session and had such a tough time picking my favorites. Thanks guys for waking up early to catch the beautiful morning light with me

Check Out the New Pages

lookie lookie....

Update on Car

the jeep is dead....on the hunt for a new car.

How Can I Pray for U?

heard a message about prayer this morning. just a reminder of how much we need to stay in communication with God. not to neglect Him or take Him for granted. just like we nurture a human relationship by spending time and seeking out another, much more so for us to be connected to God. if we feel disconnected it is not because He has not been constant, it's because we have not be constant. He is relentlessly pursuing us, so near He is pressing up against us. He is oh so patiently waiting to sit with us, like it is when we are  sharing a cup of coffee with a well-bonded friend.
take time now to sit at His feet. give Him glory for who He is. pour out your heart to Him.
praise Him for ALL things and wait to be amazed!

how can i pray for u today?

you can pray for us - me and dad. grandma a lost her sister on Friday. she passed away after a surgical procedure for colon cancer. mom is heartbroken and anxious about how she will get to arkansas (we are working on that). she hates to fly, but she will need to fly to meet aunt rena.
i just dropped our jeep off at the shop. it is making knocking noises. i hate taking our cars to the shop. anxiety mounts when i think about it. but hearing the message today about prayer reminded me that all things are in His hands and i need to release this to Jesus.
this is not a surprise to God. He isn't saying "well that was unexpected!"

i will not be overcome by circumstances around me. in my own strength i can do nothing, but God is bigger than all of this. He has a plan. waiting and expecting.....

He Is Risen!

He is Risen!

1. Christ the Lord is ris’n today, Alleluia!
   Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
   Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
   Sing, ye heav’ns, and earth, reply, Alleluia!
2. Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
   Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
   Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!
   Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!
3. Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
   Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
   Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia!
   Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!
4. Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!
   Foll’wing our exalted Head, Alleluia!
   Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
   Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

He is Risen Indeed!

Yeah for #2

We are Generation Study Abroad: IIE Team Members Participate in Forum on Education Abroad and Diversity Abroad Conferences

The Forum on Education Abroad and Diversity Abroad conferences took place April 1-4 in San Diego, CA. Over 1,000 participants from colleges, universities, and study abroad organizations came together to discuss new trends in study abroad and how to increase access to underrepresented groups. IIE team members Lee Rivers, Shawna Hurley, Michael Saffle, Jody Dudderar, and Wagaye Johannes represented Generation Study Abroad at the exhibition hall and at sessions. Shawna Hurley facilitated a session at the Forum on Education Abroad Conference titled Connecting the Dots: Enhancing Students' International Internship Experience & Employability, highlighting the Gilman Program, and Lee Rivers presented at the Diversity Abroad Conference at a session titled Leveraging Technology and Student Stories to Support Students from Pre-Departure to Re-Entry. IIE staff also held a Scholarship Advisors Workshop, hosted by Point Loma Nazarene University.

Need New Updates!

time to report.....
the D.A.D. is still having issues with his shoulders. we will be making an appointment soon to see what needs to be done. we are both dealing with allergies, but we are coping- tis the season!
looking forward to megan's baby shower. mr. landon is looking good.
love you guys!

Pray for our Sick One

please remember to lift up the wichita rivers- ashley has been wrestling with coughing and congestion for about 4 weeks now. i know she is sick and tired of being sick and tired.
please lift her and jonathan up in your prayers.
love you ash!

Mr. Landon

mr. landon did cooperate with the 4D sonogram visit today. we have  a couple of pics
just for the fam....

 

 

 

 

sniff, sniff.....it's beautiful outside....

with all the seasonal allergy stuff in full bloom, consider the following:
Environmental Solutions
If seasonal conjunctivitis is diagnosed, patients may gain at least some control over their discomfort by understanding what contributes to their particular allergies:

• Avoid the avoidable. “I recommend that patients who have seasonal allergies see an allergist to determine which allergens are affecting them. An allergist can conduct skin-prick tests to accurately isolate the irritating allergens and recommend steps to avoid them,” said Dr. Trattler.
• Study your geography. Patients can monitor tree, grass, weed and mold spore counts for their particular geographic area through the National Allergy Bureau—which is a section of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. In addition to linking their symptoms with a potential allergen, which can improve management, patients can determine when it might be best to stay indoors, thus minimizing exposure to the irritating allergens. 
• Watch the weather. Patients should be advised that the weather also plays a role in pollen count fluctuations. For example, counts tend to be lower during and after rain showers because the pollen gets washed away. Windy days, however, can be irritating because more pollen becomes airborne, increasing the opportunity for contact with the eyes, nose and lungs.
• Keep an eye on the clock. Diurnal fluctuations can also affect symptom expression. “When the weather starts getting nice in the spring, people tend to leave their windows open at night. Unfortunately, that’s when the allergens have a higher chance to come in and cause problems. Pollen shedding is most common during the early morning hours—between 4 and 6 a.m.,”
  Dr. Trattler pointed out.
• Be nice to your eyes. When avoidance is not an option, there are still steps that patients can take to reduce the allergen’s impact and increase ocular comfort. Wearing glasses or sunglasses can reduce the chance of pollen entering the eye. Rubbing itchy eyes can cause mast cell degranulation, which maintains the allergic cycle and should be avoided. Instead, “apply artificial tears to flush the pollen from the eyes. Anything you put in the eye for allergic conjunctivitis should be refrigerated. Cool eye masks can also be soothing,” said Dr. Bielory.
• Curtail the contacts. Contact lens wearers tend to be disproportionately affected by allergy. Even if a patient is a successful contact lens wearer for most of the year, allergy season can make them quite uncomfortable, particularly when contacts are worn for extended periods of time. The airborne allergens tend to accumulate, binding to the contacts, getting trapped and causing discomfort. “Contacts probably should be avoided in patients with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, particularly when there is evidence of underlying dry eye disease. This does not mean, however, that patients will steer clear of them,” said Dr. Wilson. In general, a combination antihistamine/mast cell stabilizer, when applied before and after removing the lenses should increase the quality of wearing time for these patients.
• Clear the air. Patients can remove pollens from their environment by using air-conditioning filters designed to trap irritating allergens, which are available for both the home and automobile installation. Cleaning floors with a damp mop, instead of sweeping, keeps allergens that are brought into the home on feet and clothing from becoming airborne, which can exacerbate symptoms.
• Shower for slumberland. Showering and washing hair at night reduces the chance of prolonged and concentrated exposure to pollens while sleeping. Allergen-resistant pillows can be a tremendous help as well.

Link to Allergy Website