Jack and His Momma

Who thinks that Jack looks like me?  I do!

this is me roughly 18 months old

Mani Pedi Day

When Lucy got sick, a local nail salon gave us all a gift certificate for a mani-pedi.  I've been waiting a long time for Lucy to be healthy enough to go and this past Friday we decided to give it a try.  She had a wonderful time and enjoyed all the attention she received.  Lucy is a local celebrity and people make a fuss over her everywhere we go.  She doesn't understand that all these people have been praying and cheering for her the past year.  She just thinks they somehow know her name.  She just walks around smiling!

I took Ella on Saturday during Jack's nap.  This wasn't her first time, but it was just as cool as her first.  She could get real used to this!!

Thanks to Tipton Nails for the nice day out.  It's nice to be able to do something special with my girls every now and then.  I look forward to the wonderful adventures we will have as they grow older.

Weekend Yard Work

This weekend we did some much needed yard work and got all the kids in on it.  We really did have a nice time and now our trouble area of yard that won't grow grass is field with beautiful Azaleas.

While we were working, Ella spotted something moving in the field behind our house.  Bless her heart, she is convinced that the kittens we "lost" a few years ago still roam the area.  We just go with it and she gets so excited when she sees "bright eyes."  Here she is taking off across the field looking for her cat:

Lucy and Gracen were standing fast watching Ella:

Jack napped during most of our work, but he woke up just as we were finishing up.  He joined in the planting for a minute.  Below you will see he was not so sure about being awake. 

When he found his 4-wheeler, he perked up real quickly.  This child, like most, would spend every waking minute outside if possible.  

This is Jack when he has to go inside:

Every day is such a blessing. Being outside, digging in the dirt and watching my children enjoy the simple pleasures of life reminds me of what I have to be thankful.  

What a Day

Lucy and I were out of the door at 7:00 this morning.  Ready to tackle the day.  Once we arrived at St. Jude, we got to start our day with the sticking of the needle.  I hate when they have to start an IV.  I really will never, ever miss the central line that ran to her heart via the whole in her chest, but I sure hate when Lu has to get an "ouchy."  She quickly recovered and we read what seemed like a million books until we were called back to prepare for her procedure.

Today we were greeted by a new-to-us nurse and a great new Anesthesiologist.  They waited on Lucy hand and foot and treated her like a princess.  After a little dose of Versed, all was well with the world.  These pictures are from our last surgery.  Nurse Jody is a nut, but he's definitely one of our favorites!  

 This is his best impersonation of a shark ninja.

  

What an answered prayer today ended up being!  Lucy woke up in Recovery in the best mood she has ever been in since our beginning at St. Jude.  Our usual nurses...oh, how I LOVE them....were amazed.  We all just went on and on about how awesome she did.  After we loaded up, we headed to Pei Wei (Lucy's favorite spot) to grab some honey chicken and gluten free spicy chicken.  She ate like a champ.  Then, as we drove past a Chick-fil-a she nearly jumped out of her seat wanting ice cream.  It really is as if she instantly felt better once the Mic-key button was removed. She has felt wonderful this afternoon and seems to be sleeping peacefully.  I don't understand it, but I am so very thankful.  

And speaking, of thankful.  Wow!!!!!  You guys ROCK!  Thanks to you all, the girls raised over $3700 for the St. Jude Trike a Thon!

I am just blown away by the support you guys offered.  I shouldn't be, though.  You people, the friends I have never met, have blessed our family in so many ways.  This outpouring of donations to St. Jude is just one more way that God has shown His mercies through this trial.  Thank you all again so much.  We are honored and humbled.  Although we have exceeded our goal, there is still time to make a tax deductible gift to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in honor of Lucy and Ella (the best big sister in the world.)  Just go to http://www.mytrikeathon.org/Ellalucy if you would like to donate.  

And speaking of the Trike a thon (horrible seguays I know), it almost didn't happen for us this year.  Today my mom called and we started talking about the trip we are taking next week during Spring Break.  It went something like this:

Mom: "What time do you want to leave Friday morning for the airport?"

Me: "Mom, we don't leave until Saturday."

Mom: "No, we leave Friday.  Go check your email."

Me: (hysterical) "But we can't leave Friday.  That's the Trike a Thon.  We can't miss it.  St. Jude is sending photographers and everything.  This is a huge deal." 

Ok, so you get the picture.  After I hung up with her, I ran inside and found the dreaded email.  In a series of errors, I had written down the wrong dates of our trip and unwittingly helped the school schedule the trike a thon for the day that we were set to leave for our trip.  Now, before I go any further I have to try to explain why this is such a big deal.  

Last year when the school planned the Trike a Thon we were in the heat of battle.  I was at a very low place in our journey and I was pretty convinced that the next trike a thon was going to be in memory, not in honor, of Lucy.  Those first few months were bad.  Really bad.  We had some dark, dark days.  I remember praying, asking God to allow Lucy to ride a bike again.  At this time she couldn't even sit up in the bed unassisted.  Much less even dream of riding a bike.  So this is a big deal to me.  It's a huge milestone.  It symbolizes a lot to me.  I don't know if anyone can truly understand it, because it is so personal.  I need this.  Lucy needs this.  It's a big deal. 

On the same note, this trip is a big deal.  I'm taking my girls back to Colorado with my parents.  Erik will be home with Jack and his parents and we are going to miss them like crazy!  But this is another one of those milestone trips.  Although Lucy is a long way away from skiing, she has specifically asked on more than one occasion to go back to see the snow.  Last year, she skied 1 month before she got sick.  It really is my last fun memory with her.  Allowing her and Ella to see the snow and mountains will be such a blessing.  

Long story short, tickets have been changed and we will be taking our trip (not before I gave myself a near migraine from crying so hard.)   

To us, it's the little things that matter now.  We have no extra capacity for anything meaningless in our lives.  We have to make every moment count.  Because if we have learned nothing else from the past year, its that we are guaranteed nothing in this life.  Tomorrow may never come.  Our priorities have totally shifted.  I've never been able to "let things go" before, but now I find myself walking away from the things that don't matter.  I can't be consumed with drama, worry or fear.  I have so many real problems to contend with that my energy is reserved of the things that matter.  And what matters most is God, my family and my great friends.  

Good night and thanks again!

Squeaky Shoes and Surgery

Lucy went in for a check up today at St. Jude and we left with a surgery planned for tomorrow.  In a non-to-uncommon occurrence, her little body is not tolerating her Mickey button.  She seemed to tolerate the extended tube ok, but this Mickey button has been torture.  She is in a lot of pain and it is bleeding.  So...we are going in for a change tomorrow.  Please keep her in your prayers if you don't mind.  

Here is a picture of what she has right now (I only wish hers looked this pretty):

Mickey Button

 This picture shows a little girl with an extended g-tube, which is what Lucy will have after her procedure tomorrow.  (I grabbed this photo from Google, if you are wondering.)

So, as you can tell the Mickey button is much more desirable for obvious reason.  It will take some getting used to, but I've been assured that she will still be able to swim!

In a totally unrelated note...Jack got new shoes. Both girls wore squeaky shoes and now Jack is getting his chance.  With the first child there were totally adorable.  With Lucy, they were tolerable.  With Jack....well, we will see.  I got these at a local children's boutique here in town, The Freckled Frog, but you can get them just about anywhere children's shoes are sold.  I will admit that they are wonderful in large crowds.  Think zoo, museum, the grocery.  It's hard for them to run off when you hear their every step!

(be sure to turn the music off at the bottom of the page before you watch the video)