Update on Kate

Lindsey just updated her blog with the latest on Kate.  Kate was admitted on Tuesday, after her central line was placed.  She was to have chemo start on Wednesday. Unexpectedly, Kate spike a 103 temp and was placed into isolation.  This changed her start date for chemo and her transplant. She tested positive for a cold virus, and the transplant doctor needs her to be 14 days out from the onset of the fever/virus.
They were discharged home today and will be readmitted on Aug. 23, with chemo to start on Aug. 24, and transplant to occur on Sept. 2.
Lindsey's friend and I are working on coordinating meals for Lindsey, Alex, and Kate.  As Lindsey learned during this admission, she has very little time to go to the restroom, let alone get food for herself.  If you are interested in donating a meal to them, please email me, and I can set you up with the link for the meal plans.
Thanks again for all of your prayers.  They are truly felt, and we know that God is in control.

Walk in the Park

We spent the evening walking at the park the other day.  It was physical therapy for me, and fun for the boys! Win, win.

I learned all kinds of things. 

These were my flowers that Miles picked for me.

According to Graham, lightsabers come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.

Miles didn't think that I could catch him.

Daddy is the smartest archeologist ever.  at least in the boys' eyes.  They were talking about "this super rare rock" - I didn't burst any bubbles, but I'm pretty sure it was a piece of asphalt.

Chef Miles was stirring up some dirt soup.  Thankfully, he did not try to eat it.

Mom and Dad were a hot, sweaty mess.

But the boys were even sweatier.

Even when their feet were standing still, the boys were in constant motion.

But they were sweet enough to stop and smile for the camera.

Birth order.  Graham leading Miles.  "Miles, it's ok.  You are safe with me. If the bear comes out, I will hit him with my walking stick."  The things kids come up with.

Looking for an even bigger stick.

Miles wanted me to take a picture of his shoes, so I obliged.

Graham "lasering" something.

Just dad and the boys.  Having some male bonding time over some sweat, sunshine, and the outdoors.

It's time

For weeks now, our family has been preparing for today with my sister, brother-in-law, and my sweet niece Kate.  We have exchanged numerous phone calls, skypes, emails, texts, and virtual hugs.  I wish so badly that I could be with Linz today. 
As I write, Kate is in surgery having her central line placed.  From there, they will head to the Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) unit where they will be admitted and prepare for the biggest step in their journey thus far.
Kate will begin chemo in the morning.  I can't believe it.  My 11 month old niece is about to have all of those toxins running through her little body when she should be running around playing with her puppies at home, or having play dates, or singing and dancing at Gymboree.  She should be getting ready for her first birthday party that her momma and papa have been planning for months.  Lindsey's $400 Target bill the other day should have been for birthday supplies, not necessities for a several month hospital admission. 
But instead, Kate is preparing her body for her second chance at life.  In the coming days, her selfless 24 year old male donor will be prepping himself to donate his bone marrow.  A perfect match.  Literally a match made in heaven.
And barring any complications, Happy Birthday will have an entire new meaning on August 19.  Not only will we be celebrating Kate's first birthday, we will also be celebrating her transplant which will allow us to sing many many more happy birthday's.
God's timing is perfect.  He has written Kate's story.  He knows the pains/aches/joys in our hearts.  He brings comforts at just the right times in our despair. 
And while tears are perfectly ok, I rejoice in the Mighty God that I serve.  For He will carry Lindsey, Alex and sweet Kate through this journey.  And when doubt and questions fill their minds, He will bring comfort and peace.   and He will also be with the rest of the family as we are far away and feel helpless. 
 
Dear Lord, I ask that you place your healing hands around Kate.  May she feel your love and know that you are there.  Please be with Lindsey and Alex as they turn to each other and to you for comfort and peace.  I pray for patience as they must trust the transplant team with each decision that is made on Kate's behalf.  Please be with the doctors, nurses, and the entire healthcare team.  Be with the young man that is preparing himself to donate so selflessly.  I ask that you also be with our family as we long to be at Lindsey's side.  Bring comfort and strength to us; provide us with the right words of wisdom for Lindsey and Alex. 
For you oh Lord are the Great Physician.  We place all of our trust in you.  We bring you glory, honor, and praise even from the valley.  
Thank you Jesus for sending your son for us. 
In your Holy and Precious name we pray,
Amen. 

UPDATE:  Kate's surgery went well.  Lindsey and Alex should be able to see her in a few minutes. Lindsey is very thankful for the prayers from everyone.

Beach Baby

July 2011

Yes, I know we have lived in FL for 3 years, but the boys just experienced the beach for the first time at the end of June.  I was nervous but excited.
Miles is our dare-devil.  He is on the go ALL.THE.TIME.  And he stops talking only when sleeping.  I wish I could bottle up half of his energy.  I just knew that he would love jumping into the waves, riding on the boogie board, and floating.  But, I was wrong.  For the most part, Miles enjoyed eating ice out of the cooler, providing complimentary mud baths to anyone that was interested in his way, looking for seashells, and sitting in the beach chairs with his feet in the water.
Graham on the other hand, was living it up in the water!!  As soon as we parked, Graham took off with my dad and was running into the water.  I know dad loved having that experience with Graham!! Graham and Jeff were a good ways out, just floating along and having some male bonding time.  About 6 feet away from them, a dolphin decided s/he was going to join in the fun and swam past them several times.  When those of us on shore saw the dolphin, I just knew that we were about to hear Graham scream in fear.  Instead, when he came in (which was only to reapply sunscreen and eat lunch), he was shouting with excitement that he "saw a dolphin right there and he was talking and playing with me."
We made some awesome memories, and have established "our spot" at the beach.  We have made another trip, and plan on making a few more trips as soon as my knee cooperates for us to go out there.
I love making these memories with my family.  So neat to watch the boys explore new adventures, stand in awe at the magnitude of "the beach", interact with each other as they create memories that will last forever, and most of all, find joy in the small, simple things in life.

Bye Bye NuNu's

Last Wednesday, July 27, Miles decided that he was ready to pack up all of his nunu's and his beloved, paci, and send them to baby Kate to help her feel better. Jeff & I didn't question it. Miles collected all of his nunu's (Avent pacifiers) and his paci (Nam pacifier). Jeff grabbed a ziploc, I grabbed the camera and we went with it. Forget that it was already 7pm, we weren't going to miss the opportunity of Miles willingly relinquishing the pacifiers. He only chewed/played/sucked them at bedtime, so we were close to the weaning process. I have been telling him for a while that if he could tell me he needed to pee-pee in the potty (potty training is the next adventure) then he was a big boy and didn't need his nunu's.
After the nunu's were packed up, we all loaded up in the car and headed to TRU. The deal was that Miles could pick out any toy when he gave up the nunu's. Graham is obsessed with into Star Wars, and Miles loves to be like his big brother.  The boys play very well together, but Miles was ready for some SW toys of his very own.  He knew immediately what he wanted.
Graham was very proud of Miles.  He kept reminding him how much of a big boy he was and that he was so cool for not having nunu's anymore.  Very sweet to watch the boys together.
The first 2 nights he asked for his nunu at bedtime but then once we reminded him that he sent them to baby Kate, he was fine.  We are 12 nights in and going strong.
Next up is potty training.  Miles thinks it is so funny to pee-pee in his diaper.  He will actually do this little evil cackle and say "Miles just pee-pee'd in my diaper.  ::hahahahaha::  Dat so funny?!?"  I'm not a huge fan of pull-ups, so I have a feeling I will be biting the bullet and running around with the bottle of resolve as Miles runs around in big boy underwear for a few days.

Poor Graham

Today started out like any other day.
Jeff headed into work for a staff day-retreat, away from church, to plan for Christmas.  I got the boys ready, brought them to school, and picked up a friends' daughter for a few hours.  Ava was excited to be my helper; we came to the house and made chocolate-chip muffins for her to take to Orlando with her family, then headed out to Target where she got a blue ICEE and I got a St@rbucks Tea Lemonade **addictive**.  We were wandering around the store and I got a phone call from Ava's mom, who is also the Asst. Director at the preschool.  Melissa was panicked, which is unlike her.  I was ready to assure her that I would have Ava back by the agreed upon time, but then Melissa asked if I was close to the school.  I knew something was up, and I could hear a child crying very hard in the background.  Melissa then told me that Graham had been pushed off of the playground and hit his head and scraped up his face a bit.
Ava and I abandoned the Target buggy and left as quickly as we could.
I arrived to the school and found Graham in the director's lap clearly shaken up but much calmer. I told him that I called the ped. and we needed to go to the Emergency Room.  He was not too happy, but agreed.
So off we went to the ER.  Fortunately, Graham was awake and alert.  He did vomit, but that wasn't too much of a surprise.  He was standing on the top stair going onto the play equipment and the bully pushed/shoved Graham out of her way to tag another child.  The step is a good 5-5 1/2 feet off of the ground and Graham is 43".  You do the math.  Fortunately I didn't realize how far he fell until AFTER we got home from the hospital.
He was examined, had several Xrays and a CT scan.  He was very brave.  He was allowed to sleep after the tests, and was woken up every 1.5 hours to ask his name, where he was, and to check in.  After 5.5hrs, we were told that his scans were all clear *PRAISE GOD* and that we could go home.  He has a concussion and abrasions to his face and shoulder.

The picture doesn't do it justice.  This is the impression of the rubber mat under the play equipment.  It's swollen and tender. Starting to bruise already

He was such a big boy letting me ice his shoulder.   I couldn't get him to hold the ice pack in place, so I busted out an ACE wrap.  You can see his eye and lip starting to swell in this picture.

We realize this could have been so much worse.  We are definitely counting our blessings tonight.  Please keep Graham in your prayers.  He is not wanting to go back to school if the bully is there.  He said several times today that he won't play on the playground, he will just sit on the bench and watch the other kids because he doesn't want to get hurt.  Pray that through all of this we can teach him about choosing friends and praying for those who do not demonstrate the qualities that we have instilled in our children.
Graham will get some extra snuggle time tomorrow, since he won't be going to school due to his concussion precautions.
I'm off to get some sleep before the 2AM drill of his name and where he is.  Thanks for keeping him in your thoughts and prayers.