We are thankful for:
After a crazy morning at work, I left at 12:30 to meet Mike and Chase at Comp Rehab to see how his leg was healing. He giggled so hard when the tech sawed off the cast... then off to x-ray we went before we saw the doctor. Finally - we got the news we were waiting for... it looks great! We did find out that Chase has yet another strange medical anomaly... he has an extra bone on the back of his foot above his heel... they said it's a congenital thing!
Anyhow - Chase has been upgraded to an air-cast. But, Comp Rehab was OUT of them!!! They tracked one down at Bio-Tech across town. As we were getting ready to go that way - Devin started texting us to come get him at school, he was sick. So - I went with Chase and Mike went to get Devin. Devin then texted me again saying he was non-stop coughing and had a hard time catching his breath. I then scheduled doctor's appointment number 2!
Off to Biotech I went with Chase, got his air-cast, then ran home to get Devin while Mike handled Paige's parent-teacher conference. By the time we got to the doctor's office, Devin was in tears with back pain that had come in fairly suddenly - and the more he coughed the worse it got! They immediately put a mask on him thinking he had the flu and then took us to a room. 
Once in the room it was clear he was hurting bad! The doctor came in and checked everything from lungs to kidneys! Poor kid had quite the look over and the lay down, get up, sit up, lay back down... which had him at above an 8 out of 10 in pain! No longer was he amused with ANYTHING!
In the end - they said he's got a good case of asthmatic bronchitis and they aren't sure what's causing the back pain. He's on inhalers, medicines, and anti-inflammatories to help. So far - the back pain is better, but the inhalers and meds aren't touching the cough. Been a long time since we've seen him like this!
So, let's back up to Paige's conference that Mike went to. Said her behavior is "improving". Mrs. Williams told Mike she's not sure if Paige is just finally getting acclamated to her, or if she's just now getting acclamated to Paige, but they're on the right path now! She did say Paige is quite strong-willed (not MY duaghter!), but she's also quite smart!
Mike's at work now, and I'm finally home eating my box of chocolates! I think I deserve that... don't you?!?
Last week I posted HERE about Kayleigh winning the Reflections Project titled "Beauty Is" for this photo collage of children who have Down Syndrome.
Last night was the certificate presentation at Reagan High School. Kristen Faulkner is the parent of one of the little boys, Ethan, in the photo collage (top left in the red). Kristen went with us to the school and is so excited for Kayleigh as well. She even posted about it HERE on her blog!
Kayleigh's photo collage will no go on to county where it will be judged with other photos submitted from other schools in our area, then from there it goes on to state if she wins the county.
I'm so very proud of her for the heart she has for kids!
And thank you to Kristen, Lisa, and Kim for allowing Kayleigh to photograph your beautiful children!
You know your family loves you when they dig out Christmas stuff from the attic and help you decorate two weeks BEFORE Thanksgiving! After church Sunday we got started and the kids friend, Alexis, even came to help!
Mike took his "spot" handing out ornaments after the tree was up...
Paige was entertained for quite some time with bubble wrap... Kayleigh liked the shiny sparkly things! 
Devin helped too, but he ran from the camera all day!
Then, it was Chase's turn to put the angel on top. But - that posed a problem... how does a kid with a broken leg get up high enough without breaking the other leg? Well... like this...
And how does he get down? How about like this...
In the end we had a great day and the tree looks fantabulous! Don't you agree?
Remember my "Go God!" post from last year? Well, tonight was the 2009 Ladies Banquet, and again, I was blessed to be able to go with 3 of my coworkers; Jalaine, Tricia, and Beth. The speaker, Alice Kemp DeWitt, was fantastic!
Alice spoke about stress... Let me start by saying this lady has been through more than I could EVER possibly imagine! Her marriage of 20 years ended, after that her son died in an accident going to buy diapers for his 3 day old daughter, she was beaten and raped after a church event, got remarried to a man that was a fake and had her buried in debt after she signed her name to the dotted line, the list goes on and on.
She started by telling us all to remember that Stressed is nothing more than Desserts spelled backwards... so when we are stressed we must ALWAYS look for the dessert we get in the end!
So... how do we deal with stress?
Well, 10% of our life is what happens to us... the other 90% is how we react to what happens to us! Makes sense, doesn't it?
Think about it a minute....
There are 24 hours in a day, right? Well, my morning at work yesterday consisted of a 2 hour meeting with my boss that I was not real thrilled with AT ALL! She left, and I was STRESSED! The rest of the day I was miserable and was determined that nothing was going to make my day better. That 2 hour meeting... that 10% of my day made the other 90% of my day just awful!
So - how do we fix it? Four simple steps.... and I do mean SIMPLE!
1) Motivation
You have to WANT to make it better!
Quit blaming others for where you are in your life that's causing you stress!
Get motivated and GO where you want to GO!
2) Humor!
Laughter is God's natural healing gift to us!
Laughter is NEVER unfaithful and always makes you feel better
Besides, she says that when you hold in laughter the air you would let out laughing goes to your belly and makes it bigger! You are MUCH prettier with that smile on your face than that extra air in your belly!
3) Tears
Tears are God's way of eliminating all that stress!
When you see a man crying, you are seeing a very strong man!
Did you know that females living longer than men is actually attributed to CRYING!
4) Communication
No complaining, no belly aching
50% of those you complain to don't really care!
The other 50%.... they think you deserve your troubles when all you do is complain
Honest, open communication will keep stress of holding it in and hiding things away
So - during these stressful times, remember that our Lord is ALWAYS with us!! Our life is always worth living. Trust in HIM because there is ALWAYS dessert in the end when we do... that dessert... our Salvation in Heaven!
Want to know why she says even after all she's been through? She says she's to blessed to be stressed!
That marriage that ended abruptly after 20 years? Her dessert was her children that love her and care for her each and every day.
Losing a son in a tragic accident? Her dessert was that 3 day old baby granddaughter that she has been able to watch and grow and tell stories about her son to.
Being beaten and raped? Her dessert is all the young rape victims she's able to counsel and pray with that stand up strong and are able to face their attackers.
The financial ruin she experienced at the hands of her 2nd marriage? Her dessert is a closeness to her daughter like she could never imagine after they moved in together while she rebuilt her life.
Remember... we get caught up in the stress of every day life and material things that don't matter. We really are "Too Blessed to Be Stressed!"
A while ago, I posted here about Kayleigh entering a Reflections Project contest entitled 'Beauty Is'. She chose to photograph 3 children from our church who have Down Syndrome, seeing the beauty in them beyond their diagnosis. This photograph collage is what she submitted for the project.
Well.... we are so very proud to announce that SHE WON! We'll be attending an awards banquet Monday night where she will be presented with her award and certificate. From here it will go to the county level, and then if she wins, on to state.
Kayleigh, we are very very proud of you and of your love for these little miracles!
And also congratulations to Ava, Ethan, and Ryan!!! Your captivating smiles and personalities are truly what Beauty Is!!!
Mike and I had the opportunity to met Elijah Daniel and his parents, Dan and Megan, last February. He's the cutest!!
Anyhow - he's having a heart cath tomorrow morning to see how his heart is functioning since his last open heart surgery, and to see when he may need his next open heart surgery.
Please keep this little man in your prayers tomorrow, as well as his parents.
Paige Olivia
Happy Birthday Sweet Paige!
Paige Olivia
Chase got hurt last period of the day yesterday in PE playing football. A kid grabbed Chase's ankle as they were going down and it "popped". The teacher packed it in ice and sent him home on the bus telling the bus driver to take Chase to our driveway... normally he has 1/2 mile walk. Get this - NO ONE CALLED US! Chase hopped in the house sobbing! Made some phone calls to docs and decided to wait to see ortho today - was fairly certain that it wasn't broke, just sprained badly. This morning - called the school to complain only to find out the teacher didn't even report it to the office!!! The principal called me back apologizing over and over again assuring me that "corrective action would be taken with the teacher" because their policy is to not send a child home with an injury. Took Chase to ortho at 3pm... I was wrong... IT'S BROKE IN THE GROWTH PLATE!!!!! So - he's now sporting a lovely blue cast and is quite proud of it!!
We weren't home 10 minutes and heard a bloody scream from the bathroom... Paige slammed her thumb in the door and yep... IT'S BROKE!
So... I just popped a Woodchuck Amber Cider to chill out for the night! Though I've been told I better be careful how much I drink... might have to take someone else to the ER at the rate we're going!!!
I married my high-school sweetheart...
Looks like we have another wedding to attend next spring.. On June 19th, Mike's step-brother Ryan will be marrying Hillary! She spent Saturday with us and the kids got to know her pretty quickly! Especially the younger 2 girls, Paige and Anna.
Welcome to the family, Hillary!
Hillary with her soon to be nieces: Anna, Paige, and Kayleigh