The BIG 10!!!!

I can not believe my baby girl is TEN!!! 

Started the morning off with Donuts!!! She was still half asleep :) 

I am so proud of the little lady Hailey has become.  She is so sweet, and caring, and loves God, her family and friends. She is smart/ wise beyond her years.   I am amazed at the things she says and comes up with.  I think I am learning more from her than she is me. I think we have it a little backwards.
She is artistic.  She loves to design things.  Hailey and 3 of her friends created a website and are making and selling hair bows. In February, all the money they earned went to the american heart association.
She is always trying out for new things at school, and even if she doesn't win, she just trys again the next time. She has been in the talent show 2 times, spelling bee twice, cupstacking team 2 times, art club, patriot patrol, Gifted and Talented Program, 2 Parts in the Nutcracker, Volleyball, and so much more. She is so busy.  I am proud of her for all she does.

She has her own style of clothing.  I can no longer pick anything out for her.  Here are some of her favorites for this year.
* Tylers shirt
* Athletic shorts
* converse high top sneakers
* colorful shoe laces
* Under armor Hoodie
* Miss Me Jeans (we have not officially gotten these, but she is about to be surprised soon)
* Justice - but she is VERY picky!!

Hailey is very dependable and honest. Which I love so much about her. She has been through so much in her life that just isn't fair and she always just puts on a smile, or lets it pass. Gotta love her.

I still can not believe it has been 10 years since the day she was born.  I am looking forward to the next ten, and all that God has in store.  I just wish it would go a little slower :)

We love you Hailey Dawn!!!

Happy 2nd Birthday Liam!!

My Little Man ready to go to his PARTY!   Elmo and "Mimi" (blanket) in hand. You can't go anywhere without these special items :)

For months in my heart I knew I really wanted to be able to have a party for Liam and invite his mom and family to come. I also knew it was a long shot on whether I would be able to get the permission from Christ Haven, but I wanted to try. I talked to Jaimee and Derek and sure enough they believed it would be ok.   We wanted to make sure that Amber felt welcomed at the party so we only invited a few close friends from church.  Didn't want any of the accidental conversations that although were meant respectfully, come off offensive.    Liams family can not know where we live, so we had to plan a party at a different location. We chose Lets Jump because it is something all the kids can do and have fun!!   Liam picked Mickey Mouse for his birthday theme. He loves "Mi Mow"!!

    Liam and his friend Cason - I think Cason was scared we would take his Lightning Mcqueen

He decided to go down the stairs instead of up. Ha!!

The cake- turned out pretty cute!! Wasn't sure what to expect.  I LOVE it though!! And Liam LOVED it, so that is all that matters!

Liam and his Mommy!  As much as I want to hold this name in my heart only for me, THIS is Liams mommy, and HE knows that.  He calls both of us Mommy! :)  I am thankful he knows who she is, and feels safe and secure with her.  That is not always the case with foster children.

So glad Amber was able to come to his party!! Hope to have many more occasions to have all of us together.

Happy Birthday Liam!! We love you to the moon and back!

Sleepovers/Playdates

January 25, 2013

The girls both invited a friend over to spend the night, and Hayden had his buddy over for a playdate.  Between Just dance, makeup, painting nails, crafts, and of course iPods I would say the girls had a lot of fun!!!

The boys spent the evening outside...playing pirates, and trains, and I honestly do not know what all. They had fun. They came in for awhile and played on the DS and then headed back outside.

Dinner choice of kids:  Spaghetti, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Chips, Carrots, fruit and cookies

January 2013

So, ANOTHER year has flown by, and I am so behind on my blog, I know.  Our life has been so busy with so many curves along the way.  We have been truly blessed, but my blogging for our own personal memories is suffering. I am going to start at the beginning of 2013  and see what I can remember and get caught up to date atleast for this year. HA! Then hopefully be able to back track and remember stuff from the previous year and a half. Oh my!!! We will see how this goes.

The kids started back to school on January 3rd.  They were all super excited! Hailey got a bike lock for Christmas and we finally felt comfortable enough to let her ride her bike to school by herself on Friday. We took a few practice rides the day before and I drove SLOWLY WAY behind her when she went. It was more because I still had to take Hannah to school then me being worried.  Hailey felt so big and was so excited. She rode like a pro and was super careful at every crossing and looking for cars. She locked up her bike and walked into class with a big smile on her face.

Hailey tried out for the spelling bee for the second year in a roll and made the team, AGAIN!!  Her spelling bee was on January 8th and she did really good. Didn't win, but we are super proud of her for trying and making the team!!! Way to go Hays!!! We love you!!

Hailey has been having Talent show practices in the mornings once a week before school, ad cupstacking team practice once a week after school.  She stays super busy.  She also starts Art Club after school on Wednesdays on January 16th.

We finally were able to get Hannahs wart/lesion removed off her neck on January 11th. Thankfully is was benign and hoping it doesnt return.  She really had a tough time with that thing. Sadly kids are not very nice even at 7 :(

I had my follow up MS appointment on January 14th.  The medicine that was suppose to be available in January was delayed until March. Hoping it really does become available because I really need to get back on treatment.  My doctor wanted me to start another treatment in the mean time, but I tested positive for a virus that makes the immune suppressant therapies more risky.  One risk being a brain infection that can kill you, or cardiac arrest. WHAT??? Do you think I am taking my chances on that? NOPE.  I am waiting it out until March. If I was in a more advanced stage of MS and having trouble walking, swallowing, etc, then maybe I would take the chance. But, I am not there right now.  So, praying medicine becomes available soon and I can get started.   We are also hoping to move to cooler climate one of these days. That will greatly improve my relapses as well.  We shall see where GOD leads us, and IF he leads us somewhere else.

January 17th was the BPE Talent Show! Hailey, her friend Baylee Spraggins and her little sister Emily Ann danced and sang to the song No Compromise by CPAC Unity.  They did a really good job.  We were proud of them!

Hailey had her 10th birthday party on January 19th at Laser Quest.  She had a great time. They got to play two games.  I played the second game with them, and it was fun watching the girls.
Hailey chose a cookie cake and cookies and cream ice cream, lemonade and water for drinks!! She had black and white zebra stripe and purple for her plates, napkins, etc.
Madison Flynt and Baylee Spraggins both rode with us to the party. We were running late, due to an incidence with Miss Hannah, so we stopped at Sonic (girls choice)  for a quick dinner.  Then headed over to Laser Quest.
Hailey was so excited about her gifts this year. She got lots of gift cards to Justice, Claires, iTunes, and Target.  She also got a Tylers Shirt, converse high top shoes,  Justice athletic outfit (Jacket, capris and tank top), Justice plaid shirt, Under armor sweat shirt, and so much more.
We went on a birthday shopping trip one night with her birthday money. She was so much fun to watch shop.  She bought an wallet/ iPod case, ipod button stickers, 2 Justice Shirts, shoestrings, Justice bag, Just Dance 4 Wii game and I think a few other items.  She only had $70. I think she did pretty good. :)

                                   
                                                               The party Crew!

                                   
                                             Morgan and Mariah, Hailey, and Madelynn

January 21:  Hailey had an ortho appt today. They said she needs to get her two loose teeth out, and the next time she is in they will plan a date to get the braces off. Yah!!!!!

January 23: Guess Who is TWO today??!!  

We celebrated with M&Ms at 9 in the morning! Ha!!! That is what he wanted.  

 BLESSED BLESSED BLESSED is all I can say!!  I LOVE this little boy!!  He is such a joy! He is always smiling and so happy.  He calls us Mommy, Daddy, Sissy (hailey), Hannah, and Bubba (Hayden), although he now can say Hayden.  He loves his Mimi (blanket) and carries it EVERYWHERE. Sometimes he carries more than one.  He sleeps with about  6 stuff animals at night. Most of them being monkeys, an elmo, and a puppy (sandy). He is very athletic. Can jump with both feet really high and far and off of anything without falling.  He loves baseball, soccer, football, and even tries to play volleyball with the girls. He likes to play "fight" with Hayden. You better watch out because if he hits you it WILL hurt.   You can talk, let me tell you. You repeat EVERYTHING we say.  You like to pray and you put your hands together and "pray". It is so cute. At night, you have to give hugs and kisses to EVERYONE, and then mommy prays with you, and then you pray. You put your little hands together and start yelling, "MOMMY, MOMMY, MOOOOOMMMMMMY!!" You are lifting your head up and shaking it as you pray. You are like a little evangelist.  It is the cutest and funniest thing ever. I guess you are praying for mommy since she just prayed for you. :)  And, obviously I need LOTS of prayer. HEHE
You love to go to school... once you get there. You love to color and all the fun things you get to do. You have cute little friends, and you tell them goodbye each day when I pick you up. You love to play with blocks, your kitchen, and work bench.  You can really turn a room into a tornado QUICK!!  I could go on and on, sweet boy!!! WE LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK!!!   Happy 2nd Birthday!!!

Liams 2 year well check.  You weigh 30 pds 4 oz and 33 inches long.  You are getting SO big!

Hospital

October 2, 2012

After all the craziness with the steroid side effects...

I was admitted to Zale Lipshy Hospital in Dallas around 3 pm.  We waited all day Thursday and Friday waiting for a room to open up.  We finally thought we were going to have to wait until Monday, or be admitted through the ER at St Paul and then transfer to Zale Lipshy once there was an opening.  But, after phone call after phone call by my amazing husband, we FINALLY got a call saying a room just opened.

After getting settled in the room,  meeting the Neurologist on call, and a plethura of Neuro tests and evaluations, it was time to start my I.V.
As usual, my veins were not cooperating. They stuck me 4 times and then decided to wait and let the night shift/manager handle it.  They were able to atleast get blood for the lab for the tests they needed to run.  Around 7 ish the night shift came in, and she tried once to get an iv started.  No luck, so the manager came in later on and with one easy stick was able to get a really good line going. Thank you Jesus!!!

The whole night, I had doctors after doctors coming in and doing evaluations, and checking my vitals, giving me IV meds, and what not  It was insane.   We met the whole Neuro team and the student team. Very interesting to be at a teaching hospital, yet rewarding. The Doctors have to be at the top of their game and you know you are getting a very thorough Evaluation/ treatment. Shane stayed at the hospital with me until really late. He wanted to stay the night, but I sent him home to make sure everything was good with my parents and the kids.

Mom took the girls to their busy Nutcracker Rehearsals and dad stayed home with the boys! He bathed them, fed them, and even had them in bed by the time mom got home with the girls at 8:30-9:00. Pretty nice, huh?  I got great parents. :)

Nurses and all the staff here are AMAZING!!!!  Friendly, helpful, sweet, and on top of their game. Plain and simple... AWESOME!!

Liam October 2012

My baby is 21 mths old. I can not believe how fast the little guy is growing up. He has such a funny personality. He is always happy and smiling.   He is finally really starting to talk.  He was doing really well, and then took a 5 mth hiatas :)
Some of his new words in the past few weeks:

Bible
Bubbles
Uh oh!
Oh No!
No!
Dada (already could say it, but now says it all the time and to Shane)
Ice
Slide
Yellow
Baby
Doggy
cookie
cracker
sucker
Meme (blanket)
Papa
Mimi
Dirty
pee pee
poo poo

There is so many more, but I can not think off the top of my head.  

You are obsessed with baseball. You actually can hit the ball when thrown to you.  You have several bats, balls, batting helmet. Your favorite is a short, red bat that Carolyn gave you, and a small basketball. When we throw it to you, you swing your bat and hit maybe 15 % of the time. It is really cool. I still havent caught it on video, but we are so proud of you. You are proud too, and get really excited.   I think you would play baseball all day if we let you. You are always carrying your bat and ball.  You have a ball pit that you love to play in as well. It is a messy toy, but you love it, so it is worth it.

You also love to watch Yo Gabba Gabba!! It is your favorite tv show. You sit quietly and watch it and jump up at times and dance.  It is cute!!

You LOVE hats!!! You want to wear them ALL the time. One day, you put one on before we went to school, and you would not take it off. You wore it to class and kept it on all day! They said you even slept in it. HA!!

You are having better days at school. You are finally adjusting to being away from Mommy. It is a nice little break, but I admit, I sure do miss your smile, and laughter.  You have two sweet teachers.. Ms.Shannon and Ms. Leslie. They are both really good with trying to divert your attention.  You sleep like a big boy on your nap mat.  It is so cute to walk into the room and see you and your little friends snuggled up on your mats. Precious!!
Next week is Costume parade at school. I am looking forward to dressing you and Hayden up and seeing you guys march around!

You can climb to the top of the big slide structures Papa built. It always makes me nervous, but you do such a good job.  You sometimes even get to the top of the wavy slide and hang from it like a monkey. You are so strong. It is crazy.

You love your puppy, Sandy. She likes to give you kisses, and you just laugh and giggle.  You are getting much better at petting her instead of swatting her.

We go on alot of bike rides and you always enjoy sitting back behind mommy. You are not crazy about the bike stroller, but I think you will get use to it the more we use it.  It was a bit bouncy the other day when daddy took you on an adventure with the big kids.

You wake up every morning, ready to see EVERYONES faces. You look eagerly around wanting to see everyone. You also are ready to eat breakfast (yum yum) first thing.  Little Piggy!

You let us know when you have a dirty diaper.  You either say, dirty, pee pee, or poo poo.  When you toot, you think you went potty, and say "dirty". It is cute!! I probably need to start potty training with you, but I think we will wait until after the holidays. Too much going on.

Your birth mommy is doing well. She finished school and is looking for a job so she can make a home for you guys. She loves you, and has really shown more devotion lately.  

Anyways, my little love. I am so thankful to have you in my life. You are so special, and have been such a blessing over the past 21 mths.  Looking forward to more special memories with you.

Love, Mommy Misty

October 2012

October has been a very interesting month for us.  The kids and I spent two weeks sick while Shane was out of town. Mom came up to help me out so I could get some rest.   In two weeks, we went to the doctor 8 times with diagnoses as strained knee/thigh from ballet, Pneumonia, anemia,  severe bronchitis, croup,  and sprained/strained elbow (Shane took kids skating- hayden fell back on his arm).  The first two trips resulted in being sent home saying they were both okay.  Two days later, we made a trip to Care Now with Pneumonia. I was a bit irritated with our pediatrician to say the least.   Hannah was having head pain/tingling for a few days, then woke up one morning and stood up from breakfast and almost fell. I said, "Are you ok Hannah?" She was zoned out and I finally got her to respond to me. She said her thigh hurt and was tingling. If I took the pressure off her leg she felt better, but as soon as I made her put weight on it she would almost fall and said it hurt. This went on for 3 1/2 hours before we were able to get into the doctor.  
I also went to my MS Specialists 3 times.  Two Regular appts and an MRI.  Found out my MRI was not very good, and had many new lesions, which are contributing to my congnitive issues and other symptoms.  A new MS therapy BG12 will be approved in December and able to be prescribed in January. This is the new route my Specialists wants to take. I was also diagnosed with a Virus that lives in your system that anyone can get. It is not an issue for "healthy" people, but for someone with MS is can be serious. I can not go on an immunosuppressant therapy long term due the fact that the virus can make me really sick. So, my therapy options are limited.   I was put on a high potency oral steroid to keep my body from having new relapses/lesions until I can get on my new therapy in January.  It started out well, but didnt have a taper, so my body went into shock. Been really sick this week with some terrible symptoms. I have now started my 14 day taper and hoping to start feeling better soon so I can enjoy my life and my family. I hate feeling sick and zoned.  Lets just say 3 1/2 weeks of October have been almost wasted.  I had so many fun things I "wanted" to do with the kids. I guess some of it will just have to be done  in November, right?   I am also on 10,000 Ui of D3. My Vitamin D levels were normal for a "healthy" person, but or someone with MS they were considered low. So, I am taking a good deal of Vitamin D.  I am a walking pharmacy :)

On a different note... Hailey tried out for the Spelling Bee again this year, and made the team. They will be competing sometime in January.  She is excited. She didn't think she did very well.

The Fourth graders went to Camp Carter on Tuesday 10-23, and had a great time. They didn't get back until about 6:40 pm. Hailey was really excited and had some fun stories to share.  Looking forward to seeing the pictures one of her friends mom took of them.  They played games, archery, nature hikes, and all kinds of outdoor fun!

Our weekends have been crazy busy with Nutcracker Rehearsals from 9-1:30 on Saturdays and Baseball games in between.  We haven't been doing too much other than that. Just trying to spend some family time in between riding bikes and stuff.  

Last weekend, we went to Avery Minters 7th Birthday Party. The kids had a great time with their buddies. It was a movie party, so they danced, ate popcorn, watched a movie, had pizza, cupcakes and just played. It was fun!!  Sunday, I was sick from my steroid meds, but Shane took the kids to church, Averys Baptism,  Baptism Lunch at Burger King and then Hannahs friend (Hannah Johnson) ice skating party. I will say they had a VERY busy Sunday!!  I am thankful for such an amazing Husband.

Monday  morning 10-22, I went the the dentist to get two temporary crowns and Shane took Hayden to Care Now. He was complaining of his chest hurting. He doesn't have pneumonia, but it is a little cloudy.  He did have strep though.  See, I said we cant catch a break this October!!

This weekend is going to be all about Birthday parties and hopefully getting our pumpkins carved.  Love this time of year!!!

Okay, I think I updated our month so far. I am sure I missed some stuff, but I have brain fog. I can barely walk from one side of the room to the other and remember what I was doing. Ha!!!