2/15/09
Lest I forget...
1/22/09
My Girl Right Now
She currently has a cold and a hurt arm. We aren't sure how she hurt her arm but she has had two sets of xrays and blood drawn and a trip to the Orthopedic Doctor now. He thinks it is more than likely a hairline fracture that can't be seen on xrays right now. There is a possibility that its an infection in her arm and we have to keep a close watch on her fever to make sure it doesn't spike. If it does we immediately have to take her to the ER. But we are banking on the hairline fracture and praying its not an infection. And are fairly confident that is the case.
She continues to love Pre-School. She is picking up on some academics (like letters and numbers) but mainly enjoys the reading and hands on projects and of course socializing. She calls her teacher (Ms. Jenine) Ms. Jejean which I think is adorable.
She likes to watch Josh and Drake and Icarly. She is definitely 3 going on 13.
She continues to randomly say she loves us out of the blue and asks all the time, "Mommy, can I tell you something?" Which of course she can.
She is a keeper of Justice. I wonder if being a judge is in her future. This afternoon at my friend's house (who keeps her a couple days a week) she observed my friend having a "discussion" with her 16 year old son. My friend was informing her son that he would be helping out at a homeless shelter on Saturday evening with her. As you can imagine, the son was not so happy about this. He went to his room. Spirit asked my friend if she could go talk to him. My friend made sure she knocked on the door. When the Son let her in, Spirit informed him, "You need to obey your Mom." Which I'm sure made him even happier lol.
Oh and she is going to be a big sister and she can't wait. It won't be until Early September but she talks about it all the time. So that's a mini overview. I'm tired and going to bed!
12/27/08
Christmas Morning Videos
12/16/08
Dear Santa
Dear Santa Claus,
I want a toy. Please, please, please bring me a toy. Why don't you bring me a toy? I need a toy. I am three. I want a toy. I want a cookie maker. Please bring me a toy.
Love,
Braxtyn
12/6/08
Another funny One Liner
Ok, ok Mommy, let's Talk
Someone told me the other day that she has the strongest will of any child they have ever met. Which I laughed off and thought well they don't even work with children. But then I forgot, oh, they did for about 10 years at a dance studio they owned. :) Don't worry folks. I take that as a complement. Because while it may or may not be true, (the est part at the end of strong, I have no doubt she has a strong will), God has an amazing plan for her life that some more compliant type personalities would not be able to complete. I can't wait to see what he has in store!
11/30/08
Natalie and Nick are Home
11/7/08
3 year old Check up, 5 months late
She weighs 34 1/2 lbs and is 39 1/2 inches tall. 75th% for both. Which is a far cry from her 5th% weight and 75% height when she was born. She is wearing a 4T but I noticed those jeans are getting to be a bit on the high water side today. Long legs and torso I guess. Her shirts are always too short too. They fit her everywhere else but then have trouble meeting her belt line.
She was so good at the Doctor. She got through their eye exam which they said most 3 year old cannot do because they don't get how to follow the instructions. She told the doctor some numbers on the paper and answered her questions. She kept laying down on the table for the doctor and pulling up her pant legs to show her booboos I guess, I'm really not sure. It was pretty cute though.
Let's see, what else is she doing these days... My friend Lyric who keeps her 2 days a week says that she is starting to negotiate with her. B that is. B will make Lyric a proposal to get what she wants. For example, B told Lyric that she would use her manners and be nice if Lyric would buy her something at the store. She tried this with me the other day but I wasn't really listening to her and forgot about it until Lyric told me her story. She was negotiating for some candy. Perhaps politics are in her future. :)
She loves preschool and has her favorite friend Noah. He adores B and that is pretty much who she plays with as far as she reports.
She has adjusted to me working full time. And as much as I hate it, I think the stress of taking care of money matters going away has made that part of all our lives easier.
She is fiercely independent and enjoys spending the night with grandparents and her beloved Courtney. At the same time she has become quite the Daddy's girl. They are best buds nowadays and she looks forward to every minute she gets to spend with him.
Spirit is very empathetic and will ask out of the blue how my day at work was or if I'm feeling ok. She remembers if someone has been sick and asks about how they are doing. She understands apologies and a bit about forgiveness and is very sad when she messes up and knows she is in trouble.
Her love of reading continues to flourish. She makes up stories with me verbally and can be quite creative. She likes such a variety of books. I was trying to think of her favorites but she really picks different ones all the time.
She loves to dress up in costumes and has recently gotten into taking care of her baby dolls and doing a lot of role playing. She switches items in her bed each night that she sleeps with. And always wants a book with her as well.
She continues to be her Spirited self and is oh so strong willed. We just keep praying for it to be channeled in the right direction and for wisdom to know how to parent her. We are often weary at the end of the day with our busy lives and busy busy girl who challenges us every step of the way (or at least every other) but we are ALWAYS thankful for the opportunity to love this little gift from God and are thankful for our healthy, happy family. Sorry for a post without pics! I will get some on soon!
9/18/08
3:40PM Sunday-3:40AM Thursday
9/7/08
9/2/08
The Best is Yet to Come
She reports that she read a book about a raccon with her teacher. There was a boy she really likes but doesn't know his name. They worked on making a necklace together. She fed some birds and colored a picture with clouds in it. They ate cheerios for snack. I would love to compare with her teacher as to what the day actually looked like. :)
And my final paragraph brings me to my second meaning behind my title. I have the cutest pictures of her with her huge Dora backpack and cute outfit that she picked out and her beautiful curls. But they are on my camera. Because my camera cords to hook up to my computer are missing. I'm pretty sure my husband who has been Mr. Mom and helping with lots of housework lately since I've gone back to work full time put them somewhere. And I could get mad at him but I misplace stuff too when I'm cleaning so I guess I have to give him a break. Sorry, the best is yet to come with this entry because the pictures are so much more fun than the paragraphs! Hopefully I will get them on here soon!
8/22/08
Please Pray!
Dearest Prayer Warriors and Jericho Marchers,
Today was the first time in the surgery waiting room where after Dr. Kosnik came out to talk to us we all just sat numb and speechless.
Basically, they didn't do the hip surgery today. The orthopedic surgeon here did not feel that he could place a pin in Nick's hip and wants to talk to us about it later. (They didn't even make an incision to try, so Nick won't have any recovery in that area at this time.)
Dr. Kosnik removed us much of the cancer in Nick's brain as he could, but he gave us the impression that there was quite a bit he could not get to. Because of this, he did not put in the chemo wafer. He said he didn't want to make Nick any sicker than necessary. He also said that he left one bone of Nick's skull loose to help with pressure from the tumor.
We are at a place in this journey that we have never been before. A place of fear and uncertainty incomparable to any we have ever felt.
Yet, with this reality we are also very aware that just as in every other situation along the way, GOD IS NOT SURPRISED AT OUR NEWS.
Somehow, He has already gone before us smoothing ways we don't even yet know that we will walk.
He promises that His mercies are new every morning.
He promises to never leave us or forsake us.
He promises perfect peace to those who trust in Him.
So, as we wait to see Nick in recovery, we will hold our heads high knowing that we have a Great Physician who will lead us to a Rock that is Higher than any place this hospital can take us. He will lift us from the slimy pit, set our feet on a rock, and give us a firm place to stand. He will put a new song in our mouths, a hymn of praise to our Lord!
And as the Psalm continues, "Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord!"
We love you all.
We thank you for every prayer.
Keep marching!
Every night!
Remember to check around in Grayson for the final days marching time. It is either 2:30 in the afternoon or 8 at night. I'm not sure.
Oh, we love you all so much.
Turn to God for us. Not with complaints, but with praise for He has a beautiful plan! We are going to keep taking one more step and one more step so that we can walk from strength to strength!
Pray for Nick's speedy recovery and for his spirit.
You are our messengers to the throne.
Please keep pleading on Nick's behalf!
Love, tammy and tim
8/18/08
My Family Specializes in Cute Girls
8/17/08
Here comes trouble!
Barely mobile and into everything.
This spilt milk was because of Ms. Wiggles at the table.
No "trouble" here. Just my silly girl dressing herself up.
This is the kind of rolling eyes face we get that could only have come from spending 9 months in a girls group home with us and 10 teen girls. I didn't fully capture it here but you get the idea. She brings this out when she knows she is in trouble but not serious trouble. Serious trouble immediately results in tears from her. :)
And this, well this is her cute adorable face that helps her weasel out of trouble at times. I can't believe that was taken almost a year ago! Where does the time go?
Here's some fun posts on Spirit's best trouble days--aww, it was fun looking through them. She is such a pill!!!...
http://lifewithspirit.blogspot.com/2008/02/and-it-begins.html
http://lifewithspirit.blogspot.com/2008/03/day-in-life-of-spirit.html
http://lifewithspirit.blogspot.com/2008/03/hair-spray-inspired-pigtails.html
http://lifewithspirit.blogspot.com/2008/03/take-deep-breath-everyone-just-take.html