Happy Birthday, Fletcher...

Today Fletcher Samuel Burns is four years old! I can hardly believe it! Maddie and I took some birthday balloons to him this morning and we went to school with him. Fletcher had a party with his classmates. He was a toot for most of it but that's our boy! If you ask him how old he is he can hold up four fingers! This is so exciting since he wasn't able to do one, two or three. I was able to get it on video today you might have to look closely but he's holding up four fingers on his right hand! Craig is also convinced Fletcher completely rolled onto his tummy last night! Exciting things are happening with that boy! I'm sure he'll be sitting up in 2009! What freedom he would experience if were able to sit up and see what's happening in his unit! Fletcher is very nosy and wants to know what's happening. I tease him and call him a future Wal-Mart greeter! He waves and kisses at everyone who comes in the door. Sometimes they don't see him greeting them but if he were sitting up? Watch out TCC! We're going to bring Fletcher home on Saturday to celebrate his birthday. This year the theme is balls. He doesn't watch TV so he doesn't have any shows that are his favorites so I decided to go with something that he loves and that's balls! If you're out and about on Saturday between 3 and 5 stop by and see the boy!

Our time at home with Fletcher over Christmas was very different this year. It wasn't bad, it was 'off'. If that makes any sense. We had problems with not having all of his medication and we ended up not having enough of his formula to last the entire time so we had to take him back early. That kid did NOT sleep either. So he was a bit of a crabby patty for his time at home. Maddie started running a fever late Christmas eve so we were trying to keep her away from Fletcher. Kayleigh was the only one that Fletcher really enjoyed being with. The two of them spent a good bit of time together which did my heart good! I always pray that my children will be close and I love seeing the fruit of that prayer. The kids made out like bandits gift wise! Let's just say Craig and I did our part to help the economy! Kayleigh got an ipod touch and Maddie got way too much including a Nintendo DS and Fletcher got a really cool switch activated singing and dancing Spiderman. Craig got an autographed football by Josh Heupel, that was huge hit! And I got a flat screen TV for our bedroom! Pretty nice!

Maddie and her Christmas eve ornament

Kayleigh and her Christmas eve ornament

Me helping Fletcher open presents

Craig and the football

Poor, sick Maddie!

(BTW she's much better now!)

Please pray...

My friend Rachel's daughter, Lola is in the PICU right now. Lola is 4 weeks old. She has pnemonia and is on a ventilator. She's very sick and needs prayer. Please join with me in praying for this precious baby.

Traditions...

Traditions...I am a traditional person at heart. I just love when things happen for a reason, when there's meaning behind what you're doing. This is my 100th post of 2008. So I thought it would be fun to post about my family's Christmas traditions. I love Christmas and all the hoopla that goes with it I believe things are what you make them. I want my kids to remember their family traditions and pass them down and to make new ones with their children. One of my favorite memories as a child were these candy canes we had. They were sparkly, styrofoam candy canes. There were seven of them, one for each of us kids. Well, we always put them on the tree as we decorated it. When we would wake up on Christmas morning those candy canes would somehow become 'real' ones! I wish my mom still had those magic candy canes but they fell apart after all those years of working! On Maddie's first Christmas I started the candy cane tradition here in our home. We have also carried on the tradition of opening one present on Christmas Eve. My parents would let us pick any present and open it. Well, instead of opening any present they open the present I choose and that's always a Christmas ornament! Kayleigh has of course caught on to the whole ornament thing, but Maddie hasn't yet! Every year I buy the kids one Christmas ornament I keep them in a box and plan to give them the box when they are out on their own. I stole this tradition from my best friend Laura. Another thing that happens on Christmas Eve is that Craig reads a Christmas story to us. And he always wears his Mr. Rogers Izod cardigan! We always tease him about that silly cardigan but secretly we love it! The girls and I also bake a birthday cake for Jesus every year. This is my attempt and opportunity to talk about the true meaning of Christmas. It's one of my favorites! Several years ago I bought new stocking for all of us and they were red, green and white so at that time I decided I would make those our family Christmas colors. I choose three different rolls of wrapping paper in the red, green and white family, of course. Only red, green and white bows. You get the picture. Now, I just can't bring myself to have a themed Christmas tree because I love the plethora of different ornaments we have collected over the years. We always had a real tree growing up and after I married Craig we had a real tree for two years then I decided I wanted a fake tree. My sisters would tease me and say that our daddy would roll over in his grave if he knew I had a fake tree. Let me tell you fake trees have come a long way since I was a kid. And a pre-lit tree? Seriously is there anything better? I love my pre-lit tree! When Kayleigh was young Craig would place her on his shoulders and she would place a star or an angel on the top. I like a star, Craig and Kayleigh like an angel so we alternate each year with the angel and star. Two years ago Maddie was old enough to go on daddy's shoulders and place the topper on the tree. December 1st I get out my Spode Christmas china and we use it every night until Christmas is over. Speaking of Spode, every year Craig buys me the annual Spode Christmas plate. Love it! For the last two years and we'll do it this year and every year until it can be different we bring Fletcher home on Christmas Eve and he stays the night and wakes up with his sisters on Christmas morning. The first year we brought him home for Christmas Eve it was such a big deal and we were on the local news! What a great way to start a new tradition with the media! :) We also have a Christmas party each year for the grandkids on my side of the family. They draw names and buy gifts for that name and then we have a big party. For the last three years we've had it in a break room at TCC so Fletcher can be a part of the fun with all of his cousins. One more new tradition, if that's what you want to call it, my dear friend Amy rounds up a bunch of girls and they come and carol Fletcher Burns at TCC! Last Sunday night, much to my surprise I heard these beautiful voices coming down the hall singing Christmas carols. Oh my it was lovely and just made me cry to think that these girls who I love dearly would take time away from their families and bless me and my sweet Fletcher! Well, there's the traditions I can remember off the top of my head. I hope you will treasure your traditions and even make some new ones this year. Be blessed and be a blessing this Christmas!

Maddie and daddy topping the tree

Kayleigh and Maddie's birthday cake for Jesus

Kim and Fletcher at the Milgrim family Christmas party

Me and my niece Kate at the party

Maddie at the party

Gabe at the party

The carolers!

Oh so sad...

*Edit Craig fixed my camera so here's the video*

Today Fletcher performed in his annual Treble Makers Christmas concert. It was the cutest thing EVER! He completely stole the show. They combined his little group with another group, some of them playing drums and Fletcher had a 'solo' with his voice output switch. It went a little something like this...Fletcher's music therapist sang 'Mele Kalikimaka' and Fletcher hit his switch perfectly each time she was supposed to say 'to you'. Fletcher's speech therapist recorded 'to you' into his voice output switch for him. He was amazing today! Fletcher wore a cute Hawaiian shirt, shorts, sandals and his favorite visor. Precious! I videoed it, of course and when I came home tonight, excited to show all of you this priceless performance my camera wouldn't let me upload the pictures or the video!!!! I'm hoping my computer genius husband can figure something out with my camera. So, until then you'll just have to imagine just how cute Fletcher Burns was today!







Maddie Burns has had four Christmas parties this week! Kayleigh was exempt from all of her semester test today except one. So I picked her up at noon and she ran errands with me and also helped with Maddie's Christmas party this afternoon. Maddie was so proud to have her big sister at her party! All of her little friends have heard all about Kayleigh, I'm sure. Kayleigh told me today several of the kids would just come up and hug her. Kayleigh and I thought that was sweet. But I am glad all the parties are over! I have finished my Christmas shopping and it's all wrapped and under the tree. I'm determined to enjoy the next five days and hopefully reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. I love Christmas but in all honesty I get caught up in all the hype. I want my children to realize and appreciate the true gift the Lord has given us...His Son.



We'll bring Fletcher home on Christmas Eve and he'll spend the night in his home. This is such a blessing. A blessing to have him wake up at home on Christmas morning with his sisters. The Lord is so good to us. Fletcher's going to be four on December 30th. I can hardly believe it! My baby is four! Today I've been emotional as I've thought about the last four years. Unfortunately with each of his birthdays I tend to head in the wrong direction. The direction of all he's NOT doing. My sweet nephew Logan, who is six months older than Fletcher, came to our house last Sunday. As much as I try not to compare, it was really hard watching and listening to all that Logan is doing. Oh you know, walking, talking, saying things in a cute, fun four year old way. Logan's right on track and Fletcher isn't. Oh but the things Fletcher can do that we NEVER thought he'd be able to! Like I said, God is good to us. He always helps me to go in the RIGHT direction. Five days after Fletcher's third birthday he was in the PICU on his 'deathbed' as I'm sure you all remember. And just look at him today! I promise you he's stronger and smarter than ever! Only the Lord can do that! This year Fletcher will celebrate his birthday, for the first time, at home. It will be a come and go party, and we'd love for all of you to stop by and say hi, if you get a chance. At this point I haven't decided what day we'll celebrate but check back in a few days and I'll post something! Hopefully I'll be posting the cutest video also! :) Talk to you soon! Oh yeah, and Merry Christmas!

Gingerbread Houses and a Grumpy Shepherd...

Saturday afternoon Maddie, Kayleigh and I went to my sweet friend, Stephanie's to build gingerbread houses. Steph made some bean soup and we enjoyed working with our kids to make wonderful masterpieces! I loved seeing my girls work together instead of fight!

Sunday morning the kids at church performed in our Christmas musical, 'The Grumpy Shepherd'. They all did a great job. It was such a cute program! Maddie had her first singing part. She did really well. Before the program someone asked me if Maddie was nervous and I told her I didn't think Maddie knew she should be nervous! Maddie was a sheep. Some of our youth, Kayleigh included, were the angels. It was really a great performance by everyone involved!

Girls, driving and some randomness...

I can't believe I haven't blogged since November 30th! We're busy as usual. This is going to be a pretty random post! :) So here goes...

Last weekend I had the privilege to have a little spend the night party with four of my favorite girlfriends! All four of these girls lived here in OKC and in the past two years they all have moved! Two to Arkansas and the other two to Bixby and Tulsa. Well, we definitely do not get to see each other very often but we have all remained very close. So, last Friday night we packed up and went to Bixby, OK. Oh my, I haven't laughed so much in a very long time! We all enjoyed each other so much. What a blessing girlfriends are! We stayed up until 4am and we were up by 8am. We had a leisurely morning and then went and had mani-pedi's! We also had a late lunch where we ate dessert first! Can you believe how dangerous the five of us are? A pedicure in winter? Dessert first? Whoa! We were wild women! You can only imagine what a boost this was for this tired, stay at home mom! Thanks, Carol for being such a great hostess and thanks Craig for making it possible for me to go and have a ton of fun! You're the best!

Love these girls!

Fletcher is doing so well, you guys! God is so good to us! Today he had an appointment with his endocrinologist. Fletcher was taking 7200mg of calcium every 4 hours, every day. He has successfully been weaned off of the calcium supplement completely! Dr. Domeck said that Fletcher's body is obviously absorbing it instead of peeing it away. Way to go, Fletcher! Way to go, God! Do you all realize that last year at this time this very same doctor was telling us to keep Fletcher comfortable and to enjoy him. In other words, he was telling us that Fletcher wouldn't be with us for much longer. Thank you, Jesus that YOU know the number of Fletcher's days, not man! We'll continue to trust the Lord and give Him all the glory for the gift of Fletcher's life! After Fletcher's appointment we were able to head up to the 10th floor of Baptist Hospital and see our fun friends there! We hit the 'gold pot' and were able to see some of our favorite people!

Don't you just love him?

Fletcher has also been working on using a power chair. His little arms are so short that they really have to rig the chair so he can operate it. He needs lots of encouragement so his PT, OT, RT and one of his teachers were there to cheer him on! He sooo worked it and got those women to fawn all over him! Such a player! Here's a little video of our driver...

Boy am I ready for a break from all of the activities that are happening around here. Next week will be the last ballet class, the last Girl Scout meeting, the last Wednesday night at church. No more choir concerts, no more car pool for the rest of 2008! Hopefully we'll be able to really settle in and enjoy all that the Lord has given us. Time to slow down and reflect on this last year. I'm so thankful. I'm just so thankful!

Being thankful...

Sorry this post is a bit late been busy! Well, we were able to bring Fletcher home on Thanksgiving. We had a wonderful day filled with family, food, laughter and much love! I thought I'd make a list this year of what I'm thankful for so here goes...


I'm grateful to have the opportunity to have a relationship with Jesus. I'm thankful that He loves me just as I am. I love Him more than I let anyone know and would be nothing without Him.


I'm so thankful for my family, though it looks different than most it's the most precious thing I have.


I'm thankful for our jobs. I'm grateful for a husband who goes to work each day, without complaining to provide for our family.


I'm thankful for our little grey house and the love that is found within these walls.


I'm grateful for my friends. I count on your love and prayers constantly. Thank you for loving me and my family it means the world to me.











Our day was great and everyone enjoyed being able to see Fletcher. I love when he's here it feels quasi normal. I love being able to fold his laundry in the same room where he is. I love hearing my children play together. The girls really enjoyed Fletcher this time. He loves the songs Kayleigh has on her cell phone. He gets a very serious look on his face and then bounces his big ol' tummy to the beat of the music. We all laughed and had such a great time. Craig's sister, Kristi brought Fletcher a new ball and he loved making her put it in her mouth and blow it across the room. Oh the things we'll do to make this kid smile. Life is good and I'm so grateful for all the Lord is doing. I'm praying you have a great Christmas season and truly enjoy what the Lord has given you! Here's a little video of Fletcher listening to music with Kayleigh and then playing with his Aunt Kristi. Enjoy...

Surgery update...

Fletcher's surgery went well today. They did end up having to poke and prod for a vein in about four different places. He was completely out of it of course, but still! I don't know if there was a communication error but we had to be at TCC at 6:30a in order to check in at 7:30a at the hospital. Well, come to find out the surgery was scheduled for 10:20a and that's when we went to surgery. So, that was a really long to wait with that stinker! We got back to TCC at 3:00. It was a very long day but he's doing well. Thank you all for praying for our little guy. We truly appreciate you so much! I didn't take any pictures today but I do have a video from last week. Here's a little back story on it though. All our nurse and RT friends will love it! Fletcher gets CPT (chest physio therapy) several times a day. CPT is a way to break up all the congestion and keep his lungs nice and clear. Well, they use a CPT cup and basically beat on his chest and back. Fletcher Burns loves CPT! But look at what he's taught himself to do...

Surgery...

Fletcher will have surgery in the morning sometime after 7:30am. The surgeon will be removing the old Hickman and prayerfully putting in a new one. Would you all mind praying for our boy tomorrow? The Lord's already answered one prayer that the surgery would be early in the morning so he can recover for a full day before coming home on Thanksgiving. Thank you, Lord!
We appreciate you all so much. I'll update you tomorrow after surgery. Thanks!

I'll leave you with a video I took this afternoon. Enjoy....

This girl keeps us busy...

Maddie that is! Let's see...Maddie sold cookie dough for her dance studio and was able to raise all but $34.00 of her tuition for the year! Thank you to everyone who bought cookie dough from her! The staff at TCC and my mom's work OCA bought a record amount! You guys are great!


Last night at Girl Scouts Maddie's Daisy group were the color guard for the opening of the meeting. We finally purchased her Daisy apron and my sister Kim pressed her badges and petals on it. Maddie and I have gone round and round about the placement of those badges! WOW! That girl is so argumentative! I don't know where she gets it! :)

Good ol' Troop 22

Today Maddie's school had Thanksgiving dinner for their lunch. I joined her for lunch. When we were in line with the rest of her classmates I realized these kids are 1st graders and this was their 'first' Thanksgiving meal at school. I heard several of the kids, mine included, make statements like, "WHAT IS THAT?" I'm guessing they've never seen turkey, dressing and gravy all lumped together! I volunteer in Maddie's classroom every Tuesday and it's been so fun getting to know her classmates. I really enjoyed having lunch with a few of them today.

Friends...

Maddie's BFF Emma

Last but not least. In May Maddie asked Jesus into her heart. The last few weeks she's been talking a lot about being baptized. She met with our pastor and we all believe she's ready. So, this Sunday, November 23 Maddie will be baptized. She's very excited and so are we! I'll post pictures next week. Please pray for Maddie this is a big step in her faith and we want it to be special.

Surgery...

Fletcher will have surgery next Wednesday. We won't know the time until Tuesday. We're thankful to have a date for surgery but it is the day before Thanksgiving so that's a bummer. We still plan to bring Fletcher home if he's doing well. I'm hoping for an early morning surgery so he can recover for the entire rest of that day. Anyway, please continue to pray for the little man and I'll keep you posted. Thanks!

I thought I'd leave you with this fun little video that I took last Sunday....

Update...

Fletcher didn't have his Pamidronate therapy today. His calcium and phosphorus levels are to high. And his central line has ruptured it will have to be surgically removed and replaced. So that means a trip to the OR soon. Please be praying that we can get him in with a surgeon that we like and that they will be able to find a place where they can put the new one. Sorry this is so short but I need to go pick up Kayleigh and we won't be home until after church tonight. Thanks so much.

Life...

Things are busy around here. We're gearing up for the holidays. It doesn't seem possible that Christmas could be 37 days away. So far all I've accomplished is my obsessive compulsion to have a family Christmas card photo made. You know the one, where every one's clothes have to match or coordinate in some way, the perfect place blah blah blah! Well, this year our friend, Sherry wanted to take our picture...OUTSIDE! We checked Fletcher out of TCC and headed to Sherry's neighborhood park. Fletcher loved the car ride and walking through the park. However, he hated getting out of his wheelchair and having his picture made! We did manage to get a few shots where he's not arching his back in a fit of anger! Oh well.


Kayleigh continues to enjoy school and her friends. She's such a social butterfly. She loves to go go go! This weekend her cell phone locked up on her so she was out of the loop for a few days. Good news her phone is fixed! Praise be!



Maddie's been quite the busy little beaver here the past few weeks. She received three awards at school last week. One was an attendance award for missing less than two days of school. Well, her friend Emma got a perfect attendance award. Neither one of the girls had any idea what attendance meant I guess because Maddie was sad that she didn't get a perfect announcement award! That girl! She also got to go to a birthday party where everyone wore their pajamas. That was lots of fun! She still loves her new desk. It's given all of us a little bit of quiet time. (wink wink) Maddie also found a Veggie Tales Silly Songs CD and she has literally been listening to it every chance she gets.

Fletcher is doing relatively well. He's having central line problems meaning it won't draw blood so he's having to be stuck for all his blood work each week. They are trying to limit his blood draws to as few as possible. I'm not sure what we'll do about that. I don't know if they'll want to replace it or not. He's got so much scar tissue he's running out of places to put them. So we'll see. He'll have his second Pamidronate therapy on Wednesday. It will run for three consecutive days this time. Please remember him him your prayers. We also plan to bring him home for Thanksgiving. We'll have a full house with Craig's parents and his sister Kristi and her family.

I have been busy at church, volunteering at Maddie's school, carpooling Kayleigh and her friends and of course, hanging out with Fletcher at TCC. I pulled out my canvases and paint yesterday afternoon. I'm working on a painting for my friend Steph's daughters nursery. It's definitely a work in progress but it feels good to be creative. Speaking of creative I have painted the master bathroom and I had a shower curtain and window treatment made. But the shower curtain isn't quite right and I'm trying to figure out what to do. So as soon as I get it all worked out I'll post some pictures.

Well, that's a lot of information for one sitting! So here's a little video of Fletcher from yesterday. He seems to have his days and nights mixed up and he's getting sleepy around 10:30 am. He was so sleepy when I was with him yesterday...

Going back to school...

Tomorrow, God willing Maddie will go back to school. It's been a long three days for both of us! We've taken care of all of her homework so she should be right on track when she gets back. I'll be honest I get cranky when my schedule is disrupted like it has been this week. It's been quite a juggling act trying to see Fletcher. I've had to wait until the end of the day to see him. It really hasn't been that bad and it's been great seeing him before he goes to bed. And he seems to be nicer late in the evening! So I have really enjoyed reading to and holding him. Fletcher has started giving hugs! Oh it's my most favorite thing right now! Well, it's late and I'm hoping for a normal routine tomorrow!

I voted...

Maddie is still home sick. We went to the doctor today and she has strep. So...she GOT to go vote with me. We were prepared for a long wait. We packed a backpack full of books and a throw up bucket! Well, the Lord was good to us and we got right in and we were out within 20 minutes! Boy have I heard stories of long lines and long waits! But, what a privilege we have as Americans to be able to have the right to vote. Today is a day that will go down in history no matter who wins. I'm praying that the Lord's good and perfect will be done. It's exciting and scary all at the same time. I'm praying for a President who believes in our country, has served our country and who believes in the sanctity of life. For me it boiled down to one issue. The right to live...when I've said that before I've had people tell me I'm full of hate. Wha...? I think it's more hateful to kill an unborn baby. Sometimes I just don't get it. I know some of you who read this blog have different political views and that's great. That's what America is about being able to believe how we want. People have fought and died to give us that right. I'm grateful to be an American. This post is not to get you upset it's simply me documenting a piece of history for my family. Please don't leave hateful comments if you don't agree with me, after all this is my blog. Thanks for respecting my right to express my thoughts on my blog.

Candy wrappers everywhere...

Well, Halloween has come and gone and the candy is slowly making it's way to all of our waistlines! Mostly mine I think! I can't walk past that candy and not pick up one or two pieces! Halloween always marks the beginning of the downward spiral of eating worse than I normally do. UGH!

Let's see...last Wednesday TCC had their little Harvest Festival. Fletcher had a great time. That evening our church had it's annual Holy Halloween. We made plans to check Fletcher out of TCC and spend the evening as a family. I got a call at about 2:30 from the school nurse informing me that Maddie was throwing up. I picked her up and cancelled our plans for going to Holy Halloween. Kayleigh went to help run a booth and hang out with friends. Maddie took about a three hour nap and woke up feeling great and she never threw up again. She was ready to put on her costume and head to church. I had to break the news that she wouldn't be able to go. She was sad but I promised her if she stayed well she could wear her costume to Bubba's on Halloween. That seemed to help. Maddie missed school the next day but she was perfectly fine all day.

Fletcher at Fall Festival (TCC)

On Friday, just as I promised we went to TCC. Now mind you, Fletcher was a complete toot and would not let me even put his 'Little Wild Man' Halloween shirt on him let alone a costume! One of my friends brought Fletcher a t-shirt that just had the body of Popeye on it. Fletcher would have been the perfect Popeye!Sadly, he didn't want to have anything to do with it. Oh well. After we left TCC Maddie and I headed over to see Mimi at her work. Maddie was a hit and everyone just doted all over her. Then my sister Kim called and invited us to trick or treat with some of the cousins. So we headed south and spent the evening with Kim, Kylie, K-Bub, Dawn, Mike, Zach, Amber, Matt, Gabe, Ryan and the Katybug! We had a blast and got a lot of candy! Kayleigh spent the night with her friend, Kelsey and they trick or treated in Kelsey's neighborhood.

My cute leopard!

The cousins

Maddie and Aunt Dawny's dog, Molly also in a leopard costume.

K-Bub (Joe Dirt) and Maddie

The Katybug and her mommy

Maddie and mommy

Last week was also Red Ribbon Week. Each day the kids were able to do some fun things. One day they were able to wear a hat and had black light bowling. They were also allowed to show support for there favorite team. Maddie wore a long sleeved OU shirt (no picture of that day) They also got to wear camo, this was the day Maddie stayed home. And on Friday they wear asked to wear red.

Red Ribbon week

Hat day and black light bowling

Today Maddie is home from school again. She woke up at 4:00 this morning with a fever of 101.4. She's slept a lot today and her temp was down to 99.3 at noon. Which means no school tomorrow via the district rules of no temp for 24 hours. At this time we are both still in our pj's. Maddie is watching a lot of TV and I've been cleaning out my closet trying to get ready for a charity pick-up on Wednesday morning. Yesterday Kayleigh informed me she needed a black dress for a concert she's in Tuesday! Nice. So, I guess we'll be spending the latter part of the afternoon looking for a dress and shoes. I think it must be payback for doing the exact same thing to my mom several times during my jr high/high school years. I haven't seen Fletcher today but I've checked on him and he's doing well. I'll go up there after we find a dress.

Fall break...

Well, it's been super busy around here and I keep meaning to update and I just can't seem to get it together. So tonight when I should be reading a chapter in my book for bible study in the morning, I am going to blog instead! I decided it would be easier to do it with pictures and captions.

We had a great fall break. Kayleigh's grandparents, Monna and Pops came from Mississippi and spoiled the girls with a few nights in a hotel, shopping, getting to eat out and more shopping! Monna and Pops are so good to our girls and bought winter clothes for them. They even bought Maddie a desk for her room! Thanks, Monna and Pops! Maddie LOVES her desk. She's doing her homework in her room and she's playing in her room more often!

The girls with Monna and Pops in front of PF Chang's

Maddie and Kayleigh at PF Chang'sThe new desk!

Silly boy!

Amazing...

Though Fletcher's mind works like a three year old, his little body does not. Some parts are better than others but as for weight baring on his legs or arms he's like a newborn. And I'm sure you all remember that in January Fletcher was basically given a death sentence. In the last six to eight months he has been incredibly well. He's been successfully weaned off Methadone and Valium, they have lowered his vent setting a little and he's tolerating it very well. Last week they lowered his doses of calcium and phosphorus because they were a little high and they have always been too low! The Lord is doing something y'all! I feel like I'm witnessing a miracle every day. Mr. 'I supposedly have the bones of a 95 year old woman' is getting stronger with each day! I'm not usually at TCC with him when he gets physical therapy but on Wednesday I was and his PT has been working with him on a few things. Watch the videos and hopefully you'll be as blessed as I was! Enjoy!

Pumpkin Patch...

Today TCC took a group of kids to TG Farms in Newcastle, OK. Fletcher had the great privilege to go on this adventure. It was his first pumpkin patch experience. I didn't send Maddie to school today so she and Fletcher could enjoy the trip together. I think I was more excited about it than the two of them put together. This was an amazing blessing for me as a mom. I love fall and always take Maddie to a pumpkin patch to get a few pumpkins. I never dreamed that Fletcher and Maddie would get to go to one together! We had a great morning. We learned all about pumpkins and gourds, pet some animals, went through a hay maze and we were even able to go on the hayride! They just picked up Fletcher's wheelchair and put him on that hay wagon. It was great! Everyone there was so accommodating to these sweet kids it just blessed my heart so much!

Maddie, Fletcher and me in front of the TCC bus

Walking with Fletcher. He loves holding hands when he walks.

Maddie and Fletcher on the hayride!

Hayride!