Walking...

Sunday afternoon we took the girls to the Center to see Fletcher. We had planned on going to a family room like we had done in the past. So we got Fletcher all ready while the girls waited out in the hall. He was very excited to see his big sisters! When we got into the family room Fletcher started crying and shaking his head 'no, no, no.' We took that as 'get me out of here' so we walked the halls of TCC for about an hour. He loved being out of that unit. It's been weeks and weeks since he's been to school. Hopefully he'll go to school on Thursday. I decided that I would walk him around the building everyday so we won't end up with the 'no, no, no' business when he goes back to class. When Fletcher gets to upset that's when he starts having problems so I hope getting him out of the unit will help.

Maddie was cracking up her bubba!

When I arrived at TCC there were a lot of people waiting in the lobby. Well, they were waiting for Roy Williams who used to be a defensive back at OU and now he plays for the Dallas Cowboys! He was taking a tour of the facilities while Fletcher and I were taking our morning walk. Some of the TCC PR people introduced Fletcher and I to him and he seemed very nice. I wish we could've had Fletcher's picture taken with him. We did get an autograph football card. So that was neat.


We also had another treat today. My sweet friend Christa came to the Center to see Fletcher. I haven't seen her in over two years. It was such a blessing to get to sit and chat with her. Fletcher fell in love with Christa and showed her all his tricks! All this in an hour and a half! It was a busy morning at TCC!

So sweet! Christa and Fletcher

Happy Anniversary!

Today we celebrate seven years of wedded bliss! It’s hard to believe all that we’ve been through in these seven years! I couldn't have asked for a better companion for this journey. Craig, you are truly wonderful and I love you more than words can express. You have been faithful, kind, loving, unselfish, a great provider for our family, a treasured friend and oh so funny! You are a blessing and I love you so very much!

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2002

The BIG day! 2/24/01

Why I love him so? He's a wonderful husband and daddy...

The last few days...

Well, it's been kind of quiet around here this week, which is perfectly fine with me! On Monday I had a surge of energy and Maddie and I baked sugar cookies and she frosted and decorated them. That was a lot of fun and something we should do more often.

Cookies!

A couple of weeks ago Maddie and I went shopping to find her a new winter coat. She decided months ago that she 'hated her coat'. So I was sure at this time of year we'd find a deal. We went to the mall, and we started our journey to find a coat on sale. Well, she wanted something in every store we entered. I told her no in every store telling her she was going to get a coat. She didn't want a coat, of course. I was getting on her nerves and she was really getting on my nerves! Our last stop was Dillard's so we headed to the children's department. As I looked at coats she looked at clothes, she loves clothes right now. Well, I found the perfect pink coat and she found the perfect shirt, purse, dress, socks...you get the picture! I kept telling her no, you're getting this cute coat. Well, my sweet, in need of a major nap, daughter proceeds to scream and throw a fit. I was mortified so I grabbed her by the arm and swatted her bottom. I was sure security was going to come and throw me in jail for correcting my child! Alas they did not. Maddie, of course, straightened up and tried on the darling little coat I found for $14.99! But do you know what I did? She found a cute top an sale and I BOUGHT it! What is wrong with me? I had totally encouraged that bratty behavior! I beat myself up the whole way home and decided I wouldn't give her the shirt until I wanted to. I don't know if that helped but it made me feel better about it!

The infamous top!

It's official, Guitar Hero has taken over our house, our evenings and any free time we have. Kayleigh is exceptionally good at it and is about to finish up the 'hard level' and move onto expert! Craig is playing on medium and headed straight for hard! Maddie is on medium also, it's pretty cute watching her play. I can't believe it but I have been sucked into this game as well. And I am REALLY bad at it!

Fletcher is having a good week. It started out kind of rough for him but by Tuesday he felt better. You might remember that Fletcher doesn't take anything by mouth, no food or drink. Well, before we went to the hosptial giving him water in a syringe was one of two things that would calm him down, me rubbing lotion on his face and head was the other. After a couple of weeks of giving him water his desire for it stopped. Last week he started wanting water again. Fletcher is on fluid restriction, because of his electrolyte situation. Well, he gets so mad everytime someone flushes his g-tube with water and doesn't give him the syringe. He cries and hits at you if you don't give him what he wants! It's really kind of sad! But it's for his good. We sure don't want to add to his medical problems, he has enough on his plate! Fletcher hasn't been out of his unit in over two weeks, I'm hoping tomorrow I can take him for a walk in his wheelchair. He definitely needs a change of scenery. Well, that's all for now. I hope you all have a great week!

Valentine's Day...

We had a nice Valentine's Day! Craig brought home dinner from Outback and the four of us had a nice candle lit dinner. The one thing that would have made it perfect? Fletcher being here with us! Maddie felt better and both of the girls enjoyed their Valentine's gifts of stuffed animals, candy necklaces and heart shaped box of chocolates! After dinner I wanted to take a few pictures so I could put them on my blog. Well, you know how teenagers today CONSTANTLY take pictures of themselves? Craig and I tried to take a picture of ourselves. We ain't so good at it! Kayleigh, on the other hand is a pro! We have a ton of pictures of just her, taken by her!

My girls, aren't they cute!

Dumb and dumber!

See what I mean?

Mommy and Fletcher

Maddie went back to school this morning. She was glad to get back to see her friends, but she was wiped out when she got home! She took a three hour nap today! Kayleigh is just glad it's Friday! Fletcher had a good morning while I was with him today. I didn't have a sitter for Maddie this morning so I only was able to be with Fletcher for an hour and a half. I'm looking forward to the weekend so I can spend more time with him.

Hope you all have a great weekend! Be blessed!

Not much to report...

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. I am happy to say that there isn't much going on around here other than taking care of sick kids! Monday I picked up Kayleigh from school, she wasn't feeling too hot that morning. She is better now thank the Lord! On Monday afternoon Maddie woke up from her nap with a temp of 100.2 and has been home from school ever since! Today she is missing her Valentine party at school, I don't think she has realized it just yet! I am the homeroom mom and have been busy getting everything ready for a party we won't attend! No fun! Hopefully she will start feeling better today. Craig has plans to take us girls out to dinner tonight! Isn't that sweet! Tonight we might have to order in if Maddie isn't feeling better. Several years ago Craig and I decided to make Valentine's Day about our whole family, instead of just about the two of us. I usually make dinner, get out the china and light candles and we just stay home and watch a movie and later head to Sonic for a sweetheart blast! It's been really fun for all of us.

Fletcher seems to be okay. I don't know the process of shingles, but I think they're about gone. I haven't been able to be at TCC much this week since Maddie is sick. So I haven't seen his nurse practitioner all week, though she has seen him. Right now, I'm just kind of in awe. Before we left the hospital (1/22/08) we were given the news that Fletcher would probably die within a matter of weeks. We were told to enjoy him and to keep him comfortable, by keeping his pain under control. Craig and I have been to two cemeteries, we have talked about a funeral and we have told our girls that Fletcher is going to die. That last week at the hospital was horrible and we have had to do some incredibly hard things. We have been back at TCC for 24 days, and Fletcher has been great. I was told last week that his electrolytes were text book perfect, meaning they have found a balance in maintaining them. He has been happy and playful. We have recently dubbed him the official greeter of Unit 7. He waves and blows kisses to everyone who walks into his unit. It's the sweetest thing ever. I do not know if the Lord has healed Fletcher, if the doctor's were wrong about the timeline, I just don't know. I will take what I am given and enjoy it as much as possible. I so want to believe the Lord has healed him but I'm also afraid to get my hopes up. This is a strange place for me emotionally. When I look at Fletcher I see a happy boy, not a dying boy. So, it's hard to believe the bad stuff. I am however, afraid to ask questions about his prognosis, if it's different, if maybe someone was wrong? Who knows? Only the Lord, apparently. I said a long time ago that only the Lord knows the number of Fletcher's days. I'm sticking with that!

I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day! I will post some pictures later. Be blessed!

Enrollment, nostalgia and shingles...

Well, today Kayleigh enrolled in highschool. I can hardly believe that she'll be in high school next year! WOW! I became Kayleigh's mom almost seven years ago. That's hard to believe also. She's such a great kid. I always hear horror stories about teenagers and Kayleigh is just the opposite. She's always been very obedient and tried to do the right thing. I'm so very proud of her and pray that highschool will be four years full of fun memories for her.

I'm feeling nostalgic tonight. I've been going through pictures on the computer and found a lot that I had forgotten about. These pictures make me smile! Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Christmas 2000 two months before the wedding

Maddie, Fletcher & Kayleigh July 2005

Super Maddie July 2005

Look at those lips! September 2005

Sweet boys! September 2005

My girls 2006

Too cute! 2006

Today when I was getting Fletcher dressed and ready for the day I noticed some suspicious bumps on his lower abdomen. He would cry if I touched them. One of the nurse practitioners came and took a look at them and Fletcher has shingles! UGH! Poor little guy! I know that shingles are painful. He was grumpier than he's been in two weeks. They have started him on some medication and tomorrow he will be on an IV medication for the shingles. I don't know a whole lot about shingles and I'm praying that they won't compromise any of his other health issues. Fletcher has had two really good weeks and it has helped us to not dwell on the negative. We'd really appreciate your prayers.

100 days...

Today Maddie and her kindergarten classmates celebrated the 100th day of school. She said it was very exciting. At the beginning of the week she had two homework assignments where she had to glue 100 things on a piece of purple construction paper, she choose elbow macaroni. Then she had to come up with a small snack food, 100 pieces of course, she decided to count out 100 fruit loops. They made trail mix with all the snacks the kids brought to school. I think that was the most exciting part of her morning! They also made these really cool 100th day hats.

Yesterday Maddie spent the afternoon with our sweet friend, Miss Jo. Maddie loves Jolene and Jolene loves Maddie. Anyway, Miss Jo and her husband went to Hawaii a couple of weeks ago and she brought this sweet dress back for Maddie. Isn't it cute? Maddie wore this dress all afternoon yesterday, even though we had a few inches of snow on the ground!

Fletcher has had a very good week. It started out with a RSV scare, someone in his unit has RSV and the flu! They moved her out and put her in a unit all to herself so no one else would get these yucky viruses. Then they tested all the kids in Fletcher's unit and no one else had it! Whew! That was too close for comfort. The last time Fletcher had RSV he was in the hospital for 48 days! We definitely don't need that right now. The rest of the week has been nice and calm. Fletcher has been in a good mood most of the time. He seems to be sleeping more than usual, but maybe his little body just needs the rest. Well, I'm going to close for now. Have a great weekend.