Finally, some photos!

I know we don't post enough pictures.  

I have many lame excuses.  

But tonight, a brief recap of December:

 We finally explored downtown Kansas City a little bit.  This is the kids' first ride on any form of public transit (the streetcar).

 The very beautiful Union Station (classic old train station, restored and now housing museums, movie theater, post office, and yes, still a train station - Amtrak.)

 Hanging out with Nate on his birthday.

 Hyrum showing off his mad drawing skills.

 Rusty's new sound equipment get-up ;o)

 Our 17th wedding anniversary cake: Rusty baked it, the girls decorated.

Namoi in "stuffed animal heaven"!

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas Eve!

Christmas Eve has always been my favorite day of the year.  I love the decorations, the weather (yes, I love winter), the general feeling of good will and all of the cheerful wishes for everyone to "Have a Merry Christmas".  I love the feeling of anticipation of family gatherings about to start, of looking forward to giving those gifts and seeing how they make others happy.

Also, being a mom, I appreciate how Christmas Eve is also usually much more neat and tidy. 😄 No one wants to mess it up just yet- it just provides a beautiful setting to pause and appreciate everything Christmas really means.

Nate was born Christmas Eve.  Many people bemoan Christmas birthdays, but Nate doesn't seem to mind (after all, he's the one who chose it- he was supposed to be induced on the 27th).  I like it- he's the best Christmas gift ever.

We weren't sure Nate would survive birth.  Today, he turned 10.  What a blessing!  These last ten years have been a tremendous challenge but also have been cram-packed with tender mercies and flat-out miracles.  My understanding of how God loves his children has expanded and matured.  I can now truly say that I trust God.  After all we've gone through together, how could I not?  Whether Nate lives only 10 years or outlives me, I trust God's plan for Nate and our family.  Nathaniel's name means "a gift from God", and it fits Nate well.

True, we are once again spending Christmas in the hospital, but Nate is doing well and should be discharged in a couple days.  I truly don't mind.  We've gotten used to being flexible with how and when we celebrate holidays.  Here in the hospital, I get to see and experience the generosity of many people in the community as they serve the patients and their families with donated meals, toys, treats, etc.  I've tried to contribute ("Light the World") by giving a little support and cheer to other parents as we cross paths in the Ronald McDonald family room, hallways, waiting rooms, cafeteria, and chapel.  I hope they see that if a mom with a 10 year old "frequent flyer" in the hospital once again can be cheerful and hopeful, that they too will survive their current crisis and come out more confident and hopeful as they face their own child's medical journey.

Yesterday I met another mom who has been in and out of the hospital for the last three months with her seven-year-old.  She and I were chatting with some new parents who were very shell-shocked.  This "veteran mom" was so confident and upbeat- all I had to do was toss in some supporting words as she coached these new parents on all of the amazing supports available at this hospital.  She was visibly tired but confident, and I could tell it felt good for her to be able to serve someone else with her hard-won knowledge.  There are so many good people in this world.

I guess that by spending Christmas in a quiet hospital room, stripped bare of the locations and people who are beloved parts of the holiday, I've been able to focus more on what the essence of Christmas can always be: Peace on Earth, Goodwill toward Men.  And I am grateful.

Thanks for all of the prayers and support during the last couple weeks (and months).  We feel the power of those prayers and are grateful for you!

Merry Christmas!

And We're Back

Less than a month later and Nate is back in the hospital. It started with calcium problems again but after a couple days his latest epic cold escalated into serious breathing difficulties. So, all in all, I'm grateful we were already in the hospital. He was transferred to the PICU and got the help he needed much faster than he would have if we had been at home. Also, I'm certain he would have been flown to the hospital again (that would have been the third time in five years). So, although long hospital stays are a pain, things really did work out for the best.  And we are certainly grateful for the lifesaving treatments that are so readily available to Nate. He's improving, slowly but surely.  We just need to wait and trust.

Cough, Sneeze, Giggle, repeat.

We've been sick, and continue to be sick...tis the season.  Cough, cough, hack, hack.  My ears start popping non-stop for about five minutes whenever I lay down.  That one's new.

Naomi is a trooper- she wheezed out the following sentence late Sunday night:  "Tomorrow (gasp)... I'll feel (gasp)... better."  And she did- after several breathing treatments and some oral steroids.  She's still coughing up a storm but is irrepressible- and loving the freedom of watching nonstop TV and wrecking the house while I take care of Nate.

Nate's feeling miserable, but he still manages to giggle now and again.  Usually when I blow my nose.  Nate's giggle is contagious, and ever so slowly we are also learning to pick up his precious attitude: "no matter how little you can control in life, you can still at least find something to giggle about."  That, and: "cuddles are the best."

"Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion"- Steel Magnolias
Substitute brain fog and you've got us covered.

Not much happens around here while we're sick- but despite that we're doing pretty well and staying cheerful.