Monday, October 31, 2011

Fall

Getting ready for nap: "Look Mommy! I got a buncha books in my bed!"

Brothers playing in the yard. William loved it when John threw leaves his way.

Sweetie sent John some stickers. He loved them!

A new Greek yogurt fan

John proudly arranges his trucks on the ottoman. "Look what I doing Mommy!"

Sweet William--can't believe he'll be one in 11 days!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Theo Update

Good news--Theo is in remission!

Even better news--There is a bed for him at the children's hospital in Cincinnati.

He and his mom Raegan are headed there tomorrow morning via ambulance. They'll run a few tests over the weekend, plan another round of chemo and do the transplant in two weeks.

This folks, is a miracle. We are rejoicing with the Gyorffys and praising God. To Him be the glory! Continue to pray for the adjustment to their new hospital home, successful treatment leading up to the transplant, and a transplant that will permanently wipe out the cancer.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

'Round Here

Well, fall has arrived in Kentucky. As I type, Husband John is outside edging and raking while the children nap. Young John has loved playing in the leaves this week and our small yard is so manageable, the work is more like play.

William is taking after his mother with his cabinet antics. He can empty a cabinet in no time and he loves clutching his finds with all his might. He loves the cabinet under the sink--yes, the one full of sponges, gloves, and hazardous materials. Yesterday I found him hugging a can of Raid. (Call Social Services!) Later, John saw his brother in the cabinet, jerked whatever was in his hands and rebuked, "No, William! That's not a toy!"

Last weekend, I went out of town, leaving the children with Sweetie and Mush and John (when he wasn't on call). They enjoyed a Saturday at the races and I had fun in Atlanta. I came home to happy children and missed them dearly. My next weekend away will hopefully be with my husband...and a small miracle if it happens in the next two years!

Last month, we painted our kitchen. To say that it needed painting in an understatement. Actually, it could use a gutting, but since we're renting, we're making do. I thought not having a dishwasher would be a deal-breaker, but we've managed fine without it. I thought having only 3 feet of counter space would be problematic. It is, but again, manageable. The dank yellow walls? They had to go! After five (sometimes painful) trips to home improvement stores, we had what we needed to get started. We decided to do it right and prime the walls first. John did that during nap time as I taped the trim. We spent the rest of the evening shooing children out of the kitchen and praying no one touched the walls.

The next day, I painted after the children were in bed. Much better! The next morning, we realized it would need another coat of paint so that night, I finished the job. Painting is no joke! I took a break for a few days--after prepping some window panes with lovely blue tape--and painted the trim the next week. I'm no pro, and it could use some touch ups, but it got the job done. It was satisfying to peel away that last round of blue tape and scrape excess paint from the windows. Bonus! I managed to not paint our old windows shut!

Now, we enjoy beige walls and bright white trim. Like I told my mom, we won't be featured in Traditional Home magazine, but it sure looks 100 times better! The dingy cabinets still remain, and maybe we'll work up the courage to paint them. Only time will tell.

Stud Husband gettin' it done. No more green square in the kitchen!

Young John loves helping in the yard. Here he helps with the weeding.

Our beautiful 11-month old--can you believe it?!

"Oh William, what are you up to?"

John's first day of Mother's Day Out--everyone's excited!

Friday, October 7, 2011

Pray for Theo

(Theo, a couple of months ago)

Hi friends.

Sweet Theo, who I mentioned a few months ago, is still fighting for his life as he battles leukemia. Unfortunately, his transplant was delayed because his cancer is not in remission. A recent setback--an infection that isn't budging as it's being treated by four antibiotics--is adding stress and pain and delay. Pray for them--Mike, Raegan, Mallaney, Max, and Theo, his doctors and nurses--even if you're not the praying type. Here are his mother's words.

Please pray.

T has continued to run fevers and have significant pain. Infectious Disease was called back in for a consult and we are now looking into why, even though he is on four broad spectrum antibiotics, he is still running a fever. We are looking into fungal infections, as well as cellulitis in his bottom from the sores and the e coli. He had another positive culture grow out overnight, meaning we are back at the beginning of the 10-14 day wait for transfer.

Quite honestly the more that comes up, the more of a mess this becomes. The plans for transfer are in complete limbo, and could shatter if it's fungal. T needs this transplant to have a shot at life. Please pray that the tests run tomorrow would reveal treatable infections so we can get him to transplant. Please pray for reprieve from this continuous onslaught of trial. Please just pray.