This evening Reagan was invited to spend the night with one of our neighbors. Caed was right there....listening....and then the dreaded question came which I was hoping to avoid.
Caed : "When will it ever be MY turn to spend the night with someone?"
Me: "...someday soon....."
Caed: "Mommy, don't I get a free night sometimes?" (we have been starting 'Free Fridays' where Caed is not hooked up that night of the week.....as a treat)
Me: "Well, actually it's tonight"
Caed: "So can I please please go spend the night too???"
Me: "Caed, it's not polite to invite yourself..."
Caed: "But, PLEASE! They will let me!!!"
I knew he was right. The Owen Family have 4 children of their own....so what's 2 more added to the mix?? ha I decided to toss all rules of courtesy out the window, and call them up. I explained the situation and tried to stress it would just be for the night and to send them back home first thing in the morning. I also knew deep down it was more than just inviting ourselves....but rather a "first" for Caed.
He spent the night with grandparents back in Aug., but only after an extensive training session on his meds and tube feeds. :) But for him....tonight is his very first sleepover!! (no family...no grandparents, but real FRIENDS!) Before he left, he kept asking me what would happen when he needed to get up during the night to go to the restroom (which he does every single night anywhere from 3-5am....due to the tube feedings). We have a monitor set up by his bed so he can call us when he wakes up needing to go. Either Todd or I then have to get up and unhook him. However, tonight I reassured him if he woke up, he could just go by himself since he wouldn't have his feedings going. I could see the nervousness in his eyes and also hear it in the extensive questioning. Reagan also reassured him she would help him during the night if he needed it. Sweet, sweet girl!
We thank you, Owen Family, for loving him the way you do and allowing him to join in (even UNinvited........) ;)
Friday, December 4, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Yet another milestone
Get used to this! I am going to post a picture the beginning of every month and show this number getting smaller and smaller... This was the first month since our trip to NE where we have been able to change the dose on our little blue friend. It felt so good to push that button! Once we get down to about 400-500 mls, we will be doing away with feedings all together and see how he responds. Should be about the time school lets out for summer and just in time for our next appt. in NE. At that point....we could be taking the g-tube out COMPLETELY!! I realize this news is really not news. We knew all of this in Oct. However....there's quite a huge difference in talking about it and then actually getting to do it! THANK YOU LORD!!!!
Caleb loving the book Caed brought home from school!!
For those of you who know Caed.....you know good and well he had NO IDEA he was sporting an Aggies shirt on this day!! haha His Uncle Mark is a huge A&M fan and always loves to give Caed a hard time. He was wearing a maroon shirt at which Mark took FULL advantage of!
having fun at Thanksgiving playing a serious "homemade" game of 4 square
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Little Things
Last night as Todd, the kids and I drove back to Celina (from Lubbock)...I was overcome with gratitude to the Lord for these seemingly "little things."
-a car that made the 600 mile trip with no problems
-a beautiful November night
-enjoyable time spent with both sides of the family
-eating some of our favorites over Thanksgiving
-our comfy warm beds waiting for us when we got home
-3 giggling healthy children in the backseat
My list could go on and on....... I have SO VERY much to be thankful for! Blessings abundant and full! These little things were numerous. And then it hit me:
Do "little things" even exist?
For me.....living in 2009 in the Bible Belt of the US, many things that I consider "little," I think truly are quite BIG! There are many millions of people who would consider getting to travel in your own personal vehicle over 600 miles (problem free) HUGE. Many would consider a warm comfortable bed to sleep in....HUGE. Being able to eat to your heart's content (and more).....HUGE. Freely going to and from church openly carrying a Bible....HUGE.
These are things we have grown accustomed to. Things we honestly feel we deserve somehow. Flat tires inconvenience us. Waiting in lines irritate us. And if we don't get what we want, when and how we want it then....watch out!
I don't want to miss ALL these blessings in my life. I pray the Lord will recall them to my memory and help me to not overlook the seemingly "little ones."
Maybe the one that hit me the hardest last night was having Reagan, Caed, and Caleb all together.....all healthy....doing what kids do best on road trips.......sleep and argue! However there were times when they were almost in tears because something had got them so tickled. A thankful heart. That's what I had. Thankful for the one full year of being back together as a normal family. And thankful to see how far Caed has come!!
Lord, help me to consider all things HUGE blessings from You!!!!!! I can no longer categorize them into big and little. Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow...................
-a car that made the 600 mile trip with no problems
-a beautiful November night
-enjoyable time spent with both sides of the family
-eating some of our favorites over Thanksgiving
-our comfy warm beds waiting for us when we got home
-3 giggling healthy children in the backseat
My list could go on and on....... I have SO VERY much to be thankful for! Blessings abundant and full! These little things were numerous. And then it hit me:
Do "little things" even exist?
For me.....living in 2009 in the Bible Belt of the US, many things that I consider "little," I think truly are quite BIG! There are many millions of people who would consider getting to travel in your own personal vehicle over 600 miles (problem free) HUGE. Many would consider a warm comfortable bed to sleep in....HUGE. Being able to eat to your heart's content (and more).....HUGE. Freely going to and from church openly carrying a Bible....HUGE.
These are things we have grown accustomed to. Things we honestly feel we deserve somehow. Flat tires inconvenience us. Waiting in lines irritate us. And if we don't get what we want, when and how we want it then....watch out!
I don't want to miss ALL these blessings in my life. I pray the Lord will recall them to my memory and help me to not overlook the seemingly "little ones."
Maybe the one that hit me the hardest last night was having Reagan, Caed, and Caleb all together.....all healthy....doing what kids do best on road trips.......sleep and argue! However there were times when they were almost in tears because something had got them so tickled. A thankful heart. That's what I had. Thankful for the one full year of being back together as a normal family. And thankful to see how far Caed has come!!
Lord, help me to consider all things HUGE blessings from You!!!!!! I can no longer categorize them into big and little. Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow...................
But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. (1 Samuel 12:24)
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
6 yr. well check
.....sounds so good, I want to say it again!
6 year WELL-check!!!!!
That's what we did today. Our pediatrician (who first met Caed after we came back from NE) was speechless this afternoon. She couldn't get over how well he looked and acted. It was nice not having to spend half an hour talking about the small bowel and tube feeds. Caed is in the 5oth percentile in weight and 20 in height. 45 seems to be the magic number. 45 lbs. and 45 inches tall. It was quick and easy (minus the 2 flu shots)....and we were out of there in no time.
Today was just one of those days...... One of those days that I could honestly cry at the drop of a hat. A day where I became SO overwhelmed by God's goodness. His faithfulness. His provision. A day where hopelessness reared its ugly head, and then God stepped in! It was amazing.....wish I could give you all the wonderful details. However, for now.....I will just savor them and hide them deep in my heart. He never ceases to amaze me. How the God of the universe could care for little 'ole me. How He KNOWS all and how His timing is absolutely perfect. Not a second too early.....nor too late.
Thank you Lord!
6 year WELL-check!!!!!
That's what we did today. Our pediatrician (who first met Caed after we came back from NE) was speechless this afternoon. She couldn't get over how well he looked and acted. It was nice not having to spend half an hour talking about the small bowel and tube feeds. Caed is in the 5oth percentile in weight and 20 in height. 45 seems to be the magic number. 45 lbs. and 45 inches tall. It was quick and easy (minus the 2 flu shots)....and we were out of there in no time.
Today was just one of those days...... One of those days that I could honestly cry at the drop of a hat. A day where I became SO overwhelmed by God's goodness. His faithfulness. His provision. A day where hopelessness reared its ugly head, and then God stepped in! It was amazing.....wish I could give you all the wonderful details. However, for now.....I will just savor them and hide them deep in my heart. He never ceases to amaze me. How the God of the universe could care for little 'ole me. How He KNOWS all and how His timing is absolutely perfect. Not a second too early.....nor too late.
Thank you Lord!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
On cloud 9
"This was the BEST night of my life!"..........................
Caed's words as I was tucking him into bed last night. Now, you might be thinking we made another quick trip to Disney World or something along that caliber. Nope. Caed played the drums in front of 75+ teenagers last night at church. He has been wanting to do this for several months. Another time he asked us if he could do it, but got "freaked out" at the last minute. ha But, last night was different. He asked me right as we were leaving for Awanas. He grabbed his handbook and drumsticks and was set! And kept telling me....."Mommy, please don't forget to come get me out of class!!!" He did great! And in fact......wasn't too thrilled when Daddy made him stop. He would have kept playing the whole night if we would have let him. This morning he told me he dreamed about it all night. ha!
I tried to get it on video, but of course right as he got up on stage, my camera starting blinking CHANGE BATTERIES! He thinks he's going to do it every Wed. night......although Daddy is trying to explain to him that maybe he should just come on special occasions. He really is a good little drummer and definitely has some natural ability.....was able to keep a nice beat with bass pedal, snare, and cymbal.....and also threw in a little filler at the end. ha! This certainly seems to be his passion right now. Can't wait to see how he grows.........
*I will try to get a video of him playing (in his room). However, I have been having trouble uploading them to Blogger lately. (that's why you haven't seen any more Reagan Hollingsworth episodes) ha! Just call it "technical difficulties."
Caed's words as I was tucking him into bed last night. Now, you might be thinking we made another quick trip to Disney World or something along that caliber. Nope. Caed played the drums in front of 75+ teenagers last night at church. He has been wanting to do this for several months. Another time he asked us if he could do it, but got "freaked out" at the last minute. ha But, last night was different. He asked me right as we were leaving for Awanas. He grabbed his handbook and drumsticks and was set! And kept telling me....."Mommy, please don't forget to come get me out of class!!!" He did great! And in fact......wasn't too thrilled when Daddy made him stop. He would have kept playing the whole night if we would have let him. This morning he told me he dreamed about it all night. ha!
I tried to get it on video, but of course right as he got up on stage, my camera starting blinking CHANGE BATTERIES! He thinks he's going to do it every Wed. night......although Daddy is trying to explain to him that maybe he should just come on special occasions. He really is a good little drummer and definitely has some natural ability.....was able to keep a nice beat with bass pedal, snare, and cymbal.....and also threw in a little filler at the end. ha! This certainly seems to be his passion right now. Can't wait to see how he grows.........
*I will try to get a video of him playing (in his room). However, I have been having trouble uploading them to Blogger lately. (that's why you haven't seen any more Reagan Hollingsworth episodes) ha! Just call it "technical difficulties."
Monday, November 2, 2009
PRAISE!
Just wanted to share a praise with you all. Devin (the little 6 yr. old boy I posted about several weeks ago) has made an astounding recovery....and is OFF TO SCHOOL today!!! The drs. are completely amazed at his progress. However....we know the real reason for this miracle.
THANK YOU all for praying for him!! The Lord IS faithful!
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