The Happenings Here

I actually have two posts of pictures downloaded so I'm hoping to get you caught up on our lives. Finding the time to write has been easier than finding the motivation. We've had some changes in our lives again ....

School continues to be a challenge for both girls, for some reason the pressure has increased this past month. They are both struggling to keep up. Amazingly the girls are not as frustrated as one would think -- they still feel motivated to do well. The down side is that they are trying so hard and not always seeing the grade that they truly deserve for all the time and effort they have to put into every assignment. Many hours are spent around our kitchen table doing work. I hate to admit it but I'm getting tired of all the time spent working on school work. There are some nights that I'm done way before they are ... but we keep plugging along. It must be the time of year .... many times we've left the table with the girls feeling as if they are not going to do well. Many times we tell them to do their best, that's all we ask. If the grade isn't what they hoped for, it's alright as long as they know that they did all they could do. Summer can't come fast enough.

There have been some fun times at school .... Gabi participated in mis-match day again. It takes her a long time to figure out the perfect combination. Here's what she settled on -- lovely, just lovely. Hailee finished up her volleyball season at school and a week later started track. She even added an event to this years track meets. Not only is she doing the shot put and discus she is running the last leg of the 4 x 200 race. I was taken back last week watching her run this race, she's got some speed!!! She has become a true fanatic about her sports. She's already planning her summer schedule --- volleyball camp, basketball camp, strength training and running. This from the little girl who stood on the soccer field pulling grass, the child who sat on the ground in the outfield at her little league games .... what a turn-a-round.

One of the reasons it's been such a long time between posts is that my mom suffered a serious stroke a short time ago. The prognosis was not good but she's a strong woman. Initially the doctors felt that she wasn't going to make it but she's been blessed to have a few miracles come her way. The doctors told us that her brain would continue to swell because of where the clot was, as this happened she would slip away from us, it was a miracle that the brain stopped swelling. They said she would never swallow anything again, a feeding tube was her only hope. I was there the day they did a swallow test .... the speech therapist and the technician were amazed to see that the various foods/liquids they tried were not going into her lungs. That was the best news we could hope for .... after days of working hard she is now eating most everything and hopes to have the feeding tube removed shortly. Although she's still paralyzed on her left side and has lost the vision in left eye she has made it through and has hope that she will be able to go home again. I wish that she lived closer so we could see her more often, but she lives in Ocala, FL -- a long way away. Phone calls just don't feel like enough. Appreciate every moment you have with someone .... it can change in an instant. Another of the big changes in our lives has been with Lisa .... she got a great job offer. Something she couldn't refuse ... the only down side is that it's in West Palm Beach, Florida (about 4 hours away from my mom). We're very happy for her, but selfishly very sad for us. It was a hard month before she left. Some of the "girls" met at a restaurant to have dinner together ....

Here's Pat, Stacy, Nancy & Lisa .... Taking a break for a bit of Happy News .... we're loving the fact that Jonathan, Amanda, Hayden & Jackson are only 4 hours away. We've been able to see them once or twice a month. Here's Papa with Jackson ..... isn't he the sweetest? Hayden is becoming such a little man. When they come to visit he sleeps in our room. He's actually slept in the pack and play in our closet everytime they come (there's plenty of room). Jack & I love having him close -- we love that he called out "Hello, is anybody there" when he woke up in the morning, we'd go in and get him and he'd snuggle for awhile. Now that Jackson's here he needed the playpen so we put Hayden in a sleeping bag in our room. Instead of his normal call that morning I was awakened by a poke in my cheek and Hayden standing there to tell me "Nana, it's done darking out" -- so sweet. (we still got some snuggle time since it was only 6:30 and I sure didn't feel like it was done darking out)

Hailee was confirmed at the end of April -- that was a big day for her. She worked three years toward this day and was very proud. One of the toughest things for Hailee is memory work ... for those of you who have been confirmed you know how much memory work is involved in confirmation .... hours and hours were spent memorizing the commandments, prayers, gospels and verses. There were six beautiful girls (one is missing) and one boy (he was camera shy) on this journey with her .....

This picture is with Pastor Dan and the "group" in their gowns before the service. I think she's got the biggest smile of anyone .....This day was not only a special day for Hailee it was also the day that Lisa was leaving for Florida -- emotions were all over the place for everyone. We were definitely blessed to have us all together for the day. I think it's going to be a long time till we're all together in one place again. We had a double party -- confirmation for Hailee and going away for Lisa. Lots of family and friends to share the joy and sadness with ....

Aunt Gin, Aunt Nancy and Aunt Pat are Hailee's sponsors. Aunt Gin wasn't home from their winter home yet so we made sure she was in the picture ..... we used our exceptional artistic talents to create a portrait we could use .... looks just like her too!

Lisa was able to get in some snuggle time with Jackson ....

Hailee LOVES cottage cheese jello ..... she was the first one in line for lunch and made sure that she got her fair share .... well, maybe a bit more than her fair share, good thing Aunt Pat made a double batch so we were covered.

With the cake -- made by a friend. It was beautiful but not as beautiful as Hailee was in her dress. She was the cutest .... we had to get as many pictures of her as we could because as soon as she was done eating she was begging to put on her comfy clothes and go shoot hoops with her cousins.

Lisa had a great cake too (thanks Lori!!!!) ....

More Jackson snuggling .... Hailee loves to hold him but only until he needs a pants changing, then he's handed off to someone else.

Garrett & Hailee

Aunt Kim & Hailee ..... (still in the dress)

Stacy, Kylie & Hailee .....

Carol, Kim & Hailee -- (and still in the dress) ......

Just had to get a picture of Trevor in ---

Some of the group ... have I mentioned that we have some of the greatest family????

Lindsay & Payton .....

David, Jonathan and Hayden .... not too many pictures of Hayden. He was outside playing most of the day. It was finally a nice day and he loved playing with everyone!!

Lisa and Hailee opening cards & gifts .... notice the DRESS is gone .....

Shortly after this Lisa & Jack took off for the long drive to West Palm Beach .... it was difficult, very difficult .... especially for Lisa. A new beginning, which she's very excited about but leaving her family is hard. We are very proud of her!!! Thank goodness there's Skype .... it will make it a little easier.

I also want to thank Pat, Brian and Nancy for helping me clean up after everyone left and especially for hanging with me for long after Jack & Lisa left .... I appreciated it more than you know.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all!