Wednesday, March 14, 2012

One Decade in Chicago







Sporting photos are all on our phones. Just need to figure out out to get them on here.

One Decade

Happy 10th Birthday!
Happy 1st Decade Birthday!
We are so proud of you Jack!

For his birthday we had donuts and coffee/hot chocolate and then in the evening we made homemade pizza and cupcakes (Target...Not Felisa's cupcakes), since his birthday was on a weekend night the big plans where for the weekend.

We asked Jack how he want to celebrate his big double digit birthday. His request, "I want to see an NBA game so our family and his best friend Colby all went to Chicago for the weekend. We swam, the boys shopped (Mom and dad did not!), saw the Black Hawks NHL game on Friday night and the Chicago Bulls NBA game on Saturday night. The weather was warm, sunny and amazing to be outside. We had a great time!



Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Nephew turns 4!

Happy 4th Birthday Nicolas!

Thinking back over the last four years with Nicolas so many things have flooded my thoughts. I can still see clearly standing in my mothers drive way kissing my sisters tummy and telling Nicolas I would see him soon. We were all so excited, giddy like a child waiting for Christmas morning. We were all up late that night after Jake and Felisa left for the hospital to be induced. Little did any of us knew how much my sisters family lives and our lives would change.

I remember going to the hospital and learning of his delivery being stressful on him and not wanting to eat, but I didn't think much of it. My sister and Jake were exhausted from being up all night, so our visit to the hospital was short. We made photo albums for Garrett, Jake and Will to take to school the next day to show all their friends. At that point we were still not worried about Nicolas well being/health, but that would all change.

After Felisa and Jake getting home they started noticing things with Nicolas and he still wasn't really interested in feeding. He had started to go backwards instead of surging forward and that began their life of living in the hospital for the next six month trying to understand what was going on with Nicolas. For me as an aunt I can remember feeling helpless to them and wanting to not think negative or even admit there were serious things going on with Nicolas. I was just thinking he will be fine and just needed a little help right now. Then the reality started coming in with Jake and Felisa announcing to all of us he would need surgery, the types of test they were running and was placed in the NICU unit.

By that time it was my kids spring break and we had drove to Ohio to see family and to paint wall graphics. What I can remember the most is locking myself in that room painting and crying out for God to help me understand how this could happen to a child, asking God for healing and wisdom for all the staff caring for him. I honestly can't remember crying so hard and long that day as I did. For even months after I can remember this being my same pray for him. God has healed the sick, healed a blind man and healed the cripple, so I knew God could heal Nico, but when would he do this. Months passed, Parkview NICU turned to lots of Riley and doctor vistits, test after test and trying all different kinds of medications in hopes that would be the one that could help Nico.

Before we all knew it we were celebrating his first birthday. I remember all of us saying to Felisa and Jake "can you believe how fast the year has gone?" but to them it had felt like 3 years Felisa has once told me. That party was only with the Grandparents since that current drug he was on striped his immune system which made him in great danger of getting sick. So to include all the families Felisa & Jake sent each of our families a care package that included all the pirate party favors and a DVD of Nicolas over the first year of life. All of us then took photos and made video of how we celebrate Nico in our homes and sent them back to Jake and Felisa. It was fun way to celebrate him and a great feeling to see him make it to his 1 birthday.

Each birthday since has been a milestone for him as well as for Felisa and Jakes family. It is a precious time for our family. A time for thanking God for his good/stable health, Nicolas with us and able to celebrate another year, a time of reflecting just how precious life is, and for us to continue to trust God and his plans for Nicolas. Really each day is a birthday party!

Nico is growing so big and is the size of a four year, but still has lots of special care instructions for his day to day life. He currently is healthy and staying indoors at home during this time of year of flu and cold season. Felisa and Jack give meds to him at 12a, 6a, 12p, 6p every day since the day he was born. He has an awesome wheelchair that allows him to stand with the help of supports on it. That is always so cool to see because majority of time he is laying on his back or sitting in a special chair made just for him and his spine. His spine is twisting and turning from the lack of muscle development. And the newest equipment is a vest that vibrates to keep his lungs from filling with fluid. It shakes pretty hard and I always hate to see that.

God hasn't healed him here on earth, but God is doing amazing things in the hearts of our family and those closest to Felisa and Jake. I started seeing that God had bigger plans then what I wanted for Nicolas; to grow our faith and a witness to people around us. God will heal Nicolas just not on earth and that is okay. I am just thankful for the special gift of Nicolas and to be apart of this journey. I long to see the day where I can see Nicolas run into Jake and Felisa's arms and hear his voice say mommy and daddy and give them a hug they long from him.

Finally, how wonderful it is to know that our family is putting our faith and trust in Christ and to have Him walking along the side of Felisa, Jake, Nicolas, Garrett, Sophia and our extended family. How much more scary would it be without Christ in the good times and the bad times? My prayer for our family is for Gods continued wisdom for Nicolas parents, for the doctors that care for him and for all of your family trusting and living for Jesus Christ.

Happy 4th Birthday Nicolas!
We love you!



This photo was taken at Christmas with his cousins...Will some how lost his balance!

Friday, February 17, 2012

Me by Plumb (with lyrics)



If you would like to hear the song ME by plumb....here it is!

This Is The Stuff (Lyric Video)



By Francesca Battistelli -

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Me

I haven't had
A chance to sleep
And when I wake
I wake with your dreams
I guess my pillow
Holds some kind of key
To your peace
Your peace

Me
I wouldn't trade your love for all the candy
In this great big world
Me
I feel so crazy blessed and oh so lucky
To be the place you go
When you need to feel safe
When you need a kiss
It's me

I haven't showered
And I tried to eat
But all your tears
Oh they needed me
I need some time, some time to think
But then I hear you
And what you need is...

Me
I wouldn't trade your love for all the candy
Find More lyrics at www.sweetslyrics.com
In this great big world
Me
I feel so crazy blessed and oh so lucky
To be the place you go


I wash your face
To make room for
All the kisses
Of tomorrow
And every day
That I get to
Be here with you
Is sweet

Me
I wouldn't trade your love for all the candy
In this great big world
Me
I feel so crazy blessed and oh so lucky
To be the place you go
When you need to feel safe
When you need a kiss

Oh don't be afraid
Cause what you'll have is....
Me

Lyrics to song Me by Plumb


I can never get enough of this song! I will take all the clean or sticky face kisses. And the dirty hands that wrap their arms around me...I never can get enough of these little humans with big hearts in my life!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Trick or Treat

This was our first year to trick n treat on the lake!




Fall Play

Grandpa Leman put a huge piles of leaves for us to play in this past weekend. We had a great time!




Saturday, October 22, 2011

Most Recent Photos of Kids.





Fall is here!

Hands down October has been the fastest month of this year! School is off and running at full speed and we are almost to the end of the first nine week grading period. Both boys are really enjoying school and doing really well. Jack is playing tackle football for the first time and got to run in his first career touch down a few weeks ago - 45 yards!. School is going really well for him in academics, school involvement and social life. He was elected to the Student Council and is now running for Vice President. You can see his blog at lemanhome.blospot.com. I think he takes after his Dad! Will just finished soccer season and loved the fact that he got "big kid" uniforms this year. He is our little home body. He is really enjoying reading and keeps getting better all the time. He loves that Grace will stop to listen to him. Will also likes that fact that he can do some things that Jack can't... like cartwheels! Will has been trying to teach Jack - It is pretty funny and I need to get it on video for all you to watch. (Mom tried to show them how and tweaked her back!) Grace ... where to start.... we can't keep up with her 8 to 10 wardrobe changes during a single day! She is a girly girl! It is fun to watch except for Sunday mornings. Just when we think we have her ready for church she will have changed and pulled all the hair bows out two to three times before leaving. But she is now potty trained and takes herself to the bathroom to go in her little potty. We are thankful for that!