Sister Update

Just wanted to thank anyone who prayed for Ali over the past week.  She had her testing done on Monday and it was good news.  Everything looked good, and it looks like the med she has been taking over the past few months is working! Praise God!  It is still puzzling as to why she has been feeling so crummy, and the doctor thinks that on top of her Crohn's Disease she also has a horrible case of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).  She is being started on a new med this week, and we are hopeful she will start to feel like herself again.  The good news is, that she will not need surgery or the intensive medication where she would have to go to the hospital monthly for.  God is good!  Just wanted to update, for those who were praying.  Thanks so much, it was really appreciated!  Continue to pray that this new med makes Ali a new woman!

5 Months

Savannah turned 5 months old on Sunday.  She has chunked up a bit this month, and I bet will be back on her growth curve at her 6 month appointment in a month.  Here is what the little love is up to these days:

• Found her feet!  Loves playing with them and staring at them.
• Stalled in the rolling department for a couple of weeks, but just picked it back up again and is all over the place.
• Sleeping the same, but is waking up in the middle of the night "talking".  I go in to her sometimes and she just wants to play.
• Babbling a ton
• wearing 6 month clothing and still a few 3 month clothes
• size 2 diapers during the day, but 3 at night for leaking purposes
• Can maybe stretch her awake time to 2 hours at a time, but still gets pretty cranky after an hour and a half.  
• Started getting mad when I put her down for a nap.  This lasts for a few minutes only.  I think she just wants to be with her mama.
• Eats five times per day.  Still no solids.
• Super smiley girl and giggles here and there.

The toes!  Can't wait for the warmer weather when she can be barefoot.  Her feet are super skinny and socks are almost impossible to keep on!

First pony tail.  What a cutie!

Baby blues!  I am thinking her eyes will stay blue.  They aren't as light as her brother's were, but much lighter than Audrey's eyes were.  Audrey now has brown eyes.

First sickness, was a little stomach bug.  Poor thing threw up in the car right before picking up the big kids.  She is fine now.

Savannah is such a joy, and we are so blessed with this little love in our lives!

Our Funny Valentines

Happy Valentines Day from our funny little Valentines!

Valentine parties at school yesterday.

January Instagram

Audrey started dance this month.  It is too cute beyond words!  It is a mommy and me class.  She absolutely loves it!  Savannah also enjoys watching all the tiny dancers. 

We watched Despicable Me 2 and Luke was scared of the purple minions, poor guy!  He asked to sleep with me.  Since Daddy was out of town, I obliged, and quite enjoyed this little face next to me.

The Christmas beard returned for a third consecutive year, and lasted longer this time around.  Boy, was I glad to see it gone!

Found this picture of my dad as a senior in high school.  Haha!  Look at that blowout!

Audrey fell asleep on the couch.  She looks so old to me here!

Luke got to go to Daddy's championship game, and they won!  He was one excited boy.  He even got to sit on the bench.  Do these two look alike? I think not...

Luke at Little Gym.  He has been dying to try karate, and I have looked all over town, but it is so expensive and they want you to go multiple times per week.  Little Gym has a class, but as you can see, Luke was a little out of his league with a 2nd and 4th grader!  We quickly switched back to gymnastics.

Sweet Savannah snoozing on her mama.  Soaking this in!

Sister time on the floor.

We went to a very fun birthday party at a little ghost town.  The kids loved it, and Savannah got a good nap.

Savannah now rolls occasionally in bed and sleeps on her tummy.  Poor girl woke up like this with a swollen face and bed head for days.  Takes after her mama!

I spy a baby.

Audrey is very into dressing herself these days.  She came downstairs with a pair of pants, two skirts and 2 shirts on.  Interesting choice...

Our little angel.

My Sister

I just want to share something going on in our family right now and talk about my little sister for a minute.  Ali is 2 years younger than me, and was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease in her early 20s.  Most people probably don't know what this is, but it is an autoimmune disease that affects your digestive system.  Basically, your intestines get very swollen and it causes lots of pain, among other issues.  She has been dealing with this for years, and about 6 years ago it got so bad that she had to have a colon resection.  They removed the diseased part of her colon because there wasn't much else they could do at that point.  She has been doing relatively well for the past several years, but things are starting to get worse again.  I can only imagine how difficult it is to take care of two tiny children, while feeling the way she does, day in and day out.  She was recently started on a new med where she has to give herself a shot 2 times per month, but this is not seeming to help.  She is scheduled for a scope in 2 weeks to really see what is going on.  Based off of what that says, she may have to switch to a new med that involves going to the hospital once a month for an infusion, or it may be apparent that she needs another surgery.

Right now we are just praying for answers, and that her doctor can make the best decision possible for her and that we can get her feeling better.  Her doctor is one of the top ones in Dallas, so we know she is in great hands. This is a lifelong process that Ali will always be dealing with.  That is so daunting for me to think about, and I am not even the one experiencing the pain.  God is the ultimate healer and nothing is impossible with Him.  Right now I am asking for prayers for complete healing for Ali, and for her to have energy to be the best mom she can be.  Any and all prayers are more than appreciated and I know God hears us, especially when we come together.  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them -Matthew 18:20  

It would be really easy for Ali to be full of self pity and kind of shut down, but this is not the case.  Ali really has a great attitude about everything and is such an amazing mom.  She really puts on a brave face, and most people don't even know the struggles she has had to face.  She is definitely an inspiration, and through her faith she is proof that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. -Philippians 4:13.         

Papa

Brian's grandfather, Papa, passed away this morning at 4:47.  It was expected and everyone is doing well.  He lived a long 99 years and we feel so blessed that we got to spend so much time with him these past 4 years since he moved to McKinney.  The kids loved him and he will surely be missed.  He had a heart for the Lord, and expressed that he was excited to see his mother soon.  It is truly amazing thinking about what he is seeing and experiencing at this very moment!  He is getting to join his wife, and more importantly getting to be with our creator.  I can't think of anything better!  Here are some memories with him over the past few years.

This past Christmas.  Such a blessing that he was able to meet Savannah.  He just thought she was so precious.

At Halloween with Savannah.

His 99th birthday. Savannah was 2 weeks old.

All his kids.  Nonnie has been so good to her father.  She took amazing care of him, and spent a lot of time with him, which I know he cherished.  He was blessed.

Meeting Audrey fir the first time.

He called Audrey "the little witch".  He said she bewitches everyone and he truly adored her.

Meeting Luke at 2 weeks old.

Lulu, his wife, was also able to meet Luke.  She passed away when Luke was 6 months old.

 Two peas in a pod.

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body.  - Philippians 3:20-21