Family Visit #2

Friday came around and I was really getting pretty homesick so I decided I needed to do something normal.  I had planned from the beginning to volunteer here at the Ronald McDonald House during my stay so I figured it was time to get to it!  In an effort to volunteer and feel more like myself I decided to cook dinner for the house guests.  I had originally planned to make Swedish meatballs and rice but then someone else came and made dinner Thursday night and made something similar so I went for the old "brinner" as my friend Ellen likes to call it; breakfast for dinner.  I figured that most of the residents here don't really get a good breakfast because they get up and go to the hospital right away or to their therapy centers or whatever.  I was pleasantly surprised at how excited so many were.

One thing that I forget about how lucky I am to have Jack is that normally when I cook he cleans.  We made a deal before we were married that he would do the dishes and I would do all the other chores around the house.  My how I was missing him as I was cleaning up from cooking all of that.  Then, to my surprise I heard a little voice giggling behind me and it was EMMA!!  Jack surprised me by working long hours and left work early to be able to get here earlier Friday evening since last week he didn't get here until almost 10:00 and the kids had to go right to bed.  How I love this man :)

Saturday morning we hung out a little and then decided to take advantage of the membership that the house has to the John Ball Zoo.  I had taken the kids there when we used to live in Kalamazoo but that was a really long time ago and they were very excited to go!  The weekends with them here has sort of been little vacations because we've been able to do so much for free because of the RMH.  Please don't ever regret putting your change in the containers or buying your kids happy meals.  It has helped us a lot!  Anyway, the zoo was really fun as you can see.

Petting sting rays and sharks

Overprotective momma didn't let her put her hands in but she had fun looking :) and standing :)

Fun in the petting zoo

Laila pet the goat!  I forgot to add to the blog from Wednesday that it went way better with the service dogs this week.  She voluntarily pet them after she got used to them!

My brave husband and older kiddos had tons of fun on this ropes course!

 We went out to eat at On the Border (thanks again for the gift cards mom!) and then went back to the house for awhile.  I'm kind of sick of being at the house and trying to have a super fun time with the kids so we got a gym membership pass (thanks again to RMH) and we all went swimming and in the hot tub at East Hills athletic club. 

We had a late lunch after the zoo and none of us were that hungry so we had Cold Stone creamery for dinner Saturday night.  Fun mom :)  After that crazy long day we brought the kids back and got them ready for bed.  Since we're all in one room, bedtime can be tricky.  Laila sleeps in the bathroom.  I know it sounds weird but she sleeps in a nap nanny so she can pretty much go anywhere with her own little bed and since she vomits every morning and it's not the greatest sound to wake up to it's nice to have her behind the door.  She doesn't mind it either because then she can get to sleep instead of being kept up by us.  Emma & Jackson definitely would not go to sleep with Jack and I sitting there so we decided to go out to the living room while they fell asleep.  We took out a puzzle and three hours later we finished it!  Not what I had figured would be on our agenda for the night but it was addicting and showing the kids the picture of it today motivated them to work on the geography puzzle I got them the other day.  Hoping the puzzle of the USA will help them learn and we actually had some of the other kids in the house working on it with us too :)

Mine and Jack's masterpiece :)

  We decided not to drive down to Kalamazoo for church again this week.  Although it would've been nice to see everyone again, we decided to stay local so we could get more time together as a family today.  We found a nice little church here in GR and it was great!  We had originally planned to try the Children's Museum with the kids but they decided they would rather stay here and watch a movie and hang out so that's what we did.  Then we took a walk over to McDonald's (where we get 50% off for being guests at RMH) for dinner and then they had to head out.  My friend Julie was away from home for a very long time with her little guy Canaan and we've talked about how hard it is to be away from home.  She was definitely right that the weekend visits are great but hard.  I wouldn't trade having them here but it is not getting easier to say goodbye, it's harder.  When Jackson hops out of the car for another one last teary eyed hug I just want to grab my stuff and hop in the car with them.  It's great having them here but then my room seems so quiet and empty now.  Next weekend I'm going to go home for a few days.  We were originally supposed to be done this Friday but since we opted for the extra week we won't be.  However, the extra week is actually the start of a whole new class session and every session starts on a Tuesday so we'll have a three day weekend.  I am scheduled to work in the cafeteria at the kid's school next Monday and I really want to be able to.  I had to miss my shift last year because Laila was in the hospital and since she has the day off I don't want to miss it again this year.  I know it seems like a silly thing but I really like to be involved at the school and see all the kids and Emma & Jackson love when it's my turn too.  The thing I wonder is how hard it's going to be to come back after being home.  I'm hoping it won't be too bad since I'll know it'll only be for four days and then we'll be done!!

Good-bye hugs

So, after they left tonight Laila and I did some nails.  We've turned into quite the fancy nail girls since spending a weekend with my sister Brooke a few months ago.  Since we left all our fancy stickers at home we just got glow-in-the-dark hot pink and a black nail pen from Meijer for some fun.  I did Emma's to match ours before she left :)



Don't laugh at the Yabba Dabbas ;)

So I laid Laila on the floor for awhile because between the daddy snuggles and all the outings she hadn't had much time to stretch out.  I put her on her belly (not her favorite) and got sucked into facebook for a few minutes.  Next thing I here "MOMMA, MOMMA!" and this in what I find.

I laughed and it really made me smile because this is something normal.  I have countless pictures of Emma & Jackson when they were still immobile but somehow would get stuck under the coffee table or something.  It's so fun to have some of that with Laila too.  She had a good weekend and did a little walking with a ladder back chair we signed out from CLC for the weekend and it was really nice to let her stand for some things at the zoo.  I also got a good workout with her in the pool at the health club.  I had her working out that right leg that seems so stubborn and did a lot of stretching her arms which she normally whines about but since we were stretching out to splash the water she was fine with it.  Jack says maybe we can get insurance to cover and indoor pool :)  Laila was also amazing u

s with her eating again this weekend.  My pity party day must've just been a bad day for her because the past few days she has been eating great again.  She really likes being in control of the spoon and I like being "out of control."  If she doesn't want to eat, the tube it is and I have to be OK with this.  Seems like as soon as I get OK and stop pressuring, she wants to eat.  Ah..... balance.

So I think we're ready for week three, whatever it may bring :)

Day Nine: Out of Control

I knew that when we came this would be hard.  I think sometimes we tell ourselves that and then think that will make it easier because we're "preparing" ourselves.  Knowing it'll be hard and really knowing the reality are two very different things.  I thought of how taxing it would be on Laila's body, how hard it would to not go home for this long, how difficult it would be for Emma & Jackson to carrying on without a mom there, how much Jack was going to have to do on his own.  Some days I wondered if things would run better without a mom and wife who was stressed out all the time being there.  I thought once I got here and was able to focus solely on Laila that I wouldn't be as stressed.  Sure I am actually taking advantage and took a nap the past few days just because I could.  I've been able to watch a little TV which there is no time for at home.  I've been able to visit with a few friends and family who have been gracious enough to drive all the way here to see me.  But my problems still remain, I'm just as stressed, just as sad.  The problem is me.  Now before you all start writing your encouraging comments (which by the way have been a total gift from God to me these past two weeks!) I want you to know that I'm working on it.  I feel better today, I know that has to do with so many prayers that are being lifted up on behalf of Laila and I.  I also know it's because of the amazing bible study I picked up the other day and have been able to dive into.  We want control.  I want control and with Laila I have none.  When I raised my other two children they understood discipline, consequences, faith.  From birth I dictated when they slept, ate, played, pretty much everything.  While I have some of that control with Laila, I do not have a way to get through to her.  I don't have her figured out.  She has so much going on and I try to handle all of it but ultimately she is going to decide if she will ever walk, if she will ever eat, if she will ever be independent and on her own.  So here I am, out of control.  When you think of that it first seems helpless and frustrating but I'm coming to a different frame of mind.

I remember when Jack and I got married and how it was a while before we figured out the balance of who was the decision maker.  I knew that he was supposed to be the head of our house but I wanted control and honestly he was ok with giving it to me but we were out of balance.  It wasn't until I had really dove into God's word and had some amazing mentors help me to see the freedom of being out of control.  I used to go ahead with decisions about our lives and then sit and worry if things would turn out and if they didn't then that would be on me.  I'm so thankful now to have a marriage where we discuss everything together and then I let him make the final decision.  Most women look at that as degrading but I look at as freeing.  If he's wrong then I can point a finger at him!  Ha!  Just kidding :)  But seriously, God put him in charge for a reason.  So now I look at this situation with Laila and I need to get out of control.  I will continue to help her provide for her and give her every opportunity that God's leads us to but ultimately God and Laila are in control of Laila.  Worry, anger, sorrow and frustration get me no where and really don't help Laila at all.  We battle, both give up then we're two steps further back than where we started.

I was talking with one of the moms in the house this morning at breakfast.  Her baby was born six weeks ago, has gained one pound and now weighs 2lb 6oz.  You read that right, her baby was 1lb 6oz at birth.  As we were talking we discussed struggling with trying to find the joys in today while really really wanting the best for our children in the future.  It's so sad that we don't celebrate the milestones without two seconds later moving on to another thing that needs to be accomplished.  Why can't we just sit and rejoice in what the Lord is doing today?!?!  I think her story really stuck me to because today her baby is the exact weight Laila was when she was born; 2lb 6oz.  I hear her talk about how her little girl just got to have a real bath (sponge bath) for the first time and how now she can wear a few pieces of clothing.  Have you praised God today that you child can wear clothing?  I made me think about how far Laila has come in her short three years and how many things were put in her path to stop her.  I beg to not be something that gets in her path.  I don't want to be a closed door, I want to be open.  I want to be the one cheering her on, not the one who's disappointed.  Here's a big thing that struck me in my study today:  "Our anxiety always stems from a desire to control and indicates that we have ceased to trust the Lord."  I can't control Laila, I can't control who decides we're not worth the fight, I can't control the path God chooses for us but I can control my lack of control.  I'm gonna try that for awhile.

So today Laila seems to have had an OK day.  I went in with her this morning and got her all set up at her table.  She wasn't wanting to hold onto the bar for support and when she finally did she just laid her head on the table.  I figure these are my two weeks to let them work it out with her so I helped a little but then let her be.  I just amazes me that this time last week she was doing so well but hopefully she'll come back around to that.  She did go on the potty again today!  Her teacher even said that when she did she called for her like she wanted to let her know so she could get off the potty.  That would be great if she can just figure out that going gets her off of it faster.  I was working on it with her back at the house yesterday and and she such a fit and threw herself forward and split her lip open.  Crazy girl.  She also looked a little better in her steps today.  She is definitely left handed and left legged.  Her left leg is much more cooperative than her right.  You can see her shaking and trying to make that right leg bend and step but it is much more difficult.  Today it looked a little more loose when she was stepping.  She did better eating today and finished a jar of baby food and drank some of her pediasure.  Without being in the classroom I don't have much more to share than just this small report that the teacher gives me everyday when I pick her up.

Thanks for reading a caring.  It's sort of my therapy for myself to write in the afternoons like this :)

Day Eight: Pity Party

Well I've tried my best to stay with a positive outlook but my sister told me this morning that's it OK to be real on here so sorry to disappoint those of you who have been saying how great of an attitude I have and how great Laila is doing but today I don't feel that way.

Laila has gone from crying about everything to basically refusing.  The past two days at school she has either found her way to cheat out of what she is doing or just basically turning into a limp noodle and refusing.  Since I'm not there I watched her this morning and they have chairs on either side of her so she doesn't fall and she just leans her body against one instead of sitting.  When I try doing any walking or standing with her back at the house she just screams and draws her knees up refusing to touch the floor.  Ever had your kid go limp and refuse to stand when they are throwing a fit?  Try my life almost constantly every day.  Dead weight.  Here's my problem:  knowledge.  Knowing that Laila is able to do these things but chooses not to is infuriating.  She did the same thing when we were bringing her to feeding therapy once a week all the way to Indy.  She does something for a little while, excels then decides it's too much work and gives up.  She had to go back on her g-tube again yesterday evening because she refuses to eat or drink again except for small amounts (again, I warned you about the negative today).  I want the best for her but I can't do anything about her not wanting it for herself.  I keep thinking about the fact that we were originally supposed to  be going home next week and I'm glad that we have the extra time because hopefully that will help her understand and do better before we go home.  At home we don't have the special tables and chairs and all the equipment they have here and she definitely doesn't have a patient teacher in me.

I wonder about all this.  If we were home and she was getting therapy somewhere else five days a week, five hours a day, would she be making progress there and I could be at home?  Jack wonders if therapy even helps at all.  She didn't have any therapy over the summer and really gained a lot of skills.  The one thing that I keep falling back to is how special it is that they are specialized with kids with CP.  They are not thrown into a classroom with kids with seven other disabilities with one teacher and a few aides to try to do class in a way that works for everyone.  I'm guessing the thousands of dollars we're spending in tuition and housing and sacrifice that my husband and other children are making has to be worth it or why would anyone do it, right?  The problem is that a lot of the families live here and their kids actually go to school at CLC and get to continue their treatment all the time.  We have a short time here and I wonder what will be able to transfer back home.  I'm sure they have a plan for that and I pray that I'll eat all these doubtful words in the next couple of week but for today......pity party it is.  Don't judge me till you walk in my shoes.

*to her therapists and teachers here and back home, sorry.  blowing off some steam today*

Day Seven: Settling In

Today Laila had an OK day.  Her sitting wasn't as good and she wasn't as comlplaint during the lying program as she had been the past few days.  They said maybe she had finally noticed that I wasn't there and was a little upset about that.  As with everything I guess there will be good and bad days.  Some really good things though were that she went  on the potty and kept her diaper dry all day.  I'm just so shocked about that.  Funny that the thing that she was rebelling against the most is one thing she did good today.  She also ate a whole large jar of baby food at school today.  They said she was starving and asking for more.  She was taking about five bites on her own and then would need help and then would take some on her own again.  Again, shocked that this is something that is going so well when its not one of the things that they necessarily "work" on at school or have a special method for but it makes a difference being in a class with peers like her and wanting to be like everyone else.  Potty and eating were not what I was expecting to get out of this but that was what she did well today.  I'll take it :)  I love that she is getting this opportunity to be in a classroom where the teachers only work with kids with disabilities similar to hers and know the best way to deal with them.

My sister (in-law) Jill arrived last night to stay a few days with us here.  Laila was SO excited to see her cousins that she squealed in delight when she saw Shyanne and Jaylyn.  It's so fun to have a little one close to the age of my nieces and to be able to see them together.  It has also been interesting to see the differences in the kids.  Jaylyn is eight months younger than Laila but so much farther along.  I know that comes with the territory but sometimes still makes me sad for Laila.  We took Jill's girls to the GR Children's Museum today while Laila was at school to let them burn off some energy.  My baby niece Shy is almost 11 months old and just learning to try to walk holding your hands.  As I walked with her around the museum today I watched her and the way her mind reels figuring out all of the things that come natural to most children.  I hold her hands and she naturally shifts her weight from side to side and her body knows to take steps one foot at a time without having to be verbally told.  We were sitting and playing with muscial instruments and she naturally passes her toys from one hand to the other.  When she is hungry she just lays back and drinks from a bottle and can drink 8oz and eat a jar of baby food all at one sitting and her little tummy can handle it.  I guess what I'm trying to say is these are all little things that we take for granted and I don't ever want to do that again.  I watch Laila struggle with most everything she does and it makes me sad for her; happy that she has an opportunity to focus so much on learning right now but also sad that she has to work so hard for things that others take for granted.  I'm so thankful that my nieces and nephews are well and healthy and so thankful especially for their parents who love and take care of them so GREAT!  Speaking of, a very happy 17th birthday to my beautiful niece Jordyn today!  I remember that when we found out that Laila would be joining our family Jill joked that she was jealous because we only had to wait one month for Laila and at the time she was pregnant with Shyanne and was waiting the normal nine months.  My how our girls have changed and grown over the past year.

Jaylyn liked the train table

My Beautiful Shyanne :)

I'd like to ask for prayers for the families that are here with me at the RMH.  It really is a mission field here.  There are varying families with various reasons they are here and every day as I hear their stories I am humbled by the "little" things that we are going through.  A new family came in yesterday and the father passed away a month ago and now just two days ago the twelve year old boy woke up with a terrible headache and is now scheduled for brain surgery tomorrow to remove a brain tumor that they found and they find out today if it is cancer or not.  I can't imagine the burden they must feel and I told them that I would pray and ask others to as well so please do remember them in your prayers.  One exciting thing is an email I received yesterday.  My favorite author is Karen Kingsbury.  She writes Christian fiction and one of the things I love about her writing it that it is real.  The characters are Christian but they don't lead perfect lives with no troubles or heartache.  Some people think that Christians have this perfect life with no trouble.  Actually the bible says the exact opposite of that.  In John 16 it says "In this life you WILL have trouble" now the best part so pay attention "But take heart!  I have overcome the world!"  I love how Karen writes about how people can turn to Christ and find a way to make it through.  So, when I was browsing through the library here at RMH first of all there aren't very many books and second of all barely anything with the message of Christ.  So I emailed Karen yesterday on a whim thinking I would probably not get a response and within an hour she answered me and agreed to donate one of her book series to the house here!  How neat is that?!?  I really think her writing could help a lot of these families through some of these incredible trials they are living through.  So if you read this Karen, thank you so much!!  And if any of you are looking for a good author definitely check out her books; great books from an even better person!

Please also pray Laila will continue to move forward and try and get used to me not being with her.  Again, I think the extra week will be good for her.

Day Six: Steps

I thought I would share this video today of Laila taking her steps from the door heading toward her chair at the beginning of the day.  She can normally do this without two people but this is what I caught on video.  Hopefully by the end of our four weeks I'll be able to take another video to compare. 

She was also very excited to be able to show off what she has learned to Papa Tom and Grandma Mary today.  They are on vacation this week so they drove up to spend the day pampering me and letting me get some adult time!



We visited a 9/11 memorial at the Cannonsburg Ski Area.  The had 3200 flags with names and biographies of the victims on them.  It was very overwhelming.  The flags were available for purchase and they purchased one that was in memory of a man who chose to stay in the building to help his quadriplegic friend co-worker  get out.



We also visited a local winery and did some sampling. I actually found a red wine that I liked so we got it. My friend Chanda will be so proud of me :)

So today was a nice day out visiting and it was a good day for Laila as well.  They said that today they were able to let her sit on the potty and leave her there without crying (or minimal crying) by herself which is kind of unbelievable to me.  I may have to stop by and peek in at potty time tomorrow to see for myself ;)  They said her stepping is getting so much better and I was able to see at the beginning of the day how good her sitting really is at the table as well.  She is now holding on to the bar with one hand and playing with blocks or some other toy with the other hand.  It's so amazing to see her brain figuring out that if she is leaning to far one way she can pull the other arm harder to correct her sitting.  I am so amazed at her eating.  The past two days she had not had to be on her g-tube at all during the day.  She is drinking at least 1.5 cans of pediasure by mouth each day and a whole jar of baby food or pudding.  The really amazing part is that her stomach is handling it.  She will drink around 100ml at a time in about a 10-20 minute period.  When she was on her g-tube she was only able to handled 160ml at the absolute most but ran over a one hour period.  She is still on her tube at night time to make up the rest of the calories and fluid she needs but it has been amazing to see how well she is doing with the rest.  I spent many days worrying about how we were going to deal with her g-tube during the day because I did not want her on it at school because I knew it would just slow her down.  Problem solved :)  more than I could ask or imagine.........

I got everything switched around at home to make arrangements for our extra week here.  Both girls had an appt at the eye doctor at Riley that week and it's usually hard to get an appointment less than three months our but they were able to change it to the very next week!  We were also picking up Laila's power chair that day and they had an opening for us to switch as well.  It's all coming together which I'm thankful for because it helps me to know we're making the right decision to stay.  Now if someone could just explain that to my precious little six year old who misses his mommy.  He was crying about it last night when Jack told him.  I think that is the hardest part of all of this.  Not just this camp but of life.  Choosing what is the most important, trying to decide what sacrifices are worth it and which are not.  I couldn't ask for a better brother and sister for Laila, they are always so understanding.  They are the ones that get put on hold a lot of the time and they do so well with it.  Since I'm gone, Emma reads me over the phone our special bedtime devotion that she and I do every night.  Last night before she even started reading to me she said, "oh mom, I think this one is going to be good for you to relate to Laila."  I love her.  I love that she has a heart for God and a heart for her sister and the discernment to relate His word to our lives.  How amazing to have an almost nine year old teaching me. 

I just want to say again how much I appreciate those of you that have been faithful to pray for us and are reading this blog.  As I watch the number of readers, check out the different places that you are logging on from and get a few comments  it really does help me to keep going.  I even said to Jack over the weekend while I was having a little pity party and wanting to go home, "I wish I didn't start keeping track on that stupid blog because now I definitely can't quit because everyone will know!"  So I feel better about it now and you reading is helping me to keep going.  Thank you!

Day Five: Alone Time

Laila stayed at class all by herself today!  She woke up in a great mood today, and no vomit I might add.  Of course when I asked her if she wanted to go she told me no but once we got there she was all smiles and excitement for her teachers :)  They let the kids bring a little something everyday for a sort of show-and-tell and today she wanted to bring her Elmo balloon that she got at the Dollar Tree the other day.  I was worried it would be distracting because it you know Laila you know if there is a ball or a balloon in eyesight all you hear is "ball, ball, ball, ball, ball....."  and now sometimes "bomb" which is her way of trying to say balloon correctly instead of ball.  I guess we better watch out when we take her on her first airplane!!

So, I had been so focused on her being by herself today and I got back in my car and thought, "huh, what do I do now?!?"  Being a mom for close to nine years now I'm not sure what to do with myself when there are no children around.  Laila had started preschool back home in August but that was three hours which were usually filled up with errands or housework.  Here I don't have much of that so I called a few friends that I haven't been able to chat with since I've been here, stopped by the Christian bookstore looking for a study to do, which I didn't find anything:( and then I came back to the house.  I watched some Beth Moore online, form Grey's Anatomy re-runs on Netflix and cleaned my room.  I got a little excited when I heard a lady vacuuming in the hallway so I asked to borrow it for my room.  I'm a nerd.

I got to school a little early to get Laila because I wanted to see how she was doing.  She was standing at the bar with her instructor fussing a bit but then yelling "I STAND UP!" in her very proud voice :)  They said she did well today and her fits had lessened quite a bit without me there.  They said it really helps the kids to not have someone right there, like their personal audience when they are frustrated.  They play it up when someone is there but tend to do better without.  They said she did fuss about the potty again but they were able to calm her down quicker.  Again, every inch counts so I got to see her walk to the door from me to be able to take her home and she seemed like her steps were even more deliberate today.  She's a long way from walking but it's good to see her be able to do the movements with help.

So at the end of the school day I went to talk with the CLC office manager about the cost for the extra week.  Ouch.   I guess I didn't realized truly how much this costs since we got the REMC grant to pay Laila's tuition.  That final week would actually only be four days and the cost is almost the same as one month of schooling for Emma & Jackson at DMC.  So I called Jack and we talked about the cost of it and how that would be one more whole week at the Ronald McDonald house at $25/night and more food and more gas money for one of us coming back and forth on the weekend but then we talked about how much God has blessed us with so far and how we wouldn't want to miss out on what could be another pivotal four days for Laila;.  We kept going back and forth and decided that we would table the discussion and both take some time to pray about it and then talk later tonight.  Well, only a few minutes later Jack sent me a text and said that his boss, who had no idea and hadn't heard his conversation, walked up to him and handed him a personal check for $100 saying he thought we might need it for something.  I guess there's our answer.  When we need, God will provide and if this is something He wants for Laila, we will make a way.  I just have to say I am very thankful that their are specialized programs for these kids but it makes me so sad how expensive they can be and how it's unfortunate for those that don't get to participate because of that hardship.  Somehow it works out though if it's what is supposed to be.  CLC does a lot of fundraising to defray the cost of tuition for families and I know it is a great deal cheaper for MI residents so they must get some sort of funding only from local people.  Either way, we're going to go ahead with that last week knowing God will provide because we know He will.  Thanks for your prayers!

So for those of you that only get to see that little smiley face girl, here's what momma gets after a hard day at school.  An over tired girl who's fighting taking a nap :(

Family Visit #1

Laila and I were so very excited on Friday night when Jack, Emma & Jackson finally got here!  It was only four days apart but we were definitely missing them!  We had lots of fun time together as a family. It was also nice to be able to show Jack a few of the things Laila had been working on.  She of course cried and refused the whole time.  Although I would rather she try harder and really show him what she can do, it was nice to be able to have him see how frustrating this can be.  Protective Daddy isn't so sure about this new therapy that makes his little one cry but is willing to stick it out :)

E&J were so excited to be staying in a Ronald McDonald house!  So excited in fact, that when we asked them on Saturday if they would like to go to the zoo or something fun they said they just wanted to stay here!  We did eventually end up going out exploring.  I took them over to CLC so they could see where it is but since it was a Saturday afternoon there was no one there so we couldn't go in.  I'm hoping Jack can come up one week day to be able to go there with Laila so I don't have to try to explain everything to him when we get home to be able to continue working with her. 

I got a lovely little pack of goodies from my mom which included gift cards a some cash so that we would be able to have some fun as a family on the weekends here so we went to Applebees for lunch and then headed over to the Fredrik Meijer Gardens.  We pretty much stuck to the children's part but spent a couple hours there and had a perfect day for it.

See, she can use those skills of standing when she puts her mind to it :)

Jackson playing with the Niagra Falls :)

They really liked this Great Lakes water area

That horse sculpture was crazy HUGE!

They had a great time rolling down this fun hill.  Laila even did it but wouldn't leave her mouth closed and kept eating grass!

 We got a coupon from Applebees for them movie Rio so we decided to order Jet's pizza (mmmmm!) and just have a family night back at RMH.  It was really nice :)

This morning we packed up and drove down to Kalamazoo to go visit our old church and head to Gull Meadow Farms for some apple picking, cider and donuts.  It's been really fun being able to do some of these things that we used to do when we lived up here and I've been cracking up at the things I forgot about like crazy MI no left turns and shopping at Meijer again instead of WalMart.  Silly little things but fond memories of our seven years up here.

My Loves



My Life



So, we're ready to start another week I think.  Emma & I were talking on the phone a few minutes ago and we're kind of amazed we already have one week down.  I'm sure when we're done it will seem like no time. I'm again, nervous and excited for what this week will bring.  I've already seen so much change and I need to remember that when it is hard.  We saw Laila taking steps this weekend so much better than we have ever seen.  We were amazed by the way she was able to stand and play in the water.  I've been amazed and incredibly thankful for my amazing, wonderful, helpful, handsome husband and the way he handles things at home.  I was able to get some great, great insight from my dear friend Gena this morning at church that I believe should be the theme verse for conductive education.  I'll leave you with that below.  Just a fun God thing too, she was just encouraging me with verse 11 but then we read on to 12 &13 amazed.

Hebrews 12:11-13

Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful.  But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness for those trained by it.  Therefore, strengthen your listless hands and your weak knees and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but be healed.