5 1/2 month Update

I just realized how long it has been since I have blogged. Now that I am back at work and don't have the kids napping all afternoon, my down time has dwindled.

This past weekend Caleigh and I went to Houston for Miles's Houston memorial service. It was a fantastic service to celebrate his life at his home church. Everything was signed and spoken and powerful. You could tell he was really loved by that church. It was so great to see all of his friends that we have seen grow up. Reese and Rusty were supposed to go with me, but Reese was sick all weekend. I would say we are finally all well but now Rusty is feeling sick. Just in time to go fishing at the lake of course!

The weekend before I was sick so Reese stayed with his grandparents. They took him camping and he had the time of his life. The camping trip was planned- the extended stay due to me being sick while Rusty was hunting wasn't. It was a fun girls weekend. You forget how easy it is with 1 kid- who isn't mobile. She was a great sport helping mom and I do our Christmas shopping in Toys R Us. We would hold things up and ask her if she wanted it for Christmas-- I guess that's as good as you get with an infants Christmas list:)

Caleigh has started to roll all over the place. She is never where I leave her anymore. Let the craziness begin!

Playing with Ella when our homegroup was over for dinner
Visting Aunt Heather at the memorial service
Visiting Cousin Aaron at the memorial
Ready for Thanksgiving
Reese and Caleigh play well together
Ready for church. Granny was here so we had to wear shoes.
She was a good sport as we tried on all of her Christmas clothes to decide what she should wear for her pictures. This one was too small so we took a one time picture in it. She didn't care for the fur around the neck

fire station

Caleigh is 5 months today. When I took her to the dr on Sat she was 14 lb and 10 oz. I recently saw a picture of Reese at this age and he was chunky as well. I forget he ever was since he has been so skinny for so long.

Yesterday I took both kids to the local fire station. Reese isn't feeling 100% and as a result he was acting crazy. I even caught him jumping on the bed during our tour. Don't you love how your kids are well behaved until you are around 25 other people- then they act like crazy people. He had a great time and is still talking about the boats they had there.

Caleigh was laughing at the firemen talking to her

Oklahoma recap

I promise one of these days to blog about our Thomas the Train trip. Here is a recap of our week.

Rusty, Caleigh and I arrived in Tulsa around 2 am on Friday night. We were told he was stable and to come up in the am. He died at 7:38 a.m. on Saturday so we weren't able to see him. We were lucky that we were in Tulsa and able to go to the hospital to sit with him and the family for about an hr and a half on Sat am. I t was nice to have the opportunity to say goodbye. I came back on Sunday with Rusty and Caleigh and went back Tuesday to drive my nephews (leaving Rusty and the kids here)

He did a lot in his 17 years and was an amazing kid. He loved the lord and loved life and never let his health get him down. He lived as a young infant in a bubble and stayed a year and a half in the hospital. He was born with SCIDS http://www.immunedisease.com/patients-and-families/about-pi/types-of-pi/severe-combined-immunodeficiency-scid.html. We had to wear masks and gloves at all times when we went to visit him as an infant and toddler. He just moved to OK last year and prior to that he lived in Houston. We saw him all the time in Houston and twice since he moved to Oklahoma last December.

The service Wednesday was fantastic with the deaf church in Houston and in OKC sending their ministers. He will be missed.I believe this is going to the be the most difficult thing I have ever had to go through. He was born without an immune system and we were lucky to have him as long as we did, but there is still a large void. However, we rejoice that he is in heaven and able to hear and with a healthy body.

He was able to make multiple trips to the national ability center. This is a fantastic place where he was able to do alot of outdoor activities. They have some pictures on their web site at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=121017&id=48608818777&l=5fc22dad60

Caleigh did great in the car (only1 meltdown coming and going) and was a happy baby. She was passed around 20 people and still smiling while we were there.

This summer with my family in OK. I had just had Caleigh so I didnt get to make this trip.

He was very patriotic. He made a sign for Rusty and went and saw him when he came in from Afghanistan .

He begged Rusty for dogtags. He wore these up until Friday. Rusty got him a uniform and dog tags and I took them to him in Feb. This was the last time I saw him.Holding Reese at his 16th bday party

He was on the sign for MD Anderson Christmas cards

Message to Live By

I am exhausted after 2 trip to OK since Friday but I wanted to post this shirt. Miles made this shirt this summer. It really shows the kind of kid he was and that he never gave up. He never let it get him down. I will blog more about him in the next few days and post more pictures. I cant express the void we feel without him.