Biggest Need

MONEY

It's not glamorous. It's not pretty. It's not fun. It's not creative. It's not ingenious. It's not smart. It's not comical.

It is endearing. It is powerful. It is helpful. It is necessary. It is provision. It is humbling. It is impactful. It is peace-providing.

You have two ways you can give: YouCaring & PayPal

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Legacy

Lately the concept of "legacy" has been playing in my mind and challenging my heart. Dempsey's cancer diagnosis was a decided fork in our road. Our options, suit up and fight, or cower and curl up under the covers of denial. Thankfully we have a deep-rooted faith in Jesus Christ. We have been blessed to grow up in homes that had Bibles, cars that carried us to church every Sunday, and where prayer was a familiar language. It can be very tempting to dwell in the land of Why Me and to feel overwhelmed (like we do at times) when life seems to come crashing down around you. I hope our story and our example of what it looks like to lean into the Holy Spirit encourages you when your sky starts to fall.

This song is exactly what I want to share. It is a prayer of mine that I leave a legacy worthy of the Lord's approval. Oh, to hear Him say "Well done, my good and faithful servant." What honey to my ears that would be... without all the sticky ickiness, of course. My soul longs to leave a legacy of faith, trust, obedience to the Lord, courage, honesty, openness, realness, meaningful dialog, and a blog with thousands of views. Okay, so I'm still a tad narcissistic. I want to be able to look back on this journey and see that I was a vessel for the Spirit's work. I want to see God's fingerprints all over my past. I want to know my children KNOW HIM, love him, and choose to be obedient of his teachings.

Enjoy.

*

What do you want your legacy to look like? What would you like people to put on your tombstone? What are you doing now to ensure those things happen?

YOUR LEGACY HAS ALREADY STARTED.

Lets Talk About It

This morning, while I was on Facebook, I read a story that is all too common and sad. Let me share it with you and then share my thoughts.

The setting:
A playground
3 kids, 2 are sister siblings and one of the siblings is a young cancer kid, 3rd kid is a young girl
3 parents, 1 belongs to the cancer kid and 2 belong to the non-related girl

Background:
The cancer girl has super short hair, the typical cancer look
The two siblings were playing with the third kid on the playground
The playground kid's parents were nearby

As the playground friend was leaving, she asked the CK's mom "Is she a boy or a girl?"
The girl's parents shushed her and ushered her away from the siblings.
Mom said to the parents, "It's okay." Mom told the girl, "She's a girl."
The girl started to ask, "But... why..."
The girl's parents shushed her again and told her "...don't ask things like that..."
Mom told the parents, "It's okay. Kids are honest, I appreciate that. She can ask us anything she wants."
The parents quickly disengaged and hurriedly walked their daughter away while she looked back, questions filling her mind.

This is a scene that plays out all too often in the lives of cancer families. We're not exactly sure why. Is it the fear of cancer? Do people think it's contagious? Are we so defined by HAIR that we are confused when someone doesn't have any? Do people feel pity and not know how to express it? Are people so afraid of offending someone that they don't ask the questions in their mind?
What do you think? Why do you think people stare instead of engage in meaningful conversation?

Yes, cancer kids lose their hair. Cancer patients in general often lose their hair. Granted, it depends on many factors- treatment, type of cancer, genetics, nutrition, etc...

Strangely enough, this made me think of my dad. He has always had a way of disarming people and opening/ inviting a conversation about the physical differences or state of a person. Example 1: last year, while out at dinner, a man walked in with his arm in a sling/ brace. I've seen these before. My dad, who was in line with this man, straight up asked him, "What'd you do?" The guy's eyes livened up, his posture changed, and he began to share what happened. It was a simple explanation of a torn rotator cuff requiring surgery and landing him in that sling/ brace. I was nearby and chimed in with "Well, you'll need a more exciting story than that." The guy chuckled. He knew his story wasn't glamorous but he was more than willing to share it. The interaction wasn't long or drawn out. It was a sweet and simple exchange between HUMANS. Caveat: the tone in which you ask your question will impact the outcome.

Why don't we want to engage each other in our society today? What are we so afraid of? What are we worried might happen?

My paternal grandfather was an artist at engaging others in conversation. He never saw any difference as a line of division never to cross. He loved people. He loved their stories. He had plenty of his own, too. I think I get a bit of this from him. I hope I do! I personally LOVE hearing the stories of others. It doesn't matter if the story is pretty or not. Every story matters. Sawyer has disarming qualities too. I love it! It makes introverts a little uneasy (*wink, wink) but really fires up extroverts.

I, personally, have never been offended by a child's question. Have you? I mean, you look at this little human and they ask you a question like "Why is your belly squishy?" Well, I don't know about you but my belly is squishy because I don't like exercise and I do like the wrong kinds of food. Owning that makes ME uncomfortable but has ZERO reflection on the child. They are still learning and compared to my 34 years, a 4 yr old has a long way to go! We should encourage their curiosity and question asking, not shut them down. The world will shut them down quite often... let us be a light to their hearts and answer their questions. Parents, let your child ask questions!! Don't let people's perceptions or misconceptions of you limit your child. Every question asked is a teachcable moment, a learning opportunity for the persons involved.

If I remember correctly, we were at Splash! a few years ago and there were two black ladies walking toward me and Sawyer. He made a comment about their skin color... and they heard! Gasp, right? No. I remarked something like "Yes, their skin is different than yours... isn't God so creative to create such diverse beauty?" Those women smiled and talked with us for a few minutes. It was beautiful.

SHARE YOUR STORY!! I have had so many awesome encounters because I share Dempsey's story, our journey, and I'm real about it. Don't miss out on this kind of beauty, friends.

So, I encourage you to ask people questions. Give them an out if you can, just in case they need one. It's as simple as "Why does your child not have hair? You don't have to answer if you don't want to." No harm in asking. Honestly, as someone who has had tragedy in her life, the sharing of the story is therapeutic and helpful for me. It's probably helpful for others too. Plus, it lets them know you SEE them and that they matter enough for you to communicate with them. Communication is a beautiful thing! It's how we learn. How we grow. How we can love others.

Oddly enough, the experience our friends had at the park is not one we have experienced. See, Dempsey still has 99% of his hair. I assume it's because of the nutrition he's getting from NEOLIFE supplements and our diet at home. Regardless of our lack of this experience, I feel a strong sense of solidarity. I have a cancer kid too. He still has the possibility of losing his hair- which so many identify him with. There is still such a large stigma attached to cancer and I dislike it greatly. We, as a society, need to stop focusing so much on the outside and train our eyes to see beyond the exterior and into the heart of others.

Blessings, readers.

Sunday, August 28, 2016

Please Keep Praying

Honestly, this mama is fearful that because Dempsey LOOKS so good and is full of vibrant energy, people will stop praying for him. I'm afraid that people will feel their prayers have done their job instead of realizing that their prayers (current, active, intentional) are WHY Dempsey is doing so well.
Please don't stop praying for Dempsey! He needs your prayers for THREE MORE YEARS!!
#prayfordempseykenagy #prayerworks #Godislistening #keepthemcoming

Saturday, August 27, 2016

Hard & Beautiful

Dearest Supporters...

It is hard. This journey is hard. It's hard to be the one to give your child chemotherapy pills at home on the weekdays. It's hard to know there is even an orange prescription bottle in your home with the word CHEMOTHERAPY on it. It's disgusting and appauling on so many levels (to me). Alas, this is the journey we are currently on. Try living with this: we will have to give him chemo until August of 2019. Yes, 2-0-1-9.

Most days I can just roll with it. Recenlty, I appear to roll with it while it eats away at me on the inside. As a holistic nutritionist and person who has deep trust issues with the medical community, this journey is challenging me on many, MANY fronts.

I think I am still emotionally wrung out from the recent in-patient stay at CHOC with Dempsey. It is a physical paradox. On one hand, the extrovert in me LOVES being there. I can see a ripe mission field that desperately needs the messages I have to share. Dempsey shines so bright on that floor! The medical staff love him/ us. Dempsey handles treatment with flying colors and the most awesomest of attitudes. On the other hand, the moment I walk into Dempsey's room I feel all the energy leave me. I wrestle with depression, anger, fear, resentment, discontentedness, confusion, bewilderment, disbelief, denial, stress, and fatigue. So, I am getting better at taking Dempsey OUT of his room to be social or just seemingly more free. But how free can one be when they are connected to a "power tower" of high dose chemotherapy and/or hydration fluids?

I know, I should be grateful that our Dempsey is doing so well. No shit. I am grateful for that. However, his success isn't a walk in the park. It's hard. It's a constant fight. It's exhausting diligence. It's worth it. It grows my influencial platform. It is beautiful. It is HARD. Did I mention that already? Do you have any idea how hard it is to deny yourself things you never gave a second thought before? Some of you do, I'm sure. It sucks. It's hard to constantly have to say "no" to things that most of the world takes for granted. Park play. Impromptu playdates. Public restaurants. Public places in general. The movie theater. Neighbors. Even extended family gatherings are off the table for now. It sucks. I am really tired of saying "no" and making it sound like the best answer in the world. It is exhausting.

Dempsey is phenomenal. He doesn't fight us on anything. I know his little kid heart is worn out. I can see the toll this journey is taking when he falls apart over the smallest of things. But see, the small things are big now. Seemingly insignificant things have been magnified like you cannot believe. The good... and the bad. The drugs wear on him. His little body has had to fight so much for what seems like a lifetime (although it's only been almost 5 months).

Dempsey is obedient. Thoughtful. Kind. Loving. Funny. A jokester. Inquisitive. Cautious. Energetic. A runner. An outdoorsy male. A lover of laughter. Generous. Lonely. Playful. Gentle. Fragile. Tenderhearted. Helpful. Smart. And a bajillion other adjectives. He is eager to help me make his smoothies or the scrambled eggs he enjoys so much. He is willing to step up and do whatever task I ask of him. He has perfect manners. When he says "Mom, you know what?" and I respond "What?" He tells me "I love you." Sometimes it's "I love you a million." A million what, I don't know, but who cares! He loves me a million!!

I know I share a lot of wonderful photos. Honestly, most of what goes on outwardly is wonderful around here. Praise God for that. I just don't have my phone handy to snap those not-great moments when I'm trying to calm Dempsey down from an emotional speed bump over some miscommunication with me. Or when he's crying because he dropped his shake cup and got a little (like tiny) amount of shake on himself. See, when this happens, he says things like "I'm never going to do that again!" or "I'm sorry, I made a mistake." But he's saying these things through tears. His sweet little face red, eyes leaking, chest gasping for air. Those are photos I don't take because I'm too busy being the Consoler, being mom. But these are moments that are very real and very hard to reconcile. My sweet baby being so hard on himself over the nothings in life. We chalk it up to the meds and the cancer... but it is hard to truly believe that we did not condition him in some way.

Tonight I just stared at him. Sitting at his Spider Man table, alone, engrosed in Cinderella while eating his organic strawberry slices and organic Simply Clusters (fruit, nut, seed). Hand from plate to mouth. I just watched his little lips work with his little tongue in his little mouth to chew those items and nourish his little body. I stared at the outline of his face. Examining his hair, his forehead, his luscious eye lashes that guard his ocean-blue eyes, his McKenzie nose, his perfect lips, his McKenzie dimpled chin. I just looked at this precious child. I savoured each second of my gazing. He is beautiful. He is mine. He is sick (I will use this phrase until treatment is complete). He is fighting. He is worth it. He has a BIG story to tell. He is part of God's redemption story.

It is too much, people. My heart just cannot stand the beauty and the pain. No apologies.

I know he looks strong. In many ways he is. Praise God. But he is still a child. He is still growing and learning and succeeding and failing. He is a magical human being with God's fingerprints all over him. Everywhere he goes he leaves a trail of supernatural dust behind and if you follow it you will end up at the Creator's feet. Everything Dempsey is and everything Dempsey is going through is all for the glory of God. THAT is why we do what we do. THAT is why we work so hard to keep a right perspective. THAT is why we cannot just walk away. THAT is why we willingly suit up to face the shit that has hit our life's fan. THAT is why we share what we're doing with Dempsey on the home front (prayer, nutrition, essential oils, etc). THAT is why I am not shy about sharing Demspey's story. Because Dempsey's story IS God's story. God knew this was coming when he wove Demps together in my womb. God knew what tools we were going to need to get Dempsey through this journey successfully. God knew that we would be exactly where we are. God knew. God also thought Jake and I were the right parents to walk Dempsey through this journey. And what better brother for Dempsey than Sawyer? None! Not one better.

I'm tired. I need a break. But there is no break. Even when this journey is in the past it will linger on. Deep, or not so deep, inside me. A pin forever dropped in this part of my life and mind. PTSD is real. We are not even "post" this journey and it has arrived, for me at least. Like tonight, I'm IN IT. Sitting with the muck and mire of this journey and all the icky feels that come with it. Yet, I can see the beauty. I can see the blessings. I am just as overwhelmed by the grace and gloriousness of the things I get to do and say because of this journey and the people I get to meet. That is almost too much to bear. I don't feel worthy of the awesomeness that is unfolding. Like I've said before, to whom much is given, much is expected... this does not just mean the "good" much. It means the crappy "much" too. In my post titled Luke 12:48 I explain my thoughts in more detail. It's a good read. Thought-provoking.

Well, I think I'm out of thoughts right now, friends. I hope this post has done some good. If nothing else, you know better how to pray for me/ us. Nothing is wasted if prayer is involved.

Blessings upon you all!

Prayer requests:
Pray for miracles
Pray for peace
Pray for rest
Pray for health
Pray for wisdom
Pray for joy
Pray for contentment
Pray for acceptance (but just enough... don't want to get lazy)
Pray for balanced emotions
Pray for honesty
Pray for grace and mercy
Pray protection over Dempsey, Sawyer, Jake, and myself
Pray for our marriage (it is strong and we owe that to those who are praying for it)
Pray for a clear purpose
Pray for courage to speak
Pray for boldness
Pray that I will heed the Spirit's leading and sow where he has tilled
Pray for seeds to grow
Pray for intentionality
Pray for Dempsey's story to spread and encourage people
Pray for my upcoming speaking engagement (late October)
Pray as you feel led

Thursday, August 25, 2016

About the Business of Miracles

Praise God!!
Dempsey cleared the methatrexate is record time again!
💪still has hair (practically unheard of)
💪no nausea
💪no mouth sores
💪no constipation
💪no diarrhea
💪no fevers
💪no colds
💪no headaches
Y'all, you have been so faithful with your prayers. Thank you! ❤️ God is certainly about the business of miracles with Dempsey and this journey. I am so proud of my God and the way he is opening eyes and blowing minds with Dempsey's journey! I cannot believe he chose little ole me to walk this amazing path. I can't stop praising him for the ways HE is showing up time and time again.
#cancersucks #thrivethroughcancer #knowbetterdobetter #kickcancer #prayerworks #wholefoodnutrition #holistic #essentialoils #alternativemethods #neolife #doterra #takeTHATchemo👊

Never Too Young

This morning an incredibly beautiful thing happened. My friend Shannon sent me this photo-

You're probably thinking, "Money? So what?" or "Wow, $80, that's nice." But let me tell you the story behind this $80.

When Dempsey's journey started, in April of this year, it touched MANY lives. Some of those lives were students, 6-7 year olds. My friend was their teacher. To remind them to pray for Dempsey she bought orange bracelets and wrote his name on them. She would send photos of their little wrists sportin' their Dempsey-support bracelets. Heart-warming.

Well, one student named Jasmine was deeply touched. So touched, in fact, that she spent her summer earning and saving money FOR DEMPSEY.

Y'all... THAT is where this $80 came from. The heart of a 7 year old girl we've never even met!!

Here is the text conversation Shannon and I had:

Shanon: One of my students from last year that went to another school just came and handed me an envelope for Dempsey. She saved up over the summer and worked to be able to give this to you guys!

Me: I am UNDONE! How precious is she?!! How old is she? Do you know what she did to earn it? 

Shannon: Her mom just told me that she saved it in her piggy bank and that mom didn't help her. She wanted to teach her to work or things she wants to do. She is seven. :-) Her name is Jasmine.

Me: If we send you a card, could you get it to her?

Shannon: Yes. :-)

Me: Sweet!

Shannon: Dempsey really touched her heart and she kept telling me she wanted to do something for him. She is an example to her friends and even her parents!!

So, when you are down or feel like you're not important enough to make a difference... sit with this story and realize you are NEVER too young or too old to make a meaningful impact. You don't need to be on TV to be known. You don't need to invent something spectacular to go down in history. You don't need to say just the right thing all the time. You don't need to have the perfect voice to sing a song. You don't have to have the most skill to play a sport. You don't have to have the "perfect" body to take a picture. JUST BE YOU!

If you have LOVE in your heart what you do will matter! If you are letting the Spirit lead you, what you do will have supernatural implications. By supernatural I mean it will have an impact that you may never see but that is being woven through a tapestry so beautiful and beyond you that only God could weave it.

This 7 year old, precious girl, was moved by the Holy Spirit to DO something for our Dempsey. This mama is wonderfully undone, yet again. It just happens to be by a sweet little girl with a BIG heart.

How do you thank a child like this? She didn't do this for accolaides. She didn't do this to get her name on a blog. She didn't do this for any reason other than she wanted to "help Dempsey". Speechless! Speechless I tell you!

Pray: Needs to Clear Methotrexate

In order for us to be home as a family tonight, Dempsey needs to clear the methotrexate from his body. He has been making his "counts" with ease, praise God. That means he is peeing at or above what is required.

We have him taking Aloe Vera Plus, to help protect his mucous membranes (mouth/ digestive tract) from "mouth sores" which are a common side effect of this drug. Praise God that Dempsey hasn't experienced these yet and please pray that he will never know what chemo-caused mouth sores are. The Aloe Vera Plus also helps protect his liver, kidneys, bladder, and much, much more. We have him drink as much as he can, but it's never as much as I would like. Why? Because he is being given sodium bicarb through in tubies and that fills him up a bit.

Please continue to pray over him.
Pray protection over his little body.
Pray for peace while away from home.
Pray that his mind only retains the good memories from this whole journey.
Pray that he clears the methotrexate by the 48 hour mark (5pm this evening) so we can go home.
Pray that we are making lasting impressions on this floor, this hospital, all along this journey.
Pray for wisdom.
Pray for grace and mercy.
Pray for the staff (from janitors to doctors).
Pray against negative side effects of the drugs he receives.
Pray as you feel led.

Monday, August 22, 2016

Fill Cup, Fill

I just text Jake the following...

"Btw, the best part of my time with Demps tonight was when I was making his shake and he was helping me. I told him I loved him and how I wished he wasn't sick. I went on to tell him how God allowed him to become sick. He asked "what does allowed mean?" and I explained. I continued by telling him "YOU are part of God's BIIIIIGGGG redemption story!" He smiled, swelled up with pride/ confidence/ purpose, and hugged me so tight as he made an "aaahhhhhh" sound. ❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏"

I wish y'all could have seen Dempsey's response to my words. It was meaningful on many levels- emotional, spiritual, psycholigical, physiological. He wore his pride & purpose on his little face... beaming as he let out the sweetest sounds of acceptance and joy. My eyes are leaking as I type this.

His little boy heart KNOWS he is made for BIG Kingdom things. I love reminding his mind of that fact. I want my baby to suit up for the HARD things of life because the easy things don't require faith, the Holy Spirit, or God's supernatural power. He is already in the biggest battle of his life and he is so protected & loved by God that he doesn't even realize how big the stakes are. Praise God!!! Hit your knees. Beat your chest. Tear your clothes. Ask for Him to make you a soldier, like Dempsey, in the spiritual war that is raging. Fight against it with all you have! Defend your temple (body). Strengthen it, utilize it, offer it in sacrifice according to the Spirit's leading. STAND UP! Move. Shake.

You do not need a BIG calling to be valuable in the Body if Christ. You do not need to be the best anything except yourself because no one can do YOU like you!

Lord, may these readers' hearts be stirred. May your Spirit rummage through them. May you clean their eyes to see they are already enough. May they begin to reclaim the mundane but, under the banner of YOUR GRACE and power, see it as a mighty & worthy assignment. May they be eager to be obedient to YOUR leading so that they may experience the blessings and not-of-this-world riches that await.
Lord, help my family to embrace this valley/ journey and learn from it. Grow because of it. Change lives by sharing it. Please have your Spirit provide the power we need to see it through to victory.
In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Sunday, August 21, 2016

Round Two

Tomorrow at 8:45am we leave to move into CHOC again. Another 4 days
and 3 nights where our 5 year old baby will be accessed (needle in
chest) and hooked up to his "power tower" with a high dose of chemo
being infused over 24 hours followed by 48+ hours of fluids.

The last time Dempsey was in-patient it went super well. So why is my
emotional ship being tossed amongst the waves of anxiety? My sage
spiritual mentor tells me "it's because the mama bird is packing up
her baby to leave the nest... which we are not designed to do". She is
so right. I don't want my baby away from the "nest", away from me. I
don't want my family apart, at all, ever. This whole thing is
unnatural and flies in the face of Creation as it was meant to be.

Still, we have been called to this mission and all the fields that
takes us to. Our Creator believes we are the ones best suited to walk
this journey. By suited, I mean we are teachable, obedient, capable,
and HE has given us a support structure (all of YOU) to walk this
journey with. We are grateful.

My mama heart is still breaking right now. Tears streaming because I
don't want to go. I don't want to walk this journey anymore. I don't
care who it's touching or helping... I want our "normal" life back.
Forgive me while I grieve it... again... and again... and again, until
the Lord removes this thorn from my side.

Until you have had your life's carpet pulled from beneath your feet,
you can't understand the pain of people taking their "normal"
every-days for granted. It's still hard somedays to see people's lives
moving forward in the direction we WERE headed. I'm grieving the loss
of the life I planned. It's not a pretty process folks. Along with
that grief is the very real insertion of PTSD into my life. The
slightest thing looks askew for Dempsey and my mind races, flooded
with the what-ifs and worry that go back to the day we were told our
baby has cancer. It sucks.

Trust me, I am trying so hard to be positive because there is MUCH to
be positive about. Want proof?
•Currently (I started this post at 4:45pm) my boys are play-fighting,
laughing, splashing, and trash-talking in our pool. It's glorious!
•We go back to a place where the staff ADORES Dempsey and tells us
they've missed us.
•We have yet another opportunity to be salt & light to people who are
searching for HOPE in this life... hope that is only found in Christ-
the very reason we are not curled up in the fetal position, sucking
our thumbs on the floor.
•The spiritual seeds we planted in April (and in each consecutive
visit) require tending, which we get to do ourselves. It is beautiful
to see God's fingerprints on the nouns of this journey.
•Relationships we've built get to be nurtured as well. These people
REALLY love Dempsey and truly desire to help him beat leukemia. I have
to remember they are NOT the enemy, no matter how much I believe their
profession has missed the true mark.
•Each visit grows my audience- I have more, and new, opportunities to
share about God, nutrition, essential oils and how I believe they are
all helping Dempsey have the best possible cancer journey ever.
•My husband and I have another chance to be an example of what a
healthy marriage looks like. We can show a partnership that is growing
in its ability to utilize the strengths of both Jake and myself. We
are able to model self-care, what it is and why it's important. We are
able to be a picture of stability in an increasingly unstable world.
•This is another opportunity for us to model all sorts of things for
our boys. Things like: faith, biblical marriage, commitment, teamwork,
trust, communication, prayer, respect, love, sanctification,
submission, self-control, joy, peace, kindness, patience, gentleness,
goodness, obedience, education, perspective etc.
•Familiar faces make these times better.
•Chances to flex our "right perspective" muscles. This journey is not
just about Dempsey or our family... it is about EVERY SINGLE PERSON
who has been touched by Dempsey's story. THAT is part of the
over-arching story of God redeeming HIS creation. We may not like the
part he has assigned us, but it is part of a beautiful story
nonetheless.

So, I will sit with my unease and grieve what I can for the time. Then
I will suit up and march on because I have my orders and your prayers.
I was blessed to spend time with TWO of my "quarters" this evening.
The Lord knew I needed to be filled with community before beginning
this week. He is so gracious to provide for what we need, even if we
don't know what we need.

Prayer requests:
pray for miraculous healing
pray against negative side effects
pray for a positive experience
pray we are on the same part of the 5th floor we know and value
pray for opportunities to be salt and light
pray protection over ever part of Dempsey's body
pray that our boy will defy medical odds and rock their world
pray for peace
pray for strength
pray that Coral will have mental rest
pray for calm emotions
pray for fun memories
pray for unique experiences
pray that Dempsey meets all of his "number" requirements (pee volume,
and a rapidly decreasing chemo level in his body)
pray for restful nights
pray for energy and laughter
pray over the medical staff and their families
pray as you feel led

May God bless you expnentially beyond how you have blessed us.

Friday, August 19, 2016

Catch Up Photos

Some photos from when we were in-patient all the way up to Dempsey's birthday.


Dempsey and Sawyer playing hockey while Daddy runs with Dempsey and his "power tower".


Dempsey liked this little fire truck. It's a control thing.


Brother bat battle.


The boys had fun at Seacrest Studios (at CHOC on the 2nd floor) playing with the green screen.


Here's Dempsey showing major love for his BioMat.


Quesadilla require ketchup and a movie.


My hero and I wandered the halls of CHOC on the weekend because there is nothing else to do.
We found some lovely artwork on the walls.


CHOC has one of the FIVE Turtle Talk with Crush experiences.
How awesome is that?


Detox bath* in his own bathtub.
*epsom salt, baking soda, rosemary & juniper berry essential oils


Our staff spoiled him... they went into the Child Life room (on the weekend) and grabbed this basketball hoop and 2 balls, some Legos, and a game so he wouldn't be bored.


Daddy-Dempsey smiles and laughter. I don't know what they're watching/ doing.
Don't care. Doesn't matter. I just love that they are happy.


Seacrest Studios on the 2nd floor of CHOC.


The Studio (above) does BINGO each weekday.
By this picture, can you tell who won a game?


CHOC 2nd floor also has a small movie theater. Rock on.
We had it to ourselves.

While Dempsey and I were wandering the halls, we discovered a 2nd cafeteria (1st floor).
So, we gave it a try on the Monday. We'll stick with the 2nd floor cafeteria.


This kid LOVED playing basketball.


Brothers and an iphone.


Showing me "I'm strong!" while sporting his "He is able" shirt
that our friend Kirsten blessed him with.


These pics show a rousing game of Monkey in the Middle with Granddad.



Detox bath at home, complete with his protein shake and his "soapies" (Green from NEOLIFE).


Post swimming snuggly Superman towel.


Swimming is a good energy-outer.

Sawyer and a bigger Superman towel, all smiles after a romp in the pool.



These pics show we take stickers seriously...


... and our In n Out lunches.



Dempsey is giving Sawyer bunny ears.


This is a typical sighting when Granddad is around.


Sawyer. My heartthrob.
I just love him with long hair... which he doesn't have at the time of this post.


More brother bunny ears.


Pool posing.


Lock n load.


Nightly essential oil routine.


Kamatz-kitty love.




Self-explanatory.


Pool fun.



Checking out a HUGE, troublesome caterpillar (future moth).
It was evicted after this photo shoot.
He at MOST of my tomato leaves.
So, I tossed him in the neighbor's yard hoping to make a bird very full.

Dempsey's 5th Birthday

Our baby turned FIVE on Wednesday!! How can this be?

Dempsey loves to help make his smoothies.

Dempsey was blessed with wonderful gifts from loving people.

We are SO happy Uncle Nathan (my cousin) is home and able to enjoy birthday bashes with us!

Dempsey shows off Granny's artsy envelope AND his new age.

Mommy and Dempsey with his BATMAN birthday cake.

Granddad, Dempsey, Granny & Sawyer.


My guys FaceTime-ing with Gram & Grampa (WA state).
Technology for the win!

Dempsey's birthday request- a "movie night"- being granted.
Jake bought him the Angry Birds movie & we turned our living room into a "theater".
Those two boys giggled and laughed. So awesome!