May 26, 2009 Puppy & Wedding Pix

Day 126 - School is officially over for the kids. Work day tomorrow but they left with big smiles and excitement for summer. We had our daschund spayed and her "do claws" removed. She looks so sad but she bounced back quickly. Wedding pictures are now on line for anyone interested at http://flashesphotography.morephotos.com/mp_client/pictures.asp with a password of love. Caitlin is gaining strength each day and seems to be enjoying her new climate, life with Dustin and classes. She is so happy to have Dustin home and they are always off on one adventure or another. Chris and Jill are keeping busy in Austin with friends and pet sitting. They also had a great weekend. It sounds like Jill is also feeling better. My dad is rafting down the Grand Canyon this week. A trip he has taken a time or two in previous years but he loves it and each trip is a new adventure. I am anxious to hear his stories from his trip. Mark is dealing with the frustrations of the farm and rain but that seems to happen more springs than not.

May 20, 2009

Jill at 3 1/2 months. .............. I love her glow!

Day 120 - I always felt like growing up I had a very strong, intuitive connection to my mother and wanted the same thing for Caitlin and I. You watch them grow, guide them, love them and then let them go and hope for the best. Today for me wasn't a great day and for whatever strange reason my daughter must have felt that. I check my gmail once a day and as I was checking it today I discover Caitlin had forwarded me a song about parents and their children and butterflies. I click on the website and as I am watching "Butterfly Fly Away" Caitlin picks up the phone to call and say, "check your email." Intuitive connection, my hopes just rose. Caitlin seems to be doing so well and gaining each day. Her instruments arrived this week and for the first time in what seemed like forever (high school at least) she could play nonstop without getting winded or dizzy. She was so excited. Christopher is keeping me posted on Jill's pregnancy and it is so heartwarming to hear his excitement and I am thrilled he is sharing that excitement with me. According to Christopher Baby K is the size of an apple excluding its legs and will shy away from light if there were to place a flashlight on Jill's tummy. He forwarded a picture of her and she looks beautiful and happy. What started as a yuck day my children have helped turn around. The song Caitlin sent me is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yLwmRK24Qc

May 14, 2009

Day 114 - Pictures are posted at flashesphotography.com! The pictures truly show the miracle of what happened this winter and spring and the strength of everybody involved and the power of prayer. Teri did an outstanding job and right now speaking for myself I am overwhelmed looking at all the totally amazing pictures. I look at them, absorb them, go back and look at them again only to see pictures I don't remember seeing the first time. Feels like watching a movie again or rereading a book but better. I can't even express how wonderful it is to see the pictures - it is very much like it was to see Chris and Jill's pictures the first time. It is so fun and certainly helps when I get overwhelmed going through all the paperwork from this spring. Life is good! Caitlin and Dustin are going roller blading tonight. Jill is feeling better and fixing Chris supper (I do believe he is looking forward to it). I told him to enjoy it by fall he will be back to all the cooking again. Amazing how fast life can change.

May 10, 2009 - Happy Mother's Day!!!!!!

Day 110 - Caitlin is feeling a lot better. Her swelling is decreasing which is comforting and her energy is increasing. Sounds like a nice combination. She and Dustin went roller blading yesterday and spent time with friends. Chris and Jill went mommy shopping finding a new glider rocker for Jill which my son now gets the thrill of assembling in the near future. Mark and I are off to KC today to spend some time with friends we haven't seen much of for a while. Will be nice to reconnect. Pictured above is my mother around the time she met my dad. My mother was my inspiration and my rock and my guiding force. She taught me more about life than I can ever recognize. Each new day I remember her as something typical happens and I can hear her words guiding me and calming me. It is my hope that someday my children will hear my words, thoughts, sentiments and love echo in their hearts.

May 6, 2009

Day 106 - Caitlin is doing well. She is working hard on her online classes and settling in at home. She has found out they weren't kidding about her bruising easily and they have discovered ice can be a friend. Fatique is still a problem but seems to be getting better. She will be back in a month to recheck every thing but from what we can tell all is going according to plan. Chris and Jill are doing well. Chris is making plans for mommy day for Jill. Mark, Caitlin and I had a wonderful lunch with Grandpa Sinnett, Uncle John, and Aunt Cynthia on Monday. Nice to sit back and visit for the enjoyment of visiting. Their boys are doing very well and Jacob's staff infection is all but a thing of the past. Josh is getting ready to go to Nationals with his TSA cyberspace engineering project. Grandpa is doing great with lots of interesting upcoming plans. This evening I got the thrill of visiting with Aunt Libby when she called. It is so nice and comforting to hear her voice and visit with her. She reminds me of the power of medicine and miracles as she too is living proof of them. Everyone's continued prayers and positive thoughts have been a source of strength for us and we appreciate them and look at the people in our lives who have benefitted from this strength.

May 2, 2009

Day 102 - Do I dare say we are on the road to recovery? Do I dare hope (of course I do)? I truly believe Caitlin is headed there now. She is battling some soreness, bruising, fatique and dizziness but all can be considered normal for what she has been through and the medicines she is taking. She seems to be perkier in between her naps which is fun to see. She is with her friend, Amy, this evening enjoying a movie and some ice cream otherwise known as girls night at Amy's apartment. Last time they had girls night they customized aprons for themselves which is somewhat visible in the picture. Chris and Jill are continuing to do well. Jill's morning sickness teased her with a few calm days before resurfacing. Thanks to all for their continued prayers and good thoughts, I believe they are being heard.