Normal, Crazy Days

Hello friends,

Happy Monday!
I can't believe that another week has flown by and we are already heading into the end of October! Where does the time go? We have had another very busy week with the golf tournament, visiting pumpkin patches and going to fall festivals! We've also had a couple more doctor appts. and baseball games along the way. Our days are crazy but I wouldn't trade a minute of it.

Brandon did see the plastic surgeon last week for a consultation visit. I really felt out of place sitting in the waiting room with Brandon . . . surrounded by advertisements for Botox and implants. But the doctor quickly put us at ease and was fantastic with Brandon - very kid-friendly! This doctor also thought that this thing on Brandon's neck looked like a benign granuloma but a biopsy will still be done to confirm it. He also felt that the surgery should be done at the children's hospital - with Brandon put to sleep . . . which is more involved than we were hoping - but probably for the best since Brandon is nervous about the whole procedure. So Brandon's appt. is Nov. 2 - first thing in the morning - and hopefully it will be uneventful. Brandon is still pretty anxious - but he is ready for it to be removed because a lot of the kids at school have been asking him about it.

Donnie's parents made it in town . . . but weren't here for 30 minutes before they got a call that Donnie's uncle had passed away after a 2 year battle with lymphoma leaving behind a wife and 2 children in college. So - Donnie's parents rented a car and drove to South Carolina for the funeral. Unfortunately, Donnie and I weren't able to go because the service was the same day as Jacob's golf tournament. But our thoughts and prayers are definitely with all of them and it makes us all the more determined to keep fighting for the cure! Thankfully Donnie's parents were able to come back and spend a few days before heading home. We had so much fun with them and were so glad that they finally got to meet Allie!

The golf tournament was wonderful - a beautiful day and the turn-out was great! We are always so grateful for all of the support and we can't thank Enterprise enough for hosting this event. We are so glad to have this special day to celebrate Jacob - who truly was the bravest, most amazing little person I have ever known! It was estimated that $60,000 was raised for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation. Donnie and I had the opportunity to speak at the dinner - and this year Kyle wanted to talk, too. He wrote out what he wanted to say all by himself and we were so proud that he actually got up and talked in front of everyone. Cancer truly affects the entire family and my boys were always there for Jacob and will never forget all that he went through.

Allie all dressed and ready to go to the golf tournament dinner.

The boys waiting for the golfers to arrive so they could eat!

We were able to have lots of fall fun with Donnie's parents in town! We visited the pumpkin patch, went to Zoo Boo (which is Halloween fun at our local zoo) and 2 fall festivals. Needless to say - I have hundreds of pictures to share - so I will share them over the next couple of days in several picture posts! :)

Allie is simply amazing and is doing fantastic. I am so thankful for her easy transition - it feels as if she has always been a part of our family. She fits in so well with all of us and is full of smiles and giggles. She has such a fun personality and keeps us laughing all day with her funny faces and sounds. She is without a doubt our daughter . . . in heart, mind and soul! We all love her so much and she definitely receives hundreds of hugs and kisses all day long. We thank God for her everyday - what a blessed gift she is to our family! Of course the boys adore her and are such wonderful helpers! I didn't have all this help when they were little . . .

Kyle snuggling with Allie in the morning after they just woke up!

Brandon & Devin helping with the feedings!

We have another very busy week coming up . . . baseball games, school activities, more doctor appts., and planning a Halloween party at our house on Friday night. We hardly have time to catch our breath . . . but whenever I start to feel overwhelmed with our hectic schedule I think of Jacob and all the time that we spent in the hospital . . . And it is then that I feel so grateful that we get to spend our days busy with the normalcy of life. I am so thankful for the baseball games, homework and Halloween parties. I am so thankful for the craziness . . . and for the laughter and the love that always ends our normal, crazy days!

Ending with a scripture . . .

"Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am."
Philippians 4:13
The Message

Thanking God for normal days,