Will Spring Ever Come?

Last weekend we had a great time in our favorite "little city". It was one of those days where if you stay in the sun your body just soaks it up and you are cozy and warm. But if you linger in the shade too long, the wind bites and steals your warmth. So, we strolled on the sunny side while we window shopped, found some bargains at a great bookstore then capped off our afternoon with a visit to Coldstone Creamery. Our final stop was our favorite park. It's a lovely place no matter the time of year, filled with great memories of days past. Did I mention it's a really fun place to take photos of those you love?



We're Getting Ice Cream!!!





Sunshine Makes Me So Happy





Our Little Photographer at Work





Sunny Smile

 So Ready for Spring  ~Kate-Lyn~

Thank God for Friends Who Pray...

Our Grace had a VERY rough weekend. What began as a nasty cough one week ago Monday had turned into one scary cough by Friday afternoon. Her teachers called me at work saying she had a low grade fever and was "not herself". When I arrived at her school 40 minutes later she was lethargic, had a 101 degree fever and was not speaking. I rushed her home to give her Tylenol and get her comfortable while I called the doctor. They were out to lunch, oh my goodness...

So I waited on pins and needles for them to get back. Meanwhile the symptoms continued to advance. She was now complaining of pain in her ribs and arm. Finally by this time, they had returned from lunch. Once I explained her symptoms the nurse told us to immediately bring her to the Emergency Room. That is, the one that's a forty minute drive away and the one that you bring people to who are really sick. I was scared. I drove legally but quite quickly straight there.

Once we arrived they got her right in. Amazing really 'cuz, how often does that happen?! Did I mention she was still crying out in awful pain? And still burning with a fever, despite the Tylenol?! The doctor ordered a chest x-ray and determined she had pneumonia. After about 1.5 hours we were on our way home with a prescription, relieved. Little did we know, it...was...not...over.

When we were at the ER we noticed a collar-shaped redness around her neck and down her torso. The doctor attributed this to the pneumonia and the vascular upset that she was experiencing with the fever, coughing and crying. So we went along with that. Until 2 a.m. She awoke crying again, still in pain, itching wildly and was red from head-to-toe looking like she had spent two hours too many on the beach with no sunscreen on. Recalling the discharge paper which said that pneumonia is often accompanied by a rash that looks like MEASLES I told myself, "Well, this is one serious manifestation of that side effect!" To help try and soothe her I rubbed her down with powder. That didn't work. She was still beside herself digging and scratching. I then rubbed her down with lotion. That didn't work. Now it was nearly 5 a.m. and she was hysterical, burning with fever and had made scratches all over herself.

She needed help, and quick! I called her pediatrician who wanted her to come in immediately. On the way I had an AH-HA moment while thinking of those discharge papers (measles like rash) and remembering the doctors words 10 days ago at her five year check up after she received her MMR vaccine. "If she is going to have a reaction to any vaccine at all it'll be this one." No! Could it be?! Once we arrived I told the doctor about her shots. She was certain that not only did our Miss Grace have DOUBLE pneumonia (we weren't told THAT at the ER-they said it was only on the left side where her pain is), but...she was having an extreme reaction to the MMR vaccine.

My. Poor. Baby. I've never seen any of my children such as mess, it was awful. After leaving there (with yet another medication to give her) we went home praying that she would get some relief from the fever, the pain in her side and arm, the itching and the weakness that was now making her listless.

Amazingly after just 24 hours on ALL of those medications and LOTS of prayers from the good people at our church, she was showing major signs of improvement. Sunday morning she went back for more blood work and we received the good news that they were where they should be. Praise God!

Today, Tuesday, she returned to school. Her teacher reported that she did well considering all she'd been through. We are SO grateful. It was a scary three days. Mostly because of how quickly her condition declined. I will NEVER take a nasty cough for granted again. And I am SO glad that it'll be many years before she needs an MMR shot again.


Grateful and Humbled,
~Kate-Lyn~

A Special Day for Father and Daughter...

Miss Grace's school had a lovely dance for Father's and Daughter's. It was a day to remember for all...



Feeling Very Grown-Up




Girly Smiles




Lovely Grace



It's taken a bit, but I'm back...

The last two weeks have not been good for our family. On Friday, February 11th I received terrible news from my niece, Kim. My sister gave up her courageous battle with cancer and went home to be with Jesus. It's still hard to fully conceive the reality of this still even as I type. Our only consolation is that she is well again, no more sickness, no more chemo, no more radiation. Just peace, so much deserved.

She was remarkable, I'll never do justice to the impact that she had on so many people with my feeble words. She made a career of helping those who were the "have-nots", and she did it with grace, mercy and total acceptance with not a hint of judging. Her eternal rewards are being enjoyed now I'm sure. Back here, she is being rewarded too. The shelter where she worked is dedicating a garden in her memory on March 10th, six days after her birthday. A lovely place bearing her name to rest the weary soul--a perfect parallell to who she was to those she advocated for. I will miss you so, my dear sister and friend.



A Special Day, Special Memories



A lovely location discovered...

Last year was Grace's first time on snowshoes, she did great and she loved it. Now that the snow is really here to stay we decided to take her on another excursion. After much family debate we chose a new location that we'd never been to before.

It's a newly created preserve in our town and I'm confident our friend, Mr. B., Sr., had ALOT to do with bringing it into existence. He volunteers tirelessly to ensure our town will always keep it's green space and to protect the "Wild Things" among us. We owe him a big thanks. I guess I'll have lots of questions for him around the campfire this summer. What a great story teller he is to young and old alike; I could sit and listen for hours, and have! He is likely the closest Ye-Ye that Grace will ever have. She has even called him Grampa one or twice. I think he was flattered and would happily add one more to his flock.

Our walk started before the snow began. It was simply a brisk, fairly clear day, perfect. Miss Grace took a few minutes to get her "snow legs" since last year.

With a few pointers from Mom, she was clipping right along in no time. A real natural.

One of my favorite things about hiking with little ones is helping them discover the awe in nature. All things are designed by our Creator with a plan and a purpose. We were fortunate to come upon a milkweed pod that had dried and it's beautiful silk and seeds were still intact. A mini-science lesson opportunity taken! We of course left it there for someone else (perhaps a  furry or feathered friend) to enjoy.

Then all of a sudden the snow began to fall. It was absolutely awesome. We felt like we were living in a snow shaker!

The whole character of the trail changed once the snow came. All of a sudden the world took on a stillness. It felt wilder, chillier and farther away from home. A great adventure for our little one.

All along the trail are bitter sweet vines. I happened to catch this shot as we crossed a stream. For Christmas, Peter and I bought each other a Nikon D90. We he learns a lot quicker than me have a lot to learn but it sure makes moments like this fun to catch!

Then just as Miss Grace was getting tired and ready to turn back, we found this really cool tree. Check out the bark, it looks like a pattern. I'm now on a quest to find out what kind it is. More later on that...

A lovely day indeed to enjoy nature's beauty.

Still hearing the snow fall ~Kate-Lyn~

A busy, fun weekend...

...for the kids that is. But then again, we had fun too. It started on Friday right after school. With the car loaded with lacrosse gear, Barbie/KaiLan videos, snacks, winter gear and a map we picked up Ross at his school. Then we got Grace at her school. Ross was given the amazing opportunity to play in a JV/Varsity Tournament at Hobart and Williams College so how could we NOT go, even if it was scary weather?!

It was snowing heavily and it was icy; we had a three and a half hour drive ahead of us.  For the most part it was an uneventful drive, thank You God. We arrived at our hotel on schedule and the hotel was great.

Ross no sooner saw a teammate than he asked did Ross bring running shoes? Er...(insert crickets chirping here), no, why? Well, says the teammate, no cleats are allowed. G-r-e-a-t, guess our "journey" is not over. So, out they went on a different quest this time. By God's grace (this I know), in this podunky town, they found a reasonably priced ($59.00), size 10.5 pair of running shoes. WHEW! OK, now we could relax after that long, drive.

The next morning we arose at 6:00 a.m. to ready for the day. After a big breakfast (did I mention they have chocolate chips muffins there?!), we went to the field house. I know Ross had butterflies in his stomach, but do you think he showed it? Not. At. All. Gotta love that kid!

The short and long of the day is that he did great. He competed every bit as well as the Seniors he played alongside of. Yes he knows he has a lot to learn, but through this he's come to see his strengths too. I am very proud of him; he has worked hard for this opportunity. Seize the moment son!

 

 

 Yup, it was a busy, fun day. Oh, and did I mention what Grace was doing? 

She was working the bleachers, selling candy bars for her school.

She sold over 50 candy bars in less than and hour and a half. Mmm-hmmm, good haul, you go girl!

Then on Sunday, the day she'd waited for, for s-o-o long...soccer began!!!! Well, sort of. Due to a major break in communications (we were not notified of a time change-GRRRR!), we were a half an hour late. I must say though, she was a real trooper and rolled with the punches just fine.

So here she is on her first BIG, long-anticipated (she'd ask me every morning how many more days until soccer starts) first day of SOCCER!!!

And some not so great video footage too...

I suppose I don't need to say that she can't wait for next week do I? Yup, busy and fun. Sometimes Monday looks good, just so we can slow down a bit, lol!

Still smilin' ~ Kate-Lyn

A new year, and new friends...

This morning we enjoyed a lovely brunch with several other families with daughters from China. The brunch was coordinated by my new friend Lori. She graciously included Elizabeth's family and ours into her group that has met for over 12 years now. I met Lori through our balloon festival volunteer work. Her daughters* are a little older than our Grace and for that I am very thankful. It gives me insight into the future as I hear of the place that they are in their journey--a great blessing indeed!



back  row (l-r) Alana-Hefei, Anhui; *Kaylee-Chongqing, Sichuan;
Hannah- Chengdu, Sichuan; *Kara-Chongqing, Sichuan
front row (l-r) Grace - Bengbu, Anhui; Elizabeth - Nanning, Jiangxi