Thursday, June 26, 2008

The sweet Blessings in my life

Stephanie a friend that lost her sweet little girl a week ago wrote in her blog to make sure to write down the things that are so wonderful about our kids today. Some day we will miss those things. Whether it be them growing up or losing them like she did. So, I accepted her challenge and here are some of the wonderful blessings and moments that I love about my kids TODAY!
















I love watching these two play together. I love it when we ask Regan who
her best friend is and she replies "My Bubba!" This morning I was able to
witness a very sweet moment with them. Regan started yelling for me and
when I got to her I saw that Collin was having a seizure and throwing up.
She had a towel in her hand and was cleaning him up. I couldn't help but start
to cry. What a loving act shown by a very sweet and loving little sister.
















I love watching my three favorite people playing! I love to
just sit back and take in the moment when they are cuddling
or playing. (This was at the LA science center on Sat.)














I am so happy that my mom and I found this high chair for Collin. I was
just telling her how I wanted to find on that was big enough for him!! After
three coats of red paint... its finished and Collin LOVES it. I love to see his
big smile EVERY time he gets in it. He loves to be at the table with us.
I also love it when I pick him up from school. After I have loaded him and
his wheel chair in the van and sit in my seat I look back at him. He always
gives me the biggest smile and gets so excited! I LOVE that so much and
look forward to it every day! His smile is priceless. When he smiles his whole
body smiles.



















I love taking this sweet little girl to the beach and having alone
time with her. She has a heavy load to bear with her brother. She
does it so well. She loves any one on one time!!


This morning I loved watching Regan trying to do the yo yo.
She would get so excited! Remember when we would get
so excited about the smallest little things like a yo yo.
Note: I also love that she is brave enough to yo yo while
wearing a stylish cowboy hat!!! I LOVE her since of style!
So, here are just a few of my favorite things TODAY!

Friday, June 20, 2008

WARNING: Busy update with LOTS of pitures!

We have had a BUSY week and LOTS of fun!!! Last Friday was Collin's last day of school at Tucker Tiger before it shut down forever! :( Collin had one week off before starting summer school so we made sure we had lots of fun with him!! Luckily he was feeling good most days and it was a blast!!
FRIDAY: Last day at Tucker Tigers























Can you tell that we brought Chocolate for everyone??? Some how Regan ended up with some!







SATURDAY: Special Olympics at Cal State Long Beach






Collin's favorite sport to watch is Basketball!! He had a BLAST watching if you can't tell!
















MONDAY: A trip up to my mom's in the high desert!
c


Collin playing pool!


My mom got Regan this cute little hair chair for her
Katie Doll and she is loving doing her hair!!















TUESDAY: Disney Land with Nana















WEDNESDAY: Aquarium of the Pacific with Great Grandma Jo







































THURSDAY: Night at Disney Land with Daddy and ridding the new ride Woody ride!









































Regan watching the fire works!

















FRIDAY (Today): First day of summer! We had friend over to play in our backyard in the pool!



























Lanie showing off her girlish figure!










Thursday, June 19, 2008

Broken yet thankful heart

I have been wondering how I would start this entry all day. Well, there is no other way to title it but Broken yet Thankful heart. Our friends the Waites had a tragic accident with their youngest daughter Camille on Friday when she drowned in their family spa. My heart is breaking for them. To read Steph's entry's as she is having to go through this very hard time is overwhelming. Please pray for their sweet little family seeing as how prayer is the most powerful thing that can be done.

The reason that I write thankful is because I am so thankful for my testimony in Eternal Families. I have been with other families as they have lost a child and seen the pain of the unknown in their eyes. Collin has given me many gifts in my life and one of them is meeting amazing people that I would have never met if it were not for him. We have been to many funerals for children and you can see the difference. We were at an LDS funeral for a little boy that also lost his life tragically and everyone that I went with knew that I was LDS. They kept telling me how amazed they were at how happy the siblings seemed to be in such an awful situation. The brothers and sisters sang families can be together forever bearing their testimonies to everyone there that day. There was an apparent difference to the people that I was attending it with. They could see and feel the strength as the crowds of people that came and truly believed that Families can be together forever. I take such great comfort and joy from that knowledge.

I will never forget the day that Collin's illness became "real". We had flown to the National Institute of Health in Bethesda Maryland to see doctors there that had seen other cases of TTD. We were so grateful to have someone give us some in site into this awful illness. (seeing as how there are less than 100 cases in the world... yes, I know.. Collin is special.) When I was talking to the nurse the topic of research that they had been able to do up to this point came up. Then at one point in the conversation a question came "Would you take this opportunity to just think about what you will do with his body when he has died." We had been talking about research and they have not ever been able to exam organs after death. WOW, this punched me in the gut. She was very sweet and handled it as delicate and sweet as she could. It was just hard Jason and I never thought about any of that and to be honest we still have not mad a decision. Lots of tears and long night discussions have come up between Jason and I over the years. It seems every time he gets sick, another surgery, or we end up in the hospital our minds turns to the thought of what if. There is one constant in all of it over the past (almost) eight years and that is our faith and testimony in the gospel.

I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father that knows us and is there for us through every single little thing that we have to go through. I know that things don't always make since to us but the wonderful thing is that we are not in charge so it doesn't always have to make since to us... just to our Heavenly Father who has a plan for each of us. I KNOW that eternal families are true!!!!

So, tonight I will hug my children a little longer, stare at them while they are sleeping, listen a little better to Regan as she tells me the same story again for the tenth time, be grateful to wake up with Collin when he wakes up in the middle of the night, read an extra bed time story to Regan just because and make sure that I don't miss a moment. It truly is the little things that means so much!

Sunday, June 15, 2008

HAPPY FATHERS DAY DADDY!

We have the best Daddy in the whole wide world!!! You want to know why.....




Only the BEST dad can dig great big holes and at the beach!















Only the BEST Daddy will carry you when you are to tired to walk!






Only the BEST Daddy will take you on a camp out!







Only the BEST Daddy will go on the Tea Cups with you when mommy doesn't want to!





Only the BEST Daddy will comfort you when the pain is just to much!!








Only the BEST Daddy will walk slow because he knows your legs are little!









Only the BEST Dad will let you climb on him like a tree!























Only the BEST Daddy will take a nap with you!






Only the BEST Daddy will cheer the loudest at your
Ballet recital!
Only the BEST Daddy will share your Lolly pop!!
Only the BEST Daddy can make you smile ALL OF THE TIME!!!
ONLY THE BEST DADDY CAN BE OUR DADDY!!!!
WE LOVE YOU DADDY!!
LOVE,
COLLIN AND REGAN