Cheyanne and her Winter - they sure do love each other
This face gets me every time
Showing posts with label Winter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Winter. Show all posts
Monday, April 18, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
7 months
Is that seriously even possible that you are 7 months old today my sweet Cheyanne? Oh my goodness! And I thought 6 months was heart stopping. Now, you are "over the hill", closer to your first birthday than you are to your birth date. ::head exploding about now!::
Cheyanne, you have been nothing but a joy to your Momma and Daddy's heart. Even though Daddy isn't here with us right now, you pose for him almost daily so we can send him your picture and show him how much you've grown. When we get to talk to him on the phone, you know his voice right away. Your eyes light up and you get really still and quiet as if you are listening to his every word. After a few moments, you will turn up at me and smile that gleaming smile like you just discovered a secret that he is talking to you, and then you continue to listen a little less calmly! You truly are a Daddy's girl, even on opposite coasts.
I weighed you yesterday at home and it said you are now 18.5 pounds. I have no idea how long you are, but I swear you have grown more every morning you wake up- you just look bigger. We have started and finished your first swim class, which you loved. You have began eating solid foods twice a day. You now have had oatmeal, acorn squash, sweet potato, avocado, bananas, and as of last night green peas. You gobble them all up on the first taste, then tend to resist more after that unless I wait a while and RE-introduce them, then you love them all over again. Tricky girl. And you will not touch any of it unless it is warm. I don't blame you though because who would eat cold squash? Yuck. Momma made all of your food from fresh scratch, except peas. I gave in on peas and gave you jar food. You didn't seem to mind one bit. You ate it up and grabbed for more. Yum yum for the green stuff. Carrots are next.
You love a good breeze outside on a sunny day. Makes you laugh every time the wind blows across your face. You are such a happy baby. It seems these days the only times you really cry are when you are tired, hungry, or meeting strangers. Yeah, those strangers get you most every time, not a fan of new people right away. You like to sit back (in your Momma's arms of course) and observe people for a while before allowing anyone to get too close and feeling comfortable. That's just fine with me because I secretly love that all you want is me. But... we will start working on that whole socialization thing... next month. You are not shy in the talking-to-Momma department. Talk talk talk 'til morning and night. And you have started to talk to new people more too. Squeal, scream, babble... you do it all.
You stay sitting up all by yourself really well, although you love to throw yourself backwards for laughs. Thus your overprotective mother keeps you padded pretty much every sitting moment. Everything goes right in your mouth- toys, food, fingers, paper, you name it. It all ends up in the same place. And with those two sharp teefers that you have now, thank goodness you've found other things to chew on because the back of your knuckles were starting to look like a war zone from all the chomping. One of my favorite things is that you touch my face while you nurse. You love to "beat" my chest and touch my face the whole time. Its just so precious it melts my heart. You also love for me to kiss the palm of your hand while you are falling to sleep. You have made me quite the multitasker- I sing Hush Little Baby, pat your butt, bounce you gently, and kiss your hand all at the same time to put you to sleep. And you sure do hold on as long as you can before you fall asleep. Although sleeping has become a little more routine. Naps are a breeze. You take a solid two naps, one around 10:30am and one around 2:30pm, and they usually last from 1-1.5 hours. Even bedtime has gotten much easier. By 7:30, you are definitely read for bed. If you could walk up to bed yourself and lay down, you usually would. However, staying asleep is a whole other issue. You sleep well until somewhere around 1am then its up every 2-3 hours to nurse a little and go back to sleep until we wake up for good at 7am. I've decided it is just to hard to let you cry in the middle of the night right now, so I'm waiting until we move when Daddy's home to work on that part of sleeping through the night. I don't think so clearly at 3 in the morning to let you put yourself back to sleep. I take the easy route. Once Daddy's home, that's all going to change baby girl.
That's a good sum of what all you've done by your 7 month birthday. We have been celebrating your day by playing with Heather, Winter, and Evan that all came in town to see you.
Cheyanne, you have been nothing but a joy to your Momma and Daddy's heart. Even though Daddy isn't here with us right now, you pose for him almost daily so we can send him your picture and show him how much you've grown. When we get to talk to him on the phone, you know his voice right away. Your eyes light up and you get really still and quiet as if you are listening to his every word. After a few moments, you will turn up at me and smile that gleaming smile like you just discovered a secret that he is talking to you, and then you continue to listen a little less calmly! You truly are a Daddy's girl, even on opposite coasts.
I weighed you yesterday at home and it said you are now 18.5 pounds. I have no idea how long you are, but I swear you have grown more every morning you wake up- you just look bigger. We have started and finished your first swim class, which you loved. You have began eating solid foods twice a day. You now have had oatmeal, acorn squash, sweet potato, avocado, bananas, and as of last night green peas. You gobble them all up on the first taste, then tend to resist more after that unless I wait a while and RE-introduce them, then you love them all over again. Tricky girl. And you will not touch any of it unless it is warm. I don't blame you though because who would eat cold squash? Yuck. Momma made all of your food from fresh scratch, except peas. I gave in on peas and gave you jar food. You didn't seem to mind one bit. You ate it up and grabbed for more. Yum yum for the green stuff. Carrots are next.
You love a good breeze outside on a sunny day. Makes you laugh every time the wind blows across your face. You are such a happy baby. It seems these days the only times you really cry are when you are tired, hungry, or meeting strangers. Yeah, those strangers get you most every time, not a fan of new people right away. You like to sit back (in your Momma's arms of course) and observe people for a while before allowing anyone to get too close and feeling comfortable. That's just fine with me because I secretly love that all you want is me. But... we will start working on that whole socialization thing... next month. You are not shy in the talking-to-Momma department. Talk talk talk 'til morning and night. And you have started to talk to new people more too. Squeal, scream, babble... you do it all.
You stay sitting up all by yourself really well, although you love to throw yourself backwards for laughs. Thus your overprotective mother keeps you padded pretty much every sitting moment. Everything goes right in your mouth- toys, food, fingers, paper, you name it. It all ends up in the same place. And with those two sharp teefers that you have now, thank goodness you've found other things to chew on because the back of your knuckles were starting to look like a war zone from all the chomping. One of my favorite things is that you touch my face while you nurse. You love to "beat" my chest and touch my face the whole time. Its just so precious it melts my heart. You also love for me to kiss the palm of your hand while you are falling to sleep. You have made me quite the multitasker- I sing Hush Little Baby, pat your butt, bounce you gently, and kiss your hand all at the same time to put you to sleep. And you sure do hold on as long as you can before you fall asleep. Although sleeping has become a little more routine. Naps are a breeze. You take a solid two naps, one around 10:30am and one around 2:30pm, and they usually last from 1-1.5 hours. Even bedtime has gotten much easier. By 7:30, you are definitely read for bed. If you could walk up to bed yourself and lay down, you usually would. However, staying asleep is a whole other issue. You sleep well until somewhere around 1am then its up every 2-3 hours to nurse a little and go back to sleep until we wake up for good at 7am. I've decided it is just to hard to let you cry in the middle of the night right now, so I'm waiting until we move when Daddy's home to work on that part of sleeping through the night. I don't think so clearly at 3 in the morning to let you put yourself back to sleep. I take the easy route. Once Daddy's home, that's all going to change baby girl.
That's a good sum of what all you've done by your 7 month birthday. We have been celebrating your day by playing with Heather, Winter, and Evan that all came in town to see you.
Happy 7 months my sweet Peapod.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Celebrate!!
Today we are celebrating! Today is a day that some times we weren't totally sure we'd get to. Today is Winter's 8th birthday!!!! What a difference a year makes, but oh how sweet it is to be on this side of the year.
Many of you have been beside me and my family on this journey for the last year and I will never be able to say thank you enough. Every prayer, card, and encouraging hug has been appreciated and pushed us on one inch at a time.
So today we celebrate!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY WINTER!!! Now, its time to party! Have a great weekend everyone.
Many of you have been beside me and my family on this journey for the last year and I will never be able to say thank you enough. Every prayer, card, and encouraging hug has been appreciated and pushed us on one inch at a time.
So today we celebrate!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY WINTER!!! Now, its time to party! Have a great weekend everyone.
Monday, July 19, 2010
It's finally finished
That's right. My baby blanket is finally finished!!! Hallelujah! Its been a slow process that's lasted months but finally came to an end last night. What do you think?
Its not perfect, but its pretty and will keep Peapod just as warm as a perfectly squared one. Now on to new projects. But not yet. My hands need a few days rest.
We really rested all weekend. Winter's lemonade stand went well. It was hot hot hot, but she was a trooper for a few hours. She raised about $140 from donations and the stand.
That night we went to the movies to see Despicable Me. SOOOoooo cute! I'm a fan. I even told the Giant during the movie that we would be buying this movie when it comes out on dvd, which is impressive since I haven't bought a dvd in years. We'll see if I follow through but at least the idea is there. It was that cute.
The rest of the weekend was spent napping, and knitting, and swimming, and napping some more. Sorry our weekend was so boring. Wish I had more to share, but so is the life of a poor grande preggo lady and her hubby.
Its not perfect, but its pretty and will keep Peapod just as warm as a perfectly squared one. Now on to new projects. But not yet. My hands need a few days rest.
We really rested all weekend. Winter's lemonade stand went well. It was hot hot hot, but she was a trooper for a few hours. She raised about $140 from donations and the stand.
That night we went to the movies to see Despicable Me. SOOOoooo cute! I'm a fan. I even told the Giant during the movie that we would be buying this movie when it comes out on dvd, which is impressive since I haven't bought a dvd in years. We'll see if I follow through but at least the idea is there. It was that cute.
The rest of the weekend was spent napping, and knitting, and swimming, and napping some more. Sorry our weekend was so boring. Wish I had more to share, but so is the life of a poor grande preggo lady and her hubby.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Frisco
Well readers- I've been beaching it this weekend! I feel a little bigger, a little tanner, and a whole lot happier tonight! Frisco always makes me happy but this trip was one of a kind. Its the trip that we have all been holding our breathe on to see if Winter would make it. And woohoo her counts were up and we went! Granted it was 100+ degrees with a heat index 10 degrees above that, oh and we camped. Not exactly typical roughing it camping since we were in a cabins with a little ac unit that we had pumping out 60 degree air 24/7. But, It. Was. Hot. The cabins are just two tiny bedrooms- or one small room cut in half by a wall and door- which never shut since the ac was in the back bedroom- and we were in the front bedroom. We brought a fan with us which pretty much saved our lives at night. So, my weekend was drive, swim, beach, sleep, beach, swim, drive. I'll let you enjoy the pictures now of our little weekend adventure.
Anybody lose a baby on the beach?
_______ End of the beach and on to the pool________
About to play her favorite game of the weekend "What's the baby saying now?" She loved to swim up to me underwater and put her head up to my belly then pop out of the water and tell me what the baby was saying. "Wow! What is this swimming thing? This is fun! I love it!" says baby to Winter.
The Giant and his Winter
The new EastCoasters! We're converting more!
What's a pool party without a little Chicken?
Anybody lose a baby on the beach?
_______ End of the beach and on to the pool________
About to play her favorite game of the weekend "What's the baby saying now?" She loved to swim up to me underwater and put her head up to my belly then pop out of the water and tell me what the baby was saying. "Wow! What is this swimming thing? This is fun! I love it!" says baby to Winter.
The Giant and his Winter
The new EastCoasters! We're converting more!
What's a pool party without a little Chicken?
Thursday, June 17, 2010
A brighter day
Let me start this with three simple words that I am learning to believe more and more each day. GOD IS GOOD!
We have been praying frantically for the last 24 hours asking for a miracle in Winter's body. "Please please Lord make any cancer cell that might have returned in her disappear before her bone marrow test today," we pleaded. I prayed all night long as I stared up at my ceiling listening to my husband breathe.
I don't know if I can possibly ever describe the feeling I had yesterday. A broken heart might be the closest physical description I can share. Not from hopelessness. And not from a lack of faith. But truly just from a broken heart. I broke for our Winter and her frailness. I broke for Winter's mom Heather and the absolute tailspin she was in. I broke for the future that I was terrified to see ripped away before she even got a chance to rest from the fight. I broke for the last ten months that so many have given of themselves and their time and money which for a brief second shamed me to call useless. I could do nothing else. So I prayed. I begged friends to pray. I begged my blog readers to pray. I begged everyone that read my facebook page to pray and encouraged others to share the request as well- which they did- thank you.
Someone, once a friend but this conversation changed that for me and I hope you will understand why, asked me back in September a few weeks after Winter was diagnosed... "Why are you so involved? Why do you care so much that she is sick. She's not your child." Well, my response to him was, "She is the closest thing I have to my own child and I love her like she's mine. And I will until the day that I die." That sums up for me why I care. Not only is she family but she has always been since the day she was born my Winter. I was there the day she was born. I moved here for my freshmen year of college when she was only months old and she grew up with me around. I am blessed by her more each and every time I am with her.
So now today, after 24 hours of nothing short of an stressful hell with our minds playing every possible trick on us imaginable, Winter's tests came back CANCER FREE! Her cancer has not returned. Praise J-E-S-U-S! Her body fooled us and even her doctors who seemed sure it was back. At this point, it seems it is just Winter being Winter and her body recouping slower than others from chemo. I cannot tell you how much lighter I feel, as does my entire family! Thank you for your prayers and your continued prayers. Her battle is not over. It is still a long road ahead. But today, the road shines brighter than it did yesterday. And today, August 25th, 2009 seems a little bit farther in the past.
We have been praying frantically for the last 24 hours asking for a miracle in Winter's body. "Please please Lord make any cancer cell that might have returned in her disappear before her bone marrow test today," we pleaded. I prayed all night long as I stared up at my ceiling listening to my husband breathe.
I don't know if I can possibly ever describe the feeling I had yesterday. A broken heart might be the closest physical description I can share. Not from hopelessness. And not from a lack of faith. But truly just from a broken heart. I broke for our Winter and her frailness. I broke for Winter's mom Heather and the absolute tailspin she was in. I broke for the future that I was terrified to see ripped away before she even got a chance to rest from the fight. I broke for the last ten months that so many have given of themselves and their time and money which for a brief second shamed me to call useless. I could do nothing else. So I prayed. I begged friends to pray. I begged my blog readers to pray. I begged everyone that read my facebook page to pray and encouraged others to share the request as well- which they did- thank you.
Someone, once a friend but this conversation changed that for me and I hope you will understand why, asked me back in September a few weeks after Winter was diagnosed... "Why are you so involved? Why do you care so much that she is sick. She's not your child." Well, my response to him was, "She is the closest thing I have to my own child and I love her like she's mine. And I will until the day that I die." That sums up for me why I care. Not only is she family but she has always been since the day she was born my Winter. I was there the day she was born. I moved here for my freshmen year of college when she was only months old and she grew up with me around. I am blessed by her more each and every time I am with her.
So now today, after 24 hours of nothing short of an stressful hell with our minds playing every possible trick on us imaginable, Winter's tests came back CANCER FREE! Her cancer has not returned. Praise J-E-S-U-S! Her body fooled us and even her doctors who seemed sure it was back. At this point, it seems it is just Winter being Winter and her body recouping slower than others from chemo. I cannot tell you how much lighter I feel, as does my entire family! Thank you for your prayers and your continued prayers. Her battle is not over. It is still a long road ahead. But today, the road shines brighter than it did yesterday. And today, August 25th, 2009 seems a little bit farther in the past.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
The Little Fish
Once again I need to ask you for your loving support and prayers. Our Winter went to CHKD today to have her blood counts tested in hopes to start back on her chemo. Once again her counts are too low and actually this time they have dropped even lower, which I didn't actually know could be possible. Her ANC (white blood cell) counts have been hovering around 100, which is drastically low, but sometimes expected immediately after chemo. The weird thing this time is that it has been weeks since her last chemo strong enough to drop them. She has not been herself the last few weeks even while off her steroids, but Winter's body tends to play games with us and recoup slowly, so there is no telling. Her doctor has decided it is time to recheck her bone marrow and see if the cancer has returned. I can't begin to explain how hard that is to even entertain the thought. So, please pray and I will update as soon as I know more.
Yesterday she had a pretty great day. Right before she got sick in August 09, she had just learned to swim and hold her head under water without panicing. That was quite the feat in and of itself! Boy would she scream and flail if you let go of her before! I think I still might have claw marks around my neck from a few summers ago teaching her! LOL! She has been looking forward to swimming again all year, so yesterday she was finally able to go to an old neighbors pool for the first time and practice all over again. Even though the weather has been wonderful the last month, she had her port accessed (in her chest where they give her chemo) up until a few weeks ago, so no going under water. But, finally, she is able to enjoy the water again for a while! Here are some pictures of this little mermaid swimming yesterday. Quite the pretty pink and purple fish don't you think?!
Yesterday she had a pretty great day. Right before she got sick in August 09, she had just learned to swim and hold her head under water without panicing. That was quite the feat in and of itself! Boy would she scream and flail if you let go of her before! I think I still might have claw marks around my neck from a few summers ago teaching her! LOL! She has been looking forward to swimming again all year, so yesterday she was finally able to go to an old neighbors pool for the first time and practice all over again. Even though the weather has been wonderful the last month, she had her port accessed (in her chest where they give her chemo) up until a few weeks ago, so no going under water. But, finally, she is able to enjoy the water again for a while! Here are some pictures of this little mermaid swimming yesterday. Quite the pretty pink and purple fish don't you think?!
Monday, May 31, 2010
Ocean City and Beyond
Its just plain painful when long weekends end! After a nice relaxing weekend away at the beach, here I lay in bed, dreading tomorrow! It came too fast. Way too fast! End of month + holiday weekend= not so happy Molly tomorrow. Sorry Hubs, and anyone else that comes across my path in the next 24 hours. But, my weekend was great!
We were invited by our friends the Saias to their family beach house in Ocean City MD. Eh-the beach- friends- sunshine- vacation- eh I dont know- YES!!! PLEASE!!! I'm so glad we went. Neither of us had ever been to the east coast OC before and had no idea what to expect, but let me say, it was MUCH better than I had envisioned in my head over the years. I dont know, somehow Maryland has never struck me as a beach state. But, I was delighted when we pulled up to the house and saw the beach out front! After a first day of "Is it going to rain? Is it not? Should we change out of our suits? Should we change back into our suits?", Mr. Sunshine decided to show up and stayed the rest of the weekend! The boys got in a little body boarding. We preggo ladies soaked up a little sun (on our backs and sides only- so if my backside looks a little ghostish, please don't laugh and point in my general direction). Great weekend. Great games. Great laughs. All around just great time! Thank you Saias for including us :)! Our condo beach next time. AND FYI- Christi, I still am baffled at the fact that you went to CNU for quatro years and have NEVER stayed in OBX! I might have to revoke your 757 card if we don't fix this soon! Which we will. I swear!
My belly looks huge in this picture of me sitting on the beach. I just had to post it for the shock value.
The wonderful Saias
I brought a few little presents with us up there for little baby Saia. Maximilian George actually, Cheyanne's beach buddy. I've been wanting to post pictures of my presents for him for a while, but since I couldn't let Christi see ahead of time, now I can share! Remember my post where I debuted Peapod's first onesie? Well, I got baby Max a matching outfit! I had to :) And, just in the nick of time, I finished knitting a baby blanket for the little man too. Its green like his nursery colors and super soft. 100% washable and dryable too fyi Christi, forgot to mention that. Hope he likes it one day.
________________________________
Totally other subject- back to reality. You all know about my niece Winter that I have mentioned countless times. Please send up a little prayer for her. She's had a rough weekend. She had a low grade fever all day Friday that her mom kept an eye on. Due to her very low blood count and drastically dropped hemoglobin levels, her oncologist canceled their Memorial Day plans to go camping at Lake Gaston. Late Saturday night (after 12:30am Sunday morning) Winter began having a harder time breathing and her fever spiked up above 102. Anything above 100.4 means an automatic 48 hour stay at CHKD (children's hospital where she is treated). They rushed her in and that is where she is now. She still has a low fever but it seems to have stabilized. She has sores all in her mouth that are making it hard for her to eat, but this has not stopped her amazing spirit. As soon as we got home today, we went to see her. Big Mike needed some play time with his Winter and I just needed to be around. Her doctor is returning tomorrow from the long weekend, so we will know more then as soon as he comes in to look at her. If you don't mind, just say a little prayer for her. Its always scary when her counts drop this low with little definitive explanation besides "Well that's just Winter on chemo."
I love this little girl! :) As soon as I walked into her room, she said "HEY MOLLY! I can see your baby in your belly!" Well I hope she couldn't really see her, but who knows, Winter is quite special! :)
We were invited by our friends the Saias to their family beach house in Ocean City MD. Eh-the beach- friends- sunshine- vacation- eh I dont know- YES!!! PLEASE!!! I'm so glad we went. Neither of us had ever been to the east coast OC before and had no idea what to expect, but let me say, it was MUCH better than I had envisioned in my head over the years. I dont know, somehow Maryland has never struck me as a beach state. But, I was delighted when we pulled up to the house and saw the beach out front! After a first day of "Is it going to rain? Is it not? Should we change out of our suits? Should we change back into our suits?", Mr. Sunshine decided to show up and stayed the rest of the weekend! The boys got in a little body boarding. We preggo ladies soaked up a little sun (on our backs and sides only- so if my backside looks a little ghostish, please don't laugh and point in my general direction). Great weekend. Great games. Great laughs. All around just great time! Thank you Saias for including us :)! Our condo beach next time. AND FYI- Christi, I still am baffled at the fact that you went to CNU for quatro years and have NEVER stayed in OBX! I might have to revoke your 757 card if we don't fix this soon! Which we will. I swear!
My belly looks huge in this picture of me sitting on the beach. I just had to post it for the shock value.
The wonderful Saias
I brought a few little presents with us up there for little baby Saia. Maximilian George actually, Cheyanne's beach buddy. I've been wanting to post pictures of my presents for him for a while, but since I couldn't let Christi see ahead of time, now I can share! Remember my post where I debuted Peapod's first onesie? Well, I got baby Max a matching outfit! I had to :) And, just in the nick of time, I finished knitting a baby blanket for the little man too. Its green like his nursery colors and super soft. 100% washable and dryable too fyi Christi, forgot to mention that. Hope he likes it one day.
________________________________
Totally other subject- back to reality. You all know about my niece Winter that I have mentioned countless times. Please send up a little prayer for her. She's had a rough weekend. She had a low grade fever all day Friday that her mom kept an eye on. Due to her very low blood count and drastically dropped hemoglobin levels, her oncologist canceled their Memorial Day plans to go camping at Lake Gaston. Late Saturday night (after 12:30am Sunday morning) Winter began having a harder time breathing and her fever spiked up above 102. Anything above 100.4 means an automatic 48 hour stay at CHKD (children's hospital where she is treated). They rushed her in and that is where she is now. She still has a low fever but it seems to have stabilized. She has sores all in her mouth that are making it hard for her to eat, but this has not stopped her amazing spirit. As soon as we got home today, we went to see her. Big Mike needed some play time with his Winter and I just needed to be around. Her doctor is returning tomorrow from the long weekend, so we will know more then as soon as he comes in to look at her. If you don't mind, just say a little prayer for her. Its always scary when her counts drop this low with little definitive explanation besides "Well that's just Winter on chemo."
I love this little girl! :) As soon as I walked into her room, she said "HEY MOLLY! I can see your baby in your belly!" Well I hope she couldn't really see her, but who knows, Winter is quite special! :)
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