My sister's kiddos celebrated birthdays this weekend. Nathan turns 7 1/2, Natalie 5 and Noah 4 so we partied it up at a Chuck-E-Cheese-on-steroids type place called Power Play. My children attempted a ropes coarse that required an adult to assist, lets just say they hated it and I found arm muscles I didn't know existed. Then Julia was about one-hundred-million tickets shy of any toy in the entire prize shop and so I approached the ski ball game machine with the song "I Can Be Your Hero Baby" song in my head as I saved the day by landing the 10,000 cup and dancing a strange "Boo Ya" dance in front of many concerned teenagers in incredibly tight clothing. Overall I would say it was a pretty huge success; the kids birthdays were celebrated and no one threw up - SUCCESS!

When Halloween falls on a weekend it means more fun for everyone. We had trunk-or-treating in the morning right after church. Then we headed to Lawrence to cheer the Chiefs to victory before heading out for more candy. Grandma and Grandpa's neighborhood was packed with kids, and even a small-scale haunted house for those brave enough to enter. Natalie, Noah and Nathan came along (and Natalie is doing GREAT for those who might be wondering), and even Leo tagged along. You know, Leo my brother's new dog that gained eight pounds just last week, well on his way to 200+, ya that one. The girls had so much fun they were asleep before we'd gotten on the interstate for the drive home. That's how you know it was really good.

photo from Little Reminders of Love, my seester

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Natalie is home!
Julia is happy!
They have reunited over dress-up clothes and dollies and all it right with the world!
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I hope your Labor Day was likewise joyous and breezy!

Saturday Updates on Natalie!!!

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Behold, she walks!!!!

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Thanks so much for SO many prayers!!!

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Friday Updates on Natalie!

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- (Friday night update) Natalie was not able to get out of bed to walk yet today. She is still experiencing a lot of pain, which is expected with this sort of surgery. She did use the bathroom on her own, which was an important indicator of success with her neuro functioning. And they did wheel her out to see the trains this afternoon, expecting that tomorrow she'll be able to walk out to see them (hopefully!)

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- Had to remove her IV because it was hurting her so much everytime they'd try to give her pain medicine. Hopefully a new IV location will make that better!

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- They have tried to get her up to move around, unfortunately she is hurting too much for it to be successful. They are going to let her rest more and see if she can try again later.

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Thank you for the continued prayers and well wishes!!!

Thursday updates on Natalie:

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Surgery started at 8:50. Please be praying. I will post updates as I hear more.
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At 12:55 they came out and said all went well, Emily will see Natalie SOON!

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They are back with her now, she is hurting a lot but seems to be doing well.

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PS - She's still beautiful:

Thursday.
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Julia's bestest friend in the whole wide world, the cousin she was born within five short months of, the one she sleeps next to on Friday night sleep-overs at Grandma's, the kindred spirit she gravitates towards like a magnet, the sweet friend she prays for at bedtime - is undergoing spinal surgery to remove a cyst in her tiny spine next Thursday.
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Please pray for Natalie ... for her safe travel to Dallas Children's Hospital.... for her comfort and bravery as she goes in for surgery... for the surgeons hands to be wise and precise... for a quick recovery... to know God is near.

Natalie is in Dallas this week, seeing experts and the zoo. Thanks to everyone for asking, praying, caring, loving, reading, being. I hope a post of answered prayers is coming soon! So does my Julia, because she loves Natalie "berry much".

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PS - I love the "car trip" hair the girls are sporting in this picture, even "car trip" hair looks cute on itty-bittiness

What is the truth?
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About two weeks ago Carolyn spotted a pit-bull running loose in our neighborhood. Well, to be exact he seemed to be sauntering more than running but it was enough to disturb her greatly. For night after night we had to answer the question "is the pit bull going to get us?" over-and-over.
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Finally, weary of answering the pit bull queries, I had an idea. To be honest it was a total God thing, I was at the end of my proverbial-mothering-rope with pit bulls now invading my dreams, too. Then I decided to ask Carolyn about TRUTH.

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I challenged her to tell me truth about the situation...

"What is the truth about Daddy and how he takes care of you?" I asked.

"He keeps me safe" she replied.

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"What is the truth about our house?" I asked.

"We're safe in our house" she concluded.

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I had her repeat it "We're safe in our house" about 10 times. I had her say it louder and louder until it was almost a game, but a game with a point. The rest of the evening every time she would start to ask about the pit bulls she would stop herself and repeat "we're safe in our house". She would remind Julia, and Julia would remind her. A few nights of this and it is (almost) a non-issue, though we still have to close the garage door as soon as we pull in the garage.
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I've brought this little tool out, particularly when she is experiencing fearful thing, and it has worked very well. The other night she was watching satellites fly over with her Grandpa Chris and suddenly became concerned one would fall on her head. I asked her what the truth was about Grandpa Chris, and she quickly remembered, "Grandpa Chris takes care of me".

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...Enter Monday morning sitting in the silence of Cubeville as I found myself worked into a near panic thinking about sweet Natalie and her little spine and VHL and what that means for her and her brothers and my girls and our family and ... and ... and. Suddenly the nudge, "what's the truth?"

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The truth is that today everyone is healthy and happy.

The truth is we have the most amazing medicine available to us possible.

The truth is God has a plan and a purpose for sweet Natalie.

The truth is today is a good day.

The truth is God is here, now.

Oh sweet girl, what is going on inside of you???
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Doctor called my sister with more stressful news and inconclusive results. More specialists must be seen and tests must be done. We are all concerned with the possible diagnosis she is facing, and appreciate so much the thoughts and prayers you've all been saying.
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Please pray for open schedules for all of the necessary doctors and test equipment so this can be dealt with quickly, it is the waiting that becomes unbearable. Please pray for wisdom for the doctors... think House. And please pray for peace, as my sweet friend Katherine reminded me, God's peace to surround my sister, her husband and sweet little Natalie.

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PS - Get the full scoop from Emily HERE

My sister found a lump on Natalie's back the day after Christopher's wedding. We were putting the kids in-and-out of swimsuits and pools and trouble - the quarter sized protrusion next to her little spine caught my RN-sister's eye. Luckily, at just shy of four-years-old Natalie was young enough to not mind the staring eyes, wondering what it could be?

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The next week brought tests and doctors visits and second opinions and sonograms. Fast forward to last Friday night. The doctor called with results - and the request that sweet little Natalie see an Oncologist first thing Monday morning, with a suspicion this could be cancer. Cancer? No. Not Cancer? Fast forward to nerves and tears and the longest weekend imaginable.

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Natalie is Julia's bestest friend. Though shy, she lights up with cousin Julia - and Julia also has a very special place in her heart for this forever-friend only five-months her senior. Sometimes I imagine the beautiful women they will grow to be; rooming at college, standing with each other at their weddings, play-dates when they have littles of their own. I never imagine hospital visits... it's unimaginable... I could throw up... Monday come quickly... God go before us, below us, above us, on our left, and our right... be in this God... we need you.

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Sunday night I talk to my sister. She's holding it together. But then she says it... "I'm terrified". My sister endured her husband's year-long deployment in Iraq with three little ones under four - the same year we lost our Grandma so unexpectedly. She is an ICU nurse who saves lives daily. She's seen a lot in a short quarter-century of life. And "terrified" is the only word that could accurately describe the toughest girl I know enduring every mother's worst nightmare.

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We pray before bed on Sunday night. I haven't said much to the girls. Out of the blue Julia asks if we can pray for Natalie, and we do... and Natalie stays in that prayerful part of my heart the rest of the evening. I try to doze off, with the 5:30 a.m. wake-up call looming, and I can only wipe away warm tears as the minutes tick by. I can't imagine what my sister is thinking... and then I look at the girls peacefully sleeping and I start to imagine what she's going through ... and then I think I'll throw up. Around 2:00 I finally doze off, its a fretful night. I can only imagine how Emily and her husband are sleeping... or not.

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Throughout the morning I get short texts from Emily. "MRI was a no-go, she couldn't do it". "Waiting to do more blood work". "Heading to the Cancer Clinic now."

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Friends and family text, too. "Praying". "Have you heard anything?" "Been thinking about little Natalie today."

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I am prepping myself for the call that could come at any minute. If its bad my sister will be a wreck. Can I stay composed or will I lose it. It's not really about me now is it? But it could be a bit embarrassing to sob in front of co-workers... I know from experience.

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Finally right around 4:00 I got the message I'd been waiting for, "The doctor has pretty much ruled out cancer, still concerned about the lump and how close it is to her spine though." The sigh heard 'round my tiny piece of the world... with the caveat that more must be done. But, its not cancer, and that was worth a round of drinks, if I was the drinking type.

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Thursday she'll report back for tests, so we're still praying. If you're the praying sort, you could ask for wisdom for the doctors... that's what I'm asking for. But mostly I'm resting the lungs of my soul that had been screaming out to Him all weekend to PLEASE keep her close to Him no matter whatever... which he always does... but I had to remind myself.