our christmas...

Without further ado...pictures.

Here's a few pictures of our Christmas, it was beyond a blessing and one for which will go down as one of the best yet.

Me and My Crazy Cam


Camryn & Tori


Camryn Lee & Kelly Lee


***Some might wonder why we don't have any pics of Wyatt at church...well, he was fast asleep.***

Camryn & Makenna


Christmas Morning Cuddle Bugs


Camryn Lee


Wyatt Jason


Quite possibly the picture that captures our year..."Thanks Wyatt!"


The Davenport Cousins Arrive


The Mikels Gang Waiting For Presents


Camryn Lee & Peighton Hope


7 under 7


Riley.Camryn.Tori


Wyatt & His Big Cousin James


Quite a Christmas...a fitting ending to quite a year.

blessed christmas...

Christmas has come and gone for 2009...it seems so amazing how quickly it comes and then how quickly it passes. Reflecting today on the blessings of a season today and it leaves me so thankful.

Christmas Eve was spent with my family enjoying a traditional Southern meal...my Mom hails from Texas and cooking is one of her biggest talents in my opinion. So we enjoyed a very satisfying meal and company...it's seems so surreal to me that my nephews are in their twenties and my niece will be 16 this coming year. Talk about making a person feel old. I can vividly remember when they were Camryn's age and enjoying Christmas with them and now watching them enjoy it with my kids just brings a smile to my face. After hanging out for awhile we headed to church for the Christmas Eve service. This quite possibly could be one of my fondest Christmas memories from my childhood...going to church, sitting with my extended family, singing about Christmas, getting a box of candy at the end. Christmas Eve holds some of my most cherished childhood memories and it never fails that sometime on Christmas Eve I find myself right back there and I smile. We got to church and sat up in the balcony away from as many people as possible...funny how the front row of the balcony was the entire Mikels family. I love watching Camryn and Wyatt enjoy their extended family, some great memories in the making.

After church we headed back to my parent's house for more food and presents. Camryn and Wyatt were so excited and helped Makenna pass out all the gifts. They also very much were into their presents and enjoyed the fun of opening...they were incredibly blessed! All the while Wyatt gave us a play by play of each gift, just kept cracking us up with this dialogue. Later we headed home and the little ones crashed after leaving cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. Jason and I had a few little things to do to prepare for Christmas morning and then off to bed we went too. Oh the fun of Christmas Eve and the coming of Christmas morning.

Christmas morning Jason make monkey bread for us, which is going to become our tradition. I feel like this year Jason and I did the best job we have done in creating traditions and memories for our family of four and I have enjoyed it. We opened stockings and presents while the monkey bread baked, then we ate and just enjoyed a lazy morning together. It was wonderful! I absolutely loved not having to race through our morning to get to our next destination. After we got ready and the kids played with some of their new toys we headed to Jason's parents for our Mikels Christmas.

Boy what a day...there are seven kids under seven so it is a full house with lots of Christmas spirit. We hung out, opened presents, ate a good dinner and hung out some more. Wyatt was in a bit of a funk, he was exhausted and just fighting a bit of a cold I think. But, he perked up for presents! Camryn had a blast playing with her cousins, she absolutely adores all of them and truly they are her best friends. Camryn and James played secret spies together and I promise I had flash backs to my days playing with my cousins and it was priceless.

We are beyond blessed this year...

Even though this year in no way went the way we expected it to, it took turns that we would have rather it not. But, we are blessed. Our families which have been a gift to us this year, walking with us through a very tough year for us. Our children who have proven to amaze us constantly with their spirit, fight and love. But as we sat in church I was reminded of Jesus' birth...

His coming into this world...into my messy life to redeem, to give me hope, to give me a future. To turn my pain, my struggles, my questions, all of it into something beautiful with him. Because only in His coming do we have the hope of being with Him and that has been my Christmas gift this year.

This year has been hard, I won't lie...there have been moments of utter desperation and despair and yet moments of great hope and promise. And to know that 2,000 years ago a baby was born to pay for my sins even before they were committed...to love me even when I am unlovable...to save me...to give me more than I will deserve...

To give me life...

I guess you could say that is our biggest blessing this Christmas...Life and life abundantly.

***And yes there are lots of pictures that I'll post soon***

day +201...

Yep, you read that right...Camryn has pasted 200 days! We are so thankful, 200 days that have been a whole range of emotions, but mostly the emotion is thankful!

Last night we went and looked at Christmas lights with some friends and their families, we truly had a wonderful time. Camryn is Little Miss Holiday, seriously this girl has event planner in her future! She loved looking at all the details of the decorations and thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Wyatt enjoyed the fun too, but he spent most of his night on the look out for the Grinch. Wyatt hates the Grinch, he is scared of him. So Wyatt armed with a flashlight was on the lookout and if he saw on he had to keep on eye on him. He was too funny!

We enjoyed the evening...I think this might be one of the best Christmas seasons we have had as a family. The kids are much more into it and they are enjoying some traditions. Jason and I are enjoying creating some traditions and enjoying the fun of family this year!

Today was Camryn's clinic appointment...since both me and Jason are on vacation we decided to both go and bring Wyatt along to see everyone. We headed out bright and early, made it to clinic is great time and saw our usual favorites of friends. Camryn was on cloud nine to have Wyatt with her. We saw Dr. Ed and he was pleased with Camryn and her progress...Dr. A stopped in to say hi and wish us a Merry Christmas. We love Dr.A, he has been a huge blessing to us! We saw Nurse Maureen because Nurse Charlotte wasn't there, but true to Nurse Charlotte form she had a Christmas gift waiting for Camryn. And Camryn had one for her too! These two have quite a bond, I love it! When it came time for labs since Nurse Charlotte was not there we thought Camryn would just do her labs in clinic and not go over to procedure center. Well, we were wrong. Camryn headed over to procedure and asked one of the nurses there if they would please do her labs...it was too cute! Sid said they would and asked her if she wanted to get her supplies together and of course she did. I stood in awe as Camryn went to the supplies, pulled out all the necessary vials, all the right colored tops, the flushes, alcohol wipes, and the stat stickers even...yep, she is in full command of her care and I love it!

We have always known that there was something unique about Camryn in that from a very early age she loved helping the nurses and being completely aware of every detail of her care. And now at almost 6 she is completely engrossed in it and you know I love that the nurses there allow her to be her. As Maureen drew her labs and Camryn chatted with her about her lumen's and their names I just smiled at this wonder I am gifted with in Camryn. She leaves me speechless.

And sitting just a chair away another wonder...Wyatt wasn't fully sure of clinic. He did not want a bracelet, he did not want the doctors to look at him, but boy was he aware of his sister and did not let her out of his sight. I sometimes wonder if he thinks she is staying at UCLA so he stays close to make sure she is coming home with him. As he sat watching all the ends and outs of Camryn's exam and listened as Dr. M came to chat I just marveled at this miracle in curtain area 4...two little kids who just amaze me moment by moment.

Dr.M came to see us and it was great to see him. He said that he wants everything to stay the same throughout this Christmas week, doesn't want to mess with anything so that Camryn has an event free Christmas, medical event that is. Starting Monday Camryn's steroids will be every other day...WOOHOO! And her clinic visits moved to every three weeks...another YAY! Camryn was happy to see Dr.M as he has traveled quite a journey with her since 2 years old...and Wyatt since he was born.

We said our good-byes and Merry Christmases and headed over to the "big hospital" as Camryn calls it. We went to the third floor to deliver the gifts we were given to donate to the Hemoc kids. Camryn was thrilled to share the gifts with the hospital, excited to give to kids who as Camryn put it, "are just like me." We said hello to some of our nurses and dropped off a little treat.

As we headed home feeling incredibly blessed by the amazing people who take sweet care of our little girl. Words cannot adequately express our gratitude...they are our heroes.

Tonight we baked some Christmas cookies and decorated them, although Wyatt had more fun eating all the decorations before they made it on the cookies.

I must admit that I really enjoy the pace of vacation this year...I don't feel rushed, but rather we are enjoying our days together. We are thankful...grateful and appreciating the immeasurable gift of Christmas.

And along the way saying many thanks for 200 plus days...

the most wonderful time of the year...

Today was one of those wonderful days during this wonderful time of the year...

Last night Jason and I had talked about maybe heading up to Ventura and hanging out at the beach for a bit, then I checked on my nephew's basketball schedule and saw that his team had a game today, then my friend E sent me a message letting me know where we could go see Santa without the rush of crowds and it was outdoors, doubly great! So those three things were options today...I really didn't think that we would do them all, but Jason said let's try it! So...

To start with Daddy made us waffles this morning which was quite a treat! The kids and I thoroughly enjoyed them...Yummy! Then we told the kids about heading to the beach and they were overjoyed! So excited! We packed up the car and headed out. Camryn and Wyatt absolutely LOVE Ventura, the sand, the rocks, the swings, all of it...so it was their little piece of heaven today. It was a gorgeous day at the beach, beautiful...





















As we were walking to the car I looked at Jason and said, "That was quite possibly the best day we've ever spent at the beach." To which he nodded, "Yes, and what a great way to start vacation." And you know I couldn't agree more...

But, the day was not over...

We loaded up in the car and drove down the 101 to Cal Luthern University to see my nephew's basketball team play. We got there during the second half which was perfect, I don't think Camryn and Wyatt are up for a complete game. Camryn loved it...she was very into the game, asking all sorts of questions about the teams and cheering very loudly..."Go Joshy's team!" Yes, she loves her cousin Joshy very much...and was quite proud of him coaching! :) Wyatt enjoyed the game, but was a little antsy...yep, he is a player not a spectator. After the game was over Camryn and Wyatt took a walk with their Joshy to see all the trophies and such...yep, it makes my heart smile seeing them love their cousins so much. But as one of Josh's players said, "it's pretty hard not to love Josh." Indeed it is.

We said our good-byes and see you soons and headed home. What fun we had! So thankful for such a fun day, but it wasn't over yet...

We got home, changed our clothes and waited for my mom and dad to pick us up to head to Pasadena to see Santa and the pretty decorations. We had a wonderful time...thank you E for the tip, it was absolutely perfect! We walked and saw Santa, the pretty tree, A Christmas Carol playing on the building...a beautiful evening, guess some wintery weather would have made it perfect, but for So Cal it was pretty near perfect!






We had a wonderful day as a family...truly perfect. It was a wonderful start to our vacation and quite possibly the best day we have had together in a long time. Today felt like *real* life...did not feel like leukemia, cancer life, but our life...

And our life today was just a blessing...

family...

Today I was reminded of a very special family that we are a part of...the VCS family. Village Christian Schools has been a family for me since before I was born, yes you read that right. My parents both worked at Village for forty plus years so I have been a part of Village literally forever! And today I was reminded what an amazing family it is...

Village is a K-12 Christian school so many of the students travel through as "lifers" or for a few years here and there. I graduated from Village as did Jason so we hail as alumni of a very special place. Village is where Camryn and Wyatt too will hopefully attend school and be loved on by some of the most amazing people I know.

But tonight it was not the teachers who amazed me, it was a group of students.

I have taught at Village for 11 years and I have had the privilege of teaching middle school and high school. Being there 11 years has allowed me to teach some kids in middle school and then have them again as high schoolers. It is quite a gift to be able to see how students grow and develop through the years.

Tonight when we arrived home a group of Senior girls had dinner made for my family as their Bible class took on the Christmas project of giving to my family. As I looked at these faces I just smiled...these were my students in middle school and again when they were in tenth grade and here now they stood as Seniors. Their love and gifts to my family leaves me speechless...

I am proud of these students, so proud. Who they have become makes me so proud...truly the Lord has amazing plans for their lives.

Thank you, to each of you. For dinner, for notes, for flowers, for gifts and also for gifts for the other kids at UCLA. Your kindness and generosity is a gift beyond measure.

Much love and many hugs to each of you...I love you!

unhooked...

So this morning I unhooked Camryn from her IV fluids for the last time...hopefully! As of right now we are keeping our fingers crossed that Camryn stays healthy and her tummy cooperates.

Camryn was super excited to be pump free...she's had it for 15 nights. So the thought of tonight "just" going to bed was welcome to her. In fact she sweetly said, "Mom tomorrow morning I can sneak in your room without having to call you to come unhook me...I'm glad I can snuggle with you again."

Me too Cam, me too!

"really awesome"...

That were the exact words of Camryn's nurse practitioner when describing Camryn's labs today. Woohoo!

Camryn did not have to go to clinic on Tuesday and so far we are staying clinic free for the week (knock on wood). So back to our schedule before Camryn's three day stint in the hospital, her home care nurse came and took her labs. I was at work, but my mom said that Camryn was quite the little helper for her nurse. Knowing what supplies were needed and even knew exactly where to go to get the extra flush her nurse needed. Yep, our little girl knows far too much about all of this, but she takes control of her care and I think it honestly gives her a sense of control over all of this.

Camryn's labs were great, awesome...her liver enzymes were well within the normal range. Her hemoglobin, white counts, platelets all were great...we are so thankful!

We are almost through with the IV fluids, only tonight and tomorrow left...we've got our fingers crossed that once the IV fluids end that Camryn continues to do as well as she is. Quite frankly Camryn is doing fabulous! She is eating well, taking her meds like a pro and being active. Yes, she is better and we are hopeful it will continue!

We never tire of good labs...week by week they are our encouragement that Camryn is doing well. She is having a few ups and downs, but really that's to be expected. This journey of transplant is never quick and easy...it's a marathon run and we are only on our first mile. :) Maybe in 26 years we'll breath easy...Camryn would be 31 then, only 3 years younger than me. Yes, I think then we might see the end in sight. :)

But for now at five we will celebrate some "really awesome" labs. As I told Camryn today that her labs were awesome she coolly replied, "Thanks!" Thanks marrow for doing a fantastic job, but more than that...

Thank you Lord for some great labs...You deserve credit for the miracle working in Camryn's marrow!