new year's eve...

Our New Year's tradition (well, two years running) is to head to our friends the Aust's home for some New Year fun. We ate lots of food, the kids played and played, the guys watched the Laker game, the girls chatted and helped with the various costume changes of the girls...

We had such fun! We did an east coast New Year's at 9:00, but I think the kids might have been able to wait until midnight...they were excited! The Austs provided noise makers, hats, beads, poppers, and a balloon drop...it was quite a festive night.

christmas day...

Camryn was the first one up on Christmas morning, which in our house is rare...she is usually the last one up, always. Guess not on Christmas! She could not wait to wake up her brother...



And they could not wait to see what Santa had left for them...scooters! They were SO excited...they were anxious to try them out!



Here's Wyatt trying out his scooter in the house...and Camryn wearing her Mulan dress.



Another outfit change for Camryn...Jasmine now.



After our fun Christmas morning we headed to Grandpa & Grandma Mikels' house for our Mikels Christmas...we had a lot of fun! Camryn, Wyatt, Riley, and Peighton enjoyed all their fun gifts and just playing and playing together...



Aren't these kids cute? We sure missed Uncle Nick, Auntie Heather, James, Tori, and Jackson...we cannot wait to see you soon!



As a family we enjoyed the day and like my sister-in-law Devon I didn't take too many pictures...guess we truly were just enjoying the day! It was an amazing day...we certainly enjoy time with our family and being together.



Trying to get the pajama shot...Wyatt was having a melt-down and Peighton was showing us her crawling tricks, so you can see we were working with these two cute girls...



Hope you all had a blessed Christmas and enjoyed time with your family and friends...thankful for the season, the time that life just pauses for a bit to enjoy the many gifts given to us.

Merry Christmas...

christmas eve...

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve, if I'm honest ever since I was little I have always enjoyed the beauty, the traditions, and the spirit of Christmas Eve. We went to my parents' house in the afternoon for a good old-fashioned Southern meal and family time. A family tradition has always been going to the Christmas Eve service at church, I remember when I was little sitting with my cousins and whispering about what presents we hoped we get later that evening. We enjoyed the service, the candles, and the time together.



These two thoroughly enjoyed Christmas Eve...of course they were very excited to open presents, but they really enjoyed heading to church and celebrating Jesus' birthday!



Me and my girl...love this little face.



After presents and lots of food the kids enjoyed time with their cousins Caleb, Josh, and Makenna...this is Josh showing Wyatt and Camryn how to play the game. The kids love their older cousins so much, they love time spent with them and it just made Christmas all the better!



When we got home Camryn and Wyatt left their note for Santa and headed to bed...



Christmas Eve was a blessed day spent with family and celebrating an amazing gift...it's amazing sharing the day and evening with the kids as they get older. They begin to understand more and more the amazing gift of Jesus...and really that's gift enough.

"perfect place"...

Camryn's "holiday" visit to clinic was today, this visit is becoming our annual family visit. We all go...Camryn, Wyatt, Jason and me. Camryn likes it this way, she loves when we all go with her...after all UCLA is truly her place.

We headed out bright and early. Wyatt was not very happy about getting up before 7, but if we want to beat the traffic and the clinic crowd then we have to leave our house by 7. Thankfully, traffic was not bad at all especially with the rain...but, we realized that UCLA is out on winter break so we did not have the usual commuter traffic. I think we made it down in record time...it was fantastic!

Wish I could say the same for our clinic visit...it always takes awhile to get in and settled and then we wait for Camryn's NP to come see us first and then we wait for the doctor. Since Wyatt was with us Camryn loved showing him all the in's and out's of her life at UCLA. They hung out in the Hemonc playroom, watched a video, and read a few books. We got to see B, Camryn's NP...she said Camryn's scalp looked much better. Over the past couple months we have been dealing with dry skin issues on Camryn's scalp...it was getting pretty bad, but last month the doctors suggested a special shampoo and since we started it, her scalp is better. It was nice to have confirmation by the doctors that her scalp did in fact look a lot better. The other skin issue Camryn's battles is the remnants of her GVH rash...but, again it was confirmed that the rash is not getting worse in fact it is getting better.

We got to see Dr.M today which was fun, Camryn laughed and laughed with Dr.M while he checked her eyes, mouth, ears, and listened to her heart. Dr.M said that Camryn is doing perfectly. In fact he said that she is in the...

"PERFECT PLACE"

Dr.M reminded us that from the beginning they wanted to induce GVH to give Camryn's immune system a boost, a jolt if you will. And that's what has happened...the plan has worked "perfectly". Dr.M is very pleased with Camryn, she has done everything within her power to be well...take her medicines, eat, gain weight, and really believe that she can fight this. He decided to continue the wean of Camryn's tacrolimus, she's down to .3. Hurray! The only thing that would change this would be if Camryn's liver enzymes were too high, but they would call after her labs came in. Jason and I both were so hopeful that the wean would stick if you will...that slowly but surely Camryn would get to the less meds, or dare we even say it no more meds.

We said our good - bye's and headed to make our appointment for next year...Camryn thought that meant a looong time from now. But, really just January 2011. :) We went to say hello to Nurse Charlotte and pass along some Christmas treats. Camryn loves her family at UCLA...we are truly blessed by their love, care, and support for her.

Later this evening we got Camryn's labs and as B said "they look great!". Camryn's labs are nice and strong, much the same as last month. And her liver enzymes? One a little high, the other in normal range. Yay! So, the wean continues!

We are thankful for Camryn's perfect place...it has taken a lot to get to this point. Of course sometimes, most of the time really I wish this wasn't Camryn's story; but it is. There is no escaping it...but I am thankful for the moments like today when I am reminded that all is not in vain. That Camryn is making progress, be it slow...but, we knew that this time around would be much slower, much more conservative and really that's okay. Camryn is well...she is healthy...she looks and acts like any other six-year-old. And we love it...

We love this perfect place.

And who doesn't love a few pictures...many thanks cousin Riley for introducing Camryn & Wyatt to footie pajamas, they love them! :)









Hope you are all enjoying a wonderful Christmas season!

disney on ice...

On Wednesday our family went to Disney On Ice with one of our most favorite families, the Austs. We have a tradition to do something together as a family for Christmas and this year T suggested we try to get tickets...we scored some great seats for a reasonable price and we had lots of fun!

Before we headed out the kids exchanged gifts...Camryn was very excited for her new Tinkerbell and the Great Fairy Rescue movie and Wyatt was thrilled with Mater's Tall Tales, they've watched them a few times! We decided to all ride together which was lots of fun...although Wyatt struggled with the traffic, he's not too patient. The plan was to eat dinner before we got to Staples Center and paid outrageous prices, so K found a Denny's in downtown LA and we had a very fun meal. Then we headed to Staples for the fun...



I am amazed at how festive the LA Live area is by Staples Center...it was fun! Ice skating rink, lots of lights and fun!



The show started and the kids were entranced for the entire thing...Camryn especially. Camryn LOVED it, decided that she was going to be an ice skater when she grows up! The kids had lots of fun with Eisley...and really it was a fun night had by all.







As a family we had a lot of fun as we had never been to a show like that before. Camryn's restrictions have limited what we are allowed to do, and it is such fun to get to do more things! As I watched Camryn thoroughly enjoy the show I was reminded of how much of life has been lost for her and yet she LOVES life. She loves every bit of everything...the music, the stories, the people, the smiles, all of it! I have learned much from my little girl, but I think what she teaches me most is to enjoy. Enjoy the moments that are given...thoroughly enjoy to the fullest.

We are so very thankful for people who love our kids and want to spend time with them. Our lives are richly blessed by friends who invest in the lives of our kids...we are so thankful to create some Christmas traditions that we hope to carry on for years to come.

quote...

As I was sitting in my teacher's meeting this morning, I glance over at a stack of magazines on the table and my eyes found this...

"There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm." ~ Willa Cather

Probably don't need to explain the significance I found in these few words...

Thankful that even in the most insignificant encounters, reminders of God's faithfulness seem to find me to remind me that He is not finished yet...

Not even close.

the merriest place on earth...

On Sunday we headed to the happiest, now merriest place on earth for the day! We had planned to go in November, but due to rain we had to postpone our trip until yesterday. The day truly did not disappoint...we had a fabulous day!

Camryn enjoys the teacups, me not so much...so, it's a tradition for Daddy and Camryn to enjoy the teacups together. I love watching their smiles and laughs as they spin and spin the teacup...



Camryn wanted to meet Rapunzel. So, we waited in a line, a very long line. While we waited Camryn read her new Tangled book, it was darling watching her read and her eyes scan the pages...and yes, she was really reading. Camryn loves to read...



Did I mention the line was long? Very long, but totally worth the wait. Wyatt and Daddy joined up with us when it was time to meet Rapunzel and Flynn. I must admit after meeting almost every Disney character Rapunzel and Flynn were some of the nicest! They chatted with the kids, asked questions, signed autographs and even got Wyatt to smile.



What trip to Disneyland isn't complete without cotton candy and popcorn?



My love. I love going to Disneyland with him...he's the best.



The new found favorite...Tom Sawyer's Island, now called Pirates Lair, but still a very cool adventure. Camryn and Daddy went last time, but Wyatt wasn't so sure; this time Wyatt was "brave" as he told us. The kids loved it and had lots and lots of fun!


Waiting for the Christmas Parade...one of my holiday favorites.





And of course It's a Small World...Camryn and Wyatt both love this ride! We rode it twice and they loved it every time! The ride is quite cute for the holidays and the lights are fantastic.



A fabulous day...nothing says the holidays like Disneyland at Christmastime.