Ice Skating!

I hope that you all had as good of a Christmas as we did and hopefully I will find some time to post some pictures, but Paul is off this week, and we are trying to make some fun family memories.  So, today we headed to the ice arena.  I probably do not need to state the obvious, but I sat on the side lines due to my foot injury but the ret of the family had a blast.  McKenzy and Keyan took right to it and were UNSTOPPABLE.  The only thing that got Keyan to finally take a break is when her trach came out!  Abagayle followed close behind them and once Sidney relaxed a little, she was making it around the ice as well.  Jamahl was very apprehensive as the last time he went ice skating he ended up with stitches….and if you know Jamahl at all, he is a worrier.  However, he did really well and even had some fun too.  I know I probably say this all of the time, but as I was watching my kids faces as they skated beside my parents and Paul, I got a little teary at the fact that my kids have such special grandparents.  We are all so lucky to have each other and are blessed to be able to make fun memories together.  After a warming drink of hot chocolate, they were all asking when we could go again…now that is good family fun!

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A Magical Visit

We had a very special guest visit our house this evening!  We had talked about someone special coming, but when Santa arrived, the kids were all stunned!  We took him down near the Christmas tree and each of the kids took turns talking to Santa.  Keyan asked for a teddy bear, McKenzy asked for a surprise, Abagayle told him she wanted jewelry, Sidney asked for a Barbie, and Jamahl asked for Legos…which Santa said was one of his favorite things too!  Santa showed them Rudolph’s jingle bell harness, and his magical keys that help him get into homes that don’t have chimneys.  He told us that Mrs. Claus really likes to pick out special things for each of them and helps him make sure every child has a special Christmas.

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Jamahl had LOTS of questions about his toy sack, getting past our nurses, how the reindeer fly, and if he knew our elf on the shelf, Magic Mike.  Santa knew just how to answer his questions and you could see Jamahl’s eyes growing bigger and bigger.
Obviously, we are all feeling so much joy to have Keyan home with us this Christmas season.  Your life is forever changed when you go through a holiday season with a child in the hospital.  The reality for us is that the overall picture of her health has not changed.  The intestinal failure is still present, she is still TPN dependant, and we live constantly walking on egg shells waiting for her to have a medical crisis.  However, her day-to-day life is SOOO improved and we now know that that is really all that matters.  With the help of Cincinnati, Hospice, and several of our doctors here in Grand Rapids, we have given her the quality of life that Paul and I so desperately longed for.  This is what life is all about.  When faced with the mortality of someone you hold so precious, the value of every joyful minute engraves memories on your soul.  The visit from Santa was just that….a magical moment to etch into our hearts and minds.  One that will carry us thru the tough times of the year to come.  A memory to share with each other for years to come and reminisce about the awe that it inspired.  Tonight, our hearts are full, our minds are reeling with questions, and we are so blessed to be together.  I just want to sit very still and savor the fullness of my heart!

Jamahl's letter to Santa

Brace yourself to experience the big heart of this special nine year old!

Dear Santa,

Hi!  This Christmas I want the lego Star Wars "Death Star" and the lego "Slav I".  The last gift I want is to have my sister not be in the hospital this Christmas.

Love,

Jamahl Hogan

(My Dad says that just for that he should get everything on his list....never mind that the "Death Star is $400!!!  Nice thought Dad!!)



Birthdays 2010

Birthday week always seems like a blur around this house.  Between eating cake for an entire week, making all the school treats and swimming treats, and squeezing Thanksgiving in between the two special days, when it is all said and done, it is a whirlwind filled with good time and memories. 

The girls were thrilled to be turning six although I had done my best to convince them to stay five, they would have none of it!  They all agreed on spaghetti for dinner and got dolls and doll accessories for gifts.  Later in the week, we took a friend of theirs to all go and see "Tangled" as an extended celebration. 

Jamahl turned nine six days later.  He and Paul took a friend of his to see a movie that afternoon and he had requested spaghetti pie for dinner.  His gifts revolved around swimming and Star Wars...big surprise huh?  The boy LOVES to swim and is an expert at Star Wars!

I have a hard time believing that we now have children who are six and nine years old!  Things are changing at our house and change is hard for this mommy.  The kids are becoming more independent, more vocal about their concerns and wishes, and more thoughtful and introspective.  While I have a hard time, it is fun to watch them become little people.  They have dreams, desires, feelings, and fears.  While not always fun to deal with, it means they are thinking and paying attention to the world around them.  While the statement, "bigger kids equals bigger problems" is definitely true, I don't want to miss the steps of the journey that get us all through those times.  I know we are only on the cusp of school dilemmas, friend problems, boyfriends and girlfriends, realizing that the world isn't a fair and just place, and just plain growing up, but all of that stuff encompasses this thing we call life.  We were all so grateful to have Keyan home this year for the birthdays...last year she was in the hospital.  Those tough times are molding and shaping our family for life.  As the kids get older, I realize more and more than it is not about the end result, but rather the process of getting there!  Enjoy the pictures!