DANIEL'S FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

It looks like someone does not want to get out of bed! I don't blame him he looks comfy!
I love that he is always smiling and he has such an awesome smile too!
Very cool backpack Daniel! We hope your first day at school was great!

We love you ad miss you very much!

GREAT NEWS ON MADDIE

All good news!
Posted Aug 27, 2008 2:01pm
So I just finally got the call, her bone marrow looked normal. Hooray for normal! So I can start breathing again.
Her counts at our visit today looked like they are improving since Monday, so that is good news too. We have just started treating her UTI and hopefully that will be resolved soon also. Also, though I have not had a detailed explanation form our oncologist yet, her MRI of the brain appeared normal too. So it is good news all around.
I really appreciate everyone's kind words and prayers. It is really hard to go through this. Even though some of the bumps in this road seem minor, when you are in them, they can seem very very serious. But we are going to have to get used to the fact that her counts may do things for no apparent reason sometimes. We just have to keep trudging along and try to stay as positive as possible through it all. Despite all my worries about the crazy counts, Maddie seems to feel really awesome. She was walking all around the clinic today. The nurses and doctors who don't usually get to see her walking finally got to see what we have been seeing at home for awhile.
Love to everyone,
Liz, Brandon, and Mighty Maddie

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All 3 of us together in the pool 8/2/08

A QUICK REQUEST FROM LIZ

Just a quick update to let y'all know that Maddie will be having a Bone Marrow Aspirate tomorrow along with her MRI to make sure there is nothing unusual (like leukemia) going on in there. Her counts were a bit weird again today and they have been sort of strange for a few weeks now, so the doctor said that as long as we are putting her under anesthesia, we might as well do a BMA to set our minds at ease. Normally, he would not say her counts are weird enough to necessitate this test, but because she is already being anesthetized, he is willing to do it just to make sure we have nothing to be worried about. Basically, he knows how crazy I am and that I will not rest easy until we see another clean BMA.
So please keep our amazing baby in your prayers (as I know you all do) particularly tomorrow morning for her procedures, and specifically that her marrow shows no signs of leukemia. Thanks again for all your prayers!
Love to everyone,
Liz, Brandon, and Maddie

DANIEL AND ASHTON

My nephew Daniel is just crazy about trains. He built this track and is very proud as he should be!

Great job Daniel!

My niece Ashton loves to dress up as a bride even though she will tell you she does not want a husband, ever! She looks like a beautiful little bride though!


Daniel & Ashton wearing their cool parrot tees they made at Vacation Bible School. GREAT JOB GUYS! It is very sweet how she is looking up at him lovingly! I hear that this display of sweetness on her part is rare, although, I think they are telling stories on her! Clearly someone so cute must be very sweet, right?

We love you and miss you very much!

FOR MY GUYS!

My most favorite thing in this world is being Mom to my amazing boys and wife to my best friend! They have made all of my dreams come true and I love every second I am with them! If I could save time in a bottle I would spend an eternity with MY GUYS!

I LOVE YOU ALL VERY MUCH!

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY DOMINIC

My great nephew Dominic celebrating his 1st bday! My niece Marsha, his Mommy, drew the banner. Awesome job Annie! Also, his Aunt Chris, my other niece, colored it. Clearly they get their artistic talents from me!
HOW SWEET!
I love the cake!
Isn't he beautiful! I think he looks just like me!
That is just how Aunt Marcy celebrates!

We love you Dominic!

AUNT KIMS VISIT

Mike and Julie fit in so perfectly in our household. Mike has grown to be such a wonderful young man and we loved having him here! Julie is so sweet and silly just like the rest of us.
Elijah posing.

We spent our first day at Onslow beach unfortunately I forgot my camera.

Elijah and Gage.

We took two days off to rest and play WII. Paige was especially fond of playing and had gotten quite good in a short time.

I actually got Mike to fix everyone breakfast one morning. He made eggs in a basket which has become a new favorite in our house. It was such a treat because I usually always fix breakfast.

GREAT JOB MIKE, THANKS!

I don't care what anyone says, I think he looks just like me!

Jim, Taylar and Kim on the trampoline. I did warn Kim about getting on with her brother, especially without a net!

Me and the little guys playing.

Thanks for all the fun!

OUR TRIP TO JUNGLE RAPIDS

We spent the day at Jungle Rapids in Wilmington. It was our first time going to the water park at Jumgle Rapids and we had a GREAT day!

Caleb coming down one of the water slides in the kiddie pool. They also rode several of the big slides with Mom and Dad.

Gabe, face first!

Kim and Gage in the kiddie pool.

Gabe, Gage and Caleb. The sun was too bright for the lil guys.
This was in the wave pool.

Kim and Gage just floatin along in the lazy river.

Gage is trying to gnaw his armband off.

Caleb was so excited to ride with Mike. He just adores his cousin and it was awesome to watch him interact with Mike.
Daddy and Gabe

We had such a blast racing each other and I took everyone in the first race and was able to lap just about everyone in the second race even with Elijah spinning me into the wall. We had the track pretty much to ourselves! The fun we had on this local track is what prompted us to go to the Nascar Speed Park in Myrtle Beach. Did I mention what a dissapointment that was? Just for the record I whipped Mike in both races!

Paige talkin trash.
Jim says this is why she can't win a race.

Finally Paige and Kim got their chance to race. In spite of being behind about six or seven blue hairs and Paige starting off in front, Kim came very close to taking him!
One more lap and Kim would have had him!

Uncle Jimmy and Gage playing peek a boo.

Thanks for dinner at Carrabas Paige!
Our little guys all tuckered out!

Sooo sweet!

WHAT AN AWESOME DAY!

MYRTLE BEACH OR BUST

Elijah snatched my camera which is always scary!
Love the glasses Elijah! What old lady did you beat up to get those?

Obviously we are starting with the bust part first since the van just died!
No worries we spent Monday, our anniversary, getting a new alternator.

The big vehicle switch.

We are finally on our way.

We finally arrive at Broadway at the Beach.

Daddy and his little guys.

We went to Joe's Crab Shack for some lunch after the long drive and short delay.

Award winning decor and the food was good too!

Isn't this little guy beautiful! He looks exactly like me, doesn't he?

The whole crew ready for lunch.

There was a kind gentleman who made balloon animals. Caleb got a kittie cat with a mouse.
Gabe got a gun and holster.
Little Gage got a turtle turtle.
Taylar got a monkey.
He then handed Mike, Julie and Elijah uninflated balloons and asked them to give it a try. Mike almost passed out trying to blow his up! Apparently Julie is full of hot air because she had no problem. Elijah was then able to make himself a Tootsie.

After lunch it was time for tattoos. I think Gabe was a little leery of the air compressor powered paint gun.
Gabe picked some sort of Chinese symbol. Very cool Gabe!
Then Caleb had a turn.
Caleb picked the Batman symbol. Also very cool!
Then Taylar got herself a sun. Very pretty!

It is hard to keep the big kids from actin a fool so we just try to roll with it. Caleb, Mike and Elijah
Daddy and Gabe
T-Rex snagged himself an Elijah.
Daddy and Caleb
Giddy-up Mike!