June 2006

June 2009

A year ago today our family was changed in the most amazing way. Happy Family Day Charli Grace!

Reliving My Childhood

We are spending the week on the Gulf Coast. This is Charli's first trip to the beach. We haven't been in 3 years, so Conner is really experiencing it for the first time too. I'm amazed at all of the wonderful memories that Chad and I are able to relive through our children. The beach, the pool, the go kart track, going out for ice cream...They are taking it all in and enjoying every second. I am so proud of how they are growing and maturing. Charli would not have been able to handle all this excitement a few months ago. She has come so very far this year and Conner is an outstanding big brother. This trip has been an excellent way to celebrate our first year together as a family.

As is ancient Bama beach tradition, we took both kids for an airbrush t-shirt this evening. They applauded the airbrush guy when he was finished. They put them on as soon as we got in the condo. (Somehow we managed to stop them from stripping down in the parking lot.) We headed right out to the sand for some pictures.

Psalm 127:3 (The Message)
Don't you see that children are God's best gift?

Thank you Lord for these precious gifts!

Reason to Celebrate

It has been a long and exciting week. Charli Grace had two eye appointments this week. The first was with, Dr. Wang, a cornea specialist in Nashville, the second with her glaucoma specialist in Birmingham. That is a lot of driving in one week, but we got very encouraging news. Both doctors agree that she is a good candidate for an procedure called PTK. Basically Dr. Wang will use a laser to remove some of the scarred tissue from her right cornea. This should improve her field of vision and reduce her light sensitivity. We go back to Nashville in 2 weeks to finalize the details. Dr. Wang also confirmed that her condition is in fact called Peter's Anomaly. This doesn't change her treatment, but it is nice to have a name to the disease.

To celebrate the good news we stopped by Krispy Kreme for delicious hot doughnuts. We polished off nearly a dozen along with some nice cold milk. I call that a nutritious lunch.

Hot doughnuts coming off the line: Conner was fascinated.

Doughnuts and chocolate milk: a winning combination.

We can put away some doughnuts. This was all that was left.

I made this!

I found the awesome directions for this T-Shirt dress at Deanna's Blog. Until now most of my attempts at sewing have been sub par. Mother's coaching and Deanna's tutorial helped me make a dress that is hand made, but doesn't look home made. I am so excited with how this dress came together. Plans for a 2nd one are already in the works.

New Glasses

We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! 1 Cor 13:12

Charli is thrilled with her new glasses. They give her relief from the light sensitivity caused by her condition. And they are adorable to boot.

We met with her pediatric ophthalmologist this week. We talked for quite a while about different procedures and treatment options for Charli's eyes. Most of the options are risky and involve a good deal of discomfort. The doctor also said that the chances of significantly improving her sight are slim. Those were not easy words to hear, but we have peace. Charli does so much with the vision she has. She is content and joyful, so why should we be anything but thankful?

We are going to continue to persue advanced treatment options, keeping in mind the risk and her overall quality of life. Pray for wisdom for us and her doctors as we choose this next path. I feel like we are "peering through a mist" as we look to the future, but I know God has good things in store.

Garden Time

Tending the family garden isn't easy. Luckily, my grandfather had some help from Conner this afternoon. I remember my days of hoeing corn and picking peas for 25 cents a bushel. Thank goodness I have kids I can pass those chores along to. Conner's first garden job was tossing rocks out of the rows of corn into the woods. Charli and I stood out of the range of fire. Poor Pawpaw got beaned with at least one rock. Bless his heart.

Aim...

Fire!

Charli's story is live. Thank you Laura for telling it so well!