grateful. . .

{Grateful} warmly or deeply appreciative of

kindness or benefits received; thankful.

So Ive been working on this post and another for awhile now, starting it but never finishing. Been very absent here... so many issues we've been dealing with but more on the medical stuff  later...

For today, I am grateful.

Thanksgiving was wonderful. Jack had a great day and had so much fun playing with his cousins. We spent the morning at Jeff's Sisters for brunch, with her 2 girls and his parents. And then headed to my parents house up north for Thanksgiving dinner later. I love this time of year, so much so that I sometimes have a hard time enjoying it, knowing it will all be over so quickly. Then comes January, and the next few months to follow is the worst time of year for me... no holidays to look forward to and its so DARK and COLD out, not to mention Seattle's endless gray and wet days.

While at Jeff's sisters, I grabbed my 50mm lens, hoping that Jack and the kids were willing to be my subjects! So I quickly lifted the blinds and started to shoot whatever I could with the natural light coming through. You would think as my kids get older they would be more willing to allow me to take a few snapshots... but I find they still need to be in the mood.

Thankfully Jack and Mya were more than willing to sit still for a few minutes :) I love these photos. Showing his love for animals, anything furry anyway! So thankful that his stomach didn't give him much trouble and he was able to enjoy all the festivities (well the ones that didn't include food!)

I can really see in these photos how much older our little girl is getting. She turned 7 this year and is losing her beautiful mask, its turning white now :(

Our sweet Logan and his NEW braces! He looks older to me all of a sudden. He'll be 12 in a few days, wow. Still my sensitive boy who cries so easily... I have no idea where it comes from.

But such a loving boy, with a heart of gold... can't you just see it here? :)

Easton, he will be 15 in March. I don't even recognize this boy. Just in the past few months, his voice has deepen and has reached my height, he is looking more and more like a man each day.  Sometimes its very strange to see him walking around the house and hear him talking, where did that little boy go? BUT for him, he is happy that he finally hit puberty! It looks like our boys might be a little slower in that area.

I am so blessed to have such a sweet teen boy. Despite all his challenges, taking 3 meds just to function, he manages his OCD/anxiety all so well now, although I know he's still trying to find his place in this world with the social stuff. But for some reason I'm not terribly worried, despite all the bullying he's had to endure over the years, I really think he's going to be OK. And he couldn't be the sweetest kid, so loving and still wants to hug us all goodnight every night before bed. (even his sister!)

Trying to get our annual "cousins pic" out of the way...

you can see it doesn't always go so well!

Watch it Logan!

hmmmm...

As for Senna (17) NO individual pics of her, that's not going to happen. 

But I do always find a way to capture her true spirit :)

Poor Logan, why she always picks on him,

it bugs the heck out of him!

 

Taking some much needed time out to get Jack

back in the mood for a family photo :)

Gotta have one of the family together, whether they like it or NOT!

AND one of Jeff's beautiful family, I honestly couldn't

have better in laws... I am grateful.

Jack loves his Granny :)

We spent the rest of the morning playing APPLES to APPLES, so much fun with kids! Especially since they don't seem to know half of the people or celebrities on the cards!

A lot of FUN silliness :)

Then onto my parents farm and more cousins!

My beautiful Mom, going on 80, NO WAY! Here with little Maci, my nephews puppy. She always puts so much work in to dressing up the house for all of us on Thanksgiving. I love it!

AND my dear Daddy... so much to be thankful for, he is here. Beat his cancer, the heart attack and triple bipass this year. His hair has grown back too! He was so sure it wouldn't :) SO GRATEFUL, thank you GOD for giving him back to us.

My Sisters, Lori and Jody, my Brother, Jerry and his wife, Mary. Lori and I did our annual BLACK FRIDAY shopping marathon. We left at 9pm and did'nt come home until 12:30pm on Friday, I was exhausted. But we have so much fun together, something we always look forward to every year. Its just being together what makes it so much fun.

Another year together, very thankful :)

 

but most grateful that our little boy is here, not inpatient and stable. While struggling with GI stuff and not attending much school, I'm very thankful for what we do have and blessed for more time.


AND for all of you, affected by Mito or not, thank you for stopping by and offering me your loving support, thoughts, prayers and comfort through out the year. It means so much, honestly I don't know how I could make it each day without this community of such wonderful and amazing families. Love and prayers always for you and yours.

As we know, MITO is a cruel disease and it has taken so many littleones since I started this blog a couple years ago. So many beautiful babies and families affected,

its so difficult to think about.

Theres a little boy named Noah thats home on hospice

that I'm asking you to pray for.

He is beautiful.

Please pray that all his body needs is more healing and that he will prove

his Drs wrong, he's not at the end stages of his life.

We love you Noah.

keep fighting little warrior.