Sunday, November 29, 2015

"I have this hope as an anchor for my soul. Through every storm, I will hold to you." ("Anchor," Hillsong)

I think all of my posts, with the exception of maybe 2 or 3, have started with a verse from the bible. It's usually a verse that fits what I am going thru at the time.  This post starts with powerful words from a song we heard at church that has griped my heart.  It completely encompasses where our family is right now.

This July, we moved back to Arizona.  It has been an overwhelmingly challenging transition.  While we were so so excited to come home, we have been shocked at how challenging its been for us to be back.  I've been avoiding positing because of how challenging.  There were so many family and friends praying for our return that is scary to share how hard its been.  I know they may not understand it, and are probably frustrated by it.  We barely understand it ourselves because we expected it to be different.  But, it's the truth.  I miss being home with the kids more then I can put into words, and am honestly still deciding on whether or not moving back was worth the sacrifice of not being home with them.  A full time job and all of Gracie's medical stuff is just too much right now.  I miss Landry being at Nampa Christian, miss being in a house we loved with tons of grass, and can not believe how much I miss the weather!  I'm a native Arizonan, so to be so emotionally connected to the weather has been completely unexpected.  However.....I LOVE LOVE LOVE being close to my mom and around my family again!  I love that Gracie is getting school with my mom, its such a special thing for them.  I love that the holidays are here and we are back.  I love being back in our church and with our church family.  I am so excited to see old friends and that we've made some new ones.  So, even though its hard right now, and a struggle....there are things I love about being back as well.

The kids are doing great.  There are things they miss too.  Gracie keeps asking for our old house, and both her and Landry ask for Nampa Christian.  They are in a time of transition as well.  Landry has had an amazing couple of months.  At the end of October he was baptized (yay!), and had football going on.  We all made some new friends during football, and that has been awesome!  Gracie has school with grandma 2 days a week (such a lucky girl), and then goes to public school 3 days a week. She is loving both, and doing so well!  Robert has been working on getting out of the education field, and is working on getting a part time job (along with his FT teaching), to help us out financially.  He is going to be taking some real estate classes and becoming a real estate agent as well, and we are excited to see where that takes him.  We are hoping, down the road, that can take the place of his full time job.  We are just waiting to see where God takes him with all of this.

Gracie is unstoppable, as usual.  She is getting tired quickly and does not like walking long distances. She is asking us to carry her and saying her legs are tired quicker then usual, but she has a ton of metal in her leg, and her ankle is causing problems.  Don't think that means she's slow though!  This girl is still making me chase her all around the house!

Gracie was due for her next set of x-rays in November.  After sending those in to Dr. Standard, he decided it was time to take the plates out.  Gracie will have her 9th surgery January 15th.  She is actually happy about it.  According to her prayer list at my mom's house, she has been praying for a chance to go back and see Dr. Standard and stay at the HP House.  She's been asking for them both for about a month now. LOL!  This crazy girl misses them, even though she only sees them for surgeries!  It is a true testament of how amazing Dr. Standard and his entire team are.  Of how amazing the nurses and anesthesiologists are, and of how amazing Amy and the staff at the HP house are!  We are blessed beyond measure to be able to take her there, and seeing her happy to go back, knowing what it means....says it all!

We are still having some serious issues with her foot, and are hoping the screw that is currently in her ankle will help.  It is the "slow," but less invasive way to try and correct the issue.  That being said, I do have a feeling once Dr. Standard sees, in person, how much of an issue its become, he will want to suggest a corrective surgery sooner then later.  We will just take that as it comes.  I'm getting relatively good at being flexible.  :-)  Gracie is showing some soreness and tiredness that is not typical, and is concerning...but we are playing the ankle issues by ear for now.  As it stands, this should be a 4-5 day trip, with hopefully nothing more then an overnight stay, if any in the hospital.  Plate removals are usually outpatient, but Gracie has never had 3 removed at once.  (2 smaller 8-plates, and 1 larger plate on the tibia).  I'm not quite sure what to expect as far as pain/recovery goes.  On a more positive note, I am completely looking forward to the possibility of meeting up with some other FH families who are in the area, and some who may be at the hospital while we are there.  We are like our own little family and community on Facebook, and any chance we get to see each other in person is such a blessing to me!

We are going to try and put another t-shirt/sweatshirt order in soon.  There may also be some other fundraisers coming, so please keep an eye out for both updates on facebook (See Gracie Run)!  Please be praying for this surgery trip, and our family in the following areas:

-safety (there was a US travel advisory alert)
-finances and blessed fundraising
-health for Gracie leading up to/during and after the surgery
-health for me (I've been on antibiotics 4x in the last 4 months)
-that we can take the slow route on her ankle and do not need to add that surgery onto January's to correct the issue immediately
-for Miracle Flights to approve our flight application
-for blessings and provisions in Robert finding a better full time job, and in getting a part time job that works with trying to get into real estate

Thank you so much for your prayers.  Please let me know how I can be praying for you.  We love to return the prayers back because they are such a blessing to us!

This song, the words just mean so much to me right now.  We truly are holding on to hope. I pray this song is a reminder to you that God is always there.  We can trust in Him and hold onto Him.  (Part of the song is listed below)

Anchor (Hillsong)
I have this hope
As an Anchor for my soul
Through every storm I will hold to You

With endless love
All my fear is swept away
In everything
I will trust in you

There is a hope in the promise of the cross
You gave everything to save the world you love
And this hope is an anchor for my soul

Our God will stand
Unshakable

Your word unfailing
Your promise unshaken
All my hope is in you

fun times getting away to the family cabin

Lala and Papa took us to Legoland and the ocean for Landry and Gracie's bday.  She LOVED the sand!

This girl is NOT afraid of some dirt!

Or some makeup! LOL!
She loves being back with her doggies!
Our boy is getting so big!!

Landry loved doing football again.  This kid is an athlete!

Gracie and I waiting for the big boys to ride some rides.

I love how much they love each other!

First day of public preschool

This is an accurate range of emotions when it comes to buying shoes.  Gracie is now 3 sizes apart and its NOT easy.

OUR BOY GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!

Thanksgiving fun with cousins!

Her right foot FINALLY reaches, so guess who learned how to ride a bike!?!?!?!?!

Time please slow down....she's getting so big!

Already decorated for the holidays.  Our favorite time of year!

These are the plates being removed from Gracie in January.  The screw in her ankle will stay.  (As of now).