Blessings All Around

 Some weeks it is hard not to look around and seeing how blessed we are! This has been one of those weeks. It is not as if everything went great because lets be honest, when does that happen in real life? It was more that I was constantly reminded that God hears our prayers and always makes a way, even when we least expect it.

There was some of our usual stuff....Alex's internship, doctor's appointments, movie watching, family game night and lots of barn time. That alone was all good. Nothing huge from the doctors appointments a few med adjustments, but basically keep plugging away. The only bad/scary was for Maddy early in the week. She had an ocular migraine and the vision changes were very scary. I was glad I had had one once, but we still had to rule out some things that are a much bigger deal that are seen in some of her diagnoses.

I don't think we could love him any more than we do!

Sunday night, the kids and I headed over to church to meet our new Director of Youth Ministry. I have to admit I was a little apprehensive because he is a middle aged man, but he totally won me over. I loved the answers to all of his questions and look forward to having him shepherd Maddy over the next few years. During this meet and greet, they separated the youth from the parents. As soon as they said that was the plan, Maddy started to panic. There were tears and a look of fear, but I handed her off to our Director of Children and families and one of her closest friends at church and stepped away. She did great and when we got in the car she told me something that shocked me. But also may be the thing I have been most proud of in her whole life. When they sat down to eat she was sitting with her good friend and another girl. She realized that another incoming 7th grader was sitting alone so she got up and left her friend and went to sit with her so she wouldn't be alone. Then all 4 girls wound up sitting together. But the kindness and bravery it took for Maddy to leave her comfort zone is astounding. I have always taught my kids that nothing is more important than being kind and serving God and what a beautiful example this was.

Tuesday Alex received a call from one of the scholarships he had applied for. It was a scholarship for students diagnosed with Epilepsy. I really didn't feel very confident because Alex's epilepsy is very controlled. They let him know that they had a few more questions they needed an answer to before they could move to the next round. He was set to call them at 12:30 on Thursday. When I picked him up from his internship (which he is loving) at 12:00 they were already calling. They surprised him...he was one of four to win the top award out of six hundred applications. This scholarship is so timely and so necessary as we were worried about the financial peace for school this year. We aren't totally there, but this is a huge step in the right direction. And an answer to prayer. Not only me, but two of my good friends had been specifically praying over this. What a loving and faithful father we serve.

Thursday night we got to celebrate Alex's good news by attending Hamilton! I have heard so much about it, but it is a show I had never seen. The kids and I enjoyed it immensely. And I love these days of just spending time together and enjoying each other. Oh how I prayed for days like this when the kids were younger and so medically unstable. While the diagnosis and the prognosis doesn't change having a bit of "normalcy" is such a gift and certainly one I wasn't sure I would ever experience.

None of these special moments happen without the friends and family who continue to love us from near and far. Some we are lucky enough to see almost daily and some far less frequently but we couldn't do this alone. We are so grateful to be loved so well.

Thank you for being our village and the hands and feet of Christ in our life.

Ali

Growth Galore

 We made it home last night from the PHBA world championship show. This show is always one of our favorites. The days are long, the stalls are not air conditioned so we sweat a ton, but there is so much fun with our favorite people and horses. This show will always hold a special place in my heart, because it was our first show with Stable Strides Farm. Maddy had an incredible show, learned some valuable lessons, had an amazing attitude, hung around with her friends and cheered her teammates on. We are exhausted, but our hearts are full!

After driving all day Monday, Tuesday was just a day to hang out with teammates and have a quick ride to get acclimated.

Wednesday was our first real practice day and it was a bit rough for Mad and Newmie. The footing in the practice arena wasn't great and Newman was being very cautious which Maddy could feel. She panicked herself and there were tears as she was worried about her best boy. We all encouraged her and reassured her that Newman was fine. We had a good afternoon complete with ice cream and swimming with friends and all was better!

Thursday was our first day with Halter and Showmanship.

Friday was English Day!

Saturday was our last show day with trail and Western.

We cannot wait for next July when once again we head to IL for one of the best shows of the year!

Ali

A show, VBS and a trip to Houston

 I swear the summer might be even crazier than the school year! These kids keep me running, but I wouldn't trade it. What a blessing it is to be the mom to these two kiddos.

The weekend right after we got home from our trip to Florida, we had the SSF Fun in the Sun Show. Maddy originally wasn't going to do this show, but Mandy asked her to just do a few classes. How could we say no to spending time with our favorite boy and barn family! I was volunteering so I only managed to get one photo. Oops!

And what else could we squeeze in? How about a week of VBS. For the first time in almost 20 years, I did not have a kid participating in VBS! Both my kids have aged out, but Maddy was excited to volunteer. Alex usually volunteers, but with his internship he wasn't able to. Maddy and I shepherded a second grade class for the week. Maddy quickly hit it off with one of the other volunteers and really enjoyed her week.

After squeezing in a few lessons at the barn, we had an appointment with our GI Doctor on Friday. He was pretty happy with both kids. Maddy always needs to gain more weight, but he is not too concerned as she appears "healthy, just very skinny". He is going to check some nutrition labs on her just to be sure. He likes that she is self regulating her slow motility and nausea by eating frequent, small meals. I was also glad he could listen to Alex's lungs as Alex has been coughing for almost 2 weeks with no relief.

I was supposed to go away for a girls weekend, but with Alex not feeling well and June being nonstop, I let the girls know I couldn't make it. As only the best of friends would, they decide not to go without me. We will reschedule when everyone can make it and we snuck out for dinner and dessert and a few drinks. These girls have walked with me every minute of the kids lives and I don't know how I would have made it through the early years without them! They are the definition of ride or die friends and I am so grateful for them!

Early yesterday we headed to Houston for a few appointments. Dr. Pacheco was first. There is not much to report from this appointment except how much we love Dr. Pacheco. My kids call her their Puerto Rican mother and she truly is so much more than a doctor. She (along with Dr. Koenig) fought side by side with me to keep Alex alive and then Maddy when she was so sick her first few years. And while her medical expertise is invaluable, she is so much more. She takes time to encourage all of us. She asked Alex if he truly wanted to be a Clinical Psychologist. She encouraged him to not settle because he can accomplish anything he sets his mind to including medical school if that is his wish. She has a soft spot for my Maddy Moo because her oldest also has dyslexia and struggled in school. She is now completing her fellowship to become a Pediatric Neurologist. She sees Maddy and encouraged her to chase her dream of working with animals, but not sell herself short because she is capable of doing whatever she wants. I appreciate that she always tells me and anyone who will listen what an amazing job I have done raising my children and that it is rare she sees patients with my kids level of illness that are "normal" and emotionally stable. As someone who doubts myself and my parenting regularly, I appreciate that she knows what I have had to manage and that she feels like I have done a good job as a mom. 

Today we saw Dr. Koenig, our Mito Specialist. She was really happy with how stable Alex has been and agreed to only see him once a year unless he needs her. To say this is a HUGE milestone is understated. There was a point when we saw her every 4-6 weeks. She doesn't have any concerns with Alex and wants us just continue doing what we are doing. She was a bit more worried about Maddy. Her Dysautonomia is very severe and we need to continue to make sure we get fluids in and keep an eye on her vital signs. Her blood pressure yesterday was 80/40 which is far from ideal. And she continues to be lightheaded and dizzy on a daily basis. She also let them know that she flashes of color and spots whenever she stands up. We also discussed what needs to happen before and after her surgery in November to keep her safe from a Mito standpoint. A few more appointments needed but nothing crazy. Her biggest concern is her spine. She doesn't want Maddy to have to stop riding (and knows we won't do that), but she also doesn't want to have worsening back pain or damage. Maddy and i explained the difference between English and Western and why Western hurts more. She suggested stopping western altogether, but as much as Maddy doesn't love Western, she doesn't want to completely give up either. I will have a conversation with Mandy and we already have some ideas. But Dr. Koenig also would like her to see a spine specialist who works with athletes to make sure we are doing everything we can to keep her safe and healthy. She also wants us to have a virtual appointment with their new genetic counselor. I think that is all. Phew!

Alex is back to internship tomorrow and Maddy and I hit the road on Monday to head to IL for Palomino Worlds. 

Please pray for Alex to feel better and Maddy and I to have safe travels!

Ali