Recker Turns 5

Recker has turned 5, I cannot believe it's been 5 years.  Our lives have been so generously blessed over the past 5 years, it's hard to imagine what my life was like before.  We have grown in numbers, our 3rd grandson will be born within a few weeks.  Ezra will be 2 February.

Have I said lately how much I truly love him?  He melts me heart.  I can honestly say there has never been one time I've been disappointed or upset with him.  He just lives in a world I wish I could enter for just a few minutes.  I love when he takes my hand and leads me to the candy jar, or to the back door, hoping bonbon will take him out to play, only to be stopped by dad or mom saying "Recker, you can't go outside right now" usually because he hates to wear shoes.  I love how sweet he is to everyone in our family, and how the boys wrestle with him, and when I say boys I mean Jeremy, Blake, Brian and Scott. Sunday nights at my house are pretty crazy, and Recker loves every minute of it.  I love how he can take his little IPAD and maneuver it better than any of us adults, he loves Disney movies, and try's to sing along to the Lion King, I love when he covers his ears or eyes when a character in the movie is being cruel or mean to someone else.  He has appropriate feelings for those emotions, some typical kids love those parts the best, but not my little Recker, sometimes he gets a look in his eyes of complete sadness, he understands compassion, he understands authentic love and embraces all he can get from all his aunts and uncles.  I'm pretty sure his hero is his daddy, the rougher Jeremy is with him the more he likes it, sometimes it scares me but it never seems to bother Recker.  I know for a fact his favorite woman in the world is his mom.  He misses her when she's gone, he searches for her around the house, and he runs from her when he thinks he can.

He now understands so much about his surroundings, and the differences he has.  Kayla has taught us all about teaching him he may be different, but not less.  This sweet little boy has taught me more in his short little 5 years of life than I've learned in my almost 52 years.  I could seriously sit and watch him all day long, he cracks me up then brings me to tears within minutes.  I've never seen a child so curious, he knows every hiding place in my house and many times since he will be very quiet while we are all searching frantically for him.... he knows what he's doing.  He may be non-verbal, but this little guy is anything but quiet, unless he's hiding. A few weeks ago he was upstairs playing in our playroom, well we thought he was anyway.  He was actually in the hall closet up stairs trying to figure a way to climb to the top shelf.  In that closet we have a laundry shoot but he  

Weslie Williams is born

Blake and Chloe have patiently been waiting for this sweet spirit to come to our family.  Chloe is amazing.  She delivered with a midwife at Mercy Hospital.  One of the miracles in this birth is that Weslie came naturally just as Chloe wanted, even though she was 14 day's over her due date.  Her water broke, Blake gave her a blessing and off to the hospital they went.
Weslie was delivered on Chloe's birthday, February 18th, 2016.  She weighed in at 10 pounds 1 ounce and has already gained a few ounces.  Chloe is Peruvian with beautiful coloring and dark hair.  Wesley looks exactly like her mama.  I don't see any resemblance to the Williams family except through her chin area.  Blake is in Heavenly Love with Weslie.  I was able to video him changing his very first baby diaper; and Weslie is the first new born he has ever held.  As a mother to see this with my daughter's was extraordinary, it is a different exhilaration to watch my son.  I have always known he would be an incredible father, but had my doubts about how long it would take him to embrace the diaper changing thing.  I loved being in the room to watch and listen as Chloe explained exactly how to change a baby girl's diaper to Blake--Chloe is a naturally calm and quiet teacher, she boosted Blake's abilities and cheered him on to a successful first diaper change.  I am amazed at his attentiveness to the needs of both his daughter and wife.  There is no doubt in my mind Blake will be a phenomenal daddy, and Chloe a patient kind mommy.

What an overwhelming feeling to have our family grow and expand, hoping along the way we have created a legacy worthy of our beautiful grandchildren.  Today I feel so blessed, we now have four grandchildren with one more coming in June, I have so much to be thankful for.

Recker Get's His Tonsil Out

We've been busy since the last time I blogged, I'm trying to play catch up.  Recker needed to have his tonsils out.  He has severe sleep apnea and some other issues surrounding his Autism. The tonsillectomy will help with some of those issues.
I was so proud of him, he had a hard time being sedated but was a champ.  It broke my heart to see him in the hospital, he looked sad and in pain.  On the other hand ice cream, popsicles and sherbet were on his diet; he lost 8-10 pounds, I want that diet on my plan.  Kayla stayed at the hospital for the 2 nights he was admitted.

Just before going into surgery

He is darling I love you Recker

He was a perfectly content patient

Getting bored

Best buddies, best brothers Ezra and Recker

Rate your Pain

Ezra and Jeremy at the entrance of the
Children's Hospital

Recker is so ready to go home.

My love for this little guy runs deep-I hope I can be a light to him as his grandmother as he has been for me during some dark times.  I love Recker's sweet heart and kind personality.  He connects with us through our hearts-If I point to my chin and say "I love you" he will return with "I love you" not quite as clear, but we know what he is saying.  We are taking baby steps with this sweet boy. It's hard to believe he is now 6 year's old.

Happy 1st Birthday Phoenix

February 13th, 2016 Phoenix turned a year old.  Where does the time go? This past year has been such a blur.  Phoenix is darling, white hair just like his mom and dad had when they were his age.  He makes all the funny faces Kaitlyn used to make; he says mom, dad, papa, bon bon, coco, hi, bye bye, tree, dog,  he points and jabbers.  I'm not quite sure of his language but I'm pretty sure he is saying how crazy we all are.  I have always loved being a mother, I've always thought nothing in the world could ever compare to being a parent; how wrong I was.  Being a grandmother is exhilarating, my perspective is so different, these children can do no wrong.
Kaitlyn planned such a fun and cute birthday party.  Thanks to Mysti and Timmy Brown for allowing us to hold the party in their backyard.  Kaitlyn and Brian live 2 doors down and Mysti has been an incredible friend, neighbor and fill in mom for me as I've wandered this past year.  I will forever be grateful for friends like her.

New Baby Coming

Today, as I entered the Mayo Clinic there was no piano playing.  I proceeded to the lab to get blood drawn and tests necessary.  My nest stop was to see Doctor Northfelt my oncologist.  I had an hour and a half wait.  I heard the piano playing and decided to sit and wait in the peaceful lobby.  I listened to the waterfall, occasionally I could hear doctors and patients interacting as they walked by. But today I was grateful I could really enjoy the music coming from the Piano.  This was much better than sitting on the 3rd floor and smelling the sickness of chemo in the air.  I put my head back and closed my eyes.  He started to play a medley of songs from The Sound of Music (my favorite movie of all time)  It was enchanting to listen to. I remembered when Eric and I visited Austria a few years ago after I finished my rounds of chemo and radiation.  As each song played I pictured that day we visited.  I am one blessed lady.  While there have been so many distractions in my life the past few years I have been blessed with so much.  Patience is a virtue I never thought I could conquer, but in the case of my health I have learned it is invaluable.  I have been blessed with incredible doctors all from Mayo Clinic, and Doctor Haberkamp from Cleveland Clinic.

Last Sunday Blake and Chloe announced they are expecting their first baby in February. The door bell rang, I answered and outside was a set of 3 balloons with a note that said to read to the Family. I was then asked to pop the balloon that reads #1 on it, so I did. Inside was an ultrasound picture.  I quickly, wanted to read note #2 it read that someone in the family would be bringing grandchild #4 to join us in February.  I thought for sure it was Kaitlyn and Brian.  Scott and Haleigh, Blake and Chloe have all been very verbal about waiting to have children.  The 3rd balloon was supposed to be popped by Eric, but I just couldn't wait.  Oh, and I forgot to mention I was popping these balloons with a butcher knife.  I quickly popped #3 to find out who it was.........Blake and Chloe......... Chloe said "Monya look at the color of the confetti inside the balloon....." it was PINK.  This will be our first grand daughter.  I of course went bizzurk running around crying, happy, hugging them all the while with the butcher knife in my hand.....I'm pretty sure it was an ugly sight and I might have said a curse word.......Eric and I are so happy.  Blake has been such a great brother to his sisters, and compassionate and loving to me and to Chloe he will be an incredible dad.  Chloe is so great with all the nephews and really loves them, I know she is going to be a wonderful mother.  I keep thinking about her mom who passed away with cancer during the time I was going through chemo.  She is with our little grand daughter now, sharing with her all the love she has and passing on a legacy for Chloe to follow.