The Beitler News

Time Flies...

2009-10-18T15:46:00.000-07:00

Wow, is all I can say it has been so long since I have taken the time to sit and type a post! I was doing so good and then... the kids were home and a summer with all 3 kids was a little more than I expected. Then school started up and we are trying to get into the grove of things!

First we are all alive and well, we have had a few illnesses and things but nothing major. Nathan is in second grade and doing great. He really enjoys school. Knock on wood we can only pray it stays that way! He is doing coach pitch baseb

all again with Brent as his coach. He is really enjoying that! Emeri continues to be great on the medical front which we are so grateful for. She started Kindergarten and is loving it. She has made some really cute friends and has Mrs Berkley

who was Nathan's kindergarten teacher

as well. She is doing amazing in school and loves to show of her new talent... reading! Addison has learned to crawl, loves to play with her brother and sister and chats to us often. She is still such a sweet laid back easy going little girl. She knows how to get

her self attention when ever we are out from strangers! Brent is enjoying work and has had some opportunities to travel for "work" if you consider golfing and eating out! I am just trying to keep sane and enjoy the kids!! We are excited for Halloween and a quick trip to Utah for Uncle Adam's wedding. (Well Brent, Addison and

I the other's are

staying at a friends house!) Any way here are some pictures of the kids and some of the fun we had over the summer! I promise if any one cares I will be better at updating!

Summer, Summer, summer

2009-06-02T09:46:00.000-07:00

I feel like I am in the High School Musical 2 movie... in the beginning as they watch the clock and all start to chant "Summer, Summer, Summer..." I won't break into song because that would just be pathetic. (Yes I know that it is already pathetic that I know any lines from High School Musical, but I have Emeri to thank for that!) But I am so excited for summer to start. Emeri was done with school last Friday and Nathan will be finished on Thursday. I am ready not to set my alarm, or to have to wake the girls to take him to school or wake Nathan up for that matter. Brent keeps reminding me that after a couple of days home I will be kicking my self for this wish. But we have some fun things planned. We have swim lessons, Science camp, baseball camp, dance and a visit from Aunt Kim to keep us busy. Plus when Brent has every other Friday off we can try and do some fun family activities.

I am grateful that both Emeri and Nathan have had such wonderful teachers this year and are both sad to see the school year end. I hope that they don't ever loose that excitement about school. I know it is bound to happen but I will hold onto it as long as I can!

So watch out pools, here we come we are ready for the heat and humidity, bring on the fighting!! It is going to be a great summer! (Maybe if I can keep my good attitude it will stay that way? It is worth a shot right?)

Enjoy your summer every one!

Happy Birthday Nathan

2009-05-18T06:59:00.000-07:00

Nathan James Beitler turns 7 years old today. I remember starting labor Thursday night. Brent had gone to play basketball at our church and I started having some labor pains. He was 3 days past due. Finally on Saturday May 18, 20o2 at 11:20 a.m he was born. It was a very long and hard labor but well worth it! He has been such a joy to have in our family. He has the biggest heart, is very respectful, loves and worries about every one. What a blessing he has been to us as parents and to his sisters! He wants to go to Chucky Cheese tonight with our family then he is excited to have a friend birthday party at Pump It Up on Saturday. We love you bubby!! Hope that you have a great day!

Love Mom, Dad, Emeri & Addison

PS: I will post pictures as soon as I can get back to my regular computer! I wanted to do my favorites over the years!

Busy, Busy, Busy...

2009-04-10T08:49:00.000-07:00

We blessed Addison the last weened in March. We were able to have Grandma Beitler and Grandpa Sagers fly down and share in this special weekend. We had lots of fun and the kids as always love to have family visit. Addison did so well, she got a little fussy before the blessing and as soon as Daddy took her up there she fell right asleep. She did great!

Grandpa Sagers, Mom, Addison, Emeri & Nathan

Grandma Beitler, Emeri, Nathan, Mom, Addison, Daddy

Emeri, Addison & Nathan

Then a few days later Addison and I were off to Utah. It was a very fast, busy trip but lots of fun. We surprised Grandma & Grandpa Sagers who had no idea we were coming! We were able to see lots of family, attend the annual Bevan's Easter Egg party, spend time with the White's/Sagers family and even have time for Aunt Kim and I to get a pedicure and do a little shopping. Unfortunately she came home stuffy and with a little cough. Brent had some quality time with the kids, they went to the movies, and to a party. It was nice to visit but I sure missed them!

On Tuesday we leave again for Florida this is a trip we have been looking forward to for a long time. We are meeting all of Brent's family there. It will be fun, we are going to hit Disney World for a day and possibly even going to Sea World there. It will be so good to see Brian's family who we rarely get to see. We are so excited.

We are gearing up for Easter this Sunday with a church Easter Egg Hunt tomorrow and enjoying Good Friday off with the kids and Brent home today. Nathan will start Flag football when we get home from Florida and Emeri will be doing indoor soccer. Life continues to be busy for us, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I am grateful that Emeri is doing so well, health wise. What blessings we have been given! We continue to be involved with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Emeri is currently the Honored Hero for her school's Pennies for Children where they collect change to donate and she has been asked to be the honored teammate again for the TNT Cycle team this fall.

We will update more when we get back from Florida I am excited to be able to do rides with the kids this time and not being pregnant! I hope that we just don't hit another major tropical storm this time. Emeri was sad to learn we were going to Florida at first because she said that it rains to much, I told her we should have better luck this time!

Addison's 2 Month Check Up...

2009-03-19T10:12:00.000-07:00

We had Addison's 2 month old check up this morning. Well to quote the Dr "she is an over achiever!" She is now 14 lbs 10 oz and 23 1/2 inches long. She is in the 90% for her age! She looked good over all and got 3 shots! She didn't think that was very much fun and cried for a little while. She is sleeping soundly now, Nathan or Emeri didn't have any problems with their Vaccines so I hope and pray that she doesn't as well. It was funny, Nathan had to leave the room while our own Jr. doctor had to watch the whole time! Yes, I think Emeri definitely has a future in medicine. Any way the kids have enjoyed spring break although we haven't done much. Brent has tomorrow off so maybe with the long weekend we will do something fun! One thing I have learned from this week off with all 3 home... it is going to be a long summer!

Lil' Rustlers Rodeo

2009-03-13T15:38:00.000-07:00

For those of you who know the Houston Rodeo is a big deal here in Texas. It runs almost the whole month of March. Some of the biggest names in rodeo come to compete they have famous performers do concerts every night and they have a large carnival that runs as well. It is a lot of fun. So when the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society asked if Emeri would like to participate in the Lil' Rustlers Rodeo of course we said yes. Not really knowing what to expect we headed down on Wed. But before of course Emeri and Nathan had to look the part. I went and got them some authentic cowboy boots and hat! Oh they looked so cute! Any way it was a rodeo for children who face or have faced special circumstances. They pair them up with a Cowboy or Cowgirl either on the committee or that participates in the rodeo. Then they headed to the floor to have a mini rodeo. Emeri had a blast, she was so cute and very brave. They had bucking bronco's, bucking bulls, a petting zoo, real horses you could ride. She even got her picture up on the jumbo screen! After we got to stay and watch the real rodeo. It was a lot of fun and both kids passed out on our way home!

Honeymoon Phase

2009-02-18T14:29:00.000-08:00

Well the honeymoon phase is over for me. I still think that Addison is a great baby, but the lack of sleep has really caught up with me. Brent has been a trooper and lets me go to bed while she has her awake time before bed and get a little extra sleep. It has been really hard for me to nap while Emeri is in preschool, I feel like there are so many errands to be run, or house to be cleaned and it is just easier when I just have her. Then the kids come home and I feel like I need to give them attention and napping with them by my self really isn't an option. So there you have it lack of sleep! Ugh, I am not a happy person when I don't feel like I get enough sleep. I know that this to shall pass. It is just a painful process!

Nathan got to be star student of the week this week. We made a fun poster for him with pictures from when he was a baby, vacations we have taken and sports he has played! He was really excited.

Emeri is still my second mother of the house. I am trying to be understanding and not loose my patients when she questions every thing I do and wants to know why I did it. She loves to pick out Addison's outfits, Pj's and bows, smothers her with kisses and hugs. I have to remember that it could be the opposite, she could really not like her and be mean! So yes, I am trying to count my blessings!

Brent ran a 1/2 marathon this weekend with his friend Nate. It was in Austin so I had all 3 kids to myself overnight for the first time. Lets just say that didn't help the no sleep issue. Emeri was up and wanted to be in our bed which then Addison kept waking her up. Yup a vicious cycle! But he did good, I can't imagine running any miles and he didn't really train and ran 13 + miles! They were supposed to do the full marathon but his friends knee was bothering him, so they decided to do the 1/2 instead.

Other than that we are doing good, trying to stay healthy although every one I talk to is sick!

Two Weeks Old

2009-02-03T14:56:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was Addison's 2 week birthday. What a difference two weeks make! I feel like we are adjusting to having a little one in our house, Aunt Kim left on Saturday and Brent went back to work yesterday. My first official day of being on my own. My recovery is going well, though different. I feel like I can do most things for my self and each day it gets a little better. I go back on Thursday so that Dr Westmoreland can look at the incision and I hope and pray that I get the all clear to drive. That has been a really hard thing, which to be honest there isn't many places I would go but just knowing that I can if I wanted to!!

Thanks to the neighbors and friends who have adopted my children this week, taking them to and from school dance and other activities has been a huge help, thank you so much!! We have had many yummy dinners and Kim made and put stuff in the freezer, just one less thing to worry about! What a relief! You guys rock! I have such a wonderful support system and friends!

Other than that it is a lot of changing diapers, feedings and sleeping for Addison, Brent has had his hands full after work playing with the kids out side and getting them ready for bed! I am sure we will settle on a routine soon, and I am excited to join the out side world at some point!

On a different note, we had a neighbor come over and take some pictures of the kids, I will post some since the other pictures we had of Addison were not all that good! Thanks again Kathy & Mark you did a wonderful job and it was so nice not to have to leave our house with her!

Addison Claire Beitler

2009-01-24T13:13:00.001-08:00

We are happy to announce the birth of Addison Claire Beitler. She was born on Monday January 19, 2009 at 11:41 a.m. She weighed 9lbs 08 oz and was 20 1/2 inches long. She is a great baby. We are enjoying her being home and the kids love and adore her. Here are some pictures...

Monday Jan 19, 2009 How does that sound?

2009-01-15T15:26:00.000-08:00

We just got back from my appointment and the little stinker is still breach. Despite my attempts to turn it. I have put frozen veggies on my belly, hung upside down off the ironing board, hung down the stairs & crawled on the floor. With no avail, the baby is still breach.

So the plan is on Monday around noon to attempt an aversion/induction/c-section. I am going to go into her office before we head to the hospital and she is going to estimate the size of the baby. If the baby is over 10 lbs we are going to head straight to a c-section. I just don't have any interest in delivering over a 10 lbs baby!

So I have to hear back from her for sure, she is waiting on the hospital to confirm the day and time if not Monday then definitely Tues. So there it is. I am glad that I have had some time to process this all. Thank you to all of you who have given me your stories and for your support! I am actually feeling better about the idea of a c-section. Recovery after Nathan was really hard and lasted about 6 weeks, so the 3 week recovery sounds much better at this point!

We will keep you all informed!

Baby Beitler # 3 News

2009-01-08T10:20:00.000-08:00

For those of you who don't know my pregnancy history I am going to give you a little lesson. When I was pregnant with Nathan they told me that I measured so big with him because I was carrying enough fluid for twins and they let me go 5 days over my due date. When he was born he weighed 11 lbs 0 oz and was 21 inches long. I had some complications with him after delivery and when I got pregnant with Emeri I was scared to have the same issue. We came up with a plan that at 36 weeks or my last month we would do an ultrasound to determine the size of the baby and go from there. Well at 36 weeks they guesstimated that she was 7 lbs. They induced me the next week at 37 weeks and she was 8 lbs 6 oz and 21 inches long.

That brings us to baby #3. Again I told my Dr that I have big babies and asked for the same "game plan" as we had for Emeri. Yesterday was my 36 week appointment, we did an ultrasound they have guesstimated that this baby is 8 lbs 4 oz. Yes, if you know they usually say that babies during their last month can put on up to 1 lbs a week. But here is the catch, the baby is breach! So the Dr wants to see me next week to see if the baby has flipped or if she can flip the baby but that also means we are looking at over a 9 lbs baby. If they can't flip the baby or it doesn't flip it self we are looking at a C-section. I have never had one and to be honest never really thought I would. It isn't the most ideal for me and I am a little scared. I know that I can deliver a 9+ lbs baby, I have done it before, not ideal either, but do able.

So here is my plea, if you have ever had a breach baby, or a c-section I would love to hear your take on things. I have done lots of research on the Internet on how to flip your baby the natural way. So far all I have tried is to soak in a bath and see if that works. Unfortunately I couldn't get the bath high enough to immerse my belly in! (Yes I am that big) Next I have heard of putting a frozen bag of veggies on the top of your belly to see if that will help the baby flip, lying on the ironing board upside down propped up against the couch... Any way, I will keep you all up to date of any of these crazy ideas work or what they have to say next week!

Christmas 2008

2008-12-30T15:31:00.000-08:00

The kids had a great Christmas! They had a ton to open between Santa's visit, family and friends. Santa did have to write them a letter because there were things that they asked for that they didn't get. But her explained that he tried his best and that seemed to work well for them! He also had to tell them what good kids they were, Emeri had expressed some concern whether she was going to get gifts on Christmas Eve. Here is our conversation...

Emeri: Mom? Does Santa really not bring gifts if kids are bad??

Mom: Well... If kids are really bad and not sorry for being bad then yes, but if you are bad sometimes and say your are sorry then he still brings you toys!

Emeri: Mom, I am sorry for hitting and kicking Nathan today I didn't mean to! Do you think that I will get presents? I am not sure!

Oh you have to love them! We had a wonderful Christmas we went to our friends the Burgon's house for dinner on Christmas Eve and had our friends the Robbins over for dinner on Christmas day. Then we took the kids to see Bed Time Stories and they loved it! They have had such a great time playing with all their toys! Here are some pictures...

Emeri loves to hug and kiss my belly! I can only imagine how much she is going to love this baby! Here we are at the lights in the Woodlands... She is so sweet!

Here the kids are sporting their new Christmas Pj's! They don't always love that this is the only gift that they can open Christmas Eve but it was a tradition with me when I was a kid and something that we have started in our family!

I love this picture more for Emeri's hair than any thing! It is Medusa! Here Nathan is showing off his Lout! He made out good this year. What is not shown is a game table up in the game room with Air Hockey, Pool & Tennis Table. He has had so much fun playing he is very good and often beats us all!!

Here Emeri is showing off what she got. Her theme this year was littlest pet shop & Polly Pockets. She has loved playing with them all. She was very excited to get her very own pink DS as well. She got a Dr Vet game that she often has to kick mom off of! : )

Thanks to those who helped us celebrate this Christmas season, and for all those who sent gifts to us and the kids! They have loved it!

Cure Kids Cancer Radiothon

2008-12-30T15:09:00.000-08:00

I think that I mentioned that Emeri and our family was asked to participate in the Cure Kids Cancer Radiothon. We did a prerecorded interview and then we were able to speak live on the radio. Well I did, Emeri wouldn't say a word. All the money raised went to Texas Children's Cancer Center. They were able to raise $766,801.00. They had a party the last day where the families were asked to come, it was a great night. The kids missed Santa who was there when a lot of the inpatients were there. But they each got a build a bear and a new toy, were able to make some crafts and thank you cards for those who participated. We had a great opportunity to meet a freshman in college who was diagnosed with ALL Leukemia at the same age as Emeri, 22 months old. She is a beautiful girl who has enjoyed cheerleading, tumbling and now taking on college. It was great to talk to her and see where we can be in 14 + years.

(The two guys on the right were the two that we did the live radiothon with, Cactus Jack & Kevin Kline)

(Here Emeri & Daddy are delivering thank you badges that the kids made to all the DJ's for their time and efforts! Surprise she actually did it with a smile. She usually is to shy to do that stuff!)

http://waystogive.texaschildrens.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=819

Here is the site that tells Emeri's story for the Radiothon, you can't hear the recorded interview yet, we are supposed to get a CD of it but we haven't yet! Any way you can read up on her and the other children that were featured!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-24T14:36:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to you and your families, we are so thankful for all of you in our lives. We hope that you have a wonderful Christmas! Be safe and happy!

Much Love,
Brent, Trina, Nathan, Emeri and Baby #3

5 Days Til Christmas...

2008-12-20T12:34:00.000-08:00

Wow, this month has gone by fast!! We have been so busy with different activities. It would be very hard for me to recap them all. For those of you who know me I am not the most organized or on top if it person. So you are going to get little snips here and there and mostly pictures!! We have had a fun time with lots of Christmas parties, dance recitals, basketball games doing some service projects. We are excited and counting the days until Christmas. We have been so blessed this year with such wonderful family and friends. Please enjoy the pictures and I promise to keep up on this better. Here is some of our happenings...

Nathan playing basketball, he has really come a long way and even made a basket in last weeks game! He is enjoying having daddy as his coach and you can see improvements every week!

We had the chance to go to a Texas Children's Hospital Christmas party. The kids had a blast. There were different bounce houses, games, music and tons of yummy food! Of course Santa and Mrs Clause were there... Here are some of the fun things that they got to do...

Nathan actually roped this his self, he was so proud! You go little cowboy!

They let the kids climb up in the fire trucks and play around... He had a blast!

When we got there we noticed these handsome young men were wearing black name tags... You guessed it there were over 40 Elders, Sisters and Couple Missionaries. I guess they have them come and help with the games, food and to help set up and take down. They were told that they couldn't procolite(sp?) but that they could wear their badges! It was so cool! Here is one helping Emeri play the game. It was fun to talk with them!

Emeri had her holiday dance recital! Her first one that they have done in Ballet! She did great! She was so funny, Brent and I were laughing because they were so cute and in the middle she yelled out, "Dad, STOP!" Here is both the younger and older classes. They all did very well!

Here Ms Michelle had to help her find her spot! We love Ms Michelle!!

After her recital she was running around and hurt her foot, it didn't get better and after taking her to gymnastics the teacher thought we should take her to the Dr to make sure it wasn't broken. Luckily it was just a sprain. Phew... She did great with daddy at her side for the X-ray!! She still is limping a little but it is getting better! No dance or gymnastics for a couple weeks Dr's orders!

This was our family home evening project and treat. We have discovered S'mores and love to make them. Yes, that is Brent roasting marshmallows over our stove! It works, and they taste great!

Here the kids are decorating our premade gingerbread house. I am not crafty enough to baked and assemble. But they still have fun just the same!

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We are off again to another Christmas party tonight for the Texas Children's Cure Kids Cancer Radiothon. Our family was interviewed for this and yesterday Emeri and I had the opportunity to go on live and talk with them! It was a very neat experience!

Thanksgiving is over... Moving on to Christmas

2008-11-30T11:00:00.000-08:00

I am usually one of those people that doesn't want to hear Christmas music or see a tree or decoration until after Thanksgiving. We usually put up our tree and lights the day after. Because we were gone we decided to do it on the Wed before Thanksgiving. It so doesn't feel like Christmas to me! I am not really in the mood and even with our lights on the house, and the tree up I just can't seem to get in the Christmas Spirit.

Brent was determined to get a new fake tree this year. As many of you know we moved a little over a year ago and our house has a higher ceiling in it than our old one. So to him that translates into a bigger tree!! We spent on night driving from Home Depot to Home Depot looking for the tree that we liked the best. Apparently we were not the only ones that thought it looked the most real because it ended up taking us the next day and the 4th store to find it.

Here Brent and the kids are getting it all set up! The kids were so excited to see the tree go up, to get out the decorations.

The kids did a great job, if you look really closely to the front of the tree there is a huge gob of decorations in one spot! I kept telling them to spread it around the front, back up and down and then Emeri told me that I could do that! Thanks sis! They really are so sweet! I will have to take another picture of them in front of the fully decorated tree!

I have to explain this shirt... My friend Julie made it for me. For those of you who have ever seen me pregnant I carry my babies all out front. I really look like I just stuck a basketball in my shirt. And I have been told that from behind you can't really tell and then I turn around and bamm... Well I was complaining to her how I just get gawked at and the "Oh my when are you due??" "Do you always carry your babies that way?" So she happened to be with me when I got such a comment and she said.. "I am going to make you a shirt so nobody has to ask!" So here it is the shirt! I wore it to my doctors appointment and to the grocery stores and got mixed reviews. But I really like it. Maybe that is why I am not ready for Christmas because it could be as early as 2 weeks later that I have a baby!

Happy decorating to you all, I hope that you are more in the Christmas spirit than I am!

Thanksgiving

2008-11-30T10:34:00.000-08:00

Wow, I can't believe that Thanksgiving has already come and gone. This year has gone by so fast with many miles stones for our family. I would feel very ungrateful if I didn't take the time to recognize all the many blessings in my life. First and foremost is my wonderful family. I have been blessed with a wonderful loving husband who if he had known what he was getting into would have run the other way. Instead he loves me through my many moods and craziness! My children are such a blessing not always perfect but amazing and teach me so much! Nathan is such a caring soul, he loves to help others. But even more than that he is his father child and loves to make people laugh! (Though sometimes embarrassing to his mother, I am not the most out going type!) He is such a social butterfly!!

Emeri is a pillar of strength and determination. She has made it through so much more than any child her age should ever have to but she did it with grace and strength. She has a mind of her own and knows just what she wants and how she wants it. Not always seeing that mom knows best and I have learned to let some of my pride and stubbornness go. I know that it is important to let your children make their choices in moderation and Emeri has really chosen to express her self in how she dresses and has her hair done. This has been a very hard lesson for me as a mom to learn. But we are getting their. Just so you know if she is wearing a funky hair style or clothes that don't match it is not because I didn't put up a fight... I love you my sweet princess! :)

The gospel of Jesus Christ is such a pillar of strength for me I am not sure where I would be with out it. I am grateful for my testimony and only hope that I can continue to grow in wisdom and strength.

We have been blessed with amazing extended family and friends, we love you all and are so grateful that you are a part of our lives.

Now down to our activities. Last week was a very fun and busy week. Nathan and Emeri's last day before Thanksgiving break was on Tues. Nathan's 1st grade class had a presentation on the Blue Bonnets of Texas and then a Thanksgiving feast. His teacher Ms Bigler gave him the ending part she said because she needed a strong reader. He had brought home his part a while ago and worked very hard to memorize it. By then end he could not only recite his part from memory but also some of the other kids! He did a great job and it was so fun to watch! Then came the Thanksgiving feast. The parents were asked to bring in chicken nuggets, grapes, carrots and dip and drinks. Well knowing our Nathan I knew he wasn't going to eat any thing. So we packed his lunch and that was what he ate!

The Friday before that we had gotten a phone call from Julie English the principal at Coulson Tough where Nathan goes to school. That is never a phone call that a parent wants to get. At first I was afraid that something had happened to him. They are always good at telling you that it is not an emergency but did let us know that for personal reasons Ms Bigler was leaving. That Nathan would have a new teacher after the Thanksgiving break. It is a teacher that he knows, she was a kindergarten teacher last year and she has spent time over the last 3 weeks in his class room. The only thing is this same thing happened to Nathan last year. They decided that the Kindergarten classes were to big and so they added another one. Nathan was chosen to be put into that class. I hope that he doesn't think that this is a regular thing, although it seems to be the theme in our family. Emeri's preschool teacher also left this year to take a new job and had a new teacher come in. I have been reminded that last year turned out to be a blessing and that his teacher Ms Berkley was wonderful. I only hope and pray that this is the case this year as well. Ms Bigler, we are going to miss you so much, we understand your reasons and wish you all the luck. We look forward to seeing you during lunch and when you come to help out!

Thanksgiving dinner was quite at our house. We usually get together with friends but most every one had family in town or was out of town for the Holidays! So we decided to still have the turkey and few things that we like to eat and then drive to San Antonio to take the kids to Sea World. It was so much fun. And really it was great weather and not to bad for the crowds! The kids had a great time swimming, roasting marshmallows and enjoyed being in the hotel. After Saturday both kids were ready to go home and did great in the car. So all and all it was a great Thanksgiving! Thank you all for being a part of our lives! We love you!!

Service to Mankind Gala

2008-11-16T12:56:00.000-08:00

Brent and I had the opportunity to attend the "Service to Mankind Gala" this weekend benefiting and put on by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. It has been a growing relationship with many of those wonderful women who work for them through Team in Training and the different organizations that they run. This was for something different and very special. For those of you who didn't know about a year after Emeri was diagnosed with Leukemia we were asked if she would like to be the honored teammate for Team in Training for their cycle team. We of course said yes at the opportunity. When we went to the kick of party and hearing and meeting these people who were interested in training every Saturday for 4 months and then riding their bikes in a race of 109 miles in one day in honor of our child and raising significant funds Brent felt the need to sign up as well. After he did the company that he works for Anadarko sponsored him and made a very generous donation to LLS. Resulting in them getting an award this year as a "Community Honoree". Brent was asked to accept this award on their behalf. Emeri was also honored that night as being the Honored Patient. It was such a proud moment for me with both having their pictures in the program as well as a video clip of them. We were also very honored and excited to have Dr Dreyer be our guest. It was a very fun evening, although getting dressed up like we were going to the prom 7 1/2 months pregnant wasn't as much fun! But still... Brent looked very handsome in his tux! They also honored a nurse from a different hospital and a Transplant Dr that works at numerous hospitals including Texas Children's. I was able to chat with one of the Transplant Dr's who is going to help me get the baby's cord blood banked here in Houston for free! I had found a company because of Emeri and the benefit it would be to her that would do it for free as well but she doesn't like to have it shipped over night and this way it would be here in Houston. We all agreed that it was one of those things that we will do put pray that we never have to use it!

Happy Halloween

2008-11-05T16:27:00.000-08:00

Halloween was so much fun! We had Aunt Cheryl here for our Church Trunk or Treat. The idea is like Trick or Treat but instead you go to each car's trunk and get candy. It was so fun, each car was decorated or a game for the kids to play. Of course they had way to much candy already. Then came Halloween night, we have a tradition of eating hot dogs with neighbors in our old neighborhood then to trick or treat in our neighborhood. I kept hearing that people were expecting more kids so they kept dumping candy into Emeri and Nathan's bags. By the time we were done they were both full. Brent and I were sad parents. Half way through Nathan was done, but don't worry we kept on telling him to keep going, you never know what good candy those other houses might have. Now I am regretting that since all day long I hear "Can I have some candy??" I think it is time for me to go through and send the rest with Brent to work.

Here are a few pictures of our little ones, Nathan was Ash Ketchum from Pokemon, Emeri was a Kitty Princess. Not really any thing to do with a princess but because it had pink and a tutu she decided that made her a princess. She was getting upset because every one just kept calling her a cat! Any way she looked pretty cute and Nathan was so excited about his costume!

Trying Something New

2008-11-05T13:45:00.000-08:00

After much thought I have decided to try and do a blog. Emeri's Caringbridge site has been such a blessing with her treatments and keeping every one updated that I want to find a way to continue doing that for our family. With Emeri being off treatment our appointments are only once a month which mean that there isn't as much to update on or about her, that being said I will continue to update after each appointment on Caringbridge. I thought that this would be a good way to start our "new" life off treatment and keep you all updated on the happenings of our family. Please be patient with me, I am new at this and still trying to figure it all out! (As Brent can attest to!) It seems to be that I am not as computer literate as I thought. Please check back soon for Halloween pictures and updates. Thanks for you continued love and support! Hope you enjoy reading our going on's!