A Little Reminder and a Big Answer

Today the four older kids started swim lessons. First is Bailey's class, then Trey's and then Tyler and Peyton go together. While not in class the kids are in the "kids club" area of the fitness club. I dropped Trey back off after his lesson and pulled out Tyler and Peyton for theirs. They were a few minutes early so had some free time to play in the pool before their lesson started. I didn't want to leave them to go workout until their class officially began so I stayed a few minutes. Just before the class started, Peyton got out of the pool with a bloody nose. Since about a week or two before his initial diagnosis he's been getting them fairly regularly. These are not mild nose bleeds. These are drench towels for 20 minutes nose bleeds. He came over to me with blood all over his face and streaming down his wet belly. I quickly put one end of a towel on his nose and the other end wiped his face and body. A few seconds later he walked off. I told him he needed to hold it longer. He hopped in the pool and as I started to head over to hang the towel up I heard him say something. I turned around and found him sitting alone on the steps of the pool mumbling a few words and then caught the phrase "in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." He wiped his nose, looked at his clear hand, smiled, and swam off to catch up with Tyler.

My first thought was "thank you Father for answering such a simple little prayer". As I worked out during the following 45 minutes, and throughout the rest of today I've thought about this little prayer offered by my son a lot. First, I was reminded that Heavenly Father hears even our most simple prayers. They just need to be sincere and offered with faith. That's all. He hears them. Every one. Second, I've often struggled with the phrase "thy faith has made thee whole." Why? Because when Christ performed his miracles, people were healed according to their faith. It was a necessary element of the miracle being performed. The sick who sought out Christ knew without a doubt that He could heal them. As a parent of a child in need of a miracle, I know with absolute certainty that he can be healed if it is indeed the Lord's will. I've always wondered if that counts as faith enough for Peyton too. Is my faith enough for my child to be healed or does he need that same faith I guess has been my internal struggle. Peyton knows how these nosebleeds go. He usually rushes to grab a towel and then lays on the couch for the duration of a cartoon and then usually the blood stops by the end. Today after only a few seconds, he pushed away the towel, not to immediately swim off, but to find a quiet corner and ask his Heavenly Father for help.

His faith is sufficient. He knows and loves his Heavenly Father. He knows and loves his Savior Jesus Christ. He has the faith to be healed and consequently the faith to accept the will of the Lord, whatever that may be. I needed his prayer answered in the pool today more than he did.

Ricker Scan #4

Peyton's results:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ourpeyton

Jack

This child is ridiculous! He brings the joy of a new baby without the stress of being a first time parent. He is SO much fun. This past week we were sitting upstairs getting ready to read scriptures before bed. We had all just sat down and Jack was on the floor on his back surrounded by some toys. As we were all quitely finding our place in our books I looked over at Jack who was on his side. I gasped at his new position which made all of the kids look over at him. Just then he made it all the way to his belly. Upon doing so looked over at us with a shocked, then gleeful face. The kids started to cheer as they had all just witnessed a major baby milestone. It was perfect.

Scan #3

Scan #3 for the year...

Robert's last two scans have shown some "areas of concern". He was scanned today and the results came back ALL CLEAR! Whoo Hoo! The doctor chuckled and said that Robert's now been exposed to as much radiation from all of the scans as he would have had he decided to do radiation treatment. Yes, REALLY funny. His next appointment will be an ultrasound (no radiation involved) in December. Great start to Ricker Scan Week. Peyton's up next on Thursday!!!

Little Shop of Horrors

Okay, so they've yet to sing but our cucumber plants have outgrown the trellis I lovingly provided them and have started to grow through our screened in patio. They're invading! They are now about 10 feet high. Lovely.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day was a lot of fun. We spent it at the beach with the Carruths (Robert's sister and family). As always, the cousins had loads of fun running around and being goofy with each other.

Dance Recital

Bailey had her very first dance recital and it was ridiculously cute. She did such a good job. By good job meaning she didn't just stand frozen glaring at the audience like I half expected her to do. She actually danced a bit. After the curtain call the girls were called up one at a time to recieve a medal for their participation. One by one a little girl would leave her place in line, run over to the director, get her medal and run back to her spot. When Bailey's name was called, she paused a moment, put her hands on her hips, and did her sassiest diva strut across the stage to claim her prize. It was pretty darn cute. Here are some backstage pictures from dress rehearsal and a couple from after the performance...

Bailey's the one drawing pictures.

Tyler's Nature blog

Ty's started a blog to let friends follow some of his outdoor discoveries. Should be fun! The link is on the right.

One for my dad

My dad spent a good deal of his childhood in New Zealand where he learned the Haka (a Maori war dance), and became a big All Blacks fan (rugby team). Us kids have great memories of my dad dancing it in the living room, we loved it! Don't ask why, I just don't know, but here are the All Blacks doing the Haka prior to the start of a game. It's awesome!

Our Graduate

Next week Trey graduates from preschool. A whole 5 years old, he can't wait to start kindergarten.

The Flap Jack Kids Race

Race #2. This time Tyler came in 3rd for his age group, and Peyton 2nd in his. Trey was one of the fastest little kids and Bailey looked a little more sporty than last time (she still doesn't own a pair of sneakers).

Jack's Blessing

This past Sunday we blessed Jack at church. We were glad that we could spend the day with family. I'm pretty sure we came close to doubling the size of primary. America took way better pictures of the kids then I did, so you can check out her blog if you want to see the happenings.

Jack didn't want to cooperate for a picture but I had to take one of his blessing outfit. I made this when we blessed Peyton and made sure to add the trim from Tyler's, so he could have claim to it also. Every time a baby has been blessed in it I kick myself for not having done the embroidery yet. Finally, a few weeks ago, I found a place here that did it for me. Embroidered on are the names and birth years of everyone who has been blessed in it.

It's an idea from Martha. It's a good thing.

Searching for Hope

Since Peyton's diagnosis of brain cancer 9 months ago, we have spent many hours searching for something that would give us hope for a cure. We know that it is only with a miracle from our Heavenly Father that Peyton will survive but we have always felt like we need to fight, and fight hard for his life. The majority of kids with his diagnosis don't make it to 9 months. Hopefully something we're doing helps him beat this. On his website (link to the right), I've listed the things we have Peyton on. It has been very helpful for us to find out what other families have tried and what they think. Our hope in posting this information is that it helps another family who is struggling to save their child. Please feel free to pass along his website information to anyone who might find it useful.

Gator Gallup

The kids all ran in the Gator Gallup kids race this past weekend...

(we realized the morning of that Bailey didn't own a single athletic item of clothing. Hence the stylish spring outfit she's sporting!)

Spring Music Program

Peyton's first grade music program was about bunnys making good choices. Naturally, his speaking part was "Here are some bunnies making good choices."