Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Roller Coaster

I have gone back and forth over the past few months deciding whether or not I should write about this...and well I need to.

Most of you who read this, know me and in turn know my family! Which means you know my brother, Jonathan Woodlief. I rarely write stuff about Jonathan's illness because I always want that to be his story...but it is part of me as well! Jonathan got married in October to an amazing woman, Caitlin, whom I am blessed and so proud to call my sister! She is a rock and so solid in her faith! God knew exactly what He was doing when he put these two together!
So, now onto the point of this post. Since September of 2010 Jonathan's health has once again become a roller coaster of ups and downs. His kidney from the first transplant (June 2000) started failing due to the return of Lupus. All of that said, over the past few months Jonathan and Caitlin have begun the process of being on the transplant list and praying for a match for Jonathan.

The doctors had been pretty honest in saying that his chances of finding a match were VERY slim. Due to his prior transplant and many blood transfusions it would just make it very difficult for anyone to match. That news has been so heavy...but hope was not lost...Jonathan, Caitlin, my mom, our whole family has been holding HOPE knowing that those odds are without the God factor!

Up against seemingly hopeless odds, lots of people were tested to be a match...everyone denied...EXCEPT Caitlin! His Wife! It is nothing short of a miracle! We (doctors included) have been blown away...and so excited! We still are...but as with life there are some complications.
Over the past week, Jonathan has become very ill. Through out Jonathan's journey of having Lupus (17 years now) his body has more than struggled to just get over little colds and things that our bodies can shrug off.

As of this afternoon, Jonathan is in the hospital, with his prayer warrior wife, Caitlin, by his side and an army of prayer warriors stretching across the map holding him up. They are continuing to test him to find a reason for his body being so sick...and are trying to get his white and red blood cell count up! They are waiting to hear if he is going to have to have another blood transfusion (which they are trying to avoid at all costs, due to the fact that it will change his antibodies and Caitlin will no longer be a match).

Also, this week they found an abnormality on one of Caitlin's kidneys so they will now have to wait 3 months, rescan her again before they can move forward with a transplant. So, in the meantime other people can continue to be tested to see if there is another match.
So, what now! Life in general is a roller coaster, full of moments of extreme highs and lows, happiness and sadness, and of joy and heartbreak! This is no different...but for Jonathan and Caitlin, for me and our family...this is a roller coaster we can choose not to be on. But, instead, to choose to hold fast to the HOPE and TRUTH that God's word gives us!

To know beyond a shadow of a doubt that "And surely I (GOD) am with you always..." - Matthew 28:20b, "For I (God) know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you HOPE and a FUTURE"- Jeremiah 29:11, "For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is not hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." - Romans 8:24-25

I am putting in something that Caitlin emailed to me...a few verses that they are holding onto...
We have been so encouraged by John 11:1-6
The two things that really stick out to us are:
#1. the line:"This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”- we pray that that this happens, not just in our situation, but in all the stories of those around us suffering.
#2. the word "so"...

it's such a small word, but look how it is used:

"Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was."

You would expect it to say, Now Jesus love Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So he rushed over as soon as He could and saved the day, but it doesn't say that. What it does tell us, is that He loves them, so he doesn't rush over to save the day...yet.

So we hold onto "so" believing that God loves us, so.... we are still waiting for the rest of this part of God's story that involves us and everyone reading. We have no idea why God planned it in such a way that I would be a match and then have abnormalities show up in tests, for Jonathan to have the flu and for everything else that is happening, but we are trusting that He loves us, so he is waiting and He wants to use it for His glory.

We also choose to see how God has been so faithful to take Jonathan through so many ups and downs with his health over the past 17 years.
So, I am sorry for the long post, and this leaves out lots of details and information...but we believe in the power of prayer and so I want as many people as possible to be praying for Jonathan and Caitlin!
Some specifics to pray for:
1) Jonathan's body to respond to the medications
2) his red and white blood cell counts to go up
3) Wisdom for all of the doctors and nurses surrounding him
4) Strength and rest for both Jonathan and Caitlin
5) That if Caitlin can not do the transplant that we can find a better match soon.


Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Treats

I have said before that I am not crafty...I just like to copy! So, copy I did...making a few little treats for the girls birthday parties, valentines day treats, and letter treats!

Marshmallow pops! So easy and really yummy. Just take a big marshmallow, put it on a lollipop stick, roll the top in melted white chocolate and roll it in sprinkles. (tip it is much easier and less messy if you don't let a 2 year old help you...but maybe not as much fun)

Oreo pops! Again...easy...but messy...but good! Take a double stuff Oreo (truth be told this is the first time I have ever bought these..and now I know why...because I would eat them all), put it on a lollipop stick...dip in white chocolate and then sprinkle with sprinkles!



Ok...my favorite treat we have made recently! In Reese's class each week they work on a different letter and they have a letter leader for each week. Last week was "R" week and Reese was the leader! So for the "R" week snack we made rainbow cupcakes!

Once again...they are not really perfect looking...but they are cute!

The fun surprise when you peel off the cupcake liner you see the rainbow layers!
There you go...now I am sure I just made you hungry!

Sunday, February 19, 2012

More birthday fun

So, I never put all of the fun party pictures...so here goes!
On Monday, I went to Reese's school and we had a little party for her...with a big Cookie cake at her request! She was hilarious...she was so excited the whole time.
Reese's birthday cake for her gymnastics party
Hadley was so excited to be part of the party...here Reese and Hadley sliding down the ramp together! It melts my heart when they are so sweet with each other.
The birthday gymnast herself
Hadley's first time on the balance beam...she asks to do gymnastics all the time now
The pro
All the party people
On to Brynlee's party...the huge cupcake cake...I made it...it turned out cute...no Martha Stewart but it was cute!
Some treats for Brynlee's party...popcorn with melted white chocolate and m&m's in it! This stuff is soo good...we actually used this for the girl's valentines and just made a tag that said "Hey Valentine, what's Popping?"
Bebe and the birthday girl
Her first taste of sugar...yes I broke down this year...she actually did have sugar...the other two had "healthy cakes made without sugar, made with honey" but not this girl...and once the first bite went in...
There was no going back...I should have timed it but I am pretty sure the little cupcake was gone in under 10 seconds!
The cutest little redheads on the block
Daddy, Mommy and Bryn
My faithful birthday gals...Aunt B and Aunt Memi come to every birthday party of our girls to celebrate and love on them! It means the world to me...love you gals!

Monday, February 13, 2012

Our baby is 5

Today seriously was a day that I felt like was so far away...until it came! Today we celebrated Reese's 5th birthday! Like always...she has changed a lot in just a year.
We started the day like this...I hung balloons and streamers on the outside of her door so that when she woke up she could coming running through them. She loved it and I wish I had gotten a picture of her coming out! Jason made pancakes for everyone for breakfast (he normally does this on Saturdays when he is in town...it is his thing and the girls love it).
I have to preface the rest of the pictures to say that she did this all on her own! Talk about a little actress! I asked her if I could take a picture of her on her birthday...and then she asked if I would take some more of her doing her "faces"...I could not say no...and I could hardly keep from laughing! I came to school today and we had a little birthday party for her...she was so excited...she was dancing around the room and singing! When I dropped her off at school...she jumped out of the car and gave the carpool teachers high fives smiling and saying "I'm five today"! I mean today was an exciting day!
Reese has grown up so much over the last year! She has taken her role of big sister full on...she loves to tell her sisters what to do for sure...don't we all! She does take such good care of them and she loves on Hadley and Brynlee so much. The cutest thing is when she and Hadley go to school together on Tuesday and Thursdays...Reese gets out of the car in the carpool line...she takes her and Hadley's bags and then she holds Hadley's hand and takes her to her class! IT melts me!
Reese has officially lost 3 of her bottom teeth and 2 of them are starting to come in. She is doing a great job learning to write her name and all of her letters! She and I are "trying" to spend a little time each day working on writing and reading...but I will say it is hard! She still does ballet and loves it...she is actually very agile and graceful...and then on the other hand she can run like a wild Indian!
Ok..tell me you would not crack up taking this picture! She has soooo much personality! Reese is full of life and has tons of energy....she wears me out, but on the same hand she is full of compassion and has such a tender heart. She and I were on the couch last night and I was telling her about Febraury 13th, 2007...the whole story of how she was born and then how excited Jason and I were.
In the process of telling that story...of course I started crying...and so did she! IT was just one of those moments...I was telling her how grateful her daddy and I were to be her parents and to have been blessed with such an amazing daughter! She started wiping the tears from my eyes and she told me "mommy I just want you to know that I love you so much"!
It is moments like those that make me excited about all the years to come...even though it is hard for me to grasp that she is already 5 years old I am so looking forward to every moment with this girl...the good and the bad...thank you Lord! We had Reese's birthday party over the weekend...pictures to come...but we did a family dinner tonight! She got to pick the meal and she wanted pizza and cupcakes! We had a great time and I am just so blessed that God has given our family the gift of Reese Kathryn Beckner!

Friday, February 10, 2012

Baby Bryn is ONE!

One year ago today...ok technically I missed today by a few minutes since it is past midnight...but on February 10, 2010 Little Miss Brynlee Noel Beckner entered this world...and wow times flies!
This peanut was sooo tiny...just 6lbs...wow has she grown!
We have not had her 1 year check up...but we were at the doc on Wednesday because she has a little cold and she weighs 18lbs 8 oz! She is growing like a weed...and just like her sisters she is getting longer and longer! Brynlee still has soo much hair...I love it! She has 8 teeth and she eats EVERYTHING! I am serious none of my children have problems with eating!
Brynlee is still such sunshine in our house! She laughs all the time and gives us that toothy grin. She crawls like a crazy lady and so badly wants to stand and walk. She will walk if you are holding her hands but not by herself. She loves to babble and try to say what you are saying!
I put the girls in the car the other morning and went back into the house to get our stuff...when I came back out Hadley announced that Brynlee had said "broccoli" I had to laugh..while she loves to talk we are for sure not saying broccoli yet! Bryn loves to dance and anytime there is music she sits down and swings her arms back and forth. Her sisters and still her favorite entertainment and she will shove you right out of the way if you are blocking her view of seeing them.
Following suit with Reese and Hadley she too is a little princess and we love all of her! Happy Birthday to our Sweet Bryn!

Saturday, February 4, 2012

A Toothless Date

Well, the Tooth fairy came to the Beckner house once again for Reese! I know, I can't believe that she is already missing two teeth! She did get her teeth early...but she is not even 5 yet! Needless to say she was excited for the Tooth fairy to visit...and lucky for her...the Tooth fairy is good at the Beckner house! :)
On to the Date! Reese and Jason had a date last night. They went to a father daughter dinner that was sponsored by the Ballet school that Reese attends. They looked so good...Reese was just beautiful and Daddy was a handsome as always.
A little dance practice before the big night.
Reese was sooo excited...she was ready to go about and hour before it was time. Jason said it was a great night. They had dinner together...then they watch the Ballet school Ballerinas perform a few numbers and then the best part...the Father/Daughter dancing. They played 5 different songs that they danced to. "My Girl" was Reese's favorite! She was in heaven and I am so glad they got to do that.
Don't worry about the rest of us at home...we had a great time too! I baked some brownies so that no one would feel left out...I am pretty sure that Hadley was good with that! I did get her all dressed up and she and I had a fancy dance as well! (after the brownies were cleaned off)
Little Miss Bryn had a great night of course...she did not get brownies but she did get a favorite...Avocado! All in all...it was a good night for the Beckner clan!