Prayers for Clara

My sweet niece Clara has been very sick for the past 2.5 week.  After a visit to the ER, an urgent care, their doctor, and multiple house calls by family friends in the medical field without any real answers my sister Natasha and our Mom drove up to Spokane last night (arrived at midnight) to admit Clara into the pediatric ER at Sacred Heart.  Natasha and Brian were told over the past couple of weeks that Clara had strep throat and sometimes it can take awhile to kick.  Well we all knew something else was amiss because of her limping, fatigue, body aches, etc.  This morning she was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma above her kidney which is a childhood cancer.  We don't know any answers yet as they haven't met with an oncologist (hoping to first thing this morning).  Please keep the Woodwards in your prayers and hold your babies a little tighter today.  

In the meantime my boys and Clara's sister, Kate are having the best time playing with the Barbies that my mom dropped off a couple of weeks ago from when I was a little girl.  Man, I kind of wish it was okay with boys to play with Barbies (and no, it will never be REALLY okay in our house) because my boys haven't stayed this self entertained....ever!

Actually now they are shooting bad guys with dart guns....gotta love kids!

Sundays

Sundays are busy, as I know they are for a lot of people.  Our Sundays are busy in a good way (meetings before and after church for Kyle, followed up by a couple hours of visits, and sometimes a family dinner squeezed in somewhere).  Sunday mornings I've got to get the boys and myself off to church, but I don't mind...I might change my tune when #3 makes their entrance.  I am just grateful we have had 9 am church 2 years in a row. We are always more on time for church when Kyle is at meetings.  If he has a canceled meeting, we are rushing a little more...shouldn't it be the opposite?

During Sacrament meeting my boys are still ALL over the place.  Preston is at that stage right now where he only wants to be in nursery, and as soon as we step foot in the chapel he starts acting up.  I get 60 minutes of cardio every Sunday during the first hour.  It really does amaze me that some people have children who sit quietly all during that meeting, or at least quiet enough.  Last night we took our boys to a convert baptism and they were actually pretty reverent (they had their moments).  Normally we end up in the hallway the whole time.  It might have had to do with the fact I had gum for bribing purposes.  Lately it seems every Saturday evening we are at a baptism...yeah for missionary work!  I have had two boys in my primary class getting baptized within a week of each other.  Both of the boys are converts, so it's been great for our class.  

I think this picture was taken on Mother's Day.  Love these two little stinkers, and can't wait to add one more.  

Preppy

Everyday Preppy melts my heart.  He is the sweetest.  His big, dark brown eyes get me every time.  Preston loves his brother and they are always wrestling and playing.  Preston usually ends up getting hurt, but he takes it so well.  He still demands food constantly, won't talk much (okay maybe a little, but not much), and directs you EVERYWHERE.  All day long is he pulling me along, pushing me, pointing at things, and just trying to get me to do or see whatever it is that he wants.  His nursery teacher told me that yesterday Preston took her hand, put the coloring crayon in it, placed her hand on the paper, and then started moving her hand so she was coloring.  That pretty much sums up Preston's communication patterns.  The little stinker is just being stubborn. Preston is NOT good during the 1st hour of church.  Actually he's pretty much a pill, and does everything possible to make it miserable for us.  It's funny because that's one of the few times that he really acts up. He also likes to swat at people, so watch out!  At least he's not a biter....oh boy am I glad that stage with Michael is over!  Preston has been giving a lot of nicknames by his brother and dad.  We of course all call him Preppy, and then Michael and his dad call him "Preppy-nater, Nater" and Michael calls him "Natey."  Don't ask me where those names come from because I have no idea. 

A Messy Situation

I just got out of the shower and heard Michael yelling to me, "Mom, Preppy had a really messy nose, and now it's all gone!"  He said, "It was a really, really big booger."  I came down and said, "where did he wipe it at?" Thinking that it was smeared somewhere, but Michael said, "I just got it all gone in the paper towel (he meant toilet paper)."  I said, "Thank you Michael, you are such a good boy."  His response, "Yeah Mom, I'm really, really good at picking boogers."

Sweet Farewell

Yesterday was the day we joined Candice and Peter in saying goodbye to their sweet baby girl Angelica. I am so grateful for Candice and Peter and their example to us all. I know that through their experience, I want to be a better person, a better mother, and a better friend. Today's service was a simple graveside where testimonies of faith were born, and where loved ones came together to bid a sweet angel farewell.  I love that Angelica is being laid to rest in the same grave as her aunt Arianne who died at the age of 9 from a car accident.

Angelica Fielding Munk 5/4/11 - 5/9/11

After Candice had the blessing of having the best Mother's Day with her two sweet daughters, Angelica passed away peacefully in the night sleeping peacefully between her parents.  The news is very bitter sweet.  I love you Candice, and I'll see you soon.

http://peterandcandice.blogspot.com/

This picture was taken yesterday of Candice and her sweet baby napping.

True Joy

Words cannot express how much I love this picture.  Candice and baby Angelica are doing well.  For those wondering, Candice and Peter's baby has Trisomy 13 and is defying the odds already.  Her time will be short, but they are enjoying each moment together.  They are hoping to be discharged tomorrow and go home as a family!

To see all of the photos taken by Abbie Rufener go HERE.

You wanna know something amazing?  She has a bilateral cleft pallet and she is nursing!  You go girl!