Varsity Cheer

Peyton is officially a 2012-2013 SHS Varsity Cheerleader!!  She made the Varsity cheer team last night and I was so proud.  This will be her second year on the Varsity squad.  I love watching her under those Friday Night Lights.  I also love football whether it be high school, college or pro.  Yes, I'm the crazy mama yelling & jumping up and down in excitement for her team. 

This was Peyton's 5th year to tryout for cheerleader.  She has loved cheering since she was 3 years old.  I have all of her uniforms - even the ones I bought her while in elementary to wear to mini camp.  They are so tiny and adorable! 

My Mini Cheerleader

She now teaches the dances, cheers, jumps and stunts to the little girls attending mini camp each year and adores those little ones. 

Peyton's a little superstitious and every year she has a special tryout shirt made, has Granny fix her hair in the same lucky braided pony and eats dinner at the same restaurant with the same girls while awaiting the results.  Last night she and I reminisced her first tryout - she was in 6th grade trying out for the Junior High squad.  There were 40+ girls trying out for (I think) 8 spots.  She earned one of those spots and I was so proud!

Doing her thing in 7th Grade

The sweet & talented girl who helped Peyton that year and several more is a Senior this year.  Crazy how it was so many years ago, but seems like just yesterday.  Last night as I sat at the dinner table with my girls waiting for results I thought - Wow I only have one more time to enjoy this yearly "Good Luck" dinner with them, only one more time to watch my mom fix her lucky hairdo and one more tryout shirt to buy.  It was a bittersweet moment.  My baby has grown up so fast and these first two high school years have really flown.  I hate to think of how fast the next two will go.  This year I couldn't help but notice how much older she looked - another bittersweet moment.  Somedays I want her to be that crazy, energetic, fearless three year old and in some ways she's still just that to me.  Especially crazy and energetic!  But in the same, I'm so proud of what a beautiful young lady she's become.  

On top again . . . 2011 - 2012 Varsity

Another proud mama moment for me last night!  Lucky for me, this girl has filled my last 16 years with so many of these moments.  I love her to the moon and back!!



Hope, Love, Courage &Faith,

Laurie

The Loss of a Child

My heart hurts.  It is broken.  Two precious boys who would have brought joy, excitement and most of all more love to our family were given their angel wings all too soon.  I didn't have the opportunity to hug them, kiss them, or see their beautiful faces.  However, I already loved them and my heart still hearts.  I wish I could take the pain from their sweet parents.  A pain that is of a greater magnitude than any of us, who have never lost a child, could ever imagine.  My heart hurts so much for them.  They will be forever changed by this loss.  I can only hope this suffering brings their hearts even closer together. 

Another Mito baby gained his angel wings as well.  Just as my nephews, I did not have the pleasure of knowing him.  However, my heart still hurts.  I can't help but think of the suffering he endured here on earth.  I can't imagine the pain his parents must be enduring right now.  I truly despise this disease.

I don't think there is anything worse in life than losing your child.  It is a devastation I don't ever want to feel.  The thought of losing my precious Trace to Mito has crossed my mind a few times.  I'm sure every parent of a Mito baby has had these thoughts.  It's a terrible reality of the disease.  I hope and pray that God doesn't decide to take him to soon.  The loss of a child is something no parent should ever have to face, but a horrbile part of life that many do face.  It makes me realize yet again never to take even one day for granted.  To appreciate every blessing bestowed upon us and to never lose sight of those blessings no matter how thick the "fog" gets. 

May these Angels be forever dancing in Heaven above ~

Hope, Love, Courage &Faith,

Laurie

MRI Results

I received news today that Trace's MRI came back with NORMAL results!!!  What a relief, this makes me so happy I'm crying.  I know we still don't have an explanation to some things, but I'll take normal any day!

Here's a few pics taken before the MRI of Trace playing in pre op and waiting for anesthesia - always smiling, my heart.

Thanks again for always thinking of us and for all the prayers for our little Mister!!

Hope, Love, Courage &Faith,

Laurie