A time to dance...

Saturday night was Layla's first dance recital!!

It was actually her third year to start dance (ah, snap) but the first year that we've actually made it to recital. The first year we accidentally scheduled our trip to Alaska during recital so we had to pull out after Christmas. The second year we had to quit dance when Nathan was job-less for a while... so this year recital was a BIG deal! YAY! lol.

This child was so stinking excited. And let's not even pretend her momma wasn't just as bad. C'mon...I love the stage! (But really and truly, I have been very careful about letting this be her choice. I just do that little sqealing thing on the inside).

I thought she was going to be supah-nervous by the way she has frozen up before just for little classroom performances, etc. but during dress rehearsal, Layla Paige West, Dancer Extraordanaire came alive! She got the showbiz high.

Before she went out, she was asking a million questions about how many people were going to be there and what if the lights were too bright... but when she came off, she was in LOVE. She said, "Now I know what it feels like and I never want to come off that stage!".


She was BEAUTIFUL! Her tumble dance was ADORABLE. Little "swimmers" dancing to Wipe Out. This was her first go at tumble in a class with girls on their 3rd year, but she held her own! And she had fun!




And she was just the most perfect little ballerina. I wanted to nail her to the top of jewelry box and watch her spin forever. She was so precious and did her dance just right :)



We were beaming with pride!

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The show didn't end until almost 10pm and we hadn't had dinner (weird day), she from the rush of stardom to literally this 10 minutes later...


She's already planning on what classes to sign up for next year!

Other Brother's Graduation

Saturday was a BUSY day for us! The first half of the day, we had to divide and conquer. Nathan and the kids took on an outreach project for Revolution Church, handing out bottles of water up and down the HWY 52 yard sales. They had SO much fun! And came home with lots of goodies that people were giving them just for being cute, (the kids, not Nathan lol).

I couldn't make it because Other Brother Rob was graduating that morning! Whoop whoop! He was sooo excited. And he didn't even know that in addition to all of us, he had family coming in all the way from Mississippi to see him. It was a lovely surprise... I know it meant a lot to him. Even if teenage boys don't always say it out loud.







He looked so studious and handsome in his cap and gown (and fidgety!). He was a wee bit nervous, but the rest of us were quite proud! This young man has a big life ahead of him if he will keep his eyes up and keep on dreamin'! Nathan wrote him the most encouraging words and I REALLY hope he takes them to heart.



Way to go, Robert!!!

My brave little man!

Cale's MRI was Tuesday. He really is doing SO, SO much better. I kid you not, he is a different child! But, I just knew a hospital environment was going to be more than he could handle and shoving an IV into his arm would bring back some old habits.

Alana went with us to keep both mine and Cale's nerves at bay (he ADORES her!). He, of course, had his Tony car to keep him safe, but Alana brought him another car and motorcycle to make him brave. He was a happy/distracted boy as we walked back to his bed. He was armed with toys and a tv and didn't even seem to notice everything going on around him. Already, that's a BIG deal for him! Then he let us put a gown on him without saying a word, he even told the nurse how old he was! Normally, in these situations, he doesn't speak to anyone and when he does, he isn't very kind lol. He was precious.

The nurse came by and explained that she needed to look for some little blue worms (veins) in his arms. He let her search both arms without even an ounce of protest. Then it was time, she asked him to relax so, he did! He laid back and crossed his feet to watch the tv! SO CUTE!


He LOVED the Prayer Bear Alana brought him :)
It has replaced Tiger as his bedtime friend!


He LITERALLY just laid there, completely unbothered while she stuck him five or six times trying to get the IV in his hand (unsuccessfully). He looked down to check and see what was taking so long, then looked back up at the tv. Alana and I were in SHOCK. I think I actually teared up with amazement. This is the same little boy that normally kicks and screams when doctors try to look inside his mouth or get him to stretch out his legs!

Unfortunately, she wasn't able to get the IV in his hand and was going to have to try the inside of his elbow (oooouch). He still did GREAT though, he started to say "ow, ow, ow" and then had some big crocodile tears roll down his cheeks. He got a little clingy after that, while the N.P. explained what was about to happen, but he walked down to procedure room and allowed HER to pick him up and set him up on the table. Again... wow. He watched her push the meds before he went limp in my arms and we said goodbye!





Exactly one hour later, my pager went off that he was done! They said he woke up the instant he heard them open his pretzels :)
As soon as he saw us, he asked to put his clothes on. Then he asked the nurse for his "red juice" (powerade). Once she gave it to him, he said "Thank you... I'm out of here."




I just can't believe he did SO well. I mean, I can. Because he's a miracle! I am just still so shocked by the difference. He did better than I would expect ANY child to do... much less a child who just a few weeks ago had major anxiety issues and wouldn't let unfamiliar people touch him, let alone seven different nurses!! I am soooo proud of our little man!

We should be able to call today to get the results.