Falling into Fall...

Hey everyone! I know a family update is long overdue so here it is...!!

Here some some of our latest family pics. Included is a nice fall hike, Ken's Peru Missions trip team, new haircuts, Kate's first day of school, a princess tea party, snuggles in the pillow "nest", and Tim working hard.

The kids are really growing quickly and growing up way to fast! Kate still displays wisdom way beyond her years and continues to surprise us. She is getting more used to school now and doesn’t stress so much about going. She got pushed over the first week and since then she cried every time I dropped her off. We have tried some new stategies including what my mom used to do... Putting kisses and hugs in her pockets so she can use them later if she misses me! This has been the best in helping her not be weary when I go. (she usually asks for 9 in each hand) I think she really does love school... She just doesn't like saying bye to me and that she doesn’t get to play with me during the day. When Ken was one his 2 week mission trip to Peru, we were really having a hard time without daddy, and one morning when we were picking out her clothes, Kate picked up a pair of jeans I knew she did not like and said, "I want to wear theses one because these are the pants daddy put kisses in the morning he left". Isn't that a heart-melter?! <>

Ken did have a wonderful trip despite the lack of knowledge ahead of time as to what exactly they were to be working on. A team of 14 people went down thru Kids Alive and did a lot of work of the new children's homes they are building there. Ken hung 20 doors and others laid tile, did plumbing and painting, and on the last 2 days, they even built a chiken coop! Until then about 30 chikens were living in a cardboard box! When it was complete, they approprately named it, "The Chicken Hilton".

Tim has been busy learning new words and surprising us with a full sentence here and there. He is always the comedian in a crowd and loves to stand in the middle of a group and make people laugh. What a guy... His health is seeingly great, but is still closely watched. Last week he had an MRI, CT scan, chest x-ray, blood work and hearing test. This is the big ONE YEAR update. Pretty neat it's been a year already! Dec 12th is one year since his last surgery. They have to check his hearing as hearing loss is a potential side effect from chemotherapy. We do call Tim "Mr. One Volume"... Loud. But I think that's just how he is and hopefully not due to hearing loss.

I have been busy working and being super mom and wife. And Ken as always, is busy with building, however the market tends to be slow right now and he is hoping to sell more houses soon. He has three closing in the next few months.

Well... That's all for now! We are looking forward to Christmas and already have the tree up!
I love you all!

One Year Ago Today...

I have been doing a lot of thinking today as today marks the one year anniversary of a life-altering event. One year ago right now, Ken and I were impatiently awaiting a bed at McMaster hospital for Timothy, our now 19.5 month old son. One year ago we sat at Cambridge hospital for 2 and a half days, as Tim went thru test after test to try to determine the cause of his screaming and pain. 2:30 in the morning will mark one year since the team of patient transport finally showed up to take Tim to Mac. And then 8 AM will mark one year since the MRI, and one hour later, a grueling 8 hour surgery in which a stage 4 neuroblastoma was removed cell by cell from Tim's spinal canal. Ken and I celebrated our four year anniversary by thanking and praising God that our son had survived. Wow... a lot has happened this year. Our once paralyzed little guy is now bootin' around, full of life and emotion! Sure gives you a lot to be thankful for, and to see how far he has come. (see the video!) So many different things come into your head as you reminissce. I pulled up beside an ambulance today and couldn't even bear to look at it, just remembering being in there... But despite all the horror we experienced, there was always a strange sense of peace. As Ken and I celebrate 5 years of marriage tomorrow, we thank God for his many blessings. For a marriage that has survived such emotional turmoil, for the love that has been shown to us by so many family and friends, and for the privilege we have been given to look after two of God's precious children. My Dad gave us a little plaque today and on it it says, "If He brings you to it, He will bring you through it". Let that be a word of encouragement to all of us. We love you guys and thank you so such for continuing to read Tim's blog and support our family. God bless.

The Case of the Tipping Penguin

Here is a fairly recent video of Tim being highly concerned about the penguin that kept tipping over. This is one of those toys that starts out small and then grows in water. Tim had been checking it out and was quite upset at it apparent lack of balance. As you can see, although Tim still speaks his own language, he is very good at communicating his concern.

Tim the Tool Man

Tim is hard at work. He still speaks his own language which we like to call "Oolie-Goolie" as heard here. At least he knows exactly what he is talking about...

Summer Fun!

Here are some new pics from the summer fun that's been going on at our house! This past week Grandpa has been building our deck and Tim the Tool Man has been out there ALL WEEK. (and I am NOT allowed to bring him in) Tim has been working with tools and "helping" all day every day. He is in his glory out there. Also seen is Tim in his Hercules swimsuit at gramma's! So funny!

I can't believe Tim is now a year and a half and doing quite well health wise! He has a check--up this week at Mac but everything has been great! Thank you all for your continued prayers in this matter.