Videos about Daniel

Daniel's daddy made these for him and they were so beautiful I couldn't help myself, I had to share! I have done well today until I saw this and then I cried my eyes out, but the funny thing was I was smiling and laughing at the same time! I was just so happy such a precious angel boy lived and I feel so blessed to see the videos of him!

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Daniel's "angelversary"

One year ago today, the world lost one of the most precious little angel boys that ever lived. Daniel aka Homer.

I have been thinking all week, that I need to blog on here today about him. About how special he was to Emma and to our family. But today I find myself sitting here, no words able to come to me that would even begin to explain how much we loved him, or how much we miss him.

Yet underneath our sadness today is another emotion I didn't expect to feel. Pride. Pride in his parents. I am so proud of their strength over this last year, they have amazed me beyond words. I can't begin to imagine how hard it has been for them, yet through it all they have managed to be there for me, and for others. They went to see Emma for surgery and Val when he had surgery and just got back from visiting little Jay when he needed the support. How awesome are they!?

I want to wrap my arms around them and cry and tell them how sorry I am that they feel such pain and that their little boy is gone. Then another part of me wants to pat them on the back and congratulate them for making it though this first year without him. Times have been so very tough for them, yet they have survived. For that I do congratulate them.

Today should be a day of happiness and joy, to celebrate the life of an amazing little boy. We are planting a garden today for him, and I will post some pictures later. So please remember him today, say a prayer for his parents and hug your loved ones a little bit tighter.

I will never let go of the most important thing he ever taught me, and that is how to love and how to accept others for who they are. He and Emma have both taught me life is precious and a gift. Thank you so much Daniel, I miss you and love you forever and always.

Restful night for Emma

Emma did great last night, no more seizures. She slept really hard only waking up a bit when we changed her diaper and once when I went in and gave her a noisy kiss and she hated it and yelled at me! She is still asleep as I write this at 10:30 am. I might let her sleep as much as she wants today. I am sure she is just really worn out from all that shaking.

Ella is still at my mom's she went over there Friday and I thought she might come home today but yesterday she cried when I told her that, so I am sure she is going to play her "one more night" game later. She loves it at her Nanny and Poppy's house.

Mommy stayed up way too late, I sure did. Watching tornados and storms online. A big tornado touched down in the small town of Kremlin OK and also one in Enid. We have friends in Enid I have not heard from yet, but I am sure its because their power is out. We have a chance of storms today and a bunch of days this next week.

That is the update for now, keep praying that the extra medicine will keep Emma from shaking again.

ER trip

Everyone please say a little prayer for Emma. She is home now, which is good but we spent several hours in the ER after going by ambulance. She had a seizure, which of course she is on medication for, but never has she had a seizure that lasted that long and made her shake so hard. They took her by ambulance and gave her some valium which made her stop shaking.

All her blood work came back ok, so they are just saying its due to her brain. They did up her zonegran medicine she is on. Thankfully they have not put her back on the Phenobarbital as of yet. I hope she doesn't have to be on it. She was awake for about only 4 hours a day when she was on that stuff. Its a quality of life issue for us, how can she enjoy life is she is asleep that much? Of course we don't want her brain hurt further by a seizure so if they decide to put her back on it, then we will do so and just deal with her being sleepy.

So things are ok for now. No reason to think they won't stay ok too since they upped her medicine.

Prayers needed for another little friend--desperate!

First of all thank you to our friend Laura who pointed out the fact I needed to check a blog this morning, which I had not done yesterday.

A while back I asked for prayers for Kayleigh, the beautiful little preemie who was having a rough start to life. I posted a link to her page and I hope everyone went to see it.

Well, something terrible is going on with her and she is in desperate need of prayers for a miracle.

I am borrowing this paragraph from her blog, but this is also so much more to the store so I will post the link again. Please Please Please pray for her!

**From Kayleigh's Story***

Her sweet tiny body lays still, with very slight (unexplainable) movements at times, while her muscles are contracted beyond any measurable understanding. The thought of some kind of neurological problem quickly raised a red flag and an EEG test was conducted only to show that a big section of Kayleigh's brain (cerebral cortex) is not working at all and may never work again. In other words, the doctors stated she has a flat reading, which is another term for being brain dead.


Click the picture to go to her blog

Our little friend needs prayers

We have an online friend that really needs your prayers right now. His name is Stellan, and he is undergoing heart surgery as I type this. Will everyone please remember him and say a prayer? Its beening asked everyone wear Orange today and pray for him. I have searched the closets high and low and found no orange can you believe it? But the prayers are the important part. Here is a beautiful picture and link to his update site if you want to read more about him and hear updates from today's procedure. Just click the picture to learn more

To all parents of special needs kids

I found this while searching online today and thought I would share it. Its is so beautiful, I wish I had written it, it says exactly what I have prayed for and how I feel. Its beautiful and comforting and I hope it touches some of you like it has me.I especially like the second little paragraph, about her spirit being whole.

And God Said No
Copyright © Claudia Minden Weisz (the mother of a Rett Syndrome child)


I asked God to take away my pride. And God said "No".
He said it was not for Him to take away, but for me to give up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole. And God said "No".
He said her spirit was whole, her body was only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience. And God said "No".
He said patience is a by-product of tribulations. It isn't granted, it is earned.

I asked God to give me happiness. And God said "No".
He said He gives me blessings, happiness is up to me.

I asked God to spare me pain. And God said "No".
He said suffering draws me apart from worldly cares and brings me closer to Him.

I asked God to make my spirit grow. And God said "No".
He said I must grow on my own. But He will prune me to make me fruitful.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. And God said "No".
He said He will give me life, that I may enjoy all things.

I ask God to help me love others, as much as he loves me.
And God said "Ah, finally you have the idea!"

Happy Easter!

I am sure many of you are wondering if we made it to church in the rain today. Of course we did! I would not have missed it for anything.

We did end up walking in the rain, but had a dry walk home thankfully. We wore raincoats and used an umbrella, and covered Emma's vent and battery in plastic. Emma's hair got really wet, but it made it crazy curly which was adorable. I do think I ruined my good dress shoes, and did have to sit through church with soaking wet feet but it was worth it. I figure if Jesus loved me enough to die for me and rise again then the very least I could do is get my kids to church on Easter even if it was raining.

The band dedicated a song to Emma, which made me cry. They said how she was a good girl who sat in the front row and we turned around and I helped Emma wave. It was beautiful and she enjoyed it.

So many people were baptized today, and it sure made me think of the day I was baptized, and my heart was just beaming thinking of it. I was so happy for those who were "getting dunked" today because I know how wonderful they are feeling, and it is such an awesome thing.

We also did Lord's Supper (Communion for those who choose to call it that) Emma was able to take it with my help, and its the very first time she has ever done it. Again, I teared up. I was so proud of her. As they talked about what it signified she really listened, and I said a prayer in my head and whispered to her what it meant so I was certain she understood. What a wonderful thing, I got to do with my daughter. She is learning in her heart what it means to follow God and be a good Christian. I know she can't tell me things, but I think in her heart and mind she is talking to God a lot, and that she is doing right by him. Its a great feeling to know that, that my daughter has a special relationship with God, only one he and her understand.

Derek and Ella had fun in Sunday school. They got some candy and learned all about what Easter means. I am surprised at how much Derek talks about things and understands them, that makes me proud too.

When we got back the "Easter bunny" had hidden eggs inside our house. The kids got a basketball, and some books. Emma's book is all about Jesus and children, she likes it. Yes, we do eggs at our house, but we also make sure our kids know the true meaning of Easter.

Taking the kids to Easter services for the first time, will be something I never forget. My heart is just full of happiness today! I hope everyone else is having a blessed day.

April 10, 2009

Emma is still a little sick, but I think we are on the down hill end of it now. I am hoping she will be almost all better by Sunday. It is still supposed to rain but I did hear today on the news that there may be a break in the rain for a few hours around 10am. 2nd services at church starts at 11, so I am hoping we can get a dry patch of weather and walk to church. Really praying hard that happens, I want to see how Easter is celebrated at our church, since we didn't go there this time last year.

Emma spent the last 2 days resting and getting extra humidity from her humidifier that is connected to her vent. That has helped keep her mucus in her lungs thinned out some, this cold has really played havoc with her nose more than anything else, and she has me suctioning her nose every time I turn around! No fever today so that is good. She was wide awake when I tucked Ella in a bit ago, but I think they have both fallen asleep now, I took a quick peek and they are either sleeping or faking it really well. Well just as I type this Emma is making gurgles so time to go suction again!

April 8 2009

Well Derek started it on Monday by getting cold symptoms. He is better, but yesterday Ella was sick and last night Emma got sick. Ella is doing better today, but Emma is still pretty icky. Fever, runny nose, and more suctioning in her trach. Nothing terrible, no oxygen needed, no funny colored mucus or anything that needs a drs attention. Just a spring cold.

I just pray she is well by Sunday and that we can find a break in the predicted rain to walk to church on Easter. I don't know who is looking forward to Easter Services more, me or the kids!


Its been a busy week, Ella started doing preschool here at home, taught by yours truly. She is doing well and having fun. Emma sat with us yesterday before she started feeling sick and helped us do the abc song and days of the week song we do. Ella liked having her sissy there.

Not much else to update, as I am tired from staying up half the night last night with Emma. I worry more than I should, so I didn't sleep well I kept getting up to check on her, even though Dad was up and doing the same. Please say a pray this is short lived, and if you can help do a reverse rain dance LOL we would like to go to church Sunday!

Happy Palm Sunday.

Ella's picture


Ella's palm



Emma's picture

Emma's palm



Hanging on the fridge


Just a quick note to start off this wonderful week of blessings as Easter nears. We went to church today and the girls drew palms, and little pictures of Jesus as he got to Jerusalem. Ella did hers in class and I helped Emma with hers since Emma goes to big church with me. I had to put the crayon in Emmas hand and move it for her. She does great holding the crayon though! Ella made me take pics of them hanging on the fridge, so I will post them here for you.

We have missed a few sundays due to moving and the weather, but it was nice to get back. Everyone was glad to see us, and we were glad to see them. Emma got lots of welcome back squeezes and lots of hellos. I love the people at church they always make a point of including Emma as much as possible, and that just warms my heart.

We suggest everyone read Matthew 21: 1-22 in their bibles, it talks about the importance of today.

March 30, 2009

I took pictures yesterday, so I thought I better share them. One is the birthday cake that the kids helped make Daddy. Emma held the box so we could see the directions, Ella helped crack the eggs, Derek picked the spiderman for the top. Of course everyone licked the spoons and icing knife.

Emma wore her new dress, a thrift store find, that just screamed her name when I saw it, thanks to the butterflies on it. Best $3 I ever spent.

Have a blessed week, our dear friends.

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee.
Numbers 6:24-25

March 28, 2009

Like the new layout? Just felt like I needed to make a change. You know how I am about leaving something for too long

We found out some amazing news yesterday! Emma's Aunt Kayla is having twin girls in July! Kayla is Daddy's step sister and she is a such a wonderful person, we are so excited for her. She has picked the names Myiah Luz-Elva who is named after her daddy's mom who passed away in Jan and Kiana Marie who has her Mommy's middle name. I am so thrilled for her, more twins. And the neatest thing is now Grandma Sherry can say she has two sets of twin grand daughters. How neat.

Today was a busy day. The kids helped bake a cake for Daddy's birthday tomorrow. We will decorate it tomorrow but I wanted to get the baking out of the way now. Its strawberry and made the house smell so good.

We got a very very light dusting of snow last night, much to everyone's disappointment. We wanted to make a snow man. This is the first year in Derek's life he hasn't been able to make one. How sad. But oh well that means flowers are blooming and shorts can be taken out of the closet sooner.

I am planning a memorial garden out front for Emma's little friend Daniel that passed away last year. The anniversary of his death is coming up April 28 and I thought it might be a very special way to remember him if Emma and I planted some flowers that day and put a little pretty something out there that reminds us of him. I will make sure to take pictures of the finished project.

That is it for the update. Not much to say tonight.

March 19, 2009

Our beautiful friend JayeBear has pointed out it has been a while since an update. So I thought I better put one up. I know she can't be the only one wondering what is going on in the life of Emma and our family.

It has been a few days. Last week Mommy ended up in the ER. Yes, I was terribly sick with the stomach flu which I got from Ella, who got it from Derek, who got it from his new school. Had to call Nanny and Poppy to take me when I threw up non stop for 3 hours. Actually non stop! Got an iv and some Zofran and felt icky for a few days but am much better now.

Ella is at Mimi's spending the night so yesterday Derek, Mommy and Emma took advantage of the 80 plus degree weather and went to fly a kite, and play basketball and soccer. We tried to tie the kite to Emma's wheelchair and run really fast, but it didn't work. We got a bum kite I think, it kept pulling to the right and crashing.

Then last night, Derek threw up! Wondering if the cycle of all being sick is starting again, I sure hope not. He seems fine this morning and even wants to go shopping so I am wondering if he just ate something that didn't do his stomach good or if the heat just got to him yesterday. We have found he is pretty good at soccer and basketball. We played HORSE on the basketball court, and he got all the way to R before I got lucky and won.

Prayers please for our friend Emma Mae, I won't get into too much detail but her family is going through a rough patch right now. We call her little Emma, she is younger than our Big Emma. She has Spina Bifida. She is beautiful and funny and has the cutest little cheeks you ever did see. Anyway her family could use some prayers that a situation they have found themselves in works out.

That's our update, we hope everyone reading is well and has a wonderful day!

Happy Birthday to our dog Violet

Yes we are super silly. We made a birthday cake for our dog yesterday. She turned 3. Emma did not join in the singing, but decided to nap through it in her chair. The cake was liver dog food topped with straberry fluffy yogurt, then we used her kibbles and bits dog food to decorate. It wasn't as pretty as last years cake I actually BAKED for her, but it worked and Violet loved it. I threw it together last min. Her birthday snuck up on us.

We were going to make brownies for the kids to but found that some how I have lost my two brownie pans in the move.

Update on our friends the Lockwoods that I asked you to pray for. Mrs Lockwood had her baby boy early this morning, he was about 32 and half weeks along, don't know many details as of yet, he is small and doing ok, he cried at birth! She was in recovery during their lost post on the blog, a friend was posting, and apparently she is doing ok too, will post more when I have details.

March 12, 2009

We woke up to freezing rain, and a super cold morning. Emma decided she wanted to go back to sleep. Its ok, its only 8:30 its not like she is sleeping the whole day away. I really wish spring would get here to stay.

I just wanted to post a few new pics of Emmie. She got new shoes the other day that I am for some reason totally in love with. They are a cheap version of crocs and are pink hippos! Her feet remind me of the hungry hungry hippos board game. I sure hope they don't try to eat her toes! They are perect to put on her in her wheelchair, they are kind of wide so they help keep her feet in place on the foot rests.

Also had to post the last pic and give a shout out to my brother Jay. He is in the Army National Guard, and sent that hat at Christmas time. Derek normally wears it but I popped it on Emma for a pic. He works at MEPS or Military Entrance Processing Station in the Seattle Area, helping get people all processed to join the military. I am so proud of him! He used to be Active Army but is not full time Guard and has been in close to 20 years now. He serves our country proud and makes me one proud sis! Emma is one proud niece too, hence the hat pic. :-)

Not much else going on around here, have to throw together a little birthday party for our dog later, she is 3 today and the kids insisit we do something! :-) Maybe if you are lucky I will take some pics so you all can have a good laugh.

Here are some recent videos of Emma and Ella I have taken. They are so cute together.

One is a video of Emma taking a bath, no nudity thanks to our trusty Winnie the Pooh blanket. I thought of not posting it for privacy issues, I don't want her mad at me HA HA but I know lots of people have asked how she does every day normal things like take a bath so I thought this would be useful at helping explain it. Another is of Ella helping her in the tub. I also have one of the girls just playing. I also included one of Ella helping me do laundry just because I think she is cute.\

I had to upload them from facebook, as blogger is being sooooo slow posting their videos this morning and I have no patience what so ever for that. :-) You dont have to have a facebook account to view them.



This is how Emma takes a bath


This is Ella helping Emma in the bath


This is Ella singing to Emma but Emma only wants to watch tv
I love how Ella strokes Emma's cheek!


Ella being a "little mommma" and helping fold clothes.

March 8, 2009

Not much to update on, but figure some of our readers would appreciate a short update. We are just hanging out enjoying our new home, and unpacking. Yes, still unpacking, I don't think I will ever be done.

Emma is doing great, I think her favorite past time lately has been watching tv. It keeps her content while I unpack boxes, but I think I have created a monster! She sure was yelling at the nascar race today, every time they mentioned Carl Edwards, who I think is her favorite driver. She probably gets the yelling at nascar from me, I was cheering pretty loud toward the end for Jeff Gordon to win, (Yes I cheered for him today!) but he got second place. As soon as allergy season passes, I look forward to getting her outside some during the day.

Last week while Derek was in school, Mommy and Daddy took both girls out to lunch and shopping at the dollar tree store. It was fun. Emma talked to the waitress and a few people made a fuss over how cute she was. They fussed over Ella too, but she turned on her "shy switch" and wouldn't talk to anyone. We went to the hardware store and saw a huge dog that belonged to one of the workers. It was a German Shepard, the biggest I have ever seen, his feet were huge. He was so very gentle and calm. He let Ella and me pet on him and he sniffed at Emma's feet but didn't try to bother her much. Emma liked the doggie I think. I know Ella did, she talked about "Kota" for hours.

I finally got around to hanging up Emma's cross collection in her room, so I have attached some pictures to this post. They are all special. I actually think my favorite one is the little one made of sticks and white string. It is from sticks I got at the Oklahoma City National Memorial, from the Survivor tree. Don't worry, I didn't break the tree, they were twigs from under it on the ground! The tree survived the Oklahoma City bombing, while everything around it was blown to pieces. I think its a good one for Emma, because she is a survivor too!

I got the book "The Love Dare" from the movie "Fireproof" I am on day 2. Its a very good book, beautiful words and wonderful advice. I would suggest it to anyone who is married, even if your marriage is in good shape, its an emotional read, and I really feel it could help all of us be better at being a wife/husband and better Christians.

Oh, I also wanted to update on our friend Peter, who I asked you to pray for a few posts back. His surgery went well, some bleeding, but he is recovering well and is home and getting stronger every day. Thank you all for the prayers.

Well that's the update, please continue to pray for our blog friends the Lockwoods. Their little boy is still, by the Grace of God, safely inside his Momma's tummy. She will remain in the hospital on bed rest until his birth, which probably won't be long from now, so she really needs your prayers too!

Tolerance, Acceptance, and Love

As you may have noticed a while back I changed the theme of Emma's page. I put a header
at the top that says "Emma's Story, one girls journey to teach the world: tolerance, acceptance,
and love. I even had business cards made up for her with that on it and her blog and email info
I like to pass them out to people we meet so they can learn more about my sweetie girl.

If anyone wants some cards to share with your friends, I have tons, just drop me an email with
your mailing address to the email address on the left of my page and I can send you a few!

So you might wonder what I mean about teaching the world tolerance, acceptance and love.
When Emma was first born, I wondered why she had to be so different. I never cried about it
or worried, I just wondered why. Then I realized God put her on this earth for a reason. To
be loved and to love. To teach others that being different is OK.

I think if Emma could talk, she would want to teach these things. Maybe I am just hoping
she would, maybe they are more my hopes, but we have talked about it, and I do think she
agrees, as much as a little 4 year old could possibly understand about it all.


She wants to teach tolerance. Tolerance to those who are diffrent than you are. Be it the
color of their skin, their ability to walk or talk, the country they are from. She wants
people to learn that you have to be tolerant of those who are a bit slower than you, or that
talk differently. To understand you need some patience when you are in a hurry at the store
but manage to get behind a wheelchair bound person that is going slow in the aisle you need
to be down.

She wants to teach acceptance. For people to accept her for who she is, faults and all.
Because its those "faults" that make her perfect. Accept that she is just another girl
looking to be loved, and that even if she is in a chair with tubes poking out her she is still
the same as you. Accept that.

Love. Well of course she wants to teach Love. Love is what makes the world a happy place to
be. Weather it be the love of a friend, a mother, a grandma, or just someone who reads her blog.
She just wants to be loved. She wants to love too. The greatest Love ever felt, is the love
between someone and God. Emma knows that love, and she will teach it to everyone, maybe not
in words or with her actions. But I truly believe anyone that knows Emma will feel a little
part of God, because he sent her here to do good on this earth. She is evidence there is a God
and that miracles happen every day. She is a blessing, not only to me as her Mother but
anyone she touches in her lifetime.

So anyway, sorry to get all long winded and sentimental, but I really thought I would
explain what all that header meant. Hope everyone gets something beautiful out of it, but
if you take anything at all from this post, just take that everyone deserves love and
acceptance for who they are, and deep inside we are all t

A friend needs your prayers, another your help!

We are in desperate need of some prayers for our blog friends the Lockwood's. http://lockwoodfamily.blogspot.com/ You will have to copy and paste the address, for some reason blogger is not allowing me to post clickable links today. Mrs Lockwood is having a very difficult pregnancy and ended up in the hospital yesterday. She is 31 weeks along, and they are hoping to help her last a bit longer. The girls being born at 31 weeks just gets me thinking about how tiny their baby might be at this point. Plus, her health is in danger too, and she is a very kind and very spiritual woman who I have grown to really care for online. I ask everyone to pray for her safety, her babyi boy's safety and for her husband and children at home. Her faith is so strong, she is such an inspiration, even in rough times she is clinging to God with all her might, and I know he will see her through this.

Also if its not to much to ask can anyone is able to please go check out and donate to our friend, who is trying to raise money for a wheelchair. Again you will have to copy and past the link, sorry!

http://www.fundable.com/groupactions/groupaction.2009-02-19.9820156255