Lovin Lane

LOVIN LANE PRESENTS~ STUFF THE STOCKING

2011-11-01T10:04:00.003-05:00

LOVIN LANE PRESENTS

STUFF THE STOCKING

Now Through Dec 5th

We will be collecting New Items to stuff these awesome stockings

Stockings will benefit hospital pediatric patients, as well as pediatric patients at home who
are diagnosed with a cronic or life threatening illness ages 0-21

Some suggested items are-
* Art supplies, sketch books and craft activity kits for all age groups
* Board games, card games or puzzles
* Books, word games, word searches, Sudoku or learning activities for children, teens and adults
* Bubbles and bubble tumblers
* Crayons, coloring books, colored pencils, markers & fuzzy posters
* DVDs and portable DVD players (new releases are always needed)
* Pajamas, slippers and lounge wear for children and teens
* Plastic toys! trucks, cars, stacking toys, light up toys, play sets – toys, toys, toys (all plastic, please)!!
* Pop-up, I-spy or push-button books
* Toiletries in travel sizes, *Bath & Body for teens, sweats or t-shirts for children and teens
* Cozy washable blankets
* Video games and game systems or hand-held games
* GIFT CARDS and ROLLS of QUARTERS for vending machines - are always needed
Do to the inability to clean them PLEASE NO STUFFED ANIMALS

Drop off locations

Simple Simon's Pizza in Blackwell

Renfro Center NOC Tonkawa Campus

OR

WIN A PIZZA PARTY
Simple Simon's in Blackwell is sponsoring a pizza party for the
Any Group, Organization, Business, Club, or Family
that raise the most for STUFF THE STOCKING
if you would like to win a pizza party please contact us......

OR

SPONSOR A STOCKING
Any Family, Group, Business, Club
can adopt an entire stocking
to stuff and decorate however you would like
This is GREAT for creating a stocking
In Honor or In Memory of a loved one
If interested contact me and I will get you your stocking and details

For more details or information contact Marcy (580) 491-9158 or Sasha (580) 363-0754

lovin_lane@yahoo.com

Please feel free to leave any comments or suggestions to make this an even better project, as well as suggestions for the hospital patients, as I know many of our fellow bloggers have been in the hospital and have some great ideas!!!

Owning 2011

2011-10-31T11:56:00.000-05:00

WOW WOW WOW so much to update I don't know where to begin... I (we) started this year saying we were going to OWN 2011, I have been thinking alot about that lately... what does that mean.... We went on a Make a Wish trip at the end of 2010 and boy was it a trip of a life time, with our entire family... That trip seemed to be the big hooray before the craziness of storm 2011 would bring... My dreams for 2011 were for us to have a peaceful, calm, uneventful, HEALTHY year..... and truth is I have not blogged because I really wasnt ready to share it.... So far this year Lane has been sicker than I had hoped, nothing compared to what it could have been, but more than we would have liked, and he also contracted some very serious lung invader's, which I am still trying to wrap my head around, his lung functions fell some and although he still runs around as if nothing is wrong, somethings are still wrong..... culture after culture we have come back clean for 7 years and I have thanked God that we were maybe just MAYBE in the minority of this crushing CF disease, and to receive a call that NOPE you have not evaded the reality... It takes your dreams for the future and crushes them ALL OVER AGAIN..... In addition 2011 brought many days of ME being ill, of which I couldn't understand what was happening or why I was in so much pain, part of me thought something was REALLY wrong and the other part of me though NO WAY would lightening strike again, I don't even think it is possible, until I landed in the hospital with a diagnosis of bladder cancer... YEP 37 (which is quite young for bladder cancer, way to young) with bladder cancer... To say the least it was a shock to our family and after a few surgeries we are still currently undergoing treatments and I have a great support system, but the fact remains I have missed for the first time EVER in 19 years my kids 1st day of school... Lane's first day of the second grade.... Mothers are not meant to be taken out by any illness and the biggest struggles for me have been all the doctors and hospitals, and being bed ridden, and drugged.... I learned REALLY FAST that no one but my husband and myself really know how to take care of our little Lane, and thats a problem we are trying to fix now... letting go of some of the control, whew that is a big one... Never in my wildest thoughts did I ever think that I would be 37 struggling to emotionally and physically and spiritually get myself through cancer as well as trying to get my son through all his needs with cystic fibrosis, as well as trying to be a mother to our other children and a wife too.....I think I am honestly still in shock... LOL but have a good sense of humor about it all... I really haven't blogged because I one have been ill, and limited in where and what I do but also because this year has been EXHAUSTING from the start, and we are still trying to come to grips with everything, it is life changing yet again and we have to and start figuring it all out all over again.... So many things have taken the back burner which I am not happy about the lose ends I feel I leave everywhere, it weighs heavy on me all the balls I have dropped..... I guess as I look at the OWNING 2011 it takes on a new meaning ~ one of not just surviving, but one of making it through and being grateful that we had such a big HOORAY to hold on to for this entire year, grateful for all our friends and family that have so graciously helped us, and grateful that CF nor CANCER can take the JOY out of the family.. Holding on to the littlest of moments as they are often the greatest...... We are faithful that God has taught us that he will not lead us down any path that he will not walk beside us through, and he continues to bless us each and every day.... So where do we go from here, well we put on our boots and forge on, God has way more in store for our family than illness, and he will make it all happen... So owning 2011, is all about OWNING how WE are going to handle everything that has been thrown our way, with grace, faith, trust and a whole lot of laughter and WE ARE OWNING IT :)

Love me some baseball no matter what!!

2011-06-12T14:53:00.001-05:00

This has been a really rough ball season for Lane... For the past three months he has been sick most of the time and have had to double up several times on antibiotics to maintain.... In addition he lost weight and has not been able to gain it back... He had chest pain after most games and terrible drainage.... It has been very hard for me to continue to do the best you can do and still have a sick kid... It is his favorite season of the year, ball season, and I just want him to feel his best, but it has been hard feeling like his best is just less than it was a year ago :( ....... But let me tell you Lane NEVER lets on to anyone that he is feeling bad, he plays hard and never quits and that is what is all worth it to me.... So even though he is now all stopped up all over again and he slept for 13 hours straight after yesterdays tournament... This was his smile face yesterday!!!! Gotta Love THAT BOY!!!!

And this is for all you CFers out there....

In God I TRUST!!!

2011-05-28T11:51:00.002-05:00

You always hear the usual stories of pennies on the sidewalk being good luck, gifts from angels, etc. This is the first time I've ever heard this twist on the story. Gives you something to think about.....

Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the husband's employer's home. My friend, Arlene, was nervous about the weekend. The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on the waterway, and cars costing more than her house.

The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. The husband's employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest restaurants. Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance again, so was enjoying herself immensely.

As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband. He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment.

Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts. Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny.

He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure. How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up?

Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She casually mention ed that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value. A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see.. She had seen many pennies before! What was the point of this? 'Look at it,' he said. 'Read what it says.' She read the words ' United States of America .' 'No, not that; read further.'

'One cent?' 'No, keep reading.'

'In God we Trust?' 'Yes!' 'And... ?'

He explained, 'And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin I see that inscription. It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him. Who am I to pass it by? When I see a coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as my response to God; that I do trust in Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is God's way of starting a conversation with me. Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful! '

When I was out shopping today, I found a penny on the sidewalk. I stopped and picked it up, and realized that I had been worrying and fretting in my mind about things I cannot change. I read the words, 'In God We Trust,' and had to laugh. Yes, God, I get the message.

It seems that I have been finding an inordinate number of pennies in the last few months, but then, pennies are plentiful! And, God is patient..

Thought for the Day:

If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.

If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.

He sends you flowers every spring.

He sends you a sunrise every morning Face it, friend - He is crazy about you!

Appointments Appointments Appointmets

2011-03-28T12:35:00.002-05:00

It seems I am always one step behind... These are pictures of our visit this last month which went very well, Lane's PFT were actually up from his PFTs done at Christmas, so that was a nice and welcoming surprise. I think he is still really learning how to accurately perform the PFTs so I do not put to much weight in them at this point, but it was still a blessing they were increased... His weight also increased so blessing all around...

However I will ask for some prayers this coming Wednesday, we already have to go back to the city again and it will be a LONG LONG day.. First of all he has to fast, so that leaves a two hour morning drive with NO food or drinks - boo..... Good thing he is not a morning person, but it still sucks.. this is to test his glucose levels... Then we also have a morning full of appointments as well as blood draw (which he HATES, but he is so BRAVE and holds the tears in) and then X-Rays, then we get to break for lunch ( and we are blessed to have a Chuck E Cheese coupon YAY thanks Kelly for snagging those from the newspaper for us :) so hopefully we have enough time to run there and eat, then we have to go back to the hospital for some more appts... So needless to say it will be a LONG LONG day and my lil roo will not be happy... So prayers are always appreciated for a peaceful, FUN (cuz we always try to add some in), easy on the pocket book (cuz I am afraid these appointments are going to cost me more), as well as safe travels...

In addition we got some concerning results back from one of our other children, so need some prayers that in the next few weeks we are able to finish the required tests on them and that all is okay....

Lane puttin on the pounds

Lane doing his Pulmonary Lung Function Testing....

WWMR CF_Panel

2011-03-08T16:42:00.003-06:00

Okay we are barely just squeeking by here lately and I am happy to say I did one survey today concerning CF which took about 45 min of my time on the phone, and will receive $150.00 say CHA CHING... This survey is now currently closed, but

Then I was referred to the WWMR CF research panel and got another $50.00 just to register to be apart of thier surveys in the future ( of to which you can accept or decline which ever surveys you want to participate in) and I will get paid for those as well.... AWESOME...

You will receive $50.00 just for signing up and I will receive $50.00 for referring you when you tell them Marcy Decker sent you :)

Wow how awesome is that!!! God Bless!!!
If any of you are living with CF or are a caregiver of someone with CF and want to register to be apart of future surveys contact wwmr at 1 (888) 947-2339 then push ext. 3, or email them at CF_Panel@wwmr.com I did both

Lane's Make A Wish Pics continue..

2011-02-05T20:29:00.001-06:00

We still have some photos from our trip that we wanted to share.....

This was Pirates of Caribbean night, and lane played the perfect Jack Sparrow lol....

Gotta love his dramatic faces lol lol

Fireworks at sea... Awesome....

Lane pooped out, he played hard that is for sure....

Tropical Storm, later turning into Hurricane Nicole.... NOT COOL, we didn't get to go to the Disney Island due to the inability to dock, but we found fun things to do on the ship :)

OMG Lane loves Cluto ( yes I know it is Pluto, but lane insisted it is Cluto lol lol)

Boy did we have luggage ugh...

OMG this kid scares the tar out of me, he was running backwards on the people mover ugh.....

Everything except one black bag is medical related.... OMG

Lane LOVES SPONGEBOB

I am telling you he just kills me with his drama lol lol.... This is Harry Potter

I guess he didnt care about the DO NOT CLIMB SIGN LOL

Crash on Plane

BTW Southwest was great about bumping us to the front of the line.....

SNOW DAY!!!

2011-02-02T13:27:00.000-06:00

We have spent the last week and a half hibernating and avoiding the flu... I kept Lane home from school 6 days due to the school being over taken by the influenza bug... He finally got to go back to school this last Monday only to miss the last few days due to a BliZzard Burrrr..... But we dont mind :) Since Dad also didn't have work we hit the slopes.... Okay so it is not exactly THE SLOPES... but for this little patch of flat land it will do lol lol.... It was nice getting out of the house, but we could only stay a few minutes cuz it was FUREEZING........

Boy do I love my lil Roo!!!

Ahh Dad came and rescued him and carried Lane back up the hill, Lane LOVED his personal elevator hehe....

And so far Lane has NOT gotten the flu, which is amazing, and so far making the decision to remove him from school until it passed was worth it.... keepin our fingers crossed....

Happy New Years!!!

2011-01-05T19:32:00.000-06:00

Just letting everyone know WE ARE OWNING 2011!!!

Another Trip To OKC...

2011-01-05T19:19:00.001-06:00

We I am really behind on blogging and being in contact with the outside world with all the holidays, programs, birthdays, and dr. appts. I am hopefully going to get caught up on life in the next few weeks.... In the meantime we had to make another trip to OKC for a CF Dr. Appt (which I might add I made a note to self, NO APPOINTMENTS DURING CHRISTMAS VACATION : NOT FAIR at least if that is all possible, it really made a happy time kinda sad for me, it is like you NEVER get away from it all, and although we can not run from CF we sure can hide and next Christmas we are doing just that!!!! )

Anyways the highlight of the day was being able to go see Uncle Ry (pictured above) and Aunt Ashley!!! We dont get to see them too often so it was fun crashing their pad for a bit...

And as far as the doctor Lane gained 3 pounds, Yes 3 pounds.... Huge Huge.... we had up'd his enzymes and all the holiday baking paid off.... HOORAY!!!

Lane's sister Taylor also got to join us on our trip, which Lane just loves when she is able to come with us and they had a blast celebrating another CF appt at Chuck E Cheese...

Did you know my Dad is SANTA!!!

2010-12-22T12:11:00.000-06:00

I have not blogged lately because I have been so busy trying desparatly to soak up ALL the moments in life that really count... This Season is a very emotional one for me and as I navigate through all those emotions, I also have to stop an smile big at some of the traditions our family has shared over the years.... My husband has played Santa several years at gatherings and party's and my son Cain has stepped into his shoes when he was working and I pulled some of the pictures that were handy.... I just love these.... :) This year Will (my husband played Santa at a local birthday party but Lane DID NOT fall for it at all, he was sharing the secret with his little friends that "Hey that Santa is my dad hehehe" whisper whisper..... lol... oh well the cats out of the bag but Santa must go on.... This year is a BIG ONE, although he doesnt believe his dad is Santa, he DOES believe in the real SANTA, and he has been worried sick trying to figure out if he is on the naughty list or is he has made it to the nice list.... I'll tell you one thing his room is clean hehehe....

Lane's 1st Christmas, look at those cheeks, my goodness.....

Brother Cain as Santa, he did GREAT....

One of my Fav, Cain making this sweet baby cry at a Daycare Party....

Another Year with Cain... And of course I have more but they are not on my computer.... A tradition I will always cherish....

I also want to say that I switched my song to "Mary, did you know" .... because Jesus is the REAL REASON FOR THE SEASON and my heart is wide open to receive all he has in store for us.... I often think of Mary, and all she sacrificed, and I often wonder what it would be like to speak with her... As a mother my heart is often broken, and I often think Wow could you imagine being Mary..... I cannot begin to wrap my head around it... I am so blessed to worship the God of Miracles, Mercy, Grace, the God of Hope, Second Chances, the God of Peace and above all the God of LOVE.... May your Christmas be filled with God's Spirit.... Merry Christmas!!!

The Perfect Tree....

2010-12-07T09:15:00.002-06:00

We were very blessed this year to be able to go to the Santa Christmas Tree Farm.. Over the Thanksgiving holiday with our bellies full and time to spend together we headed over to pick out our perfect tree....

We Arrive!!

Lane gets his SAW!!!

We hunt.....

and hunt for the perfect tree...

and Lane finds it...

Look how happy this boy it !!!!!

Hauling it to be measured...

6 1/2 feet

Love the free cookies and Hot Cider inside..

Lane decorated his tree with Blue Snow Flake lights, too cute too cute...

We had to spend more time at the doctors this month and after a few scares, I was especially Thankful this Thanksgiving holiday.... My heart is soooo trying to really soak up these little moments, for they are the important ones... The time together, the joy we find in each other, the laughter.... I can just sit and peacefully watch my family in these moments, and it is as if the world has stopped....

Halloween....

2010-11-08T12:59:00.000-06:00

Okay so this year we cheated a little and Lane carved a little pumpkin, (which he absolutely loved) and then we decided to dress the other pumpkins in "Potato Head" or we should say "Pumpkin Head" Gear... We just loved that idea...... So we ended up with a pirate, a skeleton and a lil jack-o-lantern...

We made an orange cake with sprinkles... and Lane hair is actually red because it was Red Ribbon week...

and hear is our lil pirate.... Lane actually got his costume on the Cruise Ship, for Make A Wish... They had a night of "Pirates of the Carribien"... I just loved his dread locks lol.... too cute.....

Time to Trick-or-Treat and the first stop was Great Grandpa's which gave him a hand full or two lol lol...

And this is always the funest part sorting the stash....

It's Okay to stumble...

2010-10-25T09:51:00.000-05:00

Right when I think I am doing really really good is when I stumble... I guess it is a good way of keeping myself in check... I have given all control up to God, well at least I think I have, I think I probably hold onto to it a bit here or there, but for the most part I think I have handed it over... In this life, I am not in control... It is not in my hands.... I do not control Lane's health... I can take him to the doctors, scrub nebs cups, do treatments but in the end I am not in control of this situation.... I have no control over finances.... Or anything else.. Sometimes that feels good, cause I don't worry about it, I hand it all over to God and let him handle it, and well at other times I stumble thinking I somehow have control over it, when in reality I don't.... I start drowning in the humiliation, and just want to resolve the situation without going any further... I get tired and just want all this to be over with, knowing that it never will.. We have signed up for the long haul and we have excepted that and have handed it over to God...

yet I stumble...

and I am learning to be grateful for it....

This is not my disease, at times I act like it is.... I throw my fit, and stomp my feet, and weep for my precious son... But it is his disease...

There are times he just HATES this disease, he hates treatments... He stomps his feet, and throws his fit, and weeps over having this permanent roommate that just causes him grief... and sometimes he is just plan sick and tired of it... and he stumbles...

Now one could argue that he stumbles because I stumble.... And that I must keep it together all the time so that he keeps it together all the time....

But I would argue that "I" stumble so that I can "SEE" he stumbles too..... He gets tired too, He gets sad and angry and frustrated about it too.. And that is OKAY....

As long as you are able to quickly pick yourself back up and move on, it is okay to fall apart.. It is okay to not be Okay all the time....

It is okay that he throws a fit, stomps his feet and yells at the thought of yet ANOTHER treatment... Its not fair, its not fun, its not OKAY...

and sometimes he just needs to know it is okay to stumble, as long as he picks himself back up and forges on...

Who ever said they have to be brave ALL the time... yes there is no doubt, these children are MADE TOUGH, with an extra dose of courage, strength, fight, and determination.. but they also need to stumble...

I am grateful that I stumble, so I can "SEE" it is okay for him to stumble too....

These pics always make me smile....

2010-10-24T11:59:00.002-05:00

Back to positive fun times.... You all are probably thinking OH MY... how many pictures of this trip does this women have... lol... but hey like I said it was a trip of a life time and we were going to enjoy every last second of it... and I think we did that even when the storm started to roll in... This folks is the start of Tropical Storm Nicole, she was preventing us from landing at Castaway Cay.. so we went back out to sea, and would try again tomorrow... and then went on to enjoy our day on the ship....

Lane got a private party with Mickey and the captain of the ship, along with all the other Make A Wish families... I would say there was probably 8 families that attended the party, and maybe some others that didn't, I am not sure, but it was a fun chance for lane to spend with Mickey.. They also took a professional pic with our family and provided us with the photos for free....

This is our kids, as you can see the older to boys are never jumping for joy when I pull out my camera lol...

This is Colin... he was our Make- A - Wish host on the ship... He was GREAT... he sent Lane little food trays everyday, A Captain Mickey stuffed animal, tickets for events on Castaway Cay (if we ever make it there) as well as pictures... He really LOVES his job and he was soooooo awesome... We love Colin....

Cain

Taylor and Lane

Hey lookie there we found Taylorville....

Nick and Lane

Lane, Captain Hook, and Taylor

May I Introduce Ryan and Ashley...

2010-10-19T09:24:00.001-05:00

I just received a new sister.... My fabulous brother just married his beautiful sweetheart... She was an absolutely gorgeous bride....They are currently on the longest honeymoon ever and I hope they are having a FANTASTIC time..... There wedding was absolutely beautiful and soooooo much fun....

Congratulations to Ryan and Ashley, may you have many many years filled with laughter and love!!

More fun moments.....

2010-10-18T12:04:00.000-05:00

I just thought this pic was cute, the sink and mirror are all at his size, it was the cutest lil bathroom located in one of the children's centers.... Several parents were able to leave their children there so they could go off and have some adult time.. Of course we were not going to leave Lane to be babysat on his own trip (not to mention Lane enjoys our company alot and doesn't like to go ANYWHERE without us lol), but he did want to go in and see what it was all about, so we went in and played with him..... It was really a neat little place.. The kids seemed to all be having a good time, and they give you a pager in the event you actually WANT to leave your child so that they can page you at anytime throughout the ship, perfect for those parents who have children that would like a break from their parents lol lol... look he is even making a face at me in the mirror, that funny lil boy...

And this my friends is the arcade, one of Lane's favorite places.... it was a very small arcade but he just loved it....

Toy Story the Musical....

2010-10-18T11:50:00.000-05:00

After arriving back on the ship from our wonderful trip to Nassau, and the Black Beard Cay, we got a bite to eat and headed off to see Toy Story the musical.... It was AWESOME...... We also went to the movie Toy Story 3D while we were on the ship... It is amazing all the neat things going on....

These are Buzz Lightyear glowing things that were in our drinks right before the show....

I just love love the spiky haired babydoll, oh and the aliens... This was an AWESOME production...

Ahhhh The Straw Market...... What a find....

2010-10-15T10:08:00.000-05:00

Ah the Straw Market.... What an awesome, some what freaky find.... I had read about it before our trip and was so delighted to see it was right off our port, even closer than I thought it would be.... Now if you do not know about the Straw Market, it has small (very small) little booths set up next to each other, totally over crowded, and all under a large tent, where locals are able sell neat little trinkets of the Bahamian culture... Lane got a Rain Stick, a little turtle that winds up, a Tom Tom, a hand made straw Mickey Mouse bag with his name put on it, a straw sponge bob wallet.... Best part was that it was barter time, you were able to barter for all the items paying very very little.... Including the awesome Coach bags one could get for as little as $35... Surely Counterfeit but believe me the best counterfeit you would ever find ( inside and out they appear so authentic) ... Be careful though, you are only entitled to bring one counterfeit item (per person) back through US Custom's (we researched customs prior to our trip)... So overall I think we ALL enjoyed the little Straw Market, it did get a little overwhelming though with each booth owner BEGGING you to make a deal... Many of them sell the same items, making it extremely competitive.... And once in the middle of the tent it starts to feel a little overwhelming, and quite claustrophobic.. One vendor even followed us ALL the way back to the ship trying to get us to have my daughters hair braided, pleading that her place was clean and licensed, hmmm not feelin it, although it was quite a bit cheaper than hair braids on the ship... That my friends is going a bit far lol...... Yet the experience is well worth it.... :) If you ever plan on making a trip to the Bahama's then you will NOT want to miss out on the Straw Market..... Just keep your kids close and your pocket books closer lol.....

WE LOVED THE BAHAMAs STRAW MARKET!!!

More Beach Bumming....

2010-10-13T15:30:00.000-05:00

Lane just loves LOVES the beach..... He could stay there forever..... This is a port adventure we chose to go to Black Beards Cay...... Awesome choice... Exactly what Lane wanted to do.... Play on the beach....

It was just so beautiful...

Lots of dunking dad lol...

It was not crowded at all, we felt like we had the island to ourselves lol....

Coconut tree

Shells for sale..

Nick

Taylor

Cain

and me I guess I was on this trip lol lol...

Jewelery for sale...

Time to go back to Nassau.... That water is just so awesome....

These lil Footprints in the Sand...

2010-10-12T09:30:00.006-05:00

This is my favorite picture.... Lane's footprints in the sand.... It is also an emotional picture for me.... We do not take this journey alone, I have handed it ALL over to God... God is our Rock, our Strength, our Provider, and our Hope.... He is the Almighty, Omega, the One and Only, and without him I could never make it through this journey... This picture will constantly remind me that we are not alone.... Many people do not understand this life - the life of a CFer or the life of a chronically ill child... We live it day in and day out, it never goes away, it follows Lane everywhere; to school, to play, to sleep, on vacation, to dinner, its everywhere.... In every medication, every treatment, in all the finances, at every appointment, in every prayer, in every dream it is there... There is no escaping it... On the good days, I am able to see beyond the CF and know that God knows our path, and there are no mistakes, he has purposefully made Lane an amazing little boy with a spirit that ALWAYS keeps me laughing, and I am soooo grateful for all we have learned, and for the many wonderful things the Lord has in store for us.... and then on other days I am just sad and on some days I am just so angry that it is ALWAYS there.... No reprieve, no end, just another day.... Another pill, another neb machine gone bad, another bill, just another day.... I do not know how anyone could do this journey without him.... and when I look at this picture it will ALWAYS remind me that we are never alone.... God IS and WILL ALWAYS carry us through this.... These little footprints in the Bahama sand are oh so incredibly precious to me...

These pictures are the best souvenir I brought home from our trip, little footprints in the sand that will ALWAYS remind me that GOD WILL ALWAYS CARRY US THROUGH...

And my hope is that everyone feels that same love and peace from God, that no matter what your journey is, no matter how difficult your path my be, God will ALWAYS see you through it...

The StingRay....

2010-10-08T14:09:00.007-05:00

So we arrive on the beach and what a BEAUTIFUL site...... Lane ran straight for the water, this is what he was waiting for... but Lane barely got wet and it was time to head over to the Stingray adventure.....

Food for the Stingrays....

So lane got on his snorkel gear and was ready to go.... I just love this little boys spirit, he is constantly making me laugh.....

Above, Dad and Lane with the Stingrays...

The Stingrays...

Above... A Stingray Taking Brother Cain underwater (while Cain was holding Lane)lol lol....

Dad to the rescue....

Dad, Cain and Lane

Dad and Lane

Random DEAD crap... Big though....

Nassau Bahama's....

2010-10-07T09:07:00.007-05:00

We arrive in Nassau Bahama's..... Oh so Beautiful....... A horse and carriage...

The colors are just remarkable... and The water is so so beautiful, green and gorgeous....

The Straw market, which we will come back too later cuz right now we have to catch another boat....

We jump on board another boat and head towards an island about 20 minutes away to enjoy our time at Blackbeard Cay....

There is our Island....

That water is just so pretty...

Paradise.......

At Sea With A Sick CFer, WHAT DO YOU DO???

2010-10-06T17:25:00.006-05:00

First thanks to all our blogging friends and well wishers our vacation was absolutely fantastic and GREAT family times.... I just wanted to say thanks to you all for your prayers for a safe trip....

Now to the serious parts:

Okay well you know when you are packing and you feel like your always throwing in more than you think you will need (just in case).... Well with a CFer I have learned it is always better to be safe than sorry.... and I may have to pack alot, but I had better do it.....

I boiled a weeks worth of neb cups.... Which I am sooooo grateful I had, cuz I dont know how I would have taken care of that.... I had been ordering and saving extra Pari's for many months now and had just enough to get us through the week....

So I packed every daily med he is on ( which is an entire pharmacy as it is)and then to be extra sure I packed extra gloves, masks (just in case he was exposed to something bad, he refuses to actually use them) threw in some Tylenol, Ibuprofen some Benadryl just in case there is a bee flying around at sea ( odd I know but hey he is allergic so I wanted to cover my bases.... Lets see, I threw in cold meds just in case oh and don't forget Lane is already on daily antibiotic, but I got two other antibiotics just in case he got sick on the trip and needed more.... So I got that covered...... Tons of Germ X, which some leaked in my bag of course.... oh and he never really uses the Dulcolax, in fact I think he only ever needed once, but what the heck I threw it in there as well... Okay so the stack of suitcases on the right are all medical related (minus and Ice Chest, since it got confiscated) and one of the black suitcases is also medical... and below you can see we have our share of luggage, all this is our family and our suitcases lol and this isn't including mine, as I am toting it with me as I am taking the picture lol...So as a family let me tell you we had some luggage and we didn't check in any of the medical stuff we carried it on every flight with us to ensure it wasn't lost or damaged..... So we were always toting it around, well I should say my wonderful husband was always toting it around..... And believe me you start to question if it was ALL necessary even though you know it is.....

And then it happens.....

Lane never complains, okay well let me rephrase that, Lane does complain of stomach aches and pain here lately but he is really tough and it takes ALOT for him to complain, so when he does you know something is wrong and he really doesn't feel good... It takes ALOT to get him down..... and he NEVER cries .... He is really really tough, sometimes we think too tough, cuz it takes a bit for us to realize when something is wrong, we have to constantly ask him to tell us so we know....

Well day two into our trip and our 1st night at sea ( yea folks at sea away from EVERYTHING) Lane wakes up from a dead sleep at 4 in the morning CRYING..... His stomach was as hard as a rock and he said his bottom and his stomach hurt.... Like I said Lane NEVER cries so I knew it had to be bad, and as he sat on the toilet he just cried with NO relief... I was a little panicked okay a little more than a little, cuz I am thinking oh my we are at sea, and I am well aware that CFers can easily get a bowel obstruction, or prolapsed Colon among other things...

What do you do???? Let me tell you I PRAYED, and PRAYED and PRAYED some more .... and I remembered I tossed that Dulcolax in the bag, maybe just maybe that would help..... I gave Lane a pill, and rubbed his back till he fell back to sleep, and I laid awake praying that would do the trick... I tossed and turned and prayed the rest of the night.... Lane also had his beach adventure in Nassau the next morning which is the biggest thing he was waiting for, The Beach, and I soooooo did not want him to miss it....

AT 7 Lane awakes and straight to the bathroom he went, and stayed there for quite awhile... I thanked God for taking care of my lil guy and for prompting me to throw that little bottle of Dulcolax in the bag (we will NEVER leave home without it again).... It is during times like these that I realize just how fragile my little cfer is, and although he is CF MADE TOUGH, I will ALWAYS over pack and never complain about it again.... I couldn't imagine what we would have done, had I not had that one little pill.... Yes they have a Doc on board, but I doubt he would have been really familiar with CF, and there was no where to buy any drugs.... I am just sooooo grateful it turned out so well..... GOD IS GOOD....

Starring - LANE in the GOLDEN MICKEYS

2010-10-04T09:45:00.007-05:00

The Golden Mickeys Musical - Starring LANE ...... You heard me right starring Lane Decker....... This was an excellent production which mimics an awards show while capturing some of the fantastic productions produced throughout Disney's history.... (please excuse the pictures NO flash photography was permitted so I did the best I could without lol) of course we all know SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS

And here is the star.... Lane !!!!! Lane was one of only five children selected to be apart of the Golden Mickeys musical and it just melted my heart..... I cannot believe he performed in front of such a HUGE audience (cuz he is VERY shy).....

(Above Lane is second from the left and Below he is forth from the left)

This was one of my FAVORITE times on the ship.....

Lane as one of SNOW WHITEs DWARFS....

The entire show was fantastic, and of course the best actor goes to LANE :)....