The Library Cards

Here they are, two sweet girls with their new library cards. They each got a book and are busy reading. We have lots more to share, so I will try to get to posting. Stay tuned...

Summer Days

O.K. here is my second attempt at this since I ruined our site with the last one. I am super blessed to be a teacher, so I get to spend my summer days with the girls. The first week was Jayna's surgery, as well as VBS in the evenings. The second week I had a class all day everyday (I need to take six credits this summer to keep my certificate.). Finally, this week seems as though we are starting our summer. I thought I would give you a glimpse into our fun days together.

On Monday, we had to go to the Dollar Store, flower shop and a friend's house. While at the Dollar Store, Autumn provided us with entertainment. I needed something on the top shelf and couldn't reach it of course, so I got a stool and stretched as far up as I could (no short jokes please). As I was doing this, I heard Autumn's little voice, "Caresul Mommy. Don't sall." I had to get down because Jayna and I were laughing hysterically. As you can see, she has heard this before...

Yesterday, Jayna had an appointment with the surgeon. She got her new orange, writable cast. She is super excited and wants everyone to sign it. She even had her Dad's Bible study guys all sign it last night. She is healing perfectly and will get her cast off for good on July 29th! Praise God for healing her! Also, yesterday afternoon we had the privilege of playing with Tucker and Toby while their mom got her hair cut. We had a super fun time!

Today, we are going to the library (if I can get this post done), so Jayna can get her own library card. Then, after lunch we are heading to Grandma Hess' to set up for our rummage sale. Come by on Friday if you would like some of Jayna and Taylor's yummy cookies and lemonade. Here is a picture of my beautiful reader...

*Sorry, Jenny. Your comment deleted when I deleted the last post. Thank you for your sweet message though.

Jayna's Arm

As we told you, Jayna broke her arm on June 5th in gym class. She had her first surgery that night to set the bones and clean out the open wound. Her arm was then put in a full arm cast and a sling. She spent one night in the hospital and came home. She was super brave and calm before and after the surgery! We were so proud of her! We went back to the surgeon the next week and found out that the bones were not set anymore and further surgery needed to be done. She had this next surgery this past Wednesday. Dr. Goethe put in elastic titanium nails in each bone. He had to make an extra incision than planned for the radius bone because it was off so bad. She spent another night in the hospital. Once again, Jayna was super brave and calm. She has done an excellent job with all of this! Now, she is recovering and feeling better everyday! PRAISE GOD ALL HE HAS DONE FOR JAYNA! Thank you for your prayers! July 1st is her next appointment. This is when she is supposed to get a PINK cast (still full arm) that her friends can sign! The nails will be surgically removed in 6-9 months. Here is what she has been up to lately: cuddling with her sister...
enjoying visits from special friends like Amber and Michelle... working on a memory book with people like Grandma Ellie...
playing school with friends like Aric...
and doing art projects. She also gets on the computer, reads books, plays games and goes outside as much as she can tolerate, along with many other things. This hasn't slowed her down too much, but there are times when she needs a rest. She is a champ in our books!

Autumn and Ann Arbor

Autumn had an Ann Arbor check-up last Friday. Things went very well. The only adjustment was an increase in her iron supplement just because her iron stores were a little low. Other than that, she is doing very well. She will go back in December for her annual ultrasound and semi-annual check-up. The doctor did say that she can have some more time in public this winter since she is getting stronger and proved this past winter she can make it through some sickness. The doctor wants her to gradually build up an immunity so she is ready for school in a few years. Of course they did remind me that the stomach flu may be a bit more incovenient for us than usual (as it has been this year) because we still have to be careful not to let her get dehydrated. I did ask the doctor if there is any chance that she might be able to remain this way forever (rather than heading for dialysis and a transplant). She said that she can't make any promises, but there is definitely a chance, especially if she continues to do well through illnesses, growth spurts and puberty. We will just leave it in God's hands as we have already. He is an amazing physician (especially when I am reminded of her crazy start to life - recessitated for 8 minutes, 83% blood loss, liver damage, no kidney function, multiple blood and plasma transfusions...) PRAISE GOD FOR THIS MIRACLE! I thought you might enjoy some pictures of her. This child has a personality all of her own. She loves everyone, she isn't afraid to take chances, she rarely stops moving, she speaks a mile a minute and she counts to 20. We lovingly call her the wild child. She is also our little monkey-very similar to Curious George.

She often finds a way out of her clothes.
She likes to wear a hat, on her own terms that is.
This girl loves books! That makes her dad and mom very happy!
She goes and goes until she crashes. She is either up or down, there is no in between.
She is just too cute for words in our eyes. Thank you Lord for our Autumn! What a miracle she is!

Now, please pray for Jayna...she will be having another surgery tomorrow on her arm. We pray that this one works. We know God is in control of this too. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you Lord for our Jayna! We love her so much!

We Are Here

So here is what is up....

• Today was Jen's last day of school - so be prepared for lots of posts in the next couple of weeks.



• Jayna fell at school in gym class on the second to last day of school (June 5, 2008) - she broke both of the bones in her arm with one puncturing her skin causing her to bleed. She had surgery that night and will have another surgery on Wednesday, June 18, 2008. More details later - I promise.



• 2nd Annual Terry Hess Memorial Golf Tournament was a great success with around 40 people participating - Lots of great fun and memories of Pops.



• Autumn is going to Ann Arbor tomorrow (Friday) for an appointment - I am sure that Jen will share about that also in the next week or so.



• Spring / Summer is here in Michigan - we have been enjoying it very much so far - the flowers are beautiful - the grass is green - the birds are loving our food. It has been very enjoyable around here.

Enjoy a couple of pictures - more in the next week or so.

Major Updates

I thought maybe a big update on our whole family is due because of my lack of entries lately. I am very sorry I haven't kept up that well. I am hoping this summer will allow me a little more time to take pictures and blog. I will start with Jayna...

Jayna is so enjoying school this year. She loves her teacher, Mrs. Robinson. She works hard and is doing a marvelous job! She recently told Dr. Juarbe that her favorite subject is math. She also loves to read and just recently passed on to the next level in the reading lab that all the students go to. Also, Jayna was named student of the month in March! We are so very proud of her! She enjoys her church activities very much as well. She loves her Sunday School teachers and her Wednesday night CLC teachers. This coming Wed., she will receive all the badges she earned this year by learning about the truths in the Bible and applying them. Jayna has such a loving heart. We so enjoy her fun-loving spirit!

Autumn is growing and changing all of the time, as are most kids at this age. She is quite a spunky gal. She spent a night in the hospital again a few weeks ago and they were calling her "the wild woman." (This is what we often say about her at home as well.) She loves to TALK, go outside exploring, blow bubbles, read, run around everywhere, etc. The girl is almost always on the move and so is her jaw. She has found a love for some new foods too: blueberries, suckers, popsicles, green beans, Italian wedding soup...(she likes to keep us guessing). Isn't this picture of the blueberry face just hilarious?!?!

Jayna and Autumn are definitely typical sisters. On Easter morning, they were loving each other and finding eggs together. They also can't wait to greet each other in the morning or after school. They have the other sister side too...bugging, teasing, fighting, etc. All in all, they have so much love for one another and are each others joy.
Aaron has been working very hard these past few months. He has had to be out of town a lot too. His work at church has kept him busy too. Even though these last few months have been tiring for him, he does it because he loves others and he is very good at serving them, whether it be at work, church, home or wherever he might be. He does find time to relax here and there though. He enjoys playing his Wii, goofing around with us girls and following/watching sports. He is looking forward to the golfing season...that is if his finger allows him to swing a club. He is really looking forward to golfing with Jayna in the 2nd annul Terry Hess golf outing this month.

I am keeping myself busy with home (husband, kids, chores), work and service in the church. I have been leading (more like guiding) a ladies Bible study on Thursday nights. This has been a true blessing for me. I am so enjoying the ladies. They are a joy and God is working! I am really enjoying watching my family grow in God! I am so thankful that is who we as a family choose to serve and honor!

Last Sunday we celebrated the 2nd anniversary of Pops'/Grandpa's homegoing. We spent the day together as a family and with our friends. It was a day of memories, laughter, tears and a lot of love. This is one of the greatest gifts that he provided all of us with. His love was amazing, as was his laughter, bird calls, humor, hugs, wisdom, selflessness, guidance, forgiveness, etc. He was this way because of the Creator he served for so many years. God is love, peace, patience, comfort, wisdom, salvation, all-knowing, forgiving...GOD IS ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE ALL OF THE TIME! Thank you Lord for our time with a wonderful man, Terry David Hess. Thank you God for ALL that you are!

Spring Break '08

Since Aaron was working out of town for Spring Break, us girls decided not to sit around the house and stare at each other all week. We packed up and went on a little trip. We spent the first night with Grandpa Shutes and Grandma Connie. After that fun, we picked up Grandpa Gene and Grandma Ellie and headed for Sandusky, Ohio. This is where we checked into a Great Wolf Lodge and had a BALL! The girls loved the water, all the activity, sleeping in a hotel, playing nonstop, etc. We also were able to meet up with some family in the area and enjoyed dinner with them, as well as some nice visiting time. It was so much fun, as you can see from the pictures.

Here is Autumn wondering a bit about the water.
She is starting to smile a bit here.
Now she is loving it for sure!
Jayna is quite a fish. It didn't take her long to get right into the water and cause a SPLASH!
Us girls really enjoyed our time together. It was great having Grandpa and Grandma with us too. (Grandpa didn't want us to post any pictures of him, so we honored it.)