Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Mother's Day Gift!

Mother's Day gift idea

If you are looking for something special to give your mom for Mother's Day and you really don't want to do the same things that you have done in the past then here's an idea: give a meaningful gift AND help save the life of an orphan with Down syndrome :) There is no better way to honor your mom than to give the gift of a mother to a child who has never know a mother's love. This Mother's Day, I will be celebrating with my newest addition who has been blessed with an addition of an extra chromosome! Several of my online friends have been so fortunate to get their own little angel with DS through Reece's Rainbow. Hundreds of children are still waiting on the chance to be held in their mother's arms.
If you'd like to honor someone this Mother's Day, it really is a simple process. Go to the Reece's Rainbow website, choose a waiting child from the country of your choice and make a donation. I am personally completely smitten with Katerina in Eastern Europe and would love to go and scoop her up! When you click on the donate button, there is a comment section. You can write a short message that your gift is in honor of Mother's Day and give the name and address of the person you are honoring with your gift. A letter will be sent to your mom to let her that you made a donation in her honor this Mother's Day. You can also go here to read all the information and see a few of the most at risk children (hint hint KATERINA!) If you'd like to honor more than one mom, you can make one large donation and indicate multiple recipients for cards.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Prayer so works!

Last night I was heading to church to pick the boys up from choir and Addy started puking everywhere! It was awful! I got her cleaned up as good as I could in her carseat and headed to church. Got the boys and Avery's all "EWW, Addy stinks!" Yep, diarrhea everywhere! Ugh, so we get home and all cleaned up and attempt to start a feeding and she threw it all up instantly. I hooked her up to her Pulse Ox and her heart rate was high and her O2 was a little low for her. So we went to the ER because of her wonderful history of dehydration. Got to the ER (40 minutes away) and she smiles at her daddy as her gets her out of the car! We get all checked in and there is no diarrhea, no vomiting, just a happy baby! I prayed the whole way to Springfield that God please make Addy okay so we don't end up in the hospital again and make her strong. Well you that God of ours is an awesome God because he did just that! We spent about 3 hours in the ER and didn't even need an IV or a test! What had happened was she ate some ice cream during speech therapy and dummy me was totally not thinking. She's lactose intolerant! I feel like mother of the year! I felt so bad! But fortunately, she is doing great this morning and we are heading to the ENT for a post op visit and the pediatrician for her 18 month check up. Wish us luck!

Monday, April 21, 2008

I did it!

I finally created a slideshow thingy! I'm so proud! Woo hoo! Now let's see if it works!

Happy Birthday Avery!



Avery turned 7 years old yesterday. It was a beautiful day and he spent the majority of it outside with his new football. He also got a Nintendo DS that he's been wanting forever! Daddy got him so cool headphones for the car when we go to Florida next month. I'm not sure he's got the hang of them yet!

Thursday, April 17, 2008

RELAY FOR LIFE


MY DAD
JOHN K. DAVIS
11/7/40-10/25/06

I know many of you are in the midst of adoptions and fundraisers etc. We are still in that process too, however, I am very involved in Relay for Life. I lost my dad to a four year battle with cancer. In September of 2002 he was diagnosed with colon cancer. In April of 2003 he was told he was cancer free. In May of 2003 he hurt his back while pulling on an empty wheelbarrow and broke a rib leaning over in the car against his seatbelt. We found out that he had three fractures in his spine and needed immediate major surgery. During the surgery the doctors were going to use some of his ribs to create new vertebrae for him. They picked up two ribs and they broke in their hands. Then while removing the broken vertebrae two more vertebrae just fell off of his spine. He ended up losing nine vertebrae in all. After spending a month in the hospital it was discovered that the breaking bones was due to Multiple Myeloma which is a cancer of the bone marrow. This cancer was completely unrelated to his colon cancer. He spent the next couple of years driving to Little Rock, Arkansas, five hours away, for treatments. At one point in time they had harvested his stem cells in hopes of a bone marrow transplant of his own cells that had been "cleaned". He was never healthy enough again for the transplant. In the beginning of his treatment for his Multiple Myeloma it was discovered that his colon cancer had metastasized to his liver. Over the next couple of years it also went into his lungs and spleen. My dad was the CEO of Sho-Me-Power in Marshfield,MO for over 30 years and he never quit working during all of his treatments, surgeries and four years of chemotherapy. He received an award two weeks before he passed away and these pictures are from that time. My dad is my hero and I miss him so very much. He fought so hard and his poor body could just not do it anymore. He is the reason I started getting involved in Relay for Life. My little town of just 6,000 people has raised as much as $75,000 for the American Cancer Society through our local Relay for Life. Last year was the hardest Relay for me because I knew that I was walking for a cure but unfortunately it was too late for my Daddy. I didn't know at the time but this year is going to be even harder. In October of 2007 just a couple of weeks before the anniversary of my dad's death, my mother was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. My brother and I were devastated. Fortunately her cancer was found early and she underwent a lumpectomy and radiation treatment and is currently cancer free.
My family: Mom/Nancy, brother Kent, Me, Dad/John

I am writing my story in my blog today because I am trying to reach my personal goal for my fundraising this year. I am a member of the Bunco Babes Relay for Life Team and our first year doing Relay we raised over $3,000. We are trying to raise $5,500 this year. My personal goal is to raise $500. If you would be willing to help me achieve this goal I would be so appreciative. The American Cancer Society is a tax deductible contribution and receipts will be sent to anyone who donates. If you only can send a $1, it's a dollar more than I have right now. If everyone that reads this sends a $1 I will be so close to my goal. If you would like to donate, please send a check made out to the American Cancer Society and send to
Cammie Heflin
102 Brook Hills Drive
Marshfield, MO 65706

I Relay in memory of my daddy, John K. Davis and in honor of my mom, Nancy Davis. I will be walking from 7pm to 7am on June 20th/21st. I appreciate everyone's contributions.

Thank you for your support.


Sunday, April 13, 2008

Sitting UP!

Yes I got pix of Addy actually sitting totally by herself! Woo hoo!




I had to throw this one in cuz it's so cute of both my girls!