Lacey's going back to Seattle

Lacey, her mom, and her nanny(Tammy's mom) are headed back to Seattle tomorrow until Dec 16th. She will be getting her cast off, her braces put on, water and physical therapy everyday except Sundays while in Seattle. We are excited and they are going to try to get her to stand.

It is supposed to snow tomorrow and Sunday in Seattle. They are excited about that since it has not snowed here in our town since 1977.

Please keep them in your prayers so they have a safe flight.

Friendships

This past weekend my wife and I ran into some friends at the mall who have been friends of ours for over 18 years. They have all moved away and we were shocked to run into them. They were in town for the Thanksgiving holidays to spend time with family. We were so thrilled to see them and their children and to see how they had grown. We reminisced about old times and talked about the latest news in all of our lives. It was such a wonderful time. I told my wife when we left how much I missed them after just spending a little bit of time there in the store with them.

That night I began to think about the friendships in my life and felt compelled to write the following about friendships from my prospective.

There are two types of friendships

Friendships for life

This is a friend that you will be connected to in some way all of your life. You may only see them or talk to them occasionally or everyday. They can be family members, a co-worker, a church friend, a high school friend or etc.

These types of friendships play an important role. They will always have some influence in our lives. When we see them it will be just as I described about seeing our friends over the weekend.


Friendships for a season

These are friends who been in your life at one time or another. It could have been a teacher, a coach, a peer, a person in a town you lived in and has since moved away.

Although you will probably never talk to them again or see them they played a valuable role as a friend at a certain time of your life. Their friendship meant a lot and when you think about not seeing them it makes you feel sad.

Both of these types of friendships have a place in your life.



What are the characteristics of friendships?

1. Memories : They contribute to a lot of memories. You have fun together. You cry together. You laugh together. You hurt together.



2. Honesty: You are honest with each other even if it hurts.



3. Confide: You can share your deepest secrets without the fear of it being told.



4. Unconditional: Friends give of their time and listen without expecting anything in return.



5. Disagreements: You can disagree in friendships and still have a relationship.



6. Forgiveness: There is forgiveness in friendships when things are done or said.



7. Others first: In friendships you will put your needs aside and your friends first.



8. Caring: Friends care about each other and are concerned about the welfare of them and their families.
   
   
9. Supportive: Friendships will be supportive and help you in difficult decisions.



10. Encouragement: Friendships will encourage you and help you in times of need.

As I was writing these thoughts I began to think of the many friendships in my life and to all THANK YOU for being a friend!

There have been so many that I could not list all of the people who have helped me in one of the 10 areas above.

I encourage each and every one of you to cultivate the friendships in your lives. As I reach the middle of my life I see even more the need for friendships.

Lacey's home

Lacey and Tammy got home yesterday afternoon. They were really tired and have rested a little today. Lacey was very glad to be home. She said I really don't like the city of Seattle.

Thanks Again for all of your prayers

Laceys coming home!

Just a quick note to let everyone know Lacey is coming home tomorrow. They leave tonight on the red eye and get home at noon.

She went to the doctor today and he is very pleased with her progress. We can't wait to see them. I will post more pictures when she gets home.

Update on Lacey Sunday 11-11

Lacey give Tammy a little bit of a scare yesterday. Her right knee started popping Friday night and yesterday morning. At first they thought her plate may have come loose. They took her to the hospital yesterday. They checked her out and everything seems to be ok. Not sure what the popping is about. She will see the doctor on Tuesday for follow up. They are scheduled to fly home on Tuesday night so please keep her in your prayers.

Don't fall asleep on me

I have done the night shift at the hospital for a while now when Lacey has her surgeries. Last year in the fall she had one of her rib expansions and did great. I was very tired and exhausted. The Christus Santa Rosa Hospital in S.A. Texas has day beds in the PICU units.

The night after this particular surgery I fell fast asleep. When I would hear the nurse or RT come in I would lay there and not get up as I usually do. When they would leave I would fall right back to sleep. The next morning she was talking and I called her PaPa to let her say hi. With her witty humor the first thing she told him was my dad didn't do anything last night but sleep. I started laughing. Needless to say I have never lived it down and now I make sure she sees me in the middle of the night.

That leads me to this story. The morning of this surgery in Seattle while Lacey was in the pre-op area waiting without prompting she looks at me and said hey Bud don't fall asleep on me this is a serious surgery so I asked her to repeat herself and videoed it. She's picked up the word bud and that made it even funnier.

I am so amazed at how she always tries to have a sense of humor even in times like these.

Update on Lacey Tues. 11-06 8:43 PM ET

Lacey was discharged this afternoon from the hospital and back at RMH. Her mom said it was like turning on a light switch when she left. She was so happy to get out after just a day. We are counting down the days now for her arrival home.

Update on Lacey's Surgery Today 11-05 7:39ET

Balloons from Special Friends!

Garden at Seattle Childrens Hospital!

Lacey had her cast removed today and her knees stretched some more and a new cast. She now has a bar at the feet and the knees. They also made molds for her legs for her braces. The doctor got another 5 to 7% correction on both knees. They both were 90% and now the left leg is around 13% and the right leg is around 23%. They will improve even more with therapy. Her vitals were a little rocky this afternoon but has improved. She will stay the night in PICU. As expected she is in a lot of pain again.

Thanks to all of you for your prayers.

Update on Lacey Sunday 11-04 10:40PM ET

Lacey had a better day today and a better night last night. So far today she has not thrown up. She will go to the hospital in the morning at 7:15 PT for her new cast,stretching her legs some more and fitted for braces. She will have an overnight stay in the hospital.

I picked my oldest daughter up tonight from the airport. She was so sad to have to leave her mom. I feel really bad for her. There is nothing like a mothers love. Her aunt tried to comfort her and that helped a little.

She took a few pictures of Lacey and Seattle while she was there so we looked at them before she fell alsleep.

The pictures above are some that she took.

Take care and thanks for your prayers!

Update on Lacey 11-02 8:54PM Eastern Time

Lacey has still been in a lot of pain for the past two nights. She was throwing up again last night. Her sister and aunt got there yesterday and that lifted her spirits a little.

She will be going into surgery again on Monday 11-05 at 7:15AM. They are going to remove this cast and stretch her legs some more and recast her. The doctor did not want to put too much stress on her knees, tendons and etc in the initial surgery. They will also fit her for her braces.

Please keep Tammy and her mom in your prayers they have gotten little sleep and still have a long way to go.

The picture is one of Lacey's happy moments the night before surgery.

Thanks again for all of your e-mails, calls, gifts and prayers!