Zoo Trip!

Family Zoo Trip!

~Whitney

Botox Injections - Round 3

Big morning for this sweet girl. It was a rough start with a process she didn't know, but she did amazing as usual~even got a few smiles while we waited!

New doctor ~ different approach ~ but everyone was awesome and after the sedation she got to go home with Daddy to rest! 

We are anxious for her to experience much needed physical/muscle rigidity relief that the botox injections provide for her.

Prayers for her: for success of the treatment, physical peace and overall unquestionable benefits.

And prayers for us: to continue to feel confident in the preventive measures we take very cautiously for Tessa throughout her life.

Clifford definitely helped pass the time...

I hope she knows how MUCH those smiles mean to her mama!

So thankful for how peaceful she was during and after the procedure.

And thankful she was able to go home with Daddy to rest :)

~Whitney

First Day of School!!

Today was the first day of school and the first year Parker and Tessa will be at the same school!!!

Parker was sooooo excited and it has been so fun to watch his excitement through this change.

Parkland Elementary...here they come!

Parker is in 3rd grade and Tessa will be in Kindergarten this year.  And little Weston is headed back to Ms. Kayla's to party with her and her precious twins!  

This year looks very different and it's exciting.

Some comparisons from last year to this year :)

Parker - last year in 2nd grade at Central Elementary!

Parker - this year in 3rd grade at Parkland Elementary!

Tessa - last year in Pre-k at St. John

Tessa - this year in Kindergarten at Parkland Elementary

Weston - little man was tiny and in a carrier last year!

Weston - this year...well this is all him!  

Excited for a daily routine at Ms. Kayla's with his buddies!

~Whitney

Sleeping Beauty

There is so much peace in seeing her rest. It doesn't come easy and many nights it doesn't last long...but when helping her sleep is one of the hardest things we do...we cherish this very precious sight!

Sleeping Beauty!

~Whitney

New Headbands!

Headband making in full effect!! Ready for some new big girl looks for school!! Yay for a spunky variety!!! One down, 3 to go.

Got a second band added and it looks so much better!!

I was taking pictures of her and big brother swooped in all adorable and stuff ;)

~Whitney

Hope...it's all I have

Because it's easy to assume those around us have it all together. We don't. We ALL struggle. Public and Secret Struggles, alike. This is my attempt at leveling unrealistic views of me and my family. Careers....Family....Marriage....Special Needs....whatever it is, we fail. But there is Hope...and that's all I have.

I had a dear friend message me last night with incredible words of encouragement...but it got me thinking...I've decided vulnerability, authenticity and truth are so very important...so here it is, my sincerest reply back to her:

"Girl you are waaaay too kind! But for real....it ain't always as it seems, you know! I got demons that haunt me and guaranteed bad choices around EVERY corner...just like anyone else. To be an absolute OPEN book would be so freeing....but thus far God has clearly influenced our journey, cause I don't know how it all comes together half the time either. We have so much to be thankful for and are so blessed....but it doesn't have a damn thing to do with my ability....it likely has everything to do with my inability and desperate need for Jesus in my life. I fail all the time. I struggle with self doubt all the time, I suck at being a wife and I have days I question everything around me. God is my sanity....my only sanity...and my saving grace. Just like everyone else...I just do what I have to do and pray each day to somehow lay my head down not feeling like a complete and utter failure."

Honesty. Vulnerability. It ain't always roses folks...it's just not. The truth is dependency...on the One who created me. That's it.

~Whitney

"Tessa Rayne" 6 Years Ago

"Tessa Rayne" - gatherer of provision

A special meaning shared with me by my oldest sister and something that gives us such encouragement and strength:

So when I looked up "Tessa" and what it means I found that it means "gatherer" and when I think about rain it is always provision. So her name Tessa Rayne together means gatherer of provision. And these verses (Isaiah 55:9-12) to me show that it is God alone who makes provision and when He does it is undeniable and is never for nothing but always has purpose.

It's been 6 years since Tessa's hospitalization and diagnosis...6 years of seeing God's immeasurabe provision for Tessa and our family.

The sweet smile on her face in the picture below was the day after we learned of her Congenital CMV diagnosis...it's a treasure and a reminder that God had us in the palm of his hand.

~Whitney