Another thank you note.

Thank you to Claire for screaming, "COHEN IS PEEING BY THE TREE," when we were trying to be discreet about our potty trainer who HAD to go at the park. Thank you to the 25 people at the park who let our kids maul their dogs yesterday on such a beautiful afternoon. (Especially the Millers! I WANT one of those dogs!) Thank you God for that beautiful day. Thank you to the people who throw their cigarette butts on the ground, it is because of you that we have daily discussions about how bad smoking is for your body. Thank you to my skin who seems to think that it is 1993 again and also to my hair who seems to agree...it makes me feel young again. (Note the sarcasm here.) Thank you to the nice lady at Lowes today who thought it was HILARIOUS when Drew bounced off of her booty in aisle 7 even though I warned him and Claire numerous times about the dangers of not looking where you are going. Thank you even more to that lady's husband who laughed even harder than she did and assured us that it didn't phase them....they have 9 kids and 10 grandkids! I am still giggling about it! With so much to be thankful for, I don't have time to do much else. That is my excuse for not cleaning my room right now....I'm too busy being thankful.

Touched by a Tiger.

Tonight we attended our first Lady Chiefs game of the season. It was a GREAT one. The girls played great and were so much fun to watch. I don't remember the score other than the fact that it was in our favor. What I will never forget was walking in and seeing a box on the table next to the nice lady taking money. They were collecting donations for the Stephanie Phillips Foundation. As I approached my dad who was at the concession stand I noticed there was another box sitting there. If that wasn't enough, the nice announcer man came on at half-time and said that the Freshman Lady Tigers would be passing the boxes around and urged everyone to put their spare change and dollars into the box. I sat and watched the girls go around and beg for money and I couldn't help but tear up. How sweet it was to see these girls put competition aside for the sake of a fellow member of this tight knit community. Brian and I had to chuckle when they played the song, "Man, I Feel Like A Woman" by Shania Twain while they were collecting the cash. If you know Steph, you know why it's funny. After the game they presented Steph with almost $700. I was doing just fine until Steph turned around with tears in her eyes. It gets me every time. As we were driving home I told Brian, "If you would have told me 10 years ago that Steph would stand in front of a crowd after a game and cry...I would have told you that you were out of your mind." But I guess that's what happens when you are touched by a tiger.

Thank you Lady Tigers...from the bottom of our little Chief hearts.

**On a lighter note**
We were walking into the Ozark gym and I said, "Claire, you will probably go to school here someday." She perked up and said, "And be a Lady Chief?!" Oh dear.

Double Duty.

I just heard a funny story. (By funny I mean a little unbelievable.) If you attended the Junior Varsity Lady Chiefs game against Central, you know what I'm talking about. Apparently, there was an oversight on Tuesday regarding the officiating situation for the game. There was no one there to officiate the game! Rather than wait for 30 minutes for someone to show up, Steph decided that she would take matters into her own hands! She was a referee for JV and head coach for varsity. I still can't believe that actually happened!

Let's hope we have refs for the Ozark game tomorrow. I will make sure Big Daddy wears his running shoes just in case! Good Luck tomorrow night girls! The Georges will be there (shamefully for our FIRST game of the season) to cheer you on!!! It's the least we can do since you showed up Saturday morning to watch our daughter sit on Nanny's lap and cry!

Super Fans.

Drew and Claire had their second basketball game this weekend. Drew is doing great and loving it. Claire....not so much. She still is very apprehensive. Drew stands out there with his arms up yelling, "I'M OPEN! I'M OPEN!!!" It's really very adorable. The league is so wonderful. They do 3 six minute "quarters" and then at half-time they do a short devotion followed by 3 more six minute "quarters." We talked about how we really admire Miss Jane (the sister of Kathy) for putting in so much time and doing such a wonderful thing for these kiddos. It is something that is building them up as Christians, athletes and individuals. We love it! One of the most impressive things to me so far is this group of girls.

This is a group of Steph's players. Sweet high school girls who are UP and at a game for 4 year olds at 8:30 in the morning!!! I think it says so much about the character of these girls as well as the relationship Steph has with her players. You girls are AWESOME! Thanks for making Drew and Claire's cheering section the biggest and the best!!! Good luck tonight! GO LADY CHIEFS!!!

Is this real?

On Friday after chemo, we had movie day at Nanny's. (My mom) While we waited for Nanny to get home Cohen snoozed in my truck and I sat and watched Drew and Claire play. They were in search of flowers for Claire's wedding bouquet. The settled for "nuts" and went about their business. They found some ivy that was still green and were so excited to find "LUCKY CLOVERS" to wish on! Claire wished for a lifelong friendship with her best buddy Drew and he assured her they would be friends forever. They sat on the little bench wrapped in each others arms and talked quietly. I will never know what they said, but I know they are bonded for life. I hope they never grow apart.

Enter Nanny. We don't need you anymore mommy/Chrissy. Go in. Make popcorn. Turn on Elmo in Grouchland. Use exercise ball...for throwing and bouncing of course. Hit Cohen harder than I planned. He falls face first into a hard toy. Mommy and Nanny should be concerned. Mommy and Nanny laugh uncontrollably while hugging Coco tight so hopefully he won't notice. (Sorry, it's just what we do.) Cuddle with Drew. Turn on Mr. Magoriums Wonder Emporium. Watch half. Give star ratings. Cohen and Drew...4 stars. Claire....1 star. Claire is being difficult. Kids play. Mommy and Nanny talk.

We talked about this situation. Steph has been a part of my life since I was a 6th grader. I can't believe what we are doing right now. Who would have thought that she would become one of my very best friends? Who would have thought that we would marry within months of each other and have our first babies just eight months apart? Who could have imagined that 3 months into my second pregnancy she would, very casually, tell us that Drew was going to be a big brother? I MIGHT have been able to predict all of that especially after she met Scot and he purposed with a fortune cookie. But I can tell you this. I NEVER imagined we would be helping her fight cancer. Mom said as she grabbed a Ziploc bag that Steph has to take with her after chemo she stopped and looked at it. It is labeled "Chemotherapy." She looked at Steph and asked, "Is this real?" Steph asks herself this question everyday. It just doesn't seem possible. Two years ago all the world was right. We both had new baby boys and Claire and Drew were carefree. We talked about pre-school, diaper rashes, tantrums and sibling rivalry. It's amazing how your world can change in the blink of an eye. Now we talk about genetics, chemo, side effects, scans and radiation. I have become borderline OCD when it comes to aches and pains. Right now, my back hurts and I catch myself wondering if there is a tumor causing the pain. I know good and well that it is the fact that I am out of shape and carry a 40+ pound two year old around. I stress about everything that I feed my children. We don't microwave in plastic. It's insane. It just doesn't seem real.

2 Cute.

Happy second birthday Levi!

This kid is awesome. With a vocabulary that won't quit and a weakness for anything Mickey Mouse, he will capture your heart in an instant. Sweet sweet baby, we welcomed you into our circus with open arms two years ago. You squeezed right in and found your place. We love you big boy!

New Information

Steph received a call from Houston regarding the results of the genetic testing they did. Keep in mind, we were told that it was NOT genetic but the docs in Houston weren't convinced. They did some more research and found that it is in fact a genetic mutation that is to blame for her cancer at such a young age. They call it HNPCC-Lynch syndrome. The only thing that has them puzzled is the fact that no one in Steph's family (that she knows of) has had the types of cancer that would indicate this syndrome and it does not skip generations. Needless to say, they are very interested in her case. This news was received with mixed emotion. Because it is genetic, it is less likely to be a random aggressive cancer, which may make it easier to treat. But, as all of you mothers out there know, you never want to pass anything but love, traditions and heirlooms to your children.

On a lighter note Miss Kathy sent these really great pictures of what the boys did while Steph was at her appointments last month in Houston. Again, we are so thankful to have Tim and Kathy to lighten the load during such a stressful time. Thank you a MILLION times over.

Look at these faces....all three of them!! They are having a blast!

Giddy up Mr. Tim!

Happy Boys.

No Chemo Today.

Steph and Mom spent ALL morning waiting to see what Steph's levels looked like. She had been sick last week and just KNEW the shots they were giving her weren't working. She was right. The nurses were completely baffled. They kept telling her, "This NEVER happens." So she won't be having chemo today. They will give her three more shots and she will be doing chemo on Friday which REALLY stinks. Why does it stink you ask? It's Levi's birthday.

They are going to give her a shot on Friday after chemo that is bigger and better than the series of 3 shots she has been getting to keep her levels up. The only problem with that one is that the insurance companies are pretty picky about how they cover it. Maybe it's the $4,000 price tag it comes with. The doctors office is going to call and check it out and they think they will work with them on it.

Continue to pray as God works miracles in Steph's body. I also wanted to wish everyone a happy and HEALTHY 2009! It's a little late but hey....that's how I roll.