We are that much closer

We had a parent show this past Sunday...

That means cheer competition season is knocking at my door, it feels like we were just chased out of Dallas by a snow storm with Jax tucked safely in my womb. Twenty five days later I was a mother of 2, 3 weeks after that I was dragging him to the cheer gym to make sure Kenley was at the top of her game to make the team she wanted. Well, she made it. She's a level 3 cheerleader at the age of 7. That's scary people. She is now not only just being put into the air by other girls but she is being put fully extended into the air by other girls, 11 year old girls...who are tall! She is twisting in the air, she is flipping in the air. She mastered the running back tuck that was required, back flip (no hands), she is now learning it by just standing and back flipping without running, she mastered the punch front (front flip no hands), she is working on variations of all of these and I just ignore it all. People actually say, "what team will she be on next year?" I just stare blankly...she's 7 and this year hasn't begun, leave me alone! I don't want to think about it. I trust her coaches and she will be exactly where God wants her to be. I am now confident in that. They are allowing girls to compete individually this year. Kenley would be allowed to compete in the mini division, which is a division she hasn't cheered in for 2 seasons. She wouldn't be able to use any of her elite skills. She would only be able to throw at the highest level backhandsprings, which she has been doing since age 5, she would be competIng against 6,7 and up to 8 year olds. They have encouraged me to allow her to compete. She doesn't even know about it. Garrett and I haven't had time to make a decision and honestly I'm leaning towards no. We've taught her this is a team sport, am I confident she would be successful, YES! Oh well...we shall see. We will have to make a decision this weekend. 

The show was great. The girls did phenomenal! Their routine is difficult! You're going to see Kenley flip in the air, twist in the air...welcome to the big leagues. It brought tears to my eyes, like always. Never in a million years did I think this would be my life. I never knew she would be blessed with these gifts. My dad always reminds me to tell her that God blessed her with these gifts and talents. So very true, he told that to me last night and I reminded her tonight before she went to bed to have a thankful heart for her talented body. 

She has worked soo very hard this year. If you would have seen her walk out of try outs thinking she didn't make her team, after she fell two weeks before Jax was born. She fell tumbling two weeks before he was born and stopped tumbling. She wouldn't even do a backhandspring, something she has done since she was 5. She told Garrett and I she wanted to play soccer that her cheer days were over. I didn't know why. Then I found out. Her spirit was broken. When I healed from having Jax and took her back and her tumbling returned, she never looked back. I haven't told her and I won't, because I'm only here to support, not coach...but I see a fantastic year ahead of her! 

For everything I teach her she gives me something in return. Last week I think I shared she says Luther's Morning Prayer each morning at school and now knows it by heart. Well, they sent home Luther's Evening Prayer and she said, "we have to say this each night" I said okay. So tonight we started. She taught me to take time each night to say that and each morning to say the morning one...bring in a little peace where there wasn't any before. 

She's got 38 AR points! Over halfway to 70! Wahoo! We are really trying to be an Eagle Reader by Christmas! 

Jax got his second tooth. He started using his walker and he is quite proud of himself. Jax has taught me to take nothing for granted. Don't take things too serious. Everything else will still be there, but these moments with my two kiddos won't be! 

One day I'll look up and these two blessings will be out of this house. They won't depend on me daily. I'll miss having to bathe them and feed them and be responsible for every single thing they need. I want to look back and be proud of the people I created and sent out into this world! 

We are looking forward to Daddy returning to Houston! He has to take over a hostile project, but we don't care! Whatever it takes to bring that guy home!

Second to the left is our girl!

Restless

Yes...we've all lost family members to Cancer...for me, 2 Grampa's, Garrett's Grampa, a mother....but, they were adults. Yes, my Mom was young, but she had candid conversations with me. She prepared me that I was going to live the majority of my life without her. That my Dad would find love and he did and I'm happy, I have inherited a fabulous step-mother (which I don't like using that word because it holds a sort of negative connotation) who is a precious Nana to my children. I have inherited a Grandmother, Granny, who loves my children like her own great-grandchildren, a step-sister and 2 cousins for Kenley and Jax and so I don't really struggle. However, a month ago a friend of Kendra's that we know 3 year old was diagnosed with Leukemia, the same form as my mother...3 years old. He began treatments right away, Garrett, Kenley and Jax took Texans decorations to Kendra to drop off for his hospital room. 2 weeks later he contracted a fungal infection in his arm that has now spread to his leg and into his sinuses. He is currently on Life support. He was perfectly happy and healthy previous to this. He turned 4 one week after his diagnoses. Kendra, Cassi and I sit by our phones and wait for updates. I have talked to God so many times. I don't ask for healing, I simply ask that his will be done and that he give the Mom peace. She has a daughter Kenley's age and a 2 year old. She and her husband divorced in April. 

With all that said, I have looked at my precious Jax and Kenley soo many times this weekend and also asked God to protect them. Kenley fell this week at cheer and chipped her tooth...and I thought...no big deal, we fix it. She's perfect on God's hands. He knew when he made her she would be made with her cheerleading skills and she would fall last Tuesday and chip that tooth. Maybe had I not been following Rhett so closely I would have had a meltdown over that chipped tooth. 

I have also learned something about the way I pray. I pray more than I ever thought I prayed. I'm actually praying constantly. I'm in a constant discussion with God. When I'm driving...I'm talking to him. I'm asking him to watch over Kenley while she's at school. I'm asking him to keep my Dad healthy while he's working away at the lake and not near me. I'm asking him to keep Garrett safe in Midland. I'm asking him to keep me healthy and give me the strength to keep going in my weight loss. I love my entire family...and I ask him about each of them all the time, but if anything I'm always praying for my kids and my parenting. Parenting is scary. I listened to my daughter plead to her papa about a situation she is in...my own father, a man I go to when I'm in emotional turmoil and I had to get up and go into the bathroom and wipe my tears. To listen to her tell him and I had already listened for 2 days...and realize she was moving on to the big guns! She didn't think I was doing her any good. She actually said I think all my Grandparents need to come with me...Grammy, Grandpa, Nana, Papa and even Granny!! Lol I'm happy she has so many people to rely on, she'd already worn Grammy out about her situation...attention Grampa and Nana, prepare yourselves ya'll might be next! 

I'm praying for my best friend a lot. She's always on my mind...both of them actually. It's our job to pray for one another, Jesus teaches us to do so...

That will end my emotional babble! 

Jaxon David has his first tooth through the gum...wahoo! He hasn't been terrible! He seems to be more affected gastrointestinally than anything else. He vomits and has potty issues. He picked up his baby food this weekend. So that's exciting. He can officially roll over and sit up and isn't half bad at standing! His smile can light up a room! His laugh is infectious and I'm absolutely head over heels in love with that son of mine!! 

He was so happy to be in the grass!! It was like the most thrilling thing if his life!!

I measured and weighed him. He weighs 16 pounds and is 29.5 inches long!!! If you compare his 5 month picture standing next to his sign you can really see his height growth!

Kenley is doing awesome in school! She needs 70 points by the end of the year to get Eagle Reader and already has 31!!! Very proud of her! She is doing well with the new math curriculum that everybody is going nuts over, Common Core, look it up if your curious. It's being taught because that is what college entrance exams are based on. I did attend a curriculum meeting about it, however I'm not super worried because she is not struggling and it's life!! She's is working her little bitty hiney off at cheer!! The routine is EXTREMELY complex, and I am nervous. She gives it everything she's got. She using 2 privates a week. One for tumbling, her tumbling is fabulous. The Other is for flying. She is working hard at stretching her body, squeezing her muscles and becoming even stronger. She has practice 7-9 on Tuesdays and 12:30-3 on Sundays, we fly out of church!! They have just added Saturday practices. She loves it and thrives on being the best. She is her toughest critic, she gets that from her Daddy. It's hard sometimes being 7 on such an older team and we are working out the kinks on some days. The other day she was so mad, que the day she was dropped/fell and left the gym at 9:15 pm with a chipped tooth, and was just mad at the world. I looked at her and said "honey, I'm going to let you say whatever you want to say, just let out everything you have inside of you". Because I was so proud, with a mouth full of blood and a chipped tooth she didn't keep crying and sit out, she got back on that mat and got right back up in the air. And that's my job right. As a Mom, let her have her moments, don't judge just sit and listen. The next day we regrouped and had a more civilized discussion. 

She's funny and smart. She's loving and she's is the most dedicated 7 year old I know! 

My weight loss journey is now being documented at www.wendykaysways.blogspot.com