Little Scare

A month ago I found a bruise on Brynn's arm and wondered what had happen but didn't think too much of it. Then a week later I saw another one and it was worse. I immediately worried that she may have some weird disease!
Then we finally figured it out...
This little girl was giving herself hickies! She loves to suck on her arm. Silly thing!

Life...

I had my 27th birthday!!
Tylie loves holding Brynn

I finished the mural in Tylie's room that my sister started. The castle and carriage match her sheets. She really thinks she's a princess now!

Tylie loved watching Baby Einstein when she was a baby. I tried it out on Brynn and both girls were entertained for a while. Love it!

Dallas took Tylie to a UofA game on Saturday. They had a blast.

Brynn in her Sunday best. This was the day she peed all over Dallas in church and gave him a big wet spot on his pants :)

My friends Shana and Regan took me to lunch on my birthday then we walked through some shops. Shana came up to me to show me the dress Tylie picked out that she wanted. Uh?!

Lunch at Paradise Bakery

My Grandma was in town over Halloween. Because we were at Cathy's funeral, we didn't take the girls trick or treating but my parents and Grandma did. They said Tylie loved to answer the door and see all the kids costumes.

On Halloween we were supposed to take the girls to go show Cathy their costumes. We were visiting her the weekend before and I had told her we would come by on Halloween then I left to go home to Tucson. As I walked down the hall something stopped me to go back to her room. Everytime I left Cathy after a visit I made sure I gave her a hug in case it was my last. Then we started seeing her a lot and she was hanging on to life so I didn't think too much to say my good- byes every time. But that time I turned around, went back into her room, gave her a hug and told her I loved her. I then stuck Brynn in front of her so she could give her a kiss. I am so glad I did that because I think I would have regreted it forever if I hadn't. I had no idea that next morning she would be gone. Life is so strang. When somebody dies it really makes you think about what happens after and the whole eternal perspective.

Goodbye for now...

Words cannot describe the loss of my Mother-in-law.

I tried to write in my journal all of my feelings from the past week. My hand hurt and I had to stop. There are just too many emotions to speak about.

Happy she is not suffering anymore and no longer in pain. Sad that she is not here with us. She will no longer be sitting in the family room as we walk in, ready to greet us and give Tylie a big hug! Always smiling! Mad she will not be here for my children to know her and know that they had an amazing Grandma. I hurt for her daughters. Every girl wants their mother to know their children. No one loves your kids like your mother does.

We estimated there were about 1,000 people at her funeral. She touched every person she ever knew. Her battle with cancer started 12 years ago when her youngest daughter, Jenn, was in Kindergarten. Now Jenn has graduated high school. Cathy felt blessed she was able to raise her children.

Even through the years of struggling, Cathy was there for everything. Graduations, weddings, baby blessings, birthdays etc... She was, most of the time, in pain or not feeling well but she was there without a complaint!
I am glad that her last Christmas we were able to spend with her. She loved Tylie so much, as she did all her grandchildren. The three things I will remember the most with her and Tylie are when she would hug Tylie in her recliner and rock so hard that Tylie's legs would fly over her head, they cracked up! Also, Cathy (being so sick) would get out of her chair and get on the floor to bark like a dog with Tylie (the days when Tylie thought she was a dog). Then in her last days, she was barely talking. We came to visit and would sit in her room with her. Tylie sat in her lap. Before I knew it Tylie and Cathy had each other hysterical! They were laughing at laughing. It went on and on and I think that might have been the last time Cathy laughed that hard (at least that I had seen). It was so funny and precious!

This is when they came to visit us in Tucson. Tylie got in the car with Cathy and didn't want her to leave. The night they stayed with us Cathy had been dancing with Tylie to country music all night. I hope with all my heart that Tylie will remember her and all the good times they had.

Her funeral made me want to be a better person. Life is short. She enjoyed being a mother and staying home. What a great gift to give your children! She was patient, humble and so giving. We all knew this day would come, but it is still so hard. I love you Cathy!!