A very special day to give thanks

While January 25th may not be a day of special significance for most of you (well except my sister, it's her birthday, Happy B-day, Amy) four years ago, January 25th became a day our family will never just pass on by again. Let me take you back to an e-mail I sent out in January four years ago.

***
Dear family and friends,

As some of you may know, Huston has recently been diagnosed with a very rare and serious brain disorder. The initial diagnosis came from a doctor in Odessa after Huston had a CT scan performed. Since then, the diagnosis has been confirmed by a pediatric neurologist and pediatric radiologist at Cook Children's Hospital in Fort Worth. We will be leaving Sunday after church for Cook's in Fort Worth (again) to have a sedated MRI with infusion performed to confirm the type, location and severity of the disorder. Our appointment is Monday morning at 10:00.

We are asking that you pray for Huston's COMPLETE healing. We know that God can heal Huston, and if He chooses to do so we will give Him ALL of the glory!!! But if He chooses not to, we will still give Him glory through our actions as we learn to live life with Huston's disorder. God has truly blessed our lives with a beautiful, special son and we are so thankful for the opportunity to take care of Huston for Him. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers, and ask that you forward this message on to anyone you know that will lift Huston up in prayer.

Love, Rusty, Patty & Huston Holt

Trials are not enemies of faith, but are opportunities to prove God's faithfulness.
***

First, let me tell you how touched we were by all of the prayers that were being said on Huston's behalf. Our e-mail was forwarded all around the country and people that we didn't even know began lifting up our son in prayer. This was the most challenging time for Rusty and I ever. We had made it through Huston's double hernia surgery at five weeks old and his unsuccessful balloon valvoplasty to treat his heart defect at eight months, but now we were faced with thinking about our son's deteriorating health that would ultimately lead to a very premature death. I don't know how many times, Rusty or I would ask the other during the middle of the night, "are you awake?" and "yes" would always be the reply from the other. It was stressful, heartbreaking, and overwhelming at times. Yet in the midst of the bad, we watched as God gave us some important reminders. God reminded us that no matter what the outcome, we WOULD be okay. He also reminded us that our children are ultimately His and we are blessed with the opportunity to love and care for them no matter what that might entail or for how long that might be. With every doctor appointment or hospital visit, we were shown (with images we will never forget) that while what you are facing may be difficult, there are lots of people facing difficult situations and many of them much more difficult than you can imagine. With this understanding, we are also reminded that while we face the difficulties in our lives, we have our faith and the knowledge that God is there for us. What about the people that face these challenges on their own, not knowing the comfort, peace, and hope that faith in God can provide? We're blessed.

As the days went by and we awaited our next doctor's appointment, a peace only from God settled over us. My prayers had been primarily for strength to face the challenges of taking care of Huston medically while still trying to be the best mom I could to him. I also prayed for peace and strength for Rusty and I and our marriage; we felt our son and marriage were too precious to let Satan use this situation to try and break us down and tear us apart. It may sound strange, but I had an overwhelming feeling in my heart that God might not "want" to heal Huston and that I should just pray for us to make it through the challenges that lay before us not for healing, not now. But as the days passed and more and more prayers went up, my personal prayer changed. I was suddenly overcome with only three very powerful words to pray and they became my only constant prayer to God..."Please heal him". No "Dear God" or "in Jesus's name we pray", or even an "amen"...just "please heal him" over and over. I don't know how many hundred times I recited that prayer every day but it consumed me in a strange but peaceful way. I now felt that this was all God wanted me to pray and the feelings that God might not "want" to heal Huston were replaced with "just believe and ask", and so we did.


Now here is my e-mail from four years ago today.

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PRAISE GOD!!!! We got a call from our pediatrician this morning with the MRI results. Huston's MRI was normal, clear, perfect, free from any fluid or brain disorder!!! We want to thank God first of all for granting us with Huston's complete healing. Next, we want to thank all of you, our family, friends, church, and those who you forwarded this e-mail to for lifting Huston up in prayer. God heard the prayers and answered with a YES!

We know that it is a miracle that the same hospital that confirmed Huston's diagnosis can now confirm that he is totally free from any neurological problems whatsoever.

Thank you again for all of your prayers! Please forward this e-mail to the same people as you did before. We want them to know how much we appreciate their prayers and to see how God worked in the life of our son.

We are still in Dallas for one more appointment first thing tomorrow morning...Huston's getting fitted for his helmet (to fix the flat spots on his head) but we will be back in time for church tomorrow night!

Lots of love and appreciation!
Rusty, Patty & Huston Holt

***

God is amazing, isn't He? We were so humbled (and still are) that God chose to heal Huston. How many sick children and their parents had we sat next to in childrens' hospitals that might not ever get well and their parents would have to bury their little ones way too soon? Why our son? Why us? But just as we can ask these questions when the prayers were answered, many ask these same questions when things first go wrong...why us? Well, why not us? God loves us but that doesn't mean we will be free from pain...God loves us and that also means that He can free us from pain. God definitely gives us both more and less than we deserve. As we look at Huston today we're reminded of the love shown to us by others, and the awesome power of prayer and God's healing hand. So while we're humbled, we're thankful that God chose to let us watch over Huston for Him a little while longer. Thank you, God. :o)

Another month has gone by between posts...

...so I guess I'm establishing a routine to my blogging, although not a very frequent routine. :o)

Our holidays were nice and we really enjoyed just being able to relax and spend time with family. I just can't believe that Christmas has already come and gone, part of that disbelief might be due to the fact that our Christmas decorations are still up inside the house (don't judge). Hey, I put them up late so can't they stay up late?

Here are some pics from over the holidays...

Rusty's mom & Alli

Memaw & the grandkids

Rusty's sis, DeAnn, Rusty, Alli, Pat & Rusty's brother, Danny

Alli checking out Mia & Dad

Mia, Huston & Alli on Christmas morning

Rusty's brother, Danny, meeting Alli for the first time

Alli and her great-grandpa

The grands & great-grands with PaPa

My parents with the grandkids

An update...finally

Tonight I decided it was time to update the blog, I knew it had been a while but I didn't realize an entire month had passed since I last logged in...my apologies. So let me give you the highlights of the past month.

Mia is finally completely potty trained!!! YEA! I was working on it with her while I was still pregnant with Alli because I only wanted one little one in diapers...diapers are too expensive to have to buy two sets and who wants to change that many diapers? :o) Anyway, I never got her to the point of wearing panties all of the time before Alli came so I finally felt up to the challenge and Mia did a great job. Plus, she had a brand new, still in the box Cabbage Patch baby on the back of the potty to help motivate her. :o) Another exciting thing that happened this month was that we received a package from Mia's birth family. They sent an adorable photo book with pics of Mia's birth mom and her family and friends...it's PRICELESS! Also, they sent gifts to both Huston and Mia...trainer chopsticks, Legos for Huston, and a teddy bear for Mia. So sweet!

Huston's been doing great and is a great help around the house with his sisters...he LOVES being a big brother. In fact, he placed his order for another baby just the other night, but said that he'd like a boy this time...I think he's feeling out numbered!?! Huston helps a lot with Mia although he also loves to irritate her like all brothers love to do to their sisters. He also helps with Alli, he loves to hold her, get her paci for her, and "watch" her while I do things around the house.

Well, as you can imagine, in a month's time Alli has really grown a lot! I had her weighed this week and she now weighs a whopping 10 lbs. 5 oz. and she's 7 weeks old. That's great when you consider she was 6 lbs. 2 oz. at 1 week. Alli is starting to smile or at least makes a really good effort to, with success every now and then. Now while she's sleeping, she has huge smiles and laughs out loud, too. :o)

As for Rusty and I, we are just enjoying the kids and getting adjusted to being outnumbered. :o) For example, it's amazing how much more challenging running simple errands is with three kids instead of two. Those of you with more than two or three kids are laughing because you know what I'm talking about and those of you with less than that are laughing because you cannot imagine the difference just one extra kid could possibly make. :o) You have to have a strategy for everything, especially "kid placement". Shopping carts were not made for three kids (including one in an infant carrier), and you sure don't want to let the other two have complete freedom in a store! :o) So, I wear Alli in a sling, put Mia in the seat of the cart and Huston either walks or rides in the big part of the cart until he gets "kicked out" by the purchases! :o)

We are still getting ready for Christmas and I'm ashamed to say that I still have some shopping left to do. Normally, I am finished by now but having a new baby so close to the holidays has set me back this year. :o) Huston and Mia are loving the decorations and getting really excited about Santa and opening presents. I know it will be lots of fun watching them this year.

Well, here are some new pics and I promise to update with Christmas pics soon. Have a very Merry Christmas!

Here's a pic of Mia with her potty and her "prize"!

Santa paid a visit to the Discovery School (Mother's Day Out) open house.

Mia was excited about the candy cane Santa gave her

and Santa was concerned that Huston's only gift request was a gun! ;o)

Huston and the gingerbread house he made at school...he is SO proud!
Alli enjoying one of her favorite times of the day...bath time!

Alli's got a hold of Daddy's finger...and his heart! :o)
Checking each other out

Daddy's girl

New pics of little Alli

Alli is now three weeks old and time is flying by...except those nights when she doesn't sleep well...but this too shall pass! The knowledge that comes with Alli being #3 is priceless...with Huston, I felt like the long nights would never end and questioned every move I made with the info I had read in books. Now I realize that time does fly...even the hard times and that all you can do is your best, cherish every moment, and don't worry about what the books or other people may say. Take the advice that works for you and don't worry about the stuff that doesn't. Okay, let me hop down off of the soapbox now!? :o)

Alli loves her baths, especially now that she can have a "real" bath instead of just a "sponge" bath. She is still sleeping a lot, eats a lot (usually while sleeping), and needs a diaper change a lot! :o) She smiles and laughs out loud in her sleep, which is PRECIOUS!

Huston HAS to hold her every day, at least once a day, and has become quite the handwashing pro. Mia loves to give Alli kisses on her head and doesn't seem to be bothered at all by another little girl being in the house.

Mia had her two year well check today so I had Alli weighed and she is now 7 lbs. 14 oz., and is doing great! Here are some new pics of our growing girl!

Little bitty feet

Little bitty hands

Little bitty nap

Little bitty girl

Happy 2nd Birthday, Mia!

Believe it or not, Mia celebrated her second birthday today! I really can't believe that the little six month old girl we brought home on that LONG flight home from Korea is already two!?!

Since it's been so crazy in our family lately (stomach bug, new baby), we decided to keep the celebration very small and manageable for mom this year (just family). As some of you know, I always make my kids' birthday cakes; and even though it seemed like I just got home from the hospital, I was determined to make Mia's birthday cake this year, too. So I'm happy to say that I was able to make her a nice, little ladybug cake just in time for her birthday brunch.

Mia had a great b-day and really enjoyed opening cards and presents this year...in fact she plays with her cards and their envelopes almost as much as her presents!

Anyway, here are some pics from Mia's birthday.

the ladybug cake

all dressed up and ready to vacuum!
It's not easy being a princess!

Posing with a couple of her presents

Every princess needs a tea set

We've been home one week now...

...and things are going good and are starting to settle down a bit. We came home to two kids with the stomach bug and that was quite an adventure!?! Plus our poor families had to take care of our sick kids while we were still at the hospital! Once we got home, Alli and I stayed away from the germs by hanging out in the master bedroom and going to the windows to say "hi!" to brother and sister...I felt like we were in a zoo exhibit!? Poor Rusty had to step up and face his biggest fear...taking care of and cleaning up after pooping and puking kids! I was quite impressed and think I love him even more after watching all he had to do around here. :o)

Alli is doing great! We went to the doctor on Monday...Alli weighed 6 lbs. 2 oz. and they were pleased with how well she is doing. Big brother and sister are doing great, too and both seem to love their new little sister. Of course, Huston can't get enough of Alli and is enjoying being able to hold her now that he is well. Huston is quite the helper and even sings to Alli when she is upset or needs a little help falling to sleep. Mia still isn't 100%, so she's only been able to touch Alli's feet and the top of her head, but Mia smiles and points at her new baby sister and says "Baby Ayee".

I'm still not able to drive but should be able to start Monday after my doctor's appointment. So, taking Huston and Mia to Mother's Day Out next week will be my first outing with three children...we'll see how it goes. :o) I'm not ready to be out running around and am enjoying being lazy and at home with the kids, so Alli and I will probably be dropping off brother and sister and coming home to take a nap! :o)

Our family has been blessed with wonderful, home cooked meals from great friends this week and that has helped SO much! It's nice to have yummy, hot food delivered to your house that isn't pizza or take out! Thank you to everyone that has brought meals so far...we REALLY appreciate it!

Okay, so I'll stop typing now and post what you really want to see...new pics!

Here's a pic of my Trick-or-Treaters!

Huston and Rusty went to the Harvest Party at church

and Mia stayed home with me and Alli since she was still sickly.

Huston's very first time to hold his new baby sister!

Giving baby sister some love!

Mia getting a closer look at her new baby sis


Some lovin' from Daddy

More new pics....

I love my BIG green paci!

Taking a catnap with Daddy

All dressed up for my doctor's appointment