TEAMThompson Prayer Request

Kaleesha and I took Philip to the doctor today and received news that Philip has Type 1 Diabetes.  Kaleesha has suspected this to be the case for about a week now based on some common signs he has been exhibiting.  They took a blood sugar reading of 506 in the doctors office (normal is 70-110) – so we were sent directly to the emergency room.  Philip has received 2 insulin shots to this point and his levels have come down.  In fact, they came down a little too much and he had to eat some snacks to get it back up.  We are negotiating the tricky part of stabilizing his levels without having a solid baseline to work with.  If I sound like I know what I am talking about, it is only because I have received a crash course in diabetes over the past several hours.  From everything we have learned, it sounds like getting Philip stabilized is the easier part – its going forward that is will be the most difficult.

The most humbling thing is to see family and friends spring into action around us.  One of the couples in our life group watched the other kids this afternoon – and we have been getting calls all afternoon offering to help us out in that area.  We were visited tonight by friends from Nathanael’s Pups football team who’s son has diabetes as well.  They were so kind to come see us and offer us advise and support as we enter this new journey.  Their son hung out with Philip and will be there to answer many of his questions in the coming weeks – we could not have asked for a better example of how to work through this.  My mom was on a plane within hours of getting the news this afternoon – she is having to spend the night in Dallas and will be here tomorrow.  We appreciate all the prayer that has already gone up for Philip and our family.

We were so thankful to learn that Riley Children’s Hospital is ranked very high in the nation for juvenile diabetes treatment.  Kaleesha and Philip are at the new hospital just a few blocks away - Philip thinks he has hit the jackpot.  He has both a flat screen TV and a computer/TV combo with internet that is suspended from the ceiling.  He was given a list of about 200 movies that are available to watch on them as well.  Across the hall is the “Teen Room”, complete with Wii and jukebox.  He has full access to the well stocked kitchen and kid’s play room as well.  He is also being spoiled by a fantastic staff.  We might have a tough time getting him to come home. 

As for Kaleesha and I – I think we feel like a rug has been pulled out from under us.  It is a very surreal feeling – I know things will be sinking in more and more over the next few days.  It is so hard to see your child suffer – we wish we could take this on for him.  We take great comfort in the fact that we serve a God that wants to be intimately involved in every detail of our lives.  He desires to celebrate our victories with us and hold us when we grieve.  It is hard to see His plan in all of this right now, but I have every conviction that he is going to use this to strengthen our relationship with Him and bring glory to His name.  Please pray that we would be faithful to hear His voice and do His will.  Please pray that Philip would feel His presence and trust His Savior throughout this whole process.

Just to finish this post with a lighter note – Philip was his usual  quirky self when getting his first ever insulin shot tonight.  Kaleesha had run home to tell the kids goodnight and pick up some supplies for the next few days.  I watched Philip decide that he wanted his shot in his stomach – usually the last option for most people.  Part of his reasoning was that with “six-pack” abs, it would not really hurt (not sound logic).  Philip has not been a stranger to needles by any means during his short life – so it was no surprise when he plopped down on the bed, yanked up his shirt and said “I’m ready”.  He truly is one of a kind.  

-Wayland

Christmas Recap

Wow!  What an extremely busy, but amazing week this has been.  We kicked off our holiday break last weekend by going down to an inner city church in Indianapolis and helping pass out gifts to needy families.  It was incredible.  Truly an uplifting and humbling experience.  To see love transcend race, religion, culture, and politics is a beautiful thing indeed.  When more people showed up looking for help with their Christmas lists than were prepared for, we saw someone literally give the sweater off his back to be wrapped up for a brother who might need it more.  We are so thankful to be part of a church and small group that sees the importance of “living our lives on loan.”  What better way to show our kids the true meaning of Christmas?

On Monday, I took the kids down to the Indiana State Museum to ride the train and visit Santa.  Unfortunately, there was such a big crowd (it was free admission day), you had to pick one or the other.  Since Luke is a train lover over a Santa lover, we opted for the train ride.  Having never experienced this holiday celebration before, we really didn’t know what we were in for.  Picture small town carnival ride downsized.  I’m still cracking up picturing Nathanael fold himself into that little metal car with Luke and go around in a circle three or four times.  Good times!

On Tuesday,  some great friends invited us over to bake Christmas cookies.  Thinking I should help contribute, I show up with a roll of refrigerated Pillsbury sugar cookie dough, a tube of white icing, and two bottles of sprinkles (green and red of course).  I walk into the kitchen where my Martha Stewart friend has made four batches of homemade cookie dough with exquisite ingredients like real butter and cream cheese.  As if that weren’t bad enough, she has like 400 different colors of icing and sprinkles, and enough cookie cutters to cover every imaginable season under the sun times three.  I just smiled and handed over my grocery bag with it’s meager contents.  Oh well, can’t blame a girl for trying.  The cookies turned out both beautiful and delicious.  So good in fact, that they were all gone by Tuesday night – which meant I had to end up using that roll of refrigerated dough on Christmas Eve to bake cookies for Santa.  Oy Vey!

Christmas Eve was a wonderful day (other than my Christmas cookies that were truly a bigger disaster than you can even imagine.  Really – Wayland tried to take a picture to blackmail me with at a later date, but I hid the camera…good thing Santa isn’t really all that picky!)  Our Christmas Eve service at church was one of the best I have experienced in a long time.  Kleenex + Laughter = Success.  After church, we headed over to our dear next door neighbors for Christmas dinner.  What a treat!  We are so honored to have the Barkers as neighbors…they are our kids’ Indiana grandparents and such a blessing in our lives.  Dinner was delicious and the company was just as sweet.  To round out our evening of fun, we all put on our pj’s and loaded up in the Suburban to go look at Christmas lights (one of my favorite traditions).  We found a couple of new houses that had light shows set to music on their own radio station settings.  It was amazing!  The three youngest all fell asleep on the way home and had to be carried up and tucked into bed so visions of sugarplums could dance through their heads.  

I heard a toilet flush at 5:45 am Christmas morning and promptly sent Wayland to steer the culprit back to bed.  That bought us another hour and a half.  The big boys and Anna E. couldn’t wait any longer, and woke Luke up to join in the action.  Unfortunately, Luke is really grumpy when he is awakened after days and days of going without naps and it took a few minutes and some eager reminders that it was Christmas for a smile to grace his face.   He was so funny about his gifts.  We had to continuously coax him to open another gift,  because he would get so excited about whatever he had opened that he had no interest in the other wrapped boxes around him.  He came away with all sorts of new Thomas paraphernalia, race cars, and some GI Joe’s.  Anna E. got a wooden stable with horses and other farm animals, along with an easel and a wide assortment of art accessories.  Both big boys got a collage of pictures from their football season, some new video games for the Wii,  and some money to put toward an X-box 360.  Nathanael also got a cell phone.  Yikes!  I’m sure there will be many more updates on that to follow.  Oh, and you’re not going to believe it, but we didn’t get any pictures of the kids on Christmas morning.  Not one.  Wayland had the video camera out and we completely forgot about still photography.   I cannot believe it! 

Today, we went to see The Tale of Despereaux (a really good story) and then hit the stores to use those gift cards that were burning holes in our pockets.  I love that we have two weekends and one whole week to play before the kids go back to school.   Should be lots of fun!  Once again, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year…hope your days really are merry and bright! 

Anna and Luke at Christmas Party

Hug from Santa

On the Train

Is Everybody H-A-P-P-Y?

Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas From Our Home to Yours

As 2008 draws to a close, Team Thompson would like to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and the happiest start to your 2009.  Our focus this season has truly not been what we want, but rather what can we share?  The greatest gift to give is, of course, the gift of God’s love.  I know it sounds so cliche, but there is truly no better way to express love to those around us than to share with them the love of a Savior who has made the ultimate difference in our lives.   We feel blessed beyond measure to be living in the grace and favor of our Sovereign Lord and want nothing more than to live our lives in a way that glorifies His name.   

Here is a brief Year in Review of Team Thompson from 2008 – enjoy!  Please feel free to look back at our “adventures in blogging” over the past year – we have an archives section below.  We would love for you to leave a comment letting us know you have been here – it’s a real blessing hearing from friends and family.  

Luke

Our youngest son is about to turn three years old.  Every age is my “favorite,” but three really is – I can’t wait!  2008 brought about so many changes in our little Luker…the first one being getting his front tooth knocked out of his head (accidentally, of course) by a big brother who got a little over-excited and gave him a super big push on a tricycle.  Long story short, Luke ended up on the floor of a Target with a bloody face and a fat lip (and a tooth that ended up having to be pulled).  Right after it happened, I couldn’t bring myself to take Luke to have his picture made.  It really kind of upset me to see that precious face smiling without a tooth.  Now, Luke wouldn’t be Luke with it.  We also saw major improvements in Luke’s speech.  It’s hard to imagine that last year at this time, Luke only had a handful of words in his vocabulary and communicated mainly with signs, grunts, and a series of frustrated sighs and eye rolls.  Now, Luke’s vocabulary is going full force – he still needs some work with articulation, but we have no problems with him getting his point across.  Luke is truly a delight to have in our home.  He’s so easy going as we drag him here and there and everywhere – he never puts up a fuss.  Our little Hoosier rounds out this gregarious group of Texans perfectly and we are eternally grateful for his place in our family.

Anna Elizabeth

Anna Elizabeth, aka The Princess, has become a young lady this year.  Maybe it was entering Kindergarten - I’m not really sure, but our sweetheart seems to have matured greatly in the past few months.  It was most evident on our recent trip to Texas for Thanksgiving.  Seeing Anna E. with her little cousins was absolutely precious.  She relished the role of  helper, caretaker, and role-model and was quick to “give advice” to those who would listen to her.  I cannot tell you the anxiety that filled me as I sent my little girl off to her first day of school just four short months ago.  No, it wasn’t primarily because I hated to see my baby growing up so fast.  In all honesty, it was more from worrying what kind of calls I was going to be getting from the teacher.  Our Anna E. is a super sweet, respectful, and jolly little girl with a few minor flaws…she can’t sit still to save her life, and she doesn’t remember that she’s been told to “walk and not run” a zillion times since she first started toddling around.  I shared my fears with Anna’s teacher a couple of weeks into the school year.  He assured me that Anna does have a “tremendous amount of energy”, and simply needs to be reminded to release it in the “appropriate places.”  In short, our daughter is adjusting to school beautifully, growing sweeter day by day, and becoming quite the little artist.  We’ve included a couple of examples of her artwork below.  Not too bad, if I say so myself. 

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

Angels We Have Heard on High

 Philip

It would be easy to focus on Philip’s achievements in the past year as totally sports related, but that would be selling him short.   It is evident that God has blessed him with an innate athletic ability.  He played baseball this past Spring  and really became an accurate and effective pitcher by the end of the season.  He was QB for his dad’s 4th grade House League football team and did a great job helping his team to an 8-1 record.  He made the All-Star football team and played Cornerback and Safety – that team played their hearts out to make it all the way to the Northside Championship (seven games in nine days – it was brutal).  Philip is now in the throws of basketball, and it looks like he may have a future in that sport as well.  It’s easy to praise any talent when it is shown on a field or court, but what makes us  most proud of Philip are the characteristics he lives his life by.  He is humble, he is a loyal friend, an encourager, and Philip has an intense burden for those hurting and less fortunate around the world.  One of Philip’s primary goals is to go to SouthAfrica on a mission trip…sports may be fun for Philip, but he couples that with a knowledge of the things that have lasting meaning in this world and for eternity. 

 Nathanael

If any of our children could fill a page with “happenings” for 2008, it would be Nathanael.  He has more on his calendar than the rest of us put together and doubled.   After an amazing end to a great Elementary education experience (winning an award for outstanding character), Nathanael entered into Middle School with a few minor reservations, and a heart full of determination bent on success.  So far, 6th grade has been a blast for Nathanael – he is doing great in school and loves the new challenges Middle School offers.  Another huge happening in the life of our ”gridiron minded” son, was making the Carmel Pups travel football team this season.  This experience turned out to be one that will last a lifetime.  Although the team won no championship titles, the boys, coaches, and parents formed such an amazing bond, it felt as comfortable as going to Sunday dinner at grandma’s every time we got together.  Nathanael received some “top notch” coaching from a team of very talented coaches and came away with an even greater love and knowledge of the game.  He was also the recipient of another great honor – the “Mental Attitude” award.  It was the first time in the Pups’ fifty year history that this award was given out, and it was to a player who showed great heart and leadership on the field (and off).  Nathanael gives 120% in all he does, be it school, sports, or volunteering…one of his best qualities.  He is a positive, encouraging, and mature young man who loves his family, his friends, and most importantly – his Savior.  It is evidenced in his life day after day.

Wayland & Kaleesha

Team Thompson’s favorite coach continues to work hard (both in his job and at home) to make the best life possible for our family.  He leads a small group for Middle School boys at church, and serves in the four year old class once a month, as well.  The kids, ours and others, get such a kick out of him-and he relates to them really well.  (I like to tease him and tell him it’s because he is right on their level).  He does an amazing job coaching the boys and their teammates season after season, and works hard to make a difference in the lives of each one.  I get a huge kick out of watching him “rough and tumble” with the boys and then do his best to transition into playing dolls or ponies with Anna E.   He is a wonderful daddy and a thoughtful and patient husband.  We are very blessed to have a man who seeks to live a godly life and loves us all so much leading our family.    

Most days, my life is filled with that very mundane (but precious) routine that is laundry, carpool, and schedules.  Every once in a while, I get a break and have the pleasure of dealing with faulty plumbing, crashed cars, and crumbling garages.  (If you don’t know the story look for the post entitled, “What Was I Thinking?’)  I sometimes wonder if rest will ever come, and then I remind myself when it does, it will probably bring loneliness with it.  As a stay at home mom, it is sometimes easy to think I’m not really doing a lot to make the world a better place.   Then I look at my children and know that God’s purpose for me right now is investing in those four precious lives.  My number one goal for 2009 is to seek to know and love my God more, and to leave a legacy of faith for my children to witness.   I pray that you and your families experience the peace, the hope, the joy, and the love our Creator so desperately wishes to lavish upon us.  Merry Christmas to you all!

Santa Sighting

Saturday morning, before Philip’s basketball game, Anna E. and Luke put on a play for us.  She actually created two of them - one about the birth of Jesus, and one  called Santa and his reindeer.  Unfortunately, she was unable to fill all the roles for the Nativity one to her liking.  (She wanted to be Mary and  the Angel and when she couldn’t figure out how to be both she got frustrated and gave up)  I got pictures of the Santa play…she was really quite creative with her props as you can see.  She also did an excellent job of rhyming verses for her lines.  Who knew we had a little Shakespearean enthusiast on our hands?

Santa and his Reindeer

 

Santa with his bag of toys

Sports Update – Yellow Jackets Win in Shootout

Yesterday, Philip had his first basketball game of the season and boy was it a barn-burner.  It will be hard to top this game – and yes, I decided not to bring the camcorder (unbelievable!). 

We won the game 22-20, which was pretty low scoring – but there was lots of rust to shake off and many easy shots were missed.  Philip picked up right where he left off from last year with his suffocating defense – he is usually assigned the other team’s best player.  What was different from last year was his scoring prowess.  On last years championship team, there were so many great scorers that Philip was usually our 3rd or 4th option and he accepted his defensive specialist role.  This year, for our team to be successful, he will have to be more aggressive on the scoring end.  He ended up scoring 10 of our points yesterday – one of his good friends, Jimmy, scored the other 10.  For most of the game, Philip settled into his role from last year – but with Jimmy on the bench during the 4th period, and the other team up 4 points with less that 2 minutes to go, something clicked and Philip’s inner-Jordan came alive.

With about 1:40 left in the game, Philip stole the ball and took it in for an easy layup.  He missed the shot, but got his own rebound and put it back in for a score – down by 2 points.  We trade a few missed shots during the next couple of possessions- then one of our players streaks down for an easy layup and misses, but Philip is right their for the put back – tie game.  A timeout is called with 17 seconds and on the inbounds pass, we are in full press mode.  Philip jumps on the guy with the ball and steals it – then sprints down and puts in the go-ahead bucket with about 10 seconds left.  We hold them on defense and win the game. 

When recounting the game to my dad after over the phone later, Philip would be his usual embarrassed self, answering all my dad’s questions in monotone, one-word answers.  Philip relishes the responsibility late in a game – but does not like being the focal point – he is our “reluctant hero” and we love that quality in him.  Caught up in the excitement of the moment, Philip allowed himself a couple of fist-pumps and jumped into dear-old-dad’s arms – a moment that will definitely be on my short-list forever.

-Wayland

There’s No Place Like Home

Picture Update!!!

Anna E. and Luke Polar Express

Noah, Kenzie Jo, and Luke on Polar Express

The Whole Thompson Crew

Papa with all Six Grandkids (plus Kaleb and me)

Luke, Reece, Granny and Anna E.

(You can also click on the links below for Riddle Family and Webb Family to see more pics that I couldn’t get to our site…Enjoy!)

Team Thompson has had an assortment of homes.  This past week, for the Thanksgiving holiday, we traveled back to our original home – Texas.  After an exhilarating (wink) non-stop eighteen hour drive from Indiana to Lubbock (our first stop), Team Thompson arrived to the company of our three sweet nieces and adorable nephew.  I had not seen my sister in almost four years, and the reunion was sweet.  Her beautiful children, Noah and McKenzie Jo did not disappoint.  (I hadn’t seen Noah since he was still crawling and had never met Kenzie in person – they were tons of fun).  We also were reunited with my other sister (I claim her just as much mine as Wayland’s) and her precious family.  We got to meet another new niece, Rynn Alise and marvel at the growth of her big sister, Reece.  The larger portion of the Thompson bunch (Wayland’s mom, dad, and brother) met us in Lubbock for a big family picture.  Six kids and seven adults cooperated long enough to capture a priceless piece of family history – it really turned out great.  Our fun weekend in Lubbock also included riding a four wheeler at my sister’s, eating at Rosa’s and Dion’s (both on our top ten favorite list), and riding the Polar Express to kick off our holiday celebrations.  Anna E. and Noah were the perfect age to enjoy the whole experience,  Luke loved the train but not all the interaction, and little Reece and Kenzie Jo were both too hot (they ended up taking off their p.j.’s) and hungry to experience the wonder of it all.  Although we had a great time in Lubbock, our stay was overshadowed by the hospitalization of my dad back in Odessa.  When he was moved to CCU after his blood pressure shot up into scary high ranges, we all headed that way to be by his side.  Thankfully, he was released in time to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with the family, but he has had to endure a plethora of people asking him one hundred times a day how he is feeling.  ”Fine” is his favorite answer – which probably only makes everyone even more concerned.   

Our time in Odessa flew by as we went from house to house, trying to see all the family we love so dearly and have not seen in so long.  I was shocked to see my baby brother had completely turned into a man in the one year since I had seen him last.  As I stood beside Kaleb towering above me, I told Anna E. that Luke could be that much taller than her one day – she thought that was a pretty funny joke.  We found ourselves telling our cousins, and uncles, and sisters how we couldn’t believe how their children had grown – and heard the same in return.  It’s really hard to not see all those kids grow up together.  It was quite a sight to see thirteen cousins under the age of twelve playing together at my aunt and uncle’s house on Thanksgiving Day.  And you would have thought two of the kids’ cousins from Houston were long lost brothers to this Team Thompson bunch – although they’ve only been together a few times, they hit it off like they were best buds. 

It’s always amazing to go back “home” after being away for so many years.  Seeing family is such a priceless blessing, and the older we all get – the more special it becomes.  Our children were able to see all four of their great-grandmothers (no small miracle by any means) and were able to spend precious time reconnecting with their grandparents who they miss so very much.  Add in aunts, uncles, great aunts and uncles, cousins, second cousins, third cousins, etc. and you can only imagine how our heads were spinning by Friday morning as we said our goodbyes.  Every time we pulled up in front of a new house, Luke would ask if it was Meta’s (Uncle Landry’s dog), Noah and Sissy’s, or the house with his race car bed.  Poor thing.  We needed about three more weeks to spend the kind of time we would have loved to spend with family and see all the friends we had hoped to “squeeze in.”  Everyone we saw (and those of you we didn’t) have an open invitation to come visit us here in Indy.  It’s really the only way to be able to spend the kind of time we would like with each of you.

Although it is bittersweet, it is good to be back “home” in Indiana.  (Funny how one word can have so many meanings).  It’s always nice to sleep in your own bed and bathe in your own shower, but knowing we are so many miles from the hugs of our parents, the laughter of our nieces and nephew, the teasing of our brothers and sisters, the words of wisdom from our grandmothers, and the overall love and enjoyment of our extended family is difficult.  God did bless us with a beautiful “welcome home” gift this cold morning in Indiana, though.  A breathtaking blanket of pure, white snow all around us.  It was a perfect way to end our Thanksgiving holiday after a week of 70 degree weather in Texas!  (That is one thing we surely do not miss!)  Be looking for a picture post soon!