Soooo I decided to jump on the bandwagon and start doing a blog so that our distant family and friends could keep up with our craziness(: I know I am terrible about keeping in touch and we have so much fun stuff that happens around here...I want you all to be a part of it. Hopefully I will learn a little more about how to fancy this up but for now I'll just kindof update you about the Sleister Bunch!
*TERRY*
Terry has started his new school year and is having a good year so far. He is stressed with all the extra mess that comes along with teaching but is doing a great job and really enjoys his job. He wouldn't say so but he is an AWESOME teacher. It has been so cool to watch him over his 6 year career work with these students and have such a passion for them. He has such a sweet heart and is an amazing role model to these kids (I'm a little proud, can you tell!). He is still teaching trombone and North Georgia College, freelancing, and playing in a fun Jazz Big Band. He loves it!
Terry was also nominated as "Soldier of the Year" in his unit so he is going this weekend to go up in front of some higher ups and show his skillz(: If you think of it send up a prayer for him. He is kindof nervous about the questioning since it covers 260 pages worth of military regulations...UGH!!
*JOEY*
Well our sweet little man is a big first grader this year! I cannot believe how big he is and how stinking smart he is. He loves to read and he has an amazing imagination. He is currently working on his latest work of "The Adventures of Indiana Joey". I'll bet you'll never guess what his favorite movie is right now!! LOL! He loves comic books just like Daddy and has been quite upset that Daddy has been getting some new ones in the mail and he hasn't. Daddy took him on Sunday and got Joey a new comic book. He is really enjoying school and is making new friends. He is also now a Tiger Scout. He came home last week just beaming with excitement about how cool Cub Scouts is and how he just had to be one! It was so cute. So we have our first "Pack" meet next Thursday night.
Joey was a big helper this weekend when we camped out in the backyard. He helped Daddy put up and take down the tent. We had so much fun. Daddy grilled burgers and dogs and Mommy made smores in the oven...what is camping without smores!!! We stayed up asking and answering silly questions and telling silly stories. It was hilarious(:
*Madison*
Madi had her first day of school yesterday. She is going to a new school this year and she LOVES it soooo much. As soon as I download my pics I will put one up of her and her new outfit. We had a date on Monday and she chose her new outfit, headbands, and lipgloss for her first day of school. She has 11 friends in her class and her teachers name is Ms. Nancy. Ms. Nancy stole Madi's heart at open house because she gave her food!!
Madi is so much fun and quite silly. She talks like she is 18 and just loves to boss people around (she does know best you know). She is a great big sister and does a great job helping Emily during the day. She loves to tell her NO NO when Emily is doing something that "she knows better" than to do. Madi loves her princesses and has really got into using her imagination with them. It is fun to watch her play house and family.
*Emily*
Well I have finally had to accept that my "baby" is no longer a baby...it is very depressing. Emi is 2 now and we like to call her Curious George. She loves to color the wall, dig in the trash, play in the toilet, and play in the inside "sand box" that we like to call the CAT LITTER! She is so much fun and is a very hands on learner. It definitely keeps me busy but it is so fun to watch her intrigue! She wants to be just like the big kids. She loves gum, loves to paint, and has the sweetest smile! She loves big hugs and is always asking a for a kiss. It will simply melt your heart.
Now that big sister is in school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Emi gets some one on one time with Mommy. Yesterday we went to the park and we had so much fun. Emily kept looking at me funny because I was able to 100% focus on her and go down slides with her and all. I think she is really going to enjoy those 2 days. On Thursdays we will go for about 30 min. to Joey's school and have lunch with him. Joey is pumped and Emi will love it because she can show off in front of Joey's friends.
*Dee*
Well everything listed above fills up most of my days (and I am so very thankful for it). Things are going well. God is teaching me lots about who He is and who I am in Him. It is a tough journey but I am thankful to be walking it and so thankful that He is by my side through it.
I guess my intention in this blog is to keep everyone up to date on us and to ask for your continual prayer for our family. I will post anything new that comes with the kiddos health so that if you do remember us in your prayers, you will know what specifically is going on here. We have had some new developments with Joey. God is very faithful and has continually held Joey in the palm of His hand and protected him from a lot of the complications that come with neurofibromatosis. He recently had his clinic appt. which is where he sees his geneticist and any other doctors he might need to see. The appt. results went well overall. He still has a grade one heart murmur (unchanged but expected to grow out of it). He has had no more neurofibromas (tumors under the skin) develop since last year. He has six neurofibromas thus far but they are small and painless. His bones look great. His heel cord is still tight on the right side but we are doing stretches to work on that. The newer developments are that he is having some visual spatial issues (very common with kids with NF) and some sensory integration issues. What this means: the visual spatial issues just means that the message that goes from his brain to his hand of what to draw or write moves a little slower than most children. Right now it is not effecting him and it may stay that way. It could present a problem when he gets older and has to do notetaking in class. But we will cross that bridge when/if we have to. The sensory integration seems to effect Joey on a more emotional level. It doesn't have to do with bright lights or too many people, but more to do with a high level of aggitation and frustration. He was very aggitated at the appt. and has begun to show some OCD habits such as not touching his bare feet anywhere but home. So when he had to strip down to his scivies, he was quite upset. I had to put some paper towels down on the floor so he could get his height checked. He was very uncooperative with Dr. Uhas because he was so aggitated. Apparently, kids with NF are about 2 years behind emotionally (which makes sense of why he and Madi fight like they do) and they are already pretty wound up emotionally. So when he gets really aggitated and frustrated it is hard to reel him back in. But if he is held like in a blanket and his back is scratched (called brushing) it calms him and he can better deal with the situation at hand. These situations have not arisen at school, only at home and the doctors office. It is great to know this because it really equips us to be able to meet his needs at home and understand why some things unravel the they do. Please pray for us to have wisdom as we walk through this time with him and teach him how to deal with these kinds of things.
As you can imagine, with Joey getting older he is beginning to pick up on things a little easier. I believe the time has come to start talking to him about why we go to the doctor. He knows everything that is going to happen and all before the appt. because we talk about it together, but I think he is starting to realize that he goes to the doctor more than the girls and that he has to experience things that they don't. Please pray for God to give us the right time and the right words as we talk to Joey about this. Pray that Joey will understand that NF is just a small part of him, but that it in no way defines who is. Pray for the peace of God to transcend his sweet heart and pray that fear will have no place in his life. He is very brave and I am so proud of what a trooper he is!!!
Well that was a long post to get started...oh don't worry they all won't be this long(: We love you all and miss you. Have to run and get Emi in the bed for nap!
"My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever." ~Psalm 73:26
Just had to throw a little love out to my girl! I have been walking through a pretty tough time the last couple of months. As you can imagine with three little ones there is not a ton of time for quiet prayer and reflection. So for the past couple of weeks on Thursday nights while Terry is teaching at North Georgia, my bestie has come over to my house with her two little ones to give me that reflection time. She literally kicks me out of my house and feeds, bathes, and loves on my kiddos (which is hard since they are pretty poopy to her). Just wanted to let her know that she is "da bomb" and I am so very thankful for her!!! 
