CORRECTION....

I said in an earlier post that the singing was at Discovery, but it is at New Century Technology High School close to Bridgestreet. I have no idea where I came up with Discovery....lol! Anyway hope to see you all there so you can all see how Kensley is walking now.

She's Walking!!!!

I didn't think I would see this day until months down the road, but we are so thankful that Kensley is taking steps by herself. It all started yesterday when she took 4 steps at therapy and when Dustin got home he had her holding on to the wall walking up and down the hall. Then I got home and she wanted to show me, so she walked up and down the hall and then we had her just walk back and forth to me and Dustin and she would take several steps. She can probably take anywhere from 7-10 steps by herself. She was so excited about this as were we. I really think the shoes we got over the weekend have helped her to feel more balanced and comfortable. I can't wait to see what the therapists have to say about her today. Everyday is an improvement and we are so thankful to God for that because it is because of His Grace and Mercy that she is where she is today. I worried about how long it would take her to walk again because she loved Summer time and I wanted her to be able to enjoy that this year too and I was afraid if she wouldn't walking by then that it would be really hard on her seeing the other kids outside playing, but I am so encouraged that she will be walking completely by that time. Please keep her in your prayers and we love each and everyone of y'all. Here are a couple of pictures Dustin took of her.

Back Full Time

Last Thursday was my first day back to work full time. I'm thankful it has worked out to where I can come back to work, I enjoy working, but on the other hand I miss getting to spend that quality time with Kensley. It has worked out to where my mom is getting to keep her now and Kens thinks that is just wonderful. She says Mawmaw lets her do what ever she wants to do and for the most part that is true. I was really dreading coming back full time, but so far it has not been that bad because I have been so busy.

I got the prescription today from the doctor for her to go back to school 2-3 half days per week. She has talked about this non-stop and we went this weekend to try and find some shoes that would fit over her brace and we were able to get her some Nikes and I have never seen a kid so excited over getting to wear some shoes, but she is just overwhelmed that we finally found some to fit the left foot. I still have not been able to find any dress shoes to fit with it, but we are just dealing with that right and hoping she is not going to have to wear this thing much longer. She has come so far, she can now walk really well with you just holding her hand.

Konnor is doing good. We had a singing Friday night at Limrock and on the last song Dustin let him play the drums and he did really good too. He was so excited to get to do that. He loves anything to do with music, I do believe he will follow in his daddy's footsteps.

Other than that we don't have much going on right now. I hope to see everyone March 5th at the Praying for Kensley singing at Discovery School.

The Circus!

Last Thursday we went to the circus with some of our best friends, The Stilwells. First we went to Wings to get a bite to eat, in hopes to not spend so much on the pricey food there, but you know once the kids start seeing everything its hard to tell them no, so we did have to buy Konnor's favorite dipping dots and Kensley wanted one of those expensive lemonades and popcorn, and who can pass up popcorn. And I let them buy one toy a piece, Konnor picked out the sword and Kensley got the light up spinning toy. We had really good seats, I think we were on the fourth row from the floor. Konnor's favorite of course was when all the motorcycles were all in that ball riding around. Kensley loved the acrobats and the elephants. Here are some pics from our exciting night.

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These pictures were made at Wings, can't you tell Konnor was so excited to have his picture made!

Here is Kens with her new toy she got.



Konnor and Sydnee being silly.

A few from the entertainment.

God Has It All In Control.....

The title of this post comes from a song that my husband and Shannon Bryd wrote recently for some friends of ours and those words are so true. There are times when I look at Kensley and just wish she was as well as she was before the accident and it is hard not to question God, but I know this all happened for a reason and I don't ever want to catch myself questioning Him, but we all are human and those questions will go through your mind. And although they didn't write this song for me the words of it are so true God Has It All In Control and we just have to step back and let Him take over and everything will work out for the best.

Kensley begs to go back to school and I feel so sorry for her that she doesn't get to participate like she normally would, but when she is around all the kids at church and they are running around playing she is never left out, it is more like she is the center of attention and the kids love to play with her. I'm so thankful for our church family, they have been there for us through all of this and we could have never made it through with out them.

We had a meeting at the school today to start some physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy at home, but they have given me the ok to call the doctor and get a prescription to start her back to school for half days maybe 2-3 days a week. She will be so thrilled to get to go back. We attended library with her class this morning, although she was very sad to leave, she enjoyed getting to see them. The Lord has blessed us beyond all measures and I hope that through this process that I will be able to help someone else down the road.

Making Progress.....

I know it has been awhile since I have posted and I am sorry, but things have just been so crazy and when I do have time it seems like all I want to do is rest. But Kensley is improving daily and we thank our Lord for how far she has come. She is using her walker quite a bit now and she is amazed within herself that she can do it. She will be walking and just say "WOW I can walk". It is the most precious thing. We are still going to therapy three times a week plus doing homebound school, so there is not a lot of free time and what free time I have I am trying to get in some hours at work. Dustin has started taking one day a week to let me go in to work and have a break and its nice to have adult conversations. My job has been wonderful to me and I am so thankful that the Lord provided me with this job. Speaking of conversations, Kensley has come out of her shell, she loves to talk and will talk your head off, she doesn't meet a stranger and has become a comedian too. I have talked with my case manager and the doctor's office from Birmingham about letting Kensley go back to school and they have told me that she could probably go back part time if the homebound teacher thought it was ok, otherwise we may wait until our appt in March for the doctors to re-evaluate her and see if she is ready. I'm not sure if she went back part time how we would fit everything in to our schedule. With the detour going to school it takes me an hour to drop off and get back home, so most of my time would be spent driving everywhere and I'm not one who likes to drive, it tends to make me sleepy, but I know Kensley would love going back to school cause she asks me daily when she can go back.

We have our moments of breakdowns too. This is a lifestyle change and it has taken time to get used to it. I think at first I was so overwhelmed with getting everything in order for her and making sure we had everything at home that we needed that the initial shock of it didn't hit me until later. We were at home one day and I got to looking at my pictures and found the one that I took of her on the first day of school and just lost it and then she lost it and we just cried together. I try not to cry in front of her, I try to wait until I by myself just because I don't want no one else to worry or see me crying. Dustin just doesn't understand sometimes I just need to let it all out, he thinks I should have a reason for crying. The Lord has really comforted me through all of this, but I know that there are going to be breakdowns moments to.

Konnor is doing good, he had a couple of problems at school, but I think we have gotten those taken care of. He is all boy and too much of that came out at school. And another incident of his was the first ice and snow that we got, he was seen sliding across the iced pond!!!!! I know boys will be boys, but thank God he didn't fall through. This past Saturday he was over at Suzie's playing with Kamron and Kade and we were leaving to go take some food up to the hospital and here they all come wet and muddy and Dustin got on to them and when we left I asked him how many times did he get in the water in the freezing cold and he told me none, but I know that's not true. I try to cut him some slack cause I know he is just a boy and that's what boys do. Konnor loves his dad and to me that is his idol. But Kade spent the night Saturday night and Sunday night we went upstairs and they had built them a studio and were pretending to record. They had gotten stuff out of the attic and had it all set up. I thought it was really cute. For the Valentine's pictures he first of all was mad that he was having them done because he missed getting to go to the studio with his dad, but once we started them he because creative and wanted to act like he was writing a song and then he had them made with a guitar and they all turned out so well. Here is the storyboard that Marty made of my kids pictures.






I would also like for everyone to pray for some good friends of ours, Bro. Darrin and Sis. Natasha Isbell. He fell and crushed his spine and has had to have surgery and is now headed to Atlanta for therapy. I've been there and know what it's like, but I know that they have God on their side and everything will work out for them. And pray for their kids also, they have two little girls and this will be equally as hard on them having to be away from their parents cause I know it was hard on Konnor, but we all know that God will deliver them back together real soon.

We love all of y'all and hope to see everyone really soon! Oh and I hope to have some more pictures up to, I just don't have my camera with me.