The Princess Turns 5

Princess Bella turned 5 yesterday!!!  So for all those that paid attention during her journey home and through her 2 1/2 year cancer treatment...HERE SHE IS!  Almost 2 years out from her last Chemo and healthy and perfect and very happy!!!!  God's Glory!!!!

73 Days and Counting!

2 years and 1 month ago our sweet girl was diagnosed with ALL Leukemia, today, we have 73 days left of her treatment! 73 days, I remember when they told us that this treatment was 2 years and 3 months, at the time, it seemed like eternity. I recall being overwhelmed by her medical calender, so many daily meds, so many apts, now, I don't even think about it. Many parents in the treatment room fear the day their child's treatment is complete, I live in the daily faith that she was healed the day we claimed it in Jesus name and I look forward to Dec. 23rd. She continues and always will be a walking healthy testimony to the absolute truth of God's Living Word!

Yesterday, Bella was granted her Make A Wish trip to Walt Disney World for next May, 2011. She is very excited to meet the Princesses and have lunch with them in Cinderella's castle, and so is Mommy. Even her Dad and brothers are looking forward to this day. From what they have told us, they leave no stone unturned for Bella and her family to have a "royal" experience.

Bella continues to thrive, her hair is absolutely stunning...thick, long, shiny and silky. She is strong, has an amazing vocabulary and loves to laugh. She weighs 38 lbs, so curious what she will be when she is done with steroids next year. She loves everything girlie, Princesses and Fancy Nancy are among her favorites, however, she can wrestle her brothers to the ground (well, she thinks she is any way) and loves to play soccer and football with "her boys". When of my favorite things she is doing right now is that when we walk through stores or any public place she will wrap her arms around one of us and say "this is my Mommy" or this is "my Sammy" or "these are my boys". She nestles her chubby little cheek right in to ours...its the best.

I know I have not updated since April and I apologize. I so appreciate you checking in and still keeping tabs on us and Bella.

Blessings to all

Visit to Missouri

It was time for our annual visit to spend time with Cheri and Malaena and family. It was wonderful and always so hard to leave. We had a blessed time and Cheri took wonderful photos of the girls.

Bella had a spinal tap today and chemo and started her monthly dose of steroids again. She is doing GREAT and has the most gorgeous head of hair. It's just glows and announces "God's Glory" to all who see her.

Spring arrived 2 weeks early this year, we have even had several days of summer! It's been such a blessing.

Thanks for checking in. Blessings!

Begotten of God

Then and Now

This is Bella today! Full thick head of soft curly hair.

This was Bella a year ago, she had just lost her head of hair.

Through it all, a 2 year adoption process, missing the first 8 months of her life here at home, Leukemia diagnosis 5 months after getting her home and today, a thriving 2 1/2 year old walking in the Glory of God, its all been good! Someone said to me today that life is how you look at it, for us, it's how much trust do you put in God. This whole experience start to finish, has been more good than bad. Yes, we would rather have had her home at birth, and yes, we would rather have completely skipped the Leukemia diagnosis, however, God has turned all that to good over and over again. We know we live in a fallen world, sickness, disease, lack are not of God, but His Word prevails, His promises are true and we are a walking testimony of it. When I think of this entire experience since 2006 when we first started the process of adoption, I am brought to me knees in complete awe of what God has done. Not just in the physical, more importantly, our Spirits. We could start our own "Never the same Camp" with all we have experienced. It's all good, it's truly all good.

Bella wrapped up steroids this week, she and I are re-cooperating. Let's just say I hold very strong to God's promise of "He who is in you is greater than He who is in the world". Steroids are not only physically tough on Bella, but Mama too. Chemo in April includes spinal tap chemo and intervenous, but Bella is such a pro and it truly is no big deal now. It's a a half day spent at the hospital, but it feels so normal to us now...how crazy is that. Next year at this time, it will be OVER! We have 9 months left and are waiting for her "Make-A-Wish" paperwork to arrive so that we can apply for her wish. According to Bella, she want's to eat at "Cinderella's Castle", so looks like we will be heading back to Orlando after Christmas rather than a cruise. It's Bella's wish and none of us are complaining.

Have a blessed weekend, so much excitement as we prepare to celebrate and remember that "He has Risen", and therefore, so are we!

Bella and Disney

(UPDATE on Make A Wish Trip....fyi, Bella is absolutely healed and we know and believe with every part of our being and spirit that Leukemia is gone forever and will NOT ever return! However, the medical industry considers Leukemia a"terminal" cancer, so therefore, she will be granted a Make A Wish trip.)

We just returned from a trip to Orlando, FL to spend a week with Grandma and Grandpa. While visiting them, we spend two days at Walt Disney World touring Magic Kingdom, Disney Studios and Epcot. Phew.....3 Disney Parks in two days was a whirl wind, but wonderful. Bella was so sweet and her absolute high lights were meeting Mickey and Minnie and riding the Goofy Barnstormer Roller Coaster.

This was NOT Bella's "Make a Wish" trip, we are waiting to apply for that trip in December as Bella will be done with Chemo January 2011!!! Bella is completely healed by the Power and Victory of Jesus, this trip will by celebratory of our finished accomplishment of Medical Treatment. We are hoping to take the Disney Cruise, our other thought is the Nickolodean Cruise (Bella's first character love is still Dora and then Disney)...it will be totally up to Bella and at 3 1/2, she will be more apt to make her desire known.

Inter-venous chemo this week and steroids, all will be well.

Blessings to all of you.

You are my Sunshine

Sammy caught Bella singing yesterday, thought I would share it.

Were doing great! Bella had chemo yesterday and the two of us are healing from a nasty cold virus, but all is well. I struggle to update the blog, but please catch me on facebook, I am on that usually at least once a day and I post pics of Bella often.

Snow Bunny

Bella loves the SNOW! Thank goodness, because we get plenty of it. She loves to play in it, lay in it and especially loves to eat it. Her "boys" as she calls them, took her out at night to play in the snow and sled down the driveway snow mounds. When it was time to come in 45 minutes later, she cried and cried. She is definitely a product of her environment being that she was born in a country called "eternal Spring".

Chemo and Spinal Tap on Monday, along with her monthly start to steroids and the newly added med of the month "PROZAC"! Ahhhh..........the happy pill.

A quick glimpse of Christmas