King Family Update

We have some news...

That's right, we will soon be a family of four!!


We cannot wait to meet our newest little joy. October 2010!

Jo

Yesterday the unthinkable happened.

I had a session scheduled in the Woodlands. Russ and Campbell tagged along so we could walk around/eat dinner afterwards. We did the pictures on the Waterway, then the three of us headed over to the outdoor area connected to the mall to eat. We took a round-about way (mostly because we didn't exactly know where we were going). We probably walked about three miles total.

We got to the Cheesecake Factory, waited for a table, were seated, and were unloading the stroller and putting stuff in the diaper bag. Russ handed me Campbell's little lovey blanket that she always carries with her baby, Jo. I asked where Jo was. We started frantically searching through all of our stuff. Nothing.

Jo was missing. We both freaked. Russ went and checked the stroller. Nothing. He ran up the sidewalk where we had been walking as we waited for our table. Nothing.

Many, many parents will identify with both Campbell's (and our) attachment to Jo. She goes everywhere with us, is a staple at bedtime and mealtime, and provides security in new situations for Campbell. She endured 19 days at Texas Childrens and recently got a major bath when Campbell took her diaper off at naptime and accidentally peed on Jo. Waiting for Jo to dry outside on the patio table was excruciating for Campbell that day.

We paid for our drinks, packed up our stuff, and took off. We retraced our steps, walking those miles again (I might have been running some). We got back to the place where I had taken the pictures and...nothing. I started sobbing. Russ and Campbell went up to the car to make sure she wasn't there and I retraced the steps again.

We ended up at Pottery Barn Kids, looking at cloth dolls, thinking maybe if she picked out a new doll things would be okay for the night. By that time we were all starving, feet aching, Campbell had peed through her diaper and clothes (we may have been a little distracted), and I was borderline emotional mess. We left PBK with $95 dollars worth of new baby (Abby) and coordinating outfits.

Today, Campbell hates Abby, has asked for Jo a hundred times, and I have cried about fifteen times about it. I have always marveled over how much Campbell loved her and how sweet she was with her. Today when she asks for her and I've tried to explain "we don't know where she is. Jo is lost", she has told me "Jo in car" and " Jo in bed". When we put her down for her nap this afternoon she asked for her again. Russ said "how about Abby?". Campbell said "how about Jo?" :)

The positive note about all of this is that I contacted the seller on Etsy who made Jo. She doesn't make the dolls anymore, but she was so touched by the story that she is trying to track down the fabrics to make Campbell another one. I am praying she can and will, and that Campbell will never know the difference.

Otherwise the Kings might be in morning for Jo for a long time.

Meeting Jo for the first time on Easter last year. She loved her instantly.

Feeding Jo in her new highchair on Christmas Morning.

At the end of my photo session yesterday, right before we started walking along the Waterway. Jo's sitting in the stroller.

These days

These days are busy and full...

*These days, I am 39 hours away from being done with my LPC (licensed professional counselor). I took the big exam the day after I found out I was pregnant with Campbell and began the process of completing the required 3000 supervised hours a few months after. Ever since Campbell was born I've worked three days a week, which has dragged out the process a little, but I am finally almost there!

My fabulous company has agreed to create a new position for me, only working 2 days a week. I can also pick my days, which is awesome since the past few years I have worked different days every week. I am unbelievably excited about dropping a day of work and having more time with my sweet girl AND being able to do playgroups and playdates and storytime (since we will finally have a set schedule). In anticipation of finishing, I have been working extra days since the beginning of February. It has been exhausting and I have hated being away from CRK so much, but I am looking forward to my new schedule!

*These days Russ is busy studying to take the state ESL test this weekend and the GRE next weekend. Campbell and I are so proud of how hard he works for us, his desire to be a GREAT teacher, and how hard he is working to advance his education.

*These days the photography spring rush is in full swing. I am BUSY. I do love it, but combined with my current work schedule, it has been crazy.

*These days Campbell Rose is developing into a funny, opinionated, almost two-year old. Bless her heart, I think she has gotten more spankings in the last week than in the past two months combined. We are also contending with sickness, the emergence of two-year molars, and attempting to drop from two naps to one. It's a lot for a girl to handle!

She has recently learned the word "no". Literally one day I asked her a question and she shook her head no for the first time. The next day I asked her a question and she told me "no". She says no as sweetly as I would have expected her to, but don't be fooled - she says it a lot. Sometimes it seems like she says no to everything, but mostly it seems like she fully means what she is saying. Yesterday I asked her if she wanted a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch. She told me "no. oatmeal". Sure enough she ate two bowls of oatmeal for lunch.

*These days we are loving our life as three!

Their First Date

Last night our church hosted a Father/Daughter Dance. Russ and Campbell had their first official date. I photographed the dance, so I was lucky enough to spy on my favorite couple!

Some pictures of the sweet couple getting ready for their night out.

At the dance. They didn't actually dance much, as Campbell was more interested in climbing on and off chairs and eating cookies.

And she's done. This girl turns into a pumpkin at 7:00 pm.

Gorgeous

I figured I haven't done a good job updating on CRK's current development/extreme cuteness. I like doing it, if for no reason other than me to look back on.

Campbell at 21 months:

*Talking more and more everyday. About a month ago she had a language explosion. Prior to 20 months she said quite a few words, however a lot of the time she would just say the first half of the word ("ri" for rice, "che" for cheese) . All of the sudden it was as if something clicked and her language increased about 300%. She says the full word for everything now, is putting together short sentences ("dada car out"), and learns new words and phrases at an unbelievable rate. Literally last week she said her full name for the first time ("Cam-uell"). This week she mastered saying it correctly AND yesterday I asked her what her name is and she said "Campbell Rose King". Brilliant.

*She looks so much like her daddy that sometimes it is startling to me. Something about that mouth closed over those big teeth, she makes the exact same facial expression as him when she is looking serious.

*She has a lot of hair for a one year old. She frequently looks like a mop-top.

*She has recovered weight-wise and has become a really good eater. Since she was released from the hospital, she has gained almost 7 pounds. I was looking back at pictures from when we at TCH and the difference is amazing. Praise God for such a healthy girl!

*As sweet as ever. She loves to be cuddled, loves to sit in my lap in the rocking chair and read books, gives TONS of hugs and kisses, and often tells me "Mama, hold you, carry you". When she was a baby I was so sad she wouldn't always be as cuddly as a newborn. God definitely heard my prayers and gave me a little girl who loves to hug and cuddle a thousand times a day.

*Loves her babies (Jo and Steph Reagan) and carries them around a lot. Lately she has been putting her little purse on her shoulder and pushing her baby around in the stroller a lot.

*Campbell's first words (after "hi!") were the names of people she loves. Mama, Da-da, Mimi, Da, Yamy, Drew, La-La, Greg, Grandma, Paw-paw, Gigi, and Bob-bob are her favorite things to talk about. She also loves her friends, Miss-miss, Spencer, Ellison, Shan, Dude, Drew, Kate, Nik, J, Elle, Ry-Ry, and Jenny. She requests to pray for someone different every night (although many times it is Uncle Drew and someone else). We also sing a version of "Wheels on the Bus" that is personalized with people she loves (the Mimi on the bus says "I made some rice" and the Yamy on the bus says "take my picture"). It's by far her favorite song and she is constantly adding people.

Obviously I could talk about her all day, because she does so many things that are precious, that make us laugh, and that make her so uniquely her. We love her.

This and That

Some current happenings, in the form of a list...

1. This weekend my good friend/next-door neighbor, Missy, hosted a Valentine's Baking Day. Since they moved in (two years ago next month! How faithful was God in delivering such a precious friend to me!), Missy has kept us well-feed, challenged my cooking abilities, and introduced us to a world of new recipes. Saturday she had some girls over for baking time. In true Missy-fashion, it was very organized and very cute (that about sums her up to me :). The end result was a TON of sweets and getting to know some new girls. Thanks Miss!


2. We had a great time watching the Superbowl with friends. Thank you to the Bortkas for hosting us again this year. I use the word "watching" very loosely, as the girls sat in another room and talked, which I would gladly choose any day over watching football!

3. Speaking of the Bortka's, I did a session with them on Saturday morning. Erin bought Adam a session for as Christmas, as they haven't had any pictures made together since they got married. It was not only so fun, but I'm pretty sure this might be one of the best sessions I've ever shot. It's easy when your subjects are so willing and attractive!

4. We went to a 100th day party with Russell's staff from school on Friday night (apparently I'm not going in chronological order here). Most of the staff knew Russ to be pretty reserved, which is the norm, since he takes a couple of years to warm up to people (love you baby!). If you've ever seen Russ dance, you know that there is nothing reserved about his dancing. He is crazy. And hilarious. And awesome. By the time we left the party, the staff as a whole was in shock. I can't imagine the reaction he has gotten at school the past few days.

5. We had a follow-up at Texas Children's today with CRK's renal doctor. Her blood pressures have been a bit high. Not alarmingly high, but trending on the very high side of what is acceptable. Dr. Kale is going to raise the dosage of her medication a little and see if that decreases the pressures. She said we may need to order an ultrasound to look at her artieries, particularly the spot that was previously opened up in surgery. She mentioned that they may need to go back in surgically to re-balloon the spot or others. We are praying that God would decrease her blood pressures and she would respond to the increase in medication.

6. My heart has been heavy for the Marsh family and sweet Layla Grace. According to Shanna's twitter, they spoke with the doctor today about hospice options. Please pray for this family as they prepare to say goodbye to their daughter.

7. It is certainly a lot easier to blog when you don't include pictures!

Unanswered Questions

If I have not written much of anything regarding Campbell's hospitalization in the two months since we have been home, it is largely because I, and Russ and I together, have spent much of this time processing. Processing what we have gone through. Processing the changes God has initiated in us as a result of this trial. Processing the miracle God has given us.

I have struggled over the last few months as I have sought to understand so many things. Why did God spare Campbell? How do I respond now? Some of our responses have been automatic. We came out of this situation knowing that we wanted to be people who gave more, who were there when others were hurting - regardless of how comfortable it was or was not. I vowed to not use that phrase "let me know what I can do", but rather be one who simply did (as I will never stop being grateful for those who did for us when we most needed it).

And yet there are deeper things, deeper questions. I have no doubt that the Sovereign God has plans that I do not understand. I have no doubt that while here on this earth there will be unanswered questions, there will be things we don't understand. And yet I feel the need to make some sense, to have some reasoning as to why God, my God who knows all and is above all, chose to give Campbell the chance to live a full and normal life.

Today our friends, Ryan and Shanna Marsh, were told that their precious two year-old daughter has two months to live. Having been treated for an aggressive form of cancer since May 2009, Layla has undergone surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, and a bone marrow transplant. After reviewing her recent scans, doctors found new tumors had formed despite all of the treatment.

Shanna and I knew each other in high school and were on drill team together. Up until several months ago, I had not seen her since shortly after high school graduation. After Layla got sick, I got back in touch with her to see if there was anything we could do to help them. This past fall I got involved with planning a fundraiser with several other girls, to raise money for Layla's medical costs. It was several weeks before the fundraiser that Campbell was hospitalized. The fundraiser took place while we are at the hospital and Layla was hospitalized again pretty quickly after the fundraiser. During the time we were at Texas Children's, Ryan and Shanna became a great support to us, both in prayer and encouragement.

As we talked about Layla tonight, as we prayed for her, Ryan, Shanna, and her sisters, Russ and both had the same thoughts running through our heads.

Why not us? Why did God give us a miraculous outcome, while the Marsh's have been given the most devastating news I can imagine?

While I may not yet (ever?) understand the "why" behind it all, I do know that God is loving, compassionate, and purposeful.

Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose."