gymnastics meet #2

Cheyenne and Sierra had their second gymnastics meet this past weekend. This time it was only the girls in levels 1, 2, 3, and 4 so it went much faster. It was fun to see the improvements they have made in the couple of months since the last meet. They each came home with one blue ribbon-Cheyenne for vault and Sierra for beam. Cheyenne also got two reds and one white. Sierra received one red and two whites. Here are some pictures from the day.

Sierra marching in with her group.

Sierra LOVES gymnastics! She gets so excited that she bounces up and down from the time we get there until the time we leave.
Cheyenne with her group during the opening introductions.
Sierra on the bars. She's gotten sooooo much better since the beginning of the year.
Look at that finish!!!

Here's Cheyenne on the beam.

She's still a little scared of it, but she's getting much better.

Sierra on the beam.

She got a blue ribbon on beam!

Cheyenne on the bars.

The coaches are allowed to give some support at this level.

I have videos of their floor routines and their vaults. My computer is not cooperating with me today and I am tired of trying to get them to load, so I will have to post them another time.

They have such a blast at gymnastics! I can't wait to see them at the next meet!

Update on Landon

It's been a while since I've had time to write a post (actually, it's more of an issue of having energy leftover at the end of the day). We have entered birthday season at the Harmon house and that has been keeping us pretty busy. My birthday is on January 3, then Cheyenne on January 13, my mom (grandma Debbie) on the 15th, Sierra on February 2. It's been fun, but I'm ready for a birthday break!

Landon is doing really well. He hasn't had another seizure (that we know of) other than the one on January 17. We were able to get him in to see the pediatrician on January 18. Dr. B checked him over and said that everything looked fine. She scheduled him to have an EEG on Friday, January 22 in Oklahoma City.

I won't go into all the details of the EEG, but I am sure that I NEVER want to have to do that again. It was not a fun process for any involved. Thankfully, though, the doctors were able to get the results they needed from the test so I guess it was worth it.

As of right now, they can't find anything that would have caused Landon to have a seizure. Apparently, it's common for someone to have one or two seizures in their lifetime and never know why. Dr. B said that he would have to have several (at least more than 2) more before they would consider treating him with any type of medication. Her instructions to us were to watch him like a hawk in the tub and to just let him be a little boy. So, that is what we are doing. I still get a little concerned when I don't hear him for a few minutes, but that really has more to do with me wondering what he's getting into than worry that something's wrong.

We are so thankful to know none of the things they were looking for on the EEG were found (brain tumor, brain bleeds, abnormal activity in the brain). Those were some scary thoughts to live with for the few days we had to wait. I know so many other moms and dads don't get the kind of good news we did.

I am so thankful that I am getting to spend my days with my boy enjoying things like this

(the first snowman that he built "by himself").
We're having a great time and can't wait until the girls can join us when school's out!

Don't know what he was thinking here, but I'm pretty sure it's trouble!

Pray for Abby Riggs

This little girls' story breaks my heart. Please stop by her family's blog and read about her struggles and pray for her. And give thanks for all the healthy children you know. No child should have to endure the things that poor Abby does (and many, many more children like her).

This is YOUR child...

Yesterday I experienced one of the scariest moments of my life. I was lying in bed watching television when Daniel came in and said "I need your help." I asked what was going on and he said "I don't know, something's wrong with Landon." I found my baby lying on his bed not moving or talking and gasping for breath. I tried to talk to him, but he couldn't get any coherent response out. His eyes wouldn't focus on me.

I kept trying to get him to talk to me and stay awake. I sent Cheyenne and Sierra to get some clothes on and Daniel went to get dressed. Cheyenne brought me some clothes and I threw them on. I woke Dakota and got her dressed while Daniel got everyone else in the van. Landon was buckled into the middle passenger seat in the van, so I climbed in and sat on the floor next to him. He still couldn't seem to wake up. He was limp and his body just flopped about with every movement of the van.

We flew through town to the hospital. When we got there, everyone seemed to be moving in slow motion. The ER was packed! The ladies at the desk didn't seem at all concerned about the lethargic little boy in my arms. They took their sweet time doing whatever it is that they have to do on the computer, etc and even took a phone call as we stood there. Even when Landon started to vomit on the floor, they made no move to help...(I'm sure they were just doing their job, but it's frustrating in the moment).

By the time we got back into a room and the nurses and doctor came in, Landon had started to come around some. His breathing was better. He still didn't have much muscle control and couldn't stand or walk well on his own.

Daniel went out to make some phone calls and the nurses came in to draw blood. They decided to wrap him in a sheet to help keep him still (didn't really work). I stood by him and talked to him and tried to help keep him still. Unfortunately, he didn't cooperate very well and ended up having to get stuck on the other arm as well.

Once that was all done and he had calmed down, he fell asleep. He slept quite a while and was still asleep when they came to get him for a CT scan. We had to wait in the room until they brought him back.

I went out to make some calls. When I came back, Landon was back and Daniel was holding him. We had to wait a long time for the doctor to come back, which didn't make Landon very happy. He was ready to get out of there.

The doctor finally came in and told us that Landon most likely had a seizure. He wanted us to follow up with Landon's regular doctor as soon as possible.

While we were there, our wonderful friends (and pastors from our church) Norman and Louise came by. Louise was kind enough to take the girls with her so they didn't have to stay in the waiting room and Norman stayed with us until he knew that Landon was doing better. While Norman was there, he came back into Landon's room and had prayer with us. I don't remember anything he said except for the first five words: "Lord, this is YOUR child..."

Those were exactly the words I needed to hear at that moment. Thank you, Norman, for having the wisdom to choose those words to calm this mother's heart.

Lord, this is, indeed, Your child. You are the one who created him and who knew him from before he was born. You know everything about him and designed him exactly the way that he should be. You know his path in the world and You will be there to guide each and every step. Nothing that has happened or that will happen is a surprise to You.
Lord, guide us as his parents in knowing what to do for him. Give us peace and strength to rely on You to show us the way to go. Be with the doctors who will be treating him as we try to do what is best for him.
Lord, this is YOUR child. And I place him into Your loving hands. There is no one who could care for him better than You.

Holiday photo bloghop

Cookies for Santa 2008

My new toy

I just downloaded a free trial of photoshop yesterday to go with the new camera. I must say that I am IN LOVE with photoshop. That's definitely not to say that I am any good at using it yet but I am having a blast playing around with all the cool things I can do with my pictures now. Here are some of my favorite creations so far.

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If anyone is really good at photoshop and would like to give me some tips, I would love to hear them! I love to take pictures and would love it even more if I could take really good pictures, so let me know what you think!

The stockings are hung by the chimey with care...

I have FINALLY started decorating and baking for Christmas. Last night I made these super yummy cookies.

Don't be too proud of me though. I found the peanut butter cookie dough pre-made in the refrigerated section the other day. I did have to actually roll it into a ball and put the kisses in myself, so I consider it homemade anyway. I guess I did a pretty good job because when Daniel tasted the first one last night he said "this is the greatest thing ever!"

Today, we decorated the mantle and I played around trying to get used to the new camera. I think I've still got a ways to go, but a few of the shots turned out okay. (I also downloaded a free trial of Photoshop. I'm still playing around with it, but it is soooooooo cool! May be asking for the full version for my birthday!)


We also put up the tree. We will add the decorations tomorrow. For today, we just put the tinsel on and lit it up. I can't wait to see how pretty it will be once the kids get the decorations on.

We got a new ornament for my dad and I can't wait to get it on the tree.

I'm planning on making white pretzels with the kids tomorrow too. We will do one batch with crushed candy canes in the almond bark and one without. Yum! That's another of my favorite Christmas treats!

We'll also be reading this book tomorrow

Hope you all are having a great time preparing for Christmas! I know we are!