It's Here!!

Alana's videos are finally uploaded to a YouTube site. The link for the video's is on the side of my blog page. Just click on it. You will enjoy the videos. You will get to see how happy she was, despite all of her serious health issues. You will get to see why she was so loved by us and many others who knew her. The video shows why we called her "Our Lil Fighter."

Yesterday afternoon we had a birthday party for Aaron, who is now 20 and for Ashlee, who is 18. Their birthdays are on Jan. 15 and Jan. 17. Many family and friends came over to celebrate their birthdays at our home. I can't believe I have children that are 21, 20 and 18. I am still feeling rather young. It was nice to just have friends and family over to celebrate a happy occasion.

Early this afternoon, my grandmother flew back to Florida after being here since December 20, 2009. Yes, she arrived on the same day Alana went home to be with the Lord. On that same day my niece turned 9 years old. It was a busy day. My grandmother is a spry 87 year old beautiful, godly women. I am very glad that she was here during this difficult in our lives. She has sweet memories of spending time with Alana. What touched me the most about my grandmother being here in CT was what she said to me last night as she was saying her good-byes. She said to me that she was glad that she was here to see and say good-bye to her great-granddaughter. Now, mind you, Alana was adopted by us this past May and my grandmother has only seen her a few times, but yet she loved her like her own biological great-grand. For some reason that meant the world to me.

When I found out that my grandmother was coming for a visit this past December, we were all going to take a trip to NY to visit with Alana. The Lord had other plans. God's will is always better.

Well, sicknesses are starting to settle into our home. My four year old is sick, my seven year old boy, Antonio is also sick. He is the one that ends up in the hospital every winter. So far, he has done quite well this cold season. I am a little nervous right now and am praying he can fight through this illness and not end up in the hospital. January and February for him are the "bad months." He has sever asthma and a narrow airway(subglottic stenosis). This narrowing in his airway causes him to get croup like symptoms that unfortunately do not respond to your conventional croup treatments. It can be a fightening time for him and the rest of us when he has trouble breathing.

Antonio's health is the very reason why we decided to homeschool him this year. While he was in school from K-4 - first grade he was always sick. It would start in September and last through April. He missed quite a bit of school. My husband and I talked about what was the best thing to do regarding Antonio and the fact that Alana was in the hospital in NY. Like I mentioned the right decision was to go ahead and teach him at home and we would just let the Lord work out the rest, and that He did. When I was in NY during the week my husband or my oldest son would teach him. When I was home I would teach. I would have lesson plans made up for my husband and son when they had to take over. As I look back on these past months, I can hardly believe I made it through. That was definitely God's doing. Please pray for Antonio and his health. He also has to have surgery for the removal of his gallbladder.

Again thank you all for your continued prayers. God continues to show us His infinite wisdom in regards to Alana's passing. It has been amazing to see some of His workings.

God is good.