Happy New Year's Eve!!!

So excited for 2013! A new year is always exciting! I couldn't be more blessed to have two HEALTHY boys and amazing hubby who got a new job and that I get to stay home and take care of my family!!!! Health is the motto of our year! No money, no materials, no things are more important than our health to keep us all together as a family! Praying for a prosperous and healthy new year for all our family and friends!!!!! Love The Decker's

iPad blogging whoot whoot!!!!

My amazing hubby saved his money for months and months to purchase me an iPad for Christmas. I was in tears not so much for the gift(although I do love it). But more because of his amazing thoughtfulness and love that he has for me. It is overwhelming and so amazing. And he did it right and saved slowly because he knows I would not have approved of spending that kind of money right now. Hope to blog more frequently now. Hope you all had an amazing Christmas. Our boys were sooo adorable and we had lots of great family times. We have two more Christmas's this weekend and I am so excited to celebrate with all of them too!!

Why...oh why?

Well before I begin my update on Luke's appointment and what our future holds....I can't help but take a minute to reflect on what the world is going through right now. I know everywhere you look and everywhere you turn you are hearing something about Newtown, Ct and lets be honast Christmas is getting closer, happier times are ahead and we are all trying to put this behind us as we should be. So I am sure in "deckerville" you are not wanting to hear even more about it but I can't bare the thought of not using this space to acknowledge it. I know it has hit hard to so many people in many different ways. ESPECIALLY parents!! New parents, old parents, grand parents, wanting to become a parents, but also to everyone else...sisters brothers aunts uncles cousins...you name it...people can relate. In my area I feel extremly somber as a parent. If that were to happen it would be the absolute worst thing in the entire world. The thought makes me feel like I could die right now in this very moment...however we all know that is not the case. I have other children,  a husband, a family, friends...people that count on me to be in their lives...eventually you'd have to get it together right?? It is going to take a LONG time for those parents to feel somewhat normal(never the same but at least functional). They will never be the same.
After reflecting on all that I feel a huge tug on my heart to remember this is NOT our eternal home. As scary as it may be to know you will not live forever in the flesh....there is peace in knowing there is an eternity. Even that is a wee bit frightening because it's the "unknown"....however I get through that remembering that I am not suppose to understand but to have faith(trust for the things unseen) that I will be better than ok. In times like these (or other hard times) I feel encouraged to read more, pray more, get filled with the things that make my life at peace....God's promises. That way my cup is over flowing and I don't have room for anything else. I have a notebook that sometimes I don't get a chance to look at but most days I try with people to pray for...it helps me stay accountable to pray for those going through big things in their lives and I think the families of Newtown will be in there for a long long time. I have no room to even try to compare or grasp the depth of their pain...however I do know that there is power in prayer. I have seen it many times and recieved that blessing. I do believe that people praying for you will give you peace that comes only from God . It's hard to understand even as a Christian "why God did you let this happen"...but I have to remember(again no room to compare here....) that even when we do pray for things before they happen....things happen. There is room for free will in men.....and beyond that.....sometimes things happen. I struggled alot before Luke faced his surgery. I felt like I was undeserving of this in my life as I DID pray EVERY SINGLE DAY for my baby to be perfect and healthy and whole...and he wasn't. How do you explain that? How do you explain that prayer has power when that doesn't follow through the way you want it?? Well....you don't. In that moment it doesn't make sense...but in time you see why it happened....or maybe not why it did originally however you see the steps that took place through it all and it makes sense. For me(and now I feel even guiltier for saying this during this time...) I saw nothing but amazing things from God. He is not our halfway healer but our WHOLE healer and heals us completly whole and I believe that it will continue to be that way for Luke. For those families in Newtown....the explination is hard...there isn't one....but I do know that it is not OF God and it is not His will for things like this to take place. I feel like there is a point where you have to look ahead and say "ok it happened now what do we do" instead of sitting in the "this is a nightmare and can't be true" phase. For them...that will be a long time from now so in the meantime they need as many prayers and I and eveyrone else can pour out on to them. I don't remember this every happening when I was a child. And if it did...how do you explain it to your child and what do you say to their questions? I guess in that time I will deal with that then...but in the mean time I will talk to my boys about heaven...and let them know that is where we will all be together forever...and that if anything ever happened to find the happiness and Thank GOD there is an eternity for those that love him. My biggest struggle about going to heaven is who may or may not be there.  I can tell you I want EVERY SINGLE PERSON I KNOW THERE!! Especially my family and friends but even beyond that. It doesn't take much it only takes BELIEVING He exsists...and that He sent his son Jesus to die on the cross for your sins. Living a life with Christ is much easier(especially in hard times) than living it without Him....but I must say having to die without Him would be far worse. So whether it's now(I strongly suggest now) or later....at some point I hope you all recieve Him and His amazing grace. In the meantime I will do what I can with what I know while I'm here.

As for our sweet sweet "Luku"(Lane's new nickname for his brother...It use to be Lukie then just "key key" now Luku has evolved:) The appointment went great. I did better than expected and SO APPRICIATE the prayers and texts I recieved that morning. So glad my dad and sis were there. I was choking back the tears as we drove by the subway stops and got close to cellular field but once we passed that I sucked it up...helped my dad with direction and focused on getting to the bathroom to pee!! haha! Yes I had to pee so bad that was all I could really think about(Lord...you work in mysterious ways...thank you:) Once we got into the waiting room I met a super nice Lady with her little 6 month old daughter who had the same surgery(well not exact same...her's was the sagital suture but same incission, same doctors, same time frames etc..). I so wish I would have got her information. She was great and had an older daughter about Lanes age as well. That was great convo in the waiting room and then it was our turn to go in. My sister was playing peek a boo with Luke and was a great distraction. By the time I got back there I felt pretty strong about it all. The doctor said Luke's head is hard and the helmet wouldn't do him anymore good. He was very pleased with his perfect sized head but did point our a few flaws in the shape. He said there is two small areas where his head has "knobs" on it and as his head expands and grows over the years if they stay too dominate he would be able to shave down that bone and fix that. Again it would be a major surgery like before but not quite as invasive. I asked him if he has had to do that to other paitents and he said yes....however some paitents heads grow, their hair comes in, and you'd never even notice it. BUT if we did come 4, 5, 6 years of age this is a cosmetic surgery we could do to perfect his apperance. Of course my stomache hit the floor and my heart was in my throat but after talking it out with my dad(whose so encouraging and simple "he's not gonna need that" he said in his perfect dad telling you what to do voice) and my sister who went over it  a few times with me reminding me it's cosmetic...up to the parents....not necessary for his well being and reminding me of Lane and his head size and hair and how no head is perfect...I felt much better. Of course my response was "well I guess I know what to pray for then." Like I said before He is our complete healer. I thank God everyday that Luke's head is coming into perfect alignment and I truley and honastly feel a peace about his future. His next appointment is in June for his 1 year post surgery Ct scan to make sure his brain has the proper room it needs etc...Then once that is completled we will go back once a year for approximatly 5 years.

I am resting in God's faithfulness....I will be still and KNOW that he is God. That all is well for my child and I will be more thankful than ever before( I didn't think that was possible after what we went through and the thought of losing him) now that I have experienced witnessing and much greater pain when it comes to children. He is here, alive, well, and perfect in everyway. I AM SOOOO BLESSED even though we walked down a tough road for a while....it could always be worse. For the families in Newtown...however I don't think it could get any worse than where they are at today....and for that I will pray that they will establish a realationship with Christ and come to know his saving knowledge....so that someday they will see and hold those beautiful children again....for that is our eternity which is much longer than the 90-100 years we live here with them. Think of it...parent on earth for 60-80 years...important YES....seeing your family in heaven for eternity...MUCH MORE IMPORTANT. Cherish the time you have with the ones you love and remember to make that choice to have them FOREVER!

NO MORE HELMIE BOY

LUKE IS HELMET FREE:) His head is the perfect size (52% on the chart to be exact...so right on track and average:) and all is well!! Longer update to follow. Hope everyone is having fun as Christmas is RAPIDLY approaching:)

A great pic of Luke's head

Sweet Luke laying In bed with us this morning! His head amazes me and looks better everyday

Thankful has a whole new meaning this year....

So I LOVE our families blog...can't you tell?? I really really do....however I need to figure out how to get the app on my hubby's iphone and update it from there because I am on there on the internet much much more than I am on my computer!! :) Anyways....we have a little BIG update! But first off....All is good with Luke. He had his (hopefully final) helmet fitting on this past Monday and they shaved the foam by his ears which is great because we felt it was getting too tight there. Our next appointment is Dec. 11th in Chicago with his plastic surgeon. He will be the decider if we will get to take it off then or if he will need to wear it one more month. If he does have to wear it one more month we will stop in Naperville on the way home to get a quick adjustment done. My dad and sister will be going to that appointment with Luke and I BECAUSSSEEEEEEEEE my hubby got a NEW JOB!! We are soooo excited! He is starting his job with Union Pacific on December 3rd!! He has been praying, "searching", praying, applying, praying, going to interviews, praying, getting rejected, praying, applying, praying(you get the jist) for a long time and we are so excited about this job. We KNOW this is the job God has been preparing for him and for us. I have decided to stay home full time with out doing hair out of our house. As most of you know...since Lane has been born I am home all day with him (and Luke now) and when my hubby walks in the door he takes care of the boys while I work. Then I come upstairs and we put the boys to bed and he goes to bed to get up at 230 am. So...the family of 4 time is far and few between and the hubby and wife time is just as few!!! I will continue to dance my 5 hours a week and be home when he is home all other times. :) It has been the desire of both of our hearts for me to be able to be home with the kids "and him" since we've been married and the time has finally come! I will be doing hair through December (just on saturdays) and then as of 2013 I will be done. It is bitter sweet as of course I will miss my clients friends....but it is much much more sweet to be with my familia!!:)
With that being said I am soooo sooo soooo grateful for Matt's past job. It has been GOD ALL THE WAY on how his schedule was. Even though I had to do hair after he was home...he was home most days by 2 or 3 and got A LOT of time with Lane (and Luke) before they had to go to bed(at 730) where some dads don't get home until 6 and wouldn't get that time. Also he has every Monday off which has been such a blessing for Luke's appointment. This appointment in December will be the VERY first doctors appointment he has ever missed for either child. He has gone to every single one and even the maternity appointments! When I look at the past 3 years in reverse it is so insane to me how God has brought us to every single moment and blessed us every step of the way (even when it didn't feel like a blessing in the moment). I am grateful for every appointment he has been to more than I can say....so I feel pretty guilty feeling so sad about this one he's about to miss! How dare I even pout for a second after all we've been through....but I did. I am moving up and moving on though...each day praying for strength as we "go back to Chicago" and see Luke's surgeon. I know once I get there I will be smiling ear to hear and want to hug the man that  helped save Luke's life and did it so perfectly. I know that I will be so confident and proud to walk into that building with my incredibly perfect baby that has healed beyond their expection due to God's amazing works. But as for now...I have been struggling with the thought of "getting in the door to the room." Everytime I think of the walk into that building I get chills down my spine. Everytime we went there I had the sickest feeling in my stomache that I can't even begin to explain. The walk from the parking garage to the elevator, then the ride on there, and then entering into the building with hunderds of people in white coats hustling and bustiling about makes me about burst into tears because now the thought feels like a nightmare. Everytime we went there it was for something scary, hard, sad, blood drawing, blood giving, ct scans, words we didn't want to hear, check ups for stiches, scaring, infection... etc... If you went to the same  place for months and hated EVERY SINGLE second of being there...would you want to go back? Even if you knew it was going to be different this time? That is the struggle I have been having...and then to top it off....with my hubby ROCK! I am letting that go though...I will no longer think of what was...I will no longer be stuck feeling that nightmare feeling and everytime it tries to come upon me I will replace that feeling with the overwhelming heart of gratitude I carry!  That is far bigger than any fear I ever faced! That is a far better feeling than any hurt I felt. I am in control of what effects me....and I am going into this with complete control that I AM BEYOND PLEASED AND THANKFUL FOR THIS CHILD AND HIS HEALTH! (no matter what we went through!)
We just look back and see God through everything...not just Luke's situation but EVERYTHING! Matt had a lot of interviews (even some that were 2nd interviews) and did not recieve a new job. We were discouraged at times but just kept believeing and trusting that whatever job God had for him that was the one we wanted. Well wouldn't you know...he gets a new amazing job after all this is settled?! Like I said he has been to every doctors appointment, had plenty of time off, bosses that completly understood, and much much more. The 3 years he worked this job and tried, hoped and prayed for a better one has competly showed why he never got a different one this year! God is good...and has give us above what we could have ask for! Eph 3:20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

Here is a few recent pics :)


The best daddy and best driver in the world to all these appointments....

The best big brother ever...... always riding along and being such a good boy.....

Our sweepy sweepy tired helmy boy......such a great car rider:)

Love Lukes little grin in this picture.....

Snuggle buddies

Daddy and his helmy boy

Mommy and her helmy boy

HAPPY THANKSGIVING ALL....the hardest year of our lives has brought us to the most thankful thanksgiving of our lives:)

Sorry...I've been sick...

Hello family and friends and fellow bloggers...
It's been a while since I have updated my blog...but I have a good excuse "I've been sick" with this really weird syndrom called "neglectablog". (pausing for laughter) I know hilarious  just a little funny right? Ok...in all seriousness....I don't really have an excuse. I just wait until we have an appointment to update it. Guess I need to break that habbit!! Luke had another helmet fitting Monday (this was his 4th visit to the naperville office for his helmet). It went great. They cut the helmet up over his right ear because it was touching and is not suppose too and the cut the neck up a little higher(which makes this momma happy because it' a little easier to zurple (sp?...basically making farting noises:) on his neck and of couse give him kisses there too!! The orthosist said we are just "going through the motions" with the helmet. His head looks great and the picture is pretty much the same as last time so we are just keepin on keepin on with it. We are so excited to go in December to see Luke' plastic surgeon and to see what he thinks! :) As for the rest of Deckerville...things are going great. Excited for trick or treating and then jumping right into thanksgiving crafts and decorations ect the next day:) I have already been Christmas shopping (a little) and plan to continue to try to get one or two things taken care of each week!! This year we are getting Lane a fish tank for Christmas...HE LOVES THEM. Ever since we stayed in Chicago at the childrens hospital he talks about them a lot! I am excited for him...however I am a little curious how the "dying" of the fish will go, I am sure Lane will do just fine and we'll handle it well, we probably won't even tell him. We'll just say "he's all gone" and get him a knew one:) My curiosity is how I will be able to flush them! I don't want to do that!! (However I've never had to do that so maybe I'll be ok....to be continued I guess). As far as Luke goes for Christmas...he has a thousand little baby toys and loves all of his brother's toys anyways...so we may do something "practical" and still a little something special toy wise! I see little walk behind toys and things that are "new" and I want, but we already have from when Lane was this age...however do I really need 2 of the same type of toy? More taken up space, more to pick up, more to clean ect... Being the 2nd child(and my hubby the 3rd) I DEFINATLY will get him his "own" stuff...when it' old enough to matter to him:) My AMAZING husband has been talking about my Christmas gift for almost a year it seems. He has been "working" on it for a long time!! And I have NOOO idea what it is. I am super excited though that he is so excited about this surprise for me:) Last year his surprise was the iphone 4s I told him he wasn't getting:) And this year....NOO CLUE YET!! I have to get to thinking. Sure there is LOTS of things I want to get him...but they are just EH' OK...and I'm looking for the wow factor always when it comes to my hubby because he is great;). So...to be continued on that too. Oh and for those of you who "know" me...he has actually already got a Christmas gift(I should NOT shop early for him as I always seem to ruin the surprise.) This one lasted about 10 minutes...I had gone to the christian bookstore to get some stuff for my niece's baby dedication and I saw a Tim Tebow book about his life, walk with Christ ect...I thought "well that'd be one little gift from me or the boys for him for Christmas"...oh about 10 seconds  minutes after heading to putting  it in the "Christmas gift spot" I pulled it out, shoved it in his face and said "I got you a book:)" Haha! He wasn't surprised I ruined the surprise:) He's been reading it and really enjoying it. Well that is all for now. Hope this post finds you all well AND
 Happy Halloween !  Look for the little "fire fighter" and his "dalmation puppy" tonight trick or treating:)

OMG IT'S BEEN A MONTH!!!

WOW!!! I can not believe a month has passed since I posted. FYI...I did create a post from the day we recieved Luke's helmet and wouldn't you know I never posted it (even though I was pretty sure I had hit publish when I finished it a week or so later). Even still that would have been 3 weeks ago had I posted that correctly and that is still WAAAYYYY too long!! So let me get you up to date.....
Luke recieved his helmet on Monday Sept 17th! At the appointment they showed Matt and I how to take it off and put it on, clean it ect... They also went through the risks of red spots that we had to watch out for. We started out having him wear it 1 hour on then a half hour off, then 2 hours on, a half hour off, and so on and so on until he was wearing it the 23 hours a day that they had instructed. He did so well adjusting to it(as they said he would) and had limited red spots! The doctor told us as long as they subsided with in 30 mins of the helmet being off then it was ok...which they almost always did. So he has had it for 3 weeks and looks soo adorable. I am not going to lie....the day they put it on him for the first time...my eyes swelled up in tears and Matt had this look on his face that I can't even describe. We of course instantly thought he was so cute and are BEYOND GREATFUL this is temporary, available, and on and on and on...but to be completly real....it took just a second(literally just that night we drove home until the next morning) and then we were completly humble again. But like I think any parent would feel....we were just a little overwhelmed. And it had been 3 1/2 months since his surgery...his head was looking great, his hair was coming in, his scar was lightening, and things were just feeling so "normal"...and then they put this cranial molding helmet on him....and it just was a rush of a reminder of what he went through. The way the helmet shaped around his little face also reminded us of the exact face he had when his head was wrapped after surgery those days in Chicago where we could only see from the eyelids down. Now like I said....that sadness and emotions literally lasted not even 24 hours....we are SOOOOOO THANKFUL that this is ALL we are dealing with because so so many deal with so much more:( With that being said....here are some pictures of Luke in his "helmie" (as I like to call it...always a name for everything from this girl, my cars I've had : Syndey Sunbird, Connie Contour, Mable Monte Carlo, Ellie Esacape, and currently Cara Caravan, my favorite coffee cup Genavive....and I'll just stop there hee hee).

Here he is yesterday on the way home from the fitting...they actually cut it up higher off his eyes!! (love seeing more of those baby blues:) But when we initally got his helmie it was much lower...I will have to upload a pic of that once I get it downloaded....

Now this to us is amazing....here is the picture of the top of his head from July 23rd(the original casting day) Look at the bump on the left side of his head....

(ahhh!! I rotated it in my pictures and it was correct then I upload it and it flipped! Sorry)

Now look at the picture from Monday October 8th.....

Again I am sorry that they are not horizontal....but can you see the difference?? The bump is pretty much gone!! The doctor said he is improving significantly! We go back at the end of the month for another fitting!!:) We are soooo blessed and give God ALL the glory for this amazing transformation in our son's life.

And for the big brother who is always sooo good on our 4 hour trips for a 15 minute doctor appointment....here he is being his supportive self like always.....

SEPTEMEBER 17th...

OCTOBER 8th....

Everything else in "deckerville" is going great. Matt has joined our churches praise and worship band and I could not be more happy for him. He is great at playing the guitar and has the perfect heart for this. He is so humble and is doing this ONLY for God and the calling he felt God gave him.  I am excited to see his closeness with God get even greater through this new addition in his life. We are enjoying listening to christian music even more around this house and the boys and I just love to sit with him as he practices. BLESSED to be married to such an AMAZING man :)

As for this momma....all is good in the hood. My clients are fantastic for adjusing their appointments when needed for these doctor appointments with Luke(ecspcecially since we go on Mondays and I only do hair Mondays and Saturdays) and dance has been so fun as I have about an hour a week with girls 4 and under which of course I LOVE! THEY ARE SOOOO CUTE, I can barely stand it!!! :) I have been working on some personal goals (like getting up before my kids a couple days a week and some other things) that are going well!!!

I promise to get back to my regular posts for those of who enjoy this blog. And like always THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS for your love and support and prayers these past 8 months!  (oh my goodness Luke will be 8 months on Sunday)

 We love you!

HAPPY FALL YA'LL!! :) (The helmet is on it's way)

So happy  ECSTATIC that it is FALL!!! Since all of this began with Luke I can't even tell you how many times this past winter, spring, and summer I kept saying "I am just looking forward to fall". Reason being is that we knew that his surgery was going to happen and happen in the summer sometime back in the first week of March so I just kept feeling like come fall things would start to have a new sense of "normalcy". The late winter was filled with "worry"...spring is usually my favorite season (I love how the world just all of the sudden becomes as though we are looking at it in HD and everything is bright and beautiful)...however I think I missed that this spring. Spring for us was "knowing" (shutter) what they were going to be doing to Luke but not knowing all at the same time. It was a very very anxious time in our lives. Then came summer SURGERY TIME....which actually after surgery wasn't too bad. We were blessed blessed BLESSED with lots of good news and progression after the surgery. However the whole month of June we were very cautious while he recovered...while we waited for the incission to heal, the stiches to fall out, to feel comfortable with a hat on his head and going in public ect...so all of that in June. Then come July we had a great report for the follow up appointment with our plastic surgeon and then began the helmet stage. He was casted on July 23rd and then it was sent to our insurrance for approval. So July was filled with that "progression" stage...and well then August was just plain HOT HOT HOT....and so needless to say IT'S FALL YA'LL!!! And WE could not be happier! Matt and I were enjoying our beautiful ride home from church on Sunday and he said it feels so good to be entering a "new season" (in weather and in life). Obviously it is not the end of the road for us but the helmet is the beginning of the end of the road and we are on it people! Today after our long wait for approval from the insurannce(you can read my previous post for that story) we went and got Luke's head RE-casted in Naperville. The Doctor that did it today was fabulous. Giving Luke lots of sweet sounds and noises to help (he sounded like Donald Duck which our 2 year old loved) and he gave Lane lots of high fives(even after Lane chucked lego's across the waiting room out of pure exhaustion an hour and a half passed his nap time)...so we thought he was pretty cool. Just like last time they had us take off Luke's clothes and put vaseline all around his neck. Then slipped on this white panty hose head sock thingy that made him look like a little bank robber, then inserted the plastic piece where the sizzors would go when time to cut it off, then applied layers and layers of fiberglass mesh. The panty hose part he actually didn't cry for this time...but the mesh wrap and pressing on his skull he WAILED! Lane and I left the minute he started crying because Lane started to cry and said Oh no Baby Lukie!!! (Lane was not as easily distracted during this helmet casting as apposed to last so better to just remove him, give him daddy's phone to play flash cards on and go to the waiting room right out side the door rather than upset him over what his little bro was going through...have no worries the minute the phone came out his tears disappeared and never even hit his cheek and he was happy as ever and tuned the crying right out.) As soon as I got Lane settled outside the door in the chair I peaked in and they were cutting it off  Luke's head and I was able to scoop his sweet sticky bright red/purplish face right up out of daddy's arms and get him to calm down fairly quickly. (oh how I hate it for him:'( ...he's been throught "ALOT" worse you may say...but even a runny nose makes this Momma's heart break for them...thank God it only takes about 3 minutes for this casting) We then got to hear the doctor call in and speak to the people right away in regards to the rush on the helmet and we are getting it next Monday the 17th! In plenty of time before the 23rd like we need it and on a Monday when my hubby is off! WHEW!!:) Thank you Lord! (blessings blessings all the way thanks to our awesome God). And a great shout out to my amazing clients for being sooo understanding and flexible with your appointments!!! YOU GUYS ROCK AND I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!
Also here is the GREATEST NEWS OF ALL....the doctor today thought Luke's head looked fabulous. He was acting as though he barely thought he needed this helmet. He said he will only need it for 4 months tops(however that is the plastic surgeon's final decision) and that he will only need it adjusted ever 3 weeks as apposed to once a week like they had told us back in July:) So we went today, will go next week to get the helmet, then the following week for our first fitting/checkup then every 3 weeks(so about 3-4 more times for fittings:)
Here are some pictures from today. I only took them of him with the "panty hose" thingy on his head while he was calm because once the crying began I had to exit and take care of Lane but here is a few. He is such a little cutie and such a tough cookie!!!


Here he is getting the netting put on his head before the casting and the apron is to keep Matt's clothes clean....

Here he is after it is on.....Him's so cute even though I hate it for him:).................

Here he is as they insert the plastic piece they put for the sizzors to go over once the casting is done so they can protect his head as they cut...

Sizzor guard inserted.....then the head is wrapped with the fiberglass mesh (probably 30 wraps I'd guess and pressed all on his head(almost like paper mache but thicker)

And the tired supportive big brother....about 10 minutes after throwing the legos...and about 5 minutes after leaving the office... :)

And last but not least....I just feel the need to share again how much we appriciate you all praying for us, loving us, and reading our blog and being on this journey with us.  Many many many people in this world compare to us and our past and current circumstances make them seem minuscule (and that breaks my heart) and to many many people our situation is awful compared to theirs...but regardless of what people may feel I know what we feel and that is BLESSED BLESSED BLESSED beyond messure to have Luke!! And to have him alive well and normal is literally a feeling that washes over us and leaves us without words.

My heart aches for people that so badly want a baby and don't have them or that have them and are facing critical situations. We don't even begin to compare to what some people have to face and Matt and I would take this task again ten fold for the blessing of this child. Oh how we love him(and his big brother)!!

(and look for a post next week with pics of him in his helmet!!)

Luke's Helmet UPDATE

Well we finally heard from the inssurance that they are helping cover the helmet but since it has been 6 weeks since the first casting and his head has grown we have to go back Monday the 10th for another casting. Then we have to get the helment made and fitted before Sept 23rd for the inssurance. Luckily Monday we get to go to the Naperville office (which isn't as far as the first casting it should only be around 2 hours) and they said it will take a week or two to recieve the helmet. So please be praying all will go well and Luke will have it on his sweet little head before the 23rd of Septemeber!! :)

The bump that they are perfecting on his left side is getting better every day even without his helment! He is such an adorable little guy and so fun!! Can't believe he will be 7 months old next Friday! He loves the baby food I have been making him and he loves patty cake, his flash cards(he loves the "baby" flash card the best), So big, YAY, and to make the "indian noise" and literally fusses when I stop doing it!! Haha!

Here is a few developmental pics:)


Here he is on the way to his first helmet casting 6 weeks ago, this picture really showes off the bump on the left side....

Here is about 3 weeks ago and as you can see his head is taking more shape around the bump...

Here he is last week and it is even a little better you can definatly still see that bump right above his left eyebrow but his head is growing in around it making the bump appear  smaller and with the few months of the helmet I am sure he'll have the most perfect shape head :).....

Reflections....

It is great to be back with the awesome group of women "reflecting" on the same topic. This week we were to reflect on a verse or verses from the bible that speak so deeply into our lives. When I read that we were doing this topic all I could think was....WOW my post is going to be RIDCULOUSLY long....however after some pondering and praying and talking to my husband and realizing what that/those verse/verses are...I realized I actually could narrow it down. The past few months have been so great as I have been adding scripture into my life ecspecially healing scriptures for Luke. But THEE scripture that I feel is so daily and deeply in me is....get ready....it's pretty typical...but true to me..... THE LORD IS MY SHEPARD from the 23rd Psalm. Ok yes...I know....even the non christians of this world know this scripture and it's not "so original" but narrowed down....it is my deepest scripture. It goes way back to my infancy of being a christian  to having to memorize it during confirmation classes and now to my current christian walk. It resinates in me and my husband so much and into our family. No matter what we may be going through we know that He is our shepard. What we are believing for He is leading and guiding us (a.k.a.His sheep) down His amazing path. No matter what we are afraid of He is protecting us, no matter what we are thankful for He has given us His grace and blessings as our Abba Father. We can put that scripture into everything in our lives. HE is our SHEPARD. It is just the way we feel for Lane and Luke....we keep a constant watch on our herd. We would never let anything happen to the 2 of them. We have a constant eye on them when they are awake and when they are asleep we are monitoring their every noise. Even more than that the Lord is watching our EVERY move and moment and is guiding, protecting, and blessing  us in every aspect. The 23rd Psalm continues to say " I shall not want" and that is something I have finally began to be content with. Do I sometimes see an amazing commercial with something on it and thing "I want that" yes of course I do.... Or do I look at a stain on a shirt or on my carpet and think "man it'd be nice to get new" yes of course I do. But that is not exactly what that means to me.... It's finding contentment in what HE wants for me in my life. And Trusting that He will bless me and carry me through and protect me all the way and wanting only what He wants for me.

~Psalms 23:1-6~

The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not  want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Amen.
 

Rain....

On Friday I took Luke to his doctor appointment in Clinton and on our way I was listening to Klove and they had everyone that was listening pray all together for rain due to the drought. I joined in and prayed for rain and it is raining today!!! ;) so neat to be apart of prayer things like that! Made me smile to see that rain this morning! Reminds me of the scripture we talked about last week in church....Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16 NIV). ;) Coming before him boldly and making our requests known is exactly what He wants to hear! Try it for yourself!!!;)

6month picture of Luke that will make you smile

Kiddos....perfectly not perfect

Well Hello there blogland. The inspiration of this post was given to me by this snotty lady I saw today at Target (who shall remain nameless). First off the boys and I went to Target this morning and Luke slept on the way over and Lane watched a movie...the sun is shining, birds chirping, beautiful weather, coffee is in the cup holder, and weeerr'rreee off. It was a very pleasant ride over. We get to Target (I park next to the carts like I always do so I can grab a cart before I remove my children and the put it back easily after they are strapped in.) and head inside. Luke wakes up shortly after getting into the store and Lane is holding his little airplane and is excited to look all around. We first go to the clothes where I was looking for a pair of jeans for our tall 2 year old and a pair of comfy pants as I realized the other day that he has a current pant shortage. We bump into my dad's cousing Renae and talked for a minute...Lane was just quietly zooming his little plane and Luke was just chilling in the carseat( He's a great baby but extra chill right after waking up:). She was nice and said how big they were, how cute, how fast time goes, ect...we talked about her grandson starting school and then went merrily on our way. We got the pants(1pair of cargo type pants and 1 pair of "swishy pants"...all of targets jeans for toddlers seemed like "super skinny jeans" so I will have to look else where) and headed over to the pharmacy section. There is where we saw her...I was heading down an isle getting toothpaste and she passes me(I tried to pretend like I didn't see her because as my mom would call her....she is just "nosey"). Well she says "HI LAUREL" ....in this super surprised voice...and I responded with "Oh Hi___________".
I kept walking but she kind of stood there and I just said something like good to see you and kept it moving. Well we finished our shopping and the boys were angels (they are not always angels, ecspecially in stores, but today they were....good timing on Mom's part for Luke and prepared with snacks for Lane:) and when we were heading to the check out  there she is again walking towards me....now mind you Lane is sitting down eating fruit loops out of his baggie and Luke is just pulling his little carseat toy into his mouth...neither making a peep, and  yes the cart had some items in it, some by Lane and some under the cart on the bottom thing but only about 4 bags worth.....and for whatever reason she says in a super snotty voice " Well you look like you've got your hands full". AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Is literally what I was saying inside my head.....thankfully what came out of my mouth was "Not really this is pretty easy for me" and she says even snottier "Well good for your Laurel". UGH UGH UGH.
Now you may be thinking Im over reacting but let me tell you....I can completly understand if they were screaming or throwing a fit (like they were at the fair last Saturday when they were sick of being paitent, were tired, and ready to move on in the stroller and not sit still any more and a lady said "She looks like she has her hands full" to my mom.... still RUDE if you ask me but somewhat true in that moment. But today...oh no...NOT TODAY. Today it was all good in the hood, all gravey baby!! And I was so proud of them and proud to be at a store with my perfect(at the time) little boys....and for some reason she said that! Is it because one is 2(who is tall enough to look at least 3 or maybe even 4) and one is in a carseat (who is 6 months )?? Because it certainly can't be because of their behavior today. It's just irritating to me because alot of people I know have kids 2 years (well 22 months) apart. There is mom's out there with 4 kids 2 years apart or twins shopping in Target...man wonder what "snotty women" thinks of them. This is not me being over sensitive to her comment either because I have heard this more than once and it definatly irritates me regardless of the situation its just a RUDE comment that needs to be left unsaid. We intentionally had our children 22 months apart (in our late 20's mind you) and are sooo greatful and thankful every day for them  in every perfect and not perfect moment. And even if was a situation where someone had an "unexpected blessing" and had two really close in ages children or was a teen mom...then that is not ok to make that comment then either LADY!
WHEW....ok....all better. But you mommies out there can relate right?!?! ( I am sure your scared to make a comment after my venting fit...please don't be...I'm usually really nice LOL:)
Never the less....she could have been having a bad day(well I know this women and this is just how she is) or maybe she didn't "mean it that way" (but still...I know this women and that is how she is)....but it will hopefully be a lessoned learned for me to keep "comments" to myself. I have NEVER been that person to stare if a kid was melting down or look at a mom like "whoa she has her hands full" (even if she did)...not now as a mother and not even before I was a mother but I will DEFINATLY make sure not to make accusations about anyone and ecspecially not say them. Thank you for reading my post today and letting me vent here in blog land:) Look for a more "positive" post in the near future.

Luke is 6 MONTHS OLD!!

I can not believe that our precious little boy is 6 months old  today.
What a "filled" 6 months we've had. Filled with lots of tears, but even more smiles...filled with lots of "busy" moments, but even more precious moments, more doctors appointments than I think I have had my entire life, a major surgery, recovery, and all the other awesome things that go along with growing to be 6 months old!

Here are a few fun facts about Luke being 6 months old....
1. Luke went from being the youngest grandson to having a baby boy cousin on his mommy's side and a baby girl cousin on his daddy's side so he is no longer the "youngest" he is a "big cousin" at 6 months old:)
2. Luke can sit up now on his own and he loves to play on the floor with toys and not just baby toys, oh no, of course he prefers his big brother's toys (big brother is learning to "share" his trucks;)

 3. Luke can hold his own bottle(when he wants too) and loves to play with it.4. Luke has been eating baby oatmeal for a couple of months now
5. Luke has started in on eating some "baby food" his favorite is his Great Grandma Landheer's canned apple sauce! He has also had bananna's that his mommy made him in her new baby bullet!:) (I am going to "attempt" to make most of his baby food....I also attempted with Lane but it did not go well...but I only had a blender so I am hoping this is much easier:)
6. Luke LOVES to ride in the side by side jogging stroller with his big brother and is out of his carseat and sits directly in the stroller and just rides like a big boy!7. Luke loves to "talk" and hear himself (his little voice is absolutly adorable and he wakes up "singing" every morning)
8. Luke now sleeps in his crib (but not all through the night yet)
9. Luke loves to watch his big brother and his dog and is always laughing at them. (He has a sense of humor already)
10. Luke is seriously soooo happy. ALWAYS smiling, no work at all to make giggle, so content, plays by himself so well, but loves to be entertained and read or sang too. His name means "The bringer of Light" and that is truley what he does to our household and our lives. He has brought so much "light" into our family, marriage, and way of life. We are BLESSED BLESSED BLESSED BEYOND MESSURE by this amazing special little boy.

Here he is "happy boy" with his daddy

                                             Here are a few of him this morning on his "half birthday" playing on the floor with his brother and baby cousin Cohen...

(sorry most of those are vertical I couldn't figre our how to flip them:)

                                                               And here he is the other day sitting on his
Poppy's tree stand.....

And playing on the deck in his walker(that he can move around in:)...

                                           
He is such an AMAZING and wonderful little baby! We are waiting to hear from our inssurance so we can get his helmet made and get it on him to get the fine tuning of that bump on the left side taken care of....beside that he is doing FABULOUS since his surgery. It seems that it didn't change him a bit and that he hasn't skipped a beat (I can't say the same for Matt and I but our change was better that's for sure). It was a CRAZY, HARD AND LIFE THREATING AND  LIFE CHANGING 6 months for Luke and for us. But we would do it all over again in a heartbeat!  Our lives are better because of him and we could not be more greatful for the gift of Luke (and of course his big brother Lane:)

Reflections...My mom, husband, mother in law, sister in law, and Michele Becker

Well this week my blog post could go ON and ON and ON over this topic. And I am extremely blessed for saying that. We are to write about people that "sharpen" our lives. In other words....help encourage us on our walk with Christ ect...
Before I begin on my couple of shout outs on the people that really encourage me in life I have to give a TREMENDOUS  mentioning to my friends Brittnay and Kim  who blog with me on Thursdays and have started this "reflections" group. They started this group with these exact intentions....to "sharpen" each other weakly to be better "pointed" towards Christ. I am so thankful for this weekly blog bible study group thingy I am in because it DEFINATLY helps keep me encouraged!! Thank you to those to wonderful women. They are AMAZING! If you haven't had a chance to view their blogs you totally should attwww.mauneyland.blogspot.com and at www.daughter...wife...mom...sis...blogspot.com.
Ok so here I go....when I first read Kim's challenge last week for this weeks reflections these people instantly popped into my head (although there is many more...) I feel as though I could not blog this topic without mentioning these people that have truley sharpened my life, some for a long time and some for just a short while but they have all been so invasive, I have been completly effected by them to the point of becoming a better version of myself.
First one DUUHHHH.... My MOM!!! Anyone who knows my mom knows that she is a great christian women. I could go on and on and on and on and on and on about the different christian ways she has encouraged me in the past 28 years but that would take forever. She (like most moms) brought us to church, sent us to bible school and church camp but it was more than that. The one thing that really sticks out with her is "hard times". Anytime I was going through a hard time i.e....junior high fights with friends, highschool boyfriend drama, knee surgeries, ect ect....she always turned my view towards God. She left the best notes, letters, emails, (and then later texts) that a mom could always encouraging me in whatever the situation to "give it to God". She always helped me see that HE has(and will always have) the best plan for me. And for that(and much MUCH more) I am forever greatful and feel "sharpened" by her in many ways and wish I could spend my entire time blogging talking about them...but we'll save that for a later post! Love my momma:)
Secondly....MY HUBBY <3 <3 <3!!!  I don't know if it is because he knows me so well or because the holy spirit is in him so much(probably both) but he is always helping me be a better version and a more "godly" version of myself. (This too since we have become parents has been a shared thing between each other...letting our children "see" Christ in us instead of just "telling" them about Him....and "living it out"(like Brittnay talked about in her last post) is our goal for our kids) When I start to lose my cool, or act away I shouldn't he always keeps me grounded, which I need and think we all do at some points, and I am so blessed by him. He is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO calm. (Isn't he?? If you know him you would agree ten fold....calmest most easy going relaxed guy in the world.) Thank you GOD for sending him to me!! Though I have calmed down, slowed down, and eased up since I've had kids I definatly am balanced out by my amazing husband. And when it comes to being the Christian I want to be, he is great at holding me accountable. He reminds me when I need to be reminded and encourages me when I need to be encouraged and is always there to help me take a deep breath. I feel the love of God through him(though I know God loves me much more...) and I am so "sharpened" by that love and need it like breathing is to life.
Lastly would be 3 amazing women.....MY MOTHER IN LAW(Donna Rubright), MY SISTER IN LAW (Danielle Decker), AND MY FRIEND (Michele Becker) (I could keep adding and adding on the friend list so those of you I didn't add please know how much you are loved and appriciated! It would take me 5 hours to give you all a shout out on this blog maybe sometime I will try that:). First my mother in law is always reminding us of what the bible says whenever she gets the chance and I love that and am greatful for her knowledge in that. She buys us devotionals, bibles, christian books for our kids, and baby books with scripture and anything she can think of with a godly encouragment for us and our family and I love that about her. Those things are so great to have around the house and use on a daily basis. She is great at giving us tools of advice or tools we can use to help keep us "right on point" with our walk with Christ. So greatful for an encouraging and godly mother in law. Love her so much!
My sister in law (a.k.a "SIL" (abbriviation for sister in law) as I call her) is another amazing encouragment to me. EVERYTHING and ANYTHING I have ever needed to hear ....she seems to say it. Even if it's against all odds of what I thought...she is usually right on target. She is so in tune with the holy spirit it is ridiculous! I am blessed by her rightous love for Christ and how in all things she is giving Him the praise. She is such an encouragment and always goes immediatly to Christ. Even if I say "I think I'm getting a sore throat" before I can get the sentence out she is casting it out and lifting me up right then and there in a prayer. She has layed her hands on me , my hubby, and my kids and said "you are healed in Jesus name" more times than I can think of....even if was just a headache or a major closure of a skull she ALWAYS looks towards HIM. I am teary eyed at my greatfulness for her and her love of Christ. One time I told her I pray for extra angels when I leave my kids to protect them as they are watched with someone else and she said "I prayed for extra angels before I came to watch them". I mean really??? How wonderful is that?!?!? She is just such a godly women with Him in between, before, behind, and all around her every day activities and I am so blessed just to be around her. (Love you sil!)
Last but not least MICHELE BECKER ROCKS!!! She is a friend of mine but started out as my best friends mom, then a client, and now a dear dear friend. I always tell my husband when I do her hair I should pay her because she ALWAYS makes me feel better!! She has opened my eyes to so many things( the first fast I ever did was because of her) and has helped me go from anger/sadness, to happiness in seconds about things. She finds the good in everything....and I mean EVERYTHING (don't you wish you were like that?? I sure do) And that is someone worth being around. She too knows soooo much about the bible and is constantly whipping out scripture off the top of her head and I love that. She prays with me everytime after her hair appointment...sometimes for me, sometimes for her, sometimes for people we know...but always prayer. She will do it right in front of the next client that is waiting and has even sang me a hymnn once in front of a complete stranger because she knew I needed to hear that joyful noise. She is BURSTING with God's goodness. She and her husband are such disciples of God. Claiming and spreading the good news every chance they get. They even came over and had a little jam session with us with her husband and my husband playing guitars and singing praise songs a few days before Luke's surgery. She lent me mulitple books, videos, and shared so many scriptures during my time of need. She is a walking Jesus Freak and she is absoultly infectious to be around. She makes me a better person and in many many ways and has increased my realationship with Christ over the years. I am so blessed by her and love her bunches!
I am overwhelmed with the amount of Christian people in my life that help encourage me all the time. I pray that I can be a blessing like that to people as well. I am soooo thankful for these people I mentioned and for the people I didn't. It wasn't until now that I really realized how blessed I am having the encouragement I do. I am making a commitment right here and now to try to be more like each and everyone of these people and to "live out" the gospel the way they have in my life!!

Reflections- MUCH BETTER!

Well another week went by so fast! It seems like I was just sitting down to write my reflection from last week and here we are again....crazy! I have to say though....I am glad it is this Thursday and not last Thursday. Last Thursday....I have to say was not a good post for me. It was an "OYE VEY" moment where I dreaded the whole thing. We were to talk to others about our "daily walk" with God. And that definatly convicted me because I had been "really busy" and not getting deep in my daily time with Him just skimming the surface to get by. What I realized though now looking back is how everything seemed very difficult while doing this. Like everything I picked up- I'd drop...or  unloading the dishwasher seemed to take about as much energy to build a small country. I just didn't have my "witts about me" lately and that is because my skimming by wasn't cutting it. I was FOCUSING on everything but the ONE who gives me EVERYTHING!!! After my major conviction I decided to go back to giving myself limits and only allowing myself to get on facebook, watch my DVR(which I currently have 6 shows I haven't watched and I am proud that they are sitting there...looking forward to getting to them but normally I'd watch them as soon as I could and now that is not that case), or do otherthings with out scheduleing my daily time with God. That has been incredibly helpful taking time to make the excuse that I can't do those things because I have an appointment with Him or my bible. Which leads me to my next transformation....Sunday at our church we had a guest pastor because ours was on vacation. His sermon was all about FOCUS on Him! Not on us, or what we need, or what we don't have, but simply and yes SIMPLY on JESUS! See it doesn't have to be difficult, or "churched" up to have your focus set on Him it's simple! I know it's a bit intimidating when you are friends with the one that created you and everything around you but it doesn't have to be. He loves us NO MATTER WHAT WE DO (or don't do). If we don't make the time for Him...that's ok He understands, loves us anyways and is paiently waiting until we do. During that sermon he spoke about how if you read the bible for 15 minutes a day you can read the whole thing in one year. (which I have always wanted to do and so has my husband) So we decided not to set a time frame but to set a goal...and that is every night before bed(when we would be watching our shows, looking on his Iphone at facebook ect...that we would read 15 minutes of the bible before we go to sleep.) My husband has been believing God for a new and better job(and I have been standing firm in that with him) for 5 years next month. I am so proud of his faith but as anyone could imagine....it gets a little wearing in our flesh. So even though we've said time and time again "God...we trust you" (and we do)....we've decided to be at REST so He can be at WORK...and in the mean time indulging ourselves in the word and just FOCUSING on Him, and not on us and what we want, need, have or don't have. Just simply and blatently on HIM. After the first night of reading my husband looks over at me and says "this is good stuff" :) And he is right ....it really is! I have read many scriptures, and even books of the bible but never just sat to read it like a book. We are starting with the new testement....we just felt as though it was relevent for the "season" we are in right now in our lives but we are fully commited to read the old testiment as well too. This "daily" routine has already in 4 nights of reading been such a blessing in our lives. I feel so much more energized(even though I have gotten very little sleep the past few nights with a teething baby) and even though my husband has been working very hard this week we are having a better week. Feeling stronger, and calmer, and more paitent and so much better! I am excited to see what God will do (as He is always doing in our lives even when we don't ask...He is meeting the desires of our hearts) in our lives as we redirect our FOCUS on Him. If I spent as much time on God as I did on other things....I think alot of things would be a lot better. Of course watching tv, facebooking, ect...is fine but there is a balance in life my life that needs to be met and that is CHRIST FIRST and then so on and so on. I am glad to say that I am currently back on track! Here is a few verses I found and am so passionate about because I read them and instantly felt like it was a little personal note from Him(maker of heaven and earth) to me!! (how cool is that)
Matthew 5:5
YOU'RE BLESSED WHEN YOU'RE CONTENT WITH JUST WHO  YOU ARE-NO MORE, NO LESS. THAT'S THE MOMENT YOU FIND YOURSELVES PROUD OWNERS OF EVERYTHING THAT CAN'T BE BOUGHT.

AMEN AMEN AMEN TO THAT! Thank You JESUS that in the midst of all my "wants" I am PROUD of what I have and that is nothing that could ever be bought....it is an eternal life with my savior! (and that I am married to an AMAZING man that is also going to spend eternity right there too!!)


Matthew 5:13
LET ME TELL YOU WHY YOU'RE HERE TO BE SALT-SEASONING THAT BRINGS OUT THE GOD-FLAVORS OF THIS EARTH. IF YOU LOSE YOUR SALTINESS, HOW WILL PEOPLE TASTE GODLINESS? YOU'VE LOST YOUR USEFULNESS AND WILL END UP GARBAGE.

Matthew 5:14
HERE IS ANOTHER WAY TO PUT IT: YOU'RE HERE TO BE LIGHT, BRING OUT THE GOD COLORS IN THE WORLD. GOD IS NOT A SECRET TO BE KEPT. WE'RE GOING PUBLIC WITH THIS, AS PUBLIC AS A CITY ON A HILL. IF I MAKE YOU LIGHT-BEARS, YOU DON'T THINK I'M GOING TO HIDE YOU UNDER A BUCKET, DO YOU? I'M PUTTING YOU ON A LIGHT STAND. NOW THAT I'VE PUT YOU THERE ON A HILLTOP, ON A LIGHT STAND- SHINE!!! KEEP OPEN HOUSE; BE GENEROUS WITH YOUR LIVES. BY OPENING UP TO OTHERS, YOU'LL PROMPT PEOPLE TO OPEN UP WITH GOD, THIS GENEROUS FATHER IN HEAVEN

Now that my friends is worth reading! I AM HERE TO BE A LIGHT(that is actually the meaning of our son Luke's name "the bringer of Light" and it is oh so fitting)
My daily walk has increased in one week and it will continue! I will keep you all posted on my daily reading and FOCUSING! I'd love to encourage you to take your eyes off of you(or anything else that may be consuming you more than Christ) and put your FOCUS on Him. He has the master plan...so I'm going to take my eyes off of "calendar" for a while and keep them focused where they should be....things will be a lot "lighter" in my busy life I just know it!!!

Luke's Helmet Appointment

Today we went to Chicago to Luke's helmet "casting" appointment. We had to leave at 730am in order to get to our appointment by 11:00. Lane came with us today and both boys were absolutly angels in the car. Luke slept alot and Lane watched movies, colored, played trucks( I saved certain trucks for over a week and hid them telling him I didn't know where they were so they would be special when he got restless in the car and at the doctors office and IT WORKED:) He was very happy to see them!) I was so proud of our 2 year old for waking up and 15 mins later being put into a 3 hour car ride then have to be "tame" and behaved in a waiting room, and doctors office, then back in the car immediatly after! He was PERFECT!! We did stop at the outlet mall in Aurora on our way home (but he was then confined into a stroller immediatly so that was just more sitting!!) Finally on the last strip of the mall and out to the car he walked holding our hands(they got sweaty fast) and he was on cloud nine! Kicking his little feet saying "wee" and swinging and enjoying his partial freedom! Then...back in the car!! And he STILL did great:) Then as soon as we got home it was lots of playing catch and rough housing for 45 minutes until he settled down! :) We love our little mister!! Ok now on to our little helmet guy:) The people at the office were SOOO NICE! We got there early and said we'd go take a walk if they weren't ready but they were fine with us being there and got us in fairly quickly. While I was waiting to check Luke in I saw an adorabe little girl(probably about 5-6 montths old) in a purple butterfly helmet! She was such a cutie. Then we met a mom with a just turned 3 year old(who brought a car and a truck with him and Lane and him were instantly buds) and her 8 month old son Dylan who had a helmet on. The way Dylan laid in her womb made his head misproportioned and neck weak so he is wearing one for a few months. He also looked soo cute. She said her son Quinn asked for one for his 3rd birthday!! (So he got a bike helmet instead:) When we got in to the room they did lots of messuring and he explained that Luke would be wearing it until his next appointment with Dr. Reid (which is in Decemeber so Luke will wear it approximatly 5 months). He was VERY impressed by Luke's healing and ecspecially his scar. He couldn't believe he had surgery only 7 weeks ago!:) :) :) We LOVVEE to hear that ecspecially from people that are in this field and are very knowledgeable in his situation. So the room (of course) was bright colors, had toys, mirrors, fish posters ect...so Lane was in heaven and wasn't even effected by the 3-4 minutes of crying from his brother. He did look over at him a few times but I quickly distracted him and he didn't think a thing of it! Matt had to hold Luke down wearing just his diaper as they put vaseline all over his neck(to prevent any of the soft fiberglass from sticking to his skin), then they put a white stocking/panty hose over his head. It looked exactly like the black one they use in movies for robbers or something like that with the little knot on the top of it. IT WAS SOOOO CUTE. Of course he hated it but he was so adorable....it pushed his little nose up and his eyes look Chinese and with all his rolls he looked just like a sumo wrestler. I so badly wish we could have taken a picture!!!! Then they wrapped a few layers of that wet soft fiberglass mesh on his head and then he pressed on his head in certain areas helping it mold...then he had to sit there a couple minutes. Then he cut off all the material and I got to swoop him up and make it all better:) We wiped all the vaseline off him and we got to pick out the design on his helmet. Matt picked Camo for our 1st pick ( I think a little army man for his first halloween may be in order:) and then a white one with race cars and trucks on it for the second pick and blue race car/truck one for our 3rd pick. Guess we'll see what we get:) We didn't have as many options as I expected....well actually there was alot of designed options just not alot that were our taste. And the only solid color I think they offered was white.(Which we could have done with stickers but I thought that'd get pretty dirty:). They then told us that they would send it to our insurrance to see how much they will cover and let us know. It should be ready in about a week or two and then we will get to go to naperville to retrieve his helmet and continue our appointments there. It sounds like he will need it fitted every week at first and then later on every 2-3 weeks. We are just thankful that they have a naperville office and that will take a good hour(and lots of sitting in traffic) off of our time:) PRAYING that we will be able to see him on Mondays(Matt's day off). The guy we saw today said that Tom in Naperville who we will be seeing is actually his boss and specializes in the helmets amongst all of the other equipment they deal with. So that was very encouraging and good to hear we will be working with the cheif of this situation. During the adjustments it sounds like they will be shaving off areas of the helmet(from the inside of course) to make it tight in the areas it needs be(his temple area) and expand the other areas that need to grow. He said that he will be cutting out the area above his ears because he wants that area to expand to let it catch up with the protruding temple spot. They ensured us that kids have no problems wearing these helmets. They don't usually ever seem bothered by them and sleep just fine. He will need to wear it 23 hours a day(the other hour is for batheing him and cleaning the helmet). We will get to work up to that 23 hour a day mark the first week of having it here...an hour on and hour off two hours on two hours off ect.... Here are a few pictures of the day....

Here is the boys on the way to chicago...Lane watching a movie and Luke just chilling. :)

Here is Luke after he pulled his carseat canopy down so he could look out the window at the busy traffic:)

Lane being a good big brother staying seated in his chair as wait for the casting to begin

After the casting....his little arms were soo pink from Daddy having to hold him so tight and still! Everyone did a great job:) He's soo cute:)