A few pictures from WC's birthday weekend.........

 WC sporting my dad's super cool Russian hat.

My pretty mom with the goofiest smile holding the sweetest baby!

 Chris and his mom. WC has named her "Meena".

My dad who has been named Pop Pop

 The silliest man....Chris's dad, Grumpa

I love this man!!!

Little sister enjoying the entertainment for WC's prized possession, "Choo Choo Rains"

Birthday Time

My little baby turned two last weekend....I can't believe how big she is. And she is as solid as a rock and nothing but muscle! Or "musk-uhls" as Whitley calls them :)  I am amazed every day at things she can do. She definitely a little Chris. Just watching the way her mind works in amazing. She is so particular about things (which is a curse from her mother) but so stubborn and strong willed (I assume from her daddy...because I was a perfect child. Tee-hee.)

We had such a fun little birthday party. Chris's parents were able to join us after all and that was such a nice surprise! My parents also made the trip and they stayed almost a whole week. It was so nice having them around. Just someone else to entertain WC because right now we are teaching her to play by herself. And she hasn't quite got that yet!


I didn't make a big deal out of her bday like I did last year. We had cake, a few decorations, lunch, a couple of close friends, and a few presents. Well, it sounds like a lot, but I was WAYYY more relaxed than last year. WC had fun and that's what matters.

I wish that everyone could get to know our WC. She is something else. She is determined, sassy, intelligent, HILARIOUS, and always full of energy. She loves her sister and enjoys telling her not to cry and to be happy!

Happy 2nd Bday to my sweet love Whitley Claire!

"I think I'll go for a walk outside hey. The Summer sun's calling my name!"

Well spring sun anyways.....today we had SUCH nice weather. Kind of weird for February....I feel like the weather is playing a huge joke on me and we're about to get our last snow storm of the year. I'm not going to think about it though....playing outside in long sleeves was so much fun. WC really needed to get outside. After being cooped up since November, we were all going a little crazy!

We enjoyed a nice walk then went down the street to let WC play with the kids who were playing soccer. That was all fun and games until she was hit in the face with the soccer ball. That's just what happens when you play with older kids! Natalie did so well today. She just sat in the stroller looking up at the trees totally content to just be awake!!

New "homeschool" fun

I've been brainstorming ways to entertain WC throughout the day and someone mentioned putting a bag of rice in a tupperware and I added a few straws and kitchen utensils. I am saving yogurt containers and toilet paper rolls to add to rice play. So cheap and easy!!! Not to mention...WC LOVES her rice. Just trying to teach her to keep it close to the container....and not dumping it on the floor!

Miss Natalie is 4 months old

My punkin' is 4 months old now :) She is such a sweet pea and such fun to be with. Well...except when in the car :) She is still pretty cranky in the car seat. One of these days it will be pleasant to ride around and run errands! Wait a minute....I DON'T run errands. I try not to by myself!!

Natalie is a squirmy thing and has almost mastered rolling over from back to tummy. She's been rolling from tummy to back for quite a while and I know she wants to crawl so bad. Natalie just wants to keep up with her big sister!

Natalie is been pretty sketchy with naps these days. She doing the 1 hour nap at a time thing. Which is exhausting for me because I JUST WANT TO NAP!!! I know it will pass, but I'm ready for longer naps. She sleeps from about 730 to 730 waking every three hours still. She was sleeping 4-6 hours at night, but she's changing things up on me! Not fun...but I know she will only be little for so long.

I can't complain though. At least she's happy when she's awake. As opposed to WC, who just screamed all day!!

I love having two girls. There is always drama in the house, but I wouldn't have it any other way :)

Applesauce Muffins

Thanks Deceptively Delicious!

A little bit of applesauce, pureed carrots and squash, topped with yummy streusel!

What we need is a routine!

I've never been a big fan of routines....especially one for WC. She was the kind of baby that refused any kind of schedule or routine so I just let her routine be led by her. That is what was the least stressful. No however, this little girl needs some structure in her life. Chris and I brainstormed on ways to teach her what comes next in her day and we need her to become "un-addicted" to TV. She has watched a lot of TV lately since Natalie has been born...mainly because I have been one tired momma.

Here is what Chris and I have come up with:

She is going to move the picture of herself from picture to picture. We are hoping that this helps with her ALWAYS wanting TV and ALWAYS wanting a snack.

We shall see :)

Homeschooling Week 1

I finally was motivated to start "homeschooling" WC. I put that word in quotation marks because it's hardly school. HA! I am aiming for more of a structured day with fun new things for WC to do. She is getting bored and throwing tantrums because of this. Between Natalie's nap times and the frigid weather out, we don't get out of the house too often. There are only so many times I want to play "pee-dos" (play-doh), "mah-kurs" (markers), and kitchen. Don't get me wrong, I love being bossed around by my two year old and being put in time out. There is only a little sarcasm there. Only a little.

So this past week went well. We did a little each day throughout the day. I also want to get WC "un-addicted" to TV since we've been watching a lot lately. She did pretty well this week and I am surprised at how long she concentrated on one thing!

I am unable to upload a copy of the lesson plan that I made this past week, but if you are interested in using it, just let me know!! We went over Square, A, 1, and Black/White and had a blast with it. This week is a jungle thing and we are going over B, 2, Square, and Green. Looking forward to it!

"I know the plans I have for you......" Volume 2

No more waiting. No more wondering. No more what if's. We have a plan of attack now to rid Chris of cancer!!!

After meeting with the doctors in Houston, Chris and I were both kind of discouraged....being told to just "sit and wait to see if it spreads" doesn't really suit our personalities. After being told about the Perfusion, we thought it was the miracle drug to help heal Chris. But after talking over the pros and cons with the doctors on base, we decided it's not the best choice of action for him.

Instead, we are taking this approach:

1. 5-6 week of radiation that will be five days a week for 20-30 minutes
2. Amputation after radiation. Best case scenario is that it will be mid thigh. That's what we're hoping for....
3. Chemo 4-6 weeks after amputation. We have to do this to make sure there are no more stubborn cancer cells floating around :)

We are VERY comfortable with this. We knew this would be the end results anyway....amputation that is. We have accepted this and are ready to move forward. After weeks and weeks of waiting, it feels good to know what we are doing. And it just adds more to my testimony about how faithful God is to those who are weary!

We also have been talking about moving. We really can't stay here in base housing because of the stairs. So a dear fried who PCS'd to Maryland a few months ago still have their house for rent. Hopefully we will be moving in to the Williams's house in Huber in a few weeks. This house has what we are looking for...open floor plan, one story, nice deck....I can see us living there comfortably.

I'm not sure when Chris is going to start radiation. He still has to get some scans done and meet with one more doctor. So hoping by the end of the month!!!

Sugar and spice and everything that's nice!

Yesterday the Hoopes girls came to play to give mommy and daddy a break. I have blogged about these two precious girls before, and had to do it again :) Savannah who is four ("Vee-nah", says WC) and Adeline who is two ("Aye-line") are WC's bestest buddies. They get along so well....for the most part :) WC just bosses Adeline around and then beats up on Savannah, who will take up for herself :)  We had "school" together where the two little ones made a square collage and Savannah practiced her fine motor skills with some string. I made pizza for lunch and then all girls went down for a nap! I was very happy that all little girls in the house were sleeping :) So much fun was had by all and to top it off, Ashley and Keith brought over a yummy dinner and I made blueberry cobbler from Pioneer Woman.

"I know the plans I have for you......"

This morning we were supposed to meet with the doctors on base to talk about what to do next with Chris. It was going to be a big meeting because they were going to go over our options...whether it be perfusion or amputation. I say "was" because a big ice storm came through over night and now the base is closed. Of course....just another day in the Trobough household of waiting....and waiting.....

So I opened my devotion book so read and here is my study for the day:

(Keep in mind the author wrote it like God is talking to me"

"Approach this day with awareness of who is Boss. As you make plans for the day, remember that it is I who orchestrate the events of your life. On days when things go smoothly, according to your plans, you may be unaware of My sovereign Presence. On days when your plans are thwarted, be on the lookout for Me! I may be doing something important in your life, something quite different from what you expected. It is essential at such times to stay in communication with Me, accepting My way as better than yours. Don't try to figure out what is happening. Simply trust Me and thank me in advance for the good that will come out of it all."

Isaiah 55:9-11
As the heavens are higher than the earth,
   so are my ways higher than your ways
   and my thoughts than your thoughts.
¹⁰ As the rain and the snow
   come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
   without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
   so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
   It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
   and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Definitely NOT a coincidence that God spoke to me this morning through this passage. Just another way to prove that God is active and present in our lives!!!