Merry Christmas and Happy New year from our home to
yours! 2015 found the Weavers with
seasons of growth and challenge, as well as adventure and celebration! We watched tweens become teenagers, a little
boy become at tween, and a toddler turn into a little boy. We moved, found new passions, and bought a
new (to us) car. There is never a dull
moment with a house as full as ours, and we wouldn’t have it any other way! We look forward to wrapping up these last few
days of 2015 as a family, and diving into new escapades in 2016.
THE GIRLS
Emma and Lara turned 13 and started the 8th grade
in 2015. They also saw their biological
dad remarry (again) and move closer to them that he has been in the last 12
years since our divorce. All of that
brought many changes, adjustments, and fine tuning along the way! Through all of this, Emma has emerged with a
new found love: horses! She has always
been my animal girl – especially puppies and dogs – but her step-mom is a horse
girl and introduced Emma to their care and nurture, and also to rodeo. Emma participated in several JRRA (Junior
ranch Rodeo Association) rodeos throughout the year and finished her first
season last month at the Finals in Pawhuska.
Along with her regular classes, an advanced Algebra class and an
advanced history class, she is also in her first year of Agricultural Education
classes and FFA membership at school, and all of this experience and knowledge
is helping her learn more about her hoped career path of becoming a
veterinarian. Lara, on the other hand,
is our “inside” girl! She is still
dancing every chance she gets. 5 hours
of classes on 2 nights each week at Encore! keeps her busy! She is taking a pointe class, as well as
classical ballet, lyrical ballet, and a jazz class. To accompany her regular class load and her
advanced English class, she went out on a limb and tried new things this
semester to be more involved at her school.
She tried out for winter guard (competition color guard) in November and
was thrilled to be chosen to join the Cadet team! She is very excited about this new adventure
and all the new things she is going to learn about spinning and competition
teams.
THE BOYS
Jake turned 8 at the first of the year, and is currently
5’1” and weighs about 112 pounds. He is
a giant among his peers, but he is our sweet, kind hearted little boy. He is a sports and video game fanatic! He played on a competitive baseball team in
the spring and summer (Stampede: first
base, third base, pitcher), his first tackle football team this fall (Cowboys:
D-line, O-line, Dedicated deep snapper), and is currently honing his basketball
skills with his teammates (Haymakers: big guy inside). If he’s not playing, practicing, or conditioning,
he’s watching sports on TV or playing video versions on his game system. He spouts off stats like they are spelling
words and has big dreams. He is in the 3rd
grade and is an excellent reader, a spelling champ, and a math wiz. He loves lunch, recess, and science (in that
order). His teachers rely on him to be
their helper, and we couldn’t be more proud of the friend he is to others. And then there is our Finicky, Feisty,
Fighter boy, Finn! He too has had quite
the year! Still attending pre-school at
the Methodist church and giving everyone a run for their money. As usual, he has spent a lot of time in doctors’
offices this year. We have graduated
from Hearts for Hearing (he finally passed all his hearing screenings!), and
only have to see his pulmonologist as needed instead of routinely. Plus, his pediatric ophthalmologist doesn’t
want to see him till he’s 6! The ENT has
cleared him as well unless he has issues.
But with the highs come some challenges as well. Early in the year, we were diagnosed by his
endocrinologist with Idiopathic (no specific cause) Short Stature (ISS). He was born with the diagnosis of “Small for
Gestational Age” (SGA), then coupling that with the ISS, we were tested for
deficiencies and then started Growth Hormone Therapy. He has been on nightly injections for about 6
months now and we are happy to report approximately 5 inches in growth! So ecstatic for him! Not only has he grown taller, but his overall
health is better, he is hitting more milestones on time, and his overall
outlook and demeanor are better. His HAIR
grew back in from all the bald spots from his twirling habit, and he needs new
(bigger ) clothes. We are still battling
eating and weight gain issues, but go back in February to work on those some
more with his gastroenterologist. Apart
from his medical things, Finn spent the summer taking private swimming lessons
to get over his fear of water. We came a
long way! We hope it lasts till next
summer. He was also honored to be chosen
as a featured preemie on the Mercy NICU wall of Hope and enjoyed being in the
spotlight a little it for that fun unveiling event. We love that his face and story can bring
hope and a light to others traveling through their NICU journey.
THE PARENTS
Britt and I are both still working at Oklahoma State
University. He celebrated his 10th year with
University Health Services this past fall, and I just marked my 2 year
anniversary with University Dining Services.
Being on a thriving and diverse college campus keeps us young and in the
know, and we really like it. We are also
enjoying watching our ******** business grow!
He has lost 95 pounds, I have lost 45, and we have grown a thriving business
along the way. It is truly a blessing to
help others be healthier, as well as show them how to have freedom from
financial debt and time burdens. We have
great visions for 2016 and what it can do for those around us! We want everyone to have the health and freedoms
we are enjoying! We are loving raising
our family, keeping busy, and growing and changing every day. Our latest BIG change is the used car we
recently purchased. Shortly after we got
married (9 years and 11 months ago), we bought our minivan. It was a year old at the time, a 2005 white
Chevrolet Uplander that we affectionately named “Derek” – as in Derek Zoolander
(after the Ben Stiller movie of the same name).
At some point in our young marriage, we bought a blue 1996 VW Cabrio
from my brother, and named it “Otto” – a nice German name for a nice German
Auto (don’tcha think?). When Finn came
along, Otto was sold and we bought a much BIGGER vehicle. A blue 1997 Ford Expedition that our then 5
year old aptly named “Rip” due to a small tear in the headliner that he noticed
as we drive it home. We just recently
traded the van for a timberline green 2009 Nissan Armada. Naming this behemoth (seating for 8!) has
been a challenge, and his name has changed a few times these past weeks. We have officially branded it “Hiro.” As in Hiro Armada. After our favorite animated character from
2015 Hiro Hamada (and Baymax) from the blockbuster movie Big Hero 6! Fitting, I would say!
 |
| Hiro Armada |
So, here comes 2016!
We hope to start it with a BANG and never look back. We have big hopes and even bigger dreams for
the coming year. It is a good time to be
one of the Six Dream Weavers, and we can’t wait to see what God has in store
for us!
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