I can't BELIEVE it's June!  Where does time go?  Cody has had a couple of good nights of sleep, thankfully.  If you have prayed for him, thank you so very much.  His seizures have only occurred once a day the last 2 days as well.  This reprieve has been wonderful.  It's so funny how things balance - now that Cody's had a few good days - Don and I are both sick with a cold and I strained something in my back a few days ago.  It was the night Cody had about 20 seizures and every time he'd go into one, I'd twist over suddenly to grab him, tweaking my back every time.  It's hard to remember good back posturing when you're waking up from sleep!  But the important thing is that Cody's had some good days - and I pray they continue.  I wish I could say he was eating, but that's only getting worse.  We go into the gastro Doc at Children's tomorrow to have 'the final chat' about the feeding tube.  I'm dreading it - but to be honest - it may be a relief to just not have to spend my whole ay counting calories and stressing over trying to feed him.  It's in God's hands at this point. 

Casey is talking up a storm - he is stringing 3 word sentences together and thinking he's a big shot!  He was just screeching anytime he wanted something and the last couple of weeks we've been really intentional about saying "we don't hear screaming - use your words."  So yesterday he was really trying hard - he sat in his high chair and I was offering him different food choices for dinner.  Instead of screaming when I'd say 'do you want noodles?' he'd simply look at me and say 'no, tah ewe.'  (no thank you.)  I finally said, 'what DO you want?'  He said 'hoh doh peeez' (hot dog, please.)  Boy did he get a high five!  He proceeded to say (in his own modified way) 'more hot dog please' 'more peas, please' 'more beets please.'  He did so good.  Although he is a strong willed little guy - he is also very compliant when given instructions.  He really wants to please.  He's also gotten into that toddler habit of saying 'mom, mom, mom, mom, mom' until I stop everything and say, "yes, Casey?"  Then he won't know what to do because he really never had a reason to call my name - he just wanted some attention.  So he typically just looks at me and says 'quack quack' and I say 'yes!  a duck!  good job quacking!'  He is so darn cute it stuns me on a daily basis.

Finally, an email my friend Tina sent that was written by Regina Brett who is 90 years old and writes a column in Cleveland.  She wrote about the lessons she's learned after 90 years.  There are some good ones in here - worth a read.  With love, Shawna

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.
It is the most-requested column I've ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick.
Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others.
You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye.
But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood.
But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie.
Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
 
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time some time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything
you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,
we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."