Bella Boo Chunkaroo

Hello dear friends!!! Sorry we didn't post this weekend. Time to make up for that.

First I would like to start by praying for the Freeman family. Many of you probably began following Kayleigh Freeman while checking up on Isabella; or the opposite is true and we were blessed to have you follow us from Kayleigh's blog. Either way, so many of us know who Kayleigh is (I say that because she will always be in our hearts), what strength she had, and how she impacted a vast community that came to love and respect her existence.

Dear Lord, please allow the entire Freeman family to find peace in their hearts at this time of grief and for the rest of their lives; we ask that you continue to fill their souls with faith as they have done for so many months; please guide their hearts and minds through the confusion and emptiness to be filled with the spirit of Jesus Christ and his love. Amen

As for our family, we are doing well. We were very sad last week in learning about Kayleigh. Which made us hold Bella that much tighter. Then this weekend we happened to run across and pick up a stuffed animal from the Shining Stars collection, it's a cute monkey. Thing is, that is Bella's second animal from the collection. The first was given to her by Cherish's family. Our hearts still hurt in thinking about the precious child Cherish was, just like Kayleigh. Remembering each of these amazing souls makes us appreciate how precious the gift of life is, especially the life we are blessed with bringing into this world and raising.

Isabella is SOOOO big to me. When I got home Thursday night from my quick trip to Dallas I was in awe at how long she looked, and all her little chunky rolls. The baby rolls are too darn cute. Our guess is that she is just at or slightly over 11lbs. Chris does this test where he weighs himself first (and yes nurses, he even holds an outfit and diaper to zero out what she has on) and then holds Bella to find the difference. But the truth will come tomorrow at her doctors appointment. I even made the first purge of all the clothes she has outgrown this weekend. That really is a strange feeling, but also exciting. She has a pile of tiny clothes to use for her future baby dolls and a pile to save for a potential future sister.

It will most likely be official tomorrow, but Bella is going to wear a helmet for a few months. The doctors appointment is to have the pediatrician assess and write a prescription for the orthopedic device. The physical therapist has already given her assessment and is pushing for Bella to wear the helmet. If you look at the top of Bella's head it is starting to shape into a parallelogram; her right ear and forehead are pushing forward more than the left side and then the right side of her head is still pretty flat. Physical therapy comes tomorrow to work with her for the first time. The real focus will be stretching her neck. After Memorial Day we will be making our monthly trip to Lubbock for GI and Surgery appointments; at the end of the week she will have more physical therapy, vision coaching and feeding observation.

In addition to doctor and therapist visits, Bella will be making her first trip to New Braunfels tomorrow. The family is loading up for the weekend to spend time with Granmommy, uncles and aunts, and fabulous friends. Of course it will be hands off, but at least we will get to unveil the princess to a portion of her family. I know they are all looking forward to simply seeing her in person.

Hope you all have a splendid holiday weekend and remember to salute the men and women who gave and give their lives for our freedom. Love, Peace and God Bless :)























For all our Cville Crew!!! We love and miss you!!!