The Lanksters: Making Great Strides

Look how big I am getting!

Many of you have been emailing me to check up on us. I know my past post was pretty bleak but I felt pretty bleak. I am happy to report that things have been looking up. I have finally gotten back into the swing of things at work. I am not going to lie - it is still very challenging for me to do my job full time and take care of the girls, but I am starting to figure out a routine. I have turned over a few more duties to my nanny, Ashley, such as bottle-making and the occasional bath, which have helped immensely. I have also figured out what I have to do at what time during the night to get the girls in bed. While my nights continue to be as crazy as I have described them, I have really started to adapt and things are starting to seem routine. One big help is that Lilly started sleeping through the night. It is amazing what you can accomplish with a little sleep! Once she started sleeping through the night, other things seemed to click as well - her reflux and malabsorption issues seemed more controlled and I was even able to move her to her crib to sleep (albeit elevated).

We also started really gaining ground in our fundraising efforts for Great Strides. I am thrilled to report that as of this afternoon, "Team Lilly" has raised $4930! That is just based on online donations! Team Lilly is working her way towards a national team as well - my brother Rusty, who is in the Army and stationed in Texas, has friends that have created a team to walk on behalf of Lilly in Texas. It is amazing to me the kindness of strangers (who are no longer strangers to us)! If we were to add one more team from another state to walk on behalf of "Team Lilly" we could become a national team - how amazing is that! Multiple people have signed up to walk for Team Lilly on May 15th, which is fantastic. For those of you who haven't been informed, the walk has been moved from the Fayette County Courthouse to the Lexington Legends Field. Registration is at 9 and the walk begins at 10. I am hosting a brunch at our house afterwards for all those who come out to show their support for Team Lilly, so if you plan on walking, please sign up online so we can keep you in the loop!

In addition, I have been in close contact with the director of the Kentucky/West Virginia chapter of the CFF, Beth Denham. She is helping me get involved in every way that I can. I am hoping to be more heavily involved next year in planning the Great Strides event in Lexington, so watch for news on that. If you participate, and have suggestions, please pass them on to me! I have also hooked up with Melissa Chambers, a local volunteer and fundraiser for CFF, who handles a fundraising event in the fall for the CFF. She has asked Jeremy and I to be part of a steering committee for this event this fall and we quickly agreed. It has previously been entitled the "Wine & Bourbon Bash" but this year it will have a new name - the "65 Roses Seafood Splash and Spirit Bash." Don't hold me to that name - it may change - but with a name like that, how can it not be fun? The event is scheduled for September 12 at Rossi's restaurant in Lexington and will include seafood, vodka and bourbon tastings, a steel drum Caribbean band, and a premier and silent auction. Tickets will likely be $75.00 per person, so if interested, please mark your calendars and plan on joining us! More details on that event to come!

The fundraising efforts, and Lilly's improvement, have really energized me and helped me cope with our rocky situation. While things have been going well, we have of course had set backs. This past week wasn't so easy - Jake caught a GI infection that resulted in a lot of diarrhea and vomiting (and of course, it hit while I was out of town for work) and Lilly quit sleeping through the night while struggling with tummy aches and bad BMs again. Those set-backs are hard, but I am learning to deal with them and roll with the punches. I constantly have to work to keep a positive attitude.

A positive attitude is especially important in the coming weeks since Lilly has another doctor's appointment approaching with Dr. Kanga, as well as her regular pediatrician. I dread these appointments - I am terrified of bad news. This round we undergo cultures and chest x-rays and I worry that they will show bacteria in her lungs and lung damage. I just don't know what to expect and it scares me. But I try not to dwell on it - I can't change things, I just have to react to them. And I want my reaction to be positive, not negative, because, as I have said before, and truly believe, life is all about attitude. So if you have been thinking of us, and praying for us, please continue to keep us in your prayers - I cannot say enough how much I appreciate it!