Happy Birthday to Hawk!! Today is Hawk's 5th birthday.

We will have him a birthday party on Monday, Sept. 4th. His Mom is having him a party on Saturday.

We called him this evening to sing Happy Birthday to him and he wouldn't talk to us. This is very unusually for him. Lindy said that he wasn't feeling good and that he wouldn't let anyone tell him Happy Birthday today. His Uncle and Aunt from North Carolina called and he wouldn't talk to them. Lindy said that he wouldn't talk to anyone who called today and he wouldn't let anyone tell him Happy Birthday.

Naturally, this has us concerned. Anything unusually that he does always has us concerned. Lindy said that he was not feeling good because he has an upset stomach. Hopefully, he will feel better tomorrow.

As part of his birthday present, we are planning to take him and his little sister, Skyla,(23months) his cousins, Breanna (5), and Brooke (2), to ride Thomas The Train next Saturday, the 9th. Mike, Jamie and I are taking them. It is a treat to all of them from Mike and I. I'm sure that they will have a lot of fun doing that.

GREAT NEWS!!!

The results from Hawk's MRI yesterday were good. The tumor stayed the same. As long it is not growing, this is good news. His doctor said that he looked good. Hawk feels really good right now.
Every time he goes back and the tumor is not growing, we are so thankful.
Thank you for all of your prayers.
He will go back in 2 months for his next MRI.

Weekend of August 18 thru 20, 2006. Hawk had a rough night on Thursday night with coughing all night, so Lindy decided to keep him out of school on Friday. Anyway, he decided that he wanted to come over and spend the night with us on Friday night.

Lindy brought him and Skyla over and they spent the night on Friday.

I had taken down the babybed and put the toddler bed up for Skyla and for Brooke. Hawk wanted to lie down with Skyla and get their pictures taken.

















Here he is kissing her goodnight. They are so sweet together. They love each other very much.













On Sunday Kevin and Tuesday took Breanna and Brooke to the Wilson County Fair. They came by our house after the fair. Breanna won first prize in the duck racing contest, the duck she picked out won the race.

Here they are riding Fancy.













On Friday night, Hawk decided that he wanted to build a campfire. Even though it was about 90 degrees outside, Mike built him a campfire.

He came running into the house and said Nanna, we need some marshmallows to roast. The only marshmallows we had were the miniature marshmallows, but we managed to put them on a wire and roast them. We only roasted a few. Hawk and Skyla didn't eat any, but it was fun to roast them.















Mike, Hawk, and Skyla roasting marshmallows.

















Hawk standing by the fire.













Another picture of Hawk by the fire.

We will get the results of his last MRI on Thursday. I will post the results when we get them.

Please pray that everything will be okay.

More pictures taken last Saturday, August 12.
Hawk standing beside the fountain.
















Hawk getting his ball out of the hole.













Kevin, Tuesday, Breanna, and Brooke. They came by after church on Sunday. I had lunch fixed for them.

Kevin, Tuesday, and Breanna changed clothes and went back to church to do some work and Brooke stayed with us.

Mike took Brooke with him to take off the trash and they went by to visit him mom, Cathy Waddle and her husband Derald. They enjoyed seeing Brooke. Brooke was asleep when they got back.

Later in the afternoon, our good friends, Fran and Charlie Parson called to see if we wanted to go get something to eat. I told them that I had a lot of food cooked, so they came by and ate at our house and visited for awhile.

These were taken at our house and at the putt-putt golf course last Saturday (Aug. 12, 2006).



Hawk hitting a golf ball in our front yard. Being a typical little boy and sticking out his tongue for the camera.


Jamie couldn't get over how well Hawk can hit a golf ball. He is very athletic. I am not a Nanna bragging on her grandson, but a lot of people have commented on how well Hawk can throw a ball and bat a ball and hit a golf ball. He is just very talented with anything to do with sports.



Mike, Jamie and Skyla playing putt-putt. We have a new Sports Center in Lebanon. It is very nice. Hawk had been there before and really wanted us to go. So we went Saturday night.










Hawk fishing his ball out of the water. It just happened to go into the water several times, so that he could get it out again.









Mike helping Skyla with her putting. When we first got there we only got clubs and balls for Mike, Jamie and Hawk. I didn't get one because I was taking pictures. Anyway, Skyla ended up with Mike's club and ball.












Hawk and Skyla waiting for the rest of us.
















Hawk playing air hockey with Mike and Skyla. Skyla wanted to play even though she wasn't big enough to reach the table.








Mike helping Skyla play air hockey.

Hawk goes back on Thursday ( Aug. 17, 2006) for his next MRI. Please pray that it will shrink some more or go away. We will get the results on Aug. 24. I will post the results.


On the way to play putt-putt, Hawk was riding with Mike and I and Skyla was riding with Jamie. We got in front of Jamie and Skyla, this always tickles Hawk, if the car he is in beats the other one.






Skyla riding Fancy. We had so much fun with them on Saturday and Saturday night. After we left the Sports Center, Jamie took them home with him

More pictures taken at the lake last weekend.

Skyla getting out of the water. Mike, Kevin, and Kayla in the background.















Hawk playing in the water.

Hawk really likes kindergarten. He has been going to The Learning Center since he was little, so it isn't very much different for him. He said that he really likes kindergarten because they have 2 BIG slides.

He and Skyla are coming over tomorrow to spend the weekend. Jamie is coming over here to stay with them.

Things he likes to do while here: Ride his 4-wheeler (battery operated). We have 2 4-wheelers and a red jeep (all battery operated) so that all of the grandchildren have something to ride. We have a small sunk in place beside the driveway, so last weekend Hawk kept coming in the house and getting water and taking out there to the small sunken place. Finally, he had made a mudhole and then he rode his 4-wheeler over and over it. He told us that his Dad (Jamie) told him that it wasn't a 4-wheeler unless it had mud on the tires. He likes to play computer games. He likes Thomas the Train and Reader Rabbit pre-school. He likes the Disney TV video game. He really likes Donald Duck golf. He has gotten really good at it. We have to give Skyla a control, so that she thinks she is playing also. He likes the board game, Dora the Explorer Chutes and Ladders, he loves to go downstairs and play on the pool table. He gets on the pool table and rolls the balls into the pockets. All of the grandchildren(except Kayla who is 12) do this. He usually tries to do all of this and more while he is here. He is always in a good mood and has a lot of enthusiam for everything. Skyla usually does all of it also.






Hawk's 2-year old cousin, Brooke. She stayed with me while her mommy was working.


















Another picture of Brooke. Her big sister, Breanna(on the right) also started to kindergarten last week. Breanna also really likes kindergarten. She really wanted to get the Best Rester Award. So today she was very still and quiet during rest time and she got the Best Rester Award today.

This picture was made at Christmas 2003. I know it is an old picture of Hawk, but it is so cute, I wanted to share it. My sister, Wanda Parker, made a scrapebook page of it and gave all of us one for Christmas.

Hawk is doing so good right now. We appreciate all of the prayers for him. He will go back this month for another MRI.

I know that God has a good plan for Hawk. Whatever God's plan is for Hawk, I know that it will be the right plan for him.

"I lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip-he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you-the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm-he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." Psalm 121

Sunday July 30, 2006

Pa Pa Mike letting Hawk drive the lawn mower. Hawk likes to drive by himself. The blades are not engaged and he goes very slow.
Mike walks along beside Hawk.

We cherish every day we have with him.







Another view of Hawk on lawn mower.

He is just a precious little boy.

He and Skyla and Kayla spent the night on Saturday. Kayla is staying for the whole week, but we took Hawk and Skyla back home on Sunday night.

Hawk started kindergarten today (Tuesday, August 2, 2006). We are so thankful at how well he is doing. When he was first diagnosed with this terrible disease, we weren't sure is he would start kindergarten or not. PRAISE GOD.


Kayla and Skyla sitting on front porch.

Kayla was taking movies of Hawk on lawn mower.

Pa Pa offered to ride Skyla on mower, but that was too much for her.










Sweet little Skyla.

She was sitting there letting Nana take her picture.

She tries to do everything that Hawk does. It is so cute to watch her with him.









Saturday, July 29, 2006

We picked Hawk and Skyla up and took them to the lake on Saturday.

Mike's mom (Cathy Waddle and her husband Derald) have a houseboat on Center Hill Lake.

We took Hawk, Skyla, and Kayla up there on Saturday. Kevin came up with Breanna. Mike's mom and her husband, his sister, Regina and her husband Mike Carr, their daughter, Heather and her husband, Brit Blackburn and his daughter, Sydney and Brit's mother and Mike Carr's mother were there. We were celebrating birthday's in July and August. This is Skyla eating a chocolate cupcake.



Sydney, Brenna, Hawk, and Papa Mike getting out of the water and back on houseboat.













Hawk anticipating going down the slide. He finally decided against it.

Breanna loved the slide.

Everyone had a great time. Hawk got to ride one of the SeaDoos with Papa Mike and Breanna rode on one with Kevin. Kayla rode on one with Mike also.

Skyla played in the water and on the houseboat.
Hawk, Breanna, Sydney and Kayla got to ride in the ski boat also.


Nanny Cathy, Kayla, Hawk and Breanna getting out of ski boat and back on houseboat.

Since Hawk's birthday is the end of this month, Regina decided to celebrate his birthday on Saturday with everyone else. We will have another birthday party for him on his birthday, August 31, 2006. We were celebrating Regina's, Heather's, Sydney's, and Mrs. Blackburn's and Hawk's.

Now Hawk thinks her is already 5. We tried to explain to him that he isn't 5 yet, but he insisted that he is. I guess he'll just be 5 again on August 31. All the way up to the boat and back, he talked and talked. I'm going to start taking a tape recorder with me and record the things he is saying. He is so precious and we love him so much!!! I pray everyday that he will be healed. He and Breanna love each so much. There is only a year difference in their ages. She is so good to him. She says that whatever Hawk wants to do, then that is what she wants to do. Kevin and Tuesday have told her how sick Hawk is. She told me one day that if Hawk doesn't get well, then he will be in Heaven and she can always talk to him. She said that if her friends saw her talking and wanted to know what she was doing, then she would just tell them that she was talking to Hawk.

The little girl, Shaylee McDonald, who was taking treatments with Hawk, is very ill. Hospice is coming in every day. Her grandmother says that she just lies in the recliner every day. She loves when the mail comes because she gets lots of cards.

We've all been put on a path that we have to see through. I just want time to stand still for awhile, but I know that it won't. Our world fell out from under us on December 15, 2005. That's the day that Hawk was diagnosed with this terrible disease. The tumor is still there. Until it goes completely away, we will just hold our breath every time he goes for his MRI. We just pray that it will go away and give us more time with Hawk.

This is an update on Hawk's last MRI:

I'm taking some sentences out of the Findings: The greatest axial measurement is approximately 3.5 cm which is slightly increased from prior study at which time it was approximately 3.3cm. The greatest superioinferior dimension is 3.5 cm which is slightly increased from 3.4 cm on prior study. There is no other intracranial lesion. The ventricles are normal.

IMPRESSION: Minimal increase in size of the brain stem glioma in comparison to prior study dated 05/16/06. There is more apparent increase in size when compared to study of 03/13/06.

Then Dr. Kuttesch wrote on the bottom of in his own handwriting: The difference in size may be just different measurement. In other words, the difference is so small, that it may just be the way it was interpreted each time.

Hawk will go in for another MRI in August (this month) to see if there are any changes.

Thank all of you for your prayers. I have faith that God can heal Hawk and I pray every day that He will, but the tumor is still there and we have to follow Jesus's example and pray that His will be done. I try to stay positive, but I cry every night about this.

Week of Sunday 16th through Saturday 22nd.

Hawk woke up on Sunday complaining of a headache. His grandpa Ken told us about it at church.

This has us very concerned. Hawk and Skyla came home with us after church. On Monday he complained of a headache again. And again on Tuesday. Lindy called me on Tuesday and said that she was going to take him to the doctor and would I come over and get Skyla. I went to get Skyla.

Barbara had Hawk and Lindy wasn't able to contact her, so she decided to take him in to the doctor the next day. She brought Hawk on over to our house and he and Skyla spent the night with us.

The next morning, Lindy came by and got Hawk and I kept Skyla. The doctor said that Hawk looks great, but decided to take his MRI now instead of waiting until August. Lindy brought Hawk back and he wanted to spend the night again. We told him it was okay. Skyla went home with Lindy. At around 8:00 pm Hawk decided that he wanted to go home, so I took him home.

He and Skyla came back on Friday night and spent the night. Breanna and Brooke came over and played with them. When he and Breanna saw each other, they hugged and hugged. They love being together.

They were playing hide and seek under our bed and when we would find Hawk, he and Breanna told us that it really wasn't Hawk that it was only a statute of him, that Hawk had left. Anyway, the next day Hawk was playing hide and seek with Mike and I and Skyla (Breanna had gone home) and when we would find him (Skyla always shows us where he is ) he told us that it was only a statute of him. Once he told us that the real Hawk had gone to North Carolina and once he told us that he had gone to Disney World and the last time he told us that he had gone to Heaven.

Lindy took him to the doctor on Monday the 24th for his MRI. We will get the results on Thursday the 27th. He hasn't complained of a headache anymore. We pray that everything will be okay. He looks so good right now and feels so good, that it is hard to look at him and think that there is something so terribly wrong with him. I've been really depressed this week thinking about all of it.

Anyway, Hawk will start kindergarten on August 2nd. We are very thankful. When he was first diagnosed, we weren't sure if he would be able to start kindergarten or not. We are so grateful for the prayers said for him. We just pray that he will continue to do good and that the tumor will stay shrunken. Everytime I watch him play, I pray that he will be healed.

I will post on this blog on Thursday the results of his MRI.

JULY 1-JULY 4 These pictures were made at the Sounds baseball game. The Sounds donated a skybox and $100. worth of food for Hawk and his family. The skybox was so nice. It was airconditioned and very comfortable. Everyone who attended were: Mike and I and Kayla, Jamie, Hawk and Skyla, Kevin, Tuesday, Breanna and Brooke and our good friends Charlie and Frances Parson. We all had a good time. Hawk really enjoyed being with his cousins and little sister. The Sounds lost the ballgame, but it was still fun to watch. After the ballgame they had a fireworks display. The children really enjoyed that.


Skyla wasn't in this picture because she was a little afraid of the moscot. Pa Pa held her for the other picture, but she still wasn't too sure of it all.
Breanna is wearing a patch on her left eye to help the right one become stronger.














Jamie had the children from July 1st through the 4th. We all went to the ballgame on the 1st. On Sunday he took them to his house and they went swimming at his friends house. On Monday the 3rd they went camping at Kevin and Tuesday's neighbor. These are pictures made at the campsite. Hawk has been camping before, but this was Skyla's first camping trip. She did great. When it came time to go to bed, she crawled into her tent and went to sleep and slept all night

Then on the 4th they went swimming at Kevin and Tuesday's. Jamie took them back home late that night. Hawk is doing so good right now. We pray that he will continue to do good and beat the odds with this tumor. I pray everyday that he will be healed.

Please pray for Shaylee McDonald. She is a little five year old that was diagnosed with the same tumor at the time Hawk was. They took their treatments at the same time. She is very very sick right now. Hospice is coming to her house. Please pray for her and her family.

Skyla at the campsite. She had a great time. Kevin and Tuesday and Breanna also camped with them and some of their friends. Brooke went to her own house and slept in her bed. Her grandparents from Florida kept her at her house.

Hawk will go back for his next MRI in August. He looks so good and feel so good right now. We are praying that the tumor will continue to be shrunken or completely gone.

We usually get them during the week and almost every Sunday afternoon. They came home with us after church on Sunday. Charlie and Frances came over and we went to Chili's for lunch. This is where Hawk wanted to go. After lunch we came back to our house and played with them.
Hawk wanted to play Chutes and Ladders, only 4 can play, so Hawk, Mike, Frances and Charlie played Chutes and Ladders. Hawk won (he always wins). Skyla was taking a nap.

We took them home at around 6:00 p.m.

Hawk wanted us to stay for awhile. We stayed for awhile and he showed us his new toys and his new riding toy ( a bulldozier that he peddles)

He showed us how fast he can go down his slide and how fast he can ride his bulldozier. He rides it down his driveway and then makes a sharp turn either to the right or left.

Then Skyla showed us how she rides her little ride. She holds her feet up and goes down the sidewalk until she gets to the end, then she puts her feet down and stops herself.

She always tries to do everything that Hawk does.

Hawk woke up on Sunday with a headache, so this has us a little concerned. But other than that he feels great most of the time.

Thanks for all of your prayers for him and his family.

This was made at our house last Saturday. I haven't updated the blog in awhile. Hawk is doing so good right now. He looks good and feels great. All of his hair has grown back out that he lost during radiation.

He has taken several trips. He's been to North Carolina twice, he's been on a train ride with his Dad, he's been to the zoo. He went on a camping trip with Jamie. Hawk really enjoys all of it.
At his last MRI, the tumor stayed the same (has shrunk by 25%). We are so thankful for this. He goes for his next MRI in August. PLEASE PRAY THAT IT WILL SHRINK SOME MORE OR GO COMPLETELY AWAY.

He is just a precious little boy. He laughs at everything. Mike and I get more tickled watching him laugh than we do at what he's laughing about. Skyla tries to do everything that Hawk does. It is so cute to watch her trying to do everything like he does. She is learning a lot from her big brother.

This was made at our house last weekend. This is Hawk petting one of our baby goats. We have 9 baby goats. They are so cute!!!

UPDATE ON HAWK'S MEDICAL CONDITION:

This is the results of Hawk's MRI. This is the first MRI done since he finished with his radiation. There is a 25% reduction in the tumor!!! This is great news!!! Only 50% of the children respond to the radiation, so he is in the 50% that responded. PRAISE THE LORD. THANK ALL OF YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE PRAYERS FOR HAWK. WE GIVE ALL THE CREDIT TO GOD AND PRAYERS.

Here are some of the things that were on the medical report:

Marked interval improvement in the pontine neoplastic lesion most consistent with low grade glioma. Improved mass effect upon the fourth ventricle which is now more patent.
Improvement in effacement of the pre-pontine cistern.

FINDINGS: Since the previous study there has been marked interval improvement in the MR appearance of the pontine glioma. There has been significant decrease in size and mass effect.-----No new lesions are apparant.

Also an update on Mike:---He does have prostate cancer, but (thank the good Lord) it has not spread. He does not have to take any kind of treatments----He will be having robotic surgery at Centennial Hospital on April 21. His doctors are very positive that this will take care of the cancer and he should be doing great after he completely recuperates.

Jamie shaking hands with Johnny Rhodes


On February 25, Some of Jamie's friends sponsored a benefit for him and Hawk at the fairgrounds. Brandy Sanders was the one who coordinated the event with lots ofhelp from other people. Here is a list of people who our family want to thank from the bottom of our heart. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH:

Workers: Brandy and Steve Sanders--- Scott and Jennifer Jenkins ~~ also in addition to helping, Tater donated an Elvis book to be auctioned----Jason Sanders and Crystal Likens ~ also in addition to helping, Crystal's grandmother donated a quilt that she made to be auctioned--Jody and Lindsay Race ----Jerry and Andrea Weaver ~ ----Barbara Sanders ---Betty Loftis ------Michael and Felicia Drake ---Virgleen Seay ----Faye Brinley and girls ----Trisha McCarter ----Barry Loftis---Heather Blackburn

HERE ARE THE CONTRIBUTORS:
Contributors:(These are from Lebanon unless otherwise noted)---Lebanon Vacuum and Sewing---Pepsi Bottling Company---Hunter's Point Golf Course----Flowers By Lynn----Nashville Superspeedway---Pizza Hut---Curves for Women---Heavenly Ham---H & H Furniture---Clayborn's Bakery---The Barn Bar and Grill---The White Room---Painturo's Piazza--Ziggy's Pizza--Toot's - Murfreesboro---Whitt's Barbecue---Fred's - Lebanon and Hartsville---Papa John's---Domino's---The Best Deal Pawn and Music---Baskin Robbins---Wal-Mart - Carthage and Antioch----Hooter's - Murfreesboro---Cedar Creek - Mt. Juliet---Regal Cinemas---Heavenscent---Java Joe's--Moss' - Mt. Juliet---Grandma's Quilting and Sewing--Griffith's--Studio Z - Smyrna---Johnny Rodes---O' Charley's - Hermitage---Tennessee Titans---The English Touch---Puffy Muffin - Franklin---Ponderosa Steakhouse---Big Idea----The Flower Cottage----Monograms Plus----Friends In Stitches----George Jones---Topper's Music---Cox's Gift's and Jewelry---Park Avenue Florist---Center Barber Shop--West Main Garden Center---The Paper Mill----Cumberland University---Music City Motorplex---Friedman's Jewelers---Chip Ganassi Racing---Lil' Paul's Barbecue---Nashville Sounds---Love One Another Church---PFG/Kenneth O. Lester---Minchey's - Mt. Juliet----Wilson County Fairgrounds

Here are some pictures from the benefit: This in Johnny Rhodes, one of the performers.



This is one of the clowns that were at the benefit. There were five clowns. This one kept the children entertained all night. Some of the others did face painting. There were four women clowns and one man clown. This is Sidney Blackburn and Breanna Smith with the clown.



This is Kayla Conner and Brooke Smith--two of Hawk's and Skyla's cousins. Due to circumstances beyond our family's control, Hawk and Skyla were not there. But we had a lot of pictures of them sitting on a table. Hawk and Skyla would have really enjoyed the bands and the clowns and the other children. Channel 17 was there and interviewed me, Jamie, and Kayla.



This is a picture of Breanna with her face painted .



This is a picture of Heather and Kelsey. They helped serve the bean supper. There were several bands, the clowns, a silent auction, and a delicious bean supper. Mrs Barbara Sanders cooked all the beans and made the slaw for the bean supper. THANKS TO HER. There was also pizza donated by Pizza Hut and drinks donated by Wal-Mart. THANKS TO ALL. Thank to all of you who came and enjoyed the evening with us and participated in the silent auction. A BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE.

These pictures were made at The Fun Factory. Everything is indoors. The picture on the left is of Hawk and Mike in the bumber cars. I can't tell if the other person is Kevin or Jamie. Anyway, Hawk had a ball on the bumber cars. The picture on the right is of all of us as we were getting ready to play laser tag. That was so much fun!!! We also saw a 3-D movie and played indoor putt-putt golf. It was under black lights and it looked like we were under the ocean. It had mermaids and sunken ships etc. Hawk and Breanna loved it. Anyway, everything was a lot of fun. After we left this place, we stopped and ate dinner and then drove on back home. We all had so much fun!!!

More pictures of the aquarium. This is Hawk in the pirates cove. He is shooting a cannon at me . This is a picture of Jamie in a divers suit with Hawk looking on. Jamie and Hawk eating lunch at the aquarium.That's all of the ones of the aquarium. This day was beginning to be cloudy and looking like it might rain. And by the time we got out of the aquarium and got back to the van, it had begun to rain. But we found a place called The Fun Factory in Gatlinburg and everything was indoors. I will have pictures of it on the next post.