"Super Daddy/Hubby" Award...Nominee

I know...I tend to get mushy by Mike a lot on our blog...but it's just because he's kinda easy to be mushy about! This weekend I would like to nominate Michael for the "Super Daddy/Hubby" Award (I'm sure there's an award out there like that somewhere)! He's been racing like crazy in school with tests, papers, and random presentations, running to Dr.'s Appointments, X-Rays, sick with the stomach flu, and even watched the kids for me so I could get out this weekend! Yes, I think it's safe to say he deserves the "Super Daddy/Hubby" Award!

Love you Mike...sorry I'm so mushy!

From The M&M Kemp Family

Jocelyn sure loves her dad...she can't help but just bounce up and down when she sees him...her little cheeks jiggling like crazy!

I Love My Random Little Man!

From The M&M Kemp Family

Conversation with Brody while driving in the car:

Brody: Mom....is that a park (pointing at Spaghetti Factory)?

Me: No

Brody: What is it?

Me: A restaurant.

Brody: You hunt goats there?

Me: What?

Brody: Do you hunt Goats there?

Me: Nope!

I'd like to say that was the most random conversation yet...but I'm not sure!

From The M&M Kemp Family

Congratulations Mike...One Year...A lot of Progress!

I just wanted to post congratulations to Mike for making it to his one year mark since his accident. He has come so far! Right after his accident...there was hardly a thing he could do without help. He couldn't sit up. Couldn't even leave the hospital...or see his own kids. Then once he could sit up, he had to keep his brace on all day covering his entire torso. which was itchy...and a little stinky. Then once he could finally try a wheelchair...he constantly was tipping from the lack of being able to bend his back...because of the brace. He couldn't drive...go to work...or even school. Now he races everywhere...in fact many comment they think they saw Mike racing by...but they weren't sure because he was like blur going so fast. He's driving now...going to school...and even...finally learning to use his leg braces! I am so proud of him...and all that he has accomplished. His determination to continue despite so much strife...inspires me daily. He has such an ability to stay positive...not to look back...and move forward with...really...zeal!

Some days I think..."Could things go any slower?"...but then all I have to do is think how much has happened in just a year! This whole experience has taught us a lot...and we are learning more each day. We have learned to depend so much on eachother...family...friends...and most importantly the Lord. Where would we be without the love of so many amazing people. Seriously...Mike and I ask ourselves that all the time? Our circumstances could have been so much different. Thank you so much everyone. Really...where would we be without you?

Here's a list of things we've looked forward to this past year for Mike's progress...in this order...crazy to think about...here we go:

Talking to Mike on the phone after he was hurt...

Seeing Mike after he was hurt...

His surgery...

His back brace...it meant sitting up...

Sitting up... A wheelchair...

Leaving the ICU...

Mike being able to see the kids...

In patient rehab...

Transferring without help from bed to chair...from chair to car...

Racing Mike in a wheelchair...

His transition room...which meant I could stay with him...

Mike coming home for an overnighter...

Mike coming home...

Dr.'s appointments...and progress...

Brace coming off...it stunk...and he hated it...

Mike being able to roll on to his belly...

Out patient rehab...at Neuroworx...

Swimming...

Being able to drive on his own again...

Crawling...

School...

Getting leg braces...

Hugging and kissing Mike on my tippie toes...

Walking...

Our future goals:

Walking...

Mike finishing school...

Mike starting a new career...

Moving into a place of our own...

Walking...

Love you Mike...thank you for all that you do...I don't know what I did right to get you...but I'll take it...and there's no "givzie backzies!"....you're stuck with me!

Update of our Life Lately

Living at Grandpa and Grandma's house...Brody has become so close with his cousins. First with his two cousins Allison and Megan...and now with Ethan and Lincoln! They spend practically every day together. They really are like brothers!

From Blogger Pictures

I think it's safe to say Brody and Ethan are little boys by night...and super heroes by day! It used to be Spider man and Batman...and now...because Ethan started getting into it...Brody is too...but now they are obsessed with Ben 10! It's a TV show that is about a little boy that turns into a super hero! They can't get enough of it! He's quite the super hero...except when he gets in trouble. He'll say..."Mom...call me four arms!" and I say "No...you're not Four Arms until I see my good little boy again!" He sighs..."OK...I'm Brody!" I'll have to post a video of him when he "turns into a hero!" his pronunciation is pretty funny...as well as his new Ben 10 dance!

From Blogger Pictures

Apparently charcoal can make for some pretty good face paint!

From Blogger Pictures

From Blogger Pictures

From Blogger Pictures

Jocelyn is crawling everywhere! Babbling and laughing! She has been such a giggling joy! Her hair is getting so long...I have no clue what to do with it...except...of course...keep spiking it up! I think it might be getting too long...oh well!

From Blogger Pictures

From Blogger Pictures

She's quite the daddy's girl...I know Mike will kill me for posting this picture...but I just thought it was so telling of them...and how she'll just hang out on his lap. She can hang on pretty well now...as Mike wheels her around!

From Blogger Pictures

My sister-in-law mentioned bubbles and jets make for some pretty big bubbles! So we tried...it's true!

From Blogger Pictures

From Blogger Pictures

Jocelyn's been one for a month now...but I forgot to post her actual birthday pictures!

From Blogger Pictures

She had a hard time with something...but she cheered up fast...I LOVE the new leggings and bows she received for gifts...Thank you Emery and Grandma's!

From Blogger Pictures

From Blogger Pictures

Jocelyn LOVES food! Really...yesterday she ate two bowls of oatmeal...and a huge bowl of yogurt and was ready for more...we're raising a monster...but a cute one at that!

From Blogger Pictures

Mike's doing really well! He's still attending school and is just now starting up physical therapy again. We were waiting for the braces...and now that they arrived...he's going to learn how to best use them! YES! So today is actually the first day...and I get to come...I can't wait to see!

I'm Grateful...

Love you guys...

...oh sooo much!

His Braces Came!!!

When Mike first started rehab...one of the first questions was..."is your goal to be able to walk in braces?" We were both a little confused by the question...just because the obvious response was..."no...my goal is to be able to walk...period...no braces!" But as time went on we finally came to the realization that there was no way around it...and that actually it would be a great thing to be able to use braces...especially if they were an aid to walking...better and better! So...we actually started the process late in ordering the braces...just because we didn't know if they'd be covered by medicaid...and if Mike would actually end up using them...a wheelchair is so much faster. But after the decision was made...things started to fall into place...and a few months later...Mike was being fit for braces...and they came on Friday!



The leg braces are custom fit for Michael's legs...worth somewhere around $6,000. But by a small ...actually large miracle they were covered by medicaid and Vocational Rehab! We went in Friday...and met with the makers for over 4 hours. During that time they fit them on Mikes legs...refit them...changed the the plastics...the screws...and then bought wider shoes...and finally...they fit! Mike was able to pull himself up using the parallel bars.He walked up and down from end to end a few times. Granted it was slow and tedious...and required a lot of cheating...but he did it...and boy did he look good...good and tall! He kept teasing everyone in the room about how short we all looked...yeah it didn't take him long to get readjusted to his old height! There is going to be a huge learning curve...things and he'll have to work slowly into them. But...there is a lot of hope in the air...and evidence of the power of God! Just one day at a time.

...can anyone see Brody?

Brody's Dance Class...101

We just wanted to send a little thank you to all those who posted "Elf Your Self" movies. Like most three year olds...our son Brody got such a kick of them...in fact...dancing to these movies quickly became a more then daily routine...we invite you to observe...

PS You'll want to pause the music on our blog to hear it...

Jocelyn...1 Year Old!!!

So today marks the one year anniversary of our seriously precious daughter Jocelyn Kemp...As I sit here trying to think of a way I can best express the joy she has brought to our lives this past year...I'm just filled with happiness and tingles. It's true what they say...great things come in small packages!

A Few of our favorite things about Jocelyn...her smile...giggles...cheeks (on both ends)...big blue eyes...the little curl right at the top of her head...her cuddles...and so many things...

Things she can do as a one year old:

She can point to my eyes and my nose when we ask here where it is...

She LOVES babies...George (Curious George Stuffed Animal)...and growls at dinosaurs
(She'll cuddle and pat anything that resembles a doll including Brody's Spider man)!

Favorite food...Green Beans!

She started crawling at 11 months and 3 weeks...

First word was at 9 months "hi" Over and over again!

Now knows how to say...
Daddy
Hi...hi...hi...hi
Bye bye
Grandpa
Baby
Doggie
Momma

From Rusty Bucket Photography

First Heart's Touched...Daddy's...Momma's...and Brody's!

We love you Jocelyn...Happy Birthday!

Meet The Bratt Family Kiddies...

Here are just a few of Brody and Jocelyn's best friends!

My Beautiful, Wonderful, Timeless Mother...

(I love this picture...they look like a couple of movie stars! This picture was taken by Alaina...a fantastic photographer)

So I just have to brag a little...today my mom is the big five zero! Yes, 50 years! And I believe everyone would agree...she doesn't look anywhere near her age! Most times when I am introducing her to someone...they are shocked...and their comment usually sounds like "WHAT??? Were you 13 when you had her?!!!" ...then I laugh and say..."She has three kids older then me!" And then she just blushes and smiles it off...like their just being nice...but it's true...she is still sooo young and beautiful! But I must also say...as beautiful and timeless as she is on the outside...she is also on the inside! My mom is seriously wonder woman! She is amazing...she is a fantastic listener...you could talk to her about anything! She's an incredible cook...can make anything out of anything...she also makes the most beautiful jewelry...and soooo much fun to watch chick flicks with! One of my favorite memories with my mother while growing up...were the mother daughter outings we would all have together when the boys would go camping. I remember just salivating as we'd plan our nights...typically they consisted of great food...a great chick flick and lots of laughing! So...like I was saying...I just wanted to brag a little about my beautiful, wonderful, timeless Mom...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!