Christmas Pics

To the right are the Christmas pics that I promised. We had just a wonderful time together! New Years is just a few days away, and I am really looking forward to the new year! We pray that it is wonderful for you all. Many blessings, love the Foleys

Merry Christmas

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. I'm gonna post some pics sometime today. I have a massive pile of laundry to hit first. In Ethan's words..."this was the best Christmas EVER!" I think in our home, that is true. We were all home and healthy. We had a wonderful week full of visits and phone calls from friends and family. Christmas Eve we finally spent some time with some friends. One of those friends has a mom that is battling cancer right now. We surprised her by about 30 of us showing up at the front of her home caroling. I think it made her day. She has really had to miss out on so much this time of year, and Em and I know how that feels. We feel so blessed this Christmas. Just to think that one year ago we were spending every night in Ivee's hospital room making sure she wasn't hurting and that she wasn't choking. Well, enough of that stuff.
It's a new year coming and we are excited to see what God has in store! God bless you all, and we pray it is a FULL one!

G.I.F.T. Day

I have been just wracking my brain to try and come up with a name for this day. I would just ponder, and ask the Lord to help me. But nothing seemed to fit. Then while in the shower, where most brilliant ideas come from it hit me. December 18th is G.I.F.T Day.

As many of you know, Emmett, Britt and I were in a production in 2005 and then again in 2006 called "The Gift." Many of you have were there to see it, or have seen the DVD. In the play we are married and our daughter has leukemia. She is in remission, but then slips back into a very heavy case that will require a transplant. Her family is not wealthy and has no insurance so they don't know how she will survive. A man, who the girl shows complete unconditional love to, is saved by the grace of God and the witness of the little girl. The man then helps save the little girls life by giving financially for her to receive the transplant.
Well, after the 2006 production of this play...one week later in fact...Ivee's cancer was discovered by the grace of God. He allowed us to find it before it was too late. That's is when our lives changed...for the better. Yes...for the BETTER. You see, it was through this "gift" that we have become more dependent on him...closer to him...and have learned to "hold on to his faithfulness." So, you see December 18th is G.I.F.T day. Not because of a play we were in called "The Gift", but because on that day we learned once again that...

God - Is - Faithful and - True.

So to you all... Happy G.I.F.T. Day

If you haven't watched our thanks video, click the link to the top left.

Love to All~ Hope, Em, Britt, Ethan, and Ivee

BIRTHDAY >>>>>>

Today is my buddies birthday. Yes, my son is my buddy. He makes me laugh all the time...he's just so silly. We are not having a party yet, but he is having one after Christmas. This weekend just filled up to quickly with other stuff. For those who don't know, December is a rotten time to have your birthday cause it's just too busy all the time! Ask Emmett...better yet... don't~

Anyway, if you missed my last blog (below) please read it.

1 Year Anniversary

It is that time of year. Yes, Christmastime...true. But I'm referring to the 1 year anniversary of the day where our lives changed forever. This Tuesday, December 18th marks a year from the day that Ivee fell. Our lives were changed forever. I know that God was/is our strength through all of this and for the rest of our lives, but we also know that he uses his people in a great way to be his "physical" hand. WE ARE SO BLESSED! I wanted to make a thank you to all of you, and the best way I could think of doing that is to make a video of Ivee's life. You have all had a hand in saving her...through your prayers and support. This journey was made easier through all of you. We feel as though words are not enough.
So my first request. Please, take 10 minutes to watch her video. It was too long to post on here, so I had to post it on youtube. The link is listed on the top to the left. The hardest part about making this video is I didn't want to leave any part of her journey out, but the video would have lasted 24 hours. No one is going to watch a video that long, so I had to purposefully leave things out. Oh, make sure your volume is up. These are some of mommy's favorite songs, and Ivee has a message.
My next request is if you know anyone who is struggling with an illness or maybe even cancer themselves, let them know about the video. Ivee's a strong fighter, and people like to know/feel that they are not alone.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL! We love you more than words can say.

Well, all went well this weekend. Ethan came home sick from Jacksonville, FL with a fever and vomiting. He didn't want to eat today at all. He looks so sick in his eyes. He just laid around all day today. I just pray he's better tomorrow.
I'm attaching a video of Ivee in her favorite place...the tub. I'm headed to bed now. Hope you enjoy.

A late night

It's been a late night tonight. We had dress rehearsal, so we got home late. I took and shower and some meds. Just waiting for my throat to stop itching, so I can stop coughing. I kept Emmett up all night last night with it, so I'm trying to be considerate tonight. Might sleep on the couch.
Ivee is doing so well today. The only time she really got fussy was at supper time. She wanted to eat my food. I had a creamy dessert in front of me, so I gave her a taste. MISTAKE! That is all she wanted and I couldn't give her that little bit that I can fast enough. She, Britt and I spent most of the day shopping for grocery's and for a blouse for the musical. She was very cooperative, and talked to everybody. I think being cooped up in the house for a week and a half drove her crazy, and she was just happy to be out and about. She blew kisses to everyone she came across. And her babbling just goes on and on now. I remember after her brain surgery she would try to cry, but for weeks she couldn't make any sounds. My hear ached so much, and I just remember saying that I would listen to her cry for hours if she could just make a noise. So now I find myself when she goes on and on remembering what I had said then. She can be loud sometimes, and she makes this really annoying gasping sound when she doesn't get her way...but I wouldn't have her any other way. There's nothing like hearing her say mama, dada, and bye bye to everyone. And it is so sweet when she blows kisses and goes mawa.
Ethan and Papaw made it to Jacksonville, and the infection on Ethan's thumb looks better today according to my dad. It had me a little worried. It was just kinda gross.
The play/musical really came together tonight. I hope you all can come see it. You can purchase a DVD of it (Christy). I think you can do that online at the church website (faithfamilyonline.com). Also, there are DVD's still available of The Gift. I actually think I have some extras around my house, but I'm not sure of that. For those who can come this weekend, it starts at 6 pm Saturday and Sunday night.
I'm getting sleepy now, so I'll sign off. God bless and goodnight.

Well, for those still keeping up with the Foley's...I miss the comments :( ... Ivee is feeling much better, and her attitude has improved. Still hacking her head off, but who of us isn't right now. Mucus has taken up a permanent residence in my throat. Now I've grossed some of you out. Sorry :) A quick prayer request. Remember Johnny (link to the left...Sileno family). His MRI came back with a shadow. Could be radiation scarring or tumor grow. Leaning toward scarring, but the docs have to paint worse case scenario. Johnny received his second dose of radiation for the same tumor Ivee had while we were at St. Jude. His parents are awesome. He'll have another MRI in a month instead of three to make sure there is no new growth, and that it is an affect of the radiation. Thanks.
Ethan has left to go to Jacksonville with papaw to see Aunt Sonia this weekend. Britt wanted to go, but our Christmas musical is this Saturday and Sunday, and I told her if she wanted to be involved she had to be committed. SO, even when a fun trip comes up, commitments come first. I'm sure she hated the responsibility speech. For those interested, the musical is at 6:00 pm. It seems a bit strange that this is the same time last year when Em, Britt and I portrayed a family in "cancer" crisis, and then a few weeks later it became reality. It just seems sometimes like it was yesterday, and then other days it feels like forever ago. We are so blessed! By the grace of God we will celebrate our first Christmas at home with Ivee there! He has been gracious on this journey, and we are forever grateful. And I can't tell you enough...you all were his physical hands here on earth through it all! We ended that musical (The Gift) with a song called "We are One." I'll end with the words that truly became reality for us through you.
They'll (the people will) know we are Christians by our love
Yes, they'll KNOW we are Christians by our love
You are a gracious, giving and Loving family. Have a blessed and Merry Christmas!
(PS. Daisy, I wasn't referring to you earlier :) Compliment, I mean comment all you want!

I'm a pretty...

Rotten Princess... Ivee has been just soooooo ill...physically and emotionally. Not only is she trying to get over the sickness, but she's cutting four teeth. So, she is very trying today. Well, I know, two post in a few days. Shocking. Hope you enjoyed the video below. Here are some more pics as promised. Enjoy...

Here's Ivee on Thanksgiving. She's learning to stand on her legs better. She really enjoyed getting into the puffed peppermints.

Here's Ivee, pappaw, and cousing Haley. They got along well!

Ivee and her new tricks

1st. After you read this post, click on our Christmas Message link to the left.

Ivee has learned how to say bye-bye and blow kisses. She's also learned to try to get away from me. All this you can see in the video.

Right now she has been sick since Wednesday. Today Em took her to the ER for a chest xray. She may possibly have a spot of pneumonia, but other wise, she just needs to kick this. The worse part is they were in there all day. Then tonight when we came home, her g g-button was leaking horribly. I had to change it out for the first time. Not a fun experience.

So, please pray that her little nose and sinuses would heal. If you can't swallow the mucus, it's becomes horrible to deal with. We went ahead and suctioned her nose out today. She just couldn't breath. We are also giving her breathing treatments twice daily to help her sleep. It seems to be working. She's also on an antibiotic.

Well, I hope all is well with you and I'll get some pics up this week hopefully. Our Christmas musical is taking place the 8th and 9th, so it will be an extremely busy week. Just wanted to update.

Okay, so here's the video, turn up the volume. :) enjoy