Update of the Kreins Family

Matthew:
Matthew started his Human Growth Hormone shots the day after his 4th birthday! The nurse came to our house and showed myself and Steve how to mix it all up, how to store it, travel with it, use the Cool Click (a cool thing that gives the shot) device and how to give it to Matthew. Matthew was so freaked out about it. He was really scared the whole time the nurse was here. Poor boy! Then we gave it to him, after a lot of coaxing, it was sooooo heartbreaking, talk about a heart wrenching thing for a mom to give her son a shot. He had huge crocidile tears at this point. Then I gave him the shot... he goes mom, that didn't hurt! He was so excited about it. I was about in tears, it was so moving. He started hugging me and saying, mom, you did a good job, it didn't hurt at all, thank you, thank you! He is such a kid! He was concerned about me and thanking me! He gets them every night now, and they are going well. He gets them all over his body, his arms, legs, stomach, bottom, and we switch every night... he doesn't mind them anymore! Thank you Lord, for grace, for all of us through that. He has his first appt. to start his monitoring in January, so we will see how that goes, how much growth happens! God you have a plan!
Pre-school is going well. He mostly likes it, and get this, the other day he actually took a nap there! Okay, that was a miracle, if you know that Matthew hasn't actually taken a formal nap in about 2 years. For the past month every day he would go to school he would be like, mom, dad, I don't like laying down and relaxing my body! He would talk about it all the time. The teachers would give him something else to do while the other kids "relaxed" their bodies! But the other day, he layed down! Ha! We have quiet time at home now so it hopefully has helped!
The other day he told me that he didn't want to be a pirate for Halloween. I said, really, why. He says, because pirates can be mean and I want to be a clown, they are funny, they make people laugh, they are nice. I really took all this in. The other night I actually lost sleep over this. I was like, how do I show my child Christ through the holiday of Halloween? Well, not that Jesus is even in Halloween, but how do I as a parent nurture a healthy perspective of Halloween for my young one? I think that you just let them see it, don't go overboard, don't be too rigid or strict, but not too lenient either... it is hard raising our children for the Lord when you go to Freddie's or Walmart and there is all this scary Halloween stuff everywhere, they get sucked in, the costumes, the candy, and with that the scary, spooky, ghostly, etc, etc... Matthew is so scared of scary masks... he gets hysterical, Steve put one on one time, we didn't know he was scared, and man, it was so eyeopening into our little childs psyche. He is sensitive, he is empathetic, gentle and Godly... as parents we have to let him be who he is and provide him with the best guidance that we can and pray, pray, pray that they choose to live this life for God! I have seen so many times where parents have "pushed" church, God, all that, in a strict manner onto their childrens lives and it has really just pushed them AWAY FROM God. Oh God, watch over our kids! I could go soooo much further into that subject, trust me, it is a good one, to discuss, how much we do and stuff. I spoke with my mom about it the other day, cause I grew up going trick or treating, harvest parties, all that. My parents weren't really strict about it. I feel that I as an adult see what Halloween is now, with open eyes, the evilness of it and what it is all about. But if my parents had been all like, no, you cannot participate, you cannot dress up, etc... maybe would I have rebelled, etc... later, cause I was MADE to do something. I am sure I will spark some thoughts of agreement or even thoughts of wow, Sharrie, you are crazy! Who knows, we all gotta do what we have to. I just try to live by example to my sons, Lord help me to be the parent that Matthew and Daniel need!

Daniel:
He is growing like a little weed, well, there is nothing little about my young boy! He is a hulk! He is so sweet and docile, he is a lot like his cousin Julius, easygoing, laid back, easily entertained and comforted, very scheduled, but flexible, he is a joy to our household. Matthew is in love with the little bro! They have a blast together. He is saying Mama alllll the time, it is the most precious sound coming out of his mouth! I love it. I wish he was saying dada too, so Steve would feel how awesome it is too, soon enough though! He is just doing great, keeping up with us and hanging out! He loves his music at nap times, he starts to sing, like hum with it, it is a cool sound. He is my little red head, blue eyed, baby boy. Such a joy. God knew we needed some chillin' here in the Kreins house, he heard our prayers! :)

Steve and I:
Work... taking care of the boys, just hanging out...
Steve is heading to his mom's house this weekend for a week long stay, to be with her and his sisters, hopefully Dani will be joining them while he is there. His mom has recently had some hard issues with her cancer, but she is doing better now. Her family is there, her sisters and brother, and they are doing fun stuff, it seems that has "lifted" Karen's spirits, she is talking a little more, eating better, even walking some!!! God, you have a plan, you have a will that we do not know... Lord, we just continue to pray for peace, and a miraculous complete healing~! Lord, you are able, we give you the praise for all that you have done to this point... we place her in your hands. Please continue to pray for her my friends, and for her family and Steve. I cannot explain what goes on in our house with this, if you have watched a love one go through a terminal illness, you know what I am talking about and please center your prayers on that too... Thank you for your support, the phone calls, the emails, those signs of support really matter, more than you know!

God bless you all and take care!
Sharrie