The Mayhans

Catching up...slowly :)

2011-01-05T13:38:00.000-08:00

So I know I haven't posted in a VERY long time so here we go....Sydnie and I have been so so busy this past year gearing up for Magnolia State in Vicksburg along with many other fun pageants around the Mid South. Sydnie has learned so much from being in these pageants and can honestly say that it has changed her for the better. I am so proud of her for all of her wins, and her winning attitude!!! Gavin has been busy playing with his buddies, climbing trees, riding his bike--over the RAMP, and learning to ride his skate board--he is growing up so so much and reminds me so much of myself when I was younger. Cade is MY baby boy--he loves some mama time anytime and I eat it up!!! He is talking so much and we are finally in big boy underware which is great! Stephen and I are doing great and looking forward to another great year together. We learn more about each other every day!!! I am going to post a few pictures, in random order lol :)

Pray for Bailey Patterson

2010-06-22T12:23:00.000-07:00

Please keep this little girl in your prayers, I went to school with her father in Greenwood Ms. Read about her story here.

http://www.cadenpatterson.blogspot.com/

My Beauty Queen

2010-03-01T14:31:00.000-08:00

Sydnie has done about 6 pagents total since she has been bored, but is really getting into it these days. We just went to Miss Marti Gras in Grenada Ms where she was 1st alternate, won Miss Hospitality, and Most Beautiful Hair. And YES I am so proud of my baby girl. Winning in this pageant qualified her to be in the Miss Magnolia State Pageant held in Vicksburg MS in November. I cannot quit looking at dresses, every free moment I am searching. I have posted a few pictures of my sweet girl.

Been TOO Long!!

2009-12-16T13:52:00.000-08:00

I know it has been such a long time since our last post, we have been BUSY BUSY with the Holidays and OH my camera broke so I have been having withdrawals!!! Stephen and I went to my company's Christmas Party at the Opera of Memphis this year and had a BLAST!!! Here are a few pics from the night, will post more once I figure out how to use my mother-in-laws camera!! I just had to put my hand on Dajana's belly, Mason is in there!!!

Happy Birthday Gavin Lee

2009-07-02T10:17:00.001-07:00

We had Gavin's birthday at Chuck E Cheese this year.....do I need to say how much fun he had???? Naw!!

Summer Fun

2009-07-02T10:07:00.000-07:00

Summer has been great this year, we can hardly keep the kids in the house. Gavin is getting ready to start school this fall and Sydnie will be in the 6th grade, gosh how time has flown by!! She is so excited about being in the BIG Middle School with the big kids. Caden is turning one in two weeks, Jeanie and I are making his cake and I have faith in her that it will be amazing!! I will post pics as soon as we finish.......I say we but I will be watching. :)

Finally warm outside!

2009-05-15T09:51:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since our last post, we are getting so excited about leaving for vacation on the 28th, I think we all need it more than we know! I just wanted to post a view random pictures of the kiddos.

Pottery with the kids

2009-03-11T08:22:00.000-07:00

I have found a new hobby.....Sydnie and I try to go to the local pottery store once a month for our girl time. We really enjoy it and are getting pretty good also. Last month I went on a field trip with Syd and afterwards we took Gavin for his first pottery experience. He picked out a motorcycle and let me just say that it is one of a kind......we all had a great time!

Happy 11th Birthday Sydnie Marie

2009-01-14T08:19:00.000-08:00

Wow!! It has been eleven years since the birth of my baby girl Sydnie. I have learned so much about being a mother throughout the years. As most of you know I became pregnant with my daughter when I was 17 years old and gave birth when I was 18. There was nothing easy about the situation but with great support from my family and friends I was able to make it one day at a time. I have learned so much about myself since I had her, and would not trade on minute of the struggle. Without her I would not be the person I am today and this just confirms the phrase "Everything happens for a reason" She is my best friend and I see a little more of myself in her each day. I love you SYDNIE MARIE!!

From My Brave One entry

2008-12-30T13:03:00.000-08:00

Well I think our biggest fear has come true, I just read an article in the Desoto Times Newspaper about appeals and the man that is in prison for hurting my daughter will have his appeal case heard in January. I do not know how to act at this time, I just have to be strong for my daughter and pray that our justice system does the right thing. Please keep us all in your prayers.

Thanks for our Jon Jons Miss Jeanie

2008-12-19T09:32:00.000-08:00

Jeanie bought the kids some PJS to wear on Christmas Eve, here are some pics of them

Re-Trans Christmas Party was a hit!

2008-12-12T08:20:00.000-08:00

We had such a good time at the Christmas party this year, I think we all know how to have a BIG time!!

My Brave One

2008-12-05T17:32:00.000-08:00

Since I posted that picture of Sydnie earlier it has me thinking of just how remarkable she really is. She is the bravest little girl that I will ever know. She has grown up so much and I am very proud to say that she is my daughter.....she is quite the young lady. I met my husband Stephen when Sydnie was about to turn 3. He has been such a great influence in her life and we had it all going for us. Stephen and I got married on June 11th 2005 and Sydnie was 6 years old at the time. On June 16th our whole world was flipped upside down when we learned that Sydnie and our two neices had been victims of sexual molestation. At the time I was 25 years old and thought that I had been through a lot of heart ache as a child and young adult until someone elses pain became my own. Our whole family had to go through the process of police, CPS, counseling, and court and it was far from easy. Most children who are victims of sexual molestation know our have know the person who has done this, and yes this was the case for us as well. I am not going to mention the persons name but he is where he should be serving time in Mississippi. The whole process was so hard for us all and I can't even begin to think of what my sweet baby went through. I did and will continue to get her the help she needs and will do the best I can to make speak out against this evil crime. Sydnie is now 10 years old and in the fifth grade in Southaven. She is an A and B student who loves to skate, play softball and dance with her friends. I am so so proud of who she has become and despite the pain that we all went through dealing with this I know that it has made us a stronger family who can just about cope with anything. The power of prayer is strong and God is good.

My Blue Eyed Girl

2008-12-05T17:28:00.000-08:00

Sydnie's eyes are so beautiful in this

picture...I just had to share with you guys!!

Growing Growing

2008-12-04T08:49:00.001-08:00

The kids are growing so fast, we love to goof around and take fun pictures...they got it from mom :)

Good News on Ethan :)

2008-11-25T07:44:00.000-08:00

DAY +8......WE HAVE AN ANC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
***********************************************
We woke to AWESOME news! His ANC was 192 at day 8, WOW! Or should I say UNbelievable! They expect an ANC around two weeks in a typical bmt fashion, but sometimes sooner, we'll take it. Even though I get that 'too good to be true' fear going. This time it feels different though since we already have some engraftment and we are only wanting to suppress him, get a boost, and we saw his donor cells increase with steroid alone, plus Cytoxin is designed to wipe the slate clean AND we don't care if it is donor or Ethan making red cells or platlets we just need donor lymphocytes!-that was a mouth full, sorry. Ethan ate pizza and chocolate pudding last night and did fine with his fluid restriction. This morning his outs were not as good as his ins, not sure why but he always gets puffy with blood products and no Lasix. We will watch him close, as usual.
*****************************************************************************
The ticket to getting out of here is above 500 on ANC three days in a row, no pain med.s, and I think that is it. It is too early to think about going home but we can dream. I can't wait for the kids to join us but we will not let them near him until they have been isolated for a while. We take NO chances! We just can not wait to be together soon, I pray they do not get sick or it could take a long time to pass around 4 children

Ethan

2008-11-19T12:03:00.000-08:00

Please continue to pray for Ethan and that his body does not reject this bone marrow transplant. Here are a few pics of him....he is such a strong little boy!!

Ethan

2008-11-19T11:58:00.000-08:00

Here are a few pics of Ethan, please continue to pray that his body will not reject the marrow transplant. He is starting to feel the effects of the chemo....poor baby boy.

Ethan's Story

2008-11-13T07:32:00.000-08:00

Saturday, August 4, 2007 9:44 PM CDT
Ethan was diagnosed with this rare disease on August 1, 2007. He started getting sick on July 25 when it all began. He had a fever that sent us to ER, the next day in the Dr. office we learned all three cell linages were low. This caused total painic and a trip to Children's Hospital. We knew what the diagnosis was because 5 years prior his sister was dx with hlh. There is no TEST for hlh. Everything else has to be ruled out, like every infection or virus or malignancy.
This disease is a deffect in the immune system. Something, usually a virus or infection, starts the immune system attacking the foreign matter. Once it begins it can not stop or turn itself off. It starts to attack everything including the blood and organs, sometimes the cns can be affected and the brain. Ethan's liver and spleen began to swell and was all the way down into the pelvis and his liver was close to failing, he was yellow, his eyes were yellow, his skin tone was so pale. He received 3 blood transfusions, 3 platelet transfusions, and a broviac placed in his chest.
The chemo and steroids were started on August 2. The next day the swelling was starting to decrease, and he has responded great to treatment. The only cure is a bone marrow transplant or the disease will return, the next time with avengence.

function launchWindow(){
openWindow('/tellafriend.php?sitename=ethanlee',550, 630, 'popup');
}

71275 VISITS FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS
HELP SOMEONE ELSE WHEN THEY NEED IT MOST
Tell a Friend about CaringBridge.
Help CaringBridge provide this free service to others who need similar support.
TRIBUTE DONATIONS TO CARINGBRIDGE
Read the caring tributes in honor of Ethan's.
Make a donation in tribute to Ethan's to provide CaringBridge to all families who need it.
EMAIL AUTHOR
dlblank@showme.net
HOSPITAL INFORMATION
Children's Hospital St. Louis MO United States

COPYRIGHT POLICY PRIVACY POLICY TERMS OF USE CONTACT

Please Pray for my cousin Ethan

2008-11-13T07:29:00.000-08:00

- DAY 3
*******************************
Quick update: Yesterday, Cytoxin went well, it was a two hour infusion- we have to change his diaper at least every two hours and check to make sure the bladder isn't bleeding (another lovely side effect). His test dose of ATG went great and so we continued with the full dose. It was uneventful until it was over. He was really irritable but had a couple reasons-#1 no sleep because of so many vitals, and #2 no poop for lack of exercise. After the latter was accomplished he felt better. Until he had a slight fever-only 99.7 but it caused some rapid breathing and uncomfort. Once Tylenol took care of it he slept well. I was afraid his face was looking like Kristan's when she got these nasty drugs; very swollen. I will post on the photo page one of her when she was in the unit.
***************************************
This morning he looked SO good, Up talking and eating and playing. He looks like Ethan again. This is getting scarier as the days go on. The drugs are coming at him each day and bringing his counts down to 0. He will be susceptible to even his own body causing him an infection. This overly cautious germ-o-phobe personality we have will be good for this journey. He was hooked up to chemo from 10 am to 8:30 pm last night. Please keep the prayers strong! Pray THIS bmt is a success-maybe we left that "THIS bmt" to be successful in our last prayers; we must have only said for THE bmt to work.

Happy Halloween

2008-11-05T15:16:00.001-08:00

The kids had a great time dressing up and getting loads of candy, they will be bouncing off of the walls for a full year now!!

Halloween at Re-Trans

2008-11-05T15:11:00.000-08:00

We dressed up again at work this year and had so much fun, here are a few pics from the day.

Happy Halloween

2008-11-01T19:50:00.000-07:00

Love

2008-10-29T18:27:00.000-07:00

Sydnie and Gavin love to play with Caden, I took a few pictures the Monday night of them in action.

Monkey Business

2008-10-29T18:20:00.000-07:00

Caden loves his stuffed monkey, he laughs and talks to it when we put it in front of him. It is great entertainment for us all!

First trip to Walmart

2008-10-25T20:00:00.000-07:00

Stephen and I had to get a few things at WalMart and decided to take Gavin and Caden along, this was Cade's first trip to Wallyworld

Memphis Madness

2008-10-19T09:30:00.000-07:00

Stephen and I took the kids to Memphis Madness last night. I think everyone had a great time....here are some pics from the night.

Memphis Madness

2008-10-18T12:55:00.000-07:00

We took the kids to Memphis Madness last night and had a blast. Here are a few pictures from the night.....Enjoy!

Memphis Madness!!!!

2008-10-18T07:45:00.000-07:00

Stephen, Emily and I took the kids to Memphis Tiger Madness last night and we had a blast! Here are some pictures to show what fun we had. We look forward to another winning season!

TMNT

2008-10-15T18:06:00.001-07:00

Gavin has decided to be a Ninja Turtle for Halloween and his costume is so cute, he likes to watch his Ninja Turtle movies and pretend that he is one of them....priceless!!

Play Time!!

2008-10-15T17:20:00.001-07:00

Stephen bought Cade a play gym last night, I think he likes it a lot!

Monday Night Fun with Em and Fam

2008-10-06T10:29:00.001-07:00

Monday nights are a ritual for Emily and I since Stephen is busy playing pool. Let me just say that we make the best of them!!

Picture Time!!

2008-10-06T10:24:00.000-07:00

I got a little picture crazy with Caden this past weekend, he is just too cute I can't help myself

Say Cheese!!

2008-09-29T12:30:00.001-07:00

CiCi has been sending me pics of Caden today, I loved this one of him smiling so good :)

My little man is growing up so much!

2008-09-29T10:08:00.000-07:00

My Caden is growing up so fast, I thought he looked so cute in his shorts so I just had to take a quick picture. I actually got some of him smiling at me, I will have to upload those tonight when I get home.

I am so grateful for my family!

2008-09-29T10:07:00.001-07:00

Before I was a Mom, I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.I never thought about immunizations. Before I was a Mom, I had never been puked on.Pooped on.Chewed on.Peed on.I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.I slept all night. Before I was a Mom, I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.Or give shots.I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep. Before I was a Mom,I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put her down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom. Before I was a Mom,I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy. Before I was a Mom, I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

Sweet Kisses

2008-09-26T17:58:00.000-07:00

Aunt Michelle came to visit the other day and seemed to be the only person who could calm Caden. I love this picture of her giving him sweet kisses!!

Tiger Fever!!!

2008-09-19T13:52:00.007-07:00

2008-09 University of Memphis Basketball Schedule: October 17, Memphis Madness (FedExForum)November 4, Christian Brothers (Exhibition)November 15, FairfieldNovember 17, UMass; November 20, vs. Chattanooga (O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off)November 21, vs. Seton Hall or Southern Cal (O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off)November 23, vs. TBD (O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off)December 2, MaristDecember 13, at GeorgetownDecember 17, Arkansas-Little RockDecember 20, SyracuseDecember 22, DrexelDecember 29, CincinnatiDecember 31, NortheasternJanuary 3, Lamar; January 7, MarshallJanuary 10, at UCFJanuary 13, at TulsaJanuary 17, UABJanuary 21, RiceJanuary 24, at TennesseeJanuary 28, at East CarolinaJanuary 31, HoustonFebruary 4, at SMUFebruary 7, at Gonzaga (ESPN Gameday)February 11, TulsaFebruary 14, at Southern MissFebruary 18, SMUFebruary 21, at UTEPFebruary 26, at UABFebruary 28, Southern MissMarch 4, at HoustonMarch 7, TulaneMarch 11-14, Conference USA Tournament (Memphis, Tenn.)

Baby Caden has arrived!!!

2008-09-19T13:52:00.006-07:00

Welcome Caden Allen Mayhan 7 lbs 8 ounces 21 inches long. It was a long wait but we are so glad to have him here...our family is complete!!

2008-09-19T13:52:00.005-07:00

I am so blessed to have such a great friend!! Emily threw me a baby shower at her dads office and it was so nice.....we had a great time!!

2008-09-19T13:52:00.004-07:00

I have to put something about our Tigers on here somewhere, they did so great last season. We can't wait for some more great basketball!!!

2008-09-19T13:52:00.002-07:00

we had a lot of fun swimming at Emily's house this summer

2008-09-19T13:52:00.001-07:00

Before the baby came we had a busy summer with Sydnie's softball, but she had to slide a bit of prissiness in there somewhere. We entered her in a pageant at the Desoto Civic Center and she won most photogenic and Southaven queen. She was so proud!!

2008-09-19T13:52:00.000-07:00

Well it has been a long time since I was on here. We have been so busy as you can see in the picture. We have been blessed with another baby boy. He arrived 7-14-08 weighing in at 7 lbs 8 ounces and was 21 inches long. He has been a joy to us all, the kids are still adjusting to another sibling but I think they are finally getting used to the change.

Sydnie wins at her Science Fair!!

2008-02-15T08:42:00.000-08:00

Sydnie will be going to Ole Miss on March 25 to present her science project, we are so proud of her!!

2008-01-03T09:22:00.000-08:00

My dad was able to get tickets to the POPULAR Hannah Montana concert for Sydnie, Miley's bus was outside of the Fed Ex Forum and Sydnie was so happy to take a picture in front of it. We had a blast and I am sure that we will never forget this special night!!

Good News

2008-01-03T09:02:00.000-08:00

I am now officially 3 months pregnant, I had a good visit with the doctor yesterday. They did a Downs test on the baby we were able to have another ultrasound. The baby was moving around so much and it looked like she was waving at me the whole time. I will upload all of my ultrasound pictures as soon as my computer is up and running at the house.

Vroom Vroom!

2008-01-03T08:55:00.000-08:00

Gavin loves to ride his tri-cycle, I Love this pic....he is such a big boy!