Hi Doug!!!! LOL
How ya doin??
Have a gr8 week!
~Valerie
Mila's friends....
Mila has been so blessed with so many wonderful friends. When I look at all the wonderful things that all of you have taken the time to send to this precious little granddaughter of mine, it brings tears to my eyes. You have made such a difference in her life. From a pack of stickers, to markers, to crayons, color books, reading books, stuffed animals for each holiday and some not for any holiday, to movies and clothes and financial support and on and on and on....You humble me with all that you have done. Mila's days confined to her bed have been made easier by the kindness of her internet family. There is a joy you have brought into her life that is immeasureable. Not to mention what you have done for Andi and this family. I will not name names, because I would not want to leave anyone out. The fundraisors, the personal help....you have all made a tremendous difference in stopping the stress that was so prevalent in Andi's life when Mila was diagnosed. You my dear and loyal friends have made a situation that is in itself almost unbearable....bearable. You took away the outside factors and let the focus be where it was intended......our little Mila.
Mila has had some pretty good days. The extra pain med seems to be doing what hospice wanted it to do. We hear words from Mila like..."I am so brave, I am so proud, I am so happy....words that tell what this little angel is feeling. She has actually been coloring with markers again....thanks to those who send these to her....she has a huge bag and picks specials colors...she always starts with pink, then red, then purple....then light blue..."like papa's eyes" she says. She loves rainbows and heart stickers and recently stickers given to her by a very special friend, they say "I am a child of God." All these things bring a smile to her sweet little face and laughter to her lips.
Again, I hope all of you know how much you are loved and appreciated. The things you have done for this family are beyond words...and you ask nothing in return except having Mila as part of your lives...what angels you are.
Hugs to all and may you have a wonderful week.
Sher
Mila Update.....
Things are going good in Mila land!! Hospice came over and even told me that Mila is not showing many signs of the final stages. There is always the chance she can pass suddenly, or it can change very fast...but they seemed very positive. Mila has been in amazing moods. Laughing, drawing, and saying cute little made up things!! LOVE IT! I am enjoying ever moment that I have and even if it is hard and I get tired, I am blessed.
I wake up every morning between 5-6 AM. That is normal but I stay awake until midnight so I can do her medication. I then take forever to fall asleep and I cannot take sleeping pills....or else I over sleep. I normally wake up to the first words..."MOM SHOWS!!" "MOM POC-CORN HOT" "MOM SIT UP" "MOM TABLE BACK" "MOM CHANGE ME" and in the first 3 seconds of opening my eyes....and then..."Morning...Thanks for sleeping with me" I love it, it means the world to me. Then it is, "Nana, I want Nana" That happens at around 8-9. Nana comes in and it is...."Scrabble eggs" Mommy make them, Nana feed them...or switched around!! I then will sometimes shower after Mila says..."stinky" and get ready while Nana helps with watching BOB or doing other projects. I then come in and it is constant, warming up the popcorn, medication, switching bob, and snacks..... Also changing her. Her little back hurts and legs so changing her takes a long time. I have to make the movements slower not to hurt her next or disturb the tumor. I just have to make sure every lift supports her head. We are in size 5 diapers and they are small for her tummy. The Dexamethasone causes swelling and her tummy is very distended. I am in search for something. Then nap time. She does not like to fall asleep unless I "hold hands" I try not to fall asleep, even if tired or I pay for it that night. After nap time I normally give her the bath. It takes about an hour plus to completely finish her bathing. She is getting heavier now and lifting a sack of 40 pound potatoes...it heavy!! She is so cute though, I lift her and she says...
"Wooooooooooaaaaahhhh! MILA out!!" We then use...cute tips in her ears and bananas (detangler) in her hair! She gets all ready and looks so fresh out of the tub. Dressing her is also hard for me. I feel horrible when she says owie when I pull the shirt over her head. She has no ability to help so I must do all the pushing and pulling. I need little T shirts that are a v-neck or snap button tops like for new born's. Back in the room we watch more BOB and just play. Through out the day she is on medication, the pain patch gets switched every third day. Then we have the suppository and Lasix days. She likes to sleep in her side. I have her comfortable with a small rolled towel to help support her legs. She sweats a lot from the medication but then I have to be careful for her not to catch a chill. I give her medication at the end of the night and then she tells me tired and we "hold hands again...say our prayers" and she is fast asleep in no time. I then stay up until midnight so that I can give her midnight med's...then, we start the day again.....
Just a day in the life. I love every minute of it! Most of the time I spend laughing at the funny little things she says and does!! She is just perfect! My days are perfect...I cherish them and take them in. I am grateful for her and hope she knows she is an example to me. I only hope to be so strong, spiritual, loving....I only hope to be. I love being in her presence. I look forward to starting a new day....that means I will have new stories to tell.
Big blessing to you all this weekend.
Take care and we love you for all you have brought to us with your friendships!
Andi and Miss Mila
........Being is just that, being with you....is everything..........
"God is good..."
I heard briefly from Bill...
Please keep him and the soldiers
he's with in your prayers...
They are sick, was 80% of them,
but now is 90%. Bill's leg is also
injured, not sure how bad...
Just asking for your continued
prayers.
"Come home date" was supposed
to be April 13, he may be
extended again! I'm asking for
your prayers that he is
not extended!!
I had to remove military info
and pictures from Bill's page...
per Bill's request due to some
security issue. He set up his
page, I thought he did a great
job, as most men are not into
setting up/decorating their
pages. He also had made his
spiral slide show, which due
to content had to be removed
too. :-(
I'm praising God that I got to
talk to him, even though ever
so briefly!!
Thank you for hanging
with us, for praying with us,
and being there for me!!
Love~
Valerie
from Mila's Gamma Sher:
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Walking, walking, walking....
Mila, mommy and I....walking to see the horses....walking once we got to Target.....walking once we got to Kohls. She wants to be outside...walking....or should I say mommy and I walk, she rides in the stroller.
It is so wonderful to have her wanting to go outside. For the last 2 weeks mommy has pretty much been confined to her room with sweet little Mila. She is so much a mommy's girl now. She loves baths in Nana's tub and getting her hair gelled. She had her first McDonalds chicken nuggets and french fries...yummy...she liked those.
This Friday our little Derrick is one years old. How the year has gone by. It has been a good year, it has been a blessed year. Mila is doing as well as can be expected....this is the 6th month and the only real change we have noticed is that is can be a "terrible two" when she does get the results she wants. She hasn't colored or used her markers in over a month, but every morning she has to have two new stickers put on her hands.
She likes ice cream and yogurt and Cadbury eggs. She knows soon the Easter bunny will be here.
Our thanks to all of you for the continued support and love and those who have sent gifts in the last couple of weeks....blessings to you, You all our Mila's and this families angels....we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Hugs to all of you.....Sher (Nana)
Blessings~ Valerie Please see my page for info on how to help Mila's family♥
I decided to post these on pages, because not everyone reads bulletins, or my blogs.
XOOX
♥Valerie♥
MILA UPDATE FROM HER MOM ANDI~~
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Everyday....a new day....
Current mood: optimistic
The best feeling to have, is knowing you are loved by someone......
Mila is doing good. She has been very "mommy" needy, but I would not have it any other way...other then having to beg to go to the bathroom or shower! I think I am going to need to start showering at midnight! I picked her up from visitation early again today. She was just wanting Mommy. I have heard, this is pretty normal for her age group. I love that she wants me so close. I sleep nose to nose now, and am told..."NOT on your back..on your side". I also can not release her hand. "Hold hands" and "No let go" are the only words that escape her mouth at 2 AM. This time, is needed for me. I need the smallest of memories to fill pages for a lifetime. Mila's hair cut is so cute. I love it! I am having so much fun tickleing her little head and making her have a mohawk, or any other crazy hair do possible! Mila is laughing a lot now! Of course I have to do this voice, as you heard and be silly but to hear her belly laugh just makes the bad things going on vanish. In my heart, I feel that she is giving her all right now. She is making her life what it should be. That of a two year old. Making Mommy laugh, being a little pistol boss!! and just brightening the days of those in her life. I painted her toe nails pink with stripes and hearts...YES, that took some skills! LOL! She shows them off like a diamond ring! "Looooook my toes" she says! "ohhhhh CUUUUUUte!" We lay face to face and she will often say, "beautiful eyes Mommy" or "beautiful hair or shirt" anything...then she sees my necklace and says, "Oh, beautiful necklace it says Angel Mila" So much about me when the whole time I am looking at perfection. The other day I was talking to a friend and he said, "She is an Angel" and it struck me how she really truly is. I know she is cute, and fun, and beautiful. She is also, a true spirit of our Savior that is such an amazing part of the plan of salvation. That alone, is the most perfect beauty I could be blessed to lay my eyes on. It is like the people I have met in my life who glow with the spirit. You can see this light around them. Mila's light, is bright and unmistakable. She is truly an Angel.
I am happy. I have time with Mila. That is what I know I am being blessed with. Mila is not being taken from me, she is going home. I never want to look at this part of my life as the worst part. My brother told me that "yes it will be hard, but one day you will look back and say Mila was the part that made your life the best." I agree. Mila being here with me, watching my life fall into place and seeing Mommy happy again is what I can give her. My dad came down to see us the other day and I opened the door and the first words out of his mouth were..."My Andi is back" I just stood back and questioned what he meant. He said, you had lost your glow but it is back now. I know Mila has done this for me. I know it is so hard being in an unhappy situation. I also know when you are in it you don't see what others see. I still smiled and acted ok, even when I was not. Thinking I could put on a front and people could not tell. That is so wrong. People who love you know. I am so sorry to my family for what they had to watch. I love my family for catching me before I fell. They let me reach the point I did where I made the decision to change, and now hold my hands as I climb. There is no greater gift I can give Mila then to show her happiness in a home. Home is where the heart is!
The most amazing feeling is truly knowing someone loves you..... and to love them in return is the greatest gift to give.
Have a very happy week. Blessings to all of you in need. Thank you for the continued support and love. Mila is holding strong in her 6th month. YEAH!!
Loves to you all-Andi and Miss Mila
~Arthur~ Pathology reports are Negative!! Praise God!
Thank you for your prayers!
Most, if not all of you know Mila.
Please keep her and he family in your prayers! (I know you do!)
Just a reminder...
If you can help with prayers, medical or funeral costs,
please see info below.
This info is always on my page, along with photos
Updated pics as often as I get 'em.
God Bless!
Paypal Acct: Blondie79@cox.net
P.O. Box 1677
Gilbert, AZ 85299
http://www.HelpMila.com
Make checks or money orders to: Mila Phillips
FROM SHER, MILA'S GRAMMA TODAY:
Thursday, March 15, 2007
The Days go by.....
Today Mila is at visitation and Andi is at a movie with her brother and a family friend. This week there have been some changes in Mila. They put her on a pain patch and I think part of the medicine in there was, "I only want Mommie."
She really has been hanging on to her mom for the last 4 days. Andi and I even had to pick her up early from visitation on Monday because she was crying out of control and wanting her mommie. Once we got her in the car and headed home it was, "I happy now....go home." She absolutely melts my heart. She calmed right down and was chattering up a storm about cookies and Barbie and going home and mommie. Yesterday Andi spent the entire day in her room with her and she was so content to have mommie next to her and take a nap with her.
I believe she is getting as much of mommie time as she can. She hasn't had quite as much energy lately as she had and she truly loves mommie to hold her and rock her. Her little belly laugh video brought tears of joy to my eyes knowing that she still wants so much to experience everything she can that her little world here has to offer.
I wish she was old enough to truly comprehend how many people know her and love her. When I look back to the day this all began, none of us in this family would have believed that so many beautiful souls would have taken Mila and Andi's story to heart and be so generous with love, prayers and gifts. Because of what the doctors said when Mila was released from the hospital, we truly felt our time with her was limited. You have helped and are continuing to help Andi to be able to be home here with her instead of having to go to work. This I know has given her a peace of mind and allowed her to focus on what she needed to focus on....her precious little girl. When we asked her to come and live with us, we were fully prepared to provide her with whatever we were able to do, but you wonderful friends are helping to make that easier.
Thank you for sharing your love and compassion with us and know that we are so grateful for the wonderful things that you daily say and do. If we have missed mentioning something that was sent, I want to personally thank you now. The days have taken a different urgency at times and it is not that we are not grateful for all that is being done, we sometimes just forget to put it into writing.
Mila will, I believe be not only a part of our hearts forever, but I know across this country and parts of this world there are those of you for the rest of your days here on this earth will remember Mila and look forward to the day you will get to meet this amazing little girl.
Hugs and thanks to all of you....our friends....our extended family....Mila's angels~~~!!!!
I hope your day has been very blessed! -- Marcia 
