Happy 14th Birthday Hailee!!!

I can't believe it's been 14 years since I had my first child. It does not seem that long ago. Hailee has been the sweetest thing ever since she was little. When she was three years old, she was diagnosed with JRA (juvenile rheumatoid arthritis). She is such a trooper, she never complained about pain and still doesn't to this day. Her doctors have told me how painful it is, yet she always is positive and has a smile at all times!! Her medication was a shot that I had to give her twice a week. I cried more than she did when I first started giving them to her. She is so brave and has been through so much already in the last 14 years. About three years ago, she was diagnosed with "cerebellar degenerative disease." The back part of her brain is deteriorating or "atrophy" which causes her to have a tremor and be "off balance." Because of these diseases she hasn't been able to do some of the normal things other kids do (dance, tumbling, soccer, etc.), but she is always just on the side lines cheering everyone else on. Whether it be her friends or sisters, she is the one telling them how great they did. She is such a great example to me and her younger sisters. I have learned so much from Hailee and I strive to be more like her everyday. She is such a bright spot in our home. She loves BYU football and knows more about the players than most boys her age. She loves to golf and won "junior golfer" this year at the Ogden Country Club. She has many great friends, and is in 8th grade at O'Rion Jr. High. I could go on and on how wonderful she is and what a great daughter she is. I am so lucky to be her mom and we are all lucky to have her in our family. We love you "Hay Bug" have a Happy Birthday!!!