Ella at TWO Years!

Happy Birthday Roo Bug!

Ella,
As I prepare to snuggle with you tonight, I have to admit I feel a little bit of sadness...okay A LOT of sad feelings in my heart... At approximately one o'clock, as you are having sweet dreams, you will officially no longer be my baby girl. You will become my two year old toddler. I feel sad because you exited babyhood in what seemed like only minutes! Time has flown by much too quickly for your mommy. I don't know what the future holds for our family, but you may be Mommy's last baby. Because of that, I want you to know no matter how many birthdays pass for you... you will always be my baby! You have changed so much over this past year. You really developed your vocabulary ... your words multiplied so quickly, I couldn't keep up with them for very long. You began walking even though it took much longer for you than it did for your big brother. I will NEVER forget the text message your daddy sent me while I was in the hospital of your first steps across our living room floor. I had NO idea that you were even beginning to walk, much less as far as the video showed. I am sorry that I missed seeing that HUGE milestone with my own eyes, but God had other plans for Mommy's life at that time. You were MUCH healthier this year!! We praise God for that! You also adjusted to "school" much better than you did before your last birthday! You love your teachers so much, you even call them at night before going to bed sometimes. You never break your daddy's heart when he drops you off anymore. That is a HUGE blessing that we are also very thankful for. You have grown into such a little nurturer. The love, care, and compassion that you have for your babies melts my heart every single day. It is my prayer that when you become a mommy one day, you will not lose those feelings that you have now...and that they will only become stronger. We also found a church family to join this year. You seem to really enjoy the new friends that we have made... that is as long as I don't leave you in the nursery. We held your baby dedication just a few days before your second birthday. It was definitely a service that your mommy and daddy will NEVER forget. Your name carries such strong Biblical meaning, and it was made evident during this service. One thing I can't leave out is the relationship that you and Carson have developed this year. It melts my heart to see the LOVE that you both have for one another. I love to see you two hug, to run to each other for comfort, to hear you say, "Brother", and even to see you two "fight"---- I know I may eat those words one day. Ella, I love you more than you will ever know. I can't wait to see what God has in store for your life as a two year old!!!!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day... With a Birthday Party for Our Little Roo!

We celebrated Ella's second birthday with a small birthday celebration at our house... CUPCAKE style. Ella enjoyed her party much more this year! We only had one meltdown before the party over CHOCOLATE... or the lack of if coming from her. We are so thankful for all of her fabulous gifts!

"This I KNOW"

My children have one amazing aunt!

Go GREEN!

This is a commonly known expression in today's world. Well, this particular expression takes on a completely different meaning in our house... or at least it has for the entire school year thus far! Carson's teacher uses a green, yellow, red color coded behavior system in her classroom. For a majority of the time, Carson received greens. We struggled, however, with too many YELLOWS for Mommy and Daddy. Carson had trouble with speaking out and talking too much! Hmm... wonder who it gets that from?!?! For the first time, during the last week of December, Carson received his first week of GREEN. He made it a goal of his to earn GREEN for one month. I knew it was going to be challenging. He was going to have a change in teachers, it was going to be after a two week break, and thus far we had only made it one complete week. With much motivation and self-pride, Carson made it the whole month of January with all GREENS. His reward was to have a Daddy Day and go to Frankie's Fun Park. The sad news is when they got there today, there was a sign up saying Frankie's was closed for remodeling. UGH! He was a great sport and still spent the day with his daddy playing sports! We are so proud of Carson and hope that he continues with GREEN!!!

Happy 6th Birthday Tripp!

We celebrated Tripp's 6th birthday last Saturday at Monkey Joe's, any child's paradise! This party will always be special to me because Carson worked on one of Tripp's gifts for weeks. He used one of his Atlanta Braves spiral notebooks and drew pictures of Tripp and him doing ALL kinds of things together. He didn't the chance to fill up the entire notebook, but he did get a lot of artwork in it. I praise God for the friendship that Tripp and Carson share!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Facts About Our Lives Lately!

1. I am taking an amazing class at church on Sunday nights called "Experiencing God". I am truly looking at my faith in a completely different light.
2. Carson is reading up a storm! I am so proud of him. I love to sit and listen to him read from his baggie of books. I also treasure the time when I can still read books to him that are too hard for him to read alone.
3. Brian has officially joined the Facebook craze! He is more addicted than I am.
4. Carson got a peppermint lodged in his throat at school on Tuesday. It was a very scary moment for all!!!
5. Ella was scratched at school once AGAIN!
6. While Ella was waiting on her sweet treat of "i cream" after school on Tuesday, she decides to pull the chair that holds the space saving high chair on it on top of her. It landed on her face, and bloodied her nose pretty good. Aunt Z came over to save the day!
7. Ella has the horrible stomach virus! I was told on Tuesday afternoon that it was in her class. Since Brian was off on Wednesday, we decided to keep her home in hopes of preventing her from getting it. WELL... she ended up throwing up in the middle of the night! This time last year was when she was hospitalized with the same thing. We pray her little body is much stronger this time around.
8. I am doing very well with my workouts at the gym! :) I feel much better, and I know I am getting stronger with each visit.
9. In less than a month, Ella will be TWO! I can't believe how quickly the year has gone by.
10. Carson is in the midst of his Upward basketball season and seems to really enjoy it.
11. Carson is officially signed up for baseball!!! Woo hoo!!! The only downside is this year, the smaller boys are beginning their season in February... IT will be WAY TOO COLD and it will be right in the middle of basketball season too.
12. My parents are currently remodeling part of their house. I can't wait to see the final product.
13. I love my new school more and more every single day! God has truly blessed me!!! :)

Upward Game 2

Roo at 23 Months!!!

Ella at 23 Months... Just ONE month away from TWO!!!

• Talks up a storm!
• Loves "i cream"
• Loves her babies
• Is so attached to her pappies... must have one in her mouth and holding on to at least one more
• Loves to fall asleep on the couch
• Has been waking up in the middle of the night lately and will NOT go back to sleep
• Wants to change her own "dipe dipe"
• Enjoys wrestling with "brother"
• Loves school
• Spent her first time in the "nursery" at the gym this week
• Still will NOT drink milk from a cup
• Loves to clean and help with laundry
• Insists on wearing her brown and white polka dotted shoes every day
• LOVES her Grammy!!!!
• Insists on being swung, lifted, or held way TOO MUCH
• Thinks every time she goes to Grammy's she should have a "chip"
• LOVES to dance
• Doesn't think she has to take naps at home anymore
• Gets up and ready in the morning without a fuss
• Loves chipped beef like her mommy!!! :) :)
• Is GREAT in church
• Loves babies... Will and Izzy
• Loves Grace
• Cries at a stern face... just hope this form of discipline lasts! :)
• Becoming very independent (must take off her own coat, put on her own shoes, brush her teeth, wash her hands, etc.)
• Has her daddy wrapped so tight around his finger! :)
• Is growing up much too quickly for ME!!!
• Melts my heart every single day!!!
  

This Night... A Night of New Beginnings!!!

Oh For the Love of "I cream"!!!!

This Night... A Night of New Beginnings!

"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart.
I appointed you a prophet to the nations."
"Ah, Sovereign Lord, I said, I do not know how to speak, I am only a child."
But the Lord said to me,"Do not say I am only a child. You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you." declares the Lord.
Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now I have put my words in your mouth." -Jeremiah 1:5-9

Monday night will mark the first time God has provided me the opportunity to share my testimony with ladies I have never met before. I KNOW that my accident, all of the events leading up to it, and all of the events following were NO acts of coincidence!! God used this life changing experience to mark the start of MY NEW BEGINNING! I also know that God wants me to use this experience to tell the WORLD (okay I dream big!!) about His miraculous powers and LOVE. He knows that I am not one who feels comfortable being a "street evangelist", so He provided me with the opportunity to have a personal experience to share with anyone who is willing to listen!!!

Countless hours have gone into preparing for this BIG NIGHT! God was with me every step of the way!! It is my prayer that through my powerful testimony, at least one lady walks out of Lifesong with a changed heart on Monday night.

Whew What a YEAR!!!

As I looked back to the post I created last year at this same time, I stand AMAZED at how God had a completely different plan for the way our lives would be in 2008!!!

Here's a BRIEF recap of 2008...

January- Ella was struggling in daycare. We couldn't keep her well for ANYTHING! Eventually she was hospitalized for dehydration. This was our first time as parents to have to watch one of our children to helplessly be confined to a hospital bed for several days. It was truly a challenging time for our family. On a happier note, we celebrated Daddy's thirty second birthday and began preparing for Ella's first birthday party. We also made the decision after much prayer to remove Ella from daycare in hopes of getting her well. God opened yet another amazing door for us. My friend Amy willingly agreed to keep Ella each day. Ella LOVED going to Amy's and spending time with Clara. We were so thankful for this opportunity!

February- Ella turned ONE!!! Sadly, on her first birthday she had a case of the flu! We had to cancel her first birthday party and reschedule for a later time. Because we had to reschedule, several of our family members were unable to attend.

March- After much prayer, I decided that it was time for a career change. Brian and I both felt that it was important for Carson to grow up in a school in the community in which we live, go to church, and play ball. The only way this would be possible would be if I moved to a school closer to home. I knew the new Lyman Elementary would be opening with the 2008-2009 school year. Wow... a school only two miles away rather than 30 miles away!!! I decided to put everything in God's hands and turned in a blank contract! The very NEXT day, I received a call from Mr. Henson letting me know of available positions. Within a few days, I signed a contract with District Five!

April- Life as I knew it would be forever changed! On April 19 I was granted a second chance at this life on earth. Brian began a new life of assuming the role of SUPER DAD! Carson and Ella began living without a mommy at home.

May- Aunt Lizzie officially graduated from USC with a Masters in Library Science! :) Yay! Carson graduated from K4. I was moved to a rehabilitation hospital. I had my first kidney stone while in the hospital. I have NEVER experienced pain like that! I was able to come home and once again rejoin my family. I visited O.P. Earle for one last time, and loved the sweet party my children had for me! I was blessed to see my very first group of students graduate from high school!

June- I celebrated my 31st birthday with a completely different outlook on getting older. Aunt Lizzie quit her job to help take care of us. Ella was exposed to mornings on CMT with her Aunt Lizzie. I began to walk again!! The days of outpatient physical therapy began. We were very blessed to purchase a 2008 Honda Odessey. We ALL loved our new vehicle. Carson and Ella especially liked the DVD player.

July- We celebrated the 4th of July in Downtown Greevnille. The kids and I headed to Hilton Head for a few days. It was nice to be able to travel for the first time. I was able to see my beautiful new school for the first time. The excitement of setting up a brand new classroom began! I would work a few days at a time with LOTS of help! I felt like a brand new teacher all over again!

August- Carson began KINDERGARTEN! Where did the time go? I began teaching again...as a walking teacher, not one in a wheelchair which I thought would happen. Ella adjusted very well to reentering daycare. She actually LOVED it, and luckily stayed pretty healthy. I moved my physical therapy to a new gym closer to home. I began two days of physical therapy a week rather than three. Sadly, my nana passed away this month. She had suffered from alzheimer's for several years, and hadn't known me as her granddaughter for a couple. I will forever be saddened that she never had the opportunity to meet Ella.

September- We celebrated Carson's 6th birthday!!!! Now, I am usually a BIG planner when it cmes to my children's birthday parties. This year was a bit different. We did not decide on a place to have his party until a few weeks prior to the BIG day. Carson loved his swimming party. We were blessed to have our entire family there this time.

October- The ear infections began!!! It seemed like Ella lived on an antibiotic for the entire month. We battled allergic reactions and endless infections. Aunt Lizzie and I journeyed to Charlotte to see NKOTB! It was an amazing concert...one that brought back so many memories of the past! We continued our annual tradition of going to Boo in the Zoo with the Cummings and Goodes. We celebrated Halloween by visiting Grammy and Papa's house, G.G.'s house, and the Foster's house. Brian, Carson, and Ella went to Bobbie's house to help celebrate Dawson's third birthday while I stayed at home to rest.

November- We journeyed to Asheville to celebrate Ian's third birthday. Carson had so much fun jumping on the inflatable slide. We had so much to be THANKFUL for this year. I found a church home to join. After several years of seeking a place where my family feels part of a much larger family, God finally led us to our new home.

December- December was a very busy month. The month began with my graduation from physical therapy! I was also released from the orthopedic doctor. Carson had his first Upward basketball practice. This is his very first year of playing basketball. Ella continued her battle with ear infections, so we were finally referred to a specialist who decided it would be best to place tubes in her ears. On December 16, Ella's minor surgery was a success. Almost immediately we witnessed a change in her. The preschool choir at church performed a Christmas program. Carson was adorable despite the fact that he must have been tired based on the number of yawns we saw. God blessed us with an AMAZING Christmas. To conclude the month, I received great news from my cognitive tests at Roger C Peace and officially joined the gym!!! I will conclude the year and begin 2009 at church! Praise God for this amazing opportunity!

Gifts I Will NEVER Forget...

This Christmas was very emotional for me! I praise God that He allowed me to celebrate Jesus' birth with my family for another year. I received two special gifts that I will always cherish! Brian gave me a Converse sweatshirt and tag for my van. Typically, those two material things wouldn't be so important to me. They both, however, carry special significance. On the night of my accident, I was wearing my one and only Converse sweatshirt. The sweatshirt was cut off of me once I arrived at the hospital. Of course, the tag was destroyed along with my car! The second gift that I will always treasure was from my mom! She wrapped up a special letter that truly touched my heart! Along with the letter, was a gift certificate for the gym where I completed my final round of physical therapy. The gift certificate included the initial "joining" fee and the first month's fee. She wrote at the end of the letter that this gift was to help me continue to be strong for my family! Thank you Brian and Mom for these two very special gifts... material gifts that are not material to me!!!!!

Happy Birthday Jesus!