32 is Fabulous

I just wanted to say "thank you" to everyone who called me or dropped by yesterday to say "Happy Birthday". I couldn't return everybody's call, so I thought I would just say it in a post.



Yesterday was a great day. My mom took my boys for the day and Rod and I went to lunch and then to a movie. What fun, I can't remember the last time Rod and I saw a movie that wasn't animated on the big screen.



Later that day, Rod had invited my whole family over for bbq and cake. How fun is that?!?!? We had a great time with the kids and I loved every minute of it. Notice in the cake pics how many are there------3!!!! Who does that? Rod had gotten me 2 ice cream cakes (not sure why) and my mom decided to make me a chocolate pound cake. Anybody hungry, we have tons left over!!!!! Thank you again, Rod, for everything........you are the best. And to all my family and friends, you made my birthday special, once again.

Raising Small Children

Okay ladies, today is already one of those days. It's only 10:00 in the morning and these sweet babies are already testing my patience. I finally have one down for a "hopeful" nap and the other is busy playing with his race track.
I decided I needed to sit down and do my devotional for the day. I grabbed my bible and upper room headed to sit down for some quiet time, (of course I am already irritated from those sweet angels testing me), and I drop my bible, spilling everything out of it. I have to smile when I tell you that the last thing I picked up to place back in its proper place was a "Prayer for Women" that my mom had given me when we started our family. I re-read it and decided my lack of patience and irritability was just going to have to be done for the day.
Here it is..........hope you enjoy!!!!

Raising Small Children

For all these smallnesses

I thank You, Lord:

small children

and small needs;

small meals to cook,

small talk to heed,

and a small book

from which to read

small stories;

small hurts to heal,

small disappointments, too,

as real

as ours;

small glories

to discover

in bugs, pebbles,flowers.

When day is through my mind is small,

my strength is gone;

and as I gather

each dear one

I pray, "Bless each for Jesus' sake-

such angels sleeping, imps awake!"

What wears me out

are little things:

angels minus

shining wings.

Forgive me, Lord,

if I have whined:

it takes so much

to keep them shined;

yet each small rub

has its reward,

for they have blessed me.

Thank You,

Lord.

Fun in Gulf Shores!!!

It's Monday and we just got home from a fun trip down to Gulf Shores. We met up with Rod's brother, Bo and his family. We had a great time and hope to do it again next year. Rod's mom and stepdad (Granny Rie and Big Al) live in Gulf Shores too, so we got to spend some time with them as well.
We stayed at a place call The Beach Club, I highly recommend it. It is off by itself, very secluded. Almost like a mini resort. The kids had a blast, Nate and his cousin Cameron couldn't get enough of the pool. And the babies, Wilson and Luke, loved talking to one another in their own special language --- it was too cute to watch.

My New Trick

Well last night we had a first. Wilson all of a sudden decided to WANT to feed himself. Of course, it had to be with applesauce.........MESSSSSSY! But I can't complain, at least he is trying, right? It was too cute. Nate and I were so proud of him. Excuse my country twang on the video. I tend to get a little more southern when I talk to Wilson. :)

Aren't we proud!!!!!!

Water Park Fun

Last weekend, Nate and I went to the water park with the Holmes clan. All 4 boys had a great time. Of course, my little man was a little more fearful than the rest of them. Loved the wave pool, but would not set foot in the Lazy River. Go figure, whatever.


It was great to have a little change of scenary from your regular old pool, but definitely on the costly side. If you are going to go, try Tuesdays, moms get in free.

Look at me mom!!!!

Nate and Ryan taking on the alligator!

Happy 4th of July!!!!

I hope everyone had a fabulous 4th. We had a great, relaxing weekend. What's better than the pool, family, food and fireworks?

The Journey Begins.....................

I can't believe the time has come.
For those who don't know what I am talking about..........our oldest son, Nathan, was born with a condition called Microtia/Atresia. It is a genetic disorder, where he was born without his right ear or the ability to have full hearing out of that ear. Today we started the journey for repairing his ear in the future.
Four years ago God blessed Rod and I with this amazing little boy. He has the kindest, most caring, loving spirit for a 4 year old, that I have ever known. Today was a big step for us on the road to making sure he has the self-esteem and confidence he needs to keep hold of that huge heart he already has.
I know there are so many other conditions or disorders he could have been born with, and we thank God everyday for this "cosmetic" bump in the road. But when it is your baby, and knowing what he is going to have to go through and endure over the next year or so, it doesn't make it easy.
Today we traveled to Atlanta to meet with a surgeon by the name of Mark Jones. He is a plastic surgeon that specializes in ear reconstruction. What a blessing he is going to be to our family. For the first time since Nathan was born, I feel like I know where we are going with this and where we are going to end up. Dr. Jones answered so many questions that we never truly knew the answers to. What an amazing thing we have in the world of medicine, to take rib cartilage from your little boy and mold it into an ear that will look and feel just like the real thing. Praise God for giving these doctors the knowledge to pioneer a procedure like this.
We learned that hopefully by next May (Nate has to be at least 40 lbs) we will be starting the 1st surgery. Within 8-9 months he should be done with the final surgery, there are 4 total.
I won't bore you with all the details, but if you are interested in seeing a little boy going through the same thing Nate will be doing (by the same Dr.), please click on the blog link for Nicholas Weiss under my Microtia Friends subtitle. You can also go to www.atlantaplastics.com to see Dr. Jones's website.

Sidenote: We will be going to UAB in August (my mom, aunt, cousins, Nathan and myself) to meet with the genetics team. There is a possibility that Nate was born with a syndrome called Goldenhar Syndrome, which would explain the microtia to some degree. Pray for us! Depending on the severity, if he has it, it would require more surgeries (on the jaw) on top of what he already has to go through.

Now for the fun!!! We made our way to the Georgia Aquarium after our doctor visit. Nathan absolutely loved it. Enjoy the pics below. And thanks again for your thoughts and prayers today and in the future.