A season for everything

I've never been one to be a "neat freak". I like things to be in order and I like my house to be clean on the surface (aka a glancing eye would think things are immaculate, but let's not take the white gloves out to really check it out, okay?) but you won't catch me cleaning the floors with a toothbrush or cleaning the baseboards any time soon. I  used to spend a few hours on the weekend straightening up and doing light cleaning, but that was it. My how things have changed...

At some point, I must have blinked a little too long and my little baby has become this toddler-like creature and is into everything. He has to touch everything. One single toy does not entertain him for longer than a 2-minute period. He eats big people snacks and prefers to eat them on the go. He's eating finger foods and thoroughly enjoys throwing it all over God's creation, stressing his mother out discovering the new textures of it all.

So now.. now... while I feel like I'm constantly cleaning up after this child... I have to let some things go. Like I said, while I was never OCDish about cleaning, but I've had to give up on the surface appearance of our home. I do my best. There are times (like right now) when I've been extremely productive during nap time and get to enjoy a swept, dusted, and wiped down, good smelling home (for about 20 minutes), but I promise you it's never like it once was.

If you come over, whether it be planned or not, you are guaranteed to see handprints over every glass surface imaginable. They ARE rather adorable little handprints though. You're pretty likely to step in a pile of cracker crumbs. Maybe even a whole one that has somehow been looked over by the human vacuum. Any area within 2 feet of the highchair will probably be disgusting. Unless it is between 8:15 and 9:30, 1:15 and 3, or anytime after 7:15.. I absolutely promise you that my living room will look like a tornado ripped through it. Toys everywhere.. watch where you step. Books thrown all over the floor (my boy loves his books, thank God). Chaos. Total chaos.

And I wouldn't have it any other way. Sometimes, I do have to remind myself of this. I'm human.. of course it stresses me out at times. But, I picture it the other way around and that makes me really sad. I can't imagine not seeing those little handprints. Not having little toy soldiers, cars or airplanes to pick up! When I really think about it.. it puts a huge smile on my face. This is just a season in our lives. The toys are only going to get bigger and have more threat of breaking something. One day my house will be clean again.. you know.. on the surface... and I'm going to miss all of this.
So for now, I'll remember how blessed I am! And for now.. I'm going to print this off and hang it somewhere noticeable. So next time I step on a lego and want to scream I can remember how thankful I am for that lego.

In the blink of an eye..

... your world can be threatened to crash down all around you.

Good thing today.. our world only toppled and did not totally crash.
Trey and I started noticing not too long ago that at times throughout the day, Andrew's left pupil was considerably larger than his right. I made an appointment at SFMC to get it checked out, but wasn't very concerned. I didn't think too much of it and was doing just that.. just getting it checked out.

And this conversation with the doc is where we can enter the teeter-tottling (real phrase? sure. ) of my world.
has he been throwing up? (no)
has he been through any kind of trauma? (yes.. enter birth story)
was he hooked up to oxygen? (yes)
he never had any bleeding in his brain though? (yes actually, he did have a hematoma)

This is when she tells me that she is not concerned in the least with getting him to see an Opthamologist at the moment and I needed to get him up to William Beaumont for a CT Scan to make sure there was not a brain tumor.

Just like that. My brain didn't even have time to be wrapped around the concept before I was out the door and on my way. I was going to the Radiology Dept. to make sure my baby didn't have a brain tumor.

I didn't cry until I was alone with him in the room, seeing him basically in a straight jacket and having to grab a hold of his little 5 month old chin to make sure he didn't move a spec while he bawled his eyes out. This couldn't be happening. His life couldn't be threatened for the second time in less than a half of a year. But it very well could be happening, the other half of my brain was screaming ( I have two sides I guess.. one that loves to stay in denial and one that needs to prepare for the absolute worst.). It happens to people all of the time.. you are no different.

It is not, after all, happening to us - thank God. His pediatrician is a saint. She was very concerned and even though she was off, arranged to have the results called in to her so she could be sure we got the news ASAP. As I was pulling in my driveway she called with the wonderful news! I feel the need to send her flowers.. or at least a card.

So now we move on to the next step. We'll be getting referred to see an Opthalmologist at the end of next week and will go from there. Whatever it is, it's not a brain tumor, we can deal with it.

We are an extremely thankful family tonight. Andrew.. we love you to pieces, but please stop scaring us like that.

Home Sweet Home

All I can say is wow.. God is great and we have a little fighter on our hands :) :)

After a long day of waiting yesterday we all came home AS A FAMILY last night from the hospital around 7pm. He was supposed to be discharged between 9 and 10 that morning but that is neither here nor there now. He's home and healthy (and sleeping) and that is all that matters! *Seriously.. he sleeps all day. I want to cuddle him more, but he just wants to sleep. All. Day. Long. *

We are an extremely happy and thankful family right now. I can't thank y'all enough for all of your thoughts and prayers over the past two weeks. I've never in my life been a bigger believer in prayer. The fact that in a week in a half he went from this...

... to this....

And I couldn't be any more in love!

Nor could Daddy :)

Now if only we could get Grannie to stay for another week or 4!

Precious

I've seen this email forwarded around quite a few times now, but it just gets me every time. Epecially now. We have one picture of Andrew where I know he's probably just sucking on that thumb, but I like to think he has his hands up praying. I imagine that to be God's hands holding him up by his behind and keeping him safe. I think it's such a sweet picture.

The email is a newborn's first conversation with God.

A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow,

but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"

God said, "Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."

The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have
to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."

God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you.
And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy."

Again the small child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand
when people talk to me if I don't know the language?"

God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words
you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will
teach you how to speak."

"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"

God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach
you how to pray."

"Who will protect me?"

God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life."

"But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."

God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach
you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you."

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth
could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave
now, please tell me my angel's name."

God said, You will simply call her, "Mom."

Happy Thanksgiving!

Can't believe tomorrow is Thanksgiving already! Time seems to by flying by more quickly than ever! I cannot believe I have been living in Oklahoma for 2 months now and am already counting down the days to go back home for Christmas (yay!)

It's my last day at the food bank for the week. We are closed for the rest of the week. I wanted to do something nice for them today for taking me in and immediately treating me like I've been a part of them forever, so I got up early this morning to make some sugar cookies. I actually made the dough last night and regridgerated it overnight. It was the first time I've ever made cookie dough and was pretty excited to see how they came out this morning.. mmm... not so much! It was so sticky that I couldn't do anything with it. I put all the flour I had left into it to fix it the best I could. I mean, they're edible... but they definitely don't resemble a sugar cookie. Nor do they really taste like one. I'm bringing them in anyway, but let's just say that I really hope my apple crisp comes out a lot better tomorrow! The icing on the cake? NOW I have to go to Walmart today to get more flour.. grrrr... wish me luck!

We are spending the holiday by ourselves tomorrow. We do have some friends getting together, but we wanted to take the opportunity to spend it just the two of us. We've never been able to do that and *hopefully* won't be able to again. I'm making a teeny tiny turkey, garlic mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, corn and rolls. Then apple crisp for dessert.

This year I am more than ever thankful for my husband. After spending a rough 7 and 1/2 months without him over the year, I'm soaking up every moment we have together. I miss my family and am verry thankful for the technology that allows us to pretty much stay in every minute of each other's lives. I'm thankful for our friends that I'm more than excited to see next month! And for our friends that we have here.. our little family away from home. I am extremely thankful for all of the soldiers that are fighting over seas that are not able to spend this holiday with their families. I'm thankful for the wine I plan to enjoy at dinner tonight. *okay okay... and the rest of the week*. Very thankful for our cozy little home. And really... I'm thankful for the faith I have in my heart that knows I have all of this because God allows me to.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

Thankful

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of the veterans along with the today's soldiers that are fighting for our freedom. Words cannot express the gratitude we feel towards you all!