Pooper...

I'm going to share an Everett story today because honestly he has some hum dingers!

 

I wish I had videoed this conversation because he is by far the most animated person I know.  He talks with his eyebrows, shoulders, and hands most of the time & a high pitched voice - it's awesome!

 

So the other night he was in the bath tub with Aubrie going on and on and on about some kid Pooper that knocked down his friend Riley at recess in Kindergarten.

 

(meet my new nephew Clifford Stuart - born 9-9-12 a whopping 10lbs. 14oz. - whoa baby!)

 

I walked in with the speech we don't call people names.  It is absolutely not OK to be calling someone Pooper.  How would you feel if they were calling you a name like that, etc. etc.

 

Dead serious, he's like Mom but his name IS Pooper!!

 

No Everett that can't be his name.

 

Yes Mom even the teachers call him Pooper.

 

Everett then his name has to be Cooper.  Cooper with a C like CAT.

 

He starts the deep belly hysterical laugh and says - you mean  he's named after a cat.  That is so funny Mommy.

 

Yep - Pooper is a totally normal name but Cooper spelled with a c like the word cat - that is hysterical!  He slays me!

 

 

 

And for the Ollie Faith fan club...here she is 19 months old - with a full out crazy bed head.

 

 

School Stories

Truth - I haven't blogged in an eternity.  Ya, ya I know - but I have 3 kids and a fitness business so I'm busy.

So what's going on? 

The three bigs have went to school.  Aubrie is in first grade & Everett started kindergarten.

I don't hardly know what to do with myself with only one little one at home.  She keeps me busy with her therapies and rip shagging of the house though so no worries - my day is full!

So I thought I'd share our best school story yet...

The 4th day of school mind you - at 3:45 the kids get off the bus.  I make them snacks, we talk about their day, and do homework.  So Everett comes in and I'm making snacks & asking about his day.  He finally says, hey Mom where is Aubrie??

I'm like what do you mean, isn't she outside playing with the cats.  He says NO.  What do you mean???  Wasn't she on the bus with you, and again NO.

I start freaking out.  Run outside & start yelling.  Aubrie come out right now, this isn't funny.  If you are hiding you had better get your booty to the house now.  No Aubrie.

What???  How?  I immediately call the school - no answer because they are closed.  Shiznit!!!  So I call a friend that is friends with the teacher & get the teachers cell #.  I ask her if Aubrie got on the bus because she's MIA.  Yes she was in the bus line.  So at this point we are guessing she's on the wrong bus & she starts calling the bus barn.

Jade & my friend race to the school just in case.  I load Ollie & Everett into the van & race down the drive - to then stop and realize I can't leave - what if she shows up at home and where am I going???

Finally after about 40 minutes they located her - on the wrong bus!!  She got home at 5 (school is out at 3).  She bawled & bawled because she was so scared. 

I asked her - Aubrie what were you doing, what bus # do you ride??  She says bus 11 but I got on bus 6.  I'll never understand why or how she did it but she'll never do it again.

After much bawling we look over and realize that Everett during cutting/pasting time managed to cut 3 holes in his new shirt - which made us all laugh hysterically.  Apparently someone was "bless youing" and it distracted him enough to cut his shirt.  It made Aubrie's bad day some what better.  Talk about kicking the school year off right!

Oh and check out this video of little miss!  She's 18 months old and starting to walk with a push toy - gosh she makes me proud!!

IDSC for Life

Last year I had the pleasure of designing a necklace for the IDSC for Life.

This year we decided to make a new design & I am thrilled to share it with you.

It's all sterling silver with two charms that represent our mission that ALL life is precious.

The beauty of this charm necklace is that we can add more charms to the necklace easily.  Names for children, open heart surgery dates, birth dates, adoption dates, words with special meaning, it's less limiting than the older style I first created & I get the pleasure to work with more parents because of this flexibility.

This necklace has blessed me.  And that sounds funny to say, but in all honesty I get to hear stories from the people I create pieces for.  I get to pray for their children & celebrate with them the beauty of their loved ones.  I have cried for these families.  It's not just making jewelry, it's building relationships and friendships with others in my community.

I am honored to create for them, and look forward to meeting more families in the future!

If you are interested in my pieces you can find them for sale here on Etsy.



Healthy Heart Party

Today we celebrate a healthy heart!!!  There aren't enough exclamation points in the world to highlight that sentence for me!

It has been one solid year since the day we handed this amazing girl off to her surgical team for her AV Canal repair or as you know it Open Heart Surgery.  She was a tiny girl a day shy of 4 months old.

The emotions flood back of that morning.  Handing her over is by far the hardest thing I've ever had to do.  Fear overwhelmed us as we prayed over her little 10 pound body.

Thank the good lord for his strength, my extreme amount of faith, and a strong husband by my side.

Over four hours of waiting with a full on support group of family and very close friends kept us for the most part occupied.

We finally saw our girl again with all the tubes and wires.  This picture looks good in comparison to what we first walked in on.  It made my heart break time and time again that first day.  She was in pain and that is hard to take.  She had an amazing cardiology team & CICU nurses by her side.  They made sure she was in the best care possible.  I am forever indebted to them.

Each day she was incredibly stronger & her pretty eyes shown with this new glow of health.  Heart failure no longer existed for her.  She wanted out of that bed so badly & we wanted her out too!

The moment we got her out was like holding her for the first time all over again. 

She no longer will rock a flawless chest, however what she wears instead is a badge of courage.  The mark of a truly remarkable girl.

She continues to bless us daily with her bigger than life personality.

Tomorrow we are celebrating.  Our family is coming over for a healthy heart party.  We can't wait for everyone to love on our sweet girl & rejoice on a better year with a completely repaired & perfectly functioning heart.  We have been on a journey, but it is one I never regret because we look at health as the blessing it is and we are stronger, better, more God fearing & God loving people than we ever were before.

And to Dr. Huddleston - we are forever thankful for the miracle you performed on her heart.  You are one hell of a surgeon!  And I truly believe you are one of God's best tools to many more families!