My Maria.....

Come for a walk with me down Memory Lane!
And if you have a "Memory Lane" post, head on over to Scottsville to join in on the fun!


In March of 2006, I went to Honduras, with my church, on a medical mission trip. While there, I met a very special lady.

Meet my Friend, Maria....



She was a beautiful lady who loved Jesus. She never wanted to miss an opportunity, even if though a translator, to hear about Him.

Despite the fact that she was 104, yes 104, she walked to our church services each and every night that week.

She was precious. I fell in love with her and her sweet spirit. She cried when I left, and so did I. She said she didn't want me to go back to the States, but she knew I had to.

Most of us complain if the pew is not padded enough, or if the church is too hot/cold, but my 104 year old friend WALKED to an outside church service every night.

How awesome is that?


=],

Gracie

My Brain Is Dizzy, Part 4.....

We were beginning to see the light at the end of a very long, dark tunnel. FINALLY. Everyday second, every minute, ever hour, every day, every week, and every month that came and went without a seizure brought such confidence to her and to us. It was as if our lungs were beginning to breathe oxygen again.

I eventually went back to work. Kylee was fine with this. I think she may have been tired of having me watch her every move 24/7. I hadn't planned on it, remember, but God had other plans for me. I love that He knows what we need, when we need it. I received a wonderful offer to come back with a promotion and a raise. =) God is good.

We saw the Neurologist in April of 2008. He had told us there was a possibility she could outgrow her seizures, but since he didn't know the source he couldn't tell us for sure so he repeated her EEG.

He also had told us he may consider a trial off her medication to see how she did. He said he wanted to do it in soon so if she failed the trial he could have her regulated again before she started to drive. In our state, you have to be 6 months seizure free before you can drive.

Now, I have to be honest with you, I was not happy hearing anything about a trial off her medicine. We had just gotten regulated and back to a normalcy. I sure didn't want to go back through what we had just been through.

I didn't say anything to him then. I figured when he brought it up as a for sure thing, I would share my thoughts then.

He also told us to watch for seizures as Kylee grew because her medicine is adjusted according to her weight.

She went 16 months, yes, 16 months straight without a seizure. We were so thankful.

August 27, 2008, her birthday, was her next seizure. Nice birthday present, huh? To be honest, we couldn't be too upset about it because we were so thankful she had done so well up til then.

I did wonder if the nightmare was starting all over again. That seizure was due to a growth spurt so he increased her medicine, to the dose she is currently on.

Because she had this seizure, He is no longer considering a medication free trial. Would it be weird to say I was relieved she had this seizure?

I was. I was relieved because I DID NOT want to take her off her medicine and I knew that discussion would be coming up soon. God used the bad and made it good. He's good like that, you know?

Her repeat EEG did still show a large amount of electrical activity.

My baby is doing wonderful. SHE HAS BEEN SEIZURE FREE SINCE AUGUST 2008!

The sassy spirit is back, in FULL force, lol. She is back to spending the night with her friends and going places without me.

We know God performed a work through her. No, He didn't chose to heal her as He could have, but He has used 3 tiny pills a day to control a very frightening disease. He has said "Peace, Be Still" to the storm that was raging out of control. He taught this Mom how totally helpless I was without Him. He taught me to depend on Him, to seek comfort from Him, and to call on Him. He taught me that He loves me no matter how big/small the problem may seem or how many times I question why. He taught me that He can hear each of us pray at exactly the same time, all over the world, yet He hears me as if I am the only one calling out to Him.

He has used her dizzy brain to change me. For that I am thankful.

=],

Gracie

A Walk Down Memory Lane.....

Come for a walk with me down Memory Lane!
And if you have a "Memory Lane" post, head on over to Scottsville to join in on the fun!


Our baby, Kylee, who is 12, has always been very outspoken, even from an early age. She has always said pretty much whatever comes to her mind.

When she was 4, we were attending worship service and we just happened to be sitting behind our sweet, humble, quiet Pastor. Let me emphasize the words sweet, humble, and quiet.

During the service, someone in our general area passed gas. When the foul smell reached Kylee's nose, she looked at me and I gave her "the look", you all know that look, and I shook my head, "No", meaning -Don't you dare say anything out loud about that or I will kill you. The whole time I am praying, Dear Lord don't let her say anything.

The smell passed and all was well, or so I thought....

After the service had ended, we were leaving the Sanctuary, and our Pastor, remember the sweet, humble, quiet one, was at the door shaking hands.

As we approached him, I shook his hand and told him I enjoyed the message. He bent down and took Kylee's hand and said, "How are you today, Miss Kylee?"

Without missing a single beat, and without any warning for me, Kylee looked at him square in the eye and said, "I was sitting behind you in church this morning and I smelled it. I know it was you who pooted."

FOR THE LOVE, I about died right there on the spot.

Thankfully, the really sweet Pastor laughed about it. I mean, really, what else could he do?

It's hilarious now.

I'm not sure where in the world she gets that candor? ;)

=],

Gracie

The Story Behind the Curls.....

Many of you have asked me the story of Hayden and how we came to have such a close relationship with him.

Hayden is our nephew, the son of my only brother, Brandon. Brandon is 10 years younger than me, so growing up, I was basically his 2nd Mother. When Paul and I got married, he practically stayed with us every chance he had.

Brandon and Raschel, the shy, quirky girl he was dating, had an "oops" and she got pregnant. She had basically a non-relationship with her Mother at the time, so I jumped in and offered to help any way I could. I went to her Doctor's visits with her, helped her with insurance, and so forth so on. She was just 18 years old and really had no clue.

I'll never forget seeing him on the ultrasound for the first time. I loved him before I knew him.

November 20, 2005, Hayden Alexander made his grand entrance into the world. Thankfully, I was in the delivery room, at her request. She was so scared and my brother was mostly useless. It was basically 2 kids, having a baby, at least mentally anyway.

Raschel developed postpartum depression after Hayden was born. I learned about it in nursing school and had read about it and but I had never witnessed anyone experience it first hand.

It was awful to watch. She loved Hayden no doubt, she attended to his physical needs meticulously, but the emotion was lacking. Now all of you know how strongly I feel about being a Mother and how serious I take that responsibility, so this was very difficult for me.

She couldn't help it, but I didn't understand it. I saw it was real, I saw it was terrible, and I saw it had devastating effects.

She sought and got treatment, and eventually got better but for the first 4 month's of Hayden's life, he lived with us. We kept him. We bonded with him. He was ours. We became so attached to him.

We did discuss adopting him then and again recently, but that is not going to happen. Oh, how we wish it would.

Once she was better and the time came for him to go home, we had grown so attached to that sweet baby boy.

Now, we get him on Friday afternoons and I take him home on my way to work Monday mornings. So, we basically have weekend custody/visitation. =)

We've had him every Christmas morning, every Mother's Day, every Father's Day, Thanksgiving, and Easter. I'm not complaining. I love him. ALOT. I am very much a traditionalist. She is not. These holidays are very important to me. To her, they are not.

They definitely have different parenting styles than we do and by no means am I saying I am Mother of the Year, but there is NO WAY, let me repeat, NO WAY, my kids would ever go off like that.

If I'm completely honest, I don't want her to be better or different. It would take him away from us and selfishly, I don't want that.

She loves him, again, I don't doubt that. I'm not telling this story to bash my, now, Sister-in-Law's parenting skills. We are different. That is the nicest way I know how to describe it. Different.

In the last few weeks, God has really been dealing with my heart where she is concerned. Have I been praying for her like I should? I admit it, the answer is No, I haven't. Somehow my heart God has softened my heart toward her. It's crazy to describe, and it's even crazier to understand, but my heart has become broken for her. I really feel for her.

We are living the American dream with our 2.5 kids. We are thankful he is in our lives. He has brought so much joy to us and more smiles than we can count.






Did I tell you our family is in love with this boy? The one who loves playing outside, who loves firetrucks, tractors, and bulldozers? The one who loves riding his Harley? The one who wants a ladder and a garbage truck for his 4th birthday? The one who thinks he is the Incredible Hulk? The one who loves Mickey Mouse? The one that wants to eat salt straight out of the shaker? The one who has beautiful green eyes like his Mother and gorgeous blond curls like his Daddy? The one who won't dare eat the ends of a french fry? The one that says he is going to play football at Auburn? The one who, when startled, will say, "You scared me outta crap"? The one that has everyone at the table hold hands so he can say the blessing? The one who is fascinated with the name Barack Obama? The one who says he and Santa Claus went to the White House and then went to the Circus with Barack Obama? The one who, at age 3, will say, "but we didn't vote for him"? The one who can't wait to go to Sunday School? The one who thought they took Jesus off the cross and put Him in the garage? The one who loved the beach and playing in the sand? The one who is scared of bugs, yet not at all afraid of heights? The one I don't think we'll ever get potty trained? The one, who before I ever knew him, had my heart? Yep, that's him and boy oh boy, we are hopelessly in love with him.

=],

Gracie

Orange for Stellan.....

**UPDATE: Baby Stellan is out of surgery. He has been extubated and will remain in CICU through the night. It was a very complicated surgery. They have a long, long road before them. Please, continue to pray. Nothing Dr. A found during surgery today was a surprise to God. He is The Great Physician, the One who formed Stellan's heart.

=],

Gracie


Sweet Baby Boy, Stellan, is undergoing heart surgery right this minute. Wear Orange for Stellan today to show you are praying for this gift from God. You can go to MckMama's site for updates.


=],

Gracie

Back to the Real World, 1st Stop the Doctor.....

We made it home from the beach last night. We came back with lots of memories and pictures to prove it. We had sooo much fun.

Haley, the eldest (R), and her BFF, Allison


Hayden


Kylee and Hayden


Kylee and Hayden


Kylee, the baby (L), and her buddy, Lyndsay



For the last 48 hours I have been running a fever. Two nights in a row I have worn a complete sweatsuit and socks to bed, only to be covered up with a comforter and 2 blankets. I ache all over from my head to my toes. It even hurts to touch my hair. My ears hurt and my throat feels as if there are 1878378 needles sticking it. The back of my throat is covered with pus pockets. Sorry, if that's TMI, but I am a nurse, remember.

I thought I would never finish that 5 hour drive home yesterday. My hubby was in his own vehicle, and the eldest daughter came back a day earlier with her BFF, Allison, otherwise, someone else could have driven and I would have taken medications to knock me out and slept the whole way home.

I went to my Doctor this morning. An injection of Rocephin (antibiotic) and 4 prescriptions later, I still feel like I am going to die. I know I will start feeling better soon. He told me not to even think about going to work until at least Thursday, so I will nearly have been off 2 weeks by then.

I know there is plenty going on Where Love and Care Make a Difference. My good friends there are really good at making me think all is well so I won't be at home worrying about what is going on there. My wonderful Assistant, Sherri, is without a doubt, holding down the fort and running the ship smoothly. Thanks, Sherri! I appreciate all you do, so much.

Probably after working so many hours the week of our State inspection without eating and then jumping right into being a Room Mom for all those girls,constantly running from one game to another with little sleep was more than my body could take. My immunity was low and this strep throat/ear/sinus infection won out.

Other than the Doctor, I have done nothing today but sleep. My Mother-in-Law took Kylee to school this morning for me. I love her. She is a wonderful lady and is sooo much help to me, even when I'm not sick.

This afternoon I have been able to catch up on some of your blogs. I have missed y'all BUNCHES.

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

=],

Gracie

My Very Own Surfer Boy.....

Hayden arrived yesterday afternoon. We couldn't wait to get him to the beach and on the sand. HE LOVED IT!! He looks so adorable in his swim trunks, just like a surfer dude =).



He is too cute!

Have a great weekend all! We are now beachin' it as a family. I am LOVIN' this no make-up, flip flop stuff. =)

=],

Gracie