Tennis

Well, I have decided to take up tennis. I used to play alot - 15 years ago, and I was decent - 15 years ago. I loved playing, but in the 9th grade I had to make a choice. Tennis or softball.... it was a REALLY hard choice....but ALL my friends were playing softball, so really not that hard of a choice after all and it was a good choice... I made some of the best friends of my life on the softball field...and you all read this blog - I love you all... But, NOW - boy do I wish I had kept playing. I'm participating in a clinic tomorrow morning and in March I'm beginning a doubles league with one of my friends... she has no idea what she's getting into.
Maybe pretty soon I'll look like this... or NOT

I'm sure within a month I'll have one of these... or NOT!!!!

But it will be fun and I'll enjoy the exercise and the social aspect of it....did I mention it's been 15 years since I picked up a racket???? Let's just pray I can make contact with the ball - I think that's something you say in softball, not tennis, but really, let's just hope I can make contact and hit it OVER the net. I'll let you know how it goes.

Talk to the Hand

The yellow hand, that is.... We had a good time today painting birthday cards for Will's mom - her birthday is not until Friday, but I know how the week can get, so we planned ahead of time. The children had fun and Wilson actually did get some paint on the paper!!!!

Henderson has good moments, but is still running a very low grade fever and sleeping a little more than usual and wanting to be held constantly,s o not 100%, but definitely on the way.

Yesterday we all went to the Alabama/Kentucky basketball game and then headed to Birmingham for an engagement dinner with my sister and my parents and her fiance's parents, grandmother and brother and his wife and baby. It was at an authentic Italian restaurant in Alabaster and it was so much fun. It did emphasize why we do not EVER take Wilson to restaurants - at nearly 2 1/2 he still doesn't do well. When a child is in no way entertained with food and has the energy of a 6 week old puppy, you might as well hang it up for sitting still for 2 hours. At one moment I looked up and Wilson was in the KITCHEN - I think the cooks were about to have a heart attack! He is so little and fast that I kept thinking he was stiing with someone else and I lost him, but only for a moment! In the end he was satisfied with the AWESOME cake Matt's mom bought (a miniature of the wedding cake Katie picked out) and sugar packets - YES this Dietitian mom let her children eat sugar straight out of sugar packets at the table!!!! Whatever works, right?

I did not have my camera at the restaurant, not that I could have taken any pictures anyways, so pre-game pictures will have to do!

Henderson and Emma Claire were perfect - they both like to eat and can sit still for more than 3 seconds. It was a great time of family, food and fellowship. Katie is marrying into a wonderful family and I am so excited for her!

Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Pavlick for an awesome dinner and night!

Sickness update

To update any who were wondering.... Wilson is pretty much all better - both boys stayed home from school on Thursday and seemed to be getting better. The fever was gone, activity and appetite was back...So they went to school on Friday.

Still no smiles from this little guy though....

At about 10:30 I got a call from the school notifying me that Henderson was running a fever again and coughing really bad and just seemed sick. So my father-in-law picked him up for me and I called the doctor. They told me to bring him in, and the diagnosis...

Bronchiolitis aka Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), it's only in the beginning form, so maybe he won't get any worse. Apparently it's pretty common and not too severe among babies his age. I've known several babies to get VERY sick with it, but they were all under 10 weeks old at the time, so maybe he'll get better in the next few days - any prayers are appreciated!

These little blue eyes...

These little blue eyes aren't smiling much these days.... Wilson and Henderson are both sick - came home from school snotty and coughing and quickly began running a fever - both want me to hold them constantly. Henderson has been sleeping most all day, so that has made things a little easier, but nothing is easy with Wilson. In my attempt to get him to take some tylenol and simple cough syrup, the old gag reflex kicked right in. All over both of us!!!! No medicine is getting in this guy unless it's intramuscular!

Good news is, no climbing is going on either, just laying around watching movies and wanting mama to "hold you". I hate to see them sick, but it sure is nice when they slow down enough to want some "mama time." Henderson slept in my arms for 30 minutes today until I had to put him in his bed when Wilson woke up and wanted me to hold him. My children are not "normally" cuddly - not even my infants - they get this honestly - their mommy is not a touchy feely type person AT ALL, but I do love some cuddling - even if it is with a fire hot baby!

About a month ago Wilson finally learned how to open the pantry door and quickly learned how to scale the shelves and get what he wants, though what he wants is still a mystery - to all of us. The eating hasn't gotten ANY better.

Henderson is getting faster and faster every day. His favorite spot is at the top of any of the 2-step steps in our house (there are 3 of them). He just sits there and smiles and waits for someone to help him down - he's fallen enough to have a healthy fear! Now for the big staircase, that's another story. Wilson has also learned in the last week to unlock the gate, so I can't keep Henderson out of my sight when Wilson is awake!

Hopefully they will take a turn for the better overnight and be all well by the weekend!

Farewell!

I am giving thanks to God today as we say farewell to President George W. Bush. He's not been a perfect president, but who has? He HAS kept my family and I safe for the last 8 years, and for that I am grateful. He has pulled America through some of the toughest and most strenuous times in American history. I thank God that he was a Christian President. Thank you President Bush!

I am also praying for President Barack Obama, as he begins his presidency tomorrow. He was not my choice, but he is my President, so I will be faithful to pray for him and his family. I pray that he will surround himself with people who will seek the guidance of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I pray that God will work through him to make America an even better place to live!
(and besides, I can't wait to see all the cute outfits Michelle wears and how they deal with 2 very young girls in the White House!)
Happy Day to you all!

Pray for Harper!

Please pray for Harper - she a tiny (big 9 lbs 12 oz) newborn that is having some BIG problems, please pray for her and her mama Kelly and the whole family and doctors and nurses!

A fun time!

We had a great time last night at the Alabama Gymnastics meet - Will and I took Emma Claire and Will's sister Ellen and her daughter, Chandler went with us too! Emma Claire and Chandler are 3 years apart, but everyday they seem to grow closer and closer together! Emma Claire even got an invite to spend the night at the last minute, which she joyfully accepted, with my approval of course! Emma Claire looks up to her cousin so much and I can't think of a better person to look up to. Chandler is fun, energetic, smart and very sweet to everyone! They are both "RULE FOLLOWERS" so they end up being pretty easy to have around! Thanks Chandler and Ellen for a fun-filled night!

Of course our night would not have been complete without some pictures with Big Al!!!

And we ran into Emma Claire's teacher, Miss Crystal, whom we all love!

Emma Claire is still at Chandler's house and both boys are asleep (for the moment - I'm sure Henderson will be up any minute now from his 45 minute nap=). I'm still in my pajamas and loving a COLD day inside with no plans to go anywhere!

Happy Saturday and Happy LONG Weekend (for me anyways - thank you, State of Alabama)

Walking on Water?

I just saw this story on Foxnews.com and it is a US Airways plane that crashed into the Hudson River in New York today - it's alledged that it flew into a flock of birds (scary huh) and that there were no deaths or injuries, but take a look at the second photo - does it not appear that the people are walking on water? My guess is maybe they are standing on the wings of the plane, but would that not freak you out? I would think that plane could sink any minute!!!! Go to http://www.foxnews.com/ and see for yourself!


*****An update -- after seeing more details about this on the news and Internet, this was an amazing event - maybe Jesus really was there walking on water with them all! A big shout out to the quick acting and talented pilot and his crew and to all the rescue workers in the fine city of New York! Once again, we see the community come together for good!

2 Boys and a Dog!

Not many words today, just a snapshot (or many) of an attempt at a simple photo shoot of my boys. Not as easy as it may seem, if one is looking and smiling, inevitably the other is not, then add a dog in the mix, not a frameable picture in sight - but lots of memories! How do I ever get a good picture? Emma Claire was still taking her nap - she is my sleeper - Wilson did nap for 2 and a half hours, Henderson - only 45 minutes - and he's the baby - the one that "should" be sleeping!!! Enjoy!

Almost cute of both, but Henderson's eyes are shutting!

Cute of Henderson, Wilson being stubborn!

Henderson thought it was really funny - me trying to get a good picture!

King of the WORLD!!!

Daisy got a good lick!

Wilson is such a ham!

See? I took 30 some odd pictures and not a single one where they are both looking at me and even semi-smiling!!! But tnevertheless, the memories were made and enjoyed!

A heart update and a funny (or gross)

On Friday I took all 3 children to Birmingham for Wilson's Cardiology appt. He had a VSD (small hole in his heart) when we was born and 2 doctors lately have heard it again. So we get downtown and in the parking deck and we're going around and around and around the deck trying to find a park, when all of a sudden Emma Claire starts screaming blody murder - I am frantically asking her what's wrong, calm down and tell mommy what's wrong!!! Then silence and then....

she threw up all on herself and her DVD player (which was in her lap). My sister was meeting us there to help out, but she was in the wrong parking deck, so I was on my own for a few minutes. Luckily I had a change of clothes, a tub of baby wipes, an empty Target bag and some hand sanitizer. I got Emma Claire - as carefully as I could - out of the car and stripped her down, right there on the 5th floor of the 6nd Ave parking deck. I wiped her down, put her very soiled clothes in the Target bag and put some clean clothes on her. I did my best to clean out the car and wipe down the DVD player - not sure we would be able to save that baby! Katie arrived, and I told her she might want to take EC and H back to my parents house, but EC insisted on going with us. She seemed fine, so I relented. Turns out she was fine - my guess is that it was car sickness - combination of sitting in the very back seat, looking down to watch a movie and going around and around and around in the parking deck. She was ready to eat again and play and laugh, so no virus!

I have cleaned, spayed, disinfected, Resolved, wiped, sprayed again my car 4 TIMES and it still smells bad - any ideas on how to get the smell out - I have leather seats, but some must have gotten on the carper under the seat or something. I need help!!!!

OH yeah, the cardiology appt. - The ped. cardiologist listened to his heart and he said he can hear what the other doctors are hearing, then he did an ultrasound and said he was perfectly normal. What they are hearing is nothing - because he is extremely thin, they can hear the heart SO WELL (because there is literally nothing between the stethoscope and the heart) that they think they are hearing a murmur. I trust him - does this sound right to any of you nurses or doctors??? Anyhow, Wilson did great and EC and Henderson were awesome too - though with the amount that Henderson crawled around on the floor, we are bound to have a virus of some kind now! Thanks to Katie, b/c even though they were all good, 3 children 4 and under in a small doctor's office is still a HANDFUL!!!!

Proverbs 31 woman

I found this on a friends' blog - it spoke volumes to me on this busy Monday morning!

Hope you (and I) slow down this week and remember the MOST IMPORTANT things!

Deep Questions at Bedtime

Last night at bedtime, Emma Claire, Wilson and myself were all piled up in my bed reading stories: Miracles of Jesus, Virtues (the one for the day was "work" and it was the story of Noah), and Baby Moses (pop-up book). Well, we had finished the baby Moses book and Wilson continued to look at it and talk non-stop about it while I tried to read to Emma Claire. We began talking about the word "work" and what it means and she said, "like when I pick up my toys and do what you ask me to."
Then, randomly, she asks "how do you get there?"
Not really, sure what she's talking about, I ask "where?"
And she says, "THERE!" and points to a picture of Jesus in heaven (I'm assumming - He's up in the sky)
And, like I try to always do, I answer her question with a question to get her thinking and I ask her "how do you get to heaven?" (b/c we talk about this all the time)

She doesn't answer right away, so I begin to remind her that Jesus lived a perfect life and died on the cross for our sins and rose on the 3rd day and if we believe in Him and trust Him and tell Him we're sorry for our sins and ask Him to live in our hearts, then THAT'S how we go to heaven.

Well, her answer to that was: "If I learn all my Bible verses everyday and remember them forever, that's how I will get to heaven?"

And I say, "Well, that's really great and all, and Jesus wants you to learn your Bible verses and all, but that is not what gets you to heaven."

And at this point I can tell she is getting a little frustrated with me, and she says emphatically, "NO, how do you GET to heaven?"

And I realize, that in her 4 year old mind, she is literally trying to visualize going UP to heaven. (Remember the pogo stick question?) I tell her I have no idea, that that is something we will just have to wait and see and ask Jesus when we get to heaven, which I hope is a VERY long time from now.

And in the meantime, Wilson is constantly and very loudly saying over and over while pointing to baby Moses in the basket, "Baby Jesus, Baby Jesus!, Happy Birthday Jesus!!!!" Over and over and over again, and did I mention VERY LOUDLY!!!!?

*********

On another note, while I'm talking (writing) about what my children say, on Wednesday afternoon, on the way to church, we stopped by River Road Park to look at the flooding river - there is a platform - kind of like a dock - that you can walk down steps to and be over the river. Well, it was completely covered with water - to nearly 3 feet within the tops of the light posts. The children loved seeing this and the rushing water. Well, we stayed only a minute, b/c I was a nervous wreck, b/c Wilson kept wanting to touch the water and it was moving FAST!!! On the walk back to the car Wilson started saying "Snake Snake!" It was very windy and cold and all I could think about was getting back in the car quickly, so I just said, Oh there aren't any snakes, it's too cold for snakes. Well, the next day, my friend Ashley took her daughters to see the river too, and while there, several people told them to look out for snakes, b/c they were ALL AROUND!!!!

Do you realize how this makes me shiver and nearly get sick - I think Wilson REALLY did see a snake and I just shrugged it off as 2 year old non-sense - but really, why would a 2 year old just randomly say snake, when I don't think he's ever even seen a snake before, except for maybe at the zoo in a glass window????

A New Year brings a New Life!

This is what I spotted as I drove up the driveway after picking the children up from school today! Now, I'm no gardener BY ANY STRETCH, but I think the first of January is a little early for these beauties! But it's no surprise with the 80 days of rain we've had and the super mild temperatures! Nonetheless, it did my heart good to know that year after year, these beautiful flowers come back time and time again - in God's perfect timing! His mercies are new every morning - and every year!

The children ready for school this morning - I'm doing my best to keep them in winter clothes, but note the short sleeve shirts with tights and boots (and the pants that Wilson keeps pulled up =)!!! No where but the GREAT OLE SOUTH!

****update - I think the 50 mph winds, tornado sirens and rain we're having right now means cold weather is on it's way!!!! Dear Jesus, please keep all safe!

A First Birthday Party!

We had the honor of celebrating this curly-haired princess' FIRST BIRTHDAY today! All the children had a blast (and the adults too)!

Henderson was on the go, most of the party!

Emma Claire and Wilson enjoyed lots of cake and goodies!

My children love to be "front and center"!

About to take a tumble! He caught himself here and it's anybody's guess how this didn't come out a big blur! (my camera really isn't that great)

Before the big tumble! - All smiles!

Why is Wilson standing so still?

It has something to do with his "Balloon Obsession"

Yes, he screamed and threw a fit until he got it!




York peppermint patty - coming out of the mouth! - He shoved the whole thing in there and I MADE him chew it up and swallow it - Lovely!

Sissy-girl had a blast with new toys and little children all around!

Henderson and his "women"!!!! =)

Awwww, isn't that sweet?

Happy 1st Birthday Emerson!

We love you!