Reason to Rejoice

I have heard so many people talk about how unsure they are about having more than one child and the hesitations that go with that. I have to admit, I was hesitant as well but for totally different reasons. I was scared on a physical level about being pregnant and going through everything that I did the first time around. I did have some of the same complications but the experience all the way around was just much better. I thoroughly enjoyed my pregnancy and loved being able to know what to expect during labor. Most of what I hear others talk about is if they can love another child as much as you love your first, will I be able to give him/her the same amount of attention, how will life balance out, etc....that was never a concern for me. I never once thought that I couldn't love a 2nd baby as much as my 1st. And it's true....I absolutely love both of my girls more than life itself and I cannot explain how I can love that much!!! Children are fascinating to me!! They ...

...I will thank You..." Today I am missing my Granny. I miss her really bad. She was our rock...the center of our family and today and everyday since January, she is missed. I miss our long talks on the phone. I miss being able to go to her house anytime because I knew she would always be there. I miss the sound of her giggle. I miss her telling me to eat whatever I want...I'm at Granny's house!!! I miss her rubbing my belly when I was pregnant with Lauren...the last time I saw her...I was pregnant with Lauren. She never got to meet my baby and Lauren will never know how special Granny thought she was...before she even knew her! I still have the row she crocheted that was supposed to be Lauren's baby blanket....she never got to finish it. I miss everything about her....everything. Happy Birthday my sweet Granny-bug! Happy Birthday.... "...for all that You've promised and all that You are. For all that has carried me through..." Happy Thanksgiv...

Ugh! The migraines...PLEASE STOP!!! You might recall all of my blogs from about two months ago regarding the headaches that I have. WELL, THEY ARE BACK IN FULL SWING!! I wake up most days with headaches and then this morning I had ANOTHER migraine!! I got out of the shower and realized that I couldn't see very well...the first sign that it is coming. Well, not too long, my head was hurting. It was the absolute worst migraine I have EVER had!!! I still have it but it has subsided some. I took four 200 mg Motrin and drank some caffeine...didn't help. Then, I got extremely nauseated. Not sure if it is because I didn't eat anything before taking the Motrin or if it was the headache causing the nausea...either way, I thought I was going to throw up..more than once. So....what does this mean? Good question! I think I will call the neurologist back and visit with him...sooner rather than later...about getting on Topamax. We have talked about this several times befor...

Lauren turned 8 months old on the 12th....yes, I am behind!! She now has 4 teeth...two on top and two on bottom, front and center. She is almost crawling and talks all of the time, yet doesn't say much...must take after her mommy! She weighs 20 lbs, 6 oz and I know this because we went to the doctor today. She has RSV!!!! She still acts fine but has been coughing for about 3 weeks and coughed all night long last night. So, this week's plans may change a little. She is still changing so much and it has been hard leaving her at daycare for the past several weeks while I take a couple of extra shifts at the hospital. This is something that I am going to have to get used to soon though because.... I HAVE ACCEPTED A FULL TIME JOB!!!! Yes, it's crazy, I know! You are probably asking yourself why in the world would I leave my children in someone else's care if I don't have to. Well, with all due respect, it is a decision that I didn't come about lightly and I ...

I am behind! I need to post about Rachel's birthday party and Lauren's 8 month post...but for now..... LOOK AT THIS PRECIOUS LITTLE ONE!!!!!! Welcome to the world Baby Grayson!!! He was born on Monday, November 16th at 4:47 PM weighing in at 7 pounds, 11 ounces, and was 20 1/4 inches long!!!! He is absolutely precious, as is the rest of his family and I love him so much already!!!

Oh. My. Word! Three years!!! I cannot believe it. It has been three years since my little baby girl was born. This time 3 years ago I was in the hospital, getting cytotec, getting ready to have my baby the next day. I was a bundle of nerves after being in the hospital for a week, I was finally having my first born daughter. I remember it like it was yesterday. You never gave me a day of morning sickness...but you made up for that at the end of my pregnancy! Labor was long and horrible but the end was amazing!! You were early but still big! I was nervous because I didn't have that immediate "I loved you from the first time I saw you" response but the first time I held you and kissed you, you were mine!! I could have kissed you for forever...but they wouldn't let me. They took you to the NICU and you stayed there. I went home from the hospital but you had to stay. ABSOLUTELY THE. HARDEST. DAY. OF. MY. LIFE!!! But that didn't last long! You came home ...

This past week....we have been sick...all of us! I agreed to work for all of last week and 4 days next week and the day after I agreed, Rachel got sick. Her tube in her left ear fell out and she has another ear infection!!! BAH!!! Then Saturday, Lauren developed a cough and Brice didn't feel well. Sunday, they were all 3 feeling pretty yucky so guess who got to stay home from church....YEP, ME! I felt great!! Brice's mom came down on Sunday to help me take care of the girls since they were sick, couldn't go to daycare, and I was supposed to work. She stayed until Thursday morning. I started feeling bad on Tuesday and it was really bad by Wednesday. I could barely talk. I continued to work...had no fever. Brice's grandmother got ill on Thursday morning and was put in the hospital with pnuemonia (please pray for her...she is 94 and illnesses like this can be really bad) so his mom had to leave kinda in a hurry to get back to Little Rock. The girls went to dayca...

I love my friends! I honestly have some of the best friends. Seriously! I have more than one best friend and I love it that way! I have many different people that I love in many different areas of my life. Many are still in Arkansas and I miss them dearly but I also have a lot of great friends here. I know that God brought us to GP and to IBC because I have made some of the best friends I have ever had. Girls that I would do ANYTHING for. Heather is one of those people! She is almost 38 weeks pregnant with her 2nd precious baby boy and I could not be happier for her and Joel...and Big Brother Josiah. Baby Grayson Joel will be here soon and I can't wait to meet the new addition to an already adorable and godly family. Joel is the youth minister at my church. My two best friends are staff wives and even though Brice isn't on staff, I sometimes feel like he is! =) I am secretly hoping that Grayson comes this next week while I am at work. I am sure Heather wouldn...

Here are some more pictures from Trunk or Treat..... This is Justin - my cousin's baby...he was a yard gnome...I think he looked like one of the 7 dwarves! =) Josiah the kangaroo and Rachel Chelsea the pretty princess and Rachel

I am really afraid that if I don't sit down and do a "summary" of the rest of our trip, you will never get the rest of it!! So, this post might be long but I am going to try to tell you about the remainder of our trip.... DAY 3 (Tuesday) This was a rest day. We stayed at our condo and hung out all day. Brice's mom and I went to an outlet mall and had time to go to one store..Gymboree Outlet. She bought a bunch of ADORABLE clothes for the girls for Christmas. That evening we went to Downtown Disney mainly to go shopping and to let Rachel see the things made out of Legos. DAY 4 (Wednesday) We went to Animal Kingdom first (my least favorite) and then went to Magic Kingdom. Rachel really like Animal Kingdom. It really is like the best zoo ever even though they pride themselves on not calling it a zoo....I decided to put the girls in their Halloween attire this day...no reason in particular.... We went to the Finding Nemo stage show and Rachel really liked that. W...