A renewal

This time last week I was searching for answers. Thanks to a great friend and mentor I made good decisions. I've decided to minimize Facebook time, be open about my feelings, beliefs,and not give up. It's hard to follow the narrow road, but it will all be worth it one day.
I am making positive changes and challenge you to do the same. Be kind to a stranger, call and old friend to say hello and let your family know how much they mean to you.
I'm constantly learning about myself and sharing this life with Jason and our boys is a blessing.

Prayers

I have so much to be thankful for this year. The first Thanksgiving with #4, Drew, healthy children, my husband and his job, my newest passion, sign language, and overall a really blessed life.

Today I ask for some prayers. First for my beautiful niece, Vada who will eventually need open heart surgery around January or February. She will be 4 or 5 months old. That she continues to grow and flourish until she can have the surgery to make her heart whole. Second for my mom. She has lost feeling in one leg and foot and is starting to affect her other leg. She's been dealing with a painful back and back problems for the last 10 years. She will see a neurosurgeon after Thanksgiving and I hope they can find a solution to help her feel better and be able to walk again. It's been a long 2-3 weeks since she first lost feeling and it's continued to be painful despite numerous doctor's visits, xrays, and an MRI.

If I could be there for these 2 girls in my life to help them feel better I would. I can't wait to see Vada in January (and my sister, JoJo, and Fritz) and hope that I can see my mom soon.

Jackson's Birthday

When our lives changed forever: 11/10/2006
Now, he's 5. What a great blessing and big brother he his.

The Pumpkin Patch

Jackson's Tball pictures

Jackson was on the A's tball team this season. Jason was the head coach. These are some pictures from his last game!

Here are a few pictures of the boys after the game enjoying their snacks:

After snacks, we were awarded trophies for "Sportsmanship"! Way to go A's.

Summer is here!

It's been too long since my last post. I'm trying to do better. Since March, Drew has been doing great, Jackson started playing tball, and I went back to work part-time. Here are some pics of what we've been up to.

Easter with Jason's brother and his family:

Drew trying out some baby food:

Some crafts I made for Liz's graduation (choc covered oreo cakesters) and end of the year teacher gifts (goody bags with hershey's kisses & hugs chocolates):

Glad To Be Home

We had quite a spring break. Let me tell you about the week leading up to it. Jackson and Brayden both came home the Tuesday before Spring Break sick. Jackson with fever and Brayden with a terrible virus. So after both home for that week from MDO, we went into another week at home for Spring Break. It would have been fine, but on Friday, Jackson started with "the virus" and Brayden, Drew, & I all started a terrible cough. By Monday, Drew & Brayden had fever. We went to the doctor on Tuesday and were sent home. Brayden tested negative for the flu so they assumed we all had the same respiratory virus. Wednesday, Drew just seemed to be struggling too much for my comfort so I took him to Cook Children's Pediatric Urgent Care in Hurst. Once they finally called us back for his vitals, we were rushed to a room and he was immediately put on oxygen. Come to find out, he had an ear infection and influenza with secondary bacterial pneumonia (most likely Mycoplasma pneumonia). He was transported by ambulance to Cook Children's hospital where we spent the next week.

He was such a trooper. Only cried when putting in the IV after the 2nd try. :( I just felt terrible for him. Here are some pictures from his stay in the hospital. You can tell when he starts to feel better. He loved getting his breathing treatments and was even caught holding the mask when the Respiratory Therapist was there. They also did CPT (chest physio therapy) where they "beat" on his chest and back to loosen the mucus in his lungs from the pneumonia. He was the best patient and all the nurses, doctors, and paramedics loved our boy!

While we were in the hospital, Brayden was also diagnosed with pneumonia and I was treated for walking pneumonia as well. The only two to not get it was Jackson, who was already on antibiotics for his ear infection, and Jason. Thankfully, my mom came up right away to helpSave Now keep the house going while I stayed at the hospital. Jason did a great job taking care of the boys also. Needless to say, it was a spring break we won't forget. We are all home and doing much better.