Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Yeah Yeah! I know it is a few days late, but better late than never right? Ellie has been sick again. She has another double ear infection and another infection around her eye. We went to the doctor and saw a nurse practitioner who I swear is way better than the doctors. We got to talking about Ellie and it came up that she is American Indian. Well apparently American Indians are prone to ear infections due to their facial structure, so we have to go back in 2 weeks to have her ears rechecked to make sure the infection is gone, to it is on to the ENT.

On Sunday Dan and I took a trip to the beach for a few days to celebrate our anniversary. It was a nice break, and hopefully an annual tradition. It was a wonderful time to go to the beach because there was hardly anyone there.


We had a wonderful Christmas. I love seeing the girls open up their present, but this year was especially fun. Madison has been talking about bunkbeds for a while, so we broke down and got them for her this Christmas. It was really hard keeping her out of her room for 2 days, but we did and it was worth all the fussing. She woke up Christmas morning and I told her to go in her room and see if Ellie was awake yet. The reaction was priceless. We can't keep her out of her room now, and the girls get to share a room which she has always wanted. We really had a nice time with all of our family and friends, and we hope you did also. Remember who this Holiday season is all about our Lord Jesus Christ.

And we have Lift off

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and are so grateful that both of our families are here and we get to spend time with both on the Holidays. We had lunch at my parents and dinner at my Dan's parents and it was such a fun day. My mom talked me into going to Walmart at 2:30 for Black Friday. Lets justsay it was probably my last experience. We did get some really good deals on toys, so I guess it was worth it.

Over the last few weeks we have been waiting for Ellie to take off. She has been standing on her own and takes a step every now and then. Well she has finally decided to walk. She has had an eye infection for a few weeks. We though it was just allergies until it got really bad this last week, so she went to the doctor. They gave us their best guess as to what it is and told it was probably contagious (which after 3 weeks no one else has got it). She is on antibiotics and will hopefully be better over the weekend.

Meanwhile while waiting for Ellie to walk, Dan was training for his first 5k. He ran in the Greensboro Gobbler on Thanksgiving morning and did really well. We were there to support him the whole way, and very proud of daddy. By the way, Madison's favorite part of the race was the huge tubs of oreos they had (she snuck a few).

One Year Ago Today

It all started on my way to work, I received a phone call from our social worker asking us if we would like our profile to be shown to a birth mother. There were issues with the baby and the birth mother that I won't get in to, but Dan and I talked and decided to let God take control and if this was our child then the birth mother would pick us. I called the social worker back around 2pm and said to show our profile and let us know the outcome. Well little did I know the birth mother had already chosen us to parent her baby girl. We had 2 hours to accept her, and of course we prayed and felt like God was giving us this opportunity. We were then told we could pick her up the next morning. Yes. we had 14 hours to prepare for a baby we had no idea about.

Ellie turned one this past Saturday (November 7th). Yes this year has been very difficult, but I would not change it for the world. God has bought this special little girl into our life and I can not imagine life without her. I thank God she had birth parents who were willing to give her a better life, and I pray for them everyday.

Here are some pictures from Ellie's first birthday as well as some we had done of the girls together.

Mountains, Bees and Bat Girl Oh My!

Whew! It has been a very busy couple of weeks. I have been wanting to go see the leaves in the mountains so badly for years, and every year something always comes up and we can't go. Well this year my wonderful husband planned a surprise trip to Grandfather Mountain with just the two of us. My parents kept the kids and we went hiking in the mountains. The only problem was it was cold and rainy, so even though half way up the mountain my husband was about thrown off the mountains, it was a really nice trip. I am so amazed at the beauty god creates with the colors of the leaves. It truly takes my breath away and is by far my most favorite time of year.

Madison has wanted to be Bat Girl for Halloween for the last three years, so this year i broke down and let her be what she wanted. Last year she was really sick, so we didn't really get to do much, so I figured this would be her first year to really get into Halloween and enjoy it. I have to admit she was one cut Bat Girl. Ellie was the cutest Bumble bee I have ever seen. It was a long day and Ellie was getting really fussy, so Madison and I ran Ellie and daddy home, and decided to go trick-or-treating with Nana and Jaden. This was her first real Trick-or-Treat experience. She had so much fun, and got some really good candy too I must add. Now it is on to another busy week as it is Ellie's birthday week!

Wedding Time

This weekend was Dan's cousins wedding, which he was a groomsman in. We were looking forward to a weekend of celebrating with our family and friends we have not seen in a while. Of course, on Saturday morning it all changed. Ellie usually gets op around 7-7:30, well by 8:30 she wasn't awake so we woke her up. She would not eat or drink and went right back to sleep. We got her up an hour later to take her to Soccertots for Madison, and as soon as we got home she went to sleep. When she got up her fever was 104.6. WE had rehearsal dinner that night and which we took her to. She was only awake for about 3 hours the whole day. Her fever continued on Sunday, so Monday I took her to see the doctor. She has a viral infection, and blisters all over her throat. She has ate hardly nothing the last three days, and tonight her fever has gone back up to 102 again. Anyways, hopefully this will pass soon and none of us will get it.

I did take the kids to the reception (kids were not allowed at the wedding). It was really good to see some old high school friends and family we have not seen in a while. The food was really good and the wedding was set up beautifully. It was at revolution mills which has been done up really nice. Here are a few pics of our weekend. Ellie didn't get in too many pics because she was not feeling good, which stunk because I wanted a good family picture.

"My Mom" According to my 4 1/2 year old

I found this funny little quiz about moms that your kids are supposed to give answers to the questions. Well here is what my Madison had to say about me.

1. Why did God make Mommy's?

Cause he wanted to make people, and because Jesus have to. Because he made the whole world.

2. What are Mommy's made of?

People

3. Why did God give you your Mommy and not some other Mommy?

Because he made one house for us

4. What kind of little girl was your Mommy?
A sister, you like to play

5. What is the difference between Mommy's and Daddy's?

You get sick and yell

6. What is something your Mommy always says to you?

Sorry give me a hug bye bye

7. What makes Mommy happy?

A toy, a cat

8. How old is your Mommy?

probably 4 or 5 oh wait 10 because you are bigger

9. What does your Mommy do when you are not around?

Play games on the tv

10. What is your Mommmy really good at?

At a game. The games on the big tv

11. If your Mommy where a cartoon character who would she be?

Teen Titan so you can fight

12. What is your Mommy's favorite place to go?

To eat at Monterrays

I just love what my kids think of me :)

Prayer Request

I don't know much about this story, but it really touched me. There is a little baby boy named Matthew in Ellie's class at school who has just lost his mother. He is only 12 weeks old, and from what I understand he was born 2 months premature. She had a stroke last week at the age of 32, and passed away after being pulled off life support. Thankfully, she did get to meet her new son, and take care of him for a while. From what I understand the doctors believe she had a blood clot during birth which inturn caused the stroke. I also believe she is a single mother. So, please keep this family in your prayers. Matthew was at school today and it really breaks your heart to go in that room and see that little boy, and know he isn't going to have his mother around. He is in good hands as his grandmother and uncle are taking very good care of him.

Beach Trip 2009

We made the trip down to Ocean Isle Beach for a week this past week. Dan had to stay back to work, so it was my parents with all the grand kids and me. We had a blast. This is the first time in years I have been able to spend a whole week at the beach. It was such a nice week, no rain and, it was not hot. Plus we had a pool. This was Ellie's first beach trip, and lets just say we didn't spend much time on the beach with her. If she wasn't eating a fistful of sand, she was screaming her head off because she hated the ocean. We spent a lot of time in the pool, she absolutely loved the swimming pool.
Dan got to come join us on Friday, so we drove to Myrtle Beach and spent the day shopping. I have to say one thing I miss at the mall is the Disney Store, the kids loved it. On our way home, we stopped at the outlets in Myrtle Beach. and Dan went off chasing my nephew and heard a "kerplunk", and Madison had fallen into the fountain. It was hilarious! Anyway, it was a really good week. Here are just a few highlights.

Sea foam made from the hurriacane. They loved palying in the bubbles!A friend in Myrtle Beach got us into an awesome water park!

Sleepless nights ahead for us!

Ellie and Madsion riding in the Barbie jeep

Madison has had a croupy cough for about 2 weeks, and Friday night she was so restless and screaming her ear hurt. Finally we got some Motrin in her and kicked daddy out of the room and got a little sleep. Saturday we woke up and Madison was completely fine, we had a good shopping trip to Burlington ( I must say I LOVE Peaches N Cream). We get home and go to bed only to wake up to her screaming her other ear hurt, GREAT! we got about 3 hours of sleep Saturday night. Of course, we wake up Sunday and she is fine. I decided maybe we need to see a doctor on Monday. We of course can't get an appointment until late in the afternoon, and BINGO double ear infection. Now the cough we are not sure what it is. She has no congestion or another cold symptoms. It could be asthma another GREAT! So, we are on antibiotic for the ear infection and possible whopping cough, and no to make it all better Albuterol. Which I am told turns your kids in to monsters. So please pray we adjust to her being on albuterol.

In Ellie news - this is what we woke up to the other morning.

Yes Ellie is now pulling her self up and standing. She is growing up way too fast.

4th of July

We came back from vacation a day early so we could take the kids to the fireworks. This was of course Ellie's first ,and Madison has not been in a couple of years. Last year Dan's grandfather passed away, so we didn't get to go and the year before we were on vacation. They both did really good. Ellie was not scared a bit and watched about half of the fireworks and then fell asleep. Here are a couple of pictures of our little sparklers!

Summer

WHEW! It has been a while. This summer has been so busy that my little blog has been forgotten. Dan was gone for a week in June, and it totally through me off being a single mother for a week with 2 kids. WOW! that was not easy.

I quit my job at Polliwogs so I can be home more during the day. Working those long hours were just too much and I wanted to be with my babies and spend time with my husband this summer since he is off. It really is a fun place to work, but 8 hours days is a lot when you have to come home to two little ones. I will be working at the girl's preschool 2 days a week for the summer.

Last week we went to Smith Mountain Lake for a week with my family. I LOVE the mountains. It is so peaceful and relaxing, and we just had the best time. Here are some pictures from vacations.

First and Last Day of Preschool

Today was Ellie's first day of preschool. I decided to put her in school two morning a week just to give me a break (actually she will only be going one day a week since I now work at the preschool on Friday with her). I was so upset when Madison went her first day, but with Ellie it was some what of a relief. I just felt like I needed one morning a week to take Madison out with just her and no crying baby. We had a blast today I took her shopping and let her get some new pajamas and we just had fun together. I forgot to take a picture of her on our way to her first day this morning, but obviously she had fun because this is when we got home.

Each year at the end of the school year the little ones put on a show for the parents. IT was so cute this year, but sad. Madison's class did their performance along with the graduating 4 year olds. I realized that next year it will be my baby walking across the stage graduating preschool. She is growing up to fast. I could not get my videos to upload for some reason, but here are a few pictures.

Daddy's Kids Cuisines

For preschool this year, Madison received a little "yearbook" from her teachers. The title was Kid's Cooking" In it were pictures of all her friends, and they asked each kid "what is the best thing you mom/dad cook and how do they cook it?" This was what Miss Madison had to say:

"Daddy goes to the store and buys 10 Kid's Cuisines. They go in the refrigerator. He uses a microwave. He picks out the dinner I eat. I like nuggets best with corn, pudding, and spaghetti. It cooks for a ling time and stops. He has to turn it on again. When it stops, it's done and I eat it hot."

Some of these responses are so funny. I know this is a book we will keep forever.