Wow

Can I take a moment to be completely proud of the fact that the above child is MINE? This is her first grade picture. I think it turned out amazing and it seems her cute little personality just shines right through in it. Of course the older she gets, the more I see a rebellious kid that tries to test her boundaries, but this picture reminds me of the sweet angel that she truly is deep inside. I ♥ you Ariel Brooke! No matter how big for your britches and mouthy you get or how much we butt heads and argue, one thing is certain, I will ALWAYS love you!! And this goes for all three of my gorgeous, precious angels!!

Where do you think you're going

2009? I mean seriously is it already mid October? Really? *sigh*

That means in 4 months Emmalyn will officially be 2! It can't be. I swear.

All of my girls have gained a super human power to just grow faster than my mind is even able to process. Ariel is going to be 7. Clarity just turned 4. What?!

I hate to admit it but I am having an urge to have one more baby. Not anytime soon.. just sometime in life. Of course, I snap myself back into reality. I am blessed with the three most amazing, beautiful girls in the world. I'm not lacking anything. I guess I'm just sad to realize they are going to grow up and that they are, in fact, growing up. Everyday.

I need to post some pictures of my princesses. They bring me so much joy ♥

Can we please

Ship these two idiots to an island and not hear anything from either of them anymore? I used to think they were such a great family. The whole "Jon and Kate plus 8" was a cute show. Until they became so wrapped up in money and themselves and turned their adorable little brood into a circus sideshow. I feel for the kids, I really do. But yeah I'm totally over Jon and Kate. I don't really feel sorry for either one of the money hungry fame whores. lol.

September... really?!

Is it just me or is 2009 flying by at a rediculous rate? I mean it seems like summer just got here, and it's already leaving. A part of me is sad. Okay make that a BIG part of me is sad. I love summer. I love tshirts, shorts, flip flops, tank tops, not having to warm up the car in the mornings, letting the kids run outside like wild ones, going on hikes, grilling out...you get the picture. I am a summertime girl. I am not looking forward to it getting cold, not wanting to crawl out of my warm bed, worrying about flu bugs, the kids going stir crazy having to stay in the house... ugh. Not looking forward to it. Not one single bit. Can't we slow time just a little?

I did buy some Febreeze Pumpkin Spice air freshener to get into a fall mood. I told Jesse last night I'm a total freak. I have to change my air freshener with the seasons. I can't spray summery scents in the fall/winter and I can't spray fall scents in the spring/summer. Talk about a weird quirk. Am I the only one like that?

Here is some good news: I HAVE A JOB!! woohoo!! After a nearly 2 year long job search and applying at more places than I can count, I am able to go to work. Right now I'm working as a temporary at Staples. But the good news is they said they'll more than likely keep some of the temps, and the managers seem really happy with me, so hopefully I'll be a keeper! lol. It feels so nice to actually feel like I'm going to be contributing financially. And it seems to be helping my sanity as well. Don't get me wrong, I ADORE my children. I love them more than anything but me being with them 24/7 takes a toll on all of us. Now I go to work and I MISS them and can't wait to get home. When I do my heart is just warm and fuzzy and I just love up on them. I've missed that feeling sooo much!! I'm not as snappy with them. I need the time away from home to make me appreciate it that much more, if that makes any sense.

Other than that, the only other news is the kids have been sick. I had to take miss Emmalyn to the doctor last week because she was scaring me to death. Her breathing was super fast and you could hear her grunt and wheeze and struggle. She tested negative for any flu, strep, and RSV (very good news) so it was just some virus making things hard. I now own a nebulizer as they did an office treatment and it helped so she got prescribed some albuterol. We only had to do one treatment at home, and she kicked her bug for the most part. Thank God. She really hates those treatments. Having to hold a mask over an 18 month old and keep her still for 10 minutes.. makes her quite pissed. lol.

And so that's what's new here. Life is flying by and changing always...but I guess that's life :o)

Picture Time!

The new house!

She just keeps getting bigger (and more beautiful by the minute)! So full of personality!

My sweet and too cute Clarity, she reminds me of a trucker in this pic! lol

And here is my beautiful girl on picture day. First grade. where does time go?

Remember Me?

Hmmm? Probably not. I know, I'm like Mrs. Invisible or something like that. I am around. I just play on Facebook too much and don't update my blog as I should. I need to make my blog a priority. I worked too hard on it to just abandon it.

So what's new here?

We're here in Hendersonville and so far, so good! Ariel has been a first grader for nearly a month now. Seriously. When we first moved here, I was dead set on sending her to this school that's about a 15 minute drive away just to spare her from going into a classroom three weeks behind her peers and not knowing anyone. You see the school we are in district for is on a year round schedule. They go to school for about 3 months and get a 3 week break then they get the month of June off as the transition period between grades. So when we got here, school had already been in session for about three weeks. As chance would have it, she did not get into that school I had wanted her to (that was on a normal schedule and actually starts tomorrow). There was a waiting list so she ended up going in late. And you know what? It's probably the best thing that could have happened! She adjusted so well (she's already gotten a good citizen sheet). She made friends easily, jumped right in with the school work and is just doing fabulous! We did have a bit of a scare as I found out her school is the one and only school in this county that has a confirmed case (or cases) of swine flu. But they have been diligent in teaching the kids proper hygiene, sanitizing, and there's an urgent care center on site with a full time RN and PA so if any kid shows signs, they are tested right there and sent home for at least a week. So, I feel more at ease about it.

We're loving the house. Our neighbor is nutty as hell... but that's not even worth my time venting about. I'd much rather forget her crazy ass. lol.

Other than that, busy, busy, busy. Jesse is hoping to move to another job, he just has to wait for a vacancy and then he's in (that's pretty much what the supervisor at the new place has said) so fingers crossed that happens soon. I just got a phone call today and I have an interview with Staples on Monday. Hopefully I can get some work going. Oh to have income! It would be such a blessing!

We're still not Powerball winners.. but we hold hope. LOL.

The girls.. growing, growing, growing. Pics to come!

We're very happy. Times are hard but God knows, we are so blessed.

Holy Cow!

I am such a neglectful blogger. Terrible!

So it looks like I need to do another speed round of updates!

We are moving... again. No we are not nomads. We don't move for fun but life threw us a curve ball. Ours plus my parent's rental homes got foreclosure notices just mere months after we moved into them. Nice, hey! I was stressed and totally freaking out but GOD works all things out. We just found the "perfect" home for us two days ago. After posting my second "housing needed" ad on Craigslist a man contacted me about a home he had. Turns out it's everything we wanted and needed... and we were the only people he contacted about it! We sign the lease tomorrow and start moving in this weekend. It's going to be a busy couple of days here! Mom, dad and Patrick will be moving with us but it should be heaps easier this time. There are enough rooms for us all. Plus it's just gorgeous. I don't see how any of us could be unhappy there.

Oh yeah, it's in Hendersonville. So a bit of a move (about an hour) but we're excited and looking forward to the change! This should be the last move for a while as we're signing a two year lease and we have hopes of maybe doing a rent to own type deal down the line. We shall see!

I would love to say that Ariel has had a busy, non-stop fun summer but not really so. We have taken her hiking and to Ghost Town in Maggie Valley with friends but other than that and a few trips to the park, nothing major. I'm really hoping to hop in the car and take a trip to Carowinds in Charlotte soon. I swear next year we're getting season passes. Another plus to moving to Hendersonville? Charlotte is only an hour and a half away. Woohoo!

The girls are growing like weeds. I'll post pictures soon.

But for now, I have to pack and clean as this place won't do it by itself.

Have a blessed day, week, month, year, life :o)

A Video Clip From Ariel's Graduation... awwww

You'll have to excuse the shakiness... Clarity kept grabbing at my legs. If you listen *really* closely, you can hear me whisper to her to stop shaking me. LOL.

It's Been Way Too Long

I've completely missed blogging! I'm not sure why I haven't lately. So let's get to the nitty gritty of what's been going on.

Ariel graduated Kindergarten!!! Woohoo!!! It was such a cute ceremony and she did wonderful (I had to MAKE her go though. She threw up the night before. But she went in late the next day since she was playing Nintendo DS and laughing, I figured she could go to school). I'm so glad she did. I wouldn't have wanted to miss that milestone!

My car is in the shop (it won't be done for a couple of days because a seal we bought was the wrong one... Thank you Toyota Dealer! Glad you know your own cars!). So the mechanic ordered another and it will be a few days before it comes in and I get my car back. My washing machine has also decided to be a pain in the arse and leak all over the floor (is machinery out to get me?!). Jesse can't fix it. It's always something! Just have to keep looking on the bright side and trusting God to see us through all of this. Still hoping we win the lottery or I get a good job... or something amazing happens.

But I guess something amazing happens everyday. I have 3 gorgeous girls, a great husband and family. We're blessed enough to have a roof over our heads and food to eat. So for that, I am just so thankful to GOD. I know one day this financial mess over our heads will end. I just hope and pray and wish it happens sooner than later.

And now for my newest fun thing to do online : Twitter. How did I end up adding yet something else to my plate? Well because I can follow awesome people like the New Kids (you know my ♥ for those guys) and Peter Facinelli (Carlisle on Twilight). I haven't had any personal tweets from any of them, but I still hold hope. Jesse laughs at me because something so simple like that would make my day. Maybe I should be embarrassed. But I'm not.

Well I really should go and do dishes and clean up. We've been going through the girls' clothes (and *gasp* I'm actually donating some of them. If you know me you know my girls' clothes are super sentimental, so this is hard, but if a kid that needs help during these times gets them, that will make it all worth it for me). We're also donating toys. I guess you can say we're "summer" cleaning instead of spring cleaning.

And that's the latest here. I know, I'm just sooo interesting you can't stop reading! lol. So if you read all of that, thank you and congratulations (sorry I don't have a prize to give you). Are you still reading? Seriously? hello? :o)

Answered Prayers

God hears our prayers. He does. He answers them according to HIS plans and not our own. That's sometimes a hard thing to accept. Especially today. Gorgeous Kayleigh Anne Freeman passed away last night. I have been praying daily. Praying for a miracle. That God would heal her and that she would be able to go home. Of course as I prayed these prayers, I was praying for this to happen in the physical world. I know there are thousands and thousands of people that were praying for the same thing. Those who don't believe in GOD would think our prayers went unheard. No. Not at all. God heard every.single.prayer.

Kayleigh is healed and she is HOME. Jesus took her tiny, worn out body and gave her a new one. He wrapped his arms around her and took her to live with him. Prayers were answered.

Not the way we would have liked for them to be. I would have loved for her to have been healed here. I would have loved for her to go home and live with her mommy and daddy. But God is God and has his reasons for everything. That wasn't to be. We are all crying and praying for her family. That God wraps his arms around them and comforts them and gets them through this. And he will. God is faithful and loving.

Kayleigh is free from all pain. She is whole. She is in paradise. When it's time for her loved ones to go home... she will be one of the ones to greet them with hugs and smiles.

That is the comfort I hold on to during times like these.

Tears have fallen. A lot of tears. Kayleigh is loved and will always be. She will always be cherished and remembered. Greif is selfish. We cry and hurt because we wish they were with US. If we only knew how happy and blessed she is. If we could only get a glimpse of the paradise she is living now... we wouldn't want her to be brought back. She wouldn't want to come either!

She is perfect!

My Very First Not Me Monday!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.


Well first of all I have to say, I did not and I repeat, I did not somehow drive up onto a railroad tie while waiting in the car line to pick my daughter up from school. I mean seriously who would do that? You follow the person in front of you and don't go over 5 mph. So it wasn't me that did that and honked the horn on the way of getting off the thing to boot! Never! That would be way embarrassing and I feel for the poor soul that happened to!

I also did not forget we parked in front of a sidewalk at Wal-Mart. I did not think I could just "pull through" because the spot in front of me was empty. I did not get fussed at by my husband for trying to tear up the car. That wasn't me!

I was not completely lazy this Monday and left my two younger ones in sleepers the entire day. I did not take them out of the house just like that to pick up my oldest from school. I also did not allow my neighbors to see this complete laziness! No way!

I did not watch my one year old peel off her diaper and pee in the floor and I absolutely did not giggle about it. I also will not admit that I haven't shampoo'd that spot in the carpet yet. That would be disgusting. lol.

I have not spent most of my days that I should be cleaning and organizing playing on Facebook or reading blogs or chatting on message boards. I am more time efficient than that so that couldn't be moi!

What kinds of things have you NOT done this week?

You know what I love

I love to make people laugh. Most of the times that consists of my hubby and kids... but there are also some girls online that I can get the giggles out of..sometimes. I made a post today on a message board and I had some girls tell me they literally laughed out loud (at my expense. Of course. But does that matter?). I'll tell you the fact that they laughed, even though it was at one of my embarrassing experiences (I seem to have those frequently), made me smile.

So I am going to share this story. Maybe, just maybe, you'll laugh too. If you do, let me know! Because that makes me happy. And you know what? I like to be happy. It's fun!

Before I begin my story, let me give a bit of background. My drama queen (I mean precious) daughter, Ariel goes to a great school. They are big on safety. If you pick up your kids, you have to wait in the car line (or park and walk up and get them yourself but then usually you still have to wait in the car line to leave as the traffic flows one way and there's a lot of it).
Anyways, once you get up there, the teacher puts the child in your car to be sure it is YOU picking them up. So this is what I mean in my story when I say car line.

Following? I hope so.

Here's the story:

So yesterday I'm in the "car line". Usually the wait to get up to where your child is can be 15 to 20 minutes depending on where you get in the car line. Towards the back, obviously your wait is longer. Unfortunately I fell in the middle somewhere. I would have LOVED to have been the last car... less witnesses.

I can't tell you *exactly* what happened. I'd like to say it was because I didn't have sunglasses on and maybe the glare of the sun on the back window of the Subaru in front of me kept me from realizing what I was doing. But I don't know. Maybe I was daydreaming and wasn't paying attention. Maybe I'm stupid. Whatever the reason, I was snapped back into reality when my car, going around a turn to loop around to the entrance, started climbing one of the railroad ties that line the side of the parking lot. Yes, going 5 mph and following the car in front of me, I managed to pull off this embarrassing fiasco. So immediately I correct myself. Not only are the people behind me seeing my car ride up on a railroad tie (which NEVER should have happened, I mean honestly), my arm hits the horn as I'm trying to get the front of my car back on the pavement. It was like my car was saying, "HONK! HONK! Look at us! The driver is a moron!". My face burned red but thankfully that's all that came of that. I could have damaged my car! I didn't dare look in my review mirror to see any faces. I'm sure they either had a total look of confusion as to how I pulled that off, or they were laughing. I know I was laughing. I think I was hoping to convince people, "oh I meant to do that". I'm just glad we hadn't made it to where teachers or *gasp* Ariel could see my stunt. To think if that had been the case. I can't imagine!

My Spirit is willing

but my flesh is weak.

I have so much to do. So, so, so much to do.

Yet I'm tired. My baby is laying on my bed in a sound, peaceful sleep.

I want to lay down with her. I want to sleep, too.

But I have a ton to do.

I better get off the darn computer and finish up.

On her way

Ariel got her kindergarten graduation pictures in today. I have to admit I got teary eyed reading this one. Where does time go?

*note.. ahem I guess my scanner had some crud on it...*

Tears, Tears, and More Tears

They did a test on Stellan to try to bring back SVT (he had a 35% chance of it happening)... and he went back in and they had a hard time getting him out of it. He's out of it (Thank God) and the doctors and his mama are going to go over where to go from here. I can't stop crying!

Prayers for Kayleigh

When I'm having those moments of feeling sorry for myself for whatever reason... I am gently reminded that there are those who are dealing with so much more than I am. Such as kayleigh's parents. You can click on the above image to be taken to her blog & read her story. Long story short she was born very premature weighing only a pound. She has weathered every storm and been in the hospital for 10 months. She gained weight, went through surgeries, and was well on her way home (when the doctors said she had no chance in the beginning). Unfortunately, this morning, something has happened. They think she may be braid dead. My heart is torn apart for her parents. They are strong in their faith in God, which helps because either way they know God will take care of them. But still this is absolutely devestating to them. So prayers are being lifted up. God will do his will. He knows if Kayleigh will survive yet another storm or go to be with him. He knows the outcome of this. We're all praying she shows these earthly doctors another miracle but if not, we pray that God gives her family strength and wraps his love around them.

I was having a bad day but now my thoughts are focused elsewhere. Even though I am worried about finances and finding a job... God knows the outcome of this, too. So I will keep saying my prayers and lay this at his feet. He will take care of everything. It may not be how and when we would like for him to, but his plans are the best for us. We just need to keep talking to him and take life as it comes. And always remember there are others that are having bad (or horrible or even the worst day of their lives)... and keep them lifted in prayer as well.

One of those Days...

I'm having one of those days where you have to force yourself to be happy. I hate those days. I don't have a miserable life, not by a long shot, but some days things just get to me and I feel down. I have prayed and asked God to help me with this down feeling & it is working. Jesse came home for a bit (which he never does) and that helped my mood a little. So God is at work on my heart. My main issue is I want a job... actually one particular job where I could work from home nearly 40 hours a week. I put in my resume and I'm playing that waiting game (but not holding my breath because I might possibly die if I do). I'm going to follow up on it Friday or Monday. I hate wanting something so badly and knowing it's a long shot. I keep praying. That's all I can do. I NEED a job. God knows this and he'll provide somehow. I have faith in that. I just wish I knew when & how. But I guess that's where faith steps in. I have to trust him and his ways. Stellan is still here... after having a 5% chance of living when he was only 20 weeks in the womb... and now he's 6 months old... that just goes to show that with God... even long shots happen.

Look What I Got Today

note: If you click on the picture it will enlarge. Ariel's wearing the black and white shirt and she has the "frizzy" hair she says. lol. It was raining that day, what can I say? Her hair has a mind of its own sometimes :o)

AMAZING NEWS!!!

The latest update on Stellan : Praise GOD he survived the surgery! No details yet but his mama posted that he was in recovery (still intubated). The surgery was much longer than they had planned and the one update we got that said his lungs and tissues were filled with fluid scared me, but GOD has let him pull through. They are nowhere near out of the woods yet and time will tell but when I saw the news that he made it out of surgery... that news alone, put me in tears.


The above is something I emailed to Stellan's mama. Today was a day to wear orange in Stellan's honor and to show support. We don't have a lot of orange around here, so I threw something together. Hundreds & hundreds of pics of people wearing orange and showing their support are all over her blog. It's really something to see!

But anyhow.. so far all the love & prayers are working so what shall we do?

Keep praying! Always praying....

A down day

I'm feeling blah today. So much is going on & my mind and heart are racing. Stellan (again this baby I don't even know personally) is in surgery. A risky surgery. Prayers are going up from literally across the globe. We have fallen in love with this little guy & we just want him to LIVE. The latest twitter update.. he's been in surgery for over 3 hours and the only bit of info his mom has gotten: there's a lot of fluid in his lungs and tissues.

The waiting is agony for me... I can't even fathom how it must feel to be in her shoes. Yet she is in a place in her relationship with GOD that she TRUSTS he will do what's best. We're all praying for Stellan to live and be healed, but only the Lord knows what is going to happen. He has a plan and we just have to trust that. It's hard. I'm not sure if it were one of my girls going through this that I would have such a faith. I'd probably be a horrible mess of emotions and not such a good witness for Christ. Jennifer (Mckmama) has taken this troubling time in her life to reach out to others and let them know God's love for them. wow. Simply wow.

I long for a relationship with the father...just like that. I will strive for it.

There are a lot of other things on my mind right now... but it pales in comparison to what they are going through. So I will take this time to just ask one thing. Pray for Stellan. pray for that family. Simply put.. just pray.