A Successful First Day

All the kids were sent off yesterday morning with new backpacks, tennis shoes, freshly sharpened pencils and prayers for a great first day of school.  Sophie Kate is back with her preschool class for one more year, Grey is in 1st grade, Jacob is in 4th grade and Cooper starts middle school (6th grade).

Cooper's at a new school with multiple lockers (one for books, PE and band), lots of different teachers and changing classes.  He seems fine with all the changes.  I feel like I'm anxious enough for both of us.

Everyone reported a good first day.  They all liked seeing their friends again and we have great teachers across the board.  Jacob came home beaming telling us there is another kid in his class with a hearing aid!  Jacob gets his hearing aid next week and seems to be feeling better and better about it.  Sophie Kate was all smiles in the pictures her teacher sent out from their first day.  Cooper seems to have the "golden touch" for opening those temper-mental middle school lockers and Grey has declared that the first day was fun but he doesn't really need to go back, oh dear.  

No one had homework on the first day so that right there was enough to make a good day even better.  Day one has been deemed a success!!

A Waiting Room at Children's

Sitting in a waiting room at Children's Hospital doesn't usually get to me much these days.  Between Sophie Kate and Jacob, I have logged way more hours than my fair share or their fair share.  In fact, the clinic we found ourselves in this week usually has quite a few kids like SK in the waiting room...but not that day.  

We walk in to a full waiting room and as I quickly scan the area, I find no other children in wheelchairs, no children with walkers and no children showing any outward and obvious signs of CP.  It is an orthopedic doctor after all and it looks like we have been scheduled with the broken bones brigade, lots of children with casts on ankles, arms and such.  I feel the stares of both children and their parents, but keep my head straight forward and focused on my task. I hear the conversations around me.  People asking each other how old their children are and the purpose of their visits.  I hear someone say "She's four," and hope the folks around me don't see my eyes dart over to the little girl that's the same age as my SK.  I quickly look away like I don't care and it's really no big deal, even though it is.  All the while I am wondering...where are all our "friends" today? 

Children's is the only place where I feel like we don't stick out so much.  We know people there and they know us...but not on that day. 

Then I see that smile that is as bright as sunshine and I know that's where my focus should be.  Together we have logged a lot of time in waiting rooms and she has always handled it so much better than me...always smiling.

Thanks for checking in us.  

Baby Steps

Over the weekend, I had the privilege of participating in the Baby Steps 5K Memorial Run.  I don't want to get bogged down in the details so I will start by saying...yes, I ran it...don't let outward appearances fool you.  I even surprised myself.  The best part about it was running it with my oldest son, Cooper.  It was our first, but hopefully not our last 5K together!!  

This run benefits the Amelia Center in Birmingham, AL. The Amelia center provides grief counseling and support for families who have lost children.  I saw family, friends and community coming together to show their love and support.  The final stretch of the race just before the finish line was lined on either side with the names of the children who are now heaven.  The families formed teams in memory of their beloved children and I could see all the friends and family that turned out based on the different t-shirts they were wearing.  I didn't know each individual story but I was moved nonetheless.  

There was a balloon release at the end of the race and each family released one balloon in memory of their child.  The balloons were all released at the same time and we all watched as the balloons floated heavenward...so many balloons.  I felt my throat wanting to close up as I choked back tears, all of us standing there looking heavenward.  It was very symbolic because where else can we look but heavenward when our world is torn apart by the unimaginable...our worst fears coming true. 

I know some of these families, I don't know them well, but I am getting to know them.  They continue to love the Lord and live for him and they have such a kind sweet spirit about them.  I know they would give anything to take care of their babies the way I am able to take care of Sophie Kate.  That is not lost on me.  

Their "mission statement" for lack of a better word is "Taking Baby Steps to mend broken hearts." Very appropriate I think, it was my privilege to be a part of such an event, to be able to support such a worthy cause and an honor to call these folks friends.

Isaiah 42:16 "I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth.  These are the things I will do, I will not forsake them."

A New Direction

It seems since our Smith Lake trip we have been running here, there and everywhere to doctor and therapy appointments for both Jacob and Sophie Kate.  We have sought a second opinion on Jacob's ear.  If you remember, his hearing hasn't got any better since his 4th surgery this past March.  He has now been put in the "severe" category for hearing loss in his right ear.

We are going to change directions a bit and change our approach and proceed with a hearing aid for Jacob's right ear.  Given the anatomy and condition of Jacob's ear, we have been told that there is only a 50/50 chance that another surgery would be successful for him.  Four surgeries are enough for now, as his doctor said, "It's time for him to get on with his life, get on with his sports and get on with his schooling."  Chad and I both agree, Jacob has had both school, sports and everything else interrupted with 4 surgeries over the past 2-3 years, not to mention the CAT scans and numerous ENT appointments.

Jacob is handling all these new developments well.  He has had his moments of anxiety and fear over what others might think or say about his hearing aid and I don't think we are completely done with those thoughts seeing as how he hasn't received the hearing aid yet and school hasn't started.  I have seen his tears from the pain of multiple surgeries and I have seen his tears over the fear of being made fun of and they are two different types of tears.  I know he can handle to pain of surgery, I've seen him do it.  I don't want to see him have to handle to pain of hurt feelings and a crushed self image because of mean kids, that breaks my heart.  This mama won't allow it...so mean people beware!!  

Please pray for Jacob in the upcoming weeks as he gets his new hearing aid, learns how to use it and gets used to wearing it regularly.  I know Jacob will handle this with the same great attitude he has had in facing his past surgeries and subsequent recoveries.  If any of my children can handle this it's Jacob. not much gets this kid down.

Thanks for checking in on us.       

Tubing on Smith Lake

Warning, long post ahead with lots of pictures, the grandparents will probably be the only ones to make it to the end of this one.

The boys had a great time tubing...

Grey's famous sprinkler move.

Jacob was our "daredevil" this year.  Every time we looked back at him he was doing something different...show off!

 Cooper giving us his "bored" face when we weren't doing enough crazy driving.

On the pontoon...

Love this of Sassy, she was so happy on the boat even with all the "crazy driving."

Grey's favorite spot...

 My niece Olivia...

 A hot mess...

 Ah, that's better sweet thang!

Uncle Scott throwing Grey overboard...

Cooper and his cousin Emma Claire

 Jacob and his cousin Bowen

Grey would only ride the "Hot Rod" with daddy and I'm pretty sure his elbows were locked like that the entire time.

Grey's idea of a good time is being pulled leisurely in the inner tube like so...

 My sister Beth and Olivia(tubing for the first time)

 Love those faces...

This is what happens when Cooper and Jacob tube together...

 Going

 Going

 Gone!

Unfortunately all good things must come to an end...why is that??  We are now on the wrong end of summer and too close to the start of school.  The next two weeks will be filled with buying school supplies and new backpacks as well as "meet the teacher" dates for all four.  Not much time left but, we're gonna make the most of our last two weeks of summer vacation!!  

Smith Lake

Well, there's been so much going on since our Smith Lake trip that I haven't had a chance to give our vacation it's proper due.  This was our fourth year to spend a week at Smith Lake with my parents and my sister's family.  During those four years we have been on the the search for the perfect rental home for all 13 of us and I'm pretty sure we have found it.  In fact, my parents have already booked it for next summer!!


The dock has both shade, sun and a slide, which the boys love. 

Sassy keeping cool in the shade...

We brought a baby pool for her since she is unable to get in lake water.


It's great, they spend hours swimming in the lake only breaking for food and drink and then they are back at it.

It has quickly become a tradition to celebrate the July birthdays of Jacob and Emma Claire since they always fall so close to our trip.

Love this one! 

 I so enjoy a fun surprise...

 and this guy did not disappoint

 I love all his faces as he is opening his new iPod.

As you can see I couldn't pick just one, I had to include them all.  He was truly surprised, so thrilled and genuinely thankful.  Loved being able to do that for our newest 10 year old.

(Jacob and Emma Claire)

Here's some pictures from the night my sister and I tortured all the kids by making them shower, dress up and even smile.  I know, we're mean mamas, ha ha!

Another wonderful week at Smith Lake, great summer memories.  Next up...a fan favorite...tubing, stay tuned.