Home from Duke and Happily Healing

I can't believe that I have let 2 weeks go by and no POST! I know a lot of you have been praying for my sweet girl as she has been recovering from her latest laser treatment, and for that I am so very appreciative! We were blown away with the team at Duke. Every single part of the experience was exceptional.....not to mention the precious time we were blessed to spend with our dear, sweet friends the Enseys. Oh how I have missed my Amy!

Dr. Burton and his PA, Corbin, were so very informative and kind. I was able to stay with Greer until she was asleep, and met her in recovery. After what felt like mere minutes, we were heading back to Amy's house to sleep off the good stuff....

...or so we thought! Greer vomited most of the way from Duke to Raleigh, and we decided that next time we'll stick around till she's had a little time to sip some juice and wake up a little more. Live and learn I suppose.

We stripped her down midway home, and she spent the majority of the day in her diaper. By the time we got to Amy's she was feeling much better and asking for food.... "I HUNGY Mommy!" I took these pictures while my very drunk girl ate 3 containers of jello! She was lovin' some jello....

....and the ring pop that Corbin gave her!

....and on Tuesday, she ate gobs of pudding! But didn't she look grand....

....very little swelling and lots and LOTS of smiles! She was back to her old self in less than 24 hours. I did notice her scratching at her face more this time. I had never really noticed that before. Other than that, the healing has gone very, very well. I am already seeing some new fading (in particular, her ear.....there is NO noticeable PWS anywhere. Thanks be to God!). But she is still a bit red (and will be for another month or 2).

This picture was taken on Saturday. She is looking beautiful as ever, and we are praising God for leading us to Duke. It has been another miracle in this journey for our family and we plan to pursue further treatments there for now. Dr. Burton wanted us back in 8 weeks, but his office is booked till August. We are praying for an opportunity to go back sooner than August, but if it doesn't happen....well that is OK, too.

For it's God's timeline, not our own. He has us in His hands, and that is all I need to know!

Big Girl's heading to Duke!

****UPDATE! ****

Our Duke treatment won't be till March 22nd! Just be in prayer for

us till then! Thanks so much, sweet friends....

Playing in the Hotel Shower

January 9, 2010

We went for Greer's two-year-old check up today. It's crazy to me to think that she has been a part of our little world for over 2 years....CRAZY! She is such a blessed ball of joy, I can't even stand it! All wide open and curious and into everything. I think the best way to describe her is BIG! She sleeps big, she eats big, she loves big, she laughs big, she runs big, she grows BIG! In fact....she is the height of the average 3 year old!!! Off the charts for a child her age. I could just eat up all 33 pounds and 37.5 inches of her! Oh, and did I mention how BIG her feet are? In the words of my pediatrician....."those are Sasquatch feet!"

I caught my pediatrician up to speed on the current state of the birthmark treatments, so I thought I better catch all of you up, too! My last post on the subject was back in the fall when we were trying to come up with a game plan. It's kind of a long story, so here's the link if you want to catch up. We had some big decisions to make and we have prayed and worked through all of our options. I am still planning to write some letters to the "powers that be" here in Alabama, but for now we must travel out of the state to get what she needs.

We had a few options (California, NYC, or North Carolina)....but we decided that traveling to Duke made the most sense for us. Dr. B comes highly recommended, and we are blessed to have a home away from home in Raleigh. My precious Amy moved there last Summer and will host us for the long weekend. I'm trying to think of it as a little vacation and a good excuse to spend time with my beloved friend! I feel an amazing peace about all of it and know that God's plan is unfolding before our very eyes.

Greer's birthmark has shown remarkable fading through all of this, but we have seen significant darkening over the past 6-8 months. Last summer she had close to 75% fading, and now I would say it is more like 50%....some days it's darker than others. NOT traveling to seek better lasers is not an option for us. I want to know that I did everything within my being to maximize the chance to remove this birthmark. So we go. and we continue to pray. and we continue to praise our Heavenly Father for the opportunities he has given us.

As we were leaving the doctor's office this morning, I noticed a young hispanic mother with a large facial PWS. It was dark, dark purple with thick tissue in places. She was a beautiful woman. She seemed happy and confident, and I wanted to get to know her. I wanted to ask her a million questions, but I knew she would think I was crazy. I prayed that if Greer's birthmark never faded even one little bit more and if it eventually became as dark as the one on that lady's face that she would be just as confident and lovely.

I prayed that Greer's BIG, beautiful spirit would shine as bright as it did back on this day. This is a day I will never forget. This is a time I will treasure forever. I really don't think I could love a little soul any more than I love my Big Girl!

God has opened a window!

We have had a busy couple of days, y'all. Greer's response to the laser surgeries seems to get easier and easier every time. Hallelujah and pass the gravy! Other than being a little grumpy and groggy and terribly hungry.....she was her same old self all day yesterday! We both ate some comfort food (aka cheese grits) and took big naps. It is our treatment day tradition!

We love our doctor here. We love the outpatient facility where she has her treatments and have actually gotten to be friends with some of the staff. They remember us when we walk through the door. The nurses cheer Greer on as she whizzes through the hallways in her flintstone car. She has favorite toys in the playroom and they have the best sippy cups ever! Muffins and coffee for me while I wait in our nice little private room with the door closed and my head bowed.

Greer shows no sign of fear while we wait to walk to the clown door, and I am confident that she is getting excellent care in the operating room. We have a great "treatment day" routine, and I am a big believer in routines. They instill trust and confidence and that's something every toddler craves. I don't want anything to change. I want to be able to continue with her treatments here in Alabama at our hospital.....with our doctor. That has been my prayer since we started weighing our options concerning treatments and what is best.

Yesterday, I had some time to sit and chat with Greer's wonderful dermatologist, Dr. T, about our plans to travel for her next treatment. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you might want to take a minute to read this post. It's a complicated situation and we are facing some big decisions about what to do next.

Dr. T and I are in agreement that Greer responded best to a laser that our hospital hasn't yet decided to purchase. But there is hope on the horizon, friends! Please be in prayer with us as we await the decision of the laser company. They are in the process of working out a lease agreement so that we could continue treatments here. This is HUGE, y'all! Pray, pray, pray! I will let you know as soon as I know something!

But, I have even bigger plans! I am thinking about petitioning the hospital to reconsider the purchase of the laser we need here. The laser so many birthmark buddies in the southeast need. It might be a big undertaking, but I'm gonna give it my best shot. What do I have to lose? How MUCH we have to gain! I'm in the process of praying it out and then I will put a plan into action (any advice would be great)!!!

On the eve of Treatment #9....

....we're ready!

Greer and I will head to the outpatient surgery center bright and early for her 9th laser treatment! Can you believe it?

Well, I can't! My baby girl is soooo strong. Stronger than me. That's for sure.

She is such a champ.

Please join us in praying for our baby girl. After all these times, it's still hard. Hard to put her through the anesthesia. The pain. The swelling. The goopey-goo. The stares.....

But.....what a blessing she is. What a blessing this journey has been. What AMAZING THINGS God has done.....

What a miracle!

Surfin' Saturday....

.....it's been awhile!

I am working today (and I worked yesterday, too).....you know how those days have been lately. So, in light of my bloggy absence, I thought I'd post a couple of links to some things that are heavy on my heart right now....

Dr. Oz happened to have a segment on his show yesterday featuring a young woman with a Port Wine Stain birthmark like Greer has. While I am thrilled that the topic was featured on a major show like this, I must admit that I was a bit disappointed by the "info-mercial-ness" of it all. Oh, how I wish he had focused a bit more on the medical impact of PWS and about other "miracle" therapies like laser and support groups. Oh well, at least he's getting some info out there!

And now, on a much more serious note, a precious little patient of my dad's went to be with Jesus yesterday. He was born with a rare disorder and many challenges, but he lived for almost 2 years.....a miracle in itself. Please read little Ian's story and say a prayer for his sweet family. Taking care of Ian over the past couple of years has been so amazingly special for my daddy and his nurse, Joan.....and I know his heart (his still healing heart) is breaking for Mary and Wae. I am lifting them up in prayer as they face the coming minutes, days, weeks, and months without baby Ian. I cannot even begin to imagine what it would be like to lose a child. If you get a chance, please leave a word of encouragement for them over on their guestbook...I know they would appreciate it!

Oh, and speaking of Joan, would you please say a prayer for her? As I type this, her mom is gravely ill. Please pray for peace and comfort for her in this very difficult time. She loved Ian and her own Mama so very much...I love you Joan!

Decisions, decisions....

....but I'll get to those in a minute.

Let me start by saying, today was a really hard day. Well, it started out really hard, but as the minutes marched on, I felt the peace of the Holy Spirit flooding my soul. If it had been up to me, I would have climbed back under the covers the moment I got home from dropping the big kids off at school (yep, we even missed the bus)! Greer might have eaten cheese puffs and cotton candy all day had I not pulled myself together.

It seemed like this black cloud was looming over me, and everywhere I turned something was pulling me down. The gloomy weather didn't make it much better....and I am usually a fan of cloudy days. Today it just mirrored my spirit.

After a good, long cry, a desperate prayer, and a pep talk from my husband....I pulled up my bootstraps and got on with my day. That's what we mommies have to do, right? No rest for the weary.....life goes on.

I won't bore you with the gory details (have I mentioned that the Gross Factor is HIGH around these parts?). I prayed for peace and providence and forgiveness. I set about the task of living....and making big decisions. I knew that facing my giants was the only way I was going to pull myself out of the quicksand. And that's where the decision part comes in.....

We are at a major crossroads in terms of Greer's Port Wine Stain treatments. I've been half avoiding/half dreading making the next move....and frankly, I still don't know if we're doing the right thing. I just don't know what to do. I prayed specifically for God to guide my heart and my mind and my decisions today.....after that desperate prayer, some big things happened.

A little history....Greer has had 8 laser treatments since her birth. Five of those treatments were with a laser called the Perfecta. Three of them (including the last 2) were with an older V-Beam model. Greer's birthmark seems to respond better (in regards to fading) to the Perfecta, but our wonderful dermatologist here in the 'Ham doesn't have permanent access to the Perfecta in the facility where Greer can receive General Anesthesia. Greer needs General Anesthesia for her treatments.....and Greer needs the Perfecta.

Alabama can't give her that.

We don't want to waste valuable time with a laser that is not getting the job done....but we don't really want to travel and leave our wonderful doctor. But that's our reality, and I made a big leap of faith today. After a good long cry, a big ole prayer (not to mention the pep talk from Chris), I scheduled a consultation with a highly recommended doctor at Duke.

Will our insurance cover it? Will the travel time wipe us out? Can we afford it? Is it really necessary? Will our friends think we're nuts? Will it all be worth it? Are we making the right decision for our baby?

All I know is that it's in God's hands. All I know is that I have a baby girl who is counting on me....even though she doesn't even know it. I have to trust that it's in His hands.....

....and that we have a home in Raleigh that is going to welcome us with open arms.

Maybe that's my sign!

Speaking of rain....

The girls are still sleeping and Reeves just left for school, so I'm stealing a few minutes to post a little life update. After several days of fever and coughing, I decided it was time to take Lucy in to see our pediatrician. Turns out, she has mycoplasma pneumonia, but she should be on the up and up as soon as these antibiotics kick in. I am praying that this will be our last illness for a while....we haven't had 1 week since school started (that's almost 6 weeks) when all of us were well. Here's hoping for health and wellness!

Speaking of rain (I wasn't speaking of rain, you say?)....I have a confession to make: I have a love affair with rainy days. Give me a rainy afternoon over a bright sunny morning almost any day of the week. I know, weird.

I love the way the dark clouds make the light look on my walls. I love the sound of the raindrops on the window panes and the wind chimes. I love the flash of lightening and the roll of thunder. I love having a good excuse to stay under the covers or head out for a movie. And of course, I love any excuse to wear these....

However....

....I'm as sick of the rain as I am of my family being sick. As much as I've loved crossing a few things off our busy schedule, I am dying to watch Lucy play in her first softball game and Reeves in action on the flag football field. It's too wet to even practice! Here's hoping for some relief from the wet stuff....soon!

I need to call my sister in Atlanta today to make sure she hasn't floated away. Pray for that city (and all those under water)....I can't imagine how devastating it would be to lose precious memories and loved ones in flood waters. Have any of you been devastated by flood or fire? Chris' house burned down when he was in college and his family lost everything.....there are only a handful of pictures of him as a little boy and I don't know that I've ever seen a baby picture of him. It makes us both sad.

So stay dry and stay well and stay safe. And hug on your people....that's what I'm gonna do today.

An update on things....

First of all, I just want to thank all of you for your sweet words and prayers during this hectic time in my life. Daddy is doing pretty well, and has been moved to inpatient cardiac rehab (a HUGE answer to prayer) where he will have intensive therapy and get his sea-legs back so to speak. It will give my mom a chance to catch her breath a little, too. We know he's in good hands and we are praying that he makes a speedy recovery.

Please pray for my mom. Sometimes the care-giver needs more prayers than the receiver, and I want her to know that I think she is a "ROCK STAR" for handling things with such poise and grace. I feel so helpless here in Birmingham while she has so much I could be helping her with in Gadsden. I am torn between my crazy life here....school, ball, homework, dance, work, naps, preschool, church, etc..... and my family life there. I want to help her, but there is not much to do but pray.

Pray I will.

On the homefront.....Lucy is well and should be headed back to school tomorrow thank our Father in Heaven!!!. This "illness" has anything but slowed her down, and she needs to be in school. We've done about all the baking, reading, baby playing, dress up, changing clothes, coloring pictures, and so on and so on I can handle. I can't wait for a "regular" day.

But what is a regular day.

I sure would love to find out.

Then again.....

....maybe not!

If you think I look bad....

.....you should see the other guy!

All kidding aside, Greer had a great treatment day! In fact, it was her best treatment yet (in terms of her reaction to it). It has always been a huge fear of mine that she will fah-reak out when we drive into the hospital parking lot. Her take on the whole situation is the complete opposite of what I have feared. She claps and cheers and runs for the door. Why? Well....

They have an awesome playroom and gobs of juice and she gets lots and LOTS of attention from Mommy inside those doors.....what else could a girl ask for?

The nurses love her. They think she is just about the funniest baby on the planet. When I walked her to the OR doors, she took to her nurse right away, and it put my heart at ease. The wait was so short today (shorter than most days), and before I knew it, Dr. T came by to give me a report. She had done really well.

Within minutes, G was back in my arms, happy as a drunk skunk. She spewed some hilarious jibberish, and I honestly laughed out loud a couple of times. It made my heart smile after all these dreadful days. I love my funny, baby girl more than my luggage!

We had a great, normal day together. I've missed the normalcy. But the unknown still looms, and my daddy is still sick. My mom is stronger than any human there is, and she needs lifting up. My sisters are there and I am not and a part of me is hollow. Pray for them. Especially my mom. This is really hard.

Oops, I almost forgot....

....to mention that Greer has a laser treatment scheduled in the morning! Will you please add this to your ever growing "Megan Needs Me to Pray for This and That" list? I would so appreciate it!

Truthfully, I have such a peace about it this time around....it's not even a worry in my heart (good thing, since I have plenty of other hearts (and shoulders) to worry about)! I thought about rescheduling it, but they are so hard to fit in....I knew that it was best just to go ahead with it. So, tomorrow we'll head to the hospital bright and early. Greer will be put to sleep for a few minutes and the good doctor will zap that beauty mark away. We are so amazed at the fading she has had....it truly is a miracle! If you're new here, or you want to catch up on her story, click here (or head over to the sidebar and click on the slideshow to watch her Port Wine Stain Birthmark fade before your very eyes)!

Daddy had a pretty good day today. He is still in the ICU and we are still unsure what the coming days will bring. I haven't had a chance to talk to my mom today....it was busy in labor and delivery and we never could catch each other. My sisters told me that he was up some more and that he enjoyed a visit from his brother, my Uncle Craig. Please know that we covet your prayers and that he is doing pretty well. I will update if I get any breaking news....for now we watch and wait.

I guess that's all for now. I am totally exhausted! I know my mom and sisters have to be, too. I miss them so, and coming back into town to work and see my kids has been good medicine for me, but I am still so torn. I plan to get back up there later in the week after Greer has had a little healing time here at home. I'll update tomorrow with some before and after photos of Greer's treatment. And I would so love some prayers for her little, sweet self....it still breaks my heart to have to put her through these procedures. I just remind myself what a miracle she is.....what a miracle these laser treatments are! It's all gonna be worth it come Prom Night, right? Right!

God Bless You, friends!

Please Pray

Daddy and Greer, May 2008

The past few days have been a blur for our family. Early Thursday afternoon, my Daddy collapsed during a meeting at work. Four of his partners (he is a pediatrician) responded immediately and began CPR. Those 4 men (along with my awesome Father in Heaven) brought my Daddy back to life. He was rushed to the hospital where he underwent surgery to repair his broken heart. His life is a living, breathing miracle, and we are so very thankful that we still have him here on Earth.

Please remember him and especially my mom in your prayers in the coming days. As you can imagine, this is a very difficult time and he is still pretty sick. He is still in ICU, but we hope he will be moved to a regular room soon. My dad is tough as nails, and I have faith that he is going to come out of this stronger. Please pray for our family and friends as they travel to be with us in this time. I can't tell you how much your prayers mean to us.

A Brief Update on My Life

Sorry for ye bloggy absence....it's been a busy few days!

Where to start? Well, the sickness found us me and Reeves, and we've been pushing through. I refuse to let it get me down, so I have tried to let every non-essential in my life go undone while I heal. It's the best rest we mothers can hope for.....it is true what they say! Nope, no rest for the weary.

I did have quite a motivator for getting well, though. Our bestest friends came in to town for a visit (remember the ones who moved to Raleigh), and we had some good times. I am dying for Amy to post the Flip Video she caught of Jake surprising Reeves at our front door. Priceless is all I'm gonna say. I promise to post it as soon as she does!

Tomorrow is a big day for me! It's my first workday (I work 2 days a week as a labor and delivery nurse in case you didn't know...) since the kids started back to school. And since Chris has to be up at the Rick and Bubba Studio bright and ridiculously early, it will be my sole responsibility to get the rest of us up and at 'em....and neatly deposited at said schools. I am a wee bit nervous about pulling it off. I have run the route a few dozen times, though, and if we can pull out of the driveway by precisely 6:53, then we should all make it on time. I'll be sure to keep you updated on how it all goes down.....

So....the bags are packed, the animals are fed, the clothes are laid neatly on the dining room table. That reminds me, I need to go set the coffee maker. The children are nestled all snug in their beds....drugged on cough medicine and hot cocoa. Pray that they don't fight me in the morning. Or have any major meltdowns concerning hair tangles, toothpaste flavors, or sock comfort. But mostly, pray for sweet Greer! She is going to be in for a rude awakening come 6:40....that girl hasn't woken up before 9 am in over a year! She's my happy girl, though, she'll be fine! Good thing she adores her school (have I mentioned that? Well, she does.....she calls the place "PLAY"! Hallelujah & Praise the Lord)!

Sweet dreams y'all!

Guest Posting, Randomness, Prayer Requests, and a Giveaway!

How ya like THAT for a Title? I probably could have simply titled it "Randomness", but that would have been just plain boring! This way, you know exactly what you're getting, right? Right. Here we go....

My Fabulous Friday post is up over on Danielle's blog. I was honored when she asked me to join in, but had a tough time coming up with a topic. I hope I haven't disappointed her readers with my sappy, sentimental topic {Fabulous Teachers}! Usually, her blog is all fashion and fun and I go there to keep myself feeling somewhat cool. Won't you please head over, poke around, leave a comment? You know the drill. There's even a chance to win something sort of yummy, too! You'll have to click here to see what's up for grabs!

Yesterday, another cellphone (owned by yours truly) fell prey to death by water. Yes, friends, this is the third phone I have killed in a year. My friend Lauren thinks I keep doing it to get a new phone (it has worked out pretty well for me thus far), but I promise I'm innocent. The hassle and stress it causes isn't worth all that, now! Thankfully, I keep a backup around just for this very occasion (you know, when I decide to wash my phone with my favorite jeans or drop it in the pedi-bowl....), and Chris managed to reactivate that old Razor for me to use in the meantime....

....while dear old Palm Centro dries out in a tiny tub of orzo and wild rice.

I didn't have much rice.....do you think it will do the trick? I've heard I need to leave it alone for three days (anyone else see the irony in that) before I see if it will live. I'm not counting on a second resurrection, but you never know!

On the bright side, turns out Chris is eligible for an upgrade. This very afternoon, I may be the proud owner of a slightly broken-in little Blackberry. Lauren, I promise I didn't know!!!

Speaking of great deals (that's what I was speaking of, right?)....do you Woot? We've been Wooting for a couple of years now, and Chris just loves it. I have to admit, I rarely see anything that really blows up my skirt, but they have finally gotten my attention. This week, our friends over in Wootland (hey, they have clever words to go along with their posts so I can too!) have launched a new site....

Kids Woot!

Genius I tell you! Great deals on fun toys/products for kiddos. You can bet I'll be clicking over every day! Maybe it'll inspire me to start my Christmas shopping before December!

And now for my last random thought today.....

Please say a prayer for my sweet grandmother, Bubba, as she recovers from rotator cuff surgery. My mom will be taking care of her for a few days and she could probably use some prayers, too.

And pray that my house gets rid of the sickies over the weekend....there's a suspicious tickle in my throat that is making me nervous!

Hope you have a happy, healthy weekend friends!

Teacher Letters

Tomorrow is the first day of school....for all 3 of my kiddos. Yes, even Greer. Reeves will be in second grade, Lucy will be in kindergarten (at the same school) and Greer will begin "Mothers Day Out" at our beloved preschool. Tomorrow I will have 4 hours sans children, and I am still working out how I will spend that time. Am I sad? To be honest....only a teensy bit. Does that make me a terrible mother? I sure hope not.

They are all soooo excited! I mean, they. can't. wait! How awesome is that?

I am ecstatic about what is in store for my children this year. I have never prayed it through like I have this year, and we have never been more ready to begin.....

More on that tomorrow....or the next day. I have some really awesome things I want to share.

What did I do today besides hang out at the pool with the rest of the neighborhood? This day before the first day of school?

I wrote letters to my children's teachers. I've never done it before, and I can't tell you how awesome it felt. I shared some of their strengths and weaknesses and made sure to tell their teachers that we had been praying for them all summer....that we would continue to pray for them as the school year rolls on. I wanted them to know Reeves and Lucy a little better and to know that Chris and I care. We're partners in this journey and I felt like I should share a little from our perspective.

I won't share everything I wrote. The letters are very personal to me. But, here is a little excerpt from each letter (and the pictures I included with them)....

"...Lucy loves to help, to be a leader, and to “do it herself.” She can be great with kids who need a little helper or who might be shy. She’ll talk your ears off and ask a million questions (but you already know that)! Please feel free to be firm with her concerning interrupting....I know you will be. She can’t wait to learn how to read and we have been working on some readers a little bit this summer. I am not super hung up on the academics....I know they’ll get there and that she is a smart girl. I just want her to love learning!

Lucy has a very sensitive side and sometimes I have a hard time pulling her worries out of her. She tends to “shut down” and become very quiet when something is bothering her. When she is good, she is great! She is so very excited about big school and she is looking forward to being your helper. I hope she doesn’t get too big for her britches though....I know you know exactly how to handle this type of little girl!..."

*Lucy has the same teacher that Reeves had for Kindergarten (Mrs. K), and she knows her pretty well already. She has 4 kids of her own and is a friend of mine. What an awesome blessing is that? Totally ordained (in my opinion)!

"....I wanted to share a little bit about Reeves so you can get to know him better. For the most part, he is a really great kid. Easy going, eager to please, and ready to learn. He has a pretty gentle spirit and is great at including kids who are younger/smaller than him. He can be kind of shy, but he loves deeply and has a sweet heart. He’s messy and full of energy. I tend to know exactly what he ate for lunch by looking at his shirt when he gets off the bus! You may have to give him gentle reminders to wash his hands!

Feel free to put him to work and to be firm if he is not listening/minding you. He tends to behave way better for his teachers than he does for us! He is so excited about your class and has several buddies to play with. We were thrilled about that!..."

*Reeves has a teacher that we don't know, but whom we have heard nothing but great things about. He seemed to love her when we met her at "meet the teacher" and we can't wait to see him grow this year.

If you have time to write your own teacher letter, I encourage you to do so. It was an awesome experience for me!

The Year Ahead, Part 2

****Update****

I'm starting this today, August 5th....

It will carry us through the first day of school, one week from today.

Please join us :)

Just like the morning last week when I wrote "Part 1" of this story, I woke up today flanked by 2 of my 3 most favorite children on the planet. When did it happen? Who knows. I've gotten great at sleeping through the comings and goings of my bedmates (that sounds terrible doesn't it?) and I am just savoring every moment of these last few days of Summer.

No, they didn't start out in our bed.

They started out here.....

All snuggled up, with wet heads and each other, on a big air-mattress in the den....watching "Shark Boy and Lava Girl" (I know, I know....)

Last night I made a declaration that I pray I won't live to regret (at least it has an end in sight!). After bathtime, I announced that if they wanted to, they could sleep on that air mattress every night from now until school starts.

Watch movies, eat popcorn, fall asleep when they feel like it, invite friends over to do the same.....

Crazy?

Maybe. But I don't care. We have 2 weeks of Summer left and I want them to have a blast!

And, I've made another decision. One that I have carefully prayed about, and that I am so excited to begin. I hope you'll join me, and if you do, that you'll share with me later what happened when you did it. I am so looking forward to seeing how this will impact our school year for the better!

If you're like me, you know that it is essential to pray for our children. But if you're like me, life gets crazy and you feel yourself saying short little prayers like this....

"Dear God, please keep Reeves safe today.... I'd really prefer to avoid a trip to the emergency room this morning."

"Dear God, please help Lucy remember to say 'yes ma'am' and 'no ma'am' while she's over playing at Emily's house!"

"Dear God, please keep Greer from pitching a fit in front of the pediatrician today..."

.....and so on.

Sure, you find time for a serious, meaningful prayer every once and a while, too. You pray that they'll make friends at their new school and thank God for giving them a gentle heart. You pray that they will stay safe from harm and that they will grow up to be faithful followers of Jesus with a servent's heart.

But do your children know you are praying for them? Do you say any of those prayers out loud, in their presence?

I'll admit, I don't do it very often. But I want to, and I'm going to.

Will you join me?

One week from Today, I will do exactly what Angie Smith has done for her girls (and if you have time to catch up on her story....you will be blessed). I read her "Pray for Your Child" post/challenge months and months ago, and when I was praying about the school year ahead, God led me back to it. I can't tell you how appropriate it is for this time of year and for what I hope and pray for my own children.

I bought my note cards yesterday, and I am set and ready to go. This week I am praying about it and for my children. I will start the 7x7 prayer challenge next Tuesday and finish it up the day before the first day of school. I can't wait to see what happens!

So, click on the link above or on the 7x7 prayer button below.....

and let's see what happens!!!
What a privilege it is to pray for our children!

The Year Ahead, Part 1

It's hard to believe that our "summer" will come to an end in just 3 short weeks. Where has the time gone....and whatever happened to heading back to school after Labor Day? I don't know why I ask these same questions every year, but I do. No matter, school days are quickly approaching, and I am starting to face the music! It seems that the lazy days of Summer are gone before we know it and we wonder what we did with all our free time.

Oh yeah, I remember!

We ate countless frozen treats from the icecream truck that visits our neighborhood every day after lunchtime....

We swam and swam and swam some more. I am blessed to have such little fish, and I love that they seem to have a passion for swimming like I have always had. You could say it's in our blood....

And he finally mastered the fine art of skimboarding. I am in awe of my big kid and all he can do.....and for what this year will bring for each of them!

We've stayed up late, cooked out burgers with friends, and stayed in our pajamas through lunchtime. We've had no schedule or rules (well, maybe a few) or homework. We've truly filled ourselves back up, and prepared our selves for what is to come....

And in less than 3 weeks, we'll be back in the swing of the school-year routine. One in second grade, one in kindergarten, and one in Mother's Day Out. After-school activities, fieldtrips, and projects. Fights over outfits, earlier bedtimes, and kisses at the bus-stop. Hectic mornings, busy afternoons, and homework! Sure, a little part of me is excited to have a routine back (and a few hours of "me" time each week), but there is a big part of me that will miss the carefree safety net that comes with summer vacation. That reminds me!

I have to share this story with you....

Chris' job requires him to get up with the chickens, and I think the kids sense when he has climbed out of bed. 9 times out of 10, I wake up with a little person lying next to me. Yesterday, I was surprised to find myself flanked by both Reeves and Lucy when I woke up. I have no idea how I could have missed that, but there I was.....

Surrounded by the heavy breathing of two precious little souls.

I found myself with the overwhelming need to pray for them. I prayed for their safety, for their spirits and for their happiness. I had an overwhelming sense that I needed to pray about this upcoming school year. I prayed a prayer for the teachers they would have. I prayed that they would bring out the best in my babies.

I kissed them and hugged them and vowed that over the next few weeks I would continue to pray like mad that this year would be one of the best years of their life. Oh how quickly the time is passing.....and oh what a privilege it is to pray for my children!

There's another big piece to this story....but I'm saving it for another day. For now, I encourage you to pray for your children's teachers in the weeks before they head back to school.....I can't tell you how much peace it has brought to my soul!

Pray for Alan and Jen

***Update #2***

Alan is being treated for TIA, and they are hoping that it was an isolated event. He should go home tomorrow, and is doing well tonight. Check their caring bridge site for more updates, and thanks SO MUCH for all the prayers.

***Update***

I spoke with Jen a little while ago, and Alan has been admitted to the hospital for testing. They do believe that he has probably had a stroke, but he is stable and is not as confused as he was earlier. Jen sounded strong and was thankful for all the prayers.....keep 'em comin'! Thanks!!!

Jen has asked me to keep everyone posted and to ask for prayers today. Please click here to read the update and catch up on their story. The more prayer warriors, the better.

Thank you for taking the time to pray.....

My Big Scare!

This is me...

MEGAN @ HOLD IT UP TO THE LIGHT
I'm a blessed southern girl, living a life of faith and thanksgiving. I hope that in reading, you may hear my heart. I'm raising my sweet (sometimes sassy, messy, and crazy) children with my incredibly patient and loving husband. I tend to see life through rose colored glasses, and I've been known to be a clutz. My family would tell you that I am a bit of a control freak, but I like to think of myself as a "work in progress". God's not finished with me yet!

So, this really shouldn't come as any real surprise to you.....

I am a clutz, and this clutz had a rough day yesterday! Here's how it went down pun intended:

Here in the south, we have some wicked thunderstorms. The kind of storms that pop up out of nowhere and put a stop to your day. Yesterday was one of those stormy mornings. The lightening and thunder started while I was putting on my makeup, followed by the torrential downpour. The kind of rain that can sweep cars away and flood basements.....

I made a quick call to my babysitter to tell her to take her time and get here safely. I told her I would open up the garage door so she could pull in out of the storm. When I went down to do that, I found that my garage was filled with water....water up to my ankles. At this point, I totally went into damage control mode. I rolled up my scrub pants, threw off my socks and shoes, and went to work getting precious/damageable things out of harms way....but I was moving too quickly.

Before I knew it, both feet flew out from under me and I hit the solid concrete floor.....with the back of my head (I swear it felt like it caught the total brunt of the fall)! The water filled my ears and when I opened my eyes all I saw was black....

it was only a few seconds, but it all seemed to happen in slow motion. I was soaked to the bone as I crawled into Chris' basement office. I tried to focus and seemed to have my vision back. Instinctively, I reached up to feel the back of my head. There was no blood, but there was already a golfball sized knot....that eventually grew to a softball sized one.

My heart was racing, and I went into "what if" mode. What if I started to lose consciousness, what if they couldn't find me. My babies are all alone in their beds....

My cellphone was in my pocket, so I quickly dialed Chris. No answer. Again. No answer. I knew I needed to go to the hospital. I knew it needed to be checked out. I called work, crying and afraid....to tell them I wouldn't be in. One more call, and Chris finally answered....he was on his way.

I prayed, I prayed, and I prayed some more. I wanted to live out the last line of my profile description.....I wasn't ready for God to be finished with me here on Earth....

Long story short, we made it to the hospital safely, the CT scan showed a large soft tissue hematoma but no brain bleed or skull fracture. The ER doctor joked, "The good Lord knew to make the front and backs of our heads the strongest so that we could endure these kind of falls..." He was a very wise man....and I am a very blessed girl!

I have a mild concussion and I am feeling VERY sore still, but I am so thankful to be OK. My family, friends and God are taking good care of me and making me take it easy. Counting my blessings is the understatement of the century. Thanks be to God, for He is good!

Be careful today, and know that I will be doing the same!

Fear not!

For the past few weeks, I've been hurting.....there is a physical hurt, but there is mostly an emotional nagging that I haven't been able to free myself from. I've done everything I know to do to stop the pain, and it's still there....dull, annoying, gripping.

But this week (even with all the fun and the wild children and the lounging by the ocean), I've been praying through it. And reading scripture. And listening. And talking to friends. And listening some more. I've reflected on the messages I have been hearing at church and replaying the songs we've sung over and over and over.

For the last few days, my prayer has been.....

"Take it, God. Take it."

That's all. That's all I know to say.

The best part is.....

that's all He wants me to say. Well, that and keep praying. Keep working through it. Keep trusting him.

I woke up this morning, and there is no pain. I feel light and free and at peace. And I opened my computer and saw this tweet from Max Lucado....

"Fear is not a sin, but it can lead to sin." Agree? DIsagree? Why?about 1 hour ago from web

Then I clicked on a link to a blog I love to read, and her post put into words exactly what I have been feeling....exactly what Max Lucado was talking about. Click here and read it for yourself.

My God sure moves in mysterious ways.