A funny story to start your week....

....I totally meant to get this up over the weekend, but I got sorta busy birthin' some babies (and cheering on my team....Roll, Tide, Roll)!

The past 2 weeks have a been a whirlwind for us! As if it weren't exciting enough, the week of Halloween was also Red Ribbon week at the kids' school. They had a theme every day (hat day, team spirit day, etc...) and on Friday the entire school dressed up in "high" '60's fashion to celebrate the decade that brought us go-go boots, tie die, and peace signs.....

....it was fun dressing the part! The funniest thing to me was that we were celebrating the '60's during "Drug Free" week! Anyone else find that as ironic as I did? Gave me a few good giggles all week long!

So, here's the funny story I wanted to share with you write down so I wouldn't forget it....

One morning last weekend, I was pouring my first cup of coffee while the big kids were enjoying their breakfast.

"MOM!," Reeves screamed, "You're drinkin' DRUUUUUUGGGGGSSS!"....

"Huh?"

"Yeah, Mommy, they taught us at school this week that caffeine is a drug....and you're drinkin' DRUGS!"

"Yes, baby, caffeine is in coffee, but I promise it's OK for Mommy to drink it."

"Yeah, Reeves," Lucy corrected firmly (and if I'm not mistaken, there was a wiggle of a finger and a hand on her hip), "Remember.....

....It's an adult choice!"

Love it!

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)!!!

Our Nana...

....I know.

Totally not what you were expecting from me tonight, huh?

I'm tired, and I have a lot to tell about our day today. I'll work on a coherent post in the morning. I just wanted to share this sweet pic of our pup and tonight seems as good as any! Nana loves fall. She chases leaves and gets to stay inside more and she's just so darn cute.

Couldn't you just eat her up?

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!

Halloween 2009.....

......was soooo much fun!

We traveled northeast (...really only an hour away) to spend the day with my parents and their amazing neighbors. It was an incredible celebration, and we all had a blast! We couldn't have asked for better weather....or company. It was so much fun. See for yourself....

My little pumpkin won 2nd place in the costume contest, Lucy and Reeves got to ride in the parade, and Papa carved another amazingly "wild" pumpkin for all to enjoy! Hope you had a great weekend, too! Until next year!

Check Out My New Buttons!

My blog designer friend, Danielle, made me these cool little buttons!

Check them out and let me know what you think (all you have to do is click 'em and you'll see)! I will add blogs and buttons as I find new favorites, and of course, keep you up to date on Greer's birthmark journey. When you click on the "Bye, Birthmark" button, you'll find all sorts of info and links pertaining to Greer's story and vascular birthmarks in general. There's even a "birthmark buddies" blog link list!

Oh, and speaking of Danielle, check out the awesome holiday template giveaway she's having on her design site (along with a few other fun giveaways). I can't wait to have a holiday look on my very own blog....it'll be even sweeter if I can win one! She is so amazingly talented, and her spirit is as sweet as can be!

Thanks for all you have done for me, Danielle....I can't WAIT to meet you soon!

Can't wait for the stillness!

We're busy, y'all. It seems like ye ole blog has fallen by the wayside....and I must admit that it has been low on my priority list lately. Sad, I know. It stinks that when I have millions of things to post about, I can't seem to find time to post about any of them! Oh well, I'll give it a shot!

The kids are pumped about Halloween, and frankly, so am I. We are heading to Gadsden to spend the evening with my parents and the kids just about can't stand it. It's our first year (in a long time) to not be dressing up as a family. We did a family theme for 3 years in a row....but this year I just decided to let the kids take their pick. I can't wait to unveil the results! Nothing spectacular, but every costume has a story. I promise to give you a full-on post on the subject later in the week....

Lucy has her first "real" fieldtrip tomorrow, and we are so excited about it. We are heading to a real "working" farm where we will pick cotton, feed cows, pet goats, run through a hay maze, and choose a pumpkin. The kindergarten classes have been studying all about farm animals (remember the farm breakfast) and are even awaiting the arrival of a bunch of baby chicks!

In FACT....

....those chicks are going to be hatching sometime tonight or tomorrow, and YOU can watch them LIVE by clicking here! Cool, huh? The kids are beyond excited! I bet your kids would love watching, too! Check it out!

All that and so much more. I'm trying to keep things in perspective and soak it all in. I love my life....all the crazy busy fun, but sometimes I just want to be still.

Still.

I'm not sure I even know what that word means anymore....

....but don't you worry! I'm about to have a rendezvous with stillness. Yep, that's something I'm going to find time for. Real soon.

How do you find time to be. still. ???? I would love to know!