Doesn't get much better than this!

What a difference a day makes!

So, I am just amazed by this.  Greer's birthmark was still looking really red yesterday (see the middle picture)  following her last treatment just shy of 2 weeks ago.  I took some pictures yesterday and again today (first and bottom pictures), and the difference is AMAZING.  You just have to see them together to even believe it.  Now that all the redness is gone, I can really see some fading.  YAY!  

Oh, and last night Reeves, Lucy, and I decided that Greer's birthmark is shaped just like a butterfly (as if you are looking at it from the side).  See if you see that too!  

PJ Time! Night, Night!

Greer lately....

Greer is getting to be so much more sociable!  She is enjoying so many more things now that she is a big 3 months old!!!  The Bumbo seat is a favorite, and she just tried out her exersauser for the first time yesterday....

Her bruises are almost gone....can't wait to see some fading from treatment #2.  We'll keep you posted!

Oh, what would I do without Grayson and Savannah?!!!

God knows a weary Mommy, and God sends re-enforcements!   For me, they are Grayson and Savannah.  Lucy is going through what I like to call "a little time of challenging Mommy", and I think that someone by the name of GREER has everything to do with that little challenge!  I love, love, love my dear sweet Lucy, but she is in need of a lot of attention right now that I can't quite seem to give her enough of.  God has sent me back up!!!  Grayson Glidewell (Jenny and Daryl Hardy's sweet oldest child) and Savannah Fehler (Krista and Ernie's dear, sweet girl) have SAVED my life over the past few months by giving Lucy that extra attention she so desperately needs (don't get me wrong, I'm doing my best to do it for her too, but a little "big girl" attention goes a LONG way).  I love you girls!  Thanks for saving me!!!!  

Sounds of Sumatanga

It was like being home again back at our beloved Sumatanga. Some of you know that Chris and I first met at Camp Sumatanga back in 1994 when we were both counselors for Junior High Camp.

There is a very special place in our hearts for Camp Sumatanga, and we are enjoying sharing it with our children. We wish we could make it up there more often. I think the last time we actually went there was when Chris and Chrystal directed a Junior High camp back in 2006.....too long ago. We are talking about sending Reeves there for daycamp this summer and possibly going up for a camping trip soon....anyway, I digress....

We were at Camp last weekend for something called Sounds of Sumatanga. The day couldn't have been more beautiful, and it was so wonderful to catch up with so many old friends. Reeves even got to meet his namesake for the very first time! Nina Reeves was there, and when we introduced him to her, she immediately took him in her arms and wanted to show him some snakes. For an almost 6 year old little boy, it doesn't get any better than that! Nina directed all of the camps at Sumatanga during the years when Chris and I were growing up as children and youth, and she is a very special lady to both of us. We love you Nina, and we are so proud to have a son who reminds us of you and your love for children....not to mention what you mean to us!

Another reason we wanted to go to Sumatanga that day was to hear our dear friend Daryl play with his band "The Beatlads". They are a (quite impressive) Beatles Cover Band, and if you ever get the chance to see them...GO! It couldn't have been a more wonderful day!

Oh, and by the way, we ended the afternoon with an INCREDIBLE win for the Raptors. We beat the only undefeated team in the league. We'll keep you posted on our quest for the championship!!!

Some more Zoo fun!

Reeves was not very happy that we went without him the last time, so we went back last week with a bunch of our friends (Mady, Caden, Livi Cate, Tatum, Caris, Mrs. Angela, Mrs. Shelly, and Mrs. Christine...whew!).  The Zoo was quite crowded that day (I've never seen quite that many field trips in one day!) and the perfect weather didn't help matters.  Even though it was a little too crowded to see it all, Reeves and Lucy got to ride the camel all by themselves (as I held my breath), and it was tremendously fun.  They also got to play in the water for the first time this year...what a treat.  It makes me so ready for summer once we get that first taste of playing outside in the water.  We are so lucky to have such a great Zoo here in Bham.  Watch for more Zoo adventures to come....Reeves and Lucy are looking forward to going back for the butterflies and kangaroos that are just going on display....we'll keep you posted!

Hardy Party for Chrystal!

We had some fun a couple of weeks ago at the Hardy's house singing Karaoke and bidding our dear friend Chrystal goodbye.  I must say that my Karaoke skills aren't quite as good as they used to be, but at least my friends decided to sing along with me.  Hardy parties are at least a monthly (or at least every other monthly) event for all of us (thank you Hardy family!), and this time we celebrated Chrystal Henderson.  She has accepted a call to serve as the Youth Director at Pell City First United Methodist Church.  She is so suited for this vocation and we wish her all the best.  She has the gift of ministry to youth, and we know that she will touch the hearts of so many youth and everyone in her new  church.  She just better come back and visit with us often (any excuse for a Hardy Party is fine by us!)!  We will miss you Chrystal, Sami, and Sarah Grace!  We love you!

Tough Girl! How Tough Are Ya!!

Well, Greer is the toughest Mileski...that's for sure (thanks for the awesome bib, April....she is definitely in the Tough Girl Club with you)!  She had her second treatment for her Port Wine Stain today.  I am posting a picture from just before the treatment and a couple just after.  We love seeing the progress and know that all this is going to pay off in the end.  She handled it like a real trooper....much better than Mommy.  Her treatment today was at 9 joules (last time it was at 8.5) with the Candela Platinum laser.  The response this time seems much more even than the first time and she has lots of purpura (purple dots).  That is what we are going for.  She was a little more "mad" this time during treatment and I am ready for her to be old enough for anesthesia (July).  She will have one or two more treatments before then though.  She has been really irritable this afternoon, and I am praying that she isn't up all night.  It seemed like it took forever to get her to go to sleep tonight, and she is usually so easy.  Pray for happy healing!!!  I will post pics of the healing process....I know it is hard to look at.  I promise, it's not as bad as it looks....tomorrow she will be back to her old self I am sure!  

Yay! It's Aunt Ray Ray!

We got a very special visit from one of our favorite aunts last week. Aunt Ray Ray (my sister Rachel) came all the way from Northern Virginia to visit her nephew and nieces. They were delighted to have her undivided attention since she came all by herself this time. Rachel has two precious little girls who stayed in Pennsylvania with their Grandma. Rachel got plenty of cuddle time in with baby Greer and even played a little soccer and hoops with Reeves. Lucy loved getting to have Ray Ray as a bed buddy and the endless book reading every night. We shopped, played, went out on the town (to Sips and Strokes of course), and just enjoyed hanging out. It is so great when we have the chance to get together since we live so far away....sad :(

We love you Ray Ray....come back soon (but next time bring Caroline and Livvy)!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

Go Raptors!!  Spring around here has taken on a life of it's own, and that life is called BASEBALL!  Reeves is in his 3rd season now and loving it.  This year we have the added excitement of keeping score, and the boys are having to learn some hard lessons about winning and losing.  They are sad when they lose, and thrilled when they win, but amazingly they are most happy when they TIE!  Reeves will say "They Winned and We Winned"!  Aren't Kindergarteners the absolute cutest.....they love to see their friends win, too.  We'll keep you posted on the season record.  Right now we are 2-2-2! 

Fun at the Zoo

We are enjoying the brief glimpse we get here in Alabama of perfect weather (at least perfect in my humble opinion).  It seems the humid heat comes really quickly once the flowers start to bloom, and we have a tiny window of perfect temperatures and low humidity.  We are in that time now and trying to make the most of it by spending lots of time outside.  

We had a great day at the zoo with our friends Caden, Caris, and Mrs. Shelly.  Reeves was in school, so it was just us girls.  Caden and Lucy had a blast (when they weren't fighting over who got to ride on Caris's stroller with her.  Our "wonderful" double stroller bit the dust halfway through the day and we made an impromptu double stroller out of the sit and stand Shelly brought.....it's amazing what mom's can make work in a pinch.  The highlights of the day were getting to know a rat named Bella (did you know that rats are actually very clean animals and make great pets) and riding a Camel named DUDE!  Lucy and Caden thought that was pretty cool!  We'll try to get a few more outdoor outings in before it gets too hot, so I'll keep you posted!

Oh how the years go by.....

I was browsing through some pictures today trying to figure out who Greer really looks like, and I couldn't believe how much all my babies have grown.  The past (almost) 6 years have flown and I am about to be the mom of a 6 year old, 4 year old, and 4 month old!  That is really hard to believe.  What amazes me the very most, is the love that has grown in all of our hearts since Reeves was born 6 years ago.  Our love for him, and the girls, and most amazingly, their love for each other....they ADORE one another.  I feel so incredibly blessed to have such loving sweethearts! What did I do to deserve such a blessed life!?