Is anybody there?

If you are even reading this blog anymore, well, then.....thank you!

It's been a while, y'all. A while since I've written anything about anything....right? I know, I know.....

....sorry.

I'm busy! Aren't y'all busy? It's that time of year. I LOVE that this time of year though. I'm just gonna do the best I can. If I post I post, if I don't I don't. Can you handle it?

Here are a few pics from Thanksgiving.....

....at least I'm still taking pictures, right?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Have YOU kissed Your Turkey(s) today???

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Papa gets a checkup!

....all better!

You're Invited!

a2 church will celebrate ONE year next Sunday.....and it's going to be an amazing celebration! We would love for you to join us!

Storybird

Reeves and his buddy Jake have been writing stories back and forth (well, let me correct that.....Reeves is still working on his story, but he was pumped to get one from Jake last week). These boys are little kindred spirits (just like their Mamas) and it breaks my heart that he is not just down the street anymore. Amy and I are always trying to find ways to keep them connected. You won't believe what little gem I was just introduced to.....it is amazing!

You have got to check out Storybird.....

Reeves' teacher is using the website in her classroom to let the children create and share stories of their own. We can read them from home and even leave comments....the kids LOVE that part! They can even collaborate with their friends or family to create a story! How cool is that? Reeves and Jake can create a book together and soon the site will allow us to print them and have them to treasure forever! (p.s. typing that last sentence brought tears to my eyes)

These are the kind of finds that make me love modern technology so much....seriously cool! The best part? It's free!! Go check it out for your own little "authors"!

Things I loved....

....about today.

1. It rained.

2. I got to stay home all day long! I love rain, but I love it even more when I get to stay home and enjoy it!

3. Greer slept till 11:00! Do you know how much stuff I was able to get done this morning while she slept? It is beyond belief....seriously!

4. I worshipped! I blasted my iPod and sang at the top of my lungs. God is sooooo amazingly, incredibly good! Nothing like praising Jesus while you fold your husbands underwear....Ha!

5. I laughed out loud when I couldn't get my front door to open for the Fed-Ex guy....it was really funny. Maybe you had to be there....

6. I got an unexpected call from a stranger dear friend! We chatted about life and fears and adventures and marriage and love and relationships and kiddos and the weather and the South and football and family. What a joyful surprise!

7. I fed my kids ice cream and cotton candy on the way to the dentist. What's wrong with me?

8. My kids didn't have any cavities!

9. Greer said Purple!

10. I figured out Apple TV.

11. I made a perfect pitcher of sweet tea. Ahhhhh!

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!