Sips N Strokes

I have to share with you one of my new obsessions.....a little thing called Sips N Strokes.  If you haven't tried it, it is an absolute must.  I've been 2 times now, and just signed up for my 3rd.  This picture was taken on my birthday in February when all my girls took me out to celebrate (Greer was only 3 weeks old, so I still look a little "puffy" in the picture, lol!).  It was an absolute BLAST!   So this is what you do...you go in with friends (or by yourself, I guess, but with friends is much more fun) and as a group you all paint the same picture.  Of course they all come out uniquely different, but that is the fun part.  They let you bring in wine and food and it is just so much fun I can't even explain it.  So, if you ever want to try it, I beg you....call me!  I'm always up for it.  I've added the link to their website over on the right side of this page....check it out and pick out a night for us to go!

Easter! A time to Rejoice!!!

This has been one of the greatest Easter seasons we have ever had!  During this season of Lent, our church family has been walking through some dark times.  We have experienced some loss and turmoil, but we are also experiencing an awakening like I have never experienced before.  I feel like Christ is working in the hearts of the people of Discovery, and I feel so blessed to be a part of it.  This week, I have counted my blessings....

Greer is healing amazingly!  Her treatment was just shy of 2 weeks ago, and amazingly, we are already seeing some fading.  I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting to see much yet.  We are so encouraged by the results of the first treatment.  I must share an experience that has touched me and Chris over the past few days.  Our dear friend Angela Roberts was not in town the week of Greer's surgery.  She didn't get to see her for the first time until Good Friday.  By that day, all of the bruising was gone, and we thought things looked pretty good, but we thought maybe we were just imagining things.  Angela took one look at Greer, and she began to cry.  She couldn't believe how much the PWS had faded in a few places.  I know that may seem silly to some, but it was unbelievable to me.  God has blessed us with wonderful friends who care very deeply about the things that are important to us....that is incredible to me!

Lucy is absolutely....hysterical!  As you can see, the cast has not slowed her down a bit.  I have to say, though...Lucy needs a break.  Trouble has followed her everywhere this week.  She has had several bad falls since the cast was put on (one at the Zoo on Friday left her with 2 bloody knees and a busted toe), and today at an Easter egg hunt, her first egg had been invaded by ants that decided to sting her!  Let's pray that this is a better week for this girl....she needs it!

Reeves is just turning in to a big kid right before our eyes!  He has grown by leaps and bounds this year, and it makes me want to cry!  I just look at him and I am amazed.  He is such a tender spirit and he absolutely adores his sisters.  I mean, I have seen him steal more kisses this week than you could ever imagine.  And he has no idea that anyone is watching him.  He is absolutely in love with these girls..... 

So that is my sappy monologue for the week.  Here are some pics of our Easter Week adventures.  We went to Fayette for a great visit, had some fun at the Birmingham Zoo on Good Friday, traveled to Gadsden for an awesome Easter Egg Hunt at the Martin Farm on Saturday with Gadsden FUMC, and Celebrated Easter at home in Hoover.  We woke up to great goodies from the Easter bunny (the most favorite treats were the Whoopie Cushions!), ate fresh farm eggs with bacon for breakfast, celebrated with our wonderful church family, and spent the afternoon with great, great friends eating and hunting eggs!  I couldn't imagine a better day, NOT to mention the most wonderful part of the day.....Christ Has Risen!!!  God bless you all!

Deja Vu all over again!

Yep, Lucy broke another bone!  Can you believe it!  It was almost exactly 2 years ago when she broke her other leg!  (literally!  it was 3/15/06 for break #1 and 3/16/08 for break #2).  And, again, we let her walk around on a broken bone for several days before we got a beautiful cast to show for it.    She was attempting a back flip off a swingset apparatus on Sunday and fell on it just in the right (or wrong) way.  We finally made it to the pediatrician today after a couple of days of limping and it is indeed broken.  Man, am I a loser Mommy or what!!!?  She is very proud of her pretty purple cast (picked to match our Easter ensemble!).  Mommy, however, is dreading the next couple of weeks.....the excitement is bound to wear off soon!  Keep us in your prayers!

And on another note....Greer is healing VERY well from her first treatment!  Thanks to all for the prayers!  We have really felt them!!!

Operation Egg Drop

Reeves had a big homework assignment a couple of weeks ago. He had the challenge of packaging an egg in a way that when it was dropped from about 100 feet, it wouldn't break. Thanks to Mrs. Amy (Amy Ensey), he had a winner! She helped him and her little boy Jake box them up safely surrounded by bubble wrap and newspaper in a box that they decorated with stickers and drawings (Reeves chose a Hot Wheels theme). The Hoover Fire Department dropped each box from the top of their firetruck ladder onto the Deer Valley parking lot. Reeves' teacher (Mrs. Keeney) said he yelled louder than any other kid....and you can see by the look on his face that he was beside himself. The best news of all....his egg SURVIVED the drop! It was one of the few that made it, and he was soooo proud!

One Down ???????? to go.....

So, the first laser treatment is in the books (is that the saying?).  It has been an emotional day, but I must say, I have really had a peace about this, and it proved to be a true peace.  Today could not have gone better.  First of all, thanks to all of you for the many many prayers.  We have felt completely surrounded by God's love because of your many prayers.....thank you, thank you, thank you!  This baby has received more prayers and grace than almost any other baby I know.  She was consecrated with ashes on Ash Wednesday, anointed with oil this past Sunday, has received the prayers from hundreds, and as we were leaving the hospital today, a Priest blessed her and made the sign of the cross on her forehead.  Praise be to God for this tiny little soul!

As you can see from the pictures, she is bruised.  That is a GOOD thing.  The more bruising the better, that is what we want!  She did cry during the procedure, but as soon as it was over, and I held her in my arms she quickly calmed down.  Within 10 minutes she was even smiling.  I don't even think it is bothering her a bit.  We are so grateful!  We will continue to document her progress, and we would love your continued prayers.  It looks like treatments will be more frequent than I first thought....our next one is scheduled for April 15.  

Now we ask that you pray for happy healing and great fading....that is our goal in all this.  Thanks to all of you....we love you!

Prayer for Greer

Dear Heavenly Father....

Today we pray for Baby Greer.  May your loving hands hold on to her during her first treatment, and give her peace.  Please be with the Doctor and the nurses as they take care of her.  God, be with us.  Give us peace and calm.  Wrap your loving arms around us all.  We love you and we are so grateful that you have given us such a beautiful family.  We also thank you for giving us such great friends and family who are praying for us today as well.  We know that you are in control, and that you will keep her safe.  

Amen

  

Another snowy morning in Alabama....

So, I must admit that these pictures are from the last snow we had (back in January), but do you really think I would get up and out to take a picture of it at 6 in the morning?  I'm not that crazy!  For what it's worth, we got about the same amount today.

I know that some of you hate it, but  I love snow.  I love to watch it fall, but because night time is usually the only time it gets cold enough here for it to snow here in the south, we usually don't get to see it fall.  I am blessed (I don't always think of it as a blessing) that I was up almost every 2 hours in the night with Greer and I got to see it fall.  I couldn't wait for Reeves and Lucy to wake up and see it.  It took a great deal of restraint not to wake them to let them see it fall.....but, again, I'm not that crazy!  I can't wait to see their faces in a little while......hopefully they will sleep in!  Have fun today!