Mardi Gras Parade

As president of RCMC I received an email a few months ago asking our club to participate in a Mardi Gras Parade at a retirement community. I was all for the idea! It was on a Friday so most RCMC members had to be at work.



Four of us participated, and my husband tagged along with his B4C Camaro. {I even put an RCMC flag on his antenna when he wasn't looking}

I was so very happy that I was able to participate in the parade. Not everyone at the retirement community is capable of driving themselves or even taking the bus. So for them to be able to go to a special event/parade is nearly impossible.

We bought Mardi Gras beads to toss out, then we were given more of them twice after we arrived as well as whole boxes of mini moon pies to toss to the crowds. We lined up and then, I moved my daughters car-seat from the back to the front just for the parade. {it was on private grounds and we were doing about 5mph} My husband did the same with our son in his car.

Baby girl absolutely loved tossing the beads, and moon pies to the crowd. She was upset once we reached the end of the parade route, because she ran out of people to throw beads/moon pies to well before she ran out of the beads/moon pies! I was moved to tears over the fact that there were several elderly ladies lined up along the road, sitting in their wheel chairs draped in white sheets because it was a bit chilly out. One little old lady had even fallen asleep in her wheel chair. Bless her heart! It meant so much to me to be a part of something like this, it clearly brought joy to the residents at the community. People who normally don't have the opportunity to participate in such festivities.

The reflection on the bottom left corner is from my windshield.

We had a lovely day, it was beautiful and  sunny, and we spent it together as a family making other people happy. I hope that they make this an annual event & invite us back again!

I took a close up of the beads hanging from my rear-view window. I think it looks pretty neat.

Oxygen deprived ~

Today I had to take lil man to yet another Autism evaluation. We got up at 7am got ready, had a small breakfast and watched Sprout for a little while. Soon enough it was time to leave. He said he wanted to bring his new book with him to read to everyone, so I shoved it in the bag with our other belongings.

A short drive across town & we arrived at the elementary school. We went inside, found the office and signed in. We sat in a small  waiting area until they were ready for him. A short time later a lady came to get us, and we followed her down the long {very artistically decorated} hallway. We were taken into a large room for his testing. I signed a few papers and they started working with him, while I worked on filling out a stack of papers.

Two hours later they were finished with his testing. Once they finished adding up his scores they starting going over all of it with me. He did very very well. I'm so very proud of him! After all was said and done they told me they want him to start school on March 19th! I was super shocked! The last thing I was expecting was for him to start school in less than three weeks! They are placing him in a magnet school. It's called Calvary Hill School Academy for Academics and Arts, or as the locals call it AAA! Wow! Way to go little man!

This is a picture of a statue that is out front of his school. I hope to learn more about the story behind it soon.


I tried calling my husband as soon as we got to the car & he didn't answer. So I did the next best thing and called my bestie! She understands me so very well and always knows what to say.

Almost three hours after his testing began we arrived at home. I was in tears, which of course made my husband think something terrible had happened. I finally managed to spit it out and he gave me one of his big warm hugs. {I could just melt into his arms} He told me not to cry and everything would be alright.

So the remainder of this week I will work on filling out more paperwork. Then next week we go to his school to register him and meet his teacher. {I've heard nothing but good things about her} I'm excited to meet her & to see his school and classroom. I'm excited about getting his supply list and going shopping. Going to pick out new clothes is going to be fun too!

All of these new feelings are starting to emerge. I have been a stay at home mom since he was born, I've spent the past 4 1/2 years with him & his sister everyday! I  love our random outings, playing hide-and-seek, pillow fights, day trips and so many other wonderful things we do together. I keep reminding myself to take deep breaths. I thought I had several months to prepare myself {and him} for this. Now I find myself with only days to prepare for this big step in his life. It's bittersweet because I know I'm letting him grow up  a little bit more as him makes this transition into this crazy world.

January aka not so FUNuary ....

Sunday January 15th I woke up dizzy as can be. I couldn't even open my eyes. I would drag myself out of bed to go to the bathroom and getting up would make me vomit like crazy. I had never felt so horrible. I stayed in bed until around 1pm. I got up and tried eating something, only to throw up again. My husband made me go to the hospital. Thankfully Nessa was over and could stay home with the babies.

After several hours and tests later they diagnosed me with vertigo. The doctor gave me a prescription and released me. I would much rather have 10 more cesareans than feel  that sick again. The prescription made me soooo sleepy that for the next three days that's just about all I did. My friend Lisa covered the RCMC meeting for me since I was in no condition to go or even drive for that matter. Thankfully it went away, and hopefully it won't happen again.


Tuesday night my husband and I were in our bedroom folding the laundry that I had just taken out. (isn't he sweet for helping me?) All of a sudden I hear a gosh awful scream coming from my three year old daughter. I immediately knew something was wrong. I met her halfway down the hall. First thing I see is that her beautiful blond hair is soaked in blood! I picked her up and she had already stopped crying. She is such a tough little girl! I was still  in full panic mode though!

I knew she probably needed stitches so I quickly got her & myself dressed as we had already gotten ready to go to bed. I just grabbed the first things I could see, threw them on and grabbed her favorite stuffed animal and ran out the door.

She however wanted to show our neighbors her bloody mess of hair before we went. I was thinking seriously how can this child be so calm and not crying after busting her head open? I didn't stop though, I quickly got her into her car seat and literally flew to the hospital. Once I got there I realized that she had passed out, which made me freak out. It took me a minute or two to get her to wake up. It was cold so that helped out I'm sure.

I got her inside and she was still bleeding. I filled out her form, they weighed her took all her vitals etc. and immediately took us back to a room. A few short minutes later a nurse came in to  look at her head. Then the nurse put this clear numbing gel onto the gash. About 20 minutes later the doctor came in and looked it over and said it needed staples! WHAT???? A few staples later we were being discharged. On the way out we ran into an EMT we know. He said what are y'all doing here, and I just pointed at Miss Graceful! So then he had to look too.

So it turns out that my son and daughter had pushed the step stool against my son's dresser and they were both standing on the stool. And somehow made the dresser wiggle enough to where a painting I made for my son's room fell off the dresser and hit her in the head. Needless to say it's found a new home!

So tomorrow is Friday and will be 10 days since her accident & getting her staples. She has an appointment with her pediatrician to have them removed. She is a little worried because she thinks it will hurt, and sadly it will hurt a little. Poor baby. I just hope it goes smoothly tomorrow!

Happy New Year to me....

This year is going to be about BIG changes! First of all I want to have a better relationship with the LORD. I want my children to know and love him and understand him. I want to give them that vital tool to life that I feel like I never had.

Second on the list is the fact that I have finally found the determination to loose the baby weight. It takes baby steps, and that's where I have started. Little changes like deciding to refuse chocolate,and sodas no matter how bad the craving was easier than I thought. I just had to find the right mindset. Now I don't even crave them at all.  I haven't had a soda in over a month. I stuck to sweet tea for a while, and even now I am sick of it. I crave water now, and can't get enough of it. I have never liked to drink water before.

I want to become a healthier person, not only mentally but physically as well. This wasn't a new years resolution. I figured I have never suceeded at them in the past so there was no reason to set one this year. This time I am doing it for me, not because its the trendy thing to do in the month of January. We have started changing our normal go-to foods for healthier foods. Tonight we went out and bought a birthday cake for our neighbor. I didn't even have any at all, not even the desire to try it. I'm super proud of myself!

Another big change is coming in a few months. One that I am far from being ready for. Little man will start school! First of all, where did the time go? I know I'm going to have a hard time with it because I'm already stressing over it. The past four and a half years night and day my life has been dedicated to my sweet babies. Not only am I going to have to prep him to be ready to go to school, I will be preparing myself as well. I'm going to be a hot mess come August! Someone please tell me it is easier than I am imagining it to be?

January 13 2012

Rest in Peace

Christmas just didn't feel the same due to the unexpected loss of my Uncle Paul.

December 23rd my Aunt Clara found him in the living room. While in his favorite chair watching tv he passed away due to a massive heart attack.

He was an 89 year old veteran. My Aunt and Uncle were married for over 65 years and together even longer. I cant even imagine how hard it is for her.

Christmas was on Sunday and I just didn't feel it this year. My husband had to work and came home for lunch to watch the kids open gifts. Overall we celebrated at 9 different places, which means the kids got way too much stuff.

On Monday my husband had to work. The kids and I traveled to my parents house. My mom kept them while my father and I went to Uncle Paul's funeral.

We arrived at the funeral home and our Cousin John was in the parking lot so we all went in together.

Uncle Paul's flowers were so beautiful! There were red roses, carnations, and mums all mixed together with evergreen branches. He looked so at peace. I cried a little. I was so happy to see my Aunt Clara despite the circumstances.

They both mean so much to me. As a child they would write me letters & send me gifts. I have a journal, letter opener, sterling silver and turquoise butterfly necklace, a ceramic jar from New Mexico. A framed drawing of a log cabin by Aunt Clara. (she paints, & draws extremely well and is a published author) All of these things are special to me because of who game them to me. I cherish the letters.

His burial was after the service. It wasn't far from the funeral home. He was buried at the cemetery of the church they attended. I took a photo of my Daddy and Aunt Clara afterwards. Then took a single red rose from his flowers. I dried it out to keep.

After that I took my Daddy to eat at Cracker Barrel in Gadsden. I very much enjoyed having lunch with him. It's not often that I get to do so.

January 4th 2012

Day 25 {A first}

As a child I often dreamed of going to the beach. Our parents hated the beach so they would never take us there. I grew to hate going to the mountains, always the same old boring vacation. It was so predictable. I do enjoy the mountains, but not  all the time. I like to see new places and new things, new adventures.

When my husband and I were dating he wanted to take me to Mobile to meet his family. It was Thanksgiving, and I had many reasons to be thankful that year. I was thankful to have him, and to be out of a bad relationship. I was thankful to be going on my first trip to the beach.

So we got into his car and left his parents house. I may have been 20 but I was just as excited as a child. It was only a twenty minute drive from his parents house but it seemed like a long trip. I will never forget stepping out of that car and hearing the waves and the seagulls for the first time. I still remember how it felt to have the fresh ocean breeze blowing in my hair. I remember how the sand felt between my toes and fingertips. It was chilly but I didn't let that stop my enjoyment. I wrote our names in the sand.  I watched a cute little crab scurry across the beach into his hole in the sand. I enjoyed everything about that day. Dauphin Island will always be a special place to me, not only because it was my first beach experience but because of who I was with.

Since then we have made many many trips to Dauphin Island. One of my most cherished photos is a picture of my husband and our six week old baby boy under the Dauphin Island Pier. I have pictures of both our children there, the two of us, and family pictures. They are more than just pictures they are moments in time that meant the world to me. We have made several beach trips to Savannah,GA Amelia Island,FL, Gulf Shores,AL and Dauphin Island and D.I.  still remains my favorite place. My husband is amazing, and he has made so many of my dreams come true. I look forward to each and every day that I am blessed to share with him.


One of my favorite songs was written and preformed by a group born in Mobile, The Band Perry. The song is ''All your life'' and my favorite quote comes from the lyrics
''Would you walk to the edge of the ocean Just to fill my jar with sand Just in case I get the notion  To let it run through my hand ???? Let it run through my hand''
My husband did just that. My little sand jar collection sits proudly on a shelf in our living room.

Day 24 {Something that makes you cry}

There are several things that make me cry.

• I cry when my babies get hurt or when they are sad or something is wrong and I can't fix it. I feel like it is my job as a mother to fix everything for them and sometimes that just isn't possible.
• I cry when my kids make me happy. There is no better joy in this world than that a parent gets from watching their child.
• Extreme Makeover Home Edition, I mean really???? I have never watched it and not cried.
• I cry when my family and friends are hurting, I care about them. I laugh with them so I cry with them.
• Every year when we go to National Police Week in Washington,D.C. I cry when we go to the Fallen Officers Memorial and read all the notes,cards,letters,and photographs that little kids have left to their murdered parent. Its absolutely heartbreaking.
• I cry when I watch the news and hear stories about child abuse or a missing child or murdered kids. Number one reason why 99.9% of the time I choose not to watch the news. It is just depressing!
• And last but not least, sometimes I just hold all the stresses of daily life inside of me and never talk about it until one day I just cry. Sometimes it just feels good to cry and get it all out.