Fresh Air

We were blessed with 2 days where it was just warm enough to play outside and grab some fresh air. Good thing we did, snow is in the forecast for next week!

Anna and her pal Clifford!

Erin is my gardener, hopefully she'll have more skills than I do!

You'd think....

...we really like driving to Norfolk every now and then to visit CHKD.

...we'd been hitting the town to try and collect as many germs as we can.

...we're going for a record of colds in a 2 month period.

...I never clean my house or the toys.

...we have a sign on our backs that says, "Hit me one more time."

After yet another trip down to CHKD, we are relieved to find that Anna only has an Upper Respiratory Infection this time. Bags packed and ready for a stay, we headed off to the ER yesterday when Anna spiked a 104 temp. and started showing all those lovely signs again. Praise the Lord, her chest is clear and breathing fine, it's just in the upper respiratory region. So, here we go again, as secluded as we've been, we have to do it all over again. Please pray for us to have wisdom. I really struggle on when it's okay to take her somewhere and when it's best to stay home. I would hate to miss church for the next month, but she just still puts everything in her mouth. Pray that I don't go stir crazy, I love going out and this staying at home everyday wears on me. Thank you all for praying for Anna's health!

We have to get a picture everytime we go. The nurse thought we were crazy, but who cares!

We finally got her to drink some juice out of a juice box!

It's Official

I am THRILLED beyond belief to report that we are officially labeling Anna - "A WALKER." She has really taken off this weekend and spent most of it going back and forth between the 2 couches. She brings us so much joy as we watch her romp around. When any child walks for the first time it is so exciting, and we have certainly been waiting for this day for a LONG time! "Thank you Lord for my precious little walker, guide her every step and protect her every fall!"

A fun weekend!

It has been a very enjoyable weekend since we are all healthy. Not to mention it's 71 degrees out today and absolutely beautiful. We layed low Friday night and had ice cream cones at home and then some jungle gym time with Daddy.

Saturday we went to the Living Museum and both the girls loved it. When Anna wasn't riding with Nana we made her walk and she did a great job - lots of practice! She especially loves the aquarium part and Erin loves the outdoor trail.

We had lunch at one of Papa Joe's favorite places and they have a family sized Banana Pudding. We thought it would be funny to give it to Anna and see what she'd do with it. She was very excited, but decided to share with all of us! The pictures are out of order because blogger is being very stubborn and won't let me move them as I wish.

Wow - is this all for me?

That's what I'm talking about!

Daddy is under there somewhere!

MMM...icecream

second that

Anna is sooooo big!

My 2 precious little girls.

What do you see Erin?

Anna's favorite ride, Nana's favorite rider.

Hello Mr. Turtle

Hello Mr. Crab

A few thoughts

Okay, don't know quite where this post is going to go, but feel burdened to put a few thoughts down. I don't know if it comes with age, or maturity, but within the last year I have felt that I have had so many more people to pray for. Sometimes I feel surrounded by people experiencing hurt, disappointment, sickness, troubling times(including myself). I admit, I used to be one of those people(Christians) that said, sure I'll pray for you, and sometimes the prayer was lifted up once and then forgotten about. Maybe I didn't realize the effectiveness of prayer and that came from naivity, maybe I figured there were so many other people praying, how would mine make a difference. Whatever it was, it certainly wasn't the Christian attitude the Lord has called me to. Ever since Anna was in the hospital(the first time) though I have felt the enormous burden to pray for people. I know the power of prayer, I witnessed it first hand in my own child's life. I felt the power of prayer from all of my friends, family and strangers lifting up my child. I cannot deny the power of prayer and it gives me such joy to know that my prayer does make a difference.

I recently joined in with the Women's Ministry at our church and we took a Spiritual Gifts test to help us see where we should serve. My number one gift has always been teaching, so I was surprised when teaching had fallen to 3rd place. It was replaced with FAITH. Faith is my number one spiritual gift right now at this point in my life. It didn't surprise me that much given all the Faith I've had to conjure up the last year and a half. What surprises me is that a couple of years ago, worry could have been my middle name. It is just amazing to me how God knew where I needed to grow and brought me to a place where I could experience that growth.

So to bring this together - I have Faith and I have prayer and together I'd say they're a winning combination. I want you to know, when I tell you I'll pray for you, I do and I pray believing that God will answer it, in His perfect timing and in His perfect will. I have been so touched by the prayers lifted up on my behalf as well as my family's that I feel unworthy sometimes. All I can do to repay you is to pray in return for you, that God will pour His blessings on you and smother you with His unfailing love, peace and joy! Our God is still in the business of miracles!

This quote from Beth Moore's Esther study really got me today, "Sometimes God uses the winds of a new threat to blow the dust off a past miracle that has moved from our active file into the archives. Remember what God has done for you!" I know that I don't ever want to forget it!

Through Anna's Eyes

Well, my week didn't go exactly as I had planned. I was supposed to get my pictures taken, go to Jumpin' Monkey with friends and show off for the Dr. on Friday my smooth walkin' skills. But somewhere along the way this nasty cold got a hold on me. I started feeling kinda yucky on Friday. I had a funny sounding cough and that night I got really warm. By Saturday morning, I really felt terrible. Mommy called the Doctor and they said there's nothin you can do for a cough and a fever, so just wait it out. Well Saturday and Sunday were no fun and I was up most of the night coughing. So Monday morning Mommy toted me off to the Dr. They just kept looking at me and doing funny things to me. I actually slept through most of it. I had to get pictures taken of my chest and this mean man poked me so hard I bled. We waited in the room for what seemed like forever when they finally told me I had the flu - the what I said - the flu they said, and it was a nasty one. So then, 3 different doctors kept coming in and looking at me and listening to me breathe. Finally, one came in and sat down and told my mommy and daddy that I needed to go to CHKD for a night to be watched. Oh brother - that place again! Don't get me wrong, I love all the people there, I just don't like sleeping there, and neither does my mommy.

Guess what happened next. They strapped me on to a ginormous rolling bed and put me in the biggest truck you'll ever see. I was a little nervous, but there were nice ladies riding with me. I got to my room at CHKD and got very comfy in my blue gown and held onto my bunny really tight. Again, people kept coming in and poking me - they do that a lot there. Mommy was with me all night and made sure everything was okay. The next day they woke me up very early to get another picture of my chest taken. I didn't like that so much. Then we just got to hang out in the room all day so I did a lot of sleeping. Turns out that picture showed some yucky stuff in my lungs.

Daddy stayed with me for the next 2 nights because he sleeps through all the noises pretty well like me. I spent all day Wednesday trying to feel good enough to breathe without any help. Finally I started feeling better and thought I should find a way to get out of that room. I tried and tried to bust out of the window, but Mommy kept holding me back. At last I was feeling so good that I got to take that bothersome oxygen tube off and be almost wire free.

Here's the good part. Thursday morning the doctor told me I was doing so great that I could go home. We called mommy to tell her the good news and she brought MawMaw and Erin to be there to get me. I was so excited to be home I slept in my own bed for a long time. I can't wait to get back outside and see all my friends. Mommy says there were a lot of people praying for me, and that a lot of people love me. I love them too!

I'm strapped in on the gerny(sp?) to transport me to CHKD.
One unhappy little girl, bunny never left my side.

An early morning ride to the x-ray room.

Daddy got me this special Elmo balloon to cheer me up.

Mr. John brought me a new lovey bear.

Searching in Daddy's pockets helped the time go by faster.

Mommy and me catching up on some much needed rest.

I'd like a large cheese pizza, on the double.

I wonder how I could get out of here and just get one of those rocks in my mouth?

We had to do it - couldn't resist!

Big Sissy was there to help bring me home!

Yeah - this is the ride I've been waiting for - Let's go home!

Pretty and Pitiful

Here's the Pretty.....

Here's the Pitiful....

Erin went to an ODU game with the grandparents today while Anna was sick again with a nasty cough. I can't wait till Spring.