Day 29 - Thankful Blog - Squishy Willard

Today I am thankful for my husband and his generosity.  He has this tough, mean guy exterior but he has a squishy spot if you can find it.  I can’t even count how many times someone has come up to me and thanked me for something “we” did to help them or their family.  I always nod and say “oh, you’re welcome…” but then I have to go home and ask Willard what the heck they were talking about.  I’m not blogging this to brag, but it does make me proud.  He’s probably going to kill me because he prefers to be an anonymous donor, or at least a quiet donor, but I just felt like I needed to let him know that he HAS made a difference in a lot of people’s lives. 

 

Hey generous man... build your wife a pool!

 

Day 28 - Thankful Blog - No more epilepsy jokes

In September 2004, we were in San Antonio, Texas, on a business trip for lawnmower dealers.  On Saturday, we had some free time and went shopping at a mall.  While I was shopping, Willard took a phone call and stepped outside but I didn't think much about it and kept shopping.  A couple of hours later, when we were finished and headed back to our hotel, he told me that it was my mom and she wanted us to know that Karlie (or "Sweet Pea", as he calls her) had a seizure of some kind.  I was immediately freaked out. (And I was MAD because he waited 2 hours to tell me) She had never had a history of seizures, she wasn't sick, no fever, etc.  My mom took her to the ER and they did a CT scan, but sent her home.  Mom told me she was doing fine and not to worry.  Yeah, right.  I was stuck in Texas for another 24 hours!  I found out later that Karlie had another seizure later that night.  Long story short, we ended up at Children's and she was put on medication.  After several abnormal EEGs, but no more seizure activity, she was given the diagnosis of epilepsy.  She has taken medication daily and except for a small issue with flashing lights at the Fair one year, she has done well.  Her neurologist told us there was a possibility she could outgrow it, but with her history of abnormal EEG after abnormal EEG, I was doubtful.  We were resigned to her taking a pill every day for the rest of her life.  It could be SO much worse, I know.

She had a regular checkup with her neurologist this month and he suggested we do another EEG.  He said if it turned out normal, she could stop her medicine.  Apparently she's at that age where sometimes the brain finds "new pathways" and skips the part of the brain that causes seizures. 

Crossing our fingers...

And the result is -

 

 

Woohoo!  No more medicine. 

And no more epilepsy jokes.  For a long time, Karlie was very anxious and insecure about her diagnosis.  In the past year, it's become somewhat of a joke.  When she does something dumb, or doesn't do what she's supposed to, she blames it on epilepsy.  Even though she hasn't had a seizure in 8 years.  So, ha! No more excuses, missy!

Today, I am thankful for this wonderful news!!

Day 26 and 27 - Thankful Blog - My Mom and Dad

For days 26 and 27, I am thankful for my parents.  I’ve lived a pretty awesome life.  I guess some people might call it being spoiled, but I call it being loved.  My dad has always been the hardest working person I know and I know he works hard so he can provide everything his family needs (and even a bunch of stuff we WANT but don’t necessarily NEED).  My mom was the mom that was at every school field trip and every school party.  I can count on one hand the number of ballgames she has ever missed.  And people, that’s A LOT of ballgames. 

I’m thankful that they are same kind of grandparents that they are parents.  There’s nothing in the world they wouldn’t do for their grandkids.  When we decided to get Yuri and Gigi, one of my biggest worries was that our families wouldn’t accept them as “real” members of the family.  Now, I realize what a silly thought that was!  They love Yuri and Gigi and Baby A just as much as they love their biological grandchildren. 

I’ve really kinda lived a charmed life… in the sense that good outweighed the bad by a million times.  If I trace all that back, it started because of the life my parents gave me.  And for that, I’m thankful. 

Day 25 - Thankful Blog - Safe travels

It’s 3:06 a.m.  My last thought before I went to sleep tonight was “ Shoot, I forgot to blog”, but I went to sleep anyway. 

Sometimes I don’t know what I’m going to blog about until I actually sit down and start typing.  Sometimes I get an idea days before and roll it around in my head.  And then sometimes an idea will hit me and I know I should sit down right then and type it out.  This is one of those sit-down-right-now moments. 

Today, as I watching Hunter getting in his truck to head back to Mississippi State, I had just a twinge of anxiety about him driving back.  I told him to call me when he got there.  I always say that, and he always says okay and then he never does.  Sigh.  Kids.  So, I gave him enough time to get there and I called to make sure he arrived safely.  When I hung up the phone, I thought to myself “that’s my thankful blog for today…that he got there safely”. 

Then I got caught up with kids and by the time they were settled in, I was sleepy myself and off to bed I went.

I woke up at 2 a.m. and noticed I had a text message that had arrived after I went to bed.

It was from a lady named Angie.  Angie is a nice lady that I do business with around Christmas time every year.  I never even knew her last name until tonight.  Maybe she told me at some point but I never caught it.  We always made small talk, and she was interested our Yuri/Gigi story.  Every year when I would see her, she would want to be filled on what was happening with the adoption, etc.  She’s just a really nice lady. 

My text from her tonight was business –related, but then she put… “I hope you and your family have had a blessed year.  I lost my last child this year, so if it’s possible I’d love to have your prayers…”

Two things struck me.  Oh no, she lost a child.  And what does “last child” mean?  I hoped she meant “youngest” but I had a feeling that’s not what she meant.  I did what I always do when I need information.  I googled her name.  There I found that she lost her 23-year-old daughter, Emma, in August.  The obituary said Emma was preceded in death by her sister and survived by her parents.  By “last child”, Angie meant literally that.  She lost her first child and she lost her second child.  I don’t know any details at all.  I don’t know if both girls died from illnesses or if both girls died from accidents.  No idea.  I just know that this mama had two babies and she has lost them both. 

I laid in bed for an hour after I read her text and finally realized I wouldn’t be going back to sleep until I blogged about being thankful that Hunter travelled safely back to college.  And being thankful that all my kids are healthy and tucked safely in their beds. 

Will you do me a favor and pray for Angie and her husband?

Thank you, friends, and good night. 

 

 

Day 24 - Thankful Blog - Sit-on-my-butt Saturdays

For the past several years, as in 14 or so, we have rarely had a free Saturday.  Once the big kids started playing sports, those free days ceased to exist.  Now that Karlie is finished with volleyball, and the little ones aren't playing little league basketball yet, I'm rekindling my love affair with Saturdays. 

I started the day bright and early with Baby A.  She got up before 6:30 (she slept in this morning...really!) but we cuddled on the couch and dozed until Yuri and Gigi got up at 8:30.  I even cooked up a real breakfast, complete with biscuits, gravy, sausage, and eggs.  After they started eating, I said, "Is it good?".  Gigi replied, "Yes, mama, this Capri Sun is AWESOME".  Well, awesome.  Alright then. 

After that, we just had a day of pajamas, fuzzy socks and fleece blankets. The kids built a village of forts in my kitchen.  We made cupcakes and ate bean dip and fritos until time for "the" big game to come on.  (Roll Tide)  Then Yuri and Gigi were sent to their rooms to watch movies just in case Daddy needed to yell at the TV (he didn't). 

Even though I've been pouty because I had planned for us to spend our Thanksgiving break at the beach, I have to admit that this really has been a good holiday. 

Day 23 - Thankful Blog - A Day Late!

This is actually yesterday's blog.  I don't know what happened but it totally slipped my mind. 

For Day 23, also known as Black Friday, I am thankful for the large amount of testosterone that I have.  It is apparently what causes me to shudder at the thought of fighting thousands of people while shopping for bargains. 

It's also what drove me to attend two basketball games on Wednesday and two basketball games on Friday when I didn't even have a kid playing. 

I blame it for my love of NASCAR.  How many women do you know that almost get giddy over the smell of exhaust? It's got to be the testosterone. 

It's why I'd rather go bowling than to a nice restaurant. 

It's why I choose sleep over waiting in line at midnight to see the newest Twlight movie. 

It's why I watch SportsCenter every morning.  Even after Willard leaves for work, I find myself still watching.

It could be why I will chose a steak over salad every single time... but maybe not, because doesn't everybody do that?

So, yay for testosterone.  Except now that I see how much I have, coupled with that freaky throat hair gene that I inherited, I'm wondering if I'm really a man?!?!

Day 22 - Thanksgiving 2012

What a great, great, great Thanksgiving!! No real blog tonight.  Just pictures from Thankgiving 2012. 

This is hard to see, but it's the backyard activities.  Horseshoes, corn hole, football, Red Rover, Duck Duck Goose, and some women in a huddle looking through the sale papers... something for everyone!
 

This is Charlie.  He's the first boy born into the family since Hunter.  There were 9 little girls between Hunter and Charlie.  Poor fellar.  He's surrounded by females!  In this picture, he's mesmerized by a lady bug.

Smiling cousins - Libby, Yuri, and Maggie

Baby A and sweet Mabry inspecting the Auburn football.  I guess they were trying to find the problem.  (Roll Tide)

Willard and Hunter were the 2012 Corn Hole Champions.  Their record was 13-1 on the day.  They (and by "they" I  mean Willard) are obnoxious winners.  Ask anybody.

I love this picture.  Now you see why I'm so thankful???

It was a fun, fun day but everybody was wiped out!

 

Yuri had that good slobber sleep...

 

If not for the pink bow, Gigi would be completely camouflaged.








Happy Thanksgiving y'all!!