Merry Christmas!!!

We had a wonderful Christmas yesterday. K got many goodies from Santa and she had a lot of fun and played hard. Here she is in her Christmas Jammies. Got a little hot yesterday for her. Who would have thought it would be in the 70s on Christmas?
Here we are leaving Santa cookies and milk. K delivered them all herself and she also left a letter to Santa with her name written all over it. She is trying to make "K's" right now. I wonder how many other children out there left milk for Santa in a sippy cup! He must be pretty messy:)
Here is Christmas cookie time. This wasn't on Christmas, but I have been a little overwhelmed with Christmas so I haven't been together with the picture thing. Nobody really wanted to touch those cookies because she got a little happy with the icing. She had a great time though.
This Christmas was an extra special one for all of us. Nate's parents are here working on the house and they spent Christmas with our family. Mom is with us and we are so grateful. I have looked at the crushed up car and it is only because of God that it wasn't a horrible Christmas. We are so blessed and grateful for the many blessings we have been given. Merry Christmas to all of you and I hope you have a blessed New Year!

A Day With Santa

So today was quite the adventure. K went this morning to see Santa and after that we headed home to take a nap. Little did we know that the rest of the day we would be at the hospital. My mom and dad were in a car accident around lunch time. They were t-boned at an intersection and mom was pinned in the car at the foot. They had to use the jaws of life to get her out and she was rushed to the hospital in Pensacola. She just has a cracked bone in her ankle, but it was one of those days that we were forced to look at things from a different perspective. It could have been a very awful day for us, but God was looking out for my mom and dad today. Thank you so much for all of the words and prayers. Mom is home and is recuperating, but she will definitely be feeling it for the next few months. Dad is sore, but he was checked out and is fine. Scary day, but everyone is doing so much better knowing mom will be around for Christmas.

Wow How She Shines!

Game Face On!!!

Here we are awaiting the Christmas parade. Concentration is the key to gettin' lots of candy.
Next step, have a gargantuan bag ready in hand.
Wonder if Santa got my letter? I wants lots of stuff:)
This is the same little church that we took a picture of last year. I'll try to find last year's photo to show you how big she has gotten.
I SAW SANTA!!! I have to get the pictures from Aunt Amy, but I SAW SANTA!!!! AND IT WAS COOL!!!

Thanksgiving Pics

So this picture has nothing to do with Thanksgiving, but it sure shows you why we are so thankful right now. Here K is attempting to dress herself. Poor little girl has such a big head. It makes it quite difficult sometimes. I am confident that her stubborn little self will figure it out in no time though.
Here was our Thanksgiving attire. We went over to my aunt's house and we had a wonderful time with family and friends. This is a time when I like to reflect back on the wonderful things in my life and they always seem to be connected with my family. I have been blessed with wonderful parents and siblings, yes I did say that, and I have also been given a husband who loves me more than I deserve. And then, of course, there is the little rose in my life. I know I speak for my husband as well when I say that she is one of the things in our life that we are most thankful for. The only thing that really trumps that is our faith in God. He has not only given us each other, He has given us a miracle in K. Sometimes I look back and realize that many children don't survive ABS and when I think about that I realize how blessed I am as a mother. How many people can say that they have a little girl who makes them sit back and reflect on what is really important in life? I believe K has been put in my life to make me realize that "normal" is relative. I can now relate to those who have children who struggle and I can relate to those who have problems that they can't understand.
While we all struggle with things on a daily basis, our perceptions of life are so often affected by the events around us. I have been blessed to have a daughter who defies the odds and is constantly surprising everyone with the things she is able to do. I have no doubt she will be a blessing to others; I just can't wait to see what is ahead. It is going to be incredible whatever it is. The past three years have been incredible to say the least. Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

Black Friday

So my husband and I became someof those crazy shoppers this morning. The alarm clock went off at 4:00 in the morning, ungodly time I might add. We wanted to get some of those great deals and so we braved Walmart and Target. People were incredibly civil at Walmart, but Target was a different story. The line was really long, but we were all waiting in line patiently for the doors to close. And then...people tried to sneak in the front of line. There is one thing about the human instinct that is very interesting, herding. When the people in line saw the intentions of those who were unwilling to wait, the whole line moved as one being to block anyone who might hinder their shopping desires. It was a little comical and I might add, I was not one of those people trying to sneak in.
So meanwhile, K had no idea Santa was getting her presents early this morning. Christmas is taken care of, but it was an experience.

Pictures

Okay, so it is two months early but it was too cute to pass.

Adorable!

Fun Times With The Munchkin

This is what happens when you allow a toddler to "dress" herself up. That's a shirt, but it evidently now doubles as a fashionable skirt. She even accessorized herself.
Just lazing around in our jammies. Talk about stylin'.

Pics On The Way

So just in case you were worried about us...we are just fine. K is growing like a weed and she loves asking me about my 'dudents. Her vocabulary is amazing and she is constantly changing. Today mommy didn't have to work so we are just chillin'. Hence the ability to do a post. No pictures, but I have plenty that will be coming soon. Hope all is well with all of you! The "why" is about to drive us insane however:)

Fall Fun!!!

Here we are at the zoo. The zoo had "Boo at the Zoo" and K got to dress up in her costume and go to one of her favorite places. We didn't go trick or treating this year because she was under the weather. She is feeling better now, but it was too cold to be a hula girl:)
Can't get the full effect with the shirt underneath, but more pictures will be coming.
The raffia on the bottom proved to be quite interesting, but K enjoyed dressing up in her attire.
K loves doing things at school. This is one of the many creative things she has done. This is her little pumpkin. It didn't last long because it went rotten, but it was fun while it lasted. She is one crazy little girl. Her biggest thing now is "WHY"??????? Talk about driving everyone crazy!

Wow

So K's daddy is sitting here at the computer going over some financial decisions and K is sitting on the floor playing. All of the sudden I realized K was about to do something different because she was very quiet. This is what she said next: "Thank you for mommy and please help her not get sick, and thank you for daddy and help him not get sick, and thank you for all the kids and help them not get sick. Thank you for this day and help me not get sick. In Jesus name, amen."

That was cool. She continued to pray a minute later and bless all her imaginary food in a similar manner. Cute little kid who is now shooting me with her finger gun saying "POW Daddy." We never know what to expect from this little squirt but she is such a blessing and we cannot imagine what this journey would be without her.

The picture reminds me of this. I believe we took it the day she was fitted for her first body jacket. That is the hospital crib she slept in when she had her surgeries. She was laying down in the crib for a nap and she wanted to see what we were doing so she peeked out and we snapped a quick pick with our phone camera. Priceless!

Our Newest Crazes

K decided to dress her baby doll. She put her in one of her dresses and then was rocking her.
K also loves coloring. She always wants to color.
K and daddy got mommy some flowers and here she is delivering them to mommy.

Beauty Salon

So, I know what all of you are thinking. Where have pictures been? The answer...laziness. Sorry. Things have been pretty crazy around here and I think they will only get crazier. K wanted to get ready for a football game a couple weeks ago and this is the result. Her hair is done and she is ready to move. She loves to get ready!!!

Mommy Is Getting Up There

So I had my ten year reunion this year. I know, I know. It really isn't that big of a deal, but it made me feel a little on the old side. Probably doesn't help that I teach teenagers who believe thirty is ancient. It was neat seeing people I haven't seen in awhile, but it also made me realize that I have become disconnected with so many people. I remember telling my mom that I would be friends FOREVER with my class. Guess life happened and here we are. I was getting dressed for the reunion and I looked at my right hand where I wear my ABS Awareness band. For a brief moment, I thought about taking it off because it clashed. Then I realized something, this is who my family is. I wear this band because I am so proud of what my family is made up of. Not only is K different from so many other kids, she is a part of me. How awesome is that? I have never been ashamed of my daughter and I never will be, but I realized that there are those who would like to hide their differences. Right now K is in your face about who she is and I am hoping that she always will be. She has two in your face parents so I think that will be a very good possibilty. Reflection time is over. Just thought I would get it out there. Also, Momma and Poppa G we are praying for you. K says hello and I am sure she would be tending your wounds if she were up there:)

What a Big Girl!!!

Here we are talking to Momma and Poppa G. She loves talking on the phone.
Daddy and I go on safaris at our house. We love hunting lions!!!
Coloring is another pasttime now. She does really well coloring in the lines. Not quite yet, but getting there.
Drumroll please...BIG GIRL BED!!!

Where Has The Time Gone?

So our little rose no longer uses her high chair, we are going to go to a toddler bed, and she is beginning to color in the lines. Where did the time go? K has an extensive vocabulary that shocks people when she speaks and she does things that I just am not prepared for her to do. You can carry on a very lengthy conversation with her now and you can actually reason with her. It doesn't always work, but can't hurt a mommy for trying:) Sorry it has been so long since we have posted, but it is a big job taking care of this little girl. This weekend we will be going to the "big girl" bed and she is quite excited. Her newest thing is gasping when she is surprised. Don't know where she learned it from because her mommy is not the most "girly" person out there. Crazy stuff. Must be getting it from her daddy:) More pictures are on the way, but know we haven't forgotten all of you out there!!!!

K is Fun

It has been a while since we have posted because of computer problems. Now I have the computer fixed but we are having to fight our internet connection to upload images. We cannot win with computers right now but at least we have our little rose. She keeps us smiling!

This is what happened when we had to move some car seats around and one ended up in the house. K was supposed to be getting ready for a bath. As you can see, she wanted to go for a ride instead.

She loves bath time. She can play in the bath for an hour and still not want out of it.
She is also learning to drive.

The past few weeks have been busy, but good. K has started "school" at a local mother's day out program that focuses more on learning than she has had before. It has been very good for her. Other than that she has been sick and we have been trying to make sure everything is in order if a hurricane comes our way. If the gulf coast gets hit, you may not see a post for a while depending on where the hurricane lands and how much damage is done.

Our Very First Haircut

Here is our before picture. K was so excited about getting her very first haircut. I know, I know. I have been putting it off, but I was afraid of losing those curls. We just wanted to get the baby hair trimmed.
Here we are in our chair. K let the lady pick her up and place her in the chair. She knows that she has to be really still while she is getting her haircut.
They even broke out the "pink" camo wrap. Talk about service:)

Here is the finished product. Doesn't look much different, but hopefully now her hair won't be as tangled. She even had hairspray put in her hair. She definitely loved that:) I have hair in an envelope ready to file away for those days when she is a high schooler and doesn't want mommy:(

Who Does She Take After???

I was looking through some pics this morning from this summer and found this one with K and C. I had to share it. This is at Papa and Momma G's back yard when K discovered how to work a pump squirt gun. She was on mission to squirt everyone in the family and you can see the determination.

Growing Up Too Fast

So mommy and K are both going to school this year. I start back on Monday with the students and K will be going to "school" at our church this year. She will still be at daycare on Fridays, but Monday through Thursday she will be at school. She is quite excited about it all. She has a Dora lunchbox and an Elmo backpack. We are really talking it up, but I know she will do great. She was already getting quite bored with mommy this summer.
Update time:
We went to the Children's Hospital on Wednesday and the doctor told us that everything looks great with her spine. She will be able to go another 6 months with just having to sleep in the brace at night. Big praise.
I also wanted to point out the fact that I am constantly reminded of how neat K really is. During her swim lessons, a young boy in her class was sitting with her on a bench. When I had gone through the whole "God made her that way" he gave me a revelation. He asked me if I knew that my daughter had 8 fingers! He had taken her little hand and counted her nubbins. I almost wanted to cry to realize that is was so matter-of-fact to him. He had 10 and she had 8 and that was cool:)
K is growing so quickly now. She is quirky and just an all around fun kid to be with. Her biggest things are now:
1. When we don't do something right away she says: "Silly mommy/daddy, my got forgot."
2. If she wants to put something off she wants a hug and kiss. She will even hug you through the phone. It is quite funny.
I am going to miss my little girl and I can't wait for the weekends:)

A GoodOne Week

Well Momma and Poppa G are heading home to Indiana tomorrow. They have taken K to the beach quite a bit this week and she has had a great time. I believe she is definitely a little beach bum now. I don't think she fully understands the concept of going home to Indiana, but she has definitely had fun with her Momma and Poppa G.
Here we are stylin' our Dora glasses. That is one cool chickie there.
Here Poppa G is having fun with K in the shooting water. Funny story. K was with Poppa G a few days ago in the morning and they went to Chic-fil-A. Momma G and I were shopping and my mom called us. She let us know that someone from church had called her and informed her that a strange man in a convertible had K. He wanted to know if mom knew anything about it. Makes me feel good to know that people are looking out for our little girl. We all had a good laugh with that one.
We have had jellyfish stings, topped down rides, and all around fun. It has been a pretty cool time. I am pretty sure Momma and Poppa G won't be able to stay gone long. K has that affect on people:)

My Intellectual Girl

Here we are reading a good book. Check out those legs.
"The Chicken Place" had a cow appreciation day and so we got a free meal by dressing like a cow. Couldn't resist.
Nothing more to say about this one:)
This is what happens when you have K dress herself. Both legs are in one arm hole. She is growing up, but not too fast:)