It was so good to see them and hear all about Australia and Fiji...we appreciated the warning about visiting Fiji and can now cross that off of our vacation list.
We are now on countdown to the big wedding in January! We can't wait! Welcome home!!!
They're baaack!
My friends Heather and Dan came back early from Australia and we had the pleasure of meeting them for dinner tonight!
It was so good to see them and hear all about Australia and Fiji...we appreciated the warning about visiting Fiji and can now cross that off of our vacation list.
We are now on countdown to the big wedding in January! We can't wait! Welcome home!!!
It was so good to see them and hear all about Australia and Fiji...we appreciated the warning about visiting Fiji and can now cross that off of our vacation list.
We are now on countdown to the big wedding in January! We can't wait! Welcome home!!!
The best little Mommy ever!
I get choked up looking at these. Monkey was never suppose to do any of these things and look at her, isn't she a beautiful Mommy? I thought in those first few days that my baby would never have a baby of her own. I was wrong.
Thank God for this miracle!
Thank God for this miracle!
Happy Thanksgiving!
If I had to sit down and list out the blessings that have come our way, I'm not sure that I could do it.
Well, I guess I could, but it would take a while!
I have officially taken over hosting Thanksgiving for my family.
We had eighteen people join us for our feast.
We had a fabulous time and enjoyed our time with family.
We don't see them often, so we appreciate the time we do spend together.
Julien was more than happy to keep the kids entertained with his Wii and Monkey did her best to show off her new "walking skills" for everyone.
I thank God for our blessings, for this day and for each day that we have ahead of us!
Hidden pictures
A few of you have asked if I fell off the face of the earth since it has been so long since I updated the blog. I'm still here, just knee deep in mess.
Monkey has been running a fever and has that terrible croupy cough. When she doesn't feel good, she just wants to be held and loved on. So, I am ten loads of laundry behind, halfway finished wrapping wedding presents, a fourth of the way finished wrapping Christmas presents and an eighth of the way finished putting up Christmas decorations. We have football practice today, a delivery being made to our house which means I have to clear a path for people to get in, we have dinner with friends tonight and we have to go back to work tomorrow.
I was trying to figure out how my house got destroyed in a matter of two days, then I figured it out. I've been sleeping at night - when Monkey has let me. When I sleep, I don't make progress. Err...tis the season for stress!
So, here are a few hidden pictures for you... if you see Waldo, please let me know. I would feel much better if someone could tell me that their house was more hideously destroyed than mine at this point! Anyone?
Drama Queen!
Little Monkey has been so dramatic lately! If she drops something, sees something "disturbing" or just needs to milk a situation, she will put her hands over her mouth and say, "oh"!
Drama, drama, drama!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
My beautiful little princess!
Monkey was all ready for the ball tonight! All she needed was her horse and carriage and she would have been set!
"
The boys were out of the house tonight, so we decided to play dress up!
Monkey "won" a little plastic, purple bracelet last month when we went to a fall festival. She is in love with the bracelet and has started putting anything she can find on her arms in lieu of "real" bracelets. So...I have been on the hunt for little, tiny bracelets to fit her arms. I hunted everywhere with no luck. I was at Walgreens this past Sunday and while walking down the baby aisle, a bag of linking rings caught my eye. Hmmm, little, plastic, colorful rings, perfect for little arms...looky there! I took them home and when Monkey woke from her nap, I showed her the beautiful new bracelets! She thinks she is so beautiful when she has them on and she doesn't want to take them off, not even to take a bath.
Next time you see Monkey, don't tell her they are really linking rings and not bracelets. I think it would just crush her!
:)
"
Finito!
Thanks to my amazing husband, my office is back up and running. I have some finishing touches still left, but that is not hindering my use of my relaxing, remodeled room! Man, I love him! 
It's official!
Ten years ago at this moment, my first born, my love was born. I don't know where the time went, but I do know he has blessed me with more than I could have ever hoped! As I was tucking him into bed tonight, he asked me if I would wake him up at 9:23. I told him I would...and I did. He gave me the biggest hug and told me how much he loved me. It was a moment that couldn't have been any more perfect!
Thank God for this beautiful blessing!
Thank God for this beautiful blessing!
Birthday wishes!
I wouldn't say we made up for not going to Orlando, but we came pretty close...
Julien got what he asked for and more! He was thrilled! 
Celebrating with family!
Per Julien's request, my family met at Sumo for lunch this past Saturday. We had a great time catching up and celebrating one of the most special birthdays - my Baby Boy's 10th Birthday. I just can't believe it!
We are supposed to be in Disney World right now. I promised Julien when we went for his 7th Birthday, that we would go back for his 10th. We just didn't know then that God had special plans for us. Since Chunkus doesn't do well in the car and I can't talk Julien onto a plane, we had to delay our trip. Julien was the one who volunteered to delay the trip. He loves Chunkus so much that he didn't mind putting off the trip for a little while. He is amazing!
I love you more than life itself! Happy Birthday!
We are supposed to be in Disney World right now. I promised Julien when we went for his 7th Birthday, that we would go back for his 10th. We just didn't know then that God had special plans for us. Since Chunkus doesn't do well in the car and I can't talk Julien onto a plane, we had to delay our trip. Julien was the one who volunteered to delay the trip. He loves Chunkus so much that he didn't mind putting off the trip for a little while. He is amazing!
I love you more than life itself! Happy Birthday!
Monkey and the witch... Post for our E.R. Friends!
Monkey is still loving the witch you guys gave to her on our last visit. Thank you again!
Monkey for Monkey
Julien passed down Monkey tonight. That would be his Build a Bear Monkey from eight years ago.
Can I tell you how happy that made my Monkey? She was in heaven!
Notice Monkey is still sporting the arm band from the last time he and Julien visited our sick daycare at work. Good grief, it had to be six or seven years ago. I just can't take it off...
Can I tell you how happy that made my Monkey? She was in heaven!
Notice Monkey is still sporting the arm band from the last time he and Julien visited our sick daycare at work. Good grief, it had to be six or seven years ago. I just can't take it off...
The infamous picture!
I'm a little late posting this, but here is the infamous class picture. Enjoy!
Never ceasing to amaze me!
As Monkey and I were playing tonight, I had the most heart-warming revelation. Monkey is understanding more than I realize.
We were playing with a drum that my favorite cousin, Apryl, gave to Chunkus. On one mode, the song directs you to clap your hands, sing and stomp your feet. Monkey was sitting on her knees, hands on the drum, listening to the music and me singing along. We clapped our hands, we sang and when it got to the part to stomp our feet...Chunkus did - sort of. I get absolutely no credit for this, this is all thanks to The Bell Center. I have watched Monkey countless number of times through the window at therapy, sitting in her volunteers lap while everyone else is stomping their feet to the song being sang. Her volunteer would always take her little feet and stomp, stomp, stomp them for her. It was always one of those moments that sent a pain through my heart...Monkey watching, but unable to do it on her own.
When Monkey was supposed to stomp her feet tonight, she was on her knees and she wiggled her little body back and forth and shook her feet - hence stomping her feet!
Can you believe it? I had to see it over and over to believe it! What a beautiful, heaven sent sight!
Thank God for this miracle and this blessing - the blessing of Monkey's comprehension and physical strength!
We were playing with a drum that my favorite cousin, Apryl, gave to Chunkus. On one mode, the song directs you to clap your hands, sing and stomp your feet. Monkey was sitting on her knees, hands on the drum, listening to the music and me singing along. We clapped our hands, we sang and when it got to the part to stomp our feet...Chunkus did - sort of. I get absolutely no credit for this, this is all thanks to The Bell Center. I have watched Monkey countless number of times through the window at therapy, sitting in her volunteers lap while everyone else is stomping their feet to the song being sang. Her volunteer would always take her little feet and stomp, stomp, stomp them for her. It was always one of those moments that sent a pain through my heart...Monkey watching, but unable to do it on her own.
When Monkey was supposed to stomp her feet tonight, she was on her knees and she wiggled her little body back and forth and shook her feet - hence stomping her feet!
Can you believe it? I had to see it over and over to believe it! What a beautiful, heaven sent sight!
Thank God for this miracle and this blessing - the blessing of Monkey's comprehension and physical strength!
TRAPPED!
Well, my little Monkey sure is becoming the little explorer! I don't think I could be any more thrilled!
Friday night when we got home, we went about our normal routine. I took Chunkus with me so that I could change clothes. We went to my room, closed the bedroom door so that she couldn't escape, I put her down with some toys and I went into the closet to change.
I had no more than taken off my earrings and necklace before I heard this muffled, scared, little "MaMa". Mommy instinct kicked in and I immediately went to check on her. Monkey was in hot pursuit of a book that she saw laying at the corner of my bed (left over from Julien reading to her the night before) and she must have shoved it under the bed while trying to pick it up. Monkey obviously went after it, because she was stuck UNDER my bed!
Monkey wasn't in any danger and she wasn't hysterical, so I called for Julien and Chris. Really, how could I let them miss this? They came up immediately and I proceeded to show them our trapped little Monkey. Julien hit panic mode, crawled as far underneath the bed as he could and started trying to grab Monkey. I was talking to her from the other side and she eventually got close enough to Julien for him to grab her ankles and pull her to him. She got a tiny little bump as Julien was pulling her free, but she immediately turned into Julien and gave him a huge hug!
Monkey was fine and we got to witness what we have been missing for so long...our precious little Monkey acting like a "typical" child. It was a moment that was heaven sent!
Friday night when we got home, we went about our normal routine. I took Chunkus with me so that I could change clothes. We went to my room, closed the bedroom door so that she couldn't escape, I put her down with some toys and I went into the closet to change.
I had no more than taken off my earrings and necklace before I heard this muffled, scared, little "MaMa". Mommy instinct kicked in and I immediately went to check on her. Monkey was in hot pursuit of a book that she saw laying at the corner of my bed (left over from Julien reading to her the night before) and she must have shoved it under the bed while trying to pick it up. Monkey obviously went after it, because she was stuck UNDER my bed!
Monkey wasn't in any danger and she wasn't hysterical, so I called for Julien and Chris. Really, how could I let them miss this? They came up immediately and I proceeded to show them our trapped little Monkey. Julien hit panic mode, crawled as far underneath the bed as he could and started trying to grab Monkey. I was talking to her from the other side and she eventually got close enough to Julien for him to grab her ankles and pull her to him. She got a tiny little bump as Julien was pulling her free, but she immediately turned into Julien and gave him a huge hug!
Monkey was fine and we got to witness what we have been missing for so long...our precious little Monkey acting like a "typical" child. It was a moment that was heaven sent!
Game night
We really needed some down time. No therapy, no sports, no going out for anything...just staying at home, making dinner and playing monopoly. This was per Julien's request and a great request I may add.
We dusted off SpongeBob Monopoly and I proceeded to show the others in my family how to lose. Never would I have danced and sang anything with regards to how I'm the best and they are losers, that would be wrong and seriously, what kind of a Mother would do that? That instills bad sportsmanship and hurts ones feelings. 
Torturing the baby
Julien insists on torturing Monkey from time to time. He wouldn't be a good big brother if he didn't!
How dare I wake her...
What a little beast...
I would be referring to Alley the fat rat, not Monkey. I can't turn my back for one second without this cat trying to squish my sleeping child. To top that off, she gives me the evil eye for waking her from her nap.
What an attitude...
Are you ready to see? Here it is!
Get out your shammy, because a tissue just won't do!
This video is from this morning and is only a small view of this beautiful miracle.
It all started...
When we took Monkey into school Monday morning.
After we got inside and down the first hallway, I put her down and asked her to walk into class using her walker.
I honestly didn't expect her to do much of anything, it was early, she was sleepy...wow, how she proved me wrong!
As Monkey started walking, people started looking.
They stopped what they were doing and started to cheer for Monkey.
They clapped and cheered...everyone who saw her.
From teachers, to children to the cafeteria workers, they all stopped what they were doing, to cheer for my Monkey...some with tears in their eyes!
I promise it was as if time stood still.
It was a moment that could never be recreated and a moment I wish I could have captured in its entirety on video.
At the same time, it was a moment that was so private, just for the people that were there to witness this beautiful sight!
Later, when we picked Monkey up, her teachers told us that Monkey used her walker to go to the the multi-purpose room to listen to a drummer.
The multi-purpose room is halfway across the building from her classroom.
One teacher told me that she didn't expect Monkey to make it all the way there, she thought she would tire too quickly.
The teachers said that everyone cleared a path for Monkey and cheered for her.
Can you imagine?
Monkey still cannot stand independently, so I know that walking on her own is still a while away.
That is fine!
This is a beautiful glimpse into our future!
Thank God for this blessing!
Milestone update
I'm not going to make a big introduction for this milestone, because the one that I will post in the next few days will knock your socks off! I am waiting to get it on video...you have to see it!
Monkey is cruising...ever so slowly, slowly, slowly amongst the furniture in my living room. She is so timid and still doesn't have a clue how to sit down from a standing position, which is very upsetting to her.
Oh wait! Do you realize how huge this is? Monkey is still working on learning how to bend her knees and she has a lot of trouble with her left leg. She does pretty good with her right leg, but tends to drag her left. Do I seem troubled by that? Not a bit! She will get it. I don't care how long it takes.
Let me say it one more time...I'm smiling as I type this because I am just so proud...Monkey is cruising!!!
Anybody seen National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation? Of course you have unless you have been living under a rock. Around our house during the holidays, we watch it countless number of times and oh yes, it is playing on Christmas Eve during our party. So, everybody remember the part where Clark wants his boss right there in his living room so he can tell him...blah, blah, blah? Well, I want "them" in my living room for Christmas so that I can show "them" how wrong "they" are. I want to show "them" that our God provides the miracles that "they" told me would never come. I want to continue to prove "them" wrong...my baby is proving "them" wrong.
Thank God for these miracles and for Monkey's continued development!
Monkey is cruising...ever so slowly, slowly, slowly amongst the furniture in my living room. She is so timid and still doesn't have a clue how to sit down from a standing position, which is very upsetting to her.
Oh wait! Do you realize how huge this is? Monkey is still working on learning how to bend her knees and she has a lot of trouble with her left leg. She does pretty good with her right leg, but tends to drag her left. Do I seem troubled by that? Not a bit! She will get it. I don't care how long it takes.
Let me say it one more time...I'm smiling as I type this because I am just so proud...Monkey is cruising!!!
Anybody seen National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation? Of course you have unless you have been living under a rock. Around our house during the holidays, we watch it countless number of times and oh yes, it is playing on Christmas Eve during our party. So, everybody remember the part where Clark wants his boss right there in his living room so he can tell him...blah, blah, blah? Well, I want "them" in my living room for Christmas so that I can show "them" how wrong "they" are. I want to show "them" that our God provides the miracles that "they" told me would never come. I want to continue to prove "them" wrong...my baby is proving "them" wrong.
Thank God for these miracles and for Monkey's continued development!
Well deserving
Chris finished painting the bathroom this evening. Whew! My corneas can now relax. There are two fewer yellow rooms in my house now. I can only take so many pastelly, neutrally colors before I go crazy.
We still have to get everything back together before this weekend, but things are moving along.
In return, I allowed Julien to go out on a school night with Chris to see a movie. Hey, if that's all it takes to get two rooms in my house painted, they can go see a movie every school night until my house is completely painted inside and out!
Thank you to my wonderful husband! I love you!
We still have to get everything back together before this weekend, but things are moving along.
In return, I allowed Julien to go out on a school night with Chris to see a movie. Hey, if that's all it takes to get two rooms in my house painted, they can go see a movie every school night until my house is completely painted inside and out!
Thank you to my wonderful husband! I love you!
Germ infested Monkey
I stayed home with cootie baby today. She obviously picked up a little germy bug somewhere and is unable to breathe out of her nose. There are things dripping from her nose that would make the Hazmat crews run for cover and she is drooling like crazy. All of this makes her MISERABLE!
I can only hope for a better night tonight and a better day tomorrow.
I can only hope for a better night tonight and a better day tomorrow.
I'm selfish
This has been weighing heavy on my heart for a while now. This topic is the most difficult topic for me to discuss, but I need prayers and I know I can depend on you all to help me.
This is so incredibly selfish because I truly know how blessed I am to have my beautiful daughter who is beating all the odds, but I need these prayers...
I try desperately not to focus on head circumference, because there is nothing I can do about it except pray.
There has been no change in Monkey's head circumference for too long now. I selfishly pray every night for continued growth and there has been growth, but not lately. God answered my prayers in the beginning, but not lately. I'm selfish, I know.
I pray every night for Monkey to remain seizure free, for continued brain development and continued growth for her skull. My daughter is in the hands of our GOD. I will follow HIS path and HIS plan. I may not see it now, but there is a greater purpose. I know.
This is so incredibly selfish because I truly know how blessed I am to have my beautiful daughter who is beating all the odds, but I need these prayers...
I try desperately not to focus on head circumference, because there is nothing I can do about it except pray.
There has been no change in Monkey's head circumference for too long now. I selfishly pray every night for continued growth and there has been growth, but not lately. God answered my prayers in the beginning, but not lately. I'm selfish, I know.
I pray every night for Monkey to remain seizure free, for continued brain development and continued growth for her skull. My daughter is in the hands of our GOD. I will follow HIS path and HIS plan. I may not see it now, but there is a greater purpose. I know.
Pictures of the day
Monkey was sleeping on our way up to the mall this past Sunday. I took the scenic route and decided to get a few fall pictures before all the leaves are gone. If I could just keep the weather this beautiful all year round...this is perfect!
On another note - no pun intended. Fa la la la la....la la la la or should I say Bah, humbug! Monkey and I witnessed several people being just unbelievably rude while we were on our little outing. If people are already this insane, I can't imagine how festive it will be closer to Christmas! I don't understand how people can be so mean to one another. Seriously, what is the point?
On another note - no pun intended. Fa la la la la....la la la la or should I say Bah, humbug! Monkey and I witnessed several people being just unbelievably rude while we were on our little outing. If people are already this insane, I can't imagine how festive it will be closer to Christmas! I don't understand how people can be so mean to one another. Seriously, what is the point?
7-0
Go Titans!
Julien (known as J-Rod by everyone else) did great in the football game on Saturday. It was freezing cold and drizzling rain most of the time, but our team won - I can't remember the score - and are due to play the other undefeated team this Saturday.
This game is going to be a nail biter!
Julien (known as J-Rod by everyone else) did great in the football game on Saturday. It was freezing cold and drizzling rain most of the time, but our team won - I can't remember the score - and are due to play the other undefeated team this Saturday.
This game is going to be a nail biter!
Gymboree and Julien
We finally made it back to Gymboree Friday night. We have been so busy the last few weeks, we haven't been able to take Monkey to play. Friday worked out perfectly and we were able to make it through traffic with plenty of time for play. Monkey was crabby, so we didn't stay quite as long, but she still had a good time. Julien was a huge help as always and volunteered to help Monkey on the Monkey bars :) play ball with her, rock her on the rocking horse and play hide and seek.
Julien tells me all the time how much he loves Monkey. He told me over the weekend that we need to start calling her "Sock Monkey" because she always takes her socks off...fabulous suggestion! At dinner, Julien offered to share with Monkey because she thinks that whatever Julien and Chris have on their plates is better than what is on hers. Personally, I think she's playing them...suckers! Why bother to feed herself, if she can bat her pretty little eye lashes and have her Daddy or brother feed her? I hope Monkey's OT doesn't see this... 
A week behind
With all the construction going on at my house, I am now about a week behind on updates. Let me tell you, there has been a lot going on...and some AMAZING Monkey updates! I hope to update the blog in the next day or two. I told the amazing story to a few people today and couldn't make it through the conversation without tearing up. :)
My sniffling, sneezing, drippy nose baby is hunting me down, so I have to make this short, sleepy time is not in her plans tonight.
My sniffling, sneezing, drippy nose baby is hunting me down, so I have to make this short, sleepy time is not in her plans tonight.
These are pictures from last week. Monkey climbed onto the rocking cow all by herself! This cow was one of my gifts to Julien on his first birthday. I saved it all these years for my next baby and Monkey is having a blast with it! She understands how to make it rock and is so funny, stopping to give the cow babylovin's. What an angel.
Merlot
I have been out of touch with the rest of the world the last few days. My wonderful husband finished painting the walls in my office, they are now the color of deep Merlot. Bless him. Now we just have to get everything back together.
I've been a tad bit stressed lately. I have a few things going on outside my normal day to day routine and trying to make it all come together is interesting. I am in the process of planning Julien's 10th Birthday (I just can't believe it), following his birthday is Thanksgiving at my house. After Thanksgiving, I am hosting a bridal shower, after the bridal shower, I somehow have to figure out how to schedule Christmas with four different families. Next comes Monkey's 2nd Birthday (wow), New Years Eve and finally a trip to Atlanta for the wedding in which I am the MOH. I need a vacation. I tried to talk Chris into letting us just go away for the holidays, avoid all the stress, but we have too much going on to just pick up and leave. Maybe next year...
Ah, the holidays!
I've been a tad bit stressed lately. I have a few things going on outside my normal day to day routine and trying to make it all come together is interesting. I am in the process of planning Julien's 10th Birthday (I just can't believe it), following his birthday is Thanksgiving at my house. After Thanksgiving, I am hosting a bridal shower, after the bridal shower, I somehow have to figure out how to schedule Christmas with four different families. Next comes Monkey's 2nd Birthday (wow), New Years Eve and finally a trip to Atlanta for the wedding in which I am the MOH. I need a vacation. I tried to talk Chris into letting us just go away for the holidays, avoid all the stress, but we have too much going on to just pick up and leave. Maybe next year...
Ah, the holidays!
Baby Sadie
I was asked this afternoon to pray for a new special angel that was born today. Baby Sadie has challenges ahead that are not quite clear. Please pray for this family, that they find the answers and peace that they need and pray for Sadie, that God may be with her and help to heal her little body.
Disclaimer
My wonderful husband brought it to my attention (as if I didn't already know) that Monkey has food on her face in the last set of pictures. I don't know about other toddlers, maybe they are perfect and love to have their faces wiped endlessly during and after meals, but Monkey prefers to have this task done - at a minimum. When she is done eating and our next stop is the bathtub, I don't tend to spend too much time cleaning her precious little face because it will be all nice and pretty when she gets out of the bath.
It just so happened that the last few posts, the pictures were taken right after dinner, before we could make it upstairs to the bath.
Whew...I feel better now that everyone knows that I don't let my children walk around filthy - all the time!
:)
It just so happened that the last few posts, the pictures were taken right after dinner, before we could make it upstairs to the bath.
Whew...I feel better now that everyone knows that I don't let my children walk around filthy - all the time!
:)
Can I get a little help here?
It took Monkey no time to find the lone paint chip on the ladder. As you can see, she didn't have a problem letting me know she needed a little help!
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