Refreshed

For some reason or another I stayed up super late Thursday night. I didn't go to sleep until 2:30. Kaden came into our room and woke me up at 3:30. And then I woke up at 5:30. Now anybody that knows me knows that is early for me. I usually get everything ready for the next morning the night before and then I rush in the morning (like 30 minutes) to take a shower, get dressed, put things in the car and then get the kids up and in the car. Well, yesterday morning, Wade was taking the kids to the sitter and I STILL got up at 5:30. I was able to relax in the morning, do my hair and makeup, stop at the bank, get a mocha from Starbucks and then I got to work around 7:00. We have to be there at 7:30 and the kids come to the room around 7:55. Every minute counts in the morning people. It was nice to just come into my room and not rush for once. I feel like I am ALWAYS rushing.

Did I mention I did my hair and makeup? Sad, but as I picked up all kindergarten kiddos from the cafeteria in the morning, they were in awe of how I looked. They kept telling me how pretty I was and how beautiful my hair was. One girl told me I looked like a teenager!!! It was just a really good day. I really enjoyed spending time with my students today and kinda of stepped back to connect with them more. Again, it's always me feeling rushed to get things done and do as much as I can. We cleaned out our pumpkin, who they named "Pumpkin Pie". This was so fun for them because some of them have never even seen the inside of a pumpkin. Every one of them stuck their hands in to grab seeds and clean it out. They loved it. One girl told me she was telling her mom to buy me a gift and another told me her daddy was going to buy me a dress. Of course I had to tell that little girl that I didn't think Wade would like that too much (and of course she didn't get it!!!).

I think I just realized that I really need to slow down! I need to slow down and stop taking things for granted. I need to take time to get up in the morning and enjoy that precious, quiet time. Time for me. It's time to make some changes. A happier, refreshed me is a lot more fun to be around and a lot more laid back. It's time for change!

Fun Times

My nephew came down from Dallas a couple weeks ago and the kids had a blast playing together. Jordan and Kaden are only 9 months apart and they're best buddies. Reagan had fun with the boys too. We can't leave her out. Wade had the blower out there blowing it on them while they were jumping on the trampoline. Check out Reagan's face. Poor baby looks a little creepy!! Here are some pictures from that night...

Wade's Check-Up

This is an email I sent out today...

So many people have been asking about Wade and how he is doing. Well yesterday he went to the doctor for his checkup. He hasn't been since his last chemo treatment at the end of August. The lovely hurricane kind of pushed everything back. He got WONDERFUL news! The two nodules in his lungs have stopped growing and they feel they are "dead". The spot on his liver that they have been concerned about is NOT cancer!!!! They said it is a fatty deposit. Praise God indeed. Yesterday he got his catheter taken out. He's had it since his first round of chemo in April. He will go back in 2 months for another check up. We are beyond thrilled and relieved. Prayers have been answered no doubt. We will continue to pray for Wade's healing. Thanks as always to all for your support and prayers.

Rain, Rain Go Away!

So yesterday I went to pick up the kids from our babysitter's house in Spring. When I left work I almost went home to use the restroom real quick and to get some sippy cups for the kids. But for some reason, I turned around and decided to head on and get them. At the time it was barely sprinkling. So I get them and we start to head home about 5:00. I went south on the Hardy Toll Road, exited at Beltway 8 and stayed on the feeder until after JFK. I decided not to get on the Beltway yet because it was so backed up. The weather was a little bad at this time. It just started lightening and thundering, but nothing too serious. So I finally got on the Beltway and as I reached the ramp to get onto 59, I freaked! It was raining so hard I could barely see. I was hydroplaning all over the place. As I am exiting, I am seeing cars on the feeder going through a ridiculous amount of water. I'm even more nervous now. I can barely see where to go and I find myself in the super high water. So I get to Rankin and turn right. I notice a few cars in front of me have on their flashers. One car is just sitting there. I start to back up to go under the over pass and "wait" it out, but there were cars behind me and I could barely see. So I decide to keep going straight. The water was sooooo high. I am following another car and at this point my hands are shaking. The car in front of me stops. I am yelling (like they could hear me) for the car to move. I don't know if it was in my head or if it was really like this, but I felt like my car was lighter and on the edge of floating. I was just waiting for water to come in my car. All I can think about is the kids and wanting to keep them safe. I finally make it to the railroad tracks and see cars struggling to get much further. I turn into a neighborhood and then quickly turn into some stranger's driveway. The car that was behind me kept going straight through the neighborhood and stalled. I am watching car after car try to get through this water. The water was halfway or more up these trucks. My car NEVER would have made it. I had no idea what the bayou looked like and was scared to even attempt to keep going. I sat there for 2 hours. Wade couldn't get to us because our neighborhood was flooded and really his car is almost as low as mine. The house next to ours had water in the garage and two houses down the road had water up to their houses. It was crazy. So speaking of crazy, I talk to my dad and he decides to come get us. I did not want him getting out in the mess. I'm sure he was thinking I was crazy because he said it was barely sprinkling at their house. We wait patiently. The kids did pretty good under the cirumstances. Thank goodness Kaden loves lightening. Reagan was a little antsy towards the end. They both drank a water bottle that I had from work. Of course they both wet their diapers. The lightening and thunder got a little ridiculous though. It would strike and then instantly thunder.

So Dad, Mom and Casey call and say they are there. They had to park way away from us and walk to us. As they are walking to us, a car turned and began driving down the sidewalk. It was crazy. So Dad takes Reagan to the truck and then comes back for Kaden. Reagan acted a little strange and unsure of things and Kaden was just Kaden. Mom said as they were sitting there, a van opened up its doors and water poured out! So sad! We finally made it home! I know Wade was relieved to see us. I'm glad it was us stuck and not him with the kids. I would have been a nervous wreck. I'm also so glad that he came home from work early. He was supposed to go back that night but obviously he could not get out.

Remember how I said I almost turned to wait it out under the overpass? Well, I am so thankful I didn't go that way. On the 10:00 news they showed that exact spot and all of the cars that were on an "island". I wouldn't doubt it if water got up there too.

So, we are safe and sound and that's what counts. I am thankful my babies made it home safe to their daddy and that my parents came to save us.

Going Bananas

It's been a little while since I've written. Since then, I went back to work. The kids were surprisingly wonderful. It was as if they didn't miss a day. Of course now they're back in the swing of things. They just really like to talk. Now I have this one kid...God love him...he usually brings his lunch. However, all of the kids have been given free lunch for 10 days after the hurricane and he bought lunch for the first time. Now, anything out of routine for him can be a challenge in itself. But he did good. He got more food on his tray than any kid I've ever seen go through that line. One of the things was a banana. The kids love the bananas but sometimes have a hard time peeling them. Well, apparently for my little friend he wasn't going to let it slow him down. He took a bite right out of the middle...peel and all. Yummy huh? I figured maybe he would have spit it out, but when it was nowhere to be found, I asked him if he swallowed it. Of course his answer was yes! Interesting I know.

As far as me, I'm just exhuasted and so ready for the weekend. I'm very thankful though. This morning Wade took the kids to the sitter. Well, he was going to. When he got on the Beltway, there was a fatality wreck and he was already running late. Because his mom works right there, she said she'd take the kids (it takes about 30 minutes on a good day to get to Ms. Sharons). So Wade took the kids to her. When he got there, he was tickling Reagan, she was upside down laughing and he saw something on the back of her tooth. It was apparently a very big gray spot. It was as if she had a dead tooth. His mom saw it too. Of course he calls to tell me about it. A couple of weeks ago, Reagan did fall and hit her tooth. Her mouth was full of blood. So I just knew it was from this. It was all I could think about it. It worried me all day long. Wade called the pedatric dentist and they said it was possible that it was a bleed or something to do with the roots. However, it would be nothing permanant because it's just her baby teeth. But, visions of her future pictures and starting kindergarten with a black tooth was just killing me. I don't mean it to sound like I'm worried about my kids looks and that's all that matters. I just don't want her to hurt or worry about something like that. So long story short (is it too late for that?), when I picked up the kids, it was the first thing I wanted to see. And praise God, it was gone! Must of been something stuck. Wade swears it was something more. Who knows? Her tooth is perfectly white!!!! I can only pray for my babies to be healthy. I know God holds them in the palm of His hand and He takes care of them and loves them more than I will ever know.

So, the weekend is almost here. Fall has arrived and my goodness how I love it. I love to roll down the windows and breathe in the smell of burning leaves as I drive. Is there any better smell (besides that sweet baby smell)? There's something so peaceful and calming about fall. It's going to be a good holiday season. I feel it!