God... You've Been So Good To Me

Whew. It's been awhile. Things have been crazy here! I've been focusing on school like a mad woman and my nieces came into town for 2 weeks. They left this past Saturday so life is getting back to normal.
Let's start with all the new. Webb is officially saying, "Momma" and it melts my heart to no end. He is standing on his own for longer and longer periods at a time. He has found the holes to his nose and likes to keep a finger (or both) poked up there. He has also found his tongue and pokes it out at us on command. He has conquered the stairs and we must keep a CONSTANT eye on him now. He will be walking in no time at all. While I feel he is way ahead for his age, I have to remind myself that in a month we will be celebrating his 1st birthday! So, he is really right on track.
Dane is getting way too big as well. He is talking so good and telling us loooong stories that are so cute. I often wonder if every mother thinks their kids are as cute as I find mine. He remembers everything, every little tiny detail. He definitely does not get that from me. I tease him and say he is like his Nana because she amazes me with what she can remember. He has this mean face that he delivers quite often to practically everyone. While I find the face adorable (big surprise) I also find it embarrassing when out in public, little old ladies stop to talk to him and he turns to them and puts on "the face". It is a MEAN one too. Lips puckered, eyes narrowed, and you can just tell you better proceed with caution. We call it his "Soap Sally" look.... long story. LOL. He is such a good helper with Webb too and I am so thankful for both my boys. They both had a blast with my nieces here.
My nieces: Lilian, 8 yrs old and Livia 5 yrs old. Can I just say, "Wow"! I am so proud to call them mine. They are sweet, obedient, and respectful. I wish they lived closer than Texas. While the girls were here, God was at work. As most of you know, they were raised Jehovah's Witness, which we all know is false teaching. We have prayed for the kids (there is also Tregan who is 2 yrs old- and we pray for Kari and her family) since they were born that God's Holy Spirit would speak to them and convict them. My specific prayer is that they will see something different in my life and want what that something is. My mother-in-law's church down in Cartersville was hosting VBS for one of the weeks that they were here. I had planned to take my boys, I just didn't know how many nights since their cousins were in town and it is an hour drive one way. Ok, so long story short. Lilian (the oldest) will not step foot in a church without a huge fight (long story again). We went to the Library for story time and the girls asked for Panda books. I agreed to find them and then told them how I was taking Dane to Pandamania (talking about how God is "wild about you" and panda's were everywhere!) at his Nana's church the next week.  How BIG is my God???? This big! Both girls freaked out begging to go. They both LOVE panda's and I had no idea. I explained how it was at a church but neither girl cared. You call that a coincidence? I call that God. I was shocked but agreed to take  them Tuesday night. After TONS of begging and pleading on their part, I agreed to take them Monday. I was nervous but both girls had a blast at VBS. What an awesome opportunity. On the way home, they talked my ears off telling me what they had learned- which they said was, "Jesus, God, praying, and doing bad things (sin)". They told me we had to go the next night. I cried the whole way home. I was absolutely on cloud 9. Anyways, God worked in mighty ways. I ended up taking the girls each and every night since they would have it no other way. Incredible seeds were planted. On the way home Wednesday night, Lilian told me she wanted a Bible. I did not know what to say so I said, "Why don't you ask Granddaddy". Granddaddy agreed and took her the next day to get a Bible and Bible case. She also picked one out for Livi. She was so excited to get one and proudly showed it off to everyone . Thursday, before we went to the "Bible Store", as she called it, Lilian and I had a looooong talk. She is pretty much a little girl searching for answers. Can you imagine being 8 years old and wondering what is going to happen to you when you die and no one being able to tell you??!! How scary. I was given the opportunity to witness to her that day. She asked questions and I answered them as best as I could. She was very very curious and interested. She told me things she had been taught and then asked what I believed. The Holy Spirit is definitely working on this child. Please please pray with me for these lost souls. I cannot imagine Heaven without their beautiful faces. Romans 10:13 says, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." My prayer is that she takes that Bible home, reads it, and eventually admits she is a sinner, believes that Jesus is God's Son, and confesses her sin and asks Jesus to live in her heart. I truly believe God is going to save her, Livia, Tregan, Kari, and Kari's family.
God has definitely been at work. He is continuing to work in my heart and my husband's heart. He is strengthening our marriage and putting a deeper and stronger desire in us, to be more like Him. Last night, Brent came to bed with lots on his mind. We are both in awe of what the Lord is doing and we are so excited to see where He takes us. We have decided that we both want to dig deeper into His Word and learn more about who Jesus is, what He wants from us, and how to be more like Him. I am so excited to be on this journey with Brent. He is my soul-mate. I know God created us for each other. As we begin to search through His Holy Word for answers, I can't wait to see what we find.
Brent and I traveled down memory lane Saturday night on our way to his parent's house. Boy was that fun ;) If you had told us that this would be our life 3-1/2 years ago, we both would have laughed right in your face (probably anyone who knew us would have too). It's hard to believe we are the same people. But really and truly, we are not the same people. In 3-1/2 years, God has worked miracles in both of us. He has changed us from the inside out. It leaves me with only one thought this Tuesday morning, God... You've been so good to me!

Wish you could be a fly on our wall??

What possessed me to sign up for 2 classes in 5 weeks?? I don't know. Oh, and one of those is one of the most time consuming the school offers, as my advisor told me. I was told to expect to spend 6-7 hours a day on it. Well, go ahead and times that by 2 because with 2 kids- one 3 year old and one 10 month old- I can barely sit at the computer for 10 minutes straight. So, here is a recap of what it has been like at our house for the past 24 hours.

I finally got all my books I needed for class yesterday afternoon. I came home, got Webb down for a nap, and logged on. I quickly found out that cramming 10 weeks into 5 weeks is going to be, well.... interesting. I got a few assignments completed and then I realized that I needed to read 3 chapters because I was going to be tested on those. Ok, no big deal... right?! It's 100 pages and I've read that in an hour (or less) with one of my favorite novels. WRONG!!!!! I spent 7 hours, yes, SEVEN hours reading 100 pages. I had to attend to a child every10 minutes, wipe bottoms, change diapers, wipe snot, kiss boo boos, lay down for naps, rock, answer questions, play, read, get water, make a snack, and so much more. Needless to say, we did not make it to church last night. I took a break and had dinner with my boys, got Dane down, and propped Webb on my leg, boo boo in the mouth, and started again. I worked until my eyes started crossing at 10pm and then I called it a night.

I got up at 5am this morning. 30 minutes later than I had planned. I worked on it for 2 hours straight and then I cooked breakfast. After that, kids started waking up and I probably logged in anther hour or so before my weekly cleaning job. Naomi came and I left. Ran to the store to grab my essentials: creamer (I took a cooler to keep it in while I cleaned), straws for my coffee, and bananas. I went and cleaned a house for 2 hours, ran by the bank, and came home. Once home, I ate lunch, fed the boys, and started at it again. This time, it was a little more difficult to stay focused. I knew I had a test to take and I knew it was a timed one. In quarters, your tests are timed as well and you can assume by how much time you have been given will be the average amount of time it should take to complete it. In quarters, you have 60 mins, tops. I had one test that I could spend up to 90 mins on and other than that, they were all 60 mins or less. I logged onto my test to see how long it should take and I have 160 mins to take it. What??? Doesn't that break down into like, almost 3 hours???!!! No way. I ask my dad and sure enough. How in the world am I supposed to have 3 quiet hours to take a test??? I'm still not sure how I'm going to pull that one off. I decide to postpone it until a good idea comes my way. I work on some smaller assignments. I have a few little 10 minute tests to take. By a few I mean, 20. So, I decide to get started on those. I have Webb propped on my knee, nursing away and I am leaning down working on my answers. He keeps sitting up and trying to hit the keys, yelling, "DA!!!"-which means, "Dane!!", reaching for my pen, reaching for my book, wadding up my paper, and so forth. I am watching my minutes tick by as I search for answers and tend to him. I put him in the floor and Dane comes running through shrieking, "I NEED TO POOP". I continue to work on my test when Dane has a hissy fit. I can hear him screaming and yelling, "WHO LOCKED THE DOOR????" Crud. I think. That would be me so your brother doesn't eat the cat food, pour out their water, and splash in the toilet. I go running through the kitchen and open the door for him. I come back to the computer and Webb is playing with an outlet. I take him away from it and see that I have 45 sec left on my test. I quickly answer the questions that remain to the best of my ability and my grade of 40 pops up. Go me!!! LOL. I then hear Dane screaming, again, and I get up to go to him. Of course, Webb had made it to the bathroom and is going as hard as he can to get to Dane. Dane is screaming, "Get down, Webb. No Webb. MOOOOMMMY!!!!" I get Webb and move him back. Dane says, "I need you to wipe my butt hole". I said, "Your bum-hole". My correction goes un-noticed. I wipe him one time and he is freaking out again, "Don't get my goober, Webb!! Sit down". I see Webb pulling back up on the toilet and I also see Dane push him down with his foot. "Be nice to your brother", I say. Then, I take Webb and move him outside the bathroom. I go back to Dane for the 2nd wipe. I've barely got him wiped when I feel Webb between my legs and see his hand reach through for Dane. I grab his fingers just in time. That is not what I need right now. I move him outside the bathroom again. I go back for the 3rd wipe. Dane starts screaming as Webb crawls back in, "Mommmmmm! He's coming back. Get him. Get him. GEEEET HIIIM!" I say, "Quit screaming, please" and I reach down and move Webb back outside the bathroom again (I do not close the door because it would make Webb mad and he would most likely, pass out on me). I wipe Dane again, not sure if he is clean or not. This time, Webb moves at an incredible pace. I hear the cat bowls and I don't have time to get him before a big handful of cat food goes into his mouth. Dane is saying, "No, Webb! We don't eat cat food!" I move Webb again and come back for what I believe is the last wipe, at least, I think it is. I wipe Dane and before I can flush, Webb comes and gets one good splash in the toilet. Nice. Dane starts yelling at Webb again, "I am the Beater Man 3000 and I will get you for that." I clean up Webb, pick up the cat food and come back for some more school. It is then that I realize I still smell poop. I look in Webb's diaper and see why. I go to lay him down in the living room and he starts crying. He is ready for his nap, finally, and only wants one thing. I open his diaper to reveal something too nasty for description and start changing it. He tosses, he turns, he reaches, he kicks. He now has poop on his foot and his hand and he is part in the air, part on the floor and on his side from flailing around. I finally get him cleaned up and come back to the computer ready to nurse him to sleep.

Dane asks for a movie and I agree against my motherly instinct. It is way to nice outside for a movie. But, I have got to get some school done. Webb falls asleep and I lay him down. Score! He stays asleep!!! Now, onto my 3 hour test!!!!

Whew..... 5 weeks..... I CAN DO THIS!!!

What a few days

Life has been happening at a crazy fast pace these days... which in all honestly, is the way I prefer things. I like to be busy and have lots on the agenda to do. My husband, not so much. So, it can be interesting in our house at times.
Let's back up 4 days and go to Saturday. It was a wonderful day but, also a bittersweet day. We celebrated Dane's 3rd birthday at the Creative Discovery Museum. A GREAT place to have a birthday if you are wondering :D The party is all inclusive and all you have to do is show up. It is the first time we have thrown a party like that. Usually, I plan for months and weeks. The morning started off as normal as every morning. I needed to shower and so I threw Webb in there with me. I reached down to bathe him and my heart literally went in to an irregular pattern, I felt like I needed to throw up, and even in the shower, I started sweating. There, on my precious baby's left leg, was bruise. All I could think was, "NOOOOOOOO. Please Lord. NOO!" I really had a minute there (really on a few seconds). Then, as quickly as I freaked out, I also calmed down. Wait a minute. Webb is not 3 weeks old anymore. Webb is 10months old. Webb is mobile. Webb gets hurt everyday. It's only natural for Webb to have a bruise when he is pulling up on things and falling down. For a minute there, my whole world stopped. I had not seen a bruise on Webb in 9 months, one week and one day. Even in the midst of my fear (that really only lasted about 15 sec) in my heart I knew if this was the path God wanted us to travel, then we would be traveling it... again. God has taught me so much through this trial with Webb. I love my Webb but I know the Lord loves him more. For those of you that don't know, Webb has Neonatal Hepatitis. It is something he should outgrow and I believe with all my heart he will.
So, Saturday was a Superhero birthday party!!! It was a day all about Dane. Fun stuff! Even thought Dane's birthday was June 5, we had to wait until July 2 to have the party because life was just so busy. On Saturday, it really hit me that my baby was THREE!!!!! It is such a bittersweet feeling as a parent. You are so happy that they have hit all their milestones, are growing, and thriving yet, you wish you could go back (I do anyways) or at least, freeze the hands of time. The party was a hit and such a fun time. It's only natural to throw him a Super Hero party. He loves any and all Super Hero's and he just happens to be mine. Yep. Dane is my Super Hero. When I got pregnant with Dane, I was living in sin. I was down the wrong path and headed down worse paths. I believe with all my heart, that God sent Dane to me to get my attention. He could have sent anything and He knew what it would take to get my attention. Sweet, precious, 7lbs 3oz Dane took my breath away and caused me to turn my whole life around. He was perfect!!!! He deserved only the best. After Dane was born, the Lord convicted me of the sin in my life (which was a lot). I knew I had to get my life right and get right with the Lord. I am so thankful for Dane, for so many reasons, but on the top of that list is the fact that he is my Super Hero.
There is so much more that has happened since my last post, but I have got to get my hubby's breakfast cooked, get him off to work, and me off to the gym.

Well, hello there!

Ok, here it goes. I am finally starting a blog after much encouragement to do so. I honestly feel like most people are not going to be interested in my "journal", but hopefully the handful that wants me to blog will enjoy this :D I will use this to talk about things going on in my life and things I am passionate about. So, what are some things I'm passionate about? I'm so glad you asked. This way you can see if this will be a blog of interest or one you can go ahead and not waste your time reading ;)  I believe there is a God. I believe He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for me and for you. I believe there is a Heaven and a hell. I believe what the Bible says. I LOVE working out. I love eating healthy. I love being a wife and I love my husband. I love being a mom and I love my children. I love pregnancy (just not being pregnant), labor, and birth. I am an advocate for natural home births. I am against vaccinations. I am against most medications- I believe there is a time and a place, such as in an emergency situation. I believe a baby needs to be breastfed. I do not believe children need to cry it out. I see nothing wrong with your newborn baby sleeping with you for the first few years. I'm sure with that introduction alone, I will be losing a few of you. OR... you will be staying to prove your assumption that I am a nut. Haha. First things first, this is a tool I plan to use to express myself, my thoughts, my opinions, my beliefs, my hopes, my dreams, my fears, my uncertainties, etc. In no way, shape, or form, will I ever claim what I say to be factual (unless I can prove what I say has facts) or do I aim to "bash" or judge what other people chose to do. Most decisions I make as a mother and as a person go against the flow and I am used to that. Even thought I may not agree with what other people do does not mean I judge them or want to make them feel bad for their choices. Having said that, I hope I can be candidly open about my life and the decisions I make. I hope to answer questions to why I do what I do and I also hope I can perhaps help some mother or soon to be mother struggling with what is best for her and her child. I will also incorporate my faith in my blog and my "healthy" lifestyle or what I see as healthy. Hope to hear feedback and I hope you enjoy this journal.