Monday, August 26, 2013

Back.. And Blogging

I am back to blogging.
Oh wait, I have said that before...
But, I really am. Oh, how I have missed it. After Tresa passed life got harder then I ever thought possible.
There is so much to say and I have a story to tell.. But, I am not quite ready for that. But, I know it can be shared because I know there is something to learn from it all.
2013 has been VERY rough for our family and that is to say the least.
But, we are surviving and STRONG..

Tomorrow my children are starting 11th, 6th, 2nd, and 1st grade.

I will get a year in review up soon. Even though our family has been "quite" the last few months we need prayer more then ever. Life has been tough very tough. Our family I thought was broken beyond repair.
But, we serve an amazing God and he works wonders daily. Chiari Malformation is in our lives daily. From ER visits, to headaches, to throw up, to pulling Kyra from Gymnastics; we live daily with Chiari. It effects our whole family. But, life goes on and we continue to praise God.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

My Dear Sweet Mother-Law

My mother-law Tresa had a major set back last Saturday and had a heart attack. She has significant brain damage and has been unresponsive. As I type Tresa has been taken off life support and we waiting for her to pass. I will type more later explaining what happen but we are devastated.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

My Mother-Law

We took all the Bounds Crew today to see their "granny". "Granny" has been in the hospital since the first part of September after having a heart attack and massive stroke. Now she is at a Speciality Hospital for rehab, etc. Up until this time there were always so many tubes, machines, being on the vent that we were really struggling with allowing the kids to see their granny. Haley did go with us one time and it was hard on her. After prayers we decided to take everyone today and give her Christmas presents and finally let the kids see their granny.
Granny is in OKC and thats almost a three hour drive for us; so we made a day of it.
Throughout the month of September and October me and Wesley went every weekend. It just got to be too much. We had to find babysitters, take off work, and the expense was a lot. I have a heavy heart about that. I wish that she was here in Texas and I could visit several times a week; but thats not God's plan. Granny has always lived in Oklahoma. Well for a very long time anyway.

So we made the drive pretty well; besides one bag of throw up. Poor Breanna gets car sick, even with medicine, we know to have a trash bag around. Anyhow, with kids you clean up and move along.

We made it after lunch and I wish I could freeze the look on Tresa's face when we walked in. The kids were so happy to see her and she was thrilled. Granny has a trach in, so she can not talk. But, you sure can read her lips and she can write, but it's hard to read. The kids were not scared at all. They loved on her and showed her all the many things they made her.
We also had a picture collage made for her with the kids new Christmas pictures in it and had a charm necklace made for her.
It was sad when we had to leave and Haley has even been crying since returning home.
It is hard on Haley that she is unable to just call granny and talk to her about teenage life like she used too.
I reminded Haley what a very long way she has came. Doctor's told us many times that she would not make it through the day.
We are hoping to have her home by summer.
But God knows the ultimiate plan and all we can do is to continue to life Tresa up in prayer.

We made it back late tonight. I have to work tomorrow.
Then tomorrow night is the big game. Boomer Sooner. If the blogging world does not know we are big Sooner fans. We will be having our own little family mini party at home. I will post our yearly sooner photo tomorrow night. Every year we do a picture of the kids dressed up in their sooner clothes.

Monday, December 31, 2012

2012 in Review
I always say how much I miss blogging and I really do; but I feel like I just can't ever find the time to keep up with it. How do you other moms do it?
I have some goals for 2012, some big some small. I do really want to try really hard about blogging.

It is hard to believe that 2012 is almost over. This year has been hard on our family; but we have so much to be thankful for and we are so blessed. My Faith continues to be strong but not without a lot of struggles. I am only human, right.

*2012 started out with Wesley having another surgery. Wesley's brain started to retain to much fluid again and a shunt was put back in his brain.

Along with this surgery came a six month fight with Wesley's job. Basically to keep my mouth tame I will say that because he has been sick for so long and missed many days, they did everything in their power to let him go. He was put on leave, but we won. He is now back at work and has been since September.
I have only gone into the details with a couple close friends and family; and thats all I am going to say.
But, this was such a blow to our family and was such a struggle. A huge wedge came between me and Wesley. Friends turned on him that you never thought would. Ugly things were said that you never thought someone would say.
But, we survived. It was another strike from Satan and he did not win.
Our family learned that it pays to be respectable, honest, and patient.
Since Wesley's last surgery in Feb. 2012 he is doing well. There will always be days that he may get a Chiari bad headache and just days that are rough; but health wise he is better.
"You can only take one day at a time in life".

In 2012 Haley turned 14 and made High School Cheerleader for the coming school year. Haley continued to be active in church, school, and softball. I am so blessed by Haley and proud. Now remember please do not think I am making our life sound perfect because "TRUST ME" it is not. Haley is 14. We have struggled with some normal teenage, highschool drama, but we are learning everyday.






Spring is always full of Softball Fun for our family. All three girls play it and we love softball.








Haley was tested for Chiari in March by MRI because of headaches and it was negative. PRAISE GOD.

Breanna Grace turned 5. She is our baby. The child that sits back and watches everyone else get in trouble. Loves to give hugs and is so sweet.
Came into this world on her own time, fast and her way. She is that to this day.


Another school year ended and summer begun. We had a quite laid back summer and it was very nice. One positive of Wesley being off work was he was home with the kids all summer and that was so nice for them. Infact he was a very good stay-at-home dad.
Haley made state with softball. We took a trip to watch her that turned into a vacation. We celebrated 4th of July and our 14 year wedding anniversary. Kyra lost her first tooth. Haley and Blake went to church camp. Haley climbed a mountain with church. The kids performed in a church play.














Kyra had her yearly MRI completed on her brain and her Chiari has not gotten worse. What a blessing.




August 2012 school started back up.
Haley started highschool, (Freshman), Blake 5th grade, Kyra 1st, and Breanna started Kindergarten.






Blake turned 10, the last part of August.


The 1st part of September it felt that the whole year came down in a crash. Wesley's mother had a massive stroke and she is only 54. To this day she is still in the hospital fighting with everything she has. She has had several set backs, but keeps fighting. We have been told several times that she would not make it. Tresa has a very long road ahead of her but I have Faith she will come fully back to us.
Our kids are very close to their granny and Wesley has really had a hard time since the stroke. We appreciate prayers on her behalf.
One of the hardest part was that Wesley's baby sister's wedding was marked for a week after the stroke. The wedding was huge and had been planned for a year. The wedding went on and it was bitter sweet time. We wore red ribbons; Tresa favorite color.
I made her a scrapbook and she now knows that she missed it and she loved the album.












We had a few sicknesses throughout the year. One included Kyra in the hospital with pneumonia.

In November Kyra turned 7.


We ended the year with pictures of the kids and Christmas.











HAPPY NEW YEAR to ALL



















Sunday, December 23, 2012





Merry Christmas to All

Monday, July 23, 2012

Blessed

I try to always remind myself how blessed I am. Here is one example:

I went back to work today after a weeks vacation. I don't really feel like it was a vacation; but none the less I was not at "work work" so it was nice and I did get to spend some much needed time with the kids.
Today I went back to a lot of "work". Back to reality. I have started getting ready for back to school. With Four Children you have to start early. Over my time off I did go through clothes and see what was going to be needed. Haley has grown out of everything. She is growing way to fast and should I remind everyone that she will be a Freshman in 6 weeks.
Each one of the kids get their own day. Well, the little girls go together but as you know they will not part ways and chose to go together. But, we go and school clothes shop and school supplies; sometimes not both in the same day. I usually always take Haley on tax free weekend, because her clothes are higher.
So far I have taken Blake for school supplies and spent $40.00 just on him without a backpack, ugh. The kids really enjoy their own time and I am the "mom" that does not let them pick all character school supplies, because lets face it; they are higher. My kids knows that and if anything they just enjoy time alone and feeling "big" grabbing their own supplies.
*So far we only have Blake's school supplies. We have a long ways to go. Enough about that..
I also have been trying to do a little reading and research; that sounds funny but true... On how to make my life earlier when school starts and life is so very busy.
So far I have found some meal plans and organizing ideals, will keep you posted on what I use. I am OCD when it comes to organizing and lately things in our life have not been and that does not make me happy. We are a work in progress.

Today I posted on facebook- And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you. Psalm 39:7 NLT
This verse spoke to me today as I heard something that was upsetting at first and I had to vent a little and quickly reminded myself that all my Hope is in The Lord and we are going to be just fine.
Hope everyone had a great Monday. Blessings.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Back Again

Yes..I know.. I said I was not going to stop blogging, and almost three months has passed. WOW. Let me update everyone and "state" again that I am going to try hard to keep the blogging up. Life is just very busy, but I really miss it.

At the bottom of the blog I put in a slideshow with some updated pictures. Let me say that the last three months have been hard and we have been leaning on God a lot. Wesley is still not working and thats all I am going to say. Me and especially Wesley have continued to be respectful, honest, and kind. We will continue to be that way so I am not saying anything else but I will tell you that we do not know if Wesley will get to go back to work; and I WILL say it is nothing to do with "Wesley" not wanting to work he is longing so bad to continue being a Police Officer; only God knows and we should know something very soon.
God has a plan always and his plan may not be exactly what we want, but we are prepared to move along in the direction that God takes us. We are OK with that. But, I will say times have been hard and filled with some very sad days. We are only Human!
God contines to show us how very blessed we are. We have so much to be thankful for.

I am still working and working a lot. Since Wesley is home I do not have to worry about the kids as much. I have been working 40-50 hours a week. But, I do still very much love my job and are so thankful for it.

Since I blogged last; school has ended, Breanna turned 5 and summer is in Full-Swing. Haley has been staying very busy with church, cheer, etc. Haley went to church camp, and Blake went to church camp. Haley went to Colorado with church and climbed a mountain, the little girls have been loving the pool. Haley made State with Softball, so we took a "road trip".
The kids have spent a few days with their "granny". We have visited family, me and Wesley have spent time alone---Can you see what I mean we are blessed.


Breanna Turned 5- She wanted a puppy, kitty party.


Breanna graduated from Pre-K :(


Breanna's Awesome Teacher


The girls played softball together on the same team. I have a feeling softball will be our life for many many years to come. My girls love it.


The little girls especially live in the pool. And are sporting a very cute tan.


Haley loves Cheer


My brother graduated from High School. Here I am with my sisters. Yes, I am the "old" one. HA


Kyra lost her first tooth.

As far as Chiari. Wesley is doing well. Praise God. Everyday is a gift. There will always be days that are hard on him but overall he is doing well.
Kyra just had her yearly MRI last week. Her Chiari has not changed in a year and is still mild. PRAISE GOD
She is so brave; did not even cry for the IV. Kyra understands more now and was prepared for the day.

This was right before the IV and naptime


This was after the MRI


She got special treatment when we went to see the Neurosurgeon and we received GREAT news.

As you can see we have been very busy and we are going to be ok no matter what because God is good. Check back soon. Blessings to all.