Bring on the New Year

This last year has been full of many days of happiness, sadness, trials, sickness, blessings, new friends, new job and much more.
Whether it is sickness or health, happiness or sadness, God has been near.
It seems that every year I feel closer to God, what a blessing. Not to say I do not struggle, but as 2011 draws near I have many goals and feel positive.

I know that now that 2011 is almost here Kyra has to have her yearly brain check up. I have found a new doctor in Dallas that deals with Chiari. My goal is to get her into this doctor and with open arms embrace what is brought our way. What a blessing it would be if Kyra's brain was healed, but that will not be the case; as I know that is impossible so instead my goal is to be strong and do whatever is needed to help Kyra. I will quit trying to make myself believe that she is not sick.
I plan to become more involved with Chiari research. I hope that in 2011 they become closer to a cure. I want to write more about Chiari and our story. I am realizing how much of a story we have.
I will be strong for Wesley and pray that he has a much better year with his health.

I will take care of myself. Fred, also known as my gallbladder will be coming out on January 28. Wesley will take good care of me. I will feel so much better.

I will become more involved in church. I will not let my faith slip or take my eyes off of God.

I have a lot of plans and goals. One day at a time is really all we can do. We are planning to go to Disney World in June 2011, thanks to my mother helping. I just know this will be a great year.
I wish the best for everyone and a very Happy 2011. Bring it on!!! Check back often.

Thinking Back...

I have starting watching the show 16 and Pregnant. Me and Haley watch it together. The show breaks my heart, and I am glad Haley watches it because you really see what happens when you get pregnant when you are still a child yourself. I have a special place in my heart for teens that get pregnant. I was once a pregnant teen myself. My first CPS case was a pregnant teen. I enjoyed so much helping her and reaching out to her. She is doing so well and has really matured. I chose to write about this tonight because I just closed her case this morning, she is doing so well. My job just touches my heart, I know I have said it many times but I am so glad God put me there.

Let me tell you a story about myself.
Me and Wesley have been together a long time. Since I was 15. He was my first real boyfriend. He drove me to drivers ed. After being together a few years I found out I pregnant. My brother had just passed away in a car accident, my world was turned upside down. I was still a teen myself and now I am pregnant. We had so much growing up to do. But, from the moment I found out I was pregnant I knew I would do anything I had to for my child.
I had so many plans and at first I felt like my life was over. I was very lucky at the fact that Wesley was so supportive and there for me. My family and his family was also very supportive.
But, I can not explain unless you have been there how hard it is to be a teen and pregnant. Me and Wesley really struggled. But, we always got through it. Haley was born and she was perfect. I could had never prepared myself for what it is like to be a mother. I will never forget the first time I held Haley.
I was so at peace at the fact that she was mine. I went on to finish school and then went on to college. Wesley worked two jobs too make ends meet and help me through college. When I was almost done with college, Wesley started the Police School and we graduated together. May 2005.
I think the experience made me who I am today. Haley knows her "whole story". We have a very open relationship with our children. She knows and understands that we were young and that getting pregnant was not what we had signed up for. But, she also knows that we would not have it any different and that it worked out for us. Not everyone has the same outcome as we did.
I will always have a place in my heart for pregnant teens and the push to help them in anyway I can.

Teen pregnany is 100% preventable with the right education and prevention.

•3 in 10 teen girls in the US will get pregnant at least once before age 20!

•Good relationships don't just happen—they require hard work and practice!

“Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Goal # 1

I have always been a person that really worries, about everything. Believe it or not, I have actually improved over the years. The biggest thing I plan to try very hard to change is:

#1-People. I am sick and tired, infact it is very tiring.
*Why does that person not like me?
*Why do they act that way to me?
*Why was I not invited to hang out with them?
*Why were me and Wesley not invited to hang out with those couples.
Etc.. I am tired of it. I am tired of asking myself, what is wrong with me/us?
Is it because we have four kids, because Wesley is sick, because we get on people's nerves, I have no clue. I am tired of trying to figure it out.

I know everyone is not going to like me/us. I know it is only human to worry and want to fit in. But, I also know that I can get better about it.

Thats my first goal and I plan to work very hard at it. I am so blessed. I have an amazing husband and four amazing kids. Most of all I know God is in my life, thats all I need. Everything else is a bonus and I hope to accomplish this goal.

The Best Gift...

The best gift of all
Doesn’t come with a tag,
Isn’t wrapped with a bow,
In a festive gift bag.
It’s not in a box,
Doesn’t come in the mail,
You won’t find it on sale.
‘Cause the best gift of all
Is the gift of God’s son,
Who came one holy night
To each and everyone. (Taken from Park Ave Church of Christ Bulletin)

Warms my heart beyond measure!

We had an amazing Christmas.




Cookies, Milk, and Carrots; one for each reindeer.






Haley hid from the camera because her hair was not fixed. Welcome to the teenage years!


Nap Time!!


Memories I will never forget.

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas. Over the next few days I will share some goals I have for myself for 2011. I am going to try very hard to stick with them and complete them. I am excited to see what 2011 will bring.

And The Verdict Is..

Let me introduce you to Fred. He is my gallbladder that is rotten and barely functioning. Yes, I named him and I found out from the doctor that he is going to have to leave me.
I had another test ran this last week and found out that my problem is "Fred". Ha. I have been referred to a surgeon, thats all I know right now. Fred has really been a pain lately. Sometimes I do not even have to eat and he bothers me. As bad as I do not want to have surgery, I am about ready to tell Fred goodbye. Will keep you posted.

Where has 2010 went? I can not believe tomorrow is Christmas Eve. I am about finished with shopping. I have a few pictures to go have printed tomorrow and I am done. I am now on vacation and are going to enjoy every moment.
The kids are excited of course. Christmas this year is going to be very laided back. We are only going to two places, which means a lot of time at home. I love that! We will also go to the Christmas Eve service at church and I am really looking forward to that. It is AMAZING!
After Christmas I will work a few days and then be off again for New Years. Wesley will have go into work that night at ten. I hope to have a friend over and I am having a "kid" New Years Party. It will be fun!

Merry Merry Christmas to everyone and lets really remember the true meaning of Christmas! Love to all.

As I write tonight...

I have no voice and one kid throwing up. And, I think who really reads this blog anyway, why do I want to update it. But, I think for me this blog is like a diary for me to get out whats on my mind and on my chest.
On my mind tonight...
I am losing my voice, wait lost it, it is gone. I had the same thing a few months ago. I must be ran down because I never get sick. Some friends gave me advice on what to drink to try and help it, so I am nursing myself.
I am whispering which my kids seem to not be able to hear and now guess what I have a kid throwing up. Twas the winter and germs!!!
Wesley is at work and I am worn out. But, amen he is working!!
Besides the voice and throwing up; today has been a very busy day.

I took off work today. This morning I helped at Blake's school with the AR Store. The students get points for reading and then can spend their points on prizes. Awesome program and a lot of fun.

After that Blake had his Christmas Class Party.


Then to end the day me, my mom, and Haley went to finish Christmas shopping. I am almost completely done. Tons of wrapping to do, but almost done shopping.
We actually have Christmas with my grandmother tomorrow, but with me and Blake sick, we may have to miss. The last thing I want to do is get them sick. But, that makes me sad.
Sunday we have another Christmas Event. Busy times!

The things that warm my heart..

Is it normal to be such an emotional person, ha.
Kyra and Breanna go to a Pre-K that I LOVE. Waples. Today the 4 year old classes went to a nursing home right by our house to sing to the residents.I could see in the residents eyes, they were so happy. It made their days. What a blessing. Of course I cried. "The things that warm my heart"

One Doctor Down

You will be proud to know that I finally went to the doctor. I was sent directly for a sonogram, guess what there is no baby. HA. I lay there thinking, what would I do if the lady found a baby, haha. No baby, just organs.
She focused on my gall bladder and basically by what I am being told, the sonogram will only show BIG stones. I had no big stones, so the test was negative. We still know nothing.
The doctor is still leaning towards my gallbladder. She thinks maybe I have what they call gravel; a bunch of little stones. Next step is a function test. I should find out when that will be soon. If that test clears my gall bladder then she wants to run an Upper GI. I am really not in a big hurry, maybe I should be, but I feel that it can wait until after Christmas. I say that because I have felt pretty good today, ha.

I did manage to get my Christmas cards mailed today, well most of them. Guess what, I have a mistake on them. UGH!! Really makes me sad. I guess that is what I get for completing them at midnight. I hope it is the thought that counts. I sent them anyway, what choice did I have?

2011 Already...

Once again I ask, "where has the time gone". I have been thinking back a lot on 2010. I could say that I had hoped for a better year, but then I realize how very thankful we are. This year has been full of bumps in the road, but through all of that we have had a very blessed year.

On the Chiari front Wesley has continued to not do well. Two more surgeries and four hospitals stays. A infection that would not go away, but we think has finally left. Lots of prayers and tears.
But, so many things to be thankful for. Kyra has stayed fairly well. I got an amazing job that I have always wanted to do. The kids have been healthy and safe. Wesley is still with us. And I know I could go on.
I wonder what 2011 will bring? I know I have many goals I will share later. We have many plans that we hope happen.

Me and Wesley have had a lot of hard times in 2010, but we are now closer. He is an amazing strong man. Everyone says how strong I am. But, my close friends know of all my hard times. There have been many times that I wanted to get in my car and drive as far as I could, change my name, live a new life. I have wanted to leave Wesley many times, thinking I just could not handle it all anymore. God always puts me back on track. I truely believe it is God.
We are so blessed by our family, church family, and friends. So much help, prayers, and thoughts. Thank you to all. Whoever actually reads this blog, ha.

An Update: Wesley has been home for a while now and just went back to work. He is working midnights and we are adjusting. The infection seems to be gone. Headaches are still his enemy, but he is learning to live with them, like a lot of Chiari patients have too. He is a trooper.

I have been having some tummy issues and are actually going to the doctor today. It maybe my gall bladder, will keep you all updated. I am being told there is nothing to getting it removed. I really do put myself on the back burner and I feel that I have no time for this, but after much pain the last few days, I know I need to listen to God and get something done if needed.

The kids are doing well. Pretty much all the sick bugs have stayed out of our house. Kyra is still having headaches off and on. It is time for her yearly Chiari check up and I am not looking forward to it. We are looking at a new doctor, will keep everyone posted on that.

We did manage to get our family photos completed, after having to cancel once. Our neighbor is amazing. Here are a few.







Pictures are always a task, but I am so happy when we get them done.

I hope to be more blog friendly. Stay Tune :)