First Day Back- December 9, 2008

Quick Update:

Jackson had his first day back at school. He had a wonderful time and felt good the whole morning! We are so truly thankful that all of this is behind us! Thanks for the sweet messages, dinners, calls and encouragement! We love yall! xo

Another Day- December 8, 2008

We decided to keep our little buddy home again today! I think one more day and he will be almost back to 100%! He has truly been a trooper through all of this! Dave and I have had two good nights of sleep because Jackson has been back to sleeping through the night! He is even back to waking up at his normal 8:00-8:30! YEA! I would say the hardest part still is the morning after a long night without any tylenol. I can't even imagine would our little boy has been going through but he sure is tough! We are so thankful this is behind us and are really ready to get him back to school and to his normal playful self again! As Hart and Jackson watched Football with Daddy on Saturday Jackson really wanted to put on Daddy's helmet from his years playing College Football! Here are a few shots just to interpret the fun times Jackson has thinking about being a football player himself! I hope everyone has a wonderful start to this wonderful week and feels the blessing of Jesus Christ during this time of year! We surely have! What a blessing it is! xo

For the Love of Jewels- December 5, 2008

On the silly side! My blessing of a little girl, a best friend and shopping buddy!

Why is it that little girls love jewels... now I know that Jackson noticed things when he was Hart's age.. but it was never the intense stare and studying that his sister does! Are we born with a love for jewelry..? Earlier today, I was holding Hart and looking into the mirror, now I have noticed this before but today made me think.. she was really analyzing my earrings! She would giggle and smile and then play with them. She would get really close and stare at what the little jewels were hanging off of my hoop earrings.. I started to laugh back at her! Was she really enjoying what I had on or was it just something shinny and fun for her to see..? Do all girls love jewelry?  If my little girl is related to me she is bound to love them!! I am truly so thankful for me new best-friend and shopping buddy! I am already looking forward to the day that we get to go get our nails done together for a fun little afternoon outing! I have been truly blessed! 

Dave's Cull Buck! Thanksgiving Weekend

Great first Buck for Daveo! We loved our time with our immediate family! Thanks L for all of the help with the babes!! 

Thanksgiving at the Lake and Ranch with our Precious Family!

We have been blessed with an abnormally close family! We love spending all the time in the world with them but especially during the holidays! Getting all of the cousins together is truly such a joy! After a fun time at the lake with the whole George clan we headed to the ranch to hunt and hang out in the hill country! Here are our pictures from our fun times together! Enjoy! xo

Grateful! December 3, 2008

I am so sorry it has taken me so long to post after Thanksgiving! So much has been going on lately with Jackson's surgery that I haven't had a chance to write! I will jump ahead and write about the many answered prayers that we have seen lately and how God truly is so faithful! Maybe tomorrow during nap time I will be able to post Thanksgiving pictures and write about the fun time we had with our precious family full of cousins! Jane, Margaret, Claire and Gray! 

As most of you guys know... our sweet little boy had his tonsils and adenoids taken out yesterday (Tuesday, December 2nd) and tubes put in his ears. It was a very emotional morning for us all but as I lay here tonight I am truly thankful for the day we had yesterday! It was a day to truly rejoice in the Lord for all that he has done! 

I had been praying about our decision from the day we found out that this surgery needed to take place. Was it the right thing to do for our little boy and would it truly make him better! God truly answered that prayer Tuesday morning the second Dr. Bonilla stepped out of the operating room and told us that he hadn't seen adenoids the size of Jackson's in a very long time if ever. I really couldn't believe it! He said that they were blocking his nasal passage way and that it was likely that Jackson never was able to breathe through his nose! I was amazed! The good Lord had confirmed that this was the right thing to do! I am forever grateful!! 

The preparation... 

It all started Monday.. We decided it was a good idea to keep Jackson home from school and let him have a day to pal around with me! I was excited too as I knew this was going to be a day that we could hang out and enjoy our time together! Our first stop was our Vet to pay our pet sitter for her time watching the dogs and cats while we were away.. Jackson was alittle disappointed that it wasn't a true pet store so I told him we would go visit the pets at Petsmart after we went to make a return to Hobby Lobby. Here is where the whole week became totally obvious it was in God's hands. We were standing in line and Jackson was looking at the food stand at the checkout and asked for some pretzels.. Normally when he asks for things at checkout I ignore him, but this time he really needed to have alot of snacks and big meals before his surgery so I said ok. The precious girl behind me said that he was so cute and we started talking about what was in store for the next day. To make a long story short she asked me what hospital he was having his surgery and I told her and it ended up that she was a RN on the Children's Surgical floor @ Children's Methodist. I couldn't believe it. She was going to be there on Wednesday. I knew God was protecting me with opening my eyes to this girl. After walking out of Hobby Lobby totally amazed at the coincidence, we got in our car to go to PetSmart. Then we had a lunch date planned with daddy, and Jackson got to choose where he wanted to go! Longhorn Cafe for a cheeseburger! He was so happy. 

Another worry that I lifted up in prayer was that I was so worried about Jackson being hungary and thirsty the next morning since his surgery wasn't until 11:30. We decieded to order pizza for dinner the night before knowing he loves pizza.. To our surprise he ate 3 whole slices, 2 cinna sticks, string cheese, glass of milk and his apple juice! We were so thankfully shocked! After a good night sleep the next morning couldn't have been more perfect. Jackson never mentioned food or drink. It didn't even phase him! He was still so full from his big dinner that it didn't even bother him! What a blessing! 

We got to the hospital were he held Dave and my hands walking in so happily! Little did he know what really was about to happen! He slipped into his gown and loved all of the dinosaur paraphernalia everywhere!! He played in the playroom until his precious nurses came to get him! It was a good start. I held back my tears... until the time came.. I had to say my I love yous. I was praying that Dave could hang in there too! As Daddy walked my little boy into the OR the tears started flowing! I knew he was in good hands and I knew this was the right decision! The wait wasn't long before Dr. Bonilla came out! Dave and I patiently waited for our time in the recovery room with our little boy!

After Surgery Jackson slept through the first couple of hours and then was ready for a popsicle! Truly the first words out of his mouth! "Popsicle Please"! Haha.. He enjoyed 8 of them! 5 cups of Jello, 1 apple sauce, chicken noodle soup and apple juice! The nurses were amazed with his appetite and his ability to get so much down so easily! He played in the playroom and we took strolls around the nurses station multiple times saying hi to all of Jackson's new friends! (the nursing staff and doctors)

His sweet Daddy wanted to be the one to stay with Jackson in the hospital! It was a good night and a great day! We will continue to pray for a quick recovery so our little boy will hurry back to his normal precious self! We are so thankful for all of our friends and family who have been with us these few days! and for all of the messages!! xox 

Always Quite in the Blind- November 24, 2008

We have been going and going and I am always thinking about the importance of having quality alone time with Dave. It is so much easier said then done these days because when we go out we like to go out with our friends! Finally, we said we were going to go to the ranch and have a great weekend with a couple that we love and adore and truly have a baby free fun get away. This time... I made it a point to hunt in the SAME blind as my loving hubby! It was so fun! I was taught by my dad, that there is to be NO noise in the blind.. Now, all of you know, it is very hard for me to be quite and when there is quite around I find myself thinking about fun things to talk about.. Dave on the other hand liked to pop the top in the blind and made moving noises, so I figured it was ok to talk about fun things.. Well they were fun to me.  Like how we could add on to our house and decorate and what things we both would like for Christmas. All the things that are fun to talk about but not really do.. haha..I am laughing now because we definitely were not the quietest of hunters and maybe that is why we only saw 10 PIGS for the first hour or so... Then all of a sudden out came a few bucks and a couple of Sika that were so fun to see, a first for me.. The best part was that is what Dave was hunting for and I had the best view.. It ended up not being the one he wanted, but still a fun an exciting time.. and that alone time we have needed just to hold hands and stare at each other and know that our love is the greatest! 

Once we got home to our babies, who we were so excited to see, we decided... or actually I decided while everyone was taking a nap that it was going to be the night that we would decorate our house for Christmas. I figured with all that is going on in the next few weeks this was the only time! I heard Jackson turn on his music and so I happily went in to his room and asked him if he wanted to help me! He was so excited and kept saying "Ho Ho Ho Santa Claus is coming" and "help decorate the tree".  I knew this was going to be fun. After Jackson hung a few low lying ornaments he was finished! He did really appreciate setting up the nativity and gave each of the sheep and donkeys a kiss before setting them out. 

Our house is almost finished except for our outside lights.. that will be the project of the week before we are off to " Margaret and Jane's House" (really the lake house) with all of our cousins and family! We are really really looking forward to being with all of the cousins! Jackson especially loves his older cousins! He asked again this morning when we were going to see Jane and Margaret!  After the lake we will head to the ranch to be with our immediate family to hunt and relax. Jackson is also very excited to be with his uncle Obert and his special friend Canyon! (Obert's Dog)

I will have more fun stories and pictures to post next Sunday. Stay Tuned! Until then.. Happy Happy Thanksgiving to all of my sweet friends! xo

A ruffle in the sheets... November 21, 2008

I decided I would write one more time before Dave and I head to the ranch for a little R and R without our babies! 

I must say these past few days have been probably the hardest for me as a Mommy! I say that I love to cry over the sweet things in our life.. but this time I have been crying over my sweet precious baby boy and the decision we made last night with the help from really good doctors! 

Jackson will be having surgery on December 2nd at 11:30 at Methodist Children's Hospital. After a week of doctors appointments our team (Dave, myself and the doctors) have made the decision that Jackson needs surgery. He will have his tonsils and adenoids taken out and tubes put in his ears. 

Here is a little background information.. 

Jackson has always been a drooly boy! We have been noticing that he breathes predominantly with his mouth and he snores.. He has had 7 ear infections that we have treated.. but as Dr. Fitch our pediatrician has said, It is so hard to tell b/c whenever he is sick you wouldn't know because he still sleeps through the night, doesn't cry, still is active, and just is an easy little boy.. So with that being said he probably has had a lot more that we haven't treated.. Dr. Fitch has said over and over that his tonsils are so big, but he didn't ever suggest that we  needed to go see a pedi ENT. I had a feeling there was more to it all and then...

After having our parent / teacher conference a few weeks ago and being told by his teachers that children who drool at this age usually have something else going on besides teeth etc.. they suggested that I should have his tonsils checked... ( I already knew he had overly large tonsils.. but again never had any complaints that his throat hurt) I took it upon myself and called around to see who the best Pedi ENT was.. and I made the appointment and here we are now! =( It is ok.. Both doctors told us that the surgery will change his life forever and make a huge difference, which is comforting! The what- ifs and pros totally out way the cons and so we are scheduled for the 2nd. It is a really hard week of recovery, but we felt that Christmas would soon be here and his mind would totally be cleared of all of the pain and we would be able to easily put this all behind us. 

We know the Good Lord is in charge and that our Faith is the key to making good decisions and this truly has been the hardest yet! As a mom, I don't want to see my little boy go through something that will be as painful as this, but I know he is resilient and will hopefully be back to his normal sweet self a few days after. 

Next week is Thanksgiving and we have a wonderful week in store.. More to come in the coming days! 

Sweet Songs- November 21, 2008

I have been thinking to myself for the past few months that blogging is truly a wonderful way to journal and really remember what is taking place in our blessed lives. I decided today was the day to begin this fun adventure and no better time to start then my favorite time of year... The Holidays!

As I sit here and type, I am listening to my 2 1/2 year old sing songs as he falls asleep and I think to myself... how lucky I am that the Good Lord gave me the greatest job of all and that is to be a mommy! It truly gives me chills. I have never been so in love and am amazed as life takes different turns everyday. Whether they are good turns or bad it only makes us stronger and my love continues to grow and grow! I never imagined it could truly continue to grow through the years, but in my short 2 1/2 it has. I even questioned how I was going to Love my little Girl the same as I did my little boy when I first was pregnant with her! Was it possible?!I knew it had to be... How can God truly provide us with the most amazing size heart? Watching the interaction of my children is the most rewarding thing I truly have ever witnessed. I am mesmerized by the love they have for each other already! The smiles they have for each other and the sweet little words Jacks has to say to his little sister EVERYDAY! His new saying is " Hi Sweet Hart" He calls her Hart! which melts me to begin with, but now he says sweet Hart! (He learned it from his daddy). Seeing Harton's response is truly picturesque. The giant smile that represents her words.. " oh my sweet brother.. you are the greatest". Knowing that they have a bond.. an ever lasting bond.. brings tears to my eyes. I always knew I wanted to be a mom of a big family.. now when I say big I mean more than a couple of children. In the last few years we have said anywhere from 5-3 kids.. and I honestly would have all that I could just because of the rewards but I am now becoming alittle more selfish and want my love to surround each one of my children to the fullest, nourish the love and continue to watch them grow. I know we aren't finished.. but for now this is the most satisfied I have ever been!  

So, jump on this journey with us and hopefully, we will make you laugh daily and love life to the fullest! xo