1-23-13

This has been a really hard week--dealing with Andy's sickness and the not knowing of it all. Very hard, indeed.

Some little things have happened though that were like, little rays of sunshine---grace gifts from our Lord, so-to-speak.

Anna Claire saying "I love you, daddy" for the first time at the hospital.

The 7th and 8th grade boys going to the altar to pray for Andy on their own initiative.

The church family praying for us as a whole Sunday night.

Diann Waller slipping me $90 unexpectedly, just for meds or whatever.

Our SS class bringing meals and food like crazy! Even taking a collection for hotel money for his parents in case of the need for surgery.

Ricky calling us to assure us that his job will be fine, that he wants Josh to step in in the interim and Andy not to worry financially.

Calls/visit/texts/Facebook comments.

Faith Reinelt heading up getting my house cleaned before Mama and Papa came.

The fact that Leah Plummer works with Dr. Wewars and could help get us in and out to see him last Wednesday without sitting in the waiting room. Her being able to confirm information and to vouch for how much she liked and trusted him to us.

Dr. Wewars--his wife had lymphoma so he knew to look for it and took it seriously. His kind manner and the fact that he is a Christian.

Dr. McAllister (the oncologist) told us to pray in the meantime.

Shea Peters from church was the one to put him to sleep for his needle biopsy--seeing her comforted him with the procedure.

Every single nurse professed to be a believer. Didn't give us an opportunity to witness, but it did give us comfort!

Mama and Papa coming--Mama helping with Juliana.

My Jesus Calling devotional--it could NOT be more on point for what I need right now!

Gods grace truly does abound in these circumstances!! He is good and we pray He receives glory from this situation. I know it could be so much worse, but it's been really hard. I'm so thankful for the initial results being clean, but I'm anxious to know more. I love him so much and just want him to be well again and be able to get on with life as normal --playing with girls, working at church, etc.

1-16-13

Juliana rolled over today for the first time!! Then she did it again this afternoon!! So excited!! :-D

1-14-13

Sleeping with baby Juliana curled against me after she nurses is priceless. Soft and little and so trusting--comforted by being close to mama....it's one of the things I love about little babies.

Juliana weigh-in: 13 lbs 3 oz

1-13-13

Mobile devices make everything so easy, so why don't I post more often??! Life gets crazy with two precious little ones, but that's no excuse not to record these fleeting memories!

Anna Claire is talking up a storm!! I couldn't write all her words down if I wanted to. She knows her colors now (although she will call things wrong sometimes--whether she's confused or just playing I can't tell). She's so affectionate---will rub your back and kiss you unexpectedly. We are having to discipline her more often as she is getting older, but she seems to have a moldable spirit, and I'm grateful for that. I know that her heart is where the battle is fought and even this young, I do not want to make her a little hypocrite--behaving well out of obligation not because its right. Reading Shepherding Your Child's Heart by Tripp and it's been really good so far for food for thought. I remember though, from reading The Praying Life, that only God can change the heart and so I must be continually seeking the Lord on my children's behalf--that He would change and mold them--even now that they would be drawn to Him and desirous to know and please Him as they grow. And the same for Andy and I!! Oh, the challenge I feel when I think of my girls growing up to be like me! I have so very far to go!!!!

Juliana is a blessing. Beautiful and sweet tempered. Getting easier to manage by the day. It's seems like a new baby is a killer for the first three months then you kind of settle into a routine and they mature and calm also.....I still wish she could find her thumb though. :-) she finds her hands all the time but she hasn't nailed down her thumb yet. She may never. I'm waiting for her to turn over any day now. She's strong and wants to---just needs to get motivated! Anna Claire was 4 months and 4 days when she did it....so we will see how Juliana does. :-).

I think Juliana's hair may be more reddish than Anna Claire's though---I'm so curious to see how she is going to change as she grows. Right now she looks a LOT like Andy, but so did Anna Claire when she was a small baby. But, I think Juliana favors him even more than Anna Claire did.

But oh, her smiles just light up the room!!

We had a wonderful visit in Jacksonville with family during Christmas. Anna Claire got to play with Bear, my parents dog that she loved! She had a great swing and a cube to climb on. Not to mention that she had to ride the golf cart with my dad every single chance she got!! I was amazed to see how my dad softened with Anna Claire and even cooed at Juliana. He's really tender with them, and it's sweet to watch.

Mom may end up being Nani--Anna Claire took to calling her that while we were there.

Andy is doing great--he is sad at the prospect of his friend Matt moving to Tennessee next month, but maybe he can make some new friends soon. He is precious to me as well and I'm so blessed to have a husband like him. Wish that I could rekindle some romance and dating, things feel kind of platonic these days but that's probably just the phase of life we are in...::

Better get to bed....sleep is a valuable commodity currently!!

1-2-13

We've been enjoying our time in Jacksonville since Christmas. We are still here. Anna Claire has really enjoyed spending time with my mom and dad. And I think they have really enjoyed her! It's hard to balance all the family and getting to see everybody as much as we would like to though. I spend too much time feeling a little bit guilty I think.

Anna Claire is doing so many cute things! She loves to play with my parents' dog (Bear)! Today he busted her ball, but it was okay as she just really wanted him to chase her stick!  She got ANGRY when he took her stick unexpectedly when she DIDN'T want him to take it! Temper temper!

Anna Claire loves to ride on the golf cart with my dad. She will say "come on - ride" then she will grab his huge hands and put them on the steering wheel if he doesn't move quickly enough! Ha ha! Of course that warms his heart.

Juliana is a big hit too - she's sweet and likes to be cuddled. She got some new clothes for Christmas which is a help considering everything Anna Claire had for winter in this size is too big for her. She's having digestive issues again which makes her grouchy. I feel a little bit trapped, not exactly knowing how to parent with so many people around. But that's my problem, not anybody else's as nobody's been bad.

Tonight Anna Claire, Juliana and I went to have dinner with Mama and Papa and they brought Zachary along. He's only a month older than Anna Clare, but bless his heart, he's really struggling developmentally. He's very far behind her in speech and mobility. No doubt, he will catch up, but it will take some time. We all ate at Chick-Fil-A together and he did not speak one word the entire time we were there. His left foot turns inward a bit and he stumbles a lot when he walks. But he has a sweet disposition.