Stephen’s Master’s Degree

 

*UPDATE*  Just talked to Stephen and he PASSED! Praise the Lord!

Stephen is in Searcy today at Harding University to defend his Master’s portfolio that he’s been working on for the past 2 years.  When he finishes, he’ll graduate on December 18 with a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership (to be a principal).  Although he doesn’t really ever see himself being in a principal role, our school district pays for the degree really well so it is worth doing. 

The past 2 years of earning the degree have been hard on us all…we moved, had another baby, and survived football and softball season.  He took classes in the Fall, Spring, and all Summer long leaving very little time at home with us.  It’s been a sacrifice…one we’re glad we made…and one we’re glad is coming to a close! 

Please say a prayer with me at 1:45 pm CST today when Stephen begins his defense.  Pray for calm nerves and for the knowledge and wisdom that he’s learned to be at the forefront of his brain.  He was actually pretty nervous and he hardly ever gets worked up over anything, so seeing him that way made me worry more!  I know he’ll do fantastic, but the more prayers the better!

My How He’s Changed!

I can’t believe how much Ryan has changed in only 3 months!

{Ryan…3 Months}

Ryan,

I honestly can’t even begin to believe that you are already 3 months old (actually was on Nov. 18).  You are the piece to my puzzle that I had no idea was missing.  I was so concerned before you were born that my heart couldn’t love another child as much as I love your sister, but I was certainly very wrong.  The love I have for you is incredible!  You are a joy and a blessing that I’m so glad we didn’t miss out on by only having one child in our family.  Here’s what you’re up to this month:

*We don’t go back to the doctor for another 2 weeks, but I’m guessing that you weigh 14-15 pounds.  Everyone that sees you comments on what a big boy you are!  Your Daddy is extremely excited about your size, considering he already had football plans laid out for you from the moment he knew you were a boy. 

*You are still wearing size 1 diapers, and for that I’m thankful.  Moving up diaper sizes makes me sad!

*On Nov. 22, we started you on Rice Cereal.  I realize you’re only 3 months old and most doctors recommend waiting until at least 4 months old, but you were hungry!  I couldn’t seem to satisfy you with nursing alone anymore so we began rice cereal and bananas.  We’re going to add sweet potatoes next week!  You LOVE your baby food (which Mommy is attempting to make all naturally!) and you’re such a champion eater…wonder where you get that trait from?!

*Daddy’s football season is over and Papa’s basketball season is underway!  You’re perfectly content in Papa’s gym, just like you were at football games.  Papa loves having you at his games, just like your Sissy!

*You’re still wearing mainly 3 month old size clothes, but some 6 month outfits are beginning to fit!

*You’ve started giggling and it’s the most precious sound I’ve ever heard.

*You continue to sleep through the night!  The last few weeks have been a little hairy with naptimes because of the holidays and family illnesses, though. You’ve been on the move quite a bit and therefore been napping in your car seat or being held in someone’s arms so we’re working to correct that in the coming week. Pray for Mommy!

We love you forever Ryan!

 

My LaLa

I haven’t blogged any in the last 2 weeks because of the holidays and because for the past 11 days our family has been at my Aunt LaLa’s bedside in the hospital.  LaLa is my Aunt Laurie and she’s been incredibly sick.  It’s all a very long story, starting back around 27 years ago…but the guts of it is that Laurie has Familia Polyposis and had a surgery those years ago to create a pouch inside her abdomen that would remove her body’s waste.  In recent years, LaLa has been experiencing pain and unknown internal bleeding, causing iron deficiencies and therefore iron treatments and blood transfusions.  To gain a better view of her abdomen, she swallowed a camera capsule.  The camera should have moved out on it’s own or at most been removed laproscopically.  Unfortunately, neither was successful for Laurie. 

On November 16, Laurie underwent surgery to remove the camera.  While her surgeon was there, he removed about 5 inches of her bowel that looked to be causing her the pain and bleeding.  We were grateful to have an answer.  But, on Nov. 23, LaLa had to go back into surgery because her intestines had started leaking bile and infection was setting up.  After the 2nd surgery, we thought surely there couldn’t be any more complications.  We were wrong.  Yesterday, the bile started leaking again and her surgeon put her on the surgery schedule for Monday.  However, this morning LaLa woke up with a saturated dressing on her incision wound and knew immediately something was terribly wrong.  Her surgeon took one look at it and knew right away that surgery had to take place today.  After 3 more hours of surgery her surgeon removed another foot of bowel and removed her pouch and performed an iliostomy.

We all have a peace after this surgery that we haven’t had after the other 2.  She’s in ICU for a couple of days to get specialized care and we are very thankful for that.  There are more details and twists and turns to her story, but this is the gist.  We’re so thankful that her surgeon and gastroenterologist have invested so much into Laurie and want her to better just as much as her family does.  If you think about it, please pray that there are no further leaks in her intestines and that she can begin the healing process. 

Would you like 50 free Christmas cards?

  I would!  Shutterfly is offering bloggers 50 free Christmas cards if you write a blog about some of your favorites.  I’m all about the free people!  To sign up for the 50 free cards, go HERE.  These are just a few of the adorable cards they are offering:

 

I love the simplicity in this card…

Make sure you go here and tell Shutterfly about your blog…any blog size is eligible.  You don’t have to have a ton of followers!  I’m going to be looking at these cards for days now trying to figure out which design I like the best!  I’ve also used Shutterfly when I’ve ordered photobooks, which make excellent gifts by the way.  I’m horrible at printing off pictures as I take them, so I TRY to print off a book each year or so that highlights things we’ve done as a family.  I don’t feel quite as guilty about being a horrible photo printer then!  If I was a good photo printer, I would most certainly use Shutterfly because their print prices are great compared to printing them at an on-site place, such as Wal*Mart. 

Since Stephen is graduating in a month or so with his Master’s Degree, I’m probably going to order some of their graduation invitations, as well!  How perfect would they be?!  He’s not totally sold on sending out announcements, but I think they’re just nice and with choices like these how can I not?!  I’m also really thinking about the thank you cards because I need to be better about sending those out and if I had adorable cards like these, I think I’d do a better job!

 

Let me know if you sign up for the 50 free Holiday cards…I’d love to see what some of your favorites are as well!  Merry Christmas!

Conference Runner-Up!

Our Junior High football season wrapped up last Thursday night with another WIN!  Our overall record for the year was 6-2…enough to be Runner-Up in our conference.  Of course Runner-Up isn’t good enough for Stephen, but there are many teams that would love to be in his position so we’re grateful.  Stephen has worked harder this year than any other and each year I see him get better and better at his job.  This season has been different than any other because of Ryan’s birth being 2 days before our first game…it’s taken us some adjustment but we’ve persevered! I’m extremely proud of Stephen and his boys!

What a Difference…

a year can make…

Left photo: Pumpkin Patch visit 2009, Right photo:  Pumpkin Patch visit 2010

 

Paige is losing her “baby” look and gaining a young lady look.  Makes me sad and excited all at the same time!