and we celebrated..........

Why is it that most of us wait until something HUGE happens to celebrate? Well, not around here. Bubba has had a VERY hard month, one thing after another. He made it to school only a hand full of days this month. Yesterday was a hard one for Bubba and for his Mommy. He was in a lot of pain, he cried... I cried. There is a lot going on with his sweet little body right now and I won't go into all of the crummy details but TTD stinks! ... I HATE it and I hate watching what it is doing to my baby, it is progressing and with that means more tears. I was so happy when Bubba woke up feeling good this morning. We took Regan to school, came home, gave him his meds and hooked him up for his morning feed. He was not 100% but he made it VERY clear that he did not want to be at home. First he went and grabbed his shoe and brought it over to me then I looked over to see that he had pulled to stand and was trying to get his hat off the coat rack. I went ahead and let Bubba go to school. His teacher could tell that I was nervous when I dropped him off. She kept reassuring me that she would keep a close eye on him and call me the second she became worried. I came home, took the dog for a walk, got a shower (woot woot!), and had a lunch date with myself. Then around 12ish I got a call from Bubba's teacher letting me know that he was very tired and that there were very few smiles. I am grateful that Bubba has such an amazing teacher that is so aware of his needs. So, rather than be bummed that Bubba go so tired so quickly we CHOSE to celebrate the fact that he made it to school today and that he was there for a good portion of it.

Hubs got himself an early Christmas present on black friday, an awesome sound bar.

Bubba LOVES it becuase we always turn up the base and rock out!!!

He loves to feel the speakers when the base is good....

like black eye peas, beastie boys, Stephen wolf. :) 

So, we had a dance party for about 2 hours!

We celebrated the simple blessing of Bubba going to school today! 

I am so grateful for the small HUGE blessings in our lives that we have to celebrate!

Hey, have you started your Christmas shopping yet???

Well, you know that pictures are always the best gift!

I am having photo sessions this Saturday and would LOVE to shoot your family.

Go HERE and check it out!

Texas love {The final post}

I am sure that you all are getting tired of these Texas posts from weeks ago but I needed to do this last one to say THANK YOU! Thank you to Poppie and Coach and all that they did to make this entire weekend possible! Serisoulsy, y'all are awesome!!! Thank you to all of you that came to spend time with us. We are truly grateful for the memories that we made with each one of you. Thank you for taking the time to love my babies. Thank you because I am not sure when or if Bubba will be able to make this trip again. It was hard on him and he has been recovering since we got home. Thank you!

Some of the high lights from the weekend......

going to the store with Aunt Karen.... Bubba was not feeling well an she wanted to cheer him up. She said "well this might not be disneyland but..." then turned up the radio and started doing donuts and figures eights in the Target parking lot. :) He loved it and the rest of us were just waiting for security to come out and yell at us.wink!

Uncle Bubba slaming the doors every morning with Bubba!

Watching the cousins play together. Regan told me "I sure LOVE those cousins!"

Getting to Cuddle my sweet niece and nephew, the ones that are still small enough to cuddle.

The kids hidding for Coach's surprise party

Watching Paw and Bubba play with this cool ball that he brought him.

Watching Uncle Bubba go round and round on the merry go round with Bubba.

Watching my mom buzz around the house getting everything ready, she is so much like her mother that way.

Getting to laugh and catch up with cousins that I rarely get to see.

Regan's slumber party at Poppies house with Aunt Karen and all of the cool no boys allowed signs they made.

Getting to introduce my sweet Hubs and Bubba to family that have never met them!

Watching Aunt Nancy play trains with Bubba and Kai.

Uncle Bubba giving all the kids wheel barel rides.

Watching everyone love and comfort Bubba when he didn't feel well.

Going shopping with my Mom and sisters... a shopping trip is NEVER just a shopping trip with them. :)

Walking into to see all of the cousins piled in Poppie and Coach's bead watching Alice in wonderland together. {it was so sweet!}

There are so many more fun memories but I will end with these. Thank you all for such a wonderful weekend filled with tons of wonderful memories.

Texas Friends

While we were in Texas we were showered with love from our Family. I think the total of people that came to see us over the weekend was 50ish.... talk about feeling loved! We were blessed to not only spend time with our wonderful family but we had a chance to spend time with some special friends. My first friend was Rochelle. We met and bonded over our common beliefs and special boys through the internet. I saw THIS VIDEO and was touched. We have since become blogging and email buddies. She fell in love with Bubba and his smile and I fell for her sweet boys as well. It was so fun to have all three of our special boys together!!! I am so grateful for Rochelle and her friendship!!

Aren't these just the three most handsome young men you have ever seen??

We met our next friends on our last trip to Texas. I have been friends with this sweet family for a while through our TTD support group. It is always comforting to have friends that you can complain, gripe, and discuss medical stuff with that truly gets it. The last time we were in Texas Bubba was not with us so they did not have the chance to meet him.   So, as soon as I told them that we would all be in town they asked when and where we could meet up! :) I am truly grateful for their friendship and support.

Speaking of friends I wanted to share with you a special experience I had today at church. In Primary {the children's sunday school} they are learning that they can Show their love to Jesus Christ by being kind and friends with everyone no matter their differences. I was asked to speak to the children about how they can be a friend to Bubba and other special boys and girls. All of the teachers sang the song I will walk with you......

If you don’t walk as most people do,
Some people walk away from you,
But I won’t! I won’t!
If you don’t talk as most people do,
Some people talk and laugh at you,
But I won’t! I won’t!
I’ll walk with you. I’ll talk with you.
That’s how I’ll show my love for you.
Jesus walked away from none.
He gave his love to ev’ryone.
So I will! I will!
Jesus blessed all he could see,
Then turned and said, “Come, follow me.”
And I will! I will!
I will! I will!
I’ll walk with you. I’ll talk with you.
That’s how I’ll show my love for you.

After we all sang this BEAUTIFUL song I was able to share with them how Bubba loves roller coasters, bowling, and playing with friends just like they do. I talked for a little bit and then asked them what they can do to be friends to Bubba and those like him. Regan was the first to raise her hand.... "we can say hi to him and be his friend!" then there were several other comments. The last one was from a friend of ours she said "you can yell at him!!!!" I couldn't help but laugh. She knows Bubba VERY well and knows that he can't hear well and LOVES it when you YELL at him. I then had to go on and explain that maybe they shouldn't do that one at church. ;) I am grateful to see the love of Christ in these sweet children and their desire to love everyone. Now, let's see if next weeks church service is interrupted with a "HI BUBBBBBBAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" WINK!

Thankful.......

I am thankful that after 12 years of marriage I have never had to host Thanksgiving and that I have NEVER made a Turkey. I am not ashamed to admit that I am not a big fan of cooking. I wish that I was one of those people that just loved it, shoot the hubs wishes I was one of those people, but I am not. I cook to feed my family, that's it.... nothing special. So, this year, like all the others, I am grateful that I was not in charge in anyway of cooking Thanksgiving dinner. :)

We started the morning off with the Parade. Regan asked to put on her dress that Poppie and Coach brought her back from Holland. She told me that it looked "pilgrimish" and that she needed it to fit it. Oh, I love that girl! So, she danced and sang all morning in her pilgrimish dress. :) 

Bubba strated his Turkey Day feast early. :)

What did the boys think about the parade??

Yeah, they weren't so into it. :) 

Thanksgiving loves from Stanley. 

Then it was time to head over to Nana and Pa Pa's house! 

It was a wonderful day!!

{Gratitude}

This past month has been a hard one on our little family, on me. I do my best not to let myself go to that place…. To feel sorry for myself and our lot. I have to say that every once and while it happens, I go there. I have my moment I get sad and then just like that it always seems as if the clouds part and Heaven shines a light right on my blessings to point them out to me. I feel like I am one of the most blessed people in the world. I might not be blessed with a big mansion, sleep, riches, or nope not even a full understanding of this lot that we have been handed BUT I am blessed with what matters. Today I am grateful for…………

{I am grateful for my body} I am grateful that when I wake up my feet hit the floor and takes me where I need to go. I am grateful that my arms are strong enough to carry my child and lift his wheel chair. I am grateful that my ears can hear my children’s laughter and my eyes can see their smiles.

{God} I am grateful for my loving Heavenly Father. I know that I can turn to my Heavenly Father in prayer at any time and he will comfort me, guide me, and love me. I am grateful that he knows that I am not perfect and is willing to teach me.

{Jesus Christ} I am grateful for my Savior and redeemer Jesus Christ. I have such deep gratitude and love I have for my brother that loved me enough to lay down his life for me. I am grateful to know that because of him my family is eternal.

{My family} I am grateful for my sweet little family. To me there is nothing better than being married to your best friend while doing the very thing you love most to do in the world, be a mother. I am grateful that I was blessed with the amazing gift to bare and raise two wonderful Kidos! Being a mother is the hardest but most rewarding job in the world.

{Friendships} I am grateful for my amazing friends. Seriously, I have the best friends that can see past the “Oh I am fine” and show up when ever I need them with out even being asked. Each one of my friends make me a better person and I feel blessed to be worthy of their friendship.

{Modern Medicine} I hate seeing what TTD is doing to my sweet little boy but I am grateful to have so many wonderful things available to help him… medications, hearing aids, breathing machines, machines to feed him, a wheel chair to get him around, and more. I feel blessed that in each new challenge with Bubba’s health we are blessed with a wonderful new doctor to help him.

{Parents} I am blessed to have several sets of parents and each one of them is a strong and loving to support to me. I am grateful for the unconditional love that I am showered with.

{Braces} Yes, this one is silly but I am grateful that my parents made sure I got braces. I LOVE to smile, at times I smile because I am happy, other times I smile because I am strong but no matter what the situation is, a smile always seems to make it a little easier.

{Teachers} I am grateful to the wonderful teachers and aids that my children have been blessed to have now and have had over the years. Regan LOVES to read, she loves to learn. I am grateful for teachers that have planted that seed in her. Oh, those sweet special day teachers and aids. I have always said that they have a golden heart…. It is one thing to have a child with special needs born to you but it is an entirely different thing to CHOOSE to be with them every day. They are pure angels!

{Insurance} I am grateful to have good Health Insurance. I feel like I am fighting with them most of the time but I don’t know what we would do with out it. It is a true blessing!!

 {Trials} I know you are thinking what???!?!? No, really I am grateful for the trials that I am blessed with. In each new trial I learn so much about myself and grow.... just when I think I am going to break I realize how strong I really am.

{Photography} I am grateful all you have to do is pick up your camera and click to capture and freeze a happy moment forever. It is the photographs of the good days that get me through the hard ones.

{My home} I am grateful for our home, it might not be big and have to best furnishing and décor but it is filled with love.

{My siblings} I know that I can count on a phone call from at least one of sisters every day. I am grateful that we are not only sisters but we are friends. I am grateful for a big Bubba that may look tough on the outside but is on the sweetest and softest guys you will ever meet.

{You} I am grateful for all of you. I don’t even know who most of you are but you pray for our family, you leave the kindest and most uplifting comments, and you give me place to express my thoughts with out judgment.

{Kidos} Ok, so I know I already said them but they deserve another one. I am grateful for what great friends they are. Regan has such a connection with Bubba and loves him so much. Bubba lights up when she comes home and smiles from ear to ear when she kisses him.

{Hubs} Yes, I know this one is a repeat too but he deserves another one as well. I feel truly blessed to say that I am married to my best friend. I am fully aware that the divorce rate for parents of special needs children is very high and am grateful that after 12 years our trials have only made us stronger. I am grateful that he still kisses me good night every night and kisses me before he leaves for work every morning even if I am sleeping.

So, how could I ever feel sorry for myself for too long when I have so many wonderful things in my life to be grateful for?  I pray that you are able to have to heavens open, the clouds part, and God shine a light on the blessings in your life for you to see. If you are having a hard time seeing them give me a call I will come over with my flash light … I am sure there is something, even if it is small, to be grateful for. “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” Happy Thanksgiving Y'all!!!!!!!!!!

We got our bowl on! {Texas part 2}

While we were in Texas we got or bowl on!!  I hate putting pictures up that I haven't had the time to edit BUT with everything going on I don't know when I will get to it. I am grateful that they picked an outing that they knew Bubba would LOVE. :) I think almost everyone took a turn bowling with Bubba and enjoying how much he loved it! Don't let the adults trick you.... they were just as into it as the kids. wink! Oh, and I think Bubba beat most of the adults. :)