Spring Break

The boys were out on Spring Break the weak before Easter, but unfortunately Brittaney and I still had school. On Thursday my class was cancelled due to my professor being involved in a car accident. It was a beautiful day and I wanted to do something outside so the boys and I headed to Noah's Ark, which is a rehabilitation center for animals, and we had a really good time. Brittaney was not able to attend because she still had school and we missed her very much.

On Friday the weather was nasty and rainy so Stephen could not work therefore he was here with the boys and I went on to school. When I came home we decided to check Brittaney out of school and everyone went bowling. Stephen and I sat back and watched the kids bowl. We took our adopted son Austin and his uncle Colton with us so there were six kids bowling. It was so much fun watching the kids compete with each other and the boys bowling Britt's turn when she was not looking. There is never a dull moment when all of us get together.

Hunter wanted to relax with Daddy while he waited on his turn.

At the end of our 2 hour session of bowling Brian and Brittaney wanted to trade shoes. I had a hard time deciding which shoes looked best with which outfit, can you help me out?

Happy Easter

Happy Easter! May we remember the real meaning of Easter! Our Lord Jesus Christ is risen!

Angels in April

Sunday was the annual Angels in April picnic at Spalding Regional Hospital. This event is a picnic that the hospital puts together every year as a reunion for babies that spent extra time in the nursery and to remember those who did not make it. This year was our 5Th year attending and it is always so much fun to go every year and see the nurses and staff who took care of Hunter after he was born. There is always something new every year. This year they had two clowns who painted the children's faces and even some adult faces as well. There are games, popcorn, inflatable slide and good food.

I really enjoy going back every year to see the angels as they continue to grow knowing the difficult challenges each and every one of them had to overcome at birth. At the end of the picnic they share a DVD of the angels and everyone leaves with a copy. I thought that every year would get easier and I would not cry as much as the year before, but the memories are always there and I cry more and more. Hunter is 4 years old now and I still find myself crying when I share the story of his birth with anyone. It is amazing that I was able to conceive, much less everything that that little innocent baby went through when he was born. He will always be my miracle baby (in more ways than one) and I love to share the story of his birth as long as you do not mind the tears.

I am so thankful for all of the caretakers in the nursery and post partum floor who were so kind and gentle with our family. Everyday they would love my baby and help me with the heart wrenching emotions that I would experience because I could not hold my baby like every mother wishes for. Then when it came time to leave the hospital after my stay...without my baby, holding my pillow, as they wheeled me out to the car in place of my sweet angel... they

encouraged me to call or come by at anytime. Stephen had to go back to work and thank God I had my sister in law Ash to carry me to the hospital and take me shopping after three weeks of bed rest. The staff at the hospital were absolutely amazing and it is because of them and my childbirth experience that I'm in school now working on my R.N. Thank you Spalding Regional and thank you Hunter for being everything I have ever dreamed of and wanted, I love you more than words will ever be able to speak!

This weekend has been really busy. Friday night Brian went to prom and had a really good time. He and his girlfriend Jessie have been together almost a year and they went to prom together this year. I must say they both looked great! We took a lot of photos...well my sister in law took a lot of photos and they turned out beautifully. They had dinner at the new Japanese steakhouse in Griffin and then it was on to prom. Jessie is a senior this year so Brian wanted to go all out for her and I think that he did a great job. After prom they went cosmic bowling and then to IHOP to eat. They partied all night and had a great time.



Saturday was Hunter's first tee ball game and he really played well. He had his own cheering section because his Grandaddy, Noni, Paw Paw, Maw, Trevor, and 3 of his favorite cousins came. He was so happy to see everyone there. Daddy was able to take some really good pictures of Hunter in action. Brian is helping coach Hunter's team and after staying out all night he did not want to wake up this morning for the game. Hunter said to him "come on Bubba you my coach". It was really sweet, Hunter loves that his brother is his coach. Stephen and I were really proud of Hunter he played the entire game. Stephen only had to tell him one time to put on his glove. Hunter played center field and I guess he was a little bored and wanted to play so he took off his glove and played in the grass for a minute until Daddy spoke to him. I have to say so far baseball is so much better at keeping his attention than basketball. And he looks really cute in his uniform

Tomorrow is the annual Angels in April picnic. Spalding Regional Hospital puts together this picnic every year and celebrates the lives of all of the Angels who spent time in the NICU and to remember the Angels who did not make it. This will be our 5Th year going and it is something that Hunter actually looks forward to now that he is older and he understands what the meaning is about. I really enjoy going back the hospital to see all of the nurse's and doctors who took care of us during our stay in the hospital. If it were not for our experience 4 years ago when Hunter came into the world I would not be going to school to be a R.N.

Basketball on to Baseball

Today was Hunter's last basketball game and now we have t-ball that has started up. Our schedule here lately has been really busy. Hunter was playing basketball and now he is starting t-ball, Brittaney is playing high school soccer, and Austin is playing middle school baseball and recreation baseball. Brian is helping coach Hunter in t-ball and I think that he is really enjoying it. Stephen and I wonder what we did before kids or better yet what we did when the kids were little? Either way we must have led a boring life because now it is consumed with our children's extra curricular activities and we are loving every minute of it.

I really was getting off of the computer and getting ready to go to bed because it is 9:42 p.m. and my day starts at 4:15. While I was shutting everything down Hunter is laying in the floor watching wrestling on television. We do not watch it and have never watched it with Hunter. It just so happened that Austin was watching wrestling and I told him that it was bedtime so the t.v. was left on. While sitting at the computer I hear my 4 year old son, in the softest voice ever, say "that girl is a hottie". The word hottie was very drawn out. I stopped and turned around to look at him thinking that I misunderstood something and I said to him "What did you just say?" He said "Mommy, that girl is a hottie." I just started laughing and reminded myself of the joy it is to have a 4 year old boy who learns so much from his Daddy and two older brothers. He did tell me earlier that I'm his best girl, this is his way of saying I'm his girlfriend. Man, I love this kid, he seems to make me smile daily!

Spring Break is over.

Today was the first day back to school after having a week off for spring break. I received some good news from my English class just before the break, I made an A on my midterm exam, I was extremely surprised. My professor reminded us today that we only have 6 weeks left. I do not like this semester at all, maybe it has something to do with my psychology class. I really was looking forward to psychology and dreading English, but now it is reversed. I really like my English professor, he finds a way to make Oedipus Rex interesting, imagine that. Enough rambling about school I just know that I only have 6 weeks left and trust me I will be counting them down.
So, on my break I vowed that I would not even open a book... not even once, and I did exactly that. I spent my spring break spring cleaning. I could have gone on an exotic vacation or a trip to the mountains, but I chose to thoroughly clean my house. Besides, did I mention that I did not have the funds to take a trip? Being a grown up sometimes is not all that fun, but despite all of the bumps in the road, I love it. I love to have a clean house, but unfortunately since school started I have not been able to really clean it besides my daily chores. I'm going to make the most of the next 6 weeks and pray that our Heavenly Father will help me buckle down in psychology and pass the class.