Another loss

The above pictures were taken on Aug. 16th, 2001.... The day Donovan and I got married. The lady is Marcelline Buchanan who passed on to heaven yesterday. She was a wonderful christian lady who was a "Mom" to my dad and a "Grandmother" to me. She taught me so much and also taught me how to drive. She spoiled me as anything grandmother would (except that we weren't blood related). When we were living in Lamesa, Tx. She was my dad's secretary and didn't know how to use the computer (she was in her late 70's I think at the time) but Dad taught her how to use the computer. She was there for my wedding to Donovan and was able to meet R less than a month after she was born. Sadly, about 5 or 6 years ago, she started down the road of Alzheimer's. During the last few years, she didn't know who anyone was. I had often debated on whether to go down and see her but, I'm glad I have these good memories instead. In the first picture, there is also a man named Everett who was K's dad and passed on to heaven about a year ago (either this month or next). Yet another reminder of how brief life really is. Everett and Marcelline were in their late 90's but Donovan was only 35. Death does not respect people.... regardless of age. Disease doesn't either. I am thankful that, for the first time in 3 1/2 years, I was able to look at my wedding pictures of Donovan and my wedding and not break down to uncontrollable tears. It actually felt good to show those pictures to Jeff. He was with me when I got the call from G about Everett's passing and he's here again when I got the news about Marcelline. I've been soo blessed! More to follow.....

I know that I'm jumping forward from Spring Break but, this is HUGE to me. Ever since the day Donovan died, R hasn't prayed like she used to. You know, the child like innocence of thanking God for EVERYTHING from the people in your life to the light fixtures in the room to the bed you slept on. She used to rattle off a long list of things that she was thankful for every night.... Before Donovan died on her 5th birthday. Now, she still doesn't realize the date and I pray that she won't ask about the date until she's much older and lots more mature to handle that kind of information. She has told Jeff that she loved him..... He tells her he "loves my princess" every night before bed but she just kinda hugs him back and tells him good night. Other times, she won't hesitate with the "I love you too" bit... It comes and goes in waves but she's getting there. She has come a long way tho.... Thanks to constant love from us and help from her friends at school and teachers, she doesn't stutter like she used to (only when she gets really excited or upset about something) but not every time she tries to say something. She's happy and she laughs more (thanks to Daddy for that). For the past 3 1/2 years, she hasn't prayed on her own. She did do that once when J started wanting to give thanks before we eat but then she would politely say no if asked again. Tonight was a big on in my eyes and she used some of Jeff's words that he uses for giving thanks before meals (and then she asked what those words meant). It's like a light is slowly going off for her and she's getting her little sparkle back in her eyes. I know that there are going to be some tough bridges to cross down the road with her (as with J). As she grows and matures and the questions may be difficult, I know that with God's help, constant love and support from us, her family, and friends, they'll both make it. One day at a time. :) More to follow....

Spring Break

During Spring Break, we had a opportunity to go with K and G to San Antonio and visit Sea World, Natural Caverns, and a petting zoo of sorts. It was a long drive for us but a lot of fun. We were able to get to Dallas on a Saturday and visit with my old home congregation on Sunday (HUGE blessing). On Monday, we all went down to San Antonio. K and G drove in their SUV with the kids and Jeff and I drove in another car (thankful I was able to get some rest in the back seat on the way down). K and G also surprised us by volunteering to have the kids sleep in their room so that we can have some peace supplied by a certain 3 yr old who fights sleep) at night and not get woken up at the crack of dawn by a certain 8 yr old... Bliss! Tuesday, we went to the caverns and the petting zoo. The caverns were really neat and the kids thought everything was pretty neat. J was a bit more interested in the guides flashlight and microphone (I have no idea why! Ha!). The petting zoo was a drive thru kind of set up. The animals would be able to come up to the cars and be fed corn. The kids had a blast feeding the animals and seeing some of them up close. We tried to eat supper at the Rain Forest Cafe. Unfortunately, the mechanical animals scared J tooo much (he was literally climbing out of the seat once a "storm" hit and the all the animals started moving. The Hard Rock Cafe was better. J REALLY liked the (as he put it) Biggie Guitar. There was a white one that he wanted (which cost more than $200)... Oi! We also went on the riverwalk and took a boat ride which gave us a really neat history lesson of San Antonio (and J was working on his mac daddy personality on the guide - Hilarious!). On Wednesday, we went to Sea World. Saw a lot of neat shows and the kids ended it by playing in the HUGE play area. R couldn't wait to get soaked in the splash park while J was perfectly content to play in the smaller kids area (which had a steering wheel with mechanical parts = fascination for a 3 yr old boy). Thursday, we headed back to Dallas and then back home on Friday. Needless to say, the kids were good and worn out by the time we got home. R is already wanting to go back. :)

Birthdays!!!!

Jeff and J both had birthdays in Feb. Jeff's was on the 1st and J's was on the 5th. Although I felt pretty miserable from "morning sickness" which I had pretty much 24/7, it was still a good time and we celebrated simply. I was still on a diet of (primary) Sprite and crackers but we did have a cake (Thanks to Walmart!). The last 2 years, J's birthday was always one filled with sadness, regret, and playing the "what-if" game (which never helps!). Thankfully, this year was different. Granted, I still thought of Donovan and how proud he would have been of J and how much he's grown in such a short time. J is full of mischief, life and energy. He has a twinkle in his eyes that I wish R had more of but, she's slowly getting it back. More to follow.....

Getting caught up.... Once again!

Just now looked at what I've written up to now and realizing that I am WAY behind! There are SO many things that I need to get out and just haven't had the time or the energy to do so.... (aggravating is an understatement). So, I will try my best to get caught up over the next few days or so (I hope)......

Getting past the blahhh's!

This is going to be really short, sweet and simple.

I'm into my 10th week of pregnancy. Although I'm excited about the whole thing, it's also taking a tole on me. I've been nauseated pretty much every day (and it often hits without warning). It's been tough on Jeff because, even when he does make supper, 9 times out of 10 I can eat only about 2 or 3 bites. Even taking showers have been a hassle because I'm completely worn out afterwards! Granted, some days have been better than others (which I am thankful for) and praying that this will all ease up in the next few weeks or so.

I am soo blessed to have Jeff and that he has been willing (and able) to take care of me and the kids for the past 2 months. Thank you sooo much babe! I love you!

Hopefully, I'll be able to get back into writing again (have a lot of catching up to do) but, in the meantime, I'm about to whip out again.. Ugh!

More to follow.....

Testing, testing, one... two... three

This last week, we got a letter from R's school asking us to meet with the speech therapist, her teacher, and the principal for an update on how she is doing in school and over all.

Jeff wasn't able to go because he was still recovering from strep A. He was still considered contagious so he was still in quarantine. On a side note, it is one thing to be apart from your spouse because of distance. It is something entirely different when you are under the same roof and can't talk, touch, or anything. Very tough!

Anyway, the speech therapist started off the meeting with the fact that I had suggested that R be tested for more than speech because she has such as hard time being able to stay on task at any given time. The speech therapist thought that R should be tested as well (as did her teacher). R isn't failing in anything but she's cutting it very close in Math. She is reading at grade level and doing well with phonics, etc. The problem is that she has a very difficult time with concepts and grasping things. She doesn't get it when you ask her who was swinging in a swing. Her answer was "swing". Math is challenge because of this.

So, she will be tested in March (the testing schedule is full for the month of Feb) and we will hopefully get the results sometime in March.

Please pray that R will get the help that she needs.